Throwdowns > Closed

MagicSpecs said 05/21, 09:28 AM
1 Patrick Vieira trying to play mind games with Fergie
One thing any pretender to Man Utd's Premier League throne should know is that you don't play mind games with SAF. Vieira's misplaced barbs aimed towards Old Trafford came at a time when Man City dipped and Man Utd were peaking, and could only have piled more pressure on at the Etihad.

2 St Louis Cardinals mismanaging injuries
Something screwy is going on in St Louis. Their injury list is literally painful. I don't know if it's Matheny or a member of the training-staff, but someone's not doing their job at Busch Stadium.

3 Fergie dropping the ball vs Everton
The title may have been won in the dying minutes at Eastlands, but it was lost at Old Trafford against Everton. Uncharacteristically, Man Utd lost focus and SAF must take the blame for letting it happen.

4 Champions League Final
Prior to the final, 124 games were played in the Champions League (not including qualifiers). 62 on a Tuesday, 62 on a Wednesday. So of course, the final was played on a... Saturday?! Are you kidding me? The whole competition is a midweek competition - a Saturday (evening, no less) final is just a shameless money-grabbing gimmick.

MagicSpecs said 05/21, 12:24 PM
Carroll has been a liability all season long. Since his move to Anfield he's not deserved to wear the number 9. He's always been a problem kid (exhibit A: numerous arrests, exhibit B: demanding at Newcastle less than 6 months after signing an extension). You can't trust him. He needs service, and Downing was supposed to be the guy to deliver. And he's sucked too. Liverpool are just a mess.

Valentine has got to be scared of the bullpen after the early season struggles. There's hardly anything to like in that BoSox staff.

Drogba's time is up. The next Chelsea manager is going to oversee a rebuilding phase, and Drogba is part of the old school. With Terry, Lampard and Drogba getting beyond use it's time for Chelsea to move on.


Honourable mentions:

1 Anything Dusty Baker does. Someone buy that dude a dictionary that includes the word 'sabermetrics'. Please.

2 Alex McLeish. I have no idea what that Villa team was supposed to be this season, but a club that size should not be that close to the relegation zone.

3 Arsene Wenger. He should have tied up Van Persie by now. Without RVP Arsenal are super-average.

MagicSpecs said 05/22, 06:52 AM
Fergie is the psychological master of the EPL. He does not lose mind games (see Keegan, Kevin or Benitez, Rafa if you want a reference), and always knows how to motivate his team.
Against Everton, he failed. His attention was clearly on the following game against City (which they subsequently lost 1-0). It's not about the substitutions he made or the tactics he played - SAF allowed his players to lose their focus. Conceding four goals at home to an impotent Toffee attack could only be explained by a severe lapse in concentration - and Fergie must take responsibility for that.
And I'm not sure I'd label Everton as a bogey team - they've only won 1 of their last 14 games against Man U.

The Champions League final on a Saturday night is an aberration. Gone are the days of the glorious Wednesday night final at the Camp Nou in '99 or the thriller in Istanbul in '05. Saturday nights are not Champions League football nights. It is a midweek competition.
You wouldn't schedule the Superbowl for a Tuesday, why schedule the CL final on a Saturday?


Good TD, Frog.