god you lot are sad with your football .. why dont you get into a real sport like Warhammer 40k Tabletop gaming :) hehe
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god you lot are sad with your football .. why dont you get into a real sport like Warhammer 40k Tabletop gaming :) hehe
I don't have a rigid view about that, but I do think the overall management of the game is poor and has always been that way -Alf Ramsay after all was not given an opportunity to resign with dignity after the England-Poland game in 1974, he was sacked. That kind of disgraceful attitude to people has not changed, but in addition there is this complete inability to be flexible, although the clubs themselves should be more imaginative.Quote:
Originally Posted by SammiValentine
For example, 2012 is both Euro and Olympic year, but no amendment was made to the schedules to give players playing for their national squads time after the leage season to prepare for the Euros, and its clear the Olympics has not been thought about over the 5 years we have had to plan for it.
There is the question too of having a winter break -there are various ways of improving the game but they would involve changes and apart from tv schedules, there doesn't seem to be an appetite for change.
My main changes would be:
1) goal-line technology
2) flexible scheduling to take account of major international tournaments
3) abolishing international friendy matches which are a waste of time
4) abolishing the Carling Cup -why does the UK have 2 cup competitions?
5) Making it an automatic red card if a player removes his shirt
6) A winter break in the season
7) Fewer games so the season can begin October and end in July except in Euro/World Cup years.
And so on. I am sure other BMs have good ideas too.
Jimbo-Hats off to Martin O'Neill, he obviously has skills that other managers do not; compare Sunderlands recent form to Aston Villa's....
Yeah - we are lucky to have him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
I hope Darren "im a mercenary c**t" Bent is glad of his extra 10k a week now.
Some good ideas there, Stavros. I'd also make yellow cards mandatory for diving or other forms of simulation - it's simply cheating, nothing else.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
Not sure about total abolition of international friendlies without something put in their place which allows international team bosses the opportunity to assess their players' capabilities between tournaments - but they are largely a waste of time, yes.
Oh, and the UK has two cups? Last time I looked, Scotland was still part of the UK. You mean England.
Oops!Quote:
Originally Posted by robertlouis
AND you described my esteemed Band as "The Bland".Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
Wodehouse said that it wasn't difficult to distinguish between a Scotsman with a grudge and a ray of sunshine. Yiz are oan borrowed time, pal.
Whatever next, the myth that Paul Simon can write songs? The Band were Bland, that was their appeal, nothing threatening, radical, or challenging. But however hard you try, you won't get me in a kilt. And isn't the guy in your photo French? Anyway I do like Scotland, I also saw Hugh MacDiarmid before he died when he was in London, which is something I have over you. Irascible, indomitable, cheeky -and occasionally profound (when he let the poetry out).
Meanwhile, there is speculation that Pep Guardiola is on his way out at Barcelona -apparently the club is $400m in debt, failed to beat Chelsea -and who knows what happens this weekend?
I met MacDiarmid too - my English tutor was the late, much-loved and greatly lamented makar Edwin Morgan, through whom I met, talked to and got drunk with MacDiarmid, Norman McCaig, George McKay Brown and others.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
Pep for Man City regardless of whether Mancini leads them to the championship.
Fascinating, I didn't think you were old enough given that HM died in 1978. Saw him at The Mermaid in London. Not sure about Guardiola, but anything is possible these days in football, esp as I expect Newcastle to beat City. I also think United will beat City or draw, but it will be close.
Im no Chelsea fan, but gotta say :
fuckin get in
I thought Torres was gonna shit himself at the end !
Brilliant entertainment
Given the players they didn't have on the pitch, the defence was heroic...but for John Terry's knees up mother brown. What a pillock! Torres has probably repaid his transfer fee with that one goal. And yes, great intense football.
NEWSFLASHQuote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
J.T is a knob
I can't stand John Terry but maybe he is not as stupid as we all think lol.....he know's he will now have all the player's wife's to go at while the final is being played - he''ll be like a dog with 2 dicks :party::smileysex:
I've managed to avoid the papers, radio , work colleagues etc and have just seen the highlights on ITV. WTF!
Real vs Bayern. Even better than Barca vs Chelski.
So Bayern get a home tie in the final.
yea and there has never been a european cup final been played in a home teams stadium, according to sky.... cough 1984 cough, wankers. :D
Bayern and Chelsea will both have first-choice players missing, which makes it a fairly even-handed game: I don't usually have much time for Chelsea, but after their heroic stand last Tuesday, I would expect them to exploit Bayern's weaker defence, and without Terry there to screw things up, they have an even better chance. But Neur looks like he must be one of the best goalkeepers in the world, but then Cech is up there too. 2-1 to Chelsea?
I think Chelsea will not give Bayern as much respect as Barcelona , be a bit to open, and lose. I hope :D
I think Bayern will win this - the home factor has got to be an advantage for them & it look's like Chelsea's defence will be pretty weak if its Bosingwa Cahill Luiz Cole - don't really rate Bosingwa or Luiz
Gardiola has had enough, and will quit Barca
He will have a year off - then what ?
City / Chelsea / United ??
OR even LFC ?? Would they dump that legend Dalgish for Gardiola ?
I reckon he'll go to Sunderland
The way Chelsea is run I would not be surprised if Di Matteo led the club to victory in Munich and was then replaced by Guardiola, presumably Di Matteo offered a role as his assistant. Bayern have key players missing from the final so I think it will be a fair match; but I can't see Pep in either Liverpool or Sunderland, and would expect him to go to Italy if he leaves Spain. My understanding is that Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer is being groomed to take over from Ferguson -had Arsene Wenger botched the season then Pep might fit in there, but I don't see room for Mourinho here either -could he replace Pep at Barcelona? Odder things have happened in Spanish football.
I watched the Real v Bayern game and was enthralled by the end to end nature of the game. Bayern deserved it in the end, and yes, I do have relations in Munich. Wonder if Arno can get us tickets?Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
Anyway, Neuer may be a good shotstopper, but his distribution is woeful. He'll need to improve on that before he can be considered good in the round.
I'd take Chelsea too. Bear in mind that Bayern lost the Bundesliga title to Dortmund at the weekend, but Chelsea won't want to put next season's Champions' League eggs in the Allianz Stadion basket, so they won't be letting up. And any game without the increasingly erratic Terry is probably the better for it.
As a footnote, everyone reckons that the Premiership will be decided on Monday night when the Mancs do battle. Hmm, have you see where City's final match is? Newcastle. That's arguably the toughest away fixture of them all given that Newcastle are irresistible right now, and bear in mind the Magpies might have to win it to secure a Champions' League slot of their own. I reckon Man U will win it by default on the last day with Newcastle beating City.
Quote:
Originally Posted by robertlouis
citys last match is at home to qpr whilst utd away to sunderland ..
the fuxtures your are on about are the week before x
I wish I had the slightest interest in football so I could join in.
You never got stuck in goal when you were in school? That's where most of the boys who weren't interested were put in my day!
fat lad in goal, unless its goalie rush :D
Ooh, get her! :whistle:Quote:
Originally Posted by Prospero
Oops. Whatever, I reckon an away game at Newcastle is tougher than playing United at home. The Magpies will piss in Roberto's prosecco.Quote:
Originally Posted by SammiValentine
I hope City win the leage and i hope Newcastle get in to champs league, I hope chelsea/spurs miss out on top 4. I hope liverpool win FA cup, I hope Bayern win champs league and Blilbao win the uefathing and keep this squad of theirs together ;-)
Very very Interested to see how Abromavich would react with Chelsea not having champs league football. Toys out of pram and walk away? Exodous of his "stars"? I am sure spurs will lose several players if they dont make the champions league...
The whole scneario all gets a bit messy if Newcastle come 4th for example, and Chelsea win the champs league, then newcastle will miss out as only the top 3 in prem are going to get a place and thats a shame IMO. This is one of the most interesting battles for top 4 since 2005 when Everon pipped Liverpool to 4th yet liverpool qualified as winners. (rules amended since then obviously)
am gutted anyway had tickets for liverpool at norwich this weekend and am not in UK :-(
You don't like Chelsea much, do you? :)Quote:
Originally Posted by SammiValentine
I'd like to see Bayern win it too - family loyalties etc - but at least they have a squad which is 75% home grown, unlike the other overpaid mercenaries and their flaky loyalty which typifies all the other semifinalists. And Bilbao are a pleasure to watch AND are another team that puts a premium on local players.
As the CL final comes after the end of the Premier League season, Newcastle will still have all to play for, and I reckon they'll beat City.
Draw on Monday night anyone? :whistle:
they grow as many players they like but robbens been the key man for bayern, used to be a keyman for chelsea... he will decide the final if he plays i reckon :) worth a cheeky punt if he is fit/not banned whatever, (havent looked)Quote:
Originally Posted by robertlouis
A) Robben is hugely overrated, he tends to skip round players top get some room because otherwise he can't score -when he was one-on-one with Casillas in South Africa he got confused, like a rabbit in headlights. Gomez however does look good, but I am going on news reports as I haven't seen them play. Robben also had a punch-up with Ribery a week or so ago. Chelsea ought to have no trouble seeing off this team. Just out of interest, what food do they serve in the executive suites at the Olympic Stadium? Bratwurst and sauerkraut?
B) A draw on Monday means United will win the title as I think Newcastle will beat City; although I think United will win the match anyway; all of which suggests Newcastle will not make it to the CL.
C) Modric is going, Bale will be hunted again over the summer by just about everybody, Friedel is on the ropes, not sure about van der Vart -but if 'Arry also goes yes, Spurs will revert back to their No 9 slot; they have done well but they are a mediocre team and that sums up the Premier League at the moment.
D) I once followed a Delia Smith recipe to the letter -and it worked!! Since then I have admired her immensely: no nonsense cooking: hence my preference for Norwich over Liverpool and that creepy Don Dalgleish.
Oh yes. But then we did Rugby at Grammar school and the teacher used me to demonstrate tackling. UrrghhhhQuote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
He is a natural winger, of the old fashioned sense and I would argue is actually underrated, rather than overrated, dont forget he is a winger, 17 goals or so this season...not bad? His main problem being he is quite selfish, he is arrogant and dives around a lot :D I couldnt stomach the diving twa... when he was at chelsea. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Stavros
Wuss. I used to play both rugby and football for my school, then had to choose one, played rugby Saturday mornings for the school and footie in the afternoons for a local amateur side. Ended up playing for several seasons for West of Scotland, who were a major force in Scottish rugby back then.Quote:
Originally Posted by Prospero
Then in the summer I played tennis and cricket, both sports at school, club and county level.
What the hell happened?
I still play tennis as much as I can, but a serious back injury some years ago which resulted in surgery and a spinal fusion put paid to any sport involving direct physical contact.
I'll leave you lot to add your own smutty line to that last sentence.
Another good reason for supporting Bayern in the final is that they are a community club in the true sense, owned 84% by the fans, which allows for a stability and continuity that the Premiership has completely lost.Quote:
Originally Posted by SammiValentine
Err, Sammi, does that description remind you of anyone?
Wuss....!!!! I hadnae reckoned you for another boneheaded jock (in more than one sense) who sees those not asgood at sports as your inferiors, Mr strumalongalonganSNP!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Prospero
Dinna fash yersel' chiel. I was a rugby wuss too, up to a point. Played most of my rugby at inside centre, but tried a couple of games at flanker (back in the days when you could still be a flanker at 5'11"). Never again. Scrums are for madmen and sadists.
Oh, just for the record. Feckin' Flower of Feckin' Scotland has aye gi'en me the dry boke.