Monday Backpasses: When you have nothing good to say . . .

Brooks Mileson, the man who bankrolled Gretna to the SPL, only to withdraw his money which led to the club’s dissolution, has died. Without getting too much into it, he was a flawed man, both good and bad [BBC]
Next season would fulfill his MLS contract, if Becks wants it that way [SI]
The XI of Doom. That Edmundo guy is awesome [Dirty Tackle]

Graham Poll, Mr. Three Cards, comments on come refs from this past weekend [Daily Mail]
Aidy Boothroyd, once everyone’s favorite young English manager, out at Watford [BBC]
Wayne Rooney, coming off a brace in Belarus, immediately went to gamble to keep his hot streak going. It didn’t work. He lost over $100K in two hours [Mirror]

And finally:
The site LB has been visiting in his free time lately [fans-online]

Written by Darkvader on November 3rd, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Backpasses and pic not related and ü75.

SPANISH FOOTBALL? NO, ITS REMY MAREVAL FROM FRANCE.

It´s not Messi, Van Nistelrooy, Pires, Eto´o, Aguero, Villa, Henry, Xavi,
Raul, Sneidjer…nor from a Real Madrid, Atletico de Madrid, FC
Barcelona, Valencia…team player.

It´s Rémy Maréval of FC Nantes in the French League, & it is an
authentic “cracker” of a goal. Deserves to be on any Football (Soccer)
blog. Check it out:

Written by STRIKER on November 3rd, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Nantes and Remy Mareval and Spectacular Goals and france.

Franco-American Relations Are Mixed

Given that my boy Jozy Altidore (the Haitian Sensation! - TM by The NY Kid) got the first goal for an American in La Liga, I thought it would be interesting to get an update on how the Americans in Ligue 1 are doing. The results are mixed, if not a little predictable.

Carlos Bocanegra, the 29 year-old defender, plays for Stade Rennais F.C. who are currently 6th in Ligue 1. The former Fulhamerica player has started all 12 matches for his new club, and played a total of 1,071 minutes (an average of 89.25 minutes per match). Although he scored 8 goals for Fulham (in 116 appearances) and has 10 goals for the USMNT (in 62 appearances), the defender has yet to score or even register an assist for Rennes. He does, however, have 1 yellow card.

Freddy Adu, the 19 year-old striker and supposed wunderkind, plays for AS Monaco FC (on loan from Benfica) who currently sit 13th in Ligue 1. After becoming the youngest US athlete to sign a professional contract in over 100 years when he signed with DC United at the age of 14, Freddy scored 13 goals in 98 MLS matches (11 in 87 with DC United, and 2 in 11 with Real Salt Lake). He spent 1 year with Benfica, where he fired in 5 goals in 11 matches. However, Freddy has languished with Monaco, appearing in only 5 Ligue 1 matches (as a substitute each time) for a total of 46 minutes with 0 goals. He also started a Ligue Cup match and played 69 minutes, but also failed to score. Considering that Freddy has 0 goals in 11 appearances with the USMNT, this is perhaps unsurprising, but it seems like he was supposed to see a little more pitch time at Monaco (after all, was that not the purpose for the loan). Unfortunately for Freddy, Monaco’s strike force of Alexandre Licata, Frederic Nimani, and especially the revelatory Park Chu-Young have kept him on the bench.

It seems that Bocanegra has a solid starting role in the Rennes defense, and he should be there for the forseeable future, while Freddy’s time at Monaco may turn out to be a waste for all involved in the loan.

Written by Darkvader on November 3rd, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on America fuck yeah and Ligue 1 and The NY Kid.

The Bum Ref Index 2008/09 - The Early Season #

Every quarter or so, we provide readers with a ranking of the referees in the English Premiership in our Bum Ref Index.

Loosely based on the Economists ‘Big Mac Index’, which utilises the economic fallacy of purchasing power parity (PPP) to compare the prices of rotting-and-compacted-animal-remains-placed-in-a-bun in different countries, in order to estimate currency differentials.

We are interested in referees rather than currencies.
###############################################################################

Last year, we determined our Index using a complex mixture of the fundamental parameters that we assess in our analysis of the match officials.
Some of these factors are not for mentioning in this place, but others include the psychological profiling of match officials, racist decision making, club bias etc.

For 2008/09, we are changing the measurement, both to simplify it, and to link the Index more thoroughly with this blog.

To explain.
Each referee receives two totals for each match. These totals are then added together.
The first of these totals relates to the number of match altering decisions that the referee makes during the game, together with a weighting related to how correct the decision is seen to be with the benefit of slow motion replay.
The second total relates to the number of points that are lost/gained by the decision.
So a poor penalty at 4-0 with three minutes to go is markedly less significant than a penalty and a sending off after 14 minutes, particularly when both decisions were, in fact, incorrect.

The holistic reasoning behind this new mode of measurement of the Index is this - the higher the rating as measured above should correlate with one of two things.
Either the referee is useless and should be demoted.
Or the referee is potentially corrupted and should be demoted.

The PGMOB has 20 referees on their roster. They only wished for 18 but they had to reinstate a couple of refs after appeals.
Two refs have not been seen.
Mark Clattenbung because is banned and Uriah Rennie because he is Black.
An aside - isn’t it noticeable how, the higher one moves up the English football pyramid, the less Black faces one sees…
Just a point.
I mean.
1 Black referee.
Not one game yet.

So, here’s the Bum Ref Index (prior to this evening’s eagerly awaited [sic] match).

1. Attwell 4.00
2. Styles 3.00
3. #############
4. #############
5. Jones 2.67
5. #############
7. #############
8. #############
9. #############
10. #############
11. #############
12. #############
13. #############
14. #############
14. #############
16. #############
16. #############
18. Foy 0.71

There are some interesting points to be made here.

Last year, the worst two officials were Mark Clattenbung and Howard Webb.
Clattenbung is currently banned for alleged inappropriate off-field fraud shenanigans ################################################ while Howard Webb remains The Chosen One as he is given a very privileged status within the English game.

After last year’s appalling standard of his officiating, Webb had a nightmare of a Euro 2008, when he was sent home early for the ludicrous penalty he gave to Austria against Poland.
So the second worst official in our Bum Ref Index 2007/08 also had a ‘mare in Austria/Switzerland.

One might think that, in a remotely meritocratic environment, Mr Webb might have been given a lower profile for the new season.
Far from it.
Check out Webb’s roster to date this season:

Round 1:
Ars v WBA (Sky Live) Referee
Round 2:
MC v WHU (Sky Live) Referee
BR v HC 4th Official
Round 3:
Ch v TH (Sky Live) Referee
Ars v NU (Setanta Live) 4th Official
Round 4:
Liv v MU (Sky Live) Referee
Round 5:
Sun v Mid (Sky Live) Referee
HC v Ev 4th Official
Round 6:
WgA v MC (Sky Live) 4th Official
Round 7:
Ev v NU (Sky Live) Referee
Round 8:
BW v BR Referee
Round 9:
Ch v Liv (Sky Live) Referee
WBA v HC 4th Official
Round 10:
Ful v WgA Referee
Round 11:
NU v AV (Setanta Live) 4th Official.

So PC Webb has had 15 appointments despite his professional incompetence.
10 of these matches have been Sky/Setanta live events.
Uriah Rennie has not had one appointment.

In second place on the demotion list is Rob Styles - we have shown in recent posts how Uncle Keith of the PGMOB allows him to officiate to whatever level of unprofessionalism, with reward rather than punishment being the reaction.

The other valid figures to point out are those relating to the two newest officials on the PGMOB Select Group roster - Attwell and Jones.
Stuart Attwell is currently the worst referee in the Premiership…
##################################################################
##################################################

He has been fast-tracked too soon and he should be immediately demoted to more suitable levels - say, the Unibond Northern.
Aside from his Premiership officiating, the man has wreaked his havoc elsewhere.
Remember the goal that never was at Vicarage Road?
That was one of Attwell’s.
Yesterday, the new Poll surpassed himself in his total ruination of the Derby v Forest match.
I won’t bother going through all the incorrect decisions - google ‘attwell’, ’shite’ and ‘referee’ for the details - but his performance was amateurish.
Paul Jewell commented post-match: “His sending-off was harsh, some of his bookings were harsh, I’m not sure it’s a penalty, then why he doesn’t give the goal I don’t know,” blasted Jewell. “He gave the most unbelievable decision at Watford. He’s 25, he’s meant to be the next best thing since sliced bread, then he’s taken out of the Premier League and he’s given a game of this magnitude. It beggars belief.”

Not at Planet Hackett in ScudamoreWorld it doesn’t…

It is difficult not to come to the conclusion #################################
#######################################################################
########################################################################

As the most incompetent are the most rewarded, we are only able to conclude that, due to his non-selection, Uriah Rennie is, in reality, the best Premiership referee.

We have always told you ScudamoreWorld was warped.

Unfortunately, the blocked out parts of the posts and all posts labelled # are available in full to subscribers only.
Our roster is now full for both Football Is Fixed and Dietrological.
But, please enjoy the free snippets that we are posting on this site.

© Football Is Fixed/Dietrological

Written by Football Is Fixed on November 3rd, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Football-Player.

SACKING ARSENE WENGER IS NOT THE ANSWER!

There is a lot of anger flowing around Gooners at the moment and I completely understand why. We are struggling at the minute and it is very hard to watch the club we all love perform like this whilst the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool go from strength to strength.

There are a lot of Gooners out there with their own answers to the problems we are facing and whilst I respect every opinion my fellow Gooners have, one answer keeps popping up that I don’t agree with. Sack Arsene Wenger.

This is without doubt the most difficult period that Arsene Wenger has faced in his time as Arsenal boss. Big questions are being asked of him for the first time by Gooners and he has to deal with it, but first, he needs to be given the chance to deal with it.

The situation we find ourselves in is down to Wenger and he deserves the chance to get us out of it. He has done too much for this club to be sacked, we are not Tottenham, a club who panic and sack every manager at the first hint of trouble brewing. We have to much class for that.

We have remained without silverware for four years, yes I know how frustrating it is, it’s even more frustrating when you know that Wenger could have strengthened the side to put us in a stronger position to challenge. But where would sacking him leave us? With more problems than we currently have that’s for sure.

Trust me, losing Wenger would be someone else’s gain. How do you replace him and who with? The answer’s are not so simple. Losing Wenger would mean an exodus of half this side. I understand that we want players to be tied to Arsenal and not Wenger but unfortunately that’s the way it is. Players want to play for Arsene.

At the moment the players are under performing and it IS down to a lack of experience. Players like Denilson have the potential to be good players but it’s too much to ask him to perform every week. He needs help and guidance from senior players, he won’t get that from the current squad, there is no one there to help him. That is where Wenger has gone wrong and needs to rectify it. He can’t expect a bunch of youngsters to play well every game.

Arsene Wenger has made mistakes over his Arsenal career but the most glaring mistakes he has made have come over the last couple of years. It’s easy to see from our point of view what needs to be done. I only hope Le Boss can see too because he is in real danger of his legendary status being tainted at the moment.

I don’t want Arsene Wenger to be sacked and I don’t think he will be either. But what I do want is for him to take a deep look at himself and admit that his way isn’t working out to plan. I know he is a proud man but it doesn’t make him weak to admit that he needs to makes some adjustments to his ways of management.

He revolutionised the English Premiership but he is in danger of falling behind in the league that he helped to prosper. Arsenal football club have benefited hugely from Arsene Wenger but Arsene Wenger has also benefited from Arsenal in a big way.

He deserves the chance to get Arsenal back to the top of the English game and redeem himself in the eyes of some Gooners who believe his star is losing it’s sparkle. I understand your frustrations my fellow Gooners but this is one Gooner who thinks that letting Arsene Wenger go would be a bad move for Arsenal.

Keep it Goonerish………….

Written by Wrighty7 on November 3rd, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Football-Player.

Altidore and the Duck

The duck lost as Jozy Altidore put the finishing touches on Villareal’s 4-1 victory over Atletico Bilbao with a goal at the close of the match. With the goal, Jozy became the first American to score in La Liga.

Congratulations Jozy! We wish you many more.

Altidore came on in the 90th minute and managed to score within 30 seconds. With that sort of production, clearly he should be starting.

Written by Darkvader on November 3rd, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Duck Breaking and Jozy Altidore and The Fan's Attic and Video and villareal.

Scotland Update

Apparently, I find it too difficult to do this on a weekly basis. So, in order not to cheat those who actually click the link for a Scotland post, I’ll expand the one I do. SPL, SFL, Highland League, and whatever else I can fit in after the break.

As per usual in the SPL, it was a six game slate this weekend.

Rangers 5-0 Inverness CT
Rangers won the fast start award, knocking in five first half goals against Inverness Caley Thistle. The home fans were undoubtedly thrilled to see a hat trick from Kris Boyd in between the opener from never-to-be-a-Scot-international Nacho Novo and the final goal from Kenny Miller. For the American readers, Beasley came in on 74 minutes, while Edu did not leave the subs’ bench.

Aberdeen 1-0 Kilmarnock
Sone Aluko fired home for the Dons to earn the team’s first home win in six tries this season. Aberdeen had a flurry of chances around the half-hour mark, but wouldn’t find the net until shortly after half-time. Aluko peeled in from the left and blasted a shot from a rather tight angle in the 50th minute. Killie had some late chances after Aberdeen failed to expand their lead, but (thankfully) Aberdeen held on with a nervous win.

Motherwell 2-0 Hamilton Academical
Chris Porter scored once in each half for the home side as Hamilton fell further behind at the foot of the table. Porter’s first half goal was a redirect of a Bob Malcolm free kick. His second came at the expense of the offside rule, apparently. Still, the goal counted, and Hamilton had no reply. On the back of Porter’s brace, Motherwell move up to third in the table. Hamilton have lost six straight and eight out of nine.

Falkirk 0-0 Dundee United
St Mirren 0-0 Hibernian
*yawn* What is this, Ligue 1 from two seasons back? Score some goals, you tossers. That’s right, on Saturday 10 teams played, and eight goals were scored by three teams. I’m not even going to attempt to find something to talk about from these matches.

Hearts 0-2 Celtic
Hey, an away team scored goals! On Sunday, Celtic took over Tynecastle. In a surprise to none, Celtic had already put the game out of reach on twenty minutes, when Gary Caldwell scored Celtic’s second. Hearts went a man down early in the second, but acquitted themselves well in not collapsing completely. In fact, they had some attempts on goal, but Boruc was always equal to the task.

Celtic top the SPL table on 28 points from 11 games. Rangers are on 25 points, but have a game in hand and, thanks to those five goals, are even on GD with Celtic. Motherwell lead a pack of six who are on between 14 and 16 points, while Hamilton are starting to drift off the back.

In other SPL news, UEFA announced that next season, should Rangers blow it again in CL qualifying, they will go directly into the Europa League instead of being dumped out of Europe entirely. (Yes, that means Rangers are finishing second. Got a problem with that?)

St Johnstone lead the First Division by two points over Queen of the South. The Johnnies picked up first place by defeating Dunfermline over the weekend, while QotS lost to Partick Thistle. Morton are propping up the table, two points behind Clyde.

Raith currently top the Second Division on goal difference over Brechin City. Brechin lost first place on Saturday after a humiliating 5-1 loss to fifth-place Peterhead. Ratih took over the top spot after a twelve minute flurry of three second-half goals to defeat Alloa. Arbroath sit at the bottom with six points from twelve game, three points below Straraer.

Stenhousemuir maintained their Third Division lead over Dumbarton with 3-0 away win over fifth-placed Montrose. Dumbarton kept pace on points, though, by defeating struggling Berwick Rangers 5-2. Berwick are in ninth place, right above Elgin City, but still behind the fading newbies Annan Athletic

In the Highland League, Inverurie Locos are unbeaten in seven to start the season and beat Rothes on Saturday 5-2. Cove Rangers and Deveronvale are also off to hot starts this season with both teams sitting just two points back of the league leaders. Rothes are one of the two bottom teams, joined by the always-woeful Fort William FC on one point.

Finally, in the second round of the Scottish Cup, Spartans of Edinburgh were able to extract some revenge on Annan Athletic, who beat them out for the offseason’s SFL spot, by winning 2-1 on the road. Of course, it’s small consolation when the team that finished five spots below you in competition last season gets picked to jump ahead of you in league status, but they will take what they can get.

Written by Darkvader on November 3rd, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Highland League and SFL and SPL and Scotland and ü75.

Chelsea–A Hobby That May Just Run Its Course?

Written by Darkvader on November 3rd, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Chelsea FC and Pulling the Plug and The Fan's Attic and When the money runs out.