It's the return leg to Old Tratford. Yipee. Compatriot Jose Bosingwa claims he can stop Ronaldo, from which I'm inferring Chelsea are going to align their defense like an airport traffic barrier.
Cristiano Foyt hasn't even been much of a threat this season so the kids in the blue kits (or are they going to wear safety yellow to make them easier targets for the Mancunians who come packing heat) might want to pay more attention to Wayne Rooney who has been pretty superb in recent form. Clearly, he's already stopped having sex with his wife.
If Chelsea get dismantled, Phil Scolari might be back in Brazil by February. Chelsea have a brutal road on the road in the back half of the season, so things might get worse before they get better and Abramovich isn't the most patient fellow in the world. Is Avram Grant employed?
I'm predicting a 1-1 draw with goals by Michael Ballack and Darren Fletcher, which means it will be a 3-2 affair. Hell, Ballack probably isn't even healthy. I haven't had coffee yet, so I can't be bothered to make the two mouse clicks it takes to get to PhysioRoom.
There's a decent after party with A.C. Milan v. Roma. Milan will probably debut a player who can't run, can't tackle, can't head, can't take on players heads up, and is really only effective when the game is stopped. But, wow, he sells a lot of shirts. Brace for Vucinic. Roma cruise.
The rest of Serie A is at half with a collective 4 goals in six matches. Wigan and Tottenham are scoreless with 15 to play (and 12 shots between them... it's like they're not even trying). Spain has a bunch of crap. And Hearts beat Hibernian in the Scottish Cup.
Enjoy.
Also, not to threadjack, but did you know the US is really close to a World Cup win? You can watch the final at 11, if this game is not your thing.
ReplyDeleteI don't mean to sound ignorant, but what is the ITSF?
ReplyDeleteInt'l Table Soccer Federation
ReplyDeleteNo one loves me.
ReplyDeleteAh, but you didn't talk about the actual tournament, just the bitchfight between countries over who is better.
ReplyDeleteUSA is better than all. And you missed it.
I should amend. You did not talk about results. You did mention the actual tournament.
ReplyDeleteIt's starting!
ReplyDeleteThe announcers are saying that the Americans have an advantage on one table, but that the Dutch are all-rounders on may different tables. I had no idea there was anything other than Tornado tables out there.
Drogba starts, Anelka on the bench.
ReplyDeleteI predict 2-1 Man U win.
Jonny Evans, Darren Fletcher and Ji-Sung Park in the starting XI? Interesting.
ReplyDeleteAs an LFC fan, I find myself rooting for Spartak. Anything opponents can do to wipe out that ominous "three games in hand" thing is welcomed by me. Plus I'm not scared of a title chase with the Blues.
and Fat Frank earns a YC 3 min. in for a foul on Christina
ReplyDeleteFWIW, I'm trying to follow the ITSF final, but so many people are watching the steam that it's too choppy to follow the ball. Seriously, it's about 2-3 FPS at times.
ReplyDeleteThere seem to be four different tables in use. They only play one match at a time. The Dutch guy seems to have control at this time.
two things:
ReplyDelete1) PR: you always misspell Old Trafford as Tratford. is that intentional?
2) i'm tired of seeing the most beautiful thing that kid from American Beauty had ever seen floating around the pitch.
yeah, the article I used for yesterday said that there are 4 official tables. Each team picks its favorite, and then must play a "home-and-away" series.
ReplyDelete@TFA - I like to misspell it as "Old Twatford" - I think it describes SAF perfectly
ReplyDeleteHoward Webb sure is a crap referee. Only took him 28 minutes to lose control of the game.
ReplyDeleteHe certainly should have given Rooney a card for his tantrum.
ReplyDeleteI like the Portuguese tempest between Carvalho and Ronaldo.
how badly do Chelsea miss Essien? They really need a Sherman tank in the middle of the pitch...
ReplyDeleteBerbs seems to be playing a more withdrawn role than usual. or maybe he's actually just tracking back.
ReplyDeleteBallack is slow
ReplyDeleteTerry is brave
Cech is behatted
A. Cole is prissy
Drogba is sneaky
Deco is short
Carvahlo is steady
Mikel is raw
J. Cole is invisible
Bosingwa is unibrowed
and Lampard is fat
I see our Long-Awaited Meteor has not yet arrived? There is still time.
ReplyDeleteI also see that Mr. Ferguson, Manayur of Manchesterm has a penalty non-call to get red-faced over.
ReplyDeleteAnelka on for Deco. I mean, why not? He's league leader for goals. And Sulking. Chelsea need more of the former than the latter.
ReplyDeleteAnelka's sulking!? How out of character for him.
ReplyDeleteIs today the first on pitch confrontation for Le Sulk (Anelka) and L'Autre Sulk (Berbatov)?
Ronaldo is tanned
ReplyDeleteRooney is angry
Neville is slow
Van Der Sar is tall
Vidic is fascist
Berbatov is suave
Giggs is determined
Park is unfocused
Fletcher is undisciplined
and Evans is playing?
Chelsea have an interesting strategy: get the ball into Utd's third then attempt a subtle pass into the box that inevitably ends up in VDS's gloves. Nuanced football, this.
ReplyDeleteNice defending on that cross by EBJT and Cunty Cole.
ReplyDeleteBut it's beautiful football, Andrew. We all know that's what's important.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I've a new slogan for my club: "Tottenham Hotspur FC: Look, Ma! No goals!" I think it'll catch on.
Yeah, Phil, what the hell is wrong with Spurs? Wigan ain't terrible, but goalless at the JJB?
ReplyDeleteI can't shake the feeling that Chelsea just look . . . old. I know that's rich given Utd have run out Neville and Giggs, but the game Utd plays is fluid, almost spontaneous. Chelsea seem too heavy.
And that's why I'm happy to have dropped Drogba this week. Is he done?
ReplyDeleteNo balance, team-wise, Andrew, and 'Arry played a very odd lineup today. Modric on the left, Ledders at CDM, Pavs in Modric' usual role behind a lone Defoe. Zokora on the right, in an attacking role...it was a daft lineup from 'Arry. Either he's tying demonstrate to Levy what he needs, or he's caught the stupid.
ReplyDeleteChelsea are old, and if Roman really has cinched the purse shut, they could be in for slide.
Isn't Drogba a wantaway player at this point? Chelsea may be better off selling him.
ReplyDeleteChelsea really do look horrible. The league is down to Liverpool and Man U. I could see Chelsea dropping down to fourth depending upon what Arsenal and Aston Villa do the rest of the season.
ReplyDeleteChelsea seem too heavy
ReplyDeleteWell, he's called Fat Frank for a reason
Mourinho! Live and in color!
ReplyDeleteThat's a BS offsides call on Ronaldo; Chelsea will be lucky to leave here two-nil.
I wish I knew what Scolari thought of his squad; does he like the hand he's been given? I can't think he does.
Sorry, 'Pool. This United team is pretty swell.
ReplyDeleteChelsea can't even tackle well.
ReplyDeleteAnd Berbs gets the third. Fine enough. Utd deserve it. Chelsea's back line deserves to be taken out and shot; but, this isn't Argentina.
Ok, so it's gonna be Liverpool and Utd battling for the title. I don't think 'Pool has it in them to fend off this Utd squad. They're very very strong.
ReplyDeleteBerbatov is such a twat, but, man, when he decides to turn it on for a minute or two, he's wonderful to watch.
ReplyDeleteUSA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! won
ReplyDeleteI'm off to watch Eagles-Giants. Really hoping to see The Manning Face today.
ReplyDeletePhil: This is Meteor Day for me. Two games. Two continents. Two meteors? While I breathe, I hope.
ReplyDeleteWow... that was uninspired. The most exciting thing was the waitresses at Fearon's deciding to start doing shots at 11:30 in the am.
ReplyDelete'Tratford' is sort of intentional. I had a United fan call me out for it (on pronunciation no less) a couple of years ago, so now I spell it with the extra 't' out of spite because I really dislike everything about United. I guess it's the kind of thing that makes me look stupid without the explanation, but again, I hate United so I don't care.
If Chelsea had done anything in the attacking third I might argue that the 3 yellows in the fist 30 minutes had an impact on the match. And why the fuck didn't Rooney get a yellow for showing up the ref twice in about 10 seconds (somewhere around the 15 minute mark I think)?
And 22 minutes in Vucinic makes me half clairvoyant.
ReplyDeleteI think I've developing my first Serie A man crush.