The sometimes Watford keeper has his own goalkeeper's school called Goalkeeping Guru which you can find here.
Of if you just want the wit & wisdom of the man himself without instruction, check out his website here.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
It's a Small Goal
SLU closed down their home season today with a 1-0 victory over LaSalle. Despite 24 (!!) shots on goal for the Billikins, the only goal of the day came from Freshman Benny Estes off a rare wind-blown assist from keeper Ross Kaufman.
The gusting wind carried Kaufman's goal kick long and fooled the opposing keeper, allowing Estes to lob the ball over his head and into the undefended net.
The Billikins failed to take advantage of many scoring opportunities, but the single goal was enough to keep SLU tied for 2nd in the Atlantic 10 with four matches left.
The gusting wind carried Kaufman's goal kick long and fooled the opposing keeper, allowing Estes to lob the ball over his head and into the undefended net.
The Billikins failed to take advantage of many scoring opportunities, but the single goal was enough to keep SLU tied for 2nd in the Atlantic 10 with four matches left.
Elton John - Playing for Players
If you want to see Elton John in the UK in 2010, your only chance will be at Vicarage Road.
Long-time fan, former owner, and current Honorary Life President Elton John announced this week that his only UK appearance in 2010 will be a fund-raiser at Vicarage Road in May. All of the proceeds will go to Malkay Mackay's player budget.
Long-time fan, former owner, and current Honorary Life President Elton John announced this week that his only UK appearance in 2010 will be a fund-raiser at Vicarage Road in May. All of the proceeds will go to Malkay Mackay's player budget.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Sheffield Wednesday (4-1) 5-6-3 21 pts.
Tom Cleverley was back on the pitch today and proved himself the playmaker Watford needs. Despite not scoring a goal himself, Cleverley racked up two assists and his corner kick started the play that gave the Hornets their first goal.
That corner in the 21st minute found its way to John Eustace, who had come on a minute before for an injured Ross Jenkins, and Eustace's cross was taken by Adrian Mariappa at the 6 yard wall. He right-footed it low and center to give Watford the lead.
Five minutes later it was a Cleverley pass to Henri Lansbury who plunked it in the net from 12 yards out, giving the Hornets a comfortable lead.
In the closing minutes of the half however, Marcus Tudgay headed in a Tommy Spurr assist t0 close the gap to one.
The fear that momentum had shifted to the visitors was unfounded as Jon Harley stretched the lead back to two goals (Lansbury asst.) at minute 54.
Seven minutes later Lansbury scored his second of the day, again assisted by Cleverley.
The Hornets have garnered seven points in the three games since the International break, four of those away from Vicarage Road, and stand in 10th place, only three points behind table leader WBA (though having played one more match).
Next match is Halloween, at the aforementioned West Bromwich Albion. I think GB goes off Daylight Savings Time Sunday so if they 'fall back', their 3 o'clock then is their 4 o'clock now which is our 10 o'clock and kick off should be 10:00 am St. Louis time. Unless it's 8:00 and I miss the whole game. We'll see.
That corner in the 21st minute found its way to John Eustace, who had come on a minute before for an injured Ross Jenkins, and Eustace's cross was taken by Adrian Mariappa at the 6 yard wall. He right-footed it low and center to give Watford the lead.
Five minutes later it was a Cleverley pass to Henri Lansbury who plunked it in the net from 12 yards out, giving the Hornets a comfortable lead.
In the closing minutes of the half however, Marcus Tudgay headed in a Tommy Spurr assist t0 close the gap to one.
The fear that momentum had shifted to the visitors was unfounded as Jon Harley stretched the lead back to two goals (Lansbury asst.) at minute 54.
Seven minutes later Lansbury scored his second of the day, again assisted by Cleverley.
The Hornets have garnered seven points in the three games since the International break, four of those away from Vicarage Road, and stand in 10th place, only three points behind table leader WBA (though having played one more match).
Next match is Halloween, at the aforementioned West Bromwich Albion. I think GB goes off Daylight Savings Time Sunday so if they 'fall back', their 3 o'clock then is their 4 o'clock now which is our 10 o'clock and kick off should be 10:00 am St. Louis time. Unless it's 8:00 and I miss the whole game. We'll see.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Most Competitive League: Part I
I was going through my FourFourTwo Season Preview this week (yes, I'm that far behind on my reading, thank you) and was stunned to see that they had put Hearts chances of winning the SPL at 100-1 even though they had picked them to finish 3rd. How uncompetitive must that league be, I thought, that the best non-Old Firm squad were such long shots?
So I looked at the other leagues to gauge which were the most, and least, competitive. As a proxy I looked at the odds of the projected 6th place team. Why 6th? Mostly because this was the worst you could be in the Championship and still have a shot at promotion.
So from least to most competitive:
Scottish Premier League (Dundee United) 150-1
Premiership (Tottenham Hotspur) 100-1
League One (Gillingham) 50-1
Championship (Preston North End) 20-1
League Two (Chesterfield) 14-1
Granted, this is a one team sample from each league and may reflect poor odds setting instead of competitiveness, so we'll take a look at more formal statistics as the season wears on, specifically rank-order statistics throughout the year. Until then, enjoy the competitions wherever you find them.
So I looked at the other leagues to gauge which were the most, and least, competitive. As a proxy I looked at the odds of the projected 6th place team. Why 6th? Mostly because this was the worst you could be in the Championship and still have a shot at promotion.
So from least to most competitive:
Scottish Premier League (Dundee United) 150-1
Premiership (Tottenham Hotspur) 100-1
League One (Gillingham) 50-1
Championship (Preston North End) 20-1
League Two (Chesterfield) 14-1
Granted, this is a one team sample from each league and may reflect poor odds setting instead of competitiveness, so we'll take a look at more formal statistics as the season wears on, specifically rank-order statistics throughout the year. Until then, enjoy the competitions wherever you find them.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Ipswich Town (1-1) 4-6-3 18 pts.
The Hornets came from behind to play cellar dwellers Ipswich Town to a 1-1 draw.
Don't ask me how.
I was called away at the hour mark to investigate my house alarm going off thirty minutes away due to (are you ready for this?) a swarm of Lady Bugs.
So I missed Nathan Ellington's dramatic six-yarder five minutes into injury time that erased the Ipswich lead.
Ellington came on for John Eustace around the hour mark after Watford failed to generate any response to Gareth McCauley's header in the fifth minute and received Dan Graham's cross to earn the Hornets a point at Portman Road.
Next match is Friday against Wednesday at Vicarage Road. Kickoff is 1:45pm St. Louis time.
Don't ask me how.
I was called away at the hour mark to investigate my house alarm going off thirty minutes away due to (are you ready for this?) a swarm of Lady Bugs.
So I missed Nathan Ellington's dramatic six-yarder five minutes into injury time that erased the Ipswich lead.
Ellington came on for John Eustace around the hour mark after Watford failed to generate any response to Gareth McCauley's header in the fifth minute and received Dan Graham's cross to earn the Hornets a point at Portman Road.
Next match is Friday against Wednesday at Vicarage Road. Kickoff is 1:45pm St. Louis time.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Lack of Financing Holds Up Redevelopment at Vicarage Road
Redevelopment plans, launched when the club was knee-deep in Premiership money, are being put on hold.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
SLU 1-2 UNC Charlotte
SLU rallied late trying to recover two first half goals but ran out of time to fall to 13th ranked UNC Charlotte.
The headbanded freshman Benny Estes headed a cross from Alex Sweetin to score his first goal for the Billikins.
The match was marred by piss-poor officiating.
The headbanded freshman Benny Estes headed a cross from Alex Sweetin to score his first goal for the Billikins.
The match was marred by piss-poor officiating.
DeMerit Has Cornea Replaced
The club has released information that captain and US national Jay DeMerit underwent eye surgery today and his left cornea replaced.
DeMerit developed an infection following the Plymouth Argyle match Sept. 15 in which he had a foreign body lodged under his contact lens.
Best wishes to Jay on a speedy recovery.
DeMerit developed an infection following the Plymouth Argyle match Sept. 15 in which he had a foreign body lodged under his contact lens.
Best wishes to Jay on a speedy recovery.
Middlesbrough (1-0) 4-5-3 17 pts.
The rest has done the Hornets some good as they notched an away victory today.
Tom Cleverley's right footer off a Danny Graham pass proved the only score of the match coming in the 26th minute.
It could have easily been 2-1 against as Boro had one goal recalled on a foul and another shot bounced off the crossbar and was ruled no goal.
Watford will travel to Ipswich Town Tuesday, October 20 to see if they can extend their winning ways. Kickoff is 1:45 St. Louis time.
Tom Cleverley's right footer off a Danny Graham pass proved the only score of the match coming in the 26th minute.
It could have easily been 2-1 against as Boro had one goal recalled on a foul and another shot bounced off the crossbar and was ruled no goal.
Watford will travel to Ipswich Town Tuesday, October 20 to see if they can extend their winning ways. Kickoff is 1:45 St. Louis time.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
USA 2-2 Costa Rica
The men's national team was down to ten men when Jonathan Bornstein converted a corner kick five minutes deep into added time, heading the ball into the net to give Team USA a draw in the final qualifying match for World Cup 2010.
Bornstein's goal, coupled with Landon Donovan's goal in the 72nd minute, erased two goals by Bryan Ruiz in the first half and cost Costa Rica an automatic berth in South Africa next summer.
Oguchi Onyewu was strechered off with a torn tendon in the final minutes leaving the US squad a man short, Coach Bradley having used all his substitutions. Onyewu is likely out for 3-4 months. Additionally, Charlie Davies' car accident may have ended his career and Jay DeMerit is out with likely eye surgery leaving the squad short-handed.
Costa Rican coach Rene Simoes was shown a red card for arguing while trying to insert a sub in added time and was escorted of the pitch by DC police. His assistant was also given the boot, leaving their strength & conditioning coach in charge with the lead.
The US squad played their set pieces well and it finally payed of with the final corner.
Of particular note, Columbus Crew's Robbie Rogers came off the bench as a big play-maker, creating corner kick opportunities and inserting himself in the action for the US.
Mexico drew, leaving the US as clear first in CONCACAF, Costa Rica will take on Uraguay for the final spot from the Americas, and Diego Maradona's Argentina qualified as well. And, special note to Mr. Mojo, Switzerland earned a trip to South Africa with a nil-nil draw against Israel.
Bornstein's goal, coupled with Landon Donovan's goal in the 72nd minute, erased two goals by Bryan Ruiz in the first half and cost Costa Rica an automatic berth in South Africa next summer.
Oguchi Onyewu was strechered off with a torn tendon in the final minutes leaving the US squad a man short, Coach Bradley having used all his substitutions. Onyewu is likely out for 3-4 months. Additionally, Charlie Davies' car accident may have ended his career and Jay DeMerit is out with likely eye surgery leaving the squad short-handed.
Costa Rican coach Rene Simoes was shown a red card for arguing while trying to insert a sub in added time and was escorted of the pitch by DC police. His assistant was also given the boot, leaving their strength & conditioning coach in charge with the lead.
The US squad played their set pieces well and it finally payed of with the final corner.
Of particular note, Columbus Crew's Robbie Rogers came off the bench as a big play-maker, creating corner kick opportunities and inserting himself in the action for the US.
Mexico drew, leaving the US as clear first in CONCACAF, Costa Rica will take on Uraguay for the final spot from the Americas, and Diego Maradona's Argentina qualified as well. And, special note to Mr. Mojo, Switzerland earned a trip to South Africa with a nil-nil draw against Israel.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
You Gotta Love It
Official Bars!!
Looking for the US-Costa Rica match tonight and don't want to watch it alone (or sober)? U.S. Soccer has a list of Official bars, by state. Click on the title above to search.
Looking for the US-Costa Rica match tonight and don't want to watch it alone (or sober)? U.S. Soccer has a list of Official bars, by state. Click on the title above to search.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
US Men's Update
With one round to go, the US squad, along with Mexico, has qualified for the World Cup 2010. Their final match in the qualifying rounds is tomorrow night at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC against Costa Rica.
It's still an important match for both squads. The US is only one point ahead of Mexico for top seed and Costa Rica & Honduras are fighting it out for the last automatic qualifying spot from the CONCACAF region. A win by Costa Rica will nail it down for them, as will a loss by Honduras to El Salvador. The fourth place team will play a home-and-away playoff against the fifth place team from the CONMEBOL (South American) region.
Kick off is 7:00 pm St. Louis time tomorrow night and the match will be carried on ESPN2.
It's still an important match for both squads. The US is only one point ahead of Mexico for top seed and Costa Rica & Honduras are fighting it out for the last automatic qualifying spot from the CONCACAF region. A win by Costa Rica will nail it down for them, as will a loss by Honduras to El Salvador. The fourth place team will play a home-and-away playoff against the fifth place team from the CONMEBOL (South American) region.
Kick off is 7:00 pm St. Louis time tomorrow night and the match will be carried on ESPN2.
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Malkay Mackay on the Coca-Cola Football League Podcast
OK. I figured out the code (week 4 is 4, week 9 is 9 - wow!). So here it is - even before the Football League has posted it to the archives!
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Don Cowie Called Up for International Duty
The Watford midfielder is Japan bound to represent Scotland in the upcoming round of World Cup qualifiers.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Cardiff City (0-4) 3-5-3 14 pts.
A red-hot Cardiff City gave Watford a sound spanking in front of the home crowd Saturday.
Hot on the heels of a 6-1 mid-week drubbing of Derby Co., the Bluebirds cracked the seal on a four-pack of whoop-ass 24 minutes into the contest when Craig Cathcart pulled Jay Boothroyd down and set up Peter Whittingham's penalty kick.
Spirits sank fifteen minutes later when Scott Loach misjudged a floater from the half-way line served up by seventeen-year old Adam Matthews on a free kick and the ball one-hopped into an empty net.
The final nails were driven in in the 66th minute when Whittingham headed in his second goal of the day from a Gavin Rae cross and a minute later as a graceful turn left Boothroyd a clear shot into the goal.
It could have been worse - at least two shots by league-leader Michael Chopra missed the mark.
Thank goodness for the international break. A worn & injury-ridden Watford can use the time off. Next match is Saturday, October 17 at Middlesbrough. Kickoff is 9:00 St. Louis time.
Hot on the heels of a 6-1 mid-week drubbing of Derby Co., the Bluebirds cracked the seal on a four-pack of whoop-ass 24 minutes into the contest when Craig Cathcart pulled Jay Boothroyd down and set up Peter Whittingham's penalty kick.
Spirits sank fifteen minutes later when Scott Loach misjudged a floater from the half-way line served up by seventeen-year old Adam Matthews on a free kick and the ball one-hopped into an empty net.
The final nails were driven in in the 66th minute when Whittingham headed in his second goal of the day from a Gavin Rae cross and a minute later as a graceful turn left Boothroyd a clear shot into the goal.
It could have been worse - at least two shots by league-leader Michael Chopra missed the mark.
Thank goodness for the international break. A worn & injury-ridden Watford can use the time off. Next match is Saturday, October 17 at Middlesbrough. Kickoff is 9:00 St. Louis time.
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