On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[Jah Lush]

I don't doubt that if Michael Owen gets plenty of games under his belt and hits top form and scores goals for Man Utd that Fabio Capello wouldn't be foolish enough to ignore him. The simple fact is that he hasn't played enough games and the good thing about Capello is he doesn't pick players on reputation alone or if they're injured to the detriment of fit and in-form players. Hence plenty of other players have been given a chance to show what they can do. Long may that continue.

Look how players like Jermain Defoe and Carlton Cole have come on a bundle for the way he has shown faith and belief in their ability by giving them a good chance. Not just ten or 15 minutes at the end of a meaningless friendly.

Sven Goran Ericksson took two unfit strikers (Rooney and Owen) and a rookie (Theo Walcott) to the last World Cup at the expense of a proven and fit goalscorer in Jermain Defoe and look what happened. Bloody ridiculous.

[matthew123]

Read into this what you want about Ferguson not commenting on Rooney's dive against Arsenal - in reference to one of your own players diving, "I wouldn't say it publicly though, because when you do that you're in danger of losing the morale of the dressing room."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8238560.stm

Hmmmm... H being the operative word

[Annasfield]

Hippopotamus?

[Keef]

Annasfield Wrote:

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> I hope that Cappello continues to ignore the

> horrible little *@#$

Horrible little cunt, because his career looked in huge trouble, then a massive club offered him another chance? Sorry mate, but I just wish him well. Rafa never wanted him, so should he have gone somewhere like Stoke out of loyalty to his old club? I think not.

[matthew123]

Stoke!? You got to be at least 6'7" to be part of their master plan

[Annasfield]

Fuck all to do with Rafa.

[Atila Reincarnate]

matthew123 Wrote:

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> It's a shame that Wayne Rooney has to make these

> unfounded comments, the best answer to these

> cheating accuastions would have been to do his

> talking on the pitch by staying on his feet

>

>

This is quality and shows up Shrek for the lying, cheating hypocritical shit that he is. Once a blue always a blue, eh Shrek?

[Sandperson]

Is there an echo in here? ::o

[Atila Reincarnate]

Sandperson Wrote:

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> Is there an echo in here? ::o

Only blinkered plastic mancs who can't take the truth.

[Sandperson]

*yawn* I'm glad I'm going away for the weekend.

[Atila Reincarnate]

Sandperson Wrote:

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> *yawn* I'm glad I'm going away for the weekend.

So are most of the people who post on here, where are you going, Stockport???

[Mick Mac]

Good win for Scotland 2-0 - lets hope thats a good omen for Irish matches tonight, both playing big games too.

[Ladygooner]

Surprise surprise - Rooney gets another dodgy penalty award!

[Mick Mac]

Just came across this - Liverpool win the European Cup 1981 and that means they are champions of Europe for 3rd time in 5 years. Quite an achievement.

[Narnia]

Seeing as you are catching up Mick this might interest you!Man U 1968

The first English team to win the European Cup.

[Mick Mac]

Good one Declan - I enjoyed that.

Nice toi hear the commentator say "the hard working Best" - reminds people of how hard George Best worked for the team.

It led me on to this George Best tribute - In times of diving controversy this is a masterclass in riding tackles. Fantastic viewing which I hope some younger forumites might watch, it shows how the game used to be played and how far ahead of his time Goerge Best was.

Having watched this I'd be interested in hearing wheter the MU fans would rate Ronaldo up there with Best. I for one would not.

[Narnia]

That was brilliant Mick. I can remember most of the goals featured. Great to be reminded of them and him.

[Jah Lush]

What can you say about Bestie. He was a genius. A footballing god. George was probably the greatest player I've ever seen. It's a real pity he never played in a World Cup.

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Georgie also displayed his skills with the much harder old-style Footballs that do not bend all over the place and he showed his ability on pitches that were a disgrace, sometimes, like the infamous mud-bath that was The Baseball Ground, Derby, for example..>:D

[matthew123]

I don't think Rooney dived yesterday, he was merely trying to lash out at the defender and lost his footing. He was lucky to escape a yellow card never mind actually win a penalty. With it being a friendly match it'd have been nice if Rooney had put his hands up and said Ref it was not a foul - never mind, instead of being applauded for good sportsmanship Referees will now think twice before awarding him penalties in future.

Steven Gerrard said afterwards, "Wayne seems to think his shirt was pulled. I asked him straightaway if there was any contact, and he said he got dragged back. I didn't get a good angle of it because I played the pass, but Wayne said there was contact."

[Mick Mac]

Surely even you are bored with the diving debate Matt - its gone on forever. What about your views on Georgie Best.

[ratty]

Another of the Hitler dubs - this time about Chelsea

FAF!

[Sandperson]

Mick, as long as there's an opportunity to slag a United player neither Matt nor Atila will be bored of the diving debate. ;-)

I'm back from Stockport btw! Us plastics have to get somewhere near OT every so often.

[matthew123]

George Best was well before my time Mick - I've seen many clips of him playing but tell me a clip of any player that does not show them at their very best. I can only talk about players I have seen and on that basis I'm voting for John Barnes.

[Atila Reincarnate]

Good to see Rooney being his usual consistent diving cheating self. How did he manage to stay on the pitch??