Soccer thread 07/08

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 9:28 pm

What Rob said. I thought Crouch was poor in the last match, missed a sitter in the first 5 minutes. I think the whole Crouch 'debate' is only an issue because Crouch is English and plays for 'Ingerlund' - if Louis Saha (a French international) was English you'd never hear the end of how Fergie 'hates him' and 'doesn't give him a chance'. But since he's French it's okay that he doesn't start every match.

Besides, I think the media's stance that Rafa doesn't support Crouch his hilarious since this is the same media that thought Rafa was crazy for spending 7 million on him and then openly mocked him when Crouchie went months without scoring his first goal. Now that he doesn't start every match (and now that he's an England international) they think he should go to another team to get a starting role.

Ditto for this 'rotation' business - like I suggested before (sarcastically) if Liverpool had lost to Bolton in the same manner United did (they had many of their stars on the bench) they media would have blamed Rafa's rotation policy. When Fergie does it, it's called 'resting. Even the criticism of the Gerrard substitution at Goodison was hilarious since the kid he brought on (Lucas) won the penalty that sealed the match.

Let's not forget the English media's now lost facination with Rafa's 'crazy' zonal marking system. Just because these idiots don't understand tactics beyond kick and run they blamed every chance on a system that's widely used outside of the nation that's not going to the European championships next year. Meanwhile, Liverpool have the best defensive record and when Anelka scored against United...well they were employing Man-to-Man marking on that set piece.

Of course, if we lose our next 5 matches I take back what I said, Crouch should be captain, sell Gerrard, Rafa out and bring in Allardyce. :p

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 11:38 pm

Champions League Match fixing scandal could get real ugly.

Report that the 8-0 win by Liverpool in the Champions League is one of the matches under investigation.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Sto ... 35,00.html

Best wishes,

Doug

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:02 am

dougb wrote: http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Sto ... 35,00.html

Best wishes,

Doug

Quote from that article;

"Liverpool themselves were unaware of the accusation last night and there is no suggestion that the Premier League team have been involved in any wrongdoing."

Hope that's true. If not....WHY THE HELL didn't they fix the Champions League final last year?!?! Jeez, fix something important damn it!

An interesting article on Sir Raf a Lot; http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-s ... 34757.html

The author goes off on a weird tangent but I thought it was interesting.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:45 am

Macca00 wrote:
dougb wrote: http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Sto ... 35,00.html

Best wishes,

Doug
Quote from that article;

"Liverpool themselves were unaware of the accusation last night and there is no suggestion that the Premier League team have been involved in any wrongdoing."

Hope that's true. If not....WHY THE HELL didn't they fix the Champions League final last year?!?! Jeez, fix something important damn it!

Uh because they are amateurs in the world of cheating. Come on, AC Milan is going to beat Liverpool cheating each time out. You should know that Lavan.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:52 am

Another contraversy brewing in Football? You don't say.

The Thais were reportedly waging up to 1 billion big ones during the last WC. Where's M. Platini?

With Sheva still not starting for Chelsea, rumors are that he may follow Becks footsteps and end up in LA.

Despite support from his players, Allardyce admits being 'under the cosh'- quick someone give him some sleeping pills.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 3:04 am

JRod wrote: Uh because they are amateurs in the world of cheating. Come on, AC Milan is going to beat Liverpool cheating each time out. You should know that Lavan.

You got me there, brother man! lol We should model our cheating style on a combination of Milan and Juve - but then again, Juve did get caught.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 3:21 pm

*sigh*

Absolute farce of refereeing - Reading got a penalty 3 yards outside the box, Sonko should send Andre Mariner a Christmas card because he conceded 2 clear penalties on Torres - injured him as the last man on the second - but the ref gave nothing.

Oh well, not Liverpool's day and I'll take a loss today (our first of the season in the league) if we win next week. Besides, we were dreadfully unlucky hitting the post twice and dominating possession. Brilliant 3rd goal by Reading, though.

On a side note, I usually go to the pub to watch most Liverpool matches but thought I'd stay in and watch it on Setanta....oh my god the color commentator George Burley was bloody awful. Some gems;

"With all due respect to Reading, championship contenders don't come to places like Reading and lose matches"

Right, they go to the Rebok Stadium and lose.

"Reading have played magnificently, they've harried and haven't allowed Liverpool to have any possession and play their passing game"

2nd half possession stats: Reading 38% Liverpool 62%

I think networks should not bother with color commentators and instead use a computer program that spits out random English football cliches. Would save them a lot more money.

Finally, the networks must blow a load whenever Steven Gerrard gets subbed off - they LOVE it - love the super slow motion replays of Gerrard's reactions, the 5 minutes of cutting to his face when he's on the bench, and best of all the close-ups on evil Rafa's face. You'd think he'd just subbed off Jesus Christ.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 4:04 pm

3-1 Macca. That's pretty embarrassing for any Liverpool fan.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 7:24 pm

JRod wrote:3-1 Macca. That's pretty embarrassing for any Liverpool fan.

LOL F.U. :p

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 1:49 am

Macca00 wrote:
JRod wrote:3-1 Macca. That's pretty embarrassing for any Liverpool fan.

LOL F.U. :p

I have to give you a hard time. Soccer wouldn't be any fun if you didn't take the piss out of other fans.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 2:03 am

JRod wrote: I have to give you a hard time. Soccer wouldn't be any fun if you didn't take the piss out of other fans.

Of course! That's the whole point!

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:28 am

Macca, Match Of The Day last night used some fancy rotating freeze-frame tool to show, or at least try to show, that the Reading penalty actually was the right decision - mind, I've no idea how the officials could claim to see it at normal speed, and I'd had a little drink by that point so I could barely see it even when the action froze.

I'll leave others to take the piss, though - I couldn't do it knowing that my team lost 3-1 away to Yeovil Town.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 3:38 pm

Wow, this weekend has been brutal for my I know the Score picks.

Aresenal let everyone back in with a shocking loss away to Boro. Blackburn lost at home. Man City continue their awful form away. In a mini upset West Ham get 3 from Blackburn.

Dave how come Man City are a different team away?

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:22 pm

Macca00 wrote:
JRod wrote: I have to give you a hard time. Soccer wouldn't be any fun if you didn't take the piss out of other fans.
Of course! That's the whole point!

Indeed. But who's JRod's horse in tis race? He's always around to kick those of us who have our hearts on our respective sleeves. But methinks he's not leaving himself open to return treatment in kind.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 12:18 pm

JRod wrote:Wow, this weekend has been brutal for my I know the Score picks.

Aresenal let everyone back in with a shocking loss away to Boro. Blackburn lost at home. Man City continue their awful form away. In a mini upset West Ham get 3 from Blackburn.

Dave how come Man City are a different team away?

Because only home teams are allowed to handle the ball in from a free kick that should never have been given.

miget33 · Post by **miget33** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:18 pm

Mourinho rules himself out for England

LISBON, Portugal (AP) - Jose Mourinho doesn't want to become England's soccer coach.

The former Chelsea manager withdrew Monday following talks with Football Association officials Brian Barwick and Trevor Brooking.

"After Steve McClaren departed the England football team, my representatives had contacts with the FA," Mourinho said in a statement released through his agent, Jorge Mendes.

"Following that, I, myself, had interesting conversations with Brian Barwick and Trevor Brooking with whom I exchanged ideas with a view to evaluating the current situation of the English national team and the aims that would be pursued if I were in fact invited to take this post.

"After reflecting at length, I took the decision to exclude myself from the possibility of becoming the England manager even though I regard it as a wonderful job.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7548502

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:36 pm

As a neutral viewer I think Martin O'Neill would be the best choice for England, but who knows if he's interested.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:50 pm

Mourhino said that after he met with England. I wonder if there's more to it than Jose ruling himself out.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:44 pm

He ginned this whole thing up on his own to parlay himself into a top-flight club gig ASAP.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:28 pm

that Horsham-Swansea match was fun to watch until half.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:16 am

Erp.

http://deadspin.com/sports/espn/espn-re ... 331963.php

Apparently having laid ruin to all of the domestic sports landscape ESPN is
interested in capturing EPL broadcast rights. (Deep breath) First of all, it's nothing substantial at this point. But I think it's safe to say that if they want to blow Fox out of the water on a bid, they can do it. That is unless Fox wants to make a much bigger investment in FSC than they are now.

Is there any way this is a good thing? Maybe more games than we get now on Fox? I'm seeing Suzie Kolber and that ugly red-headed broad on the touch line sticking a mic in Arsene Wenger's face asking him inane questions. And I. Don't. Like. It.

--

Edit: Never mind. Actually read the BBC article. They want the UK rights.

Suckers...

And I don't think Rupert is gonna let that happen anyway. Who's behind Setanta? Do they have the cash to throw down with Disney?

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:01 am

Most people get ESPN but not FSC.

Actually ESPN Deportes already seems to show a lot of European soccer (La Liga definitely).

What would be the problem, that ESPN would change the sport? Dictate scheduling and maybe shape the rules somehow?

EPL is rich so they shouldn't be susceptible to TV meddling in the same way that say NHL or NBA would be.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:20 am

wco81 wrote:Most people get ESPN but not FSC.

Actually ESPN Deportes already seems to show a lot of European soccer (La Liga definitely).

What would be the problem, that ESPN would change the sport? Dictate scheduling and maybe shape the rules somehow?

EPL is rich so they shouldn't be susceptible to TV meddling in the same way that say NHL or NBA would be.

ESPN is bidding on the UK rights, not the US rights.

Right now, ESPN only has a british version of ESPN Classic in the UK.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:48 pm

Well then who cares?

Guess Becks didn't ignite American passion for futbol.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:09 am

Oh, it's only Marseille.