Football 2010-2011

[The Nal]

So ... Chelski / Utd tonight.

Torres to run Vidic ragged? It wouldn't be the first time. Vidic doesn't seem to work his red card voodoo when Torres is around either.

[TheGayTent]

That Carrick is shit...

[ampersand]

So ... Chelski / Utd tonight.

Torres to run Vidic ragged? It wouldn't be the first time. Vidic doesn't seem to work his red card voodoo when Torres is around either.

[pink_triangle]

There was ever a debate about that?!

[TheGayTent]

Lucky to have escaped jail for as long as he has you mean?

Great man motivator mind, and his teams are more often than not good to watch. Clueless defensively and tactically.

[pink_triangle]

Lucky to have escaped jail for as long as he has you mean?

Great man motivator mind, and his teams are more often than not good to watch. Clueless defensively and tactically.

[eFestivals]

Lucky at pompey that he had a small club with huge transfer budget that made it look like he was doing far better than he was. Lucky that when he won the fa cup the hardest team he played was man u with rio in goal and he faced a championship side in the final. Lucky that last season he was forced to play bale because of injuries who inspired spurs final push to the top 4. I cant believe most england fans want him to succeed cappello, the thought that an international team can be succesful with passion and no tactics is very old school british and incorrect.

Pompey didn't have a huge transfer budget, and that's why things panned out as they did. Many of the players were bought on the never never, and when settlement day came it was beyond them. Just as he did at other clubs, it was 'Arry's doings which bankrupted them.

But agree with what you say about 'Arry as England manager - he'd be quickly shown as waaaay out of his depth with no ideas just as he was on Tuesday. 'Arry can motivate and prepare, but he hasn't got a clue how to change.

[eFestivals]

Yeah think he could get his first goal tonight

Well, he nearly did - but for a fantastic save by grandad. And similarly fantastic play for Utd's goal, with another grandad.

Last night showed again that the way Chelsea play just doesn't suit Torres - they apply too much pressure and give him no space to play how he plays best. Mind you, he didn't look interested in playing right up until a substitute was imminent. Why the f**k they took Drogba off I don't know, cos he was far and away Chelsea's best player last night, with his strength playing pinball with a number of Utd's players.

The other thing I don't get is why Drogba was only ever on the right after Valencia went to right back - surely it would have been worth Drogba taking him on a few times and seeing how good he was at defending?

Edited April 7, 2011 by eFestivals

[modey]

I think they took him off because he was starting to get frustrated and looked a bit wound up?

Great result last night, needed that away goal but it would have been nice to get another, pretty confident we'll best them at old Trafford though

Looks like this is the only quarter final not decided after the first leg

Also found out yesterday I have got tickets that I applied for the final, gutted

[modey]

Oh and is anyone going to mention the ladyboys diving last night? Not once but twice he tried to get a penalty by diving, I'm pretty sure if it was Rooney there would be calls for a 10 match ban

Awaits the usual utd do it blah blah....

[pink_triangle]

Pompey didn't have a huge transfer budget, and that's why things panned out as they did. Many of the players were bought on the never never, and when settlement day came it was beyond them. Just as he did at other clubs, it was 'Arry's doings which bankrupted them.

But agree with what you say about 'Arry as England manager - he'd be quickly shown as waaaay out of his depth with no ideas just as he was on Tuesday. 'Arry can motivate and prepare, but he hasn't got a clue how to change.

[Wooderson]

Oh and is anyone going to mention the ladyboys diving last night? Not once but twice he tried to get a penalty by diving, I'm pretty sure if it was Rooney there would be calls for a 10 match ban

Awaits the usual utd do it blah blah....

[eFestivals]

Oh and is anyone going to mention the ladyboys diving last night? Not once but twice he tried to get a penalty by diving, I'm pretty sure if it was Rooney there would be calls for a 10 match ban

Awaits the usual utd do it blah blah....

Hmmm.... dives, or not?

While there's a suspicion of a dive for both, there's also good evidence for the first (at least) that he was bundled over. It's defo the case that the defender (was it Evra? I forget) was pushing against the back of him, as you can see the defender's shorts shape move as Torres goes down and takes his pressure off those shorts.

Torres didn't try to make anything of that, not a jot. But Utd's players got angry all the same. A cynic might think they got that angry cos they had something to hide.

I'd like to see a different angle shot of that first incident - after all, there was very little that could be seen from the shot from the front they showed. Here's betting that a side shot will show clear as day that the defender was in the back of him - and as ralph would say, if there's contact then he's entitled to go down; if it's good for Utd (and it defo is) then why isn't it good for others in the eyes of Utd fans?

[The Nal]

A very good shout for a penalty went against Chelsea, which was followed by a very post-modern "We Do What We Want" chant. Torres got carded for his dive. You won the game. And yet theres still bitter nonsense about "ladyboys" on here.

Incidentally, the "You Scouse Bastard" chants last night in Torres' direction are a real tonic btw. Brilliant wit.

Edited April 7, 2011 by The Nal

[pink_triangle]

Thing about Torres diving is that he shouldn’t have to do it. Hes proved hes good enough. Why doesn’t he try turn and score as opposed to diving? He needs a goal badly.

[ralph250]

Hmmm.... dives, or not?

While there's a suspicion of a dive for both, there's also good evidence for the first (at least) that he was bundled over. It's defo the case that the defender (was it Evra? I forget) was pushing against the back of him, as you can see the defender's shorts shape move as Torres goes down and takes his pressure off those shorts.

Torres didn't try to make anything of that, not a jot. But Utd's players got angry all the same. A cynic might think they got that angry cos they had something to hide.

I'd like to see a different angle shot of that first incident - after all, there was very little that could be seen from the shot from the front they showed. Here's betting that a side shot will show clear as day that the defender was in the back of him - and as ralph would say, if there's contact then he's entitled to go down; if it's good for Utd (and it defo is) then why isn't it good for others in the eyes of Utd fans?

[eFestivals]

Tis a dive Neil, nothing in the back, possible a slight brush of his shirt with his fingers on the side but nowhere near enough to go down. No push or tug. Watch Torres stretch his right leg out, after he sees the balls going out after his heavy touch.

http://vodpod.com/watch/5931783-fernando-torres-1st-dive-v-manchester-united

Second one is definite. Hooks his leg behind Valencia.

http://vodpod.com/watch/5931787-fernando-torres-2nd-dive-v-manchester-united

----

Sorry, I got confused - when I said the first one, I was actually thinking of the second incident. It's that one where he gets bumped in the back before anything happens with his leg.

Watch it again. There was contact - in your own words, that's a definite pen. Unless you're wearing heavy blinkers over your own opinions?

[Wooderson]

Really really don't like that chant.

[ralph250]

Sorry, I got confused - when I said the first one, I was actually thinking of the second incident. It's that one where he gets bumped in the back before anything happens with his leg.

Watch it again. There was contact - in your own words, that's a definite pen. Unless you're wearing heavy blinkers over your own opinions?

[eFestivals]

0:33

He's wrapping his leg back before the touch imo. It's in an unnatural position.

it defo looks to me like he's attempted to create that touch with his leg, but it comes after the bump in the back (which he might well have also created by slowing down). He's already on the way down (from the bump in the back) before he does the leg thing.

And remind me when were these "own words". Regards to who? any quotes?

Quite a few occasions - when it comes to utd, your standard line is that if there's contact then it's a foul.

But not when it's Utd doing the contact, clearly.

These are merely the ones I can remember from memory - I have memories of you saying similar for others but not what the incidents were:-

1. berba against (I think) Liverpool this season - the one where I commented "Man Utd, never too proud to dive".

2. Valencia against Liverpool (last season or before that) when dragged back by Mascho outside the box but with the most minimal contact inside the box (if any contact inside the box at all).

Edited April 7, 2011 by eFestivals

[Wooderson]

No.

[The Nal]

Its hilarious how when Utd win it pisses so many people off! People going about songs they don’t like that Utd fans sing, “dives” from two season ago etc.

Utd big favourites now for the final in Wembley vs Barca or Madrid. Would be a cracking game vs Madrid. Think Barca are going to win it though. Their defence isn’t great but you have to get the ball off them first!

Admirable.

On the other hand Ive no doubt Ollan would come home sounding like Madge Bishop.

Edited April 7, 2011 by The Nal

[ralph250]

it defo looks to me like he's attempted to create that touch with his leg, but it comes after the bump in the back (which he might well have also created by slowing down).

[pink_triangle]

Utd big favourites now for the final in Wembley vs Barca or Madrid. Would be a cracking game vs Madrid. Think Barca are going to win it though. Their defence isn’t great but you have to get the ball off them first!

[The Nal]

I would agree favourties but think the media are playing a dangerous game ruling out schalke, they are probably a similar standard to the leverkeusen team that madrid beat a few years ago. As the old saying goes, never count out the germans and there you certainly cant count raul out in this tournament. It would be an amazing story if he ends up playing his old team in the final or going against the old enemies.