Football Hero - amazing!

via Kotaku

Bring Back Jose

I love reading football banter. I can spend hours reading the Guardian, Soccernet and Football Scout. However, since Jose parted ways with Chelsea, the banter surrounding the Premiership has lost a bit of its edge.

The rivalry between Jose and SAF was the best daily soap around. Checking the news for the latest quotes from the managers was as necessary and regular as my morning coffee.

Jose departure has left a void in the football columns. As demonstrated by Rafa, none of the current managers in the league are able to foot it with SAF's trash talking ways. To add salt to the wound, the Jose / SAF rivalry has been temporarily renewed with the impending Champions League game between ManU and Inter. Unfortunately, this will only last until 11 March.

My solution is that Jose should return to the Premiership to manage City. This would undoubtedly improve the performance of City (which they need) and it would make it easier for Jose and SAF to exchange barbs, thereby increasing the entertainment value of the Premiership tenfold. It's a win, win situation as far as I can see.

For those not versed in the ways of The Special One, here are two recent quotes from the man himself and a classic to finish the post off.

Firstly, Jose on why Chelsea's performance has dipped since he left. "Why have Chelsea suffered so much since I left? Because I left." Via

Secondly, Jose on why ManU are performing well. "When I was in England, Chelsea was the best team between 2004-06. That is why we won two consecutive Premierships. Manchester United at that time realised they needed to be better to win it and, in my third season, that's what they did. And they went on to win the Champions League." Via

Lastly, on what people should think of him. "Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm European champion and I think I'm a special one." Via

Fooking hilarious

Here are few snippets from Robbo Robson latest blog post, Move on, Terry!

… Now Maradona (which incidentally is Geordie for 'me mate's kebab') is undoubtedly one of the top two footballers in the history of the game - the other being Bosko Jankovic, obviously. But as an Englishman it's bloody hard to accept that fact cos of that goal. But in Argentina the bloke is revered like a God, which is utterly laughable. For quite a while the hand of God was stuffing the pizza of God into the gob of God and inhaling some Colombian produce into the nostrils of God. Fortunately the Stomach Staple of God fixed things and since then he's shrunk back to something approaching his old self. In Britain he wouldn't have made coach at Boston United - all right, anywhere except Boston.

… Capello continues to get the best out of England by keeping it really simple. I've always said 4-4-2. Fabio's spent time with the players, realized the average IQ of the squad is slightly lower than that of a baboon colony and has kept the instructions appropriately straightforward. Even Downing and SWP looked good last night. Carrick, too, although he does look like football's David Gower sometimes, sublime and graceful but prone to some horrible wafts every now and then. Your only worry is still the keeper. James looks as reliable as a bailed-out bank and I'd feel more confident if his replacement had been Willie Carson, frankly. The sooner Hart and Foster get their chances the better. I think the jury's out on Terry, too, but you can't deny the bloke's commitment - he was desperate to play - and maybe that's what Capello needs in a skipper.

(BBC)

How not to react to a yellow card

I'm sure every football player has thought about doing this when they have received a card.

Andre Luis, who plays for Brazilian team Botafogo, is famous for his penalty reactions, in particular an incident that resulted in him being escorted from the field by police (see it here).

(superpunch)

Joe Kinnear and a bit of fuss regarding cussing

As you've probably read or seen, Joe Kinnear had a slight loss of composure during a recent interview. If you missed it, you can listen to the interview here.

This is not a great development for a man who noted, in respect of his appointment as manager of Newcastle, "The fans will be disappointed".

Russell Brand, ever the pragmatist, has written an insightful and funny article on this fiasco. Here are a few extracts:

"The raw humanity of the cussing is what makes it interesting, Joe has truly stripped all subterfuge and mystery from communication - his press conference breakdown has exposed the tension at the heart of the relationship between the press and those who they write about ....

"What this press conference and Kinnear's agitation reveal is that he failed to anticipate the kind of environment he was going into. He can't have thought that managing Newcastle for a brief period at a time of crisis when the fans are demanding either Christ, Shearer or Keegan would be the footballing equivalent of a Chas & Dave record; surely he must've expected scrutiny and pressure? ...

"After a good 20 minutes of what must've been a very difficult situation a Newcastle press officer tried to salvage something by insisting that they "talk football", but by then the damage had been done and the pungent stink of swearwords and conflict must've been stifling - only a lapdance, a firework or a spontaneous romance could've rescued the situation and what was offered instead was the question: "How's training going?" ..."

Read the whole article here.

(Guardian)

Where is Aston Villa?

I was asked the other day, by someone not versed in the ways of the beautiful game, to explain where in England the various Premier League teams come from.  After covering off the London clubs, it occurred to me that there must be an easier way (I actually took the easy option and sent them in the direction of google).  I ran a quick search myself this morning and came across this great map from billsportsmaps.com.

(billsportsmaps.com)