Soccer Scenarios and Stuff

After a rather thrilling USA/Slovenia matchup - especially during the last day of school - it became quite clear I needed my World Cup scenarios (for Group C) explained.

Meet Koman Coulibaly. Jim Joyce thinks he blew that call...badly.
Credit: AP

Have no fear, for CNNSI.com's Georgina Turner has us covered:

Group C is wide open after Friday's play, with three points separating all four teams. When the last two games kick off simultaneously at 10 a.m. ET next Wednesday, almost anything could happen. Here's how the various scenarios pan out for the U.S.:

If the U.S. defeats Algeria -- It will go through regardless of the other result, though its final ranking will be affected by that result. If Slovenia beats England, the U.S. will qualify second. If England beats Slovenia, it will be level on points with the U.S. and goal difference will come into play -- currently, that goes in favor of the U.S.

If the U.S. loses to Algeria -- It cannot progress to the next round, no matter the other result.

If the U.S. ties with Algeria and England loses to Slovenia -- Bob Bradley's team will qualify second behind the Slovenians.

If the U.S. ties and England wins -- England and Slovenia will qualify.

If the U.S. ties and England and Slovenia also draw -- Slovenia will top the group. England and the U.S. will be split by goal difference, but the U.S. currently has a two-goal advantage in goals scored in that category.

Be warned: If Wednesday's results mirror Friday's -- with England drawing 2-2 with Slovenia and the U.S. tying 0-0 with Algeria -- Slovenia will qualify first, and FIFA will draw lots for second place.

As for Saturday and Sunday's slates, here are 5 questions I am pondering...

1) Will the "real" Cameroon (vs. Denmark) either STAND UP or just fade away with a disappointing showing this World Cup?
2) After Germany's hiccup (or more) against Serbia earlier today, will Ghana prove to be the top dog in Group D (vs. Australia)?
3) Can Ivory Coast, with Drogba perhaps starting in Game #2, keep up with Brazil up and down the field?
4) Is Italy the next "giant" due for major disappointment in their second game?
5) How good is Paraguay?

We'll find out soon enough, right? RIGHT!?

The Non NFL Post

For those of you who have come to PHSports looking for a football post, sorry. Not today.

The day before the NFL Season kicks off, I am going to offer some quick thoughts on things outside of the National Football League.

I know what you're saying "Hey, dude. Where are the chains? Where is the heavy metal regalia? Where’s like the whole atmosphere of this thing?"

In short, I am trying to broaden your horizon when all you want to do is zone on the NFL. Because I want you all to be smarter. Or, at least take a step in the right direction. Without further adieu, here are the quick hits ...

* The English Premier League set a new record for transfer fees. How much? Try a half a billion pounds. Now, that is some serious cash.

* Robinho to Manchester City (not a typo) for £32.5M? Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United for £30.75M? A Belgian midfielder I've never heard of joining Everton for £16M? This guy being sold for a chunk of meat? Yes, a chunk of meat. This is what happens Soccernet takes from CNN's journalistic standards (i.e. none except when there are storms), which place odd stories over real news. What does that say about us as consumers? Back to Berbatov. For the second time this summer, Tottenham Hotspur, the team that was ‘forced’ to sell a player. Earlier this summer, it was Robbie Keane. Meanwhile, for their tears, they profited by over £30M between the purchases and sales of Berbatov and Keane. Despite this, Tottenham has zero chance of making the UEFA Champions League. That begs the question: Did they have a realistic chance before Berbatov bolted? No. And that’s exactly why they should quit crying. When Leeds United (my favorite club) hit hard times due to mismanagement at the top (thank you, Petey), who was it that bought Leeds players (Robbie Keane, Paul Robinson, Aaron Lennon) on the very cheap and did not cry then? That would be Tottenham. Case closed.

Al-Fahim: The EPL's Next Supremo?

Credit: Kipp Report

* Manchester City can no longer be called Manchester *hitty. They can, but not with justification because they're quite talented and they're now staked by Dr. Sulaiman Al-Fahim, who claims he will bankroll City to the Champions League. Watch out, Arsenal and Liverpool. The Dubai businessman said, "I always feel like I'm a kind of bulldozer, a full insured bulldozer. If nobody likes it, it starts moving - even if there are cars in its way, it has to crush the cars and move. I can't stop. If I have an idea, I have to do it." It's pretty amazing what people will say when they have a limitless bankroll. More on Al-Fahim ... according to his Wikipedia profile, he is the CEO of Hydra Properties, a real estate company located in the UAE that he founded in 2005. His educational background include a PhD in Real Estate investment and an MBA in Finance and Real Estate from the Kogod School of Business from the American University in Washington. Al-Fahim has often been referred to as Abu Dhabi's version of Donald Trump. With statements of ambition such as the one likening himself to a bulldozer, I can begin to understand the comparison. However, I wouldn't bet on The Donald's companies to have a vision statement which has the name of the company misspelled in the first sentence. Someone just got fired.

Why did Kansas win the national title?

Credit: Streetball.com

* Were Darrell Arthur and Mario Chalmers listening to any Afroman before they got busted for smoking marijuana at the NBA Rookie Camp? They’ll start the season on the suspended list.

And You Thought NFL Free Agency Involved Lots of Money

According to figures coming from business advisory firm Deloitte, summer spending by English clubs (all Premier League and Football League) rose by approximately 60% to reach more than £500million ($1.007B USD).

The huge rise is greatly attributed to a rise in broadcasting revenue and money being pumped into Premier League (EPL) clubs by new owners.

Per usual, the biggest beneficiaries of astronomical and slightly irresponsible spending by English clubs (dominated by EPL) are overseas clubs, who received £250million for players.

While player wages increased, they rose at a much lower clip than the 80% rise in gross transfer spending this summer.

Summary of EPL spending (in millions)
Manchester United £51 ($102.7 USD)
Liverpool £50 ($100.7 USD)
Tottenham Hotspur £40 ($80.6 USD)
Sunderland £35 ($70.5 USD)

How Transfer Fees Work
In international football, clubs must negotiate a transfer fee for players with more than 6 months remaining on their contract. Once the transfer fee is agreed to, the buying club can speak with the player and offer a contract. In almost all cases, players with less than six months remaining on their deal can move to another club for free (widely known as a Bosman or free transfer).