Good morning all. We head into a busy week in the soccer world, from the Champions League quarterfinals to tonight’s tomorrow’s CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals and Thursday’s UEFA Cup quarterfinals. There is also the increase in transfer talk as we head toward the summer.
There is plenty to discuss today. For now, here are some news nuggets to get your day started:
Barcelona open to Henry offers
Thierry Henry’s long-awaited move to Barcelona might wind up lasting just one season. The Spanish club has let it be known that it will entertain offers for the French striker this summer. Okay, in all fairness, the original report came from the UK’s Daily Star, which isn’t exactly known for being a respectable publication. Don’t believe me? Here’s their website, which isn’t bad to scan if you’re into the National Enquirer or scantily clad ladies (okay, I know, who isn’t?).
The linked story above also has Ronaldinho’s brother/agent downplaying reports of a transfer move away from Barcelona. Apparently he just happened to be visiting Manchester City on non-Ronaldinho related business.
Hicks to skip decisive second-leg
Liverpool owner Tom Hicks will miss Liverpool’s decisive second-leg Champions League quarterfinal showdown with Arsenal tonight to attend a Texas Rangers game. I wish I had just made that up, but it is true. In fairness, Hick was at last week’s first-leg in London, and at the league game this weekend, but considering A) the Texas Rangers are terrible and B) tonight’s Texas match is one of 162 matches, I can’t see how Liverpool fans won’t take this as anything but a snub.
Referee Merk to retire
German referee Markus Merk is set to retire at the end of the current Bundesliga campaign. Why should you care? Well, if you’re a U.S. national team fan you probably wish he had retired two years earlier so he couldn’t make the phantom penalty call on Oguchi Onyewu against Ghana. That sound you hear is Bruce Arena applauding Merk for realizing his time has passed.
And for those of you wondering, Scottish referee Hugh Dallas retired after the 2004-2005 Scottish season, almost three years too late for Gregg Berhalter.
Donadoni wants extended Italy stay
Former MetroStar and AC Milan star Roberto Donadoni wants to stay on as manager of Italy beyond Euro 2008. No, not exactly news, but any time you can mention a former MLS player in the international soccer scene it’s a good thing.
O’s 8 – Texas Rangers 1
Sounds like a great day at the park.
Sounds like another in a great line of Rangers owners. 🙂
Eugene, Ives was just predicting the Rangers season. They will be terrible, end of story.
I’m on board with everything Eric wrote, dude got it exactly right. DMee, you may wanna read erics post. Why the f–k would Hicks want to show up to Anfield to get abuse rained on him by hypocritical reds supporters when he could watch the only sellout his b-ball team will get bar Yankees and RedSox visits this year. Tommyboy can watch the CL match in his fancy suite while watching his Rangers live simultaneously.
Domino95:
If you think Onyewu deserved to be called for a penalty against Ghana, you refereed forty years to long. What a disgraceful thing to try and defend. Even anti-American English newspapers admitted that was a ridiculous call.
laughable. The Rangers ARE AWFUL this year and this is from a life-long fan. I guess that Hicks does not get it. It might also be that he doesn’t want to travel and stay at home with the fam.
To each his own. I think hicks is a big d-bag for choosing baseball over CL, but I’m not holding it against him. And I think for many people here, it’s a no brainer about where we’d be. But go post your baseball pooh-pooh on another site.
Speaking of Chelski’s impending loss, I’m in a mild panic that ESPN2 has the Arse-Pool match at 2:30… and then my system is saying that ESPNC also has Arse-Pool at 5.
Lord, Puh-LEEZ don’t let them screw this up, show me both!!!
Thank you, Joe Quake. Opening Day is always a big deal in Texas, and Tom Hicks owned the Rangers long before he added Liverpool to his franchise collection. Ives, I take offense to you unfairly bashing the Texas Rangers. They’re certainly not terrible – they’ve had a decent 3-3 start to the season (unlike say, Detroit) and their starting pitching has been quite good so far.
I also would have done the same thing as Hicks given the situation. What do Liverpool fans care, anyway – they already dislike the guy.
I know you did not quote the Star and keep a straight face at the same time? Titi isn’t leaving Barca this summer nor is Roni. Who knows what’s going on with Drogba and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in Italy next season. The big news should be what heads will roll after Fenerbrazil er I mean Fenerbahce beats Chelski in a few hours. Chelski’s style of play is the problem whether it’s Grant or Mourinho (overrated manager who loves the limelight)as manager the team’s style of play coupled with the talent they have makes no sense and just won’t work. Ferraris are for speed and performance not for carting hay to the market. One day Chelski might understand what I’m talking about.
As much as I would love to Henry come to the MLS I know that wont be happining before Euro 08. I would love to see an MLS team offer them a big deal though. See the Earthquakes match LA’s Beckham with Henry, that would be amazing. A dream would be to see The Red Bulls offer Altidore and money for Henry, and atleast get something out of Altidore leaving, cuz we all know it is bound to happen.
Nevermind, Benitez is in it to win it! As the man said, “Ask my wife what kind of loser I am. She always says that I never let the children [daughters Claudia and Agatha] win at anything. Sometimes I might let the little one win, but not the older one.”
See? Proven winner.
Berbatov has been making noise for a couple years now about wanting to play CL games, and with all the guys leaving Chelsea and Barca I say there’s no way they don’t get it done this summer, one of them will cough up the big bucks.
I don’t get La Liga games, so I’d be kinda bummed if he went to Barca, he’s one of my favorites too, complete player.
Eric I didnt know Berbatov was looking for a new job as well, he is one of my fav strikers.
In all fairness to Hicks – it’s OPENING DAY for the Rangers. That will be one of the few sell outs of the season for the Rangers, and it IS a big deal. I wouldn’t expect people in London to understand, but I can totally relate with Hicks and would have done the same thing in this particular situation.
Sorry to disagree – Gooch should not have draped his arms over the Ghanian player. I have played and refereed for 40 years – I HATE lazy plays – shirt tugging, subtle holding.
Inconsistency is the issue with officials – example: Kuyt’s incredible uncalled penalty last week against Arsenal does make Gooch’s foul seem weak.
What could more expose the hypocrisy of the Liverpool fan base than consider this a “snub”. How is that possibly fair to abuse a guy and do everything you can to make it clear you don’t want him there – and then be pissed if he doesn’t show?!? What, you had a big day of booing planned, had worked out some cheeky chants?
Sorry Ives, but I think that’s one of your more inane statements, I hate to see you piling on this one. How is the hate for Hicks anything but reactionary anti-Americanism? Liverpool fans blew all their remaining creditability when they decided that being owned by said Dubai hedge fund somehow preserved their glorious heritage (and all that rot). Give the fans credit, at least they ain’t anti-Arab.
What’s TH/GG’s crime, asking Benitez to win with the players he bought after smashing club records for spending the previous window? Many fans and even more of the papers were calling for the end to the Benitez era before Hicks and Gillett arrived, and everyone pretended like they didn’t mind having a manager who started a new line up for 99 (!!!) straight matches because that’s his policy and who’s entire reputation is built upon a single heroic half of football by Steven Gerrard.
I could go on, but for this space the last point worth mentioning is that slamming people because they dare like another sport more than soccer is part of attitude that rubs people the wrong way about soccer culture.
In happier news, MasterShake – that’s a crazy list of attacking talent, and I’d throw Berbatov in as well.
He’ll be booed in Arlington too, if it makes you feel better.
Ives, it is opening day. Cut him some slack. Baseball, apple pie, puppy dogs, hand guns, ice cream etc….
Hicks receives a fair amount of abuse from Rangers fan as well.
re: Hicks, given the amount of verbal abuse he takes from Liverpudlians, are you surprised he picks a place where he isn’t insulted on a daily basis? and don’t say it’s what happens to owners, the general fan base would rather be owned by a hedge fund from Dubai than Hicks.
personally, I hope he sells. I want to see Rafa have to make a case for more player acquisition to a board of MBAs concerned only with the bottom line. “So, Mr. Benitez, exactly how much profit do you see Mr. Torres adding to our bottom line in the next fiscal year?”
A boy can dream – but I think i’d have a heart attack if I saw Thierry Henry in a United shirt this summer.
I mean, K. Payne and co. must have acquired that second DP slot for a reason, no?
So there will be a ton of world class strikers and Ronalndinho out in the market this off-season.
Drogba will most likely be looking for a job, definitely Shevchenko, Crouch, and now Henry any one else worth mentioning?
ohhh man scared the living crap out of me, since I thought I would miss them cause I didn’t set up my DVR.
mini heart attack
Opening day over a CL semi? Shameful.
No Shake, it was my mistake. Both are tomorrow.
CONCACAF Champions Cup is on tonight??? I thought it was on tomorrow, I checked FSC and didn’t see anything on tonight…someone please confirm? am I going crazy?