Canadians abroad: August 20-26, 2004

[RS]

quote:Originally posted by marcl_19

just wondering....but WHY?

In the US, Open Cup matches are very poor draws, so instead of paying substantial rent to their main buildings, a lot of MLS teams rent out high school stadia instead. Or if they're playing against an A-League (or lower) opponent, a lot of the times they'll let the opponent host the match, as MLS teams are generally decent draws in the A-League buildings.

[sstackho]

Radz plays the whole match in a 0-2 loss to Middlesbrough.

As mentioned, Brennan didn't dress for Norwich.

"Dundee United avoided a shock CIS Insurance Cup exit as they came back from behind to defeat Second Division champions Stranraer 3-1." Hirschfeld on the bench.

[highburygooner]

seeing as arsenal are touting bentley as the player to replace bergkamp longterm, i'm not surprised at all brennan's being kept out of the team (bentley's been lighting it up for the england u21s for a year or so now - and scored one of arsenal's goals of the season last year against boro). last year, however, brennan seemed to be playing more of a left back/wing back spot for norwich and bentley plays a much more attacking role...so i'm not sure if that's totally the problem. norwich have signed a few players in the last couple of weeks, so i think we might be waiting until injuries hit or the carling cup 2nd round before we see jimmy.

in other "non-ideal" preparation for the next WCQ game, fulham play on monday night..meaning that radz won't realistically train in edmonton until wednesday.

[Gordon]

Re: Brennan, Norwich signed him to be a left mid. Most 1st Division boards over the past 2 years or so seem to have rated Drury quite highly, and I've seen him appear on many a fans "team of the season" list. So he proabably is a better left back than Brennan. Last year Huckerby played a lot of the left side of midfieed apparently and was having a great season, while Bentley is considered on of the rising young stars. Arsenal rates him very highly and see him, as was mentioned, as a Bergkamp replacement. High praise indeed. So basically, I don't think that Jim is that far out of a start - maybe an injury or a shift of a player. He performed quite well in the pre season, at least statistically. I suspect Bentley will find his way to the middle of the par before too long, and Huckerby has been playing as a forward, so Brennan's time may be coming soon. Having said that, however, I'd have thought he'd be on the bench, even with the three players mentioned ahead of him.

[sstackho]

quote:Originally posted by Gordon

Apparently Hume set up both goals in Tranmere's win yesterday.

Football: Hume the provider as duo open accounts

NICK HILTON at Prenton Park

884 words

25 August 2004

Daily Post (Liverpool)

32

English

© The Liverpool Daily Post & Echo Ltd, 2004.

Tranmere 2 Shrewsbury 1

TRANMERE ROVERS had to thank the creative talents of Iain Hume for their passage into the second round of the Carling Cup at Prenton Park last night.

The Canadian international"s inch-perfect passes set up the second-half goals from Calvin Zola and Jason McAteer that were enough to see off the plucky challenge of League Two visitors Shrewsbury Town.

But it was a close run contest and the Shrews, who scrambled out of the Conference via the play-offs last season, were entitled to argue they did enough to take the tie into extra time.

There was precious little to chose between the teams on a night when Tranmere"s football spluttered only fitfully into life.

Ultimately it was a few touches of class that made the difference.

Hume, with his tendency to give the ball away cheaply, can be a frustrating player but the Canadian has the guile to unlock defences with a pass or a spectacular finish.

Back in his favourite striking position, Hume"s through pass from the halfway line sent Zola galloping clear to notch his first Tranmere goal soon after halftime.

Then after Luke Rodgers had deservedly brought Shrewsbury level, Hume made a second decisive intervention. He measured a perfect pass into the path of a stealthy run into the box by McAteer 10 minutes from time and the 34-year-old skipper"s first Rovers goal took the home side through.

The visitors showed they would be no pushovers by having marginally the better of the contest for much of the first half.

Jimmy Quinn"s team were well organised in defence, making Tranmere work hard for openings and broke forward to attack in numbers with the frequency that often had the home side stretched.

Rovers were grateful to survive two early raids in which a Ryan Lowe cross fizzed across the six yard box and John Grant crashed a volley just over the bar from a dozen yards after being neatly set up by David Edwards.

Winger David Beresford gave Shrewsbury their first moment of alarm from 13 minutes when he out-paced Dave Ridler on the left and swung a cross to the far post where Iain Hume lifted a difficult chance high over the bar as he stretched to reach the ball.

Shrewsbury should have gone ahead on 19 minutes when Grant poked a shot wide of the left hand post from six yards after being picked out by a precise pass by Lowe.

A minute later danger man Lowe flashed a 25-yard shot just wide.

But it was Tranmere who came closest to breaking the first-half stalemate when Ian Sharps planted a header against the far post after his centre-back partner Mike Jackson had chipped the ball back to him when Shrewsbury failed to clear a corner in the 36th minute.

A couple of minutes earlier Shrewsbury goalkeeper Scott Howie was forced into his first serious save in keeping out a deflected cross from Beresford at the near post. Howie made another sharp save on the stroke of the half time whistle to deny a downward header by Paul Hall from a cross by Hume.

Tranmere made the breakthrough four minutes after the restart.

Hume capitalised on a moment of sloppiness from Shrewsbury to win possession in the centre circle and sent Zola racing clear through the inside right channel with a perfectly weighted through pass.

The teenage striker kept his composure to fire a low shot wide of the advancing Howie and inside the left hand post.

It took a fine save from John Achterberg to protect Tranmere"s advantage just after the hour when a swerving 30-yard volley from Darren Moss had the goalkeeper at full stretch.

Lowe threatened again soon afterwards, cutting in from the right to drive a shot just wide of Achterberg"s left hand post.

So it was no surprise when Shrewsbury equalised on 67 minutes.

Tranmere were undone by a sharp free -kick delivered from the right of the penalty area by Lowe and Rodgers was at the front of a posse of red-shirted attackers to force the ball home from close range.

It was only the third goal Tranmere have conceded in five League and Cup games this season and like the two before it, it came from a set play.

Tranmere"s response was to bring on striker Eugene Dadi in place of the hard-working Zola 12 minutes from time.

Two minutes later Rovers snatched back the lead with a second well-worked goal. Once again Hume was the creator, picking out a well-timed run into the box by McAteer with an inch-perfect pass.

The midfielder"s shot from 15 yards carried too much power for Howie who got a hand to the ball but could not prevent it from looping into the net.

Rovers did not look like losing their lead after that and Dadi had strong claims for a penalty turned down shortly before the end when he was bundled over when challenging for a cross by Hall.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Iain Hume because his creativity turned a tight match in Tranmere"s favour

[sstackho]

Football: Rovers relying on Hume comforts

Rob Brady

620 words

25 August 2004

Liverpool Echo

51

English

© The Liverpool Daily Post & Echo Ltd, 2004.

TRANMERE . . . . . . . . . . . 2 SHREWSBURY . . . . . . . 1 Iain inspires Little"s side to victory

ROVERS" growing band of international players has led to the league meeting with Oldham being postponed.

Good job too. Tranmere can ill afford to be without Iain Hume in this kind of form.

While debut goals from Calvin Zola and Jason McAteer edged this exciting end-to-end cup tie, it was Canada international Hume who provided the magic which ultimately separated the two sides.

He may be better known for his dribbling and stunning long-range goals, but it was his vision and passing that illuminated Prenton Park last night.

Playing in his preferred position up front, Hume was at the heart of both goals.

It was his tenacity that won possession in the centre of the park four minutes after half-time.

A burst forward allowed him to draw two defenders before slipping through a perfectly measured ball to release Zola. The giant striker cooly fired past keeper Scott Howie to open his account.

Hume repeated the trick 10 minutes from time. After deftly controlling a long ball out of defence, he turned and delivered a slide-rule pass into the feet of McAteer, who had made a superb run into the Shrewsbury box.

Despite Howie getting a hand to the ball, the skipper"s shot contained enough power to carry it into the net.

Hume had provided the spark of genius Tranmere desperately needed to turn things their way.

For long periods they toiled to overcome a Shrewsbury side who surprised many with the quality of their football.

Full of passing and quick on the break, the League Two side could have caused a cup shock if their finishing had matched their neat approach play.

Striker Jon Grant stabbed the ball the wrong side of the near post after Rovers had needlessly conceded a corner, while John Achterberg had to dive full length to tip away a stunning 35-yard drive from Darren Moss.

But loose marking left the keeper exposed on 67 minutes when Ryan Lowe"s cross was flicked on to Luke Rodgers, who could not miss from six yards.

In contrast, Rovers were too often let down by their careless play in the final third of the pitch.

The wrong choice of pass or simply a poorly-executed ball brought promising moves to a premature halt.

At least they kept pushing forward and as the game wore on more chances started to appear.

An Ian Sharps header was kept out by Darren Tinson"s goal-line clearance and Hume"s follow-up shot was also blocked.

Paul Hall saw a powerful header saved at the foot of the post after fine work by Hume and Gareth Roberts.

David Beresford ran from the halfway line before firing just wide and sub Eugene Dadi, given little time to react to Hume"s knock-on, saw the ball agonisingly bounce the wrong side of the post.

Tranmere"s proud cup tradition continues thanks largely to their little Canadian.

The Oldham match has been rearranged for September 14. No doubt the Latics will be cursing their luck they will have to face Hume after all.

TRANMERE ROVERS (4-4-2): Achterberg, Taylor, Sharps, Jackson, Roberts, Hall, McAteer, Rankine (Harrison 81), Beresford (Jennings 90), Hume, Zola (Dadi 78). Not used: Howarth, Jones.

SHREWSBURY TOWN (4-4-2): Howie, Ridler (Cramb 63), Tinson, Walton, Moss, Lowe, Smith, Edwards (Tolley 59), Aiston, Rodgers, Grant. Not used: Whitehead, Sedgemore, Hart.

REFEREE: Tony Leake, Lancs. BOOKED: Taylor.

ATTENDANCE: 4, 489.

Man of the match

Iain Hume Back in his favourite position as a striker, his ability to bring others into play proved decisive.

[nolando]

Hume's can be a striker?? I did not know that!! If Hume (not to mention McKenna) is a potential striker then to me that means Pesch should be gone for good, period. Too old and too unproductive. Give him a purple heart for sticking around the nats as long as he has.

[marcl_19]

I'd have hume as our striker for sure except i dont really like dero as a right sided midfielder.....bernier hasnt impressed with the nats yet and peters isnt ready.....i feel that if one of them breaks out as being a realy good guy on the right side (maybe bernier is that guy already, i havnt seen him enough) then i'd lovet o see hume up front

[Massive Attack]

Olivier Occean played 90 yesterday as Odd Grenland lost to Ekranas 2-1 in the UEFA Cup. Odd still advances 4-3 on aggregate. Odd Grenland's next opponent will be Feyenoord.