The Football Thread - 10/11 (II)

[LeFromage]

They'll need at least seven, as Madrid have a few away goals in them.

I'm getting off the fence on this one. Madrid to win.

[spangler]

If Spurs get 3 goals in the first minute anything can happen. Absolutely anything. Bananaman could land on the penalty spot and jizz a banana smoothie into Gomes' mouth. Miracles can happen.

[Henry Nolonga]

If Madrid win (an i know that's a big if) then we're going to have 4 Clasicos in under a month.

[beamer]

In 2002 the two also met in the CL semis, and the other tie that year was Man Utd v an unfancied German side (Leverkusen on that occasion).

So, Real-Schalke final it is, then...

[JKLever]

If Schalke play like they did against Inter they'll win. Convinced of it.

Good to see the budgies faltering in the championship too.

[horace]

italian football in crisis

[LeFromage]

If Spurs get 3 goals in the first minute anything can happen. Absolutely anything. Bananaman could land on the penalty spot and jizz a banana smoothie into Gomes' mouth. Miracles can happen.

He'd have missed it anyway. Got it right in the eye. Blinded by the jizz. Which was Manfred Mann's original working title.

[LeFromage]

In 2002 the two also met in the CL semis, and the other tie that year was Man Utd v an unfancied German side (Leverkusen on that occasion).

So, Real-Schalke final it is, then...

The bizarre tale of that 2002 semi-final is Barca's destroyers at the Nou Camp were Zindane and, erm, Steve McManamanamanamanaman.

I assume Neil Mellor was unavailable.

[PeterCS]

Nice tribute to Real that Gomes offered. "Here ya go - yer worth five."

How did he get the shirt?

Huddlestone was also crap.

Was impressed once again by Lennon. While Bale is good at ballplay, he is a bit lumbering off his marks. By that time Lennon can rip open the best defence and cross.

If that arse Cole weren't clogging up the attack lines (while being little better than a rushing-back persistent fouler in defence), Lennon AND Walcott would be a good combination for England - i.e. use a proper left-sided defender/midfielder, instead of that (very) poor man's Roberto Carlos, Ash Cole. (I'd even have Bridge over Cole.) You could then also get rid of the over-the-hill Lampard and bring in a bit of grit to midfield. With Gerrard injured, even that slowcoach Barry alongside Milner or Wilshere or possibly Joe Cole. Barry could be slightly statuesque (as is his wont) if all around him are meaningfully buzzing. ...

[Brass Monkey]

Personally, I cannot believe the amount of stick Ashley Cole gets. OK, he's gay, get over it people. He still has been one of the best left-backs in the world over a consistent period. IMO, the best over the last couple of years.

[PeterCS]

Gashley Goal-Giver.


I don't care if he's gay, feminist, one-legged, transgendered or black - he's a liability at international level.

[JKLever]

It's because he's a petulant piece of crap on the field surely? He's not a bad player at all, a bit overrated defensively imo.

[PeterCS]

He's like a (very) left-footed fast Nobby Stiles, without the guiding influence.

[Brass Monkey]

I've seen him put the best wingers in the back of his pocket for 90 mins. Form players in big tournaments. That's enough for me.

[JKLever]

He's no Glen Johnson....

[Brass Monkey]

He's no Danny Le Roux either, doesn't mean he's a sh!t drag queen.

[taipan]

He's no Danny Le Roux either, doesn't mean he's a sh!t drag queen.

That's the French drag queen then?

[Brass Monkey]

It's a famous pastry chef that likes to wear knicks.

[spangler]

He's an almighty qunt of a human being for sure but he's one of England's genuinely World Class players and more often than not lives up to it.

[Lara Lara Laughs]

With Danny and Spangles. Cole is class. Peter said he's a poor man's Roberto Carlos - going to go ahead and say it - he's as good as Robbie Carlos. People forget Carlos was a defensive liability for much of his career. Made silly mistakes. Caught out of position too often. Improved massively defensively as he got older and lost some of his pace.

That said, neither are on a par with Zanetti or Maldini. Gods.

[LeFromage]

Cole's turned himself into an excellent defender. I think he's massively overrated going forward, though. Can't remember the last time he got a cross beyond the first defender. Which is weird, as he supposedly used to be a winger. You'd think crossing would be meat and drink to him.

Perhaps he's a vegetarian teetotaler.

[Gary 111]

Ashley Cole has been England's best footballer for the last 5 years. Since Gerrard and Rooney started believing their own hype the only other English players of comparable ability (i.e. World Class) have been Ferdinand (who sadly is always injured) and Scholes (retired from internationals).


Just based on the Champs League games against Chelsea, Giggs deserve immense praise. I still think despite their poor league form Chelsea's first choice defence of Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Cole and Essien screening is close to as good as it gets in Europe (whereas their attack is much more pedestrian). Man Utd got through because Giggs supplied 3 sublime assists over the 2 legs, his touch and acceleration to get round Ivanovic at Stamford Bridge was superb and he laid the first goal on a plate for Chicharito on Tuesday night.

[G.Wood]

Are there any theories as to why Hodgson does so well with smaller team but was pants with Liverpool? Or is it that he just doesn't do scouse.

[taipan]

Cole's turned himself into an excellent defender. I think he's massively overrated going forward, though. Can't remember the last time he got a cross beyond the first defender. Which is weird, as he supposedly used to be a winger. You'd think crossing would be meat and drink to him.

Perhaps he's a vegetarian teetotaler.

Reminds of the time I was at at a braai (BBQ to the uneducated). The beers were flowing and the steaks were thick, when I pronounced the 2 people I don't trust are are teetotalers and vegetarians.

How was I supposed to know that the tosser next to me was braaing soya steaks and drinking non-alcoholic beer.

[Basil]

Are there any theories as to why Hodgson does so well with smaller team but was pants with Liverpool? Or is it that he just doesn't do scouse.

A Liverpool fan mate of mine reckons it wasn't the man, it was the timing of Hodgson's appointment. He thinks Dalgleish would have been out on his ear by now had he been given the job at the start of the season - such was the state that Liverpool were in.

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