Football

[Phil6219]

I watched the Sheffield Wednesday vs Blackpool game and was rather shocked at how empty the stands were, any ideas as to why 3 stands were pretty much empty? I know it was a weekday but surely there would be more of a turnout.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

NEWS FROM THE EMIRATES STADIUM...

Arsenal seem to still be looking at future youth prospects to strengthen their squad by making two signings this week.

The long drawn-out transfer saga of 17 year old Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Southampton was finally concluded for a fee of £12 million (plus add-ons) on a long term contract.

The surprise was the move for 19 year old Costa Rican international Joel Campbell from Deportivo Saprissa. He scored for Costa Rica in their last international match against Bolivia.

 

[blackettstreet]

Joleon Lescott - is also usually solid; better than Kolo Toure and a very capable centre-half

Better than Toure?! Better than Toure?! Are you kidding??!!! Lescott is an absolute idiot! No wonder Everton wanted more money from Arsenal for Jagielka, when they had previously managed, somehow, to sell Lescott for £22 million!!!! With that considered, £10 million for Jagielka is an insult!

EDIT: That said, I think City will have an excellent chance of winning the PL this year. I would like to see Richards, Kompany, Zabaleta and Clichy at the back, however!

 

[Phil6219]

I still can't believe how much we paid for Lescott, I think he is very overrated. That said he like all others has an occasional moment of glory. Zabaleta is an excellent player, a solid right back. Richards is good but I have this fear that Zabs is going to loose out to Richards for the starting place. Even though he can play left back as well I can't see him winning the starting spot over Clichy either, a shame really.

Personally I think City can do it this season, we came close last time, joint second (and only out on goal difference and games won). Providing a certain team from near Manchester loose the ability to win games in the final minutes we will take the title.

Nice to see the diving season has begun, that and Voyeur has already got his big book of Arsenal excuses out...

 

[SS4]

Personally I think City can do it this season, we came close last time, joint second (and only out on goal difference and games won). Providing a certain team from near Manchester loose the ability to win games in the final minutes we will take the title.

Can't see Fergie time being abolished :cry:

Nice to see the diving season has begun, that and Voyeur has already got his big book of Arsenal excuses out...

Don't forget the latest incarnation of the "respect" campaign. Refs need the power and the will to give straight reds for dissent

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Q.P.R. had a rude awakening to life in the Premiership, losing 4 - 0 at home to Bolton Wanderers.

 

[Clip]

Whilst I dont condone Bartons silly fall to the ground - He got slapped. Thats a no-no. Also Song shouldve been sent off for that rather nasty stamp on the back of his leg.. Wenger needs to open his eyes a little better and see that he is still taking Arsenal backwards.

 

[valenta]

Whilst I dont condone Bartons silly fall to the ground - He got slapped. Thats a no-no. Also Song shouldve been sent off for that rather nasty stamp on the back of his leg.. Wenger needs to open his eyes a little better and see that he is still taking Arsenal backwards.

Agreed. Barton didn't need to react like he did in the situation, but as you say physical contact is a straight red. Hopefully the FA will look at the Song incident and take the action that they feel is needed - in my opinion it should be a three game ban.
Wenger needs to spend wisely in the rest of the transfer window, he has lost outstanding players and he needs to earn back the respect of the fans.

 

[Greenback]

Song, Barton and Gervinho all acted like complete idiots and all should have been sent off.

 

[valenta]

Song, Barton and Gervinho all acted like complete idiots and all should have been sent off.

The match in general was not a good advert for football, and ironically the most interesting point in the match was when the fight broke out between Gervinhio and Barton. Yes, Gervinho dived, but that should be left for the ref to deal with.
Newcastle still have dropped to the level of fighting within the team, as Bowyer and Dyer did in the Souness era. That was truly shocking for the club.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The match in general was not a good advert for football, and ironically the most interesting point in the match was when the fight broke out between Gervinhio and Barton. Yes, Gervinho dived, but that should be left for the ref to deal with.
Newcastle still have dropped to the level of fighting within the team, as Bowyer and Dyer did in the Souness era. That was truly shocking for the club.

Am I the only one sorry that Gervinho didn't punch Barton full on in the face?

 

[valenta]

Am I the only one sorry that Gervinho didn't punch Barton full on in the face?

May have knocked some sense into him. Don't think it would have cooled his anger mind!

 

[Phil6219]

Q.P.R. had a rude awakening to life in the Premiership, losing 4 - 0 at home to Bolton Wanderers.

Got a few mates singing "top of the league" to which we reply, "only for one day"...

Hopefully the FA will look at the Song incident and take the action that they feel is needed - in my opinion it should be a three game ban.

Indeed, a certain City and ex Arsenal player got a 3 game ban for stamping on Fabregas two seasons ago.

Don't forget the latest incarnation of the "respect" campaign. Refs need the power and the will to give straight reds for dissent

True but again the officials need to get their decisions right, and explain afterwards why they made certain calls. I also found it ironic that the linesman in the Rangers-Inverness game was sponsored by Specsavers, considering that joke of an offside call in the first 3 minutes.

The way things are going if they don't change how the officials work I can honestly see some getting attacked by furious fans, to be clear I am not condoning or advocating it but football is marred by hooligans and if the FA just let officials make bad call after bad call and then demand respect what else will happen?

Can't see Fergie time being abolished

Sad but true, it's beyond a joke. But then again the way the club do things is a joke, remember his touchline ban so all he did was use a phone to make his decisions though I gather the rule book didn't have a section on that.

 

[SS4]

True but again the officials need to get their decisions right, and explain afterwards why they made certain calls. I also found it ironic that the linesman in the Rangers-Inverness game was sponsored by Specsavers, considering that joke of an offside call in the first 3 minutes.

The way things are going if they don't change how the officials work I can honestly see some getting attacked by furious fans, to be clear I am not condoning or advocating it but football is marred by hooligans and if the FA just let officials make bad call after bad call and then demand respect what else will happen?

Can't argue with that. Hopefully FIFA will allow technology to come in (I heard a rumour they were talking about it such that it could start next season), there is too much riding on the big decisions not to have technology. Match officials need to be able to be brought to task for decisions they make (such as Hausen's second booking in the Leeds-Boro game yesterday) but I still don't think there is a place for the angry mob that surrounds a ref.

Sad but true, it's beyond a joke. But then again the way the club do things is a joke, remember his touchline ban so all he did was use a phone to make his decisions though I gather the rule book didn't have a section on that.

I suspect the rule book was written long before the mobile phone came into use, it could do with an update really.
My dad supports West Brom so it should be interesting to see what happens this afternoon

 

[Barton Keyes]

The match in general was not a good advert for football, and ironically the most interesting point in the match was when the fight broke out between Gervinhio and Barton. Yes, Gervinho dived, but that should be left for the ref to deal with.
Newcastle still have dropped to the level of fighting within the team, as Bowyer and Dyer did in the Souness era. That was truly shocking for the club.

I'm not sure Gervinhio did dive and Barton behaved like an idiot as usual, though he was hard done by earlier for the stamp. All this playacting makes football ridiculous and should receive serious discouragement, such as a lengthy ban. Perhaps when the guilty return they should also be made to play in frilly pink shorts for the rest of the season.

 

[blackettstreet]

Am I the only one sorry that Gervinho didn't punch Barton full on in the face?

May have knocked some sense into him. Don't think it would have cooled his anger mind!

He has improved a lot, but Joey Barton is always going to be Joey Barton!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Reminded me of when Barton decked Morten Gamst Pederson last season and claimed to have slapped him...

For playacting, I would ban them for eight matches and fine them £20,000.

 

[blackettstreet]

For playacting, I would ban them for eight matches and fine them £20,000.

Think that's a bit harsh! Anyway, the FA could have starred them in a TV drama and made some £ !

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Think that's a bit harsh!

It would eradicate it... I would do the same for fighting, diving and any (intentional) excessive tackles.

 

[SS4]

Judging by the huge cheer I heard a few minutes ago I'm guessing West Brom have scored

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Judging by the huge cheer I heard a few minutes ago I'm guessing West Brom have scored

They scored quite a while ago!

1-1 at half-time, another De Gea error!

 

[blackettstreet]

1-1 at half-time, another De Gea error!

Oh dear....what now? I think Ferguson could regret not going for a keeper with more experience...:roll:

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Oh dear....what now? I think Ferguson could regret not going for a keeper with more experience...:roll:

I'm listening to it on BBC R5L, not watching it, but it sounds like he should have saved it, more of poor reactions than an error.

 

[SS4]

2-1 to the cheating scumbags from Manchester

I'm listening on BBC WM which is about as neutral as 5 live but in the other direction

 

[Donny Dave]

CARLING CUP......SHOCK RESULT OF THE NIGHT

Hull City 0...Macclesfield Town 2

As a Scunthorpe United supporter, I can't stop laughing

 

[strange6]

LOL I see ManUre's luck hasn't changed. They are the luckiest team EVER!

 

[ACE1888]

At least the WBA v United game was an open affair, Nani wasn't diving around much though today...poor, and Wenger moaning about Barton??? Hellooooo? Eduardo???? swings and roundabouts anyone???

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Hellooooo? Eduardo???? swings and roundabouts anyone???

I laughed so much that night. So much in fact, I will now laugh some more...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Good match, early in the season, between two old rivals.....

Real Madrid 2...Barcelona 2
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

LOL I see ManUre's luck hasn't changed. They are the luckiest team EVER!

I see that they started with Welbeck and Cleverley, who were both on loan all last season with other Premiership clubs, rather than to play Berbatov and Carrick. The average age of the starting XI was 23.9 years, the youngest in all the Premiership clubs who played this weekend.

Both Vidic and Ferdinand limped off during the match and the goalkeeper looked like a condemned man in the second half. When you consider that Raphael had just dislocated his shoulder in training and will be out for 10 weeks, their defence is going to be under a lot of pressure in the next few weeks. It is up to teams to take advantage of this situation, especially when they are at home to M.U., who did not have a good away record last season.

 

[blackettstreet]

... and Wenger moaning about Barton???

Why is everyone moaning about Barton? He got hit, he had a right to fall over. And Gervinho had already been diving anyway. The London press is completely biased against Joey, reading The Times is a waste of time! :roll:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I see that they started with Welbeck and Cleverley, who were both on loan all last season with other Premiership clubs, rather than to play Berbatov and Carrick. The average age of the starting XI was 23.9 years, the youngest in all the Premiership clubs who played this weekend.

Cleverley is already better than Carrick in my opinion. I can't see Berbatov hanging round for much longer when Hernandez and Welbeck are ahead of him in the pecking order.