Funny, I'd never noticed that. Guess I just figured they came that way

Looks like we saw the same match Neutral observers on this side of the pond (on BigSoccer) were exactly as you predicted...less than complimetary. And the lack of creativity up front wasn't directly apparent on the tube (since the camera tends to follow the ball), but indirectly was, in that too often Rovers, having gotten past midfield, had to pull away from an attack and kick it around because there just wasn't anything in front to deliver to. I join the chorus about Emerton's repeated tactic of running the ball directly into a cluster of defenders. He didn't demonstrate today either the speed or the footskills to pull that off. And I agree with many that the ref was very good. As to Nelsen, I thought it would be a diversion from todays match to show him in action a couple of years ago against Blackburn...and, from that game, another reason to put Burnley and its supporters away on March 1st.

OK, aside from Rovers: 1) DC United...my home team and winners of 7 cups in its short 9 years of existence 2) PNE...a great grandmother hails from Preston...and Eddie Lewis plays there 3) US National Teams...men and women 4) England...what with all of my Lancashire forebearers on my mother's side, how could I not? 5) Monoco...primarily because I love to see them play in that spectacular stadium of theirs

0-3 Rovers. Nothing will get through our defense (sorry about the 's' folks--just tried and true Septic English) now that Nelsen has been given the word on the DC United BigSoccer board: "Hey Nellie - Burnley are like the Metroscum, only with different accents and without the diving Guevara. DESTROY THEM!!!" Rovers have picked up a new pack of followers due to Nelsen's signing, most of whom will be watching the match on Sunday. Consequently, Burnley will have a new pack of detractors. Nothing wrong with that

What's really difficult is getting one here in the States. None available anywhere on line, so I looked in the Rover's store...£24 to ship it over here. That's just a bit less than the shirt I think not

I'm glad to hear the praises of Nelsen. I knew he'd do well for us, since I've watched him play for four years here. Can't wait to get home Saturday (I travel during the week) and watch my recording of the match...other than the frustration of seeing us not able to score.

The referee had already screwed up the first major decision of the evening before he awarded the penalty; the challenge from Nolan on Savage was x-rated and clearly warranted a red card. As did, according to the Laws, Brad's foul, since he denied an obvious goal scoring opportunity. Since Brad wasn't sent off, I can only assume that the ref must have been having second thoughts about the legitimacy of his call

From BBC's Live Text (before it shut down at the end of the first half) and from Blackburn's Minute-by-minute tracker, Nelsen sounded to be active: 4:53 Attacking throw-in by Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn). 13:06 Booking Foul by Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn) on Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Portsmouth). Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn) booked for unsporting behaviour. 25 MINS: Nelsen feeds Thompson, he cuts in from the right and shoots, but it takes a deflection and is easy for Hislop. 29 MINS: Nelsen upfield to Dickov, he lays it to his right to Gallagher who strikes it first time, but his effort is wide. 35:22 Attacking throw-in by Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn). 35 MINS: Ryan Nelsen goes down the right his centre is on a plate for Thompson but he strikes it first time over the bar. 36:04 Cross by Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn), resulting in open play. 40:36 Cross by Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn), shot by Paul Dickov (Blackburn) right-footed from right side of penalty area (18 yards), missed right. Goal kick taken long by Shaka Hislop (Portsmouth). 45:00 (0:11) Cross by Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn), clearance by Gary O'Neil (Portsmouth). Not any mention of second half activity, but since these trackers tend to focus on the attack, could have been that Ryan didn't go forward as much once Rovers had the lead. Or it could be that, not having played in a match since November, he's not as fit as he will be and couldn't go forward as much.

I've been telling my two kids who plan 2006 weddings that they need to plan around the WC...but my enthusiasm is a bit dampened by the current labor impass in the US that may even wind up with us not qualifying. A piece of good news is that my second national team is England, so I'll have a team to care about...and that our US soccer channel will be broadcasting all on England's home qualifiers live.

I asked on the DC United forum of BigSoccer. Here's the repsonse: "I know he has a serious girlfriend, not sure if they're engaged or not." So there's hope. By the way, he also will have a life after football is done. He graduated from one of the top-flight US universities, Stanford. And he's got a brain to go along with the athletic skills. From his college years: "Stanford senior midfielder Ryan Nelsen has been named the 2000 Collegiate Men's Soccer NSCAA/adidas Scholar Athlete of the Year. The native of Christchurch, New Zealand was chosen for his excellence academically as well as athletically." Best of luck

Amazing...I searched Google for information about whether he's married...nothing. Guess you'll just have to ask him If you're interested in how his move to Blackburn looked from his former team's point of view, you can go here. No mention of marital status, but there is another picture...

What? Again? Bring absolute joy to my summer? That's Nellie in the first row, far right...

Blackburn are going to be heavily watched from over here. There is a forum on BigSoccer, Yanks Abroad that tracks all the action of Americans playing in Europe. With four Yanks on the team (although in one sense it's stretching the definition for two of them) there'll be a lot of interest. And then we'll have even more interest from the DC United crowd because of Nellie. I don't anticipate a lot of new posters here, through, because most of us (including me, sadly) don't have the required knowledge of English football that comes with living in the midst of it. I can't wait for the inevitable comments about knowledge of English footy not being a requirement for posting on the messageboard

November 14, 2004

Ryan Nelsen came on a free didn't he. This may have been discussed elsewhere but how come we got him on a free? Was he out of contract? Yes he was. The way that MLS works is that all the teams are 'owned' by Major League Soccer, so the contract is with the league, not the team. The wages are negotiated with the teams, but the contract is with the league. Ryan knew that he wanted to play in Europe and, I assume, that it would be more likely if there were no transfer fee involved, so his being out of contract wasn't the league's choice, nor was it DC United's. Nellie didn't renegotiate. In fact, when the league expanded by two new teams a few months ago there was a dispersal draft. Teams had to leave three of their players unprotected for drafting by the new teams. Even though DC United knew that Ryan would likely get a contract in Europe, they protected him...in hopes that it wouldn't happen. For a sense of how beloved he is by DC United fans, check out the Nelsen signs with Blackburn thread on BigSoccer. The several 'crap!' expressions you'll see amongst the posts aren't about Blackburn, they are about the shattered hope that Ryan would return. And if you look closely, you'll see a number of well wishers are fans of DC's rivals...a lot of respect for Nellie throughout the league. The DC United side of me says we have lost a great player. The Rovers side says we have gained one. Now I have to worry about DC United's defense. Same worry, just a shift of venue.

so he's a good player then? Having watched him play for 3 1/2 years now, and having seen how DC United suffered when he wasn't on the pitch, I can confidently say YES. Wait...I should have said 'on the field', not 'on the pitch'. I forgot and slipped out of using one of those 'unfortunate classic Amierican soccer terms'

This image was posted on the BigSoccer boards and fully explains how the AR and center missed the call. It also show Carroll's speed and creativity.

You are brilliant!! Oops...was that you or someone named Deadfingers who did the work???

More than that. What's Carroll, over 6' tall? I'm 6'3", and my shoulder to tip of finger length is 31". So what do you think...about a yard over the line? And did no one on the officiating crew see him go into the goal to get the ball? There are about seven pages of "you've got to be sh-tting me"about it on the BigSoccer boards. Of course, the whole thing seems to have developed by a miscue clearance by Spector

And what do you think is going to happen now that Spector and Johnson are going to be dressed and ready? The BigSoccer Yanks Abroad board already has threads up on Jemal and Jonathan. They'll be added to the weekly Friedel/Blackburn thread that tracks each Rover's match. We've been discovered (well, maybe not BRSCS) and my pushy Septic compatriots are coming

Rangers are one. QPR are another. Here's a link to a story that says: "QPR are ready to move for New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen if he fails to secure a move to the Premiership." and "But if Hughes decides not to retain him, Rangers will attempt to snap Nelson up having monitored his progress for some time."

Is there any late news about Nelsen? Aren't QPR also sniffing about, hoping that he won't sign with Blackburn and therefore be available? And does this quote from the official site, "Aaron is the captain of South Africa and can play in central defence or the centre of midfield," put Mikoena in the midfield directly in front of Nelsen in the center of the backline (assuming both are able to break into the first team)?

disregard...

I admit to a mix of bias and hope, but I do believe that Nelsen will solve the center back problem. And a thought about what some have been saying about Friedel (I agree, by the way...I suspect he's lost his number 1 US national job). I once heard a manager talking about his very effective keeper. Something about how the keeper could take the chances to get off his line because he knew that he had great defenders to cover for him. Do we suppose that Brad keeps close because he doesn't have that knowledge?

Dickov reminds me of the ankle biters that I've seen some sides have staking out the defensive mid position. They just harrass the stuffing out of the attack but aren't expected to have the delivery ability to be the skilled disributor for the counter.