2008-09 Football Thread

[Jaffa Cake]

In other news, West Ham United played a friendly this weekend in the stadium of my home MLS team, the Columbus Crew. To make the atmosphere more authentic, a group of real football hooligans was imported from Old Blighty and promptly began fighting with the local supporters. You can't take the English anywhere, I suppose.

I know you're trying to make the MLS as 'authentic' a league as possible, but that may be a step too far.

Meanwhile, I nominate this as the most ridiculous transfer rumour of the summer. It will never happen, not in a million years – which ironically enough is about the same length of time Deano has been playing...

 

[pachyderm]

i had a buddy or two at that match... haven't heard from them all day... unusual..

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I know you're trying to make the MLS as 'authentic' a league as possible, but that may be a step too far.

At the last MLS game I attended, a soccer mom and her three kids sat near to me and my group. We weren't rowdy by any stretch but during exciting moments there were a few f-bombs being dropped and so forth. It would be nice to find a happy medium between soccer moms and skinheads, so that I could go to a game and get excited without either offending families or getting beaten up...

Meanwhile, I nominate this as the most ridiculous transfer rumour of the summer. It will never happen, not in a million years – which ironically enough is about the same length of time Deano has been playing...

That would be unfortunate - he's in my fantasy squad! I can't imagine that any player, given the opportunity to play in the top league, would refuse it. Especially when you're the guy that scored the goal the clinched the promotion.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

We weren't rowdy by any stretch but during exciting moments there were a few f-bombs being dropped...

Bad show, your Lordship – the aristocracy clearly isn't what it was. Shocking.

That would be unfortunate - he's in my fantasy squad! I can't imagine that any player, given the opportunity to play in the top league, would refuse it. Especially when you're the guy that scored the goal the clinched the promotion.

Especially when it's to our arch rivals, too! Surely even a season of bench starts in the top flight for his home town club is inestimably better than a place in the starting line up for dirty, dirty Leeds?

Still, they could have done with him last season I suppose. After all, he proved that he can score the winning goal in a play-off final. Heh.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

I got emailed this earlier, it's a new billboard for Sky Sports that's apparently going to be going up soon and it's quite, quite magnificent...



Deano and his team mates outstripping the likes of Rooney, Fabregas, Torres, Tiger Woods and some cricketing chap... fantastic.

 

[gauchogolfer]

^^^ Way to go Jaffa. (Though you only beat out Tiger because he's out with knee surgery for the remainder of the year ).

I just got a notice from Fantasy Premier League to sign up for my team...are we doing another MR group this year?

 

[Jaffa Cake]

I just got a notice from Fantasy Premier League to sign up for my team...are we doing another MR group this year?

Indeed we are.

 

[MOFS]

I got emailed this earlier, it's a new billboard for Sky Sports that's apparently going to be going up soon and it's quite, quite magnificent...

View attachment 126007

Deano and his team mates outstripping the likes of Rooney, Fabregas, Torres, Tiger Woods and some cricketing chap... fantastic.

Is that a joke? Or is the poster designer a Hull fan? FIVE Hull players on a Sky Sports poster?!

 

[Fuzzy14]

Looks like Deano has just been whacked on the head with a cricket bat, and he likes it!

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Looks like Deano has just been whacked on the head with a cricket bat, and he likes it!

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[pachyderm]

Is that a joke? Or is the poster designer a Hull fan? FIVE Hull players on a Sky Sports poster?!

surely it is regional... no?

any of you lot fancy a footy league @esonsoccernet as well?

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I just took a look at Liverpool's new away kit and it's dreadful, last year's white away jersey was FAR better looking.

Our third kit is also pretty ghastly:

Somehow that green just doesn't work, though it's not quite as horrible as the grey.

Bring back the white away kit next time I say.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

surely it is regional... no?

Yep, it's a regional one. Other cities would have their players featured in a similar manner.

Mind, I hope they use the Hull one in Leeds.

 

[Markleshark]

He's Back!

 

[és:]

I love the grey shirt. Throw back from the Candy days.

Here is a much better image of it...

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Blimey. That's one squad number I never thought we'd get back...

 

[Markleshark]

Blimey. That's one squad number I never thought we'd get back...

On a loan then a free? Thats mighty good business in anyones book.

 

[scotthayes]

All this Premiership talk is making me sad.


Anyone ready to give their predictions yet?

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Anyone ready to give their predictions yet?

It will be either Chelsea of Manchester United for the title.

I'm hoping Liverpool will finish a close third pushing the "top two" all the way, and nick either the Carling Cup or FA Cup as consolation plus seriously challenge for the Champions League. But I'm not holding my breath. We have a good squad, but Benitez will coach us out of contention for the league once again.

A friend of mine who is an Arsenal supporter feels the gunners are doomed to finish fourth.

Spurs will not finish fourth if they lose Keane and Berbatov.

I think Sunderland will improve this season, and Wigan will go down. Two of the three promoted clubds will go down as well, unless Fulham can't keep it together.

 

[és:]

but Benitez will coach us out of contention for the league once again.

Anyway, here's might thoughts. I always tip Arsenal to fall out of the top 4, so this year I'm going to say that they are going to win the treble, in the hope that I'm wrong and they drop out of fourth.

There is a chance that Scorlari might have a few problems settling in with English league football. I'll wait to see who they bring in before fully commiting.

Liverpool only lost to 3 teams (4 losses in all) last year, it was draws that made us look far weaker in the league than we actually are. Hopefully we won't have as many broken bones as we did last season. I think we might Finnish 2nd or 3rd with an outside chance of wining it. Keane will add yet goals to a team that scored more goals than any other in all competitions and also add some needed creativity against the teams that sit and defend.

I think, like I normally do, that United will win the league.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I think we might Finnish 2nd or 3rd with an outside chance of wining it.

2nd would be a big improvement, but it will only happen if Chelsea stumble. I think we need Keane more than we need Barry, though I'd like both.

I think, like I normally do, that United will win the league.

A ball has yet to be kicked, but the title is United's to lose. They'll keep winning until Fergie retires, which will happen after he wins Manchester United's 18th league title.

 

[és:]

2nd would be a big improvement, but it will only happen if Chelsea stumble. I think we need Keane more than we need Barry, though I'd like both.

I don't want Barry at all. He's a very good player but, as it stands, it's a straight swap (of sorts) for Alonso. Alonso a brilliant player.

A ball has yet to be kicked, but the title is United's to lose. They'll keep winning until Fergie retires, which will happen after he wins Manchester United's 18th league title.

19th. Unless we win the 19th before they do.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

On a loan then a free? Thats mighty good business in anyones book.

Damn fine business indeed if he does the job for you.

You're certainly right about the draws costing you last season, és: – your problem seemed to be that you just couldn't finish teams off properly and you'd end up dropping points. Liverpool just seemed to lack a killer instinct at times, get that right and they could be in a position to finally challenge.

Oh, and I rather like the new Liverpool away shirt – it's got a nice retro look about it that a lot of shirts seem to have at the moment. I actually saw a chap wearing it at dinnertime and it looked pretty smart.

 

[Much Ado]

Anyone ready to give their predictions yet?

Don't discount Arsenal is all I'm saying.

Last year they reminded me of Rafael Nadal in the 2007 Wimbledon final- young, talented, hampered by an injury crisis and probably a year too early for the title.

This season I'd be interested to see if, like the Spaniard, they have matured and improved enough to fight to victory.

 

[és:]

You're certainly right about the draws costing you last season, és: – your problem seemed to be that you just couldn't finish teams off properly and you'd end up dropping points. Liverpool just seemed to lack a killer instinct at times, get that right and they could be in a position to finally challenge.

You just can't draw 13 games, at least 10 that we 'deserved' to win (extra 20 points!), then expect to win the title.

What we had trouble with, as you rightly say, is that killer instinct against teams that just sit and stiffle us. It's like we're not up for it against the smaller teams (both the players and the fans) but can outplay the best Europe can throw at us.

I think that's why Rafa wants Keane and Barry, for that consistency in the league. It makes sense because we've been to two European cup finals in 4 seasons, with an fa cup win and European cup semi wedge in between (not to mention various other finals) but struggle to kill teams because we appear to think they should just lie down and give us the point.

We look much further away than we actually are. I think Keane will help and if we are luck with injuries (Gerrard, Carra, Alonso x 2, Agger x 2, Pennant and Voronin all had broken bones over the season) then we could do something.

Still United's to lose, I fear.

Oh, and I rather like the new Liverpool away shirt – it's got a nice retro look about it that a lot of shirts seem to have at the moment. I actually saw a chap wearing it at dinnertime and it looked pretty smart.

A man of distinguished taste.