British football gossip

clog football is wank even big club great fans should get pask az69 alk.

They knocked out fenerbahce, and beat Sevilla away in the Uefa this year.

I agree Clog footie is shyte, but they are above Ajax and Feyenoord in the league, so they cannot be that bad...

ditto kathy burke football.

i think seville realised after winning the worthless cup last year v ginger svens mob.. that its pointless and went out at the most opportune time to concentrate on winning the la liga.

Interesting theory since they are the current favourites to win the Uefa cup

shows you how much i am interested in it.

roll on sunday.

For anyone who might be interested.

Man Utd will be playing a European XI next Tueday (13th) @ OT

Manchester United v European XI

It's going to be shown live on BBC THREE K/O 2000 GMT

Yeh, he has been too busy tapping up other clubs' players through the media.


Where is the Onweyu love? Admit it, you want to give in .

And for all of you bitching about your clubs, at least you aren't staring at this in the face: Sat, May 5 v. Manchester United.

Sin may finally get his revenge for Dennis Law's backheel.

Naaahhh no worries mate, we'll do em at the BlueCamp

Wouldn't that be sweet.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/t...utd/6424743.stm

US group eyeing Coventry takeover

What the bloody hell is going on? First Millwall, now Coventry. Is there some banned ex-player shark manager touring the US flogging off teams to unsuspecting idiots? Will Accrington Stanley be seeing an influx of a few million dollars tomorrow? Or is this the same geezer what flogged a pile of rubble due for dumping in the North Sea, and formerly known as London Bridge, to some muppet armed with only a glossy brochure with a picture of Tower Bridge on the front cover?

It's pissing me off no end i can tell ya

Maybe they thought they were bidding for City. I mean, they both play in sky blue, and they both end with the word 'City'. Truth can be stranger than fiction. Look at how Abrahmovich bought Chelsea.

Do tell, i obviously don't know the story ?

The rumour has it that he was after Tottenham, but couldn't find a place to land his helicopter. On his flight back to Heathrow he looks out the window and see's Stamford Bridge below. "Who's stadium is that?" he asks. The rest is history. Shame really, if he'd been sitting on the other side of the helicopter, Fulham would have invested in a trophy cabinet.

Yeah but the player's wives wouldn't have got discount at Harrods mate

Nope, you're just on your way to Sport-er-tainment! I think when Americans see the tremendous passion for the sport (i.e. the money people spend) it is easy to think you could make money.

Also, could someone fill me in on why the american marshalled take-overs make people from Great Britian so angry? Where was the outrage over Eggert Magnusson and his pals?

I believe the anger has something to do with you guys not having a great history or passion in the sport yourselves (barring the odd exception, like yourself). Remember the World Cup in 1994 and how easy it was to get tickets? Remember the little 'help sheets' on each seat explaining when the 'fan' should shout, "Rejected!"? You don't shout, "Rejected!". The correct lines go along, "You're goin' 'ome in a fuckin' ambulance!", or if David Beckham is on the ball, "Your wife takes it up the arse, up the arse!", etc. The sport, the passion and the atmosphere is being destroyed enough by The Prawn Sandwich Brigade as it is. I can still remember standing in The Stretford end with zillions of The Red Army, "Oo"-ing and "Ah"-ing and singing, "Whoa-oh! Whoa-oh! We are The Busby Boys!" at the utmost stretch of my lungs. Those days have pretty well gone. Last time I was at Old Trafford the atmosphere was more like a family watching fuckin' Corrie. Dull, dull, dull! With the dollars piling in I can see the real fans being ousted even more until the whole bleedin' stadium is just row upon row of corporate boxes, and I think that is a crime against footie.

The 'ammers (like me old man), are still bitterly complain' about 'Fackin' Argies' and Kia Joorabchian (although Tevez has shown a bit of lust to wear the claret and blue). Once they've got over bein' shot in the foot and all their bubbles have burst for this season, I'm sure they'll catch up with Magnusson.

He will be staying, exactly what we have needed for a while, a big commanding CB..

I think you're conflating two different issues there, mate. The gentrification of the game and the loss of atmosphere has been a problem since the mid-90s when the effects of the Sky money and rising ticket prices started to be felt. You can't blame Glazer and his ilk because Old Toilet has all the atmosphere of a tomb these days. Keane was moaning about the prawn sandwich brigade long before the Gnome came along.

For what it's worth, I think a lot of the fear and mistrust of American owners is down to i) as you suggest, a lack of football culture in the United States and ii) a corresponding, although largely illogical, belief that such owners will try and import wholesale ideas from US sports into football. My own view is that they'd ahve to be idiots to try it; I'm sure they understand when they commit to make such a large investment that the game has its own culture and traditions and their best bet is to leave that side of it well alone. No one really wants to see fireworks go off and dry ice blown when the teams emerge, or cheerleaders, or naff music played over the tannoy when a team scores.

The other aspect of it is a fear of asset-stripping; it's only now the new Premiership TV deal has been agreed that plenty of US tycoons are sniffing around, and that can't be a coincidence.


They should concentrate more on blaming Mini-Rio, Reo-Cokehead and their disgraceful ilk rather than two fellas who in all probability didn't choose to go there and barely played once they did. Plenty of Hammers post on the Liverpool fansite Red And White Kop and they aren't happy.

Cheerleaders I could hack (and a few other things, mostly involving a certain well known breakfast spread... Oo er! Missus! No! Don't!)

Show me an 'appy 'ammer, mate, an' I'll show you a liar. Season's a fuckin' disaster for the poor buggers.

Yah,


I would just like to say: OVERTIME MULTI-BALL!!! 1950! 1950! USA! USA! And Sin, as a scum supporter, you of all people should appreciate the delightful turn of phrase that is: The Liverpool Stealers.

Humour aside, I think Xabi makes some good points.

I think he is correct when he mentions the prawn sandwich brigade were a menace long before yanks started buying in. And yes, I know what you mean regarding the '94 world cup, etc. there is plenty of stuff I hear around these parts that makes me cringe.

Furthermore, I think regardless of whether the investors' motivation is to make money (Glazers/Gillette/Hicks) or own the club as a hobby (Lerner) there is little need to worry about overtime multi-ball, fireworks, fog machines, or rock concerts at the half anytime soon. If you want to make money why would you do something to anger your customer base for little or no monetary return or change what made it such a cash cow in the first place? And if you love the sport/club, why would you want to change it?

On the Eggert side of things, I hope your dad doesn't have a stroke or heart attack Sin. Anyway, when he took over as chairman no one was protesting outside Upton Park, if I recall correctly. It is the subsequent misadventures of the team that have generated all the discontent.

I hope yer right kaiserf. I really do. Maybe we're looking at this the wrong way round. The best way to look at it would be the spread of the passion for footie to the majority of Americans. I'm sure the US national footie team's efforts in the World Cup can't have gone totally unnoticed over there. Then you've got geezers like McBride at Fulham beltin' them in. It's a good game. I'm just not sure if TV America can handle a whole 45 minutes without a commercial.

How's your league work? Do you have a knock-out competition cup?

Yes, we have the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Much like the FA cup, open to amateur and pro clubs alike, from the following classifications: professional outdoor Division I (Major League Soccer), Division II (USL First Division) or Division III (USL Second Division); or Amateur Division (USL Premier Development League & U.S. Adult Soccer Association). 40 teams playing this year.

As for the league structure it is as follows:
- Season runs from April 2007 to a championship match played November 18, 2007.

- 13 clubs split into two conferences: the Western Conference will have six clubs, while the Eastern Conference will have seven, with Toronto FC as the newest addition. Each club plays 30 games, evenly divided among home and away matches. Each club will play every other club twice, home and away, for a total of 24 games. The remaining 6 games will all be intra-conference, with each club playing its fellow conference members an additional game. In the Western Conference, an additional game will be added to the above, highlighting a local rivalry (Los Angeles vs. Chivas USA, Houston vs. FC Dallas, Salt Lake vs. Colorado).

- At season's end, the top two clubs of each conference will make the playoffs; in addition, the next four highest point totals, regardless of conference, will also be in the playoffs. In the first round of this knockout tournament, aggregate goals over two matches determine the winners; the Conference Championships are one match each, with the winner of each conference advancing to MLS Cup. In all rounds, draws will be broken with 2 15-minute periods of extra time, followed by penalty kicks if necessary. The away goals rule is not used.

- The MLS Champion (winner of MLS Cup) qualifies for the next CONCACAF Champions' Cup. Furthermore, the club with the best record in the 30 game regular season wins the MLS Supporters' Shield and also qualifies for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. If the Supporters' Shield winner wins the MLS Cup, the runner-up to the Supporters Shield is the second qualifier.

- The two MLS clubs that qualify for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup have the ability to qualify for Copa Sudamericana if they make the final, and the FIFA Club World Cup if they win the championship. If an MLS club were to win Copa Sudamericana they would also play in Recopa Sudamericana.

- During the season, all MLS clubs may also compete in the U.S. Open Cup (except Toronto), select international tournaments, and various exhibitions.

- Also, we are having a little "super-league" this year with I think 4 MLS teams against 4 Mexican 1st division. It is supposed to be loosely modelled on the champions league with a group and knockout phase. If it does well I think they are supposed to expand it and introduce some more qualification rules as opposed to this year's invite only structure.

Sounds like you need to get 16 to 20 teams in just one league, mate.

Personally, in about 20 years time, I think it's possible that the UEFA Champions League will die to be replaced with a similar FIFA Champions League on a global scale. Premier divisions of each nation will be down to 16 clubs.

First of all - at least we use pretty standard law to govern the matches (no clock counting down/timeout shenanigans as we used to have).

I think the league structure is ok as well, with the following exceptions:

1. The conference thing is just garbage, I don't know what retard thought this would play well.
2. If you have 13 team just have a 24 game season. I don't feel like the 6 extra games against your "rivals" generate that much interest (although maybe they generate some gate revenues).

I know having playoffs for the league championship (MLS Cup) isn't going to please the purists, but honestly at this point in the league's history, who really cares if the best team wins - it is better to generate some excitement.

Also, the quality is just dire. Worse the jockland, even.

Ouch! THAT bad, huh?

According to the Beeb Henry is now out for the remainder of the season (though the Arse's season is now over anyway).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...nal/6429133.stm

Does it get any better?

I'm glad we won't have to witness another pathetic celebratory dance with his friend. I'm sure he had a few more dances left in him in the meaningless games he could perhaps have scored in. Alas, nature has intervened and given him about 7 injuries to ensure he won't be returning. As an African gentleman in a bar once said, "Beat that man! Beat that man down!"

I have to laugh at this latest one from Mourinho, in fact I feel a little sorry for him as I do believe his interpretation of the event. Still you cannot call the ref a Son of a Whore and expect to get away with it!!

A Cup semi-final draw:

Blackburn v Chelsea or Tottenham
Watford v Middlesbrough or Manchester United

fucking fix

Probably.
Chelsea vs Boro final again?!

*cries bitter tears*

Nah, they might be able to hold Man U in smogland, but they will get humped at old shatford

This is the only time I ever put on my tin hat and call 'conspiracy'. I can accept that some years the big teams would be lucky enough to avoid each other. But I really do believe that they are kept apart purposely. The FA say that they put the draw on a Monday cos thats how it was back in 1901 or sommat. Bollox, part of the magic of the cup was watching the draw on a Sunday straight after the final game. Also the 1st, 2nd & 3rd round draws are on Sunday, why not the rest.

Tin Foil Hat rant over!

They want a showcase final to open Wembley. You know dat! Dunno how they do it but it's definitely rigged. Hopefully the spurs lads can ruin their plans. Maybe it'll be a Watford vs. Blackburn final!!! Yuk!

Stick certain balls in the freezer, before the draw. Pick out the cold ones, then you've got yourself the draw...Well that's how we did it back home!!!

When it rains it pours:

City star arrested over assault


Pearce dismisses reports over job


Must be bad. Even I am starting to feel sorry for City.

Joey Barton arrested for assault? Him? Never! He seems to be calmness and decorum personified to me...

Football League considers scrapping draws
No. No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no...

WTF is this?? Has the league suddenly been bought out by Americans? Obviously this will never go through in a million years but the very idea of them considering such a proposal sends shivers down my spine.

Oh Yes!!

Budweiser's multi ball extra time coming into play!!!

JOB, I believe the term you are looking for is OVERTIME MULTI-BALL. "Extra-time" is unknown around these parts.


As a fan of the liverpool stealers I'm sure you're well versed in chants of USA! USA! so you've got nothing to worry about.


He isn't half the cunt/hothead that Bellamy is and that little welsh git didn't have any problems getting away clean.


You say this like it would be a bad thing. I think he has been given more than enough time. What really tells is the quality/lack thereof of the limited number of signing he has made. Samaras can play football and would be fine in a better team. Jury is still out on Trabelsi, however having watched him it is hard to believe he was an Arsenal target at one time. Hamann would have been adequate as a squad player. Ball, Dabo, Corradi, Dickov, Vassell, are donkeys. He has got our brilliant (40+ caps and impressive every time I've seen him) keeper sitting on the bench in favor of a keeper who hasn't played in 3 years and has proved to be more fragile that Scott Carson (not that I've got anything against Weaver, he is a legend but the reality of it is...). Have I left anyone out? Oh, let Distin's contract run down and now he will leave for nothing...

I of course own a Beasley shirt, so my comments about him are obviously not going to be very objective but I don't think he is really going to cut it in the premiership as anything other than a squad player, if that even though he has had his moments this year.

Chose Steve Wigley as his assistant?

I can forgive the tactical errors, as any first time manger is always going to be a little bit naive, but he's pretty much been garbage in all other respects other than a nice run when he took over the team and one around the holiday period this year.

I never thought I'd be moaning for the days of Keegan, but at least the sub par performances were interesting and involved some goals. (i'm getting pretty desperate here, eh?)

I feel for ya Fred, my heart is wounded with the way our team is dying on it's arse.

One thing you always used to get with Man City was goals at both ends, this year only Watford have scored less than us.

Peter Reid did actually do a reasonable job at Maine Rd but that was a long time ago now, i would have thought he was enjoying life as a pundit and taking the money without the pressure.

Was reading yesterday that the last home goal scored by city was on 1st Jan 2007. More than 3 months back.
No wonder there were so many empty seats in the stadium last night !!

I'm pretty drunk and I think I'm about to havea major lapse...let us never speak of this again.

I saw something in print today and unfortunately is stirred thoughts that had been brewing in my subconscious for a couple of years and I had been unwilling to admit to myself.

The title "current best premiership player" has changed hands. Fallen is one self-obsessed, diving, continental cunt dressed in red; unfortunately he has been replaced by another. I always was scared he had the talent to do it, but never thought he would realize his potential.

I can't wait until he fucks off to madrid!

Quoted, noted and storred for future embarrassment.

Nooooooooooo,