On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[Keef]

Hreat goal, remember it well. Was needed as I recall, as we beat you on away goals after 2 draws I think (the second leg being 0-0).

RE: Owen, I find it hard to understand Liverpool fans holding a grudge against a player who did A LOT for us, then took the chance to play for one of the biggest teams in the world (especially at that time). His record for Real was bloody good too, given the chances he got. Just didn't seem glam enough for them.

Not sure what exactly Capello has against him, but I agree that to keep him out of a squad that includes Crouch and DeMofo, is stupid.

He won't go to either Hull or Stoke I am sure!

[Keef]

???? Wrote:

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> I can't remember for sure but didn't Owen not feel

> very loved when he left Liverpool was doing a lot

> of bench sitting and then had a chance to go to

> Madrid?..hindsights wonderful but I think his

> decision to go at the time looked a reasonably

> sensible one.

Yes.

[Annasfield]

Depends on how you look at it.

[matthew123]

Yawn... didn't we cover this on page 52 ;-)

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?20,214312,263710#msg-263710

[Jah Lush]

I can't see how Michael Owen could have possibly gotten into Fabio Capello's England squad when he has spent most of the time injured or in poor form/bench warming. I can't see him going to Hull or Stoke either. I think he's still got a lot in him but he has to be fit and get games under his belt and on the scoresheet to get back for England.

If anyone was going to sign him (As Atila has said) the sensible thing would be as pay as you play.

Fabulous goal by McManaman. Remember it well.

[ratty]

He won't sign a pay as you play as he loves MONEY too much.

Reckon he will sign for a mid table side on a stupid load of dosh.......... ooooh - cue Harry Redknapp!

[Jah Lush]

Why sign him for Spurs when we have Defoe and Keane. No need.

[ratty]

Not being serious babes..... I think he will wind up with Villa or someone equally as dull!

[Keef]

Sorry to go back to this (Owen)...

Depends on how you look at it.

How do you personally look at it Anna?

I just don't get the bad feeling from (some) pool supporters, especially, when compared to Macca, who did the same thing, but even more blatantly, a few of years earlier, but doesn't seem to get quite so much of that feeling towards him.

(I know he gets some)

My personal opinion is simply that they were both top drawer players at that time, playing in a team that was never really challenging, and full of too many no bodies. They both spent a good amount of time there, and should have been clapped out, and wished luck. To laugh at Owen's misfortunes since then is poor form. I'd still like him in the squad.

Just my opinion.

[matthew123]

>> I just don't get the bad feeling from (some) pool supporters,

>> especially, when compared to Macca, who did the same

>> thing, but even more blatantly, a few of years earlier, but

>> doesn't seem to get quite so much of that feeling towards him.

Although many hold a grudge against Owen, I feel that Owen is still held in much higher regard on the Kop than McManaman. Macca didn't even have a song unless you count the embarrassing Muppet Show jingle - crikes United had more of a song for Macca, "F**k McManaman, F**k McAteer". To add fuel to the fire Macca came out on his retirement and said he'd be bringing up his son as an Evertonian!

Having said that I've never seen a better site from the Kop than when McManaman would do his zig zag sprints from other end of pitch towards Kop, with what appeared the ball tied to his shoe laces. Him and Robbie Fowler bursting on the counter attack was unstoppable!

[Annasfield]

How the fook did Spain lose to the USA tonight? I didn't watch it, but they looked like they were easily going to win this tournament, from what I had seen.

[Annasfield]

How funny is this?

Apparently, Madrid sent some representatives to negotiate over Alonso and Arbeloa at the end of last week. They offered a straight deal including some of the Dutch contingent (Van der Vaart and Sneijder), then they offered Gago, and then they offered Negredo. Each time, Rafa asked what values Madrid were placing on these players and finally burst into incredulous laughter. "Remind me - who beat whom by five goals to nil in the Champions League? he tells the now flustered Madrid negotiators. "Only it must be us who lost, because my players, whom you are wanting to take away, are worth nothing, whereas yours, whom you are trying to discard, each seem to have higher values". And the negotiations ended there and then!

Source - the Rattle. Gotta love Rafa B :)-D

[Sharon_H]

I've got to read the Rattle more often, need to remember my password.

[matthew123]

Great story Anna - I often think that is how the papers work when deciding how much our players are worth and what we're chasing for twice the money for half the player.

[red devil]

ratty Wrote:

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> My contacts are more on the media and business side...

Ok Ratty, own up, you're the club mascot aren't you?...

http://d.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/sp/empics/20081128/19/1238909099-soccer-uefa-cup-group-e-portsmouth-v-ac-milan-fratton.jpg

[ratty]

That's Nelson! :)

[matthew123]

Spurs new kits look horrendous

 

[Atila Reincarnate]

Annasfield Wrote:

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> How funny is this?

>

> Apparently, Madrid sent some representatives to

> negotiate over Alonso and Arbeloa at the end of

> last week. They offered a straight deal including

> some of the Dutch contingent (Van der Vaart and

> Sneijder), then they offered Gago, and then they

> offered Negredo. Each time, Rafa asked what values

> Madrid were placing on these players and finally

> burst into incredulous laughter. "Remind me - who

> beat whom by five goals to nil in the Champions

> League? he tells the now flustered Madrid

> negotiators. "Only it must be us who lost, because

> my players, whom you are wanting to take away, are

> worth nothing, whereas yours, whom you are trying

> to discard, each seem to have higher values". And

> the negotiations ended there and then!

>

> Source - the Rattle. Gotta love Rafa B :)-D

if this is true, then it's quality of the highest order. Fair play to Rafa.

[red devil]

If the 'story' was true, shouldn't 'pool fans be worried that Benitez is negotiating with Madrid in the first place. But then again The Rattle is a home made version of The Sun i.e. full of made up tripe, except you haven't got the compensation of a daily dose of a pair of knockers to greet you in the morning...

[Keef]

That story doesn't ring remotely true! How would anyone know what was said in a private negotiation.

[Annasfield]

red devil - do you not think that it is wholly inappropriate to compare the rattle to the shitty rag of a newspaper, which any Liverpool supporter worth their salt would have nothing at all to do with? Do you have even have access to it?

[Sandperson]

Looks like a pretty straight forward message board to me. Is there something special about it Anna? RD only mentioned The Sun, if I reacted like that I'd be accused of being over sensitive. We all know that Scousers hate the paper and why but I don't think he was meaning it as a dig, just a comparison of the tabloidism.

[red devil]

Annasfield Wrote:

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> red devil - do you not think that it is wholly

> inappropriate to compare the rattle to the shitty

> rag of a newspaper, which any Liverpool supporter

> worth their salt would have nothing at all to do

> with? Do you have even have access to it?

I got access to this, under the heading 'The Good Old Days'...180!

http://www.raotl.co.uk/dart.jpg

[Jah Lush]

That's a Rangers supporter after an Old firm derby isn't it?

[red devil]

There were a number of incidents around the same time Jah, I thought the guy was wearing a special Utd centenary strip which would make the photo circa 1978, someone will google it and confirm otherwise...

http://www.manunitedfootballshirt.co.uk/res/img/mufc_centenary_1878_-_1978.jpg