Soccer thread 07/08

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:51 am

Macca00 wrote:Oh, it's only Marseille.

If there's one example of how to play counter attacking football, Liverpool showed us how. Good win for them and F. Torres was just unstoppable, love watching the kid play.

If they continue to play like this, it'll be hard for Rafa to convince Gillete and CO for reinforcements.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 6:17 am

Reading could have beaten Marsielle.

miget33 · Post by **miget33** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 5:21 pm

Apparently the English FA have decided on Fabio Capello, and are now just trying to finalize contract terms.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7556546

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 2:23 am

Done deal　for the Italian dude. While he has no experience of international management, you can't argue with his success at the clubs he managed including AC Milan, Real, Roma and Juve. But if England was looking for a bit more style and flash in their gameplay, they ended up picking up a guy that was fired in Spain for being too defensive and boring.

It'll be interesting what he decides to do with Becks. He better start brushing up on his English.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 3:09 am

10spro wrote:Done deal　for the Italian dude. While he has no experience of international management, you can't argue with his success at the clubs he managed including AC Milan, Real, Roma and Juve. But if England was looking for a bit more style and flash in their gameplay, they ended up picking up a guy that was fired in Spain for being too defensive and boring.

It'll be interesting what he decides to do with Becks. He better start brushing up on his English.

I wonder if there were any requirements to put in Becks for two friendlies. I don't see that big of a deal since the team has nothing to play for this summer. Just get him to 100 caps and that will be it for Becks.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 3:24 am

World Club final on Sunday between my Boca Juniors and AC Milan in Japan.

It should be a fun weekend at the Premiership as the top four teams battle each other.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 6:22 pm

Capello has done it on the biggest stages in the world, and isn't shy about telling the big names what he thinks of them - or, to be fair, bringing them back into the fold when required.

Interestingly enough, Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has described the decision as a 'disgrace'. I say 'interestingly' because Redknapp is a buffoon who has never won anything, who surely cannot have thought that he was a serious contender, and whose name always seems to be mentioned when bungs and dodgy transfer dealings come up and who I wouldn't employ to shovel s*** from one place to another.

Oh yeah, and his son is the blandest, dopiest, most kiss-arse 'summarizer' that Sky have ever had the temerity to foist upon the public, and that's saying something.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 6:58 pm

10spro wrote:Done deal　for the Italian dude. While he has no experience of international management, you can't argue with his success at the clubs he managed including AC Milan, Real, Roma and Juve. But if England was looking for a bit more style and flash in their gameplay, they ended up picking up a guy that was fired in Spain for being too defensive and boring.

It'll be interesting what he decides to do with Becks. He better start brushing up on his English.

Style and flash? I think most would be happy with focused and competent.

Best wishes,

Doug

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 12:44 pm

Because of the bloody storm I was stuck at home and had to endure watching (and listening to) Setanta.

- Manchester United were utter sh!t.
- Liverpool were utter sh!t.
- Liverpool had 61% of the possession and outshot United 20(6) to 5(3) and yet still think they were utter sh!t.
- Benayoun must spend next week training with an Under 8 girls team so he can learn that when a ball is played out from a corner you have to clear the box (and not stand around smoking a cigarette playing Tevez onside).
- Effan Ekoku criticized Rafa for...get this...NOT rotating the team. I love it.

Take it away JRod....

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 1:08 pm

Macca00 wrote:Because of the bloody storm I was stuck at home and had to endure watching (and listening to) Setanta.

- Manchester United were utter sh!t.
- Liverpool were utter sh!t.
- Liverpool had 61% of the possession and outshot United 20(6) to 5(3) and yet still think they were utter sh!t.
- Benayoun must spend next week training with an Under 8 girls team so he can learn that when a ball is played out from a corner you have to clear the box (and not stand around smoking a cigarette playing Tevez onside).
- Effan Ekoku criticized Rafa for...get this...NOT rotating the team. I love it.

Take it away JRod....

Benayoun is absolute pants!

Best wishes,

Doug

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 3:18 pm

It's Xmas, and Liverpool are currently behind the mighty City in the League.

<pinches self>

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:18 pm

Is there some reason Harry Kewell still has a spot on the team?

Best wishes,

Doug

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 7:46 pm

Very similar games. Both could've gone either way and both were decided by a single player's error on a corner. None of the four struck me as being significantly better or worse than the others. The two winners looked fine, but Liverpool took it to ManU and would've been a worthy winner. Chelsea probably deserved an equalizer down the stretch, although they were lucky to dodge the insurance goal a few times.

Taking injuries into account draws the quality of the sides even closer. Agger and Alonso for Liverpool, Drogba and Terry for Chelseas would've made things even tighter.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 11:20 pm

City signs Nery Castillo to a loan deal. Interesting pickup there. He definitely needed to be liberated from the Ukranian league or wherever he was exiled. He picked up part of the loan fee himself!

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:26 am

I'm really interested to see how Castillo will do, I hope he'll be a success because he's a great talent. I don't know why anyone would want to play in the Ukraine (regardless of how much Shaktar's oil barons pay you).

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 11:34 am

CL knockout round draw is out:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... 12&cc=5901

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:43 am

Late reply but Inter was the LAST team that I wanted Liverpool to draw - I would have much rather us play Barca again or Real but Inter have been playing very well and have an amazing squad. It'll be a tight one (hopefully).

In other news.....Joey Barton is to spend New Year's in jail, what a nimrod. I can't believe Meatloaf sold Scott Parker and replaced him with no brain Barton.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... et&cc=5901

January transfer window is coming up, what do you guys fancy? In an ideal world I'd love Liverpool to sign Anelka (hell we'll give Bolton Peter Crouch in return) and a central defender but I'd agree with what Rob told me - it's likely we'll spend most/all of our budget signing Mascherano on a permanent basis.

I'm thinking Anelka will be going to Chelsea (though Shevchenko has been playing well recently, loved that second goal against Villa).

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:50 am

Macca00 wrote:In other news.....Joey Barton is to spend New Year's in jail, what a nimrod. I can't believe Meatloaf sold Scott Parker and replaced him with no brain Barton.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... et&cc=5901

Absolutely. What a joke.

Take care,
PK

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 11:41 am

Macca00 wrote: January transfer window is coming up, what do you guys fancy?

LFC obviously needs defensive cover, but I'd also like to see them sign yet another winger. Rafa has apparently bowed to pressure and doesn't want to play Stevie on the right with Macsh and Xabi in the middle. Babel on the wing is clearly an idea with limited shelf-life, and Yossi is useful but not the answer either. With Pennant down and Harry struggling to get match fit, I think they need to find someone capable of beating a fullback and crossing the ball consistently. I think that was the real lesson of the frustrating ManU game, as we've had too many games where Kuyt or Voronin was forced to play the wide role.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 12:40 pm

Macca00 wrote:Late reply but Inter was the LAST team that I wanted Liverpool to draw - I would have much rather us play Barca again or Real but Inter have been playing very well and have an amazing squad. It'll be a tight one (hopefully).

Agree that Inter will be dangerous. J. Cruz is on fire lately and they are tight defensively.

Securing the services of J. Mascherano is a must for Liverpool fans.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 3:20 pm

Big Sam must be getting the boot sometime in January.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 3:36 pm

pk500 wrote:
Macca00 wrote:In other news.....Joey Barton is to spend New Year's in jail, what a nimrod. I can't believe Meatloaf sold Scott Parker and replaced him with no brain Barton.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... et&cc=5901
Absolutely. What a joke.

Take care,
PK

Assault and affray - no bail this time as he's already on bail over the assault charge concerning Ousmane Dabo. Sentencing guidelines start with a custodial sentence, and Johnathon Woodgate got porridge for it....looks like Barton will be wearing one lot of stripes at least.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 4:20 pm

RobVarak wrote:
Macca00 wrote: January transfer window is coming up, what do you guys fancy?
LFC obviously needs defensive cover, but I'd also like to see them sign yet another winger. Rafa has apparently bowed to pressure and doesn't want to play Stevie on the right with Macsh and Xabi in the middle. Babel on the wing is clearly an idea with limited shelf-life, and Yossi is useful but not the answer either. With Pennant down and Harry struggling to get match fit, I think they need to find someone capable of beating a fullback and crossing the ball consistently. I think that was the real lesson of the frustrating ManU game, as we've had too many games where Kuyt or Voronin was forced to play the wide role.

You're right, with Xabi back I'd love to stick Stevie on the wing - hell that goal against Derby came from him running 60 odd yards down the wing and beating two players. Agree with you on Babel as well, he does well beating players (especially with his pace) but his final ball is useless because, well, he's a striker not a winger!

I'd suggest David Bentley might be worth a try but since he is English his transfer fee will grossly inflated and if you're going to spend a lot, better to get someone established.

I still think we need someone alongside Torres that can be a goal threat, Kuyt's confidence is down the sh1tter and Voronin never looks like scoring. I'd love to see Babel & Torres...

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 6:47 pm

City need strikers - they'd have finished Blackburn off long before the linesman cheated on their behalf on Thurs night, particularly thinking of Bianchi who seems to have a lot to say for himself for someone who regularly misses 4 yard tap ins.

If Owen had been fit, we'd buy him - Newcastle want rid...but he's not.

Failing that, I'd have Jermain Defoe and maybe another centre back - Dunne is beginning to show faults again, and City are light on cover with Onouha out. Having said that, this Castillo bloke should be playing soon, and Bojinov is well on the road to recovery....but they really need a convincing goalscorer.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 6:59 pm

What about Berbatov instead of Defoe. Man City surely has a the money to get him. I would rather see in in blue than in red and I'm sure you would too.