(R) 1/25, Liverpool at Watford (Carling), Demerit (fer sure), Whitbread?

[jri]

Jay gets the sure start, and Zak could make the bench (Hyppia out for a bit w/hip injury)..

Biggest game of season (probably a few seasons) for Watford...

'Pool with terrible form lately, and will have to put Traore (he of the unbelievably bad own goal last week) and Pelligrino (sp?), who looked horrible on Saturday, in central defense. Chance for Watford to take advantage..

Watford supporters hoping 'Pool doesn't wake up for next 90 minutes. The difference in 'resumes' for the lineups is going to be astounding.

BTW, Watford down 0-1 already, so they need a goal just to 'even it up'.

[jri]

BBC lists Whitbread in the 20 (don't they usually just list 18?)...

[FC Tallavana]

BBC lists Whitbread in the 20 (don't they usually just list 18?)...

I've seen them list well above 20 for Manchester United. It basically means they don't have a clue. :)

[Super Hoops]

Here's a Jay DeMerit article. :)

An American Soccer Player's Long Journey (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=687&ncid=755&e=9&u=/ap/20050124/ap_on_sp_so_ne/soc_american_surprise)


http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20050124/capt.lmc10101242032.britain_american_surprise_lmc101.jpg

U.S. soccer player Jay Demerit, left, trains with Watford teammate Hameur Bouazza ahead of Tuesday's League Cup Semi final 2nd leg soccer match against Liverpool at the Watford training ground, in Watford England Monday Jan. 24, 2005.(AP Photo Alan Cozzi)

[jri]

Well, a tremendous, exhiliarating 3 weeks wraps up for Jay today- the big game.

This will be Jay's 7th start in the last 22 days, and 4 games against Premiership teams (2 Fulham, 2 Liverpool), and 1 (away) against the #2 team in the Coca-Cola during that time.

To me at least, its been very impressive that he's kept such a high standard of play during this stretch- given he had hardly even played in 7 League games all year (over 4-5 months). And then to start 7 in a row, playing EVERY MINUTE........wow.

Lewington will have a fascinating decision after this game. The veteran Dyche will likely be back for the next game (Watford has 10 days off after this...time to rest). Does Jay continue to start/has he won the spot? Dyche is 33 years old.

Here's hoping Watford plays their guts out today, and here's hope Jay has something left and special for tonight (Jay may have been the only Watford player to play every minute these last 7 games).....

I'm still dreaming about his scoring a flying header off a corner or set piece late here...

[shawfield]

>Lewington will have a fascinating decision after this game. The veteran >Dyche will likely be back for the next game (Watford has 10 days off after >this...time to rest). Does Jay continue to start/has he won the spot? Dyche >is 33 years old.

I think the decision will be between keeping JD in the team & or leaving in Neil Cox to accompany club captain Sean Dyche when he returns from injury. Dyche is certain to be back in the team as he has been excellent since the Chelsea cup tie last season. Cox has struggled a little lately but we know that Lewington favours experience over raw talent. However, JD's extra pace 'could' possibly mean he gets the starting place.

He'll need the pace tonight against Baros & Morientes !

[Wahoo]

Out of curiosity I checked to see what happens if Watford were to win this game by 1 goal.

I found this on the CarlingCup website.
(c) In the Semi-Final ties, if the aggregate score is level at the end of the second game an extra half-hour shall be played. If the aggregate scores are still level at the end of extra time the tie shall be decided by goals scored away from home counting twice. If the teams remain equal after this procedure the tie shall be determined by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with the Laws of Association Football.

I find it interesting that if the aggregate score is level after the 2nd match, they play 30 more minutes...
After that...then goals away applies...

So if Watford win today 2-1... they play 30 minutes.
If it's even after the extra 30 minutes, Liverpool wins???
Does that seem odd to anyone else?
Either way this one apparently won't be decided by penalty kicks.

[jri]

Out of curiosity I checked to see what happens if Watford were to win this game by 1 goal.

I found this on the CarlingCup website.
(c) In the Semi-Final ties, if the aggregate score is level at the end of the second game an extra half-hour shall be played. If the aggregate scores are still level at the end of extra time the tie shall be decided by goals scored away from home counting twice. If the teams remain equal after this procedure the tie shall be determined by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with the Laws of Association Football.

I find it interesting that if the aggregate score is level after the 2nd match, they play 30 more minutes...
After that...then goals away applies...

So if Watford win today 2-1... they play 30 minutes.
If it's even after the extra 30 minutes, Liverpool wins???
Does that seem odd to anyone else?
Either way this one apparently won't be decided by penalty kicks.

No PKs if Watford wins 1-0, and its scoreless after 30?

I'd love to see the end of PKs personally, and have teams play until one scores. Take one player off each side every 10 minutes if need be (they can get down to 6 v 6 full field for all I care....at least they are playing- it is real competition) vs. PKs which are a joke and basically unfair (what does it have to do with the preceeding field time?)...

The lamest argument is: "Well, the players would be too tired for next match(es), etc. under that proposal". Well, there's your incentive TO AVOID A TIE and play for the win in regulation (more exciting!).

[Wahoo]

No PKs if Watford wins 1-0, and its scoreless after 30?



[Homer] DOH [/endhomer]

apparently I need more coffee.

[TAKK]

[Homer] DOH [/endhomer]

apparently I need more coffee.


...and you are in Seattle? I thought it was sprinkled on everything out there.

[M]

I find it interesting that if the aggregate score is level after the 2nd match, they play 30 more minutes...
After that...then goals away applies...

So if Watford win today 2-1... they play 30 minutes.
If it's even after the extra 30 minutes, Liverpool wins???
Does that seem odd to anyone else?


I think it's the way away goals should be applied, i.e. as a tiebreaker right before p.k.s. It maximizes the chances that the game will be settled on the field of play rather than through a tiebreaker.

[jri]

>Lewington will have a fascinating decision after this game. The veteran >Dyche will likely be back for the next game (Watford has 10 days off after >this...time to rest). Does Jay continue to start/has he won the spot? Dyche >is 33 years old.

I think the decision will be between keeping JD in the team & or leaving in Neil Cox to accompany club captain Sean Dyche when he returns from injury. Dyche is certain to be back in the team as he has been excellent since the Chelsea cup tie last season. Cox has struggled a little lately but we know that Lewington favours experience over raw talent. However, JD's extra pace 'could' possibly mean he gets the starting place.

He'll need the pace tonight against Baros & Morientes !

Both Cox and Dyche are 33 1/2 years old.

When Jay was playing earlier this year, he'd always replace Dyche...but in the past month, he's replaced Cox too on occasion. Didn't seem to be a noticeable difference in the team play, so you point seems very valid (even if Jay was more an 'idea' as cover for Dyche originally).

How would you differentiate positions (between Cox and Dyche). If the difference is slim/non-existent, then there you have it.

In any event, what a great slot Jay has put himself in now. His 'competition' (for 2 spots/2 players) are clearly aging, and with Jay's recent performances, he probably moved Lewington 'succession plan' up many months- maybe even an entire season or 2.

Lewington, btw, deserves enormous kudos for how he's handled 'the Jay situation' this past year...

[forza inter]

any way we can listen in on the big game??

web audio?


forza inter

[Wahoo]

...and you are in Seattle? I thought it was sprinkled on everything out there.

4 faucets in new homes...
1 & 2 for hot and cold water like most homes
3rd is for espresso
4th is for a mocha

Yes, more coffee is the answer to everything :)
To those of you who don't know Seattle and think it's just a stereotype... it's not.
I can get to 6 coffee shops/stands by walking about half a mile.
(and yes you can find places with Starbucks on both sides of an intersection)

[Wahoo]

I think it's the way away goals should be applied, i.e. as a tiebreaker right before p.k.s. It maximizes the chances that the game will be settled on the field of play rather than through a tiebreaker.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing... but I can't remember seeing the goals away rule applied after they try to settle it with a 30 minute extratime period. That was all.

I too am for settling it on the field. I don't like PKs deciding the outcome... and I am not overly fond of the goals away rule so I like that they give them the 30 minutes first.

[m vann]

In any event, what a great slot Jay has put himself in now. His 'competition' (for 2 spots/2 players) are clearly aging, and with Jay's recent performances, he probably moved Lewington 'succession plan' up many months- maybe even an entire season or 2.

Lewington, btw, deserves enormous kudos for how he's handled 'the Jay situation' this past year...

Boy, I didn't realize what kind of situation Watford was in with their aging center backs. It makes perfect sense that Watford extended Jay's by 2 1/2 years earlier. Sets him up perfectly and puts Watford in a great position in the future. However, I hoping the future will be erased by the present and Jay will assert himself a #1 choice now. If he shows his class once again, I have no doubt he'll dislodge someone on that backline.

[superdave]

I think it's the way away goals should be applied, i.e. as a tiebreaker right before p.k.s. It maximizes the chances that the game will be settled on the field of play rather than through a tiebreaker.
Right, but doesn't it give an unfair advantage to the team away in the 2nd leg? Let's say after 90, it's Watford up 1-0. For the next 30 minutes, if Liverpool scores, Watford has to score TWICE to win. So in extra time, a smart Watford manager is playing ultraconservative, playing for PKs.

Championship Manager isn't real, but it can educate you on basic strategy like this. In CM, if I'm home 2nd leg, I'm hanging on for PKs, I'm not going out after a goal.

To me, having the 30 minutes at home without counting away goals extra is less of an advantage than being away in extra time, with away goals as tiebreaker.

[M]

Right, but doesn't it give an unfair advantage to the team away in the 2nd leg? Let's say after 90, it's Watford up 1-0. For the next 30 minutes, if Liverpool scores, Watford has to score TWICE to win. So in extra time, a smart Watford manager is playing ultraconservative, playing for PKs.

Championship Manager isn't real, but it can educate you on basic strategy like this. In CM, if I'm home 2nd leg, I'm hanging on for PKs, I'm not going out after a goal.

To me, having the 30 minutes at home without counting away goals extra is less of an advantage than being away in extra time, with away goals as tiebreaker.

I was comparing it to away goals in Euopean games where they are applied after both 90 and 120 mins. To me this is an inferior way of doing it as it increases the probability of an artificial tiebreaker deciding the tie. As to having 30 mins extra to score an away goal, that is true (under both systems), but I do believe that it's largely counterbalanced by the advantage of being at home for an extra 30 mins.

[FC Tallavana]

Dudek
Finnan
Pellegrino
Carragher
Traore
Gerrard
Hamann
Biscan
Riise
Baros
Morientes

Subs:

Carson
Garcia
Pongolle
Warnock
Potter



Tough break for Zak it seems.

[Jay510]

saw this on Espn.com....not sure if its the same story, thought id post anyway

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=322878&cc=5901