2006-07 Soccer Thread

[cthomer5000]

Champions League Draw

Porto v Chelsea
Celtic v Milan
PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal
Lille v Manchester United
Roma v Lyon
Barcelona v Liverpool
Real Madrid v Bayern Munich
Internazionale v Valencia


Pretty "meh" draw for me personally. Liverpool got hit with the wammy, and I guess the Mourinho @ Porto storyline is pretty big... but outside of that none of those matchups grab me.

[3ric]

Real vs Bayern is pretty big, two previous winners and the 17th time those two will meet in European cup competitions.

[cthomer5000]

Out of the UEFA matchups, Werder Breman/Ajax looks to be the headliner.

[MIJB#19]

Out of the UEFA matchups, Werder Breman/Ajax looks to be the headliner.Yeah. Bremen is doing really well this season in Germany, while Ajax is the biggest name in this competition. AEK Athena - Paris SG and Feyenoord - Tottenham are pretty interesting too. For the round of 16, Braga/Parma vs. Feyenoord/Tottenham, AEK/PSG vs. Benfica/Dinamo Bucuresti and Spartak Moscow/Celta vs. Werder/Ajax look interesting. But really, aside from Zulte-Waregem and the two Israeli sides, the UEFA Cup is loaded with good to very good teams.

[VPI97]

Wow. Fantastic effort from West Ham as they take down Man U. Great game.

[daedalus]

Wow. Fantastic effort from West Ham as they take down Man U. Great game.Hrm. Impressive. Conflicting thoughts from me, an Arse fan:


Yes! I'm no big fan of West Ham but, y'know, any humility offered to SAF is a GoodThing[tm].
Fuck! These are the extraordinarily RARE days when I WANT ManU to win (just a little). Just to have Mourinho STFU.
Damn, this definitely kills any remote possibility of Reo-Coker moving to us in January. I wouldn't classify him as a big "need" and I'm not even sure how, where or IF he would even fit in. But, by all account, he's a classy player with great character and, well, I just wouldn't mind that at Ashburton Grove (AKA Emirates Stadium).All in all, good job by that team.

[SirFozzie]

Sounds like some one needs anger management classes for Christmas..

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2006/12/20/sportstory9089220t0.asp

Got the Red Card shown to him THREE times in one game.

#1- Double Yellow
#2- Striking an opposing player on his way out
#3- Constant abuse of the referee on his way out

The club has told him he has two options, pretty much. Retire, or be fired. He's looking at an 8 game suspension at least.

[Critch]

Sounds like some one needs anger management classes for Christmas..

He can pop in while he's in for his drug and alcohol addiction meetings, Andy McLaren has a long history of not being what you'd call a model professional. He's been fired by clubs before, bit of a waste of his talent.

The game was at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld (my home town), it's got a gap at one end where the stand is still to be built, there are no trees around it, so the wind whistles through it. It's a miserable place to watch soccer in the winter, McLaren probably wanted to get sent off to get into the warmth.

[cthomer5000]

So the Liverpool-Arsenal Carling Cup game got postponed due to fog... now it looks like it will be the same matchup on January 6th and then 9th/10th... FA Cup/Carling Cup back-to-back... should be interesting.

[Fighter of Foo]

Real vs Bayern is pretty big, two previous winners and the 17th time those two will meet in European cup competitions.

In all likelihood, this will be the most boring ov the 8 matchups. Can't forsee many goals here.

[Critch]

So the Liverpool-Arsenal Carling Cup game got postponed due to fog

Managed to avoid the score all afternoon, got home and settled down on the recliner in front of the tv ready for the game, kicked off the TiVo and got the rolling message about the game being postponed. Bugger.

[3ric]

Sounds like some one needs anger management classes for Christmas..

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2006/12/20/sportstory9089220t0.asp

Got the Red Card shown to him THREE times in one game.

#1- Double Yellow
#2- Striking an opposing player on his way out
#3- Constant abuse of the referee on his way out

The club has told him he has two options, pretty much. Retire, or be fired. He's looking at an 8 game suspension at least.

That's almost an achievement on par with Dean Windass' infamous sending-off!
Probably been posted before, but here goes:
http://football.guardian.co.uk/news/theknowledge/0,9204,623070,00.html

[SirFozzie]

This is the kind of thing you'd never see in the States. Sky Sports interviewed the ref about his decision to call off the game.. the Liverpool players saw this happening, and tried to lodge a protest...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC-H2-C8rxk

Can you imagine this happening in the states?

[Critch]

That's almost an achievement on par with Dean Windass' infamous sending-off!

Windass might be old and fat now, but he's still an animal. This is from a couple of weeks ago:

hxxp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbKVDsZtaHs

[Dunleavy]

Arsenal 6 Liverpool 3 byaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!

[SirFozzie]

....


6-3?

The FUCK?

They decide to play indoor soccer or something?

[Dunleavy]

eh'em They Do score in this game you know ;)

[SirFozzie]

yeah, but SIX TO THREE?

[Katon]

Liverpool fans don't need to worry, though. Benitez has carefully analyzed everything that happened and figured out what went wrong:

The problem was conceding four goals in the first half.

[MIJB#19]

Reportedly, Ronald Waterreus signed with the NY Red Bulls. People may remember him from a USA-Netherlands friendly right before the 2002 World Cup: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/2002/world_cup/news/2002/05/19/us_netherlands/ (freaky, of the dutch lineup listed, only 2 players are retired by now, yet oly 2 of the rest are still part of the national team)

Granted, Waterreus may seem a bit old at 36 years old, but he's a goalkeeper and the experts over here claim he's still a good one. Although his lack of action the last year and a half, plus the number of goals he conced in his one month at AZ are a bit discouraging. It is interesting that he desperately wanted to play in the USA, turning down a three to four times higher salary bid to stay with AZ...

[Marc Vaughan]

This is the kind of thing you'd never see in the States. Sky Sports interviewed the ref about his decision to call off the game.. the Liverpool players saw this happening, and tried to lodge a protest...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC-H2-C8rxk

Can you imagine this happening in the states?

Thought it was quite amusing to be honest - that sort of thing is relatively 'standard practice' over here ... nothing malicious about it, but amusing that their shots weren't particularly accurate ....

(possibly because of the poor visibility? ;) )

[AlexB]

I'm sure it's been posted before, but this is one my favourite football clips, and along similar lines...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRZTna7tRHk

[Crapshoot]

Liverpool fans don't need to worry, though. Benitez has carefully analyzed everything that happened and figured out what went wrong:

Shouldn't your team be off spending 30 million pounds on a backup striker again?

[condors]

Shouldn't your team be off spending 30 million pounds on a backup striker again?

and

if the team wins....change the lineup...and play Gerrad out of postion :)

[Katon]

Shouldn't your team be off spending 30 million pounds on a backup striker again?

Hey, we need another striker right about now . . .

Why Jose decided to start the season with two out-and-out strikers, three wingers, three central defenders, and 572 central midfielders I have no idea. Can you say unbalanced squad?

[Marc Vaughan]

Why Jose decided to start the season with two out-and-out strikers, three wingers, three central defenders, and 572 central midfielders I have no idea. Can you say unbalanced squad?
Would you be so kind as to release SWP on loan somewhere so that England can actually have a decent replacement for Beckham at some point in the future (he was a fantastic little player before he decided to decamp and become a professional seat warmer for Chelsea).

[ISiddiqui]

I thought Aaron Lennon was supposed to be Beckham's replacement for the future.

[Katon]

Would you be so kind as to release SWP on loan somewhere so that England can actually have a decent replacement for Beckham at some point in the future (he was a fantastic little player before he decided to decamp and become a professional seat warmer for Chelsea).

I doubt he'll be headed out this month, given the squad balance problems I mentioned earlier (which are even worse than the raw numbers would suggest, since Cole's missing for the rest of the year and Robben's the most fragile footballer this side of Jonathan Woodgate). I'd be a bit surprised if he was here next year, though. He needs a change of scenery.

[MIJB#19]

Robben's the most fragile footballer this side of Jonathan Woodgate
Yeah, his list of injuries is growing fast, I'm forseeing a similar career end as Marc Overmars, all the gas out of the tank, unable to play more than 45 minutes by the age of 30...

[cthomer5000]

Spurs get two more games against Arsenal.... im not sure how I feel about this.

[moriarty]

I'm sure it's been posted before, but this is one my favourite football clips, and along similar lines...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRZTna7tRHk

I can't believe I've never seen that one before. That was hillarious.

[cthomer5000]

Spurs apparently looked good today (4-0 win @ Fulham in the FA Cup) . I wont see for myself until it's run on FSC on Wednesday.

I guess Martin Jol's job is safe at least a couple more weeks.

[Easy Mac]

So it seems Craig Bellamy attacked John Arne Riise with a golf club... a normal reaction for refusing to sing karaoke.

http://www.itv-football.co.uk/Story/0,14272,6107_1925984,00.html

[cthomer5000]

That is an amazing story. Kind of lends some credibility to the charges Bellamy faced a while back about hitting a few women in Wales.

[Easy Mac]

i was wondering why the name Craig Bellamy seemed so familiar to me... and why I wasn't surprised at all about the story.

[bhlloy]

Used to go out in Cardiff all the time and occasionally when he was back in town Bellamy would go out and invariably get into fights with bouncers. Guy has classic little man syndrome. Complete lunatic.

[bulletsponge]

So it seems Craig Bellamy attacked John Arne Riise with a golf club... a normal reaction for refusing to sing karaoke.

http://www.itv-football.co.uk/Story/0,14272,6107_1925984,00.html

id take a few hits from a golf club to before singing at a Karaoke bar

[bulletsponge]

Used to go out in Cardiff all the time and occasionally when he was back in town Bellamy would go out and invariably get into fights with bouncers. Guy has classic little man syndrome. Complete lunatic.

how little is he? or is it the other "little" thats hes so pissed about?

[SirFozzie]

Just watched the A-League Grand Final (the Aussie MLS). 6-0 thrashing. Ye Gods.

[bhlloy]

how little is he? or is it the other "little" thats hes so pissed about?

5 foot 9... no idea about the other size though :)

[Mac Howard]

Just watched the A-League Grand Final (the Aussie MLS). 6-0 thrashing. Ye Gods.

Disappointing game for neutrals and Adelaide fans. I never like to see a final reduced to 10 v 11 like this but Aloisi deserved to go off. A pity Adelaide will be the team representing the A-League in the Asian Champions League.

Still, a sellout crowd - the Socceroos success at the World Cup is still having its effect.

[daedalus]

I guess Martin Jol's job is safe at least a couple more weeks.I hope they let him have a few seasons to prove his worthiness (or lack of) before they go ahead and make a managerial move. It looks like he's trying to build something long term (with a lot of youth signings) rather than attempting to go all out NOW (a la Leeds). It was before my time but, to my understanding, Ferguson and Wenger were not immediate success either. But they had time to build their team.

No, I'm not being facetious and trying to mock the Spuds. I don't watch their game and don't know how good (or bad) he is. I just wish some managers would get a chance to succeed (or fail) before rash decisions are made. Especially when they are trying to build long term like this.

[cthomer5000]

I hope they let him have a few seasons to prove his worthiness (or lack of) before they go ahead and make a managerial move. It looks like he's trying to build something long term (with a lot of youth signings) rather than attempting to go all out NOW (a la Leeds). It was before my time but, to my understanding, Ferguson and Wenger were not immediate success either. But they had time to build their team.

No, I'm not being facetious and trying to mock the Spuds. I don't watch their game and don't know how good (or bad) he is. I just wish some managers would get a chance to succeed (or fail) before rash decisions are made. Especially when they are trying to build long term like this.

I'm not pushing him out the door myself either, I'm just saying this seems to be the belief (that he's on thin ice).

My big issue with the team is the DRAMATIC difference in quality of play when on the road. They are absolutely dreadful on the road this year. They're 1-5-6 on the road in the premiership and they have looked like SHIT the entire season away from White Hart Lane. However they've looked fantastic in the UEFA cup, so he's got that going for him.

I think one of his issues personally is the fact that im still not sure he knows who his starting 11 is, 26 games into the season.

[Fighter of Foo]

I think one of his issues personally is the fact that im still not sure he knows who his starting 11 is, 26 games into the season.

That has a tendency to happen when you bring in a lot of new players. Add in their busy season and the need to get the whole squad involved and you get a big mess. The situation with their strikers is the particularly fccked.

Also, Davids may have been crappy last year, but they miss him on the road. Zokora or whoever they bought to replace him isn't nearly as good at running around and kicking people. The whole team seems soft and that might have something to do with dropping all those points on the road.

What's funny is you can say almost exactly the same things about West Ham. Spurs have done well to avoid being that awful and haven't made the tragic mistake of firing their manager. Sustaining a top league position is very, very difficult. See Villa, Charlton, Ipswich and Birmingham for recent examples.

[cthomer5000]

Also, Davids may have been crappy last year, but they miss him on the road. Zokora or whoever they bought to replace him isn't nearly as good at running around and kicking people. The whole team seems soft and that might have something to do with dropping all those points on the road.

I agree the team is soft this year. They do miss that sort of "enforcer" role Davids brought. Mido gives you a slight element of that, but he also just seems to make horrible decisions out there, and he's a forward so obviously he can't settle things in the middle. Chimbonda has kind of been a thug at the back at times, but again... both those guys tend more towards simply making bad decisions than actually just hacking on people sometimes to slow them down a bit.

I dunno, there are so many issues I don't know where to start. Really, like maybe 4-5 positions have a clear cut "best player" and the rest is just whatever Jol feels like sending out there on a given day.

[cthomer5000]

Pretty sweet couple of days of football... Wednesday is just bonkers.

Tuesday
3 of the 4 Champions League games are on...
Lille/Man U
Real Madrid/Bayern Munich
PSV Eindhoven/Arsenal


Wednesday
EPL: Watford v. Wigan = huge game in the relegation battle. A Wigan win all but dooms the bottom 3 (West Ham, Charlton, Watford), a Watford win makes it a "3 of these 4 are going down" type situation, and a draw maintains the status quo.

EPL: Everton v. Tottenham = my team is playing (Spurs), so obviously I'm up for this one. I'm praying they can sneak back into the UEFA cup (through the Intertoto even, if necessary), so i'm going to need them to actually starting winning games again.

3 of 4 Champions League matches again:
Barcelona/Liverpool (the best of this round, imho)
Inter Milan/Valencia
Porto/Chelsea

and on top of all that the CONCACAF Champions' Cup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CONCACAF_Champions%27_Cup_2007) starts Wednesday with two MLS teams playing (Houston and DC against teams from Costa Rica and Honduras).
Looking forward to really putting in some great ass-on-couch time. :)

[SirFozzie]

My Tivo is whimpering already :D

[Critch]

Talking about whimpering Tivo, the Brazilian soccer channel PFC has apparently been added to both Dish and DirecTV now. 300 live games per year.

Unfortunately it's $20 a month and I don't think it comes with any English language alternative audio, so I'm still undecided on whether to splash out for it or not.

[SirFozzie]

GolTV, FSC, and Setanta are enough for me, especially since the local spanish language channel has more mexican games..

Come Summertime, I might, since it's mostly MLS and the odd South American Summer League.

[GoldenEagle]

I am probably looking the most forward to the CONCACAF Champions Cup games, although I do not really expect a strong showing from Houston or DC United.

[Critch]

Come Summertime, I might, since it's mostly MLS and the odd South American Summer League.

World U20 Cup Finals this summer, so no need to panic. Being played in Canada, so the game times should be fairly TV friendly. Hopefully FSC will pick it up again.

And Scotland qualified! (And the US too).

[SirFozzie]

The good thing about all the TV coverage of MLS this summer, is that the games will be fairly spread out.. there will be games on National TV 3-4 times a week

[cthomer5000]

Tuesday Feb 20 Champions League Spoilers

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Couldn't be happier to see Arsenal fail to score an away goal and lose 1-0. :D

I thought the Real Madrid-Bayern Munich game was extremely entertaining. Beckham continues his mini-renessaince there, but you get the feeling they are really going to regret letting up that late goal that cut it to 3-2. I will be totally unsurprised if they lose 2-1 in Germany and have their run ended.

I saw the extended highlights of the Man U - Lille game.... this one is going to be talked about for a long while. It appeared Giggs had the go-ahead to take the free kick, so Lille apparently is at fault for simply losing their concentration. The disallowed Lille goal certainly couldn't have made the crowd any happier either.

I also saw the extended highlights of the Celtic - AC Milan match. Based on what appeared to be a couple very serious oppotrunites for Milan, and the general quality of opposition, I have to imagine Celtic views 0-0 as a pretty damn good result. I know i do. I mean, any draw involving goals now gets them through. They have to feel pretty good about that. And i've only seen him in a couple games now, but Nakamura is a beast on free kicks.

[Mr. Wednesday]

Regarding the Giggs free kick, the point of contention among the referees in the Referee forum at BigSoccer is whether the referee's actions created an expectation of a ceremonial restart. They basically feel he should have avoided standing near the spot where the kick was taken.

[Easy Mac]

So Riise and Bellamy scored for Liverpool? That's ironic.

[Easy Mac]

Next time I'll wait 3 minutes so the announcers can say the exact same thing.

[AlexB]

So Riise and Bellamy scored for Liverpool? That's ironic.

And Bellamy, subtle as ever, celebrates by swinging an imaginary golf club :rolleyes:

[Crapshoot]

And Bellamy, subtle as ever, celebrates by swinging an imaginary golf club :rolleyes:

I gotta say, a little bit of me laughed at that. :D

[daedalus]

Couldn't be happier to see Arsenal fail to score an away goal and lose 1-0. :DIf I didn't know any better, I'd think those were the words of a fan of a mediocre, underachieving club unlikely to achieve European play of their own anytime soon.

Wait . . . . . .

[cthomer5000]

I gotta say, a little bit of me laughed at that. :D

Yeah, it was thoroughly LOL for me. So amazing.

Fantastic result for Liverpool though, they will need to absolutely fall apart to lose it in the 2nd leg.

And very, very disappointing result for Blackburn today in the UEFA cup. Couldnt score a single goal at home to move on... oof.

[cthomer5000]

By the way, massive win for Tottenham yesterday in the premiership. They actually played very well, the most offensive I've seen them all year, and were very strong in the final 15 minutes when it looked like they were going to have to settle for a draw.

It keeps their faint UEFA cup qualification hopes alive. Just 3 points out of position. :fingers crossed:

[Ryan S]

Wow, the Hearts owner has lost it.

This spectacular rant is aimed at the Scottish media - Link bad, see full text a few posts down

I suspect that there may be more to it that just a crazy owner, as I highly doubt the Scottish players were blameless in causing the disruptions, but the media is going to have a feeding frenzy with a press release like this.

[SirFozzie]

Isn't Hearts the team whose owner is a complete Nutsoid and has gone through like six coaches in two years?

EDIT: Yup: He was up to Seven Coaches in 21 months last time I posted about him in this thread.

[SirFozzie]

Since the link is bad, Ryan:

Hearts majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov issued a cryptic, bizarre and vague statement which appeared to claim refereeing was open to corruption - but without specifying whether he believed Scottish clubs and match officials were cheating the system.

Delivering his message through the Hearts website, Romanov's carefully-worded tirade is sure to interest the Scottish Premier League, however its content was almost impenetrable in terms of interpretation.

Addressing the media, who Romanov has taken to describing as 'monkeys', the Lithuanian declared: "Today I will express my opinion in English about refereeing in order that your Mowgli will not make you tell lies.

"To discuss whether referees take money or not is the same as discussing a woman who gives herself with no love.

"Isn't it better to concentrate on the standard of their work instead of looking for reasons for their poor performance?

"A woman cheats herself and nature if she gives herself without love. If a referee officiates a game based on his personal love, he commits a cynical crime, especially when the public has trusted him.

"I respect those referees who take money from two stupid teams and then honestly officiates a game. They do not harm football in any way.

"Though it is bad, still everybody is equal for them. Perhaps that is the reason why football in Italy will never die despite all the scandals that continuously shake it.

"I think that is much better than being the champions for 40 years while building up the same system for further 40 years."

[SirFozzie]

here's the history of the biggest whackaloon owner in all of soccer:

* Having been rejected by Dundee United, Dundee and Dunfermline Athletic, the Lithuanian-based Romanov finally arrives in Scottish football by buying a 29.9% stake in Hearts in February 2005. He is welcomed with open arms by a club struggling in the Scottish Premier and suffering crippling debts. Nobody seems too bothered by reports in Lithuania that Romanov holds an influence over more than half of the clubs in the country's first division.


* Despite being 'instrumental' in the appointment of John Robertson as manager, the Hearts record goalscorer is sacked on Romanov's orders in May. A month later, George Burley is unveiled as his successor.


* A summer spending spree generates a club record run of 11 matches unbeaten at the start of the 2005/06 season. However, on October 22, just one day after Romanov increases his stake to 55.5% to become the club's majority shareholder, Burley leaves the club citing "irreconcilable differences". It subsequently emerges that those differences centred on the club owner buying players with consulting his manager. "If we are building a ship, I need to know if it will be seaworthy," the Lithuanian explains.


* Ten days after Burley's departure, chief executive Phil Anderton is sacked. Chairman George Foulkes promptly resigns in protest. An unmoved Romanov appoints his son in their place.


* As part of a charm offensive to quell growing dissent, Romanov appears on television and recites one of his self-penned poems as a further explanation for Burley's departure, announcing to a bemused audience of millions:

'Don't believe what you see today

'For the portrait of the day is viewed through slumbering nights.

'It is only through the cobwebs of time

'And through the prism of the past that the moments of today will be understood.'


* Incidentally, although Romanov writes poetry for 'relaxation purposes', he lives by the personal motto of 'Die, but do it'.


* Having promised fans to replace Burley with a "high-profile coach", Romanov appoints registered sex offender Graham Rix instead. Fans are further disenchanted upon learning that Rix had been interviewed a week previously by Nationwide Conference side Crawley, while the candidature of Claudio Ranieri was dismissed because, in the words of one club insider, "Vladimir thought he was a pillock".


* 2006 kicks off in controversial fashion with Romanov announcing that his side was "mutilated" during a defeat at Rangers. The SFA immediately reacts by changing the rules that prevented them bringing a charge of disrepute against a club owner. Romanov's son responds to suggestions that the language barrier is proving an insurmountable obstacle for his father by telling reporters: "He knows all the words he needs - 'Yes', 'No' and 'You're fired'."


* Rix's stint in charge is predictably shortlived. He is dismissed in March after disclosing that he neither held any influence over team selection nor had a say in Heart's 11 January transfer window signings. Romanov allegedly sanctions Rix's sacking from the deck of a nuclear submarine.


* With Valdas Ivanauskas now at the helm, Hearts end the season by qualifying for the Champions League and reaching the Scottish Cup final. But victory over Gretna is subsequently overshadowed by the news that Romanov has bought the Soviet nuclear submarine K19, the centrepiece of the 2002 movie 'K-19: The Widowmaker' starring Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson. An emotional Romanov declares: "I will get it restored by September and then it will be moved to near Moscow and put back in the water. Around it we will build a club for submarine veterans with a little hotel for them to stay in."


* After a few relatively low-key months in Edinburgh, Romanov makes his mark by announcing in late October that he will sell the entire first-team squad if they fail to beat Dunfermline. Despite the ensuing 1-1 draw, Romanov is placated, but skipper Steven Pressley reports "significant unrest" in the dressing room. A month later, Pressley is stripped of the captaincy. And a month after that, Elvis leaves the builiding for Cetic.


* Amid claims that Hearts' Scottish players are being ostracised, the club's sporting director Alex Koslovski accuses supporters of "racial discrimination" following booing of Lithuanian duo Saulius Mikoliunas and Nerijus Barasa.


* In December, Romanov reappoints Valdas Ivanauskas as the club's manager. It is the seventh managerial reshuffle since Burley's demise in October 2005. The month also sees an open letter published on The Hearts Supporters' Trust website which accuses Romanov of "turning us into a circus freak show. The truth is that we have gone from being the best thing in Scottish football for decades to being a laughing stock. What we see now is constant interference, the public humiliation of some of our greatest players and a businessman who seems to see our club as a vanity project."


* 2007 kicks off in style with the front pages of the Scottish tabloids dominated by reports that Romanov hired a 'dancing bear' to entertain guests at 'a wild New Year's party in Lithuania'. The reports are further embellished by claims that Romanov 'joined the entertainers on stage to read out love poems he wrote.'


* The month of February begins with Romanov dedicating Hearts' victories "to those journalists who remind me of those Bolsheviks in Soviet times who wanted to shoot a peasant only because he planted the seeds following his own way, and not their instructions. Once they were ready to shoot a peasant but a clever one stopped them and said: 'Let's shoot him in the autumn after he has gathered his harvest'. I guess that if you could, I would have already been shot by now, but whilst you can't, full of hate and anger, you are spreading manure on my crops."


* On February 15, the Russian magazine Futbol carries an interview with Romanov in which he alleges that the Old Firm of Celtic and Rangers "have turned football into a type of showbusiness with their underhand games" and claims, "They buy off players and referees." Rangers and Celtic duly call in the lawyers.


* On February 16, the Hearts website publishes a clarifying statement from their majority shareholder in which Romanov claims, "I don't expect anything except lies and distortion of my quotes", before moving on to address such subjects as the "seduction of souls" and the "genius of those who created Edinburgh".

"It fascinates and captivates you immediately," he says. "Its beauty was created during the times of the kings of old, and now I see how everything that people were gathering for centuries - a culture, all Walter Scott's heritage, is being ruled and destroyed by monkeys from the safari park."

At which point the statement ended with a picture of a monkey tagged as 'an enemy of talent' and 'a teacher of mediocrity'.

[Ryan S]

Text in full

Dear Monkeys,

Today I will not be showing your portrait to you. It is pointless. You are one step away from becoming human beings.

Go and carefully have a look at yourself in the mirror. Don't you see a human in it?

Stop fighting for the values which the ex-captain of Hearts was fighting for.

Education and truthful information - that should be your input to humankind.

Your leader Mowgli is not taking bananas any more, now he is taking money for lies and untruthful interpretation. However he is greedy and makes you collect rotten information from cesspits and poisons readers with it.

This is unworthy even of a monkey.

Today I will express my opinion in English about refereeing in order that your Mowgli will not make you tell lies.

To discuss whether referees take money or not is the same as discussing a woman who gives herself with no love.

Isn't it better to concentrate on the standard of their work instead of looking for reasons for their poor performance?

A woman cheats herself and nature if she gives herself without love. If a referee officiates a game based on his personal love, he commits a cynical crime, especially when the public has trusted him.

I respect those referees who take money from two stupid teams and then honestly officiates a game. They do not harm football in any way. Though it is bad, still everybody is equal for them. Perhaps that is the reason why football in Italy will never die despite all the scandals that continuously shake it.

I think that is much better than being the champions for 40 years while building up the same system for further 40 years.
Now it has become obvious to me why you, the Monkeys, were trying to ruin Hearts not only in the Championship, but in European competitions as well. I think it was not without your help that the 'frozen' referee from Russia was selected to officiate our match and that in the games against the Greek side we got three red cards.

It is not without your help that traitors were presented as heroes thus showing the road to children for betrayal.

You will always call teachers silly because unlike you they lead children along the correct path.

Protecting your values in that way just spoils not only football, but also a Scotsman's proud name.

I beg you Mowgli, take the monkeys back to the Safari Park!

[Critch]

Wow, the Hearts owner has lost it.

Hearts claimed for a while that their site was hacked and the statement was fake, but they've apparently now admitted to Radio Scotland that it's a real statement from their owner.

Some crazy stuff.

[Ryan S]

here's the history of the biggest whackaloon owner in all of soccer

While he is pretty crazy, he also rescued Hearts from financial ruin and must get some of the credit for their good form in the last couple of seasons (though they have regressed a little this season).

[Tekneek]

Hah. I love it. I might just have to become a Hearts supporter.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I beg you Mowgli, take the monkeys back to the Safari Park!

It's rare that I've found myself missing QOTM more than now.

[Easy Mac]

USL will have live streaming games this year.

http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/169341.html

[cthomer5000]

Loved Charlton's beat-down of West Ham today. You wonder if the new owner is re-thinking his decision to fire Pardew now....

[Easy Mac]

Rooney has floated some beautiful passes the past couple of games.

[AlexB]

Ok - I'm in a dilemma now. Tbh I've been getting more an more disillusioned with football over the last couple of years - I can't stand the cheating, feigning of injury, the ongoing transformation of the game into a non-contact sport, and the dissent shown to refs, pretty much in that order as it goes.

I am fairly ambivalent towards the Premiership, and find watching the Champions League and UEFA cup a painful exercise now.

As a Leicester fan, Premiership and Europe have been a long way away since we got relegated, and at least in the Championship tackles are still occasionally allowed.

We have been skint for the last couple of years, but now we have Milan Mandaric come in, and the prospect of returning to the Premiership in the next season or two is a reality again. And I find myself slightly disappointed by this - I want to see two teams honestly playing each other, not a contest of who can con the ref the best. And the Championship offers more of this than the Premiership, and as you go down the pyramid of footbal the game is more and more honest.

The prizes for winning and the cost of losing have really changed the game, and FWIW (which I realise is nothing) I don't like it. :(

But at the same time I want us to win, which potentially means more of the things I dislike.

[MIJB#19]

Edgar Davids collects his first red card since his return to Ajax in his 4th game. Who had that in the prediction pool?

[Critch]

Edgar Davids collects his first red card since his return to Ajax in his 4th game. Who had that in the prediction pool?

It was only a matter of time, but he was unlucky today, the first yellow was never a booking.

I'm guessing that there'll be some fall out about the referee, Davids' sending off and the AZ equalizer were terrible decisions, the ref really lost the plot. Is he a known PSV fan? :)

[MIJB#19]

It was only a matter of time, but he was unlucky today, the first yellow was never a booking.

I'm guessing that there'll be some fall out about the referee, Davids' sending off and the AZ equalizer were terrible decisions, the ref really lost the plot. Is he a known PSV fan? :)I doubt it, 75% of the Dutch referees are perceived to be pro-Ajax, so it must have been a fluke.

[Easy Mac]

So what happened at the ned of Chelsea-Arsenal? i was watching in Chinese, so whatever was actually happening was actually lost on me. And who is number 18 for Chelsea who was rolling around like a little bitch? and I really wanted to see someone "accidentally" punch Mourinho when he ran on the field.

[Critch]

It was Bridge that was down for Chelsea, Adebayor apparently punched him off the ball.

Mikel and Toure sent off for their square up, then Adebayor sent off too for losing the plot big time. Lampard and Fabregas booked too.

Nightmare injury for Terry, when they're bringing the oxygen on you know its not going to be good. Hopefully he'll be back soon.

[Ajaxab]

Ok - I'm in a dilemma now. Tbh I've been getting more an more disillusioned with football over the last couple of years - I can't stand the cheating, feigning of injury, the ongoing transformation of the game into a non-contact sport, and the dissent shown to refs, pretty much in that order as it goes.

I am fairly ambivalent towards the Premiership, and find watching the Champions League and UEFA cup a painful exercise now.

As a Leicester fan, Premiership and Europe have been a long way away since we got relegated, and at least in the Championship tackles are still occasionally allowed.

We have been skint for the last couple of years, but now we have Milan Mandaric come in, and the prospect of returning to the Premiership in the next season or two is a reality again. And I find myself slightly disappointed by this - I want to see two teams honestly playing each other, not a contest of who can con the ref the best. And the Championship offers more of this than the Premiership, and as you go down the pyramid of footbal the game is more and more honest.

The prizes for winning and the cost of losing have really changed the game, and FWIW (which I realise is nothing) I don't like it. :(

But at the same time I want us to win, which potentially means more of the things I dislike.

This is an interesting commentary on the state of the present English game. I'm definitely reading between the lines, but it seems as though you're privileging a specifically English style of play. The more one travels down the English football pyramid, the more English players are playing the game and theoretically, the better football is. I'm not saying there's anything prejudicial in your comments, but it just strikes me that English players do not do as many of the things you don't like in the contemporary game as players from other countries. So it seems that for you, the objection to today's football becomes a consequence of the English game's internationalization.

I think the behaviors you cite are just as disgraceful as you think they are, but it seems the decision for clubs is to rely on homegrown talent and fail to perform to as high a standard as other clubs or bring in the diving, injury feigning, cheating 'foreigners' and succeed. Of course there are exceptions to the rule, but on a week to week basis, the unsporting actions seem to be much more prevalent in non-English players. The bigger question then becomes whether or not the global game shifts toward privileging the values of traditional English football or continues on its merry 'gamesmanship' kind of way.

On a completely different note, that was a heck of a first half between Tottenham and Bolton.

[Easy Mac]

It was Bridge that was down for Chelsea, Adebayor apparently punched him off the ball.

My rule is, if they pour bottled water on you to heal you, you are not actually injured, unless you were kicked in your vagina.

[AlexB]

This is an interesting commentary on the state of the present English game. I'm definitely reading between the lines, but it seems as though you're privileging a specifically English style of play. The more one travels down the English football pyramid, the more English players are playing the game and theoretically, the better football is. I'm not saying there's anything prejudicial in your comments, but it just strikes me that English players do not do as many of the things you don't like in the contemporary game as players from other countries. So it seems that for you, the objection to today's football becomes a consequence of the English game's internationalization.

I think the behaviors you cite are just as disgraceful as you think they are, but it seems the decision for clubs is to rely on homegrown talent and fail to perform to as high a standard as other clubs or bring in the diving, injury feigning, cheating 'foreigners' and succeed. Of course there are exceptions to the rule, but on a week to week basis, the unsporting actions seem to be much more prevalent in non-English players. The bigger question then becomes whether or not the global game shifts toward privileging the values of traditional English football or continues on its merry 'gamesmanship' kind of way.

On a completely different note, that was a heck of a first half between Tottenham and Bolton.

Your summation isn't too far off - however I wouldn't say the lower down the pyramid you go the better the football is - it;s just more honest. There is little doubt that the level of skill in the Premiership over the few years is at the highest it has ever been, and most of the premier players are non-British. But the higher skill has come at a price.

I think the gamesmanship/cheating is generally more prevalent in non-British footballers, but there are plenty of Brits right up there (Joe Cole, Andy Johnson, Nicky Hunt, Golden Balls himself, Emile Heskey & Robbie Savage (both ex-Leicester) spring to mind straight away, and going further back Kevin Gallagher and Francis Lee were also cardinal sinners. Again, although a sweeping generalisation, while diving is fairly common, feigning of injury is rare amongst Brits (apart from the two ex-leicester players - the irony!) as is the waving of imaginary yellow cards, which I forgot in my last post.

However, I don't necesarily think it is solely the foreigh invasion, I think it is also a lot to do with the huge money involved now - there is too much to win/lose, and it is almost solely about winning now, not the game. (However, Arsenal and to a lesser extent Man U are an exception to this - play superb football, and now Pires and van Nistelrooy have gone, with far less of the gamesmanship).

I am led to believe that we, the Brits, are the only ones up in arms over the nature of the game - it is generally accepted in the rest of the footballing world as part of the game... which I really don't get - if you follow the line of argument that physical play is frowned upon because it risks the fitness of the players, why are flag football and touch rugby not more popular than their full-contact counterparts?

[Ajaxab]

What can Joe fan do about all this stuff? It does seem that the cheating and feigning of injury seems to be a real turn off for many North Americans who might potentially be interested in the game. In coming from watching hockey and American football to European football, the whole 'writhing on the ground in agony' was something I had to get over. I don't get a sense that a lot of American fans have the same patience I did.

At the very least, I would love to see retroactive yellow cards given to divers. It won't solve the problem completely but handing one to players like Zokora after today's graceful fall to the floor completely untouched would be a start. It might also be good to have any player who cannot get up from a foul within 30 seconds to 1 minute remain off the pitch for a further amount of time (3-5 minutes?). Penalize a team who has players like these by making them play with 10 men for a longer period of time. There is nothing more irritating than seeing someone writhe on the ground in pain and then happily return to action 30 seconds later.

The English game has the potential to be a trendsetter for the world game again. Some might see it as helter skelter football, but there's something to be said for the league when my wife, who really doesn't like soccer, was impressed with the sheer pace of the game between Spurs and Bolton today. One doesn't see this kind of speed in Italy or the Champions League and it's exciting to watch (of course there might be reasons of weather for the pace of games in Italy). The English brand of play is arguably the most exciting brand of football out there and thereby potentially has the greatest chance of influencing how others perceive the game..

[Ryan S]

It might also be good to have any player who cannot get up from a foul within 30 seconds to 1 minute remain off the pitch for a further amount of time (3-5 minutes?). Penalize a team who has players like these by making them play with 10 men for a longer period of time. There is nothing more irritating than seeing someone writhe on the ground in pain and then happily return to action 30 seconds later.

That will not work at all. All it does is punish the team that has been fouled and it will increase dangerous play as there is now an incentive to hurt the opposition.

[AlexB]

At the very least, I would love to see retroactive yellow cards given to divers. It won't solve the problem completely but handing one to players like Zokora after today's graceful fall to the floor completely untouched would be a start.

Completely agree. FIFA/UEFA need to allow the refs need to get stonger as well - waving an imaginary card should immediately get you a real one in return. Obvious feigning of injury should also result in a booking.

There was a rule brought in where dissent was penalised by the ball being forward 10 yards (like in rugby), but FIFA added the stipulation that the player should be booked as well, which meant refs were reluctant to enforce it as often - without the yellow card being arbitrary I think this would have worked.

It might also be good to have any player who cannot get up from a foul within 30 seconds to 1 minute remain off the pitch for a further amount of time (3-5 minutes?). Penalize a team who has players like these by making them play with 10 men for a longer period of time. There is nothing more irritating than seeing someone writhe on the ground in pain and then happily return to action 30 seconds later.

I thought of this a few weeks ago, but in effect this gives license to kick the opposition off the park - the games needs to allow contact but not encourage it. Allowing trainers on to treat players while play carries on might be the way forward - this way the game wouldn't be broken up by feigning injury, and therefore there would be no benefit in doing it.

The English game has the potential to be a trendsetter for the world game again.

Unfortunately we don't have much leeway - everything we do has to be ratified (or at least allowed) by UEFA & FIFA, the very people who are keen on the more technical, less physical game. Even Peter Cech's headgear had to be agreed to by UEFA. With Platini becoming UEFA President, as one of the most skilled, technical players in European history, he is unlikely to bring in measures giving more freedom to the more physical style. I see football becoming like basketball and hockey for example, with minimal contact and lots of technical rules and offences.

The British game is not necessarily in tune with a lot of the priorities of UEFA/FIFA, and it is becoming less so. Unfortunately, the chances of a breakaway are nil, due to the money from European football, World Cup, etc...

[Ajaxab]

I thought of this a few weeks ago, but in effect this gives license to kick the opposition off the park - the games needs to allow contact but not encourage it. Allowing trainers on to treat players while play carries on might be the way forward - this way the game wouldn't be broken up by feigning injury, and therefore there would be no benefit in doing it.[QUOTE=Jari Rantanen's Shorts;1402694]

I agree that this kind of proposal would definitely encourage more contact. But could we trust the officials to hand out the appropriate cards if the contact is too aggressive?

[QUOTE=Jari Rantanen's Shorts;1402694]Unfortunately we don't have much leeway - everything we do has to be ratified (or at least allowed) by UEFA & FIFA, the very people who are keen on the more technical, less physical game. Even Peter Cech's headgear had to be agreed to by UEFA. With Platini becoming UEFA President, as one of the most skilled, technical players in European history, he is unlikely to bring in measures giving more freedom to the more physical style. I see football becoming like basketball and hockey for example, with minimal contact and lots of technical rules and offences.

The British game is not necessarily in tune with a lot of the priorities of UEFA/FIFA, and it is becoming less so. Unfortunately, the chances of a breakaway are nil, due to the money from European football, World Cup, etc...

I think this is where the financial might of the Premiership could work in favor of an influence on global football. The television money seems to be following the most attractive product for the global audience. The most attractive product is definitely not Serie A. So no matter what UEFA/FIFA do, the financial benefits coming to England from massive TV contracts could potentially encourage other leagues to follow their lead so they too can get a piece of the pie. Of course, I could be entirely underestimating the force of national styles of play here.

[MrBigglesworth]

What can Joe fan do about all this stuff? It does seem that the cheating and feigning of injury seems to be a real turn off for many North Americans who might potentially be interested in the game. In coming from watching hockey and American football to European football, the whole 'writhing on the ground in agony' was something I had to get over. I don't get a sense that a lot of American fans have the same patience I did.
That's my least favorite part of the game. I almost kicked my TV because Cristiano Ronaldo was such a little crybaby at the World Cup.

[MIJB#19]

I am led to believe that we, the Brits, are the only ones up in arms over the nature of the game - it is generally accepted in the rest of the footballing world as part of the game... which I really don't get - if you follow the line of argument that physical play is frowned upon because it risks the fitness of the players, why are flag football and touch rugby not more popular than their full-contact counterparts?Nah, I think you'll find yourself not alone in this.

Dutch soccer used to be about 6 guys up front, 5 in defense and then we'll see how much more goals we can score! With Ajax winning it all in 1995, it was easy to claim that was the best way to play. Today, everybody wants to be like PSV 2005. Four defenders, an extra guy in front of them. Two midfielders who are fake-wingers, not even close to the traditional ones. Yet another controling midfielder and a playmaker behind the sole striker. Heaven forbid, even Ajax is doing it. They say it's the influence of foreign players, of money, of the increased importance. Sure. There's still 7 or 8 Dutchmen on the field, it's the good old copy-to-what-we-lose-to-trauma. A lesson learned from all the penalty kick dramas and endless losing streak to the Portugese.

Yet go to Italians and they'll probably say the same thing. Too much foreign influences, too much money (hello bribing scandal), too little good old promising strikers' ankles breaking calcio. German football is in a downfall, they even lost their abilty to play like a reliable machine that always wins in the last minute. Brazil lost its samba. Spain lost their abilty to choke in the group stages of a tournament. The Swiss invented a way to lose without allowing goals. The only ones not confused right now are those used to diving, demand bookings and acting injured at some point. But the Portugese have to see time catch up too and forget the way they used to play football at some point too. Right?

[cthomer5000]

I won't even touch the crappy girl fighting near the end... The first half of the game was great. The second was another story.

And that John Terry injury, OUCH. That was one of the worst injuries I've ever seen, since being kicked directly in the face is not something you really see in any sport. I was initially fearful that beyond the unconsciousness he might have suffered some sort of eye injury, it looked like there was a chance he'd been kicked directly in the eye socket area. I'm very happy to hear he's alright, because that was genuinely scary to everyone on the pitch (based on their reaction) and probably everyone watching.

[cthomer5000]

That's my least favorite part of the game. I almost kicked my TV because Cristiano Ronaldo was such a little crybaby at the World Cup.

My opinion of this guy is constantly in flux. He and the entire Portugal team were bitches at the World Cup, that is a fact. We saw them diving and rolling endlessly. The semifinal was the best example of it all. Coming out of the world cup my opinion of him was extremely low.

In the Premiership we have definitely seen him take a couple of dives this year. But, in his defense, I see the guy get hacked up and down the field so many times as well, it really is amazing. Because he's generally moving so damn fast when he gets clipped he's really getting hit pretty damn hard. And I also think a couple of his "dives" are him simply going down rather than putting himself in a situation where bones may break if he tries to power through and collides.

I've grown to respect him immensely as a player. He is hands-down the best player *I* have seen play on a consitent basis. If I were starting a team right now and could only pick one guy, he'd be it. He's that big a difference maker. Sick speed, good shooter, and outstanding on free kicks.

So, I guess I cut him a little more slack these days. I've seen him get hammered on without any calls going his way quite a bit, so im not as quick to assume the worst in the situations where he might have taken a dive.

[cthomer5000]

BTW, re: diving. If anyone saw the Roma-Lyon match, or even just the highlights... Referee Mike Riley is my new hero. :D

I couldn't even keep count of how many yellows he handed out for diving.

[MrBigglesworth]

My opinion of this guy is constantly in flux. He and the entire Portugal team were bitches at the World Cup, that is a fact. We saw them diving and rolling endlessly. The semifinal was the best example of it all. Coming out of the world cup my opinion of him was extremely low.

In the Premiership we have definitely seen him take a couple of dives this year. But, in his defense, I see the guy get hacked up and down the field so many times as well, it really is amazing. Because he's generally moving so damn fast when he gets clipped he's really getting hit pretty damn hard. And I also think a couple of his "dives" are him simply going down rather than putting himself in a situation where bones may break if he tries to power through and collides.

I've grown to respect him immensely as a player. He is hands-down the best player *I* have seen play on a consitent basis. If I were starting a team right now and could only pick one guy, he'd be it. He's that big a difference maker. Sick speed, good shooter, and outstanding on free kicks.

So, I guess I cut him a little more slack these days. I've seen him get hammered on without any calls going his way quite a bit, so im not as quick to assume the worst in the situations where he might have taken a dive.
Maybe all his diving (and the entire Portugal squad) in the World Cup was the result of the coach. I'd be willing to change my opinion on him if he has stopped the whiney bitch routine. Being a huge fan of American Football, that kind of stuff just completely turns me off to players.

[Katon]

I won't even touch the crappy girl fighting near the end... The first half of the game was great. The second was another story.

And that John Terry injury, OUCH. That was one of the worst injuries I've ever seen, since being kicked directly in the face is not something you really see in any sport. I was initially fearful that beyond the unconsciousness he might have suffered some sort of eye injury, it looked like there was a chance he'd been kicked directly in the eye socket area. I'm very happy to hear he's alright, because that was genuinely scary to everyone on the pitch (based on their reaction) and probably everyone watching.

And not only is he alright, he's likely to play again before Diaby, who apparently hurt his foot in the process. The man is superhuman.

[AlexB]

My opinion of this guy is constantly in flux. He and the entire Portugal team were bitches at the World Cup, that is a fact. We saw them diving and rolling endlessly. The semifinal was the best example of it all. Coming out of the world cup my opinion of him was extremely low.

In the Premiership we have definitely seen him take a couple of dives this year. But, in his defense, I see the guy get hacked up and down the field so many times as well, it really is amazing. Because he's generally moving so damn fast when he gets clipped he's really getting hit pretty damn hard. And I also think a couple of his "dives" are him simply going down rather than putting himself in a situation where bones may break if he tries to power through and collides.

I've grown to respect him immensely as a player. He is hands-down the best player *I* have seen play on a consitent basis. If I were starting a team right now and could only pick one guy, he'd be it. He's that big a difference maker. Sick speed, good shooter, and outstanding on free kicks.

So, I guess I cut him a little more slack these days. I've seen him get hammered on without any calls going his way quite a bit, so im not as quick to assume the worst in the situations where he might have taken a dive.

I agree with you almost entirely, he is the best player in England this season by a long way, and has improved his ways. And if the text I've bolded were true, I wouldn't have a problem (there's a big difference between taking a dive and avoiding injury) - and this year he has been much much better, but still too much of the cynical stuff.

[Easy Mac]

diving, what is this diving you speak of?
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Awesome

[bulletsponge]

unreal! he should have gotten a red card for that. or at least a serious beat-down

[ISiddiqui]

LOL... that's such a hideous dive!

[cthomer5000]

The Blackburn - Arsenal FA Cup replay today was easily the worst game i've seen involving two EPL sides.

[SFL Cat]

There is nothing more irritating than seeing someone writhe on the ground in pain and then happily return to action 30 seconds later.

Are you talking about American QB Terry Bradshaw??? :)

[Fighter of Foo]

Maybe all his diving (and the entire Portugal squad) in the World Cup was the result of the coach. I'd be willing to change my opinion on him if he has stopped the whiney bitch routine. Being a huge fan of American Football, that kind of stuff just completely turns me off to players.

Like wide receivers don't dive. :rolleyes:

[MrBigglesworth]

I want to watch the Chelsea/Porto match on Tuesday, doesn't have to be live, but where would I find info about who when/if it's on TV?

[SirFozzie]

Live on Setanta, will reair on ESPN Deportes

Live Uefa Champions League - Chelsea v FC Porto
Live coverage direct from Stamford Bridge where Chelsea prepare to play host to FC Porto in the Champions League. The teams cancelled each other out with a 1-1 draw in the first leg of this knockout match, but a winner has to come from this game so expect both teams to put in a full-blooded performance. K.O. 02:45.

[cthomer5000]

I *think* that all Champions League matches are also offered in pay-per-view online. No idea about the quality or anything.

[Critch]

They say that a sign of a champion is that they can play badly and still win. Based on yesterday's Liverpool v Man Utd game, Man Utd will be champions. They were hardly in the game but still managed to pull it out. Not much of a game, but a great ending.

The Champions League games are offered for pay-per-view online through the www.soccernet.com site. It's $9.95 per game, not sure of the quality.

[bulletsponge]

If Man U wins the league, will thier fans still say thier American owner (whos name escapes me right now) is ruining the team?

[Marc Vaughan]

If Man U wins the league, will thier fans still say thier American owner (whos name escapes me right now) is ruining the team?

Don't underestimate the ability of an English football fan to be ticked off with his team/manager/chairman ..... regardless of the circumstances.

(if you doubt this consider that Mourinho has been under pressure from the media this season because of Chelsea's "disasterous" campaign (you know the one where they're still in all competitions and have a decent shot at the title still*))

*Don't take this to mean in anyway that I'm hoping they'll win anything this season .... heck I've even found myself rooting for Man Utd in matches, something which a few years ago I wouldn't have thought possible ;)

[Critch]

West Ham v Spurs....wow, what a game. If you missed it, try and catch the rerun on FSC, great game from the first whistle to the last.

[Tekneek]

*Don't take this to mean in anyway that I'm hoping they'll win anything this season .... heck I've even found myself rooting for Man Utd in matches, something which a few years ago I wouldn't have thought possible ;)

Cheer for Man Utd? Impossible. Is it your wife, or Duffy's wife, that is a Man City fan?

[bulletsponge]

Don't underestimate the ability of an English football fan to be ticked off with his team/manager/chairman ..... regardless of the circumstances.

(if you doubt this consider that Mourinho has been under pressure from the media this season because of Chelsea's "disasterous" campaign (you know the one where they're still in all competitions and have a decent shot at the title still*))

*Don't take this to mean in anyway that I'm hoping they'll win anything this season .... heck I've even found myself rooting for Man Utd in matches, something which a few years ago I wouldn't have thought possible ;)


Trust me, there is one thing i dont underestimate; the complete insanity of soccer fans

ps Go Carlisle United :cool:

[Marc Vaughan]

Cheer for Man Utd? Impossible. Is it your wife, or Duffy's wife, that is a Man City fan?

Its my wife - and no she isn't happy about it ..... ;)

[Marc Vaughan]

West Ham v Spurs....wow, what a game. If you missed it, try and catch the rerun on FSC, great game from the first whistle to the last.

Yet again West Ham manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory :D

(I'll be sad to see them go down as they've got Zamora (ex-Brighton wonderkid) in the side, but I can't see them staying up)

[cthomer5000]

West Ham v Spurs....wow, what a game. If you missed it, try and catch the rerun on FSC, great game from the first whistle to the last.

This is one of the best games i've ever seen from a neutral standpoint.



****spoliers below*****

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BUt i'm a Spurs fan... so you cannot believe the rollercoaster of emotions i went through with that one. Hole-eeeee shit. That was a very much needed win if they have any hopes of qualifying for Europe again through the league.. simply an unbelievable game.

[BYU 14]

Yet again West Ham manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory :D

(I'll be sad to see them go down as they've got Zamora (ex-Brighton wonderkid) in the side, but I can't see them staying up)


Tivoed this and just finished watching it, incredible Game, you really have to feel bad for West Ham. I think this loss pretty much secured relegation for them as they have a murderous stretch coming up with Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal. The only thing to dream about now for Hammer fans is Millwall making an incredible run, then winning the League 1 promotion Playoff so they can renew their rivalry next Year.

Tottenham has to be the most exciting club in the Premiership this Season (Aaron Lennon's runs are a thing of beauty, he can flat out fly). They are like the Soccer version of the 80's Chargers, just score more than the other Team. If they played Defense they would be downright scary.

[daedalus]

they have a murderous stretch coming up with Man U, Chelsea and ArsenalThey're more than likely dead against Man U and Chelsea. We haven't shown enough consistency or kller instinct this season to be classified with them.

And it has nothing to do with Henry -- or him being out of the lineup.

[SirFozzie]

west ham is dead already, and the upcoming points deduction for Tevez and Mascherano=Doooom

[daedalus]

Tottenham has to be the most exciting club in the Premiership this Season (Aaron Lennon's runs are a thing of beauty, he can flat out fly). They are like the Soccer version of the 80's Chargers, just score more than the other Team. If they played Defense they would be downright scary.As I said earlier in this thread, I really hope their board gives this staff a chance to build something [ie, NOT pull a West Ham]. Jol seems to be building for the future with all those kids and they have a LOT of talent on that squad. I'm sad that they sold Carrick since he was a big part of last season's squad but, hey, that's a LOT of money and I can't disagree with that decision. Supposedly Huddlestone (sp?) has looked solid stepping in but I have not seen them this season.

As an Arsenal fan, the hope, obviously, is that their board pulls a West Ham and does the stupid. As a footie fan, another well run and competitive club is a great thing.

[cthomer5000]

Huddlestone was a beast pre-injury. What's amazing is the beautiful touch he has for a guy of his huge size. He is immediately the best free kick taker on the team, puts the ball in amazing positions on long passes, and has a wicked strong/accurate shot from outside the box. Today though, against West Ham... he looked very rusty coming back from the hamstring injury, and he looked tired even though he came on at half time. I'm hoping he can be fit in a month or so and hopefully be a big part of the finish to the season (hopefully they're still alive in UEFA by then).

And Jol isn't going anywhere after this recent turnaround. I mean, even if the finish like 13th in the league, they will have had 3 pretty solid cup runs as well and it's obviously they are headed in the overall right direction.

[MrBigglesworth]

The Champions League games are offered for pay-per-view online through the www.soccernet.com site. It's $9.95 per game, not sure of the quality.
I couldn't find it on that site, but I did a google search and found it at uefa.com. The quality is pretty good for a stream.

[Critch]

I couldn't find it on that site, but I did a google search and found it at uefa.com. The quality is pretty good for a stream.

I looked at soccernet again and what I can see is an advert to watch the games on uefa.com. So sorry for leading you astray and glad you found the streaming yourself.

[Ajaxab]

It's a shame these old grounds have to go the way of the dinosaur. I miss Highbury and something tells me it's going to be difficult to duplicate the same environment we're seeing at Anfield tonight when the Reds move to their new stadium.

[Katon]

What a mess at Valencia-Inter. Makes the Carling Cup final look like a tea party (not that it was ever all that impressive as massive brawls go).

[Ryan S]

What a mess at Valencia-Inter. Makes the Carling Cup final look like a tea party (not that it was ever all that impressive as massive brawls go).

I suspect that the Valencia substitute will be suspended for the rest of the season (in the Champions League) after throwing the punch that broke Bardisso's nose.

[cthomer5000]

I suspect that the Valencia substitute will be suspended for the rest of the season (in the Champions League) after throwing the punch that broke Bardisso's nose.

I love how he throws the punch then runs like a bitch to avoid getting stomped. What an asshole. He deserves an incredibly serious suspension for that.

[cthomer5000]

I saw some post-game interviews from Liverpool... the funniest thing for me personally was how I found Dirk Kuyt's English far easier to understand than Jamie Carragher's. That is a serious scouse accent on that guy. :eek:

[SirFozzie]

Fox Soccer Channel will be the home of Serie A games through 2009-10, this is a blow to GolTV (which is being acquired)

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6422094.html?display=Breaking+News

[cthomer5000]

Brutal 10 days for Arsenal.

[cthomer5000]

Fox Soccer Channel will be the home of Serie A games through 2009-10, this is a blow to GolTV (which is being acquired)

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6422094.html?display=Breaking+News

Any idea on what the long-term prognosis is for GolTV?

edit: And i cant see how this wont result in less EPL on FSC... so for me personally, this might stink.

[SirFozzie]

really good. The company that is acquiring 80% of GolTV (The Checketts Group) for $200 Million), also has rights to South American Qualifiers live, so they might add value, despite losing Serie A, they would still have La Liga, Bundesliga, and multiple Latin/Central/South American Leagues)

[Critch]

Any idea on what the long-term prognosis is for GolTV?

edit: And i cant see how this wont result in less EPL on FSC... so for me personally, this might stink.

I'd guess it won't make much difference for GolTV, Italian soccer isn't one of their big draws. Apparently their top draw is Spanish soccer, followed by their saturday night Colombian game. If they can replace Italian soccer with something like Argentinian or Mexican, I'm sure they'd be happy. Mexican seems unlikely though.

Make or break for me is if FSC take the UK commentary or hand it to their in-house guys. I can't stand the in-house FSC commentators.

[cthomer5000]

My (non-domestic) soccer viewing right now is this:

1) Any and all EPL
2) Any related European competition
3) Big games in La Liga (so this is one match every few weeks)

So personally from an FSC perspective, i'll be bummed if this results in less EPL coverage, and I cannot see how it won't.

[SirFozzie]

FSC Will probably lose one saturday game more to Setanta, or show it delated instead of live, but I don't think it'll be TOO bad.

[cthomer5000]

FSC Will probably lose one saturday game more to Setanta, or show it delated instead of live, but I don't think it'll be TOO bad.

yeah, the Setanta situation for me is not so hot... DirectTV isn't really an option, and ITVN isn't exactly wowing me (unlikely to renew when my 12 months are up).

[SirFozzie]

From an AP article

Fox plans to broadcast up three live games each weekend plus midweek matches, when they are scheduled. It estimates it will broadcast 140 games per season and also will televise a Monday highlights show.

...

Fox's schedule might feature Premier League games at 10 a.m. and noon Eastern on Saturday, with a Serie A match at 2:30 p.m, Sternberg said. Sunday's schedule could have Serie A games at 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., surrounding a Premier League match.

[cthomer5000]

Anyone else catch Barca - Real this weekend? Fantastically awesome game from a neutral perspective. (zero defense, basically).

[Crapshoot]

Seriously. I think the best line I heard is what Phil Ball (over at Soccernet - probably my favorite soccer writer out there) noted when Ronaldinho was asked if he was the best in world, he said he wasn't even the best on his team! Messi is just pure genius - absolutely frigging magnificent. Barca's a far better environment for him than Italy or the UK.

[SirFozzie]

Brilliant game. Absolutely Brilliant.

We're really in the wheel house of good soccer right now. MLS Teams about to get going, great derby games in Spain/italy/Germany (it's really too bad that Inter are dominating Serie A right now)..

Just want my MLS tickets to show up

[cthomer5000]

And the Chelsea-Tottenham game was just bonkers as well. As a Spurs fan it felt like a loss by the end of the game, but all in all a 3-3 draw and a replay at the Lane is pretty solid. I just dont know how they're going to deal with all these games...they just played Thursday + Sunday and now play Wed, Sat, Monday.

[Fighter of Foo]

Anyone else catch Barca - Real this weekend? Fantastically awesome game from a neutral perspective. (zero defense, basically).

Valdes saved Barca at the end (Well, after Messi did). Full credit to Real for not boring the game up. I think it was Messi's second that was just exceptional, a calm finish to keep the ball under the bar when most guys would have ballooned it over.

Phil Ball's description of Guti was the most accurate I've ever read.


Did anyone catch Sevilla's game this weekend? How the fcck did they drop points again?

[Icy]

I saw the game as 99% of Spanish citizens :)

Pretty fun game, too bad R.Madrid Coach (Fabio Capello) is a really defensive coach (to not to say a coward) and he didn't go for the game when Barcelona was with 10 men in the field.

[Easy Mac]

For those who were waiting, the Mark Bosnich sex tape should be hitting the market soon hxxp://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/a43820/anderton-sex-tape-to-hit-the-net-any-day.html

[Critch]

When I saw the Anderton Sex Tape url I thought it was going to be Darren Anderton. If it was in the style of his career, he'd get injured early and have to be pulled off at half time.

[AlexB]

When I saw the Anderton Sex Tape url I thought it was going to be Darren Anderton. If it was in the style of his career, he'd get injured early and have to be pulled off at half time.

:D

[SirFozzie]

I suspect that the Valencia substitute will be suspended for the rest of the season (in the Champions League) after throwing the punch that broke Bardisso's nose.

Actually, quite a bit more then that, looks like a seven month Global Ban

Valencia's David Navarro has been suspended for seven months for his part in the brawl at the end of the UEFA Champions League match against Internazionale last week, while Carlos Marchena, Nicolas Burdisso, Maicon, Ivan Cordoba and Julio Cruz have also been given bans.

The Spanish side advanced to the quarter-finals after a 0-0 draw at the Mestalla took them past Inter on the away goals rule.

However, pandemonium broke out after the final whistle as Navarro punched Burdisso and left the Inter defender with a broken nose.

Several other players from both sides got involved as the trouble spilled over into the tunnel, and Uefa has been quick to take action.

Both clubs were charged with improper conduct and have now been fined 250,000 Swiss francs (£106,000) by Uefa's control and disciplinary committee.

A number of individuals have also been punished following the examination of official reports and video evidence.

Navarro has been hit hardest for sparking the brawl, and he will not be allowed to return to action in Europe until October.

Uefa is to ask world football's governing body Fifa to extend the suspension imposed on Navarro to international level, meaning the ban would then apply to all competitions - including domestic leagues and national team fixtures - on top of Uefa club competition matches.

Navarro's Valencia team-mate Carlos Marchena has been suspended for four European games.

Inter duo Burdisso and Maicon must serve six-game bans, while Cordoba has been suspended for three matches and Cruz for two.

Uefa has opted not to impose a stadium ban on Valencia, who meet Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

[cthomer5000]

Tottenham wade it way more interesting than they needed to yesterday, but won 3-2 (again) to move through 6-4 on aggregate. I have all the faith in the world in their offensive prowess (i.e. Berbatov is God), but the defense is in complete shambles.

[cthomer5000]

Tottenham v Chelsea - FA Cup Quarterfinal Replay

I do a lot of game viewing on delay, so I'll probably spoiler most everything I post in here.

The Spurs came out playing defensive, switched it up at halftime and it quickly bit them in the ass. They simply cannot cover themselves when they push forward. There is no doubt where eveyr single dollar of funds must go in the offseason, they need defenders by the boatload.

The 3 stars who sat Saturday all looked very rusty to me. Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane, and Aaron Lennon - who needs to grow a pair of balls. Lennon simply cannot keep posession of the ball, and made a mind-blowing decision to not pursue a loose ball in the box when in injury time and the Spurs down a goal. I was screaming at the TV, I simply couldn't believe what I was seeing.

I thought bringing on Defoe for Malbranque was arguably a mistake, it quite possibly made them less potent on offense since it basically removed the ability to seriously move the ball up one side. Defoe was invisible once he came on anyway.

I really thought (in real time, not with hindsight) that they should have brought Tom Huddlestone on at the expense of Zokora. They were having a very hard time penetrating the Chelsea defense, but they had shots 10 yards outside the box all day if they wanted them, and Huddlestone is the one guy on the team who can make those things a serious threat every time, rather than just looking like a prayer.

A disappointing end to a nice cup run, but it just makes their inability to close it out at Stamford Bridge that much more painful. I've been slow to criticise Martin Jol this year, but he gave that game away with his substitutions, when you have Chelsea on the ropes you do not let up. They are like a the Terminator, they will keep coming and coming until they win.

And Chelsea may be a great and talented team, but that doesn't mean they aren't a bunch of scumbags for their absurd timewasting in the final 20 minutes. They're really should have been a couple more yellow cards handed out in addition to the one given to Cech.

Frustrating loss.

[Critch]

I do a lot of game viewing on delay, so I'll probably spoiler most everything I post in here.

For anybody who is planning on watching tonights games on delay watch out during the Man Utd v Middlesbrough game, they give a few updates from the Spurs v Chelsea game during the commentary.

[cthomer5000]

For anybody who is planning on watching tonights games on delay watch out during the Man Utd v Middlesbrough game, they give a few updates from the Spurs v Chelsea game during the commentary.

In fact it is impossible to watch either without the other getting spoiled for you. Though by my recollection the spoilers during the Man U - Middlesbrough game are more explicit than the ones in the Tottenham - Chelsea game.

[Big Fo]

"Maybe someone don't like me...but...because I'm...maybe I'm too good...I dunno why"

- Cristiano Ronaldo after the victory over 'Boro




If you didn't see it, check out this "tackle"/red card on Ronaldo as he was dribbling towards the corner in the final minutes. :D

Morrison red card (http://www.dailymotion.com/search/middlesbrough/video/x1hpwe_man-utd-boro-morrison-red-card)

[BYU 14]

West Ham looks like they want to make it interesting, 5 points from safety now.........I would like to see them stay up and if they continue their form of the last three games they just might make it....They face a fading Arsenal Team next that has just plain looked uninterested their last couple of EPL matches, then the big away match against Sheffield Utd.

For tomorrow I am really looking forward to the Tottenham V Reading match......I am expecting a very exciting 90 minutes from these two teams.

[Marc Vaughan]

r tomorrow I am really looking forward to the Tottenham V Reading match......I am expecting a very exciting 90 minutes from these two teams.

Should be a good match - but I'd expect Reading to attempt to stifle Tottenham as much as possible, Coppell is a very good tactical manager and will know that 'on paper' if they both throw themselves forward the odds are Spurs will win ...

I'd expect a combative Reading side (as usual ;) ) and who wins the midfield battle will be critical in the outcome - if Sidwell gets enough time and space to play I can see Reading getting something out of this*.

*and I'm not just saying that because he used to play for Brighton - imho he's a quality player and if he played in any other role than as a midfielder he'd be knocking on the door for an England spot by now.

[cthomer5000]

I find it a little mindblowing that Tottenham is sitting 6th in the table with a 0 goal differential. :D

Ugly game against Reading today, but a win is a win.

[Marc Vaughan]

Ugly game against Reading today, but a win is a win.
Didn't see the match (haven't sorted out a decent cable provider for Premiership matches here yet) - but from the reports its sounds like it went as I expected, a tough, hard fought match ....

Strangely enough I think a few losses for Reading will be good for them - they're in danger of making the European competitions next season at the moment and that could wreck the team imho ...

Their squad isn't big enough to cope with the extra matches, yet bringing in players to do so could easily upset the morale and balance of the squad (which is currently fantastic).

[RPI-Fan]

...(haven't sorted out a decent cable provider for Premiership matches here yet)...

For maximum soccer coverage, get DirecTV if at all possible.

[cthomer5000]

Didn't see the match (haven't sorted out a decent cable provider for Premiership matches here yet) - but from the reports its sounds like it went as I expected, a tough, hard fought match ....

Spurs had way more chances, had a couple bad offsides calls against them, had 2 disallowed goals (1 correct, 1 maybe not so much), so i think they deserved the win. However Reading had some GREAT scoring chances they couldn't capitilize on.

The first half was a very good balanced game, I thought Spurs pulled away a bit in the second, but there were a few scary moments down the stretch.

And Marc I think you might be right about Reading and Steve Coppell has flat-out said he thinks European ball could potentialy be very bad for them. The way they're playing recently (scrappy, but not necessarily good), i think will have them finish probably just barely outside European position anyway.

I like them a lot as a neutral though, and I hope they'll come through with a solid sophomore season.

[bhlloy]

Real tough call on Halford, at first look I thought it was a joke, but had he not handled it Keane would have had a scoring chance so probably not such a bad call... very unlucky that it was just inside the box.

After spending 4 years in Colchester I really hope this kid does well... very good potential and with England's full back situation I think he can definitely go on to win a good number of caps.

[cthomer5000]

Real tough call on Halford, at first look I thought it was a joke, but had he not handled it Keane would have had a scoring chance so probably not such a bad call... very unlucky that it was just inside the box.

I completely agree, even from the Spurs perspective. I felt bad for the guy, but he really got a lot of hand on it, even if inadvertantly... and as you stated Keane was definitely in position for a decent attempt. I was somewhat mystified when the whistle blew at first, but the replay showed it damn clearly.

I think looking at the overall scope of the game helps soften the blow too, Tottenham were definitely the better team on the day, creating a ton of chances relative to Reading. Still though, Reading played really well and found the (gaping) holes in the Spurs defense a couple times and nearly capitalized.

[cthomer5000]

and BTW, starting tomorrow, this has to be the best month of soccer all year. There are great games on practically every single day this month.

I mean, just this week:

MON: English Premier League
TUE: Champions League
WED: Champions League
THU: UEFA Cup (bigger for those of us who have a team still in the hunt, like me)
FRI: English Premier League
SAT: English Premier League

And on top of that there are the 2 Champions Cup games (down to MLS vs Mexico at this point) that I'd really like to see this week.

Thank god for DVRs.

[cthomer5000]

And that Chelsea-Watford game was just cruel. Even though I knew it was coming while watching, I couldn't help but be pissed when they scored the injury time winner. They are like the Terminator in their relentlessness.

[BYU 14]

And that Chelsea-Watford game was just cruel. Even though I knew it was coming while watching, I couldn't help but be pissed when they scored the injury time winner. They are like the Terminator in their relentlessness.

I agree, with Chelsea you just know they are going to find a way......It is what you expect of Champions, but you have to feel for Watford.....And hate Chelsea :)

[Katon]

It was also cruel the other way - even knowing there was a decent chance we'd be able to grab a late winner, it was still painful to watch us completely failing to pick apart the league's bottom team. We really need to fix what's happened to our offence this season if we're going to win the title next year (or this year, if United give us the chance).

[daedalus]

Sigh. Ass whooping. From comments from various Arse fans, it was deserved, too. Fuck.

'grats to 'Pool fans, though. Meh.

[Mr. Wednesday]

For a while, I was really uncertain about the Halford call, because as much contact with the hand as there was, it still seemed inadvertent and not arising out of an attempt to take up space with his arm. The issue about the effect on the scoring chance is really irrelevant to the correctness (or incorrectness) of the call.

But Bobby McMahon observed (and I decided I agreed) that there was a bit of a motion to control the ball after the initial contact, and I think that's what the referee saw and (correctly) called.

I didn't watch the whole game, but I've seen complaints about a non-call on ball-hand contact in the Spurs' penalty area that was never shown in any of the highlight packages, did anyone see it?

[cthomer5000]

Very pumped for the Sevillia-Spurs UEFA Cup game today. Tottenham really need a good showing in the first leg here, as i think this is probably the first stage at which they aren't the favorite.

Also, it sucks that they have to go from playing Thursday night (in Spain) to playing again on Saturday around noon (at Chelsea, no less). I'd be fine with a loss to Chelsea if they come away with a good result today.

[Katon]

Just finished watching the CL games.

What a second half from Chelsea. I'd prefer it if we could do that before going 1-0 down, but can hardly complain. I think that half shows just how much we've been missing Joe Cole; I wonder what the league would look like if he hadn't been out all season.

Also congratulations to United, who by all accounts were truly magnificent. I have to wonder what happened to the Roma defence, though. No CL quarterfinalist ought to be conceding seven no matter how good their opponents are.

[SirFozzie]

I don't know which is the worse result for a team's fans.

[Ajaxab]

Admittedly, I haven't been watching football for very long, but that performance in an important match has only been equaled in my limited viewing experience by Holland against Yugoslavia at Euro 2000.

[Easy Mac]

At the 47 minute, 10 second mark of Chelsea-Valencia, a paper airplane flys in front of the camera. No real reason to say this, but I just got a huge laugh out of it. It looked well formed as well, someone really spent their time.

[cthomer5000]

Two fascinating games in totally different ways.

[cthomer5000]

Dunno how many people saw this on monday, but it looked bad at the time and the picture is worth 1,000 words:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,5443860,00.jpg

Everton striker severs artery

EVERTON striker James Vaughan severed an artery in his left leg during a 1-1 English Premier League draw with Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium today (AEST).

Vaughan, 18, was rushed to hospital after sustaining the injury in a challenge with Abdoulaye Meite midway through the second half.

The teen had scored Everton's 33rd-minute equaliser after Kevin Davies put Bolton in front.

Everton boss David Moyes said: "When I saw Andy Johnson shout over I thought it was really bad and it is bad. The blood was really severe and was spurting out.

"The doctors have sewn him up and he's gone off to hospital, but he is a tough boy so he will probably want to play next week."


video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izhCci_GbHA

<!-- // .section #article-wrapper -->

[Chief Rum]

Good Lord, give a man a warning before showing that pic, would ya? And a video link to boot. Damn.

[SirFozzie]

ewwww

[Critch]

I saw that on Monday, looked terrible at the time with the reaction of Vaughan and the other players around him. Seems like he's came out of it fairly well though, out of hospital and no breaks so should be back soon.

Could have been worse, Christoph Preuss of Eintracht Frankfurt collided with his keeper, keeper's stud got caught in his leg and ripped from just above his knee to the top of his thigh, so deep his bone was visible. And as if that wasn't bad enough, Preuss scored an own goal in the collision too.

pic: hxxp://www.bbv-net.de/layout/fotos/175x141/22947-191824_DEU_FUSSBALL_BL_FRANKFURT_TWA128.jpg

[BreizhManu]

For those who didn't see Messi's goal against Getafe last Wednesday :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkIxSlS9XVg

[Fighter of Foo]

And here's McFadden's winner over Charlton last Saturday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txWRKShn790

Goals of the season 1 and 2 right here.

[Mr. Wednesday]

McFadden's was well-taken, but calling it a goal of the season is really a bit much.

[Fighter of Foo]

The speed of thought to improvise and create the space for the shot, and then not scuffing it or ballooning it over the bar is just so difficult.

Messi's was better ;)

[Katon]

Agreed - nice flick, but it's not in the same class as Messi's goal. If you're looking for another (better, says the Chelsea fan) effort along the same lines, watch the end of this clip:

hxxp://youtube.com/watch?v=_09C9aNnupA

[cthomer5000]

McFadden's was well-taken, but calling it a goal of the season is really a bit much.

Yeah, i dont think it's a stretch to say there have been 20 better goals just in the Premiership this year.

[daedalus]

Nice goal by Jenas. Shit defense by Arsenal. Again. While I am irritated by Lehman's antics, I don't think he can be blamed for that goal with craptastic defense like that.


Like many Arse fans, my main offseason wishlist include Akinfeev or perhaps Gordon (from comments and reputation, I've seen neither extensively) but mainly either of those. My other wants would be to bring Adams and Keown back to coach the defense into SOMETHING that would actually attempt to prevent goals.

While he's talented, I'm not really aboard the Ribery bandwagon nor am I convinced of a need for him. On the other hand, if we can manage to snag Herr Klose for a reasonable fee, I'm on that like . . . like . . . Tony Gwynn on a Denny's Grand Slam breakfast.

And, to blaspheme for a moment, if Real Madrid are unsatisfied with Van Nistelrooij and we don't want Reyes . . . . . . .

[cthomer5000]

As a Tottenham fan, I'm totally happy with an undeserved point from that game. Jenas has been shit for a month, and finally did something.

Just got caught up on all the other results... Man U is killing me. I cannot deal with Chelsea winning the league.

[daedalus]

I couldn't get SopCast to work with me so I didn't manage to catch any of the game. But, from the completely biased commentary on BS, it sounded like the Spuds did have a good first half even if we did apparently dominate half two. (Although we supposedly lost a goal on a bad offside call, that's just part of the game. Deal.) And, from the highlight, that goal was well deserved on a nice one-two.

And that seems to be the sentiment shared by many Arse BS'ers. Much as ManU is hated, the possibility of Chelsea winning the league seems to be thought of as akin the result having to live through manually placing a portable hole into a bag of holding while crossing the Ghostbusters beam.

[Critch]

Spurs had a fair first half yesterday, probably lucky to be ahead at halftime though. The Arsenal disallowed goal was close, but probably the correct decision too. Second half was all one way, partly Spurs trying to hold the lead but mainly Arsenal just overrunning them I think. Arsenal equalizer did come from a very very soft freekick though (ie Rosicky made the wrong run then threw himself to the ground). A lucky point for Spurs in the end, can't remember Spurs coming close to making a real chance other than Dyers desperation shot at the end.

A good game though, better than the Man Utd game and definitely better than the Chelsea game. What a snoozer that was.

[Big Fo]

Thank you Newcastle :)

[cthomer5000]

Thank you Newcastle :)

talk about letting Man U off the hook!

[Katon]

Argh. Why is it that, on seeing Nolberto Solano at right-back and Stephen Carr at left-back, our immediate reaction is to lump long balls down the middle?

I still haven't completely given up hope, though. Boro were not the hardest game left on Man U's schedule by any stretch of the imagination, and their nonexistant depth is only getting more stretched by the CL semifinals and the weekly defensive injuries. I think the odds are against their taking full points from Goodison Park and the Manchester derby, to say nothing of what Tevez might be able to do if West Ham still have something to play for. United are too good to rule the possibility out completely, but if Chelsea can bounce back and win our last four games then I still think we'll be champions

[cthomer5000]

I'm pretty pumped for Champions League today and tomorrow. Pulling for Man U & Liverpool, personally.

[Crapshoot]

I'm pretty pumped for Champions League today and tomorrow. Pulling for Man U & Liverpool, personally.

Milan and Liverpool here. On principle, no Liverpool fan can ever support Man U (hell, I'd support the Chelski over them).

[DaddyTorgo]

how does the spoiler-thing work?

[MylesKnight]

What will it take for Castel di Sangro to make a run at a CL Title in our lifetime?

[kingfc22]

Very exciting game so far between Milan and ManU

[DaddyTorgo]

Very exciting game so far between Milan and ManU

was just about to post the same thing. what an ending. GK definitely took the wrong angle

[cthomer5000]

Wicked goal by Rooney at the end there, could end up making all the difference in the 2nd leg... now any draw will do. At 2-2 I thought Milan would take it, now I see a low-scoring draw in the 2nd leg and Man U going through.

[Ajaxab]

Is Tommy Smyth watching the same game the rest of us are? I don't want to give anything away, but it seems as though he's deluded as to what's going on on the pitch.

[DaddyTorgo]

stupid dida. And stuipd defense for even letting rooney get a shot off. That's just pretty much inexcusable

[SirFozzie]

From the top to nearly the bottom..

some of you know I follow tiny Cambridge United in English soccer, they play in the fifth level (the Conference National). One of the fun things about promotion and relegation, it provides interesting matchups at both ends of the standings.

If there was no promotion/relegation, the season would have been realistically been over 15 games ago, now, little Cambridge United is nervously looking at the trap door... to survive in the Conference (and not drop down to the regional conference level), they need one of the following..

They play Tamworth, who is one of the few clubs below them in the standings, and need a win to guarantee safety for next year

Cambridge win ASSURES SAFETY regardless of other results.....

This of course, would send Tamworth down.

[b]Cambridge draw assures safety assuming 1 of the following happens :

Stafford Rovers fail to beat Forrest Green Rovers
or
Altrincham beat Aldershot by no more than 4 goals
or
Halifax lose at home to Stevenage
or
Crawley lose at home to Kidderminster
or
Grays lose at Morecambe

Cambridge defeat can still assure safety assuming.....

Stafford are beaten by Forest Green
or
Altrincham fail to beat Aldershot
or
Halifax lose by at least 2 more than Cambridge do against Stevenage
or
Grays or Cawley are hammered beyond belief roughly about 9 or 10 nil to swing there goal difference.

It's going to be fun, because all the games on the final week kickoff at the same time, in fact, they've been known to delay restarting 2nd halves of the games of the final week, until all games are ready, just because there's so much riding on it, and they don't want anyone influencing the result.

[MylesKnight]

Who do you like today, Liverpool at Chelsea?

Interesting (to say the least) that Chelsea and Manchester United could meet in the next few weeks possibly on three occasions to decide the FA Cup, the English Premiership Title and the Champions League Title.

I'm sure this drives teams such as Arsenal and Liverpool mighty mad.

[Critch]

Who do you like today, Liverpool at Chelsea?

Personally the best result for me would involve an earthquake and/or meteor strike.

Hopefully I'm tempting fate here, but this tie has boredom written all over it. Liverpool will try and frustrate Chelsea, recently Chelsea have looked far more frustratable than they did last year. They've got no width, and Drogba's goals have covered up a lot of ineffectual performances from Chelsea this season. My prediction is 1-0 to Chelsea over 2 legs, with more sending offs than goals as a side bet.

And as Ajaxab pointed out above, we'll also have the idiot dronings of Tommy Smyth to look forward to.

[MIJB#19]

SirFozzie, forget about exciting relegation battles at the 5th highest level, nothing beats three teams tied in points at the top of the league with only one round of games left. AZ, Ajax or PSV, place your bets now. Although, it would have been more fun had all of the respective opponents in that last weekend still been battling against relegation, like they were going into the next to last round.

Wicked goal by Rooney at the end there, could end up making all the difference in the 2nd leg... now any draw will do. At 2-2 I thought Milan would take it, now I see a low-scoring draw in the 2nd leg and Man U going through.
It's AC Milan, you can count on an 91st minute goal for them IF the score is tied after 90 mins, given that the game is in Italy, it'll be 0-0, 1-1 at most, and Milan advancing to the final. Of course, ManU has built a bit of a last-minute reputation themselves (hello FC Bayern Munchen!).

[cthomer5000]

I want Liverpool here, but especially with the first leg i think Critch is right when he says it has boredom all over it. Chelsea play almost nothing but games that are painful to watch, and at home i think they'll probably have their way. I'm seeing 1-0 to Chelsea or maybe 1-1.

[Ajaxab]

And as Ajaxab pointed out above, we'll also have the idiot dronings of Tommy Smyth to look forward to.

Actually, I think we'll be disappointed as I thought I heard Derek Rae say that Seamus Mallon (sp.?) and the other guy whose name I can't remember are doing today's match. So there will be no bulges in the old onion bag today.

[Crapshoot]

Liverpool vs Chelski and the Mouth today - should be good (though I sadly, will be at work). At what point does Mourinho stop carping? The man has spent somewhere in the region of 300 million pounds the last 3 years - its damn right that he should have won something - anything.

[Critch]

SirFozzie, forget about exciting relegation battles at the 5th highest level, nothing beats three teams tied in points at the top of the league with only one round of games left. AZ, Ajax or PSV, place your bets now. Although, it would have been more fun had all of the respective opponents in that last weekend still been battling against relegation, like they were going into the next to last round.

Yeah, the Dutch league has really livened up, thanks to PSV's collapse over the last couple of months. They really looked to have it in the bag at one point, but now it seems unlikely that PSV will be champs. I'll be hoping for AZ to pull it off, I'd like to see Shota Arveladze win another championship medal.

A few league titles are going down to the wire. The English League could still go to Chelsea or Man Utd, Germany is still close between Schalke (who are famous for throwing away titles), Werder and Stuttgart, Spain could still see Barcelona, Sevilla or Real Madrid win. Going to be a great few weeks before the long boring months of summer.

[Critch]

Actually, I think we'll be disappointed as I thought I heard Derek Rae say that Seamus Mallon (sp.?) and the other guy whose name I can't remember are doing today's match. So there will be no bulges in the old onion bag today.

Woohoo! (Not that it makes much difference to me, I'll be watching at work with the tv's sound turned down.)

I met Derek Rae a few years ago in a bar in Boston when he was still working for New England Revolution. At the time he was commentating with a bad fake American accent, he said the league had told him to try and sound American as that would go over better with American viewers. Not sure what's changed that he's now back with his real accent.

[Katon]

Chelsea play almost nothing but games that are painful to watch

Like the 2-2 draw in Barcelona, or the league match at White Hart Lane, or the 3-3 FA Cup quarterfinal? Or our comeback against Everton, or . . .

Ask us to break down a packed defence and we're boring as hell. But when the other team actually attacks, we get into a number of very good games.

[ISiddiqui]

its damn right that he should have won something - anything.

What, Premiership titles don't count for anything anymore? ;)

[BYU 14]

Like the 2-2 draw in Barcelona, or the league match at White Hart Lane, or the 3-3 FA Cup quarterfinal? Or our comeback against Everton, or . . .

Ask us to break down a packed defence and we're boring as hell. But when the other team actually attacks, we get into a number of very good games.

I agree there, the first game against Tottenham this Season is still a contender for EPL Match of the Year IMO.

[Critch]

I agree that Chelsea can be entertaining, but over the last few weeks they've really been grinding out the results. Solid at the back, strong in midfield, and relying on Drogba or one of the supporting midfielders to make the most of the few chances that will fall their way.

Mourinho is a fairly conservative manager at the best of times, add in the fact that Robben is out and Cole is only just coming back and you're left with a team that overloads central midfield with Lampard/Essien/Ballack/Makelele. Put them up against another conservative team like Liverpool and it's odds-on you're not going to see a goal-fest or a classic.

Without Robben and Cole playing wide, there's not a lot of flair left in the Chelsea team. Drogba's worth watching, other than him Shevchenko/Ballack/Lampard have all been disappointing. All that's left to entertain is trying to work out what Terry is complaining to the ref about and the on-going comedy that is SWP.

[Katon]

Oh, I definitely agree that we're towards the boring/result-grinding end of the spectrum. I just don't think we're nearly as far in that direction as the stereotype would have it.

It also helps somewhat that we've mostly stopped playing what someone on a Chelsea forum I frequent has dubbed the 'death of football' midfield. Because as you say, that's just ugly. Between Kalou adapting to England and SWP finally starting to look like a professional footballer again, we've been playing at least three out-and-out attacking players in all our matches recently. SWP has been in central midfield for some of that, admittedly, but having him there isn't quite the same as having four out-and-out central midfielders with no pace or width whatsoever.

[Mac Howard]

Oh, I definitely agree that we're towards the boring/result-grinding end of the spectrum.

But what delicious irony if they should lose the EPL title on goal difference ;)

[Katon]

That's the official justification for why we have goal difference (and one I agree with). Is it irony if it's intentional?

I really hope that doesn't happen though - partly because it would be frustrating as hell, but also because I can imagine Jose's and the press's reactions if that Boro penalty decision wound up making the difference in the title race all too easily.

[Critch]

Wow. What a day, amazing stuff. Don't want to give up an spoilers, but WOW again.

[wbatl1]

Wow. What a day, amazing stuff. Don't want to give up an spoilers, but WOW again.

No Kidding! :eek:

[Big Fo]

That comeback was awesome and bizarre at the same time. Loved Phil Neville coming over to Fergie at the end for a pat on the cheek and some kind words. Rooney has raised his game right when we have needed him to down the stretch, he's playing so much better than he has during most of the season.

[wbatl1]

That comeback was awesome and bizarre at the same time. Loved Phil Neville coming over to Fergie at the end for a pat on the cheek and some kind words. Rooney has raised his game right when we have needed him to down the stretch, he's playing so much better than he has during most of the season.

Yeah, I love the way Rooney is playing right now...and the way Chelsea can't put it away when they need to.

[MJ4H]

Wow. What a day, amazing stuff. Don't want to give up an spoilers, but WOW again.

Use the spoiler tag.

[Critch]

Use the spoiler tag.

I assumed anybody who cared would know where to look to find the full story :)



Man Utd came back from 2-0 at Everton in the second half to win 4-2.
Chelsea were leading 2-1 at home to Bolton, but Bolton equalized and the game finished 2-2.

At one point today Man Utd and Chelsea were level on points, but thanks to the Man Utd comeback and the Bolton equalizer, Man Utd are now 5 points clear with 3 games to go.

[cthomer5000]

Wigan is offically sweating.

[MJ4H]

I assumed thats what you were referring to, but just trying to be helpful in case youd forgotten about the spoiler tag.

[cthomer5000]

Derby County's loss this morning means that Birmingham City and Sunderland have both clinched automatic promotion to the Premiership.

[Critch]

Derby County's loss this morning means that Birmingham City and Sunderland have both clinched automatic promotion to the Premiership.

Sunderland shows that players will play better when they live in fear of the manager (Roy Keane), and Birmingham show that if you loan enough Arsenal reserves not even a useless manager (Steve Bruce) can mess it up.

Sam Allardyce resigned from Bolton today too, there have been a lot of rumors linking him with the Man City job. Be interesting to see what he can do there, if the rumors are true.

[TredWel]

Derby County's loss this morning means that Birmingham City and Sunderland have both clinched automatic promotion to the Premiership.

Not to mention that Leeds look certain to drop to League 1 for the first time in team history. Can anyone beat the decline from Champions League semifinalists to third-tier football in six years?

[Fighter of Foo]

Not to mention that Leeds look certain to drop to League 1 for the first time in team history. Can anyone beat the decline from Champions League semifinalists to third-tier football in six years?

Really really interesting question. I'm interested to know this myself.

Related, the self delusion of idiots never ceases to astound me. And this is on a day that Sepp Blatter spoke publicly...

"It is 12 months since they were in the play-off final yet people say decisions made years ago caused this situation, which is not the case" - Peter Ridsdale

Note that he's talking about a team that still had to sell their own stadium to keep from going bankrupt. They're currently renting for a million pounds a year.

[SirFozzie]

BTW, Cambridge United beat Tamworth 1-0, they're staying up!

[AlexB]

Really really interesting question. I'm interested to know this myself.

Related, the self delusion of idiots never ceases to astound me. And this is on a day that Sepp Blatter spoke publicly...

"It is 12 months since they were in the play-off final yet people say decisions made years ago caused this situation, which is not the case" - Peter Ridsdale

Note that he's talking about a team that still had to sell their own stadium to keep from going bankrupt. They're currently renting for a million pounds a year.

AFAIK Nottingham F****t are the only European Champions who have ever plied their trade in the third tier of their domestic league, so it's not too much of a stretch to think Leeds' fall from grace is unique.

And it is being reported that they are in svere danger of going into administration, which would mean a 10 point penalty next season.

As F****t are our big rivals, and Dennis Wise (who gives golfers the yips btw) is one of our most hated individual targets, (and now we're safe ourselves!) I would like to sum up the two situations thus:

http://www.talkingballs.co.uk/images/smilies/081.gif http://www.talkingballs.co.uk/images/smilies/044.gifhttp://www.talkingballs.co.uk/images/smilies/043.gif

(If Wise leaves then I have a genuine tremendous amount of sympathy towards Leeds, having lived there for three years)

[SirFozzie]

http://i12.tinypic.com/4bgc5yo.gif

Yeah, the Austrian League is a tough league.. That only got a yellow card :)

[daedalus]

Sunderland shows that players will play better when they live in fear of the manager (Roy Keane), and Birmingham show that if you loan enough Arsenal reserves not even a useless manager (Steve Bruce) can mess it up.Though I know you're joking, I think there IS truth to that assertion. However, it is short-lived. The manager has to be able to prove that he can be more in, I think, about 2 seasons at most.Birmingham show that if you loan enough Arsenal reserves not even a useless manager (Steve Bruce) can mess it up.They would have been even better if they'd also loan in Lupoli. I think he makes a great tandem with Bendtner (who may be a SMIDGE overrated, given all his hype . . . I'll decide next year).

[cthomer5000]

Reading is killing me. They're seriously mucking up the UEFA cup picture and i'm going to want to cry if Tottenham don't qualify. Also, it pains me twice as much because Steve Coppell seems to keep trying to sabotage his team and they keep freaking winning. He has said flat-out that he doesn't want to qualify for Europe but his players refuse to listen and just keep beating people. You can tell he's asking himself "what do we have to do to lose a game right now?"

Right now it looks way to clear that Tottenham will have control of their own fate and then blow it at home the final weekend. Did I choose the soccer equivelant of the Jets to support, because this feels REALLY familiar? :confused:

[daedalus]

Short version? Yes.

I would like to repeat that one feat again where we clinched at WHL.

[cthomer5000]

I would like to repeat that one feat again where we clinched at WHL.

Understandable... it must be nice to play in a stadium where the crowd makes noise.

[Critch]

Did I choose the soccer equivelant of the Jets to support, because this feels REALLY familiar? :confused:

Not the equivalent of the Jets, Tottenham are lovable losers.

[cthomer5000]

Man, go Liverpool today! It would be sweat to see Chelsea's premiership and CL hopes die 3 days apart.

but my actual prediction for today: 2-1 Liverpool, Chelsea through on away goals. *grumble*

[Fighter of Foo]

Reading is killing me. They're seriously mucking up the UEFA cup picture and i'm going to want to cry if Tottenham don't qualify. Also, it pains me twice as much because Steve Coppell seems to keep trying to sabotage his team and they keep freaking winning. He has said flat-out that he doesn't want to qualify for Europe but his players refuse to listen and just keep beating people. You can tell he's asking himself "what do we have to do to lose a game right now?"


You believe him? BWAHAHAHA :p

Coppell's an excellent manager isn't he?

related link http://www.footballmanager.net/en/article/19/1430.html

[cthomer5000]

You believe him? BWAHAHAHA :p

Coppell's an excellent manager isn't he?

related link http://www.footballmanager.net/en/article/19/1430.html

I genuinely believe him though. We've seen the sophomore slump, we've seen teams go from European qualification to crashing and burning... you add this to a team that's in the Premiership for the first time in their entire history and you've got a dangerous situation.

1. They've got the big 4 drooling over a couple players already (Sidwell is all but at Man U already, from everything I've heard).

2. You need to bring in more players if you're going to make a serious run in Europe.

3. By all accounts chemistry is a major factor in Reading's success, and he's worried about disrupting it.

So you could possibly have a lot of turnover in the clubhouse this offseason, could dip in the standings possibly even into a relegation battle, and than have disgruntled players (and more than you need) come 2008-2009.

As an outside observer I think that the borderline European teams are the ones who walk the finest line. I mean, shit... there seems to be a very real chance that Tottenham loses Berbatov if they don't qualify for UEFA again, and I can kind of understand it. It's easiest if you just know you either will or wont be in Europe basically every year.

[Fighter of Foo]

Oh I get the argument, I just don't see Reading focusing on a UEFA run if they get in. Worst case they play their reserves.

Every manager has a list of players they'd like to acquire who they think will fit and Reading's no different. Since Sidwell's leaving they'll need to retool their team anyway and probably drop a few players as well. The extra cash from finishing higher and a few UEFA games can't hurt.

Coppell and Reading and good enough to avoid pulling an Ipswich. Or a West Ham.

[Critch]

So anybody want to be part owner of an English football team?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6611729.stm

hxxp://myfootballclub.co.uk/

[SirFozzie]

So anybody want to be part owner of an English football team?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6611729.stm

hxxp://myfootballclub.co.uk/

Interesting, Cambridge United is #1 on the list right now. (yes, that was my choice)

[MylesKnight]

Good to see ManU get knocked out and the All-English Champions League Final avoided...

Too bad it had to be one of the cheaters that kept it from happening though.

[moriarty]

Good to see ManU get knocked out and the All-English Champions League Final avoided...

Too bad it had to be one of the cheaters that kept it from happening though.

Who, what?

[Katon]

He's talking about Milan's role in the Serie A mess.

I'm also slightly reluctant to root for them after all of that, but better them than United or Liverpool.

[Crapshoot]

Sweet - a replay of Istanbul. Now I'm torn as to whether to root for Chelski or ManU in the FA cup final. There's a part of me that would be laughing out loud if Chelsea's net winnings for the year were the Carling Cup.

[moriarty]

He's talking about Milan's role in the Serie A mess.

I'm also slightly reluctant to root for them after all of that, but better them than United or Liverpool.

Ah, gotcha.

[Critch]

Sweet - a replay of Istanbul. Now I'm torn as to whether to root for Chelski or ManU in the FA cup final. There's a part of me that would be laughing out loud if Chelsea's net winnings for the year were the Carling Cup.

Difficult decision. But I think a Man Utd double (assuming they win the league) would be a small price to pay to see "The Special One" bow out of Chelsea with only a League Cup this season to show for a 500mil investment, as the Liverpool chief exec said this morning.

[Ajaxab]

He's talking about Milan's role in the Serie A mess.

I'm also slightly reluctant to root for them after all of that, but better them than United or Liverpool.

No matter what anyone thinks about Man Utd, I find it pretty reprehensible that a club who arguably shouldn't even be in the competition because they were convicted of cheating actually ends up in the final. Milan have a very talented squad, but I have no respect for them as a club. I fail to see why they should have been given the opportunity to compete in the Champions League in the first place. Of course it's all water under the bridge now.

This said, my opinion of Italian football since the '06 World Cup has gone down considerably. Between the diving, the bribery and now this injustice (stick the 5th place team in the Champions League if you have any sense of self-respect Serie A, but Milan...), I can't take Italian football seriously.

[cthomer5000]

This said, my opinion of Italian football since the '06 World Cup has gone down considerably. Between the diving, the bribery and now this injustice (stick the 5th place team in the Champions League if you have any sense of self-respect Serie A, but Milan...), I can't take Italian football seriously.

This is exactly where I'm at. I'd also add in fan violence as one of my reasons though. It's clearly the most out of control league in that regard.

This video gets interesting at 1:04. I don't know how they got a moped into the stadium, or why they're throwing it off balcony, but this just doesn't seem exactly safe to me.
<object height="350" width="425">

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qsky0hALawc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></object>

[moriarty]

This video gets interesting at 1:04. I don't know how they got a moped into the stadium, or why they're throwing it off balcony, but this just doesn't seem exactly safe to me.


Holy crap I never understood how they could sneak the flares in ... but a freaking moped. Good grief.

[Butter]

They sneaked it in piece by piece... spent the first half assembling it... then by the end of the game, they were ready to throw!

[Ryan S]

Holy crap I never understood how they could sneak the flares in ... but a freaking moped. Good grief.

I don't think the flares are sneaked into the grounds. It may have changed now, but until recently flares were allowed into stadiums in many European countries.

[SirFozzie]

What they do in a lot of cases is the supporters club is allowed in the day before at a lot of places to hang banners and stuff, and they sneak the stuff in then, and just pick it up the next day.

[Toddzilla]

They sneaked it in piece by piece... spent the first half assembling it... then by the end of the game, they were ready to throw!Thank you, Radar O' Reily

[moriarty]

I don't think the flares are sneaked into the grounds. It may have changed now, but until recently flares were allowed into stadiums in many European countries.

Good grief. What is the possible justification for needing a flare at a soccer/football game?

Well, I guess if you're moped breaks down/gets tossed over the banister at the game you can use the flare to attract assistance.