text:
There's some big, probably over-hyped match this weekend. Perhaps you have noticed. However, it's not today, so you can continue to sleep off that hangover.
Selected schedule (times EDT):
7.30 Aberdeen-Dundee United
7.45 Sunderland-Middlesbrough
10.00 Norwich-Sheffield United
10.00 Blackburn-Fulham
10.00 Liverpool-Stoke City
10.00 West Ham-Newcastle
12.30 Bolton-Arsenal
And, of course, anything else you want to talk about.
For example, Lisa Munday, Norwich City's Jamie Cureton's special someone. One more after the jump.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Saturday Open Thread
There's some big, probably over-hyped match this weekend. Perhaps you have noticed. However, it's not today, so you can continue to sleep off that hangover.
Posted by Jacob at 7:15 AM 65 comments Links to this post
Labels: Open Thread, ü75
Friday, September 19, 2008
Friday Backpasses: This is what we had to work with
Read more on "Friday Backpasses: This is what we had to work with"...
As you'll see, the problem wasn't quantity, but quality.
Inter Milan want Maradona as consultant. It's only a matter of time before he and Mourinho have a slap fight. [Guardian]
Arsenal made money while losing money last year, more or less [BBC]
Aston Villa's UEFA Cup opponent don't play the game very well [The Spoiler]
Get ready for the next ex-US international player that will leave you muttering "bastard" under your breath [Soccer by Ives]
Onyewu wants out of Belgium. Cut and paste this for January [SI]
I'm guessing England's North-South divide is not quite to the same level as Italy's [Guardian]
New team pops up in Liverpool [Liverpool Echo]
No shit, Sherlock [Soccernet]
A look at shirt sponsorship deals in England [Guardian]
And, finally:
Mike Riley chosen for Chelsea-Manchester United because neither team objects. Since when are referees chosen like juries? [Daily Mail]
Posted by Jacob at 11:05 PM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: Backpasses, ü75
German Women's Team Seeks Sexy Sponsor
Amateur women's side, Meiendorfer SV, is in the same boat as Premiership sides West Ham and West Bromwich Albion in that the need a new kit sponsor. Meiendorfer may not have the name cache those EPL (suck it, Barclay's!) squads have, but the team makes up for it in the creativity department. Just check out their plea, accompanied with the following:
Sexy Sponsorensuche, indeed!
My German's a bit rusty, not having been back to HJ camp in some time, but it appears that a sponsor will receive an original photo of the twelve ladies above tossing away their "last shirt." However, those devishly clever frauen aren't throwing away their bikinis, because, as they say, a new sponsor is essential "but not at any price."
Nicht so Sexy Sponsorensuche!
I've been duped. I thought European women were more liberal in sexual mores than American women.
Regardless, maybe UF has an opportunity here. I'm sure our readers could provide a few ideas about what Meiendorfer SV could put on their chests.
Speaking of sponsors, if anybody wants to help UF out and become a sponsor, feel free to hit us up at unprofessionalfoul[at]gmail[dot]com with your ideas. Your support would be much appreciated.
[H/T: Abgefahrn]
Posted by The Fan's Attic at 3:17 PM 5 comments Links to this post
Labels: Sexy Sponsors, The Fan's Attic
It's one of those days
Read more on "It's one of those days"...
There ain't a damn bit of news coming out today. Either that or we are just too lazy to write up what we have. So it goes. Stay tuned for possible, maybe, just-might-happen updates later. Or just come back tomorrow for the open thread.
Posted by Jacob at 12:54 PM 3 comments Links to this post
Labels: Boring stuff, no news is not good news
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Thursday Backpasses: Rex Grossman is jealous of Del Piero
Writer spends time, a lot of time, with Deuce. Pretty damn good read [This is American Soccer]
Ex-Birmingham striker finds new job. He's a cop in Calgary [Calgary Sun]
Odd job: Becks lookalike [Headingly Today]
And, finally:
If you haven't seen Del Piero's goal from Wednesday, go see it now [101 Great Goals]
Posted by Jacob at 11:48 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Backpasses, ü75
Eh, why not, a spot of liveblog: NY Red Bulls v. Columbus Crew
Read more on "Eh, why not, a spot of liveblog: NY Red Bulls v. Columbus Crew"...
I've been watching this game and rather enjoying it, so I thought a little 2nd half liveblog wouldn't be a bad thing. For someone who is always ragging on MLS, I've had fun with this one.
Good attacking football from both sides, and the tempo is high.
I just feel like the one thing they're all missing is that last pass through en route to goal. The final delivery is sloppy, but it'll come in time. Thus, you end up getting guys shooting from range without much menace (except for Angel, whose free-kick was beastly), or you get a lot of goals scored via the old Fifa '98 route: cross from the touchline, get a tap-in or a header from the edge of the 6-yard box.
Maybe I'm wrong. Either way, it's been a good 'un so far. 1-1 at halftime, and they're getting ready to come back...
Follow along if you're around, after the jump.
Starting XIs:
New York Red Bulls:
18 - Jon Conway (GK)
2 - Kevin Goldthwaite
6 - Seth Stammler
7 - Mike Magee
9 - Juan Pablo Angel
13 - Jorge Rojas
17 - Gabriel Cichero
19 - Dane Richards
23 - Juan Pietravallo
27 - Andrew Boyens
60 - Jeff Parke
1 - Danny Cepero (GK)
4 - Carlos Mendes
8 - Sinisa Ubiparipovic
12 - Danleigh Borman
15 - John Wolyniec
32 - Luke Sassano
33 - Chris Leitch
Columbus Crew:
1 - William Hesmer (GK)
2 - Frankie Hejduk
4 - Gino Padula
5 - Danny O'Rourke
10 - Alejandro Moreno
11 - Pat Noonan
12 - Eddie Gaven
14 - Chad Marshall
15 - Stefani Miglioranzi (replaced by Ekpo, 20")
16 - Brian Carroll
19 - Robbie Rogers
18 - Kenny Schoeni (GK)
6 - Andy Iro
8 - Duncan Oughton
9 - Jason Garey
17 - Emmanuel Ekpo 20
23 - Ezra Hendrickson
32 - Steven Lenhart
And we're off.
46 mins:
Holy shit... that didn't take long. GOAL COLUMBUS... Robby Rogers, who caused a lot of problems on the left wing, takes the ball with pace and cuts infield, letting fly from 30 yards and sending the ball soaring past Jon Conway.
New York Red Bulls 1, Columbus 2
50 mins:
Rogers and Eddie Gaven are causing nightmares on the flanks for RBNY. Rogers ghosts past Cichero on the left, and the Venezuelan defender decides to stonewall him and send him flying. The crowd wants a penalty; the ref gives it where he should have given it, just outside. Rogers floats it in but Conway collects easily.
Conway's been rather pants tonight. Caught way out of position on goal #1, arguably on goal #2 as well, and just hasn't looked up for it tonight.
Moreno collects it outside the box dead center and decides to rip a shot with Boyens in his face... narrowly wide.
Sub for RBNY: Woljniec in, Pietravallo out. The salt-and-pepper hair atop the sub is rather hilarious to look at.
Other players who have looked good: Ekpo for Columbus (fast as shit but can't play a good final pass!) and Dane Richards, another lad who is faster than the proverbial speeding bullet but whose passing has the accuracy of a shotgun at long range.
55 mins:
LA Galaxy haven't won since Arena took over? I'm not surprised. Meanwhile, RBNY struggle to have any possession whatsoever. Moreno feeds Ekpo at the edge of the box, his thunderous shot is blocked and loops high and harmlessly towards the touchline. Conway canters across to collect under no pressure, but misjudges it and it dinks off him for a corner.
Corner doesn't amount to much, although the clearance is weak, and when Gaven gets it in the box again, his shot is rather weak and smothered easily.
57 mins:
RBNY cough it up again cheaply in midfield, and Brian Carroll jogs towards goal and shoots from 35 yards. It loops wide. What is with all this long-range shooting? A lot easier to score if you're close.
60 mins:
Harkes (I think it's Harkes) posits that the way to mark Juan Pablo Angel out of the game is to put two on him; one right in front of him to stop him shooting, and one right behind him to stop him getting the ball. Is he suggesting JPA might enjoy being the Lucky Pierre?
I wish I didn't now have that imagery. Damn you, Harkes. NIGHTMARE FUEL.
61 mins:
The RBNY defensive third of the field is beginning to resemble WW2-era Dresden; it is raining possession and chances on poor Conway's goal, leaving their defense looking rather dilapidated. (That's right folks, a tenuous WW2 reference!) The raiding is halted momentarily by a foul on the edge of the box that gives Conway a chance to clear and breathe a little.
62 mins:
Here come Columbus again. Marshall plays Moreno through, and it's a straight sprint to goal. He holds off the last defender, Conway comes out to greet him on the edge of the box, Moreno dinks it past him to the left and then takes a rather ridiculous dive right over Conway's outstretched body. The crowd becomes apoplectic looking for the penalty, but the ref knows best and awards a goal kick.
Moreno knocked it far too long past Conway to sell the ref on the foul, which was dubious at best to begin with.
RBNY have a corner on the right, which they promptly squander by heading well over the bar.
66 mins:
Columbus spending all their time attacking without difficulty down the wings. A weak cross from Gaven is cleared easily, and Rojas sets off for a sunday job through the entire midfield. He gets some 25 yards virtually untouched, and with 4 Crew defenders in front of him and RBNY players trying to make a break, he takes a speculative shot from range. Not far over, either, but leaving his teammates looking rather frustrated.
RBNY attack again down the left, but Goldthwait tosses up a cross to nowhere.
68 mins:
Cynical that from Dane Richards. A RBNY corner is cleared easily, and Rogers breaks up-field. He knocks it past the first man and turns Richards, whose response is to pull on his shirt until he falls down. Yellow card. Columbus take the free-kick quick and break down the right, the cross in finds Gaven who narrowly heads over.
70 mins:
It's Angel's turn to cross to nowhere. Bit more possession finally for RBNY in this second half, but Columbus have threatened to score a boatload of goals so far in this second half. Will their profligacy in front of goal lead to a soft equalizer?
20 minutes left to find out.
71 mins:
Cute trickery from Ekpo in midfield, but his final pass to Moreno trickles harmlessly through to the keeper. Frustrating stuff from someone who is very, very fun to watch.
I missed a substitution 10 mins ago for RBNY: Mike Magee off, Danleigh Borman off.
72 mins:
It's Hesmer's turn to look like Paul Robinson in goal, as a long, lofted free kick into the box catches him in two minds and he's forced to fumble it out for a corner with 2 Red Bulls giving him pressure. It amounts to nothing.
73 mins:
I'm not watching MLS anymore; it's just the Rogers and Gaven Show. Their link-up play is enjoyable, but Columbus aren't doing anything with it. Wojyniec breaks for RBNY down the left flank, but Hejduk distracts him enough to regain possession. Both teams are passing it around neatly for the most part, but it's not adding up to clear-cut chances.
76 mins:
HOW IN THE NAME OF DAVID BECKHAM DID THEY MISS THAT?!?!?!? Gorgeous play by Columbus. Given time to pass it around on the edge of the box from left to right to left again, Rogers chips the defense and Hejduk beats the offside trap. Through one-on-one on Conway, he hits it right into the goalie, and the ensuing scramble breaks to Rogers on the edge of the box. With plenty of space to shoot at, he scuffs it off the outside of his foot, it takes a deflection and Conway smothers the loose ball. Gilt-edged chance for the Crew.
... immediately from that Wolyniec beats the trap from Rojas's smart angled pass, but Hessmer is equal to it. Welcome back, end-to-end football. I've missed you the last 20 minutes.
80 mins:
Both sides are tired, but RBNY are starting to look more threatening. Still, the final pass is lacking. To prove my hypothesis, Rojas has a chance to spring Angel, but his pass is too strong and despite a spirited chase, it rolls out for a Columbus throw-in.
82 mins:
Sub time for Columbus after a lull in the play. Ekpo is off, with defender Danny Iro coming in. Would be awful to drop 2 points after this performance.
Sigi Schmid has another sub ready in the form of Jason Garey. Who's he replacing?
85 mins:
Dane Richards capitalizes on a gaffe to break down the right wing. All alone, he whips in a quick, low cross but it's easily clear. You can sense Angel's frustration from here.
And just like that... Columbus break and SCORE ANOTHER GOAL. Neat, clinical move, too. Hejduk gets through on the right after a neat chip through by Noonan, he races in on goal with the Goldthwaite breathing down his neck, he waits until Conway comes out before passing across for Gaven, who was wide open and slots it into an empty net. Very nicely done indeed.
New York Red Bulls 1, Columbus Crew 3
Just like that they bring on Garey for Noonan, who's had a quiet game. Not much of note from Pat N.
89 mins:
Frustration and petulance emerge from the RBNY side, who are clearly annoyed at the rather lackluster performance they've put in this evening. Rogers (I think) holds the ball near the left-hand corner flag, slowly sucking time off the clock, and Goldthwait decides he's had enough and takes a wild hack at the back of his leg. A long, swinging kick for no reason whatsoever, and the ref's decision is easy. RED CARD FOR GOLDTHWAIT.
Columbus fans cheer, Goldthwait stomps off. Stupid move late in the game.
90+1 mins:
Roll on full time, please. RBNY are just committing stupid, angry fouls and tension is running a little higher at the game winds down. Hejduk has another run down the wing, but it's broken up by Stammler. Less than a minute to go.
90+2 mins:
O'Rourke skies a shot well over, and we're seconds from the whistle.
A comfortable, richly-deserved win for Columbus at home despite coughing up the early goal. Rogers and Gaven were a constant menace, and RBNY will now have to deal with a suspension for Goldthwait, the guy with the most mins this season, after his idiotic foul at the death.
Final Score: New York Red Bulls 1, Columbus Crew 3
Decent game, that. MLS is slowly winning me over. Sure, it's no Liverpool, but I need to stop the snobbery when it comes to the US version. Still, I'm adamant that they're lacking the final pass. Too many long-range shots and dribbling into two defenders. Still, a good game.
Now it's time to crack into the scotch and watch Gordon Ramsay berate moronic, ornery failing restauranteurs for an hour.
Posted by Unknown at 8:07 PM 14 comments Links to this post
Labels: Columbus Crew, Lingering Bursitis, Liveblogs, MLS, Red Bull New York
Belated UEFA Cup thread
Read more on "Belated UEFA Cup thread"...
Does anyone watch Little Cup?
A ton of the matches have already concluded, probably due to being played in countries so tiny and scattered that they have their own provincial timezones. However, it's not over just yet!
Everton v. Standard Liege just kicked off, as did Spurs at home to Wizla Krakow, which should be fun as they're missing new signings Pavlyuchenko and Corluka (both cup-tied... good transfers, then), and Modric who already has a knee injury.
Starting XIs and the rest of the scores after the jump.
Get ready for some bad news, all you Omonia Nicosia fans...
Everton 1 Yakubu 23"
Standard Liege 1 Mbokani 9"
(kick-off 3.05pm ET)
Everton: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Anichebe, Castillo, Osman, Arteta, Cahill, Yakubu.
Subs: Nash, Baines, Vaughan, Nuno Valente, Jutkiewicz, Baxter, Rodwell.
Standard Liege: Aragon, Camozzato, Onyewu, Sarr, Dante, Dalmat, Jovanovic, Defour, Witsel, De Camargo, Mbokani.
Subs: Devriendt, Goreux, Toama, Mikulic, Nicaise, Ingrao, Gonzalez.
Spurs 0, Wisla Krakow 0
(kick-off 3.10pm ET)
Tottenham: Gomes, Gunter, Woodgate, King, Bale, Bentley, Jenas, Zokora, Lennon, Giovani, Bent.
Subs: Cesar, Huddlestone,Gilberto, Campbell, Dawson, O' Hara, Assou-Ekotto.
Wisla Krakow: Pawelek, Singlar, Baszczynski, Cleber, Diaz, Boguski, Sobolewski, Cantoro, Zienczuk, Pawel Brozek, Jirsak.
Subs: Juszczyk, Guedes Filho, Glowacki, Niedzielan, Malecki, Lobodzinski, Barreto.
AS Nancy 1 Berenguer 42"
Motherwell 0
Litex Lovech 1 Popov 10"
Aston Villa 3 Reo-Coker 45+1", Barry 72" (pen), Petrov 90+2"
Portsmouth 2 Diarra 39", Defoe 60"
Guimaraes 0
Omonia Nicosia 1 Duro 49"
Manchester City 2 Jo 59", 72"
Posted by Unknown at 3:27 PM 8 comments Links to this post
Labels: Everton, Lingering Bursitis, Manchester City, Motherwell, Tottenham, UEFA Cup
Oh Halsey...
Read more on "Oh Halsey..."...
It is hard to be a referee. Or at least, I imagine it to be. You're not very popular, you don't get paid very well, and the only way anyone judges you to have done a good job is if you're invisible and not heard from. There's death threats occasionally, you get called "wanker" more times than anyone else on earth (despite whether your masturbatory habits are that regular or not), and you catch shit from players, fans, and coaches every single day.
Sometimes though, you'll get rewarded with a big, high-profile game between big clubs, and you'll be seen all over the world in your black shirt clutching your little whistle. Prestigious, right?
Well, it is until you get something wrong, cause a big appeal to the FA where your ruling is overturned, and then you get dumped down to League Two for a couple of weeks.
Yep, that's what happened to Mark Halsey. Poor bastard. The wrath of Chelsea is clearly a lot stronger than I ever imagined.
From the Daily Mail, whose insistence on typos in their online content never ceases to amaze me:
Halsey dismissed Terry for hauling down Jo in the Blues' 3-1 win at Manchester City, but the England captain successfully appeal against the red card he picked up at Manchester City.Independent, eh? That means Roman can probably get to 'em. Some new velvet cossacks, or a Mercedez Benz knocked off from a car park in St. Petersburg.
Halsey deemed it a serious foul play and showed Terry the red card, but Chelsea protested, and yesterday submitted a claim for wrongful dismissal.
Jo still had a long way to go to goal when the foul came in from Terry, whose fellow defender Ricardo Carvalho was in close attendance.
An independent regulatory commission heard the appeal today and the FA revealed they upheld Chelsea's claim, meaning England captain Terry must no longer serve a three-match ban.
Either way, as the article goes on to mention, Terry's reinstatement is rather fortunate for the Blues, as they play Manchester United this weekend, and his suspension would carry through their Carling Cup tie against Pompey on the 24th, and the following league game against Stoke.
Halsey's punishment for royally messing things up and forcing these commissions in the first place is a prime gig this weekend: Chester vs. Shrewsbury.
It's good to see some accountability there, especially as the straight red was dubious from the start, but it makes me wonder what'll happen to Ed Hochuli, whose transgression was far more influential. San Diego lost, and he received bad grades that might stop him working in the playoffs. Could they send him to ref 1-AAA college football instead?
Either way, there are two morals to the story: be a good referee, and never, ever, ever get on the wrong side of John Terry.
Posted by Unknown at 1:22 PM 5 comments Links to this post
Labels: adventures in punishment, Chelsea, Lingering Bursitis, red cards, Referee's a wanker
Lyon don't play nice
While we were all captivated yesterday by the games which British teams failed to win, a pretty stunning comeback happened. Lyon, playing at home, went down 0-2 to Fiorentina by halftime. While Arsenal struggled to make up for a cheap PK, Lyon roared back with two second half goals. It must have been a stunning comeback with lots of hard work, right?
Not so much, it would appear. Lyon's first goal came at the benefit of a Fiorentina injury. The man was down, and Lyon maintained possession and scored. While it would be despicable enough if the injury was up field, Fiorentina's injury happened in their own box. Instead of playing the ball out, Lyon used the prone player to beat an offside call and score.
There is video at The Offside. You can watch the goal and the aftermath, as Fiorentina take umbrage with Lyon's interpretation of Fair Play. If any of you could provide a translation of the
Italian announcers (DONE!), that would be much appreciated.
Posted by Jacob at 11:00 AM 5 comments Links to this post
Labels: Fiorentina, Lyon, No Surrender, Not so Fair Play, ü75
Caption Competition Winner!
Read more on "Caption Competition Winner!"...
ERRRRRRRRRR (Buzzer)
Time's up! We asked you to come up with a clever and witty caption for the above picture of Nicky Bailey (Charlton) and Andy Keogh (Wolves) and you did not disappoint. But someone must win right?
Find out who, and read some of the entries, after the jump.
So we have a winner but first let's look at the best submitted offerings from our UF blog fiends.
Permanent4: The zombies in Wolverhampton seemed quite confused about where the brains were.
Precious Roy: God this game IS boring. I'm gonna take a nap on your ass. (Made me laugh aloud!)
iskoppa: Please, please don't leave me! I promise never to score again!!!!
Goat: Whilst Wolves took the 3 points, Charlton had the last laugh as Nicky Bailey administers what is know colloquially as a "stinkface" to Wolves' Andy Keogh.
But the winner is this one...
Private: Are you sure your car keys are in here?
Well done sir. Please send your guest blog to unprofessionalfoul{at}gmail{dot}{com}.
We will have another caption competition soon so stay tuned!
Posted by Bigus Dickus at 10:02 AM 6 comments Links to this post
Labels: Bigus Dickus, Caption Contest, charlton athletic, wolverhampton
Old news: Hicks family and Liverpool are not BFF
Read more on "Old news: Hicks family and Liverpool are not BFF"...
Nothing will ever be simple for the Hicks family in Liverpool. They were welcomed with the same cautious enthusiasm that met soldiers in Baghdad square (well, we're led to believe so anyway), and now, they've been exposed as rather insidious and dishonest since then.
Liberators on one hand, now they're the dismal status quo holding us back.
Well, it seems like even a monumental win over Manchester United this weekend STILL couldn't buy them some second-hand goodwill.
Tom Hicks' son, Alex Hicks, thought that a night on the town would be a bit of fun, although a drunk American outside the Cavern Club is going to draw some attention, especially when traveling with a small cadre of minders and bodyguards (Rule #1: no matter how restless and crude the natives appear to be, treat interaction with them as something more relaxed than an anthropological journey).
Back at the hotel, a fight broke out, and his bodyguard punched out a security guard and spent the night in the clink.
From the report:
"Witnesses said alcohol and cutlery were hurled out of an upstairs window to the street below. A drunken fracas is believed to have revolved around Alex Hicks and his group of friends."He was charged with assault and sent on his way, but it is yet more bad press for the already embattled Americans in charge at Anfield. At least Gillett has been seen at some games recently! He even tried to sing along with You'll Never Walk Alone!
Still, it's worth noting that the incident took place at the Hard Day's Night Hotel, the recent downtown development of a Beatles-themed hotel. There's an All You Need Is Love joke in there somewhere...
Posted by Unknown at 9:07 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: adventures in travel, American Owners, crime, Fights, Liverpool FC
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Wednesday Backpasses: Blog theft sucks
Don't do this. Don't EVER do this [The Original Winger]
Pavs doesn't like the English game [Daily Mail]
Totally responsible source says Arsenal linked with American 14-year-old. Well, the age is right [The Soccer Blog]
Post says
Chelsea Spartak London is the new Manchester United. Today's play says Man U is the new Liverpool [Kornheiser's Cartel]
Why does he even speak? [Soccernet]
John Barnes takes first job since 2000, as Jamaica's new manager [BBC]
Sometimes I think journalists are being touchy when complaining about the athletes they cover. This time, they are in the right [Play the Game]
And, finally:
Everton signed Screech [Daily Mail]
Confidential to inky_wretch-Promise we didn't steal from you. Thanks for the link, though.
Posted by Jacob at 10:29 PM 2 comments Links to this post
Labels: Backpasses, ü75
CL Open Thread
Read more on "CL Open Thread"...
Now that everyone here got the Roma-CFR Cluj matchup completely wrong, it's time to move onto Matchday 2. Arsenal, Celtic and Manchester United are you British teams involved, With ManU-Villareal apparently our ESPN2 game of the week. Given that the early listing was for Real Madrid-BATE Borisov, I'll take it. If you don't like that game, please feel free to browse our links. There is one that should really help you out.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be making his season debut for Manchester United tonight. That is, if he gets off the bench. Unfortunately for us American fans, The Haitian Sensation is not on Villareal's Champions League roster, though Giuseppe Rossi is. Bastard.
Match-ups and lineups after the jump.
Group E
Manchester United-Villareal
Group F
Steaua Bucharest-Bayern Munich
Group G
Dynamo Kiev-Arsenal
Group H
Juventus-Zenit St Petersburg
Real Madrid-BATE Borisov
Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Robson, Brown, Maloney, Samaras, McDonald
Aalborg: Zaza, Beauchamp, Jakobsen, Olfers, Pedersen, Curth, Johansson, Augustinussen, Risgard, Enevoldsen, Saganowski
Manchester United: Van der Sar; Ferdinand, Evra, Neville, Evans; Hargreaves, Fletcher, Park, Nani; Rooney, Tevez. Subs: Anderson, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Vidic, Brown, Foster, Giggs
Villareal: Diego Lopez; Gonzalo, Capdevilla, Angel Lopez, Godin; Fernandez, Eguren, Edmilson, Cani, Pires; Franco. Subs: Viera, Llorente, ibagaza, Fuentes, Cazorla, Senna, Venta
Dynamo Kiev: Bogush, Betao, Diakhate, Mykhalyk, Nesmachniy, Vukojevic, Yussuf, Yeremenko, Aliev, Ninkovic, Bangoura. Subs: Shovkovskiy, Ghioane, Morozyuk, Shatskikh, Kravets,
Arsenal: Almunia; Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy; Walcott, Fabregas, Song, Denilson; Van Persie, Adebayor. Subs: Fabianski, Vela, Eboue, Bendtner, Ramsey, Wilshere, Djourou
Alright, it's Lingering Bursitis here. I have no idea what I'm undertaking, but I thought that since I'd found a Real Madrid v. BATE Borisov feed, I might as well do a half-hearted liveblog (while still technically at work). Call it madness, but I could probably bank on us being the only ones around with that depth of coverage.
2 mins: Raul goes close to scoring. The feed is in Portuguese. This is not going to be easy.
5 mins: All Real so far, unsurprisingly. BATE elicit loud wolf-whistles for hoofing their sole possession downfield.
11 mins: GOAL REAL MADRID... nice build-up. Robben's romp down the left wins a corner. Van der Vaart takes it short, and Guti's low "cross" scuffs across the box to Sergio Ramos, all alone on the back post, and he one-times it through Veremko's legs. Real Madrid 1, BATE Borisov 0 (Ramos 11")
And brilliantly, the patchy Portuguese feed goes down. What the hell was I thinking anyway? I'm just playing out a crisis on the blog... the need to do something about soccer completely overwhelming my better nature.
Time to troll for another obscure game to cover.
Posted by Jacob at 2:29 PM 101 comments Links to this post
Labels: Arsenal, Celtic, Champions League, Manchester United, Open Thread, ü75
Caption Competition!
Posted by Bigus Dickus at 2:15 PM 17 comments Links to this post
Labels: Bigus Dickus, caption competition, great prize
The Good, The Bad, The WTF
Read more on "The Good, The Bad, The WTF"...
Reaching down into the Colaship this week. Nottingham Forest are a long ways away from their heights of European successes as the '70s became the '80s. Brian Clough was the architect, manager, and psychologist of that team. Clough left the team in 1993, after they were confirmed relegation from the first season of the EPL, going down for the first time in 16 years.
Forest immediately returned to the top flight, and finished third the next season, granting them entry into the UEFA Cup. This was doubly important given that this was the first season the English clubs returned to European competition following Heysel. When faced with such a meaningful re-entry, one has to make a splash. This week, we see what Forest came up with.
Wait, we've seen this shirt before, haven't we? Yes, and no. We have definitely seen the rough template before (and I am on record of how I feel about teams sharing the same fucked-up looks), but this is different. Umbro, when throwing paint splecks on jerseys one day, decided to attempt to work in the club badge into the mess. While you can barely see it on the Aberdeen shirt (on the shoulders, rotated 90 degrees), it's obvious on the Forest shirts.
Perhaps it's because they never felt the need to delete the Forest text taken from the badge. All I know is, The placement of the shirt sponsor could have been a little better. If you are going to put your name one the pattern of the shirt, you should probably ensure that the sponsor does not cover up a couple of letters of your name. That's the kind of thing that riles the supporters.
Anyway, my main feelings about this shirt hold over from the Aberdeen one linked to above. If I were a Forest fan, I would seriously consider getting this as a laugh, but would immediately regret doing so. That collar just has to feel awful on your neck.
Oh, and this shirt is for sale, too. For $14 after shipping, you can get it delivered straight to your doorstep, and marvel at just how much brighter the yellow is in person than it is in pictures. Happens to me every time. Even if you are nor interested, do hit the links for some good in-game photos of this shirt in action. Look at that collar. Ugh.
Posted by Jacob at 1:45 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Nottingham Forest, The Good The Bad The WTF, ü75
Only Slightly Less Cool Than West Ham's New Kits
Now that the Fed has bailed out borderline-insolvent insurer AIG, the giant's sponsorship deal with Man United is set for a makeover.
Pretty sweet, huh? Oh wait, we're Americans... Pretty fuckin' sweet, huh?
Who says truth is stranger than fiction? Because in this case, it's not. The truth here is really fucking boring. Nothing is going to happen to the AIG sponsorship of United, and, if anything, United might be worse off for not having their deal with AIG—4-years and £56.5 million—fall through two years in.
So says someone named Drew Barrand, of something called the Sport Industry Group"
"Because of the global commercial appeal that United have, you could interpret it that they wouldn't have minded if the deal had been terminated half-way through. It would have allowed them to go into the market again and negotiate for a new deal that potentially could have earned them more."
Oh wait. Jokes on them. Ha ha, yeah Ben Bernake hates United. And his bailout of AIG screws them just that much more. Sweet.
As a taxpayer, I fully support the US Govt's undermining of United. And the beauty part of this is that Sir Alex is totally distracted from even seeing this is going on.
Posted by Precious Roy at 1:03 PM 7 comments Links to this post
Labels: AIG, Ben Bernake, Manchester United, Massive Financial Bail-outs
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Tuesday Backpasses: Snobbery at its finest
Read more on "Tuesday Backpasses: Snobbery at its finest"...
Another look at Jozy's La Liga debut. With video [NYT Goal Blog]
TFC want a star DP next year. Good luck with that [CBC]
Looking like Mike Ashley in Newcastle is hazardous to your well-being [Daily Mail]
Someone asked John Harkes his opinion about the USMNT [NY Times]
Knife fight at a soccer match [Newsday]
And, finally:
Are you a soccer snob? Score yourself in the comments. I'm a four [Examiner]
Posted by Jacob at 10:07 PM 9 comments Links to this post
Labels: Backpasses, ü75
CL Open Thread
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Oh, happy days...
It's finally upon us. Catch the excitement! CL Matchday 1. Oh, sweet lord, I never thought we'd get here, and to think we almost didn't if it weren't for the hilarious profligacy of Standard Liege in front of goal.
Moving on, here's the slate for today/tonight:
Spartak London v. Bordeaux
Roma v. CFR Cluj-Napoca
Panathanaikos v. Inter Milan
Werder Bremen v. Anorthosis Famagusta
Barcelona v. Sporting
FC Basel v. Shakhtar Donetsk
Marseille v. Liverpool
PSV v. Atletico Madrid
Any score predictions? Anything to note about the games? Drop it after the mark and let's celebrate the return of Big Cup.
Marseille v. Liverpool:
Marseille: Mandanda, Bonnart, Zubar, Hilton, Taiwo, Cana, Cheyrou, Kone, M'Bami, Ben Arfa, Niang.
Subs: Riou, Ziani, Zenden, Kabore, Samassa, Erbate, Valbuena.
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Dossena, Gerrard, Mascherano, Leiva Lucas, Kuyt, Torres, Babel.
Subs: Cavalieri, Agger, Keane, Riera, Alonso, Benayoun, Degen.
Referee: Konrad Plautz (Austria). He was the baldie who presided over the Spartak London-Liverpool 1-1 semi-final 1st leg last season, and the disastrous Portugal-Switzerland game in Euro '08 in which he incorrectly disallowed a goal and also failed to give an obvious penalty. Can't wait for this one.
Meanwhile, across the Channel... Spartak London v. Bordeaux
Spartak London: Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Obi, Joe Cole, Deco, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka.
Subs: Hilario, Di Santo, Ballack, Ferreira, Kalou, Alex, Belletti.
Bordeaux: Rame, Jurietti, Diawara, Planus, Placente, Diarra, Menegazzo, Gouffran, Gourcuff, Wendell, Chamakh.
Subs: Valverde, Henrique, Cavenaghi, Bellion, Ducasse, Traore, Obertan.
Referee: Pieter Vink (Holland). This is the guy who reffed the Arsenal-Liverpool quarter-final 1st leg that same year, the one in which Hleb thought he had a penalty when he actually didn't. This bodes well for all teams involved.
Posted by Unknown at 2:45 PM 68 comments Links to this post
Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Lingering Bursitis, Liverpool FC, Open Thread
A rather hasty CL Preview
As noted in a previous post, the CL groups are ready to go, and things will begin in an hour or so. I made my predictions way back when, but now it's everyone else's turn to estimate who's going through to the knockouts.
Has anyone picked BATE? Could anyone even identify Borisov on a map? We shall find out!
Chelsea, AS Roma, Girondins Bordeaux, CFJ Cluj
One of the softest groups in the competition (thanks to Mr. Abramovich and his clever hidden network of payoffs), and we almost have a consensus amongst the group. It will be Spartak London and AS Roma advancing through on a landslide, if not for the nationalistic myopia of resident Frenchie, The NY Kid. He is confident that Bordeaux will make it to the next round, where they'll almost certainly lose anyway. The French sure do love the agony of delayed heartbreak.
Inter Milan, Werder Bremen, Anorthosis Famagusta, Panathanaikos
This is the group with by far the best names. Mourinho should suffer no such Anorthosis in waltzing past the rest, and we all agree: this is an Inter Milan group through and through, except for Precious Roy, who has the Greeks gutsying past 'em for the group win (unless that was a mere formatting issue in his email; it could swing either way).
Behind that, a whole mess of questions. Bremen's an unknown quantity, and you never know what you're going to get from a Greek side. It's either a 1-0 win or a 5-1 defeat. Thusly, such confusion spread to the UF braintrust, as opinion split 50/50 between the bruisers from Germany, and the defensive boredom brought by Panathanaikos.
One thing we could agree on: Famagusta have less chance of qualifying than Chinese Democracy has of topping the charts.
FC Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon, FC Basel, Shakhtar Donetsk
Another slew of unpronounceables. Everyone picked Barca and Sporting, to the surprise of no-one.
Liverpool, PSV Eindhoven, Olympique Marseille, Atletico Madrid
Tons of intrigue here, at least in possible storylines, but not with UF when it comes to boldly proclaiming that LFC will live to canter another day. Beyond that, a lot of variety (well, as much variety as having three teams to choose from could bring).
The NY Kid once again exhibited his unflinching loyalty to that most uninteresting of leagues, selecting Olympique as his group runner-up. u75 went to another uninteresting league for his pick of PSV, whereas the rest preferred the flair of the other Madrid.
This is definitely the wrong group to bet money on.
Manchester United, Villarreal CF, Celtic, Aalborg BK
For every Russian string-puller, there's also a gum-chewing Scottish contingent hell-bent on rigging the odds in their favour, and it comes in this absolute cake of a group. 2 teams in Celtic and Villareal that they've played (and dispatched of handily) in the Champions League, and then a team from Scandinavia, which might as well translate to "6 points" in English.
Thusly, no-one of the crowd displayed the testicles necessary to pick away from the crowd, as Manchester United and Villareal are the ones with the golden tickets..... EXCEPT ONE. (can you see where this flimsy conceit is going yet?)
The NY Kid, bold and perhaps stupid, feels Celtic can shimmy and glasgow kiss their way past the La Liga outfit to claim a sacrificial lamb place in the next round. If he displays any more outliers, I'm going to have to assume he's picking at random. If there's a BATE pick in there, I might have to step down as a blogger and as a human being.
Olympique Lyon, Bayern Munich, Steaua Bucharest, Fiorentina
Well, there's a French team in here too, but thankfully everyone else picked Lyon and Bayern to cruise on, so no NY Kid joke in this one. Phew.
Arsenal, FC Porto, Fenerbahce, Dinamo Kiev
Arsenal are gifted passage into the next round by virtue of the fact that a. they're a good side and b. just about every UF staff member is a Gooners fan. The 50/50 split beyond that is for the Portugese and the Turkish, which makes me almost want to go back and pick Kiev just so they don't feel left out. It's only the kind, NY Kid-esque thing to do.
Real Madrid, Juventus, Zenit St. Petersburg, Bate
Mercifully, a rather soft group to close out. Lots of squabbling about the 1-2 order, but almost everyone has Real and Juve so it's immaterial. The Fan's Attick fancies the Russians (as does our favourite prognosticator, The NY Kid), and to be fair, they're a stylish pick right now having dispatched of Man U in the SuperCup. However, Liverpool just beat them, thus neutering the impact and significance of Zenit's performance a little bit. Still, it'd be nice to see one of the juggernauts fall, especially either one of these two snooty collectives.
So there you have it. Close to 1000 words (probably), and yet no closer to figuring out who's winning this bloody thing. I mean, we can't be that bold, can we?
(Of course, I am picking LFC, instantly making me several notches worse than NY Kid on the guessing game scale)
Read more on "A rather hasty CL Preview"...
Posted by Unknown at 2:15 PM 8 comments Links to this post
Labels: Champions League, Fun with Punditry, Lingering Bursitis, WAGs (Wild Ass Guesses)
Colaship Round-Up
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Charlton players complain about the decision that started the Wolves comeback!
No I had not forgotten and yes it is Tuesday, but late is better than never, eh?
That's what Tony Mowbray was saying after Saturday's encounter with Zola's West Ham at the Hawthorns. Wait: this is about the Championship, so forget about the top flight for a few minutes and join me for a look-see at what happened in the Coca Cola Championship this weekend!
Business as usual at St Andrews on Saturday. Another 3 points for Bongo as Cameron Jerome scored their winner against Donny Rovers right before half-time. Ex-Sheffield United forward Steve Kabba scored the only goal of the game for Blackpool as the tangerines beat Barnsley. Cardiff shared the points with Bristol City. Charlton got 'done' a treat at the Valley by Wolves after taking a 3rd minute lead through Nicky Bailey. But the wheels fell off in the second half and with 30 minutes to go Ebanks-Blake scored from the spot before Sam Vokes hit a late double to leave Charlton on 6 points and near the bottom of the table. Wolves have had an excellent start to the new season and top the table, leading Bongo on goal difference.
Empty seats at Portaloo Rd.
Elsewhere Coventry and Preston finished goal-less, Palace beat Swansea 2-0 at Selhurst Park, Derby notched their first win of the season to lift some pressure from the shoulders of Paul Jewell, Forest lost at home to Burnley, Wednesday beat Watford 2-0 and the scummers beat Reading at Portaloo Rd.
Notice the empty seats in the picture above? Understandable...who would want to spend an afternoon at that dump watching Campo huff and puff all over the place.
So Bigus? What about Norwich? How did they do away to Plymouth?
Well readers, we hit the bar 3 times, had a goal disallowed but took all 3 points with relative ease after goals from the AA team: Arturo and Antoine. Arturo Lupoli put us in front after 15 minutes when a Sibierski (left) header put him through on goal, and then the big Frenchman with a shiny head scored himself from 30 yards with a free kick on the hour. Paul Gallacher scored a late consolation for Plymouth. Get in City! If we beat Q.P.R. on Wednesday, we could find ourselves where we belong, in the top 6!
Just one result left to mention. Wednesday's visitors to Carrow Road (Q.P.R.) stuffed Southampton 4-1 at Loftus Road on Sunday to leave the Saints second from Bottom with just 3 points. It's going to be a tough season for them. They flirted with the drop last term and I can see them going down this year...
To make matters worse former Saint Dexter Blackstock (above, spot a Southampton defender?) scored 2 of the goals. Plymouth are currently the strongest team in the league as they hold the other 23 teams up.
Click here for the table.
Posted by Bigus Dickus at 1:05 PM 2 comments Links to this post
Labels: Bigus Dickus, results, tables, The Championship
You Know?
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With the ghost of Danny Murphy looking on, this weekend proved plenty sweet for the Red half on UF as Liverpool finally notched a league win over United in the Rafa Era. Not only did it keep LFC atop the table (alongside Chelsea, on ten points), but it also managed to take the shine off Berbatov's bow in Manc red.
But even sweeter is this post-match interview with the legend himself, Jamie Carragher. That is, for one reason... Carra's use of the words 'you know'. You'd think he'd have broken his leg laying down a tackle on Dimitar the way he uses that phrase as a crutch.
Watch the interview and try to count how many times he says 'you know' (assuming you speak Scouse)...
I'll save you the trouble. By my count, in one minute and fifty seconds, Carra wedges it in 28 times.
Impressive, you know?
Posted by sven at 11:45 AM 6 comments Links to this post
Labels: Jamie Carragher, Sven, video, You know?
Blathering Out of Africa
Pay no mind to the crime, transportation and lodging issues because Blather said "When I left the plane and arrived on African soil, I started dancing" in advance of his inspection that wasn't an inspection. I have no doubt he was wearing a dashiki and kufi while dancing. Blather would lead us to believe that if F.W. De Klerk sharted in his shorts that it was gold bullion, if it meant he looked good. South Africa 2010 is his baby.
Keep in mind this is the same Blather touring South Africa that claimed millionaire players were slaves to their clubs, when FIFA forces players to participate in international games against their wishes at times. The man speaks with a forked tongue and is a complete and utter disgrace to football.
I can only hope that the FIFA jet left him behind dancing to be eaten by some hippos, because lions are too dignified for this man.
Posted by The Fan's Attic at 11:00 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: South Africa, stupid things Sepp Blatter says, The Fan's Attic
Terry wins red card appeal
Despite being sent off for Serious Foul Play and not for a Professional Foul, England's Brave John Terry had his red card suspension overturned by a board of appeals. Oddly, they cited that there were teammates behind him on the replay, and that he was not last man back.
One hopes the board enjoy their all-inclusive Russian vacations.
Posted by Jacob at 9:55 AM 1 comments Links to this post
Labels: bullshit, John Terry, Red Card, ü75
Monday, September 15, 2008
Monday Backpasses: What else do you need?
Read more on "Monday Backpasses: What else do you need?"...
German teams love mascots almost as much as Germans love Hasselhoff [The Best Eleven]
A glowing review of Jozy's La Liga bow [The Offside]
Does Barcelona want a MLS sister club in Miami? [Miami Herald]
French ref admits blowing a penalty call in weekend game, surrenders [Soccerway]
Football moments to be adapted into English ballet. Expected to be as great as any other English ballet [Guardian]
Mrs. Becks shows she can dress down and be a regular soccer mom [Daily Mail]
Kazakh coach gets dumped. Soccernet tries a Borat joke [Soccernet]
FSC to get Nielsen ratings. Check out those demographics [Trading Markets]
And, finally:
Italian club gets a taste of the Mourinho treatment, don't like it [Eurosport]
Confidential to The Offside Rules: We'll try.
Posted by Jacob at 10:35 PM 2 comments Links to this post
Labels: Backpasses, ü75
Making an Impact Stateside - Darren Huckerby.
Darren Huckerby has been a bit of a revelation since arriving on the West Coast with the San Jose Earthquakes. Struggling San Jose were adrift at the bottom of the table with 4 wins in 16 league games B.D (Before Darren). But the A.D (After Darren) picture is a rosy one indeed. The 'Quakes are unbeaten in 8, with 4 wins and 4 draws. Darren has scored 4 goals, had 4 assists and generally made a nuisance of himself down the left hand side, even outshining Goldenballs himself last month as Huckerby's new side beat Beckham's Galaxy 3-2 at the McAfee Coliseum in front of 26,000 eager fans. The last 8 games have seen the 'Quakes close the gap in the Western standings and they now sit just 2 points shy of second place!
BD: You appear to be very popular at Buck Shaw Stadium already. More Norwich shirts appear in the crowd every week and your name can be heard being chanted from the stands. Are you enjoying a rapport with Earthquakes fans like the one you share with Norwich City fans?
BD: I must apologize that you had to be subjected to the idiocy of Gary Radnich on KRON a few weeks back, he clearly had no idea what he was talking about and it was a popular subject for many football fans here and at home once the video hit YouTube. I hope this did not affect your opinion of American journalists. What was going through your mind when he was calling you Derek and asking you questions about Posh Spice?
THAT infamous Radnich KRON interview!
BD: Did your wife think you were nuts turning down a Premiership side and 11 other teams to stick to your word on never playing against Norwich?
DH: We decided together that I wouldn't play against Norwich.
BD: You are wearing the familiar number 6 for the 'Quakes. Did the club offer the number or did you ask for it?
DH: I kind of saw it coming, but it was still a bit of a shock when it happened.
BD: Some people seem to think that his decision was based reasons other than the football, for example the fact that you were so popular in Norwich didn't suit his personality of being the top dog in town.
DH: I would like to think not.
BD: Norwich have signed some good players during the summer, 11 signings in total, including Hoolahan, Bell, Stefanovic and Lupoli. Ryan Bertrand has also come back for another stint. 4 games in and Norwich haven't won yet and have been struggling to find the net. They do seem to be passing the ball around and creating chances, how do you think they will do this season? Could they make the play-offs?
DH: They have to start winning some games, but by all accounts they are playing well right now. We shall see.
BD: I read somewhere that you have Norwich season tickets. Will you get to many games this year once the MLS season ends?
DH: I will be back over there as soon as the season ends here, hopefully in late November. I will go to as many games as I can.
BD: What do you think you will do when you retire from football? Does hosting a match day club like Gunny and Goss do at Norwich interest you? Do you fancy having a go at TV work like Dion? Or will you just relax and break out the golf clubs?
Posted by Bigus Dickus at 1:00 PM 7 comments Links to this post
Labels: Bigus Dickus, Darren Huckerby, legends, Norwich City, San Jose Earthquakes
It's Witchcraft
Wicked witchcraft. Although, you know, it's strictly taboo, people still try to practice it. But if you try to use witchcraft to coax a good performance out of your team, and that team is in the northeast corner of Democratic Republic of Congo, there will be a riot with deaths. That's just the way of the world.
This time (not that I know of an others, really), witchcraft was practiced by the goalkeeper of Nyuki, who left the penalty area to use "fetishist" spells against his rivals. An on-pitch melee ensued between the teams. A local police commander came onto the field to try to break it up, but was pelted with rocks by the crowd. Other police then fired teargas into the crowd, which caused a rush for the exits. During the mad rush to get out, 11 people were killed, presumably trampled, though the article has no exact information on that.
See? There was no way to prevent this type of escalation once that rogue goalkeeper started doing his goal dance. Every step of the way the response of the people involved was the only logical one that could be taken. Once witchcraft entered the picture, 11 people had to die. I bet they had terraces in there, too.
Okay, now that I got that out of my system, what things would lead to such a riot in England? Sure, there could be a pub brawl, but those usually only lead to one knifing death at a time, such as this one from last week, which took the life of a professional footballer. We're long since out of the days of Hillsborough, now that top-flight stadiums are all-seater and many fans have been priced out of the game anyway.
Could one of Chelsea's patented (and much-copied) circle the ref moves get out of hand? What if Mark Halsey had reacted negatively to being surrounded on Saturday and started handing out more bans? At what point would Chelsea fans have started ripping out seats?
It's fantasy, I know, it wouldn't happen. Chelsea fans don't care enough to riot, they just like it when the team brings home a trophy or two. Anything else just gets in the way of spending money.
Read more on "It's Witchcraft"...
Posted by Jacob at 11:00 AM 3 comments Links to this post
Labels: Democratic Rebublic of Congo, riots, ü75, Witchcraft
Ring Around the Ref'ree
Chelsea defeated Manchester City 3-1 in the EPL (Suck it, Barclay's!) in the billionaire version of Human Battle Bots. Roman Abramovich's expensive bot parts Ricardo Carvalho, Frank Lampard and Nicolas Anelka all scored for Chelsea while the shiny new Manchester City bot part Robinho scored in his debut on a free kick. Citeh held on in the first half but the Chelseabot just had too many parts, for now.
By the end of the match most of the excitement was gone, that is until England's Brave John Terry earned himself a red card and an automatice suspension for next weeks Manchester United match. (Video at approx. 3:00). True to form, Chelsea surrounded the referee to complain about the decision. Although, it does appear a little unjust as Terry was not the last man on the professional foul. Chelsea will likely appeal.
The appeal, though, will likely be unsuccessful according to Times Online.
It is understood that Mark Halsey, the referee, deemed Terry's block on Jô, the City striker, to be serious foul play rather than a professional foul and he faces a three-match ban, ruling him out of matches against United, Stoke City and Aston Villa. The FA is unable to downgrade cards from red to yellow, so Chelsea must demonstrate that Terry should not have been booked to get the decision overturned, an unlikely proposition.
JT looks likely to miss the Red Devil match, but what of the Respect Campaign? You might recall that the League has initiated a campaign to increase the respect towards match officials from the players as a result of the proliferation of team protests and remonstrations surround the referee.
Much of the finger pointing has been directed at Chelsea for circling the refs, although it must be noted most clubs seem to have followed suit, including Man U and Liverpool.
As the pictures in the post demonstrate, much of the criticism is deserved. Even though, EBJT has said he supports the campaign.
Posted by The Fan's Attic at 9:00 AM 2 comments Links to this post
Labels: Chelsea, John Terry, Manchester City, Referees, The Fan's Attic
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Ligue 1 Weekend Review
Read more on "Ligue 1 Weekend Review"...
Matchday 5 in France saw several 1-1 results and numerous matches featuring exciting halves of football, although there was only 1 match which featured end-to-end action for 90 minutes. By the end of the weekend, the names at the top of the table looked very familiar. Join me after the jump to find out how the usual suspects got there.
Saturday, September 13:
Auxerre 1-1 Nancy - This was one of the more lackluster matches of the weekend, as Auxerre dominated the run of play for the majority of the 90 minutes. Auxerre opened the scoring in the second half on a 54th minute strike from Lejeune, with Zerka responding for Nancy just 10 minutes later. The only other action of the match was two yellow cards for Auxerre (Mignot, 62nd minute; Pedretti, 70th minute).
Le Mans 1-2 Toulouse - Le Mans dominated time of possession (67% - 33%) and peppered the Toulouse net with 11 shots, but Toulouse ultimately prevailed thanks to early strikes from Mansare (11th minute) and Braaten (19th minute). Liverpool cast-off Le Tallec pulled one back for Le Mans in the 35th minute, but his teammates were listless for the rest of the match. Each side picked up 2 yellow cards, with Le Tallec this week's winner of the "Goal-scorer to get carded" award in the 47th minute.
Monaco 2-0 Lorient - Lorient maintained more possession (55%), and Monaco was whistled for offsides 7 times, but it was the latter who prevailed in this match. Park opened the scoring for Monaco in the 25th minute, but the goal of the match was provided by Nimani. The 19 year-old was a 65th minute substitute, and it took him only 5 minutes to gain possession and dribble the keeper for Monaco's second goal (70th minute).
Rennes 1-1 Le Havre - Ligue 1 newcomers Le Havre struggled in the first half, giving up a 27th minute strike to Briand. They managed to get the equalizer from Lesage in the 32nd minute, and were effective enough in the second half to maintain the tie. Rennes goal-scorer Briand was also yellow-carded in the 51st minute in a bid for this week's award (given to Le Tallec, above).
Lyon 3-2 Nice - Lloris gave up Lyon's first goal of the season when he was beaten by Bamogo in the 3rd minute. He was beaten again in the 20th minute, this time by Loic Remy, for a 2-0 Nice lead. And then things got interesting in this match. When Lyon was awarded a free kick in the 40th minute, Juninho scored on a screamer. He followed up the goal by being awarded a yellow card in the 43rd minute. Lyon began the second half in a dominant fashion, and Juninho scored on a second free kick in the 73rd minute. Soon after that goal, Nice received 2 yellow cards to Bamogo (goal-scorer carded alert!) and Hognon. And then things got really interesting in this match. In the 4th minute of extra time, Fae was yellow-carded, which was followed shortly by Hognon being whistled for handling the ball in the box. Benzema (who was a second-half substitute) stepped up to slot home the PK, and Rool was awarded a straight red card for his vehement protests.
Valenciennes 1-1 Grenoble - Another snoozer for most of the match, Grenoble was the quicker team but Valenciennes had more opportunities. The excitement came in the 85th minute when Battles handled the ball in the box and was red-carded for his protests. Pujol slotted home the PK for Valenciennes, who were all set to celebrate until Courtois tied the score in the 90th minute. Oops.
Bordeaux 1-1 Marseille - The best match of the day featured two incredibly evenly-matched teams. Bordeaux had 14 shots (4 on goal), while Marseille had 13 (2 on goal), with the corner kicks 6-4 in favor of Bordeaux and a 50%-50% time of possession. Marseille opened the scoring early in the 2nd minute (Kone, who was also carded in the 56th minute), and Chamakh evened the score for Bordeaux in the 25th minute. The remainder of the match featured excellent pressure on goal from both sides, with Mandanda called into action slightly more often.
Sunday, September 14:
Caen 2-0 Saint-Etienne - Despite 18 shots (5 on goal) and 56% of the possession, Saint-Etienne was unable to parlay their dominance into a win, meaning that they have lost 4 of their first 5 matches. They received excellent play from Bafetimbi Gomis, but it was Caen who capitalized on their chances (with 7 shots on goal) in the form of goals from ben Khalfallah (29th minute) and Nivet (90th minute, 2nd minute of extra time).
Sochaux 1-1 Lilles - Another match featuring 2 evenly matched teams, the first half was also another snoozer. Soon after the second half started, Sochaux opened the scoring on a strike from Privat (47th minute). Bastos drew Lilles even in the 63rd minute, but the rest of the match was notable only for the "almost-goal" from Lilles transfer-deadline signing De Melo.
Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Nantes - The final match of the weekend was also fairly even, providing an easy start for new Nantes coach Elie Baup. His comfort level dipped precipitously in the 7th minute when N'Daw was adjudged to have pushed Hoarau while in the box. Kezman stepped up for PSG to take the PK and provided the only goal of the match. Not having done enough for the day, N'Daw also picked up a yellow card in the 55th minute. Nantes threatened several more times, but Landreau was only called upon to make 2 saves.
So, after Matchday 5, the top of the table looks like this: (1) Olympique Lyonnais, 13 points on a 4-1-0 record; (2) Olympique de Marseille, 11 points on a 3-2-0 record; (3) Paris Saint-Germain, 10 points on a 3-1-1 record, with a +2 goal differential; and (4) Grenoble, 10 points on a 3-1-1 record, with a +1 goal differential.
Posted by The NY Kid at 9:03 PM 2 comments Links to this post
Labels: Le Championnat, Ligue 1, results, The NY Kid


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Rui Benfica
Ph.D., Michigan State University
M.S., Michigan State University
B.S., Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique
Former Associate Professor, International Development
Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics
Michigan State University
Justin S Morrill Hall of Agriculture
East Lansing, MI 48824-1039
Biographical Information
Associate Professor for International Development Rui Benfica joined the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Food Security Group in October 2011. His work focuses primarily in Southern Africa and South Asia. He has an extensive policy research and outreach experience in developing countries, particularly in Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, and Cambodia.
Prior to joining MSU, he worked for the World Bank where he held the positions of Economist at the Gender and Development Group (2008-2011), and Poverty Economist (Africa Region) at the Mozambique Country Office (2006-2008) working closely with the Ministry of Planning and Development on a Poverty Assessment and Poverty and Social Impact Analyses of public sector reforms. Prior to getting his PhD from Michigan State University (2006), he was a policy advisor at the USAID Office of Agriculture and Food Resources (Maputo/Mozambique) and Research and Outreach Specialist at MSU working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Mozambique.
Research and Outreach Interests
- The economics of smallholder agriculture, income diversification, land and labor markets
- Economic growth, household welfare, poverty and inequality analysis
- Design, implementation and analysis of household surveys
- Applied general equilibrium for policy analysis
- Gender and economic development


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Traveling Luck for Sunflower Plantation (historical), Mississippi, United States
Where is Sunflower Plantation (historical)?What's around Sunflower Plantation (historical)?
Wikipedia near Sunflower Plantation (historical)
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The timezone in Sunflower Plantation (historical) is America/Rankin_Inlet
Sunrise at 06:42 and Sunset at 16:55. It's Dark
Latitude. 33.8139°, Longitude. -90.6167° , Elevation. 42m
Weather near Sunflower Plantation (historical); Report from Stuttgart, Stuttgart Municipal Airport, AR 62.5km away
Weather :
Temperature: 3°C / 37°F
Wind: 5.8km/h South
Cloud: Sky Clear
Weather :
Temperature: 3°C / 37°F
Wind: 5.8km/h South
Cloud: Sky Clear
Satellite map around Sunflower Plantation (historical)
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Geographic features & Photographs around Sunflower Plantation (historical), in Mississippi, United States
- church;
- a building for public Christian worship.
- Sunflower Church (1km)
- Bethany Church (2.2km)
- Pleasant Green Church (4.6km)
- New Hope Church (4.6km)
- Bethel Church (4.7km)
- Missionary Church (4.8km)
- Union Grove Church (6.1km)
- Nora Smith Church (6.1km)
- Wallace Church (6.3km)
- Providence Church (7.4km)
- West Drew Church (7.7km)
- New Morning Star Church (9.1km)
- Pleasant Grove Church (9.1km)
- First Baptist Church (10.3km)
- Drew United Methodist Church (10.3km)
- New Jerusalem Church (10.3km)
- Holly Grove Baptist Church (10.7km)
- school;
- building(s) where instruction in one or more branches of knowledge takes place.
- Sunflower School (historical) (2.3km)
- Prewitt School (historical) (4.7km)
- Riverside School (historical) (5.2km)
- New Hope School (historical) (6.3km)
- Marshall School (historical) (7.4km)
- Smith School (historical) (7.6km)
- White Zion School (historical) (7.9km)
- Blackhaw School (historical) (9km)
- A W James Elementary School (9.5km)
- Drew High School (9.5km)
- Long Lake School (historical) (9.7km)
- Saint Johns School (historical) (10.7km)
- Local Feature;
- A Nearby feature worthy of being marked on a map..
- Sunflower Plantation (historical) (0km)
- Saint Marys Church (historical) (6.1km)
- Wilnot Chapel (historical) (7.1km)
- Turner Chapel (7.4km)
- White Cloud Chapel (historical) (7.5km)
- Whites Chapel (historical) (7.6km)
- Joseph Chapel (9.4km)
- Davis Chapel (9.5km)
- Dennis Chapel (historical) (9.8km)
- Looney Plantation (historical) (10.7km)
- populated place;
- a city, town, village, or other agglomeration of buildings where people live and work.
- Dwiggins (6.1km)
- Sandy Bayou (7km)
- Zumbro (8.6km)
- Ballaston (10.6km)
- Galen (historical) (10.6km)
- Drew (10.7km)
- stream;
- a body of running water moving to a lower level in a channel on land.
- Hyde Bayou (6.7km)
- Mound Bayou (7km)
- Beaver Bayou (7.7km)
- Lutken Bayou (8.8km)
Accommodation around Sunflower Plantation (historical)
- lake;
- a large inland body of standing water.
- Lusinger Lake (3km)
- Blue Lake (9.4km)
- Long Lake (10.3km)
- cemetery;
- a burial place or ground.
- Sandy Bayou Cemetery (6.9km)
- Marshall Cemetery (7.9km)
- Shady Grove Cemetery (9.2km)
- dam;
- a barrier constructed across a stream to impound water.
- Howard Grittman Pond Dam (9.9km)
- Drew Lagoon Dam (10.3km)
- administrative division;
- an administrative division of a country, undifferentiated as to administrative level.
- District 5 Supervisor District (5.5km)
- building(s);
- a structure built for permanent use, as a house, factory, etc..
- Drew Public Library (9.8km)
- tower;
- a high conspicuous structure, typically much higher than its diameter.
- WKZB-FM (Drew) (6km)
- hospital;
- a building in which sick or injured, especially those confined to bed, are medically treated.
- Drew Health Clinic (10.5km)
Wikipedia entries close to
Sunflower Plantation (historical)
- Drew, Mississippi city city o
- Renova, Mississippi city city o
- Merigold, Mississippi city city o
- Ruleville, Mississippi city city o
- Mound Bayou, Mississippi city city o
- Cleveland, Mississippi city city o
- Mississippi State Penitentiary city city o
- Boyle, Mississippi city city o
- Winstonville, Mississippi city city o
- Minot, Mississippi landmark landmark
- Doddsville, Mississippi city city o
- Shelby, Mississippi city city o
- Pace, Mississippi city city o
- Shaw, Mississippi city city o
- Duncan, Mississippi city city o
- Tutwiler (Mississippi)
Airports close to Sunflower Plantation (historical)
Greenwood leflore(GWO), Greenwood, Usa (77.7km)
Grider fld(PBF), Pine bluff, Usa (163.3km)
Memphis international(MEM), Memphis, Usa (188.4km)
Adams fld(LIT), Little rock, Usa (228.2km)
Little rock afb(LRF), Jacksonville, Usa (236.9km)


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A valiant warrior sworn to the order of the Knights Templar for life, Wulfe resents being dispatched on a quest to Paris just when the Latin Kingdoms are at their most vulnerable. He is determined to fulfill his duty as quickly as possible and return to fight for justice—but the courtesan he defends in Venice is resolved to remain at his side. The alluring and perceptive Christina will not be left behind, and soon Wulfe finds himself forced to choose between his vows and his heart…
Reader Letter from The Crusader's Heart
View The Crusader's Heart board at Pinterest.
The digital editions of the Champions of St. Euphemia series are available only at Amazon through December 2017, as they are enrolled in Kindle Unlimited.
The Crusader's Heart is also available in audio.
You can listen to a sample on my Soundcloud page, on my Audio page, or download it in my store.
An excerpt from The Crusader's Heart:
Wulfe could not believe his ill fortune. The list of his woes was long indeed, and he ground his teeth as he marched through the twisted streets of Venice in search of relief.
First, he had been compelled to leave Jerusalem just when that city was doomed to face a challenge to its survival as a crusader holding. As a knight and a Templar, he knew his blade should be raised in defense of the Temple, not undertaking some errand that could have been managed by a clerk or lay brother.
Worse, this duty demanded that he ride all the way to Paris to deliver said missive, which meant that by the time he returned to Outremer, any battle might be completed. He might miss the opportunity to defend what he loved best, which was an abomination by any accounting.
Thirdly, he had only the appearance of leadership of the party that traveled with him. In reality, he had to cede to the dictate of Gaston, a former brother of the Temple who secretly was in command of this quest. That a knight who had left the order was more trusted than Wulfe was salt in the wound.
That Gaston made choices Wulfe would never have made, and Wulfe had to present them as his own notions, was galling. It was Gaston's fault that the mission had so nearly failed at Acre, for Gaston had insisted upon riding for that port instead of departing more quickly from the closer port of Jaffa. Wulfe snarled that he should be blamed for such a close call.
Though it was somewhat mollifying that Gaston had defended the party alone when they had been attacked and might have paid for his error with his own life.
Still, had the choice been Wulfe's, no one would have been compelled to render any price at Acre.
The final straw was that Wulfe had been saddled with the most vexing company imaginable for the journey to Paris. A fortnight trapped on a ship with them all had left him nigh murderous.
There was Gaston, so calm and deliberate, so unshakeable in his confidence, that Wulfe was tempted to challenge him to a fight. He wanted to see Gaston riled over some matter or another. There was Gaston's wife, Ysmaine, a beauty who, like all women, should neither be trusted nor riding with knights on an errand. Indeed, she had evidently acquired toxins and brought them along. Such irresponsibility was yet another source of annoyance to Wulfe.
There was Gaston's squire, Bartholomew, a man of such an age that he should long ago have been knighted himself. Wulfe had no patience for men with little ambition. Although the younger man did not appear to be lazy, Wulfe could not understand why he did not aspire for more. It was unnatural to be content with one's lot.
Another former Templar, Fergus, had completed his military service and returned to Scotland to wed his betrothed. Wulfe could not comprehend why he would stick to the date of his planned departure when the Holy City was likely to be besieged. Indeed, he could make no sense in the decision of any of these men to abandon Jerusalem in its moment of need.
That the secret treasure they carried in trust for the Temple in Jerusalem was entrusted to the care of Fergus, another brother who had left the order, and not himself, made Wulfe's blood fairly boil. He did not even know what the prize was!
There was also the merchant, Joscelin de Provins, as soft as a grub and rightly fearful of his survival in any trouble. It was perfectly reasonable that such a plump man, so concerned with the value of his goods, would wish to be away from war. Wulfe neither liked nor respected Joscelin, but it was the sworn task of the order to defend pilgrims and he would do as much.
There was the knight, Everard, who apparently left a holding in the Latin Kingdoms to visit the deathbed of his father in France. Wulfe was incredulous that any man would abandon his wealth over sentimentality. He had little patience for men who squandered the gifts granted to them, and less for those who forsook opportunity, as this one surely did. It seemed to him that Everard made a poor choice in leaving Outremer and his holding. Perhaps he was a coward.
As a man who had been given few gifts in this life, and who had labored hard for all he had won to his own hand, Wulfe knew he was a harsh judge of others. He found much of mankind wanting, but was protective of those for whom he took responsibility. He would have laid down his own life in defense of either of his squires, for example, and had taken blows intended for his destrier. In return, the loyalty of those beings—Stephen, Simon, and Teufel—was complete.
He also was a man who knew how best to manage his own passions. By the time the party reached Venice, disembarked, saw to the care of an injured squire and found accommodation, he knew his temper was incendiary. How could such simple feats consume so much time? Contrary to his expectation that they would take a single night to fortify themselves before riding out, Gaston was resolved to await the three days decreed by the apothecary as being necessary rest for the injured squire.
For a squire, who was sufficiently clumsy to have inflicted his own injury.
Wulfe could bear their company no longer. He had left the rented house, knowing that he had need of a war or a whore. The only way to control his escalating frustration was to expend passion in one feat or the other. Venice was at peace, its laws against violence and its courts known to be harsh.
Its courtesans were also highly reputed.
The choice was an easy one.
Stephen and Simon hastened behind him, undoubtedly guessing his intent. They would ensure that he was neither robbed nor injured on this quest, though more than once a whore had found their presence unsettling. Wulfe did not care what such women thought. They were paid and paid well, and he knew himself to be a considerate lover, if a passionate one.
He was demanding in this pursuit as in all others.
He would choose a young and vigorous woman on this night.
Doubtless she would never forget him. The prospect made Wulfe smile.
* * *
Another day.
And worse, another night.
Christina turned from her prayers to survey the large room where the women slept together. The draughty room took up most of the top floor of the house and was roughly finished. The roof leaked and the wind was always cold, just as the blankets were always too thin. The door was locked each night from the outside and in all of Christina's time at the house, only one woman had been brave enough to try to escape from the window. She had slipped and her cries had awakened the entire house as she fell.
The silence after she had struck the stone road below had been chilling.
It was yet more troubling that Christina sometimes found appeal in that woman's choice.
The attic's sole redeeming feature was the view. Christina knelt each morning at the window that faced east, praying toward distant Jerusalem. Though it had been her destination years before, Venice was as far as she had journeyed before tragedy struck.
Every morning she recalled Gunther's routine jest that she prayed like a heathen, and missed him all the more.
She surreptitiously kissed the ring that he had put upon her finger one fine day that might have been an eternity before, then secreted it once again from view. On some days, it was impossible to believe that she had ever been young, filled with hope and love, affluent and treasured. The ring with its blue stone slid into the pocket she had created for it in the hem of her chemise, perfectly disguised from view. She had sewn a tiny pocket into the hem of every garment she owned to ensure that Gunther's ring was never separated from her. Losing the sole token that remained of her previous life would ensure that she lost hope of ever escaping this place.
She rose from her prayers and stretched, looking down into the city. The wind was crisp and there were new ships in the harbor. The rain at least had ceased. There were a few people abroad in the cobbled streets below, and several small craft plied the canals. Vendors making deliveries, to be sure. More than one would halt at Costanzia's abode.
The house was on a corner, the main entrance on a broad canal where guests disembarked each night. Once inside the building, there was a pretty stone courtyard with a fountain and gardens that could be used by the guests in afternoons or evenings. A guest would see only the lavish luxury of the public rooms, perhaps the fine bedrooms above the mezzanine where music played and appetites were encouraged.
The attic was part of the hidden side of the house. From this vantage point, Christina could see small courtyard behind the kitchens, a meaner, simpler space than the garden courtyard. Here chickens were kept and herbs grew. A door in the rear wall led to the dock on that smaller canal. Deliveries were made there, and vendors sometimes tried to peer into the windows above, seeking a glimpse of Costanzia's beauties.
Costanzia was already arguing with someone, her voice rising shrilly from below. Christina couldn't distinguish the words of her patroness, though she guessed that the older woman was swearing at a vendor in the local Venetian dialect. Though Christina could make a fair job of sounding Venetian, when Costanzia spoke quickly and with vulgarity, she often could not follow the words.
The meaning, however, was always clear.
Next, Costanzia would be swearing at the women.
Christina sighed. Another day began as all the others. Costanzia's routine was as relentless as her will. Yet another day when the girdle of orange stones fastened around her waist seemed so much more weighty than it was in truth.
A large tub had been set in the smaller courtyard and maids were pouring hot water into it. Christina heard footfalls on the stairs and knew there would soon be a pounding upon the door. Then the key would turn in the lock, and the women would all be marched down to the courtyard to bathe, in order of Costanzia's preference.
Christina had not entertained a man the night before, which suited her well but had not pleased her patroness. She would be one of the last to bathe, no doubt. She did not care. She had not liked the look of the one man who had approached her, a gleam in his eye that hinted at violence. She had lied—again—about her courses.
There was a delicate balance to be managed between her ethics and her safety, and not for the first time, Christina wished she had other options. For years, she had had two: stay in this bordello or flee, to starve in the streets or be hunted by Costanzia's enforcers. They were brutal and quick with their knives. Any escaped woman caught by them would be so scarred that she could never work as a whore again.
Then she would starve. Christina shivered and wrapped her arms around herself as she turned from the window. The current favorite, Lucrezia, was snoring softly on her pallet when Christina returned to hers. She watched the other woman sleep, admiring her beauty. Lucrezia's ebony hair cast over the pillow and her lips were parted, as if in invitation even while she slumbered. The woman was luscious and bold, nigh irresistible to the patrons of the house.
She deserved her slumber. Lucrezia had an audacity about her that Christina tried to emulate. It was a kind of armor to laugh at disapproval, to flaunt one's charms, to even cultivate a reputation.
Christina and Lucrezia were of an age, and often displayed together for contrast. Lucrezia, dark-haired and dark-eyed, with her red lips and lush curves, drew the attention of many men. Christina, auburn-haired and green-eyed, more slender but of a similar height, attracted others. Lucrezia was bold and daring, challenging men outright, while Christina was more demure, perhaps appearing to have a dozen secrets. When they stood together, it seemed no man could keep himself from staring. Costanzia profited mightily from the view.
At least she did as much when Christina did not lie.
The two women were different in more than coloring, though. Christina was a reluctant member of this household, and one who would never find comfort in its many pleasures. Whoring was better than starving to death in the street, but only by a narrow margin. There had been nights when she would have argued the other choice. Lucrezia, in contrast, had sought out this life, determined as she was to make her own decisions without marrying. She swore she would never be beholden to man and intended to establish her own house. Her ambition had already intrigued Costanzia, who without a daughter of her own, might well be seeking an heir.
Christina, in contrast, sought an escape.
The lock was turned, a fist hammered upon the door as it was opened, and Costanzia herself strode into the chamber. "Up, all of you!" she cried and the sleeping women who awakened with a jolt. "Lucrezia, you are first to the bath, my beauty," Costanzia continued in a coo, tickling Lucrezia under the chin. She rapped a younger girl on the shoulder. "Teresa, if you do not yet have your courses, you will see Raoul for a potion."
Christina prayed that she would not be singled out. Costanzia strode up and down between the pallets, dispatching directions, praising the lusty and the profitable, scolding the old and the unchosen. Christina's heart beat loudly as the older woman approached.
It sank to her toes when Costanzia paused directly before her. "And you," the patroness said softly. Her tone sounded threatening, and Christina dared to peek at her face, only to find those dark eyes narrowed. "You have forgotten your very good fortune, my dear," Costanzia said, her voice as hard as her gaze. "I do not need mouths to feed who do not bring in coin."
"I cannot help that he chose another…"
"Can you not?" Costanzia mused, and Christina wondered what she had heard. "On this night, you will ensure that you are chosen. I do not care what you have to do to see it done."
Christina knotted her hands together. "Of course."
"In fact, you will be occupied the entire night, or in the morning, you will be on the streets. There are nights for which you have not yet earned your keep."
Christina's lips parted in dismay. The entire night?
"Are we understood?"
Christina nodded and bowed her head in agreement, as much to disguise her anger as to feign compliance. By all that was holy, there had to be a way out of this hell.
She had but one day to find it.
* * *
The best house of courtesans was located with relative ease, for Wulfe asked in the marketplace by the port. Sailors always knew where to find whores. The boys, too, sought information, and by the time they conferred in the mid-afternoon, one answer was clear.
He should seek the establishment of one Costanzia.
The canals and bridges were confounding, and the directions less clear than might have been ideal. Wulfe became convinced that Venice was a burg designed to aid the trade of thieves, for it seemed a warren of crooked streets with a hundred places for a villain to hide and await his prey. Worse, many of those alleys ended abruptly with a wall or a canal. The houses were shuttered tightly on the street level, and he glimpsed that the lowest floor of the richest ones sheltered docks on the bigger canals. They all had at least two stories overhead, often with high arching windows, and he imagined that people preferred to be away from the water.
It did have a foul smell when the breeze stilled.
They finally located the house in question and were questioned before the heavy door was unbolted. The patroness came halfway down the flight of stairs on the far side of the foyer, her garb appearing as rich as the men in her employ looked dangerous. She was shrewd-eyed but well-mannered, and what he could see of the house was in good repair. Wulfe could see that once she had been a beauty and wondered whether she had labored upon her back in her youth. She certainly was direct. A short conversation ensured his preferences were made clear and his coin was good, then the patroness gestured that he should follow her up the stairs.
Wulfe was astounded by the generous proportions and richness of the room that nigh filled second floor of the house. Sunlight shone through high arched windows and there was a view of the harbor, the sea sparkling blue. Velvet draperies hung alongside those windows, their dark hue unmistakably costly. A long table was laid with fine cloths and rich fare, and young boys poured generous goblets of wine. The women were both numerous and beautiful. Some stood and chatted with each other, several played lutes, more than one lounged and granted him encouraging smiles. They did not look to be starved or bruised, and he decided that, in this case, rumor had provided the truth. They all wore girdles of stones that were clearly not gems, their hues revealing that they must be wrought of glass. Was this jeweled belt a mark of the house?
In truth, Wulfe did not care.
Indeed, his mood improved by the moment. It must be that the company was amiable, for he had no taste for luxury.
"A maiden?" the patroness suggested, gesturing to a pair of young girls. They flushed and dropped their gazes as if shy, but Wulfe did not doubt that their maidenhead had already been sold at least once.
"I have little fondness for innocence," he said, for it was true. He liked to be with a woman who knew her body and her desires, as well as one who could anticipate his own. "Teaching is not a pastime I care to pursue abed," he clarified, and the patroness gave a throaty chuckle.
"Ah! A tigress, then," this Costanzia countered, gesturing to a woman who might have seen thirty summers. "Lucrezia will make you roar!" There was a slyness in Lucrezia's expression that Wulfe did not find alluring. Her hair was dark and her smile was knowing, and truly she had curves enough to tempt any man.
But not Wulfe.
The patroness noted how his gaze slid past her suggestion and snapped her fingers for other women to come forward. "You are early this day, sir, which gives you the finest choice. Of course, given the time, I must assume that you desire companionship only for the afternoon." She clapped her hands when the women did not move quickly enough for her taste, and Wulfe caught a glimpse of one at the far end of the room.
She was exquisitely beautiful, her hair like red-gold silk. She wore it loose and the length of it gleamed, falling as it did to her hips. The color of her hair was rare in this city, where most of the other women had tresses of dark brown or black. She was taller than the other women, as well, slender and elegant in the way that Wulfe preferred. She was dressed in gold and green, the richness of her garb not unlike that of a noblewoman. Wulfe knew that the neckline was more revealing than would have been the choice of any aristocrat, but as she walked toward him at her mistress' summons, he could imagine that a queen approached him.
There was a reluctance in her manner that he admired as well. Not for him the harlot who threw herself at his feet, willing and eager for his touch and his coin. Perhaps she merely took her time. Perhaps she had the confidence that once a man looked upon her, he would wait. Wulfe did not care. He was entranced by her grace, by his own impression that she might have been a noblewoman.
By the way her smile hinted at mysteries that would not be confessed.
He supposed the rich garb revealed that she earned well for her patroness, but preferred to not consider that. Her full lips tightened slightly, as she followed the other women. He thought he spied both defiance and resignation in her expression, but then she lifted her head and smiled.
And there was the key. Hers was not a genuine smile, for its light did not reach her eyes. Her lips curved in sensuous welcome, but her gaze remained wary, another hint of that reluctance.
Wulfe understood immediately that this life was not her choice, and with that realization, his own decision was made. Indeed, he felt a strange affinity with this woman, though he did not know even her name as yet. He knew what it was to put aside one's own desires to serve those of another. He knew what it was to feel trapped, and to have few options. He knew what it was to make the best of one's circumstance, regardless of the price. Indeed, he did that hourly on this quest.
Wulfe also knew what it was to await a better choice, with as much patience as could be mustered.
"This one," he said, gesturing to the temptress who had claimed his attention. He did not care that he was interrupting the patroness as she listed the charms of her women.
"Ah, Christina is a popular choice," she acknowledged, even as the woman's gaze rose to meet Wulfe's own. Her eyes were a bewitching shade of green, thickly lashed and not without intelligence. She halted before Wulfe, more gracious and lovely than any woman he had ever seen. He liked that he could not discern her thoughts, that she kept some part of herself in reserve.
He understood that inclination, as well.
Costanzia looked between them. "You may find her price high," she warned, more than a little gleeful.
Wulfe cared only for the lady he had chosen. Christina held his gaze, as if knowing her own worth and perhaps not expecting him to pay it. Aye, there were shadows in those wondrous eyes, shadows that told of disappointment.
Perhaps from men.
Perhaps from a man.
Wulfe felt an unexpected valor rise within him and heighten his need.
"Name it," he said, unable to imagine what Christina had seen of the world. He doubted it had all been good, and wished to surprise her.
The patroness did as much, clearly expecting Wulfe to haggle. He did not, though, for he never tainted the acquisition of any desire with such mean bargaining. His purse was not so light as that. He exercised restraint and saved his coin, so when he indulged, he could acquire the woman he desired most.
"That, of course, is only for the afternoon," the patroness added slyly.
"And for the night as well?"
A flicker of interest made Christina consider him anew.
"Triple," the older woman said crisply. "For there are ships in the harbor."
Christina lowered her lashes, evidently anticipating his refusal.
"Triple," Wulfe agreed so readily that he was certain the patroness regretted not asking for more. He cared only for the way Christina's gaze flew to his face again. She was surprised, and he was glad. He smiled outright at her, paid the patroness, then offered his hand to the lady he so desired. He kissed her hand and saw her eyes narrow slightly. "I assume you have a private chamber where our pleasure might be pursued?"
"Of course, sir," she said, and he liked that her voice was both rich and husky. She spoke in the same Venetian dialect as her patroness, but not so fluidly as one born in this city of cities.
"Wulfe," he corrected and she nodded acquiescence.
"Wulfe," she said, smiling ever so slightly as she gripped his fingers, turned and led him toward the display of food and drink. The patroness stood back, smiling with satisfaction, but Wulfe was interested only in the alluring Christina.
Where was she from? What had brought her to this house? Wulfe was surprised by how much he wished to know.
Indeed, his frustrations faded already, and the pursuit of pleasure had not yet begun.
Excerpt from The Crusader's Heart ©2015 Deborah A. Cooke


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It's that time of year again! That Champions League time of year. And for Zenit Saint Petersburg, it's yet another chance to show Europe just what this club can do. After stunning the continent to claim the UEFA Cup and Super Cup in 2008 Zenit has struggled in European competition, failing to make the quarter
Great expectations don't always materialise into great results. In sport this happens time and time again, it's just a part of life, but the Russian collapse in this year's Champions League has come somewhat as a shock that no one ever really imagined would happen. After last season's overwhelming success of both Russian representatives in


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Discussion in 'Introduce Yourself Here' started by Europexpat, Jun 18, 2013.
she is 27, Vietnamese...
She should try black cock in her mouth and pussy!
I am pretty sure she will eventually!
if you find any post requesting for that info from me, let me know.
By the way, who is that "she" whom the info should be sent? My profile states clearly that I am a male.
Be more attenttive before accusing someone of scam.
well, the sort of ladies like you have a right for their own opinion, too. Have fun as well.
cool, man! I am jealous
she is great!
good luck! Hope you'll see what you want eventually
She's gorgeous!
thank you vey much!
I think so, too
Separate names with a comma.


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What's so funny about life on the southern gulf islands?
The Geezers (Sid Filkow and Arvid Chalmers from Salt Spring Island, BC) know and they shared their views with an appreciative Mayne Island audience last Friday night.
I roared with laughter over topics such as BC ferries, deer culling (or not), and the Island Trust.
"Doesn't sound funny," you say.
"Well, then you haven't meet The Geezers," that's what I say.
Next post: Please meet author Janet Bolin
Join Leanne Dyck's exciting author journey. Leanne is writing picture books for children, a novel for young adults and short stories for you. Every Sunday evening, she shares book reviews or articles about writing or glimpses into the life of an author with dyslexia or one of those short stories. For a list of Leanne Dyck's published work please visit the publishing history page. Please help nurture this blog by visiting, commenting, subscribing and sharing.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Mayne Island Little Theatre presents The Geezers (a review)
Posted by Leanne Dyck at 8:54 AM
Labels: Gulf Islands, island life, Mayne Island, The Geezers
Location: Mayne Island, BC Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada
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