31
Fantasy League / Re: Premier League Fantasy
« on: July 19, 2010, 01:08:50 PM »
legit league def joining!
April 18, 2024, 07:42:03 PM
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32
Fantasy League / Re: World Cup 2010 Fantasy
« on: June 10, 2010, 11:36:56 AM »
who has a mcdonald's league on fifa.com?
33
Football / CONCACAF RELEASES CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SCHEDULE
« on: June 09, 2010, 12:00:51 PM »
CONCACAF RELEASES CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SCHEDULE
NEW YORK (Wednesday, June 9, 2010) – Canadian champion Toronto FC will open the CONCACAF Champions League against Motagua of Honduras on July 27, while two-time runner-up Cruz Azul will embark on a third attempt to win the title later the same day against San Francisco FC in Panama.
The Preliminary Round schedule announced Tuesday also includes opening-day clashes with Trinidad's San Juan Jabloteh facing Santos Laguna of Mexico on July 27 in the first leg of their series and the MLS Cup runner-up Los Angeles Galaxy facing the Puerto Rico Islanders.
Tauro FC of Panama will host Marathon of Honduras as 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 28, with Brujas of Costa Rica to follow against Joe Public of Trinidad and the U.S. Open Cup champion Seattle Sounders hosting Metapan of El Salvador later.
The first leg will conclude Thursday, July 29, with CD FAS of El Salvador hosting Guatemala's Xelaju.
The second leg of each series will be held the following week with Cruz Azul-San Francisco, Motagua-Toronto and Metapan-Seattle on Tuesday, August 3; Puerto Rico-Los Angeles, Santos-Jabloteh and Marathon Tauro on Wednesday, August 4; and Joe Public-Brujas and Xelaju-FAS completing the Preliminary Round on Thursday, August 5.
The winners on aggregate all will advance to the Group Stage, which will commence August 17-19.
The top two teams in each group will qualify for the knockout quarterfinals, set for February and March of 2011.
Preliminary Round Schedule
(All Times U.S. Eastern; home teams listed first)
First Leg
Tuesday, July 27
Toronto FC (CAN) vs. Montagua (HON), 8 p.m.
San Juan Jabloteh (TRI) vs. Santos Laguna (MEX), 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Galaxy (USA) vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR), 10 p.m.
San Francisco FC (PAN) vs. Cruz Azul (MEX), 10 p.m.
Wednesday, July 28
Tauro FC (PAN) vs. Marathon (HON), 8 p.m.
Brujas (CRC) vs. Joe Public (TRI), 10 p.m.
Seattle Sounders (USA) vs. Metapan (SLV), 10 p.m.
Thursday, July 29
CD FAS (SLV) vs. Xejaju (GUA), 10 p.m.
Second Leg
Tuesday, August 3
Cruz Azul (MEX) vs. San Francisco (PAN), 8 p.m.
Motagua (HON) vs. FC Toronto (CAN), 8 p.m.
Metapan (SLV) vs. Seattle (USA), 10 p.m.
Wednesday, August 4
Puerto Rico (PUR) vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (USA), 8 p.m.
Santos Laguna (MEX) vs. San Juan Jabloteh (TRI), 10 p.m.
Marathon (HON) vs. Tauro (PAN), 10 p.m.
Thursday, August 5
Joe Public (TRI) vs. Brujas (CRC), 8 p.m.
Xelaju (GUA) vs. FAS (SLV), 10 p.m.
NEW YORK (Wednesday, June 9, 2010) – Canadian champion Toronto FC will open the CONCACAF Champions League against Motagua of Honduras on July 27, while two-time runner-up Cruz Azul will embark on a third attempt to win the title later the same day against San Francisco FC in Panama.
The Preliminary Round schedule announced Tuesday also includes opening-day clashes with Trinidad's San Juan Jabloteh facing Santos Laguna of Mexico on July 27 in the first leg of their series and the MLS Cup runner-up Los Angeles Galaxy facing the Puerto Rico Islanders.
Tauro FC of Panama will host Marathon of Honduras as 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 28, with Brujas of Costa Rica to follow against Joe Public of Trinidad and the U.S. Open Cup champion Seattle Sounders hosting Metapan of El Salvador later.
The first leg will conclude Thursday, July 29, with CD FAS of El Salvador hosting Guatemala's Xelaju.
The second leg of each series will be held the following week with Cruz Azul-San Francisco, Motagua-Toronto and Metapan-Seattle on Tuesday, August 3; Puerto Rico-Los Angeles, Santos-Jabloteh and Marathon Tauro on Wednesday, August 4; and Joe Public-Brujas and Xelaju-FAS completing the Preliminary Round on Thursday, August 5.
The winners on aggregate all will advance to the Group Stage, which will commence August 17-19.
The top two teams in each group will qualify for the knockout quarterfinals, set for February and March of 2011.
Preliminary Round Schedule
(All Times U.S. Eastern; home teams listed first)
First Leg
Tuesday, July 27
Toronto FC (CAN) vs. Montagua (HON), 8 p.m.
San Juan Jabloteh (TRI) vs. Santos Laguna (MEX), 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Galaxy (USA) vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR), 10 p.m.
San Francisco FC (PAN) vs. Cruz Azul (MEX), 10 p.m.
Wednesday, July 28
Tauro FC (PAN) vs. Marathon (HON), 8 p.m.
Brujas (CRC) vs. Joe Public (TRI), 10 p.m.
Seattle Sounders (USA) vs. Metapan (SLV), 10 p.m.
Thursday, July 29
CD FAS (SLV) vs. Xejaju (GUA), 10 p.m.
Second Leg
Tuesday, August 3
Cruz Azul (MEX) vs. San Francisco (PAN), 8 p.m.
Motagua (HON) vs. FC Toronto (CAN), 8 p.m.
Metapan (SLV) vs. Seattle (USA), 10 p.m.
Wednesday, August 4
Puerto Rico (PUR) vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (USA), 8 p.m.
Santos Laguna (MEX) vs. San Juan Jabloteh (TRI), 10 p.m.
Marathon (HON) vs. Tauro (PAN), 10 p.m.
Thursday, August 5
Joe Public (TRI) vs. Brujas (CRC), 8 p.m.
Xelaju (GUA) vs. FAS (SLV), 10 p.m.
34
Football / Draw sets preliminary round pairings, group stage for CONCACAF Champions league.
« on: May 19, 2010, 01:23:35 PM »
Draw sets preliminary round pairings, group stage for CONCACAF Champions league
NEW YORK (Wednesday, May 19, 2010) – Two-time runner-up Cruz Azul of Mexico will face Panama’s San Francisco in the Preliminary Round of the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League while the Los Angeles Galaxy and Puerto Rico Islanders also will square off when the third edition of the tournament begins in July.
The draw conducted Wednesday by deputy general secretaries Ted Howard and Italo Zanzi at the confederation’s New York headquarters set the Preliminary Round pairings and matchups for the Group Stage.
Other Preliminary Round matches will have the Mexican Clausura runner-up -- either Santos or Toluca -- facing San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad, Costa Rica’s Brujas facing Joe Public of Trinidad, the Canadian champion – either Toronto FC or the Vancouver Whitecaps – against Motagua of Honduras, and Xelaju of Guatemala against a Central America club.
The Seattle Sounders will face an as yet-to-be determined Central American side in the Preliminary Round, while Marathon – a quarterfinalist this past season – will take on Tauro FC of Panama.
Two berths originally were allocated to El Salvador, but FIFA has suspended the country due to governmental interference in the federation’s affairs. The government has until June 8 to comply with FIFA’s non-intervention requirements or its teams will be barred from international competition, including the Champions League – and its berths will be reassigned.
CD FAS already has qualified with one of El Salvador’s berths, and the second would go to either Aguila or Metapan.
Cruz Azul reached the finals in the first two years of the Champions League, losing to fellow Mexican sides Atlante in 2009 and Pachuca in May. This is the third consecutive season Cruz Azul has been forced into the Preliminary Round and is one of six teams to qualify each year since the Champions League was inaugurated.
In the Group Stage, MLS champion Real Salt Lake will lead Group A with Arabe Unido of Panama, the Cruz Azul-San Francisco winner and the winner between the Canadian champion and Motagua.
Group B will consist of the Columbus Crew, Municipal of Guatemala, the winner between Jabloteh and Toluca/Santos, and either Brujas or Joe Public.
Monterrey will head Group C, potentially the most difficult, with Costa Rica’s Saprissa, the Seattle-Central America 12 winner and either Tauro or Marathon. The Mexican Clausura champ, either Santos or Toluca, will top Group D with Olimpia of Honduras, the Galaxy-Islanders winner and the Central America 11-Xelaju winner.
The tournament will begin July 27-29 with the first leg of the Preliminary Round and the second leg a week later. The winners will advance to the Group Stage, the first round is set for August 17-19.
SOURCE - CONCACAF.COM
NEW YORK (Wednesday, May 19, 2010) – Two-time runner-up Cruz Azul of Mexico will face Panama’s San Francisco in the Preliminary Round of the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League while the Los Angeles Galaxy and Puerto Rico Islanders also will square off when the third edition of the tournament begins in July.
The draw conducted Wednesday by deputy general secretaries Ted Howard and Italo Zanzi at the confederation’s New York headquarters set the Preliminary Round pairings and matchups for the Group Stage.
Other Preliminary Round matches will have the Mexican Clausura runner-up -- either Santos or Toluca -- facing San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad, Costa Rica’s Brujas facing Joe Public of Trinidad, the Canadian champion – either Toronto FC or the Vancouver Whitecaps – against Motagua of Honduras, and Xelaju of Guatemala against a Central America club.
The Seattle Sounders will face an as yet-to-be determined Central American side in the Preliminary Round, while Marathon – a quarterfinalist this past season – will take on Tauro FC of Panama.
Two berths originally were allocated to El Salvador, but FIFA has suspended the country due to governmental interference in the federation’s affairs. The government has until June 8 to comply with FIFA’s non-intervention requirements or its teams will be barred from international competition, including the Champions League – and its berths will be reassigned.
CD FAS already has qualified with one of El Salvador’s berths, and the second would go to either Aguila or Metapan.
Cruz Azul reached the finals in the first two years of the Champions League, losing to fellow Mexican sides Atlante in 2009 and Pachuca in May. This is the third consecutive season Cruz Azul has been forced into the Preliminary Round and is one of six teams to qualify each year since the Champions League was inaugurated.
In the Group Stage, MLS champion Real Salt Lake will lead Group A with Arabe Unido of Panama, the Cruz Azul-San Francisco winner and the winner between the Canadian champion and Motagua.
Group B will consist of the Columbus Crew, Municipal of Guatemala, the winner between Jabloteh and Toluca/Santos, and either Brujas or Joe Public.
Monterrey will head Group C, potentially the most difficult, with Costa Rica’s Saprissa, the Seattle-Central America 12 winner and either Tauro or Marathon. The Mexican Clausura champ, either Santos or Toluca, will top Group D with Olimpia of Honduras, the Galaxy-Islanders winner and the Central America 11-Xelaju winner.
The tournament will begin July 27-29 with the first leg of the Preliminary Round and the second leg a week later. The winners will advance to the Group Stage, the first round is set for August 17-19.
SOURCE - CONCACAF.COM
35
Football / Re: CONCACAF to revisit W'Cup qualifying format
« on: May 07, 2010, 05:41:04 PM »
What they decided to do.
CONCACAF TO SEEK CHANGE IN WORLD CUP QUALIFYING FORMAT
NEW YORK (Friday, May 7, 2010) – CONCACAF will propose a change in its qualifying format for the 2014 World Cup, starting with a preliminary knockout stage followed by three group phases, the confederation Executive Committee decided Friday.
Meeting at CONCACAF’s New York headquarters, the committee decided to submit to FIFA the new structure aimed at guaranteeing more early round matches.
“In response to the needs of our membership, we are proposing a new system that will provide substantially more playing opportunities while producing a fair and compelling qualifying competition,” CONCACAF President Jack Warner said.
The Executive Committee also awarded the 2012 Women’s Olympic qualifying tournament to Canada, chose Guadalajara, Mexico, for the site of its 50th anniversary celebrations in 2011 and decided to recommend that FIFA suspend the El Salvador federation due to government intervention.
“I hope that the Salvadoran issue is resolved in time for the Salvadoran teams to participate in this year’s Champions League,” Warner said.
The committee also heard a briefing from the Russian federation on its bid to be selected later this year as host of the 2018 or 2022 World Cup . U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati also updated the board on the American bid, which will be submitted to FIFA on May 14.
CONCACAF TO SEEK CHANGE IN WORLD CUP QUALIFYING FORMAT
NEW YORK (Friday, May 7, 2010) – CONCACAF will propose a change in its qualifying format for the 2014 World Cup, starting with a preliminary knockout stage followed by three group phases, the confederation Executive Committee decided Friday.
Meeting at CONCACAF’s New York headquarters, the committee decided to submit to FIFA the new structure aimed at guaranteeing more early round matches.
“In response to the needs of our membership, we are proposing a new system that will provide substantially more playing opportunities while producing a fair and compelling qualifying competition,” CONCACAF President Jack Warner said.
The Executive Committee also awarded the 2012 Women’s Olympic qualifying tournament to Canada, chose Guadalajara, Mexico, for the site of its 50th anniversary celebrations in 2011 and decided to recommend that FIFA suspend the El Salvador federation due to government intervention.
“I hope that the Salvadoran issue is resolved in time for the Salvadoran teams to participate in this year’s Champions League,” Warner said.
The committee also heard a briefing from the Russian federation on its bid to be selected later this year as host of the 2018 or 2022 World Cup . U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati also updated the board on the American bid, which will be submitted to FIFA on May 14.
36
Football / Re: This week coming has the FIFA Fraud Conference......
« on: May 07, 2010, 08:27:25 AM »Press release from Miami, that they did not want the public to know:
http://www.iss.co.za/uploads/M169Chap4.pdf
Well yes...25 pages, but I will read it this afternoon...
Actually this is not Jennings' speech from Miami, but rather simply a chapter (chapter 4) in a book: "Player and Referee Conflicting Interests and the 2010 World Cup". Ref. http://www.iss.co.za/pgcontent.php?UID=29940
37
Football / U.S. World Cup Coach: I Dropped Captain Because He Slept With Teammate's Wife
« on: February 03, 2010, 12:29:32 PM »
U.S. World Cup Coach: I Dropped Captain Because He Slept With Teammate's Wife
Huffingtonpost.com
NEW YORK — Breaking more than a decade of silence, former U.S. soccer coach Steve Sampson said Tuesday he dropped John Harkes from the national team roster two months before the 1998 World Cup because the American captain was having an affair with the wife of teammate Eric Wynalda.
Harkes has long denied having an affair with Amy Wynalda.
Wynalda brought up the situation Monday night during a discussion on "Fox Football Fone-In" about a scandal in England over an alleged relationship between current English captain John Terry and the former partner of Wayne Bridge, his teammate on the national squad.
Sampson told The Associated Press on Tuesday he was glad the story was coming out now because "maybe people will have a little better of an understanding of what happened in the final months leading up to the World Cup."
After advancing to the second round of the 1994 World Cup at home, the U.S. finished last in the 32-nation field at the 1998 tournament in France, getting shut out by Germany, then losing 2-1 to Iran and 1-0 to Yugoslavia.
"It wasn't about losing 2-0 to Germany or losing to Iran," Sampson said. "There was more to it than that that impacted I believe the outcome of this team."
Wynalda said he spoke out during the program he co-hosts on Fox Soccer Channel because he was asked about Terry, who has been front-page news since Saturday in British newspapers.
"There's a lot of similarities between what happened to us in '98 and what's happening now to England," Wynalda told the AP. "It's an unfortunate time for England, because I know how that can affect a team firsthand. Obviously, we all know how we did in the World Cup in '98."
Story continues below
Sampson was replaced by Bruce Arena after the tournament.
Harkes was a member of the 1990 and 1994 U.S. World Cup teams and became the regular captain before he was dropped by Sampson in a surprise move on April 14, 1998. He made 90 international appearances from 1987-00.
"I am not going to rehash the things that have happened in the past," Harkes said Tuesday in a telephone interview. "1998 was devastating to me and my family. It was hard enough not to play in the World Cup, but it was even difficult to go through that time period, the most difficult time period of my life."
Sampson said Tuesday that Roy Wegerle, another U.S. player, came to him and assistant coach Clive Charles between the Feb. 25 game at Belgium and the March 14 match against Paraguay in San Diego and said he had personal knowledge of the affair. Charles died in 2003 and Wegerle, now retired, did not return a phone call Tuesday
In 1998, Sampson said Harkes, then 31, was dropped because the midfielder refused to play a more defensive role. Sampson also cited "leadership issues" but didn't elaborate.
Sampson, much criticized by players during the World Cup and fired after the U.S. was eliminated, defended his decision to hide the truth. He said he discussed his decision at the time with then-U.S. Soccer Federation president Alan Rothenberg, secretary general Hank Steinbrecher and current president Sunil Gulati, a longtime member of the leadership.
"I felt that these are the kinds of issues that need to stay in the locker room and within the team and not (be) exposed to the public," Sampson said. "The private issues for me were the most serious issues. I think I could have lived with everything else and kept John on the team if it had not been for the private issues. It's one thing to have an affair outside the team. It's another to have one inside. ... There are just certain lines that one cannot cross."
Rothenberg said Tuesday he had no memory of any discussion of the matter, Gulati declined comment and Steinbrecher did not return a telephone message.
Wynalda, however, insists an affair did take place.
"I'm calling it an inappropriate relationship. It was a major contributor to why I'm no longer married," said Wynalda, a father of three who separated from his wife in 2003 and then divorced.
Wynalda said that when Sampson informed him in the spring of 1998 that he was dropping Harkes, Wynalda tried to persuade the coach to change his mind. Sampson didn't recall such a conversation, but said that doesn't mean it didn't take place.
"At that time, I felt that he was still a player that could help our cause and he was still one of the best 22 players in our country," Wynalda said.
Wynalda and Harkes played together just once after that, when called in by Arena for a January 2000 exhibition at Chile.
"At that point, it was still manageable," Wynalda said.
Harkes, the U.S. college player of the year in 1987 at Virginia, was one of the first Americans to make the move overseas, playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Derby, West Ham and Nottingham Forest in England during the 1990s. He also was among the early players in Major League Soccer, playing with D.C. United, New England and Columbus before his retirement in 2002.
Like Harkes, Wynalda was among the early U.S. players in Europe, playing for Saarbruecken and Bochum in Germany before appearing for San Jose, Miami, New England and Chicago in MLS. Wynalda was an analyst for ESPN's soccer coverage in 2006 and 2007, and joined Fox last year. He was appointed last month as a part-time assistant coach of the U.S. under-20 team.
Harkes also worked for ESPN's 2006 World Cup coverage and replaced Wynalda as a lead analyst for ESPN two years ago.
Now working for different networks, both are preparing for this year's World Cup. Wynalda also is writing a book.
"I've suffered quite a bit through this whole process. My healing is over, so I'm OK to talk about it," Wynalda said.
Sampson, who plans to broadcast for Futbol de Primera radio at this year's World Cup, said he wanted people to know that he and Harkes mended their relationship in 2005 and exchanged a handshake.
"Maybe now people will have a little bit more of an understanding as to why I made such a critical decision back in 1998," Sampson said. "The last thing I wanted to do was drop John Harkes from the team because I really did believe that he was an outstanding leader on the field."
Huffingtonpost.com
NEW YORK — Breaking more than a decade of silence, former U.S. soccer coach Steve Sampson said Tuesday he dropped John Harkes from the national team roster two months before the 1998 World Cup because the American captain was having an affair with the wife of teammate Eric Wynalda.
Harkes has long denied having an affair with Amy Wynalda.
Wynalda brought up the situation Monday night during a discussion on "Fox Football Fone-In" about a scandal in England over an alleged relationship between current English captain John Terry and the former partner of Wayne Bridge, his teammate on the national squad.
Sampson told The Associated Press on Tuesday he was glad the story was coming out now because "maybe people will have a little better of an understanding of what happened in the final months leading up to the World Cup."
After advancing to the second round of the 1994 World Cup at home, the U.S. finished last in the 32-nation field at the 1998 tournament in France, getting shut out by Germany, then losing 2-1 to Iran and 1-0 to Yugoslavia.
"It wasn't about losing 2-0 to Germany or losing to Iran," Sampson said. "There was more to it than that that impacted I believe the outcome of this team."
Wynalda said he spoke out during the program he co-hosts on Fox Soccer Channel because he was asked about Terry, who has been front-page news since Saturday in British newspapers.
"There's a lot of similarities between what happened to us in '98 and what's happening now to England," Wynalda told the AP. "It's an unfortunate time for England, because I know how that can affect a team firsthand. Obviously, we all know how we did in the World Cup in '98."
Story continues below
Sampson was replaced by Bruce Arena after the tournament.
Harkes was a member of the 1990 and 1994 U.S. World Cup teams and became the regular captain before he was dropped by Sampson in a surprise move on April 14, 1998. He made 90 international appearances from 1987-00.
"I am not going to rehash the things that have happened in the past," Harkes said Tuesday in a telephone interview. "1998 was devastating to me and my family. It was hard enough not to play in the World Cup, but it was even difficult to go through that time period, the most difficult time period of my life."
Sampson said Tuesday that Roy Wegerle, another U.S. player, came to him and assistant coach Clive Charles between the Feb. 25 game at Belgium and the March 14 match against Paraguay in San Diego and said he had personal knowledge of the affair. Charles died in 2003 and Wegerle, now retired, did not return a phone call Tuesday
In 1998, Sampson said Harkes, then 31, was dropped because the midfielder refused to play a more defensive role. Sampson also cited "leadership issues" but didn't elaborate.
Sampson, much criticized by players during the World Cup and fired after the U.S. was eliminated, defended his decision to hide the truth. He said he discussed his decision at the time with then-U.S. Soccer Federation president Alan Rothenberg, secretary general Hank Steinbrecher and current president Sunil Gulati, a longtime member of the leadership.
"I felt that these are the kinds of issues that need to stay in the locker room and within the team and not (be) exposed to the public," Sampson said. "The private issues for me were the most serious issues. I think I could have lived with everything else and kept John on the team if it had not been for the private issues. It's one thing to have an affair outside the team. It's another to have one inside. ... There are just certain lines that one cannot cross."
Rothenberg said Tuesday he had no memory of any discussion of the matter, Gulati declined comment and Steinbrecher did not return a telephone message.
Wynalda, however, insists an affair did take place.
"I'm calling it an inappropriate relationship. It was a major contributor to why I'm no longer married," said Wynalda, a father of three who separated from his wife in 2003 and then divorced.
Wynalda said that when Sampson informed him in the spring of 1998 that he was dropping Harkes, Wynalda tried to persuade the coach to change his mind. Sampson didn't recall such a conversation, but said that doesn't mean it didn't take place.
"At that time, I felt that he was still a player that could help our cause and he was still one of the best 22 players in our country," Wynalda said.
Wynalda and Harkes played together just once after that, when called in by Arena for a January 2000 exhibition at Chile.
"At that point, it was still manageable," Wynalda said.
Harkes, the U.S. college player of the year in 1987 at Virginia, was one of the first Americans to make the move overseas, playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Derby, West Ham and Nottingham Forest in England during the 1990s. He also was among the early players in Major League Soccer, playing with D.C. United, New England and Columbus before his retirement in 2002.
Like Harkes, Wynalda was among the early U.S. players in Europe, playing for Saarbruecken and Bochum in Germany before appearing for San Jose, Miami, New England and Chicago in MLS. Wynalda was an analyst for ESPN's soccer coverage in 2006 and 2007, and joined Fox last year. He was appointed last month as a part-time assistant coach of the U.S. under-20 team.
Harkes also worked for ESPN's 2006 World Cup coverage and replaced Wynalda as a lead analyst for ESPN two years ago.
Now working for different networks, both are preparing for this year's World Cup. Wynalda also is writing a book.
"I've suffered quite a bit through this whole process. My healing is over, so I'm OK to talk about it," Wynalda said.
Sampson, who plans to broadcast for Futbol de Primera radio at this year's World Cup, said he wanted people to know that he and Harkes mended their relationship in 2005 and exchanged a handshake.
"Maybe now people will have a little bit more of an understanding as to why I made such a critical decision back in 1998," Sampson said. "The last thing I wanted to do was drop John Harkes from the team because I really did believe that he was an outstanding leader on the field."
38
Football / Re: Thread for the T&T U-20 WNT v Mexico U-20 WNT Game (21-Jan-10).
« on: January 20, 2010, 01:58:13 PM »
Watch every game free on CONCACAF.com
CONCACAF will broadcast all 16 games live on CONCACAF.com, the first time a continental confederation has offered free comprehensive live coverage of a youth tournament online. Users will have to sign-up to view the games, and there is no charge for the one-time registration. Games also will be available on-demand shortly after their conclusion. For more detailed information on the live streams
CONCACAF will broadcast all 16 games live on CONCACAF.com, the first time a continental confederation has offered free comprehensive live coverage of a youth tournament online. Users will have to sign-up to view the games, and there is no charge for the one-time registration. Games also will be available on-demand shortly after their conclusion. For more detailed information on the live streams
39
Football / World Cup 2018: Gordon Brown meets Fifa's Jack Warner to back England's bid
« on: November 27, 2009, 05:34:09 PM »World Cup 2018: Gordon Brown meets Fifa's Jack Warner to back England's bid
Guardian.co.uk
Gordon Brown intervened today to shore up England's troubled bid for the 2018 World Cup when he met a veteran Fifa vice-president who has dismissed England's chances.
The prime minister took time out from the Commonwealth summit to meet the Trinidadian Jack Warner who recently criticised the England bid leadership as "lightweight".
Downing Street described the 20-minute meeting with Warner, who influences five of Fifa's 24 votes, as positive.
Warner, who is close to the Fifa president Sepp Blatter, said England had some of the world's best facilities and would be ready to host the World Cup tomorrow.
A No 10 spokesman said: "The meeting between Gordon Brown and Jack Warner was very positive. Mr Warner was complimentary about England's sporting infrastructure and said he recognised that England would be ready to host the World Cup tomorrow. If it were held tomorrow he recognised England would be ready."
Brown told Warner of the nation's passion for football and spoke of the government's absolute support for the bid. He pointed out the England will not have hosted the World Cup for 52 years by 2018. Ministers have agreed to underpin the bid with a guarantee of £350m.
The No 10 spokesman added: "The prime minister re-emphasised his personal passion and the nation's passion for football and sport more generally and underlined the government's commitment to sport, saying that sports in schools would be going from two hours a week at present to five hours a week in 2012."
Brown requested the meeting with Warner, one of the most influential figures in world football, who is head of Concacaf, the body covering North and Central America and the Caribbean. They joked at the beginning of the meeting and Brown spoke of his friendship with Marvin Andrews, a Trinidad national player, who played for his team, Raith Rovers.
The meeting was important because Warner, a member of Fifa's executive committee since 1983, delivered a major blow to the England bid in October when he said the bid team were unknown in international football circles. Warning that England was falling behind the European rival bids of Spain and Portugal and Russia, he told the Leaders in Football conference: "My [Fifa] colleagues are saying very quietly that the guys who are coming to them are lightweight. This is the type of thing that loses you a bid.
"England's attributes surpass any other country. I would have been more aggressive in the market place. If I had the Premier League, Beckham and the Queen, there would have been many things I could have done for the people who are voting. I would have made them next-door neighbours to make them the first name on people's lips."
Warner also damaged England's bid when he announced that his wife had returned a £230 Mulberry handbag given by the 2018 bid team when they attended the Leaders in Football conference in October. In a letter to Lord Triesman, the leader of the 2018 bid, Warner spoke of his fury at media criticism of the gift. "I have faced and continue to face all kinds of indignities from all manner of persons, but when these insults touch my wife, it represents an all time low," he wrote.
Downing Street said the England bid leadership was not discussed during today's meeting which took place at the British high commission in Port of Spain. A No 10 source said: "England has in place the architecture of a potentially successful bid."
No 10 was encouraged by the meeting. But Warner's positive comments about England's sporting infrastructure are consistent with what he has been saying publicly. His criticisms relate to the bid team which was not discussed.
The bid team has been plagued by problems. Sir Dave Richards, the chairman of the Premier League, resigned as the bid's vice-chairman for international relations, this week after a restructuring of its structure. His resignation was seen as a vote of no confidence by the league in Lord Triesman, the chairman of the Football Association, who is leading the 2018 bid.
40
Football / Royalians march past CIC.
« on: November 11, 2009, 08:07:31 PM »
Royalians march past CIC.
By: Nicholas Clarke (T&T Guardian).
After 90 goalless minutes of crushing tension, Queen’s Royal College beat St Mary’s in a one-sided penalty shootout 3-0, to win the final of the Secondary Schools Football League’s 2009 Coca Cola North Zone Intercol final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo yesterday.
Fans were treated to a series of missed chances as both teams attempted to take control of the game. Christian Briggs had a chance to put CIC ahead in the 6th minute but shot straight at Royalians custodian Kareem Joseph. A minute later, QRC’s Akil Clarke’s short cross was just out of the reach of Qualanson Archibald, who would almost certainly have scored had he gotten a boot on it.
Sloppy defending almost cost QRC in the 13th minute but Joseph showed composure to deal with a threat from Renaldo Garcia and steal the ball in the box. The momentum kept changing throughout the first half and when QRC’s midfielder Duane Muckette wowed the crowd with some stunning ball control in the 26th minute, it was followed by a St Mary’s counter attack but Dillon Kirton lobbed over bar.
The goalless first half promised much and almost immediately on resumption, Clarke’s grounded shot was stopped by CIC keeper, Rheem Belgrave. At the opposite end, CIC got the ball into the back of the net only to have their celebrations cut short as the goal was ruled offside.
The tension continued to build as corners, free kicks and through passes moved from side to side and in the 59th minute, QRC’s Akil Morris just shot wide after being set free. The excitement continued well into the final moments with neither team able to get the ball into the net.
And when the referee finally ended the regulation period, another tense shootout was anticipated. However, this did not prove to be the case as the Royalians converted three of their four shots, while the Saints went marching home without a conversion. Goalkeeper Joseph turned into the night’s hero, blocking two of the CIC shots. Today action shifts to the east, where St Augustine will take on El Dorado at the Larry Gomes Stadium, from 5 p.m.
QRC take North InterCol title.
By: Kern De Freitas (T&T Express).
Debe High triumph in Trinidad girls' final.
Queen’s Royal College ended a six year drought in North Zone InterCol, stopping St Mary’s College 3-0 on kicks at the penalty mark after an entertaining 90 minutes of regulation time ended goalless at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The competitive nature of the Coca Cola InterCol has seen several matches decided by spot-kicks thus far, and two evenly matched arch-rivals were no different. St Mary’s College’s nerves had been exposed, though, by a few close shaves in the second half, and it showed when they missed each of their efforts at the penalty mark.
Before the long-time foes clashed, though, Debe High School girls retained their BG T&T Trinidad InterCol title, trotting comfortably to a 3-0 win over Providence Girls High School.
Patrice Vincent opened Debe’s account in the 25th minute, before captain Moriah Shade doubled their lead in the 37th, and striker Elizabeth Ng Wai capped things off in the 73rd, causing Debe fans to erupt in glee.
QRC had to work harder for their victory, but thumped home three of their four kicks for what turned out to be an easy shootout victory for the ’Royalians’.
The turnout was reminiscent of InterCol of years gone by. A sizeable, enthusiastic crowd flooded the covered stands of the Stadium, prompting the announcer to request patrons to clear the aisles.
The old, the young and the in-between turned out for the Old Firm encounter, with a deeply entrenched rivalry that extends way back to the original College’s League.
Inside the first 20 minutes, St Mary’s had two good chances from free kicks snapped up by QRC goalkeeper Kareem Joseph. The ’Royalians’ also pushed forward in search of the early advantage, but both teams, given the expectations and the prize at stake, neglected to take any chances and showed each other full respect.
In the stands, ’boom, boom, boom!’ and ’ting, ting, ting!’ the rhythm sections sounded, almost akin to the see-saw battle going on in midfield
The best chance for St Mary’s came in the first half off the boot of Dillon Kirton from the left, but his shot was too good for the far corner.
QRC’s Makesi Lewis has another fabulous chance, forcing a good flying save out of St Mary’s keeper Belgrave to keep the scores level at 0-0 at the half.
Both teams emerged resolute after the interval, perhaps with greater emphasis on keeping a clean sheet rather than scoring the winner. They attacked cautiously, and held their numbers back to defend. Still, Chad Appoo hit the net in the 48th, only to be ruled offside, and Joseph later needed a good save to keep Renaldo Garcia out.
Yesterday’s InterCol Scores:
Boys
QRC 0 v St Mary’s 0
QRC won 3-0 on penalties.
Girls
Debe 3 (Patrice Vincent 25th, Mariah Shade 37th, Elizabeth Ng Wai 73rd) v Providence 0
Today’s InterCol fixtures:
Central Zone
Carapichaima Secondary vs Tabaquite Secondary, 4 p.m., Ato Boldon Stadium
Tobago Zone
Mason Hall Secondary vs Scarborough Secondary, 4 p.m., Dwight Yorke Stadium
By: Nicholas Clarke (T&T Guardian).
After 90 goalless minutes of crushing tension, Queen’s Royal College beat St Mary’s in a one-sided penalty shootout 3-0, to win the final of the Secondary Schools Football League’s 2009 Coca Cola North Zone Intercol final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo yesterday.
Fans were treated to a series of missed chances as both teams attempted to take control of the game. Christian Briggs had a chance to put CIC ahead in the 6th minute but shot straight at Royalians custodian Kareem Joseph. A minute later, QRC’s Akil Clarke’s short cross was just out of the reach of Qualanson Archibald, who would almost certainly have scored had he gotten a boot on it.
Sloppy defending almost cost QRC in the 13th minute but Joseph showed composure to deal with a threat from Renaldo Garcia and steal the ball in the box. The momentum kept changing throughout the first half and when QRC’s midfielder Duane Muckette wowed the crowd with some stunning ball control in the 26th minute, it was followed by a St Mary’s counter attack but Dillon Kirton lobbed over bar.
The goalless first half promised much and almost immediately on resumption, Clarke’s grounded shot was stopped by CIC keeper, Rheem Belgrave. At the opposite end, CIC got the ball into the back of the net only to have their celebrations cut short as the goal was ruled offside.
The tension continued to build as corners, free kicks and through passes moved from side to side and in the 59th minute, QRC’s Akil Morris just shot wide after being set free. The excitement continued well into the final moments with neither team able to get the ball into the net.
And when the referee finally ended the regulation period, another tense shootout was anticipated. However, this did not prove to be the case as the Royalians converted three of their four shots, while the Saints went marching home without a conversion. Goalkeeper Joseph turned into the night’s hero, blocking two of the CIC shots. Today action shifts to the east, where St Augustine will take on El Dorado at the Larry Gomes Stadium, from 5 p.m.
QRC take North InterCol title.
By: Kern De Freitas (T&T Express).
Debe High triumph in Trinidad girls' final.
Queen’s Royal College ended a six year drought in North Zone InterCol, stopping St Mary’s College 3-0 on kicks at the penalty mark after an entertaining 90 minutes of regulation time ended goalless at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The competitive nature of the Coca Cola InterCol has seen several matches decided by spot-kicks thus far, and two evenly matched arch-rivals were no different. St Mary’s College’s nerves had been exposed, though, by a few close shaves in the second half, and it showed when they missed each of their efforts at the penalty mark.
Before the long-time foes clashed, though, Debe High School girls retained their BG T&T Trinidad InterCol title, trotting comfortably to a 3-0 win over Providence Girls High School.
Patrice Vincent opened Debe’s account in the 25th minute, before captain Moriah Shade doubled their lead in the 37th, and striker Elizabeth Ng Wai capped things off in the 73rd, causing Debe fans to erupt in glee.
QRC had to work harder for their victory, but thumped home three of their four kicks for what turned out to be an easy shootout victory for the ’Royalians’.
The turnout was reminiscent of InterCol of years gone by. A sizeable, enthusiastic crowd flooded the covered stands of the Stadium, prompting the announcer to request patrons to clear the aisles.
The old, the young and the in-between turned out for the Old Firm encounter, with a deeply entrenched rivalry that extends way back to the original College’s League.
Inside the first 20 minutes, St Mary’s had two good chances from free kicks snapped up by QRC goalkeeper Kareem Joseph. The ’Royalians’ also pushed forward in search of the early advantage, but both teams, given the expectations and the prize at stake, neglected to take any chances and showed each other full respect.
In the stands, ’boom, boom, boom!’ and ’ting, ting, ting!’ the rhythm sections sounded, almost akin to the see-saw battle going on in midfield
The best chance for St Mary’s came in the first half off the boot of Dillon Kirton from the left, but his shot was too good for the far corner.
QRC’s Makesi Lewis has another fabulous chance, forcing a good flying save out of St Mary’s keeper Belgrave to keep the scores level at 0-0 at the half.
Both teams emerged resolute after the interval, perhaps with greater emphasis on keeping a clean sheet rather than scoring the winner. They attacked cautiously, and held their numbers back to defend. Still, Chad Appoo hit the net in the 48th, only to be ruled offside, and Joseph later needed a good save to keep Renaldo Garcia out.
Yesterday’s InterCol Scores:
Boys
QRC 0 v St Mary’s 0
QRC won 3-0 on penalties.
Girls
Debe 3 (Patrice Vincent 25th, Mariah Shade 37th, Elizabeth Ng Wai 73rd) v Providence 0
Today’s InterCol fixtures:
Central Zone
Carapichaima Secondary vs Tabaquite Secondary, 4 p.m., Ato Boldon Stadium
Tobago Zone
Mason Hall Secondary vs Scarborough Secondary, 4 p.m., Dwight Yorke Stadium
41
Football / Re: QRC/CIC live on I95.5 online NOW
« on: November 11, 2009, 03:53:25 PM »
0-0 halftime
44
Football / Re: Interview with Anton Corneal and Andre Samuel on I-95.5fm going on NOW
« on: October 08, 2009, 06:15:08 PM »
"if more people come forward...he [JW] has to listen...he has to listen to the voice of reason..." Shabbaz (10/08/09) Let's see if he is prophetic.
45
Football / Re: Interview with Anton Corneal and Andre Samuel on I-95.5fm going on NOW
« on: October 08, 2009, 05:43:03 PM »
with these revelations and TTFF history, do I smell another blacklist?
46
Football / Qrc v mucurapo score?
« on: September 30, 2009, 06:22:03 PM »
Anyone knows what the final score was of that game today?
47
Football / Re: Where it all went wrong
« on: September 13, 2009, 08:02:19 AM »I fell dem journalists does read dis board for material oui....the timing of they articles does be so suspect with the rash of threads discussing the same damn ting, damn near verbatim too
Exactly. Down to "So instead of the Warrior Nation coming out in their numbers". Hope he ain't gonna claim in the next campaign he originated the term...
Good article though. At least teh influence coming form the correct source.
48
Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs USA Game (09-Sept-2009).
« on: September 08, 2009, 05:07:55 PM »
From USSF email:
DOING THE MATH: While a lot of variables still remain to determine which teams will represent CONCACAF at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, consider these facts for the U.S. heading into the final three games:
* A win against Trinidad & Tobago, or a tie coupled with an El Salvador loss or tie against Costa Rica, would clinch a top-four finish for the U.S. There is no scenario for the U.S. to clinch a top three position on MatchDay 8.
* El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago need at least a point to stave off elimination – and even that won’t assure their qualifying runs will continue. If either Costa Rica or Mexico get at least one point, El Salvador and T & T need to win to stay in the running for a top-three place. If both Costa Rica and Mexico get one point, only a win will keep El Salvador and T & T in the running for the fourth-place playoff position.
* In the previous two World Cup cycles, the third place team qualified for the World Cup with 16 points in 2006, and 17 points in 2002.
DOING THE MATH: While a lot of variables still remain to determine which teams will represent CONCACAF at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, consider these facts for the U.S. heading into the final three games:
* A win against Trinidad & Tobago, or a tie coupled with an El Salvador loss or tie against Costa Rica, would clinch a top-four finish for the U.S. There is no scenario for the U.S. to clinch a top three position on MatchDay 8.
* El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago need at least a point to stave off elimination – and even that won’t assure their qualifying runs will continue. If either Costa Rica or Mexico get at least one point, El Salvador and T & T need to win to stay in the running for a top-three place. If both Costa Rica and Mexico get one point, only a win will keep El Salvador and T & T in the running for the fourth-place playoff position.
* In the previous two World Cup cycles, the third place team qualified for the World Cup with 16 points in 2006, and 17 points in 2002.
49
Football / TTFF/SONY deal US$70,000
« on: August 20, 2009, 05:22:02 PM »
Just seeing on tonight's news that the TTFF/SONY deal is valued at US$70k for the 2009 season. E-man add to ur list!
50
Football / Re: Tickets for TT vs USA selling already..Uncovered gone up to 300..BOYCOTT
« on: August 19, 2009, 02:32:08 PM »papa jack have to pay the new sarah palin imitator chaguanas mayor.
He not paying her, he doing her d favour. She probably paying him..in kind.
Spidey ah hope yuh recognize JAW's english atty in town!
51
Football / Re: Pre-Match thread for the T&T vs El Salvador Game (12-Aug-2009).
« on: August 12, 2009, 11:33:41 AM »
anyone here uses a mac and have success streaming i95.5fm?
52
Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs El Salvador Game (12-Aug-2009).
« on: August 11, 2009, 04:49:38 PM »
PPV on FiOS too. Live.
53
Football / Re: Zamora and Samuel issue an apology to T&T
« on: August 07, 2009, 10:51:06 AM »
October 14, 2009...all games played, miracles happen and TRI qualifies for SA2010 after a magnificent 2nd round of matches, will anyone here not be celebrating and hunting tics for South Africa because of Zamora and Samuel? I say, if having them join the squad brings results and qualification... to be absurd, I don't care if Latapy puts Lawrence in goal. In football it's the end-score that matters, if it was really the RBW the same persons taking that position would call the players to threaten a strike to force the government to deal with crime.
Let's not fool ourselves.
Let's not fool ourselves.
54
Football / Re: Thread for NY Red Bulls v W Connection (5-Aug-2009)
« on: August 05, 2009, 07:50:47 PM »
What madness!
55
Football / Re: RIP Sir Bobby Robson
« on: July 31, 2009, 09:21:06 PM »
Sir Bobby Robson, English Soccer Legend, Dies at 76
NY Times
By ROB HUGHES
Published: July 31, 2009
LONDON — No matter where in the world you mention the name Bobby Robson, the response is the same: a man of soccer. A man who lived his 50 adult years for the game and through the game.
A man, above all else, whose passion never tired and was never defeated by culture, language or ultimately by the insidious impact of money on the sport.
Sir Bobby Robson died in the early hours of Friday in his native Durham, in northern England. He was 76, he fought five different cancers from 1991, and even last weekend, even in a wheelchair, he was on a soccer pitch in Newcastle.
Some of the great players, his players, formed a guard of honor as he was wheeled on. They thrilled him by reenacting the 1990 World Cup semifinal, which the England side he managed lost on penalty kicks to the West German team of Franz Beckenbauer.
Each of the players still able to kick a ball played last Saturday for as long as they were able. The match was to raise yet more money for Robson’s last great venture, his foundation for a cancer research center to trial new drugs on patients in his home city.
To that end, his life’s full circle had turned from playing the game as a coal miner’s son to managing world renowned players in England, the Netherlands, Portugal, Canada, Spain.
He was raised in a terraced coal miner’s cottage and left school at 15. Until soccer intervened, he was destined to follow his father down the local pit, as an electrician. “My father Philip,” he would say on introducing his parent to anybody he met. “A wonderful man, he only ever missed one shift in 51 years down the pit.” And Philip would settle into the background as people either fawned upon his son, or in his time as England team manager from 1982 to 1990, would seek to tear down his authority.
It was ever thus. From Fulham, the London club where Bobby Robson started as a professional player in 1950, to Ipswich, then Eindhoven, Lisbon, Porto, Barcelona and finally to take over Newcastle, the team his father loved, Robson was single minded, combative, dedicated.
“I saw Frank Sinatra sing when he was nearly 80,” Robson once said. “And I thought it was the best thing I witnessed in my life. It depends who you are and where you are.” His treatment of players is legion. He took the Brazilians Romario and Ronaldo when they were in their teens and far from their culture, in Eindhoven and Barcelona. He dealt with boys and men, with turbulent personalities and meek players.
Often he could barely pronounce, or remember, their names. He often mispronounced Josep Guardiola, now a successor of his as coach to Barcelona, as Gladioli.
But the guiding ethics of his life were hard work and love of the game.
I still have the original text he wrote for a speech at a coaches’ conference in 1977. He was then the team manager at Ipswich Town, a small club he raised to a bigger one in England.
His subject was “The period of Apprenticeship and selection of Professional Material.”
“What do I look for in a young player?” he wrote. “The same things that I look for in a player who might set me back more than one hundred thousand pounds in the transfer market.
“He must have pace, control, understanding and dash. He must be enthusiastic, brave, courageous and dedicated. He must have a certain amount of technique, although that can be added as he matures. If these raw materials are evident, you have something to work from and you have a good chance of producing a professional player.” The script then cautioned: “The qualities are developed during the apprenticeship years by sheer hard graft.” He was to spend the rest of his days nurturing boys from varying walks of life, and from different nationalities, though homesickness and alienation into developing the most precious thing they possess: talent.
I recall a day in Poland where his father had gone along to see an England game, and Bobby asked his guest to take the old man out of the hall, buy him a beer, make sure he does not see the bear baiting of the England manager by the English press.
I recall another day, when Robson was coach to a World XI chosen to play for a Unicef match against the then world champion Germany in Munich. Players arrived by the hour from the far corners of the world. He couldn’t pronounce or remember their names, but he knew their faces, and their talents.
Within one training session he had somehow gelled those disparate players into a team that played a coherent 4-4-2 formation. Each of them called him “Mister,” all played a charity match as if it were the World Cup final. And each of them to this day can remember that training session, that communication, that fun day.
Underlying it was the cause, and underlying Robson’s last cause, his cancer charity was what brought the German and English players of 1990 back to Robson’s boyhood stamping ground, Newcastle United. He had worked through his recurrent bouts of cancer — in the mouth, the lungs, the brain — with humor and fortitude and, his single most evident trait, sheer determination.
The million pounds raised by his charity in its first few months astounded him. It should not have.
People responded to the man he was, the enthusiasm he imparted. “Its difficult to compare achievements, and this is different to football,” he said of the cancer trust in February. “We are talking about saving lives, not winning matches.
“But this is up there with anything I have achieved in the game. Football makes a huge difference to people, but what the people here at this research center are doing is more important.
“Soccer is about beating your opponent, this is about beating death. I have met unforgettable people, and this has been a great year.”
NY Times
By ROB HUGHES
Published: July 31, 2009
LONDON — No matter where in the world you mention the name Bobby Robson, the response is the same: a man of soccer. A man who lived his 50 adult years for the game and through the game.
A man, above all else, whose passion never tired and was never defeated by culture, language or ultimately by the insidious impact of money on the sport.
Sir Bobby Robson died in the early hours of Friday in his native Durham, in northern England. He was 76, he fought five different cancers from 1991, and even last weekend, even in a wheelchair, he was on a soccer pitch in Newcastle.
Some of the great players, his players, formed a guard of honor as he was wheeled on. They thrilled him by reenacting the 1990 World Cup semifinal, which the England side he managed lost on penalty kicks to the West German team of Franz Beckenbauer.
Each of the players still able to kick a ball played last Saturday for as long as they were able. The match was to raise yet more money for Robson’s last great venture, his foundation for a cancer research center to trial new drugs on patients in his home city.
To that end, his life’s full circle had turned from playing the game as a coal miner’s son to managing world renowned players in England, the Netherlands, Portugal, Canada, Spain.
He was raised in a terraced coal miner’s cottage and left school at 15. Until soccer intervened, he was destined to follow his father down the local pit, as an electrician. “My father Philip,” he would say on introducing his parent to anybody he met. “A wonderful man, he only ever missed one shift in 51 years down the pit.” And Philip would settle into the background as people either fawned upon his son, or in his time as England team manager from 1982 to 1990, would seek to tear down his authority.
It was ever thus. From Fulham, the London club where Bobby Robson started as a professional player in 1950, to Ipswich, then Eindhoven, Lisbon, Porto, Barcelona and finally to take over Newcastle, the team his father loved, Robson was single minded, combative, dedicated.
“I saw Frank Sinatra sing when he was nearly 80,” Robson once said. “And I thought it was the best thing I witnessed in my life. It depends who you are and where you are.” His treatment of players is legion. He took the Brazilians Romario and Ronaldo when they were in their teens and far from their culture, in Eindhoven and Barcelona. He dealt with boys and men, with turbulent personalities and meek players.
Often he could barely pronounce, or remember, their names. He often mispronounced Josep Guardiola, now a successor of his as coach to Barcelona, as Gladioli.
But the guiding ethics of his life were hard work and love of the game.
I still have the original text he wrote for a speech at a coaches’ conference in 1977. He was then the team manager at Ipswich Town, a small club he raised to a bigger one in England.
His subject was “The period of Apprenticeship and selection of Professional Material.”
“What do I look for in a young player?” he wrote. “The same things that I look for in a player who might set me back more than one hundred thousand pounds in the transfer market.
“He must have pace, control, understanding and dash. He must be enthusiastic, brave, courageous and dedicated. He must have a certain amount of technique, although that can be added as he matures. If these raw materials are evident, you have something to work from and you have a good chance of producing a professional player.” The script then cautioned: “The qualities are developed during the apprenticeship years by sheer hard graft.” He was to spend the rest of his days nurturing boys from varying walks of life, and from different nationalities, though homesickness and alienation into developing the most precious thing they possess: talent.
I recall a day in Poland where his father had gone along to see an England game, and Bobby asked his guest to take the old man out of the hall, buy him a beer, make sure he does not see the bear baiting of the England manager by the English press.
I recall another day, when Robson was coach to a World XI chosen to play for a Unicef match against the then world champion Germany in Munich. Players arrived by the hour from the far corners of the world. He couldn’t pronounce or remember their names, but he knew their faces, and their talents.
Within one training session he had somehow gelled those disparate players into a team that played a coherent 4-4-2 formation. Each of them called him “Mister,” all played a charity match as if it were the World Cup final. And each of them to this day can remember that training session, that communication, that fun day.
Underlying it was the cause, and underlying Robson’s last cause, his cancer charity was what brought the German and English players of 1990 back to Robson’s boyhood stamping ground, Newcastle United. He had worked through his recurrent bouts of cancer — in the mouth, the lungs, the brain — with humor and fortitude and, his single most evident trait, sheer determination.
The million pounds raised by his charity in its first few months astounded him. It should not have.
People responded to the man he was, the enthusiasm he imparted. “Its difficult to compare achievements, and this is different to football,” he said of the cancer trust in February. “We are talking about saving lives, not winning matches.
“But this is up there with anything I have achieved in the game. Football makes a huge difference to people, but what the people here at this research center are doing is more important.
“Soccer is about beating your opponent, this is about beating death. I have met unforgettable people, and this has been a great year.”
56
Football / Re: 3 years later...Can the spirit of Dortmund reappear?
« on: June 10, 2009, 08:25:10 AM »June 10, 2006: Dortmund, Germany - TRI 1 v SWE 1
June 10, 2009: Mexico City, Mexico - Can the Soca Warriors once again lift our spirits?
Didn't know we tie Sweden 1-1
Guess I was predicting tonight's score.
57
Football / 3 years later...Can the spirit of Dortmund reappear?
« on: June 10, 2009, 07:48:45 AM »
June 10, 2006: Dortmund, Germany - TRI 0 v SWE 0
June 10, 2009: Mexico City, Mexico - Can the Soca Warriors once again lift our spirits?
June 10, 2009: Mexico City, Mexico - Can the Soca Warriors once again lift our spirits?
58
Football / Re: Thread for the T&T vs Costa Rica Game (06-Jun-2009).
« on: June 06, 2009, 04:04:41 PM »
Cap #100 for Andrews. Significant achievement, back it up with a win!
59
Football / Costa Rican Clubs Snub National Team Coach
« on: May 25, 2009, 11:53:14 AM »
Costa Rican Clubs Snub National Team Coach; Bradley Names U.S. Training Roster
By JACK BELL
NY times
A little more than a week before Costa Rica hosts the United States in a World Cup qualifying match, the two clubs involved in the Costa Rican finals have declined to release their players. Coach Rodrigo Kenton has named 25 players to his roster for a training camp that is scheduled to start on Monday, which is in the middle of the home-and-home series.
The roster includes six players from the two teams — C.S. Herediano and Municipal Liberia Mía — who are involved in an already delayed series for the Torneo de Verano championship of Costa Rica’s top league.
Costa Rica is scheduled to play the visiting United States in its capital, San José, on June 3. After three matches in the six-nation final round of qualifying in the Concacaf region for three automatic spots in next summer’s World Cup in South Africa, the United States (2-0-1), in first place with 7 points, leads Costa Rica (2-1-0) by 1 point.
The start of finals of the Costa Rican championship, which was scheduled for Friday in Liberia’s Estadio Edgardo Baltodano Briceño, was delayed because of a protest filed by Deportivo Saprissa. Saprissa, perhaps the most successful club team in Costa Rica, alleged that Liberia played in the second leg of its semifinal series against Saprissa (won by Liberia, 2-1, on aggregate after a 1-0 win away in San José) with players who carried too many yellow cards.
The Costa Rican federation dismissed the claim, but delayed Friday’s match. The finals are now scheduled to be played Sunday in Liberia, which is in the western part of the country. The return match in Heredia, which is about 6 miles north of the capital, will be played Wednesday in Herediano’s Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero.
Kenton has named four Herediano and two Liberia players to his roster for the match against the United States. (In addition, he called Gonzalo Segares, a defender for Chicago of Major League Soccer, who is expected to travel to Costa Rica after Sunday’s match against the Red Bulls in East Rutherford, N.J.)
From Herediano, Kenton called goalkeeper Ricardo Gonzalez, defender Dennis Marshall, and forwards Andy Furtado and Andy Herron (who has played in M.L.S. for Chicago and Columbus). The players from Liberia are defenders Esteban Sirias and Harold Wallace.
United States Coach Bob Bradley named his 24-man training camp roster on Sunday ahead of the games against Costa Rica and Honduras (in Chicago on June 6).
By JACK BELL
NY times
A little more than a week before Costa Rica hosts the United States in a World Cup qualifying match, the two clubs involved in the Costa Rican finals have declined to release their players. Coach Rodrigo Kenton has named 25 players to his roster for a training camp that is scheduled to start on Monday, which is in the middle of the home-and-home series.
The roster includes six players from the two teams — C.S. Herediano and Municipal Liberia Mía — who are involved in an already delayed series for the Torneo de Verano championship of Costa Rica’s top league.
Costa Rica is scheduled to play the visiting United States in its capital, San José, on June 3. After three matches in the six-nation final round of qualifying in the Concacaf region for three automatic spots in next summer’s World Cup in South Africa, the United States (2-0-1), in first place with 7 points, leads Costa Rica (2-1-0) by 1 point.
The start of finals of the Costa Rican championship, which was scheduled for Friday in Liberia’s Estadio Edgardo Baltodano Briceño, was delayed because of a protest filed by Deportivo Saprissa. Saprissa, perhaps the most successful club team in Costa Rica, alleged that Liberia played in the second leg of its semifinal series against Saprissa (won by Liberia, 2-1, on aggregate after a 1-0 win away in San José) with players who carried too many yellow cards.
The Costa Rican federation dismissed the claim, but delayed Friday’s match. The finals are now scheduled to be played Sunday in Liberia, which is in the western part of the country. The return match in Heredia, which is about 6 miles north of the capital, will be played Wednesday in Herediano’s Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero.
Kenton has named four Herediano and two Liberia players to his roster for the match against the United States. (In addition, he called Gonzalo Segares, a defender for Chicago of Major League Soccer, who is expected to travel to Costa Rica after Sunday’s match against the Red Bulls in East Rutherford, N.J.)
From Herediano, Kenton called goalkeeper Ricardo Gonzalez, defender Dennis Marshall, and forwards Andy Furtado and Andy Herron (who has played in M.L.S. for Chicago and Columbus). The players from Liberia are defenders Esteban Sirias and Harold Wallace.
United States Coach Bob Bradley named his 24-man training camp roster on Sunday ahead of the games against Costa Rica and Honduras (in Chicago on June 6).
60
Football / Re: Too early to move Mexico vs T&T qualifier.
« on: April 29, 2009, 10:18:14 AM »
if that is the case, game will be in houston, mexico's home away from home