General Football Nonsense

[GP]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35546894

[Niall_Quinn]

Another small fish bites the dust.

[Letters]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3443349/Chelsea-miss-Ezequiel-Lavezzi-Argentine-signs-23-5m-two-year-deal-Chinese-Hebei-Fortune.html

:wacko:

[Niall_Quinn]

Good luck to these pioneers. It shows how much they value sporting achievement over cash. Like they are always telling us directly after signing a huge deal.

[Marc Overmars]

Insane. Where the hell has this money in China suddenly come from?

In fairness to the players going there, if someone offered me 20m+ for a couple of years I'd be gone in a heartbeat. These guys going there are all young enough to come back to Europe and play at a competitive level knowing they don't have bother about money from contracts again.

[Kano]

Juventus snatched a late winner against Napoli to finally go top. Their 15th league win a row :faint:

[JaneEmily]

Pleased with PSV's form lately. Just annoyed Ajax keep getting results. Feyenoord losing 7 in a row is fucking hilarious though :haha:

[Niall_Quinn]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-3450165/As-Didier-Gailhaguet-Sheik-Salman-bid-head-Ice-Skating-Union-FIFA-s-sport-bigwigs-getting-away-murder.html

Seems like the torturer is frontrunner for the top job at FIFA. I thought he'd be well out of the running by now, what with him being a slimy piece of sub-human filth even by FIFA's almost non-existent standards. Surely there's some sort of limit? Apparently not.

This is like trying to cure cancer with paracetamol and sticking plasters. I guess if you use enough plasters you can entirely cover the soon to be corpse and pretend it is something different. Why isn't there a lot more talk about disbanding FIFA altogether? Surely that's the obvious and only step now this nest of rats has been dug out?

Meanwhile the FA is set to discuss the latest round of vandalism aimed at the FA Cup. Moving the games from the weekend to weekdays, doing away with replays. Little wonder the trophy is now seen as a minor event. The bigger clubs deliberately rest their major players when the cup comes around, a sure enough sign of the real status of this tournament. Hitting it with a hammer a few more times is just what the TV execs ordered. All for money, nothing for sport and tradition. The day Man Utd decided to drop the cup in favour of a money spinning tour was the beginning of the end and the money vampires have been biting into it ever since.

This is what I was saying the other day. It's a good thing the fans are up in arms about ticket prices, but there's a lot more to be pissed at in addition. Is it time for the fans to get together and resolve that the next time the rat bastard Salman enters a football stadium they will all leave? Even if it is the World Cup final? Is it time for the fans to walk down to FA HQ and shout, "Fuck YOU!", outside the windows?

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

None of the candidates for the presidency exactly inspire confidence, Infantino seems to be the best of a bad bunch

I think he will most likely take up the UEFA presidency

I do think you need a world governing body for a sport as vast as Football, but in its current form FIFA is totally unfit for purpose.

I think the only step may be to tear up the script and start again, new world organisation, new continental confederations etc

[Niall_Quinn]

Why does there have to be a separate body? Couldn't the national bodies hold a council to decide the major issues and organise the major events? Why the extra tier? Getting rid of the centre would at least disperse the corruption and bring the fans one step closer to the decision making process. It's a lot easier to lobby a bunch of farts down the road than a group of corrupt old codgers locked away overseas. It's the same concept as the EU. Centralisation of power is an easy recipe for corruption and excess. Decentralisation assists in accountability at the local level which is where we want it. Imagine if the next World Cup contract was decided more by local residents telling the local football authorities to fuck off rather than a bunch of crooks taking bribes to make top down decisions. Less hierarchy equals less corruption and it is corruption in football that's the major problem that needs to be tackled. So why replace something that is broken with something that will inevitably break again? I don't know if there's an example in sport without an international spider sitting at the centre making the decisions, it a model authoritarians and nest featherers are terrified of because it tips the balance away from tiny minorities towards the majority that funds the whole process in the first place. I wonder how the technology debate would look now if we hadn't had roadblocks like UEFA and FIFA in place?

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

In principle that sounds fantastic, but the reason it wouldn't work is because you would spend forever trying to get agreement on anything that incorporates cooperation amongst the confederation.
Plus you can only devolve power so much anyway....there needs to be central coordination otherwise everyone is pulling in different directions....and you get nothing acheived.

[Niall_Quinn]

In principle that sounds fantastic, but the reason it wouldn't work is because you would spend forever trying to get agreement on anything that incorporates cooperation amongst the confederation.
Plus you can only devolve power so much anyway....there needs to be central coordination otherwise everyone is pulling in different directions....and you get nothing acheived.

There's no evidence either of your points is factual. These are the typical reasons given for avoiding representation. In truth diversification to the national level would only be slightly better as you'd still have crooks in charge and the more influential mobsters would rule the roost and ultimately drive the decision making process. But it would still be a step back towards decency albeit with a long way to travel. It would be a brake in the worst case. Probably something like the hateful UN stitch up where 200 nations are shoehorned into a decision making process governed by an elite few. And yet the UN still manages to kick its wars off on time, despite huge resistance from backbench nations that bang on about preserving the peace and the actual aims of the organisation. But at least these few democratic pretenders that have hijacked the floor don't officially dare declare themselves above it, the pretence has to be maintained. FIFA has reached the stage where it doesn't bother concealing its corruption. £3billion, £5billion, £10billion to host a football tournament? That could be simplified for a start and the costs slashed. If regional bodies had to foot the bill, instead of nations being ripped off via their "democratic" parliaments (and we don't even bother with that pretence now Qatar has joined the club), you'd soon see costs tumble. And with falling costs comes a decline in corruption by default, both in terms of incentive and because there just wouldn't be the cash to go around. At very least the bribes would be smaller.

How much would it really cost the UK (or any other primary footballing nation) to host a World Cup? The stadiums are already in place. So save hundreds of millions right there. The transport networks - in place. Saves potentially billions. These nations handle multiple matches all over the country twice a week, so how much more planning *really* has to go into it? The sponsors would still queue to pay, the TV companies would be on-board. In fact, is it conceivable to suggest it would cost a grand total of zero pounds to host the tournament if all the fat construction contracts and other dodgy deals were wiped away? One event every 4 years? The TV companies could save up, McDonalds could chuck into a piggy bank for 208 weeks. You watch how quickly this approach would appeal for the English football authorities if they were footing the bill, with the costs of the individual teams being met by their own football national authorities.

The first act of a council could be to allocate the next 20 World Cups based on existing facilities and fan bases. Easy really. Not a government entity in sight, in fact didn't Cameron just the other day say he didn't want to get involved in the ticket disputes because it was up to the game to sort it out internally? It only becomes difficult or in need of a vast bureaucracy when you need to find as many avenues for corruption as possible. Government works the same way.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

But this council would still be responsible for the decision of who the world cups go to etc

I have actually no problem with world cups going to the developing world as long as there is the oversight to stop the governing body acting as parasites, proof that the venues being constructed would be used after the tournaments and wouldn't be giant white elephants and that the people who live in the country are actually better off as a result....(subsidy for improved infrastructure etc).

The difference is they should be the exception and as you say it would be preferable to award it to countries where the infrastructure is already in place.
Either that or scrap the competition and turn it into an ongoing intercontinental league.

[Niall_Quinn]

But this council would still be responsible for the decision of who the world cups go to etc

I have actually no problem with world cups going to the developing world as long as there is the oversight to stop the governing body acting as parasites, proof that the venues being constructed would be used after the tournaments and wouldn't be giant white elephants and that the people who live in the country are actually better off as a result....(subsidy for improved infrastructure etc).

The difference is they should be the exception and as you say it would be preferable to award it to countries where the infrastructure is already in place.
Either that or scrap the competition and turn it into an ongoing intercontinental league.

I have no problems ideologically with the tournament going to developing nations, but practically the people of those nations (often already living on the poverty line) have to pick up the bill, either directly or as an opportunity cost. So it's usually an anti-humanitarian act to "grace" these nations with the debts associated with a major sporting (commercial) event. Even at the most basic level there is precedent for disallowing the application of nations that can't support a tournament with existing infrastructure, thus removing the trough from the pigs rather than attempting the impossible task of controlling the pigs. If Arsenal decided to move down the road to a school pitch they'd be thrown out of the Premier League for failing to meet a minimum standard. Unfortunately this is then used to force nations like South Africa into blowing billions rather than cut to the chase and award the tournament to a nation with the required facilities. The World Cup is more about construction contracts than football. Does anyone think that will change if the existing den of thieves is left in place with the only change being a different set of thieves appointed to the leadership?

They are devious, nasty bastards too. Even suggesting the people of a developed nation avoid getting skinned sees you accused of racism by the greedy pigs who are determined to exploit that nation. Don't want the people of an African country to lose out of water treatment plants? Racism. Want to see the people swap 4 weeks for 40 years of crushing debt? That's progressive - provided you don't actually let too many of those brownies in to watch the games.

[Munchies]

Edin Dzeko with possibly the worst miss of all time

vid : https://twitter.com/TrustyTransfers/status/701502065902751744

:haha: :haha:

[Letters]

:doh:

This adds to my "footballers are rubbish" thesis.

[GP]

He must have been watching Giroud amirite haha lol jk jk

[Niall_Quinn]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TUTnzuoCxo

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Infantino ahead after first round of voting

No candidate anywhere near the number required, onto second round

[Niall_Quinn]

Infantino ahead after first round of voting

No candidate anywhere near the number required, onto second round

At least they've limited the Royal term to 4 years now. Whether that means more corruption because they'll have to cash in faster we'll have to wait and see.

[Kano]

Infantino is the new prez

[Niall_Quinn]

Dorchester Hotel Overrun By Vermin :doh:

Won't be going there again if that's the hygiene standard they think is acceptable. Fucking horrible.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-3472523/England-s-big-five-clubs-Manchester-United-City-Chelsea-Arsenal-Liverpool-hold-secret-meeting-London-American-billionaire-European-Super-League.html

[Kano]

The Premier League’s self-styled leading clubs have denied discussing a breakaway European Super League but have admitted to meeting over changes to the format of the Champions League.

Executives from the so-called “big five” of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool were seen leaving a meeting with representatives of the American billionaire Stephen Ross, the creator of the pre-season International Champions Cup, at the Dorchester hotel in London’s Park Lane on Tuesday.

According to a report in the Sun, the executives were holding discussions with Ross’s company Relevent Sports over the formation of a European Super League. However, the clubs were adamant that a rival to the Champions League was not on the agenda and that discussions centred around whether to alter the format of existing European competitions along with their participation in the International Champions Cup.

Arsenal confirmed that the meeting took place but insisted. “We are strongly opposed to any breakaway. Not Arsenal, nor any clubs at the meeting, are seeking changes to the Premier League and European landscape and no conversations surrounding displacing the Premier League or starting a European Super League took place. Discussions were primarily around the ICC and formats of European competitions that would complement the existing Premier League.”

It is understood that Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool are taking a similar line and are insistent that a breakaway was not on the agenda.

Those seen leaving the meeting with Ross were Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman at Old Trafford, the Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis, City chief executive Ferran Soriano and Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre.

Ross, an American real estate developer who has an estimated wealth of more than £3bn, owns the Miami Dolphins and originated the pre-season International Champions Cup in the United States, China and Australia.

The tournament began in 2013 and last year featured Real Madrid, Manchester City, Roma, Milan, Internazionale, Manchester United, Barcelona, Chelsea, Benfica, Fiorentina and Paris Saint-Germain.

The Melbourne lineup for 2016 has just been announced, with Atlético Madrid taking on Tottenham, Juventus and the A-League champions Melbourne Victory at the MCG in July.

Uefa said it had no concrete proposals to change the format of its European competitions but was regularly reviewing the situation.

A spokesman said: “We are constantly reviewing the formats of our competitions in consultations with stakeholders and also with the ECA [European Club Association]. At the moment, there are no concrete proposals on the table. We have just gone into a new three-year cycle for Champions League and Europa League, so we cannot offer any further comment at this stage.”

The Premier League said it had no comment to make when contacted on Wednesday.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/mar/02/premier-league-clubs-breakway-meeting

[Niall_Quinn]

Gullible Volunteer or Gatekeeper, what does the G stand for these days? Interesting greed timeline here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/12180706/Shoddy-ungracious-and-selfish-these-secret-talks-expose-the-Premier-League-for-what-it-is.html

2009 - Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger predicted a super league would become reality within 10 years. The new TV rights package runs 2016/17-2018/19. I may question Wenger on absolutely anything and everything that happens on a football pitch, but when he talks about his first love I listen. Would anyone here watch if these cocks get their way? I wouldn't, it would be unbearable. But it could be a good thing in one way. Maybe real domestic football clubs could spring up again to fill the void.

[Globalgunner]

David Squires in epic form today.
Theres a rumour on MSN that Ramos and CR7 have handed in transfers at Real.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2016/mar/01/david-squires-on-football-and-the-oscars#comment-69766924

[Letters]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35711213

:lol:

Justice :bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

Champions League does not need likes of Leicester, says US sports executive... “What would Manchester United argue: did we create soccer or did Leicester create [it]?” said Stillitano, who met United’s executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, on Tuesday. “Let’s call it the money pot created by soccer and the fandom around the world. Who has had more of an integral role, Manchester United or Leicester? It’s a wonderful, wonderful story – but you could see it from Manchester United’s point of view, too.”

If the Premier League season ended now, Leicester and Tottenham would qualify for the Champions League alongside Arsenal and Manchester City.

“Maybe that is absolutely spectacular unless you are a Manchester United fan, Liverpool fan … or a Chelsea fan,” Stillitano said. “I guess they don’t have a birthright to be in it every year but it’s the age-old argument: US sports franchises versus what they have in Europe. There are wonderful, wonderful, wonderful elements to relegation and promotion and there are good arguments for a closed system.”

Stillitano believes Europe’s biggest clubs deserve to make more cash from the Champions League, given their contribution to making it such a financial success. He said fans are more likely to watch the Juventus v Bayern Munich and Arsenal v Barcelona games in the current round of 16 rather than matches involving PSV Eindhoven and Ghent.

“This is going to sound arrogant and it’s the furthest thing from it … but suddenly when you see the teams we have this summer in the ICC you are going to shake your head and say, ‘Isn’t that the Champions League?’” Stillitano said. “No, the Champions League is PSV and Ghent.”

Voicing the complaints he hears from clubs, Stillitano said: “I could make a lot more money, I can be a lot more visible, I can help my sponsors out but right now I am locked into doing certain things that are really historic.”

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/mar/04/champions-league-leicester-relevent-sports-charlie-stillitano

At some point the fans are going to have to organise and fight back. If we don't do this then we lose the game forever. When you get this amount of money concentrated into one target the con-artists and rapists will be drawn like flies to shit, and Americans are unrivalled world leaders in cultivating shit. Americans telling us how the game needs to be, how the history is an impediment to the marketing. This is precisely why America has become the worst anti-culture in the history of our species. They view culture as quaint but entirely irrelevant when you get down to the brass (and only) tacks of life - money. Culture is where you go on holiday but gee, you wouldn't want to live there.

[Marc Overmars]

Those comments are disgraceful. Sums up everything wrong with football and the perceived nature of what the CL should be.

[Letters]

The thing is this is entirely in our hands. Stop going to games, stop watching. Get your football fix from a local team.
The bubble won't burst until we burst it.

[Niall_Quinn]

The thing is this is entirely in our hands. Stop going to games, stop watching. Get your football fix from a local team.
The bubble won't burst until we burst it.

If a bunch of smelly, rapist gypsies set up camp in your back garden what would you do? Stop going to your house? Move out? Go and live in a friend's caravan? These wankers are coming into our game, why should we get out? They are the ones who should fuck off. And die preferably.

[Letters]

But they're not in the garden, they're in the house and we're paying their rent.
So yeah, move out for a bit, stop paying the rent. Then, once they get evicted, we can move back in.

[Kano]

FIFA vote to bring in a certain level of video tech.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/mar/05/football-live-trials-video-technology-referees-gianni-infantino

The two year trial will cover pens, sending offs, mistaken identities and goals.

Also, if a player makes a genuine attempt for the ball and concedes a penalty, he will no longer be sent off. Although that is going to be open to wild interpretation.

And a fourth sub may be allowed in extra time of games.

[Niall_Quinn]

Looks like Fat Rafa is heading to the Geordies. Pies up there are great.

[Kano]

For three seasons, £30 away ticket cap agreed by Prem clubs.

How very generous of them.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/mar/09/premier-league-away-fan-tickets-capped

[Letters]

Isn't this a good thing? It's a step in the right direction. A baby step maybe, but it's a start.

[Kano]

The cheapest matchday ticket in the Premier League now costs more than £30 on average for the first time after 11 clubs put up prices in this category. It now averages £30.68, up from £28.80 last year.

Hardly a seismic shift on their behalf.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/ticket-prices-how-much-does-it-cost-to-watch-your-team-a6694486.html

[Niall_Quinn]

Does this mean ticket prices for home games, unfortunate but we have no alternative, will have to go up to recoup the largesse?

[Letters]

Hardly a seismic shift on their behalf.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/ticket-prices-how-much-does-it-cost-to-watch-your-team-a6694486.html

You're comparing the current average with the newly agreed maximum.

[Marc Overmars]

Looks like Rafa is very close to taking over Newcastle. :lol:

[Kano]

McClaren :wave:

:haha:

[Globalgunner]

Rafa the Geordie it is then. Somehow I feel he will keep them up. I fear for Norwich. They are pure pubbers and more likely to go down. Newcastle actually have a lot of talented players in that team.

[Marc Overmars]

RAWK have of course gone all gooey over Rafa's impending arrival.

[Kano]

Benitez in. Wonder how he'll cope in the Championship.

[Marc Overmars]

Johan Cryuff has died. :rose:

[Letters]

:rose:

[Letters]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35891143

6 years :wave:

[GP]

He's going to need bumhole reconstruction surgery.

[Niall_Quinn]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35891143

6 years :wave:

6 years! What percentage of rape charges end with convictions again? What's the average sentence? A public relations sentencing. The law must be seen to be an ass.

Tony Blair, genocidal maniac, 0 years.

[Letters]

He fumbled around with some kid who was underage, didn't he? And not that much underage.
He's hardly the Jimmy Saville of football.

[Niall_Quinn]

He fumbled around with some kid who was underage, didn't he? And not that much underage.
He's hardly the Jimmy Saville of football.

He's an appalling shitbag and if there was any justice his punishment should be being locked in a room with the kid's father and assorted bricks and bats. But when you hear the establishment covering up for its own, even condemning its own police force for having the nerve to raise what so many have know for years, and then compare it to this trial we can see justice is not the aim - it is the appearance of justice as cover for the lie that is pre-eminent. We also see that justice is not even a rich/ poor thing. It's an establishment privilege, one rule for them and another for the rest.

[Letters]

If being an appalling shitbag were a jail-able offence the most Premiership clubs would struggle to field 11 players most weeks.

[Kano]

He fumbled around with some kid who was underage, didn't he? And not that much underage.
He's hardly the Jimmy Saville of football.

:doh:

Said by a man who has no kids. Thankfully by the looks of it.

[GP]

She was asking for it.

[Letters]

:doh:

Said by a man who has no kids. Thankfully by the looks of it.

So you think all crimes in the area are the same and what Johnson's done is as bad as what Jimmy Saville did?

[Kano]

Yes because that's exactly what I said.

Two-thirds of Saville's offences were based on inappropriate touching. This was one kid. This is where it starts for sick perverts. Unluckily for Johnson he was caught out. No doubt he would've carried on elsewhere if this hadn't of come to light. A man of his age, fame and wealth at worst could pay for any hooker he wanted to if he was that desparate. But he was clearly into something else. He just had a baby daughter, she'll hopefully thank her lucky stars when she's older that her mother saw the light to keep him at arms length when she was at her most vulnerable. So what is Johnson guilty of? Receiving oral sex from a kid and putting her hands down his trousers after grooming her. Johnson is a sick fucker who should be inside for far longer than 6 years. Which in reality will only be 3 years. The interesting thing here is how you can determine a difference between Johnson and Saville's mentality.

[Letters]

She was asking for it.

I'm pretty sure Kano doesn't think that Adam Johnson's offences were as serious as Jimmy Saville's, but it explains a lot of the guff in Arsenal Debate if people think that the view that
Crime 'x' is worse than crime 'y' is in some way condoning crime 'y'

Logic :rose:
Reasoning :rose:

[Marc Overmars]

I think the point here is that crime x and crime y are the same. 1 kid being touched up is still 1 too many.

[Letters]

I think the point here is that crime x and crime y are the same. 1 kid being touched up is still 1 too many.

Saville's offences were against kids as young as 8 and against multiple prepubescent boys and girls.
Johnson's victim was literally months from the age of consent, had she been some months older he wouldn't be in prison.
I can't agree that those two things are equivalent.

It's quite a leap to suggest that their mindsets are the same or that Johnson would have gone on to target younger and younger girls and/or boys.
It's possible, but you can't sentence someone on the basis of what they might have done.

Kano seems to be inferring that because of his actions he would have abused his own daughter at some point. That's an even bigger leap.

[Letters]

Said by a man who has no kids. Thankfully by the looks of it.
Also, can you explain what you're inferring here?

[Marc Overmars]

Seems like he was a filthy cunt.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/adam-johnson-police-found-animal-11093218

[McNamara That Ghost...]

So fuck off Adam Johnson...

[Letters]

Seems like he was a filthy cunt.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/adam-johnson-police-found-animal-11093218

OK, fair enough. That's new information!

[GP]

Police found animal pornography during raid on his £1.5m mansion

Jade Goody sex tape?

[Letters]

I should rename this thread General Football Nonce Sense #BrassEye

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Police found animal pornography during raid on his £1.5m mansion

Cameron. :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

England vs Germany, Brussels arrests, hero actor saves kids, Johnson's girlfriend forgives him, and so on, 1 white, British person killed in USA.

Meanwhile, in other news:


A suicide bomber has blown himself up in a football stadium south of the Iraqi capital, killing 29 people and wounding 60, security officials said, as the military announced new gains on the ground against Islamic State. The bombing took place during a match in the small stadium in the city of Iskanderiyah, 30 miles from Baghdad, the officials said. Medical officials confirmed the death toll.

[Kano]

Premier League, 2014-3015.

2000s: The first surprise of the sim, was Derby winning the Premier League in 2021 with Southampton coming in 3rd. They fell pretty quickly, but then a surprisingly dominant Stoke took over, trading titles with Man U and occasionally Newcastle. Coventry also had a dominant spell, winning 6 titles in 7 years. Arsenal and Burnley entered the mix as contenders as well as Nottingham Forest and Blackburn. The century ended with a very dominant Man U.

2100s: This century started with a very powerful Stoke, as they won 7 titles in a row as well as 14 titles in 17 years. Later, Burnley became dominant as the PL turned into a power struggle between the 2 teams. Newcomers West Brom and Barnsley also stole some titles, especially Barnsley, who won quite a few in the last couple decades.

2200s: With Stoke on the decline, a newcomer fills their spot: Sheffield United. They traded titles mostly with Man U, though later with Barnsley and Southend United. This century had no real dominance, as teams struggled to string titles together. Though teams such as MK Dons, Hull, and Plymouth came and went, the five big players were Sheffield, Arsenal, Barnsley, Southend, and Burnley.

2300s: Southend replaced Sheffield's position of dominance, winning many titles early on. Cambridge, Chesterfield, and Hull were also contenders. 7 titles in a row marked an all-time high for Southend, as they hammered their opposition for the rest of the century, with occasional wins from Brighton, Barnsley, and Man City.

2400s: This century brought about Sunderland into relevance, who battled furiously with Southend, though small bouts of prowess from Sheffield, Man City, and Cambridge prodded them into relevance. Burnley also had a very good mid-century. Bristol Rovers, Reading, and Arsenal were also prominent late century.

2500s: This century started with battles between QPR, Burnley, and Southend for the title. Later, Plymouth, Tottenham, and Exeter were quite good, and even Barnsley was back. Sheffield tore up the PL mid-century including 8 titles in 9 seasons. A resurgent Arsenal ended the century.

2600s: This century followed similar to previous ones. Sheffield, Barnsley, Burnley, Southend, and Arsenal battled for the title, with occasional visits from other clubs into the top spot, including Sheffield Wednesday, Preston, Rotherham, and Plymouth. Later in the century, a dominant Crystal Palace won title after title, which amounted to 15 wins in 26 years.

2700s: Burnley started this century off with a bang, winning 7 in a row right off the bat. Burnley dominance continued with challenges from Plymouth, Liverpool, and Norwich. However Sheffield Utd. took their place with 10 titles in 11 seasons and ended the century in that way, along with wins from Brentford and Preston.

2800s: The 2800s, or the dark years as I call them, started with Sheffield Utd. and Rotherham being the only 2 title winners for 30 years straight. And who stopped them? Burnley, with 10 successive titles. Arsenal finally broke the bore spell, which brought in new face Bromley, as well as Maidstone and QPR.

2900s and 3000s: The last century starts with a feud between Bromley and Burnley, which is broken up by Rotherham. This battle continues through until a resurgent Hull gets in the way. This opens the door for Brentford, Ipswich, and Man City to become regular title contenders. The 3000s turn into a struggle between Brentford, Ipswich, and Nottingham Forest with the very last title ever going to Hull City.

What happens when Football Manager is simulated for 1000 years.

Arsenal still up there quite a bit. But Phil Brown must be a happy man too.

Wenger :bow:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Remi Garde leaves Villa :faint:

[Niall_Quinn]

Remi Garde leaves Villa :faint:

Football is so unpredictable.

[Marc Overmars]

Even though he didn't have much to work with, he took them to a new level of shitness.

[Letters]

Neville :pal:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35517545

4 months! :lol:

[fakeyank]

Neville :pal:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35517545

4 months! :lol:

I think he is suitable to be a good coach... manager, not so sure. He seems to have a good grasp of how a team should play, but I dont think he can communicate that very well.

[Marc Overmars]

He seems to have a good grasp of how a team should play, but I dont think he can communicate that very well.

I think it's probably the other way round. Judging by his punditry "pace and power" is what he seems to place the most importance on but not every team can excel in that manner. He should just stick to being a coach, I'm sure he has a good rapport with many of the players because his playing career is deserving of their respect.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Neville. :lol:

What was wrong with the La Liga thread though?

:(

[Letters]

Sorry :(

[Marc Overmars]

Eboue given a one year ban. :blink:

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11695/10223837/emmanuel-eboue-handed-one-year-ban-over-non-payment-of-agent

[Niall_Quinn]

Eboue given a one year ban. :blink:

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11695/10223837/emmanuel-eboue-handed-one-year-ban-over-non-payment-of-agent

Doesn't that just tell you everything about this (let's face it, SHITTY) game? You can cheat, dive, scratch cancer patient's eyes out, break legs but the one thing you never, ever do is fuck around with the money. The money is sacred.

[Letters]

It really is the epitome of general football nonsense... :doh:

[Letters]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35919247

Brexit :bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35919247

Brexit :bow:

The scaremongering is getting ridiculous. The Euro crowd can't find a single beneficial reason for the EU so instead they create fantasy what-ifs that fly in the face of all the practical evidence. Watch out football fans! Better vote your sovereignty away or else you might lose that shitty player who warms the bench every week. Yeah right, no way would Kante be allowed to stay. As a free nation making our own rules there's nothing we could do to allow this player to play for Leicester. No way could the rules say hey, if the guy has a job then he can work here. Isn't that what most people want anyway, immigration but only for those who bring something to the table?

That said, I'm not sure what we'll do about our cocks falling off if we leave the EU. Recent studies have found that if Britain tries to go it alone they'll suffer cock withering and drop off. Scientists who get funding from the EU have confirmed this worrying consequence of derailing the minority gravy train.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

There's some story about some dickhead doctor going on about all the clients he has sorted out for PEDs.

Players from us, Leicester, Spuds and Chelsea named.

Citeh for the title!

[Niall_Quinn]

There's some story about some dickhead doctor going on about all the clients he has sorted out for PEDs.

Players from us, Leicester, Spuds and Chelsea named.

Citeh for the title!

He must have been giving our lot morphine.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Morphine is fun.

[Marc Overmars]

Doped up and we still can't get near to winning it.

Wenger out.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The others are doping more.

Moral Cup. :bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

Apparently the Sunday Times (serious, intellectual newspaper owned by... oh, wait!) has fallen back on the tried and tested journalistic standard of publishing claims without corroborating sources. Let's all laugh at Sun readers, the Sun being a newspaper run by, oh, wait!

Mainstream journalism = click bait. So many real world stories ignored, instead they go with single sourced sensationalism. If there was anything to this we wouldn't have heard anything about it yet because the Times (newspaper for clever people) would have a team on the story, making it watertight and verifying sources before publication. The way they used to do it in the bad old days before we had iPhones and 600 channels on TV.

I'm not one for discounting any information, we live in a strange world. But if journos can't be bothered with even the basics then fuck it. Non-news.

[Kano]

Vardy, Mahrez, Kante all Kane, Mesut Özil and Payet all on the list for PFA Awards.

Mahrez gets my vote.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa cancel their Player of The Season awards :lol:

[GP]

Ozil gets my vote.

[Marc Overmars]

Obviously Vardy or most likely Mahrez will win it and Ali will take the young player award.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rangers 2-2 Celtic in the last few minutes of ET in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

Zelalem is playing. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Griffiths smacks the bar from a freekick, hits the keeper, somehow stays out!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pelanties!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Halliday makes it 1-0 to Rangers.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mulgrew, right in the side-netting. 1-1.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Some pubber sends it sky high for Rangers! 1-1 it remains.

[Kano]

Rangers right back as scored 14 this season :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

McGregor hits the bar!

:haha:

Still 1-1.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

McKay just gets it in, Gordon lets it squirm in. Poor.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-2. Needs more Zelalem.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Clarke has it saved on to the bar from Gordon!

2-2.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Brown has it saved! :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wallace makes it 3-2. Griffiths for Celtic up.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Griffiths makes it 3-3. Zelalem is up!!!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Right in the corner! Zelalem. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

4-4, Lustig. On it goes!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Law rolls it in for 5-4.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a miss!!!!! :haha:

Rangers win!!! Zelalem MotM. :bow:

[GP]

Scotch football :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Scotch football :haha:

From yesterday:

https://streamable.com/2zpu?t=9.0

[Letters]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-36080667

:lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

123-reg :haha:

I remember those guys. Their auto-billing is shit hot. Doesn't matter how many times you cancel, you can't throw them off the scent.

[Letters]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-36099522

:popcorn:

Ched woz framed

[adzzzbatch]

Right decision IMHO.

[Marc Overmars]

Lying slut.

[GP]

Wimmin :rolleyes:

[Kano]

Sign him up

: pardew:

[GP]

At least the people of Twitter are being reasonable about the whole thing.

[Letters]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-36128693

Love a good cliff-hanger. :popcorn:

[Letters]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-36138337

Is that new news?

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Other than the fact that it's taken over 27 years for this to be legally acknowledged No

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Chelsea and Spurs have both been charged with failure to control players and officials

Only Dembele appears to have been charged for eye gouging, find it amusing that after Dembele did this Costa clutched the other eye in mock agony.

Spurs were being a bit naughty, over zealous tackling, aiming kicks at players and Lamela standing on Fibreglass' hand

Can't condone that kind of behaviour, but considering its against Chelsea who frankly were being given a taste of their own medicine can't really condemn it either.

[GP]

Frank de Boer has resigned as Ajax manager.

[LDG]

Frank de Boer has resigned as Ajax manager.

Wenger's fault!

Wenger Out!

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Martinez sacked and the aforemented De Boer favourite to take over!

That would put the number of top/elite coaches in the PL at an all time high next season ........ something's got to give.

- Conte @ Chelsea
- Pep @ City
- Klopp @ Liverpool
- De Boer @ Everton
- Pochetinno @ Spurs
- Mourinho @ Man Utd probably
- Wenger @ Arsenal :ninja:

Throw in Koeman who's done an excellent job at Southampton and Rainieri who's going to be managing the league champions then next season is bound to be extremely crazy!

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

sorry what was the last one?

[The Emirates Gallactico]

https://static-secure.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2010/10/29/1288361526422/Arsene-Wenger-006.jpg

I turned down many offers from Real Madrid and Barcelona you know.

[Kano]

Erm...


A Spanish fourth-tier side will be wearing one of the weirdest football kits of all time during their play-off campaign to ensure their players give their heart and soul to the cause.

Club Deportivo Palencia have launched a flesh-themed kit featuring a representation of the naked body to fire up their bid to reach Segunda B.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/13/spanish-side-naked-body-kit-play-offs-club-deportivo-palencia

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/05/13/00/341A045500000578-0-image-a-3_1463095448206.jpg

[Kano]

Quique Sánchez Flores to leave Watford after their last game on Sunday.

Rumours had been kicking around for a while about that. If it is a decision made by the club, what a dick move.

[GP]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CikeAhbXIAAkYnM.jpg

Rashford??

Townsend :haha:

Roy has lost it.

[Niall_Quinn]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CikeAhbXIAAkYnM.jpg

Rashford??

Townsend :haha:

Roy has lost it.

Woy never had it to lose.

[Marc Overmars]

Rashford will probably be one of the names cut.

Theo. :rose:
He has to leave us really if he wants to salvage any credibility.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

He only has any credibility in the first place as a result of playing for us, years of being picked internationally when his performances have not merited it.

[LDG]

That squad is going to get eaten alive.

[Marc Overmars]

Get the Euro section up and running!

[Niall_Quinn]

Goalkeepers: Hart, Forster, Heaton
Defenders: Bertrand, Cahill, Clyne, Rose, Smalling, Stones, Walker
Midfielders: Alli, Barkley, Delph, Dier, Drinkwater, Henderson, Lallana, Milner, Sterling, Townsend, Wilshere
Forwards: Kane, Rashford, Rooney, Sturridge, Vardy

3 to be cut.

[Marc Overmars]

Rashford, Delph and Townsend I reckon.

[Niall_Quinn]

More than half that squad picked on hype. Rooney again, the man who guarantees fuck all every time he hits the International stage. Truly remarkable. England need a manager with enough balls to defy the media hacks. They say Alli is a good player, so Woy agrees. Anyone ever see Alli actually play well? He's a bigger fuck up than Walnut. Sterling? He's hyped shit and he has proven it beyond a shadow this season. Sturridge and Wheelchair will be injured within minutes. Townsend is probably the WUM pick, Woy's one little rebellion. Barkley, what a fucking joke.

It has to be grudgingly admitted that Kane is decent, Vardy is on good form and merits his place, Lallana and Milner are solid enough, Clyne okay, guess he didn't have much choice with the keepers, Drinkwater and Henderson will carry the water. Otherwise every other selection is pointless. Which is what I expect England to be once the group stage is concluded - pointless.

[Niall_Quinn]

Delph :haha:

Didn't see him initially. That's a misprint surely?

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

More than half that squad picked on hype. Rooney again, the man who guarantees fuck all every time he hits the International stage. Truly remarkable. England need a manager with enough balls to defy the media hacks. They say Alli is a good player, so Woy agrees. Anyone ever see Alli actually play well? He's a bigger fuck up than Walnut. Sterling? He's hyped shit and he has proven it beyond a shadow this season. Sturridge and Wheelchair will be injured within minutes. Townsend is probably the WUM pick, Woy's one little rebellion. Barkley, what a fucking joke.

It has to be grudgingly admitted that Kane is decent, Vardy is on good form and merits his place, Lallana and Milner are solid enough, Clyne okay, guess he didn't have much choice with the keepers, Drinkwater and Henderson will carry the water. Otherwise every other selection is pointless. Which is what I expect England to be once the group stage is concluded - pointless.

Not much you can do if you don't have the talent to begin with, it's not like there are glaring examples of good players being overlooked.

[Niall_Quinn]

Not much you can do if you don't have the talent to begin with, it's not like there are glaring examples of good players being overlooked.

Still not a reason to pick Barkley.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Barkley is about the level England are at.

Almost certainly won't start

Absolutely crawling with Spurs players this squad

[Marc Overmars]

Not much you can do if you don't have the talent to begin with, it's not like there are glaring examples of good players being overlooked.

Yeah pretty much, we all know there is a very shallow pool of talent to begin with. I think most of the squad has been picked on merit but obviously you're always going to find some questionable names.

[AFC Leveller]

Noble has had a good season and should definitely be ahead of Delph. How the fuck has Delph been included?

[Globalgunner]

Most of that squad is pants. The worst part is that the 1st 11 doesnt jump out at you. same level of averageness. Only the defence is predictable. hard to root for a team with Rose and Walker as starting FB`s

[GP]

Most of that squad is pants. The worst part is that the 1st 11 doesnt jump out at you. same level of averageness. Only the defence is predictable. hard to root for a team with Rose and Walker as starting FB`s

Agreed. Rose and Walker are bang average.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Clyne will surely start ahead of Walker? Clyne has been solid all season, and in our team that's unbelievable.

You just know Roy will go for tried-and-trusted Milner and Lallana because they're dependable and work hard.....shit they're Liverpool. Great players. And in any case, Rooney is going to be shoe horned in like a tub of lard and destroy any hope of having a fast, exciting team so the other 10 make no real difference.


The Wales game is 2pm on a Thursday :popcorn:

[Niall_Quinn]

Everything hinges on Rooney getting injured early.

[GP]

No Grealish?

Madness.

[Niall_Quinn]

Sky Cunts are covering the Leicester celebrations. They missed Ranieri and Morgan coming out with the trophy so they could inflict their grubby adverts. :doh:

[Niall_Quinn]

Chelsea and Tottenham have been hit with record fines totalling £600,000 for the disorderly derby of Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea must pay £375,000 because it is the fifth time they have been guilty of failing to control their players in 14 months.
Spurs have been fined £225,000 because they have only two previous offences in the same period.

Effectively no action taken then. Arsenal would have been docked points and forced to play behind closed doors no doubt. What a deterrent this is. How will the chavs ever find £375,000? They'll certainly think long and hard before committing their sixth offence, I'm sure.

[AFC Leveller]

After all that drama, big mans signs on. what an attention seeking whore! He really is a class A prick.

[Marc Overmars]

The club wanted rid. He knew what he was doing with that speech. Scum.

[Kano]

He had the offer on the table before that speech unfortunately.

But this means we have to sit through another fucking goodybe next season.

[GP]

What a fucking narcissist

[LDG]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/20/david-ginola-hospital-collapsing-match

Mon dieu! :o

Hope he gets better soon.

[Kano]

Rodgers to Celtic :lol:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gjrLrZi5iE

:haha: :haha:

Hello Charles!

[Marc Overmars]

WTF. :lol:

[Kano]

Hello Charles :lol:

Rooney was in a Deadpool trailer too a few months back.

[GP]

Shameless.

[LDG]

https://twitter.com/xm20x/status/734859222345744384

:haha:

[Kano]

Benitez agress to stick around at Newcastle. Until it all inevitably goes tits up as usual up at the Toon.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

http://http://www.skysports.com/football/news/32817/10297713/hulls-steve-bruce-should-be-considered-for-top-jobs-says-ian-holloway (http://www.skysports.com/football/news/32817/10297713/hulls-steve-bruce-should-be-considered-for-top-jobs-says-ian-holloway)

Eh?

[Marc Overmars]

Townsend and Drinkwater cut from the England squad. :wave:

Can we have a section for the Euro's please?

[GP]

Drinky :wave:

[Master Splinter]

Bellerin included in the Spain squad. Juan Fran will probably play every game though.

Reus ruled out for Germany because of injury.

[Master Splinter]

Oh, and Big Vinny Kompany is joining the BBC team at the Euros:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36415794

:doh:


I suppose Townsend can rejoin the ITV team now.

[Kano]

http://youtu.be/ZaYqR_mBAiY

Bloody ridiculous

[Marc Overmars]

Payet is great.

[GP]

He sure can take a free kick.

And, um.. yeah he can take a free kick.

[Özim]

Townsend and Drinkwater cut from the England squad. :wave:

Can we have a section for the Euro's please?

Odd decision, Drinkwater has been brilliant this season and played well for England, Hodgson doing a Wenger and relying on overrated crocks :doh: , hopefully it will blow up in his face

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Odd decision, Drinkwater has been brilliant this season and played well for England, Hodgson doing a Wenger and relying on overrated crocks :doh: , hopefully it will blow up in his face

Is that you Alan?

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36423647

Oddly no mention of Kevin Gamiero who for me should have been one of the biggest beneficiaries of Benzemas naughty behaviour.

[Özim]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36423647

Oddly no mention of Kevin Gamiero who for me should have been one of the biggest beneficiaries of Benzemas naughty behaviour.

Deschamps has chosen Giroud a 2nd rate forward to lead his attack, France will get nowhere, they could have done so much better if they'd chosen decent strikers.

Honestly what do they see in Giroud he's not International class, never mind a matchwinner.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Deschamps has chosen Giroud a 2nd rate forward to lead his attack, France will get nowhere, they could have done so much better if they'd chosen decent strikers.

Honestly what do they see in Giroud he's not International class, never mind a matchwinner.

Again like for us he's leading the line when he should be a squad player.

I don't really rate any of France's strikers to be honest.

[Özim]

Again like for us he's leading the line when he should be a squad player.

I don't really rate any of France's strikers to be honest.

Yup, big mistake, they aren't blessed with top forwards but they do have better than him Gameiro being one and even though I don't rate Benzema that highly, he's better than Giroud (though they didn't pick him due to the off the field issues of course).

[Marc Overmars]

Michael Owen has claimed John Stones would walk into the Barcelona team and the reason he's made so many mistakes this season is because others around him are not as good as him and therefore not on his wavelength.

:haha:

[Globalgunner]

Michael Owen has claimed John Stones would walk into the Barcelona team and the reason he's made so many mistakes this season is because others around him are not as good as him and therefore not on his wavelength.

:haha:

Owen was accidentally dropped on his head at birth. You have to make allowances for his stupidity.

[Letters]

I know nothing :lol:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36433061

[GP]

Is ignorance a valid defence?

[Letters]

Not in England.

Well, ignorance of the law isn't. You can't just stab someone and say "whoops, I didn't realise that was illegal".

If he entrusted someone else to look after his finances - and he probably did - and they broke the law then maybe.

[Kano]

Di Matteo to be unveiled as Villa manager tomorrow :lol:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Looks like Koeman could be the new Everton manager.

Good move for them.

Was really hoping for Moysey to return.

[AFC Leveller]

Koeman would have been great for us, really like him and his style of play. Everton have got themselves a decent manager and with the few additions he can make them a very good side.

[I am invisible]

I know nothing :lol:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36433061

https://frinkiac.com/meme/S09E20/1267031.jpg?b64lines=R0lWRSBXSEFUIEJBQ0s_

[AFC Leveller]

https://frinkiac.com/meme/S09E20/1267031.jpg?b64lines=R0lWRSBXSEFUIEJBQ0s_

The Spanish authorities want a jail sentence and it sounds serious. HE'd definitely make the prison team tho.

[Niall_Quinn]

Gazza being done for SpeechCrime.


Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne has been ordered to appear in court to answer a charge of making a 'racially aggravated' joke while on stage during 'An Evening With Gazza' event.
The former Spurs player is alleged to have made a joke about a black bouncer who was standing in the shadows during the event in Wolverhampton Civic Hall on November 30.
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed Gascoigne, 49, is due to appear in Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court on June 17.

Apparently the CPS decided not to proceed but then some PC cunt must have got hold of it, wet his knickers and made an emergency call to the Ministry of Truth, Justice and Virtue. Whew - luckily somebody was on the case. Now we can all sleep easier.

[Kano]

Koeman confirmed at Everton.

And Totti signs another one year deal at Roma.

25th season :bow:

[AFC Leveller]

City in advanced talks with BVB about Aubameyang.

[Özim]

City in advanced talks with BVB about Aubameyang.

If you don't try you don't get.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

http://http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12028/10307415/cristiano-ronaldo-and-thierry-henry-feature-in-all-time-european-championship-xi (http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12028/10307415/cristiano-ronaldo-and-thierry-henry-feature-in-all-time-european-championship-xi)

Five players in all time XI never actually won the European championship title.

[Kano]

Hard to argue against Buffon, Maldini and Pirlo.

[Özim]

Puyol was sh*t.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Hard to argue against Buffon, Maldini and Pirlo.

Casillas won back to back European championships keeping eight clean sheets in 12 games and making saves in two penalty shoot outs.

Is Buffon a better keeper than Casillas? Yes of course but this is an all time XI that restricts itself to European championships and Casillas has achieved more than Buffon on that stage.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Puyol was sh*t.

I disagree I think he lost pace in the end, the real weak link in the Spain defence was Pique who I think is possibly the most overrated centre back there has ever been.

[Özim]

I disagree I think he lost pace in the end, the real weak link in the Spain defence was Pique who I think is possibly the most overrated centre back there has ever been.

Fair enough, always thought Puyol was the weak link at Barca, they often looked a shambles at the back with him playing, never rated the guy, thought he was a headlless chicken.

[GP]

Jaap Stam is the new Reading manager.

[Letters]

Puyol was sh*t.

This guy?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carles_Puyol#Individual


:blink:

[Özim]

Yes that guy, he's been lucky to have such great players around him, as a defender though, headless chicken.

Barca had a dodgy defence for years (defensively not the offensively), it was their weakness, the rest of their team was amazing.

[Letters]

:lol:

[Globalgunner]

Yes that guy, he's been lucky to have such great players around him, as a defender though, headless chicken.

Barca had a dodgy defence for years (defensively not the offensively), it was their weakness, the rest of their team was amazing.

They still have a dodgy defence, its their innate, perennial weakness. Any team that makes Mascherano a 1st choice CB is just looking for trouble. Mascherano is a great player but he never plays CB for Argentina does he?. Its the reason why Madrid always get the better of them recently, they exploit the defence. It is so obvious it is stupid. New manager, same tactics, It is as if the President chooses the team.

[Özim]

They still have a dodgy defence, its their innate, perennial weakness. Any team that makes Mascherano a 1st choice CB is just looking for trouble. Mascherano is a great player but he never plays CB for Argentina does he?. Its the reason why Madrid always get the better of them recently, they exploit the defence. It is so obvious it is stupid. New manager, same tactics, It is as if the President chooses the team.

I agree, they never seem to invest in top defenders which I find strange, always signing top attacking players, if they bought some top defenders insteads of players like Vermaelen they would be even better than they are.

Puyol was testament to the fact they don't invest properly in the defence and just make odd signings there, yes sure he won awards, but you do if you're in a team that wins everything because people overlook your weaknesses.

The defence is the reason you sometimes get a chance against them, one goal and the defence really gets exposed, most of the time the attack rescues them of course.

[Kano]

The main reason Barca allows chances is because they are a predominantly attacking team, taking more risks that leave their back four exposed. The teams that have strong defences rely on sitting deep and counter attacking.

Plus they are a football team. Every football team gives away chances, no matter how strong they might be. That is weirdly overlooked when we criticise teams, almost as if we expect no chances to be allowed at all. No team is ever perfect but it's about having far more strengths than weaknesses and ensuring that the pluses compensate more than the negative problems.

[Özim]

The main reason Barca allows chances is because they are a predominantly attacking team, taking more risks that leave their back four exposed. The teams that have strong defences rely on sitting deep and counter attacking.

Plus they are a football team. Every football team gives away chances, no matter how strong they might be. That is weirdly overlooked when we criticise teams, almost as if we expect no chances to be allowed at all. No team is ever perfect but it's about having far more strengths than weaknesses and ensuring that the pluses compensate more than the negative problems.

Yes and their defenders are setup to defend too, problem is if you do attack then they look brittle and that's not helped by the dodgy centre halves like Puyol and Vermaelen they sign or play, at least have some decent CB's who can defend.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

They still have a dodgy defence, its their innate, perennial weakness. Any team that makes Mascherano a 1st choice CB is just looking for trouble. Mascherano is a great player but he never plays CB for Argentina does he?. Its the reason why Madrid always get the better of them recently, they exploit the defence. It is so obvious it is stupid. New manager, same tactics, It is as if the President chooses the team.

Madrid always get the better of them? :wacko:

[Kano]

Sepp Blatter, the disgraced former Fifa president, has claimed he witnessed the fixing of a draw for a European football competition.

Blatter, in an interview with Argentinian newspaper La Nacion, did not elaborate on which competition he believed was rigged, but said he had seen a practice whereby the balls containing team names were cooled to make their identification possible when being picked out.

Blatter said only one team had benefitted from such a practice and he distanced himself and Fifa from any involvement, instead suggesting that it had happened not on Fifa’s patch, but under European governing body Uefa’s jurisdiction.

Asked specifically by La Nacion about the draw for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, which was favourable for Argentina, Blatter said: “The draw was clean down to the last detail. I never touched the balls, something that others did.

“Of course it’s possible that they can be signalled, by heating or cooling them. It doesn’t happen in Fifa, but I’ve witnessed draws at European level where it has happened, but never in Fifa.

“Of course it can be done, but it never happened under my watch, never.”

Blatter explained how a ‘blind’ draw could be fixed, saying, “Balls are put in the freezer before the draw, at the slightest touch you can tell if the balls are hot or cold.

“By touching them you know exactly what you have.”

The Swiss, who turned 80 in March this year, is currently serving a six-year ban from all football-related activity. He is appealing the sanctions through the court of arbitration for sport.

Football :haha:

[Marc Overmars]

Koeman officially appointed at Everton.

I guess this could be his audition for a top club. If he can manage to elevate such a stale club like Everton then maybe he is cut out for bigger things.

[Letters]

Football :haha:

How would that work though? If you wanted 2 teams to be drawn against each other, or avoid each other, you could chill those two balls I guess. Other than that though the rest of the draw would be random.

[Kano]

I guess it would happen if a smaller team was drawn and then to help ensure a larger team gets an easier draw, then you pick out one of the colder balls. That would be the reason they would do it, to ensure the money spinning teams stay active in the competition. A little like Madrids route to the final this season...

[Letters]

I guess the question is whether there's any clear pattern to it. We had a few years when we were getting tough draws and people on here started saying about it's a fix but no-one said anything when we got easier draws!
Maybe it goes on but Sepp Blatter is a massive liar so I'm not sure how seriously to take anything he says.

[Kano]

That's true but he is also a massive idiot. At the height of the FIFA scandal last year, he came out and said that the World Cup had been awarded to Russia before voting had even began. Which was bizarre given he hadn't even been banned from football. Now this of course. He could be just trying to stick the knife further into Platini but because he's seen as such a fraud, people won't believe that if UEFA were doing it, then FIFA were not. He's basically just implicated himself further by trying to point fingers elsewhere.

[Niall_Quinn]

I guess the question is whether there's any clear pattern to it. We had a few years when we were getting tough draws and people on here started saying about it's a fix but no-one said anything when we got easier draws!
Maybe it goes on but Sepp Blatter is a massive liar so I'm not sure how seriously to take anything he says.

He's a massive liar, a crook, a fraudster - I think it's safe to be 100% sure of how seriously you should take his lies. Besides, if he spotted anyone else fixing a draw he'd sue them on intellectual property rights.

[Letters]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36721892

Wow! :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

Can't wrap my head around how greedy some people are. You literally have everything, world feted professional footballer, more money than he could ever count. Must be some form of illness that strikes you when you are in the proximity of a lot of currency.

I wouldn't know.

[Letters]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36734518

:rolleyes:

[Marc Overmars]

I was in Nandos earlier and Dele Alli was stood in queue behind me. :wacko:

[LDG]

Was he over rated, and did he go for glory?

[GP]

Nando's is overrated so it's no surprise to see him there.

[Özim]

Nando's is great, love the food there.

[Letters]

Nando's is fine but it is a bit over-rated.
It's like Five Guys. I love Five Guys me but what's with the massive queues? It's good but not that good.

[Marc Overmars]

It's nice but definitely overrated, I guess because it's affordable it's become a go-to place. Bit like Five Guys as well.

The Chicken Shop though. That's life changing. :good:

[Kano]

6th July - Bielsa signs on as new Lazio manager
8th July - Bielsa resigns as Lazio manager

The lunatic needs to come to the Prem.

[fakeyank]

RVC showing his moves to future scouts :haha:

https://twitter.com/WitkacyWTK/status/752103823838212096

[Xhaka Can’t]

ECL Qualifying - Lincoln Red Imps 1 Celtic 0.

:haha:

[GP]

Imping ain't easy

[Marc Overmars]

A part time team from Gibraltar. :haha:

That is horrific Celtic.

[Kano]

Rodgers you fucking loser :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

Fat Sam or Steve Bruce to be the next England manager. :haha:

[GP]

They're also fat.

[Kano]

Fat Sam will perform the best since Venables I think.

Good football? Forget about that but then again so has the rest of global football so he'll be in good company. He'll have a plan, won't fuck about and will get the best out of a bunch of average footballers. Which is essentially what he's done for years.

He'll be an unpopular choice for many but what else is left to try if England want a 'successful' national team at a tournament? Done the foreign thing, done the 'up and coming Englishman', done the experienced Englishman, so why not drop the pretence and get back to being comfortable playing shit football with minus expectations?

[Niall_Quinn]

Fat Sam or Steve Bruce to be the next England manager. :haha:

I was hoping they'd give it to Rio. Fat Sam and Brucie aren't nearly as funny as Rio. Can you imagine the post match interviews? A real chance for some classic comedy passed up there. Shame.

[Letters]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36844570

:lol:

Rooney will be sent off every* game

* - by which I mean never, as clearly it won't apply to him.

[GP]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QpO_QNFQjU

[Niall_Quinn]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36844570

:lol:

Rooney will be sent off every* game

* - by which I mean never, as clearly it won't apply to him.

This is a charter for match fixing. As you say, Rooney will have immunity. But our players will be subject to every crackpot decision. Match officials should earn respect by being professional, instead of being incompetent, attention seeking tossers like the motley crew we have in the top flight of the PL.

Lineker and Mowbray. Fucking clapping cunt seals performing at the public zoo. Oh yes, more rules, more authority please! And then when the rules are ignored in favour of one team over another - yes, we'll pretend it never happened! We'll talk right over it. We'll gloss it, massage it. As always.

How about screaming like a girl and rolling around the place, or diving as soon as you are touched? This cheating is destroying the game and giving unfair advantage to teams like the Spuds. When is that going to be cracked down on?

Never I guess. Because that's a rule we really do need.

Anyway - refs are cunts. So what's so awful about calling them a cunt? Crazy new rules, make no sense.

[Letters]

While respect should be earned, at the same time if you show the level of disrespect to your boss that footballers show to refs, even if they are cockwombles, then you'd soon be looking for a new job.
I guess the relationship isn't quite boss/employee but the refs should, in theory be the ones in charge.
You don't see that level of disrespect in other sports.

That said, the level of refereeing in the PL is shocking. I remember years ago when they talked about making referees professional I disagreed with a friend who said it won't make them any better. He was right, if anything they've got worse, but I still don't understand why I was wrong and professionals can be worse at something than professionals.

It'll end 5 a side if it was properly enforced so, of course, it won't be.

Agree about the level of cheating, that would be a better place to start. It doesn't help that it's encouraged by the pundits who label players 'clever' who do it.

[Niall_Quinn]

While respect should be earned, at the same time if you show the level of disrespect to your boss that footballers show to refs, even if they are cockwombles, then you'd soon be looking for a new job.
I guess the relationship isn't quite boss/employee but the refs should, in theory be the ones in charge.
You don't see that level of disrespect in other sports.

That said, the level of refereeing in the PL is shocking. I remember years ago when they talked about making referees professional I disagreed with a friend who said it won't make them any better. He was right, if anything they've got worse, but I still don't understand why I was wrong and professionals can be worse at something than professionals.

It'll end 5 a side if it was properly enforced so, of course, it won't be.

Agree about the level of cheating, that would be a better place to start. It doesn't help that it's encouraged by the pundits who label players 'clever' who do it.

Multi billion quid industry and the officials have to rely on spotting every little thing that goes on and then interpret the intent. It's difficult, but we've seen refs in the past who can do it. Most of the current crop of refs are diabolical. Nobody wants the game to stop every minute for every infringement, but there needs to be consistency and it's just not there. Introducing technology at the top level is the simplest solution. There would be no delays, at least nothing longer than we already have when it takes a player around 5 minutes to posture before a free kick and the ref does his thing with spray cans. It's hard to know why technology has been resisted for so long. It's suspicious. Other sports have integrated technology without a fuss, but not the biggest sport in the world. Which also happens to be the biggest money spinner and also the most corrupt, at least at the top level. I don't believe they want to cheat for their favourite teams, but I certainly think they want to cheat in favour of the big marketing teams and players. If Ronaldo got booked every time he cheated, for example, he'd be sent off every match. That would be bad for the old cashflow so the refs turn a blind eye. Then there's the pressure of the occasion. A match can be ruined if you send a player off in the first minute, as that cunt who deliberately crunched Alexis' ankle in the first minute of the Copa should have been dismissed. The spectacle and the cash are setting the decisions, the rulebook is a handy guide to be used when cashflow isn't risked. Technology would seriously fuck up the cosy little arrangement.

[GP]

Fat Sam to be named England manager.

[Niall_Quinn]

Fat Sam to be named England manager.

:lol:

[Kano]

Fat Sam to be named England manager.

Damn, I was hoping he was next in line after Wenger.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fat Sam. :haha:

Jesus wept.

Still it shows some think he has nous.

This coming from the brainboxes that gave us Roy Hodgson for four years.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I'm really excited about this

Not Big Sam could be making a big return on Twitter

I don't know if he's had a family crisis or something, but Allardyce getting the England job should be enough to tempt him out of retirement

[Niall_Quinn]

Fat Sam. :haha:

Jesus wept.

Still it shows some think he has nous.

This coming from the brainboxes that gave us Roy Hodgson for four years.

Out of the fwying pan and into a big bucket of lard.

[Coney]

Fat Sam. :haha:

Jesus wept.

Still it shows some think he has nous.

This coming from the brainboxes that gave us Roy Hodgson for four years.

I'm prepared to see what Fat Sam can do. There are not very many managers out there that can do the job. I mean English managers. I absolutely do not want a non-English manager. It is the England team for better or worse so the players and manager should be English.

We don't need fancy managing for the team - we need someone who can motivate the players and someone who is strong enough not to be told who to play by the FA. Maybe the Walrus can do that. If he can, and if he can drive the players (and I am pretty sure he can do that) then perhaps we can see some better football. I don't think Sam is the kind of manager to accept mediocrity from any player and I think he is also the kind of manager to play who is on form at the time.

Roy never struck me as a motivator. Neither does Bruce. I don't know who else we could have. Anyway, we will see what we see, but even if he doesn't win the world cup ;) I do think it will be better than the crap we have had to put up with for years.

[Letters]

I'd prefer an English manager but I don't think it HAS to be someone English. Yes, we're England but so long as the actual players are English I don't think the nationality of the rest of the staff is as important.
It's got to the point where I don't care who the manager is any more, whoever it is it surely can't get worse than limping out to Iceland. Iceland! :lol:
Fact is our players aren't good enough to mix it with the very best international teams, until we get the grass roots coaching sorted out to create players technically good enough to compete we're not going to be getting to the latter stages of competitions whoever our manager is.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Let's be honest with ourselves, International management is not a big draw for the top, talented managers so there wasn't a big pool of talent to draw from

I don't like Allardyce especially, and i do wonder if this appointment is ten years too late but what he achieved with Bolton was pretty spectacular, and apart from Newcastle where he wasn't given enough time (and to be fair how many managers do succeed there?) he has a solid record with every premier league club he's ever managed.

His biggest selling point is his man management and motivational abilities and you have to say England are badly missing both.

No it's not an appointment to get excited about, but can't really see any reason not to give him a crack at it.

[Coney]

Let's be honest with ourselves, International management is not a big draw for the top, talented managers so there wasn't a big pool of talent to draw from

I don't like Allardyce especially, and i do wonder if this appointment is ten years too late but what he achieved with Bolton was pretty spectacular, and apart from Newcastle where he wasn't given enough time (and to be fair how many managers do succeed there?) he has a solid record with every premier league club he's ever managed.

His biggest selling point is his man management and motivational abilities and you have to say England are badly missing both.

No it's not an appointment to get excited about, but can't really see any reason not to give him a crack at it.

:good: Yeah - not an earthshattering appointment but perhaps the best we can do atm, assuming that we are only having an English manager. And I am quite firm in my belief that the manager of the team of Englishmen should be English. (It is also going to be easier doing the motivational speech at half time in the dressing room if you are English. How does a (say) Swede give the 'do it for England' speech.)

[Marc Overmars]

I would have gone for someone left field like Klinsmann personally.

Though really a change in mentality from the players is what's needed the most. None of them enjoy playing for England and until that changes we'll continue to see such fragile tournament performances.

[Marc Overmars]

Bruce has left Hull. :unsure:

[Niall_Quinn]

Bruce has left Hull. :unsure:

The England job claims another victim? Timing seems more than coincidental.

[LDG]

Fat Sam as manager.

Fucking hell.

Show's you the old boys club is still well and truly kicking.

They should have just thrown mega money at that cunt from Spurs. Not only would it have been funny to see the Spuds lose another manager, it would just be funny. At least he has a clue about building a side.