Game on, game off
Mon Mar 23 08:38AM
Typical. Just when things are starting to get interesting, along
blunders the international break to kill the season's
growing momentum stone dead.
Manchester United are floundering, Liverpool are on fire and it looks like we could have the most comprehensive collapse by a front-runner since Jean Van De Velde rolled up his trouser legs and jumped into the stream at the 18th at Carnoustie in 1999.
The excitement is palpable, pulses are racing, the tension is rising like a perfectly-prepared souffle - and it now faces complete deflation while 11 sous-chefs in white shirts chase a bunch of Eastern Europeans around for two weeks.
When domestic action resumes it will be flatter than Kerry Katona post-boob reduction.
It may be the first time in 25 years Alex Ferguson is pleased to see his players trudge off to play for their countries, as it means United now have two weeks to gather themselves after a brace of calamitous defeats.
And Fergie is less likely to commit a physical assault on Wayne Rooney if Wazza is tucked away at some luxury hotel in Hertfordshire.
To use another culinary metaphor of sorts, the international break sits like a particularly truculent bluebottle in an otherwise delicious lobster bisque.
Rooney and Steven Gerrard are meant to be mortal enemies - the last thing we need to see is them laughing and joking in training for England. The same goes for the inevitable ex-West Ham pallyness of Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard.
Damn it, you're supposed to hate each other!
Plus there is the gaspingly obvious fact that international football is rubbish, something club versus country rows are oddly slow to acknowledge.
The quality is nearly always dreadful, the players look like they barely know each other. Plus there are so many teams and so few matches that proper rivalries rarely have the opportunity to develop.
Compare the disjointed clogging you will see England serve up against Slovakia and Ukraine to the pacy, slick displays at club level.
In fact, don't bother. There's no point. It would be like comparing the Sistine Chapel to a six-year-old's drawing of a car.
ED can tolerate internationals in the summer and early in the season, but when it has the temerity to disrupt proper football that is a step too far.
- - -
Incidentally, Sky will be kicking themselves harder than Morten Gamst Pedersen
in the act of simulation ("I
lost my balance, my left calf hit my right calf") after passing up two
cracking live games at the weekend.
In a very cursory nod to democracy, broadcasters have to show a certain number of live matches involving every team each season.
Increasingly, they have taken to just writing certain matches off to get their quota of boring sides out of the way.
That was unquestionably the case with Wigan versus Hull, as Sky attempted to tick off possibly the Premier League's two least popular sides in one fell swoop.
But they picked the wrong weekend to do it. Manchester United and Chelsea were consigned to the Saturday 3pm slot and, lo and behold, took part in two of the most exciting and surprising games of the season.
The half-dozen or so people who took in the action at the JJB saw a stultifying 90 minutes barely enlivened by Ben Watson's tidy late winner.
- - -
The father of Cristiano Ronaldo's latest conquest has told the winger to keep his filthy hands to himself.
Ronaldo has been dating Brazilian fitness instructor Gabriela Entringer for six weeks, and her father Jadson - a police chief - is not a happy man.
Here is Miss Entringer's mother: "Jadson has become a bundle of nerves over this. He thinks Gabi should stay clear of Cristiano because he's going to turn a lot of things upside-down in her life. Their relationship has been all over the Brazilian press.
"But he's banned officers at his station from even talking about it. There has even been talk that Brazil's Playboy is ready to offer nearly £200,000 to put Gabi on their front page.
"Jadson would have a heart attack if that ever happened."
Early Doors has some words of advice for him: think of the money.
- - -
QUOTE OF THE DAY: As a spokesman for Viagra, you might think Pele would know a thing or two about pharmaceuticals. However, Robinho and Manchester City have reacted with fury to his claim that the Andi Peters-resembling showboat merchant has taken drugs: "It's unfair to talk of drugs in football just because of one or two cases, as happened with Ronaldo and Robinho who had that problem."
FOREIGN VIEW: If you think Manchester United showed a lack of discipline on Saturday, get a load of San Lorenzo, who managed to get three men sent off in a six-minute spell in their 3-0 loss to Colon in the Argentine championship.
Jonathan Santana was sent off for a second bookable offence before Gonzalo Bergessio and Jonathan Bottinelli were given straight red cards in quick succession. None of the three punched a corner flag, however.
COMING UP: Thanks to the profoundly hopeless spectacle of the international break, there is no football outside Leagues One and Two this week. So gorge yourself on the epicurean delights of Dagenham and Redbridge versus Brentford from 19:45 tonight. Better than an England game or your money back.Ha
From shrivathsaiyengar on Mon Mar 23 08:41AMHe's Cracking up... he's Cracking up.... He's Cracking...Fergie's Cracking up!
From kevin1985kane on Mon Mar 23 08:42AMHa
From shrivathsaiyengar on Mon Mar 23 08:43AMInternational Football Rocks!!
From daniel.sorensen on Mon Mar 23 08:46AMWell done the 'Pool'
From kevandh on Mon Mar 23 08:46AM4th??
From lfc80uk on Mon Mar 23 08:49AMNo mention of "Scholesy the Goalie" LMAO watching MOTD! Spot on about International break ED, just as things were really getting good.
)"> Friendlies my arse!
From emx_80 on Mon Mar 23 08:54AM#6 - Are you a Villa fan by any chance? Hoping for 4th but ultimately ending up in 6th
From kevin1985kane on Mon Mar 23 08:57AMHahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Hahahahahahahahaha! Hahahahaha! Hahaha! Haha! Ha! Thats got it. Oh wait! rooney hitting the flag in petulance on his way off the pitch! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahaha!
From danny_saks on Mon Mar 23 08:58AMAston Villa are rubbish, Yo Kano do u still think they will finish fourth??
From jay8my on Mon Mar 23 08:59AMOuch Kevin! Cruel, but fair! ;)
From danny_saks on Mon Mar 23 09:01AM125.Its Ferguson and not players leading to the back to back losses. Unlike Benitez who has not made more than two changes in his team for the last four matches Ferie has become the new tinkerman. Look at the Fulham game, why leave out two energetic strikers in Rooney and Tevez and bring on the lazy Berba to play alone upfront. And why do you bring on old Scholes and Giggs to play in midfield and put the snail pace Fletcher on the wings. no wonder United lost. Fergie has lost the plot
From kaggwa2000 on Mon Mar 23 09:02AM#10 lol
From emx_80 on Mon Mar 23 09:02AMMan U will anyway win it, still have a game in hand, so, four points clear, with 8 to go
From sharmila.iyengar on Mon Mar 23 09:03AMNo.2 sorry Fergie will never crack. United is still in control and the tropy is not leaving OT until 2020.
From kaggwa2000 on Mon Mar 23 09:04AMLoserpool continue dreaming with all those goals and a hat trick of penalties but you will not win the league not until after 50 yrs like Chelski
From kaggwa2000 on Mon Mar 23 09:06AM#17 - Time will tell but you kind of back my statment with your comment #14 "Fergie has lost the plot"
From kevin1985kane on Mon Mar 23 09:14AMYoure right, ManPoo probs will still win it. But you gotta admit, this last week has made life more interesting. And is bloody funny!
From danny_saks on Mon Mar 23 09:14AMActually, after Smithy's talk to the England boys, maybe, just maybe we might get a pleasant playing surprise. #20, TRUE!
From emx_80 on Mon Mar 23 09:18AMDanny you're right it is funny. I think because ManPOO have been so consistent this rubbish form was the last thing i expected from them. I think, as ED stated, the International's break couldn't have come sooner for them.
From jay8my on Mon Mar 23 09:21AMdream on scousers if you think liverpool are capable of catching man utd. We are the world champions and turn it on when it matters. Man Utd were unlucky to get Porto in Champions league because Liverpool would have been the easier game.
From rossghwv on Mon Mar 23 09:21AMsharmila.iyengar..
Really??
Last two games have been disastrous for ManUtd. Conceding 6 goals and losing 6 points in the process. And you talk about a game in hand being converted to 3 more points. Even though I support Utd, I cannot help wonder at your childish thoughts. Its not the Utd trait to count the chickens b4 they are hatched...
So please...
As for the gr8 SAF screwup that all you ppl are talking about is as silly as a rats poo. So cut it out ppl. SAF knows the limit to which he can allow the players to screwup...
From rock.bratt on Mon Mar 23 09:21AMAnd btw...
Good morning everyone..
Horrid weekend for me..
Hope it came to an end...From rock.bratt on Mon Mar 23 09:25AMit changes nothing though that it has been two games united have a game in hand and liverpool play before united again so thats two games in hand if united win them they go top again and they are back on form
From nbw1967 on Mon Mar 23 09:25AMrossghwv: LOL I think Fergie is happy wiv the Champs league draw. I think the last team he wanted was Liverpool, getting smashed 4-1 at home must have been a shock to the system. If ManPOO turn it on when it matters why cant they win derby games at home??
From jay8my on Mon Mar 23 09:27AMAnd btw...
Good morning everyone..
Horrid weekend for me..
Hope it came to an end...From rock.bratt on Mon Mar 23 09:28AM23 meh!
From fbf.forever on Mon Mar 23 09:28AM26 if I put a jacket on then I am wearing a jacket
From fbf.forever on Mon Mar 23 09:29AM#24 - "Its not the Utd trait to count the chickens b4 they are hatched"
That's hilarious
From kevin1985kane on Mon Mar 23 09:31AMJase, International break is bad for Arsenal and Pool mate. But having said that, when the teams come back Man Poo will still have to contend without a couple of key players due to suspension. And if one or two more get horrible injuries... Not that I would wish that on them of course... ;)
From danny_saks on Mon Mar 23 09:33AM
Comment on this article
Please sign in to add your comments.
Early Doors – Your morning briefing
Sport Newsletter
Catch up with all the latest news
Sign up to our free daily newsletter to recieve the latest news straight to your inbox. Make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Sign up now
This site is Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! and Eurosport. All rights reserved.
- Terms of Service
- Updated Privacy Policy
- Copyright/IP Policy
- Remarks and Suggestions
- Corporate info
- Jobs at Eurosport
Notice: We collect personal information on this site. To learn more about how we use your information, see our Privacy Policy.