Football 2011-2012

[pink_triangle]

http://uk.eurosport....riving-ban.html

It beggars belief what someone with a rich lawyer can get away with in this country!

Edited March 22, 2012 by pink_triangle

[kaosmark2]

http://uk.eurosport....riving-ban.html

It beggars belief what someone with a rich lawyer can get away with in this country!

[The Nal]

Another year for Scholes!

[eFestivals]

Another year for Scholes!

another year's kids of the great Utd kids have failed to make a meaningful impact.

[The Nal]

another year's kids of the great Utd kids have failed to make a meaningful impact.

[eFestivals]

Probably yeah but you cant argue with the results since hes been back. The kids will learn from him being there too. Its all positive.

none seem to have leant enough over the last 20 years, so I don't get why one final season will have them learn this time.

[The Nal]

none seem to have leant enough over the last 20 years, so I don't get why one final season will have them learn this time.

Edited March 23, 2012 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

I'm hoping Cleverley does

who knows, but he's been far from the predicted big hit that was being said for him before the start of the season.

and there must be something to this Pogba kid if Fergie swallowed a bit of pride and signed him after he threatened to go to Juventus.

There was a game of chicken going on with him, but I reckon the purpose from the Utd side is more about trying to get a return on the money already invested than any belief that he's a future player - after all, if Juve are prepared to take him on a free then it's likely that someone can be tempted to spunk a few million quid on him.

It's not like it'd be the first time that Utd have extended contracts only to get some money back from a sale a short time later - it's a habit of theirs.

And then theres Bebe whos due back of course..........

[The Nal]

who knows, but he's been far from the predicted big hit that was being said for him before the start of the season.

[eFestivals]

Hes been injured all season to be fair. Not hanging ANY hopes on him at all though but he deserves a chance. It'll be next season now before he gets it.

not "all season". He's played some, and not been anything noticeable.

Yeah they've done it with Berbatov even though hes already said hes going. Otherwise you end up with a Michael Owen leaving Liverpool scenario.

Yup. I wasn't saying it to particularly criticise the motive, I was pointing out that the new contract and the words said around it aren't really meaningful about him going on to have future success with Utd. I'd say you're placing more hope in his future than anything to-date shows he deserves.

I just read that link you gave where fergie bigs him up (and presumably they're words said since the new contract has been signed), but that's nothing unexpected - saying anything else would have a de-motivating effect on the player as well as lessen any future sale price, so words like that are to be expected whatever fergie might privately be thinking.

I'd say he's being set up for the standard Utd sale tactic of having a "played for Utd" tag, which puts a few million on the price but doesn't say much about the player. Thing is, Utd will have to wait for Bruce to get himself another club (or another ex-Utd player) before there's the mug-buyer for that.

[The Nal]

not "all season". He's played some, and not been anything noticeable.

[pink_triangle]

Listened to a very interesting debate about the player reaction following muwamba today on 5live between the always excellent Matthew Syed and the generally awful Henry winter.

I dont want to come across as heartless but I am starting to feel a little uncomfortable about the whole thing. It is getting to the stage where if a player doesnt wear a tshirt with a huge slogan that its almost considered disrespectful. Apparently Man Utd also get slated for not putting out a statement about him quick enough. To me grief can be expressed in different ways and players shouldnt feel necessary to show their grief in front of a camera lens. Who is to say that a footballer who wear a tshirt with "get well muwamba on" because he is told all his teammates are doing it is showing any more grief than someone who privately sends a get well card, donates some money to a cardiac charity or says a prayer. I also find it bizarre all this random footballers turning up to visit him who often seem to have no links to him at all. I would have thought when you have had something like he has gone through you would only want to see friends and close family.

I do find these public displays of grief a little strange, I would be quite happy if players were banned from wearing any slogans on their t shirts, with exceptions for the likes of Billy Sharp which was very different. I dont really blame the players as I think they feel pressurized to do something. I do however think there should be some perspective and the fact is that players families, club employers and long standing fans do die in tragic circumstances. Do we need across the board printed clothes everytime this happens?

[The Nal]

Do we need across the board printed clothes everytime this happens?

Edited March 23, 2012 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

So couple of big games at the weekend. Chelski vs Spurs tomorrow morning. So important for Spurs. Proper 6 pointer.

I wonder how tugger is feeling right now? About a month back he said to me...

"if we get 4/5 points out of the ARSEnal, Chavski and Manure games i fully expect us to push utd all the way for 2nd".

I really can't see Spurs getting more than a point tomorrow, and probably not that either - Chelsea are on the up while Spurs are seriously on the slide.

And tugger also said "our last 8 games are not exactly the toughest" - and while that doesn't include the Everton and Stoke matches, I suspect he was expecting more than just a point from those.

There's a few matches for Spurs against the bottom clubs, plus matches against Swansea, Norwich and Sunderland which are all the sorts of matches that can have surprise results.

I don't rule out a top four spot for Spurs just yet, but if they lose tomorrow then I'd say they're the least likely of the three teams to get one.

[eFestivals]

The important thing is hes improving.

That's the only thing that counts. All the rest is worthless bullshit, which makes zero difference to whether he improves or not.

Having said that, I do think there were some 'more appropriate' actions by players to the less appropriate across-the-board stuff - for example, Gary Cahill's t-shirt when he scored for Chelsea. At least he's a player who knows Muamba well, having played with him until recently.

As I said at the beginning of the week, it's very likely that many of the players who have been coerced into doing something expressing their support for Muamba know other people out of the public eye who have a less hopeful medical situation.

[pink_triangle]

The trouble I find is these fads tend to start with the right intention but spiral out of control. I remember when I lived in the area and went ot every wrexham game we got to the stage where we were having a minutes silence for something every other game which really cheapened it. I think being asked to give princess margaret a one minute silence was the last straw for a lot of fans!

It sets a dangerous precident if everytime an incident involving football happens these tshirts all come out. Are footballers going to end up competing to have the biggest slogan to show they are grieving the most. I felt a lot of grief for Gary Speed but never once felt the need to write it on an item of clothing and walk around town. To me it feels kind of inappropriate, surely a get well card takes a lot more effort and is a lot more personal. Who cares if the fans or media know you have done it, its not anyones business. Im sure Muwamba is a lovely bloke who means a lot to the people he is met but lets face it before it happened most people didnt even know who he was. Excluding Bolton and Arsenal I would say there are fans, ex players, staff who have had far more inpact on their football club than muamba and never got the tshirt treatment.

[The Nal]

I wonder how tugger is feeling right now? About a month back he said to me...

"if we get 4/5 points out of the ARSEnal, Chavski and Manure games i fully expect us to push utd all the way for 2nd".

I really can't see Spurs getting more than a point tomorrow, and probably not that either - Chelsea are on the up while Spurs are seriously on the slide.

And tugger also said "our last 8 games are not exactly the toughest" - and while that doesn't include the Everton and Stoke matches, I suspect he was expecting more than just a point from those.

There's a few matches for Spurs against the bottom clubs, plus matches against Swansea, Norwich and Sunderland which are all the sorts of matches that can have surprise results.

I don't rule out a top four spot for Spurs just yet, but if they lose tomorrow then I'd say they're the least likely of the three teams to get one.

[kaosmark2]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17482349

Obviously the media's fault that 'Arry's magic isn't working for Spurs any more, not his

[eFestivals]

http://www.bbc.co.uk...otball/17482349

Obviously the media's fault that 'Arry's magic isn't working for Spurs any more, not his

i reckon 'arry is right and the england job has nothing to do with it.

the sense of siege however, when it looked very likely that 'arry was going down is another thing.

[kaosmark2]

i reckon 'arry is right and the england job has nothing to do with it.

the sense of siege however, when it looked very likely that 'arry was going down is another thing.

[zahidf]

http://www.bbc.co.uk...otball/17482349

Obviously the media's fault that 'Arry's magic isn't working for Spurs any more, not his

Edited March 23, 2012 by zahidf

[kaosmark2]

Are Tottenham actually doing that bad... 4th would still be a good finish surely ?

[kaosmark2]

How does he know what the media is saying, since he admitted in court that he can't read or write?

[The Nal]

Are Tottenham actually doing that bad... 4th would still be a good finish surely ?

[kaosmark2]

So... predictions for this weekend?

I'm going for 6 home wins, us to nick a draw at the Hawthorns, 2-2 in the big game tomorrow lunchtime and Citeh to win 2-1 at Stoke.

Fuck knows what'll happen in Bolton-Blackburn with the psychology of the Muamba collapse. Bolton really need to win it though.