Soccer thread 09/10 (contains spoilers)

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 10:42 am

Note to fans of Green Bigot and Blue Bigot FC who are still pushing to join the Premiership.

Don't be bleeding ridiculous - you are both shite. It'd be interesting to see how your crowds held up when you end up in the Championship or lower. And without your guaranteed European places, you'll both have gone bust anyway.

Stick to your pub league.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 12:54 pm

Dave,

You know I like you and I don't mean to be rude, but seriously, I play in a Sunday/Pub League and I am f***in offended you compared us to the SPL.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 4:31 pm

Barcelona-Madrid stream if anybody's interested...

http://www.hostream.net/channel-4.html

Best wishes,

Doug

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 9:00 pm

Ugh, did Ronaldo play? El Clasico didn't disappoint. Excellent game by Xavi, Messi showed why he's the best in the world, and had a lot of chemistry with the former. Real missed Kaka, tried hard to crowd the midfield with 5, but the azulgrana were just lethal when it counted.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 11:59 am

I can't believe that Liverpool game. Fulham defended incredibly well and we just couldn't break through despite outshooting them something like 27,000 to 1.

Congrats City on CL football next season. We need to get a Europa spot now......

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 1:42 pm

Macca00 wrote:I can't believe that Liverpool game. Fulham defended incredibly well and we just couldn't break through despite outshooting them something like 27,000 to 1.

Congrats City on CL football next season. We need to get a Europa spot now......

United draw. Liverpool draw. Spurs get beaten in extra time in the FA Cup final, so nice and knackered for Wed against Arsenal....and we tank Birmingham 5-1.

Quote from one Paul Merson esquire, yesterday.

"Mancini's not really the man to get City into Europe, they're far too defensive - heaven help them when they play a top 6 side."

Even the other blokes on Soccer Saturday had to remind him that including cup competitions, City had beaten Chelsea home and away, Arsenal twice at home, United at home and drawn with Liverpool twice.

And as for his other comment.

Since Mancini joined, City's record is P15 W10 D3 L2, Goals for 38, Goals against 12. Points - 33.

This includes wins of 3-0, 4-1, 4-2, 3-0, 6-1, 5-1. Booo, defensive rubbish.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 2:20 pm

This Merson would be the same Drunken C@nt who literally laughed on air at the possibility of Liverpool beating Barcelona back in 2007.....2-1 later and he wasn't saying much.

All these TV pundits are a waste of carbon, when their heads aren't up Fergie's behind they're just spouting off lazy stereotypes and misconceptions. Said the same thing about Benitez and yet last year Liverpool scored more goals than anyone.

Merson Thought Process:
- City are managed by Mancini
- he's a foreigner therefore I don't like him
- Italian, eh? Must be defensive
- s***, I'm shaking
- must get a drink

Was a bit torn to see the other media darling 'honest' 'Arry's team losing to Portsmouth. On one hand I was delighted, on the other Liverpool's season has been so piss poor I also wanted Tottenham to get to the final to claim that UEFA Cup spot so they'd concede the league spot (if they gained it).

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 2:38 pm

Yes, it was nice to see Fingers Redknapp pissed off, though I wouldn't be surprised if he'd got a contract entitling him to 20% of their winnings.

Pity Portsmouth can't go into Europe whatever happens...they couldn't apply for a UEFA club licence for next year because they are in administration, so can't file accounts.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 11:17 am

Interesting article on the Bundesliga

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... ier-league

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 1:42 pm

Typical needy Guardian crap - I'm not sure how anyone can seriously claim that 'at the end of the 90's the Bundesliga was the strongest in Europe' with a straight face when there have been 2 German teams winning the CL/European Cup since 1982. And Bayern's was on penalties.

And as for all this 'debt' shite, anyone remotely familiar with how businesses work knows that if you look at the balance sheet of any large organisation, there is debt on it. That's not the relevant issue, the relevant part is how it is secured, and the burden on the P&L account of the interest payments.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 6:10 pm

Related to debt, if Barça wins the CL and La Liga again this year, would it be fair to say they assembled a great team without buying a lot of "mercenaries?"

WC may change reputations but Guardian had a story about how in one season, Messi displaced Ronaldo as the best player. Messi of course came through the FCB academy (ad did a number of other players on the roster).

It wouldn't exactly be Oakland or Minnesota winning the World Series with only players that they developed in the farm system, because Barcelona has resources. But it would be a far cry from the deep-pocketed franchises in baseball or clubs like Real and some of the English clubs.

miget33 · Post by **miget33** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 7:36 pm

Didnt Barca spend alot though? (Ibra €45m and €25m on Chyhrynskiy)

Doesnt even include Keirrison or the previous season of Alves, Pique and Kieta.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 7:53 pm

miget33 wrote:Didnt Barca spend alot though? (Ibra €45m and €25m on Chyhrynskiy)

Doesnt even include Keirrison or the previous season of Alves, Pique and Kieta.

Bingo! Also I think Ibra was 45 Million PLUS Eto'o which makes that deal even more crazy.

But yes, their best player was/is home grown.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:55 am

davet010 wrote:Typical needy Guardian crap - I'm not sure how anyone can seriously claim that 'at the end of the 90's the Bundesliga was the strongest in Europe' with a straight face when there have been 2 German teams winning the CL/European Cup since 1982. And Bayern's was on penalties.

And as for all this 'debt' shite, anyone remotely familiar with how businesses work knows that if you look at the balance sheet of any large organisation, there is debt on it. That's not the relevant issue, the relevant part is how it is secured, and the burden on the P&L account of the interest payments.

Also investors look at total debt compared to tangible book value and quick liquidation value.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 11:32 am

Man City will be touring the states in the preseason. Might even be the opponent for the MLS all stars.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Thu Apr 15, 2010 3:34 am

Bloody stupid useless Arsenal. Buy some decent strikers Wenger, that Bendnter is bobbins.

Still, Villa falling to pieces (as usual for an O'Neill team, he has no idea how to manage a squad), so it's between us and Redknapp's Team Largely Stolen From Portsmouth FC.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 10:38 am

Tom Hicks and George Gillett have revealed they are looking to sell Liverpool after Martin Broughton was unveiled as the club's new chairman. The American duo said: "Having grown the Club this far we have now decided together to look to sell the club."

That last sentence is so staggeringly delusional that it should be frozen, sealed against time and the elements and put into some sort of dipshit Hall of Fame for future generations to study when in need of inspiration for their own chutzpah or, dare I say, bald-faced lie.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 11:56 am

The French FA has moved Lyon's league match next Saturday to the middle of May so that the team is rested for their second leg semifinal match.

Wish the German FA would do that. Couldn't even get the Leverkusen match last weekend moved back 24 hours.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 7:00 pm

Apparently the German FA's contract with the TV companies is so rigid that they can't move matches around like that.

Inter beat Juventus 2-0 thanks in part to this amazing goal by Maicon:

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HC1BE45tY7U&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 9:36 am

Watched Damned United last night - quite a film! Sheen was terrific but I also really liked the guy who played Taylor.

Then I watched the real interview with Revie and Clough together

Quite a shock watching an interview like that where the interviewees are so blunt compared to the usual banalities that are traded today.

Different era.

Best wishes,

Doug

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 11:02 am

Bloody United!

Feanor - thanks for the clip, love the Greek commentator screaming "Opa!" lol

Doug,
I need to check the film out! Sounds great.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 11:55 am

Macca00 wrote:Bloody United!

Feanor - thanks for the clip, love the Greek commentator screaming "Opa!" lol

Doug,
I need to check the film out! Sounds great.

Right now it's on Viewers choice on Rogers - well worth a view. Had to laugh at the actual footage from the 1974 Charity Shield Match between Liverpool and Leeds where Keegan and the Leeds Captain got straight reds!

Best wishes,

Doug

miget33 · Post by **miget33** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 12:26 pm

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 1:26 pm

dougb wrote:
Right now it's on Viewers choice on Rogers - well worth a view. Had to laugh at the actual footage from the 1974 Charity Shield Match between Liverpool and Leeds where Keegan and the Leeds Captain got straight reds!

Best wishes,

Doug

My dad was at that match (he'll tell you himself, repeatedly)!

Miget - Tottenham are 2-0, it's looking like a fantastic day for you guys!

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 4:04 pm

Macca00 wrote:
dougb wrote:
Right now it's on Viewers choice on Rogers - well worth a view. Had to laugh at the actual footage from the 1974 Charity Shield Match between Liverpool and Leeds where Keegan and the Leeds Captain got straight reds!

Best wishes,

Doug
My dad was at that match (he'll tell you himself, repeatedly)!

Miget - Tottenham are 2-0, it's looking like a fantastic day for you guys!

Btw that should be Rogers on demand.

LOL! Liverpool won on penalties and Brian Clough was fired after only 44 days on the job with Leeds.

Clough was pretty amazing though when one considers what he did at Derby and Nottingham Forrest with Peter Taylor.

Best wishes,

Doug