A Little Bit on Carlos

Since I am thinking about the ridiculous today, just a word to let you know that if you aren't following the Carlos Tevez transfer affair, you are missing out not only a completely bizarre story, but one that essentially sums up everything that is wrong with football. Just look at the Tevez story over the past year:

* Tevez and pal Javier Mascherano are transfered to West Ham. Almost certainly illegally. Mascherano is later loaned the same season (again, almost certainly illegally) to Liverpool, helping them to the final of the Champions League. West Ham looks like fools for letting him go. Meanwhile, West Ham stays up thanks to the admittedly awesome play of Tevez. Sheffield United, playing by the rules, go down. (See the When Saturday Comes cover for a clearer explanation if this is confusing.)

* Tevez announces after the season that he loves playing for West Ham.

* A few weeks later, Tevez announces (through intermediaries) he would love to play for Inter Milan. Milan is very interested, and then backs off. Noises are made about Tevez going to Spain.

* Tevez once again opens negotiations with West Ham. The team announces the two sides are "close."

* Out of nowhere, Tevez and agent announce he will be loaned out to Manchester United. West Ham denies this. Hilarity ensues. No one, even respected journalists, seem to understand why West Ham would loan Tevez to ManU.

* When West Ham begins to stall, Tevez's "representative" Kia Joorabchian announces he will essentially release the details of Tevez's contract to the public if the loan isn't approved. The implicit threat is that EVERYONE (Tevez, West Ham, Manchester, the Premiership, FIFA, England, and God's Green Earth) will all be embarrassed and in trouble if details of the contract get out. Suddenly West Ham knocks it off with the threats.

* Newshounds break the story that Kia Joorabchian is a wanted man in South America.

Great. Anyway, it looks like Tevez will sign with Manchester next week, and he will probably be awesome. And a little piece of football fan's souls everywhere will die.

Evil Sheffield United Supporter

I have been taking it easy with the posts this month, but I had to share this. It is ridiculous, bizarre and in very poor taste. It is also one of the funniest football videos I have ever seen. Go Sheffield United!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg5HsG7AN1Y

My Silly Season

My apologies to my five or six loyal readers who have been wondering when I will return. Like my football-playing brethren, I have been taking a brief summer break to re-charge my batteries. I have also been taking the occasional trip, although unfortunately I have not and will not be going to Venezuela to see what's left of the Copa America. I will be checking in occasionally over the next month to talk about transfer news, gossip, and the MLS, but I won't be back full-time until August, when the Premiership season starts up again. From there we can together enjoy the start up of all the European Leagues and the wrap up of MLS, as well as the first appearance of David Beckham in an MLS shirt.

So I will only be checking in periodically in July before I come back again full-time in August. Thanks to everyone who wrote in, and enjoy all all the summer football that we get to watch this year!

U.S. v. Argentina Tonight

Most football fans are watching this year's Copa America, which is already shaping up to be a fun tournament. (Last night's late match, where Mexico spanked Brazil, was great to watch.) Tonight will see one of the highlights for American fans as the U.S. national team takes on Argentina. Most people think Messi and the boys will take apart this inexperienced American squad piece by piece. SI's Jonah Freedman certainly thinks so, in this article below, and I guess I'm inclined to agree. The U.S. didn't bring much firepower. It sure would have been fun to see the U.S. bring their full Gold Cup suqad, however, especially after watching Mexico hand it to co-favorites Brazil last night. (Mexico played a great game and the first goal was GORGEOUS. However, if Robinho had finished that bicycle kick it would have been one for the ages.) Regardless, even if tonight turns into a Messi/Tevez exhibition, it should still be fun.

http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/24812

In other news (well, Real Madrid news) the team fired coach Fabio Capello less than two weeks after winning la Liga. Gutsy movie, I guess. Capello wins wherever he goes, but I was just as frustrated with him as everyone else at the mid-year when the team was playing so poorly. I guess this just highlights the fact that at Real Madrid the perception is just as important as the football, and when the crowds started to get down on Capello and his "boring" game, nothing could save him. We'll see how the fifth coach in five years does for the boys in white. David, you may have left just in time.

Funny Football

Since it is a quiet Tuesday morning here in the football world, (nothing much is happening, although Klose just signed with Bayern Munich and Trezeguet resigned with Juve) I need something to distract me from the thought of Henry in a Barca shirt getting a hat trick at Real Madrid. Thus here is a fun little collection of clips (brought to my attention by FourFourTwo) chronicling the lighter side of football. My favorite bit is when the player gets hit by the football. Wait, that's every bit. Anyway, its pretty funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70UrBGfChCA

Monday Quick Hits

A couple of quick hits on a sunny Monday morning….

• Pretty much everyone agrees that yesterday’s Gold Cup final was spectacular. Mexico played very appealing, attacking football the entire game, but the United States’ strong second-half surge won them the cup. Mexico’s goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez played wonderfully in net (it could have been 4-1) and Landon Donavan played a brilliant, brilliant game. He passed it beautifully, especially in the second half. It was fun to watch on television, and it must have been a blast to be there in Chicago in person.
• Now I’m really looking forward to the Copa America, which begins in a few days. Like everyone else, I’m excited about seeing the big names on the Argentina team and seeing if they can go all the way. I am also pleased to see that Robinho will get the opportunity to be the fulcrum of the Brazilian attack; he is still one of my favorite players. Hopefully the U.S. can advance to the second round, but they are bringing a VERY young squad. We shall see.
• Here is a very sad photograph of Thierry Henry. I did not enjoy seeing this photo this morning. Only a French football player, incidentally, could get away with searing a cardigan and still be considered really cool. Good for you, TH.
• Finally, here is an interesting article from the Boston Globe celebrating the rising attendance at New England Revolution matches. Why didn’t that goon reporter interview the Football Fan-atic? Because I always keep it real…

http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2007/06/25/spending_it_not_just_on_beckham/

Goodbye Thierry

Thierry Henry, perhaps the greatest player in Arsenal history, and also perhaps the single most popular and admired player in the English Premier League, announced yesterday that he would be playing for the next four years with Barcelona FC. Among the reasons he gave include the departure of club chairman David Dein and the instability surrounding genius manager Arsene Wenger, but it may very well be that Henry believes Arsenal has shot its bolt. After a few years of trophy-laden greatness, Arsenal won nothing this year, and although some thought their youth would come on strong next year, others felt it would be sometime before Arsenal could win again, due largely to the massive debt service the club has to pay to play in its new Emirates Stadium.

It’s a sad day for Arsenal and English football. Henry was a great player, a good guy and the face of his franchise. Some players, whether you like them or not, just belong at their clubs. Stephen Gerrard, for instance, belongs at Liverpool, whether you like him or not. Same for Paulo Maldini at AC Milan or Raul at Real Madrid. Even after they lose it (as Raul has) some guys just belong at certain clubs. I’m sorry to see Henry go.

And as much as I like Thierry, I’m not to happy about him going to Barcelona, where he will play my Real Madrid club at least twice a year. If Barca keeps the rest of their team together (which is a big IF) they will have Henry and Eto’o at forwards with Ronaldinho and Messi on the wings. That, simply, is the best attacking team on the face of the earth. Both Eto’o and Ronaldinho may still go, but it will be interesting to see what happens. In the meantime, goodbye, Thierry. Thanks for the memories.