Tackles, balls and Seaman - The footie thread

[Danny Top Hat]

I doubt Wenger did it, but with so much riding on that 4th place I wouldn't be at all suprised if the poisoning was intentional.  Maybe some bigshot gangmember had a lot of money on Arsenal qualifying and paid off one of the Tottenham kitchen staff, or maybe one of the staff was an Arsenal fan and thought he could get away with it.  I'm gonna be following this story closely to see where it leads.

[axl_rose_700]

A member of staff will have been a gooner!

Playoff semi final 2nd leg tonight, 1-1 Leeds and Preston!

Come on Leeds!!!!

[axl_rose_700]

Fuckin 2-0! Get in, can't speak this morning lol

I'm off to que up for Cardiff tickets when they come on sale! 

Anyone watch it? Creswell's 2nd booking was shocking!

How did we finish with 9 men, over the 2 legs Preston were a fucking disgrace!

[Miz]

So we're taking 4 strikers to the world cup. Two are injured, one has never played a Premiership game and the 4th is Peter Crouch (a man who's practically starting second to Robbie Fowler at Liverpool because Benitez has finally realised that strikers need to be able to aim at the goal when they shoot).

We're apparently not taking Darren Bent...not even on standby, the top scoring English goalscorer this season, who scored almost half of his teams total this season. Apparently it's a better idea to take an inexperienced player who's not even good enough to start ahead of Emmanuel Adebayor (on a side note, is he Arsenal's answer to Drogba and Crouch???)

Peter Crouch who took 19 games to open his premiership scoring acount or Darren Bent who's averaged 1 in 2 this season???

And I'd really like to know what kind of dirt Jermaine Jenas has on Sven because there's no way he's in the squad out of merit. Where's Nolan? Where's Reo-Coker?? Both are so much better than Jenas.

4 strikers, 2 are injured, one has never played a premiership game. Our most experienced Striker will be Peter Crouch. PETER FUCKING CROUCH. We're gonna turn up to play against Henry, Ibrahimavic, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Tevez, Crespo, Toni, Totti and what is our answer to the worlds best strikers? Peter FUCKING Crouch. In 32 appearences, many as a lone frontman, he mustered a magnificant 8 league goals. I can see how sven thinks he'll be trouble for Nesta and Cannovaro....

4 strikers, 2 are injured, one has never played a premiership game and the other is a Stressed Eric look-a-like.

The most important sporting tournament in the world and our best striker is Peter Crouch...

Someone please kill me.

[axl_rose_700]

So we're taking 4 strikers to the world cup. Two are injured, one has never played a Premiership game and the 4th is Peter Crouch (a man who's practically starting second to Robbie Fowler at Liverpool because Benitez has finally realised that strikers need to be able to aim at the goal when they shoot).

We're apparently not taking Darren Bent...not even on standby, the top scoring English goalscorer this season, who scored almost half of his teams total this season. Apparently it's a better idea to take an inexperienced player who's not even good enough to start ahead of Emmanuel Adebayor (on a side note, is he Arsenal's answer to Drogba and Crouch???)

Peter Crouch who took 19 games to open his premiership scoring acount or Darren Bent who's averaged 1 in 2 this season???

And I'd really like to know what kind of dirt Jermaine Jenas has on Sven because there's no way he's in the squad out of merit. Where's Nolan? Where's Reo-Coker?? Both are so much better than Jenas.

4 strikers, 2 are injured, one has never played a premiership game. Our most experienced Striker will be Peter Crouch. PETER FUCKING CROUCH. We're gonna turn up to play against Henry, Ibrahimavic, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Tevez, Crespo, Toni, Totti and what is our answer to the worlds best strikers? Peter FUCKING Crouch. In 32 appearences, many as a lone frontman, he mustered a magnificant 8 league goals. I can see how sven thinks he'll be trouble for Nesta and Cannovaro....

4 strikers, 2 are injured, one has never played a premiership game and the other is a Stressed Eric look-a-like.

The most important sporting tournament in the world and our best striker is Peter Crouch...

Someone please kill me.

Spot on, btw people incase you missed it: 4 strikers, 2 are injured, one has never played a premiership game

[Jim]

And I'd really like to know what kind of dirt Jermaine Jenas has on Sven because there's no way he's in the squad out of merit. Where's Nolan? Where's Reo-Coker?? Both are so much better than Jenas.

What a fool you are. As I said in the other thread, the reason that Jenas is in is because he can come on and make an impact. People like Reo-Coker would be reasonable cover for a game if they started... But there are just too many people ahead of them. We already have Hargreaves to utilise as a rubbish sub....... We don't need anymore.

[Danny Top Hat]

Sean Wright Phillips!?

[Jim]

As I said, if he's stupid enough to go to Chelsea...........

Had he chosen to play for your lot, he'd probably be in contention for Beckham's place by now.

[Danny Top Hat]

Reguardless of how stupid he is, we need our best players at the World Cup and SWP is one of them.  You say Jenus could come on and change a game but I just don't see it, and if SWP was dropped for not playing enough games for his club then how does that explain Walcott's inclusion?

[Miz]

Reguardless of how stupid he is, we need our best players at the World Cup and SWP is one of them.? You say Jenus could come on and change a game but I just don't see it, and if SWP was dropped for not playing enough games for his club then how does that explain Walcott's inclusion?

Well, you're forgetting, Sven saw Walcott in training in an 11 a-side game on half a pitch and...well he used the space brilliantly...

What a fool you are. As I said in the other thread, the reason that Jenas is in is because he can come on and make an impact. People like Reo-Coker would be reasonable cover for a game if they started... But there are just too many people ahead of them. We already have Hargreaves to utilise as a rubbish sub....... We don't need anymore.

People say that about Crouch..."Oh he can come on and change a game". People say that because he's too crap to start. It's not that I don't rate him, I've just never seen him perform to the standard that I've seen Kevin Nolan play.

[Jim]

Reguardless of how stupid he is, we need our best players at the World Cup and SWP is one of them.  You say Jenus could come on and change a game but I just don't see it, and if SWP was dropped for not playing enough games for his club then how does that explain Walcott's inclusion?

My guess would be the natural talent, raw talent... The likes of which very, very few people have. Personally, I think that it's a fantastic gamble, though I can't for the life of me determine why Sven is only bringing 4 strikers.

As far as Darren Bent goes, I was bemused as to why he wasn't included, but I had a conversation about it with my dad, and I think he's got me convinced. Yeah, he scored 20 goals, but when are talking about the best players, that doesn't always mean that much. It is important to remember that the world cup is seven games maximum and, yeah, Darren Bent did have a good season. But so did Beattie, when he was at Southampton I think that he was something like the second top goal scoarer in the Premiership. I don't remember exactly, but he was certainly a 20+ goals man. Yet, at the end of the day, they are just not the types of players that you bring to a world cup. They can have good careers, but, with all respect to both players, neither are world class. Neither is Defoe right now, but he still shows those touches of genius that I think could have warranted his inclusion...

As for Crouch, well... Bollocks to Crouch. Crouch isn't exactly what you would call an impact player. Impact players have pace and the ability to create chances; bringing them on against tired legs is how you're going to get the best out of them. Ole Gunner Solskjaer, anyone? A lot of people thought that was what SWP was, and he was beggining to prove them wrong before his absurd move down to London. It is the role that a lot of pacey wingers play in the early stage of their careers... Arron Lennon has a great chance to make a splash. Not a big one, mind............... We still want him in North London next season................

[Miz]

As far as Darren Bent goes, I was bemused as to why he wasn't included, but I had a conversation about it with my dad, and I think he's got me convinced. Yeah, he scored 20 goals, but when are talking about the best players, that doesn't always mean that much. It is important to remember that the world cup is seven games maximum and, yeah, Darren Bent did have a good season. But so did Beattie, when he was at Southampton I think that he was something like the second top goal scoarer in the Premiership. I don't remember exactly, but he was certainly a 20+ goals man. Yet, at the end of the day, they are just not the types of players that you bring to a world cup. They can have good careers, but, with all respect to both players, neither are world class. Neither is Defoe right now, but he still shows those touches of genius that I think could have warranted his inclusion...

Well I said at the time when Beattie was on form he should have been playing for England. You say Bent's not the best in the world, which is true, but he's the best player we have who is fit. There is no-one in form who is better. Sven can't justify not taking him for these "seven games" when crouch took 19 before scoring for liverpool, when Bent scores 1 in 2.

Sven is just a retarded fuckwit who was repeatedly dropped on his head as a child before having a lobotomy.

[Izzy]

I find the England squad hilarious - just....unbelievable.

Rooney wont be fit,

Owen has played 30 mins this year...

Walcott? Wtf? Just cant get that one

Crouch's role in any team is unclear - he's a striker u say? Really? One of those non scoring, non contributing versions?

I'd have taken Robbie Fowler - he's english..and well, he scores goals - though judging by the team selection the ability to score seems to have actively kept people from the team

Do u think Sven is being paid to bring england down?

[Jim]

Robbie Fowler talked his way out of contention a few years ago didn't he? He was openly critical about how Sven conducts himself in the dressing room, wasn't he?

As for Crouch... He will always remain the biggest mystery in football. Ever. Usually, when I don't rate a player (Joe Cole: he ain't getting any better, he's been at his absoloute peak this season and will go back to being shit next year..............), though there are a lot of people that do, I can usually just about see that they are all right. But Crouch... I just can't get my head around him. Never have I seen him do anything worthy of the title 'striker.'

I blame you lot! Why the fuck did you keep him in the Premiership, eh? Rotting in the Championship would have ensured he stayed out of contention...

[Izzy]

Robbie Fowler talked his way out of contention a few years ago didn't he? He was openly critical about how Sven conducts himself in the dressing room, wasn't he?

As for Crouch... He will always remain the biggest mystery in football. Ever. Usually, when I don't rate a player (Joe Cole: he ain't getting any better, he's been at his absoloute peak this season and will go back to being shit next year..............), though there are a lot of people that do, I can usually just about see that they are all right. But Crouch... I just can't get my head around him. Never have I seen him do anything worthy of the title 'striker.'

I blame you lot! Why the fuck did you keep him in the Premiership, eh? Rotting in the Championship would have ensured he stayed out of contention...

its the liverpool ability to take anyone - and get them in the england squad - Heskey? The Hell? Then we get Heskey's clone Peter Crouch

Apparently Crouch'a ability is 'holding up the ball' - what a gift!

[Jim]

Oh well, at least Crouch is tall........

Tae fuck with that! When you're comming up against the great footballing nations of the world, you don't want to be summising what is probably going to be your starting striker as '...... at least being tall.'

The final squad isn't submitted for a few days, I think, so there could always be a shuffle and Sven could bring in another striker, which is probably the most glaring ommitance right now.

... Though, that would seem the sensible thing to do. So two sicknotes, a giant (never in my life, have I come across anyone that so fits the term 'lanky streak of piss' so perfectly) and a little boy. It could be worse, I guess. As you said...

... Heskey could be on the plane......................

[Miz]

Apparently Crouch'a ability is 'holding up the ball' - what a gift!

Excellent!! Now when we're on the counter-attack, Beckham can fly a perfect ball over the oppositions defence to crouch's feet. Since he's not Bent or Fowler he won't shoot, instead he'll hold up the ball, giving our oponents time to track back, laugh at how skinny he is, and then tackle him.

Great stuff.

Sven...You're a genius.

[Izzy]

Apparently Crouch'a ability is 'holding up the ball' - what a gift!

Excellent!! Now when we're on the counter-attack, Beckham can fly a perfect ball over the oppositions defence to crouch's feet. Since he's not Bent or Fowler he won't shoot, instead he'll hold up the ball, giving our oponents time to track back, laugh at how skinny he is, and then tackle him.

Great stuff.

Sven...You're a genius.

Shhhh! Your giving away our plans to the enemy!

Personally I'd take the squad we have now and amaze our opponents with the first ever 4-6-0 formation - take that you bastards, there is no way through the midfield!

On a more serious noted playing without strikers but with Gerrard and Lampard as attacking midfielders just in front of the main midfield might actually work - off the ball we have a 6 man midfield which is surely impregnable and in attack their defenders will have an abolsute nightmare trying to work out where they should be on the pitch - a central defender man marking a midfielder - oh, the possibilities are endless!

[Jim]

The possibilities will be endless if Sven has the guts to mix it up mid-match. Can you imagine Joe Cole playing up front (technically it would be just behind Owen, if he plays), as has been suggested, and then halfway through the second half switching to the wing and Gerrard playing where Rooney usually would?

Imagine it! Sven would actually have a plan B........

[axl_rose_700]

TBH Jim I don't think Sven has thought about his plan A yet, nevermind B