Soccer thread 08/09 (will have spoilers!)

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:47 am

I think the Carling Cup could go but that is just me.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 11:35 am

Good source of revenue for the lower division clubs (both Burnley and Derby are in the semifinals), though it is true that the English League is unusual in having two cup competitions open to all clubs.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:16 am

It's open to all league clubs.

Defoe back to Spurs, Pompey should got for Podolski. 9 million Euros is all it will take.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:18 am

I think the Defoe money will be spent paying the bills, not on bringing anyone in.

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:23 am

Nice to see Pavlyuchenko playing well for Spurs lately. Another beautiful goal in the Carling Cup last night. I would think that he and Defoe would form a nice combination up front. Where does that leave Bent? Guess it doesn't hurt to have a bit of depth considering they are still making a good run for the league cup, FA cup, UEFA...all while trying to avoid relegation!

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:51 am

Ronaldo writes off his Ferrari in a crash, but is uninjured and gave a negative breath test to police:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/engl ... 817764.stm

Man United fans and Fantasy managers like myself who have him in their teams are very relieved.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:19 am

Feanor wrote:Ronaldo writes off his Ferrari in a crash, but is uninjured and gave a negative breath test to police:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/engl ... 817764.stm

Man United fans and Fantasy managers like myself who have him in their teams are very relieved.

Probably took HAZMAT crews hours to contain and clean the environmental mess from all that hair product on the road though.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:22 am

Yup, and Ronaldo's never been that good at taking corners.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:44 am

The story says Ronaldo got out of the car and walked away fine. I think that witness is lying - surely he stepped out then suddenly dove to the floor rolling away holding his knee/leg/foot.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:50 am

fanatic wrote:Nice to see Pavlyuchenko playing well for Spurs lately. Another beautiful goal in the Carling Cup last night. I would think that he and Defoe would form a nice combination up front. Where does that leave Bent? Guess it doesn't hurt to have a bit of depth considering they are still making a good run for the league cup, FA cup, UEFA...all while trying to avoid relegation!

Nice finish against Burnley, but I'm still not sold on Pavlyuchenko. Granted I haven't seen too many games recently, but he's been pretty overwhelming in the games I've seen. And isn't 3 quality strikers a near necessity these days anyway?

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 11:14 am

Naples39 wrote:Nice finish against Burnley, but I'm still not sold on Pavlyuchenko. Granted I haven't seen too many games recently, but he's been pretty overwhelming in the games I've seen. And isn't 3 quality strikers a near necessity these days anyway?

He also looked great against Wigan in their FA Cup clash...Only a couple of games, but still something to build on. Would be great to see him settle in.

True about the three strikers, but I guess it's their cost that seems to be issue. Might be hard for Bent or Pav to play well while not getting a lot of time out there. Frazier Campbell has looked good too.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:00 pm

I've heard that Pavlyuchenko just didn't work well with Ramos. He seems to be doing much better in his current situation.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:55 pm

Rafa absolutely unloaded on Ferguson and the FA today. Poor form, IMO, and I wish he'd kept his trap shut.

Virtually everything he said was 100% accurate, but was there anyone in world football who didn't know these things? All it does is demonstrate that SAF may be a gasseous old sumbitch, but he is still the absolute master of psychological warfare. He's been working overtime trying to ratchet up the pressure on LFC and it appears to be working.

With respect to the discussion of needing 3 great strikers, I have to differ. Liverpool are top of the table despite playing more than a few games with absolutely no strikers. Dirk Kuyt doesn't warrant the title.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:59 pm

Rob,

I too thought Rafa lost his rag but then again maybe he's doing some mind games of his own - Chelsea will be visiting Old Toilet this weekend and by bringing attention to the refs maybe United won't get many soft decisions. I also think he's taking some of the attention off captain jailbird.

I think the media will make this seem like a Keegan-style melt-down but after actually seeing the interview I'm don't think old Whiskey-nose has him.

Dirk Kuyt is still more of a striker than Paddy Dogsh!t.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 7:08 pm

Oh, just want to add his comment about how Scolari should use 'Zonal' marking against United since United play man-to-man against the ref was hilarious.

That and how he referred to red-nose as 'Mr' Ferguson.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 8:21 pm

Rafa's rant reminds me of Keegan's epic "I WILL LOVE IT" rage against Sir ExLax:

Rafa

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/m3-dzyn5gTw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed>

Keegan

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nW8p8xppxwA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed>

Take care,
PK

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 8:41 pm

For all you Landycakes fans, he'll be starting in tomorrow's friendly in Dubai.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 8:50 pm

pk500 wrote:Rafa's rant reminds me of Keegan's epic "I WILL LOVE IT" rage against Sir ExLax:

I know that's the connection the media will make - ExLax runs his mouth off and if anyone responds it's evidence that Ferguson's 'mind games' are working. But when I watch the vids I don't see that many similarities - one was composed, calm, hell Rafa had it written down. He was also funny.

Keegan was a ball of emotions. Still funny as hell, I love Kev.

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:40 pm

Macca00 wrote:Dirk Kuyt is still more of a striker than Paddy Dogsh!t.

Same guy different color hair no ?

Keene should be pissed tho, every time he hits his stride and produces hes left out completely next game, im sorry im far from the manager type but to have a striker low on confidence and to finally gain some only to be put down the very next game cant be good.
Having your head messed with doesn't seem like good managing, at least Phil Thompson agrees with me.

And he leaves both Keane and Torres on the bench for Stoke game.
Leaving us with the prolific finishing prowess of Kuyt upfront on his own.

I love Kuyt but not in that role.

Jimmy Shankly out.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:49 pm

The commentator was making a case for including Keane today as well. Personally, I found the game frustrating enough without having to endure another five or six entries from the Robbie Keane's Horror Misses '08 Comedy Tour.

Typical EPL crap. Games where a team plays 9 in their own penalty area are going to turn on one or two chances. Gerrard nearly converted on two great ones but was denied by the woodwork both times...game over.

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:40 pm

Rob you make it sound like Stoke never crossed their half , they had the better chances for most of the game. Liverpool where lucky to get a draw if you ask me.

They struggled cos Spanish Dr Phil didnt put his strongest team out.

He should leave Keane in if hes scoring and he has been of late, while i agree with all his misses the more he played the less he had .
Its not just about Keane why wasnt Torres in from the start. Who needs Macherano against stoke put in Xabi for crying out loud.
Its the easiest decision to make, your striker is confident play him not screw with his head.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 6:24 pm

Dunno about you lot, but all the way through that game, I was thinking about that quote from 'Fever Pitch' by the old Stoke manager Tony Waddington, when asked to justify his team's defense-minded tactics in a 0-0 draw away to Arsenal, and how little entertainment it had afforded the paying spectator.

Waddington replied

"If you want entertainment, go and watch clowns."

Absolute classic

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 6:31 pm

Jimmydeicide wrote:Rob you make it sound like Stoke never crossed their half , they had the better chances for most of the game. Liverpool where lucky to get a draw if you ask me.

They struggled cos Spanish Dr Phil didnt put his strongest team out.

He should leave Keane in if hes scoring and he has been of late, while i agree with all his misses the more he played the less he had .
Its not just about Keane why wasnt Torres in from the start. Who needs Macherano against stoke put in Xabi for crying out loud.
Its the easiest decision to make, your striker is confident play him not screw with his head.

Xabi's hurt from the FA Cup tie vs. Preston, and his absence was telling. They couldn't find the creative pass to unlock the hosts in his absence. Lucas is looking less and less like a viable option.

Stoke had a few spurts where they came forward, but really they had two lines of 4 across the top of the 18 for most of the game. Understandably so, as Dave's quote indicates. They played at a good tempo, to their credit.

I don't think scoring 1 and missing 4 sitters per half is "scoring of late." And if either one of Gerrard's two carpentry jobs goes in than we're not even discussing this.

Macca00 · Post by **Macca00** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:39 pm

Jim,

Xabi was injured. We needed him today. I'm not a fan of Paddy Dogsh!t but I still think he should have had a chance to miss some open goals at the end of the game today.

Oh well, still 4 points clear, hopefully United and Chelsea play to a draw/tie tomorrow with multiple suspensions and season-ending injuries. It will be interesting to see if any controversial decisions go United's way.

Stoke will be relegated this season and it does get on my tits that we've only taken 2 points from them.

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 9:32 pm

Its almost as if Rafa rested guys as he thinks chelsea man u will be a draw.

I think Keane has 4 goals in his last 5 without looking it up it doesnt matter how many chances he has, granted his sitters are frustrating but his replacement (Kuyt today) has probably missed way more and was more frustrating until he was stuck out wide out of the way where his unbelievable work rate has served to not miss a game and rightly so but then that philosophy doesnt seem to matter for the forwards.

If a striker scores a goal that should keep him in the side for the next game, never mind getting 10 mins at the end of a game which Keane doesnt even get.