English Football Thread! 2005-2006 Season

[Cuchulainn]

Well of course. They are Pardew's formidable army, after all.

We played brilliantly in the first half; let anyone call us a one-man team and I'll HUH them. In fact, I guess you're right that there's no shame in losing to them; we didn't concede through awful mistakes -- they (Pug especially ) just played better. Hopefully Henry is all well-rested for the Villa game, and they won't let this affect them and depress them.

Toure's save was a pretty fine one xD

You DO know, for the most part, you were outplayed right? It took a save from a defender to stop it being 1-0 at the break. Arsenal NEED Henry to produce anything against top flight opposition. They no longer have thew strength in depth that Man U, Chelsea or the Scousers have. A small buying spree in the summer should sort that. There is no way Spurs should be above you. That's your sign right there.

[Cz]

Last night's match was fantastic. Well done to 'Boro, I hope you go all the way. To think that before the Carling Cup a couple of years back you'd never won anything, now you could be lined up for domestic and European success.

[Jess]

Your friends must have good taste.

I was at the match, and it was pretty damn good. If only our defence was a bit pacier, I think we would have had a very easy ride. And now we're in two semi-finals!

Listening to the local radio last night, it seems as if most of the North East is behind Boro, even the Geordies. Then again, I suspect it's because they'll be able to come down to the Riverside and have a little look at some nice trophies. It beats going all the way across to Manchester to have a look. Maybe one day they'll have some of their own...

Yeah, Park isn't a winger. He's an attacking midfielder. Wingers tend to stick to the touchline a lot more and deliver crosses- like Downing last night.

You say that, but they were there supporting Charlton. :laugh:

Newcastle will get a trophy, and it better be sooner rather than later!

I just can't see Boro winning the FA, though. Also being a Geordie through and through I don't particularly want them to either. Newcastle should be the only team in the North East winning trophies!

[Cz]

You say that, but they were there supporting Charlton. :laugh:

Newcastle will get a trophy, and it better be sooner rather than later!

I just can't see Boro winning the FA, though. Also being a Geordie through and through I don't particularly want them to either. Newcastle should be the only team in the North East winning trophies!

Except 'Boro won the Carling Cup in 2004, and Sunderland won the Championship trophy last year. Looks like you're the only team in the North East not winning trophies!

P.S. Please don't be mad.

[Shoden]

The Championship trophy means about as much as donkey muck. Sure it is some sort of silverware but Newcastle always get knocked out in the final rounds of tournaments.

I want Boro to win the UEFA cup but they haven't got a hope in flying hell for the FA cup, they're too focused on tournaments, that's bad because they're failing bad in the premiership, at this rate thery won't be in any european tournaments next season.

[Resha]

You DO know, for the most part, you were outplayed right? It took a save from a defender to stop it being 1-0 at the break. Arsenal NEED Henry to produce anything against top flight opposition. They no longer have thew strength in depth that Man U, Chelsea or the Scousers have. A small buying spree in the summer should sort that. There is no way Spurs should be above you. That's your sign right there.

If I don't sound like a complete retard piping the same old; not during the first half an hour or so, no -- we weren't outplayed by a long shot. We created chances and didn't take them. It's true though, that having Henry probably gives everyone a lot of confidence and he's brilliant and no disputing that. But when people call us a one man show and say we'd be completely incapable without Henry -- I don't think that's entirely justified (maybe to some extent). I thought Robin van Persie had a great chance of getting a goal for a while -- he had tons of shots.

Overall, yeah, I'll admit we were outplayed by MU. Maybe the long-run factor shows in what you say. I'd agree that maybe we're slightly lacking in the striking depth (more than we ought to be) because adebayor hasn't been prodigial or anything yet. He creates chances and he's got a few goals, sure, but I think he's got much more potential than what he's showing now. He seems awfully hesitant to me, sometimes. That delay costs us.

o_O Eh.

Edit: Oh wow ^___^ This reminds me. Did Ljungberg get a haircut?

[Burtsplurt]

Unless we win the UEFA or FA cup, of course.

Yes, I'm amazed how often Newcastle get knocked out in the final round of tournaments. It's just bizarre how Newcastle have appeared in so many semi-finals this year! At least you won't have to miss 'The Bill' because of a football game.

[Shoden]

'The Bill' sucks anyway so it aint a big loss. I remember last year's FA cup when Shearer delievered a finisher to Chelsea in the days before diving antics started. Newcastle just need to have the eyes to know Ameobi, Bramble and Boumsong need to go, Bowyer may have to go, but if he gets some sense smacked into him soon I think he'll stay. He's a good player sometimes but he just cannot use any talent because he's blind in the mind to it, hopefully the new manager will sort the team out.

[Loony BoB]

Sunderland officially relegated.

Manchester United all but officially out of the title race. Chorus of boos fill a record attendance as it closes up at 0-0, with Man U's worst game from all of those that I've seen this season.

On a positive note for English fans, though - Neville had a freaking fantastic game. I'd almost say he was the most likely to score a goal, the way he was playing. I think this one's on Ferguson - he picked bad players, he put up a bad bench, and the formation used - going up the middle and taking time to tap it around the box trying to find a way in whlie more and more Sunderland players walk in behind the ball... awful tactics. Horrid. Gutted as a Man United fan.

[Shoden]

Manchester United weren't even trying in the game. Ferguson underestimated a bad team, if he treated it like a game he could of gotten the 3 points bringing them closer to top place. He mucked up.

[Cuchulainn]

We were pathetic. Rooney was woeful (has been for a while, I've just chosen to live in ignorance), showing signs that the weight of every over-expectant supporter in England is tiring him. Ronaldo did his same old tired 'one-trick-two-trick-lost ball-fall over' nonsence that does no one any favours & is starting to annoy the hell outta me. Ferguson's tactics were pathetic, swamping the centre of midfield & leaving the flanks bare. Then there was Ferdinand, another under achieving performance. We over complicated attacks in the 1st half, trying to be smart & smurfing it all up, then getting hit on the break.

Having said that, I was ALWAYS of the belief the title was already over so we haven't really lost anything in my eyes. Sunderland's tactics were spot on, makes you wonder just WTF they were doing in the other matches. At times they outplayed us & it was hard to see who was 2nd & who was last & being relegated.

The camp needs changed & I have to say I wouldn't be too upset if Ronaldo left in the summer. All in all, roll on next season with new players, this one is dead to me now. Well done Chelsea.

[Resha]

Nothing would give me greater pleasure than seeing Ronaldo go He's too much of a show-off with an ear problem -- just what is up with his balance, anyways? o_O

[Cuchulainn]

He reminds me of a slightly worse George Best. Frustrating as hell to watch but unbeleivable talent. Regardless of that talent he needs to learn when to do & try tricks & when not to. He needs to learn when to pass quick & when to take a defender on. Once he masters that, he will be a football great. Trouble is, the world doesn't stop while he learns & we're wasting points while he's learning.

I want to take back my earlier post about him leaving, I don't want him to. I was frustrated. We just need another option, he's young & isn't always going to give the constant level of brilliance like Neville (who incidentally was unbeleivable last night, an eagle amonst turkeys).

You wouldn't give a 20 year old racing driver Car 1 in a Grand Prix, you would train him up on Car 2 then move on when ready, no matter how good he is he's still green.

Mind you one slip up in 8 isn't bad, infact, it's our best winning streak for a long long time, we were due it.

Now Chelsea have won 2-0 it's roll on next season.

[Jess]

1-0 down after 5 minutes. Lee Bowyer off within 8 minutes due to an injury.

This isn't looking good so far.

EDIT: That'll teach me for being so pessimistic. 1-1.
EDIT 2: 2-1! Brilliant.

[Old Manus]

I had a lot of fun laughing at the Man U fans today