The original timeline of Michael Essien’s recovery was six weeks.  That was four months ago.

Having suffered a knee injury this winter, the Chelsea midfielder was forced to miss the African Cup of Nations, where Ghana finished an admirable second, Milovan Rajevac’s squad emphasizing youth.  Had their captain been healthy, Egypt’s African [...]]]>

The original timeline of Michael Essien’s recovery was six weeks.  That was four months ago.

Having suffered a knee injury this winter, the Chelsea midfielder was forced to miss the African Cup of Nations, where Ghana finished an admirable second, Milovan Rajevac’s squad emphasizing youth.  Had their captain been healthy, Egypt’s African reign may have ended.

And had Essien been healthy for Chelsea, Manchester United may not still be competing for a fourth consecutive English Premier League title.  Regardless, the Blues have planned their run-in assuming Essien will not return this year, though as of last week, it was thought Essien would be healthy for Ghana come June (or, in fact, May).

Continue reading this article at World Soccer Digest.

Ghanian soccer is exhaling with the knowledge that Michael Essien will return in May.

Wait – wasn’t he supposed to be back already?

Read the article over at World Soccer Digest.

This is the first edition of a podcast that should develop [...]]]> The Monday edition of Set Piece Analysts’ podcast featured myself playing presenter for Kartik Krishnaiyer and Johnathan Starling as the duo talked about Chelsea-Manchester United (I had my say here) and the turmoil surrounding Louis van Gaal and Bayern Munich (which I talked about, here).

This is the first edition of a podcast that should develop into a very informative and entertaining product. Our current plan is to record nightly for distribution each morning. When we do, you can get the podcast at Set Piece Analysts, from the site’s iTunes feed, from my feed, or from the inline player, below:

[podcast]http://www.pointoneohradio.com/pods/spa/spa_episode01_20091108.mp3[/podcast]

Right after today’s Chelsea-Manchester United match, I was the guest of Kartik Krishnaiyer on the EPL Talk podcast. We spent about 12 minutes talking about a relatively uneventful match, which doesn’t mean there was a lack of talking points. Within the [...]]]>

The new EPL Talk Podcast logo. Tattoos available at designated Florida parlors.

Right after today’s Chelsea-Manchester United match, I was the guest of Kartik Krishnaiyer on the EPL Talk podcast. We spent about 12 minutes talking about a relatively uneventful match, which doesn’t mean there was a lack of talking points. Within the discussion, I was asked about

• the controversial nature of the first goal,
• the distance (or lack of distance) between the two teams,
• the emerging goal scoring threat of Antonio Valencia,
• the roles and lack of progress with Anderson and Nani,
• the importance of José Bosingwa to Chelsea’s attack,
• how Deco is being utilized by Carlo Ancelotti,
• the return of Joe Cole and Ancelotti’s vision for him,
• what United missed without Nemanja Vidic’s presence in defense,
• Manchester United’s ability to create shots through the middle of Chelsea’s formation,
• reasons Chelsea should be concerned, and
• reasons Manchester United should be encouraged.

Enjoy, and remember to support EPL Talk, especially when they have me on .

[podcast]http://media.libsyn.com/media/epltalk/post_united_chelsea.mp3[/podcast]

In case you could not discern them from my preview articles (which you can find at World Soccer Reader [A/B, C/D] or San Diego Examiner [A, B, C, D]), here are some knee-jerk predictions for today’s UEFA Champions League matches. These are not like the knee-jerk fantasy analyses from my colleague Jordan Wise, who [...]]]>

In case you could not discern them from my preview articles (which you can find at World Soccer Reader [A/B, C/D] or San Diego Examiner [A, B, C, D]), here are some knee-jerk predictions for today’s UEFA Champions League matches. These are not like the knee-jerk fantasy analyses from my colleague Jordan Wise, who thankfully can take a little riving. This is just how I feel four hours before the first kickoff:

For Bayern and head coach Louis van Gaal, it's must win today at Allainz.

Group A
Bayern Munich 0, Bordeaux 0 – Bayern has had trouble scoring goals and will be without the player who has been best in attack, Thomas Müller. Bordeaux already plays a “deliberate” style, and while a win would all-but seal their passage into the knock-out stage, a draw puts them in position to do the same on Match Day 5 against Maccabi Haifa. You should know, though, I predicted a 0-0 draw in Bordeaux. That was ruined early by a Michael Ciani own goal. Damn you, Ciani. My picks are much more important that your “fixture.”
Maccabi Haifa 0, Juventus 2 – Maccabi Haifa has not points and no goals through three match, and I don’t see that changing here. Unfortunately for the Israelis, their matches have become just as important as the matches between the groups big clubs, as any team that drops points to Haifa could find themselves in Europa.
Table, if these predictions hold: Bordeaux 8, Juventus 8, Bayern Munich 5, Macccabi 0

CSKA will need something special from Serbian winger Milos Krasic

Group B
Manchester United 0, CSKA Moscow 0 – United is injury weakened and strategically unwilling. The players they put out there, though, will still defend. Don’t expect the likes of Jonny Evans, Wes Brown, John O’Shea and Darren Fletcher to give CSKA anything. Given what we’ve seen from CSKA in recent matches against United and FC Moscow, I can’t see them getting a goal unless Milos Krasic or Alan Dzagoev does something miraculous. I don’t predict miracles.
Besiktas 3, Wolfsburg 1 – I’m a believer in Besiktas’s recent turn-around, and with apoor defensive team playing their first match in this environment, I like them to win handily and emotionally. The crowd at Inonu Stadium will be pushing the Black Knights for their first Champions League win, and with Wolfsburg going through some minor leadership issues, I’m not sure they have the infrastructure to withstand that onslaught.
Table, if these predictions hold: Manchester United 10, Wolfsburg 4, Besiktas 4, CSKA 4

Group C
Milan 1, Real Madrid 3 – I think the blow-up between Manuel Pellegrini and Guti has given the Chilean a chance to take control of the club. Along with Raúl, Guti represents the last of the old guard at Real Madrid, an old guard that (as seen in Marca) is starting to make the new coach’s life difficult. Guti’s act in their loss at Alcorcon gives Pellegrini license to crush some eggshells, and just as Villareal was fine after Riquelme left, Madrid will be fine. In today’s match Pellegrini will put out his best team, worrying less about entitlement and more about efficacy.
Marseille 1, FC Zürich 0 – This match could go either way. I was surprised that Marsille beat Zürich in Switzerland, but I’ll bow to that result as well as l’OM’s superior talent. No result in this one would surprise me, even if Zürich scored early and caused a complete collapse under Didier Deschamps.
Table, if these predictions hold: Real Madrid 9, Milan 6, Marseille 6, Zürich 3

Group D
Atlético Madrid 0, Chelsea 2 – Chelsea could pile it on, but I just don’t think they’ll care. I think they’ll get a goal mid-way through the first half, after a settling in period, score early in the second, and then the match will be mind-numbingly dead. Atlético has gone from curiosity, to oddity, to outright (relative) tragedy. Good teams should not play this poorly. It’s no longer funny.
APOEL 0, Porto 2 – For as much willingness and heart as APOEL have shown, they have still be ineffectual, and Porto has walked this road too many times before to overlook this match. I have an inclination to say Porto would be happy with a draw that would basically put them into the knock-out stage, but they rested some players this weekend against Beleneses, so I think they’re striving to win this group.
Table, if these predictions hold: Chelsea 12, Porto 9, APOEL 1, Atlético 1

To get any conversation started, I throw a list together as quickly as possible, send it out, and let people yell at me for being dumb.

This [...]]]> Each week, I aggregate a World Club Top Ten lists from the view of the staff at World Soccer Reader. I always start the discussion with my knee-jerk list.

To get any conversation started, I throw a list together as quickly as possible, send it out, and let people yell at me for being dumb.

This is how dumb I was after today’s matches:

1. Barcelona
2. Chelsea
3. Real Madrid
4. Juventus
5. Bordeaux
6. Manchester United
7. Lyon
8. Sevilla
9. Estudiantes
10. Manchester City

Others: Tottenham, Inter, Arsenal, Benfica, Porto, Fiorentina, Sao Paulo, Dynamo Kyiv, Hamburg, Rubin Kazan, Bayern Munchen, Liverpool, Velez Sarsfield, Palmeiras, Marseille, Club America, Bayer Leverkusen

The “others” are slightly ordered and mostly thrown in there to stimulate conversation. I’m probably missing clubs. Does PSV deserve consideration? How about Shaktar?

Please, drop some knowledge. On me.

Here’s the email I just sent. Disclaimer: This email is almost intended to be [...]]]> Each week at World Soccer Reader I lead a discussion that leads to the site’s weekly World Club Top 10 article. On Monday, I send out an email with my thoughts. One day later, I’m editing the content.

Here’s the email I just sent. Disclaimer: This email is almost intended to be corrected. In other words, I don’t put a ton of thought into it. I almost WANT people to say “Hey, I don’t think that’s right.”

So consider that an invitation to comment.

The list we publish at WSR will be much different, but for those willing to read this site, you deserve a sneak-peak. Here’s your director’s cut:

LAST WEEK

1 – Barcelona – I don’t see why this should change
2 – Chelsea – Clearly the second-best team in the world and reaffirmed such by controlling Fulham, a team that had played well both domestically and in Europe.
3 – Manchester United – They won 5-0 and proved they are not even the third best team in England, let alone the world. I’m dropping them a lot this week.
4 – Arsenal – They’ll move up as much by default as their performance, which was still very good.
5 – Real Madrid – No change. I just need to assess whether somebody jumps them into #4. I doubt it.
6 – Wolfsburg – Lost at home to Hamburg. They’ll drop entirely off my list.
7 – Juventus – Decent, though not convincing win to start the season. The only reason they would move up-or-down for me will depend on what other teams did.
8 – Inter – Will drop out entirely. Did not score from open play. Drew with a newly promoted side at the San Siro. They lose the benefit of the doubt.
9 – Bordeaux – Dominant performance this weekend. We need to really think about how good they are. The conversations we had the last two weeks about Wolfsburg now need to be applied to Bordeaux
10 – Liverpool F.C.- We’ll have to wait a few hours to know.

Other thoughts from around the leagues:

England
Tottenham – Wins again on the road. I will find a place for them. They’ll pass Liverpool with me, now that they’ve strung together a couple more wins. I have to rank them above Manchester United, too.

France
Lyon – 5-1 win over Anderlecht in UCL qualifying and then a 3-0 trouncing of Auxerre while rotating half their team.

Italy
Milan – Won on the road, 2-1, over Siena. I don’t think that’s enough to get in my top 10

Germany
Bayer Leverkusen – Another team I don’t see breaking our top ten, but are atop the league, have the best goal differential, and won 5-0 this week.
Hamburg – Won at Wolfsburg and is joint top in Bundesliga

Russia
Rubin Kazan – Dominant 3-0 victory AT Dinamo. They’ll get mad love from me.
Spartak Moscow – 3-2 win a Grozny but almost coughed it up. They and Rubin are pulling away in Russia, but they’re not going to break my top ten this week.

Argentina
Estudiantes – Probably the most impressive team to open the league, and coming off their Copa win, I’m going to probably find a place for them.
EDIT: (also felt like mentioning San Lorenzo and Vélez here, but didn’t want to get greedy)

Brazil
Palmeiras – Leading the league and had a huge, convincing win over and Internacional team that had games in hand, was close, and was trying to regain first (eventually). I don’t know if they were convincing enough, but I want to put them on your radar.
(btw, Sao Paulo finally lost this weekend)

Made it this far? Here’s my list:

Barcelona
Chelsea
Arsenal
Real Madrid
Bordeaux
Juventus
Tottenham
Liverpool
Rubin Kazan
Estudiantes

Others (in order): Manchester United, Spartak Moscow, Lyon, Internazionale, Palmeiras, Hamburg, Wolfsburg, Milan

When they can’t get into attack, Chelsea will play it towards the corner to just loft it into the box. And he finds a way to make a play on it.

Yes, half of those plays still end with [...]]]> And so Nicolas Anelka chips another towards him. And so Frank Lampard plays another ball through.

When they can’t get into attack, Chelsea will play it towards the corner to just loft it into the box. And he finds a way to make a play on it.

Yes, half of those plays still end with him sprawled on the ground, and the detractors will still see in his body language and scowls those aspects their derision has dwelt upon since he move to London from Marseille.

It’s been almost two years since Didier Drogba has been in form. While much of that was injury, a lot has undoubtedly been attitude. When José Mourinho and Roman Abramovich parted ways, the man who kept the sport’s best athlete at the top of his game was gone.

So started a very strange stretch in Drogba’s career where a player who had been competing with Cristiano Ronaldo for PFA awards would go through stretches of not being selected.

That now appears to be over. With his first half goal against Fulham today, Drogba has three goals in two-and-a-half league matches, a ratio that understates his influence. When Drogba is in form, Chelsea has a consistent route into attack, one that opens up the area behind the line for the Lampards, Ballacks, and Essiens to pounce.

Lampard is somewhat of a talisman at the club, and the acclaim Terry receives is well deserved, but when Drogba is healthy, he is the best player on this team and in the argument for best player in the league. If he puts in a dominant campaign like he did three seasons ago, Chelsea has to be the favorites in Champions League. As he will be away for African Cup of Nations, I still don’t like Chelsea to win league, but in late spring when teams are working toward Madrid, Drogba could make the Blues the best equipped side to unseat Barcelona