OSG Prem: And We Have Our First Sacking

((HT: BPL/NBCSN))

At least Crystal Palace waited until after the holiday to do it...

It took this loss to Southampton to send Neil Warnock on his way- after only four months on the job...


Warnock was manager from 2007 and 2010 and was seen as a hopeful replacement for Tony Pulis- who left the squad two days before the regular season after a dispute with the ownership over player control. Pulis, strangely, and former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood are seen as replacements for the replacement now that Palace are back in the relegation zone.

From the Palace website:

Crystal Palace Football Club can today confirm that Neil Warnock has been relieved of his duties and is no longer first-team manager.

The club would like to put on record its thanks to Neil for all his hard work and energy over the past four months.

Keith Millen will lead the team against Queens Park Rangers tomorrow as caretaker manager.

This was the longest time a Premier League season had gone without a sacking since the 95-96 season.

The Centennial Of The Christmas Soccer Truce

((HT: CNN/Masters))

It's one of the great legends of this day...

100 years ago, the western front was where the battle was the fiercest in World War I- for more reasons than just the weaponry this time of year. In what was referred to as "No Man's Land" in Belgium, it has been told that British and German soldiers laid down their arms on the day the War was promised to end and played a spontaneous match of soccer.

And we're talking hundreds per side...

It has been romanticized and retold- even making it to the Sainsbury's Chocolates ad campaign for this holiday season


The question, though, has always been: Did this happen...???

There has been eyewitness reference to it, but one professor says the whole event has been blown up to match the tale. Mark Connelly, Professor of Modern British History at the Center for War, Propaganda and Society at the UK's University of Kent gives the whole thing a "Yeah, but" mentality.

"I think it highly likely that someone, somewhere did bring out a ball and a bit of a kick about took place, but that is a long, long way from saying it definitely happened and that it was anything like a formal match rather than just men tapping a ball about a bit," Connelly told CNN.
"There is a huge difference between a truce and fraternization and we have tended to put the two together."

Here's how Fox Sports addressed the story in their "Rise As One" series...
Although, the HQ strenuously objects to beer bottles being held in a war memorial
((HT: Budweiser))


An educational program has been brought about by the Football Association (the FA) and the Premier League to continue the education of youth in the theatre. There have been annual tournaments in Belgium at Ypres, ad campaigns on their own, and educational packets to make sure the stories are not lost and the importance of remembering history is always retained.

And that's the larger message, we think...

Never forget a sacrifice and recall the bravery of those who served and continue to serve to this day...

Learn more about the Christmas Truce below...
((HT: The History Channel))

And You Thought The Panthers Shootout Was Crazy?

((HT: The FA their own selves))

Well, League Two Scunthorpe and Non-league Worcester City went at it in the longest penalty kick shootout in the competition's history.

It ended up going 16 kicks with the Iron going 14-13 for the win to advance into the third round.


How would that have gone in Scunthorpe, the way their season has gone so far, if Worcester had prevailed...???

Three Faulkner U. Athletes Charged in Death of Fourth Athlete

((ht: wsfa.com))

Three 19-year old Faulkner University athletes are facing murder charges Friday morning in the shooting death of a fourth athlete.

19-year old Ryan Brooks was shot and killed by a man who's home was being robbed by the 4 athletes Wednesday night. The homeowner shot and killed Brooks, police say that was a self-defense killing.

But the other 3 men involved in the robbery, 19-year olds Marshall Wall, Ronnie Williams and Tabias Russell were charged in death because according to Alabama law, they are suspects in the robbery along with Brooks.

Faulkner University is a small, private Christian school outside of Montgomery, Alabama. Wall was a part of the school's soccer team, Williams, Russell and Brooks all were part of the J.V football program.

Montgomery Police are still investigating the incident, no word on a court date or bond for the athletes.

The T.V story from WSFA in Montgomery:

WSFA.com Montgomery Alabama news.

How Not To Play The Alleged Mafia-Backed Team In The Next Round Of Your Playoffs

((HT: BBCSport))

Two Indonesian football clubs were in a playoff, but they both knew that the winner was going to face a team allegedly backed by the local mafia.

What to do in this situation...???

How about try and score as many questionable goals on yourself as possible- on both sides...

Here's your proof... in Indonesian...


The low-down in the end:

PSS Sleman and PSIS Semarang got DQ'ed from the first division play-offs for scoring five own goals- in the last five minutes of regulation.

New LA MLS Team Has 22 Owners

Yay! Los Angeles still has no NFL team, but in 2017, they'll have Major League Soccer.

And...if all of the owners attend a home game, they are guaranteed great attendance---ha!---just kidding.

Seriously though, the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) really does have 22 owners. They range from Magic Johnson, who owns half of L.A to Mia Hamm and her husband Nomar. Tony Robbins (the motivational guys) is an owner and so is one of the guys who founded YouTube. Oh, and Vincent Tan a guy who owns Cardiff City in the Premier League and was called by USA Today "The Worst Owner in Sports".

But the group is led by a grouping including Henry Ngueyn, Peter Guber and Tom Penn

So there is that.

The LAFC has a website...but no stadium. They have owners, but no team. But if you look at the website, hey, they are lobbying for fans and corporate sponsors. The 2017 start date will coincide with new MLS franchise in Atlanta, giving the league 22 teams and the intention of adding 2 more by 2020.

Here's a live feed of the presser. Maybe they'll keep the video up at this link too?



KNX1070's Claudia Peschiutta was there as well...


The larger hope of the HQ is that Vincent Tan gets kept as far away as possible from the day-to-day operations...

Drone Breaks Up Euro Qualifier

((HT: Sport Central))

This might be the next step in hooliganism- the HQ is still trying to figure out if this move below was a genius one-off or the beginning of something that could get infinitely more dangerous over time.

Serbia and Albania were going at it in the first half of their Euro 2016 qualifier when someone got very ingenious with their attempt at game interruption. This, folks, was no black lab...


When you wave an Albanian flag in Belgrade, it's the equivalent of waving something in a bull's face in the ring.

UEFA had banned Albanian fans from being in the building, so someone decided to fly the drone. The Albanian flag had a map of Kosovo and the message 'autochthonous', meaning indigenous- drooping from the craft.

That's when players and fans all got into it. Serbian defender Stefan Mitrovic pulled the flag down and that act seemed to start it.

The political background for all of this dates back to 1999 when NATO had an almost three-month long air war to stop the killing and expulsion of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo by Serbian forces. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, but this is not recognized by Serbia. Adding to that, seven of Albania's squad were born in the Kosovo region.

The match was abandoned and may not have been a good idea in the first place.

According to Reuters, the brother of Albanian Prime Minister was arrested in the V.I.P Box and was found with a remote.

'He was arrested on suspicion that he masterminded and executed the incident in which a flag with a map of greater Albania was flown over the pitch and the terraces, after which the match between Serbia and Albania was abandoned."

It's Chippy At The Bridge: Wenger Pushes Mourinho

((HT: Artekker's Vine))

After an Eden Hazard penalty kick that put Chelsea up 1-0 and a near miss by Jack Wilshere to equalize, it's easy to see why tempers are a little short. Apology, no apology...

Failure, not a failure...
All the press conference quotables led to this in a sport where you can't use your hands


When was the last time you saw that...???

The HQ bets: NE-VAH!!!

Here's the long version from NBCSN

Joel With The Goal Then Falls in a Hole

((ht: bleacherreport.com))

Ooops.

Here's your Wednesday soccer highlight of the day.

Check out the goal celebration by Cortiba's Joel (joe-el) after a breakaway goal where he ended up having to dance around a few defenders.

The goal, which was impressive, is only topped by what happened afterwards, Joel goes running down the end line and hurdles the advertising sign barrier. Then disappears.

Turns out he landed in a covered hole on the field.

No really, he did.

He wasn't hurt, this goal was one of two he had on the night as his team won 3-1.

Hooligans Strip Brazilian Soccer Player Mid Match

((HT: FoxSports))

Hooliganism is a world-wide activity in football leagues and we now, the HQ thinks, have the next step in the process...

It usually involves smoke, fire, chanting, protesting, throwing things, and stuff like that...

But, in the 4th level of the country's soccer ladder, we now have stripping an athlete in the middle of a game...

Here's the report from the news down there (and, yes, it's in Portuguese), but the visual is still impactful

Arsenal's Champions League Adventures Continue

((HT: UEFA/Champions League))

First, Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey got a red card in the scoreless draw with Beskitas that means he sits out the second leg at the Emirates...

Not that Demba Ba almost didn't make that whole point moot off the kick-off...


But, just after the match was completed, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claims he was the target of a foreign object- "a bottle or something"- and the team reported the incident to UEFA.

UEFA's disciplinary department will now review the match report before deciding whether to take action as Wenger was not hit by the "bottle or something..."

Rebecca Lowe Tackles American Accents

((HT: NBCSN/Dan Patrick Show))

NBCSN's Premier League host, Rebecca Lowe, has made appearances on the "Dan Patrick Show" in the past and has jousted fairly well with the host and the Danettes...

This time, while discussing Dan's mispronunciation of the League name, she admitted to sharpening her American accent with all of her travels...

Evidence below as the BPL season starts in earnest tomorrow...


The full knowledge drop is hyah...

OSG Prem: Pulis Quits Crystal Palace

((HT: Sky Sports))

Two days before the season starts...

It's either one of two things- a selfish move by a manager or the be all-end all in frustration over a squad that hasn't spent any money in the off-season to improve their lot.

The background...

Tony Pulis took over for Ian Holloway in November last season as Palace was in the heart of the relegation battle in the Premier League. He constructed a style of play and a mindset to get everything turned around and had the Eagles finish 11th in the table.

Only two sides know the real reason for his abrupt and shocking departure- Pulis and ownership.

But Palace has gone from receivership to manageable budgets- just not spending any money on importing talent in the process.

One can look at this two ways- considering what Pulis did with what he was given, the front office felt they didn't need to spend. But Pulis, in turn, would present the notion that there is no improvement without spending.

The folks at Sports Tonight discuss the season- presumably before the Pulis walk...


So, was Pulis foolish or did he know what was about to happen and didn't like where it was heading.

The Return of Ted Lasso

((HT: NBC Sports))

The HQ has no idea how both Rebecca Lowe and Arlo White kept straight faces with former Spurs manager Ted Lasso around.

Yes, Jason Sudeikis is around for another year of promoting the Premiership on NBCSN
And it's gold, Jerry, gold...


May whatever divine being you believe in help Leicester and save them from the Lasso...

Soccer What? 109,000 See ManU vs. Real Madrid in Michigan

Yeah, sure, there are still plenty of old school, narrow-minded people in the U.S who say nobody cares about soccer in the U.S.

We'd argue they are wrong.

Dead wrong.

109,000-plus...a U.S record crowd...showed up Saturday to watch the Real Madrid vs. Manchester United friendly game at the University of Michigan's massive football stadium.

Yes folks, 109,318 people showed up to see a soccer game.

The game was won by Man U and stars like Wayne Rooney and Christiano Ronaldo played in the game, but it's the fact so many people came out to the game that makes this a big story.

Your game highlights:

Adult League Soccer Player Murder Trial Underway, DCFC Supporter's Group Helping Out Ref's Family

((HT: MyFoxDetroit))

This one is a little more than "not normal..."

A man in suburban Detroit is now, officially, on trial for second degree murder for allegedly killing a soccer referee with one punch during a recreational league soccer match back in late June.

Baseel Abdul-Amir Saad will now be on trial for trial in the death of John Bienewicz. Saad was ejected from an adult soccer game when witnesses say he turned around and punched Bienewicz on the side of the head or the neck.

The medical examiner assigned to the case testified that Bienewicz lost consciousness before he hit the ground. The punch put him in a coma and he later died.

The defense...???

Attorneys defending Saad say he got "emotional..." and claim the case is more a manslaughter case than murder.

Fox 2 News Headlines

Arraignment is set for August 7th...

Nicholas Mendola, over at Pro Soccer Talk, has a great hook to the story. The Northern Guard, the supporter's group for the NPSL's Detroit City FC, had a cursing jar for the season. Last year, they donated their proceeds to "Holligans for Heroes." This year's funds are going to Bienewicz's "Friends of" fund to help his family.

To the tune of $6,000...

Well done...

Under-20 Tourney Gets Ugly Between Northern Ireland And Mexico

((HT: Youtube/BBC Sport Ireland))

The Milk Cup is a tournament played in Ireland on a yearly basis and this year's tourney will only be remembered for this brawl that broke out between the two nations in the box.

Especially, after what the Mexico national player does at the end of the scrum


Northern Ireland won 2-1, but four players were sent off after the two fights and the match was called four minutes early by the lead official because of all the stuff going on.

Northern Ireland manager Stephen Craigan told the BBC:

"It was not nice. There were young kids here from around the world. They were here to watch a football match; they do not expect to see that. Mexico did it last year - they had a man sent off for punching. They have a history of it. I have to be careful what I say, but I would like to think Mexico will not be back at the Milk Cup."

The Mexico squad has since apologized...

OSG Prem: Lampard Joins NYC FC

((HT: NYCFC/MLS))

As another signing in the middle-aged, but still incredibly talented soccer players club, the still-not playing NYC FC has added Frank Lampard on a two-year contract to go with David Villa.

Head Coach Jason Kreis now will, probably, send Lampard down to Australia to play in the A-League with Villa since the club, co-owned by Manchester City and the Yankees, has a year to go before their MLS debut.

Here's his introduction
((HT: Sky Sports))


NYC Sporting Director Claudio Reyna is still aglow with the signing:

"He is a professional, a leader and he ticked all the boxes in terms of the qualities to help grow our team."

The larger question is now, other than fitness, Lampard's international career and if he will add to the 106 caps he has for his country.

Moving Target Seagull Hit By Clearance Over Soccer Match

((HT: Hibernians Football Club))

The HQ doesn't quite know how to calculate the odds on something like this, but it sounds like one of those math problems from a standardized test:

If a seagull is flying over a football pitch at (x) speed and Callum Booth is trying to clear a ball from his defensive end at (y) speed- and Force= Mass (x) Acceleration [F=MxA]- then, just how hard was this shot during the Dunfermline match


Answer: The HQ has no idea...

The bird looks like he got out of the way in a hurry...

And the HQ thinks Booth needs to watch his back...

FIFA's Next Problem: Concussions

((HT: ESPN/FIFA))

As we all know, Germany needed extra time to beat Argentina in the final in Rio on Sunday.

But short of the political irresponsibility that the governing body is ignoring in picking their home nations, the new issue that the folks are not talking about when they need to discuss it is the concussions problem.

14 minutes after being taken off the pitch and being examined by his own physios, German defender Christoph Kramer collapsed on the turf and had to be stretchered off in the final against Argentina.

Kramer joined Mascherano, Zabaleta, and Pereira in playing after getting concussed- and there are those trumpeting the idea that this kind of machismo has to stop...

And quick...

Here's the discussion in "Last Call" that includes Taylor Twellman- whose career was cut short by multiple concussions.