Stoke interested in Crouch

Odd teams named... they just signed up Kenwyne Jones... Fuller is still there... but of couse Sidibe is lackluster at best. Everton, they stay pretty true to a 4-5-1 (or 4-4-1-1 depending on how you want to look at it) and have Saha and Yakubu striking, and Tim Cahill is a damn fine AM. Not sure this would mean anything for either team, maybe a nominal improvement for Stoke, but not so much for Everton. All that's in his favor is his size, and Cahill is better in the air...

This is the most unsubstantiated baloney ever posted here... Almost. No way Everton gives up Peinaar for Crouch. Not happening... No way Harry gives up Crouch anyhow....

AMERICANS IN THE PREMIERSHIP REVIEW AUG 23, 2010:

THE GOOD:

American Premiership player of the week: Stuart Holden was first-class this weekend at CM, as he led Bolton to a 3-1 victory over a Spector-less West Ham.
Clint Dempsey played aggressively for 61 minutes before being replaced by Dembele in Fulham's 2-2 tie with Manchester Utd. Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton) and Tim Howard (Everton) both held their opponents to 1 goal in 1-1 tie between Wolves and the Blues.

THE BENCH:

Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa) dressed but did not play in Aston Villa's 6-0 thrashing by Newcastle.

THE BAD:

Brad Freidel got scored on 6 times by Newcastle Utd. They weren't all his fault, but it was SIX times.

& THE UGLY:

Eddie Johnson (Fulham) and Jonathon Spector (West Ham) did not even dress for their teams.


Freddy Adu's situation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0jg0qetoUQ

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 12:46 PM ET  08.23 by D Richey

THE BAD:Brad Freidel got scored on 6 times by Newcastle Utd. They weren't all his fault, but it was SIX times

Friedel has found himself on the wrong end of a few 6-0 smashes this year. Chelsea is one thing, but Newcastle?? C'MON!!

QUOTE:

Originally posted by

I must have watched a different game because Dempsey was pretty anonymous save for two shots. Not a terrible performance, but far from good. Of course, I've gone back to wanting to commit a homicide and frame Nani for it, so perhaps my judgement is clouded.

Bale saved my fantasy squad this weekend. What happened with all your guys? Did they just not play this weekend?

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 12:53 PM ET  08.23 by Geezus

Friedel has found himself on the wrong end of a few 6-0 smashes this year. Chelsea is one thing, but Newcastle?? C'MON!!

I think Newcastle is a team that may surprise... relegation may be what it took to wake them up, from the top straight on down.... and besides... Joey Barton really wanted to shave off that terrible mustache.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 12:55 PM ET  08.23 by Geezus

Bale saved my fantasy squad this weekend. What happened with all your guys? Did they just not play this weekend?

The EPL is a dead animal right now. Best games of the weekend were Bayern-Wolfsburg and Roma-Inter (which was as violent a game I've seen in a while). Sammy Eto'o is not of this Earth.

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 12:46 PM ET  08.23 by D Richey

Clint Dempsey played aggressively for 61 minutes before being replaced by Dembele in Fulham's 2-2 tie with Manchester Utd.

Dembele is there to replace Clint ... can smell that one already. Hope he doesn't end up at Blackpool over this arrival. Agree with LVG, I thought he was rather vague for most of those 61 minutes. But Landon takes anonymous to a new level over that performance against San Jose.

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 12:46 PM ET  08.23 by D Richey

Stuart Holden was first-class this weekend at CM, as he led Bolton to a 3-1 victory over a Spector-less West Ham.

Being first class on Bolton is like watching Georgie Thompson from Sky Sports on HD for the first time - what a letdown.

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 01:14 PM ET  08.23 by gone

Sammy Eto'o is not of this Earth.

I refuse to walk with Eto'o in a dark alley.

Ibrahimovic deal: 30 million + Borriello.

QUOTE:

Originally posted by

I'm not ready to stick a fork in the EPL quite yet. Two weekends a season does not make. With that said, the bottom third of the EPL is gonna be poor, with the 19th and 20th place teams, i.e. Blackpool and West Ham, being dropped by the first weekend of April.

Ancelotti called it "Playstation Football" this weekend. In all of his years in Serie A as a player and a manager he has not seen worse defenses than what he's seen in the EPL. And I'm not just talking about the zombie act at Wigan - it's one thing to shutout a team, it's another to go untested because the bulk of the opponents can't even string five passes together in the offensive third. I think I saw two teams this weekend with that capability.

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 01:16 PM ET  08.23 by gone

Dembele is there to replace Clint ... can smell that one already. Hope he doesn't end up at Blackpool over this arrival. Agree with LVG, I thought he was rather vague for most of those 61 minutes. But Landon takes anonymous to a new level over that performance against San Jose.

I think Clint was involved in a number of pushes up field and inter-connecting passes at the doorstep of the box. Unfortunately, Fulham, looked one pass off most of the day.

Dembele is exactly that--a replacement for Dempsey, but I don't see it. He looked the lesser passer and a little stiff on the ball when he did have it yesterday--but it was his first game. All and all, I did like that fact that Clint let it fly when he had those few chances. And I like him as the link player in the 4-4-1-1. He had some good touches, TLVG...

Missed the SJ game.

As for Holden--he was quality all day long with the English announcers complimenting him throughout the game for being "very skilled" having "good vision" and "great positioning and passing." So, I'm not going to be joking about this one. Its sad enough that Spector has been kicked to the curb, EJ thinks he doesn't get PT because he's American, and Freidel and AV got thrashed (AGAIN)...

I'm not in much of a good mood when essentailly the only American whose play stood out in the EPL this week was Holden. Howard and Hahnemann were pretty relaible, and Dempsey had some moments... But only Holden had a genuinely superb game.

QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 01:46 PM ET  08.23 by D Richey

I'm not in much of a good mood when essentailly the only American whose play stood out in the EPL this week was Holden.

you need a higher appreciation for the skill of former Clemson standouts :D

QUOTE(#17):

Originally posted 01:56 PM ET  08.23 by CU Tiger

you need a higher appreciation for the skill of former Clemson standouts :D

Maybe so....

QUOTE:

Originally posted by

Like I said, it wasn't a terrible match for him. Average with glimpses of potential. All things being equal, I like Dempsey taking those outside shots because he's very capable of hitting them. I thought United did a pretty good job of containing him and Zamora for most of the match, though I'm beginning to question the long-term viability of Jonny Evans as anything more than a squad player. He was out of position a lot. Vidic aside, the United back four looked like Swiss cheese the final 15 minutes yesterday.

At least Mr Own Goal made his appearance. The Cottage is not an easy place to go get three points, anyway.

QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 01:46 PM ET  08.23 by D Richey

As for Holden--he was quality all day long with the English announcers complimenting him throughout the game for being "very skilled" having "good vision" and "great positioning and passing."

He plays for ... drum roll, please ... Bolton. So wish he went to Germany instead where they do put value in younger players. Some of these same English announcers were calling it "clinical finishing" by Chelsea when it really was "autopsy finishing" because the opposing defenses were DOA. At least Ancelotti has the decency to call it what it was - and I'll say it here first: Chelsea is no way that good, but Wigan and West Brown ARE that bad.

QUOTE:

Originally posted by

Hey, don't knock Own Goal! Bargain signing of the 2009-10 EPL season and you know it!

According to reports, Ibra has agreed personal terms with Milan and he will sign on Friday. The move will be on loan. I could live with an Ibra-Pato pairing up top. Not thrilled with Ibra, but it has more goals in it than KJH or Marco with Pato. I guess the 74th richest man in the world finally decided to give a present to someone other than an 18 year old girl.

Always bread and circus with Silvio.

QUOTE(#21):

Originally posted 02:18 PM ET  08.23 by gone

He plays for ... drum roll, please ... Bolton. So wish he went to Germany instead where they do put value in younger players. Some of these same English announcers were calling it "clinical finishing" by Chelsea when it really was "autopsy finishing" because the opposing defenses were DOA. At least Ancelotti has the decency to call it what it was - and I'll say it here first: Chelsea is no way that good, but Wigan and West Brown ARE that bad.

You have to give Owen Coyle props though--he made the effort to make sure Holden came with him to Bolton when he arrived last year. He's had his eye on Stuart for some time, and my understanding of his backing of Holden in the midfield came at the expense of some of the other players expressing their lack of "trust" in Stew-eee's ability to do the job... Regardless, Coyle stick with the youngster and he seems to be committed to allowing Holden to grow as a player "on the job." You know how I feel about Germany--I wish more Americans would go there as well, but it is what it is right now.

QUOTE(#24):

Originally posted 02:27 PM ET  08.23 by gone

According to reports, Ibra has agreed personal terms with Milan and he will sign on Friday. The move will be on loan. I could live with an Ibra-Pato pairing up top. Not thrilled with Ibra, but it has more goals in it than KJH or Marco with Pato. I guess the 74th richest man in the world finally decided to give a present to someone other than an 18 year old girl.Always bread and circus with Silvio.

So Ibra will have all kinds of friends in Milan and Turin now that he has played for Juve, Inter, and soon Milan. Lucky guy.

QUOTE(#25):

Originally posted 02:35 PM ET  08.23 by D Richey

You have to give Owen Coyle props though

I wouldn't say that near a Burnley supporter haha