As promised. Another edition of Head’s Up for your listening pleasure.

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You don’t hear it very often, or maybe you hear it all the time, but don’t reflect. Nonetheless, when you do hear it from time-to-time and understand it, you bask in the sublime glow of that age old soccer adage—keep it simple.

It couldn’t have come at a better time. George Boateng, Dutch International and EPL veteran, just recently gave an interview in which he reminded the world about that very soccer paradox.

When asked about the best advice he ever received, the EPL’s Middlesbrough captain, gave insights into his professional development, speaking about Ronald Koeman’s suggestion and insistence to keep the game simple.

He even added to this enigma by reminding everybody that while the idea sometimes seems too simple, it’s difficult to understand.

Think upon all the youth games that you have experienced, where the simple pass (i.e. the 5 yrd. square ball) was overlooked for the “golden” or “hopeful” ball that is forced and encouraged continually on fields across America.

There is a Soccer Fallacy within the American game which states that a player must be moving to receive a pass; moreover, 9-out-of-10 times the pass is always assumed to be a forward pass.

Remember coaches, as you kick-start this new season, to reinforce short, triangular passing; transition passing from the defense to midfield, and then to the forwards; as well as, encourage take-overs and quick one-twos to move the ball quickly and deceptively across the field. If you stay true to this “simple” approach, you will be rewarded with games that go way beyond the predictable single-pass approach, and be able to open up the game for quality expression and even the spectacular.

Americans will always compete. The question is when will the U.S. understand the game? When we can answer that, medals will not be far behind.

PSV should be shooting themselves in their foots for having missed a golden opportunity to capitalize on a withered, unconfident Liverpool-side that were torn to shreds by Everton (3-0) in the Meyerside victory, as a build-up to the mid-week European encounter.

Pitted back in a defensive shell, Liverpool played with an ever-present fear that they would leak goals in this game as well. PSV attacking players, Kone, Mendez, and Farfan were at times unlucky, and other times plan wasteful in front of goal. PSV manager, Ronald Koeman must be scratching his head wondering how his team could not capitalize on an under-manned and apprehensive Liverpool-side.

Apart from a few lone efforts by Kuyt, the partnership of the Dutch striker with Welsh striker, Craig Bellemy failed to provide any threat of scoring for Liverpool. Benetiz’s men almost stole it late, however, with the introduction of Steven Gerard, who almost scored a miraculous goal in the dying moments, as his vintage far-range, right-footed volley crashed off the inside of the far post.

Gerrard Houllier’s French Champions played like ‘galaticos’ champions as they humiliated Real Madrid (2-0) in their opening group stage match at mid-week.

Govou, Fred, Pernambucano, and Malouda reminded the world of their own star-form and put on an energetic and hungry display that proved to hard a test for Capello, new Madrid manager, to pass.

Pernembucho kept Madrid on edge with a number of superb of free-kicks throughout the game. However, it was his defense-splitting long ball in the 1st half that found fellow Brazilian, Fred in open space on goal. Cannavaro showed his lack of match fitness as Fred beat him out and fired past Casillas into the Madrid goal.

Pernambucano then hit a long-range scorcher that Casillas tried to punch clear. Govou picked up the ball just outside the penalty area, chipping coolly past the caught-out and diving Roberto Carlos, for Tiago to slot the ball past Casillas at the far post.

You couldn’t really blame the defensive lapses of Cannavaro and Carlos because the overall play from Real Madrid was shoddy at best. Raul and Cassano failed to impress, and Van Nistelrooy as the lone striker resembled nothing of the goal-scoring Real Madrid of old. Not to mention, the double defensive midfield of Emerson and new signing, ex-Lyon player, Diarra, it was not apparent what formula Capello was trying to implement in his new squad.

It was until the 2nd half with the introduction of Guti and Robinho could get anything like a playing rhythm in order, but by then the game had already past, and Madrid are left with the same old question that has plagued the club in recent years—why can’t we just perform?

Boca Juniors fired off Alfio Basile with a finals trophy on his last match as manager for the club, before he tries to translate his club-winning-formula into victories and trophies for Argentina, taking over as manager for the Argentine National Team.

In a pulsating match in Brazil, Boca Juniors stayed off Sao Paolo 2-2 to reclaim the South American equivalent to the European Super Cup.

Sao Paolo took the initiative and opened up the scoring as Junior anticipated, got in behind the defender, and toe-poked the ball into the corner net, as Boca’s keeper tried desperately to beat Junior to the chase.

Sao Paolo’s slight lead in aggregate (2-2 [winning on away goals]) was short lived though as Boca responded with the equalizer before half-time. Boca strikers, Palermo and Palacio combined on headers to even the match—Palermo rising highest at the back post to head the ball across goal for Palacio to redirect past the frozen keeper.

With the overall advantage, Boca Juniors scored a second in the 2nd half as Palermo single-handedly ripped a right-footed-blast just inside the right post.

In the build-up to the goal, Sao Paolo failed to clear their defensive line. Boca’s pressure paid off, as Palermo showed both his strength and his deft touch as he held off a few defenders and absolutely gutted the last one as he cut the ball on to his right and finished off in champion style.

Sao Paolo leveled the scores late, but time was not on their side, and Boca celebrated as ReCopa Champions [(4-3) on aggregate] on foreign soil.

It’s true! The Americans have come through. Two players, who are looking to find form after embarrassment at the World Cup, have given Fulham Football Club an essential road-win over Newcastle United.

Chris Coleman has been picked to be the first EPL manager to lose his job, due largely to the struggles of their abysmal road-form last year. The Fulham manager will be thanking his stars-and-strips as both Brain McBride and Carlos Bocanegra both found the back of the net in last week’s 2-1 victory.

McBride showed his lethal finishing touch as he neatly slotted a cross in at the near post with a side-footed volley. Not only was the technique incredible, but the fact that the U.S. International was in tight quarters surrounded by defenders and an alert keeper made the goal even more impressive.

McBride was influential on Bocanegra’s goal-mouth shuffle as the Fulham striker headed the ball back toward goal for the U.S. defender to finish.

Fulham will play on the road again this weekend at White Heart Lane against Tottenham. Coleman will be hoping his Americans’ can pluck another road victory feather for his managerial cap.

Even Jose Mourinho must feel a little gun-shy (if only for this short period) as Sir Alex and Co. have exploded with four straight convincing wins and remain undefeated in the early stages of the Premiership.

The Red Devils opened the new campaign with an absolute 5-1 smashing of Fulham followed by a 3-0 dominating win against Charlton. While their last few games have been more modest in score, Man. United has shown early on that they have regained the focus and discipline to pull out the victories like they use to, as their recent wins against Watford (2-1) and Tottenham (1-0).

Sir Alex now looks to stake his undefeated streak against his old foe, Arsene Wenger, as Arsenal travels to Old Trafford to prove that they are more than just fodder for the early Premier leaders.

Both teams are coming off Champions League victories—both the recipients of dubious penalty calls, and both looking to pull one over on their great rival.

Man. United will be without their Welsh winger, super-veteran Ryan Giggs, who injured his hamstring in their 3-2 European victory in the mid-week against Celtic. Giggs has been putting in vintage performances, inspiring his side to capture maximum points.

Sir Alex, however, can now welcome back Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes to the team, while their defense looks very tight as late, though Rio Ferdinand was uncharacteristically turned inside-out by the gigantic, Dutch International, Vennegoor of Hesselink in the Celtic Match.

The goal scoring department is certainly a concern for the usual, sure-fire Gunners at the start of this season, proving again that youth and potential is hardly a substitute for age and wine. Arsene Wenger will be without the services of captain, Thierry Henry and will hoping that Thomas Rosicky can continue his goal-scoring thunder at the Theatre of Dreams.

About Arsenal’s last game in the league. I will be honest, I only saw the first half with both eyes. In the second half, they both wanted to look away because Arsenal looked foolishly hard pressed to produce an offensive answer, or an offensive hero.

In the second half, I heard there was a penalty, and Henry after scoring, picked up the ball and held it as a trophy, while running back up the field. Hmmm…that game ended 1-1. What trophy is Arsenal looking to hold if 1-1 vs. Middlesbrough is cause for celebration?

There is a player that I associate directly with the downfall of Arsenal to middle-of-the-road status, which is the same level as Middlesbrough themselves. This player is known to a few as the thing that decimated 1/3 of Europe, and today more then half of Arsenal. To most he is known as Alexander Hleb, to a few keen observers, he is none other then the “Bubonic” Hleb.

Hleb robs Arsenal’s standard of play with each of his mis-touches. Arsene Wenger is seemingly infected because he sees Hleb’s touch through rosy goggles. This makes the problem into one that is club-wide, because he is measuring the “Bubonic” Hleb without the ruler that Arsenal of old would have been measured by. These slipping standards is allowing Thiery Henry to get away with kissing the ball for the tying goal against Boro on a PK.

If Hleb is bubonic then Henry, right now, is smoking chronic. He is just sitting back and relaxing trying to score easy goals, but let’s focus on one problem at a time.

The root of Hleb’s problem is he is stuck on the spectacular. He believes that the moves he was pulling off in the Germany will be transferable to England. Most of the time they are transferable. We will see how Ballack does, but Hlebs’ game is non-transferable, non-refundable.

Christiano Ronaldo’s skills have transferred, and he is revolutionizing touch and decision on the English stage, but Christiano possess speed to implement his quick visions.

The “Bubonic” Hleb is average. So in his case, things boil down to extra sharp skills to outplay opponents. Well, he is brilliantly open minded for a Belarusian, but short on the extra-perfect Rosicky-skills that top English League players need to shine.

Ex-Arsenal favorite, Pires didn’t have incredible skill or great speed, but his decisions put him above the pack. This is the “Bubonic” Hleb’s biggest problem because it seems he doesn’t want to look reality dead in the face and say I can’t do some of the things I am trying to. The easiest way for him to produce in England would be to build on common passes to better one’s position and try to get forward.

Yes, it’s just that easy, but until Arsene stops giving this player rope, Arsenal will continue to resettle at the middle-of-the-pack as chasers. “Bubonic” Hleb will make all of Arsenal’s win-bonuses die a horrible death.

To read Sept. 15 06 Edition, Click here

Manchester City has ventured to pick up the services of American winger, DaMarcus Beasley (on loan from PSV) to join with fellow American International, Claudio Reyna—the all-around, European veteran-journeyman.

Even though he failed to duplicate his earlier form in the World Cup and has been on the back burner for some time at PSV, DaMarcus has proven his pedigree with his performances at PSV in both the Eredivise and the Champions League.

Playing under Stuart Pearce, Beasley may benefit from the sheer pace and attacking style of the English game and provide the width and quality down the right that Man. City has been lacking since the departure of Shawn Wright-Phillips.

Maybe Pearce can pull the three-headed hydra and bring in another American, Brian McBride, whose English-style finishing for both Fulham and Everton would be perhaps the final American ingredient in the goal production for Stuart Pearce.