Sanford's Soccer Net

Friday, February 23, 2007

Roberto Gotta in Italy

Many Italians don't know their geography, so it was perhaps no surprise to discover on Tuesday that Milan's Alberto Gilardino was tricked into thinking Glasgow was really Edinburgh and that Champions League's last 16 1st leg was the title of a pantomime you would, or on second thought wouldn't, see at the Fringe Festival.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=410388&root=uefachampionsleague&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1&cc=5901

UEFA Cup Wrap

Ajax Amsterdam and Parma joined CSKA as former winners to bow out, their European campaigns ended by Werder Bremen and Braga respectively. There were no problems for holders Sevilla, cruising through 3-0 on aggregate against Steaua Bucharest to lead a quartet of Spanish sides through to the last 16. Primera Liga rivals Celta Vigo, Osasuna and Espanyol also won through.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=410318&cc=5901

Richard Williams on Ronaldinho's Soft Belly

Ronaldinho is playing soft and looking flabby, and his manager, Frank Rijkaard, should do something about it.

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/02/23/ronaldinhos_soft_centre_is_wei.html

Trouble in Lens evokes memories of darkest days

It is now nearly 18 years since the Hillsborough disaster which cost the lives of 96 Liverpool fans but for some considerable time on Tuesday it seemed as though football had learnt nothing since 1989. Or perhaps French football.
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-column&prov=reuters&type=lgns

Wenger will not cast vote in favour of Mourinho’s brash talk

While Arsène Wenger’s love of The X Factor came as something of a shock, it will surprise no one that his row with José Mourinho is in danger of becoming X-rated. The facile feuding between two such accomplished managers plumbed new depths yesterday as Wenger hit back at his rival, saying that Mourinho’s achievement in winning the Champions League with FC Porto does not guarantee he will be remembered as a great of the game. This weekend’s scrap over a somewhat lesser trophy, the Carling Cup, could be a feisty affair.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premiership/arsenal/article1426546.ece

Tony Cascarino Column

Uefa should pardon Puel: let United kick him out instead.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article1421275.ece

Friday's Rumours

Adriano for Messi? Yeah, right...-Sanford
http://football.guardian.co.uk/rumourmill/index/0,,2019869,00.html

Lawro's Premiership Previews

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/6385249.stm

The Kevin Nolan Column

"There has been no karaoke on our mid-season break in Tenerife"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6380447.stm

Lawro's Carling Cup Preview

I am going to the Carling Cup final, but I honestly cannot get a cigarette paper in between these two teams.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/6385231.stm

Howard Can Star For USA - Moyes

Everton manager David Moyes believes Tim Howard can go on to cement his place as the USA's top goalkeeper. Howard's season-long loan move from Manchester United will become permanent in the summer, with a five-year deal already agreed.

http://www.soccer365.com/US_NEWS/National_Teams/page_91_137455.shtml

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Benitez’s men learn to sing from same hymn sheet

Simon Barnes on why refusing a bit of karaoke isn't such a bad thing.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/simon_barnes/article1421585.ece

Injured Terry ruled out of Carling Cup final

The England skipper will undergo scans on the right ankle he damaged last night later today but while the injury will rule him out of Sunday's final against Arsenal at Cardiff's Millennium stadium, it is not expected to be a long-term problem.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=410113&cc=5901

Wednesday's Champions League Reports

Barcelona 1 - 2 Liverpool:
Oh, the irony! Liverpool's goalscorers? Yup, you guessed it. John Arne Riise and Craig Bellamy. And Bellamy celebrated his goal with a golf swing. Pure class...-Sanford
http://football.guardian.co.uk/Match_Report/0,,2018485,00.html

Porto 1 - 1 Chelsea
Terry injury takes shine off the night of Shevchenko's most important goal.
http://football.guardian.co.uk/Match_Report/0,,2018486,00.html

Internazionale Milan 2 - 2 Valencia
David Silva cracked home a late equaliser to deny Internazionale and hand Valencia a draw from their trip to the San Siro.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=211971&cc=5901

Roma 0 - 0 Lyon
Both teams struggled to find their rhythm in a tense affair which was interrupted by a series of free-kicks and 11 yellow cards from English referee Mike Riley.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=211969&cc=5901

Henry plays through the pain barrier for Arsenal cause

If he's not 100% he should not be playing. End of story. Arsenal have proved that they don't need him on the pitch to be successful and he's been poor of late. I understand that he wants to be playing but he needs to suck it up and wear the uniform he's wearing in this picture until he's healthy. The fact that he is captain only makes things worse. -Sanford

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2018577,00.html

Everton 1 - 2 Tottenham

Jermaine Jenas provided further evidence of a potential Spurs revival by securing Martin Jol's newly renascent side a rare away win courtesy of an eye catching 89th minute winner curled in from outside the box last night.
http://football.guardian.co.uk/Match_Report/0,,2018488,00.html

Richard Williams Column

There is reverse psychology, and then there is the eternal mystery of the mind of Rafael Benítez. Last night, less than a week after Craig Bellamy allegedly threatened John Arne Riise with a golf club at the end of a squad training week in Portugal, the Liverpool manager rewarded the Welshman not with the threat of a transfer at the end of the season but with a place in his starting line-up for a match that could define the club's season. Ninety minutes later both men were celebrating their unlikely reward.
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/02/22/bellamy_rewards_the_pragmatism.html