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2010-2011 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
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Yup, i think Flamini prevented him from regular first team football so he decided to pack his bags.
Edit: On another note, seriously?
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The Carling Nations Cup. LOL. 
We get far larger crowds than this at Crew Stadium for weekday CONCACAF Champions League group stage matches against teams that most Crew fans have never heard of or care about. Obviously the tournament in its current form is not being taken as seriously as its ancestors.
Meaningless tournaments, profound corruption from the top to the bottom, financial insanity that even Wall Street would cringe at...It's impressive that football somehow continues on.
We get far larger crowds than this at Crew Stadium for weekday CONCACAF Champions League group stage matches against teams that most Crew fans have never heard of or care about. Obviously the tournament in its current form is not being taken as seriously as its ancestors.
Meaningless tournaments, profound corruption from the top to the bottom, financial insanity that even Wall Street would cringe at...It's impressive that football somehow continues on.
2009 all over again. United needed to play a perfect match to have a chance and they still made three colossal blunders leading up to Barca's goals. Sad to see Van Der Sar and most likely Scholes go out this way, but in my heart this is about what I expected.
Neutrals will be satisfied in that the game was pretty clean and the ref got all the decisions just about right. 3 minutes total stoppage, pretty impressive.
United came out strong, a typical start for them but the early goal they needed just didn't come. They reacted well to the first goal but from then on Barca were firmly in the driver's seat; they built in strength as the game progressed and by the end they were very comfortable.
United came out strong, a typical start for them but the early goal they needed just didn't come. They reacted well to the first goal but from then on Barca were firmly in the driver's seat; they built in strength as the game progressed and by the end they were very comfortable.
was a nice game to watch: sadly after the break it was Barca dominance all the way
about the referee:
-the manu goal should have been ruled offside when Rooney passed to giggs IMHO
-also he took way way too long to give Valencia the yellow card (6 or 7 fouls), he should have been carded in the first half already
about the referee:
-the manu goal should have been ruled offside when Rooney passed to giggs IMHO
-also he took way way too long to give Valencia the yellow card (6 or 7 fouls), he should have been carded in the first half already
The Rooney goal was a close call either way. I think it was offside, but only just. As for Valencia, I think the fact that the rest of the match was pretty clean saved him; had it been a dirtier match overall I could easily see him getting two yellows for persistent fouling. He certainly treaded a fine line with the ref.
Probably the only two points I would make too, spot on! Thought Giggs was marginally off.
Barcelona were absolutely irresistible tonight.. the way they move the ball around in midfield is beautiful to watch!
The official attendance is down as 529. Yep, 529. I've been to non-League games with more folk at them.The Carling Nations Cup. LOL.
We get far larger crowds than this at Crew Stadium for weekday CONCACAF Champions League group stage matches...
I'm talking Northern Counties League here as well.
The Champions League Final was alright. The stats spell it out – Barcelona had 68% possession, and 22 attempts on goal as opposed to Manchester United's 4. Rooney's goal was his team's only shot on target. Ouch.
I was told a statistic on the plane home from Barcelona in the second leg. Apparently in the first leg, our 39% possession was the highest any team had had against Barcelona this season.. incredible.
They are rather good.
Championship Play-Off Final tomorrow any thoughts, anyone? A controversial choice to some, but I'm backing Swansea.
Championship Play-Off Final tomorrow any thoughts, anyone? A controversial choice to some, but I'm backing Swansea.
Bin Hammam is out of the presidential race, and suspended along with Jack Warner, meaning that Sepp is once again running unopposed. He would appear to have won the internal struggle, but it remains to be seen what consequences this scandal has for Sepp.
This is serious business. I think we are at a point where either FIFA does what nobody expects it will do - truly reform itself - or the Swiss, EU and UN need to step in and clean house.
As a final comment, I absolutely despise Jack Warner. I hope this is the beginning of the end for him, he's one of the dirtiest mugs in the whole dirty lineup. I also wonder what Chuck Blazer's role in all of this is: independent whistleblower (unlikely) or Blatter's stooge?
Arsenal is probably the only team of note who tried to play a little possession football against Barca - even tough the Gunners still resorted to a few longballs here and there.
I'm rooting for the Welsh as well. I've already seen Reading in the top division, so a new face would be nice.
This is serious business. I think we are at a point where either FIFA does what nobody expects it will do - truly reform itself - or the Swiss, EU and UN need to step in and clean house.
As a final comment, I absolutely despise Jack Warner. I hope this is the beginning of the end for him, he's one of the dirtiest mugs in the whole dirty lineup. I also wonder what Chuck Blazer's role in all of this is: independent whistleblower (unlikely) or Blatter's stooge?
Arsenal is probably the only team of note who tried to play a little possession football against Barca - even tough the Gunners still resorted to a few longballs here and there.
Jaffa Cake said:
I'm rooting for the Welsh as well. I've already seen Reading in the top division, so a new face would be nice.
Park - chasing down, Giggs - 37, not going to last, Carrick - passing and the odd interception, and Valencia - crossing and tracking back; Park chased as much as he could, Giggs didn't last one-half, Carrick made some nice passes but largely a lost boy - needs a strong player alongside him, and Valencia was poor. Ferguson just sat there caught in the headlights; the first substitution came on 69 minutes and was because of injury! Of course the sub intercepting a pass intended for another team mate and then giving it away didn't help; 3-1.
Manchester United pressed the opposition's defence for about 20-25 minutes in total; adding keeper having to come out, Pique mix-up, and lack of Barcelona attack to the stats. It can be done, and it works. The problem is you need to rest, which means keeping the ball for long periods - Barcelona did with short passing, Manchester United hoofed it to Hernandez who tended to lose the ball through challenge, lack of control, or offside. There is a time for Little Pea's pace, and a time for a better keeper and passer of the ball; think Berbatov would have encouraged shorter passing - don't care about his CL record, Rooney can do the scoring. Not even on the bench.
Evra; the decline looks terminal.
It may sound horrible, but the sooner Scholes and Giggs follow Hargreaves, the better - if it gets Ferguson to act.
Cheers,
OW
Manchester United pressed the opposition's defence for about 20-25 minutes in total; adding keeper having to come out, Pique mix-up, and lack of Barcelona attack to the stats. It can be done, and it works. The problem is you need to rest, which means keeping the ball for long periods - Barcelona did with short passing, Manchester United hoofed it to Hernandez who tended to lose the ball through challenge, lack of control, or offside. There is a time for Little Pea's pace, and a time for a better keeper and passer of the ball; think Berbatov would have encouraged shorter passing - don't care about his CL record, Rooney can do the scoring. Not even on the bench.
Evra; the decline looks terminal.
It may sound horrible, but the sooner Scholes and Giggs follow Hargreaves, the better - if it gets Ferguson to act.
Cheers,
OW
I certainly would have picked Berbatov over Owen, although I still would have started Hernandez and Rooney - Man U's best chance of winning was to get on top early. Chicharito and Rooney are the best choice for a fast start to the game.
People have been saying Giggs and Scholes are finished for years. It looks more true than ever now, though they could still hang around as bit players for a while yet. But are they worth a squad spot anymore?
People have been saying Giggs and Scholes are finished for years. It looks more true than ever now, though they could still hang around as bit players for a while yet. But are they worth a squad spot anymore?
Hmm. How terribly convenient...
Well, it'll annoy Cardiff City no end so that can only be a good thing.
Plus, my great-grandfather Llech Cymreig Cake was from Swansea, so I have a bit of a link...
Hmm. How terribly convenient...
Well, it'll annoy Cardiff City no end so that can only be a good thing.
Plus, my great-grandfather Llech Cymreig Cake was from Swansea, so I have a bit of a link...
well that's the last time i give you Duck Pond updates in the Doctor Who thread
Well done Swansea. Yet again the Championship playoff is a cracker.
Two of the 3 promoted sides are geographically out there, no short away trips for them. I think Swansea's nearest opponents are the Birmingham clubs, at approximately 160 driving miles, whereas Norwich's nearest at the London clubs at approximately 110 driving miles.
Two of the 3 promoted sides are geographically out there, no short away trips for them. I think Swansea's nearest opponents are the Birmingham clubs, at approximately 160 driving miles, whereas Norwich's nearest at the London clubs at approximately 110 driving miles.
There's only one "Birmingham club" left in the Premier League and it's not the closest. West Brom is the nearest and they are classed as a Black Country club (though only just).
So then what awaits Swansea over the next few months as they prepare for life in the top flight? Condescension beyond belief (those brave, plucky little Welsh types!) or sneering disdain (the Premier League's not for the likes of them!)?
Evra; the decline looks terminal.
It may sound horrible, but the sooner Scholes and Giggs follow Hargreaves, the better - if it gets Ferguson to act.
Pat has had a long, hard year. Needs a long rest this summer.
Giggs still has it in him, but he should not be a preferred member of the starting XI from here on out. He bossed the likes of Chelsea and Schalke, but Barca is a bridge to far for him.
Scholes should retire. He started off the season so brightly, but never really recovered from a groin injury he sustained midway through. United can't keep the nostalgia tour going anymore.
The question is, how does anyone build a squad that can compete with Barca in Europe and still be able to do the business in England? Arsenal is closest, though the reasons why they fell short in the league have been well documented here already. United need to buy a few more midfielders, both defensive and attacking (uh, Ashley Young and Jack Rodwell won't cut it), but hastily-assembled all-star teams alone won't do the job (see also, Real Madrid). It's going to take some serious tactical innovation by some manager somewhere to catch up with Barca's fluidity, possession, and pressing.
I think the only thing that can stop Barca from becoming an all-time dynasty is Pep Guardiola leaving the club; I have no idea why their board keeps stringing him along with short term contracts. They'll get Fabregas back eventually and their academy / b-squad are loaded, they just need continuity at the top.
Indeed, and it's worth noting that a lot of Barcelona's current players came through their academy system – these players aren't just used to playing great football, they're used to playing great football with each other. That's a key difference.
Barca have played the long game with this current team, and it's paying dividends. The likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City should perhaps take note...
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