[cardguy]

Also - if it looks like Newcastle will get relegated on the last game of the season - me and my brother are going to go for some schadenfraude.

YOLO - some things u just gotta do the lulz.

[Matt3B]

I hope Wigan finally get relegated. I'm bored of their end of season shenanigans every year.

[Teedub]

I know you hate the guy, but you cannot deny his greatness. Managing egos, many of those egos belonging to players young enough to be his grandchildren is an extraordinary feat. Adapting to a changing football landscape, helping to create the most commercially successful club in the world etc. You can't deny those things. You mentioned a while back about his lack of European success, and I'll give you that, but to remain manager of one of the biggest clubs in world football, for the time he has, is simply incredible.

We talk about Alpha males a lot here, he is the epitome of that.

[cardguy]

Imagine if England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland had a joint team for the past 70 years.

Would it have being the greatest team in world football?

[Teedub]

Fun game here, name your current world 11, or more the 11 you'd love at your club. Any formation. Mine is 4-2-3-1

Mine is GK- Iker Casillas, RB - Philip Lahm (he can play here), CB - Vidic, CB - Varane, LB - Ashley Cole
CM - Xabi Alonso, CM - David Luiz
LW - Robben, AM - Messi, RM - Ronaldo
ST - Falcao.

[Matt3B]

(05-06-2013 06:31 PM)Teedub Wrote:  

I know you hate the guy, but you cannot deny his greatness. Managing egos, many of those egos belonging to players young enough to be his grandchildren is an extraordinary feat. Adapting to a changing football landscape, helping to create the most commercially successful club in the world etc. You can't deny those things. You mentioned a while back about his lack of European success, and I'll give you that, but to remain manager of one of the biggest clubs in world football, for the time he has, is simply incredible.

We talk about Alpha males a lot here, he is the epitome of that.

Oh no, I can't deny his achievements. If I take off my Liverpool glasses then what he's done is brilliant. He's worked out perfectly how to influence the masses, how to make friends, how to ostracise and alienate his enemies (see Rafa), how to scare the living shit out of his players to make sure they give him 100% every game, how to play some terrible football but still end up winning, and how to change the tide in his favour all in the name of success. He's doing exactly what I would do if I were in his position.

It's funny though when you can tell who he's intimidated by. Rafa Benitez really, really got under his skin as he's a great manager, Ferguson knew this and he actually picked up some of Rafa's techniques (rotation system, for example), and when we became a threat in the league he got his mates to rally behind him and belittle Rafa adding pressure to his job. The same with Suarez. Ever since he embarrassed United 3-1 in his first game against you lot, he's had it in for him because Suarez is a massive talent (arguably the third best player in the world) and seeing us having this talent doesn't sit well with him at all.

He played the Suarez-Evra thing to perfection for his side. The whole thing is a debate for another day, but it wasn't until Ferguson started labelling Suarez a diver that everyone started calling him out for it. Look at some of the plaudits Suarez got in his first season, as soon as we played United again, Ferguson tells the world Suarez is a diver and then every body repeats it. He tried the same with Torres too. Remind me again who got booked for diving the most out of anyone in the league this year? Oh wait, sorry, it's a British player so it's "simulation". But who still gets criticised for being a diver and who gets the player of the year?

That said, I'd love our manager to be like that in the name of success as Ferguson knows exactly how to play the game. I've always been curious though why United fans don't sing his name at games. He's been there for 25 years, brought the club massive success, but I never hear one song. Is it because he's criticised the fans in the past?

As I'm a Liverpool fan though, Ferguson is a purple nosed, ginsoaked, hard-shoulder shitting, senile old drunken twat who should keep his nose out of our business.

[Excelsior]

(05-06-2013 04:01 PM)rudebwoy Wrote:  

Sterling was always going to play for England if given the chance, let's see how many caps he gets!

That's what bothers me the most-there's the chance that he may not become an England regular.

England capped him in the Sweden friendly just to make sure Jamaica didn't get to him, not because they actually plan on using him at the moment (hence his exclusion from the March squad). If they're going to cap him, then I want to at least see him become a regular. It'll be painful watching him in an England shirt, but at least I know he'll be used at the international level and his loss to Jamaica wasn't all for naught.

There are a couple of other possible scenarios, though:

1. Sterling never gets capped in a competitive game for England (Sweden was a friendly). This would be the ideal scenario for Jamaica, since it would allow him to switch allegiances.

2. Sterling gets capped in just a couple of competitive games, but never becomes a regular. This is the scenario that really would bother me, as it would block him from playing for Jamaica even though England barely used him.

Hopefully scenario 2 never comes to pass.

Actually, though, I may be getting ahead of myself talking about England and competitive games. They may not even manage to qualify this cycle!

[Matt3B]

As I'm a Liverpool fan, I'm glad Sterling didn't opt for Jamaica. Jetting off all the way over there for friendlies or qualifiers in the middle of the season and coming back to be lethargic for a week or so would be really annoying, especially as I can see him being a regular for us in a few years if he keeps his progression up.

Still, I think players should opt for the country they were born in, even though he left at 5 years old and moved over here where he grew up. His roots are Jamaican, he was born a Jamaican, so he should play for Jamaica. The Boateng brothers are a good example. Both born in Germany, but one opts for Ghana as their father was Ghanaian.

[Nascimento]

4-3-3, The best players in the world right now, imo:

Neuer
Lahm/Lichtsteiner - Thiago Silva - Vidic - Ashley Cole/Vertonghen
Mata - Xavi - Yaya Toure
Messi - RVP - Ronaldo

[Frontenac]

Yaya Toure is criminally underrated. He is the complete package.

[rudebwoy]

(05-06-2013 09:37 PM)Nascimento Wrote:  

4-3-3, The best players in the world right now, imo:

Neuer
Lahm/Lichtsteiner - Thiago Silva - Vidic - Ashley Cole/Vertonghen
Mata - Xavi - Yaya Toure
Messi - RVP - Ronaldo

No Iniesta
Vidic is over-rated.

[rudebwoy]

(05-06-2013 07:06 PM)Athlone McGinnis Wrote:  

(05-06-2013 04:01 PM)rudebwoy Wrote:  

Sterling was always going to play for England if given the chance, let's see how many caps he gets!

That's what bothers me the most-there's the chance that he may not become an England regular.

England capped him in the Sweden friendly just to make sure Jamaica didn't get to him, not because they actually plan on using him at the moment (hence his exclusion from the March squad). If they're going to cap him, then I want to at least see him become a regular. It'll be painful watching him in an England shirt, but at least I know he'll be used at the international level and his loss to Jamaica wasn't all for naught.

There are a couple of other possible scenarios, though:

1. Sterling never gets capped in a competitive game for England (Sweden was a friendly). This would be the ideal scenario for Jamaica, since it would allow him to switch allegiances.

2. Sterling gets capped in just a couple of competitive games, but never becomes a regular. This is the scenario that really would bother me, as it would block him from playing for Jamaica even though England barely used him.

Hopefully scenario 2 never comes to pass.

Actually, though, I may be getting ahead of myself talking about England and competitive games. They may not even manage to qualify this cycle!

Sadly scenario 2 will probably play out, don't want to turn this into another race thread but England has always done this.
Welbeck seems to be getting called up regularly and is a decent player.
Walcott is under-rated in my opinion but gets criticized alot, I feel he is a threat every time he plays for England.

[pirate player]

my starting eleven. formation 4-3-3
neur
lahm- t. silva- hummels- alaba

yaya toure/carrick

iniesta /gotze Bale/ mata


messi suarez /lewandoski ronaldo

[Chunnel]

(05-06-2013 06:40 PM)Teedub Wrote:  

Fun game here, name your current world 11, or more the 11 you'd love at your club. Any formation. Mine is 4-2-3-1

Mine is GK- Iker Casillas, RB - Philip Lahm (he can play here), CB - Vidic, CB - Varane, LB - Ashley Cole
CM - Xabi Alonso, CM - David Luiz
LW - Robben, AM - Messi, RM - Ronaldo
ST - Falcao.

I'll bite on this: 4-2-3-1 for me also

GK- Gigi Buffon

RB- Glen Johnson CB- Vincent Kompany CB- Giorgio Chiellini LB- Ashley Cole

MC- Andrea Pirlo MC- Javi Hernandez

LW- Franck Ribery AM- Erik Lamela RM- Hulk

ST- Fernando Llorente

edit: Had Xavi in but, switched to Hernandez as Pirlo and Xavi were too similar in style

[Chunnel]

EPL Relegation Odds (Bet365)

Wigan- 2.1
Norwich- 4
Newcastle- 5.5
Sunderland- 8

I'd be tempted to take a flyer on Sunderland hoping that Wigan pulls a rabbit out of its ass. (Though I wonder how different the odds would be had Stoke held on?)

[The Pirate]

I am a huge Liverpool supporter, but to put Glenn Johnson in that top 11 team is crazy. I`ve kept my eyes on him this season and I have gradually gone from fan to see his many weaknesses. His marking inside the box is shocking, not alot of pace, going forward gets him in trouble and his passing is without any creativity... So, you need to pick someone else!!!

I`d go for a 4-3-3/4-5-1

Manuel Neuer

Arbeloa/Thiago Silva/David Luiz/Lahm

Iniesta/Gerrard/Mata

Suarez/ /Bale
/Ronaldo

[rudebwoy]

GK - Casillas

Defence - Bale Silva Lahm Pepe

Midfield - Iniesta Xavi Toure

Forward - Ronalda Falcao Ibrahimovic

[Excelsior]

Pure Jamaican dream team:

4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2

GK-Donovan Ricketts
Defence- Danny Simpson, Adrian Mariappa, Nyron Nosworthy, Danny Rose
Midfield-Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ravel Morrison, Ashley Young, Raheem Sterling
Forward: Daniel Sturridge, Theo Walcott

The rest of my call-ups to fill out a 23-man squad:
-Rodolph Austin
-Aaron Lennon
-James Vaughan
-Jermaine Beckford
-Nathaniel Clyne
-Lloyd Doyley
-Jobi McAnuff
-Kelvin Wilson
-Wayne Routledge
-Nathan Dyer
-Scott Sinclair
-Andre Wisdom

[cardguy]

I don't follow football as closely as I used to. So - can anyone answer this simple question?

Why does Wayne Rooney track back so often? It drives me mad the number of times I have seen him running back into defense to try and win the ball. When he should be nearer the front so that his team has an outlet to send the ball to.

Why has no manager ever corrected this obvious defect in his game? Or has he stopped doing this as he has gotten older?

Anyone else get frustrated by this?

[The Pirate]

I thought Rooneys mobility/workrate was one of the things that makes him a good player. United mainly build their attacks through their wings and makes constant overlaps with their backs. If anything I think his biggest problem the last years has been inconsistency in form (for whatever reason) Btw, with van Persie they normally play 4-5-1.

[cardguy]

I prefer having your best player - where he is most dangerous. And I prefer it when he conserves his energy for when he needs it.

When Rooney burst on the scene he was unplayable for a couple of years (see Euro 2004). And he was a really menace playing behind the main striker, fizzing about like a firework. But - nowadays - he is more of a workhorse for Sir Alex Ferguson. Which made sense for SAF when Ronaldo was in the team.

And I fear that Rooney is too shy to understand the best way to use his talents. His number one goal is always to please his manager - when the greatest players would trust their own self-belief over what the manager wants.

[The Pirate]

Don`t worry, he will be gone in the summer. So much for pleasing Ferguson!

[cardguy]

lol

[The Fantasist]

Yeah what is the deal with Rooney and Fergie this season? It seems like he's fallen out of favour and might actually go despite Fergie doing so much to keep him when he pushed for the move a while back.

Rooney for me is one of those 'could have been world class' players. He had so much potential but just never quite stepped up that incremental level to put him up there with the Ronaldo / Ibrahimovich / Messi / Inniesta types. He's a great player but I expected him to develop a little further than he has done.

Predictions for Chelsea v Spurs anyone? I have a sneaky feeling Spurs will nick it at the end with Bale popping up with the winner. Going for 2-1 to Spurs unfortunately.

[Joga Bonito]

GK - Kossi Agassa
Backline - Thiago Silva, Alves, Marcelo, Dante
Midfield -Toure, Pogba, Montolivo
Forwards - CR7, Ibra, Balotelli