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Of course you have! I didn't realize Saarland had its own FA at one point. Too bad they never made a WC as that would be a hell of a trivia question.
No comments on Napoli being docked two points and losing Cannavaro and Grava for six months over the match-fixing foofaraw?
I'm too caught up with Bradford City. The triple is still on!
I assume you saw some The Guardian's cartoons about the Euro teams. The German entry mentions Saarland.
Sir, I did not. I am MUCH too serious to watch cartoons.
Well if you know anyone who enjoys soccer and dry British humor in cartoon format I would encourage you to have that person seek out these little 3-4 minute things. They're on youtube and frankly they were a hoot. A serious fellow like you may not know any such person though.
A few of the more raffish servants at the club may have a slight appreciation. I may tip them off as they may enjoy it on their hour of leisure.
An entire hour? I'm shocked you let them have that sort of time. I hope they use part of that time to detail your car or dispose of rif-raf.
I think this was all in 2012: 7 goals and 8 assists in 29 league games, 4 goals and 2 assists in 13 of that regional Brazilian league the team was in, 2 goals in 7 games in the Libertadores.
That seems reasonably productive.
The best one can do currently is the Dutch East Indies in 1938.
Keeping in mind that I know nothing of what went happened today for the police to use tear gas, but I am about halfway through Tim Parks' "A Season with Verona" and many of the Hellas Verona fans do not seem to be the most pleasant of people.
Also reports of monkey noises from the Hellas curva directed at a Ghanaian playing for Inter tonight.
This was inspired by my discovery that almost nobody who plays for the team seems to have an active twitter account, and those that do are full of promotional charity things and responses to fans desperate for attention. BO-RING. Whereas the reserve players actually say stuff, since they are basically random teenagers.
edit: Supposedly he turned down Spurs to go to Liverpool. If true...bullet dodged! He's good, but I don't think he's what Spurs need and he's kind of irritating. I don't think Spurs actually need to spend in January. They just need to get healthy. I mean, if Willian or Damiao or Llorente or someone of that caliber falls into their laps, I'm fine with it, but otherwise I'm ok with what we have.
Could not agree more. Doesn't happen as much in football, mainly because physical contact is a big part of the game to begin with. But basketball and soccer are sports in which the officiating has huge impacts on the way the game is played.
Fellaini should have just dove every set piece until something happened. The head butt was reckless and cost his team dearly, but it was clearly an act of frustration.
Anyway, it's a shame on both sides. I do wish Pulis would shut the hell up though.
Ince leads all Championship midfielders in goals (13) and he's second in assists (9). I haven't seen him play, but the reports I've read are that athletically, he's a man among boys. The best comparison from last season of a midfielder with those kinds of numbers moving up to the premiership is Robert Snodgrass, whose numbers with Leeds weren't quite as good, and who's been very good for Norwich. And Ince of course is just 20 (about to turn 21).
Are Atletico really going to sell Falcao in midseason when they have a chance to finish above Real in the league table? And before they've locked in a Champions League place? I've figured Falcao to Chelsea in the summer was probably inevitable, but it seems foolish for Atletico to make that move in the winter.
They are more broke than Greece. They haven't even paid Porto for Falcao yet! So...if they get a big offer, I think they'll sell him. I believe their chairman has said as much.
EDIT: Cursory googling turned up a week-old goal.com report including a quote from Atletico's president saying their finances are stable. (He also denies that Real's president offered a bid for Falcao on a paper napkin at some sort of fancy dinner event. He notes that the napkins at the event were cloth. I love it.)
I don't know what the implications of them not paying their bills are. That's a bit beyond my scope--I don't know if they're risking administration or UEFA penalties for not paying Porto or what. He's also got a release clause so Atletico's wishes may not mean anything if Chelsea match it and Falcao wants to leave.
Why does Spalletti stay at Zenit? Are they paying him that much?
Also, if PSG sign Ronaldo and Mourinho I can't wait for Platini's gymnastics to squeeze PSG through FFP. I have no doubt he will, but I can't wait to see how.
Ugh, that would just be wrong. Their punishment for losing to Corinthians should be to finish the year with Torres.
Believing that might be why he screwed up the France job so much. Well that, or using astrology to pick the squad. But almost certainly the former.
Inter played the last 15 minutes or so down a man and with 5'9" striker Rodrigo Palacio in goal after their keeper went down after all 3 subs had been used. Palacio made 2 saves.
Atleti risk a transfer ban if they don't pay their football debts, though I haven't heard word of any such sanctions being imminent.
Falcao's release clause is reported to be 60 million euro. For me, that is the most likely reason that he could leave in the January window.
I don't share Shooty's cynicism on the subject of UEFA and PSG, though I know where he is coming from.
Reports in Catalunya that Tito Villanova has suffered a relapse of the cancer that he was treated for last year. Just one day after Eric Abidal's was cleared by his doctors for a return to full training.
I'm open to changing my mind about it depending on what happens. PSG sure don't act like a club worried about FFP, though. I worry they are going to make a joke out of Ligue 1 which, relative to other leagues, has been entertainingly competitive the last few years. Lille? Montpellier? That was some fun stuff.
Reports in Catalunya that Tito Villanova has suffered a relapse of the cancer that he was treated for last year.
This is a real shame. Good luck to him.
I've seen Ince play a couple times for Blackpool and quite a few times for the England U-21s. If you think Andros Townsend, you won't be far off. Their physiques and styles of play are very similar. And they're both black! How convenient!
Both guys bulked up a bit starting about two years ago and are still very, very quick despite the added strength. Both are comfortable playing on either wing, although I think Townsend is better at playing the traditional left wing who stays wide and crosses the ball a lot (not sure this is his best position, but he's better at it than Ince). Ince has more of a right foot than Townsend and so is somewhat less predictable when he plays on the right, which is where he's spent most of his time lately.
That really truly sucks the big knobby donkey dick.
I see where he's going but I'm note entirely convinced.
I really need to learn Spanish or Italian or French. Or maybe I should finally start nailing down my German so I don't have to read the England papers.
Shooty, you're not supposed to post random mails your FM game spits out.
Not like they're much better. Bild can hit rock bottom with the best of them. Although Kicker is better than any English pure football publication, so there is that.
I'm ashamed to admit I don't play Football Manager. The gf bought it for me a couple of years ago but I just didn't take to it--it was so much work! And I really need to work on my German to make it easier to follow Freiburg. As the only American Freiburg fan in the world I don't think anyone is going to start an English language blog to help me out.
You're an animal, man.
I'm just happy there will be four Spurs games for me to watch while I'm on vacation. Anything beyond that is gravy.
Yeah, it'll take some finagling, and I have to work that day but I'll be solo in the office. The plan:
Watch the morning game, watch two games at a time at 10 am, watch the afternoon game, then, while skipping pre-game and halftime nonsense, watch the final 5 games back to back until deep into the night. I'll probably sound like Brad Friedel by 11 pm.
I read an interview with him the other day that made it seem like he was holding out for something better, but I guess it never came. One thing he mentioned was that he preferred not to go to Spain because of worries he wouldn't get paid. La Liga has problems.
Sweden may get a shot at them at the Kings' Cup in Thailand in January. Though a Sweden with only domestic players is not very scary. Especially not for a team inspired by Kim Il Sung-thought.
Operation before Christmas; followed by about a month of radiation and chemotherapy. Decision to be made on his return to the bench after that treatment.
This was Fred Shero's game plan with the less talented Flyer players. (beyond the physical intimidation that is). In soccer terms, foul constantly. You'll get away with it a certain percentage of the time and gain a huge advantage when you do.
Sounds like he should just take the rest of the season off. They've already won the title, anyway. Any chance they'll just make Xavi player-manager in the interim? (90% joking, 10% wish they would...)
Shooty - This is a safe place and we all care about you. Your intentions are good but you are hurting the people you love. Step away from the box of trading cards; read a book, talk to the girlfriend, taunt the cat, it's OK.
The not racist at all people of the Zenit St. Pete supporters group explain their earlier comments using that time honored tradition of blaming the media;
I linked to a long Jonathan Wilson quasi-defense of Zenit this morning. He tries hard to explain their thinking and puts it in context, the context being the fact they even feel the need to justify themselves is a big improvement for them. Baby steps!
To be fair to this quaint attitude, it didn't work out too well when the most northerly club of all the major Finnish cities decided to go all in on players from Zambia.
And as a fan of mighty Kaiserslautern (who have an English-language website, unlike pathetic Freiburg), #### Augsburg.
And because this post is already rambling, I thought football cards were stickers? Or is that just terminology?
Panini makes stickers and cards but Topps makes cards for the EPL and, bizarrely, the SPL. I love opening packs of baseball cards and I have to admit to feel a real pack attack coming on about getting a box of soccer cards. What could be more exciting than pulling a Liam Ridgewell refractor card while watching Tottenham battle Sunderland to a scoreless draw?
Why? If you take the Chelsea job you have to be pretty eyes wide open to the situation at this point.
Fight it! Fight it! You can do this Shooty! We believe in you!!!
I feel for Benitez. He doesn't seem like a bad guy and he's been put into an impossible situation. He was absolutely the worst possible choice.
Just in a general, you-shouldn't-want-another-human-to-suffer way. But...naw.
If they sold soccer cards at a store in Manhattan, I'd be doomed. I think the fact I'd have to order them online will save me. But just barely.
Chelsea looking much better this half (should have just gotten a penalty). It's hard for me to dislike Rafa anymore than I do, but I will find a way if he loses this match.
There's more than one of us? (J Sosa, I suppose, although IIRC he's partial to a few different EPL clubs.)
I haven't seen Sturridge nearly enough to form an opinion. The few times I have seen him, I was annoyed (err, well, pleased, given he was playing for Chelsea) that he seemed to put his head down, dribble at defenders and generally not pass the ball, but that's a rather small sample size. His profile seems broadly similar to Borini, so the price doesn't look too egregious. That's a step in the right direction.
EDIT: One more thing - statistically, one of the LFC stat guys tweeted that he's quite good at winning possession back in his side's final third (a good forechecker, if you will). Seems to me the team needs to be more consistent in that area, so bringing Sturridge aboard (as well as getting Borini fit) should help.
I would definitely rate him better than Borini who comes across as too passive for my liking. Daniel really has a lot of talent and will score goals, but his biggest weakness is just poor instinct. It isn't that he won't pass, its that he will pass when he should shoot. Or take on 3 defenders when he should pass. Or track back to far and take a bad penalty. He is a very good dribbler and makes aggressive runs that will be rewarded with Suarez there. I think that you will be happy with him, but frustrated at times.
He's only 23 though and those seem like things that age and experience will cure. I'm sure it's not an especially new theory but it seems to me that "spine" of a team is where players can age. The intellectual tools are as important as the physical tools while players on the outside are more beholden to the physical tools. It doesn't take much wisdom to run real fast then cross the ball in but there are all these little intricacies that comes with being a center half or a striker that offset maybe a loss of a step here and there.
He does this all the time and it's horribly frustrating. He's got loads of pure talent (he's strong, quick, and a really good dribbler) and he goes through stretches where he seems to score a lot, but he's also a pretty awful passer, doesn't seem to work well with anyone, and really, really enjoys going at an entire defence all on his own (you know, he'll get past a couple of players, you'll cheer and urge him to pass it to an onrushing compatriot, and instead he puts the ball on his left foot and lasers it over the bar). He's undoubtedly talented, but frankly, I'm very glad he's no longer a Chelsea player. I hate players like this.
Where have you seen 60? Everything I've seen is either 46 or 48. Still pricey, but a bit more realistic.
Try mobile FM. It's not nearly as in depth or difficult, but can be quite the time waster. I've gotten quite a bit of enjoyment taking AFC Wimbledon to octuple glory (EPL, UCL, Community Shield, League Cup, FA Cup, Club World Cup, Super Cup). Took me about 35 seasons and it happened only once. Good times.
I've seen 60 for the release clause too, and it's not priced to be realistic, it is just present because of Spanish law. The buyer will presumably pay less, unless it is Real, in which case the only way in hell Atletico will sell him is because they have to.
The club is sold to some mysterious entity from the Gulf, but Bates will remain in control for the rest of the season. So you should feel gross.
All reports are that its 60 euro or 48 pounds which might be why you have that number in your head. I'm still so torn on how I feel about Chelesa's options. Obviously, a world class striker papers over tons of holes (see RVP), but Chelsea's midfield play is so deplorable that my mind keeps telling me that a Fellaini/Lukaku move would be the better decision making. But we have a crazy owner, so I wouldn't be suprised to see anything at this point.
Can't believe that I have to sweat out a win against Leeds. Luckily, we still know how to rip Leeds heart out when necessary. Oscar was great playing in deeper midfield. With our problems, he might have to play that role for the rest of the season and let Moses start on the right.
The Spanish language sources are quite consistent in citing 60 million euro.
The conventional wisdom amongst LFC's braintrust seems to be that the primary need is a wide forward. I'd disagree with that, I think a lot of the problems they have (other than a shallow squad and youth) are caused by the lack of a player to pull the strings. Which isn't to say they don't need a wide forward. They do, but what they really need is a midfielder at the top of the triangle capable of making the killer pass and driving the ball forward. Sturridge, if he was actually willing to play as a wide forward would help, but I don't like the money that's been bandied about. I'd actually rather have Gameiro assuming he's cheaper. Ideally BR would have the forwards interchanging so maybe that's what he's trying to sell Sturridge on. I'm not all that bothered by his tendency to bull his way through the defense. LFC could actually use some aggression. I detest possession without purpose and LFC has been all about that. They have way too many players that are unwilling/unable to drive a pass or take a man on. If he stays healthy Sturridge would help, but I don't like him at that price. And that's assuming he's willing to play wide. Suarez tends to be hard on his wingmen, it will be interesting the first time Sturridge ignores him to take a speculative shot.
I'm more excited about Ince. LFC is catching some flack about buying him back but I think its a little over done. He would not have developed at the pace he has at LFC and they have a fairly substantial sell on clause that helps. He'll make a nice bookend with Sterling.
re: Keith
You are correct, I follow LFC the closest, I would consider myself a fan of the club. The other clubs I follow to some degree or another are Newcastle, Stoke, Swansea, and Leeds. Each of them are interesting in different ways.
LFC is such a frustrating team to watch. The stats on the team are wacky, but I don't think its a fluke. Suarez had a rep of being wasteful amongst Ajax supporters and if you watch Sterling for any length of time you realize how far Walcott has come despite the criticism of being one dimensional. Sterling's young, but at this point he can always be counted on to blow a one on one or make the wrong decision. Borini got hurt, but from what I've seen he's a grafter. A solid team player that helps, but he's not a goal scorer. Allen is a cycler (and he's exhausted BR has run him into the ground). Lucas is a destroyer and a cycler. Gerrard is old. Sahin has been a massive disappointment. I don't know if he's not fit, or hasn't adjusted, but he is not the player he was at Dortmund.
They are basically the exact opposite of Man U who are clinical to the point of absurdity.
Yep. That's it. Everything I've read has been British and quoted in pounds. Damn exchange rates!
Great writeup. I would like to see Suarez with a true #9. I think he could be great playing in the hole as a creator and scorer, more aligned to what Rooney is doing now. He isn't a precise scorer, but he creates a butt load of chances that his mates simply can't convert. Put him with a striker like Ba and I think he could be something fierce.
Speaking of, why not go after Ba if it's only for 7.5 million pounds? He has been clinical in his time in the EPL. I don't know much about his history, but he has shown me he can score if given the opportunity.
Real Madrid v Manchester United
Arsenal v Bayern Munich
Celtic v Juventus
Milan v Barcelona
Shakhtar Donetsk v Borussia Dortmund
Valencia v Paris St-Germain
Galatasaray v Schalke
Porto v Málaga
Just from crap I've read that has an 80% chance of being untrue, the hesitation for a lot of clubs is a combination of health, wage demands and agent fees.
The whole draw is pretty great, though. This seems like a peculiarly deep CL.
Zenit-LFC. It will be fun to root without reservation for Liverpool.
Inter vs Cluj
Levante vs Olympiacos
Liverpool vs. Zenit (ouch!)
so far...
Inter vs Cluj
Levante vs Olympiacos
Liverpool vs. Zenit (ouch!)
Dynamo Kyiv vs Bordeaux
Leverkusen vs Benfica (good matchups so far)
That was my thought too. There really isn't a matchup that won't be interesting for one reason or another. I kind of like the Shakhtar/Dortmund matchup because it ensures that one of them WILL advance.
My biggest conflict is Celtic-Juve. I really want to see Celtic move on but a good friend at work is a diehard Juve fan (like he makes me seem like a casual Red Sox fan, it's a bit scary really).
Inter vs Cluj
Levante vs Olympiacos
Liverpool vs. Zenit (ouch!)
Dynamo Kyiv vs Bordeaux
Leverkusen vs Benfica (good matchups so far)
Newcastle vs Metalist Kharkiv
Atletico Madrid vs Rubin Kazan
Ajax vs Steuau Bucharest
Basel vs Dnipro (they weren't all going to be glamor ties...)
Anzhi vs Hannover
still no Spurs...
Inter vs Cluj
Levante vs Olympiacos
Liverpool vs. Zenit (ouch!)
Dynamo Kyiv vs Bordeaux
Leverkusen vs Benfica (good matchups so far)
Newcastle vs Metalist Kharkiv
Atletico Madrid vs Rubin Kazan
Ajax vs Steuau Bucharest
Basel vs Dnipro (they weren't all going to be glamor ties...)
Anzhi vs Hannover
Sparta Prague vs Chelsea (lucky Chelsea fans)
Borussia Monchengladbach vs Lazio (go Gladbach!)
still no Spurs...
Inter vs Cluj
Levante vs Olympiacos
Liverpool vs. Zenit (ouch!)
Dynamo Kyiv vs Bordeaux
Leverkusen vs Benfica (good matchups so far)
Newcastle vs Metalist Kharkiv
Atletico Madrid vs Rubin Kazan
Ajax vs Steuau Bucharest
Basel vs Dnipro (they weren't all going to be glamor ties...)
Anzhi vs Hannover
Sparta Prague vs Chelsea (lucky Chelsea fans)
Borussia Monchengladbach vs Lazio (go Gladbach!)
Tottenham vs Lyon (I swear these things are fixed by UEFA. Lloris gets to go home)
oops. Mis-timed the flip
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