gdp's Comments

World Football Columns : The Premier League 2010/11 Preview

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 18:29:26 +0000

Well, Blackpool's stay at the top was shortlived, to say the least. Chelsea has turned the WBA yo yo on it's head. It's now Oy! Oy!

World Football Columns : It’s Not Easy Being Green

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:44:24 +0000

In MLB, the big clubs are always in the hunt, keeping the major television markets engaged, but they don’t always win. Baseball and soccer are very similar in that the difference in degree of talent from top to bottom is miniscule. Over the course of a season, it shows, which is why the big spending clubs (at least those with competent management) are always contending. In the playoffs, however, with a short series or just one game deciding matters, money is less of a factor. The Yankees are defending champions but the year before it was the Tampa Bay Rays who won the division and went to the Series. It will be the same in MLS. the DPR will help NY, Chicago and LA contend year after year, as long as they spend wisely, but in the playoffs, mid to small market clubs like Houston, Salt Lake, Seattle and Columbus, with strong cores and excellent coaching will be on equal footing. As for the winter schedule, I am working on that article even now. Sorry, Ben, no sneak peeks but I will say that my opinion may surprise some people.

World Football Columns : Over A Pint / Hashing Out The Homegrown Rule

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:09:32 +0000

Another point that I think needs to be touched upon is the development of English coaches. Currently, there are 10 international coaches (counting Scots) in the Premier League. As clubs begin to recruit more English players to comply with the new rule, I think you'll see the foreign coaches winnowed out of the herd. At places like Chelsea and Man City, where they will continue to recruit internationally, you will still see big names from elsewhere in charge. But the likes of de Matteo and especially Roberto Martinez, who loves to sign youngsters from Central America, will soon be on the outside looking in. They just won't have the contacts to compete for the best young homegrown players. In turn, that will lead to the glass ceiling being removed from English managers in the lower levels, thus laying the groundwork for a succession of homegrown England managers.

World Football Columns : The Championship 2010/11: Preview

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 19:34:05 +0000

Wow, Cardiff and the Blades still to go tomorrow but not a single draw on opening day. Looks like the Championship will be very interesting again this year.

World Football Columns : Russian Football: Not so attractive?

Thu, 5 Aug 2010 16:00:15 +0000

Not qualified to say, I'm a Canuck. We're famous for it.

World Football Columns : Russian Football: Not so attractive?

Tue, 3 Aug 2010 16:35:40 +0000

For some strange reason, MLS doesn't appear in the UEFA rankings, but then, I seem to remember emphasising the difference in quality, when I likened the effects of the harsh winters on the scheduling in both leagues.

World Football Columns : Russian Football: Not so attractive?

Tue, 3 Aug 2010 16:35:02 +0000

World Football Columns : A Road Less Traveled — The MLS Business Model

Tue, 3 Aug 2010 14:50:53 +0000

For MLS to switch to a winter schedule, they would need to build stadia with retractable domed roofs in virtually every existing market. The winter in America is just too harsh from as early as mid November to as late as mid March. Even a two week break wouldn't alleviate the problem. As it is, the humidity of the summers is what led to the contraction of the two Florida clubs, in Miami and Tampa, more-so than financial loss. As I've already noted, very few MLS clubs have actually turned a profit to date. The absence of competition is less a factor than you make it out. Mexico is a very competitive league, of better quality at the moment than MLS. The Costa Rican League is actually quite good, as well. The US plays in the CONCACAF Champions League and the Super Liga, the latter featuring 4 clubs each from Mexico and MLS. The Americans' lack of success in these competitions can be traced back to the climate problems, as these matches don't coincide with the MLS season. I, too, would like to see a union of CONMEBOL and CONCACAF, as I think the South Americans have it too easy in World Cup qualifying, being just a ten member federation. However, they know it as well as anyone and, coupled with the financial considerations and the potential loss of cushy executive jobs for either side in any merger, this is just pie in the sky thinking.

World Football Columns : A Road Less Traveled — The MLS Business Model

Tue, 3 Aug 2010 14:22:25 +0000

Where were you on the fourth of July? http://www.worldfootballcolumns.com/2010/07/05/fo...

World Football Columns : Over A Pint / Should English Football Take A Break Over The Holidays?

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:19:43 +0000

Nothing that significantly cuts off revenue will be implemented. You don't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. The FA cup is the competition where it would make more sense to eliminate the Premier League clubs, if money weren't an object. Remember, though that if you take the EPL out of either of those competitions, it's one less route to Europe. I think I would make the League Cup strictly between Championship and Premier League sides and set it up as follows: Round 1--The 24 Championship sides (including the three that won promotion) are seeded according to the previous season's table (the promoted sides coming into the Championship taking the bottom slots in order of their finish in the lower league). When the round is done the 12 survivors move on to... Round 2-- Where they are ranked 21 through 32 according to their original seeding. Naturally the top twenty are ranked in the order they finished the previous EPL campaign. Round 3--The 16 teams remaining play Round 4--The quarterfinals Round 5--The semifinals. No two legged tie!!! Round 6--Wembley for the Cup http://www.carling.com/carlingcup/draw/ Click on the link and note that I have eliminated two rounds from the competition and as much as six weeks of the schedule. With a little creativity, the League Cup Final, like American college bowl games, could be played on New Year's Day. Am I a genius or just a dumb Canuck without a clue?

World Football Columns : Russian Football: Not so attractive?

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:52:54 +0000

Being Canadian and also old enough to remember the '72 Super Series, I can tell you that another reason is that the first sporting love of Russians is hockey. Although, the quality of play is better than MLS, the RPL is essentially a summer league, due to the severe Russian winter, and therefore out of sync with the rest of Europe. This is another reason that the game isn't as popular with the Moscow sports fan. Being out of step with the major footballing leagues likely makes Russian fans feel like second class citizens. Still, much like any sport they put their minds to, tennis being a good example, Russian athletes have the strength of mind to excel whether or not they have a legion of fans behind them.

World Football Columns : Who’s Gonna Take The Brazilian Hot Seat?

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:19:55 +0000

It looks as though Ramalho has the inside track. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8850423....

World Football Columns : Why Do England Always Lose?

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 00:11:29 +0000

just saw this bit on dirty tackle. wonder how lamps feels about schweini's bird wearing his strip. http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/blog/d...

World Football Columns : Who Is To Blame For England's Failures?

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 00:10:00 +0000

just saw this article on dirty tackle. I wonder how lamps feels about schweini's bird wearing his strip. http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/blog/d...

World Football Columns : Match Day Special/World Cup Semi-Final Germany v Spain

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 23:23:51 +0000

Okay, first I am too not lazy! And second, I wasn't at the Weinmarkt last night. It's too far to drive.

World Football Columns : Who Is To Blame For England's Failures?

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 15:09:56 +0000

One has to remember that Capello is totally inexperienced as an international coach.. In looking at the clubs he would possibly be facing, coming out of the group (Germany, Spain, Brazil or the Netherlands), I think Capello felt the need, despite injury and club managers conspiring against him, to field an experienced line up. Given his episode with Beckham at Madrid, I'm sure he will learn from his failure and you will see a different set up at the Euros. Two things you didn't mention were the lack of a winter break in English football and its extremely physical style of play. Personally, I think these are major factors in England's struggles. When you look at Fernando Torres' and Robin van Persie' struggles for Spain and the Dutch respectively, I think this theory is borne out.

World Football Columns : Why Do England Always Lose?

Mon, 5 Jul 2010 21:51:53 +0000

Nope, it's definitely the lack of parasites in British tabbies. You can't argue with science.

World Football Columns : Blind Man’s Bluff: Mayhem With A Whistle!

Mon, 5 Jul 2010 15:29:05 +0000

That is true enough but we are not players. As spectators, we're allowed to second guess referees, managers, players, executives, pundits and each other. It's called fun.

World Football Columns : Who Says Crime Doesn't Pay?

Sun, 4 Jul 2010 20:11:20 +0000

First, being North American, I am permitted (or at least have the audacity) to root for more than one club. In fancying both Toon and United, I find that your question poses something of a moral dilemma. Therefore, this answer will probably sound more like a cop out than it is. I don't see how you can deal with such a situation any more equitably than the way it was handled at the time. The ref shoots down Ole-Gunnar (who until I read this, seemed a fairly likable guy) and gives Newcastle a free kick. Yes, United have time to get men back and form a wall but the aggrieved Magpies also have the option of throwing men forward. No advantage is gained or lost there, although the resumed play is of a different nature than the one interrupted. In the end, Rob Lee (or a teammate, adv. Newcastle) get to take a free kick from a dangerous spot, with an unencumbered chance to score. You may argue that Lee might have gone all the way to goal and beaten the keeper (Schmeicel?) to put the Geordies level but, then again, he may not have. He might have shot around or over the goalie, missing the net, he might have offered a last, heavy touch that the keeper, coming off his line, was able to smother, he may have shot directly at the netminder and had the ball saved or he may have even tripped over his own feet, in his enthusiasm. Remember, this is Newcastle, we're talking about. All of those possibilities negate doing anything but giving the ball to the offended party at the spot of the foul with sufficient space around the ball to ensure that options are available and, at least, some of the advantage lost is regained. Granting a penalty for an offence committed so far from goal is not a fair punishment in light of all the variables that could have occurred had it not happened. Remember, too, from that point on, Newcastle were playing with a manpower advantage. You didnt say at the death, as in the Ghana match, so I'm assuming Toon had some time in which to work. (I'm also assuming they failed to take advantage of the dead ball situation, or you likely wouldn't have used this as an example. I feel like Dr. Watson, working on his 5th Red Bull of the night) Ultimately, I only recommend giving a goal when the ball is diverted, in a nefarious manner, from what otherwise would have been a certain journey across the goal line.

World Football Columns : Matchday Special - Germany vs Argentina

Sun, 4 Jul 2010 00:56:41 +0000

Joachim Low has to be licking his chops thinking about sending Podolski down the left side, with Sergio Ramos in his usual haunt well up the pitch.