2008-09 Football Thread - The Second Half

[pivo6]

Blimey. It seems Princess Shearer is going to be appointed Newcastle boss.

I'm saying nowt.

To add to this, it looks like Dennis Wise is out and Ian Dowie is in as assistant caretaker manager Link . Who knows the Championship better than Dowie, who has managed about a third of them in the last few years. Oh wait, Newcastle aren't in the Championship...yet.

 

[Fuzzy14]

[Holds Breath]

Scotland 2-1 Iceland

10 mins to go....

[/Holding Breath]

Well that was close! Typical Scotland, they are going to keep us going until the last game before getting knocked out.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Nice one, Fuzzy.

To add to this, it looks like Dennis Wise is out...

Indeed he is...

NEWCASTLE United can today confirm that Dennis Wise has left his position as Executive Director (Football).

The Club would like to take this opportunity to wish Dennis well for the future.

A sentiment that I'm sure all Newcastle fans will share.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I think its a big mistake for both club and man. A good player does not always equal a good manager.

Are you speaking of Maradona?

Congrats Fuzzy! And in further international news, USA beat Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 in our qualifier today. We played much better this time, and 19 year old Jozy Altidore (Striker, Villareal, on loan to Xerez) scored a hat trick.

Good to see Crouchy on the score sheet for England again. But was it a bit of a tentative win?

 

[Silencio]

Are you speaking of Maradona?

Thought I read that his plan was to play a bunch of subs in this game. I couldn't track down the starting XI, but that's a shocking result no matter who they put on the pitch.

Lots of interesting results from South America today. Columbia got whipped by Venezuela. Ecuador outplayed another opponent at home but was denied a win against group leader Paraguay by an injury time goal. Ecuador will regret not getting the full three points when they had the opportunity, there are a lot of tough teams in South America this cycle.

Congrats Fuzzy! And in further international news, USA beat Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 in our qualifier today. We played much better this time, and 19 year old Jozy Altidore (Striker, Villareal, on loan to Xerez) scored a hat trick.

Way to get back on track (both USA and Scotland). Icing on the cake: Mexico was easily defeated by Honduras today, as well. Man, CONCACAF sucks.

 

[swiftaw]

Icing on the cake: Mexico was easily defeated by Honduras today, as well. Man, CONCACAF sucks.

Surely Mexico has to fire Sven.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Just to back track a little, to our discussion on the longevity of the England shirts.

As I mentioned, Umbro releases a new shirt every spring, alternating between home and away strips – essentially giving each shirt a life of two years. In actual fact, they generally put these dates somewhere discreetly on the shirt, so for example the home shirt that was just phased out carried the dates 2007-2009 on it.

Anyway, Miss Jaffa Cake bought me the new England shirt yesterday as a little present – and, like its predecessors, this one has the dates too, in this instance stamped onto the button on the collar. However, this particular shirt is dated 2009-2010, meaning it looks like Umbro are dropping the two year cycle and we'll be seeing two new England shirts next year (home and away), just in time for the lucrative World Cup market (assuming of course we qualify).

Poor form, Umbro.

 

[xUKHCx]

I figured that would be our world cup shirt but of course squeezing an extra one in means more money.

Saw lots of highlights from the past international games. Lots of good goals flying arond in there. I hope to watch more closer to actual match time next time around.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Surely Mexico has to fire Sven.

I hope you put a tenner on that.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I hope you put a tenner on that.

After the loss to the US (which was more or less expected), I think Eriksson was always a loss or two away from the sack. Mexico is really under-performing in this campaign.

 

[Fuzzy14]

Thanks all for the Scotland congrats, we're now 2nd in the table but won't be able to overtake Holland (who are 1 point away from qualification) so the best we can do is the play-offs, if we can hang on for 3 more matches (next match is September for us.)

More on the Scotland drinking duo, Ferguson and McGregor were dropped by Scotland for having a wee drink between games and were punished by the Scotland coach, all done and dusted? No. Sitting on the bench giving the fingers to the media hasn't helped their cause

,
and now Rangers are putting them on the transfer list. Something else must have happened because I don't see why Smith/Rangers are getting involved in a Scotland issue.

*Edit, Walter Smith has now explained that it wasn't the drinking but the way they didn't accept their punishment and made the childish V signs that brought the club into disrepute hence they'll be on their way. We all reckoned that Ferguson and McGregor would be sold this summer anyway.

 

[xUKHCx]

More on the Scotland drinking duo, Ferguson and McGregor were dropped by Scotland for having a wee drink between games and were punished by the Scotland coach, all done and dusted? No. Sitting on the bench giving the fingers to the media hasn't helped their cause

and now Rangers are putting them on the transfer list. Something else must have happened because I don't see why Smith/Rangers are getting involved in a Scotland issue.

*Edit, Walter Smith has now explained that it wasn't the drinking but the way they didn't accept their punishment and made the childish V signs that brought the club into disrepute hence they'll be on their way. We all reckoned that Ferguson and McGregor would be sold this summer anyway.

Apparently they have now be banned from ever playing for Scotland again. (Source CBBC).

OK just siwtched to SkySports News and they have confirmed it.

It is on the SFA website

Following on from the events of the past week - and specifically the last 48 hours - the Scottish FA has today confirmed that Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor will no longer be considered for International selection by Scotland.

The decision was taken following further discussions today between the National Team Manager and the Scottish FA Chief Executive.

This action has been taken in the best interests of the squad, the fans and the country. Everyone is determined to qualify for the World Cup and we must ensure that nothing is allowed to distract us from this goal.

Now on the BBC site as well

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/7981287.stm

Whoops

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Hurrah! Me and Miss Jaffa Cake have procured tickets to go up to Middlesbrough next weekend to see the Mighty Tigers play, er, Middlesbrough unsurprisingly. We'll just have to be careful we're not too noisy, it drives some fans mad you know...



It serves the buffoons right for playing music after goals, that's all I'm saying.

 

[xUKHCx]

Please stop, Make as much noise as you like when we score?

What an odd letter.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

What an odd letter.

They are a bit odd up there.

We'll do our bit to keep them nice and quiet, to keep Sue happy. It's been a while since we've had the chance to sing 'mauled' and – given that Miss Jaffa Cake cringes at it – I can think of no better opportunity for a rendition.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Wow, rough times in Scotland...

Sounds like the dressing room situation is not the best. Second place won't necessarily get Scotland through either, since there are nine groups, and only eight go to the playoffs...and Scotland currently has the fewest points of any second placed team. Still, there are games left to play, and points will be dropped in other groups.

You should send Barry Ferguson over here to the MLS, for two reasons: 1) we could use another player with his level of experience and 2) people here in the states would have no idea what the "V-sign" meant. "Hey buddy, what's up with the backwards peace sign?"

They are a bit odd up there.

We'll do our bit to keep them nice and quiet, to keep Sue happy.

What a weird letter...

 

[Fuzzy14]

there are nine groups, and only eight go to the playoffs...and Scotland currently has the fewest points of any second placed team

That's because we are in a group of 5 and all the others are in groups of 6, so we don't play as many games. To make it fairer, the results against the team who came bottom of the group of 6 doesn't count towards the second place results. If you understood that, I didn't explain it correctly. Try this.

You should send Barry Ferguson over here to the MLS

Being age 31 (I'm 32 and certainly don't consider myself even close to 'past it') he now past it and would be looking for a lower Prem team i.e. West Ham if they survive or MLS. That was the plans anyway, he might have blown it totally.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

That's because we are in a group of 5 and all the others are in groups of 6, so we don't play as many games. To make it fairer, the results against the team who came bottom of the group of 6 doesn't count towards the second place results.

Ah, I get it. Looks like you're still in decent shape then...

That was the plans anyway, he might have blown it totally.

It will be interesting to see just what kind of impact this has on his career.

 

[xUKHCx]

Blackburn 2 - 1 Tottenham.

The ref was dire. Gave a penalty for Tottenham in the first half when the linesman who had a clear view expressly didn't give.

Totally inconsistant in regards to similar incidents around the pitch.

The sending off of Wilson was a tad harsh.

After that blackburn were right on top. Massive win for them. Lifts them 5 points clear of Newcastle and that final drop place. Newcastle do have a game in hand (which kicks off in 15 minutes) however it is against Chelsea.

 

[BoyBach]

Not a good afternoon for the Premier League's north-east based clubs.

Welcome to management Mr. Saviour Shearer!

 

[Jaffa Cake]

At the match today, who should we spy in the away end but none other than Mr Portsmouth himself?



Needless to say, we mocked his buffoonish hat.

 

[pachyderm]

Norwich City 0 - 1 Sheffield Wednesday
48' 1 Jermaine Johnson
89' Tommy Spurr

Sheff Wed 14-12-15

GOALS
13 Tudgay
8 Clarke
3 Esajas
3 Watson
3 McAllister
3 Jeffers
2 Sodje
2 Spurr
2 Johnson
1 Small
1 Burton
1 McMahon
1 Slusarski
1 Potter
1 Buxton

 

[BoyBach]

It's good to see that the last South Wales derby to be played at Ninian Park passed without incident.



Bloody muppets!

 

[Busy Bee]

Worse than diving...

The drive to bring good manners back to football has reached new heights after a referee issued a yellow card to a player for "breaking wind" as a penalty was being taken.

The official deemed the act "ungentlemanly conduct" and booked the player responsible. However Chorlton Villa, who conceded a goal on the second take, went on to win the match 6-4 against local rivals International Manchester FC at Turn Moss in Stretford, Manchester, last Sunday.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/apr/05/football-fart

 

[Vip]

Gooners

Come on Gooners! 2 nil today ;-)