Re: The Football Thread - 2011/12 (II)

[Lara Lara Laughs]

I think France are a good outside bet for the Euros. At 14.5 last time I looked on betfair.

[LeFromage]

Suarez's third goal was mesmerising. Not often I say that about the man. However that was sublime.

Ruddy off his line, boom. Eat my goal. Or something in the Spanish equivalent.

"Mesmerising" is usually reserved for mazy dribbles. Thwack... goal, is more of a "Shit! Did you see that!" kind of thing.

Was a ripper. Better than that overrated Beckham one. That relied on a dodgy goalie having football pie all over his shirt. For Suarez's, there wasn't anything Ruddy really did wrong, or could've done better - he was off his line and got well and truly mugged.

[Lara Lara Laughs]

And who was that dashing young midfielder who helped Chelsea knock out Barca? The one who gave an Albertini style defensive midfield performance? You know, the slim chap whose passes created 2 of Chelsea's 3 goals?

Looks a prospect.

[Brass Monkey]

FA approach Woy Hodgson to take over their pub side.

The Ukwaine, Fwance and Sweden are said to be bwicking it.

Pleased for him, he seems like an intelligent bloke and has had relative success with a lot of the shite he's had to polish. Don't know whether he'll be any good, but he's worth a stab.

[LeFromage]

I think France are a good outside bet for the Euros. At 14.5 last time I looked on betfair.

You'll know if France are a bet after the first game. If they don't win it the team will tear themselves to pieces before the group stage is over.

Good goalkeeper, some interesting midfielders, but nothing overly special in defence or attack.

Louis Saha and Djibril Cisse are still getting call ups, for goodness' sake.

[LeFromage]

And who was that dashing young midfielder who helped Chelsea knock out Barca? The one who gave an Albertini style defensive midfield performance? You know, the slim chap whose passes created 2 of Chelsea's 3 goals?

Looks a prospect.

That plodding passenger who plays for the team sixth in the Premier League?

[DJ_Smerk]

I'm happy for Torres. Likeable guy I've always thought.

[LeFromage]

FA approach Woy Hodgson to take over their pub side.

The Ukwaine, Fwance and Sweden are said to be bwicking it.

Pleased for him, he seems like an intelligent bloke and has had relative success with a lot of the shite he's had to polish. Don't know whether he'll be any good, but he's worth a stab.

He's more qualified than Redknapp for the job, by virtue of having won and achieved way more in his land an varied career.

Doubt it'll prove a masterstroke, as England are little better than the West Brom of international football. And he'll probably be an easy scapegoat for this summer's failure by virtue of not being the media's preferred choice.

But good luck to him. Liverpool treated him like shit when it finally seemed like he'd earned his way back into a job at a big club (having managed Inter to runners up in Serie A in the late 90s), so it'd be nice to see him get a shot at glory. Albeit a shot that no-one since 1966 (thanks Allan) has come close to making.

[DJ_Smerk]

I'm happy for Torres. Likeable guy I've always thought.

[LeFromage]

I'm happy for Torres. Likeable guy I've always thought.

Bit of a petulant twat, at times, I've always thought.

But in the context of all footballers, he seems all right. But that might just be the pity talking as it's hard to watch once-fantastic players fade away to a shadow of their former selves.

He'll never be that player again - his pace isn't what it was. Injuries - and playing with injuries - have taken their toll.

[Brass Monkey]

He's more qualified than Redknapp for the job, by virtue of having won and achieved way more in his land an varied career.

Doubt it'll prove a masterstroke, as England are little better than the West Brom of international football. And he'll probably be an easy scapegoat for this summer's failure by virtue of not being the media's preferred choice.

But good luck to him. Liverpool treated him like shit when it finally seemed like he'd earned his way back into a job at a big club (having managed Inter to runners up in Serie A in the late 90s), so it'd be nice to see him get a shot at glory. Albeit a shot that no-one since 1966 (thanks Allan) has come close to making.

Aye, it's doubtful he can be any worse than Psycho (although he tried some bold things in his one game). He's also more likely to pick less showponies, he's reasonably astute... he just had any money to compete for many years as a boss.

[LeFromage]

*long and varied career. Not land. Odd typo - it's not like the letters are close together.

[Brass Monkey]

I knew what you meant I'm clever like that.

[LeFromage]

The O is over the other side of the keyboard from the A. It's a weird one. It's not like I was even subconsciously thinking of land.

I was thinking of porn. That's my default.

[Brass Monkey]

Aye, it's not a common mistake to make... Maybe you usually are thinking of fish porn and had a hankering for a bit of good old fashioned land porn?

[LeFromage]

Or a bit of interracial Star Wars rutting with Lando Calrissian, Oola (the green dancing ladything at Jabba's Hut) and a bunch of frisky Jawas.

Oooteeni, indeed.

[Guest]

And who was that dashing young midfielder who helped Chelsea knock out Barca? The one who gave an Albertini style defensive midfield performance? You know, the slim chap whose passes created 2 of Chelsea's 3 goals?

Looks a prospect.

Enjoying Barca recently?

[LeFromage]

Thinking about it, didn't Ramires get the assist for Drogba's goal? And Torres' came from a hoof from Ashley Cole.

Fat Fwankie's number one apologist trying to give him unearned credit - it's the fanboy equivalent of a lucky, deflected effort.

[LeFromage]

Ah, Roy's contract is up in June, so the FA can get him for FA compensation, against around four million bones for Redknapp.

Given that the likely outcome with either manager will be similarly underwhelming, it makes some sort of business sense. Even if they are raging tightwads.

But I've always thought England were shopping in the wrong market, looking for top quality managers to take on the job of turning shit players into something half decent. The top quality managers all work at top clubs with a playing staff of top quality players. By employing them for England duty, you're asking them to replicate their success but only after replacing the key ingredients of that success (the quality players) with absolute crap.

What you really want is a manager with a track record of managing mediocre players into an over-achieving, organised unit, capable of punching above their weight, occasionally giving the big boys a bloody nose.

Hodgson over Redknapp, then. As Tottenham are exactly where their players, transfer spending and wage bill dictate they should be. West Brom have, again, escaped relegation fairly comfortably, in spite of being a Championship club through and through.

[Allan D]

FA approach Woy Hodgson to take over their pub side.

The Ukwaine, Fwance and Sweden are said to be bwicking it.

Pleased for him, he seems like an intelligent bloke and has had relative success with a lot of the shite he's had to polish. Don't know whether he'll be any good, but he's worth a stab.

Yes, he's almost 65, turned the job down 11 years ago when Sven was appointed and holds the record as Liverpool's shortest-serving manager. Perfect appointment. The only thing he has in his favour is that on the day of his birth, 9 August 1947, Middlesex made 537-2 with only Syd Brown falling 2 runs short of what would have been all four players who batted making centuries:

Surrey v. Middlesex, The Oval, 9-12 August 1947

[Guest]

FA approach Woy Hodgson to take over their pub side.

The Ukwaine, Fwance and Sweden are said to be bwicking it.

Pleased for him, he seems like an intelligent bloke and has had relative success with a lot of the shite he's had to polish. Don't know whether he'll be any good, but he's worth a stab.

Yes, he's almost 65, turned the job down 11 years ago when Sven was appointed and holds the record as Liverpool's shortest-serving manager. Perfect appointment. The only thing he has in his favour is that on the day of his birth, 9 August 1947, Middlesex made 537-2 with only Syd Brown falling 2 runs short of what would have been all four players who batted making centuries:

Surrey v. Middlesex, The Oval, 9-12 August 1947

Has their league form been any better under Kenny?

There's only so much you can blame the manager for if no one can achieve success at a club.

Same goes for England I would say. Doesn't matter what manager we get, we won't ever win anything.

[Allan D]

That's the sort of cheery never-say-die optimism England football supporters are well known for. Good job Bill and Denis had a rather different view of things when they played for Middlesex and England in their annus mirabilis.

[Guest]

Realism I would say.

[Lara Lara Laughs]

I think France are a good outside bet for the Euros. At 14.5 last time I looked on betfair.

You'll know if France are a bet after the first game. If they don't win it the team will tear themselves to pieces before the group stage is over.

Good goalkeeper, some interesting midfielders, but nothing overly special in defence or attack.

Louis Saha and Djibril Cisse are still getting call ups, for goodness' sake.

I think Benzema's really pushed on - he's like Ronaldo after his knee op at Madrid - lumbering power, bangs in goals all over the place. Would put a dark horse bet on him for top scorer. Defence is decent enough - certainly full back wise and depending on who they play - options at centre back (Koscielny etc) and they have plenty of really very good players in midfield with Cabaye, RIbery, Nasri etc.

[Lara Lara Laughs]

And who was that dashing young midfielder who helped Chelsea knock out Barca? The one who gave an Albertini style defensive midfield performance? You know, the slim chap whose passes created 2 of Chelsea's 3 goals?

Looks a prospect.

Enjoying Barca recently?

Yeah, mega enjoying it mate.

[Sponsored content]