The North London Derby Live!

Three words: North London derby. It's Arsenal v. Spurs live on ESPN2 from 8:45 am onward. Now, you're not really going to sleep in, are you? Join me for the usual LOB coverage of the match of the day.

Lemmy!!

Anyone who has spent any time listening to British metal knows that Lemmy is God. The latest ish of Rolling Stone agrees and has given the Motorhead frontman the proper royal treatment in the following article:

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/10/20/motorheads-lemmy-kilmister-vampire-of-the-sunset-strip/

Rock on!

Souleymane Diawara, what have you done? What have you done?

Pray for more team meetings and practises and new boot launches and even snazzier haircuts. Anything to eat up his free time and to keep him away from the mike.

Carling Cup Fourth Round!

How I wish that my Leeds boys were included in the list of Carling Cup 4th Round fixtures kicking off this evening. Instead, I've at least got the make-up match away to Bristol Rovers to follow. If you're around and paying attention to the ugly stepchild of English Cup competitions, let's be hearing you!

Last Chance Bus to South Africa

We haven't had a chance to natter about the upcoming World Cup playoffs. Here they are:

Ireland v. France
Portugal v. Bosnia
Greece v. Ukraine
Russia v. Slovenia
Costa Rica v. Uruguay
Bahrain v. New Zealand

First legs: November 14; Second legs: November 18

Your thoughts about who will emerge from this lot?

Is Rafa in Trouble?

Join me for a couple of big matches on FSC. After the clock change in England, we have to get used to the four hour time difference for a while. I don't know why FSC have two games but I am not complaining. Costa del Pool vs Manchester United start off the day. Could Rafa lose his fifth straight? Let's hope so. I am not going to my game today so join me.

UWS

Early Saturday Morning Footie!

I'm up early skipping the morning session of the History of Education Society meeting in Philadelphia to bring you the usual coverage of the Saturday morning footie. First up - Wolves v. Villa. Join me!

Jermaine Jones Joins the US Camp!

Great news for the U.S. national team. Shalke schemer Jermaine Jones has been cleared by FIFA to play for the U.S. He'll now likely join the U.S. World Cup squad for SA 2010 when he returns to fitness after a shin injury that's kept him out of Bundesliga action so far this season. Read more here:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=687686&sec=worldcup2010&cc=5901

Champions League - Gameday 3!

Best of luck to the British sides in tonight's Champions League matches. As usual on a Tuesday, I'll be in and out of the office teaching but will pop in now and again with my comments. I'll look forward to reading yours as well.

Who's In and Who's Out?

My dad sent me a fascinating article this week that broke down the race to make the England squad for South Africa. For each position, here are the current "Incumbents," "Understudies," "Contenders" and "Outsiders:"

1. Goalkeeper

Incumbent - David James
Understudy - Rob Green
Contender - Paul Robinson
Outsider - Ben Foster

2. Right Back
Incumbent - Glen Johnson
Understudy - Wes Brown
Contender - Gary Neville
Outsider - Micah Richards

3. Left Back
Incumbent - Ashley Cole
Understudy - Wayne Bridge
Contender - Leighton Baines
Outsider - Stephen Warnock

4. Center Back
Incumbent - John Terry
Understudy - Joleon Lescott
Contender - Gary Cahill
Outsider - Jonathan Woodgate

5. Center Half
Incumbent - Rio Ferdinand
Understudy - Matthew Upson
Contender - Ledley King
Outsider - Phil Jagielka

6. Holding Midfield
Incumbent - Gareth Barry
Understudy - Michael Carrick
Contender - Owen Hargreaves
Outsider - Tom Huddlestone

7. Right Midfield
Incumbent - Aaron Lennon
Understudy - Theo Walcott
Contender - SWP
Outsider - James Milner

8. Center Midfield
Incumbent - Frank Lampard
Understudy - David Beckham
Contender - Jermaine Jenas
Outsider - Scott Parker

9. Striker
Incumbent - Emile Heskey
Understudy - Peter Crouch
Contender - Carlton Cole
Outsider - Darren Bent

10. Striker
Incumbent - Wayne Rooney
Understudy - Jermaine Defoe
Contender - Gabby Agbonlahor
Outsider - Michael Owen

11. Left Midfield
Incumbent - Steven Gerrard
Understudy - Joe Cole
Contender - Ashley Young
Outsider - Stewart Downing

Your thoughts, lads?

Juliet, Naked - Final Thoughts

Well, I finally finished "Juliet" last night and I have to admit that I'm a wee bit disappointed. Without giving away the ending - in case the Gooner hasn't finished yet - I found it a bit of a damp squib. I suppose that I went into the book thinking that it would center on Duncan's obsession with this washed-up rocker. There are loads of questions buzzing around in my head about that relationship - e.g., why do most creative people have a short burst of inspiration and then years of nothing? - and Hornby seemed the ideal novelist to tackle these. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for another relationship-based novel this fall? I don't know; but certainly "Juliet, Naked" doesn't come close to knocking "High Fidelity" off my pedestal. How about the rest of you?

Back to the Premiership

After another international we're back to the Premiership (and the early morning) schedule today. The action starts with Villa vs. Chelski on ESPN2 in just moments and continues through a full slate of 3pm EST fixtures. Join me for all the action.

England vs. Belarus Live!

It's one more kickabout for an experiment England side against Belarus at Wembley today. The real business was sorted out long ago, so this is merely a lap of honor for the boys. Join me if you're watching.

Charlie Davies Injured in Car Accident!

As we get set for another day of internationals, including the final U.S. qualifier against Costa Rica at RFK, spare a thought for Charlie Davies - one of the brightest new stars on the U.S. side - who was critically injured yesterday in a car accident that took the life of one of the passengers. Charlie's injuries are described as "not life threatening but possibly career ending" in the following article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/13/charlie-davies-us-soccer-_n_319272.html

Jon Stewarts Roasts CNN

CNN Leaves It There

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Ron Paul Interview

A Big Day of International Footer

It's another big day dominated by South Africa 2010 qualifiers, with most groups coming down to the wire. It all starts in a moment with the usual 3 pm GMT Football League kick-offs. England start their "dead rubber" against Ukraine at 12:15 EST and it all wraps up later tonight at 10 pm EST with the U.S. in a crucial away qualifier in Honduras. Should be fun - anyone care to join me on the LOB?

Juliet, Naked III - This Time it's Personal

Here I was bopping along through the first six or seven chapters of Juliet pleasantly ruminating on all things pop music and culture when all of a sudden both of the key relationships in the book have fallen apart and the plot-line has taken a fairly dark turn. I'm not feeling it - anyone else with me?

Epidemic of Away-Day Burglaries at Footballer's Homes

I'd heard of this phenomenon before, but didn't realize that it had escalated into robbery as well. And despite police protestation to the contrary, it does seem organized but confined to the NW of Britain. Why wouldn't some enterprising firm go after those guys from Chelsea for instance? Would Roman's goons deal with them "Layer-Cake" style?

Here's the story that caught my eye. CLICK!

Juliet, Naked Too

I had a lovely walk over to school this morning with "Juliet, Naked" and a bit of Fleet Foxes on the iPod for audio support and got up into Chapter 3 (approx. p. 70). Nick's certainly got the music bore Duncan dead to rights. He's a character that I've met many times, know small elements in myself and I've certainly had the kinds of violent disagreements over art with KC (Jane Campion's "The Piano" springs to mind) that he describes well in Chapter 2.

But what about Annie? I've never been quite as convinced by Hornby's writing about women. The two books in which he's written in a women's voice - "How to be Good" and "A Long Way Down" - were the least appealing IMHO. The relationship between Duncan and Annie definitely rings true but I'm still waiting for Annie to emerge from the pages.

What are you two thinking?

England Blackout?

Our intrepid Mancunian UWS has turned up startling news that we will be blacked out of coverage of the England WC qualifier against Ukraine on Saturday due to a slippery Internet-only deal. Cut and paste the following link for details:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=683003&sec=worldcup2010&cc=5901

Does this mean that our usual friends in cyberspace will not have the streams? Anyone have any ideas about how to access the match?

Up for the Arse?

It's Arsenal vs. Blackburn - anyone else up for a little early Sunday morning footer? Join me!

It's the Big One!

No early matches on ESPN this morning, but we've still got the full slate of tasty morsels at 10 a.m. as well as ManYoo at 12:30 p.m.

Oh, and it's first v. second in League 1 - bring it on!

Join me for all the usual LOB coverage this morning. Ta!