The Footie (UK) Thread: 2006/07 [Archive] - Page 33

Captain Stu

January 10th 2007, 09:48 AM

Bexster

January 10th 2007, 09:51 AM

I don't think they need him anyway - all this "four strikers" thing is all well and good but you cannot balance four GOOD strikers. For me, you need this:

1. A pacy forward to run through defences (ie, Defoe)
2. A more poacher/predatory striker (ie, Berbatov)

These two are your first choice strikers.

3. A sub striker who can change a game if it needs a new dimension (ie, Keane)
4. A youngster who knows he won't see much first team just yet but will do in the future (ie, erm, Mido's repacement :D)

That's how I see it anyhow. I think you need THREE recognised forwards and then a youngster.
Tottenham certainly need to change something - and getting rid of Mido would be a good step forward. Getting a youngster in would give them someone eager to play, learn and impress. Plus, you'd get rid of the miserable, arrogant bastard in the ranks, and everyone will be happier.

But yeah, strikers work better if they aren't similar. Look at the top clubs, and they all play with different types of strikers on the pitch in general.

- United have it (sort of) have it in Rooney, Saha, Solskjaer and Larsson (who I feel is assuming the role of Rossi)
- Arsenal have it with Henry, Percy, Adebayor and Aliadiere (who I think should be replaced here by Bendtner)
- Liverpool sort of have it with Kuyt, Bellamy, Crouch and Fowler (who I think should be replaced by Pongo)
- Chelsea, for me, don't have it because there's Drogba, Shevchenko (useless) and Kalou (useless)

And so on.
Yeah, like that. Chelski are happy to stock up the midfield due to the likelyhood of Fat Frank getting his deflections, but yeah. Although the youngster at Arse could be Bendtner or Walcott - And will likely be Walcott in the future because Wenger paid for him.

And bloody Walcott couldn't even get a goal last night. I shook my head in disgust.

Captain Stu

January 10th 2007, 09:53 AM

Tottenham certainly need to change something - and getting rid of Mido would be a good step forward. Getting a youngster in would give them someone eager to play, learn and impress. Plus, you'd get rid of the miserable, arrogant bastard in the ranks, and everyone will be happier.

But yeah, strikers work better if they aren't similar. Look at the top clubs, and they all play with different types of strikers on the pitch in general.

Exactly, absolutely spot on. His moaning won't be good at all for those around him.

Edited my previous post to say the same thing. :D

Captain Stu

January 10th 2007, 09:54 AM

Also, apparently we've signed some young Argie called Sebastian Leto - he's a fast winger and we're letting him stay in Argentina on loan until the end of a season.

Yay, wingers!!

Bexster

January 10th 2007, 09:55 AM

Also, apparently we've signed some young Argie called Sebastian Leto - he's a fast winger and we're letting him stay in Argentina on loan until the end of a season.

Yay, wingers!!
Yeah, but you need a winger now!

Epic Failure

January 10th 2007, 10:28 AM

Yeah, like that. Chelski are happy to stock up the midfield due to the likelyhood of Fat Frank getting his deflections, but yeah. Although the youngster at Arse could be Bendtner or Walcott - And will likely be Walcott in the future because Wenger paid for him.

And bloody Walcott couldn't even get a goal last night. I shook my head in disgust.

I've not seen anything to indicate Arsene want Theo to be an out and out striker. He seems much more likely to play wide right from what i've seen.

I'd have liked us to keep hold of Stokes for a bit longer. Anybody who can get a goal a game for Falkirk can't be that bad. Bendtner looks good though.

Captain Stu

January 10th 2007, 10:38 AM

Oh yeah, I forgot about Walcott - I think he's a winger for now and the eventual replacement for Henry to play ahead of Percy who's hitting some frightening form just about now.

Yeah, but you need a winger now!

Totally... but I'd sooner see us take someone on loan or get someone established rather than take a risk on someone unproven at a time when we're gagging for wingers. Hell, we're so desperate I actually wish Kewell was fit. :( :(

Also, we're taking a young Italian keeper called Daniele Padelli on loan for 6 months from Sampdoria.

BYE BYE, JERZY!!

And another keeper we've been looking at, Livorno's Marco Amelia, signed a new 4 year contract last week but nobody thinks he'll be at the club next season. :confused: Why fucking bother signing then, dickhead? We're still touted as going for him and so are Arsenal.

"My market has only two ways - one takes me to England, the other one takes me to Russia," Amelia told Corriere dello Sport.

"Is there no place in Italy for Marco Amelia? It's a clear thing - the answer is 'no'.

"Who wants me? Liverpool, you've said, it's true and for me they will come back. Arsenal may be a topic for June.

"The other immediate talk might be referred to Spartak Moscow. I am thankful for that, but it's clear that this one would be a different choice.

"Should I leave Livorno, I'd like to make a step forward. But now, I'm thinking: Do I leave now or in June?"

Epic Failure

January 10th 2007, 10:50 AM

Oh yeah, I forgot about Walcott - I think he's a winger for now and the eventual replacement for Henry to play ahead of Percy who's hitting some frightening form just about now.

And to think he almost signed for us. i think we got away with that one :D

At the moment RVP and the New Kanu are both playing well. In fact we're playing well as a side. If we can get a bit of a run together i could still see us having an impact on the league, which i wouldn't have said 3 months ago. It's still very unlikely that we will, but more likely that it was when we lost to Wham, Bolton Fulham etc.

Captain Stu

January 10th 2007, 10:52 AM

Adebayor > Kanu. :mad:

Epic Failure

January 10th 2007, 10:59 AM

Adebayor > Kanu. :mad:

I'm sure we've had this argument before. :p He is the New Kanu. only better. but he'll never beat Kanu's hattrick against the Chelsea. no-one can.

Captain Stu

January 10th 2007, 11:07 AM

This weekends fixtures, y'all. Get 'em while they're damp!

Saturday, 13 January 2007
Blackburn v Arsenal [ARSENAL WIN]
Bolton v Man City [BOLTON WIN]
Charlton v Middlesbrough [DRAW]
Chelsea v Wigan [CHELSEA WIN]
Man Utd v Aston Villa [MAN UTD WIN]
Sheff Utd v Portsmouth [PORTSMOUTH WIN]
Watford v Liverpool [LIVERPOOL WIN]
West Ham v Fulham [DRAW]

Sunday, 14 January 2007
Everton v Reading [READING WIN] :D
Tottenham v Newcastle [TOTTENHAM WIN]

Bexster

January 10th 2007, 11:17 AM

Saturday, 13 January 2007
Blackburn v Arsenal [ARSENAL]
Bolton v Man City [BOLTON]
Charlton v Middlesbrough [DRAW]
Chelsea v Wigan [CHELSEA]
Man Utd v Aston Villa [MAN UTD]
Sheff Utd v Portsmouth [PORTSMOUTH]
Watford v Liverpool [LIVERPOOL]
West Ham v Fulham [FULHAM]

Sunday, 14 January 2007
Everton v Reading [READING]
Tottenham v Newcastle [DRAW]

I've not seen anything to indicate Arsene want Theo to be an out and out striker. He seems much more likely to play wide right from what i've seen.
I don't think he will be an out and out striker, and yeah, his pace is definitely what's needed on the wing, but he's still going to be expected to be a goal threat from time to time too.

EvilElvis

January 10th 2007, 11:25 AM

Rangers doctor Ian McGuinness has been sacked - days after calling for champagne to celebrate the exit of manager Paul Le Guen. (Daily Record)

Can this episode seriosuly get any worse?

EvilElvis

January 10th 2007, 11:27 AM

Saturday, 13 January 2007
Blackburn v Arsenal [ARSENAL WIN]
Bolton v Man City [DRAW]
Charlton v Middlesbrough [MIDDLESBOROUGH WIN]
Chelsea v Wigan [CHELSEA WIN]
Man Utd v Aston Villa [MAN UTD WIN]
Sheff Utd v Portsmouth [PORTSMOUTH WIN]
Watford v Liverpool [LIVERPOOL WIN]
West Ham v Fulham [FULHAM WIN]

Sunday, 14 January 2007
Everton v Reading [DRAW]
Tottenham v Newcastle [TOTTENHAM WIN]

Two-Bob Peeters

January 10th 2007, 11:32 AM

Saturday, 13 January 2007
Blackburn v Arsenal [ARSENAL WIN]
Bolton v Man City [BOLTON]
Charlton v Middlesbrough [DRAW]
Chelsea v Wigan [CHELSEA WIN]
Man Utd v Aston Villa [MAN UTD WIN]
Sheff Utd v Portsmouth [PORTSMOUTH WIN]
Watford v Liverpool [LIVERPOOL WIN]
West Ham v Fulham [DRAW]

Sunday, 14 January 2007
Everton v Reading [EVERTON]
Tottenham v Newcastle [NEWCASTLE]

HeinzKizzvelvet

January 10th 2007, 11:36 AM

ookie chelsea big win this weekend ;)

Captain Stu

January 10th 2007, 11:37 AM

Can this episode seriosuly get any worse?

Christian Gross. :D

Two-Bob Peeters

January 10th 2007, 11:45 AM

ookie chelsea big win this weekend ;)

i think so. Wigan eat too many pies and not enough mangoes ;)

Two-Bob Peeters

January 10th 2007, 11:52 AM

Striker Neil Harris insists he could not care less about missing out on a dream FA Cup tie against Chelsea after rejoining Millwall from Nottingham Forest. (The Sun)

why would he care? he'd only be on the bench at best, and anyway, he's played in an FA cup final against Man Utd, Chelsea can go fuck'emselves

Obiwan

January 10th 2007, 12:20 PM

Saturday, 13 January 2007
Blackburn v Arsenal [ARSENAL WIN]
Bolton v Man City [BOLTON WIN]
Charlton v Middlesbrough [DRAW]
Chelsea v Wigan [CHELSEA WIN]
Man Utd v Aston Villa [DRAW]
Sheff Utd v Portsmouth [PORTSMOUTH WIN]
Watford v Liverpool [LIVERPOOL WIN]
West Ham v Fulham [FULHAM WIN]

Sunday, 14 January 2007
Everton v Reading [READING WIN]
Tottenham v Newcastle [TOTTENHAM WIN]

Bexster

January 10th 2007, 12:22 PM

Christian Gross. :D
Would make any situation so much worse :D

Captain Stu

January 10th 2007, 12:25 PM

Would make any situation so much worse :D

Eeeeeexactly, so no matter how bad things are - at least Gross isn't your manager.

EvilElvis

January 10th 2007, 12:34 PM

Eeeeeexactly, so no matter how bad things are - at least Gross isn't your manager.

Gross is manager of Basle (sp?) they knocked Celtic and Liverpool out of Champs League in recent years.

Captain Stu

January 10th 2007, 12:41 PM

Gross is manager of Basle (sp?) they knocked Celtic and Liverpool out of Champs League in recent years.

....... shuttup, stop ruining my theories. :mad:

Bexster

January 10th 2007, 01:07 PM

Smith's officially become Ranger's manager now.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6233237.stm

Captain Stu

January 10th 2007, 01:19 PM

The Scottish Football Association will now take legal action against him "for breach of contract" and against Rangers "for inducement to break the contract".

What a stupid way to do things, are Rangers so desperate to get him that they're willing to be sued?

EvilElvis

January 10th 2007, 01:24 PM

Smith's officially become Ranger's manager now.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6233237.stm

I'm geniunely torn about this.

I wanted him to do well for Scotland and if it goes tits up at Ibrox, his past glories there will be quickly forgotten... :(

Guy on Sky Sports News just now claims Rangers can avoid Legal action from SFA.

SFA rules state you can not approach another member club nothing about the international team though...

Bexster

January 10th 2007, 01:28 PM

I'm geniunely torn about this.

I wanted him to do well for Scotland and if it goes tits up at Ibrox, his past glories there will be quickly forgotten... :(

Yeah. Scotland are really going through a good spell, and I don't see how this can be good for the national team.

You wonder what Rangers offered him to get him to leave the SFA, or whether the SFA were evil to work for.

EvilElvis

January 10th 2007, 01:37 PM

Beckham's contract with Real will NOT be renewed

Bexster

January 10th 2007, 01:38 PM

Beckham's contract with Real will NOT be renewed
Wow. Gonna be a bit of a battle for him now then.

rob3000

January 10th 2007, 01:39 PM

Beckham's contract with Real will NOT be renewed
really? where'd you hear that?

Bexster

January 10th 2007, 01:39 PM

really? where'd you hear that?
It's just come up as headlines on the BBC sport site.

Captain Stu

January 10th 2007, 01:40 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6248835.stm

EvilElvis

January 10th 2007, 01:42 PM

really? where'd you hear that?

Main story on Sky Sports News just now

Wish_Master2100

January 10th 2007, 02:20 PM

Saturday, 13 January 2007
Blackburn v Arsenal [ARSENAL WIN]
Bolton v Man City [BOLTON WIN]
Charlton v Middlesbrough [BORO]
Chelsea v Wigan [CHELSEA WIN]
Man Utd v Aston Villa [MAN UTD WIN]
Sheff Utd v Portsmouth [DRAW]
Watford v Liverpool [DRAW]
West Ham v Fulham [WEST HAM]

Sunday, 14 January 2007
Everton v Reading [DRAW]
Tottenham v Newcastle [DRAW]

Bexster

January 10th 2007, 02:22 PM

Main story on Sky Sports News just now
They just had an in-depth debate about it on Planet Rock news :confused:

It does seem like they've just gotten fed-up with him procrastinating, and just gone 'right, no contract for you then'.

Hmmm Noodle Soup

January 10th 2007, 02:24 PM

Christian Gross. :D

At first press conference for Spurs - "I came here by the tube, here is my ticket".

Fucking nutjob.

Oh yeah, Mido can fuck off. He's looked completely uninterested when I've seen him. Not sure why we signed him in the end actually, he's never gonna get ahead of Berby,Defoe or Keane in the pecking order. Agree about the 4 strikers thing and that one of them shoud be a youth player. We've got a good young czech prospect in Tomas Pekhart who should be our 4th choice striker.

Hmmm Noodle Soup

January 10th 2007, 02:26 PM

Beckham's contract with Real will NOT be renewed

Ah well, he can go make his millions in the states now.

Posh blatently wants to go to L.A and as she wears the trousers in the relationship it seems almost certain.

friartuck

January 10th 2007, 02:31 PM

The Summer is when Beckham's true motives will surface. Does he love the game enough to take a massive pay cut and extend his life in the competitive game, or will he play donkey-football in the MLS in order to sustain his massive income?

I'm sad to say I reckon he'll do the latter. Unless Inter are stupid enough to buy him.

EvilElvis

January 10th 2007, 02:37 PM

Epic Failure

January 10th 2007, 02:57 PM

Was Walter Smith assitant at Man Utd when Beckham was there?

It'd pain me, but I think I could cope with Beckham playing for Rangers...

nah it was still McClaren wasn't it?

EDIT - Actually screw that, McClaren had left but Walter wasn't there. Becks left in 2003, walter didn't go there till the year after

Bexster

January 10th 2007, 03:06 PM

Pires set to make competative Villareal debut

http://uk.sports.yahoo.com//10012007/1/pires-close-villarreal-bow.html

Pires close to Villarreal bow
Wed 10 Jan, 2:00 PM

Robert Pires hopes to make his competitive debut for Villarreal by the end of February - some nine months after signing from Arsenal.Pires joined the Spanish side on a two-year contract from the Gunners last summer but suffered a cruciate ligament injury to his left knee during a pre-season friendly with Cadiz in August.

The former France international underwent surgery in September, and since then the 33-year-old has been on the long road to recovery.

However, Pires can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel.

"I have reached the end of my rehabilitation, I was operated on four months ago. At the end of January, I am going to be able to start training again with the team. I hope to be able to play again at the end of February - but not before," he said.

Pires is no stranger to serious knee injuries, having missed almost six months of action in 2002 after damaging the cruciate ligaments in his right knee - a setback that ruled him out of that year's World Cup.

The veteran winger, who has received messages of support from the likes of Arsene Wenger, Thierry Henry and Gerard Houllier during his rehabilitation, knows it is important not to come back before he is ready.

"I feel very well but I don't want to rush things. The doctor has warned me to be careful, because the smallest thing can provoke a reaction," he said in L'Equipe.

"The first time I did this (April 2002), I was back in competition in five and a half months. I am on course for this again."

Without Pires, Villarreal have picked up 24 points from their opening 17 Primera Liga games, and currently lie 11th in the standings.

I have to admit, I'd forgotten about him.

Captain Stu

January 10th 2007, 03:07 PM

It does seem like they've just gotten fed-up with him procrastinating, and just gone 'right, no contract for you then'.

Damn right too, the cunt earns about £250,000 p/w (taking into account basic salary and image rights) so he can either hurry the fuck up or ship the fuck out.

I can't see him taking a pay-cut to join a good club, I think the USA beckons so he can earn another £50M or whatever over the next 4 years and further flush his carerr down the toilet.

Who cares, bye bye.

EvilElvis

January 10th 2007, 03:25 PM

Beckham's PR "Talks are still ongoing"

I'll take Real's word for it

Two-Bob Peeters

January 10th 2007, 03:30 PM

you'd have thought his image would start to die by now. he's done fuck all in about 3 years

EvilElvis

January 10th 2007, 03:33 PM

you'd have thought his image would start to die by now. he's done fuck all in about 3 years

Aye but his reputation and marketing people will make him look good no matter what he does...

Stoob - Garcia is out for the season.

Celebrating tonight?!

Captain Stu

January 10th 2007, 03:35 PM

Woo!!!

(The shameful thing is... we're gonna miss the cunt)

**dylan**

January 10th 2007, 06:40 PM

Saturday, 13 January 2007
Blackburn v Arsenal [ARSENAL WIN]
Bolton v Man City [MAN CITY WIN]
Charlton v Middlesbrough [DRAW]
Chelsea v Wigan [DRAW]
Man Utd v Aston Villa [MAN UTD WIN]
Sheff Utd v Portsmouth [PORTSMOUTH WIN]
Watford v Liverpool [LIVERPOOL WIN]
West Ham v Fulham [FULHAM WIN]

Sunday, 14 January 2007
Everton v Reading [READING WIN]
Tottenham v Newcastle [TOTTENHAM WIN]

timesfooall

January 10th 2007, 06:43 PM

Saturday, 13 January 2007
Blackburn v Arsenal [ARSENAL WIN]
Bolton v Man City [BOLTON]
Charlton v Middlesbrough [DRAW]
Chelsea v Wigan [CHELSEA WIN]
Man Utd v Aston Villa [MAN UTD WIN]
Sheff Utd v Portsmouth [DRAW]
Watford v Liverpool [LIVERPOOL WIN]
West Ham v Fulham [WEST HAM]

Sunday, 14 January 2007
Everton v Reading [DRAW]
Tottenham v Newcastle [NEWCASTLE WIN]

friartuck

January 10th 2007, 06:49 PM

Woo!!!

(The shameful thing is... we're gonna miss the cunt)

Thing about Beckham is - he's a big game player. Always has been. In fact, there are few players in World football that have been as consistent in big games as he has over the past ten years. For me he's never been in say the World's top three in terms of ability but that never mattered when he was at Man U, gaining us at least 12 points a season single-handedly. England could still find use for him as they have only three or four guys you could, hand-on-heart, deem to be "big game players". Gerrard, Terry, Owen, maybe Neville (but he's never gonna grab a match by the cojones).....that's about it.

He still has time to revitalise his career: Go easy on Hello magazine photoshoots and get back to training. But sadly I doubt he will.

rob3000

January 10th 2007, 06:54 PM

We'll miss Garcia for the champions league where he's so handy. How longs Gonzalez out for? Rafa may need to go shopping again.

danlalala

January 10th 2007, 07:08 PM

Saturday, 13 January 2007
Blackburn v Arsenal [DRAW]
Bolton v Man City [BOLTON WIN]
Charlton v Middlesbrough [DRAW]
Chelsea v Wigan CHELSEA WIN]
Man Utd v Aston Villa [MAN UTD WIN]
Sheff Utd v Portsmouth [PORTSMOUTH WIN]
Watford v Liverpool [LIVERPOOL WIN]
West Ham v Fulham [FULHAM WIN]

Sunday, 14 January 2007
Everton v Reading [READING WIN]
Tottenham v Newcastle [TOTTENHAM WIN]

EvilElvis

January 10th 2007, 07:08 PM

We'll miss Garcia for the champions league where he's so handy. How longs Gonzalez out for? Rafa may need to go shopping again.

Rafa already has a few players lined up and ready to join.

rob3000

January 10th 2007, 07:09 PM

Rafa already has a few players lined up and ready to join.
Such as?:confused:

Captain Stu

January 10th 2007, 07:11 PM

We'll miss Garcia for the champions league where he's so handy. How longs Gonzalez out for? Rafa may need to go shopping again.

Gonzalez, don't know - an estimated three weeks, he has a gash (lolz) and bruising on his shin and a bit of soft tissue damage but yeah, we need to go shopping.

See what I said earlier, we've apparently tied up a deal for a young Argie winger but he won't arrive until the summer as we've let him stay where he is on loan.

Captain Stu

January 10th 2007, 07:20 PM

Rob:

Keeper (http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=440627&CPID=8&clid=14&lid=&title=Reds+to+land+Italian)

Winger (http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=440582&CPID=8&clid=14&lid=&title=Leto+relishing+Reds+chance)

Zippy Ate My Drumkit

January 10th 2007, 08:07 PM

Newcastle have just been bought out - you heard it here first.

Confirmation to follow when it's formally announced over the next few days.

Captain Stu

January 10th 2007, 08:16 PM

Newcastle have just been bought out - you heard it here first.

Confirmation to follow when it's formally announced over the next few days.

By...?

EvilElvis

January 10th 2007, 08:26 PM

By...?

Greame Souness :D

danlalala

January 10th 2007, 08:29 PM

By...?
Jean Alain Boumsong's ancestral slave owners descendants.

Foo Fighters, United Kingdom

January 10th 2007, 09:09 PM

Wycombe are holding Chelsea 1-1 with 2 minutes to go.

weeniebeenie

January 10th 2007, 09:12 PM

Jean Alain Boumsong's ancestral slave owners descendants.

They didnt make any money. His ancestors were as shit at picking cotton as he is at football.

**dylan**

January 10th 2007, 09:18 PM

Wycombe are holding Chelsea 1-1 with 2 minutes to go.

hahahaha go wycombe!

EvilElvis

January 10th 2007, 09:21 PM

hahahaha go wycombe!

1-1 final score.

Chelski had a fair few players suspended for it, so much so that Wayne Bridge not only played, but he scored their goal.

**dylan**

January 10th 2007, 09:28 PM

1-1 final score.

Chelski had a fair few players suspended for it, so much so that Wayne Bridge not only played, but he scored their goal.

hehe yeah i checked on it.

Bexster

January 10th 2007, 09:31 PM

1-1 final score.

Chelski had a fair few players suspended for it, so much so that Wayne Bridge not only played, but he scored their goal.
With a squad like Chelski's, that shouldnt' make any difference...

Foo Fighters, United Kingdom

January 10th 2007, 09:33 PM

What's the point of Ashley Cole?

weeniebeenie

January 10th 2007, 09:34 PM

What's the point of Ashley Cole?

To give Cheryl Tweedy spending money.

Captain Stu

January 10th 2007, 09:36 PM

Chelski's team:

Hilarious
Geremi
Bridge (Fatpard 67)
Ferreira
Cole
Essien
Makalele
Mikel
Ballack
Kalou (Sinclair 90)
Wright-Phillips (Sahar 61)

I'm sorry, but you throw Drogba in there and that's a first team 11 they would comfortably play in the Premiership.

One of the greatest results in footballing history! :D You know the entire country was cheering Wycombe on!

EvilElvis

January 10th 2007, 09:55 PM

To give Cheryl Tweedy spending money.

Close! The point of Ashley Cole is to give Cheryl Tweedy an excuse to prove she isn't racist anymore...

Wish_Master2100

January 10th 2007, 09:56 PM

Close! The point of Ashley Cole is to give Cheryl Tweedy an excuse to prove she isn't racist anymore...

And to prove he isn't gay.

Convinient.

Captain Stu

January 10th 2007, 09:56 PM

Close! The point of Ashley Cole is to give Cheryl Tweedy an excuse to prove she isn't racist anymore...

... and to bum her.

danlalala

January 10th 2007, 09:57 PM

... and to bum her.
given that he's a clear homo, i wonder if they a) share a bed and b) he gets the brown pipe

Captain Stu

January 10th 2007, 09:58 PM

They totally share a bed, she gets the taboo feeling of being in bed with a real chocolate face and he gets to close his eyes and wish he was ploughing Drogba's shitter.

danlalala

January 10th 2007, 09:59 PM

They totally share a bed, she gets the taboo feeling of being in bed with a real chocolate face and he gets to close his eyes and wish he was ploughing Drogba's shitter.
<3 u

Renegades of funk 8

January 10th 2007, 10:22 PM

i liked batistas (on loan from fulham) attempt to kill bridge (fulham reject) :D

Renegades of funk 8

January 10th 2007, 10:25 PM

Saturday, 13 January 2007
Blackburn v Arsenal [ARSENAL WIN]
Bolton v Man City [BOLTON WIN]
Charlton v Middlesbrough [DRAW]
Chelsea v Wigan CHELSEA WIN]
Man Utd v Aston Villa [MAN UTD WIN]
Sheff Utd v Portsmouth [DRAW]
Watford v Liverpool [LIVERPOOL WIN]
West Ham v Fulham [DRAW]

Sunday, 14 January 2007
Everton v Reading [EVERTON WIN]
Tottenham v Newcastle [TOTTENHAM WIN]

Zippy Ate My Drumkit

January 10th 2007, 11:41 PM

By...?

The highly elusive Belgravia group.

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 12:01 AM

The highly elusive Belgravia group.

Not exactly elusive (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/6234899.stm)

Zippy Ate My Drumkit

January 11th 2007, 01:01 AM

Try and find out some solid info about the group. There isn't any.

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 01:13 AM

Try and find out some solid info about the group. There isn't any.

They are from Jersey. :D

Thats some info for you.

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 08:12 AM

So this "oh no, we don't wanna buy now" looks like little more than a press smokescreen eh?

boxshapedheart

January 11th 2007, 08:54 AM

One of the greatest results in footballing history! :D You know the entire country was cheering Wycombe on!
I only realised it was the semi-final last night! Wycombe in the semi! Most definitely want them to win it.

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 08:58 AM

Regardless of what Mongrinho says, a 1-1 draw against Wycombe was not a good result. True, they'll probably win emphatically at home but they've given the underdogs a huge glimmer of hope and we all know what can happen when that happens - possible giant killing?

Thing is, I think it would affect Chelsea because they more than likely won't win the league so success on the cup fronts is really the only way to keep Jose in a job.

Two-Bob Peeters

January 11th 2007, 09:00 AM

I like Wycombe.

Adams park is a proper shithole though. remember they got the the semi final of the FA cup a few years back? and got beat by Liverpool

Two-Bob Peeters

January 11th 2007, 09:01 AM

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 09:02 AM

I like Wycombe.

Adams park is a proper shithole though. remember they got the the semi final of the FA cup a few years back? and got beat by Liverpool

A dodgy game and it took Heskey scoring to set things going. :-\

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 09:04 AM

you can just tell, despite this shitty season they're going to win the Champions League

It'd make sense, they dominate the league and do crap in Europe... then their league form takes a dive and they win the European Cup and Mongrinho is saved by the skin of his tits.

Yeah, I can see it - Liverpool won it during an average league patch, Arsenal got the final... there's a definate pattern lately.

Bexster

January 11th 2007, 09:06 AM

you can just tell, despite this shitty season they're going to win the Champions League
No. I really think Chelski won't win the Champions League under Mourwhinio. Don't know why, I just get the feeling.

Now he's complaining this morning, that the board won't let him buy new players in the transfer window, and if that's the case, he won't let any players leave. Like he actually needs new players...

Yeah, I can see it - Liverpool won it during an average league patch, Arsenal got the final... there's a definate pattern lately.
Yeah, but Arse and Liverpool are still doing average, so that means we've got jst as much chance under that logic

Two-Bob Peeters

January 11th 2007, 09:10 AM

Like he actually needs new players...

But.. but! every club needs a Tal Ben-Haim!

boxshapedheart

January 11th 2007, 09:22 AM

Yeah, but Arse and Liverpool are still doing average, so that means we've got jst as much chance under that logic
Mmmhmm. But god I can imagine their faces if they managed it. Anyone but them. Preferably us of course :), but anyone but them.

***

Major League Soccer team the LA Galaxy are the hot favourites to sign David Beckham if the former England captain leaves Real Madrid. (Various)

Barcelona are lining up a summer swoop for Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo - with star midfielder Xavi heading to Old Trafford in return. (Daily Mirror)

Inter Milan defender Marco Andreolli is a target for Newcastle United. (The Guardian)

Charlton boss Alan Pardew is lining up a raid on former club West Ham, with £4m Marlon Harewood his top target. (Various)

Tottenham want Manchester United's Wes Brown and are ready to slap in a £5m offer. (The Sun)

Wigan will sign £3m Chinedu Ogbuke from Lyn Oslo on Thursday. (Daily Mirror)

Celtic have been told to increase their offer if they want to land Basel midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanovic and will hold talks with veteran Sheffield United striker Geoff Horsfield. (Daily Record)

Portsmouth have been priced out of the race for Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg and Southend striker Freddy Eastwood. (Various)

Jon Stead is set to complete a move to Sheffield United after Sunderland accepted a £1m bid for the striker. (Daily Mirror)

Charlton are leading the race to sign unsettled Sevilla striker Kepa Blanco. (Daily Express)

Fulham are trying to hijack West Ham's bid to sign ex-Chelsea midfielder Alexei Smertin. (Various)

Liverpool are closing in on Blackburn defender Lucas Neill and Italy Under-21 goalkeeper Daniele Padelli. (The Times)

Blackburn are eyeing a move for West Ham full-back Paul Konchesky - if Lucas Neill leaves Ewood Park. (Various)

Fulham's bid to sign American defender Oguchi Onyewu from Standard Liege has been hijacked by Inter Milan. (Daily Star)

Middlesbrough are ready to sign Manuel Fernandes - currently on loan at Portsmouth - from Benfica. (The Sun)

Coventry have beaten Sheffield United to the signature of Maltese striker Michael Mifsud. (Various)

Former Livingston and Metz midfielder Cherif Toure Maman has begun a trial with Hearts. (Various)

Brann Bergen are ready to release midfielder Charlie Millar and striker Robbie Winter. (Various)

Cowdenbeath have sold midfielder Markus Paatelainen to Inverness Caledonian Thistle for a five-figure fee. (Daily Express)

Celtic have made an official approach for Hamilton midfielder James McCarthy. (Daily Express)

Leeds United will today sign veteran midfielder Alan Thompson from Celtic. (Daily Express)

Defender Pascale Mendy could join Hearts after moving to feeder club Kaunas from Dinamo Moscow. (The Herald)

Ipswich are ready to make a £150,000 move for Wigan's David Wright. (Various)

OTHER GOSSIP
David Beckham will have showdown talks with Real Madrid after the club's bosses backtracked on claims they would dump him at the end of the season. (Various)

New Rangers boss Walter Smith has vowed to get rid of the boozers if he discovers a drinking culture at the club. (Daily Record)

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has become frustrated because he is unable to strengthen his squad during the January transfer window. (Various)

England's Euro 2008 qualifier in Andorra will be switched to Barcelona's Olympic Stadium because of fears over the tiny country's 1,300-capacity national stadium. (Various)

Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek has said boss Rafa Benitez must share the blame for the 6-3 Carling Cup defeat to Arsenal. (Various)

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will be offered a huge new deal to stay at the club and develop the Gunners next generation of wonderkids. (Various)

John Terry has put his Chelsea comeback on hold as he struggles with a back injury. (The Sun)

Richard Branson's new Virgin TV will bid against Sky Sports for the right to show future England games and FA Cup ties. (Daily Express)

Two-Bob Peeters

January 11th 2007, 09:33 AM

Barcelona are lining up a summer swoop for Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo - with star midfielder Xavi heading to Old Trafford in return. (Daily Mirror)

if you god rid of ronaldo, you'd NEED to replace him with another winger. no point getting another central midfielder (i think he is anyway) especially considering Carrick's there and possibly Hargreaves will join.

still i don't really believe that Ronaldo will leave anyway

Bexster

January 11th 2007, 09:36 AM

Mmmhmm. But god I can imagine their faces if they managed it. Anyone but them. Preferably us of course :), but anyone but them.
I know what you mean. I don't want them to win anything.

Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek has said boss Rafa Benitez must share the blame for the 6-3 Carling Cup defeat to Arsenal. (Various)
Coz it was Rafa that played shit in goal was it? Or are you blaming him for picking you in the first place?

Two-Bob Peeters

January 11th 2007, 09:40 AM

Coz it was Rafa that played shit in goal was it? Or are you blaming him for picking you in the first place?

Dudek was legendary at Feyenoord, i used to love him, i was well happy when he came to the premiership...

Bexster

January 11th 2007, 09:43 AM

Dudek was legendary at Feyenoord, i used to love him, i was well happy when he came to the premiership...
Yeah. He used to be good...

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 09:56 AM

Dudek always looked a bit flappy really, he just got totally exposed to fuck. He's half right, Benitez needs to accept that the team he put out was all wrong... but individual players need to accept blame - mainly Dudek and Paletta.

Andy Gray, albeit a biased blue-nosed, Chelsea-bumming cunt, was right - you don't mess with the spine of your team unless you absolutely have to... especially after losing an important FA Cup game a few days earlier.

Me and my Dad are super-awesome and don't think that Rafa has quite got the idea of some things work, he still doesn't seem to accept that constant tinkering might work elsewhere but overhere we need consistency. That team needed Reina, Carragher, Agger, Gerrard, Alonso and Bellamy and Crouch (Crouch's height probably would've worked well against a not-too-massive Arsenal back four) and then pad around the core with inexperienced players so that, if they make a boo-boo, there's enough quality around them to absorb the pressure and deal with it.

At the very least the back four should've stayed the same, you just don't fuck with your defense for no reason at all.

boxshapedheart

January 11th 2007, 09:57 AM

if you god rid of ronaldo, you'd NEED to replace him with another winger. no point getting another central midfielder (i think he is anyway) especially considering Carrick's there and possibly Hargreaves will join.

still i don't really believe that Ronaldo will leave anyway
I don't think he will either. The whole "rape" case is long in the past now, and united fans love him. He's playing great for us and being idolised - no need to leave.

Coz it was Rafa that played shit in goal was it? Or are you blaming him for picking you in the first place?
Dudek coming out and saying that basically means that Rafa has already told him: "Well done - that was your last game for Liverpool. What a way to go."
So he's trying to get a word in. His contract expires this year anyway doesn't it?

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 09:59 AM

Bud

January 11th 2007, 10:01 AM

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 10:02 AM

"I've identified the players that I want but they will not come. It's club reasons and I don't have to tell you why."

Haha I read that one before and literally LOL'd at it. It's so juvenile.

Also, his reasoning after last nights game "my position does not matter, all that matters is Chelsea"... so, admitting that your job doesn't matter is the best way to put to bed rumours that you're getting sacked? :D

Epic Failure

January 11th 2007, 10:05 AM

did anyone see what happened when he got asked about Michael Ballack's form after last night's game? He didn't seem overly amused. :D

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 10:06 AM

did anyone see what happened when he got asked about Michael Ballack's form after last night's game? He didn't seem overly amused. :D

NO! What did he say/do?

Nobody in their right mind can say Ballache is playing anything other than shite, average at best.

Bud

January 11th 2007, 10:06 AM

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 10:08 AM

Mourinho is cracking under the intense pressure of everything. It's alright when he's infront of the pack and able to make comments about how weak all other teams are to the mighty Chelsea.

Now he's struggling, he's got players that aren't as good as previous (Cole for Gallas) and too much reliance on certain other players (John Terry, Funtpart) and he sold squad players who would have been able to do a half decent job (Huth)

I'm enjoying every second of it :D

It is rather amazing huh, somewhere in the region of £800M investment so far (in terms of stadium development, wages, transfer fees, debt clearance) for what, two Premiership trophies?

That's a really gash return, especially seeing as how Peter Kuntyon thinks they'll be the biggest club in the world by 2014. lollerz.

Bexster

January 11th 2007, 10:10 AM

I think his contract's up soon, yeah, personally I'd give him away now - why have a back-up keeper who can't keep goal? It's utterly pointless.

Benitez raised a very, very good point... he's praised Arsenal's youngsters (rightly) and said that we tried to sign Walcott, Denilson and Diaby BEFORE ARSENAL (apparently) but weren't able to match their money. Now, to me that's pathetic... Arsenal have been on a shoestring budget for years because of the Emirates stadium but they were still able to find £8M for Walcott, £4M for Denilson and another £4M for Diaby. That shows me that Arsenal have identified their future and are investing wisely in it. We're looking for cheap English youngsters who aren't making the grade and we're still waiting for a prophetic academy graduate. We haven't had anyone since Gerrard and that's about 7 years ago.
I thought that. Arsenal haven't exactly had the money for signings lately, but they've managed to pick up some seemingly good bargains (hopefully). I'd have thought that if Liverpool really wanted to invest in the future, this is the way to do it. Wenger has been guilty of one or two rubbish signings, but he's generally on the ball with them. Look at Fabrigas.

I was mostly amused last night by someone suggesting Chelski had problems due to a lot of suspensions and injuries - and then I looked at the team he put out last night. What bollocks. That team should have walked over Wycombe with effort to spare.

boxshapedheart

January 11th 2007, 10:12 AM

It is rather amazing huh, somewhere in the region of £800M investment so far (in terms of stadium development, wages, transfer fees, debt clearance) for what, two Premiership trophies?

That's a really gash return, especially seeing as how Peter Kuntyon thinks they'll be the biggest club in the world by 2014. lollerz.
Oystercard are doing a special promotion of 2-4-1 tickets into the Chelsea museum at the moment. I'm guessing it's cos it's just a shed.

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 10:14 AM

Phwoaaaaar, these boys are bringing sexy back. (http://eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/sp/reuters/20070111/10/3793909983.jpg)

:D

I thought that. Arsenal haven't exactly had the money for signings lately, but they've managed to pick up some seemingly good bargains (hopefully). I'd have thought that if Liverpool really wanted to invest in the future, this is the way to do it. Wenger has been guilty of one or two rubbish signings, but he's generally on the ball with them. Look at Fabrigas.

I was mostly amused last night by someone suggesting Chelski had problems due to a lot of suspensions and injuries - and then I looked at the team he put out last night. What bollocks. That team should have walked over Wycombe with effort to spare.

Our board have been a bit stingey over the last 12 months, Benitez is being priced out of moves for players that we need and it's clearly costing us. When everyone's fully fit, our first team is one of the best in the country... no doubt about that... but our squad's still lacking, a few injuries and bam, we're back to 3-4 years ago again.

Oystercard are doing a special promotion of 2-4-1 tickets into the Chelsea museum at the moment. I'm guessing it's cos it's just a shed.

Hahahahaha, love it. Chelsea's history can be written on a fucking post-it note and still have room left for some important phone numbers.

Two-Bob Peeters

January 11th 2007, 10:15 AM

Oystercard are doing a special promotion of 2-4-1 tickets into the Chelsea museum at the moment. I'm guessing it's cos it's just a shed.

another reason why Ken must not be allowed to live

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 10:34 AM

New Rangers boss Walter Smith has vowed to get rid of the boozers if he discovers a drinking culture at the club. (Daily Record)

That's gonna be good. I heard that the club doctor was sacked for giving players sicknotes when they called in hungover. And he wonders why PLG didn't like him.

Smith has also claimed that he owes the SFA nothing as his contract was to expire if Scotland didn't qualify for Euro 2008 and the SFA had made no effort to offer him a contract. Had he been offered a contract, he claims he'd have stayed.

Epic Failure

January 11th 2007, 10:46 AM

NO! What did he say/do?

Nobody in their right mind can say Ballache is playing anything other than shite, average at best.

Basically the reporter was slagging off Ballack for having another crap game and Jose just point blank refused to accept that Ballack is playing badly. he kept demanding to to know who was saying these things and the poor reporter(i think it was gabrial clarke) was sort of "well....erm...everybody is saying it" :D

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 10:47 AM

Bexster

January 11th 2007, 10:50 AM

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 10:51 AM

That's scary. :(

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 10:52 AM

Ballack's been crap, considering he's supposedly one of the best midfielders in the world, he hasn't done shit to influence Chelsea this season - that's been left down to Drogba and Essien mainly I reckon.

Innit. Think it was after they drew with Reading one of teh Sky Pundits made a comment "Chelsea have too many passengers now. Ballack and Shevchenko being two of them"

Fergie must be delighted he never signed him now.

Epic Failure

January 11th 2007, 10:52 AM

Ballack's been crap, considering he's supposedly one of the best midfielders in the world, he hasn't done shit to influence Chelsea this season - that's been left down to Drogba and Essien mainly I reckon.

yeah Ballack and Sheva have been outshone by Drogba and Essien. I'm almost growing to like Drogba, given how badly Chelsea have treated him. almost.

Epic Failure

January 11th 2007, 10:55 AM

Innit. Think it was after they drew with Reading one of teh Sky Pundits made a comment "Chelsea have too many passengers now. Ballack and Shevchenko being two of them"

Fergie must be delighted he never signed him now.

though the fact he signed Veron and Eric Djemba-Djemba must weigh heavy on his mind. oh, and Kleberson. and he still hasn't shot Darren Fletcher for some reason :confused:

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 10:57 AM

though the fact he signed Veron and Eric Djemba-Djemba must weigh heavy on his mind. oh, and Kleberson. and he still hasn't shot Darren Fletcher for some reason :confused:

And Alan Smith, don't forget that turncoat cunt. :D

Epic Failure

January 11th 2007, 11:00 AM

And Alan Smith, don't forget that turncoat cunt. :D

to be fair smudger hasn't done that badly for them, considering he was played out of position and then has been stigged for a year.

David Bellion, now there's a waste of space! and does any one remember William Prunier? :D

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 11:04 AM

though the fact he signed Veron and Eric Djemba-Djemba must weigh heavy on his mind. oh, and Kleberson. and he still hasn't shot Darren Fletcher for some reason :confused:

If you combine all their wages, I don't think it makes £130,000 per week. Which is what Ballack is on.

Which may explain why Fergie will be happy not to have him.

Bexster

January 11th 2007, 11:06 AM

yeah Ballack and Sheva have been outshone by Drogba and Essien. I'm almost growing to like Drogba, given how badly Chelsea have treated him. almost.
Wash your mouth out now :mad:

Epic Failure

January 11th 2007, 11:07 AM

If you combine all their wages, I don't think it makes £130,000 per week. Which is what Ballack is on.

Which may explain why Fergie will be happy not to have him.

I'm not disputing that, i just wanted to laugh at united. :D

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 11:11 AM

I'm not disputing that, i just wanted to laugh at united. :D

Fair enough. Can't really argue with you on that.

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 11:15 AM

Some news for Dan (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/6251623.stm)

Two-Bob Peeters

January 11th 2007, 11:19 AM

i hope wisey can do it. but he's signing all the wrong people. he needs people to work hard for the club to get them out. be that new youngsters (definitely not a D Wise policy) or players from lower leagues.

People like flo who are past it and are there to earn a wage aren't going to help Leesds, and definitely aren't going to be there when they get relegated to division 2

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 11:20 AM

Even though I'm feeling pretty rough today it doesn't distract me from having a good laugh at Mourinho.

Some quotes of the day:

"I've identified the players that I want but they will not come. It's club reasons and I don't have to tell you why."

"I have asked for players and it's not my choice that no-one is coming."

"It's not my club - I'm just the manager."

:D

This is very interesting.. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/6251033.stm)

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's has accused the Stamford Bridge board of refusing to back him in the January transfer window.
Reports have already suggested Mourinho could leave in the summer after a fall-out with owner Roman Abramovich.

And Mourinho said: "I've identified the players that I want but they will not come. It's club reasons and I don't have to tell you why.

"I have asked for players and it's not my choice that no-one is coming."

Mourinho was thought to be keen to bring in a defender and a forward during the transfer window.

But the outspoken boss says if he is unable to bring in any new faces then he will not allow any of his squad to depart.

He added: "The information I have is that nobody is coming and if that's the case then nobody is leaving.

"It's not my club - I'm just the manager.

"I expect my squad to be the same at the end of the market as it was at the start."

Mourinho refused to discuss his Stamford Bridge future, only saying: "My position is not important. Chelsea is what is important, not me."

Meanwhile, the Blues have suffered a blow with the news captain John Terry's return to action has been delayed by a sore calf.

The defender was expected to make his return from back surgery against Wigan at the weekend but Mourinho confirmed he will not feature.

The boss said: "John had surgery, he is recovering from that, but he is not ready yet.

"We have a lot of problems, because Ashley Cole and Claude Makelele face suspensions, and I do not see Terry back.

"There is no timescale on John. The only thing I know for sure is that he will not play against Wigan on Saturday.

"I am not a doctor. John is not fit to train with the group. He is not in my collective sessions yet, so he is out for the weekend."

Bexster

January 11th 2007, 11:20 AM

Been a while since a team did this...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/weymouth/6249077.stm

Weymouth's first-team up for sale

Weymouth have placed all of their first-team squad on the transfer-list following their decision to axe manager Garry Hill and assistant Kevin Hales.
The moves are designed to cut costs at the club, which would not have been able to sustain its current level of spending on its playing budget.

The Conference side's chairman, Martyn Harrison said: "We have no other option than to reduce our costs.

"This is painful but we're confident we have made the right decisions."

He added: "It is important to stress at this point that this club has not gone bust, is not going bust and continues to have my fullest support.

"We will continue to meet our commitments to play all the fixtures planned between now and the end of this season.

"I cannot emphasise enough that we are making these changes in order to guarantee the future of this club."

Chief executive Gary Calder has been placed in charge of the day-to-day running of the club, including the recruitment of players.

They are likely to be needed should the majority of Weymouth's current squad find alternative clubs during the transfer window.

Captain Ben Smith has already been targeted by Bournemouth boss Kevin Bond.

Weymouth are currently seventh in the Conference top-flight after winning the Conference South title last season but any hopes of pushing for promotion to the Football League appear to have ended.

Epic Failure

January 11th 2007, 11:23 AM

Wash your mouth out now :mad:

I'm sorry :(

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 11:23 AM

People like flo who are past it and are there to earn a wage aren't going to help Leesds

Innit. When the going gets tough, don't ask for Flo!

There was a comment about Flo back in the days when he played for Rangers

"Rangers tried to make a break through, when with all the force of Bambi, Flo slipped past 2 Celtic defenders before hitting the floor and claiming a foul.."

Two-Bob Peeters

January 11th 2007, 11:33 AM

Been a while since a team did this...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/weymouth/6249077.stm

Claridge will save them!

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 12:01 PM

Portsmouth sign Traore for £1m. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/6251829.stm)

Charlton must have realised how gash he truely was.

Foo Fighters, United Kingdom

January 11th 2007, 12:06 PM

Why the fuck does donkey Traore keep getting bandied around the Premiership? He's barely worth a tenner, let alone 1m.

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 12:26 PM

Hahahaha, lolz at Pompey! Just wait til he scores an oggy on his debut.

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 01:27 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ls/6252283.stm

Former Rangers manager Alex McLeish has not ruled himself out of succeeding Walter Smith as Scotland boss.

McLeish told Football Focus: "It's all hypothetical and I know it is not easy to get a good job in football because there are many fine coaches out there.

"But my game plan and focus is to get back into club football, whether in England or whether in Europe.

"I am very flattered to be linked with the job. I have never been offered it yet, but in football you never know."

The Scotland job became vacant when Rangers persuaded Smith to return for a second spell in charge at Ibrox.

And McLeish became an early bookmakers' favourite along with Smith's Scotland assistant, the Celtic youth coach Tommy Burns.

McLeish, who has been out of coaching since leaving Rangers at the end of last season, admits that the Scotland job would be tempting.

"The pride thing is obviously something you have to contemplate," he said.

"But my mind is on club football just now.

"I have watched a lot of Premiership games and been abroad and have kept my finger on the pulse."

McLeish could therefore understand Smith's motivation for leaving the Scotland job.

"Walter did a magnificent job and restored pride and dignity back to the Scotland team," he said.

"He will be well aware that the Tartan hordes will be gutted at him leaving, but the lure of Rangers was too great for Walter to resist."

McLeish also recognises that Smith will be required to perform a similar salvaging act at Ibrox after a disappointing six months under Paul Le Guen.

"He has a task, but I believe, in this case, that it is right for him to go back," he said.

"It is a time for stabalisation at Rangers.

"We brought some success to Rangers. But each year it became more difficult with the budgets becoming lower and lower.

"In the last four or five seasons, Rangers have been bringing in five or six new players every summer to play in their first-team.

"It takes time for players to gel and, if you are taking them from the second tier or third tier in Europe, it is a risk.

"I think Rangers will get back to signing British or Scottish players, although in my time it was cheaper to bring in foreigners."

Watch the full interview... Football Focus
Sat 13 Jan, from 1210 GMT

danlalala

January 11th 2007, 02:05 PM

I think his contract's up soon, yeah, personally I'd give him away now - why have a back-up keeper who can't keep goal? It's utterly pointless.

Benitez raised a very, very good point... he's praised Arsenal's youngsters (rightly) and said that we tried to sign Walcott, Denilson and Diaby BEFORE ARSENAL (apparently) but weren't able to match their money. Now, to me that's pathetic... Arsenal have been on a shoestring budget for years because of the Emirates stadium but they were still able to find £8M for Walcott, £4M for Denilson and another £4M for Diaby. That shows me that Arsenal have identified their future and are investing wisely in it. We're looking for cheap English youngsters who aren't making the grade and we're still waiting for a prophetic academy graduate. We haven't had anyone since Gerrard and that's about 7 years ago.
You've bought Scott Carson from Leeds for about £1m, who will be the England No.1 goalkeeper within 5 years. But yeah, you're right on a whole.

EDIT - cheers for the link Ollie. I like Alan Thompson, i think he'll do well for us in his time.

Also, my own take on Chelsea's poor form is pretty much what Ed said. They sold the squad players who were more than capable changing a game, and of breaking into any other team in the league. (Parker, Duff, Huth, improper use of SWP, Gallas, Del Horno, Crespo (who was on good form last season)). They tried to change a system that was working almost perfectly. Why?

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 02:20 PM

Why?

Because the Chelsea higher-ups told Mourinho he couldn't have two entire teams anymore, he had to sell at least half of the Chelsea B team and boy are they missing them now.

Bexster

January 11th 2007, 02:23 PM

Apparently, David Beckham's told Reuters that he's signed a 5 year deal with LA Galaxy

Oh look, there's Beckham waving goodbye to his career...

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 02:25 PM

Apparently, David Beckham's told Reuters that he's signed a 5 year deal with LA Galaxy

Oh look, there's Beckham waving goodbye to his career...

Bye bye to integrity and credibilty.

Hello too easy money and the chance to whore myself to a new market

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 02:25 PM

*waves to Beckham's footballing cred*

:)

danlalala

January 11th 2007, 02:28 PM

Lolz @ Beckham's priorites.

Bexster

January 11th 2007, 02:29 PM

Lolz @ Beckham's priorites.
Gucci and Versace don't come cheap these days. Neither does Victoria.

rob3000

January 11th 2007, 02:30 PM

ha, what a joke he is.

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 02:30 PM

Neither does Victoria.

I know!! The poster in that phone box said £8,000 for anal!

Bexster

January 11th 2007, 02:31 PM

I know!! The poster in that phone box said £8,000 for anal!
It's a bit off that she charges her own husband though...

Two-Bob Peeters

January 11th 2007, 02:32 PM

you can guarantee this is all to do with Victoria...

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 02:33 PM

I can't remember if I told you guys this or not so I'll say it again:

In 2005 (I think it was) David Beckham's company - setup to handle his image rights and such - paid him a salary of £18M.

It's a hard life. :(

danlalala

January 11th 2007, 02:33 PM

Loooooolz (http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=sportsNews&storyID=2007-01-11T150849Z_01_L11695070_RTRUKOC_0_UK-SOCCER-BECKHAM.xml&WTmodLoc=SportsLanding-C1-Headline-2)

Two-Bob Peeters

January 11th 2007, 02:35 PM

5 years?

hilarious. he'll retire in the summer i bet!

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 02:35 PM

I can see him continuing into his 40's you know, he's an exceptionally athletically fit prat.

danlalala

January 11th 2007, 02:36 PM

I can see him continuing into his 40's you know, he's an exceptionally athletically fit prat.
you wonder why, he's hardly fucking moved since 2001.

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 02:37 PM

you wonder why, he's hardly fucking moved since 2001.

Keep Brand Beckham going as long as possible. Plus he'll probably own the shitty MLS.

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 02:37 PM

you wonder why, he's hardly fucking moved since 2001.

The ego will be holding him back

Bexster

January 11th 2007, 02:38 PM

At least compared to the MLS players, he'll actually look good playing again.

timesfooall

January 11th 2007, 03:01 PM

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 03:04 PM

Hmmmmm i'm disappointed he didnt come back to England, as a fan of his i would have loved to have seen him play in the league again. I think he has realised that he wont play for England again (Wrongly) so it doesnt really matter where he plays.

Obviously the payday, posh and the limelight has made him go there just a shame i and other people who are fans of him wont get to see him play no more.

It's right, there's no place in the England squad (note: squad, not team) for Beckham anymore. He's too one-trick and I don't think he's relevant anymore.

He always said when he left United that he'd never come back to any other English club out of respect.

rob3000

January 11th 2007, 03:16 PM

We all know why he's he moving, but it'd be really nice to hear him say it.

Epic Failure

January 11th 2007, 03:17 PM

to be fair to him, having basically been chucked out of Real cos they don't want him, and no other top side wanting him, he might as well maximise his earnings.

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 03:19 PM

Lolz!

Man City press conference today:

Journo - Do you fancy Beckham Stuart?

SP - Well, he is pretty. I'll give him that.

rob3000

January 11th 2007, 03:19 PM

to be fair to him, having basically been chucked out of Real cos they don't want him, and no other top side wanting him, he might as well maximise his earnings.
"After considering several options to stay in Madrid or join other major British and European teams, I have decided to join LA Galaxy."

Foo Fighters, United Kingdom

January 11th 2007, 03:19 PM

Fair play. He leads an incredible jetset lifestyle and now he's going to live it up in LA. We'd all do the same.

rob3000

January 11th 2007, 03:24 PM

Fair play. He leads an incredible jetset lifestyle and now he's going to live it up in LA. We'd all do the same.
Actually yeah, this would be pretty sweet. 128 mil for 5 years of running rings out the MLS players? yes please.

Foo Fighters, United Kingdom

January 11th 2007, 03:25 PM

I'm just jealous to be honest.

Epic Failure

January 11th 2007, 03:33 PM

"After considering several options to stay in Madrid or join other major British and European teams, I have decided to join LA Galaxy."

him saying it does not mean it is guareented to be true.

let's be honest - if Real really wanted to keep him for more than 1, maybe 2, years do you think he would have left? Or if a club like Barca or AC Milan etc had come in for him? I suspect that the other major clubs were off the ilk of Newcastle, Spurs etc and if i had a choice between a couple of years in Newcastle or 5 years in LA i know which one i would choose.

danlalala

January 11th 2007, 03:48 PM

him saying it does not mean it is guareented to be true.

let's be honest - if Real really wanted to keep him for more than 1, maybe 2, years do you think he would have left? Or if a club like Barca or AC Milan etc had come in for him? I suspect that the other major clubs were off the ilk of Newcastle, Spurs etc and if i had a choice between a couple of years in Newcastle or 5 years in LA i know which one i would choose.
He was meant to go to Inter Milan, but Figo wouldn't leave them until the end of the season.

rob3000

January 11th 2007, 04:02 PM

him saying it does not mean it is guareented to be true.

let's be honest - if Real really wanted to keep him for more than 1, maybe 2, years do you think he would have left? Or if a club like Barca or AC Milan etc had come in for him? I suspect that the other major clubs were off the ilk of Newcastle, Spurs etc and if i had a choice between a couple of years in Newcastle or 5 years in LA i know which one i would choose.
Why would you choose la? Beside the £400 odd thousand weekly wage?

danlalala

January 11th 2007, 04:03 PM

Why would you choose la? Beside the £400 odd thousand weekly wage?
He knows that he's going to be the centre of attention and the European press will be permanently over there.

Wish_Master2100

January 11th 2007, 04:08 PM

Slightly furious.

Imagine if he'd have never met that stick cunt of a woman? Imagine the player he'd be now.

Curse of the popstar wife. Ashley Cole will end up the exact same.

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 04:10 PM

Curse of the popstar wife. Ashley Cole will end up the exact same.

Nah! Cole will be dumped when the press say that they believe Cheryl isn't actually a racist.

Bexster

January 11th 2007, 04:14 PM

Slightly furious.

Imagine if he'd have never met that stick cunt of a woman? Imagine the player he'd be now.

Curse of the popstar wife. Ashley Cole will end up the exact same.
Don't give a monkeys about Cashley ending up like that.

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 04:31 PM

Fucking hell! (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6252783.stm)

Wonder if the SFA suddenly prompted this after what happened yesterday?!

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 04:32 PM

One... million... dollars... per... week.

This is officially the lowest moment, financially, in football.

Pirate Thom

January 11th 2007, 04:34 PM

Just saw the Beckham thing.

lol @ Beckham.

timesfooall

January 11th 2007, 04:34 PM

Slightly furious.

Imagine if he'd have never met that stick cunt of a woman? Imagine the player he'd be now.

Curse of the popstar wife. Ashley Cole will end up the exact same.

Difference is beckham has talent, Cashley doesnt never has or never will. Still dont know why he is first choice England and Chelski left back, Wayne Bridge is the man for the job!

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 04:35 PM

Difference is beckham has talent, Cashley doesnt never has or never will. Still dont know why he is first choice England and Chelski left back, Wayne Bridge is the man for the job!

Cole was our best left-back prior to the last 18 months.

Beckham has limited talent.

timesfooall

January 11th 2007, 04:36 PM

Just saw the Beckham thing.

lol @ Beckham.

Ye lol at earing millions of pounds every year :confused:

Pirate Thom

January 11th 2007, 04:36 PM

Ye lol at earing millions of pounds every year :confused:
No, lol @ MLS.

timesfooall

January 11th 2007, 04:37 PM

Cole was our best left-back prior to the last 18 months.

Beckham has limited talent.

If thats the case i define Ashley Cole limited then. He only has pace, he has no height, lacks concentration at key moments and likes to take it to brown town.

timesfooall

January 11th 2007, 04:39 PM

No, lol @ MLS.

Then you'd be right to lol

But on the other hand the image it is going to give to the MLS, ticket sales up merchandise etc, they willr ake in loads.

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 04:42 PM

If thats the case i define Ashley Cole limited then. He only has pace, he has no height, lacks concentration at key moments and likes to take it to brown town.

I agree, he is limited and Wayne Bridge is better than him - but when he first broke into the Arsenal team, he was stormin' norman.

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 04:44 PM

Then you'd be right to lol

But on the other hand the image it is going to give to the MLS, ticket sales up merchandise etc, they willr ake in loads.

What sounds like a fairly decent professional?

You've won nothing with the most famous club in the world for 3 years?

You can - have one last shot at playing in a fairly decent/respected league where your opponents will be desperate to challenge you. You will have to be at your best at all times. You will be well paid, but probably not as well paid as you were previously. It is arguebly your last shot of glory.

or

Go to a mediocre league, a country where football is not the main sport, you will instantly be expected to be the best player - all the time and you will be the highest paid player in the league.

Pirate Thom

January 11th 2007, 04:46 PM

Wasn't he looking to buy Galaxy over at one point though?

danlalala

January 11th 2007, 04:46 PM

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 04:53 PM

danlalala

January 11th 2007, 04:54 PM

Beckham could go play in any league (Bar the Premiership as he said he wouldn't play against Man Utd) for a couple of years and then see out his day is either the Dubai or USA.

The fact he's gone for the easy money route just shows what drives him.

Not the prospect of being challenged as a player, but money.
especially when he's only 31. less high profile, and more abled footballers have gone on at the top level for many more years than 31.

timesfooall

January 11th 2007, 05:26 PM

What sounds like a fairly decent professional?

You've won nothing with the most famous club in the world for 3 years?

You can - have one last shot at playing in a fairly decent/respected league where your opponents will be desperate to challenge you. You will have to be at your best at all times. You will be well paid, but probably not as well paid as you were previously. It is arguebly your last shot of glory.

or

Go to a mediocre league, a country where football is not the main sport, you will instantly be expected to be the best player - all the time and you will be the highest paid player in the league.

Thats a very good point. But i think this must of been a hard decision. Because beckham is a proud man at heart, you could tell during the world cup, the press conference he announed he was stepping down from the captaincy that he was rather upset.

But at the end of the day the money involved, the missus, the icon status which will be astronomical in la and the lifestyle of la which suits him as a person has made him go there.

As i said earlier he will never player for England again, while Wankstain is manager, which is a feckin shame. He has won numerous honours with united and been the captain of England and got sooo much money that i doubt any of us could spend it. He's worked his bollocks off for the best part of 18 years to get to where he is maybe he has just had enough of the hard work and wanted some easy money. Ohhh the luxury!

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 05:55 PM

Thats a very good point. But i think this must of been a hard decision. Because beckham is a proud man at heart, you could tell during the world cup, the press conference he announed he was stepping down from the captaincy that he was rather upset.

But at the end of the day the money involved, the missus, the icon status which will be astronomical in la and the lifestyle of la which suits him as a person has made him go there.

As i said earlier he will never player for England again, while Wankstain is manager, which is a feckin shame. He has won numerous honours with united and been the captain of England and got sooo much money that i doubt any of us could spend it. He's worked his bollocks off for the best part of 18 years to get to where he is maybe he has just had enough of the hard work and wanted some easy money. Ohhh the luxury!

Becks has lost a lot of respect from a lot of football fans over this one. Cash is clearly king in their life.

Easy Money?! See Charlton! "My team played well for 10 mins..." was Les Reed's comments after they lost 3-0 to Liverpool! For players of the wages up to £25k per week I'd expect more than 10 mins decent effort.

Beckham has made a fortune out of football - wanted a decent lifestyle. Why not go to Inter or AC Milan where Posh can go shopping or PSG - as Paris fashion shows will suit Victoria

He'll be known as one of the players who was at Real during their barren spell. 90 games (all competitions) in 3 seasons and the grand total of 10 goals...

This was made a few years back when Becks was at Man Utd:

From NME.com

POSH SPICE VICTORIA BECKHAM is at the centre of a squabble developing between one of Europe's top football teams and her husband DAVID BECKHAM, the MANCHESTER UNITED star.

Uli Hoeness, general manager of current European champions Bayern Munich, has said Posh's popstar lifestyle is preventing Beckham being a "good professional". Hoeness has blasted Beckham, the focus of ongoing transfer speculation, saying: "Beckham is a very good player, but how could he be a good professional being dragged from one catwalk to
another."

Hoeness also ruled out signing Beckham, valued at £40 million, to Bayern and singled out Posh as the reason.

"From a sporting point of view, Beckham would appeal to us very much but not when I think about it and realise it would mean his wife - that Spice Girl - coming with him.

"That would be great for the media, but not for us. We can do without that kind of circus. With all the business with his wife, it would mean FC Hollywood would return here," this morning's UK tabloids report.

It is not the first time Victoria has been key in transfer speculation involving England captain Beckham. Several weeks ago, Italian premier and billionaire media mogul Silvio Berlusconi offered the sometime Spice Girl her own talk show on one his many television networks in a bid to tempt Beckham to sign for Italian giants AC Milan, the club he owns.

However, Hoeness' words may simply be the first salvo in a psychological war brewing between Bayern and English champions United. The pair meet at United's Old Trafford ground in March in a key tussle in the European Champions' League.

Zippy Ate My Drumkit

January 11th 2007, 07:12 PM

A few days ago I saw a highlight of Beckham v Real Madrid in around 99. He ran past a defender, leaving him dead, put in a fantastic cross which was headed in.

I'd forgotten Beckham used to run.

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 07:27 PM

R.I.P. David Beckham's career, professional respect and the last of his manhood.

weeniebeenie

January 11th 2007, 08:01 PM

I think its cause he lost what pace he had. For a wide man you are fucked when that happens.

friartuck

January 11th 2007, 09:01 PM

Will this prove to be a lucrative move on the part of LA Galaxy and the MLS? If George Best and Pele, who were so much better than Beckham it cannot be expressed in words, could not garner interest in soccer Stateside, I doubt Beckham can.

I think LA Galaxy want to ride on the back of the media attention Beckham gets. But they obviously don't realise that such attention has bugger all to do with football. Do they seriously think the mongoloids who subscribe to the National Enquirer will become avid soccer fans as a result of Beckham's inclusion to the MLS? It's laughable really.

Beckham has lost all motivation to improve himself as a footballer. As such he won't stand out at all on the pitch. So nationally, in purely football terms, he'll do very little to raise the profile of the game.

Let's face it, the MLS is a joke in every way. The standard is pathetic and on a financial level it makes Peter Ridsdale's Leeds Utd look thrifty, losing well over $300 million since it's inception. So really, Beckham's introduction equates to the trend being continued: Shit football and money down the drain.

Zippy Ate My Drumkit

January 11th 2007, 09:04 PM

I think its cause he lost what pace he had. For a wide man you are fucked when that happens.

Did he get some sort of injury, or did he just think "fuck that, I'll still get payed loads"?

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 09:23 PM

Did he get some sort of injury, or did he just think "fuck that, I'll still get payed loads"?

If by injury you refer to a peristant, niggling, whiney bitch of a wife, then yes, he got one nasty injury.

After that he thought I'll milk this for all I can

Zippy Ate My Drumkit

January 11th 2007, 09:24 PM

If by injury you refer to a peristant, niggling, whiney bitch of a wife, then yes, he got one nasty injury.

After that he thought I'll milk this for all I can

That's still no reason for him to lose his ability to run.

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 09:31 PM

He worked out a simple mathematical formula:

effort + sweat = running - hair product

weeniebeenie

January 11th 2007, 09:35 PM

Did he get some sort of injury, or did he just think "fuck that, I'll still get payed loads"?

I think its basically Real Madrids fault. I read an article in Four Four Two where it said that during the Galactico era training was really unorganised and players pretty much turned up when they wanted. Zidane got so worried about it he hired his own personal trainer.

Basically I think they didn't really have to train very hard and the older ones like Zidane, Figo and Beckham showed it the most.

Bexster

January 11th 2007, 09:49 PM

Just off the Beckham thread for just a second, is anyone still playing in the FooBoard group in Pro Evo online? I've just found it and there doesn't seem to be anyone in it...

Anyway, back to Beckham. No matter what the media does, he'll be lost to obscurity in about 6-8 months, and people will forget that it's actually football he plays as he turns up to his 9th hollywood premier.

I think its basically Real Madrids fault. I read an article in Four Four Two where it said that during the Galactico era training was really unorganised and players pretty much turned up when they wanted. Zidane got so worried about it he hired his own personal trainer.

Basically I think they didn't really have to train very hard and the older ones like Zidane, Figo and Beckham showed it the most.
I read that article. It was quite shocking actually. Read that, and you know exactly why they went down the pan like they did.

Two-Bob Peeters

January 11th 2007, 09:51 PM

Just off the Beckham thread for just a second, is anyone still playing in the FooBoard group in Pro Evo online? I've just found it and there doesn't seem to be anyone in it...

Stu said that he applied and it was waiting approval. when i went online there was no requests in the folder :/ if you're on and you can, apply to be in the group. i may be on later

Bexster

January 11th 2007, 09:54 PM

Stu said that he applied and it was waiting approval. when i went online there was no requests in the folder :/ if you're on and you can, apply to be in the group. i may be on later
I'm on there now, and I sent an application anyway, but I'm tired and off to bed soon. It says when you apply, that if you haven't been approved within a weel, the system automatically deletes your request. That maybe why Stu's didn't work.

Two-Bob Peeters

January 11th 2007, 09:56 PM

I'm on there now, and I sent an application anyway, but I'm tired and off to bed soon. It says when you apply, that if you haven't been approved within a weel, the system automatically deletes your request. That maybe why Stu's didn't work.

ohh i see, that may explain it. well i'll be on there in like 2 minutes to see if it's worked

Bexster

January 11th 2007, 09:57 PM

ohh i see, that may explain it. well i'll be on there in like 2 minutes to see if it's worked
Cool, ok. If it works, maybe can persuade others to try again.

rob3000

January 11th 2007, 09:57 PM

I think its basically Real Madrids fault. I read an article in Four Four Two where it said that during the Galactico era training was really unorganised and players pretty much turned up when they wanted. Zidane got so worried about it he hired his own personal trainer.

Basically I think they didn't really have to train very hard and the older ones like Zidane, Figo and Beckham showed it the most.
Props to Zidane for doing that.

Two-Bob Peeters

January 11th 2007, 10:01 PM

hmm.. it says no application to join present... :/

weeniebeenie

January 11th 2007, 10:01 PM

Props to Zidane for doing that.

Zidane is the fucking man. Probably headbutted the trainer for getting him to run, but still.

Also, it shows how fucked the Galactico policy was if even the Galacticos didnt like it.

Captain Stu

January 11th 2007, 10:04 PM

The Galactico's are pussies, think how many good players were kept out of first team games and probably forced out the club altogether because some ego-maniac cunts had it written into their contracts like Figo, Zidane and Raul.

Bexster

January 11th 2007, 10:06 PM

hmm.. it says no application to join present... :/
Bizarre system. It says pending. I'll try again...

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 10:07 PM

All I will say on the matter is Sir Alex ferguson got himself a complete bargain when he signed Larsson in comparison to Beckham.

Larsson > Beckham

Bexster

January 11th 2007, 10:09 PM

All I will say on the matter is Sir Alex ferguson got himself a complete bargain when he signed Larsson in comparison to Beckham.

Larsson > Beckham
Yes. Larsson has been one of the most consistently good players ever.

Still says I'm applying to join the group... :rolleyes:

EvilElvis

January 11th 2007, 10:21 PM

Yes. Larsson has been one of the most consistently good players ever.

Played with Sweden at World Cup '94, 12 years later helps Barcelona to win European cup then stuns everyone by joining Man Utd aged 35.

Looked quality on his debut and still managed to keep up his trait of pissing me off! :mad:

Two-Bob Peeters

January 12th 2007, 09:01 AM

Bayern Munich are planning a £15m move for Chelsea winger Arjen Robben, paving the way for Owen Hargreaves to join Manchester United. (Daily Star)

Arsenal defender Lauren, whose contract is up in the summer, has held talks with West Ham. (Daily Mirror)

Liverpool will pay £2m for 20-year-old Argentine Sebastian Leto - although he will stay at his club Lanus until the end of the season. (Sun)

Watford have signed Southampton midfielder David Prutton for £250,000. (Daily Mirror)

The Hornets have rejected West Ham's £7m bid for Ashley Young but they could be tempted by Aston Villa's planned £8m offer. (Times)

Reading will make a shock £3m bid for Sheffield Wednesday defender Madjid Bougherra. (Daily Mail)

David Dunn is set complete his move from Birmingham to Bolton. (Daily Mail)

Fulham boss Chris Coleman will watch Hearts pair Paul Hartley and Craig Gordon against Celtic on Sunday. (Daily Express)

Celtic will make another attempt to sign New England Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph. (Daily Express)

Celtic have offered Hibernian £4m for midfielders Scott Brown and Kevin Thomson. (Sun)

West Brom boss Tony Mowbray admits he has made inquiries about Hibernian pair Scott Brown and Kevin Thomson. (Scotsman/Herald)

Charlie Millar and Robbie Winters could leave Brann Bergen for Gimnastick de Tarragona. (Daily Express)

Falkirk have targeted Inverness Caley Thistle striker Craig Dargo and Airdrie midfielder Steve McDougall. (Daily Record)

Scotland striker Garry O'Connor is hoping to win a release from Lokomotiv Moscow. (Daily Record)

Chelsea have joined the race to sign Hamilton Accies midfielder James McCarthy. (Daily Record)

Portsmouth hope to make West Ham midfielder Yossi Benayoun their next signing. (Sun)

Rangers have stepped up their bid to sign defender David Weir from Everton after Andy Webster's move from Wigan hit a hitch. (Daily Record)

Rangers boss Walter Smith will axe several players and aims to bring in up to six new players during January. (Daily Express)

Dwight Yorke wants to leave Sunderland and return to Australia with Sydney FC. (Daily Mirror)

Blackburn defender Lucas Neill could yet join West Ham ahead of Liverpool as the Hammers will offer better personal terms. (Daily Telegraph)

Back to top

Heard a transfer rumour? Let us know ...

OTHER GOSSIP
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has confirmed to a "close friend" that he will quit Chelsea in the summer. (Sun)

Mourinho's breaking point came when the club refused to sanction a swap deal involving Aston Villa's Milan Baros and Shaun Wright-Phillips. (Independent)

Mourinho will take over at Inter and is looking for houses in Milan. (Sun)

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich won't ask Russia coach Guus Hiddink to replace Mourinho for fear of upsetting president Vladimir Putin. (Daily Mail)

Chelsea captain John Terry is suffering from a nerve problem in his back and does not know when he will return. (Daily Mail)

David Beckham wants Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and Luis Figo to join him in the United States. (Sun)

Beckham rejected offers from AC Milan, Inter, Marseille and Lyon in order to join LA Galaxy. (Independent)

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger axed Freddie Ljungberg after learning the Swede had joined a Hollywood talent agency. (Daily Mirror)

Watford have promoted defender Malky Mackay to first-team coach in place of Dave Hockaday. (Daily Mail)

Birmingham could be docked points because of the state of their pitch - though a fine is more likely. (Sun)

Former Liverpool manager Roy Evans is the hot tip to be the new Wrexham boss. (Sun)

Scotland will ask Alex McLeish or Gary McAllister to replace Walter Smith as national boss. (Independent/Daily Express)

Portsmouth coach Joe Jordan has emerged as a favourite for the Scotland manager's job. (Scotsman)

Hamilton's much-wanted 16-year-old midfielder, James McCarthy, has chosen to play for Ireland instead of Scotland. (Scotsman)

Rangers must pay compensation of £400,000 to the SFA after luring Smith to Ibrox. (Daily Record)

Sven-Goran Eriksson has admitted on television he is Marseille's new manager. (Daily Star)

Back to top

AND FINALLY...
A Cardiff fan is planning to pay for him and 20 fellow supporters to watch the game at Wolves from an airship because Bluebirds fans are banned from Molineux. (Sun)

LA Galaxy's new signing David Beckham can look forward to playing at Pizza Hut Park next season - the home of FC Dallas. (Daily Express)

Manchester City's teenage defender Micah Richards horrified guests at the PFA's centenary celebration by turning up in scruffy jeans and an 'Elvis Jesus' T-shirt. (Daily Express)

Reading's new signing Clint Dempsey is also a hip-hop star who goes by the name of 'Deuce' and scored a big hit last year with 'Don't Tread', a track recorded to mark the United States' participation in the World Cup. Sample lyric: "Game took hold like the roots of a tree, Thank God soccer's a sport and Nike sign me". (Times)

Captain Stu

January 12th 2007, 09:02 AM

Sweet.

Bud

January 12th 2007, 09:12 AM

hahahaha. Mourinho :D

Two-Bob Peeters

January 12th 2007, 09:17 AM

Still says I'm applying to join the group... :rolleyes:

what a pile of wank. boo-urns

Bexster

January 12th 2007, 09:46 AM

Charlie Millar and Robbie Winters could leave Brann Bergen for Gimnastick de Tarragona. (Daily Express)
Surely that's not the name of a real team... :D

what a pile of wank. boo-urns
Yes. As was the spanish guy I played last night who kept telling me off in spanish for fucking with the connection and then tanked me 6-0...

Captain Stu

January 12th 2007, 09:49 AM

PES6 can kiss my chuddies. :(

Two-Bob Peeters

January 12th 2007, 09:54 AM

Surely that's not the name of a real team... :D

Yes. As was the spanish guy I played last night who kept telling me off in spanish for fucking with the connection and then tanked me 6-0...

i just missed you, i found you online but you must have left as it didn't load your stats or let me speak to you. i then went on to enter the tournament, but they keep making 5 minute match tourns, so i quit :mad:

PES6 can kiss my chuddies. :(

still the best pes they've made. the nline mode is great, especially with the competitions

Bexster

January 12th 2007, 09:57 AM

PES6 can kiss my chuddies. :(
I've only played 2 games, I don't think I'm qqualified to agree with that statement just yet

i just missed you, i found you online but you must have left as it didn't load your stats or let me speak to you. i then went on to enter the tournament, but they keep making 5 minute match tourns, so i quit :mad:
Maybe it would be worth starting up another group just to see if it works, or whether it just plain hates us. I don't mind doing that when I get home.

Yeah, I saw you too, and had a look at your stats, but when I moved lobbys to where you were, you'd disappeared.

Two-Bob Peeters

January 12th 2007, 10:04 AM

Maybe it would be worth starting up another group just to see if it works, or whether it just plain hates us. I don't mind doing that when I get home.

yeah, when i get home i'll see if the application is still there. if not then maybe you can try and create a group and i'll disband this one. bloody crap servers

Bexster

January 12th 2007, 10:08 AM

yeah, when i get home i'll see if the application is still there. if not then maybe you can try and create a group and i'll disband this one. bloody crap servers
Ok. Do you get a box coming up during games online waiting for other players, before set pieces and kick offs? I'm assuming that's just the servers synchronising, but that may have been what the guy was yelling at me about yesterday. It didn't seem to harm the connection...

Two-Bob Peeters

January 12th 2007, 10:12 AM

Ok. Do you get a box coming up during games online waiting for other players, before set pieces and kick offs? I'm assuming that's just the servers synchronising, but that may have been what the guy was yelling at me about yesterday. It didn't seem to harm the connection...

yeah occasionally. but they only last for a second or two max, and not every time i play.

did you have any lag or anything? i sometimes do in the second half. i'm guessing that's the half where i host the game as i have a 1mb net connection at home. (although saying that noone has ever complained about me lagging before) if you didn't have any lag i don't think the other guy would have. maybe he's just a weirdo!

Captain Stu

January 12th 2007, 10:20 AM

Bexster

January 12th 2007, 10:21 AM

yeah occasionally. but they only last for a second or two max, and not every time i play.

did you have any lag or anything? i sometimes do in the second half. i'm guessing that's the half where i host the game as i have a 1mb net connection at home. (although saying that noone has ever complained about me lagging before) if you didn't have any lag i don't think the other guy would have. maybe he's just a weirdo!

I can't decide whether there was a lag (if there was, I didn't see it) and he was having a problem with it, or whether he deceided to use all of his pauses within the first 5 minutes to complain just to put me off (this was the second game we played - the first with no problems played out to a 0-0 draw, and the second, seemingly exactly the same quality) he scored all his goals in the second half. I didn't see any change.

I used to get a bit of lag occasionally playing Pro Evo 5 online, generally with people in other countries, so who knows.

Two-Bob Peeters

January 12th 2007, 10:24 AM

In the games that me and Dave played, the lag was tending to get horrendous - the game at times would sit there for a good few seconds, maybe up to 5, and then jolt back to life again and it completely blows your momentum.

did one of you have a poo connection?

although saying that at first for like the first month the servers were proper wank.

Chandler

January 12th 2007, 10:24 AM

Mourinho said he's leaving London at the end of this season.. is that true? :confused:

Captain Stu

January 12th 2007, 10:25 AM

did one of you have a poo connection?

although saying that at first for like the first month the servers were proper wank.

Nuh huh. :(

Renegades of funk 8

January 12th 2007, 10:36 AM

for some odd reason i'm some french guys group :confused: , but i'll go back to the foos when it's working

Captain Stu

January 12th 2007, 10:36 AM

HA! How's about that for a signature picture. :D

Renegades of funk 8

January 12th 2007, 10:38 AM

HA! How's about that for a signature picture. :D

yours have given me and idea for a fulham one

Two-Bob Peeters

January 12th 2007, 10:39 AM

yours have given me and idea for a fulham one

likewise with millwall, shame our team is a pile of shit. i might have to do a legends one

Captain Stu

January 12th 2007, 10:39 AM

likewise with millwall, shame our team is a pile of shit. i might have to do a legends one

DING DING MOTHERFUCKING DING!!! :D

*dash*

Bexster

January 12th 2007, 10:44 AM

HA! How's about that for a signature picture. :D
I love the fact Kuyt's the only one in a different colour :D Did you make that yourself or steal it?

Mourinho said he's leaving London at the end of this season.. is that true? :confused:
Probably if they win nothing of any note thise year. I wouldn't be surprised if he's not there next season. Still only random rumours though.

for some odd reason i'm some french guys group :confused: , but i'll go back to the foos when it's working
Well done. We'll get it sorted one way or another - can't see why it's not working...

Captain Stu

January 12th 2007, 10:45 AM

I love the fact Kuyt's the only one in a different colour :D Did you make that yourself or steal it?

I'm so fucking awesome that I made it myself with pictures nicked off the website! For some reason, everyone elses pictures are taken on the training pitch except Kuyt... plus he's so damn sexy that he needs to stand out.

*continues making all-time legends team*

Bexster

January 12th 2007, 10:51 AM

I'm so fucking awesome that I made it myself with pictures nicked off the website! For some reason, everyone elses pictures are taken on the training pitch except Kuyt... plus he's so damn sexy that he needs to stand out.

*continues making all-time legends team*
*sings* "Put Your Hands Up..." :D

I'm contemplating stealing your idea, but then no one could stand up to the awesomeness of Thierry Henry :D

Is Reina doing a pin-up pose against the goal in that picture??? :eek:

Captain Stu

January 12th 2007, 10:56 AM

We should do it, it might help piss off the people who don't like seeing our footie thread about. :D

And here we have it... for now... my Liverpool legends team:

Ray Clemence
Phil Neal
Alan Hansen
Jamie Carragher
Alan Kennedy
John Barnes
Steven Gerrard
Ray Kennedy
Sir Roger Hunt
King Kenny Dalglish
Lord Ian Rush

:D

Problem is, to fit all the people in that I wanted I'd need to start about 23 players. :o

Renegades of funk 8

January 12th 2007, 10:59 AM

ah yes this will do

Bexster

January 12th 2007, 11:01 AM

ah yes this will do
Now I'm gonna have to do it :D

What programme did you use for it?

Zippy Ate My Drumkit

January 12th 2007, 11:02 AM

Howay the lads.

Bud

January 12th 2007, 11:02 AM

I love you Popbitch :D

Liverpool FC have signed Michael Jackson. At a press conference Jacko said that the prospect of being spanked by 11 kids at home was too good to turn down.

Two-Bob Peeters

January 12th 2007, 11:03 AM

i'll have to wait till i get home to do this, paint is probably not the best application...

Renegades of funk 8

January 12th 2007, 11:03 AM

Now I'm gonna have to do it :D

What programme did you use for it?

cough cough...paint :o

Captain Stu

January 12th 2007, 11:04 AM

Haha... d'oh. :(

I used PSP8 to put all the pics together, copied it into Jasc Animation Shop to resize it because it does a good job of not pixelating too much.

Two-Bob Peeters

January 12th 2007, 11:05 AM

cough cough...paint :o

damn you...

my other excuse is that i can't find any good pictures as work bans all image searches :D

Bexster

January 12th 2007, 11:08 AM

cough cough...paint :o
See, you go for the proper option and use Paint. It's only Stu that uses posh programmes like PSP... :rolleyes:

Captain Stu

January 12th 2007, 11:08 AM

See, you go for the proper option and use Paint. It's only Stu that uses posh programmes like PSP... :rolleyes:

:D

Renegades of funk 8

January 12th 2007, 11:11 AM

See, you go for the proper option and use Paint. It's only Stu that uses posh programmes like PSP... :rolleyes:

only cos paint is the best program on my computer :D

Two-Bob Peeters

January 12th 2007, 11:52 AM

Paint ain't that bad to be fair.

testing.

meh that'll do for now.. although strangely it isn't in this post

EvilElvis

January 12th 2007, 12:22 PM

Excellent news for Villa! (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/burnley/6255757.stm) :D

Good deal for Bolton (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/6254879.stm) provided Dunn stays fit.

Allardyce waits on Dunn medical

David Dunn is set to quit Birmingham for Bolton
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce has revealed only a medical problem is likely to halt David Dunn's cut-price £1m move from Birmingham to The Reebok.
Dunn has been plagued by injuries since a £5.5m move from Blackburn in 2003.

And Allardyce said: "David had a very severe back problem a couple of years ago. That's been dealt with by surgery.

"Steve Bruce has decided to move him on and our concern would be the medical. I hope there's nothing from the medical side to stop this transfer."

Birmingham boss Bruce said: "He has problems with his family life up north. That is genuine.

"So it might be in both our interests that I get a few quid in, spend it on someone else and then off we go again. It will be an amicable goodbye."

Birmingham will take a massive loss on Dunn, and Bruce added: "It's a shame Dunny has had so many injury problems here because he is a special player, someone who is part of a dying breed, and in his first few months here you saw the influence he can have on a team.

"If people like Dunny, Mikael Forssell, Muzzy Izzet and Matthew Upson had stayed fit last season, we would have been a far better team and I am convinced we would have stayed in the Premiership.

"The club has spent millions on Dunny, buying him, trying to get him right, trying to get him on the pitch. He is also a decent wage earner. A change of scenery might do him good."