2008-09 Football Thread

[pivo6]

How the hell are we 10th??? Won't be next year after Rangers and Celtics poor European performances.

Champions League = European League by another name, the domestic competitions are just means of promotion into it. CL gradually taking over, what's the chances they'll soon switch the games to the weekend and have domestic midweek?

I think they base the country rankings on the past couple of seasons' performances , so you're right that Scotland will drop.

The Champions League is being run purely for money. Don't be surprised if game times are moved to accommodate the Asian TV market.

 

[és:]

Albert Riera deserves credit for this wonderful strike.

So does N'Gog (AKA The new David Trezueguet) for his first start and first goal

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Meanwhile, Stoke are as good as relegated.

 

[Fuzzy14]

so you're right that Scotland will drop.

Key thing to watch (with Scotland currently 10th)
12th and better = group stages place for champs (RU in qualifying spot)
13-15 = champs have to qualify
16 and worse = no room for 2nd place team (UEFA cup place)

With two big fish wanting Champions League spots, we're a bit worried how much we could drop for next year.

 

[daneoni]

The young Arsenal side need some discipline. They aren't even playing like they want to win anything. Shocking performance...i dont even mind that we're 2nd in the group. The way we played however is very worrying

Inconsistency remains their Achilles heel

Oh and i've said it once and will continue to say it....Bendtner has to go

 

[pachyderm]

Sheffield Wednesday 1 - 0 Queens Park Rangers
75' Leon Clarke 1

Sheff Wed 9-5-8

GOALS
7 Tudgay
5 Clarke
3 Esajas
2 Sodje
2 Watson
1 McAllister
1 Spurr
1 Small
1 Burton
1 McMahon

 

[Jaffa Cake]

A victory over QPR, you say? I salute you.

 

[és:]

A victory over QPR, you say? I salute you.

Are there any good Hull forums?

 

[MacBoobsPro]

Anyone into betting SkyBet has got Barça V Real final score 3-3 at 50-1. If you ask me that is very good.

I know Barça are playing insanely well at the moment and Real are falling apart but this is El Classico we are talking about here. Anything can happen and it usually does.

Just a heads up!

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Are there any good Hull forums?

Amber Nectar is often worth a read.

 

[pachyderm]

Amber Nectar is often worth a read.

i registered there. waiting for the confirm email...

"Pachyderm I" .

 

[pivo6]

Thanks to the BBC Football Gossip Page, I now know this:

Arsenal's Johan Djourou has revealed he loves smearing himself with mango-flavoured body butter. "I pay attention to hydrating my skin properly and to feeling good," said the Swiss international.​

Carry on with the rest of your day.

 

[BoyBach]

Despite his Liverpool side being top of the table, I see that Rafa Benitez is already making excuses for not winning the league this season:

"For us to win the league we need Chelsea, Man United and Arsenal to mess up their season," he was quoted by the Sun. "It is very rare that three teams all mess up. So there's no point waiting for our direct adversaries to slip up because it won't happen. They all have a lot greater financial means than us."

Liverpool need a miracle to win the title, says Benítez

 

[pachyderm]

i registered there. waiting for the confirm email...

"Pachyderm I" .

still waiting for the confirming email...

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Any updates on Marlon King's legal troubles?

 

[és:]

Despite his Liverpool side being top of the table, I see that Rafa Benitez is already making excuses for not winning the league this season:

"For us to win the league we need Chelsea, Man United and Arsenal to mess up their season," he was quoted by the Sun. "It is very rare that three teams all mess up. So there's no point waiting for our direct adversaries to slip up because it won't happen. They all have a lot greater financial means than us."

Liverpool need a miracle to win the title, says Benítez

Do you have any more gutter press stories that take the original completely out of context?

I'm hoping not

Here is what he has to say on the matter...

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has dismissed as "stupid" suggestions that he has a defeatist approach to the Anfield club's title chances, and insists that if they are still top after Christmas then they will be 80 per cent towards the crown.

[...]

"I was surprised to read what I was supposed to have said. But really not surprised, because everyone in Liverpool knows about this [paper], it was not true."

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Do you have any more gutter press stories that take the original completely out of context?

My first thought when I read about his comments was that is was a bit of psychology, transferring a bit of the pressure onto his rival teams. I seriously doubt he's throwing in the towel just yet...

Mind you though, his comments could have been carefully timed to try and soften the blow of the mauling his team will receive tomorrow afternoon. Yes, that's probably it.

Any updates on Marlon King's legal troubles?

Not as of yet. It's understandably a concern, especially given the fact that it's his third misdemeanour while he's been with us – there was the spat with Deano, and only last week he was banned from driving after being caught speeding excessively. I think serious questions have to be raised to say the least.

With regards to this latest incident, he's been bailed to a date in February.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I think serious questions have to be raised to say the least.

Indeed, the last thing you want is some sort of Joey Barton-like situation where you own a jailed player.

I wonder if it might mean more playing time for Deano...but I think your gaffer has all but written him off at this point, no?

Here is what he has to say on the matter...

This season, I think Liverpool are good enough to win either the league or CL or possibly even both. We aren't as strong as Man U were last season but we are winning games even when we don't play well, and just as crucially we are beating the other Big 4 teams. We aren't going to run away with the title, but I think we could be good enough - especially if we get a decent striker and maybe a defender in January. I've already heard Heskey and Owen mentioned, but I'm not seeing either as likely, especially Owen (he wouldn't come back and is a massive injury risk...and he's lost a few steps).

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Indeed, the last thing you want is some sort of Joey Barton-like situation where you own a jailed player.

We don't – Wigan still own him.

He's only here on loan, for the moment in any case. At least we've got a bit of a get out of jail card there, if you'll excuse the expression.

In terms of forwards, Folan is troubled by a niggling injury at the moment so it looks like King will definitely feature against Liverpool. He can have a word with Jermaine Pennant about electronic tagging...

 

[xUKHCx]

Arsenal should've taken control after their first goal but in the end were lucky with the penalty decision.

I knew that Liverpool would be lucky to escape today without conceding. Lets just hope they can escape.

edit: 0-2 Lets just hope they can escape.

edit: 1-2 Lets just hope they can escape. Oddly enough I saw it on Soccer Saturday before the BBC stream online had the radio commentary. Sounds like it should've been a foul of Hull defender.

edit: 2-2 Lets just hope they can escape/hold on.

Of course the just after I get rid of Gerrard and spend the money on upgrading my team Gerrard gets a brace. I think I ruined my team.

 

[woolyback]

What a first half !!

Hull definitely good value for their goals, but since then all Liverpool. Just need to start putting some of the chances away otherwise Hull could easily do what they've done to other teams this season; the attacks Hull have had they've really looked like scoring - don't know what's up with the Red's defence today, Reina even threw a ball to a Hull player (but it bounced back to him).

Maybe give Keane a run out in the second half...?

Ah... I love Portuguese Sport TV - wall to wall Prem games every Saturday

 

[xUKHCx]

Ah... I love Portuguese Sport TV - wall to wall Prem games every Saturday

Don't rub it in. We have to deal with very dodgy spotty radio coverage or dodgy online streams.

I find it hard to believe that other countries get far better coverage then here, where the games are being played. But that is TV money at work. I loved it when I am away.

Keane could get a goal if he came on but he would have to stay up the pitch. But with Gerrard directly behind he would stay up there.

 

[Queso]

Man, what a first half. We went ahead, then they scored two, then we scored two just before half time. This could go either way

 

[woolyback]

I find it hard to believe that other countries get far better coverage then here, where the games are being played.

It is pretty good - only real downside is they'll sometimes show a big Italian game and then the full Prem match 2 hours later. Game is all in full, but I can never not check the score beforehand.

And he has to give Keane a runout - no Torres and a 20 million quid striker sat on the bench...

Still, in Rafa we must trust

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Keane could get a goal if he came on but he would have to stay up the pitch. But with Gerrard directly behind he would stay up there.

He has to get on the pitch first. With the attacking problems we are having now I disagree with Benitez's decision to start Keane and Babel on the bench. I would have dropped Benayoun or Riera to the bench and played Babel or Kuyt and Keane up front in a 4-4-2. Keane needs to be played, or he'll never come good.

Well done to Hull for coming out and scoring two goals, it was a proper game of football. On the other hand Liverpool have some problems in the attack. We *need* Torres. And I don't think the tinkering helped today. We had two attacking players who never left the bench. Keane won't start scoring goals if he isn't playing!