Good morning all. The European soccer action is well under way and we have already seen a pretty big FA Cup upset, with Portsmouth downing Manchester United.
There is plenty of action left to go so feel free to discuss the action yet to come, as well as the action that has already taken place, in the comments section below.
Danny Murphy is the truth? If he’s the truth maybe it is better to lie.
He’s Fulham’s field general? Do the rest of the Fulham players know this? If he IS Fulham’s field general, he should be court-martialled.
You said: “If you havent seen him work his magic live, you aren’t qualified to assess.”
This is dumb, really dumb. It’s really sad when a fan tries to compensate for a lack of knowledge of the game by telling people that you can only see someone’s “magic” by seeing them live. So when I saw Murphy wide open on the right side of the penalty area late in the game when Fulham needed a crucial goal, and he couldn’t even make a simple pass to Johnson who would have had a can’t miss chance, it was because I was watching on television? I guess you saw magic instead. I think Hodgson saw the game live and he subbed Murphy out right after his inability to make that simple pass. Why didn’t he see the magic? Seems like Murphy’s magic is in the past.
Danny Murphy is the truth. If you havent seen him work his magic live, you aren’t qualified to assess. He is Fulham’s field general, and he does a good job. Its the guys around him that are making him look bad.
Ives,
Saw a very odd Colobmian match this evening between Deportivo Cali and America. Looks like the game was stopped just before it was going to end; there were some scuffles both in the stands and between coaching staffs. Did anyone else see this?
Did anyone notice the Chelsea defender ran off of Devany of Barnsley, I think it was wayne bride, which left devany unmarked to make that cross. That was the real problem, then again it was damned if you do damned if you don’t. As for cudicini, that was a bit poor, but he does not have the height of chec who would have gotten that cross, Carlo’s major crime was just being a bit too short.
Jon- the games will also be broadcasted on FSC as well
Jon,
You can watch all of the U-23 Olympic Qualifying games for free on Espn360.com
Bradley scores again!! Anyone have an idea of where he might end up next year?
On Fox Sports Argentina, they didn’t show the Fulham game, but they did show the finals of the Dubai open. Roddick looked unstoppable in crushing his Spanish oponent. I believe his serve was never broken throughout the tournament.
Anyone know a website that I could follow or watch the U-23 Olympic qualifying other that ussoccer.com?
Well, as a Chelsea fan all I can say to Barnsley is congratulations on a fantastic performance.
As for Chelsea, just some awful performances today and strange team selection by Grant. He really has to go, but I expect he’ll grace us with his presence until the end of the season, at least. It’s hard for a billionaire to admit he’s screwed the pooch.
Words can’t describe how great it is to watch those bloated, overpaid Chelski bums get completely outworked by a team that is barely Championship level.
Did anyone other than Joe Cole and Michael Essien even care?
Mr. Abramovich should save some money and get some young, hungry players.
Jose Morihno must be laughing
BARNSLEY!!!
PS – Who wears short shorts? Joe Cole!
EJ had an up and down game, being his typical enigmatic self. Even in the first half he was able to get behind the defense consistently, but had trouble with his first touch and flopping. But definitely his play merited the next start. If the GAM can get his confidence up, he’ll put on a run of goals.
Note – I’m an EJ apologist until he reaches the point where he stops making runs, then he’s intolerable. If he keeps going, chances are good he’ll put one away, even after he muffs 5 in a row with mediocre touch or falling down.
Does anybody else thing Dempsey’s workrate has dropped? He always seems to just be jogging around. Maybe it’s the difference between TV and a live game where you can see the whole field, and really he’s got great positioning… but it sure doesn’t seem like he runs hard very often.
Jason,
You missed nothing. Gamst fouled Stalteri. Judo move. Pushed him and put his leg behind him. The reason the ref didn’t call it is that he didn’t see and neither did the AR.
Agree on EJ assessments. He needs some time. Problem is that FFC doesn’t have any time. Bullard’s and McBride’s return hasn’t been good for Dempsey. Roy doesn’t know what to do with Duece. I say put him in a more advance position.
Also, get Murphy out. Let Boca play there. He did last year and did well.
Ref blew at least one PK call for FFC. Healy was dumped. Could’ve given one for foul on Dempsey too…but it looked as if demps went down too easy.
Wow, Chelsea was awful. Joe Cole was the only player who had a spark. Terrible play by Cuducini on the goal.
wow… nice second half on EJ… he desereved to be on the pitch after the second half performance. with little more confidence he’ll do fine. a little unlucky on the goal he missed saved by the post!
How was that not a red for Carvalho? Way to go Barnsley! Chelski will go without a trophy this year.
Barnsley 1 Chelsea 0!!!
Anyone watching the SC Heerenveen NAC game, I couldn’t tell if Bradley scored the first goal or if it was an own goal. Looks like he will have plenty more chances to score in this game it is 2-0 in the 40th min.
The announcers in the Fulham v Blackburn game failed to mention that Eddie Johnson created the scoring opportunity. Bullard doesn’t have a chance for glory if Eddie doesn’t get behind his defender and get him out of position. If you didn’t notice the defender Eddie had to deal with all game is about the biggest player in the Premiership. When a guy has 50 pounds on you and has some technique it isn’t that hard to knock another player down.
I do concur Eddie was crap in the first half but his second half performance should get him in the lineup against Everton and a shot at scoring against another American keeper. It wasn’t by accident that he kept getting behind Blackburn’s defense.
Keep 11 back! When he was making that cross, I knew it was good idea…great positioning by Odebayi (sp)…
1-0 1-0 1-0!!!
Yes!!!!! 1-nil to Barnsley…
OH MY GOD!!!!!!
Come on Barnsley!
Heath Pearce came in at the 78 minute mark for Hansa Rostock
Just caught the Pompey-ManU highlights — unbelievable that ManU lost that one. Can’t believe Christiano didn’t get a PK, either…
I haven’t watched the game yet and we don’t like to talk poorly about Morten Gamst Pederson in this family (basically just me because no one else in my family knows what I’m talking about) but knowing Gamst he probably did pull the defender down. I still think he’s awesome…but I’m a Norwegian favoritist.
Eddie Johnson
– Terrible first half. didn’t look confident, and didn’t compete well enough. Really surprised he wasn’t subbed
– Second half was a million times better. looked like he really deserved to be out there. Competed for headers, good on the ball, and was unfortunate not to score on a nice play
– Maybe he’s turned a corner here, apparently he’s not in great shape yet
– needs to be tougher though, he and dempsey go down easily under pressure
Reading out of the relegation zone. 2 clean sheets for Marcus in a row. Convey didn’t dress despite his great reserve game against Chelsea.
*like = leg
unless i missed something on the several replays, i can’t see HOW that Blackburn goal was allowed to stand. Pederson put one like behind Stalteri, then whipped him down from the top so the only thing Stalteri could do was fall over Pederson’s extended leg.
it was a leg sweep that would have made Johnny Lawrence & Mr. Kreese proud.
Fulham passed back to their keeper more than any other team.
PS- Does anyone else think Dempsey looks like David Blaine, both the real guy and the Street Magic actor posing as him. Moreso the Street Magic video guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYxu_MQSTTY
Fulham deserved 1 point. Nothing more nothing less. Why not start the game in a 4-3-3? It’s not time to play defensive, it’s time to through in everthing including the kitchen sink! We need wins and not draws! p.s. that ref sucked today!
EJ showed more flashes in the second half. He needs to stay on his feet more. That ref was bizarrely bad, however.
What a goal by Bullard… as for the Pederson goal, I thought he fouled his defender before the cross came in. The chances of it being called are slim and none w/ slim walking off the pitch. Noone sees the foul unless the AR sees it clearly while looking for offsides, but that’s difficult from 35 yards away when you’re not looking specifically for fouls.
KD
nice free kick by jimmy b right upper 90. 1-1. Now only if fulham can hold for 3 min
(off another EJ flop)
Fulham! Jimmy Bullard does it again!
RK
Here is the link:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=514389&root=americansabroad&cc=5901
I watch every Fulham game that I can. At this point I’m not sure why I keep subjecting myself to this mild form of torture. EJ does look better this half. Looks like Clint is starting to fall out of favor?
kilmier, what’s the URL for that article?
Of course, I didn’t even mention Newcastle down 3 to Liverpool. I wish I could be surprised at that.
If the GAM flops one more time I’m turning the game off…
After the United Keeper got sent off, Ferdinand actually made a good account of himself on the penalty attempt, even though it went in comfortably.
As for Blackburn/Fulham, for anyone who’s watching, did the attacker for Blackburn push his defender down before heading it in, or was it a clear goal?
Anyone else enjoying these British announcers getting their glimpse of the enigma and inconsistency that is EJ?
‘Is this the same Eddie Johnson who played in the 1st half?’
‘Maybe this is the Eddie Johnson that scored all those goals in America.’
Welcome to our world chaps!
Although it’s nice to see Team America out there, EJ isn’t on form. The ESPN Soccernet article today on him is very accurate about his lack of finesse and workrate.
EJ had a god awful first half! Why not play with 2 fowards? I don’t understand what Roy is trying to do. EJ can’t play as the lone striker. He wins no 50/50 balls, he is too weak to hold the ball up, he needs support to be successful. His decision making has been poor. It’s not all his fault this team in general is poor. Put McBride in and take one of the Mid fielders out (Murphy maybe?). Fulham need 3 not 1 point!
wow, Eddie Johnson is shite. His work rate is by far the worst on the field, and his runs are wrong, his touches are far away from him.
He’s just not good. Hope McBride comes in and saves Fulham.
FSC is playing Fulham v. Blackburn, and let me tell you one thing…
YAAAAAWWWWWWWNN!!!