Football Talk 2004/2005 (Soccer)

[The Mask]

reply 1000 :shifty:

also, this young Rossi kid we signed is supposedly looking awesome in our reserves :love:

[El Capitano Gatisto]

I think Jay Bothroyd scored about 3 goals in 25 games for Perugia. Whether you would consider that kind of record great or not, who knows?

As for Manchester United, I think Scholes and Giggs will go back to their original positions, and it'll be as simple as that. Rooney and Smith will take over from them playing off the front man of either Saha or Van Nistelrooy.

[Doink]

all you need to know about jay bothroyds goal history:

http://www.soccerage.com/en/07/19613.html

[Dazz]

Rooney is good at Free kicks and that'll help United too. The fake Ronaldo's free kicks arent bad either. Similar to what ECG said, I think Rooney will take long shots and Nistelrooy will tap in what ever the keeper spills or other rebounds. I can't see Rooney playing as much as the other three this season to be honest, as RvN is still tricking people into believing he is good, Smith has a great work rate and is loved by the fans, so out of Saha and Rooney I think Rooney will play less because he is still young and needs more practice before being good enough for the United team. I am aware that he was the man in Portugal 04 but it doesn't mean much IMO, as Fergie will want him to gradually settle in, unlike at Everton where they needed hi to play the whole time, theres no rush at United.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Take a look at how many goals Manchester United score without Ruud Van Nistelrooy playing, to many they score when he does.

Dazz, his goal scoring rate speaks for itself. Simple as that.

I think Rooney will force himself into being played, simply because he's a fucking brilliant player. Manchester United have made a big signing there. I don't think we realise right now what an effect Rooney will have on the overall attitude of the side.

[Dazz]

But do you not think Rooney will need time to settle in? He is not going to be on fire straigh away, I can see Fergie playing others more then him this season, he is more there for next season and beyond, and they pretty much had to sign him now to ensure that no one else did.

And as I have always said, if RvN was as good as people say, he would be able to score from outside the six yard box, apart from penalties. Nistelrooy does the old tap in routine pretty well which is why him and Rooney will be good together.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

His goal against Fulham, where he ran from the halfway line? His goal against West Ham, where he skinned a couple of men, then swung it in the top corner from the edge of the box with the outside of his foot?

Anyway, it's irrelevant. There are great goalscorers and scorers of great goals. Van Nistelrooy is a great goalscorer. It doesn't matter how good they are, he is there to score them, which is a talent in and of itself.

[The Mask]

The only thing is, I don't really want to see Alan Smith out of the side after the start he made for us.

[Rob]

You'll be here all night trying to convince Mental Mantle that RVN is a good player.

[The Mask]

And Saha has hardly done anything wrong, bar being crippled half of the time either.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Alan Smith won't be out of the side. The thing is, Van Nistelrooy is the only one amongst them you'd call a pure striker. I don't think Smith is best leading the line on his own, and he'll be even better when he's allowed to drop off a front man, pull wide and generally put in the leg work.

Saha can play out wide, too, as an attacker, with his pace and two-footed abilities. Rooney is an excellent option, something not many teams have. A player who links midfield and attack brilliantly. Scholes doesn't really fit that role, for me. He's better in the central midfield, joining the attack.

[The Mask]

apparently this young Rossi kid we just signed in the summer picked up on the edge of the area, past 3 and scored off the post with his weak foot.

I might wander down to watch the reserves play sometime. I can afford that, at least.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Apparently Lee Martin, the kid signed from Wimbledon, is something special too. Never seen him play, considering he's 16 or 17. They paid £1 million for him, though, so he must be alright.

[Rob]

We have signed kids for huge money before and they barely broke into the first team.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Like who? How many 16 year olds have you signed for £1 million? Bear in mind, 16 year olds who haven't broken into a club side regularly at any level.

[Rob]

Greame Tomlinson and Daniel Nardiello just to name two. If a player isn't playing for a club at any level then he ain't a player.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Hasn't broken into a club's side, I said, at any level. He's not ben a first team regular.

And I'm pretty sure Nardiello came through United's youth system. Not sure about Tomlinson.

Added to that, Nardiello isn't exactly past it.

[Rob]

Nardiello came from Wolves. Kirky will back that up.

Tomlinson cost us like £500,000 and never got a first team game. Think he was from Luton or Bradford.

Nardiello isn't past it. But I never said he was.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

You said that players you've paid big money for haven't become first team regulars.

But anyway, Lee Martin is supposedly an excellent prospect. Sought after by a lot of the top clubs.

[Rob]

Sorry I must have missed when they became first teamers. And what I actually said was we have paid big money for kids who have barely broke the first team. There's a difference.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Right, I understand that, but it's not like they're so old that they still might not break into the first team.

[packt up]

So anyway is Rooney going to allow Man U to challenge Arsenal?????

I would say yes to challenging more effectively...

But Arsenal are still better.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Nardiello was poached :rant:

http://www.football365.com/mediastore/Story_Images/F365_Homepage/Lookalikes/donkeyshrekrooneyruud.jpg

:lol:

[Mr. Monday Morning]

I would say Ferdinand will be more crucial to United challenging than Rooney will. But that's just me.

[The Mask]

like nobody saw the donkey and shrek thing coming.

I take more pleasure in all the ABU's who must have bought a red england shirt with Rooney on the back during Euro 2004 though.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Calm down Mask one might think you were peeved over something

[The Mask]

If there's one word to describe my mood right now, peeved is it :mad:

:shifty:

apparently Rooney has some behaviour clause in his contract too, so if he does anything to embaress the club, we can fine him more than the maximum 2 weeks wages or whatever.

[Dazz]

His goal against Fulham, where he ran from the halfway line? His goal against West Ham, where he skinned a couple of men, then swung it in the top corner from the edge of the box with the outside of his foot?

Anyway, it's irrelevant. There are great goalscorers and scorers of great goals. Van Nistelrooy is a great goalscorer. It doesn't matter how good they are, he is there to score them, which is a talent in and of itself.

The goal that started with an elbow ;) and he still had to run to the six yard box, and the one against West Ham was inside the box, but I cant remember it too well though. Fact remains, if he was as good as people say he is, then he would be able to do more then tap a ball in and take a good penalty.

Never said it wasn't a talent, just saying it isn't as big a talent is people would make you think, bearing in mind the team does 99% of the work for him.

That is why I think Nistelrooy tricks people into thinking he is a great player, because people remember the goalscorer, not who set up the goals.

Examples: Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0, Alexei Smertin was BY FAR Chelsea's best player, but he didn't get man of the match, Eidur Gudjohnsen did, anyone watching the match will tell you that apart from the goal he did nothing.

When Manchester United played Millwall in the F.A Cup final, RvN got man of the match because he scored a penalty and a tap in, Ronaldo was clearly Man Of The Match, and played much better.

Those are just two examples off the top of my head, the point is, people remember the goalscores and thats why people think RvN is better then he is.

[The Mask]

the FA cup was just because Sven is a clueless wanker. Just about everyone on earth thought Ronaldo was man of the match.

[Doink]

Sven is a clueless wanker.

:yes: yet he's still the manager of the national team :nono:

Ruud does his job, he's paid to put the ball in the net and he does it. Bernie Slaven is a legend in middlesbrough and he was the tap in king!

i agree with the fact people dont remember the creator of the goals but the simple fact is if the person who hadnt put it in the net hadnt put it in the net then there may not have been a goal.

a forwards job is to score goals RvN does that. Terry Henry is a hell of a better player tho as he plays for the team but still gets the goals.

[Wengerland]

I used to think in the same way as Dazz on RvN but then i remembered Gary Lineker was pretty much the same and he's a legend, in Leicester if not all of England.Sort of the same point that Doink made really.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Examples: Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0, Alexei Smertin was BY FAR Chelsea's best player, but he didn't get man of the match, Eidur Gudjohnsen did, anyone watching the match will tell you that apart from the goal he did nothing.

When Manchester United played Millwall in the F.A Cup final, RvN got man of the match because he scored a penalty and a tap in, Ronaldo was clearly Man Of The Match, and played much better.

Those are just two examples off the top of my head, the point is, people remember the goalscores and thats why people think RvN is better then he is.
You do realise that sponsor's choice for MoM are always bullshit? No one actually pays any attention to them. Except you, obviously.

What about Van Nistelrooy's goal against Arsenal, where he skinned Sol Campbell, and took the ball into the box to chip it over the keeper? Didn't have to do much for that one either?

Van Nistelrooy is an all round great player. He's not Thierry Henry, but few players are. He's a pure striker, big and strong, and perfect for other attacking players to play off. I can only think you haven't actually played football yourself, Dazz, if you can't understand the benefits of a big man up front with brilliant technique and the ability to hold a ball up and link the play. His movement off the ball is also excellent, floating between defenders and straying into offside positions where they can't see him, only to come back on again before the ball is played to him.

Added to that, the amount of goals he gets, and you've got one of the best strikers in the world today.

And being there to tap them in is a talent in itself.

[Rob]

Every Chelsea striker is better than RVN.

Last time I checked, just because you don't score 20 yarders, that doesn't mean you can't. Goals win games. 1 yard header or 55 yard shots. They all count for the same if they hit the net.

[Paranoid Rattlesnake]

Ruud is quality, He scores goals domestically, in europe and at international level at a very impressive rate.

[Doink]

Every Chelsea striker is better than RVN.

:wtf: only time will tell on that one.

RvN is one of those players you either love or hate, i hate him myself and think he drifts in & out of games to often but thats my opinion, however saying that my cousin always ask what i think of him i say crap, so he reverses the question and says and if he played for boro? i always say he'd be a legend because he scores goals.

my main problem with him is that he plays for man u and always seems to score against us, same reason i hate pires at arsenal as he always scores against us :mad:

anyway ive seen games where RvN scores in the six yard box, runs with the ball half of the pitch and takes it into six yard box and scores. ive seen him let the ball drop over his shoulder, control it then leather it past keepers only needing two touches. my point is he does his job and there are plenty of teams who would take him if he became available - including chelsea!

he will be up there with the top scorers again this year at the end of the season but i think this year will see reyes top the scoring charts!

to change the subject el tel is in talks with newcastle to become their new manager !

[Cactus Sid]

Even as a Liverpool fan, I have to say Van Nistelrooy is quality, everyone knows his faults (except the United fans obviously) but at the end of the day, he is in the top 5 penalty box strikers in the world, and that is what matters.

[Cactus Sid]

Also, about Rooney.

All I have to say is, wait and see, he's still got to prove himself in the Premiership, he's young and has all the potential in the world, its just a matter of him living up to it in the league, where it'll matter the most.

By the way, can I just say how "pleasant" it is to see all the United fans regaining the usual cockiness, I wondered where it had gone for a while

[Dazz]

Every Chelsea striker is better than RVN.

Last time I checked, just because you don't score 20 yarders, that doesn't mean you can't. Goals win games. 1 yard header or 55 yard shots. They all count for the same if they hit the net.

Wow, you didn't even read what I wrote, why don't you reply once you've read it.

You do realise that sponsor's choice for MoM are always bullshit? No one actually pays any attention to them. Except you, obviously.

What about Van Nistelrooy's goal against Arsenal, where he skinned Sol Campbell, and took the ball into the box to chip it over the keeper? Didn't have to do much for that one either?

Van Nistelrooy is an all round great player. He's not Thierry Henry, but few players are. He's a pure striker, big and strong, and perfect for other attacking players to play off. I can only think you haven't actually played football yourself, Dazz, if you can't understand the benefits of a big man up front with brilliant technique and the ability to hold a ball up and link the play. His movement off the ball is also excellent, floating between defenders and straying into offside positions where they can't see him, only to come back on again before the ball is played to him.

Added to that, the amount of goals he gets, and you've got one of the best strikers in the world today.

And being there to tap them in is a talent in itself.

It was Sky's choice for Eidur Gudjohnsen not Orange's.

I've played at centre back and up front in football, admittedly at no level higher then sunday league though, and I don't think your right about your big guy theory. Jimmy and Eidur were a great partnership and neither of them are tall or used to hold off defenders. Whilst RvN uses his strength to his advantage, he doesn't even do it fairly, anyone that watches a game he's in knows that.

I agree about the coming from an offside position, that is about the only thing that I think he is good at doing, he uses the rules to his advantage on that one.

And I've never denied he gets alot of goals, I just don't see why people cream themselves over him where he barely does anything more then tap the ball in. Until he got lazy, I'd always rather have Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in my team, because anyone who can score 33 goals in all competitions for a team that gets relegated, proves that he has to do alot of it for himself when his team mates were shit. IMO until RvN does more for himself, he will never be one of the best strikers in the world. You can use statistics to prove anything, just because he scores lot of goals doesn't make him good, IMO it makes his team mates good.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

What about the fact that the rate of goals scored per match by United, effectively doubles when Ruud Van Nistelrooy is on the pitch? If his team mates were that good, surely it wouldn't matter which striker they had on the pitch?

So obviously Van Nistelrooy contributes a lot more to the game than simply rounding off the moves.

And Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is a fucking tank. His whole game is holding off defenders with his fat arse.

[Dazz]

I could almost garuntee that that statistic changes this season, your forgetting that for years he has been their only good striker, now they have four good ones we'll see what difference he makes.

Hasselbaink never really tried to hold off players, he preferred to moan to the ref as soon as someone even breathed on him.

[LK]

Ruud is a quality striker. He is the perfect penalty box striker since he gets the goals and his postioning is top draw. He aslo contributes to the rest of the team through his hold up play. And when he gets a half chance he will usually put the ball in the back of the net.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

I can (sort of) agree with part of Dazz's argument re: the quality of service...pretty much any striker playing for Man U will score more goals than if they were playing in most other teams (except Forlan :o ) simply because they create a lot of good chances.

Van Nistelrooy is just a different type of striker to say Henry, Shearer, Owen etc. To be honest he reminds me a fair bit of Ian Wright in the way he seems to be in the right place at the right time.

[Doink]

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is a fucking tank. His whole game is holding off defenders with his fat arse.

:wtf: ive watched him play for us this season so far and he doesnt need to hold off the defenders as he drifts inbetween attack and midfield. he is always looking for ball to feet and one two's. he was brilliant aginst palace with the way he was talking to the players around him, telling them where to go what to do etc (and not in a bad way) the way he is linking up with downing is looking very promising.

the free kick he scored was brillint, two steps and bang top corner, but before it was took he was distracting the defenders by telling viduka and southgate where to make runs so he could aim for them.

:love: Jimmy Floyd Hasselaink :love: id get his name on my shirt if they didnt charge by the letter :mad:

[packt up]

RVN is quality.

Though the quality of service he gets is impeccable.

He is a great goalscorer and is a worldclass finisher but is not as good as say...I dunno...Henry :)

[Doink]

Middlesbrough defender Franck Queudrue has been handed a new contract.

:love: :D :love:

unfortunatly for any irish peopl out there he doesnt qualify as it was his great grand parents who were irish. apparently the rules have chaged and it has to be grandparents or under.

what ever happened to the rule about if you drink guiness you can play for them ?

[Rob]

Quite happy with Scotland tonight. Definately held our own against Spain until the money in the electric meter ran out.

[Doink]

predictions for tonights match, i'm going for england to win 3-1

COME ON ENGLAND

:love:

[Dazz]

thus far I bet ECG is happy with Ireland, not bad so far.

[Doink]

:mad: david fucking useless twat james lets us down again :mad:

he wasnt the only one as the whole midfield just seemed to stop playing

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Wrong thread

[Skeletor2]

Fifa have ordered Le Havre to hand over Charles N'Zogbia's registration to Newcastle and he is now free to play for us :cool:

[Doink]

Wrong thread

sorry didnt realise there was one for world cup qualifiers, any james is still shit!

Newcastle have confirmed souness will become their new manager after saturdays game.

unfortunatly i think that is a good move and he will do well :mad: i wanted them to appoint shearer and then laugh when it didnt work!

[Cruiserweight 3:16]

The thing that pisses me off about the whole Newcastle thing is that Robson has been criticised by Sheppard for wasting money signing Bassedas and Viana, yet Souness has made like one decent signing for Blackburn in two years - Jonathan Stead. All the other players he signed built up a good reputation for themselves, but haven't lived up to it for one reason or another e.g. Ferguson, Emerton, Reid etc

[Paranoid Rattlesnake]

Ferguson suffered a bad injury and Reid is just one massive injury. Emerton has been average but I wouldn't say the wasted money on him as he plays to a competant level.

Viana, Bassedas, Marcelino were all absolute shite who hardly ever played. Souness has won silverware with blackburn of all teams.

He's a big character and I'm looking forward to seeing if he can make the newcastle squad start achieving like they should.

Shearer shouldn't be guaranteed a starting berth as he's a grandad. Bellamy and Kliuvert should be up front

[Cruiserweight 3:16]

Souness may have won silverware with teams in the past, and his achievement with Blackburn is the most impressive of all the clubs and trophies he's won, but he's not got a good reputation of signing the right players.

I know what's happened to Ferguson and Reid, but Emerton was supposedly an awesome player who hasn't lived up to the potential, and Yorke and Cole didn't work out as well as expected. I'm pretty certain that Marcelinho was a Gullit signing though and Robson shouldn't be blamed for that.

Souness has done reasonably well at most of the clubs he's managed, but the success he had at Rangers was expected, to win at least a trophy at Liverpool 12 years ago was obligitary and almost a certainty, and Blackburn are a wealthy club considering the millions invested through Jack Walker and his estate after he passed away.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Yeah I seem to remember Marcelino being at Newcastle before Robson as well :o Fair point on Viana and Bassedas though. Not to mention Bramble, Carl Cort (:love: ), Acuna, and a few others :$

[Doink]

but can anyone seriously name a manager that hasnt made a bad signing ?

i'm not a blackburn or a newcastle fan so i dont know alot about behind the scene stuff for them however i think souness will have more money available for signings and he wont have to look to 30year old + players to make a team and no disrespect to blackburn but i think players would pick newcastle if they had the choice.

[Ogen]

Thank you Graham Souness, now if anybody else goes near Dave O'Leary I will rape them.

[Danny Electric]

Souness helped to ruin Liverpool, let's see what he does at Newcastle.Some of the signings he made with us were stupid, remember Torben Piknik or whatever. Even though the stress did get to him and he nearly lost his life because of the job.
I don't rate Souness too highly as a manager, probably because I'm bitter but he's only really achieved at Rangers in the early nineties and that isn't saying much.

[Danny Electric]

Souness may have won silverware with teams in the past, and his achievement with Blackburn is the most impressive of all the clubs and trophies he's won, but he's not got a good reputation of signing the right players.

I know what's happened to Ferguson and Reid, but Emerton was supposedly an awesome player who hasn't lived up to the potential, and Yorke and Cole didn't work out as well as expected. I'm pretty certain that Marcelinho was a Gullit signing though and Robson shouldn't be blamed for that.

Souness has done reasonably well at most of the clubs he's managed, but the success he had at Rangers was expected, to win at least a trophy at Liverpool 12 years ago was obligitary and almost a certainty, and Blackburn are a wealthy club considering the millions invested through Jack Walker and his estate after he passed away.

If I remember correctly, we had an easy route to the final where we played Sunderland, who at the time were in Division 1(or was it still 2 then?).

[Mr. Monday Morning]

but can anyone seriously name a manager that hasnt made a bad signing ?

i'm not a blackburn or a newcastle fan so i dont know alot about behind the scene stuff for them however i think souness will have more money available for signings and he wont have to look to 30year old + players to make a team and no disrespect to blackburn but i think players would pick newcastle if they had the choice.

It's more a case of a manager having a good ratio of good to crap signings.

[Cruiserweight 3:16]

If I remember correctly, we had an easy route to the final where we played Sunderland, who at the time were in Division 1(or was it still 2 then?).

It was still 2 then. I believe Liverpool played Pompey in the Semi's and only got through on penalties

[Cactus Sid]

Yeah, we were the absolute pits under Souness, took us from titie contenders to nothing in the space of 2 years, we haven't recovered (bar 2 seasons) since

[Rob]

Yeah it's all his fault. How many millions have you spent since then?

I'd have Souness any day.

[The Mask]

Well, I'm glad you're not David Gill then.

[Cactus Sid]

No, its not all his fault, I'm just pointing out that he was a sh</>it manager, and things haven't got any better.

Don't get me wrong, I love Souness for the passion he has for the game, he was fantastic for Liverpool as a player, but his managerial skills leave a lot to be desired, and lets face it, he's hardly the guy to unite a dressing room full of egos is he?

[Danny Electric]

Souness helped to ruin Liverpool, let's see what he does at Newcastle.Some of the signings he made with us were stupid, remember Torben Piknik or whatever. Even though the stress did get to him and he nearly lost his life because of the job.
I don't rate Souness too highly as a manager, probably because I'm bitter but he's only really achieved at Rangers in the early nineties and that isn't saying much.

[Skeletor2]

The appointment of Graeme Souness was a strange one to say the least. On the positive side he will certainly give Dyer and the rest of his bling crew the kick up the arse they deserve for the way they disrespected Bobby. On the other hand his dodgy transfer record and history of falling out with players fills me with horror. Hopefully Freddie won't let him spend much money (we only really need to be improving the defence for now anyway). I hope he is not gonna stunt the development of Steven Taylor and Matty Pattison.

What really gets me about this though is the involvement of Pro Active. It's quite clear Freddie Shepherd is doing what's best for himself and his family instead of the club, the bloody crooked fat cunt. Freddie's son works for Pro Active and so he has got a chunk of the money from this. All the players we sign seem to be in some way linked to Pro Active. I wish the FA would look into this and put an end to it immediately. It's also rumoured the reason we got Nicky Butt so cheaply was part of some conspiracy that we were helping them to get Wayne Rooney by probing his availability for Man Utd to come in and get him.

Marcelinho was a Gullit signing by the way and so was Dyer. Viana is still a good player, just Bobby kinda wrecked him by not playing him, and so he never adapted to the pace of the Premiership. With Souness in charge I don't think Viana will be coming back from his loan spell with Sporting Lisbon.

[Rob Ban Fan]

It was still 2 then. I believe Liverpool played Pompey in the Semi's and only got through on penalties

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">Yeah, Darren Anderton scored for us at Highbury and they equalised with a last minute free kick, went to a replay which ended 0-0 and they went through on penalties and beat Sunderland in the final, who were in div 2 yes.

I don't personally think he'll be able to do it at Newcastle. But we'll wait and see.</font>

[Mr. Monday Morning]

<a href="http://www.play.com/play247.asp?page=title&r=R2&title=126280"/>Soccer AM on DVD</a> :cool:

About time too. Wish it was a boxset or something though :$

[Rob]

Well, I'm glad you're not David Gill then.

You seriously think I'd have Souness over Ferguson?

[The Mask]

no, but when ferguson retires, i don't want souness anywhere near the club.

[Rob]

Neither do I. He already managed Liverpool. Any other team, I'd take him though.

[The Mask]

I still wouldn't. skaus or not.

[packt up]

Just got back from Venice so i'll just say...

WTF Souness.

Saw this in my hotel room and thought it was some prank :(. Came out of the blue thats for sure.

The thing is he's probs the best we could have hoped for. Allardyce, Mclaren, Bruce all tied down/too loyal (delete as appropriate) or throwing Shearer in at the deep end or having that tosser Venables.

Its sad when we have to settle for the 2nd/3rd/4th best.

Its always gonna happen when you sack people a few games into the season, managers want to stay loyal after charimen splashed out on summer signings leaving with you with people already out of a job.

I don't have high hopes but hopefully he'l prove me wrong.

[Ogen]

Villa 0 - Chelsea 0. Fiar result we'd more of the ball but Chelsea looked a little more dangerous at times not a great game but a point will do us.

[packt up]

Definite penalty though don't you think :p.

But yeah fair result barring that.

[Cruiserweight 3:16]

Leeds beat Coventry 3 - 0. Come on you jobbers...

[The Mask]

Last month Red Issue caught up with a little known figure from United’s past. Ex-player, Johnny ‘Johnny’ Moston spoke for the first time about what life was like at Manchester United during the inter-war years and the hardships some of our older players had to contend with.

“I was brought up in a tiny terraced house on the outskirts of Salford in a mining village which was so deprived the local Corporation wouldn’t even name it. Lots of footballers had hailed from our village and it was said that if you shouted down a pit shaft, a footballer or a fast bowler would come up (I can never remember which!).


“We played our football in a narrow cobbled street. Far too poor to afford an actual football, or even a bunch of rags tied together, we played “air” football. I was a keen lad and when all the other boys had gone off round the back alley to talk to the girls, I was still kicking my air football against the wall of the alleyway until I could time each shot or header to perfection and was equally strong with both feet.


“I wasn’t the brightest tool in the picnic basket and having failed to secure an apprenticeship down the pit or on the railway there was only one alternative – Manchester United. Crying my eyes out, I was dragged by my dad to Old Trafford and he left me in the capable hands of Ex-Lance-Corporal Davies (who we called Lance Corporal Davies for short). He was a fitness fanatic who had us running up and down the terraces all day. We never saw a football at all. To toughen us up he made us run through the Stretford End toilets while he fired mustard gas, smoke bombs and sometimes even live rounds at us.


“We had such a Spartan training regime that the fact that I’d still never seen a real football didn’t come to light until my debut for the Reserves against Blackburn Rovers in 1919. The Manchester Guardian remarked: ‘In the first half, Moston’s mazy off-the-ball dribbles puzzled the small crowd. The referee was also forced to book him for ungentlemanly conduct for making persistent “crowd” noises. In the second half, Moston re-emerged from the dressing-room sporting a black eye, and managed to get his foot in a few times.” In recent years, when watching Luke Chadwick, I think I can see a little of my former self.


“It was with great anticipation that I entered the 1st team dressing room. I was immediately introduced by captain Nobby Entwistle to the rest of the team. They were a mixture of cheery local Manchester lads, dour Scots, talkative Irish, dark, squat Welsh and of course the token cheeky Cockney. The recipe for just about every United team ever since. They were salt of the earth - a grand bunch of lads who would take anything from you


“Everybody ribbed the cockney, Alfie “Cockney” Wedge! He wore his shorts a full half an inch shorter than the rest of us, used Brylcreem and had a silver-plate bell on his push-bike with its own special ring.


“The years following the Great War were difficult for United. Financially it got so bad that you daren’t leave your bike outside Old Trafford in case management raffled it. We looked on with envy at Manchester City, who during the whole of United’s 30-odd year slump had bagged the princely haul of an FA Cup and the First Division! At the end of the 2nd World War, large crowds flocked back to football. Because of the unfortunate bombing incident at Old Trafford, we were forced to play at Maine Road but soon started to draw bigger crowds than our landlords.


“While I should by now have been in the twilight of my career, I instead hit my peak. I perfected what was known as the “Moston Dribble.” This consisted of my shuffling down the wing with the ball at slow speed, walking the ball round the keeper and into the net.


“Disaster followed though! An official from the FA was listening to the match on the wireless when the commentator said: ‘It’s almost as if Moston has got the ball tied to his boot’. An expert panel was convened, listened to the wireless commentary many times over at slow speed and found that I had, indeed, tied the ball to my boot. I was the first player ever to be convicted on radio evidence. I was fined thruppence and banned for the next six matches. The good news though was that I was back a month later for the FA Cup Final against Blackpool.


“I well remember the feeling as we bicycled up Wembley Way. We wound our way through 100,000 people dressed identically in caps, coats, and mufflers. We got changed in the dressing room but then in the tunnel a calamity occurred! I ‘accidentally’ bumped into Bert Nazi, Blackpool’s German goalkeeper. I was never too keen on the Germans, blaming them for the tragic loss of my father in the first ‘shout’. Words were exchanged, and Bert pulled a Luger from his knickerbockers and shot me in the kneecap. With no substitutes allowed the trainer could only douse my wounded knee in Dubbin and I bravely carried on, even providing a vital assist for United’s winning goal.


“After the game, an operation resulted in one of my legs being two inches shorter than the other. Mr. Busby took me to one side at the pre-season trials and gently explained that he was letting me go on a pension of 10 bob and an ounce of rolling tobacco a week.


“Of course these days it’s all about money. It makes me weep when I read about David Beckham’s chauffeur earning more in a single lunchtime than I earned in a lifetime’s service to the game. Unlike these modern-day namby-pambies we played the proper game of Association Football.


“Take the balls they use today: coated in plastic and weighing less than a balloon! In our day, when those old leather balls with stitching used to get wet, it was like heading a lump of concrete. Never did us any harm. Where was I again…..oh yes fixture congestion.


“These days, they moan like mad when they have to play more than once a fortnight. In our day, it was quite common to play six times a week, I was only excused a seventh because I was opening batsman for Lancashire. I remember playing against Salford Lads in the Manchester Senior Cup in the morning and then cycling to Wembley to play in the FA Cup Final. That very evening I was back in my local hostelry, captaining the winning skittles team!


“In fact, we nearly always cycled to away games and matches were never postponed because of bad weather. On one occasion there was so much snow on the pitch that our “goalie” Charlie Beswick made a snowman in the goalmouth and had a cheeky fag behind the goal, while the crowd sang ‘White Christmas’.


“Nevertheless, we still didn’t go down like a sack of spuds when tackled and then have six weeks off to recover. It was quite common to play on with broken legs, broken backs and even when clinically dead. Old Albert Holt had a fatal stroke on the pitch at Burnden Park, but still managed to ghost through and score the winner in a thrilling 9-8 win.


“There was always the odd whiff of scandal of course. I was once asked to throw a match against Liverpool for £10 guineas – a small fortune in those days! I bought a box of Bryant & May and when the time came struck a match and threw it at Tommy Scouser as he came running down the wing with the ball. Quick as a flash he whipped out a Woodbine (which most players tucked behind their ear for half-time in those days) lit it and blew smoke rings, while the crowd spontaneously burst into ‘Smoke Gets in Your Eyes’. Oh, those were the days…


“Of course, all the players were characters, not like today’s pre-Maradonas. Oh how we laughed as skipper Nobby Entwistle did his impressions of George Formby (or was it Gracie Fields?)! And whenever old Bobby Dazzler set off down the wing, he would always enliven his dribbles with either a Max Wall or Nat Jackley funny walk, while the crowd sang ‘Where Did You Get That Hat?’


“And so came the sad day when I finally had to hang my boots up at the ripe old age of 49! In those days players didn’t just go off and become managers, who were mostly military types who’d done their bit in the war. For a while I tried scouting, but after an unfortunate incident with a Wolf-Cub’s woggle, I had to give that up too. Nevertheless, I’ve stayed involved in football on a part-time basis and can claim to have ‘discovered’ some of the best of them, including Pele, whom I spotted playing for Droylsden Old Pals.”


Johnny ‘Johnny’ Moston will be signing copies of his autobiography next week between 10–11am in the lounge of Prestwich Nursing Home.

[packt up]

lol wtf at Cahill's sending off.

Ridiculous.

[ct2k]

Chester won today:love:

[diothoir]

LEEDS :love:

[Dazz]

Definite penalty though don't you think :p.

But yeah fair result barring that.

First time I saw it I thought the player got the ball first, and Drogba has been going down easy in other matches so I don't really blame the ref. It was Mourinho's fault.

[toxic rooster]

I always maintained that Mark Halsey is a terrible ref.

No ref worth his salt reverses his decisions.

[toxic rooster]

Also, :lol: @ Ashley Cole having a go at the ref for not giving Henry a penalty

[Rob]

I couldn't believe what I was seeing last night. I swear I thought it was the drink playing games with me. Absolutely awful referees.

[toxic rooster]

Is D'Urso back in the Premier League yet?

[packt up]

Don't think so.

But his spirit lives on.

[CSL]

<font color=white>ARG-EN-TINA! ARG-EN-TINA! ARG-EN-TINA! ARG-EN-TINA! :D </font>

[CSL]

<font color=white>My Grunts and Groans for this weekend:
1. Mark Halsey
2. Mikael Silvestre
3. Hearing Joleon Lescott being called 'Julien' Lescott for the 2nd straight week

The objects of my affection this weekend:
1. Portsmouth (How fun are they to watch?)
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
3. Ruud's back!
4. Dion Dublin and Tony Popovic's goals
5. Beckham's Free Kick
6. And finally, ARG-EN-TINA's finest, Gabriel Heinze!! http://www.manutdpics.com/previewimage.php?mediaid=20089&mediatype=2 </font>

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">Paddy Berger :cool:!!!!!

in the programme it said that Julian Speroni was considered to be Dundee's greatest ever keeper :| Dundee must have had some absolutly shocking keepers down the years then :$</font>

[CSL]

<font color=white>Speroni's a bloody good keeper</font>

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">Well to be fair, he may be but ive only seen him twice, once when he tried to take it round Kevin Campbell and gave away that penalty, and yesterday where he somehow managed to take Berger's shot that was going wide and put it in the net :$

All of the Palace fans were screaming for him to be dropped.</font>

[CSL]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">...when he tried to take it round Kevin Campbell and gave away that penalty, and yesterday where he somehow managed to take Berger's shot that was going wide and put it in the net :$
</font>

:lol:

[Rob]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">Paddy Berger :cool:!!!!!

in the programme it said that Julian Speroni was considered to be Dundee's greatest ever keeper :| Dundee must have had some absolutly shocking keepers down the years then :$</font>

Followed Dundee for 20 years, my old man has followed them for 45+ and his dad even longer and I don't think any of us have heard any Dundee fan consider Speroni the best Dundee keeper ever. Most don't even consider him better than Rab Douglas!

He is good. But good is about it.

[packt up]

He was shite yesterday.

And a few weeks before.

[toxic rooster]

My Grunts and Groans for this weekend:
1. Mark Halsey
Agreed.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

<font color=white>
3. Hearing Joleon Lescott being called 'Julien' Lescott for the 2nd straight week

Who the f</>uck did that? :rant: :mad:

Oh well, at least Wigan didn't cane us like I expected :o Would be nice if we could F</>UCKING DEFEND though.

[Dazz]

I have always said this, and I will keep saying it, Mark Halsey is the worst ref in the Premiership, the guy is a joke, he sent of Cudicini against 'Boro when Windass pushed him into his goal :|, He mistook Melchiot for Hasselbaink and sent him off against Spurs in the Worthington cup the season before last. And is generally a fat overweight tit.

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">hahahaha that Dean Windass thing was classic. It gave Ed de Goey a chance to come on :cool:</font>

[Ferocious]

Come on the Boro, anaother decent performance, things seem to be coming right at the Riverside.

[The Mackem]

Just back from the SOL, we're starting to look more and more like a good team each week. 2-0 :cool:

[The Mackem]

BTW Andy Reid should be playing in the Premiership he was by far the best player in Forest's team and he has the ability to make it in the Premiership. I was suprised nobody signed him before the window shut, after seeing him live I will be extremely shocked if he isn't picked up in January.

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">Spurs and Charlton wanted him but Joe Kinnear put a £10,000,000 price on him. So he said he wanted to leave and as the time on his contract gets shorter and shorter, the smaller the fee they'll get.</font>

[Ferocious]

Boro's first ever European game on Thursday,

Bratislava :shifty: Should be an easy game

[Dazz]

Boro's first ever European game on Thursday,

Bratislava :shifty: Should be an easy game

Slovan Bratislava? We played them back in 1995.

Had 50p on Terry being first goal scorer, £12.50 in the bag. What pisses me off is I had £2 Vs Poland on JT scoring first so that put me off betting more then 50p. :$

[Rob]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">Spurs and Charlton wanted him but Joe Kinnear put a £10,000,000 price on him. So he said he wanted to leave and as the time on his contract gets shorter and shorter, the smaller the fee they'll get.</font>

Wigan also put a £12 million price tag on Nathan Etherington. Where do these managers get their math skills?

[The Mackem]

I thought they only put £5 million on Andy Reid and even at that price I tohught they were having a laugh. Teams outside the Premiership will be lucky to get £5million + for any of their players.

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">Robbie Savage is going to go to court over his red card because he wasnt allowed to appeal. Infinging on his human rights.</font>

[The Mask]

Jonathan Woodgate hasn't yet been able to make his Real Madrid debut,
but is already on the verge of being immersed in a scandal of huge
proportions which threatens to end his career and taint the name of
Real Madrid in the process. According to sources close to Newcastle,
his former club, the defender is being investigated by English police
for the possession and consumption of intolerable quantities of
cocaine. It appears that the police have corroborating evidence. This
revelation could, if true, put serious pressure, not only on the
player himself, but also on his president, Florentino Perez.

If all these allegations finally come to light, they would explain the
unexpected, shock transfer which took English football by surprise,
given that Newcastle got rid of a key player just before the start of
the season, without having lined up a replacement. Woodgate's transfer
was a complete surprise, taking place seemingly overnight, whilst all
eyes were on Coloccini or Cannavaro, the two players with which the
Madrid outfit were negotiating.

The magpies' chairman, Freddy Shepard (sic), presumably aware of the
situation and that Woodgate's detention was a question of time, came
to the conclusion that he should simply get rid of the problem, whilst
at the same time taking advantage of Perez's desperation to satisfy
the wishes of his coach, bring in some money, and sell the player to
Real. Madrid's season promises to be hot."


all i can say to that is:


ahahahahaaaaa

[Mr. Monday Morning]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">Robbie Savage is going to go to court over his red card because he wasnt allowed to appeal. Infinging on his human rights.</font>

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanker

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Also YES come on, 1st win of the season, have it Brighton (who beat Leicester :cool: ) etc

[Ferocious]

'Whoooooooooooo's That Team they call the Boro?' and other MFC related chants. :cool:

PS Ostrava not Bratislava :$

[Ogen]

Middelsvilla are still shit though.

[Mike the Metal Ed]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanker

As biased as I am towards Savage, I agree, the thought that he can take someone to court over a red card is fucking ridiculous.

[Doink]

Middelsvilla are still shit though.

who the fuck are middelsvilla ?

have middlesbrough and aston villa merged ?

god damn it i'm always the last to know! so what ground do they play at? is it river park or villa side?

[Rob]

Mark Hughes is going to do a great job with Blackburn in my opinion. Future Man United manager I think.

[toxic rooster]

Whoa...is it still 2 days till Rio, or is Rob just getting lazy?

[Rob]

Tomorrow and Monday = 2 days

[toxic rooster]

I thought he was coming back this week.

My bad :$

[toxic rooster]

weekend*

[Dazz]

Goddam I was going to bet on it being 2-2 in the Arse game, and also make a seprate bet of a draw as it was 4/1. Only reason I didn't was because Arsenal were at home and on their day they can destroy anyone so I don't really like to bet on them. Should have followed my instinct.

[Danny Electric]

What a crap day for football in the Premiership apart from the Arsenal game. Nearly an hour into the other games and they're still 0-0.

[Danny Electric]

We have a goal.
Charlton are one up against Brum.

[Rob]

Goddam I was going to bet on it being 2-2 in the Arse game, and also make a seprate bet of a draw as it was 4/1. Only reason I didn't was because Arsenal were at home and on their day they can destroy anyone so I don't really like to bet on them. Should have followed my instinct.

Become a bookie.

[Danny Electric]

10 man Wolves have just gone 2-1 up. Fair play.

[Rob]

I wanna see this fight with Neil Clement and Andy Cole later.

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">Fuller gets shoved down for a "stonewall penalty" and gets booked for diving. Lets see if we get this card recinded like the Drogba one.

I doubt it but y'know.</font>

[Danny Electric]

Yeah I just saw that they both got sent off. Fulham finished the match with 9 man. I want to see how well Earnshaw played in this match. See if he's suited to the Premiership.

[Ogen]

Just finished watching the Villa game and we were shit as were Norwich. Terrible game and was always going to finish 0-0

[Rob]

Yeah I just saw that they both got sent off. Fulham finished the match with 9 man. I want to see how well Earnshaw played in this match. See if he's suited to the Premiership.

Well he can't take penalties in the big league ;)

[Danny Electric]

Well he can't take penalties in the big league ;)

Did he miss a penalty today?

[Rob Ban Fan]

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

[Dazz]

Become a bookie.

If I had the money I would, you'd rake in the cash.

Anyways as always I is getting nervous that the 14 year record against Spurs is going to come to an end, Santini has done well so far and we have been shit in the league.

[Ferocious]

who the fuck are middelsvilla ?

have middlesbrough and aston villa merged ?

god damn it i'm always the last to know! so what ground do they play at? is it river park or villa side?
Dave you tit, he's on about Boro buying all Villas old players.

[The Mask]

somewhat credible rumours have it that Darren Fletcher has ankylosing sponditis, which is pretty gutting :'(

[The Mackem]

6th after a 3-1 win on Saturday, didn't get to go because of work :mad:

[Mr. Monday Morning]

10 man Wolves have just gone 2-1 up. Fair play.

:love:

2 away wins on the bounce, COME ON (after not having won away for about 16 months :$:$:$ )

Miller's on fire, Studge :love: scored a great winner, though Cooperman got sent off and is out for 3 games :$ :'(

We still can't defend for shit but we should be able to outgun most of the teams around us. Another couple wins and we'll be top 6 (Mackem :mad: )

[Wengerland]

Godsake, 0-0 at home to Burnley.

We should get Andy Reid on loan until the transfer window opens, now Forest are going to leave him in the reserves.It would help him keep a level of good match fitness and help us, if Forest don't mind helping out their rivals :(

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Burnley are tough bastards this year, we've got them this week in the League Cup :-\

Oh btw any predictions for Man U - Liverpool tonight? I'm thinking score draw, probably 1-1

[Cruiserweight 3:16]

Man U - Liverpool will probably be a draw

[Ogen]

Brian Clough's died :( story running on SSN. RIP a legend :(

[Dazz]

Did someone forget to tell Liverpool the game had kicked off? Christ they are lame.

[Wengerland]

Kewell and Cisse have been awful, but the whole team is a yard off the pace.

[Danny Electric]

That was an awful performance. We sucked, I can't think of a good performance. Even Stevie G was awful before he came off injured.It's about time we play Kewell where Luis Garcia was playing tonight. Does Garcis know how to control a ball. :(

[Ferocious]

RIP Brian Clough, Middlesbrough's greatest ever home grown talent.

There was a petition going round the games for him to get knighted this year aswell. I hope they give him a post humous knighthood.

[The Mask]

WOOOOO

[toxic rooster]

:|

[toxic rooster]

Oh that's right, Mikael Silvestre beat Liverpool today :o.

I thought for a second the 'WOOOOO' was related to Brian Clough :$. And only weeks after we outdid his record, too :o.

[BCWWF]

I was just looking at some posters and it occured to me, what happened to Henrik Larsson? Is he good anymore?

[Mr. Monday Morning]

He's playing for Barcelona :$

On an unrelated note

<a href="http://www.chapman.rockbottom.btinternet.co.uk/fixturesman/flash/barrythescotchexpert/abuseboard.html"/>Soccer AM's Barry the Scotch Expert Abuse Board</a>

:D

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Actually while I'm here


<a href="http://www.socceram.net/forums/"/>Unoffical Soccer AM forums, including clip downloads</a> :D

<a href="http://www.chapman.rockbottom.btinternet.co.uk/fixturesman/penthouse/helenchamberlainpenthouse_01.html">Helen Chamberlain in Penthouse</a> :shifty:

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Soccer chiefs consider 'sin-bins'

A proposal to introduce sin-bins in football is to be considered by the Football Association.

The FA has set up a working party to evaluate the proposal by the Football League that the measure be given consideration and a report will be produced next month.

If the report backs the move it will have to be proposed to the International Board, comprising four members of the game's international ruling body, FIFA, and four representatives from the four British associations.

However, the board usually meets in February and March so any changes would not come into force before next season "at the very earliest," an FA spokesman said.

The Football League's head of communications, John Nagle, told The Independent: "It's too early to talk about the mechanics and we haven't even discussed how it would work but it would be fair to say we are quite keen on the idea."

Sin-bins have been successfully used in both rugby codes and are used as an intermediate action between yellow and red cards but have never been used in football.

-----------

WTF :|

Also,

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

BLUES LOSE OUT ON ROBINHO

Chelsea have missed out on Brazilian wonderkid Robinho, say The Sun, after only offering £8m for the Santos winger. Robinho's agent said: "After the 2006 World Cup, Robinho is going to cost more than £20m. He is the best player in Brazil. I didn't consider Chelsea's offer realistic because they offered only £8m and that isn't enough for a player who is young and has a great future." The 20-year-old is also wanted by Barcelona.

:eek:

[Mr. Monday Morning]

http://www.chapman.rockbottom.btinternet.co.uk/fixturesman/images/reviews/barryandjohn.jpg

Dazz and Rob Harvey on a night out :$ :lol:

[Ogen]

Kiev have been awarded a 3-0 win from the abandoned game with Roma and Roma must play their next 2 European home games behind closed doors.

[LK]

Very good performance by the mancs last night. Rio is back and played brilliantly and Ronaldo ran rings round Riise.

[Danny Electric]

Gerrard is out for a minimum of 8 weeks :'(

[Dazz]

[b]BLUES LOSE OUT ON ROBINHO

Chelsea have missed out on Brazilian wonderkid Robinho, say The Sun, after only offering £8m for the Santos winger. Robinho's agent said: "After the 2006 World Cup, Robinho is going to cost more than £20m. He is the best player in Brazil. I didn't consider Chelsea's offer realistic because they offered only £8m and that isn't enough for a player who is young and has a great future." The 20-year-old is also wanted by Barcelona.

:eek:

:'( I'd love to have him at the club.

[Savio]

Mcnabb = :y:

[Wengerland]

Kiev have been awarded a 3-0 win from the abandoned game with Roma and Roma must play their next 2 European home games behind closed doors.

They should be banned from Europe for this year, i'm sure that would happen to probably all English clubs if one of our clubs' fans did anything like that.

Stupid how the Italian clubs get lenient punishments for racism and things like the incident last week, considering how often it happens.

[Dazz]

Blatter is a proven moron (the whole world knows that) and he seems to focus too much on England, South America is alot worse then here and he should be doing more to sort stuff out their, the fans are much more rowdy, they have bigger fights, more diving, but everyone turns a blind eye to it because its not in the spotlight as much.

[Oxstar]

Argentina has the worst football fans I can think of.

[Ferocious]

Argentina ain't got shit on the Bolivian fans...........remember that time the Bolivian goalkeeper got stabbed as he left the pitch at half time?

[The Mask]

http://www.ayksolutions.com/~chaser2k/Tackles.avi

the 17 or so tackles in a row thing against liverpool. a true thing of beauty :'(

[The Mask]

http://www.ayksolutions.com/~chaser2k/KewellStepover.avi

ahaha

[Oxstar]

Hey Mask I couldn't get them links to work

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Forssell is apparently out for 6 months :$ :(

Real want Bobby Robson as manager until the end of the season :?::wtf:

[The Mask]

oxster - download divx

[BCWWF]

Is it just the showings in the US, or when they show games at Highbury is the camera always really close to the field? Whenever we get Arsenal games the camera is at a really low angle and the whole field looks small. I don't really like it.

[The Mask]

They have a really thin pitch

[Cruiserweight 3:16]

Bournemouth managed to beat Blackburn yesterday on penalties after the game ended 3-3 after extra time... WTF

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">and EDDIE HOWE got the winning penalty :cool:

Got a soft spot for the Cherries and i dont like Blackburn, so its all good :cool:</font>

[BCWWF]

Its no fun watching a match at Highbury :(

[Cruiserweight 3:16]

Leeds Utd 0 - 1 Sunderland :mad:

[toxic rooster]

Its no fun watching a match at Highbury :(
They've got apparently the smallest pitch in the Premiership or something.

And the camera's pretty low, too :o

Look at the stand the cameras are in though. Mad small

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v154/weegooner/highbury.jpg

[diothoir]

Someone remind me to punch the mackem. :mad: :'(

[Ferocious]

North East Teams vs The World

[Dazz]

WHO LET THE DROG OUT
WHO, WHO, WHO, WHO

:love: Well done lads, good team spirit after the match and a well earned victory, Boro's attempts on targets compared to Chelsea's was embarrasing.

:lol: at doink and sirroundsound :shifty:

[Ogen]

Stevie Bruce got beat up last night

[The Mackem]

Sunderland 1 Leeds 0
Sunderland 1 Leeds 0
Sunderland 1 Leeds 0
Sunderland 1 Leeds 0
Sunderland 1 Leeds 0
Sunderland 1 Leeds 0
Sunderland 1 Leeds 0
Sunderland 1 Leeds 0
Sunderland 1 Leeds 0
Sunderland 1 Leeds 0

We gave them a penalty but Poom decided to save it. Mickey Bridges has returned home and I marked out like a bitch when he came on last night.

[Oxstar]

Brett Omerod took the worst penalty ever, he scuffed the ball.

[Wengerland]

FINALLY CONNOLLY SCORES

2-0 at half time :love:

[Doink]

WHO LET THE DROG OUT
WHO, WHO, WHO, WHO

:love: Well done lads, good team spirit after the match and a well earned victory, Boro's attempts on targets compared to Chelsea's was embarrasing.

:lol: at doink and sirroundsound :shifty:

we were shit but the ref missed at least 2 handballs in the box by your guys!

drogba was shit - he is the new andy cole .

maclaren wants shooting for his tactics today he lost us the game. i was impressed with downing (again) and young morrison who came on for us and JFH didnt deserve to be on the losing side or to get the 10 stitches too his head.

[Wengerland]

jesus christ, lost a 2 goal lead at Q.P.R :|

Adams is completely shit tactically, Connolly is a wanker for being sent off.Our discipline is crap.

[Wengerland]

3-2

Bunch of wankers.

[Mike the Metal Ed]

*Deep Breath*
<marquee><font size=7>I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... I FUCKING HATE LEICESTER... </font></marquee>

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Told you Connolly was a twat ;)

Meanwhile we're no fucking better :rant:

Least I made £100 off the Arsenal game :love:

[Rob]

"COME ON YOU R'S!"

[Doink]

Told you Connolly was a twat ;)

Meanwhile we're no fucking better :rant:

Least I made £100 off the Arsenal game :love:

you must be one rich man as you win at least that amount every week

[Oxstar]

Super Palace got a point off Aston Villa yesterday, there is still hope?

[Mr. Monday Morning]

you must be one rich man as you win at least that amount every week

:wtf:

Anyway nah, I'm a student, it keeps me in DVDs :love:

[The Mackem]

Did I mention that Sunderland beat Leeds 1-0 at Elland Road on Friday night?

[Rob]

No

[Danny Electric]

What was the Everton score?

[Rob]

1-0 Cahill got the goal

[The Mackem]

Leeds 0 Sunderland 1

[Danny Electric]

Cool
That was a great signing. I think Moyes deserves a huge pat on his back.

[LK]

Moyes deserves a lot of credit for the way Everton have started considering all the problems they have had.

[Rob]

He deserves a lot more than credit.

[Cruiserweight 3:16]

Leeds 0 Sunderland 1

:mad:

[Wengerland]

Micky Adams could be about to quit :-\

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font face=verdana size=3 color="#ff6600">yeah he deserves a lot of credit cos tactically he was spot on. They had a game plan that worked and they stuck to it. They play the most god aweful football ive seen though.

Fair play.</font>

[Cruiserweight 3:16]

Man Utd are still the richest club in the world apparently

[The Mackem]

Carl Robinson scored against Leeds BTW.

[Cruiserweight 3:16]

:mad:

[Rob]

Man Utd are still the richest club in the world apparently

Why apparently? I'd be surprised if many clubs were actually making a profit.

[Cruiserweight 3:16]

I'm sure I must have heard somewhere that Real Madrid overtook them last year as the world's richest club. I honestly can't remember where I heard that from though, but then again the current figures published doesn't take into account the purchase of Wayne Rooney.

I think the clubs in England that I can remember that have made a profit (apparently) over the last year or two are Man. Utd, Aston Villa and Sheffield Utd. There's probably numerous more stingy clubs as well

[Dazz]

We're not making profit, but I am willing to bet we are richer then ManYoo.

[Rob]

We're not making profit, but I am willing to bet we are richer then ManYoo.

No. Abramovic is richer. Man United's assets murder Chelsea's. As a business, United are bigger than anyone in the world. Real Madrid are second to us. I'll piss myself when I hear Chelsea are hundreds of millions in the red.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

I really doubt Madrid are doing that well, considering they had to sell their training ground a few years back to pay off some of their debts. If anything I'd take a guess at Juventus being the only club anywhere near Utd, although that could well have changed by now.

[Dazz]

Like I say, our profits aren't as good, but as long as Abramovich is in charge I am willing to bet we are richer, since he clears our debts and sticks shitloads into the transfer kitty.

We have a new training ground on its way, and plans to add a further 10,000 to the stadium, no way are we anything like in the red.

[Doink]

chelsea will be fine for now, it's when Abramovich gets bored and takes his money elsewhere, thats when they need to worry. i can see him walking away in the future leaving them hundreds of millions in debt.

I dont know about Real Madrid, i think its very strange how they have a new president ever year, surely this cant help their financial situation.

[Cruiserweight 3:16]

Real Madrid don't have a new president each year. I think they elect a person every four years, and Perez has a second term now as president after winning the election in the summer.

Undoubtedly Man Utd make the most profits, but I don't think being the richest club is based solely on profits - I assume it must include assets, revenue etc. which is why Real must be one of the richest in the world. Last year Leeds Utd made the top 20 richest clubs list even though they were £80 million in debt!!

[Doink]

Real Madrid don't have a new president each year. I think they elect a person every four years, and Perez has a second term now as president after winning the election in the summer.

Undoubtedly Man Utd make the most profits, but I don't think being the richest club is based solely on profits - I assume it must include assets, revenue etc. which is why Real must be one of the richest in the world. Last year Leeds Utd made the top 20 richest clubs list even though they were £80 million in debt!!

im stil not sure on the Madrid situation ill i know is every summer you read how if Mr Big is elected president he will sign beckham then Mr Little bit Bigger says well When im elected ill sign owen etc.

United make quite a bit of their money from the asian fans dont they as they have a large fan base over there

[Danny Electric]

I think Rangers are up there to.

[Cruiserweight 3:16]

I really doubt Madrid are doing that well, considering they had to sell their training ground a few years back to pay off some of their debts. If anything I'd take a guess at Juventus being the only club anywhere near Utd, although that could well have changed by now.

The King of Spain bought the Real Madrid training ground for about £120 million, and then signed the deeds back to the club

[The Mackem]

The actual land where the Bernabeau is built is worth quite a bit.

[The Mackem]

BTW Poom saved a penalty for Sunderland on Friday.

[Cruiserweight 3:16]

:mad:

[Ogen]

Villa have th 2nd highest % share price rise in British football over the last year. Only Hearts beat us who've gone up like 126% we're second with 55% United are like 4thI know.

[Mr. Monday Morning]

I'd have thought Celtic were richer than Rangers?

[LK]

Rangers have a debt of over £70 million so there isn't any chance of them being a rich club.

[LK]

I don't think that there is any doubt that Man U are the richest club in the world in terms of profits that they make.

[The Mackem]

Got beat of Sheff Utd tonight. Unfortunately we got that red card happy ref tonight as a replacement for our original ref. Breen went off for us :'(

[Dazz]

What did you do on the weekend though?

[Cruiserweight 3:16]

SHEFFIELD UNITED 1 - 0 Sunderland :D

[Ferocious]

Pah Mackems, only good thing about Sunderland is that theyre the second best team in the North East

[Wengerland]

We won a game yesterday, and didn't have anyone sent off :eek:

Seriously, Micky did well to make 5 changes after the shambles of saturday and they seemed to pay off, Trev Benjamin did well in particular.

[The Mackem]

Colin Healy has re-broken his leg.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

What a dick.

[Ogen]

Colin Healy has re-broken his leg.
Bugger :( He seemed so promising but its looking like an injury plauged career already. This is his 3rd really serious injury.

[Cruiserweight 3:16]

Northern Ireland striker David Healy is wanted by Leeds Utd

[Wengerland]

Keown's been told he can leave, apparantely because of a row with Micky about his management or something. Matt Elliott's back fit again though, and there's this young defender called Richard Stearman who looks good so we don't really need to be keeping £15,000 a week players who aren't guaranteed regular football.

Palace have signed a young Australian called Anthony Danze i think.

Barcelona are said to be interested in Anders Svensson :'(

[Mr. Monday Morning]

We're meant to be interested in Keown :-\

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Sir Alex Ferguson is reluctantly preparing to put Wes Brown up for sale in the January transfer window after the defender turned down a new contract.

The 24-year-old would become a free agent in the summer, forcing the club to sell him at the earliest opportunity or lose him for nothing under the Bosman rule. Brown is reported to be one of the lowest-paid players in United's first-team squad and has asked for a sizeable wage increase to bring him in line with his team-mates - however the club appear unwilling to meet his demands because of the player's susceptibility to injury.

A clearly irritated Ferguson told the Guardian: "We've made the boy an offer and he's turned it down. It's his decision. He can please himself - there are no more talks planned that I'm aware of. We'd like to avoid the situation where he leaves on a free transfer. If he wants to stay we would love that, but if he wants to look elsewhere that's up to him - there's nothing you can do with modern-day footballers."

Brown has switched agents and is now represented by SFX.

"He has changed his agent - I don't know why," said Ferguson. "He's got an agent that has given him advice that I do not understand. I think the problem is with the agent, not the player."

[Wengerland]

fucking hell, Preston's keeper scored against us :| :$

[Mike the Metal Ed]

nt pressman

[Cruiserweight 3:16]

Wes brown is an idiot - the only way he's gonna get paid more than he's earning is if he goes to a team like Middlesbrough or Birmingham City. How many players over the past 10 years have walked away from Man Utd and had an even successful career elsewhere??

[Ogen]

I'd love to see Brown at Villa but I can see him going to 'Pool or Newcastle

[El Capitano Gatisto]

He'll end up staying, probably. Ferguson is calling his bluff.

[Rob]

I'd love to see Brown at Villa but I can see him going to 'Pool or Newcastle

Why the hell would he want to go there? The guy will be a hot free agent and if Real Madrid signed Woodgate, Wes Brown can go to Barcelona, Inter, AC Milan, Juventus or Arsenal.

I hope he doesn't go anyway.

Roy Carroll also rejected a contract offer.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Brown's injury record is even worse than Woodgate's.

[diothoir]

I'd rate Carroll above Howard, but maybe that because I dunnae like Howard.

Regardless, Leeds have 4 strikers who cannae score. Now we'll have Healy who'll solve the problem. :'(

I hate being sarcastic.

[Cruiserweight 3:16]

Healy's got a decent enough reputation in the Championship, but he won't fire Leeds back to the Premiership

[Rob]

Healy's got a decent enough reputation in the Championship, but he won't fire Leeds back to the Premiership

Leeds aren't coming back to the big time anyway.

[toxic rooster]

What's the go with Leeds financially, will they be going into administration any time soon?

[Ogen]

Nah think their finances are as stable as can be expected considering all their troulbes but there still paying for players they don't even have for the next few years yet so it'll be a good while before they have proper money

[Cruiserweight 3:16]

Leeds aren't coming back to the big time anyway.

No they won't do for a few years. They'll always attract decent Championship level players, and eventually they'll sort out their money problems, so give it between 4-5 years and I reckon Leeds will probably be back in the Premiership.

[Shawshank]

i was well impressed with tony macmahon for middlesbrough yesterday, for an 18 year old making his debut against man u he did really well. i hope maclaren doesnt just forget about these kids when all the big name players are back.

4-5 years before leeds are back in the premiership? how many of there fans would seriously be happy with that?

[Ogen]

Nothing that can be done about it they ain't coming back until they have some money and they won't have money for a good while