Is the English FA Prejudiced?

Now that I have your attention with the provocative headline, let me explain.


Prejudice by my definition is - "An unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand. It can be directed towards a particular race, religious group or national group."


Based on the above definition, let's look at some recent events that triggered my provocative thoughts. The focus in these events is on the players' nationality


Vincent Kompany vs. Nani 
Kompany gets sent off after a two footed challenge on Nani. Kompany, the foreigner gets sent off (deservingly so).


Glen Johnson vs. Joleon Lescott
Johnson's two footed challenge on Lescott does not even warrant a free kick. Johnson the Englishman plays on. 


Not fair.


Joleon Lescott vs. Younes Kaboul
Lescott forearms Kaboul deliberately during Man City's 3-2 victory over Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium. The incidence is not seen by the referee, and Lescott escapes any post match charge. Lescott is an Englishman. 


Not fair.


Balotelli's stamp vs. Wayne Rooney's International kick
Mario Balotelli charged with a four game suspension after a deliberate stamp on Scott Parker. The charge was brought forth post the encounter by the FA. Balotelli is italian. The 4-game suspension is fair since he has already been red carded this season. 


Fair.


This is the same FA who felt aggrieved when Wayne Rooney was given a 3-game suspension for deliberately kicking the opposing player during the Euro qualifiers. The FA appealed and secured a reduced 2-game suspension for Rooney. Rooney is a key player for England. 


Hypocrisy!


So what do you think? I think I see a pattern here.

Dalglish owes John Henry an explaination

Still watching the Bolton-Liverpool game (I don't know why I bother), and wondering where all John Henry's money went this summer.


Liverpool's performance is appalling and extremely awful. Good luck with making top 4. At this rate, they will barely finish in the top 10


Dream on, Kenny!

Footy Bozz: Match Day 22: Match Results and Summary

Footy Bozz: Match Day 22: Match Results and Summary: Stoke 1 West Brom 2 Graham Dorran gave West Brom all three points late in the game (90') after what looked like a tie at the Britannia Stad...

Match Results and Summary

Stoke 1 West Brom 2
Graham Dorran gave West Brom all three points late in the game (90') after what looked like a tie at the Britannia Stadium. Morrison had given West Brom the lead in the 35th minute, but Camron Jerome cancelled out in the 86th. 

West Brom solidifies it's 15th place on the table with a five points clear of 16th placed Queen Park Rangers. Stoke City stays 8th on the table, failing to close in on Liverpool.


Wolves 2 Aston Villa 3

Robbie Keane returns with a bang to the English Premier league, scoring two goals to pick up all three points. 

Darren Bent opened scoring with a penalty after being felled in the box in the 11th minute. Wolves responded with goals from Knightly and Edwards to close the first half with a 2-1 lead. 


Keane, on loan from MLS club, LA Galaxy equalized in the 51st minute, and got the winner in the 85th minute against 10-men Wolves (Karl Henry was sent off).


Norwich City 0 Chelsea 0
Good defensive effort by Norwich City to earn a draw. Still no goal for Torres as he enters his 11th game without a goal


Fulham 5 Newcastle United 2
Clint Dempsey gets a hat trick. Zamora and Murphy score from the spot. Guthrie  and Ben Arfa with the 2 consolation goals for Newcastle, who are missing Demba Ba

Queen Park Rangers 3 Wigan 1
Mark Hughes gets his first as QPR roll all over bottom table Wigan.


Everton 1 Blackburn 1
Tim Cahill finally breaks his long goal drought with the game opener. Sadly, Everton throws the opportunity to pick up maximum points when they let Goodwille in for the equalizer


Sunderland 2 Swansea 0
Sunderland's resurgence under Martin O'Neill continues with a victory in from of the home crowd. Live wire Sessegnon and Gardner get the goals

Tid Bits

Chelsea has the Arsenal/Liverpool disease 
It looks like Chelsea have caught the common cold sickness from fellow top 4 strugglers Arsenal and Liverpool. They can't seem to win games they are expected to win. When they do, it's by the odd goal. When they lose, it's not for lack of trying. These are all symptoms currently been experienced by Arsenal and Liverpool. One thing for sure, it will make for an exciting fourth place finish battle.

The ugly Fantastic American

In all the years he's been in the English Premier League, one player has consistently punched above his weight.   He's USA's Clint Dempsey.

Dempsey epitomizes what the world likes about Americans - determined; gutsy; relentless; fearless and disciplined. This underrated, under-utilized attacking midfielder/striker deserves to be plying his trade in the top 6 clubs in the English league.

The fact that he is not on the Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City radar is a disgrace. By the way, he just scored a hat trick against Newcastle United in today's game. See what I mean?

MLS Impact
Speaking of Americans, say what you wish about USA's Major League Soccer standards and schedule, but it seems like it plays well into the hands of the January transfer window. EPL clubs are able to secure players on cheap 2-month loans, to help provide respite to teams' fatigued squads. 


Make no mistake about it, they are not there to make up the numbers either. In Landon Donovan's first game, he provided a pin point throw ball for Victor Anichebe's equalizer against Aston Villa. 

Thierry Henry was instant impact upon introduction in the League Cup game, scoring to push Arsenal through to the next round. Today Robbie Kean has scored in his first game for Aston Villa against Wolves.


The MLS deserves more credit than they are getting.

Footy Bozz: African Cup of Nations: Spotlight - Mali

Footy Bozz: African Cup of Nations: Spotlight - Mali: After fielding what was arguably the most talented squad outside the big name countries in 2010, Mali will be arriving at the 2012 edition o...

Spotlight - Mali

After fielding what was arguably the most talented squad outside the big name countries in 2010, Mali will be arriving at the 2012 edition of the African Cup of Nations without most of those big names.


Here are some of Mali's 'fallen stars', who will not be attending this year's African Soccer festival -


Frederic Kanoute - Sevilla, Spain

Kanouté, African Footballer of the year 2007, was joint top goal scorer for Mali at the 2004 African Cup of Nations. Kanouté scored four goals in four matches helping Mali to the semi-finals, where they lost to Morocco. 


He announced his retirement from international football following Mali's elimination from the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. The 34 year old has declined his country's call to come out of retirement and help their course in this year's tournament.


Mohammed Sissoko - Paris Saint-Germain, France

The ex-Valencia, Liverpool and Juventus man has informed the Mali FA that he would not be participating at this year's tournament. 


After battling with injuries for most of his stay at Juventus, 26 year old Sissoko, who recently moved to PSG is fit again. However, he is eager to make up for lost career time and is focusing on his Club obligations. 


His services and combination with new Skipper Seydou Keita in the midfield will be missed. Coincidentally, both players are nephews of the of former African Footballer of the Year Salif Keïta, who, like Sissoko, played for Mali and Valencia CF


Mahamadou Diarra - Unattached

After leaving Real Madrid in January 2011, Diarra joined French side AS Monaco. The club struggled and were eventually relegated at the end of the season. Since then, Mali's ex-captain has been without a club. 


Citing concerns with his lack of club action and general fittness, the Malian FA and Manager have elected not to recall Diarra to the squad. Not having Diarra in this year's competition is a loss to the continent.


So who's going to carry the touch for Mali in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea in the absence of these three stalwarts?


Seydou Keita - Barcalona, Spain

The Mali Eagles new Skipper is a tested warrior. Playing in a fully loaded Barcalona team, the talented 31 year old has found a way to make himself continuously useful to the club's goals and ambitions. 


A versatile midfielder, he can operate as both a central or defensive midfielder. He became the first Malian Barcelona player ever when he signed for the club in 2008. The Eagles can still definetly fly on Keita's wings in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea


Modibo Maiga - Sochaux, France

Modibo Maiga currently plays for Sochaux. He is a forward who can play as a winger.


During the 2010–11 campaign Maiga struck up a 30 goal partnership with Nigerian, Ideye Brown each scoring 15 goals. Between them, they scored over half of FC Sochaux's league goals. Maiga and Brown were assisted by playmakeing duo Marvin Martin and Ryad Boudebouz as Sochaux qualified for the Europa League.


On December 13, 2011, it was reported that Maiga had successfully passed a medical to join Newcastle United for $10 Million. However, three days later the club announced that he had failed his medical, prompting the deal to fall through.


Ironically, Newcastle's current striker, Demba Ba had reportedly failed a medical at Stoke before signing for Newcastle. 15 goals in 20 games later (including a hat trick against Stoke), Newcastle are smiling to the bank. Maiga has every intention of making Newcastle pay for dumping him - 


"I am mentally fine, I wanted that move to Newcastle badly," said Maiga. However, it did not happen as they said my knee has a problem - but I feel better than anything.


Newcastle's loss could be Mail's gain. Look for this young man to have an emphatic Cup of Nations