The Beautiful Game Thread, 11/12

[fsquid]

heck, a ton changed between ESPN's coverage of 2006 World Cup and 2010.

[fsquid]

Great game this morning. I really enjoy the early kickoffs on ESPN. Just a nice way to start the weekend.

[10spro]

Nice strike by Y. Cabaye in what looked like a set play. Perfectly executed. Wigan hung in tough, thought they had their chances especially in the 1st half but they were playing for the point only once the 2nd half started as the Magpies took the win.

[Macca00]

Newcastle still unbeaten. Great start for them.

Liverpool wasted so many chances it was ridiculous. Amazing save by the Norwich keeper at the death but at home against a promoted side (and particularly with the truckload of chances we had earlier) the game should have been done and dusted long by then.

[RobVarak]

One of those days for Liverpool. Twice hitting the woodwork in the first 10 minutes and you know what kind of a day it's going to be. Gerrard was anonymous unfortunately, and despite the wealth of chances they looked like a side who are still learning to play together. So damn frustrating.

[Jimmydeicide]

Yeh Gerrard is not even close yet. Downing is settling in to his mediocre cant beat a man form.
Suarez Crys his way out of sure free kicks.

Yes very frustrating.

[miget33]

Mario Balotelli sets his house ablaze. Sounds about right.

[toonarmy]

Have to admit I was getting a little worried late in the Newcastle match today, but thankfully they got a goal from an unlikely source and won a match they should have won. It feels really weird to be doing so well.

Looking forward to the battle between the Manchesters tomorrow. Should be fun.

[toonarmy]

What a thumping so far by City. 3-0, and they are looking for more.

[Macca00]

ROFL

Ass whoopin'.

Mario Balotelli sets his house ablaze. Sounds about right.

Ballotelli set his house on fire yesterday, set Old Trafford on fire today.

[Feanor]

6-1 City.

[davet010]

Can't wait for the parade of Fergie excuses.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off out for a beer. Or ten.

[Macca00]

One of those days for Liverpool. Twice hitting the woodwork in the first 10 minutes and you know what kind of a day it's going to be. Gerrard was anonymous unfortunately, and despite the wealth of chances they looked like a side who are still learning to play together. So damn frustrating.

I think Kenny got the tactics wrong IMO. We were missing Lucas but instead of replacing like for like (kind of) with Spearing he dropped Gerrard back into midfield. I think he should of stuck Gerrard on the left/wing where Bellamy was playing and have him more forward. But then again it's not like we didn't create a boat-load of chances, just couldn't score to save our lives. Agree - very frustrating game.

We put on a clinic on how to be wasteful in front of net, City put on clinic on how to be deadly.

[RobVarak]

As much as I applaud Balotelli's humor, it's "always" him because he's the only dipshit who's stupid enough to do things like blow off fireworks in his crapper.

Macca, I think Kenny getting the tactics wrong is something we're going to have to live with. He's got certain strengths as a manager, but that's certainly not one of them. Was hoping that more of a Boot Room approach would have guys like Clarke having more of a say. Either it's not doing so, or the wrong guys are in that room. On balance I think Kenny's been the near-perfect hire to get things back on track, but this is something we've got to live with for now.

[JRod]

Balotelli's an idiot who will probably be gone in less than two years. He's really not even needed an City. It's not like they couldn't find another young striker who will be just as good.

[Macca00]

Balotelli's an idiot who will probably be gone in less than two years. He's really not even needed an City. It's not like they couldn't find another young striker who will be just as good.

I dunno, he's pretty freakin' good IMO - but I've been a fan of his even when he was at Inter. Absolute nutcase though, no doubt.

[JRod]

Balotelli's an idiot who will probably be gone in less than two years. He's really not even needed an City. It's not like they couldn't find another young striker who will be just as good.

I dunno, he's pretty freakin' good IMO - but I've been a fan of his even when he was at Inter. Absolute nutcase though, no doubt.

He's a young Anelka.

[Macca00]

He's a young Anelka.

So a guy who's going to win multiple league titles in different countries, the champions league and the European Championships?

They both may be sulking black guys but on their day they are (in Anelka's case he was) devastating - Ballotelli scored twice today and got Evans sent off. For that kind of talent, if you can control him, it's worth putting up with the madness.

At least he didn't refuse to play!



Anyone see the Chelsea game? I really dislike the Chav's but even I felt sorry for them....okay, so I didn't but they got shafted big time. Colin Wanker aka Tactical Genius set up his QPR team, against 9 men, to play the long ball. What a numbskull, guy couldn't coach his way out of a paper bag.


EDIT:
I realize I just jinxed myself and look forward to QPR beating Liverpool both home and away this season.

[Macca00]

In non-EPL - anyone see KP Boateng's performance against Lecce for Milan? Holy crap - Milan down 3-0, bring Boateng on and he scores a hattrick in 14 minutes - two with the left, one with the right foot. What a player!

[pk500]

All this hubub about City. Are people forgetting there's another unbeaten side in the Premiership?

[miget33]

ROFL

Ass whoopin'.

Mario Balotelli sets his house ablaze. Sounds about right.

Ballotelli set his house on fire yesterday, set Old Trafford on fire today.

Again, sounds about right.

[davet010]

After a day's reflection, and watching of the highlights again, you know what struck me ?

Not the majesty of David Silva (whose anointment by Daniel Taylor in the Grauniad as the 'new Paul Scholes' was scotched for me by the fact that (a) he's three times the player that ginger buffoon ever was, and (b) the fact that he didn't launch into a two-footed tackle in the first 5 minutes), nor the abject uselessness of Chris Smalling.

No, it was Fergie's complete disassociation of himself from the side in the post-match interview. Talking about 'the players' continuing to bomb forward even when down to 10 men, or 'the players' lack of tactical discipline. Which means either that he couldn't get his instructions out onto the pitch, or he was so dumbfounded that he didn't have anything to say. Doesn't say much for Ferdinand or Rooney, does it ?

Of course, normal service on Sky's sycophantic coverage was soon resumed - by midday the lead story was Little PeaBrain or whatever he's called signing a new contract. And plenty of mention of 'moneybags City', as opposed to the locally unearthed talents and sparkling play of DeGea (£18m), Smalling (£12m), Ferdinand (£30m...in 2002), Jones (£18m), Young (£18m, and new holder of the 'Shaun Wright-Philips' award for running into blind alleys) et al.

Oh, and just in case you were missing SuperMario...now he's helping the police with their campaigns...

[pk500]

That's a funny shot of Balotelli!

Sport needs characters like SuperMario, especially when they deliver on the field, rink, court, track, etc.

[RobVarak]

Of course, normal service on Sky's sycophantic coverage was soon resumed - by midday the lead story was Little PeaBrain or whatever he's called signing a new contract. And plenty of mention of 'moneybags City', as opposed to the locally unearthed talents and sparkling play of DeGea (£18m), Smalling (£12m), Ferdinand (£30m...in 2002), Jones (£18m), Young (£18m, and new holder of the 'Shaun Wright-Philips' award for running into blind alleys) et al.

This is something that has always bugged me about EPL commentary (both in-game and in the press). I swear that 40% of every game involving anyone in the Top 7 is spent prattling on about how much Team X spent in the transfer market as opposed to scrappy Team Y. It's like nobody wants to ever accept the decades-old fact that there's no salary cap in this league and teams have different resources available to them. If Blackburn draws with Chelsea people go on as if it's like San Marino beating Spain to win the World Cup.

MLB has the same structure, but nobody spends 4 innings of a Yankees-Royals game going on and on about the respective salaries. (And all this is an entirely separate issue from the fact that the football press is foolishly obsessed with transfer fees to the total exclusion of any discussion of wages).

[Macca00]

(And all this is an entirely separate issue from the fact that the football press is foolishly obsessed with transfer fees to the total exclusion of any discussion of wages).

Ding ding! We have a winner!