About the Wizards

I know it's not football, but I thought I'd checkout the local roundball club, and headed down to the Verizon Center to see the winless Wizards host the T-Wolves at the behest of my Spanish roommates and their love of anything remotely spanish and sport related, (in this case Ricky Rubio).

It was a surreal sight. Granted it was a 1pm tip, on a sunday, but I'll venture to say that you won't find a more subdued crowd at an NBA game this season, unless Stern decides to punish someone and a game is played behind closed doors. There was absolutely no energy in the arena, and that probably has a lot to do with the Wizards players. John Wall is electric in the open court, and he did provide this eye-catching moment (notice what the announcer is saying as the clip starts). But in the half-court he is quite ordinary, and the rest of the Wizards, are, well, scrubs.

I'm glad I don't have anything invested in them, because they look like an absolutely hopeless team. Absolutely no leadership, disenchanted fans their first round pick's first FTA looked like this, and a city that could care less.

Rubio however, somewhat made up for the egregiously priced ticket. He really knows how to manage a game, sees the whole floor, and is pretty quick to boot. Think Nash, but taller, and the kid's only 20!

Premiership: Worst XI of 2011

they make so much money


Some obvious observations that have been written about in many other places than this, but none the less...

GK - De Gea - You can say he's young, but he's hardly seized the opportunity of a lifetime.

LB - Wayne Bridge - (well, you can't make the list if you don't play I guess). So I'll go with Ashley Cole, who leads the league in whining.

CD - Johnny Evans - It seemed just the other day that he was a promising young prospect. How did we miss that he has white man's disease?

CD - David Luiz - Good entertainment value at least, but I wouldn't pick him at center back for my Saturday co-ed league.

RB - Phil Neville - Hang em up already old man. I think the world has had more than enough Nevilles to last them 2 lifetimes.

RW - Sir Charles N'Zogbia - I absolutely love N'Zogbia. Loved him for Wigan, and Newcastle before that, but his first few months have been absolutely defenseless. Villa were obviously counting on more from him, and still might get it as he's shown signs of life lately.

CM - Charlie Adam - The harshest inclusion on this list, I'm actually a Charlie Adam fan, and of course he was going to come back down to earth after his ridiculous campaign for blackpool, sadly it's become painfully obvious that Prince Kenny is asking too much of the Scot.

CM - Taarabt - All the hype for what? Some sulker who isn't even going to play? Pshh. Clearly talented, but it just doesn't seem to be happening for him.

LW - Samir Nasri - My my my how the mighty have fallen. But in truth, he really shouldn't be getting too many games ahead of Johnson/Milner, certainly not with the form he's shown this season.

ST - Andrei Arshavin - He's almost become painful to watch. Wenger has given him every chance to do something, anything positive, but he could clearly care less when he comes on for his little 20 minute cameos. Gervinho probably isn't half the player of Shava on his day, but he's 5 times the player at the moment.

ST - Wigan, Fulham and Everton Strikers - You know who you are...

Newcastle 3 v Man U 0 Player Ratings

Newcastle 3 v Man U 0 Player Ratings

A fantastic display and result for the Magpies tonight against a dismal Man U side that looks dreadfully short of creativity and guile. Back to back defeats against two opponents not in the “top 6”, combined with a shockingly early exit from the Champs League, has put Sir Alex in a position he hasn’t seen in years, desperate for Jan reinforcements. While I do not believe Sneijder is the answer, Man U will surely need to bring a creative midfield star if they want to keep up w/ Man City (or hope Balotelli blows up Silva’s house with him in it). Newcastle, on the other hand, are in dreamland after deservedly beating Man U for the first time in 10 years and finally having a few players in the squad capable of playing for a Champs League contender. The spine of the team is terrific and if they are to keep their stars in this transfer window, get lucky with injuries, and sign a quality CB and/or attacking player, the top 6 is not implausible.

Newcastle

Krul 6.5- Surprisingly had little to do today and did his job as well as he could. Got lucky that Berbatov’s deflected header hit the bar and Simpson was there for his goal line clearance.

Santon 7.5- For such a young player, he is so composed and intelligent when on the ball and when in defense. He looks like pure class and will only improve if he is able to remain off the injury table.

Coloccini 8- Since Lucas tore his ACL, Collo has officially taken over the mantle as most underrated player in the league. While he lacks the speed to keep up w/ quick strikers, his positioning, intelligence, and skill on the ball are simply world class. Ashley must resign his captain before he leaves for greener pastures.

Williamson 6.5- Won his headers, positioned himself well, and had another solid performance. For a backup CB, he is mighty impressive.

Simpson 7.5- Had one of his best performances of the season against his former team. He kept Park in check throughout and capped off his performance w/ a fantastic goal line clearance to preserve the shutout.

Gutierrez 5- After starting the season so brilliantly, he has looked completely average in the last month. He couldn’t beat Valencia 1 on 1 to save his life today but as usual, he worked his socks off and helped out his defense when need be.

Tiote 8.5- A beast among men. He took Rooney out of the game while protecting his backline brilliantly and looked back to his powerful best. A bid of at least 20 million from one of the top teams will be the only way he doesn’t become a Newcastle legend. Along w/ Ba, he will be sorely missed the next couple weeks.

Cabaye 8- A brilliant all around display capped off by one of the free kicks of the season. For less than 5 mil, he surely is one of the buys of the season and could be starting in midfield for France when Euro cup rolls around this summer. Twice the player of Barton w/ less than half the headache.

R. Taylor 6- The utility man was back to his normal position in midfield and had a decent game. He does not possess the speed to cause much havoc on the right wing but did his job well today.

Amoebi 4.5- With Best playing so poorly lately, and Arfa not having the physical presence needed against Man U, I was actually happy Pardew decided to give Amoebi the surprise start today. While it did not matter because Newcastle won and Amoebi was able to set up the first goal w/ a brilliant flick on header, his touch was awful, positioning even worse, and still looks to have the intelligence of a preschooler on the pitch.

Ba 8.5- Easily the buy of the season so far. To sell Carroll for 35 mil and get Ba on the free has to be one of the sports coups of the century. His touch was world class throughout the match and his goal was taken absolutely brilliantly. His ability to make runs behind the defense, while also being able to play in the zone between the oppositions defense and midfield, has made him one of the most complete strikers in the world. Newcastle fans all over the world will be praying his glass knees hold up until the end of the season.

Subs

Perch 5.5- Did what he needed to do to preserve the shutout.

Best/Obertan- NA

Man U

Lindegard 5.5- Could do nothing with the first goal, needed a stronger tip for the second goal that would have been a sensational save if he had made it, and was left helpless by Jones for the third goal.

Evra 5- The former best LB back in the world had another average game today. He has not looked like the same player since he boycotted the French squad in the WC and will need to get back to his old form quickly if Man U is going to win the title.

Ferdinand 5- He is past his prime and couldn’t really cope w/ the sensational Ba all game. Not a bad game by any stretch of the means but needed to position himself better for Ba’s strike in the 1^st half. He was extremely lucky to have not given Newcastle a penalty when he took out Ba in the box.

Jones 5- He will take a lot of shit for his performance today because of the horrible own goal at the end. However, the own goal was inconsequential as it came when the game was already over and he played pretty decent until then. His yellow card tackle on Ba which led to Cabaye’s free kick rocket was actually an intelligent foul because Ba looked surely to have broken free. Only if Man U wasn’t in such an injury crisis, Sir Alex could have given Jones a game off that he surely deserves.

Valencia 6.5- The fact that Man U’s best attacking threat was from the makeshift RB pretty much described their performance or lack of performance. He dealt w/ Guiterrez easily and was unlucky to be on the losing end today.

Park 5- Was on the periphery all game and don’t remember him doing anything of note. A very average performance from the Korean star.

Giggs 5- At this stage in his career, he is better used as an impact sub and it showed today. He was chasing shadows all game and lacked his typical penetrating touch.

Carrick 5.5- His positioning and touch were above average but he simply could not cope with Newcastle’s dominant midfield. He is the definition of a confidence player and has been playing brilliantly in the last month covering up most of United’s injuries, but he didn’t do enough today.

Nani 5- Besides the move that setup Man U’s best chance in the 2^nd half, he didn’t look like his usual self today. He wasn’t taking on and beating his man 1 on 1 and Santon looked to have him locked up for most of the match.

Rooney 4.5- Maybe he did party too much over the xmas break (British tabloids are having a frenzy over this right now), maybe he lost his form like the beginning of last year, or maybe (and most-likely) he just had one of those poor games superstars have once in a while. Whatever it was, this was his worst game in over a year and he looked completely out of sorts today.

Berbatov 4.5- He played today? Are you sure about that? Besides his weak, lucky deflected header that hit the post, he did absolutely nothing worth noting all game.

Subs

Anderson 5- Didn’t do much when he came on.

Walbeck 5.5- Nice touch which lead to Rooney’s shot that Simpson cleared off the line. Will surely be starting next match.

Chicharito 4.5- Was offside more than he was onside today. Looks badly out of form.

Ref 5- Missed the biggest call of the night as Ferdinand clearly took out Ba’s leg in the penalty box in the 1^st half. However, he was lucky it did not matter as Newcastle won the game handily anyway.

1st Half best XI

The MVP holds off the LVP

GK - Krul/Vorm - These 2 + Stecklenberg and Holland have a surfeit of keepers going forward

RB - Richards - The EPL's answer to Marshawn Lynch. This man is just a beast, a man's man.

CB - V. Kompany - If there's a better center back in the world right now, I'd like to see him.

CB - Coloccini - One of the many vastly improved parts of Pardew's formidible Newcastle.

LB - Jose Enrique - Not as pacy as the typical Prem LB that we've grown accustomed, but boy is he comfortable on the ball.

LM - David Silva - Cooled off since his ridiculous start, still vital to City's success.

CM - Scott Parker - He'd be the first name on my team sheet if I were Fabio Capello right now.

CM - Ramires - Lots of choices here, but it's hard not to like the plucky Brazilian, high ceiling.

RM - Mata - Adds a different dimension to the typically dull Chelsea.

ST - Van Persie - Arsenal suffered without Fabregas, but losing Van Persie is unthinkable for the Gunners.

ST - Louie Suarez/ Sergio Aguero - Take your pick between these two new arrivals, both have had no problems adjusting. Only their teams are headed in opposite directions.

Just Missed: Friedel, Walker, Phil Jones, Vermaalen, Baines, Sinclair, Lucas, Song, Moses, Adebayor, Walters

Christmas Break

Everyone else in the world takes a break for the holidays, but not England. Why, you ask? As DJ Shadow said, "It's the money." There's plenty to talk about with United all of the sudden EVEN on points with city despite playing with only one proper defender. Spurs postponing their annual collapse behind Gareth Bale. Everyone and their brother dropping points at home and failing to take advantage of City's slip up. But I think I'll enjoy what's left of the break myself. Enjoy this semi-old school skills video. Plenty of gems in here, but Viera at 1:11 is my favorite.

That's Racist

I am not a fan of Luis Suarez the man, not in the least. Nor am I any sort of Latin American bourgeois apologist. But my goodness, 8 games?! Let's stamp out racism indeed! It's not a witch hunt, but the FA is setting a ridiculous, baseless standard which I imagine will generate more discussion concerning the length of players suspensions for acts of racism, rather than the reason footballers/people say racist things in the first place. Interesting article on the situation at run of play (before the decision was rendered). Anyway, if the decision holds, Andy Carroll will have to play, and play well for Liverpool to maintain their return to relevance.

Neyyyy Maaaaar

He might be a knobhead, but boy got skills!