After spending yesterday holed up in meetings discussing ESPN.com's new redesign (check out the BETA here if you haven't already), here's what I'm thinking about Tuesday:
1. Is Brad Friedel the best U.S. player ever? Given that Friedel isn't even unaminously considered to be the best U.S. goalkeeper ever, this is a question that is sure to stoke some heated debate -- but it's one that needs to be seriously considered. One person that certainly doesn't need convincing is Aston Villa coach Martin O'Neill, who rates Friedel as being on a par with two of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of the game, Peter Shilton and Pat Jennings. O'Neill's in a better position than most to judge -- he played with the two legends and now coaches Friedel, who's certainly been a huge factor in Aston Villa's rise this season, which sees the Villans on the cusp of a Champions League spot. Even more telling is the fall of Friedel's former club Blackburn since the club and now-fired coach Paul Ince foolishly decided it could replace him with Paul Robinson.
2. Speaking of the English Premier League … For years the Premiership has billed itself as the world's most exciting league, and for years it really wasn't (not unless one was a fan of one-horse races ostensibly decided by Christmas). However, this year's race is really shaping up as a thriller with three teams (Liverpool, Chelsea and Man United) all in with a strong shout, and two teams (Aston Villa and Arsenal) vying for the fourth spot. The reason neither Liverpool and Chelsea haven't been able to pull away from the pack isn't, as some pundits suggest, their propensity to drop points carelessly, but due to the fact that the Premiership from top to bottom now is arguably stronger than it's ever been. Most games are no longer the slam-dunk three points they once were. Only six points separate relegation-placed Manchester City in 18th spot from Fulham, who is in eighth place. Here's my thumbnail overview of how I see the contenders as we reach the Xmas break (as they currently stand):
Liverpool -- The Reds are mounting their first-ever real challenge under Rafa Benitez, but with
Fernando Torres waylaid by chronic hamstring injuries this season, they've lacked the cutting edge needed to carve open visiting teams that set their stall out to defend at Anfield. Benitez's men have done incredibly well to stay atop of the league in Torres' absence, but unless Torres is fit and scoring with his usual panache in the second half, the title is unlikely to return to Anfield. The wild card in all of this remains
Robbie Keane. If Keane can pick up the slack for Torres and/or form an effective partnership with him, then anything is possible.
Chelsea -- Phil Scolari has achieved what many thought impossible in that he's actually made Chelsea more likeable, and hand-in-hand with that, far more entertaining to watch. On the downside, the Blues have been plagued with injuries and don't have the depth in reserve they used to. More ominous has been the dramatic dip in form of playmaker Deco, who was a revelation in the first two months of the season, but lately has just been treading water.
Aston Villa -- While O'Neill's men will push for the fourth spot down to the wire, there's no realistic chance of the team contending for the title (despite only being five points off the lead at present time). The Villans lack the depth to survive injuries to any of their key players, and if the rumors of Real Madrid trying to prise
Ashley Young away in January are true, an enforced sale of the winger will most certainly end their Champions League hopes. Villa are also far more vulnerable than the Big Four to dropping points against the weaker teams.
Man United -- The juggernaut that swept all before it last year hasn't been the same this season. If anything, all signs point to the acquisition of Dimitar Berbatov. Berbatov hasn't actually played badly, but his inclusion in the starting lineup has broken up the Wayne Rooney-Carlos Tevez-Cristiano Ronaldo forward line that combined so effectively last season. With the boundless energy provided by both Rooney or Tevez often making way for Berbatov's exquisite but laconic skills, United's attack seems to have suffered correspondingly. On the plus side, the young Brazilian right back Rafael looks like a bonafide star in the making, and United are masters at overhauling a points deficit.
Arsenal -- By far the most enigmatic of the "Big Four," the Gunners have frustrated fans this season by their ability to beat anyone on any given day, and at the same time lose to anyone on any given day. The weaknesses of the current lineup are obvious to all (a lack of a midfield ball-winner to replace the departed Mathieu Flamini and a stalwart center back). Even more infuriating for Arsenal fans is the knowledge that coach Arsene Wenger has the money available to fix his problems, but remains determined to build via his youth policy. With the news that Cesc Fabregas has been ruled out for four months, Wenger has to spend wisely in January. If he does, the Gunners can still challenge, but the likelihood is that Arsenal is more likely to be trying to fend off Villa for the fourth spot.
3. Turning down Stephen Appiah? According to Steven Goff of the Washington Post, Ghanaian captain Stephen Appiah was supposedly in the States offering his services to MLS recently. Apparently his salary demands were for $2 million a season. If true, and considering the greater salary offers for him in Europe, it would seem that Appiah was willing to take a discount to play in MLS. Given his age (28) and style of play (a two-way all-action midfield player), I'm surprised that he wasn't able to find a taker for his services. Signing a "name" player who's on the right side of 30 would have been a coup for MLS.
4. Club World Cup. After watching Man United beat LDU Quito 1-0 to win the Club World Cup, admittedly I had only one thought: Seeing AIG blazoned all over Man United's shirt, I couldn't help but think that if justice were truly to be served in this world, Sir Alex Ferguson's men would be wearing shirts that said "Courtesy of U.S. taxpayers" and not AIG.
In any case, that's all from me for now. Have a good Christmas break.
Jen Chang
