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[psycho_snake]

The situation at arsenal has revealed the lack of quality some players have - rosicky, hleb, baptista, et al...they just aren't the kind of quality, consistency, and killer players that arsenal need if they want to be up there in England and Europe. Yesterday was awful

Rosicky has been ok. The other two players you mentioned are shit though. Hleb is so frustrating to watch and thats coming from a united fan. Just when you think that he's done enough to set up a goal, he ****s it up. At times its like he's passing with a blindfold.

 

[Cornballer]

I read an Arsenal blog this morning that mentioned the front six for Arsenal against Everton have scored 3 goals in 69 Premiership starts this season. Ouch.

 

[Mama Smurf]

See this is my point, in your best 11 theres 5 that have never performed consistently at international level.

-------------------------Foster---------------------

G Neville----Ferdinand-------Terry-------A Cole

Lennon-------Lampard----Hargreaves----J Cole

----------------Rooney--------Owen--------------

*-*this close to adding Rooney.

At some point you have to stop blaming the coach and admit that they just aren't as good as their club sides make them look.

I wont even get into the balance of this 11 because we'd be here all day.

Well let's be fair to Foster, he hasn't performed consistently at international level because he's barely had a game.

I disagree with the others. Ashley Cole hasn't performed consistently for England? That's so harsh. He was one of our best players during the World Cup and has been absolutely magnificent for us.

Lennon made England much more dangerous than Beckham did during the WC and, thanks to injuries, has only played in 3 England games since, all of which were sub appearances thanks to McClaren insisting on playing Gerrard on the right, and we won all those games anyway. He's not been invovled in any fot he terrible times.

Lampard had a bad World Cup in terms of finishing, but apart from that I think he's been extremely strong for England. Especially given how often he and Gerrard had to share the work in the middle of the park and neither of them could play the game they liked. I did a stats thing ages ago, it's probably in this thread, which showed just how important Lampard has been for England and how many goals he's gotten. Playing in this side, I think he would be safe to go forwards as much as he does for Chelsea.

Now Joe Cole I actually agree sometimes has bad games for England. He's either really important or he's not on his game at all. Most of the time he's the former, thankfully, but when he's not it's a problem. What team doesn't have a player like that though?

I'll start blaming the players when we have a top manager who plays the right team in the right positions in the right way and they still don't do well.

 

[kaizoku]

Yeah, Lampard over Gerrard for me. I disagree that he's a poor passer, but I actually want him to play more foward for England. Hargreaves and our defence form one of the best defensive units in the world, Lampard can risk going forward a lot more than he does. I don't blame him, the England managers don't give him the same role that Chelsea do. He's gotten a lot of goals for England as it is, but I want even more. I know his finishing was bad during the world cup, but that's not standard and he was the one who got in those positions to have the chance to miss those chances. In his normal finishing form he could easily have gotten 4 or 5 goals in that tournament, he kept getting in there.

I've never been impressed by Carrick in an England shirt. Kind of like Ian Wright up front, I'm constantly impressed by him in the league, then he plays for England and I spend the game yelling at him and telling him he's no Hargreaves. Never pays any attention, guess he can't hear me.

For me, England need to play high tempo. It's the only way we know...well, we can play ultra defensively when put under the kosh too, but what we can't do is play a technical passing game. We don't play that in the Premiership and, aside from one player, everyone's from the Premiership so it's no surprise they can't do it. We need to play a high line, we need to press teams into mistakes, we need Lampard playing further forwards, we need to take more risks Ferdinand bringing the ball out of defence so our midfield can push up even higher or out full backs overlapping, particularly A Cole as he's the only left footer...we cannot slow down or drop back so our midfield is behind the halfway line.

Hard work and high tempo...it's the English way. We can try and play like Brazil or Italy or Spain, but we'll fail because we're not Brazil or Italy or Spain. Just as they'd fail trying to play the English way, not that they're stupid enough to try and be a nation they're not.

Carrick has barely played in comparison to Lampard/Gerrard but I would say he has looked better than them anytime he has played. Not that he has been great but they've been that bad, its no good playing with speed etc if all you do is run into dead ends or keep givnig the ball away, chase it back and give it away again.

Lampard struggles in a 4-4-2, simple as that.

J.Cole and Lennon are potentially good but I dont like what they bring to teams atm, its not a good blend otherwise I'd be comfortable playing a 4-3-3, as it is I dont think they're up to the job.

That said some of the opposition England face they should be winning no matter who plays. But they dont because there is no cohesion or composure. The tactics are your standard 4-4-2, everyone should be able to do it. But for years now England have relied on individual brilliance from either Beckham, Rooney, Gerrard, Owen etc. It makes me so glad I support a competent football club that can play proper football.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Carrick has barely played in comparison to Lampard/Gerrard but I would say he has looked better than them anytime he has played. Not that he has been great but they've been that bad, its no good playing with speed etc if all you do is run into dead ends or keep givnig the ball away, chase it back and give it away again.

Really don't see this. They're in different positions anyway, it's never going to come down to Carrick or one of those two. It's Carrick or Hargreaves and there's no debate on that one.

Lampard struggles in a 4-4-2, simple as that.

I disagree, he struggles when he's not allowed to play his game, like when he's alongside Gerrard. Even when struggling, I believe he was England top scorer in qualifying for the WC (I'd have to check that).

J.Cole and Lennon are potentially good but I dont like what they bring to teams atm, its not a good blend otherwise I'd be comfortable playing a 4-3-3, as it is I dont think they're up to the job.

Well, I disagree again. I think Chelsea have been hurt this season with Cole out and, along with Berbatov, Lennon is the guy who makes Spurs dangerous. If you just eman for England, they both impress me, except on Cole's off days (as I said to Ghost).

That said some of the opposition England face they should be winning no matter who plays. But they dont because there is no cohesion or composure. The tactics are your standard 4-4-2, everyone should be able to do it. But for years now England have relied on individual brilliance from either Beckham, Rooney, Gerrard, Owen etc. It makes me so glad I support a competent football club that can play proper football.

We should certainly be beating ****ing Macedonia at home...

 

[psycho_snake]

It's worth remembering too that outside of 4 or 5 players, the squad is pretty shit. Central midfield is the only area where you can say we should be world beaters (maybe central defence too), we have 5 or 6 world class players but most of them dont fit in the same team. You cant blame Maclaren for Peter Crouch being Englands only fit target man, or how substandard every wide player in the squad is.

I think its the opposite. the porblme is that we've got too many star players and that has created a "real madrid" atmosphere, which is a team that has got the best players in the world that play like shit together. The porblem with the managers we've had is that they are not strong enough to drop a top player for someone who will fit into the team better. This is the problem with lampard and gerrard. They're both excellent players, but they just cant play together. McClown should drop one of them for hargreaves, but it isnt going to happen. Hargreave will add a better balance. We'll have a central midfield pairing where one player can defend and the other attacks. Not only will it help the team play better, but you're going to see better performances from lamps and gerrard because they both want to play, so they'll raise their game to make sure that they are the first choice midfield.

Ive just been talking about midfield but the rest of the first team contenders are full of quality. Rio and tery are a solid defence. Ashley cole is one of the best left backs in the world. Gary Neville never does anything special, but he's very consistant. Joe cole is really good; he's got quick feet and can get past people. Lennon is getting better and batter. If david beckham is recalled one day we'll have a winger who can deliver good balls if the fast wingers are not having a good day. Upfront we might have a problem. otther than rooney no one else is world class.

Yeah, Lampard over Gerrard for me. I disagree that he's a poor passer, but I actually want him to play more foward for England. Hargreaves and our defence form one of the best defensive units in the world, Lampard can risk going forward a lot more than he does. I don't blame him, the England managers don't give him the same role that Chelsea do. He's gotten a lot of goals for England as it is, but I want even more. I know his finishing was bad during the world cup, but that's not standard and he was the one who got in those positions to have the chance to miss those chances. In his normal finishing form he could easily have gotten 4 or 5 goals in that tournament, he kept getting in there.

Sometimes I think mnaybe it was down to Lampards fatigue that we never did well enough in the world cup. I dont believe for a second that he doesnt care about his country. There isnt an issue about his work ethic. he doesnt do half as much running as gerrard, but if you put him a position where he can receieve the ball and shoot he'll do a good job. We've seen him as one of the top ten goalscorers in the last three seasons including this one, so it goes to show that he's doing something right. I really dont know what happened to him at the world cup. he had more shots than anyone, but they were not going in. If some of those shots went in then maybe we would have done better. lampard had more tan enough shots to score a couple, yet he couldnt get one goal. Yoiu cant blame the formation, because he got into positions where he could get the ball and he had more shots than any other midfielder. His positioning was right, but he just couldnt score.

 

[psycho_snake]

Lampard struggles in a 4-4-2, simple as that.

This arguement isnt good. As a midfielder, lampards biggest strength is goalscoring. In the last two seasosn he's scored more than twenty. so far this season he's scored 20, so it shows that positioning doesnt make much of a difference to his goalscoring.

 

[Mama Smurf]

I still quite like the idea of the formation I came up with after the World Cup. I think it'd be fantastic if we could play enough games to get used to it, but maybe it'd be too hard to adapt to as no one in the Premiership plays like this:

---------------------Foster--------------------

---Carragher----Ferdinand------Terry------

------------------Hargreaves-----------------

Lennon---------------------------------A Cole

----------Gerrard-----------Lampard--------

--------------Rooney--------------------------

------------------------Owen------------------

I don't know if any of you remember this, it was ages ago.

There are some main beneifts. Both Gerrard and Lampard can play without hurting each other's game or being out of position, as there's a defensive midfielder. It takes advantage of our strongest position, central defence, with top guys. The balance of the team is good.

The main problems are the wings. Good because we have right and left footers, but bad because they have a lot of running to do. However, that's fine, we have Bridge, J Cole and Dyer etc to come on as subs when those guys get tired.

It's very adaptable too. If we're under a lot of pressure, particularly down the wings, it's simple for Carragher to slot over to right back, A Cole to move right back to left back rather than just half being there and we can go to a usual 4 in midfield. Then, when we have the ball, we have the players to burst forwards.

I reckon the only problem with this formation (aside from the one I said at the start) is the strength of depth up front, which I really can't do anything about no matter what.

 

[kaizoku]

Really don't see this. They're in different positions anyway, it's never going to come down to Carrick or one of those two. It's Carrick or Hargreaves and there's no debate on that one.

I disagree, he struggles when he's not allowed to play his game, like when he's alongside Gerrard. Even when struggling, I believe he was England top scorer in qualifying for the WC (I'd have to check that).

Well, I disagree again. I think Chelsea have been hurt this season with Cole out and, along with Berbatov, Lennon is the guy who makes Spurs dangerous. If you just eman for England, they both impress me, except on Cole's off days (as I said to Ghost).

We should certainly be beating ****ing Macedonia at home...

I think maybe we just have different philosophies on football. I am a firm believer in the flow of a game and a team, its quite an abstract thing but its something arsenal and man utd do well and I've grown up with that now - part of me identifies where England are going wrong vs where the clubs go right.

Its Carrick or Hargreaves? Well I dunno....seems they may be partners for Utd next season. Not sure how that would do but if its successful I'd take it over the disjointed efforts of Lampard and Gerrard.

I really dont care about Lampards goals, what concerns me is the lack of quality in midfield which makes for crappy football and poor results. I dont think he brings enough to the table and should at least be dropped so we can explore other things for awhile. I'm not a fan of his hit and hope style, where 1 out of 10 shots go in and I dont feel he creates enough for his team mates.

Lennon and Cole are ok, but I wouldnt play 4-3-3 with them or at least I wouldnt feel satisfied with it. They dont seem as reliably dangerous as I'd like.

Carrick - Hargreaves - Lampard

-----------Gerrard

------ Owen --- Rooney

Might work better, with Rooney and Gerrard able go wide, drop deeper etc. I'm just deeply unsatisfied with what I have seen with the current trend and I dont think throwing this or that player at the problem will fix it.

 

[Ryck]

Man Utd v. Middlesbrough in a couple hours now, can't wait. I wonder if Smith will start seeing as he played well on Saturday. This is my guess.

-------------Kuszczak-------------

Brown---Ferdinand--Vidic----Evra

Ronaldo--O'Shea---Carrick---Park

---------Rooney-----Giggs----------



Id like to see Alan start but Im thinking this squad played so good on Saturday Fergie will play it again...( minus Neville obviously)

 

[Mama Smurf]

I think maybe we just have different philosophies on football. I am a firm believer in the flow of a game and a team, its quite an abstract thing but its something arsenal and man utd do well and I've grown up with that now - part of me identifies where England are going wrong vs where the clubs go right.

Its Carrick or Hargreaves? Well I dunno....seems they may be partners for Utd next season. Not sure how that would do but if its successful I'd take it over the disjointed efforts of Lampard and Gerrard.

I see what you're saying and if I could combine the qualities of Hargreaves and Carrick then that would be ideal (that's my hope with Huddlestone).

I don't like dropping attacking midfielders though, not for English teams. Only Arsenal really manage it in a way I like and that's because they don't play anything like other English teams. Liverpool have Alonso to create, but Gerrard to attack. Man Utd Carrick to create, Scholes to attack. Chelsea Makelele to create, Lampard to attack (though they're a bit different with an extra man in there).

The creation always comes from further back with an attacking player ahead of them. You can't get that with Hargreaves and Carrick.

I really dont care about Lampards goals, what concerns me is the lack of quality in midfield which makes for crappy football and poor results. I dont think he brings enough to the table and should at least be dropped so we can explore other things for awhile. I'm not a fan of his hit and hope style, where 1 out of 10 shots go in and I dont feel he creates enough for his team mates.

You know, Lampard was voted England's player of the year in both 2004 and 2005. And it's voted by fans and they do seem to know what they're talking about as Hargreaves got it last year. And I'm with them, I think he really does a lot fot he team, aside from goals.

I wish I had assists stats for England, but I don't. However, domestically Lampard has the joint most assists from an English player this season (along with Rooney), had second most after Rooney the season before and had the most of any player, not just English, in 2004/05. Carrick barely charts.

Of course, I know you don't just means assists when you talk about contributing to a team, but it is crucial. Unless Carrick or Hargreaves could can contribute those assists, I couldn't justify dropping Lampard.

Lennon and Cole are ok, but I wouldnt play 4-3-3 with them or at least I wouldnt feel satisfied with it. They dont seem as reliably dangerous as I'd like.

Well me neither, but I wouldn't play a 4-3-3 at all unless injuries really forced it. I'd play a diamond in midfield before that.

 

[hadareud]

I am very tempted to put some money on Middlesbrough and Spurs tonight. All that money I lost this weekend makes me even more determined

 

[kaizoku]

I see what you're saying and if I could combine the qualities of Hargreaves and Carrick then that would be ideal (that's my hope with Huddlestone).

I don't like dropping attacking midfielders though, not for English teams. Only Arsenal really manage it in a way I like and that's because they don't play anything like other English teams. Liverpool have Alonso to create, but Gerrard to attack. Man Utd Carrick to create, Scholes to attack. Chelsea Makelele to create, Lampard to attack (though they're a bit different with an extra man in there).

The creation always comes from further back with an attacking player ahead of them. You can't get that with Hargreaves and Carrick.

You know, Lampard was voted England's player of the year in both 2004 and 2005. And it's voted by fans and they do seem to know what they're talking about as Hargreaves got it last year. And I'm with them, I think he really does a lot fot he team, aside from goals.

I wish I had assists stats for England, but I don't. However, domestically Lampard has the joint most assists from an English player this season (along with Rooney), had second most after Rooney the season before and had the most of any player, not just English, in 2004/05. Carrick barely charts.

Of course, I know you don't just means assists when you talk about contributing to a team, but it is crucial. Unless Carrick or Hargreaves could can contribute those assists, I couldn't justify dropping Lampard.

Well me neither, but I wouldn't play a 4-3-3 at all unless injuries really forced it. I'd play a diamond in midfield before that.

You rely far too much on stats and this and that - on paper fine. but as we've seen with england what looks amazing on paper doesn't necessarily translate well. First of all using club form to say "he can do this and that" is misleading since they dont have the same system or players around them. Lampard is awesome for Chelsea where he doesnt have to worry about controlling the midfield battle as they have makalele etc.

and I dislike England fans generally - Hargreaves had about 5 good games in an England shirt and he's suddenly player of the year? The same fans who mindlessly boo Ronaldo and United players despite them giving great service for many years, give me a break. Thats good research mama but its kind of irrelevent to me.

United did very well with a Keane/Ince partnership and we just scored 4 goals with a Carrick/O'Shea partnership. Cohesion and teamwork is more important than some kind of pretense about balance and other stereotypes which work on paper.

I'm more interested in making England into a team before you start thinking about anything else. I'm not sure what you mean by having England play like an English team though. to me the best way to play football is the man utd way and it always struck me as rather english.

My main problem withHargreaves/Lampard partenrship is again the lack of a passer, as far as I'm concerned Carrick should be first choice in the middle as he is the closest England have to a Pirlo, always available, a decent weapon in attack, can protect the back 4 andvery calm and composed.

Hargreaves could be like a Gattusso, he isn't Makalele style, he is box to box. Then you just build from there using the strengths of your players. I would personally have Rooney play the Kaka role with Gerrard/Lampard doing a Seedorf.

 

[Lakitu]

I am very tempted to put some money on Middlesbrough and Spurs tonight. All that money I lost this weekend makes me even more determined to lose more.

Fixed.

 

[Mama Smurf]

You rely far too much on stats and this and that - on paper fine. but as we've seen with england what looks amazing on paper doesn't necessarily translate well. First of all using club form to say "he can do this and that" is misleading since they dont have the same system or players around them. Lampard is awesome for Chelsea where he doesnt have to worry about controlling the midfield battle as they have makalele etc.

You misunderstand why I use stats. I don't choose which players are best based on stats, I just go on what I see when I watch a game. I then use stats to back my choice up, as we could go back and forwards on whether Lampard is good or not all day if it's just on personal opinion.

and I dislike England fans generally - Hargreaves had about 5 good games in an England shirt and he's suddenly player of the year? The same fans who mindlessly boo Ronaldo and United players despite them giving great service for many years, give me a break. Thats good research mama but its kind of irrelevent to me.

Well, it's hardly surprising that in a World Cup year, the player who does best at the tournament gets player of the year. I'd have voted for him too, if I bothered. I can't think of anyone else who could have made a claim for it...well, Crouch had a good time BUT OVER MY DEAD BODY.

United did very well with a Keane/Ince partnership and we just scored 4 goals with a Carrick/O'Shea partnership. Cohesion and teamwork is more important than some kind of pretense about balance and other stereotypes which work on paper.

Well I agree, that's why a Gerrard/Lampard midfield has been so stupid. I think the balance between a player like Hargreaves and a player like Lampard is perfect though...or at least, as close to perfect as we've got.

I'm more interested in making England into a team before you start thinking about anything else. I'm not sure what you mean by having England play like an English team though. to me the best way to play football is the man utd way and it always struck me as rather english.

England playing like an English team is important. Most teams play the way they do and have done for a long time. Brazil with the skill, Holland with the total football, Germany with the organisation, Italy with the tactical flair and so on. Quite a while back, England's game would be based around hard work, a quick tempo and never stop running. Skill or tactical nous was an added bonus.

Then Brazil came along in 1970. Most countries went "wow, they're great" and kept playing the way they always had. England went "wow, they're great, that's how football should be played" and moved away from everything which made us a success. I read this in a book ages ago btw, examinign England's lack of success, I wish I could remember what it was called.

The Premiership still reflects that attitude, only the skill and tactics have come into the game too. The pace is furious, constant pressing and no one gets to stroll around. That's what nedds to be replicated at international level, even if everyone else is calmer and passing more. We can't change our game just because that's how everyone else is playing.

And Man Utd do play in the English way, I've said that.

My main problem withHargreaves/Lampard partenrship is again the lack of a passer, as far as I'm concerned Carrick should be first choice in the middle as he is the closest England have to a Pirlo, always available, a decent weapon in attack, can protect the back 4 andvery calm and composed.

This is where we really differ in our assessments. I think Lampard is an excellent passer of the ball. Raking passes, balls round the defence...he's really good. The difference is, he's passing from behind the attack, not in front of the defence. There's a lot less time as defenders know how much more dangerous it would be from there. Often his back will be to goal when he gets the ball, whereas Carrick from a deeper position can look forwards and spot the pass. Carrick has more options too, at least dangerous options, he might well have 5 players ahead of him whereas Lampard would have 2 or 3.

And I've still never seen Carrick play well for England.

Hargreaves could be like a Gattusso, he isn't Makalele style, he is box to box. Then you just build from there using the strengths of your players. I would personally have Rooney play the Kaka role with Gerrard/Lampard doing a Seedorf.

Hargreaves can get forwards, sure, but certainly for England he has a sitting role the majority of the time.

I'm not sure I understand what your team would be from what you've said there.

 

[hadareud]

Fixed.

:lol

the sad thing is that it's true

 

[Mama Smurf]

Man Utd v. Middlesbrough in a couple hours now, can't wait. I wonder if Smith will start seeing as he played well on Saturday. This is my guess.

-------------Kuszczak-------------

Brown---Ferdinand--Vidic----Evra

Ronaldo--O'Shea---Carrick---Park

---------Rooney-----Giggs----------



Id like to see Alan start but Im thinking this squad played so good on Saturday Fergie will play it again...( minus Neville obviously)

Slight changes:

-----------------Kuszczak-------------

Brown---Ferdinand--Vidic----Heinze

Ronaldo--Carrick---Giggs---Richardson

-----------Rooney---Smith----------

 

[Yazan]

My main problem withHargreaves/Lampard partenrship is again the lack of a passer, as far as I'm concerned Carrick should be first choice in the middle as he is the closest England have to a Pirlo, always available, a decent weapon in attack, can protect the back 4 andvery calm and composed.

Hargreaves could be like a Gattusso, he isn't Makalele style, he is box to box. Then you just build from there using the strengths of your players. I would personally have Rooney play the Kaka role with Gerrard/Lampard doing a Seedorf.

But but but.........those players play in a team that needs to cheat to win.

 

[psycho_snake]

How the hell did rooney miss that!?

 

[Mama Smurf]

Nothing's happened in the Spurs - Chelsea game. They all look tired to me, which wouldn't be surprising.

How the hell did rooney miss that!?

Far be it for me to tell Rooney how to play, but I never try and go round goalkeepers. In that sort of situation, it's just so easy to score in another way. You can pass it to either side, you can curl it into one of the corners, you can chip the keeper like Rooney did on Saturday...but when you go round the keeper, it can be close enough for him to grab it, he can force you to wide...just don't like it.

Unless you're Ronaldo, the fat one, who scored almost all his goals like that once.

 

[psycho_snake]

Every type of shot has its risk, but taking it around schwarzer was the worst thing he could have done because he's a tall goalie. Just shooting normally would have been the best thing to do. I think Rooney had too much time and was in two minds about what to do.

 

[Ghost]

holy shit. Sheva woke up.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Much better second half. Tottenham completely on top...Shevchenko scores. Wonderful goal though, I really didn't expect it at all. And neither did Spurs.

 

[Cornballer]

holy shit. Sheva woke up.

Oh noes! Can we please put him back into his first half of the season slumber?

 

[Ghost]

Well he's still a little drowsy.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Oh shit :lol

I'm glad for Wright-Phillips, he's played well today.

 

[Cornballer]

"Thank God Ian Wright isn't in the studio or we'd never hear the end of it." :lol

 

[Lakitu]

Two fantastic goals by Chelsea. I thought Spurs had them for a second there.

 

[hadareud]

at least I didn't bet after all. My laziness saved me money.

 

[Cornballer]

at least I didn't bet after all. My laziness saved me money.

And with Ronaldo's penalty - your laziness just saved you a bit more... :lol

 

[hadareud]

should be an interesting end to the game now.

 

[Mama Smurf]

I feel sorry for Spurs, they really didn't do much wrong. Their own fault though, should have won at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea semi-final...sigh. Well, we're more likely to make it than Watford I suppose.

 

[Ryck]

Well we won we played great in the first half and a bit less in the second but I expected as much on two days rest.. Plus Boro are a bit of a bogey team for us. Movin on and lookin ahead..Im glad Rooney didn't get him self red carded as there were a few times where I thought he would. Bring on The Hornets!!!

 

[kaizoku]

that was a very interesting night of football. First boro again accuse Ronaldo of diving or cheating. Absolute joke, there is blatant contact which would have made most people stumble. the boro bench start moaning and Carlos Quiroz gets angry and defends his player - almost violently

Morrison then hacks down Ronaldo for a straight red card - Southgate doesnt condemn him and even smiles about it saying he would feel like doing the same. Refuses to apologise for branding Ronaldo a cheat even though the video show blatant contact - he says he isnt sure if its a penalty or not - huh?

The interviewer for sky sports then conducts the most hilarious interview ever although he cant help but play the "dive" card: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBxV4tku6_A

Ronaldo cant seem to understand the full sentences and picks out a few words and so the responses dont match :lol

and over at Chelsea they celebrated like they just won the league, fa cup AND olympics - everyone is going crazy with pats on backs, shirts thrown into crowd, screaming and dancing - prompting some of the home fans to charge onto the pitch and try to attack the players. the stweards jump on him - at which point drogba marches over and starts jumping on the guys ankles. what a joke of a football club. they purposely rile the home fans, its not like they pulled off something miraculous, it was a fairly simple 2-1 win. embarassing.

 

[Mama Smurf]

I did find their celebrations strange. It was a good achivement, they should be happy, but 3 other teams made the FA Cup semi-finals and din't jump around like that.

Now maybe if they'd come from 3 goals down or been massive underdogs or beaten a fierce rival or something I could understand it, but it seemed very over the top.

Not that I blame them for fans running on the pitch, that's down to the fans. Was it just me or, at one point, did a Spurs fan refuse to give a Chelsea player the ball back for a throw in when his side were 2-0 down with not long to go? I mean....what the hell? He was hurting his own team! There are some dumbass fans out there.

That Morrison tackle was uncalled for. I haven't seen the Southgate interview, but if he really defended his player for that then he's a shit. Who cares if he felt like doing it, I feel like slamming people's heads in doors sometimes, the difference is I can control myself.

 

[Ryck]

Poor Ronaldo now there are "I am too good" headlines all over the place as a result of his post game interview...le sigh

 

[kaizoku]

theres a link to the interview with ronaldo and southgate at the bbc:

BBC

though I cant get it to work just yet, you may have better luck, maybe its too soon.

the chelsea celebrations are typical of mourinho, he loves to antagonise the home fans, its basically incitement.

 

[Ryck]

The link worked fine for me, I feel bad for him you could see his frustration in trying to express himself. He said " I am good , we did good" not I am too good as has been said on various websites...

 

[kaizoku]

The link worked fine for me, I feel bad for him you could see his frustration in trying to express himself. He said " I am good , we did good" not I am too good as has been said on various websites...

no no the headlines are right, he was asked why controversy always follows him around and he replied:

"I dont know, maybe some people dont like me, I dont know why, maybe it is because I am too good"

Which the Utd fans are f*cking loving I think its great and want to see it made into a banner, flag, tshirt, poster etc. Its very Cantona-esque and its fitting that our no.7 would come out with that, even if it was just a product of bad english, its still funny.

its gonna make him sound so arrogant in the papers which is unfair as he didnt mean it in a bad way really. but he is right, they hack him down and dislike him cos he is bloody good.

I cant believe he said "polemic" :lol most fans wont know what that means! I dont think the interviewer even knew what it meant.

he's a star I have to admit I love him to bits, the way he composed himself for the penalty even with yakubu in his ear, he just took some deep breathes and thought "try and get to that one Schwarzer".

then he's just taking the piss out of boro and morrison cant handle it and hacks him down. he gets up and watches the boro players arguing and complaining - as if to say "this is what its like to be incredible"

 

[kaizoku]

oh sorry it was the Sky interview that was full of bullshit questions and the "maybe I am too good" quote. very funny, seems to be removed from youtube atm.

youtube link

 

[Yazan]

Shevas goal

www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=678...


BEAUTIFUL

 

[Shinobi]

Not that I blame them for fans running on the pitch, that's down to the fans. Was it just me or, at one point, did a Spurs fan refuse to give a Chelsea player the ball back for a throw in when his side were 2-0 down with not long to go? I mean....what the hell? He was hurting his own team! There are some dumbass fans out there.

Spud fans might be the dumbest in all of England. Half of these clowns thought they were on the way up while we were on the way down a year ago.

The lunge on Ronaldo was ridiculous...yet I doubt Morrison gets anymore games added to his suspension even though it was a blatant attempt to break his legs. Meanwhile Adebayor sits out four games for being the wrong guy that got sent off. :lol **** the FA...

Sheva's goal was a master class BTW...simply incredible.

 

[hadareud]

Apparently Arsenal are interested in buying Craig Gordon (Scottish number 1 goalkeeper). I have not seen a lot of him, since the Scottish league is shit and I don't watch too much of it since I'm not actually living in Scotland anymore. Does anyone know more about him? Is he any good?

I've seen him play for Scotland a few times but I really didn't pay too much attention. He's 24, so that's a good age.

 

[Stevie Gerrard]

Apparently Arsenal are interested in buying Craig Gordon (Scottish number 1 goalkeeper). I have not seen a lot of him, since the Scottish league is shit and I don't watch too much of it since I'm not actually living in Scotland anymore. Does anyone know more about him? Is he any good?

I've seen him play for Scotland a few times but I really didn't pay too much attention. He's 24, so that's a good age.

Used to watch a bit of scottish football when I lived in edinburgh, he's a good goalkeeper. Looks really lanky and frail but he's surprisingly strong and commands his area well. good shot-stopper and all that but that's to be expected of a top level keeper. I'd say he's better than any of the english goalkeepers around at the moment but not as good as Reina, Cech, van der Sar, Lehmann.

 

[Cornballer]

Swing and a miss from a Spurs fan last night. Lampard with the bob and weave...

 

[Shinobi]

:lol :lol :lol If Fat Frank is able to dodge your punch, you're just ****ing pathetic. Stupid dumb shit Spud fans (is there another kind?).

 

[Ghost]

:lol @ spurs fan.

 

[kaizoku]

thats what you call a drunken punch. but why go for the strong athlete when the manager is about 2 yards away?

I'm in the camp of "wtf are they celebrating like that for?" - found it stupid and embarassing. Especially when you see that idiot Ashley cole screaming his head off full of chelsea passion.

Then when the stewards have the fan on the ground Drogba and Cole make sure to get their kicks in. Most hateful team or what.

 

[Mama Smurf]

I don't hate Chelsea, but I seem to be alone in that amongst non-Chelsea fans.

I could see Ashley Cole celebrating like that, as he was booed the entire game and probably still hates Spurs from his Arsenal days, but the rest...I dunno.

Does anyone here have Football Manager 2007? I haven't played it since Championship Manager...god I don't even know, ages ago. I stopped when it got a serious update from years of being similar and my old machine took about 2 minutes to do each new day and pissed me off.

Anyway, how does it run on your machine and what is it? Do you think it would run ok on my machine, an Athlon 2000+ 1.67GHz, 480MB RAM, no videocard? I'd like to get into it again, but if it's going to take ages again then forget it.

EDIT: Man, you can tell I'm not a PC gamer. I can just download the demo, duh.

 

[Ghost]

AFAIK FMs requirements havent changed since CM4 or something, should run fine on your machine...wouldnt play with too many leagues or maximum database without some more ram though.