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

[tricycle]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/apr/28/serie-a-violence-match-fixing

Back to the usual then

[G.Wood]

Wasn't the FA cup final usually played the week after the season ended?

And what's with the change to a 5:15 kick off the qunts? (2:15am instead of midnight here)

[LeFromage]

Yeah, used to be. But, then, people used to think it was an important competition once upon a time.

Now it's just another tinpot trophy that clubs will grudgingly settle for only if A) they've missed out on winning the Champions League B) they've missed out on winning the domestic league title and C) they've missed out on finishing in a Champions League-qualifying position.

So it's fourth prize, really. At best.

Why did they move it? Don't know. Probably at the clubs' behest - get it out the way as early as possible so it can't impede their assaults on the three bigger prizes.

[Brass Monkey]

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

Horse shit. A big stack of crap that Wiki couldn't provide an answer for. What a joke of a post. He's only lost three qualifying matches at international level, with shit teams. He took Switzerland, yes Switzerland, to 3rd in the world rankings, nearly got Finland, yes Finland, through to some finals and taken numerous shit teams pretty far... and the only thing he's got going for him is that his birth coincides with some wankers scoring some shitty runs somewhere? *Here's some shitty meaningless link*. One of the most ridiculous posts I've ever seen written on here. THIS is what happens when you stop letting Wiki do the talking, Allan.

[Allan D]

some wankers scoring some shitty runs

SM Brown b Surridge 98
JDB Robertson c and b EA Bedser 127
WJ Edrich not out 157
DCS Compton not out 137

Are you sure you're on the right forum, BM?

[skully]

Wasn't the FA cup final usually played the week after the season ended?

And what's with the change to a 5:15 kick off the qunts? (2:15am instead of midnight here)

Fair dinks? There goes my near perfect record of watching every FA Cup Final since I was 12. I think I've missed two in that time, not counting the Thursday night mid-week replays in 1981 (Ricky Villa's game), 1982 and 1983.

[Brass Monkey]

some wankers scoring some shitty runs

SM Brown b Surridge 98
JDB Robertson c and b EA Bedser 127
WJ Edrich not out 157
DCS Compton not out 137

Are you sure you're on the right forum, BM?

Oh right, yeah sorry Denis, sorry Bill - I feel terrible.

So, despite his numerous successes of taking poorish clubs to finals plus having over 80 matches experience in charge of a national team, his only credentials involve some people scoring some runs in some bullshit match... f*ck me I feel stupid now.

As I say, Allan, stick to Wiki doing the talking for you.

[Allan D]

some bullshit match - Surrey v. Middlesex - 537 runs in a day's play - 1947 - C & E's annus mirabilis. It was intended to show that he was born on a day with a lucky omen, for God's sake, at least for true English patriots (Surrey supporters aside). Honestly, BM, sometimes I wonder if you even like cricket at all.

Although as Hodgson was born in Surrey (Croydon) on a day when Surrey got the mother and father of a shellacking...well time will tell.

[Paul Keating]

Horse shit. A big stack of crap that Wiki couldn't provide an answer for. What a joke of a post. He's only lost three qualifying matches at international level, with shit teams. He took Switzerland, yes Switzerland, to 3rd in the world rankings, nearly got Finland, yes Finland, through to some finals and taken numerous shit teams pretty far... and the only thing he's got going for him is that his birth coincides with some wankers scoring some shitty runs somewhere? *Here's some shitty meaningless link*. One of the most ridiculous posts I've ever seen written on here. THIS is what happens when you stop letting Wiki do the talking, Allan.

ROFL. Farkin gold post by batfinks.

[Allan D]

More Wind-Up Material for BM;

Hodgson Hits Rock Bottom

It's a joke, BM, get over it. Football's only a game. It's not something to be taken seriously like cricket.

[Brass Monkey]

some bullshit match - Surrey v. Middlesex - 537 runs in a day's play - 1947 - C & E's annus mirabilis. It was intended to show that he was born on a day with a lucky omen, for God's sake, at least for true English patriots (Surrey supporters aside). Honestly, BM, sometimes I wonder if you even like cricket at all.

Although as Hodgson was born in Surrey (Croydon) on a day when Surrey got the mother and father of a shellacking...well time will tell.

Yeah, I'm not chin-quiveringly patriotic, Allan. Not at all. I'm incredibly parochial though, hence I couldn't give a flying f*ck - not one flying f*ck - about some Surrey / Middlesex match, not in the regard that I blindly and blithely think that it's the only thing going for a person - I deal in realism, opinion based on actual judgement rather than (ooh he's 64... ooh Liverpool wanted their beloved son back, so they kicked him out... ooohhhh he turned down the job before *snivel*) - I see there's totally no rebuttal to the facts of Hodgson's career, how it's actually a fact that his day of birth is NOT the only thing in his favour... omens indeed, sorry man, I'm not living in the 12th Century.

Wonder if I like cricket at all? Because I wouldn't play along with your quite obtuse way of looking at things? Fair enough That won't stop me going on the match threads and pretending that I'm watching hours upon end of neutral matches.

[Guest]

Wow Allan. I can't even find the words to describe your stupidity.

[tricycle]

Podolski confirmed for Arsenal. Oh what a surprise.

[Brass Monkey]

Podolski confirmed for Arsenal. Oh what a surprise.

The football site I looked at three hours ago said £22m, now says undisclosed fee

[tricycle]

France24 reporting a much more reasonable 13 million euros. He had just a year on his contract and Koln are really poor for his stature, think they raised funds for his purchase by selling a picture where users had to buy pixels. Something like that, it was to raise a million Euros for his transfer for his transfer from Bayern.

http://www.france24.com/en/20120430-podolski-quits-cologne-arsenal

[LeFromage]

All the reports in recent months have stuck firmly to a very specific £10.9m.

Straight swap for RVP, would be my guess. He's quicker, but not as good.

Either way, Robin's not sticking around, is he? 28/29 - if he wants to achieve anything in his career, it's now or never.

[Brass Monkey]

He's Barca all the way, if you believe the people who took the pictures of him leaving the Barca team's hotel I reckon he was f*cking Fabregas, all cheapo style.

[tricycle]

He'll join them and be replaced by Villa at the first opportunity.

Huntelaar should be leaving Schalke with Raul. They're in the shit financially and Huntelaar has scored some 45 goals.

[Chivalry Augustus]

An above average player from one of the shitest teams in Germany - no doubt Wenger will be billing this as another ambitious signing on their way to (not) challenging for trophies next season. Unfortunately, all the top talents in Germany are in the process of being hoovered up. Only Shinji Kagawa - of the really good players - is available, really.

Huntelaar is rumoured to be heading for Bayern Munich. Then again, everybody is rumoured to be heading for Bayern Munich.

[DJ_Smerk]

Huntelaar at Arsenal with Podolski. Kagawa operating just behind them with Miyiachi and Oxlade on the wings.

I can believe.

[Chivalry Augustus]

Kagawa has rejected a new contract and wants to move to the Prem. No doubt the Borussia MIGHTYz will sell this summer for as much as they can get, especially with a better player in Marco Reus already signed up for next season.

Borussia's possible team next season:

Weidenfeller

Piszcek
Schmelzer
Hummels
Subotic

Kehl
Bender/Gundogan
Reus
Kuba/Grosskreutz
Gotze

Lewandowski

Could do with a few areas being strengthened. There's plenty of depth in midfield with Leitner, Grosskreutz and Perisic in reserve, but with Kagawa and Barrios likely to leave in the summer, another goal-scoring option on top of Reus wouldn't go amiss. I guess the ambition at all times has to be to improve every position in the squad.

There's talk of English clubs interested in Lewandowski too, which is understandable. I don't think Dortmund will be in any hurry to let him leave. He's got two more years on his contract and has so many years left in him.

Man Utd have been linked with half the Dortmund squad in the last few weeks. They supposedly want Kagawa, Hummels and Lewandowski. I fully expect them to end up with Kagawa but I don't see them getting a lot of joy when it comes to the other two. Kagawa will do well in England, though. If Dortmund can get £10m+, then it's a good deal. He only cost E350,000.

[tricycle]

I think Kehl, Gundogan and Bender will be rotated. Can't suddenly see Bender's spot being taken away after his form over the past couple of years. Gotze, Grosskreutz and Reus should be a good combination. Can't see them signing any defenders either, unless one of them leaves.

Good enough as long as Bayern decide to cock up enough.

[Chivalry Augustus]

I worry that Bayern will strengthen considerably this summer, and there's the possibility that a lot of Dortmund's talent will be picked off. Then there's also the small chance of Klopp leaving if a big job tempts him. Realistically, it's going to be a massive achievement every time Dortmund wins the league, when it's operating on one-third to half (depending on which source you believe) the budget of Bayern Munich. But, beating Bayern to Marco Reus's signature has to be a big indication that Dortmund are really establishing themselves as one of the elite again. Given the facilities at the Westfalenstadion compared to the rest of Europe, BVB really does belong there.

Hopefully we can make a better fist of the Champions League this time. Beating Bayern four times in a row then watching them lift the big trophy is going to be galling. Although ... a win in the Pokal would soften that blow.

[Brass Monkey]

Kompany completely unmarked from a corner, pretty shambolic by United... paid the price for leaving two men up.

[WideWally]

Yes

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