I will probably be banned for this but... Footie Thread

[Parabolica]

And another thing.

It's alright being a fancy-foot, Kick-a-ball Carlos but where would he be on a cold wet Tuesday night in February against Barnsley, eh?

Barcelona? They don't know their born.

Unlike Alf "the Hoof" Thwackthwaite. Now there were a player. How he didn't play for a better team than The White Swan I'll never know.

Now he was hard. Not like these Fall Over Babies of today. He once played an entire second half despite his spleen having left him for another man.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

I have watched Barca for the very last time. I get bored as they are just too strong for the Liga...

I always thought La Liga had real strength in depth but then the other week Swansea went to Valencia and won 3-0 so now I'm not so sure.

[Storm]

Just a note on that...Valencia had less spanish players than Swansea the other night..Not to mention that most of the really good Valencia players leave every season, this being no exception. Laudrup isn't your usual Premier League coach either, having made his bones in La Liga (as a player and coach both)

But I do get you, Valencia and Sevilla are very weak this year.
This season atleast Atletico Madrid is showing that they aren't going to roll over for Real&Barca but the real acid test is the Madrid derbi this week.

[pino]

United-WBA 1-2 :eek:

[donKey jote]

United-WBA 1-2 :eek:

United clearly need Mourinho :devil: :andrea:

[donKey jote]

I always thought La Liga had real strength in depth but then the other week Swansea went to Valencia and won 3-0 so now I'm not so sure.

I always though ManU had real strength but then the other day WBA (who? :p ) went and won 1-2 so now I'm not so sure. :p :devil: :andrea:

[steveaki13]

Damn Leo injured again. :mad:

What a goal though. :eek:

[steveaki13]

Said Goalhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsYiCorwT3A

[Parabolica]

Nigel Clough getting sacked is harsh, I feel.

[pino]

RMA 0-1 ATM :D

[steveaki13]

Good news. However Atletico have no form in Liga matches v Real do they? i.e haven't won for 20 games in Liga.

Mind you time to change it now.

[donKey jote]

RMA 0-1 ATM :D

damn! where's that Bale chap when you need him ? :andrea: :devil:

[pino]

Diego Lopez deserved a red card for that kick !!!

[donKey jote]

how the hell did Atlético not score again just now ? :dozey:

[donKey jote]

bejaysus now they hit the crossbar ! :mad:

[donKey jote]

San Courtois :eek: :crazy:

[pino]

Crap Real defense is a joke, yet Atletico doesn't want to score another goal :crazy:

[donKey jote]

http://i46.tinypic.com/hv9ul3.gif all the same :D

[steveaki13]

OMG................................... Atletico Win.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Man United lose at home again, this time to West Brom :\

[race aficionado]

I like Atlético Madrid.
They beat Real Madrid!

[odykas]

Atletico deserved more! :eek: :D

[Storm]

Atleti managed to lose every derbi even with strikers like Forlan, Aguero, Torres and Falcao... Finally they did it with Villa :D

Diego Costa is a dirty player (I missed this game but I know him!) but who better to counter Pepe? :grenade:

[pino]

Mancini has signed a contract with Galatasaray :eek:

[odykas]

Maybe he likes kebabs :burp:

[donKey jote]

Atleti managed to lose every derbi even with strikers like Forlan, Aguero, Torres and Falcao... Finally they did it with Villa :D

Diego Costa is a dirty player (I missed this game but I know him!) but who better to counter Pepe? :grenade:

^^^like :D

[Donney]

What a great colchonero feeling I have at the moment... :D

[gadjo_dilo]

:eek:
Steaua - Chelsea 0-4
:(

[steveaki13]

Shame.

I didn't see the game, how did you play? Was it deserved?

Good win for Chelsea though and Arsenal did well.

Barcelona done good too winning at a tough Celtic Park although they seemed to lack an edge without Messi.

[gadjo_dilo]

Shame.

I didn't see the game, how did you play? Was it deserved?

.
The score tells it all. When you get 4 you can't blame it on bad luck.:devil:
Liked Nicusor Stanciu, a real revelation for me.

Anyway,a chance for me to see Mou here. He's really a sweet guy....Love his Portuguese accent :heart: :heart:


P.S. Fair to say I missed the first half cos I felt asleep.:p

[Mintexmemory]

First time at the Emirates Stadium this season and what a great performance - the best since Barca in 2011. The whole team were fantastic and the atmosphere wonderful. Mesut Ozil has given us back our mojo, a bargain buy at 42M.
Napoli's fans in the ground were amazingly noisy and never gave up on their singing despite their team being outclassed. Less impressive were the 30 or so ultras who before the match walked past at least 6 pubs full of guys who'd have been pleased to 'entertain' them before attacking diners in the Piebury Corner restaurant. Really macho!

[steveaki13]

Bayern Munich. Just wow.

Barca and Leo will beat them this year though. Even without any defenders

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Man Utd didn't lose a football game!!!! :eek:

1-1 against Shakhter Donetsk

[steveaki13]

hoorah.

[pino]

Another crap performance by Juve, only 2-2 vs Galatasaray. Oh well at least City were humiliated at home by Bayern 1-3 :eek:

[Storm]

Mancini came to bite you, did he? ;)

[donKey jote]

stoopid Levante :dozey:

[Storm]

Elche too. but they were robbed. silly international break again.

[donKey jote]

looks like Florentino may have purchased a dud... I guess that's what happens when the player has his medical after signing :crazy:

[odykas]

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQVA-tqRHVTdO4LFOkCwhlhQhi4W2OY6WGg-dxnjTg4MwowjLF1kQ

[Rollo]

ENG-ER-LAND, ENG-ER-LAND, ENG-ER-LAND...
2-0 looked... er... adequate. There wasn't anything particularly stellar about that result but nothing particularly terrible about it either.

Meanwhile in down under land, the Australian press is ripping itself to pieces in guessing who the replacement for Holger Osieck will be. Apparently they're under the illusion that Australia isn't a minnow on the world stage.

[pino]

Italy only played 2-2 vs Armenia :mad: we might not be among the top seeded now :(

[Storm]

Italia tend to do well when they are under-rated and with their backs against the wall rather than being favourites.
1994 and 2006.

[steveaki13]

Phew. Glad to see us (England) make it, I love a World Cup and despite how well or poorly we will do in Brazil I still want to be there.

I don't understand FIFA at the best of times, but how Colombia and Switzerland are top seeds? Ahead of Netherlands and Italy.

[race aficionado]

Donks - (and Spain connoisseurs)
Spain has a lot of options in the front.
Who would you choose?
There are many individual options as well as many combinations that are possible.
A lot of talent . . . here is where the coach makes those "succeed or fail miserable" decisions.
That Álvaro Negredo really wants it.
I'm not sure who to choose (and what do I know!)

[Storm]

Negredo is in good form and Soldado is another good option.
Torres is past it and Villa seems to be injured too often. But he still will go to the WCup.
For me if they play 3 upfront it should be - Silva/Mata, Pedro/Navas and Negredo/Soldado

this is a crucial week...Barca v Milan (Arsenal v Dortmund also looks appealing this time) and then the clasico next saturday!
Time for Neymar to stand up and be counted (he's been playing well enough, time to score a few too)

[odykas]

donKey, I have nothing to do with what happened as I am still on vacation in my beautiful Sanremo ;-)

This explains why teams from Central / South Italy do so well ;) :p:

[pino]

Shut up ody :mad:

[donKey jote]

Negredo is in good form and Soldado is another good option.
Torres is past it and Villa seems to be injured too often. But he still will go to the WCup.
For me if they play 3 upfront it should be - Silva/Mata, Pedro/Navas and Negredo/Soldado


and Diego Costa :dork: :D :devil:

[race aficionado]

Negredo is in good form and Soldado is another good option.
Torres is past it and Villa seems to be injured too often. But he still will go to the WCup.
For me if they play 3 upfront it should be - Silva/Mata, Pedro/Navas and Negredo/Soldado


and Diego Costa :dork: :D :devil:

Diego Costa can stay with Brazil if they want him.

[Mintexmemory]

Should be a fantastic atmosphere at the Emirates tonight - Expect the BvB guys to be far better behaved than the Napoli thugs (and just as loud in the ground)! C'mon you Gunners.

[Storm]

Juve idiots...and CR7 celebrating in his cocky style again :erm:

[pino]

Juve idiots why ? Without a crap referee and that piece of shit of Ronaldo which costed a red card to Chiellini we could at least get a point. Juve played very well and I was pride of them !!!

[Storm]

I know they played really well to get the goal back and dominated for a while...but giving away that penalty (a bit like the Madrid v Elche). But also giving away the goal so quickly in the first half. :\ I was hoping that a team will fight against Real in the CL (after the surrender of Galatasaray etc) and thought Juve might be the one....well I guess it will have to be Barça this weekend ;)

[donKey jote]

holy bejaysus Barça are hanging on by the skin of their teeth atm :eek:

cr7 isn't awarded a penalty and Empaná slams it into the crossbar :uhoh:

[donKey jote]

BEAUTY Alexis :D :D :D :bananas: :bananas: :bananas: :bananas: :bananas:

[donKey jote]

and CR7 throws a hissy fit :andrea:

[donKey jote]

Real get one at last at 90+1...
2 minutes to go !

[donKey jote]

phew :D :D :andrea:

[steveaki13]

Leo Messi looked poor, I think all these injuries are getting to him.

Anyway glad they got the win.

[Storm]

yeah he looked a bit tired.
I think the clasico win was the high point of the weekend after another snoozefest in Noida (not just the race but the result)
Neymar came good finally and Alexis...just wow. When he got the pass, I shouted out...yeah I know you are quick so getting past the defender is no problem,
the problem is when it comes to finish it off...and he surprised me (and many others)...that took balls.

[odykas]

Alexis http://i46.tinypic.com/hv9ul3.gif

[steveaki13]

Solid win for Barca.

Nice to see Leo playing well tonight, but that goalkeeper was determined to not let him score. 4 or 5 good efforts saved. Fair Play to him.

[Storm]

I was too tired to watch this late nighter and so slept ....but still caught a few mins (when I had woken up for my nightly job of "warm/feed the milk to the One Who Cannot Be Denied'). Good to see different players scoring goals and taking the load off Leo.

[donKey jote]

Negredo is in good form and Soldado is another good option.
Torres is past it and Villa seems to be injured too often. But he still will go to the WCup.
For me if they play 3 upfront it should be - Silva/Mata, Pedro/Navas and Negredo/Soldado


and Diego Costa :dork: :D :devil:

http://www.marca.com/2013/10/29/futbol/ ... 64090.html (http://www.marca.com/2013/10/29/futbol/seleccion/1383064090.html)

[Storm]

yeah saw that too :\

[pino]

Diego Costa playing for Spain , means that Spain will play one man down many times ;)

[odykas]

Or more than one in case Arbeloa is also in :devil:

[donKey jote]

Is Busquets also playing? :dork:

[pino]

Roma, 10th win on row ! :eek: going to be very difficult for my Juve to catch them :(

[Storm]

yeah but can they maintain this dream start? Being away from CL is helping them too.

[pino]

That's why I said it will be difficult to catch them ;)

[steveaki13]

That is an amazing start from Roma.

Amazing that in Spain they have shuffled Copa del Rey matches to a weekend soon and now Barcelona are playing tonight and their 3rd game in 6 days.

[Storm]

quite silly that they played last sat, then again on tuesday and then on a friday!
Alexis again :o

[odykas]

Newcastle - TSO : 2 - 0 :D

[Mintexmemory]

Arsenal - still top - 5 points clear :D :D

[anfield5]

Arsenal - still top - 5 points clear :D :D

Oi! There is no need for that kind of talk (even if it is true and they deserved a 2 nil win) :D

[Rollo]

Roma, 10th win on row ! :eek: going to be very difficult for my Juve to catch them :(

Wha? :mark:

The Old Lady is only 3 points down after 11 matches. 3 points is hardly what you'd call a difficult target to catch.
In England, the uncatchable margin is 12 points. No team has gone 12 points behind and won the title, 3 is nothing.
Probably Fiorentina should kiss their hopes goodbye and at this stage, Lazio and below should absolutely do so.

[pino]

3 down now after Juve won at Parma and Roma only managed 1 point vs Torino :D

[555-04Q2]

Arsenal - still top - 5 points clear :D :D

Nice to see the gunners actually firing for a change! Been a tough few years lately for then.

[anfield5]

Arsenal - still top - 5 points clear :D :D

Nice to see the gunners actually firing for a change! Been a tough few years lately for then.

And we are looking forward to those days again very soon. :)

[steveaki13]

My local team Chelmsford City just lost 2-1 to bottom side last week and Saturday lost 0-6 at home to 3rd bottom. We are know 2nd bottom.

Its going to be a long hard season.

[Rollo]

Arsenal - still top - 5 points clear :D :D

Nice to see the gunners actually firing for a change! Been a tough few years lately for then.

Oh tish... 's been 23 years since Liverpool last won the title. Margaret Thatcher was still Prime Minister, BSkyB wasn't even invented and Madonna was Voguing it up.

Arsene Wenger was probably playing with chips in Monaco at the time.

[555-04Q2]

Arsenal - still top - 5 points clear :D :D

Nice to see the gunners actually firing for a change! Been a tough few years lately for then.

Oh tish... 's been 23 years since Liverpool last won the title. Margaret Thatcher was still Prime Minister, BSkyB wasn't even invented and Madonna was Voguing it up.

Arsene Wenger was probably playing with chips in Monaco at the time.

:laugh: True, it has been a while since they won the league, amazing how teams can go from totally dominant for decades to nowhere really for decades :shock:

[pino]

Crucial match for Juve tonight?, we must defeat RealM, won't be easy. Hopefully Webb will be a fair referee...

[Rollo]

:laugh: True, it has been a while since they won the league, amazing how teams can go from totally dominant for decades to nowhere really for decades :shock:

Though to be fair, the five year ban from European football imposed by Thatcher's Government in English clubs and the ten year ban imposed specifically on Liverpool (though in the end not fully enforced), probably helped to put the course of English football well and truly into the dustbin for a while.
With no Europe to aim for, Liverpool did win the double in 1986, nearly did so in 1988 and had the double stitched up all the way until 137 seconds before the end of the 1988/89 season when Michael Thomas scored in my opinion, the single most important goal in the entire of English domestic football ever.

That single goal, after the terrible events of April that year, brought football back into the civilised world and at the same time did more to convince what would be companies like BSkyB that there was a lot more money waiting to be untapped. That goal I think probably helped more than any other, convince the rights sorts of people to set up the Premier League and possibly lay the template for the Champions League in it current form.

[odykas]

Forza Juve!

2 - 2 :eek:

[pino]

2-2 only :( but Juve played a great match, and could score 3 goals in the first half, if wasn't for Casillas amazing saves :eek: We now need two wins to go through...we will do that ! ;)

https://vine.co/v/hjlJ2bqBJln

[Mintexmemory]

Angela Merkel, DJ Otze, Claudia Schiffer, Otto Von Bismark, Michael Schumacher - Can you hear me Michael? Your boys took vun helluva beating!

[Storm]

For all the talk of the goal drought of Messi...scored 2 again. Milan is his bunny rabbit now.

[odykas]

Juventus vs Napoli tonight :eek:

[pino]

Juventus vs Napoli tonight :eek:

It will be an exciting fight, especially after Roma played 1-1 at home. So who wins will only be 1 point behind :D

[odykas]

ManU - Arse-nal : 1 - 0 :burp:

[odykas]

3 - 0 :eek:

pino is on booze :p:

[pino]

Yeeeees ! That was a great performance !!! :bounce:

[Storm]

So Llorente is suddenly on form and playing? (= scoring!)
Told you, the Roma thing was too good to be true...Sassualo huh?

Messi injured (again! same muscle problems in thigh)..I hope he stays away for a month or two and comes back stronger...forget the 'pichichi' as Ronaldo has got htat stitched up anyways. Neymar will step up (like last night 4-0 vs Betis)

[odykas]

Never heard of Sassualo until yesterday :dozey:

[pino]

Name is Sassuolo...that's why ;)

[Storm]

still who? Lecce, Livorno, Chievo, Atalanta, Catania are the minnows I know :p:

[odykas]

+ Crotone, thanks to Juve :p:

[gadjo_dilo]

:bigcry: ;(
Congrats Odykas.......

[steveaki13]

:bigcry: ;(
Congrats Odykas.......

Bad Luck.

You did get an away goal though. You never know

[odykas]

It's not over yet g/d.

Greece have been consistently bad this year, with the exception of Friday's match.
So anything can happen.

[steveaki13]

The world cup is taking shape.

[Storm]

It's not over yet g/d.

Greece have been consistently bad this year, with the exception of Friday's match.
So anything can happen.
bah, doesn't matter

Go Hellas :D


sorry gadjo, although Hagi was one of my favourites back in the day!

[gadjo_dilo]

It’s OK with me since I consider Greece my second homecountry :p
Problem is that none of these two deserve to go to a World Cup.
Don’t know who’s playing more boring than the other. Probably us since we are the only team in the world to whom Greece managed to score more than 1 goal.....:laugh:

[odykas]

Don’t know who’s playing more boring than the other. Probably us since we are the only team in the world to whom Greece managed to score more than 1 goal.....:laugh:

Unfortunately, this is true :laugh:

[Storm]

euro 2004, boring or not. :up: ;)

[steveaki13]

euro 2004, boring or not. :up: ;)

I still shake my head everytime I think back to that tournament. I still just cant believe it happen.

[Storm]

Greece made it.
CR7 with a hat-trick put Portugal in the Cup as well...I watched some of the first half but was too late to continue. Is this the first time he has truly excelled in a crunch game for his country?

Now Valdes and Xavi are injured - atleast for this week-end and possibly more.

[Mintexmemory]

Tottenham Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! That is all...

[odykas]

Roma - Cagliari : 0 - 0 :dozey:

[Storm]

told you, pino was unduly afraid....even Napoli seem to be losing the plot now.

[pino]

I love to be proved I am wrong :p:

[odykas]

I hope you are not near Torino :p:

Juventus - København @ 8:45 PM CET

[Storm]

First loss for Barca under Martino....I guess a good time to lose if ever there is one, as they are assured of 1st spot unless they lose the last game as well.
Similar to last season though when they lost to Celtic in the CL group phase...hopefully not a similar result in CL like last year.

[steveaki13]

Its all up to Messi. ;)

[odykas]

Juve won at last!

Now a draw against Galata should be sufficient.

[Storm]

Its all up to Messi. ;)
which it should not be :(
Alexis seemed to be doing well but wasn't playing this game...Neymar played ok, but no goals.

[pino]

I hope you are not near Torino :p:

Juventus - København @ 8:45 PM CET

No I am not in Torino, just Sanremo and watched the match at the local Juventus Club :D

Btw shame on Barca for losing to Ajax :down:

[donKey jote]

balls :dozey:

Barca are going to lose...
oh well, at least it's the lions

[steveaki13]

It shouldn't be so, but I'll say it again.

Leo is 60% of Barca at this point. He is so good he carries what should be a great team anyway.

[odykas]

Juve now 3 points ahead of Roma.

Time for some kebabs :dozey:

[Storm]

2 in a row..a wakeup call if ever one was needed.. Atleti are a serious threat as are Real who are now only 3 behind!
They need to buy players in the winter - a central defender, a proper #9 who can come in and score goals when needed. Also play the good players who are already there...Tello, Cuenca, Pedro - what is the deal with these guys?

[odykas]

Defence is an uknown word @ Barca :evil:

[steveaki13]

Just watched Luiz Suarez score 4 goals v Norwich.

Not just 4 goals. 4 Brilliant Goals.

He has moved up to 3rd best in the world in my book in the last 2 seasons added to his form for Uruguay

[gadjo_dilo]

Just watched Luiz Suarez score 4 goals v Norwich.

Not just 4 goals. 4 Brilliant Goals.

He has moved up to 3rd best in the world in my book in the last 2 seasons added to his form for Uruguay
Liverpool rulz!!!!!!!! :D

[odykas]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/04/22/article-2312577-196D0CD8000005DC-374_306x423.jpg

[odykas]

Here are the World Cup groups:

http://www.sport24.gr/incoming/article2538875.ece/BINARY/original/image.jpg

I'm not so pleased to start the tournament against my friend Race.



5 14/06 13:00 Belo Horizonte Colombia - Greece


On the other hand, not the best piece of luck for pino's boys :rolleyes:

[pino]

ody, Uruguay and especially England should fear us, not the other way ;)

[Rollo]

LOL Australia... it's screwed.
Australia is the lowest ranked team in the tournament and faces both finalists from 2010 and Chile which is ranked 9 in the world.

I'm going to suggest that Australia could leak as many as 20 goals in the tournament and score nil. If it gets even a point, I will be very surprised.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Interesting draw. Group D has 7 World Cup wins between the teams.

The best England can hope for against Italy is a draw.

Uruguay have Cavani and Suarez but also have a very slow defence so they might struggle against Sturridge, Walcott and Townsend. Could be a goal fest

The Costa Rica game is the only one I'd expect England to win. But I think Italy and Uruguay will progress from the group.

[Rollo]

LOL Australia... it's screwed.
Australia is the lowest ranked team in the tournament

Eejit!
Cameroon is ranked 59 whilst Australia is 57.
I still think that it's pretty obscene that CONMEBOL has 60% of its members in the tournament whilst the AFC with 43 members and CAF with 53 are afforded less spots.

Aside: Actually I think that the West Indies should field a combined team for the World Cup like they do for cricket. They might stand a better chance of being at tournaments proper.

[steveaki13]

Not what Footballs about though.

In Football there tends to be less combination teams than in Cricket.


As for the draw. I am happy with it. I wanted England to be in a group of death. The last two world cups we have been in "Easy" groups to progress through and we have but its been tedious.

I am looking forward to being 3rd fav's for the group and seeing if we can get out the group.

I think England v Italy in the Jungle could well be a draw. Then against Uruguay they will be more suited to South America, so a draw would be a very good result and leave us a game against Costa Rica to win.

By the way I have seen Costa Rica play a few games this last 12 months and they wont be as easy as people expect. They play good football and if we are sluggish they could punish us.

Uruguay to win the group and probably Italy to claim second. It might just come down to how many we beat Costa Rica by.

As for others, I love that Brazil will play Chile, Netherlands or Spain (or Australia) in the second round. That could be a big shock.

As for Australia they have been poor compared to recent years. Losing to Romania (sorry Gadjo), Japan and China. Then getting smashed 6-0 by Brazil and France.
I don't see them getting any points in Group B. Its gonna be a 2-0/3-1 loss to Chile, 4-0ish to either Netherlands or Spain or both.

[Storm]

Nice draw for France again :\

Italy needs tough spots to get the fire burning again.

[harsha]

don't see England progressing to the next round.

[steveaki13]

Nice draw for France again :\

Italy needs tough spots to get the fire burning again.

Depends what France turns up. The France that could make the Semi Finals or the France list 2010 that cannot even get out of this easy group.

[pino]

Crucial match for Juve tonight in Istanbul vs Galatasaray. We need a point or it's goodbye CL :s

[odykas]

Juve are taking hockey lessons :p:

[Storm]

ice hockey
Olympiakos in knock-outs :up: ...after a long time!

[pino]

So the battle will continue today, and I will be in front of my TV for sure. Forza Juve !!! :D

[odykas]

balls :dozey:

[pino]

Gala 1- Juve 0 Bye bye CL :(

[odykas]

I blame the bad performances in previous matches.

Today Juve were better than Galata.

[pino]

I agree ody, but that's football !

[odykas]

6 - 1 :dozey:

Poor Celtic.

[pino]

Napoli also out, eventhough they beat Arsenal 2-0, and ended on same point as them and Borussia D. What a disaster for ital football :s

[Storm]

^Milan are through but will probably meet Real or Man U or Bayern and get their butt kicked.
and Neymar hat-trick :D

Arsenal will be kicking themselves that they could not draw or win. Now they will face one of Barca, Real, PSG, Atletico and Bayern :p: Should be a good game!

[janneppi]

Gala 1- Juve 0 Bye bye CL :(
I watched the end of the second leg of the game yesterday when I got home from work. The football field looked like a field. :)
I can't help to think that it was a deliberate move by the home team to push the snow away with a tractor the Juve's offensive side. Especially when the other side was in much better shape. :)

[pino]

janeppi mate, Juve can only blame themselves, a Team that cannot beat FCK away and Galatasaray at home, doesn't deserve to go to 1/8 final, sad but true :(

[odykas]

I think Napoli deserved more but they didn't believe in themselves :s

[harsha]

Liverpool Masterclass.

[pino]

Bye bye Villas-Boas me think, meanwhile in Italy, 8 win on row for Juve ! :D

[Rollo]

Liverpool FIVE?! - Spurs 0

I was going to watch the replay on telly tonight but I accidentally found out the score. Five?! I think that this (if I do the maths right) should be Liverpool back into second and only 2 points adrift of Arsenal. I also think that that should be circa 39 goals, which would mean the second best attacking figures in the league.

Still, I've seen Liverpool seasons collapse from here... again and again and again...

[harsha]

Liverpool have a tough few matches with both Chelsea and Manchester City away. But I'm confident in Brendan Rogers and the attacking play he's brought to Liverpool.

[A FONDO]

https://twitter.com/uefacorruption

[odykas]

meanwhile in Italy, 8 win on row for Juve ! :D

True, but in CL the best they can get is a PS4 :dog:

[harsha]

Bye bye Villas-Boas me think, meanwhile in Italy, 8 win on row for Juve ! :D

wait till pogba is poached.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Bye bye Villas-Boas me think, meanwhile in Italy, 8 win on row for Juve ! :D

wait till pogba is poached.

Why did Man Utd get rid of Pogba? They are desperate for some quality in midfield.

[pino]

Pogba won't stay at Juve longer, too many rich Club wish to sign him, starting from PSG who has already offered 40 mil euro. Juve cannot refuse so much money, especially when they got him on a free transfer from United :crazy:

[harsha]

Bye bye Villas-Boas me think, meanwhile in Italy, 8 win on row for Juve ! :D

wait till pogba is poached.

Why did Man Utd get rid of Pogba? They are desperate for some quality in midfield.

LOL, Ask Fergie that question. He let Raval Morrisson and Paul Pogba go & Moyes's got to deal with the midfield he has currently

[odykas]

Pogba is overrated imho.

[pino]

ody, you know nothing about football :p:

[odykas]

Now I know one thing: that I know nothing

[odykas]

RIP Eusébio :(

[steveaki13]

Yes. Very sad news. Football has lost a legend.

[Storm]

Eusebio, one of the all time greats indeed..and perhaps one of the most affable of the lot.

Anybody else loving the fact that the Theatre of Dreams is turning into the Theater of Screams?

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Anybody else loving the fact that the Theatre of Dreams is turning into the Theater of Screams?

:( Not funny! The sad truth is that apart from Rooney and Van Persie the United squad is at best average. And Moyes is an average manager who seems like he isn't someone who can attract good signings.

England will be without Theo Walcott at the World Cup as he is now out for 6 months. Disappointing.

[Rollo]

Anybody else loving the fact that the Theatre of Dreams is turning into the Theater of Screams?

Some good things do come out of Manchester though... like the M62 and the River Mersey... and the train to Euston. :D

Ah yes...
There are certain people they are markers. If they start to move, I’ll know something’s up like rats deserting a sinking ship.
- Sherlock

[pino]

Juve-Roma 3-0 and I was in Turin, watching live ! :D

[donKey jote]

^like :D

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Ronaldo wins the Ballon d'or.

Cried like a girl, just like when he won the Champions League.

[Storm]

He was desperate enough for the 2nd Ball...perhaps now he will stop crying? :D

[odykas]

...perhaps now he will stop crying? :D

Impossible.

[pino]

Hopefully this will be his last one ;)

[anfield5]

I hate the very idea of a World player of the year, it is a totally meaningless award. In the last four years, out of the 12 nominees 11 have either played for Madrid or Barcalona. Granted these two clubs do tend to try and ruin world football by taking all of the perceived best players, but really...

Is a player like Steven Gerrard or Yaya Toure etc less worthy, their only negative points are that they don't play for Madrid or Barca.

The other problem with this is only strikers or attacking mid-fielders get a look in, what about holding mid field player defenders and god forbid, goal keepers being honored?

Until there is an objectivity in this useless trinket it will be an annual joke that will have absolutely no relavence to real football.

....OK rant is over :D

[Rollo]

The other problem with this is only strikers or attacking mid-fielders get a look in, what about holding mid field player defenders and god forbid, goal keepers being honored?

I tend to agree with you here are the only players who have ever won this who fit that description are Lothar Matthäus and Fabio Cannavaro.


Until there is an objectivity in this useless trinket it will be an annual joke that will have absolutely no relavence to real football.
....OK rant is over :D

There can't by definition be any objectivity in this trinket; if there was, the only winner ever would be Martin Skrtel.
Martin Skrtel did in fact build Rome in a day, he was once in a knife fight and the knife lost and Red Bull is actually his urine in a can.
You can't give Martin Skrtel awards, it's simply not fair on every other player in the world.

[anfield5]

The other problem with this is only strikers or attacking mid-fielders get a look in, what about holding mid field player defenders and god forbid, goal keepers being honored?

I tend to agree with you here are the only players who have ever won this who fit that description are Lothar Matthäus and Fabio Cannavaro.


Until there is an objectivity in this useless trinket it will be an annual joke that will have absolutely no relavence to real football.
....OK rant is over :D

There can't by definition be any objectivity in this trinket; if there was, the only winner ever would be Martin Skrtel.
Martin Skrtel did in fact build Rome in a day, he was once in a knife fight and the knife lost and Red Bull is actually his urine in a can.
You can't give Martin Skrtel awards, it's simply not fair on every other player in the world.

Is there something we need to know about you and Mr Skrtel?

That is the very problem, where journos vote, many of them will vote for their pets, while the voting is like this, the winner cannot be called the best footballer in the world, they are merely 'teachers pet'

[Rollo]

Peter Crouch is so tall because Skrtel once playfully chucked him in the jaw. Peter Crouch used to be 5'4" tall.

Red Cards are red because a referee once tried to give Skrtel a yellow card. It turned red with the blood of that referee.

Americans watched Skrtel playing football once. He kicked the ball so hard that it turned into prolate spheroid?. This is why the American Football is shaped the way it is. The Americans also naturally confused Skrtel's awesome defense with regular football. This is why American Football is so violent.

Martin Skrtel has been to Mars. Thats why there's no life on Mars.

Martin Skrtel could strangle you with a cordless phone.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Shame that Skrtel is only an average defender then. :p

[pino]

Who's this Skryel ? :p:

[anfield5]

Who's this Skryel ? :p:

As Jon said, he is an average defender - don't you listen Pino?

[pino]

Never mind...meanwhile 12th win on row for my Juve ! :D

[Storm]

told you Roma won't last that long....
Atleti, meanwhile are still hanging in there and could have gone top last night but drew just after Barca were also held 1-1 vs Levante...tough game with 10 ppl defending ALL the time in their own half and some good saves by the keeper too

Martino went all out with his subs, in the end 4 upfront - Dongou who is just 18 or something and apparently is the next Eto'o (who Man U fans love eh?)

Real are now just 1 pt behind FCB and Atletico... :skull:

[steveaki13]

I watched Levante v Barca. That pitch seemed so small no one could find a meter to run into.

Actually a terrible game. One team defending with 10 and one with no space to play.

[odykas]

Never mind...meanwhile 12th win on row for my Juve ! :D

But not in Coppa Italia :p:

[pino]

ody, we don't care about Coppa Italia, that's why we played with 2nd choice players, still we scored a goal but strangely it was disallowed by the referee...never mind ! ;)

[Alexamateo]

You know, watching Adnan Januzaj in the penalty shootout for Manchester United yesterday, I think he's going to opt for England for his international career. :p

[Rollo]

Can someone tell me why if there was suppposed to be zero minutes of added time in extra time, why Javier Hernández scored in the 121st minute? Is this yet another case of mysterious time being added on because the match was at Old Trafford?

[Storm]

Is there no away goals rule for the carling or whatever it is called cup now? (since they were up 1-0 after 90min wasn't it?)
Not that I care as long as Man Utd lose :p: - but I am feeling a bit sorry for them thesedays (shock!) and actually even hoping that Arsenal do not throw it away (!!)

[Alexamateo]

There was an away goals rule,but only after extra time had been completed. If Manchester United had won 1-0, they would have advanced, as it was, the score was 2-1 in both games so they were tied on aggregate and away goals.

Watching the game I didn't get the feeling the whistle should have blown, Sunderland had scored, and there had been some bookings, so there was going to be some added time regardless.

[steveaki13]

Wow. I cant see anyone stopping Manchester City in the Prem this season. So many Goals

They look all powerful. Would not be surprised if they did a triple in England. Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup.

Europe will obviously be tough, but its on. If they can beat Barca in the next round then there is a real opportunity.

As for Spain, wow that top 3 are close. Real Madrid are looking a bit scary now.

[odykas]

RIP Luis Aragonés :(

[pino]

Barca down 2-3 to Valencia, 2 min left...

[steveaki13]

Well that was rubbish. Barca as a whole played poorly and although Messi was as dangerous as anyone he is really not playing as well as he has. Although he is setting up more than scoring recently..

Sadly advantage Real Madrid

[steveaki13]

WTF is going on at Anfield???????????

Liverpool 5-0 up after 55 minutes. :eek:

[pino]

5-1 now :p:

[steveaki13]

I would have said the comeback was on, but only 1 minute left. :p

[odykas]

5 - 1 :laugh: :D

[gadjo_dilo]

I'm so happy...... I love Liverpool.

[anfield5]

It was 5 -1 but in all honesty it could have been 7 in the first 20 minutes, and Suarez didn't score. I could barely believe what I was watching.

[Rollo]

It was 5 -1 but in all honesty it could have been 7 in the first 20 minutes, and Suarez didn't score. I could barely believe what I was watching.

Suarez should have scored because of the "Goalscorers Names Begin With S" rule.

Skrtel, Sterling, Sturridge... Cissokho? No! Go away.

[Storm]

"Messi is good, but how would he cope on a cold February night at Stoke?" This or some variation is heard so often on tv talks (partlyin jest, partly in envy and sometimes by those deluded people who think Rooney is on the same level as Messi or CR7)

They might do well to catch some of last night's highlights...

In a blizzard in Sevilla, 2 of the best goals you can see on a pitch which was more a swimming pool than a football pitch..
Sevilla played well too, although the Barca defence showed once again how bad things will get once Valdes leaves :(

[harsha]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BgDd1ngIcAANAHR.jpg:large

Have to post this , more epic than the Liverpool - Arsenal match

[steveaki13]

"Messi is good, but how would he cope on a cold February night at Stoke?" This or some variation is heard so often on tv talks (partlyin jest, partly in envy and sometimes by those deluded people who think Rooney is on the same level as Messi or CR7)

They might do well to catch some of last night's highlights...

In a blizzard in Sevilla, 2 of the best goals you can see on a pitch which was more a swimming pool than a football pitch..
Sevilla played well too, although the Barca defence showed once again how bad things will get once Valdes leaves :(

This.

If CR7 can perform in England & Spain and Negrado can perform in England and Spain.

Then why would Messi not be able too. :confused: :confused:

If he played for Man City he would be scoring plenty of goals.

[steveaki13]

Anyone watching Manchester City v Barcelona tonight? Should be a cracking game and tie.

I have to say, I think Man City will win the tie. However if Leo puts in one of those super human displays

such as
Barcelona 4-1 Arsenal - Messi 4 Goals
Barcelona 7-1 Leverkusen - Messi 5 Goals
Barcelona 4-0 Ac Milan - Messi - First 2 goals
Real Madrid 0-2 Messi - Messi 2 Goals

all in Champions League when Barca needed him.

If he plays like he can, he will turn the tie by himself.

[Storm]

^ you bet I am watching (seems like we are crossing paths on most threads today)

Man City seem to be in top form and of course Barca defensively is crap this year (as has been the case for last couple of years) against top teams or teams with a lot of pace, but don't rule us out yet.
I think Barca are clicking into gear at the right time for a change rather than getting all tired and frustrated in mid feb/march. Perhaps that injuries to Messi and Neymar will benefit Barcelona (and Arg/Brasil) in the long term by keeping them fresh and hungry. That Sevilla game must have given all the impetus needed to Leo and Neymar got a fantastic goal at the weekend after being on for only a few mins. Iniesta has been good since his return too.

ManCity might win tonight but I think an away goal is on the cards atleast. Also Pellegrini has never had it good against Barca.
where the hell is donkey?

[steveaki13]

I think Barca are weak at the back, but actually are stronger than last season. If that makes any sense.

Manchester City have left the grass to grow very long. Its up to ankles in some pictures I saw. Just to stop Barca playing. (Although cant be worse than the waterlogged Sevilla game)

A bit sad when they tell us they can match Barca toe to toe.

[pino]

Go Barca !!!

[odykas]

I'm watching @ online stream.

Stupid pay tv :evil:

[pino]

Watching on Danish tv ;)

[pino]

Messi 1-0 :D

[odykas]

Barca is mediocre though

[pino]

I agree ody, although with a man down, City's playing better now :s

[odykas]

Meanwhile, Leverkuzen is beeing punished by PSG: 0 - 4 :dozey:

[pino]

CL over for City !

[steveaki13]

I know people are moaning about how poor Barca were all over the place.

However they still won 0-2 away to City.

I think Messi played almost a defensive game today. He came even deeper than normal and was in his own half a lot.

Maybe with the wide Camp Nou pitch and the grass shorter they will play better.

[Storm]

I think they played well enough for an away game...the commentry was harping on how they haven't won away matches in England and in general for the last few yrs in the knockouts....patient posession game which basically kept ManCity attackers out of their own game and then when the oppourtunities came as they had to they took it. A mature and smart performance if not a typical slick one. I sort of think though that having Pedro on might have caused even more problems.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Was is a penalty?

Looked like me that contact first happened just outside the box.

Rash challenge anyway.

[Mintexmemory]

Was is a penalty?

Looked like me that contact first happened just outside the box.

Rash challenge anyway.

The tackle was clearly outside of the box, both players slid on into the box but the foul had already occurred - poor linesman error but then I didn't hear Pellegrino crying that Arsenal should have had a penalty and had a perfectly good goal disallowed in the 6-3 game at the Etihad. In much the same way that the Liverpool tirade against Howard Webb overlooks the numerous times Gerrard, Suarez and (before them) Michael Owen have managed to hoodwink the ref. What goes around, comes around.
Which brings me to the hope that the Gunners don't wait to be 3 goals down before they start playing against BM tonight.

[steveaki13]

It was a rash challenge and by modern rules it was a Red Card.

As for the Penalty debate.

It depends I have heard some people saying the first contact was outside so its a FK.

Then I have heard some say the foul started outside, but the illegal contact continued knocking Messi off balance inside the area, so it could be deemed as a FK & Pen and that the Ref was entitled to give either.

I am not sure what the official rules say. Is it when a foul starts or is it where the foul finishes?

[Mintexmemory]

It was a rash challenge and by modern rules it was a Red Card.

As for the Penalty debate.

It depends I have heard some people saying the first contact was outside so its a FK.

Then I have heard some say the foul started outside, but the illegal contact continued knocking Messi off balance inside the area, so it could be deemed as a FK & Pen and that the Ref was entitled to give either.

I am not sure what the official rules say. Is it when a foul starts or is it where the foul finishes?


The foul occurs when illegal contact is made, not where the bodies end up. The slowmo clearly shows Messi also started to fall outside the area, but of course the linesman (nor his guide dog) could probably not detect that in real time :)
So the correct decision should have been FK and red card.

[steveaki13]

Devils advocate here. I know its not where he falls.

Before Messi fell they crossed the line into the area, the defenders legs were still making continued contact with his legs. So say its a 3 second period of contact before Messi falls, which part of the 3 seconds is the foul given for. The contact starts outside, but 2.5 or 3 seconds later the defender was still as much in contact but now the had travelled into the area. Then once inside Messi finally fell to the floor.

[odykas]

It's hard to believe that I'm writing this but...... Go Arsenal! :p:

[odykas]

Stupid Ozil :s

Edit:
Stupid Keeper :s
Stupid Alaba :p:

[pino]

Once again an English side with a man down, referee fault again ? :s

[steveaki13]

I get fed up with football.

Why are the rules like they are??????

Fair enough give a penalty, but how does that really deserve to be a red card and ruin the game. It was a foul, but apart from that it wasn't dangerous or major.

Don't quote the last man rule because I know that, but its rubbish. Red Cards were introduced to stop dangerous tackles. Now you get one for the smallest contact. The punishment of a penalty should be enough.

If its a dangerous or cynical foul (like a knee high two footer or pulling someone down then fair enough), but to send Goalkeepers off for brushing Robbens leg is stupid.

I also think Goalkeepers also get to much protection. They have the advantage of using their hands and yet they get a freekick if someone goes near them.

Football in 10 years will be just an American Football style stop every 20 seconds when 2 players brush and have a set play.

While Football back in the day was too hard. (kicking any skilful player). I believe its gone too far the other way now.

Tackles should be allowed as long as its a honest attempt to get the ball. If it is dangerous or cynical as I said send them off, but ruling out tackling from the side and back when they just poke the ball away and people say its dangerous is stupid.

I play at a local level and you get loads of tackles that would be instant yellows at the top level. However I have never been injured by a tackle from behind? So why is it dangerous for top athletes?

Its just pandering to God knows what, so we're stuck with people on TV and in FIFA saying "That's a clear penalty because there was contact". WTF Penalties should be if you literally cant have a decent attempt. Yet one brush of a sock and players fall down when in on goal and have a chance to score.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...... Its becoming like Basketball (no contact)

Another thing which annoys me. A player gives away 3 minor fouls and gets booked and so another 1 or 2 and he could be SENT OFF, without doing anything that's dangerous. "Persistent" fouling should not be a yellow card unless its blatant cynical fouling. The punishment for small fouls is mean't to be that you get a "Free" kick of the ball.

Basically FIFA in trying to make the game "better" according to them, are ruining loads of games with soft sendings off.

Right Rant over, but I hate the way football is going

[pino]

Steve, I almost agree with everything you said, especially about the red card, stupid rule indeed ! :down:

[odykas]

I agree that red card is too much for this kind of challenges.

+1 steve

[pino]

Bye Arsenal, bye Milan...

[steveaki13]

Good ties for the away teams this week.

0-2, 0-4, 0-2, 0-1

[Brown, Jon Brow]

I get fed up with football.

Why are the rules like they are??????

Fair enough give a penalty, but how does that really deserve to be a red card and ruin the game. It was a foul, but apart from that it wasn't dangerous or major.

Don't quote the last man rule because I know that, but its rubbish. Red Cards were introduced to stop dangerous tackles. Now you get one for the smallest contact. The punishment of a penalty should be enough.

If its a dangerous or cynical foul (like a knee high two footer or pulling someone down then fair enough), but to send Goalkeepers off for brushing Robbens leg is stupid.

I also think Goalkeepers also get to much protection. They have the advantage of using their hands and yet they get a freekick if someone goes near them.

Football in 10 years will be just an American Football style stop every 20 seconds when 2 players brush and have a set play.

While Football back in the day was too hard. (kicking any skilful player). I believe its gone too far the other way now.

Tackles should be allowed as long as its a honest attempt to get the ball. If it is dangerous or cynical as I said send them off, but ruling out tackling from the side and back when they just poke the ball away and people say its dangerous is stupid.

I play at a local level and you get loads of tackles that would be instant yellows at the top level. However I have never been injured by a tackle from behind? So why is it dangerous for top athletes?

Its just pandering to God knows what, so we're stuck with people on TV and in FIFA saying "That's a clear penalty because there was contact". WTF Penalties should be if you literally cant have a decent attempt. Yet one brush of a sock and players fall down when in on goal and have a chance to score.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...... Its becoming like Basketball (no contact)

Another thing which annoys me. A player gives away 3 minor fouls and gets booked and so another 1 or 2 and he could be SENT OFF, without doing anything that's dangerous. "Persistent" fouling should not be a yellow card unless its blatant cynical fouling. The punishment for small fouls is mean't to be that you get a "Free" kick of the ball.

Basically FIFA in trying to make the game "better" according to them, are ruining loads of games with soft sendings off.

Right Rant over, but I hate the way football is going

Yep. I agree with you. I honestly think that both Messi and Robben could have stayed on their feet if they had to, but because they felt contact they both knew that they would win a penalty and get the defender a red card.

[anfield5]

I get fed up with football.

Why are the rules like they are??????

Fair enough give a penalty, but how does that really deserve to be a red card and ruin the game. It was a foul, but apart from that it wasn't dangerous or major.

Don't quote the last man rule because I know that, but its rubbish. Red Cards were introduced to stop dangerous tackles. Now you get one for the smallest contact. The punishment of a penalty should be enough.

If its a dangerous or cynical foul (like a knee high two footer or pulling someone down then fair enough), but to send Goalkeepers off for brushing Robbens leg is stupid.

I also think Goalkeepers also get to much protection. They have the advantage of using their hands and yet they get a freekick if someone goes near them.

Football in 10 years will be just an American Football style stop every 20 seconds when 2 players brush and have a set play.

While Football back in the day was too hard. (kicking any skilful player). I believe its gone too far the other way now.

Tackles should be allowed as long as its a honest attempt to get the ball. If it is dangerous or cynical as I said send them off, but ruling out tackling from the side and back when they just poke the ball away and people say its dangerous is stupid.

I play at a local level and you get loads of tackles that would be instant yellows at the top level. However I have never been injured by a tackle from behind? So why is it dangerous for top athletes?

Its just pandering to God knows what, so we're stuck with people on TV and in FIFA saying "That's a clear penalty because there was contact". WTF Penalties should be if you literally cant have a decent attempt. Yet one brush of a sock and players fall down when in on goal and have a chance to score.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...... Its becoming like Basketball (no contact)

Another thing which annoys me. A player gives away 3 minor fouls and gets booked and so another 1 or 2 and he could be SENT OFF, without doing anything that's dangerous. "Persistent" fouling should not be a yellow card unless its blatant cynical fouling. The punishment for small fouls is mean't to be that you get a "Free" kick of the ball.

Basically FIFA in trying to make the game "better" according to them, are ruining loads of games with soft sendings off.

Right Rant over, but I hate the way football is going

Wow Steve, tell us what you really think :D

Seriously though you are 100% correct, if there is a genuine attempt to play the ball, even in a last man situation, give the free kick, even book the tackler, but don't send him (or her) off. It's little wonder strikers hit the ground if a defender coughs too loudly - this is what is ruining the game, less red cards for defenders for.... erm... well... defending, will result in less u-boat impressions from strikers and instantly make the game better.

[steveaki13]

Glad to see others agree.

The remaining question is if fans agree and a fair few players I have heard talk about it agree then why is nothing done about it.

The fact is its getting worse.

[pino]

In Italy, both fans and media have complained about this but it didn't help !

[odykas]

Arse-nal vs Kroos :dozey:

http://www.newsbeast.gr/files/1/2014/02/20/ARSENAL%20BAGERN.jpg

[Mintexmemory]

Actually the charts should be split between Arsenal 11 v Kroos and Arsenal 10 v Kroos. He is an outstanding player and I'd have him in the Arsenal side like a shot, especially for his ability to ignore 2 lines of 4 in front of him to put the round object in the ropey thing.

[Storm]

.....
Basically FIFA in trying to make the game "better" according to them, are ruining loads of games with soft sendings off.

Right Rant over, but I hate the way football is going

Yep. I agree with you. I honestly think that both Messi and Robben could have stayed on their feet if they had to, but because they felt contact they both knew that they would win a penalty and get the defender a red card.

I agree with most if not all of what steve said too....but seriously Messi could have stayed on his feet? At the pace he was running at, the contact with his foot was definitely enough to trip anyone, atleast a stumble if not a fall...

And having watched most Barcelona games he has played in, I definitely know that he is not a diver, or a player trying to get people sent off (like Busquets or Alves are) and have seen him often shrug of tackles and get on with it without falling down or milking the moment.

[steveaki13]

I agree with most if not all of what steve said too....but seriously Messi could have stayed on his feet? At the pace he was running at, the contact with his foot was definitely enough to trip anyone, atleast a stumble if not a fall...

And having watched most Barcelona games he has played in, I definitely know that he is not a diver, or a player trying to get people sent off (like Busquets or Alves are) and have seen him often shrug of tackles and get on with it without falling down or milking the moment.

This.

I agree fully. Messi was knocked off his feet and could have only stumbled on for me. Messi doesn't ever tend to dive. I am not going to say he has never dived, but I have seen maybe games where he has honestly done all he can to stay on his feet.

Robben I thought not only could have stayed up but actually could have scored.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

.....
Basically FIFA in trying to make the game "better" according to them, are ruining loads of games with soft sendings off.

Right Rant over, but I hate the way football is going

Yep. I agree with you. I honestly think that both Messi and Robben could have stayed on their feet if they had to, but because they felt contact they both knew that they would win a penalty and get the defender a red card.

I agree with most if not all of what steve said too....but seriously Messi could have stayed on his feet? At the pace he was running at, the contact with his foot was definitely enough to trip anyone, atleast a stumble if not a fall...

And having watched most Barcelona games he has played in, I definitely know that he is not a diver, or a player trying to get people sent off (like Busquets or Alves are) and have seen him often shrug of tackles and get on with it without falling down or milking the moment.

I am not accusing Messi of being a diver because he isn't.

But I dislike how the modern footballer hardly ever attempts to stay on his feet. If Messi had tried to stay on his feet we would have seen a stumble before he fell over.

But saying that, Demichelis should have stayed on his feet more. :p

[pino]

R. Sociedad-Barca 3-1 :eek:

[donKey jote]

balls :dozey:

[steveaki13]

Wow. Motivation seems to be an issue with the Barca players. Love watching Messi play but general play yesterday was poor. No other word for it.

La Liga may be slipping away.

[steveaki13]

A: Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Iceland, Latvia, Turkey, Czech Republic

B: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Andorra, Cyprus, Wales, Israel, Belgium

C: Spain, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Belarus, Slovakia, Ukraine

D: Germany, Gibraltar, Georgia, Scotland, Poland, Republic of Ireland

E: England, San Marino, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovenia, Switzerland

F: Greece, Faroe Islands, Northern Ireland, Finland, Romania, Hungary

G: Russia, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, Austria, Sweden

H: Italy, Malta, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Norway, Croatia

I: Portugal, Albania, Armenia, Serbia, Denmark

:)
My views on the draw.

Group A - Netherlands have a chance of pretty much winning 10 of 10. While Czech's and Turkey will battle for the qualication spot and play off spot. Iceland should be 4th, with Latvia and Kazakhstan 5th and 6th

Group B - Belgium & Bosnia in the two spots. Wales & Israel battling for the play off. Cyprus and Andorra.

Group C - Spain & Ukraine against comfortably through I think. Slovakia to make the play offs, while the Belarus and Macedonia battle for 4th and Luxembourg should be 6th despite recent improvements.

Group D - Germany are going to win 10 of 10. Then I think Rep. Ireland will squeak 2nd just ahead of Poland and Scotland wont quite have enough and finish 4th. Georgia might grab a draw at home to one of these nations but should finish ahead of Gibraltar. Who will be tougher than San Marino/Andorra & Faroes for example but still might get a trashing by Germany.

Group E - (trying not to be biased :p ). I do think England will win the group, probably with a 8 wins 2 draws record. I think we might slip in Slovenia and Switzerland are always tough. Switzerland to join us and Slovenia to pip Estonia to 3rd. Lithuania 5th and San Marino leaking goals again. I want England to achieve our first 10-0 win since 1964 against San Marino this time.

Group F - (Oh no Gadjo Hungary again.... :eek: ). Anyway I see Greece winning this group and then anyone of 4 getting 2nd and the play off place. I will go for Hungary 2nd, Romania 3rd just over Northern Ireland and Finland 5th. Faroe Islands should be easy to brush aside.

Group G - Sweden to pip Russia to top, but both to go through. Play off to Austria just about after edging out Montenegro and Moldova and Liechtenstein at the bottom.

Group H - Italy and Croatia easily. Bulgaria and Norway then Azerbaijan and Malta.

Group I - (Minus France) Portugal then Denmark getting the automatic places and Serbia getting a Play Off. Armenia and Albania rounding out the group.

Should be less nerve racking this time hopefully.

[anfield5]

I made my predictions before I read yours Steve, either football is way to predictable, or great minds think alike. Group F was the only real difference I had to what you proposed.

A. Nedtherlands way ahead of Turkey and the Czechs (I went for Turkey, but wont be surprised if it is the other way around) Iceland a creditable 4th with Latvia and the Kazaks 5 and 6

b. Belgium from Bosnnia with Wales 3rd ahead of Israel with Cyprus and Andorra

c. Spain through first, but not as easily through as is usually the case, Ukraine next, followed by Macedonia and Slovakia (or vice-versa) with Belarus and Luxembourg

D. Germasny cofortable ahead of Rep Ireland, then Poland, an improving Scotland and a gap back to Georgia and Gibraltar way off the pace (I would dearly love to see the Scots at least make a play-off)

E. England should be comfortable, as long as they dont draw too many Slovenia and Switzerland will be 2-3 or 3-2, with Estonia and Lithuania and Sam Marino in 6th

F. Hardest group to predict with 5 of the six teams able to finish in the top 2. Some logic would say that the order might be Greece, Finland, Romania, Hungary, Nth Ireland, but these five might just as easily be completely reversed all that is certain is that the poor little Faeros will be 6th

G. Sweden to head Russia with Austria 3rd then Montenegro, Moldova and Liechtenstein

H. Italy ahead of Croatia with Norway and Bulgaria trying for a play off spot with Azerbaijan and Malta bringing up the rear.

I. Portugal should head Denmark, but maybe not. 3rd for Serbia then Armenia and Albania

[steveaki13]

Yup.

I think most team sports are quite predictable in a way.

These qualifiers are going to be a task of doing the basics. Not many shocks, just a means to get to the finals. That said I still enjoy international football, World Cup especially with the clashing of styles.

With the increased number of countries playing football in Europe (54), its always on the cards that they needed to increase numbers in the finals. Otherwise really you get 12 guaranteed qualifiers every time with 5-10 battling for the remainder. At least now countries like Scotland, Wales, Hungary, Romania etc.... have a better shot at it.

Important that the "bigger" nations don't just think of themselves. For a lot of countries they have a chance to make finals and improve.

[steveaki13]

On a side not. Its weird that France are going into Group I to play scheduled games, despite them not counting.

I mean now on the way to the Finals they play friendlies against Serbia, Armenia & Albania. The point was to play something like competitive games in the build up. Surely actual friendlies v non Europe nations would be more challenging. Most Euro hosts play top African or South American sides.

Anyway all very strange.

Strange also that France are the first to benefit from this considering Platini is UEFA president.

[anfield5]

On a side not. Its weird that France are going into Group I to play scheduled games, despite them not counting.

I mean now on the way to the Finals they play friendlies against Serbia, Armenia & Albania. The point was to play something like competitive games in the build up. Surely actual friendlies v non Europe nations would be more challenging. Most Euro hosts play top African or South American sides.

Anyway all very strange.

Strange also that France are the first to benefit from this considering Platini is UEFA president.

Yer the timing of this idea is strangely beneficial to the French, but.....

On the whole I think it is a good idea, as often the host nation is under-prepared. It kinda depends on how the other teams in the group view the France matches, if they do what I would do as a manager and play a reserve strength team against France giving the French an easy win and resting your own best players, then France will not benefit much. But if they view it as a group game and play their top 11, then the French will be better prepared for the Euro's

[Storm]

Wow. Motivation seems to be an issue with the Barca players. Love watching Messi play but general play yesterday was poor. No other word for it.

La Liga may be slipping away.
I get that feeling too :(

Unless Atletico get on form again (they lost 0-3 too!) and beat Real next week, and Barca win away at the Bernabeu, this year is gone..Surprisingly, I had not many hopes for CL this year but they might go further there.

[Big Ben]

Group F - (Oh no Gadjo Hungary again.... :eek: ). Anyway I see Greece winning this group and then anyone of 4 getting 2nd and the play off place. I will go for Hungary 2nd, Romania 3rd just over Northern Ireland and Finland 5th. Faroe Islands should be easy to brush aside.


Romania managed a 2-2 at Budapest playing like $h1t, then beat them easily 3-0 at Bucharest... and after that Hungary managed to concede 8 goals against the Netherlands in a single match :laugh: