2012-13 English Football Season

[Psychotic]

My view is that excluding someone from a job based on a political belief is suspiciously similar to fascism. Also, Di Canio is entertaining so let's let 'er rip.

[charliepanayi]

Yeah, it's all a storm in a teacup. DiCanio is entitled to believe whatever nonsense he wants.

[Shoden]

He believes he can make Sunderland a decent club, now THAT is nonsense XP

[Cuchulainn]

He believes he can make Sunderland a decent club, now THAT is nonsense XP

You were saying?

[Psychotic]

I do so love it when pride comes before a fall.

[Formalhaut]

Yeah, it's all a storm in a teacup. DiCanio is entitled to believe whatever nonsense he wants.

My thoughts exactly. The media really blew up the story. I honestly couldn't care less what he believed in as long as he stayed within the law. The problem was though, the Media, I guess, had a right to question Di Canio about it. However, he gave a valid response ("I'm not racist, end of story") and yet they kept badgering him every press conference he attended.

[DK]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ECKY4rY5yvw/UM9pRnnmo-I/AAAAAAAABro/xdkTbgXQeAI/s1600/Yaya+Toure+2.jpg

[DK]

http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Sergio+Aguero+Manchester+City+FC+v+Real+Madrid+3jmqWZAkLegx.jpg

[DK]

http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-ash4/276934_180636002008570_175002260_q.jpg

[Old Manus]

http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/66739_475464039189432_2036780930_n.jpg

[charliepanayi]

Well done to Man City on winning today's FA Cup final.

Here's a Newcastle fan taking on a horse:
https://twitter.com/samparkercouk/status/323488330492821506/photo/1

[DK]

My favourite thing about that Geordie punching the horse was that the article I read about it had that picture of him squaring up to it first, then directly after followed it up with this picture:

http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01710/SNN1501NM-_1710586a.jpg

It's just like you see him squaring up to it and then some magic happens and he ended up getting his ass handed to him by a horse and it is beautiful.

[Old Manus]

Wait. Wait. A Newcastle fan...punched a horse. If this is true then this is the greatest day in football history.

EDIT: Oh my God I just saw the video. It is more glorious than I could have imagined. What a complete and utter tool.

[Psychotic]

Well now someone's going to have to take him to the horse dentist.

[Shoden]

WELL THAT WAS AN EVENTFUL WEEKEND.
BALLS. We lost bad TT_TT

Good thing I wasn't in town when it kicked off.

[Psychotic]

Oh, you weren't? I had assumed you were the bloke that punched the horse.

[Shoden]

Oh, you weren't? I had assumed you were the bloke that punched the horse.

Could have been on another day, geordies don't get a long well with horses.
Though, I'm what they call up here a Sand dancer.

STILL. There's always trouble after the match, I've got caught up in town a few times after a derby and its impossible to get in or out of Newcastle all day.

Also...
Ryan Taylor injured his cruciate again, more unfortunate news. Krul's out for the rest of the season as he dislocated his shoulder and our backup Rob Elliot is 50/50 due to an ankle injury.
I'm not sure we can beat the drop O_O

[Cz]

I can't think of a team that makes playing against ten men look more difficult than Arsenal. A man up for nearly eighty minutes and we never looked comfortable at all. Boo. Hiss.

[Psychotic]

Still got the three points though!

Wigan are probably down now. :(

Also, I don't get the hoopla about Michael Carrick being on the PFA Player of the Year shortlist. He deserves it. The only dubious one is possibly Hazard. As far as young player goes, fuck knows how Jack "5 games" Wilshere got on there. It's shocking that there was no place for Nastastic.

[Cuchulainn]

Carrick there makes sense to me. However, Danny Well-wide for young player? Who does this?

[Cz]

Yeah, that's probably Wigan gone. There goes another top piece of football trivia. Hopefully they can steal the FA Cup somehow.

I haven't watched United that closely this year, but when I have Carrick always seems to be having a great game, so I don't see the fuss about him getting a nomination. I guess people don't like players who can't make them look good on FIFA though.

And Nastasic wasn't nominated? Whoa. I didn't even notice he wasn't there - I just assumed he'd be there by default.

[Psychotic]

ahahahhahaa holy trout Suarez just bit a man hahahaha oh my god :lol: What a smurfing hero. I tell you what, he is actually the best thing to happen to this league. If you disagree you just don't understand football.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e373/photobucketamazingness/i7tCkIpyCDiPR_zpsbe9fe967.gif

seriously hahahaha what the smurf is he doing xD He's not just bit him, he is actually savaging him and tackling a giant Serbian man to the ground xD Luis why would you do that ahahahahaha I fell off my chair oh my god

[DK]

ahahahah what an utter psychopath, shame it wasn't John Terry though

[DK]

christ last second equaliser as well what an utter psychopathic hero he is

[Psychotic]

AHAHAHHAHAHA

AHHAHAAHHAHA


AhAhahAs
ahahddhd
afs
shdfashahahaa

ohm y9 god

piuasadopjisadjoidsapik HGAHAHAAHHA smurf YES

Best Footballer of all time. I don't even care. Not even trolling. He is. He absolutely is. If you disagree, you don't deserve to watch football. You just don't get it.

It's just a shame that he's going to be banned for 15 or so games, all because biting someone on the arm is how you say "I respect your abilities as a defender" in Uruguay. Biased FA strike again!

[charliepanayi]

Man City - you useless gits I hope Wigan beat you 10-0 next month. Now we probably have to beat Man Utd next weekend :(
Suarez - I could kiss you you insane b***ard.

[Loony BoB]

I have no words. o_x

EDIT: Let's play the guessing game. I call 13 games, since Psy's already snatched up 15.

[Psychotic]

If I'm being serious I want to say 7 because that's how much he got the last time he did it!

[charliepanayi]

Now he just needs to emulate Cantona and kung fu kick a spectator.

[Loony BoB]

I'll stick with 13. Just going on a theory of repeat offences = Extra games missed.

EDIT: And seriously, I knew a biter at intermediate (that's around ages 10-12), and Suarez has a lot of similarities to the guy. He wasn't for Uruguay, but the just had a similar look and, uh... persona. He was bullied as a kid and tended to bite the bullies, although he bit other people if they pissed him off sometimes. I wonder what Suarez's story is. I'm also imagining a little 'Controversial XI' in my head but I don't know enough of the older players to call it.

[Psychotic]

I'll stick with 13. Just going on a theory of repeat offences = Extra games missed.Ahhhh that was in Holland, that makes it okay.

Also personally I am expecting him to somehow handball a goal while kicking an orphan in the face and racially abusing someone simultaneously.

[Loony BoB]

So, like... grabbing a racially different orphan baby and swinging it like a bat in order to score a goal? Is that how that works? I dunno. I think he should come up with something different. Maybe he'll do a PiP and whip his cock out. Or crack out a anti-semitic t-shirt when celebrating a goal. There's gotta be some different tactic he could come up with.

[ScottyRedXIII]

42631

Couldn't resist...

[Loony BoB]

Doing the rounds now:

The Fangs Favourite.

13/2 with Ladbrokes for player of the year - certainly worth a nibble.

Liverpool are nothing without Suarez, he really gives them added bite.

Six game ban for biting and a further nine games for discriminating and not biting a black player.

Luis Suárez praised by Liverpool manager for his 'amazing appetite' (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/mar/29/luis-suarez-liverpool-brendan-rodgers) - my favourite of the lot.

Ivanovic's arm is the only taste of Champions League football Suarez will have with Liverpool.

Disgraceful. Luis Suarez is not being fed enough. Just £2 a month can get enough for him to stop eating footballers #foodforsuarez

At least Suarez has now tasted Champions League success.

No excuse for Suarez's bite but at least it wasn't on Lampard. He'd have been too bloated to equalise.

Concern for Branislav Ivanovic this evening, as Luis Suarez is spotted leaving Anfield with a doggy bag.

etc, etc.

[Old Manus]

'Controversial XI'

Harald Schumacher

Vinnie Jones ----- John Terry ----- Pepe ----- Marco Materazzi

Cristiano Ronaldo -- Roy Keane ---- Joey Barton --- Diego Maradona

Eric Cantona ---- Luis Suarez

[Cz]

Show me where in the rules it says you can't bite a chunk out of a guy's arm. Cheers for the draw Luis, let me pay for dessert.

[Formalhaut]

I really cannot stand Suarez. I was watching a sports news piece on it and they were interviewing some Liverpool fans who were all like "Oh, but he didn't mean to" and "He didn't actually bite him see, he went to bite him but didn't actually clamp down".

:colbert:


Oh look, Celtic won the SPL again. Didn't even notice. Shows how dull Scottish football has gone.

[charliepanayi]

To be fair, they probably just picked the fans who said stuff like that that. They are hardly going to say 'yeah sack him' anyway, he's by miles their best player.

[Formalhaut]

The fact that he's their best player makes it all the more annoying for me because he's worth something to them.

[Psychotic]

I really cannot stand Suarez. You just don't understand.

Football is entertainment. Pure and simple. Good and bad. Suarez is the most entertaining player in the Premier League by a long way. Mazy dribbles, sublime finishes, and biting the fuck out of people. Only Balotelli could compete, and the press forced him out. Luis Suarez is a hero and you should be eternally grateful to him for his crazy antics.

[Cz]

Luis Suarez's antics are entertaining but listening to people debate/justify them is not. The bite makes a for fantastic gif but if this means the next six weeks are spent talking about what a Bad Man he is instead of what a Bad Team Chelsea are then I'll count it as a net loss.

[Loony BoB]

I prefer Ronaldo's form of entertainment to Suarez's, personally, but we do need a Bellamy, a Barton or a Suarez once in a while, if only to remind the world of what happens when you fuck up.

Balotelli, though. He's on another level. He doesn't resort to biting other players. I wouldn't compare the two... one is pure entertainment on and off the pitch, the other is controversial.

Admittedly it is kind of hilarious and eventually you do have to laugh after seeing that gif so many times, because the guy is a genuine batshit insane nutjob. But I'd prefer the Jose/Balotelli kind of stuff. I don't know who we have for that kind of thing these days... I mean, is there anyone at all? If Crystal Palace come up, we'll at least have Holloway's ranting and raving. Nobody else in the league that comes to mind right now, though. Bring Back Jose so I can hate Chelsea again.

[Cz]

Basically there's a fine balance between being a lovable rogue and a horrible jerk and that balance is Jens Lehmann. :love:

[DK]

Ah comedy Jens what a hero. The only acceptable Arsenal Player since Ian Wright. The time he ran all the way to the corner flag just to shove Ronaldo over and then trot back to his goal despite everyone else in the game being at Uniteds goal for a corner is still my favourite ever FA cup memory. at least I think it was the FA cup. it was some sort of cup. But who cares, Jens shoved Ronaldo right the fuck over. Still remember the glory days of Smackdown on the PS2 with created wrestler Jens Lehmann and his ultimate finishing move, the big shove. hell yes.

Also;


Bring Back Jose so I can hate Chelsea again

So the fact that they are a bunch of racist assholes, with the worst set of fans, the worst track record for shitting on managers, the worst owner and the fact that they have John Terry, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard isn't enough reason to hate Chelsea already? But bringing back a comical manager who is very good at what he does and also quite funny with the media is grounds to push them over the edge into hate territory? You're a strange one Towns.

[Loony BoB]

Bring Back Jose so I can hate Chelsea again

So the fact that they are a bunch of racist assholes, with the worst set of fans, the worst track record for troutting on managers, the worst owner and the fact that they have John Terry, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard isn't enough reason to hate Chelsea already? But bringing back a comical manager who is very good at what he does and also quite funny with the media is grounds to push them over the edge into hate territory? You're a strange one Towns.
I don't like them in any way, don't get me wrong (those three you mentioned in particular) but they haven't been challenging us for the title so the hatred has kind of just... gone. I used to detest Chelsea because they were wankers that would beat us, and there is nothing worse than being beaten to titles by a bunch of absolute wankers. With their unbeaten runs under Jose, it kind of all got emphasised and I really, really didn't like them. What's worse than Terry/Cole/Lampard? Terry/Cole/Lampard/Robben/Drogba beating you to Premier League titles, that's what. Seriously hated those guys so much.

These days I just don't like them, and that's about it. They're wankers, but not wankers that beat us to trophies on a regular basis. There was that one CL success recently, and I really really really wanted Terry to not get his medal or to be allowed on the pitch, but somehow he managed to act like it was all him anyway. Urgh. Pillock.

Try as I might to hate City, I just don't hate them... well, not yet, anyway. So that leaves me with no team I hate, and that's just boring. City don't have those specific players that you can't stand watching win - perhaps Tevez could be seen as the exception to that for me (Barry/Milner at a push). But I have a lot of respect for Aguero, Silva, Yaya Toure and Kompany, for example. If they got Suarez at City, I might get towards hating them. >=P

Anyway, the reason Jose would make me hate Chelsea again is because he'd probably have them winning trophies again. I like Jose, but I don't have to like his teams or the fact that they win.

[Psychotic]

Rafa Chelsea is the best Chelsea. With Terry and Lampard dumped to the bench I quite like them actually. :shobon:

Also I don't know what Balotelli you know, Towns, but he has been sent off for violent conduct (stamp on Parker, elbow on Skrtel etc) a hell of a lot more than Suarez has. I don't even think Suarez has been sent off in England yet.

[Loony BoB]

Sent off or not, I'd say racism and biting are worse than an elbow and a stamp. Pretty sure Suarez has stamped, too, hasn't he?

Either way, Balotelli wasn't loved for his entertainment of stamping and elbowing, he was loved for his less hostile antics. Pretty sure we can all agree on that. :D

And credit where credit is due, Rafa putting Terry on the bench is a wonderful thing.

[Psychotic]

I can't comment on racism as I have no idea whatsoever how being racially abused might feel. As for it being worse than stamping or elbows, well, let me put it this way: Scott Parker and Skrtel both had to leave the field for treatment. Ivanovic looked more utterly confused than hurt.

Here's a lovely article: http://www.football365.com/john-nicholson/8665173/Johnny-Nic

The bite was utter smurfing comedy and I won't hear anything else. So ridiculous, so childish, so pointless and there was no smurfing reason whatsoever for doing it. Absolute genius. PFA Player of the Century, imho.

Mind you, I remember when some of you lot thought Zidane's headbutt was the worst thing ever and I described it as comedy of the highest form, so maybe this sort of thing just amuses me :monster:

[Loony BoB]

Don't get me wrong, I still find Suarez's bite hilarious, we were laughing about it all day.

[charliepanayi]

It was a bit weird seeing Souness going mad over the incident yesterday, as some have pointed out, he was a lunatic when he was a player, he even broke someone's jaw once by punching them.

Anyway, Man Utd stuck by Cantona, and in the same way Liverpool will stick by Suarez.

[Loony BoB]

It was touch and go, but we scraped across the line. ;)

[Old Manus]

And the whole nation (apart from a few Londoners) yawns.

[Cz]

I'm just happy they didn't clinch it at the Emirates; that might have actually been slightly upsetting. And at least United were genuinely really good this year, and didn't win the league just because nobody else bothered to show up (this happened, but United would have topped the table anyway).


Still remember the glory days of Smackdown on the PS2 with created wrestler Jens Lehmann and his ultimate finishing move, the big shove. hell yes.brb

[DK]

I put more effort into crafting his kit than any other CAW I ever made as well, usually it was just a case of RANDOM TROUSERS AND BOOTS but then Jens, full on went ham with his goalkeepers outfit, got the O2 sponsership and everything. then putting him in like a fatal four way match and storing up 5 finishers and just unleashing hell on every one, SHOVE! SHOVE! SHOVE! run out of opponents then SHOVE THE REFEREE! It was unholy carnage.

[Loony BoB]

It makes me sad that I can't remember the last time I played a wrestling game. :( Are they better than ever at the moment, or are the old school variants still king?

[DK]

well J just bought wwe 12 about a week after I got here and it's pretty much the same thing except with better graphics, updated roster and a wider variety of matches. haven't touched story mode or any of that, but the gameplay is essentially exactly the same. I can't decide if my favourite thing I've done so far in it is powerbombing his girlfriend off the top of a hell in the cell that made her scream, or the time we did a 2 player royal rumble with our CAW's working together the entire time, and storing up a finishing move for when we got down to the last 3, walking over and standing behind James as he eliminated the last guy and promptly turning around into an RKO and being thrown out. He said later that he didn't even contemplate the idea of me backstabbing him once, that he'd been envisioning the two of us meeting in the middle of the ring as the last two left and having a clash for the ages. I said that he ought to know me better than that. :)

[Loony BoB]

well J just bought wwe 12 about a week after I got here and it's pretty much the same thing except with better graphics, updated roster and a wider variety of matches. haven't touched story mode or any of that, but the gameplay is essentially exactly the same. I can't decide if my favourite thing I've done so far in it is powerbombing his girlfriend off the top of a hell in the cell that made her scream, or the time we did a 2 player royal rumble with our CAW's working together the entire time, and storing up a finishing move for when we got down to the last 3, walking over and standing behind James as he eliminated the last guy and promptly turning around into an RKO and being thrown out. He said later that he didn't even contemplate the idea of me backstabbing him once, that he'd been envisioning the two of us meeting in the middle of the ring as the last two left and having a clash for the ages. I said that he ought to know me better than that. :)
I seem to remember you doing something very similar to me once. Or twice. Or more often. I knew you would do it, but I was never quick enough. xD

[Psychotic]

The wall of my partition at work looks slightly different today.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e373/photobucketamazingness/suarez_zpsc560ad06.jpg

:D

In case you're wondering, the top right one is this (http://p.twimg.com/A7CHlQVCMAAa6bK.jpg:large). Oh, and yes Dan, the person you think might be responsible for this is entirely responsible. Well, she printed them out and left them on my desk. I'm the one who put them up, pride of place!

[charliepanayi]

Well that game was...interesting.

[Psychotic]

It's been a god damn hilarious week for football.

[Old Manus]

5-0 at Camp Nou

Heard it here first

Also Wrexham 2-1 Kidderminster in the conference playoff semis. 3 WELSH TEAMS IN ENGLISH FOOTBALL THIS IS LITERALLY AN INVASION

[charliepanayi]

There were three Welsh sides in the Football League for years anyway!

[Psychotic]

Where are Newport and Merthyr Tidfill? :colbert:

[charliepanayi]

Newport are playing Grimsby in the Conference playoffs. So might get an all-Welsh playoff final.

Merthyr Tydfil were liquidated in 2010 and now play as Merthyr Town a few divisions below the Conference.

EDIT: Ten game ban for Suarez. So...

Missing (not failing) a drugs fest – 8 months
Kung-fu kicking a fan and punching him – 8 months
Failing a drugs test – 6 months
Pushing the referee over (DiCanio on Paul Alcock) – 11 games
Biting a man in the arm (with previous form) – 10 games
Ben Thatcher's assault on Mendes – 8 games
Racism – 8 games
Potential career ending tackle (red card on pitch) – 3 games
5 counts of diving – 1 game
Potential career ending tackle (severity unclear on pitch) – 0 games

Anyone would think the FA just rolled a couple of dice to decide punishments, no consistency whatsoever.

[Formalhaut]

10 games seems fair enough, though I would have liked it to have been say 13-15 games. :D

[Loony BoB]

Psy: 7
Me: 13
Result: 10

Dammit. You win again, nobody. >=(

[charliepanayi]

F365's Top Ten Ridiculous Football Incidents | Mediawatch, Mailbox, Ref365, John Nicholson, Spanish Thing | Football365 (http://www.football365.com/faves/8666976/F365-s-Top-Ten-Ridiculous-Football-Incidents)

[Psychotic]

Yeah, the FA are just ridiculous. I don't know what else to say when having a little nibble on someone's arm (no blood drawn) is apparently worse than causing someone to have a seizure. (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xh17rw_ben-thatcher-elbow-on-pedro-mendes_shortfilms#.UXgSd0oTRgA)

Mind you, now we know that if John Terry had done this he'd only get a 5 game ban so that's reassuring.

Also to be fair, missing a drugs test should always be punished more severely than failing a drugs test. As otherwise if you have taken drugs, you can just miss the test and take the lighter punishment.

[charliepanayi]

Well that game was also...interesting. Are Dortmund going to join the list of sides who win the European Cup before being dismantled and carved up by bigger clubs (see also: Red Star Belgrade, Ajax). Would love them to get to the final and beat Bayern anyway.

[Psychotic]

Deutschland Uber Alles. I smurfing called it but everyone I know said the final would be a Spanish showdown. I mean, it's not over yet but god damn we've seen two huge hammer blows.

[Croyles]

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/article/media_slots/photos/000/827/463/goal3_original.gif?1366833707

:eek:

[Cz]

I love Wigan so much. Please do your usual April thing and stay up, guys. The league needs you.

[Psychotic]

The Coventry of the 21st Century, imho.

[charliepanayi]

Poor Brentford :( - my friend is pretty gutted this evening.

[Psychotic]

SHODEN

GET YOUR ASS IN HERE NOW

LONNY BOB, SEND JESS A MESSAGE ON FACEBOOK

ACTION STATIONS PEOPLE, COME ON

honest to god, this team flits between utterly smashing the opposition (only Man United have scored more goals this season!) and being woeful. I quite like it when we do the first one. We've had a lot of big wins this season.

[Loony BoB]

Youch.

EDIT: The Magpies are gonna need a new castle by the end of this match.

[charliepanayi]

I hope that Newcastle side turns up on the last day of the season.

[Cz]

So I guess it was Luis Suarez's toxic attitude that was holding Liverpool back all this time.

[Psychotic]

Apparently so!

Having just watched Match of the Day I would just like to declare my undying love for Philippe Coutinho. Maybe I'm on the rebound after the loss of our other South American attacker, but right now I do not care :love:

[Shoden]

WELL. PSY. DAMN.
D:

THAT WAS. BAD.

[Psychotic]

Leicester in the playoffs! :D I hope they go up. Although it'd be a season too late, it would really mean a lot.

[Loony BoB]

Who would you go for in Liverpool vs. Leicester? =o

[Psychotic]

Aha, that's always been Liverpool. Back when it used to happen, that is. My family always accepted my love of the colour red was greater than my love of the colour blue! (That is literally what it came down to) They even took me on a trip up to Anfield as a lad. :) You can find photos of young me wearing the shirts of both, though.

I should probably explain that this year is more poignant in that my Grandad - staunch Leicester fan all his life - died earlier this year and he always wanted to see them come back up, so I'm really hoping it can be done.

[charliepanayi]

Bah, I wanted Watford up instead of Hull.

Wishlist for the next eight days
1. Man Utd beat Chelsea
2. Chelsea and Spurs cancel each other out with lots of red cards
3. Stoke beat Spurs, with some more red cards for Spurs

And two more 1-0 wins for us would be nice for the remainder of the season.

[Psychotic]

holy trout check this post out



They'll be the new Chelsea. Ruled for a couple seasons then everyone catches up once they fail to rebuild. You can't keep buying successwell

uh

i don't know if you've heard of a little something called "The Champions League", or indeed "The FA Cup" but, well... :erm:

predictions:

1. United
2. City
3. Spurs
4. Chelsea
5. Arsenal
6. Everton
7. Liverpool
8. Newcastle

Swansea and West Brom to surprise, West Ham and Stoke to play troutty football and not do anything of any value, Reading, Norwich and QPR for the drop!I realised something.

In 2005 I said we'd win the CL. In 2006 I was the only person on EoFF to say Italy would win the World Cup. 2007 I said we'd lose the CL final despite being the better team than Milan. 2008 and 2010 I said Spain would win (not exactly difficult!) I was one of the very few on here to say City would win the title last year, and well, my predictions this year are smurfing on fire.

And then it occurs... maybe I'm causing this. So. I'm going to do it.

The one thing I have never actually seriously done. The one thing you expect of all Liverpool fans. I can't wait for this season to be over because

Next year will be our year. Liverpool FC will win the Premier League title.

Mock me, and mock me well, children. Your tears when Stevie G lifts the trophy this time next year will be reward enough! I AM NEVER WRONG IN MY PRED-

RVP, whoever he plays for, will only play 18 league games. Did nobody notice how he flopped at the end of the season? At one point he scored one goal in about 9 games and it was a penalty. He looked utterly dead on his feet, and carried that over into the Euros. He will not be as good as he was last season.well trout :shobon:

[charliepanayi]

Fun fact about the Championship. Hull lost a third of their games and still got promoted. It's an exciting league, but boy is it terrible.

[Psychotic]

I know it is hypocritical to say this being a fan of a team which features a certain cannibal, but David Luiz is a nasty smurfing piece of work, I tell you what. He throws elbows around like they're going out of style. Same for Fellaini actually, he's a really vicious player too. Having said that, he at least redeemed himself by doing a number on Stoke.

[Loony BoB]

I know it is hypocritical to say this being a fan of a team which features a certain cannibal, but David Luiz is a nasty smurfing piece of work, I tell you what. He throws elbows around like they're going out of style. Same for Fellaini actually, he's a really vicious player too. Having said that, he at least redeemed himself by doing a number on Stoke.
Didn't see the match yesterday (well, no more than 10 minutes) and missed it yesterday, but apparently he rolled around on the ground like he'd been shot and then laughed when Rafael got sent off for it? Dunno how much of that is exaggerated. I'm told Rafael still deserved a red, but Luiz may have deserved a beating.

Dunno much about Luiz, though.

[Rocket Edge]

Be happy you missed it BoB, it was our worst performance since the home game against City last season. There was even a couple of times I winced in agony looking at Valencia. He had yet another terrible game. Such a shadow of what he was when he was on form. :(

[Shoden]

Well done for not letting Wigan win, Swansea. Little less pressure on Newcastle to actually win a game now.

[charliepanayi]

Newcastle do have the get out of jail free card that is a game against QPR this weekend though.

[Aulayna]

Eugh we're skirting the relegation zone... do not like.

[charliepanayi]

Ferguson retiring. For real this time. I fancy Steve Kean or Terry Connor to take over.

[Psychotic]

HARRY REDKNAPP

I really hope it is Moyes, that would be hilarious.

As far as Ferguson goes, the best tribute I can pay to the man is this: Thank smurf for that.

[Loony BoB]

I suppose it had to happen eventually. :( Gutted. Still, glad he's staying on the board.

Expecting Moyes, but there are a few names that are being thrown around. Whatever happens, I'll just wait and see how they do before judging them.

[Rocket Edge]

Feel physically sick. It'll never be the same for me again as a United fan. :(

I don't mind who comes in as Fergie will be the chief man who decides to come in. I don't mind really if it is Moyes, as he will have the longevity. As for someone like Mourinho, I would welcome it as he could bring back Ronny but I dunno, he might get bored in a few years and move somewhere else (although I think the United job is his dream job).

Sad day for football really.

[Loony BoB]

My understanding is that Mourinho doesn't like to take long term jobs, he prefers to work on projects. Having said that, I wouldn't be surprised if his walk-ins overseas make him much more reluctant to walk away from a top English team again. I'd be happy with him or Moyes, and it seems like Moyes is going to be the candidate in this situation. I imagine that's based on Moyes ability to not air dirty laundry in public and of course his ability to keep a club stable even when finances are tight. I think either of them could win with United. As for other options such as Gigs, Ole, Solskjaer, Klopp, and so forth being suggested, the most amusing thing I've read about it all has undoubtedly been "I hear Rafa Benitez is available at the end of the season."

[Rocket Edge]

xD

True. Isn't Dean Saunders looking for a new job?

[Psychotic]

I read Rafa's book and he does mention that he cries himself to sleep in jealousy at David Moyes's greatest achievement managing to finish fourth once eight years ago. Apparently even his Spanish league title medals and Champion's League medal don't dull the pain.

[Loony BoB]

If you think Rafa is a better fit for United than Moyes then you are really, really weird. Pretty sure 90% of the football-watching world agree that Moyes is a quality manager who has overachieved consistently given the finances of the club he's in charge of.

[Psychotic]

Better fit? Because of the United-Liverpool rivalry, yes. Better manager? Not even going to dignify that with a response.

Moyes has overachieved but he's not really achieved anything at all. He's not won a single trophy. He finished fourth, once, and I believe remains the only manager of an English team to get knocked out in the CL qualifying rounds. He has never even won a game at Anfield and we're crap! If you think consistent top half finishes (no trophies) is good enough for a club of United's stature then you're insane.

Mourinho, Heynckes and Klopp are the sort of names that should be in the frame. And that is why I hope you get none of them. But then I remember when you thought Roy "Overachieved with a lesser club" Hodgson would win the league for Liverpool, so maybe you do truly believe this is going to work...

[Cuchulainn]

I'm the only person here who remembers United pre-Alex Ferguson :/ FAT RON AND HIS FAT FINGERS IT WASNT PRETTY PEOPLE I DONT WANT THAT AGAIN.

[Loony BoB]

Better fit? Because of the United-Liverpool rivalry, yes. Better manager? Not even going to dignify that with a response.
Cue the response... :D

Moyes has overachieved but he's not really achieved anything at all. He's not won a single trophy. He finished fourth, once, and I believe remains the only manager of an English team to get knocked out in the CL qualifying rounds. He has never even won a game at Anfield and we're crap! If you think consistent top half finishes (no trophies) is good enough for a club of United's stature then you're insane.
...all with effectively no cash to spend, a low wage budget and almost every star player being snapped up by another club due to such a financial situation. I think you're fairly easily blinded by being a Liverpool fan in this instance. I'd love to know of a manager that has done as well as he has in the PL without any cash on a consistent basis in the past decade. He's a quality manager. Whether he ends up bringing us trophies is something we won't know unless he actually gets a shot, and if he does, great. If he doesn't, so be it... but don't go pretending that because he can only get Everton to 4th suddenly means he won't keep United in contention for trophies. I'd say SAF would probably be a better judge of management skills than yourself, and SAF says he's good enough. I'll trust him on that one... Ferguson's got a pretty good record on such judgement calls!

Sir Alex Ferguson can accompany David Moyes in that he has also failed to qualify for the group stage.

Mourinho, Heynckes and Klopp are the sort of names that should be in the frame. And that is why I hope you get none of them.
We might get one, but the only worry I'd have with the former is that he might leave in a few years' time (actually, there's also the worry he'll do what he's doing with Real Madrid right now, airing dirty laundry in front of cameras and microphones). The rest I'd be happy enough with, but again I'll be doing my best to reserve judgement until they've actually managed a season or two and built a team of their own (if they get that chance).

But then I remember when you thought Roy "Overachieved with a lesser club" Hodgson would win the league for Liverpool, so maybe you do truly believe this is going to work...
I thought Liverpool were going to win the league (regardless of the manager)?

[Psychotic]

Counterpoint: Harry Redknapp has won more trophies than David Moyes.

Graeme Souness has won more trophies than David Moyes.

Alex fucking McLeish has won more trophies than David Moyes.

I could go on.

Not disputing he's a decent manager. He is. Sure. He could manage a club of Everton's level. Heck, right now he would do a good job for Liverpool. Good enough to manage Manchester United? Well, I look forward to Liverpool v United actually meaning something again in the race for 6th place or whatever.

PS: Fergie shared your view on Roy being a Liverpool success. ;)

[charliepanayi]

To be fair, Avram Grant was a post away from being a European Cup winner and Di Matteo IS a European Cup winner. I'd still say Moyes was better than both of them though. Mourinho would bail as soon as the going got tough, like he does everywhere.

[Loony BoB]

PS: Fergie shared your view on Roy being a Liverpool success. ;)
Pretty sure he says that about every new manager of a big club.

[Cuchulainn]

"First Maggie Thatcher Dies Then Alex Ferguson Retires, Somewhere In The World There's A Scouser With A Lamp And One Wish Left"

[Psychotic]

PS: Fergie shared your view on Roy being a Liverpool success. ;)
Pretty sure he says that about every new manager of a big club.You mean like the future manager of Manchester United FC...? ;)

Now, spare me your ad hominem "urrr it's because you support Liverpool!" gibberish, because, well, those in glass houses first of all re: your views on Rafa Benitez, but also because I'm defending the honour of a team I hate more than any other. Including Everton! Now, look, I'm not saying Moyes is a trout manager. He's done a good job at Everton. But let me put it this way.


Does he have experience of the pressures of managing a huge club - media, fans, etc?
Does he have experience of winning trophies?
Does he have experience of European football and playing against the biggest clubs in the world on huge nights?
Does he have experience of the pressures of being involved in a title race?
He may have expierience of buying good footballers at reduced amounts (although for the record, 2 of his 3 biggest signings were Yakubu and Bilyatindinov!) but does he have experience of buying world class footballers for world class fees?
Does he have experience of managing world class players with huge egos? (you may note his falling out with Mr Wayne Rooney!)



No to every single one. And that's why Moyes is not suited for a monstrously huge club like Man United. You can say"well we won't know if he can do these things unless he tries!" if you want but we also don't know if Neil Warnock can do these things until he tries, so... :monster:

A final word, there's a reason why he has never won at Anfield. Because he sits 11 men behind the ball and plays for the draw. That's why. It works for Everton, sure, and it helps them punch above their weight. Do you honestly think that trout will fly at Manchester United? Do you really think that is going to win titles? Changing a managerial philosophy isn't simply a matter of clicking a few tactics buttons on football manager.

I fucking hate United with a passion and it sickens me to say this, but they are too good for Moyes.

[DK]

I think that's probably precisely the reason they'd go with Moyes in the first place. Anything is going to be a step down from the greatest club manager in the history of the game. If they bring in Mourinho and it all goes to buggery without Red Nose at the helm, the trout storm would be colossal. So they can just bring in some random bum like David Moyes under the provision of "look how well he did at this club despite having nothing" and then if it all goes well and he manages to cope at United, lovely, everything is rosy. If the post-Taggart United fall to pieces, "Well, we took a punt..." and now it's time to bring in the big guns when the expectations are lower and the manure fans are over the whole "WHY ISN'T EVERYTHING AS GREAT AS IT WAS WHEN SIR ALEX WAS HERE URRRR WE'RE THE BIGGEST CLUB IN THE WORLD WE HAVE HISTORY" thing.

[Loony BoB]

PS: Fergie shared your view on Roy being a Liverpool success. ;)
Pretty sure he says that about every new manager of a big club.You mean like the future manager of Manchester United FC...? ;)

Now, spare me your ad hominem "urrr it's because you support Liverpool!" gibberish, because, well, those in glass houses first of all re: your views on Rafa Benitez, but also because I'm defending the honour of a team I hate more than any other. Including Everton! Now, look, I'm not saying Moyes is a trout manager. He's done a good job at Everton. But let me put it this way.


Does he have experience of the pressures of managing a huge club - media, fans, etc?
Does he have experience of winning trophies?
Does he have experience of European football and playing against the biggest clubs in the world on huge nights?
Does he have experience of the pressures of being involved in a title race?
He may have expierience of buying good footballers at reduced amounts (although for the record, 2 of his 3 biggest signings were Yakubu and Bilyatindinov!) but does he have experience of buying world class footballers for world class fees?
Does he have experience of managing world class players with huge egos? (you may note his falling out with Mr Wayne Rooney!)



No to every single one. And that's why Moyes is not suited for a monstrously huge club like Man United. You can say"well we won't know if he can do these things unless he tries!" if you want but we also don't know if Neil Warnock can do these things until he tries, so... :monster:

A final word, there's a reason why he has never won at Anfield. Because he sits 11 men behind the ball and plays for the draw. That's why. It works for Everton, sure, and it helps them punch above their weight. Do you honestly think that trout will fly at Manchester United? Do you really think that is going to win titles? Changing a managerial philosophy isn't simply a matter of clicking a few tactics buttons on football manager.

I smurfing hate United with a passion and it sickens me to say this, but they are too good for Moyes.
Just read something on BBC and will mention that Klopp, someone you mentioned for the role, had a worse record than Moyes did before Dortmund took him on. Why him over Moyes? No matter who we go with, it's a massive gamble. Dan's right on that regard. Again, I'm not saying I'll be gutted if we get Mourinho or Klopp or anyone, they're great. But to say Moyes has nothing on them is naive. You conveniently failed to respond to my query regarding whether there is anyone out there who can do so well with so little for such a long time. If he actually has money, who's to say he won't do even better? Seems to me the guy can find good players, create good players and develop good players from youth. He knows the proper tactics to get the points he needs to shoot above his club's financial weight, he knows British football, he's not going to run off to another country at the drop of a hat. Until you give a Klopp a shot at a big club, we'll never know what he's like at a big club. He's currently at a Europa club, and I'd love to see him in a Champions League club.

Moyes certainly won't sit 11 men behind the ball with United unless he wants to get the sack. :p

EDIT: Dude, Ferguson has a falling out with a Mr. Wayne Rooney. It's not like that's a hard thing for a manager to do. xD

[Psychotic]

Just read something on BBC and will mention that Klopp, someone you mentioned for the role, had a worse record than Moyes did before Dortmund took him on. Manchester United are bigger and more successful than Borussia Dortmund. Apples and oranges.

Why him over Moyes? Because he won the German title and is now in the CL final. Moyes has not won any titles or even got to the first round of European competition. Yes, yes, Dortmund took a chance on him and he's proven himself. Nobody's taken a chance on Moyes. Maybe there is a reason for that... :) Manchester United should not be a club to take chances on potential. They can get the finished article.


But to say Moyes has nothing on them is naive. To say Moyes is anywhere near as good as Mourinho or Klopp - or Rafa god damn Benitez - is naive.



You conveniently failed to respond to my query regarding whether there is anyone out there who can do so well with so little for such a long time. Because it's not relevant. Also, Dario Gradi. :greenie:
If he actually has money, who's to say he won't do even better?Now who's being naive?


Seems to me the guy can find good players, create good players and develop good players from youth. And how many of those players are of Manchester United quality? Good is not the same as world class, which is what United is aiming for.


He knows the proper tactics to get the points he needs to shoot above his club's financial weightI guarantee those tactics will not punch above Manchester United's financial weight. See: Allardyce, Sam.
he knows British footballSam Allardyce again.
Until you give a Klopp a shot at a big club, we'll never know what he's like at a big club. He's currently at a Europa club, and I'd love to see him in a Champions League club....Klopp is at a CL club. :confused: Unless you mean David Moyes and in which case, they're not even a Europa League club. They haven't qualified for the past four seasons... unless a miracle happens and they overtake one of the London clubs this year. And anyway, again, we won't know what Sam Allardyce is like until he's at a big club. Why not him?


Moyes certainly won't sit 11 men behind the ball with United unless he wants to get the sack. :pWell I guess he better click the "tactics" button.

[Aulayna]

Well Wigan lost. Gives us room to breathe!

[charliepanayi]

Well at least now we know if we don't make top four, it'll be because we messed up against Wigan and/or Newcastle. And if we do that, we don't deserve CL football anyway. In the meantime, I'll have to support Stoke on the weekend. How horrible.

[Old Manus]

I agree with Psychotic on the Moyes love-in. Never understood it. Been there 10 years and achieved smurf all. "But he has no monies!!1" is an argument you can apply to any team not in the top 6 (not to mention it's absolute bulltrout). Swans just won the league cup in their second season and spend a fraction of Everton's spending bill; nuff said.

[Psychotic]

Johnny Nic puts it into the back of the net again:

Moyes Has Done Sod All To Deserve This... | John Nicholson (http://www.football365.com/john-nicholson/8699408/Johnny-Nich)

And he supports Middlesbrough, Daniel, in case you want to level accusations of bias. ;)

[Loony BoB]

How is it bulltrout? The club has a £46m debt and spends 78% of their cash on wages. Compare that to £0 debt for Swansea and 54% on wages... I'd say the Swans aren't in a bad position financially. Sure, they spend less on wages than Everton do, but don't go thinking Everton has the cash to compete with Manchester United. Only Swansea (and not by much, btw), Wigan, Southampton, Reading and Arsenal have spent less on transfers than Everton have on a per season average since 2003. For a club that has finished in the top half of the PL table so consistently, Everton has bugger all cash to spend - almost 80% of their cash is spent on wages. There's no room to keep big time players, and if Moyes had the room to spend money on wages to the point that he could retain Rooney, who knows where they'd have ended up? Of course, it looks like even United can't afford to keep Rooney these days. :rolleyes:

League Cups are luck of the draw, not a sign of being the best club in the country. I'd take league position over league (or even FA) cups, personally. Swansea are doing very well, though, but I wouldn't say that's all down to the man who won them the league cup. He's only been there for one season, hasn't he? United were never going to pick a guy based on a single season. I imagine the biggest interest from United will be in how well a manager can keep the entire club stable over a long period of time, not just a first team for a single season.

Just not sure there are that many available managers around who can make such claims outside of Moyes.

Still, nobody will know how he'll turn out at United, just like nobody knew Klopp would put Dortmund where they are and nobody knew that Pep would do so well at Barcelona. Moyes has a better record than both of these had at the top level (well, let's face it, Pep had no record at all) before they took on the clubs they had so much success at. He might fail, yeah, but he might not. I'm sure even if he does well, though, some people out there will just say what they said about Pep... "Oh, anyone could have won with that team." :p

[Psychotic]

I'd take league position over league (or even FA) cups, personally. Everton fans would disagree. As a Liverpool fan, I disagree. As a modern United fan you will never possibly understand this. Well, you might now with Moyes.

I can tell you about every single League Cup victory Liverpool FC have had since I was a fan. 1995, 2-1, Bolton Wanderers. Steve McManaman tore them apart. 2001, Birmingham City, penalties - wasn't on TV so I listened to it on the radio in the bath, Birmingham radio station was going wild for Andy "AJ!!! AJ!!!" Johnson until he fluffed a penalty. 2003, MANCHESTER UNITED HA HA HA, Jerzy Dudek! 2012, Cardiff City, Stewart Downing somehow won man of the match. All of those days have great memories and meaning to them. I will remember them for the rest of my life.

Ask me what position we finished in, say, 2003. Couldn't tell you. 1998? Don't have a clue. There is literally no difference between finishing 6th and 17th in English football. It's meaningless. Hell, if my memory is anything to go by, finishing 3rd is meaningless. I know we've done that lots of times but I couldn't tell you when. I've seen us finish 2nd - 8th and to me I'd take 8th every bloody year if I could have more memories of us lifting trophies.

Enough about me, though. You ask an Everton fan if they would've been happier putting us out of the FA Cup in the semi final and going on to win it or finishing above us in the league. Where's Heath?

[Loony BoB]

Fair enough, although I'm talking as United fan who is fighting for 1st (which I suppose you could count as a cup) rather than an Everton fan fighting for 4th. Either way, what I'm getting at is that I'd rather we win the league by having a manager who can hold us together over a full season rather than winning the League Cup and coming 3rd.

I don't want a manager to come in because they can win us a knockout tournament, I want a manager to come in who can win us the league.

[Psychotic]

Yes, I'd rather win the League than the League Cup. Of course. That's silly talk otherwise. But if you don't win the league - and Everton aren't particularly likely to - who cares? I'll finish 17th and win the FA Cup or Europa League.

Also, I don't think you can compare Pep Guardiola to Moyes. Guardiola was Barca through and through, spent years there as a player and coach, and knew their systems inside out. It's like when Kenny Dalglish was made Liverpool player-manager. He was actually very successful and won the league, believe it or not! Moyes is an outsider. Maybe he'll come in and succeed, but it's not a similar comparison imho.

On the plus side, he has Van Persie. Wigan would be challenging for the CL with Van Persie! :p

[Loony BoB]

Not sure if that was intended as a massive backhand to Arsenal, but you definitely succeeded. :p

[Psychotic]

On the plus side, at least six years isn't as long as Pardew's eight.

[Cuchulainn]

He'll do a decent job I think. I don't judge a coach on trophies alone, that's as idiotic as judging a player on trophies alone. Depends who he's managed. He done the best anyone could at a club with no money.

Would I have preferred a big name? Probably but that's not really how united work. No quick fixes or sentimental appointments. The long game is always thought of.

[Cz]

You're not seeing the big picture guys. United getting Moyes means they're also going to sign Marouane Fellaini, and United with Fellaini is a team Rolf Harris could manage to back-to-back trebles from his prison cell.

[Old Manus]

laudrup in the betting for everton job


i am ready to go nuclear


first psychotic now heath, what is wrong with you scousers and your obsession with south wales

[Mahad]

I'm just going to wait and see what happens.
It's a shame Ferguson didn't go out with a last UCL.

This must of course have been discussed already, but I think Bayern will win the UCL against Dortmund and I don't see how Guardiola will add much to the team, at least in the first season or two.

[Psychotic]

laudrup in the betting for everton job


i am ready to go nuclear


first psychotic now heath, what is wrong with you scousers and your obsession with south waleslet's team up, you and I, as we once did in the days of Lee Trundle, and conspire to make Mark Hughes their manager.

[charliepanayi]

It's the FA Cup final tomorrow!

*watches tumbleweed roll past*

Will Wigan manage a shock of Wimbledon in 1988/Coventry in 1987/Sunderland in 1973 proportions? No. Well OK, they might (and I would love it if they did) but I'll be amazed if they win. This game has 1-0 or 4-0 Manchester City written all over it. And if City win they and Chelsea will have won six of the last seven finals.

[Heath]

Sup. Posting this from my phone as currently without Internet at home.

I think a lot of what has been said in this thread exposes a degree of ignorance about Moyes. Having followed Everton closely throughout his tenure I'd say I'm reasonably able to pass judgement on his reign.

I think Moyes has done an excellent job with transfers. Look at the profits on Lescott, Arteta and the prices we'd get on Baines, Fellaini, Coleman or Jagielka if we sold them. Look at the squad Moyes inherited from Walter Smith which had Paul Gascoigne and David Ginola in it,  all way past their prime,  and look at Everton now. He snapped up Nigel Martyn on a free, who single handedly stopped us getting relegated in 2003/04

Psy points to Yakubu and Bilyaletdinov as expensive failures. Look up how many goals Yakubu scored in his first season with us. I believe it was 22 until he got injured. And frankly what manager hasn't got expensive failures?

Moyes was certainly culpable of rather dour football initially but we have played some excellent football the past three years or so, now that he has painstakingly assembled one on a shoestring budget. I think you can criticise him for saving the draw rather than gambling for a win, which has been our downfall this season. Look up that Steven Gerrard quote after the Goodison derby that I posted. Moyes is nowhere near as dull as people suggest.

Re: league position vs a cup. I would love a cup. But more than that I want an Everton that can be fitting of its history. Would a League Cup achieve that?  No. Would taking us to the CL? Yes. An FA Cup wouldn't get us a lot of money that we desperate need or new owners willing to invest, but consistent European football might. We've had decent cup runs. A few semis, but an FA Cup Final under Moyes.

More generally, do you guys remember what a joke we were pre-Moyes in the PL? We stayed up on goal difference. Twice! Every year was a perpetual relegation battle. For Everton fans to be hoping for CL football, on our budget, is a grreat testament to Moyes' ability.

I think Moyes is a great choice for United. I'm sad to see him leave Everton because I know we will struggle to replace him, and I shudder at the thought of "Everton manager, Mark Hughes." However I'm happy for Moyes because I think he deserves this, a chance to run a club that will back him financially. For all the criticisms of Moyes, the main thing he's guilty of is raising expectations at Everton, and making it much easier to be an Everton fan. SAF is probably the toughest of all acts to follow, but given time I think Moyes can be a success there too.

[charliepanayi]

I was wrong! Hooray!

Now please lose on Tuesday Wigan.

[Cuchulainn]

aAAAAHHHHAHAHAHAHA!!!

[Burtsplurt]

Result! Now, if only they can stay up and those Geordie big-heads (and bellies) can get relegated.

[Psychotic]

Good on them. Fantastic to see a club like that get some silverware.

[Shoden]

Oh wow, Wigan...
Still hope they go down though.

[Formalhaut]

Totally didn't call that FA cup final result. I'm glad though, as I always root for the underdog. Holy hell was I surprised though.

[Mahad]

I was hoping for the underdog wigan to win too, but I didn't actually think that it would happen. I'm glad for them, but I don't think they'll be able to hold on to the Premier League.

[Psychotic]

Let's hope Wigan can beat Arsenal, because then the last game of the season will be them vs Aston Villa, loser gets relegated. And that'll be fun. :)

[Aulayna]

4-0

Thank smurf, we needed that.

*breathes sigh of relief*

[Shoden]

I think I need some oxygen after that match, crucial win and we're pretty much safe now. Coloccini's presence alone turns the defence into an actual line of defence but still, he had a great game.
Elliot was really feeling the burn the entire match and his sending off was a really silly act. Glad to see Steve Harper get a chance to get to 200 appearances though.

Either way, something really needs to be done next season. I'm not really sure if Pardew is the man to really take the team forward at all with his reliance on sheer luck but I can probably see him (sadly) being here next season and doing the same thing.

[Loony BoB]

Bye Sir Alex :(

Bye Wayne Rooney? Eh. *shrug* We can win titles without him, now, but it'd be easier with him on our side. Just wish he would play CM.

[charliepanayi]

Weirdest part of the weekend - not Wigan winning the FA Cup, but Manuel Almunia (!) being the hero of the hour in the playoff semi-final.

[Psychotic]

Weirdest part of the weekend - not Wigan winning the FA Cup, but Manuel Almunia (!) being the hero of the hour in the playoff semi-final.I know. Awful, isn't it? :colbert:

[Old Manus]

I only wish that Rio Ferdinand had fluffed that late winner and ended it in a draw so that the presenters could be even more narked that the Swans had the audacity to not just roll over for ~*~FERGIE~*~ and actually play a competitive game of football.

[Loony BoB]

I thought you guys played well enough to be competitive. It certainly took us a long time to get the win.

[charliepanayi]

And there goes Mancini.

[Psychotic]

United, City and Chelsea all will have new managers next season. Gonna be an interesting one!

[Loony BoB]

Not to mention the number of top European sides that are or may be changing managers, including Bayern Munich, PSG, Real Madrid, even rumours of Barcelona changing managers have been doing the rounds. Seems winning or not, clubs just really want to shuffle the managers around this year.

[charliepanayi]

Come on Newcastle you know you want to let us win on Sunday. I do worry though, we've screwed Spurs over twice on the final day in the last decade, surely sooner or later the boot will be on the other foot.

[charliepanayi]

Over the last two seasons Chelsea really have been the jammiest team in the world.

[Psychotic]

Really pleased for Rafa :) Master of European games, that one!

[Old Manus]

lukaku to swansea

[Loony BoB]

Oh man, Lukaku was such a beast for me in Football Manager 2010 (I think it was that one). He seriously stomped all over everyone, won me so many cups.

[charliepanayi]

I was never worried, honest. Now I'm off to be sick somewhere.

Spurs - try again next season
Arsenal - try maybe buying a few more players this summer?

But for now, phew!

[Psychotic]

Oh man, Lukaku was such a beast for me in Football Manager 2010 (I think it was that one). He seriously stomped all over everyone, won me so many cups.The beast just beasted you! 5-5, how ridiculous xD

Goodbye, Carra. A true legend. While he wasn't as cultured as the likes of Ferdinand or Ledley King, the man's footballing brain and intelligence more than made up for that extra yard of pace. I can remember him as a fresh faced kid. And I remember him screaming on the turf in Istanbul in pain due to cramp after throwing himself in front of the ball yet again.... and then once he had gotten up, he proceeded to hurl himself in front of the ball again. "Stop it you psychopath we need you!" was my thought. Absolute warrior of a man.

[Shoden]

Well. Newcastle stayed up but that last match, great first half but the second, man... What does Pardew do, tell the players to roll over, lay deep and let the opposition's attack in?
If there's anyone better who would take up the job I would welcome them in Alan Pardew's steed but if there's anyone going who I really think would take the job if Mike Ashley had the gall to sack him, I doubt things.

Its really Sad to see Steve Harper go, 199 games and he's still a much better goalkeeper than Rob Elliot is.
The applause in the 37th minute and his reaction just showed how much passion and dedication he's had to Newcastle. 20 years, most of it playing the waiting game because Shay Given took a huff everytime he got benched.

I hope he comes back as a coach or something.
As for next season? Teach Cisse the offside rule, someone. SOMEONE.

[Old Manus]

Just in case anyone cares...

OFFICIAL /EOFF/ FANTASY FOOTBALL 2012/13 POWER RANKINGS

1. Brazilian Sugarkids 2138
2. FC Redemption 2022
3. Generic Name CF 1926
4. Earth, Wind and Dire 1832
5. Yankee Dudeles 1817
6. Donal's Donut Dust 1781
7. Big Andy's Ponytail 1777
8. BoB's Bunch 740

One worse than last season for me. Thinking of retiring as it is becoming clear only one person is ever going to win this :aimkiss:

[Mahad]

I just hope Liverpool can make a challenge for at least a champions league spot. Honestly, this last few years have been pretty sad. I keep thinking "we've got a good team, good young players coming up it's just a matter of time." It'll be really sad to see Gerrard retire without one last title.

And here's hoping Suarez. . . idk, I just don't understand that guy.

And good bye Ferguson, Beckham and Rooney(?).

Any one watch Italian football?

[Cz]

Bit of a dull season to be honest, but I suppose it was never going to be able to match last year for excitement. Hopefully the managerial shuffle will make things a bit more unpredictable next time. And hopefully Gareth Bale gets sold to Anzhi or something so I can start laughing at Spurs again.

[charliepanayi]

You mean you're not laughing at them already? I know I was yesterday.

[Loony BoB]

I registered for Fantasy Football? xD Ahahaha. My bad.

[Cz]

I was more relieved than anything at the time, but it is kind of funny, now you mention it. :D

[Rocket Edge]

Just in case anyone cares...
I care. When I win I care and want you all to care. :aimsun:

What keeps me going throughout the year is having other leagues with mates to keep me active. I might miss the odd gameweek but I still come back to it!

I agree with Cz. This year has been from a neutral perspective the most uneventful season of recent memory. It was great to see United get the title back but there was always that little niggling feeling that we had won it and it was almost over before we knew we had it, so it was a bit of an anti climax. All that had to play for on the last day was 4th spot. Last season everything was to play for and had dramatic results. It was strange playing games having already won the title. Our 5 all with West Brom was like, who cares? None of the players really cared or the fans.

In Europe it was also disappointing. A German final might entertain some but not me really. I've seen them play already this season and it was very cagey, and having already seen them its lost some of its 'spectacle' appeal. I'm not even going to get started on Nani's red card but the English teams in general not doing well made the whole thing boring for me.

Some other lows included Man City not making a challenge for the title, the relegation battle, Suarez, Rooney wanting to leave, and some others I'm probably not thinking of.

Some highs for me included obviously United winning the league, Fergie & Scholes getting a great send-off, RVP, Carrick, De Gea, and some of the matches were great to watch. Uniteds 2-3's at City, Southampton, & Chelsea, among others.

As for next season, it will be fascinating. United will have a new manager with money to spend with his own ideas. Same with Mourinho at Chelsea, with reportedly 100M to spend, as with City under Pelligreni. Arsenal are ready to splash a bit finally & you can never count out Spurs. Liverpool will be the dark horses as I think things are starting to click there. Finished the season strong and will further strengthen in the summer.

Last but not least, thank you Fergie for all the memories!

[charliepanayi]

Whoever wins the European Cup this year, it'll be vastly preferable to last year's winners.

And Suarez a low? The guy creates endless entertainment!

[Cuchulainn]

Think Chelsea or City will win the league next year unless we buy big. United fans may need to put up with one or 2 years transition. In the mid noughties we went through similar.

[Psychotic]

I am not happy with the two apparent pieces of transfer news relating to Liverpool FC today. :colbert:

Kolo Toure on a free makes me think he's going to have some very high wage demands, and that's only bringing back memories of Joe Cole. As for Big Andy... my heart has broken inside. :whimper:

On the bright side: HAHAHAHHAAAHAHAHAHAHHA FUCK OFF PULIS YOU KNOB

[Old Manus]

Sly fiver on Malky Mckay to Stoke. Hopefully both them and Cardiff will go down next season.

[Mahad]

And Suarez a low? The guy creates endless entertainment!

All I'm saying is he can eat when he gets home.

Getting yourself expelled and sanctioned with so many games is just outright ridiculous. And I know Liverpool isn't doing great right now, but dude, respect the club and the tradition. And you're supposed to be a professional.


Just imagine a club with Mario Balotelli, Zlatan Ibramovic, and Suarez.

Anyways, I, for one, am looking forward to the UCL final this weekend.
Then the Conferations Cup this summer!

[Psychotic]

Just imagine a club with Mario Balotelli, Zlatan Ibramovic, and Suarez.I would cry tears of joy. I love all three dearly.

[Bubba]

Just imagine a club with Mario Balotelli, Zlatan Ibramovic, and Suarez.

I'm sure they've all been spotted in the Spearmint Rhino in London...

[Loony BoB]

http://home.eyesonff.com/general-gaming-discussion/150258-eofc-lets-start-appropriate-backstory.html

Get posty with positions.

[charliepanayi]

Come on Dortmund today.

[Loony BoB]

I don't mind who wins today, so long as they play good football it's all good. Also, I don't see you getting posty in my thread. >=( Claim a football position! I wanna start this thing sooner rather than later. :D

[Psychotic]

Everyone at work reckoned it'd be an all-Spanish final and I said it'd be all-German. Now they all reckon it's going to be Bayern so I've opted for Dortmund. Don't let me down!

[charliepanayi]

One year too late Robben. One year too late!

[Psychotic]

Awwww fuck!

Good game though!

[charliepanayi]

So that's that (aside from Spain v Tahiti next month of course). Fixtures for next season out in less than a month - can we get Liverpool in our first six games please?

[Loony BoB]

Welcome home, Ian Holloway. :love:

[Psychotic]

Wow the playoff final trophy is just the Europa League one with handles stuck on.

Also I never quite got why they got a trophy for winning the playoffs. I mean, I do, but I always thought it was kind of harsh to the team who finished 2nd in the Championship as they're missing out!

[Loony BoB]

I had no idea they got a trophy. That is kind of weird, yeah. I thought they'd get maybe one of those shield awards instead of a full on trophy.

[Old Manus]

Also I never quite got why they got a trophy for winning the playoffs. I mean, I do, but I always thought it was kind of harsh to the team who finished 2nd in the Championship as they're missing out!The team who finished second don't have to go through 270+ minutes of pure anguish to get there!

I was pretty ambivalent about the result as I like both teams. It must suck to be a Watford fan right now though, especially when the goal went in yesterday. It must be the worst feeling in the world. I almost felt for the Reading fans when I was there for the 2011 final. Coming all that way, just to lose everything and start again from the beginning.

[charliepanayi]

Could be worse, you could be Preston (0/8 in the playoffs), Brentford, Sheffield United or Lincoln (all 0/7). They must all be sick of them by now.

[Psychotic]

It must suck to be a Watford fan right now thoughAfter what they did to Leicester? Fuck 'em.

[Loony BoB]

BBC Sport - Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway does dressing-room dance (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22581462)

<3

[champagne supernova]

Zaha looks like quite the interesting player though. Wonder if he'll come into the United side next season or not. Nani and Young are a bit iffy (Young more than Nani) and Valencia doesn't really beat his man, so it could be nice to have a winger who is more in the face of the opposition.

[Psychotic]

*starts limbering up to bat for Team Anti-Suarez* :cool: Ugh, this is going to rumble on all fucking Summer, isn't it?

Yes, the press have been utterly appalling to you. Us, the fans, have stood by you through thick-and-thin. Why are you punishing us to give the fleet street :bou::bou::bou::bou:s what they want? Just admit it's for the money, son.

I still maintain he is one of the most skillful (in terms of technique. Bergkamp, Zola, Le Tissier style) players the Premier League has ever seen. If you disagree then you shouldn't watch football, the man is a straight up artist I don't give a fuck. It'll be yet another huge loss to the league, both in terms of footballing spectacle and dramaz.

[Loony BoB]

Yeah, I don't think anyone in this thread has ever doubted his ability to play football.

[Old Manus]

And so, another season ends, and as everybody kept referencing it over the course of this thread, it is plainly only right for another installment of the Official Old Manus Football Thread Quotes of the Season with Budweiser^TM.


feel free to quote this in your end of seasons quotes. Except you won't be able to!

Andy Carroll will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt what a beast he is this season, and will hit DOUBLE FIGURES in goals in all competitions. You smurfing heard it here first.


I can see a period of City dominance in the coming years.


He's [Van Persie] not very good Donal, he will not last 5 minutes before getting injured so relax my good man.


Can defiantly see us [West Ham] staying at the top half of the table.


Van Persie will be this season's Torres.


Joe Allen looks like the signing of the season for us and actually well worth his price tag.


Talking about Swansea, their my new adopted team for this year. I really like them, they have a solid team, and so far they've done well, if only for that loss last Saturday. I've read about their new manager and he seems pretty experienced.


I am looking forward to someone kicking him [Hazard] hard in a game.


Villa are one of the worst sides I have seen in the history of the Premiership.


DOWNING FOR ENGLAND.


http://i.minus.com/ibcmNJEo0Z43NO.gif

And finally...


[Bale] the filthy chimpanzee-looking diving welsh ponce.

[Psychotic]

Only 3 mentions this year. I'm slacking. :(

Also I don't get the gif. What am I missing?

[Loony BoB]

ahahaha, loving the Hazard kick post.

[o_O]

Chelsea fan here. DO YOUR WORST.

I'll just get this out of the way: John Terry is a bit of a dick. Suarez is a doubledick.

[Loony BoB]

Mike <3 you are as beautiful as your team is wankery

[Old Manus]

Also I don't get the gif. What am I missing?He turns around to realise none of his teammates are celebrating with him. Then just thinks 'fuck it I'm celebrating anyway'.

[charliepanayi]

USA currently 2-0 up against Germany, this was their second goal:

http://i.minus.com/i5S3jtXA5Cgu0.gif

[Psychotic]

How decidedly un-German. I always love it when they pull out the Ireland kit though.

[charliepanayi]

Japan become the first country (other than Brazil of course) to qualify for the World Cup next summer.

[Croyles]

USA currently 2-0 up against Germany, this was their second goal:

http://i.minus.com/i5S3jtXA5Cgu0.gif

I literally couldn't stop laughing when that happened. I actually expected a loss for us to be fair. It was the B/C team, and they looked pretty tired/unmotivated.

[Cz]

Well it was nice hanging out with you guys, but I'm afraid that now Jose Mourinho is back in the Premier League I just can't bring myself to read words about football any more. I'm going to start following another league where I can't understand any of the commentary or punditry, like Serie A or the MLS.

[Psychotic]

Well it was nice hanging out with you guys, but I'm afraid that now Jose Mourinho is back in the Premier League I just can't bring myself to read words about football any more. I'm going to start following another league where I can't understand any of the commentary or punditry, like Serie A or the MLS.MLS, you say?

Even Djimi Traore (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObZVcMYxWXQ) is world class in the MLS.

[Croyles]

Well it was nice hanging out with you guys, but I'm afraid that now Jose Mourinho is back in the Premier League I just can't bring myself to read words about football any more. I'm going to start following another league where I can't understand any of the commentary or punditry, like Serie A or the MLS.

Are you a Chelsea supporter? If not you can look forward to The Cancerous One poisoning the team from the inside after a quick burst of success. If you ARE a Chelsea supporter, take solace in the fact that he probably won't be around for the stated 4 years.

[Cz]

Are you a Chelsea supporter? If not you can look forward to The Cancerous One poisoning the team from the inside after a quick burst of success. If you ARE a Chelsea supporter, take solace in the fact that he probably won't be around for the stated 4 years.Chelsea were already poisoned, or rather addicted - the cult of personality he created in that dressing room meant nobody else could do the job. Jose may not be healthy for the club long term but he'll make them competitive in the short run, and more importantly the media will quote every dumb soundbyte and feed his ego because he's a Character and since Fergie and 'Arry (andSuarez?) have gone they need all the Characters they can get or else they might have to start talking about football.

OTOT sport is only really fun when you can have a seething irrational hatred for your opponents so I suppose I can't complain.

[Psychotic]

LFC stars model new away kit - Liverpool FC (http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/lfc-stars-model-new-away-kit)

...

Ugh. :barf:

[charliepanayi]

I've seen worse:

http://cms.442.haymarketnetwork.com/contentimages/blog/Arsenal3.jpg

[Psychotic]

That was acceptable in 1993 though!

[Old Manus]

Just when your usual sticks to hit LFC with were getting old...

[Cuchulainn]

How decidedly un-German. I always love it when they pull out the Ireland kit though.

Urban myth my good man. It's Home (White) and away (green) from the DBF logo.

[charliepanayi]

Ukraine beat Montenegro. So that keeps Montenegro from getting too far ahead of England, but now Ukraine are right behind England, and they're playing them in Ukraine in the autumn. Not to mention Ukraine still have two games to play against San Marino.

[Old Manus]

The current England team is the most average I have ever seen assembled.

[Psychotic]

Isn't the average for England teams to be, well, average?

[charliepanayi]

I remember the Graham Taylor vintage of 1990-1994, that was far worse. Andy Sinton! Carlton Palmer! Dennis Wise!

[noxious.sunshine]

FOOZEBALL!

Go Titans... Yay....

(sorry).

[Loony BoB]

I think you have the wrong football thread. :smash:

[noxious.sunshine]

But the Titans -are- foot...

OHHHH -English-.. woops!

Just put effing SOCCER. Jeebus.

[charliepanayi]

Who let the troll who can't see the word 'English' in?

[DK]

Just put effing SOCCER. Jeebus.

Why on earth would we do something as unspeakably stupid as putting the imaginary word "soccer" in the title of our football thread? Who do you think we are, Americans? Please. This is a much more civilized place, do try not to soil it with uninvited yankness, there's a good chap.

I blame this kind of thing entirely on The Captain, you should have solved this problem by now. :colbert:

[noxious.sunshine]

I'm not blonde, I swear. XD

Oh dear. That reminds me. FIFA is next year. -_-;;;; Lord.

[Psychotic]

Maybe she means Titans Bramble.

[Mahad]

may be a different thread should be made for a general football discussion.

anyways, Brazil 1 - 0 Japan in Confederations Cup so far, Neymar's goal.

[charliepanayi]

I think we'll set up a thread for next season soon anyway (despite the name the football thread covers all football anyway, not just the Premier League), the fixture list is out next week.

[Psychotic]

We just call it English football to stop silly URRRRRR WHAT IS THIS WURRS MAH NFL posts, but it basically covers every kind of association football.

[charliepanayi]

Australia, South Korea and Iran all qualify for the World Cup. Fixture list out tomorrow, might be time for a 2013-14 thread then.

[Mahad]

Only one country from Oceania, right?
I don't understand how Tahiti got into the Confederations Cup over New Zealand.

Anyways, Spain beating Italy at a final. . .again. (4 - 2, European U21)

[charliepanayi]

Oceania doesn't an automatic World Cup place - New Zealand have to play the fourth placed team from Concacaf in the autumn to qualify for the World Cup. And Tahiti won the Oceania Nations Cup last year as NZ managed to lose to New Caledonia in the semi-finals.

[Bubba]

I think next there could be a shift in power next season. I'm not sure David Moyes is up to the task of the Man Utd job and can see us easily slipping out of the top four.

City will remain as strong as ever of course along with Chelsea. But I seriously think Arsenal and even Liverpool will be up there come the latter stages of the season. I reckon it's Arsenal's time for a marquee signing too and can see a big name (possibly a midfielder) joining the fold at the Emirates.

You heard it here first.

[Loony BoB]

I think people greatly underestimate the financial power that United do have at their disposal should we slip out the Champions League. We may not have a limitless fund on par with City, but we have more room to move UEFA FFP-wise than any club bar perhaps Arsenal, and we most certainly do have the ability to fund a very large transfer spend should we need to next summer. In short, we could get away with splurging better than any club (again, perhaps bar Arsenal) without breaking FFP rules.

[Old Manus]

I've stepped into a time capsule from the past. A dark, murky past where Michu wasn't injured and Manchester United were good.

[Psychotic]

I just realised what happened. Jordan Henderson to have a better season than Robin van Persie.

[Loony BoB]

xD Oh man, I didn't even notice. Dammit, Bubba!

[Bubba]

I don't like change!

I'm planning to spend the coming years being a bitter red living off past glories.

[Old Manus]

Psychotic?

[Psychotic]

There's a new generation of Liverpool fans like me who think 3rd and a League Cup is a past glory. :shobon:

[Bubba]

That does put it into perspective a little, I suppose.

My earliest experiences as a Utd fan were in the late 80's where we were particularly trout. But for the past 20 years I have been in dreamland as far as success goes. This new-found mediocrity does not sit well with me at all. I'm not sure I have the capacity to cope with it.

Cue 5 years from now. I'll be sat in a padded room next to a cardboard cut-out of Sir Alex whilst furiously pleasuring myself over a video of Kevin Keegan's famous rant in 1996 with tears streaming down my face. I'm quietly muttering to myself in near-unintelligible English, things like "...and Solskjaer has won it...... a wonderful run from Giggs......seagulls...trawler..."

[Heath]

1995 FA Cup was the greatest football moment of our lifetimes and don't pretend you think otherwise.

It's all I've got!