Rock the Crossbar: August 2006

Argies at Corinthians

Some funny business going on at Brazilian champions Corinthians right now which could lead to a pair of big deadline-day transfers to the Premiership:

RIO DE JANEIRO: The problems at Brazilian champions Corinthians deepened on Tuesday after Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano followed the example of compatriot Carlos Tevez and skipped training.

Tevez returned to Buenos Aires last week without permission and has not been seen at the club since playing in the 1-0 win over Botafogo on Aug 22.

Mascherano was sent off in Sunday’s 2-0 home defeat by Gremio but was still expected to turn up for Tuesday morning’s practice.

“I began the practice at 8.30am and there was no sign of Mascherano,” coach Emerson Leao said. “I haven’t received any official message from him and the case has been passed to the directors.”

Both Tevez and Mascherano have been picked for Argentina’s friendly against Brazil in London on Sept 3.

But relegation-threatened Corinthians, who play Ponte Preta on the same day in the Brazilian championship, have refused to release them.

The Argentine pair, who cost US$33mil between them, were signed under the controversial partnership between Corinthians and London-based Media Sports Investments. Both have been the subject of speculation over moves to Europe since the World Cup.

This increased after Leao, who has a long and well-documented rivalry with Argentine players, took over earlier this month to become the club’s fourth coach of the year.

Two weeks ago, Leao stripped Tevez of the captaincy, complaining that nobody could understand what he was saying.

Brazilian media have speculated that Mascherano deliberately got himself sent off against Gremio so that he would miss the Ponte Preta match through suspension and could play for Argentina.

Leao would not directly comment on the suggestion but said: “The sending-off was extremely unpleasant.” – Reuters

And from the Irish Examiner today: "Former Boca Juniors sensation Tevez has been linked with a number of clubs but Arsenal are now leading the chase for the powerful forward. Defensive midfielder Mascherano appears to be the subject of a tussle between Manchester United and Chelsea, with Alex Ferguson turning his attention to new targets after seemingly missing out on Owen Hargreaves."

Classic Match

1933 Arsenal v 1991 Liverpool

When bloggers become muppets

So today someone who will remain nameless though at least 4 of us know who it was decided to post a music video sympathising with the IRA Hunger strikers. It has no bearing on football, in fact i cant think of anyway its connected to football.... yet someone saw fit to post it here and not on their own blog.... Here was my response to the post which was later removed by the poster - feel free to chime in fellas. ----------------

Oh my God - what the hell was that??? GAC - in 200 words or less explain to me what that has to do with football.

(oops that may have given away the poster) you are a complete tool aren't you. Also before you go posting pro-IRA propaganda you may want to get a better idea of your audience. You are certainly welcome to your politics but don't you have a blog?? I could share with you all of my views on the IRA and Ireland and Cromwell and William of Orange and whatever else you like but not on here. You can post extremist 'romanticised' shite anywhere you like - but not here. If you have a problem with that simply don't post anymore. I know you want to be Irish but you didn't grow up there - you are in fact an American as much you may hate that fact. So please, before you share your heartfelt views with people here pls try and remember this is a blog about football and not a place where people who wish they were really Irish can tell the rest of us about Ireland and how terrible England is. Anyone else want to mock him feel free.

Magic

Magic. Magic. Magic. Magic. Oh, did I mention magic? "15 years of hurt, never stopped me dreaming!!!" That win is for you, Benny T. "City's collective defiance came at the expense of an Arsenal side who, if the Barclays Premiership must have a crisis club, are now it." http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=199108&cc=5739

THE THATCHER 'incident'

I have just seen this 'tackle' and couldnt believe it. It gets worse and worse, this has 3 views of it but i cant upload it, so here is the link..

Irony - Keane to Sunderland

Clear misuse of the word unless Mr O'Toole wishes pestilence and plague on any one who joins Sunderland. Yes, Keane is the new gaffer. http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=411854&CPID=10&clid=56&lid=4161&title=Keane+set+for+Sunderland

USA Premiership TV Rights

Big news Here is the skinny. Recently Fox Soccer Channel sublet half their matches to Setanta Sports USA which is only available on DIRECT TV and no other satellite or cable provider. There are no more PPV matches in the US for Premier League.

However - this is bad because Setanta has the Saturday 7.30am (Eastern time) game and the 'best' 10am game. Fox Soccer Channel has basically signed away the better half of its package to a channel virtually no-one can get.

But its just been announced that Setanta Sports USA is available on ITVN.com This is a new service that I will explain below.

THE COMPANY IS ITVN and there website is .HERE: Check out the support link on the top right for fancy visual diagrams of what you need.

1) COST 14.95 per month

2) If you sign up for a year you'll get a free techie internet channel box which makes it all work (100 dollars without year commitment).

3) You NEED Broadband and preferably at least 300K connection - the more the better.

4) You plug your LAN/ETHERNET/WHATEVER into the techie box and then send your audio/visual cables to your TV (possibly a laptop even, I am not certain). You watch broadcast quality footy. 5) Its apparently very simple plug and play and I direct anyone with tech questions to: http://epltalk.libsyn.com/ for a 15 minute audio interview about it with a high up bloke at ITVN. 6) My online research today shows real promise, PCMag gave it stunning results. Further info over at ITVN.com and if you order by Thursday (and pay FedEx delivery costs) you can see Arsenal, Liverpool and United this weekend.

7) It doesn't allow you to TIVO or DVR Games. Watch them live only.

8) IMPORTANT Setanta's own Internet service on their own website does NOT include English premiership games - they cant afford the broadcast rights on the Internet so that's why they have brokered this deal with ITVN. Setanta's long term aim is to force DishTC , Comcast, Cox into picking up their station once they see how popular this is on the Internet and all the bandwidth that is being sucked up at the cable companies expense.

9)Any questions - post them here and I will do my best to find out.

Where are the pundits on RTC?

The EPL season begins on Saturday yet I have not seen a single post of interest in at least a week. What is wrong with you people? Has MLS action taken hold of your senses so that you cannot think straight? New girlfriends? Stuck on a deserted island? There should be no excuses! I expect my new ManCity kit (with Barton '8' on the back, no less) to arrive at my place before the Chelsea match on Sunday. We are going to whip their asses. Not only that, we're going to whip just about every team in the league this campaign. I GUARANTEE A 4TH PLACE FINISH. Wake up, gents, and start talking trash. This is going to be the greatest year for football, ever. I'll go ahead and make my predictions for week one now: Liverpool 2-1, Arsenal 3-0, Everton/Watford draw, Newcastle 2-0, Portsmouth/Blackburn draw, Reading 1-0, Charlton 2-1, Tottenham 3-1, ManUtd 2-0, ManCity 1-0. I'm thoroughly excited about the reactions to these accurate calls!

Setanta TV schedule

from: http://www.soccer365.com/EUROPEAN_NEWS/Premiership/page_99_125270.shtml Sat, Aug 19th, 7:30 am Sheffield United v Liverpool LIVE Sat, Aug 19th, 9:30 am Arsenal v Aston Villa LIVE Saturday, Aug 19th, 2:30 pm West Ham v Charlton Same day delay Sunday, Aug 20th, 8:30 am Manchester United v Fulham LIVE Tue, Aug 22nd 3:00 pm Tottenham Hotspur v Sheffield Utd LIVE Wednesday, Aug 23rd, 3:00 pm Charlton v Manchester United LIVE Saturday, Aug 26th, 7:30 am Liverpool v West Ham United LIVE Saturday, Aug 26th, 10:00 am Watford v Manchester United LIVE Sat, Aug 26th, 5:00 pm Charlton v Bolton Same day delay Sunday, Aug 27th, 9:00 am Aston Villa v Newcastle United LIVE Saturday, Sept 9th, 7:30 am Everton v Liverpool LIVE Saturday, Sept 9th, 10:00 am Chelsea v Charlton Athletic LIVE Saturday, Sept 9th 4:00 pm Newcastle v Fulham Same day delay Saturday, Sept 16th, 7:30am Charlton Athletic v Portsmouth LIVE Saturday, Sept 16th, 9:30 am Everton v Wigan LIVE Saturday, Sept 16th, 10:00 am** Sheffield United v Reading LIVE Sunday, Sept17th, 8:30 am Chelsea v Liverpool LIVE Wednesday, Sept 20th, 3:00 pm Liverpool v Newcastle United LIVE Saturday, Sept 23rd, 7:30 am Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur LIVE Saturday, Sept 23rd, 10:00 am Fulham v Chelsea LIVE Saturday, Sept 23rd,, 10:00 am** Manchester City v West Ham LIVE** Saturday, Sept 30th, 7:30 am Bolton Wanderers v Liverpool LIVE Saturday, Sept 30th, 10:00 am Manchester Utd v Newcastle LIV ESaturday, Sept 30th, 10:00 am** Charlton Athletic v Arsenal LIVE **Sunday, Oct 1st, KO 9:00 am West Ham United v Reading LIVE Sat, Oct 14th, KO 7:30 am Wigan Athletic v Manchester Utd LIVE Saturday, Oct 14th, KO 10:00 am Liverpool v Blackburn Rovers LIVE Saturday, Oct 14th, KO 10:00 am** Aston Villa v Tottenham LIVE** Saturday, Oct 21st, KO 8:00 am Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham LIVE Saturday, Oct 21st, KO 8:00 am** Wigan v Manchester City LIVE** Saturday, Oct 21st, KO 10:00 am Middlesborough v Newcastle LIVE Sunday, Oct 22nd, KO 8:00 am Manchester United v Liverpool LIVE Saturday, Oct 28th KO 7:30 am Sheffield United v Chelsea LIVE Saturday, Oct 28th, KO 10:00 am Bolton v Manchester United LIVE Saturday, Oct 28th, KO 10:00 am** Arsenal v Everton LIVE** **Additional live matches available on DirecTV Channel 670, for Setanta Sports subscribers only.

Liverpool Girl

Gerrard's bird arrested for attacking another bird in a Chinese. Reminds me of the Ian McNabb song. You can't teach this. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=400143&in_page_id=1770&ico=Homepage&icl=TabModule&icc=picbox&ct=5

Uh-oh... TV COVERAGE

Big problem ahead boys... if you dont have Setanta Sports TV channel you are soon going to wish you had..............

2006-2007 English Premier League (EPL)

FOX Sports International (FSI) has sublicensed US and Canadian TV rights to an average of approximately 4 2006-2007 English Premier League (EPL) matches each week to Setanta Sports North America.

In the United States, FOX Soccer Channel and Setanta Sports USA will divide the 2006-2007 EPL season as follows:

Saturdays at 7:30am ET: Setanta Sports USA

Saturdays at 10am ET: Setanta Sports USA has the 1st and 3rd picks, FOX Soccer Channel has the 2nd and 4th picks

Saturdays at 12noon ET: FOX Soccer Channel

Sundays at 8:30am ET: Setanta Sports USA

Sundays at 11am ET: FOX Soccer Channel

Mondays at 3pm ET: FOX Soccer Channel

Tuesdays-Fridays: Setanta Sports USA has the 1st pick, FOX Soccer Channel has the 2nd pick

The EPL will no longer air via pay-per-view in the US.

This means we get the best game of the week on Fox Sports (11am Sunday) and the Monday night game (often crap) - we lose the second best game of the week (sometimes the best) to Setanta with the early Saturday game. If 4 games from the Saturday regular kick offs are televised we will only see the second and fourth best of those. Get ready for a season of Reading. United matches will almost all show upon Setanta...

George Cuddy in Marathon Training.

And the single has risen to #2 in a village in Botswana.

Injury Woes

It's a little disconcerting to see so many players getting injured in these pre-season "friendlies" and cup events (MLS All-Star Game, Amsterdam, US tours, etc.). Carrick, Cole...who's next? I realize that training matches are an integral part of getting ready for the upcoming campaign, but is the desire to sell kits in America and the Far East worth the risk of losing a superstar? At the highest levels of play, it's difficult to hold back and not go 100%. I think that's what happens in these matches - the players restrain themselves and, in the process, are more open to injuries. What do you guys think? I would much prefer these top clubs face a bunch of patsies from the Nationwide Conference than the "chip on the shoulder" MLS boys looking to make their marks (at mid-season form and fitness levels, no less) . Is there a British equivalent of Dr. Frahnkenstein (pictured)?

Rock the Crossbar

Wednesday, August 30

Argies at Corinthians

Tuesday, August 29

Classic Match

Saturday, August 26

When bloggers become muppets

Magic

Friday, August 25

THE THATCHER 'incident'

Wednesday, August 23

Irony - Keane to Sunderland

Tuesday, August 15

USA Premiership TV Rights

Monday, August 14

Where are the pundits on RTC?

Saturday, August 12

Setanta TV schedule

Friday, August 11

Liverpool Girl

Monday, August 7

Uh-oh... TV COVERAGE

Sunday, August 6

George Cuddy in Marathon Training.

Injury Woes

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