Friday once again. I can't even complain about it being "to soon" because one can never have too many Fridays. If Friday were a hot chick, Monday would be her fat friend!! At Lethario's Take, Friday is a 5 match ban for Sir Alex,the NFL lockout, the UEFA Champions League draw, Arsenal re-signing Jens Lehman, the battle for the England football captaincy, and the noisy neighbours and LOSERpool exiting the Europa League ....basically anything but boring!! .
An in depth Lethario's Take:
LOCKED OUT: NFL season looking like a NO SHOW
In the USA, the start of the popular NFL season seems off after the Collective Bargaining Agreement process fell through after talks between the teams' owners and the NFL Players Association broke off last Friday leading to the union being dissolved allowing players to file a class-action antitrust suit in federal court. The plaintiffs include star quarterbacks Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts and Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints among 10 players.
This led to the team owners locking out the players, creating the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987.Commissioner Roger Goodell has written to the NFL players outlining the league's last proposal to the union in hopes of resolving the conflict. For the fans sake let us hope everybody gets what they truly deserve so that an agreement is reached sooner rather than late so that the fans who have made the league so popular and profitable get what they deserves, a normal uninterrupted NFL season!!
Over in England, Sir Alex was handed a 5 match ban which will begin tomorrow for comments he made after the Chelsea game at Pensioner's Bridge earlier this month. He will not appeal the unfair HARSH punishment opting only to say, "It is disappointing. It is the only industry you can't tell the truth in".Strong, wise and true words Sir Alex!! Meanwhile Arsene Wenger and Samir Nasri have been banned for 1 European match by Uefa over remarks made to Champions League referee Massimo Busacca. So Fergie gets 5 but Weneger gets 1...Conspiracy anyone??? ( I know one was by the F.A. and the other by UEFA but STILL)
It is unclear who the captain of the England Football national team is at the moment. Depending of on what you read and when, stories have been varying from Rio being axed to Terry being a temporary captain until Rio is fit or Ashley Cole being within a shot of the armband!! ( I could not resist that one!!). Only time will tell although I feel handing Terry back the armband would be a step back for Capello. Removing him had shown strength and control as a coach in handling a tricky situaion. Reinstating Terry would lose him the support and respect of many of the current England and damage team morale and spirit during a crucial Euro 2012 campaign.
Whose side are you on? Terry vs Ferdinand
Arsenal's goalkeeper injury crisis has seen them resort to re-signing retired former keeper, Jens Lehman (no relation to Lehman Brothers!!). I wish him the best although I expect the worst from him. Such a signing shows how bad things are at Arsenal. United's injury crisis is so bad that fans have a created a Injured Manchester United squad via twitter. Their game at Bolton will be crucial after an unconvincing win over Marseilles in the Champions League ( Alan Green saying 'Nani up against Fanny' was hilarious!!)
Rooney and Nani have both come out quashing rumours of their desire to leave Old Trafford but as we all know, there is no loyalty in football. Credit to on fire striker Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez who has been touted as the next Solskjaer having scored 16 goals in 33 appearances since his arrival.His goal tally in the Barclays' Premier league is now at 10, more than some seasoned veterans at Chelsea and Arsenal!! His goals against Marseilles showed brilliance and quality in positioning, runs off the ball and finishing. He is a star of the future already shining now!
The UEFA Champions League draw will be later today. To sum it up so far: Spurs dream continued with a draw against AC Milan, Barca destroyed Arsenal, Real Madrid broke a seven year curse in style beating Lyon thanks to in form striker Benzema ( dude really is on FIRE) , Shakhtar stunned AS Roma, Schalke beat Valencia, Inter showed Bayern that karma is a bitch (remember United last season), Chicharito slayed Marseilles and Fernando Torres goal drought continued ( I hear the United Nations has pledged assistance to Chelsea during the drought) as Chelsea got through courtesy of a goalless draw against Copenhagen .
Here is my prediction of the likely quarter final draw :
FC BARCELONA vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC, INTERNAZIONALE vs FC SCHALKE 04, REAL MADRID CF vs MANCHESTER UNITED CHELSEA FC vs FC SHAKHTAR DONETSK
Over in the Europa League (I'm sure no one really watches the poor man's Champions League), Balotelli ( I honestly will never understand or see why people rate him so highly) saw red once again leaving Manchester City to beat Dynamo Kiev 1-0 but exit on aggregate while losers Liverpool's draw saw them suffer the same fate. Rangers also exited the tournament meaning there are no more teams from Britain playing in the Europa League.
Back to the USA and the NBA has seen a week of mixed results all over. The Boston Celtics lost to the Nets before regaining their mojo and beating the Pacers whilst the almighty Spurs were put to sword by the Heat who seem rejuvenated after the whole Cry-gate scandal.
The Bulls and the Lakers seem to be the in form teams at the moment and legend, Michael Jordan has come out in support of Derrick Rose as his vote for MVP (take that LeBron). The Bulls, 49-18 now top the Celtics, 48-18 in the Eastern Conference whilst out West the Spurs, 54-13 remain top with the Lakers, 48-20 are tied with the Mavericks, 48-20.
The Bulls and the Lakers seem to be the in form teams at the moment and legend, Michael Jordan has come out in support of Derrick Rose as his vote for MVP (take that LeBron). The Bulls, 49-18 now top the Celtics, 48-18 in the Eastern Conference whilst out West the Spurs, 54-13 remain top with the Lakers, 48-20 are tied with the Mavericks, 48-20.
Jordan sees a bit of himself in Rose
In Australia AFL kicks off next week with everyone watching how the Gold Coast team will perform. Good luck to the West Coast Eagles, St Kilda and the Hawthorne Hawks.
Long ass post but that is Lethario's take
adios...
have a great weekend.
i agree no terry for captainship, that would be a week move as for the 5 match ban on sir alex.......im at a loss for words, it is very sad to say the least and i think a tad-bit extreme, i mean 5. unfair is the word i was looking for.
ReplyDeleteDuke Mutata P.
I agree with you, Terry had that sex scandal that really messed up the team b4 da World Cup...Capello needs to show he is confident in his decisions and not give him da captaincy...its like when me and Dame went separate ways, how wud i look if I took him back. Chyeah!!
ReplyDeletelove your blog