What a dick Tommy Smyth is, resident soccer "expert" at espn.com. Stick to bases Tommy.

JackDee · Jul 25, 2003

Here are some of my favourite moronic quotes for the guy. Man, the u.s. will never have a decent soccer team if they consider such nitwits as experts...

"Apparently, the real deal-breaker was the fact that Ronaldinho requested for the nights the nights he would like to go clubbing in London that ManU supply him with a private helicoptor. Knowing Alex like I do, I can only imagine what his reaction was. It certainly would not be printable here. I think in the end, ManU may be happy that the deal fell through"

Yeah, that broke the deal, that and a few million euros more, what't this espn, the gossip colomn?

"Looking back, it looks like Liverpool had enough talent to win the EPL -- but they were just so inconsistant. I was inclined to feel that maybe there were problems last year, off the field. We haven't heard anything in that respect, so maybe everything is ok at the management level."

More gossip.

"It would be great fro the EPL if Liverpool could get into the thick of it and add some competition to what is becoming kind of a boring league."

Yeah right, a bit more boring than mls...

"Timmy is such a nice young man, I have no doubt he will be a huge success. It's going to be pretty difficult for him to walk in and knock Bartez out of the box. A lot of people seem to forget that Bartez has won WC European Champ. and an English Champ. He certainly has his moments and is a very good gk. "

Excuse me, did this guy actually watch bartez against Real Madrid? And wasn't the world cup a whole 5 years ago?

"I would have to say that yes, Arsenal based on what they did last year, are capable of winning at least the EPL. I felt that last year, they let it slip away without putting up a real good fight. It seemed to me at one point in the season, Arsenal, for whatever reason, just seemed to lose a little interest. Winning the Champions League -- that is a heart of a different color. Every player would have to play to his best every time he plays if they want to be champions of Europe. Mr. Wenger has said he is not going to buy any players. I think he may come to regret that decision before the year is out. "

Wow, there are some many errors and inconcistancies here i dont know where to begin, arsenal getting distenterested in the epl, not "putting up a fight" in the cl, wtf, Wenger regretting HIS decision of not buying any players, HIS decision? Doesn't this bum tommy know of the financial crisis europian football is going through, Wenger would have obviously liked to stregthen the team had the team had the appropriate monetary resources.

Wow another collosal blunder, courtesy of espn tommy, the soccer "expert":

"Yes, I certainly think Italy is starting to show that they may get it right this time. They came very close to winning Euro 2002. In fact, in the end, France robbed them of it."

Euro 2002, what euro 2002, there was a euro 2000, there's going to be a euro 2004, but no fvcking euro 2002, doesn't the old fart even remember last summer's world cup?

I am about 1/2 dumber soccer wise after reading this shit.

WildBill · Jul 28, 2003

Bases? The guy is Irish, no one would listen to him if he spoke about any other sport. So called experts offer just opinions Jack, much like most posters do here. Why do you take it so personally if the guy's opinions don't match yours? His columns and issues are aimed more at the US crowd because most Europeans don't come to an ESPN site for their soccer news or commentary, they stick to localized sites which pay attention to the clubs they are most interested in.

I am surprised you, Mr. Anti-US soccer would highlight a spot where you think a US goalie would knock out the resident Man U keeper. That is almost news in itself. And the Ronaldinho comment about the helicopter was something that was written about in quite a few places, its just colorful commentary that is all. Man U supposedly had the better financial deal on the table, but didn't get him so there has to be some color (or gossip as you call it) as to why he ended up in Barcelona don't you think?

In the end all columnists have their spots of favoritism and have stronger sources regarding some clubs than others. They speak what they believe and we accept it as that. Call him a moron if you want, but ESPN or anyone else that has a columnist is just happy you read it. And if you really feel dumber from what someone else says then you surely need help Jack.

JackDee · Jul 29, 2003

first of all please refrain from labelling me mr. anti-us soccer, i have a strong distaste for any type of labelling, more so when it is wrong and innacurate. I dont think the u.s. soccer team is any good, and i dont like watching their football, other than that i appreciate the progress being made in u.s. football and i also liked the effort, not the quality, put in by the u.s. team in the recent world cup, i also liked a few players on the squad, such as langdon donovan say. They managed to silence a lot of critics on this recent world cup, even though their playing still leaves a lot to be desired.

Secondly, i am not judging this article as a matter of opinion, but as a matter of fact. To state the euro 2002, instead of the world cup of 2002, and to also mention that it is arsenal Wenger's DECISION to not buy any players, where Wenger has stated himself it is a matter of financial neccesity are all matters of fact reported wrongly by this so called expert. So is the helicopter gossip, instead of the reality of barcelona's offer being by far better etc. etc. So, opinions aside, this guys managed to get so many matters of fact wrong in one single article, not good for a self professed expert. Not good either that the "soccer experts" over at espn dont notice either such a blatant mistake as euro 2002 and host the article on their site.

As for your "And if you really feel dumber from what someone else says then you surely need help Jack.", you know damn well man that when i say "I am about 1/2 dumber soccer wise after reading this shit" i mean it as a figure of speech and not literaly.