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AC Milan - Milanfan.com _ Football Discussion _ [EN] Premier League 10/11
Posted by: kurtsimonw Jul 18 2010, 12:10 AM
92/93 Manchester United
93/94 Manchester United
94/95 Blackburn Rovers
95/96 Manchester United
96/97 Manchester United
97/98 Arsenal
98/99 Manchester United
99/00 Manchester United
00/01 Manchester United
01/02 Arsenal
02/03 Manchester United
03/04 Arsenal
04/05 Chelsea
05/06 Chelsea
06/07 Manchester United
07/08 Manchester United
08/09 Manchester United
09/10 Chelsea
Holders
Premier League: Chelsea
FA Cup: Chelsea
League Cup: Manchester United
Charity Shield: Chelsea
European Entries
Champions League
Chelsea
Manchester United
Arsenal
Tottenham
Europa League
Man City
Villa
Liverpool
EPL 20010/11 team list
Arsenal, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United Stoke City, Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwhich Albion, West Ham United, Wigan Athletic, Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Hopefully this season can be as good as last years. Title decided on the last day, final relegation place decided on last day and most of the European places too. I'll refrain from pointing out that we were robbed of the double and just hope and pray that Phil Dowd, Howard Webb and Mark Halsey never step foot in Villa Park ever again.
Been quiet on the transfer front again with only Man City (surprise, surprise) making big signings in the form of David Silva, Yaya Toure and Jerome Boateng.
Season just 4 weeks away..
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Jul 18 2010, 07:40 AM
All hail the mighty Toon! 
Posted by: kurtsimonw Jul 19 2010, 01:18 AM
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11913_6269073,00.html
Would be a great replacement for Hodgson.
In incredibly egotistical, sad, pathetic news Manchester City no longer have a reserve squad, it's now called the 'Elite Squad'. 
Posted by: Linkman Jul 19 2010, 01:46 AM
I wonder if they'll try to field 11 strikers 
Posted by: kurtsimonw Jul 19 2010, 04:11 PM
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_6270120,00.html
He isn't half the player he used to be, but still a decent enough signing.
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Jul 19 2010, 05:22 PM
He isn't half the player he used to be, but still a decent enough signing.
Overrated, incredibly overrated.
I've heard a few Liverpool fans and it sounds like they've signed C.Ronaldo/Messi or someone like that in fact this is a guy who couldn't get a start in the England team in this World Cup. Even when he came on was so out of his depth it was unreal. I remember watching him play against Slovenia and he was all over the place, even when he was on the ball he'd give it away. Also remember him coming on in the CL for Chelsea against Inter last season and when he came on Inter had a lot more joy down that wing, due to the lack of work rate running back.
He had a good season at Chelsea a few years back but it got hyped up so much because he was English that it was meant to be incredible, when in reality it was no better than Malouda's this season.
I think people just like his stepovers perhaps, this guy was built up to be the next big thing for English football and is an average top league player - at best.
On a free, I guess you can't argue. I'd have more hope for Babel than this guy though.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Jul 19 2010, 05:33 PM
I had a feeling you'd comment on this. 
I think on his day he's superb, but he seems to have spent an awful lot of time injured the past few years which is exactly what Liverpool don't need.
=============================================================================
http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~2094341,00.html
A step in the right direction, well done to the FA.
*To qualify as 'home grown' a player must have been registered for 3 seasons before his 21st birthday (nationality is irrelevant).
*A squad of 25 players must be registered the day after the summer transfer window closes (before this date, any players can be used).
*8 of the 25 must be 'home grown'. If you cannot acheive 8 'home grown' players, you can have less, but it also reduces your squad (if you only have 7 HG players, you can only have a squad of 24, etc.)
* During the winter transfer window, squads can change the players that are registered as many times as they like, but a 25 man squad must be finalised when the window is closed.
There's still flaws because I don't think 8 out of 25 is enough, but it's a start and they're trying to do the right thing at least. If teams like Man City insist on buying foreigners then they'll either have a very small squad or have to register some youth players.
Oh, and I think Milner's price tag just went up again.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Jul 22 2010, 05:43 PM
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_6274338,00.html
It's going to be the Barry thing all over again.
One benefit of having MON in charge is that he's stubborn, he didn't change his valuation of Barry when Liverpool refused to pay £18m, so I can't see him doing the same here. The longer City take to pay up the £30m, it'll be their loss. European football starts soon and if we play Milner, he won't be able to play for City in Europe.
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Jul 22 2010, 05:49 PM
Ha Milner!! Like I didn't see that coming....
Posted by: kurtsimonw Jul 22 2010, 06:15 PM
I thought Ashley would be gone first personally.
I think every other club must be braindead or something. He's been the best left winger in the league for years and only Fabregas has got more assists over the past few seasons.. yet even Fabio overlooked him for England? Very odd.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Jul 27 2010, 08:20 PM
Portsmouth's current squad:
Goalkeepers
Defenders
4 Aaron Mokoena
7 Hermann Hriedarsson
26 Tal Ben Haim
35 Marc Wilson
40 Joel Ward
Midfielders
6 Hayden Mullins
11 Michael Brown
22 Richard Hughes
23 Kevin-Prince Boateng
41 Matt Ritchie
Forwards
10 David Nugent
17 John Utaka
19 Danny Webber
20 Tommy Smith
I want to feel sorry for them, but they knew what they were getting into when they bought back Harry Redknapp as manager.
Posted by: Fishdoll Jul 29 2010, 11:18 PM
I know it was only a preseason friendly and that it was almost entirely the reserve squad but I feel it is not inappropriate to mock Chelsea today.
FT Wycombe 5-1 Chelsea.
Hah.
Posted by: CHU-LIP Jul 29 2010, 11:33 PM
No goalkeepers in their squad? 
Posted by: Bluesummers Jul 30 2010, 03:58 AM
FT Wycombe 5-1 Chelsea.
Hah.
don't worry, we'll see that score line on the 25th of august too.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Jul 30 2010, 11:15 AM
Most of their players were on short contracts/loans due to their financial troubles, so now they have hardly anyone left.The players they have left are too good to be relegated, but they might struggle if a few more left.
Posted by: Fishdoll Aug 3 2010, 12:09 PM
So, this fish suspects the hairdryer will be coming out in the MU dressing room. Apparently, Wayne Rooney went out for a night on the town...until 5.30 am, and was seen singing in the street, relieving himself against a wall, and smoking. One imagines that Ferguson isn't going to be happy.
http://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/calcio/articoli/articolo38765.shtml
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Aug 3 2010, 01:28 PM
Kicked boot + Rooney to Madrid. Lol!
Posted by: Habitant Aug 4 2010, 09:01 PM
Yahya Kirdi, who was born in Syria but came to Canada eight years ago, told The Canadian Press he has ambitious plans if he takes over the Premier League club.
"I want to build Liverpool," he said Wednesday from his home near Montreal.
The economic impact for the port city best known for spawning the Beatles in the 1960s would likely be most strongly felt because of a proposed stadium that is a key part of the deal being negotiated by Kirdi and his group.
"I have a new plan which I have given (Liverpool co-owner) George Gillett," Kirdi said of the stadium.
"This one is not only a stadium but also a stadium and hotel, five star, and shopping centre."
The facility would also include a solarium to generate solar power, which would be provided to Liverpudlians.
He said he has already been in contact with French and Swiss companies that have built stadiums in the Middle East.
"Everybody who wants to come into Liverpool wants to take the money and go outside," Kirdi said, adding he wants to help the community.
Tom Hicks and former Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett Jr. put the soccer club on the auction block in April after being squeezed by banks over the team's debt of C$386.5 million (237 million pounds).
Kirdi was born in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo in 1966 and played soccer for hometown clubs Al-Itihad and Al-Oruba in the 1980s as well as the national youth team.
He represents a group of investors from the Middle East and Canada and says he has been trying to secure the deal for the last five months.
The consortium could face competition from Chinese investor Kenny Huang, chairman of the Hong Kong-based investment company QSL Sports, who issued a statement Wednesday expressing his interest in the club.
"Mr. Huang would like to emphasize that he has registered interest in investing in Liverpool FC but has made no formal bid," his Hong Kong representatives said.
Huang is co-chairman of both the National Basketball League of China and the Chinese Baseball League.
Martin Broughton, who was brought in as Liverpool chairman to oversee the sale process, said he hopes a buyer for the club can be found before the transfer window closes Aug. 31.
Kirdi announced in a statement Wednesday that his group is in "advanced negotiations" with Hicks and Gillett to buy them out.
"Agreement has been reached on all major terms including the purchase price, repayment of the existing bank debt from RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) and Wells Fargo and financing of a new stadium in Liverpool's Stanley Park," the statement said. "A formal purchase agreement between the parties is in the final stage of negotiation."
But according to the Guardian newspaper, Kirdi made similar claims earlier this year and had previously been dismissed as a serious bidder by the club.
Kirdi, who also oversees investments in Europe and North America, pledged to invest in the squad, which dropped from Premier League runner-up to seventh place last season -- denying them a spot in this season's Champions League.
"Liverpool is a massive football club with passionate and proud fans in Merseyside and in every part of the world," Kirdi said. "With additional money to improve the squad and financing in place to build the new stadium, LFC will be on a solid foundation to compete in the Premiership and in Europe for years to come."
He was reluctant to criticize the current owners in the interview, calling them "friends." But he allowed they may not have understood soccer that well, adding he believes it may have hurt that the owners weren't more involved.
"The owners, you have to follow the team every day," he said.
While Liverpool's Premier League campaign begins against Arsenal on Aug. 15, the five-time European champions host Rabotnicki on Thursday in the Europa League's third qualifying round, leading 2-0 from the first leg.
"I can only hope if the club changes hands it goes to a group of people who have the club's fortune and future at heart and that they will do the right thing by the club," Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson said. "If a new owner comes in it is very important he makes clear to the supporters of this club, a worldwide institution, that they are buying it for the right reasons."
Kirdi, who says he has worked as a senior consultant with AIG in the Middle East, is still active in soccer as a coach and has many contacts through his playing days and work with FIFA, the sport's governing board.
He declined to discuss many other personal details, particularly about his family, citing privacy, but he has been active on the business front, recently negotiating to buy six CRJ1000 aircraft from Bombardier.
The list price for each of the 100-passenger jets is $43.95 million.
Kirdi says his efforts to generate business is his way of giving back to his adopted country.
"I want to give something good for Canada, to return what they give me -- good health, good security. They give me everything."
He says he chose Canada because he felt at home here.
"I've visited all the world, believe me. North, south, Africa, Europe, the United States, Middle East -- I like Canada in general and Quebec especially.
"When my airplane arrived at the Montreal airport, I opened my heart because this is my country."
---
-TSN
Posted by: Fishdoll Aug 4 2010, 09:06 PM
Thanks for the interesting article, Habitant!
The lack of public information about this group of investors would make this fish worried if he were a fan of the dirtyrottenscousers.
Posted by: Habitant Aug 4 2010, 10:59 PM
i'm hoping they buy them and ruin them some more mouhahaha
just found it funny to have a canadian connection with the owners of liverpool again.
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 9 2010, 04:43 PM
So MON has left, where's Kurt?! I can only imagine he's resigned because of the transfer dealings perhaps a Milner sale done above his head?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/8898993.stm
Kevin MacDonald has been appointed caretaker boss while no reason has been given for O'Neill's decision to leave after four years in the job.
MacDonald will prepare the side for their Premier League opener against West Ham on Saturday.
O'Neill, appointed in 2006, said: "I have enjoyed my time at Aston Villa immensely. It's obviously a wrench to be leaving such a magnificent club."
O'Neill, who led Villa to their third successive sixth-placed finish in the Premier League last season and also to the final of the Carling Cup, added: "I would like to pay tribute to the Villa players, my coaching staff and the Villa supporters for all the support and encouragement they have given both the club and me personally during my time as manager.
"I wish them all the best for the future. I will obviously be assisting the club in the immediate short-term with regard to the handover of my duties."
Posted by: Fishdoll Aug 9 2010, 04:47 PM
WTF? Why? Where's he going?
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 9 2010, 04:59 PM
WTF? Why? Where's he going?I'm sure it's something to do with the transfer dealings. I can only but speculate though, I'm sure Kurt will have a more informed opinion when he comes on.
Posted by: MizNelson Aug 9 2010, 05:02 PM
Here's an English-language version of the Rooney story. Sounds like something he would do.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1301194/Manchester-United-striker-Wayne-Rooney-talking-Fabio-Capello.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 9 2010, 05:43 PM
As far as I'm aware it's to do with Milner. From what it seems he named a price for Milner and didn't want to sell until that price was met. I'm assuming that due to the delay on the deal, we've decided to accept a lower price or something, which MON isn't pleased about.
Dark day indeed. Only manager in our entire history to improve our points tally for 4 straight seasons. All the best MON.
Posted by: Danny Aug 9 2010, 06:35 PM
Dark day indeed. Only manager in our entire history to improve our points tally for 4 straight seasons. All the best MON.
Very very good manager, and I suspect your club will suffer badly now.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 9 2010, 08:45 PM
If Jol replaces him I'll be happy.
A few Villa fans are happy as they've never liked him. At least I'll be able to point out how stupid they are when we go backwards.
Posted by: Bluesummers Aug 10 2010, 08:07 AM
I heard also its because you guys are selling young as well, and he was not in agreement to taht.
Oh well though, thats how the cookie crumbles. Either your the gaffer or your the b*tch. I guess we know the choice MON picked.
Posted by: CHU-LIP Aug 10 2010, 12:17 PM
A few Villa fans are happy as they've never liked him. At least I'll be able to point out how stupid they are when we go backwards.
I don't see Jol joining Aston Villa [or any other club] this summer/year.
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Aug 10 2010, 12:36 PM
I read it's because he was told the Milner purchase money wouldn't go back into the club. Also read that MoN has spent around 120 million on transfers and got only about 39 recouped through sales. Seems Villa is the third largest spender in the last 5 years behind Man City and Spurs.
Supposedly Lerner was a bit displeased about this..that with all these purchases the top 4 wasn't being cracked. So he asked MoN to work with what he's got. Since players like Sidwell, Shorey, Davies etc. were not being used as much as their potential dictated.
I imagine, Bob Bradley and Eriksson are in the frame for the job.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 10 2010, 04:41 PM
Can't agree there Jack. Shorey and Sidwell were signed for small amounts, just squad players. Davies played alot a season ago, but dislocated his shoulder twice last season so hat to sit it out after sugery.
As for competing. Arsenal are always going to finish above us, they've a great manager. United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs and City have all spent more in the MON era, so in theory we should be finishing 7th. MON has shown he buys well by finishing above 7th 3 straight seasons.
If Randy expected top 4 with being the 6th/7th biggest spenders since he took over, he's either in a dream world or an idiot. Martin was right to walk.
Posted by: servbot Aug 10 2010, 06:00 PM
You're smart.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=813168&sec=england&cc=5901
He has been installed as the Bookies' favourite to replace O'Neill, who quit the club on Monday just five days before the start of the new season. With American Randy Lerner holding the purse strings at Villa Park, Bradley was immediately linked with the vacant post.
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Aug 10 2010, 06:35 PM
As for competing. Arsenal are always going to finish above us, they've a great manager. United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs and City have all spent more in the MON era, so in theory we should be finishing 7th. MON has shown he buys well by finishing above 7th 3 straight seasons.
If Randy expected top 4 with being the 6th/7th biggest spenders since he took over, he's either in a dream world or an idiot. Martin was right to walk.
I dunno. Maybe you're right. The article I read stated that Villa were third largest spenders in the EPL behind City and Spurs. I think this was in the last 5 years. I'm inclined to believe it.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 10 2010, 10:30 PM
Nah, since MON took over were 6th, behind the obvious teams except Arsenal. It's been done to boredom on the Villa forum. Anyways, still no proof as to why he actually left.
If Sven or Bradley takeover I suspect Mr. Lerner won't be a fan favourite much longer.
Posted by: Dracoris Aug 10 2010, 11:39 PM
Please take Bradley. He makes good substitutions, but its subs he shouldn't have had to make in the first place. (i.e. Ricardo Clark vs. Ghana)
Posted by: Bluesummers Aug 11 2010, 08:19 AM
LOL the US Federation will not let bradley leave that easily. They will double his salary if need be. He's the first coach that the United States has created that is actually tactically adept and can win games. He's not some youth coach that got up through the ranks due to politics and that is why they won't let him go that easily. If he goes, they are in trouble.
But we'll see, if villa offer a good deal, 1 or 2m; he might decline us offer.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 11 2010, 02:20 PM
The won't let him leave easily? I have no idea what the score was last night, but based on the US tv I watch the general idea was that if they lost to the Brazil reserves then he'd get the sack.
Posted by: Fishdoll Aug 11 2010, 02:25 PM
THere was talk on ESPN during the world cup that his contract might not be renewed and last night during the game, there was again talk that it might be his last game for the NT.
Posted by: servbot Aug 11 2010, 04:44 PM
I've never understood why the USSF doesn't just go out and hire a good European coach like other teams do. FFS, even England has a foreign coach, it's not a big deal.
Posted by: Bluesummers Aug 12 2010, 05:46 AM
1) Prices. 500k for bradley vs 6-8m for capello.
2) North American Culture. Sad to say but very few european coaches would be able to just come to north america and start bringing success, culture is different.
3) People's mentality. They way players have grown through the systems, what they are taught and what they believe; they are all very different from european players.
I was at the international coaching conference in Philly in January and we had coaches come from all over the world to do demos and teach the coaches who attended their philosophies.
Anyways, there was a coach from dynamo Zagreb there. It took him an entire 20 min to get his group to even function and do what he wanted. and when they wouldn't listen he would flip out, something normal in europe. Players open up and work harder. Here, players close up and shut you out. They quit trying and just don't care.
Out of the 10k people who sat their and watched his 1.5 hour session, only 200 were left by the time the session ended. He was absolutely shocking.
Its easier for NA coaches to go to europe because we are taught both styles, while they are only taught their own.
-------
But you never know, we'll see. Soccer has changed and the USA has gotten a whole lot better. Things might be different.
We'll see if they do indeed sack him. As of right now I can't find anyone in mind who would be able to replace him, so I don't know what they are going to do. I didn't think he'd have been sacked but after the latest results, things have changed.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 13 2010, 01:06 AM
Bilic, Bradley, Eriksson, Curbishley and Jol have all been labelled 'favourite' by different sources. Only one of them is good enough to manage us, in my opinion. Bilic and Bradley are miles off, Sven needs stupid amounts of money and Curbishley is better at overacheiving with bad teams. It has to be Jol if it's one of these, or we're in trouble.
With that said, Kevin McDonald is caretaker manager and has done an exception job with our reserves the past few years, he should be given a few games to see how he does before we make a move.
Posted by: Dracoris Aug 13 2010, 02:23 AM
2) North American Culture. Sad to say but very few european coaches would be able to just come to north america and start bringing success, culture is different.
3) People's mentality. They way players have grown through the systems, what they are taught and what they believe; they are all very different from european players.
I was at the international coaching conference in Philly in January and we had coaches come from all over the world to do demos and teach the coaches who attended their philosophies.
Anyways, there was a coach from dynamo Zagreb there. It took him an entire 20 min to get his group to even function and do what he wanted. and when they wouldn't listen he would flip out, something normal in europe. Players open up and work harder. Here, players close up and shut you out. They quit trying and just don't care.
Out of the 10k people who sat their and watched his 1.5 hour session, only 200 were left by the time the session ended. He was absolutely shocking.
Its easier for NA coaches to go to europe because we are taught both styles, while they are only taught their own.
Jurgen Klinsmann.
Price: Higher than Bradley but affordable. The USSF has more money right now than they have ever had.
Culture: He lives in LA.
People's Mentality: Thats nearly the same thing as culture. But three points looks better than 2.
He's our man.
Posted by: Fishdoll Aug 13 2010, 02:38 AM
If he says yes this time. He's be great but it's my understanding (can't recall exactly where I read it but I did read it in more than one place) that he's got philosophical differences with the federation so....
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 13 2010, 04:02 AM
It's also arguable whether he's actually better than Bradley anyway. What's he done exactly?
Posted by: Bluesummers Aug 13 2010, 05:28 AM
bayern
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Aug 13 2010, 05:33 AM
Ermm..Germanny!!!! Bluey..you're such a cynic..you'll never get laid!
Posted by: servbot Aug 13 2010, 07:12 AM
2) North American Culture. Sad to say but very few european coaches would be able to just come to north america and start bringing success, culture is different.
3) People's mentality. They way players have grown through the systems, what they are taught and what they believe; they are all very different from european players.
I was at the international coaching conference in Philly in January and we had coaches come from all over the world to do demos and teach the coaches who attended their philosophies.
Anyways, there was a coach from dynamo Zagreb there. It took him an entire 20 min to get his group to even function and do what he wanted. and when they wouldn't listen he would flip out, something normal in europe. Players open up and work harder. Here, players close up and shut you out. They quit trying and just don't care.
Out of the 10k people who sat their and watched his 1.5 hour session, only 200 were left by the time the session ended. He was absolutely shocking.
Its easier for NA coaches to go to europe because we are taught both styles, while they are only taught their own.
-------
But you never know, we'll see. Soccer has changed and the USA has gotten a whole lot better. Things might be different.
Interesting. The money is probably the least of the issue now, as I've heard they are spending a lot more money nowadays. Crazy about that coaching session. Although, I guess it makes sense because there are different styles of play. I know in basketball they were talking about how it took the U.S. team, guys like LeBron, Kobe, and Wade, the best in the world, a few games just to get used to different styles of the international teams. Likewise when European players come to the NBA it sometimes takes them awhile to adjust to the style of play, and hoops is way less complex tactically than football too.
------------
So as not to de-rail the topic, I'm curious, why is EPL starting two weeks earlier than Serie A and La Liga?
Posted by: Bluesummers Aug 13 2010, 07:47 AM
jack comon now, i don't need women... I have you 
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Aug 13 2010, 07:59 AM
Uh-oh! 
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 13 2010, 05:37 PM
Finally, it's back. Looking forward to it (for a change). Be interesting to see how Man Citeh get on with all these signings plus the likely inclusion of Milner and Balotelli over the next few days.
Will be interesting to see how teams get on with the 25 registered players rule. Kurt you know the ins and outs of this? I didn't even realise it was happening until the whole Bellamy story. Does this have a similar concept to CL, like cup-tied, minimum national players, ability to change it in January after signings etc? What about loans as well do they count?!
I'd say Chelsea are going to win it. United haven't spent big really again although Hernandez looks a decent young player, be interesting to see if they get Ozil.
Fancy Bolton, Blackpool & Wolves/Wigan to go down.
Surely Man City will get CL - at the very least.
Posted by: Fishdoll Aug 13 2010, 05:41 PM
This fish rather fancies United this year -- their defense is better than Chelsea's and this fish suspects that Carvalho's loss will be felt. (Of course, this fish is only a casula viewer of the premier league, often doing so while his person is off doing silly things). But really....anyone but City works. 
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 13 2010, 05:53 PM
Oh yeah, I'd completely forgot about Ricardo leaving, seemed to have slipped through the news as we daily hear about Milner/Balotelli etc but no-one else!
I guess that will pave way for the impressive Ivanovic to go to centre-back with Bosingwa (when back from injury) back at right-back?
They still have this winning mentality though, be interesting to see how Ramires does, it's fair to say Brazilian's don't really light up the Premiership that much, like they do in other leagues.
I do get the feeling though the signing of Aguero would have got them the CL, without I doubt it.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 13 2010, 06:08 PM
I don't get your points with either of these really. Bayern won the league in '08 and again in '10. They didn't win anything in '09, when Klinsmann was coach. He had a competition on home soil with a team like Germany and failed to win it. Even Lowe with a bunch of kids made a SF.
Will be interesting to see how teams get on with the 25 registered players rule. Kurt you know the ins and outs of this? I didn't even realise it was happening until the whole Bellamy story. Does this have a similar concept to CL, like cup-tied, minimum national players, ability to change it in January after signings etc? What about loans as well do they count?!
During the windows, the rule is basically scrapped, but a squad has to be selected (and cannot be changed) between September 2nd - December 31st and February 1st until the end of the season.
A minimum of 8 home grown players need to be selected. Home grown is defined as playing for an English/Welsh club for at least 3 years before you're 21, nationality is irrelevant.. Players who're 21 at some point in the season (I think this is correct) do not need to be registered.
I don't think any team will struggle with the HG rule at all, the only issue will be teams with big squads (City, United, Spurs) trying to get all their over-21 players named.
Posted by: Fishdoll Aug 13 2010, 06:08 PM
tuttomercatoweb reports that the Balotelli transfer to City is official.
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 13 2010, 06:13 PM
A minimum of 8 home grown players need to be selected. Home grown is defined as playing for an English/Welsh club for at least 3 years before you're 21, nationality is irrelevant.. Players who're 21 at some point in the season (I think this is correct) do not need to be registered.
I don't think any team will struggle with the HG rule at all, the only issue will be teams with big squads (City, United, Spurs) trying to get all their over-21 players named.
Cheers for the info!
Posted by: Dracoris Aug 13 2010, 07:12 PM
My guess is that we see Balotelli in a Milan jersey for about 20m in 2 years or so, as Berlu's pet when City puts him up for sale after he fails to meet ridiculously high expectations. All right after Mancini is fired. You heard it here first! 
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 13 2010, 07:29 PM
I don't think a lot of average football fans over here know who he is! They'll be in for a shock when they see this attitude.
Posted by: Fishdoll Aug 13 2010, 07:34 PM
Wow. You think Mancini will last 2 years? That's really optimistic!
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 14 2010, 12:02 AM
Anyway, Man City's new squad photo:
Posted by: Fishdoll Aug 14 2010, 12:05 AM
THOSE BARSTIDS! They signed WALDO TOO?!?!?!?!?!?!
( Nice one, Ash).
Posted by: Dracoris Aug 14 2010, 12:07 AM
Thats pretty funny....and yea maybe two years was a bit exaggerated. Maybe one more year.
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 14 2010, 01:04 PM
15 minutes in and this far outweights anything I saw at the World Cup, thank god for club football.
IF we don't ruin him, it looks like England has some keeper in Joe Hart
Posted by: Fishdoll Aug 14 2010, 01:35 PM
This fish feels strange - wanting Redknapp's team to win. Ick. Ick.
That said, Spurs were by far the better side in the first half. Joe Hart's the only reason they're not up by...several.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 14 2010, 01:40 PM
Man City were nearly as bad as Spurs strikers in that half, embarassing.
Posted by: Darunia Aug 14 2010, 03:18 PM
Entertaining start to the Villa-West Ham game. Villa absolutely dominating, up 1-0 on an offsides downing goal. Can't say they don't deserve it though
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 14 2010, 03:58 PM
Magnifico.
Downing and Petrov with the goals, 45 minutes off domination. Not bad with 2 20 year olds getting starts.
Posted by: Darunia Aug 14 2010, 04:00 PM
Blackpool up 3-0 at HT against Wigan!
Posted by: Fishdoll Aug 14 2010, 04:59 PM
This fish rather likes Albrighton.
(Kurt, why weren't you at the game? Worried about floating away in the deluge?)
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 14 2010, 04:59 PM
Wow Blackpool top of the league impressive! I think Wigan will struggle and go down this season but this is some result!
A quick mention to my 'other' more local football team - Torquay!. We are top of the league in League 2 (3 divisions below Premiership) and haven't conceded a goal in the league for 830+ minutes... perhaps some of them should come and teach Milan how to defend!
Perhaps we can extend this and have another World football record - other than the quickest own goal ever recorded...
Posted by: Fishdoll Aug 14 2010, 05:02 PM
*raises a fin* Um. Weren't Blackpool supposed to be the worst team in the league, dead cert to go down with fewer points even than derby? wtf happened?
EDIT: And yay for Torquay! Does Basil Fawlty go to games? 
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 14 2010, 05:04 PM
Haha, no way do you know about Fawlty Towers?! I thought that was just a British thing!
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 14 2010, 05:05 PM
(Kurt, why weren't you at the game? Worried about floating away in the deluge?)
My dad's changed jobs recently and basically can't get to about 80% of the games, so I decided not to get a season ticket as I don't particularly want to go on my own. I'll just go to odd games I think.
Anyways, it was a great performance. Nice to see Milner get a goal and a great reception when he went off, would be a great way to end his time at Villa. Albrighton and Clark were great all game, brilliant to see our academy bringing players of this quality through.
Well done to Blackpool too for their 4-0 win.
Posted by: Fishdoll Aug 14 2010, 05:12 PM
Haha. I could probably recite most of the episodes by heart, Ash. LOVE that show. It's broadcast regularly on telly over here even now, along with episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus. Basil is this fish's hero!
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 14 2010, 06:23 PM
Chelsea 2-0 up at HT against the Baggies, Malouda and the Drog.
Posted by: CHU-LIP Aug 14 2010, 06:25 PM
<3 Fawlty Towers, one of my favourite TV-shows.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 14 2010, 06:31 PM
Nowadays a show like that would be considered too racist and offensive to air.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 14 2010, 06:47 PM
3-0, Drogba again. Got him as my fantasy team captain too!
EDIT: Chelsea 4, Lampard.
Chelsea really challenging Blackpool for top spot.
Posted by: Locke Lamora Aug 14 2010, 06:55 PM
Oh come on... comedy is probably your most widespread and successful export. See my avatar...
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 14 2010, 06:58 PM
Proper comedy, that is. Some stuff around today doesn't really deserve the title of 'comedy'.
Drogba hat-trick, 5-0.
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Aug 14 2010, 07:00 PM
He wasn't kidding when he said, he's played the last 2 years with injury.
Posted by: Locke Lamora Aug 14 2010, 08:55 PM
Care to name some examples?
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 15 2010, 12:41 AM
I find alot of American comedies very poor. Stuff like The Simpsons is just absoloutely dreaful, though admittedly comedy isn't really the focal point.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 15 2010, 12:48 AM
MARTIN JOL has been approached by Aston Villa to take over from Martin O'Neill.
The Ajax boss is seen by owner Randy Lerner as the man to lift the gloom in the dressing room and maintain the club's status as a top six side.
Villa have been told that Jol would be interested in returning to the Premier League if they meet Ajax's multi-million pound compensation demand.
It is believed that he could be in place at Villa by as early as this week if personal terms, which include a salary of around £2million-a-year, can be agreed.
O'Neill walked out of Villa Park in midweek after four years in charge.
USA coach Bob Bradley was seen as a serious candidate, while Sam Allardyce, Alan Curbishley and Gareth Southgate have been linked with the job. Reserve team boss Kevin MacDonald took charge of Saturday's opening day clash with West Ham.
Former Tottenham manager Jol nearly succeeded Roy Hodgson at Fulham last month but was shocked at only being offered a salary of around £1million-a-year.
Jol, 54, twice guided Tottenham to fifth place, their highest finish in the Premier League before being sacked by Daniel Levy after a poor start to the 2007/8 season.
The Dutchman has enjoyed success in Germany with Hamburg, taking them to fifth and a UEFA Cup semi-final.
He also finished runners-up last season with Ajax behind Steve McClaren's FC Twente.
Jol is no stranger to the West Midlands having spent two years with West Brom and then a season with Coventry City as a player during the early 1980s.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/908197/VILLA-APPROACH-JOL-FOR-TOP-JOB.html
Posted by: Locke Lamora Aug 15 2010, 12:51 AM
Ah. I was thinking about poor British comedies... though admittedly, there's not a lot of them are there?
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 15 2010, 12:55 AM
We have a few, there's one that's labelled the 'English Friends', I can never remember its name, but it's awful.
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 15 2010, 01:19 AM
Oh is that 'Coupling'? I think I remember that somewhere and it being awful, it was like watching Friends but watching a remake of it done for a college project. Though Friends was a rare series in how it bridged a number of genres together and still made a comedy out of it and was pretty entertaining. Kind of like Seinfeld in that respect I guess, though I never really watched that!
Anyway, interesting to see that Blackpool weren't that lucky with 4-0, with respect it could have been 5 or 6 in the first-half!
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 15 2010, 03:41 AM
Feed The Hare and he will score.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 15 2010, 01:31 PM
The controversial football legend is out of work after resigning as coach of Argentina last month.
Now his official European representative, Walter Soriano, has revealed Maradona wants to manage in England – by succeeding Martin O’Neill as boss of Villa.
He told the Sunday Mercury: “I think Diego would be very open to the idea of coming to England and managing Aston Villa.
“He is very attracted to English football and the way of life in your country and I know he would be very willing to move there.
“He loves the English countryside and your respect for privacy, so he would be very happy there, especially at a big club like Aston Villa.”
And Mr Soriano added: ‘‘If the owner Randy Lerner wants to make him a serious offer, I am sure he would get a very positive response.
“Diego is currently talking with a number of clubs in Europe – including another one in England – about a management role and is looking at his options carefully.”
Maradona is one of the biggest and most controversial sports stars on the planet.
An icon of Argentinian football he almost single-handedly won the 1986 World Cup in Mexico – after famously cheating England with his ‘hand of God’ goal.
He is regarded as one of the two best players of all-time alongside Brazil legend Pele – who the Argentinian crushed in a FIFA Player of the Century award in 2000.
Maradona had a long and colourful career as a player, first becoming a legend at Barcelona before later moving to Napoli in Italy where brought the unfashionable team title success.
http://www.sundaymercury.net/midlands-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-fc-news/2010/08/15/diego-maradona-in-sensational-bid-to-become-aston-villa-manager-66331-27064182/
I can't see us going for him, he's just a name and his managerial record is God awful.
He clearly knows nothing about the country (or at least his representative doesn't. He likes the English countryside, so a move to Villa would appeal to him. What, you mean Villa, that team that's from the most populous City in the country?
Posted by: CHU-LIP Aug 15 2010, 02:05 PM
Coupling and Friends are no way alike, IMO. Coupling actually has funny moments every now and then, but mostly I don't feel like they are similar. Friends attempts to make me laugh mostly fail. Seinfield I barely have seen in my life. I don't expect it to be funny, it eyes boring.
Posted by: han2503 Aug 15 2010, 03:40 PM
I think you're the only person that I've heard this from. Friends is a classic imo, just like Seinfeld and MASH back in the day
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 15 2010, 03:51 PM
As this is the EPL thread, I'll continue this discussion http://www.milanfan.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4424&st=210&gopid=261032&#entry261032.
Anyway, Liverpool & Arsenal in a minute, one of the stand out ties of the season usually. Just hope it hasn't come too early and we see the World Cup 2010 effect of a boring 0-0 draw.
Posted by: Fishdoll Aug 15 2010, 04:52 PM
Well. That was interesting. Joe Cole straight red (perhaps a bit harsh?) right at the stroke of halftime.
dirtyrottenscousers 0-0 Arsenal
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 15 2010, 04:52 PM
Ah who cares its Joe Cole, think I'm still laughing.
Posted by: Fishdoll Aug 15 2010, 04:54 PM
I was trying to be a polite fish! (I'm snickering too).
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 15 2010, 04:57 PM
Joking aside, the games been rubbish. Think this fixture would have been better in a few months time for the neutrals.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 15 2010, 05:48 PM
Liverpool have just defended for 90 minutes, Arsenal passed it around with no real aim. Typical naff goalkeeping from Almunia for the goal. Borefest.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 15 2010, 05:51 PM
Reina howler, then puts it in his own net!
Posted by: X-Offender Aug 15 2010, 11:19 PM
Reina howler, then puts it in his own net!
Serves him right after the Fabregas comment.
Posted by: Locke Lamora Aug 16 2010, 12:26 AM
I still have no idea how we got a point from this game, but I'll take it with a big grin. Started off with a draw against a big team and we're finished at Anfield for the season. Nice.
Oh, and another thing:
That's Karma, you bald bi@tch.
Posted by: Bluesummers Aug 16 2010, 01:13 AM
LOL! Good ol' wenger, never changes
I won't even have to watch EPL this season to know what the result is.
1)Chelsea
2) Man U
3) Arsenal
4) No one cares
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 16 2010, 02:39 AM
I won't even have to watch EPL this season to know what the result is.
1)Chelsea
2) Man U
3) Arsenal
4) No one cares
..yet some wonder why the Big 4 are overhyped.
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 16 2010, 02:59 AM
2) Man U
3) Arsenal
4) No one cares
And other leagues aren't predictable?
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 16 2010, 03:46 AM
It is predictable though Ash, Chelsea are clearly going to win it. It's not like they've only played West Brom and already got beaten comfortabley by United so far this season.
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 16 2010, 03:58 AM
Yeah, I forgot that 2 teams haven't even played a game yet. And the fact that a team is spending 100's of millions. Then a team getting into CL who wouldn't have been expected too.
Not to pick on a league, but does this happen in Spain, bar the top 2 nowadays...
I'm not saying this is the best league in the world, but it's a bit strange to make sweeping statements like 'who cares'!
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 16 2010, 04:04 AM
The title race, in my opinion, was almost ignored last season. There was far, far more coverage on Spurs/City/Villa/Liverpool on the race for 4th.
Most leagues just have 2 teams and it takes huge spending (Lazio are a good example) to change that. Didn't Valencia spend their way into debt to win a title too?
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 16 2010, 04:10 AM
Yeah, I think they did, I remember watching a really good Valencia team down at Elland Road walk over Leeds in a Champions League Semi-Final tie.
I think the EPL has become more interesting in recent seasons, and the unknowns of Manchester City will help it for the time being until they buy their way to the title then either the owners leave or they just keep on buying.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 16 2010, 04:32 AM
Yeah, City, Spurs and Villa have helped the league by really putting presure on the big 4. Some may call it predictable, but how many leagues have a team who's made a few CL Finals in recent years finish 7th in the league? Strength in depth at the moment, the fact teams like Newcastle with the players they have can get relegated says alot.
==============================================================================
Personally very excited for our season. We've struggled at home in recent years because teams have just came and parked the bus, but playing 4-2-3-1 with Ashley in a free role worked wonders. It was only West Ham, but it was the same West Ham we couldn't beat last season. Away from home we'll be fine, teams can't cope with our pace on the break.
Oh, and a metion for the overly-criticised Downing, magic performance at the weekend.
Posted by: Locke Lamora Aug 16 2010, 11:08 AM
I won't even have to watch EPL this season to know what the result is.
1)Chelsea
2) Man U
3) Arsenal
4) No one cares
Seeing as our record at Anfield has been pretty damn impressive under Wenger (3-1, 6-3, 1-1, 4-4 are all results from 2007 or later), that doesn't make much sense to me.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 16 2010, 03:21 PM
I thought Wengers post-match was pretty good considering you had a player sent off late on for no reason at all. He was in a very good mood and praised Liverpools defending, can't see where the problem is.
Posted by: Fishdoll Aug 16 2010, 09:18 PM
Raise a fin if you're surprised that Joey Barton got Newcastle's first yellow of the season.
Posted by: Bluesummers Aug 17 2010, 05:41 AM
jeez i was kidding lol. Whats with all the canadian hate over here jeez.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Aug 17 2010, 04:14 PM
The home tie against Rochdale, which was scheduled for Tuesday, August 24, will be televised live by Sky Sports and has been put back two days to Thursday, August 26 (7.45pm).
(Birmingham Post)
So Villa and sha are playing at home on the same night at the same time? How on Earth did this get past the WM police? It's just asking for trouble.
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 20 2010, 12:41 PM
Looks like Gallas is making the short trip to Spurs then. Not bad I guess for a free, but he's not the player he used to be and everyone knows about his attitude issues, that can at times hinder whole clubs. Spurs really need to make a couple of high-profile signings now to have a chance in Europe.
Posted by: Danny Aug 20 2010, 10:25 PM
After all this time I am gonna bite and ask what sha stands for. I know it's your praising term for Brum, but I don't know what it means.
Posted by: Danny Aug 20 2010, 10:26 PM
Gallas, imo, is an EPL quality defender and 'Arry's made a great signing there.
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 21 2010, 02:35 AM
Hmm, maybe a few years ago. He's a bit injury prone now and his attitude has never been that great.
I mean tie him in with King & Woodgate and it could be calamitous for the Centre backs in terms of injuries.
Posted by: Darunia Aug 21 2010, 08:30 PM
Arsenal and Chelsea both with big 6-0 wins today. Wigan is in last place after two games with a -10 goal differential already.
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Aug 22 2010, 09:37 AM
This Chelsea is weird to see. It's like the footballing equivalent of a pack of wolves on National Geographic. They prance around you, they nip a bit, bare their teeth; but they're not really looking like they want to attack....and then at the slightest smell of blood they're on you..ripping you to shreds...after that it's rinse-repeat for the next prey err...team.
Carlo's loving England isn't he? 
Will be interesting to see how they play against the bigger teams. Though FWIW, if you go one down against the Pensioners, you're asking for it. I think only Mou-style negativity can counter Chelsea.
Posted by: Bluesummers Aug 22 2010, 11:12 AM
Carlo's loving England isn't he?
Will be interesting to see how they play against the bigger teams. Though FWIW, if you go one down against the Pensioners, you're asking for it. I think only Mou-style negativity can counter Chelsea.
I would too. Being in the toughest league in the world to achieve results for 8 years; really does wonders for you as a coach.
In England he's having a blast because the league is so easy to exploit tactically that its like a day in the park for him.
He also has the perfect squad at his disposal (age, skill etc) plus he can add the players he wants w/o being told to use what you get; he's in heaven.
I'd have to say its almost not fair
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Aug 22 2010, 11:57 AM
And after Scolari and Mourinho..the management must feel like they're in heaven. A coach who doesn't want anybody! Wow!!
But the trouble is in the new generation. Can he really blood in Sturridge and Hutchinson and Kakuta?
Posted by: Fishdoll Aug 22 2010, 02:23 PM
-1 
to William Gallas for going from Arsenal to Spurs.
Bad form.
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Aug 22 2010, 03:59 PM
*ahem* I'd just like to point y'all to a certain score down at St. James'.
Newcastle 6-0 A.Villa
You blokes must have thought I was nuts when I talked of the Toon.
The boys are back in town! Did you miss us EPL??! 
Posted by: Zed.D Aug 22 2010, 04:08 PM
6-0?!?! Kurt must be gutted now.
Posted by: Darunia Aug 22 2010, 04:21 PM
What's with all the 6-0 victories so far this season? That's 4 already!
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Aug 22 2010, 04:22 PM
6-0?!?! Kurt must be gutted now.Villa missed a penalty at 0-0. And there was a goal flagged wrongly for offside. He'll probably talk about that.
But yeah...Villa were dominated...bar the opening 15 minutes.
Posted by: Locke Lamora Aug 22 2010, 05:46 PM
So, any second thoughts about leaving Walcott behind for the World Cup, Don Fabio?
Posted by: Danny Aug 22 2010, 05:55 PM
w0rd.
I've rated the boy for years, some still aren't fans, such as Alan Hansen. I think they're plain blind or just stubborn.
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 22 2010, 05:55 PM
Can't say that just because of one game. He's had numerous chances in friendlies, qualifiers etc and done nothing bar the Croatia match. In relative terms he did score a hat-trick against a Championship quality side, I would love to see him do it against one of the top 10 teams in the league.
Anyway, United - Fulham another cracker, this weekend is one reason why I do rate the EPL and it isn't just blind nationality bias.
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Aug 22 2010, 06:40 PM
United end 2-2 with Fulham. United muffed a non-existent penalty, while Fulham were not given a clear penalty. But otherwise a fair result.
Posted by: Fishdoll Aug 22 2010, 06:49 PM
The last ten minutes of that game were actually rather entertaining.
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Aug 22 2010, 07:17 PM
Oh an another plug for the local team, Torquay won again, top of the league still and didn't concede again, 10 league games without conceding now!
Posted by: Fishdoll Aug 22 2010, 07:23 PM
This fish bets Basil and Sybil are there cheering them on, whether you say so or not, Ash! (Go Torquay!)
Posted by: Locke Lamora Aug 22 2010, 11:18 PM
So, looks like Squillaci is coming to the Emirates, and our CB problems might be solved at last. And this is about 24 hours after Wenger said he was "far from close" to signing the guy...
Posted by: Dano Aug 25 2010, 11:08 AM
I was really pleased with this result. I think Fulham have made a great appointment in Mark Hughes. Not many managers would be able to follow on from what Hodgson has done on such a limited budget but I reckon he’s got a decent chance.
Posted by: Danny Aug 26 2010, 01:24 PM
Kurt seems to have departed since MON did likewise...
Posted by: Jack Bauer Aug 26 2010, 01:59 PM
After what Newcastle did to his team, some recovery time is understandable
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 1 2010, 02:36 AM
Pfft, you can't get rid of me that easy!
Just not been well, or at home, lately, so not been posting. Posting from my phone usually ends up in some sort of epic fail so I didn't bother.
It has been a disasterous start to the season, how on Earth shoddy sides like Arsenal, United and Chelsea are above us is disgraceful.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 2 2010, 12:50 PM
Birmingham vice-chairman Peter Pannu has told boss Alex McLeish that he is "no Mourinho" after contract talks between the two parties stalled.
The former Rangers and Scotland chief has been in talks with Blues officials over a new contract for some time, but as yet no deal has been agreed between all parties.
Birmingham were keen to reward McLeish with a new deal after guiding them to ninth spot last season on the back of winning promotion to the Premier League the year before.
The contract talks have been dragging on for a number of weeks now with Pannu claiming McLeish is asking for too much money.
McLeish is also thought to have fallen out with the Birmingham board following a jibe from Pannu that the Scot is "no Mourinho".
"I have been in talks with his representative and he was asking for a very large amount of money which I was not prepared to meet," Pannu told the Daily Star.
Pannu admits McLeish deserved a bonus for his performance last year, but he felt the Scot was still not the finished article.
"He has not been tried and tested yet," added Pannu. "The club was relegated, then promoted and last year we stayed up, so he has done well.
"But to suggest that he is in the top class like a Mourinho, well, he is no Mourinho yet. The ball is in his court."
McLeish, when asked about his contract situation, refused to discuss developments, saying: "I don't want to talk about it.
"We've signed three players and that's all I want to talk about."
http://www.teamtalk.com/news/2483/6353419/Pannu-McLeish-is-no-Mourinho-
So this is how they treat a manager who's helped them to one of their best ever league finishes.
I wondered why McLeish to Villa rumours had started up. If they keep on at it like this, they might lose one of their best ever managers to their biggest rivals.
Comical is what it is, 'circus' sums them up quite nicely.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 8 2010, 10:34 PM
So Gerrard Houllier is the man to replace MON. Hmm.
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Sep 8 2010, 11:03 PM
I feel, really bad for you guys.
I would much rather Pardew, or Bradley or probably 80% of managers this guy made Benitez look like a hero, at least for a few years...
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 9 2010, 12:49 AM
The majority of Villa support are pleased with it, mainly because it means the names you mentioned aren't our manager.
I think he did well at Liverpool. He inheirited an awful team and took them to their first 2nd place finish in a decade, as well as that '5 trophy year' Liverpool fans still bang on about.
What worries me is that he's been working for the FFF since he left Lyon, and look at how badly France have been doing.
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Sep 9 2010, 12:24 PM
I think he did well at Liverpool. He inheirited an awful team and took them to their first 2nd place finish in a decade, as well as that '5 trophy year' Liverpool fans still bang on about.
I don't know buddy, I hope he does well obviously. I just really don't rate him as a manager, some of his signings were awful. Remember Salif Diao, Diouf, Cheyrou and who can forget the worst player I've ever seen in the Prem - Igor Biscan?! Granted he made a good signing in Hyypia but bar that I can't remember too many that stayed for years and played really well.
Yeah, the win everything but the major stuff year! Didn't they beat like Alaves in the final - just as well.
I hope he does well for you, but can almost see him being another Dreary O'Leary, perhaps I'll have to eat my words in a few months!
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 9 2010, 04:19 PM
We'll see how it goes, he's inherited a good squad so he should do alright to start with.
Posted by: servbot Sep 10 2010, 08:18 PM
So what's this stuff about Rooney that the terrible ESPN football coverage has been dancing around? Caught with a prostitute or something?
Posted by: X-Offender Sep 10 2010, 08:36 PM
You heard about it now? It's been on the news the whole week.
Posted by: han2503 Sep 10 2010, 08:36 PM
Apparently... While his wife was pregnant as well
That England team sure gets around, it's not like he's th first guy on that team to get cought with his pants down, and he certainly won't be the last.
Posted by: X-Offender Sep 10 2010, 09:34 PM
Now, the prostitute who revealed the Rooney story to the tabloids says she's had affairs with other 16 or something footballers of the Premier League.
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Sep 10 2010, 10:22 PM
I don't even know, I mean the whole Rebecca Loos thing was exactly like this before, until she was found out. I mean she didn't do too badly, money, endless trashy reality TV shows, magazine deals, fame. It's what a lot of girls like the aforementioned dream of in life.
Though, you think if she was lying she'd have said someone other than Shrek for her own dignity The fact that Wayne hasn't publicly denied it and he has had previous seems to make you think these allegations do have some ground to stand on.
With all due respect it is more than worth it for some of these girls making their living on England's streets to come out and say this, it's like giving yourself a promotion I guess.
With tabloids like News Of The World out there, you can always sell your story and you will make money. Even if it's not true, you will still get reality tv shows wanting you... I mean bar people finding out about your 'job' what other disadvantages are there?!
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 11 2010, 03:22 AM
Exactly.
I'd need about 20 hands to count the amount of times Premier League players have been accused of **** when away in Europe, only for the charges to be dropped. 99% of the time it's just some girl looking to make some money and they bail when it gets too big for them.
With that said, I think Rooney has probably done something. He doesn't seem all that smart and has an attitude that suggests he'd be up to this sort of thing.
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Sep 11 2010, 02:40 PM
What a game!
Finally, got to getting Sky Sports back and that's the first Premiership game I've seen on it, probably won't see a better one this season.
Can't believe United let that slip, Chelsea's to lose already?!
Posted by: arivanjj Sep 11 2010, 03:11 PM
haha man u fail!
Posted by: han2503 Sep 11 2010, 03:19 PM
I was watching but then decided to watch a movie instead!!! What happened?
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 11 2010, 03:28 PM
Hilarious watching it at the pub with tonnes of United 'fans'. They came out with their usual BS saying things like "You couldn't beat Everton anyway!" Err... who was it we played, and beat, in our last game you dumbass?
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Sep 11 2010, 03:43 PM
It was a great game, could have easily been 5-5 if chances were taken.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 11 2010, 04:19 PM
I'm not happy with when the whistle was blown at all, the referee **** himself at the thought of United conceeding another.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 11 2010, 04:25 PM
Lee fouled on the edge of the box, should have been a yellow card and a free-kick. Nothing.
Cahill makes a foul on the right hand side, should have been a yellow and a free-kick. Sraight red.
One happens to be an Arsenal player, the other isn't, doesn't take a genius to work it out.
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Sep 11 2010, 04:44 PM
Cahill makes a foul on the right hand side, should have been a yellow and a free-kick. Sraight red.
One happens to be an Arsenal player, the other isn't, doesn't take a genius to work it out.
I know what you mean but it's this guy - Stuart Attwell, many claim he's the worst referee in the country.
And you can see why simply http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0YiuSbBdaQ.
There's plenty of other occasions too, check his http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Attwell#Controversies for some points.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 11 2010, 04:50 PM
To be fair, I think the linesman give that goal, I don't think the ref had a good view at all so had to go on the linesmans word.With that said, officiating nowadays is shocking. Villa have yet to have a competent ref this season, they've all been awful and it's not like we're doing badly, we've won 2 of our 3 games, so I'm hardly bitter!
Newcastle 0-2 Blackpool Based on their performances this season, their players must miss the Championship, they're trying so very hard to go back.
Posted by: Milan Are Brilliant Sep 11 2010, 04:58 PM
Newcastle 0-2 Blackpool Based on their performances this season, their players must miss the Championship, they're trying so very hard to go back.
Though it seems like the ref must have been by the penalty spot from the video, I'd still lay some blame to him, it's not like the Spurs United goal where the ref was on the halfway line, I mean this didn't even go inside the posts!! I mean yes you probably have to take his word if the only question is whether the ball passed the goalline but surely, surely as a ref you can tell where it's being kicked from it's not even close to the post!
And as I said this isn't the only decision, his name gets mentioned time and time again in terms of bad decisions and the FA probably really need to do something about it.
Newcastle will be alright, I said it before the season Blackpool will have the Hull City effect where they will pick up quite a few points at the start, then maybe just hang on by the end of it.
Another good day in the Premiership, packed with goals/incidents again.
Posted by: MizNelson Sep 11 2010, 05:21 PM
What? An EPL player involved in a sex scandal? Next thing you know they'll start fixing games in Italy.
Posted by: elcordobez Sep 11 2010, 05:31 PM
Just finished watching the Chelsea game.
Essien scoring twice from headers
My God that guy can LEAP!
Who needs to be tall when you can jump just as high lol..
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 13 2010, 09:55 PM
2-1 Stoke. That's 4 last minute goals they've scored past us in 5 games.
A draw at Stoke would have been oustanding and thought we'd done enough, not to be. Another absoloute dog **** performance from the ref today. 4 games, 4 incompetent refereeing disaplys. Sort it out.
Posted by: Jack Bauer Sep 14 2010, 11:15 PM
We won't see Valencia for a while...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqP-1mZJLXI&feature=player_embedded
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 15 2010, 03:48 AM
Shame, get well soon.
Full credit for SAF for not going over the top on what really was a nothing challenge. Other managers would have called for the Rangers man to be banned or other stupid things.
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Sep 15 2010, 06:34 AM
I'd have to agree with that. But then again, it depends on which club he was playing against. Rangers are not traditionally a dirty team nor are they cut throat rivals in Europe with ManU AND it was only the first match of the group stage AWAY.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 15 2010, 04:19 PM
You do realise United are English and Rangers are Scottish, yes?
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Sep 15 2010, 04:31 PM
Yes. What I'm trying to say is that first I don't think it was the tackle that broke his ankle. And if it had been, and if the match had been sometime in January/February when the race for titles is really heated up we might have had a different reaction.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 18 2010, 05:31 PM
West Brom playing at home to sha, Villa playing at home. Well done to the FA for organising all 3 sets of fans of the Birmingham clubs all to be in Birmingham at the same time on the same day. The trains were fucking chaos., nothing like tens of thousends of pissed up people who hate each other having to share trains. Genius work.
Posted by: han2503 Sep 18 2010, 05:37 PM
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 19 2010, 04:27 AM
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/8400831.Bolton_fan_dies_at_football_match/
RIP. Quite a few deaths at VP in the last few years, very weird.
Houllier to officially take charge from now I think, Gary McAllister will be his #2. Nice to see Ash go and celebrate with Kev MacDonald after he scored, hope he decides to stay with the club after so long.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 19 2010, 06:42 PM
Not a bad weekend to have Young, Berbatov, Drogba and Malouda in your fantasy team!
Posted by: X-Offender Sep 19 2010, 07:19 PM
That second goal of Berbatov was a stunner!
Posted by: Locke Lamora Sep 20 2010, 06:02 PM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1313578/Were-bigger-Arsenal-Tottenhams-Rafael-van-der-Vaart-stokes-north-London-rivalry-ahead-Carling-Cup-clash.html?ITO=1490
I know the usual way to endear yourself to new fans is to flatter them by comparing them favourably to their biggest rivals, but please... Bigger? In terms of what, 'cause it sure isn't those small, insignificant factors named amount of fans, amount of titles, stadia, season revenue, international reputation etc.
Spurs isn't even the second club in London, Chelsea has overtaken them long ago.They might just about pride themself on being bigger than West Ham and Fulham, and even then Fulham's last appearance is a European Cup Final was less than a year ago, compared to 26 years without a single appearance from Tottenham.
Posted by: acid911 Sep 20 2010, 09:54 PM
Um, yeah, that would probably be round about the funniest thing I've heard all season. Frankly, if we go by the history and prestige factors no club in the EPL is bigger than Arsenal. In titles, Manchester and Liverpool. And that's about it. Ten straight doubles won't help Tottenham claim the title of being bigger than the Gunners.
Psst, just been me and you, Locke, I reckon it's about time they won the Champions League, and no better time than this season. Win the League, at least darn it, but if not, concentrate your focus on the CL, you guys have made a few good moves in the window, a couple of quality players from France, some of the old guard out, and the team is a bit more experienced. Fingers crossed for a good showing this season.
As for VdV, less talk, more action bunny boy! Your team did good last year, now is the time to help them improve one step further.
Posted by: CHU-LIP Sep 20 2010, 09:59 PM
Time for Asnl to win the CL?
No, it isn't.
Posted by: han2503 Sep 20 2010, 10:04 PM
I personally think it's Chelsea's year... Although I'd take anything not to have an English team or Real win it.
Posted by: CHU-LIP Sep 20 2010, 10:11 PM
I hope Chelsea wins it actually (if we fail). I like Chelsea because of Eiður Guðjohnsen and Jerrel Floyd Hasselbaink, and I also like Carlo Ancelotti. Other English clubs I don't like to see winning it, but except for Liverpool it's still better than Barça winning it.
Chelsea, Barça and Real are favourites IMO.
Posted by: Locke Lamora Sep 20 2010, 10:12 PM
Um, yeah, that would probably be round about the funniest thing I've heard all season. Frankly, if we go by the history and prestige factors no club in the EPL is bigger than Arsenal. In titles, Manchester and Liverpool. And that's about it. Ten straight doubles won't help Tottenham claim the title of being bigger than the Gunners.Psst, just been me and you, Locke, I reckon it's about time they won the Champions League, and no better time than this season.
Win the League, at least darn it, but if not, concentrate your focus on the CL, you guys have made a few good moves in the window, a couple of quality players from France, some of the old guard out, and the team is a bit more experienced. Fingers crossed for a good showing this season.As for VdV, less talk, more action bunny boy!
Your team did good last year, now is the time to help them improve one step further.Well it sure isn't between you and me, that's what Arsenal fans have been thinking for years now. It just seems like we're one of those teams who have a 'something' about the CL, no matter how much quality we have it's just never enough.
There are a few teams that applies to, like Roma and until last season, Inter. Then there's Juventus, who really should have won as many titles as Milan have, and Chelsea from 2005 and onwards. But as we saw with Inter last season, even the teams who seem to bear a curse in the CL will get their hands on it sooner or later. It might be this year, it might be the next, it might be 5 or 10 years from now... but that trophy will be coming to the Emirates one day.
@Chu-Lip, I'm one of those weird people who actually like a bit of originality every now and then, so if you could at least try to come up with something on your own, that'd be appreciated.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 20 2010, 10:26 PM
Liverpool and United are bigger than Arsenal, acid, I'm sure even Locke won't argue with that. The big 3 are far ahead of the rest, but I find it quite funny how it's always Spurs or Newcastle fans that bang on about how big a club they are, why?
Spurs: 2 League titles, 12 domestic trophies.
Newcastle 4 League titles, 6 domestic trophies.
Sunderland have as many league titles as these 2 combined, but do you hear them bang on about it? No.
Villa: 7 League titles, 12 domestic trophies, former Champions of Europe.
Everton: 9 league titles, 5 domestic trophies.
Not to mention that Villa and Everton have actually won league titles this side of England winning the World Cup, something Newcastle and Spurs have yet to do. Come to think of it, Newcastle haven't won any trophy this side of Englands World Cup win.
Posted by: CHU-LIP Sep 20 2010, 10:31 PM
I'm not sure what you exactly try to tell me.
Posted by: acid911 Sep 20 2010, 11:26 PM
Well if they can carve out a place in the semi's somehow, I think they have.
The last 4 usually have equal chances of winning, but of course, getting there is the real deal. Some get there by good fortune with easy teams along the way, while others burn themselves out by the time the quarters roll around. Arsenal's luck ran out when they faced Barca last season. Sure they'd have won if they deserved, which they didn't, but playing the 2nd leg in Spain didn't help their cause. I actually gave them an outside chance despite the first leg scoreline, but that pesky Argentinean ruined it all.
5 or 10, as long as they become the first London-based club to win the big ears, I'm game!
I'd rather have Manchester City win it before Chelsea, but that's just me I guess.If we go with combined history, I'd gladly put Villa up in the top 5 or 6.
You guys have won the CL for Pete's sake, how many EPL clubs can say that. Though I don't foresee any immediate Champions League football for you guys now that Manchester City has literally bought their way into the top 4. Unless something drastic happens.Yeah, the boys in black and white have really fallen from grace.
I watched a few history DVDs of English clubs a while back and well Newcastle is just a shadow of what it once was. Long gone are the days of Alan Shearer!
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 21 2010, 02:28 AM
You guys have won the CL for Pete's sake, how many EPL clubs can say that. Though I don't foresee any immediate Champions League football for you guys now that Manchester City has literally bought their way into the top 4. Unless something drastic happens.5th or 6th!? On combined history I'd say 4th. But I'm not so deluded to say we're a big club, because we're not. We have a great history, with okay recent success and decent sized support, but it doesn't compare with big clubs like United, Arsenal or Liverpool.
But yeah, I think eventually we'll fall to 6th based on the way Chelsea and Man City will win a tonne with the money they've spent. I'll be happy with top 8 from now on, there's 4 teams way out of our league then we'll be competing with Spurs, Everton and Liverpool for the next 4 spots. Oh well, gotta be realistic.
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Sep 21 2010, 05:55 AM
I don't get this. I don't get this one bit. I'm on a Newcastle forum ok. Not like this one...where there's a 30 page discussion on the match and tactics...coz the people there actually live in Geordieland. Own tickets..go see the match..meet at Shearer's bar afterwards. So they don't need to partaaayyyyy online..like we geeks do.
Now I'm gonna assume that's your normal Toon fan demographic..and not ONE of them is saying we're a big club in terms of titles. But we are a big club in terms of prestige and history. Kinda like Sampdoria. Fans are proud of the club and what it stands for. We're not saying we're better than Man U or Madrid or Chelsea. We're not even saying we're better than Villa. Our target this season is to hopefully come between 12th and 15th.We'd love that.
Every single EPL fan knows of Newcastle. And it might be your natural bias speaking, but as a foreigner how come I knew of Newcastle before I knew of Villa. How come it's the same for every other person in far away Asia? Even acid supports my case...when he says Newcastle have 'fallen'. This must mean we were at heights not too long ago.
There was a time when Newcastle were everyone's second club...at least over here. You just hate us coz we're black......and white
EDIT: Sorry, I get emotional when that Peter Crouch wannabe talks about my club. 
Posted by: han2503 Sep 21 2010, 09:21 AM
There are a few teams that applies to, like Roma and until last season, Inter. Then there's Juventus, who really should have won as many titles as Milan have, and Chelsea from 2005 and onwards. But as we saw with Inter last season, even the teams who seem to bear a curse in the CL will get their hands on it sooner or later. It might be this year, it might be the next, it might be 5 or 10 years from now... but that trophy will be coming to the Emirates one day.
I agree, but then again, Juventus and Inter both won it in the past, while Chelsea, Arsenal and Roma have not, imo this puts even more pressure on the players to win their Club's first CL title.
Imo Arsenal had their chance in 06, and I think it will be really hard to go the distance again. Yes you have a great team, that's imo always the case with Arsenal. In 06 you faced the big teams played great defensive games and went through until that final where you were down a man practically from the start, since then Arsenal have crumbled at the do or die moments.
Arsenal for me are the only English team I tollerate, so if it had to be an English team then I would be happy it was you guys who did it, but I just can't see it happening.
For me, it's Chelsea's year this time around with Real coming in just behind them
@ Jack, the only reason New Castle are still relevant is because of the Goal movies
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Sep 21 2010, 09:33 AM
It's not New Castle..it's Newcastle. And shut up. You ever wonder why Santiago Munez played for Newcastle and not Aston Villa???
Posted by: han2503 Sep 21 2010, 09:37 AM
Who cares?
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Sep 21 2010, 09:53 AM
SCREW YOURSELF!!! 
Posted by: han2503 Sep 21 2010, 11:03 AM
Posted by: acid911 Sep 21 2010, 12:12 PM
But yeah, I think eventually we'll fall to 6th based on the way Chelsea and Man City will win a tonne with the money they've spent. I'll be happy with top 8 from now on, there's 4 teams way out of our league then we'll be competing with Spurs, Everton and Liverpool for the next 4 spots. Oh well, gotta be realistic.
That's the word, realistic. I was actually being humble, seeing as the little blue clubs are hot on your trail.
Surely the 4th best club is just about the correct ranking, if we consider combined history. You guys have won almost everything there is, and tasted all sorts of success (bar the small ones like UEFA Cup and Club World Cup I reckon). But like you put it yourself, unless something drastic happens soon, Villa will be safely tucked away at 5th and then 6th place. Which is okay I guess if you one takes a look at the big picture.And Jack, New Castle is still my third favorite club (at least in the EPL).
I'm with ya, matey!
Posted by: Locke Lamora Sep 21 2010, 04:16 PM
Imo Arsenal had their chance in 06, and I think it will be really hard to go the distance again. Yes you have a great team, that's imo always the case with Arsenal. In 06 you faced the big teams played great defensive games and went through until that final where you were down a man practically from the start, since then Arsenal have crumbled at the do or die moments.
Arsenal for me are the only English team I tollerate, so if it had to be an English team then I would be happy it was you guys who did it, but I just can't see it happening.
For me, it's Chelsea's year this time around with Real coming in just behind them
@ Jack, the only reason New Castle are still relevant is because of the Goal movies
I agree with pretty much everything you say, but I have to object to that. There's been a number of occaicions over the last seasons where you'd expect the mentality-frail Arsenal the media love to talk about would fold and fall apart, like prevailing against Roma on penalties in a truly hellish Olimpico, or inflicting a first-ever English defeat of AC Milan at San Siro.
Posted by: acid911 Sep 21 2010, 04:45 PM
As much as I like to believe otherwise, it was AC Milan itself that inflicted that defeat. Carlo in particular, when he decided to take things easy in the first leg, the players played like it was their first match together. And really, I saw that first Arsenal goal coming from miles away in the second half. We had a chance to gain the upper hand in London, didn't, were slacking in San Siro and got what we deserved.
To their credit Arsenal held their ranks and nerves, and played eye to eye, which was lovely to see. If Febregas hadn't scored towards the end, the outcome would have been different. But then again, if my aunt had been a man, she would be my uncle, LOL! So yeah, that's how it was. But the Roma win was epic, I must say. And there have been other glimpses of the Arsenal of old, if only for some fleeting moments.
Posted by: Locke Lamora Sep 21 2010, 04:55 PM
Carlo in particular, when he decided to take things easy in the first leg, the players played like it was their first match together. And really, I saw that first Arsenal goal coming from miles away in the second half. We had a chance to gain the upper hand in London, didn't, were slacking in San Siro and got what we deserved.To their credit Arsenal held their ranks and nerves, and played eye to eye, which was lovely to see. If Febregas hadn't scored towards the end, the outcome would have been different. But then again, if my aunt had been a man, she would be my uncle, LOL!
So yeah, that's how it was. But the Roma win was epic, I must say. And there have been other glimpses of the Arsenal of old, if only for some fleeting moments.So had we, when Adebayor hit the crossbar at the end of the match. I concede that that Milan side wasn't at the height of its powers by any means, but Milan at San Siro IS Milan at San Siro.
Posted by: han2503 Sep 21 2010, 06:58 PM
I agree that they achieved things that people woldn't have expected, but there have been those crumbling moments as well. I don't believe that Asenal were anywhere near as bad as Barca and Man U made them look in the last few years. Imo that was mental block more then anything.
And I see that you agree with the New Castle part as well...
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 21 2010, 07:53 PM
It's a pretty straight forward, two word, answer.
Sky Sports.
Although Villa did finish 2nd in the first EPL season, it was still starting out and English football in general was still suffering from it's European ban. A few years down the line though, the Premier League was being shown everywhere. Newcastle challenged United for the title on a few occassions whilst making a few FA Cup Finals to add. This is where their support comes from, they were the underdog to the dominant United so people wanted them to win and got a lot of support. Sky Sports usually show the teams that're doing well, so that's why most of Asia supports teams that've done well over the past decade or so.
Only to young fans have Newcastle 'fallen', the EPL has being going for 18 years and Newcastle have missed 2 of those because they weren't even in the top division, so they really aren't all that, any team that gets relegated isn't all that.
Posted by: Locke Lamora Sep 21 2010, 08:33 PM
Good old Spurs, 0-1 down and so they revert to just kicking whoever happens to have the ball. We've been running rings around them so far though, and nice to see Lansbury netting a goal (but we all know how Wenger never gives English youth a chance, don't we?)
Posted by: Locke Lamora Sep 21 2010, 10:25 PM
"We're bigger than Arsenal" 1-4 Arsenal. Lansbury, Nasri (2 pens) and Arshavin with the goals.
Tottenham did their best, which of course wasn't nearly enough, and their fans showed just how passionate they were by emptying the stadium in the break during extra time.
All in all, a respectable evening.
Posted by: han2503 Sep 21 2010, 10:30 PM
Tottenham did their best, which of course wasn't nearly enough, and their fans showed just how passionate they were by emptying the stadium in the break during extra time.
All in all, a respectable evening.
I thought the 2 pens were pretty soft. More often then not a ref wouldn't call those fouls, especially at such a crucial point in the match.
Having said that, Arsenal dominated from start to finish so it was well deserved
Posted by: Locke Lamora Sep 21 2010, 10:44 PM
The first may be discussed, the second was as clear-cut as you get them.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 22 2010, 01:13 AM
Watched it with an Arsenal mate, he was very happy. I've never seen a stadium empty like that with still 15 minutes to go.
Posted by: acid911 Sep 22 2010, 03:11 AM
Fair enough.
Congrats on the last match, though, comprehensively handing Tottenham their rear!
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Sep 22 2010, 05:58 AM
I don't really mind Spurs...but Redknapp and Allardyce piss me off. So good riddance.
Posted by: Locke Lamora Sep 22 2010, 02:00 PM
And these are the same people who love to tell us how soulless and boring the atmosphere at the Emirates is... I'll leave you with the following words to make a nice little sentence: Pot, kettle, shoot, barrel, fish.
Posted by: acid911 Sep 22 2010, 02:56 PM
"The pot is calling the kettle black.” + “Easy as shooting fish in a barrel.” Mix them both, I suppose?
Posted by: Locke Lamora Sep 22 2010, 03:41 PM
And that's 2 out of 2 for acid!
Posted by: acid911 Sep 22 2010, 04:30 PM
Thanks, mate! I'm the friendly neighborhood linguist in these parts of the woods, after all. And by the way, agree with you on both counts. EPL is sort of a league where one expects full houses. It's just the environment. I personally make sure I finish a movie until the credits, and sit a match till the last whistle.
I can understand a few guys leaving, 4-1, and all, but a substantial amount deserting when the team needs them the most. I've seen fans passionately cheering on their club (or NT) deep into injury time despite needing two goals to draw level. Either they are stupid, or well, let's leave it at that.
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Sep 22 2010, 04:49 PM
Blackpool. Beaten 4-0 in the first half..and they were cheering "Score one for us" or something like that.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 22 2010, 04:55 PM
Talking of EPL full houses, in the 2nd round, sha got 7,000 at home. I've seen us take more than that away, less than 10k at home for an EPL club is a bit poor.
Blackburn for us tonight, who we beat 7-4 in epic style in the SFs last season. I don't honestly care what the score is, after last season when we got robbed in both Cups at Wembley I have no intention of going through it again, though maybe if we keep going in about it the refs might even things out and win us the double!
Posted by: Locke Lamora Sep 22 2010, 04:56 PM
I'm the friendly neighborhood linguist in these parts of the woods, after all. And by the way, agree with you on both counts. EPL is sort of a league where one expects full houses. It's just the environment. I personally make sure I finish a movie until the credits, and sit a match till the last whistle.I can understand a few guys leaving, 4-1, and all, but a substantial amount deserting when the team needs them the most.
I've seen fans passionately cheering on their club (or NT) deep into injury time despite needing two goals to draw level. Either they are stupid, or well, let's leave it at that.Exactly. Whenever a home team is losing, a few fans will invariably walk off no matter which team, but when 3/4 of the stadium is empty (and the remaining wquarter being mostly Arsenal fans, that tells you everything you need to know.
Posted by: han2503 Sep 22 2010, 05:31 PM
Maybe they didn't want to miss their train/bus
Posted by: acid911 Sep 22 2010, 08:24 PM
Forget trains and buses, Newcastle just went 2-1 ahead of Chelsea in the 33rd minute!!! Scorching free kick from the edge of the box after a stupid foul. And what more, the men in the black and white are playing with immense passion. Go, go, go boys, hit them where the sun doesn't shine!
Posted by: acid911 Sep 22 2010, 08:57 PM
3-1. Get in! Just make it 4-1 guys, just to be on the safe side. 50 minutes in that game, by the way.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 22 2010, 10:07 PM
4-3 Newcastle, Chelsea had reserves out for the most part. We came from behind to best Blackburn 3-1, Liverpool currently losing 2-1 at home to Northampton in ET.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 22 2010, 10:40 PM
Liverpool lost 4-2 on pens. Chelsea, City, Spurs, Everton and Sunderland also out.
Posted by: acid911 Sep 22 2010, 11:22 PM
Weird day in EPL. Regularly scheduled transmission in Serie A (particularly our match). At least, the world is rotating. I actually had an overdose of sports today, and more than half of the matches went wrong. Oh well!
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Sep 23 2010, 05:57 AM
This one's for han...
Posted by: han2503 Sep 23 2010, 09:31 AM
This one's for han...AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Where does someone like that get the idea that it's perfectly ok to take off his shirt?
Oh right, only in England!
Posted by: acid911 Sep 25 2010, 02:26 PM
City leading Chelsea in the 80th minute. It's that man, Teven again, 1-0. Mancini's got Carlo's number, up until now. Let's see what the London club can do in the last ten of the match.
Posted by: acid911 Sep 25 2010, 02:43 PM
And it stays that way, Chelsea go down 1-0. Tevez is the man. Carlo still chewing down his gum, while Mancini will be devouring on a lollypop in the evening. One thing is certain, the dynamics of the EPL will change after this epic result. After two wins against the Londoners last year, mark another one today for Manchester City.
Posted by: elcordobez Sep 25 2010, 03:11 PM
Carlo still chewing down his gum, while Mancini will be devouring on a lollypop in the evening. One thing is certain, the dynamics of the EPL will change after this epic result. After two wins against the Londoners last year, mark another one today for Manchester City.It's always easier when your aim is to not lose.
City did defend really well but their attacking was poor and they capitalized on a mistake.
The referee sure let a lot of fouls go lol...I thought i was watching a rugby match the first half.
Posted by: acid911 Sep 25 2010, 03:33 PM
Yes, for a moment there I thought Chelsea would draw level, but good, solid defending from City. It was no way that 4-2 open affair like last season, but overall a good interesting match. One goal leads very often are, the other team comes up hard to equalize.
Posted by: elcordobez Sep 25 2010, 04:05 PM
It was no way that 4-2 open affair like last season, but overall a good interesting match. One goal leads very often are, the other team comes up hard to equalize.Especially when Drogba + Anelka are having an off day.
But boy the media are going to have a field day with this one.
Since the general narrative has been "Chelsea given easy fixtures"I still think they'll beat Arsenal though since they have a far weaker defense and don't quite have the same kind of muscle in midfield as man city.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 25 2010, 05:10 PM
Arsenal losing 3-2 at home to West Brom, 3-0 down at one point as well (and the Baggies missed a penalty). I hate the club, but credit where it's due, they've got 10 points from their first 6 games and have had to play Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool so far, as well as a derby game with sha.
Posted by: acid911 Sep 25 2010, 05:37 PM
True. Well as long as we get a hard fought EPL, I'm game. Tight challenge for the title, and close matches for the 4th position. When one invest a full year on a league, it is never a good sight for the neutrals to see title wins with 10-12 points between the first and second place teams. Fingers crossed we get a good show!
Posted by: MizNelson Sep 25 2010, 05:46 PM
So Mancini's new team beats Carlo's new team today. Egad, the irony.
Posted by: acid911 Sep 25 2010, 06:03 PM
LOL, it's been happening for the past year and half. Or maybe even more if we count their inter days! Mancini surely has got Carlo's number, maybe he has worked out Mr. Cigar.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 26 2010, 02:39 AM
Just noticed Ancelotti took Drogba off with 15 minutes to go when they're 1-0 down, what the hell?
Liverpool and Everton have a combined 1 win after 6 games each, that's just awful.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 26 2010, 04:06 PM
Bolton 2-2 United.
Wolves 1-2 Villa. Heskey with a late winner for derby victory #1!
With Dunne injured Carlossus Cuellar came in with a MotM performance, BEAST at the back today. Unfortunately the game was ruined a bit by yet another atrocious refereeing display, 6 games, 6 naff refs.
Posted by: acid911 Sep 26 2010, 04:32 PM
Yup, I was watching the MU match, and they were as pathetic as ever. 
SAF's days are numbered at this rate. Out of the last 22 matches against the 'Big 4', Bolton had taken 1 points out of the possible 66 - just one draw before this. And the fact that they took the lead twice in this match, and were it not for some magic by Owen they'd have lost this one as well. At no point did United deserve more than 1 point, and most of the match they deserved none.
And don't get me started on the 3-2 loss for Arsenal. Against West Brom of all clubs. Way to give Chelsea a fight.
Posted by: Locke Lamora Sep 26 2010, 04:43 PM
You know it's a bad weekend when Man U drawing to Bolton means they are the only top club to gain any ground in the race. I can't believe we still have Almunia in goal, the GK situation needs to be sorted out ASAP.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 26 2010, 04:47 PM
I do think Almunia is a joke, but Clichy seems to get worse every year too, their winger made a complete mess of him yesterday. Not sure how good Gibbs is going to be and if he's the right player, but you need a new LB to go with that keeper.
Posted by: acid911 Sep 26 2010, 04:48 PM
Almunia is my least favorite person in the Arsenal squad, if you ask me. 
He fudged the race last year too, and well, he is one lucky son of a gun to be in between the goal posts this season. The GK situation is a couple of years too late, I'm afraid, the club should have sorted it out way earlier.
As for the club gaining ground, it's just 1 stupid points for MU - they haven't won away this year up till now. Pretty bad. Either club could have been one point behind Chelsea, and after City were done with them, I sure was hopefully today. Bad day in the office for both clubs, if you ask me.
Posted by: Locke Lamora Sep 26 2010, 04:54 PM
On a lighter note, we've just reported some very positive financial results: http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/ivan-gazidis-on-the-financial-results
Posted by: kurtsimonw Sep 29 2010, 03:44 AM
So Adlene Guedioura suffered a broken leg against us at the weekend. It wasn't a horrible challenge, just a bit late, so didn't think it'd result in something this bad. Well done to Mick McCarthy for defending Sidwell over the challenge as clearly the intent was to get the ball. Hope he gets well soon.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 2 2010, 03:50 PM
HT Spurs 1-1 Villa.
Albrighton opened after great play from Heskey, van der Vaart equalises right before half-time. They got a corner that clearly wasn't a corner to score, but in a nice change the referee has actually done a good job so far in not falling for vdV's diving around the pitch all game long.
EDIT 2-1 Spurs, vdV again. Shame it looks like the refs only mistake of the game is one that's bloody cost us.
Posted by: acid911 Oct 3 2010, 03:12 PM
Jack is not gonna be pleased. Man City scores their second goal in the 77th to take the lead, 2-1. And against who? Newcastle. Both teams playing hard and fast, and well the referee is a crazy clown for eating a penalty or two. Good match, nonetheless.
Posted by: Locke Lamora Oct 3 2010, 03:58 PM
Liverpool 0-2 Balckpool HT.
Do I even need to comment on this?
Posted by: acid911 Oct 3 2010, 04:03 PM
No. But you need to comment on the clash of London-based titans.
An Arsenal win today against Chelsea, for me, would be even bigger than Milan's win against Parma. Very big game that.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 3 2010, 04:23 PM
Man City scores their second goal in the 77th to take the lead, 2-1. And against who? Newcastle. Both teams playing hard and fast, and well the referee is a crazy clown for eating a penalty or two. Good match, nonetheless.I hardly hide my hatred for Newcastle, but again, you have to wuestion how impartial the ref is, Newcastle should have won.
Posted by: CrazyMilanFan Oct 3 2010, 04:41 PM
and drogba scores
Posted by: I_Rossoneri Oct 3 2010, 05:06 PM
Apparently De Jong made another horrible tackle that has left Ben Arfa with a broken leg. De Jong didn't even get booked...
On a lighter note Liverfool 1-2 Blackpool
Posted by: acid911 Oct 3 2010, 05:12 PM
So very true, that last penalty that was not given was sheer criminal.
Blind referee that. There was another one earlier, but it was a good, hard fought match nonetheless.Yeah, the scourge of Arsenal.
They haven't learned how to contain him for 7 years running!
Posted by: samira Oct 3 2010, 06:13 PM
Wow, wtf has happend to Liverpool ?
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 4 2010, 01:53 AM
Gerrard has stopped single-handedly winning them games, their team has not been that good for quite some time now.
Thought Arsenal were unlucky today, Koscielny missed an easy chance, Drogba put his away, that and a bit of magic from Alex was the difference.
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Oct 4 2010, 06:01 AM
I hate Man City!! De Jong you fvckin cvnto.... Ben Arfa was starting to look good for the season. I was looking at a 10th place position with him in flow. Sh!t!!!!!
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 4 2010, 06:13 AM
6th - Baggies
7th - Stokies
9th - Blackpool..ies
15th - Newcastle
16th - sha
18th - Liverpool
lol
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Oct 4 2010, 06:18 AM
kurtiepoo..I love you...but I'ma take that league chart, roll it up, and I'll leave the rest to your imagination...
Posted by: elcordobez Oct 4 2010, 06:45 AM
On a lighter note Liverfool 1-2 Blackpool
EPL has it's own set of rules.
7 games in and already several broken legs,i don't mind refs letting the game flow but some games seem a bit like rugby at times.
Posted by: Locke Lamora Oct 4 2010, 12:04 PM
Was more dissapointed after yesterday's game than I usually am after a derby defeat, we could very esily have won this if we'd nailed 1 in 5 of the numerous chances we had. Good performance all around, the free kick from Alex would have gone in even if the offspring of Buffon and Casillas had been in goal. And Drogba... well, he has his own thing against us.
Not something that can be reasonably explained anyway.
Posted by: acid911 Oct 4 2010, 12:17 PM
Moral of the story Locke: At the end of the day I was gutted. At least Manchester City held them at bay!
Posted by: Locke Lamora Oct 4 2010, 01:16 PM
It still looks like they'll have another runaway season though, I don't remember the last tile I saw such a weak Man U side, possibly their 2004-2006 side. Liverpool are fading, City aren't powerful enough (yet), and I think we are somewhat on par with United, which should give a table something like this:
Chelsea
Manchester United
Arsenal
Manchester City
I'll be hoping for a Cup again, it seems...
Posted by: acid911 Oct 4 2010, 01:57 PM
Yeah, that was my main concern, seeing a fight to the title. Runaway, it seems it will be, unless either Chelsea shoot themselves in the foot somehow, or City catches up with them (they have the potential and a good coach).
I am severely disappointed in Man U though, I just hope this is somehow the last year of that old punk, SAF as their manager. He seem to have driven them to the ground, first by purchasing that over-hyped Belgian for a shipload of money, and then inflating Rooney as the best in the world (yeah, 1 penalty goal in what 7 matches). Liverpool seems to be indifferent now to their plight, not that I am complaining, they never have had much to show in the league this past decade. Arsenal, like you said, are at United's level, and somewhat contend to be there (the management that is).
Maybe business will pickup as the season progresses, but if it is a one-horse race again this year, I probably won't be following it too keenly. City have been good against big opponents, but it were the small sides that let them down last year. Long shot, and impossible as it is, but I'd love this table on May 22, 2011:
City
Chelsea
Arsenal
United
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 5 2010, 01:36 AM
7 games in and already several broken legs,i don't mind refs letting the game flow but some games seem a bit like rugby at times.
Not sure what you mean by 'different rules'? The fact that we don't punish Grade A tackles? If you call the ref out on the 2 penalty incidents he got wrong, fine, but De Jong made a tackle in which he got the ball and his foot didn't go in high. I fail to see anything wrong with the tackle at all. Was it unfortunate for Ben Arfa? Yes, but the fact no Newcastle player or member of staff even complained tells the whole story to be honest.
Posted by: elcordobez Oct 5 2010, 03:05 AM
What i mean by it's own set of rules is that refs in the EPL tend to give players more leeway to compete physically than in other leagues.Which isn't always a bad thing but it allows players to test the boundaries more often than not.
Is that the main reason though for all the broken legs?I don't know but it surely doesn't help.Gomez would have a broken leg if Carl Henry's challenge had connected completely.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/8040883/Hatem-Ben-Arfas-broken-leg-the-result-of-an-unnecessary-tackle-says-Chris-Hughton.html
not sure if you call that a "complaint" but they're not happy about it.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 5 2010, 03:53 AM
Henry's been doing that week in, week out, he's just a dirty player. He was sent off for it and that was the right decision.
As for the number of broken legs, it's simply down to luck. Freddie Bouma was out injured for 2 years with a big injury, nobody even touched him. The Eduardo and Ramsey injuries are just part of football, they're professionals who have very quick feet and even if you;re 0.1 of a second late, you can end up breaking someones leg. It doesn't mean there's any intent, you're just unlucky if you happen to end up with a broken leg. People are unable to react to a split second, so they can hardly stop themself. Cisse's leg break at Liverpool was nohing more than a tangle of legs between 2 players.
I prefer the physiucality of the league, it allows the game to flow and generally results in less diving.
not sure if you call that a "complaint" but they're not happy about it.
Hadn't seen that, but I have to ask what sport he thinks this is if he feels that was unnecesary? He was running inside the Man City half, what did he expect him to do, let Ben Arfa through on goal?
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 5 2010, 03:57 AM
(Double post, I know, I just don't like putting completely unrelated stuff in the same, long, post.)
By a sha fan..
'I hate to be negative but I've been saying for weeks he's (Zigic) a very poor man's Savo. The fans are starting to jeer any time he touches the ball. He looks like a deer in headlights, has nothing about him... at all and I fear he's gonna go even further into his shell. Doesn't win headers, usually doesn't even challenge for the ball. The latest chant is "he's 7 foot tall and doesn't win **** all".
Jerome is a good lad and the only player in the team that can run but has the worst touch in front of goal I've ever seen. And he's our lone striker. Carr is the best winger we've got right now and he's a 40 yr old right back. McFadden is out for months and Bowyer is really starting to look past it.
McLeish is a stubborn ******* and refuses to change from the 4-5-1, the sleep-enducing ultra-defensive tactics and the picking of players like Fahey. Someone on the forum yesterday said, "memo to McLeish: why not try 4-6-0 and kick the ball into the stands every time we get it?" Relegation is not out of the question, the fans are starting to turn and there's just a bad feeling about it all.
PS: **** Mark Lawrenson for calling Blues fans idiots for booing. Yes we've had a great unbeaten run but we've won 2 in 17, haven't scored at home for 3 games and play literally the most boring football I have ever seen from any team'
They're back..
Posted by: elcordobez Oct 5 2010, 05:00 AM
As for the number of broken legs, it's simply down to luck. Freddie Bouma was out injured for 2 years with a big injury, nobody even touched him. The Eduardo and Ramsey injuries are just part of football, they're professionals who have very quick feet and even if you;re 0.1 of a second late, you can end up breaking someones leg. It doesn't mean there's any intent, you're just unlucky if you happen to end up with a broken leg. People are unable to react to a split second, so they can hardly stop themself. Cisse's leg break at Liverpool was nohing more than a tangle of legs between 2 players.
I prefer the physiucality of the league, it allows the game to flow and generally results in less diving.
Hadn't seen that, but I have to ask what sport he thinks this is if he feels that was unnecesary? He was running inside the Man City half, what did he expect him to do, let Ben Arfa through on goal?
WOW that's alot of unlucky players
and those that you talk about are all very recent.But i still stick to my referees theory i don't believe there are that many unlucky players in one league.I think EPL has created circumstances where these things can happen frequently.
Like i said there are benefits in that it's more flowing football and a good spectacle i actually hope this happens more in Italy,but trying to clamp down on diving is one thing but i don't accept that leg breaking should be "a part of football".
And you CAN be a good defender without breaking legs it just takes a bit more discipline.I think it's a cop out to simply suggest it necessary to risk injuring opponents in order to be effective,it's the lazy solution imo.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 5 2010, 05:31 AM
and those that you talk about are all very recent.What I find funny is that De Jong makes a top class tackle and everybody on Earth is up in arms about how the Premier League allows horrific tackles. Sidwell breaks a Wolves players leg last weekend in what wasn't a good tackle and nobody even so much as mentions it. People just jump on the bandwagon when they feel like it.
People react far, far too much to the outcome of an incident, rather than the incident itself. If Ben Arfa's leg hadn't broke, would anyone have said ANYTHING about the tackle at all? Not a chance, if Ben Arfa's leg didn't get stuck under De Jong, it wouldn't have broke and nobody would have said a thing, despite it essentially being the exact same tackle.
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Oct 5 2010, 05:51 AM
I also imagine the memory of De Jong's kung fu kick is fresh in memory too. That kick on Xabi Alonso was inside the Netherlands half. What was he supposed to do, let Xabi have space to shoot?
But then again..I was supporting Holland and I dislike Alonso, so at that time I cheered.
Posted by: elcordobez Oct 5 2010, 06:09 AM
People react far, far too much to the outcome of an incident, rather than the incident itself. If Ben Arfa's leg hadn't broke, would anyone have said ANYTHING about the tackle at all? Not a chance, if Ben Arfa's leg didn't get stuck under De Jong, it wouldn't have broke and nobody would have said a thing, despite it essentially being the exact same tackle.
Bandwagon against leg breakers.
Well count me in.
My comments have nothing to do with De Jongs tackle actually i made the same comment regarding the Chelsea - ManCity game where Man City were allowed to literally rugby tackle players to the ground and the ref quite happily let play flow.No incidents in that game.
You said yourself you enjoy the physicality of the EPL it's quite well documented there's no "bandwagon" to jump on it's simply bringing up a point that's been made over the years.
What i'm saying is that the refs are clearly allowing this "physical" play and it has obvious consequences therefore you have to expect people to be "Up in arms" about it from time to time when the injuries inflicted are frequent and serious.
Come on man,you sound like a reasonable guy,you don't have to always blindingly defend the EPL,i enjoy watching it too as a neutral.I'd think that reducing these incidents would improve the league no?Surely breaking legs can't be acceptable practice.
And getting more of a player than the ball is never a good tackle but that's my opinion.Wasn't the Zamora incident from a similar tackle..trailing leg etc..and no foul...?
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Oct 5 2010, 07:21 AM
Here we go kurt:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=829975&sec=euro2012&cc=5901 Look..just bow down and accept I'm right (er) than you are.
Posted by: elcordobez Oct 5 2010, 07:25 AM
But then again..I was supporting Holland and I dislike Alonso, so at that time I cheered.
This one is worse than the kung fu imo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQbTu1wS4Gg
Posted by: Zed.D Oct 5 2010, 01:50 PM
When you tackle on your opponent like that there's as much chance of injuring them or even breaking their legs as there is of getting the ball. and De Jong tends to more injure people than execute 'top class' tackles. Maldinis and Nestas and Puyols made/make top class tackles not this reckless scumbag.
I think you are 100% correct.
One just can't attribute so many broken legs to bad luck. I think EPL's physicality combined in its fast paced play results in these injuries. La Liga is as fast-paced as EPL (if not more) but these things rarely happen because they don't play physically. Serie A on the other hand is very physical but, in comparison to EPL, slower-paced therefore there are many injuries, but far fewer serious injuries such as then ones happen so frequently in EPL.
Haha if this was only a joke, but come on Jack, this is not funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQbTu1wS4Gg
Nonono, it can't be. kicking someone in the chest like that can be 'really' dangerous - even life threatening.
Posted by: Tennie Oct 5 2010, 02:32 PM
Last I heard, scissors tackles were illegal.
Posted by: acid911 Oct 5 2010, 03:43 PM
This here is the magic word.
Everything else comes secondary, a brainless insect like De Jong can really hurt or kill the other player if he is keeps on doing this shtick. A sportsman leg and thigh muscles already are developed to superhuman level, couple that with their killer footwear, a kick that like that to the heart, and I dread to think what happens. It is another matter entirely if the other player is expecting the move, as in freestyle combat or the scripted WWE circus. Unintentional can be let gone, but serial criminals like the Dutch signal of Death should not go unpunished. At least an year ban for the first offense, and more for the second.
So very true.
There should be no exceptions!
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Oct 5 2010, 03:54 PM
Nonono, it can't be. kicking someone in the chest like that can be 'really' dangerous - even life threatening.
If that was Pirlo I'd want De Jong to be behind bars....but I did see the 'kick' and it was more of an outstretched leg from the leap and not really an intentional boot to the chest. If it had been, Alonso would be on the ground spitting blood.
It's almost a copy of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs88nvpF_gw. Watch Drogs do his 'shot by a firing squad' impression. But what I mean is that when you run onto a really strong outstretched leg, you'll hurt a lot less than if you're getting kicked. But yes..it hurts like a *****..and if it were me, I'd be crying and calling for my mother.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 5 2010, 05:04 PM
Then you've clearly not seen my posts in this thread.
vs West Ham: Awful ref.
vs Newcastle: Awful ref.
vs Everton: Awful ref.
vs Stoke: Can he even be called a ref?
vs Bolton: You can just about call this guy competent.
vs Wolves: Joke of a ref.
vs Spurs: Competent, but made big mistake.
I'd hardly call that blindly defending the Premier League.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=829975&sec=euro2012&cc=5901
Look..just bow down and accept I'm right (er) than you are. I fail to see what that's got to do with anything? He's been slagged off since the World Cup for anti-football and De Jong is the biggest culprit of this 'anti-football', makes sense to me.
Good thing De Jong didn't make a scissors tackle then.
The ball was in front of Ben Arfa, De Jongs left leg came in and took the ball with making any contact with Ben Arfa. His right leg hit the side of Ben Arfa's leg, but due to Ben Arfa's studs getting caught, it broke his leg.
Like I said though, everybody is jumping on the bandwagon now. If this was an isolated thing and everybody bought it up, fine. But it's nothing more than a case of guilty before proven innocent, just because he has a reputation. If it wasn't De Jong, nobody would have even said anything - Sidwell breaking a leg last weekend and nobody so much as mentioning it proves this. The evidence gains even more strength on the fact that Sidwell's tackle was terrible, while De Jong's was within the laws of the game. It also puts my 'defending the EPL' myth to bed because not only am I criticising Sidwell, but he's a Villa player.
I'm more concerned with Fellaini and Tim Cahill getting away with elbowing people in the face week in, week out.
Posted by: Ry4n Oct 5 2010, 07:23 PM
Like I said though, everybody is jumping on the bandwagon now. If this was an isolated thing and everybody bought it up, fine. But it's nothing more than a case of guilty before proven innocent, just because he has a reputation. If it wasn't De Jong, nobody would have even said anything - Sidwell breaking a leg last weekend and nobody so much as mentioning it proves this. The evidence gains even more strength on the fact that Sidwell's tackle was terrible, while De Jong's was within the laws of the game. It also puts my 'defending the EPL' myth to bed because not only am I criticising Sidwell, but he's a Villa player.
I'm more concerned with Fellaini and Tim Cahill getting away with elbowing people in the face week in, week out.
I watched it and didn't think it was a bad tackle , the premiership has always been known for hard tackling Ronaldo became a greater player he got built up , from a scrawny kid from madeira he learnt to deal with the hard tackles
some may say to his advantage sometimes
, But thats the premiership Serie A has had some heavy tackling remember Van Basten , Ronaldo.... of course not so much now
Posted by: samira Oct 5 2010, 07:42 PM
I can't believe it.. De Jong has done it like 3 times this year, broke Ben Afras leg in two places and a dutch guy called him an animal and crazy , Can't find the video
Posted by: Tennie Oct 5 2010, 08:17 PM
Funny, we must've watched a different game then. Sure looked like a scissors challenge to me. I can't believe you're even trying to defend this, Kurt.
Posted by: Locke Lamora Oct 5 2010, 09:32 PM
vs West Ham: Awful ref.
vs Newcastle: Awful ref.
vs Everton: Awful ref.
vs Stoke: Can he even be called a ref?
vs Bolton: You can just about call this guy competent.
vs Wolves: Joke of a ref.
vs Spurs: Competent, but made big mistake.
I'd hardly call that blindly defending the Premier League.
No, I'd call that blindly defending your own team.
Posted by: MizNelson Oct 6 2010, 01:18 AM
I'd say he's close to indefensible at this point considering this is his second such incident in less than one year.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 6 2010, 03:25 AM
Then clearly we were watching a different game, I'm leaving it there.
Really? I've said all but 2 of the refs were awful. The 2 refs I didn't say were awful had the games end Villa 1-1 Bolton and Spurs 2-1 Villa. Think you're a little off the mark here, Locke.
Posted by: Zed.D Oct 6 2010, 10:19 AM
2nd? beside that infamous kung fu kick, he's apparently broken 2 legs in 2010 so far... I'm sure there are plenty of other rough challenges as well, like the one elcordobez posted.
He has to change his style or the psychological effect of all the blame and criticism will get to him sooner or later and ruin his career. he wasn't dropped from the NT for no reason...
Does it matter if he does these things intentionally? I'm not sure if he does tbh. he's rough by nature. I invite to carefully watch that kung fu kick once again and pay more attention to Xabi's back this time (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CexJn5kg-90&feature=related). I think you'll see how outrageous that kick was!
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 8 2010, 08:13 AM
And the Belarus international risked angering his new manager even further by attacking his long-ball approach.
Hleb completed a shock loan move to St Andrew’s from Barcelona just before the summer transfer window slammed shut.
His capture was heralded as a major coup by McLeish, given the midfielder’s proven European pedigree.
But the former Arsenal star could have some explaining to do when he returns from international duty after admitting life in Birmingham has come as a massive culture shock.
Hleb, who is preparing for Euro 2012 qualifiers against Luxembourg and Albania, said: “I’m not quite happy with the level of the team, but such things do happen. It’s just life.
“I did tell the papers that Birmingham is not exactly Barcelona or Arsenal.
In the recent Birmingham games there was a lot of struggle – they were constantly hoofing the long ball forward.” The 29-year-old excelled under Arsene Wenger’s attractive style, with his displays enhancing his reputation as one of the continent’s most potent attacking midfielders, bagging him a dream move to the Nou Camp.
But despite the Catalans’ offensive approach, Hleb flopped in Spain and boss Pep Guardiola sent him out on loan to Stuttgart – the club where he first made his name – at the back end of last season.
But Hleb admits he longs to play sexy football again, saying: “Naturally I miss the combinational and creative football by Arsenal and Barca, but that was my own choice.
“The Birmingham style is not the kind of game I dreamed about.
“It is good that now I have a lot of time on the pitch, but I want to play football of a different kind.”
However, Hleb insists he is 100 per cent committed to the St Andrew’s cause and insists he is willing to drop his footballing principles to make a go of it.
He said: “Birmingham is more a team of fighters, but now I need to get used to their manner of playing.
“But as a whole everything suits me now – a good manager and fine relations with my team-mates.”
This is why everything about the club is retarded. Are people at this club honestly offended that he thinks they're a step backwards from Arsenal and Barcelona?
Why would you sign Hleb if you're never going to use him? He's probably the 2nd best playe rin the clubs entire history and they're not playing to his strengths? Stupidity +1.
Posted by: X-Offender Oct 8 2010, 01:51 PM
He should have never left Arsenal in the first place. That was his mistake.
Posted by: Locke Lamora Oct 8 2010, 02:39 PM
I remember all these twats who left, flopped and are now churning out mediocre careers at mediocre clubs, and I freely admit to a healthy portion of Schadenfruede... the best one had to be Aliadiere leaving for Middlesbrough, claiming he went from a club on its way down to join a club on it's way up... well, a CL semi-final for us and relegation for him didn't exactly prove him right.
@Kurt, who is their best ever player then? Just curious.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 8 2010, 05:34 PM
Trevor Francis.
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Oct 11 2010, 07:11 AM
Alan Curbishley!!
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 11 2010, 05:22 PM
He was pretty good for them, then crossed the city to join a team that became English and European Champions in his short stay.
Posted by: elcordobez Oct 13 2010, 11:13 AM
I had a peak @ the Liverpool saga and...
10.49am: Mr Justice Floyd: "The owners do not have an absolute right to veto a sale."
10.50am: The injunction means the board is reconstituted with Purslow and Ayre back in place and Broughton allowed to see through the sale, reports Sachin Nakrani
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/oct/13/liverpool-sale-high-court-verdict-live
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Oct 13 2010, 12:51 PM
W00t. Liverpool gets new owners..and Hodgson gets a chance again. Now let's see if they can knock United off their perch.
Posted by: William405 Oct 13 2010, 01:24 PM
Nice!Did I tell you that I'm a liverpool fan also .Most people will hate me for it,I feel this is an anti-liverpool forum.
Posted by: Jack Sparrow Oct 13 2010, 01:25 PM
Istanbul is not easily forgotten. Despite Athens!
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 13 2010, 02:37 PM
Great, so a completely mismanaged club who spent themselves into stupid debt won't be punished, there is a God.
What a joke.
Posted by: I_Rossoneri Oct 13 2010, 05:17 PM
What a joke.
Would this have happened if they weren't a top 4(6
) side? I doubt it very much...On a different note and not related to the EPL but has anyone seen Chris Maguire's wonder goal for Scotland under 21 v Iceland? If not here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MRa8BbeAuo&feature=related
Posted by: William405 Oct 13 2010, 05:55 PM
Owow,what a goal.Is he good at long shots usually?
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 16 2010, 08:41 AM
Well, Kobe Bryant predicted Villa to beat Chelsea 1-0 today, so I suppose we'll lose as karma for me slagging Kobe off all the time.
The past decade of results we've had at home against them..
2009/10: Villa 2-1 Chelsea
2008/09: Villa 0-1 Chelsea
2007/08: Villa 2-0 Chelsea
2006/07: Villa 0-0 Chelsea
2005/06: Villa 1-1 Chelsea
2004/05: Villa 0-0 Chelsea
2003/04: Villa 3-2 Chelsea - Cup: Villa 2-1 Chelsea
2002/03: Villa 2-1 Chelsea
2001/02: Villa 1-1 Chelsea
2000/01: Villa 1-1 Chelsea
5 wins, 5 draws, 1 loss. Can't see us keeping this kind of run up forever. There's been 24 goals in the past 6 meetings between the teams, so ESPN expects a goal fest. If there is alot of goals, we'll get hammered, because we can't score.
Posted by: Jack Bauer Oct 16 2010, 03:06 PM
Chelsea are without Lampard and Drogba. Of course they are still the better team, but you have a good chance to surprise them, especially at Villa Park.
Posted by: Darunia Oct 16 2010, 03:51 PM
1-1 Birmingham City - Arsenal at HT.
Good header by Zigic and then Arsenal gets a penalty from what looks like a dive by Chamakh.
Posted by: Locke Lamora Oct 16 2010, 04:16 PM
Considering both Man U and Spurs look like drawing, a win today would be splendid. Creds to Wst Brom for fighting back from 0-2 at Old Trafford.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 16 2010, 07:33 PM
0-0. I'll take it.
Reo-Coker missed a great chance to win it at the end, but so did Anelka for Chelsea so I can't complain. Not a bad days work considered we had 4 first teamers out ourself (with Dunne also gong off inured early), so the Chelsea injury excuse doesn't really hold ater for this one.
Yet again a poor ref though, he booked players for the sake of it. The young Chelse lad that came on got booked for a great tackle in hich he won the ball, but Beye jumped into him. How that's even a foul is beyond me, forget a yellow card.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 16 2010, 11:13 PM
As I said in a previous debate, injuries are 100% down to luck. Jack Wilshire went in, studs up, on Zigic' ankle today and had his studs been planted, you'd be looking at another Eduardo incident, his studs weren't planted so Zigic got lucky.
Be interesting to see Arsenal fans try and defend this one after all the crap they gave Taylor and Shawcross.
Posted by: Locke Lamora Oct 17 2010, 12:15 AM
Wilshere - I will learn from red card
Jack Wilshere admits he deserved to be sent off against Birmingham on Saturday but has vowed to learn from the incident.
The Arsenal midfielder received a straight red card in the dying minutes at Emirates Stadium following a challenge on Nikola Zigic.
The 19-year-old was contrite when he spoke to Arsenal.com afterwards but he will still be punished with a three-game domestic ban.
“I just want to say that I mistimed the challenge on Zigic and accept that I deserved to be sent off,” said Wilshere.
“I have no complaints about getting the red card and I will learn from this. I’m missing three matches now which I’m really disappointed about, but I just want to say that I deserved the red card.”
Wenger: 'Jack said he deserved the red card'
on Jack Wilshere's red card...
He mistimed his tackle and he got the red card he deserved. But it was his first tackle in the game and you have to acknowledge that he got a red card and he deserved it but he didn't spend the whole game kicking people. He played football and was one of the best players on the football pitch. Unfortunately it happened to him but I think it was more frustration. He didn't want to harm the player - he mistimed his tackle. We do not complain about his red card but you cannot say he had a dirty game.
on raising the issue of tackling with his players...
Of course I will. You know we are the team who has the most fouled committed against them. I encourage my players to play football but we got a red card we deserved and what can we do about it? Nothing else. Wilshere will be suspended for three games and he will be punished.
on what Jack said about the challenge...
He said he mistimed his tackle and touched him on the ankle and deserved the red card
Posted by: Locke Lamora Oct 17 2010, 12:17 AM
Jack Wilshere admits he deserved to be sent off against Birmingham on Saturday but has vowed to learn from the incident.
The Arsenal midfielder received a straight red card in the dying minutes at Emirates Stadium following a challenge on Nikola Zigic.
The 19-year-old was contrite when he spoke to Arsenal.com afterwards but he will still be punished with a three-game domestic ban.
“I just want to say that I mistimed the challenge on Zigic and accept that I deserved to be sent off,” said Wilshere.
“I have no complaints about getting the red card and I will learn from this. I’m missing three matches now which I’m really disappointed about, but I just want to say that I deserved the red card.”
Wenger: 'Jack said he deserved the red card'
on Jack Wilshere's red card...
He mistimed his tackle and he got the red card he deserved. But it was his first tackle in the game and you have to acknowledge that he got a red card and he deserved it but he didn't spend the whole game kicking people. He played football and was one of the best players on the football pitch. Unfortunately it happened to him but I think it was more frustration. He didn't want to harm the player - he mistimed his tackle. We do not complain about his red card but you cannot say he had a dirty game.
on raising the issue of tackling with his players...
Of course I will. You know we are the team who has the most fouled committed against them. I encourage my players to play football but we got a red card we deserved and what can we do about it? Nothing else. Wilshere will be suspended for three games and he will be punished.
on what Jack said about the challenge...
He said he mistimed his tackle and touched him on the ankle and deserved the red card
Arsenal.com
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 17 2010, 11:25 AM
Good to see Jack and Wenger using common sense. I wonder if the Arsenal fans will be labellin ghim 'disgrace to football'? I think not.
Merseyside deby on today, so important for both of them.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 17 2010, 02:26 PM
HT Everton 1-0 Liverpool, Cahill.
What're you going to hide behind with Hicks and Gillett gone, Liverpool fans? God forbid you just admit you're ****.
EDIT: 2-0, Arteta!
Posted by: han2503 Oct 17 2010, 02:50 PM
What're you going to hide behind with Hicks and Gillett gone, Liverpool fans? God forbid you just admit you're ****.
EDIT: 2-0, Arteta!
lool
Posted by: Locke Lamora Oct 17 2010, 09:40 PM
And by the way, the Birmingham game was Wenger's game number 800 as Arsenal manager. So there.
Posted by: MizNelson Oct 17 2010, 10:48 PM
What're you going to hide behind with Hicks and Gillett gone, Liverpool fans? God forbid you just admit you're ****.
EDIT: 2-0, Arteta!
This makes my day. Thanks, Kurt.
Posted by: kurtsimonw Oct 20 2010, 06:00 PM
Amidst the Rooney to Man City speculation, there was a list of the Premier League's top 10 earners in one of the papers.
1. Y Toure (£200K) - Manchester City
2. Balotelli (£180K) - Manchester City
3. Terry (£151K) - Chelsea
4. Lampard (£150K) - Chelsea
5. Adebayor, (£140K) - Manchester City
6. Tevez (£140K) - Manchester City
7. Gerrard( £130K) - Liverpool
8. K Touré (£120K - Manchester City
9. Barry (£120K) - Manchester City
10. Torres (£110K) -Liverpool
They are all obscene amounts of money, but at least in the case of Gerrard, Lampard and Terry they have earned their way up the money ladder. Terry and Gerrard started out as trainees at the clubs, Lampard played well enough at West Ham to earn his move to Chelsea pre-Roman.
For the rest, it's their first contract at the club and it's ridiculous money. The top 2 are the most shocking, Yaya is pretty average and Balo hasn' even been around long enough to have done anything to earn that much!
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