Tag: england

Former NASL owner Milan Mandaric, now chairman of English club Leicester City, and former NASL player Harry Redknapp, manager of English club Portsmouth, were among five men arrested Wednesday in the ongoing investigation into transfer irregularities in English soccer.

‘Tis the season to dump on English soccer, so here we go, with the proviso that for about the past decade it has been my contention that the blast and dazzle of the English Premier League has so mesmerized certain fans, managers and players they believe only cheating opponents, diabolic refereeing decisions and haphazard preparations have prevented England from World Cup success.

[AMERICANS IN ENGLAND] Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahneman was beaten by Mathieu Flamini, Emmanuel Adebayor and Alexander Hleb as the Royals fell, 3-1, to Arsenal, which moved ahead of Manchester United atop the EPL standings on goals scored is now unbeaten in 27 straight games. Hahnemann has conceded 29 goals in 13 games. Only last-place Derby has given up more goals (31) than Reading. Midfielder Bobby Convey started for Reading and played the first 70 minutes.

Arsenal has 30 points from 12 games while Man U has 30 points from 13 games. Each have a goal difference of plus-17, but Arsenal has scored 27 goals to United’s 23.

[AMERICANS IN BRITAIN] West Ham’s American defender Jonathan Spector celebrated his first English Premier League goal but later found out his strike against Derby County in a 5-0 win was credited as an own goal by countryman Eddie Lewis. The 21-year-old Spector moved in England in 2004 when he joined Manchester United. Goalkeeper Tim Howard helped Everton to a 1-1 tie with Chelsea by making an acrobatic save on an effort by Chelsea’s Shaun Wright-Phillips.

[AMERICANS IN BRITAIN] Clint Dempsey scored his fourth goal of the English Premier League season, stabbing a close-range shot past Reading’s American goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann for the second goal of a 3-1 win. It was Fulham’s second victory of the season and the 26th goal Hahnemann has conceded in 12 games. Two other American goalkeepers fared better.

Referee Danny McDermid has been charged by the English FA “with using abusive and/or insulting words” toward Leeds United coach Dennis Wise, who claimed that McDermid told him to “f*** off” after Wise cursed at McDermid, who ejected Wise at halftime of a 1-1 tie with Gillingham. McDermid has until Nov. 13 to respond to the charge. The FA suspended Wise for three games and fined him $10,000 protesting the ejection Tresor Kandol, who had received two yellows for dissent. The second was for sarcastically applauding the ref.

[AMERICANS IN BRITAIN] Jonathan Spector saw his first English Premier League action in a month when he came on for West Ham as a 78th minute sub in a 0-0 tie at Portsmouth. It was the 21-year-old defender’s fifth EPL appearance of the season. Misery continued for last-place Derby County, which fell, 2-0, against Everton, for whom keeper Tim Howard got the shutout. Eddie Lewis played the first 57 minutes for Derby but Benny Feilhaber didn’t suit up. Keepers Brad Friedel (Blackburn) and Marcus Hahnemann (Reading) celebrated wins, but although Clint Dempsey came close to scoring, Fulham extended its winless streak to nine games. In Scotland DaMarcus Bealsey and Rangers lost at Dundee United.

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Kasey Keller, the 37-year-old goalkeeper who has played three English Premier league games and one League Cup since joining Fulham in August, suffered an arm injury in practice that is expected to sideline him for three to four months.

[AMERICANS IN ENGLAND] Fulham settled for a scoreless tie with lowly Derby County to extend its winless streak to eight games. For Fulham, Kasey Keller was replaced in goal Antii Niemi, Clint Dempsey, who came close to scoring with a header, started and played 90 minutes; defender Carlos Bocanegra was a halftime sub. Eddie Lewis played the full 90 for Debry, but Benny Feilhaber did not suit up. Two American keepers met as Blackburn (Brad Friedel) thumped Reading (Marcus Hahnemann) 4-2. Hahnemann has conceded 22 goals in 10 games this season. Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard was beaten twice from the penalty spot by Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt in the 2-1 derby loss

[AMERICANS IN BRITAIN] Goalkeeper Kasey Keller, defender Carlos Bocanegra and forward Clint Dempsey went the distance and fell 2-0 with Fulham against Portsmouth. Benny Feilhaber got his first start for Derby and was replaced in the 65th minute by compatriot Eddie Lewis in a 1-0 loss to Reading, for which Marcus Hahnemann played in goal.