Football 2011-2012

[kaosmark2]

...which shows on their day the Spaniards are the best, great CUP teams bit like Liverpool however to continuously perform throughout a season in a league is different. La Liga teams barring the top 2 are very hot cold and that is why the EPL is no.1 ranked, the teams are more difficult to break down week in and week out. Now would say the top 5 La Liga teams do well in the EPL? Give them a season or 2 to find their way and I'd say they'd be tearing teams apart.

[thetime]

ESPN's doing better than Setanta because they're not trying to seperate themselves too much from Sky. Setanta required extra hassle in signing up, while ESPN is just another Sky package. And they're not going for exclusive clauses with pundits, they share a few with Sky.

[pink_triangle]

Man utd have had problems bringing through young players but so have liverpool, chelsea, and spurs. Arsenal tend to take their young players from elsewhere as well. I think its a problem with football development rather than specific to man utd. In the past when nearly all the players were british, the best young players all looked great because you were just comparing them to other less talented british players.

Im personally not a fan of the way the big premiership academies. They just go through britain hoovering up anyone with the slightest potential from under the noses of local teams. They then discard the majority like trash, with their morale shot and most rather than drop to the lower leagues, drop out of the game. I dread to think how many great talents the british game has missed out on because of a judgement made at 15. Its typical premiership arrogance to think they always know best and that young players will pick up bad habits at lower league clubs,

I have no doubt for the really elite young talent the premiership academies are the best place to learn. However the vast majority would flourish far better in lower league sides where they can get their confidence up, develop at their own pace and more importantly get competitive game time from an early age. TaKe Neii Taylor, learned his trade at wrexham, moves to swansea and 2 years later in my opinion has been one of the top 10 left backs in the premiershiip this season. Who knows what would have happened if he had been swallowed up by a premiership machine age 12, I suspect he wouldnt be where he is now.

Unfortuantely instead of the premiership sides working to improve the strength of the smaller clubs youth set ups which would benefit them in the long term, they instead are looking to scrimp on compensation payments to help their bank balances in the short term. i think a young footballer today, should really think when the likes of man u, liverpool etc come knocking, it must be hard to turn down and these players need balanced advice rather than unrealistic dreams.

[kaosmark2]

Man utd have had problems bringing through young players but so have liverpool, chelsea, and spurs. Arsenal tend to take their young players from elsewhere as well. I think its a problem with football development rather than specific to man utd. In the past when nearly all the players were british, the best young players all looked great because you were just comparing them to other less talented british players.

Im personally not a fan of the way the big premiership academies. They just go through britain hoovering up anyone with the slightest potential from under the noses of local teams. They then discard the majority like trash, with their morale shot and most rather than drop to the lower leagues, drop out of the game. I dread to think how many great talents the british game has missed out on because of a judgement made at 15. Its typical premiership arrogance to think they always know best and that young players will pick up bad habits at lower league clubs,

I have no doubt for the really elite young talent the premiership academies are the best place to learn. However the vast majority would flourish far better in lower league sides where they can get their confidence up, develop at their own pace and more importantly get competitive game time from an early age. TaKe Neii Taylor, learned his trade at wrexham, moves to swansea and 2 years later in my opinion has been one of the top 10 left backs in the premiershiip this season. Who knows what would have happened if he had been swallowed up by a premiership machine age 12, I suspect he wouldnt be where he is now.

Unfortuantely instead of the premiership sides working to improve the strength of the smaller clubs youth set ups which would benefit them in the long term, they instead are looking to scrimp on compensation payments to help their bank balances in the short term. i think a young footballer today, should really think when the likes of man u, liverpool etc come knocking, it must be hard to turn down and these players need balanced advice rather than unrealistic dreams.

[eFestivals]

Man utd have had problems bringing through young players but so have liverpool, chelsea, and spurs.

I don't disagree, but only one set of fans have a big habit about hyping up those kids, yet their kids don't do better than the kids at those other clubs.

[thetime]

Im personally not a fan of the way the big premiership academies. They just go through britain hoovering up anyone with the slightest potential from under the noses of local teams. They then discard the majority like trash, with their morale shot and most rather than drop to the lower leagues, drop out of the game. I dread to think how many great talents the british game has missed out on because of a judgement made at 15. Its typical premiership arrogance to think they always know best and that young players will pick up bad habits at lower league clubs,

Edited March 17, 2012 by thetime

[Kowalski]

craig burley best pundit on the box.

[j...rox]

Sunderland and Everton more than a match for each other. In fairness their managers are about as good as each other, as are their squads. Surprised Everton haven't made more of this at home as it's certainly not an easy prospect to go to The Stadium of Light. Anyway 20 minutes to go, might be fortunate enough to get a goal.

[strummer77]

Sunderland got to be favourites in that now. The derby 'gamble' didn't work.

[VCK]

Leeds throwing away a lead lharris92 will be pleased with that result!

[Kowalski]

Oh feck

Tottenham's FA Cup game against Bolton Wanderers has been abandoned after Trotters midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsed and stopped breathing.

Medics spent 10 minutes trying to resuscitate the player on the field before the players were called off by referee Howard Webb.

BBC Radio 5 live senior football reporter Ian Dennis says the midfielder is fighting for his life.

The score was 1-1 when Muamba, 23, collapsed on 41 minutes.

Medical staff gave Muamba mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and tried to revive him with a defibrillator.

He was taken on the pitch on a stretcher and ESPN reported that he was not breathing as he was taken down the tunnel.

The former Arsenal midfielder has been taken to hospital.

[strummer77]

Was watching it. Feel numb. Sounds terrible...

[Kowalski]

Sky News Twitter: "Hospital spokesperson says Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba is in a stable condition after collapsing on pitch during match with Tottenham"

[strummer77]

Sky News Twitter: "Hospital spokesperson says Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba is in a stable condition after collapsing on pitch during match with Tottenham"

Edited March 18, 2012 by strummer77

[thetime]

Jesus man utd are shit!!!

[kaosmark2]

Cisse's finish was cracking. Ruddy pulled off a couple of cracking saves, that one from Ba in particular. Krul was magnificent. Williamson and Simpson... erm.... weren't.

Delighted to win though, we were very dominant first half, 2nd half about even. Both sides had 2 shit penalty shouts - although one of ours was shirt-pulling, same as the one given against us in the derby. We've not got the easiest run-in, but there's some winnable games. Hopefully we can cement a Euro place. Way the FA Cup went today has helped that prospect...

Jesus man utd are shit!!!

[thetime]

I didn't watch it. Is that sarcasm or was the result more due to Wolves being even worse?

[strummer77]

What a difference a week makes eh?

Hopefully Sunderland get through the next round and we can try and get them back for the other week. Wouldn't want the hassle of another derby.

[thetime]

What a difference a week makes eh?

Hopefully Sunderland get through the next round and we can try and get them back for the other week. Wouldn't want the hassle of another derby.

[strummer77]

You beat everton and stoke at home, your a bit away from barca yet.

[kaosmark2]

Bit of both.

Everyone saying united are shit, especially pundits and how its worst united side in years.

United have won 8 and drew 1 since scholes returned. Ran the show again today.

[thetime]

Lots of Man U games have only been won because of how bad the opposition are. Wigan, Fulham, Wolves (twice), Bolton, QPR... I think a lot of the criticism is valid.

[thetime]

Hold on you just beat a ten man Wolves who never turned up and came on here and gloated. Think a derby win and a visit to Wembley after the doom and gloom stuff of last week deserves a mention

Edited March 18, 2012 by thetime

[pink_triangle]

Bit of both.

Everyone saying united are shit, especially pundits and how its worst united side in years.

United have won 8 and drew 1 since scholes returned. Ran the show again today.

[kaosmark2]

isnt that the case for city though? Ive not checked but I think utd have the best record against the current top 4 sides.