Euro 2008 (Official Man City LOL Thread)

[red barchetta]

Well if SWP is fourth choice, I'd think he'll be playing football in London, still expect I think he'll end up at Arsenal. I can see the same thing with him happening that did with Parker and a stirker they had that they sold (his anme eludes me at this moment). But I can definetly see him not wanting to stay if regualr Football is not available. Who knows I'd assume the money is available as Steve Gibson is, well the best chairman in the Premership. Boro's team would look a lot better with him Right and Downing left. Speaking of Downing if he plays his best from his first match back till the end of the season there is a chance of him playing in Germany.
oh yeah, Kezman. he was terrible at Chelsea. its hard to believe he managed to get 30+ goals in the season before with PSV.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

YAY i got Football Manager 2006 today !

[Lord Abortion]

Excellent.
I'm just starting my third season at Man United.
This summer I signed Morgan De Sanctis, Wesley Schnidjer(I spelled that wrong) and Leo Messi, outgoing were Park to Chelsea for £18 million (hahaha, waaay overpriced) and Tim Howard-Villereal £6m.

Previos signings=Pirlo £33m, Tevez £16m, Evra £13m

[RandyfromPennywise]

Please tell me about Football Manager 2006! The Championship Manager series is what I was/am familiar with, up until 03/04, which was an excellent game and format, once used to it. I hear that Football Manager has taken over from where Championship Manager left off though, as CM went off the boil as such... Is FM '06 a good investment? I really need a new manager game! And one with a really comprehensive, up-to-date database.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

Yes, it is basically EXACTLY the same as Champ Manager, it's SI doing it you see, buy it, it's just like the old games, but better.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Awesome. Is it expensive? I bet the player database would be awesome.

Chelsea probably signing Nuno Maniche from Dinamo. I can see why a loan deal might be reached, as cover for Essien in midfield, but I still see it as unnecessary. Furthermore, it is said that we will buy him for £5 million at the end of the season. This seems ridiculous. Just play Joe Cole in midfield in place of Essien for that time (African Nations' Cup) and put Robben or SWP on the wing. Goodness, it's only a month, at the most! This is just like signing Jarošik last season. Completely unnecessary. Now the squad is just going to get even more crowded. Gérémi is at a similar level to Maniche, perhaps Maniche is a bit better, but we have enough cover already! Silly move if it goes ahead.

[Drop The Baby]

It's a ridiculous move, i agree.

[Lord Abortion]

Yeah, it's like Chelsea buying a player just because they can...

Poor SWP. He never should have gone there, it's done his England chances no good at all.

[Drop The Baby]

However biased i may be, there's no way SWP should've gone to Chelsea, he should definatelky gone to Arsenal where he would've become a legend.

£21million signing didn't even make the bench on the weekend, just another demonstration of Chelsea's spending power and their apparent policy of 'buying because we can'.

[IAJP]

I've really gone off Championship Manager/Football Manager. I used to be absolutely addicted to it (around 2001 or so, I'd imagine), but I haven't actually played it for any length of time for about a year or so. I still think the best version was 2001/02.

About Wright-Phillips, I can see why he went to Chelsea. He probably thought that being a natural right-footer, he'd fit in on the right wing, while Duff and Robben fought it out on the left, with Cole wanting to play there since he plays there for England. If he'd gone to Arsenal then he'd be forgoing the chance to win a lot of trophies, which Arsenal probably won't really be in the running for for the next few years. He just hasn't played well enough. As for Chelsea buying this guy...there's no point, really. They've got more than enough midfielders to keep things covered.
Is it true that if you try and make an ilegal copy of CM/FM it can create a virus? I.E. You copy the game, and the copied version and your version starts to detiriorate?

I heard that if you copy it, the value of your players and club slowly goes down.


Eh, anyway, with all this speak of Chelsea, I really don't think Robben is so great.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Poor SWP. He never should have gone there, it's done his England chances no good at all.
... but his bank balance the world of good. He's on a ridiculously high wage apparently, something like £60,000 a week. If he is earning that much (or maybe even more...), he'd have to be one of the highest paid bench/not-even-in-the-squad players in the world.

[Lord Abortion]

True, but that makes him a mercenary wanker, I'm afraid.

[ChodaBoy]

Yeah, it's like Chelsea buying a player just because they can...

Thank god City squeezed as much money as possible from them.

If he'd gone to Arsenal then he'd be forgoing the chance to win a lot of trophies
But he's winning trophies...without doing anything. There cant be much satisfaction in that.

[Frankie]

^^^ No he isn't you don't win trophies when your not even in the 16 man squad. Also I know it seems a bit, well ridiculous but I wouldn't rule out SWP playing at boro in a few seasons. Steve McClaren said he was interested, if he was available, well the same thing that happenend with Kezman and Parker could happen with him.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

Ah shi, TOTTENHAM PHAGS !

[Timm]

so it's 06 soon

who do you think will win the world cup in Germany next(/"this" for some already) year?

Brazil is always a good bet but I think also the Netherlands have a good chance this time
I hope the German team reaches the semifinal at least, the group shouldn't be much of a problem, but then again look at France last time :smash:

what do you think?
England's team is great aswell but they seem to not do too well in tournaments

[ThrashMaster27]

so it's 06 soon

who do you think will win the world cup in Germany next(/"this" for some already) year?

Brazil is always a good bet but I think also the Netherlands have a good chance this time
I hope the German team reaches the semifinal at least, the group shouldn't be much of a problem, but then again look at France last time :smash:

what do you think?
England's team is great aswell but they seem to not do too well in tournaments

It's quite a hard decision. I don't think Holland will make it even to the last 36, but I've been wrong many times. Many people are saying this is Englands year, yet I can't see us winning the world cup. I'd love it if it happened, but I highly doubt it.

[Timm]

Holland already made it to the last 32 :confused:

[IAJP]

I would like to see Germany win it, after England of course, :p.

[ThrashMaster27]

Crap, I meant 32. Where did 36 come from?

I blame the beer.

Crap, it's the last 16 isn't it? man, I'm smashed.

[Timm]

I would like to see Germany win it, after England of course, :p.
yeah right after extra time and penalities huh?

:p

[IAJP]

yeah right after extra time and penalities huh?

:p
Quiet!

You'll probbably trundle through the tournament and get to the last 4, as usual! :angry:

[Timm]

Quiet!

You'll probbably trundle through the tournament and get to the last 4, as usual! :angry:
haha
and then in the last match we play actually really good and lose like in 02 :lol:

[Drop The Baby]

Owen's broken his metatarsal. Out for 2-3 months.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

**** !

Holy **** !

Oh Man Im Pissed Off Now !

[Drahmen]

Crouchy again bags a goal. Lets hope he can keep this bit of form up.

[guitarbaz]

**** !

Holy **** !

Oh Man Im Pissed Off Now !

i'll join you in that feeling...:angry:

just heard an interview with Steve Harper, he reckons the club is cursed. I have to agree with him..just wtf is going on?

[[OverDriven]]

This is Soccer, Dumbass. Read the Thread. Have oyu ever heard of a American Football team named Chelsea, or Liverpool.

Foolish N00b.
Thats whats funny about it.

[RCVA]

Palace are closing the gap in the Championship. :)

[Frankie]

Haha no owen or Given for t' derby, things are looking up for monday were I predict 2-0 Boro

[TakeWarning]

Hooray! 2-0.

[Ganondorf]

My team on Pro Evo 4 is looking awesome atm

GK: S. Taylor
CBT: Campbell
CBT: Nesta
LB: Riise (c)
RB: Thuram
RMF: Lijunberg
CMF: Gerrard
LMF: Pires
OMF: Kaka
CF: Henry
CF: Maradona

Subs:
Hoyte
Cygan
Svard
Van Persie
Cisse
Joaquin
Giggs
Fabregas

[red barchetta]

My team on Pro Evo 4 is looking awesome atm

GK: S. Taylor
CBT: Campbell
CBT: Nesta
LB: Riise (c)
RB: Thuram
RMF: Lijunberg
CMF: Gerrard
LMF: Pires
OMF: Kaka
CF: Henry
CF: Maradona

Subs:
Hoyte
Cygan
Svard
Van Persie
Cisse
Joaquin
Giggs
Fabregas
my team on Pro Evo 5's better :cool:

GK: Gomes

CB: Puyol
CB: Mexes
CB: Terry

DMF: Gattuso
CMF: Gerrard
RMF: Nihat
LMF: Joe Cole

SS: Ronaldinho
CF: Adriano
CF: Eto'o

Pro Evo is awesome

[Ganondorf]

What's SS? Split Striker?

[TakeWarning]

I got an Xbox two days ago, I gotta get me Pro Evo, it's so much fun.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

I'm doing pretty well on Football manager, i got Toon in a 7 game unbeated run, then lost 3-0 to Arsenal :(

I'm always in debt though.

[TakeWarning]

I'm downloading Football Manager as we speak. $10 says it doesn't work though.

[RandyfromPennywise]

my team on Pro Evo 5's better :cool:

GK: Gomes

CB: Puyol
CB: Mexes
CB: Terry

DMF: Gattuso
CMF: Gerrard
RMF: Nihat
LMF: Joe Cole

SS: Ronaldinho
CF: Adriano
CF: Eto'o

Pro Evo is awesome
:thumb: :thumb: :thumb: For that team. Rate the defence and attack especially highly! Well the midfield is 'king great too!

I'm downloading Football Manager as we speak. $10 says it doesn't work though.Can you actually download those managerial games from the net so you don't need the CD? Where/what site!!?!????!!!

[Drop The Baby]

SS means second striker. I've just started my master league on Pro Five after playing a couple of seasons on normal league with Arsenal. I won the Division 2 cup in my first seasona nd got promoted in second place.

I've got Fabregas, Senderos and Robinho. I presume everyone is playing on 5 stars?

[RCVA]

Everyone keeps talking about this game. How much is it?

[Ganondorf]

Well I'm on 4 stars

[RandyfromPennywise]

West 'am v Chelsea tonight, early kick-off. I'm actually well up for this game, we haven't played the 'ammers in the League for a while (played them in Carling Cup though).

The line-up could be interesting. I predict: Čech - Ferreira Carvalho Terry Del Horno - Maka Essien Lampard - Robben Drogba Duff.

I predict 3-0 to Chelsea.

---

[Angry Balled Fists!]

Oh great, we play Middlesborough without given, owen, emre, etc :(

[ThrashMaster27]

Oh great, we play Middlesborough without given, owen, emre, etc :(

It's a derby though.

I'm gonna predict a draw for that one.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

Hmmm, maybe, i reckon we might be able to get a win though.

[guitarbaz]

Hmmm, maybe, i reckon we might be able to get a win though.

i'm going with the win. it'll be tight tho

[Angry Balled Fists!]

Yeah, i hope so.

I think Parker must be a contender for the world cup squad, he's quality.

[Ganondorf]

Midlands derby today

[TakeWarning]

Seriously, why the hell haven't Sunderland got rid of Mick McCarthy? 6 points from 19 games isn't good enough. Or maybe they've realised that they're inevitably going down and don't want to waste any money on a new manager.

And Randy: I'm downloading Football Manager 2006 from Bearshare, but it probably won't work.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

Omg Luque Missed Open Goal !

[IAJP]

Brilliant news! (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/4574618.stm)

(/Sarcasm)

[Angry Balled Fists!]

ergh, makes me sick.

[IAJP]

Yeah, as does Liverpool getting beat by Bolton!

[Angry Balled Fists!]

Aree they losing !

AWESOME !

:)

[IAJP]

T'was Radhi Jaidi.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

Ace, i hate Liverpool.

I think we will win.

[IAJP]

Why do you hate Liverpool? Cause you bought a striker who used to play for them, and has now broke his foot? :p.

Or just 'cause most people do?

Wait, you're the NUFC man eh?

[Angry Balled Fists!]

hahaha, i just always have hated Liverpool, I have a few friends who support them which makes it worse.

lol viduka missed an easy chance

YYYYYEEEEEESSSSSSSS


SOLANOOOOOOOO FREEEEEEEEEEEKICKKKKKKK

[IAJP]

hahaha, i just always have hated Liverpool, I have a few friends who support them which makes it worse.

lol viduka missed an easy chance

YYYYYEEEEEESSSSSSSS


SOLANOOOOOOOO FREEEEEEEEEEEKICKKKKKKK
What do they reckon of Owen? Will he be in for the world cup?

[Angry Balled Fists!]

Yeah, he will be easily in for the WC

They think that Owen is ok, not much really.

LMAO @ Elliot handballing in the area and no penalty !

[IAJP]

Everton are winning, and Liverpool are still losing.

In hindsight the world club championships was a really bad idea, our players look drained and lifeless. Any extra games that didn't really matter should have been avoided.

[Perroquet Magique]

Damn it, West Ham lost... :upset:

We haven't lost four times in a row at home for thirty years...:mad:

[Angry Balled Fists!]

SHHHHHIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTT

Dammit, 1-1 :(

[IAJP]

Bolton are such an annoying side. When you think you're breaking them down, they counter straight away.

2-1. :mad:

[Angry Balled Fists!]

Liverpool are such an annoying side, just when you think they are going to lose they get a goal back !

I'm gonna be pissed off if we don't win.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

O
M
G

I hate Newcastle, what a bitch Middlesborough are.

[IAJP]

2-2!

Yay!


And Dan, I'm sorry...:p

[Angry Balled Fists!]

Geez, that was so unlucky, we've dominated throughout.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

LEEEEEEE CLARKEEEEEEEEEEEEE

YOU BEAUTYYYYYYYYYYYYY

(still wished we won)

[IAJP]

Geez, that was so unlucky, we've dominated throughout.
True that.


Very unlucky on Everton too, their first hat-trick in around 10 years, and it was dis-allowed!

:lol:

[Lord Abortion]

Lucky Dan, lucky...

No surprises really, well, maybe Birmingham beating Wigan.

Now attention turns to United-Arsenal...

[IAJP]

Lucky Dan, lucky...

No surprises really, well, maybe Birmingham beating Wigan.

Now attention turns to United-Arsenal...
You'll destroy them I reckon.

2-0.

[Frankie]

:angry: Can't keep a lead. We really were the better side in the second half. If parker is a contender for the world cup, James Morrison definetly should aswell. Best player on the pitch today exciting young talent, althought svens more likely to pick Hargreaves. I fail to see what he offers to the England squad and will probably picked ahead of the likes of parker and murphy.
Also my Current FM2006 squad.
GK: Mark Schwarzer.
DR: Luke Young
DL: Franck Quedrue
DC: John Terry
DC: Puyol
MR: Douala
ML: Stuart Downing
DMC:George Boateng
MC: Ronaldinho
MC: Mendieta
FC: Hernan Crespo
Currently 1st played 18 games conceded only 2 at Home. And I know while it may not seem strong but boateng protects the back four with downing and Douala almost playing alongside Crespo.

[Lord Abortion]

Hargreves is rubbish.

I have confidence in tomorrow's performance.

[talk show host]

I'm really hoping Reading win the Championship this season. It'd be great to go see some Premiership games.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

BLEH, i wish we won.

/wiats for MOTD

[Grondahl]

Wow, Preston won 3-0 at Norwich :eek:

Wasn't expecting that, especially after losing David Jones to NEC. Still, a great performance, but Nowland getting a double fracture of the leg isn't good news. He was in great form. Bloody Dickson Etuhu :angry:

[red barchetta]

/wiats for MOTD
i can't wait to see Viduka get the ball over the bar from 2 yards :lol:

[MILF Hunter]

Whats happening with the Nugent situation down at Preston?

Still cant beleive you got rid of Lewis and Creswell im a big fan of them two, both played brilliantly for Leeds today.

[Grondahl]

Apparently, Birmingham and Everton are interested in Nugent. Billy Davies said that there is no way he'd sell him, but he said that about Cresswell...

Lewis wouldn't sign a new contract and left on a free to Leeds. I was very dissappointed about that, as I too am a big fan of his. £1 million was too good an offer for us to turn down for Cresswell, and Leeds could offer him more money than we could.

But I wanted both of them to stay.

[MILF Hunter]

Shame really. I reckon you have a good chance of going up through the playoffs this season. Reading and Shef Utd to take the 2 automatic sports of course

[ZaaR]

Hargreves is rubbish.

I have confidence in tomorrow's performance.

Sadly, he's the best Canadian :(

Anyone have any ideas on why Arsenal suck so much?

[Lord Abortion]

Them not replacing Vieira is a good reason.

and the fact they rely on Henry too much, and other players who were so important to them in the past, (Pires, Campbell and Ljunberg) are no longer capable of being the team's focus.

If they lose Henry in the summer, it may be a blessing in disguise...at least they'll get a packet for him. With that money they can look at rebuilding the squad

[RandyfromPennywise]

Damn it, West Ham lost... :upset:

We haven't lost four times in a row at home for thirty years...:mad:
Carl Fletcher - **** off you useless twat. What an absolute knob, added nothing to West Ham's performance, absolute knob.

Crespo is one of the top strikers in the Prem, he's so good. I hope his hamstring is ok.

To Mr Amsterdam - Boro, my my my, what a frustrating team! And as if Terry would join Boro!!!!!!

[RandyfromPennywise]

Anyone have any ideas on why Arsenal suck so much?
Pires and Ljungberg were two of the best midfielders in the Prem 18 months ago. Pires still banged in the goals last year even. Now, Pires in particular, they aren't at the same level, and these are two of the Arse's best/biggest players who have been a major part of their success recently. Then take out Vieira completely, add in an aging Bergkamp and significant injuries to Campbell and Ashley Cole. I think the mdfield is huge: Makélélé Essien Lampard v Gilberto Fabregas Flamini. I know that the Arse don't play with three centre mids, but that is the difference in quality.

[Frankie]

Well yes Boro are frustrating the only thing we've been consistent in is being inconsistent. Two games two misses from 3 yards. At the moment we've got the third top scorer in the League and if we couyld find the defensive form of last year we could salvage our season but we desperately need a win from the Arsenal and Wigan games.

[The Essential]

Will Arsenal Win Man Utd Today??????? Yes!!!!!!!

[TakeWarning]

Pires is pretty crap these days, defintely not what he used to be.

[RCVA]

It was a good idea not renewing his contract to give him 2 extra years.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Who are your top five players in the world at the moment? Mine are:

Ronaldinho
Frank Lampard
Thierry Henry
Andriy Shevchenko
Adriano

Mmmm, no defenders. John Terry is my #1 defender. Kaká and Gerrard would have to be close, and Ronaldo (of Real Madrid).

/off topic.

[RandyfromPennywise]

I almost want Arsenal to win the match starting in less than an hour, but then my rational mind comes in and reminds of what Arsenal actually is and that I can never, ever cheer for them. I hope it's an entertaining draw tonight, hopefully 3-3 or 4-4. Realistically I think United might nick it like last season.

[Frankie]

Steven Gerrard
Andriy Shevchenko
Hernan Crespo
Ronaldinho
Yakubu

The last one is a bit controversal but with a team with virtually no width at the moment to get 11 goals in 19 is really good form.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Steven Gerrard
Andriy Shevchenko
Hernan Crespo
Ronaldinho
Yakubu

The last one is a bit controversal but with a team with virtually no width at the moment to get 11 goals in 19 is really good form.
I'm not going to comment on you having Yakubu in there.

Hernàn Crespo is not the best player in the Chelsea team. Frank Lampard and John Terry are clearly more influential on the team. While I think Hernàn is one of the best strikers in the world, I cannot see how you can put him in your top five players in the world. Well it's really a top four list isn't it...

[Angry Balled Fists!]

Lmao Yakubu !!!

[RandyfromPennywise]

Lmao Yakubu !!!
I think you speak for everyone minus Mr Amsterdam.

[IAJP]

Will Arsenal Win Man Utd Today??????? Yes!!!!!!!
No, I think they'll be beaten.

[Lord Abortion]

I'm still going for a win for us.
It's looking more exciting now.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

It sounds good from Radio 5.

[Lord Abortion]

Not really.
It sounds a bit crap to me.

Come on!!
It's my birthday tomorrow!

[Grutte Pier]

0-0

[Lord Abortion]

Says it all really.
We were the better side, but not by much.
The last ten minutes we completely dominated...

[Cannonball Jake]

Ruud's finishing was sad. I'm just so glad we have big Ed in goal. He's the first since Schmeichel to have that real huge presense at the back. I mean, they have their moments but under pressure they're the guys who step up. Fabien was dodgy. Roy was solid but never quite world class. Edwin has been one of the best for almost a decade.

[Lord Abortion]

Yeah, he just wasn't on top form today...

One of Ruud's few off-days I suppose...

[Ganondorf]

There isn't some other Yakubu I don't know about, is there?

My top 5 would be:

Ronaldinho
Frank Lampard
Adriano
Andiry Schevchenko
Steven Gerrard

This makes our inability to get Lampard and Gerrard to work together properly for England all the more frustrating. :-/

Still 0-0 in the United/Arsenal game, but I'm backing a 1-0 United win.


Henry needs to be there

[TakeWarning]

That Arsenal Man U game was pretty damn boring. Ronaldo had a pretty easy shot towards the end of the 1st half and boy did he **** that one up.

Anyway, Spurs versus Man City tonight. Let's hope we win this one.

[RandyfromPennywise]

There isn't some other Yakubu I don't know about, is there?

My top 5 would be:

Ronaldinho
Frank Lampard
Adriano
Andiry Schevchenko
Steven Gerrard

:thumb: :thumb:

I still think Henry is one of the best players in the world. Absolute class.

Bloody hell that was a lack-luster game last evening. I stayed up until 8am - yes, 8am in the morning! - to watch that, I expected more!

[Frankie]

Arsenal and Man Utd had draw written all over it, well it did when I saw how t' Gooners set up.

[Faith No Doubt]

Fergie and Wenger conceded the title.

[Grutte Pier]

Surprise secret to soccer appeal

Arsenal vs Manchester United, Getty Images
The element of surprise elevates football above other sports
American football, basketball and baseball have millions of followers, but they can't match soccer for sheer excitement, says a team of scientists.

The reason is its element of surprise, claim researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, US.

Football is more likely to produce an unexpected result, such as a "giant killer" win in the FA Cup.

Scientists analysed results from more than 300,000 games played over the past century.

They reviewed five sports: ice hockey, football, baseball and basketball in the US, and English football.

The team decided to make unpredictability - how often a leading team is overcome by an opponent with a worse record - the best measure of how exciting a league is.

"If there are no upsets, then every game is predictable and hence boring," co-author Eli Ben-Naim told New Scientist magazine.

The results of the analysis showed that the "upset frequency" was highest for soccer, followed by baseball, hockey, and basketball. American football came last on the list, and so was labelled the least exciting sport.

But there was a twist in the tail.

When the scientists looked only at data from the past 10 years, English Premiership football and baseball swapped places.

One interpretation of the finding might be that soccer has become more predictable in recent years.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4581374.stm
______________________
:chug:

[Little Android Man]

:thumb: :thumb:

I still think Henry is one of the best players in the world. Absolute class.

Bloody hell that was a lack-luster game last evening. I stayed up until 8am - yes, 8am in the morning! - to watch that, I expected more!

tru dat ^^

Ronaldinho is still pretty damn good :thumb:

[Lord Abortion]

I personally wouldn't have Henry in the top 5 players in the World, but, maybe I'm biased.

[ZaaR]

Who are your top five players in the world at the moment? Mine are:

Ronaldinho
Frank Lampard
Thierry Henry
Andriy Shevchenko
Adriano

Mmmm, no defenders. John Terry is my #1 defender. Kaká and Gerrard would have to be close, and Ronaldo (of Real Madrid).

/off topic.

Luca Toni! He has the most goals in Series A and is on track to set a new record
Ronaldinho
Andriy Shevchenko
Ricova!
Stam

My number 1 keeper would be Kahn.

[TakeWarning]

Ronaldinho
Frank Lampard
Andrea Schevewhatever
I guess Henry even though Arsenal is gay
Steven Gerrard

[RandyfromPennywise]

Luca Toni! He has the most goals in Series A and is on track to set a new record
Ronaldinho
Andriy Shevchenko
Ricova!
Stam

My number 1 keeper would be Kahn.
Dude Luca Toni is very good but he is in no way better than 1) Adriano, 2) Shevchenko. 3) Henry, 4) van Nistelrooij, 5) Crespo, 6) Ibrahimović, 7) Eto'o, or 8) Ronaldo.

Is assume you mean Recoba when you say "Ricova". NO ****ING WAY. A talented player, but no way is he is the top five in the world. (I am biased against Uruguay and Uruguayans but putting that aside he is still no where near the top group of players.)

Stam??? Nesta is better for AC Milan. That's without even looking outside of his own club.

The other two though, :thumb:

[MILF Hunter]

I stayed up until 8am - yes, 8am in the morning! - to watch that, I expected more!

Why didnt you just go to bed early and get up at 6am to watch it?

[RandyfromPennywise]

Why didnt you just go to bed early and get up at 6am to watch it?
I stay up late. So if I went to bed at, say, 3am, I'd be raped when I got up at 6. Staying up 'til 8 just means you're tired when you go to bed, but you don't feel like your corpse has been dug up and molested by African pig-farmers.

[TakeWarning]

It's nearly 3am now Randy, go to bed.

[Frankie]

Well after the news Franck would be out for a while, the news that downing is back is good. Although I have a general hate for the mags and all their fans I think the way that Souness has, well run the club into the ground is pretty ignorant, he doesn't even have the deceny to resign.

[MILF Hunter]

Well after the news Franck would be out for a while, the news that downing is back is good. Although I have a general hate for the mags and all their fans I think the way that Souness has, well run the club into the ground is pretty ignorant, he doesn't even have the deceny to resign.


Are you actually from Boro?

[RandyfromPennywise]

It's nearly 3am now Randy, go to bed.
Remember that Adelaide is 30 minutes behind the East coast. So that makes it 5.39am now, not 6.09am. Oh **** I really should be asleep now!

[red barchetta]

Stam??? Nesta is better for AC Milan. That's without even looking outside of his own club.

Nesta has been **** this season.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Still rate many defenders (Nesta included) above Stam though.

Cannavaro, Nesta, Terry, Puyol, Carvalho, Gallas, Lùcio.

[Bitc|-|]

why people are you disgusting and arguing like pinguins ( I know pinguins don't arguing specifically much but that was funny to write ^^) ???
OL is the best this year everybody will die under our deadly foot !!! hahahah

[RandyfromPennywise]

why people are you disgusting and arguing like pinguins ( I know pinguins don't arguing specifically much but that was funny to write ^^) ???
OL is the best this year everybody will die under our deadly foot !!! hahahah
Ha, a l'OL fan hey? I like Lyon quite a bit, they are a very entertaining and attacking team. I really love Juninho Pernambucano, he is great. I love the Brazilian influence on the team. I think the Lyon v PSV 2nd round Champions League tie will be very interesting, two of the best teams outside of England, Italy and Spain.

I might be going to a Lyon match at the Gerland, the match against Bordeaux on February 4. I hope I can get tickets, it'd be ace to see Lyon play.

(My French team is Rennes, but I have a feeling that if I go to a packed Stade Gerland to see Lyon and Juninho, I might start going for them, even though that's pretty bad, changing teams like that....)

[Angry Balled Fists!]

FA Cup 3rd Round this weekend :D

COME ON THIS COULD BE OUR YEAR !!!

:(

[RandyfromPennywise]

FA Cup 3rd Round this weekend :D

COME ON THIS COULD BE OUR YEAR !!!

:(
Yep NUFC will make the 4th round. Maybe finish in the top 15? Should be a good 2006 for the geordies...

[Angry Balled Fists!]

hahha, lmao yeah :-/ :lol:

Nice injury free season.

[Bitc|-|]

Ha, a l'OL fan hey? I like Lyon quite a bit, they are a very entertaining and attacking team. I really love Juninho Pernambucano, he is great. I love the Brazilian influence on the team. I think the Lyon v PSV 2nd round Champions League tie will be very interesting, two of the best teams outside of England, Italy and Spain.

I might be going to a Lyon match at the Gerland, the match against Bordeaux on February 4. I hope I can get tickets, it'd be ace to see Lyon play.

(My French team is Rennes, but I have a feeling that if I go to a packed Stade Gerland to see Lyon and Juninho, I might start going for them, even though that's pretty bad, changing teams like that....)

haha rennes is pretty **** you know
they lose about all their matches ^^
and i think Lyon is more than the best team out of England spain or italy
with barcelona and chelsea, lyon is the greatest in europe
i love inter of milan too :p adriano have a so big shoot !!

[RandyfromPennywise]

hahha, lmao yeah :-/ :lol:

Nice injury free season.
It's sad for you and other NUFC supporters. I actually like watching a full-strength Newcastle play. I like watching Emre, Parker, Owen, N'Zogbia and Solano (and maybe Luque) strut their stuff, you have some very good players in your squad. If they were all fit you'd surely score more goals. I think Jean-Alain has to go ASAP, he is in such bad form it's way beyond a joke. I think you need two class centre-backs if you are going to get the best out of that squad.

[MILF Hunter]

Titus Bramble is shocking

[RandyfromPennywise]

haha rennes is pretty **** you know
they lose about all their matches ^^
and i think Lyon is more than the best team out of England spain or italy
with barcelona and chelsea, lyon is the greatest in europe
i love inter of milan too :p adriano have a so big shoot !!
Lyon are one of the best teams in Europe, but aren't as good as Juventus, Barcelona or Chelsea.

Adriano's great!

Rennes were good last year! Kim Källström is very good, and Frei is great! Issakson is a good keeper as well.

How hard is it to get tickets to Lyon home matches?

[Angry Balled Fists!]

Yes, you see Boum is a great player when in form, i mean his a starting french centre back.

But, the defence is so bad, it's unreal.

[ZaaR]

Dude Luca Toni is very good but he is in no way better than 1) Adriano, 2) Shevchenko. 3) Henry, 4) van Nistelrooij, 5) Crespo, 6) Ibrahimović, 7) Eto'o, or 8) Ronaldo.

Is assume you mean Recoba when you say "Ricova". NO ****ING WAY. A talented player, but no way is he is the top five in the world. (I am biased against Uruguay and Uruguayans but putting that aside he is still no where near the top group of players.)

Stam??? Nesta is better for AC Milan. That's without even looking outside of his own club.

The other two though, :thumb:

It said best at the moment. And at the moment Luca Toni is out playing Adriano, Shevchenko, Ibrahimovic, Henry, and everyone else you named. At the moment he has more goals than all the others. He is carrying a pretty much garbage team to the top 5 in Series A.

Yes, I meant Recoba, and he is amazing. Right now I would say he's one of the best on Inter.

I won't even start on Stam

[Bitc|-|]

Lyon are one of the best teams in Europe, but aren't as good as Juventus, Barcelona or Chelsea.

Adriano's great!

Rennes were good last year! Kim Källström is very good, and Frei is great! Issakson is a good keeper as well.

How hard is it to get tickets to Lyon home matches?

not very hard but against bordeaux they ll have a lot of people and the stadium will surely be complete because its a good team this year

did you see the way rennes was throwing out of the UEFA cup ?
it was pityful :p

[Angry Balled Fists!]

btw, around October or so, we were playing well, and i remember one game in particlar, we were against West Brom away, and we cained them, we had basically a full side and we played so well, i thin it was 0-3.

I also remember Dyer coming on and TERRORISING the defence, he was soo good, and then got injured :(

Dyer, Emre, Parker and Luque would be my ideal midfield.

It would be soooooo good, like one of the best in the Prem. Maybe swap NZogbia for Luque though, but i think Luque has BAGS of potential awesomness.

[RandyfromPennywise]

It said best at the moment. And at the moment Luca Toni is out playing Adriano, Shevchenko, Ibrahimovic, Henry, and everyone else you named. At the moment he has more goals than all the others. He is carrying a pretty much garbage team to the top 5 in Series A.

Yes, I meant Recoba, and he is amazing. Right now I would say he's one of the best on Inter.

I won't even start on Stam
You really think Stam is the best defender in the world?

In my book there is a difference between saying "in the best form right now" and "the best right now", because to be considered the best it is largely done on reputation, realistically.

Recoba, a very good and creative player, NO WAY better than Gerrard, Lampard, Kaká or Ronaldinho.

By the way, when I said 5 best "right now" I said that to clarify so no one said "Pelé, Beckenbauer, Best, Maradonna, Eusabio" :lol:

[RandyfromPennywise]

btw, around October or so, we were playing well, and i remember one game in particlar, we were against West Brom away, and we cained them, we had basically a full side and we played so well, i thin it was 0-3.

I also remember Dyer coming on and TERRORISING the defence, he was soo good, and then got injured :(

Dyer, Emre, Parker and Luque would be my ideal midfield.

It would be soooooo good, like one of the best in the Prem. Maybe swap NZogbia for Luque though, but i think Luque has BAGS of potential awesomness.
I must sound like the typical arrogant, band-wagon Chelski supporter but not one of those players would make the Chelski midfield...

I think that NUFC, well-managed and with a bit of luck are a top-6 side. Things have just been going from bad to worse lately there though. A few new defenders and some consistency would go a long way in my opinion.

[Little Android Man]

Go Arsenal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TakeWarning]

Go Arsenal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spurs > Arsenal.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Adelaide United > Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle, Central Coast, Perth, New Zealand, Queensland.

[Drop The Baby]

Titus Bramble is shocking

You've never said anything truer.

Spurs > Arsenal.

You've never said anything falser ( is that a word? :( )

I'm going Arsenal vs Cardiff tomorrow with some work mates, one of whom is a Cardiff fan.

[Drop The Baby]

http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/060106/2/g01t.html

[TakeWarning]

Adelaide United > Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle, Central Coast, Perth, New Zealand, Queensland.

...no.

Goddamn Chelsea and their filthy money, they have made the title race so much less interesting.

[Lord Abortion]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/4583340.stm
Get in.

:sturdy defence:

[Timm]

...no.

Goddamn Chelsea and their filthy money, they have made the title race so much less interesting.
welcome to my world...
****ing FC Bayern :angry:

[MILF Hunter]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/4583340.stm
Get in.

:sturdy defence:


sick avatar

[Frankie]

Are you actually from Boro?
Indeedy I am. Well the introudction of money to Pompey should liven things up in the Premiership.

[MILF Hunter]

Indeedy I am.

You must live about 10 minutes from me then :naughty:

[RandyfromPennywise]

...no.

Goddamn Chelsea and their filthy money, they have made the title race so much less interesting.
1) Adelaide United are clearly the best and most consistent team in the A-League at the moment, by a mile. Three games clear, and the league's not even 20 games old - a similar performance to Chelsea in the Prem. C'MON UNITED!

2) Why this comment now? Maniche will do little I reckon, unless he's favoured by Mourinho, which is more than just a possibility... Could be the new Tiago. Not overly bad, but a passenger in a side of the quality of Chelsea.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Look, you all hate Chelsea, ok, I understand. HOWEVER, just because Chelsea has money is no excuse for other clubs performing below standard and some big clubs actually getting considerably worse. So how about some responsibility being taken by the fans of these clubs to realise that Chelsea's money is only accentuating their weaknesses, not single-handedly making their club and the League ****. Chelsea has one of the best management teams in world football and the playing staff are highly motivated and determined to succeed. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

More credit to Chelsea and Mourinho, and more realistic evaluations of performances from these other clubs who claim the only reason they are shyte is because Chelsea is rich.

/rant

[TakeWarning]

1) Adelaide United are clearly the best and most consistent team in the A-League at the moment, by a mile. Three games clear, and the league's not even 20 games old - a similar performance to Chelsea in the Prem. C'MON UNITED!

Yeah, I know you guys are better than us, even though I don't really follow the A-League much.

[TakeWarning]

Look, you all hate Chelsea, ok, I understand. HOWEVER, just because Chelsea has money is no excuse for other clubs performing below standard and some big clubs actually getting considerably worse. So how about some responsibility being taken by the fans of these clubs to realise that Chelsea's money is only accentuating their weaknesses, not making their club and the League ****. Chelsea has one of the best management teams in world football and the playing staff are highly motivated and determined to succeed. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

More credit to Chelsea and Mourinho, and more realistic evaluations of performances from these other clubs who claim the only reason they are shyte is because Chelsea is rich.

/rant

I never said Chelsea were making the league itself less interesting, I said that it was making the title race much less interesting, since they look to be obvious winners at this point in time. The League is still interesting but I'd much prefer it if there was some competition for 1st place instead of total domination.

[RandyfromPennywise]

I never said Chelsea were making the league itself less interesting, I said that it was making the title race much less interesting, since they look to be obvious winners at this point in time. The League is still interesting but I'd much prefer it if there was some competition for 1st place instead of total domination.
Yeah, the title-race is fairly mundane.

It's quite indicative of the form of Chelsea over the last 18 months that all the talk was about Liverpool's great run recently, while at the same time Chelsea were establishing 9 wins on-the-trot and not a word was said about it.

[My post wasn't directed at you, just everyone who gives Chelsea shyte and no real credit (and that is almost everyone).]

[ThrashMaster27]

There's been a lot of clubs that have had money at their disposal besides Chelsea.

Difference with Chelsea is that they have a good coach, who knows what signings to make first. Take Real Madrid for example. They build their team from striker back. Chelsea basically built their team on an even level without going overkill on strikers.

Funny thing is I hated them more a few years back when Hasselbaink used to score crap loads against us.

[RandyfromPennywise]

There's been a lot of clubs that have had money at their disposal besides Chelsea.

Difference with Chelsea is that they have a good coach, who knows what signings to make first. Take Real Madrid for example. They build their team from striker back. Chelsea basically built their team on an even level without going overkill on strikers.

Funny thing is I hated them more a few years back when Hasselbaink used to score crap loads against us.
Jimmy used to score loads of goals against most teams, ah the good ol' Jimmy days!

You're a Tottenham fan? The Jimmy hat-trick v Tottenham was so good, one left-foot, one right-foot, one header, left-foot and right-foot strikes were both curlers from outside the box.

Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink, OH JIMMY JIMMY!

[ThrashMaster27]

Jimmy used to score loads of goals against most teams, ah the good ol' Jimmy days!

You're a Tottenham fan? The Jimmy hat-trick v Tottenham was so good, one left-foot, one right-foot, one header, left-foot and right-foot strikes were both curlers from outside the box.

Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink, OH JIMMY JIMMY!

Quiet you!

Remember when we beat you 5-1? Even Rebrov scored. Now that was a shocker. Jimmy got sent off! cause the ref thought he was Babayaro! hahaha.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Quiet you!

Remember when we beat you 5-1? Even Rebrov scored. Now that was a shocker. Jimmy got sent off! cause the ref thought he was Babayaro! hahaha.
I don't count League Cup as real (unless we win it, of course). So, effectively, you beat us mid-week in a friendly-type game. Then when the real game was played on the weekend in the League, what was it, 4-0? Jimmy the destroyer! Haha, Spurs, 'avin' a laugh!

I love Three Point Lane, it'd have to be my favourite stadium after the Bridge.

[ThrashMaster27]

I don't count League Cup as real (unless we win it, of course). So, effectively, you beat us mid-week in a friendly-type game. Then when the real game was played on the weekend in the League, what was it, 4-0? Jimmy the destroyer! Haha, Spurs, 'avin' a laugh!

I love Three Point Lane, it'd have to be my favourite stadium after the Bridge.

You beat us 2-1 in the first leg if I remember. Jimmy scored a cracking free kick. Still though. You had your first team on and we stuffed you.

Yes, it was 4-0. I remember being optimistic before the game started...

Now I don't expect any result against you guys. I'm just grinning like a cheshire cat cause we're still in 4th and ahead of the Arse :D.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Yes, it was 4-0. I remember being optimistic before the game started...

Were you still drunk from the night before? :)

[ThrashMaster27]

Were you still drunk from the night before? :)

I was still a youngster then, so no.

Just being a usual Spurs fan than always gets disappointed. Thankfully this season it looks like my prediction will come true.

[TakeWarning]

Yeah, Chelsea aren't the only club with piles of money. They're probably one of the only clubs who have used their money exceptionally well and have used it to build an amazing team with an amazing manager.

Look at Real Madrid, they have huge amounts of dosh and they haven't used it very nicely at all, in fact I wrote an article on it.



REAL Madrid overtook Manchester United last year as the world's biggest football club by revenues. And yet fans of the Spanish club are not celebrating.

The business prowess of Florentino Perez, construction magnate and Real's president, has not been matched by sporting success on the field. In fact, Real Madrid has failed to win a single title, at home or abroad, since 2003.

In November, Real Madrid hit a new low with a 0-3 defeat by arch-rivals Barcelona. An estimated 3 billion viewers worldwide watched Real Madrid's humiliation. Barcelona's game was so dazzling that Real fans even gave a spontaneous standing ovation to Ronaldinho, Barcelona's toothy Brazilian striker.

Perez responded by sacking Wanderlei Luxemburgo, Real Madrid's fifth coach in as many years. Like his predecessors, Luxemburgo had failed to motivate the constellation of superstars who play for Real Madrid.

Firing coaches, however, has not endeared Perez to Real Madrid fans or spared him from criticism.

"Real Madrid has no game plan," wrote Santiago Segurola, sports critic of El Pais, Spain's leading daily newspaper. "It is the product of a commercial idea that has relegated the actual sport to a secondary role. It spends enormous sums of money signing up stars, but they do not make a team. They are, rather, a disappointing mosaic, with some players in their twilight years, and others included solely for their commercial appeal."

For the first time, Real Madrid's dissatisfied fans are questioning their president's strategy. Underlying tensions between the club's commercial and sporting aims have burst into the open. During a recent live television interview, Perez was bombarded with angry text messages. "Florentino, we want a real team, not a dysfunctional collection of overpaid has-beens," one read.

Perez can hardly afford to ignore the feelings of his 84,441 members, who remain the owners of the club and have the power to vote him out of office.

But his tribulations also underscore a further problem that is not unique to the multimillion-dollar business of sport: how long can you pursue a successful commercial strategy if your product continues to flop?

When Perez was elected five years ago he promised to restore the club's finances, bring in world-class talent and extend the club's brand around the world. Manchester United, a pioneer in the professionalisation of football management and a successful brand with 170 million supporters worldwide, was to be Real Madrid's role model.

"We structured ourselves as a company and began to think of ourselves as content providers. This was an authentic revolution," says Carlos Martinez de Albornoz, Real Madrid's corporate managing director, recruited by Perez from Arcelor, the European steel company.

Shortly after taking over, Perez paid off Real Madrid's crippling debt burden by selling the club's training grounds, which occupied 120,000sqm of prime real estate in northern Madrid. The sale netted E500 million ($810 million) for the club.

Next, he went about assembling a team of galacticos -- a galaxy of stars including Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Ronaldo and David Beckham -- not only to create an unbeatable side but to transform Real Madrid into a powerful international brand.

In July 2003, when Real Madrid introduced David Beckham, its newest player, the 11am press conference was timed to make the evening news broadcasts in Asia, where Beckham is particularly popular. The event had the world's second-largest live television audience, after the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.

On the day of the Beckham press conference , Real Madrid sold 8000 Beckham T-shirts at E62 to E78 each. A month later, Real Madrid capitalised on Beckham's popularity with a 17-day club tour of Asia. The tour netted about E8 million.

In many respects, Beckham's E35 million transfer from Manchester United became the symbol of Real Madrid's transformation and growing global reach. It also marked the beginning of the club's sporting decline.

On paper, the numbers look unbeatable. Marketing revenues have become the club's biggest source of income, having trebled to E117 million, since Perez took charge. Income from sponsorship deals, the sale of image rights and advertising has grown sixfold. The club has launched a 24-hour satellite television channel and a website in three languages - Spanish, English and Japanese.

It has also entered into licensing agreements with content distributors in different countries, including Disney in the US, Platja in Japan and Citic in China, which will be responsible for developing the marketing channels for Real Madrid in their respective countries.

Total income, including ticket sales and television rights, came to E275 million in the year to June 2005, ending Manchester United's eight-year run as football's highest earner.

According to Sports Markt, a German auditing agency, Real Madrid has also overtaken Manchester United as the club with the greatest number of followers, with an estimated 258 million fans worldwide.

"Think how far we can go with 258 million customers," says a senior Real Madrid manager, who asked not to be named. "The value of a brand depends on its audience, and we have only just begun to exploit Real Madrid's marketing potential." Strong revenues have allowed Real Madrid to spend an estimated E500 million on transfers during Perez's tenure. The club does not disclose how much income each galactico earns for Real Madrid. The return on investment for each player, says a senior manager, is not really measurable.

He gives an example: five years ago, a VIP box cost E20,000 a year; today, Real Madrid charges E150,000 for the same box. "You cannot assign the increase to a single player," the manager says. "The fact is that companies are willing to pay for the privilege of seeing the world's best players."

But when the world's best players fail to deliver the world's best football, the commercial strategy comes into conflict with the demands of club followers. Getting rid of underperforming players, for example, becomes a much more complicated decision if, like Beckham, they also happen to be in the vanguard of the club's expansion in Asia.

"Real Madrid has to satisfy two constituencies, and the interests of the two are not always aligned," says Jose Luis Nueno, a professor at the IESE business school in Barcelona and co-author of a case study about Real Madrid for Harvard Business School.

"The first constituency are the club's members, who have ownership rights over the club," he says. "They want goals and championship trophies. The second constituency is the club's larger fan base, including followers in the US, Japan and China. The second constituency follows individual players, not the club, and much of the merchandising is directed at them.

"But it is the first constituency which has the power to remove the president of Real Madrid."

The fact that Perez was re-elected last year for another four-year term - despite a year without title wins - suggests that the tension between the business model and club results is sustainable.

"The club's financial solvency is the pre-condition for building a world-class team," insists a senior manager. "There may be fallow periods in sporting terms, but it would be irresponsible to abandon the business model now."

[Frankie]

Jimmy used to score loads of goals against most teams, ah the good ol' Jimmy days!

You're a Tottenham fan? The Jimmy hat-trick v Tottenham was so good, one left-foot, one right-foot, one header, left-foot and right-foot strikes were both curlers from outside the box.

Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink, OH JIMMY JIMMY!
I kinda hoped he'd do that here :upset: oh well

Anyway Chelsea do have alot of money at their disposal but as the season with raineri proved just buying a load of players means nothing if they don't gel as a team. Which is what Mourinho brought along with unique tactics.

[TakeWarning]

I really hoped Aston Villa would lose that. Ah well.

I hope Man U lose. That would make my week.

[StandingStill]

Iaquinta. If he signs that'll make my week. Failing that Vieri would do I suppose :p

[skateMASTERbater2]

****ing FC Bayern :angry:
I agree. Hamburger SV have a pretty interesting team this year, id like to see them take the lead in the BL.

this video is awesome:lol: : http://www.youtube.com/player.swf?video_id=takoU8zUoHM&l=217

edit: 3000th post

[Frankie]

You must live about 10 minutes from me then :naughty:

Ha yeah. Well it would appear McClaren can't even field a side capable of beating a team exactly 100 places below us. The man needs to go he just can't take this club any further. Admitedly the players have played awfully except maybe Yakubu and Morrison.

[red barchetta]

anyone watch the Liverpool game?

AMAZING

[the_uber_penguin]

anyone watch the Liverpool game?

AMAZING

Yes. The Luton manager can't criticize his players too much, they played so well and with so much heart and commitment. And not many teams can say they've scored 3 against Liverpool.

A bit mean of Alonso to score that last goal, though.

[bwbw]

Where do you live near Newcastle?
I'm not far from there myself...

Prudhoe, it's actually about 10 miles away.

To make this post remotely relevant - I've seen Prudhoe FC play once, in the FA cup against Sheffield (not Wednesday or United!)

[bwbw]

anyone watch the Liverpool game?

AMAZING

Yeh, I was gutted Liverpool won.

[ZaaR]

Look, you all hate Chelsea, ok, I understand. HOWEVER, just because Chelsea has money is no excuse for other clubs performing below standard and some big clubs actually getting considerably worse. So how about some responsibility being taken by the fans of these clubs to realise that Chelsea's money is only accentuating their weaknesses, not single-handedly making their club and the League ****. Chelsea has one of the best management teams in world football and the playing staff are highly motivated and determined to succeed. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

More credit to Chelsea and Mourinho, and more realistic evaluations of performances from these other clubs who claim the only reason they are shyte is because Chelsea is rich.

/rant

I like Chelsea... and Middlesboro

[Frankie]

I like Chelsea... and Middlesboro
As you should :smash:

On the Liverpool game amazing game, but they have a nasty habit of coming from behind. Luton town should be happy with themselves, Liverpools defence is the best defence in the league at the moment bar maybe Chelski, so too score 3 past 'em is a real positive.

[ZaaR]

As you should :smash:

But my number one team is Juventus. I have for about 5 years now. I love 'em to death; especially Nedved.

[moderaterock222]

Look, you all hate Chelsea, ok, I understand. HOWEVER, just because Chelsea has money is no excuse for other clubs performing below standard and some big clubs actually getting considerably worse. So how about some responsibility being taken by the fans of these clubs to realise that Chelsea's money is only accentuating their weaknesses, not single-handedly making their club and the League ****. Chelsea has one of the best management teams in world football and the playing staff are highly motivated and determined to succeed. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

More credit to Chelsea and Mourinho, and more realistic evaluations of performances from these other clubs who claim the only reason they are shyte is because Chelsea is rich.

/rant
that's a load of crap.

Chelsea's money has allowed them to basically buy whoever they want. Nobody can compete with Chelsea at all, not even other 'rich' clubs like newcastle, liverpool or man utd...etc. Essien is not a £30million player, and dare i say it, SWP is not a £21million player either. No other clubs could compete with Chelsea for these players, even though there was interest from other clubs. Because of money, quality players is not a problem for Chelsea.
Don't blame other clubs for being 'below standard', because this is not the case at all. The top clubs in the country are playing at a higher standard than ever, it's just Chelsea with their bottomless cash pit that are impossible to compete with. Are you forgetting Chelsea set a new premiership season points total last season? Saying other teams are not improving is just plain ignorant.
You have a great manager though and a lot of quality players that were there from the ranieri era. The money has just made the premiership a little less interesting, and without it you definitely wouldn't be in the situation you're in now.

That said, there has always been a team that domintaes in English football. This is just your time.

[Cockfight Champion]

that's a load of crap.

Chelsea's money has allowed them to basically buy whoever they want. Nobody can compete with Chelsea at all, not even other 'rich' clubs like newcastle, liverpool or man utd...etc.

... Saying other teams are not improving is just plain ignorant.

Whoever they want? That's debatable. The real stars at Chelsea were there before Abramovich moved in. The point is it's not only money making the difference. Morinho is 80%, the cash is 20. He's as far ahead of the premiership managing pack as Ferg was over the last decade. He hasn't got all the best players in the world but he's got an understanding of the modern game rivalled by only two or three others.

You think Newcastle are improving?!? Arsenal have dropped a cog post-Vierra and without Keane Man U are just getting it together after treading water compared to the team of 3-10 years ago. Liverpool are on the up

You have a great manager though and a lot of quality players that were there from the ranieri era.

That's what Randy said, more credit to Morinho and Chelsea.

I feel sick. I'm going to watch the '99 CLfinal on tape until the nausea passes.

[TakeWarning]

And how did they acquire Jose Mourniho? The answer is alot of money.

Speaking of Chelsea, they've just signed Maniche, the Protugese midfielder. He's great to watch.

[moderaterock222]

Whoever they want? That's debatable. The real stars at Chelsea were there before Abramovich moved in. The point is it's not only money making the difference. Morinho is 80%, the cash is 20. He's as far ahead of the premiership managing pack as Ferg was over the last decade. He hasn't got all the best players in the world but he's got an understanding of the modern game rivalled by only two or three others.

You think Newcastle are improving?!? Arsenal have dropped a cog post-Vierra and without Keane Man U are just getting it together after treading water compared to the team of 3-10 years ago. Liverpool are on the up



That's what Randy said, more credit to Morinho and Chelsea.

I feel sick. I'm going to watch the '99 CLfinal on tape until the nausea passes.
Newcastle were never a team to be competing for the title anyway. Liverpool and United are still playing at a pretty high standard.

no other team has such a squad as chelsea. it's just full of quality players. no other team can afford that other than chelsea

[Frankie]

Newcastle were up there at one point, they finished third and fourth under Sir Bobb Robson. There side now is top six quality and so is Middlesbroughs but lack of mangaerial quality and injuries is hindering both teams.

[moderaterock222]

i'd argue about middlesborough being to 6 quality. as for newcastle, you explained part of their situation yourself, they have a lot of injuries. if chelsea had as many injuries, they have the depth in their squad to replace those players straight away. they have basically two top class players for each position.

a top 6 side and a side looking to win the premiership are different things too. i feel without the investment that chelsea have had, this season would be the most open season fora long time, with liverpool, man utd and chelsea all competing for top spot.

[red barchetta]

And how did they acquire Jose Mourniho? The answer is alot of money.
and by getting Mourinho, they were also able to get two of Porto's best players (at that time), Carvalho and P. Ferreira.

EDIT: lol, Celtic lost to Clyde.
EDIT2: lol, Fulham lost to Leyton Orient

[Timm]

so who here plays football?
probably everyone every now and then :smash:
me and my friends just discovered a gym where you can play football from 9am till 12am so I know what Im doing tonight :cool:
it's been like one year since I played indoor football
can't wait :)

[red barchetta]

so who here plays football?
probably everyone every now and then :smash:
me and my friends just discovered a gym where you can play football from 9am till 12am so I know what Im doing tonight :cool:
it's been like one year since I played indoor football
can't wait :)
indoor football rules :cool:

theres a mini football pitch 2 minutes away from my house, so me and my friends go there on a few occasions.

[moderaterock222]

i love 5 a side football. it's the greatest game on earth

[Frankie]

I used to play for a five-a-side teams, unlike alot of the five-a-side places with their sandy aloo weather pitches which is like tackling on broken glass. So anyway the place we played at had this plastic small black grains instead of sand. Anyway we were alright I suppose I was 3rd top scorer with 47 !!!.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

lol @ man u

[Frankie]

Whats the score ??

[RandyfromPennywise]

Yeah I play indoor and real football. I play centre-back in real football, but fancy myself as a tough-takling, goal-getting centre-midfielder. Pre-season starts on Wednesday...

Indoor's awesome as well, play every Thursday night. My record for "Goose United" is 48 games, 49 goals, one red-card, two penalties scored and one missed. Funny indoor story - about August or so last year we played an all-girl team. We didn't really know what to do. They were in the comp. for a laugh and some exercise, fair enough, but they could not play at all! We didn't want to go in hard or anything, and it was 5-0 at half-time. Then we decided that we should actually play half-properly but without going in too hard, and we won 19-0. It was quite silly really, I scored a volley from the half-way line and my brother and I both got 6 goals each.

C'MON BURTON ALBION!!!! YESSSSS 0-0!!! YOU HAVE TO LOVE THE FA CUP!!!!!!!!!!

[Angry Balled Fists!]

hahha, 0-0.

I play footbal quite a lot, not for any teams, i used to, i've played for 4 different teams.

[Frankie]

Well done Burton albion well I suppose that'll be a good day for their team, just average joes getting to play at old trafford. Thought it was pretty sporting of Southgate yesterday to give one of their players his shirt.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

hahha, southgate is **** :lol:

To blame for the last two games

[Frankie]

Fair comment but boumsong :lol:

For all southgate has done for the club I can jsut about forgive him for those last two mistakes.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

Hahhaa, Boumsong is in bad form.

At least we won.

SHEARER!!

[RandyfromPennywise]

I can't delete this message! Ah well, I'll just edit it (I double-posted).

Real Madrid v Villareal on now, Woodgate starting. Real Madrid now have 4 possible right-backs: Cicinho, Salgado, Diogo, Ramos. A little silly one would think. It was mooted earlier in the year that Salgado will go to Juventus...

Atlético Madrid v Valencia is on after this game, that should be ok as well.

Treviso v Roma was on before Man Utd, Roma won 1-0, Aquilani scored, it was his first ever Serie A goal, a decent hit too. Chivu played well, as did Totti.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Don't blame other clubs for being 'below standard', because this is not the case at all. The top clubs in the country are playing at a higher standard than ever, it's just Chelsea with their bottomless cash pit that are impossible to compete with. Are you forgetting Chelsea set a new premiership season points total last season? Saying other teams are not improving is just plain ignorant.
That said, there has always been a team that domintaes in English football. This is just your time.
I think that in past seasons, the chasing teams have been able to match the winners to a greater extent that they can match Chelsea now. Head-to-head the gap is not huge - Manchester United beat us, we drew twice with 'Pool in the Champions' League (although we smashed 'em in the League) - it is just the consistency.

I do not think Manchester United or Arsenal (the two most obvious names when we talk about the Premiership and winning it) have improved at all over the last two seasons. Manchester United won the Prem in 02-03 and Arsenal went unbeaten in 03-04. Neither are at that level this season. They have gotten worse.

[RandyfromPennywise]

To the guys who have/play Football Manager 2006, I am thinking of buying it over eBay. I've never bought anything from eBay before but it says it's still in packaging etc. I just want to make sure it's the right game, not a different version - 'cause I thought it was called FM 6, but maybe I'm getting mixed up with FM '06... Here's the link FM 2006 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/New-FOOTBALL-MANAGER-2006-Sealed-Shrinkwrapped-PC-MAC_W0QQitemZ8249258491QQcategoryZ11052QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem). It's only $AU38 (incl. postage) which is about $50 cheaper than in the stores I think. If you could verify that that's the right game I'd appreciate it.

[Frankie]

Yeah that looks right randy buy away

[RandyfromPennywise]

Yeah that looks right randy buy away
:D Can't wait! I'm gonna buy CM 03/04 as well, that's only $10 (4 quid), even though that probably won't get played for ages until I've done my dash with FM '06.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

Yeah, that's the right one.

I haven't played it in a few days actualy, /goes to play

[moderaterock222]

reffyl at utd

reffyl at titus bramble too

[Angry Balled Fists!]

wtf lol 20k poster in football thread ?

[comptonasseddy]

I dont come in here, but dya think fifa '06 is worth getting? is it better than '05?

[RandyfromPennywise]

wtf lol 20k poster in football thread ?
:lol: Yeah we don't seem to get too many visitors in here...

I just looked at your post count... !!! You're almost a 20k-er too!

[Can't wait to buy Ronaldinho, Adriano, Bresciano and Rosický for Chelsea in FM :D]

[RandyfromPennywise]

I dont come in here, but dya think fifa '06 is worth getting? is it better than '05?
I played FIFA 2005 a while ago, I though it was good. I hear FIFA 2006 is good too. However, all my friends rave about Pro Evolution, they say the new one is the best/most realistic Football game out there...

Villareal 0 - 0 Real Madrid... I've watched 270 minutes of Football tonight and only one goal :upset: C'Mon Torres/Aimar next!

[Lord Abortion]

I'm not even going to comment on today's debacle.

[RandyfromPennywise]

I'm not even going to comment on today's debacle.
Well I'll do it for you... United are shyte and Fergie's lost it :lol:

[moderaterock222]

i left for about a year and came back:)

[Angry Balled Fists!]

Awesome.

lmao @ Spurs too !

De Vries is a quality player.

Today was cup upset day.

[RandyfromPennywise]

i left for about a year and came back:)
Welcome back. '01 join dates > any other join dates.

[the_uber_penguin]

Awesome.

lmao @ Spurs too !

De Vries is a quality player.

Today was cup upset day.

I was pleased with the Leicester-Spurs result (been a Leicester fan all my life).

I won £4.50 from that as well.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

hahha, well played, i just like Premiership teams getting knocked out (apart from newcastle)

[RandyfromPennywise]

Alright, this is beyond a joke, one goal in four matches tonight!

Treviso 0 - 1 Roma
Burton Albion 0 - 0 Manchester United
Villareal 0 - 0 Real Madrid
Atletico Madrid 0 - 0 Valencia...

[Timm]

i love 5 a side football. it's the greatest game on earth
I just came back after playing it for an hour and a half :thumb:
it's exhausting, my knee is ****ed, so is my ankle
yet I feel soooo good :lol:

[RandyfromPennywise]

Well there is one hell of a spam attack/invasion whatever going on right now. The Pit says it's been deleted, thank God we've still got the Sports Forum and the best thread on MX (sorry, Sputnik or whatever it's called now :upset: ).

[Lord Abortion]

It's just a temporary measure.

I really think that Fergie will need some stepsils to cure his throat tonight.

[RandyfromPennywise]

I wonder who got the teacup this time?

[JohnTerry]

Hey. The draw for 3rd Rnd FA CUP should be pretty interesting, coming up soon I think. What do people think of Alonso's two goals yesterday?

[TakeWarning]

I can't believe this. Leicester City. Leicester ****ing City. Honestly, first Grimsby now Leicester.

Absolutely horrible.

[the_uber_penguin]

I can't believe this. Leicester City. Leicester ****ing City. Honestly, first Grimsby now Leicester.

Absolutely horrible.

Mwahahahaha...

Sorry.

Obligatory gloat over.

We both like Burton, though? Right?

[guitarbaz]

i was rather hoping leicester would get turned over as i don't like em.

however, make the draw easier for us, potentially.

with our luck atm tho we'll prob get cheslea rangers away

[TakeWarning]

Xabi Alonso's goals were awesome.

Manchester United were another team that should have done better.

[Grondahl]

So, thoughts on the 4th Round draw?

Stoke City/Tamworth v Barnsley/Walsall

Cheltenham Town/Chester City v Newcastle United

Coventry v Nuneaton Borough/Middlesbrough

West Brom/Reading v Torquay/Birmingham

Portsmouth v Liverpool

Leicester v Southampton

Bolton v Arsenal

Aston Villa v Port Vale

Brentford v Sunderland

Manchester City v Wigan/Leeds

Millwall/Everton v Chelsea

Preston v Crystal Palace

West Ham v Blackburn

Colchester v Derby

Charlton v Leyton Orient

Wolves v Burton/Manchester United


Decent draw for Preston, very winnable and Cheltenham or Chester have a nice fixture to look forward to.

[guitarbaz]

away at cheltemham or chester..interesting tie..

[guitarbaz]

just noticed the potential millwall / chelsea tie.

now that would be interesting...

[TakeWarning]

Haven't heard of quite a few of those teams.

Arsenal vs Bolton, might be good to see Arsenal lose.

[Faith No Doubt]

Away at West Ham.

We never get decent ties.

[bwbw]

Check some truely awful finishes in this google video

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3987823840733833561&q=soccer

[Frankie]

Nice easy draw for the boro to progress to eh?
Even with our form were still 8th favourite, not all doom and gloom around Teesside. Oh and as for Fifa 06 don't waste your time do yourself a favour and buy PES 5 :)

[guitarbaz]

Check some truely awful finishes in this google video

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3987823840733833561&q=soccer

there's some belters in there :amaze:

[Lord Abortion]

Away to Wolves, not too bad.

[Mr. Black]

You remeber that one by that guy for Liverpool, against Villa in 96/97 season, I think. I always forget who that was but it was hilarious.

Edit: Ronnie Rosentahl - It's in that video.

[Lord Abortion]

The Dynamo one with three misses in a row is amazing.
The last one showed that even the holder of the Golden Boot is capable of missing sitters.
I remember watching that one, it was the last and best game Veron played for us, he was incredible that night, ripped Juve apart all game.

[moderaterock222]

there's one in there where a player hits the bar from about 3 yards and it's an open goal. it looked like a deliberate miss

[Angry Balled Fists!]

Easy draw for Newcastle :)

[RandyfromPennywise]

I would love for Milwall to beat Everton. Milwall v Chelsea, now that will kick-off!

[Angry Balled Fists!]

lmao @ diego forlans miss at the end.

[moderaterock222]

Milwall vs Chelsea = dead people

[RandyfromPennywise]

Hey. The draw for 3rd Rnd FA CUP should be pretty interesting, coming up soon I think. What do people think of Alonso's two goals yesterday?
Username = :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

[guitarbaz]

there's one in there where a player hits the bar from about 3 yards and it's an open goal. it looked like a deliberate miss

you'd have to be pretty fcukin good to hit the bar from 3 yards :amaze:

but yeah, if millwall and chelsea play it'll be a war, not a football match. back to the 70's / 80's we go...

[RandyfromPennywise]

Milwall vs Chelsea = dead people
:chug:...... :smash:........... :thumb:

[Frankie]

Here is my simple formulae for a football based war amongst fans

Chelsea+Millwall+Alcohol= Chaos

My grandad has told me stories about those sort of days ............

[Lord Abortion]

Anyone ever read the football factory?

Great book, kicks the arse of the film.

[Frankie]

Anyone seen green street :lol: theres a good film

[Lord Abortion]

The comedy punches...oh my.

[guitarbaz]

Anyone seen green street :lol: theres a good film

i quite enjoyed it. a bit americanised in places but overall it was good. preferred the likes of ID and football factory but there's always a place for a footie film.

[Lord Abortion]

Arsenal are going out of the cup.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

Possibly, lots of Premiership teams will, which is good.

[Lord Abortion]

I'd bet my hat that Bolton win.

[moderaterock222]

i hope my beloved man city win. with robbie fowler striking the winner in the 90th minute in what will most likely be the millenium stadium again

[Angry Balled Fists!]

lmao, actualy Arsenal hate playing against Bolton, there style is too rough.

We need to win the next round (which we will) then get another good draw at home and we are on outr way !

[red barchetta]

I'd bet my hat that Bolton win.
if the ties are being played during the african nations cup, then Bolton have a small chance. too many key players will be missing, like Abdoulaye Faye.