All things soccer 2012-13

[scouser1]

I like your insight here Insidious only because I get to learn so much about Italian football that I wouldnt otherwise. I looked up the Wikipedia article on Giovinco and this piece of hilarity was there Giovinco was born in Turin to a Sicilian father and a Calabrian mother who were immigrants from southern Italy.

sorry I dont mean to bring up racism and that nonsense always but just thought that was funny, anyways Hazard's hype is based on the overall flavour of the month press that is building up this generation of Belgian players, having spent years in relative obscurity compared to their late 80's/early 90's teams with the likes of Scifo and company, they now have a very good side with Hazard, Fellaini and Witsel. Now only time will tell whether they live up to the hype or becoming another "lost opportunity golden generation" like Portugal did.

 

[Insidious Von]

Roberto Mancini said he was frustrated by Mario Balotelli not rising to the occasion against ManU - I beg to differ. Balo was double marked throughout the match, it was up to City's attacking midfield to find the space he created, they never did. As I see it the goat of the match was Sergio Aguerro, which reinforces what I've said about him not being a money player.

Here's cause for concern for EPL fans, the Inter vs Napoli match was played at a much higher quality than the Manchester derby. Stramaccione won his chess match against Mazzarri. The Inter coach is still in his mid 30's, considering that he hasn't had Sneidjer all year, is he the best young coach in football?

Finally here's some bad news for Don Draper, Da Man could be playing for Los Blancos in January. It pains me to see DDR leave Roma but at this time the deal makes sense. Roma has a glut of midfielders and a paucity of defenders, they can use the transfer fee to beef up their backline. And Mourinho finally gets the player he's coveted since his Chelsea days.

 

[Phil C. McNasty]

Finally here's some bad news for Don Draper, Da Man could be playing for Los Blancos in January. It pains me to see DDR leave Roma but at this time the deal makes sense. Roma has a glut of midfielders and a paucity of defenders, they can use the transfer fee to beef up their backline. And Mourinho finally gets the player he's coveted since his Chelsea days

Daniele De Rossi will be 30 next year, isnt that a bit too old to move to Madrid??

 

[Insidious Von]

Normally yes.

However DDR has bought into Andrea Pirlo's lifestyle regime (David Beckham is another) so it remains how well he can continue to play at a high level. Due to his contract dispute he's hardly played this year. Michael Bradley has played so well in his place that Zeman cannot justify sitting him on the bench in favour of DDR. Also DDR is the missing link that Real do not currently have, someone who can settle the midfield down when the run of play isn't going their way.

 

[Big Michael]

Normally yes.

However DDR has bought into Andrea Pirlo's lifestyle regime (David Beckham is another) so it remains how well he can continue to play at a high level. Due to his contract dispute he's hardly played this year. Michael Bradley has played so well in his place that Zeman cannot justify sitting him on the bench in favour of DDR. Also DDR is the missing link that Real do not currently have, someone who can settle the midfield down when the run of play isn't going their way.

Lots of talk of ManCity going in for DDR as well. Also, haven't seen much of the Spanish or Italian leagues this year, but is DDR that much better than Xabi Alonso or Sami Khdeira?

 

[Don Draper]

Lots of talk of ManCity going in for DDR as well. Also, haven't seen much of the Spanish or Italian leagues this year, but is DDR that much better than Xabi Alonso or Sami Khdeira?

Actually, Alonso and Khedira are highly over rated players. Ozil seems to show more panache and creativity than the other two. DDR would be a great replacement for Guti which is what RM has been missing since Mou got there.

Bring it on I say, It'll just make it more fun to watch. It'll never match up to Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and Cesc.

 

[Phil C. McNasty]

DDR has bought into Andrea Pirlo's lifestyle regime (David Beckham is another

Whats this lifestyle regime you speak of?? Special diet and vitamins or sumthin??

 

[ManUnited]

Hi mates, new to this forum but a die hard Red Devil! RVP has remained healthy as have my guys from the red side of Man. Our defenders suck as much as the Gunner's offence and Chelsea's owner. Who fires a Manager after winning the Double last year? Love this game, love this thread! By the way, watch WBA....though losers of 3 in a row they have been awesome under their new Manager. If any of you care to join us, Man U has a supporters club, we watch all matches at The Main Event, Yonge north of Eglinton. Feel free to drop by, we will mock supporters from the lesser teams (HEHE - we are a little arrogant) but y'all will have fun.


GGMU

 

[ManUnited]

Hey man, we will. They are superstar sodomites with no class! Damn, winning is fun!

 

[Insidious Von]

Haven't been to The Main Event that often since I move out of the city and Nutter got caned. Hopefully with the new subway extension that will change. How's Kevin holding up? His health was in poor form for a while, he's gotta get off the fags.

There is another factor, it hasn't been the same since Brian Budd passed on.

 

[scouser1]

Hi mates, new to this forum but a die hard Red Devil! RVP has remained healthy as have my guys from the red side of Man. Our defenders suck as much as the Gunner's offence and Chelsea's owner. Who fires a Manager after winning the Double last year? Love this game, love this thread! By the way, watch WBA....though losers of 3 in a row they have been awesome under their new Manager. If any of you care to join us, Man U has a supporters club, we watch all matches at The Main Event, Yonge north of Eglinton. Feel free to drop by, we will mock supporters from the lesser teams (HEHE - we are a little arrogant) but y'all will have fun.


GGMU

I heard a few years back the Manure oh I mean Man Utd supporters club got chucked out of one pub in Toronto, I guess they found another home lol

 

[dropinloads]

I heard a few years back the Manure oh I mean Man Utd supporters club got chucked out of one pub in Toronto, I guess they found another home lol

Yeah, it was a pub just north of the main event. Kicked out that wanker Kevin and his deliquents and landed at the "Man Spew event" bar. Surprised they haven't been tossed out of that hole. Anway, Red Nose Scot eat shit, Chelski 4 EVA!!!!

 

[Insidious Von]

This would be a joke if it wasn't so sad.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/9752933/Zenit-St-Petersburg-reject-fan-demands-to-sack-black-players-and-employ-only-all-white-heterosexual-team.html

Hardly surprising for a nation that's never had democracy.

 

[scouser1]

I am an addicted traveller and sports fan, in most of my visits I would make an effort to attend a sporting event (Yankees/Red Sox at Fenway) (Ajax/PSV Eindhoven in Amsterdam) and so on, but I lived for a year and half in Russia a few years ago and I didnt go anywhere near a match because of these idiots. You could see the scene match day, they morons in Moscow would gather in the subway system and proceed to smash the lamps near the escalators just for a thrill, wearing their White Aryan Resistance shirts they would be met by an equally moronic visitor supporters and to add to the mix, OMON troops provided the security who were part of the Interior Ministry. Not exactly a scene you would take your grandma to.

On a lighter note looks like there seems to be a push by Man City to bring back standing areas like those that have been successful in Germany, I am not sure it will work in Britain given the yob culture amongst some of the youth, although the EPL the last 20 years seems to have priced them out.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896...k-standing-areas-for-fans?source=breakingnews


Finally can we declare Barca the La Liga champs or will they slip up hmm?

 

[Don Draper]

Now, you know that I'd love to be popping the cork of my 'cava' right now and start the celebrations but...

Finally, can we declare Barca the La Liga champs or will they slip up hmm?

...I'd rather count my chickens when they've hatched. Hopefully, everyone will stay healthy (the main issue in a successful campaign) and not only will my Blaugrana make a run at UCL but Copa as well. If we got the league this early on, then we have to take more trophies than just the one.

On a side note, I loved watching the Mou press conference after RM tied to Espanyol at home on the weekend. He really thought he was going to win UCL last year at Madrid but reality bit him right on the ass. Now he's run out of people to blame. The last statement was that he 'Had no team to field with his strategies'. His tenure at La Liga has only demystified his 'Special' status. It has shown him to be what he really is: a coach. He is nothing 'special' of the sort and never has been.

Tito Vilanova, quietly and efficiently has brought Barca to the best start ever in La Liga. Maybe now Mou will try to poke his other eye out.

 

[rld]

Man Utd vrs Real Madrid in UCL pairing. Cristiano Ronaldo vrs the team that made him famous! Mouth watering!

That is one of the better match ups of the next round IMHO.

I am quite pleased with Bayern getting Arsenal. They should be manageable for us.

The draw looks to be favourable for German football. There is a good change all three squads will advance.

Here is the whole draw for the next round:

February 12 and March 6

Celtic v Juventus
Valencia v Paris Saint-Germain

February 13 and March 5

Shakhtar Donetsk v Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid v Manchester United

February 19 and March 13

FC Porto v Malaga
Arsenal v Bayern Munich

February 20 and March 12

Galatasaray v Schalke 04
AC Milan v Barcelona

 

[trod]

Still remember the last two Real Madrid vs Man Utd ties in 2002 and 2000...a timeless classic. About fucking time we gave Madrid some spanking. Hopefully, our players are fit and ready in the year.

Shakhtar vs Dortmund would be interesting to see as well...both are quite capable teams and play good football.

 

[Phil C. McNasty]

So Madrid spent $500 million the last 5 years, and have 1 lousy title to show for it.

Thats hilarious!!

 

[Don Draper]

So Madrid spent $500 million the last 5 years, and have 1 lousy title to show for it.

Thats hilarious!!

So, Madrid drops 3 more points to Malaga (3 - 1) at La Rosaleda before the break. Good for Pellegrini to know exactly how to handle his former team and gets sweet revenge without uttering a word or the kind of rhetoric Mou loves to use. A true gentleman of the sport.

Mou benches Casillas in a game that needed to be won and Pellegrini subs Roque Santa Cruz for 'El Conejito' Saviola and promptly comes in to score two goals. That's what coaching is all about.

With that, RM drops 16 points behind Barca who used their third coach in a Calendar year.

I'm just waiting to hear how Mou is going to spin this one! He was probably counting on the Mayan calendar to end his miserable year.

(BTW, with the odds about 7 to1 and the amount I put down, I'm going to have a great Sunday with my sweet, sexy Asian student!)

 

[Phil C. McNasty]

Rumors out of Madrid are Mourinho has lost the dressing room, and players are not trying their hardest to win.

Casillas was benched today (for no real tactical reason). Supposedly these 2 dont like each other