O'Brien Off to UK With Generation Adidas Team

Nice trip coming up for Colorado Rapids' midfielder, Ciaran O'Brien. O'Brien, who made his ill-fated debut for the Rapids against the LA Galaxy on opening night this past season, was sent off after coming on as a substitute and then did not play again all season in the first team, is off to the UK with the Generation Adidas team. The team will play three games against Premier Leage reserve teams and will also be able to watch Chelsea training and the Blues' UEFA Champions' League game against Romanian team, FC Cluj. The trip is December 6-14. O'Brien is the only Rapids player in the 16-strong party. Other Colorado links in the squad are Aurora native, Roger Espinoza, of the Kansas City Wizards and Bruno Guarda who was briefly on the books this season at the Rapids before being traded to FC Dallas.
http://www.coloradorapids.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?NID=17jSERs4QJc=

Arsenal Exit Making It Easier For Takeover?

Arsenal FC managing director, Keith Edelman, is to leave the club "to seek pastures new and embark upon fresh challenges," according to the BBC. How vague is that? I'm not one for idle speculation but here's some. Edelman has been a big opponent of outside investment in the London club. His shareholding is apparently small but his move would suggest any takeover may be more likely. As we all know, Colorado Rapids owner, Stan Kroenke, has a decent stake in the club. I wouldn't even pretend to know what Mr. Kroenke's designs are on Arsenal but, if he is still interested in the club, he will still have to deal with the always erratic chairman, Peter Hill-Wood, another one apparently opposed to outside involvement, particularly American. Mr. Hill-Wood does seem to contradict himself a lot on this but he did once famously say that "we would be horrifed to see ownership of the club go across the Atlantic." As if going across the Atlantic would be worse than going to deepest Moscow? The club is currently 24% owned by Red and White Holdings which is controlled by another Russian billionare not called Abramovich. Speaking of Chelski, the Rocky Mountain News has a story on its website how the chairman just bought a $36.5 million mansion in Snowmass. So many Colorado links! This truly is the global game.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/7377052.stm

Late Equalizer Keeps United Favorites

A Carlos Tevez header just two minutes from time saved Manchester United from blowing the Premier League title chase wide open. By equalizing against Blackburn, it keeps United a precious three points ahead of Chelsea. Even if Chelsea were to beat United in the big one at Stamford Bridge next Saturday (set your alarm clocks early), United still have the advantage of a much better goal difference. If they beat West Ham and Wigan in their last two games, they will be champions no matter what happens next Saturday. But you never know. West Ham were the only team last season to do the double over United, ironically at Old Trafford with a Tevez goal for the Hammers. It at least makes next weekend's game between Chelsea and United an exciting one with much at stake. As for Gillingham, I'm sure you are all dying to know, the abyss looks a little wider as they also fell to a late equalizer against Bristol Rovers. Hanging by the narrowest of threads.
Attention now turns to those Colorado Rapids. I think most people would expect a Rapids victory tonight but this will be a tough game. It looks as if Mastroeni will not start and could instead play a much bigger role in the Reserves tomorrow as he battles with his fitness. Playmaker Christian Gomez is listed as probable. Unchanged team in all likelihood but a little tinkering with the formation. See you all at DSG Park. Can't bloody wait!

It Ain't Over Until The Fat Boy Spins

That's what they used to say about Australian cricket hero Shane Warne for all those unfamiliar with what is truly still the greatest sport in the world. Now, back to soccer. I love Max Bretos on FSC. I think he is one of the most knowledgeable US commentators on global soccer. I love his enthusiasm. However, I have to take issue with his comments on Chelsea and his dismissal they have any chance to win the Premiership, along with most pundits it has to be said. I concede it is a tough ask (another Australian phrase) but, if United were to slip up tomorrow at Blackburn (not an easy game), the thing is wide open and all set for a cracker at Stamford Bridge next weekend. Let's hope, for the sake of an exciting finish to the season, that Blackburn steal a draw tomorrow. Sorry to p*ss off all you United fans. Great win by Chelsea yesterday against a good Everton side. They are still in it, just, and they will be more in it if Blackburn can get at least a point tomorrow at home. Saying that, United will probably storm it 4-0. Other key games this weekend are Fulham at home to Liverpool and a big derby match (these supporters really hate each other) between Aston Villa and Birmingham. And don't forget the biggest game of them all, on that side of the pond anyway, Gillingham against Bristol Rovers, as the mighty Gills stare at the trapdoor of relegation to the abyss of League Two. Come on you Rapids!

Pundits Get it Wrong on FA Cup

I'm sure many cliches have been written since the weekend over the FA Cup and the extraordinary results that emerged. My only comment is that it just goes to show how some of the so-called experts who pontificate on the state of the world's game just get it so damn wrong. I remember such experts saying confidently at the time of the third round that all the romance had gone from the competition because only the big teams were going to win. Indeed, there was some justification for this given that the tournament has been won only by the big boys in recent years. But it is only a game played by human beings and almost anything can happen.
Granted, Havant and Waterlooville were never going to beat Liverpool at Anfield having actually taken the lead twice but they gave them a fright. I wrote way back about non-league Horsham frightening the life out of League One leaders Swansea in the second round. The gap is too large for such giant-killing but clearly, as the weekend showed, Championship teams can beat the Premier giants. Barnsley, who had already beaten Liverpool at Anfield in the previous round, dumped Chelsea out and now face the prospect of possibly winning the Cup and being relegated. A first? Or maybe it will be mighty Cardiff City to take the FA Cup out of England? And let's not forget the achievement of Portsmouth. Granted, a Premier League team who have been playing very well this season but to go to Old Trafford and beat United really was a fantastic performance. Oh the romance.