Wednesday, October 17, 2007

The Grab: 10.17.2007

It's hard to follow Fat Sam, apparently. Who am I kidding? Did anyone out there really think Sammy Lee had a chance at Bolton? Especially when he claimed he was going to inject his own style into the overachieving team? Octogenarian midfielder Gary Speed was handed some coaching duties, and then resigned them to "concentrate on his playing" after being left out of the side for key matches. Apparently skipper Kevin Nolan and older-than-dirt Ivan Campo didn't get along particularly well with Allardyce's former number two. We all knew Bolton were carried pretty much by Sam Allardyce, and it would take a bit more of a complicated mind to continue their success after his departure to Newcastle. Perhaps it's not fair, but how do you trust the tactical mind of a man who is a bag of cliches with a headset attached?

Bolton Wanderers part company with Sammy Lee [Times Online]

Some Three Lions fans got a beatdown in the Moscow city center leading up to England's clash with Russia at the Luzhniki Stadium. Surprisingly, the police have blamed the England supporters for drinking excessively. Police representatives stated the obvious:


"British subjects who have come to Moscow to support their team against Russia
are not acting properly. There is the feeling that they have come to drink,"
Thankfully, it's cold enough to dull the pain of taking a few bottles to the back of one's head. The Times is reporting that there are more than 5000 police, ranging from Interior Ministry troops to riot cops, to handle the clash of the expected 4500 England fans. Who says England fans' rep doesn't precede them?

England fans beaten in Moscow, say police [Guardian Football]

I don't know how many of you out there pay much attention to the NFL, but it's hard to believe this story coming from the Daily Mail. Apparently there are rich American football owners who are willing to pay England rugby star Johnny Wilkinson up to $10M a year to ply his trade in the NFL. More upsetting has to be the fact that JW makes less in a year than Chelsea and England captain John Terry makes in two weeks. I'm sure Wilkinson can make some good cash in the States, and work the accent and quads for the ladies of America, but $10M? I'm thinking more like $250K a year instead.

American football woos kicking king Wilkinson - £5m a year and no hits [Daily Mail]

Despite enjoying hearing about England's chances on a plastic pitch about once every 15 minutes for the last week, I'll be happy once the international break is over and the real, meaningful stuff starts again. Here's what to watch for this weekend (all times Eastern):

Saturday, October 20
Everton v. Liverpool 7:30 am Setanta
Bochum v. Bayern Munich 9:25 am GolTV
Manchester City v. Birmingham City 9:30 am Setanta Xtra
Arsenal v. Bolton 10:00 am Setanta
Middlesbrough v. Chelsea 10:00 am Fox Soccer Channel
Bundesliga TBA 11:30 am GolTV
Aston Villa v. Manchester United 12:00 pm Fox Soccer Channel
Rangers v. Celtic 12:00 pm Setanta PPV
Scunthorpe v. Leicester 12:15 pm Setanta
Villareal v. Barcelona 2:00 pm GolTV
Reggina v. Inter Milan 2:25 pm Fox Soccer Channel
Espanyol v. Real Madrid 4:00 pm GolTV
Blackburn v. Reading 4:30 pm Fox Soccer Channel (delayed)
Roma v. Napoli 8:00 pm Fox Soccer Channel (delayed)
Chivas USA v. Houston 10:30 pm Fox Soccer Channel

Sunday October 21
Ajax v. NEC 4:45 am Setanta (delayed)
Southampton v. Cardiff City 8:00 am Setanta
AC Milan v. Empoli 9:00 am Fox Soccer Channel
La Liga TBA 11:00 am GolTV
West Ham v. Sunderland 11:00 am Fox Soccer Channel
Bundesliga TBA 1:00 pm GolTV
Juventus v. Genoa 2:25 pm Fox Soccer Channel
Atletico Madrid v. Zaragoza 3:00 pm GolTV (To Be Confirmed)
Boca Juniors v. Estudiantes 3:00 pm Fox Soccer Espanol
Nancy v. Sochaux 10:00 pm Setanta (delayed)

As always, check your local listings.

-bl

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