Live Blog: FA COMMUNITY SHIELD

David Moyes leads Manchester United in his first trophy against Wigan in the Community Shield, live coverage tomorrow starting at 8:30 a.m.

The power of TV

There used to a time when I would have to watch the Premier League on an illegal box at my then girlfriend's, current wife, parents house. Fast forward 15 years and you can watch a variety of different leagues on your tv. This week that is what I did.

Friday:
French League: Stade Rennais vs. AS Saint Etienne

Saturday:
FA Cup: Wigan vs. Everton
Premier League: Aston Villas vs. Reading
League Championship: Crystal Palace vs. Leeds United
MLS: New England at Chicago
Spain: Barcelona vs. Deportivo La Coruna
Mexican League: Cruz Azul vs. Jaguares

Sunday
FA Cup: Millwall vs. Blackburn
FA Cup: Manchester United vs Chelsea
Premier League: Spurs vs. Liverpool

Now I'm not saying I watched all of these games in their entirety, but I did flip between all of them. It's amazing to know that soccer fans in this country have more options than people in Europe or even South American. Isn't cable great.

Nothing beats dancing with a Mascot

Nothing beats knocking a Premier League side out of the FA Cup when you are a lower league side. Brighton did that by knocking out Newcastle 1-0 over the weekend. The fun of the Cup was shown by Brighton's Adam El-Abd as he dances with an FA Cup mascot after the win. This is my favorite moment of the weekend.

FA needs to have their heads looked at

So let me get this straight cursing at a camera is more of an offense against football then breaking a players leg with a terrible tackle. That is the message that the FA is sending with their decision to seek a two match band against Wayne Rooney for swearing at a camera after scoring the winning goal against West Ham on Saturday morning. Rooney has accepted a Football Association charge for using offensive language, but not the automatic two-match ban. He is set to miss the league game against Fulham and the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City. But Rooney has submitted a claim, which will be heard on Wednesday, that the suspension is "clearly excessive".

For years the FA has turned their back on various issues issues, so based on the FA charge Wayne Rooney's action are more of a crime against football then Stoke City's Ryan Shawcross's tackle that broke Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey's leg in Feb. 2010. During that incident Shawcross was given a straight red card and served his one match band.

I'm not saying what Rooney did was right, but lets take a look at everything before we call for a band and if that is worth a two game band, then Ryan Shawcross should have been given 10 games for his actions. All I'm saying is lets just be fair.

Wiki Wayne

The boy explains the FA Cup, wikipedia style.

Manchester United: A year in trophies

The trophy case at Old Trafford grew a lot bigger this calendar year. Four large important trophies made it to the case.

Here is a look at the trophies. It all started in early April at Wigan lifting the EPL trophy and ended in Japan lifting the World Club Cup a couple of days ago.

Premier League Champions

Champions of Europe

FA Community Shield

Champions of the World

Lets hope that 2009 provides the same amount of the trophy as this year did. Thanks to Manchester United web site for the photos.

Fabio Listens to Girls Aloud

Fresh off England 4-1 win over Croatia, Don Fabio again sits down with the boy for part of their great interview. At least Ashely Cole will be happy with one of the songs on Don Fabio's ipod.

Brown Saucy Booty

The gang is taking the week off because of world cup qualifers but Wayne sits down with the current England boss. Part two of the interview will come after the England and Croatia game Wednesday

Community Shield thoughts

The league season is almost here and the FA held the Community Shield Sunday with United winning another one over Portsmouth.

Here are some thoughts from the game:
• I can not believe that FSC stopped showing the game so Webster read the lineup. Why not just run them across the bottom.
• After being open for a year, the FA needs to do something about the field at Wembley.
• Gotta love the Pompey Chimes.
• No matter the position Fletcher and O'Shea are always there to play.
• I know it was only a friendly type game, but Portsmouth are going to miss Sulley Muntari. There midfield lack that driving force.
• It's so good to hear Martin Tyler and Robbie Earle again its like an old friend returning.
• Defoe and Crouch are going to be a good strike force, but they are going to need service.
• Tevez is an animal from tracking back to creating chances, he has a great passion for the shirt.
• Frazier Campbell is going to play a key roll in United title defenses, no wonder why Sir Alex wants no part of loaning the youngster out to Hull City again.
• Is there a better goalkeeper in world in then EVDS against the penalties.

The season will soon be here

Get this widget!

The unofficial kick off of the English soccer season will soon be here, the FA Community Shield. United take the first step in their quest to win seven trophies this season.

The Ultimate Homer

Few announcers bring the passion that Phil Thompson brings to Sky Sports. Thompson love affair runs deep with Liverpool and that shows most of the time. Thompson is a fixture on the Soccer Saturday on Sky with Jeff Stelling and Matt Le Tissier.

Here are some of the best Liverpool related Phil Thompson moments:

Liverpool shock loss to Barnsely in the FA Cup

Arsenal Liverpool Champions League Clash

Reaction to John Arne Riise own goal in first leg of Champions League Semi-Final

Phil Thompson ranks up there with Dick Vitale when it comes to homers. That is just a small sample of examples there are many more on the internet.

Gazza the Great

Few English players have ever had the technical ability of one Paul Gascoigne. But yesterday his life took a turn as he was held by police in England under the Mental Health Act. Gascoigne has a long history of drink problems and has received treatment for stress, depression and a drink problem.

When I started watching the soccer, Gazza was one of the players that I flocked to. He had an attitude that made the game fun and the ability to make any Brazilian blush. When MLS was talking about bringing him over to DC United, I was so excited, but the move never came through.

So please let’s remember Gazza for all of his ability and not his problems.

Nani The Seal

Nani turned into a seal in Manchester United 4-0 win over Arsenal in the FA Cup fifth round Saturday afternoon.

Check out these seal moves. Wow what a show of class from a Portuguese winger not named Ronaldo.

It's the Same old Song and Dance

The more things change, the more they stay the same in the FA Cup. Chelsea drew another lower division team, while Manchester United has drawn another Premier League club in the quarterfinals of the Cup. United have drawn Portsmouth, while Chelski have drawn giant slayers Barnsley.

United have been drawn against premier league teams for their last 10 FA Cup games. The last times the devils played a lower league team was in Jan. 2006, when they beat Wolves 3-0. Included in those games was Saturday's fifth round smashing of league leaders Arsenal (photo above) 4-0.

Here is the rest of the draw for the quarterfinals:

• Sheffield United or Middlesbrough v Cardiff City
• Manchester United v Portsmouth
• Bristol Rovers v West Brom
• Barnsley v Chelsea

Matches are set to be played the weekend of March 8 and 9.

Camp Fabio

The FA hired a drill sergeant, when they hired Fabio Capello and that is starting to show. During his first England Camp, the former Juve and Real Madrid manager has started to lay down the law. First he did not pick David Beckham for his 100th cap and now he has all kinds of rules that the players have to follow.

• No more being late.
• Room Service is banned.
• Cell phones can only be used in the bedroom.
• Players must eat together and be dressed in professional attire.
• Players must wear their England blazers to the game.
• All players will be called by surnames.
• No Wags or agents. Wow no Wags what is Ashley Cole going to do.

Compared to Sven and Second Choice Steve this is going to be like going to jail for the likes of Fat Frank, Rio, Rooney, and Owen.

United vs. Arsenal in the FA Cup: Oh the Memories

With United and Arsenal being drawn together in the FA Cup fifth round, it's only proper to look back at Ryan Giggs great goal in the 1999 FA Cup semi-finals.

Here are the other fifth round ties, to be played Feb 16 & 17:

• Bristol Rovers v Southampton
• Cardiff City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
• Sheffield United v Middlesbrough
• Liverpool v Barnsley
• Manchester United v Arsenal
• Preston North End v Portsmouth
• Coventry City v West Bromwich Albion
• Chelsea v Huddersfield Town
  

Havant & Waterlooville are a great pub team and they know it

With the fourth round of the FA Cup well underway, Havant & Waterlooville fans show that they are the best drinking team left.

Please shut up Harry!!!!!

Who died and elected Harry Redknapp leader of English managers. Ever since the FA named the Italian with the black glasses as leader of the national team, Harry has not shut up.

"It is a great time to take the team over because we can't go any lower. We have reached our all-time low - the only way is up," Redknapp sounded off to Sky Sports about the hiring of Fabio Capello.

We all know you wanted the job Harry, but this just in you are not good enough to get it. Just go back to a couple of years ago, we all can remember watching Harry on the touchline at St. Marys as his team Southampton was regulated. Add to that, Harry being arrested as part of bungs scandal in November.

So do you think that the FA wants to hire someone that has been relegated from the Premiership and is connected to a bung scandal, I think not.

Where will Jose go?

If things continue to head down hill on the red half of Liverpool, the Special One could have to make a decision. Rafa the Gaffer is currently having some issues with his owners and one of the names keeps coming up to replace him is the former Chelski boss.

The Special One has also been linked with the England job, following the disaster that was second choice Steve.

People have said the best way to make a decision is to break down the positives and negatives of both place and that is what we are going to do.

Location: England: London Soho Square

Liverpool: The north of England

Advantage: London, that was easy. At least you can understand the people in London, there is no way you can understand a scousers.

Bosses: England: The Football Association

Liverpool: Gillett and Hicks.

Advantage: Liverpool: This one is easy, Hicks once gave A-Rod $250 million, so paying 20 million pounds for a world class wing player would not be an issue.

Home Field: England: Wembley Stadium

Liverpool: Anfield

Advantage: Liverpool: At least Anfield does not have football markings on it during big games.

Fan Expectation: England: win the World Cup or European Championships every year.

Liverpool: win the Champions League, FA Cup, Barclays Premier League every year.

Advantage: its a push, both sets of fans have lost the plot and think that they are better then they are.

When you break things down it says Liverpool. But the real choice is easy, the Special One should take the England job at least you know that scousers will not rob your home when you are work.

Move over Arsene

The FA has a new person that they are after, its not Arsene Wenger, and really its not a person at all. The FA is going to call a hearing about the sending off of Kingsley the Lion, the mascot of Reading Football Club. Kinglsey was sent off during win over Newcastle last week for making abusive gestures toward the ref. At the time the ref thought it was a Reading player that was making the gestures.

"Ref Mike Riley sent off Kingsley during Reading's 1-0 win over Newcastle. The FA officials confirmed the 6ft 5in furry-suit-wearing cheerleader faces an official warning,'' The Daily Mirror said.

Here is so video of Kinglsey during a happier time. I really think The FA has lost it. These are the same people that brought us Sven, to the 10 year construction of their new national stadium, to banning a mascot for a couple of games, The FA really covers a lot of ground.