Blackpool FC's Fine: The Premier League's £25,000 Wrongful Shaming

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway. (Credit Image: © Action Images/ZUMApress.com)

When the Premier League adopted the policy of registering a 25 man squad plus youth system products, I thought the days of hearing about the Premier League fining teams over weakened squads were over. On Thursday, I was proven wrong, when Blackpool FC were fined 25,000 pounds for fielding a weakened side in their 3-2 loss at Aston Villa on November 10th.

I have to admit right off the top that my feelings on Premier League Rule E.20 changed from last season to this. Last year, with no squad caps, I felt the suspended fine Wolverhampton Wanderers got was about right. I know it sounds stupid, but at the time, I felt with no caps in place, one had to justify making so many changes. With no limits to how many players you could have registered, you should have already known who your best players were to play. If you strayed too far from that, the Premier League had a right to slap you in line.

The problem was, that wasn't being applied on a consistent basis.

• On consecutive weeks in 2007, Liverpool fielded weakened sides in losses to Portsmouth and Fulham. The Premier League did nothing.
• On the last day of the season in 2009, Manchester United, in preparation for their UEFA Champions League match with FC Barcelona, fielded a weakened side against Hull City. While Manchester Untied won, the Premier League did nothing.
• On December 15, 2009, Wolverhampton Wanderers fielded a weakened team against Manchester United. The Premier League decided to take action and give them a suspended 25,000 pound fine.

When the rules changed this year, Premier League rule E.20 should have become yesterday's news. When teams registered their squads, and were approved by the Premier League, they gave teams their permission to play any player on that registered squad. Blackpool's team sheet that day did not have one player not registered on their 25 man squad. As they did all season long, they played one of the more entertaining games of the round. If it wasn't for their naivety they had shown in the early part of the season, the same naivety they showed on Tuesday against Manchester United, they would have earned a share of the spoils that day.

Ian Holloway was right in all the post-match interviews in saying he didn't feel he needed to justify his squad choices that day. They were registered players, approved by the Premier League when the squads were due, and they did not damn the Premier League in how they played. Most teams in the league could take a lesson in how Blackpool have played this season. They've played balls to the wall, without fear of losing. Every one of their performance, save their September 19th defeat at Chelsea, has been a breath of fresh air.

Everything about this fine Blackpool have received just reeks of political BS within the Premier League. Last season Wolverhampton Wanderers did the same thing, and their fine was suspended. Blackpool's punishment was worse. Now had the Premier League said this fine was because of Holloway's comments to the media once the game was over, I could understand that. However, to say it was because of the squad they fielded is unacceptable to me.

With the new squad restrictions in place, the Premier League needs to eliminate rule E.20 from their laws in time for next season, apologize to both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Blackpool FC, and rush Blackpool's obvious appeal through the system and over turn it. At least overturning the fine would make a good first step.

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FA Cup Third Round Thoughts: The Greatest Day in English Football

Sergio Torres (Hidden) celebrates with fans after scoring the second goal for Crawley Town. (Credit Image: © Paul Childs/Action Images/ZUMAPRESS.com)

While it took four days for the third round of the FA Cup to be completed, the thirty matches of the FA Cup third round this past weekend completely engrossed me. When it was all said and done, it continued to reaffirm my belief that the FA Cup Third Round Proper are the best collection of game in all the English footballing calendar. From the upsets, to all the controversial calls that ended up not being all that controversial, to the beyond shocking decision, and the spectacular goals that leave one gob smacked, it’s one that I could talk about for hours. It’s something that takes me a while for me to crystallize my thoughts on, simply because I could talk about everything and end up with 3000 words.

While the initial third round draw left the public with only two ties they seemed to care about, I went hunting for the games that could produce upsets. While some may only care about seeing the big names advance as far as they can, the sooner they are out, the better the competition is to me. While I may sound like a hypocrite considering Chelsea’s success in this competition, I just love the little man in this competition. It also helps that Chelsea haven’t been the giant many think they are for too long (in reality Chelsea were mid table fodder until the late 90s).

However, the thing that annoyed me the most about this weekend was listening to the various podcasts I listen to. With the careless disregard to every other game other than Arsenal/Leeds, Manchester United/Liverpool, and Stevenage/Newcastle United, I almost wondered if they realized 29 other third round games were played this weekend. No excuses could be made for lack of highlights (the FA put up highlights for every game on youtube), and those who know their way around technology had highlight programs from ITV at their whim.

Sure, those were the three games with the most potential talking points, but to only care about the obvious when it comes to the third round of the FA Cup is missing out on the biggest point: this is the day the masses want to see the upsets. While I pay some attention to the entire football pyramid of England (thanks Soccer Saturday and Talksport’s Matchday Live), I don’t get engrossed in it to the degree I do on third round day.

So what were all the talking points from the third round? I think the better question is where do I start?

* Theo Walcott now has a reputation in my mind as a diver. It’s also his own fault I now have that opinion of him. While I was suspicious at the time it was a dive, to blatantly admit it in the public is just dumb. Sure, the linesman bailed the referee out with an already raised flag, the fact was he almost got away with it. While Arsenal ended up with a legitimate penalty not too long after, Leeds United were the better team over the 90 minutes, and with the fixture pile up now coming for Arsene Wenger, I’d fancy Leeds United at Elland Road to advance to the fourth round.

* Huddersfield Town and Bolton Wanderers took completely different paths in dispatching their non-league opposition. Huddersfield Town made sure Dover Athletic were out of it early, while Bolton Wanderers had to call in Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander off the bench to win it late. York City didn’t come too close to scoring, but Bolton should be embarrassed their fringe players couldn’t see off a Conference side. Dover Athletic would have had dreams of knocking off their League One opponent, but they were out of it after only eight minutes.

* If you have not see Lee Hughes’s second goal for Notts County in their 2-1 away win at Sunderland, find it and be amazed. While it seems Ince has found his level of management in the lower leagues (though I think he did not get the fairest of shakes at Blackburn), it had to make him personally happy to get one up on his old Manchester United team mate Steve Bruce.

* I hate to say it like this, because I have nothing but the utmost respect for Avram Grant, but it seems every time he’s in a ‘win or be fired’ situation, he wins. Sure, their win over Barnsley wasn’t convincing (or their 2-1 win over Birmingham City on Tuesday), but West Ham continue their season of advancing in cups. Now if they could only convert that into better league form.

* I guess this is as good a time as any to talk about Manchester United and Liverpool. Frankly, once the news broke that Roy Hodgeson left Liverpool and Kenny Daglish was coming in, there was no way in my mind Liverpool was winning the game. That said, I didn’t expect it to go down the route in which it did. I felt the foul on Berbatov was a penalty; yes, he made the most of the situation, but you’re clipped in the manner in which he was in the box, the referee is always right in pointing to the spot. As for Gerrard’s sending off, that was another call Howard Webb got right. Regardless of what Gerrard got first, if a player lunges into a tackle in the manner in which he did, the referee is going to send you off. Manchester United’s performance was the same performance they have had all season; just enough to get the job done.

* Great wins for Fulham and Everton over lower league opposition. Hopefully it will be the jump start for them to move higher up the table.

* I had to admit the reaction on twitter to my feelings on Chelsea’s 7-0 win made me laugh. Their performance against Ipswich Town should be taken with a grain of salt. After sacking their manager in the middle of the night, their interim manager then had to travel for the game, having no time to train with the first team. Chelsea unlocked the safe just after the half hour mark, and emptied the contents. Kalou and Sturridge will not carry their performance over into the league, and Anelka runs so hot and cold it’s hard to tell. The only Chelsea player that one maybe able to say is starting to look like their old self was Frank Lampard.

* I was very pleased for both Crawley Town and Stevenage for the scalps. It ensured that we will have at least six non Premier League sides in the fifth round. I have to admit I am happier for Stevenage fans for enacting just a little revenge on Newcastle United.

* Leave it to both the draws in both the third round and fourth round to give us the Sven Chronicles. I think Leicester City’s best chance of advancing was at home, and I don’t think Sven’s side has a prayer at the City of Manchester Stadium.

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World Cup 2018 and 2022: Why I Think Spain/Portugal and Qatar Win

On Thursday, Sepp Blatter will announce whose bids will win the FIFA World Cup for 2018 and 2022. (Credit Image: © Imago/ZUMApress.com)

Thursday is D-Day. For seven bids, their hopes of hosting either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup will be gone. However, for two select bids, years of hard work will have paid off. As I've said in the title, my feeling is that the Spain/Portugal bid will win the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with Qatar winning the 2022 World Cup. On 10 am Thursday, we'll see if I'm right.

Why I think the Spain/Portugal bid will win the 2018 FIFA World Cup
When it comes to the 2018 World Cup, it could honestly be the tightest of three horse races this process has ever seen. There is only one bid that I think is dead on arrival: the joint bid from Belgium and Holland. While it would be nice to see Holland one day host a World Cup, trying to negotiate lesser demands from FIFA has finished off this bid. I think when the voting comes, Belgium and Holland are the first to go.
The Spain/Portugal bid has one thing going for them- momentum. It certainly helps to have Spain be the current World Cup champions. It also helps they have done nothing to create massive waves in the manner the media has in almost hijacked the England bid, and the Russian Prime Minister has taken away from Russia's bid.
This joint bid has flown under the radar, mainly because the majority of the people didn't think joint bids had a snowballs chance in hell. However, since Sepp Blatter has done nothing to quell joint bids this go around (as he did during the 2010 bidding process), the other nations made a serious error in judgment.
The kicker for me with regards to Spain and Portugal's bid is they have the right mix of old and new. They have the classic stadiums in the Camp Nou and the Santiago Bernabeu. They also have the stadiums built in Portugal for Euro 2004. With new stadiums to be built in Bilbao, Malaga, and Santander, it will help further the infrastructure for the game in Spain.
It also would unite the entire Iberian Peninsula. It's not often you will ever see anyone say that.

Why I think the Qatar bid will win the 2022 FIFA World Cup
This one is all about one thing: Sepp Blatter's legacy. Sepp Blatter was immensely proud to see the World Cup hosted on the African continent this year. He would also love to see another first time host before he leaves as the head of FIFA. That would leave two choices- Qatar and Australia.
Make no mistake about it, the United States is a serious player in this bid. For sheer stadium size and profit from those stadiums alone, they will make it to the last round of bidding. However, I just don't think the United States will win the 2022 World Cup. I think though the United States will end up with the 2026 World Cup.
Qatar presents many unique challenges for FIFA. It would be the first time the World Cup would be hosted in the Middle East, something that Sepp would love to say he was the first to do. In Qatar's presentation Wednesday, they were quick to present a front to help unite the Middle East. While history would be quick to say that's nigh impossible, I think Qatar's the safest nation in that region to help unite everyone.
It would also be the first time a World Cup would be staged in such a centralized region. With five of the seven host cities within a twenty-five kilometer radius of Doha, and all seven within 100 kilometers, it would present a challenge for the current logistics. However, with the amount of money the government has promised for both stadiums and upgrades to current infrastructure, I don't think this will cause a problem come 2022.
The coolest thing about this World Cup bid is the technology involved in keeping the fan zones and stadiums at a reasonable temperature. With the temperatures in Qatar hovering around the triple digits for most summer days and not getting below 85 degrees Fahrenheit in the evening, this technology is key for providing safety for players, officials, and fan alike in official FIFA areas. Qatar is convinced the technology will work, and by using solar power to keep these areas cool, they promise a carbon neutral World Cup. The promise of that carbon neutral World Cup also helps the bid.
I do feel for South Korea and Japan's bid. South Korea's bid pretty much died with the present uncertainty surrounding the nation politically. During Japan's bid presentation, I couldn't help but feel it was nothing more than an advertisement for Sony. Make no mistake about it, FIFA will find use for the 3D technology promised by Sony in Japan's bid. It's just a pity Japan won't be the host when that technology comes into play.
As for Australia, I think the infighting between the various football codes in the nation is the thing that ultimately ends their hopes. While they came to an agreement now, there's no guarantee they are able to keep that agreement come 2022.

I want to make one thing perfectly clear: as an American, I would love to see the FIFA World Cup come back to the United States. I will be among the first to celebrate should they win the right to host. As I said above, I think the USA is all but a lock for the 2026 World Cup. The only thing that would stop that is if China says they want the World Cup. If that's the case, it could be 2034 before the United States has a shot at the World Cup.

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BBC Panorama: My Thoughts on World Cup Vote Corruption Show As It Happened

FIFA President Sepp Blatter. (Credit Image: © Imago/ZUMApress.com)

On Monday, much to the chagrin of most on the England World Cup bid committee, the BBC aired a Panorama special over allegations that certain members voting on the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup had taken bribes for their services. With the voting on this set to take place on Thursday, the BBC thought it hit a home run. However, after listening at work to the program on Five Live, I started to think most of this program was a bunch of bull. So I've decided to have a look at this program as it aired.

While the program was only a half an hour in length, I've decided the only way I could give my true feelings on this show was to just hit play, watch what I could, hit pause, and just write. I honestly have no clue how this is going to look when I hit publish, so I apologize in advance. So, what are my thoughts on this Panorama 'special'? Let's take a look.

* First off, let's take a look at the man narrating this programming, Andrew Jennings. Sure, the man has written a book, with alot of allegations and very little concrete evidence, but people everywhere take the man's every word as gospel truth. The first thing I don't want to hear about is how proud you are at the fact you are banned from FIFA House in Zurich. From the way Jennings says this, it makes me think he's boasting like an 8 year old son who think he is doing something right. When he asked those worthless question to security, it made me wonder if he ever was going to ask himself the question 'maybe if I had legit concrete evidence from start to finish they might actually take me seriously.'

* Yes, I could understand why Sepp Blatter was not happy at the press conference aired. While the allegations were proven in video, one is never happy having to make changes to already made plans ahead of time. Now I will grant that Sepp should have treated the situation in a much different way. The answer should have been 'while I am not happy with the manner in which the investigation was done, it did lead to results. I hope we can be more careful in the future with regards to these allegations'. It would have smoothed over the wrinkles for the moment and people would have moved on in a quicker manner. Hell, it may have even prevented this program from being aired. Then again, with Jennings doing anything he can to try and nail these people dead to rights on circumstantial evidence at best, I doubt that would have happened.

* So Andrew Jennings gets a hold of a 'secret document'. He never says what this document is nor where it is from. So it makes me ask the question; how on earth can the BBC do a program that is centered around a document we only know as 'secret'? Oh that's right, it takes an additional 90 second to two minutes before we find out this is from ISL. Wouldn't that information been better off told from the start? Yet the next time the document is named, it's back to 'secret'. Maybe if Jennings told us what this document was in full from the start, it would look a little more credible.

* ISL.. how many times does Andrew Jennings have to go to this? Sure, ISL went to trial in Zug, it's old news. In fact, of the four named on this program, only one was ever mentioned in court.

* Let's start with Senor Leoz, the man who was alleged to have taken 2 payments totally 130,000 dollars. This document shows another 3 totaling another 600,000 dollars. So all we know is money, and it was from this 'secret document'. Nothing more. So basically, you have a 'secret document' that says this man was paid three times totally 600k, and no proof they were a bribe. At this point, it's getting harder for me to take this show seriously. And Jennings, if someone was screaming at me like a mad man from a distance, I'd probably ignore him as well.

* Next we move on to CAF head Issa Hayatou, who has one 'cash payment' on the list for 100,000 French Francs. So this time he gets face to face with no proof, just an allegation. Again, from my vantage point, Jennings looks like a mad man when confronting him. Did you ever think Jennings to attempt to follow a money trail from start to finish with more than just a document? Maybe call around and find out and get further proof before confronting? Yea, that's just not up your ally is it.

* Next we find out about companies on the list based in Lichtenstein. One of those companies, Sicuretta, had 36 payments made to it totally almost 50 million dollars. Another of those companies, Sanud, had 21 payments totaling over 9.5 million dollars. What Jennings has is a 2001 Brazilian Senate investigation on Ricardo Texiera. So instead of Jennings trying to find someone inside Sanud to help him trace the money from Sanud to Texiera, he tries the tact he did with Leoz, failing miserably. 

* We then find out about the Zug ruling, and how Sepp tried to twist it. This was one thing Jennings did get right, mentioning that 'some FIFA officials were investigated and that the issue was settled out of court'. However, that's where my compliments stop. At no point does Jennings attempt to find out who these people are, how much money was paid back, and for what reason that money was paid back. If Andrew Jennings claims to be the man he is, he would have attempted to follow the trail. Instead, this just seems like shoddy reporting from a desperate man.

* Now we meet David Mellor. Just from the reaction I saw from those in the UK on Twitter, they found this hilarious. I only wish I personally had the time to figure out why.

* We finally end with Jack Warner. We get the rehash of his ticket touting escapades in 2006, and then his failed attempt at 2010. However, we already knew this. Thanks again Jennings for rehashing old news. One thing I wish the press would have continued to do was press Blatter for what he meant by 'official channels', instead of asking someone else. At least then, that would have been a story.

* It takes 22 minutes before we finally get something the general public had no prior knowledge of: some of FIFA's government demands for hosting a World Cup.  There are eight of them, ranging from Visa issues, to tax protections, and guarantees that protect their commercial interests. However, we never get a list of what those eight guarantees are. All eight should have been made known.

* We end up with one final rehashing of old news, a payment of 1.5 million Swiss Francs that ended up in FIFA's accounts for Joao Havelange. The money has never been proven to be a bribe, and Jennings just goes off half cocked trying to get the answers he wants. Again, this tact is laughable at best.

* The show closes with an open and honest question: is it time for people to start demanding FIFA to investigate everything? Look, everyone wants a clean FIFA. However, as much as we would like to believe everything is perfect, it's not. Hell, let's look at what England did in hopes of getting Jack Warner's vote. Does anyone forget that friendly England had in Trinidad in 2008?

The reality is everyone makes deals in major business. The issue is if these deals are not made on the up and up. All everyone is asking for is full disclosure. That's not a difficult request. However, going about it in the manner in which Andrew Jennings did in this program only makes one question how serious he is about actually uncovering the truth.

When this show was over, I was angry that I wasted a half hour to only get about 3 minutes of material we didn't know before. The one document this show centered around was not vetted in the manner I expect an investigative reporter to do. If Jennings wanted a story, he would have followed the money trail to it's conclusion, instead of screaming at men from a distance acting like a fool who looked past his prime.

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Premier League Thoughts: Blackpool Blow it, West Ham Finally Perform, Berbatov Wakes Up For A Game

Owen Coyle wasn't happy early, but he was happy late as Bolton came back to draw Blackpool 2-2. (Credit Image: © Action Images/ZUMAPRESS.com)

Bolton have been a joy to watch this season. I know that's not exactly an earth shattering statement, but it can't be emphasized enough. However, the question isn't how much fun their football has been to watch, but how much fight this side now has. The one thing about Bolton that I feel hasn't gotten enough attention this season was their fightback. They don't know when they're down. Against Birmingham City earlier this season, they came back from a 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2. And again today, they did the exact same thing.

Today, Bolton should have been done and dusted down 2-0. Blackpool were creating plenty of chances to kill the game off, but failing to put anything on frame. Once Petrov pulled one back with 20 to play, you just knew that Blackpool would wilt again. Bolton's equalizer exemplified the football they have played all season: short passes in and around the 18 with a run from midfield finishing the move. Even with Blackpool camping 8 behind the ball, they couldn't do a thing to stop it. It shouldn't be a surprise though; it was the fifth time that's happened this season.

We all know Blackpool love to attack thanks to Ian Holloway. After being one of the more negative managers tactically, he said screw it with this Blackpool side, and it shows. About the only team who has been more open than Bolton this season has been this Blackpool bunch. With their 90 minute attack like your life depends on it policy, it's been attractive on the eyes, and even pleasant on the points table, but it's also cost them as well.

With quotes like "I believe that playing like that will get us more points than it loses us", it makes me wonder if Blackpool will survive the season. Already in 15 games, Blackpool have dropped 8 points from winning or drawing positions this season (dropping two points in games with Fulham, Everton, and Bolton, while dropping one point in games with Blackburn and Aston Villa). Sure they have 19 points right now, but when they face opponents a second time around, they are not going to have it as easy as they have up until this point. Unless Ian Holloway spends just a little time on defensive lines, Blackpool will end up in the Championship. It would be a pity as we wouldn't get to see the football they play, but they'd only have themselves to blame for not defending better. While it's more realistic they stay up this season, with Blackpool's defending, that's still not a guarantee.

Other thoughts on games I've seen today.

* There was a brief moment of 'here we go again' when Arsenal saw Aston Villa pull one back early to start the second half, but Aston Villa don't have the talent Tottenham do. Even at 3-2, I never felt for a second Villa would come back. While Houllier is still trying to find out which players fit his system, it's just apparent that the team just isn't as strong as they have been over the last couple of years.

* West Ham United looked dead and buried for the better part of the opening half hour in their game against Wigan. However, once they took the lead, it was Wigan that looked devoid of ideas. While this is a nice mental win for West Ham, they have two tough matches to come, traveling to Sunderland and hosting Manchester City. It could quickly be another case of one step forward, three steps back.

* Blackburn Rovers were a joke today. Honestly, Blackburn Rovers would have been turned over by Dover Athletic or York City (non league winners in the FA Cup 2nd Round Proper). Berbatov's five goals maybe forgotten by Monday morning, but he was sensational. While Wayne Rooney didn't have to do much, he did set up Park well for the second goal. What's the most impressive about this result is that it now erases the goal differential Chelsea had.

What are your thoughts on the games on Saturday? Let us know in the comments below.

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Intemperate Thoughts: ESPN Spoiler Crybabies

Paragraph two of this piece finally was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. It was yet another asinine American Premier League blogger crying like an eighteen month old who was told they couldn't get their favorite candy bar in the checkout line. Why? It was because of the fact ESPN actually did its job while broadcasting their game in the round and inform their viewers of the scores from elsewhere. After having to deal with the whaling and gnashing of teeth from bloggers, and reading the comments from readers for a third of a season, I've finally had enough. In fact, I've got just one simple thing to say to them, SHUT UP!

Where do I start with these folks? Mind you, these are the same folks who, in a time not too long ago, were begging ESPN to take some games off FSI, and even Setanta. They got their wish when Setanta went out of business and ESPN helped FSI out with the contract. For those who think HD is the greatest thing since sliced bread, they even got their wish thanks to this. But that's where the compliments ended.

Last season it started with the fact the ESPN bottom line didn't go away for entire matches at a time. Then it was the fact the halftime presentation was awful, which at the time it was. Thankfully ESPN quickly rid America of the root cause and, while not spectacular, was respectable the rest of the season.

Moving onto this season, ESPN got mixed reviews for hiring one of their brighter spots to their World Cup coverage in Ian Darke. They also started doing their own production from Premier League grounds around the country, which no one had complaints about that. However, the one thing people can't stand (or so it seems), is ESPN having a traditional 10 am game. Maybe not that in particular, but something ESPN has done for years, and will continue to do until every generation in the future dies: give away scores from games they are not doing live.

When ESPN agreed to sublet rights from Fox Sports International, ESPN wanted and received the first choice game at 10 am whenever there was no Saturday lunchtime kickoff. They also got first choice whenever midweek games came about. They did it knowing they would get the game that would attract the most eyes. It also meant that unless one of the Fox Soccer Channels was going to show the game from the team you support, you were more than likely going to watch the game on offer from ESPN.

The reality is that in these situations, there are going to be multiple games going on at the same time. It's unavoidable, it's not tragic, and it doesn't require one to set up multiple triggers just to avoid scores ESPN gives out during telecasts. Look, if your watching the game on ESPN, it means that game was the highest priority live. In today's day and age of instant everything, unless you decide to live the life of the Amish during match days, avoiding scores is simply impossible. If you feel the need to sink to shallow depths to watch the ESPN game last because of spoilers, please don't hesitate to also stick your pacifier in your mouth and pour your pint into a sippy cup. We get it: your going to whine and that's never going to change. You think ESPN can only broadcast a game one way and if it's not done that way, your going to kick, shout, and scream until they do things your way. Well toddlers, that's not how life in broadcasting works.

You wanted ESPN, and you got it. Just one last message to these crybabies: please come back to the real world. We'd all appreciate it.

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Premier League Preview: Chelsea Look to Make it Four in a Row Against Arsenal

Could Drogba be doing this on Sunday? This was Chelsea's opener against Arsenal from February. (Credit Image: © Action Images/ZUMApress.com)

While this weekend is all about the battle at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, there are still a few intriguing storylines out there in this weekend's Premier League matches. Can Everton go on the road and break Birmingham City's home non losing streak? Can West Ham win two London derbies in a row?

Please note that all times are Eastern and TV schedule is subject to change.

Saturday 7:45 am: Wigan Athletic v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Live on ESPN3.com). There’s only one reason this game was moved from Monday night to the early Saturday morning kickoff spot…so Sky can have programming that helps them meet quota while the Ryder Cup is going on. So if Sky feel like this game should be thrown behind a barrier, and ESPN don’t have the decency to broadcast it (but instead throw it on broadband), why should we care. Either way, Wigan can’t defend and Wolves can’t hold a lead. Prediction: Wigan Athletic 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.

Saturday 10:00 am
Birmingham City v Everton (Live on FoxSoccer.tv. On delay, FSC 12:00 pm): For a team who is still looking for a win, the last side Everton would want to face is one that hasn’t lost at home in 18. However, there is some hope for them against Birmingham City, as they have only scored 2 goals at home this season, with their last two home fixtures ended 0-0. With leading goal scorer Craig Gardner out, I think we’ll see the third consecutive nil-nil draw at St. Andrews this season. Prediction: Birmingham City 0 Everton 0.

Stoke City v Blackburn Rovers (Live on FoxSoccer.tv, On delay FS+ 4 pm): If Blackburn could get off to a fast start, something Stoke City have no idea how to do, they could enjoy their day out. The Potters players are still trying to adjust to their new style of play, and in a game like they will have this weekend, it might be best to revert to their old ways. If there’s one thing we can expect from this game, it’s plenty of tackling. I don’t think Stoke come back from another halftime deficit. Prediction: Stoke City 1 Blackburn Rovers 2.

Sunderland v Manchester United (Live on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com): I think Sunderland’s luck of their last two results come back to haunt them here. With Rio Ferdinand more than likely getting a start, don’t expect United to leak the goals they did while he was out. Prediction: Sunderland 0 Manchester United 2

Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa (Live on FSC): Ledley King or not, this should be a fun match. Spurs are riding a Champions League high, while Villa are riding the new manager high. This fixture has a history of draws, but with Villa having to play in two tricky matches in a row away from home, I think that’s enough of a difference. Expect Van der Vaart to play like a man possessed, and possibly get a goal or two. Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2 Aston Villa 0.

West Bromwich Albion v Bolton Wanderers (Live on FoxSoccer.tv. On delay, FS+ on Sunday 10:30 am): West Brom have played exceptional football at the Hawthorns this season. With Owen Coyle’s attacking style failing them away from the Reebok Stadium, I think West Brom continues to fly. Prediction: West Bromwich Albion 2 Bolton Wanderers 1.

West Ham United v Fulham (Live on FS+ and FoxSoccer.tv): Fulham are the ultimate mystery. Mark Hughes has not had a full compliment of healthy strikers all season long, yet have yet to lose a game. West Ham United deserved their three points against Tottenham, but I have no faith in them making it two in a row. I would not be shocked if Clint Dempsey scores a goal here that all of us collective go WTF. Prediction: West Ham United 0 Fulham 1.

Sunday 8:30 am: Manchester City v Newcastle United (Live on FS+ and FoxSoccer.tv). On the day Andy Carroll probably gets called into England’s senior side, I expect him to have his worst Premier League performance this season. With Manchester City’s stifling defense, I don’t expect him to have any chances on goal. I think Adebayor will also come into the fray here and show his worth to Roberto Mancini. Prediction: Manchester City 3 Newcastle United 0.

Sunday 10:00 am: Liverpool v Blackpool (Live on FoxSoccer.tv, on delay, FSC 5:00 pm). There’s no way Blackpool can get a point at Anfield…right? With the way Liverpool’s been playing this season, it’s possible. Add to the fact that Liverpool produced another lifeless performance on Thursday, mixed with Ian’s belief, and it’s not out of the realm of possibility Blackpool could get three. The problem with this is, whenever I think something along these lines, the favored side usually wins 1-0. I’m thinking that happens here when Gerrard finds Torres to take all three points. Prediction: Liverpool 1 Blackpool 0.

Sunday 11:00 am: Chelsea v Arsenal (Live on FSC). So the big one on Ryder Cup Sunday happens at Stamford Bridge. Both sides are coming off identical weeks where they lost their last league match, and then had convincing Champions League performances. The only difference in the preparation is Carlo Ancelotti had to miss the last half of the week after the death of his father.

Arsenal are a walking wounded right now, with six different first team players out for Sunday. Lukasz Fabianski will be in the sticks for Arsenal, something that should worry them. While he had a good performance against Partizan Belgrade, he will be dealing with a different class of striker here. Make no mistake about it though, Chelsea aren’t fully fit either. If Arsenal was smart, they would make Ramires’s job difficult. In replacing Lampard against City, he was by far Chelsea’s worst player.

In truth, this match boils down to if Chamakh or Drogba has the better day up front. This will be Chamakh’s first great test in a Premier League match, and his pace could cause Chelsea’s center backs problems. If Chelsea’s spacing is spot on against him, I think Chelsea ends up neutralizing him out of the match. With Didier Drogba facing a center back partnership of Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci, he won’t have as easy a time as he did in the last three meetings. The one thing that will be to Drogba’s advantage is that Arsenal’s center backs have not had to deal with someone of Drogba’s size and strength in the Premier League to date.

When it’s all said and done, while Drogba will not have an easy day up front, with the help of Anelka, and even Kakuta off the bench, there will be enough for Chelsea up front to wreck havoc. Since Scolari was sacked by Chelsea, this fixture has not been a competitive one. While Arsenal will get closer to competitive in this match, with the combination of Chelsea's home form right now and the shaky keeper situation at Arsenal, it all equals another comfortable Chelsea win. Prediction: Chelsea 2 Arsenal 0.

How do you see this weekend's action in the Premier League shaping out? Let us know in the comments below.

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Bundesliga Preview: Can Mainz Tie History And Extend Lead at the Top?

Mainz head coach Thomas Tuchel smiles during a press conference on Thursday. Mainz is surprisingly topping the Bundesliga table undefeated and faces TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday. (Credit Image: © DPA/ZUMApress.com)

I would like to take this moment to air my contempt of both GolTV and ESPN right now. There have only been two other times in the history of the Bundesliga that we have seen a team start the season 7-0-0, and neither network felt it was necessary to show potential history in the making. Sure, you can say I’m biased when it comes to Mainz, but all I’m saying is: when history can be made, you have to show it. Considering their opposition, it should be an open contest. If results go in Mainz’s favor this weekend, they could end up with a 5 point lead atop the table.

Friday 2:30 pm (Live on GolTV): Hannover 96 v St. Pauli. With Carsten Rothenbach injured and out for St. Pauli, the right of the park is completely exposed for Hannover to exploit. They should be able to do so with ease. Prediction: Hannover 2 St. Pauli 0.

Saturday 9:30 am
Borussia Monchengladbach v Wolfsburg: Gladbach give up goals for fun, and with Wolfsburg getting back into the groove of things after their early season start, I think this will be a no contest. Prediction: Borussia Monchengladbach 0 Wolfsburg 2.

Hamburg v Kaiserslautern (Live on GolTV): Considering both teams lack of defending, this should be a very open affair. However, Kaiserslautern’s attack has faltered since starting the season so brightly. Hamburg’s got the experience to take advantage, and I expect them to do so here. Prediction: Hamburg 3 Kaiserslautern 1.

Mainz v Hoffenheim: If you follow my twitter account, you know I have no problem in not hiding my love for Mainz. What has been amazing about them this season is they have defended brilliantly (save one moment of stupidity against Bayern Munich), and attacked with purpose. When teams throw wave after wave forward, Mainz has almost perfectly connected the dots in the counter attack. The other impressive thing about Mainz is they have been able to score in a variety of ways.
I hate to be so blunt about Hoffenheim, but it’s been the same old story with them. They love to attack, score goals in bunches, but their defending lets them down in critical situations. Against an in form Mainz side, away from home, I think that costs Hoffenhaim in the end. That’s right, the eternal pessimist when it comes to the clubs I support is actually going to predict Mainz starts the season 7-0-0. Prediction: Mainz 2 Hoffenheim 1.

Nurnberg v Schalke: Schalke have had more than their fair share of problems getting this season started. Their defending abandoned them at critical moments, and their attack failed miserably when having to come from behind. Nurnberg don’t have the greatest of attacks, but they have defended very well. All signs point to a draw here, but I think Schalke’s got just enough class, and confidence, to pull through. Prediction: Nurnberg 0 Schalke 1.

Freiburg v Koln: Koln keep losing strikers, with Sebastian Freis being the latest one who won’t be available. Considering Koln haven’t been hitting the back of the net already, I think Freiburg’s surprising start to this season continues with another win. Prediction: Freiburg 1 Koln 0.

Sunday 9:30 am (Live on ESPN3.com): Stuttgart v Eintracht Frankfurt. Make no mistakes about this one, it will be ugly. Stuttgart are a mess, and Eintracht Frankfurt have had their fair share of screw-ups that have cost them at least six points. I’m still sticking to my guns with regards to Stuttgart, though I would not be surprised if this game ended in a 1-1 draw. Prediction: Stuttgart 1 Eintracht Frankfurt 2.

Sunday 11:30 am
Bayer Leverkusen v Werder Bremen: Both sides form coming out of European competition is weighing heavily on my mind. Bayer gave up six to Gladbach and drew 0-0 to Nurnberg in the following fixture after playing in the Europa League, while Bremen have lost to Hoffenheim and Mainz immediately after Champions League play. When it’s all said and done, I think a score draw is appropriate. Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 1 Werder Bremen 1.

Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich (Live on ESPN3.com): Bayern Munich have not lost to Dortmund since 2007. However, since the loss of Ribery, Bayern Munich have looked an even worse mess. There is hope for Bayern Munich though, as Dortmund did not have a great European adventure. I think Bayern Munich pull off the same theft they did in their wins against Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim to steal another three points. Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 0 Bayern Munich 1.

What do you think will happen this weekend in the Bundesliga? Let us know in the comments below.

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Wednesday Morning Attack: Quick Champions League Thoughts, Holloway, Attwell, and More

JOHN TERRY (R) celebrates with GAEL KAKUTA after scoring the first goal for Chelsea against Olympique Marseille. (Credit Image: © Action Images/ZUMApress.com

Thoughts on Premier League and Bundesliga sides in the Champions League on Tuesday
* I was impressed with how Chelsea rode Marseille's early storm, and in the end finished off the French side with ease. It didn't hurt Chelsea that John Terry's flick on goal from an awful corner kick had the benefit of an open near post. When will managers and players alike learn that until the danger is completely cleared, the player needs to still be glued on the crossbar.

* Bayern Munich were very lucky in my mind to escape Basel with three points. Frei's opener for Basel was such a thing of beauty. Van Gaal has to figure out how to get more creativity from the players he has available to him. Right now, they are proving too much they are a two man show. There's only one problem with that: those two men are injured.

* Arsenal had an easier time than I expected them to have in Belgrade. It didn't hurt that Partizan stupidly had a man sent off. After that, it was curtains. This was a much needed boost in the arm heading to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Other Thoughts
* John Terry admitted after Chelsea's Champions League tie that the team took their foot off the gas in the second half. It only confirms to me what I've been thinking of their performances since week three of the season: once they get up by a comfortable enough margin, they mentally check out of games. One of these days, it will bite them in the backside.

* Ian Holloway was charged by the FA on Tuesday with improper conduct. At least he admitted he knew he was going to be in trouble in his post match press conference on Saturday. The sad thing is, you would think he'd know better. Even with a guilty plea, something tells me he's going to be sitting three matches out for his moment of stupidity.

* I knew it wouldn't be too long before we'd got an official stance on Stuart Attwell's assignment as a fourth official this weekend. Their claims that he was always assigned to fourth official duties this weekend just reeks of convenience. While I understand not wanting to make the man in the middle known until a few days before, how difficult would it be for the FA to think 'well the fourth official doesn't do much to influence the outcome of a match...why not announce them a few weeks in advance'? I know, I'll break out my pipe and smoke it. That's not happening any time soon.

* A couple of injury updates to close. We know Wayne Rooney will miss three weeks with his ankle injury. Hopefully he can also get his head straight in the meanwhile and find his form as well. And in what could be a boost for Manchester City, Mario Balotelli could be back by December.

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Tuesday Morning Attack: Vidic States Obvioius, Ancelotti's Faith, Injuries, and More

* Nemanja Vidic admits that Manchester United's defending is a worry. Thanks for telling us what everyone has already thought out loud. What's sad is, I really wonder if Rio Ferdinand returning from his injury woes would instantly help? Based on what we've seen so far, until Rio comes back, this will be the status quo.

* Carlo Ancelotti insists Chelsea's rookies are ready for the big stage. Well if the rookies are mixed with a great dose of regular starters, I'd be willing to concur with him. However, if it's like the team we saw against Newcastle United, there's no faith in the world that should convince him they are completely ready to hang in one of the biggest competitions in the world.

* Wenger wants Fabianski to step up. Wenger would love any goal keeper that would cost him nothing but weekly wages to step up. However, if Almunia is hurt, this is just stating the obvious. Wenger needs to spend some of that post tax profit the club will have left over and at least go keeper hunting. If he doesn't, they may not even win the League Cup.

* So Dirk Kuyt is saying that it just isn't Fernando Torres that's not happy right now at Anfield; no one is. That's what happens when a club drops alot of points in a row. Honestly, other than rehashing the usual lines, I don't see what would start making people around there happy.

* Here's the  long laundry list on injury updates from this weekend. The two obvious ones are Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard, who won't be playing in the Champions League midweek. Rooney's ankle is injured again, while Frank Lampard still hasn't recovered from the magic German hernia operation. Other Champions League casualities are Manuel Almunia, who is recovering from an injured elbow, and William Gallas, who will be out for three weeks because of an injured groin.

In a case of good news, bad news, and worse news, it's good news for Ricardo Fuller. Scans revealed Fuller did not break his shoulder, but that he only separated it on Sunday. The last time he separated his shoulder, he only missed one game. The international break will more than likely mean he'll only miss one game due to this injury. In the bad news department, Roberto Martinez is worried he's going to lose Franco Di Santo for a lengthy spell of time after an ankle injury on Saturday. In worse news, Wolves look set to be without Adlene Guedioura for up to six months after breaking his leg on Sunday.

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