Soccer thread 08/09 (will have spoilers!)

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davet010
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Post by davet010 »

dougb wrote:
davet010 wrote:http://www.mcfcfans.co.uk/blog/$blog/20 ... rspectives

There you go Doug.

First home game of the new era is a week on Sunday....vs Chelsea.
Thanks Dave!

I wonder how many other Premiership outfits are going to be looking for a wealthy benefactor.

Had to laught listening to CBC radio in Toronto on the way to work this morning. The sportscaster was talking about how odd it was that Manchester City fans were worried the team would go and spend too much money to put together an all-star squad.

Best wishes,

Doug
Doug,

The thing is that City fans have had to make do with not being successful, in fact yo-yoing up and down the league (10 years ago, City were starting their one and only season in the third tier) - and thus developed a strong shell of self-deprecation....the standard response to the MU fan's statement of 'you lot are crap' was 'yeah - so what ?' They just don't have that level of ironic detachment, as you can see by their panicked bleatings about City 'ruining the game' by joining the rich clubs. Personally I think it's because that sort of knowing irony is a part of Mancunian culture as well, which therefore bypasses Man U supporters.

I think that the concerns are genuine, to some extent, and here's why...

1. City already have one of the most successful youth setups in the country - even last week saw 5 home grown players and 2 in the subs, as well as winning the FA Youth Cup last year. It would be a shame if those lads couldn't see a way into the first team if good enough.

2. The Chumps League already has numerical restrictions on the 25 man squad (2 home-grown and 8 home-country players, IIRC). I'm sure that Bent Blatter and his greasy French poodle will be pushing for this to be introduced at domestic level as well - so no point going out buying all foreign players, but you end up paying over the odds for domestic ones (a big hi to Spurs at this point).

3. I really don't want to see City become another Chelsea. The culture of the club was more strongly rooted in the locality than them or MU, and I wouldn't want to lose that, or lose the staunch support to be replaced by the camel sandwich brigade. I also don't want to buy any players off the Big 4 either....why should City contribute £140m towards MU's spiralling debt ?

4. Lastly, it appears that the owners of City are not willing to go to the extreme with regard to local rivalries. Buy United from the Glasers (let's say £1bn...or about another $2 on a barrel of oil), sell all of the players, inform the Premier League that the club is disbanding and dynamite the ground. Well, I'D buy the DVD, for a start.

PS - If I was an MU player, I'd be very afraid....they might think that they need another air crash to cynically exploit for the next 50 years.

PPS - Just read through that stuff about Keegan that PK posted. To be honest, while I can understand that getting Xisco and some unknown dude when you wanted Schweinsteiger might seem a bit of a disappointment, the fact that Mad Kev thought the latter might want to play for Newcastle, or that they can afford him, shows just how divorced from reality he is. KK is no longer able to function effectively at Prem level, and it's really an indication of the Geordie capacity for self deception that they are demonstrating to keep him.
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
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Post by davet010 »

BBC now saying KK definitely gone from Newcastle. Obviously Ashley wouldn't sack Wise, so it remains to be see who'd be daft enough to come into a job where you take all the flack and yet report to a dim little tosser like Wise.
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
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Post by pk500 »

davet010 wrote:BBC now saying KK definitely gone from Newcastle. Obviously Ashley wouldn't sack Wise, so it remains to be see who'd be daft enough to come into a job where you take all the flack and yet report to a dim little tosser like Wise.
Exactly. Wise wins the power struggle. What chance that he'll be on the touchline as gaffer next weekend?

My club is in a shambles. Not exactly a news flash there -- NUFC has been adrift since Robson was canned.

Take care,
PK
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Post by davet010 »

pk500 wrote:
davet010 wrote:BBC now saying KK definitely gone from Newcastle. Obviously Ashley wouldn't sack Wise, so it remains to be see who'd be daft enough to come into a job where you take all the flack and yet report to a dim little tosser like Wise.
Exactly. Wise wins the power struggle. What chance that he'll be on the touchline as gaffer next weekend?

My club is in a shambles. Not exactly a news flash there -- NUFC has been adrift since Robson was canned.

Take care,
PK
Wise would be daft to take it though. If Newcastle want to keep this model, they would be better going for a foreign manager who's used to this sort of 'coach/sporting director' model.
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
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Post by davet010 »

The Newcastle Board have today come out in support of Mike Ashley and Dennis Wise

Image
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
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Post by fsquid »

stop bitching PK become a Wednesday supporter and learn what s*** is.
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Post by davet010 »

Try following the new City for a bit (and I'm not kidding)

- everyone will hate you

- have to spend 10 mins convincing people you haven't just jumped on the camel train

- spend ages agonising about whether winning under these circumstances represents a loss of the club's soul

- listening to constant twining (mainly from fans of Big 4 clubs, oddly enough) that you are 'killing football', like all of their players were local lads spotted playing football in back alleys who were happy to sign for the club at 15 because it saved them from working down the mines.

- papers full of ludicrous speculation every day (Gianluigi Buffon for £60m is today's) because journalists are morons who don't have any real contacts with the club so just make stuff up. There is a sweep (pool) going on the City site I frequent as to how many players the club will be linked with before the Jan transfer window...current bets are between 50 and 110.

- trying to resist the temptation to point out to MU fans that the real death of 'football' was them converting into a plc in 1991 and starting the massive transfers game....made even more difficult by the fact that most of their fans believe that 'soccer' only started in 1992/3 when the Premiership kicked off.

It's tough, I tell thee.....particularly as we are all fasting because it's Ramadan. :wink:
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
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Post by MACTEPsporta »

:D
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Post by pk500 »

Joey Barton banned for 12 games. For f*ck's sake, is this guy really worth the trouble for any club?

I know he's a solid player, but it's not like he's Stevie G or Frankie Lamps at their best.

Take care,
PK
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Post by davet010 »

pk500 wrote:Joey Barton banned for 12 games. For f*ck's sake, is this guy really worth the trouble for any club?

I know he's a solid player, but it's not like he's Stevie G or Frankie Lamps at their best.

Take care,
PK
"Joey Barton" - the thinking Toon fan's two word answer to those who argue that BFS was harshly dealt with and should be re-hired as Newcastle boss.
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
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Post by pk500 »

Dave: : ) :) :) :)

That's a good one, mate!

I think I should already start shopping for a unique Upstate N.Y. gift for you to settle our annual bet even though the season is only three weeks old ...

Take care,
PK
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Post by fsquid »

davet010 wrote:Try following the new City for a bit (and I'm not kidding)

- everyone will hate you

- have to spend 10 mins convincing people you haven't just jumped on the camel train

- spend ages agonising about whether winning under these circumstances represents a loss of the club's soul

- listening to constant twining (mainly from fans of Big 4 clubs, oddly enough) that you are 'killing football', like all of their players were local lads spotted playing football in back alleys who were happy to sign for the club at 15 because it saved them from working down the mines.

- papers full of ludicrous speculation every day (Gianluigi Buffon for £60m is today's) because journalists are morons who don't have any real contacts with the club so just make stuff up. There is a sweep (pool) going on the City site I frequent as to how many players the club will be linked with before the Jan transfer window...current bets are between 50 and 110.

- trying to resist the temptation to point out to MU fans that the real death of 'football' was them converting into a plc in 1991 and starting the massive transfers game....made even more difficult by the fact that most of their fans believe that 'soccer' only started in 1992/3 when the Premiership kicked off.

It's tough, I tell thee.....particularly as we are all fasting because it's Ramadan. :wink:
Wednesday has:

Sued their Fans (including me somehow)

Has no Chairman at this time

Been up for sale for almost a full year

Can't way anymore player wages

Has almost half their starting XI on loan

Has their stadium flood every few years

Used to be a big club, but those were days ago.
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Post by davet010 »

I do feel for you, Squid - Wed are a club with a lot of potential
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
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Post by fsquid »

davet010 wrote:I do feel for you, Squid - Wed are a club with a lot of potential
I'd have to agree, if they had some money, the support is there for an EPL team. That is as long as we stay away from the Italians.
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Post by macsomjrr »

pk500 wrote:Joey Barton banned for 12 games. For f*ck's sake, is this guy really worth the trouble for any club?

I know he's a solid player, but it's not like he's Stevie G or Frankie Lamps at their best.

Take care,
PK
Where are you reading 12? Soccernet is saying only 6. Should be twelve though...

EDIT - nm, 6 banned, 6 suspended... I should learn how to read.
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Post by RobVarak »

Woohoo! Master League marvel Ivanschitz helps Austria do in France!

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... nd&cc=5901
XBL Gamertag: RobVarak

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Post by Feanor »

Domenech has lost the plot.
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Post by 10spro »

Les Bleus look older and older.
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Post by dougb »

Plucky England steal a victory against Andorra.

Best wishes,

Doug
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Post by Macca00 »

Can't believe England beat Andorra by a measly 2 goals to nil...well....actually I can believe it. I hope Croatia tear England a new one on Wednesday.
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Post by Jimmydeicide »

Thank god we had Joe Cole is all i can say, i may be turning around on the diving ponce he sure does nut it up for England, Kinda like Rooney did at first.
What is it about playing for England ? They just get beaten into a frightened timid submission shadows of shadows of their former selves.

I hope your Canadian Macca.
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Post by davet010 »

He's a Liverpool fan, so is trying to divert attention from their plight - what with squabbling owners, a deferred stadium and a squad overly reliant on two players.

Macca's January nightmare...

"Here's 100m towards your new stadium. Now, Mr Gerrard and Mr Torres, the limo is here to take you down the M62.."
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
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Post by Macca00 »

Jimmydeicide wrote:I hope your Canadian Macca.
Born in England, lived there till I was 13, in Canada since. Parents lived in England for 25 years and my dad spent almost a decade in Liverpool. I love England but I hate the national football team for a number of reasons - regardless of how Liverpool are doing.

Dave,
I think of it as progress - last few years we were 'overly reliant on Gerrard', now it's Gerrard and Torres. :)
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Post by davet010 »

Well, at least til January.

Big weekend of soccer next week - Saturday sees Liverpool vs Man U (aka the 'Debtors Derby')

Sunday is Man City vs Chelsea (aka the 'Cash Clash')

Knowing City's luck, Robinho will score an own goal, breaking his leg in the process, and the winner will be scored by Fat Frank in the 9th minute of injury time, when another of his wayward hoofs hits a passing satellite, bounces off Abramovich's yacht and spins into the top corner.

PS - Fans of MCFC are now the only people in the world hoping that cold fusion technology is not discovered....or at least is suppressed by the oil companies for a bit longer.
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
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Post by Jimmydeicide »

Macca00 wrote:
Jimmydeicide wrote:I hope your Canadian Macca.
Born in England, lived there till I was 13, in Canada since. Parents lived in England for 25 years and my dad spent almost a decade in Liverpool. I love England but I hate the national football team for a number of reasons - regardless of how Liverpool are doing.
What possibly could the England team have done to make you hate them ? Other than severe permanent disappointment and playing Paul Mariner all those years.
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