Football Focus

[LouiseC]

Agreed, two wrongs don't make a right.

[Jah Lush]

Mick Mac. Is there no beginning to your knowledge of football?

[Otta]

Millhaven Wrote:

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> Most football supporters just want their teams to

> win.

Recent posts from Maxxi and Quids don't entirely agree with that, and I'd call them proper supporters.

[red devil]

I can't deny I didn't have a right good chuckle when Gerrard gave the ball away and then slipped over for Ba to score, but I can't believe some of the comments about him. Liverpool wouldn't even be challenging for the title if it wasn't for him. His influence extends far beyond the football pitch too. He's the heartbeat of Liverpool. He may not be the marauding box to box player that he once was, but he's still class...

[Jah Lush]

Indeed RD. Indeed.

[Millhaven]

Otta Wrote:

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> Millhaven Wrote:

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

> -----

> > Most football supporters just want their teams

> to

> > win.

>

>

>

> Recent posts from Maxxi and Quids don't entirely

> agree with that, and I'd call them proper

> supporters.

Well if they disagree I would just say that they were wrong. However, what is a proper supporter other than someone that supports their team through good and bad times. Supporters suffer the team set backs, the rising prices, incompetent refs and off field administration and still go back for more.

[Mick Mac]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> Mick Mac. Is there no beginning to your knowledge

> of football?

Indeed not. I know all Liverpool fans adore Gerrard etc and he is a very good player but I have been watching him closely when the pressure is on and I don't see that he has led like the experienced player he is. I'm not talking post match huddles.

In terms of specifics he has gone missing when teams have come back at Liverpool - with 10 mins to go against Norwich he was hacking the ball up the field out of his own penalty box.

That worried me a lot - no cool head there - the writing was on the wall.

Throughout his career ,he has been a great distributor and has a fantastic long shot. He has been brilliant scoring penalties under pressure in recent games.

But there is something missing and this was a very big opportunity for him.

I wanted him to win it and he might still, but he has fallen short in the last few matches.

[Bluerevolution]

He he he hee

[????]

Millhaven Wrote:

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

> Otta Wrote:

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

> -----

> > Millhaven Wrote:

> >

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

>

> > -----

> > > Most football supporters just want their

> teams

> > to

> > > win.

> >

> >

> >

> > Recent posts from Maxxi and Quids don't

> entirely

> > agree with that, and I'd call them proper

> > supporters.

>

> Well if they disagree I would just say that they

> were wrong. However, what is a proper supporter

> other than someone that supports their team

> through good and bad times. Supporters suffer the

> team set backs, the rising prices, incompetent

> refs and off field administration and still go

> back for more.

In a poll conducted by 16 West Ham related fan sites more than 12,392 people took part, and 77.95% of them have expressed the view that Sam Allardyce should not be retained as West Ham manager next season. 22.05% voted for him to continue in his job. The survey ran from Thursday and closed at 7pm on Sunday 27 April. It is thought to be the largest 'opinion poll' ever undertaken of a club's supporters.

[red devil]

I read today that his position is under review this summer, which is code for pack your bags. After the 'cupping' incident he was always a goner...

[Otta]

By "proper supporter" I just meant someone that has supported their club for a long time, would never change their club, knows who they're playing each week and so on. I didn't mean they have to be a regular match goer.

[Millhaven]

Otta Wrote:

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> By "proper supporter" I just meant someone that

> has supported their club for a long time, would

> never change their club, knows who they're playing

> each week and so on. I didn't mean they have to be

> a regular match goer.

To be honest I don't think many people above the age of nine years old change their teams. But would agree with everything else.

[Mick Mac]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2041441-sir-alex-ferguson-unhappy-at-david-moyes-axe-will-reportedly-block-roy-keane?utm_source=outbrain.com&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=uk-sports

If Ferguson is forced to stop a move for Keane, it could also end United's suggested interest in Louis van Gaal. Keane is specifically said to be in the running for the assistant post if Van Gaal is given the permanent role, reported by Ladyman, suggesting the Dutchman may not bother if he isn't given full control to choose his staff.

[Mick Mac]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> Mick Mac. Is there no beginning to your knowledge

> of football?

and yes I did find this quite amusing.

[titch juicy]

SHOCK! HORROR!

Man City and PSG fall foul of FFP and face sanctions.

Interesting to see what the spineless, gutless, chinless wonders at UEFA come up with. You can bet your bollocks that if a club in Paris wasn't involved, then the sanctions would be greater.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27198306

[Parkdrive]

titch juicy Wrote:

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> SHOCK! HORROR!

>

> Man City and PSG fall foul of FFP and face

> sanctions.

>

> Interesting to see what the spineless, gutless,

> chinless wonders at UEFA come up with. You can bet

> your bollocks that if a club in Paris wasn't

> involved, then the sanctions would be greater.

>

> http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27198306

Expected nothing less to be honest, Platini as good as admitted that no club would face anything as draconian as being barred from CPL. Same old UEFA.

[red devil]

I think a transfer ban would make sense for a first offence, especially as it's the ?millions they've spent on buying players that has caused them to fall foul of FFP. A ban from competitions could then be given if they fall foul again in the future...

[titch juicy]

Bayern Munich v Real Madrid Pt.2 tonight.

Am excited about this one.

Apparently Bayern had 290,000 applications for the 25,000 non season tickets places tonight.

[Parkdrive]

red devil Wrote:

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> I think a transfer ban would make sense for a

> first offence, especially as it's the ?millions

> they've spent on buying players that has caused

> them to fall foul of FFP. A ban from competitions

> could then be given if they fall foul again in the

> future...

I can never see any club being excluded from CL, too much of a money spinner for UEFA. And as for last night, Real were just incredible.

[red devil]

Real were fantastic, but what has happened to Bayern?

Last season they gave Barca and tiki-taka a lesson. With Guardiloa making Bayern play in a simialr tiki-taka style, they've lost all their dynamism and penetration, and have been given a similar lesson by Real. Guardiloa's star has definitely fallen...

[titch juicy]

red devil Wrote:

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> Real were fantastic, but what has happened to

> Bayern?

> Last season they gave Barca and tiki-taka a

> lesson. With Guardiloa making Bayern play in a

> simialr tiki-taka style, they've lost all their

> dynamism and penetration, and have been given a

> similar lesson by Real. Guardiloa's star has

> definitely fallen...

A little early to be writing him off- although they have looked toothless in the last couple of games. When done right, that kind of football can be devastating (as evidenced by the rest of the season from Bayern leading up to the semi final and the best part of a decade at Barca). I suspect Gotze will become increasingly important to Bayern next season and Lewandowski will be an important signing.

[Jah Lush]

Agree Titch. They need a commanding centre back as well. The Brazilian Dante is just not good enough.

[red devil]

I'm not writing him off. Before the first leg I said it would be interesting to see how Bayern's high line defence would fare against Real's pace and counter attack style. In the first leg they got away with it with Ronaldo just coming back from injury and Bale benched with 'flu. Real could've easily won that game 3-0 Last night we saw how tactically naive that high line was...

[Mick Mac]

red devil Wrote:

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> I'm not writing him off. Before the first leg I

> said it would be interesting to see how Bayern's

> high line defence would fare against Real's pace

> and counter attack style. In the first leg they

> got away with it with Ronaldo just coming back

> from injury and Bale benched with 'flu. Real

> could've easily won that game 3-0 Last night we

> saw how tactically naive that high line was...

Barca also played a high line for many seasons and Puyol read the game/orchestrated any necessary last ditch recoveries. You need very sharp players to make the tactic work, but it can work as it stifles the oppositions midfield - its a possession winning tactic.

(edited to add that with the wrong personnel, eg AVB's Spurs, it can be made to look naive)

[red devil]

Exactly Mick, if you haven't got the personnel to carry it out, then why use that system?...one trick pony?