Football Focus

[red devil]

StraferJack Wrote:

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> "but Benitez showed a lack of class not

> retracting/apologising for the slagging off he

> gave Chelsea fans when he was Liverpool

> manager..."

>

> You think so? I disagre. I thought what he showed

> was a maturity by not indulging the childish whims

> of the average football support (below average in

> CFC's case) who appear to have the feeling of a 12

> year old boy.

Yes I do think so. It takes maturity to say sorry.

> so he said, when Liverpool manager:

>

> "?Chelsea is a big club with fantastic players,

> every manager wants to coach a such a big team,?

> said the Spaniard. ?But I would never take that

> job, in respect for my former team at Liverpool,

> no matter what. For me there is only club in

> England, and that?s Liverpool.?

>

> and

>

> "?We don?t need to give away flags for our fans to

> wave ? our supporters are always there with their

> hearts, and that is all we need. It?s the passion

> of the fans that helps to win matches ? not

> flags."

>

> which, as manager of a team playing Chelsea you

> would expect him to say

Why would you expect him to say that? Surely he shouldn't have even got involved in the first place. If ever there was a case of playing up to the childish whims of the average football support(sic) this is it.

> And for that he has received endless abuse from

> Chelsea supporters as he guided them to another

> European trophy - some of the abuse shameful

>

> To me, Benitez' class has appreciated 100% over

> the last 6 months

Well that's relative to how much class he had in the first place. Take this recent quote from Marca, 9th April 2013, in the run up to the Liverpool v Chelsea match. Asked if he thought he would again manage Liverpool at some point in his career, Benitez replied: "I will return, almost certainly. What I do not know is when. My daughters and wife still live there."

I bet Brendan Rogers really appreciated that...classy guy!

[StraferJack]

I really don't see much wrong with any of that... saying he would return to London "one day" in no way targets Rogers. Chances are there will be several managers occupying that seat befire benitez returns. If he ever does

The rest of it is just political jostling - it's not insulting or abusive

[red devil]

I disagree. Again, why did he even get involved when asked that question? He's continually touted himself for the Liverpool job regardless of who the incumbant manager is. Total. Lack. Of. Respect...

[Annasfield]

For info. The quote about never managing Chelsea is made up. He said he would never manage Everton or Man U. Chelsea are not rivals of Liverpool so it makes no difference.

With regards to his comments about returning to Liverpool, he meant the city and not the club. It's been clarified since that the press misquoted him.

Pretty funny that you think he should apologise though.

Champions league football and another European trophy too add to their collection. Soz Chelsea

[red devil]

Annasfield Wrote:

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> With regards to his comments about returning to

> Liverpool, he meant the city and not the club.

> It's been clarified since that the press misquoted

> him.

By whom? Source please.

> Pretty funny that you think he should apologise though.

I actually couldn't give a flying fook if he apologises or not. By not retracting or even explaining the 'plastic flags' comment, he's made himself open to such abuse.

> Champions league football and another European

> trophy too add to their collection. Soz Chelsea

Just like with Avram Grant, I think their success is more to do with the sheer bloodymindedness of a core group of Chelsea players, rather than any managerial nous...

[Parkdrive]

Chillaxed Wrote:

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> I'm no fan of Brave John Terry but I understand

> you need to be in your kit to collect a medal or

> lift the trophy. And if you've played your part

> in winning the thing, why not?

because he's a c**t.

[Parkdrive]

red devil Wrote:

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> Annasfield Wrote:

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

> -----

>

> Just like with Avram Grant, I think their success

> is more to do with the sheer bloodymindedness of a

> core group of Chelsea players, rather than any

> managerial nous...

You could say the same about the rags

[Annasfield]

Why should he apologise. What he said was right.

We do make our own flags and don't rely on the club to provide plastic ones. That's a fact

[Otta]

Red Devil is never going to be a Rafa fan, but to say he lacks class is harsh. The man is proud, but he has dignity. I think at times people think he's arrogant, and perhaps he is, but a lot of the time it's because he's clever and he's not going to go down the path that the press are trying to take him down.

[Alan Medic]

DaveR Wrote:

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> "Ha ha - bloody fair-weather playa... I am 4th (in

> the 100% category)"

>

> That got me thinking - what would my score be if

> every time I missed a week and got a maxxi, I'd

> played and got my average score?

>

> Answer - 16 points more.

>

> Just out of interest, I did the same for El Pibe.

>

> Answer - 12 points more.

>

> Sorry, maxxi. The table doesn't lie.

Oh but it does. Ask RD to remind you about the 75% rule. Old EP will suffer from the indigo effect and plummet to the bottom.

[Alan Medic]

Annasfield Wrote:

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> Why should he apologise. What he said was right.

>

> We do make our own flags and don't rely on the

> club to provide plastic ones. That's a fact

'That's a fact'. Now where have I heard that said before? :)

[El Pibe]

"To this day, one of my proudest achievements is captaining my country. I knew every time I wore the Three Lions shirt, I was not only following in a long line of great players, I was also representing every fan that cared passionately about their country," said Beckham.

And to be fair generally played as if this was the case, though too many of those it was more 'able' than 'willing' that was at issue; thanks Sven you twonk.

Same sentiments couldn't sincerely be be expressed by a depressing number of his contemporaries.

[El Pibe]

so what next? I gather he's dropping his estuary for r.p.

Playing centre [stage] for Leyton & Wanstead perhaps?

[Parkdrive]

Otta Wrote:

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> Red Devil is never going to be a Rafa fan, but to

> say he lacks class is harsh. The man is proud, but

> he has dignity. I think at times people think he's

> arrogant, and perhaps he is, but a lot of the time

> it's because he's clever and he's not going to go

> down the path that the press are trying to take

> him down.

Red Devil should take a long hard look at Fungusmoan, now THERE's a man who lacks class.

[Alan Medic]

So why particularly do you dislike Ferguson Parky?

[red devil]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> DaveR Wrote:

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

> -----

> > "Ha ha - bloody fair-weather playa... I am 4th

> (in

> > the 100% category)"

> >

> > That got me thinking - what would my score be

> if

> > every time I missed a week and got a maxxi, I'd

> > played and got my average score?

> >

> > Answer - 16 points more.

> >

> > Just out of interest, I did the same for El

> Pibe.

> >

> > Answer - 12 points more.

> >

> > Sorry, maxxi. The table doesn't lie.

>

> Oh but it does. Ask RD to remind you about the 75%

> rule. Old EP will suffer from the indigo effect

> and plummet to the bottom.

I remember the 75% rule was for entry into the Cups, not sure about final positions though...

[Jah Lush]

El Pibe Wrote:

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> so what next? I gather he's dropping his estuary

> for r.p.

> Playing centre for Leyton & Wanstead perhaps?

I've been reliably informed by those in the know that he will be signing for the newly promoted Dulwich Hanmlet and as this is the case has rented one of the big houses in the Village to be nearer to the ground and his team-mates. See him and Posh down the "Dog" any time soon.

[maxxi]

red devil Wrote:

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>

> I remember the 75% rule was for entry into the

> Cups, not sure about final positions though...

"Anyone with less than 75% (shown in indigo) wouldn't qualify for CL and final table consideration..." ETA: RD in Nov 2012

Straws? Clutching? Mois!??

*(Personally I liked Huges short-lived approach to results - before the intro of the spirit-sapping 'maxxi)

[red devil]

It's the final week.

Week 34 fixtures...

Sunday 19th May 2013

Chelsea V Everton

Liverpool V QPR

Man City V Norwich

Newcastle V Arsenal

Southampton V Stoke

Swansea V Fulham

Tottenham V Sunderland

West Brom V Man Utd

West Ham V Reading

Wigan V Aston Villa

And the final Coupon Buster is Quarter Pound of Rubbish to beat the Mickey Mousers...

[maxxi]

Blaze of Glory time...

Sunday 19th May 2013

Chelsea 2 V 0 Everton

Liverpool 1 V 3 QPR

Man City 2 V 1 Norwich

Newcastle 0 V 2 Arsenal

Southampton 1 V 1 Stoke

Swansea 3 V 2 Fulham

Tottenham 1 V 2 Sunderland

West Brom 1 V 3 Man Utd

West Ham 5 V 0 Reading

Wigan 3 V 2 Aston Villa

[red devil]

maxxi Wrote:

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> red devil Wrote:

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

> -----

> >

> > I remember the 75% rule was for entry into the

> > Cups, not sure about final positions though...

>

>

> "Anyone with less than 75% (shown in indigo)

> wouldn't qualify for CL and final table

> consideration..." ETA: RD in Nov 2012

>

> Straws? Clutching? Mois!??

>

> *(Personally I liked Huges short-lived approach to

> results - before the intro of the spirit-sapping

> 'maxxi)

Cheers maxxi.

I'll do tables 'with' and 'without' the 75% club.

I was planning on doing a Huggy Quotient final table out of curiosity, although I reserve the right not to publish it if it's detrimental to my final position...

[Jah Lush]

Sunday 19th May 2013

Chelsea 1 Everton 2

Liverpool 4 QPR 0

Man City 2 Norwich 1

Newcastle 2 Arsenal 1

Southampton 2 Stoke 0

Swansea 3 Fulham 1

Tottenham 3 Sunderland 1

West Brom 1 Man Utd 3

West Ham 2 Reading 0

Wigan 1 Aston Villa 2

[red devil]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> Sunday 19th May 2013

>

> Chelsea 1 Everton 2

> Liverpool 4 QPR 0

> Man City 2 Norwich 1

> Newcastle 2 Arsenal 1

> Southampton 2 Stoke 0

> Swansea 3 Fulham 1

> Tottenham 3 Sunderland 1

> West Brom 1 Man Utd 3

> West Ham 2 Reading 0

> Wigan 1 Aston Villa 2

:) Love it...

[Alan Medic]

red devil Wrote:

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> Don't worry Jah, nothing is set in stone at the

> mo, just open to ideas. What started off as a bit

> of fun is getting a bit more competitive :)

> This latest table incorporates average scores

> (shown in red) for players that miss a week.

> It also includes a minimum participation rule. I'm

> going to set the bar higher than ???? suggested

> 50%, and make it 75%.

> This hopefuly will encourage players to

> participate rather than rely on getting an average

> score.

> Anyone with less than 75% (shown in indigo)

> wouldn't qualify for CL and final table

> consideration...

God I'm such a bore.

[Ladygooner]

Chelsea 0 V 0 Everton

Liverpool 2 V 0 QPR

Man City 2 V 1 Norwich

Newcastle 0 V 2 Arsenal

Southampton 2 V 1 Stoke

Swansea 1 V 1 Fulham

Tottenham 1 V 2 Sunderland

West Brom 1 V 2 Man Utd

West Ham 2 V 0 Reading

Wigan 2 V 1 Aston Villa