04-11-2014, 10:54 PM | #1501 | |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Lisboa, ME
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Quote:
It would be sickening if he did purposely commit a blunder to aid Chelsea, but I don't think we'll see it. He's seemed pretty adamant that he wants the #1 shirt at Chelsea. I believe there's been veiled threats at times: "Start me in 2014/15 or sell me" type of stuff. Either way, I think this is going to be a dreadful semi-final. An absolute war of attrition. Jose vs. Real is really what I'm hoping for in the final at this point.
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04-12-2014, 08:43 AM | #1502 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: New Hampshire
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Will Arsenal further their collapse against Wigan? I sure hope not.
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04-12-2014, 08:47 AM | #1503 | |
SI Games
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Melbourne, FL
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Quote:
That isn't a 'rule' - its an optional clause which can be added when the loan is undertaken. Generally in the Premiership its put into place because it might make the manager look bad ... |
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04-12-2014, 09:15 AM | #1504 | |
Quarterback
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: London, England
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Quote:
It's definitely a rule in the Premiership. http://www.premierleague.com/content...ok-2013-14.pdf Page 194, V.7.2 |
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04-12-2014, 12:28 PM | #1505 | |
Head Coach
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Morgan Hill, CA
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Quote:
Well it's looking that way now.
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04-12-2014, 12:48 PM | #1506 |
Head Coach
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Morgan Hill, CA
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Now win this match.
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04-12-2014, 03:22 PM | #1507 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Horrible, but a win is a win. After the last few months, I'll take it.
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04-12-2014, 03:48 PM | #1508 | |
SI Games
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Melbourne, FL
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Quote:
True I'd forgotten that for the Premiership (and not other leagues) it was commuted into an 'official' rule. (makes note to update FMH ) |
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04-13-2014, 06:03 AM | #1509 | |
Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
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Quote:
For nearly a decade, I think Chelsea is possibly the most disliked football club in Europe for their people management and playing style. José Mourinho's reputation hasn't helped, of course, but I think it goes beyond that. There's no way to save face here for Chelsea, putting players in places all over Europe (on loan?), creating these awkward situations. Today it's Atletico Madrid, but next season it's some other club. The KNVB (Dutch FA) is investigating a situation with Vitesse, which is heavily supported by Chelsea with loaned players, some media even claim that Chelsea co-owns Vitesse, but there's never been any open or official news about that. Vitesse had been on pace for clinching a Champions' League spot, but stories are leaking that loaned players are being pushed to tank and to not qualify for the Champions' League, to avoid awkward situations for Chelsea. Article from the BBC: BBC Sport - Chelsea: Vitesse Arnhem links investigated by Dutch FA
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04-13-2014, 08:36 AM | #1510 | |
Coordinator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: New Hampshire
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Quote:
This. I've heard that some people were criticizing the players for celebrating a victory over Wigan. That's so stupid. The team has been decimated with injuries and confidence is at a season-low - it was great to see them excited. It's an uphill battle to stay in the Champions League but they do have a run of beatable opponents. |
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04-13-2014, 08:49 AM | #1511 |
hates iowa
Join Date: Oct 2010
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Luis Suarez is fucking despicable.
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04-13-2014, 08:52 AM | #1512 |
hates iowa
Join Date: Oct 2010
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So City is denied a penalty and the bucktoothed cunt should be off.
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04-13-2014, 09:13 AM | #1513 |
hates iowa
Join Date: Oct 2010
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Another penalty denied.
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04-13-2014, 10:27 AM | #1514 |
College Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Out of Grad School Hell :)
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Liverpool takes over the drivers seat today! Chelsea still right there with them.
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04-13-2014, 10:47 AM | #1515 |
Head Coach
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Whittier
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Crystal Palace isn't in the bottom 3?
Stunned! |
04-13-2014, 11:17 AM | #1516 | |
College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Providence, RI
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Quote:
My understanding is that Vitesse are owned by a friend of Abramovich named Alexander Chigirinsky, who stayed in the shadows for a while after putting the money up to buy the club, with the result that a lot of rumors started about Abramovich owning them because someone had to have funded the new owners and the club had gotten very cosy with Chelsea right at the same time. The claim that Chelsea are pushing their players not to qualify for the CL has, so far, only been advanced by Merab Jordania, Chigirinsky's former front man at Vitesse, who has also been in the news recently for threatening to cut off the current Vitesse CEO's fingers (article from a Chelsea blog with links to a couple of Dutch sources). It's a serious enough charge that the KNBV do need to investigate, but given that the source is one man with a giant grudge over being forced out of the club, who's been acting irrationally on other fronts and has a dodgy previous legal history including being arrested for tax evasion and embezzlement, this isn't the most credible accusation Chelsea have had thrown at them. It's also an implausible one on a footballing level. Being able to offer loan CL football to prospects would be great for Chelsea both for developing the prospects they already have and for recruiting new ones. What problem would Vitesse being in the CL present to outweigh that? Chelsea could avoid the current Courtois situation quite easily by just letting loanees play against us - makes the players happier, makes Vitesse happier, and Chelsea should be able to beat Vitesse anyways because Vitesse are getting players who still have something to learn from the Eredivisie and are therefore unlikely to win a CL match single-handed. TLDR that would be a stupid and amoral thing for Chelsea to do and I'm glad that the source is dubious enough that I don't have to think they're doing it. I snipped the rest of your post because I agree with pretty much all of it. The current Chelsea management structure seems very good at exploiting the system from within its legal limits, which is a nice trait from a fan's perspective but not going to win us a whole lot of sympathy from anyone else, and the Courtois situation's a fine example of it. I'd have zero issue with UEFA issuing a ruling over the summer saying that clubs can't have any clause in a loan/transfer contract which would influence who plays in a UEFA competition, I just object to their preventing it by ad hoc bullshit. |
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04-13-2014, 11:22 AM | #1517 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Herndon, VA
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04-13-2014, 01:59 PM | #1518 |
n00b
Join Date: Jan 2014
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He should have gotten a 4 year international ban for what he did to Ghana. The same Thierry Henry, after that pathetic hand goal, ho could he be allowed to play the WC? About the loan thing, aint that just unfair play. He is loaned, let him play. Hate those contracts. |
04-13-2014, 02:11 PM | #1519 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Herndon, VA
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Sounds like Yaya Toure is out for the season, and Diego Costa may have broken his leg. So that'll shake up a couple of championship run-ins.
Edit - Now they're saying Costa may just have a cut on his knee. Looked worse in real time. Last edited by Critch : 04-13-2014 at 03:02 PM. |
04-14-2014, 03:33 PM | #1520 | |
Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
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Quote:
Then problematic part is that if Chelsea and Vitesse have the same owner(s), which is under investigation, then those owners would have to choose between Chelsea and Vitesse for signing up for the Champions' League.
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04-14-2014, 04:13 PM | #1521 | |
Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
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Quote:
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04-14-2014, 07:38 PM | #1522 |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Herndon, VA
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On the vaguely Dutch football theme:
Pick that out. |
04-15-2014, 07:28 AM | #1523 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicagoland
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That's a hell of a strike, and from what appears to be a fullback, no less.
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04-15-2014, 02:25 PM | #1524 |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Lisboa, ME
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Matty Jarvis, get in! COYI!
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04-15-2014, 02:29 PM | #1525 |
Pro Starter
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Location: Lisboa, ME
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And my joy is shortlived.
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04-15-2014, 04:34 PM | #1526 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
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Yup, right side fullback. I saw him play live in a stadium and can say he's the type of player that is a joy to watch. Daryl Janmaat hopefully will be the guy wearing the orange #2 jersey at the upcoming world cup. Although with Gregory van der Wiel there's a quality alternative.
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04-15-2014, 04:41 PM | #1527 | |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Nov 2011
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Quote:
Who is the top spot for the left back spot on that team? Is it someone like Blind or Willems or could Martins Indi even move over there to anchor it?
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04-15-2014, 04:53 PM | #1528 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: New Hampshire
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04-15-2014, 07:22 PM | #1529 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicagoland
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MIJB - the Guardian has as their "World Cup Moment", #10, the 1988 strike from Bergkamp to win over Argentina. I had forgotten how unbelievable that strike was.
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04-15-2014, 08:09 PM | #1530 |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Lisboa, ME
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This 30/30 on Hillsborough is absolutely heartwrenching.
I've teared up a few times.
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04-15-2014, 08:25 PM | #1531 | |
lolzcat
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Herndon, VA
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Quote:
There seems to be a lot of press rumors that Janmaat has turned down a contract extension with Feyenoord and will be signing for Arsenal this summer. |
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04-15-2014, 08:25 PM | #1532 | |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Quote:
It amazes me sometimes now people pretend that bad things won't happen despite the fact that any type of common sense could almost prevent entirely. I will also never understand why concerts, events, etc. use open seating. I don't understand how people could not look at those situations and not see what could happen. |
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04-15-2014, 08:29 PM | #1533 | |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Nov 2011
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Quote:
It amazes me that they were able to blame all of the people for this when it was quite obvious the stadium, police, etc were completely at fault.
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04-15-2014, 09:41 PM | #1534 | |
Head Coach
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Quote:
Add me to this.
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04-16-2014, 11:23 AM | #1535 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
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Jetro Willems picked up a big knee injured against Feyenoord and will miss the World Cup. Blind and Martins Indi are the front runners now, I'm hoping for Martins Indi, as we could really use Blind in midfield at the spot of Kevin Strootman. But Martins Indi is also in the running for central defender. Maybe Alexander Büttner or Erik Pieters can make the team, at least they play at a better club level than all the Eredivisie options.
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04-16-2014, 11:41 AM | #1536 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Maassluis, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
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I suspect that had Dennis Bergkamp not played in the Premier League in 1998, that goal wouldn't have made that list of 25 moments. It was a phenomenal goal though, a typical Bergkamp goal and a World Cup classic for Oranje.
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04-16-2014, 12:34 PM | #1537 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Massachusetts
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Quote:
No Giliano Wijnaldum yet? He's wayyyy outperforming his ratings for me in FM. |
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04-16-2014, 04:30 PM | #1538 |
Death Herald
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Le stelle la notte sono grandi e luminose nel cuore profondo del Texas
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A late goal by Gareth Bale gives RM the Copa Del Rey over Barcelona.
Here's a GIF:
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04-16-2014, 05:09 PM | #1539 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Everton with a huge upset loss today. The battle for fourth now looks like this:
Arsenal: 67 points Everton: 66 points Arsenal remaining: @Hull, Newcastle, West Brom, @Norwitch City Everton remaining: ManU, @Southampten, ManCity, @Hull I can't believe I'll be cheering for ManU this weekend. I feel kind of sick. It's been a brutal, gut wrenching month and a half, but everything is set up if Arsenal really want it. They can end the year 4th again and end the trophy drought. Or they fall apart and end it with nothing and the Europa league. |
04-16-2014, 05:49 PM | #1540 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: New Hampshire
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Hopefully confidence will be brimming with the slate of opponents left. Can't look past any of them, but all beatable if they are motivated out there. Having Koscielny and Ramsey back is massive. And potentially ozil!
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04-16-2014, 06:01 PM | #1541 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Troy, Mo
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04-16-2014, 07:43 PM | #1542 |
n00b
Join Date: Jan 2014
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that was a hell of a goal, specially clinching the title against the arch rival
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04-16-2014, 10:14 PM | #1543 |
College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Bale is such a physical freak. Crazy strength and pace on that goal.
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04-17-2014, 07:08 AM | #1544 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicagoland
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That's a truly ridiculous goal.
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04-17-2014, 07:10 AM | #1545 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicagoland
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dola - and I can't tell who that defender is, but IMO he should have received a yellow (though the ref should have played the advantage) for what is clearly a blatant attempt to obstruct Bale. At one point they're both clearly 5 yards from the ball and he's still pushing Bale out of bounds. I get that defenders have tough jobs, but this kind of obstruction without any intent to play the ball happens far too much without penalty.
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04-17-2014, 08:14 AM | #1546 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA
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Okay, watching that, just ... damn.
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04-17-2014, 08:27 AM | #1547 | |
General Manager
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Kansas City, MO
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Quote:
Just curious. Obviously, the ref was letting the guy play on through the play and so he didn't call the foul. Even after the play is completed, can the ref then go back and assess a yellow card on that player for what was obviously a foul, regardless of whether the play ends in a goal or not? |
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04-17-2014, 08:27 AM | #1548 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Massachusetts
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Quote:
Yep- and a good ref will. |
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04-17-2014, 08:41 AM | #1549 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicagoland
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Yes, and to be fair, I've now watched the play from another angle (the reverse angle) and it's much, much less of an obstruction than it looks like in that gif. For instance, what looks like the defender making a final shove on Bale is actually the defender's plant foot slipping. Mea culpa. It reminds me of a time (years ago) that a buddy and I were watching a Serie A* game that Pierluigi Collina was reffing. We were huge Collina fans and considered him one of the best, if not the best, ref in the world, but it appeared as we watched the game that he made 3 or 4 absolute howlers. At the end of the game they replayed the key incidents in slow-mo and it was clear he made the exact right call each and every time. So yeah, refs have a tough job. I also miss Collina reffing games. He had a great stare. *on Football Italiano with James Richardson, for you UK-types (in the late-90s). |
04-17-2014, 10:08 AM | #1550 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: The State of Insanity
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So, Cardiff are claiming that their 3-0 loss to Crystal Palace shouldn't count because an ex-Cardiff guy (now working for Crystal Palace) got the starting lineups from Cardiff folks days before the game.
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