Football 2011-2012

[The Nal]

yeah, and when he harangues a ref it's only because he wants the ref to do his job properly.

[eFestivals]

Hes always at the psychological gamesmanship.

exactly - which is why I think his comments about the Liverpool game were more about next weekend's game than the Liverpool game.

[kaosmark2]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15336398.stm

Fuck that shit.

[eFestivals]

It was a good point on Saturday with a 2nd string team. Job done.

yep, it was definitely that.

But it was also a lucky point. Rio should have been off for deliberately taking the player and not trying to get the ball, and while Liverpool didn't have many great chances they had lots more that might have seen the ball going goalwards than Utd managed.

It was yet another one of those games where Utd didn't really deserve anything but somehow sneaked a point.

[kaosmark2]

yep, it was definitely that.

But it was also a lucky point. Rio should have been off for deliberately taking the player and not trying to get the ball, and while Liverpool didn't have many great chances they had lots more that might have seen the ball going goalwards than Utd managed.

It was yet another one of those games where Utd didn't really deserve anything but somehow sneaked a point.

[The Nal]

It was yet another one of those games where Utd didn't really deserve anything but somehow sneaked a point.

[pink_triangle]

Regards second best team in the world. Some would say Madrid, some will say United (4 Prems in 5 years, 3 finals, breaking quite a few records in Europe). Both teams have been outplayed by Barca in recent years, and Madrid at least have the advantage of familiarity and more opportunity to try different things to get a positive result. Even variance can play a part; eg. favourable decisions, luck etc.

I think last few years you'd say United. Currently its closer. Madrid have bought again (Coentrao etc) and technical wise there's definitely level of argument they're above United now plus United more in transition with young players developing whereas Madrid have bought more fully developed players. On paper, you'd probably say they're stronger currently, but results wise, I'm not sure they've done enough really yet to conclusively say so, bar spank the rest of the La Liga which isn't the strongest (Valencia have had Villa, Silva and Mata picked up by other clubs, Atletico lost Aguero, Forlan, De Gea etc, Villareal not as strong as they were), and spank a 10 man Tottenham.

Either ways, both teams are playing catch up.

[eFestivals]

I think you've got to credit De Gea for that point. No chance for the goal considering that Giggs didn't do his job in the wall, and otherwise was pretty impeccable apart from flapping at one cross.

good saves from the two good clear chances that Liverpool had, tho those saves were made about as easy as they could be for him, as the shots were pretty much at him.

But I wasn't particularly meaning those, but the chances Liverpool had where the ball came across the box but no one connected or the ball went off-target. There weren't many of them, but against the almost-no-attack from Utd it meant that Liverpool had a much bigger chance of winning the game. If Rio had been sent off as he should have been then Liverpool probably would have.

[kaosmark2]

good saves from the two good clear chances that Liverpool had, tho those saves were made about as easy as they could be for him, as the shots were pretty much at him.

But I wasn't particularly meaning those, but the chances Liverpool had where the ball came across the box but no one connected or the ball went off-target. There weren't many of them, but against the almost-no-attack from Utd it meant that Liverpool had a much bigger chance of winning the game. If Rio had been sent off as he should have been then Liverpool probably would have.

[strummer77]

His cheating though and attitude to other team members is questionable. I hope he changes my view of him, as for now I see him as an out and out cheat!

[strummer77]

Skrtel had his arm round his neck at one point before the goal and still couldn't stop him.

[The Nal]

To be fair he did slip.

[pink_triangle]

His team mates love him. He's a winner.

Oh and come off the out and out cheat. Since he's been here he makes a meal of everything, but that's about it. He doesn't really dive without contact, he just makes the most of it and gets a freekick.

[strummer77]

After Hernandez span off him and his arm in the air caused him to be off balance. He had his back to the cross at one stage.

Doesn't matter whos defending, when a player is that quick and agile he'll always be a half yard ahead.

[eFestivals]

And completely off topic that is an example of why Zonal Marking is better than man to man. With Zonal, we don't concede there.

But with Skrtel as the marker, it'll always be a goal.

[eFestivals]

anyway .... with 8 days till the big match, it's good to see fergie keeping back his best players for Utd's toughest game of the season. It's the only way they stand a chance of winning it.

[kaosmark2]

Probably 2nd or 3rd toughest. Home game and all that.

[The Nal]

And completely off topic that is an example of why Zonal Marking is better than man to man. With Zonal, we don't concede there.

[ralph250]

Regards black players at Liverpool. They've got Raheem Sterling in the reserves who I've only seen couple times watching the United-Liverpool reserve games last year, but looked a talent and should have a good chance of making it.

[Wooderson]

Is Glen Johnson considered caucasian?

[kaosmark2]

Is Glen Johnson considered caucasian?

[The Nal]

Is Glen Johnson considered caucasian?

[eFestivals]

Is Glen Johnson considered caucasian?

ahhh, forgotten about him.

I'm not trying to suggest anything with Liverpool having nearly all white players - it's not like they've not had black players before - but it did occur to me that their team at the weekend was exclusively white, which isn't something that's often seen in England nowadays.

[ralph250]

It looks like the top 3 sides could pull away early in the season, the manchester clubs have had all the exposure but chelsea are quietly getting on with their job and I still think very dangerous, the younger players like ramirez and sturridge seem to be getting better which is a good sign.

[kaosmark2]

I reckon Evans has been pretty shocking. You're right about the fixture list, but you can only beat the teams in front of you, and City have certainly done that, and done it incredibly well.