Jeffrey Graceffo - Liverpool Suffers A Bitter Loss To Manchester United 2-1

Manchester United defeated Liverpool 2-1 in a bitterly contested match at Anfield this afternoon.  This game was a reflection of Liverpool's season to this point as they dominated but left the field without a positive result.  The opening forty-five minutes was the finest half of football that I've witnessed this season.  Liverpool was a pleasure to watch.  They ran rings around a helpless Manchester United.  Steven Gerrard appeared as if he were a version of his younger self, while Raheem Sterling terrorized United defenders down the right wing.

Jeff Graceffo - France Defeats Belarus 3-1, Remain Undefeated In World Cup Qualifying

France defeated Belarus 3-1 in Paris. French goals came from Etienne Capoue, Christophe Jallet, and the great Franck Ribery.  After the dismal Euro 2012 campaign, new coach Didier Deschamps seems to have them on the right path.

Jeff Graceffo - Real Madrid Wins A Thriller Over Manchester City

Real Madrid defeated Manchester 3-2 in a Champions League classic on Tuesday at the Bernabeu in Madrid.
- Madrid dominated the first half.  Though the first forty-five minutes were scoreless, it could have been 4-0.
- Joe Hart was incredible in goal. His saves off of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain were sensational.
- Jose Mourinho benched Sergio Ramos and Mesut Ozil to start the game.  He went with Michael Essien instead.  I can't remember the last time I saw Madrid start a game without Ramos on the field.
- Ronaldo was legit from the opening minute
- Man City seemed overwhelmed but were fortunate to get into halftime tied. Not starting Mario Balotelli was a huge mistake by Roberto Mancini
- Edin Dzeko broke the deadlock on a counterattack after a great through ball from Yaya Toure. Dzeko beat Iker Casillas to the near post...shocking to say the least

Jeffrey Graceffo - Liverpool Settles For A 1-1 Draw

Liverpool was held to a 1-1 draw by Sunderland on Saturday.
- Rahim Sterling is a star in the making.  He is a joy to watch. He was by far the best player on the field for Liverpool.
- Steven Gerrard was his usual self, but it's almost time for him to drop back to center defense.
- Luis Suarez provided a solid contribution with the game tying goal
- Liverpool deserved a W, but leaves with another draw.
- Give Sunderland credit for battling and getting the much earned point

Jeff Graceffo - Tottenham Defeats Reading 3-1

Tottenham defeated Reading 3-1 on Sunday to give Andre Villas-Boas his first victory as manager.  

- Tottenham was dominant from the opening kickoff

- Dembele was awesome. He ran all over the field. He provided his teammates with an option and quickly distributed it upon reception.  He looks like a great purchase.

- Gareth Bale; can't get enough of him. He's a lot of fun to watch. He is fearless. He can run full speed while dribbling and unleash a devastating shot.  His goal wasn't highlight worthy, but it was the game winner.  I like the fact that he switched numbers to 11, the number of fellow Welshman, Ryan Giggs.

- Clint Dempsey made his first appearance in the 80th minute and it was positive

- Jermaine Defoe looked great. It was the best I've seen from him. 

- Sigurdsson's through ball to Aaron Lennon was as good as it gets to set up their first goal

- Reading goalkeeper was atrocious with the ball.  It looked like a FIFA game.  Way too many simple giveaways.

- Tottenham looks like they're back and ready to make a run at the Premiership

Jeff Graceffo - Sir Alex Ferguson Wants Ronaldo Back?

Rumors are swirling that Manchester United Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson wants to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford.  After selling Ronaldo for a record sum only a few years ago, Ferguson is desperate to establish his side as the Premiership's best.  The recent rise of Manchester City is a thorn in Ferguson's side.  

- I don't see this happening.

- Why would Madrid sell the second best player in the world? They don't need the money

- Jose Mourinho is his coach, why would you leave?

- The past is the past, don't go back

- Real Madrid is currently on a much different level than Manchester United. It would be a step down.

Jeff Graceffo - Team USA Takes On Jamaica Again

The U.S. Men's National Team will take on Jamaica tomorrow night in a World Cup qualifier.  The Jamaicans defeated the U.S. this past Saturday, and the U.S. is desperate for a victory.  The game takes place on the eleventh anniversary of 9/11 in Columbus, Ohio.  The U.S. should have a large, noisy crowd in their corner. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann stated that the U.S. will not lose.  The heat will be turned up on Klinsmann should the U.S. walk away without a victory.  

Jeff Graceffo - USA Defeated By Jamaica 2-1

Team USA lost to Jamaica 2-1 in Kingston on Friday night.  It was the first time that Jamaica beat the U.S. Everyone should relax.
- This is the first round of CONCACAF qualifying. The U.S. only has to come in first or second in their group of four. The other two teams are Antigua and Guatemala. They will go through
- Landon Donovan, Michael Bradley, and Steve Cherundolo were not in action. The U.S. does not have depth.
- Clint Dempsey showed no rust scoring in the first minute of the game.

Jeff Graceffo - Usain Bolt May Play For Manchester United

Usain Bolt, olympic gold medalist, may play for Manchester United in a friendly against Real Madrid.  The current 100 meter champion is the fastest man in the world. It will be quite a spectacle should it take place.

Jeff Graceffo - Michael Owen Signs With Stoke

After passing a physical, English striker Michael Owen will join Stoke F.C.

I don't know how much Owen has left in him, but I'm glad to see him get a chance to play first team football again.  He was on the bench at Manchester United for a long time.

Anytime I hear his name I think back to his goal at the '98 World Cup against Argentina. I pasted a link from YouTube below. It's pretty unreal. His pace was awesome. I didn't realize until now that Beckham passed him the ball.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFcTVlLj8Q4

England hasn't had a better team since that tournament.

By Jeff Graceffo

Jeff Graceffo - Arsenal Chairman Admits Reality

Arsenal's chairman admitted that they cannot spend the amount of money that clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester City do.

While the previously mentioned clubs are owned by billionaires, Arsenal shouldn't be in the position they're in.  Throughout the 1990's and early 2000's they constantly fought for the Premier League title and qualified for the Champions League. In addition, they spent hundreds of millions of dollars/pounds on Emirates Stadium, they're state of the art facility, which replaced Highbury.  Furthermore, over the past five to seven years they sold off most of their best players at peak value.  These players include Ashley Cole, Thierry Henry, Robin Van Persie, Patrick Vieira, Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song, etc. Where is all of their revenue going that they cannot afford to make big purchases?

Jeff Graceffo - Berbatov Rips Alex Ferguson

The war of words between Dimitar Berbatov and Alex Ferguson intensified as Berbatov criticized Ferguson's treatment of him over the past few seasons. After leading the premiership in scoring in 2010, he saw his playing time diminish.

I can't blame Berbatov. He scored a ton of goals in 2010-11 and Ferguson turned to a younger generation of players including Chicarito and Danny Welbeck.  The off season acquisition of Robin Van Persie was icing on the cake.

Jeff Graceffo - Arsenal Defeats Liverpool 2-0

Here are some brief thoughts:

- Liverpool dominated the first fifteen minutes, but from then on Arsenal was in control.
- Liverpool's Raheem Sterling is pure quality. He was fun to watch. He was constantly on the go. He showed creativity, made space for his teammates and provided them with options.
- Luis Suarez was nowhere to be found

Jeff Graceffo - Hat Trick for Robin Van Persie

Robin Van Persie's hat trick secured a 3-2 victory for Manchester United over Southampton.  RVP scored two goals in the final five minutes.  What a great way for him to begin his time at United; four goals in three games. If Arsenal hadn't defeated Liverpool, then it would be the cruelest of days for Arsenal fans.

Jeff Graceffo - Manchester City 3 - QPR 1

Unlike their initial two games, Manchester City left no doubt as to who is the best team in the league. They thoroughly dominated QPR from the opening whistle.  Yaya Toure sent them ahead 1-0 in the first half.  After QPR tied it in the second half it only took a few minutes before City went ahead for good off of a Edin Dzeko header.

Jeff Graceffo - EPL Transfer Window Winners

Tottenham

- The acquisition of Hugo Lloris, Moussa Dembele, and Clint Dempsey make them a winner.  The moves should have been made sooner, but Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy made it happen. Whether AVB is the man to lead them into the Champions League is another question.

Manchester City 

- Winners. Scott Sinclair was a good purchase from Swansea

Manchester United

- Neutral. They picked up RVP, but I'm not sure if that's enough to put them in Manchester City's class. A top defender would've paid dividends.

Jeff Graceffo Tottenham Draws Norwich 1-1

Well, the second half went about as well as the first as Tottenham earned a draw against Norwich City 1-1 at White Hart Lane. The criticism is pouring in over Tottenham's moves throughout the past five months including the sacking of Harry Redknapp and the hiring of Andre Villas-Boas.  Despite overhauling the entire roster, they have looked very mediocre in the first three games of the campaign.

They're playing four in the back with two holding midfielders. Why? Why play so defensive when you have first class attackers.  Things should change when Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele start next week.  The two are familiar with each other after spending years together at Fulham. When Scott Parker returns from injury that will further boost them.

Finally, Emanuel Adebayor needs to start each week. He's head and shoulders above Jermaine Defoe. I'm not thrilled with their lineup selections to this point, but it's early and the team has not had time to gel. AVB has a few weeks before the pressure is heavily applied.