Tackles, balls and Seaman - The footie thread

[Miz]

If Chelsea are just making all the other teams better then good.  They're sharing the wealth.  Considering Wright-Phillips is easily the best english right winger, I think buying him is an excellent move for Chelsea, and England too.

And in case you didn't notice, Chelsea did dominate the division, with almost the greatest of ease, and a lot of key players injured. Any other season, the amount of points Arsenal got last season would have easily seen them out as champions, but Chelsea were miles ahead of them.  After selling Viera, and because Bapatista is staying in Spain, Arsenal are looking in trouble, compared to Chelsea whose only problem will be if all three of their strikers get injured.

Have to agree with you about Crouch though. I can see what benitez is doing, bringing in wingers, adding some width and looking for a target man, but I really can't see Peter Crouch being the answer to your problems.

[Izzy]

If Chelsea are just making all the other teams better then good.? They're sharing the wealth.? Considering Wright-Phillips is easily the best english right winger, I think buying him is an excellent move for Chelsea, and England too.

Best right winger? Well his competition would be...? A victory by default.

And in case you didn't notice, Chelsea did dominate the division, with almost the greatest of ease, and a lot of key players injured. Any other season, the amount of points Arsenal got last season would have easily seen them out as champions, but Chelsea were miles ahead of them.  After selling Viera, and because Bapatista is staying in Spain, Arsenal are looking in trouble, compared to Chelsea whose only problem will be if all three of their strikers get injured.

Er...?

I said Chelsea wasted a fortune...and they have. Paying double what any player is worth is just daft. 21 million Phillips would have bought u much much better players

Have to agree with you about Crouch though. I can see what benitez is doing, bringing in wingers, adding some width and looking for a target man, but I really can't see Peter Crouch being the answer to your problems.

I hope there is a plan.....

[GnFnRs2016]

What do you think of the Bolton getting mexican scorer Borghetti?

[2NaFish]

he looked good in the confederations cup but buying from latin/south america is a lottery and usually the odds are stacked against. I can only think of a handful of players for whom its worked out. he's a big physical player so he'll fit in well at bolton.

[Jim]

Oh well, at least we're in a final...

...Peace Cup champions, soon to be crowned. 

[N.I.B]

Where all European Soccer news is found

Five candidates for EURO 2012
Friday, 22 July 2005
UEFA today announced that five bid dossiers to host the final tournament of the 2012 UEFA European Championship have been submitted to European football's governing body before yesterday's closing date.

Bid deadline
The national associations of Croatia/Hungary (joint bid), Greece, Italy, Poland/Ukraine (joint bid) and Turkey have handed their bid dossiers to UEFA by the stipulated deadline. Russia, Romania and Azerbaijan had previously expressed an interest but have not pursued their bids.

Extensive evaluation
"UEFA is delighted with the interest shown in hosting one of the world biggest sporting events and will now make an extensive evaluation of the dossiers," UEFA said.

December 2006 decision
The UEFA Executive Committee will then reduce the number of candidates to three on 7 November 2005. The final decision on the host(s) of UEFA EURO 2012 will be taken by the Executive Committee in December 2006.
 

[Izzy]

Oh dear Celtic! Wasn't that Gordon Strachan's first game? What a way to start - being destroyed by a team i have never even heard of. No further champions league football for Celtic this season.

[2NaFish]

Oh dear Celtic! Wasn't that Gordon Strachan's first game? What a way to start - being destroyed by a team i have never even heard of. No further champions league football for Celtic this season.

They won't even get into the EUFA cup.

Watched the whole game and spent the last half an hour giggling and texting people i know to share the joy. The were fucking shite.

If celtic and rangers keep on signing diddys like Camara from burnley and Paul Telfer i could see them finally being split.

[2NaFish]

haha, nobody wants michael owen. he'll have to go to newcastle.

In other news - wouldn't it be terrible to be Joey Barton's parents. Just when you thought your footballer son was as low a human being as you could get along comes the racist murdering younger brother.

Off to watch the second leg of the celtic match. I'd love to see them win 5-1 tonight. I'd be smiling for a week.

[Izzy]

The axe was left in his skull

How the hell does someone do that, just kill a kid in the street? His parents must be a an idiot violent and racist bunch to have such awful children

The guys responsible must be total psychotics

On a ligher note Michael Owen's greed has left him with nothing. Going to Newcastle is probably as damaging to his career as sitting on the bench at Real Madrid. Newcastle are a terribly poor side with a manager bad enough to coach England.

[2NaFish]

something tells me Stevie G spoke to owen a few times about the downside of leaving Liverpool. Great if it works, really bad if it doesnt.

[Izzy]

7 goals so far this season for Stevie G....

Now i know the opposition is laughable but for a central midfield player to have scored so many, he only got 10 in all of last season!

He will definetly be top scorer in Europe this season as the total is rarely more than 7 and Liverpool must be expected to have a good few more games in Europe to go

If he could be as prolific in the league.....

[2NaFish]

goals before the champions league proper don't count in the final tally. These are just qualifying rounds unfortuantely.

[Izzy]

goals before the champions league proper don't count in the final tally. These are just qualifying rounds unfortuantely.

Hmmm, u sure?

These games are 'proper' champions league games....

[Jim]

Yeah, but this is qualifying for the actual tournament.

The World Cup/Euro golden boot doesn't go to the player who scores the most at the event and during the qualifying stage, does it?

Even they are proper World/Europeon Cup games.

[Izzy]

The important thing is he's scoring from midfield and these rather pointless matches are helping the team get practiced up

In other good news Peter Crouch is out for 3 weeks, with any luck Emily Heskey mark 2 will never actually recover and ever play for Liverpool

What a buy

[2NaFish]

goals before the champions league proper don't count in the final tally. These are just qualifying rounds unfortuantely.

Hmmm, u sure?

These games are 'proper' champions league games....

Certain. The term european cup proper means after the qualifying rounds. I'm surprised you've never seen a tournament described as being "proper" in comparison to the qualifying. Maybe its a scots term....

Anywho, gerrards goals won't count in the final tally, of that i'm sure. It would be a very hollow victory if he did win it on the back of goals against TNS and FBK Kaunas. But you're right, its good to start the season off with competitive easy matches rather than friendlies. Teams usually start the season better when they've been in the intertoto cup or shit like that; just gotta be careful you don't run out of steam.




Haha, get it right up you celtic.

[Izzy]

Okay predictions time for the Premiership

Top 4 and bottom 3

1 - Chelsea
2 - Liverpool
3 - Arsenal
4 - Man Utd

Bottom three

Sunderland
West Ham
West Brom

Chelsea have to win it - they are a superb side, (albeit assembled for 10 times the price the players are worth) they will win by miles. Liverpool have to be reckoned with having a good season - Cisee back, a new quality keeper, a few signings here and there and Gerrard working hard - i think they will take second

I can't see Man Utd having a good season at all - they haven't signed anything thats going to stop the rot evident last season and their main players are getting older and older. Arsenal have lost Viera and haven't patched up the leaks of last season. If Henry gets a nasty injury i think they'll struggle.

[2NaFish]

chelsea, man utd, arsenal, liverpool.

west brom, wigan, west ham.

Can't see past chelski taking the league and one of the cups. I can't imagine how they could lose the title. Nobody else has improved enough, and arsenal have gone backwards.

The only team that came up that has enough to stay up is sunderland and i think west brom will fail to pick up enough early points.

[Izzy]

Yey football returns - and i pray for a season of more quality than last year!