Monthly Archives: October 2010
Wednesday Book Review: Soccer Against the Enemy
Kuper, Simon. Soccer Against the Enemy: How the World’s Most Popular Sport Starts and Fuels Revolutions and Keeps Dictators in Power. New York: Nation Books, 2006 (1994). An Argentine general, upon meeting Simon Kuper and learning the subject of his … Continue reading
Filed under Wednesday Book Review
Much ado about nothing
Wayne Rooney signed a new 5-year deal with Manchester United today, thus ending, temporarily, the speculation of him leaving. This does not, of course, mean Rooney is United-for-life like Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes. Both of them are probably rather … Continue reading
Filed under Premiership
Questions about Wayne Rooney
I’m going to start with two immutable truths that will guide my analysis. 1. English players are overrated, especially by the English press. 2. Manchester United’s debt is far more crippling than David Gill will have you believe. Stipulations: Wayne … Continue reading
Filed under Premiership
Well, that figures
Of course it happened this way. The day after I write about how there’s absolutely no possible way that Wayne Rooney can leave Manchester United, Sir Alex goes out and confirms it. By ESPN’s count, Rooney would make the third … Continue reading
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Rooney to leave United?
It’s interesting what happens when a player stops producing at a level to which he was accustomed. It’s interesting that, suddenly, his relationship with his manager is questioned and there is talk of him leaving the team. The player in … Continue reading
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US focusing on 2022 World Cup bid
The United States withdrew its bid to host the 2018 World Cup in order to focus on the 2022 finals. That means two things. One, that Europe is guaranteed to host the 2018 World Cup (England, Russia, Netherlands/Belgium, and Spain/Portugal … Continue reading
More of the same from Bob Bradley
Despite the proclamation of a “new era” by Adrian Healey, the two US friendlies versus Poland and Colombia were more of the same for Bob Bradley’s team. Tragically, against Poland, that included gifting goals to the opposition and trying inane … Continue reading
Filed under CONCACAF
Van der Sar isn’t quitting
According to the always reliable Sun, Edwin van der Sar has rubbished reports that he’s retiring at the end of the season. Perhaps he wants to win the FA Cup (one of the few trophies he hasn’t won yet), as … Continue reading
Filed under Premiership
Nigel de Jong should be banished
And he should be banished for a long, long time. Perhaps, if there was fairness in life, as long as Hatem Ben Arfa is injured (which is expected to be six months). De Jong is clearly a dirty player. He … Continue reading
Filed under Premiership
