Sanford's Soccer Net: 2006-11-05

Friday, November 10, 2006

Sanford's Premiership Predictions

Manchester City vs. Newcastle United

As poor as Citeh has been I can’t bring myself to pick Newcastle, especially away from St. James’ Park. This match has all the makings of a draw that both sides will soon look to forget. This season has the making of one both of these teams will soon look to forget.

0-0

Portsmouth vs. Fulham

Fulham have stayed up over the last few campaigns based on home form, and home form alone. Flip the coin and Fratton Park is the only reason Portsmouth still graces the top league in England. I see a few going in on the south coast.

3-0

Chelsea vs. Watford

It’s tough to ever go against Chelsea, especially at home. Watford have given a good account of themselves so far but will be no match for the galacticos at Stamford Bridge.

2-0

Sheffield United vs. Bolton

United grabbed their first win of the campaign last weekend and while I don’t see them repeating that feat, I do fancy them to get a point. Bolton have been exceeding expectations for a long time and I think they might be tiring a bit.

1-1

Everton vs. Aston Villa

I can’t imagine anything but a draw here. Playing at Goodison will only help the Toffees but both of these squads are draw specialists. Almost all of the action in this contest will take place in the midfield and whichever team can assert some superiority might be able to win but I don’t fancy it.

0-0

Wigan vs. Charlton Athletic

Even though Ian Dowie appears to have righted the Charlton ship after a tumultuous beginning, Wigan will win here. Paul Jewell has done a remarkable job shuffling his new recruits into a competent side that can play with anyone. Darren Bent gets a goal but Wigan gets two.

2-1

Middlesboro vs. West Ham

I’m envisioning a letdown for the Hammers here. Southgate’s charges are under fire after some ridiculously lackluster performances and I think they’ll do the business at the Riverside. West Ham have been in some emotional matches of late and it’ll tough for the lads to get up for this trip to the northeast.

2-0

Blackburn vs. Manchester United

Fergie's former underlings (Robson, McClaren, Bruce, etc.) usually do well against their old mentor, and I’d love to see Sparky pull one over on his old gaffer, but I don’t see it this time around. Blackburn is smarting from key injuries and Sir Alex has the Red Devils on a roll. Under different circumstances I could see Rovers grabbing a point but not this weekend.

1-2

Reading vs. Tottenham

I don’t have much confidence in Reading right now. The squad doesn’t have enough spine to compete against the big boys and Spurs are acting like big boys at the moment. I could see Reading being in deep trouble come February. They're just not getting the goals at the moment and the defense has been suspect.

1-3

Arsenal vs. Liverpool

The Gunners always get up for the matches against top opponents and after their slow start, Liverpool is again back to playing at their accustomed high level. But Wenger has a great record against Rafa, especially at home. This is a tough one to call but I’ll give The Arsenal the edge at home. A loss for the Gunners and the battle for the title becomes a two-horse race.

1-0

Manchester United and Chelsea prepare to slug it out again over Adu

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,277-2446555,00.html

Cascarino: Poll best advised to lie low

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,4465-2446392,00.html

Spain: Primera Liga Weekend Preview

Real Madrid visit Pampalona for a big battle with Osasuna, Valencia struggle with internal problems ahead of their clash with Athletic Bilbao, while it's second versus third at the Nou Camp as Barcelona host Zaragoza...

http://goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=165339

England: Premier League Preview

In the 12th round of Premiership action, Manchester United face a tricky trip to Blackburn, while Chelsea have a simple looking task at home to Watford. The highlight of the weekend is Arsenal’s home match against Liverpool on Sunday...

http://goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=165286

Thursday, November 09, 2006

United rubbish reports of trial for US starlet Adu

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=390650&cc=5901

League Cup Wrap: Chelsea thrash Villa, Arsenal over Everton

http://goal.com/en-US/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=164093

Sissoko faces lengthy spell on sidelines

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=390648&cc=5901

Wenger flies high over the Premiership cuckoos' nest

Marina Hyde asks, "Who, out of Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsène Wenger and Jose Mourinho, is the maddest?"

Why soccer in the USA is here to stay

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/11/09/why_soccer_in_the_usa_is_here.html

Gascoigne fall reveals strength of Beckham

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27-2444411,00.html

Poll back under the spotlight in 'cheat' row

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27-2444844,00.html

Kevin Nolan column

The Bolton captain wants to tell us what the players do before and after matches on Saturdays...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6125528.stm

Bundesliga: Bayern six points adrift after fourth defeat

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=AlwUqX5q33gO7.UuhQ0TFfAmw7YF?slug=reu-germany&prov=reuters&type=lgns

Thursday's rumours

http://football.guardian.co.uk/rumourmill/index/0,,1943359,00.html

Heroes of old would find the Premiership a sobering test

The pace of the game has increased so rapidly that golden oldies such as Stanley Matthews wouldn't have been able to keep up...

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/11/09/heroes_of_old_would_find_the_p.html

United's B-list fail to realise potential

Kieran Richardson is one of a handful of Man United fringe players whose careers are stagnating...

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/11/09/richardson_stuck_in_neutral_as.html

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Carling Cup: Shrimpers shock United, Charlton through

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=390435&cc=5901

Ferguson tries to keep shock defeat in perspective

Sure, it's embarrassing. But come on. It's one less thing ManU have to worry about going forward. They don't need the Carling Cup. I suppose Sir Alex will have less opportunities to look at his fringe players but I don't think he can be too upset. With the amount of fixtures these days, it's only an advantage to him in the Premier League and Champions League to be done with this low-grade competition... Sanford

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=390457&cc=5901

MLS add up the benefit of Beckham swoop

Prepare for Posh and Becks to all over US Weekly next year. There will be loads of them in Hot Pics! and Stars - They're Just Like US! I can just see it now: Soccer mega-star David Beckham sneezes while lunching at Ivy!

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=390478&cc=5901

NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship Preview

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=390411&root=ncaa&cc=5901

Gazza arrested on suspicion of nightclub assault

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=Aisrr02jojnhp02t7XfME5omw7YF?slug=afp-fblengbritainpolicepeoplegascoigne&prov=afp&type=lgns

England axe caused Beckham real problems, says Capello

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=AhF3r2bajs8zCRkB5rnnH2Qmw7YF?slug=reu-beckham&prov=reuters&type=lgns

Werder Bremen stays on top of Bundesliga

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=fbdereport&prov=st&type=lgns

Bocanegra Enjoying New Role for Fulham

http://www.soccer365.com/US_NEWS/Americans_Abroad/page_93_130618.shtml

Big welcome for new laws calling time on the touts

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1941981,00.html

Is this the greatest problem football faces?

The situation at West Ham should raise concerns about the future of the game. For when a club doesn't own its players, corruption can be rife...

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/11/08/is_this_the_greatest_problem_f.html

Seedorf Wants Oranje Return

I can't believe this guy is still only 30. It seems like he's been around forever and lost his starting spot at Milan 8 years ago because he was too old...

http://www.soccer365.com/EUROPEAN_NEWS/Rest_of_Europe/page_109_130597.shtml

The Fiver

http://football.guardian.co.uk/fiver/0,,415657,00.html

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Vinny and Gazza

I was talking with a buddy of mine the other day and he said he'd never seen the Vinny Jones/Paul Gascoigne ball grabbing photo. So here you go... -Sanford

Phil Ball in Spain

A bad week for Barca...

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=390133&root=europe&cc=5901

EPL Team of the Week

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=389912&root=england&cc=5901

Diouf arrested on suspicion of wife-beating

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=390278&cc=5901

Chelsea stars on the attack as row with Poll escalates

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,277-2440493,00.html

LA confirm interest in Beckham as Real talks stall

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27-2440526,00.html

Tony Cascarino Column

Would you rather have Henry or Drogba?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,4465-2440487,00.html

EPL Table

Barclays Premiership Table

		P	GD	Pts
1	Man Utd	11	21	28
2	Chelsea	11	11	25
3	Bolton	11	1	20
4	Portsmouth	11	7	19
5	Arsenal	10	10	18
6	Aston Villa	11	5	18
7	Everton	11	6	17
8	Liverpool	11	2	17
9	Fulham	11	-3	16
10	Tottenham	11	-3	15
11	Wigan	10	2	14
12	Reading	11	-7	13
13	Blackburn	11	-5	12
14	Man City	11	-7	12
15	West Ham	11	-5	11
16	Middlesbrough	11	-7	11
17	Watford	11	-4	9
18	Sheff Utd	11	-9	9
19	Newcastle	11	-7	8
20	Charlton	11	-8	8

Serie A Table

	Club, Played, Goal Difference, Points
1	Inter Milan	10	10	24
2	Palermo	10	8	24
3	Roma	10	10	20
4	Siena	10	3	17
5	Atalanta	10	3	16
6	Livorno	10	0	16
7	Udinese	10	3	13
8	Messina	10	0	13
9	Catania	10	-2	13
10	Empoli	10	1	12
11	Cagliari	10	-1	10
12	Sampdoria	10	-2	10
13	Lazio	10	0	9
14	Torino	10	-7	8
15	Parma	10	-9	8
16	AC Milan	10	0	7
17	Ascoli	10	-9	4
18	Chievo	10	-7	3
19	Fiorentina	10	3	0
20	Reggina	10	-4	-3

Sid Lowe in Spain

Betis coach Jabo Irureta isn't so much on the ropes as tumbling through them on to the judges' table below...

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/11/06/irureta_era_going_south_as_the.html

James Richardson in Italy

Milan's complaints about controversial refereeing decisions merely serve to deflect attention from far more serious troubles...

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2006/11/07/wrath_of_the_rossoneri_masks_a.html

Scouting Report: Giles Barnes, Derby County

Can Barnes lead Derby back to the big time? If only...

http://football.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1941037,00.html

Richard Williams Column

Williams says, "Enough of managers having mid-life crises on the touchline"...

Gabriele Marcotti: Germany, you have a problem

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27-2439160_2,00.html

Monday, November 06, 2006

Prediction Results

I suppose I did OK. I got three right, three wrong and no perfect scores. I actually thought Newcastle would lose but wimped out and gave them the benefit of the doubt, which was obviously a mistake. Everton continued their miserable record at Craven Cottage and will have to wait until next year to break their 40-year run without a win at that cozy ground. And I underestimated ManU’s defense – I was sure Portsmouth would nick a goal or two. We’ll have another go this Friday… Sanford