Topics

61

Football / bayern munich vs getafe

« on: April 03, 2008, 01:21:27 PM »

munich leading 1 nil afte 34 mins

much men dont talk bout ribery but i really expect big things from him

62

Football / Australia's life in Asia

« on: April 01, 2008, 02:57:28 PM »

So far so good for Socceroos
Jason Dasey
Archive

The gangly legs of Mark Schwarzer mean the difference between a warm glow of Socceroo satisfaction and an anxious two-month wait until the next round of qualifiers.


GettyImages
Mark Schwarzer saves Shao's penalty as the Socceroos gain a high point in Chelsea.

Schwarzer's awkward yet effective save of Shao Jiayi's penalty that denied China a late and undeserved victory in Kunming kept Pim Verbeek's side on track for a second consecutive World Cup finals appearance.

On top of Group 1 with four points after two matches and without conceding a goal, the Aussies are full of confidence ahead of four games in three weeks in June that will complete the third round of Asian qualifying.

And the most pleasing aspect for fans is how the national team has overcome adversity to improve its prospects for the future.

Consider this: China had been preparing at the 1900m altitude of Kunming for almost a month while many of the Socceroos arrived just a day or two before after an 18-hour journey. The game kicked off at 2pm which was 6am in the time-zone where many of the Australians had come from. At least seven first-choice players were missing - including Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell and Scott McDonald - and striker Archie Thompson went off injured after eight minutes.

And yet the Socceroos were still able to produce a measured, controlled yet spirited away performance at Tuodong Stadium that saw many unlikely heroes emerge.

Thompson's departure turned out to be a blessing in disguise as lively replacement Brett Holman proved a handful to the Chinese defence and almost set up a first-half goal for Mark Bresciano.

Jade North emerged from the afterglow of the Newcastle Jets' A-League Grand Final triumph to contribute a sterling display at right full-back. Michael Beauchamp has barely played in recent weeks for Bundesliga strugglers, Nurnberg, but was as solid as a rock alongside Lucas Neill in central defence.

Luke Wilkshire stepped up to take greater responsibility as Australia dominated the midfield exchanges. FC Twente's Wilkshire is probably the most improved player in the squad and now takes many of the Socceroo corners and free-kicks. Eyebrows were raised at the 2006 World Cup when coach Guus Hiddink plucked Wilkshire from the fringes of Bristol City and opted for him ahead of established midfielders Josip Skoko and Stan Lazaridis in his team selections but his vision is being paid off on the road to 2010.

And who could forget Schwarzer's sang froid with barely a minute left after he conceded a debatable penalty by bringing down replacement striker Qu Bo?

With memories of his heroics in the 2005 shoot-out with Uruguay in Sydney, Schwarzer remained motionless on his line before using his legs to stop a weak spot-kick from Energie Cottbus striker Shao and preserve the 0-0 draw.

'Any time a goalkeeper saves a penalty it's a good save regardless of how the ball's been struck,' Schwarzer said. 'I was lucky that the ball hit my legs and came straight back towards me and I was able to grab hold of it.'

The Middlesbrough man makes the odd mistake and isn't without his critics, but you've got to admire his unwavering dedication to the national cause. He earned the first of his 54 international caps against Canada in 1993 when Graham Arnold was his captain and Robbie Slater and Frank Farina were amongst his teammates.

With AC Milan's Zeljko Kalac now retired from international football, Schwarzer, the longest-serving foreign player in the English Premier League, has no serious rival for the Socceroos' number one jersey.

At Germany 2006, Schwarzer clashed with Hiddink whom he criticised for having poor man management skills by keeping players on edge by not naming his team until just before games.

As for Verbeek, he hasn't put a foot wrong since taking over the coaching job at the end of last year and has quickly earned the respect of his senior players.

When the World Cup draw came out in November, several Europe-based Socceroos shook their heads and said they had no way of making the opening qualifiers in February and March.

In the end, almost the entire foreign contingent - injury permitting  travelled across the world to the games against Qatar and China. That's a credit to the Dutchman's powers of persuasion.

Verbeek is now in Europe, meeting with several veteran players including FC Basel's Scott Chipperfield, Derby County's Mile Sterjovski and, of course, Mark Viduka at Newcastle United.

Viduka has told friends that he intends to retire from international football but you can bet that Verbeek will be asking the 2006 World Cup captain to have a long think before making any announcement, even if it means not having him for the June qualifiers.



Approaching his 33rd birthday, Viduka still offers the Socceroos a dimension that the likes of Josh Kennedy, Scott McDonald and John Aloisi can't provide and Verbeek knows that.

Australia's next assignment is a June 2nd qualifier at home to Asian champions Iraq who sit bottom of group-1 after a draw and a defeat. After the mistakes learned from the shock Asian Cup defeat, it's hard to predict anything but a comprehensive Australian victory.

The Dutchman says that 11 points should be enough to take the Socceroos through to the fourth and final round of World Cup qualifiers, starting in September.

If they get that far, the Socceroos will look back on their assured ascent to the altitude of south-west China as an important step along the way.

63

Football / What are they doing thats different?

« on: April 01, 2008, 09:41:27 AM »

what are our strikers and goal keepers doing thats different? Our goalkeepers and strikers are making ah name for themselves in the foreign leagues  as consistent  performers .our mids and defenders dont often light up any league. so whats the difference?

64

Football / Champions League

« on: March 31, 2008, 06:35:37 AM »

Roma v Man Utd: Preview



Updated: March 31, 2008, 5:02 AM ET
ROME, March 31 (Reuters) - AS Roma will be without injured captain Francesco Totti when they take on Manchester United in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Serie A club said on Sunday that the striker needs rest because of a thigh muscle injury he felt after Saturday's 1-1 draw at Cagliari, when he scored his side's equalizer.

The loss of Roma's main creative force and their top scorer in Serie A this term with 14 goals is a big blow to Italy's sole Champions League survivor.

The hosts are also without suspended Italy midfielder Simone Perrotta, while Brazilian defender Juan is a doubt because of a foot problem.

United, the Premier League leaders, are in fine fettle after thrashing Aston Villa 4-0 on Saturday with Cristiano Ronaldo inspirational again and scorer of a delightful back-heeled goal.

Wayne Rooney also scored twice to end a six-game run without a goal, leading manager Alex Ferguson to declare that his side have 'reached a peak' and stir fears among Roma fans of a repetition of the 7-1 drubbing they suffered at Old Trafford at this stage last season having won the first leg 2-1.

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti, however, believes his side will show they have come a long way since that debacle.

'Games like this one against Manchester bring out the best in us,' he told reporters. 'We need to be careful and try not to concede but in order to do it we have to be strong and have total faith. We need to do everything and more.'

Roma were a different prospect in the group-stage clashes between the sides this season, when they were unlucky to lose 1-0 away and held United 1-1 in the Italian capital.

The 4-2 aggregate win over nine-times European champions Real Madrid in the first knockout round was further proof of growing maturity.

Spalletti can also take comfort from some solid recent displays by Montenegro forward Mirko Vucinic, who will be called on to lead the attack in Totti's absence.

United regulars Michael Carrick, Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs came off with knocks against Villa, although Ferguson said he was hopeful they would be fit for Tuesday.

Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is a bigger worry after missing Saturday's game with a groin problem.

'Edwin van der Sar may be a doubt for Tuesday,' Ferguson told the club's website.

'He's got a groin problem again, it's happened two or three times in the last few weeks. We'll see how he is over the next few days.'

United's fans have been told to be on their best behaviour and to use a shuttle service to reach the ground to avoid a recurrence of the clashes and knife attacks that marred both of the previous games between the teams at the Stadio Olimpico.

Struggling Barca give Schalke hope


Updated: March 31, 2008, 4:59 AM ET
BERLIN, March 31 (Reuters) - Schalke 04 have reached the Champions League quarter-finals by the skin of their teeth but after Barcelona's 'shameful' weekend defeat they will feel anything is possible when they host the Catalans on Tuesday.

The Arena AufSchalke is an intimidating place to play at the best of times, so how Barca will react in Gelsenkirchen after their performance against Real Betis on Saturday, when they led 2-0 but ended up losing 3-2, is anyone's guess.

Schalke, UEFA Cup winners in 1997 but appearing in the last eight of the European Cup for the first time, are third in the Bundesliga after three wins and a draw in their last four games.

Barcelona, twice European champions, are also in third place in their league, yet scarcely will they have had such self-doubt before a first leg against second-tier opposition like Schalke.

'It is difficult to explain what happened,' said coach Frank Rijkaard after his team shipped three goals in 15 second-half minutes. 'All I can do is apologise to our fans. As a coach I feel ashamed at this result.'

Rijkaard's room for manoeuvre is limited given that Ronaldinho is unlikely to take part because of leg muscle pain, while Deco, Rafael Marquez and Lionel Messi are all out injured.

Rijkaard may be tempted to recall Silvinho on the left side of defence after yet another shoddy display at the back, while Argentine centre-back Gabriel Milito could return after missing out on the Betis defeat because of groin pain.

Good defence will be important for Barcelona, who beat Celtic in the last 16, because Schalke know their best chance of an upset will be to attack with everything they've got.

During the group phase they played defensively at home to Valencia and Chelsea and got just a point from the two matches.

They squeaked through with just eight points from their six games and they responded by playing much more adventurously in the opening leg of their tie with Porto, winning it 1-0 and coming through on penalties after losing 1-0 in Portugal.

The Schalke forwards were frustrated in a goalless draw away to Karlsruhe on Saturday but the team did create nine clear chances and that has pointed the way for Tuesday.

'We have to get forward faster, to open up more opportunities,' striker Kevin Kuranyi told reporters. 'We need to create more chances.'

Coach Mirko Slomka experimented on Saturday by playing full-back Christian Pander in an unfamiliar position on the left of midfield, with the in-form Heiko Westermann behind him.

'They worked well together,' said Slomka, who will have to decide whether to play the same risky formation on Tuesday.

65

Football / Are last year's champions league finalist going to qualify for next year?

« on: March 28, 2008, 01:49:13 PM »

    
 4th place liverpool lead everton by 2 pts and they  have a big derby match  with everton   coming up this week end with champion league football very much on both set of payers mind.

while in italy ac millan are in 5th spot 4 point behind 4th place fiorentina.

i really see both of them missing out on next years champions league final. wats your take?

66

Football / Inter Milan v Juventus

« on: March 22, 2008, 12:03:55 PM »

Inter Milan  v  Juventus


Inter are top of the standings with nine games remaining, seven points clear of second-placed Roma and 13 in front of third-place Juve.

For Trezeguet, who was this week left out of Raymond Domenech's France squad, Inter's sizeable lead is an added incentive to beat them.

"Motivation is vital in this game and going to the San Siro in front of a packed crowd, playing against the title holders, motivation will come from the chance to see if we can beat the best team in the league,'' Trezeguet told www.juventus.it.

"I'm not settling for a draw. We go to Milan with nothing to lose and we'll try to give them a hard time.

"Inter have a very strong team, but we're Juve and we can re-open the title race, out of respect for us and our fans.''

Trezeguet, who said he would prefer the Scudetto to go to Roma this season, is preparing for a title challenge next season.

"The positive thing this year is our mentality, our desire to do well,'' he said.

"We've shown we're very much contenders, but when you're at a club such as this you want more.

"If we're to aim for the title next year we need to improve and the most important thing is that we've all become aware of this fact.

"With time we need to try and get back to the top level.''

The Bianconeri would consolidate their position with a win on Saturday, but a second-place finish would mean direct entry to next season's Champions League, with no preliminary qualification to face after Euro 2008.

Claudio Ranieri's side now have three consecutive clean sheets after the goalless draw at Empoli on Sunday, and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will be looking to showing just why he has been named the world goalkeeper of 2007.

The 30-year-old also won the award in 2003, 2004 and 2006, and is the first player to win one single category in four different seasons.

"I'm very pleased to receive this award because it is awarded after a careful statistical study and the fact I'm getting it for the fourth time means I must be doing something right,'' the Italy international told Juventus Channel.

Cristiano Zanetti has been ruled out through injury, while Jorge Andrade and Marco Marchionni are also sidelined.

Inter drew with Genoa last weekend but still extended their lead to seven points after Roma lost to Lazio.

Midfielder Pele is suspended after his first-half dismissal in that game, a decision which Inter president Massimo Moratti felt was unjust.

"I think it was an unfair sending off,'' he told club website www.inter.it.

"The referee can do what he wants and think he's right.

"It made things hard for us and it became a difficult match because the team was tired after all the matches we have played.

"(But) the team held up very well in a very difficult situation, and it was quite normal to concede a goal.''

Marco Materazzi returns to the centre of defence from suspension and Hernan Crespo is set to partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic in place of David Suazo in attack.

Cesar, Stankovic, Olivier Dacourt and defensive pair Walter Samuel and Ivan Cordoba comprise a long-term injury list for coach Roberto Mancini.

67

Football / Rijkaard must go

« on: March 20, 2008, 02:36:52 PM »

nah dread barca on they way out ah d copa del ray 2 nil down at the end of the 1st half. and based on the morale of this team is no way barca coming back the team jus not looking up to scratch and ah find rijkarrd descion making right now  is real tata

frank thanks 4 yuh time but i think we need ah major overhaul now and i think it should start with you

68

Football / this is true true unity

« on: March 15, 2008, 08:56:28 AM »

ah saw 2 yute men one ah guy of indian descent the other a guy of african descent one wearing an ac millan t shirt the other wearing an inter millan t- shirt walking in d road togther jus laughing and having ah good time

mi country have many negative forces at wuk but it stll have positive ones too

ah love mi country

69

Football / mi money on fiorentina fire bun epl

« on: March 12, 2008, 01:45:51 PM »

imagine that fiorentina dont need ah win to advance but they playig 4-3-3 hmm this looks like it go be exciting

and yes they are away from home

70

Football / Doctors Confirm Messi Will Be Out For Six Weeks

« on: March 05, 2008, 04:20:48 PM »

Barça’s medical team have confirmed Leo Messi’s injury to his left thigh, and have estimated the period of recuperation as “about six weeks”. This means Messi will miss the Champions League quarter finals but should be ok to play in the semi finals if Barça get through.


www.fcbarcelona.cat

Lionel Messi will be out of action for "approximately six weeks" the Barça medical staff confirmed after tests revealed that he has torn his femroal bicep in his left thigh during the game against Celtic.

The statement clarified that "the club medical services want to make clear that since the start of hte season the player has continued to work on a specific training programme for his characteristics. The result of the data obtained through the different work and controls has allowed the player to play in each match." For that reason, a decision is made before each game as to whether he can play or not.

Also, it was said that despite his prevention "as with any injury there is the risk of an accident which is difficult to predict. This type of specific work wil continue through the season with the player."

71

Football / BRING manu bring arsenal......barca waiting

« on: March 05, 2008, 03:40:03 PM »

 these are the two most hyped up sides on the board , yes its true barca not up to full steam yet but i will really like to bounce one ah these teams in the next leg.  to show them how big sides does do it

u could bring them from d bpl italian or scottish too u could bring them from d french league  holland or d german crew

barca go bet them in d morning barca go beat them in the evening

72

Football / Serie A club Cagliari deducted three points

« on: March 02, 2008, 04:53:49 AM »

Serie A club Cagliari deducted three points

ROME, March 1 (Reuters) - Serie A basement side Cagliari have been deducted three points after taking unauthorised legal action against a former player for alleged defamation.

The club took action against defender Gianluca Grassadonia after he made a series of critical comments about Cagliari in a newspaper interview.

The Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) has punished the club for breaking its rules on taking disputes outside the realm of sporting justice without permission.

Cagliari President Massimo Cellino said he would appeal.

'To the players and the squad I just say that the points have only been taken away temporarily,' he told La Gazzetta dello Sport on Saturday.

'This should not distract us from the road to safety (from relegation). I'm relaxed about how I handled things. I have always been careful to respect the rules. It's a big misunderstanding.'

Cellino was also banned for a year and fined 10,000 euros ($15,190), while the club received a fine of 20,000 euros.

The three-point deduction, if upheld, would be a huge blow to Cagliari's hopes of survival. It leaves them with 15 points from 25 games, nine points away from the survival zone.

'It's another body blow and a new hurdle to overcome, but I'm sure the three points will be given back,' coach Davide Ballardini told Cagliari's website.

'The players are attached to the colours and they will cut a fine figure tomorrow (at home against Genoa) too.' (Writing by Paul Virgo, Editing by Clare Lovell)

73

Football / champion's league

« on: February 19, 2008, 01:21:07 PM »

roma vs madrid is my pic 4 today that should be ah great match up

74

Football / Gerrard concedes title and puts focus on fourth

« on: February 11, 2008, 02:20:42 PM »

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=507176&cc=3888

Gerrard concedes title and puts focus on fourth

Steven Gerrard has told team-mates and fans to forget about winning the Premier League title and concentrate on finishing fourth.

Liverpool had to settle for a point against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in a disappointing goalless draw.

Liverpool's failure to turn their first-half dominance into goals meant they failed to overcome the Blues but Gerrard admitted the focus must now shift away from the title for another year.

The Reds are 16 points behind leaders Arsenal and Gerrard said: 'We realise now that we're facing a big challenge to finish in the top four and we've got to forget about the title and focus on fighting for fourth place.

'There are a lot of teams around us who are in good form and playing well so it's important that we don't let our standards drop.

'Chelsea was definitely a big improvement on how we've played of late. We looked more solid defensively and I thought we were the better side over the 90 minutes and if anyone was going to win it was us.

'Certain players who have had a bit of criticism of late performed really well and I think it was a good team performance against a side that have been playing very well lately.

'There are definitely a lot of positives to take out of this game. We controlled the majority of this game and it felt as if we could have snatched it.'

Manchester City, Everton and Aston Villa all picked up three points over the weekend that meant Liverpool lost further ground in the race for fourth place.

But the Liverpool captain was more than happy with the performance apart from the cutting edge in attack.

He said: 'When we do go to those places we've got to perform like we did yesterday and maybe an extra five or 10% could see us nick a win.

'I just thought we lacked that cutting edge in the final third but I can't fault many other things because it was a good performance.

'I don't think you could fault any player. A couple of days before the game I said you need every player performing close to the maximum and I think we got that.'

England striker Peter Crouch, who missed a gilt-edged first-half chance to give Liverpool the lead against Chelsea, admitted they should have scored for the first time at Stamford Bridge under Rafael Benitez's reign.

Crouch said: 'A couple of half-chances came my way, and maybe the one on my left foot could have been better. If I hit the target then I think it would have gone in.

'It was a good battle. We matched them and in the end we were the better side.

'We are still a way behind at the top, but we proved today that we'll keep going until the end.'

Former England defender Jamie Carragher was also impressive at the centre of Liverpool's defence but he echoed Gerrard's view that the title race was over for another season.

He said: 'We shaded the game and maybe could have nicked it, so I'm a little disappointed because we had a couple of chances.

'Realistically we're out of the title race now. Arsenal and Manchester United have set the pace and we now have to show respect to Aston Villa and Manchester City because we are in a right battle to get fourth place with them.'

75

Football / Newcastle 'wasn't big enough for me' - Big Sam ( hence his name) lol

« on: February 10, 2008, 09:59:08 AM »

Newcastle 'wasn't big enough for me' - Big Sam

Former Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce has risked inciting the anger of the Geordie fans by claiming the Magpies were not a big enough club for him and insisting the St James' Park outfit 'didn't live up to my ambitions'.

Allardyce arrived in the north-east confidently brandishing a five-year plan to restore success to Newcastle but was afforded just eight months at the helm after a change of ownership brought Mike Ashley to the club.

He dispensed with Allardyce's services after a disappointing start to his tenure and eventually replaced him with returning boss Kevin Keegan.

But former Bolton boss Allardyce, who has yet to take a new role in football, has absolved himself of any blame for his aborted stint with United.

'When you get sacked, reflection is a difficult scenario. The one thing you have tio evaluate first and foremost is how much of it was your fault,' he told The People.

'I think you can accept it a lot more if you can come to terms with the fact that a good percentage of it was your fault - but that doesn't apply to me at Newcastle.'

And Allardyce went on to claim that suggestions he was not up to the task of rebuilding a club famously starved of silverware in recent times were wide of the mark.

'The usual rubbish that goes when someone like me is sacked from a club like Newcastle is that that job ws too big for me. That's just not true.

'If I'm honest the reverse is probably true. Newcastle probably wasn't big enough for me - it didn't live up to my ambitions in the short time that I was there. And because it didn't do that the club missed a chance to realise its own ambitions.

'The more I analyse it, the more I come to the conclusion that it was never about me or results and we have seen that the appointment on Dennis Wise and various others.

'It was about things they wanted to put in place.'

76

Football / nedveed still 1 ah d best in the game

« on: February 10, 2008, 09:40:44 AM »

udinese vs juventus

any one who have ah link for juventus 2nd goal in that game. the man still one ah d best in d world one ah mi all time favourites, he like ah rooney but with more skill and vision

77

Football / manchester derby

« on: February 10, 2008, 08:38:49 AM »

 man u trailing by 2 in d 1st half

hmmm when last manu lose both ah these fixtures

78

Football / should barcelona focus on champions league and 4get about la liga?

« on: February 01, 2008, 03:55:09 AM »

Barcelona are nine points behind leaders  Real madrid and have been very much less than assertive away from home. should they now make the champions league their top priority?

and men may disagree but xavi would be getting some serous bench from me. edmilson was starting ahead of him on my squad. barca seems like they playng without a leader especially in the midfeld

79

Football / the send freakazoid to South Afica to see tnt play fund

« on: January 27, 2008, 09:57:15 AM »

i am looking fwd 2 killing 2 birds with 1 stone ,go to the world cup   and go to Africa. Yes things  looking a bit shaky but it wasnt much better the last time around. this fund will be open after we whip jamaica in march

80

Football / Sunderland v Birmingham ( bpl playoff ??)

« on: January 25, 2008, 01:38:19 PM »

gameweek 24  gives us some very key match ups wrt the relegation battle. as the table below shows 8 teams are in the regleation fight, as the team in 18th spot  can jump to as high as 13th


13 Middlesbrough     22
14 Reading          22
15 Bolton              21
16 Birmingham        20
17  Wigan             20
18 Sunderland        20
19  Fulham          15
20 Derby                 7

Middlesbrough v Wigan
Bolton v Fulham
Sunderland v Birmingham

the points lost or gained form these match ups will go a long way in determining who stays up and who goes down

81

Football / Rafa Benítez Thread

« on: January 19, 2008, 11:22:55 AM »

Sack Rafael Benitez

by Sheikh Zakaria (Columnist)

The past few weeks haven’t been savory at all for the All Reds - a string of draws in the league and a hard-fought rematch against the Luton in the FA Cup were all they could earn.

We know that the present unrest at Liverpool has instilled a downtrodden morale among the players, which is costing them valuable points in the league.

So who is to blame for this?

I hold Rafael Benitez solely responsible for the club’s recent lackluster performance. So, the co-owners don’t understand football or the transfer market, does this mean they are not meddling with the team line-ups?

There are some valid reasons as to why I’ve made such a bold statement. Before you scousers rave at me, I want you to have a walk down memory lane and assess Liverpool’s seasons under Rafa.

It’s a harsh reality, but Liverpool is the most successful club in England in terms of winning league trophies, and Rafael Benitez was called on for the reprise of those glorious years.

Barren years for a club of Liverpool’s stature is certainly not a satisfactory fact for a Reds supporter is it?

However, Rafa came in, took the club by storm, changed everything right down to the feet and the outcome was a European glory - its first UEFA Champions League title or fourth European Cup. But what about the league?

Same old story: fourth place.

Things even got worse for them in the following season when they finished fifth, but still managed to defend their title unsuccessfully by virtue of UEFA’s benevolence.

If Rafa has only been brought for European and Domestic Cup success, then I suppose Gerard Houllier was better. Remember the year 2001 when Houllier won a bizarre treble for the club- FA Cup, UEFA Cup and League Cup?

He even took Liverpool to second and third in one or two occasions, but look what Rafa has done?

Houllier didn’t go for lavish spending like Rafa, and still won the trophies he wished to win (except the EPL).

Houllier didn’t have a star-studded squad, though Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard were playing at the top of their game. He didn’t even grumble for transfer window fundings, and spent with prudence according to the needs of the club.

Granted Rafa didn’t have a multi-star team which won them the Champions League, but if you take that glory out of this equation, then you may question why Liverpool are still holding on to Rafa.

We’ve seen in the previous seasons how many serial signings Rafa made, and how many rotations he made in his starting line-ups, and how many players he kicked out.

The rule of thumb for a manager has always been that after several rotations, if you have found the winning team, cling on to that and give it a run. But why Rafa needs to be unorthodox here?

It’s obvious that he doesn’t want to disappoint the bench-warmers or his backup players, but what’s the point then to have such a ginormous squad?

Apart from injuries, I don’t see any logic behind this, but then again the question comes that how many players can get injured in a club? Hundreds?

I hope you’re not still in memory lane. If you are, then just fast forward and look at this horrible season of the Reds.

After an albeit jaw dropping start to the season, Liverpool has suddenly started to forget how to win.. They are loosing  points on the occasions they were expected to win comfortably.

Don’t you think with the likes of Torres, Babel, the evergreen Steve G. and Carragher the Red Army should roll on?

If there’s any positivism that Liverpool can take from this season so far, that would be the acquisition of a top draw striker-Fernando Torres, who has been the savior for them.

To wrap up my critique, all I can see is a lackluster, boring, last gasp winning: Liverpool and hanging to the fourth position forever until they see off the Spaniard and look for a fresh start under a new manager.

82

Football / Reading Vs Man utd

« on: January 19, 2008, 09:19:03 AM »

or is it rooney vs ronaldo  hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm keep an eye on the 2 of them during the game observe if they pass d ball 2 each other

83

Fantasy League / freakazoid is the best fantasy football manager,says KEEN

« on: January 18, 2008, 02:12:17 PM »

freaka is best in Prem,KEEN
By: FOXXSports.
Freakazoid has been hailed  as the best manager in the football fantasy Premier League. socawarrriorz.nett  reckons the 23-year-old is worth £40million.
The Trinidad and Tobago native has made a nonsense of his £6million price tag, which raised a few eyebrows when he first decided to join the BIG league
FReakazoid demonstrated his prowess once again last weekend when he took 99 points in the gameweek.
Keen always felt he had paid a more than reasonable price for the bago hitman
He said: "I have said before, there is no doubt that freakazoid is  the best manager in the fantasy League at the moment.
"I wouldn't swap him for any of them."
freakazoid will be in good company on Saturday when he lgoes head to head against real madness fc, who have in-form players of their own

"By the law of averages, you are going to get one right out of 15 or 20.

but Freakazoid has shown that he has got what it takes as he has been coasting through the cup, leaving many in his wake, some are still crying (omar)

84

Football / Havant & Waterlooville vs Swansea FA Cup

« on: January 16, 2008, 02:08:35 PM »

havant are in front ,courtesy an own goal,( and no wasnt tallest who score it)the game still in the first half though

85

Football / Carling cup

« on: January 08, 2008, 03:48:42 PM »

chelsea vs everton

swp played the game as a central mid and bag 2 goals hmmm didnt look 2 bad either
it had 1 play where he won the ball in midfield  and played a defence splitting ball 4 pizzarro , pizzaro was clean through  but kicked it straight at howard. maybe grant have one or 2 things up  his sleeve

chelsea 2 vs everton 1

86

Football / allyuh educate me....re: football styles

« on: January 04, 2008, 08:06:54 PM »

what are the different football styles  that exist and what is the underlying characteristic of each individual style

87

Football / Chelsea chair blasts African Nations Cup

« on: December 31, 2007, 08:31:39 AM »

Chelsea chair blasts African Nations Cup

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck has called on FIFA to deal with the 'craziness' of the international calendar as the club prepare to lose four players to the African Nations Cup in January.

The Blues go into their opening game of 2008 with eight players on the treatment table, including Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, but with Mikel John Obi, Salomon Kalou and Michael Essien all fit.

These four, assuming Drogba recovers from his knee surgery in time, will head off to Ghana to play in the finals and leave Chelsea's squad even more depleted.

Captain John Terry, goalkeepers Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini, plus Claude Makelele, Andriy Shevchenko, Florent Malouda, Frank Lampard and Drogba are all sidelined and none are likely to return against Fulham tomorrow.

The African Nations Cup will increase the pressure on Grant to make swift moves into the transfer market during the January window, but Buck hopes that FIFA can solve the problem in the future.

Buck said: 'We will lose several players to the African Nations Cup. This is unfortunate because it is a very difficult time of the season and we will need all of our players to help.

'We do recognise, however, that a player's greatest honour is to play for his country and we have to respect that.

'We can only hope that FIFA will stop some of this craziness in the years ahead and adjust the calendar so that club football is not continually interrupted and disrupted for international events when a better thought-out calendar could solve these anomalies.'

88

Football / Aston villa vs Arsenal

« on: December 01, 2007, 11:23:34 AM »

 Arsenal jus brake d ole machine, talk about continuous passing in yuh opponents half way sah

that had 2 be very close to 20 passes when d aston villa crowd see like they team not touching d ball they start 2 whistle(boo)

89

Football / cagliari vs ac milian..........Ronaldo is back

« on: November 25, 2007, 08:01:21 AM »

serie A round 13

time 4 d #99 to shine........again

d man sporting ah afro

90

Football / Chelsea's Cech would 'consider' Barcelona move

« on: November 15, 2007, 04:56:14 AM »

Chelsea's Cech would 'consider' Barcelona move
Soccernet

Chelsea keeper Petr Cech maintains he is 'in love with the Premier League', but admits he would consider a move to Barcelona if the offer ever came his way.

Click here
The 25-year-old is currently sidelined with a calf muscle strain, but is expected to return to action following the international break.

Cech, who kept five successive clean sheets before his recent injury, is considered one of the best keepers around, having joined Chelsea from Rennes in a £7million deal during the summer of 2004.

The Czech international is 'very happy' with the way things have gone at Stamford Bridge, helping the club win back-to-back Premier League titles and also the FA Cup last season.

However, the goalkeeper revealed any approach from a side such as Spanish giants Barcelona in the future would be 'worth considering'.

Taking part in an on-line Q&A for Czech website fotbal.idnes.cz, Cech said: 'So far I have been very happy at Chelsea and I have started to love the Premier League.

'In the case of Barcelona showing interest, yes, certainly it would be worth considering.'

Cech continued: 'In London I miss only my friends from the Czech Republic, otherwise I have got used to the way of life and my wife and I like it.

'Can I imagine to staying in England? That I cannot [give an] answer to.'

Following an indifferent start to the campaign and the high-profile departure of manager Jose Mourinho, Chelsea have picked up in recent weeks under new boss Avram Grant.

Cech, though, reflected: 'It is hard to judge that [Grant's impact] after such a short period. Jose Mourinho's departure was very emotional for some players.'

Following a 11-game unbeaten run in all competitions, the Blues have moved up to fourth in the Premier League table and also look on course to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

Cech maintains Chelsea will be looking to keep up the pressure on leaders Arsenal, whom they play at Emirates Stadium on December 16.

'We will definitely be making their path more complicated,' he said.

'The most important period is going to be at Christmas again when a lot of matches are played and mostly this is when much will be decided or at least revealed.

'The title race is still open.'



what can i say chech knows big clubs.....