Tackles, balls and Seaman - The footie thread

[Izzy]

Heskey gone for 6.25 million.. Liverpool must be laughing.. I know they paid more.. but in todays transfer market!?

Oh we are!

I couldn't believe it - he's gone and we got a fortune for him too!

I just cant describe how good it feels to know he's gone - Liverpool fans will be celebrating as if we had won the the league

Heskey is an awful, awful player

[Chris Misfit]

Liverpool fans around the world must be celebreating getting rid of possibly the worst player Liverpool have ever bought

What you need to do is cash in on Owen and rebuild the team. He only has five good matches a season anyway, and goes through a dry period every 3 games. His reputation is miles ahead of him.

Plus, Liverpool have bid ?7.25m for Healy, so it looks like Owen is on his way.

I cannot believe Heskey is still in the team.. and I bet he starts every match too!

It's funny because Owen and Heskey have had four years together, and never really linked up well, yet they are both England regulars. No wonder you guys win fuck all.

Plus, Lampard has had an outstanding season, and probably won't feature much in Euro 04, because of Gerrard and Scholes.

[joy_division]

Wohoo! My beloved Crystal Palace are through to the First Division play-off final, with true Palace style.  

[Izzy]

Plus, Liverpool have bid ?7.25m for Healy, so it looks like Owen is on his way.

 

Somehow i din't think he will ever play at Liverpool - but maybe the reserves have an opening for him?

[Miz]

I can't believe we lost to Palace...

Well, actually, I can...in fact, i'm kinda surprised we went 2-0 up in the first place.  In a way i'm glad we won't be going up becuase we'd just come straight back down with probably even more debts.


On the England team...I can't believe the strikers...I can understand Owen, and Vassell...but Heskey?!?!?! Has Sven not realised he can't acutally shoot?

IMO, Heskey and Vassell should be replaced with Smith and Beattie.  Yes, I know Smith didn't score many goals...but in all seriousness...what are Englands chances of winning this...without any centre halfs...it's best to give the future players some experience...you know catch them while they're young.
And besides, neither Smith nor Beattie fall over when they run...and both can actually shoot.

I'm not sure why Joe Cole is ahead of Scott Parker either...he's hardly played any games this season...makes no sense...

[Jim]

We don't need eight midfielders, Defoe should have gone without question.
Beattie has already demonstrated that he cannot handle it at the top level. I too, however, am all for Smith going though.

Great to see Ledley in the squad. It will good for him even if he is just training with the firsts.

And helder made it into the Portugal squad as well.  

[badapple81]

but in all seriousness...what are Englands chances of winning this...without any centre halfs

Campbell and Terry??

[badapple81]

Plus, Lampard has had an outstanding season, and probably won't feature much in Euro 04, because of Gerrard and Scholes.

Maybe he could.. looks like Sven is going to play four central minded players in a diamond set up.. Although he said that Gerrard will most likely play on the left (which IMO is crazy).. wouldn't you rather have, if he is going to persist with this..

                                       Scholes
                     Lampard                       Beckham
                                       Gerrard

?

[Danny Top Hat]

Yes - without question.  That would give England one of the strongest midfields in the tournament, but Sven generally prefers to put Gerrard on the left side and put a defensive played behind to cover the centre backs.  Pretty boring, unimaginative stuff - i'm sure Campbell and Terry and cope.

Also, Rooney just behind Owen, with Defoe replacing Rooney in the second half would have been better.  Whatever.

[Chris Misfit]

Wohoo! My beloved Crystal Palace are through to the First Division play-off final, with true Palace style.  

That was awesome, Iain's done a great job. I was cheering mainly for Dowie and Hughes. Two former N.Ireland players managing clubs in the Premiership next season*? I fucking hope so!

And Jimmy Quinn* got Shewsbury promoted! Whooop!

*Although, Dowie and Quinn are both English. But Jimmy scored alot of goals for us, 12, that's fantastic by our standards, and Dowie, well, he fucked up alot.

Somehow i din't think he will ever play at Liverpool - but maybe the reserves have an opening for him?

He's a class act, and will help bring N. Ireland the glory they deserve. Or something. Don't forget you guys have to face his rath in the World Cup qualifiers, the Irish revoloution starts then! Now we just need to find some English players who are willing to scower their family trees in search of that all important Irish blood. It depresses me.

[Miz]

but in all seriousness...what are Englands chances of winning this...without any centre halfs

Campbell and Terry??

Neither are as good as Ferdinand or Woodgate.

[Jim]

Neither are as good as Ferdinand or Woodgate.

Woodgate better than Campbell?

You, sir, are damaged in the head.

The Rooney Owen parternship can grow incredibly stale in the second half if the team is going nowhere, which is why bringing Defoe on for either (in my opinion) in the second would be great.
Not for every match, clearly, but to mix it up if we're having trouble going forward.

[badapple81]

Yes - without question.  That would give England one of the strongest midfields in the tournament, but Sven generally prefers to put Gerrard on the left side and put a defensive played behind to cover the centre backs.  Pretty boring, unimaginative stuff - i'm sure Campbell and Terry and cope.

Also, Rooney just behind Owen, with Defoe replacing Rooney in the second half would have been better.  Whatever.

With regards to the midfield.. if he puts Gerrard on the left, who will play the central defensive role in the diamond? Butt? He had a pretty good World Cup from memory.

As much as Vassell has been crap for Villa, he seems to really open up the defences when he comes on and plays for England, he's lightening quick (doesnt really have much else!) and can create some openings later on in the game if England are down..

[badapple81]

but in all seriousness...what are Englands chances of winning this...without any centre halfs

Campbell and Terry??

Neither are as good as Ferdinand or Woodgate.

Campbell has tonnes of experience and is a much better option than Woodgate IMO. I think the Campbell - Terry option is fairly solid.

Left back.. Bridge.. Cole.. P.Neville?

[Danny Top Hat]

Cole will probably fill the left back role.  I'd go for him, even if he thinks he's Roberto Carlos.

Butt had an okay World Cup, but I really don't think we need to midfielder to cover the defense.  We need to start playing imaginative football - it's goalscoring that's been our problem recently anyway!

[Tj]

Fucking play-offs   Fucking cruel penalties. Fucking Brighton f.c. Fucking fucking fucking.

[darkstar_legend]

Who will play alongside Owen next season?  

?14 Dijibril Cisse, top scorer in the french league for three consecutive seasons, he is set to arrive after Euro 2004

I hope he doesn't turn into another Diouf...

[Izzy]

Houllier is gone....

I can't belive it

I am so were between joy and sorrow

He damn near destroyed the club with rubbish football and crap signings......but i'm sad to see him go

Who's to replace him, some crazy names being put forward but i'd imagine that Liverpool have already got their man - please god gives us a good manager who likes attacking football......no more boring liverpool...please

[badapple81]

Who are your fave choices to replace him?

I think it was time for a change.. I couldn't see things getting any better under Houllier..

[Izzy]

Well.....not sure really - no one immedietly stands out

Martin O'Neil i suppose, though i can't see that happening, and i remain to be convinced of his ability, winning the Scottish league with Celtic is something i would expect the most junior manager to be able to pull off....

Alan Curbishly has been mentioned but i think he is about to make a press statement ruling out a move - he's a good manager but lacks the credentials for a club like Liverpool - u need a manger with a reputation

That Valencia manager has been touted too (can he even speak English???) He's won the Spanish league which is something....

Any of the above would do - but i hope Ranieri doesn't make an appearence.....