What to Watch
// October 29th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized
Remember that Europe changed its clocks last weekend, and we haven’t yet, so start times for games are an hour later than usual. Also remember that it’s Halloween.
Saturday
Arsenal v Tottenham, 8:45, ESPN2 - Remember when Tottenham on four straight to start the season? Remember when they beat Liverpoool? Then they lost Luka Modric, and have gone 2-1-3. Despite an odd draw at West Ham last week, Arsenal are still the best team in the Premiership — only losses were away to United and City. Watch them destroy Tottenham in glorious HDTV. Yum. After two months, I’m giving a lukewarm thumbs-up to the Adrian Healey-Robbite Mustoe commentary team — it could be a lot worse!
A bit more on this game. Robbie Keane made headlines today for claiming that Tottenham squad is as good, player-for-player, as Arsenal’s. Obviously, that’s hard to measure objectively, but it’s not untrue that Tottenham has some good players. Keane only seems to be missing the “playing well together” angle, which Arsenal does much, much better, and which can be important out there on the soccer field.
Fulham v Liverpool, 11am, Setanta – A game with classic slip-up potential for Liverpool this week after beating United last weekend. Only wrench in that is that they already lost midweek in the Carling Cup, so they might actually be bouncing back already from said inevitable slip-up. If Clint Dempsey scores again, he better do some Halloween-themed celebration for all us Americans watching. Just for the record, my girlfriend and I are dressing up as Michael Jackson’s children. Coincidentally (?), you’ll remember that Dempsey did a quick Michael Jackson leg-kick/crotch-grab after scoring against Brazil in the Confed Cup this summer, just days after MJ passed away. I wonder if anyone would notice a difference on the field if Yossi Benayoun dressed up like Steven Gerrard. I mean really, Yossi’s not-so-great looks must be why doesn’t get enough credit, right? Why hasn’t there been more made out of the fact that Liverpool ran the game against United with Yossi, rather than Gerrard, pulling the strings? Obviously, Torres’ finish against United was terrific, but what about that pass? Through three defenders with just enough curve to get into El Nino’s path? Watch it again. Ridonkulous. If Gerrard makes that pass, we’d be hearing about it for weeks.
Getafe v Real Madrid, 1pm, ESPNDeportes - In case you missed it, Real Madrid lost a midweek Cup game 4-0(!) to a third-level team called Alcorcon. 4-0. For real. I’m not joking. After losing to Old Man Milan and drawing 0-0 to Sporting Gijon, things will be verrrry interesting this weekend, because Getafe is a very good team, despite the fact that one of their best players from last year (Esteben Granero) now plays for Madrid. Getafe’s #10, Juan Albin, should be the #10 for Uruguay, but for some reason they never call him up. Sigh.
Osasuna v Barcelona, 3pm, GolTV – They’re baa-aack! Six goals against Zaragoza last week, and more are in store this weekend. Seydou Keita is making the leap from being the new Phillipe Cocu to the new Luis Enrique. He does everything well. Watch and enjoy.
Juventus v Napoli, 5:30pm (delayed), FSE - I hate Milan, so I was very happy to see Napoli score two goals in stoppage time to get a draw midweek. Juventus seem to be putting it together; Diego remains a joy, Amauri is scoring again, and Felipe Melo is the most underrated midfielder in the world. Napoli’s youngsters are good, but you keep waiting for them to get that much better, and maybe it just won’t happen. Oh, well.
Posted by Lazar
