Baltimore World Cup Soccer @ Slainte Pub

It is no secret that Liverpool’s record signing, Andy Carroll, is a bust.  Rumors of hitting the bottle a little much and questionable of fitness aside, the Englishman has not produced to the level that was expected of a Red’s star striker.  Carroll was a star at Newcastle, and rumor has it that his old club will not mind having him back despite Andy stating that he is staying at Anfield. That being said, the transfer window closes tomorrow, and if King Kenny’s merry men are going to make a run at fourth place in the league they need to make a move.  Here are some players that a clueless Baltimorean thinks the Reds should and should not sign to wear the number 9 jersey.

For The Love Of All Things Holy DO NOT Sign Tevez
The rumor has already been quickly stamped out by Liverpool, but sources reported that the Reds approached Manchester City for a straight loser-for-loser swap.  Lets just hope this passes and we never hear of Tevez playing for Kenny Dalglish ever again.

Napoli Wont Let Go Of Cavani…
…because they know they need him if they have a chance of knocking Chelsea out of the Champions League.  As cool as it would be to see two Uruguayans playing up front, if the Reds sign him they will end up spending a fortune and possibly breaking Carroll’s own record deal.  It could work, but would the cost be worth it?  Carroll is not the only need that the Reds should address, so back-to-back record signings might not be the smartest business decision.

Stick It To Newcastle And Get Ba On The Cheap
Reports are in that Tottenham and Liverpool (as well as a few other clubs) are interested in what could be the best deal of the window.  Demba Ba will not be playing for Newcastle next season but is expected to stay in England where he can be picked up on the relatively affordable side of things and then practically double his salary.  Despite his knees being an issue, the Reds will make out like bandits if they make this deal happen and may even find themselves with a team willing to take Carroll back.

Wishing for Wesley Sneijder…
…is the only thing a fan can really do.  Wesley has not had the best season at Inter, and rumors temporarily surfaced that he was being looked at by Fergie.  With his value lower than ever it would be a risk a fan-boy like me would love to take, but an unlikely move from the Reds.  Even after Sneijder himself ruled out the Manchester United rumors I still hope for a surprise like this. Any reputable attacking player would suffice.

If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It
With an appearance at Wembley for the Carling Cup Final secured and the huge win over United in the FA Cup, the Reds might actually accomplish some of their goals set for this season.  Trophies and a Champions League berth are what fans were told to look forward to, and the Reds might actually deliver the silverware with Andy on the team.  Bellamy has stepped up when he has been needed, Gerard is looking better every week, Suarez will be back on the pitch tomorrow, and Kuyt has finally broken his goal drought.  Despite fan and media disgust for Carroll, Dalglish has continuously praised his forward and has made it clear that they plan on keeping him around.  It is quite possible that Liverpool does not see the same problem fans see with Carroll which would mean a quiet January transfer window for Reds supporters.

Stay tuned!

Friday,  January 27th

FA Cup:
2:30pm Watford v Tottenham
2:45pm Everton v Fulham

———

Saturday, January 28th

FA Cup:
6:50am QPR vs Chelsea
7:30am Liverpool v Manchester United
12pm Brighton & Hove Albion or Wrexham v Newcastle United

Bundesliga:
9:30am Bayern Munich vs. VfL Wolfsburg

Serie A:
12pm Catania v Parma
2:30pm Juventus v Udinese

Liga:
12pm Rayo Vallecano vs Ath. Bilbao
2pm Real Madrid vs Zaragoza
4pm Villarreal vs. Barcelona

———

Sunday, January 29th

FA Cup:
8:30am Sunderland v Middlesbrough
11am Arsenal v Aston Villa

Serie A:
6:30am Fiorentina v Siena
9am AC Milan v Cagliari

Bundesliga:
11:30am Stuttgart vs Borussia M’gladbach

Liga:
4pm Malaga vs Sevilla

Ligue 1:
3pm Stade Rennais FC v Olympique de Marseille

As Liverpool face Manchester City in the second leg of their Carling Cup contest today, both teams will be without their main players, Luis Suarez and Mario Balotelli, respectively. Both players are suspended for acts the Football Association merits such punishment.

Suarez, as we all know, is still going through his eight-game ban for the race row with Manchester United’s Patrice Evera, while Balotelli is beginning his four-match ban for allegedly purposefully stamping on Tottenham Hotspur’s Scott Parker on Sunday morning. Some camera angles would show him trying to regain his balance, while others imply a deliberate knock against the former West Ham midfielder.

The question, I pose, however, is the severity of the punishments.

I have always questioned how the FA’s investigative team was able to determine that what Suarez called Evra – “negro” – is racist, while handing out only a four-match ban to Balotelli for what seems to be more violent conduct.

Uruguayan friends I have spoken with affirm that negro is a commonly used word in their society and that no racist or derogatory suggestion is ever implied. One can argue it is a different society and culture altogether from England’s.

As I’ve discussed with others at Slainte, this extreme reaction to Suarez’s comments reflects the overly-PC culture that pervades everywhere. Footballers wind each other up on the pitch and if every comment were to be examined and punished, football would stop. Far from condoning racist chants from spectators and abuse on the pitch, one asks for a more reasonable approach.

On the other hand, Balotelli gets to sit out only four games for an act that could have proved to be more dangerous than it turned out to be. It may not have possessed the deliberateness of Roy Keane’s attack on Manchester City’s Alf-Inge Haland, but it could prove to be just pure rash.

For speech one is severely punished, while for a physical act one is punished.

Carling Cup Semi Final: Liverpool (1) vs Manchester City (0)

Copa del Rey Quarter Final: Barcelona (2) vs Real Madrid (1)

International Friendly: Panama vs USMNT

After the 2-1 loss at Old Trafford, all eyes turned to Wenger and Arsenal’s front office… Is it the end of an Era?

Wenger has now been Arsenal Manager since 1996 for a total of 881 games and 502 wins. This season, and after a heavy loss 8-2 in August against the same Man United, Arsenal does not seduce. Van Persie and Chamberlain are probably the only hopes to “save” the season. Arsenal is now 5th, 10 points behind the Spurs who are sitting on the 3rd place of the table. Wenger’s philosophy is to stay away from becoming a new Man City by spending billions during the transfer window. He believes in Youth which made him become one of the best Manager of the World the past decade. However, it seems now that the recipe does not work anymore…. Talents are leaving Arsenal who ended signing veteran Henry back during the MLS break. The situation is not catastrophic… 5th in EPL, still running in Champions League and FA Cup. But Arsenal has been title-less since now 2005!

The next couple weeks will probably decide for Wenger’s future… A tough FA Cup match up vs Villa, three “easy” EPL matches until the Spurs Derby and AC Milan in Champions League.
I always respected his philosophy regarding the recruitment but a 7th year without a title will probably end Wenger’s love story with the Gunners.

Well, it was another fun-day at Slainte yesterday. The bar was full of so many supporters, including neutrals whose teams had played the day before, on Saturday. Always good to see so many regular faces, including an old one not seen for over a year, and new ones. Then there were the regular patrons present only for brunch and mimosas who probably had no idea what kind of atmosphere they were entering. I love looking at their reactions to our shouts, screams, banter and songs. Patrons entering had to squeeze through the EPL fans on the first floor and the staff are always alert above the noise. Upstairs was less packed and for those wanting to sit and eat.

It was the last day for Bret Holmes for quite a while, as he and Mrs. Holmes are expecting their first child in the next few weeks. Congratulations to them both and Mr. CITEH will be missed. It’s up to Ms. CITEH, a.k.a. Karen, to lead the uproar.

I entered Slainte just as the first big match of the day, Manchester City v. Tottenham Hotspur, was finishing. This would have been an opportunity for Spurs to close the gap on the league leaders. But Mr. Showman, Mario Balotelli, put them in the lead with a late penalty given away by Ledley King, ending the match 3-2. Manchester United, no doubt paying attention to the proceedings in the Etihad Stadium from down in London, would have wished for a different conclusion.

United were to play away at Arsenal in the second and final big match of the day. In recent days the talk had been of a revenge for Wenger’s men who were humiliated 8-2 at Old Trafford in the opening weeks of the current campaign. A repeat performance was too much to expect.

The match, which was televised on local Fox affiliate WBFF Fox 45 as a way of spreading the English Premier League, began with both sides feeling each other out. It really was not the best beginning to such a game as this. But finally, a goal came at the end of the first half when Valencia out-jumped Vermaelen to head into the net. Arsenal returned in the second-half and Van Persie equalized. It was shocking, however, to see Arsenal’s best player, Oxlade-Chamberlain, substituted for the unloved Arshavin, to the dismay of Van Persie. It was the Russian’s mistake it was that led to United’s second and decisive goal, scored by Welbeck.

When all was done, two big matches and big fun at Slainte.