Football Focus

[Keef]

I'd been wondering, but didn't want to be the one to ask! :-$

[SimonM]

>>And let us not forget the great Brian Deane!! <<

How could I have overlooked him?! three times a blade!

Now then..."Colin"....rearrange the letters of "Neil Warnock" into another two word name, the forename of which is Colin?? As there are (reputedly? B)) ladies who read this thread then a nod should be as good as a wa- wink right?

The nickname was first coined by his enemies but was then taken over by his fans and even the Great Man himself!

[Keef]

Big win for Bristol City, just got a call from my friend who had come up to London for it, saying "mate are there any pubs with beer gardens in Victoria?" I told him I don't really know the area very well, only for him to say "what do you mean, it's London!" >:D<

Surprise surprise, Warnock is blaming the ref... He did a bit of a Wengeresque victim complex thing too, saying that a Bristol player should have been sent off (I haven't seen it, so maybe he should have been), but that if it was one of his players, they would have been sent off... I agree he might be good for a laugh in the Prem, but I really hope they get slaughtered in the second leg!

Come on City!

[ratty]

Now, I don't know if I can post without getting flamed by my new gooner friend, but I've just heard that Riisse (spelling) is also done deal to PFC alongside Crouch - the pair for ?17m - this is from a pretty damn reliable source.

Also, Eiuder Gudjonsen has signed for Pompey at ?3m (not so reliable source as this one also told me that Egurt Magnunsson was buying pompey at ?170m

Anyway - though LFC fans may be a little interested.

[Keef]

Risse is a hero at the pool (even despite the own goal, grrr), but I can understand him wanting out now he's slipped down the pecking order a bit. Both would be great signings in my opinion, and losses for the pool.

[ratty]

And all my mates that support LFC agree with that!

[Annasfield]

Apparently John Arne Riise threw his toys out of the pram when Rafa told him to find a new club. He's been a good player for us, but I don't think he'll be the one to take us to the next level.

Sad to see Crouch go though, but he's just not getting enough games. Remember how everyone slated Rafa for buying him?

I heard that a certain D Villa might be heading our way though. Fingers crossed......

[SimonM]

So well done then the United of Manchester...but what on earth happened to City today?!

[Annasfield]

Jeez, I know. Was at the Spurs, Liverpool game and couldn't believe it every time the score line came up. At one point all the Kopites (I was sat with the home lot) went nuts and started singing about Heskey. Someone must have told them that Wigan had equalised. No such luck. :(

Quite enjoyed the lane. Torres almost scored in the second half and I was ready to leap out of my seat, forgetting where I was. That's the first time I've been relieved that a Liverpool shot was saved. :-$

[Sandperson]

On to the 21st now. That was more nerve wracking thn it should have been!

[????]

Pleased as the Irons finished above Spuds and congrats to Man U who played the best football....and had fifty of my english pounds riding on them from pre-seaeson

[SimonM]

Now watched it all on MOTD - the Torres goal was just sublime...oozed pure class. I fear for Man City next season though under their new owner....and Fulham again pull off a great escape. Who knew having Hugh Grant in the crowd could be so inspirational? :))

*Sulk Mode* 38 points would have got Sheffield United 15th place this season *end sulk mode* :))

[Keef]

Congrats to Man U, I think they deserved it over the season.

That Torres goal was class!

[Jah Lush]

Jah Lush Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Actually, I think Fulham will stay up...just. But

> you're wrong about Saddam.

I called it back in early April...hurrah! Well done Roy Hodgson and Fulham.

Man Utd have been the best team this season by a mile and played the best football so well done to them for winning the Premiership.

[atila the gooner]

Good to see the high level of consistency in refereeing continued yesterday at Wigan. Scholes managing to stay on the pitch and (shock horror) Man Ure not having a penalty awarded against them when Ferdinand clearly moved his body and arm towards the ball and made contact with said ball. As for Man Ures shout for a pen, well ginger shouldn't have been on the pitch anyway, so maybe mr Bennett thought he'd even things up.

Fulham was the best performance yesterday and I'm mightily pleased for them. I won't miss Brum in the slightest. Was this divine retribution for what one of their cart horses, passing for a journeyman player, did to poor old Eduardo. What goes around.........;-)

[Sandperson]

I think both those decisions would have been a bit harsh but it wouldn't have been suprising to see either given. Scholes knows he can't tackle (so does everyone else) but it would have been a harsh sending off. Rio hit the ball with his shoulder, that's not handball but I'm sure you will disagree. Who do you think you'll get in the qualifying rounds of the Champs League next season?

[spadetownboy]

;-)bloody hell, not one swear word atilla, you feeling ok.

[atila the gooner]

Sandperson Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I think both those decisions would have been a bit

> harsh but it wouldn't have been suprising to see

> either given. Scholes knows he can't tackle (so

> does everyone else) but it would have been a harsh

> sending off.

Come on now, we all now the second offence was a cynical and blatant block, for which he should have walked. As for not being able to tackle, that isn't an excuse. If he can't tackle, he shouldn't bother trying. As for who we'll get in the CMPL I'm not fussed. I think we are more than capable of beating anybody, and I'm confident we'll improve on the season that's just ended. The best goals of the day were at Boro, there were at least 4 crackers.

[Sandperson]

Yeah, sorry, I wasn't meaning that he can't tackle was an excuse just that even I wince when he goes into a challenge and ask 'Why?'. It may have been cynical (not much in the game isn't these days!) but not sure if it would have been fair for him to be sent off. Let's hope that next year all the teams are as good as they were this season and it's close again. Except Liverpool ;-)

[Annasfield]

Sandperson Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

Let's hope that next year all the

> teams are as good as they were this season and

> it's close again. Except Liverpool ;-)

Is that a dig or are you feeling threatened?

[SimonM]

I find it somewhat irksome that so many so-called experts on TV & in the Press have gone on about what a super, exciting competition the Premier League is. It isn't. It is a depressing 4 horse race (like the Scottish PL has been for years with the 2 Glasgow giants slugging it out), plus a competition for 5th, plus another for the next few places. We all know the four teams who will finish in next season's top four already...

And did anyone notice Avram Grant's ludicrous claim that the top 2 should play off for the Premier Championship if they finished level on points as to decide the champions by goal difference would be "tragic"?! :)) This is almost as good as Ferguson's "rule" his team are allowed to handle the ball in the area when playing against any one of the 16 clubs who are there simply to make up the numbers...

Spot the difference: Manchester United & The Harlem Globetrotters :))

[Jah Lush]

I largely agree with you there Simon and I think Kevin Keegan was right in what he said last week that you would have to spend ?150 million to get yourself into the top four. Spurs have been tipped to get there over the past few seasons and probably will be again if we spend big this year but I can't see it myself. The best I can hope for next season is finishing 5th and winning the UEFA Cup and maybe a domestic trophy like the Carling Cup again or the FA Cup.

[Sandperson]

It's a dig of course!

[atila the gooner]

Jah Lush Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Jah Lush Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> Man Utd have been the best team this season by a

> mile and played the best football.

By a mile, that'll be two points more than Chavski and 4 more than us, and they lost 5 games whereas Chavski and The Arsenal only lost 3. Country mile? Hardly. Best footbal? Again, hardly especially over the last 4 weeks in the league. Given the amount they have spent, which is something many Man Ure fans accuse us of steering clear of, I'd expect a lot better.

Going off at a tangent here a little, but I see the so called experts and Chavski players and management claim that the number of injuries have effected their chances this season. Really? What about us? Van persie, Adebayor, Rosicky, Almunia, Flamini, Eduardo, Sagna, Eboue, Hleb, Cesc, all have been out for periods during the season, admittedly some longer than others but talk about missing the bleedin' obvious!!!

[Annasfield]

Jah Lush Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I largely agree with you there Simon and I think

> Kevin Keegan was right in what he said last week

> that you would have to spend ?150 million to get

> yourself into the top four. Spurs have been tipped

> to get there over the past few seasons and

> probably will be again if we spend big this year

> but I can't see it myself. The best I can hope for

> next season is finishing 5th and winning the UEFA

> Cup and maybe a domestic trophy like the Carling

> Cup again or the FA Cup.

We've not spent ?150 million and Arsenal haven't even got close to that figure. Agreed that you have to spend to be competitive, but the money that United and Chelsea throw at players is ridiculous.