EPL Talk » Atletico Madrid

Heitinga Transfers to Everton

Sam Hiser — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:03:46 +0000

photo: Yiorgos Karahalis | Reuters

Dutch international right back, Johnny Heitinga, has accepted a transfer from Atletico Madrid to Everton, completing a physical just under the transfer window deadline which closed at 5pm yesterday.

It’s a loss for Atleti and a serious loss for the Champions League competition (Everton competes in the Europa League but Heitinga is cup-tied for even that). I was looking forward to the rebels — “Los Colchoneros” (”the Mattress-Makers”) — of Madrid making a strong showing this year. Perhaps not.

Heitinga — a product of Ajax — is one of the quality right backs who’s lithe movement reminds a little of Cafu in his nimbler days. A skilled handler of the ball who gives firm ball on the ground and who is capable of launching stinging balls early across the 18 from wide space. He is clever, unpredictable, not easily read and not prone to tendency. He’ll set you up going outside then, later in the match, kill you driving inside. Unlike Ashley Cole, for example, Heitinga is the kind of wide back who keeps his wide opponents busy in their own end.

Moyes brings in Heitinga to replace Joleon Lescott who was snatched by Mark Hughes & Manchester City near the deadline. Lescott is a strong player, but this is at least a fair swap for the Toffees if Johnny can stay fit.

Heitinga rejoins his old teammate, Steven Pienaar, alongside whom he played at Ajax for five years. Said Heitinga, “I am looking forward to linking up with him again because he is a good player.”

Apparently, Heitinga was on a high salary in Madrid which Everton could not match (yet he now supercedes Mikel Arteta as Everton highest paid player). Nor can Everton offer Champions League competition this year. Even with these deficiencies in the bargain, a fine Dutch footballer feels the pull of the Premiership and the aura of living in Liverpool & environs.

My guess is Heitinga will take Tony Hibbert’s position wide-right; in which case it is unclear who among Baines, Yobo or Jagielka and others are best suited to partner Sylvain Distin in the middle of the back. It’s the kind of signing the effects of which will ripple through a side having its difficulties not a few months after just tasting the Wembley stage of an FA Cup Final.

Everton Announced As The Opponent for MLS All-Stars

tyduffy — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:56:45 +0000

Major League Soccer has announced Everton as the opponent for this year’s MLS All-Star game.

“We are very excited about Everton FC agreeing to be the opponent for the 2009 MLS All-Star Game,” MLS commissioner Don Garber said in a league statement. “Everton is an elite European club that features many world-class players, including former MLS standout Tim Howard, who will challenge our unbeaten record against English Premier League teams in the MLS All-Star Game series.”

Everton are excited as well.

“We are all looking forward to the match in Salt Lake City,” said Everton manager David Moyes. “I am sure there will be a lot of interest in the game and it will be a valuable part of our preseason schedule. We always enjoy spending time in America during the summer because the facilities are first-class and there is a warm welcome wherever we go.”

The match will occur on July 29 at Real Salt Lake’s Rio Tinto Stadium. It will be televised on ESPN 2 at 9:30 PM EST.

Spanish clubs Valencia, Villarreal and Atletico Madrid were also rumored to be candidates.

The MLS All-Stars are unbeaten in the game against European competition in this fixture and have outscored opponents 13-4. One suspects they would not fare so well travelling to England at a time when Premier League players are in midseason form.

The match is the first confirmed fixture of the 2009 summer schedule but Everton supporters are advised that the first-team squad will not be based in Salt Lake City and the game will form part of a wider tour across North America.

It will be the Blues’ fifth visit to the USA in their last six pre-season tours, which have included stays in Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago and Colorado.

For the latest schedule of preseason friendlies involving Premier League teams around the world, visit the preseason friendlies page on EPL Talk.

Liverpool Rescue Draw Against Atletico Madrid After Phantom Penalty

The Gaffer — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 02:13:10 +0000

When Steven Gerrard collided with Atletico Madrid’s Mariano Pernia in the third minute of injury time at Anfield Tuesday night, was Swedish referee Martin Hansen’s decision to award a penalty influenced by the deafening cry from The Kop? Or was it to compensate for the incident that Hansen failed to call in the first half when an Atletico player handled the ball?

The shock decision by Hansen to award the penalty resulted in Gerrard stepping up to score to make it 1-1 for both sides.

The controversial decision and resulting goal were a cruel blow for Atletico who deserved to hold on for a win in this match. But it was Gerrard’s decision to fling himself at the ball knowing that Pernia was going to collide with him that earned Liverpool the penalty. If you watch Pernia on replay, he kept his eye on the ball until the last split second where he saw Gerrard flying in at him. The ricochet from the bodies sent Gerrard tumbling to the ground, and Hansen pointed to the spot.

Was the penalty a poor decision, or did you see something that I missed? Add your feedback by clicking the comments link below.

Champions League: Your Running Commentary

The Gaffer — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:00:43 +0000

The group stage of the Champions League begins today with several intriguing matches as well as the return of Chelsea and Liverpool to continental football.

Be sure to set your DVRs for the following matches on TV today in the United States (all times eastern).

Bordeaux vs. Chelsea: 2:30pm ESPN2/ESPN360.com
Sporting Lisbon vs. Barcelona: 2:30pm- ESPN Deportes and 5pm ESPN Classic
Marseille vs. Liverpool: 2:30pm Setanta (replayed at 7:15pm Setanta).
PSV Eindhoven vs. Atletico Madrid: 5pm ESPN Deportes
Panathanaikos vs. Inter Milan: 5:35pm Setanta, and 7:30pm ESPN Deportes

If you’ll be watching – or have watched – today’s matches, please share your thoughts, insight, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

In the meantime, be sure to visit our sister site Champions League Talk for previews of Group C, Group B and Group A, as well as how Sporting Lisbon could cause an upset today against Barcelona.

Expert Football Coverage From Around The Leagues

The Gaffer — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 10:32:04 +0000

While you’re enjoying EPL Talk, don’t forget to check out the sister sites in our network for a taste of German, Italian, Spanish, European and American soccer.

Bundesliga Talk has the statistics comparing Schalke to Atletico Madrid for the most enticing Champions League third round qualifying match. Another new article written by Bundeliga Talk correspondent Mark Moll is a piece on the new manager at Hamburger SV, Martin Jol, who lost 2-1 yesterday against Real Madrid in the 2008 Emirates Cup in London.

Prolific writer Lonnie Smetana at Champions League Talk has been busy previewing the most exciting matches in the Champions League third qualifying round stage, the latest transfer market activity in Europe and a roundup of the results from the third round of the Intertoto Cup.

If you’re a fan of Major League Soccer, Kartik Krishnaiyer writes on a near daily basis at Major League Soccer Talk about topics such as Cory Gibbs who may be heading to LA Galaxy, the list of MLS players playing in the Olympics, how the Mexican players are notorious sore losers when they get defeated by US club sides and/or the national team, and a very interesting article entitled, Does SuperLiga Have A Future?

Over at Serie A Talk, Kevin Walker has an interesting article about the Italian connection at Bordeaux, as well as rumors about Tiago leaving Juventus.

Yours truly has written an article about the Spanish influence at Swansea City under the website Championship Talk. Shakira Graham meanwhile writes about one of the best supported clubs in England, Derby County.

If you’re a fan of the world’s game, be sure to check out the sister sites on a regular basis.