Football Focus

[Jah Lush]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Anyone remember Jim Leighton?

Yep! The doyen of Scottish blunder keepers. His confidence was shot to pieces after being dropped for the 1990 FA Cup final replay after making a series of blunders in the first match. Was replaced for the replay and his career nosedived thereafter.

Do I get a prize?

[ratty]

Oddly enough I went to that final and on the way in to wembley, we thought we saw Leighton driving away from the stadium. True enough, once inside and the team was announced Les Sealy was in goal for Man U.

[Annasfield]

You going tomorrow night Ratty?

[kpc]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Hart has the ability no doubt, but the test of

> mental strength is still ahead of him.

>

And from that point of view, I'm not sure that Man City are the best club for him. He's probably one of the lowest paid in their squad 0f 25 (if not the lowest) and, if he suffers a series of errors, cannot see the egos within the squad being particularly supportive.

[Keef]

SP, I'm not smug, I fully expect Liverpool to finish well below your lot, and even 4th would be nice. However, I do feel like there are better times ahead, if we can stay afloat for the time being, and fingers crossed ownership will be settled before Jan, so we won't lose any more players.

Oh, and hopefully Torres can get back to 100%, and stay there...

Man U won't let leads slip away like that too often, so I enjoyed it whilst I had the chance.

[Narnia]

Having watched most of Liverpool's game yesterday they have some improving to do if they are to get into the top 4. On the negative side for Man U, they've dropped 4 points they shouldn't have but on the other hand they were games they lost last season.

Am I right in thinking that the 'top 4' is only important if English teams to well enough in the CL to keep their quota of teams?

[matthew123]

Well it's actually the Big 4 but in regard Top 4 yes it would become academic if England were to drop from the 3 countries who get 4 places in CL each season. I think that England has higher co-efficient than Spain or Germany and with the riches in the PL I think it will probably hold onto 4 places for some time yet unless of course Plantini strips them of a place.

[Narnia]

What's the Big 4 as opposed to the Top 4? You write as if the Big 4 was something factual as opposed to a matter of opinion. The Top 4 is factual.

[matthew123]

Big 4 is as referred by the mass media to the 4 biggest clubs in the land by exposure and following. The top 4 on the other hand is at this point of the season just temporary.

[Mick Mac]

Narnia.

Big 4 is:

Man United

Chelsea

Arsenal

Everton

[Narnia]

I'd have Leeds in there instead of Chelsea.

[Narnia]

Perhaps it should be a Big 5 to include Newcastle?

[red devil]

The Big 4 applies to Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Utd. The term came about after the introduction of 4 CL places, which these four teams have tended to dominate (from memory I think only Everton and Spurs have broken this stranglehold). The term has nothing to do with 'exposure and following'. I would argue that within the Big 4 there is a Big 2 of Chelsea and Utd, since they have dominated the actual winning of the PL in the last 6 seasons, with the 3rd and fourth placed teams some distance away. With the emergence of Spurs and Citeh, and the demise of Liverpool, the original Big 4 is probably already defunkt...

[red devil]

matthew123 Wrote:

> Here is some more useless information, red devil

> is crying in his beer... hehehe :))

Wrong!..I was crying into my Cotes de Provence Rose...

Weather is here, wish you were wonderful ;-)

[Mick Mac]

Any score predictions for MU v Rangers RD?

Rangers are surprisingly hard to beat. :(

[ratty]

Annasfield Wrote:

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> You going tomorrow night Ratty?

Afraid my days of affording footy are over. Another baby on the way and a pending redundancy!

[red devil]

Don't worry Mick, we'll soften them up for the Bhoys...3-0

[Jah Lush]

I'd go further and go four-nil Man U. Not sure how Spurs will fare tonight but I'd be quite happy with a draw.

[Annasfield]

Sorry to hear that Ratty (I mean the redundancy btw).

Had a discussion about the definition of a "big" club the other day. In my opinion, there are only 2 big clubs in England and it's quite obvious who they are. Think we decided that success (domestically and in Europe) and a global following are the two main factors.

[Jah Lush]

That'll be Liverpool and Man Utd then and I don't think anyone can argue with that.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

"Rangers are surprisingly hard to beat" - not for a good team!

[Mick Mac]

will be different this season pgc. You wait. The bhoys are back. 4 wins no goals conceded.

[Mick Mac]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Any score predictions for MU v Rangers RD?

>

> Rangers are surprisingly hard to beat. :(

As i say suprisingly hard to beat.

What champions league newcomer said 4-0. How insulting.

Great performance by rangers. They looked pretty comfortable to me. Weir and papac were superb in defence. Edu excellent in midfield.

[kpc]

Thought ManU were uninspiring in their play tonight.

[red devil]

Didn't see the game last night, but reports say Utd lacked creativity, but fair play to Rangers, they came with a game plan and it worked.

Surprised at amount of changes Fergie made, the team played very well against the Toffees and I can't understand why he rests players like Berba who has finally hit a bit of form.

Good result for Spurs away in Bremen, but 'arry must be annoyed to have let a two goal lead let slip...it's not that Utd would ever do something like that :-S