...not because I have the same football prowess as he does, that would be the farthest thing from the truth, but because of these:
The kid's dying to move to ManYoo from Bayern, that's Germany to England, while I am dying to move from the Philippines to England.
But Bayern Manager Hoeness strictly precludes any transfer between the two teams from happening. So does my dad. He says, I am not going to England. Not anytime soon. I guess Owen and I share the same baffled sentiment.
^That despite the good offer from ManYoo. In my case, despite good offers from very good schools.
Owen would have to wait until 2010 before he gets to leave for ManYoo. The kid just signed a contract extending his stay until then. I would also have to wait until some indefinite time before I can move to England. Maybe then, he would already be at the peak of his career. The same goes with me, in several years' time, I would already be so successful I can fly to the UK in my own money.
A silly comparison, isn't it?
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Football101: Positions
I've been following football for a couple of months now, yet i still haven't familiarized myself with the different kinds of defenders, midfielders and forwards and their roles. so apparently, i had to google it.
Defenders
Centre-backs: stop opposing players, particularly the strikers, from scoring, and to bring the ball out from their penalty area.
Sweepers: more versatile type of centre back that "sweeps up" the ball if the opponent manages to breach the defensive line.
Full-backs: prevent opposition players crossing or cutting the ball back into the penalty area. In some defensive systems, they mark opponents. Most of them are also expected to provide an attacking dimension by getting upfield along the wings and providing crosses.
Wingback: modern variation on the fullback with heavier emphasis on attack.
Midfielders
Center Midfielders: are the link between defence and attack, and must also defend when the opposition are in possession. They also often exert the greatest degree of control over how a match is played.
Defensive Midfielder: tackle the ball away from the opposing team's attackers and midfielders and to safely distribute it to more attacking-minded players.
Attacking Midfielder: create goal-scoring opportunities.
Winger (left or right): beat opposing fullbacks and to deliver cut-backs and crosses from wide positions.
Strikers/Forwards
Center Forward: score goals.
Strikers (as opposes to center forwards): make runs to beat defenders to try to beat the offside trap and play close to the goal area.
finally, Deep-lying Forwards: somewhere between the out-and-out striker and the midfield. (this i don't quite get.)
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1 book down, 4 more to go. I finally got my copy of The Thinking Fan's Guide to the World Cup today. My sister picked it up for me in Fully Booked.
PS I want the Chelsea home kit. Badly.
Defenders
Centre-backs: stop opposing players, particularly the strikers, from scoring, and to bring the ball out from their penalty area.
Sweepers: more versatile type of centre back that "sweeps up" the ball if the opponent manages to breach the defensive line.
Full-backs: prevent opposition players crossing or cutting the ball back into the penalty area. In some defensive systems, they mark opponents. Most of them are also expected to provide an attacking dimension by getting upfield along the wings and providing crosses.
Wingback: modern variation on the fullback with heavier emphasis on attack.
Midfielders
Center Midfielders: are the link between defence and attack, and must also defend when the opposition are in possession. They also often exert the greatest degree of control over how a match is played.
Defensive Midfielder: tackle the ball away from the opposing team's attackers and midfielders and to safely distribute it to more attacking-minded players.
Attacking Midfielder: create goal-scoring opportunities.
Winger (left or right): beat opposing fullbacks and to deliver cut-backs and crosses from wide positions.
Strikers/Forwards
Center Forward: score goals.
Strikers (as opposes to center forwards): make runs to beat defenders to try to beat the offside trap and play close to the goal area.
finally, Deep-lying Forwards: somewhere between the out-and-out striker and the midfield. (this i don't quite get.)
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1 book down, 4 more to go. I finally got my copy of The Thinking Fan's Guide to the World Cup today. My sister picked it up for me in Fully Booked.
PS I want the Chelsea home kit. Badly.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Champions League's 05-06 Groupings
As it was in the World Cup*, 32 teams constitute the group stages of this year's Champions League.
Chelski face Barca for the third successive season. The first time the two teams met in 04-05 CL, Chelsea ended as victors. But Barca took revenge the year after. This time, who's game is it? The two teams are joined by German team Werder Bremen and Bulgaria's Levski Sofia.
Liverpudlians find their team drawn in Group C while ManYoo and Arsenal respectively are located in Groups F and G. Other distinguished teams are scattered all over: Italia's Inter and the Bundesliga's Bayern belong to Group B while Spain's Valencia and Real Madrid wait in Groups D and E. Finally, AC Milan, which almost didn't make it to the Champions League caused by the match-fixing scandal back in their hometown now are ready to compete against 3 others teams in Group H in the group stages.
There's just so much to follow, as if following the EPL isn't hard enough.
*Point of reference used since football fanaticism started during this time.
Chelski face Barca for the third successive season. The first time the two teams met in 04-05 CL, Chelsea ended as victors. But Barca took revenge the year after. This time, who's game is it? The two teams are joined by German team Werder Bremen and Bulgaria's Levski Sofia.
Liverpudlians find their team drawn in Group C while ManYoo and Arsenal respectively are located in Groups F and G. Other distinguished teams are scattered all over: Italia's Inter and the Bundesliga's Bayern belong to Group B while Spain's Valencia and Real Madrid wait in Groups D and E. Finally, AC Milan, which almost didn't make it to the Champions League caused by the match-fixing scandal back in their hometown now are ready to compete against 3 others teams in Group H in the group stages.
There's just so much to follow, as if following the EPL isn't hard enough.
*Point of reference used since football fanaticism started during this time.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Interracial Premier League?
And so the transfer window for the english clubs ends on the 31st. Apparently, there are still some clubs waiting to sign new players for their teams. A quick glance at the composition of each team, i.e. the racial profiles that make up each one, we can see them gradually becoming teams of mixed races. even managers are of different nationalities!!! With people coming from Ukraine, Brazil, Czech, Germany, Serbia and Montenegro and even the Ivory Coast (of course there are more countries involved than what i mentioned), i begin to think, is it still authentically ENGLISH? apparently not. Just look at this:
Chelsea have (from L to R) Drogba of Ivory Coast, Robben of Holland, Shevchenko of Ukraine, Carvalho of Portugal, and Captain Ballack of Germany.
Next, Liverpool have Alonso of Spain, Paletta of Argentina, Kewell of the Soccerroos, and Garcia, again from Spain.
Third, Arsenal have Czech's Rosicky, Holland's Van Persie, German GK Lehmann, Swiss' Senderos and Ljungberg from Sweden.
Finally, ManYoo have the Italian Rossi, Dutch GK Van der Sar, Portugal's Ronaldo, Vidic from Serbia and the Korean, Park.
Which leads me to my second question, what does 'ENGLISH Premier League' mean anyway? Is it...
a) football competition that's generally for the brits? apparently not, given that they only form a small fraction of the premiership's worldwide scope of fans.
b) football competition made up generally OF brits? perhaps. but as i deduced earlier, the EPL's slowly becoming IPL (please refer to the blog title) or
c) none of the above? (So what is it, really?)
PS Maybe it simply means, the league born on English soil and was left open for the domination of other nationals.
Chelsea have (from L to R) Drogba of Ivory Coast, Robben of Holland, Shevchenko of Ukraine, Carvalho of Portugal, and Captain Ballack of Germany.
Next, Liverpool have Alonso of Spain, Paletta of Argentina, Kewell of the Soccerroos, and Garcia, again from Spain.
Third, Arsenal have Czech's Rosicky, Holland's Van Persie, German GK Lehmann, Swiss' Senderos and Ljungberg from Sweden.
Finally, ManYoo have the Italian Rossi, Dutch GK Van der Sar, Portugal's Ronaldo, Vidic from Serbia and the Korean, Park.
Which leads me to my second question, what does 'ENGLISH Premier League' mean anyway? Is it...
a) football competition that's generally for the brits? apparently not, given that they only form a small fraction of the premiership's worldwide scope of fans.
b) football competition made up generally OF brits? perhaps. but as i deduced earlier, the EPL's slowly becoming IPL (please refer to the blog title) or
c) none of the above? (So what is it, really?)
PS Maybe it simply means, the league born on English soil and was left open for the domination of other nationals.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Quick EPL updates
A Jersey-based company is looking into investing in Newcastle United. However, because it's only at the early stages of negotiations, there's still nothing that can be concluded from this but an investment company showing interests in an English club. Besides, Freddy Sheperd, owning 28% of the company, has refused in the past to sell the club.
In the midst of talks about William Gallas leaving Chelsea, the same team have completed the signing of the Dutch Kahlid Boulahrouz from the Hamburg for an undisclosed fee. The guy has some good records with the Bundlesliga, contributing a lot to his now former German team finishing third last season. France's Gallas, on the other hand, is said to be willing to leave the club for Arsenal, as the team looks into a switch to give up Ashley Cole to Chelsea for the French player.
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I'm thinking about whether to create a new blog to be my 'personal' blog. This one has just become too much of a football-inspired cyberjournal. Everyday, it gets bombarded with updates, rumours, and results, either of games or transfers, from the EPL.
PS I just realized, I have more reason to want to be a billionaire in the future. What's the reason? So I can buy my own English football club. Heck, what a dream.
In the midst of talks about William Gallas leaving Chelsea, the same team have completed the signing of the Dutch Kahlid Boulahrouz from the Hamburg for an undisclosed fee. The guy has some good records with the Bundlesliga, contributing a lot to his now former German team finishing third last season. France's Gallas, on the other hand, is said to be willing to leave the club for Arsenal, as the team looks into a switch to give up Ashley Cole to Chelsea for the French player.
-------------------------
I'm thinking about whether to create a new blog to be my 'personal' blog. This one has just become too much of a football-inspired cyberjournal. Everyday, it gets bombarded with updates, rumours, and results, either of games or transfers, from the EPL.
PS I just realized, I have more reason to want to be a billionaire in the future. What's the reason? So I can buy my own English football club. Heck, what a dream.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Fans disgusted by McClaren's dropping Becks
Some fans have spoken:
'If the plan is to drop him from the England set up then at least give him the respect of a final match send off. Have a word with him and persuade him to announce his international retirement before this final game. It's a friendly against Greece at Old Trafford - anyone who is calling for Beckham's head should recall the game that he won single-handedly and dragged us to the World Cup in Japan.'
'And as for the people who think Beckham had a rubbish WC, he set up two goals, scored the winner in another, and was substituted with an injury in a game that any midfield replacement wasn't able to win for us. Oh, and we went out on penalties without his deadball experience. I'm no Man U or Real fan, but people really give this bloke far too much grief for having a daft bint for a wife and an obsession with his haircut.'
'As much as I'd love to see the new boss change a few things, I'm certainly hoping he's made the decision to omit Becks from the squad on some sensible footballing grounds rather than as some kind of affront to Sven and all things Svennish.'
From Football365.com
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In retrospect, I think I should've given Becks a little more credit. I was just really disappointed by the fact that England was sent home packing after the quarter-finals by Portugal. And I expected quite a lot from him, given it was my first time to see England, specifically Becks, play.
'If the plan is to drop him from the England set up then at least give him the respect of a final match send off. Have a word with him and persuade him to announce his international retirement before this final game. It's a friendly against Greece at Old Trafford - anyone who is calling for Beckham's head should recall the game that he won single-handedly and dragged us to the World Cup in Japan.'
'And as for the people who think Beckham had a rubbish WC, he set up two goals, scored the winner in another, and was substituted with an injury in a game that any midfield replacement wasn't able to win for us. Oh, and we went out on penalties without his deadball experience. I'm no Man U or Real fan, but people really give this bloke far too much grief for having a daft bint for a wife and an obsession with his haircut.'
'As much as I'd love to see the new boss change a few things, I'm certainly hoping he's made the decision to omit Becks from the squad on some sensible footballing grounds rather than as some kind of affront to Sven and all things Svennish.'
From Football365.com
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In retrospect, I think I should've given Becks a little more credit. I was just really disappointed by the fact that England was sent home packing after the quarter-finals by Portugal. And I expected quite a lot from him, given it was my first time to see England, specifically Becks, play.
A good first night for Steve McClaren
'Steve McClaren had England supporters singing in the rain at Old Trafford last night, giving them belief in the future after the damp squib of the World Cup campaign. Owen Hargreaves was voted man of the match, but this was all about the manager of the match and McClaren left to a standing ovation. McClaren's desire for the team to raise their tempo was wonderfully in evidence, with a hunger and pace rarely witnessed in England friendlies in recent years.' -Henry Winter, The Daily Telegraph.
'The decisions taken by McClaren were justified and that should aid him towards acquiring the status he seeks. Steven Gerrard, for instance, may not have given his very greatest performance but he appeared happy enough to inherit David Beckham's position on the right and use it, intermittently, to tear into the middle.
'Elsewhere in the centre of the field, Owen Hargreaves was outstanding. Fans who had scorned him made amends by voting him England's player of the World Cup and will now be racking their brains for further compliments' -Kevin McCarra, The Guardian.
'It should be pointed out that Greece played as if they had been asked to produce the likely threat from Andorra in England's opening European Championship qualifier on September 2, but, even against ramshackle opposition, this was exactly the sort of energetic, committed performance that McClaren had both promised and demanded' -Matt Dickinson, The Times.
'It was the first small step on a journey that has, history tells us, so often ended with England's thwarted dreams, but for a manager whose appointment has been accompanied by so little optimism it at least bought McClaren time' -Sam Wallace, The Independent.
'[This] was a night when Gerrard and Lampard both managed to have an impact, liberated from the shackles of Eriksson's World Cup caution.
'In the months to come, McClaren will be presented with sterner tests. But at Old Trafford the burning light of fresh ideas was at least visible through the Manchester rain' - an Ladyman, The Daily Mail.
'McClaren will take pleasure from an entertaining display for a variety of reasons. For the fluency and intensity of England's football and the commitment and desire that has so often been missing in fixtures like this.
'For the way Stewart Downing performed on the left and Jermain Defoe responded to being omitted from the World Cup squad' -Matt Lawton, The Daily Mail.
'Nothing that England did at Old Traffordlast night could ever wipe away the frustrations of the World Cup debacle or take away McClaren's share of Sven Goran Eriksson's guilt.
'But led from the back by John Terry, from the middle by Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard and from the front by Peter Crouch, Mac's men proved that England do know how to pass the ball, play at pace and put awful opponents to the sword...there were reasons, at last, to be more cheerful. Now let's see how the real stuff works out' -Martin Lipton, The Daily Mirror.
From Football365.com
'The decisions taken by McClaren were justified and that should aid him towards acquiring the status he seeks. Steven Gerrard, for instance, may not have given his very greatest performance but he appeared happy enough to inherit David Beckham's position on the right and use it, intermittently, to tear into the middle.
'Elsewhere in the centre of the field, Owen Hargreaves was outstanding. Fans who had scorned him made amends by voting him England's player of the World Cup and will now be racking their brains for further compliments' -Kevin McCarra, The Guardian.
'It should be pointed out that Greece played as if they had been asked to produce the likely threat from Andorra in England's opening European Championship qualifier on September 2, but, even against ramshackle opposition, this was exactly the sort of energetic, committed performance that McClaren had both promised and demanded' -Matt Dickinson, The Times.
'It was the first small step on a journey that has, history tells us, so often ended with England's thwarted dreams, but for a manager whose appointment has been accompanied by so little optimism it at least bought McClaren time' -Sam Wallace, The Independent.
'[This] was a night when Gerrard and Lampard both managed to have an impact, liberated from the shackles of Eriksson's World Cup caution.
'In the months to come, McClaren will be presented with sterner tests. But at Old Trafford the burning light of fresh ideas was at least visible through the Manchester rain' - an Ladyman, The Daily Mail.
'McClaren will take pleasure from an entertaining display for a variety of reasons. For the fluency and intensity of England's football and the commitment and desire that has so often been missing in fixtures like this.
'For the way Stewart Downing performed on the left and Jermain Defoe responded to being omitted from the World Cup squad' -Matt Lawton, The Daily Mail.
'Nothing that England did at Old Traffordlast night could ever wipe away the frustrations of the World Cup debacle or take away McClaren's share of Sven Goran Eriksson's guilt.
'But led from the back by John Terry, from the middle by Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard and from the front by Peter Crouch, Mac's men proved that England do know how to pass the ball, play at pace and put awful opponents to the sword...there were reasons, at last, to be more cheerful. Now let's see how the real stuff works out' -Martin Lipton, The Daily Mirror.
From Football365.com
Hargreaves impressed Fergie even before the WC
(And so ManYoo is still struggling to have Hargreaves in their possession, despite their offer of £34 to Bayern Munich. The latter is still firm that they're not willing to let go of the player until his contract ends with them in 2010. Poor boy.)
Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he has been trying to bring Owen Hargreaves to Manchester United since before the World Cup, but that the club are still some distance from a deal with Bayern Munich for the midfielder.
'We first inquired about Owen before the World Cup,' Ferguson said. The midfielder, who started the tournament as an unpopular figure among England fans, became one of his country's few successes in Germany. He earned a standing ovation in the quarter-final against Portugal and then converted his penalty in the shootout - the only one of his team to do so. The plaudits left Ferguson worried that Bayern would force up the price or that a bidding war might occur. 'What he did in the tournament was a nightmare,' the United manager said. 'I knew it would happen - it happens all the time.'
With the transfer window closing on 31 August, there is a danger that with Bayern standing firm it will be impossible to conclude a move. 'The boy wants to come,' Ferguson said, 'so we hope to be able to do something.' However, Bayern have already lost Michael Ballack to Chelsea this summer and are adamant that they cannot let their midfield be weakened any further.
Hargreaves, who is due to play for Bayern at Bochum today, was named man of the match at Old Trafford on Wednesday after England's 4-0 friendly win over Greece, emphasising all the discipline and defensive qualities that Ferguson finds so attractive. He has also impressed John O'Shea, a potential team-mate at United. 'Owen would be a good addition,' O'Shea said. 'There were lots of question marks around him before the World Cup, but he showed in Germany what a quality player he is.'
From Guardian Unlimited Football
Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he has been trying to bring Owen Hargreaves to Manchester United since before the World Cup, but that the club are still some distance from a deal with Bayern Munich for the midfielder.
'We first inquired about Owen before the World Cup,' Ferguson said. The midfielder, who started the tournament as an unpopular figure among England fans, became one of his country's few successes in Germany. He earned a standing ovation in the quarter-final against Portugal and then converted his penalty in the shootout - the only one of his team to do so. The plaudits left Ferguson worried that Bayern would force up the price or that a bidding war might occur. 'What he did in the tournament was a nightmare,' the United manager said. 'I knew it would happen - it happens all the time.'
With the transfer window closing on 31 August, there is a danger that with Bayern standing firm it will be impossible to conclude a move. 'The boy wants to come,' Ferguson said, 'so we hope to be able to do something.' However, Bayern have already lost Michael Ballack to Chelsea this summer and are adamant that they cannot let their midfield be weakened any further.
Hargreaves, who is due to play for Bayern at Bochum today, was named man of the match at Old Trafford on Wednesday after England's 4-0 friendly win over Greece, emphasising all the discipline and defensive qualities that Ferguson finds so attractive. He has also impressed John O'Shea, a potential team-mate at United. 'Owen would be a good addition,' O'Shea said. 'There were lots of question marks around him before the World Cup, but he showed in Germany what a quality player he is.'
From Guardian Unlimited Football
Wayne Rooney Threats The FA
Wayne Rooney has issued an extraordinary warning to the FA that he will reduce his role with the England team unless they review their three-match ban imposed for his latest sending-off. United's player of the year last season was sent off against Porto on 4 August in the Amsterdam tournament for a challenge on Pepe Ferreira.
In an unprecedented move, the Manchester United striker has told the FA that he will stop co-operating with their money-making activities around the England team - such as personal appearances for sponsors - unless they rethink the suspension handed down last week for the red card he received for violent conduct in a pre-season friendly.
In a letter to FA chief executive Brian Barwick on Rooney's behalf, the player's agent, Paul Stretford, wrote: 'While he will continue if selected to play for his country with the pride and commitment, he is considering withdrawing his support for the FA's commercial programme: in other words he will not allow his image to be used or exploited, or participate in personal appearances for and on behalf of the FA's commercial partners, unless he is satisfied with how the FA conducts its affairs in regard to player matters.
The threat by England's most marketable player is a direct challenge to the authority of the FA and presents Barwick with a serious problem. While Rooney is free to play against Fulham at Old Trafford today, he is due to miss Wednesday's visit to Charlton and games against Watford and Tottenham.
One source close to the player said the letter may prove counter-productive and lead to claims that he wants to be treated differently from other players. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and club chief executive David Gill are said to be aware of Rooney's dramatic move.
Unless the player's letter prompts a rethink by the FA, he will not be free to play again after today until United's Premiership match at home to Arsenal on 17 September because he is suspended for England's first two Euro 2008 qualifiers - against Andorra and Macedonia on 2 and 6 September respectively - for the red card he received in the World Cup quarter-final defeat by Portugal in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, last month.
From Guardian Unlimited Football
In an unprecedented move, the Manchester United striker has told the FA that he will stop co-operating with their money-making activities around the England team - such as personal appearances for sponsors - unless they rethink the suspension handed down last week for the red card he received for violent conduct in a pre-season friendly.
In a letter to FA chief executive Brian Barwick on Rooney's behalf, the player's agent, Paul Stretford, wrote: 'While he will continue if selected to play for his country with the pride and commitment, he is considering withdrawing his support for the FA's commercial programme: in other words he will not allow his image to be used or exploited, or participate in personal appearances for and on behalf of the FA's commercial partners, unless he is satisfied with how the FA conducts its affairs in regard to player matters.
The threat by England's most marketable player is a direct challenge to the authority of the FA and presents Barwick with a serious problem. While Rooney is free to play against Fulham at Old Trafford today, he is due to miss Wednesday's visit to Charlton and games against Watford and Tottenham.
One source close to the player said the letter may prove counter-productive and lead to claims that he wants to be treated differently from other players. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and club chief executive David Gill are said to be aware of Rooney's dramatic move.
Unless the player's letter prompts a rethink by the FA, he will not be free to play again after today until United's Premiership match at home to Arsenal on 17 September because he is suspended for England's first two Euro 2008 qualifiers - against Andorra and Macedonia on 2 and 6 September respectively - for the red card he received in the World Cup quarter-final defeat by Portugal in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, last month.
From Guardian Unlimited Football
Some football quotes
"I like pace, directness and players who can beat players" - Steve McClaren explains exactly why he has ended David Beckham's England career.
"I've been there and done it and I don't see why I can't do it again. Why not?" - Emile Heskey, from Wigan, threatens a return to international football, ignoring the fact that he has been there before, catastrophically failed to do it and nobody wants to see him (not) do it again.
"Obviously I want my stuff back, but I want Mac back more than anything. He is just a puppy" - Andy Van der Meyde of Everton reveals his priority after burglars broke into his home and stole Ferrari, a black convertible Mini Cooper, a Rolex watch and a de Bordeaux dog called Mac.
"We have to work. I read a few newspapers where some super-specialists laugh when I say we need time and we are not in the same moment as other teams. But it is because they are funny people and like to write funny things" - Jose Mourinho is rather funny himself.
"What strikes me most is the number of parks" - Andriy Shevchenko adapts to life in London.
"If all the foreign players come over here, you will stop English players from playing" - The ever-astute Peter Taylor has a point because if all the foreigners do indeed come over to England then they will out-number the English players. Full marks to Peter for avoiding the hysteria.
"It is disgusting. Why say things after the event when you were part of the problem and when you are just as culpable as the manager? Does Frank want to tell his story or does he want to make money? It is cowardly and he was not brave enough to stand up at the time and admit we were going wrong. Unfortunately that is the self-obsessed world football has become" - Reading's Dave Kitson warms up for a testy meeting with new author Frank Lampard.
"We must buy players. Arsene knows that and the fans know that. It is more than vital we get players in. Our defence needs strengthening, Let me make it clear - I don't know what is happening with Ashley Cole but the fact remains that if Ashley goes we would be losing one of the team's best assets for the second year running. I don't know anything about the situation with Chelsea but if he goes there it will look like we are trying to catch a team as well as giving them one of our best assets. It would be difficult to take" - Thierry Henry isn't happy.
"It was a strange kind of moment at that party. It was weird but it was a good night for us. We didn't know quite what to expect and that was a strange combination, but Tony Blair was great" - Frank Lampard reflects on meeting the Prime Minister and Snoop Dogg during Chelski's pre-season tour of the United States.
"The memory of that moment when we got knocked out against Portugal will live with me forever, I'll never forget the pain of it all. It was terrible" - John Terry has been having nightmares.
"It pains me to admit this but it needs saying. We were not as good as we thought we were. On arriving in Germany, England were guilty of over-confidence. It was ours for the taking. No one was better than us. Me and the other players placed too much pressure on ourselves by constantly claiming we could win the World Cup. Stupid. We talked ourselves up too much. Never again. In future tournaments we must learn to be humble. Be calm. We went around Germany blowing our own trumpet and returned home mute with embarrassment" - Steven Gerrard.
"Not only were England embarking on an arduous World Cup campaign with only four forwards but one of them was Theo Walcott. I almost fell over when I heard. He had no right to be in Germany. None at all. I was gobsmacked to find him on the plane - Extract number two from Steven Gerrard's forthcoming autobiography.
Taken from Football365.com
"I've been there and done it and I don't see why I can't do it again. Why not?" - Emile Heskey, from Wigan, threatens a return to international football, ignoring the fact that he has been there before, catastrophically failed to do it and nobody wants to see him (not) do it again.
"Obviously I want my stuff back, but I want Mac back more than anything. He is just a puppy" - Andy Van der Meyde of Everton reveals his priority after burglars broke into his home and stole Ferrari, a black convertible Mini Cooper, a Rolex watch and a de Bordeaux dog called Mac.
"We have to work. I read a few newspapers where some super-specialists laugh when I say we need time and we are not in the same moment as other teams. But it is because they are funny people and like to write funny things" - Jose Mourinho is rather funny himself.
"What strikes me most is the number of parks" - Andriy Shevchenko adapts to life in London.
"If all the foreign players come over here, you will stop English players from playing" - The ever-astute Peter Taylor has a point because if all the foreigners do indeed come over to England then they will out-number the English players. Full marks to Peter for avoiding the hysteria.
"It is disgusting. Why say things after the event when you were part of the problem and when you are just as culpable as the manager? Does Frank want to tell his story or does he want to make money? It is cowardly and he was not brave enough to stand up at the time and admit we were going wrong. Unfortunately that is the self-obsessed world football has become" - Reading's Dave Kitson warms up for a testy meeting with new author Frank Lampard.
"We must buy players. Arsene knows that and the fans know that. It is more than vital we get players in. Our defence needs strengthening, Let me make it clear - I don't know what is happening with Ashley Cole but the fact remains that if Ashley goes we would be losing one of the team's best assets for the second year running. I don't know anything about the situation with Chelsea but if he goes there it will look like we are trying to catch a team as well as giving them one of our best assets. It would be difficult to take" - Thierry Henry isn't happy.
"It was a strange kind of moment at that party. It was weird but it was a good night for us. We didn't know quite what to expect and that was a strange combination, but Tony Blair was great" - Frank Lampard reflects on meeting the Prime Minister and Snoop Dogg during Chelski's pre-season tour of the United States.
"The memory of that moment when we got knocked out against Portugal will live with me forever, I'll never forget the pain of it all. It was terrible" - John Terry has been having nightmares.
"It pains me to admit this but it needs saying. We were not as good as we thought we were. On arriving in Germany, England were guilty of over-confidence. It was ours for the taking. No one was better than us. Me and the other players placed too much pressure on ourselves by constantly claiming we could win the World Cup. Stupid. We talked ourselves up too much. Never again. In future tournaments we must learn to be humble. Be calm. We went around Germany blowing our own trumpet and returned home mute with embarrassment" - Steven Gerrard.
"Not only were England embarking on an arduous World Cup campaign with only four forwards but one of them was Theo Walcott. I almost fell over when I heard. He had no right to be in Germany. None at all. I was gobsmacked to find him on the plane - Extract number two from Steven Gerrard's forthcoming autobiography.
Taken from Football365.com
Some things some people would like to see...
...in this season's EPL, but won't happen:
1) Newcastle to present the first known sight of infinity by putting their trophy cabinet on public display.
2) A cup of tea bought inside a football stadium to cost less than £1.50.
3) Fans to be able to read the name on the back of the players' shirts from the away end at St James' Park without the aid of binoculars or a high-powered telescope.
4) Sol Campbell to walk out at half-time during his Portsmouth debut to study European geography.
5) A post-match interview on Sky Sports to feature an Arsenal player other than Thierry Henry.
6) John Terry's mother to be the guest of honour at Liverpool v Chelski.
7) Cristiano Ronaldo to break his nose and suffer permanent facial injuries after misjudging an acoustic foul.
8) The BBC to reveal just how much of the licence fee persuaded Alan Shearer to reject an offer to become England coach.
9) David Beckham to donate £500 to charity on each occasion he is heard to utter "you know" in a television interview.
10) Gareth Barry to change his name by deed poll to Garry Barry.
11) Theo Walcott to go three years better than Wayne Rooney and mark his 18th birthday by releasing his autobiography.
12) A ManYoo goalscorer, celebrating next to a large hole in the ground, to duck as Rio Ferdinand attempts to jump on his back.
13) Rafa Benitez to publish the notes he makes during matches.
14) All players to be automatically booked if they wave an imaginary card at the referee on the grounds that they asked for it.
15) Spurs to officially confirm that they gave up their status as a big club thirty years ago.
16) The Liverpool Christmas party to be videotaped in its entirety and broadcast on youtube.
17) Sir Alex Ferguson to admit that he was only looking agitatedly at his watch in the closing minutes of a ManYoo match because he had realised it had stopped.
18) Sir Alex Ferguson to attend a post-match press conference following a ManYoo defeat.
-Taken from Football365.com
1) Newcastle to present the first known sight of infinity by putting their trophy cabinet on public display.
2) A cup of tea bought inside a football stadium to cost less than £1.50.
3) Fans to be able to read the name on the back of the players' shirts from the away end at St James' Park without the aid of binoculars or a high-powered telescope.
4) Sol Campbell to walk out at half-time during his Portsmouth debut to study European geography.
5) A post-match interview on Sky Sports to feature an Arsenal player other than Thierry Henry.
6) John Terry's mother to be the guest of honour at Liverpool v Chelski.
7) Cristiano Ronaldo to break his nose and suffer permanent facial injuries after misjudging an acoustic foul.
8) The BBC to reveal just how much of the licence fee persuaded Alan Shearer to reject an offer to become England coach.
9) David Beckham to donate £500 to charity on each occasion he is heard to utter "you know" in a television interview.
10) Gareth Barry to change his name by deed poll to Garry Barry.
11) Theo Walcott to go three years better than Wayne Rooney and mark his 18th birthday by releasing his autobiography.
12) A ManYoo goalscorer, celebrating next to a large hole in the ground, to duck as Rio Ferdinand attempts to jump on his back.
13) Rafa Benitez to publish the notes he makes during matches.
14) All players to be automatically booked if they wave an imaginary card at the referee on the grounds that they asked for it.
15) Spurs to officially confirm that they gave up their status as a big club thirty years ago.
16) The Liverpool Christmas party to be videotaped in its entirety and broadcast on youtube.
17) Sir Alex Ferguson to admit that he was only looking agitatedly at his watch in the closing minutes of a ManYoo match because he had realised it had stopped.
18) Sir Alex Ferguson to attend a post-match press conference following a ManYoo defeat.
-Taken from Football365.com
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Did The Beatles like football?
From Guardian Unlimited Football:
Author and chronicler of all things Scouse, Andy Thompson, has finally emerged from the woodwork and claims to have the definitive answer.
"I'm three years late, but I'm replying to the question 'Did the Beatles like football?' which appeared on December 11 2003" he says. "I interviewed Ringo a couple of years ago for a book on Liverpool FC - only to find he was an Arsenal fan! His stepfather was from London apparently and would take Starkey Jr to Anfield or Goodison whenever the Gunners were in town. Having said that, he's pretty knowledgeable on the Reds these days and both his sons have season tickets at Anfield.
"Paul was (and maybe still is) definitely an Evertonian, as was his dad. He attended the 1968 FA Cup final - there is a photo of him outside Wembley. His brother Mike is a massive Red - and part of his band The Scaffold's promo film for Thank You Very Much was filmed in front of a packed Spion Kop at his behest (fellow band member Roger McGough, a Blue, refused to attend and is missing from the clip). George and John were not keen football fans, although George's son Dhani is a big Liverpool fan. But the biggest fan of all the Beatles' extended family is Neil Aspinall, the former Beatles road manager who attended Anfield regularly before the band left Liverpool for London and has attended games when possible ever since."
So now you know. Let this be an end to the matter ... unless you know better, of course.
Author and chronicler of all things Scouse, Andy Thompson, has finally emerged from the woodwork and claims to have the definitive answer.
"I'm three years late, but I'm replying to the question 'Did the Beatles like football?' which appeared on December 11 2003" he says. "I interviewed Ringo a couple of years ago for a book on Liverpool FC - only to find he was an Arsenal fan! His stepfather was from London apparently and would take Starkey Jr to Anfield or Goodison whenever the Gunners were in town. Having said that, he's pretty knowledgeable on the Reds these days and both his sons have season tickets at Anfield.
"Paul was (and maybe still is) definitely an Evertonian, as was his dad. He attended the 1968 FA Cup final - there is a photo of him outside Wembley. His brother Mike is a massive Red - and part of his band The Scaffold's promo film for Thank You Very Much was filmed in front of a packed Spion Kop at his behest (fellow band member Roger McGough, a Blue, refused to attend and is missing from the clip). George and John were not keen football fans, although George's son Dhani is a big Liverpool fan. But the biggest fan of all the Beatles' extended family is Neil Aspinall, the former Beatles road manager who attended Anfield regularly before the band left Liverpool for London and has attended games when possible ever since."
So now you know. Let this be an end to the matter ... unless you know better, of course.
It's not easy being Frank.
From Guardian Unlimited Football:
While the Chelsea midfielder can rationalise the demands of modern football, he is not impervious to disparagement. Much was demanded of Lampard at the World Cup after his 39 goals for Chelsea in the past two seasons, as indeed it was of the whole England team.
As the dreams of the Sven-Goran Eriksson era exploded in Germany, it was the goalless Lampard who bore much of the criticism, a trial that tested his emotional maturity. "Sometimes it gets on your mind, you can't help it," he said at the launch of his autobiography Totally Frank.
"There are days when maybe you think negatively - the only way you react well is to react positively. This is part of being a footballer. You can't get this attitude of 'everyone's against me'. It is part of being a player. In modern-day football you have to be big enough to take it. I've had it at certain times and the important thing is coming through it and coming through it stronger."
The goal from last Wednesday against Greece provided catharsis that will help obliterate the pangs of summer 2006. "It was an important game for me," he said. "You could see by my celebration that I was happy with the goal, particularly as it was deflected. That was the sort of goal I would have died for at the World Cup and it comes in a friendly just after."
He may not have intended to be quite so refreshingly candid, as Premiership footballers seldom are, but Lampard's frank words reveal a man who has suffered agonies at the hands of his detractors. When asked about the contrast this summer presented with the highs of the past two title-winning seasons at Chelsea, he said: "You have to realise that things will go against you at some stage. You have to understand and accept that when it doesn't go right for you, that is the time to show your mental strength. It makes you stronger."
Lampard insisted that his encouraging performance and that of Steven Gerrard could equally have come about had McClaren persisted with them as a midfield pair. "I believe, and I've always believed, me and Steven can play together," said Lampard.
While the Chelsea midfielder can rationalise the demands of modern football, he is not impervious to disparagement. Much was demanded of Lampard at the World Cup after his 39 goals for Chelsea in the past two seasons, as indeed it was of the whole England team.
As the dreams of the Sven-Goran Eriksson era exploded in Germany, it was the goalless Lampard who bore much of the criticism, a trial that tested his emotional maturity. "Sometimes it gets on your mind, you can't help it," he said at the launch of his autobiography Totally Frank.
"There are days when maybe you think negatively - the only way you react well is to react positively. This is part of being a footballer. You can't get this attitude of 'everyone's against me'. It is part of being a player. In modern-day football you have to be big enough to take it. I've had it at certain times and the important thing is coming through it and coming through it stronger."
The goal from last Wednesday against Greece provided catharsis that will help obliterate the pangs of summer 2006. "It was an important game for me," he said. "You could see by my celebration that I was happy with the goal, particularly as it was deflected. That was the sort of goal I would have died for at the World Cup and it comes in a friendly just after."
He may not have intended to be quite so refreshingly candid, as Premiership footballers seldom are, but Lampard's frank words reveal a man who has suffered agonies at the hands of his detractors. When asked about the contrast this summer presented with the highs of the past two title-winning seasons at Chelsea, he said: "You have to realise that things will go against you at some stage. You have to understand and accept that when it doesn't go right for you, that is the time to show your mental strength. It makes you stronger."
Lampard insisted that his encouraging performance and that of Steven Gerrard could equally have come about had McClaren persisted with them as a midfield pair. "I believe, and I've always believed, me and Steven can play together," said Lampard.
Gerrard: I wasn't happy with Sven.
From Guardian Unlimited Football:
Steven Gerrard has delivered another deeply unflattering assessment of Sven-Goran Eriksson's years in charge of England by admitting he had not enjoyed playing under the Swede. The Professional Footballers' Association player of the year said he felt much happier with the new regime, having been given carte blanche by Steve McClaren to replicate the role he plays for Liverpool.
"It's the first time in a long time that I have really enjoyed myself playing for England," he said. "I loved it, to be honest. The boss told me a few days ago that he wanted me to get forward, play with freedom and not to be scared to try things.
"It's a different role than before and it's me all over - breaking from midfield. I wouldn't say it is a completely free role, I still have a responsibility to get back and help Gary Neville, but the manager told me he wanted me to start doing for England what I've been doing for Liverpool and that suits me perfectly."
Gerrard had let it be known to McClaren that he did not believe Eriksson was using him in the correct positions. He was frustrated by his inability to dovetail with Frank Lampard, a longstanding problem that may have been remedied by the emergence of Owen Hargreaves. Most of all, Gerrard resented Eriksson experimenting with him as a deep-lying striker. He says of Eriksson: "Get real - I'm an attacking midfield player, not an emergency striker."
Steven Gerrard has delivered another deeply unflattering assessment of Sven-Goran Eriksson's years in charge of England by admitting he had not enjoyed playing under the Swede. The Professional Footballers' Association player of the year said he felt much happier with the new regime, having been given carte blanche by Steve McClaren to replicate the role he plays for Liverpool.
"It's the first time in a long time that I have really enjoyed myself playing for England," he said. "I loved it, to be honest. The boss told me a few days ago that he wanted me to get forward, play with freedom and not to be scared to try things.
"It's a different role than before and it's me all over - breaking from midfield. I wouldn't say it is a completely free role, I still have a responsibility to get back and help Gary Neville, but the manager told me he wanted me to start doing for England what I've been doing for Liverpool and that suits me perfectly."
Gerrard had let it be known to McClaren that he did not believe Eriksson was using him in the correct positions. He was frustrated by his inability to dovetail with Frank Lampard, a longstanding problem that may have been remedied by the emergence of Owen Hargreaves. Most of all, Gerrard resented Eriksson experimenting with him as a deep-lying striker. He says of Eriksson: "Get real - I'm an attacking midfield player, not an emergency striker."
Thursday, August 17, 2006
football updates
On EPL
Sold out: Box Office closes on first Premier game
Chelsea vs Manchester City this Sunday, the club’s first Premiership game of the season, has sold out.
Capacity this season is 42,091, down a few hundred due to facilities improvements made in the Family Section.
Chelsea will be looking to win [their] fifth consecutive first game of the season. The previous four have been: 2002/3, 3-2 at Charlton; 2003/4, 2-1 at Liverpool; 2004/5, 1-0 at home to Manchester United; and 2005/6, 1-0 at Wigan.
LIVERPOOL AGREE FEE FOR KUYT
Liverpool are poised to sign Holland striker Dirk Kuyt from Feyenoord after agreeing a fee for the 26-year-old.
The Reds did not reveal details of the fee in Thursday’s announcement, but they appear to have beaten Newcastle United in the race to land Kuyt.
He said: “For me, Liverpool is sure to be the dream club I was looking for.
“There was more interest from abroad, but for me there was nothing of the calibre of Liverpool, a brilliant club with an enormous reputation, fantastic support and a fabulous history. It is an honour to play for a club like that.
Feyenoord chairman Jorien van den Herik told his club’s official website: “Many clubs have tried to contract Dirk over the recent period, but he’s said 'no' to clubs every time because they were not appealing enough, despite there being some very renowned clubs among them.
“That characterises Dirk’s attitude: either Feyenoord or my dream club.”
On England:
Lampard delighted
Frank Lampard hailed the start of a new era under Steve McClaren, but warned against getting too carried away.
After notching his 12th goal for the Three Lions, more than any other player in the squad against Greece, Lampard was delighted with the team performance.
"The big games are coming in the future and we mustn't rest on that performance. Tonight we set the standard and we can't get carried away with what we can do.
"It's just the beginning and we're so pleased because we've had a good few days of training, the new ideas were drilled into us and it came out so well."
McClaren 'delighted' by win
Steve McClaren was a very satisfied man after watching England romp to a 4-0 win over Greece in his first game in charge.
"I'm absolutely delighted," he said. "Particularly with the first half performance when the players did everything that we asked from them."
The result was a perfect start to McClaren's tenure, but the manner in which the victory was achieved pleased the new Head Coach the most.
"I was most pleased with the way we controlled the game through everyone being comfortable on the ball, keeping things simple and passing the ball well. We got our periods when we could rest, counter attack and score goals."
England win the friendly against Greece with a sweep. Four nil. The first goal was scored by Terry on the 14th, Lampard on the 30th and two more from Crouch within the next 12 minutes.
Sold out: Box Office closes on first Premier game
Chelsea vs Manchester City this Sunday, the club’s first Premiership game of the season, has sold out.
Capacity this season is 42,091, down a few hundred due to facilities improvements made in the Family Section.
Chelsea will be looking to win [their] fifth consecutive first game of the season. The previous four have been: 2002/3, 3-2 at Charlton; 2003/4, 2-1 at Liverpool; 2004/5, 1-0 at home to Manchester United; and 2005/6, 1-0 at Wigan.
LIVERPOOL AGREE FEE FOR KUYT
Liverpool are poised to sign Holland striker Dirk Kuyt from Feyenoord after agreeing a fee for the 26-year-old.
The Reds did not reveal details of the fee in Thursday’s announcement, but they appear to have beaten Newcastle United in the race to land Kuyt.
He said: “For me, Liverpool is sure to be the dream club I was looking for.
“There was more interest from abroad, but for me there was nothing of the calibre of Liverpool, a brilliant club with an enormous reputation, fantastic support and a fabulous history. It is an honour to play for a club like that.
Feyenoord chairman Jorien van den Herik told his club’s official website: “Many clubs have tried to contract Dirk over the recent period, but he’s said 'no' to clubs every time because they were not appealing enough, despite there being some very renowned clubs among them.
“That characterises Dirk’s attitude: either Feyenoord or my dream club.”
On England:
Lampard delighted
Frank Lampard hailed the start of a new era under Steve McClaren, but warned against getting too carried away.
After notching his 12th goal for the Three Lions, more than any other player in the squad against Greece, Lampard was delighted with the team performance.
"The big games are coming in the future and we mustn't rest on that performance. Tonight we set the standard and we can't get carried away with what we can do.
"It's just the beginning and we're so pleased because we've had a good few days of training, the new ideas were drilled into us and it came out so well."
McClaren 'delighted' by win
Steve McClaren was a very satisfied man after watching England romp to a 4-0 win over Greece in his first game in charge.
"I'm absolutely delighted," he said. "Particularly with the first half performance when the players did everything that we asked from them."
The result was a perfect start to McClaren's tenure, but the manner in which the victory was achieved pleased the new Head Coach the most.
"I was most pleased with the way we controlled the game through everyone being comfortable on the ball, keeping things simple and passing the ball well. We got our periods when we could rest, counter attack and score goals."
England win the friendly against Greece with a sweep. Four nil. The first goal was scored by Terry on the 14th, Lampard on the 30th and two more from Crouch within the next 12 minutes.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
football obsession: a wish list
the moment i logged in, i didnt have anything in mind to write about. it was just one of those times when i felt the need to blog even without any topic in mind. the blogger window stood by, waiting to hear my next words after incessantly ranting about England.
i am excited that the EPL's coming very soon. actually, in 3 days' time. and our star sports still isn't quite fixed. it still flickers, which make it painful for the eyes to watch. stupid decoder and signal. among all channels, why star sports. there are quite a number of unnecessary and undesired channels just lounging around the tv screen. for a moment, i thought it was going to keep my mind of england. but nooo, it's just going to constantly remind me. crap. but the hell do i care, it's football.
anyway, again as blogger stood by, waiting for me to type, i searched and came across football books. oh yes, now i'm eyeing several books, again. while i still have a lot of unread books and several unfinished ones. and i don't think i'll be able to finish them and start on the others soon since nowadays, i spend some of my time preparing for the lsat. argh, toughie.
amazon has always been my ultimate source of book wish list. and i kinda hate the fact that the seemingly good ones i see aren't available here. at least not until after, say, one year? that means then that i'd have to wait for the following books to be released here, and take note all are sports, i.e. football books:
1. totally frank: the autobiography of frank lampard (jr. --i just added this)
ah, there goes my favorite player coming up with his own autobiography. i'm still thinking i should've asked my friend to get me a lampard shirt instead of just the plain away kit. nevertheless, i still love it. my favorite shirt right now.
2. the thinking fan's guide to the world cup by matt weiland and sean wilsey.
From Amazon.com
The editors, both Americans, gather essays for each of the 32 countries competing in the 2006 World Cup, providing an exceptional variety of discourse and digression on soccer as it relates to politics, culture, and personal life. Henning Mankell examines what it means to war-ravaged Angola simply to compete. Nick Hornby explores globalization as it relates to soccer in England. Sukhdev Sandhu writes about a fatwa forbidding the game "except when played as training for Jihad" in Saudi Arabia. Tim Parks (Italy), Jim Frederick (Japan), Robert Coover (Spain), and Dave Eggers (U.S.) also contribute standout essays.
3. fever pitch by nick hornby
Also from Amazon.com
Fever Pitch is a 24-year obsessional diary of English club football games Hornby has witnessed and the way these games have become inextricable from his personal life. Hornby is the kind of fanatic who merely shrugs about the "tyranny" the sport exerts over his life--the mumbled excuses he must give at every missed christening or birthday party as a result of a schedule conflict. "Sometimes hurting someone," he writes, "is unavoidable." These occasions tend to bring out "disappointment and tired impatience" in his friends and family, but it is when he is exposed as a "worthless, shallow worm" that the similarly stricken reader can relate to the high costs of caring deeply about a game that means nothing to one's more well-adjusted friends.
4. soccer in sun and shadow by eduard galeano
unfortunately i don't have the description for this book. so i'm just gonna post a review made by a reader (he gave the book 5/5 stars):
5. how soccer explains the world: an unlikely theory of globalization by franklin foer
(side not: this sounds interesting because it seems to use football as an explanatory tool to shed some political light to matters relating to both the participating countries and their fans. and i like it when it's done. football's significance doesn't stop as a global sport and as a communal force that brings people from all walks of life together.)
From Amazon.com
The global power of soccer might be a little hard for Americans, living in a country that views the game with the same skepticism used for the metric system and the threat of killer bees, to grasp fully. But in Europe, South America, and elsewhere, soccer is not merely a pastime but often an expression of the social, economic, political, and racial composition of the communities that host both the teams and their throngs of enthusiastic fans. New Republic editor Franklin Foer, a lifelong devotee of soccer dating from his own inept youth playing days to an adulthood of obsessive fandom, examines soccer's role in various cultures as a means of examining the reach of globalization.
i'll end this here. five books are enough. even if i won't get my hands on all five, wishing for all of them is still too much. heh. at least i'm prioritizing fever pitch and the thinking fan's guide. paging fully booked, fully booked. you're wanted.
PS i think i'm starting to get obsessed with football.
i am excited that the EPL's coming very soon. actually, in 3 days' time. and our star sports still isn't quite fixed. it still flickers, which make it painful for the eyes to watch. stupid decoder and signal. among all channels, why star sports. there are quite a number of unnecessary and undesired channels just lounging around the tv screen. for a moment, i thought it was going to keep my mind of england. but nooo, it's just going to constantly remind me. crap. but the hell do i care, it's football.
anyway, again as blogger stood by, waiting for me to type, i searched and came across football books. oh yes, now i'm eyeing several books, again. while i still have a lot of unread books and several unfinished ones. and i don't think i'll be able to finish them and start on the others soon since nowadays, i spend some of my time preparing for the lsat. argh, toughie.
amazon has always been my ultimate source of book wish list. and i kinda hate the fact that the seemingly good ones i see aren't available here. at least not until after, say, one year? that means then that i'd have to wait for the following books to be released here, and take note all are sports, i.e. football books:
1. totally frank: the autobiography of frank lampard (jr. --i just added this)
ah, there goes my favorite player coming up with his own autobiography. i'm still thinking i should've asked my friend to get me a lampard shirt instead of just the plain away kit. nevertheless, i still love it. my favorite shirt right now.
2. the thinking fan's guide to the world cup by matt weiland and sean wilsey.
From Amazon.com
The editors, both Americans, gather essays for each of the 32 countries competing in the 2006 World Cup, providing an exceptional variety of discourse and digression on soccer as it relates to politics, culture, and personal life. Henning Mankell examines what it means to war-ravaged Angola simply to compete. Nick Hornby explores globalization as it relates to soccer in England. Sukhdev Sandhu writes about a fatwa forbidding the game "except when played as training for Jihad" in Saudi Arabia. Tim Parks (Italy), Jim Frederick (Japan), Robert Coover (Spain), and Dave Eggers (U.S.) also contribute standout essays.
3. fever pitch by nick hornby
Also from Amazon.com
Fever Pitch is a 24-year obsessional diary of English club football games Hornby has witnessed and the way these games have become inextricable from his personal life. Hornby is the kind of fanatic who merely shrugs about the "tyranny" the sport exerts over his life--the mumbled excuses he must give at every missed christening or birthday party as a result of a schedule conflict. "Sometimes hurting someone," he writes, "is unavoidable." These occasions tend to bring out "disappointment and tired impatience" in his friends and family, but it is when he is exposed as a "worthless, shallow worm" that the similarly stricken reader can relate to the high costs of caring deeply about a game that means nothing to one's more well-adjusted friends.
4. soccer in sun and shadow by eduard galeano
unfortunately i don't have the description for this book. so i'm just gonna post a review made by a reader (he gave the book 5/5 stars):
Soccer in Sun and Shadow is a superb book covering the very early days of soccer to modern soccer's start in England to the world game that is played today, and all of it is superb. Even if you are not a huge soccer fan, Galeano's passionate writing will draw you into the fold and make you care for at least as long as the book is open.
5. how soccer explains the world: an unlikely theory of globalization by franklin foer
(side not: this sounds interesting because it seems to use football as an explanatory tool to shed some political light to matters relating to both the participating countries and their fans. and i like it when it's done. football's significance doesn't stop as a global sport and as a communal force that brings people from all walks of life together.)
From Amazon.com
The global power of soccer might be a little hard for Americans, living in a country that views the game with the same skepticism used for the metric system and the threat of killer bees, to grasp fully. But in Europe, South America, and elsewhere, soccer is not merely a pastime but often an expression of the social, economic, political, and racial composition of the communities that host both the teams and their throngs of enthusiastic fans. New Republic editor Franklin Foer, a lifelong devotee of soccer dating from his own inept youth playing days to an adulthood of obsessive fandom, examines soccer's role in various cultures as a means of examining the reach of globalization.
i'll end this here. five books are enough. even if i won't get my hands on all five, wishing for all of them is still too much. heh. at least i'm prioritizing fever pitch and the thinking fan's guide. paging fully booked, fully booked. you're wanted.
PS i think i'm starting to get obsessed with football.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
GERRARD: OVER-CONFIDENCE COST US
Just some striking remarks from Liverpool midfielder. Taken from the EPL official site:
Steven Gerrard has blamed England's World Cup failure on over-confidence.
The 26-year-old midfielder admits the team were not good enough to succeed in Germany this summer and, after being so bullish, their quarter-final exit to Portugal was embarrassing.
“It pains me to admit this but it needs saying. We were not as good as we thought we were,” Gerrard wrote in his autobiography, extracts of which have been published in the News of the World.
“On arriving in Germany, England were guilty of over-confidence.
“It was ours for the taking. No-one was better than us. Me and the other players placed too much pressure on ourselves by constantly claiming we could win the World Cup.
“Stupid. We talked ourselves up too much. Never again. In future tournaments we must learn to be humble. Be calm.
“We went around Germany blowing our own trumpet and returned home mute with embarrassment. I went back to England with only regrets for souvenirs and I was not alone.”
The selection of untried 17-year-old Theo Walcott raised eyebrows at the time and later proved to be a mistake as the player did not feature in any of the games.
Gerrard added: “A few decisions were wrong, like not taking five strikers. He [former manager Sven-Goran Eriksson] certainly shouldn't have brought Theo Walcott to Germany.
“Not only were England embarking on an arduous World Cup campaign with only four forwards but one of them was Theo Walcott.
“I almost fell over when I heard. Now let's get one or two things right about Theo. He's a nice lad and one day he will mature into a very good player.
“But he had no right to be in Germany. None at all. I was gobsmacked to find him on the plane.”
Steven Gerrard has blamed England's World Cup failure on over-confidence.
The 26-year-old midfielder admits the team were not good enough to succeed in Germany this summer and, after being so bullish, their quarter-final exit to Portugal was embarrassing.
“It pains me to admit this but it needs saying. We were not as good as we thought we were,” Gerrard wrote in his autobiography, extracts of which have been published in the News of the World.
“On arriving in Germany, England were guilty of over-confidence.
“It was ours for the taking. No-one was better than us. Me and the other players placed too much pressure on ourselves by constantly claiming we could win the World Cup.
“Stupid. We talked ourselves up too much. Never again. In future tournaments we must learn to be humble. Be calm.
“We went around Germany blowing our own trumpet and returned home mute with embarrassment. I went back to England with only regrets for souvenirs and I was not alone.”
The selection of untried 17-year-old Theo Walcott raised eyebrows at the time and later proved to be a mistake as the player did not feature in any of the games.
Gerrard added: “A few decisions were wrong, like not taking five strikers. He [former manager Sven-Goran Eriksson] certainly shouldn't have brought Theo Walcott to Germany.
“Not only were England embarking on an arduous World Cup campaign with only four forwards but one of them was Theo Walcott.
“I almost fell over when I heard. Now let's get one or two things right about Theo. He's a nice lad and one day he will mature into a very good player.
“But he had no right to be in Germany. None at all. I was gobsmacked to find him on the plane.”
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