Football 2011-2012

[The Nal]

United's final ball was awful last night. They should have created way more chances than they did.

Is Wellbeck actually good enought to play up front for Mancheter United ? He has good games and he is a talented lad but I can't see United challenging the top teams in Europe with him up front. I just don't think he quite has what it takes.

Edited March 27, 2012 by The Nal

[pink_triangle]

Interesting the story about the lad from swansea being jailed for racist comments about muamba. The quote they gave on the radio was defintely sick and insensitive but it wasnt racist. Possibly there was other stuff said so I will reserve judgement untill I know the whole story. A 56 day jail sentence does seem a bit harsh when you look at what many politicians have got away with during the expense scandal. Im slightly uncomfortable about trial via twitter which seems to be creeping in to society. Would a person get the same punishment for saying the same thing in a pub, Im not convinced.

[eFestivals]

Interesting the story about the lad from swansea being jailed for racist comments about muamba. The quote they gave on the radio was defintely sick and insensitive but it wasnt racist. Possibly there was other stuff said so I will reserve judgement untill I know the whole story. A 56 day jail sentence does seem a bit harsh when you look at what many politicians have got away with during the expense scandal. Im slightly uncomfortable about trial via twitter which seems to be creeping in to society. Would a person get the same punishment for saying the same thing in a pub, Im not convinced.

stuff I read at the time said he followed up his initial comments with some racist stuff. I don't know what the racist stuff was, but from what I read there was defo some.

But you're right, if that sort of thing was said in a pub it probably wouldn't end up in court. Then again, saying something in a pub isn't broadcasting to the world.

More worrying than trial by twitter, I reckon, is streakers getting put on the sex offenders register - as happened to someone who streaked at one of the midland Prem clubs not long ago. While I get that they've probably been done for indecent exposure which is an offence that is mostly related to some sort of sexual motive, I wouldn't say that streaking is done for anything sexual.

[The Nal]

Interesting the story about the lad from swansea being jailed for racist comments about muamba. The quote they gave on the radio was defintely sick and insensitive but it wasnt racist. Possibly there was other stuff said so I will reserve judgement untill I know the whole story. A 56 day jail sentence does seem a bit harsh when you look at what many politicians have got away with during the expense scandal. Im slightly uncomfortable about trial via twitter which seems to be creeping in to society. Would a person get the same punishment for saying the same thing in a pub, Im not convinced.

[eFestivals]

And here 20 quotes from 20 years of the Premiership. Suarez being my favourite!

they're great.

It's the Crouch one for me.

[pink_triangle]

Libel and slander are two very different things though. Once you commit something to print (which now includes Twitter, email, Facebook etc) you're fucked. So easy to prove.

But yeah, theres been way worse things said on Twitter.

[eFestivals]

I am keen on the right for free speech even if that does allow uncomfortable comments at times, Im worried too many twitter crusades could facilitate the politicians getting what they want and reducing our freedom of speech. Are we going to get to the point that someone will tweet " I hope David Beckham gets hit by a bus" and then end up with a custodial sentence? I dont know the complete facts about this case but Im still not convinced there is complete consistency.

Last week someone got sent to jail for 6 weeks for phoning up Lincolnshire police after one of their coppers had been shot, and saying something like "good, I hope more coppers get shot". The offence he was done for was making offensive phone calls.

Are coppers really offended to find out that not everyone thinks they're heroes, where only nice things can be said about them?

If they are, then perhaps the old bill should look to see if someone they're about to employ is still attached to their mother's apron before they employ them.

Edited March 27, 2012 by eFestivals

[The Nal]

Heres what the Premier League table would look like if the season started on January 1st

Edited March 27, 2012 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

blimey, i'm surprised that Spurs are that high, thought they'd be much lower.

And I reckon that pretty much confirms that Wolves & QPR are doomed. It's just the question of who will be the third team to drop, and my money is on Bolton right now - tho there's the situation around Muamba which could inspire them.

[The Nal]

blimey, i'm surprised that Spurs are that high, thought they'd be much lower.

And I reckon that pretty much confirms that Wolves & QPR are doomed. It's just the question of who will be the third team to drop, and my money is on Bolton right now - tho there's the situation around Muamba which could inspire them.

[eFestivals]

I think it'll be Wigan. No question. Purely on the games they have to play.

I hadn't looked at their games, but with those games and their current position it doesn't look great for them I must admit.

I'd based them scraping thru just on the basis that they're old masters at a late great escape - and I still wouldn't put it past them. Stuff like the victory at Anfield at the weekend should perk them up a bit, so while it's not going to be easy for them I don't think they're definitely doomed just yet.

Against Wigan improving I'm guessing at Bolton's form falling away again.

Somewhen soon I'm, going to have to look back on my pre-season predictions that I started this thread with - I know I initially included Wolves for the drop, but after a good start for them and a bit of hassle from Langdale I changed that one. I should have stuck with it.

[Ed209]

You know what. Football really would be a poorer place without Mario Balotelli. He's a massive arse, but he's such a great character.

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/VIDEO-Watch-Mario-Balotelli-gatecrash-the-new-Inter-Milan-manager-Andrea-Stramaccioni-s-first-press-conference-article883809.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[The Nal]

You know what. Football really would be a poorer place without Mario Balotelli. He's a massive arse, but he's such a great character.

http://www.mirrorfoo..._medium=twitter

[Ed209]

I don't know what's up with him. Wouldn't surprise me if he sits somewhere on the autism spectrum though. I wouldn't change him for the world.

As for the FA Cup. Liverpool - Everton, Chelski - Spuds. Cracking set of semi finals, and bound to get a competitive final as well. Any of those four teams can believe they have a fair chance of winning it. Really looking forward to it

[strummer77]

As for the FA Cup. Liverpool - Everton, Chelski - Spuds. Cracking set of semi finals, and bound to get a competitive final as well. Any of those four teams can believe they have a fair chance of winning it. Really looking forward to it

[Ed209]

I think for a cup competition to have credibility it has to be taken seriously by the big teams. With the emergence of the likes of Chelsea and Man City over the last decade, the number of clubs that "expect silverwear" and the number of clubs that can realistically win the league has increased. This means the big clubs are having to take the FA cup as a really serious competition again. I think you're also starting to see the League Cup's reputation increase. With more chairmans expecting success, there's just not enough silverwear out there keep them all happy. And its manifesting itself as an increase in value of the cup comps.

I'm not totally adverse to the idea of the 4th Champion's League place going to the FA cup winner, if they are out of the top 3. And give it to the 4th place premier league team if the winner is in the top 3.

[strummer77]

I think for a cup competition to have credibility it has to be taken seriously by the big teams. With the emergence of the likes of Chelsea and Man City over the last decade, the number of clubs that "expect silverwear" and the number of clubs that can realistically win the league has increased. This means the big clubs are having to take the FA cup as a really serious competition again. I think you're also starting to see the League Cup's reputation increase. With more chairmans expecting success, there's just not enough silverwear out there keep them all happy. And its manifesting itself as an increase in value of the cup comps.

I'm not totally adverse to the idea of the 4th Champion's League place going to the FA cup winner, if they are out of the top 3. And give it to the 4th place premier league team if the winner is in the top 3.

[pink_triangle]

Im all for taking the cups more seriously but would be against a cup winner getting one of the champions league slots. To me in a cup competition there is far more potential for luck to play a bigger role. The luck of the draws, home advantage and also the fact that it just takes one dodgy referee decision to knock you out, In a league everyone plays each other home and away, so while luck can play a role it should be diluted over the season. I do however agree that if a team wins the champions league but finishes 5th they should be allowed to defend their trophy ahead of the 4th team,

[Ed209]

Although over the last 10 years or so, Pompey is the only team that would have been an unexpected addition to the champion's league.

What it would allow is a window of opportunity for a team that is normally locked out of the top 4 to start making some headway into it. Now pompey would have spunked all their money and still be in the shit, but a bit of champion's league revenue and exposure could really help out a mid table premier league club. I'm all for trying to create a bit more fluidity at the top.

[pink_triangle]

What it would allow is a window of opportunity for a team that is normally locked out of the top 4 to start making some headway into it. Now pompey would have spunked all their money and still be in the shit, but a bit of champion's league revenue and exposure could really help out a mid table premier league club. I'm all for trying to create a bit more fluidity at the top.

[strummer77]

Shows the bloody stupidity of the semis being at Wembley mind. Liverpool and Everton fans travelling to Wembley for what's rumoured to be a 12.45 ko...

[The Nal]

Shows the bloody stupidity of the semis being at Wembley mind. Liverpool and Everton fans travelling to Wembley for what's rumoured to be a 12.45 ko...

[TheGayTent]

Shows the bloody stupidity of the semis being at Wembley mind. Liverpool and Everton fans travelling to Wembley for what's rumoured to be a 12.45 ko...

[eFestivals]

However, where should it be played?

In the middle of Stanley Park, with jumpers for goalposts?

[The Nal]

In the middle of Stanley Park, with jumpers for goalposts?