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[Dr Zhivago]

It's just an inverse home shirt. Who would they wear it against? Too much red for use against Liverpool or Man U.

 

[Shinobi]

I don't get it either. I suspect they'll have a blue third jersey for those matches.

 

[Osorio]

How many people smoke in this thread?

I smoke a cigarette every 3 days and have done so for the past 5 years now. I like smoking anything, but I don't want to get addicted to anything either.

I need a MLS team to adopt and support I think. I'm thinking NY Red Bulls because Angel has gone there and he was a hero at the Villa but maybe Toronto DC because they're new.

Will give this some more thought..

The Red Bulls would be a great choice for an Angel fan. I find supporting this team to be frustrating but very fun, and for the first time in a couple of years I'm very proud of my team. The last game we demolished Columbus 4-0 with the help of Angel's 2 assists and 1 goal. We're not the most respected team, but that's because it has been 11 years of utter failure for a team in the biggest market in the world. But that only makes me want both the team and the supporters to prove everyone else wrong.

 

[hadareud]

it's not quite reverse, the home shirt doesn't have any white stripes on the side. It's just red with white sleeves, and the sleeves are different in general.

I don't think the red should be a big problem against Man Utd and Liverpool, the colour is quite different and the shirts are predominantly white anyway. Of course, the shorts will be red too I suppose, so who knows.

edit: it's too quiet here today. Come on people, don't make me do my job because I'm bored.

 

[Lakitu]

The CL Final is tomorrow... I am so nervous. Everyone seems to have wrote us off already, in the Milan camp that is. They seem convinced they'll finish us tomorrow. One part of me is excited and ready for this, but a part of me is nervous and has to Kaka alot.

I'm going to need a lot of beer.

 

[Hooker]

Can't wait to see Seedorf catch his 4th CL winners medallion tomorrow ^^.

 

[hadareud]

last year we were in the final, everyone had written us off and look how it turned out!

oh.

 

[Outdoor Miner]

Interesting part of that Guardian article is that Microsoft's Paul Allen is considering a bid to buy Southhampton for around £60 million. First time I've heard of it. Is every football club in England gonna get snapped up by rich Americans?

It's all very sad truly. Instead of investing in MLS teams based in their own country, they go in line with the new fad where every billionaire owns some kind of English team. Jeez it's not even a Premiership team which I could understand.

How 'bout bringing a ****ing MLS team to Seattle Mr. Allen? $120 million (= £60 million) would be more than enough for the MLS franchise fee (30 million) + the rest into a super nice SSS. Northwest/West coast is very underrepresented in the home league, sir.

 

[Cornballer]

A bit of Arsenal news.

Hill-Wood to meet Kroenke 'in the next two to three weeks'
Arsenal chairman has been under pressure to speak to the US tycoon

Paolo Bandini
Tuesday May 22, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood plans to meet Stan Kroenke "in the next two to three weeks" after softening his stance towards the American tycoon's investment in the club.

Kroenke has built up a 12% stake in Arsenal since buying out ITV's shares last month and talk of a potential takeover precipitated serious boardroom divisions at the club. Vice-chairman David Dein, who favoured selling to Kroenke, resigned after finding himself isolated amongst more sceptical colleagues, while Hill-Wood headed a group of four major shareholders adamant that they would not sell their combined 45% stake.

That group, made up of Hill-Wood, Danny Fiszman, Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith and Richard Carr, had previously remained steadfast in their opposition to any takeover, with the chairman claiming Kroenke knows "sweet FA about our football" and saying "we do not want his sort". Now, however, after pressure from the Arsenal Supporters' Trust, Hill-Wood has agreed to at least meet Kroenke, though he maintains that the club are under no pressure to sell.

"I am hoping to meet him in the next two to three weeks," said Hill-Wood. "I'm looking forward to meeting him to hear what he's got to say. But we are quite confident we are in good shape the way we are."

Hill-Wood also denied reports that Arsène Wenger is considering quitting the club in protest at Dein's departure, continuing: "I wasn't at Portsmouth for the last game of the season, but I've spoken to colleagues who were and they had a chat with (Wenger) and said he seemed very happy."

Arsenal starlet Nicklas Bendtner is confident he can force his way into Arsene Wenger's plans next season.

The 19-year-old striker, who has been on loan at Birmingham this season, has agreed a new five-year deal at Emirates Stadium and is now determined to make his mark for The Gunners.

"It has always been my goal to get my breakthrough at Arsenal," he told TV2.

"There were no other clubs that were interesting for me. I know I have the right qualities, or will be able to develop them.

"I truly believe that I can break through on that level, and I have had meetings with them where they have told me that I figure in their plans for the future.

"If that had not happened, neither they nor I would have signed this deal."

Bendtner acknowledges that other forwards at the club may be better placed at present as they have more experience within the squad and of the Premiership, but he does not believe it will hinder him.

"The other [strikers] may have an advantage over me, but when I restart training and get some good matches under my belt, I am sure I will get my chance and I will take it."

Adebayor signs a new long-term contract

Arsenal Football Club is delighted to announce that Emmanuel Adebayor has signed a new long-term contract with the Club.

Striker Adebayor (23), who joined Arsenal from French side AS Monaco in the January 2006 transfer window, has become an integral part of Arsène Wenger’s squad, making a total of 57 first-team appearances and scoring 16 goals during his time the Gunners.

Emmanuel, who has also made 36 international appearances for Togo (scoring 15 goals), was a regular in the Arsenal first team last season, scoring 12 goals from his 44 appearances.

 

[MrPing1000]

Bendtner is awesome in football manager if thats anything. Also his name makes me giggle.

 

[Cornballer]

It's all very sad truly. Instead of investing in MLS teams based in their own country, they go in line with the new fad where every billionaire owns some kind of English team. Jeez it's not even a Premiership team which I could understand.

How 'bout bringing a ****ing MLS team to Seattle Mr. Allen? $120 million (= £60 million) would be more than enough for the MLS franchise fee (30 million) + the rest into a super nice SSS. Northwest/West coast is very underrepresented in the home league, sir.

It makes me sad, too. It reflects the fact that all of the new American EPL owners look at it as a business deal rather than one based on the love of football. It's bad news for both the EPL teams (in that they're seen as another component of their owner's global holdings) and MLS teams (as they're not seen as legitimate moneymaking opportunities.) I'm generalizing here, but in most of the situations this seems to be the case.

 

[Cornballer]

Should England bring back Beckham? Richard Williams at the Guardian weighs in.... Thoughts?

There is now no good reason for England to ignore Beckham
Steve McClaren shouldn't be ageist about David Beckham - look at how the French oldies waltzed to the World Cup final.
Richard Williams
May 21, 2007 11:53 PM

If Cristiano Ronaldo watched the latest episode of Real Madrid's death-defying attempt to win La Liga on Sunday night, he would have seen a player who used to wear his No7 shirt at Manchester United giving a wonderful exposition of the art of the modern winger. Playing a significant part in dragging his team to a late away victory against Recreativo Huelva, David Beckham did just about everything that Ronaldo had failed to do at Wembley on Saturday. And now, inevitably, there will be a demand for his inclusion in Steve McClaren's England squad for the forthcoming matches against Brazil and Estonia.

To nobody's surprise Beckham has been making it clear that he would welcome a recall to the colours. When he laid down the captain's armband during that tearful press conference in Baden-Baden on the morning after England's dismissal from the World Cup last July, he did not believe that his gesture would signal the end of his career as an international player. But McClaren saw the chance to make his mark at the start of a new era and few of us were critical of his decision to omit the former captain from his first squad.

Our reaction was conditioned by two things. First, Beckham seemed to have acquired a habit of turning up to big tournaments in a state of questionable fitness, while exercising a kind of droit de seigneur over his place in the squad. Second, he and his wife had played a leading role in turning England's World Cup campaign into a celebrity circus. Their five-star existence appeared to have drained the squad of the core values of modesty and humility.

There was some justification for the scorn, since self-indulgence - and an indulgent head coach - had dulled his edge and weakened his focus. But his severest critics failed to take into account Beckham's innate appetite for the game and his contribution to whatever successes England achieved during the 10 years that separated his first senior international from his last.

His determination, the quality that enabled him to survive that notorious red card in the 1998 World Cup, remains undimmed. Last January 13, two days after he announced that he would be moving to Los Angeles next season, Fabio Capello said the Englishman would never play for Real Madrid again. Less than a month later, however, Beckham forced his way back into the team and made such an impact that he has stayed there, when not injured or suspended, ever since. Six weeks out with a damaged knee ligament, caused when he fell into an advertising board after crossing the ball at speed, were ended on April 21 when he came off the bench to set up a winner against Valencia, and his presence since then has helped the team to mount the most improbable of late challenges.

As he shuttled between the centre-right of midfield and the right wing in Huelva on Sunday, his perceptive passing and wickedly curling crosses were at the heart of Madrid's success. He made the opening goal for Robinho, and several other first-half chances were spurned. In the last minute, however, with the score at 2-2 and Madrid needing to win to keep the destiny of the title in their own hands, his energy took him into a position from which he could nudge Gonzalo Higuaín's pass on to Fernando Gago and then watch as Roberto Carlos shot home from the decisive pass.

Quite honestly, there seems no good reason why he should not be lining up on England's right wing at Wembley a week on Friday. Steven Gerrard would be happier in central midfield, Aaron Lennon has had a poor season and Shaun Wright-Phillips lacks the necessary quality. True, it would not be a forward-looking move. But we remember how France recalled Zidane, Thuram and Makelele in order to reach last year's World Cup final. And it is not as though McClaren has any better ideas.

 

[hadareud]

well, Bendtner is definitely confident, which is important.

Now let's see if he's as good as he thinks.

 

[Cornballer]

well, Bendtner is definitely confident, which is important.

Now let's see if he's as good as he thinks.

It's such a fine line for strikers - you definitely need them to have a lot of confidence - almost bordering on arrogance, but too much can be a problem, as well. It'll be interesting to see how Bendtner pans out next season. I hope he has at least a little bit of patience next season. He'll certainly get his shot, but I could see him not getting a lot of games initially and moaning about it to the press. Prove me wrong, Nicklas!

 

[hadareud]

I think there is no better option than Beckham on the right side, and there hasn't been for the last year. It was a mistake to kick him out and I said so when it happened.

It's funny that it took the media almost a year to acknowledge the fact.

Actually longer, because before that they were screaming to have him benched or kicked off the team.

 

[Lakitu]

last year we were in the final, everyone had written us off and look how it turned out!

oh.

 

[hadareud]

I would say that I think you're gonna win it, I'm not sure that's what you would want to hear though ...

It's such a fine line for strikers - you definitely need them to have a lot of confidence - almost bordering on arrogance, but too much can be a problem, as well. It'll be interesting to see how Bendtner pans out next season. I hope he has at least a little bit of patience next season. He'll certainly get his shot, but I could see him not getting a lot of games initially and moaning about it to the press. Prove me wrong, Nicklas!

that's my fear too. I really don't know what to think about him yet, he doesn't come across as the most sympathetic kind of guy. I'd love to be convinced otherwise, but I doubt there will be a mancrush this time (for once).

Not that I care if he nets us goals.

 

[Shinobi]

Beckham was made an easy scapegoat by the clueless media and the gutless FA, despite being directly responsible for 3 of England's 5 goals. It was a bush move to drop him, when several other players did sweet dick for the squad.

Frankly I'd love to see McLaren crawl back to Beckham on their hands and knees, only for Beckham to tell him to go **** himself.

last year we were in the final, everyone had written us off and look how it turned out!

oh.

:lol

It's all very sad truly. Instead of investing in MLS teams based in their own country, they go in line with the new fad where every billionaire owns some kind of English team. Jeez it's not even a Premiership team which I could understand.

How 'bout bringing a ****ing MLS team to Seattle Mr. Allen? $120 million (= £60 million) would be more than enough for the MLS franchise fee (30 million) + the rest into a super nice SSS. Northwest/West coast is very underrepresented in the home league, sir.

Yeah, I don't get that either. I'd sooner get in on the ground floor in MLS and to give yourself a shot at being one of the architects of a possible soccer revolution in North America, rather then risking pissing off half the fanbase of some English club you acquied on a whim. That said, looking at it strictly as a business move, it's hard to argue against the current trend.

 

[Cornballer]

that's my fear too. I really don't know what to think about him yet, he doesn't come across as the most sympathetic kind of guy. I'd love to be convinced otherwise, but I doubt there will be a mancrush this time (for once). Not that I care if he nets us goals.

:lol

Henry is saying Beckham should get a recall, as well.

 

[hadareud]

I don't know if anyone watched it, but Beckham got a greatest Briton award yesterday.

Presented by ... Henry.

Who made a little speech and was nervous as **** in the beginning, but in the end it was really funny. Well done Thierry.

I guess that's where this interview is coming from too.

 

[Ghost]

I think the plan is to buy the clubs, sit on them for 5-10 years till all the fans are docile and settled, then relocate to the states and laugh in their faces. They are all named after places in the US anyway right?

Manchester, OH
Aston, PA
etc etc

 

[Cornballer]

 

[Shinobi]

:lol :lol :lol

This pic isn't nearly as ridiculous, but I still find it amusing...

 

[Lakitu]

 

[Shinobi]

:lol Wow...

 

[Mama Smurf]

Hey, that's the same reason I used to let the girls play when I brought a football into school.

 

[Cornballer]

Winner! :lol

 

[hadareud]

:lol

 

[Lakitu]

This thread has turned quite gay.

 

[hadareud]

This thread has turned quite gay.

says the guy with the little dog in his avatar.

You've just been waiting for this Dogba opportunity.

 

[DCharlie]

lol - seriously, some of the ghei-st things every happen when you play football, even at an amateur level... and rugby union? holy shit.... don`t get me started.

BELIEVE.

 

[DCharlie]

Charlton's Darren Bent

lets hear it for sell on clauses!

Ipswich might be able to afford to mow their pitch next season! OOOOOLE!!!

 

[Shinobi]

Time for the return of an old favourite...

lets hear it for sell on clauses!

Ipswich might be able to afford to mow their pitch next season! OOOOOLE!!!

:lol

 

[hadareud]

are there any rumours about what those clauses might be worth to Ipswich?

 

[Mama Smurf]

Looks like Spurs are gonna grab Younes Kaboul for about £8m from Auxerre.

He's a centre back, only 21 and has been linked to Roma and Inter too in the past, so I guess he's quality. Never seen him play personally, but Spurs certainly need to improve their defence so at least they're buying in the right area.

 

[Shinobi]

Looks like Spurs are gonna grab Younes Kaboul for about £8m from Auxerre.

He's a centre back, only 21 and has been linked to Roma and Inter too in the past, so I guess he's quality. Never seen him play personally, but Spurs certainly need to improve their defence so at least they're buying in the right area.

Good to see that English club buying another English player...he'll fit in well with prior English signings Berbatov and Mido.

 

[Cornballer]

What happened to Ledley King this season? Was he injured the whole time?

 

[Lakitu]

Youness Kaboul is in my FIFA team as Aston Villa, I beat Man Utd away 0-5, Liverpool away 1-6, and West Ham at home, 8-0.

 

[Tr4nce]

Last Sunday, my favorite club in Holland as well as the club from the city I live in, won the play-offs finale. (Play-offs between clubs who ended this season in 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th place, winner receives UEFA-cup ticket.)

FC Groningen beat Utrecht at home with 2-1. FC Groningen now has qualified for the UEFA-cup, and I'm very happy about it. FC Groningen did a great job, because they had to play 4 matches to qualify. They played Feyenoord first, and then Utrecht.

FC Groningen - Feyenoord 2-1
Feyenoord - FC Groningen 1-1
FC Utrecht - FC Groningen 2-0
FC Groningen - FC Utrecht 2-1


I was there Sunday, the day of the big finale and our public is always very, very supportive, but ofocurse Sunday everyone was ecstatic. It was such a beautiful day.

 

[Mama Smurf]

What happened to Ledley King this season? Was he injured the whole time?

Pretty much.

 

[Cornballer]

Pretty much.

Ok, thx.

Last Sunday, my favorite club in Holland as well as the club from the city I live in, won the play-offs finale. (Play-offs between clubs who ended this season in 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th place, winner receives UEFA-cup ticket.)

Congrats! Come back and post again when you have time - we need more people on this thread and everyone is welcome.


Interview with Liverpool owner Tom Hicks.

 

[Lakitu]

Did he.... did he just compare us to Weatabix?

 

[Cornballer]

Ummmm, yeah. He did. He's all over the place in that interview - some things come off sounding good and others....not so much.

 

[Tr4nce]

Congrats! Come back and post again when you have time - we need more people on this thread and everyone is welcome.

Yeah, sure man. Will do


I don't know why I didn't post in here earlier. Football and waterskiing are my favorite sports in the whole world.

So ehm, how do people outside Holland rate the Dutch football? Do you watch our Eredivisie league?? Do you value it like the English, German and Spanish competition? I live in Holland, but I'm really curious to see how people experience the Dutch league.

Oh and one more thing, I hope AZ beats Ajax in the Champions League play-offs match. AZ deserves to play CL. They showed great football through the whole season.

 

[hadareud]

I'd say the Dutch league is about on level with the German and French ones.

I don't watch a lot of games, if any. But Dutch football produces wonderful talents, year after year (and plenty of them). It's quite unbelievable considering how small a country it is.

 

[hadareud]

"When I was in the leverage buy-out business we bought Weetabix and we leveraged it up to make our return. You could say that anyone who was eating Weetabix was paying for our purchase of Weetabix. It was just business. It is the same for Liverpool; revenues come in from whatever source and go out to whatever source and, if there is money left over, it is profit," he said.

 

[Falch]

Last Sunday, my favorite club in Holland as well as the club from the city I live in, won the play-offs finale. (Play-offs between clubs who ended this season in 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th place, winner receives UEFA-cup ticket.)

FC Groningen beat Utrecht at home with 2-1. FC Groningen now has qualified for the UEFA-cup, and I'm very happy about it. FC Groningen did a great job, because they had to play 4 matches to qualify. They played Feyenoord first, and then Utrecht.

FC Groningen - Feyenoord 2-1
Feyenoord - FC Groningen 1-1
FC Utrecht - FC Groningen 2-0
FC Groningen - FC Utrecht 2-1


I was there Sunday, the day of the big finale and our public is always very, very supportive, but ofocurse Sunday everyone was ecstatic. It was such a beautiful day.

Yeah, congrats to FC Groningen. They performed excellent when it was most needed, in the play-offs. Still, it's kind of weird seeing the number 8 of the regular season walk away with a UEFA Cup ticket.

I'm really impressed by Suarez. He's only 19 years old, but he's scored a dozen or so goals already. If PSV fail to land Lazovic (whom I think is better than Suarez), they should go after Suarez.

Good to see a new fellow Dutchman posting here.

 

[Steroyd]

last year we were in the final, everyone had written us off and look how it turned out!

oh.

H-h-hey what was supposed to be the most the most beautiful Final ever was buggered because of the referee decision very early in the match.

10 men vs Barca for an hour = death.

Saying that we've got a referee where everytime he's on we haven't so much as scored.

 

[Prince]

I'd like to learn more about what players in the dutch league tjhat are big talents.

So far, the ones that I can think of are

Huntelaar
Alves
Sneijder

Its not many, but Im suere there are loads more. Who else can you see being targets for big european clubs.

The biggest talents off the top of my head:

Ryan Babel (Ajax)
Luis Suárez (FC Groningen)
Moussa Dembélé (AZ)
Ibrahim Afellay (PSV)

There aren't that much real big talents in the Dutch league at the moment. There are a couple more with real potential though.

 

[Tr4nce]

Yeah, congrats to FC Groningen. They performed excellent when it was most needed, in the play-offs. Still, it's kind of weird seeing the number 8 of the regular season walk away with a UEFA Cup ticket.

I'm really impressed by Suarez. He's only 19 years old, but he's scored a dozen or so goals already. If PSV fail to land Lazovic (whom I think is better than Suarez), they should go after Suarez.

Good to see a new fellow Dutchman posting here.

Thanks!

About Suarez, it has been kind of confirmed (here on local television) that he is not leaving. Not yet, I must say. I think he will stay one more season, and I'm afraid he's off then to a different club.

I'm gonna miss him. Such a fine player. Really good growth as well. I can remember that he was so slow in the beginning of the season, but you should have seen him Sunday. He had all kinds of cool actions and could easily run all the defenders off.

Top stuff.


A shame that in America, football is so underrated. It's such a bloody, bloody nice sport.