Real Football (Soccer to you Yanks) Thread

[skyblue]

Maybe but Spain's gameplay dictates that at times they will be left open like that, but they've played like that for a while and are World and European Champions, if anything they'll pass you to death. They have averaged 75% possession in this qualifying campaign, that's the first thing you need to do to beat Spain, break up tiki taka. I'd put Holland just below them and Germany. Russia? lol, I'd be astounded.

remember greece

 

[Springsteen]

Oh it's happened alright, but I think the quality of team now is better than 2004. Greece was a fluke though, they've done absolutely nothing since.

 

[skyblue]

and another thing bothers me,theres an inquest going on right now over bribes involving bin haman sheik yer wallet of qatar.....surely they cant be allowed to host the world cup seeing as he led their bid

 

[Springsteen]

Heh, funny story I was reading on ask the gaffer. It concerns South Africa's failure to qualify for next years African Cup of Nations.

South Africa thought their goalless draw with Sierra Leone on Saturday was enough to secure a place in the 2012 African Cup of Nations finals and even went on a post-match lap of honour. The Bafana Bafana management thought the group was decided on goal difference, only to discover Niger had qualified by virtue of a better head-to-head record between the three teams who finished on nine points: Niger, South Africa and Sierra Leone. The South African FA have launched an appeal but it's unlikely to succeed because the competition rules clearly state: "In case of equality of points between two or more teams, after all the group matches, the ranking of the teams shall be determined by the greater number of points obtained in the matches between the concerned teams." The truth is that South Africa's farcical failure is the fault of coach Pitso Mosimane,above, and his staff who set the team up to draw, believing that a point was enough.

 

[skyblue]

yet again england fall foul of EUFA/FIFA......rooney's was a straight red granted,but should it carry the maximum 3 match ban?...not a chance.....we need to develope a seige mentality

 

[Springsteen]

The problem is for England is that a 3 match ban in an International tournament isn't the same as a 3 match ban in a regular season in that if you miss 3 games like Rooney will, that's half the games, and that's assuming England reach the semi finals, whereas had he done this for Man United and he gets 3 games, it's a small-ish ban because there's 35 other games. I don't think England should appeal it because it's not something that i see being reduced. It was a red card I agree, and it counts as violent conduct so you're always running the risk. I think it was something borne out of frustration from losing the ball. My idea would be to play Ashley Young in the Rooney role in the group games because no other England striker can do that role.

 

[skyblue]

if it had been a french,spanish or german player it would have been a 1 game ban

 

[Zorak]

3 matches seems extreme, but that's the decision and it has to be lived with.

Capello should leave him at home for the Euro's in my opinion. You take every game one at a time, and there's no use in having a passenger making distracting headlines every time he takes a walk through Krakow just because he might come in useful in the later games (which by England's current form we must suppose we would be lucky to get too anyway)..

 

[Peter Parka]

Rooney was a twat and acted like a thug, there was no excuse for what he did. Leave the cunt at home for the tournament seeing he'll miss most of the games anyway and give his place to someone who is actually free to play in all the matches.

 

[Springsteen]

I'd rather he stayed at home. Then he's nice and fresh for next season. England are shit and won't win Euro 2012 anyway so it's pretty irrelevant who plays. Fabio should do a Striker WUM again like Sven in 2006 and take Kevin Davies and Carlton Cole.

 

[skyblue]

i'd take him,just to piss fergie off if nothing else

 

[Springsteen]

How would it piss Fergie off? I don't think Fergie has any objection to him being taken to the Euro's. The best option in Rooney's absence would be to play Welbeck and Bent with Young behind them, or maybe just the one striker with Young floating.

Back to normal in la Liga with Barcelona leading over Real Madrid in second. Barca beat Racing 3-0 at the Nou Camp, Messi scored two and a Xavi header and Real beat Betis 4-1 at the Bernabeu, Higuain hat trick and Kaka scored. Ronaldo didn't score which is rare indeed. Messi is now the second highest scorer in Barcelona's history, with 196. He needs 235 to overtake Cesar Rodriguez who scored 235. 40 goals between now and May? Perfectly achievable. He needs a few more than that in La Liga to become the all time La Liga scorer, the record is 196 (Cesar Rodriguez again) and Messi has 129. He'll get round to that next season I think.

 

[Springsteen]

Beat Galati 2-0 away in the Champions League, Rooney with two penalties. Certainly a deserved victory if a very hard earned one. The main problem was getting into the final third and then not doing anything. But they were certainly penalties, and the first one was very fortunate not to see a man sent off for deliberate handball. Vidic was sent off harshly, it was mistimed at worst, and considering Galati spent much of the game fouling our players, though the players were evened up late on. In the end an uncomfortably comfortable win.

 

[skyblue]

i didn't see united because i was at work....but i've been told vidic had his studs up

 

[Springsteen]

His foot was high, but there were no studs showing. He caught the player with the top of his foot, and it was just mistimed. It only looks worse because it was mid-height. I don't think we have an intention to appeal it beause UEFA' appeal process only covers factual errors by the referee and/or mistaken identity. And seeing as we don't employ Vidic's twin, it's fruitless. But it's not totally bad given our next two are at home and we have cover, and we haven't had Vidic for 2 months anyway.

 

[skyblue]

ok,i've seen the tackle......i honestly dont think vidic can have any complaints

 

[CaptainTurtles]

I'm a huge football fan!
My team is Swansea City FC! It's where I'm from. It's been an exciting time for us, first year in the premier league! Luckily, I have a Setanta subscription so I don't miss a game all the way here in Canada! My mother sent out a Swansea away jersey which arrived today, very happy I can wear my shirt proudly out here Wonder how many people will recognise it!

 

[porterjack]

You might be able to start a Canadian Swansea fan club

 

[Springsteen]

Barcelona jackhammered Real Mallorca 5-0 at the Nou Camp. Messi answered his critics (namely from the Madrid papers) with a first half hat trick, youngster Cuenca added a fourth in the second half before Dani scored an absolutely wonderful goal in stoppage time. A dipping powerdrive from near on 25 yards, you'd be hard pressed to find a better goal this weekend.

 

[Springsteen]

Congrats in order for Molde in Norway and in particular their manager, one Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, for winning their first ever league title in Ole's first season as manager. Legend as a player, hopefully will make a great success at management (one league win and a successful spell as our reserve team manager already) and the loveliest guy you could ever meet. 20legend.