Where Arsenal is going without Henry ?

2007.06.27

LONDON -- Thierry Henry's departure for FC Barcelona has raised several questions at Arsenal.

Who will replace him? Will manager Arsene Wenger be staying? And can the club still challenge for titles?

Henry led Arsenal's attack for eight years but agreed to join Barcelona last weekend after previously saying he would stay with the London club for as long as Wenger was in charge.

That has increased speculation among media and fans over Wenger's position after a season in which the club was unsettled by boardroom wrangles and finished a disappointing fourth in the Premier League for a second straight year.

Nicolas Anelka, Carlos Tevez, Michael Owen, Samuel Eto'o and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar are among players mentioned as replacements for Henry, but any top player thinking of joining the club is likely to want to know whether Wenger will stay.

Wenger, the most successful manager in Arsenal's 121-year history, has just one year left on his contract. While he has never broken a contract and is unlikely to leave now, it is unclear whether Wenger will sign a new one.

Arsenal fans had long feared this could happen.

Henry had been linked with a move to Barcelona for more than a year and came close to moving after the Catalan club beat Arsenal 2-1 in the 2006 Champions League final. He opted instead to sign a new contract and succeeded Patrick Vieira as club captain, but rumors of a move continued.

Henry said it was the departure of vice chairman David Dein in April that had changed his mind and led to the $32 million move. Dein, a friend to both Henry and Wenger, quit after falling out with other members of the board over his support for a possible takeover.

"Before Mr. Dein left, for whatever reason, I went to the boss and said I don't want to leave," Henry said. "But after Mr. Dein left, that unsettled the team and the boss.

"He (Wenger) said he will see out his contract but you cannot be sure if he is going to go or stay. Hopefully, he is going to stay but I need to be certain and reassured of that."

While Wenger has made no public comment about his plans, Arsenal fans can draw comfort from the fact that he has been linked with Real Madrid and Barcelona before and always opted to stay. He has helped the team recover and flourish despite the sale or retirement of seemingly irreplaceable stars including Patrick Vieira, Marc Overmars and Tony Adams.

The winner of three Premier League titles and four FA Cups, Wenger has also overseen the club's move to the Emirates Stadium and it would be no surprise if he was to rebuild the team again, particularly with his young players attracting rave reviews.

A second-string side, including the likes of defender Armand Traore and midfielders Denilson and Vassiriki Diaby, reached last season's League Cup final.

Wenger is also reportedly set to appoint former Arsenal midfielder Gilles Grimandi as director of football to oversee transfers -- one of Dein's former roles -- suggesting that he is thinking of the future.

One of Wenger's first moves of the offseason could be to re-sign Anelka from Bolton. Several British papers have reported that Wenger wants to sign him, eight years after the France striker threatened to go on strike at Arsenal if he was not allowed to join Real Madrid.

Anelka was dubbed "The Incredible Sulk" by media and fans for his behavior, but got his move to Madrid, who paid $46 million for a player Wenger signed for $999,000 just two years earlier.

Anelka failed to settle at Madrid or at any of the five clubs he has since played for, but Wenger has never criticized his behavior.

With $36 million to spend on new players after the sale of Henry and Jeremie Aliadiere, and more funds if Jose Antonio Reyes is sold as expected, the future could yet be bright for Arsenal.

Argentina wan a piece of Copa

2007.06.27

With a roster stocked with first-team talent, Argentina is dead serious about winning its first Copa América title in 14 years.


The Copa América isn't strictly the Brazil and Argentina Show, though the intrigue surrounding South America's biggest powerhouses certainly suggests otherwise.

Kaká, Ronaldinho and Zé Roberto have all pulled out of Brazil's squad. Argentina, meanwhile, is at full strength. Coach Alfio Basile is crowing about the fact, while his striker, Carlos Tévez, has been pondering whether the Brazilians have the same love for their national-team jersey as his teammates.

The explanation is simple enough. Argentina has gone 14 long years without winning a senior title. Its last trophy, in Basile's first spell in charge, was the Copa América way back in 1993.

Since then Brazil has racked up three Copa América wins -- its first ever away from home -- plus two big ones, the World Cup wins of '94 and 2002, putting it 5-2 ahead of Argentina in the all time tally.

It is easier, then, for some of the Brazilians to be a bit more blasé about this Copa América. For the Argentines it's a big thing; members of their squad have won world under-20 titles and the Olympic gold medal. But a senior title has eluded them. Some -- the likes of Roberto Ayala, Javier Zanetti, Juan Sebastián Verón and Hernán Crespo -- will not have many more chances.

From a rational point of view, Basile's priority in this Copa is to prepare a side for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers. But on an emotional basis, Argentina's desire to lift the trophy pulses very strongly indeed.

This is why Argentina has not only been free of stars pulling out, it has also picked up the last-minute acquisition of Juan Román Riquelme. The elegant playmaker went back on the decision he took last September to retire from international soccer, and was hurriedly incorporated into the squad.

The addition of Riquelme has forced a rethink in Basile's plans. He had intended to use Lionel Messi in a free role behind his strikers, Crespo and Tévez. But with Riquelme back, Messi will probably be pushed further forward, with Tévez dropping to the bench.

All the fuss about Riquelme is overshadowing the fact that Verón is set to play his first international match in almost four years.

Having Riquelme and Verón in the same midfield will delight the purists. A balance with pragmatism has to be found, however, and for this reason the tenacity of Javier Mascherano is likely to land him the holding midfield slot ahead of the more constructive Fernando Gago.

At the back, it's unfortunate that Ezequiel Garay hasn't been considered after an injury forced him out of Argentina's recent friendlies. The giant young Racing Santander center back could have provided the towering presence that has been missing at the heart of the Argentina defense in recent times.

There is no lack of height at the back for Brazil, however, with Naldo, the tallest player ever to represent the country, competing with man mountain Alex for the right to partner Juan at center back. But of course it's attacking flair that everyone expects from Brazil -- and even at full strength it has been in short supply of late

In hindsight it's clear that far too much was read into Brazil's 4-1 win over Argentina in the final of the 2005 Confederations Cup. Under strength and low on gas, Argentina nevertheless went out to attack, and backed up by its flying fullbacks, Brazil's magic quartet picked them off on the break.

A year later, in the serious stuff in Germany, no one would play into the hands of the Brazilian counterattack. Top heavy and without fluency, Carlos Alberto Parreira's side never convinced.

In came former national-teamer Dunga to pick up the pieces. "Team before stars" was his motto. He showed he was starting over by initially leaving Kaká and Ronaldinho on the bench. But as soon as Kaká was introduced, he played so well that he won not only his place back, but also the leadership of the attack and the confidence of the coach -- making his withdrawal from the Copa a bitter blow for Dunga.

But Brazil produces so much talent that one man absence is another's opportunity, as Adriano proved in the last Copa América. Now Werder Bremen playmaker Diego has a wonderful chance to establish himself in the side. And his old Santos buddy Robinho also has extra responsibility thrust upon him. At the very highest level, is the Real Madrid wunderkind promise or reality? With some of the big names missing, perhaps it's time to find out. If he steps up to the plate, Brazil will feel well capable of winning its fourth Copa in five tournaments.

Going into the competition Argentina and Brazil are, of course, the obvious favorites. But the Copa can be difficult to predict. The group phase eliminates just four of the 12 countries -- a single victory is usually enough to guarantee qualification for the knockout rounds. And from then on, it's straight to penalties if scores are level after 90 minutes. So the possibility of a surprise is always present.

Uruguay could be the ones to supply it this time. Well over a year into his second spell in charge, Oscar Washington Tabárez is molding a side with a clearly defined tactical approach: a 4-3-3 system that gets full value from the tricky wingers the country traditionally produces. Uruguay has been placed in the easiest of the three groups, and has the added fortune that two of its games are in Mérida, with the coolest climate of the nine host cities.

The draw has not been so favorable to Chile, however, but it should be worth watching. The Chileans can count on some interesting emerging talent, especially in attacking midfield, where Matías Fernández has the look of a young Kaká and Jorge Valdivia is an old-fashioned, twinkle-toed No. 10. In recent friendlies, Chile has found it difficult to balance the inclusion of such players with the need for defensive solidity.

But wily old coach Nelson Acosta has no had some time to work with his team, and the results should be fascinating. With Brazil and Mexico ahead of it, much could depend on Chile's opener against Ecuador.

Much is the same of the Group C curtain-raiser between Colombia and Paraguay, two sides that are entering new eras under fresh coaches. Both have struggled for goals. Paraguay's Gerardo Martino is trying to get his side to play higher up the field, while Colombia's Jorge Luis Pinto is putting his faith in a new generation of strikers.

South America's other sides come full of question marks. Can Venezuela, whose only win in the competition cam 40 years ago, cope with the expectations its home public is heaping upon it? After beating South Africa on the road, is Bolivia finally ready to move forward? How will Peru fare with coach Uribe's controversial turn to 3-5-2? And can Ecuador continue the momentum it worked up reaching the second round of last year's World Cup?

And as has become customary, the field is completed by two invited nations from CONCACAF. Mexico has traditionally done well in the Copa América, and will have to do so again to ease the pressure on coach Hugo Sánchez.

Then there's the U.S., back for the first time since reaching the '95 semifinals. The results might occasionally suggest otherwise, but to these eyes at least, the Americans have improved through all of the last five World Cups. They are a rising force, whose strength in depth will be put to the test in Venezuela -- starting at the deep end on Thursday night against Argentina

Strippers, sex acts alleged at golf outing

2007.06.26

Most golf outings feature standard forms of entertainment, like closest-to-the-hole and longest drive contests. But the activities allegedly on offer at a golf event held this week in Stroudsburg, Penn. have become the subject of a police investigation.

According to a report in the Pocono Record, the event at Cherry Valley Golf Course featured bikini-clad, topless and nude women, some of whom were performing lap dances for golfers. Others are alleged to have performed sex acts with each other.

The birdie burlesque came to light when a local man, Dave Gold, 20, was denied access to a road near the course. Gold claims that when he informed a course employee that he needed to access the road to reach a friend's house, the employee threatened him, saying, "I'll kick your ass," and "I'll break your neck."

Along with a friend, Will Croasdale, Gold then stood across the road and recorded pictures and video of what was happening on the course. And what they saw was far from a typical golf outing.

"They had stations around the course with lawn chairs and blankets laid out," said Croasdale. According to the two amateur investigators, the stations featured scantily clad and naked women, some of whom were gyrating on golfers or performing lewd acts with each other. Gold and Croasdale also claim that they saw money exchanged between the parties, even overhearing the women refer to their posts as "pay to play stations."

Stroudsburg Area Regional Police were called in to investigate. After questioning course owner, Gene Percudani, and a representative for the women-who are reported to be dancers at CR Fanny's Gentlemen's Club in Wilson, Penn.-police were still unsure if any laws had been broken. One of the cops called to the course, Officer Ruben Torres, would only say "This is an ongoing investigation."

Wrestler, family dead

Bodies of Benoit, wife and son discovered in Ga. home

2007.06.26

Pro wrestler Chris Benoit canceled a pay-per-view appearance at the "Vengeance" event in Houston because of "personal reasons" a day before he, his wife and their 7-year-old son were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide.

Details of the deaths "are going to prove a little bizarre" when released to the public, Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Autopsies were scheduled Tuesday by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in DeKalb County.

Authorities were investigating the deaths at a secluded Fayette County home as a murder-suicide and were not seeking any suspects.

Investigators believe Benoit, (pronounced ben-WAH) killed his wife and son over the weekend and then himself sometime Monday. The bodies were found Monday afternoon in three different rooms of the house on Green Meadow Lane, in a subdivision off a gravel road about two miles from the Whitewater Country Club.

Ballard told The Associated Press a gun was not used in any of the deaths. But he declined to say how the three died.

"We're pretty sure we know, but we want to confirm it with the crime lab," Ballard said early Tuesday.

Fayette County Coroner C.J. Mowell did not return phone calls. The answering service for his funeral home said he was out of town.

World Wrestling Entertainment said on its Web site that it asked authorities to check on Benoit and his family after being alerted by friends who received "several curious text messages sent by Benoit early Sunday morning."

Sheriff's Lt. Tommy Pope told WSB-TV that the three were found about 2:30 p.m., but he wouldn't release other details.

Stamford, Conn.-based WWE also said on its Web site it had been asked by authorities not to release further information on the deaths of Benoit, 40; his wife, Nancy, 43; and son, Daniel.

Benoit was born in Montreal. He was a former world heavyweight champion, Intercontinental champion and held several tag-team titles over his career. He was known by several names including "The Canadian Crippler."

"WWE extends its sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Benoit family's relatives and loved ones in this time of tragedy," the company said in a statement on its Web site.

Benoit had maintained a home in metro Atlanta from the time he wrestled for the defunct World Championship Wrestling.

The WWE canceled its live "Monday Night RAW" card in Corpus Christi, Texas, and USA Network aired a three-hour tribute to Benoit in place of the scheduled wrestling telecast.

Benoit's wife managed several wrestlers and went by the stage name, "Woman," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

They met when her then-husband drew up a script that had them involved in a relationship as part of an ongoing story line on World Championship Wrestling, the newspaper said.

Benoit has two other children from a prior relationship.

Soccer News...

2007-06-20

Reyes set to join Atletico Madrid

MADRID: Jose Antonio Reyes is all set to sign for Atletico Madrid, according to the online version of Marca on Monday evening.

Real Madrid have decided not to extend his loan period from Arsenal, despite the winger scoring two decisive goals in Sunday’s league-clinching 3-1 defeat of Mallorca.

Reyes went from Arsenal to Real in July 2006 in exchange for Julio Baptista, who has not settled in London and would like another chance in Madrid.

Barca to undergo major overhaul

MADRID: The Barcelona squad will undergo a major overhaul in the close season after the players failed to show the required levels of commitment and professionalism, club president Joan Laporta said.

“This season we played with fire and got burned,” Laporta was quoted as saying in the Spanish media on Monday. “The time for analysis has now come and I have to admit that we have all made mistakes.

“We need to carry out a thorough renewal of the squad in terms of professionalism, commitment and enthusiasm.”

Strong favourites to win a third successive league title at the halfway point in the season, Barca let the opportunity slip from their grasp and surrendered the championship to arch-rivals Real Madrid.

They suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at the hands of Getafe in the semi-finals of the King’s Cup and also failed to live up to expectation in the Champions League when they went out against Liverpool in the first knockout round.

Shearer expects Owen to stay with the Magpies

LONDON: Newcastle legend Alan Shearer said on Monday he is convinced Michael Owen has no choice but to stay with the Magpies next season because no club will run the risk of buying a player who has spent nearly two seasons struggling with injuries.

The 27-year-old England international is yet to reveal his plans amid suggestions he could leave Tyneside under a release clause in his contract.

However, former England team-mate Shearer, who played a key role in persuading the then Real Madrid frontman to make his £17mil switch to Newcastle, believes he will remain at the club.

“To be honest, I don’t think anyone would be prepared to pay £10mil or £11mil for him until they have seen him play for five or six months,” said Shearer.

Real coach hints at quitting, Schuster eyes job

MILAN: Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello has said he may quit coaching if he leaves the new Spanish champions.

Real won their first title in four years on Sunday after a 3-1 comeback victory over Real Mallorca helped them pip Barcelona on the final day of the season.

Despite Capello delivering the title in his first season back, his future remains uncertain with club president Ramon Calderon offering only lukewarm support.

“The best squads already have coaches, which means I could even quit with two years’ pay,” Capello told Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview yesterday.

“It is like tossing a coin into the air,” he said when asked about the chances of staying at Real.

“I only know that I would like to stay to win the Champions League. I have already booked a plane ticket to return on July 19, because we start training on the 20th.”

Since February, when Real looked to have blown their chances of winning a trophy, the club have hinted that the Italian would leave.

Media have linked Bernd Schuster with the job and on Monday the Getafe coach confirmed his interest.

Capello, who won the league in his first spell at the Bernabeu a decade ago, said winning this title had been the most difficult job in a distinguished career.

“From the first day I have felt like a salmon forced to swim against the current,” he said, before appealing to Calderon.

“I need to talk to him. I know he brought me here to win and we have won and it seems to me I have done my duty.”

Capello said he could never coach Barcelona because that would betray Real, but he may be tempted to coach a good national side.

The 61-year-old, who said Roberto Donadoni was doing a fine job with Italy, has expressed an interest in coaching England in the past.

Meanwhile, Calderon said that Germany international Christoph Metzelder and three other players have been lined up for next season.

“We’ve been working on new signings for the last three months. Metzelder is signed up and there are three more who are almost done,” Calderon told sports daily AS yesterday.

Metzelder, whose contract with Borussia Dortmund finished at the end of the season, has been linked with a move to Real in the media for some time, though the club have yet to officially confirm the deal.

AC Milan’s Kaka has been a target for Calderon since he promised to sign the playmaker in his election campaign last June. But the Serie A side have consistently said the player is not for sale. “We all know that Kaka will have to force his exit from Milan ... and I continue to believe that he will try,” Calderon added

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2007 United States Grand Prix Results

Name Pts
Lewis Hamilton 10
Fernando Alonso 8
Felipe Massa 6
Kimi Räikkönen 5
Heikki Kovalainen 4
Jarno Trulli 3
Mark Webber 2
Sebastian Vettel 1

We are the Real Champions of 2007

The most telling comment about David Beckham came from the late George Best, Beckham's most illustrious predecessor in the No. 7 jersey of Manchester United.

"David Beckham isn't a great," said Best. "He can't kick with his left foot, he can't tackle, he doesn't head the ball and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that, he's all right."

I remember the quotes well -- I was there when they were uttered at a press conference before the 1999 FIFA World Player of the Year gala. Beckham had finished second in the poll of national coaches behind Rivaldo of Brazil but had declined to travel to Brussels to receive his runner-up award. Instead, in the great showbiz tradition, Best was wheeled out to collect it on Beckham's behalf.

In print, Best's assessment of Beckham seems harsh, particularly given the recent revival of his fortunes for club and country. But it was essentially true, even if it was delivered -- tongue firmly in cheek -- by a man keen to be remembered as an infinitely more talented soccer player than Beckham.

Therein lies the great Beckham conundrum. His fame and considerable fortune have never been matched by his talent. His career has been the ultimate triumph of style over substance. While Best's life descended into alcoholism and premature death in 2005, Beckham has made the transition from humble sportsman to global celebrity. And now Hollywood beckons.

More than 200,000 people gathered at Cibeles Fountain, Real Madrid's first stop after winning their 30th League title. Fans from all over Spain waved their flags in honour of the latest title. The Club organised the celebration and called it "Together we can!", the same slogan that was coined many weeks ago in order to round up the fan's support for the rest of the road to the League title. A light and sound show welcomed the players, as did the smiles and cheers of all the supporters.

The bus wrapped in a banner reading "Champions" arrived at Cibeles Fountain. There, the players jumped up and down together with the fans, while the P.A. system called for supporters to wave their flags to honour the players. But it wasn't necessary. The party in the heart of Madrid had been underway for hours.

Standing on top of an open-top double decker bus, the players watched the Madridistas and danced to the beat of "We are the Champions." Raúl, meanwhile, made his way to the crane that would carry him to the top of the Goddess Cybele, who he wrapped in a Spanish flag and scarf.

Miguel Torres bounced, Van Nistelrooy took pictures. Sergio Ramos recorded everything around him with a video camera. Cannavaro led the fans in cheers. Everyone had a great time during what was perhaps a once in a lifetime experience.

The Real Madrid anthem was played loud and clear, while thousands of white balloons were released into the sky.

Roberto Carlos moves to Fenerbahçe

ISTANBUL, Turkey -- Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos has agreed to play for Turkish champions Fenerbahce next season, a move the Istanbul club said would help it reach international success.

The 34-year-old Brazilian left-back announced his decision in a telephone interview with Fenerbahce's official TV channel, exclaiming "Fenerbahce, the greatest! Fenerbahce, the champions!"

Roberto Carlos has played for Real Madrid since 1996 and wanted to move to the Turkish side last season, but had to finish his contract with the Spanish team first, his agent Dino Pasalic said.

Fenerbahce is coached by another Brazilian, former world-class midfielder Zico, who won the Turkish League title with Fenerbahce this year.

The club did not disclose any financial details about the contract.

Fenerbahce is pushing hard to reach international success, and has also signed big-name players such as French striker Nicolas Anelka and Argentina's Ariel Ortega in recent years.

"We have transferred a player that conforms to the traditions of Fenerbahce," team Vice President Murat Ozaydinli said. "How great it is that today we don't have too much difficulty in signing players of legendary status."

Carlos won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and retired from international soccer after the 2006 World Cup having made 128 appearances for the national team.