Soccer thread 07/08

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 6:28 pm

Macca00 wrote:Thank God.

[Sorry, Naples]

Eh what do you say. Italy deserved to lose and have been uninspiring overall.

At least I finally got a knockout game right in our pool!

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 6:34 pm

wco81 wrote:Yeah, did Spain have a black player in the 2006 WC?

That was when that Spain manager got into trouble didn't he?

It seemed the Spanish players didn't celebrate Senna's goal in the shootout and when they won it, he was kind of outside of the group of Spanish players celebrating.

Senna was born in Brazil. I wasn't aware that they didn't celebrate his penalty or that he was outside the group celebrating. There certainly is a racial attitude problem with the coach and the Spanish fans - I recall a pretty disgusting episode where the crowd screached like monkeys every time a black player from England had the ball a few years ago.

Best wishes,

Doug

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 6:57 pm

Aragones also allegedly made racial remarks against Thierry Henry in the last few years, too. Can't remember if it was in World Cup 2006 qualifiers or Euro 2004.

Didn't Eto'o catch a ton of racial sh*t from Spanish fans in club football in Spain, too?

Take care,
PK

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 7:17 pm

Good riddance.

I'm curious to see how Italy manage to convince the pilot of the flight home to take off with 11 guys stuffed into the last row of the plane.

PS How on earth did the US only slip one past mighty Barbados today?

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 8:14 pm

Spain deserved to win but as an Italian it sucks. At least you guys have managed to keep adjectives like "greasy" out of the Italy hate.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 8:37 pm

ScoopBrady wrote:At least you guys have managed to keep adjectives like "greasy" out of the Italy hate.

That's usually reserved for Cristano Ronaldo's mullet.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 10:40 pm

Italy just lacked ideas on offense, the long ball to Toni is very predictable and more so when he's absent. Buffon and the D was strong but Casillas was even better. The less diving team won

, Spain will have their hands full with Russia.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 10:44 pm

ScoopBrady wrote:Spain deserved to win but as an Italian it sucks. At least you guys have managed to keep adjectives like "greasy" out of the Italy hate.

This team was at least 87% less greasy than the WC2006 team. Cameronasi going with the Italian-natural instead of the pony-tail/oil slick look was responsible for 30% of that decrease by himself.

Like Macca said, I think they sent most of their product over to the Portugese.

10spro wrote:

Italy just lacked ideas on offense

That presupposes that they even had an offense. Tough to think offensively when Donadoni/Wayne Coyne was pulling old ladies out of the stands to park in the Italy 6-yard box

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 10:50 pm

Toni is simply saving himself for the Champions League

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 10:58 pm

fsquid wrote:Toni is simply saving himself for the Champions League

Maybe Zenit will kill them 4-0 there as well.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 11:01 pm

Macca00 wrote:
fsquid wrote:Toni is simply saving himself for the Champions League
Maybe Zenit will kill them 4-0 there as well.

Best line on Toni was that he was so terrible, he started missing other players chances as well!

Best wishes,

Doug

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:13 am

RobVarak wrote:PS How on earth did the US only slip one past mighty Barbados today?

LOL I totally forgot that game was today. Looks like nobody missed anything.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:37 am

wco81 wrote:
Macca00 wrote:
Surely Ashavin, Pavlyuchenko, Zhirkov, and a few other Russian players will be moving to Western European clubs after the tournament?
How about those Russian magnates sell their London clubs and build up Russian ones instead?

They already do - there have been some high value transfers and expensive older players going out there (Koller is the latest one), though I did read somewhere that the club managers are very strongly advised not to go signing any black players - particularly for Zenit St Petersburg.

Arshavin is apparently already on £50k per week.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:45 am

I hear Russia is not that safe, despite or maybe because of all the oil prosperity.

Aside from any racism issues, players with money may be vulnerable to kidnappings.

Then you have stories of reporters being gunned down mysteriously. Of course, Putin's reach has been alleged to extend out to London too.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:42 am

"....would monsieur care for some Polonium-210 on his cavier ?...."

Allegedly.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:27 am

Macca00 wrote:
fsquid wrote:Toni is simply saving himself for the Champions League
Maybe Zenit will kill them 4-0 there as well.

After watching the Russians play, no shame in that one now.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 11:47 am

Zeppo wrote:Where is Arshavin going to end up this summer? Any rumors out there? I think I have a new favorite player. . . .

Arshavin reportedly zeroing in on La Liga:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008 ... d=football

Take care,
PK

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:39 pm

Highly unlikely - Real are saving their pennies for Ronaldo, Athletico Madrid are run by a crook and supported by a load of neo-fascist idiots and Valencia have got less chance of being able to afford him than i have, what with their €200m debt and all...oh, and the complete implosion of their squad after Ronald Koeman's disastrous reign.

Come to Eastlands, matey - you've already played there this year

You can line up with Podolski with Ronaldinho playing behind you...you know it makes sense

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:07 pm

Arshavin has admitted the lure of La Liga is far more of an appealing prospect than the EPL and Germany, and he's also attracted interest from several Bundesliga sides. R. Abramovich would love him in Chelsea but the Russian's heart is in Spain. Valencia is a possibility.

If Valencia seels off D. Villa, they may have a chance, Real will try everything in their power to bring Ronaldo and despite many disbelievers, he'll end up there eventually.

When that happens, Ferguson will try to lure Messi from Barca and play with his buddy Tevez.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:28 pm

Arshavin would do well in the Bundesliga. PLus, the beer is better.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:30 am

10spro wrote:Arshavin has admitted the lure of La Liga is far more of an appealing prospect than the EPL and Germany, and he's also attracted interest from several Bundesliga sides. R. Abramovich would love him in Chelsea but the Russian's heart is in Spain. Valencia is a possibility.

If Valencia seels off D. Villa, they may have a chance, Real will try everything in their power to bring Ronaldo and despite many disbelievers, he'll end up there eventually.

When that happens, Ferguson will try to lure Messi from Barca and play with his buddy Tevez.

Valencia can barely afford a pair of pants to cover their collective arse, let alone afford his wages even if they sell Villa. Plus they are a second rate side in an appalling stadium. Arshavin will probably end up at Chelsea.

Utd have got no chance of buying Messi, and Tevez shouldn't be there as he breaks UEFA rules on third party ownership - although being United, the rules seemingly don't apply to them.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 7:23 am

who wouldn't want three lions on their shirt....

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 7:53 am

Other than the England national team, I can't think of anyone who plays in a shirt with that as part of the badge.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:52 am

well of course not, it would take up valuable advertising space. You'll have to excuse my reference I just watched the "England's staying home" song to the tune of that great Euro 1996 theme song.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 10:50 am

C'mon Turkey !!