The Footie (UK) Thread: 2006/07

[Two-Bob Peeters]

doesn't really matter how 'good' the book is, it's just a cash in. wait until your careers over otherwise it's just bullshit. I wouldn't be suprised to see multiple autobiographys from these chaps.

[timesfooall]

Ye i think any autobiographies should be left until your getting to the end of your life, not two or three like beckham has and im sure rooney, lampard, gerrard and owen etc will do.

[Bexlehem]

Cashley will write about it in his new book, as soon as Stevie G says something he doesn't like. He likes running his mouth off about people.

[Captain Stu]

"Today I married some Geordie bint - she no longer looks like the vile racist pig she clearly is and it might end these rumours about me being a queer. Good stuff, now I can eat Malteasers and go to Ballet class. TOODLES!!"

:D

[Bexlehem]

:D
Yaay :D

[Zippy Ate My Drumkit]

And Fowler's book was interesting too! Houllier's reign wasn't as straightforward as it seems!

It's a shame he mentions Toxteth in every third sentence.

[F'jo]

Rumour I heard about why Pardew got sacked.

I thought it was straight forward with it being bad results and new chairman thing but it is only a rumour and it could be complete bullshit. A mate gave me the link on what he read sooo anyway....

http://www.mbuk.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=170952

[Renegades of funk 8]

Rumour I heard about why Pardew got sacked.

I thought it was straight forward with it being bad results and new chairman thing but it is only a rumour and it could be complete bullshit. A mate gave me the link on what he read sooo anyway....

http://www.mbuk.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=170952

haha pardew you old dog

[rob3000]

It's a shame he mentions Toxteth in every third sentence.
Ha, yeah I'll give you that one. Gerrard mentions number 10 Ironside everywhere too.

[Hmmm Noodle Soup]

Rumour I heard about why Pardew got sacked.

I thought it was straight forward with it being bad results and new chairman thing but it is only a rumour and it could be complete bullshit. A mate gave me the link on what he read sooo anyway....

http://www.mbuk.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=170952

My bro who works for the Houslow Chronicle sport section told me something similar to this about a week or so ago. He works with certain journos who have alot of insider knowledge. Anyway this guy told my bro that soon the papers were going to be running a story that Pardew is having an affair.

Looks like there could be some truth in it. Or at least I hope there is.

[A Partridge in a Jtee]

The best thing that can be said about Cashley's book is that it's being outsold by one by Perry Groves.

maybe there is a God:D

[Captain Stu]

Blimey, and here we thought it was all about Wham being shite. :eek:

[Bexlehem]

Wow, that's harsh :eek: Didn't think he seemed the affair type.

[Foo Fighters, United Kingdom]

Stu, hypothetically would you swap Bellamy for Tevez?

[Captain Stu]

Stu, hypothetically would you swap Bellamy for Tevez?

Right now? No... if you'd asked me at the start of the season I probably would've said yes but Tevez has been gash since he came over.

Whys? Please don't tell me you've heard a rumour...

[Foo Fighters, United Kingdom]

Nah I was just reading this article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/6175625.stm) and pondered the possibility that Tevez would be more at home in the Liverpool system.

[Captain Stu]

Yeah, I suppose he would do - he seems to need the role that Bellamy is occupying, same mould as Henry and Rooney where they play as a second striker but have the license to wander wherever they feel and, in particular, occupy the wide areas to get balls in or make diagonal runs into the box to create chances.

At West Ham, he's playing instead of Ashton really isn't he so he's expected to play as a strict forward and that clearly doesn't suit him because his natural response is to drop off deep, sit in front of defenders and look to turn past them.

With Belly seeming to find his feet now after his court case, it'd be a bit harsh to offload him now - he probably deserves at least until the end of the season.

[timesfooall]

Crouchie to Newcastle?

[Captain Stu]

Crouchie to Newcastle?

Better fucking not do, he's our best striker to use in Europe by a mile because nobody can mark him properly.

We NEED Crouch, Kuyt and Bellamy at the moment.

[timesfooall]

Better fucking not do, he's our best striker to use in Europe by a mile because nobody can mark him properly.

We NEED Crouch, Kuyt and Bellamy at the moment.

Roeder has publically said that he would like him, Newcastle have probably got the money but would Rafa be tempted? I think he might be, as good as crouch is for liverpool to me Rafa is not that keen on him.

[Captain Stu]

Nah, I highly doubt Rafa would let him go unless Crouch comes out and says he wants to leave publically or privately speaks to him and asks if he can go somewhere else.

He was a pure Rafa signing, he bought him for a reason and he definately has his uses. Sadly, his lack of any real pace/mobility puts him behind the awesome speed of Bellamy and the immense link-up and creative play of Kuyt. I wouldn't say he's "third-choice" as such... but he's tied with Bellamy in terms of who partners Kuyt and, at the moment, he's sticking with Bellamy to see what sort of form he can produce.

[timesfooall]

Hmmmm i reckon the January transfer window could be very interesting, well i hope so.

[Captain Stu]

It could/should be, especially if our new owners are in by then... Rafa needs a couple more players, thankyouverymuch. :cool:

[Foo Fighters, United Kingdom]

I'll be interested to see who United pick up in January. Sounds some someone big is on the cards.

[Captain Stu]

O RLY?! Whom?

[timesfooall]

Hopefully for your sake he wont mis-spend it.

O ye i dont think it has been mentioned yet but for the first time since Jan 2004 United have been installed as title faves by the bookies, ohhhhh music to my ears!:D

[Foo Fighters, United Kingdom]

O RLY?! Whom?
They won't say (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6170619.stm). Sounds interesting though.

"It's very difficult as we can't mention anybody that we would like to have because immediately the price goes up once Manchester United are interested and it becomes an auction.
"We have to be really careful. We will leave that to Sir Alex and chief executive David Gill. They will keep it nice and private and, hopefully, we will get the players we want."

[Captain Stu]

It might be this cunt. (http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=434949&CPID=23&clid=1&lid=&title=United+join+Puerta+race) This came to me when I read the bit where Baldy said about "cover for their big stars" or something - Ferguson's rested Giggs a few times before big games and it leaves the left-wing a bit open and this guy appears to be a left-winger. Plus Giggs can't have more than 2 years left in him realistically.

I can't imagine Torres moving yet... maybe in the summer.

[timesfooall]

It might be this cunt. (http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=434949&CPID=23&clid=1&lid=&title=United+join+Puerta+race)

I can't imagine Torres moving yet... maybe in the summer.

I am confident Torres will move from Atletico next yr, and hopefully to united. Hmmmm Rooney, Torres and Ronaldo, that is an amazing thought!

Not heard much of that puerta, is he a midfielder?

[Captain Stu]

I am confident Torres will move from Atletico next yr, and hopefully to united. Hmmmm Rooney, Torres and Ronaldo, that is an amazing thought!

Not heard much of that puerta, is he a midfielder?

Yeah, left winger I believe.

If you'se got Torres, what about Saha? I actually doubt that Rooney and Torres could play together you know - neither one is the "stay up top" forward that Saha is and I couldn't see either Rooney or Torres playing swapsies with the other one.

[rob3000]

Hopefully for your sake he wont mis-spend it.
Wow, how ridiculously obvious.

[Captain Stu]

Wow, how ridiculously obvious.

Innit, every single bloody manager is guilty at some time or another of mis-spending money.

[timesfooall]

Yeah, left winger I believe.

If you'se got Torres, what about Saha? I actually doubt that Rooney and Torres could play together you know - neither one is the "stay up top" forward that Saha is and I couldn't see either Rooney or Torres playing swapsies with the other one.

I think torres is a little more direct than Rooney from what ive seen. He's pacey and does like to run off the back off defenders. I'm not really thinking about where they would play at the moment, just the thought of it brings tingles to me.

[Captain Stu]

I could only see Torres working at United if they played a flat 4-3-3 formation OR a 4-5-1 like Chelsea used to with Rooney and Torres flanking Saha but then that depends on two forwards getting back when the side loses posession and that probably wouldn't happen.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

will Millwall ever play another FA cup game on a saturday? the cunts at the FA had it on their website that the stoke game would be on friday before they even told our chairman...

[Captain Stu]

Curbs is in.

Fast turnaround, Pards gone on monday and his replacement in by close of business on wednesday. Clearly this had been planned very, very carefully.

[Bud]

That's crazy how quick it happened. Fucking hell.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

This is curbs' perfect Job, he's a West Ham lad, i doubt he'd be haggling about it, and also, the terms would be pretty good i reckon, seeing as the biscuit man has a fair few bob

[Bud]

I can see him doing pretty well, as long as they manage to keep it together this year.

[Bexlehem]

I can see him doing pretty well, as long as they manage to keep it together this year.
This year is all about staying up now. As long as they stay in the Prem, Curbishly will have done the least of what they expect him, and they can build on it. Anything extra will be a bonus.

[Bud]

He should be able to splash the cash in January too. With new backers, a good manager and great support it'll be pretty attractive to most players.

[Wish_Master2100]

He should be able to splash the cash in January too. With new backers, a good manager and great support it'll be pretty attractive to most players.

Now with Curbs at West Ham...

Darren Bent to Wham, anyone?

[Captain Stu]

Now with Curbs at West Ham...

Darren Bent to Wham, anyone?

For sure and then bye bye Marlon Harewood, possibly going the other way?

[Bud]

For sure and then bye bye Marlon Harewood, possibly going the other way?

Yeap. Can see this happening. Bent & Ashton would be a pretty special partnership.

[Captain Stu]

Alongside someone like Ashton, Bent might remember where the net is. :D

[Zippy Ate My Drumkit]

http://www.myp2p.eu/Matches/Match1.htm

[EvilElvis]

This will come as a shock, but it looks like there could be trouble at Hearts (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/6177395.stm)

[Bexlehem]

http://www.myp2p.eu/Matches/Match1.htm
Not sure I like the idea of installing programmes. Are they ok?

[Bud]

the wigan ground is about half full. wallcott has shown some great touches, but we're not looking too good. i just don't like wigan.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

the wigan ground is about half full.

makes a change....

their fanbase is no better than a league one club. it's a rugby town, to be fair though

[EvilElvis]

the wigan ground is about half full. wallcott has shown some great touches, but we're not looking too good. i just don't like wigan.



From the BBC Update page

2008: The JJB Stadium looks even more sparsely populated than Stamford Bridge. What's going on in Wigan tonight apart from the footballl?

[Two-Bob Peeters]

As well as playing Wright-Phillips, Chelski have also dropped Dogba and Shevvy!

[Bud]

this game is as boring as Glenn Hoddle's half time opinions

[Captain Stu]

As well as playing Wright-Phillips, Chelski have also dropped Dogba and Shevvy!

....... srsly?!

[Foo Fighters, United Kingdom]

Drogba's on now. They're treating this like a practice match. Mind games from Mourinho.

[EvilElvis]

Newcastle fans - Bad news: The news is a bad from the Newcastle bench - Charles N'Zogbia has medial knee ligament damage.


Good News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/6176387.stm)

[Foo Fighters, United Kingdom]

I don't understand why Wenger leaves Fabregas on the bench in a game like this.

[Bexlehem]

I don't understand why Wenger leaves Fabregas on the bench in a game like this.
Nor me. This is obviously a game we have to win, so our strongest available side should be out there.

[Foo Fighters, United Kingdom]

I've got a bet on 2-1 Arsenal with Camara 1st scorer. There's hope yet.

[Bud]

we're looking stronger, just can't find the killer touch. I've been a bit disappointed with the beast though.

edit: VP on for the beast, Fabregas on for Flamini.

[Ian Mc]

Newcastle fans - Bad news: The news is a bad from the Newcastle bench - Charles N'Zogbia has medial knee ligament damage.


Good News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/6176387.stm)

What the hell is going on there???

[A Partridge in a Jtee]

i'm pissed that the JJB is so empty, if i'd known i'd have headed up to watch the gooners:(

[Two-Bob Peeters]

Goal for Dogba, can't believe that cunt is fucking on fire this season

[Captain Stu]

Typical Chelsea, don't give a shit or make an effort and take 3 points.

[Foo Fighters, United Kingdom]

Looks like Sibierski's broken.

You've got to laugh, really.

[Bud]

1-0!! Ade!!

[A Partridge in a Jtee]

thank feck for emmanuel

[EvilElvis]

i'm pissed that the JJB is so empty, if i'd known i'd have headed up to watch the gooners:(

Update from BBC Page

2118: Earlier in the clockwatch, the question was asked why the JJB Stadium was so sparsely populated (15,311 to be precise). Well, Wigan were hosts to the World Pie Eating Championships - that may answer the question.

[**dylan**]

Update from BBC Page

2118: Earlier in the clockwatch, the question was asked why the JJB Stadium was so sparsely populated (15,311 to be precise). Well, Wigan were hosts to the World Pie Eating Championships - that may answer the question.

haha yeah i can see why that would draw a big crowd.

[EvilElvis]

haha yeah i can see why that would draw a big crowd.

You know that will attract loads of people - So many hungry students desperate for food. And John Hartson

[A Partridge in a Jtee]

Update from BBC Page

2118: Earlier in the clockwatch, the question was asked why the JJB Stadium was so sparsely populated (15,311 to be precise). Well, Wigan were hosts to the World Pie Eating Championships - that may answer the question.

well i can't say i'm surprised by the pie eaters, but couldn't they have told me in advance...selfish buggers the lot of them:rolleyes:

[**dylan**]

You know that will attract loads of people - So many hungry students desperate for food. And John Hartson

hungry students? in wigan? i was thinking more along the lines of 'wiganers'

[EvilElvis]

hungry students? in wigan? i was thinking more along the lines of 'wiganers'


It's more local to you than me, so I'll agree.

[**dylan**]

It's more local to you than me, so I'll agree.

haha yes you should, wigan is full of pie eaters

[Captain Stu]

Wigan is known locally as "pieland" and Wiganers are known as "pies" or "pie eaters".

So, yeah. :D

[A Partridge in a Jtee]

hungry students? in wigan? i was thinking more along the lines of 'wiganers'

yeah we don't call them pie-eaters for no reason. fat beggers

[EvilElvis]

Wigan is known locally as "pieland" and Wiganers are known as "pies" or "pie eaters".

So, yeah. :D


And yet it's Kilmarnock who keep winning the "Best Pie" contest held between every UK team.

[Zippy Ate My Drumkit]

Not sure I like the idea of installing programmes. Are they ok?

I use SopCast and haven't had any problems.

[EvilElvis]

Everton may give new West Ham boss Alan Curbishley an early problem by swooping for £10m-rated Hammers captain Nigel Reo-Coker. (The Sun)

Tottenham will renew their attempt to sign Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing in January. (Daily Mirror)

Liverpool are making a move for French teenage striker Gilles Sunu, 16, who plays for Chateauroux. (Daily Mirror)

Sunderland boss Roy Keane wants to sign his former Manchester United team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on loan. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester United are tracking Sevilla midfielder Antonio Puerta. (Daily Mirror)


Reading are set to make a £1m bid for Hull keeper Boaz Myhill. (Daily Mirror)


OTHER GOSSIP
Luton defender Sol Davis played his first competitive game since suffering a stroke in October by turning out in the 1-1 reserve-team draw at Northampton - and he also scored an own goal. (The Sun)

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has praised Glenn Roeder because the Magpies boss has never complained about the club's injury plight. (Various)

Manchester United keeper Edwin van der Sar, 36, has been offered a new one-year deal by boss Sir Alex Ferguson. (Daily Mirror)

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has warned the fans that the club will not splash out like Chelsea if the £450m takeover by Dubai International Capital goes through. (Daily Mirror)

Charlton head coach Les Reed has clashed with two of his players, which has increased speculation that ex-West Ham boss Alan Pardew may be hired in a bid to save the club from relegation. (Daily Mirror)


AND FINALLY...
Coventry boss Micky Adams says breath tests will be given to any players the club suspects may have been going out over the festive season and the team will also be weighed daily to ensure they are eating properly and are having the correct fluid intake. (The Sun)

[Captain Stu]

As if Ferguson's gonna let his curly-haired bum-chum go out on loan.

[Captain Stu]

Here's this weeks fixtures/predictions, ladies and gents:

Saturday, 16 December 2006
Arsenal v Portsmouth [DRAW]
Aston Villa v Bolton [DRAW]
Charlton v Liverpool [LIVERPOOL]
Newcastle v Watford [NEWCASTLE]
Reading v Blackburn [READING]
Wigan v Sheff Utd [WIGAN]

Sunday, 17 December 2006
Everton v Chelsea [CHELSEA]
Man City v Tottenham [DRAW]
West Ham v Man Utd [MAN UTD]

Monday, 18 December 2006
Fulham v Middlesbrough [FULHAM]

[**dylan**]

Saturday, 16 December 2006
Arsenal v Portsmouth [DRAW]
Aston Villa v Bolton [BOLTON]
Charlton v Liverpool [LIVERPOOL]
Newcastle v Watford [DRAW]
Reading v Blackburn [READING]
Wigan v Sheff Utd [WIGAN]

Sunday, 17 December 2006
Everton v Chelsea [CHELSEA]
Man City v Tottenham [MAN CITY]
West Ham v Man Utd [MAN UTD]

Monday, 18 December 2006
Fulham v Middlesbrough [DRAW]

[Two-Bob Peeters]

Hah, at least with N'Zogbias injury, it'll mean Arsenal won't bother making a bid!

Newcastles Injury List.

Michael Owen, Damien Duff, Kieron Dyer, Scott Parker, Titus Bramble, Emre, Nolberto Solano, Tim Krul, Shola Ameobi, Olivier Bernard, Craig Moore, Stephen Carr, Steve Harper, Charles N'Zogbia, Antoine Sibierski.

=/

[Captain Stu]

So basically anyone with a smidgen of talent?

[Obiwan]

Saturday, 16 December 2006
Arsenal v Portsmouth [DRAW]
Aston Villa v Bolton [BOLTON]
Charlton v Liverpool [DRAW]
Newcastle v Watford [NEWCASTLE]
Reading v Blackburn [READING]
Wigan v Sheff Utd [DRAW]

Sunday, 17 December 2006
Everton v Chelsea [CHELSEA]
Man City v Tottenham [SPURS]
West Ham v Man Utd [MAN UTD]

Monday, 18 December 2006
Fulham v Middlesbrough [FULHAM]

[Zippy Ate My Drumkit]

So basically anyone with a smidgen of talent?

and Titus Bramble.

[Captain Stu]

and Titus Bramble.

lolz, it's true. I hate Bramble.

[timesfooall]

Saturday, 16 December 2006
Arsenal v Portsmouth [ARSENAL]
Aston Villa v Bolton [DRAW]
Charlton v Liverpool [LIVERPOOL]
Newcastle v Watford [NEWCASTLE]
Reading v Blackburn [DRAW]
Wigan v Sheff Utd [WIGAN]

Sunday, 17 December 2006
Everton v Chelsea [DRAW]
Man City v Tottenham [SPURS]
West Ham v Man Utd [MAN UTD]

Monday, 18 December 2006
Fulham v Middlesbrough [FULHAM]

[Renegades of funk 8]

Saturday, 16 December 2006
Arsenal v Portsmouth [Arsenal]
Aston Villa v Bolton [Villa]
Charlton v Liverpool [Liverpool]
Newcastle v Watford [Newcastle]
Reading v Blackburn [Draw]
Wigan v Sheff Utd [Wigan]

Sunday, 17 December 2006
Everton v Chelsea [Draw]
Man City v Tottenham [Draw]
West Ham v Man Utd [Man utd]

Monday, 18 December 2006
Fulham v Middlesbrough [Draw]

[Bexlehem]

Saturday, 16 December 2006
Arsenal v Portsmouth [ARSE]
Aston Villa v Bolton [VILLA]
Charlton v Liverpool [LIVERPOOL]
Newcastle v Watford [DRAW]
Reading v Blackburn [READING]
Wigan v Sheff Utd [WIGAN]

Sunday, 17 December 2006
Everton v Chelsea [CHELSEA]
Man City v Tottenham [DRAW]
West Ham v Man Utd [MAN UTD]

Monday, 18 December 2006
Fulham v Middlesbrough [FULHAM]

[Two-Bob Peeters]

Saturday, 16 December 2006
Arsenal v Portsmouth [ARSENAL]
Aston Villa v Bolton [DRAW]
Charlton v Liverpool [LIVERPOOL]
Newcastle v Watford [NEWCASTLE]
Reading v Blackburn [DRAW]
Wigan v Sheff Utd [WIGAN]

Sunday, 17 December 2006
Everton v Chelsea [CHELSEA]
Man City v Tottenham [DRAW]
West Ham v Man Utd [DRAW]

Monday, 18 December 2006
Fulham v Middlesbrough [FULHAM]

[danlalala]

Saturday, 16 December 2006
Arsenal v Portsmouth [DRAW]
Aston Villa v Bolton [BOLTON]
Charlton v Liverpool [LIVERPOOL]
Newcastle v Watford [WATFORD]
Reading v Blackburn [READING]
Wigan v Sheff Utd [DRAW]

Sunday, 17 December 2006
Everton v Chelsea [CHELSEA]
Man City v Tottenham [TOTTENHAM]
West Ham v Man Utd [MAN UTD]

Monday, 18 December 2006
Fulham v Middlesbrough[DRAW]

[Wish_Master2100]

Saturday, 16 December 2006
Arsenal v Portsmouth [ARSENAL]
Aston Villa v Bolton [VILLA]
Charlton v Liverpool [LIVERPOOL]
Newcastle v Watford [NEWCASTLE]
Reading v Blackburn [DRAW]
Wigan v Sheff Utd [DRAW]

Sunday, 17 December 2006
Everton v Chelsea [CHELSEA]
Man City v Tottenham [CITY]
West Ham v Man Utd [MAN UTD]

Monday, 18 December 2006
Fulham v Middlesbrough [DRAW]

[Zippy Ate My Drumkit]

I can't be bothered with the predictions anymore.

[Wish_Master2100]

I can't be bothered with the predictions anymore.

I'll delete you then?

[EvilElvis]

Saturday, 16 December 2006
Arsenal v Portsmouth [ARSENAL]
Aston Villa v Bolton [VILLA]
Charlton v Liverpool [LIVERPOOL]
Newcastle v Watford [WATFORD]
Reading v Blackburn [DRAW]
Wigan v Sheff Utd [WIGAN]

Sunday, 17 December 2006
Everton v Chelsea [CHELSEA]
Man City v Tottenham [DRAW]
West Ham v Man Utd [MAN UTD]

Monday, 18 December 2006
Fulham v Middlesbrough [FULHAM]

[Renegades of funk 8]

I'll delete you then?


no leave him in to make everone else look good

[Captain Stu]

Arsene Wenger faces a battle to keep Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann after interest from Seville. (Various)

Les Reed sent Alan Curbishley a text message warning him off Darren Bent. (Daily Star, Daily Mail)

Curbishley faces a tough task in winning over Paul Konchesky, who left Charlton for West Ham because of his relationship with the manager. (The Guardian)

Aston Villa are lining up a double swoop for Spurs' Robbie Keane and Preston's David Nugent. (Daily Star)

Juventus want to sign West Ham's Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano for £12m. (The Times)

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will wait until the summer to sign Owen Hargreaves if he cannot get his man in January. (The Times)

Bolton are battling to keep Portsmouth target Tal Ben Haim. (Daily Mail)

Reading will refuse to sell contract rebel Steve Sidwell in the January transfer window. (Daily Star)

West Ham skipper Nigel Reo-Coker has denied he will be joining Everton in a £10m deal. (Daily Telegraph)

OTHER GOSSIP
Newcastle emerged as the latest Premiership club to be sold off to foreign owners following secret talks. (Daily Mail)

Magpies boss Glenn Roeder will get a £20m war chest if the £227m sale to American financiers Polygon goes through in the New Year. (The Sun)

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard aims to edge Charlton boss Les Reed further to relegation after falling out with him when he was an England coach. (Various)

Michael Cunnah, the man who has been in charge of the project to build the new Wembley, will be forced out of his job today. (The Times, Daily Mail)

The deadline for West Ham to put forward plans for a move into the Olympic Stadium has been put back until February. (Various)

The FA is finding itself at the centre of the row between Sheffield FC and Cambridge University over who is the oldest football club. (Daily Mail)

Nigel Reo-Coker has been warned not to waste his talent by new Hammers chief Alan Curbishley. (Daily Mirror)

Les Reed has signed a deal to stay as Charlton boss until 2009 - despite only winning one game. (The Sun)

Manchester United assistant Carlos Quieroz has emerged as the number one choice to become the USA's coach. (The Sun)

Former England skipper David Beckham is set to slip further down the Real Madrid pecking with the Spaniards to sign Boca star Fernando Gago. (The Sun)

AND FINALLY...
One of Steven Gerrard's privileges after being given the Freedom of the borough of Knowsley is that he is allowed to drive his sheep down the main street of his home town. (The Times)

:D

[**dylan**]

no leave him in to make everone else look good

i second this

[Two-Bob Peeters]

I don't need anyone to make me look good :cool:

So which British Club will get Inter Milan, and Which one will get Real Madrid?

my bet is Chelsea v Inter

[Captain Stu]

I reckon Liverpool will get Inter, I just have a feeling in my bowels. :(

[Renegades of funk 8]

i reckon arsenal will get inter (if it's possible)

[Captain Stu]

Group winners (Pot 1): AC Milan, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Liverpool, Lyon, Manchester United & Valencia.

Group runners-up (Pot 2): Barcelona, Celtic, Inter Milan, Lille, Porto, PSV Eindhoven, Real Madrid & Roma.

* Arsenal can meet: Barcelona, Celtic, Inter Milan, Lille, PSV Eindhoven, Real Madrid or Roma.
* Celtic can meet: AC Milan, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Liverpool, Lyon or Valencia.
* Chelsea can meet: Celtic, Inter Milan, Lille, Porto, PSV Eindhoven, Real Madrid or Roma.
* Liverpool can meet: Barcelona, Celtic, Inter Milan, Lille, Porto, Real Madrid or Roma.
* Manchester United can meet: Barcelona, Inter Milan, Lille, Porto, PSV Eindhoven, Real Madrid or Roma.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

"SOME SHIT ABOUT KANU"

The bandy-legged Nigerian only joined Harry Redknapp's troops at the start of the season and has been an unexpected success thus far.

Kanu is currently the Premiership's joint top scorer with nine goals, and his efforts have propelled Pompey up to fourth in the table.

However it has been rumoured that Dutch giants Ajax are lining up a bid for the lanky forward, and Kanu admits that he could be enticed away from Pompey by a better offer.

"It's all about the money. If a better offer comes, I will take it," Kanu told a Nigerian radio station.

"I appreciate Portsmouth and their fans but I am just waiting for the January transfer window to come - let's see what will happen."

i actually started to like Kanu since he joined Pompey...

what a prick

[timesfooall]

United vs Barca, i just know it

[Renegades of funk 8]

i think liverpool will get celtic, battle of britain and all that

[Captain Stu]

If he said that, what a fucking cunt.

[Captain Stu]

i think liverpool will get celtic, battle of britain and all that

I want Lille, damnit! :mad: :D

[Captain Stu]

What time is the draw?

It started on SSN at 11am - the website will probably be updated at half past or something... I hope.

[Captain Stu]

I don't want chuffing Celtic, they're really really poo but I want Lille as they're pooer.

[timesfooall]

Lille :D

[timesfooall]

Celtic - AC Milan
Porto - Chelsea
PSV - Arsenal
Barca - Liverpool

[Two-Bob Peeters]

Porto v CHELSEA
CELTIC v AC Milan
PSV Eindhoven v ARSENAL
Lille v MANCHESTER UNITED
Roma v Lyon
Barcelona v LIVERPOOL
Real Madrid v Bayern Munich
Inter Milan v Valencia

This has to be one of the hardest 2nd round draws i've ever seen, even Lille or Celtic could bananaskins. Chelsea v Porto! interesting :D

And i actually want Liverpool to beat Barcelona, can't stand the cunts, i'd love to see Crouch outshine Ronaldinho to shut up my friend who thinks he's a god

[Captain Stu]

You're fucking kidding? Oh jesus titty motherfucking christ, and typical United get the easiest draw. Our game should be best of the round but Inter and Valencia will be shithot.

Porto and Chelsea? Well that was in the stars.

[Captain Stu]

Yeyyyy, we've got the easiest one.

Away at Barcelona for Liverpool - probably the toughest draw! :D

Easily the toughest draw, fucking typical. Cunting shit wankers.

[timesfooall]

Scousers in my office happy you have Barca, they're saying you would probably slip up against a smaller team but rise to the occasion against barca.

Im more than happy with lille :D

[Captain Stu]

Scousers in my office happy you have Barca, they're saying you would probably slip up against a smaller team but rise to the occasion against barca.

Im more than happy with lille :D

Could do, I suppose, it's a good chance to see how we do against a huge side, we've done it before and we can do it again but you really don't want a massive game like this before you even reach the last 16. Although, that said, we're in some good form at the mo and we'll see how it goes on in the new year.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

Scousers in my office happy you have Barca, they're saying you would probably slip up against a smaller team but rise to the occasion against barca.



haha, typical big headed reaction people give when they get this sort of draw. NOBODY would be happy with this draw unless it was the final

[Captain Stu]

Yeah, every team has their final, and you don't want to have yours before the last 16 do you?

Exactly, nobody relishes a potential slobberknocker for the first knockout round.

Oh well, let's see. Plus Barca aren't unbeatable... :(

[Captain Stu]

Also, it should be a good two-leg game because they're not gonna be looking forward to coming to Anfield anymore than we'll be looking forward to go to Spain.

We beat 'em a few years ago though to get to the UEFA Cup final. :) I was at Anfield for that one I think.

EDIT: Holy crap, I think we're the first and ONLY English team to ever win at the Nou Camp. :eek:

[Bexlehem]

haha, typical big headed reaction people give when they get this sort of draw. NOBODY would be happy with this draw unless it was the final
It's true. Last year, I knew it was going to be an Arsenal/Barca final. It was destined.

Can live with PSV actually, but I'm not exactly confident about our current euro form. Any of those ties for us was going to be tricky. At least by then, Thierry should be back.

I'm sure Mourwhinio pays money to get some of these matches drawn :rolleyes:

EDIT: Holy crap, I think we're the first and ONLY English team to ever win at the Nou Camp.
Could be. Chelski haven't done it.

[Captain Stu]

This was in 1976?! I'm gonna have to do some digging to try and find out if it's true. I suppose it's possible because there must only have been a small handful of Barca-vs-English games since then.

[Bexlehem]

This was in 1976?! I'm gonna have to do some digging to try and find out if it's true. I suppose it's possible because there must only have been a small handful of Barca-vs-English games since then.
But there has been at least one in the past 4 seasons at least I think.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

Zulte-Waregem v NEWCASTLE
Braga v Parma
Lens v Panathinaikos
Bayer Leverkusen v BLACKBURN
Hapoel Tel-Aviv v RANGERS
Livorno v Espanyol
Feyenoord v TOTTENHAM
Fenerbahce v AZ Alkmaar
Werder Bremen v Ajax
Spartak Moscow v Celta Vigo
CSKA Moscow v Maccabi Haifa
AEK Athens v Paris St German
Benfica v Dinamo Bucharest
Steaua Bucharest v Sevilla
Shakhtar Donetsk v AS Nancy
Bordeaux v Osasuna

The 'Yid Army' are gonna get splattered!

[Captain Stu]

Tough tie for Newcastle I reckon, Tottenham's could be sticky too perhaps.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

Tough tie for Newcastle I reckon, Tottenham's could be sticky too perhaps.

i've never even heard of Newcastles opponents... Blackburns will be difficult

[friartuck]

Oh jesus titty motherfucking christ, and typical United get the easiest draw.


Hmmm...really? Let's look at their opponents in the first knockout stage in previous years:

2005 - AC Milan (finalists)
2004 - Porto (winners)
2003 - Real Madrid
2002 - Deportivo
2001 - Bayern Munich (winners)
2000 - Real Madrid (winners)
1999 - Inter

Oh yeah, an easy draw for Man U this year. Just typical that is.

[rob3000]

I'm really not as daunted by the prospect as Barcelona as everyone else. There's no doubt we can win it.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

Hmmm...really? Let's look at their opponents in the first knockout stage in previous years:

2005 - AC Milan (finalists)
2004 - Porto (winners)
2003 - Real Madrid
2002 - Deportivo
2001 - Bayern Munich (winners)
2000 - Real Madrid (winners)
1999 - Inter

Oh yeah, an easy draw for Man U this year. Just typical that is.

that point is void, the bias has spoken! :D

[friartuck]

that point is void, the bias has spoken! :D

That may as well be Stu's nickname. :D

[Captain Stu]

Ah cram it, the pair of ya. I'm sure I could go into United getting well easy draws in the second group stages of a couple of those seasons and in the latter stages but that might constitute as bias. :rolleyes:

Did I fall into a coma and wake up in a parallel universe where Celtic are an awesome team or are their fans just getting a little carried away with beating United and thinking that they're gonna dick on Milan? :confused:

[boxshapedheart]

Eentwesting Champs draw.

I weel say nothing about ours until we get through. Which we better bloody had do thankyou.

Before I forget mine, even though I've lost my magic touch...

Saturday, 16 December 2006
Arsenal v Portsmouth [DRAW]
Aston Villa v Bolton [VILLA]
Charlton v Liverpool [LIVERPOOL]
Newcastle v Watford [NEWCASTLE]
Reading v Blackburn [READING]
Wigan v Sheff Utd [WIGAN]

Sunday, 17 December 2006
Everton v Chelsea [CHELSEA]
Man City v Tottenham [CITY]
West Ham v Man Utd [MAN UTD]

Monday, 18 December 2006
Fulham v Middlesbrough [FULHAM]

[Captain Stu]

Cutting it fine, Sarah. :eek:

[boxshapedheart]

Cutting it fine, Sarah. :eek:
I'm still at work. :eek: Just rushing to get my preds in before my escape :)

[Captain Stu]

Still in work now? That's bloody evil. :(

[Bexlehem]

Had to post this quote from Ian Holloway's column on BBC about the world's tallest man. Genius.

How tall is he - 7ft 8ins? If you see him, can you say thanks for saving the dolphins, but can he head a ball and does he fancy a game for Plymouth?
:D

[Hmmm Noodle Soup]

Zulte-Waregem v NEWCASTLE
Braga v Parma
Lens v Panathinaikos
Bayer Leverkusen v BLACKBURN
Hapoel Tel-Aviv v RANGERS
Livorno v Espanyol
Feyenoord v TOTTENHAM
Fenerbahce v AZ Alkmaar
Werder Bremen v Ajax
Spartak Moscow v Celta Vigo
CSKA Moscow v Maccabi Haifa
AEK Athens v Paris St German
Benfica v Dinamo Bucharest
Steaua Bucharest v Sevilla
Shakhtar Donetsk v AS Nancy
Bordeaux v Osasuna

The 'Yid Army' are gonna get splattered!

I take it you haven't watched Spurs play in the Uefa Cup this season. Well, we've been awesome. Our style of play seems to suit Europe. If we can beat the likes of Leverkusen and Besiktas with ease then I'm not particularly worried about Feyernoord. They're a good side but they aint anywhere near as good as they were. Let's not forget that we didnt actually drop any points in our group whereas Feyernoord barely qualified.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

I take it you haven't watched Spurs play in the Uefa Cup this season. Well, we've been awesome. Our style of play seems to suit Europe. If we can beat the likes of Leverkusen and Besiktas with ease then I'm not particularly worried about Feyernoord. They're a good side but they aint anywhere near as good as they were. Let's not forget that we didnt actually drop any points in our group whereas Feyernoord barely qualified.

i was on about the fans getting battered :)

althoughlooks like that isn't gonna be a problem as it'll probably be behind closed doors

[Wish_Master2100]

Going to New York tommorow, I'll still be doing the predictions, but they'll just be a bit late.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

Going to New York tommorow, I'll still be doing the predictions, but they'll just be a bit late.

you can chuck 'em this way if you like?

[Wish_Master2100]

you can chuck 'em this way if you like?

OKay, I'll MSN you.

[rob3000]

Tell us something interesting wish_master.:D

[Wish_Master2100]

Tell us something interesting wish_master.:D

Been a bit of a slow week to be honest. Not alot to report.

Too many fixtures coming up for players to be arsing around making idiots of themselves for our benefit I think.

[friartuck]

Ah cram it, the pair of ya. I'm sure I could go into United getting well easy draws in the second group stages of a couple of those seasons and in the latter stages but that might constitute as bias. :rolleyes:

Well, since the second round has been introduced United have never gotten past it so I don't know what you're talking about there. Tell ya what, let's have a look at who United have been beaten by in the latter stages since winning the trophy.

2005 - Beaten by AC Milan (finalists), R2
2004 - Beaten by Porto (winners), R2
2003 - Beaten by Real Madrid (holders), QF
2002 - Beaten by Bayer Leverkusen (finalists), SF
2001 - Beaten by Bayern Munich (winners), QF
2000 - Beaten by Real Madrid (winners), QF
1999 - Played Juventus (finalists in previous year) and Bayern Munich.

I'd say the ONLY easy draws Man Utd have ever got in the latter stages of the CL are in 2002 - Depor, and in 1997 - Porto.

Did I fall into a coma and wake up in a parallel universe where Celtic are an awesome team or are their fans just getting a little carried away with beating United and thinking that they're gonna dick on Milan? :confused:

Milan are playing shite at the minute and Celtic haven't lost at Parkhead in Europe in over 4 years so you never know. Though you'd have to assume AC Milan will ease past them. They have Kaka and that's all that matters.

[rob3000]

Stu, my first impression was "typical united" but looking at the work Friartuck has put in here...can't argue.

[Hmmm Noodle Soup]

i was on about the fans getting battered :)

althoughlooks like that isn't gonna be a problem as it'll probably be behind closed doors

Ah ok, I see.

Touche.

[Zippy Ate My Drumkit]

TURIN, Italy (AP) - Juventus postponed its game against Cesena in Italy's Serie B on Friday after two club youth players were found drowned.

Alessio Ferramosca and Riccardo Neri, both 17, drowned at the club's training facility in Turin while trying to retrieve a ball from a lake after a game, police said.

"The causes of the accident are under investigation by the authorities," Juventus sporting director Alessio Secco said. "Taking grief into account, Juventus has asked the soccer league and Cesena to postpone the match."

A minute's silence will be held before all games in Serie A and B this weekend out of respect, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport Web site.

No other details were immediately available.

[Zippy Ate My Drumkit]

Ferramosca's not actually dead (according to Gazzetta and a few other sources) but is in a pretty bad way suffering severe hypothermia.

[friartuck]

Stu, my first impression was "typical united" but looking at the work Friartuck has put in here...can't argue.

Haha yes that was seriously anorak-ish of me there.

I have to say though, people always say that about Utd and I never understand why.

[EvilElvis]

Milan are playing shite at the minute and Celtic haven't lost at Parkhead in Europe in over 4 years so you never know. Though you'd have to assume AC Milan will ease past them. They have Kaka and that's all that matters.

Celtic have lost only 1 Champions League game at Celtic Park - Barcelona beat them 3-1

Having said that, they've lost every away game bar one - a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp.


The problem Celtic have is the first leg is at Home.

I know a few fans who reckon they could win it. One of them reckons it's destined to be Celtic's year...


EDIT: Holy crap, I think we're the first and ONLY English team to ever win at the Nou Camp. :eek:


Don't know about only English club to win at Nou Camp - A Scottish team has won there....

Dundee Utd beat Barcelona 2-1 in 1987 Uefa cup - Utd won 1-0 at Tannadice in the return fixture.

[EvilElvis]

UEFA Cup

Draw for the last 16:

Zulte Waregem or Newcastle v Fenerbahce or AZ Alkmaar
CSKA Moscow or Maccabi Haifa v Livorno or Espanyol
Hapoel Tel Aviv or Rangers v Bordeaux or Osasuna
Braga or Parma v Feyenoord or Tottenham
Steaua Bucharest or Sevilla v Shakhtar or Nancy
Lens or Panathinaikos v Leverkusen or Blackburn
AEK Athens or PSG v Benfica or Dinamo Bucharest
Spartak Moscow or Celta Vigo v Werder Bremen or Ajax


(Ties to be played on 8 & 14/15 March)

[Mikey]

Hahahaha. BBCSport:

"Man Utd gain work permit for Dong."

[Bexlehem]

UEFA Cup

Draw for the last 16:

Zulte Waregem or Newcastle v Fenerbahce or AZ Alkmaar
CSKA Moscow or Maccabi Haifa v Livorno or Espanyol
Hapoel Tel Aviv or Rangers v Bordeaux or Osasuna
Braga or Parma v Feyenoord or Tottenham
Steaua Bucharest or Sevilla v Shakhtar or Nancy
Lens or Panathinaikos v Leverkusen or Blackburn
AEK Athens or PSG v Benfica or Dinamo Bucharest
Spartak Moscow or Celta Vigo v Werder Bremen or Ajax


(Ties to be played on 8 & 14/15 March)
That last fixture's going to be an interesting one to watch through.

Hahahaha. BBCSport:

"Man Utd gain work permit for Dong."
I've been waiting for him to play for ages, just to hear the commentators :D

[EvilElvis]

Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder wants to sign Middlesbrough centre-half Chris Riggott in a £4m deal. (Daily Express)

Brazilian Anderson Silva will arrive at Everton next week for a trial. (Daily Mirror)


OTHER GOSSIP
Portsmouth chairman Alexandre Gaydamak has told manager Harry Redknapp not to pick Manuel Fernandes against Arsenal. (The Sun)

Jermain Defoe says he is happy to stay at Tottenham. (The Times)

Man City manager Stuart Pearce says midfielder Joey Barton deserves an England call-up. (Various)

Iain Dowie has turned down the chance to manage Championship side Hull City. (The Sun)

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is not phased by having to play Barcelona in the Champions League because of the record he has against them. (Various)

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has responded to claims from Chelsea that they can go another level by saying: "Yes. They could get worse." (Various)

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce believes tickets prices to premiership games should be cheaper to get fans back into grounds. (Mirror)

Everton striker Andy Johnson says he is not a diver and his reputation is undeserved. (Sun)

Rangers striker Dado Prso insists his side can still catch Celtic in the title race ahead of the Old firm derby on Sunday. (Daily Record)

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan says the Champions League draw pitting his side against AC Milan makes him for the first time since retiring that he was playing again. (Daily Record)


AND FINALLY...
Newcastle have finally broken their agonising wait for a trophy. They have won the Intertoto Cup as they are the only club who entered the competition still left in the Uefa Cup. (Various)

Pre-match rules for top referees will be relaxed over the Christmas period, meaning officials' wives can stay with them at their hotels on the night before big games. (Sun)

AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has claimed Chelsea's Andriy Shevchenko is hen-pecked. (Various)

[Bexlehem]

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has responded to claims from Chelsea that they can go another level by saying: "Yes. They could get worse." (Various)
Classic. Nicely done :D

AND FINALLY...
Newcastle have finally broken their agonising wait for a trophy. They have won the Intertoto Cup as they are the only club who entered the competition still left in the Uefa Cup. (Various)
How? :confused:

[Two-Bob Peeters]

Classic. Nicely done :D


How? :confused:

They qualified for the UEFA cup via the Intertoto cup, i think 3 teams overall do the same, the other two teams who qualified via the twobob must have got knocked out in the group stages. Meaning Newcastle got furthest and therefore are the champions. i guess.

[Renegades of funk 8]

interesting day in the league today then, damn those pompey pikeys and they're good season

[danlalala]

Going back to what Mourinho said about the big teams having an 'A' team in the Championship...am i the only one who thinks this is a good idea?

The teams in the Championship would get a taste of what they'd be up against in the Premiership, equipping them better mentally and showing them which type of players they would need to transfer in and out having had the experience of playing against Premiership quality, rather than buying players they think might work.

[EvilElvis]

Going back to what Mourinho said about the big teams having an 'A' team in the Championship...am i the only one who thinks this is a good idea?

The teams in the Championship would get a taste of what they'd be up against in the Premiership, equipping them better mentally and showing them which type of players they would need to transfer in and out having had the experience of playing against Premiership quality, rather than buying players they think might work.


But how many players would join a team thinking "They've got world class players, I'm likely to end up in their championship team?"

Aside from
SWP
Wayne Bridge

and a few other british players Muriniho has signed.

[danlalala]

But how many players would join a team thinking "They've got world class players, I'm likely to end up in their championship team?"

Aside from
SWP
Wayne Bridge

and a few other british players Muriniho has signed.
If that's their attitude towards it, then they obviously don't have confidence in their ability and they would know that it was the wrong move for them.

[EvilElvis]

If that's their attitude towards it, then they obviously don't have confidence in their ability and they would know that it was the wrong move for them.


And how many clubs - Chelsea aside can really afford to have a 'B' team to play in the championship?


Man Utd & Arsenal probably. Liverpool maybe, most other teams, no chance.

[EvilElvis]

FED-UP Hearts fan Stan Thomson has become the butt of his mates’ jokes – because he had “Romanov” tattooed on his back.

DJ Stan, 45, was so ecstatic at the results of Russian Vladimir Romanov’s first season as owner of the club, he splashed out more than £1000 on the tattoo.

But now he is ready to have it removed – or altered to add the words: “Thanks for the memories.”

Stan, from Danderhall, Midlothian, says he is disillusioned by Romanov’s eccentric behaviour, particularly his treatment of former club captain Steven Pressley.

He says he doesn’t regret having the tattoo and admits the Jambos have no choice to stand by Romanov.

But he says he is sick of being the target of jokes.


Stan said: “Last season was the best year of my life as a Hearts fan.


“When Mr Romanov arrived, he promised to keep us at Tynecastle, split the Old Firm and deliver some silverware.


“He met all these promises in his first year at the club. Last season was absolutely amazing.


“This term has been a bit of a nightmare, however. His methods have been strange, to say the least, and I have been getting a bit of a slagging from my mates.


“Despite everything, I will always be grateful to Mr Romanov for the joy he gave me last season.”


It’s the treatment of Pressley, who is now contemplating his options away from Tynecastle, which has really annoyed Stan.


He fumed: “It’s an absolute disgrace how Elvis has been treated. The man is a legend and has put eight of his best years into the club.”


But Stan remains hopeful that things will come good. And he says his best present would be a win over Hibs on Boxing Day.

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


LOLZ!

[Two-Bob Peeters]

It's a terrible idea.

Either you'd have more teams in the championship, creating extra games. 46 is enough thanks. funny how Wenger and co wouldn't have a probelm with that, but their Main teams already play too many matches :confused:

the way to get around that is to just relegate extra teams, which would affect quite a few teams, and the chain effect of relegation would then take some clubs out of professional football. either by being relegated into the confrence or by loss of revenue forcing them to go bust.

Again, i bet Wenger and Co would have no problems with this, as long as their club continued raking it in.

[Bexlehem]

Going back to what Mourinho said about the big teams having an 'A' team in the Championship...am i the only one who thinks this is a good idea?

The teams in the Championship would get a taste of what they'd be up against in the Premiership, equipping them better mentally and showing them which type of players they would need to transfer in and out having had the experience of playing against Premiership quality, rather than buying players they think might work.
I think in some way it is a good idea - it works on the continent, sure. The problem is, put a team like that in as high as the championship, it then becomes a case of them not really deserving to be there. Any lower, and they'll be too good for the teams in the league.

Can we start up an A team league maybe.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

Can we start up an A team league maybe.

There's already a reserve team league, it's the same thing

[Bexlehem]

There's already a reserve team league, it's the same thing
Then that should surely be enough.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

I tell you what, David James has put in some quality performances for Pompey this season.

Also noticing that the Emirates hadplenty of seats vacated... i remember my uncle (arsenal fan) told me they'd never sell it out once they built it, seems he was right! edit: looks slightly more filled now, it mus have been nearly half-time or something

Great goal by Taylor again :D

Liverpool Match: what the hell was Traore doing!!!!!!... although great stop off the line

[EvilElvis]

Liverpool Match: what the hell was Traore doing!!!!!!... although great stop off the line


He redeemed himself with the stop on the line, but after a performance like that, I'm convinced that Sunderland's lowest ever points tally will be beaten by Charlton.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

why on earth didn't Bolton buy a left back? Gardner is always injured. Poor old Pedersen is a Centre Forward! he's got no chance against Agbonlahor!

He redeemed himself with the stop on the line, but after a performance like that, I'm convinced that Sunderland's lowest ever points tally will be beaten by Charlton.

you got to laugh, bloody anoraks :D

[EvilElvis]

you got to laugh, bloody anoraks :D


I reckon Charlton were flattered with a 3-0 loss.


Love Reed's optimism "We had a good 10 minute spell".


Shame a game lasts for 90 mins.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

fucking hell, Chris Morgan took a whacking. great reaction to it though 'it's a mans game!'

Well done on the ref for talking about the 'penalty'

[Renegades of funk 8]

I reckon Charlton were flattered with a 3-0 loss.


Love Reed's optimism "We had a good 10 minute spell".


Shame a game lasts for 90 mins.


whats going on at charlton is quite laughable, the manager is just some inept grandad - i can't imagine him getting angry at halftime and even if he did i bet no one would take him seriously, i agree with evil i think they will get lower than sunderlands lowest points tally and did you see all the schoolboy errors charlton made (on match of the day)

[Mrs Poon]

up the blades

[EvilElvis]

West Ham captain Nigel Reo-Coker could join Arsenal in the January transfer window. (Sunday Times)

Javier Mascherano is also on his way out of Upton Park. (The Observer)

Manchester United will bid £7m for Southampton's teenage defender Gareth Bale. (News of the World)

Chelsea misfit Shaun Wright-Phillips will join Portsmouth in the transfer window. (News of the World)

But Wright-Phillips is also on the wish list of his former club Manchester City. (Sunday Express)

City boss Stuart Pearce is also chasing Crewe defender Billy Jones. (Sunday Express)

Bayern Munich want to snap up Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann when his contract expires in the summer. (Sunday Express)

Tottenham have been told to more than double their £2m approach to West Brom for defender Curtis Davies (People).


OTHER GOSSIP
Lord Stevens' long-awaited bung report will this week declare that the Football Association is unfit to govern the sport. (News of the World)

Uefa will act to to stop Chelsea spending millions on new players. (Mail on Sunday, Sunday Times)

Sven-Goran Eriksson is in talks about managing Paris St Germain and Marseille, (Sunday Express, News of the World), and the Qatar national side also want him (People).

Charlton's players want sacked West Ham manager Alan Pardew to be their new boss. (News of the World)

West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson says Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez will stay until the summer at least, but "when I saw their contracts as they are, I would never have signed them." (People).

Albert Luque's Newcastle career looks to be over after he stormed out of the ground after being told he would not even be on the bench for the Watford game - the second time he has walked out (Mail on Sunday).

Petr Cech could be back playing for Chelsea in January, having been in danger of missing the rest of the season with a fractured skull (Mail on Sunday).

Sir Alex Ferguson says David Beckham will not return to play in England because he would not want to play for any team except Manchester United (Sunday Express).


AND FINALLY...
Chelsea's tough-tackling midfielder Michael Essien has revealed he rings his mum every day. (News of the World)

Manchester City's Joey Barton says his grandmother's guidance saved him from getting involved in drugs or ending up in prison after his parents split up when he was 14. "I thank God for the sort of standards she set me," he says. (People).

Portsmouth cannot field on-loan midfielder Manuel Fernandes in more than two consecutive games as it will activate a contractual clause that they have to buy him for £12m (Mail on Sunday).

[F'jo]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/6187611.stm

"West Ham striker Carlos Tevez says he was surprised former manager Alan Pardew was not sacked earlier.

Pardew was dismissed as manager last week, with Alan Curbishley swiftly appointed as his successor.

Tevez, 22, told the News of the World: "I was surprised to see how long Pardew held on to the job in the end.

"In Argentina or Brazil he would have been out long ago. It was clear the team did not react as he wanted - it wasn't going right."

The Argentine is yet to score a competitive goal for the Hammers since his move from Brazilian club Corinthians last August and has struggled to command a regular first-team place.

He added: "I was never given the chances I thought I would be given and I was told to play out of position against my will.


I don't think Pardew had a clear idea about my game or what to do

Carlos Tevez

"I had to sacrifice myself for the team, which I don't think helped. I was playing in ways I did not understand well and I lost a lot from my own game.

"It didn't fit where he put me but I wanted to help.

"I don't think he had a clear idea about my game or what to do.

"He was a good football man but more suited to coaching English teams without foreign players with big reputations.

"I think that was a big problem for him."

Tevez insists he is keen to help West Ham push up the table and is relishing working with new manager Curbishley.

He said: "I want to win with this team and a lot of people have told me great things about the new coach, so I want to start scoring for him and start helping West Ham win matches.

"The fans have been fantastic towards me and I thank them. Now I want to repay them." "




Cheeky Bastard! He hasn't exactly done much for the team either....:confused:

[EvilElvis]

I fucking love Brahim Hemdani

[Jamie]

I fucking love Joseph Yobo

[Two-Bob Peeters]

good goal from Lampard. although my SopCast keeps jumping, so it was probably deflected

[Captain Stu]

UP TO FUCKING THIRD!!! :D

Great game, we're on a hot streak at the moment - 6 consecutive clean sheets and 11 goals in our last 3 games alone! The Arsenal-Portsmouth draw was absolutely chuffing perfect for us.

Sarah, soz for the text... but cmon, do you blame me? Wham beating United was pretty awesome although by the looks of the MOTD2 highlights, Wham were fortunate to not be 3 or 4 down by half time if it hadn't been for Greeno who had a cracker of a game.

Cunting fucking Chelsea! :mad:

[EvilElvis]

Martin O'Neill is lining up West Brom skipper Curtis Davies and Manchester United defender Phil Bardsley as January transfer window targets. (Various)

Albert Luque will leave Newcastle in the new year if a suitable bid is lodged. (Daily Star)

Kanu says he will leave Portsmouth unless he receives a longer contract. (The Sun)

Roma are preparing a £3m bid for West Brom striker Diomansy Kamara. (Daily Mirror)

Rangers are looking at Bordeaux striker Jean-Claude Darcheville. (Daily Record)

Charlton manager Les Reed hopes to sign QPR teenager Ray Jones. (Daily Mirror)

West Brom defender Chris Perry is being chased by Watford, Southampton and Leeds. (Daily Mirror)

Glenn Roeder wants to bring Gillingham's flying winger Matt Jarvis to Newcastle. (Daily Mirror)

OTHER GOSSIP
Milan Mandaric's proposed takeover of Leicester is on the verge of collapse. (The Times)

Sven-Goran Eriksson's right-hand man Tord Grip says the former England manager is set to be the new boss at Marseille. (Various)

Joey Barton has urged Steve McClaren to drop Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard so that he can do the midfield legwork. (The Sun)

Rochdale want Andy Ritchie to take over as manager after Steve Parkin's departure. (Daily Mirror)


AND FINALLY...
David Beckham has taken out the biggest personal insurance policy in sporting history worth £100m. (The Times)

Arsenal have banned St George flags from the Emirates Stadium. A club statement said: "Some of our fans have been upset with flags denoting particular regions of the world." (The Sun)

[Mousie]

According to a Swedish newspaper, Sami Hyypiä is to be transferred to Malmö FF, a football club in southern Sweden, in January when the transfer window opens. :(

[Captain Stu]

Joey Barton has urged Steve McClaren to drop Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard so that he can do the midfield legwork. (The Sun)

Well, considering that Gerrard has been playing on the right wing, Barton's talking out of his arse :D but what he says is sound really - he's right when he says that there's nobody doing the dog work in midfield of successfully breaking up attacks out of the two of them.

However, that said, I'd like to see a midfield four of Cole, Gerrard, Barton and Lennon and see what it can do in our next friendly. It's time to drop Fatlard.

[timesfooall]

Oh my god it was soooo obvious that was gonna happen, stupid Curbishley :mad:

[Two-Bob Peeters]

Well, considering that Gerrard has been playing on the right wing, Barton's talking out of his arse :D but what he says is sound really - he's right when he says that there's nobody doing the dog work in midfield of successfully breaking up attacks out of the two of them.

However, that said, I'd like to see a midfield four of Cole, Gerrard, Barton and Lennon and see what it can do in our next friendly. It's time to drop Fatlard.

If Gerrard continues to fail, they're going to have to drop him as well.

Lampard should have been dropped games ago, but Gerrard isn't far behind him. we have so many centre midfielders it's about time we tried out some new pairings

[Captain Stu]

Maybe, maybe... but McLaren's got a big decision to make somewhere down the line and frankly he needs to try Gerrard back in the middle. It's no coincidence that our run of hot form came from the very first game that Gerrard played in the middle and he started finding form and scoring again. Not saying he would definately do it for England but he needs to be given a chance in the middle (without Fatty) rather than this arse-awful wide-right position because that belongs to Lennon at the moment.

Fatty's goal the other day was very, very good... but Everton clearly have no idea of "closing down"... if they did, two of Chelsea's goals (Fatty's and Dogba's) wouldn't have been so easy. And Tim Howard needs to stay on his chuffing line - that's two weeks in a row he's been beaten by horrendously long range goals... although I did feel really sorry for him after the goal went in, the camera showed him twitching. :( That's mean.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

Try him in the middle without lampard, give him 2 games. if he's shit, then he's out. that's what i'd do.

[timesfooall]

Ookie for England coach

[Captain Stu]

I would say two games generally isn't enough time... but we don't really have much time, we've only got one qualifier (against Spain in February) before the Euro 2008 qualifiers kick in. It'd definately be worth trying Gerrard in the middle with Barton or Nolan, see how that goes and then try again against Israel and then Andorra at the end of March.

Barton'd probably suit better than Nolan, Nolan would be more of a replacement for Gerrard than a partner for him.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

2 games isn't enough time for a 'world class' midfielder? who's played there all his career and 90% of the time for England? i'd say 2 games is more than enough time. He's lucky he's Steven Gerrard playing for Liverpool (Likewise with Lampard @ Chelsea) otherwise he'd be outta there.

[Captain Stu]

Maybe, maybe... but I'd say the biggest reason he's given chance after chance after chance is simply because he's England's best player. You take Gerrard out and we're left with Rooney as our sole creative outlet and he doesn't do too well in qualifiers, ie, not scoring once in the entire World Cup qualifying process.

I agree though, if he wasn't playing at a top team - he'd have been dropped long ago.

[Captain Stu]

Also, Liverpool and Arsenal tomorrow... league cup quarter final. Ed and Bex in particular, what're you thinking?

Benitez has said he wants to win the cup but is definately going to rest some of the bigger players and reckons Wenger will do the same. I think he will too, as good as another trophy would be - it's nothing compared to maintaining form in the league. IF we played our full-strength first team, I honestly think we'd win based on the run we're on and Arsenal's stutters over the past few games but if we're talking teams at half/three quarter strength then I reckon it'll be a nice, balanced game... hopefully Crouch will get a start, Fowler might too. :)

[Two-Bob Peeters]

i think there's a difference, Gerrard isn't 'Englands best player' he may certainly be the best English player around. but when it comes to playing for England it's a completely different story. it's not about best players it's about the team. This is where the problem lies, we have to find a manager who has the balls to create the system HE wants, and to not accomdate it for any player, and drop whoever he sees fit to make the system work. Recently we've had managers who's tried many different formations and systems, but have kept exactly the same players, rendering it pointless. so basically Gerrard shouldn't be picked on the basis of assumption that he's the best. it should be left for the Managers and the players actual international success to decide. Neither of which we've seen for a long time.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

"England did nothing in the World Cup, so why are they bringing books out? 'We got beat in the quarter-finals, we played like s***, here's my book'. Who wants to read that? I don't."

Joey Barton goes up in my estimations yet again

[Zippy Ate My Drumkit]

Dirk Kuyt blesses us all with a smile after scoring his latest goal. (http://www.moviefans.de/goonies/img/sloth.jpg)

[**dylan**]

Joey Barton goes up in my estimations yet again

hahahaha if mcclaren ever considered putting him in the team, that would not go down well with them.

[EvilElvis]

Former England footballer jailed (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derbyshire/6190873.stm)


A former England footballer has been jailed after he drunkenly threatened a bouncer while serving a suspended sentence for another assault.
Gary Charles, 36, of Stretton, near Alfreton, Derbyshire, admitted a public order offence by threatening a doorman with an imaginary knife.

He was jailed for 12 months at Derby Crown Court.

The former Nottingham Forest right-back had been given a suspended sentence for an assault on a woman in 2005.

Prison warning

Derby Crown Court was told Charles had previously been found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm after a three-day trial in July.

The court had heard how he attacked a woman after she joked he was not good enough to play for Manchester United.

He repeatedly kicked her in the face and head in the 2005 assault.

Charles had been warned he would go to prison if he committed another similar offence, or failed to carry out 100 hours of community work.

In sentencing, Judge Andrew Hamilton said: "There really does come a time when the police and everyone else have to have a rest from Gary Charles.

"I hope it knocks some sense into his head."

In mitigation, Hal Ewing, defending, said his client had made progress in battling his alcohol addiction, despite this latest incident.

"He's an alcoholic and has been for many years.

"To get himself alcohol-free will be a real struggle for Mr Charles. However, he has made great strides towards doing that."

Charles played for Derby, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa and retired in 2002

[EvilElvis]

Mourinho bemoans diving.. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6188413.stm)

Everton have called for Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho to retract his comments about striker Andrew Johnson.
Mourinho branded the England striker "untrustworthy" following a challenge with Chelsea keeper Hilario on Sunday.

An Everton statement said: "To query a player of Andrew's integrity is wholly unacceptable and possibly defamatory."

Everton are thought to have taken legal advice over the matter and the statement added: "We ask Mr Mourinho to immediately retract his allegations."


Interview: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho
Interview: Everton boss David Moyes
Interview: Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard

The joint statement from Everton and Johnson's agent Anthony McFarlane, also called on the Football Association to look at Mourinho's comments.

It said: "We would urge the footballing authorities to look closely at Mr Mourinho's comment and then, perhaps, seek a formal explanation.

"Both Everton FC and Andrew Johnson have always believed in the virtues of fair play."

Johnson's tumble in the box under Chelsea keeper Hilario's challenge sparked a touchline row between Mourinho and Everton counterpart David Moyes after the Chelsea boss made a diving motion with his hands.

Mourinho said: "He's dangerous for opponents because you cannot trust him, and I was not happy with that.

"But I think he was a bit embarrassed and he behaved very well after that."

The Chelsea boss stopped short of calling Johnson a cheat, but said: "In my country we call them 'intelligent' players. In other countries you can use different words and are critical.

"I've been in this country for three years now and I am influenced by your culture. It is a country I admire, I am proud to be part of it.

"For me when a player chases a penalty, he is no longer an intelligent player."

Everton midfielder Phil Neville was incensed by Mourinho's comments, which came weeks after Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said Johnson went down too easily in the box.

"Jose Mourinho has no right to say things like that," said Neville. "It wasn't a case of cheating at all.

"The reason why Andrew Johnson is not getting penalties at the moment is because people like Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho are coming out and having a go at our players.

"It is nothing to do with him. He should leave everything that is concerned to Everton FC to our manager and our chairman."

And Everton boss Moyes dismissed Mourinho's insinuations of Johnson's diving and accused him of hypocrisy.

"After all, he's got a big 15 stone striker up front who is quite partial to it himself.

"I saw the incident on television and I don't think it was a penalty, but it certainly wasn't a dive either.

"A few weeks ago the Chelsea keeper got caught by a Reading player who was criticised for that.

"Our player is slightly bumped, straddles the goalkeeper and jumps over him. He's missed the keeper and he gets criticised for that, so you can't win."

A Football Association spokesman said: "We are aware of what's been said but have no comment to make at this stage."


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


Look at Drogba and Robben before commenting on divers Jose...

[Two-Bob Peeters]

Ookie 87
Boxshapedtart 85
Renegades of Funk 82
Captain Stu 80
Wishmaster 77
EvilElvis 76
Bexster 68
Danyul 68
TimesFooAll 57
**Dylan** 30
Obiwan Foo 6

Upon returning the spreadsheet Wishmaster pointed out that i made a mistake Which means Stu and Mark get an extra point this week as i left out a correct prediction in the very first week.

best performance of the week. newcomer, Obiwan Foo with 6

[EvilElvis]

TRANSFER RUMOURS
Tottenham are set to offer Calum Davenport, plus £5m, for West Brom defender Curtis Davies. (The Sun)

Portsmouth will send loan signing Manuel Fernandes back to Benfica in January after rejecting the chance to sign the midfielder. (Various)

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp will have the backing of owner Alexandre Gaydamak in the January transfer window, with two or three signings in the offing. (The Sun)

Teenage defender Gareth Bale will snub a move to Manchester United to stay at Southampton. (Daily Mirror)

Bayern Munich are now considering selling England midfielder Owen Hargreaves to Manchester United, although such a deal is unlikely to go through until next summer. (Various)

Barnsley are ready to move for Swindon striker Christian Roberts. (Daily Star)


OTHER GOSSIP
West Ham captain Nigel Reo-Coker received death threats and racist taunts after Alan Pardew's sacking as manager. (Various)

Andrew Johnson is ready to sue Jose Mourinho unless the Chelsea boss apologises for alleging the Everton striker tried to con referee Mark Halsey in the Toffees' 3-2 defeat against the Blues. (Various)

Nigel Worthington is a late contender for the vacant managerial position at Hull and is on the shortlist with another ex-Norwich boss, Gary Megson. (Daily Mirror)

Chelsea keeper Petr Cech is being lined up to make a return in January after fracturing his skull in a collision with Reading's Stephen Hunt in October. (The Sun)

Manager Sam Allardyce believes he can lure ex-England captain David Beckham to Bolton - if the midfielder decides to leave Real Madrid. (Daily Star)

Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson would relish the chance to become coach of Marseille after talks with the French club. (The Sun)


AND FINALLY...
Former Watford striker Luther Blissett is to come out of retirement to play for non-League Chesham United - at the age of 48. (Daily Star)

[EvilElvis]

Boxshapedtart 85



Just cause she is walking away with Yahoo fantasy football there is no need to be cruel! :p :D

[EvilElvis]

Offical

1 Honorary Leeds 888
2 Gashrash Athletic 888
3 Brawling Beer Barons 830
4 Team Jeremy Beadle 806
5 Team JT 802
6 Notvery Athletic 789
7 Box Shaped FC 785
8 OJ Villa 777
9 Jack White's XI 749
10 Fretboard Monkeys 747
11 Team Zizzou 741
12 Zidane Headbutter FC 730
13 Roman's Cash Point 727
14 Fascist Hooligan XI 716
15 Nearly Signed 714
16 Fredtastic! 702
17 St Albans City 700
18 Stunt Team 700
19 The Gooners 698
20 Jziklick 691
21 chappaqua 668
22 FunkyGibbon 664
23 Fashion Zombies 576
24 Team Ronaldo 108


Yahoo

1 Winchestertonfieldville 1,174.50
2 Team Ronaldo 1,061.00
3 Fascist Hooligans XI 1,041.00
4 Spleenpuddle FC 1,031.00
5 South East Superstars 944.00
6 Nearly Signed 923.50
7 OJ Villa 921.00
8 Honorary Rangers 900.00
9 Fred.... 867.50
10 Fantasy Bazaar 841.00
11 Fashion Zombies 772.50
12 FFCMark 732.50
13 Team JT 602.50

[Captain Stu]

Andrew Johnson is ready to sue Jose Mourinho unless the Chelsea boss apologises for alleging the Everton striker tried to con referee Mark Halsey in the Toffees' 3-2 defeat against the Blues. (Various)

... but he IS a diver, any court in the world would laugh this one right out.

[**dylan**]

... but he IS a diver, any court in the world would laugh this one right out.

exactly, but its alright for moyes to say drogba is a diver and of course he is not a hypocrite.

[Bud]

I'm positive that we're going to continue with our youth policy tonight, which will be a good test for them. I can't see Wenger changing his mind about how to play the competition now. Rosicky is back from injury though, so I can see him starting.

I think he'll go for:

-----------------------Alumnia
-----Eboue-----Djourou------Senderos------Traore

-----Wallcott---Denilson------Flamini-------Rosicky

---------------Aliadiere-----Adebayour


Which isn't far removed from the team that beat Everton.

[Obiwan]

Ookie 87
Boxshapedtart 85
Renegades of Funk 82
Captain Stu 80
Wishmaster 77
EvilElvis 76
Bexster 68
Danyul 68
TimesFooAll 57
**Dylan** 30
Obiwan Foo 6

Upon returning the spreadsheet Wishmaster pointed out that i made a mistake Which means Stu and Mark get an extra point this week as i left out a correct prediction in the very first week.

best performance of the week. newcomer, Obiwan Foo with 6

WOO HOO, still got half a season left to catch up :D

[Two-Bob Peeters]

... but he IS a diver, any court in the world would laugh this one right out.

i think it's more the point that Mourinho is being a mega hypocrite. but yeah he is a diver so they can't really argue!

[Captain Stu]

Oh god yeah, Mourinho's got two out of the top five worst culprits for diving (along with FPR, Garcia and Johnson himself) in his team so he's a fine one to talk.

[boxshapedheart]

Ookie 87
Boxshapedtart 85

Don't you tart me, ya tart. :)

*ponders* so if I'm doing someone to lead yahoo, does that mean you're doing yourself in predictions now? Very clever young ookling. Win/win eh. :p

Oh my god it was soooo obvious that was gonna happen, stupid Curbishley :mad:
Yeah I could see it happening, hate playing a new manager - especially one that's good mates with Fergie. And God did the commentators mention enough things to book us?

Tim Howard, the cunt. Did he save anything on Sunday? Standing off his line, bumming the ball into the net...Grr. I hate them with a vengeance for making me support them, then completely f-ing it up. Scummers. Good shot by Dogba.

Really disappointed with Rooney, Giggs and Carrick's on Sunday. Le sigh.


Sarah, soz for the text... but cmon, do you blame me? Wham beating United was pretty awesome although by the looks of the MOTD2 highlights, Wham were fortunate to not be 3 or 4 down by half time if it hadn't been for Greeno who had a cracker of a game.

HA to you too!! :mad:
yeah, it wasn't completely one-sided but we still should have got a win.

[boxshapedheart]

Oh yeah,

Jamie Redknapp's face at halftime for Everton game - angry to the point of crying
Fulltime - full of gleeeee

He's not biased, that lad.

[Captain Stu]

Redders hates Everton. :D Good lad.

Tim Howard was shite the other day but that freekick of Ballack's was amazing - no way should that have been given as an own goal. I can only imagine it's because it bounced off the post and would probably have trickled back out into the box... but it takes a lot away from just how awesome a free kick it was to give it as an oggy.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

Don't you tart me, ya tart.

*ponders* so if I'm doing someone to lead yahoo, does that mean you're doing yourself in predictions now? Very clever young ookling. Win/win eh.

a very cunning plan yes, but not really that satisfying, it gets a bit stale 'winning' all the time :(

[Renegades of funk 8]

Upon returning the spreadsheet Wishmaster pointed out that i made a mistake Which means Stu and Mark get an extra point this week as i left out a correct prediction in the very first week.


you should award us an extra 30 points for that "mistake"


:D

[Two-Bob Peeters]

you should award us an extra 30 points for that "mistake"


:D
the funniest thing was, he noticed as soon as i gave it to him, but he didn't rectify it, he waited to tell me first! i imagine to see if i did it on purpose! :D

[danlalala]

On the Mars Volta board (www.thecomatorium.com/board) there is a good footie thread and this goal is fucking insane in how simple, yet amazing it is.

http://stor.voskat.net/Jonk-Feyenoord_1996.wmv

[Two-Bob Peeters]

i know a few people here listen to talksport... =/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/6194773.stm

Radio host Dickin dies in crash

Dickin had been with Talksport for ten years (pic: Talksport)
Talksport phone-in host Mike Dickin, known to listeners as "The King", has died in a road accident in Cornwall.

The presenter, who was in his 60s, was involved in a six car pile-up on the A30 on Monday. He was airlifted to hospital but was pronounced dead.

Dickin started his career at BBC Radio Oxford in the 1970s, where he was the first presenter on the air.

He also broadcast on Radio 4 and LBC, and won an award for his coverage of the Lockerbie disaster in 1988.

The presenter, who broadcast from his home studio in Bodmin Moor, was known for his passionate, outspoken views.

Listeners dubbed him Britain's angriest man, but he was also known as "The King" because of his supposed resemblance to Henry VIII.

Dickin hosted weekend overnight phone-ins on Talksport and was last heard on the station last weekend.

Colleague James Whale paid tribute to the broadcaster, calling him "the original grumpy old man".

"Radio will never be the same again," continued the presenter, who will pay tribute to Dickin in his programme on Thursday night.

[Bud]

Is the Liverpool Arsenal match going ahead or not?

[Bud]

Liverpool's Carling Cup quarter-final tie with Arsenal has been postponed due to heavy fog at Anfield.
Referee Martin Atkinson made an initial inspection at 1815 GMT, but with the fog thickening, the official decided to call the game off at 1845 GMT.

That answers my question then. Shame, I know rob3000 was going down to see Liverpool get beaten by a bunch of teenagers :D

[Captain Stu]

Cunt!! From what I saw, the fog wasn't that bad.

[weeniebeenie]

Club run by Peter Risdale in "got fuck all money" shocker (http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,2483_1787345,00.html)

Done it quicker this time. Mainly due to skipping the bit where the club became good and played well in the Champions League.

[rob3000]

Good thing I never left, I was planning to travel down a bit early to go The Arkles too.

Fog's pretty bad round here but only if you're driving, you could still kick a ball round for christ's sake!

[EvilElvis]

Good thing I never left, I was planning to travel down a bit early to go The Arkles too.

Fog's pretty bad round here but only if you're driving, you could still kick a ball round for christ's sake!


Think that may be part of the reason the games off.

Fans safety an all that..

[timesfooall]

Cunt!! From what I saw, the fog wasn't that bad.
http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=436524&CPID=2&clid=14&lid=4161&title=Liverpool-Arsenal+called+off

Looks pretty bad to me, shame that i was looking forward to it

[Jamie]

I'm glad it's cancelled. Don't want to give Wenger an easy excuse when they lose. Make him come up with his own.

[rob3000]

Hmm yeah maybe. But it's not undriveable, I reckon given the amount of games everyones playing (when the hell are they going to play this one now?!) they should have gone ahead with it. It would have made for a good atmosphere!

[Two-Bob Peeters]

psht, goddamn wussy ref. tell me how that's unplayable?

[rob3000]

psht, goddamn wussy ref. tell me how that's unplayable?
after a second look, I completely agree. Games get called off way too easy these days.

[Captain Stu]

Sky fucking suck, the angles they show make it look really bad... WELL OF COURSE IT LOOKS BAD IF YOU'RE LOOKING DOWN THROUGH IT FROM A GREAT HEIGHT!!

From pitch level, it was fine. You could easily see from one goal past the halfway line and that was the old rule - you only needed to be able to see half of the pitch. You could tonight, the ref's a pussbag.

[Bud]

What about the people who have paid shitloads not to see what's happening the other end?

[Captain Stu]

What about the people who have paid shitloads not to see what's happening the other end?

They can get bollocksed. :D

Seriously though, when they had pitch-side cameras you could see the stand at the opposite end pretty much, across the halfway line very clearly.

Wenger and Benitez are both pissed off that it's postponed and I can understand why, it's yet one more game to be crammed in in January I imagine. They both saw it as playable, I agree.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

after a second look, I completely agree. Games get called off way too easy these days.

It's a joke really, i also really hate roofed stadiums. Think of the conditions the players of the past (anything pre-premiership really) used to play in. They never complained.

[Bud]

You mean Wenger actually SAW something. Oh the irony! :D

I feel for the people who travelled from London to Liverpool for a cancelled game.

[Captain Stu]

You mean Wenger actually SAW something. Oh the irony! :D

I feel for the people who travelled from London to Liverpool for a cancelled game.

lolz.

Talking an average of about £30 or so for a return ticket to Liverpool from London (if you booked well in advance) or closer to £40 if you turned up on the day... plus I bet some people booked hotels/motels so they could travel back the next day and some folk'll have taken time off work.

Gay.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

FA don't give refunds for this sort of thing, i don't think.

[Captain Stu]

Haha, Rafa made a funny...

"We have a problem now because if we draw against Arsenal in the FA Cup then when are we going to play this game? Maybe we can play for both Cups in one game!"

[Bud]

It's £30 return from Liverpool? Fuck. From here, without a young persons railcard and buying on the day it's more like £30-£40, and we're alot closer. Midland Mainline suck the big one.

The whole situation is fucked. I was looking forward to watching it tonight, now it's just going to add extra fixtures next year.

[Captain Stu]

It's £30 return from Liverpool? Fuck. From here, without a young persons railcard and buying on the day it's more like £30-£40, and we're alot closer. Midland Mainline suck the big one.

The whole situation is fucked. I was looking forward to watching it tonight, now it's just going to add extra fixtures next year.

Well, Kat and I got stranded in London one time - missed the Megabus - and it cost £37.50 each to get back up here but when we've booked in advance it's a little over £20 buying it as two separate journeys... oh yeah, that's with YP railcards too as we both have them.

[Two-Bob Peeters]

It's £30 return from Liverpool? Fuck. From here, without a young persons railcard and buying on the day it's more like £30-£40, and we're alot closer. Midland Mainline suck the big one.


have they upgraded those crusty trains yet? or do they only put those when i want to go to Luton/Download?

[Bud]

have they upgraded those crusty trains yet? or do they only put those when i want to go to Luton/Download?

We have new ones now, they have plug sockets and everything. They must just put the shit ones on when people travel to shit festivals :D

[Captain Stu]

Ah like on Virgin Trains? The plug socks that are for charing phones and using laptops AND NOTHING ELSE, DAMN YOU!!!

[Two-Bob Peeters]

We have new ones now, they have plug sockets and everything. They must just put the shit ones on when people travel to shit festivals :D

fucking hell, plug sockets? i'll believe that when I see it. all you got when i got on one last was a shovel to keep the train moving

[Bud]

Ah like on Virgin Trains? The plug socks that are for charing phones and using laptops AND NOTHING ELSE, DAMN YOU!!!

Exactly. Don't you dare thinking about charging anything else.

I wonder if they fine people for it.

*unrelated train story*:

My friend Frank was travelling from the South upto Leicester for a show. He only just managed to get on the train as he was gigging the night before and overslept. His young persons railcard was 1 day over the experation date and they fined him £200 for the incident was he was given a police record. When asked if he wanted to add anything to the statement, he told the employee he was "a fucking jobsworth" :D

[Captain Stu]

A police record? For that? That's more pathetic than their poncy on-the-spot £10 fines which end up stinging decent people who have a legit reason for not having a ticket.

[Bud]

Seriously. Knowing Frank though, he probably refused to pay the extra for his ticket and they took exception.

[Captain Stu]

Aah, that might explain it then.

[nique]

7000th post!

[nique]

Shit. Who beat me?

[Captain Stu]

ME = Pooper of the party!! :D

[nique]

Aah, that might explain it then.
You suck. :(

[Captain Stu]

*gleams trophy*

This trophy is unrelated to this incident but it seemed appropriate.

[Bud]

Back to football -

Wenger said no signings in January. The faith is all in the youngsters now, so they have to perform. I've been disappointed with the Beast though, I thought he'd give us the extra edge we've been missing. Rumours are that we're after the Scottish keeper in the summer to replace Crazy Jens, and the Ribery rumour still has some life left in it.

I do think we need to strengthen the squad, but I think that the young players will be excellent next year, so maybe it is time to let them gain more experience.