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Soccer Shout Phil would back Andy Gray all the way
Permalink Jun 30

I think he's matched only by David Pleat in his ability to highlight the tactical aspects of the game.

After Spain scored yesterday, he made the comment that they'll want to get to half-time with their lead intact.

On the face of it that's a "durr..of course they will" type of comment. But it gave the last ten minutes of the half some context - Spain need to consolidate, Germany will look to strike back quickly. With context, you can make sense of the actions of the players and coaches.

I don't agree with everything the man says, but he's in the top handful of summarizers out there.

Soccer Shout Phil doesn't think much of McClaren's tactical genius
Permalink Jun 25

He only really had one style at Boro - very conservative, often with only one striker even at home to moderate opposition.

His finest moments - the two comebacks in the UEFA Cup run - were based on desparation.

His tactical formations for England were often pilloried - 3-5-2 and all that.

Soccer Shout Phil thinks the tweak to the yellow card rule in Euro2008 is bull****
Permalink Jun 21

Are UEFA trying to weed out as many starters as possible for the semi's? Two cards in four games these days is absolutely nothing.

I guess the idea is to have no-one yellow-carded out of the final (this is now impossible), but the flip-side to that is a bunch of players yellow-carded out of the semi's.

Soccer Shout Phil stuck around for the pay-off tonight
Permalink Jun 21

Dreadful game, I thought, but yet another amazing finish. Well worth the investment of an evening.

After several days of Andy Gray, Tommy Smyth comes across as even a bigger idiot than normal. His Piste de Résistance was suggesting that there's some doubt whether a player standing out of bounds can head a ball that is still in play. This isn't the NBA, Tommy.

Reminds me of an incident many years ago, playing a pick-up game (on a proper pitch) when I had just come over to the USA. This American guys chased a ball that was bouncing out for a goal-kick, did this really acrobatic leap to hook the ball back into play. The ball was a good yard out of bounds, but because this guy didn't touch the ground, he felt the ball should still be live. Many of us were falling about laughing at the spectacle. Poor guy, just got confused, but at least he's not an ESPN commentator.

Soccer Shout Phil is happy that England are not in EURO 2008
Permalink Jun 20

Last night brought back gut-wrenching memories of all the times England crashed out of various tournaments.

But I can remind myself that we're already through the grieving process and we can enjoying being spectators of other people's pain.

Soccer Shout Phil says the league table never lies
Permalink Jun 19

Even in a 12 or 14 game group like Euro qualification. If Croatia and Russia finished above England, then they deserve to be there and England probably wouldn't do much better than them.

I'm just hoping for better in the World Cup campaign.

Soccer Shout Phil has a problem withe red card / sending-off double-whammy
Permalink Jun 18

It completely kills a perfectly good game of football.

I was all gee-ed up to watch the Italy-France game this evening, but it only lasted 25 minutes. The play after the sending-off and penalty was a shambles compared to the game we should have got. It's a real kick in the fans' teeth when you see a player like Samir Nasri sacrificed yanked off to allow Boumsong onto the pitch.

I've got this covered in my upcoming book, Rethinking Football, coming later this summer.

Soccer Shout Phil thinks it's a shame that Germany couldn't provide more drama tonight...
Permalink Jun 17

...by rolling over like a dead dog.

Soccer Shout Phil likes that Boro got a decent game to start the season with
Permalink Jun 16

Home to Spurs...tantalising. A big enough scalp to take some pride in beating, but small enough to stand a chance of doing it! A good test of how the season will go.

So...0-1, break-away goal to Spurs in the last 10 mins after sustained Boro pressure, and we can say "but it's about the performance..."

Soccer Shout Phil was rooting for the Turks last night
Permalink Jun 16

Some good Boro connections - Tuncay and the fact that they borrowed Boro's shirts.

And the end-result was eerily reminiscent of some of those games in Boro's run to the UEFA Cup final.

Soccer Shout Phil noticed something that the commentators missed today
Permalink Jun 14

When it was 3-1 to Holland, I said to the missus that goal difference could be crucial in this group. If Romania are beaten by Holland and France/Italy ends in a draw, we'll have three teams on 2 points (and no-one with a head-to-head advantage).

If France could have got to 3-2, they would be in the driving seat, as even if Romania lose 1-0, France will have scored more goals.

But France instead fell a further goal behind, putting them dead level with Italy.

To my understanding, if France/Italy ends in a score draw and Romania are beaten 3-0 or more, then France and Italy will need a shoot-out to separate them.

That last goal conceded could prove costly for France.

Soccer Shout Phil is suddenly feeling old, thanks to Kartik
Permalink Jun 13

I remember going to the USA v England game in DC. It was probably about 1 month after I arrived in the USA. Fifteen years ago? Blimey!

Soccer Shout Phil isn't being very clear...
Permalink Jun 11

Michael, I was asking where you found the text from this top-secret need-to-know-only Referee's Manual. Nothing about England (it was just the sequence that made it all confusing, sorry).

I searched the web looking for it and couldn't turn it up.

Are you part of the Refnoscenti, the elite circle with access to this text?

Businesses can have two sets of books, and it seems that football has two sets of rules.

Soccer Shout Phil doffs his cap to Michael
Permalink Jun 11

So...where are you getting this from?

Soccer Shout Phil has a challenge for any football fan
Permalink Jun 10

We now know that article 11.4.1 of the refereeing code states "an opposing player cannot be offside when one of the last two defenders has left the field of play."

Can anyone tell me what 11.4.2 says?

The next game might hinge on it.

Philly Mac thanks Erik for his grass-related advice
Permalink Jun 10

Soccer Shout Phil has read a bit more about the 'offside goal'
Permalink Jun 10

Looks like the referee's chiefs are all insisting that Panucci is 'active', even if he is bundled out and lying injured. So, I guess that is the rule and the goal was 'good'.

Two things wrong here though:

1) The rule is counter-intuitive to everyone's expectations. As I said before, stepping off it one thing, lying injured after a collision is another.

2) The fans aren't given access to the rules of their own game. I searched the web last night for the particular wording quoted by the UEFA official, and it didn't show up. The only info the fan has access to - FIFA's Laws of the Game - suggest that such a goal should NOT be allowed.

It's not a case of "fans don't know the rules", it's "fans aren't told the rules"

Soccer Shout Phil takes the side that RVN was offside
Permalink Jun 10

That rule, about "stepping behind your own goal line" is meant to cover the situation where a player steps over the line leaving an attacker in an offside position. That would clearly be against the spirit of the law, hence there is an exception for it.

The law goes on to say that the defender in this case should be booked - but he wasn't.

The Italian defender didn't step behind the line. He was bundled out and ended up in a heap on the floor, possibly injured or at least dazed.

This, in turn, is clearly against the spirit of the "exception". This wasn't sharp practice by the Italians, it was a defender lying out of the play.

Soccer Shout Phil takes a look at the rule book:
Permalink Jun 10

If a defending player steps behind his own goal line in order to place an opponent in an offside position, the referee shall allow play to
continue and caution the defender for deliberately leaving the fi eld
of play without the referee’s permission when the ball is next out of
play.

Farcical justification to say that the player stepped behind the goal line to play Van Niss offside.

Soccer Shout Phil is picking his jaw up from the floor after the Italy-Holland match
Permalink Jun 10

Don't know where to begin really.

Shocking off-side call to open proceedings, followed by one of the best end-to-end sequences I've seen.

The Italians were hugely unluckly throughout the game. They really created some great chances but were denied by some bad finishing or great defending.

Then the final sucker punch...the second best end-to-end sequence I've seen for ages.

If only all games were like this.

Thankfully, I skipped the early game today...

Philly Mac wants Erik to come and troubleshoot my lawn
Permalink Jun 9

B*stard grass.

Builders laid sod but either didn't do it right or didn't water it enough. Three years later you can still see the sod lines.

I really want to rip it all up, put down a bunch of topsoil, and re-do it with seed.

Soccer Shout Phil enjoyed the first day of Euro 08
Permalink Jun 8

Swiss were a little hard done by.

Portugal were clearly the better team and I was disappointed by Tuncay's play today. Passing was poor and the couple of chances he had went begging. Glad he's better when he plays for the Boro!

Soccer Shout Phil thinks England missed out fair and square
Permalink Jun 7

Beaten twice by Croatia and once by Russia, plus pathetic results like 0-0 at home to Macedonia.

I think Kartik is being more than charitable with his assessment of England's squad.

Problems at: Goalkeeper, right-back, left-midfield, right-midfield, and a proper center forward.

Soccer Shout Phil has his soccer mojo working again
Permalink Jun 7

No England, but never mind. Can wait for the action to kick off.

Soccer Shout Phil remembers Onyewu from the Soccer Shout days...
Permalink May 31

Someone wrote in to warn us he was a "free-kick machine". They weren't wrong.

(And then he was bought by Newcastle as a replacement for Bramble...bwahahaha)

Soccer Shout Phil found a good article about Boro's asst Manager during the "liquidation years"
Permalink May 26

Todd found himself in the Boro dug-out after a chance meeting with former team-mate Rioch in Hartlepool in July 1986 - and was almost out of it again in double quick time.
“I was a beer rep by day and managing Whitley Bay in the Northern League to keep my hand in,” he explained. “I was working around Hartlepool one day and I literally bumped into Bruce. We had a chat and a few days later he called me and offered me the job, which I jumped at. Then 10 days later I was on the dole.

“The liquidators had moved in, the players were laid off, me and Bruce too ... suddenly it didn’t look such a good career move after all.

Ex-Derby Legend Colin Todd

Soccer Shout Phil asseses next season's relegation fight
Permalink May 24

Not relegated: Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd, Spurs, Blackburn, Everton, Villa,

Relegated: Hull

Probably not relegated: Man City, Portsmouth, West Ham, Newcastle

Therefore, in all probability, perm any two from seven: Boro, Wigan, Sunlun, Bolton, Fulham, Stoke, West Brom

Philly Mac @Trav: Yeah, too soon
Permalink May 22

The final was only last night, show some respect.

Philly Mac isn't bothered about Schwarzer's departure
Permalink May 22

He's been very average this season and has been playing with the air of a man who knew he was leaving. He's been at Boro for 11 years - outstanding for the first 6 or 7, when I would say he and Given were the best outside of the top-4. He tailed off a lot though. Interesting to see whether he can supplant Niemi - I can't see it really.

Random analogy time: Having Schwarzer at Boro is like having a 'comfortable' girlfriend that you know isn't The One. Moving on is a bit of stress, but staying together is preventing you from doing better.

Or, good is the enemy of great.

Philly Mac is thinking about the play-offs...
Permalink May 14

Hmmm...any form of play-off has the effect of devaluing the regular season. You make the back 20% more valuable at the expense of the front 80% of games.

Most teams still have either a shot at Europe or the fear of relegation at least 50% through the season. More like 70% probably. So to sell those games short, in return for some excitement at the end seems like it would do more harm than good.

I do have a slightly original idea that would give the back part of the season some extra significance, but I'm gonna save it for the book I'm writing.

Soccer Shout Phil just heard that Boro have not scored more than 2 goals in a game all season
Permalink May 11

Oh dear.

Soccer Shout Phil is surprised that Shakira is so happy about the FC Utrect partnership
Permalink May 6

After all, doesn't it just mean Derby will end up blooding a bunch of young Dutch players, with the best of them (and the best of Derby's players) heading to the Dutch league?

Maybe they'll slip you a bob or two in compensation.

Soccer Shout Phil thinks that footy fans' memories are better then elephant's
Permalink May 1

...when it comes to injustices.

Philly Mac knows how FIFA decide the number of clubs to qualify from CONCACAF
Permalink Apr 29

The formula is:

"countries better than the USA" + 1

If Kartik is right, South Africa are going to have to scramble to host the very first 48-team World Cup.

Philly Mac is still loving football even at this late stage of the season
Permalink Apr 29

Boro may be crap, but the CL is exciting, the top of the Prem is still exciting, and so is the bottom.

Philly Mac wants a t-shirt like Riise's
Permalink Apr 24

Y'know, the kind with chest muscles and a six-pack painted on.

What? Oh.

Soccer Shout Phil likes more exclusive fashions...
Permalink Apr 24

like "I scored for Derby County, 2007-08"

Soccer Shout Phil thinks Liverpool will prevail over 2 legs against Chelsea
Permalink Apr 22

There...I said it.

Philly Mac has season ticket news from the Boro
Permalink Apr 17

Five quid for under-18's

Ten quid for 18-21 year olds.

Frozen prices for adults.

It's getting toward 'value' I think - ~35-40 quid for a Dad and two kids for each game.

It's also a step along the path toward all fans getting in for 'almost free' and clubs making all of their money from TV.

Soccer Shout Phil invites all soccer bloggers to the, erm, Soccer Blogger group
Permalink Apr 17

...for a bit of a chat about being a, erm, Soccer Blogger.

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Rethinking Football Blog

My football has gone flat.

I’m talking football, the sport. My football. The game I’ve loved since I was old enough to remember.

Read the blog that takes football apart...and promises to put it back together again. [RSS]

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Red Cards A-Go-Go

Started by Greg Mar 25

Since the topic has been all over the chunter, I thought I'd start a thread about the officials revolution that seems to be taking place. Personally, I think that the players should be better beha... Read More »

Who's going down?
4 Replies

Started by Stephen Allen. Last reply by Tyler Duffy Mar 16.

This years battle to avoid the drop has been something. There are 9 teams that could potentially be relegated. With only 4 points separating Middlesbrough in 11th place and Bolton in 18th place it'... Read More »

Tagged: derby, fulham, bolton, sunderland, birmingham

White People love the Idea of Soccer!

Started by Rex Mar 4

The Idea of Soccer First, the above link is to a satyrical blog, and so the ideas put forth aren't mine own, nor is it a comment on the ethnic or racial make-up of footballers or fans. But, I wil... Read More »

Tagged: soccer, football, america

What games are you looking forward to this weekend? (Mar 1/2)
3 Replies

Started by Philly Mac. Last reply by Philly Mac Mar 1.

Saturday: Has to be Arsenal v Villa for entertainment value and for what it means to the table. Side-issue: Can Arsenal re-gain their concentration after last weekend? Car wreck of the day: Newcas... Read More »

England national team
1 Reply

Started by Stephen Allen. Last reply by Soccer Shout Phil Feb 29.

so recently England managed to lose to croatia after fighting back to 2-2 which would have seen them go to euro 2008, but they managed to lose 3-2 in the end meaning they didn't qualify for euro 20... Read More »

Tagged: england, international, football, capello, world

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Red Cards A-Go-Go

Who's going down?
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White People love the Idea of Soccer!

What games are you looking forward to this weekend? (Mar 1/2)
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England national team
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Don't underestimate Fergie's silver tongue

For Those Who Haven't Heard, Paul Ince Is Blackburn's New Manager

England Is Not Missed at Euro 2008

Euro 2008 Recap--Day 3

If you can only watch one game a day (Part 1)

Euro 2008 Semifinals Predictions

Euro 2008 Quarterfinals Predictions (Part 2)

Euro 2008 Quarterfinals Predictions (Part 1)

Euro 2008 Preview--Group D (Part 2)

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Who's going down? 4 Replies

What games are you looking forward to this weekend? (Mar 1/2) 3 Replies

England national team 1 Reply

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Who's going down?
4 Replies

What games are you looking forward to this weekend? (Mar 1/2)
3 Replies

England national team
1 Reply