Posts Tagged: Association Football

General / NFL American Football — Comments Off
29
Nov 09

Hull City Serves Up Goal Celebration of the Year

You might recall about a year ago when Hull City visited Eastlands and allowed Manchester City to score four first-half goals. That’s when Phil Brown infamously pulled this stunt:

Before this incident, Hull City had collected 27 points in 18 matches and were the surprise club of the Premier League season. In their last 20 matches, Hull managed only one win and 8 points in their last 20, and they only avoided an instant return to the Coca-Cola Championship because of Newcastle United’s general incompetence. So when Hull returned to Eastlands yesterday and Jimmy Bullard’s penalty leveled the score at 1-1… well, just watch…

Even Phil Brown couldn’t stop laughing. Well played, Mr. Bullard. Well played.

The halftime talk on the pitch was widely regarded as the beginning of Hull’s downward spiral last season. Could this bit of fun lift Hull out of the relegation battle? Either way, there needs to be some reason to watch Hull aside from wondering why Jozy Altidore doesn’t look like he’s doing much out there.

(Spotted on 101 Great Goals.)

NFL American Football — Comments Off
27
Nov 09

Link: The Europa League is Not the End of the World for Liverpool

My latest piece for EPL Talk explains why dropping to the Europa League might not hurt Liverpool financially at all. It also calls the proposed stadium share between Liverpool and Everton the "San Scouso." The comments section should blow up over that one.
General / NFL American Football — Comments Off
27
Nov 09

Carlos Tevez Is Not So Great at Tennis

Maybe our pal Carlito should rethink this whole retirement from football thing. His skills clearly don’t translate to other sports. If he ever tries to show off his jump shot, do yourself a favor and get out of the way.

(Spotted on 101 Great Goals.)

NFL American Football — Comments Off
20
Nov 09

BREAKING: Tampa, Baltimore Bolt USL For “New NASL?”

The boys at TheCup.us just alerted us to the news that two more clubs — the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Crystal Palace Baltimore — have broken ranks with USL and officially joined the new Team Owners Association league. For those of you keeping score at home, that gives the TOA a total of nine clubs — Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, Miami, Minnesota, Montreal, St. Louis, Tampa and Vancouver — and until expansion clubs are announced, it leaves both the first and second divisions of USL with only 7 clubs each.

As if that weren’t enough, there is speculation now that the TOA league will brand itself as the New North American Soccer League. Apparently, Miami FC somehow got its hands on the old NASL name and filed a trademark claim on it. Nothing like a little nostalgia to promote a brand new league.

There was some speculation that the Rowdies would be stuck in USL-1 for the 2010 season, but they had always sided with the TOA. Perhaps they had to strike a deal with USL to free them from whatever contractual obligations they had and make their inclusion in this new league official.

The addition of Crystal Palace Baltimore is a surprise here. That club was a prime candidate to move up to USL-1 after the TOA clubs bolted. That the Palace joined the TOA as well will give this new league some added flexibility. If for some reason one of the TOA clubs is unable to field a side for 2010, the TOA still has eight clubs that can play a full 28-game season. That might make it a lot harder for the US Soccer Federation to turn down this league’s application for Division II status.

It also makes it harder for USL to keep its bigger clubs in the fold over the long term. If the first season of this “New NASL” goes according to plan, clubs like Puerto Rico, Charleston and FC New York will have to have a serious look at their 2011 plans. I’m already envisioning Paul Kemsley, current owner of the New York Cosmos brand, selling that name to FC New York as the new club switches leagues. Who knew soccer’s past in America would end up being its future, too?

UPDATE (11/22): USL is now claiming that Tampa and Baltimore are still under contract to play in USL-1 for 2010. They’re threatening a lawsuit. Hoo boy…

NFL American Football — Comments Off
20
Nov 09

Worst Way Not to Score Ever?

You’ve got it all figured out. You’ve broken through the backline. You’ve got an angle on the goalkeeper. All you have to do is slot the ball home and celebrate your goal.

Then, this happens…

That’s Daniel Nardiello, a Blackpool striker on loan at Bury, watching his certain goal roll to a halt a few inches from glory. What’s even worse about this is that they were playing at Gigg Lane, Bury’s home ground. So much for home field advantage.

You know where that would have been a goal? On any pitch in Major League Soccer. Yes. Perhaps Mr. Nardiello should ply his trade in America. We could use the strikers.

(Spotted on 101 Great Goals.)

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