RVP's Three Stun AVB's Blues At The Bridge

The London derby was always going to be an entertaining contest but never would you imagine it to be an eight goal thriller. The season is still young but already it has provided us with many high-scoring lop-sided games. Arsenal has been on the wrong end of a battering by Manchester United early on at the Emirates surrendering eight. The flood gates have opened wide in the Premier League as the goals continue to pour in at an alarming rate that has left goalkeepers scratching their heads. Even United suffered a humiliating defeat last week, giving up a surprising six goals at Old Trafford in a heavy defeat to Manchester City proving anything is possible.

Chelsea were coming off a controversial loss to Queens Park Rangers after having to play over fifty minutes of the match with nine men, leaving them without the services of Jose Bosingwa and Didier Drogba for the match against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. Adding more unwanted drama to the mix was the FA probe into alleged racist remarks made by John Terry to Anton Ferdinand during last weeks match that had the club captain's name splashed across the front of every newspaper in the country. Arsenal has slowly started to bounce back from their disastrous start to the campaign, winners of two straight. Distractions off the pitch coupled with a shock defeat proved to be too much for the Blues to handle.

It has been apparent that the Blues can only go as far as the skill of Juan Mata can take them, by far the best player on the team. The Spaniard is playing at the top of his game and is the focal point on attack for Andres Villas-Boas, he is the sole reason why Fernando Torres has slowly found his form and is scoring goals. On the opposite side it has been the tremendous play of Robin Van Persie that has turned around the Gunners fortunes, scoring six of the clubs last nine goals in the league. The Dutchman has been on fire scoring at will guiding Arsenal back up to the top half of the table, only going as far as RVP's boot will take them.

The match was littered with poor defensive play by both teams giving an early indication that this was going to be a high-scoring affair. Torres missed a sitter early after doing well to get in front of his marker on a counter attack but sending it wide of the target. The virus of poor finishing infected Arsenal as well, Gervinho missed a clear cut chance with Petr Cech at his mercy and Van Persie did the same a short time later. Theo Walcott was the provider on both opportunities shredding apart the Blues defensive line giving a glimpse of what was to come.

Arsenal paid the price for not scoring on those early chances when Frank Lampard opened the scoring with an unmarked header right on the doorstep of Wojciech Sczszesny. Mata provided the beautiful cross after shaking off Andre Santos but the spotlight of blame fell solely on the shoulders of Per Mertesacker. The German completely lost Lampard in a dangerous area and looked embarrassingly awkward trying in vain to make up for his error. Chelsea was unfortunate not to double their lead close to the half hour mark. Daniel Sturridge made a fantastic run that caught the Arsenal back four napping from a good first touch pass by Lampard, he ran in alone clear on goal but was let down with a poor touch that sent the ball wide of Sczszesny.

Lazy defending was proving to be contagious and a common occurrence in the match, this time it was Branislav Ivanovic and Terry at fault for Arsenal's equalizer. The duo somehow allowed Gervinho to slip right between them from a fantastic pass by Aaron Ramsey; the striker then calmly slid it to Van Persie who was left unmarked for the easy tap into the empty net. Villas-Boas must have been fuming on the bench at watching his players completely give up on the play and caught on their heels hoping for the linesman to bail them out with an offside call that never came.

Following a disallowed goal for offside by Sturridge the Blues captain came to the rescue to give his team the lead right before the half-time whistle. Terry was allowed to easily volley in Lampard's corner without any hassle. Arsenal is known for their horrible defending from set-pieces but it was amazing to see how much room and space Terry was given by Mertesacker. The defender allowed his marker to get in front of him to score and looked foolish for the second time in the match. It was a terrible way to go into the break for Arsene Wenger after a relatively fine first half performance.

Arsenal quickly scored following the re-start, Andre Santos was surprisingly left wide open and was able to walk in and skip a weak shot past Cech near post. It was a weak goal allowed by the keeper but I was surprised to see how much space Santos had to exploit, Chelsea were caught ball watching and poorly positioned. Soon after Sczszesny produced a wonderful save to deny Lampard his second, diving to send the ball away from the far post to keep thing level.

Chelsea suffered another defensive lapse to surrender the lead before the hour mark. Walcott was having a great game and topped off his performance with the go-ahead goal, showing tremendous hustle and determination on his run after initially going to ground losing possession. Ashley Cole and Jon Obi Mikel comically watched Walcott go down then get up and race right through the heart of defence before unleashing a powerful strike that beat Cech again at his near post. It was a horrible display of defending all-round with Terry and Ivanovic equally to blame for getting split for the second time in the match. AVB must have been pulling his hair out on the sidelines at his team’s lack of aggressiveness defensively.

Controversy reared its ugly head ten minutes from time, following a horrible giveaway by Santos at the back the Brazilian defender looked to be interfered with by Romelu Lukaku before Mata unleashed a wicked strike beating Sczszesny from distance to tie the game. Arsene Wenger was furious on the sidelines and could be seen arguing with the fourth official as to why play was allowed to continue, replays proved the manager right as a foul should have been given but Santos has only himself to blame for the initial giveaway.

With all the drama surrounding Terry before kick-off it was not that surprising he was thrust into the spotlight as the match was nearing conclusion. Florent Malouda played a poor ball back to his captain that unfortunately caused Terry to slip and lose his footing, Van Persie pounced on the opportunity easily going around Cech to score and give Arsenal the lead with five minutes remaining. Stamford Bridge fell completely silent shocked at the blunder they just witnessed. Malouda will definitely be on the receiving end of a verbal bashing by the Blues captain for hanging him out to dry.

AVB was forced to send everyone forward to pressure for the equalizer and Chelsea paid dearly getting caught on the counter-attack, Van Persie scoring his third and earning the hat-trick. It was a powerful strike but considering Cech looked to have the angle covered he should have done better. Defensive follies and a poor performance between the posts condemned Chelsea to the embarrassing home defeat.

The victory by Arsenal pushes them within striking distance of the coveted European places, while the loss has left Chelsea nine points adrift of leaders Manchester City with their title ambitions coming into question. Tension and pressure is finally starting to mount with only three points separating the two clubs after ten matches in the books.


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The Unfit Referee: Toronto FC On The Rise

Another season is in the books for Toronto FC with much of the same disappointment on the pitch. Once again TFC finished on the outskirts of the play-off race after another re-building campaign; Number five if you are still counting. It has become frustrating to watch as the dressing room has become a revolving door since day one, terribly mismanaged starting from the top and trickling all the way down.

The loyal fan base has shown tremendous support to the club right from the start and has really embraced the football culture, fully behind the team and deserving of a winner to cheer for. The prices continue to rise yet the quality on the field has become somewhat of an after thought because lets face it the stadium is packed for every match and merchandising is at an all-time high so their is no urgency to produce where it matters most to supporters, and that is on the field.

Aron Winter was installed as the clubs sixth manager arriving from the esteemed Ajax youth academy and promised to bring direct soccer to BMO Field. The Dutch idea of total football was to be implemented across the board, and a strong youth academy was to be constructed from the ground up. Another long season of growing pains was on the horizon.

Looking at the players on the roster at the start of the season it was hard to envision this new style would even work considering the options Winter had at his disposal. Dwayne De Rosario was his only real attacking option and the club captain was on borrowed time after contract disputes with upper management. By far the best player on the roster but not rewarded properly enough to show his true value to the club. The departure of the team’s captain was only one of many changes the manager would make on the season. Trading the Scarborough born striker was a very unpopular decision amongst the supporters, although his hand was forced in the De Rosario deal, Winter needed to clear the decks and bring in the players that could fit into his system.

It all started off miserably losing to their Canadian rivals the Vancouver Whitecaps in that franchises inaugural match in the MLS only emphasized the long road ahead. Winning their home opener in Arctic temperatures in front of a sell-out crowd showed a small glimpse of the attack-minded system Winter had been preaching since his arrival. Unfortunately the feel good factor was short lived as four draws and two loses came between their next victory, followed by a nine match win-less run before finally earning retribution from opening day beating Vancouver at home. Inconsistency was to be expected but the entertainment value was atrocious.

The team struggled to play under the new offensive format because a true leader was missing within the squad for the younger players to rally behind. Welcome to Hollywood North Torsten Frings and Danny Koevermans. Both acquisitions brought tremendous amounts of veteran experience to a team in desperate need of guidance on the pitch. Before their arrival the team looked lost without an identity.

Frings was the missing piece to the puzzle at the heart of mid-field even playing centre-back at times to provide cover. He has raised the bar amongst the squad providing the necessary leadership that Winter needed to deploy his methods. In Koevermans the club has found an instinctive striker possessing the poacher’s mentality giving him the awareness to always be in a scoring position. The Dutchman finished with eight goals on seventeen shots in the regular season and another two goals in the CONCACAF Champions League. Consistency has always eluded TFC in the goal scoring department but has improved towards the second half of the season.

By the end of July the playoff dream was only alive mathematically and TFC switched focus with a good run in the Champions League, never having made it past the group stages in their short existence. It came down to the last match away to FC Dallas for a place in the quarter-final stage. Having a horrendous away record overall no one expected the eventual end result. TFC miraculously came out victorious scoring three goals and earning the clean sheet to overrun their opponents. It was the biggest win in franchise history in my opinion, although some might argue that winning three straight Voyageurs Cups should be held in higher regard than this one match that only earned a place in the knockout rounds. The win in Dallas showed for the first time TFC could handle the pressure of a must win game; a major step forward for the club because history has proved the opposite when a result was needed.

For the first time a solid plan is in place to push the team to the next level. The academy is now producing players who have made the step into the first team, with Ashtone Morgan, Matt Stinson and Doneil Henry making the jump to the big show this year. Morgan even made another big step and earned his first call up to the Canadian national becoming the first TFC academy graduate to make that leap. The new complex being constructed at Downsview is first class and will help to breed more homegrown talent to replenish the clubs ranks and hopefully contribute to the national team in the future. TFC are a step ahead of the rest in that regard.

It has been a long journey but finally TFC is showing positive signs of progression. The foundation has been set through a strong academy structure, stability on the bench with Aron Winter in charge, leadership on the pitch with Torsten Frings pulling the strings and Danny Koevermans providing the goals needed to win matches. TFC nation finally has reason to smile.

Two things will need to be addressed in the off-season, the first being the signing of Joao Plata and Richard Eckersley to long term deals after both had a strong season on loan. The little Ecuadorian especially had a breakout year and quickly became a crowd favorite; his pace is an integral part to the teams attack. Eckersley was a welcoming addition to the back line and although TFC allowed the second most goals against in the league, the English defender was a strong performer and a bright spot in a weak position for TFC this season. Eric Avila was another standout performer and was a great late addition to the team in midfield.

The biggest obstacle blocking the clubs playoff ambitions is the inconsistent play of the back four, by far the weakest link of the chain. Winter has proven to be very crafty in making deals to strengthen his team, and I expect all his focus in the off-season will be on bringing in a veteran to command the line. Two centre-backs would be ideal but at least one is necessary. The lack of experience within the squad makes it difficult for the system to work without having a veteran deputizing all three lines. Koevermans is the man up front; Frings has control of the middle leaving only the defensive line without a leader. Expect a change in 2012.

Next season brings much optimism although plenty of work still needs to be done in order to challenge for honors, however finally TFC nation can see progress on the field. Red Patch Boys rejoice in the notion your beloved club has turned the corner and a play-off spot is a possibility next year. Bang your drums and hold your scarves up high. Come on you Reds, the excitement of a cup run is not that far fetched of an idea either, only four games stand in the way of TFC and a spot in the Champions League final. Qu’est-ce que vous chantez? Nous chantons les rouges allez!


Check back next week for a new edition of The Unfit Referee

United Humbled By City Rivals

Roberto Mancini landed a decisive blow to the chin of Sir Alex Ferguson humbling Manchester United in the process and leaving their neighborhood rivals down on one knee clinging on to the ropes. Thoroughly beaten into submission Manchester City made a tremendous statement in the title race scoring six at Old Trafford. No one could have expected such a lop-sided defeat, right in Ferguson's backyard. The most interesting aspect was the manner in which City went about dismantling their hosts.

The result will live in infamy for all Red Devils supporters around the globe; not used to being on the wrong side of a heavy defeat. The chants of "easy" could be heard echoing around Old Trafford by City supporters, followed by the humorous "you’re getting sacked in the morning" taunting Ferguson as he sat silent on the bench. Shattered, dazed and shell-shocked the manager looked a beaten man.

Judging by the score line you would assume City was in control right from the start, however it was United that dictated the opening exchanges but never actually getting to test Joe Hart with a decent shot. Then like a flash Mario Balotelli put the visitors ahead, basically passing the ball into the far corner after a nice pull back from James Milner. This was followed by a funny celebration where the Italian exposed his under-shirt that read "Why Always Me" to everyone's amusement. It was the visitor’s one and only scoring chance and they made United to pay for their lack luster defending. Overall Mancini's tactics were holding the home side at bay and never allowing a clear cut chance to equalize as the first half ended.

You never can count United out of any match no matter what the score, they always have this extra gear and ability to pull it all together even when the odds are stacked heavily against them. But taking into consideration the poor performances by their back line which has looked extremely shaky and prone to mistakes they were fortunate not to have lost to Stoke City, Norwich City and Liverpool. Extremely lucky that neither of those clubs was able to put the match away after creating multiple chances to win. It seemed like only a matter of time before Ferguson's defensive problems would be exposed. It was surprising to see Phil Jones on the bench in favor of Jonny Evans: a decision that came back to haunt United.

I thought the Red Devils would come out in full force after the break, following the tongue lashing probably received in the dressing room by Ferguson, but they just dug a deeper hole to climb out of. Evans was shown the straight red card for pulling down Balotelli foolishly on the edge of the box; United were down to ten men. The central defender knew he was going to face his manager’s wrath following the match for the clumsy foul that was dangerously close to being a penalty.

Surely City could hang on to the lead being up a man with the entire second half still to play, surprisingly it was United who looked the better side following the sending off. Controversy soon followed when Anderson was brought down in the box by Micah Richards and no foul was called. After reviewing the challenge it looked as though the City defender got none of the ball but Mark Clattenburg decided against awarding a penalty. The call could have changed the match if given with City only a goal up at that point.

It quickly turned into a numbers game as play continued and United were unable to perform in the final third where it mattered most. Eventually growing tired and allowing the visitors to City exploit the spaces made available to nab their second of the match, with Balotelli left unmarked at the far post Milner's cross found the Italians boot for the second time in the match. Super Mario has been playing on another level since his return to the line-up collecting six goals in five matches this season making Carlos Tevez an afterthought.

City’s tactics were brilliant in picking apart their rivals, keeping them on edge every-time they ventured forward in attack.  United were playing scared for the first time in a long while, their nerves started to show as the crowd grew incredibly silent. Sergio Aguero was next to score, finishing off Richards cross unmarked at the far post. It all looked ridiculously easy for the boys in sky blue. Embarrassed and at a loss for words many of the home support started walking towards the exits unable to watch their side’s poor performance any longer. Three goals up Mancini decided to take off Balotelli with twenty minutes to play with Edin Dzeko his replacement.  The Italian did his manager proud and left the field to the applause of the travelling crowd of City supporters.

On eighty-one minutes Darren Fletcher pulled one back on a fine one-timer that completely went past the out-stretched arms of Hart as he dove in vain to make the save. Any hope that was generated by the Scotsman's goal was completely dashed eight minutes later when Dzeko scored the visitors fourth. Another two followed in quick succession, the fifth coming from David Silva neatly sliding the ball through the legs of David De Gea on the breakaway and the sixth was an easy tap in by Dzeko. United's defence clearly gave up and were playing for the whistle leaving De Gea completely stranded.

Mancini was all smiles on the sidelines celebrating like a cocky schoolboy as the flood gates opened and the goals started to stream in, while Ferguson was left red-faced in defeat. Later revealing it was the worst defeat suffered in his illustrious football career. The win will provide Manchester City with a major boost and sent a clear cut message to the entire league about their title ambitions, while United have been on a slow downward slope after starting the season on such a high.  They were made to pay dearly for the multitude of mistakes at the back against an opponent that was able to capitalize on all the chances awarded to them.

The win at Old Trafford now places City firmly in the driver’s seat sitting atop the table with a five point cushion. Filled with confidence in knowing they beat their closest rivals with ease and now possess the mental advantage moving forward. The title was not won based on this one match, with not even ten games played you would be foolish to count United out of the title race this early. Ferguson will use this as a rallying call to wake up his players, never wanting to re-live the humiliation he suffered on Sunday. 

The Unfit Referee: Canadian Soccer Spotlight

It has been long debated that a viable professional soccer league would never work in Canada. It is common sense to assume that the national program will never improve until the CSA (Canadian Soccer Association) gets serious and finds the funding needed to develop from within its borders. This is not an overnight project that will generate results immediately, it will take time to turn a profit but the sport will finally get the chance to thrive in this country. For a professional league to truly work in the Great White North there has to be a collective brought together that focuses on development at the grassroots level instead of making money. Hard to imagine this information will be a selling point to potential investors.

I was glad to hear there is actually a consortium of sorts looking into creating a potential division two professional league in Canada. Naturally no one should be under the illusion of competing with Major League Soccer, but a feeder program could actually be installed that would help develop young Canadian players and help them progress to the next level. The plight of players in this country has gone on long enough, many show tremendous potential but find it impossible to develop their skills after passing a certain age. From three to sixteen it is quite easy to find a club, but after that the notion of making this a career ceases to exist. There is no help given to promote our youth and they are left stranded to fend for themselves, alone with their hopes and dreams. Sweet sixteen brings on a whole new meaning to our Canadian hopefuls.

Forced to make a choice of pursuing their dreams abroad, or hang back and try to make a breakthrough in the many amateur or semi-pro leagues around the country, the majority who stay never get the chance to fully develop and end up playing in Sunday leagues, clinging to that childhood dream of making it big. Even the ones who attempt to go abroad the choices are minimal, with their passports working against them as clubs overseas are unwilling to use up a precious import spot on a Canadian. The lower the FIFA ranking the less attractive your prospects become in the soccer world, and the less likely chance a team is going to take a risk on our youth.

Germany has always provided an avenue for Canadians, Paul Stalteri earned a Bundesliga title in 2004 with Werder Bremen, becoming the first Canuck to achieve this feat. More recently it is home to current Canadian internationals Kevin McKenna (Cologne), Rob Friend (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Marcel de Jong (Augsburg). Scandinavia has also provided an outlet. Atiba Hutchinson plied his trade in Sweden and Denmark before making the step up to PSV in the Netherlands.

The lower tiers of English football have more recently become an option. Iain Hume is currently with Preston North End, his fourth club across the pond. But Simeon Jackson is the best example of hard work and dedication. Working his way up the lower tiers, he has finally made it to the top-flight with Norwich City. But for each positive story there are thousands of negative ones. I have witnessed first hand plenty of wasted potential that has never been given the opportunity to harness those raw abilities. Sunday leagues from coast to coast are littered with good players who could have made it but lacked the options to progress further.

The major markets (Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal) have already laid down a foundation in the MLS which has made it difficult to sell the idea of a professional league in this country to investors. Each club has set up academies, moving in the right direction for player development. TFC have now started to see some of their academy graduates make the jump to the first team, with Ashtone Morgan, Matt Stinson and Doneil Henry all seeing playing time under Aron Winter.

If the idea is to create a D2 pro-league it makes perfect sense to include the B squads from the three MLS clubs. It gives them the chance to play regularly against home grown opposition, similar to the model being used in Spain and Germany. From there, bring FC Edmonton into the mix by pulling them out of the NASL. The league is governed by the USSF (United States Soccer Federation) and is considered the second tier in their soccer pyramid. The Montreal Impact will be leaving for the MLS at the end of the current season, with Ottawa being awarded a franchise for 2013 or 2014. Instead both Edmonton and Ottawa should be a part of Can Pro D2 and be governed by the CSA, not a foreign federation that allows only a minimal percentage of input when owners vote on league endeavors.

The next step is attracting the smaller markets. Places like Halifax, Quebec City, Calgary and Victoria all have the potential to house franchises. In Ontario, the population is tremendously multi-cultural with many nationality's that consider soccer their number one sport. Etobicoke, Mississauga, Brampton and North York would all be perfect destinations. Each has stadiums already in place, only needing minor refurbishments to increase capacity. Even Woodbridge has potential to own a franchise. The area's Italian population would thrive at having a franchise and would truly get behind the idea, but you have to be realistic. The league will not be getting crowds in the tens of thousands, needing to start small and slowly expand. Build the brand slowly and the results will follow. Seating capacity should be five thousand at most, promoting from within the vast soccer community, giving the next generation hope for the future.

This is a big project that will need a wealthy investor to guide the project through the early growing pains. Funding has always been the issue whenever discussion of a pro-league surface because of the sheer size of the country, transportation becomes the major sticking point. Teams would have to potentially fly to each coast with the cost being an issue. But you need everyone on board working together in order for this to work. Excluding anyone based on their geographical location would only backfire. For this to work you need the idea to be supported coast to coast, with each region given the opportunity to field teams. Money will be tight at first. Do not expect the federal government to entertain the idea of assisting and funding a sport which is the most played within its borders.

Soccer in this country has been set up to fail right from the start, never having a solid foundation to build from. I'm not under the illusion that it will ever be the most watched sport, but the interest is obviously there. Now a proper structure needs to be put in place to sustain and develop it. The CSL (Canadian Soccer League) would have to be absorbed, with only some clubs possessing the necessary resources needed, but each would be given the opportunity to have a seat at the table. Can Pro D2 would become the feeder program to the country's MLS teams, helping our youth take the next step, but also establishing strong roots for the future.

Imagine how interesting qualifying for the Canadian Champions League would become, with more teams being added to the pot. It could turn into our country’s version of the FA Cup, with the winner advancing to the group stages of the CONCACAF Champions League after a grueling knockout round. The current format of the competition is rather dull and needs a make-over. We need more clubs to be given the chance to participate.

Look how many quality players have been lost to other federations because of the lack of choices given to them by the CSA. Owen Hargreaves left for Germany at sixteen, out of options and looking to develop his skills abroad, later choosing to play internationally for England. Jonathan De Guzman left the country at twelve to chase his dream, signing for Feyenoord’s youth academy. How can you blame him for wanting to play the Netherlands over Canada, after all they are the ones who took the time and made him into the player he is today, currently playing in the Champions League with Villarreal, all his hard work and sacrifice is finally being rewarded.

This is the unfortunate trend that has plagued the national team. David Hoilett is the latest Canadian contemplating his international future. He signed for Blackburn’s youth academy at thirteen but had to spend time in Germany to gain experience and a work permit to play in England. The list is endless. Is it fair for Canada to ask for loyalty despite having no part in transforming them into true professionals? The time has come to do right by our players and loyalty to this country will cease to be a decision but rather a definitve choice worth making.


Check back next week for a new edition of The Unfit Referee

The Prem: Round Up of Game Week 8

The most anticipated fixture on the Premier League calendar took place at Anfield over the weekend. Liverpool hosting hated rivals Manchester United in the first match of two on the season. Steven Gerrard was back in the starting line-up after making three appearances off the bench following his lengthy groin injury troubles, and for United it was the first chance for their fans to celebrate being the most successful English club after surpassing their rival’s title count. Chants of nineteen could be heard coming from the contingent of Red Devil supporters that made the trip to Merseyside.

Sir Alex Ferguson decided to keep many of his regulars on the bench, most significant being Wayne Rooney. The striker was deemed by his manager not to be in the right place mentally to start, allegedly. It was also surprising to see Javier Hernandez, Nani and Anderson all on the subs bench for such a massive match. Liverpool started quickly pressing for control while United looked slow and allowed their hosts early possession.

Phil Jones was given the surprising start in midfield for United and had the best opportunity to score for the visitors, finding space at the far post but his header was poor and hit side-netting. Luis Suarez came close to giving his side the lead just past the half-hour mark after the ball generously fell to his feet, deflecting off a defender following the initial shot by Charlie Adam, but the finish by Suarez was below par after turning his defender. David De Gea was able to deflect it away with ease. The first half ended scoreless with both clubs trying to establish a flow but failing to really threaten one another, the pace of the match was extremely quick and made it hard to keep possession of the ball.

Controversy came in the second half when Dirk Kuyt connected on a header that looked to hit the arm of Jonny Evans but play was allowed to resume. The ball clearly hit Evans' arm as he tried to move it out of the way, but it is one of those decisions you hate to go against you and are furious not to receive. Adam made another daring run weaving through traffic before being taken down by Rio Ferdinand right outside the box. Players were arguing for a red card as the defender was the last man, however on the replay you could see it was the slightest of touches that sent Adam to ground. Gerrard stepped up and scored on the free-kick to give Liverpool the lead. It was a curling effort that went through the wall, with Ryan Giggs at fault for breaking away to early, the veteran gave his keeper no chance to make the save.

Liverpool looked the better side in the second half and enjoyed much of the possession keeping United pinned back on their heels. The pressure intensified after scoring, Jordan Henderson was subbed on early in the second half replacing Lucas Leiva and he almost doubled the lead, connecting on the half-volley that seemed poised to be looping over De Gea but the keeper made a miraculous save to keep it out. The Spaniard probably had his best game in the United shirt.

United were on the ropes and Ferguson finally decided to bring in his big guns off the bench. All it took was five minutes for Javier Hernandez to make an impression, charging the net and scoring on a header with Danny Welbeck providing the vital flick on off the corner kick by Nani. Liverpool's defenders were caught sleeping on the play and gave Pepe Reina no chance to make the save from such close range.

The match opened up considerably after that, Stewart Downing made a good run down the flank and produced an exquisite ball for Kuyt only for the Dutchman to be denied by an amazing save by De Gea. The last play of the match could have provided the winner for Liverpool but Henderson squandered a perfect chance by sending his header over the bar right with the keeper at his mercy. United were lucky to escape with a share of the points.

Kenny Dalglish might feel unfortunate not to have earned all three points with Liverpool being the aggressors for most of the match and producing the better scoring chances. The match took a negative turn after the final whistle as reports surfaced that Suarez was to be investigated for allegedly racially abusing Patrice Evra during the match. A charge that the Uruguayan has categorically denied after Evra complained about the alleged incident. The FA is looking into the charge and will respond following a full investigation.

Aston Villa travelled to the Etihad Stadium to face a Manchester City side that decided to keep Samir Nasri and David Silva on the bench to start the match. Roberto Mancini was obviously resting the pair for the Champions League game mid-week. Mario Balotelli was in the starting eleven ahead of Edin Dzeko, the Italian has been given a good run of games by his manager with Sergio Aguero out through injury.

It was the visitors who almost scored first, Gabriel Agbonlahor outmuscling Joleon Lescott for possession and going clear through on goal but Joe Hart cut the angle perfectly to make the save. Vincent Kompany was then forced to clear the rebound by Stephen Warnock which looked to be going in. Balotelli then got involved curling a shot towards the far post but Shay Given was able to stretch enough to keep it out. The striker then made amends for his previous miss in spectacular fashion, pouncing on the loose ball and producing a stunning bicycle kick from close range, intensely staring down the visiting supporters after scoring.

It did not take long for City to extend their lead following the break, Stephen Warnock looking foolish in his attempt to clear a long pass by Yaya Toure towards Adam Johnson. All alone the Englishman finished with ease low inside the far post. Balotelli continued his fine form with an identical curl shot as in the first half that forced another good save out of Given, it was all looking to easy. Soon after the City captain made it three, Kompany timing his jump perfectly and burying the powerful header past the keeper.

Unfortunately for Hart his clean sheet was broken when City defenders failed to clear a soft cross by Agbonlahor into the danger zone, Warnock was wide open to smash the shot past Hart who was left helpless to stop it. The lone bright spot for Villa did not last long. Six minutes later James Milner made it 4-1 smashing a one-timer past Given who could only watch it ripple the net meshing. The victory put City alone at the top of the standings two points clear of their United rivals.

Bolton limped into the DW Stadium at the bottom of the table losers of six straight. Owen Coyle was starting to feel the pressure and nothing short of a victory was needed against Wigan Athletic. Roberto Martinez was also feeling the heat as the Latics were without a victory since the end of August. It was the visitors who jumped to the early lead, Nigel Reo-Coker getting on the other end of a nice cross by Chris Eagles to chest in the opening goal with not even five minutes played. Eagles then came close to doubling the lead with a fantastic curl with the outside of his boot only to be denied by a great save by Ali Al-Habsi.

Wigan struggled to create any decent chances from the run of play with their best efforts coming off set-pieces. Ben Watson almost equalized from a corner as Jussi Jaaskelainen was caught out of position and barely got a hand on the cross to keep it out. The home crowd finally had something to cheer about near the end of the half, Mohamed Diame unleashed a tremendous strike that curled into the top corner and left Jaaskelainen watching in amazement. The joy did not last long for the Latics, Kevin Davies stripped Steve Gohouri of the ball and fed David N'gog, scoring low into the corner after losing his defender. It was his first goal for Bolton since arriving at the transfer deadline.

The miss of the week if not the season so far came from Dedryck Boyata, left alone inside the six yard box he sent his header terribly wide and wasted a decent opportunity to take a two goal lead. Bolton were then awarded a penalty, Davies stepped up but was denied by Al-Habsi, the effort was poor by the Trotters captain. But it was another defensive error that undid Wigan, Antolin Alcaraz this time was at fault of losing possession and Eagles sealed it for the visitors. The win lifted Bolton off the foot of the table, one point ahead of Wigan who are now tied for last.

Loftus Road has been anything but a fortress for Queens Park Rangers this season, losers of all three of their matches thus far at home, only managing a single goal in the process. Coming off a demoralizing loss in their previous match, QPR were hoping to kick-start a run of good form against Blackburn.

The first decent chance fell to the home side, Joey Barton inadvertently blocked Heidar Helguson's initial header off the corner kick, but the Icelandic striker followed up on the rebound and produced a remarkable chip from a tight angle to give QPR the lead, but it was short-lived. Christopher Samba tied it up with a good header after beating his defender to the spot and getting high enough to notch in Jason Lowe's corner kick.

In the second half Shaun Wright-Philips almost regained the lead for QPR but watched his shot drift slightly wide of the post. Rovers did produce a chance of their own when David Holiett displayed some of his skill, walking in from the left side and unleashing a shot that beat Paddy Kenny but not Anton Ferdinand, who saved a sure goal. With time ticking away Martin Olsson had the chance to win the match but Kenny made a timely save. It ended all squared with QPR earning their first point at home, but with the result Rovers sit at the bottom of the table to end the week.

Norwich City took on fellow promotion new boys Swansea City at Carrow Road hoping to continue their impressive start to the season. The Swans have struggled on the road, having lost all three of their matches and scoring only a single goal.

It only took a minute for the Canaries to take the lead, Anthony Pilkington connecting on the half-volley after being left unmarked right in front of goal. Elliott Bennett provided the cross that was headed across the goal crease by Steve Morison to Pilkington for the finish. Brendan Rodgers must have been fuming at the careless defending by his back line. Ten minutes later the lead was doubled. Russell Martin was left unmarked and headed the ball past Michel Vorm off a brilliant cross from a set-piece by David Fox.

Despite having little possession the Swans were able to cut into the lead two minutes later. Scott Sinclair made a great run to split two defenders before being sandwiched off the ball but showed great determination in making a pass after stumbling to ground, Danny Graham then put it in of the far post for his second of the season.

Just past the hour mark the Swans paid the price after lazier defending left Pilkington unmarked inside the six yard box, spinning and firing into the gaping net. A Terrible clearance from the corner kick was followed by Bradley Johnson sucking in two defenders before finding Pilkington open for the easy finish. Slack defending by the Swans cost them as Norwich earned the decisive victory which placed them in the top-half of the table.

Fulham were coming into the match at the Britannia Stadium full of confidence after their impressive lop-sided victory two weeks prior. Stoke City are tough to beat at home and have continued to punch above their weight class to keep pace with the top-half of the table.

Peter Crouch was in place to give the home side the lead but mistimed the wonderful cross by Jermaine Pennant. It was a gift by Aaron Hughes who completely missed on his clearance attempt. Crouch should have done better on the play. The Cottagers then had their own opportunity to go in front, with Bobby Zamora connecting on a nice header that skipped wide of the far post. Right before the break Jermaine Pennant produced a good solo effort linking up with Crouch but the finish was less than spectacular going wide of the far post.

The Potters came even closer to scoring in the second half, Rory Delap caused a mad scramble in the box following his trademark long throw, Mark Schwarzer was caught out of position but Chris Baird came to the rescue and quickly cleared the loose ball, although given his size Crouch should have been able to get a better touch on the loose ball. Stoke continued to press, Delap's deflected shot striking the post after faking out his marker. Danny Murphy was then at the right place at the right time, blocking Marc Wilson's header on the goal line. Tony Pulis must have been wondering what else his players needed to do to score.

The Cottagers came close to stealing the points. John Arne Riise smashing a bullet of a strike off the crossbar that would have stunned the hosts had it gone in. Two minutes later Stoke finally got the goal they rightfully deserved, Jonathan Walters re-directing Matthew Etherington's low drive. Delap then secured the win with three minutes remaining, beating his defender to the spot and heading in Etherington's free-kick. With the victory Stoke climbed to seventh in the table and are within striking distance of the European places.

The final stop on the Saturday fixture list was at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea entertaining Everton. The Toffees had a surprising winning record at the Bridge, undefeated in their last five meetings with the Blues. The result on this night however would be completely different.

It took Chelsea a half hour before they netted the opener, Juan Mata displayed more of his brilliance on the ball, perfectly timing Ashley Cole's run down the left and producing a fantastic cross which was then relayed across the face of goal for Daniel Sturrdige to head home. It was a gem of a play. The Blues doubled their lead deep into stoppage time, John Terry nodding in Frank Lampard's cross from the set-piece. Tim Howard looking most to blame for failing to clear his area after coming out to challenge the cross by Lampard.

Everton came out like a flash after the re-start. Leon Osman hitting the post after the set-up by Seamus Coleman, Chelsea was clearly caught napping. But that is where the match ended as a contest. The hosts took control from then on putting together an assortment of fine passing plays to open up the defence. Didier Drogba started the play that led to Chelsea's third of the night, finding Mata who then sent a low drive right through the goal mouth that was bundled in by Ramires as he crashed the net. Unfortunately Ramires was hurt on the play and forced to sub off, it looked like a knee injury as he was helped off the field.

David Moyes was able to take something positive from the match, denying Petr Cech the clean sheet after a smart substitution to bring on Apostolos Vellios. The Greek striker scored immediately, re-directing Royston Drenthe's cross to pull one back for the Toffees, it was his second goal in five games and is looking like a genius summer purchase by Moyes. The match ended 3-1 in favor of the hosts, moving them within three points of City for the league lead and only one behind United.

The Black Country Derby was first on the Sunday fixtures list, with The Hawthorns as the venue West Bromwich were looking for their first top-flight win in twenty-nine years against rivals Wolverhampton, but the visitors have been struggling as of late, losers of four straight after starting the year with seven out of a possible ten points. The opening exchanges were uneventful, with both clubs failing to produce an adequate scoring chance. Wolves had an edge possession wise but the Baggies did play the counter attack well enough to keep their opponents honest and on their toes.

Wolves had a couple of half-chances to go ahead but it was West Brom that broke the deadlock inside ten minutes. Chris Brunt hammered the ball past Wayne Hennessey from close range after a great cut back by Billy Jones, who was making his first appearance for the Baggies. Kevin Doyle almost equalized soon after, but it took an amazing last ditch sliding tackle by Jonas Olsson to block him on the rebound and preserve the lead for the hosts. Another chance fell to Paul Scharner, set up by Shane Long, the Austrian failed to hit the target. Back and forth it went, Ben Foster showing great reaction speed to tip a deflected shot by Christophe Berra.

The second half brought controversy, Wolves captain Roger Johnson seemed to get none of the ball when bringing down Long inside the box, only for the referee to wave play on to the dismay of the home crowd. Watching the replay proved without a doubt that a penalty should have been called. Foster came up big again right before the hour mark, getting down quick and tipping Adam Hammill's shot wide of the post.

Peter Odemwingie was brought on with just less than twenty minutes remaining. The Nigerian made a statement to manager Roy Hodgson and scored almost immediately upon entering the game. He was dropped out of the starting line-up but responded well with the strike to double the lead. The win lifted the Baggies out of the relegation zone and condemned Wolves to their fifth straight defeat.

The Emirates played host to two struggling teams both trying to kick-start a run of good form. Sunderland have been well below par after making a huge splash in the transfer market this past summer, while Arsenal were marred in their own shortcomings and have looked unrecognizable to the team that used to compete for titles.

It only took less than a minute for Robin Van Persie to get on the score sheet, netting his fourth of the season in lightning speed. Gervinho squared it and the Dutchman controlled before driving the low shot past Simon Mignolet. The early goal gave the Gunners the confidence moving forward and you started to see signs of the old Arsenal coming to life. The woodwork came to the rescue of Mignolet after the keeper was neatly chipped by Van Persie, quickly turning to lose his marker and striking the post with an intelligent strike. Steve Bruce was under tremendous pressure and under the microscope because of the Black Cats woeful start. The opening half hour did nothing to calm the nerves on Wearside.

Sebastian Larsson silenced the Emirates with a beautiful curling free kick just outside the box to equalize. It was yet another impressive finish by the Swede, an unstoppable strike for Wojciech Szczesny. Arsenal was visibly shaken and their confidence dwindled. Szczesny had to come up huge to keep it on level terms, denying a header by Lee Cattermole right on his doorstep with a stunning diving save.

The play turned ugly in the second half with both teams going into the referee's book for reckless fouls, the worst coming from David Vaughn and his two-footed challenge on Tomas Rosicky. Andrei Arshavin almost gave the home side the lead with a fantastic individual effort, weaving through three defenders with three quick touches but sending his shot wide of the post. With less than ten minutes on the clock, Van Persie netted his second of the match off a marvelous free kick to give the Gunners the lead. The shot by the captain was of high standard as it curled into the top corner, giving him five on the season.

Sunderland thought they leveled the score immediately after conceding, however Ji Dong-won was correctly judged to be offside by the referee. Arsenal's performance was not even close to being impressive but Arsene Wenger must be happy to collect all three points. The loss left Sunderland just outside the drop zone simply on goal difference.

Newcastle United took on Tottenham at St. James Park in what was the biggest test of the season for the Magpies. Holding an impressive undefeated record, Alan Pardew's side were up for the challenge against a Spurs team that has won four straight after starting the year with two humiliating loses.

Both struggled to create much in the opening frame, possession went back and forth but neither keeper was really threatened or tested. Emmanuel Adebayor then sprang into action with close to the break, making a good run into the penalty area, Steven Taylor mistimed his challenge and the referee took his time before pointing to the spot. Up stepped Rafael van Der Vaart to put Spurs in the lead, sending Tim Krul the other way on his penalty shot.

Coming out of the break Newcastle responded quickly, Demba Ba heading the ball directly into the hands of Brad Friedel from close range, only for the momentum to take the ball into the net along with the American keeper as he slid across to try and make the save. Play continued to go back and forth with both sides failing to convert some decent chances to put themselves in the lead.

Jermain Defoe entered the game just after the hour mark and made an immediate impact, turning quickly and firing a shot low past Krul as Spurs went back in front. The Magpies then sprung back to life and controlled the rest of the match, producing chance after chance only to be denied by the Friedel on each occasion, the veteran keeper proving his worth and keeping his team ahead.

Time was running out and it seemed only a moment of magic would be needed for Newcastle to keep their undefeated streak alive. It came from the bench courtesy of Shola Ameobi, the striker beat Friedel with a powerful low shot to earn his team a share of the points. The draw keeps Newcastle in fourth spot only six points behind league leaders Manchester City. Who would have guessed after eight matches the Magpies have yet to taste defeat, tied at the top with fewest goals conceded in the league.

Game of the Week: Newcastle United vs. Tottenham
Goal of the Week:  Robin Van Persie vs. Sunderland
Goalkeeper of the Week: David De Gea vs. Liverpool
Lowlight of the Week: Swansea City defending vs. Norwich City

Please share your thoughts and opinions on the best of the week.

The Unfit Referee: Euro 2012 Special Edition

Red Rooney Overshadows England Woes

UEFA came to a decision Thursday and banned Wayne Rooney for three matches for the red card he received in Montenegro. Unfortunately for England the governing body came down hard with their decision, leaving them without his services for all matches in the group stage of Euro 2012. Leaving Fabio Capello will the difficult task of finding a replacement to fill the spot, which is almost an impossible task because Rooney is not your average striker.

All the talk about whether Wayne Rooney is a liability on the pitch when it comes to his temperament, enough to exclude him from the squad is a bunch of malarkey. This is an intense sport played at great speed, decisions have to be made in an instant, and you will find no argument from anyone that what Rooney did in Montenegro was stupid , but talk of leaving out England's best player is pathetic and only becomes a smoke screen to the bigger question on everyone's mind. Does this team have what it takes to compete for the cup?

Fabio Capello spoke about keeping Rooney out of England's remaining friendlies, a notion I find extremely difficult to comprehend. It has been made worse by the media backlash that has followed the incident. Let's take it for what it was, frustration from a player in a match. Rooney has a history of brash behavior but to try and take that out of his game is ridiculous. Lapses in judgment happen to the best of players, but on those rare occasions of madness, Rooney produces many more moments of absolute magic that can elevate his team to victory. Possessing the capability of switching the momentum of the game, that is the type of quality you need at any major tournament.

The questions should be directed at Capello and the unimpressive performance in qualification. The atmosphere following the draw in Podgorica was that of a loss, because it certainly felt like one. England failed to keep up their blistering pace after scoring and completely fell apart as the match wore on. The ultimate goal of qualification was achieved but moving forward there are few positives to build on based on results. The pressure is immense, as are the expectations by a football mad county that is starving for success on the international stage. Although neither can be used as an excuse, results need to improve to be considered credible contenders.

The discussions for excluding Rooney from the squad at Euro 2012 are ludicrous. His spot should not be in question, England has to show some confidence and play to their potential. Having a well-rested Rooney coming off the bench in the knockout stages could be a blessing in disguise. People could argue about disrupting the player’s chemistry if it gets to that point, but a team can only be made stronger with his inclusion in the squad. I think Capello is smart enough to realize who his best player is. You never go into battle without your best weapon.

Santos Leading Greek Revolution

Fernando Santos had a tough job taking over from Otto Rehhagel after the World Cup in 2010. The German is held in such high regard following the miracle cup run of 2004 that made Greece champions of Europe. He was even offered honorary citizenship and has been referred to as King Otto. The appointment of Santos as manager was received positively, well known in the Greek Super League spending time at AEK, Panathinaikos and PAOK has helped his transition. Greece needed a fresh new outlook moving forward, the old guard was way past their due date and tactics became stagnate. The squad was in desperate need of new blood and Santos was the perfect choice to take the reins, having a reputation of building through youth and allowing the next generation of Greek talent the chance to break into the squad.

Since the change in leadership, Greece has been undefeated in sixteen matches and has topped their group to qualify for the Euro 2012. They have coasted under the radar, silently gaining momentum after each positive result. Difficult to break down defensively and having the reputation to play on the counter offensively, Greece will be tough competition this year. This is not the same team that crashed out of the World Cup. The squad is younger with solid depth in every position, eager to prove their worth to the manager. Greece will be a tough nut to crack, opponents beware.

Blueshirts Talk of Tallinn

Normally playing the part of whipping boys internationally and never coming close to qualifying for any major tournament in their history. Estonia somehow managed to overcome Serbia and finish second behind Italy to clinch a spot in the playoffs, keeping their Euro dreams alive. Whatever the outcome this was a remarkable accomplishment for Estonian football. Coming from behind on the final day and getting the victory away to Northern Ireland, and watched Serbia lose four days later which clinched their spot in the next round.

The Republic of Ireland will be standing in their way but have a terrible record at this stage of qualification, and have lost four of their last five play-off rounds. The Blueshirts are grateful for even making it this far, Tallinn will play host to the first leg and if the home side can edge out a win or even keep a clean sheet, the return leg will pile the pressure on the Irish. Remember the Estonian's took four of a possible six points from Serbia, who is eight places above Ireland in the FIFA rankings. Anything can happen over two legs, the Green Army is familiar with failure and disappointment, a loss to Estonia would be devastating. It might be Improbable, but never impossible.

France Survive Scare

Despite going unbeaten in their last nine matches in qualifying France was twelve minutes away from an embarrassing loss at the Stade de France. Bosnia-Herzegovina took the lead from a sublime Edin Dzeko strike and did well to withstand the pressure. The French looked out of idea's until Samir Nasri produced a moment of brilliance to get past Emir Spahic, going down in the box as their legs got tangled. Craig Thomson was perfectly positioned to make the call and pointed to the penalty spot. However the foul looked to happen on the edge of the box. Nasri calmly scored from the spot to even the score and earn France the precious point needed to top the group. 

It was astonishing Les Bleus actually needed a result on the final day to guarantee their place in Poland and the Ukraine. Six clean sheets from ten matches, undefeated on the road and with only one loss, it would have been unfortunate to miss out on the automatic place. This French team is definitely on a resurgence of sorts. Defensively Larent Blanc has transformed the team and boasts one of the lowest goals against totals in qualifying. Offensively you just have to look no further than Loic Remy. The striker looks like Thierry Henry reborn and has massive potential to become the next big French import. Scoring at will for Marseille in Ligue 1, pick him for the golden boot at Euro 2012. He will be next summer's big transfer target for Europe's elite clubs.

Great Danes Deny Portugal

Portugal has always had a reputation of underachieving, falling short at the final hurdle. The squad is full of high profile talent and should have been able to top the group with relative ease. Dropping points to Cyprus at home and losing on the road to Norway left Portugal needing a result against Denmark. Both were tied on points but the Portuguese only needed a single point in Copenhagen to clinch automatic qualification.

Once more the Portuguese fell short, their stars losing in convincing fashion and will now have to go into the playoff round in order to earn a spot at the Euros in June. Christian Erikson got things going for the Danes, setting up Michael Krohn-Delhi to score and snatch the early lead. Thomas Sorensen produced timely saves when called upon and Nicklas Bendtner doubled the lead just after the hour mark. Cristiano Ronaldo was able to pull one back in injury time, completely fooling Sorensen with a marvelous free kick that will be on all the highlight reels worldwide.

The result was a bitter pill to swallow for Portugal, made even more difficult upon finding out they will play Bosnia-Herzegovina in the play-offs. The first leg will be played in Zenica, Bosnia boast a tremendous home record, losing only to France and conceding a mere three goals in all of qualifying. I'm predicting a huge upset in this fixture, Portugal will have problems scoring and Bosnia will do enough to edge out a win at home and then close up shop in the return leg. This will be the start of a re-building process for the Portuguese.

Euro 2012 Play-off Predictions

Ireland over Estonia (3-1 on aggregate)
Bosnia-Herzegovina over Portugal (2-1 on aggregate)
Turkey over Croatia (3-1 on aggregate)
Montenegro over Czech Republic (1-0 on aggregate)


Check back next week for a new edition of The Unfit Referee

Canada Held Scoreless At BMO

The supporters were there in red, chanting, banging drums and waving the maple leaf proudly in the stands. It was a fantastic October night in Toronto and the atmosphere was starting to build as the kick-off approached. After setting a Canadian soccer record for goals in a single game against Saint Lucia on Friday, like many my anticipation for Tuesday night’s encounter with Puerto Rico at BMO Field was at an all-time high. I never expected to be let down in such an agonizing fashion.

From scoring seven in the jungle to barely creating a half-chance on home soil was a huge let down. The players must have been camera shy, unable to inflict any damage to the enormous wall the visitors put up along their eighteen yard box. Puerto Rico was clearly playing for the point and Canada struggled to break them down. Dwayne De Rosario was back in the starting eleven and provided most of Canada's offensive output. The Scarborough native was also chasing a record of his own, only one back of tying Dale Mitchell's record of nineteen goals all-time for Canada.

In the early stages you could see the added confidence Canada possessed, dictating the pace by controlling the ball and trying to pick apart their opponents. Possession was never in doubt, De Rosario did well to set up Ian Hume with a perfectly weighted ball to the far corner, but the striker mistimed his volley and wasted a perfect opportunity to ease the pressure and put Canada in front.

Canada seemed to lack the killer blow, barely threatening the Puerto Rican goal despite the massive difference in ball possession. Josh Simpson and Simeon Jackson both used their speed and skill to get passed their markers, but were unable to provide an adequate cross to create a decent scoring chance. The only bright spot was the play of De Rosario, constantly running at defenders and pressuring the ball, trying to force an error. The rest of the team looked stale, it was disappointing to watch.

Puerto Rico failed to produce anything offensively, barely getting the ball past the halfway line. On the defensive end they were well organized and forced the ball down the flanks and clogging up the middle with nine men behind the ball. Content on absorbing pressure, the visitor’s only strength offensively was on the counter attack or set-pieces. Not the most entertaining brand of soccer but effective when playing against a stronger opponent. It was a first half to forget for Canada.

The second half started out strong, De Rosario set up Jackson who got behind his defender but failed to beat Brandon Saldana, the Puerto Rican keeper did well to make the save at his near post on a tough angle. Next was a great individual effort by Simpson, running in on goal but his shot was wide of the target. Canada continued to poor on the pressure, Simpson was then gifted his second chance of the night, pouncing on a poor back pass, but Saldana came out hard and quick to make the save, with Simpson hitting the ground hard in the collision.

Stephen Hart could be seen on the sidelines visibly frustrated, the Canadian manager could only watch in agony at his side’s shortcomings in the final third. Jackson was next to squander a perfect chance. He did well controlling Ante Jazic's cross but failed to test the keeper and sent his shot over the bar. It was that type of night for the Canadians. Late in the match, Simpson broke in on goal after a terrible clearance by another poor clearance by the defender. Instead of taking a shot from the difficult angle which would have caused a rebound, he decided to pass without a teammate in proper position to capitalize, and the ball rolled harmlessly through the crease untouched.

Lars Hirschfeld was mostly a spectator in the Canadian goal, barely touching the ball throughout the match. After letting in a howler against Saint Lucia three games earlier, he was able to make the save of the game and avoided what would have been an embarrassing loss for Canada. Andres Perez was positioned perfectly to finish the wonderful scoring chance for Puerto Rico, but Hirschfeld was able to stay big and took the powerful shot on the chest from close range to preserve the draw. Canada was caught sleeping and almost paid the price for their failure to put away chances.

The result ended Puerto Rico's chance of qualification into the next round, although the little island nation took many positives from their performance on the night. Canada needs just one point from their final two games to advance into the third round. The Canucks need to better improvise and adapt in situations that go against the original game plan, their decision making was below-par and showed a team fresh out of ideas. The visitors parked the bus, deciding to focus all their efforts in preventing Canada from playing, defending to the bitter end and earning a remarkable point.

The mood inside BMO was that of disappointment and frustration after the final whistle. Thoroughly disappointed at the result, sections of the crowd let the players know how they felt with their performance. Something I strongly disagree with, the boys played their hearts out and deserved a better result.  Confidence is contagious when achieved, but easy to lose. The game was a major let down, but Canada need to keep their eye on the prize and not allow this recent set-back to derail all the progress that has been made thus far. Take it for what it was a bad result and let's focus on the bigger picture.

Lucky 7: Canadian Wave Flattens Saint Lucia

On what was to be a memorable night in Canadian soccer, most of us were left scratching our heads as to why this match was not televised. Apparently Saint Lucia was not well-equipped to broadcast a feed, or able to produce an actual soccer pitch for that matter. The game was played in a Cricket bowl. Hard to believe FIFA allows country's to participate who do not have the resources available to keep up with the basics needed at the pro level. I'm surprised they found a ball.

With no pictures available anywhere, a quick search resulted in finding a live radio stream of the game, kudos to canadasoccer.com for the link. It felt like a time warp having to listen to the game without video, the voices were over modulated and most of the time drowned out by the noise in the stadium. Huddled at my computer trying to focus in order to hear the play-by-play, what I could make out was Canada dominated possession and was attacking at will.

This did not have the feel of a World Cup qualifier, a better comparison would be a pick-up game put together at the last minute. Sportsnet were the first to produce video highlights and judging from the footage shown, I was not far off with my description of the atmosphere being rather amateur. From kick-off it became clear it was going to be one-sided.

Simeon Jackson recorded the first hat-trick in World Cup qualifying for Canada since Alex Bunbury accomplished the same feat almost twenty years ago, joining the exclusive club. All three goals coming before the break as the Canucks jumped into the early lead and never looked back. Stephen Hart was forced to make a handful of changes to his side and I was happy to see some of the younger players given a chance to prove their worth. Adam Straith was impressive filling in for Kevin McKenna on defence, even chipping in with a pair of assists.

It was difficult to get accurate statistics through the live stream, the announcers were constantly correcting themselves as I’m sure the information was hard to come by given the conditions they were forced to work under. Iain Hume scored a pair, as did Olivier Occean to give Canada seven on the night. Many were unaware that the lopsided victory set a Canadian soccer record. It was a shame no one was able to see it live.

Everyone expected Canada to dominate the group and anything less would have been a real catastrophe for soccer in this country. The community is in place for a huge fan base but the entertainment value has been the main reason people have been staying away. Poor results and the trend of underachievment when it counts have also contributed negatively to the poor following of our national program, because lets face it no one likes to back a loser in this hockey driven environment. There are not many diehards like myself willing to put up with the constant failure at international tournaments, I do it because I love the game too much and want to see it succeed in this country. Plenty of room is still available to jump on the bandwagon if anyone is interested, we could use the support.

Three wins out of three with Puerto Rico up next at BMO Field on Tuesday, Canada looks set to cruise into the third round of qualification. I’m enjoying the new format CONCACAF has introduced. It gives Canada more games to play and a great way for the players to build chemistry with one another. Regardless of the level of competition that it brings, this blowout victory is exactly what the team needed to boost their confidence for the remaining games left in the group and beyond.

More results like the one last night will only help spread the word nationally and hopefully get more people on board supporting the team. Soccer is still trying to build a reputation in Canada, despite being the most played sport in the country. We are a society that takes pride in our multi-cultural identity and heritage, but unfortunately it is a double edged sword when it comes to soccer. It irks me to see people cheering for the country of their birth instead of the country that gives them their livelihood, but that is what makes Canada so great, the freedom of expression and free will. Instead of cheering for one, why not cheer for both and show your appreciation to this wonderful country of ours.

I will never forget the night of lucky number seven, when Canada played the role of soccer giants and pummeled their weaker opposition into the ground. I’m starting to get the feeling this could be the start of something special for the sport in the Great White North. Keep it up boys, slowly you will have the support of an entire nation willing you to victory and one day in the not to distant future World Cup qualification will be achieved.

Share your opinions and thoughts, Support Canadian Soccer.

England Qualify Despite Collapse in Montenegro

England booked their place to Euro 2012 finals despite an embarrassing second half collapse in Podgorica. It all started off well for Fabio Capello, watching from the sidelines as his players dominated ball possession, producing a multitude of chances in the opening frame. It was never going to be easy earning a result in front of a hostile crowd, but all that was needed was a draw to win the group and automatically advance to the finals in Poland and the Ukraine.

Theo Walcott and Ashley Young were vicious down the flanks in the first half, exposing the Montenegro defence almost at will. England scored early and immediately silenced the home support. Young easily headed in from close range, finishing off what was a superb cross by Walcott. The pace was dictated by England attacking in waves, the second goal came twenty minutes later. Darren Bent had the easy tap in at the far post after Montenegro coughed up the ball in their own end rather cheaply, Young this time turned provider sending a pinpoint pass through the six yard box finding Bent. Kudos goes to Wayne Rooney for starting the breakout. It all looked relatively easy for England at this point.

Montenegro was able to end the half on a positive note and caught England napping. Elsad Zverotic woke up the crowd with a wonderful half volley to get within one at the break. Ashley Cole was slow to close down his marker on the wing and John Terry failed to step up to Zverotic on the shot. I still believe Joe Hart would have made the save had the it not been taken a deflection off Gary Cahill. This was a sign of things to come as England completely collapsed following the re-start.

You would never have expected England to be pinned down in their end for the final forty-five minutes. Montenegro looked rejuvenated and started to pick apart the back line at will. The Brave Falcons were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty shot five minutes into the second half. Phil Jones was lucky to escape a booking as he clearly tripped up Stevan Jovetic right in front of goal. Soon after Fatos Beciraj came close to scoring and forced a good save from Hart. Capello was forced to play with ten-men when Rooney saw red for a foolish challenge on Miodrag Dzudovic, losing the ball and kicking out in frustration sent him to the showers early and left England even more exposed. That mental lapse will see him suspended for England’s opening fixture of the tournament in June, and possibly the second depending on the ruling by UEFA.

Montenegro continued to pour on the pressure as England started to crumble and retreat back into their end. It was surprising to watch how fragile and shaky the Three Lions had become, tactics were thrown out the window and everyone was bunched together in the middle leaving both flanks exposed. Dejan Damjanovic had a glorious chance to level the score, getting clear of his defender to attempting the audacious bicycle kick from in close. It missed by a small margin and went over the bar with Hart at his mercy. England looked tired and holding on for dear life playing for the final whistle.

Had it not been for Hart making some crucial saves down the stretch it could have finished a lot worse. Most of the shots by Montenegro seemingly were targeting the same spot making you question if Branko Brnovic had spotted a weakness in the English keepers game. Milorad Pekovic was next to test Hart's reflexes, the shot looked to be going into the far corner but the keeper was able to get down quick and push it wide of the post. The inevitable finally came to fruition and Montenegro tied the match in injury time. The delivery was sublime by Stevan Savic, floating a cross towards the far post that caught Cahill out of position, mistiming his jump and botching the clearance. Andrija Delibasic found space to run in behind and get between two defenders to smash in the header before colliding hard into the post. The celebration that followed was electrifying.

Fabio Capello will be disappointed at the way his team earned qualification. The result definitely soured the mood in the dressing room after the match. The early positives were completely forgotten after the display produced in the second half. The loss of Rooney could be devastating and have major consequences to England’s chances of making it out of their group, potentially costing them precious points at the Euros. The players switched off and never recovered. With their backs against the wall England imploded and looked extremely vulnerable protecting the lead which will be worrisome for Capello. Qualification might have been attained but this team will need to dig deep and show some character and close out games or face the prospect of an early exit come June.

The Unfit Referee

Milan Misery

The monopoly ownership of the Scudetto in Milan looks to be coming to an end. It is still early days with plenty of football still to be played, but the poor form of both clubs from the fashion capital of the world is not that surprising. Serie A has notoriously been on a decline for quite some time, crashing out of Europe has become all to familiar for Italians and UEFA have taken away a precious Champions League place because of this underachievement. For Rossoneri and Nerazzurri supporters the season has been a disaster, although both have the talent and skill within their squad to turn things around, the title is not as much a guarantee than in previous years. The influx of competition this season is welcomed by everyone outside Milan.

Massimiliano Allegri has only been able to guide his team to just two wins in all competitions thus far, neither being impressive as they were against minnows Cesena and Viktoria Plzen. The lack of goal production has been in large part due to the rash of injuries up front. Alexandre Pato has suffered another injury setback and will spend more time on the sidelines. The Brazilian looked to be in top form against Barcelona and scored an absolute gem in the match. Robinho is nursing an injury and has yet to feature at all this season, Antonio Cassano has shouldered much of the load in attack, playing the poacher and provider roles. He has been the lone bright spot in attack for the defending champions in these early stages.

Inter have struggled for other reasons, and have already sacked a manager, showing the door to Gian Piero Gasperini. The player’s performance on the pitch had shown a lack of confidence in the manager’s philosophy and tactics, looking extremely vulnerable playing with three defenders at the back. Massimo Moratti should take on most of the blame for bringing in a defensive manager that went against the clubs natural style of play. Similar to their neighbors, Inter have only two wins all season and have suffered humiliating defeats to Trabzonspor and Novara. Claudio Ranieri replaced Gasperini and has been at the helm for both victories. However the recent loss to Napoli has deflated any confidence earned.

This is a new era for Serie A, watching the re-birth of Napoli has been incredible, their core of Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Marek Hamsik and Gokhan Inler have already beaten both Milan clubs convincingly and look to be a serious threat for the Scudetto. Even former giants Juventus and AS Roma are back in the mix, although they spent their way into contention, both clubs have the pieces in place to mount a serious challenge. This is just the beginning of a massive overhaul of the old order in Italian football.

City vs Tevez - Round 2 

The Tevez saga continues this week with Manchester City sending a convoy of legal representatives to the Argentines home in Cheshire to get his version of the events that transpired in Munich. Everything was conducted extremely professionally by City officials, despite not receiving the same courtesy from a player who is getting paid ridiculous sums of money to play a sport and live the life most of us can only dream about. I understand that there is two sides to a story, but never has the football community come together and unanimously condemn one of their high profile citizens. Tevez continues to deny refusing to play, and even had the audacity to speak negatively of Roberto Mancini for the manager’s decision to go public with his feelings following the loss to Bayern Munich.

After all the bad publicity he has brought to the club and the sport, to deny any wrong doing and refusing to apologize for his actions is appalling. For all his talent Tevez has never really loved football, even going so far as to discussing early retirement in years past. It is obvious this is just a job to the Argentine, and now that he has accumulated enough money to live his luxurious lifestyle, football is just an afterthought. At this point even the suspension and loss of almost two million pounds in wages will have little effect on this egotistical maniac. Little Carlito needs to be coddled like a baby. His form is affected tremendously when not given the love that his massive ego craves.

Refusing to do your job when called upon is grounds for termination and I find it hard to believe that this was all just a misunderstanding as Tevez would want everyone to believe. Football is a team sport and that type of behavior is inexcusable at any level. Mancini cannot go back on his stance or run the risk of losing credibility and authority in the dressing room. The relationship between the manager and his former star striker is way beyond any form of reconciliation. Tevez's arrogance and sense of entitlement is sickening and I commend Manchester City for backing their manager.

All signs point to Carlos Tevez being shown the door in January, but until then a spot in the reserve squad looks to be his next destination, although I doubt he will go quietly. It is amazing to think any manager is willing to welcome such a disruption and pre-Madonna into their squad. I’m sure Russia and the Middle East will be probable destinations as Tevez will get paid his quote in full and have the freedom to dictate his work schedule. I'm going with the rule, out of sight, out of mind.

The Rise of Phil Jones

Looking at Phil Jones you would never guess he is nineteen years of age. Neither would you question his on-field experience in any of his performances with Manchester United this season. For someone so young and relatively new to first team football in the Premiership, Jones has settled in quickly with his new team-mates and is even pushing for a permanent place in Sir Alex Ferguson's starting eleven. His form has been so impressive that Rio Ferdinand's place in the squad is now under question.

The biggest positive for Jones is his versatility, a tremendous asset to have for club and country. He can be deployed either as a centre-back, right-back or even as a defensive midfielder. I was thoroughly surprised at his speed and his skill on the ball, for a big man that is a rare commodity to possess. The one thing that needs to be worked on is his timing when challenging for headers on both ends of the pitch, but that will come with more minutes played. Jones has started seven matches out of nine this season for United in all competitions, which is quite remarkable for a defender of his age, slowly becoming a regular in Ferguson's side. Having all the qualities to one day become a future captain of United and even England, the positives are endless and time will tell if Jones can achieve those heights, but for the moment he is moving in the right direction.

To Foul, or Not to Foul

That is the question Premiership players have been asking themselves before committing into any challenge this season. It is always easy to point the finger and place blame on the referee and/or linesman on decisions made on the pitch. They are the usual scapegoats for players and managers when calls fail to go their way. Normally I would never jump on the bandwagon and wave my finger in the same direction but the officiating in the top flight has been extremely inconsistent. Cards are being shown at random for the most innocent of challenges and players are having trouble judging what each referee considers a foul.

The most recent example of this was seen in the Merseyside derby last weekend. Martin Atkinson has a reputation of being trigger happy when it comes to brandishing cards. Looking at the past history in this fixture it was surprising to see his appointment for the match. We have the benefit of watching replays but Atkinson was in the best position possible to make the call on Jack Rodwell's tackle on Luis Suarez. It was the midfielders first challenge of the game and Atkinson decided it was worthy of a red card, and therefore becoming the benchmark for all tackles to follow. Atkinson's decision to flash the red card to Rodwell killed off what would have been an entertaining match. Everton ended up losing, never able to fully recover after being forced to play the majority of the game with ten men.

Officials need to get on the same page or the game will suffer tremendously, what is a foul to one referee is not necessarily a foul to another. Whether it is calls for hand ball or penalty decisions in the box, a trend of inconsistency is slowly developing and referees need to be held accountable for their actions with tougher suspensions handed down depending on the level of the transgression. The solution is simple; give referee's the technology needed to make the correct call and put an end to all the controversy that comes with human error.

Smashing Birds on Tyneside 

Seven matches played without a defeat have Newcastle United in the top four and Geordie nation celebrating their surprising start. After all the controversy and backlash from the clubs supporters over the sales of Andy Carroll, Kevin Nolan, Jose Enrique over the summer and the recent departure of Joey Barton, it was hard to stay optimistic. Mike Ashley has been a villain on Tyneside for much of his tenure as owner, never fully winning over the clubs supporters. It was made worse when players started to call him out through the media as they departed for greener pastures. With all this hanging over the head of manager Alan Pardew, it is remarkable to see their early accomplishments.

Funds from player sales were obviously not entirely put back into the squad as promised by the owner, but the additions made have so far proven to be more than adequate. The most important being Yohan Cabaye, he has been a revelation in the midfield for the Magpies, and has started every match this season. His vision and ball distribution has been an integral part of Newcastle's offence. Another summer purchase who has recently started to produce is Demba Ba. The Senegalese striker already proved to be a solid goal scorer in the Premier League last season with West Ham and was a smart purchase by Pardew, he started slow but has racked up four goals in the last two games and shows no signs of stopping this stellar form.

Goals would always be difficult to come by, but the most surprising statistic for the Magpies is on the other end of the pitch. Tim Krul has been fantastic between the posts and is the main reason for his teams early success. Playing behind a defensive line that is relatively inexperienced with visible holes, the Dutchman already has compiled three clean sheets in seven matches. If he can continue to produce at this level a cup run could be a possibility on Tyneside.

McClaren TKO 

The life of a football manager has a short shelf life these days. In England the average time has dwindled down to just eighteen months, which is relatively long compared with other countries. Football has a short memory and when results turn negative it is the manager’s head on the chopping block. Something Steve McClaren has become all too familiar with lately. After a terrible start to the new campaign with Nottingham Forest, McClaren handed in his resignation leaving the club only one point above the relegation zone. Losers of six in ten, it was a doomed relationshipright from the start, never getting the full backing of the board in the transfer window. McClaren jumped before getting pushed overboard.

Leaving Middlesbrough in 2006 to become manager of England was an easy decision. What followed was the disastrous Euro qualifying campaign that ended at Wembley thanks to the infamous Scott Carson howler. He was clearly over his head and deserved to get the sack. However success and redemption was attained in the Netherlands, managing FC Twente to their first Eredivisie title and winning the Dutch manager of the year award. Instead of staying on and guiding the club through the Champions League, McClaren made his biggest mistake and bolted for Wolfsburg after only one season in Holland. Germany was less than kind and after numerous poor results the sack came half way through the season. His further failure in the English second tier has now left one of England's most respected football minds out in the wilderness of football management.

French Revolution Begins In Paris

The French capital has been buzzing since the club was purchased in the summer by a Qatar Investment Authority. Leonardo was brought in as Director of Football and has helped transform the clubs fortunes instantly. Transfer funds were made available and an influx of players have come through the door at the Parc des Princes, making PSG serious title challengers. The new owners have plenty of cash and have made it known they are willing to spend heavily.

Let’s start at the back with the retirement of Gregory Coupet,in goal, that opened the door for the acquisition of Salvatore Sirigu from Palermo. Nicolas Douchez was also bought to provide valuable experience in a supporting role as the number two. Diego Lugano at centre-back was also a smart purchase and will add to an already strong defensive back line. French veteran Claude Makelele also decided to hang up his boots in the off-season, leaving a huge hole in the middle of the pitch. Leonardo snapped up Mohamed Sissoko and Blaise Matuidi to plug the hole and provide cover as holding midfielders. Both are young and have some of their best football still ahead of them. Leonardo was even able to lure Jeremy Menez back to France from Roma. His creativity on the wing has been a driving force in attack for Antoine Kombouare’s side and has produced four assists so far this season. Another new signing, Kevin Gameiro has continued his brilliant form that saw him score twenty-two goals for Lorient last year, already producing five in nine matches for the Parisians.

Almost ninety million euros were spent this off-season to help catapult PSG to the top of Ligue 1, with almost half being spent on the crown jewel of the bunch Javier Pastore. It was a major coup bringing the Argentine to Paris, especially since bigger clubs were all in the running for his signature. In seven games he has scored five, assisted on two and has twenty-one shots on target. This is only the beginning of lavish spending in the French capital. Rumors are Leonardo has held talks with David Beckham in the hopes of luring him to France after his contract expires in November. PSG stumbled out of the gate earning a loss and a draw to start their Ligue 1 campaign, but have managed to win six of their last seven to put them in top spot.

Check back next week for a new edition of The Unfit Referee.