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Official Football Thread 2007/2008 (Soccer)

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Bath is nice, big ass hills everywhere though...


Birmingham was the only city up north (anywhere past Harlow is 'up north' to me) I've visited that i wouldn't be prepared to live in. Dunno why, didnt really spend much time there, just got a bad vibe from it. Everywhere else up north I've visited I've enjoyed.

London wouldnt be so bad if it wasn't so damn expensive. I'll gladly move up north just because up there I can get the same wage on 2/3 (ish) the cost of living. Plus, everyone loves a cockney..right?
 
all parts of London are expensive, there's no difference really. I live 30 miles away and it's still expensive

I live in Twyford, a village just outside Reading.

edit: I used to live in Ealing and Vauxhall before btw. Not the greatest parts of London.
 
hadareud said:
all parts of London are expensive, there's no difference really. I live 30 miles away and it's still expensive

I live in Twyford, a village just outside Reading.
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you live in commuter central! :D of course it's expensive. I didnt mean north london anyway i meant up north with the miners, all programming jobs pay roughly the same even up there.
 
yeah, true. All the minted City twats live around here. It's my girlfriends mistake, she works in the City. She's not minted though :(
 
Cornballer said:
London is about 25% more expensive. We're getting slaughtered by the exchange rate these days.
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Awesome. Once I inherit my house I can sell it for millions and move in then. Real estate prices sky rocketed in Jersey but even moreso with my house since it has the New York skyline to wake up to.

West New York

In soccer news, St. Louis seems real close to getting an expansion with a vote for their stadium in Colinsville, Ill. coming in a few weeks. It seems well thought out and the voters seem to be in favor at the moment. This is a move I would fully endorse as St. Lou has a real tradition with soccer in this country and much of the current USMNT player pool comes from the city.

stadiumpic1.jpg
 
psycho_snake said:
I'd prefer to live close to london that in manchester. I'm going to Uni in a years time and Bath will be my first choice. Its close to london and Ive heard its a really nice city. I'll probably end up going to Uni in manchester though. The city isnt that bad and ive heard that the nightlife is great. I've got friends their and my family has got an aapartment in there too, so if I decided to live outside the campus I'll be able to go to that flat and I wouldnt need to pay rent. Settling down in manchester would be a lot easier than settling down in Bath.
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I really like Bath, though it's not that close to London. It's like a 100 miles away. Got a nice feel to the place.
 
The US roster for the Sweden match is up.

ROSTER BY POSITION
Goalkeepers (2) – Marcus Hahnemann (Reading FC), Tim Howard (Everton FC)
Defenders (6) – Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
Midfielders (6) – DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Bobby Convey (Reading FC), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)
Forwards (5) – Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Kamani Hill (VfL Wolfsburg), Josh Wolff (1860
Munich), Sal Zizzo (Hannover 96)
 
psycho_snake said:
I'd prefer to live close to london that in manchester. I'm going to Uni in a years time and Bath will be my first choice. Its close to london and Ive heard its a really nice city. I'll probably end up going to Uni in manchester though. The city isnt that bad and ive heard that the nightlife is great. I've got friends their and my family has got an aapartment in there too, so if I decided to live outside the campus I'll be able to go to that flat and I wouldnt need to pay rent. Settling down in manchester would be a lot easier than settling down in Bath.
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I like Manchester as a student type place - if you get down Fallowfields way, it's good fun. Nightlife around there was really good - lots of nice pubs and close by the union.

Went out in the city centre a few times as well and that was good fun too - never any trouble. I never lived there myself but visited a friend a lot so I can't say what it's like to stay long term but I imagine it'd be quite good.
 
That's the most European side I've ever seen. Expected however so I hope the Stars and Stripes take those Swedish pansies down.
 
Osorio said:
That's the most European side I've ever seen. Expected however so I hope the Stars and Stripes take those Swedish pansies down.
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European based players make the trip a lot easier. At first glance, Adu and Clark are the only obvious omissions. Adu needs time to settle in Benfica, though, so the decision makes sense to me.
 
:lol

Most of those pun-infused headlines are crap, but every once in a while they do a good job with them. I think my all-time favorite has to be: "Super Callie Go Ballistic Celtic Are Atrocious"
 
Looks like Terry's going to be fit for the Liverpool game on Sunday, as he's starting training again tomorrow. And Driba's back of course, but Essien probably won't be so it's not all bad for Liverpool.
 
Projected lineup for the US....

---------------Donovan------Wolff---------------------

Beasley----------------------------------------Dempsey

---------------Feilhaber-----Bradley--------------------

Bornstein-------Onyewu-----Bocanegra-----Cherundolo

-----------------------Howard---------------------------

I wouldn't be surprised to see Mastro in there for Feilhaber or Bradley, though. Does Wolff have anything left in the tank? I doubt Davies or Zizzo gets the nod, so he pretty much has to play unless we go to a 4-5-1.
 
Chelsea players are always injured until matchday.

"Terry's leg fell off yesterday in training. He will never play football again. Well, he's at least out for a year. Or two weeks. Actually, he's playing tomorrow"
 
Cornballer said:
Projected lineup for the US....

---------------Donovan------Wolff---------------------

Beasley----------------------------------------Dempsey

---------------Feilhaber-----Bradley--------------------

Bornstein-------Onyewu-----Bocanegra-----Cherundolo

-----------------------Howard---------------------------

I wouldn't be surprised to see Mastro in there for Feilhaber or Bradley, though. Does Wolff have anything left in the tank? I doubt Davies or Zizzo gets the nod, so he pretty much has to play unless we go to a 4-5-1.
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That lineup isn't bad but you're right about Wolff. 4-5-1 is not an option for me as Landon up top by himself doesn't seem like a good idea.
 
Cornballer said:
Yeah, a 4-5-1 with Lando up top doesn't really work. We'd need Ching/Johnson/Altidore for that to make any sense, and even then it's dicey.
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Ching would've been nice. As long as someone can cross it to him he can either head it in on just crash into it. Johnson though...
 
I don't know the full team, but Spurs are playing Bent, Berbatov and Keane tonight. I've seen Keane pushed to the right wing twice now, once in a friendly and once against Sunderland, and he's just completely disappeared from the game, so I'm guessing he's going to play behind the front two, with maybe Malbranque, Zokora and Jenas making up a 3 man midfield, though I think Huddlestone has a shot too.

EDIT: Seconds later I see the team and it appears to be as I said, though we obiously haven't seen the fomration yet, just the players.
 
Wenger on the Gilberto thing:

Wenger said: "I respect Gilberto a lot. I had a face-to-face meeting with him and told him what I wanted to tell him.

"I have nothing more to say about that.

"I cannot justify every small decision, and explain it to everybody. Things have to stay inside.

"He was not in the (training) group last week, and that is why what happened happened.

"I make decisions and I stand up for it."

Wenger added: "I made my decision and I do not consider whether people are surprised or not.

"When you make a decision it is not to please everybody or surprise some people.

"You make a decision because you just want to make the right one."
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good to hear that he talked with him since. I'm sure Gilberto will behave like a pro.

and about Gallas:

"William means he has to be an example everywhere, not only on the pitch - but off the pitch as well and he is right," Wenger said ahead of his side's Champions League third qualifying round first leg clash away to Sparta Prague.

"I do not know how he behaved at Chelsea - but this year he is a very positive influence."

The Gunners boss added: "I was pleased with his attitude and the way he took on his role. I expected him to do that.

"Overall the important thing is that the team has that type of unity and togetherness and desire."

Wenger rejected suggestions the appointment had been made purely as a way of ensuring Gallas toed the party line or was in any way a "special risk".

The Arsenal manager added: "I think the captain is an important position - but it is not as important the team spirit.

"You do not have to overemphasise the importance of the captaincy.

"What is important is that he does what he has to do and not more.

"You need a certain position and a certain experience in the game. That makes it easier."
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hmmm .... could that mean that he behaved like a cunt? Just like until, you know, a month ago here?
 
I doubt they could get a work permit in time, unless he automatically qualifies for one. And I'm pretty sure he hasn't played the right percentage of games in the last two years, so they'll have to appeal.

If it's even true, you know what the Spanish press is like...like the English press.
 
I don't think he was on holiday, just not training with the first team squad. Wenger mentioned that he had a special 3 week training plan for Gilberto.

btw, the way Gallas captained the team against Fulham was excellent, there is real team spirit and you can really see it. He is pushing the team without screaming, the huddle before and after the game probably were his idea. Great stuff. Let's hope he continues doing a good job as our skipper.

Lakitu said:
Radio Marca report Alves to Chelsea. He will probably play us now :(
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your cat is more reliable than anything to do with Marca. Much more reliable
 
Mama Smurf said:
I don't know the full team, but Spurs are playing Bent, Berbatov and Keane tonight. I've seen Keane pushed to the right wing twice now, once in a friendly and once against Sunderland, and he's just completely disappeared from the game, so I'm guessing he's going to play behind the front two, with maybe Malbranque, Zokora and Jenas making up a 3 man midfield, though I think Huddlestone has a shot too.

EDIT: Seconds later I see the team and it appears to be as I said, though we obiously haven't seen the fomration yet, just the players.
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If keane plays behind berbatov and bent with 3 central midfielders, then tottenham are playing very central, but its probably the best thing that they can do because they dont have any wingers available. He could put keane and malbranque on the wings, but as you said, keane just disappears when he plays on the wing. Malbranque isnt much better either.
 
If Spurs lose tonight against Everton, which I can honestly see happening just as much as not happening, they are digging themselves quite a hole.

They should have sold Defoe and brought in a better midfielder. Jenas is really ineffective.
 
psycho_snake said:
If keane plays behind berbatov and bent with 3 central midfielders, then tottenham are playing very central, but its probably the best thing that they can do because they dont have any wingers available. He could put keane and malbranque on the wings, but as you said, keane just disappears when he plays on the wing. Malbranque isnt much better either.
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Yeah that's my thinking. really short on wingers, better attack than midfield anyway, Everton excellent defensively...just adds up to playing more forwards than midfielders.
 
If tottenham play as badly as they did against sunderland, then everton will win and I can see it happening. Tottenhams midfield were pretty much useless against sunderland and its going to be more difficult for them against a tough everton midfield. However Tottenham are at home and their home form is a lot better than their away form, so we could see a much better performance from them,

Tottenhams defence is also a bit of a concern. Kaboul looked uncomfortable against sunderland. Their central defence pairing of kaboul and dargener isnt very strong. The only first team defender they have is chimbonda.

Do we know what evertons starting line up is?
 
There's no way Spurs will play like they did against Everton. As psycho says they're great at home, and Everton have won twice in their last 30 games against London teams.

Howard
Hibbert
Yobo
Stubbs
Lescott
Osman
Neville
Carsley
Arteta
Johnson
Anichebe
 
It should be a good game. Tottenham certainly look like they're going to attack and everton will fancy their chances, despite that awful record against London sides.
 
The Guardian weighs in....

Preamble

Evening. Well it's fifth versus sixth from last season at a sodden White Hart Lane, and after making canny additions to his side, David Moyes must fancy his chances of going one better than Martin Jol this season. He'll need his squad to stay injury-free to do it, but with once-a-red-now-a-blue Leighton Baines coming in at left-back and jack-of-all-trades Phil Jagielka offering cover to a strong defence and midfield, if Andy Johnson can find his shooting boots they've got a chance.

Martin Jol meanwhile, has more firepower than a US Navy warship and with Darren Bent starting tonight alongside Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov he'll be hoping that his side's opening day defeat to Sunderland was just an early season blip. It's in defence where Spurs are short through injury, and despite collecting about 48 midfielders in three years, big Martin Jol still hasn't found one with the attacking nous of Tim Cahill or the assuredness and class of Mikel Arteta. It'll be an intriguing contest and I expect Everton to play on the break while Spurs will dominate possession.

Excepting Roy Keane, this match also pairs the two Premier League managers you'd least like to meet down an alley in the seedy early hours after a night on the ale. Who would you fancy over 12 rounds between the wiry Glaswegian and Jol, who looks for all the world like he's been running the door at Amsterdam's Bulldog bar for years?
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Thats the best start we could have asked for. Brilliant free kick by arteta, but that was very poor defending by Gardner.
 
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