December 2014 Football/Fútbol Discussion: The Glen Johnson Appreciation Thread

[AkydefGoldberg]

I tried the "MOTD Live" experience (not knowing the 3pm KO results) so when I was watching it and Villa went in front, I thought, we've dropped pts. Evans, was fucking light-weight with Benteke as usual so would be happy if he left in the summer. He only looked good when he played with Vidic/Rio - he's the most experienced defender in terms of longevity yet I feel Jones/Smalling are most likely - despite their inexperience in terms of playing quality - to be leading/organising a defence.

Red card harsh but tbf LVG said so as well when Fergie might have agreed with it. Young, played decent, on his return to his old club.

Have to say, kinda getting annoyed with RVP whenever he plays with Falcao/Wilson. He tends to be more greedy, like he has to score ahead of his strike partner and should have been more selfish. First half chance, can let him off but second half should have been a square pass to Falcao who took his header well. Villa seem to have played better with ten men and Young to his credit, is playing nicely.

I can't see us not dropping points, most likely at Spurs but also Newcastle who lost today and an in-form Sissokho could cause trouble so could do with the Fellaini back. ADM playing in midfield would be ideal, consistently, to get his early form back.

A draw would be best for Liverpool-Arsenal although a defeat for the former would be delicious considering Rodgers' rant at his criticism which borders on paranoia.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Liverpool deserved a point but so much for Mertersacker and the "BFG", gave Skrtel an easy header and the no man on the post, doesn't help.

[Daz]

Terrific game of football between Norwich and Derby over the weekend. Thought we deserved all three points in the end, and it was a far more disciplined performance than we've been turning in lately. Pressed them really well and outside of Martin dominating Cuellar all game, we looked far more defensively sound (as opposed to completely clueless which has been the case for the past few months). I'm not convinced that playing four central midfielders is the right idea, when we have Redmond (who has been in great form) and Murphy that can hurt teams sitting on the bench. Howson has been fantastic as of late, and I thought he had another good game against Derby. Set up the first goal with a lovely pass to Jerome. Jerome really should have won the game after Whitaker's last minute equalizer, but he has absolutely zero composure for someone who has been around for seemingly forever. Would much prefer to see Grabban and Hooper as the front two, as Jerome really doesn't offer much in my opinion.

[Viazon]

I'll take that point. Liverpool probably deserved more.

[prophet]

Such a better performance from Liverpool, dominated Arsenal for pretty much all of the game. The amount of possession they had was wonderful and I'm so relieved that we got a point - would have been an absolute crime if Liverpool got nothing from it.

If anything though the game epitomised the difference in the two sides - Arsenal have a striker who scored them a goal out of nowhere and Liverpool don't hence why they can't put away chances; if Sturridge was fit for this game Liverpool would have won comfortably, hands down.

Rodgers' needs to do whatever it takes in January IMO. Buy a top-draw striker and a top draw centre-back. Two players is all they need really. Someone to stop goals and someone to score them.

[SlightlyJames]

^ I would recommend a guy but I'm not sure Porky would like it

[PorkChop]

^ I would recommend a guy but I'm not sure Porky would like it

Are you on about a striker or a centre back?

If Benteke left for Liverpool or any other top team I wouldn't be mad. It's what he deserves. Benteke belongs in the elite of world football.

[SlightlyJames]

Yeah, I guess you have made your peace with the big man moving on That is what I meant, he would be a great fit for them I reckon.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Buy a top-draw striker and a top draw centre-back. Two players is all they need really. Someone to stop goals and someone to score them.

Good luck with that in January. Even in the summer, like United, it'll be a tough ask to buy a top quality defender. Hummels could be available if the unthinkable happens and Dortmund get relegated but think he's a tad over-rated. Good defender but lacks pace. Striker wise - Benteke would be ideal but with all due respect, imagine he's wanting to go to a club with CL football so maybe Arsenal would be an option (jokes on Welbeck if that happens)

Vlaar might be available....but seriously, only name I can think of could be Ezequiel Garay. Moved to Zenit but Russian football is in the shits financially so could grab him.

[SlightlyJames]

Perhaps as a more achievable strike target if Benteke proves too elusive, how about Charlie Austin? Guy's going through contract negotiations at QPR right now, if those fall through or he smells a better offer he might be an alright option, would be interesting to see what he can do in a team like Liverpool where he'll likely get higher quality service than he's getting right now.

[PorkChop]

I think the only problem Liverpool would face with getting Benteke is that they'd have to massively pay up. We're talking about 25 million, quite easily. He's one of the best strikers in the league, he's only 24, he's fast, strong, and he's basically Villa's only goalscorer. He wouldn't come cheap.

[Romo]

This is the most perfect thing ever!

[PorkChop]

We got smashed 16-3 at five-a-side tonight, quite a humbling experience.

Most of their team were no better than ours, but they had this one guy who was easily the best player I've ever come up against. He was impossible to catch when he had the ball, he dribbled past everyone with ease and I can only remember him missing one shot. I'm not sure how many he scored as I lost count, but I'm sure he got at least 13 of their 16 goals. He was just ridiculous. Somewhat ironically, he looked like Jesus, too.

After the game we all shook hands as per, and I asked him if he plays professionally. Turns out he was let go by Walsall a few years ago and has since been a bench-warmer for Tamworth and Kettering. It really made me think about the level of skill required to even play at non-league level, as this guy was just a class above everyone else.

No goals for your boy Porky tonight either, I was too busy being fisted by Jesus.

[AkydefGoldberg]

This is the most perfect thing ever!

Best delivery James Milner has given. Love it! Wonder if it'll be an annual thing but credit to him for doing that because some sportsmen get bit pissy about parody accounts (namely KP)

[AkydefGoldberg]

Imagine the mocking and disgust if this was Ronaldo saying this, not Ibrahimovic.

TBF, having read the latter's book, I think the tone of what he says is probably alot more relaxed than in print but another quote for the Zlatan book. Plus, he's always felt exclusion in Sweden from normal Swedes because of where he grew up and his struggles etc, so probably why he was - if really was - ticked off.

[PorkChop]

Imagine the mocking and disgust if this was Ronaldo saying this, not Ibrahimovic.

TBF, having read the latter's book, I think the tone of what he says is probably alot more relaxed than in print but another quote for the Zlatan book. Plus, he's always felt exclusion in Sweden from normal Swedes because of where he grew up and his struggles etc, so probably why he was - if really was - ticked off.

I really hate Ibrahimovic sometimes. He's an excellent player, but a top bellend.

Gabriel Agbonlahor's red card has been rescinded by the FA and rightly so. What an atrocious decision that was. Lee Mason should receive some sort of punishment for that - he pulled the red card out within two or three seconds for an incident which didn't even deserve a yellow. That's pretty shocking refereeing.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Gabriel Agbonlahor's red card has been rescinded by the FA and rightly so. What an atrocious decision that was. Lee Mason should receive some sort of punishment for that - he pulled the red card out within two or three seconds for an incident which didn't even deserve a yellow. That's pretty shocking refereeing.

Have to say, in his defence, with the speed it happened, I thought this has got to be a red but it seemed it was going to be Young in trouble but Agbonlahor, from the ref's view, probably looked like a swipe at Young rather than just trying to, 50-50, go for the challenge. Suppose Agbonlahor's no red card in his career remains in tact.

[PorkChop]

On university challenge tonight there was a man called Stan Cullymore.

I had it on in the background while I was eating dinner, when I said his name I was like what, no way

[Romo]

Turns out the reports this summer linking Spanish star Xavi with a move to New York City FC were more than just idle speculation – the man himself revealed Tuesday that he "had his suitcases packed" for the move across the Atlantic before a meeting with Barcelona leadership convinced him to re-up with the four-time Champions League winners.

In an interview with Spanish publication Sport, the 34-year-old revealed that he had seemingly made the decision to move after being relegated to a substitute role for Barça's title-deciding game in May against Atletico Madrid, which resulted in a tie and Atletico winning the championship.

"The decision was made. I was going to New York. It was all done. Everything had already been agreed with [NYCFC CEO] Ferran [Soriano]," he recalled. "A call from [Barcelona president Josep Maria] Bartomeu was what changed everything."

After talking to Bartomeu and being won over by the vision of newly-appointed head coach Luis Enrique, Xavi ultimately agreed to stay, signing a new contract that will keep him with the Blaugrana until 2016.

"They told me that I would be a useful player, that I had to show this, I’d play and we’d have a great year together. I had a day to reflect on this", he continued. "I enjoy speaking with Luis Enrique, since that first phone call to explain that I was leaving. He convinced me to stay. He was decisive. He changed my mind. I even had the suitcases packed with my wife to head to New York."

As it stands, NYCFC are still on the hunt for a third Designated Player to join Xavi's former Spain teammate David Villa and former England star Frank Lampard on the team's inaugural roster.

- mlssoccer.com

[PorkChop]

I'm usually critical of players moving to the MLS, but I think Xavi is the perfect fit for the league. His days at the highest level in Europe are done, whereas Beckham, Defoe, Villa, Lampard, Henry and many others could still have cut it at the highest level by the time they moved to the US.