The Weekend (City balls it up) Football Thread.
Here it is then, the weekend that City fail to beat Newcastle's best team in a century and provide the nation with conclusive proof that they're not fit to lace Yernited's boots. The weekend that leads to the tabloid journos changing tac on how way the entire season's gone for both clubs - cracks papered over on the Red side, "storms ahead" for the same City side they've been getting giddy over for most of the campaign.
The opportunity for United fans to rewrite history and pretend our fans were celebrating the title prematurely on Monday rather than just winning Teh Biggest Derby Ever is too good to miss. Simply, there's more humour in City losing it from here than United doing so. More headlines. Even we can appreciate that.
For me, its just a shame we've got such a difficult fixture NOW. Virtually any other away game, bar probably Everton, but even Spurs, Arsenal, a trip to Anfield - i'd be confident, but Newcastle are too good, on form and especially at home, and it's a huge game for them as well, let's not forget. Cisse's gonna shoot us down.
United will beat Swansea, of course. They'll probably get a hatload, but they'll certainly win, you can put your house on that. Them following us on Sunday will just make it all the more excrutiating for most Blues. Not for me, though, i've known since the end of January that we weren't going to win the title, so i'll just clear up at the bookies and drink heavily. Ultimate winner.
Anyway, elsewhere, Arsenal will maul Norwich to all but clinch 3rd. Spurs ought to do Villa, QPR have to beat Stoke, and Bolton v West Brom could be twitchy for Verbal.
As for the Cup Final. Drogba will score, but i think Liverpool will get there by hook or by crook and sneak it, maybe even on penners. Sort of hope it's a cracking game to prove the mongs (myself included) wrong. Hope those who go have a good day. As much as we all slag it, seeing your team win THE CUP at the home of English football is still a phenomenal experience.
Arsenal 3 Norwich 0
Newcastle 2 City 1
Villa 1 Spurs 2
Bolton 2 West Brom 2
Fulham 3 Sunderland 1
QPR 1 Stoke 0
Wolves 1 Everton 2
United 6 Swansea 1
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 (Liverpool on pens).
Other games of note include the last day in League 1 & 2, the Milan derby & Heerenveen v Feyenoord.
Predictions, bets, thoughts, FF shiz, bants, City-mocking...
^ HALF AN HOUR EARLY? BIT NEEDY, PAL, etc, etc.
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Come on QPR, Bolton and Spuds...
That is all
yeah, can see city struggling at the toon. 80 minutes papping it about on the edge of the box
and then a Cisse piledriver. Hope they win but can see it being a draw and united winning. Obviously the game of the weekend is Bournemouth at home to Preston. Can barely contain myself.
not that fussed about the FA Cup really,
but 'MON BLUES naturally. Be nice to get *something* from this season at least.
are you genuinely not that fussed?
well, obviously it would be great to win it
and even better to give Liverpool a pasting, but with the CL Final coming up and trying to finish 4th, it's not really a number 1 priority.
I would maybe be more excited were I going.
but yeah, I know watching it in the pub tomorrow
I'll get as overexcited as always when Nando scuffs one over the bar from 2 yards. Maybe I am fussed.
you just don't think it can get worse, but it does
Don't you find the whole 'I'm not bothered because I've known we'll lose the league since January' stuff really boring
Surely half the fun is the ridiculous optimism after a win and crushing despair after a defeat?
Had the season not gone as it has i might, aye.
But it's hard to be too disenhartened when something's already been snatched away once.
If your Mrs cheated on you twice you'd be less heartbroken second time round, right (assuming you hadn't kicked her to touch or put her under the patio, etc)?
idk, but you're 180 minutes away from winning your first title in 50 years
I mean, i know there's always natural pessimism in football fans but this close to such an amazing thing should surely generate a bit more excitement than this.
football doesn't excite me before or during the event when City are involved.
it's sad, but that's how it is.
after the event, when things have gone our way, literally the highest high, but i don't enjoy the build-up, or any game unless we're comfortably infront.
obviously, at games, i don't sit there being Mr Pesimist, either to mates beforehand or people sat around me, but i'm just programmed to always expect the worst.
i'll talk to you's about it at the end of the season.
pretty certain of all the important results here and if
so it'll make a thoroughly depressing weekend
Arsenal 3 Norwich 0
Newcastle 1City 1
Villa 0 Spurs 1
Bolton 1 West Brom 0
Fulham 2 Sunderland 0
QPR 1 Stoke 0
Wolves 1 Everton 4
Man United 2 Swansea 1
Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2
Not certain about Newcastle whatsoever though
Don't think I've ever wanted a team as all round lovable as newcastle to lose, but I'll be so so so happy if they do
To go all kik for a moment
I'm dreading the game against Norwich. If they're as bad as they were last weekend we should be fine, but having dragged ourselves into third, we've been looking tired of late and I'm not hugely confident of winning these last two games to guarantee third, especially with Spurs having two fairly comfortable looking games to finish up on.
i'm sure you'll be fine
ooh go on then
Arsenal 2-0 Norwich
Newcastle 1-2 City
Villa 0-0 Spurs (both look absolutely wrecked)
Bolton 0-1 WBA
Fulham 3-1 Sunderland
QPR 2-1 Stoke (QPR will win this for sure)
Wolves 1-3 Everton
Man Utd 2-0 Swansea
***FA CUP**
Kop 1-0 Chelsea (sadly, they're going to win it, mostly because Kenny would combust if they didn't)
BASH THE BOOKIE (Week 11)
£53.88 up last weekend, almost £150 up.
Current pot; +£466.84
Gonna keep it simple this weekend...
It's clear that United will end the weekend laughing, so just going to back all three likely outcomes as doubles so i've got a hundred beer tokens no matter what...
1) United to win, City to draw - £19.85 (£100.04)
2) United to win, City to lose - £16.67 (£100.02)
3) United to draw, City to lose - £2.67 (£100.12)
Also gonna have one last proper accy of the season...
4) QPR, Carlisle, Sheffield Utd, Crawley - £5 (£58.98)
im gonna follow you on that accy like last week
i won about £20 by the way, on a £3 bet. Not bad i guess. maybe i'll stick a fiver on united win/city lose as well, as much as i'd love to see City to win at the weekend.
super excited about the fa cup final
don't feel at all confident but i love going to wembley stadium.
hard-fi are doing a song before the match tomorrow. that should be fun.
please throw something at them
36,000 home fans in the court of king milan tomorrow
promises to be a fucking incredible atmosphere. fingers crossed we can hold on to second place.
remember you slagging him off when he appointed Jones.
told you at the time, good manager at that level, and a definite improvement on Megson, whether you go up or not.
i'm glad to be proved wrong
megson did a wonderful job of changing the culture of the club - shipped out the disgusting wasters irvine and laws signed - and brought belief back to the fanbase. a controversial decision but it's worked out well for the club - should we gain promotion I'd say jones is one of the best managers we could wish for in the second tier.
had I been chairman I'd have gone for billy davies - but that's why milan mandaric is in the rich list and I'm not.
it's alright pal, don't have a breakdown...
haha.
cool as a cucumber, bud.
just sat here in my slippers, eating Wotsits and watching HIGNFY.
as for predictions
Arsenal 2 Norwich 0
Newcastle 3 Manchester City 4
Aston Villa 0 Spurs 2
Bolton 2 West Brom 3
Fulham 2 Sunderland 1
QPR 2 Stoke 1
Wolves 1 Everton 3
Manchester United 2 Swansea 1
Liverpool 0 Chelsea 1 (Torres 120)
Both Sheffield clubs to win.
Already agreed with KiK a dozen times over
Their home record, our away record, the way the papers have built this up, it barely needs saying.
Think Swansea will give United a reasonable game, though. Hope Chelsea win. Can't believe I've got reason to type that.
Arsenal 4 Norwich 1
Chehrsay 2 Laverpel 1
Newcastle 2 City 2
Villa 1 Spurs 2
Bolton 1 West Brom 0
Fulham 3 Sunderland 1
QPR 4 Stoke 1
Wolves 0 Everton 3
United 2 Swansea 1
Why the fuck is Didier Drogba on Graham Norton?
Pretty sure that if that was one of ours players going on a national talk show in a shiny new suit days before an important game i'd feel a bit uncomfortable with it, idk.
What do you mean
the European Cup final is a fortnight away.
wtf?!
Gonna have to iplayer that
bit of a sub thread
after seeing the new newcastle away shirt sponsered by virgin, i know its only a shirt but theres a big badge thats not your clubs on the front of it... which is the worst? whos is the classics? newcastles was always newcy brown, liverpool crown paints, man u sharp.. does it bother you about the sponsor now we're all old enough not to buy em every year?
I remember how weird it was
when Arsenal no longer had JVC as their shirt sponsor
the SEGA Dreamcast shirts were reasonably iconic in their own right.
the best...
is clearly that Spanish one with the Burger King guy's face on the inside.
:''''''')
http://nicholasmoon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Getafe-Burger-King.jpg
thats fucking amazing!
heres one
http://www.oufc.co.uk/javaImages/f4/78/0,,10342~9992436,00.jpg
If Norwich take points off Arsenal tomorrow
I swear, I'll be happy for all of 2 hours afterwards.
surely you think Spurs will get the 4pts from 6 they need now?
6 points
We need 6 points, and for Arsenal to drop 2.
nah.
you need four points to finish in the top 4 (Newcastle won't beat Everton), unless your lot base your success (or failure) on where Arsenal finish.
Will still have to qualify if we finish 4th
Might not even get that far if Chelsea win the Champions League. Usually don't care where Arsenal finish in relation to us, but on this occasion, we are supposedly after a lot of the same players, and if we were to finish ahead of them it would be a huge boon in that regard, especially if the Chelsea beat Bayern. As long as 3rd is there for the taking, 3rd is the target.
aye, forgot about Chelsea not being out of Europe yet.
gonna be mad watching the Champions League final knowing we've beat both teams this season.
Arsenal aren't going to get less than 4/6, but i think Spurs, despite the recent results, are well capable of beating the worst Villa side in living memory, and a West Brom side with nothing to play for.
my gut feeling is both sides will win both of their games, but i also think Chelsea will beat Bayern, so yeah, you may fall *just* short, which is a shame, as you weren't far behind anyone in the league for about 60% of the season.
Our last game is at home to Fulham
Arsenal's is at the Hawthorns, but point taken.
(Newcastle won't beat Everton)
That'd be the same newcastle who are nailed on favourites to beat the strongest squad in the league, Man City's "best teamm in 40 years"?
yeah, there's zero advantage in playing at home.
Torres to score the winner tomorrow
calling it
I. AM. NERVOUS. FOR. SUNDAY.
If a miracle could possibly happen and we win...
i think we'd have a 51% chance of the title.
Drop points, and so long as they equal our result, it's 99% theirs.
It's just gonna be embarrassing that their truly mediocre side will beat our best teamm in 40 years, but we look to the future, and coming so close will do us good. at the start of the season i said this would be one year too soon.
Controversial but I think a draw and we'll still win.
i'll give you a weeks wages if that happens, mate.
I'll take you fixing the DIS FF league for Bilbao.
If a miracle happens and we win
we'd have a 90% chance of the title.
QPR away from home are wretched, regardless of how many "bitter ex-employees" they are carrying.
Dear everyone
watch this just for Steve Claridge's reaction
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17941090
cheers
What's the calendar like for the end of 2012-13?
The FA always seem to come up with a new excuse as to why the FA Cup final isn't the last game of the domestic season like they promised it always would be after the first time it was on the same weekend as Premier League fixtures.
The FA Cup final will be before the end of the season again
because of the European Cup final being back at Wembley and daft UEFA rules that the ground can't be used for any other games for a fortnight beforehand (or something like that).
Hartlepool are playing at Charlton and their fans have had an idea
https://twitter.com/#!/Official_HUFC/status/198713821664247808/photo/1
today is pretty much the worst combination of fa cup finalists ever
bar ipswich
Bit bemused that so much of the press
is running with the idea that today doesn't mean much to Chelsea. Yeah, lol, losing a final to Liverpool, give a fuck.
You're going, I take it?
Arrggghh!
I've got a ticket as well.
Yep
5.15 kick off is bloody annoying
I'm going to have a couple before the match, not bothering afterwards though.
Regardless of the outcome.
Michael Gray's a pretty good pundit.
Truth.
You forget that...
Chelsea and Liverpool can both still end this season with two trophies.
Never stops being funny.
Fair play to both of them. Hope they serve up a rare Cup Final cracker today.
If Liverpool finish the season with 2 trophies and United finish with none I might not think this season was an unmitigated disaster after all.
cheers yossi
nerves settled
looks like i spoke too soon
come on arsenal, pull your fingers out
Really wish I could go to a game today instead of just sitting around waiting for tomorrow lunchtime.
The nearest game is 70 miles away and Scottish Division Three :/
*turn on norwich stream*
*sees scoreline*
*returns to beastie boys*
*ears prick up*
:D
GRAAANNNNNT HOOOLLLLLLLT SMMMMMAAASSSSSH
Fletcher possibly back for next season
him and Vidic would have been a big help over the season. lets hope they're both back to their best.
This collective trolling from City fans is working
Well, it's driving me crazy. Obviously City are favourites to be Newcastle. United should be Swansea, but not by five or six of course. Sunderland is the harder game, especially under O'Neill's tutelage.
I expect City to comfortably win their remaining two games to clinch the title, as does everyone outside Wythenshawe.
*beat
Although they are both Massive Clubs you can't really laugh at for being Massive Clubs anymore because they are now slightly massive clubs.
I literally have no idea what that sentence means.
If it is even a sentence.
PS: I thought City fans were all from Stockport?
I lived in south Manchester for three years
Now I live in Paignton. There's probably more City fans here, but only because I lived in predominantly United-supporting areas (Didsbury, Withington etc.). I only know one person who lives in Stockport and she's a United fan, but you could be right.
most people I know from Wythenshawe support City
Yeah I know, I was implying in my original post.
nice full swerve anti-bants trolling
Went a bit too far with the Sunderland bit, though
Just saying I think the Sunderland game is a tougher prospect than the Swansea game
Do you disagree?
Oh I see, I misread it as "hard"
I think they're both about the same in all honesty. I think Swansea will turn up and Sunderland won't.
They certainly turned up at 'Etihad Stadium' in March.
We'll see.
they didn't score at all for the 4 matches after that, before they drew at home to Bolton.
We shall.
KiK's just covering all his bases
If City don't win the league no-one's going to try any bants because he never said they would win it. If they do win it then no-one's to try any bants because "LOL your team won the league" doesn't really work. As strategies go it's actually a pretty good one.
Norwich have been beasting Arsenal so far.
Rashidi Yekini has died aged 48
From the 1994 Nigerian World Cup team. If you don't know the name you'll know the celebration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbD7hu3nBE8
whoa
that was creepy, stay classy Norwich
What was?
tv showed a wierd looking old dude in the crowd
with suitable yellow and green wig, carrying a ventriloquist wierd-maybe-a-bit-racist monkey puppet also wearing green-and-yellow. I know TV seems to love doing this kind of thing, but as someone from there, its a bit embarrassing.
are there any rules about how many players a club ban sell in one transfer window?
i hope not
ban
yeah ilying down typing is hard
*CAN
request
the trouble with Arsenal is that they always try to walk it in
I'm drinking champagne if Norwich win, beer for the draw and tears for the loss.
COME ON!
the next 8 days should be amazing,
probably the most gripping football can get outside of a World Cup.
Would set Newcastle v Man City up to be even more epic if Norwich can hold on to this lead...
Feel sorry for Norwich here
But for a little bit more luck or quality, they would have gone into the second half 4-1 up against 10 men
YAAAAAAAS
MORISON :D
Hope Di Matteo starts himself for the first 42 seconds today.
Also, Drogba to score first is 7-1 with Ladbrokes- great bet that. The man loves Wembley.
Arsenal should consider trademarking
the "come from behind to lead, then concede again to draw". They'd rake it in on royalties.
i was about to post things like
'balls' and 'oh well, at least we can still relegate villa next week' but here we are.
still love the fact pretty much all of you scoffed when I said I was really glad we were safe before our final run in of Liverpool, Arsenal and Villa.
oh my :D
fucking hell ref
so angry
two really fucking obvious penalties
gervinhos a shit cunt as well fuck off
fucking hell
he had an open goal. no one fucking dives in front of an open goal. not even ronaldo
wazzer probably would if it got a player sent off.
i don't know
i'm too fucking seething to care
Don't feel too aggrieved
Gervinho should have been called offside, he was blatantly interfering with play.
great game of football that
well that
felt like a win. I can now watch the final quite happily in the knowledge I don't like either team or really care who wins
oh fuck yes!
Hertha 1-0 up against Hoffenheim, as things stand puts them in the play-off game at expense of Cologne (who are playing Bayern)
Bayern score
this Berlin game is scrappy as hell, Ryan Babel just got sent off for Hoffenheim :D
3-0 Bayern :)
:)))))))
arsenal fuck!
HOW!?
All going horribly wrong for the Blades I see
At this scoreline Barnet are going down
:(
sounds like arswich was a great game
thanks tv
No Torres, no Carroll
Meh.
Both sides starting with their strongest XI then?
poor sagna :(
broken leg
Just got back from the game
So frustrating. Arsenal had so many chances and all three Norwich goals were quite simply careless play and terrible defensive positioning. Apart from the pass for the second goal Alex Song was absolutely awful today, the amount of times he just gave the ball away... Ramsey continued to look like he simply isn't good enough to play at this level. Gervinho pretty much just stood about. Szczesny didn't show up apart from one save which was offside anyway. Tactically it was like the team just didn't know what they should be doing. They certainly weren't playing as a team.
How we didn't score more goals though I don't know. Van Persie sidefooted three one on ones straight at John Ruddy. Ramsey took his eye off the ball and completely miskicked from six yards. Chamakh put a header over from about two yards out and then missed what was basically an open goal following up a ricochet. Rosicky twice passed when he had a clear shot on goal, Gibbs refused two clear shots with his right foot and lost the ball trying to get it on his left. Vermaelen had a couple of chances too. Crazy.
I can't believe we have put ourselves in a position where we are relying on other teams dropping points in order to qualify for the Champions League. Absolute tossers.
:D
."Basically, if Chelsea win today, Liverpool will have spent £120m to beat Cardiff."
What language is Jamie Carragher speaking?
Congrats to Wednesday
Far better club than United.
Suck my balls
God, why did Ched have to be such a rapey twat. Whhhhy?
The Abide With Me singer is female and photogenic. Who'd have guessed?
Was about to make this point in a much, much less eloquent way.
Did it involve the phrase 'pair of lungs'?
...
Boswinga looked proper confused at the national anthem.
Did it seem to anyone else it was being jeered?
graham nonrton seemed to get inside drogba last night
o_O
:D
Oh my
Suspect that might have been deliberate
No way would Tyldesley promote a BBC show if there wasn't a motive.
was thinking that myself.
should have been told to fuck off and get changed. Horrible tramp.
And there goes Liverpool's plan to bore their way to penalties...
poor all around from Liverpool, that.
poor save
101 POINTS
BOOM
Agger better keep his eyes open now
Mikel loves getting revenge
darren ferguson next wolves boss, pparently
shrug
L to the O .. . etc
Log conspiracy?
:D
That's the rumour going around.
I refuse to believe it.
have the Swindon Ultras increased in number since Di Canio took over?
well annoying.
pretty entertaining game anyway for an end of season 0-0 draw
What the hell was that Brolin ITV Dreams thing?
We're still not going to watch you during the Euros unless we have to, ITV.
These ITV 'Dreams' adverts are troubling
is the message "let's pretend England aren't rubbish"?
Maybe it's 'let's imagine ITV might actually show all the goals live this time'
Ha
they're fucking brilliant.
The talent in editing that so seamlessly is enormous.
Nice finish Drog
Did Clive just say Andy Cole was coming on?
Liverpool look tired
as in, I don't think I've seen one of their players break out into a sprint.
shit, Newcastle are one classy looking club
http://www.footballshirtculture.com/12/13-kits/newcastle-united-2012-2013-puma-away-football-shirt.html
im not sure
the logo really doesn't fit with the shirt does it?
it's distinctive
like a medal
in 1950....Andy Carroll scored
Anfield South
when you consider their recent results at anfield i think thats pretty apt.
You can't trust expensive flops any more
THIRTY FIVE MILLION POUND STRIKE
Listening to five live on BBC world service
Lawrenson's just come out with this cracker "It's like the whole team has taken drugs!"
It's Gerrard!
*balloons over*
how many times have we seem him hit those in from there
not as many as weve heard you go Geeerrraaaaaggggh.. oh..
Oh Drogba :')
Book him. Even if he's injured.
What is suarez doing sscreaming 'ONE' at the lino for
fantastic save
didnt go in, but looked like it had at first. fantastic play in the build up.
petr cech is a spent force huh
when did i say that?
Looks over the line?
Townsend please fuck off.
https://twitter.com/#!/IndoStevieG/status/198833158077169664
new favourite twitter account
https://twitter.com/#!/IndoStevieG/status/198832618677092352
?????????????
Oh god, they're going to spend the rest of the coverage going "DID IT CROSS THE LINE?"
even though they seem not to be bothering trying to find out.
I think it was just in
Maybe
Would help if that camera was actually in line with the goal
They must have a side-on camera at that end, they've got one up the other end
As it is, it just reminds me of the Chelsea-Portsmouth final where Drogba (I think) hit a shot against the underside of the bar and Clive went "BUT DID IT CROSS THE LINE? WE MUST HAVE VIDEO EVIDENCE, FIFA!" for about five minutes until a replay revealed it hadn't gone near the line.
Here is a side-on camera there
but it's slightly misaligned. I hope someone gets fired for that.
(I don't really - think of their family)
See, this is the other thing now
The best replay suggests the whole ball didn't cross the line, but that seems not to be good enough. If you can't tell from any angle, as Gareth just said, you can't give it as a goal! That's a definite, not an interesting sideline with which to carry on the discussion!
:D
i remember that
Ashley Carroll should've done better there
That should've been in quote marks
Lawrenson at it again. He's sapping my will to live.
you'd think if you were about to win the cup
your fans would be the one doing the singing
I'm looking forward to having a read through the posts of RAWK this evening...
nice one chelsea
not even a healthy helping of fergie time could help liverpool sneak it
Stop showing Chelsea celebrating
I want to see the disappointment-etched faces of the losers....
Especially Kenny D
I got great joy from the few seconds they just showed us
I am so so so so happy Liverpool lost the cup final I cant even explain
and I don't even like Chelsea
BUT WAS IT OVER THE LINE???
STOP ASKING THEM GABRIEL
oh god stop it
Someone should have just gone "how am I supposed to know?"
Carroll almost did
yees kna better than me
fucking hell
you've been a lucky general, with the ball? Crossing the line? Line? Ball? Crossing?
I think he's got to do this for a bet or something
gabe
is being particularly cunty today
definitely crossed a line
loved JT's 'definitely didn't go over'
yeah, because his first response to the knee-in-the-back incident was wonderfully honest.
Decent game
Will be pretty forgettable though.
Memorable things that have happened in the FA cup in the past 3 years -
Jermaine Beckford
...
what did he do again
Sigh
Personally I think it went in, but if there's any doubt you don't give the goal and I'd have been livid if a similar goal had been given against Liverpool. Over the 90 minutes we didn't do enough to win but I really thought we'd get something after Carroll (who was absolutely immense) came on, so it's more of a disappointment than a burning fury at the ineptitude of the players (especially Stewart Downing, who makes me hate football so much).
Let the mass sacking commence.
extremely average final,
Spearing and Henderson could easily represent to worst centre midfield partnership in Liverpool's history. Chelsea benefitted from some hugely generous decisions on route, including the semi final. Looks like the swansong for this squad really, on the evidence of today, Bayern must be licking their lips.
I think the memory I will take from today
is Suarez quacking like a duck
so kenny, that was a conspiracy wasnt' it?
no
yes it was, say it was, please
no
go on, go on, go on, go on
no
go awwwwwwwn
...
http://i.minus.com/igHqNBG8XdsyS.gif
Inconclusive.
No essential difference, though
If it's inconclusive you can't give it.
Because of the angle
I'd say it's more likely than not that it's over. But yeah, inconclusive.
get in there!
Ramires was great today, as was Mata, as were most of our lot really.
...As was Andy Carroll- never thought I'd say that. Played with real authority.
Didn't look over to me from the slo-mo, but I would say that, wouldn't I?
Very, very pleased, but it's the lesser of the three challenges we have/had to face in the next few weeks.
Henderson is one of the most hopeless midfielders I have ever seen.
Every time how crap he is comes up, it's been suffixed by an uncertain "but he's young, he'll learn." It's just...You buy a crap player in the hope he'll come good and stick him on once every so often surely, not play him for all 90 minutes of a cup final?
think Spearing might be slightly worse even.
The odd great game, rest of the time turd.
Henderson's a strange one
In pretty much every game he plays he'll do at least one thing that makes you think "yeah, I can see why people saw some real potential here" like his header to Suarez today. Then he just ruins everything for a bit and makes me very frustrated.
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/319742_3991055221595_1437303472_3966540_967639971_n.jpg
For the life of me I don't know what Maxi Rodriguez has done to upset Kenny
what an incredible day
we did it. we're in the championship! :D
to get promoted in front of 38,000 fans (37,500 of our own) is truly special. MASSIVE atmosphere and the scenes of celebration were a sight to behold.
looking forward to next season!
it's sad now I don't get to needle you every week
we'll both have bigger fish to fry next season. until we're both in the playoffs. idk
yann's goal today was...something: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2tVDAwjWxE
(wouldn't have thought it was intentional if anyone else had done it, but this is the New Cantona we're talking about)
oh and well done ;)
you've been pretty unstoppable of late, kudos
cheers
that kermogant goal was fantastic!
good couple of derbies for each of us next year - charlton with millwall and palace; wednesday with leeds and barnsley.
of the L1 playoff contenders - keeping my fingers crossed for stevenage. what they've achieved this year has been sensational.
stevenage have been sensational, all things considered
their team will be completely dismantled if they don't win the playoffs - but they have a really good chance, the other sides aren't in form
mk dons play by far the best football of the playoff teams but I can't support them, just can't
we'll have west ham too if blackpool/brum get their act together at wembley! just imagine it. and you might have united again :P
Do you think Ranger might have a future with you?
I reckon he'd probably do quite well in the Championship, and it's obvious that we don't want him anymore.
Oh, and congrats! I'm living in Sheff and had considered wondering down this afteroon; didn't realise it was a sell out until this morning.
I'm sure Newcastle will be eager to sell
and Wednesday reasonably eager to buy. I think the latter will regret it tbh, him and Madine in the same team is bad news.
They'll be more anxious to hold on to Antonio (likely, as Reading went up) and Batth (less likely, as Wolves went down).
also keith treacy from burnley
i hope he returns next year. can't see batth returning - he'll walk straight into wolves' starting line up next year. a real class act with a very bright future.
You're welcome to him
I don't think anyone's really taken to him at Burnley - he's very talented, but extraordinarily lazy
sheffield united fans said exactly the same about him
he has genuine ability but his application lets him down.
he was man of the match for us yesterday and i'm sure jones will be hoping to get him signed up long-term.
he'd be a definite improvement
on o'grady, lowe and morrison. i'd have him back permanently - according to his shirt message yesterday, he is a changed man.
...
Liverpool fans on 5 Live saying they booed the national anthem because of the issues with transport.
Because the chairman of British Rail wrote God Save The Queen. I see.
Granada-Real Madrid sounds like fun
Granada had the lead for nearly all the match, then lost to an injury time own goal and had two players sent off after the final whistle before another hit the ref with a drinks bottle.
Bournemouth end a dull season with a dull win
we will have about £10,000,000,000 to buy players for next season with from Denim's piss about fund. Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Heskey, YCMIU.
Didier Drogba
thats something I can get behind
Feel sorry for Liverpool.
Pure bad luck that they had to have the worst performance of their season, today. They truly were diabolically bad.
For about 15 minutes (and that's being generous) they had us on the back foot. They only scored, thanks to a typical Bosingwa fuck up. Truly dreadful performance from them.
So glad that Arsenal got beaten.
they were pretty rousing for the last half-hour I'd say
you weren't much better. play like that in the CL final and you'll get rinsed
Well, 3 of the players that played today won't be playing in the final
so the chance to play like we did today in the first place, would be nice.
I think you're being a bit harsh - I'd like to see the possession stats for the first half. Liverpool didn't even get a look in.....was astonished at how bad they were. So much so, when they had their 15 minutes of confidence in the second half, I actually felt like they'd been trolling us in the first half.
I need to watch the highlights to see if they were as bad as I remember.
from what I saw of the first half they were diabolical
after Carroll came on they suddenly gained purpose
not saying Carroll's that good, but that Dalglish doesn't know how to construct a cogent tactical gameplan for top-level English football circa 2012. 1992, maybe.
I'm not arguing that Carroll didn't change the game - he definitely did.
But his goal was off the back of a Boswingwa fuck up.
They were definitely the better team for a good portion of the second half.
Carroll was immense when he came on
Have to hold my hands up to that
Same way we were gonna get rinsed at the Nou Camp
if we repeated our first leg performance?!
We will have to play very well to beat a very good team in a very important game. Such insight!
are you planning on renewing your imaginary season ticket, mate?
Don't be like that.
Y'know what...
i'm gonna go against the grain a bit and give credit to Liverpool. I only watched the second half, but i thought they were the better side. Carroll in particular, did, y'know...alright.
All credit to them. Two cup finals in your "WORST EVOH SEASON". Fuck the haterz.
Credit to Chelsea as well. Similarly, not a bad season for a club IN KRISIS.
Sad it's got to the point where there's no sportsmanship left in the game.
well if you only watched the 2nd half
that will be why you thought Liverpool were the better side.
You only watched the second half.
Stopped reading after that.
you're arguing it was a 50/50 game then?
Nope - Drogba scored 2 minutes after the whistle went.
So by your reckoning, that'd make it 75/25.
that's definitely how it works.
I said 'by your reckoning'.
you're clearly an idiot.
no offence, but you're clearly a proper idiot.
None taken.
Just couldn't understand your maths.
Liverpool had a good 15 minutes - I'll give you that.
Carroll's goal was a lucky break; due to Bosingwa giving it away (as I said before).
Chelsea were much better in the first half
and good enough in the second to cancel out Andy Carroll's efforts. probably 70/30.
by 'Cancel out A.C.'s efforts'
I mean 'negate how good he was compared to his teammates, not 'he didn't score'.
How closely after the whistle went did you start watching?
they were hopeless before Carroll came on
as fast, formless and pleasant to look at as diarrhoea.
With him on the pitch they immediately make more sense. With what they've got in the centre of the pitch they have to be a long ball team by necessity, pure and simple. If any credit is due Liverpool's way most of it goes to Carroll. He's come on a great deal in the last few months.
It's sad that we're talking about him coming on a great deal in the last few months
when he still hasn't regained the form he was showing before we sold him.
Newcastle and Liverpool are very different teams with different systems
it's not like Torres, who just can't/couldn't score for whatever reason. It's a new style and format to fit into, and he's starting to become the lynchpin of the team, slowly but surely, as he arguably was at the Toon.
I think he's quite good.
if he was becoming the lynchpin of the team wouldn't he have started?
not sure how much should be read into a half hour spell in the most perfect situation feasible...
true
It's a very gradual process, though. They just seem to all fit together when he's there, for all the mistakes he makes.
i'd have to argue that they usually look fucking awful when he's there
but y'know different strokes like.
Agreed.
He's looking every inch the £3.5m striker now.
A word for Hartlepool's fans today
or rather, a picture: https://p.twimg.com/AsH3q0kCQAAhFmU.jpg:large
I'd like to think they did it for us. "Congrats for escaping the small-time" and all that
aw, that's harsh
<3
Nobody on the other escalator is looking across
London
Macclesfield's record in 2012:
25 games
19 goals
8 draws
0 wins
Still, one of those draws was against Bolton!
remember when we drew (should have won) at Arsenal, Fortress Emirates?
that was a good day
can't believe these Arsenal/Norwich highlights.
Norwich should've had at least 3 penalties.
should we? I remember arsenal's but
saw the new celtic away top in town yesterday
its pretty gorge: http://www.footballshirtculture.com/images/celtic-12-13-nike-away-football-shirt-a.jpg
you can't quite see the irish flag trim on the socks there, and the "special" version I saw yesterday had the same trim in on the collar and sleeves, but yes, very stylish.
nice!
thats like a kit i wanted to get a year ago, an african countries. might make a purchase
fucking Barnet done it again.
i swear that's about the 6th or 7th time they've escaped relegation from League 2 on the last day.
Newcastle United are unveiling a statue of Sir Bobby this afternoon
let's hope there's not a repeat of the Ted Bates hilarity
http://www.shoutingatco.ws/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ted-bates.jpg
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0120494/
ARGH NERVASSS!
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt69/TeslazRevenge2/Gifs/Nervous.gif
don't worry
him upstairs is on our side
http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3gjvq6DxC1r2962eo1_1280.jpg
Probably seems a bit...facetious, maybe, to compare my nerves to yours.
But I've done relegation nerves over and over and over, never anything like this.
It's probably all this fucking build up. I'm getting sucked into it.
probs because it's a new feeling, i guess?
idk.
beating albion and preston to get to the league were nerve-wracking, yes. But honestly the boro game in 03 and today's make that seem like a walk in a park.
Gonna be horrible.
who's reffing the United game today?
does it matter?
does it matter that strong refs are appointed for big games?
i'd say so, yes.
It's not a big game.
United are bound to win regardless of who's reffing it.
Not my words, yours.
not really.
:D
i don't know.
cue the question mark.
hoepfully it'll be one of the better ones.
looks like it's Foy :-/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/may/04/squad-sheets-manchester-united-swansea-city
oh.
https://twitter.com/#!/dembabafoot/status/199073393105051648
it would be cool if city balls it up
at Sports Direct Arena it wouldn't be about them ballsing up.
sounds like fighting words
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThHKhEXYjmg
He'll be a fine fourth choice striker for us
ffs.
soapy's going to have a field day with this later.
your problem is...one of your problems is that you care too much.
schedule
siena - parma
newcastle - city
united - swansea
milan - inter
might turn over and watch the dlf when there are ad breaks
needs more snooker
urgh.
this is gonna be a terrible day. guaranteed.
Nah Liverpool at home in 1996 was a terrible day. This is a lot better.
I just watched a youtube clip of Jimmy Glass's goal for Carlisle in 1999
it included bits of Soccer Saturday on it. It flashed up on screen that you were beating York City 1-0.
Worse times, friend.
Best moment in football ever.
Aye, that was a great win for your boys over the Minstermen
: D
Come on City
Come on Villa
So I take it everyone has seen this: Kammy's Euro 2012 song
Genuine tears of laughter. The chorus! The bridge! The lyrics!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cIIo9L1Ppc
Operatic Blaydon Races
...the fuck?
NRC in midfield
despite being injured.
LCY on the bench.
NERVVASSS
uncy howard!
i think i'm going to Guiseley-Nuneaton play off semi final 2nd leg
only watched Guiseley play once before in my life so i feel like a bit of a bellend rocking up to the most important game in their history, and i'll be spending the 1st half frantically refreshing the Bolton score on my phone, should still be fun though.
Some points on the FA Cup Final, not that anyone cares about it now that City's game is under way ...
- So pleased Ramires scored, given he'll miss the CL Final. Deserves it more than any other Chelsea player.
- Really gonna miss Drogba :(
- Delighted we've won something. Might have had a rubbish season, but at least three sides who've (mostly ... some by very narrow margins) been better than us over the course of the season won't manage that.
- Carroll was brilliant when he came on, but Torres was brilliant last week. Doesn't mean much.
- I don't think it was over the line, which will come as a surprise to no-one. But I think the decision was right for the exact reason Atkinson's Mata decision was so wrong- if you're not sure, it's a fairly simple decision.
- Very impressed by how dignified Dalglish, Carroll and Gerrard were in the face of ITV's provocation.
- Love the FA Cup.
Ramires is an absolute class act.
He's versatile, can fit a number of systems, and most importantly works harder than any player I've ever seen at the Bridge- he just runs all game! He's pretty much just a lung with some legs attached.
He's already replaced Essien as the energetic, work-horse midfielder, and now he's starting to replace Lampard as a key goal-scorer. Think it's time people start recognizing him as one of the best players in the Premiership.
He'll be our biggest loss in Munich, for sure.
And by the looks of this video, Di Matteo also loves the F.A Cup,
maybe a little too much. What's it called when you fall in love inanimate objects again? :D
http://youtu.be/No4hg9QWApQ
newcy have been poor
webb is card happy too
CARD HAPPY
Webbo's lost control of this
no chance this is going to end 11v11
agreed
Ben arfa and barry were bookins, possibly tiote but im not sure.
Tiote's head is absolutely fucking massive
http://www.thefootballsocial.co.uk/images/players/newcastle%20united/Cheick%20Tiote.jpg
KD blazes over from six yards :(
What a game this is...
I'm predicting two red cards and at least one penalty. Newcastle to go one up and then City to score two.
Bolton/WBA such an open game
should be about 3-2 already
not helping the nerves, like.
PELANTY
YAS GET THE FUCK IN
this next 45 minutes is going to be utterly, utterly unbearable
It seems fairly even to me on the radio too
makes it even more horrendous usually.
we've got the possession but Newcastle's front four can and have make things happen any time
Cisse did literally nothing but score two stunners on Wednesday
I mean that as high praise
they seem to have stopped Ben Arfa doing much so far
which probs helps.
and now de jong is on
he might be stopped once and for all now
uncy is giving city a lot of easy free kicks
Come on Villa
Fucking love it.
My internet switched off for 5 mins and I missed the goal, what happened?
bbc says it was a 25 yard speculative effort which took a big deflection off of agent Gallas
Top work Gallas
Nasri to score from a Clichy cross now.
Tevez has been total dirt
Sounds like everything's coming up Wenger
http://fuldans.se/?v=tpoljgeecn
My god, that's brilliant
:'D
amazing
Lovely goal from Toure
YES Toure, great goal!
a goal for all manchester
well thats the title
Superb finish.
Looks like city forgot the poznan mind
However this ends that Aguero miss is going to haunt me for the next week
oh gawd
why are you doing this to me City
I don't understand ...
City are winning? I didn't think that was possible.
Just put the Basque castle on 2-1 Newcastle
money in the bank
Rose off!
Horrendous challenge.
the guy in the man city crowd that goes on twitter the moment they score
:''''''''''''')
doesn't even celebrate
summerbee-esque
Not even a smile
That was absolutely comic.
Jesus Christ
Does anyone want to finish 4th? The only team who seem to have fixed their sights on it are Arsenal.
The world seemed to stop there as Yaya ran through...
Still hope, however tenuous.
Cheeky finish
Get in City
Dont fuck it up next week, denying united the title and sending QPR down in the same game is TOO sweet
Dunne you bellend
putting De Jong on and pushing Toure up
TITLE WINNING SUBSTITUTION
cant begrudge city that, or the title
and i'd just like to say i'll accept any 'bants'
except from KiK or Summerbee
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V7QWknxeFc
C'mon Villa you shit cunts
You're at home against 10 men, don't do a Forest.
Is the BBC Live Football page being really shit for anyone else?
Mine seems to say Result: Newcastle 0-2 Man City
tbf
i can see united destroying swansea.
7-0
All we need is 11 goals
and we're right back in it.
doable
I just can't see a big win today for United.
Swansea are the sort of team who can hold onto the ball for long enough to deny us the chance to have loads of goalscoring opportunities.
To have any chance of closing the goal difference gap today we're essentially going to have to convert everything we get.
The fact that I'm even considering winning on goal difference by winning the last two games by huge margins shows how deluded we can get as fans sometimes.
Hernandez starts, hopefully he can recover some of his form from last season.
:D :D :D :D
LOL
billy jones <3
can't really complain about losing to City there
Good to see a game between two of the top sides look so competitive for much of the match but they really stopped us getting the ball down and playing our passing game in their half. Not sure there was really two goals in it and we could've nicked one back but when they can bring on a striker who costs as much as all of our signings in the last year combined we were always going to have our backs up against it.
Only complaint would be Webb getting a little card happy for a few minutes in the first half when he could have told people to settle.
Hopefully Villa can do us a favour by not capitulating against 10-man Spurs - set up a real nice final weekend battle for third between us, them and Arsenal.
mind you
there was a slob in the away section crying after the first goal.
Bit needy.
Chung Yong's on!
<3
Dempsey is the first American to score 50 Premier League goals
is he the best (outfield) player the country has ever produced?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1eu7opg6UE
he's certainly one of the worst rappers.
I've been hit with many a 'smacks of Hodgson's with this,
but I'd quite like to have him.
I can't believe we've finally worked out how to play away from home
in the last month of the season. Should've won 0-4 if Aguero hadn't forgotten how to shoot recently and Dzeko wasn't Dzeko.
Basically the best performance I've seen from us this year. Defensively aside from Zabaleta, who got done too often by Santon, and Barry who was as ponderous as he can be, we were fantastic. Keeping a side with Newcastle's attack down to two shots on target is an incredible feat. I'd thought we'd lose or draw because we always have one mistake up our sleeve and it would inevitably drop to Cisse, but it didn't happen.
Gushing a bit here but there isn't a midfielder like Yaya anywhere else in the Premiership. The guy can do anything, and can do it for 90 minutes. Without him we are rudderless.
Santon has really settled into PL football recently
he'll be a killer next season now he's up to speed
Bringing De Jong on was a masterstroke.
At the point where Newcastle's defence was knackered, pushing Toure on to go and do his stuff up front - and even then he was tracking back and putting in perfect tackles.
I also think that second goal was absolutely superb.
Cisse!
oh fucking hell qpr
bolton :(
Pretty good 90 seconds to be a QPR supporter though
yeah, thats cheered me up after the city result
oh Bolton
...
:(
So the season ends in tears for us.
Chelsea were superb throughout. They knew exactly how to exploit that midfield and exactly how to hang on for the final few minutes.
We're just not as good a team as them and were outclassed in the centre of the park. Even though Reina should've had that first goal, Spearing was responsible.
If that holding midfield contained Lucas and someone like Nigel De Jong (who I'd like to sign), we'd be a far better side. But that's for next season now.
I can't complain with this season in terms of entertainment though. My own team in two finals, the best title race in my lifetime and a relegation scrap going to the wire. There's been some ugly moments this season (Suarez, Muamba, the non-event of the January Transfer Window) but all in all, it's been fucking beautiful. Then we've got a Champions League final and the Euros to look forward to. Delicious.
all reasonably made points
and good that you haven't gone all nestor. its definitely been the most exciting season i can remember.
Really, really can't stress enough how much we've missed Lucas this season
Hope he returns to a similar level of form after that injury.
We never saw full-strength Lucas and full-strength Gerrard in the same team this season.
Gerrard's been hindered by the fact his backup is so poor.
I'm with Kenny on giving Spearing a chance this season. I genuinely thought he could do the job, but he's blatantly not. Henderson is complicated because we can't just bench him due to his fee. I think loaning him would be my preferred choice, because he's crippled by the pressure to succeed at Anfield.
Some huge decisions to make for Kenny this summer.
That virtually relegates Blackburn then
About time they went down.
Hoping QPR go the fuck down
Yeah?
Oh well.
Not sure if (and why) anyone's watching
But can anyone confirm that Wolves v Everton has been as dire as it sounds?
a clean sheet though!
a fucking clean sheet!
Pretty sure the streaming sites have stopped bothering with Wolves games.
Feel sorry for those playing us.
More so than usual, at least.
Gonna check the Internet for 'Wenger out' posts made in the past 24 hours
cheers
Redknapp tapping up Shay Given at the end there :D
Defence doesn't win you games
can make you lose them though.
75 goals conceded this season. Just not good enough, is it.
We won't beat Stoke next week. I'm fucking gutted.
yeah you will
fate doesn't want QPR to stay up, its just teasing them
stoke 1 bolton 2
city 9 qpr 0
http://drownedinsound.com/community/boards/social/4340753#r6740788
Owen Coyle must have his hands in his head
oh gabby.
From Wolves' perspective, I think I want Bolton to go down more than QPR.
This is purely because QPR would outspend us, and Bolton definitely wouldn't.
^ wants muamba to die
That's beside the point.
From a Brighton perspective I want this too ...
Think it'll be even harder then usual to guess who will get promoted from the Championship next season, don't think any of the teams can expect to bounce straight back.
nice to hear the united fans making some noise
nevermind, its gone quiet now again
Obvious to say, but they are great results for Arsenal
A win guarantees us third, and a draw guarantees us fourth regardless of Spurs or Newcastle's results. Just have to make sure we actually show up against West Brom. This is our cup final now.
haven't you been playing cup finals since about march?
No
If the last three games are anything to go by we've been playing friendlies
This is a massive game. Win, and we guarantee Champions League football for yet another season, despite it being our worst in years. Lose, and we could finish sixth. Surely the players realise this, and will actually show up, unlike against Wigan, Stoke or Norwich. Who knows though.
:DD
Arsenal's cup final is a league game
More importantly, chaps...
what excuse will forza come up with now to say that he doesn't think City will beat QPR?
Barton, SWP, Hughes all ex-City with a point to prove
and relegation to battle against?
it's weird how our ex-players always "have a point to prove", whilst United's ex-players are "agents"
I would link to Wes Brown scoring that beautifully taken own goal header
but obviously neither club has the fans committed enough to upload highlights to youtube.
100% penalty
was bound to happen.
A couple of Everton fans with tin foil FA Cups ran on the pitch
Led the stewards on a merry chase around the pitch - weaving in and out of players - for a good minute or so before ultimately falling flat on their face.
Probably the funniest thing I've seen at a football match, in stark contrast to the game which was somewhat dour.
:D
cannot wait to watch that tomoz.
It'll probably be on Match of the Day
I can't think of anything else of that game worthy of being called a 'highlight'...
weird weird game
2-0 ht, two good penalty claims, two other good chances and still not enough
£45 down the fucking swanny.
<3
Never change.
fair play man
Good to see Swansea have really taken Mancini's harsh assessment of their abilities to heart
very surprised Swansea are letting United rack up a cricket score.
what are we saying the final score will be - 6, 8, 10?
easily 10
say goodbye to that trophy.
have to agree.
what are Swansea's record Prem defeats so far this season?
4-0 maybe
against City?
We managed to put four past them last week ffs.
It's there for United's taking.
they were trying to Wigan it up with 3 centre backs though
here we go Dimi loves knocking in 4 or 5 in a game
How easy is it to instigate a stadium announcement via a phonecall?
There's been a couple today at the Dream Theatre. The satisfaction of getting a comedy one read out during a game like this would be great.
at Sundermerland
it's pretty easy! You do have to ring up a few weeks in advance though.
Five reasons why United haven’t won the league this year…
1. Vidic and Fletcher’s injuries.
With those players present, there’s no way we would have conceded so many goals. The Everton result wouldn’t have happened - maybe even the City result last week - to name just two results.
2. The loss of experienced players.
Much is written about how United have a squad of players who have won things time and again. However, losing Van der Sar, Neville, Brown, O’Shea, Hargreaves and Scholes (for a period, anyway) takes away a huge chunk of the experience.
3. Too many young and inexperienced players.
You don’t win anything with kids. This time the drunken Scotsman’s prophecy appears to have been correct. De Gea, Jones, Smalling, Cleverly, Pogba and Welbeck all lack the experience of commanding a regular starting place in a title winning team. You could arguably add Fabio, Rafael and Evans to that list, regardless of how long they’ve been at United – they’ve never started regularly.
4. No drive from centre midfield.
Fergie seems intent on us only attacking from the wings. The way Yaya and Tiote played today highlights what we are missing. Neither Carrick, Giggs, Park, Cleverly or Scholes can boss that area of the pitch, power wise. This should be our main focus for the summer transfer market.
5. City have a far superior squad.
No explanation needed.
wrong login, mate?
Me? I only have one login.
Hargreaves
alright Dixon
Martin Tyler.
He loves United scoring goals, eh?
not as much as phillips enjoyed city's, i don't think
*quinn
I really like Quinn as co-commentator.
He offers no insight at all but is very giddy and endearing. Blatant bias towards City though.
It's as if Swansea don't want to score.
Strange.
you made the donation yet mate?
You said you weren't bothered, champ.
I'll do it, don't worry.
What donation?!
sperm
still prepared to offer you double-or-quits on City not winning the title, btw.
sure, i'll even make it a fiver rather than quits due to the weighting of the bet
so City win the title, £20 from you.
United win the title, £5 from me.
aye?
done.
easy money (for charity, which is always good).
that should've been Rooney's second booking of the game, really.
Genuinely staggered he's not been booked this season.
Must have watched about 20 United games from start to finish and he could have been booked in pretty much every single one of them.
*so far, obviously
Phil Jones appears to have been possessed by the spirit of John O'Shea.
definitely in need of a break by the looks of him.
Smalling's done quite well.
it's been inspiring stuff all round so far tbh.
the only thing that could improve it is a Park cameo.
*giggs
it's a shame we don't have enough subs left to send them both on.
I agree.
At times, he looks very similar to O'Shea. He'll end up playing at the Euros though, no doubt.
he's not been helped by being shunted around so much
I know the injury situation hasn't helped but we really need to find him a settled position - for me he's looked most impressive at CB, so I'd be inclined to keep him there until he settles down a bit. He should be below Smalling in the pecking order, though.
yep
he's looked knackered for two-three months. shouldn't go to the euros on this form, but a month off might get him back to where he should be.
Horrible news from my FIFA 12 caree ga
Hmmm ...
Horrible news from my FIFA career game, guys. Kaka plays for Stoke City.
eo
Leave it out, mate
I haven't figured out how to use my new phone yet. My typing and a new phone is a pretty combination
:DD
I'm logging off for a
Looking forward to United's 15-0 win next weekend!
wat
Jugs,did
was quite happy with the Newcastle performance today
City were just far too slick for us though, and the substitutions from both sides really showed how little depth we have in the squad still. Bit of investment in the summer should help with that though.
Sadly Villa are basically safe now, which is a shame as on the basis of what they've added to the league this season, they deserve to go down far more than Bolton, QPR or Wigan. Them and Blackburn going down would have been lovely.
Newcastle definitely did well.
Thought you were very comfortable defensively for around an hour, and really went at us for spells at the end of the first half and start of the second.
I'm not sure why the commentators are suggesting we've slightly blown it by not knocking 6 or 7 past Swansea
Even if we had done, City would have to not score against QPR for us to have any real chance of United overcoming the goal difference against Sunderland... In which case we'd probably take the title anyway.
United really did all that was needed of them at this point, it's up to City to royally belm it up.
United will still win it.
Never been surer about anything.
please, stop it now.
it's my genuine opinion.
why are you absolutely certain that QPR,
who lost 6-1 away to Chelsea, where they needed to win just as much if not more than they will next weekend, are going to stop us?
that post makes no sense.
how can a last opportunity for survival be less important than a game 3 or 4 from the end of the season.
QPR need a result. Sunderland don't. I'd gladly sacrifice home advantage to face a side with nothing to play for.
results today
mean they can lose and stay up. It was more important to them to win that game because it was Chelsea racialists.
Newcastle needed a result today, too. I'll ask again- why are you so sure QPR will put up a better fight than they did away from home?
question doesn't make sense.
have you been at your old lady's cooking sherry again?
why do you, that is the person I am talking to, you,
think that QPR, a side who have been abysmal away from home all season, will take points away from us when Newcastle, who have been exceptional at home all season and needed to win, didn't?
because they needed to win, as i said.
Newcastle didn't.
if needing a win is your only criteria for the match winner
then surely City comfortably fall into that category
absloutely.
but then there's the weight of expectation, typical City sydrome, and the fact that Fergie always, always has the last laugh.
well cant argue with that kind of statistical analysis!
Do you even cheer when a goal goes in?.. 'well calm down lads, its not over yet, theres only 3 goals in it, they only need one back, also better not celebrate, we dont want the piss ripped out of us if they end up pulling some goals back.'
I'm looking forward to a post from you at 5pm next Sunday
arguing that City can't possibly win the Premiership even as their players are lifting the trophy.
basically mate, you can't escape it
if City balls this up there'll be tears running down my face. literal tears. it'll be absolutely hilarious.
and you're not just gonna be sitting there going 'oh well, there's always next year... if we can overcome that Fergie last laugh factor'.
Completely agree.
You're basically saying what i'm saying.
I won't be sitting here at all. I'll be in the boozer, either gloriously happy that my team's won their first title in my lifetime, or with pockets literally bulging with cash.
I strongly suspect that City won't beat QPR. That's just MY OPINION.
I'm also outraged by your posts!!1
no further questions, m'lurd
Having grown up in Salford,
I can verify that most City fans I know have always, always held a similar opinion to KiK - even today. I guess if you've been a season ticket holder all your life at City then failure is all you've ever really known.
I've been a fan for about 12 years
and I know the mentality well. At some point you have to get optimistic. I didn't think we'd beat Newcastle, and we have, with a great performance. I just...don't want to keep feeling miserable. I put our chances of winning the title at 90% if we somehow managed to beat both United and Newcastle, and I do not want to do anything but stand by that now.
Not all season
First half we got more points away than home
Recently though, yeah utterly appalling. Our hopes of survival are basically Bolton not winning and us keeping the score under 6
has a fan ever had less faith in his club?
even Mancini's just about conceded that you're going to win now.
Redknapp: "If City don't win next weekend it'll be the biggest miracle ever".
THE. BIGGEST. MIRACLE. EVER!
literally
that WBA equaliser has kinda ruined the last day a little :(
and that's coming from someone who really likes WBA
Arsenal fans - is Jenkinson fit to resume his career as Sagna's replacement for the last game?
Credit to Swansea.
Thought they played really well second half. Probably the better side.
i wouldnt say better side in the second half
But united stepped off/swansea defended better/united pressed forward with bigger numbers , when they attacked, resulting in swansea having more opportunities on the counter. Shite game mind. I turned iver and started watching the cycling.
Glasgow United fan moaning about City having foreigners in their team in 606 :DDDD
Now that the season is officially over ;)
Can we discuss the Euros? In Wayne's absence I'd start with:
Hart
Richards Terry Ferdinand Cole
Gerrard Parker
Sturridge Carroll Young
Hang on! I've missed out a player!
Barry in a central midfield three.
awful team, son
Hart
Richards Terry Ferdy Cole
Barry Parker
Young Stevie Walcott
Wellbeck
You've named 9 out of 11 the same as me though?!
dearth of talent, innit
Wouldn't take Gerrard at all.
Lampard is still worth taking though, I think.
How about:
-------------Hart-------------
Richards-Ferdinand-Lescott-Cole
------Barry-----Parker--------
-----------Lampard------------
Sturridge---Welbeck------Young
Mate, Richards hasn't even been playing first-team football
Hart
Walker Ferdinand Caulker Cole
Carrick Parker
Johnson Gerrard Walcott
Sturridge
That was depressingly difficult :(
...whereas Johnson starts every week.
unless you were meaning Glen, in which case, go to bed.
None of the other options in that position start every week though
apart from Sturridge, and I've got him up front (where, likewise, none of the other decent options start every week).
Hart
Richards Terry Lescott Cole
Carrick Barry
Walcott Lampard Young
Sturridge
not Lampard though
can we patch Wilshere up?
Leon Osman?
I haven't really kept up with wba this season
but is there any chance of us playing anything other than 442?
I'm expecting 4-4-2
Hart
Walker Terry Lescott Cole
Walcott Parker Lampard Etherington
Zamora Crouch
credit to Parma.
they were about 4th bottom at the end of March, 7 wins in 8, gonna fall just short of a Europa League place.
Miccoli's brilliant.
apparently ireland are naming their euros squad tomorrow
can't see trappatoni springing any surprises.
Possession
Aston Villa: 47%
Tottenham Hotspur: 53%
Shots
Aston Villa: 4
Tottenham Hotspur: 21
On target
Aston Villa: 2
Tottenham Hotspur: 10
Corners
Aston Villa: 4
Tottenham Hotspur: 19
Fouls
Aston Villa: 10
Tottenham Hotspur: 8
:(
Sandro was apparently our best player again though
:)
I can confirm this to be true
Thought he was excellent.
really rate this cat
I reckon he'll be number one choice for Spurs next season. much better all round destroyer than Parker. Can boot a ball, too
Well Parker's got the experience, and I've got no doubt he covers more ground than Sandro as well
Mainly for those reasons, he's been justifiably first choice for most of the season. Sandro's a technically better player though, yeah, and it helps that he's 6' 2" and built like a brick shithouse. Scott Parker will be 32 in October, so it's all set up to transition nicely.
Really wish there was some way that Didier Drogba could be 26 again
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etKJm7i0K6I&feature=player_embedded
what's your thoughts on the new droggy
as in that Lukaku cat. you think he's gonna be the man? certainly has the physique...
He doesn't, as it goes.
He's far too big.
Compare the likes of this ... http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00784/drogba_280x390_784851a.jpg
with this ... http://www.fmscout.com/datas/users/romelu_lukaku_16053.jpg
Drogba has immense core strength and a very lean build. Lukaku is built like a boxer, and boxers don't make great footballers. He may have had to endure a year without football, but Lukaku's weight has dropped over the season and he's noticeably smaller and faster to those who pay particular attention (spods like me and people paid too, basically) down to some pretty intense conditioning work. If anything, leaving Anderlecht has probably given him a better chance of making it as a footballer at a top team or in a top league ... Anderlecht were turning him into a battering ram, not a physically strong footballer.
Anyway, you don't give a shit about any of that. I like what I've seen of him so far, but I've not seen that much. He may well go on to be a good player, hopefully a good Chelsea player, but Drogba is a one-off. Wouldn't go as far as to say he's been the best centre-forward in the world, but he's easily been the best centre-forward of his kind.
what exactly do you mean by 'of his kind'?
a targetman?
he's been quite a decent player for Chelsea, can't deny that, but i've never considered him one of the best in his position in the world, even Europe, maybe bar that one amazing season he had.
would still have him at City short-term, though, truth be told. don't think it's too far-fetched that he'll sign for another English club in the summer, but probably a London one. why are Chelsea not even prepared to offer him a new 1-year deal?
He's so much more than a targetman but let's gloss over the bait.
Apparently the club are very happy to offer him a one-year deal, but he's holding out for two years. Could be true, could be complete tabloid bullshit, probably somewhere between the two. He said as recently as Friday that he loves the club and wants to stay but I'm inclined to think that someone with his earning power must already have a good idea of what he's doing after June.
that was what the question mark was for.
i was asking you what you meant by 'of his kind'.
Haven't read Inverting The Pyramid so don't know any fancy Latin names for it
but that combination of physical strength, pace, skill, defensive competency and, shall we say, attitude. In my 18 or so years of watching football, I've not seen anyone have the same mixture of qualities and to the same standard.
You can disagree though, of course.
100% agree
Droggy has been the best out and out striker in PL history. Bar none.
except Shearer, of course.
or Cole.
or Fowler.
Shearer is in the next level - zero pace tho, innit
Cole was prolific in a team that created a million chances a game - big woop, he missed fucking shitloads too, Holmes.
Fowler - yep, for 18 months he looked incredible. he was a busted flush by 25 tho.
Cheers, as they say
haha.
nobody thinks Drogba was better than Shearer.
nobody.
not even you.
thanks for coming.
pathetic retort, as per
Shearer was incredible with his back to goal, holding that shit up and bringing others in play. He could boot a ball and he could head a ball. Can't remember seeing him nuts a player, or beat two then whip one in from 25. Droggy does this shit. and more. Kid has it ALL.
he's been a very good player, but the stats don't lie.
two excellent seasons.
average 14 goals a season all competitions over his other six.
Stats might not lie.
Partial states offered without context do.
Fowler :') You might have had me going if you hadn't thrown him in.
?
224 goals for top-flight clubs.
aye. total donkey.
At the age of 34, Drogba was scoring an FA Cup winning goal.
At the same age, Fowler was at the horses in Australia.
Who said Fowler was a donkey? No-one.
Eh? At 19 Fowler was scoring 25 league goals for Liverpool
at the same age Drogba scored a handful in the French Second Division...
Pretty irrelevant really.
Personally I think Drogba has been a fantastic player, he just doesn't have a particularly great scoring record. Scored some big goals though, that's for sure.
Over their careers ...
Drogba has a goal every 0.41 games.
Fowler has a goal every 0.42 games.
Their goal-scoring records are essentially the same, which is why I avoided discussing stats- they're a useless measure in themselves.
If people choose to believe that Fowler was a better player ... Well, okay. Can't stop people trolling or being mental.
Oh I don't think Robbie Fowler was better than Drogba
He had a few great seasons though.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy scored the same number of goals as Drogba in 3 less seasons though... To call Diddy the best out and out striker in Prem history is a bit of a stretch, but he will rightfully go down as a Chelski legend, and I'd try and keep on to him for at least another year.
And I didn't say he was the best out-and-out striker.
It appears we've reached an impasse.
attitude?
hmmm.
he's no Ade Akinfenwa
BOOM BOOM BOOM
LET ME HEAR YA SAY BAYO
BAYOOOO
Milan's new shirt is bad-ass.
you've gone too far this time
Just back from the game
We looked knackered after wednesday, but that was a great performance from City. Great end to end period in the final 20 minutes of the first half, but apart from that we didn't really threaten. Kompany was a king and I was really impressed by Zabaleta; didn't realise he was so tiny though! Santon, Colo and Perch were fantastic, Ben Arfa, Ba and Cisse were quiet.
It was nice at the end where we heartily clapped the City players and the City fans did likewise on our lap of honour. 'Classy' from both sets of fans.
You certainly gave de Jong a (possibly understandable) hard time
but yeah, that bit at the end was lovely to see. As was Joe sharing tips with Tim.
GOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!
fucking disgusting decision.
never a pen in a million years.
put ESPN on now.
what a game.
said it last week, but Serie A's back, no doubts. been the second best league in Europe this season for me (after the Bundesliga, obviously).
70-yard Yaya Toure-like run from Zanetti.
What a guy.
What.a.guy.
don't really like Inter
their new manager pulled a funny face though https://p.twimg.com/AsPSzbiCEAApYIz.jpg
maicon just scored a bit of a stunner
forgot he existed.
I thought Bale disentegrated him
on that balmy European night
Juventus are Champions.
Lovely stuff.
Great side. Still unbeaten.
Forza Conte.
Andrea Pirlo must be feeling pretty smug this evening.
That ibra incredible run comes to an end then
Ah well
Richard Hughes - another excellent pundit.
Get these lads on MOTD, ffs.
annoys me when MOTD commentators...
re-record their commentary after games.
they deny it, but they do.
Has Yaya Toure
not also started a Champions League final at centre-back?
whose post are you replying to here, buddy?
Lee Dixon's
which was what?
That he can play right across the midfield and up front
Ashley Young being fouled and not getting a penalty
:DD
it was bound to happen, wasn't it?
he'll become the next ronaldo, being chopped down and not getting anything. can't say he doesn't deserve it though.
first time for everything.
crOUch
motson was even weirder than normal
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh x100
What a good day!
Still pretty much nailed on to go down, but at least weve given some semblance of fight since feb.
Loftus road absolutely exploded when it went in.
Also when we were trying to play out injury time cisse stood in front of south Africa road demanding we sing his song louder <3
Alex Song over the top to Robin Van Persie
is like pulling a dick move over a mate who doesn't know the controls to FIFA 12 or something.
Today, City somehow, SOMEHOW beat a team they now stand 21 points clear of.
Looks like my wild prediction came to fruition.
(Please let Mark Hughes ruin it for them on the last day of the season...)
Keith Andrews looks about 47
Can't we all pitch in and buy Terry Connor a cake or something? I don't think I've ever been this depressed for a guy who is obviously incapable of doing his job.
Porto player celebrates red card with a bit o' a dance...
http://videos.sapo.pt/hkPKSkdVJ7zlLaw8UHS9
what's that on his bonce?
that Danny Rose challenge was fucking disgusting.
that sort of thing should get a 10-game ban, imho (maybe a couple fewer games when it's on someone like Alan Hutton).
Clive Allen's reaction was priceless
Waddling off the bench to give the ref a mouthful, despite what was a horrendous challenge taking place right in front of him. Two bob.
Yaya: "The manager told me to deliver today because it was an important game."
Got to love that man.