Well Shelvey was having a blinder at Blackpool, and has now been recalled, i'm guessing to replace Spearing on the bench (who shall start now)
I wonder if Kenny will now start playing Henderson next to Adam and not at RM.
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The 2011-2012 Football Thread
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Well Shelvey was having a blinder at Blackpool, and has now been recalled, i'm guessing to replace Spearing on the bench (who shall start now)
I wonder if Kenny will now start playing Henderson next to Adam and not at RM.
Hey Fizzoid, would you mind putting a few quid on Man U winning the title? Oh, and Sepp Blatter not being flung off the earth and into space? Thanks. 
We have plenty of wide players but the middle is a problem now, Charlie Adam is the only experienced central midfielder who is fit. Alberto Aquilani would be useful at the moment...I suppose there is no recall clause in his loan deal.
Even when Gerrard comes back, slotting him in next to Adam could be problematic if he roves around as he is wont to do. Lucas did a good job of protecting the defense, Gerrard will be going forward.
We have plenty of wide players but the middle is a problem now, Charlie Adam is the only experienced central midfielder who is fit. Alberto Aquilani would be useful at the moment...I suppose there is no recall clause in his loan deal.
Even when Gerrard comes back, slotting him in next to Adam could be problematic if he roves around as he is wont to do. Lucas did a good job of protecting the defense, Gerrard will be going forward.
So then the groups for Euro 2012 have been drawn...
Group A
Poland
Greece
Russia
Czech Republic
Group B
Netherlands
Denmark
Germany
Portugal
Group C
Spain
Italy
Republic of Ireland
Croatia
Group D
Ukraine
Sweden
France
England
[tabloid reader's mentality]Spain and Germany will be glad they've dodged us![/tabloid reader's mentality]
England's preparations have already got off to a great start the FA have booked accommodation and training venues in Poland ahead of the tournament. Post draw, we now know we're going to be playing our matches in Ukraine. Bah.
Group A
Poland
Greece
Russia
Czech Republic
Group B
Netherlands
Denmark
Germany
Portugal
Group C
Spain
Italy
Republic of Ireland
Croatia
Group D
Ukraine
Sweden
France
England
[tabloid reader's mentality]Spain and Germany will be glad they've dodged us![/tabloid reader's mentality]
England's preparations have already got off to a great start the FA have booked accommodation and training venues in Poland ahead of the tournament. Post draw, we now know we're going to be playing our matches in Ukraine. Bah.
No real group of death - though Group B is strongest, even the Danes are ranked 11th in the world.
group A has 4 light weights combined which ironically makes the group balanced again, i think russia and poland(some great young players) will make it, chez republic too inconsistent IMHO and entirely dependent on sheer luck, greece will yet again play in their favored 10 - 0 -0 formation and hope for corners
group B: on paper the hardest group, but netherlands lack depth in their squad .. 2-3 top players injured and their squad has half the quality (as seen in the 0:3 against germany) also they have to play against germany in the first game, denmark is way underrated, portugal consists of ronaldo and 10 blokes who in every possible situation pass the ball to ronaldo ... might be too predictable
for germany ? all their young players from last time will be 2 years older and wiser ... the top team together with spain
group c: had greece made it in here instead of croatia it would have been the "group of dept"
Spain obviously the favorite but after the world cup showing with countless 1:0 wins.. i simply don't know how hungry their players will be
Italy: improved a lot and a really, really difficult team to play against, strong fighting spirit
Ireland: chanceless in this group i'm afraid to say
Croatia: personally i would rate them more dangerous than portugal: no real stand out footballer but pretty much always dangerous on a good day
Group D: Ukraine: IMO the weaker of the 2 home-teams, but if you give them a lead goal they become nearly impossible to beat because of the ukrainian school of counterattacking football (etched out a 3:3 against germany)
Schweden: hard to judge.. obviously ibrahimovic will be predictable but his playing might fit well again english and french defenders
France: i suspect them to be better next year than this.. plenty of greta attackers on paper but hard to bring together as a team
England: without Rooney and a good defensive midfielder it might be quite difficult (4 points tops), also IMHo many players lack flexibility
beyond the group phase though: since the group A is rather 'weak' it means that the two winners of group B have quite a good shot for the semi finals
it also means germany can't kick england out in the quarter finals by penalties
group B: on paper the hardest group, but netherlands lack depth in their squad .. 2-3 top players injured and their squad has half the quality (as seen in the 0:3 against germany) also they have to play against germany in the first game, denmark is way underrated, portugal consists of ronaldo and 10 blokes who in every possible situation pass the ball to ronaldo ... might be too predictable
for germany ? all their young players from last time will be 2 years older and wiser ... the top team together with spain
group c: had greece made it in here instead of croatia it would have been the "group of dept"
Spain obviously the favorite but after the world cup showing with countless 1:0 wins.. i simply don't know how hungry their players will be
Italy: improved a lot and a really, really difficult team to play against, strong fighting spirit
Ireland: chanceless in this group i'm afraid to say
Croatia: personally i would rate them more dangerous than portugal: no real stand out footballer but pretty much always dangerous on a good day
Group D: Ukraine: IMO the weaker of the 2 home-teams, but if you give them a lead goal they become nearly impossible to beat because of the ukrainian school of counterattacking football (etched out a 3:3 against germany)
Schweden: hard to judge.. obviously ibrahimovic will be predictable but his playing might fit well again english and french defenders
France: i suspect them to be better next year than this.. plenty of greta attackers on paper but hard to bring together as a team
England: without Rooney and a good defensive midfielder it might be quite difficult (4 points tops), also IMHo many players lack flexibility
beyond the group phase though: since the group A is rather 'weak' it means that the two winners of group B have quite a good shot for the semi finals
it also means germany can't kick england out in the quarter finals by penalties
Germany were contenders at the World Cup, and they are, if anything, better now. Spain still must be favorites, because their Euro/World Cup winning squad is still essentially intact. It's hard not to see these two in the final.
I wonder how the host teams will do? Ukraine looks unlikely to go anywhere. Poland has a slight chance of getting out of the group, though even that would be an upset. Still, as takao points out, the Czechs are going through a rough patch and Greece offers little going forward. Plus, the Poles will be playing at home.
I wonder how the host teams will do? Ukraine looks unlikely to go anywhere. Poland has a slight chance of getting out of the group, though even that would be an upset. Still, as takao points out, the Czechs are going through a rough patch and Greece offers little going forward. Plus, the Poles will be playing at home.
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Germany are going to be very strong next summer, and if I had to pick out a winner at this stage I'd go with them. Let's not forget either that they're going to look fantastic in their new green away shirts.
I think England will get through the group in an unconvincing fashion, but will be out as soon as we meet one of the big hitters in a knock-out match. It's curious but (even though we're some way away from the tournament) expectations off the England team seem much lower than usual, even where the usually tub thumping media are concerned. If course, we'll see if this changes as we get closer to the summer and the papers have Euro 2012 pullouts to promote, and the TV channels have their coverage to sell.
I think England will get through the group in an unconvincing fashion, but will be out as soon as we meet one of the big hitters in a knock-out match. It's curious but (even though we're some way away from the tournament) expectations off the England team seem much lower than usual, even where the usually tub thumping media are concerned. If course, we'll see if this changes as we get closer to the summer and the papers have Euro 2012 pullouts to promote, and the TV channels have their coverage to sell.
Dumbarton 1 - 1 Forfar Athletic
Patrick Walker (16') Kevin Motion (90')
GOALS
8 Agnew
6 Prunty
3 Gilhaney
2 Lyden
2 McNiff
1 McBride
1 Nicoll
1 Winters
1 McKinnon
1 Lithgow
1 Walker
....
4th 5-4-6
12/O3/2O11 v
MON 'EH SONS!
I know no one is reading these but me, but I've added a new "hidden" feature... click our next opponents badge...
Dumbarton is one of the teams I normally notice during the classified results, partly because one of my colleagues is a season ticket holder. I heard him phone up one day to renew his ticket only to be told the renewals department was currently out at the wee van getting a bacon roll.
This isn't the sort of thing that would ever happen with a 'big' club, and as such for me is enough reason to rank Dumbarton as being officially 'ace'.
I watched the Inter-Udinese match live. A pretty back and forth match but the last 5 minutes or so was absolute madness: two missed penalties and two sendings off, one of each per side. Pazzini's slip on his penalty was even more dramatic than EBJT's, and Pazzini looked like he was weeping afterwards.
The elephant in the coat of arms is pretty slick too. Any club with an elephant on the crest is legit in my book.
The elephant in the coat of arms is pretty slick too. Any club with an elephant on the crest is legit in my book.
Coventry City being the exception to the rule.
Well, I suppose there are exceptions to every rule.
=)
=)
=)
Coventry City being the exception to the rule.
=)
Well, I suppose there are exceptions to every rule.
how do you guys feel about owls in the badge...?
THE WEDNESDAY won 1 nil vs aldershot town in the cup... wasn't pretty but a win is a win... and they were on the telly here again.. tape delayed, but FSC showed the match in its entirety. twice in one year and both matches shown inside of a month of each other. life is good...
Now, now don't push it.
But you mention the FA Cup today is Third Round draw day, the point at which the Premier League and Championship clubs enter the competition. This is of particular interest to myself and swiftaw as we wait to see wether the annual cup tie between City and the Latics will take place in Hull or Wigan.
Some sad news from Brazil the country's former captain Socrates has died.
The former Garforth Town player was noted as one of the greatest midfielders the game has seen, possessing great vision and passing ability as well as an impressive beard, trademark bandana and a doctorate.
RIP
The former Garforth Town player was noted as one of the greatest midfielders the game has seen, possessing great vision and passing ability as well as an impressive beard, trademark bandana and a doctorate.
RIP
Now, now don't push it.
But you mention the FA Cup today is Third Round draw day, the point at which the Premier League and Championship clubs enter the competition. This is of particular interest to myself and swiftaw as we wait to see wether the annual cup tie between City and the Latics will take place in Hull or Wigan.
Seems they cancelled that annual tradition and nobody told us. Home tie for Hull against Ipswich, Wigan travel to Swindon.
City vs United should be good.
Just warm up matches for you knocking us out in the Fourth Round. But Ipswich tipping up to the KC could mean an earlier than expected opportunity to welcome back the crocked cockney Bullard.
Big derby of the round is potentially Fleetwoov v Blackpool. The Fylde coast will be rocking.
Sad news about Socrates. What a story, and what a look. One of the great personalities to have played the game.
You're assuming he will be healthy enough to play, and that's by no means assured...
You're assuming he will be healthy enough to play, and that's by no means assured...
Note my use of the word 'could' I expect a niggling injury will rule him out.
Note my use of the word 'could' I expect a niggling injury will rule him out.
Too bad. I'm sure some good chants are being cooked up.
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