2008-09 Football Thread - The Second Half [Archive] - Page 7

NathanCH

Jun 11, 2009, 03:29 PM

Apparently Ronaldo celebrated his impending transfer by hooking up with Paris Hilton last night. If I were Real I would insist he takes a full medical as soon as possible. :D

Haha true that.

Like I told earlier: Real is sending nine players away. So far they've got Kaka and Ronaldo. This is just a beginning and they're likely to get many new players - also defenders.

Ah, so they're no where near done wasting money yet. Good to hear :)

OllyW

Jun 11, 2009, 05:13 PM

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45905000/jpg/_45905819_toonsign2.jpg

A new road sign (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/8095917.stm) has been erected, giving helpful directions to Newcastle United's stadium. :)

Don't panic

Jun 11, 2009, 05:55 PM

Hm, do I smell envy here, big time?

I understand critizing Manchester City for just buying the "big boys". Indeed, without a concept, youth work, good trainer and team spirit, you just do fail.

But talking trash about Real buying Kaka or Ronaldo just show how you envy the club and not understanding the strategy.

If Ronaldo, who is good looking and understands how to controll the ball, garuantee a sold-out in the stadium, which is not petite and sell jerseys like crazy, then whats wrong with that? He fits to the lifestyle in Madrid. The chic, the sun, the nightlife, etc. Playing in a team with the best (Raul, Casillas, Kaka, maybe Ribery, etc.) is the decision to make.

The Galacticos-era with Zidane, Backham, Raul, Owen, Figo, Roberto Carlos were just functionable for everyone. The club won every title!!! The club sold tickets, PayPerViews, merchandise. We, the fans saw just the masterpiece in matches when it came to technique, finesse and a synergy seeing superstars connecting to each other, you see this in every 10 years.

I am happy to see this great club investing in superstars. When I come back from work, I want to see just the best and not waste my time with crap clubs.

It's 2009. It's all about generating money. When something is worth 93.000.000,00€, then let it be. You get what you pay for. We are the best example. You can buy a crap laptop with an all time crapOS like windows, or invest in a Mac.

wins have always followed money. with a few exceptions, rare and far apart.
the real question is not if this sort of free-spending will bring wins. it will.
and i have no problems with that.

the question is where is the money coming from, and is it really there in the first place.
there should be a limit on how much debt a club can rack up and still going on a spending splurges.
Liga's teams have accumulated Billions in debt, and Real alone has several hundred millions which is allowed to continue for political and social reasons. they will never be allowed to fail.

Lord Blackadder

Jun 11, 2009, 09:07 PM

I think that Man United can well afford to lose Ronaldo. Squad depth is what makes them so competitive over the course of a campaign, and the loss of a single player (even Ronaldo) does not put a serious dent in next season's ambitions. Ferguson still has a world class squad. Plus, with the money coming in from the sale he has at least the financial ability to buy any player on the planet as a replacement.

I think Man City will be hard put to make big buys with United and Real on the market and ready to spend, regardless of the purse. Given the choice, almost any player would go to the club playing Champions League football.

Kaka plus Ronaldo...Real is making an expensive gamble but could prove to be a dazzlingly exciting side if everything goes according to plan. It will be interesting to see how Ronaldo responds on the pitch. Last season he looked half-interested at times.

But where the heck is the money coming from?

SactoGuy18

Jun 11, 2009, 09:20 PM

All those comments posted since my first comments about Real Madrid buying those REALLY expensive players in the transfer market still confirms my opinion that Real Madrid is trying to "buy" a championship a la New York Yankees.

I'm not sure if that is going to quite work given the vastly better-run team that is FC Barcelona, a team that is run like the Boston Red Sox (both the Red Sox and Barça are willing to spend money but both teams have truly superior coaching).

Lord Blackadder

Jun 12, 2009, 07:08 AM

I'm not sure if that is going to quite work given the vastly better-run team that is FC Barcelona, a team that is run like the Boston Red Sox (both the Red Sox and Barça are willing to spend money but both teams have truly superior coaching).

I don't want to turn the whole thread into a metaphorical digression, but I would argue that Boston has also been trying to buy championships for some time now - they've just failed in all but one attempt.

Besides, you could level the same accusation against the top teams in any of the top leagues, given the amount of money they spend. It's no longer good enough to be a well-run club - you also have to be a very rich one.

BoyBach

Jun 13, 2009, 05:57 AM

I notice that FIFA's Windbag-in-Chief and occasional Anglophobe Sepp Blatherer doesn't have a problem with the Kaka and Ronaldo transfers. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/5517910/Cristiano-Ronaldo-transfer-World-record-deal-shows-football-is-booming-says-Sepp-Blatter.html) It shows that football is in rude health, no less!

If it had been Man Utd or Chelsea spending in excess of £130m in a week for two players he'd be apoplectic.

Jaffa Cake

Jun 13, 2009, 03:53 PM

And so it continues... word is that David Villa is Real Madrid's latest acquisition, a snip at a mere £34million.

Lord Blackadder

Jun 13, 2009, 04:15 PM

Well, they have an incredible attack now...but what about the defense?

Jaffa Cake

Jun 13, 2009, 04:23 PM

Well, they have an incredible attack now...but what about the defense?Defenders? Sorry, I thought we were talking about Real Madrid... :confused:

Lord Blackadder

Jun 13, 2009, 04:49 PM

Indeed. I think our emphasis is backwards. We lavish praise on the Ronaldos and Kakas of the footballing, world, but I think the Ferdinands and Beckenbuers are the players that really win silverware over the course of a long season. Players that can be relied upon to stop the opposition from scoring, and make a few offensive contributions here and there.

Jaffa Cake

Jun 13, 2009, 04:56 PM

A top defender tirelessly putting in a shift over the course of a game doesn't have the same glamour or excitement of an injury time winner. That's why when people talk of all-time greats they tend to focus on strikers or creative, attacking midfielders like Pele, Maradona and Zinadine Zidane, not defenders like Franz Beckenbauer, Bobby Moore or Justin Whittle although their contribution is just as important.

Lord Blackadder

Jun 13, 2009, 05:29 PM

A lot of pundits point to all the 1-0 wins United ground out on the way to the title - games that other teams like Liverpool tended to draw 1-1. Those games were won not because Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez or Berbatov knocked in goals for fun, but because Ferdinand and Vidic (and an assortment of decent outside backs) prevented any from going in. Plus, they are often the ones who start attacks or counterattacks with a crucial tackle or clever pass.

woolyback

Jun 14, 2009, 02:28 AM

Those games were won not because Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez or Berbatov knocked in goals for fun, but because Ferdinand and Vidic (and an assortment of decent outside backs) prevented any from going in.

Probably the funniest thing of last season - Nemanja Vidic looking odds-on favourite for the player of the year at the time, being absolutely terrorised by Torres at Old Trafford and left looking broken. :D

If Real have any sense though, they'll take him to the Bernabeu as well

Silencio

Jun 14, 2009, 12:23 PM

Probably the funniest thing of last season - Nemanja Vidic looking odds-on favourite for the player of the year at the time, being absolutely terrorised by Torres at Old Trafford and left looking broken. :D

If Real have any sense though, they'll take him to the Bernabeu as well

He was brilliant last year but did seem to come up small in the biggest matches (Liverpool, CL final). Still I'd take him before any other center back in the world at the moment.

There have been rumors about Vidic's wife's discontent with the Manchester climate which might force a transfer to warmer Spain climes, but Vidic himself stated that he's committed to Man Utd.

All sorts of interesting rumors about how SAF will spend the Ronaldo money. Samuel Eto'o came up yesterday; now there's a wild rumor about a £40 million offer to Liverpool for Fernando Torres? Wonder if that one's just a wind-up for Rafa.

Much as I like Torres I'd rather have Benzema or Villa, but Lyon doesn't seem keen to sell Benzema this year and Valencia seems to want €50 for Villa now.

I've not been the biggest believer in Eto'o but admit he would be an excellent addition.

Jaffa Cake

Jun 14, 2009, 12:35 PM

If Real have any sense though, they'll take him to the Bernabeu as wellProbably too good a defender for Real. If it's dodgy defenders they're after though, for a bit more than the price of Ronaldo they could just buy Newcastle United and use theirs.

By the way – has anyone heard the Michael Owen latest? Apparently, his 'advisors' have put together a glossy brochure showcasing his talents and finest performances (lots of photos from his time at Liverpool and with England then, I reckon), and said document has been sent to a number of Premier League clubs in the hope someone will take him on in the summer. :D

Aston Villa, Portsmouth, Everton and West Ham are four of the clubs said to be on the list.

Lord Blackadder

Jun 14, 2009, 10:29 PM

Probably the funniest thing of last season - Nemanja Vidic looking odds-on favourite for the player of the year at the time, being absolutely terrorised by Torres at Old Trafford and left looking broken. :D

As a Liverpool supporter, I wholeheartedly agree. That was right up there with killing Chelsea's streak at the bridge. But, it still must be said that Vidic played a major role in winning the title for United. Despite his late implosion, for most of the season he was huge.

A lot of top players appear to be preferring Spain over England at the moment...it will be interesting to see who United, Man City, and Chelsea are able to entice over during a summer when Real have already made the headline moves, and other big players like Ribery have said they don't want to go to England.

Speaking of that, A lot of people are still arguing about just how much United will be affected by the loss of Ronaldo. Some people seem convinced that United's spell of dominance in England is over now. I say rubbish. They still have Rooney and Berbatovup front for starters (I think Tevez is gone). They could use another impact player in the midfield (and have 80 million laying around to get one), but with United's depth I still think they are in a strong position.

P.S. I hope we can hold on to Alsonso and Mascherano.

Probably too good a defender for Real. If it's dodgy defenders they're after though, for a bit more than the price of Ronaldo they could just buy Newcastle United and use theirs.

How many Accrington Stanleys can you buy for the price of the Greasy-Haired One?

By the way – has anyone heard the Michael Owen latest?

He's clearly past it, and should come to the MLS. :D

Fizzoid

Jun 15, 2009, 02:07 AM

A lot of top players appear to be preferring Spain over England at the moment... What, and miss all the rain and the cold Wednesday night game at Burnley in late November? They don't know what they're missing! :)

Jaffa Cake

Jun 15, 2009, 02:25 AM

What, and miss all the rain and the cold Wednesday night game at Burnley in late November? They don't know what they're missing! :)It's simple – they fear the Clarets. ;)

Wednesday is an exciting day (for those of us in Englandshire and Scotland at least), as at 10am the fixtures for the 2009/10 season are released. The BBC has an interesting (well, I thought so anyway) piece on the complexities that go into sorting out which of the 91 other clubs yours gets to play on any given weekend. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2009/06/secrets_of_the_fixture_compute.html#097608) Looks complicated. :o

Markleshark

Jun 15, 2009, 02:34 AM

Probably the funniest thing of last season - Nemanja Vidic looking odds-on favourite for the player of the year at the time, being absolutely terrorised by Torres at Old Trafford and left looking broken. :D

If Real have any sense though, they'll take him to the Bernabeu as well

So one bad game and your not able to be player of the year? Hmmmm.

Jaffa Cake

Jun 15, 2009, 02:42 AM

So one bad game and your not able to be player of the year? Hmmmm.Michael Turner kept Torres very quiet when we played Liverpool. By twisted logic, this clearly means Turner is better than Torres who is better than Vidic. Therefore, Turner is miles better than Vidic off the back of that one game. Ace.

Markleshark

Jun 15, 2009, 03:00 AM

Michael Turner kept Torres very quiet when we played Liverpool. By twisted logic, this clearly means Turner is better than Torres who is better than Vidic. Therefore, Turner is miles better than Vidic off the back of that one game. Ace.

I understood that, fully.:D

I also read that BBC article regarding the fixtures, and yes, complex indeed. Usually, we get a lot of other end of the country Tuesday night trips, I mean, the season wouldn't be complete without Millwall on a Tuesday night.

XIII

Jun 15, 2009, 03:01 AM

It's simple – they fear the Clarets. ;)

Wednesday is an exciting day (for those of us in Englandshire and Scotland at least), as at 10am the fixtures for the 2009/10 season are released. The BBC has an interesting (well, I thought so anyway) piece on the complexities that go into sorting out which of the 91 other clubs yours gets to play on any given weekend. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2009/06/secrets_of_the_fixture_compute.html#097608) Looks complicated. :o

Haha yeah just read that. How complex is that?! Still doesn't quite explain how there always seems to be a couple of weekends where all the top 4 play each other.. how coincidental..!

Jaffa Cake

Jun 15, 2009, 04:07 AM

Still doesn't quite explain how there always seems to be a couple of weekends where all the top 4 play each other.. how coincidental..!Indeed, it's quote the coincidence. A coincidence of Sky-high proportions, one might say.

Of course, even after the fixtures are published they're shunted around by the TV folk, leading to some matches at odd times. Just a few weeks back Setanta moved the Portsmouth/Sunderland fixture to a Monday evening, obviously paying scant regard to the travelling fans.

MacBoobsPro

Jun 15, 2009, 04:28 AM

And so it continues... word is that David Villa is Real Madrid's latest acquisition, a snip at a mere £34million.

Barça are holding talks with Valencia right now for David Villa. :)

Villa is a very smart guy and I think he would prefer a more 'stable' club like Barça than Real, no matter how much money Real offer.

That being said I may end up eating my words. :D

Valencia are in a very dangerous financial position (at times not paying their players for weeks on end last season) so they will hold out for the very best deal on Villa which will most likely come from Madrid. If it was up to Villa I think he would go to Barça. However with Eto'o, Henry, Bojan and Messi it worries me what plans Barça have for Eto'o. I think he is the best striker on the planet, albeit a little volatile off the pitch. :o Rumour has it he has been offered to Liverpool in a swap deal for Mascherano. While I rate Mascherano I don't think that is a logical swap?!

Is the confederations cup on TV? I missed the Spain match. :(

takao

Jun 15, 2009, 05:14 AM

Is the confederations cup on TV? I missed the Spain match. :(

well spain scored 4 goals within 24 minutes and then the rest of the game they jsut played a few gears lower to save energy for the next game

xUKHCx

Jun 15, 2009, 05:17 AM

Is the confederations cup on TV? I missed the Spain match. :(

Yeah it is on BBC3.

A good website to check for sport on the telly is http://livesportontv.com/

Peterkro

Jun 15, 2009, 09:10 AM

Yeah it is on BBC3.

A good website to check for sport on the telly is http://livesportontv.com/

It's not on BBC3 at the moment although they're streaming it on the web.
Eygpt 1 Brazil 1 after 10 minutes.

Compared to the price paid for Ronaldo Kaka appears to be a bargain buy for Francos mob.

MacBoobsPro

Jun 15, 2009, 09:20 AM

It's not on BBC3 at the moment although they're streaming it on the web.
Eygpt 1 Brazil 1 after 10 minutes.

Compared to the price paid for Ronaldo Kaka appears to be a bargain buy for Francos mob.

I'd be careful what you say about Franc... Real Madrid!

http://drien.com/macrumors/basics/shifty_eyes_small.gif

pachyderm

Jun 15, 2009, 09:39 AM

how do they decide who plains in the confederations cup? earliest WC qualifiers?

Fizzoid

Jun 15, 2009, 09:43 AM

how do they decide who plains in the confederations cup? earliest WC qualifiers? Was wondering that myself earlier, and was pointed here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8088226.stm)

Peterkro

Jun 15, 2009, 09:47 AM

^^BBC page covers it but simple version:
"The FIFA Confederations Cup is a national team football tournament, held every four years by FIFA. It is contested by the winners of each of the six FIFA confederation championships (Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Oceania) plus the previous World Cup winner and the host country, bringing the total to eight."

pachyderm

Jun 15, 2009, 09:51 AM

Was wondering that myself earlier, and was pointed here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8088226.stm)

South Africa..............hosts
Italy........................2006 world champions
USA.........................CONCACAF Gold Cup 2007 winners
Brazil........................CONMEBOL Copa America 2007 winners
Iraq..........................AFC Asian Cup 2007 winners
Egypt.......................CAF African Cup of Nations 2008 winners
Spain........................UEFA Euro 2008 winners
New Zealand..............OFC Nations Cup 2007/08 winners

Some sort of "Cup" winners? Yes, plus the host nation.
Thanks Fizzy!

takao

Jun 15, 2009, 09:51 AM

how do they decide who plains in the confederations cup? earliest WC qualifiers?

host (south africa)
world champions (italy)
european champions (spain)
asian champions (irak)
africa cup winner (egypt)
south africa champions (brazil)
north & central america champions ( USA)

and then just for jokes new zealand ... ;)

also the "confederations" part in "confederations cup" should have been a hint ;)

swiftaw

Jun 15, 2009, 09:53 AM

how do they decide who plains in the confederations cup? earliest WC qualifiers?

The champions of each confederation (e.g. Euro championship winners) + WC Host + some invites.

Peterkro

Jun 15, 2009, 09:59 AM

host (south africa)
world champions (italy)
european champions (spain)
asian champions (irak)
africa cup winner (egypt)
south africa champions (brazil)
north & central america champions ( USA)

and then just for jokes new zealand ... ;)

also the "confederations" part in "confederations cup" should have been a hint ;)

NZ are Oceania champions which maybe isn't saying much but it includes Australia.

pachyderm

Jun 15, 2009, 10:01 AM

The champions of each confederation (e.g. Euro championship winners) + WC Host + some invites.

Thank you sir!

host (south africa)
world champions (italy)
european champions (spain)
asian champions (irak)
africa cup winner (egypt)
south africa champions (brazil)
north & central america champions ( USA)

and then just for jokes new zealand ... ;)

also the "confederations" part in "confederations cup" should have been a hint ;)
lol

And as an American I can honestly say that our inclusion my be part of that same joke...but both are "Cup" winners of some degree... :apple:

South Africa..............hosts
Italy........................2006 world champions
USA.........................CONCACAF Gold Cup 2007 winners
Brazil........................CONMEBOL Copa America 2007 winners
Iraq..........................AFC Asian Cup 2007 winners
Egypt.......................CAF African Cup of Nations 2008 winners
Spain........................UEFA Euro 2008 winners
New Zealand..............OFC Nations Cup 2007/08 winners*

*Yes, I know I posted the entry list twice. Sue me! ;)

MacBoobsPro

Jun 15, 2009, 10:04 AM

Thank you sir!

lol

And as an American I can honestly say that our inclusion my be part of that same joke...but both are "Cup" winners of some degree... :apple:

South Africa..............hosts
Italy........................2006 world champions
USA.........................CONCACAF Gold Cup 2007 winners
Brazil........................CONMEBOL Copa America 2007 winners
Iraq..........................AFC Asian Cup 2007 winners
Egypt.......................CAF African Cup of Nations 2008 winners
Spain........................UEFA Euro 2008 winners
New Zealand..............OFC Nations Cup 2007/08 winners*

*Yes, I know I posted the entry list twice. Sue me! ;)

Can I have your address for the subpoena?

takao

Jun 15, 2009, 10:05 AM

NZ are Oceania champions which maybe isn't saying much but it includes Australia.

since you perhaps missed it: Australia left the oceania confederation in 2006 and is now in the Asian confederation (for the reason that no starting place in the world cup is guaranteed for the winner ... :rolleyes:)

i think it's fair to call it a joke with only small islands in the pacific as enemies

Peterkro

Jun 15, 2009, 10:10 AM

since you perhaps missed it: Australia left the oceania confederation in 2006 and is now in the Asian confederation (for the reason that no starting place in the world cup is guaranteed for the winner ... :rolleyes:)

i think it's fair to call it a joke with only small islands in the pacific as enemies

Your right I did miss it.Being as I'm somewhat a New Zealander I thought we'd got one over the old enemy.Still we must have beaten Tahiti and they're French innit.:)

3-3 Egyptians are no mugs.

takao

Jun 15, 2009, 10:13 AM

be sure not to miss the current game since egypt just made 2 goals against brazil within 1 minute ... current standing 3:3 :eek:

gauchogolfer

Jun 15, 2009, 01:44 PM

Watching USA-Italy from my desk right now on ESPN360.com.

MacsRgr8

Jun 15, 2009, 01:46 PM

Watching USA-Italy from my desk right now on ESPN360.com.

On BBC 3 here... :p

Silencio

Jun 15, 2009, 01:54 PM

Watching USA-Italy from my desk right now on ESPN360.com.

Sounds like they're playing inside a giant beehive. Did they give away free plastic horns to entice the locals to attend the match?

USA is acquitting themselves pretty well so far...

Peterkro

Jun 15, 2009, 02:06 PM

"he hasn't got a leg to stand on when it comes to elbows" comedy gold.
U.S. down to ten.

Silencio

Jun 15, 2009, 02:08 PM

U.S. down to ten.

Standard operating procedure for Team USA against Italy. :rolleyes:

Whew. An offsides call saved Bornstein from an awful own goal.

And Altidore draws the penalty on the other side! Donovan easily converts! 1-0.

Peterkro

Jun 15, 2009, 02:11 PM

Italy should be down to ten as well.U.S. 1-0

Jaffa Cake

Jun 15, 2009, 02:17 PM

Did they give away free plastic horns to entice the locals to attend the match?I believe they do. It isn't big, and it isn't clever.

Meanwhile, away from the Confederations Cup, the Englandshire Under-21s won their first match of the European Under-21 Championships. Young Fraizer came on and did alright, by all accounts.

takao

Jun 15, 2009, 02:23 PM

I believe they do. It isn't big, and it isn't clever.

in tv here they said that the horns are a part of visiting football matches in south africa ... they even do that in normal league games

on the other side i think that for coming world cups this should be considered in the evaluation if fans like to play annoying instruments in stadiums

Jaffa Cake

Jun 15, 2009, 02:29 PM

They'll be wanting giant foam fingers next. And then – before we know it – we'll all have to have music after goals.

It's the thin end of the wedge, I tell you.

Silencio

Jun 15, 2009, 02:52 PM

Nice steal at midfield by Rossi and great strike past Howard. 1-1.

Italy 2-1 as a De Rossi strike somehow eludes two US defenders and Howard. US needs a miracle now...

Fizzoid

Jun 15, 2009, 03:08 PM

They'll be wanting giant foam fingers next. And then – before we know it – we'll all have to have music after goals.

It's the thin end of the wedge, I tell you.
It's when you see the inflatable bananas you need to worry :)

Don't panic

Jun 15, 2009, 04:05 PM

Sounds like they're playing inside a giant beehive. Did they give away free plastic horns to entice the locals to attend the match?

USA is acquitting themselves pretty well so far...

If you give a Fan a horn...
he will ask you for some foam hands

i see another installation of the book series coming, ready for 2010.

interesting match.

the red card was maybe excessive, a yellow was deserved but it should have been enough.
On the other hand, the disallowed own goal by young Bernstein was puzzling and the penalty was a bit generous as well. Definitively contact, but also a remarkable dive by altidore.

Donovan played really well, but he didn't have sufficient support (and they really paid the red card in the second half).
Overall a fair result and Rossi is def someone to watch.
If Italy gets rid of their elderly (toni, camoranesi) for the next generation they could become a threat next year.
assuming that italy and brazil will win their games vs egypt and the US (not at all guaranteed), the direct match will be very open. i thought brazil would be way superior, but after the first game they seem quite evenly matched. Spain easily the favourites for the tourney.

curiosity of the day: Italy beat USA 3-1, but Americans beat Italians 3-1 :D

on a separate note: what an ugly kit the italians donned!

swiftaw

Jun 15, 2009, 05:49 PM

Back to the new kits for the upcoming season, Spurs' is horrible:

http://www.footballshirtculture.com/images/stories/tottenham-hotspur-09-10-puma-kits-leaked.jpg

Jaffa Cake

Jun 15, 2009, 05:51 PM

A lot of the Puma shirts are using variations of that template, with the collar flashes. It makes them look like they're wearing university gowns, if you ask me. Not good.

swiftaw

Jun 15, 2009, 05:55 PM

A lot of the Puma shirts are using variations of that template, with the collar flashes. It makes them look like they're wearing university gowns, if you ask me. Not good.

Plus, Yellow and White never go well together. Wouldn't have been as bad if they had been blue flashes on the home shirt.

Jaffa Cake

Jun 15, 2009, 06:05 PM

Meanwhile, leaked images of the new Spurs goalkeeper's kits – once again featuring the collar flashes...

176186

Also leaked today, Middlesbrough's new kit – their first produced as part of their new 'partnership' with Adidas. Unfortunately they've dropped the white bar from the front of the shirt in favour of a swoosh-type affair, a pity as it was a distinctive feature of the 'Boro kit.

176187

Basically, it looks to be the same template as used by the Spanish national team, which kind of look a bit like Starfleet uniforms.

Peterkro

Jun 15, 2009, 06:13 PM

and the penalty was a bit generous as well. Definitively contact, but also a remarkable dive by altidore.

Definitely a foul (in spite of the theatrics ) and as he would have been clear on goal should have been a red card as well.

Lord Blackadder

Jun 15, 2009, 08:53 PM

Wish I could have seen the game, but Giuseppe Rossi breaks our hearts, first by choosing Italy over USA (not that I blame him), and then scoring against his jilted side at the first opportunity. :(

I guess 3-1 is not a bad result with ten men against the defending World Cup champs, despite the fact that the combined age of the Italian side is about 3,000 years.

It all comes down to the Egypt game for USA to have a chance at getting some points before our inevitable exit from the group stage. Although I'm still secretly praying for a shock upset against Brazil.

NathanCH

Jun 15, 2009, 10:01 PM

It was a great game. Both games today were really exciting to watch. I can't say I'm a fan of the US team, but I did feel bad when Rossi striked that ball into the back of the net. Talk about pouring salt on a wound!

Fizzoid

Jun 16, 2009, 02:02 AM

Well, rumour has it Liverpool have had a £18.5m bid accepted for Glen Johnson. Does that mean Arbeloa is off to Real then?

pachyderm

Jun 16, 2009, 05:45 AM

Back to the new kits for the upcoming season, Spurs' is horrible:

http://www.footballshirtculture.com/images/stories/tottenham-hotspur-09-10-puma-kits-leaked.jpg

I can't say that they are wonderful but I do like them. I've seen much worse so far...

Jaffa Cake

Jun 16, 2009, 06:56 AM

pachyderm

Jun 16, 2009, 07:38 AM

Heh. It appears Sky Sports News made a bit of a booboo the other day, accidentally showing a graphic of Arsenal's first six League fixtures for the 2009/10 season – a quick-witted viewer took a snap and it's since been doing the rounds on various football forums...

176299

If it is genuine, then it's not to say those fixtures are correct – they could just be placeholders or something – but for XIII and our other resident Gooners it might just be a taster of tomorrow's fixtures.

so june 17th is the date?

Jaffa Cake

Jun 16, 2009, 07:44 AM

Yep – fixtures for the English and Scottish Leagues are released tomorrow morning at 10am (GMT).

Don't panic

Jun 16, 2009, 08:24 AM

Definitely a foul (in spite of the theatrics ) and as he would have been clear on goal should have been a red card as well.
i agree there was likely a foul there, but the acting put me off. i don't think it should have been a red card, though.

It was a great game. Both games today were really exciting to watch. I can't say I'm a fan of the US team, but I did feel bad when Rossi striked that ball into the back of the net. Talk about pouring salt on a wound!

Wish I could have seen the game, but Giuseppe Rossi breaks our hearts, first by choosing Italy over USA (not that I blame him), and then scoring against his jilted side at the first opportunity. :(

I guess 3-1 is not a bad result with ten men against the defending World Cup champs, despite the fact that the combined age of the Italian side is about 3,000 years.

It all comes down to the Egypt game for USA to have a chance at getting some points before our inevitable exit from the group stage. Although I'm still secretly praying for a shock upset against Brazil.

yeah, it is kind of ironic that his first competitive goals come against his co-country (he has dual citizenship). I don't see it as any sort of 'betray', though, no more that i would consider non-american any american child who was born abroad.
many people have dual-citizenship, and when time comes, they have to choose. and I think he did very early on: according to wiki he has been playing for italian youth sides since his early teens

i think the US still have a chance, but a very slim one. I think they are the 4th best team in the tournament, and they could pull an unlikely upset against brazil if everything goes right. they were unlucky with the draw, i think.

XIII

Jun 16, 2009, 12:05 PM

Jaffa Cake

Jun 16, 2009, 12:11 PM

XIII

Jun 16, 2009, 01:27 PM

Indeed - the media do get the fixtures several days in advance though so who knows? If they are the actual fixtures then it might be a Sky worker and not a manager who's first to lose their job this season...

You can check against alternative predictions of our fixtures that someone claims to know:

I’ll have a little bet with you on this one guys. The “leaked” fixtures are not in fact “leaked” but wrong. A test that mistakenly went to air. My sources are it will be a trip to Goodison Park for the first weekend of the season with our first home game being against Roberto Martinez’s merry men.

The full fixtures list is only hours away now. It is extremely exciting to make a plan of where we will win the league. I would almost certainly put some money on spending boxing day on the South Coast in one of my favourite watering holes – Tiger, Tiger perhaps. Villa will be in line to give us some early Christmas presents at the home of football. We’ll be playing the scum bags from the other end of Seven Sister and Manq land at a similar time to last season too.

We will see...!

Jaffa Cake

Jun 16, 2009, 01:38 PM

XIII

Jun 16, 2009, 02:32 PM

Interesting stuff! Mind, I was following that and then he spoils it all by reckoning you'll win the League. After that, I couldn't take anything he was saying seriously. ;)

It is all rather exciting though. I have a shortlist of away fixtures I want to make, I'll know tomorrow if any of them are going to be workable...

Are Arsenal staging a pre-season tournament again this year? If so, is anyone good reckoned to be tipping up?

Yup, the now world-renowned "Emirates Cup" is once again on. Phew!

Saturday 1st August 2009
Rangers v Paris Saint-Germain (2pm Kick-off)
Arsenal v Atletico Madrid (4.15pm Kick-off)

Sunday 2nd August 2009
Atletico Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain (2pm kick-off)
Arsenal v Rangers (4.15pm kick-off)

Don't panic

Jun 16, 2009, 02:38 PM

any good game in the US this summer?
and honestly, how do you get worked up about a schedule, (or a possible schedule leak)? I mean, i understand the dire straits of abstinence, but surely the confederation cup or maybe the U21 tourney are better fixes :)?

Jaffa Cake

Jun 16, 2009, 02:42 PM

...how do you get worked up about a schedule, (or a possible schedule leak)?Hey – it's one of the most exciting days in the football calendar! :D

We all look forward to seeing who we'll be facing, and working out when key games against rivals will be. And if you think that's a bit sad, you wait and see how excited I get when our squad numbers are announced. :p

Yup, the now world-renowned "Emirates Cup" is once again on. Phew!Meanwhile, we're off to China for the Premier League Trophy. My boss is going, I'm a bit jealous to be honest.

I asked Miss Jaffa Cake if she'd mind me going along to a pre-season match or two, however she saw through my cunning ruse and realised I wasn't talking about Winterton Rangers.

Don't panic

Jun 16, 2009, 03:05 PM

Hey – it's one of the most exciting days in the football calendar! :D

We all look forward to seeing who we'll be facing, and working out when key games against rivals will be. And if you think that's a bit sad, you wait and see how excited I get when our squad numbers are announced. :p

Meanwhile, we're off to China for the Premier League Trophy. My boss is going, I'm a bit jealous to be honest.

I asked Miss Jaffa Cake if she'd mind me going along to a pre-season match or two, however she saw through my cunning ruse and realised I wasn't talking about Winterton Rangers.

i see.
do they still serve the Pangalactic Gargle Blaster at spiders'?

Jaffa Cake

Jun 16, 2009, 03:08 PM

Good God, I haven't been to Spiders for years... :o

Fizzoid

Jun 16, 2009, 03:12 PM

Spiders? I always preferred Tower for the hour! :)

Jaffa Cake

Jun 16, 2009, 03:15 PM

Ah, the 2008-09 season. Blimey, that was exciting, wasn't it? Whether your team's fortunes led to you toasting their success or crying into your beer, it's certainly been an eventful campaign.

But times move on, and so must we. As we've been discussing, tomorrow morning sees the release of the fixtures for the 2009/10 season*– here in England and in Scotland at least – so now seems as good a time as any for this thread to hang up its boots and accept a cushy job talking rubbish on a pundits' sofa.

But fret not –*discussion can continue over on the brand new 2009-10 Football Thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=7835147#post7835147), which is now open and awaiting your collective wisdom. Please report there now for a gruelling pre-season training schedule of transfer speculation, new kit ogling, and merciless mocking of anyone who thinks it's American football we're talking about...