4-4! (AKA "The football thread")

[Generalisimo]

Okay so i made a league... if theres interest great if not np

http://fantasy.premierleague.com is the site to register at and make a team.

Code to join this league: 44531-218796

I have added my team into that league.

[Hobbes]

Hello all !! Time to bring this thread to life again !!
A new season begin this week-end and we all hope that our favorite teams will do their best to entertain us.
A little word for my English friend Hobbes :
Good luck for the Community Shield. But for me, Go ManU forever !!

Hehe we won a shoot out for once. Wrong competition though!

Cheers, Chris

[Hobbes]

So, here we are again. OK groups for the English teams, some harder for the French?

Cheers, Chris

[MrT]

wow, if Arsenal cant progress from that group the dont deserve too be going anywere, having said that am in agreement with Hobbes that it doesnt look hard for the English Teams.

From the French I would imagine Lyon qualify and the rest are out?

Looks like my team FC Zurich are well... in big trouble..

Group C: AC Milan, Real Madrid, Marseille, FC Zurich

We might win one against Marseille... otherwise I am not hopeful.. well lets look foward to the Europa League lol.

[lodilefty]

wow, if Arsenal cant progress from that group the dont deserve too be going anywere, having said that am in agreement with Hobbes that it doesnt look hard for the English Teams.

From the French I would imagine Lyon qualify and the rest are out?

Looks like my team FC Zurich are well... in big trouble..

Group C: AC Milan, Real Madrid, Marseille, FC Zurich

We might win one against Marseille... otherwise I am not hopeful.. well lets look foward to the Europa League lol.

Well, you could beat AC Milan if you get a referee who won't let them fall down and grab themselves every time someone runs by.....

[Generalisimo]

Today's match, Uruguay vs Argentina decides who goes to the WC and who is out...

If Argentina wins, we are in. But if we loose, we need to start looking at the match of Chile vs Ecuador.

If both, Uruguay and Ecuador win, Argentina is OUT OF THE WC.

So, let's start praying...

[DarthMath]

I'm with you my friend. I think the game is broadcasted in seven hours or so,
around midnight here in France. I'm going to watch it with fingers crossed !!
But Maradona is making a very very poor job, IMHO.

[Generalisimo]

But Maradona is making a very very poor job, IMHO.

Well, you are being too kind with him... he has been pathetic up to now...

We have lost all the matches played away up to now... so I don't expect much of a difference now with Uruguay playing all their cards on this match.

So, I am putting all my hope on the coach ... on the chilean coach ... Marcelo Bielsa
Go Chile! Go Chile! Go Chile!

[DarthMath]

You're right. But only a draw is needed, and I think the Albiceleste can make it. Oh, by the way, don't you think that the Palermo's goal against Peru was offside ? And what about the last action ? I've seen a penalty for the Peruvianos, behind my TV screen !!

[Generalisimo]

You're right. But only a draw is needed, and I think the Albiceleste can make it. Oh, by the way, don't you think that the Palermo's goal against Peru was offside ? And what about the last action ? I've seen a penalty for the Peruvianos, behind my TV screen !!

Yes to both things.

First, there is an offside of Heinze, the argentinian player standing just in front of the GK when Insua shots. Palermo is not on offside then, but it is on offside after Demichelis touches the ball while it is crossing all the area.
So, it is difficult to see the Palermo's offside (specially with all that rain)... but the play is invalid anyway because of Heinze's offside, that it is much easier to see.

Second, yes, that's the first thing I told to my brother when the match ended... a really stupid move... can you imagine a peruvian penalty on the 96 minute?
Thanks God, the argentinian player makes the penalty at the same time the referee is finishing the match... so, there isn't much to complain for Peru...

[DarthMath]

Indeed ....
After the " Hand of God", the "Bad Blind Referees ... of God"

[Hobbes]

I thought I would bump this thread with a question about Real Madrid.
As a casual observer they don't seem to be getting quite the results you would expect with the wonderful players they have,
even though they are not doing too badly. Any thoughts about the team from people that have watched them play?

Cheers, Chris

[DarthMath]

Hi Chris,

A pretty Playstation team !!
But regarding real football, they lack consistency and balance in play. They are also very dependent on C. Ronaldo for breaking their opponent's organization, even with their multitude of offensive players. But he's still out for some time.

However, they have some excuses : a number of new players, a new coach ( which I think is about to be fired after the Copa del Rey humiliation, among other things ) and the great pressure in the Real Madrid context, which implies immediate results ( that's true for all great clubs ) and discourteous comparisons with Barcelona.

I've never been a great Real fan, and I don't like the way they see and live football ( for their executives' point of vue, of course ). A bunch of superstars never plays as a team ( and they have already experienced that ) but we must admit that their results are not-so-bad for the moment, despite the fact that most of the time, they've been saved by some of their individual talented players.
Some reasons to think that future is not so bright for them. Anyway, I hope so.

Cheers, too.

[Hobbes]

Hi again Darth, so a more expensive version of Manchester City?

It will be interesting to see how the European Cup works out for them.
Maybe for the big occasion games they will do better?

I'm sure we will see some interesting games and posts on this thread in the
coming months!

Cheers, Chris

[DarthMath]

I think that comparison with City is a little "too much". Madrid is probably the most famous club in the whole world. They have a great historical background and culture, plenty of prestigious titles and legendary players. City is far, far away in terms of football credibility. City is one of the most recent example of the modern football illness, and I think they won't survive long as a member of the "Big Four / Big Five".

Regarding great games, Marseille and Lyon played an incredible 5-5 last week in french championship. And even though it was not a great game, but a very very important one, France had won a quite lucky 1-0 in Croke Park tonight.
The World Cup is a little closer. Anyway, I really hope that !!

Talk to you soon.

Mathieu.

[Carnium]

Great analysis DarthMath
The gap between small and big teams in getting bigger and bigger and it seems that small teams can survive for years only by selling one player to the worlds 10 richest teams.
What most of the so called teams forget is that they need team spirit and some workers too. The best example is Real Madrid which is overstocked with talented star players but lacks workers who know how to play on defense.

In other news. Slovenia managed to pull a 2:1 loss from the world greatest vodka consumers errr Russia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btpLsiC5k-g&feature=related
Now the Russians will get trough hell as we are small, but resilient little country with great fans

[Hobbes]

Best of luck with the second game. I will be cheering on Slovenia!

Cheers, Chris

[DarthMath]

Great analysis DarthMath
The gap between small and big teams in getting bigger and bigger and it seems that small teams can survive for years only by selling one player to the worlds 10 richest teams.
What most of the so called teams forget is that they need team spirit and some workers too. The best example is Real Madrid which is overstocked with talented star players but lacks workers who know how to play on defense.

In other news. Slovenia managed to pull a 2:1 loss from the world greatest vodka consumers errr Russia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btpLsiC5k-g&feature=related
Now the Russians will get trough hell as we are small, but resilient little country with great fans

Thanks Carnium.
And good luck for your second game. Being in the playoffs is already a great performance for Slovenia, and they miss the direct qualification for so little.
However, I have a little sympathy for the Russians, no offense of course !!
It's probably because I don't have so much references and knowledge in slovenian football ( or because of the Vodka ... or the Russian girls ... who knows ? ). I just remember a very talented player, Zlatko Zahovic, some years ago.
Anyway, let the best wins !! And with a 2-1 in Russia, you're in a not-so-bad position. Talk to you in a couple of days, I think.

[Generalisimo]

Hi Chris,

A pretty Playstation team !!
But regarding real football, they lack consistency and balance in play. They are also very dependent on C. Ronaldo for breaking their opponent's organization, even with their multitude of offensive players. But he's still out for some time.

That summarizes it very well...

It is what happens when the President (the Great "Florentino Perez" :bonk does whatever he wants, he buys and sells what he wants and after that, brings the coach to deal with what he has already done.
The "sensible" thing will be to do exactly the opposite, bring a new coach with a PROJECT and then buy and sell what he needs based on that PLAN... not the other way around.

[DarthMath]

Congrats to Carnium for his team's qualification against the Russians. A great performance by Slovenia.
Congrats to Franciscus too, for his fellow Portuguese.

And I have only one word coming to my mind for the French : pathetic.
I feel really sorry for any Irish supporter ( even though I don't know any in these forums ), and I'm more worried than ever about this team and the french football in general.

[PhilThib]

And I have only one word coming to my mind for the French : pathetic.
I feel really sorry for any Irish supporter ( even though I don't know any in these forums ), and I'm more worried than ever about this team and the french football in general.

+1

[Carnium]

Congrats to Carnium for his team's qualification against the Russians. A great performance by Slovenia.

Thanks
That was great to watch as the whole team played as one. It is not about the stars but team chemistry and great supporters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OigFJJN12ss&feature=related

[Franciscus]

Congrats to Carnium for his team's qualification against the Russians. A great performance by Slovenia.
Congrats to Franciscus too, for his fellow Portuguese.

And I have only one word coming to my mind for the French : pathetic.
I feel really sorry for any Irish supporter ( even though I don't know any in these forums ), and I'm more worried than ever about this team and the french football in general.

Thank you, DarthMath. Although I have no expectations for my home team in the World Cup. Only rarely during qualifying did we show world cup-quality in our play. We will be eliminated in the group phase, most certainly.

A big congratulation to Carnium, also

And to our french friends...well now you also have a "hand of god" in your story (and another very friendly referee... ...and Portugal's team have already met in the past some of these France "friends" :mdr . And don't worry, I am certain that you will reach at least the quarters, and most probably even the semis...

Regards

(PS: How about the World Cup ? any thoughts ? My bet will be a Brasil-Spain final...)

[DarthMath]

And don't worry, I am certain that you will reach at least the quarters, and most probably even the semis...

Regards

(PS: How about the World Cup ? any thoughts ? My bet will be a Brasil-Spain final...)

Reach the semis !!
With a wizard, and a voodoo grand master, maybe ...
Even though Domenech (our execrated national coach :cursing is a little both of them !!

Regarding the Cup, it's a little too soon to make a bet, I think. I expect the draw in early december before making a first bet. And it also depends of the results of the current season and the health of a number of players.
But Brazil and Spain are already some good choices !! Brazil in particular seems to be really unplayable at the moment. I haven't see them play so well for a long time.

[Hobbes]

I thought to resurrect this thread but I don't have much to say really. Interesting game tonight.
No English teams in the semi-final for the first time in years - and it looks like Barcelona to win.

Anyone have anything interesting to add? Otherwise we can wait for the World Cup

Cheers, Chris

[Franciscus]

I have only one thing to say: Messi must be an alien !

[Generalisimo]

I can only say... [SIZE="7"]MESSI IS GOD[/size]
ompom: ompom: ompom: ompom: ompom:

Let's hope he does the same during the world cup....

I also saw today's match between Manchester and Bayern... really, if I was Sir Alex, I would have already sent Rafael back to Brazil....

[Hobbes]

So the World Cup is on and we have no football thread. What do people think? Not so many great games in the first round so far. I have Brazil to beat North Korea 5-0 in my fantasy prediction game - I have a feeling it will not be the case.

Cheers, Chris

[Carnium]

For me the Germans are always the favourites as they play to win no matter what and they trashed Aussies really good.
Brazil is packed with talent, but they will have to prove their worth on the pitch.
England is always fun to watch ... especially the keepers
On the other hand French national coach is crazy... too bad as they have great players... some also at home
Personally I can't stand the Italians and their playing style... the could do well, but I will be the last to cheer for them.
Judging by the first leg, the Asian teams have made a huge step forward, African a small one backward, Europeans are playing as always, South Americans are fun to watch, but lacking a bit in the tactical department.
The two Oceanic teams are just happy to be in the WC.

My prediction to win are Italy, Brazil or Germany.

[lodilefty]

So the World Cup is on and we have no football thread. What do people think? Not so many great games in the first round so far. I have Brazil to beat North Korea 5-0 in my fantasy prediction game - I have a feeling it will not be the case.

Cheers, Chris

No great games?
Must be because I'm "only" an American....

...where we grow up playing Dodge Ball, where if you catch the ball the other guy is "out".
...or where we play baseball, where you catch and throw the ball.
...or where we play basketball, where we catch and throw a ball through a hoop.
...or where we play "American Football", aka "HandEgg", where we catch and throw the ball.



...or where we play Soccer, where a goalkeeper actually catches the ball!!!


With aplogies to my English friends. We thank you for the gift!!