2008-09 Football Thread - The Second Half

[Fuzzy14]

Not EPL,

It's not an EPL thread any more. I've been trying to undermine it for ages, as was Jaffa before Hull got promoted.

So does this mean we're not going to win the World Cup with ease? Blimey. I was under the impression from the papers and stuff that recent performances had demonstrated we were the Best Team In The World and everything...

Think about what we will have to put up with again when Scotland fails to qualify for South Africa. We get the same papers and news coverage as you, only a bit more two faced, i.e. The Sun bring out a Scottish edition but forget to change some of the biased editorials. No problems with biased media, but keep them in your own country! But worst of all is that dirty, dirty turncoat Alan Hansen, he should not be allowed back north ever again.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

But worst of all is that dirty, dirty turncoat Alan Hansen, he should not be allowed back north ever again.

Oh dear. We were kind of hoping you'd have him back, and that you'd take his fellow pundit Princess Shearer with him for good measure.

No matter, we'll just have to fob the pair of them off to the Welsh.

 

[Silencio]

Are you a S.F. Seals F.C. fan? Are they going to exist again in the near future?

Actually never heard of an S.F. Seals football club before. Are/were they an amateur team or something? If you're talking MLS franchises, the San Jose Earthquakes are the only local team. I don't see MLS getting popular enough any time soon to support two teams in the Bay Area.

I was left wondering if football is still a contact sport...

Guess you didn't watch the US / Mexico match. Loads of contact, plenty of fouls I've seen other refs show yellow cards for, and surprisingly no cards given. Marquez for Mexico earned an obvious red for going spikes up into Tim Howard, but most of the rough play went unpunished. The no-calls were pretty consistent on both sides, so no complaints from me.

As for England / Spain: both sides were missing some key players, but England was definitely hurt more by injury or illness (Ferdinand, Rooney, Gerrard) than Spain (Fabregas, Puyol). Don't know if this match proves than England is a bad side so much as Spain is simply on another planet right now.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

DOS A CERO!!!!! DOS A CERO!!!! DOS A CERO!!!!

...That was the chant anyway.

Awesome match in terms of atmosphere - Columbus has a big Mexican population and USA fans were probably outnumbered at least 60/40 on their own turf. The Mexican fans were louder for most of the match, though us 'mericans shouted plenty loud for the goals and the sending off, which was almost as flagrant as Bosingwa's unpunished karate kick.

I loved it.

It was absolutely pissing down rain as we drove to the stadium - the forecast was for 60mph winds, rain, hail and temperatures dropping from almost 60F to near freezing. We got all that plus lighting. Siding was getting ripped off houses and the traffic lights went out.

Just as we got to the stadium the weather cleared, the sun came out just as it set and cast a massive rainbow - the end of which landed straight into Crew Stadium!!

(Wish I had a better camera)

In terms of play it wasn't exactly a classic, the wind was vicious and was a big factor. Mexico had good possession and passing, and Tim Howard made a couple of very classy saves to keep us in the game. I was right in front of Bradley, just a few rows up, when he knocked in the second. Dempsey looked tired, the Prem season is taking its toll. Frankie Hejduk had an excellent game, and Bradley was the best midfielder for the USA.

The best part about about the rain was that it refilled my $9 Bud Lite cup and I couldn't taste the difference.(I'd forgotten how awful Bud Lite was)

Guess you didn't watch the US / Mexico match. Loads of contact, plenty of fouls I've seen other refs show yellow cards for, and surprisingly no cards given. Marquez for Mexico earned an obvious red for going spikes up into Tim Howard, but most of the rough play went unpunished. The no-calls were pretty consistent on both sides, so no complaints from me.

I agree, with one exception - Brian Ching got called for a foul almost every single time he got the ball. I don't understand what the ref thought he was doing to get all those fouls, but he is a big guy so he will win any barging contest. I thought the ref was too quick with the whistle on him though. USA-Mexico is the big derby match for us, so the ref can't whistle for every little infraction.

 

[pachyderm]

Actually never heard of an S.F. Seals football club before. Are/were they an amateur team or something? If you're talking MLS franchises, the San Jose Earthquakes are the only local team. I don't see MLS getting popular enough any time soon to support two teams in the Bay Area.

Yeah, I'm hip to the MLS bro...

San Francisco Seals F.C.

Sadly the Seals are defunct for now.

 

[Fuzzy14]

I was left wondering if football is still a contact sport...

If you are still in any doubt, it's the Old Firm this weekend!

 

[aloofman]

In terms of play it wasn't exactly a classic, the wind was vicious and was a big factor. Mexico had good possession and passing, and Tim Howard made a couple of very classy saves to keep us in the game. I was right in front of Bradley, just a few rows up, when he knocked in the second. Dempsey looked tired, the Prem season is taking its toll. Frankie Hejduk had an excellent game, and Bradley was the best midfielder for the USA.

Am I the only one who's impressed with how long Hejduk has been a solid player? I've stopped guessing when that guy will run out of gas.

I'm envious that you got to see the game. One thing I'm curious about is whether this could finally be the year that we beat Mexico at Azteca. That would be awesome.

 

[és:]

From the BBC

Chelsea Football Club is set to reveal a £66m loss for the year to the end of June 2008, the BBC has learned.

The amount includes a total of £23m in compensation paid to Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant and five coaches who left the club during the year.

However, it does not cover the sacking of Luis Felipe Scolari, who was axed from Stamford Bridge this week.

The latest in a string of hefty losses will ultimately be borne by Chelsea's Russian owner, Roman Abramovich.

The BBC has learned that Mr Abramovich's investment in the club has reached £710m.

He has now changed part of that investment from an interest-free loan into shares in the club, as a sign of continuing commitment to Chelsea.

The move will also help defuse European criticism that Chelsea is a heavily indebted business, says BBC business correspondent Nils Blythe.

In another attempt to scale back its debt, the club is aiming to pay for any purchases this summer by selling players.

Criticism

Of the £23m compensation paid to former managers and coaches, the bulk of the money was paid to Jose Mourinho.

His replacement, Avram Grant, lasted just eight months before leaving the club to be succeeded by Scolari - who reports suggest could walk away with £7.5m having been only seven months into a two-year contract.

The club's loss is slightly better than the £74m lost last year and £80.2m in 2006/7. It is also some way short of the record £140m announced by Chelsea in 2004/2005.

The club came fifth on the list of the world's richest clubs in 2007/8 - behind Real Madrid, Manchester United, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

However, Deloitte's Football Money League is based on revenue and does not take debt into account.

Some European clubs have been critical about the level of debt that some leading English clubs, such as Chelsea and Manchester United, are carrying.

 

[R.Youden]

For the last 20 minutes maybe. However, I don't think that's the reason he did it. He played James, Heskey, Barry, Carrick, Terry, Cole, Beckham, Lampard et al. I don't think his mind was on developing youth.

Isn't that what the England U21's are for? How many of the current England squad played U21 football, quite a few I think.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Re: the England-Spain match. I noticed that a lot of the English media talk about how the match was a lesson in the kind of progess that England needs to make. Now, I'm a fan of the England national squad, I like to support them (as long as it isn't against the USA). But where did the English get the notion that they are playing anywhere near Spain's level right now? I'm not trying to pick a fight, but just look at Spain - they are probably the best national side on the planet right now. NOBODY should expect to win against them. I think the result was merely a fair comparison between England and Spain's respective ability at the moment...One would have to think that Spain must be the favorites to hoist the World Cup in 2010.

Am I the only one who's impressed with how long Hejduk has been a solid player? I've stopped guessing when that guy will run out of gas.

I've seen him play six or seven times last season with Columbus, and he is amazing. Mentally he is a great competitor and captain, and his positional awareness is very good - which is necessary because at his age he can't rely on pace. But he can and does run flat out for a full 90 minutes, which is quite a feat. He also initiates a lot of attacks of the right flank with overlapping runs and crosses. He might not be a world-class talent and he's far from young, but he is still good enough to contribute to the national squad and he is also an important figure in the dressing room.

Have you ever seen the YouTube video where he famously tailgated with fans before a match? THAT's the beauty of our small league. You'd never see a player in the Premier League doing that. My brother met him and all the other Columbus starters at a big media event in Columbus before the final and Hejduk was very friendly and engaging.

I'm envious that you got to see the game. One thing I'm curious about is whether this could finally be the year that we beat Mexico at Azteca. That would be awesome.

That's a big ask, but USA has a squad arguably better than any in the last ten years, and Mexico is struggling to find form....and we did win that difficult game in Guatemala, which had a very hostile atmosphere. Personally I'd be very happy with a draw. I'm going to be a little optimistic and predict a 1-1, possibly with both sides finishing with 10 men.

 

[Silencio]

Isn't that what the England U21's are for? How many of the current England squad played U21 football, quite a few I think.

The purpose of the England U21 side is to lose to Ecuador.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Now, I'm a fan of the England national squad, I like to support them (as long as it isn't against the USA). But where did the English get the notion that they are playing anywhere near Spain's level right now? I'm not trying to pick a fight, but just look at Spain - they are probably the best national side on the planet right now. NOBODY should expect to win against them.

On our day – when everyone's playing at their best and we have a bit of luck on our side – England are capable of beating any team in the world. The problem is, it's very rare that we get all our top players operating at this level and playing together as a team, rather than a hodge-podge of over-hyped 'superstars' who each seem to be playing their own game. Whereas the top teams can play as well as Spain are at the moment pretty much match after match, we really have to raise our game to compete at a similar level – and we can't do that from match to match.

It's a lack of consistency and this – coupled by the fact that we don't have the strength in depth that the top international sides enjoy – is a key reason why we continue to underachieve.

I've ranted on about England's problems on many occasions before though, so I'll just leave it there and won't bore you by going off on one again.

The purpose of the England U21 side is to lose to Ecuador.

And to give Stuart Pearce something to do.

 

[Fuzzy14]

Have you ever seen the YouTube video where he famously tailgated with fans before a match?

At first I thought you meant he was driving too close to the vehicle in front of him! That kind of thing used to happen in Scotland in the 1970's, where the players would meet up for a pre-match pint....

New Jaffatar, you are missing number 11.

Well it's silly season up here as the papers have run out of genuine stories to run with before Sunday's Old Firm. Rumour sites are buzzing with stories of how one player has been busted for coke and match fixing allegations.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

So it's going to be an FA Cup replay for us and the Blunts. We could have done without that, really.

We're not alone, mind – all four Cup ties played so far in this round have been pools player pleasing score draws.

 

[Loge]

So it's going to be an FA Cup replay for us and the Blunts. We could have done without that, really.

We're not alone, mind – all four Cup ties played so far in this round have been pools player pleasing score draws.

Time to ditch replays in the FA Cup surely?

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Time to ditch replays in the FA Cup surely?

Bit late now.

There was a story in the papers a few weeks back about there being an obscure loophole in the FA Cup rules, stating that if both clubs agreed a match could be decided on the night without going to a replay. I think if anything does happen in the future regarding replays being abolished it'll be due to the bigger clubs applying pressure to the FA, complaining of overcrowded fixture lists.

Of course, it wasn't that long ago a tie could be replayed and replayed until a winner was determined – in fact, some ties ended up going to half-a-dozen or so matches before they were settled.

 

[Loge]

Bit late now.

I was thinking more from next season, otherwise the sixth round ties are going to be very busy with all those extra players on the pitch.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Just a minor moan this, but I'm a bit irritated by the media referring to the next round of the FA Cup as being the 'quarter-finals'. Traditionally, the next round is the Sixth Round and then you go straight into the semi-finals. So there.

Anyway, the draw for the Sixth Round was made a little earlier this evening, and it went thus...

Blackburn Rovers or Coventry City vs Chelsea

Swansea City or Fulham vs Manchester United

(Cardiff City or Arsenal) or Burnley vs Sheffield United or Hull City

Everton vs West Ham United or Middlesbrough

 

[XIII]

Cardiff City or Arsenal or Burnley vs Sheffield United or Hull City

How ludicrous that we couldn't play our replay today - we play our 4th round game after the 6th round draw has been made.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

How ludicrous that we couldn't play our replay today - we play our 4th round game after the 6th round draw has been made.

I nearly used up my entire or allocation on that string of fixtures...

 

[Loge]

(Cardiff City or Arsenal) or Burnley vs Sheffield United or Hull City

 

[Jaffa Cake]

(Cardiff City or Arsenal) or Burnley vs Sheffield United or Hull City

You know, that does look better and makes more sense. I'll amend my earlier post accordingly.

I was hoping we'd get the winner of the Swansea/Fulham replay, myself.

 

[swiftaw]

You know, that does look better and makes more sense. I'll amend my earlier post accordingly.

I was hoping we'd get the winner of the Swansea/Fulham replay, myself.

Are you hoping that either Cardiff or Burnley can upset Arsenal, or do you want a prime tie at the Emerates (assuming you get past Sheffield Utd)?

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Are you hoping that either Cardiff or Burnley can upset Arsenal, or do you want a prime tie at the Emerates (assuming you get past Sheffield Utd)?

Well, from our point of view we want to progress as far as possible so naturally we want the easiest tie possible. That would have to be against Arsenal at the Emirates, we've never lost to them there.

Actually, if we do go through it'll be an away match I won't be able to attend – irrespective of whether it's in London, South Wales or deepest, darkest Lancashire. We're at my parents for the weekend as it's my birthday the following week, and we're actually planning on going to a match on the Saturday afternoon – Bridlington Town entertain Arnold Town in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Cristiano Ronaldo caught on camera spitting at Robbie Savage:

[Image from Dagbladet.no: Darren Staples/Reuters/Scanpix, click for full size]

Could be interesting to see what the FA does now...