The English Football Thread

Bulldog · 03-30-2010, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revol

3-0 Tevez hat trick. Lost cause though tbh, as they are still in 5th place. Kind of a given (no pun intended) that Wigan would lose, they're a small time, tin pot no mark club who I still find it hard to believe are in a higher leage than the likes of Newcastle, Forest and of course us.

Can't say the same about their Rugby League team though, as my beloved Rhinos found out on Friday.

We've earned our place in the Prem and stayed there on merit of sound financial investments and team performances over the last 5-odd years. Nothing weird about that.

Dr.Seussicide · 03-30-2010, 03:08 PM

Lol, Manu's losing at the end of the first leg. Rooney's possibly injured. Oh lol

right-track · 03-30-2010, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Seussicide

Lol, Manu's losing at the end of the first leg. Rooney's possibly injured. Oh lol

ABU alert!

Bulldog · 03-31-2010, 02:47 PM

BBC Sport - Football - Arsenal 2-2 Barcelona

^ Games like that remind me why I love football. Two teams playing really up-tempo, short passing football and really going for the win. As far as pure and fair football goes, I haven't seen anything like the first 20-odd minutes in years. Personally I don't think the Gunners have a chance at the return game (especially if Iniesta plays), but on this showing it'll be another great watch for the neutral.

zeppy111 · 03-31-2010, 10:42 PM

^^^ Agreed. However, it does have a few nice twists, Fabregas out,Gallas possibly too. Then both CB's out for Barca, but as you said Iniesta coming back is not good news for Arsenal.

Revol · 04-01-2010, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by right-track

ABU alert!

Loads of people I know are ABUs. I love to see United lose, but don't really care too much for the matches they play unless it's against Leeds (which is rare obviously!) and, to a lesser extent, Man City or Liverpool.

Piss Me Off · 04-01-2010, 12:22 PM

I'm finding myself cheering for Barcelona if only because i want to see more of that football, watching Messi play in particular against Stuttgart was incredible. Definitely wouldn't write Arsenal off yet though.

Bulldog · 04-01-2010, 12:41 PM

Pretty annoyed that Fulham-Wolfsburg's not on Channel Five tonight; I quite fancied kicking back and watching that. Looks like I'll have to make do with a Liverpool game that's got draw written all over it instead.

Quote:

Originally Posted by right-track

United suffered last year in the final for allowing Barcelona too much time in midfield. If Fletcher had played it could have been such a different match. If United get the chance to meet them again (which can only be the final) then expect Park and Fletcher to play a central role in a 5 man midfield.
Once you lose possession to Barcelona, the chances are you won't get a sniff of the ball for another 5 minutes. They'll pass you to death!
The great thing about Barcelona isn't just their passing skills when in possession, but also the way they graft when they lose it

Yeah, I remember watching the Xavi-Iniesta partnership against Man U, and they looked pretty much unstoppable at centre-mid. Xavi had a blinder on his own against the Gunners, which is why if Iniesta plays I don't think they've got a chance. Making Barca work for possession and denying them the space to make their quality show is what basically needs doing. Trouble is that Arsenal have capitulated against quality oppoisition like Man U and Chelsea both ways already this season, which is why I don't exactly have a lot of faith in their pulling through this one.

Piss Me Off · 04-01-2010, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulldog

Pretty annoyed that Fulham-Wolfsburg's not on Channel Five tonight; I quite fancied kicking back and watching that. Looks like I'll have to make do with a Liverpool game that's got draw written all over it instead.

BBC Sport says Benfica haven't lost in 25 matches so i wouldn't be too sure, they also have the superb Angel Di Maria on their side.

Bulldog · 04-01-2010, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piss Me Off

BBC Sport says Benfica haven't lost in 25 matches so i wouldn't be too sure, they also have the superb Angel Di Maria on their side.

With the benefit of hindsight, I take my earlier remark back

Quite a good game as it turned out. Good atmosphere, dodgy ref, red card, harshly disallowed goal, glaring misses at both ends - good stuff all-round then.

2-1 to Fulham at the Cottage too. Get in!

03-30-2010, 03:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
Dr.Seussicide FakingSuicideForApplause Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: I live in a van down by the river Posts: 1,365	Lol, Manu's losing at the end of the first leg. Rooney's possibly injured. Oh lol __________________ I'll stay if I ever could, and pick up your pieces babe, because there's never a perfect day. Don't fret, baby, we're simply growing And my darling, I wouldn't mind to die like this.

03-31-2010, 10:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
zeppy111 16, so? Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Africa Posts: 630	^^^ Agreed. However, it does have a few nice twists, Fabregas out,Gallas possibly too. Then both CB's out for Barca, but as you said Iniesta coming back is not good news for Arsenal. __________________ My Blog (album of the day): http://musicfromthesouth.blogspot.com

04-01-2010, 12:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
Piss Me Off Moodswings n' Roundabouts Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: At the corner of Dude and Catastrophe Posts: 4,470	I'm finding myself cheering for Barcelona if only because i want to see more of that football, watching Messi play in particular against Stuttgart was incredible. Definitely wouldn't write Arsenal off yet though. __________________ Last FM Rate Yr Music Muxtape

03-31-2010, 02:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	BBC Sport - Football - Arsenal 2-2 Barcelona ^ Games like that remind me why I love football. Two teams playing really up-tempo, short passing football and really going for the win. As far as pure and fair football goes, I haven't seen anything like the first 20-odd minutes in years. Personally I don't think the Gunners have a chance at the return game (especially if Iniesta plays), but on this showing it'll be another great watch for the neutral.