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Think football, think Homeland...meanwhile, AC Milan's President, Silvery Berlusconi's interest in Balotelli has been dismissed by the latter's agent because: Balotelli is as valuable as the Mona Lisa...Quote:
Originally Posted by SammiValentine
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...Mona-Lisa.html
That has to be either Silvio or Slippery, Stavros....Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
And according to Thursday's Guardian, Reina has lost weight and Rodgers has told him that he remains a big part of his rebuilding programme.
At his best a few years back, Reina was not only a great shot-stopper, but also had tremendous vision - his distribution could turn defence into attack within seconds, and he was the best at that aspect of the game since Schmeichel. If he gets back to that standard Liverpool will have more than just a reliable keeper.
And if Rodgers is able to buy one proven striker to partner Suarez plus a younger lad on a fast track - Jordan Rhodes? - then top four would still be achievable. Lucas's return as the anchor in midfield should make a big difference too.
Arsenal knocked out of the League Cup tonight by Bradford from League Two.
How long before Wenger moves "upstairs" permanently at the Emirates?
Not sure about that, if Wenger had any sense he would have fielded a junior side earlier in the campaign to get defeated and so avoid taking part in this pointless cup competition -the FA Cup isn't that much of a big deal for the top Premier League clubs these days either, but to have two cup competitions is a waste of human resources. Winning the League and the Champions League is all that matters -harsh, but true. And who is to say Arsenal won't be back in the top four by the end of the season? And even more pertinent, who would Arsenal want to take over given that they expect their managers to stay put for at least a decade?
Given the traditions of both clubs, Barcelona's former manager, Pep Guardiola seems to me a far better cultural, stylistic and personal fit with Arsenal than with Chelsea and their monomaniacal Russian owner, where he knows that even he could be out of the door within months.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
He would embrace Arsenal's footballing and management traditions and to my mind would be the best and most obvious successor to Wenger. If it isn't about money, he should go to the Emirates.
I'm by no means an Arsenal fan, by the way - my Premiership loyalties, such as they are, lie with the red half of Merseyside. It just seems the right move for all concerned.
Right, we've reached Christmas and Man Utd have a seven point lead. They lost an eight point lead in the run in last season and continue to look ludicrously vulnerable at the back.
However, unless something unforeseen develops in the second half of the season, the title race looks like being fought out between Mosside and Salford again, with Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and possibly Everton in the mix for the other two Champions League places. Liverpool will be below that group this season, even with Sturridge and another striker.
As for this season's Champions' League, any bets on any of the remaining British clubs surviving beyond the round of sixteen?
On present performance and past trends, I expect Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea to be in the top four at the end of the season, they have the largest squads and can therefore sustain injuries to key players without losing games. Everton, Tottenham Hotspur on recent form will fall away toward the end of the season. It would be nice to see Swansea, West Brom or Norwich climb into the upper reaches as they play well as teams and like Blackpool of a season or so ago are great entertainers, one can hardly say that of Stoke.
Liverpool are a mediocre team and will find it hard to climb out of the middle table where they currently belong. It looks like Harry Redknapp will have to buy some startlingly good players if QPR are to emerge from the depths of relegation, though I used to live near their ground and could never understand why the club exists and have believed for some years that it should be wound up as a useless cause. For personal reasons, my dreams will come true if Southampton and Aston Villa are relegated along with QPR. Boring, I know, but it is the money that buys large and talented squads and there isn't much we can do about it.
Walcott is improving as a player, along with Gareth Bale he is now one of the finest young players in the country, will they be tempted to move in the New Year or at the end of the season?
Manchester United ought to get to the semi-finals of the Champions League, the lash with Real Madrid is fascinating because Real are in their usual turmoil with divisions in the dressing room, conflicts between the manager and the owners, and so on and so forth. But after all the hype, a 0-0 draw would not be ruled out on both occasions, and on that basis Real would win a penalty shoot-out. Does anyone still fancy Barcelona?
Liverpool can climb, if they get some decent transfers in the Jan window who can come in immediately and mesh with the squad. As they stand now, yeah, we're mediocre. Nothing some new blood can't fix though.
Don't fancy Barcelona, but I think Real Madrid is the bigger question. They have the talent and ability to come out and beat Man U 3-0, if they get their shit together. Or can lose 4 or 5-0 if things have really come as unravelled as recent stories indicate. I don't think it will be 0-0 though.
Interesting.
Two league cup quarter finals. Bradford 3, Aston Villa 1; Chelsea 0, Swansea 2.
Chelsea and Villa both put out pretty much full-strength teams, both lost. Hmmm.....
love to see a League Cup final with none of the BIG 4 involved
Amazing effort by Bradford City and cannot seriously see Villa overturning that scoreline, at the moment Villa just don't look like a Premier league side
The premiership is now just a two-horse race between the Manchester clubs.
Discuss.
If this is indeed the case, why is it?
In the case of Manchester United, the argument will be based on the institutional development of the club, from its apparently benign owners, to the front and backroom staff who, one assumes, have been as enduring as the famous manager. What may not be apparent is the quality of the backroom staff, who must provide daily support to mostly young men whose minds, when not on the game, are focused on potentially destructive modes of behaviour. I seem to recall that Ferguson imposed a ban on Ryan Giggs giving interviews to the press for years. His dominant, possibly dictatorial character suggests this may be the best way to run a dressing room, but even a manager can't control what happens on the field of play, and while Ferguson has signed some useless players over the years, he has on the other hand recruited some outstanding players, creating strong defence, midfield and attacking formations -most people agree that the current weaknesses in United are the lack of a midfield bandmaster, and an ageing defence. But like Arsenal, they have well-established structures, just as Liverpool used to have, and it is noticeable that amongst Liverpool's many problems, the chaos in the boardroom of recent years has been damaging to the club.
Is it unfair to argue that City have bought their way to success? Initially this may have been true, but over the last few years I think the players have gelled as a team, and that the strengths of the defence and midfield are well-balanced with a formidable attacking force; the players seem now to understand each others strengths and will challenge United to the last minute of the last day. Unless discipline deserts them -Tevez seems to have mellowed in recent years, but Balotelli seems incapable of discipline, and Aguero wants to leave. In spite of this success, they have failed miserably in the premier European competition.
Both clubs are in the top quartile of European clubs, but are they as good as Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter, and AC Milan?
There was a time when Liverpool were the masters of Europe -it is possible that the teams fielded in the 1970s and 1980s were amongst the best teams ever assembled, anywhere -the eviction of this team from European competition after Heysel almost certainly robbed them of two or three more European titles. The current team is pathetic in comparison; and it remains to be seen if an ageing Chelsea team is in transition or decline. That they are in the position in the table they occupy is largely due to the mediocre quality of English football clubs.
Will Hutton in The Guardian this week produced a stinging critique of football in the UK, which he compares unfavourably with Germany -the article was written before Pep Guardiola was confirmed as the next manager of Bayern Munich.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...in?INTCMP=SRCH
Meanwhile Rafa Benitez may be Chelsea's 'Interim Manager' but it hasn't stopped the Club from seeking his replacement -presumably on the basis he is going to be a total flop or do something to annoy Mr Abramovich...but it seems their first choice, Jurgen Klopp isn't interested, so the list now includes David Moyes and Michael Laudrup. Question is, money aside, who wants this job?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...-a-plan-B.html
I don't know if it's that unfair to say City have bought there way to success, yeah there had to be some building before the right pieces were in place, but it was a pretty quick building process, and not a lot of development from within.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
Those other Manky bastards, they definitely paid their way up. I'm still angry that Van Persie ended up there. But I guess if you want to win cups, that's one of your best bets in England.
Heysel still pisses me off. I do believe it robbed us of at least two European titles, and has a lingering effect on players coming to Liverpool, and money to build championship teams. FSG is frakking cheap. There is a lot of investment that could be made now for long term success, both in on the field dollars and off. This window being a prime example. While Sturridge looked good at times, he's already being mis-managed in games, and shows a lack of killer instinct as he gets lazy after scoring once. I'd still rather have had Jordan Rhodes, some added quality in the left back, and some additional depth on the wings. Instead, they got one player (so far.) Nice going ya cheap bastards!
Off the field, they should have have an academy system like Barca has had for ages. Anfield sells out all the time, the "new" stadium should have been done by now, or the rebuild of Anfield. And seriously, who let BR pick up the transfers he did in the summer window without propper scouting? Horrible organization.
A very interesting FA cup weekend. The Premiership clubs by and large put out fairly strong teams and respected their lower league opponents, but the results were frankly even more astonishing than anyone expected. Luton beat Norwich, Oldham beat Liverpool, Leeds beat Tottenham, MK Dons thrashed QPR and Chelsea scraped a draw at lowly Brentford. Other top tier clubs like Wigan and Everton just scraped through by the odd goal.
Is the gulf not as wide as it used to be or is the premiership now as mediocre as it's ever been?
Strong teams? Is that what you would call the Liverpool team? The simple truth is that England and Wales cannot justify two cup competitions, and the FA Cup which used to be the climax of the season, is now just another game before the main event, the final of the Champions League. The Premier League and the Champions League are the major competitions, partly because the football tends to be superior, but primarily because of the money. I used to watch the FA Cup every year but in recent years it has slipped off the radar, the magic has gone. It isn't the mediocrity of football, it is the overwhelming influence of money and TV rights. In a year or so I expect the FA Cup will be relegated to Sky.
Arsenal exited the FA Cup on Saturday against Blackburn, having succumbed earlier in the season to Bradford in the League Cup.
They are not going to win the champions' league either and are well out of the race for the Premiership.
Over his time at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger has arguably had a more profound and positive effect on players' attitudes, fitness etc than any other manager. He has built a series of successful teams which have often been a joy to watch, only surpassed in that sense by Fergie.
However, this is going to be the Gunners' eighth season without a trophy. Will he go at the end of the season or will he have to be pushed?
The FA Cup isn't important, and they can still win the Champions League -why not? Were Chelsea expected to win or lose against Barcelona last season?
They have a very tough tie against Bayern, who are flying in the Bundesliga and with Guardiola at the helm from next season could well become a real force in Europe.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
And if they do lose the tie, what then?
And after a 3-1 defeat at home, it can't last beyond the end of the season.Quote:
Originally Posted by robertlouis
BTW, I've seen a few games at the Allianz in Munchen when visiting the Bavarian end of the family. Beautiful stadium, great transport links, well-behaved fans, the best bratwurst ever, and less than half the price of the average Premiership game. Plus the club is largely owned by its fans. What's not to like and admire? No wonder Guardiola chose them over the bloated jokes that most English clubs have become.
Dismal performance from Arsena, where was the motivation, any sense of team work? A few talented players who might get lucky can't win at this level. Wenger did amazing things at Arsenal who used to be the most boring team to watch; I don't know how much the obsession in the board room with money determines things but he has let great players go and not replaced them with equivalent talent -he will last to the end of this season and maybe still be in the top four, but I think even he now feels his career in London is in its twilight. Unless Bayern get complacent and sloppy, and Walcott wrecks their dream in the next match...Sagna was useless last night, every move predictable and unproductive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
Unless Tottenham's bubble bursts, and with Benitez' meltdown last night in mind, I'd say Spurs are strong candidates for 3rd place or perhaps one higher. Chelsea and Arsenal will be scrapping for the final CL place, but both, despite their attractive build play, look to be in inexorable decline.
It won't happen this season, but there could be a two-pronged challenge from Merseyside next season. Interesting to see what happens with Swansea too. Let's hope that Laudrup stays.
Yes, and no. Spurs have a habit of losing form towards the end of the season, Arsenal ought to be a safer bet but there seem to be weaknesses in the team that they have either not had in recent years, or been able to deal with as other clubs failed -Chelsea seem strong enough for 3rd but who knows with the poisoned atmosphere if form will also fall? Normally, the usual four would be safe, with Spurs and Everton failing to get their feet in Europe. What Benitez could have said is that every manager in Chelsea is an interim manager, and that has been their problem -though it hasn't stopped them winnning things...and if Spurs sell Bale, where do they go after that? And where does Bale want to go -Madrid? The shopkeeper up the road from thinks he may go to Arsenal!!
Does your shopkeeper look like this?Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
You will be pleased to know that I will not be sharing my kebabs with you...and wass all that Nani about being sent off in the big game on the telly, peeps? That ref don't get my kebabs either.
Never a red card. The referee ruined what had been up till then an intriguing and thoroughly enthralling game of football.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
Mourinho, to his credit, told Ferguson that it wasn't.
The word in the press today is that not selecting Rooney from the start was Ferguson's way of showing him the door. Van Persie is the key vehicle up front, and while Ferguson had a point about the role he assigned to Welbeck and Giggs, I think it was a mistake as MU needed two clear goals to be safe. The red card was, technically correct as the rules do not mention intent as a factor, but most referees seeing the incident would give a yellow -the same referee last season sent off John Terry in the semi-final although he deserved that one. The Red Card changed the balance of the teams, MU can get away with 10-men against Reading or a minor side, but not Real. But maybe they would have won anyway, who knows?
What about the perfectly legal madrid away goal he disallowed?? People need to get over it, theyre out :) Ha!!Quote:
Originally Posted by robertlouis
Red card was harsh but they have had more than their fair share of luck and decisions going their way ........
hahahahhaahah
p.s imagine the media witch hunt if Rafa behaved in the manner of Fergsuon did, again, for the umpteenth time.... hahaha.
The media has been licking Fergusons old wrinkley hoop for far to long..........
Most refs wouldnt even give a yellow at Old trafford for that, or even book arbeola for diving.... Infact they would then add on a few extra minutes for some bonus squeeky bum time, then giggs would chase the ref for an hour or so moaning like the whiney welsh tw... he is, (he could possibly be after the refs wifes phone number though, shrug) Anyway he would moan like an old woman till arbeola gets a 2nd yellow , which would be probably for touching rios bum / licking vidics nipple at a corner or having not adddresed fergsuon with proper title "Sir" - in the tunnel before kick off.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
Its a funny old game.
Crikey Sammi, the sooner they rebuild the checkpoint on the East Lancs Road, the safer we'll all be lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by SammiValentine
Hmmm Sammi, you clearly know more about the behaviour of footballers (on and off the pitch) than an armchair pundit like me...perhaps you know even more about Vidic's nipples than Ryan?Quote:
Originally Posted by SammiValentine
Yes, I had similar thoughts Stavros. Maybe Sammi's a WAG, but keeps it quiet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
Barcelona 4, AC Milan 0. Exhilarating, glorious football. Barca still have it.
I'd like to see a Barca vs Bayern final. Fingers crossed.
There are times when Messi seems to be on a different level; it is odd that he never seems to shine with Argentina, and can have moments of indifference; yet, when he is acutely aware of the possibilities, he can make a goal out of nothing, and that is the true mark of genius. Yet, this is not a patch on the AC Milan's teams of the 80s and 90s. Weird hairdos and repulsive tattoos may be the order of the day, but when they lose they do look stupid.
UK interest in the Champions League is over, Man Utd have won the Premiership, the rest are scrabbling for scraps and the main residual interest is the dog eat dog battles at the bottom.
Football's all a bit boring, isn't it?
Now rugby, on the other hand..... Are you listening, Ms Valentine?
World cup qualifiers. Fuck. This is the worst Scotland team since Argentina in 1978.
Need scotch. Lots of it.
If you think Scotland has problems what do you think of an England captain who can say 'we didn't play in the second half' but can't explain why. Complacency is the answer, can't be bothered a possible alternative. He himself gave the ball away on numerous occasions, Michael Carrick, whose through balls when they work can turn games, was asleep for most of the game, Milner is ineffective, Lescott also gave the ball away several times, as did Joe Hart who like so many goalkeepers kicks the ball upfield with no idea who is going to be on the end of it, and its usually the opposition. Walcott would have made a difference on the right in the first half, but other than Rooney, who is going to score goals on a regular basis for this team? I think it is now 50/50 that England will qualify for Brasil. A game of football lasts at least 90 minutes and until the England team fights for every second the results will be at best average, at worst, embarrassing.
................. roy hodgson?
A pithy point, Ms Valentine. Did he even show up in the dressing room? Any chance of Gareth Bale changing his nationality?