Match Day 4 - Group D

England 1 - France 1

England supporters are most likely happy with the result, as well they should be.  Yet much of the match was a snooze fest as Roy Hodgson parked the school bus at the top of 18 the entire game.  The conservative nature was even more apparent when England did have possession, and central MF's Scott Parker and Stevie G barely ventured past the midfield line.

James Milner missed a golden chance that Wayne Rooney surely woulda buried.  18-year old Oxlade-Chamberlain looks like a player.  Glad to see our boy Gerrard figure in the scoring off a free kick, but we'd love to see him take more liberties up field.  Maybe England opens things up against Ukraine and Sweden.  Maybe.

Great goal from Frenchie Samir Nasir, although the celebration was a tad weird.  Get jacked up and yell and scream OR do the Max Talbot finger to lips "shhhhhh" thingy. Doing both seems counter productive.

Ukraine 2 - Sveden 1

Pretty much a cracker.  May have been the most entertaining match of the tourney so far.  54 year old Andriy Shevchenko became the oldest dude to score at the Euros, and did so twice.  Both goals were beauties, as well. Good for him...seems like a swell guy.

The first half was back and forth, but provided no goals.  Ibra opened the scoring in the 52nd with a nice little touch right in front of goal.  Shortly after, Shevchenko tied it with a diving header.  Seven minutes later, another header off a corner gave the Ukraine the lead for good.  The home crowd went berserker.  Good times.

On paper, it was an upset.  But Ukraine was definitely the better side for much the game, and played some pretty attractive footie with some surprising pace.  Group D has gotten real interesting, and based off Ukraine's play in this game, I wouldn't be surprised to see them get thru.

2nd round of Group play starts today.  Fckya.

Match Day 3 - Che Bello!

Italia 1 - Spain 1

Thanks to Cesare Prandelli for making everyone (including me) look stupid. And thanks to Vicente Del Bosque for cooperating. Prandelli's unorthodox 3-5-2 formation crowded Spain's midfield, and clogged up their tic-tac-toe passing game for most of the 90 minutes. Also helped that Spain added to the crowded midfield by playing NO forward strikers and SIX midfielders. Weird. I'm pretty dumb when it comes to such tactical thingies, but common sense told me that was a really strange move.

Really proud effort from the Azzurri, for the most part (sans Mario Balotelli). While the clampdown defence was prototype Italy, they also had a good share of the ball, and created a few quality chances of their own. Andrea Pirlo's leading ball that set up Antonio DiNatale's goal was a beauty, and the finish was just as nice. Daniele DeRossi was a beast in his new "sweeper" role, and Chiellini and Bonucci were solid on the 3-man back line as well. I gotta think DiNatale gets the start ahead of Balotelli against Croatia after that woeful "effort."

Spain had a beauty of a goal as well, with David Silva setting up Fabregas shortly after Italy went ahead. The lead was fun while it lasted.  Oh, well. 3 points woulda been huge. I'll take the tie. I gotta think Croatia and Ireland won't fair as well.

Great game for objective footie viewers, I imagine. A couple of mini dramas as one would expect (Thiaggo Motta, Sergio Busquets), but not nearly as much of that gamesmanship as you woulda expected going in.  Fernando Torres came on late, and sucked. Fabregas whined about the pitch after the game.

Croatia 3 - Ireland 1

As well as Italy played, Croatia had the best day of the Group. Sure...it was against the worst team of the group, but ask the Netherlands how that went for them in Group B.  With Italy and Spain on deck, it was a must 3 for Croatia and they took care of business. 

Another great game for viewers, sans the dickhead in the stands with fake ref whistle.  Lots of chances, and another great atmosphere from the crowd.  Mario Mandžukić was the man up front for the Cro with 2 headers that hit the back of the net.  He'll be the force up front that Italy didn't have to contend with against Spain.  The fan in me wants to say Gigi Buffon stands a better chance against both of those goals than Shay Given.

Stick the fork in Ireland.

Match Day 2 - Group of Slow Death

Denmark 1 - NED nil

totally fucking figures.  My pick to win it all comes out the chutes like a dud.  Holland took 94 shots in the game, but not a single one was on frame.  Robben was off his game, so much so that I can't recall a single flop from the SCUBA master.  Van Persie sucked.  Some dude named Krohn-Dehli scores when he wants, and did so in the 20th or something minute for the Danes.

 
In fairness to Denmark, they played a brilliantly defensive game.  When they had their chances they took them, and had a decent share of the ball at times.  The Danes weren't content with sitting 10 in the box and punting every time they touched it, so kudos for that.  Liverpool centre-defender Danny Agger was a stud most of the match.

Not too many quality opps from NED that I remember.  RVP tripped over some grass right outside the 6 on one occasion. And Huntelaar had a glorious chance set up by our boy Sneijder, but the Dane keeper made himself big.  Other than that, a well deserved 3 points from the Danes.

With Germany and Porto still looming, getting squat against Denmark...the supposed worst of the group...could spell death in the Group of Death.

Germany 1 - Portos nil

Probably the worst match yet, as it appeared Portugal's goal was a nil-nil tie.  Apparently, they were trying to impress Jose Mourinho who was in the stands.  The game did pick up once Mario Gomez opened the scoring in the 72nd minute.  Porto was finally forced outta their shell, and the final 20 minutes was pretty entertaining.

Misc Notes: 

• Bruno Alvez has to be the sweatiest human ever.
• Michael Ballack: we get it, you're German, and you're rooting really really hard for Germany.

Game of the Day:

While Ronaldo was invisible for Portugal, Lionel Messi was lighting it up at the Meadowlands in a friendly against Brasil....



Jesus. What a human being.

 GROUP C TODAY! FORZA FORZA FORZA!!!

Match Day 1 - Group A fckya!

Greece 1 - Polska 1

Sort of a cracker from a game that looked like a dud to open the festivities.  Polska dominated the 1st half, and some Greek dude whose last name can't fit on the back of his jersey (seriously) got screwed with a couple of soff yellows.

Greece regrouped at half.  Down a goal and 1 man, the half time sub Salpingidis pounced on a loose ball in front of Polska GK Szczęsny who looked stupid on the play.

20 minutes later, Greece coulda pulled out the stunning comeback when Szczęsny was handed a straight red after tripping up Salpingidis in the box.  Poland pulled some dude named Tyton outta the stands to play G in place of Szczęsny.  Greek captain Karagounis had a case of tight bum, and took a poor PK.  Tyton snuffed it.  Poland went berserker.  Greece effed themselves a chance at 3 points.

Russia 4 - Czechs 1

Russia probably coulda scored 6 or 7 if Kerzhagov had any ability to finish.  Other than that, Russia showed they're the class of Group A.  Arshavin looked great (or better than he ever has at Arsenal), Alan Dzagoev was a stud, and Roman Pavlyuchenko scored the goal of the day.

The cheeky Czechs made it 2-1 at one point when Kovalchuk failed to get back on the play defensively, and some Czech dude capitalized with a brief moment of brilliance. Other than that, Peter Cech was basically under siege all day and even his helmet couldn't save him.

Cracking day of footie from what is clearly the worst of the 4 groups.  Russia looks capable of big things.  As far as long term plans for the rest of these teams, tho...meh.

BRING ON THE GROUP OF DEATH!!

Official EUROS 2012 picks

Here's your WINNERS:

Group A:

RUSSIA - WINNER
Poland - runner-up

Tough call here for 2nd place, going with the home side to edge out those crazy Czechs.

Group B:

 

NETHERLANDS (aka: Holland) - WINNER
Germany - runner-up

Van Persie scores when he wants. He scores when he wants. Portugal and that wanker Ronaldo are the odd team out in the group of death.

Group C:

 

SPAIN - WINNER
Croatia - runner-up

Hate going against my Beloved Italia. But they've got issues. Word on the streets is they're experimenting with a 3-man back line, with De Rossi as the lone central defender?!? WTF? That worked out real well for Inter Milan this year. I'll be pulling hard to the contrary, but I think my Azzurri is effed.

Group D:

 

FRANCE - WINNER
England - runner-up

I like the new regime and youth movement from the Frenchies. And even with England's injury woes, I'll take them to get by Ibra and those silly Swedes.

IF ALL ABOVE HOLD TRUE:

QUARTERS:

Germany over Russia. Germany - WINNER
Netherlands over Poland. Dutch - WINNER
Spain over England.  Spain - WINNER
France over Croatia. France - WINNER

SEMIS:

 

Upset: Germany over Spain. Just because I'm crazy. Germans, WINNER.
NED over France. NED - WINNER.

FINAL:

NED over Germany. Book it. NED, WINNER.

 

My Bloody Valentine - the good and the bad

My Bloody Valentine is reissuing their stuff...FINALLY!!! That's the GOOD, and it's an awesome GOOD at that. Bad news...CD only. So no new vinyl yet and that sucks. On the bright side, besides Loveless and Isn't Anything, they're also putting out a new collection of EPs, neatly titled EPs 1988-91. I don't have any of the EPs, so I'll probably fork over the cash burgers for that. More GOOD...a new MBV album on the horizon?!?! FCKYA. Here's an unreleased track found over on the Pitchforks...

  Latest tracks by My Bloody Valentine

my favorite tune off of Loveless...

  some more potential BAD...according to Slicing Up Eyeballs, there may be an issue with the labeling of the 2 CDs contained in the Loveless reissue. Ah jeez.

Moonlit Matinees are Back at the Oakmont Theater

Now in its 10th year.  All summer long, Friday and Saturday nights at 10:00pm in Oakmont.  Check out the listings:

MOONLIT MATINEE SCHEDULE:

May 25 & 26 - Pee Wee's Big Adventure
June 1 & 2 - Die Hard
June 8 & 9 - ET - The Extra Terrestrial
June 15 & 16 - The Princess Bride
June 22 & 23 - National Lampoon's Animal House
June 29 & 30 - Predator
July 6 & 7 - Labyrinth
July 13 & 14 - Ghostbusters
July 20 & 21 - The Jerk
July 27 & 28 - Back to the Future Part II
August 3 & 4 - Escape from New York
August 10 & 11 - The Big Lebowski
August 17 & 18 - The Shining
August 24 & 25 - Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Predator? Big Lebowski? Fast Times? FCKYA!!! Surely we'll be visiting Oakmont on a few occassions this summer.

Thanks to Mr Nick on the heads up.  I guess this means The Room will be put on the shelves for the summer, which is the bummer part of this.

Liverpool vs Messi

thanks to TB for that!

1975. Yes, indeedy.

Yeah, it would've been 10 times better had we beat those bastards ourselves. But there's still something bitter sweet about seeing the hated Flyers go down in flames.

It was fun viewing. We saw Giroux snap, Laviolette whine about a non-offsides call (pretty fitting), Rinaldo impersonate a hockey player, and Bryzgalov implode for the series deciding goal. AWESOME. We also had a lot of fun with our new toy created by TB, the #stunned tumblr (see above).

Today we celebrate. Tomorrow, we reflect on who was really to blame for the Pens collapse.

GBV - Class Clown Spots a UFO

pretty cool fan vid for the title track of GBV's new album...

 

thanks to savannasaurus who seems to make quite a few of these. nicely played. Also just heard... GBV is playing the CBGB Fest in NYC this July...same place we'd seen Pavement play a couple years ago.

Also, this is kinda old news, but there is now a GBV Vimeo page. And they added one of our videos... FCKYA!!

Best Player in the World Cries, Snaps

I thought only Crosby cried?  Guess not.  Claude Giroux, the NHL's latest Best Player in the World sheds tears to the refs, throws a tantrum, and then head hunts Dainius Zubrus...

 

The most hilarious part of this video is at the :56 mark (right before Giroux starts whining), when Devils D Mark Fayne nudges Claudia into the bench, Pierre McGuire comments "he's not happy with that." What a baby. Embarrassing.

Easy call for Sheriff Shanahan, here. Or at least it should be. Puck is way gone. Claudia is in the middle of a hissy, and targets the head of Zubrus. Should remind a lot of folk of the James Neal hit in the 1st round.

Now a slew of Flyer "media" folk are stuck trying to dislodge their thumbs from their sphincters. Meat head Chris Therien, the Flyers radio color man, had a whole lot to say about Crosby's antics in Round 1, and the Ovechkin hit the other night on Dan Girardi. Predictably, he remained objectively quiet on the Giroux hit last night. At least until he started dropping child molestation jokes on Twitter.

Stay classy, Flyers.

Breathless - TONIGHT at Regent Square

Liverpool loses. TFC stinks. After today's big Milan derby (FORZA INTER!!!!), I'll have had my fill of sports for the weekend. Tonight at Regent Square, 8:00pm showing of Jean-Luc Godard's 1960 classic, Breathless

 

NBC blows. Saturday night hockey has now become Sunday night hockey. Sorry, not interested. And fuck The Killing. That show has had enough of my time.

The Cup Changes Everything

maybe.  C'MON YOU REDS!!!!!!!

a look back at our last FA Cup winner...

The DEVILS!!!!!

never thought i could root so hard for Ilya Kovalpuke and the NJ Devils. Brayden Louganis took a break from his dives to make a bad line change. Game. Mike Milbury told me so.  Devils up 2-1 in the series...



watching this series is really really tough. Can't stand the douche bag Flyers. And hearing Pierre McGuire pucker his lips while he spews a bunch of his "objectiveness" is even tougher. REAL TOUGH.

Besides that.  Zach Parise.  What a fucking player.

And how in the world is New Jersey shutting down the Best Player in the World?!?  Might as well face it...the Pens suck.

PISSED JEANS coming to Pittsburgh!!!

Pretty jackt for this. Allentown's own, Pissed Jeans....next Saturday at The Smiling Moose in the South Side!! FCKYA!!!! Get TICKETS HERE.  our favoritest video ever...



FCKYA ICE CREAM!!



punk rock like a bastard...



Live at Primavera...

Heads UP: this is a very strange 6:30 START TIME with the doors at 6:00. All ages, unfortunately (no offense, kiddies)...meaning me and my booze will be segregated.