16

May

Soccer – Kenny Dalglish Leaves Liverpool FC

Posted May 16th, 2012 by

With no surprise following the rumors that were abound yesterday amongst Twitter, Kenny Dalglish is no longer the manager of Liverpool FC, bringing an end to his second spell as boss of the Anfield club.

Reports coming from the BBC, Sky Sports, and other outlets have all confirmed that Fenway Sports have fired Dalglish after a thoroughly disappointing first full season back as Liverpool manager.

The club spent millions on sub-standard players last summer, a poor league finish which saw them lower than city-rivals Everton despite the Reds’ having a far bigger budget was enough to Dalglish removed. The club did win their first trophy in seven years after a penalty shoot-out victory over Cardiff City in the League Cup Final back in February which guarantees European soccer next season.

Early reports are suggesting that Roberto Martinez of Wigan has been approached to replace Dalglish.

Follow me on Twitter: @PaulFarrell1895

17 hours ago Short URL Comments

English Premier League/Football/Liverpool

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16

May

Soccer – Barack Obama Welcomes The LA Galaxy To The White House

Posted May 16th, 2012 by

US President Barack Obama brought the LA Galaxy to the White House to congratulate them on wining the 2011 MLS Cup.

The highlights of Obama’s audience with the team saw him refer to Robbie Keane as his “cousin”, President O’Bama has long been playing to his Irish roots and his latest play will probably go down well. As well his making fun of David Beckham’s two most embarrassing qualities, his age, and his underwear line that push the boundaries of masculinity. Landy-Cakes was the last to be honored as he presented the President with a team jersey and ball.

Interesting that Obama referred to himself as a “Soccer Dad”, aligning himself with Sarah Palin’s “Hockey Mom”, and Mitt Romney’s “Polo Parent”.

Follow me on Twitter, I’m annoyed my White House invitation has been lost in the mail: @PaulFarrell1895

20 hours ago Short URL Comments

Football

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16

May

Soccer – Crazy Scenes In Germany As Dusseldorf Fans Prematurely Invade The Pitch (Video)

Posted May 16th, 2012 by

Fans of Bundesliga 2 team Fortuna Dusseldorf invaded their pitch two minutes before the game had finished. Premature invasion.

Going into this game Dusseldorf were tied 2-2 with Hertha Berlin in a promotion playoff where the team who finish third last in Bundesliga 1 play the team who finish third from top in Bundesliga 2.

Germany’s premier ref Wolfgang Stark was forced to abandon the game for 21 minutes while the pitch was cleared of enthusiastic Dusseldorf fans who couldn’t contain their excitement at being 2-1 up and thus winning 4-3 on aggregate. This wasn’t the first incident in the game as it was also held up in the first half when Berlin fans threw flares on to the playing area after Fortuna took the lead.

A narrow one-goal lead with only two minutes left was enough to encourage the home fans to take their celebrations from the stands and to the pitch. The Dusseldorf players had no hesitation in heading straight to the locker rooms and getting out of harm’s way. 20 minutes later and the pitch was cleared, the game went on for one more minute until the final whistle was blown. Fortuna Dusseldorf were promoted to Bundesliga 1 and another pitch invasion occurred, the second one in an under an hour.

Berlin officials are adamant that due to the narrow lead that Dusseldorf held, their fans invaded the pitch to intimidate Hertha Berlin’s players rather than celebrate. Either way, it was quite the spectacle.

Follow me on Twitter: @PaulFarrell1895

21 hours ago Short URL Comments

Football

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16

May

Soccer – The Champions League Final To Be The Most Watched Club Soccer Game In The World

Posted May 16th, 2012 by

In 2009 when Barcelona rose to the mantle of the Greatest Club Team in the World when they defeated Manchester United in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, the Champions League Final overtook the Super Bowl as the most watched sporting club game, with over 300 million viewers.

Long being heralded as the biggest one-off sporting event in the world, the Super-Bowl is a juggernaut like no other, but now there is a new game in town. In 2009, the Champions League final took over the mantle of the planet’s number one sports game and this year the numbers look set to rise again with Bayern Munich taking on Chelsea on Saturday at the Allianz Arena in Germany.

Traditionalists in the game bemoan the money-driven success and prestige of the Champions League which has been at the expense of the domestic cup, and international tournaments. Roughly speaking the viewing figures of the final has risen by 50 million each year since 2009. The 2012 Super Bowl broke viewing figures’ records in the US at 111.3 million, breaking the record for the second year in a row. In terms of international viewership, the Champions League is king. A total viewing figure of 175 million for the NFL’s final game of the season demonstrates the lack of viewers from outside of the US who tune in. By comparison the Champions League final garners about 10 million from Britain, which is 15% of the overall population of the UK. The Middle-East, Africa, and South-East Asia contribute significantly the Champions League ratings triumph.

This year’s final may not contain the same big-names as last year’s Manchester United vs. Barcelona final, but Chelsea and Bayern Munich are still both huge market draws across the world. Social media is alive this week with talk of the game, the combined 14 million “likes” on Facebook for both teams dwarves the combined 5.7 million “likes” for this year’s Super Bowl Participants the New England Patriots and New York Giants.

With money ruling the modern game both teams will be fighting for $9 million in prize money, with a smaller $5.6 for the runner-up. Those sums are nothing compared to the TV money both Chelsea and Bayern will generate if 2011′s numbers are anything to go by, last season Barcelona and Manchester United split $100 million between themselves in TV revenue.

Saturday evening’s game will be broadcast 220 countries with an audience in-and-around 300 million, the winner will be internationally renowned as the greatest club team in the world for 2012, the loser will have nowhere to hide.

Follow me on Twitter, I aim to get more followers than Champions League viewers by the end of the week: @PaulFarrell1895


22 hours ago Short URL Comments

Champions League/Chelsea/Football

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16

May

Soccer – Rio Ferdinand To Be Cut From England’s Euro 2012 Squad

Posted May 16th, 2012 by

We all knew there was going to be at least one shocking decision in Roy Hodgson’s first England squad and everyone seems to agree that Rio Ferdinand’s omission will be it. The squad is announced later on today.

The story comes from the horse’s mouth as Rio was asked following a Man United friendly in Northern Ireland if he was being left out of the England squad this summer, “Yes”, he said. Marking the first time in this history of time that a soccer player has given a straight answer in an interview.

The last time Ferdinand lined out for England was in last summer’s 2-2 tie with Switzerland, so the fact that Rio isn’t going to Ukraine/Poland shouldn’t come as much of shock. His performances have been decent for a 33 year old defender who for a long time relied on his speed but his back problems have been well-documented. Perhaps this summer off will allow him to receive treatment and see him carrying on playing for United.

Also out of the squad is PFA Young Player of the Year Kyle Walker due to his unfortunate broken toe, whilst Micah Richards, Peter Crouch, and Chris Waddle will also likely be left out of the traveling party. If I were a betting man I would have money on Andy Carroll making the trip, despite only playing well in the last month of this season, he is an option as a big man up front that England don’t seem to have elsewhere. And we all know that Roy likes a big man up front, just ask Bobby Zamora.

Follow me on Twitter, I wouldn’t be too shocked if I receive a call-up to England’s squad: @PaulFarrell1895

 

23 hours ago Short URL Comments

Champions League/English Premier League/Football/Manchester United

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