This Was Not What Brazil Expected

((HT: ESPN/FIFA))

After getting blown out in the semi-finals by a far superior German side, the Netherlands got their pound of flesh in the third-place game with a 3-0 shut out for the bronze in Rio...

And you can bet that Scolari is SO done after this loss... Brazilian fans booed their home squad after the pitch...
Here's the highlights- if you're Dutch...


"Medals for Holland, Mockery for Brazil" indeed...

The HQ always enjoys Jon Champion...

Spain Eliminated In Brazil, Netherlands Advance

((HT: ESPN/FIFA))

Group B is all figured out, but not the way everyone thought...

First, the Socceroos gave the Netherlands all they could handle including a Tim Cahill volley that could be the goal of the tournament. But, the Dutch came through in their dress blues for the wild 3-2 win to advance.


van Persie is out for the next match, but it won't matter in the grand scheme.

Interesting set-up for the second match of the day. Chilean fans stormed the stadium saying that they were having to pay $1,100 dollars for a ticket that didn't have an entry point to the stadium.

Here's Yahoo!Sports Graham Watson's viewpoint of the storming of the Media Center
((HT: Graham Watson's Instagram))


But, the questions now will come from all over the place on Spain- THE DEFENDING CHAMP!!!

The Champ Is Here, The Champ Is Gone...

Chile got a 2-0 lead and sat on it for the win and the knockout...

When van Persie Is Healthy, This Happens...

((HT: gifdsports Vine))

Okay, the HQ looked at the Diego Costa foul that resulted in a Xavi Alonso PK- and we thought it was a weak call...

Not surprising in keeping up with the theme of the games i Brazil over the last 24 hours...

But the Dutch came back and THIS is what you get with a healthy Robin van Persie- a thing of beauty


Spain and the Netherlands are 1-1 at the break

OSG UEFA: RvP Hat Trick Lifts ManU To Elite 8

((HT: Instagram via aboalifz))

David Moyes is still alive in one part of the Manchester United trophy case...

A Robin van Persie hat trick gave the Red Devils a 3-2 aggregate win over Olympiacos to advance to the next stage of the Champions League...

Here's the third, which was a masterstroke, with Wayne Rooney as a decoy...

ManU Clinches Prem Title Easily... And The HQ Means "Easily..."

((HT: Fox Sports/EPL))

Manchester United decided to put Man City and everyone else out of their misery by blowing out Aston Villa at home to win the Premier League crown after losing out on the last day of the season in 2012.

It took Robin van Persie the sum total of 33 minutes to score a frigging hat trick- the second goal (eventually seen below) was a thing of beauty involving Wayne Rooney and the ball rarely touching the turf...

Here's the highlights that have a lot of van Persie in them...


Arsene Wenger and Arsenal got to see first-hand just how much a healthy RvP can impact a franchise- good enough to give the Reds their 20th title in history. Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United have won 13 of the 21 Premier League titles. And this is the earliest a club has clinched the trophy since Manchester United on April 14, 2001.

Naturally...

If ManU wins out, they could break Chelsea's points record of 95 in 2004-05.

And don't think that is not on the team's mind or anything...

Sir Alex Calls For Ban After Williams-van Persie Incident

((HT: SkySports/youtube))

And, usually, what Sir Alex wants... he gets...

Watch what happened with 15 minutes to go in regulation Sunday against Swansea...
((HT: FoxSoccer))


Ashley Williams is now on ManU's hit list...

Sir Alex told SkySports:

"I think the FA has got to look into it. Irrespective of him having a yellow card he should be banned for a long, long time. It's the most dangerous thing I've seen on a football field for many, many years.

"(It was) absolutely deliberate. the whistle's gone, the game has stopped and he's done that a foot from the player. He could have killed the lad - it's a disgraceful act and he should be banned for a long, long time."

Williams sluffed it off and Swans boss Michael Laudrup hasn't even been quoted at present. But pay attention to any rematches down the line- regardless of level of competition...

Swansea grabbed a key point in the standings and trimmed the Reds lead over ManCity to four points in the Prem table...

Manchester Derby Ends In Fan Violence

This is what happens when fans are mental...

Manchester United was up 2-0, Man City came back to tie 2-2, Robin van Persie scores to make it 3-2- the eventual game-winner...

And then this happened to Rio Ferdinand...
((HT: SkySports/youtube))


A fan ran onto the field after that and charged Rio. Joe Hart stepped in between the fan and Ferdinand. Police immediately stepped in to find the fan who threw the coin, and we also imagine the fan who charged was taken down and taken away.

The interesting question will be how the League steps in after that...

OSG Prem: ManU Snatches One At Anfield

((HT: SkySports/Premier League))

It was an emotionally charged day as Manchester United took on Liverpool for the first home game after the revelations of the independent search committee delving into the Hillsborough 96.

Before the match, both sides gave their respects in a touching ceremony... ((HT: FoxSports))

But the game itself was one of those hotly contested, call-no call games that will go down for the call that gave RvP his chance to get the game-winner off a PK...
The guys in Los Angeles discuss... ((HT: FoxSports))

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, leading the squad to its worst start in over 100 years, said the "best team lost" today:

"Some of the decisions, I wouldn't want to go on too much, but if Jonjo Shelvey gets sent off then Jonny Evans has to go as well. I think both players' feet were off the floor. "That was out of our control. I thought the players were brilliant and didn't get what they deserved."

Manchester United's Ryan Giggs was corraled after the game as well...
The HQ wonders just how much more rope Rodgers will be given before getting sacked...

OSG Prem: Robin Van Persie Gets Hat Trick, Saves ManU

((HT: Premier League))

The 29-year-old Dutch striker was faced with a poor proposition, Manchester United was down 1-0 and 2-1 at Southampton.

What happened next...???

RvP scores twice to bring victory from the jaws of defeat at St. Mary's


van Persie becomes the first player to register a hat trick for both the Arsenal and Manchester United clubs in the process...

Just think what would have happened if he scored on the PK earlier...
((HT: EPLHL/youtube))

van Persie Not Returning To Arsenal

This is horrifying news for Arsenal fans in the Premier League...

After a meeting with head coach Arsene Wenger and Paul Gazidis, the Dutch striker has announced that he is not re-signing with the Gunners...

From his own website...

As announced earlier this year I had a meeting with the Boss and Mr. Gazidis after the season. This was a meeting about the club’s future strategy and their policy. Financial terms or a contract have not been discussed, since that is not my priority at all.

I personally have had a great season but my goal has been to win trophies with the team and to bring the club back to its glory days. Out of my huge respect for Mr. Wenger, the players and the fans I don’t want to go into any details, but unfortunately in this meeting it has again become clear to me that we in many aspects disagree on the way Arsenal FC should move forward.

I’ve thought long and hard about it, but I have decided not to extend my contract. You guys, the fans, have of course the right to disagree with my view and decision and I will always respect your opinions.

I love the club and the fans, no matter what happens. I have grown up and became a man during my time with Arsenal FC. Everybody at the club and the fans have always supported me over the years and I have always given my all (and more) on and off the pitch. I am very proud of being part of this fantastic club for the last 8 years. As soon as Mr. Gazidis is back from his 2-week holiday in America further meetings will follow and I will update you if and when there are more developments.

The thought, then, is that Robin van Persie doesn't feel that Arsenal either will or is going to spend the appropriate resources to get to the top of the ladders in the Premier, UEFA, or any other league for that matter... and get the trophies they claim Arsenal wants to get...

Is Wenger stuck financially with the wage structure or is it something else...???

That's the issue... and it's a big issue...

In an interview with SkySports, former Gunner Paul Merson feels that the only place van Persie can go is Manchester City. The transfer price will be astronomical and the end result will be interesting...

Here's all of his goals from the past season... and what the Gunners will really miss next season...

OSG Prem: Arsenal Blows Out Rovers 7-1

((HT: FoxSports/FoxSoccerChannel))

One of the sports websites is running one of those "pick and win" contests. And their morning selection had to do with the Arsenal-Blackburn match. Would Arsenal win by two or would Rovers lose by one, tie, or win outright...?

A lot of folks (HQ not included) went on Blackburn...
And they were way wrong...

The Gunners put 7 on the table with RvP getting a hat trick, 18-year-old Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain netting his first two, and Thierry Henry getting in on the act.

Here's analysis with the guys from Fox...


The Gunners are back in the fight for the top four spots, but they need some help getting past Spurs.

There is also talk that Arsenal are looking at extending Henry's stay on campus...

Interesting... for someone who plays, maybe, 30 minutes a game...