Football Talk 2004/2005 (Soccer)

[Mr. Monday Morning]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">fantastic signing, might get some money on Fulham going down now, van der Sar was the reason that absolute shambles of a defence didn't ship thousands of goals.</font>

But they have ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL ZAT KNIGHT :'(

Yeah

Macken is shite btw

Also yes I dunno what Ferguson is playing at really Van Der Sar was available for free a few months ago and he did nothing, now he's blown £2m he didn't have to. Presumably he'll get it back from selling Kleberson and the like, but with his supposed limited budget now he must be kicking himself.

[Rob]

We've signed Rab Douglas.

I'm sorry.

[Wengerland]

Was he at least good for Dundee? He must've had something about him that got him those caps and had him as Martin O'Neill's no.1 for most of his reign :'( Just seemed to make errors in the high-profile games unfortunately, should be a competitive league though and we've got 44 tough games, then there's the 2 against Wolves :D;)

Anywho it seems to be a decent signing for a club in our league, i rate him as at least equal to Walker and his wages will be a fair bit lower. Paul Henderson has also come in and is very highly rated, so he'll have competition.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

I can't wait til Incey breaks Douglas' fucking legs :foc: :rant:

Assuming he re-signs that is :'(

[Wengerland]

ahahaha George Burley has left Derby, they won't be as good without him and Camp and Rasiak could leave, wonderful.

[The Mackem]

Derby have to be one of the most confusing clubs ever.

[Y2Ant]

Macken is shite btw
I very strongly second this, as I have seen him play in person a few times. :nono:

[Rob]

Was he at least good for Dundee? He must've had something about him that got him those caps and had him as Martin O'Neill's no.1 for most of his reign :'( Just seemed to make errors in the high-profile games unfortunately, should be a competitive league though and we've got 44 tough games, then there's the 2 against Wolves :D;)

Anywho it seems to be a decent signing for a club in our league, i rate him as at least equal to Walker and his wages will be a fair bit lower. Paul Henderson has also come in and is very highly rated, so he'll have competition.

Yeah he was good for Dundee but that was years ago. Plus you could make mistakes at Dundee and nobody cared. He is as good, if not better than Walker but you still could have done a lot better. Craig Levein has a fetish for the SPL. Doesn't he realise it's shite?

[Wengerland]

To be fair to him, it's the market he knows best, and is comparitively cheap. Some fans are getting concerned with the amount of players coming in from the SPL but personally i couldn't care as long as they're good, and Hughes and Maybury are awesome.

Mark de Vries hasn't been as good but i saw a few of his early sub appearances and he looked dangerous, just didn't seem to be fully fit but he returned to training this week, like a month before everyone else, so that's a good sign.

[yianni]

Fuck this is so frustrating! I'm listening to Greece-Ukraine and at halftime it's 0-0. Greece have absolutely fucking dominated the first half but have nothing to show for it. The closest the lads have come to scoring is when Stellios put one in the back of the net but it was offside. It's funny listening to the Greek commentators though, they go absolutely awol everytime the ball enters our forward half :lol:

[yianni]

FUCK ANOTHER OFFSIDE GOAL. Charisteas this time. I can see us copping a 0-1 after dominating the game. :mad:

[yianni]

FUCK 0-1 FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK

[Rob]

Well that was a heap of the usual Scottish monkey shite

[yianni]

Football is a cruel game...Greece dominated play against Ukraine in Athens but could not put their chances away and after 82 minutes Basinas slipped allowing Ukraine to score and secure a 0-1 win. Ukraine are almost certainly going to be going to the World Cup. Greece now a point behind Turkey which secured a 0-6 win over Kazakhstan to move into 2nd place. Three games to play.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Australia play New Zealand tomorrow

So bored I might even watch :'( :$

[Wengerland]

That Scottish game was painful to watch. England lost in the U20 semi final to France aswell, pretty terrible tactics from Taylor, but that's what i've come to expect. From what i saw Steven Taylor looked pretty good though, should be worth a starting spot for Newcastle as it's always nice to have a few local lads in the team.

And don't worry Bion, Argentina vs Brazil is on Bravo at the same time :cool:

[packt up]

Steven Taylor wooooo. Not only a fine defender but also a grade D actor for handballs :love:

[Ogen]

Boring game for us but still we went and took our points. Not very conviningly mind but still.

[Danny Electric]

I want to go to that Iran game, who qualified for the World Cup tonight :)
Really want to go to Germany now.

[yianni]

Australia play New Zealand tomorrow

So bored I might even watch :'( :$
:lol:

Australia vs New Zealand in London...who'd have thought

Brilliant Roberto Carlos free kick pulls a goal back for Brazil...still 3-1 down though, but they have owned the second half.

[yianni]

Adriano I think hit the post in the 84th minute...3-2 would have provided some very anxious moments for Argentina in the closing stages but they've held out for a 3-1 win.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

BTW dunno if this has been reported in Oz but are you lot aware of Harry Kewell sueing Gary Lineker?

[yianni]

Yeah I read about it, not much info but yeah I know about it.

Fucking typical Australian media (who know nothing) reporting how he's having a hard time dealing with fans etc who want him out and making him out to be completely innocent - well the cunt hasn't done shit so the fans deserve to have their say.

Having said all this we still need the bastard in the national team :o :'(

[Wengerland]

I hate Kewell with a passion now, fucking twat.

Watched the Greece game this morning and they were really unlucky, Ukraine offered nothing going forward. Going to be difficult now.

Also, i've read this morning that Brian Kerr's job is insecure :|

[The Mackem]

Why is he suing Lineker?

[Mr. Monday Morning]

When he was transferred to Liverpool Lineker wrote in one of the papers that he thought it was a disgrace that Kewell's agent got like £2m of the £5m fee, or somesuch. Any apparently Kewell got very upset about this (mainly cause Lineker called him stupid for paying the agent that much :lol: )

[Mr. Monday Morning]

God, fucking browser is being utterly gay today

[toxic rooster]

what mackem said

[Dazz]

Something Lineker said in a newspaper column two years ago about Kewell's move to Liverpool. I think it is about false allegations or something, can't really remember.

The big news is Iran, I cannot be fucked to get the new England shirt, I am just gunna get the Iran one :cool::cool::cool:

[toxic rooster]

lol didn't see this page

[toxic rooster]

The point is, Kewell better pull his finger out come the playoff in November :mad:

[The Mackem]

What MMM said

[toxic rooster]

i c

[Dazz]

You won't be in the world cup anyway, same old story. Kewell is a little twat, I'd drop him personally, the cunt.

[toxic rooster]

This year though, we've got a better chance than we've ever had. The problem is, there's no obvious replacement for him

[Dazz]

I'm sure there are people which aren't as good yet have a better attitude. Unless he was really motivated for it he would just be a dickhead who walked around thinking he was too good. Not to mention he will get injured before the Play Off game. I haven't been impressed with him this season, and I'm sure I won't be next.

[Rob Ban Fan]

<Font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">Apparently tomorrow we are signing ANDY O'BRIEN :cool::cool:

I hope its true :$:$

I also hope we get Robert so we can be Newcastle circa 2002 :cool:</font>

[packt up]

Robert is a genius. O'brien is a douche. Griffin is a decent hard working lad. Lua Lua is a temperamental genius shithead. Shaka has left but will always be remembered.....

You got any other of our players RBF?? Its becoming Newcastle reject central down south.

[yianni]

I'm sure there are people which aren't as good yet have a better attitude. Unless he was really motivated for it he would just be a dickhead who walked around thinking he was too good. Not to mention he will get injured before the Play Off game.
So fucking true. :-\

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">we've released Shaka :( we used to have Pavel Srnicek too, and Steve Stone although he never played for you, he was from Newcastle.

And you have Amdy Faye from us.

Anymore players you fancy swaping? :D</font>

[Dazz]

Taylor would be their first choice left back, he should go there.

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">no</font>

[Dazz]

Yes, because Babayaro is better :|

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">It wasn't "no, he wouldn't be first choice" it was "no, Dazz, don't say anything, you'll just embarass yourself." Like when you're talking to a mate about football and a bird says something.

Know your role, bitch.</font>

[Dazz]

Fuck off mate, I hope you only said that on account of the fact my girlfriend goes to nearly every home game, my mum goes to every home game, and I know another passioante female football fan, and that you were trying to wind me up. If you talked to girls once in a while (instead of telling me about that fit Chelsea fan you never talk to) or your mother wasn't an inbred who doesn't care about how you're about to fail college and end up at MacDonald's you'd understand.

And he would be first choice, in two weeks time someone should snap up Wayne Bridge too.

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">no, I can honestly say I didn't put that much thought into it but its quite awesome it worked on that many levels.

And I haven't told you about that Chelsea fan for like a year and I talk to her all the time, I talked to her yesterday :mad:

and my mum DOES care that im about to fail college, its my dad that doesn't care :$

And I don't even know what you're talking about anymore, but my point is Robert > Robben</font>

[Dazz]

Your mums a slag.

Robben and Duff > all other pairs of wingers.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

What's this about a girlfriend Mantle. You get your fingers wet yet? I always had you down as a homersexual.

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">his dad doesn't like her because she has colour in her.

but anyway, Damien Gates, tell me about Andy O'Brien and why he will be a good signing.</font>

[yianni]

Australia play New Zealand tomorrow

So bored I might even watch :'( :$
Fuck I hope you didn't go. That was awful to watch. :o

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Nah was going to watch it on the TV.

Found something else to do though :)

[El Capitano Gatisto]

his dad doesn't like her because she has colour in her.

but anyway, Damien Gates, tell me about Andy O'Brien and why he will be a good signing.
His dad married a fucking dirty Arab. How can he criticise anyone? Especially given his son looks like a lousy Lebonese crook.

Andy O'Brien is a good solid defender, who does nothing more than defend. He doesn't pretend to be a footballer, he's just an ugly cunt who sticks to his man and gets in the way. He reminds me of Martin Keown.

Newcastle are stupid. They think throwing money at a problem makes it go away. Sometimes defending isn't so much about personnel as it is about organisation, and in a well organised defence Andy O'Brien is a fine defender indeed.

I remember seeing him mark Ronaldinho out of the game when Ireland played them in a friendly last year. He's really cemented his spot in the side, so much so that I'd rather see Kenny Cunningham dropped now to make way for big Dickie Dunne, who is the best player in England.

[yianni]

Nah was going to watch it on the TV.

Found something else to do though :)
Thank fuck! We were complete shit and only beat them 1-0...with the goal in the 85th minute. :o

[packt up]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">

Anymore players you fancy swaping? :D</font>

nah thanks :p The Yaks already decided to go to the smoggies so you got noone of worth ;)

And lol at dazz getting all moody go straighten your hair.

[Dazz]

What's this about a girlfriend Mantle. You get your fingers wet yet? I always had you down as a homersexual.

Actualy you had me down as a 'homersexual' because you got me and the Duck mixed up and you also said it because I said you look like a poof in your older pictures (something you admitted). And no I havent :(

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">his dad doesn't like her because she has colour in her.
</font>

:wtf:

His dad married a fucking dirty Arab. How can he criticise anyone? Especially given his son looks like a lousy Lebonese crook.

Andy O'Brien is a good solid defender, who does nothing more than defend. He doesn't pretend to be a footballer, he's just an ugly cunt who sticks to his man and gets in the way. He reminds me of Martin Keown.

Newcastle are stupid. They think throwing money at a problem makes it go away. Sometimes defending isn't so much about personnel as it is about organisation, and in a well organised defence Andy O'Brien is a fine defender indeed.

I remember seeing him mark Ronaldinho out of the game when Ireland played them in a friendly last year. He's really cemented his spot in the side, so much so that I'd rather see Kenny Cunningham dropped now to make way for big Dickie Dunne, who is the best player in England.

There is no part of that post that I agree with. Watch how weak, slow and shit Andy O'brien is exposed as being next season, he cannot keep up and his reactions are absymal. He gives away fouls for fun and alongside De Zeeuw it will just be a comedy of errors at the back. If he didn't have Given behind him he would have proven how much of a failure he is in the last few seasons.

Absolute shit I tell you :n:

[yianni]

I've heard UEFA has allowed Liverpool to defend their Champions League crown next year...can cunts confirm for me please?

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Liverpool will be allowed to defend their Champions League crown next season.

UEFA's 14-man executive committee have decided to make a special case to allow the Reds into the first qualifying round of the competition next season.

It means Liverpool will have to play six matches in order to qualify for the group phase and it could interfere with their pre-season tour of Japan.

Liverpool, who failed to finish in a qualifying place in the Barclays Premiership, will become the fifth English side in the competition.

UEFA have also taken steps to ensure that the same scenario never occurs again by changing the rules so that in the future the titleholders will always qualify for the competition the following season.

If the Liverpool situation occurs again and the European champions fail to finish in a qualifying place in their domestic competition however they will come in at the expense of the fourth-placed side.

The rules will also apply for countries who only get three or two Champions League spots, but there will be a special exemption in the unlikely event of a country with one Champion League spot winning the competition but failing to win their own domestic league.

----

Looks like Everton got lucky

[yianni]

Such bollocks - I'm sure if Brazil don't qualify for the World Cup next year (they will though) or Greece don't qualify for Euro 2008, it will be a case of 'tough luck' by UEFA or FIFA. In my opinion, if you ain't good enough, you ain't good enough, regardless if you won the thing or not.

[yianni]

Btw cheers for the confirmation MMM. :y:

[The Mackem]

The scenario I'm most worried about is teams lying in 5th place or below by some margin still in the Champions League giving up on the domestic league to concentrate on the Champions League. I dunno obviously the Champions League Champions should be in the competition otherwise the competition is diminished slightly.

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">don't ":wtf:" at me you bastard. What I said may be a complete lie but we both know your dad is a former football hooligan who looks like Marco Ambrosio.

Birmingham have signed Forssell for £3,000,000</font>

[packt up]

Looks like Everton got lucky

Lucky how?

The rules have been changed just for this season to Liverpool's benefit. There was next to 0 chance of Everton being dropped in Liverpool's favour and that would have been grossly unfair given that the rules were stated at the start of the year. If any team has been lucky its Liverpool (though deservedly so). Not to mention the fact that Everton (and the other 3 English clubs) now get less money than they would have had Liverpool not been given entry. Don't get me wrong it was the right decision but to say Everton of all teams were lucky is ridiculous.

I think the end result was fair and I just hope Liverpool avoid the English teams in the 3rd Quali round and group stages.

[Rob Ban Fan]

Andy O'Brien is a good solid defender, who does nothing more than defend. He doesn't pretend to be a footballer, he's just an ugly cunt who sticks to his man and gets in the way. He reminds me of Martin Keown.

Newcastle are stupid. They think throwing money at a problem makes it go away. Sometimes defending isn't so much about personnel as it is about organisation, and in a well organised defence Andy O'Brien is a fine defender indeed.

I remember seeing him mark Ronaldinho out of the game when Ireland played them in a friendly last year. He's really cemented his spot in the side, so much so that I'd rather see Kenny Cunningham dropped now to make way for big Dickie Dunne, who is the best player in England.

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">Sounds quite like de Zeeuw and Primus. Neither of them can pass the ball at all but everyone loves them because they give 100% and work hard.

He would probably be playing alongside Dejan Stefanovic like I said, with de Zeeuw getting phased out and Dejan is much more comfortable and able to play the ball, which'll probably help O'Brien.

I've looked at a few Newcastle boards and their main criticism is that he isn't great with the ball and can't pass it and that doesn't really bother me cos he can just give it to Dejan or one of the midfielders to pass it, so long as he does a good job of winning it.</font>

[packt up]

Balls come at him and he knees it to Dennis Rommedahl who then scores.

He's good at that.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Lucky how?

The rules have been changed just for this season to Liverpool's benefit. There was next to 0 chance of Everton being dropped in Liverpool's favour and that would have been grossly unfair given that the rules were stated at the start of the year. If any team has been lucky its Liverpool (though deservedly so). Not to mention the fact that Everton (and the other 3 English clubs) now get less money than they would have had Liverpool not been given entry. Don't get me wrong it was the right decision but to say Everton of all teams were lucky is ridiculous.

I think the end result was fair and I just hope Liverpool avoid the English teams in the 3rd Quali round and group stages.

I meant if this situation happened identically next year then Everton would be out, as the 4th place team's spot would be given to the non-qualifying champions.

[Cactus Sid]

I just think Uefa should say that the Champions automatically qualify for the competition, and if that team finishes in a Champions League place, an extra Champions League place is given to the highest placed team outside of the Champions League places (so in England, Italy, Spain it would be the 5th place team, Germany it would be the 4th etc....) that would solve a lot of hassle, and would give the winning country an extra privelage for winning the competition.

I'm glad we are in the competition, even if it is in first qualifying round, it would be a bit of a travisity if we weren't there.

I also think the winners of the World Cup and the Euro Championships should qualify automatically, its just makes no sense that they don't.

[Rob]

Personally, I think the UEFA cup winners should qualify for the Champions League.

[Cactus Sid]

I agree with that as well

[Karlsberg]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">
Birmingham have signed Forssell for £3,000,000</font>

And i can tell you i am over the fucking moon about that, apparently we are going to put a bid in for lee bowyer as well.

Newcastle fans thoughts please.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Not a Newcastle fan but you'd be daft to sign Bowyer, especially considering if/when Izzet and Dunn ever get fit they'd be a far better combo in midfield.

[The Mackem]

Lee Bowyer is an animal

[toxic rooster]

Lee Bowyer is a mammal.

[packt up]

And i can tell you i am over the fucking moon about that, apparently we are going to put a bid in for lee bowyer as well.

Newcastle fans thoughts please.

Who do you support again? :$

I'm a Newcastle fan and you can have Bowyer for free if it were up to me.

[Wengerland]

Karlsberg is a Birmingham fan ;)

Hopefully Muzzy will be back for them for next season but i like Bowyer, passionate player (overdid it on the Dyer thing obviously though) and he seemed to show glimpses of his Leeds form at times last year.

Have Birmingham signed Nafti permanently aswell? Central midfield isn't really what they need with Izzet, Carter, Clemence, Dunn and probably more.

In other news, Robert looks set to join Bolton now.

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">Bolton = is gay.

I bet O'Brien rejects us tomorrow too. If he does, im just warning you all now, i'll reply saying "oh well, he's shit anyway" but i'll be crying inside.</font>

[Mr. Monday Morning]

But he is shit anyway :$

[Y2Ant]

Finally we are offloading the players I want to see the back of, first O'Brien, then Robert, now BOWYER :love:

All we need now is to get Bellamy to fuck off :cool:

[Rob Ban Fan]

But he is shit anyway :$

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">what do you know? You think Lee Naylor is shit :mad:</font>

[Rob]

Finally we are offloading the players I want to see the back of, first O'Brien, then Robert, now BOWYER :love:

All we need now is to get Bellamy to fuck off :cool:

Well that's a lock.

[Rob Ban Fan]

<Font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">Serbs and Croats are insane :$

We were after Niko Kranjcar in january from Dynamo Zagreb but he went to Hadjuk Split instead. His agent just got shot dead by Dynamo fans because of it apparently :$

Also, I read a few weeks ago that one time, some guy kidnapped a Hadjuk Split supporter and raped him for 2 days with a broom handle :'(</font>

[Y2Ant]

Although it would be nice if we were signing decent players to replace the ones leaving :mad:

[Dazz]

O'brien is terrible, Owen.

Also, Kezmans wife and kids were kidnapped in the last couple of years for some reason. I guess kidnapping is the 'in thing' for Serb's

[Wengerland]

That documentary on Joan Laporta and the Barcelona board last night was CLASS :love:

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">WHO PUT THE BALL IN THE MACKEM'S NET??????????</font>

[Dazz]

Liam O'Brien, Andy O'Brien
Any any any O'Brien

[Mr. Monday Morning]

That documentary on Joan Laporta and the Barcelona board last night was CLASS :love:

:love: Although there was a slight whiff of propaganda to it, it was still really interesting to watch.

[Rob Ban Fan]

<Font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">George Best has been arrested for beating up some bird.
Steve Finnan has been arrested in connection with causing death by dangerous driving.
Robin van Persie has been arrested for rape.

:|</font>

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Apparently Davor Suker (remember him?) is also in talks with the police after his agent was murdered :|

[Mr. Monday Morning]

In better news, we're all set to sign Jackie McNamara :cool:

[yianni]

Confederations Cup starting in just over a day's time. Are cunts interested?

I will find it interesting to see if Australia doesn't get belted by at least 3 goals by Argentina, and if Greece, without key players, can grind out a result against Brazil.

[Rob Ban Fan]

<Font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">oh my bad, apparently Best touched up a 13 year old girl.

Maybe Davor Suker and Niko Krancjar share the same agent since they're both Croats and he just got murdered.</font>

[The Mackem]

Stead and Davis have virtually signed.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Confederations Cup starting in just over a day's time. Are cunts interested?

I will find it interesting to see if Australia doesn't get belted by at least 3 goals by Argentina, and if Greece, without key players, can grind out a result against Brazil.

Didn't even know it was happening :o

<Font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">Maybe Davor Suker and Niko Krancjar share the same agent since they're both Croats and he just got murdered.</font>

Apparently Suker and the dead guy "co-managed" a few players. Hmmmmm :$

[packt up]

Wtf at players being irresponsible idiots. Oh wait that happens all the time. Such a shame.

-----------------------------

Newcastle look to win the signing of Parker wooooooooo.

[Y2Ant]

Parker :love:

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Toon are meant to be talking to Emre as well, who's decent.

[packt up]

Yeah Emre will be a good signing too. With Bowyer on his way out these are all good moves.

Just don't forget the defence you know Souness. The Midfield was our strongest area by far and so far all signings are in this area.

[Y2Ant]

Yeah, so fucking excited about all these signings (providing they all happen)

Robert to Portsmouth now apparently, he wants a 3 year deal at Bolton but they only want to give him a 2 year, so he's off to speak to Perrin :o

I really hope we get Scott Parker most of all, and then with a solid defence and a strike partner for Shearer we can really go places next season.

[Rob]

In better news, we're all set to sign Jackie McNamara :cool:

Damn!

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Newcastle should continue their re-building process by sacking Graeme Souness. No point spending all this money on good players like Parker and Emre if you're going to stick with a completely shit manager.

Newcastle will be a midtable average side next season, and will continue to be, until they stop appointing joke managers.

[Rob]

I'd hardly call him a joke. Everyone knows Alan Shearer will be the manager within 2 years anyway.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

How exactly is Graeme Souness not a joke?

Alan Shearer would be another joke appointment. Just get a good fucking coach and tactician. He doesn't have to be a big name, or a legendary player. He just has to be able to get a team playing properly. They've had Keegan, Dalglish, Gullitt, Robson and now Souness, possibly Shearer next, all on name value. They should sack Souness, and get Paul Le Guen in before some other top side snaps him up.

[yianni]

Didn't even know it was happening :o
lol @ you cunts not even caring :lol:

Cmon Wengerland, fire up son, Zagorakis is in Greece's team! :love: :wave: :love: :D

[Rob]

How exactly is Graeme Souness not a joke?

Alan Shearer would be another joke appointment. Just get a good fucking coach and tactician. He doesn't have to be a big name, or a legendary player. He just has to be able to get a team playing properly. They've had Keegan, Dalglish, Gullitt, Robson and now Souness, possibly Shearer next, all on name value. They should sack Souness, and get Paul Le Guen in before some other top side snaps him up.

How is he a joke more like?

And apparently, Le Guen is heading to Italy.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

He is a joke because he has never won anything of note, apart from one FA Cup, in management outside of Scotland. He took the great Liverpool team which dominated the English game for two decades and led it into a slump from which it still hasn't really recovered with the same disregard for tactics/organisation and largely idiotic transfer decisions he has shown throughout his time as a manager.

He continually has public feuds with talented players, to show what a hard man he is rather than keep things private and sort them out professionally.

[yianni]

Yeah I agree with ECG, Souness is a cunt.

[Wengerland]

lol @ you cunts not even caring :lol:

Cmon Wengerland, fire up son, Zagorakis is in Greece's team! :love: :wave: :love: :D

I'll be watching most of it, don't you worry about that mate ;) First live match is Brazil against Greece anyway, which should be awesome :love:

Bit surprised Theo's in the squad actually, Bologna have got a relegation play-off this weekend, so i thought he'd be needed there. I don't know if it was a wind-up, probably was but oh well, but Sky are meant to be doing a '50 Greatest goals vs Man Utd' programme, and Theo's against them seems to be getting the concensus of Leicester fans' votes :heart: Shame it was in a 6-2 defeat :(

[Karlsberg]

Have Birmingham signed Nafti permanently aswell?


We signed him a couple of weeks ago. I am a little concerned we seem to be going over board on midfielders. we have dunn, izzet, nafti, clemence, carter and if we sign bowyer thats six players alone who play in the center of midfield.

[yianni]

I'll be watching most of it, don't you worry about that mate ;) First live match is Brazil against Greece anyway, which should be awesome :love:

Bit surprised Theo's in the squad actually, Bologna have got a relegation play-off this weekend, so i thought he'd be needed there. I don't know if it was a wind-up, probably was but oh well, but Sky are meant to be doing a '50 Greatest goals vs Man Utd' programme, and Theo's against them seems to be getting the concensus of Leicester fans' votes :heart: Shame it was in a 6-2 defeat :(
I know. Theo is the fucking man, so is King Otto. I was shattered when Greece copped the 0-1 against Ukraine in Athens last week, the lads dominated yet Ukraine got the result. I'd love to see Prince Theo represent Hellas in the World Cup before retiring, what an absolute legend!

And yeah, apparently Bolongna didn't need/want him there for their relegation play-off, looks like the geiser is either on his way out of there or/and has told them to fuck off cos he wants to represent his country first! :love:

[Dazz]

How exactly is Graeme Souness not a joke?

Alan Shearer would be another joke appointment. Just get a good fucking coach and tactician. He doesn't have to be a big name, or a legendary player. He just has to be able to get a team playing properly. They've had Keegan, Dalglish, Gullitt, Robson and now Souness, possibly Shearer next, all on name value. They should sack Souness, and get Paul Le Guen in before some other top side snaps him up.

Disagree completely with Gullit, I know he was rubbish at Newcastle, but he was superb for us, him being a big name meant players like Zola, Vialli, Di Matteo (not sure actually if he was big) could come, and we won the F.A cup under him and he took us to the semi's of the League Cup and Cup Winners Cup before getting sacked. I think he was fairly well proven when Newcastle got him.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

No he wasn't. He was another big name who'd done fuck all as a manager relying on reputation.

[Dazz]

No, you are thinking of when Bates hired him for us. Newcastle had no reason not to go for him.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Him having done nothing in managerial terms would be good enough reason. An FA Cup and signing a bunch of overpaid foreigners coming to the end of their careers isn't a good track record. Chelsea were in such terrible fucking shape before Abramovich bailed them out because of a succession of regimes relying on signing highly-paid, formerly world class players who could turn it on now and then but who were never going to win a Premiership.

You argue for the sake of arguing: fact is, Gullitt had done little as a manager and never once showed he was capable of building a side which could perform consistently and sustain a level of performance. Newcastle need a coach who can do that. They haven't had one, even including Kevin Keegan, for as long as I have been watching football.

If you look at the top managers in the Premiership today, they are there because they get the best out of players, even average ones, and they build TEAMS. It's worth a gamble on a lower division or foreign manager who shows an aptitude for team building and tactical knowledge, rather than going for yet another big name living off a very old and tarnished reputation who will demand money and ultimately fail.

They were wrong to even give Bobby Robson so much time and money to play with. His club record wasn't that fantastic since leaving the England job. It's a little-mentioned fact that the PSV fans hated him.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

If I remember rightly Gullit quit the Feyenoord job a couple weeks ago after they finished 3rd (I think it was 3rd anyway) after only being hired start of last season.

McNamara has signed on a free :love:

[Dazz]

How is it arguing for the sake of arguing? Up until Jose came I haven't seen us play as good football as under Gullit (note the one 't', not two), you clearly don't remember just how good the actual football played was. And he didn't just get aload of people at the end of their career Vialli was the only player who really did only have a couple of seasons left in him, Di MAtteo retired through injury, Zola (probablY) and Lebouef retired this summer, so they were far fromt he end of their career.

I admit that he hadn't done enough to manage a top team, but he showed that he has what it takes, we finished 6th, won a cup and it could have been three, in the short time he was there, (we were hardly swamped with old people in his side either, I think he'd have been able to build). How the fuck do you think that thats easy. One of my greatest memories of a Chelsea game was when we were 2-0 down to Liverpool at half time, and we ended up winning 4-2, granted Liverpool had Roy Evans in charge that day (I think) but we were playing against a better side then us and still won it.

Also, Vialli had no experience as a manager either, we took a gamble on him, I was never a fan but he did get us third in the league and we did beat Barcelona 3-1 in our own gaff, getting to the Champions League Quarter Final was hardly easy and he won us three real cups.

[yianni]

Him having done nothing in managerial terms would be good enough reason. An FA Cup and signing a bunch of overpaid foreigners coming to the end of their careers isn't a good track record. Chelsea were in such terrible fucking shape before Abramovich bailed them out because of a succession of regimes relying on signing highly-paid, formerly world class players who could turn it on now and then but who were never going to win a Premiership.

You argue for the sake of arguing: fact is, Gullitt had done little as a manager and never once showed he was capable of building a side which could perform consistently and sustain a level of performance. Newcastle need a coach who can do that. They haven't had one, even including Kevin Keegan, for as long as I have been watching football.

If you look at the top managers in the Premiership today, they are there because they get the best out of players, even average ones, and they build TEAMS. It's worth a gamble on a lower division or foreign manager who shows an aptitude for team building and tactical knowledge, rather than going for yet another big name living off a very old and tarnished reputation who will demand money and ultimately fail.

They were wrong to even give Bobby Robson so much time and money to play with. His club record wasn't that fantastic since leaving the England job. It's a little-mentioned fact that the PSV fans hated him.
Look I'm a dumb cunt (compared to you blokes anyway) when it comes to English football but even I have to agree with what ECG says, although admittedly I cannot comment much on the comments he makes about Bobby Robson as ultimately I don't know how PSV fans rated the bloke. :o

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">Robert just signed a 3 year deal with us. Shove that up your arse Alladyce you obese sourfaced old cunt.

Are we Newcastle circa 2002 in disguise? :love:</font>

[yianni]

Ahahahaha Alladyce might be a fat cunt but the cunt had achieved more than you cunts :rofl:

Ok I admit I'm deliberately supporting managers of successul Greek national team players :o. Out of interest, is Chalkias still at Pompey? I still prefer Nikopolidis but we need replacement cunts and Chalkias isn't too bad :o!

[Dazz]

Look I'm a dumb cunt (compared to you blokes anyway) when it comes to English football but even I have to agree with what ECG says, although admittedly I cannot comment much on the comments he makes about Bobby Robson as ultimately I don't know how PSV fans rated the bloke. :o

I agree with most of it, just Ruud Gullit was great for us and I won't hear of him bashing him :mad:

[El Capitano Gatisto]

How is it arguing for the sake of arguing? Up until Jose came I haven't seen us play as good football as under Gullit (note the one 't', not two), you clearly don't remember just how good the actual football played was. And he didn't just get aload of people at the end of their career Vialli was the only player who really did only have a couple of seasons left in him, Di MAtteo retired through injury, Zola (probablY) and Lebouef retired this summer, so they were far fromt he end of their career.

I admit that he hadn't done enough to manage a top team, but he showed that he has what it takes, we finished 6th, won a cup and it could have been three, in the short time he was there, (we were hardly swamped with old people in his side either, I think he'd have been able to build). How the fuck do you think that thats easy. One of my greatest memories of a Chelsea game was when we were 2-0 down to Liverpool at half time, and we ended up winning 4-2, granted Liverpool had Roy Evans in charge that day (I think) but we were playing against a better side then us and still won it.

Also, Vialli had no experience as a manager either, we took a gamble on him, I was never a fan but he did get us third in the league and we did beat Barcelona 3-1 in our own gaff, getting to the Champions League Quarter Final was hardly easy and he won us three real cups.
I am saying that none of this is a good managerial record. If you look at the top 4 or 5 managers in the Premiership today (Ferguson, Wenger, Mourinho, Moyes Benitez), they are all men who had average or unremarkable careers as players. In the case of Mourinho, almost no career as a player.

They have all come from solid backgrounds as talented coaches or background staff, and people who have achieved impressive results with smaller teams, not on the back of a huge reputation as a star player.

I don't care about the football Chelsea played. They had top players, playing for a team who weren't really going anywhere.

My original point, absolutely lost in the mix, as usual with you, is that Newcastle, and all clubs, should be looking for managers with real credentials and the proven ability to create good teams. Of course, sometimes a big name manager can be good at that off the bat, like Mark Hughes appears to be, but Newcastle have had a succession of managers who've made extremely poor decisions in the transfer market and have not managed to build a consistent, spirited team.

Gullitt was never the man to do that, his time at Chelsea, subsequently at Newcastle, and his current record, all show that.

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">yeah he is but he got dropped, he made a couple of mistakes and a lot of people got on his back, he earned the nick name "Chalky the Clown" after about 3 matches. :$ I always loved him though, he seems hilarious. We got rid of Shaka so he is our most experienced keeper now.

-edit-

While we're on the subject of Greeks, I kept meaning to ask you; is Giannis Skopelitis (the other Greek player we signed with Chalky) a Greek international? Media people often refer to him as an international but I didn't see him in the Euro 2004 squad.</font>

[Dazz]

I know he stunk up the place on Tyneside, but I can also see why they chose him, he had been quality at us, he looked like he could be great and I think it was worth it.

Also, seeing as how Didier Deschamps got into the Champions League final last season and Frank Rijkaard just won La Liga I think it shows that you just pick on a few managers who are doing good yet didn't have great playing careers. Newcastle had every right to take a chance on Gullit.

Also, if you could ask Jose Mourinho who taught him EVERYTHING he learnt about being a manager, guess who he'd say, Bobby fucking Robson. Mourinho has combined what Robson taught him and his own genius qualities to become a top manager. Therefore, I can see why Newcastle got Sir Bobby too.

[yianni]

yeah he is but he got dropped, he made a couple of mistakes and a lot of people got on his back, he earned the nick name "Chalky the Clown" after about 3 matches. :$ I always loved him though, he seems hilarious. We got rid of Shaka so he is our most experienced keeper now.
Admittedly I haven't watched much of the English Premiership however when I've seen him play he's done quite well for Pompey. :o I believe he used to play for Panathinaikos before he moved to England?

While we're on the subject of Greeks, I kept meaning to ask you; is Giannis Skopelitis (the other Greek player we signed with Chalky) a Greek international? Media people often refer to him as an international but I didn't see him in the Euro 2004 squad.
Not to my knowledge. I hate saying this, but you guys cannot understand how limited football coverage is here in Australia. I'd love nothing more than to go and live in either England or Greece and inform those interested lads of the happenings of Greek football but alas I can't, I'm too attracted to Australia even though it has fuck all coverage of the world game. :'( :nono:

However RBF, if I was to take a guess, I'd guess it's a 99% chance King Otto did not include him in the Euro 2004 squad.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Mourinho probably learned equally as much from Louis van Gaal Dazz, he was only a translator for Robson he was assistant for van Gaal.

BTW didn't Benitez play for Real Madrid? Not exactly an average career :wtf:

-edit- My bad, he coached the youth team

And I'd argue Mark Hughes being a good manager ECG. Before he left the Wales job they went about a year without winning, and Blackburn stayed up by kicking the shit out of people and Brad Friedel performing the occasional miracle. I'll reserve judgement on him til the end of this coming season, if he gets rid of players like Emerton (which has been rumoured) Blackburn could really struggle.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Emerton is shit.

Mark Hughes turned Blackburn from a team with a laughable defence to one of the meanest in the Premiership, with basically the same personnel as Souness had. That goes to show that tactics and organisation have a large say aside from the players you put in there. It had a lot more to it than simply Brad Friedal.

He unearthed a couple of gems in Mokoena and Nelsen. Nelsen is a class player. I think Hughes has done as all good managers do first and foremost: made his team hard to beat, stopped them sliding. The problem is the squad Souness left him with is bereft of attacking talent, so he has to remedy that. Look at his options up front, there isn't much there to work with.

[yianni]

I agree that Emerton is shit. He plays right-mid for Australia and whilst the cunt makes good runs forward he can't cross for fucking shit. Look out for Ahmed Elrich, a new signing for Fulham, who from what I've seen (both in the national league in Australia and internationally with the national team) is a great player. Hope I'm not proven wrong!

[Dazz]

Jose says that he learnt from Bobby Robson, I might look in his autobiography later and check what he says about Van Gaal, but he gives Robson a shitload of credit.

Also, Freidal wasn't nearly as good as he normally is this season.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

You bought his autobiography :|

[yianni]

Whose, Robson's or Freidal's :|

[deathtrap]

Mourinho I'm guessing.

[yianni]

Fuck I'm a drunk idiot, I didn't look at Dazz's post properly. :o :o

[Dazz]

You bought his autobiography :|

My brother did, I would have otherwise.

Don't look at me like that :mad:

I also have a Ruud Gullit biography and auto biography, a Dennis Wise one, a Zola one, a 96/97 season (Gullit's first year in charge) and a 2003 one.

If I am gunna read any book, it's a Chelsea one.

[packt up]

Ok just thought I'd wade into the Newcastle manager debate.

Firstly Souness: I'm still not a fan at all to be honest. His man management leaves a lot to be desired as does his team selection. His transfer policy in general hasn't been to bad and this season if we do indeed sign Parker then that will be a good coup. Defence is an issue as is another striker so we'll see how we do with that. My main gripe with him is basically what ECG has hinted at. That he can't make Newcastle defend even simple situations. Most of our goals conceded are what pundits would call "silly goals". Easily avoidable and mainly due to either shocking individual errors or just general incompetence (failure to clear a simple ball, terrible offside traps etc). You don't need genius defenders for the majority of defensive work - it helps but simple organisation gets you most of the way eg Greece 2004.

Robson I was a great fan of. His transfer policy was more chequered (Carl Cort anyone?) but generally not too shabby. Bellamy and Jenas in particular were good buys. I would prefer him over Souness any day and feel with him around we would have done better last season no doubt. He was a managerial legend no matter what anyone says and a great man who was well respected. The selling of Solano was his downfall a fantastic player, who loved the club and a fan favourite who was shunned frequently and sold for fuck all.

Gullit was a joke. I can see where Dazz was coming from in that I thought he did ok at Chelsea. The buying of Dyer was an inspired one (though Dyer hasn't lived up to his full potential). Otherwise the team was bereft of invention and very poor.

As for Shearer as next manager well to me that has disaster written all over it. He's a local legend but going in to Newcastle as your first job is going to be terrible. The Geordies will turn on even Shearer if things aren't going well and will expect some sort of fairytale recovery under him. He could throw away his legendary status if it goes wrong and I think it will.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Cort is the man :mad:

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Parker to Newcastle for £6.5m, confirmed

[Rob]

West Ham are a banker to go down now.

[Y2Ant]

Ok just thought I'd wade into the Newcastle manager debate.

Firstly Souness: I'm still not a fan at all to be honest. His man management leaves a lot to be desired as does his team selection. His transfer policy in general hasn't been to bad and this season if we do indeed sign Parker then that will be a good coup. Defence is an issue as is another striker so we'll see how we do with that. My main gripe with him is basically what ECG has hinted at. That he can't make Newcastle defend even simple situations. Most of our goals conceded are what pundits would call "silly goals". Easily avoidable and mainly due to either shocking individual errors or just general incompetence (failure to clear a simple ball, terrible offside traps etc). You don't need genius defenders for the majority of defensive work - it helps but simple organisation gets you most of the way eg Greece 2004.

Robson I was a great fan of. His transfer policy was more chequered (Carl Cort anyone?) but generally not too shabby. Bellamy and Jenas in particular were good buys. I would prefer him over Souness any day and feel with him around we would have done better last season no doubt. He was a managerial legend no matter what anyone says and a great man who was well respected. The selling of Solano was his downfall a fantastic player, who loved the club and a fan favourite who was shunned frequently and sold for fuck all.

Gullit was a joke. I can see where Dazz was coming from in that I thought he did ok at Chelsea. The buying of Dyer was an inspired one (though Dyer hasn't lived up to his full potential). Otherwise the team was bereft of invention and very poor.

As for Shearer as next manager well to me that has disaster written all over it. He's a local legend but going in to Newcastle as your first job is going to be terrible. The Geordies will turn on even Shearer if things aren't going well and will expect some sort of fairytale recovery under him. He could throw away his legendary status if it goes wrong and I think it will.
Pretty much agree with everything you said there, I am a bit wary of Shearer taking over at Newcastle as his first job, it would be so awesome if he was really successful but on the flipside it would be a disaster if he was a load of crap.

I forgot we even had Carl Cort, and I miss Solano :(

[SammyG]

Greece Brazil tomorrow

[Nervous Ferret]

I thought the season was over

[Wengerland]

Ahahahaha Alladyce might be a fat cunt but the cunt had achieved more than you cunts :rofl:

LOL

The word 'cunt' so many times made me crease up :o

Ferret, the season has finished but now we get the end of season national teams' competitions. The main ones are every 4 years but not many people are bothered about the one starting today as most teams field weakened sides. On paper it should be second to the World Cup, with the champions from each continent, but it's just not really (unless Greece win it).

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Australia are giving Germany a run for their money. Tim Cahill looks like a "wog" even though he has an Irish name. Must be a scum bag.

[packt up]

Cort is the man :mad:

Yeah sure :roll: :p

To be fair he was injury stricken at Newcastle but still was mostly ineffective even when he played.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

He scored 16 last season, and he picked up some knocks here and there and didn't have a full pre-season from what I remember. Plus he got god knows how many assists from knock downs, flicks etc.

If he and Miller stay fit all season and the team clicks he'll bag 20 next year, at least.

[Rob Ban Fan]

<Font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">hahahaha Birmingham City fans organised a petition against signing Lee Bowyer and now Bowyer doesn't want to join a club where he doesn't feel wanted so their dickhead chairman has got all pissy about it.

Brilliance

:love:</font>

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Bowyer doesn't want to join a club where he doesn't feel wanted
Surely this limits the clubs he can go to by a huge amount

[Ogen]

Bowyer will be at one of the new teams or in the Championship next year.

[The Mackem]

Not here, he won't. Tommy Miller looks set to sign for us.

[Karlsberg]

Bowyer will be at one of the new teams or in the Championship next year.

Well at least he aint fucking coming to us anymore thank god.

[Wengerland]

His wages are far too high for any Championship side. He'll stay in the premiership but i'm not sure who with, he's not a bad player by any means.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Wouldn't be surprised if he went back to West Ham

[SammyG]

Brazil- Greece 2-0 :(:(:(:(:(:(

[El Capitano Gatisto]

3-0 now. Brazil are ridiculously good.

[SammyG]

Fucking Brazilians. Greece better step it up, they needed a good result here to get their confidence back up. It will be an embarassment if they dont make the world cup, from european champs to not making the world up would suck ass. I know the confederations cup isnt that huge of a tourney, but its good for confidence

[Ogen]

Its a friendly tournament really. Did Ronaldo play I'd heard they were going to drop him in favour of another midfeidler and have Adriano on his own.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Ronaldo didn't play. They had Kaka, Ronaldinho, Robinho and Adriano playing basically in a genius attacking circle up front. Brilliant movement, bags of skill. They had two full backs bombing on like crazy as well. Robinho is a genius. Real Madrid are signing him.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

The goals were brilliant too. Adriano's was basically a cheat goal. He picked it up on the right wing, cut back inside, looking innocuous, like he was going to spread it across to someone, then he just fucking blasts it on his left foot from 30 odd yards into the net. He wasn't even facing the goal, he never even looked at it. He just fucking smacked it. Incredible. It was the sort of goal you'd have disallowed in the playground because of the no "no blasters" rule. Just a great big cheat goal.

Robinho's was pretty much a far post tap in, but he still made it look great.

Third goal was a beautiful free kick from Juninho (the Lyon one). He just took a couple of steps, walked up to the ball and clipped it right into the top corner. Keeper didn't even move. He didn't sprint up and whack it, just give it a clip, but the power and bend was astonishing. Fucking love him.

[Ogen]

Gonna take a miracle for them not to win the World Cup. Can't beat an attack like that. Cafu must be nearly fucked by now mind.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Any team can be stopped. In theory a team playing say the Chelsea system, with the right players (and with some luck admittedly) could counterattack the hell out of a team like Brazil.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Also let's not forget they lost 3-1 to Argentina not all that long ago.

[yianni]

lol Brazil absolutely ran riot in that game...they are too good. In fairness though we had pretty much all of our Euro 2004 defence (our best defence obviously) out of this game except for Nikopolidis in goals and I believe that would have definately prevented their second goal. Having said that Brazil weren't 100% either which is fucking scary. Those other 2 goals were just class...although technically speaking as a keeper Nikopolidis should always never be beaten at his near post, like he was against Adriano for the 1-0. Having said that, tell me many keepers in the world would have stopped that shot. :o

Australia did well against Germany, coming from behind twice but losing 4-3. We have a good team but our defence is just fucking shit. Same with Germany's. They were actually all quite stunned with Australia's performance, in fact not wrapping the game up til the last 10 minutes. Even then John Aloisi pulled a goal back (his second for the game) in the 92nd minute and with an extra few minutes could have pulled an equaliser...I rate him, he's never been given a chance to shine in Australia's forward line but he finally was against Germany and proved himself with 2 goals.

[Y2Ant]

I watched a little bit of the live coverage, got bored and watched something else before any of the goals. I don't know like any of the Brazil or Argentina squad nowadays, whatever happened to Ariel Ortega :$? He was the man :(

That Greece keeper always reminds me of George Clooney, he looks like a right nob

[yianni]

That's because it IS George Clooney. ;)

He's done reasonably well in the Qualifers but struggled a bit against Brazil. Then again everyone did. :|

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Germany had two 19 year olds playing in their central defence, so I wouldn't read too much into them conceding 3 goals. They had a fairly young side out overall.

[Wengerland]

Well Greece were pretty much battered there, bit disappointing really but Brazil were awesome. Super Stevie Claridge knew the score though, they're not unbeatable. If you get a bit physical against them, not over the top mind, it knocks them out of their stride. Then again there were a few times last night when Greece players closed them down and were made to look like fools through pieces of skill or whatever.

They've also not won a World Cup staged in Europe since 1958 i think it was, the one which Sweden hosted and got to the final in anyway.

Juninho is ace though, that free-kick was beautiful, right in the corner. Can't be doing badly if he can't get in the first team.

[yianni]

I'm not. Sad thing is Australia's defence was almost full strength. :nono:

However on a positive, Australia's attack was well under full-strength and they managed 3 goals.

[yianni]

Germany had two 19 year olds playing in their central defence, so I wouldn't read too much into them conceding 3 goals. They had a fairly young side out overall.
I'm not. Sad thing is Australia's defence was almost full strength. :nono:

However on a positive, Australia's attack was well under full-strength and they managed 3 goals.

[yianni]

Just noticed this a few pages back:

Australia are giving Germany a run for their money. Tim Cahill looks like a "wog" even though he has an Irish name. Must be a scum bag.
LOL @ Cahill last week defending Kewell in the press, saying something like "The kid is great, he's a top bloke" or something like that. "The kid is great"? The cunt is older than Cahill :lol:

[yianni]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=629 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4092042.stm


</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=416><!-- S BO --><!-- S IIMA --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=203 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40119000/jpg/_40119092_vidukaoz203.jpg Mark Viduka's chances of playing in the World Cup have improved

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IIMA -->Australia's 2010 World Cup hopes have received a lift after Fifa said they could enter the Asian qualifying round.

They currently compete in the Oceania group, with no automatic qualifying place, and have to play off against a South America team to reach the finals.

"So long as the Oceania and Asia associations are happy, there are no laws to prevent such a solution," said Fifa president Sepp Blatter.

Australia have only once reached the World Cup finals - in 1974. If they want to qualify for the 2006 finals in Germany, Australia have to beat the Solomon Islands home and away and then win a play-off against the fifth-placed South American team, which is currently undecided.
By joining the Asian qualifying group for 2010, Australia will be competing with 44 other countries for a maximum of five spots at the tournament in South Africa.

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


Any bets Blatter will change his mind again though.

[NoJabbaNoBogRoll]

I want a Premiership team to sign Peguy Luyindula, so I can start this song.

http://oohoooohohohluyindula.ytmnd.com/

[Dazz]

Germany had two 19 year olds playing in their central defence, so I wouldn't read too much into them conceding 3 goals. They had a fairly young side out overall.

Was Huth not at Centre Back?

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">Yes he was and the stupid, fat, useless Nazi bastard gave away a freekick right at the beginning that they scored from.

ZOOOOOOOOOO > HUUUUUUUUUUUTH</font>

[Dazz]

So erm, since when was Huth not 20, 21 in 2 months time?

[El Capitano Gatisto]

The commentators said two 19 year olds. I don't really care. You obviously do, probably because you want to get married to him.

[The Mask]

http://www.tonykempster.btinternet.co.uk/nwc2.htm

:'(

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">Darwen, didn't they win the FA cup like back in the 1800's and hold the record for the longest ever run without a win that Sunderland came dangerously close to beating the season before last?</font>

[Rob]

Once again, we are in the papers linked with Michael Owen. As much as I'd like to have him, we need midfielders (a spare right winger and a strong defensive midfielder) and a defender before we sign strikers. I'd rather have Forlan back ahead of any striker.

[toxic rooster]

Blackpool - that's where William Regal is from.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

www.fbtz.com :cool:

[Rob]

Is this Park chink any good?

[Cactus Sid]

From what I've seen of him, he's a good player, has a lot of flair and can go past people, but doesn't pass very much

[yianni]

Greece 0-1 Japan. Admittedly we had a weakened team but got done convincingly

Also yesterday Australia lost to Argentina 4-2. Not a bad result, John Aloisi another 2 goals for Australia. :love:

[Rob]

Gonna take a miracle for them not to win the World Cup. Can't beat an attack like that. Cafu must be nearly fucked by now mind.

Bet you are regretting saying that now eh :p

[Danny Electric]

Great result for Mexico.

[Danny Electric]

Hat trick as well by a Birmingham reject.

[Ogen]

Bet you are regretting saying that now eh :p
I love hype http://tpww.net/forums/images/smilies/cool.gif

[Rob Ban Fan]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005280219,,00.html

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">ahaha</font>

[Danny Electric]

Get to bed Owen, past your bedtime.

That is hilarious, I wonder where it was in Brum.

[Chavo Classic]

He is a joke because he has never won anything of note, apart from one FA Cup, in management outside of Scotland. He took the great Liverpool team which dominated the English game for two decades and led it into a slump from which it still hasn't really recovered with the same disregard for tactics/organisation and largely idiotic transfer decisions he has shown throughout his time as a manager.

He continually has public feuds with talented players, to show what a hard man he is rather than keep things private and sort them out professionally.

Let's just clear this up. Souness is an idiot.

He took over from Dauglish's Liverpool side which was winning cups left, right and centre and decided to sign bit-part players from other clubs who were more than happy to off-load them. Micheal Thomas! Michael F'N Thomas! GO HOME SOUNESS, YOU'VE FAILED IN EVERY POSSIBLE MANAGERIAL JOB YOU'VE HAD IN ENGLAND. :mad: :mad: :mad:

If it wasn't for his success in the inferior leagues of Turkey and Scotland then this troutface fuck would be on the dole quicker than Thomas Brolin.

And this is when I'm being nice about him... (he was a pretty awesome player back in his youth)

[Chavo Classic]

On the subject of the Toon Army. What's all this about Figo?

What really frustrates me about Newcastle is that they think they are a bigger club than they actually are. The club finished in the bottom half of last year's table and hasn't won a dam thing for a number of years.

Now, if NUFC were realistic enough to realise they have serious problems and they are underachieving and signing hard working individuals who are committed and will fight to help the club climb up the table (the likes of Robbie Savage or Hamann perhaps) instead of reaching for the stars such as Figo and Owen then they would be doing themselves a favour.

Signing these superstars isn't going to help them. It's going to swallow up a massive amount of their wage budget and almost inevitably, the player isn't going to perform as well as many fans (who hail a new saviour) believe.

Look at Kluivert from last season. Fans believed he was going to turn the club around, but hhe guy scored only six goals all year and was paid about £60,000 a week to do so.

Signing Scott Parker is a start, and it makes a change from Mr Shepard chasing after yet ANOTHER striker when their big problems are at the back and in central midfield. Unless their recruitment style changes soon, it's looking like another desperate season for the Geordies.

.

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">Figo is fucking shit anyway. He'll be on far too much money for what he'll actually contribute.</font>

[packt up]

Signing Robbie Savage would make me angrier than us signing Figo. It would make me retch and want to punch him in the face even more than I already do.

[Chavo Classic]

You can't deny he's the kind of player that all teams need though. Liverpool have got Gerrard, MUFC have got Keane, Chelsea have got Maklele and Arsenal have got Viera.

Every team needs a rough midfield who collects and retrieves the ball for the rest of the midfield to play with. It'd just unfortunate the only midfielder who isn't connected to a top club at the moment who can do this is Mr Cunt... I mean Savage. Fair play, the man's a tool. We all hate him and we all laughed when that ref hit him in the face and he went down like a pile of shite...

HOWEVER he's the type of player Newcastle need, or maybe even Graveson from Real Madrid, if you can convince him to leave Madrid for the Quayside.

[packt up]

Savage ain't half as good as Graveson.

We already have enough whiney shitty "rough" players - see Bowyer and Butt.

[Rob]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005280219,,00.html

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">ahaha</font>

If he is a professional boxer, he won't be for much longer.

[Chavo Classic]

Savage ain't half as good as Graveson.

We already have enough whiney shitty "rough" players - see Bowyer and Butt.

The difference being that Savage and Graveson are consistently good players while Butt and Bowyer are not. Butt hasn't seemed to play at all well since the 2002 World Cup and Bowyer is about as committed and loyal to the club as Dyer and Bellamy.

[Wengerland]

Sav :'(

Fixtures released on Thursday :love:

[Chavo Classic]

Big games this season for Liverpool -

Man Utd (home)
Man Utd (away)

The rest is just for killing time in-between.

[Rob]

Big games this season for Liverpool -

Man Utd (home)
Man Utd (away)

The rest is just for killing time in-between.

6 easy points :D

[Chavo Classic]

Shame we're the shits against the crappy teams though

[Rob Ban Fan]

If he is a professional boxer, he won't be for much longer.

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">who cares? He put that cunt Pennant down with one swift punch. Thats all that matters.</font>

[Wengerland]

Oh yeah, we've had a bid rejected for Scott Robertson of Dundee, though he's only made 9 first team appearances i'm told.

[Rob]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">who cares? He put that cunt Pennant down with one swift punch. Thats all that matters.</font>

You have a point.

[Y2Ant]

I don't see why we shouldn't have a striker as a top priority right now, I mean who do we have to play alongside Alan Shearer at the moment? Exactly.

[The Mask]

cheat goal and no blasters rule. fucking hell, pissing myself here.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

I'd have disallowed Nakamura's goal tonight. No toe pokes.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Figo is fucking shit anyway. He'll be on far too much money for what he'll actually contribute.Figo was Real Madrid's best player for much of last season.

His name is Luis Filipe Madeira Figo and he does not deserve this. He has done enough to earn the respect of the likes of you. We should have a private army that goes around whipping or beating people who insult his greatness.

Newcastle wouldn't want to sign Figo, simply because signing a talented footballer who has won trophies and is a good man and a model professional does not fit in with their policy of buying rapists, murderers and wastrels.

[Wengerland]

Fixtures released today, Wigan start at home to Chelsea, Arsenal against Newcastle, Liverpool at Boro, Man Utd at Everton.

Pretty pleased with Leicester's starting fixtures, Sheff Utd away and then Ipswich at home as 2 of the first 3 isn't great, though Ipswich are fucked now, but then we've got Crewe and all the promoted sides in a row. Unlucky about your start, MMM :o

[Chavo Classic]

Newcastle wouldn't want to sign Figo, simply because signing a talented footballer who has won trophies and is a good man and a model professional does not fit in with their policy of buying rapists, murderers and wastrels.

I was up in Newcastle a few weekend ago in the New Market (which is like the clubbing capital for chavs in the toon) and who did I see taking a piss against a wall at 3 am in the morning chasing after the nearest bit of skirt...

Yep, that model professional Mr Kieran Dyer. GET TO BED YOU FUCK! Makes me wonder if half the newcastle squad were cut out to be professional footballers. If you paid me £30,000 a week i'd happily go to bed at 9 pm every night. Ungrateful fuck Dyer. Newcastle fans pay hundreds of pounds every year to see you "play" football (how many times have you played with a hangover Mr Dyer?) They are perhaps the loyalest fans in the country, perhaps naively but still they're fucking loyal. And here's you, taking a piss at 3 am in the morning the night after a match. Great model professional you are!

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Unlucky about your start, MMM :o

:mad: Least we'll get a good idea about what sort of chances we'll have

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">Figo is clearly banging Beckham anyway. I always see pictures of Beckham and Figo is always near by with a sly smile on his face.

http://img.ssz.co.za/040324BeckhamFigoCelebrateGbg.jpg

http://live.vg.no/live/images/kamp/2004-06/6997.jpg
http://www.mobaratek.com/img/news/figo-beckham.jpg
http://thethao.vietnamnet.vn/dataimages/original/images125442_1.jpg
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39322000/jpg/_39322107_figo_ap.jpg
http://www.realmadrid-futbol.com/tokyo-verdy_rmadrid_beckham-figo.jpg
http://www.expressen.se/content/1/c6/05/79/57/491c9c98.jpg
http://www.look.at/enlargeyourpen/eyp_container/figo_beckham.jpg
http://www.americanphoto.co.jp/photosearch/Previews/PLX109292.jpg
http://www.realmadrid-futbol.com/japon_beckham_ronaldo_figo.jpg
http://sport.tiscali.it/media/2004/settembre/28/real_roma_180.jpg

http://gfx.dagbladet.no/sport/2004/01/20/real.jpg


That is just the first page.

You fancy Figo and you're jealous of Beckham. Admit it, Gates.</font>

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Sounds to me more like your insane hatred of Figo is caused by how close he is getting to your boyfriend Beckham. You seem to be paying close attention to how cosy they get.

[Karlsberg]

Refering to earlier posts there doesn't seem to be many people fond of Jermaine Pennant. Now just because i am a Birmingham fan doesn't mean i am completly biased and the chances are Pennant deserved it but how many of you who have criticised him can honestly say they dont have someone in there squad who is a bit of a dick.

[Rob Ban Fan]

Sounds to me more like your insane hatred of Figo is caused by how close he is getting to your boyfriend Beckham. You seem to be paying close attention to how cosy they get.

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">I tried to think of a response but I don't have one. I suppose I have no choice but to concede to your logic and accept that I do fancy Beckham.

Also, we have no dicks in our squad since we released Berkovic :cool:</font>

[Y2Ant]

Owen Price jobs to Damien Gates :(

[Rob]

Looks like Chelsea got Wright-Phillips then.

[Mike the Metal Ed]

http://tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=32238

:mad:

[toxic rooster]

lol dw, it took this thread a while to 'kick off' too

[Nervous Ferret]

dw i be gay haha