Always fun to guess...

Since today is that last day to speculate before the January transfer window opens, I am going give you a few of my predicted transfers. I figure it will be fun to look at retrospectively when I go 0 for 5.

RSC and Wayne Bridge to Man City

Pennant to Real Madrid

Nobody famous to Arsenal (all transfers will be under 8 mil if they buy)

Paddy Kenny to Middlesbrough 

Post some of your predictions so I don't look like the only fool. 

Never slap a Griffin

When Ricardo Fuller was shown a red card this week after slapping his own teammate Andy Griffin, I was left baffled. Before then I had never heard of an player being sent off for getting into a fight with a player on his own team. In fact, I remember an incident between Adebayor and Bendtner during a drubbing at the hands of Tottenham in the Carling Cup, but not being reprimanded. Despite this, there is indeed precedent for sending off players on the same team for fighting (for example Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer on Newcastle 4/2/05). I guess this is just one of those hazy areas in the rules of football, and consequently is left to the referee's discretion. At least in my mind, I have always thought of the red card as a tool to punish those that exhibit brash physical treatment of their opponent. What are your thoughts? Should players like Fuller be sent off for bickering with their own teammates?

Quit while you are ahead...

"AC Milan club doctor Jean Pierre Meersseman believes loan signing David Beckham can continue playing for another five years at least, by which time the midfielder will be 38 years old... He has an exceptional physique which will allow him, as happened to (Paolo) Maldini"
-Soccernet.com


A recent trend has emerged that sours my mouth every time I think about it. Recently, football players have been dragging out their careers for tremendous lengths of time, and wind up retiring when the league one side they play for kick their 42-year-old asses to the curb. I know the doctor says Beckham can play until he is 38, but for Becks' sake I hope he does not follow in the footsteps of a few disgraceful Manchester United legends (Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham, I'm looking at you). Hopefully, close interaction with the pile of wrinkles that is now Paolo Maldini will make him appreciate that extending your career with one year contract extensions hoping that you'll get that rush of winning the CL just one more time is not a pretty way to leave the game. You would think from the way that they elongate their careers that they will be banned from soccer the minute they stop playing. For heavens sake, go into management when your knees are so bad you can only play once every two weeks. On a seperate but related note, it is unsurprising that the AC Milan doctor would be the one to proclaim this given his track record.

Here is a link that ties it all together:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=603338&25&&cc=5901

Introduction

My name is Matthew Fisher, and I am currently a senior at the Dalton High school in New York City. My vision for this blog is to be an open forum for discussion about fantasy soccer as well as the real game. In truth, I have two ulterior motives for creating this blog. First, in order to become Bobby McMahon, I must have a blog like he does. And second, I thought the only way I could give a proper 21 gun salute to the now departed* Mitch Peacock was to create this blog in his honor. So enjoy, and feel free to ask questions when the discussions get too cryptic.

*has departed from Fox Soccer Report

Here is a list of essential vocab and abbreviations:

CL = Champions League
IMO = in my opinion
UC = uefa cup
RSC = Roque Santa Cruz
SWP = Shaun Wright Phillips
Stevie G = Steven Gerrard
Young = 99.5% chance I am talking about ASHLEY Young, not Luke
RVN = Ruud Van Nistelrooy
RVP = Robin Van Persie
RVV = Rafael Van der Vaart
Cron = Cristiano Ronaldo

Barn door= the time between the end of a premiership game and when yahoo updates their fantasy prices.