LEN Teh Footy God's Footballodium

[naut]

WORST. REF. EVER!

[Jolt]

That would be one of the cases where "domestic" violence would be legitimate. We see refs taking damage for MUCH less. If I was a keeper I don't think I'd be able to restrain myself.

[Rhyfelwyr]

My little hometown team could win the League tomorrow, finally I might get to make trips to places more exciting than Coatbridge and Falkirk.

[naut]

Nice Rhy. Second Division awaits perhaps? How many teams in the league, 12? How many games left?

Anyone other than myself actually play, like amateur league etc.?

Lol at the Arsenal bench, made up of 14 year olds (well 16-19 year olds). Arshavin captain.

[Jolt]

When I had like 14, I was invited to play at a low level youth team and trained there one time, I was discovered playing in my high school at a tourney. The game which the scout noticed me, I completely owned one of their forwards so much with my dribble and sprint that he got furious and tackled me so hard I fell and began bleeding from my leg. He was sent off in any case. I turned down since I was already in Handball. I played football quite well. The coach said that if I practiced hard, I had the potential to reach the national team (Since my position was and is Left Defender and Portugal isn't well known for having good Left backs), and at that time I was an Ashley Cole type. Fast with ball, decent dribble, but much better to defend. My crossing was something I never practiced though (Obviously, playing at school and with friends on minuscule pitches, I hardly needed to cross). Later on, I practiced football less and less and now being 19 years old (I quit Handball many years ago as well), I suck absolutely. Poor technique, poor speed, poor decisions, poor flair, poor stamina, poor dribble, poor passing. I even wonder how I got invited to a youth team.

[Rhyfelwyr]

Woo! Won in style, 6-0 and now that's something like 650 minutes without conceding a goal. :beam:

This (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/div_3_table/default.stm) is how the table looks with one game to go. We couldn't life the trophy today since technically we haven't won yet, but East Stirling will have to make up for a goal deficit of 18 to catch us, so I think we are safe!

[Dutch_guy]

Anyone catch the Real - Barcelona match ? Simply amazing football, and an equally amazing score: 2 - 6.

:balloon2:

[Sarmatian]

Anyone catch the Real - Barcelona match ? Simply amazing football, and an equally amazing score: 2 - 6.

:balloon2:

What a match! One of the best El Clasicos I've seen. Barca totally humiliated Real in every possible way. They're playing amazing football and Chelsea should be very worried...

[naut]

Impressive Jolt.

Bye-bye barcodes.

Edit: Louis, no celebration post for the Coupe de la Ligue win?

^ 2 - 0 already, good for the goal difference too.

[Afonso I of Portugal]

What a match! One of the best El Clasicos I've seen. Barca totally humiliated Real in every possible way. They're playing amazing football and Chelsea should be very worried...

Yeah! Awesome!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r4_2uMpzKI

[Jolt]

Impressive Jolt.

:yes:

Played some impressive football some 6 years ago. Nowadays...Ugh. Just your regular amateur football player who can't kick the ball properly.

[Scurvy]

3 - 0 to Man U on 75mins, 4 - 0 aggregate, I'm struggling to watch, 2 unlucky goals, but Arsenal have looked marginally second best all match :thumbsdown:

Only positive is that Bentdner has been excellent since he came on :skull:

Edit: Red Card Fletcher, unlucky for him as he will miss the final...

[johnhughthom]

UEFA really are a bunch of twats, it's an absolute joke that Fletcher is going to miss the final. I don't blame the ref, they have a hard job, it's the suits at head office. Why on earth can't United appeal?

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
BARCELONA ALL THE WAY!!! :2thumbsup:

First few minutes (3 or four goals from both) I was half busy humiliating a backgammon deity of the café we hang at. (6 - 4 closing with a gammon after he had been 4 - 1 ahead! ~D) Then I paid full concentration and they didn't fail me for supporting them since I learned reading. :yes: Sorry thing was that only the commentator on the TV and I were cheering at the goals. :shrug:

So, what are your takes on the upcoming matches? Chelsea - Barcelona, Villarreal - Sevilla, ManUtd - Liverpool et al?
.

[Jolt]

I'm very close to reaching the Champions League Fantasy Football final, with my team Gravitas F.C.

[Afonso I of Portugal]

Amazing Cristiano Ronaldo! 2 goals and 1 assistance to goal. He scored 27 goals so far, not bad for a player that start the season 1 month later...

[LittleGrizzly]

Tut tut only 27 goals, definetly an 'off season' still not half bad though ~;)

Free kick was stunning, United through as i thought, expected a bit more off a fight off Arsenal at home though... was too easy

Chelsea go through tonight to complete my predictions on the final... and then United to win again... but more importantly i want to see a great game of football tonight as yesterday was a little dissapointing as it was all over by 8 minutes...

Not that im complaining about winning mind you...

[Ronin]

BARÇA!!!! :laugh4::2thumbsup:

[johnhughthom]

BARÇA!!!! :laugh4::2thumbsup:

Crazy stuff, at least we will have a good final. Without Drogba...

[Scurvy]

Bizarre game, but as long as Chelsea were only 1 goal ahead they never looked safe - fancy Barce to score a goal in any game.

Glad Iniesta scored, as I thought he was the best player on the pitch. Messi was again anonymous against Premier League opposition --> people keep telling me he's really good :inquisitive:

[Jolt]

I'm in the final!!!!! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

https://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu150/Joltie/untitled-4.jpg

So close to winning the CL Fantasy Football

[Afonso I of Portugal]

Poor referee performance put Barça in the final, too many handballs inside the box allowed to barça players...:inquisitive::shame:

CL FINAL prediction:

Cristiano Ronaldo 3 - Messi 1 :beam:

and Ronaldo to win the FIFA prize and ballon d'or again! :yes:

[Louis VI the Fat]

Before the game I was firmly rooting for Barcelona. Not that I mind Chelsea itself, more from an appreciation of Barca's phenomenal football all season long.

But now...I do feel some sort of unjustice was done. Chelsea was way better. Barcelona only managed a single shot between the posts throughout the game. And I think that first handsball should've been a penalty. Probably not the second one, in the last minute.

Oh well. Football is not about being fair. It is about winning. Chelsea should've scored their second to finish the game off, and they didn't. And Manchester-Barcelona is by any account the dream final. This season's two best teams, from the two best competitions. Exciting stuff!

Prediction for the final: Man Utd - Barcelona 2-1.



And do keep an eye out for the French competition everyone - Louis is dying every weekend...

One goal separates us from first place...oh please...oh please...:sweatdrop:


Louis, no celebration post for the Coupe de la Ligue win?No, I should've made one perhaps. :2thumbsup: :jumping::2thumbsup:

[Jolt]

No congratulations for my qualification for the final? I'm among the final 2 of 32! :<

[Beefy187]

No congratulations for my qualification for the final? I'm among the final 2 of 32! :<

Congratulations :2thumbsup:

However I do have a question for you.
How come there is soo many goals scored?

[Jolt]

Those aren't goals. They are the total points each player earns. Players earn points by playing, scoring, assisting, keeping a clean sheat (Except Forwards), and number of saves (Keepers), they lose points by getting cards, and own goals. Selected Captain doubles the points he won in that match.

Like this: https://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu150/Joltie/untitled-5.jpg
:2thumbsup:

[naut]

BARCA!!!!! Take that filthy PRAWNSANDWICH!!!!! :2thumbsup::2thumbsup::2thumbsup:


And do keep an eye out for the French competition everyone - Louis is dying every weekend...

One goal separates us from first place...oh please...oh please...:sweatdrop:
Oh I am. I'll be watching every game. Hopefully with Geret leaving at the end of the season it'll unsettle OM. Last four games will be nail biting, especially the Valenciennes and Monaco games. Need to put quite a few past Le Mans and Caen to improve the goal difference.

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
Speaking of unfairness, nobody has a word for Abidal's red card without even a slightest contact? ~:pissed:

I've got flu actually and couldn't stand any more after -was it Eto'o?- wasting an almost absolute position (kicking the ball to the sky) and slept off. Bro told me about the score. I've yet to see the replays on stupid Turkish channels. :wall:
.

[Sarmatian]

I've expected much more from Barca after their win in Madrid, but I'm still glad they've won. I don't see Barca playing two bad games in Europe in a row.

Manchester - Barca is a great final, and Messi and Ronaldo need to sort out who's the best player this season...

[Beefy187]

.
Speaking of unfairness, nobody has a word for Abidal's red card without even a slightest contact? ~:pissed:

I've got flu actually and couldn't stand any more after -was it Eto'o?- wasting an almost absolute position (kicking the ball to the sky) and slept off. Bro told me about the score. I've yet to see the replays on stupid Turkish channels. :wall:
.

Worst ref. Full stop :thumbsdown:

He made the game less enjoyable for both teams.

[Pannonian]

Poor referee performance put Barça in the final, too many handballs inside the box allowed to barça players...:inquisitive::shame:

Barca found the answer to a footballing problem: if one can't field a great goalkeeper, one can try fielding lots of them instead. Only one of them can wear gloves though.

[Mouzafphaerre]

Worst ref. Full stop :thumbsdown:

He made the game less enjoyable for both teams.
.
Ditto. Almost a standard Turkish ref he was. :shrug:
.

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
Piquet's position was a penalty. The other one wasn't. (The player's back facing the ball, arms closed down etc...)

Probably the lack of self confidence on the ref's part (re: the made up red card for Abidal) forced him to even out his own unfairness.
.

[naut]

WERDER!

UEFA Cup Final I am looking forward to! And thank you plastic cup! (Funniest/oddest thing I've ever seen in a game)

[Uesugi Kenshin]

WERDER!

UEFA Cup Final I am looking forward to! And thank you plastic cup! (Funniest/oddest thing I've ever seen in a game)

I know right? I was convinced we wouldn't make it when I watched them lose to HSV last time. Fortunately while I was driving home from college they rocked it!

[naut]

Werder Highlights. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISb-O7GmnEo) Note the third goal, Gravgaard tried to pass it back to the keeper but it hit a plastic cup and went out for a corner. Which Baumann scored off. Although Diego got an unnecessary yellow, so he's out of the final, (as did Almeida, who will also miss the final).

[Subedei]

Yes! We made it! WERDER is in 2 finals! What a great game! And it was a paper ball, not a cup...anyway...the cup is the thing we will win!

Diego´s yellow card is a farce....freaking ref....i mean it is a semi-final...anyways...."Das ist WERDER!"

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
I deem Shakhtar to have more chances against Werder but no matter who gets the cup it'll most likely be a tremendous final. :yes: Too bad the tickets are too costly for my budget and I'll stick with the idiot box. ~:(
.

[LittleGrizzly]

I know Abidal is missing the final.. but is Alves as well ?

If so i think this could be a big difference between the teams... our star will be up against lesser players than barca's star... im feeling quietly confident..

[naut]

Diego´s yellow card is a farce....freaking ref....
I know. Diego was pushed and the guy swore at him, and he got a yellow! WTF!

[Rhyfelwyr]

Old Firm tomorrow.... mon the Gers!

[naut]

Ronaldo just showed why I, and most non-Mancs, dislike him. He's so unprofessional, you'd have thought all those years as an understudy to Giggs he would have learnt how to compose himself and how to display himself to the public. But at every turn he shows what an unmitigated :daisy: he really is.

The best move Old Red-Nose could do is sell him this summer. Show him he's not bigger than the club, he's too big for his britches.

[Scurvy]

Not sure I agree, he played really well, and then objected to being taken off --> I'v never really minded players looking upset when they are subed, at least it shows he cares
They might well sell him in the summer, especially if they get a ridiculously high offer from a spanish club, in which case they should, and replace him with 1-2 almost as good players.

Very dissapointed with Arsenal again, they played up to the first goal, but collapsed afterwards, next season can't come early enough :sweatdrop:

[Afonso I of Portugal]

Ronaldo just showed why I, and most non-Mancs, dislike him. He's so unprofessional, you'd have thought all those years as an understudy to Giggs he would have learnt how to compose himself and how to display himself to the public. But at every turn he shows what an unmitigated :daisy: he really is.

The best move Old Red-Nose could do is sell him this summer. Show him he's not bigger than the club, he's too big for his britches.

In my point of view, Ronaldo wanted to show up and score more goals in this match, not only because he's a great professional always prepared to do his best for his team, but also because of Robinho's big mouth! :yes: They are rivals but Robinho is just a good freestyle dribler :whip: not a good player...Ronaldo wanted to shut up him with more goals, that's all!!! But big red nose saved Robinho...:sweatdrop:
Ronaldo don't need to be unmitigated...and i'm crossing my fingers for a move to Real Madrid. The best player deserves the best club! (please let me buy my tickets...:beam:)

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
Barça is now the champion of La Liga. Next week's game is a formality.

Can't wait to see the Rome final.
.

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
Barça is now the champion of La Liga. Next week's game is a formality.

Can't wait to see the Rome final.
.
.
This is what happens when you give up the 90+ minutes for BS Galactica. :mean: :embarassed: :wall:
.

[LittleGrizzly]

and i'm crossing my fingers for a move to Real Madrid. The best player deserves the best club!

You serious... the best club ?

Are you a Real Madrid fan ?

or do you just really dislike english football and barcelona ?

I wouldn't object to them being grouped with the other big clubs as one of the best in the world, but that list would include united so no need for him to move...

Ignoring United as its hard to tell where my bias kicks in, surely Liverpool (who i hate) Chelsea (who i dislike) or Barcelona (i have no problem with) are a decent bit better than real madrid... im not basing this on just cup runs... i wouldn't say united were the best side in europe back in '99 despite the fact we won it... but real madrid are clearly lacking against the 3 i mentioned, and then i think there is a smaller gap between man united and those 3 clubs...

Clearly going to real madrid would be a move downhill... what do you want more ronaldo... sun or medals ?

As for his tantrum its good to see he does care about being taken off the pitch... i wish he had taken the news a little better but i far prefer a player who wants to be out there all the time to one who is happy to come off and chill out... one is a lover of the game the other isn't too bothered...

Hope United can wrap up the title early... win against wigan and then finish it in style against Arsenal... then give some of our players a rest for the last game whilst they ready themselves for the CL final..

Been an amazing season... shame we missed out on the FA cup... I blame the referree ~;)

[Afonso I of Portugal]

You serious... the best club ?

Yes, according to FIFA Madrid is the Club of the XX century!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_Clubs_of_the_20th_Century

Man Uts is rigth behind! :beam:



Are you a Real Madrid fan ?

or do you just really dislike english football and barcelona ?

Neither! i like barça and english teams. My club is Sporting Lisbon but i like Madrid as well. I dislike a few clubs but can't remember of a hated one...



Clearly going to real madrid would be a move downhill... what do you want more ronaldo... sun or medals ?

I don't think so, cause with Ronaldo it will be medals for sure...47 goals last season and 27 by now...

I want to see him play more often, not just when he perform in the national team. At Madrid it will be more easy to see him play...that's why i'm crossing my fingers...:beam:

[Ferret]

Yeah but it's the 21st century now :wink:

[scotchedpommes]

So it's settled, then. We need to roll up at Castle Greyskull and get a result for the first time since 5,000 BC - not just to deny them the title [Hibs? Aye, right.] but to keep hopes of a few crushing European defeats alive.

In more critical European news, the offending piece of paper that did for HSV is being auctioned off by German channel Sat1 (http://www.sat1.de/sat1sport/uefacup/content/38797/).
https://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rdecejabolko/foto180x210_Oliver_Welke2_dpa.jpg
Get your bids in, gents!

[Rhyfelwyr]

I got ticket to the Rangers v Aberdeen game on Saturday, woot!

It's actually my first game at Ibrox this season due to following my local team (who won their league! :beam:), hopefully it will go well...

[LittleGrizzly]

Going back 4-7 years (fuzzy memory) they probably were the best team in the world, or at least on par, but over the last few years they have dropped a few pegs, still a world class side just not part of the elite few..

Even with Ronaldo on board i would see them struggling, defensively they seem too weak. Definetly they would be better but one man doesn't make the side and Ronaldo seems to struggle when Utd do... so i could see that happening more often at Madrid...

Though i can understand why you want him close so you can see him play... can't blame you there!

[Louis VI the Fat]

I would say Madrid can rightfully claim the title of 'World's Greatest Club'. Most succesful club in one of the world's best football countries, an endless list of famous players, nine European Cups - and not just in prehistory, three of them in the last decade alone. Plus, Madrid had God (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jOYSkrxDrI&feature=related).


Don't get me wrong - I don't really like Madrid. In fact, I dislike them so much that I hope this summer Ronaldo will move there. ~;)

[LittleGrizzly]

Sure if were talking historically Real Madrid are right up there... and if were talking historically Nottingham Forest are at least one of the top 3 English clubs, i think best club is a bit different from best club ever, best club ever, Real Madrid... quite probably... best club now... no way... probably top five in the world but my Utd the scousers, chelski and barca are all a bit better in my opinion...

Ohh and there is only one god.. he is french but his name was... Eric!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akz2Y7ZpU30 (best goal ever... apparently)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWdI8HfTSGE (goals, kung fu and words of wisdom...)

Ill never leave for my haircut now... cant stop watching cantona...

[naut]

and if were talking historically Nottingham Forest are at least one of the top 3 English clubs
Hmmm. Historically - i.e. past trophies won. The top five English clubs are: :book2:
1 Liverpool 40
2 Manchester United 37
3 Arsenal 27
4 Aston Villa 20
5 Tottenham Hotspur 17


Ohh and there is only one god.. he is french but his name was... Eric!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akz2Y7ZpU30 (best goal ever... apparently)
Don't make me bring out Bergkamp and shame you all. :beam:

[LittleGrizzly]

Quantity over quality, if were judging historically i would say Forest's back to back European cups give them the edge... i gave bonus points for them being back to back as well...

I did love Bergkamp that guy was a legend, but i don't think i will ever love a footballer as much as eric, ronalods great and possibly one of the most skilled players i have seen... but give me Eric instead anyday...

Anyway enough Eric, got sidetrack by Ole as well... got all teary at his testimonial speech... time to cut some hair...

[Afonso I of Portugal]

Don't get me wrong - I don't really like Madrid. In fact, I dislike them so much that I hope this summer Ronaldo will move there. ~;)

:laugh4:

[Afonso I of Portugal]

Sure if were talking historically Real Madrid are right up there... and if were talking historically Nottingham Forest are at least one of the top 3 English clubs, i think best club is a bit different from best club ever, best club ever, Real Madrid... quite probably... best club now... no way... probably top five in the world but my Utd the scousers, chelski and barca are all a bit better in my opinion...

Humm... :inquisitive: ok i can agree with you on this...but Ronaldo will move Madrid to the top again.


Ohh and there is only one god.. he is french but his name was... Eric!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akz2Y7ZpU30 (best goal ever... apparently)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWdI8HfTSGE (goals, kung fu and words of wisdom...)

Ill never leave for my haircut now... cant stop watching cantona...

Oh yes, the God of kung fu...:laugh4: i love that kick but probably that fan didn't...:laugh4:

[naut]

Goddamn it we don't need a 16 year old goalkeeper. We need some one established to replace Fabicrapski and challange Almunia for the first team spot. :wall:

[InsaneApache]

It's the rags wot won it. :whip: :coffeenews:

[naut]

Villareal! Last minute winner, deserved it. They played so much better than Real, and that goal was offside! A win against Valencia will see CL qualification in their own hands.

Comon' Lyon do the business...

[Louis VI the Fat]

Congrats LittleGrizzly!



File this under 'I never thought I'd say this, but': Lyon! :balloon2: Lyon! :balloon2: Lyon!
Marseille - Lyon 1-3. :jumping:

Oh please. Oh please....:sweatdrop:

1 Bordeaux 36 22 8 6 62 34 28 74
2 Marseille 36 20 11 5 61 34 27 71
3 Lyon 36 19 10 7 49 28 21 67

It's offical: Lyon not to be champions. Two more games to be played. Bordeaux to play Monaco and Caen. OM to play Nancy and Rennes.

I'm dying here. The last week has been the most thrilling in French football ever. How much tension can my poor heart take?

[Rhyfelwyr]

Things are heating up in the SPL as well. With 1 game left for all teams, Rangers are 2 points ahead of Celtic but one behind on goal difference. Celtic are at home to Hearts, Rangers away to Dundee United... mon the Gers!

[naut]

Watching the Lyon game was a tense affair. Marseilles had so many chances, at least double Lyon's.

Just watched the goalfest that was the Greek Cup Final (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_XarSIx7mM). Crazy.

[Rhyfelwyr]

Wow... that is the most insane game I've seen in ages. :dizzy2:

[naut]

Watching the Russian League, Pogrebnyak is pretty decent. (Zenit's defence needs some work though). :laugh4:

Diego leaving Werder makes me sad though.

[Subedei]

Diego leaving Werder makes me sad though.

Me too!

Yet good news 4 Werder: Naldo will most likely play in Istambul! Mertesacker not...darn you Ollic!!!!

[Sarmatian]

Vidic voted (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1184123/Vidic-lost-words-named-double-Manchester-United-player-year.html) the best Man Utd player by fans and team mates. I'm really surprised, I expected Ronaldo to scoop all awards...

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
So, who do you guys think will get the UEFA cup? Шахтарь or Werder? My emotions go with old Mircea's team but the Bremen guys aren't to be taken too lightly.
.

[Sarmatian]

.
So, who do you guys think will get the UEFA cup? Шахтарь or Werder? My emotions go with old Mircea's team but the Bremen guys aren't to be taken too lightly.
.

When I don't have a favourite, I always cheer for the underdog, so I'm hoping Shakhtar...

[naut]

.
So, who do you guys think will get the UEFA cup? Шахтарь or Werder? My emotions go with old Mircea's team but the Bremen guys aren't to be taken too lightly.
.
Werder Werder Werder Werder Werder Werder Werder ! ! !

Diego and Almeida miss the final, but Almeida hasn't been that good this season, so meh. But, Diego is amazing. Mertesacker hopefully will be fit for the German Cup. And what's this I'm hearing that Baumann is also doubtful with an injury niggle?!

[LittleGrizzly]

Vidic voted (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1184123/Vidic-lost-words-named-double-Manchester-United-player-year.html) the best Man Utd player by fans and team mates. I'm really surprised, I expected Ronaldo to scoop all awards...

Man Utds defence has been its rock this season, over 20 odd clean sheets, the attack has been good this season but the defence was our stronger part. Last year we would out score the opposition... this year the opposition would out concede us....

Thanks for the congrats, TBH it was expected, then it was more ours to lose... so the feeling is we haven't lost it rather than won it... but im not ungrateful... im very happy we won it and even happier we have levelled it with the scum... i shall be jumping for joy if we beat barca though...

Sounds like Ronaldo could be staying... something about a nike contract whereas real madrid are sponsored by adidas, Tevez may very well be going though... which is a big loss but not irreplacable...

I will be rooting for Shaktar... whens the game ?

[Sarmatian]

Man Utds defence has been its rock this season, over 20 odd clean sheets, the attack has been good this season but the defence was our stronger part. Last year we would out score the opposition... this year the opposition would out concede us....

Thanks for the congrats, TBH it was expected, then it was more ours to lose... so the feeling is we haven't lost it rather than won it... but im not ungrateful... im very happy we won it and even happier we have levelled it with the scum... i shall be jumping for joy if we beat barca though...

Sounds like Ronaldo could be staying... something about a nike contract whereas real madrid are sponsored by adidas, Tevez may very well be going though... which is a big loss but not irreplacable...

I will be rooting for Shaktar... whens the game ?

Well, I'm glad he's in form, if Serbia wins two next matches we've secured one of the top two positions. I'm generally positively surprised with Vidic, I'd never thought he'd be this good. I've expected him to become a constant in the national team but he matured into one of the best defenders in the world...

The game's tomorrow evening...

[LittleGrizzly]

Your not the only one genuinely positively surprised... he has been our absolute rock and better than the £30 m player next to him, though a few have said part of the reason he is so good is because of his partnership with Ferdinand and he did have a little wobble at liverpool without him. I never expected him to become one of the greatest centre backs around. Another one of Fergies brilliant buys... was it about 9 mill ?

*checks wiki*

7 mil!

When you think that Fergie got Vidic and Ronaldo for less than 20 m you realise why Man Utd are the greatest despite being outspent or matched by some close rivals...

[Subedei]

Werder Werder Werder Werder Werder Werder Werder ! ! !



Yup & Baumann should be fine. Considering Diego & Almeida missing...Werder is the underdog in this game me thinks....man I AM looking forward to this game!

[Rhyfelwyr]

Congrats to Shaktar. :bow:

Of course, I was following the big games, namely Ayr v Airdrie and Cowndebeath v Stenhousemuir. :book:

[Jolt]

Your not the only one genuinely positively surprised... he has been our absolute rock and better than the £30 m player next to him, though a few have said part of the reason he is so good is because of his partnership with Ferdinand and he did have a little wobble at liverpool without him. I never expected him to become one of the greatest centre backs around. Another one of Fergies brilliant buys... was it about 9 mill ?

*checks wiki*

7 mil!

When you think that Fergie got Vidic and Ronaldo for less than 20 m you realise why Man Utd are the greatest despite being outspent or matched by some close rivals...

Well you bought Ronaldo when he was 18 and was still developping. If he was playing as he is now and you wanted to buy him you would have to cough up A LOT more money.

[LittleGrizzly]

Well thats why Fergie is great... he spotted him before he became the worlds best player... and saw that potential in him...

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Does anyone else think Pizarro had a goal stolen from him by the ref? The way I saw it the Shaktar defender had an arm on him at least at the same time he did, if not before....

[Rhyfelwyr]

Can't wait for Helicopter Sunday. The SPL trophy could be going to either Rangers or Celtic. If Rangers win away to Dundee Utd, then the title is theirs. It would be fantastic if they won, what as season if my two teams won their respective leagues (local team always comes first though, of course)!

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
Well done Shakhtar and dear old Mircea! :medievalcheers:

Also,

BARÇA SAFOR!!!

The King's Cup is ours! :2thumbsup:
.

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
CAMPIONS!

:medievalcheers:
.

[Jolt]

Wolfsburg is champions as well. Bordeaux and Marseilles have postponed the decision to the last fixture.

However there is only one game I'm awaiting for.

The game which will decide if my team is the true Champion.

https://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu150/Joltie/untitled-6.jpg

So close to the dream...

[naut]

Well it's essentially academic now. Bordeaux, should win, a loss against Caen is highly unlikely. :2thumbsup:

[Jolt]

Any bets as to who will win the final? Me or the Honduran?

[scotchedpommes]

Clouds are gathering, and as it looks as though all may well be lost to the forces of darkness, only one cry need be heard today:

"mon 'e pikeys!"

[InsaneApache]

Bumsqueeky time for the smoggies, barcodes and findus fishfinger brigade. Who do I prefer for the drop? Got to be the deluded 'Shearer is the messiah' toons for their hubris if nowt else.

Good riddence. :whip:

Oh I forgot about sunnerlund, can't see it though.

[Beefy187]

Any bets as to who will win the final? Me or the Honduran?

You ofcause.. We don't know the Honduran :laugh4:

[Jolt]

Well, the Honduran has been by far the best player of that CL. He has had higher points for every game than me. But the final is just a game, and we never know who might be the true winner. :D As a side note, I'm still thinking which team field. I'll certainly put Van der Sar, Ronaldo and Messi. Other then that, I need to reflect deeply.

[Rhyfelwyr]

Mon the Gers! :balloon3:

[InsaneApache]

Enjoy your coke guys! :2thumbsup:

[naut]

Down, Down, Down, Down, Down, Down, Down, DOWN! GEORDIES INTO OBLIVION. :wink2:

Whould have prefered Sun-tan-man Brown and his bunch of cloggers to go down, but I guess that's be asking for too much.

[Rhyfelwyr]

Newcastle in the Championship just seems... wrong.

This applies to Middlesborough to a lesser extent as well.

[InsaneApache]

Nay nay and thrice nay. All those massive clubs do indeed belong in the football league. Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest, Dirty Leeds, and now Newcastle and 'Boro. The fans of these so called massive clubs just don't get it!

It doesn't matter if you fill your ground every week. It doesn't matter how rich you are. It doesn't matter how many cups you won in the past. No. What matters is how your team performs on the pitch. I detest the friggin arrogant lot of them.

I hope they don't go bust though, as that would be churlish. No. Far better that they stay in business and keep on sliding down the leagues until they are playing Sunday football.

Bitter and twisted? You bet I am. :laugh4:

[naut]

In other news. Anyone see Alexander's bullet in the League 1 play-offs. My-my that match was tense, even for a neutral like me.

[Rhyfelwyr]

I guess you are right IA, it's just that Newcastle have been in the top flight since I was 3 years old an so its a bit of a shock to the system. :sweatdrop:

[InsaneApache]

I'm sure you can imagine then the delight shock I was forced to endure when the Salford Red Sox were relegated on the last day of the season, by no less than Man City. The scorer of the only goal? Dennis Law who'd just signed from the Salford Red Sox at the beginning of that season.

Oh the schardenfraude.

I've posted it before, I do think it's actually worth posting again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNnsWnHW9co&search=denis%20law

Halcyon days.

[Rhyfelwyr]

lol, good stuff. :2thumbsup:

A bit of controversy always makes the game interesting, I look forward to tracking Newcastle's progress next season...

[Afonso I of Portugal]

I'm sure you can imagine then the delight shock I was forced to endure when the Salford Red Sox were relegated on the last day of the season, by no less than Man City. The scorer of the only goal? Dennis Law who'd just signed from the Salford Red Sox at the beginning of that season.

Oh the schardenfraude.

I've posted it before, I do think it's actually worth posting again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNnsWnHW9co&search=denis%20law

Halcyon days.

Great goal! but seeing the video i get the feeling that he does not know how did it...:laugh4:

[InsaneApache]

Great goal! but seeing the video i get the feeling that he does not know how did it...:laugh4:

Methinks thou interpreteth it incorrectly, just look at his face, have you ever seen a striker celebrate a goal so dismally. Look at his face.

I love being a Mancunian. :yes: :2thumbsup:

[scotchedpommes]

KOP, Denis Law's a man with Red Sox "blood in his veins" etc. sending them down. Imagine dearest Ronaldo playing for Benfica and forcing Sporting down. [though I'm aware that the Mancs would have gone down regardless.]

As for the discussion that's rolled out here re: big clubs going down, I agree as much as I did before, but Boro fans are anything but the arrogant divine right brigade. Now Dirty Leeds, I can't help but be overjoyed seeing them have 37,000+ at a playoff semi just to watch them fail to escape for another year.

[Louis VI the Fat]

I'm sure you can imagine then the delight shock I was forced to endure when the Salford Red Sox were relegated on the last day of the season, by no less than Man City. The scorer of the only goal? Dennis Law who'd just signed from the Salford Red Sox at the beginning of that season.

Oh the schardenfraude.

I've posted it before, I do think it's actually worth posting again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNnsWnHW9co&search=denis%20law

Halcyon days.That's genius! :laugh4:

I didn't know that this ever happened. Denis Law, playing for Man Citeh, relegating Man Utd with a backheel!? ~:eek::laugh4:



* Pray for me this Saturday. I can not take it any longer. The tension is too much to bear. ~:mecry: *

[Afonso I of Portugal]

Imagine dearest Ronaldo playing for Benfica and forcing Sporting down.

That's what i call a real nightmare!!! :skull: However, Ronaldo playing for benfica is more or less impossible even in the end of his career...cause benfica don't have money and he realy don't like them :beam:, in fact he already show them the "bird"...:laugh4: (in the end of the video) :laugh4:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tnBA04_G0k&feature=related

As for Porto, well recently Porto fans strike one of Ronaldo's store at Madeira island, robbing items, insulting and threatening his sister. A few days later Ronaldo said he loves to score against Porto and will try so score some more, like this one...i guess he don't like them either...:laugh4:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av-YYMngVJY

As for Sporting, well Ronaldo already score against us...:sweatdrop: but i think i prefer to watch players like Derlei (former Benfica) puting them down!!! :laugh4:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmpwYB1XG1o (i love the way he feels scoring to his former team) :laugh4:

[InsaneApache]

I'm sorry but I couldn't resist...


Knorr have released a special edition black & white striped Oxo cube to celebrate the newcastle United's Premier League season.
It's called the Laughing Stock.

FTW! :2thumbsup: :laugh4:

[scotchedpommes]

Don't know if this was posted around the time of the result - I'd think it must have been - but in any case, it'd take some time for me to tire of seeing Bayern ripped apart like this. Do take a moment to look back at one of the best individual goals of the last few seasons.

Grafite putting Wolfsburg 5-1 up against Bayern (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujT9dQiH6Uc&feature=related).

[All the goals (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lpp5zzpaxA).]

[Rhyfelwyr]

Bizzare (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/8062742.stm)

Only Makalambay would do such a thing. :laugh4:

[Louis VI the Fat]

Grafite putting Wolfsburg 5-1 up against Bayern (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujT9dQiH6Uc&feature=related).Whoa, what a goal! I love the sheer audacity, the ubercoolness of that backheel. :2thumbsup:


Not as great, but well worth a look, is this goal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI0--mM7Ue4) from Europe's greatest player this season, Yoann Gourcuff. ~:worship:

Move over Kaka! Everybody has been called the new Zidane, but I'll be blasphemous and say Gourcuff really is the One.
Could he be the Chosen One the prophecy has spoken about? This Saturday, on the eve of Pentecost, will the Holy Spirit descend upon us and lead us out of the wilderness? Four more days and we'll know...

[naut]

Apparently Evra has been hitting the sauce:


Away from football, on a rather outlandish tangent, Evra also claimed that he has 24 biological siblings.

"They are not from the same mother, I assure you!" Evra remarked, adding, "My father, he didn't watch the television..."

[Louis VI the Fat]

I predict Manchester will maul Barcelona tonight: 3 - 0.

[LittleGrizzly]

I don't think the frenchman is too optimistic about United.... but i do think Barca will get a goal...

Man Utd 3 - 1 Barca

[Scurvy]

Barce 4 - 2 Man U --> expecting (and hoping for) a high scoring game.

:2thumbsup:

[Strike For The South]

I don't know whats going on but i like it.

[drone]

Barca 1 - 0 Man U at the half. A few goals by Henry would be nice right now, for old times sake.

Edit-> Barca 2 - 0 Man U, full time.

Eto'o(10')
Messi(70')

[Sarmatian]

Barcelona saved the face of continental Europe. Man Utd looked like a second class team next to these guys. Congrats on thoroughly deserved victory to Barca...

[||Lz3||]

Now, that was unexpected...

[Rhyfelwyr]

I was supporting Man Utd, but there's no doubt the trophy went to the better team on the night.

:bow: to Barecelona.

[LittleGrizzly]

Congratulations to the far better team on the night, Barcelona deserved the win and united didn't....

Not terribly gutted because i still feel we can do it again... but a little gutted we didn't do it tonight...

[Jolt]

:daisy: Man Utd :daisy: C. Ronaldo :daisy: Barcelona :daisy: Honduras :daisy: final :daisy: Samuel Eto'o

https://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu150/Joltie/untitled-8.jpg

[Afonso I of Portugal]

Congratulations to the far better team on the night, Barcelona deserved the win and united didn't....

Not terribly gutted because i still feel we can do it again... but a little gutted we didn't do it tonight...

Agreed! Man Utd began quite well with 2/3 good shots to goal! However, i think Etoo's goal in Barça's first shot put Utd down! they look a tired team...and Ferguson made a terrible mistake taking off Anderson...Utd lost middlefield, a lot of players looked like they were lost....Ronaldo was fighting alone...until Scholes enter the pitch...but that was too late...

[Afonso I of Portugal]

You lost Jolt...and it seams godor is far superior...:2thumbsup:

[Jolt]

Most of his team was Barcelona players. Most of my team was :daisy: Man Utd players. If Man Utd had bothered to do its job as champions I'd have won the :daisy: cup... -_- It's so frustrating losing in the final.
EDIT: I actually had 32 points. I have no idea why it only shows 24 in there. It's irrelevant as I lost anyway. :daisy: Vidic.

[scotchedpommes]

I was expecting a comfortable Barcelona win, [though no, I didn't have money on it, unlike the Toikish oracle.] and I'm pleased that's what we got - particularly given the ridiculous jingoistic overhype regarding this United side.

Favourite comment spotted doing the rounds on the various boards for backlash:
"men against foetuses, Patrice."

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
BARÇA all the way! We've got three cups a season and the fourth will most probably be ours as well. Luçe's Шахтарь is a marvel in its own right but I don't think they'll pose a serious threat against Pepe's wonder kids at the Super Cup match. :2thumbsup:

https://img5.imageshack.us/img5/4421/0000017519.jpg

Well done Barcelona, well done Catalunya! :medievalcheers:
.

[naut]

Cho-cho! All aboard the Barca bandwagon. First stop treble station.

I feel good for Henry and Sylvinho. Especially Henry, he deserved to win the Champions League at least once in his career.

I am particularly glad that H-G-leb didn't even make the bench, as the Spanish media said "discarded" by Guardiola.

[Sarmatian]

Anyone else got the feeling that Ronaldo was trying "too hard" to pull off something, to be a match winner?

[Afonso I of Portugal]

Anyone else got the feeling that Ronaldo was trying "too hard" to pull off something, to be a match winner?

Yes, in fact he was the only one trying to change things...in order to win the FIFA and Ballon D'Or prizes you must win titles no mater how good you are. This time he was unable to do it and so in January we will probably see Messi wining both...:inquisitive:

[Rhyfelwyr]

Yeah Ronaldo threw a bit of a tantrum last night, I thought he might even get sent off before the whistle.

[Mouzafphaerre]

Anyone else got the feeling that Ronaldo was trying "too hard" to pull off something, to be a match winner?
.
He was trying hard enough to publish himself, watching his image on the large screen and all. To be honest, save Pele the magnificent, I've yet to enjoy a Brazilian player at all. (I know, I know, he's Portuguese but categorically a Brazilian. :shrug:)
.

[Afonso I of Portugal]

Yeah Ronaldo threw a bit of a tantrum last night, I thought he might even get sent off before the whistle.

Yep! me too, but i thought the same about Puyol for diving and faking serious injury. In the end he was jumping and celebrating like a schoolboy. Fortunately the referee wasn't the same of that Chelsea match...

[Afonso I of Portugal]

.
He was trying hard enough to publish himself, watching his image on the large screen and all. To be honest, save Pele the magnificent, I've yet to enjoy a Brazilian player at all. (I know, I know, he's Portuguese but categorically a Brazilian. :shrug:)
.

No, he's 100% categorically Portuguese! like Figo, Futre, Pauleta, Carvalho, Ferreira, Vitor Baía, Rui Costa, Paulo Sousa, Simão, Quaresma, Almeida, among many others...maybe you are a bit confused about Deco and Pepe...Oh, and those twin brothers of Man Utd are both Portuguese/Brasilian...

[Jolt]

(I know, I know, he's Portuguese but categorically a Brazilian. :shrug:)
[COLOR="Wheat"]

That is odd. That makes as much sense as saying Mexes is categorically Vietnamese, Puyol is categorically Phillippean, Van der Vaart is categorically Indonesian, Totti is categorically Somali and Beckham is categorically Pakistani. :shrug:

In any case, Ronaldo was stupid as usual. He basically thinks he's the star of the world now. Would he even think of doing what he did to Puyol & co. when he had just reached Man Utd?

[Sarmatian]

That's why Messi is his granddaddy... If I were managing one of the top football clubs, I wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole... Unfortunately he's still too young (and not English enough) to go to America or Japan for huge amount of money...

[InsaneApache]

Bolton for the final next year. Watch this space.

[scotchedpommes]

Have to admit I'm quite looking forward to watching Burnley fashion additional orifices for Wigan, Blackburn and Bolton next season. The insular English press doesn't quite realise what they have at Burnley in Owen Coyle, and I've already seen some laughably mark him out as Billy Davies 2.0. He consistently drags some astonishing performances [and results] out of average players, and he was doing it at St. Johnstone before he escaped down south, too. He'd have had a top SPL job by now if it weren't for the ridiculously tedious 1 up 1 down system up here.


Bizzare (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/8062742.stm)

Only Makalambay would do such a thing. :laugh4:
You don't mind Alan Combe up at Pittodrie a couple of seasons back?
Yes, just savour the quality on show in the SPL (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trN9qqVv9qk).

[Rhyfelwyr]

You don't mind Alan Combe up at Pittodrie a couple of seasons back?
Yes, just savour the quality on show in the SPL (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trN9qqVv9qk).

:laugh4::laugh4::laugh4:

Ah, memories, thanks for that. :2thumbsup:

[Louis VI the Fat]

As it turned out, last month I had promised to take some girl out to dinner one night, as a birthday present. Trust her to have picked last Wednesday for the night out. Too late I noticed the mistake I made - Champions League final day. I begged and pleaded for the appointment to be postponed to another day. Well actually, I did not. I got to: 'there's this football match on and so perhaps maybe we cou..' when she threw one of those female tantrums: 'Football? FOOTBALL!? That's more important to you than me? What!? Are you out of your mind!? Dissing me for a football match! There's football on every night and..'
Me: 'b..but...this is the Final, not just any game..'
'You promised me! And now you say a stupid game of football is more important to you!??'

At which point I realised that this was just one of those fights a man can't win, and I caved in. ~:mecry:

So I didn't get to see the final. :furious3::furious3:


Only saw highlights of it yesterday. Slightly boring game, but worth it if only for the endless variety of sulky looks on you-know-who's face. I'm glad Barcelona won, they've played the most exciting football in Europe throughout the whole season. Man Utd were a bit dissapointing. Fergusson should've let his team get at Barca, instead of adapting so much to them.



~~-~~-~~<<o0o>>~~-~~-~~


Oh, and I just read that Madrid are preparing another bid for Ronaldo this summer!

They'll offer eight quid.

[Mouzafphaerre]

No, he's 100% categorically Portuguese! like Figo, Futre, Pauleta, Carvalho, Ferreira, Vitor Baía, Rui Costa, Paulo Sousa, Simão, Quaresma, Almeida, among many others...maybe you are a bit confused about Deco and Pepe...Oh, and those twin brothers of Man Utd are both Portuguese/Brasilian...
.
Comparing this piece of spoiled brat to Figo? No way Dom! Ronaldo is a simple Brazilian wannabe, that's all. Figo is a star, still shining as blurred as it may have become.
.

[naut]

Comparing this piece of spoiled brat to Figo? No way Dom! Ronaldo is a simple Brazilian wannabe, that's all. Figo is a star, still shining as blurred as it may have become.
Ripped from the brilliant Bloggs over at Arseblog: "Is that an Adam's Apple? Or have you swallowed the corner of a piece of furniture and been unable to dislodge it? [...] He throws tantrums that would make Elton John blush."
I'd say the last part, but it's rather offensive.

[LittleGrizzly]

Figo is probably the only one that can compare to Ronaldo... in his day...

Personality wise the best comparisons i can think of are Anelka and Barton... though perhaps a bit better than those 2...

Not too worried about Ronaldo possible move to Real... apparently Ron is signing a contract with nike, same people utd's shirts are done by, whereas real are done by addidas... don't think nike would want thier star wearing addidas

[drone]

So I didn't get to see the final. :furious3::furious3:

I guess the real question is: Did you at least get lucky? :eyebrows:

[Jolt]

As it turned out, last month I had promised to take some girl out to dinner one night, as a birthday present. Trust her to have picked last Wednesday for the night out. Too late I noticed the mistake I made - Champions League final day. I begged and pleaded for the appointment to be postponed to another day. Well actually, I did not. I got to: 'there's this football match on and so perhaps maybe we cou..' when she threw one of those female tantrums: 'Football? FOOTBALL!? That's more important to you than me? What!? Are you out of your mind!? Dissing me for a football match! There's football on every night and..'

:laugh4:

I had a similar argument. Sometimes its good to be obdurate. But then, it was the semi-final of World Cup 2006, against France. Me and her were Portuguese so... :P :daisy: Zidane actor... Should be in Hollywood with those penalties.

[Louis VI the Fat]

I guess the real question is: Did you at least get lucky? :eyebrows:I didn't even get close. :laugh4:

[Rhyfelwyr]

Personality wise the best comparisons i can think of are Anelka and Barton... though perhaps a bit better than those 2...

Cassano springs to mind, he truly is the Queen of Queens when it comes to drama...

[Sarmatian]

I didn't even get close. :laugh4:

Neither did entire team of Manchester, don't feel bad... :laugh4:

[Afonso I of Portugal]

.
Comparing this piece of spoiled brat to Figo? No way Dom! Ronaldo is a simple Brazilian wannabe, that's all. Figo is a star, still shining as blurred as it may have become.
.

Humm...:inquisitive:, that means for you FIFA, France Football and Premiership experts are dumb or also Brazilian wannabe's, how could they award him so many titles every season? for me the answer is obvious but i'm just a humble fan while you are a truly football expert...:shame::laugh4:

[Afonso I of Portugal]

Ripped from the brilliant Bloggs over at Arseblog: "Is that an Adam's Apple? Or have you swallowed the corner of a piece of furniture and been unable to dislodge it? [...] He throws tantrums that would make Elton John blush."
I'd say the last part, but it's rather offensive.

I bet that's a blog of football experts...:dizzy2::laugh4: Compare the best football player in the world with an homossexual singer is awesome...this is not offensive it's hilarious...:clown::laugh4: but i do understand that people have to download their daily frustrations...

[Sarmatian]

Is Ronaldo a member of your immediate family when you have to defend him vigorously? :dizzy2:

Just accept that some people may not like him and can make fun of him, nothing to do with anybody's "daily frustrations"...

[naut]

Neither did entire team of Manchester, don't feel bad... :laugh4:
Zing. :laugh4:

Hey, IA supposedly Joey Barfight is on his way to Bolton. Why is there still interest in that mug?!?!

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
Marketing. :coffeenews:
.

[naut]

Comon. Five minutes. Five more.

Louis is going to be very drunk tonight! ~:cheers:

[Rhyfelwyr]

Woot! Rangers have the double!

Also, check out the goal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUB6xuCgXv0) that won it!

[scotchedpommes]

Excellent quality video there, Rhy, though apologies if I fail to be too excited by Huns scraping past a pub side to claim yet another bauble.

Congrats to Les Girondins, though. Lyon's time is finally over.

Enjoy it, Louis. ~:cheers:

[Rhyfelwyr]

Excellent quality video there, Rhy, though apologies if I fail to be too excited by Huns scraping past a pub side to claim yet another bauble.

Cheer up, we got you above Falkirk in the European placements, not to mention getting you into Europe in the first place last Sunday...

[scotchedpommes]

:grin2:

Why, thank-you. But it'd probably come as little surprise that I'd rather have seen Rangers enter financial meltdown after another season out of the Uefa Cashcow than a couple of Uefa Rebrand capitulations.

[Sarmatian]

Huns scraping past a pub side to claim yet another bauble.



English, please...

[drone]

English, please...

But they are talking about Scottish football. ~;)

Huns = Glasgow Rangers
scraping past = barely beating
a pub side = an inferior opponent
to claim yet another bauble. = to win a trophy.

~D

[Banquo's Ghost]

Hearty congratulations to Louis and Les Girondins!

An extraordinary and record-breaking run to win the title, and very well deserved. Celebrate well, mon ami!

:balloon:

[Ferret]

Betis are relegated ~:mecry:

[Jolt]

Serves Ricardo right for leaving Sporting.

[Rhyfelwyr]

Anyone here got any interesting pre-season friendlies coming up?

My local team are playing Middlesbrough on 22th July IIRC.

[naut]

Anyone here got any interesting pre-season friendlies coming up?

My local team are playing Middlesbrough on 22th July IIRC.
I believe we are playing the 'Gers pre-season.

And I got my grubby hands on Wenger's Summer Shopping List:


Wine
Brie
Red grapes
Olives
Ticket to Strasbourg

Oh wait. Wrong list.

[Afonso I of Portugal]

Is Ronaldo a member of your immediate family when you have to defend him vigorously? :dizzy2:

Just accept that some people may not like him and can make fun of him, nothing to do with anybody's "daily frustrations"...

No, that's not the point Sarmatian...and i'm not his lawyer either...and if i offended anyone i apologize cause it was not my intention to offend...

[Afonso I of Portugal]

And that's it, end of the line for Luis Figo, aged 36, retired after a career full of individual and collective titles, such as U21 World Champion with Portugal, one Portuguese Cup, four Spanish Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, three Spanish Super Cups, two UEFA Champions League titles, one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, two UEFA Super Cups, one UEFA-CONMEBOL Intercontinental Cup, four Italian Serie A titles, one TIM Italian Cup and three Italian Super Cups. He has also won the 2000 Golden Ball (Ballon d'Or) award and the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year award. Figo collected 127 caps and 32 goals with the Portuguese national team (most international player). He was replaced at 43 minutes in game Internazionale - Atalanta standing and applauded for several minutes ...

[Louis VI the Fat]

Allez Bordeaux!

Champions!


https://img197.imageshack.us/img197/3288/girondins.jpg (https://img197.imageshack.us/my.php?image=girondins.jpg)

https://img197.imageshack.us/img197/6818/girondins2.jpg (https://img197.imageshack.us/my.php?image=girondins2.jpg)
:beam: Champion de Ligue 1, Coupe de la Ligue et Trophée des Champions. :beam:


https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4166/logogirondins.jpg (https://img171.imageshack.us/my.php?image=logogirondins.jpg) Girondins! Girondins! Girondins! https://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4166/logogirondins.jpg (https://img171.imageshack.us/my.php?image=logogirondins.jpg)



80000 Girondins celebrating the end of Lyonnais tyranny! Right at the heart of Bordelais pride - the monument to the Girondins. Nothing makes a Girondin happier than making revolution and overthrowing the established order.


Euphoria Bordeaux style! Wine, the hexagoal, the Girondins!


https://img216.imageshack.us/img216/3070/p1120336.jpg (https://img216.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1120336.jpg)

Marine et blanc!

https://img197.imageshack.us/img197/4237/3494799646a5938b3dca.jpg (https://img197.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3494799646a5938b3dca.jpg)

Aux armes, c'est nous les bordelais!


https://img216.imageshack.us/img216/764/p1120346.jpg (https://img216.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1120346.jpg)



The first championship since 1999. The sixth in the club's history, three of which during a glorious four-year spell in the eighties: 1950, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1999, 2009. One championship a decade seems to be the fate of Bordeaux. I'm already looking forward to 2019!

Gourcuff is staying!! He was on loan from AC Milan this year. Fans made it clear to the directors that if they wanted to stay alive, they had to sell the stadium, the city, their mother - whatever it takes to get Gourcuff to sign.

The only one more important than Gourcuff is Laurent Blanc. ~:worship:

And what a great team it is! A record 23 points from games were we went behind. Most memorable one the 3-4 triumph over Monaco, after being 3-0 down. An amazing 11 consecutive wins to get to the top of the table from a mere fifth place three months ago. Aahhh....the bliss, the bliss.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Sorry to Guus Hiddink for coming second on Saturday.

You deserved to be crowned Britain's best, Guus (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY). :embarassed:

[Subedei]

Werder won the DFB-Pokal [league cup] so we will play in the UEFA-Cup next season....YES!

I am really curious how Diego will do in Juve?!?! Anyways, goodbye Diego...a loss for the Bundesliga!

[naut]

Werder won the DFB-Pokal [league cup] so we will play in the UEFA-Cup next season....YES!
Yeh. I watched it. So tense. So many chances, especially for Leverkusen near the end. The goal was pretty lucky. Good win though.

[Subedei]

Yeh. I watched it. So tense. So many chances, especially for Leverkusen near the end. The goal was pretty lucky. Good win though.

Right, yet Werder deserve it, after the Pizarro goal was not given in the UEFA cup final. You know, as a Werder fan I am always lucky when they are able /wiling to try to "keep" a lead. "The DIVA" always likes to play either fabulous or horrible. In the DFB Pokal-final they were very "reliable" for a change.

[naut]

Bolton's own Cahill has been called up for England. Best of luck to him.

Gaz Baz has taken a step... Backwards to Man City. Enjoy not being in Europe next season!

[Sarmatian]

Werder won the DFB-Pokal [league cup] so we will play in the UEFA-Cup next season....YES!

I am really curious how Diego will do in Juve?!?! Anyways, goodbye Diego...a loss for the Bundesliga!

I'm a great fan of Diego and a great fan of Juve, so for me this is a match made in heaven!

Congrats on DFB-Pokal winning. I'm just angry that Hertha didn't get a CL spot...

[scotchedpommes]

Gaz Baz has taken a step... Backwards to Man City.
Putting an end to both a prospective career and [thankfully] the tiresome summer-long flirtations with Rafa.

Oh, and praise be to Stevie G. for being the first Englishman to call the new €h£l$k¥ puppet "An-kelotty (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8080066.stm)".

[naut]

Putting an end to both a prospective career and [thankfully] the tiresome summer-long flirtations with Rafa.
"He's an all right player but nothing special. Plus he spoke about only leaving Villa for Champions League football, instead he's followed his wallet and gone to the Burj Al Manchester. If that's the height of his ambition then away with him." - Arseblogger.

Pellegrini replaced that Spanish waiter as Madrid's manager. Interesting move, I wonder if he'll cope with the expectancy and pressure. Really hope Villareal can get someone good as a replacement, something I highly doubt.

[LittleGrizzly]

I don't know, I think you guys underestimate Mark Hughes and Man City, what Barry said about the move is there will be more chance of him playing champions league football in the next year or so. Well i don't know that Man City will qualify for the champions league i think its more likely that they do it at some point over the next two seasons than Villa...

Though that does slightly depend on if Villa are going to do some decent spending this summer...

Btw congrats to Louis and his team, 11 wins to finish the season is phenominal form!

Edit: also glad to hear about cahills call up, been hearing everywhere he's one of the best young english defenders...

[Quintus.JC]

Glad Barry's gone somewhere else. I'll echo the thoughts of others; Barry's a good, reliable but average footballer. It's insane to think Rafa wanted Barry to replace Alonso, now he's at city hopfully Alonso will be staying, the guy's world class.

Anyhow, signing Barry is a positive move for Man City. With these wealthy backers I'm starting to wonder if City can indeed become a force in the Premiership, it certainly would take time, but with the vast sum of money Hughes is getting, City can think about breaking into the top 4 inside the next 5 five years. Modern football is built on by money, and money is something that Man City has got lots of right now.

[Sarmatian]

That's true but the point is don't try to do it right away, take a couple of season and use the money to build a stable squad during that time. Unfortunately, those backers usually want results right away and want players with big reputation signed. It doesn't matter if they fit in with the rest of the team, if the coach doesn't prefer them or whatever...

[LittleGrizzly]

I think they're maybe showing thier not going crazy in the transfer market with a signing like Barry, a very good sensible signing for them, with a few more good signings i think they could break the top 4 in the next season or two...

[Mouzafphaerre]

And that's it, end of the line for Luis Figo, aged 36, retired after a career full of individual and collective titles, such as U21 World Champion with Portugal, one Portuguese Cup, four Spanish Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, three Spanish Super Cups, two UEFA Champions League titles, one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, two UEFA Super Cups, one UEFA-CONMEBOL Intercontinental Cup, four Italian Serie A titles, one TIM Italian Cup and three Italian Super Cups. He has also won the 2000 Golden Ball (Ballon d'Or) award and the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year award. Figo collected 127 caps and 32 goals with the Portuguese national team (most international player). He was replaced at 43 minutes in game Internazionale - Atalanta standing and applauded for several minutes ...
.
Well done and goodbye Figo. I hope you'll still be around. Leaving it at the summit has indeed been a better decision that going to Arabia etc.

Goodbye also Maldini and Nedved. ~:wave:

:balloon: :balloon2: :balloon3:
.

[scotchedpommes]

Just read that Dumbarton's [Rhy's team] captain Gordon Lennon was killed in a car crash yesterday. Not that I expect any of you here to know of him, but tragic all the same.

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
RIP :bow:
.

[Rhyfelwyr]

Just read that Dumbarton's [Rhy's team] captain Gordon Lennon was killed in a car crash yesterday. Not that I expect any of you here to know of him, but tragic all the same.

Indeed, I read this this morning, and was absolutedly shocked. I rushed over to the Pie and Bovril forums, and there's a big thread where fans from several clubs have commented on what a brilliant guy he was.

This is so tragic, I remember on our last home game of the season when we effectively secured the title, there were pics of him holding his baby kid, this is an absolute tragedy.

RIP Gordon Lennon, we won't forget what you did for the club. A fantastic captain, and from the sounds of it, a fantastic guy.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Sorry about that, Rhy.


Pity Figo has quit. Portugal's last truly great football superstar. https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Afonso I of Portugal]

Sorry about that, Rhy.


Pity Figo has quit. Portugal's last truly great football superstar. https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/images/icons/icon10.gif

I like your sense of humor... :yes: anyway, now talking seriously... i'm trying to change my position on ronaldo...cause someday you will think that i married him...:laugh4:

[Jolt]

I like your sense of humor... :yes: anyway, now talking seriously... i'm trying to change my position on ronaldo...cause someday you will think that i married him...:laugh4:

Portugal still on track for the WC, thanks to last minute goal by Bruno Alves against Albania.

Portugal 2-1 Albania

http://portugal.worldcupblog.org/files/2009/06/bruno_alves_090606.jpg

[Louis VI the Fat]

anyway, now talking seriously... i'm trying to change my position on ronaldo...cause someday you will think that i married him...:laugh4:The more you defend Ronaldo, the more we'll tease you about it. :beam:

But don't change your take on him, mate! We all need heroes and anti-heroes. Or what else would we have to talk about here?


Portugal still on track for the WCForza o selecção das Quinas! :portugal:

[scotchedpommes]

Portugal still on track for the WC...

Portugal 2-1 Albania
You won that? I saw the score late on and was much like the proverbial Cheshire. (http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/kingdomhearts/images/thumb/e/ea/Cheshire_Cat.jpg/250px-Cheshire_Cat.jpg) You jammy, jammy gits. You're not going to South Africa though, sorry - at least not with Queiroz at the helm.

Not swayed? Here's where I turn to dodgy patterns that conveniently apply to recent years:

Italia '90, third place kick-about:
Italy - England, England fail to qualify for USA '94.

USA '94, again third place kick-about:
Sweden - Bulgaria, Sweden fail to qualify for France '98.

France '98, you know where:
Holland - Croatia, Holland... nope, no. Was happy to watch Ireland at a tournament instead.

Korea/Japan 2002, I think you're getting the idea:
South Korea - Toikey, where were you and yours in 2006, LEN?! Not enjoying the company of your ex-pat womenfolk in Hamburg, that's for sure.

Germany 2006, yawn:
Germany - Portugal ...who looks safe? :grin2:


Get the beers in, lads, because you'll be on home soil... just like me.

[InsaneApache]

Breaking news.

Newcastle still relegated.

I'm sorry but everytime I remember that I burst into laughter. :o)

[Afonso I of Portugal]

The more you defend Ronaldo, the more we'll tease you about it. :beam:

But don't change your take on him, mate! We all need heroes and anti-heroes. Or what else would we have to talk about here?

Forza o selecção das Quinas! :portugal:

Agreed Louis...and the more you'll tease me about it, the more i will defend him :beam:

[Afonso I of Portugal]

You won that? I saw the score late on and was much like the proverbial Cheshire. (http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/kingdomhearts/images/thumb/e/ea/Cheshire_Cat.jpg/250px-Cheshire_Cat.jpg) You jammy, jammy gits. You're not going to South Africa though, sorry - at least not with Queiroz at the helm.

Yes! i know that! and thats why i'm asking for Queiroz exit since the beginning...this time it was lucky as we beat the Albanians in injury time in a terrible mistake from the Albanian goalkeeper.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMsGVLK45nA

[scotchedpommes]

Depressing fare.

Now, I know it's early days and the picture may well be set to change come Wednesday night, but I've already turned a bloodshot eye to the second-placed rankings that will determine which teams enter the dreaded play-offs from the groups. [Desperately grasping for something amidst the tedium offered by interminable transfer 'dramas' and impending mickey mouse international tournaments (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederations_Cup_2009), aye.]

Current standings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(UEFA)#Ranking_of_second-placed_teams) for second-placed teams:


France
Bosnia-Hercegovina
Russia
Hungary
Switzerland
Oireland
Norn Iron
Scotland
Croatia [Currently not entering the play-offs.]



Maintaining my own footballing sanity looks to be dependent on the result of a trip to Oslo on the 16th of August. There's no margin for error anymore. All being well, I'll have a crushing play-off defeat to look forward to, ideally against Toikey or France. Though, let's be honest, we all know France would be a couple of 1-0 wins in the bag.

[naut]

Play-offs against Switzerland might be preferable. It'd be amazing to see Norn Iron in the WC!

Hey, Edyz and Dutch_guy what's Vermaelen like? I've only seen him once, and that was PSV's thumping 6 - 2 win... So my first impressions are that he's not very good whatsoever.

[Afonso I of Portugal]

Kaka sign for Real Madrid and according Madrid's president...Ronaldo is the next one...:yes:

[Jolt]

Queiroz is an excellent manager. While I still have doubts that we will qualify, provided that we should, we shall win the cup. Provided that Queiroz has a full month to bend the team together, according to his tactical principals, Portugal will crush everyone. I already said to my friends that if Portugal qualify, I'ma betting some 50€ in bwin that Portugal will win. The major problem is qualifying when all the teams play against us with 11 players behind the ball line, coupled with the fact that we have no decent forward. If there's anything I disagree with Queiroz is his insistence in fielding Hugo Almeida. That guy's practically an opposing defender. And Ronaldo when he suffers a foul, staying where he is and repositioning at the pace of walking pisses me off beyond this world. Furthermore Portugal has suffered some 8 or more unsignalled penalties in this qualifying run. Penalties which would give us quite some more points than we have right now. Stupid referees looking over atrocious challanges to Ronaldo, for instance.

[Afonso I of Portugal]

Scolari went to coach Buniodkor at Uzbequistan...:laugh4:

[Ferret]

The England U21s won 7-0 at my local stadium last night, despite playing our third choice keeper up front. To be fair we were only playing Azerbaijian though :P

[scotchedpommes]

Play-offs against Switzerland might be preferable. It'd be amazing to see Norn Iron in the WC!
Hm. A lesser Swiss side took Toikey down in play-offs for Germany, [just find it hard to look past national sides that survive a second leg in Istanbul, albeit with a 4-2 loss] and they have a decent midfield. That said, the glaringly obvious counter to that is that they had an inexplicable home loss to Luxembourg, without which they'd probably be top of what is to my mind the weakest qualification group outside of ours.

Right now Hungary looks the best bet for a survivable play-off in my book, but it'll be touch and go with results as to whether they'll fall away from second place - they've done well so far to be in contention. Would love to see both Irish teams at the tournament, of course. With any luck a couple of the home nations will face each other in the play-offs so one will be guaranteed.

[Jolt]

Right now Hungary looks the best bet for a survivable play-off in my book, but it'll be touch and go with results as to whether they'll fall away from second place - they've done well so far to be in contention. Would love to see both Irish teams at the tournament, of course. With any luck a couple of the home nations will face each other in the play-offs so one will be guaranteed.

The major problem for them is that they are only 4 points forward from Portugal, and they still have to play both games against us.

[naut]

Holy crap. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PwpSFDbCZY)

Edit: Maradona's a rubbish manager.

[Sarmatian]

We've just extended our lead in group 7 to 8 points, although France has two more games to play and potentially to narrow the gap to two points.

One very lucky 1-0 win against Austria at home and 2-0 away at Faroe Islands.
This new Austria under new manager is really good, they deserved at least a draw on Saturday in Belgrade. They were better prepared both mentally and physically than Serbia, but they were inferior technically.

Faroe Islands are definitely no longer the opponent against whom you improve goal difference. No one scored than two goals against them in an away match. Tough nut to crack, they park the bus in front of the goal and can be very dangerous with their counter attacks.

This puts great pressure on France to win their next two games, against Faroes and Romania. I'm hoping our Romanian neighbours can make it difficult for them in France, I still think Romania has been unlucky and that France and Romania are two best teams in group 7, but in all probability winner of the group 7 will be decided in the 8th match, when Serbia and France play in Belgrade...

Group 1 is estremely interesting, with Denmark, Sweden, Hungary and Portugal and Russia's win against Finland means that they're just a point behind group leaders Germany in Group 4.

I'm a bit disappointed with Croatia, I've expected them to battle it out with England for the number 1 position but they're 10 points behind, although they do have a game in hand.

[naut]

Russia's win against Finland means that they're just a point behind group leaders Germany in Group 4.

I'm a bit disappointed with Croatia, I've expected them to battle it out with England for the number 1 position but they're 10 points behind, although they do have a game in hand.
Russia and England, both are doing well because Hiddink and Cappello are football geniuses.

[InsaneApache]

Aye it about now, with England languishing in mid-table mediocrity, that we find ourselves in a situation where we have to beat San Marino one nil and instead come away with a draw and out of the competition.

Still we just managed to scrape through last night against a familiar footy giant. :o)

[naut]

Bye Bye Ronaldo! Finally I'll never be forced to sit through a match or highlights show with him in it! So much for Red Nose not being willing to even ''sell that mob a virus''. And despite Real having both Kaka and Ronaldo I don't see them closing the gap in both La Liga or Europe. They seem to forget that football is a team sport.

IA this article (http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8746_5368998,00.html) might interest you then. (By a Northerner to boot).

[LittleGrizzly]

Real Madrid seem to forget that defence is a very important part of your team... i suppose it isn't as exciting to sign some defender though...

Can't say im distraught to lose Ronaldo, he's extremely talented and probably the best in the business at the moment, his attitude could be a little annoying though... though i don't really mind defending his honour against hordes of jealous opposition fans, i shall continue to do so but now he doesn't play for the hated club i don't think ill have to hear too many complaints...

I think it will work out as good business in the medium to long term. Fergie is a master in the transfer market, when we sold beckham for 24 mill (roughly) we bought ronaldo for 12.5 i just await to see what brilliant signings fergie will make will all this cash...

I see United players winning more than Ronaldo next year, at least outside of individual awards...

[scotchedpommes]

Real Madrid seem to forget that defence is a very important part of your team... i suppose it isn't as exciting to sign some defender though...
Would very much doubt Pérez is done spending yet. They've still to move onto the midfield, [Alonso, for one] and then the defence will come after the marquee signings have made enough of a marketing impact. If nothing else, Pellegrini will surely see to that.

[Afonso I of Portugal]

...hordes of jealous opposition fans...

I know what you mean LittleGrizzly...:laugh4:

But at last i can scream...Yesssss!!! the best club for the best player!!! next week i will buy my season tickets...as with Kaká and Ronaldo it's showtime for sure... HALLA MADRID!

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
Good Lord! Who the hell let Andorra play against England?! They were literally ruined. The whole game went on in the Andorran semi-field with 3 goals per period for England. Even a bunch of more talented neighbourhood amateurs wouldn't let Coutch's goal to happen but I was nevertheless amazed by the performances of Johnson and Beckham, even in that little more than training match. :applause:
.

[Sarmatian]

Real Madrid seem to forget that defence is a very important part of your team... i suppose it isn't as exciting to sign some defender though...

Can't say im distraught to lose Ronaldo, he's extremely talented and probably the best in the business at the moment, his attitude could be a little annoying though... though i don't really mind defending his honour against hordes of jealous opposition fans, i shall continue to do so but now he doesn't play for the hated club i don't think ill have to hear too many complaints...

I think it will work out as good business in the medium to long term. Fergie is a master in the transfer market, when we sold beckham for 24 mill (roughly) we bought ronaldo for 12.5 i just await to see what brilliant signings fergie will make will all this cash...

I see United players winning more than Ronaldo next year, at least outside of individual awards...

They don't have to do well. It's Real Madrid, whenever they sign a big name player they get it back from merchandising and sponsors. That's how it was with Ronaldo (Brazilian one), Beckham, Zidane and I don't doubt it'll be the same with Kaka and Christiano... All they have to do to keep making money is to play in CL every year and I don't see that not happening.

By the way, there's rumour here that Vidic might be leaving Man Utd this summer for Real or Barca. Heard anything about that?

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
I haven't.
.

[johnhughthom]

.
Good Lord! Who the hell let Andorra play against England?! They were literally raped. The whole game went on in the Andorran semi-field with 3 goals per period for England. Even a bunch of more talented neighbourhood amateurs wouldn't let Coutch's goal to happen but I was nevertheless amazed by the performances of Johnson and Beckham, even in that little more than training match. :applause:
.

I thought England looked poor for most of the match despite the margin of victory, what is the point in nations like that playing? Most "minnows" (the Faroes, Malta, Liechtenstein etc) are getting better, Andorra produced probably the worst international display I have ever seen (and I went to all the Northern Ireland home games during their record breaking run without scoring). Johnson was excellent, but then he didn't exactly have any defending to do.
There have been rumours about Vidic going for a while now, don't believe it will happen.

[edyzmedieval]

I can't wait to see Real Madrid flop again. They didn't learn the first time, they won't learn this time. Kaka's finesse and class will never go hand in hand with the clown called Cristiano.

Waste of money. They could have donated the money to the charities instead.

[LittleGrizzly]

By the way, there's rumour here that Vidic might be leaving Man Utd this summer for Real or Barca. Heard anything about that?

I have heard mention of it.... don't really see it happening. Just this season Vidic has really come into his own, the fans voted him player of the year and he seems to be really enjoying himself at Utd. I think he would only go if he wasn't playing or fergie wanted him out... both are which are not going to happen. Fergie will do anything to keep Vidic there as he's the star of our defence, and he seems happy where he is....

Clown called Cristiano?!

That clown called Cristiano is one of the most naturally gifted footballers around... whilst i agree with your post mostly i certaintly can't see how CR would harm Real...

Would very much doubt Pérez is done spending yet. They've still to move onto the midfield, [Alonso, for one] and then the defence will come after the marquee signings have made enough of a marketing impact. If nothing else, Pellegrini will surely see to that.

Well i remember in the last Perez era they were happy to let someone like Makelele go rather than match his wages with the exciting attacking players, if Pellegrini will ensure the same doesn't happen fair enough but i do think Real's defence will be thier weak point...

And i half expect some unexciting english team without a bunch of galactico's in attack will embaress them again..

[scotchedpommes]

They could have donated the money to the charities instead.
:grin2:

Carefully avoiding more explicit, obvious [and well overused] throw-away statements re: politics or history... this is Real Madrid we're talking about.


i do think Real's defence will be thier weak point...
Aye, that may well be the case [especially considering how strong their attack and midfield should be] - but given just how easily their defence was torn apart even when only lacking that mentalist tube Pepe, it'd be ludicrous for them not to make significant defensive signings. As for ventures over here, their new staff won't have missed the game at Anfield, I suspect. Though I'd think a fair bit of the foundations of that mauling lay simply in fundamental flaws in the La Liga attitude towards refereeing "physicality" in the game. I'd suppose you know what I mean, but just to elaborate: you brush past a player with a feather in Spain, he clearly expects a foul or at least to have all the game stop for him. This was evident in the first goal, though what followed was patently more just a standard pathetic collapse on Real's part.

[Afonso I of Portugal]

I can't wait to see Real Madrid flop again. They didn't learn the first time, they won't learn this time. Kaka's finesse and class will never go hand in hand with the clown called Cristiano.

Waste of money. They could have donated the money to the charities instead.

Like i said LittleGrizzly...i know what you mean...LOL

Well, i don't want them to learn also, cause first "Galacticos" won 2 Champions League, 1 European cup, 1 Intercontinental cup, 3 Spanish Leagues and 2 Spanish supercups...HALLA MADRID!!!

[Louis VI the Fat]

first "Galacticos" won 2 Champions League, 1 European cup, 1 Intercontinental cup, 3 Spanish Leagues and 2 Spanish supercups...HALLA MADRID!!!I hear that a lot, even in the serious football press. It is unfortunately a myth.

The Galactico era started in July 2000, when Pérez took over. The Galacticos only won 1 Champions League and two Spanish Leagues. The other trophies were won before 2000.

The policy of buying Galacticos was, in fact, detrimental to the succes of Madrid. I think we will witness the same thing all over again. Too many egos, too many attacking players, players that don't complement each other, a disregard for defensive players.

Madrid should've bought a manager with personality, one who can resist Pérez. Pérez runs Real Madrid the way a twelve year old plays Football Manager: 'if one Kaka is good, then three, five, eleven Kakas surely must be even better'.

[naut]

It appears Eboue is actually useful:

https://i42.tinypic.com/2cyskk0.jpg

Somali Pirate Outboard Motor.

[Jolt]

I hear that a lot, even in the serious football press. It is unfortunately a myth.

The Galactico era started in July 2000, when Pérez took over. The Galacticos only won 1 Champions League and two Spanish Leagues. The other trophies were won before 2000.

The policy of buying Galacticos was, in fact, detrimental to the succes of Madrid. I think we will witness the same thing all over again. Too many egos, too many attacking players, players that don't complement each other, a disregard for defensive players.

Madrid should've bought a manager with personality, one who can resist Pérez. Pérez runs Real Madrid the way a twelve year old plays Football Manager: 'if one Kaka is good, then three, five, eleven Kakas surely must be even better'.

Cristianos Ronaldos are better but I don't haz enuff mony 4 dem!1!. :'( *Goes to GameFaqs to try and find a way of getting more money*

[johnhughthom]

Great Confederations Cup game on at the minute, Brazil 3-3 Egypt. Egypt scored twice in the last two minutes. 35 minutes left, it's on live on the BBC website (might have to be in UK to watch).

[scotchedpommes]

I just saw that result. Brazil won it in the 91st minute.
Having watched the [dire] opening match and missed all of the goals in a non-contest second, I thought naaaah this one couldnae be anything decent. 'course I was neglecting the very real fact that Egypt had been good to watch at the Cup of Nations and Brazil is having a renaissance, albeit under Dunga.

Typical.

[Scurvy]

Not impressed by the Egyptian player pretending to hurt his head after the handball, even less impressed by the way he argued about it for so long after he was caught.

Good game though :2thumbsup:

[scotchedpommes]

Not impressed by the Egyptian player pretending to hurt his head after the handball, even less impressed by the way he argued about it for so long after he was caught.

Good game though :2thumbsup:
Indeed. Egypt are set to appeal against the penalty awarded by the fourth official, their reasoning being that using video evidence is still not sanctioned by Fifa's buffet lunch committees. [even though we all know this was used against Zidane on the biggest football stage of all.]

Other than that in mickey mouse football, Italy were outplayed for much of the first half by a numerically inferior US side that should have been 3-0 instead of 1-0 up - but for some absolutely woeful decision-making by their strikers. [Though the Americans had little hope of holding on in the second half with 10 men.] That aside, I suppose it was fitting that the American Italian, Rossi, scored two decent goals to finish them off.

[Marshal Murat]

When I watch American soccer (I refuse to say futbol :clown: ) I always, in the back of my mind, hope that we lose so bad and so often that we'll give up this soccer nonsense.

I watched the last half of the match, and chuckled when the Italian player jumped onto Donovan to get a ball, they both collapsed, and then lay there for what seemed like a minute trying to appeal to the referees' sense of fair play.

[scotchedpommes]

(I refuse to say futbol :clown: )
Not being a Spanophone myself, I would too. But you can always call it football. ~;)

[I thought the refereeing was inconsistent at best throughout that match. The incident you refer to would have been given as a foul were it outside the box, but the official clearly bottled it when faced with the possibility of having to award a second penalty.]

[Sarmatian]

I watched the last half of the match, and chuckled when the Italian player jumped onto Donovan to get a ball, they both collapsed, and then lay there for what seemed like a minute trying to appeal to the referees' sense of fair play.

Contrary to American version of rugby (I refuse to say football :smash:) where there's 20 seconds of action then back to big, burly, not overly bright men touching and hugging each other for a minute or two before it starts all over again?

Kidding (mostly :laugh4:), too each his own I guess...

[Marshal Murat]

In reference to my objection, I found this video on Youtube, the match recorded by videocamera from ESPN: USA v. Italy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3NQl7gxkc)

If you would fast-forward to 7:27, you see an Italian player jump to hit a ball, go all over Donovan, and then they both collapse as if their strings were cut. :thumbsdown:

[Jolt]

And people say only Portugal fakes things like that.

[Quintus.JC]

The Galactico era started in July 2000, when Pérez took over. The Galacticos only won 1 Champions League and two Spanish Leagues. The other trophies were won before 2000.

The policy of buying Galacticos was, in fact, detrimental to the succes of Madrid. I think we will witness the same thing all over again. Too many egos, too many attacking players, players that don't complement each other, a disregard for defensive players.

Madrid should've bought a manager with personality, one who can resist Pérez. Pérez runs Real Madrid the way a twelve year old plays Football Manager: 'if one Kaka is good, then three, five, eleven Kakas surely must be even better'.

Perez is running the team like he's trying to make a real life fantasy team, while the idea is good, it would never work in real life. Personally I never forgave Perez for the comments he made about Makelele, and really after Makelele's departure the Glacticos team just fell apart and never won a trophy since. Just Kaka and Ronaldo almost certainly won't benefit the team as much as players such as Mascherano and Alonzo would.

[Louis VI the Fat]

In reference to my objection, I found this video on Youtube, the match recorded by videocamera from ESPN: USA v. Italy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3NQl7gxkc)

If you would fast-forward to 7:27, you see an Italian player jump to hit a ball, go all over Donovan, and then they both collapse as if their strings were cut. :thumbsdown:Bah. That spaghetti is simply using a rugby tackle on Donovan. I bet the mark from his knees can still be seen on Donovan's back. A clear yellow card and a penalty. Alas, that Italian was performing some amazing comedia dell'arte to confuse the ref.

It's a bit reminiscent of the Italy-US game from the 2006 World Cup. In fact, I think I have seen similar antics some other time as well....
Where was it again? Ahhh, that's right. We've seen it before during the Azurri's previous six hundred matches.

~:mad :daisy:https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/images/icons/icon8.gif:furious3::tnt: :furious3:https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/images/icons/icon8.gif:furious3:https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/images/icons/icon8.gif macaronis :daisy::soapbox::daisy: spaghettis https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/images/icons/icon8.gif:furious3:https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/images/icons/icon8.gif:furious3::tnt: :furious3:https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/images/icons/icon8.gif:daisy:~:mad


'You perhaps a wee bit frustrated about Italian football then, Louis?'

No! Gah! That's what my psychiatrists says too! But it's not true. I only long for divine justice. :bigcry:

[scotchedpommes]

I know it's trivial, I've never been able to stomach much about Italian football - feelings exacerbated particularly following [b]this incident (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXHCbIBEhc0). Add that to Calciopoli (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calciopoli), the game against Australia (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS5yLSynG2g), the World Cup final, and the crushing pain of that ridiculously poor decision and last minute goal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQVpYvP4toc) at Hampden... and I feel the love.

:balloon2:

[Memories of this beautiful Scandinavian collaboration (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov2OeN7jibE) at Euro 2004 don't really do enough to balance it out, for me.]

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
What are your ideas on Egypt vs. Brazil? Especially in the second half they were pressing hard and running around. It can't be just Brazil in a bad day ha?
.

[naut]

the game against Australia (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS5yLSynG2g)
I love this one. The outrage from the press here was amazing.

[scotchedpommes]

I love this one. The outrage from the press here was amazing.
Hm. Well, footballing injustice can only niggle me more when perpetrated by Italians.

In other exciting news, North Korea have somehow got their hands on a ticket to the party in Zuid-Afrika. It'll be their first appearance at the tournament since 196EnglandEnglandEnglandEnglandEnglandEngland. [Also, in the Axis of Love, Iran have failed to qualify.]

Add to that that the aforementioned Land Down Under (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNT7uZf7lew) apparently won their new two game play-off with Japan. Would've attempted to find a way to watch this, but contrived to miss it completely thanks to timezones, ignorance, and this rehearsal of crucial importance distracting my football brain.


.
What are your ideas on Egypt vs. Brazil? Especially in the second half they were pressing hard and running around. It can't be just Brazil in a bad day ha?
.
Reserving judgement on Brazil till they tangle with the big boys in a real tournament - or at least until after I've seen how well they deal with a capable and spirited US side.

[Jolt]

In a time of massive transfers, this one is clearly one of the most hillarious failed transfers ever. From Porto to AC Milan. The player in question is French Left-Full Back, Aly Cissokho.


Rome - AC Milan have given up hope of signing French defender Aly Cissokho from Porto due to unsatisfactory medical tests, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported Thursday.

The Serie A giants tried to renegotiate the deal with the Portuguese champions after tests revealed a dental problem that Milan believed could affect the player's posture.

Milan, who had originally agreed to pay Porto 15 million euros (21 million dollars), tried to obtain a switch to a loan deal.

'Unfortunately, Porto's request for a loan contract is too high,' Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said. 'The transfer of Aly Cissokho has been called off.'

Cissokho, 21, was to sign a five-year contract worth 1 million euros (1.4 million dollars) per season. He would have been Milan's first signing after the departure of Brazil star Kaka for Real Madrid.

12 months ago, Cissokho was playing in the Second French Division, and could only ever play or see AC Milan in front of his PES or Fifa. His impressive rise to the top was done only in a year, where he was about to play for AC Milan, only to have the entire transfer called off thanks to a dental problem. xD

[PBI]

Interesting to see that none other than North Korea (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8107875.stm) have qualified for the World Cup finals.

What odds do you think I'd get on a North Korea/South Korea final?

[Sarmatian]

Interesting to see that none other than North Korea (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8107875.stm) have qualified for the World Cup finals.

What odds do you think I'd get on a North Korea/South Korea final?

I'm willing to give you 1000:1, but there's 1000 euros minimum bet...

[Afonso I of Portugal]

Hm. Well, footballing injustice can only niggle me more when perpetrated by Italians.

I don't like the Italians either but talking about injustice and outrage it cames to my mind South Korea's 2002 WC 4th place...against Italy and Spain...FIFA's finger?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4iW8pDnft8&feature=related

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
What are your ideas on Egypt vs. Brazil? Especially in the second half they were pressing hard and running around. It can't be just Brazil in a bad day ha?
.
.
Once again. Was it just the too much unlucky Italy plus the overperforming Egyptian goal keeper? Something more considerable might be happening, don't you think?
.

[scotchedpommes]

.
Once again. Was it just the too much unlucky Italy plus the overperforming Egyptian goal keeper? Something more considerable might be happening, don't you think?
.
Not really - at least not what I'd think of as considerable, if we're talking of major shifts in footballing power. I take into account a number of clear points: Brazil have been particularly shaky and generally uninspiring under Dunga. They've been described as 'functional', and scoring freely hasn't been a habit of this particular side up until now. Italy are a side that [I won't go so far as to say rarely deserve to win but] we know are renowned for grinding out results without playing to their apparent full potential - they didn't do enough, and just as with so many Italian club sides, the squad could do with rejuvenation.

Egypt were perfectly capable of tearing into reasonably strong teams in the Cup of Nations, so their attacking capability isn't too surprising. That they managed to hold on was slightly more so.

[naut]

"Milan president Silvio Berlusconi announced that [the club] have made a mistake and will not be signing Cissokho. When reading the player's bio, the officials misread his year of birth (1987) as 1978, which would make him eligible of joining the Milan youth team. Berlusconi later admitted that they tried to cover up for this mistake."
Hehe

[Louis VI the Fat]

.Egypt

Something more considerable might be happening, don't you think?
.I haven't really been following the Confederation Cup. But you know what they say: Once is lucky. Twice is quality.

The North African teams are strong. Seemingly forever getting stronger. So are their players - just take a look at the French competition.
God forbid they ever solve their infrastructural problems, or we'll all be in trouble...

[Rhyfelwyr]

And then Egypt implode. I have to say, I've not seen a group like that, I had both the matches running off the BBC website, thrilling stuff. I was hoping Egypt would go through due to them being underdogs, as I hadn't even considered the USA at the start. But once they got that second goal, I just couldn't help myself from wanting them to get that third.

[drone]

:laugh4:

Who would have thought the US could make up a 5 goal differential? It would have been better if this had been a WC group, but we'll take what we can get. Too bad, so sad, for the Italians. :clown:

[naut]

Oh wow. Well played USA.

I really like this Brazil side though, it has excellent balance and depth. Melo and to a lesser extent Gilberto really give them a platform to play off of.

Brazil - Spain final? My mouth is watering at the prospect!

[scotchedpommes]

Thank you Brazil. And thank you, USA.

Too bad, so sad, for the Italians. :clown:
When those second and third US goals went in, I celebrated like an American.

Let it be known that Clint Dempsey is a beautiful man, in my book. One can only hope he too had the presence of mind to oh-so-manfully scream "arrivederci!" mid-euphoria.

[naut]

That silly Biker Benitez just threw money out the window for a player he doesn't need. Did he throw a tantrum and use his Barry money on the first English sounding name he heard? :laugh4:

[LittleGrizzly]

Q: If a champions league qaulifying club wins the league club, do the runners up get the UEFA spot ?

Its for FM 2007...

[scotchedpommes]

Q: If a champions league qaulifying club wins the league club, do the runners up get the UEFA spot ?

Its for FM 2007...
Assuming you meant League Cup, and were referring to the English variant, the European place would be added to those awarded through league position. That's to say, no, the League Cup runner-up does not automatically enter Europe.

[LittleGrizzly]

oops, yeah cup not club and English variant... thanks.. and damn...

[Proletariat]

I'm not used to the USA team giving us here anything to root for, but nice job today, knocking off Spain and her 35 game unbeaten streak.

:2thumbsup:

[Jolt]

Just learned of the fact that the USA beat SPAIN...HAHAHAHAHAHA, how can they even call themselves champion from now on?

[Sarmatian]

Someone at UEFA should take away their title. They''ve disgraced European football!!!

And now seriously, USA isn't that bad, they can field 11 decent players. They were lucky, Spain lacked that lethal touch, not much more to it...

[scotchedpommes]

The US deserve the credit they'll get. They soaked up ridiculous amounts of pressure, and yes, [cliché alert] they took their chances when they had to. Some excellent, albeit certainly desperate defending in there. Clark had an immense block - and I feel as if I'm americanising the game already by singling out such a thing, but it really was vital.