Odds & Ends
Ayr United's Somerset Park
Every once in a while there’s going to be some information I’d like to pass on to you which isn’t worth of its own post, so any time you see “Odds & Ends” as a title that’s exactly what you’ll be getting.
- Ross County’s match against Ayr United F.C. this Saturday has been postponed due to damage that Somerset Park suffered during the recent series of early winter storms in Scotland. Having seen a match at Somerset Park I can’t imagine any damage it could suffer that would make it any more derelict or dangerous. Somerset Park is a dump. I say this as somebody who was a frequent spectator at the pre-gentrified Fenway Park during the 1970s when “urinal” meant long galvanized trough with no partitions and getting from the park to the T after a night game required safely negotiating a gauntlet of drunks, criminals, and other margin walkers.
- The New England Revolution has declined the option on striker Rajko Lekic. They have, however, made him a (lower) contract offer. It is now up to Lekic to decide whether he will return or not. If he doesn’t, I hope the Revolution have a “Plan B.” The duo of Monsef Zerka and Milton Caraglio (or one of them and Diego Fagundez) might do alright, but if Kheli Dube, Zak Boggs, or Zack Schilawski are seeing regular playing time next season the club is going to be in trouble.
- In Champions League news Manchester United choked their way right out of the tournament and Lyon scored 7 goals in 28 minutes against Dinamo Zagreb to advance in the tournament. Nope, nothing fishy about that, 7 goals in 28 minutes happens all the time…
- Speaking of F.C. Basel, the more I see of their diminutive (he’s listed at 5’7″- he might be 5’5″) winger Xherdan Shaqiri the more I can’t believe that bigger European clubs aren’t falling all over themselves to sign him. This kid absolutely tortured the Manchester United defense in both matches. He crosses with power and accuracy, holds the ball under pressure much the way that Lionel Messi does, and even though he’s only been 20 for two months he’s already got two Swiss titles, a Swiss Cup, Champions League experience, and 4 goals in 15 matches for the Swiss National Team.
