The Groundsman's Shed

G’bye Kids!

groundsman — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:08:46 +0000

This is my 101st post, and it’s just to say “Good bye!” I started this blog to keep track of my articles and reviews for ESPN.com’s Soccernet, eventually expanding to mild analysis and poor punditry, all while making connections and forming online and “real life” friendships with some very amazing bloggers and journos around the world. [...]

Germany v. Spain- “May the better looking team win!”

groundsman — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:47:01 +0000

I’m currently watching the final at work, and I’ve instructed all of the women I work with to watch the match with interest. After several minutes of silence, only broken by my own girlish screams when Spain scored, one woman said, “Hm, Spain’s players are a lot better looking than Germany’s. I’m going for them.” [...]

Grounds’ Clippings: The Guvnor at Blackburn

groundsman — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:04:50 +0000

It’s Sunday. I’m at work. Italy and Spain are strolling around a pitch in Vienna looking as if this were a friendly rather than a quarter final match in the European Championships. If they’re not going to be bothered today, I may not as well. To be honest, I’m still a bit gutted about the [...]

Euro2008 Marches On-Desailly shouting the whole way

groundsman — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:19:14 +0000

Shed’s Note: Apologies for taking a few days off from my duties of diligently recording my idle observations on sport, but alas- the tainted tomatoes here in the U.S. got me, and I was confined to bed with food poisoning for a few days with nothing but an uncaring cat and even less sympathetic friends and [...]

Grounds’ Clippings: Abramovich Takes Over Colorado Territory

groundsman — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:51:05 +0000

-After an unfortunate 0-1 loss to Spain earlier this month, and the excruiatingly dull 2-0 loss to England I witnessed at Wembley, the United States men’s national team got an exercise in ego boosting with an 8-0 trouncing of Barbados in a World Cup qualifying match on Sunday. The scoreline looks pretty awesome, but the [...]

Buffon’s Black Cravat and Turkish Delight

groundsman — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:56:59 +0000

After today’s absolute cracker of a match between Turkey and The Czech Republic, I’m left breathless. ESPN was so enamored that they replayed the match from the beginning straight away- an excellent programming choice, as it was the absolute perfect match for a neutral. Drama, heart, an incredible comeback, an insane last minute ending… I won’t go [...]

The Euro 2008 Pundit’s League

groundsman — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:15:04 +0000

As a football-loving American, I’ve often gone to great lengths to see broadcasts of live matches. Justin.tv, Sopcast, various dodgy looking sites from China- I’ve scoured them all for English-speaking footy commentary at one time or another. Though the Euro2008 matches are shown on ESPN, I would rather listen to vigorous elephant-on-pig action than hear [...]

Luiz Felipe Scolari- A Man in the Pub’s Profile

groundsman — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:40:07 +0000

Thanks to those of you who commented on the previous entry concerning your thoughts on Big Phil Scolari’s appointment as Chel$ki manager on Wednesday. Those of you who don’t know much about the international manager may be able to flesh out some sort of a picture of the kind of club manager he’ll be with [...]

Your Take: Scolari Moves to Chelsea

groundsman — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:53:07 +0000

The current and soon to be former Portugese national team coach, Luiz Filipe Scolari, is going to Stamford Bridge starting July 1st. Your thoughts? I’ll post the most coherent responses later tonight. [Photo: AP/Yahoo!]

Everyone’s a little Oranje with Envy

groundsman — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:30:35 +0000

A cracker of a performance from the Holland team tonight in their match against Italy. I was being forced to do some actual work during the match, but even I could recognize the level of play was a welcome change from the uninspired dirge that was the France-Romania match earlier today. Over on BBC, I’m [...]