Sky Sports v Technology.

With reference to Reading's first goal against Liverpool (a contentious penalty) the Premier League Review Show commentator (Dave Becket?) says that it is difficult for referees with only a split second to make decisions, but these decisions "even themselves out" over the course of a season. He cites a penalty awarded to Liverpool earlier in the season despite the foul on the Liverpool player having been committed outside the penalty area.

Two wrongs make a right, then.

This is the same old anti-technology argument regurgitated once more.

When will the world of football wake up and join the twenty-first century? With violence returning to the game and corruption seemingly widespread, it is now time for FIFA to make a stand and to regularise the game by the use of technology to monitor matches and help referees come to their decisions.
WE NEED VIDEO EVIDENCE NOW!

Penalty-Taking Law.

According to a pundit on Fox Soccer Channel program "Super Sunday Plus," a player running up towards the stationary ball placed on the penalty mark in order to take a penalty kick may hesitate but not stop and then restart his or her run-up to the ball.

We at watchsoccer.blogspot.com have looked at the Laws and we cannot find reference to the pundit's assertation about stopping and starting a run-up.

Here is what the Laws of the Game have to say on the matter:

Law 14
Feinting to take a penalty kick to confuse opponents is permitted as
part of football. However, if in the opinion of the referee the feinting
is considered an act of unsporting behaviour, the player shall be
cautioned.

USA 2 - 0 Brazil [U17 friendly] 8th December 2007.

USA u17 1 - 0 Brazil u17
For you scouts who missed this one, here are some thoughts on some of the players on show here today in Florida for the Development Academy Nike Friendlies tournament.

For the U.S. team, there is a lot of talent on show. The full US national team has a bright future with these guys in the picture.

Carlos Martinez. He started the move in midfield that led to his nice goal - a deft flick with the outside of his foot with both feet off the ground. Seems willing to tackle and block as well as create.

Joseph-Michael Gyau[pronounced "Jao"]. He fed the ball to Martinez for his goal and looked a threat because he was so comfortable on the ball in midfield, though he was dispossessed once in the game. Looks like a real prospect for the future. Unexpected pullbackturn with back to goal on edge of box beat two Brazilian defenders.

Charles Renken. Only thirteen, but has trained with the full US national team. Very calm and composed on the ball. Was badly fouled by Mauricio and had to leave the pitch in the second half. He wants to play in Europe. He is, like Dennis Bergkamp, afraid of flying in aircraft.

Earl Edwards [GK]. Made ten saves, though none of these required great effort. Good positioning at near post to make saves. Looked proficient and solid.

Stefan Jerome. Scored the second goal from the penalty spot - opened his body at the last second to hit the ball right-footed past the Brazilian keeper's left hand. The penalty came after his skill on the ball caused a Brazilian defender to handle the ball on the ground. Good ball skills and perhaps the player with the most potential.

Brazil:

Their only player of note was Cotinho, number 8 attacking midfielder. The US bested their Latin American counterparts in every department.





Kitchen

Managers.

Gerard Houllier has ruled himself out of the job of $1m-a-year coach of South Korea. Is he keeping himself free to take up the England job, the Scotland job, the Ireland job, or the Australia job?

While we're at it, it seems that Philippe Troussier, the man who succeeded in getting his team to progress beyond the group stage but who left out his form players in Japan's 2002 World Cup loss to Turkey, has arrived Down Under. Will the Antipodeans go for the peripatetic almost-man?

Oh, and the KFA, the football association of the Republic of Korea, is reportedly mightily disappointed by, er, Mick McCarthy's rejection of their offer to teach the South Korean national team. Mick obviously reckons Wolverhampton is exotic enough for him.

Konami in league with Massive.

According to ClickZ, Konami Digital Entertainment has "signed on with Massive for in-game advertising with ProEvolution Soccer 2008."
That video game advertising group is a subsidiary of Microsoft company. Car manufacturers Opel and Renault already advertise in the game.

Max Bretos on Finance.

According to Fox Soccer Channel's Max Bretos soccer has an "image problem". He used the example of Argentina's former powerhouse River Plate club which brought in $60,000,000 from the sale of players to other clubs, yet River still has financial problems. Max says: "There must be more clarity" and "Clubs must must open their books".

Tottenham Hotspur 2 Birmingham 3

Tottenham Hotspur 2 Birmingham City 3
Keane (48, 52); McSheffrey (24), Jerome (62), Larsson (90).
A great start for new manager Alex McLeish. A mobile Birmingham team beat Spurs with a brilliant stoppage-time winner from Larsson, who powerfully bent the ball away from ex-England keeper Robinson into the top corner of the net.
Two factors contributed to the win: the sending off of Spurs' best player Robbie Keane, who'd already scored two goals [video evidence would have helped the referee in making this call - would Spurs have lost if he had still been on the pitch?]; and the bringing onto the field of forward Forssell when many other managers would have shored up a midfield that was being bossed by Spurs' Tom Huddlestone (how Derby must wish they could've held on to him).
The introduction by McLeish of ex-Juventus player Olivier Kapo, not well known in England but a French u21 midfielder with an excellent record of three goals in nine international matches, added real class to the attacking side of Birmingham's game. With a bit of strengthening of the City defence, Birmingham look like they will pose problems to any opponent. Jerome too was a handful up front for the feeble-looking Spurs defence, and scored a great individual goal to bring the scores level at 2 - 2.
Spurs are still lacking in the the following areas: centre backs, defensive midfield and goalkeeper.