Odds and Sods

It was a night to celebrate English dominance, or continental decrepitude, depending on your perspective.  We knew it would be an all-Premier League final, the only question was whether Liverpool or Chelsea would move on to play Manchester United in Moscow.  After a predictable 1-1 regulation draw, and an entirely unpredictable 2-1 extra-time, it was Chelsea who prevailed 4-3 on aggregate

Liverpool gave a creditable effort.  The Reds relied on Rafa’s tactics, grit and European romance, but they could not escape Chelsea’s superior squad.  Liverpool have elite players–Torres, Mascherano, Carragher and, by some interpretations, Gerrard– but Riise, Benayoun and Kuyt fade behind a Chelsea squad loaded with Essien, Ballack, Lampard and the rest.  Ryan Babel and his scuba mask tried admirably, but the vaunted Liverpool magic died in the first leg with Riise’s errant header.

Chelsea have finally reached their Roman-inspired destination but it comes ironically in the midst of squad shuffling, managerial turmoil and less than inspiring performances.  Most indicative of this were the heroes of the night, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba–the players most miffed at Mourinho’s departure and the players most likely to leave during the summer

The rhetoric regards this Chelsea-Man U final as an awesome, magical match–a clash between titans.  The result could decide the legacy of arguably the two most decisive reigns in the Premier League era, Ferguson’s sovereignty of United and Abramovich’s change at Chelsea.  It should be a hallmark occasion for English football, but something about it feels a bit empty.

It was not a confident performance, but Paul Scholes’ 25 yard screamer made it a competent one as Manchester United beat Barcelona 1-0 to advance to the Champions’ League Final.

Barca held much of the possession, but made none of itmeaningful. Spectacular sprite Leo Messi outshined his best player rival Cristiano Ronaldo, but the rest of the team failed to feed off his energy–his through balls rolling harmlessly to the keeper.

Eric Abidal was completely outclassed. Yaya Toure looked like the opposite of his brother. Puyol and Milito lacked the composure that even a geriatric Thuram might have provided. Xavi, Deco, Iniesta and Eto’o were non-existent. Henry might as well have worn an Arsenal shirt, with the cohesion he displayed with his team.

United lacked the dynamism of a Rooney and the solidity of a Vidic, but they defended the center of the pitch ruthlessly and denied Barca a fatal equalizer. Their effort was gutsy, but hardly convincing. A physical squad with tactical coherence, like Chelsea or Liverpool, might have been more successful.

Man U may breathe a sigh of relief, but they will need to perform better if they are to complete their dual quest.

Liverpool and Chelsea are often blamed for sucking the essence and style out of football, and no player embodies that more than Dirk Kuyt.  His work-rate is tremendous., his vitamins are in order, and he covers great ground.  At the same time, he has the finesse of a demented walrus and is as pleasing to the eye as a swarthy Barbara Bush.  He is…effective. 

It was Kuyt who jack-knifed a bobbler through the rugbyman’s five-hole to put the Reds 1-0 up, the lone puncture in this dreary affair.  The margin held for much of the match.  The result would have placed Liverpool in a commanding position for the second leg at Stamford Bridge, but it was not to be.

In the 95^th minute, John Arne Riise inexplicably executed a diving header, straight into the back of his own net, saving Chelsea from themselves.  It was a moment of pure madness.  A magic night at Anfield.

Riise’s gaff gives Chelsea the conch for the return fixture, a precious away goal that, with Chelsea’s defensive record at home may prove decisive.

But, do not count out Liverpool.  They are prone to fits of craziness, but often that works to their advantage.  If Chelsea merely come out to hold, Liverpool can easily weasel back into it.

The Odds and Sods for 25 October 2007

How does one describe what happened to Colorado last night? There is the graphic image, they were blindsided by a Mack Truck. Or there is the crude hyperbolic verb, they were dick-slapped by the Red Sox. 13-1 should shut up all the talk about 21 of 22.

Not even CHB could put this performance in a pessimistic light. Neither could Bob Ryan. Jackie MacMullan profiles Schilling before his upcoming start.

LaTroy Hawkins, with the understatement of the year, believes that the Rox were “a little flat” on Wednesday night. Woody Paige tries to convince himself that it was only one game. Mark Kizla wines about the payroll disparity.

Three Michigan State football players, including two starters face felony charges. SirDarean Adams, T.J. Williams, and Jeremy Ware have been charged with unarmed robbery. Williams also faces an assault and battery charge. Arraignment is Oct. 30.

Tottenham has finally fired manager Martin Jol, after he had been sitting on the hot-seat so long that his tracksuit had melted and fused to his ample backside. Their 2-1 loss to Getafe in the UEFA Cup was the last straw. Expected to compete for a Champions League place, Spurs now sit in the relegation zone with a putrid 7 pts form 10 matches. Obviously, this is 100% due to Jol’s managerial ability, and not due to paying 17mGBP for reserve striker Darren Bent. Gooners around the world chortle heartily.

George Vecsey weighs in on the NFL in London and American Football owners involvement in the Premier League. After London, they could go really crazy and gasp! play a team in Los Angeles.

Arsenal 3 - Sevilla 0

The Gunners looked both poised and confident, delivering perhaps their best performance of the season.  Cesc opened the scoring with a “Lampard” in the 28th minute.  Van Persie put through another on 59, and Eduardo put the cherry on top in injury time.  They still looked a bit weak at the back, but played a dominant match from start to finish.  The New Arsenal has finally begun to resemble the old.

Sporting Lisbon 0 - Manchester United 1

It was another consistent performance from the Red Devils, consistent in the sense that they looked impotent up front and sneaked a result on a late header.  The tough away win will do a lot toward qualifying out of the group, but this looks like a shell of the team that decisively won the Premier League last season.

Porto 1 - Liverpool 1

Pundits expected Liverpool to play a boring and negative draw away from Anfield.  They obliged.  This was one of the more dismal performances that Liverpool have had in Europe in a while, though they got the result and that is all that Rafa the Gaffer will care about, paying supporters be damned.  Peter Crouch was notably absent from the squad, even as a substitute to try to steal a late goal.  Does Jermaine Pennant do anything besides antagonize people and pick up unnecessary cards?

Chelsea 1 - Rosenborg 1

This was the season that Chelsea were supposed to concentrate on the Champions League.  Apparently, neither the fans nor the players agreed.  In a noticeabley not full Stamford Bridge, Chelsea limped to a disappointing result against a vastly inferior opponent.  Shevchenko proved he could score, against weak opposition and when set up perfectly.  If they do not get Drogba and Lampard back soon, they will be in trouble.

Marseille 2 - Besiktas 0

L’OM finally got their first home win in all competitions with late goals from Julien Rodriguez and the Lord of the Manor of Frodsham.  Marseille will hope that this result can jump start their faltering League Un campaign.  Expected to compete for the title, they reside in 15th place, with a mere 7 pts from 8 matches.

Shaktar 2 - Celtic o

Celtic continued their putrid away form in Europe with a 2-0 defeat (they have never had an away win in the group stages).  They have done decently in the SPL (How could one not?)  However, they haven’t looked convincing in pre-season play, in qualifying, and now in the Champions League itself.  Will a poor performance in the Group Stages spell the end for Gordon Strachan?