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Official Football Thread 2006/2007 (Soccer)

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When my 9 year old niece who barely watches soccer is calling for a black card on this clown (because a red card wouldn't be harsh enough), you know the challenge was beyond the realm of ridiculous. That the ref only saw fit to produce a yellow is even more mind boggling. I'd say ban Thatcher till at least the New Year, and ban that ref indefinitely until he's forced to receive laser eye surgery.

Arsenal is apparantely set to make a 16 million pound bid for Corinthians and Argentinian midfielder orld Cup ace Javier Mascherano. Man U's apparantely in the hunt for him as well, seeing him as a successor to Roy Keane.

Big news in Toronto today on the MLS front...their first head coach will be ex-Scottish player Mo Johnson.

Mo Johnston named Toronto FC head coachToronto FC Media Relations

TORONTO -- Toronto FC announced Friday that they have hired Maurice "Mo" Johnston as the first head coach in franchise history. Johnston, 43, has spent 10 seasons in Major League Soccer, serving four in a coaching capacity and six as a player.

"Mo represents the next generation of MLS coaches who have extensive playing experience in Europe and North America," said Tom Anselmi, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. "He brings tremendous passion as well as strong leadership abilities to the sidelines.

"His tenure with the League gives him a sound understanding of its players and teams, which will serve us well as we prepare for the upcoming expansion draft and our inaugural season."

Johnston posted just four losses in 17 games (5-4-8) at the helm of the New York Red Bulls during parts of the 2005 and 2006 seasons. He joined the club as an assistant coach in 2003, before taking over the coaching reigns on an interim basis in October 2005. He led the team (then named the MetroStars) to a 2-0-1 mark and the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. He became only the second coach in franchise history to record a playoff victory with a 1-0 win over top-seeded New England. He was named the eighth head coach in franchise history November 9 when the interim tag was removed.

Johnston possessed impressive credentials as a player, having been a standout performer on both sides of the Atlantic. As a forward-midfielder, Johnston played professional soccer for 21 years (1980-2001), including 15 seasons as a member of some of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Johnston played for the Kansas City Wizards from 1996-2001, where he earned MLS All-Star honours three times and was named team most valuable player in 1998 and 1999. He captained the Wizards to the 2000 MLS Championship with a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Fire. In 149 regular-season matches, Johnston totaled 31 goals, 24 assists and 90 points. He posted personal bests with 11 goals in 1998 and nine assists in 1997. He ranks among the all-time franchise leaders in eight statistical categories.

Prior to joining MLS, Johnston played in Scotland, England and France. He was a member of three Scottish Premier Division clubs (Celtic, Rangers, and Hearts), two in the English Premier Division (Everton and Watford), and one in the French Premier (Nantes). He is known internationally for his time with Rangers, leading them to consecutive Scottish Premier League titles from 1989-91.

A native of Glasgow, Johnston became the first Catholic since World War II to play for the predominately Protestant Rangers club. He also appeared in 38 international games for Scotland, recording 14 goals. He led Scotland to the 1990 World Cup in Italy, scoring six goals in eight games. Johnston totaled 310 goals in 529 professional games.

Toronto FC joined Major League Soccer on May 11 as its 13th team and the first outside the United States. Toronto FC will begin play next spring at the new 20,000 seat National Soccer Stadium at Exhibition Place.

Sounds like a positive hire. He's planning to use an attacking style of play, which as a Gunners fan is obviously what I'd prefer. I'm really looking forward to seeing this team get going...I just hope it's able to work.
 
Shinobi said:
Big news in Toronto today on the MLS front...their first head coach will be ex-Scottish player Mo Johnson.



Sounds like a positive hire. He's planning to use an attacking style of play, which as a Gunners fan is obviously what I'd prefer. I'm really looking forward to seeing this team get going...I just hope it's able to work.
I found him to be a pretty good coach, but he didn't know how to use a substitution for his life. Also, I like how he is already taking his job serious as he was at the Toronto Lynx vs. Montreal Impact game the other day in Toronto. Remember, the team has to be mostly comprised of Canadiens and there's only 4 in the entire MLS (I believe).
 
Predictiom time!

Liverpool 2 - 1 West Ham
Charlton 0 - 1 Bolton
Wigan 1 - 1 Reading
Watford 0 - 4 Man Utd
Spurs 2 - 1 Everton
Fulham 1 - 0 Sheffield United
Man City 0 - 2 Arsenal

Aston Villa 1 - 2 Newcastle
BlackBurn 1 - 1 Chelsea
 
Shinobi said:
When my 9 year old niece who barely watches soccer is calling for a black card on this clown (because a red card wouldn't be harsh enough), you know the challenge was beyond the realm of ridiculous. That the ref only saw fit to produce a yellow is even more mind boggling. I'd say ban Thatcher till at least the New Year, and ban that ref indefinitely until he's forced to receive laser eye surgery.

The referee has already been demoted from being a Premiership referee. That match was his first and last Premiership match. He was actually supposed to retire last year but was given a one-year extension. I read this in my local papers.
 
Google said:
Dude, he was behind the player...

How the **** was he meant to see Thatchers elbow?

:lol

Man U's apparantley given up trying to land Hargreaves. Honestly he's got no one to blame but himself for signing that four year deal a couple months ago. Same sort of thing with Ribery.
 
Woodgate is coming to the Premiership for a season on loan. We don't know who yet, multiple clubs are interested (obviously). Great news from an England perspective.

I can't see him going to anyone but Arsenal or Newcastle. He'll want to play or he might as well stay at Real, so that counts out Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool, who have the players they need there. Spurs will probably want him, they've been looking at other centre backs, but again, he won't definitely play when King and Dawson are also available.
 
Google said:
Dude, he was behind the player...

How the **** was he meant to see Thatchers elbow?



I would have thought his brain would have kicked in at some point and he would have noticed Mendez lying unconcious on the side of the pitch and just sent Thatcher off even if he didnt see it. No one would have blamed him for jumping to the conclusion that something had happened given the state Mendez was in.
 
Mama Smurf said:
Woodgate is coming to the Premiership for a season on loan. We don't know who yet, multiple clubs are interested (obviously). Great news from an England perspective.

I can't see him going to anyone but Arsenal or Newcastle. He'll want to play or he might as well stay at Real, so that counts out Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool, who have the players they need there. Spurs will probably want him, they've been looking at other centre backs, but again, he won't definitely play when King and Dawson are also available.

I doubt Woodgate can play for more than 3 matches withou having problems...Good player yes but at least in Spain he has always been injured.
Even the press here called him "WoodGafe" instead of "Woodgate" (gafe stands up for a person with really bad luck)
 
He also missed one the most blatant handballs in the box I've ever seen and didn't award Portsmouth a penalty. And his positioning was perfect there, he was 10 yards away and looking right at it.

ourumov said:
I doubt Woodgate can play for more than 3 matches withou having problems...Good player yes but at least in Spain he has always been injured.
Even the press here called him "WoodGafe" instead of "Woodgate" (gafe stands up for a person with really bad luck)

That's why a loan's ideal for everyone!
 
I did read a few days ago on one site that Arsenal were going to make an offer for Woodgate, but I simply dismissed it as one of those pie in the sky rumours. Plus even if they did make the bid, it's hard to get excited about a player who's played less games in the last three years than I have fingers.
 
It kills me to not have sky at the moment, hopefully this should be over soon - I had Sky for 4 years, and one month without it feels just as long.

Ah well, at least I can get pissed watching the Arsenal in the pub at five.
 
wow - just saw the Thatcher challenge ... christ.

Anyways, tournament tomorrow, i'm captaining our A team - lolz - i'm sure this'll end well! can't wait.

Tokyo Charity Cup winners! oh ****ing YES!

team.jpg
 
West Ham lose at anfield, what a shock. Alwell its only been 43 years since we won there not like we were due anything :'(.



Pantsil played well though, good few crosses & runs, should give him a respectable fantasy footie score :pray .
 
Liverpool were great today. Really impressed with Kuyt, I'd maybe put him in my fantasy team but I can't be sure he'd play. Crouch is on fire, Bellamy made some great runs and I thought was a bit unlucky with a couple of offside rulings and even Fowler will get games as Benitez rotates.

And god damn it, I'd replaced Djourou with Agger in my fantasy team before I then switched again to Ashley Cole. I was too near my limit, I didn't want to risk Cole's price going up if everyone else thought the same way and bought him :(

EDIT: Oh and congrats to DCharlie.
 
EDIT: Oh and congrats to DCharlie.

cheers man, scored one of the best goals i'll ever score.... 30 yarder dipping swerver that put us 2-0 up against the tournament favourites.... been replaying it again, over and over in my head.

It was awesome - and as captain i got to lift the cup! HAHAHA!
we did the obligatory "fill it with beer" celebration too. schweeeeeeeeeet! :)
 
Were the women part of the team? I like getting them to join in with football, they always have fun, but I can't imagine it in a tournament. I just couldn't crunch them like I could a guy.
 
Liverpool did look good coming forward, i disagree on Bellamy, think there was 1 dodgy offside call, the rest were spot on, he had so much space to run into he had no excuse to go early either. Its never been especially challenging to look good going forward against West Ham anyway, we suck at playing defensively (Is that the 3rd or 4th time we've gone 1 up quickly against a top side then lost it?) and when we play naturally we leave massive holes (cant be helped).

They looked pretty shaky at the back to me, every time a cross came in from the right something happened, shame Bowyer was stuck on the left to take Pennant out of the game 'cause i think they would have had similar problems down that flank if Yossi had switched.

West Ham looked pretty dull upfront as well, Harewood is no where near as sharp as he was last season, and Zamora...well his shorts must just be stuffed with rabbits feet and clovers and shit because he's just getting insanely lucky. Cole looks totally unenthusiastic too. They all (Bar Zamora, i think he's probably playing his best football, he's just not that good) look like they just expected to play second fiddle to Ashton this season.


Dunno how long Risse & co are out for, but they'll struggle against anyone that comes at them based on that performance.



we did the obligatory "fill it with beer" celebration too. schweeeeeeeeeet!

When i played football, we always did the obligatory 'Take a shit in it' celebration...
 
Were the women part of the team? I like getting them to join in with football, they always have fun, but I can't imagine it in a tournament. I just couldn't crunch them like I could a guy.

tourney is split into two - one serious tourney, one family tourney - we played in the serious one, the girls in the other.

the family tournament was awesome to watch :)

yeah, there was a VERY bad injury in the final :(

one of the guys playing for <company i can't mention> stooped for a header and our defender tried to boot it away.
Caught him flush in the face.
split his eye open.
Gash across the top of his eye, the bit below his eye split.
Bloodfilled eye, guy screaming, blood streaming from two cuts :/
pretty horrific - a night in hospital for him :(
"
When i played football, we always did the obligatory 'Take a shit in it' celebration..."

is that after you won, or....? ;)
 
Luckily for Liverpool there's 2 weeks until the next fixture, Carragher and Riise might be back.

I thought Bellamy was onside twice and was in a position where he'd be more likely to score than not if he was allowed to play on. One definitely was, though the other is up to interpretation. His feet were level with the defenders, but he was leaning towards the opposition goal because he's running towards it and the defender was leaning away, stepping up to catch him offside.

Now I say that's onside, even though the majority of his body is ahead of the defenders, it's where he's touching the ground that counts for me. Otherwise the law just gets too confusing, you could start arguing someone's offside if just his arms are ahead of the defender.
 
I dunno id rather be bottom of the fantasy football or see Robinson let in 3 goals a week.


Actually thats a lie, id much rather see Spurs go down in flames, i dont dare drop robbo.
 
Whew! Lucky to squeak one out, of all our Rooney-less matches this one had me the most worried. I was a bit worried that they would be thinking passed Watford with the Spurs match looming. I don't want to take anything away from Watford they put up a fight and to be honest if not for a bit of luck we'd have only got a point or maybe nothing.



[edit]

Watching Arsenal vs Man City now, I have Cesc on my Fantasy team so hopefully he does well :)



[edit again]

Arsenal dominating with tons of chances on goal and somehow Man City is leading one nil on the Barton penalty shot.....yikes
 
Ryck said:
Whew! Lucky to squeak one out, of all our Rooney-less matches this one had me the most worried. I was a bit worried that they would be thinking passed Watford with the Spurs match looming. I don't want to take anything away from Watford they put up a fight and to be honest if not for a bit of luck we'd have only got a point or maybe nothing.

Yeah, we got lucky today. We didn't play half as well as our first two matches and the defense was terrible. Silvestre was dreaming half the time and O'Shea was non-existent on the right. When the hell does Vidic, Neville and Heinze come back?
 
Liverpool did well to come back. They played quite well. Kuyt was very impressive, he found space, he made some good passes and he just helkped the team in general. Over time I think he is going to form a very good partnership. Pennant also impressed me. At times west ham did well to prevent him from doing anything but when he got the chance to do something productive he did it.

Man Utd were quite lucky to win to be honest. I thought watford would be a walk in the park but they caused us so many problems. Firstly they do things very quickly. When it comes to taking set pieces they were very quick. What made set pieces even harder was that they won nearly every ball in the air. Saha was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet in the first half because his header was saved beautifully be their goalie, it was one of the best saves Ive seen in ages.
 
ElyrionX said:
Yeah, we got lucky today. We didn't play half as well as our first two matches and the defense was terrible. Silvestre was dreaming half the time and O'Shea was non-existent on the right. When the hell does Vidic, Neville and Heinze come back?
O'shea wasnt that bad, he did a sound job. he might have been able to impose himself a little bit more but he didnt do anything wrong. The great thing about O'shea is that he can play in so many positions and do a good job. He might not be a world class midfielder but he does a good enough job.

Silvestre was awful today. There has never been a player who makes me more nervous. I cant watch him with the ball or near the ball because Ive got a feeling that old peanut head will **** up bigtime. To be fair he got the goal, but it was his fault they equalised. he just kept making silly mistakes. i cant understand why Fergie didnt stick with evra because he has been very good for the last two games. he gets up and helps the attack but he's also defending when he needs to be and he has made some very good tackles.
 
oh for ****s sake, I can't ****ing believe this.

I can already hear Alan Hansen on match of the day "arrrrsenal don't have a plan b", conveniently ignoring a shot and a header on the bar and a penalty not given for a foul on the perse.

Almost as bad is that I watched the game on my pc, so I didn't even get pissed. **** that.
 
hadareud said:
oh for ****s sake, I can't ****ing believe this.

I can already hear Alan Hansen on match of the day "arrrrsenal don't have a plan b", conveniently ignoring a shot and a header on the bar and a penalty not given for a foul on the perse.

Almost as bad is that I watched the game on my pc, so I didn't even get pissed. **** that.
Too bad you couldnt drown your sorrows. Things are only going to get worse, you;re going to have to play United and how unfortunate for you that rooney and scholes will back back to kick arsenals ass.
 
psycho_snake said:
Too bad you couldnt drown your sorrows. Things are only going to get worse, you;re going to have to play United and how unfortunate for you that rooney and scholes will back back to kick arsenals ass.
He's fat,
he's scouse,
he'll rob your ****ing house
rooney.

anyway, it's a terrible start to the season, but don't be fooled - Arsenal are stronger than last season, and the way we play at the moment already shows it. You can clearly see that the team is not quite there yet, but the difference is that last year we lost our away games by default - and deserved to lose in most cases. Now we're getting the chances, there's just nobody there to convert them at the moment. It's just a matter of time til they get into the grove though.

Henry is very rusty at the moment, but he will be back to full strength sooner than later. Just in time for Manyoo.
 
Nooooooo I've stayed 6th in the yahoo league, even with Crouch scoring.

When is Stevie G going to get himself scoring some damn points!
 
hadareud said:
He's fat,
he's scouse,
he'll rob your ****ing house
rooney.

anyway, it's a terrible start to the season, but don't be fooled - Arsenal are stronger than last season, and the way we play at the moment already shows it. You can clearly see that the team is not quite there yet, but the difference is that last year we lost our away games by default - and deserved to lose in most cases. Now we're getting the chances, there's just nobody there to convert them at the moment. It's just a matter of time til they get into the grove though.

Henry is very rusty at the moment, but he will be back to full strength sooner than later. Just in time for Manyoo.

Henry can kiss Wayne Rooneys scouse ass,
Cuz Henry is crap and Wayne is class,
He can kiss his scouse ass,
kiss his scouse ass

Arsenal have always had the problem of trying to score the perfect goal. They seem to want to walk into the goal with the ball. They really have to cut this habit. I didnt wwatch the game today but i saw them against Villa and they had more than enough chances to take a chance, but instead they just kept passing the ball trying to find a way into the box.
 
Well Im still second in fantasy football, but 5 of my players have not played yet, so I'll be counting on them to get me points.

btw who is FC United again? I will get you off the top of the table!
 
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