A short post tonight to pass along an interesting factoid I heard while listening to a podcast from England. I don't talk about it much here, but I am a big fan of soccer and of a team many folks hate: Manchester United. I've followed United as my team for the better part of thirteen years now. What I have found to be true is that, of American fans, all the hipster boys and girls who are too cool (for everything) love Arsenal. The folks who want to be "true fans" and be that person who thinks they are better than you -- or, they are Cubs fans -- tend to support Liverpool. All the trolls and the preps follow either Chelsea or Manchester City. Anyway, I digress. I was listening to the most recent episode of the excellent podcast "Football Weekly" featuring the ever interesting James Richardson. In the discussion regarding stats, Richardson brought up Billy Beane. In particular, he mentioned that, as many people know, Billy Beane has become a big football/soccer fan. He's now getting involved at Dutch club AZ Alkmaar in an advisory role. He's getting involved at AZ Alkmaar because of this guy:
Robert Eenhoorn played a grand total of 37 games in the major leagues -- 20 with the Yankees and 17 with the Angels. Eenhoorn joined Alkmaar in October as a director, and his relationships in baseball led Beane to join up as an advisor for Alkmaar. So, at least I found that interesting.
1. With dutchman Louis van Gaal there they should be starting to be competitive, hope he is given the time to build this team, 2. Very interesting to see Bean involved in Dutch soccer with AZ, had to explain to most of my countrymen who bean actually is :-))
I think van Gaal and his background make him deserve more time than David Moyes got. Best line I heard about Moyes was that his goal was always to get Everton above Utd., and last season he accomplished that...
The question I really have is how long van Gaal will put up with the English press. He's said already that this is his *last* job. I'm happy he is at United, no doubt.
Don't follow soccer too much. But with John Henry the Redsox owner also the owner of Liverpool and the cable network itself we get a few games a week broadcast. If I had to pick a team it would be Stoke. Geoff Cameron who played for the U.S. In the World Cup plays for them. He is a friend of the family. My son and Geoff played together for many years
huge match this Sunday. If we can win at Anfield, Europe looks a lock for next season.
ReplyDeleteTough fixture list in the next 4. The match this weekend will tell us a lot -- as to whether last weekend was a false dawn or a harbinger.
DeleteI remember Ernhorn well!
ReplyDeleteIsn't Finkle Eemhoorn? And Ernhoorn is Finkle?
ReplyDelete1. With dutchman Louis van Gaal there they should be starting to be competitive, hope he is given the time to build this team, 2. Very interesting to see Bean involved in Dutch soccer with AZ, had to explain to most of my countrymen who bean actually is :-))
ReplyDeleteI think van Gaal and his background make him deserve more time than David Moyes got. Best line I heard about Moyes was that his goal was always to get Everton above Utd., and last season he accomplished that...
DeleteThe question I really have is how long van Gaal will put up with the English press. He's said already that this is his *last* job. I'm happy he is at United, no doubt.
Don't follow soccer too much. But with John Henry the Redsox owner also the owner of Liverpool and the cable network itself we get a few games a week broadcast.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to pick a team it would be Stoke. Geoff Cameron who played for the U.S. In the World Cup plays for them. He is a friend of the family. My son and Geoff played together for many years
See, now *that* is a legitimate reason to like a club! And it's pretty cool too.
Deletemy wife likes Stoke because she thinks they have something to do with Harry Potter.
Delete*sigh*
Damn that was fun to watch Gerrard lose his head!
Delete