Ryan, although nudging 30, doesn't really have many miles on the clock compared with most pro players of his age. Remember that he played a combination of US college football and MLS from the age of 20 to 27, so he's had far fewer games than UK-based players of the same vintage. This is a deal which demonstrates mutual commitment from both club and player.

It stands out like canine testicles that Nelsen is Hughes' long-term/medium-term choice as skipper. Otherwise, why give the armband short-term to Gollum's Ocker flake?? As pointed out by many listees, there were/are far more deserving cases...

Let's get this settled.... Lucas is highly over-rated, particularly by the Oz football scribes. Fair enough - decent athlete. On the minus side, a suspect temperament, perennial ball watcher & poor distribution. I can't believe the fawning press he gets in Australia. He was made to look a good defender at WC2006 by the (largely) unsung work of Vince Grella playing in the Makelele role. So, Lukey, ###### off to the Hammers and take Gollum's shilling - you're @#/? and you know you are.

Nelsen has a degree in Political Science from Stanford University, consistently ranked in the top 10 of the world's universities, and above both Oxford and Cambridge in the most recent rankings released this week.

Rested probably. Nelsen "a bit sore"

Sky Sport has it on live here in NZ, right after Everton vs. Arsenal

Nelsen's distribution is usually very good - he was a central midfielder in his junior and youth days, and played occasionally as a defensive mid for DC United. The lad can pass - even though his distribution has been below his usual high standard in the last couple of matches, his ball to Kuqi did lead to Pedersen's goal in the first leg of the CC semi-final.

Call it karma for The Spitter's dive last year

From NZ Sunday News, 8th Jan 2006: Hughes backs Ryan

Oint? Do you mean 'pint' or 'joint'?

From The Press (Christchurch, NZ) 7th January: Nelsen unfazed by 'media bungle' Ryan Nelsen says he has learned another valuable lesson this week in the dog-eat-dog world of the English Premier League. “Just don’t talk to the British Press,” said the All Whites skipper after being charged by the Football Association for making comments about referee Mark Halsey after Blackburn’s loss to Everton on December 20 (sic, should be 3rd). Nelsen told a reporter Halsey had “a nice track record” of dismissing Blackburn players after he sent off Rovers captain Andy Todd against Everton and Georgia defender Zurab Khizanishvili at Liverpool in October. “For some reason he likes giving red cards to us,” Nelsen was quoted as saying. The New Zealander does not deny making the comments but said he was led into it by a British reporter. “I guess I was a bit naïve. I was just having a laugh with a reporter and made a few sarcastic comments. If you had heard me say it, it was not bad at all, but if you put it down in print, it suddenly sounds quite different.” Nelsen said his Blackburn club was not too concerned about the charge and did not expect to be suspended. “I don’t think it’s a major. It happens all the time to a lot of players and managers.” Here

2-2 aet. Arsenal win 3-1 penalties

I disagree, Philip. It was a 'studs first' challenge and deserved a yellow.

Was Todd available for the OT match? His suspension finished with the Huddersfield game, from memory.

No, it was a rare mistake from Nelsen - backed off and let Owen in front of him. The replay showed Nelsen doing an "air" header as the ball was heading for the corner of the net.

Actim stats: 17 shots to Newcastle's 4

Put Gresko in for Matteo and add Jansen to the bench and you're spot on!

And last night he won his home town's Sportsperson of the Year award, unheard of for a footballer in this part of the world, given that other nominees included the All Black vice-captain and scourge of Woodward's Lions, Richie McCaw. Also picked up the supreme award, ahead of the rugby Super 12 champions. Story here

TV replays suggested it was Todd who was the culprit - Nelsen could be wearing the armband for a few matches? Scrappy game - expected more from Spurs; just one goal attempt in 90 mins to Rovers' 11 or so.

Nelsen only 50/50 for Saturday apparently here Sorry, Den. Didn't see your previous post with link to my local rag.

And also excluding Ryan Nelsen, with a Political Science degree from Stanford, one of the top three colleges in the States. He was also Scholar Athlete of the Year in US College football (soccer) in 2000.

The Baggies only have Richardson on loan from ManUre. Perhaps John Williams could do a Kenyon and invite him to lunch.

In NZ, it's on ESPN 11pm, 9pm AEST), if that helps. I was in Melbourne earlier in the week and noted that SBS said that they are not showing it live in Oz - delayed by about 2 hours.

Cup semi-final fever has managed to knock Super 12 Rugby off the front page of the weekend sports section of Ryan Nelsen's home town newspaper (The Press, Christchurch). There is a full page shot of Ryan winning the ball from Wayne Rooney at OT. And further in, there is an extensive double page spread on his Blackburn career to date. That is unheard coverage for football in NZ in the midst of the Super 12. The article also mentions that Rovers chat rooms have dubbed him Admiral Nelsen. But the only story in the on-line version reveals that Nelsen will play the semi with a broken thumb, sustained in the last 5 mins at OT. http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/thepress/0,21...44a6429,00.html We'll being watching here in the pub, kick off 11:15pm Saturday night local time.