Football/Futbol/Soccer thread

[Romo]

watching Arsenal today and rosicky imparticular, the player he could of been had it not been for all the injuries!

[Viazon]

watching Arsenal today and rosicky imparticular, the player he could of been had it not been for all the injuries!

Rosicky is the sort of player every team needs. He is good enough to be in the first team and start any game but he is not always first choice. It's good to have a player of that quality as a back up for when you need him. And the best thing about him is that when he isn't starting many games, he doesn't bitch and moan or complain. He just bides his times and waits for his time to play and when he gets picked to start, he gives his all.

[AkydefGoldberg]

An interesting article on the Basque-Catalonia friendlies taking place during the winter breaks.

They, both, would make fantastic teams. Also, I thought Arteta was from Catolonia as I believed he used to be a student at La Masia unless he was lured over from Basque.

It does bring up the whole question of seperation of Basque-Catalonia on footballing terms but I can't see that happening anytime soon sadly.

It's tough on the players because I assume, privately, they must prefer to play for Catalonia or Basque but as it's not their decision to make or there isn't a decision to be made as of yet that they are comfortable and accepting of playing for Spain.

[PorkChop]

watching Arsenal today and rosicky imparticular, the player he could of been had it not been for all the injuries!

Rosicky is the sort of player every team needs. He is good enough to be in the first team and start any game but he is not always first choice. It's good to have a player of that quality as a back up for when you need him. And the best thing about him is that when he isn't starting many games, he doesn't bitch and moan or complain. He just bides his times and waits for his time to play and when he gets picked to start, he gives his all.

I think Rosicky is alright, nothing too amazing. Good squad player for a team like Arsenal.

You'll be pleased to know for the last four years the team leading the table on new year's eve has gone on to win the title

[AkydefGoldberg]

Inspired by Roy Keane:

Someone needs to him, and hit him fucking hard.

The 'HIM' I'm referring to is Charlie Adam who injured Paulinho. The third time he's injured a Spurs player after taking out Bale twice. It's probably a coincidence but a very bad one at that. He's a fucking clumsy shit-house and I hope someone delivers some justice out to him.

He fits in well at Stoke.

[Romo]

Inspired by Roy Keane:

Someone needs to him, and hit him fucking hard.

The 'HIM' I'm referring to is Charlie Adam who injured Paulinho. The third time he's injured a Spurs player after taking out Bale twice. It's probably a coincidence but a very bad one at that. He's a fucking clumsy shit-house and I hope someone delivers some justice out to him.

He fits in well at Stoke.

He's talent less and tbh if Liverpool had of brought him he'd currently be rotting away in the lower leagues/scotland

[AkydefGoldberg]

Inspired by Roy Keane:

Someone needs to him, and hit him fucking hard.

The 'HIM' I'm referring to is Charlie Adam who injured Paulinho. The third time he's injured a Spurs player after taking out Bale twice. It's probably a coincidence but a very bad one at that. He's a fucking clumsy shit-house and I hope someone delivers some justice out to him.

He fits in well at Stoke.

He's talent less and tbh if Liverpool had of brought him he'd currently be rotting away in the lower leagues/scotland

Ahh, the great 'wisdom' of King Kenny to pay £7m to Blackpool for him. No wonder they took it and ran. Along with West Ham (Carroll - £35m), Aston Villa (Downing -£20m).

[SlightlyJames]

West Ham (Carroll - £35m)

Newcastle, wasn't it?

[Romo]

West Ham (Carroll - £35m)

Newcastle, wasn't it?

haha yeah,

Kenny wasted away Liverpools money and now BR is suffering from it

[Romo]

Cardiff seem to have found their next manager...

[Viazon]

My reaction every time Mauricio Pochettino gives an interview.

[Daz]

Another disappointing result for Norwich. Referee was awful today. chamakh should have been sent off after grabbing Hoolahan by the throat. Then, two minutes later he gives a very soft penalty. Fer leans into the Palace player, who then proceeds to leap into the air as though he was diving into a swimming pool. I understand referees can't see everything, but two decisions changed the game and then later, having already booked Fer, he has to send him for a silly challenge. Which leaves Norwich with one central midfielder fit for Everton. It was beyond frustrating.

[PorkChop]

Good win for Villa, find myself rarely saying that these days!

I really don't rate Gus Poyet as a manager - in the Premier League especially, players who go into management incredibly quickly rarely do well: Di Canio, Poyet, Southgate, Ince... probably a few others. I'd like to see how someone like Guardiola would do at a team near the bottom of the PL. He sees like a good manager, but he hasn't really been tested - my nan could win a league title with Barcelona.

More players should be like Edgar Davids at Barnet. Start at the bottom.

[AkydefGoldberg]

^Completely agree on Pochettino - he can speak English - has done after a press conference but gives this pissy excuse of misintepretation. It just means he avoids answering the hard questions when they lose.

^Pffft, I wished Ole wouldn't go to Cardiff but good luck to him. I'm sure he'll enhance his reputation after the expected happens, which is, a Tan meltdown.

Another woeful evening - We were on an unbeaten run but it was hiding the real problems we came up against a team with a decent enough midfield.

First half, up to the goal, we had decent possesion and the odd half chance but nothing really troubled Lloris. We just can't seem to take the ball out from the back and the midfield can't seem to bridge the gap between midfield and attack. It just comes across ponderous and tbh, this has happening on/off since 2009 when the last great team of Fergie's got disbanded (Ronaldo, Tevez going) and bringing in players like Berbatov who were supposed to be 'Cantona-esque' player but sadly was the opposite besides the excellent one season he had and ended up slowing our play.

Since then, our attacking drive has become slow and ponderous. We can't rely on Rooney to inspire the team, or Januzaj. Collectively, we're just not great compared to other teams. I think Moyes made a big error going for the gamble by taking off Carrick so early - we were only 1-0 down and we finished up with Kagawa/Rooney in midfield. Had we won, it'd have been praised but it backfired. Smalling - why he didn't jump with Adebayor IDK and De Gea can't be faulted for the goal as he's quite tall and the ball was low so couldn't get down quick enough.

Moyes saying 'we played really well' when we clearly didn't is his way of protecting the players. He can't lambast the ref like SAF did because he doesn't have trophies on his side and it comes across petty and showing the pressure is getting to him. It's the only thing he can say but wish he'd show more disappointment with the players.

Moyes deserves the time (not unlimited mind) but he's working with a team that in terms of talent has ran out for some players and I think we have to give him January the players he wants to buy - even if it means getting Baines, Sneijder because at least he we can say we gave him the opportunity to buy with his targets.

Our battle is now top four as it pains me to say it. Title was over tbh, maybe before but achieving top four isn't party time - just pragmatism and a base to go forward from.

[Viazon]

Another disappointing result for Norwich. Referee was awful today. chamakh should have been sent off after grabbing Hoolahan by the throat. Then, two minutes later he gives a very soft penalty. Fer leans into the Palace player, who then proceeds to leap into the air as though he was diving into a swimming pool. I understand referees can't see everything, but two decisions changed the game and then later, having already booked Fer, he has to send him for a silly challenge. Which leaves Norwich with one central midfielder fit for Everton. It was beyond frustrating.

Hey Daz, quick question, seeing as you are a Norwich fan. Are you familiar with some one called Glenn Middleton?

[Romo]

You should all count yourself you are not Bolton fans... annouced this week our debt is now 165million and its growing by the year, the only way to help the debt is promotion but yet we're sat 18th in Championship and no really chance of putting wins together

[SKS]

Good match away at Swansea, I thought it'd be tough and the squad didn't look great today but I'm glad we were able to pull through.

Don't think Blackburn Rovers will be difficult, should be able to win that one and move on in the FA Cup. West Ham in the Capital One semis should be a win also (hopefully get a nice lead in the first leg at Etihad, rest starters the 2nd). Newcastle & Cardiff should be relatively easy wins I figure. All in all a nice schedule ahead and with 5 straight victories I think the success will continue.

[SlightlyJames]

Nearly choked on my tea when I saw that David Moyes was complaining that Ashley Young wasn't given a penalty. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Nearly choked on my tea when I saw that David Moyes was complaining that Ashley Young wasn't given a penalty. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

Not a wise move and I hoped he wouldn't go down this path. It just won't work for Moyes, i.e attacking decisions. I very much doubt he would have used that word if he was at Everton. TBH, initially I didn't think it was a penalty and thought Young was being his normal, theatrical self but on second viewing, Lloris comes out with his feet dangling and studs showing, but Young jumps over him but had he made contact with Lloris' leg then might have been given. Januzaj's foul on the edge of the box was more a foul.

Moyes needs to accept the team's faults more mildly because that will gain respect rather than saying we played 'really well'. Not telling him to go all 'Di-Canio' but accept we played better from 70mins onwards, when we were two down.

Get behind your fellow Scot SJ!

You should all count yourself you are not Bolton fans... annouced this week our debt is now 165million and its growing by the year, the only way to help the debt is promotion but yet we're sat 18th in Championship and no really chance of putting wins together

I was sad to see Bolton go down - we always got 6 pts against them, same with Wigan barring the odd win they got lol but Bolton are a good club. Isn't Dougie Freedman managing them still? He was under pressure at the start of the season I remember?

[Romo]

You should all count yourself you are not Bolton fans... annouced this week our debt is now 165million and its growing by the year, the only way to help the debt is promotion but yet we're sat 18th in Championship and no really chance of putting wins together

I was sad to see Bolton go down - we always got 6 pts against them, same with Wigan barring the odd win they got lol but Bolton are a good club. Isn't Dougie Freedman managing them still? He was under pressure at the start of the season I remember?

Yeah Dougie is still there, really getting on every bodies nerves atm, even when we lose he plays the "we deserved more" but nothing ever changes and we're just falling