2012-13 English Football Season

[DK]

In other news, Chelsea fans are probably the worst bunch of whiny entitled shitheels in the football community at the moment and it is disgraceful. WAH WAH, RAFA OUT, WAH WAH, WE'RE A TEAM IN CRISIS, BLSUJEHEUIFHIFHEIFU would you shut the fuck up, you won the CL last season and you're currently in third position in the premier league, with a stupidly rich owner who unfortunately doesn't appear to be getting bored of you scummy cockney tits and your miserable football club full of world class players yet. OH NO WE'RE IN A CRISIS NOW fuck off, pathetic inadequately endowed spoilt bunch of inbred danny dyer wannabe ponces.

[Psychotic]

Well if 3rd place is a crisis (one I'd very much enjoy having) then I'd hate to see what they thought of sitting in 6th throughout most of last season. The thing to do in times like this is to repeatedly boo the manager because he once made a comment 6 years ago about how silly it is to have plastic flags. That unwavering support will help the team through this DEADLY CRISIS.

[Loony BoB]

To be fair, you simply don't bring in people that your fans detest. It's kind of absurd, at least to me. I mean, shouldn't the people in charge know that this kind of thing will happen? Oh well. I don't really care for Chelsea so I don't give a crap if they aren't happy, I just find it strange that they hired someone the fans don't like to such a level.

[DK]

To be fair, they could have brought in God himself to sit on a shiny golden throne in the Chelsea dugout, the whinging little :bou::bou::bou::bou:s would still be screaming GOD OUT if they weren't in first place with a flawless record. They are a bunch of ridiculously entitled tits who are already getting way more than they deserve and they're still not happy with it so smurf 'em, I hope Rafa rebels and leads them directly to the championship on purpose and does a giant dump on a chelsea crest whenever he finally walks out of the oversized public toilet known as Stamford Bridge.

[Psychotic]

Not liking Rafa is one thing, but Chelsea's fans did the exact same smurfing thing to Grant, Scolari, AVB and even Mourinho, the man who brought them so much success. Third. smurfing. Place. My mind is blown.

[Loony BoB]

That's true. Although it does make you wonder why the hell they got rid of De Matteo when he was doing well.

EDIT: Maybe Roman is a firm believer in ensuring that football managers should all be paid even when they aren't in a job. :confused:

[Bubba]

I've always had a particular dislike of Chelsea fans. They buy their way to success and now they're a rich London club they just expect nothing but success in every competition. Although, I do know a few Utd fans that have this attitude... it is ugly and it is the unfortunate price of success!

Also, that is a massive three points for us. Very tough game but I'm taking nothing for granted after last year.

[DK]

That was a game and a half, great fun to watch, all the goals were hax although Sergio's especially for me, but Stevie G special as well. Not the ideal result for us but I still really enjoyed that.

[Psychotic]

Yep was a corker. Daniel Sturridge hasn't been half bad. I want to see Big Andy brought home and then the two of them will form an 80-goal-per-season partnership. (75 of the goals will be scored by Big Andy)

[Bubba]

It really was a cracking game today. A draw was definitely the right result as both teams played fantastic. Obviously it's great for us with a nine point gap... but I'm not getting over-excited with 13 games still to go!

I still can't decide whether I liked Stevie G or Aguero's goal better! Probably the latter due to the difficulty level.

Just realised I'm gonna be over in Dubai when the big derby showdown takes place at the start of April. That will be an experience and a half!

[DK]

And that, my friends, is the comedy Manchester City that I've known and loved for so many years. I've missed you. :heart:

[Bubba]

As much as City were pretty bad, you can't take away from how awesome the Saints were tonight. They gave Utd a real game at Old Trafford and we were lucky to come away with all three points.

I'm beginning to believe...

[Psychotic]

I'm beginning to believe...Are you going to be doing this shit going into the last day of the season? Do Man United fans dare to dream of finally securing the Premiership title...? is this their long awaited moment to shine? No, no of course not, they're only 28 points clear... but maybe... just maybe...

Take your false modesty and shove it up your arse. The title is yours again and nobody cares anymore :colbert:

[Bubba]

Charming as always, Psy!

As a Utd fan, I would normally be a lot more confident. After last season though I'm taking nothing for granted.

[Psychotic]

You get to support a football team that wins titles, I get to be an arsehole in the football thread. That's how this works!

When the fabled Our Year occurs in 2058 and Liverpool reclaim the title that is rightfully ours I will be the friendliest fellow in all of football thread town should I somehow still be still alive.

[Old Manus]

If the Swans finish this season ahead of Liverpool I promise that when I inevitably make admin I will move Psychotic into my own special usergroup where every viewable post written in the English language filters to an ASCII swan, and all he is able to post is 'Leon Britton?'

[Psychotic]

In a break from your scheduled football thread trolling, I will make some actual analysis. Remember when I used to do that? That was fun.

You may all recall repeated instances where I've said Rodgers is not quite as good as Dalglish. I'll give him one thing though, he's somehow turned Downing, Henderson and Enrique from 2 or 3 out of 10 players into 6 or 7 out of 10 players. I say somehow. He's mastered the very difficult art of "Playing them in their actual positions" that King Kenny couldn't quite seem to grasp. Who knew that putting Henderson in the middle of the park and using Downing as a right winger would work? I don't quite know where the myth that Downing plays on the left comes from but I do wish Championship (refuse to use the new name) Manager and FIFA would stop it. Oh, and I don't have a smurfing clue how Rodgers fixed Enrique but respect.

In other news, I am predicting either a United win or more likely a score draw at the Bernabeau (too lazy to Google correct spelling). I reckon Phil Jones and Rafael are going to boss the smurf out of Ronaldo. Maybe Fergie will put Welbeck on the right wing to hunt him down too. United's three actual strikers all have goals in them and Jonny Evans, Lonny BoB's favourite all time player, is not bad. I don't really give a trout which team wins though, I'm sort of vaguely supporting Real out of principle but I just want a good game above all else. Also maybe I'm a loser but I am really looking forward to Alonso v Carrick most of all. :shobon:

edit: smurf me. I think this is actually the most depressing Liverpool game I've seen in the past three years and believe you me I've seen some stinkers. This is probably even worse than the Oldham game. smurf a duck. I know "midtable team loses to other midtable team" doesn't sound bad but to put it in context, WBA didn't have an attempt on goal until the 80th minute.

[Loony BoB]

I think you have Jonny Evans confused with John O'Shea.

[Bubba]

Definitely a bit of a smash and grab last night from the Baggies. Ben Foster was outstanding though. Good to see one of our old boys doing so well... it's a bit of shame we don't have him at the minute. Though I still feel criticism towards De Gea is well over the top. If he had made the same mistake as Joe Hart did on Saturday then we wouldn't be hearing "it was a one-off" and "he's still world class"... nope, he'd be lambasted by every man and his dog.

Anyway, back to the game. Liverpool were very poor in the first half but definitely improved after the break. I did expect them to go on and win, especially considering the form of both teams. Considering how inconsistent Liverpool are, I thoroughly expect them to get a result at Zenit on Thursday!

A word on Wednesday's game. Not many teams get one over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu so like most Utd fans, I'd be happy to come away with a score draw. That's a good shout with the Carrick/Alonso match up. It's funny how a die-hard Liverpool fan can spot how good a season Carrick is having yet most United fans choose to ignore it. Though most of them only have eyes for RVP.

Everyone keeps saying how important it is to have your home leg second. When you consider that Real Madrid and Mourinho (on seperate occasions) have gone through after an Old Trafford second leg, it's not a given.

Also, anyone who thinks Juventus will come away with a win at Celtic Park tonight is absolutely bang on the money...

[Psychotic]

I think you have Jonny Evans confused with John O'Shea.John O'Shea is a bad player you think is good and Jonny Evans is a good player you think is bad.

Also yep, De Gea > Joe Hart by a country mile this season. For all the jibes he'll turn out to be very decent. And in terms of pure football ability I do love me some Michael Carrick I do. Would that our very own Welsh Xavi reach even half of his level.

Also also, I imagine we'll beat Zenit 5-0 in Russia then lose 6-0 at Anfield.

[Loony BoB]

John O'Shea is a bad player you think is good
He's AMAZING.

and Jonny Evans is a good player you think is bad.
I think Jonny Evans is bad? Nah... perhaps I used to, but not so much anymore. I only used to think that because he had a massive tendency to get himself sent off (and it was always a stupid mistake and he always deserved it).


Also also, I imagine we'll beat Zenit 5-0 in Russia then lose 6-0 at Anfield.
Be sure to chant some pro-gay and anti-racism chants. The more of you that turn up wearing rainbows, the better. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20770678)

[Psychotic]

I know it isn't going to happen but I would genuinely love it if we signed Jonny Evans.

Also yeah, if only Justin Fashanu were still around. I'd love to let him loose on the smurfers.

EDIT: Liverpool are the first team in Europe's top five leagues this season to hit 500+ shots

...fuck me.

[Loony BoB]

Yeah, you tend to be quicker to rush in the shots when you're not winning and the minutes are ticking away. ;)

[Psychotic]

I don't know if you think I was bragging about having so many shots but trust me I really wasn't.

[Loony BoB]

I know. You didn't use the smug smiley, after all!

[Bubba]

Looks like I was spot on about Celtic...

Just read this report about tomorrow's game and it made me chuckle.

Wayne Rooney was depicted as a "hooligan" in the Spanish press on Tuesday, with sports daily Marca also describing the England striker as "a freckled demon" who is "built like a barrel packed with gunpowder" and on his way to "blow up the Bernabeu".

Asked about the unflattering reports in the Spanish press, Ferguson added: "Rooney can't read Spanish so we will be all right."

[Loony BoB]

Looks like I was spot on about Celtic...
Smooth edit, there, chap.

EDIT: Speaking of edits. :p Rio Ferdinand in defence, eh? I reckon he'll be bullied by Ronaldo. :(

[Psychotic]

Told you guys it'd be a score draw :smug:

Decent game, all the CMs - Carrick, Jones, Alonso and Khedira - all did really well which is what I like to see! I also read on one of my favourite football sites that Fergie is turning Welbeck into the new Dirk Kuyt. In other words, a striker converted to a hard working industrious winger and it ooks like that experiment is paying off.

Also is it me or have 95% of the comments about David De Gea this season comprised of sentiments along the lines of "HAHAHA smurf YOU HATERS AND CRITICS!!! WHY YOU NEVER CRITICISE JOE HART!?!?!?!" compared to the 5% that is actual criticism? Good lord.

Return leg will be 0-0, United to go through.

[Loony BoB]

Told you guys it'd be a score draw :smug:

Decent game, all the CMs - Carrick, Jones, Alonso and Khedira - all did really well which is what I like to see! I also read on one of my favourite football sites that Fergie is turning Welbeck into the new Dirk Kuyt. In other words, a striker converted to a hard working industrious winger and it ooks like that experiment is paying off.
Welbeck would play regularly on the wing for United's youth teams, so it's not a new thing for him to play from there. I think he's doing what he's done with almost every young player at United - ensuring they can play in multiple positions. Welbeck is only played there to keep him having good gametime, though. SAF can't justify putting him in ahead of Van Persie and Hernandez at the moment, so he puts him on the wing instead. He's been good there, but I still think he's far better up front - just too much competition, that's all.

Also is it me or have 95% of the comments about David De Gea this season comprised of sentiments along the lines of "HAHAHA smurf YOU HATERS AND CRITICS!!! WHY YOU NEVER CRITICISE JOE HART!?!?!?!" compared to the 5% that is actual criticism? Good lord.
I think it's more directed at the media than at other users making comments. Although there are still a lot of those people, too.


Return leg will be 0-0, United to go through.
I highly doubt it will be 0-0, this game could have been 3-3!

[Bubba]

Right.

Hangover? Check. Sweaty breakfast barm? Check. Renewed sense of misguided optimism? Check.

We acquitted ourselves fantastically last night. Obvious praise to be heaped on De Gea, Jones and Welbeck who for me, was man of the match by a country mile. To be honest, I expected De Gea to do well so it wasn't really a surprise. I have to say that Jonny Evans could now be our new first-choice centre-half. Rio and Vidic can alternate partnering him. Kagawa looked a little out of his depth. I'd like to see Cleverley pit his wits against Alonso et al in the return leg.

The second leg concerns me a great deal. It's clear that Madrid prefer playing on the counter which they were unable to do last night. Old Trafford will be a different proposition. We are bound to have a bit more of the ball and inevitably will push forward during these periods. We'll have to be extremely careful of their threat on the break.


Also is it me or have 95% of the comments about David De Gea this season comprised of sentiments along the lines of "HAHAHA smurf YOU HATERS AND CRITICS!!! WHY YOU NEVER CRITICISE JOE HART!?!?!?!" compared to the 5% that is actual criticism? Good lord.

Yeah, to be honest I never hear any criticism of David De Gea on EOFF. It's more aimed at the majority of football fans outside of this forum... who admittedly will never read a word of what I say. Still, I feel better inside.


Return leg will be 0-0, United to go through.

Never in a million years. I reckon 2-2 or more hopefully... 3-2 Utd. If it's 0-0 I'll post a picture of me dressed like a Spanish slut being dominated by Ronaldo.

EDIT: Took me ages to write that but I agree with pretty much everything BoB said. It's good though that Welbeck is a versatile forward like Rooney. They were both out of position last night but you have to admit, it worked like a treat.

[Psychotic]

Yes, it could've been 3-3... and do you think for one second that Mourinho and Ferguson will stand for a repeat of that? ;)

[Loony BoB]

SAF didn't play defensively against Barcelona despite it being the known "thing to do", I doubt he'll sacrifice his attacking nature anytime soon, particularly when you consider our strengths lie in attacking football. The same can be said for Real Madrid. Sometimes you just have to outscore the opposition and these two clubs specialise in such football. I don't think that we'll see them suddenly both switch to defensive formations in the second leg. Defensive and patient are not words I'd use to define either of the sides. :p

EDIT: Also, I don't think United could have had a more defensive team on the pitch without sacrificing a striker for a central midfielder. All four attacking players on the pitch were spending a lot of time tracking back, too. They had a back four that didn't stray far forward (Evra excepted on occasions, and I have no idea how that guy who took Evra down didn't get sent off considering Evra was in front of him and he was the last defender), a defensive midfielder and Carrick played a generally deep holding/playmaking role.

[Rocket Edge]

Late with my comment but just have to mention Danny (Eric) Welbeck. My MOTM as well, a really coming of age performance against Madrid. It was a good result but my concerns about the return leg are shared with Bubba's.

[Psychotic]

Well after that gruelling away trip all the way to Russia let's see who we're pl... OH GOD DAMNIT :argh:

Why the fuck did the second most important game of the football thread season have to be after a horrible away tie :colbert:

[Bubba]

Oh dear... the Swans haven't been the force they were last year. Though I suppose any game involving Liverpool will be unpredictable!

I reckon you will sneak a win though. Maybe 2-1 one or something like that.

[Old Manus]

I've already written it off in preparation for the Bradford game next week.

Also Arselol

EDIT:

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/UI6HS.gif" alt="there is no need to be upset" />

[Old Manus]

Okay, come at me. Do your worst (like we did).

[Bubba]

Well at least I predicted a Liverpool win but I didn't expect that. I didn't see any of the game but by all accounts Swansea were pretty poor. It was pretty much their B-side though, if they had a full strength side out it would have been a lot closer. Fair play to the scousers for putting them to the sword though.

As for tonight, there'll obviously be a lot of changes for us being at home. I still expect us to get a comfortable win by a couple of goals.

[Old Manus]

Come on, psybeans, I know you're planning something

[Bubba]

Something must be going down... his absence is slightly odd after such a monumental win!

[Psychotic]

Yes, you rumbled me, I'm planning all sorts of devious things. :greenie:

In other news, man, how good are Bayern?

[Psychotic]

Double post but I don't care.

We're out of the Europa League but I'm happy. I know that sounds weird, but I am. Don't get me wrong, I don't hold the common English view that the Europa League is a waste of time because it's not - it has a lot of very smurfing decent sides in it and I really wanted to win it again this year. And, to be blunt, it's a much more appropriate competition for us to be in than the Champions League anyway. I don't know. There's just something unique about Liverpool and almighty comebacks and those European nights at Anfield that I can't really describe, but that's just who we are. And even though we lost the tie, it felt like I was watching Liverpool again for the first time in a very long time. Watching them going down fighting - Luis Suarez is a smurfing supernova and you know what? DOWNING FOR ENGLAND. I said it - rather than seeing yet another limp pathetic draw feels good. We're not a great team right now, not at all - you only need to look at the league table to realise that. But it doesn't matter how good you are as long as you smurfing give it your all and they did. Tonight made me happier than some of our victories this season. Again, I know it sounds odd, but it is what it is.

[Rocket Edge]

Great post Paul. Although I am not a Liverpool fan as many of you know it did take me back years when I was looking at the performance there the other night. Anfield was rocking, and it was great to watch.

[Formalhaut]

Swansea absolutely smashed Bradford to take the (awfully named) Capital One Cup. Can't say I'm surprised, though I'm glad for both sides. Bradford did an amazing run, while I have a soft spot for Swansea.

I enjoyed it.

[Old Manus]

41183

Really am living the dream these days. Literally. God I love football sometimes. We were so smurfing slick with the ball it was like some kind of graceful ballet. Granted Bradford weren't your typical cup final opposition, but at no point did they get anything approaching a sniff of the ball, let alone a goal. I just wish I was there like I was at the playoff final (which will forever be the best game I'll ever attend).

[Bubba]

Swansea definitely justified their team selection against Liverpool last week now! You could tell how much this meant to the players as they clearly brought their A game. Poor Bradford didn't know what hit them.

I'm looking forward to seeing Swansea in the Europa League next year. I reckon they play the right kind of football for that competition.

[Psychotic]

I did wonder if you had gone. Congratulations :)

I always feel a bit guilty whenever we beat a lower league club in a cup final. :shobon:

[Psychotic]

Why is this thread dead? :colbert:

Alright, I'll bring it to life with a controversial opinion: I think Luis Suarez should be footballer of the year. Yeah, yeah, I know I am biased. And I do like to wind you all up by over-hyping him sometimes because none of you like him. This is a serious post though. Bale or Van Persie will probably win it but they're playing in better teams with better players under better managers. To achieve what Suarez has in a mediocre team is impressive.

I know Donal will come in and point out his shots per goal stat, but here's a more interesting stat for you. Read this article! It's good, trust me! (http://www.football365.com/f365-features/8527397/The-Premier-League-s-Top-Ten-Creators) Though I admit I also want to show it because Rickie Lambert is a personal favourite of mine and I was so pleased I had him in my FF team from Day 1! Lambert for England? Fuckin' yeah Lambert for England!

Anyway, I eagerly await the Liverpool baiting replies but I'll just round this off by saying that Luis Suarez is far too good to play for a team that is fighting for 7th place and it's only a matter of time before he's off to somewhere better. I hope no matter your allegiance you can agree the Premier League will be weakened and less entertaining when he's gone.

[Loony BoB]

Footballer of the Year? I assume you mean PFA Footballer of the Year or something, something for the Premier League. Suarez has certainly carried Liverpool to some extent this season but I think he'd have to actually carry them to a higher position if he were to get something out of it. I think he'd be in with a shout if only because so few other footballers have really stood up from the top four teams this season... but I still think RVP will probably take it on the account of his assists and not being a dick. Bale has few assists this season (oddly, you'd expect him to get a fair few...) but his goal tally is high despite not being a striker, and one could argue he's carried them to a more notable position in the table than Suarez and, when club stature is taken into account, perhaps has out-impacted RVP. Tricky to call, to be honest! Maybe Evra could win it. Four goals and six assists, only missing one game (and playing 90 minutes for all others), defender of the season at least surely... ;)

[Psychotic]

No, I meant EoFF Footballer of the Year. Let's have an awards ceremony at your flat and invite all the big names! Probably not Ryan Giggs though, you just know he'd try to have his way with Danielle.

Also lol Liverpool fans chanting Rafa's name and my favourite the "smurf off Chelsea FC" song. Deserved.

[ScottyRedXIII]

Big win for West Ham today!!! Edge of the seat last 5 minutes though, and wonder where the ref got 5 minutes from.... not that any one cares...

[Old Manus]

I hate to say it, but Liverpool are actually looking good (read: not shit) lately. I daresay that if things keep up, next year may be their year.

[Psychotic]

That's my line :colbert:Yeah we did well in January with Sturridge and Coutinho, if you discount the shocking first few months where we were getting used to the system we haven't been too hideous, although the WBA game was abysmal. Next year I think the very best we can hope for is 4th. And that's dependent on two of: Arsenal stagnating further, Chelsea not getting their shit together and Tottenham doing a Newcastle. Oh, and dependent on us not doing a Liverpool of the past 4 years too. And Suarez not fucking off to Bayern/Barca/Real/City.

Also with Phil Jones out injured I would like to retract my goalless draw prediction for the Madrid game.

[Loony BoB]

Both excited and nervous about tonight. Could go any way, and I'm reeaaaaally hoping it goes ours. No idea who will fill in for Jones, though... would not be surprised if he's suddenly and miraculously fit, but if not, I hope they don't replace him with Cleverley. I love Cleverley, but he is very much an attacking player and we played well against Madrid with two deep midfielders. Really struggling to pick out who it might be... Scholes would get himself sent off if he had to try to keep up with Ronaldo, Anderson hasn't played enough games, same with Fletcher. Giggs? Wouldn't get sent off like Scholes would, but would be just as ineffective with his lack of speed. Rafael or one of the other central defenders are perhaps possibilities but I'm not sure SAF would risk that. Very, very tricky to figure out who it will be.

[Bubba]

Managed to get tickets for the game tonight from my girlfriend's Dad and can't wait either! Our midfield will definitely struggle tonight though and I can see us conceding a couple of goals. It's just whether or not we can outscore them. I'm not entirely confidfent and I reckon it will end up 2-2 with Madrid squeaking through. I'm sure it won't be a one-sided affair though... I reckon they'll still be one of the teams searching for a goal in the final minutes. I just hope it's not us!

Also, sorry Psy but I wouldn't have Luis Suarez as player of the year. I'll be the first to admit that he's right up there. He's proven himself time and time again in a mediocre team. It'll be Bale or Van Persie though. Personally, I'd go with Bale just because he's absolutely devastating. I hope you get to keep Suarez though because I love to hate that fucker. If you keep him, then I can honestly say next year will be your year...

...to finish 7th behind Utd, City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal and Everton... maybe even eighth behind Swansea.

[Psychotic]

Well, as long as we finish above West Ham so I can maintain my dominance over ScottyRedXIII then I'll be happy.

[Loony BoB]

Stunned. Game ruined by the ref.

[Psychotic]

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e373/photobucketamazingness/ib2BsbUFyoZpqQ_zps39f76c7c.gif

How the smurf is that a red? :confused: Nani's boot goes to the side of his armpit. Game and contest indeed ruined. Where's Howard Webb when you need him?

[Bubba]

Those games are just the worst to take.

Tactically perfect over two legs (even though he was criticised both times) and undone by one incredible decision. How many times in a game have we seen a player bring the ball down over his shoulder? The only way he can manage it is to keep his eye on the ball and have his foot high enough to bring it down. There is no way he could see Arbeloa when trying to do that.

It's a shame because United were fantastic tonight and the crowd were equally impressive. I am now cheering for the Germans in the Champions League... that's how upset I am.

[Bubba]

Double post but I couldn't give a fuck right now.

Modric's goal was a cracker. We all thought it was deflected from where we were sat.

[Old Manus]

Roy Keane didn't have a clue about football when he was a player and I still don't give much weight to his opinion now. That was never a red - imo it wasn't even a yellow. That kind of tackle happens 10 times a game in the Premier League, even more so when Stoke are playing.

Utd played better than Madrid. Jose was right, even though he was just trying to win over the Old Trafford crowd in preparation for his succession. Modric's goal was an absolute oh my screamer though, and at the end of the day their finishing made the difference. Utd had a lot of chances late on, but they were all just straight at the keeper. Just bad luck, really.

[Psychotic]

I thought Keane was disagreeing just for the sake of television. He is usually one of the better pundits on ITV. Miles ahead of the likes of Townsend and Southgate.

[Loony BoB]

I can understand where he's coming from on some level because if the letter of the law says that it doesn't need intent or awareness of the other player then it's a red... but then, if that's the case, every held shirt, every high foot, every overhead kick, etc. etc. etc. should also be an instant card and never a caution, but this never, ever happens. The problem is not neccessarily with the ref, but with the rules and how drastically they can differ between game and nation. It's really frustrating.

I knew before the game that we could have gone out tonight, I felt it 50/50. It didn't go our way in the end, but seriously, the ref just ruined the game at that moment for me. It's a real shame.

Oh, and as for Keane, while I can understand where he's coming from, it's no secret that Keane always tries to make some kind of rebel-esque statement so people take notice of him. Sometimes I like what he says, but even in those cases it tends to be something the rest of the world will disagree with, so... :p

[ScottyRedXIII]

Well, as long as we finish above West Ham so I can maintain my dominance over ScottyRedXIII then I'll be happy.

As much as I would love to argue this point, it would be pointless... Think we would just be happy to finish top half of the table...

[Psychotic]

GIVE US BIG ANDY BACK :argh:

you can keep joke ole. :colbert:

[Bubba]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say Man Utd are gonna win the league.

I reckon West Ham are looking at a safe mid-table position, no worries. I was quite surprised to learn Liverpool have a better goal difference than Spurs who are third.

[Old Manus]

The Swans certainly helped there.

[Shoden]

Is it safe for a Newcastle fan to be in here? haha, we're only just starting to do alright, give or take the loss to Swansea though.
I'm considering going to the home leg against Anzhi on Thursday night depending if I can get some mates to go.

[Bubba]

Absolutely, my friend. I reckon this thread has less than ten people who regularly contribute so the more the merrier! It'll mix things up more having a Newcastle fan involved too.

Psy will be glad to have another fan who has experienced the ecstasy/pain of Andy Carroll first hand.

[Cz]

You were right all along guys, Arsenal really suck. :(

[Psychotic]

Well I did warn you.

[Bubba]

You were right all along guys, Arsenal really suck. :(

Now hang on. They've still got the... erm and, and they're still in the, err...

Ah yes, you're right.

[Psychotic]

Ah, Bubba, you poor new fella. The football thread now is dominated by United fans, but back in the day we used to have about 6 Arsenal fans and only a couple of Uniteds. I drove them all out with anti-Arsenal abuse, one by one, until only that poor withering husk of a man charliepanayi was left. I wish I had not done so now!

The final straw for Cz was when I told him Momo Sissoko was better than Abou Diaby (turns out they're BOTH useless!) and that CJ kills himself at the end of San Andreas.

[Cz]

Ah, Bubba, you poor new fella. The football thread now is dominated by United fans, but back in the day we used to have about 6 Arsenal fans and only a couple of Uniteds. I drove them all out with anti-Arsenal abuse, one by one, until only that poor withering husk of a man charliepanayi was left. I wish I had not done so now!Now that both our teams are crappy, can we call it a truce?

I'm glad charliepanayi's still around. He always had more sensible opinions than me anyway. On which note...


The final straw for Cz was when I told him Momo Sissoko was better than Abou Diaby (turns out they're BOTH useless!) and that CJ kills himself at the end of San Andreas.

Ryo Miyachi will have a more successful career in England than Raheem Sterling.

Not really, he'll be Carlos Vela 2.0.

Further OG Loc is the final boss of GTAV.

[Mikztsu]

Come on FULHAM!

[Psychotic]

Ryo Miyachi will have a more successful career in England than Raheem Sterling. Sadly I already have an arrangement with Old Manus about Nathan Dyer and Raheem Sterling.

We can do it with Suso if you want. He'll probably be on the Osasuna bench within 18 months.

[Cz]

Ryo Miyachi will have a more successful career in England than Raheem Sterling. Sadly I already have an arrangement with Old Manus about Nathan Dyer and Raheem Sterling.

We can do it with Suso if you want. He'll probably be on the Osasuna bench within 18 months.Done. Let the squabbling commence!

But seriously, my lot are horrible to watch this year. Time was when even when we weren't winning we could convince ourselves we were playing pure geometrically perfect football(TM), and claim the moral high ground over all those philistines finishing above us in the table. Now we don't look good or get results. Regardless of whether we make the top four, this is the first year under Wenger where I really feel we don't deserve to, and that's the real indicator of how the talent level has dropped over the last few seasons. The game against Bayern really made it hit home - we were outclassed all over the pitch, because we just weren't on their level. That's quite hard to take for a fanbase as smug as ours.

Oh well, at least we have a handsome striker. :love:

41698

[Loony BoB]

Fulham fans exist? *_*

[Psychotic]

Ramseys and Gervinhos aside, your kit this season is pretty appalling too. You can say what you want about how shocking LFC are as a team but I tell you what, we have the god damn classiest kit in the whole league this year. The whole Adidas identikit-stripes-across-the-sleeves gimmick was wearing thin.

[Cz]

Oh yeah, no doubt. It looks even worse when we play in long sleeves. Luckily this has been an historic year for horrible kits, what with Barca's barcode, United's tablecloth, and Southampton's not-really-a-Southampton-kit-at-all-now-is-it, so we almost get away with it. Our away kit is just as hideous as any of that lot, though.

You guys have done pretty well for yourselves, although I must say I think City's is pretty classy too.

Fulham fans are way cool. Any friend of Moritz Volz is a friend of mine.

[Psychotic]

Not a fan of the City kit to be honest, but their third kit they wore against Aston Villa the other day is pretty sweet. Speaking of Barca... that away kit. You know the one I mean. God damn.

In other news, let's see if we can get Heath out of the woodwork too! David Moyes, 11 years, 0 trophies. Never understood the hype around him to be honest with you. The whole "he does well on a budget!" is a little bit of a myth, Everton have spent more money on players than you might realise.

At least he's better than that twat Tony Pulis who has spent a smurfload of money on players and then moans that he can't play good football because he's so cash-strapped. Even if he wasn't rolling in cash - and he is - it's not like Swansea and West Brom (who play better and are deservedly higher in the league table) are big spenders, are they? Twat. Would love to see Stoke go down even if they did play lovely football simply because Pulis is the most obnoxious manager in the league. Allardyce can get to smurf too while I'm at it.

[Cz]

Not a fan of the City kit to be honest, but their third kit they wore against Aston Villa the other day is pretty sweet. Speaking of Barca... that away kit. You know the one I mean. God damn.I try not to think about it. Although as long as we're talking away kits, we're not the only club with a purple monstrosity this season. (Have your lot actually worn yours? I've never seen it.)


In other news, let's see if we can get Heath out of the woodwork too! David Moyes, 11 years, 0 trophies. Never understood the hype around him to be honest with you. The whole "he does well on a budget!" is a little bit of a myth, Everton have spent more money on players than you might realise.

At least he's better than that twat Tony Pulis who has spent a smurfload of money on players and then moans that he can't play good football because he's so cash-strapped. Even if he wasn't rolling in cash - and he is - it's not like Swansea and West Brom (who play better and are deservedly higher in the league table) are big spenders, are they? Twat. Would love to see Stoke go down even if they did play lovely football simply because Pulis is the most obnoxious manager in the league. Allardyce can get to smurf too while I'm at it.Truly you are a man after my own heart. It's one thing to play boring football when you're a newly promoted club trying to survive, but Stoke are an established top flight team with a decent budget, and they've got a better squad than, say, Norwich did under Paul Lambert - with one or two additions they could play whatever style they want.

Although I have to say, if I were a creative-minded midfielder looking to break into the Premier League, the last place I'd want to go is Stoke. Can you imagine how Pulis would use a player like Michu? :yuck:

[Psychotic]

Yeah, we wore it when we put 5 past Norwich. Apparently their yellow kit clashes with both our red and our black ones so we had to wear purple... that or the marketing team wanted it, whichever.

Also to answer your final question, I don't need to imagine it. See: Sanli, Tuncay. Such a waste.

[Shoden]

Well, I heard Sunderland got beaten by QPR. So a win against Stoke tomorrow puts us ahead of them again.
Also, legend has it Andy Carroll is the second coming of Christ.

[DK]

Oh man, the Paulo set is still the best thing i've ever seen. I have missed you George you filthy arsenal fan.

[Old Manus]

All we need is Russielloyd and Doc Sark and we've got the set!

Also hello Cz, you missed my greatest years in the football thread.

[Psychotic]

I think Russie died of an almighty orgasm when he learned Paul "World Class" Robinson had signed for Blackburn.

[Loony BoB]

All we need is Russielloyd and Doc Sark and we've got the set!

Also hello Cz, you missed my greatest years in the football thread.
Needs more Heath and Resha.

[Bubba]

FA Cup Semi-finalists: Wigan, Man City, Blackburn and Man Utd... hopefully.

Hoping like pretty much everyone, that it's a Manchester derby final.

[Shoden]

Oh my word, I thought it was game over for a while there.
Newcastle produced chance after chance but they couldn't turn them into goals time and time again.
Then Stoke got their penalty from a foul off... Tiote, who would have guessed?

Puts them in front, we get a free kick moments after on the edge of the box and what a shot from Cabaye. Nicely done.

Snatching it injury time with a Cisse goal was brilliant though.

I was mostly glad to see the local lad Adam Campbell play. He's from North Shields which isn't far from here and could be the next local hero in a few years, he's looking a great player even now in his really early days.
Watch out Andy Carroll, he wants to steal your thunder so you cannot return to your promised land home D:

[Psychotic]

ANDY CARROLL'S PROMISED HOMELAND IS ANFIELD :colbert:

Anyway massive win. Suarez > Bale and Psychotic > Lifelong Spurs Fan Iceglow :)

[Bubba]

I like the part where Downing has the whole of the goal to aim for... and hits it straight at Vertonghen. Still, good win for Liverpool. I thought the first goal was class and definite penalty at the end.

Our game I was just glad to see the end of. We played well for about 20 mins then Chelsea were excellent, especially in the second half. It'll be a tough task at the Bridge... whenever that game will be played. No idea when that will be though!

[Cz]

Also hello Cz, you missed my greatest years in the football thread.Your greatest years are just beginning, if your beautiful manager has anything to say about it.


Needs more Heath and Resha.Please.


Hoping like pretty much everyone, that it's a Manchester derby final.Only if you're counting all of Greater Manchester. Would love to see Wigan win the thing. :p


Anyway massive win. Suarez > Bale and Psychotic > Lifelong Spurs Fan Iceglow :)Yeah, cheers for that. Not that we're finishing above Spurs, but I did enjoy watching them defend like a travelling circus for your last two goals. Was nice to see Stoke screw up as well. Didn't watch the game, but the vision in my head of Pulis jumping up and down on his stupid cap is all I need. :D

[Crop]

I am still here and a Man Utd fan. Even sticking though them during these tough times, out of the Champions League and a draw at home against Chelsea, but I Still BelieveTM. We will fight though these really difficult times as a club, and come out stronger. WE WILL NEVER DIE. :cry:

[Old Manus]

>tough times
>12 points clear
>this is what manure fans actually believe

[Bubba]

I agree with Crop. This has been a week from hell for our fine club. Out of a cup competition and nearly out of another! The rest of you really don't know what suffering is until you're a Man Utd fan. I think the pain we have experienced in the last five or six days must be the equivalent of starving children in Africa. Also, 12 points isn't that much. That kind of deficit can be overturned in... months. Also, consider our next league game. A tough home fixture against a side second from bottom. You... you just don't understand.

I'm pretty sure Crop was being sarcastic.

[Iceglow]

As I said when talking to Paul during the game, I didn't see the foul what gave Liverpool a penalty but knowing that it was Ekotto who gave the foul it was probably something stupid and easily avoidable.

Still not sure I'd ever agree with the Suarez > Bale thing he's sprouting on about, think that the Liverpool away kits have rotted his brains.

[DK]

Gareth Bale isn't fit to handwash Luis' game sweat drenched underwear let alone be discussed the same breath as him, the filthy chimpanzee-looking diving welsh ponce. the sooner he fucks off to spain and stops soiling the premier league with his general awfulness the better. :colbert:

[Psychotic]

EoFFers who think Luis Suarez is bad: Iceglow, Loony BoB

I don't really need to add any more than that, do I?

[Loony BoB]

I think he's a dick, I didn't say he was a bad footballer, did I? Pretty sure I said he'll be right up there for Player of the Season.

[Crop]

I agree with Crop. This has been a week from hell for our fine club. Out of a cup competition and nearly out of another! The rest of you really don't know what suffering is until you're a Man Utd fan. I think the pain we have experienced in the last five or six days must be the equivalent of starving children in Africa. Also, 12 points isn't that much. That kind of deficit can be overturned in... months. Also, consider our next league game. A tough home fixture against a side second from bottom. You... you just don't understand.

I'm pretty sure Crop was being sarcastic.


See, Bubba knows what it's like to be a Utd fan. I mean, we win so much that it just hurts that much more when we lose or draw! The rest of you guys don't know the pain we feel. Oh how I wish I was a QPR fan sometimes, those guys have it soooo easy!

[Iceglow]

EoFFers who think Luis Suarez is bad: Iceglow, Loony BoB

I don't really need to add any more than that, do I?

I suggested I had my doubts as to Suarez being better than Bale. I never called Suarez a bad player, I just said Liverpool have some pretty shit away kits this year.

I would definitely say if I was building a "dream team" I would have to consider both very highly for positions on the team.

[Psychotic]

I'm just going to close this off by saying that the Liverpool fans chanting "You're just a shit Stewart Downing" whenever Bale blasted into row Z were complete geniuses. :)

[Bubba]

A word on the champions League game tonight. I think Barca have next to no chance of progressing tonight. As long as Milan are sensible and don't do anything stupid, it should be pretty straightforward to see out this tie.

Cue 5-0 Barca win.

[Loony BoB]

It's already tied... and thinking that Barca can't score three goals more than the opposition at home is a very odd thing to think. :p

[Bubba]

I was almost right with 5-0! I still think Milan could have contained them if they set up differently.

[Cz]

I was resolutely pessimistic about the prospect of tonight's match, but that brave comeback by plucky underdogs Barcelona has allowed this old cynic to hope again. The media have written us off, but with a bit of grit and determination I'm confident that our boys can hold Bayern to three goals, max.

[Bubba]

As much as we all know that Arsenal are pretty much out, I'll still be watching the game to see how they set up. I think Bayern will get the win but I'm hoping Arsenal give them a game. They might be able to snatch a draw.

[Cz]

Rumours going around that Wenger isn't even going to field a full-strength squad. I'm hoping we get to see at least half an hour Aaron Ramsey at right back trying to handle Arjen Robben.

[Psychotic]

Rumours going around that Wenger isn't even going to field a full-strength squad.How does one tell the difference between that and a normal squad? Not a dig, even. Arsenal have so few stand out players now.

[Cz]

How does one tell the difference between that and a normal squad? Not a dig, even. Arsenal have so few stand out players now.Turned out to be just rumours in the end, but the talk was that Walcott and Cazorla would be on the bench. Probably shouldn't have paid any attention, but I wanted something to be angry about. :greenie:

I don't know if that's true, anyway. While I agree that our first team isn't exactly star-studded, our backups are still a significant downgrade on that, and a lack of depth means things like playing Ramsey on the wing or asking Mikel Arteta to be a ball-winning midfielder. Arsenal could get by with the current first team if they had quality replacements to step in when things go wrong, but instead we paper over the cracks with mediocrity every time there's an injury.

[Psychotic]

Giroud grabs a very fast goal! Game on...? Surely not! ;)

[Cz]

Pretty pleased with that to be honest, or as pleased as you can be with being knocked out of a competition. We didn't play particularly well, and Bayern were far from at their best, but we gave a good account of ourselves and nearly managed to rescue what looked like a hopeless cause. Considering I never expected us to make it past Bayern, it's hard to complain about having come so close to doing just that. Hopefully this gives us a bit of morale boost and helps us pick up our form in the league.

[Psychotic]

Fabianski wants to be #1 Polish keeper again I guess!

Also, Millwall or Wigan will be in Europe next year. Should be fun!

[ScottyRedXIII]

If Millwall represent us in the Europa League next season..... Eurgh....

[Old Manus]

I'm sick of playing Arsenal this season.

[Bubba]

Come on you Toffees!

[Psychotic]

Yeah, if Everton don't get a result today I think the title is heading back to Eastlands! :eek:


...

Nope, sorry Bubba, still not feeling it. Maybe try again when the gap is less than double figures.

[DK]

I blame this entirely on Psychotic. I bet he has finally perfected his voodoo chants of evil after years of the mongolian curse ruining Liverpool. :colbert:

[Bubba]

Yeah, if Everton don't get a result today I think the title is heading back to Eastlands! :eek:

Nope, sorry Bubba, still not feeling it. Maybe try again when the gap is less than double figures.

All I said was "Come on you Toffees" :colbert:

Did I make reference to the title race? No I did not.

[Psychotic]

OH MY GOD

THEY'VE DONE IT

CITY'S TITLE DREAMS ARE IN TATTERS

WHO COULD'VE SEEN UNITED SNEAKING THEIR WAY BACK INTO THE TITLE RACE!?!?!?!??!?!

Better yet, that's blown the world famous Race For Fourth right open!!!
All I said was "Come on you Toffees" :colbert:

Did I make reference to the title race? No I did not.And what other possible reason do you have for supporting Everton? Their beautiful brand of football? :greenie:

[Bubba]

I was supporting Everton as they were playing our nearest (league position and geographically) rivals.

Plus, my office is full of smug City fans after last season so I'm relishing in resuming my usual role of smug Utd fan.

[Psychotic]

Your office, eh? Well maybe if you focused more on Tesco and ASDA as your rivals instead of Manchester City you wouldn't be doing so badly in the supermarket league table. ;)

[DK]

I AM NOT A BENEVOLENT GOD PAUL FEEL MY WRATH

[Psychotic]

You son of a bitch xD I knew you were responsible for this. As soon as you buggered off to Japan we won four games on the bounce, including Swansea and Spurs - teams we never fucking beat.

[DK]

Yep this is the first time I've looked at BBC sports website while the football is actually live since i've been here. I checked it right after the city game ended and just left it open, then I clicked back just then to see what was happening and well. The power of Genghis reaches far and wide and will not be stopped.

[Bubba]

Your office, eh? Well maybe if you focused more on Tesco and ASDA as your rivals instead of Manchester City you wouldn't be doing so badly in the supermarket league table. ;)

Haha, well after the Tesco scandal, the supermarket league table (much like the EPL) is a one-horse race!

[Psychotic]

Dan did you lose attention and go off to do a Steve's dinner for a moment there? He might look like a Jonas brother but I quite like little Coutinho. :)

EDIT: BBC Football:

Michael Grimwood: "Liverpool will do nothing until they turn up against the teams at the bottom. Terrible."

you fucking moron xD this is the worst comment I've ever seen on BBC football and that is saying a lot.

[DK]

Coutinho is exempt from the curse thanks to the joy of him and Jonjo, naturally. Speaking of is Jonjo crippled or something, haven't heard of him playing for ages and that depresses me greatly.

[Psychotic]

Nope, he's just not in very good form at the moment. Mind you, that's not stopped Welsh Xavi getting into the team. :|

[Bubba]

There's no shame in losing at St. Mary's this season. We were lucky to snatch a win there and they actually tore City a new one when they played them.

With a little help from Gareth Barry of course :)

[Psychotic]

Well thank you for trying to make me feel better but you really can't compare Liverpool to either of the Manchester teams. I think losing 3-1 is a pretty good result for us actually! :excited:

[Heath]

For any City fans wanting to find some positives (or perhaps negatives depending on your outlook!), us beating you today helped rescue me from the life questioning depression I've been suffering from ever since that awful, awful match against Wigan.

[Shoden]

A loss is a loss but when the components for the loss were the result of terrible refereeing its hard to swallow http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8378/8564708205_8fbe228daf_o.gif
This a potentially career ending challenge here and its cringeworthy to even watch. No warning, no card, no sending off at all for this guy either. Possibly could have changed the game, who knows.

The 2nd goal they got was the result of an obvious handball as well and nothing was said about that.
The Wigan manager then goes on to say contact is inevitable, the player got the ball. That he's glad they got a handball goal.
Somewhere Maradona is crying tears of joy.

[Psychotic]

That "tackle" is fucking nasty and clear red. I admit I was slightly excited when I had heard about a Newcastle player getting fucking taken out because I had hoped it was Yohan Cabaye, who is owed several "tackles" like that. Nasty piece of work.

[Shoden]

Surprised you never mentioned Tiote, he makes Cabaye look like nothing with his reckless challenges, lunges and kicks constantly. The guy's a liability and I question why he keeps getting picked :/

[Old Manus]

Tiote was playing like Nathan Dyer had a bounty on his head at Parc Saint Jacques. Honestly surprised ol' Nate Dogg didn't go off injured.

[Shoden]

It was last week he was the reason for the Penalty Stoke got. Its not often he goes a game without a yellow and even without that a player like that just gives away free kicks and penalties.

[Cz]

From the replays I saw, it seemed as though the linesman was looking right at the McManaman tackle, so no idea how he didn't get sent off. Looks like the FA are going to hand down a three-match ban, so at least he won't get away with it entirely.

Also, can someone confirm that Gervinho actually scored when through on goal this weekend and that it wasn't just a dream/hallucination on my part?

[Shoden]

According to not only the Wigan manager but their chairman too, that challenge was completely clean. You know, rather than try to stir up a situation what's the harm in just manning up and apologising rather than trying to cover it up like its nothing?
The club is doing nothing but harm to their reputation with statements like this.
End of the day one of THEIR players made a potentially career ending and malicious challenge on another team's player and from what I hear he did a very similar challenge, studs showing to a Manchester City player in what I think is a reserve match not too long ago.

[Psychotic]

Also, can someone confirm that Gervinho actually scored when through on goal this weekend and that it wasn't just a dream/hallucination on my part?Uh... Gervinho's been dead for 18 months. :erm:

[Old Manus]

You can't die when every single PL player is coked up to the nines on steroids 24-7.

[Psychotic]

I assumed it was growth hormones except they only worked on his forehead.

[Cz]

Michael Owen's announced he's going to retire at the end of the season. Good.

Psy, I'm already watching the 2001 FA Cup Final goal to save you the trouble of posting it. :)

[Psychotic]

Oh wow, has it really been that long since you posted here? I have nothing but contempt for Little Mickey now! :jess:

[Loony BoB]

Yeah, ever since Owen decided he actually wanted to win the Premier League, Liverpool fans hate the guy.

[Psychotic]

Well, if he wanted to win the Premier League, joining Real Madrid was a strange way to go about it.

[Cz]

Oh wow, has it really been that long since you posted here? I have nothing but contempt for Little Mickey now! :jess:Neat. Please summarise your current views on the following players so I can update my records:

Patrick Berger
Rigobert Song
Bernard Diomede
Vegard Heggem

tia

E: I think Michael Owen is a Big Smelly Jerk and he never left my team to go and win the league (making him one of the few players currently on the books of a Premier League club not to have done so).

[Psychotic]

Fuck yes
Fuck no
how the fuck does that man have a World Cup winner's medal?
Another for the "fuck yes" pile.

[Loony BoB]

Well, if he wanted to win the Premier League, joining Real Madrid was a strange way to go about it.
Perhaps he thought they had a better chance of it than Liverpool? Also, I'm under the impression his move to Real Madrid wasn't 100% his choice.

[Cz]

how the smurf does that man have a World Cup winner's medal?Ahahaha I had to look this up and oh man

[Psychotic]

It was definitely him, because he smurfed us around with his contract, kept saying he would sign it and he had nearly reached an agreement, then announced with one year left that he was leaving. Ballon D'Or Winner, English striker in the prime of his career... £8m. Yeah.

So no, I don't begrude him for going somewhere better, and nor does any Liverpool fan. I don't dislike Arbeloa or Alonso for going to Real Madrid - hell, I even root for Madrid over Barca because of them. I don't like Owen because he spent months lying to the fans. I am one of those fans, and growing up he was my absolute hero and idol. Now I find a great deal of pleasure to be found in how his career ended up. :)

To summarise:

41947

"People will say my timing for leaving Anfield was suspect but how was I, or anyone else, to know that Liverpool were about to go on the most incredible run to the final?

:crying2:

[Loony BoB]

They sat the sod on the bench for the Champions League group stage games, didn't they? So they could sell him?

If they wanted to keep him, I'm honestly sure they could have. The new manager didn't manage his man. Owen was happy enough at Liverpool until the managerial change, yes? Dunno.

Either way, I'd say he did alright, he got a Premier League title in the end. :D

[Psychotic]

All I'm saying is that if Luis Suarez played for Manchester United he'd be your best player of the past 20 years. Fact.

ps: do you know one of the few managers who has been way worse than Rafa this season? Martin "Has spent £30m" O'Neill. Never forget. ;)

[Loony BoB]

FACT. xD Oh man, that rant. I don't get what people found so groundbreaking over Kenny Keegan's "I would love it if we beat them" rant, but the FACT rant? That was the most mind boggling thing ever. Benitez is a funny little man.

Martin O'Neill is still managing a PL club?

EDIT: wtf, Dalglish? xD

[DK]

Kevin Keegan

[Psychotic]

Wrong former Liverpool #7 there sport. ;) Dalglish regularly learned Ferguson:

First there was Ferguson, bitterly complaining that decisions had gone against his side. He claimed to radio reporters that it was no surprise managers ‘have to leave here choking on their own vomit, biting their tongue, afraid to tell the truth’.

Not too many rival managers have stood up to Ferguson, particularly when in full rant mode. Dalglish wasn't daunted however, and carrying his baby daughter Lauren past Ferguson, said: 'You’ll get more sense out of her.'

Genius. :)

Not for much longer if he keeps this up. They're getting sucked closer and closer to the mire.

[Loony BoB]

Kevin Keegan
Yeah I have no idea why I said Dalglish. xD

[Shoden]

I thought Michael Owen retired years ago! Ha XD He'll probably write a ridiculously over dramatised auto biography of his experiences on the benches!

Oh, update on the Newcastle situation, the FA has a flat out decided NOT to charge the player or Wigan for the challenge or retarded statements of their management.
They have however charged Assistant manager John Carver with misconduct who got sent off at half time for trying to talk to McManaman, got dragged away by 4 stewards.

Newcastle is looking to take it further though which is IMO good. This incident is another bullet point to the mile long list of reasons the FA is like one of those "special kids" so to say.

[Cz]

So it turns out Calum McManaman won't be facing any disciplinary action for his horror tackle after all, because the linesman saw it and didn't take any action at the time. I'll admit that I forgot about that rule, probably because the last time I heard about it I thought it was so stupid that there was no way they wouldn't change it at the first available opportunity. Anyway, I hope that linesman finds himself working Blue Square South games for a while.

[Psychotic]

The FA are officially loons.

Also it's funny how England used to have such huge strength in CBs - Campbell, Terry, Ferdinand, Carragher, King. We were smurfing spoiled. Now what the hell do we have? Lescott, Caulker and Taylor? Is that what it's come to now? Dear oh dear.

[Bubba]

All I'm saying is that if Luis Suarez played for Manchester United he'd be your best player of the past 20 years. Fact.

What about that guy who winks on the left... and winks on the right?

Other than that, he'd be up there. But not in my top three. Possibly five.

[Psychotic]

Oh Daniel. :aimkiss: The other Daniel was blatantly trying to spout inane trolly gibberish so I just responded in turn.

[Bubba]

My bad. I didn't read the argument in much detail. I shouldn't be on EOFF and stalking exes at the same time.

[Psychotic]

I remember when your ex-girlfriend joined EoFF and I sent her a PM asking her to leave you for me (Or I would crush her skull) She did not respond. :-/

[Bubba]

She doesn't respond to much anymore as that very same night... I crushed her skull.

She was a Sheffield Wednesday fan anyway. Hardly a big loss.

[Heath]

The FA are officially loons.

Also it's funny how England used to have such huge strength in CBs - Campbell, Terry, Ferdinand, Carragher, King. We were smurfing spoiled. Now what the hell do we have? Lescott, Caulker and Taylor? Is that what it's come to now? Dear oh dear.

Jagielka.

The McManaman decision is ridiculous, as is the "the linesman saw it" rule. The FA need to stop pretending that officials aren't human beings who make genuine mistakes, that can and should be corrected.

[Shoden]

Fortunately, there's no significant damage to Haidara. Apparently his knee cop popped out and if it stayed out it could have meant almost a year on the sides but it popped back in itself. Sounds nasty in itself as it makes me shudder thinking about it but its thought he'll be back before the season ends.

It softens the blow of there being no justice a little bit.

[charliepanayi]

The latest round of World Cup qualifiers have begun with a thrilling last-minute winner for New Zealand against New Caledonia! OK maybe there’s better to come later…

It does now mean though that New Zealand are already a two-legged playoff (against whoever finishes fourth in Concacaf out of Mexico/USA/Honduras/Costa Rica/Jamaica/Panama) away from making the World Cup. Maybe they’ll be unbeaten at the tournament again if they make it.

[Loony BoB]

Should have got at least one victory (offside goal) last tournament, if not two (soft penalty, although I didn't see that game). >=( Obvoiusly we would have gone on to win the cup.

[Psychotic]

You didn't even watch the game? You're a plastic kiwi, you are.

[Heath]

I went to see New Zealand at the Olympics and I'm fed up with all the plastic fans like BoB. I even bought a NZ scarf!

[Bubba]

Yeah well, I had sex with Nani.

Talk about being behind your team...

[Loony BoB]

You didn't even watch the game? You're a plastic kiwi, you are.
Work only showed certain games at certain times, and unfortunately this certain game was at a certain time that I was not allowed to watch. :( Still, at least my work is cool enough that they let us have two hour lunches during the World Cup when your team is playing.

[Psychotic]

A real kiwi would've taken it as Annual Leave or skipped/had half hour lunches to do it as TOIL. :colbert:

[Bubba]

I think England did exceptionally well against an organised and suprisingly effective San Marino team. This was always going to be a tough game but after the eighth goal went in... I fully believe England are now the finished article.

I see no reason to suspect we won't coast to World Cup glory in Brazil.

[Psychotic]

8-0? DISGRACE. World Class England should've been in at least double figures. In Heaven, tears are rolling down Bobby Moore's cheeks.

FAO Editors of The Sun and Daily Mail: I'm available.

[Loony BoB]

A real kiwi would've taken it as Annual Leave or skipped/had half hour lunches to do it as TOIL. :colbert:
I think you have your sports confused.

EDIT: Either that or your nations.

[Psychotic]

I know what your issue is, sir.

Manchester United: Successful. Loony BoB gives all kinds of fucks.
The All Blacks: Successful. Loony BoB cannot stop throwing fucks at them.
The All Whites: Bag of balls, only got into the World Cup because Australia fucked off to Asia: Loony BoB, 2010 "UHHH NO I SUPPORT SPAIN ACTUALLY."

I'm onto you. :colbert:

[Bubba]

I can honestly say I had shivers watching that game last night. The majestic way in which England moved the ball across the pitch was a wonder to behold. There were 11 heroes out there last night. From the unpassable Joe Hart to the genius of Tom Cleverley and the ruthlessly clinical Wayne Rooney.

Though my highlight was two-goal messiah Jermaine Defoe. He will definitely be revered as a god after his performance. May he be rewarded by being fed fruit by a thousand whores before bathing in the tears of small children.

[Loony BoB]

I was more referring to you suggesting that a true Kiwi would have done everything they could to watch what most Kiwis would refer to as a 'game of soccer'.

EDIT: I think the America's Cup might be watched by more New Zealanders, although I'm a little out of touch with how they view yachting at the moment having not been in NZ for a good eleven years. Will have to ask Hannah (NZ'er who moved to Scotland in the past six months and now works opposite me, small world :D). I know soccer was popular amongst kids when I was there, so you never know...

[Rocket Edge]

Ireland got a 0-0 away to Sweden. Great result but we really can't hit a barn door with a football. We had a couple of chances to take the game but what happened? Zero shots on target.

We need a win at home to Austria or I believe this WC campaign will come to an end, which is sad because Brazil 2014 needs a drunken Irishman such as myself out there to chat up gullible Brazilian women. "Aren't you Robbie Keane?"

[Heath]

Quite looking forward to the Montenegro game. I looked them up on Wikipedia and they're ranked in the middle twenties (lol FIFA rankings. They're about 45th in the ELO). I remember them being surprisingly good. They only have a population of about 600, 000. Must be a candidate for best ranking to population ratio.

[charliepanayi]

Yeah Montenegro lost in a playoff to qualify for Euro 2012, and have a decent chance of another playoff spot this time even if they lose to England. They've made a lot of progress pretty quickly.

[Psychotic]

Their first choice forwards are probably better than England's! Oh ...and we're using our 5th choices in defence. Should be a laugh!

[DK]

which is sad because Brazil 2014 needs a drunken Irishman such as myself out there to chat up gullible Brazilian women. "Aren't you Robbie Keane?"

I'm sorry but I'm disappointed in you all, especially you Paul. Why am I the only one to stop and revel in the mental imagery of our beautiful Donal steaming into a Brazilian bar, jumping up on the counter and doing the cartwheel forward roll and watching ever pair of panties in the room drop. "Take me home with you Keano!"

Ireland must make it to the world cup. If this doesn't come to fruition it will be the worst missed opportunity for glory in the history of forever.

[Psychotic]

Gotta see this Keano.

[Rocket Edge]

Haha xD Completely sold on that one. And who would say no to drunken, sunburnt pastey white skin man (ha) with an Irish accent that is if possible, more difficult to understand with a few in you than normally? No one! If it works here it can work anywhere.

[charliepanayi]

The mighty Montenegro fight back against England. They're a decent team considering they only started playing in competitive games in 2008 and their population of under a million. England really do seem lost when it comes to knowing what to do with a one goal lead.

[Rocket Edge]

So do Ireland. We invited Austria onto us for the entire second half. That stoppage time equaliser was a real kick in the balls.

[Psychotic]

In the immortal words of Sven, "First half good, second half not so good".

Ahhh, Roy. Roy, Roy, Roy. Eagerly awaiting Paul Konchesky's name appearing in the next England squad.

[Bubba]

Oh my sweet lord... can things get any worse?!!!!!

We won by a single goal away at Sunderland. If we're not careful, we are gonna cough up this twentieth league title. 18 points is nothing when you consider how amazing Man City are. That 14 goal cushion can be overturned in a couple of games these days. I'm praying for a Newcastle miracle today.

[Bubba]

Haha, only joking... here is what I actually meant. Just a few amendments...

Oh my sweet lord... can things get any better?!!!!!

We won by a single goal away at Sunderland. If we're not careful, we are gonna win this league by a mother-smurfing world record margin. 18 points is plenty when you consider how amazingly sh**e Man City are. That 14 goal cushion is completely irrelevant. I'm praying my missus gives me a blow job tonight because football is done for me now till next August.

[Psychotic]

I assume everyone else is thinking what I'm thinking. Namely that Bubba's "missus" is a vacuum cleaner, right?

[Bubba]

Well, my nickname for her is "the hoover"... and it isn't down to her domestic cleaning prowess.

She is also taking me to Dubai on Monday and last I checked, vacuum cleaners find it very difficult to acquire passports.

[Psychotic]

BIG ANDY CARROLL

THE KING OF KINGS

THE ENGLISH PELE!

[DK]

Big man is such a hero. Someone link to the page where he destroyed Swansea and we celebrated in this thread. also,


RED CARD FOR WEST BROM - Youssouf Mulumbu

A crazy red card! Youssouf Mulumbu picks the ball up after a free-kick is given and absolutely smashes the ball at West Ham's Gary O'Neil who is stood right in front of him! Madness. Absolute madness.

this sounds hilarious, please see if Gifman caught this Pauw

[Psychotic]

No gif yet but enjoy a blurry Daily Motion video Mulumbu red card - Vìdeo Dailymotion (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xylv9s_mulumbu-red-card_animals#.UVchvDccBgD)

[Old Manus]

Swansea 1 -2 Gareth Bale

[Psychotic]

Southampton up to 12th! Shows you how tight it is in the bottom half of the table. I'm pleased, I quite like Southampton. BRING BACK MATT LE TISSIER DAMNIT

In other news, Martin O'Neill sacked... while Benitez is still in a job. I'm sure Rafa will go sooner or later, but the important thing is that MON went first. Suck it down, lonny bob. :smug:

[Loony BoB]

Kinda over the whole Marin O'Neill = Awesome thing, but for me 16th with Sunderland isn't as bad as taking Chelsea, a team that won the CL last season, and managing to drop points in half of their games, and perhaps losing a CL spot.

19 points dropped in 18 games with a CL winning team. FACT.

Of course, I'll probably have to knock on wood after saying that, they play us in two days. :S

EDIT: Turns out it's 23 points dropped in 18 games.

[Old Manus]

Bittersweet day for Shoden.

[Shoden]

Bittersweet day for Shoden.
Oh totally, heard we got hammered when I was in town playing some children's card games earlier, come home, absolutely drained, hear Sunderland not only lost too but they sacked their manager too!

Their "Party with Marty" as they seemed to call it, is well and truly over ;D With Cattermole and Fletcher out for the season too its gonna be a great derby!

[Psychotic]

Kinda over the whole Marin O'Neill = Awesome thing, but for me 16th with Sunderland isn't as bad as taking Chelsea, a team that won the CL last season, and managing to drop points in half of their games, and perhaps losing a CL spot.

19 points dropped in 18 games with a CL winning team. FACT.

Of course, I'll probably have to knock on wood after saying that, they play us in two days. :SYou can't compare the CL to the league, that's absolutely ridiculous. If you're going to start talking about the Champions League, well, Benitez had just one CL game... Chelsea won it 6-1. ;)

Oh, by the way, Chelsea are currently 4th. They finished 6th last season. FACT. :greenie:

[Loony BoB]

Just realised it's 23 points, not 19 points, that Benitez has dropped in 18 games. My bad. :p

If Benitez had this win rate from the start of the season, he would be at 52 points so far this season and be sitting one point above Everton in 5th position. If Di Matteo had been kept on and kept his win rate, he would be be sitting on 60 points, two shy of City in 3rd position.

I don't think Benitez is the right manager for Chelsea. He might be for Liverpool, but not Chelsea. But then, I can think of very few managers who are right for Chelsea. Probably Mourinho, Di Matteo and Wilkins. Oh, or of course Roy Hodgson and Martin O'Neill. :monster:

[charliepanayi]

Di Matteo wasn't the right man for Chelsea either, the European Cup win was about 1% his doing. He's this generation's Tony Barton.

[Shoden]

Paolo Di Canio is in talks to be the new Sunderland manager, bit of a downgrade! XD

[charliepanayi]

Well they are likely to be in Division One next year at this rate.

[Old Manus]

What the hell is the love-in with Paolo Di Canio? He's an absolute imbecile with questionable managerial pedigree who's only managed a full season at League 2 level. Promotion with Swindon shouldn't have surprised anybody as they were odds on to go up anyway (they were expected to get into the Championship the season before). That's to say nothing about his politics. Yet his name gets tossed around whenever there's a managerial vacancy. I do wonder about PL chairmen sometimes.

[charliepanayi]

It's not like there's many options at the moment though - I mean look at some of the other names that were touted, Mark Hughes? Alex McLeish? It's slim pickings.

[Shoden]

They booted their manager so close to the end of the season and if they end up with someone worse off its their fault.
They surely cannot expect to get godly results with 2 of their best players injured can they?

[Psychotic]

Football is about entertainment and I welcome Di Canio back. Besides, even in pure managerial ability he can't be any worse than O'Neill. And indeed, he can't be worse than Hughes or McLeish or any of the other same old boring and shit names that were being touted. He'll bring an entertaining ray of sunshine to the Prem. I actually want Sunderland to stay up now and have Paolo shove referees over and do fascist salutes every week :')

edit: can't stop laughing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j37sS1u2FR8

smurf you I want this guy back. Also, man Sheffield Wednesday, remember when they were an established Prem team? I quite liked their kit.

[Loony BoB]

Not a fan of him (but then I've not known a huge amount of things about him, it's just that most of them have been bad), but if he returns then it will be justified if he gets pissy at a referee someday and the referee pushes him over. Has that ever happened? It must have by now...

EDIT: It has!

OfsrHQJuX88
ZzHfys-7IAY

[DK]

Football is about entertainment and I welcome Di Canio back. Besides, even in pure managerial ability he can't be any worse than O'Neill. And indeed, he can't be worse than Hughes or McLeish or any of the other same old boring and shit names that were being touted. He'll bring an entertaining ray of sunshine to the Prem. I actually want Sunderland to stay up now and have Paolo shove referees over and do fascist salutes every week :')

edit: can't stop laughing Di Canio fights with Ref - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j37sS1u2FR8)

smurf you I want this guy back. Also, man Sheffield Wednesday, remember when they were an established Prem team? I quite liked their kit.

That ref has to have done the worst dive in football history there, even Gareth Bale would have considered staying on his feet after that. I think Steve could probably get more force into a shove than Di Canio did on the ref there.

[Loony BoB]

I dunno, man, Di Cannio looked pretty pissed off, I can't imagine he'd be in the mood for going easy on anyone.

Also, updated my last post with a couple of vids, found them both kind of amusing for despite the punches having very different end results.

[Psychotic]

That first ref has some good cardio!

Also my favourite bit about the video is whoever the fuck that Arsenal ponce at the end is (Lee Dixon? Nigel Winterburn?) seeing an opportunity to BE A FOOTBALL HERO and STAND UP FOR DOWNTRODDEN REFEREES EVERYWHERE. He tries to act like a badman and shoving Paolo and getting in his face and Paolo is just no-selling it, then eventually he turns around and the Arsenal failure just cowers like a little bitch. It's glorious.

[DK]

Pretty sure that was Nigel Winterburn, and yes he is a ponce and yes it is funny.

[Loony BoB]

That first ref has some good cardio!
Seriously baffled me how he managed to outrun every single one of those buggers. The guy was facing a lynch mob in a walled-in field and the number of people who took flying kicks at the guy... geez. Crazy. Just checked... nine flying kicks attempted and not one of them downed the guy.

[charliepanayi]

We lost that game against Sheffield Wednesday in the last minute. Luckily DiCanio's hilarity meant nobody noticed. As for remembering when Sheffield Wednesday were a top-flight team, I remember beating them in both cup finals 20 years ago. Still not as weird as remembering us playing Luton in the league though.

And remember Bradford? Surely the worst team to ever last more than one season in the top flight.

[Psychotic]

More than a season, yeah, but my all time favourite Prem team has to be Di Canio's old boys, Swindon. My god they were dire. A hundred goals conceded!

My Aston Villa supporting uncle called at our house and took my brother (I was deemed too young for football) to see the Villa take on Swindon. My dad simulated the match on Sensible Soccer to see how accurate technology was - it predicted a 2-0 win for Swindon! (bear in mind every player had identical stats on that game) The reality was quite different. A hat trick for current Wolves manager Dean Saunders and a midfield led by TV's Andy Townsend led to Swindon being hammered 5-0.

However, perhaps the highlight was the story my brother brought back, namely that he had been involved in a punch up with the Swindon Town directors, and won. Now, quite why the directors of a football club sat in the stands with the other team's supporters, and why these rich and esteemed old men would start a brawl with an 8 year old and indeed how despite their combined might they conspired to lose, I do not know. Either way, I choose to believe this story implicitly... and might explain why Swindon were so bad.

[charliepanayi]

Swindon's 100 goals conceded was really something, it's surely between them and Derby's 11 points season for most hilariously bad of the Premier League era.

So the FA Cup final is Chelsea v Man City. Oh no wait, that's the semi-final, the winners get to thrash Wigan or BNP FC in the final.

[Bubba]

Smurfing Mickey Mouse cup anyway

[DK]

Barnsley worst team how dare they beat mighty Leicester :colbert:

[Croyles]

Well done Southampton, that shithole of a town I was living in for 4 years has kinda grown on me.

[Bubba]

Sat in a bar in Dubai watching the Liverpool v West Ham game. Everytime I watch a home Liverpool game it seems to be a repeat of every Liverpool home game I've seen against lower league opposition in the last two seasons. Plenty of chances but no cutting edge.

Meanwhile, on the other TV. It'll be interesting to see whether Tottenham can edge past the Toffees without Bale, Defor or Lennon.

[Psychotic]

Last two seasons?

Try the last twenty!

[Rocket Edge]

Poor Harry.

[Bubba]

Poor Harry.

Don't worry, he gets with Ginny in the end... even though she's ugly as sin.

Ron and Hermione were a much better match.

[Psychotic]

Good riddance when it comes to Redknapp. The utterly sickening way the press dogpiled on AVB for daring to take his job... well... now look at them both. :)

Stoke slowly sliding towards the relegation zone! I hope it's not too little, too late, and they can get relegated :excited: That would make my year. But then, it wouldn't be Tony Pulis's fault :roll2

[charliepanayi]

Shame there's only one relegation spot left really. I still think Sunderland will go down, but Sunderland v Stoke next month might yet be a big game.

[Old Manus]

Don't worry, he gets with Ginny in the end... even though she's ugly as sin.
She's a grower.

I'm happy QPR are going down, ambivalent as to Reading going down, and would love it if Di Canio went down.

Looks like Caerdydd will be joining us next season, and frankly I cannot wait. They are going to get violated. It's going to be brutal.

[Psychotic]

They might well, you know. It seems like the teams that win the Championship do the worst and the team that gets through in the play offs does the best.

[Loony BoB]

Who's your pick for winning the playoffs, anyway? I really want Crystal Palace to win, because Holloway. On the other hand, I really want Nottingham Forest to win, because even newbies to football like me can appreciate that spot of history. Brighton? Watford? Eh. One of them or Leicester/Bolton (both of which I find equally uninteresting, especially Bolton, I've seen enough of them already) will probably win it, of course. It's never the team I want to win. >=(

[Psychotic]

Bugger off, Towns, Leicester for life. :colbert:

Nottingham Forest would be nice if Leicester don't qualify, though, because of the history. It's just not right to have a team with two European Cup wins - which, excluding United and Liverpool, is equal to the rest of the Premier League combined! - in the Championship.

[charliepanayi]

Forest have a terrible playoff record, I can see them falling short again. I'd like Palace to come up.

[Psychotic]

OH MY GOD

BUBBA

THE TITLE RACE

IT'S BACK ON!!!

You were so cocky and overconfident my friend. I warned you, didn't I? I said 37 points was not a big enough lead, and you just would not listen. Now you stare into the abyss once more!

[Bubba]

You know, it's funny. If we lose away at Stoke on Sunday and City win then we'll be nine points clear with six games to play. Last season we were eight points clear with six games to play. We've got an arguably tougher run-in too with Arsenal away (who are on a bit of roll) and Chelsea at home. City's only real tough test will come away at Spurs.

I still think we're too far ahead this time though. It would take four defeats out of seven for us to chuck it away which I can't see happening. Last night did prove how superior Man City's midfield was to ours though. That will need addressing in the summer. Phil Jones can do a job there but last night also proved where his ideal position is.

[Loony BoB]

Fantastic game despite us losing it - when the winner went in, all I could think of was "Fair play, that was a quality goal." It felt like a game that could have gone either way. Giggs was an interesting player in that game for me - moved his legs like he was a 21 year old all match, but really struggled in the other end of things, almost as if he turnd the clock back on his experience as well as his stamina. Made rash tackles on more than a few occasions (how he didn't get booked was beyond me) and gave away the ball with a move you'd expect from Nani, not Giggs. Maybe he's been watching videos of a 18 year old Rafael or something, I dunno. Either way, poor from him. Showed he has the legs for another season, certainly, but also showed he's not always the calm, sensible head for the big game.

Still. Great game. Felt liked I'd watched a full game after about 30 minutes.

EDIT: Also, would prefer we started with Welbeck and Rooney up front. Right now Welbeck is better in the striker role and RVP is better at whipping the ball in, so why not put them in such positions? I guess with so many points in hand SAF is wanting to get RVP gametime to break his duck, but eh...

[Old Manus]

I love it. Championship was over long ago and yet the media are still pouncing on any scrap they can find. Man City win a game? THE CHASE IS ON!

The only interesting part of the Premier League this season has been the relegation battle which until last week involved almost half the table.

[Psychotic]

You know, it's funny. If we lose away at Stoke on SundayYou had bloody well better not. :colbert: Hammer them.

[DK]

Sergio is such a wonderful and handsome man I hope he stays with us until he decides to retire and then takes over Patrick Viera's role and stays with us until he is 90.

[charliepanayi]

Poor Malaga, that was brutal.

[Old Manus]

Football. Football occurred tonight.

[Psychotic]

"Football. Bloody Hell."

Gutted for Malaga, I quite like them.

[Shoden]

Disappointed Newcastle didn't get through, the schoolboy errors from the first game cost us but the match tonight was an absolutely superb attempt nonetheless. They tried but it wasn't quite enough to beat Benfica who are, tbf, a great side.
Just hoping for an excellent result for us on Sunday, Ben Arfa's back! :D
I want to see what he and Sissoko can do to the essentially crippled mackems.

Oh and a few of my friends are taking wagers on who'll get sent to the stands first, Di Canio or Pardew. Hrrrm.

I wish I could have made it to see the game but what tickets are being sold on by people who cannot make are going for £100 :(
I'll get to see a derby someday!

[Psychotic]

Man's journey from Los Angeles to Real Madrid good-luck charm - Soccer - Grant Wahl - SI.com (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130410/real-madrid-fan-jose-mourinho/#ixzz2Q6vQUGc6)

read this

Yes, words, but I promise you it's amazing.

[Loony BoB]

I bet he got Nani sent off, the bastard. >=( Shame they didn't put the icing on the cake by sending his family on that holiday they wanted to go on, so I guess that means the fella's ladies won't get to live their dream because he was too busy getting his picture taken with Maradona's girlfriend.

But seriously, that whole thing was pretty awesome. :D What luck they saw him, man. Mourinho needs to learn how to get his picture taken, though, the least he could do is look at the bloody camera! Ungrateful sod.

[Bubba]

Yeah, that's pretty cool. Shame we didn't have a good luck charm on our team. We'd probably be in the semi's of the Champions League.

Really good story, though.

EDIT: Well what a pulsating first half of premier league action we've had so far. One deflected goal is all we get in five games. This is not helping my Saturday shift go any faster.

[charliepanayi]

*collapses with relief* If we play like that against Everton, Fulham or Man Utd (I've written off the latter game anyway), we'll be well and truly screwed.

[Formalhaut]

The only interesting part of the Premier League this season has been the relegation battle which until last week involved almost half the table.

Eh. It's been rather forgettable as a season. There's been no big surprise or revelation. Hell, the most memorable thing I remember is the whole Di Canio "he's a fascist, run!" fiasco. Seriously, what are your guys on that?