1. Goal of the day
2. Tweet of the day
Only one team in Premier League history has had fewer than 10 points after six games and gone on to win the title – Man Utd 2002-03.
— Orbinho (@Orbinho) September 29, 2012
They’ve done it before, so that’s good, but there is a big difference in the quality and depth between then and now. It would be ridiculous to write off Manchester United just yet, but can they really beat Chelsea and/or City?
3. Bizarre story of the day
Barcelona invited an Israeli soldier to one of their games this year. In response Hamas called for a boycott of the club. Football is the last place where peace in the Middle East should be contemplated – we’re a bit unhinged as it is. In an attempt to smooth things over the club proceeded to do this:
Barcelona has invited three Palestinians to attend its Oct. 7 match against Real Madrid in response to Hamas calling for a media boycott of the club after it gave a complimentary ticket to an Israeli soldier.
At the risk of offending wide swathes of the footy blog readership – sports and politics can mix, though too often it’s done poorly – is this really the best way to handle a boycott? It’s a genuine question worth considering. I don’t think it is.
4. Rant of the day
Was this a penalty? Probably not. In fact I’m willing to say it was not even close. As we watched today’s epic at Old Trafford, we made the same gripe thousands of football fans have made before us – players are rewarded for embellishment far too often. The only way this will stop – it never will is my guess – is if referees actively punish the actors. Then we get to points where Luis Suarez would have to be actually shot in the box to get a penalty. Gah. There is no easy solution, but something must be done. It’s quite ridiculous.
5. Sub of the day
In a team chalk full of stars, Edin Džeko goes unnoticed at times. Which is a shame because all this guy does is produce. Without the historincis of your Tevez’s and Balotelli’s, the Bosnian international is a – cliche alert – big game player. Lost in the craziness of Sergio Aguero’s title winning goal last season was the work Džeko did to tie the game. After being subbed on in the 86th minute – not exactly a lot of time for a player to feel out the game – in today’s game at Craven Cottage, the striker scored the winner one minute later. There’s something to be said about being in the right place at the right time, but clearly a pattern has emerged. You could argue there are more important players on this team – Yaya Toure etc. – and that’s an argument you would win. But Edin deserves some more pub. The guy is awesome.
great volley and terrific hand of “ba” goal at the end if everyone was just as honest as klose… haha
Demba Ba routinely does the most amazing things you will ever see. And for every match highlight you see widely publicised, there are almost always 3 or four crazy things he ALMOST pulls off.
Quite agree on Dzeko. We Citizens are lucky to have this guy on call when one speaks of “depth.” I really hope Mancini can keep him happy and involved. You really want Aguero and Tevez together up front whenever possible, so it doesn’t leave a lot of room. Great player, and probably the best on the squad at converting set pieces.
Think Newcastle will do well to keep hold of Ba, see there is a story in the papers today linking him with a swap deal with Carroll.
With regard to Dzeko, I totally agree with you. I Know he has his knockers, but what a guy to have on the bench to call on. Keeping him happy is key, hopefully for CIty, Mancini has the man management skills to keep him happy.
He is also an option for mixing it up late on in a match (or as we call it in England, sticking it in the mix) :)
Ba’s making it impossible for Pardew to leave him out at the moment.
Looks like Cisse will have to get his agent to start moaning about being on the bench, like Ba did the other week :)
With regard to Barca and the Israeli soldier, surely the most sensible thing to have done would be to have invited an Israeli and a Palestinian at the same time to be seen to be showing no bias, although I understand that’s a lot easier said than done.
Probably best to keep politics and religion out of sport if possible to be honest, although I suppose that attitude might not help resolve much. It’s a hard one to get right.
Would people in Dubai, Doha, or anywhere else in the Muslim world really have went along with a boycott called by puny Hamas? Sounds like a lot of hot air. Perhaps if the Qatar Foundation, Barca’s new overlords, said something…
Why would Barca invite an Israeli soldier to their game anyway? I’ve never heard of a sports team honouring a serviceman/woman from another country; the negative political fallout seems so obvious. Then again Barcelona has never fared too well with Spanish troops, so they can’t facetiously honour one of them. For a team to have the unicef logo on their jerseys for years to then honour a soldier is pretty weird anyway, especially one with such a controversial affiliation. Why not invite members of the UN/an NGO or something? Leave the jingoism to American or Canadian teams.
Barca negotiates with/acquiesces to terrorists…mes que un club.
Why don’t you educate yourself on matters first?
This ex-Israeli soldier became a sports journalist and he applied for a free ticket to a match because he was a journalist. At the same time the Palestinian’s also did the same. It is note worthy that 2 of the Palestinian’s are the president of their football association and a player from the team as well.
If you are going to report on something don’t do a half ass job