Euro 2008 (Official Man City LOL Thread)

[Britney Diva]

Strangely, I think midfield is England's weakest area.

[matthew121]

Strangely, I think midfield is England's weakest area.

Strangely, I agree with you. Partly. If we had an english Makelele our midfiled would be one of the best in the world, at the moment, Gerrard and Lamps are having to stay in a more defensive role, not showing their true potential

[Britney Diva]

Yeah, well the reason Gerrard and Lampard do so well is because they're free to play in an attacking role. Makelele and particularly Alonso are great at creating movements from nothing, something Gerrard only rarely does on his own. I'm not sure who'll take on that role in the WC.

[Frankie]

They can both defend well, Lamps and Gerrard are good as they are well rounded players as they're leathal in attack and good when defending.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

come On Grimsby Tomorow!!!

[matthew121]

They can both defend well, Lamps and Gerrard are good as they are well rounded players as they're leathal in attack and good when defending.

But they're far more useful when attacking.

[Britney Diva]

They can both defend well, Lamps and Gerrard are good as they are well rounded players as they're leathal in attack and good when defending.
Lampard's improved his defensive skills, and Gerrard can tackle when he's not descended under a red mist, but it doesn't change that they're both very similar players. I can't see either taking up the roles either Alonso or Makelele take at club level.

[Lord Abortion]

Yeah, usually Gerrard has Paul Scholes syndrome.

[Frankie]

^fuc'kedupeyeitis ???
Anyone gonna watch Soccer Aid its on in a few minutes should be a laugh.

[Jon]

Hehe it looks like its going to be pretty cool (and I HATE football most of the time)

Sergei Federov vs Robbie Williams wtf

[Lord Abortion]

^fuc'kedupeyeitis ???
Anyone gonna watch Soccer Aid its on in a few minutes should be a laugh.
Nah, canttackleforshittitis

[Pinhead13]

12 days left!

:eek:

[TakeWarning]

So we versed the best team in the state today.

I won't tell you the result, it's rather embarassing.

[RandyfromPennywise]

A quick word about the financial situation of clubs (notably PSV and Ajax)... It's not that PSV or Ajax struggle financially, not at all, both are big clubs who regularly receive large revenues from UEFA competitions and also have extensive infrastructure to support them. But when it comes to competing with Manchester United, Barcelona, Milan or Real Madrid, they just aren't on the same page. It is not viable to pay some players £80,000 or £100,000 a week, it just isn't sustainable at their level. It's the same with all but the elite few clubs... Fulham can't afford to pay anyone £120,000 a week, they just couldn't do it. So when you talk about academies and the like, well the Dutch (in particular) have fantastic academies and coaches and continually produce great players. But when Ajax offer van der Vaart £30,000 a week and Hamburg offer him £60k, he doesn't have to think very long about it. (Just an example, van der Vaart left Ajax for a number of reasons.)

The moneys from Television rights is a massive contributing factor. The Prem has been marketed so well over the last decade that it demands enormous amounts of money per televised game, whereas the money the Dutch or Portguese leagues can ask for is significantly lower.

In terms of becoming a big club, well it is very difficult. It's certainly a lot harder than on Football Manager. Having said that, look at Villareal. Look at Wigan. Look at Lyon. All on different scales, but all have significantly increased their reputations and performances (and, in turn, their financial status) and are becoming bigger clubs. Lyon have won 5 domestic titles in a row and are now a European heavy-weight. Fantastic management (both on- and off-field) is probably the best way, good fiscal management and some incredible performances on the pitch. A loyal fan-base, decent ground/stadium and location also help, and some sexy football with a few (at least one) gun players. Wasn't this supposed to be a 'quick word'?


Well, PSV just haven't got the financial whack to keep them there, they need to sell these players to keep afloat, or so is my understanding of it.


There are a couple of other factors, one is winning trophies. Youy can't do that at a smaller club, well, no trophies of importance, anyway. Plus they want recognition, like players from south America, who aren't held as World class, because they don't play in Europe. (Carlos Tevez, I'm looking at you) He is possibly the ugliest man to play professional football. He is so ugly, really, it is ridiculous. Someone earning his kind of money (which I believe is around £15,000 per week) and living in Brazil no less, so in comparative terms to England you can triple that salary (and the rest), to have a monobrow is unacceptable. I mean I'm not a supporter of male grooming but when you have your mug on tele giving interviews and that, I mean a wax job once a fortnight surely wouldn't be out of the question... I mean he could just as easily shave it off, anything. And I haven't even started about his Craig-Burley-esque teeth yet either...

It was all fine and dandy for Pelé to stay at Santos in 1970, but not today. Today, you need to be playing for a top European side to get international recognition beyond football diehards and people who play Football Manager.
And you've pretty much just summed me up in eight words.

[Lord Abortion]

The moneys from Television rights is a massive contributing factor. The Prem has been marketed so well over the last decade that it demands enormous amounts of money per televised game, whereas the money the Dutch or Portguese leagues can ask for is significantly lower.
Exactly... it's unfortunate, but unless that happens, good young players will be forever poached by big clubs from England, Italy and Spain.


Look at Lyon. All on different scales, but all have significantly increased their reputations and performances (and, in turn, their financial status) and are becoming bigger clubs. Lyon have won 5 domestic titles in a row and are now a European heavy-weight. Fantastic management (both on- and off-field) is probably the best way, good fiscal management and some incredible performances on the pitch. A loyal fan-base, decent ground/stadium and location also help, and some sexy football with a few (at least one) gun players. Wasn't this supposed to be a 'quick word'?
Exactly...Juninho is partly the reason for this. Same with Reqiulme at Villereal. That sort of talent brings support and mony and trophies and money.
It can be done, but not often.
There's a club every year that does it in the Champions League. A small side with a great manager and a good group of players that possibly even has a world star as their nexus.
What happens?
They get sold off. The club isn't big enough to support their players, and once people see how good they are, they get sold off to Big clubs and no-one hears from them for a while.
Monaco?
Porto?
Werder Bremen?

all come into this catagory.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Yeah couldn't agree more. Leverkusen were the same. Look at Porto, in the summer of 2004 they lost Mourinho, Carvalho, Deco, Ferreira, and there were others, and Maniche the year after. Riquelme and Juninho are huge factors in their teams' respective successes, but Riquelme probably moreso, he and Forlán. And in terms of clubs having some level of success, then getting raped and pillaged by the bigger clubs, it doesn't even have to be European success, look at when Blackburn finished 6th in 02/03... Duff £17 mil to Chelsea, Dunn £5.5 mil to Brum, and that's not even the best example. A bit of success just puts clubs in the shop window and voilà, the big clubs come in... Cough Cough Drogba, Essien, Robben, Wright-Phillips Cough Cough.

Villareal look as though they might be going against the trend of the small clubs. I think their UEFA Cup experience will have helped that too, and if they can keep Riquelme they could really cement themselves as a top-half Spanish side, which would be huge (look at Chievo in Italy, similar situation what 5 years ago, now they are Rubbish). They signed Pirès too this week, decent get.

06-07 CFC - Čech Ferreira Carvalho Terry Bridge Makélélé Ballack Lampard Cole Shevchenko Duff. Meh José prefers Robben to Duff, bloody only God would know why. So who will be the third signing of Chelsea, presuming we get Sheva? José said he wanted 3 big, big name signings, so who's the third then? Ronaldinho? Kaká? Adriano? Rooney? Riquelme? Eto'o? Ronaldo? Henry? :D

[red barchetta]

Dynamo Kiev were the same too. they got raped off of Sheva and Rebrov straight after reaching the semi-final of champs league.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Chelsea raped West Ham several times between 2001 and 2003. Good times.

[Lord Abortion]

Yep, funny thing was, they were pretty similar in terms of quality...Then look what happened...Sheva became one of the best in the world, and Rebrov went to Spurs :lol:

[Frankie]

Well depending on what Villareal do next will determine if they are going to be a big club or not. If they lose say Riquelme and Forlan, then forget about it. Shevchenko going to Chelsea may be the catalyst I believe for them to really declare themselves as a major european club. Champions League winners ??? Only seems like when not if.

[Angry Balled Fists!]

gay grimsby lost :( :(

All my f'ucking play off teams lost.

[Grutte Pier]

Speech

You are absolutely right. Holland is nothing but a big trading house. The TV rights are a joke compared to big nations. The clubs just can't compete with the salaries. They also can't refuse the millions of euros clubs are offering for their players. Whenever a dutch team performs well in a European tournament - it's bye bye team. Just look at PSV last year: van Bommel, Park, Lee, Bouma, Vogel etc. all left Alex, Gomes, Farfan will leave any day. My club can't even keep a good player for a half a year, they're gone in the winter (Klaas-Jan Huntelaar).

Holland still stands due to the fact football is played amongst youth in every outercorner. And plus most of the clubs have good scouting. Dutch clubs always can do more with less.

There really should be more done about the huge salary gaps between clubs. If a player gets the same salary at Chelsea as Wigan, the competion will get much more interesting.

[Britney Diva]

If football is so popular why are the TV rights so small?

[Pinhead13]

11 days left!

:naughty:

[RandyfromPennywise]

If football is so popular why are the TV rights so small?
Because only certain types of Football are hugley popular. That is, Champions League, Premier League, Serie A and La Liga. We get the Dutch league shown here in Australia, each Sunday night we get the match of the round shown on ESPN, but I can guarantee that even for Ajax v PSV the ratings would not even reach 20% of basically any Premiership game. The marketing of the leagues is very important. It's a catch 22 that is extremely hard to break. Smaller teams/leagues are not as good largely because they don't have enough money, and they don't have enough money because they aren't quite as good. The TV Rights for England, Spain, Italy, France and Germany are significant, for the rest they are relatively small, and Champions League is the only way of getting their hands on some of the cash.

[TakeWarning]

Yep, funny thing was, they were pretty similar in terms of quality...Then look what happened...Sheva became one of the best in the world, and Rebrov went to Spurs :lol:

He was such a waste of ****ing money.

[badtaste]

Would it work if a kajillionaire bought a small/medium football club, the same way Chelsea's owner has? Or does it only work when kajillionaires buy big teams?

[Angry Balled Fists!]

/ukranian represant !

[Frankie]

Well look at Middlesbrough. 20 years ago we were facing liquidation and were sharing a ground with Hartlepool. Fortunately we were bailed out by Steve Gibson a genuine fan and with the money to back us up. Fast forward twenty years we've won our first cup got to the final of the UEFA cup in our second season in europe. So it does work if a millionaire buys a smaller club (so thats why IMO pompy will make huge leaps next season).

And Terry Venables has turned the boro job down and we've given O'neill 'til tuesday to decide if he wants the job.

[Kickflip_Burrito]

You could argue the same for Fulham too. Down in Division 2, Al-Fayed buys them, 5 or so years later, they're in the Premiership. I still remember all the talk and tabloids saying 'will Fulham get to the Premier league?' and 'Fulham predicted to be in Premiership in 2-3 years'.

Okay, they're not a Premiership heavyweight but they've stayed up for quite some time now.

[Pinhead13]

10 days left!

:wave:

[RandyfromPennywise]

You could argue the same for Fulham too. Down in Division 2, Al-Fayed buys them, 5 or so years later, they're in the Premiership. I still remember all the talk and tabloids saying 'will Fulham get to the Premier league?' and 'Fulham predicted to be in Premiership in 2-3 years'.

Okay, they're not a Premiership heavyweight but they've stayed up for quite some time now.
And let's hope they get relegated next season :thumb: :p

[TakeWarning]

I think if someone incredibly rich bought any club at all, they could bring them huge success.

If I ever get really rich, I'm going to buy Spurs.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Here's hoping you make about $50k a year and no more.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Lyon have signed Kim Källström from Rennes for €6.5m (£4m). I'm a bit disappointed because Källström's been my favourite player for Rennes, whom I partially support. And can you believe that a USA team is trying to sign Ronaldo! I forget which team, it might be Chicago Fire or something, but apparently the contract offer would be absolutely massive.

[Grutte Pier]

Lyon have signed Kim Källström from Rennes for €6.5m (£4m). I'm a bit disappointed because Källström's been my favourite player for Rennes, whom I partially support. And can you believe that a USA team is trying to sign Ronaldo! I forget which team, it might be Chicago Fire or something, but apparently the contract offer would be absolutely massive.

Ronaldo going to the US? That's like quiting Football.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Ronaldo going to the US? That's like quiting Football.
Well surely it has to be a send up, surely there's no chance of RONALDO playing in the MLS any time soon!!???....

[clown_phobia]

What do you guys think will happen sunday night - Australia vs Holland?

You'd have to back Holland of course, but Australia beat England in England a couple of years ago so it shows anything can happen. Australia have a decent side but truthfully they're just not in the same league as the Dutch.

Any thoughts?

About Ronaldo, I think he'd only go to the US as an alternative to retiring, because he can get paid a lot there. It's what Pele and Beckenbauer did. Ronaldo'd only go there for the money when his career in Europe was finished.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Me thinks we will show the world that we defend very well (NOT the same as having a good defence!) and any side will struggle to put more than 2 past us. I think we might score but the Dutch will win 2-1 or 2-0. However it depends how much Guus experiments in the 2nd half, I'd say not much, but then again we will be allowed to use what is it, 6 subs? so yeah but van Basten is in the same situation so I think it should be a very good test (for both teams).

[TakeWarning]

Holland 2 - 1 Australia. Should be a good game though.

[matthew121]

Austrailia, are they good now? Just wondering

[TakeWarning]

Long story short: We've improved alot under Guus Hiddink and we're pretty sure we'll make the round of 16 at the World Cup.

[Frankie]

There alot world class Australian players in the premiership so you'd think they'd be good. Off the top of my head
Cahill
Kewell
Viduka
Schwarzer
Emerton (is he I'm not sure?)

[matthew121]

Cahill isnt world class

[Angry Balled Fists!]

Most of them aren't.

They are "decent".

I was watching a program last night and realised how many poor players were in our last world cup team copmpared to now, eg. Danny Mills, Sinclair, Emile Heskey etc

[Frankie]

Cahill isnt world class

He played amazingly the season before before last (when everton qualifiied for the CL).

[matthew121]

I was watching a program last night and realised how many poor players were in our last world cup team copmpared to now, eg. Danny Mills, Sinclair, Emile Heskey etc

123. Who did we have in midfield then?

[red barchetta]

Bresciano's probably the best player for Austrailia at the moment.

anyway:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/5027750.stm

Dowie joins Charlton as their new manager, despite making a gentlemen's agreement with Palace chairman Simon Jordan that he would leave Palace to get closer to his family up North. i just watched Sky Sports News and Jordan sounded pretty pissed off. Palace'll take legal action against Dowie.

[sgrevs]

Bresciano's probably the best player for Austrailia at the moment.


What about Kewell? He's almost re-reached the peak of his career as he was in about 2001/02 I think for Leeds.

Either way, Bresciano, Viduka, Emerton, Neill, Schwarzer, it's definitely a very strong squad, and although most people I've spoken to feel differently, I think we'll make it through. Croatia vs. Japan will be a massive game for us.

Edit: Dowie is a hideous, hideous man.

[red barchetta]

Dowie's probably the ugliest manager ever.

[RandyfromPennywise]

123. Who did we have in midfield then?
From what I can remember Sinclair was given a starting role... Ahem, Sven, again...

I really think it is interesting to see how under-rated any players playing outside of the premiership are. I have watched all of Australia's matches since 2001 and have been to three, and I can honestly say that Vince Grella (Parma), Jason Culina (PSV) and Marco Bresciano (Parma) are just about the most crucial players for us. Along with Lucas Neill (Blackburn), Harry Kewell (Liverpool) and Mark Viduka (Middlesbrough), they basically hold our hopes.

Neill is absolutely vital to us. Many followers of the English game might find this strange but he is by far and away the best defender we have and my word does he rise to the occassion every time he pulls on the Gold. If we lost him to injury we would be in big trouble. With Cahill and Kewell, they are class, class players for us, but our cover in midfield is much stronger than in defence. To those who may not be aware, this is our best XI and what we will play if we don't have any injury problems:

.....................Schwarzer.................... ......

Emerton.........Moore.....Neill......Chipperfield

....................Culina....Grella.............. ........

Bresciano.............Cahill............Kewell.... .....
.........................Viduka................... .........

in a 4-2-3-1 formation as shown there. The midfield shield of Grella and Culina is the key and I have confidence in both of them. Culina is becoming a class act very quickly. Hiddink didn't sign him for PSV for nothing.

Bresciano is our best player, it is clear. At top form he is better than Kewell or Cahill. He hasn't courted the attention of the big Italian clubs without reason.

[matthew121]

England vs Hungary in a couple hours. Should be good to see the first team playing again although they may be putting Carragher in a holding role which is a bit wierd but also interesting, could be very good. I wonder if we'll see Walcott. I hope so.

[skateMASTERbater2]

Lyon have signed Kim Källström from Rennes for €6.5m (£4m). I'm a bit disappointed because Källström's been my favourite player for Rennes, whom I partially support. And can you believe that a USA team is trying to sign Ronaldo! I forget which team, it might be Chicago Fire or something, but apparently the contract offer would be absolutely massive.
The team is Red Bull New York, and the offer is a ten year contract(!). He would earn 1Mio a month.

Who in their right mind could think that Ronaldo will be willing/ will be able to play competitive football at 39? Oh yeah, and fuc'k red bull

[Grutte Pier]

The Netherlands - Australia

Holland has quite a schedule, training camp in Schwitzerland and a friendly against Cameroon last week, a friendly against Mexico and Australia this week. I'm expecting a very soft game, as no player is looking forward to getting himself injured on the eve before the world cup and the friendly relationship between the countries due to Hiddink. But an interesting duel nontheless, wouldn't be surprised if Kuyt would start in striker position. I don't know the Australian team very well, a few I've only heard of. I know Culina best as he plays for PSV, very fine player, consistent and hard working.

-----------------vd Sar-------------

-Kromkamp-Ooijer-Mathijssen-vanBronckhorst-

---vanBommel----Sneijder------Cocu--------

--vanPersie-------Kuyt---------Robben-----

Van Der Vaart will probably still be injured

Kuyt or Van Nistelrooy.

[Ganondorf]

I think friendlies where both teams are gonna be in the World Cup are kinda spoiling it a bit

[Dead Star]

I was loling so hard at the England game.

Owen missed a sitter, Lampard missed a penalty, then the rebound went off the bar, the Joe Cole headed across goal and hit the post, and started celebrating.

Its too much :p

[matthew121]

Anyone see Crouch's dance. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA aha ha h... AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Very good goal though, and great assist

[Kickflip_Burrito]

Anyone see Crouch's dance. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA aha ha h... AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Very good goal though, and great assist
Yeah! Wtf was that?! Haha, that was ridiculous. It was a good goal, silenced my Crouch-heckling.

Walcott didn't get much of a chance tonight though, despite coming on with 25mins left. He didn't seem to get the ball or get passed to, until the end when he cracked a shot across goal.

[Ganondorf]

Robo-Crouch

[Pinhead13]

9 days left!

:chug:

Damn.... I don't know if I'll be able to watch the opening game.

:(

[Britney Diva]

I'll smuggle a TV to wherever you are if you stop doing that ****ing stupid ****ing countdown.

[RandyfromPennywise]

So Chelsea have signed Kalou from Feyenoord. Very good signing I have to say. It's in the vein of a Football Manager signing, which I can relate to. I think that definitely spells the end of Carlton Cole though, never really got a chance but Kalou is better and offers more in my opinion anyway. Good signing.

And the Holland v Aus game should be decent, and like Grutte Pier said, it won't be fierce or anything, but a good hit-out for both sides nonetheless. He's right about Culina too, very underrated outside of Holland.

Lampard missed only his second penalty in a competitive match since joining Chelsea, I'm a bit surprised (the other was against West Ham in the League Cup when he blasted it too straight). Well at least that means the odds of him missing in the WC are very low now, presuming he is the #1 PK taker, which one would hope he is. He's yet to miss in the Prem or Champions League for Chelsea unless I'm terribly mistaken.

And Ronaldo, surely, surely not. He could easily play for any top side in the world for at least another 3-4 years.

[+3kk!]

Wait, Carlton Cole's still at Chelsea? I thought he'd pretty much been sent on permanent loan somewhere...I feel bad for him as he's always looked very good whenever I've seen him play, even at Chelsea where you would have thought their other strikers would crowd him out. Kalou is a good signing though. If Schevchenko signs next week, as is looking likely, then Chelsea will have a very good strike force for next season.

i have to say chelsea aready has a good strike force, drogba and crespo can walk into any first team and have tons of stats and comments to back them up. even their reserve are good, eidur and cole...

i think the problem with chelsea is with the style of play and with ballack and shev i wonder how will they play it.

drogba has and always will be murinhos main man, as he stated plenty of times that drogs's not for sale and is one of the backbone players of chelsea..thus a suggestion that shev will be paired up with him.

i seriously wonder how chelsea will work next season, there is this HUGE overcrowding of talent.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Wait, Carlton Cole's still at Chelsea? I thought he'd pretty much been sent on permanent loan somewhere...I feel bad for him as he's always looked very good whenever I've seen him play, even at Chelsea where you would have thought their other strikers would crowd him out. Kalou is a good signing though. If Schevchenko signs next week, as is looking likely, then Chelsea will have a very good strike force for next season.

Yeah Carlton's still at Chelsea, he got most of his minutes in the FA Cup and League Cup, I'm not even sure if he got on the pitch in the Prem, but he did score for us in the FA Cup this year against Huddersfield. It's looking like he might go to Spurs for £2m.

I think Chelsea's squad for next season is looking very good, but the transfer action is far from over. There is talk Duff could be on the way out, and Gudjohnsen too. I think this would be a ridiculous call from Mourinho. Gudjohnsen is absolute quality. If he and Duff got a decent run in the side last season they'd have done a lot more. I rate Duff much higher than Robben and SWP also, and Gudjohnsen, well I'd prefer him up front to Drogba in certain situations, and he is certainly better in midfield than Maniche was. I'd say piss off Del Horno and Robben ahead of those two. But whatever happens, it will be very interesting to see what the formation is for Chelsea next year. Assuming it's a back four,

Maka, Lamps, Essien, Ballack, J. Cole, Robben, Crespo, Drogba, Shevchenko, Duff, Kalou and Gudjohnsen don't fit into 6 positions... I'd say Essien will not play every match, and Maka will be very well rested for the bigger matches. But even so, it just doesn't fit...

Maka - Lamps Ballack - J. Cole - Sheva + Drogs. Look at the freaking bench if that was the line-up!

EDIT: I was just reading through the attacking players I listed, don't forget that that's only the players who I thought worthy of consideration for a regular starting spot!

[Britney Diva]

I really hope Duff gets out of Chelsea.

[RandyfromPennywise]

I really hope Duff gets out of Chelsea.
So you can have him? :p Well he needs to do one of two things: Leave for a decent transfer to a quality side (but not necessarily one of the top few in Europe) and start playing every week and ripping it up again, OR get that starting spot back at Chelsea like he did in 2004/5 and start ripping it up again and open Moronio's eyes to the fact that he is significantly better than our very own little diver Robert Ben.

In relation to my above post about CFC's squad, I was just looking at it, and it's now up to 27. Consider that the worst players on the senior list are Diarra, Pidgeley, Huth, Gérémi, Wright-Phillips and C. Cole and you can see that there is actually just too much talent for one list...

[red barchetta]

Germany 2 - 2 Japan

:cool:

Looks like we have a decent chance of going through to the knock-out stages

[RandyfromPennywise]

No chance buddy :)

[red barchetta]

it'll be Japan and Australia to go through. **** Brazil :smoke:

[TakeWarning]

It'll be Australia and Brazil is what my unbiased side thinks.


That England game was pretty exciting in some parts, but most of the time it was pretty boring. Beckham played well, Cole played well, him setting up the third goal was probably the highlight of the game. Didn't see much of Theo though, so I still haven't made a judgement on him.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Joey Cole could really shine at the World Cup, he could really be a star for England. I think that he has the potential to do something really special for England and there are only a few other players for England who could really make an impact (Lamps, Gerrard, Owen and Rooney if he wasn't injured).

[Frankie]

Aparently pele said Joey Cole is good enough for Brazil :p. His assist last night proved his class

[+3kk!]

Chelsea willl be a mad team next season, though i still dont see a solution for jose.

its claimed by lyon that jose wants to make a team that backs drog and shev..

anyway, crouch's recent goal celebration was funny...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8WSPnwGUnE&search=crouch

[RandyfromPennywise]

Yeah I just read that about Mourinho saying he wants to build the team (the attack at least) around Sheva and the Drog. Could be very interesting seeing a back-to-back champion side change formation to accommodate 2-3 new players immediately. Looking through the squad, there are going to be some big names not on the team sheet each week.

Yeah Pelé said that about Joe Cole. Fair bloody compliment! I think that Zé Roberto shouldn't be playing in central midfield for them, he is the only weakness in the attack, surely Juninho Pernambucano or Gilberto would be better there next to Emerson. Perhaps Pelé was saying Cole has the skill and flair to play there, although I don't think Cole could play in a two-man central midfield. Perhaps he could get a gig on the bench: I'd take Cole over Robinho.

[+3kk!]

Yeah I just read that about Mourinho saying he wants to build the team (the attack at least) around Sheva and the Drog. Could be very interesting seeing a back-to-back champion side change formation to accommodate 2-3 new players immediately. Looking through the squad, there are going to be some big names not on the team sheet each week.

i'd say makelele and essien will switch, same with i think lamps and ballack.... so that, they as the back-bone players of chelsea can rest well for big CLs.

i worry for the wingers though, espically cole..

one thing about drog, for the pasr seasons as a lone striker and being heavily marked he has managed to put up starts worthy of a world class striker.

now he has shev to join him, given the freedom i say drogba is goina silence a lot of people next year

[Lord Abortion]

Didn't see the England game, was out.

Beckham played well, I see.

[Frankie]

Well I suppose he did have an ok game.

[poorquality]

i thought beckham was our best player to be honest, owen didn't do much, but I can't really blame him, he can't play the lone striker role he needs another striker...crouch came on and played like he had something to prove...which impressed me actually. Joe Cole...Ferdinand and Terry...we better hope they don't get injured.

I really couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Gerrard dive....TWICE

I thought justice was served when lamps missed the penalty :(

Didnt think gerrard was that sort of player...but meh...can't wait until world cup starts...i've made sure i'm not working during england games, and if I do I get to wear my england shirt and have a radio :D

[Jon]

Anyone watch that 1966 program on channel 5 just now?

I forgot how pissy and patriotic and stuff the World Cup & Three Lions gets me =(

[Theleftside2]

I don't think I've ever seen anyone do the robot until Peter Crouch did it yesterday. :D

Costa Rica-0 Czech Republic-1 ?

Poland-1 Colombia-2 ?

The U.S. and Ecuador Will advance. I can see it now.

[red barchetta]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/5035604.stm

:angry:

[Theleftside2]

Chelsea = The new Real Madrid. :p

[_M_A_N_U_E_L_]

I don't think I've ever seen anyone do the robot until Peter Crouch did it yesterday. :D

Costa Rica-0 Czech Republic-1 ?

Poland-1 Colombia-2 ?

The U.S. and Ecuador Will advance. I can see it now.

Pfff, Ecuador tied with Colombia and lost to Macedonia. Group A is gonna be about Germany and whoever gets the best goal balance. Group A has to be the worst group this year.

[Pinhead13]

8 days left!

:)

[+3kk!]

Chelsea = The new Real Madrid. :p

if they sack jose, and the team falls apart...then i can say that

[Britney Diva]

Yeah, wouldn't Chelsea need a minimum of 4 managers per season to be the next Real?

[TakeWarning]

I hope Chelsea lose miserably, they have too many world-class players for their own good.

And lol at Pinhead13 getting banned.

[+3kk!]

btw chelsea wants to sgin another keeper, i seriously hope its false.....what happened to carlo? unless chelsea plans to loan someone?

[Theleftside2]

What I meant by the Chelsea comment was that they're going to have that reign that Real Madrid once had as the best club in Europe before they started to fall apart.

Although, Chelsea could very well fall apart too...

Hopefully they wont.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Nah the 'keeper would be as cover for Pidgeley, who will need to move on if he's to do anything with his career, so we would effectively be signing a 3rd choice 'keeper. Reports are that we have already signed a Portuguese 'keeper, Hiraldo or something, whatever.

WE GOT SHEVCHENKO!

[TakeWarning]

I hope Chelsea lose just so I can laugh in Randy's face.

But I know they won't. :(

[+3kk!]

Nah the 'keeper would be as cover for Pidgeley, who will need to move on if he's to do anything with his career, so we would effectively be signing a 3rd choice 'keeper. Reports are that we have already signed a Portuguese 'keeper, Hiraldo or something, whatever.

WE GOT SHEVCHENKO!


we've aready have 1 impressive keeper, one good one..there is not much use for another.

chelsea will fall apart one day, what goes up has to come down....and also not many managers can manage a team like chelsea. i'd say if roman sacks jose its bye bye chelsea

[RandyfromPennywise]

we've aready have 1 impressive keeper, one good one..there is not much use for another.

chelsea will fall apart one day, what goes up has to come down....and also not many managers can manage a team like chelsea. i'd say if roman sacks jose its bye bye chelsea
You're a CFC fan? I thought I was the only one...

TakeWarning, don't be bitter my friend :)

[Frankie]

Well I'm happy Georgey Boateng has signed a new contract :D

[Drop The Baby]

Mourinho confirmed today that they do want Carlos. I for one hope they get him because not only is he sh!t now, it'll put them off Cole.

I cannot believe the greed of the club, and am truly sick and tired of their monopoly of the transfer market.

[Britney Diva]

Shame on them for wanting a good team. Greedy *******

[Mr. Black]

we've aready have 1 impressive keeper, one good one..there is not much use for another.

chelsea will fall apart one day, what goes up has to come down....and also not many managers can manage a team like chelsea. i'd say if roman sacks jose its bye bye chelsea
Chelsea have far too much players.

think about it, the morale in the dressing room must be terrible, even though they're winning trophies, I mean the players must be literally fighting each other for a place in the starting eleven, or even to get on the bench. I mean look at Shaun Wright-Phillips, they payed 21 million quid for him, and I've not heard from him since, and they continue to sign more players. There has to be some kind of hate in the team, directed toward Mourinho, toward the people who get picked constantly, wherever, but it must be there, or at least brewing up inside some players. Eventually it's all just gonna explode soon.

Money dosen't buy respect anyways.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Agree with Plath and Med 100%. Of course I'm happy we've got the dosh, but I also maintain that it is not all negative for the English game... Without Roman's millions, the Prem wouldn't have some very good players that we are fortunate enough to be able to watch every week. And on top of this, many other clubs have benefited as well.

The Carlos speculation is just baffling, really is. Defensively, Del Horno and Bridge are Carlos' equal, if not better. If we signed him two years ago, well maybe, but now it'd be Mourinho's worst signing by a mile. And if he gets free kick duty that'd be a farse. Super Frank is much better.

[Mr. Black]

Mourinho confirmed today that they do want Carlos. I for one hope they get him because not only is he sh!t now, it'll put them off Cole.

I cannot believe the greed of the club, and am truly sick and tired of their monopoly of the transfer market.
Ruining English Football at the moment, the FA should step in and do something, it's way past ridiculous now.

Their 'Squad' (http://www.chelseafc.com/article.asp?article=249900&Title=Squad&lid=Navigation+-+Players&sub=Squad&nav=&sublid=) - That's not even everyone either.

[Britney Diva]

You see, historically, having huge amounts of money is no guarantee of success to any degree. Look at Lazio a few seasons back, Real Madrid, or even clubs like Middlesborough and Leeds in recent years. I realise Chelsea are on a whole different plain but it's not as if success can just be bought. The reason Chelsea are successful is because they've not just built up a really good team but they've been managed and coached very well first by Ranieri and now by Mourinho.

The worst thing about it is that they're not even THAT good. If Man U, Liverpool and Arsenal weren't so spectacularly average for large portions of the season then Chelsea might actually have to break a sweat.

[Drop The Baby]

Shame on them for wanting a good team. Greedy *******

You really are a bit of a moron aren't you?

It is incomprehensible that a team that states it's goal is to be 'making a profit within the next 10 years' can carry on in such fashion. Ranieri had taken the team to fourth osition and looked like getting no further with the current regime. It was simply money that took the club onto the next stage.

Look at their business, they buy players such as SWP and Parker to weaken teams around them and then never play them.

i have no problem with clubs 'buying success' if that money is generated through footballing efficiency. To get a billionaire in with an unlimited transfer budget and wage bill is ridiculous.

There is no doubting Mourinho is a brilliant coach, but there are plenty of managers who would've brought the title to Stamford Bridge if they'd had that amount of cash to splash.

[Mr. Black]

How are they ruining English football? Two English clubs have got to the Champion's League final in the last two years, neither of which have been Chelsea. They were simply better than everyone last year. As we've seen at Real Madrid, spending money is no guarantee of being the best in the League, and if you guys are right about intra-squad tensions at Chelsea then sooner or later something will go wrong there. As it is they've handled Abramovich's wealth surprisingly well, and I really don't see how they're damaging the league or anything. Manchester United were every bit this dominant for a lot of the '90s.
I did not think this through.

so, Djbril Cisse's possibly on the move. I say good, he's useless. Oh and we may be signing Fabio Aurelio. Excellent.

[Britney Diva]

It is incomprehensible that a team that states it's goal is to be 'making a profit within the next 10 years' can carry on in such fashion. Ranieri had taken the team to fourth osition and looked like getting no further with the current regime. It was simply money that took the club onto the next stage.
And a better manager.

Look at their business, they buy players such as SWP and Parker to weaken teams around them and then never play them.
Joe Cole as well, yeah?

i have no problem with clubs 'buying success' if that money is generated through footballing efficiency. To get a billionaire in with an unlimited transfer budget and wage bill is ridiculous.
You have no problem with buying success if that success is bought by prior success?

There is no doubting Mourinho is a brilliant coach, but there are plenty of managers who would've brought the title to Stamford Bridge if they'd had that amount of cash to splash.
Like Bryan Robson?

[Mr. Black]

Joe Cole as well, yeah?

That's what makes me angry about Chelsea. They buy players, have them for a season then just throw them to the back of the cupboard. Mourinho is like a spoilt child.

[Theleftside2]

Keep in mind, Chelsea had a HUGE dominant lead in the Standings earlier this year, and within a few months...Man. Utd. went up to about 6 points behind Chelsea.

[Drop The Baby]

And a better manager.

And helped by the signings that Ranieri made not joinging until after he'd be sacked. The plyers he didn't have the benefit of after he signed them included Cech and Robben.


Joe Cole as well, yeah?

What about Joe cole? You're naming one signing without a point as far as i can see.

what about Veron?


You have no problem with buying success if that success is bought by prior success?

I have no problem with clubs buying players if they have generated the money to do so themsleves e.g. Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal and practically every other club bar chelsea


Like Bryan Robson?
Middlsborough would've finished a damn site higher up if they'd had more money to spend. Chelsea have only failed occasionally in the transfer market when they've gone after unattainable players. Shevchenko was one of those untilt their constant attempts to unsettle him succeeded.

[Drop The Baby]

http://english.people.com.cn/200506/09/eng20050609_189336.html

Chelsea's spending on player wages and transfers contributed to total expenditure on players of over 1 billion pounds for the first season ever

Tell me this isn't scandalous.


And just for a laugh: http://www.arsenal.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=19626

[Britney Diva]

And helped by the signings that Ranieri made not joinging until after he'd be sacked. The plyers he didn't have the benefit of after he signed them included Cech and Robben.
He's still a better manager.

What about Joe cole? You're naming one signing without a point as far as i can see.
2-3 years ago, people said exactly what you're saying now about SWP. Now Cole's promising to be on of the stars of the WC.

what about Veron?
Veron was crap.

Middlsborough would've finished a damn site higher up if they'd had more money to spend.
Bryan Robson spent millions more than any other club and still got relegated.

Tell me this isn't scandalous.

I'm a Man Utd fan and I only wish we weren't so poor in comparison.

[Lord Abortion]

About Veron, I still hold that he owns the position of the second best performance in a Man United shirt(Behind Roy Keane in the 3-2 Champions league defeat of Juventus in '99) in a pre-season friendly, which was his last game for the club, also against Juve, where we won 4-1, he scored one and set the other three up, he hit a pass from the left back position after winning the ball from Trezeguet, and hit an 85 yard pass for Van Nistlerooy to score.

[RandyfromPennywise]

It's refreshing to hear someone who knows what they are talking about. Spat Out Plath, you do. And to the people eating all the sour grapes, I am not saying that because he is 'defending' Chelsea, I am saying it because he is correct. Drop The Baby this time you are wrong. Using the "making a profit in 10 years" quote completely out of context was poor. That was said in relation to the huge losses the club had in 2003-4. It was said in relation to transfers, that is, the plan is to have seasons where Chelsea don't buy anyone.

It is just a case of cracking the shits because Chelsea are very good now. Manchester United were more dominant from '93-'03 than Chelsea are right now.

Damaging football? **** let us get some perspective. One team is being made successful and all the teams around them crack the shits, perhaps what Juventus have done has slightly greater consequences, no?

Ranieri was a good gaffer, and I have a lot of respect for him. Drop The Baby, he would have won the title in 04-05 as well if he stayed on. He got us to fourth and the Champo pre-Roman, and 2nd post-$$. But The Special One is on another level, and I do hate many things he does but he is undeniably in the top two or three managers in the world.

[RandyfromPennywise]

About Veron, I still hold that he owns the position of the second best performance in a Man United shirt(Behind Roy Keane in the 3-2 Champions league defeat of Juventus in '99) in a pre-season friendly, which was his last game for the club, also against Juve, where we won 4-1, he scored one and set the other three up, he hit a pass from the left back position after winning the ball from Trezeguet, and hit an 85 yard pass for Van Nistlerooy to score.
Man Keano was immense in that game. My brother has it on tape and I watched it again a few months back, that was better than Gerrard in either of his recent game-winning performances in huge matches. Keano was the best defensively-minded mindfielder in the world at that time, and the best attacking-minded player was playing on the other team. Vintage Champo.

[+3kk!]

You're a CFC fan? I thought I was the only one...

TakeWarning, don't be bitter my friend :)

nah, not really...i am more of a murinho fan. i dont really bothered much about chelsea, then murinho came in and made things intresting. so indirectly aye i am a fan of chelsea, but if murinho wassnt there then i doubt i'll follow chelsea.

[MILF Hunter]

What happened with the fantasy football league we did? who won it? can someone please post the end table :)

[MILF Hunter]

nvm i found it

I came second!!

yes!!!!

[Drop The Baby]

It's refreshing to hear someone who knows what they are talking about. Spat Out Plath, you do. And to the people eating all the sour grapes, I am not saying that because he is 'defending' Chelsea, I am saying it because he is correct. Drop The Baby this time you are wrong. Using the "making a profit in 10 years" quote completely out of context was poor. That was said in relation to the huge losses the club had in 2003-4. It was said in relation to transfers, that is, the plan is to have seasons where Chelsea don't buy anyone.

It is just a case of cracking the shits because Chelsea are very good now. Manchester United were more dominant from '93-'03 than Chelsea are right now.

Damaging football? **** let us get some perspective. One team is being made successful and all the teams around them crack the shits, perhaps what Juventus have done has slightly greater consequences, no?

Ranieri was a good gaffer, and I have a lot of respect for him. Drop The Baby, he would have won the title in 04-05 as well if he stayed on. He got us to fourth and the Champo pre-Roman, and 2nd post-$$. But The Special One is on another level, and I do hate many things he does but he is undeniably in the top two or three managers in the world.

I'm James.

I cannot really continue a conversation with SOP because i find his comments ludicrous for want of a better word.

The fact remains that Chelsea obtained, out of the blue, an unfair advantage over any other club, an advantage that no other club on the world stage can compete with. Through pure luck Chelsea have gone onto win the Prem twice and deny other clubs their position.

you're damn right it is sour grapes, because i support a team that would have a far better chance of winning the title if it weren't for Chelsea. However i don't have the same feelings for Man U. I hate the club but respect the way they have gone about becoming the biggest club in the world, by bringing through superb young players and generating revenue themseleves. Chelsea skipped the whole development stage.

even Man U, as one of the richest clubs in the world over the past decade have never been able to buy players that weren't on the market, such as Vieira, Shearer and Shevchenko.


Arsenal may be in trouble: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/5037494.stm

[RandyfromPennywise]

What happened with the fantasy football league we did? who won it? can someone please post the end table :)
I was doing quite well until I went overseas and didn't touch my team for two months... Then I got massively owned by most of you. Does anyone know of a WC Fantasy in the same style as that one? Premierleague.com are running one but it's only with Prem players which is crap. There are loads of other WC fantasy games but none in that format, which is the best.

Netherlands v Mexico in a bit!

[RandyfromPennywise]

I'm James.

I cannot really continue a conversation with SOP because i find his comments ludicrous for want of a better word.

The fact remains that Chelsea obtained, out of the blue, an unfair advantage over any other club, an advantage that no other club on the world stage can compete with. Through pure luck Chelsea have gone onto win the Prem twice and deny other clubs their position.

you're damn right it is sour grapes, because i support a team that would have a far better chance of winning the title if it weren't for Chelsea. However i don't have the same feelings for Man U. I hate the club but respect the way they have gone about becoming the biggest club in the world, by bringing through superb young players and generating revenue themseleves. Chelsea skipped the whole development stage.

even Man U, as one of the richest clubs in the world over the past decade have never been able to buy players that weren't on the market, such as Vieira, Shearer and Shevchenko.


Arsenal may be in trouble: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/5037494.stm
James, [call me Tom, Randy, Rusty, Zola, Ronn Moss (all are nicknames 'cept the first one)] I can see your argument and you make some valid points. I find one thing hard to accept: "Through pure luck." We all know that Prems are not won by luck and luck alone. But at the end of the day it seems destined to be that you will hate the Chels and I will love them. Next season is our 10th anniversary together, I've got a feeling Chels is going to get me a really, really good present!

Read that article about us trying for Rosický back in '04. Shows the class of Ranieri. I would have creamed myself back then if we'd have got him, feck that'd have been awesome, midfield of Maka-Lamps-Rosický. He is one of my favourite players and still is, I hope he does really well for Arsenal. The more quality players like Tomas (who has great passing, great vision and fantastic work-rate) I get to see regularly the happier I am. I also hope he succeeds in England due to his physique, he's not buff but I am confident his skill will prevail. I'll defo have him in my fantasy teams if I can accommodate him, and I hope Wenger starts him.

[Drop The Baby]

James, [call me Tom, Randy, Rusty, Zola, Ronn Moss (all are nicknames 'cept the first one)] I can see your argument and you make some valid points. I find one thing hard to accept: "Through pure luck." We all know that Prems are not won by luck and luck alone. But at the end of the day it seems destined to be that you will hate the Chels and I will love them. Next season is our 10th anniversary together, I've got a feeling Chels is going to get me a really, really good present!

Read that article about us trying for Rosický back in '04. Shows the class of Ranieri. I would have creamed myself back then if we'd have got him, feck that'd have been awesome, midfield of Maka-Lamps-Rosický. He is one of my favourite players and still is, I hope he does really well for Arsenal. The more quality players like Tomas (who has great passing, great vision and fantastic work-rate) I get to see regularly the happier I am. I also hope he succeeds in England due to his physique, he's not buff but I am confident his skill will prevail. I'll defo have him in my fantasy teams if I can accommodate him, and I hope Wenger starts him.

Sorry, that was unclear. By 'pure luck' i meant the fact that it was by chance that Chelsea were in fact the club taken over by Abramovich, it could've been any other.


But that advantage is clearly mitigated against by the fact that they're not the best team in Europe and towards the end of last season looked like they could be caught by Manchester United, even though we'd been rubbish for a lot of the first half of the season. Clearly their achievements haven't been the result of pure luck, since the same sort of massive investment went into Lazio in the late 1990s/early 2000s, and has gone into Real Madrid in the past. .

Sorry, my use of the phrase 'pure luck' wasn't clear enough.


Chelsea have missed out on Adriano, Henry, Gerrard, Roberto Carlos and Schevchenko in previous years. They have been turned down by both players and clubs since Abramovich took over..

All of those players were, in a genuine transfer market, unattainable. As it stands at the moment it's only players own morals and desires which stop a players transfering to Chelsea, not price that has to be paid.



The whole issue of financing in football, particularly surrounding agents and transfer dealings is so murky that really a story needs to break about the way a massive club deals in the transfer market so that the whole thing is cleaned up. At the moment it's a mess, from all accounts.

It is in an awful state.


Another thing that irks me with the Chelsea situation is when a player like Henry is rewarded with a whopping £130,000 a week contract after 7 years loyal service as a top top quality performer. Ballack hasn't played a game yet and will be earning the same amount.

[matthew121]

Another thing that irks me with the Chelsea situation is when a player like Henry is rewarded with a whopping £130,000 a week contract after 7 years loyal service as a top top quality performer. Ballack hasn't played a game yet and will be earning the same amount.

Wow, thats a very good point, it's crazy

[MILF Hunter]

I was doing quite well until I went overseas and didn't touch my team for two months... Then I got massively owned by most of you.


Thats a terrible excuse, i forgot about mine for about 4 months. Last time I checked it midway through the season I was about 11th aswell :p




ps. Hi James :)

[Frankie]

Ballack is proven quality. Atleast for other clubs he is anyways. Its not to say that alot of money buys quality anyway (Mateja Kezman anyone ?). Oh and heres a few stats for the 05 - 06 season.

Tackling
Boateng 79%
Maka 76%
Pass Completion
Boateng 81%
Maka 83%
Shooting accuaracy
36%
12%
So can anyone still tell me Boateng is still a poor man's Makalele ???

[RandyfromPennywise]

Sorry, that was unclear. By 'pure luck' i meant the fact that it was by chance that Chelsea were in fact the club taken over by Abramovich, it could've been any other.
If we are to believe what we read, only either Tottenham or, ahem, your mob. Yes, the Arse could well have been Roman's. Lucky Ranieri was such a good gaffer and got us into the Champo then, eh?!



All of those players were, in a genuine transfer market, unattainable. As it stands at the moment it's only players own morals and desires which stop a players transfering to Chelsea, not price that has to be paid.
Well to an extent. However there are clubs that will purely not accept bids for certain players. Look at our £71m bid for Raùl in 2004, or the roughly £55-60m we were willing to pay for Adriano. Both of these bids were rejected. Maybe some players want to come to SW6 for the money but I have to say that the majority of them want to come for the chance of being a part of something great, something potentially historic, and above all, the chance to be champions and win things. When you're earning £50k a week, does an extra £30k make a real difference? To some maybe it does, but they're just greedy wankers, like it seems Ballack is. Getting paid more than Lampard, Terry, Maka and co.? Horse shyte. I agree with ↓ point.



Another thing that irks me with the Chelsea situation is when a player like Henry is rewarded with a whopping £130,000 a week contract after 7 years loyal service as a top top quality performer. Ballack hasn't played a game yet and will be earning the same amount.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Ballack is proven quality. Atleast for other clubs he is anyways. Its not to say that alot of money buys quality anyway (Mateja Kezman anyone ?). Oh and heres a few stats for the 05 - 06 season.

Tackling
Boateng 79%
Maka 76%
Pass Completion
Boateng 81%
Maka 83%
Shooting accuaracy
36%
12%
So can anyone still tell me Boateng is still a poor man's Makalele ???
He is a homeless man's Maka.

[Frankie]

:angry:

We still can't find a damn manager either.

[RandyfromPennywise]

:angry:

We still can't find a damn manager either.
Hey I heard you are having a crack at Huth. That'd be a top, top signing in my opinion piece. He would really excel at Boro, playing week in, week out next to Southgate.

And seriously, Boateng's ok, but I thought he was absolutely atrocious in the UEFA Cup final. He was adressing his passes "To Whom It May Concern".

[Frankie]

Yeah me and my dad had a go at him during the final. Plus Southy isn't really our first choice CB anymore it is undoubtebly one of the most underrated in the country. Him and Huth in defence would be welcome.

[Kickflip_Burrito]

Yeah whats going on with Boro's manager search? Charlton have been making enquiries all over the place for their vacancy. For some reason, I can imagine Iain Dowie going to Boro if Charlton don't get him.

[Mr. Black]

And just for a laugh: http://www.arsenal.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=19626
That's something else, players are going to realise that if they go to Chelsea, they don't know if they'll get first team football, whilst at other clubs it's going to be different.

[red barchetta]

Yeah whats going on with Boro's manager search? Charlton have been making enquiries all over the place for their vacancy. For some reason, I can imagine Iain Dowie going to Boro if Charlton don't get him.
Dowie's already gone to Charlton.



MY GOD, Dowie's an ugly man

[Britney Diva]

The whole issue of financing in football, particularly surrounding agents and transfer dealings is so murky that really a story needs to break about the way a massive club deals in the transfer market so that the whole thing is cleaned up. At the moment it's a mess, from all accounts.
Holy **** man, you have powers.

A mere few hours later, this (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/5036342.stm) breaks.

[Kickflip_Burrito]

Dowie's already gone to Charlton.

MY GOD, Dowie's an ugly man
Did he? Oops, my mistake.

Yeah, the whole Arsenal money-thing with Beveren is a bit of a dodgy one. I know Beveren were a feeder club and were connected with Arsenal but that was it, as far as I was aware. So basically, a club buying shares in another club isn't allowed? Assuming that is the case here?

Ah man, if we get punished with being kicked out the Champions League I am going to be píssed off. Henry would be so gutted for staying.

[Britney Diva]

Yeah, one club can't control or partially control another where a conflict of interest could arise.

[Kickflip_Burrito]

For those who didn't see, Luis Martinez's goal against Poland on tuesday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJfW3hrzAz8&feature=Views&page=1&t=t&f=b

Goalie to goalie, priceless.

[TakeWarning]

Holy **** man, you have powers.

A mere few hours later, this breaks.

Well, this could be good news for Spurs.

But I bet you my postcount nothing becomes of it.

For those who didn't see, Luis Martinez's goal against Poland on tuesday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJfW3hrzAz8&feature=Views&page=1&t=t&f=b

Goalie to goalie, priceless.

Pity youtube doesn't work for me, I would like to see it.

In fact, my goalie scored a goal from goalie last week.

[Drop The Baby]

^^Same, i really want to ssee that goal!


ps. Hi James :)

Hey man :wave:

He is a homeless man's Maka.

:lol:

Holy **** man, you have powers.

A mere few hours later, this (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/5036342.stm) breaks.

that was what he was referring to

[Untitled]

Anyone see the news?

it had pictures of rooney kicking a ball about and stuff at the old trafford trianing ground, but they got told to turn the camaras off.

Then some german reporter said Roo started to properly shoot the ball and stuff, in no pain, and he thinks its a hoax and he's not realy broke his foot or something.

[Frankie]

I must admit things do look good for Rooney and England's chhances.

[Drop The Baby]

Apparently Rooney can now kick a ball with both feet, and he's tepping up his recovery. Anyone who seriously suggests he hasn't really broken his foot is a bit of a moron (not you butler, the reporter)

[Untitled]

Apparently Rooney can now kick a ball with both feet, and he's tepping up his recovery. Anyone who seriously suggests he hasn't really broken his foot is a bit of a moron (not you butler, the reporter)
Well he did sound german.

/dosnt like germans.

But its looking good, for him, i dont think he will play till after the group stages though.

[TakeWarning]

Well he did sound german.

/dosnt like germans.

But its looking good, for him, i dont think he will play till after the group stages though.

Does anyone like Germans?

/hopes there's no Germans/anti-racists around.

From what I've seen Rooney looks pretty good all-round, walking fine, shooting alright, doesn't seem to be in pain at all. But the papers keep saying that the sky looks cloudy.

PS That's a metaphor.

[Timm]

/hopes there's no Germans/anti-racists around.


sup :)

[Mr. Black]

OOOOOO.

Anyone got a link to Germany's team for the World Cup?

I know it won't be finalised yet, but I enjoy watchin them play.

[Frankie]

So Luke Young has handed in a transfer request seems a bit peculiar to me. Aldo Roque Santa Cruz is fit for the England game, I was hoping he wouldn't be as trust me he can score a goal or two and is a major threat.

[Untitled]

Does anyone like Germans?

/hopes there's no Germans/anti-racists around.

From what I've seen Rooney looks pretty good all-round, walking fine, shooting alright, doesn't seem to be in pain at all. But the papers keep saying that the sky looks cloudy.

PS That's a metaphor.
The sky always looks cloudy in the uk :(

:D

[red barchetta]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/5043096.stm

Mikel finally seals a move to chelsea.



i thought you werent going to sign that many players this summer Jose :rolleyes:

[TakeWarning]

sup :)

I'm sorry. I meant the team by the way so don't be too offended.

Mr Night: I tried to get a team thing from the FIFA site but it wasn't working. But here's the probable team according to ALPHA magazine.

GK:Jens Lehmann (Arsenal)
Def:Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin)
Def:Robert Huth (Chelsea)
Def:Phillip Lahm (Bayern Munich)
Def:Cristoph Metzelder (Dortmund)
Mid:Michael Ballack (Chelsea)
Mid:Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen)
Mid:Fabian Ernst (Schalke)
Mid:Bastian Schwiensteiger (Bayern Munich)
For:Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen)
For:Oliver Neuville (Monchengladbach)

[Theleftside2]

Here's the link to the German squad. http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/team/squad.html?team=ger

[Frankie]

Predictions for todays send off game ???

[Minus The Flair]

All I know is it's going back to 4-4-2, which means no more Gerrard and Lampard pushing forward and we have to rely on Crouch and Owen.

[Frankie]

^ Erm yeah. Lampard and Gerrard constantly push forward which is what makes them so good.

[red barchetta]

i reckon 4-1 to England with Crouch scoring first

[Drop The Baby]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/5043096.stm

That is scandalous. Man United buy a player who Chelsea wanted. So they get their knickers in a twist, unsettle him and then are forced to end up paying £16million for an untried and untested player.

:rolleyes:

[Untitled]

I bet he dosnt even get a game at chelsea.

I cant see why players go down there. I mean, SWP he moved from City down there, he was doing great at city, and he's hardly played this season. Which as a result has meant hes been droped from the england sqaud (which i still dont understand the reasoning, playing not enough? theo walcott anybody)

[Minus The Flair]

^ Erm yeah. Lampard and Gerrard constantly push forward which is what makes them so good.

Not with 4-4-2 because it's too dangerous to push them too far forward and use them to their full potential. That's why the idea of the holding midfielder came along, so Gerrard could push forward more, like he's always wanted. At the moment Gerrard and Lampard get in each others way because they're so similair.

[TakeWarning]

I think the only thing England are lacking this WC is a proper strike force.

I mean Owen's competent but in my humble opinion (feel free to disagree) Peter Crouch isn't good enough.

However, if Wayne recovers, it's a different story.

[Frankie]

Not with 4-4-2 because it's too dangerous to push them too far forward and use them to their full potential. That's why the idea of the holding midfielder came along, so Gerrard could push forward more, like he's always wanted. At the moment Gerrard and Lampard get in each others way because they're so similair.

Well there not getting in each others way ATM we're winning 2-0 :D. Owen hasn't been in and around the box enough for my liking.

EDIT: Fuc'cking typical I say that then Owen scores

[poorquality]

Haha can't believe they gave that goal to crouch, the defender kicked it putting it in a completely different direction past the keeper, most blatent own goal.

[Untitled]

Haha can't believe they gave that goal to crouch, the defender kicked it putting it in a completely different direction past the keeper, most blatent own goal.
Cant complian about his second goal though that was his.

[Timm]

the english and penalities tsktsk when will you guys ever learn :smoke:

[Untitled]

the english and penalities tsktsk when will you guys ever learn :smoke:
He redeamed himself noe though :thumb:

[red barchetta]

who needs Rooney when you have Crouchinho :smoke:

[Frankie]

The last goal was the pick of the goals really was. Excellent cross from downing good lay off from Owen (who looked good) and then a good shot from Crouch.

Oh and the robot of course :cool:

[red barchetta]

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41722000/jpg/_41722040_crouchdance203.jpg

:D

[Britney Diva]

That last goal was quality all-round. How about that penalty though?

[Frankie]

The English and penalty's :rolleyes:

/shakes head

[RandyfromPennywise]

Has to be Lampard #1 taker, surely. Hope he is and bangs in 5 goals in the WC. But hope England don't make the final.

[Untitled]

Has to be Lampard #1 taker, surely. Hope he is and bangs in 5 goals in the WC. But hope England don't make the final.
Lampard had been sub'd off and Crouch took it. And Lamp miss one this week anyway i think.

[Britney Diva]

I think if the keeper just lay on the goalline he'd have a good chance of saving a Lampard penalty. He'd probably wake up with a hole in his body, though.

[Britney Diva]

You scored one in normal time against Argentina although, admittedly, any other goalkeeper in the world would have saved it. It's kind of amazing to think that David Beckham is actually the best penalty-taker in the side, considering how bad he is at them.

although we can't expect anyone we play in the World Cup to be quite that bad defensively.
Trinidad?

[Frankie]

Jamaica were supposed to be like a warm up for Trinidad & Tobago.
Oh and Paul Burchill who hadn't stepped on the island in his life before playing for T&T hes not so bad (although he does play for a League 1 or 2 side I believe).

[Theleftside2]

Damn Jamaican own goals.

Anyway, I was hanging out at the park wearing my Landon Donovan jersey yesterday and these Mexican guys playing soccer asked me if I wanted to play. I said, "sure."
...I went over and one of them looked at me and looked at my jersey and said.. "Hey, Mexico is going to win the world cup" as he continues to stare at my jersey. I just told him "I dont know, personally I think England might win it."
Then he walked away with no clue what I said. Almost ignoring me.

hmm...yeah.
Is it just me or does the Mexico - U.S. Rivalry continue even when they're not playing against each other? :confused:

[TakeWarning]

I hope not. :-/ I'm hoping Trinidad are this year's comedy option for going through to the second round in spite of having someone like Dwight Yorke as their star player.

I think Trinidad and Tobago will be this tournament's Saudi Arabia.

[Mr. Black]

The last goal was the pick of the goals really was. Excellent cross from downing good lay off from Owen (who looked good) and then a good shot from Crouch.

Oh and the robot of course :cool:
That's all he's gonna be remembered for.

[Britney Diva]

Lampard's better than Beckham is. Considering how good Beckham is at free kicks and corners, he's embarassingly poor at taking penalties.
I don't think he can tell the difference.

I hope not. :-/ I'm hoping Trinidad are this year's comedy option for going through to the second round in spite of having someone like Dwight Yorke as their star player.
Trinidad 4 England 0

Oh and Paul Burchill who hadn't stepped on the island in his life before playing for T&T hes not so bad (although he does play for a League 1 or 2 side I believe).
Paul Burchill is currently contracted to WWE Smackdown :p

[RandyfromPennywise]

It's kind of amazing to think that David Beckham is actually the best penalty-taker in the side, considering how bad he is at them.



Dude Lamps is easily the best penalty taker for England. Gerrard's inconsistent, Beckham's not very good, Owen well he's ok, Crouch is a joke (and he can't take penalties either), Lampard has only missed twice out of about 20. And both were in games of no very little significance. He's slotted penalities against the top sides in intense situations, against the top 'keepers. I'd back him anyday.

Here's something interesting to do: Find out what players share your birthday. I already knew a couple from FM but I just was looking at my day on Wikipedia and I've got a few: (6 September)

Carlo Cudicini (! :thumb: !)
Joseph Yobo
Massimo Macarone

I thought there was one more decent player but maybe not.

[TakeWarning]

Yeah I think Lampy should take the penalties.

Anyway, Australia versus Holland in 45 minutes, should be a good game. Let's hope we win because if we do, it will give us huge confidence.

Haha, I just want to see the look on Arjen Robben's face when they lose.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Meh I hope Robben doesn't play, he really gives me the shiţs that player. Wish Ranieri didn't sign him now, I don't care if he gives us goals and shiţ I don't want whinging poofs in my team.

[TakeWarning]

I think he's a good player, great to watch...but he just puts way too much drama into everything he does.

Like when Reyna put a hand to his throat and Robben fell over in agonising pain...he should've got fined for that(maybe he did, I don't know). And game after game he pulls off incredibly theatrical dives...as a matter of fact, I don't know how he gets away with it.

He's a good player but at the same time one of my least favourite.

[Grutte Pier]

Holland will probably start with its strongest formation. Including Robben and Van Nistelrooy. With van Persie on the right Holland will have two very fast wingers and one of the best finishers in striker position. Good test for Australia's defense.

[TakeWarning]

Off To Watch The Holland Game Bye Guys.

[Britney Diva]

The rumour mill is reporting that Liverpool are considering moving for Duff. As much as I hate the prospect of them getting their dirty hands on him, I think it'd be a great move for him. I don't think Chelsea would even miss him given his performance last season :(

United are expected to buy Gudjohnsen sometime this week too. I knew there was a reason the club have been so amiable over the guy from Lyon.

[RandyfromPennywise]

The rumour mill is reporting that Liverpool are considering moving for Duff. As much as I hate the prospect of them getting their dirty hands on him, I think it'd be a great move for him. I don't think Chelsea would even miss him given his performance last season :(

United are expected to buy Gudjohnsen sometime this week too. I knew there was a reason the club have been so amiable over the guy from Lyon.
Absolutely devistated x 2 if they leave. But on the good side, I haven't heard about the Duff rumours. Really shıt scouting by Mourinho not to see two of our best players training in front of him every day! Duff easily merits a spot in our team when we play 4-3-3, he and Joe Cole wide. And Eidur should certainly have seen more action, and it doesn't appear that José rates Eidur as a striker at all. After watching him for five years now all I can say is that which ever team gets his signature will be very lucky and will get the best out of the Icelandic master, just as he is hitting his peak age.

[Frankie]

Paul Burchill is currently contracted to WWE Smackdown :p

Much prefered him when he wrestled in england personally. Anyway the player I was referring to is called something Burchill anyways.

[luchi]

Have a listen to this tune. Its by hope n Glory. A world cup song that kicks arse!

Link: http://www.project-iona.co.uk/alco/

[red barchetta]

Here's something interesting to do: Find out what players share your birthday. I already knew a couple from FM but I just was looking at my day on Wikipedia and I've got a few: (6 September)

Carlo Cudicini (! :thumb: !)
Joseph Yobo
Massimo Macarone

I thought there was one more decent player but maybe not.
i share mine with Ardian Gashi (some Norwegian player), and Frank Lampard :cool:

[Grondahl]

Much prefered him when he wrestled in england personally. Anyway the player I was referring to is called something Burchill anyways.

I think you mean Chris Birchall, who plays for Port Vale.

Also, I share my birthday (16th March) with Theo Walcott.

[Kickflip_Burrito]

My Birthday = Gary Lineker (Nov 30th)

[Grutte Pier]

Holland - Australia 1-1

That was fúcked up. Four key players are injured now, just great. Australia was hanging around the goal like it was a handball cirkel and was waiting for the counter. Understandable, but it made the game look awful.

[TakeWarning]

Boring, sloppy game.

I'll expand on this tomorrow when I'm less tired.

[Frankie]

I think you mean Chris Birchall, who plays for Port Vale.

Also, I share my birthday (16th March) with Theo Walcott.

Yeah thats who I was referring to.

[Timm]

Here's something interesting to do: Find out what players share your birthday. I already knew a couple from FM but I just was looking at my day on Wikipedia and I've got a few: (6 September)

Carlo Cudicini (! :thumb: !)
Joseph Yobo
Massimo Macarone

I thought there was one more decent player but maybe not.
my birthday = 26.9

I share my birthday with Michael Ballack :cool:

anybody watching BRA vs NZL?
about 40 minutes played and 0 - 0
if the goals were 9 feet bigger it would be 3 - 0 for Brazil by now :lol:

[Lord Abortion]

I generally back Peter Crouch. I realised suddenly it's because he's like me when I used to play...Stupidly tall, and able to basically barge my way past people.:p

Lols at Chelsea about Mikel.

[RandyfromPennywise]

So Australia recorded a one-all draw with Netherlands in Holland, against their first-team, after playing for 30 minutes with 10 players.

Holland dominated the first-half but really didn't use their one-man-advantage at all and Australia held out quite well. And bloody hell Bresc MUST take the penalties from now on.

[Give me Beer]

You guys played vicious though, thanks for taking out holland's midfield.

[Mr. Black]

Holland - Australia 1-1

That was fúcked up. Four key players are injured now, just great. Australia was hanging around the goal like it was a handball cirkel and was waiting for the counter. Understandable, but it made the game look awful.
Who's missing from the World Cup, and how long?

I drew Sweepstakes and pulled Holland, and there's 25 quid up for grabs!

[Drop The Baby]

Going back a bit, at PSV everyone said Gudjohnson was the mroe promising player out of him and Ronaldo.

I've always though Gudjohnson was a superb player, better as a striker than as a ATM. He's soemone i really would be gutted if i lost as a supporter.

[Lord Abortion]

The Daily Mail said United are bidding 8m for him.

but they talk wank.

[badtaste]

Holland - Australia 1-1

That was fúcked up. Four key players are injured now, just great. Australia was hanging around the goal like it was a handball cirkel and was waiting for the counter. Understandable, but it made the game look awful.

Yeh, it was pretty bad, but you guys should have destroyed us. You had way more of the ball, and if it wasn't for Schwarzer the score would have been 5-1.

Methinks Australia will be destroyed in the world cup (unless we get Kewell back). I can't believe viduka missed another penalty.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Going back a bit, at PSV everyone said Gudjohnson was the mroe promising player out of him and Ronaldo.

I've always though Gudjohnson was a superb player, better as a striker than as a ATM. He's soemone i really would be gutted if i lost as a supporter.
Yes, yes and yes. If he had played the majority of games since he came to Chelsea, there is no reason why he wouldn't have continued his 2001/2002 form every season. What'd he score that year, about 25 goals and about the same number of assists. I'd prefer him over Drogba in 80% of scenarios. I thought a Gudjohnsen-Crespo partnership could have been deadly, Guddy setting up Crespo all the time. As it is we stand to lose our longest serving outfield player after John Terry who is coming into his prime years.

Yeh, it was pretty bad, but you guys should have destroyed us. You had way more of the ball, and if it wasn't for Schwarzer the score would have been 5-1.

Methinks Australia will be destroyed in the world cup (unless we get Kewell back). I can't believe viduka missed another penalty.
We ain't gonna get destroyed dude, we were playing the Dutch last night. Japan certainly ain't no Holland, and neither are Croatia. And besides, we played without Cahill or Kewell, and Wilkshire was not very good, so bring Culina back next to Grella and put Cahill in AMC and Kewell to replace Sterjovski and we're looking pretty good.

Bresciano must be our #1 penalty taker.

[TakeWarning]

Personally I thought last night's performance was pretty sub-standard, alot of wayward passes and hurried clearances.

I thought Luke Wilkshire looked quite poor and he thouroughly deserved his red card, but I think our midfield needs Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill pretty badly. After yesterday's performance, I don't really know if we can beat Japan or Croatia, the boys look very uncomposed and unprepared.

I don't really think things are looking up as much as they were after the Greece game.

[Minus The Flair]

HA, SWP says he has no regrets about joining Chelsea. He never plays in the squad, and as a result has missed out on going to the world's biggest tournament with his country. How can you have no regrets?

[Frankie]

^ £40,000 a week for doing fu'ck all. He'll be upset about not playing for england in the WC tho'. His dad will get involved and said that if he doesn't feel he'll be playing regular football then move. Wenger might look at him as a replacement for Pires.

[red barchetta]

we already have Rosicky to replace Pires :cool:

[Lord Abortion]

Since when was Rosicky a winger?!

[Britney Diva]

Pires has been playing behind Henry recently, hasn't he?

[Drop The Baby]

No not really, he's been mostly out left apart from the odd supporting role (that Hleb, Reyes and Freddie all played) in the Champs League.

Rosicky can play all across the midfield, and whilst AW conceded he is slightly different in style to Pires, he should be a superb replacement.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Yeah Rosický will be gun for Arse.

Verón is returning to Argentina with Estudiantes. I really have to say it is a pity that his career never reached the heights it was capable of, and not all of it was down to him. Chelsea treated him poorly, and I dare say Man United didn't do him great favours either. Ah well, he did provide some moments and performances of almost unrivaled brilliance.

Top three fittest England World Cup squad players: Gary Neville, David Beckham and Frank Lampard. Neville's a bit surprising for me, but the other two I have watched this year and both looked extremely fit, moreso than their respective team-mates.

[+3kk!]

From TOCFCWS:
Didier Drogba has joined those great England centre-forwards George Hilsdon and Tommy Lawton in having scored 14 goals for his country while being a player for Chelsea. He could well become our all-time top international scorer during the World Cup.

Full story here (http://www.chelseafc.com/article.asp?hlid=392372&title=Drogba%20joins%20centre-forward%20greats&nav=news)



and anyone cover me on the obi story? i hear that there are more happenings then chelsea and MU fighting over him

[Minus The Flair]

Rooney scan tomorrow and he's been seen in training attempting bicycle kicks and connecting cleanly with acrobatic sciddor kicks, also they say he looks really fit and sharp! Looks good!

[TakeWarning]

Rooney scan tomorrow and he's been seen in training attempting bicycle kicks and connecting cleanly with acrobatic sciddor kicks, also they say he looks really fit and sharp! Looks good!

Let's hope so.

[RandyfromPennywise]

Let's hope so.
Why are you supporting Engerlund?

[TakeWarning]

I'm not...they're my second team basically.

Most of my family is English and most English people I've met are really good people.

Why is it you have a thing against England again?

[Frankie]

Why is it that you support chelsea anyway Randy ??? Someone in your family support them ?

[Lord Abortion]

Rooney scan tomorrow and he's been seen in training attempting bicycle kicks and connecting cleanly with acrobatic sciddor kicks, also they say he looks really fit and sharp! Looks good!
Yeah, it bodes well.

On mikel, Chelsea payed 4m to Lyn, and 12m to United for him in order to sort the whole thing out...that's the end of it.

I think we came off rather well on that.

[Britney Diva]

I can see it now. England start badly, Rooney is rushed into the team and spend the next six months on crutches. Good times for a United fan :)

[RandyfromPennywise]

I'm not...they're my second team basically.

Most of my family is English and most English people I've met are really good people.

Why is it you have a thing against England again?
Not really anything against them, just it erks me that Australia seems to support England by default. People with no