Liverpool and AC Milan

I've been reading a lot about football (soccer) owners and managers lately. Most of the speculation is being directed towards Liverpool and A.C. Milan, and as an Arsenal fan I have pretty little concern for these teams. However, with so much concern for such large clubs I've decided to wade into the discussion.

First lets start with Liverpool. The skinny: Liverpool's manager is under fire because he whines about not having money - Liverpool's exorbitant spending makes Kentucky's horse industry look like a bunch of hillbilly's betting on a game of Uno. Also, fans don't like the owners because they haven't given them a new stadium and the club isn't winning (uh hello, its called a RECESSION, i.e. no new stadium).

Ok, so that basically the biggest concern in my mind is that Liverpool is a huge club with a proud tradition and is pretty average right now. I was checking and Liverpool is currently in 8TH PLACE. They are behind Sunderland!? I can't even tell you where Sunderland plays or two good players there! Wow, ok... so Liverpool is really "no-bueno."

Sounds to me like Liverpool needs to take a page out of the UK (university of kentuckky) men's basketball team book. FIRE THE MANAGER AND GET ANOTHER ONE! When one manager is given ample time and resources and doesn't succeed, guess what?...he gets the can! Its sports and its absurd to think anything different. As far as the owners go- sorry Liverpool fans, you're kinda screwed unless a big arab oil guy comes along. Even then I would say it wouldn't be any different that having two rich Americans. Both have little appreciation for English football and never will. Bummer for Liverpool fans.
Bad team name (liver?really?its almost as bad as cleveland!) + Bad owner + Underperforming manager + overpaid players = Lame football club

Now for AC Milan. The skinny: They sold their best player cause they spend too much money on old guys. Their owner is the Italian playboy "Prime Minister" who would best serve the public on MTV's "Tool Academy." They have some random former-player manager who is losing games with a very average team that has a few players elegible for the McDonald's "senior discount."

Again, this is not a team I support. I'm generally opposed to Italian league as it is home to tricksters and the best diving/football consortium the world has ever known. The only player at AC Milan I like is an American who gets no playing time and is out for the next six months.

In any case A.C. Milan's owner (Prime Minister guy) is probably siphoning money out of the club so I have little hope for him. The manager is in way over his head and this is really a job for the famed Guus Hiddink. He's the guy who needs to take this job, and until he does it will be a club stuck outside the top 5.

It is unfortunate for clubs of these size to be so terrible right now. It's sad that a team like AC MIlan stinks because I plan on visiting the iconic San Siro one day. By then the Milan team will be petitioning FIFA for walkers and canes as legal game-day equipment and Liverpool will go the way of Leeds. Till then,

Keep it real hotsauce.

-J

U.S. qualification and MLS rumblings

With the U.S. qualification for the World Cup I have to wonder what changes the next year will bring. Its great to have that monkey off our back, but with Jermaine Jones tipped as the future holding midfielder for the Nat's I have to wonder how that may change team chemistry. How will the team react to this superior talent joining the team yet never having contributed to qualification? With Ricardo Clark rumored to be joining an Italian Serie A side this winter it may make Jermaine Jones not the lynch-pin we all expect him to be.

On the other side of the American soccer landscape, MLS commissioner Don Garber has revealed that the league is looking into aligning the MLS season with the international schedule. The report I read said that it was an attempt to help the US bid for the 2018 World Cup. It mentioned that this move is also partly to show that they are actively listening to FIFA president Sepp Blatter. My impressions are mixed in this regard.

My first impression was delight in being on the same schedule as the rest of the world leagues. On the other hand I have a personal vendetta against Sepp Blatter and cringe at following his advice- my opinion is that he's made a mess of everything he has touched; from referees in WC 2006 and the yellow card offense for taking your shirt off. I also like the fact that I can watch MLS soccer while the rest of the world takes a break. There is only so much baseball I can handle each summer.

However, I would like the idea of stadiums getting some-sort of roofing structures (Columbus, PLEASE!). I hope its an idea they seriously look at, but I have a feeling it wont happen for at least 5-10 years at the earliest. We will see...

Keep it real hotsauce,
J