Roundup Time

Despite your specific flavor of the football colours, you had something interesting going on this past week/weekend. Let’s get caught up with things that probably don't matter:

One thing that may or may not matter, but worth mentioning anyhow is some big ups to the Newcastle Jets of the Australian A League. I try and catch the Grand Final every year, since it’s the only A League game broadcast in the States and they've only had three of them so far. However, I found myself fascinated with the intensity of the Grand Final and came up with this formula to help explain the A League to outsiders:

1 part MLS (talent) + 2 parts ex-Pat Support (crowd noise and attendance) + 1 part Australian Rule Football/Six Nations Rugby (off the ball knocks) = Australian A League.

The game didn’t match the 5 or 6-0 drubbing last year, where Archie Thompson netted four goals in the biggest game of the year. I don’t care what league or place you’re playing, but four goals is knocking on the door of a golden shower and that’s why we watch the game (I realize that statement may need some more explaining, but I’m going to let your imagination run wild for the moment).


One bit of news that came out of the game was a clear hand ball in the box in the 92’ minute that should have netted the opposition Central Coast Mariners a penalty kick, but ended up netting their goalkeeper a 15 month ban for hitting the referee Mark Shields after missing the call, congrats to Danny Vukovic for crossing the line we’ve all wanted to go with Mark Clattenburg for a long time.

Moving continents…

Spain...looks like Real wasn’t as locked as thought in La Liga after blowing a home match to mid-table club Getafe, 1-0 and everyone’s favorite Dutchman wondering how he can get back on the DL.

Compounding Real’s issue is the fact that Barca now look like the Alpha dog in not only Spain, but the rest of Europe after getting a 3-2 result at Celtic and handing bottom of the table Levante a 5-1 mercy rule loss.

Italy…a few minor notes after a mixed review for the Italian clubs in the Champions League…

*Roma is getting closer to Inter (9pts w/ 14 games left) with a nice 1-0 home decision versus 5th place side Fiorentian (a game currently being shown delayed in the Lodge)

*This also marks the point of the season where AC Milan have re-entered the top 4 and make their San Antonio Spurs type run to the top of Champions League playing some of the most unattractive brand of Football out their, so kudos to them for making the beautiful game look like U-12 All Star game.

Germany…

England...Today’s pic of the day describes the big news that Spurs has finally achieved at winning something and with current form look to challenge to become a new member of the big four. I’d like to thank Lodge favorite, the G&D, for providing a good atmosphere last night for a 12 hour delayed game, big ups.

*Question of the week—where does this put Chelsea who are still playing for the other three trophies? A) 3 for 4 B) 2 for 4 C) 1 for 4 D) 0 for 4, please text in your answer.

Even quicker roundup:
*
Kevin Keegan’s back line is really, really bad, no I mean, really, really f’n bad

*Martin Taylor’s not a big fan of Brazilian born Croats playing for an English Team, seriously though, I did see on the Sky this morning that Taylor has only received 8 (2 red, 6 yellow) bookings in 240 matches, which is un f’n believable for any premier player. The Lodge’s thoughts are with young Eduardo da Silva and his out in the first round of Euro ’08 Croatian national teammates.

*El Nino is a good player when not on the bench

*Let's see if Dave from Seattle's Everton can get some points today to secure themselves back in the fourth place and give Timmy Howard an opportunity to get back to Europe's big stage

Relegation watch:

Derby 9…Fulham 19…Reading 22.............Newcastle 28

Be Champions...