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Wednesday football thread
I liked the bit last night when Mario 'Mental' Balotelli was going mental at the ref and Roberto 'Losing his grip' Mancini came charging over and you thought he was going to tell Balotelli not to be mental and he just walked straight past him and started flipping his wig at the ref. That was a good bit.
Loads of good goals in Europe last night too. Shame none of them were in the Arsenal match.
Also lots of Championship stuff - Forest nil-nilled Middlesboro at home which is better than shipping 4 goals I suppose. Leicester continued their dramatic decline in form - relegation beckons methinks.
Haven't seen anything of last night's football
FUCK OFF
... but it sounds like it was quite funny. Maybe I'll have some schadenfreude if Chelsea don't fuck up tonight.
I'd worry about the schizophrenia before you get on to the schadenfreude, pal
Oh, actually, Huntelaar's goal was pretty tidy.
Giroud's was sort of good but would have looked better if there were any Schalke players pretending to mark him.
just 20,000 at Eastlands last night, then?
Christ.
Think it's called The Etihad Moneyball Arena £$£$£$£$£$ these days, pal
0-0 ain't too bad away at Bolton, and apparently Bogdan was on fire to keep us out
Much better stuff. We will murder Forest on Saturday. MURDER.
That's just his hair, pal.
Looking forward to it
(I actually am)
Imagine trying to predict Championship results though
Mental
I very much enjoyed Cardiff's result last night
Footballers Shouldn't Use Twitter. Case Study No 2368: Benoit Assou Ekotto
"Hello every 0ne!!! b strong at work and think positif!!! Even if you hate ur boss LoL"
Lazy tabloid staff writers rejoice
BAE is single-handedly supporting the case for footballers using twitter
He's brilliantly barmy
:')
But also D:
The worst is still Grant Holt's tweet when he decided to walk out on Norwich
Pidgin English doesn't even cover it
#lovedmytime
It's worse than I even remembered
http://www.yankscallitsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Grant-Holt-Tweet.png
my word
the worst is the name - @holty30
SURELY he could have done better than that?
I can't stop thinking about this.
Worst tweet ever.
#lovedmytime
It's practically buffed to a perfect shine in its wretchedness.
No man could say whether it's the illiteracy, the lame hashtag, the shit username, or the fact that he's still playing for them that is its crowning glory. Like the story about the blind men and the elephant, every man leaves it with his own personal revulsion
Grant Holt is reprieved for his gleefully aggressive pledge to smash up Ipswich
on the morning of the derby a couple of seasons ago.
Ibrahimovic last night
So good.
when he wants to be, he is the BEST
that assist for the second goal was fucking magic. never tire of that goal he scored for Ajax, where he beat the whole team twice, put the keeper on his ass and basically took the piss out of everyone
great player - absolute prick
You know, I think I'm falling out of love with Man City
Just a sense of ennui whenever I accidentally catch their scores on the BBC football site out the corner of my eye, instead of the neutrality that was there before. Children's football for me from now on
:D
aye, ibrahimovic last night, my word
Chelsea should have bought him in the summer. Imagine!
2-2 with Blackburn last night
Obviously Rhodes scored for them, but didn't celebrate too much, and came round all four stands clapping us after the game. Good lad.
Pleased to nick a point at the death, but their second was never a penalty in a month of Sundays.
How is Rhodes doing overall, people that know?
I'm curious
I didn't really see him involved
vs Palace on Saturday. However, he had absolutely no service at all, so you can't really blame him.
Wasn't that how he was generally described at Huddersfield as well?
Virtually invisible in general play but with an invaluable knack for knocking in goals?
Rhodes?
Where we're going we don't need Rhodes.
He's very highly regarded at Blackburn
Whenever he gets a chance, he pretty much scores. The problem is we have a lack of creativity in our midfield. If Berg can get Vuckevic playing and maybe some service from the wings he could easily get 20+ this season. I'm sure boothyfearssatan will agree he is 100% natural goalscorer.
From last night alone
Looked like he wasn't getting much service. The one time he got the ball in a promising situation he put it away. But thats how he played for us, he is never going to beat three men then curl it into the top corner, but if you give him a sniff in the penalty area, 9 times out of 10 its ending up in the net. Cut off the supply and you stop Rhodes, and I saw him on a few occasions last season going through games barely getting a kick (Charlton away immediatedly springs to mind).
Blackburn have got enough creative players that they should make enough chances for him to get 20 or so this season, then hopefully he'll get the move to the Premiership that he should have got this summer (I'm hoping Blackburn don't go up as I'm still a bit bitter about the way they went about their transfer business).
Bolton
Bolton continue to pick of the Palace coaching staff. Curtis Fleming this time. :(
We wanted him to stay but he went. I can't really blame him though considering his family still live up north.
I wish Curtis well though, he has been magnificently professional over the last two weeks. He managed to 2-0 win over Blackburn and was highly involved in last nights win too.
Dougie had better stay away from Gary Issott, who is our Academy Manager.
Celtic v Barcelona tonight
Celtic struggling with injuries, no idea how it'll go. Should be a great night though, it's our 125th anniversary celebration as well. Gutted I can't be there.
Here's what the Spanish press are saying: http://t.co/biMjln3E
the Catalan press have been getting quite animated about Celtic recently.
The common theme being that their performance in the Nou Camp was ridiculously negative, 'embarrassing', even 'disgusting'?!? One pundit apparenty said it was the worst performance by a visiting team he could remember.
The Spanish get really precious when teams defend well against them, it seems. The way to earn their respect is to come, attack, and get done by five goals.
I only say brief highlights of that game, but i thought Celtic defended better than Barca attacked, ergo deserved something from the game. Would be nice if Celtic pulled off a backs-to-the-wall performance tonight, if only to piss their press off.
Yeah, saw a bit of criticism about that over here as well.
Don't really know what people wanted from us - we went 1-0 up at the Nou Camp, what we're we supposed to do, throw on another striker?
Also, we weren't really playing 8 at the back or anything, Barca just pinned us back the way they do. The game was played in good spirit though, there weren't really any complaints about nasty challenges/dives/time wasting from either team.
It'll probably be slightly more open tonight, but not much. Doesn't look like Hooper will make it, so hearing that Tony Watt will make his Champions League debut up front.
aren't the spanish press notoriously over the top though?
like even putting the UK press to shame?
we played pretty much the perfect game against Barca at the Nou Camp, given the difference in class of the sides.
Hoping Watt gets a start tonight and can see us hopefully scraping a draw.
I know the press over there can be very partisan re Barca/Real, didn't know how that extended to European sides.
Would just like to stay in the game as long as possible, it'll be an incredible atmosphere as long as Barca don't go 3 ahead after 15 mins.
Very obvious thing to say, but the longer we keep them at bay the greater chance we have to use home advantage and nick a goal.
Bristol City lose their sixth game in a row.
I'm starting to think our fifth manager in 2 and a half years will shortly be on the horizon...
I liked the bit for Schalke's 2nd when 6 ball-watching Arsenal defenders
all turned round to see the ball dropping at the feet of a completely unmarked player behind them, 8 yards from goal.
here it is
https://twitter.com/ItsJoeSmee/status/266162704581001216/photo/1
Classic Bouldy.
that's exquisite
To be fair/needlessly defensive
That goal was a complete fluke. If the Schalke striker had spooned it out for a goal kick like any normal player rather than completing the most improbable assist of all time then none of this would have happened.
ew
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/liverpool-launch-anfield-stadium-shirt-182827192.html
i actually think thats a nice design/idea.
doesn't work as a button up shirt though
Should just be a t
Re: The association of black lawyer dude's statement
Seen a couple of things on facebook.
Why is that Spurs fans who
a) aren't Jewish
and
b) never actually go to White Hart Lane
get ridiculously defensive when a discussion about the use of the word *yid* is brought up?
Or Spurs fans who are Jewish
Or fans who do go to White Hart Lane. Or Spurs fans who are both Jewish and go to White Hart Lane. It's probably because they want to retain something that has become part of the club's identity without being thought of as anti-Semitic. And why are we being challenged on it by the Society of Black Lawyers? How is it their place? It seems like they're considering the use of the word 'Yid' to be equivalent to racial epithets aimed at black players. It is not equivalent. It seems like they're saying "Hey, we're not going to just weed racism out of the game, we're going to stand up for our Jewish buddies too!" We do not need standing up for. The statement is ill-informed and patronising.
This is the club's inordinately considered response: "The club does not tolerate any form of racist or abusive chanting. Our guiding principle in respect of the 'Y-word' is based on the point of law itself – the distinguishing factor is the intent with which it is used – if it is used with the deliberate intention to cause offence. This has been the basis of prosecutions of fans of other teams to date. Our fans adopted the chant as a defence mechanism in order to own the term and thereby deflect anti-Semitic abuse. They do not use the term to others to cause any offence, they use it a chant amongst themselves. The club believes that real anti-Semitic abuse such as hissing to simulate the noise of gas chambers is the real evil and the real offence. We believe this is the area that requires a determined and concerted effort from all parties and where we seek greater support to eradicate."
You didn't actually read what I wrote did you?
That's ok, I wasn't expecting you to
I wasn't commentating at all on the use of the word (though I personally dislike its use)
But that people who have absolutely no connection to the use of the word seem to be the ones who go the most over the top in its defence
*sigh*
What's the problem now? I read what you said - sorry if I misinterpreted it. This is how I interpreted it: as a suggestion of latent anti-Semitic sentiment amongst Spurs fans. Can you see how I might have done that? Is that okay? Fucking hell.
I don't even know if this is relevant
For fuck's sake.
*This is how I interpreted it: as a suggestion of latent anti-Semitic sentiment amongst Spurs fans. Can you see how I might have done that?*
Not really. Well, I can see how YOU might have done that, but that's kind of a different question.
^ interpret away
seems strange
that this blanket dismissal of the idea of fans cheerfully using a racial slur to describe themselves is a bit dodgy- he and Spurs apparently speak for every Jewish fan- should come from the same man who described us all entirely out of the blue as anti-Semitic a few weeks back.
I didn't say that all - I just don't see how people with no connection to the word can "reclaim" a racial slur
I have an issue with the whole idea of reclaiming racial slurs, especially in this instance where not every person belongs to the intended recipients
It also has the effect of normalising its use. At school an arsenal supporting kid made a t shirt in technology that said "I hate yids" and wore it. Our Jewish geography teacher understandedly went apoplectic - the lad genuinely couldn't understand what he'd done wrong - he was just saying he didn't like spurs
It's blanket use creates an unthinking use too. I read an admittedly poorly written blog last season from a Jewish fan expressing reservations at how it was used - about 90% of the comments were spurs fans just calling his real concerns being "a tosser".
I went to the north London derby with my mate a couple of seasons ago. And all game - yid this yid that yid army. I understand the historical background of the club , but times have changed (my 2 Jewish mates support arsenal and QPR respectively) and just almost unthinkingly using a racial slur as an adjective like you reds, you blues- troubles me
Also lets take it outside the context of football
My aforementioned spurs supporting mate has met Norman Jay at a load of away games - he's a big fan.
At his DJ set at Latitude he kind of caught NJ's eye in a "I know you" way an shouted "yiddo! Yiddo! Yiddo!". Everyone around us looked horrified
what game are you chumps watching tonight?
might tune in to see how long celtic hold out then watch the chelsea game
Chelsea vs Shakhtar for me
Just to see Shakhtar really
Braga vs Utd
Should be our toughest match (not saying much admittedly), and every game is a potential 5 or 6 goal thriller at the mo.
Good to see Smalling back, though he may struggle due to lack of match fitness, and interested to see how Anderson plays after tiny glimmers of form recently.
Alright you lot?
NO WAI
got a free fiver bet, tell me a big odds banker 2nite
the top half of andy hinchcliffe's head is 20 years younger than the bottom half
Our U19s have beaten Barca's U19s 4-1 in the NextGen
:)))))))))))
Jamie Redknapp is being particularly nauseating even by his own standards.
...
--------------DDG
Valencia-Smalling-Evans-Evra
Nani--Anderson-Giggs--Welbeck
-------Rooney--Hernandez
Smalling back is a big plus, but that midfield is going to offer him zero cover. Should be goals galore mind.
fucking Niall Quinn
he belongs on football league commentaries
with the likes of birtles
Even though Anderson is a fat bastard
hes done some good stuff recently. Gives me a glimmer of hope he might actually lose 3 stone and fulfill his potential.
Shame Welbecks forced to play out wide so much.
watching Celtic v Barca.
Fucking amazing atmosphere.
You just don't get anything like that at Eastlands, Old Trafford, the Emirates, Stamford Bridge, etc. Very occasionally you might at Anfield, but only once every few years.
not that great an episode tonight, dots, lad.
though Masterchef's on, so i'm a bit torn.
Oh, hell no.
GOALYAMA.
haha
celtic playing goal music, ruining the atmosphere
You're supposed to say “small time”
braga should be punishing us...United much more than they are
Bayern 5-0 Lille
AFTER 33 MINUTES!
celtics back nine
They can't come away from this with ANYTHING, surely?
I'm absolutely terrified
Barca are going to cause me a heart attack in the next 45 mins, I can't take the tension.
Barca had 85% possession in the first half
Champions League record apparently.
jesus
what a fucking terrible half of football, wish i could be watching one of these other games. united are completely structureless without carrick.
what about Cleverly/TClevz/the boy Tom?
Is he still struggling to live up to the hype?
didn't start tonight
been fairly mediocre so far this year, i'd still rather punch myself in the balls than have giggs start over him.
thought he's looked very good at times, pedestrian at others.
should be playing today, instead of Giggs.
Group stages are really good this year, aren't they?
Shakhtar looking immense, city's games have all been great / dramatic, barca going behind to everyone, including Celtic twice. Arsenal being vaguely hilariously useless. Malaga,
Best competition in club football.
WHAT A MENTAL GOOD SHAKHTAR GOAL!!!!!
hopefully that will wake things up, clear penalty.
LIGHTS OUT AT BRAGA
Ferg must have pulled the plug.
NOW WE HAVE A GAME!
oh no they'll have to call it off
NAME...ON THE TROPHY!
United conspiracy theorists to the thread!
drinks in, everyone
Anyone got somewhere I can catch the last bit of the Celtic match?
if you know what I mean
2-0 Celtic.
Tony What?
This match should be on ITV
REMEMBER THE NAME!
!!!!
Bloody hell
Congrats Celtic
midfield being over-run; bring on ferdinand and rafael
someone should switch off the lights again
Are celtic gonna bottle this?
nope
AMAZING result
Good ol' Robin
i'm not sure i agree with the commentator's assertion that braga have been the better team
they've had players bombing forward, we've had players passing it across the midfield four. both are equally shit if you're creating nothing from it.
such a poor match
can't really say we deserve the win.
AHAHAHAHAHAHA
fucking barca fanboys will be blubbing tonight
naughty, naughty Wazza.
fallin' over in the box again!
<puts Masterchef on>
'grats to Celtic.
that assistant
http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/40/163653-92223-gil_icon.jpg
Amazing. Just amazing.
Can't think of a better result in my lifetime.
aye, great comeback from Man Utd!
:)
ffs
Chelsea undeserved winner means they'll almost certainly qualify. Hope shakhtar get top still they've been so good. Annoying just because it'll mean seeing the cheapest, tackiest kit ever made a little more often
Rooney dive? Bellend.
Celtic silver lining though on a generally terrible couple of nights
Really hope they qualify and get a good tie.
Would be harder to swallow if that result meant anything to barca, like
Forster had some game didn't he?
I think his only fault was palming the ball to the best player in the world from 3 yards out.
I've only seen Forster have shocking games,
It's so weird that he's apparently good and having wonder matches against messi and co.
Will never forget his absolute gift of a goal to give beckford a last minute winner, in a vital 3 points against norwich when we went up. Or his two mistakes for Newcastle in a friendly against us last year.
Also the man has no forehead
The guy is steady as a rock, man
But you're right- I never saw him play for Newcastle, but when he came to Celtic he looked mega-uncertain and shaky at times, and the pundits were getting pretty critical of him.
He's just improved a lot and has great goalkeeping coaches at sellick, I think.
what was hernandez doing there? :'D
35 goals in 8 games!
i think he was trying to one-up arsenal/barcelona
by literally walking through a defence.
3-1. good result. finished top. hopefully Evans isn't injured. everyone else should be fine to play on Saturday.
:'D
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A7IS1NfCQAAWbVc.jpg
:D
Darth Fergus
shit i meant Palpatine
So so happy
I have no voice left mind. Should be some good/terrible Celtic related puns tomorrow.
watt is going on/watt happened/watt's the score messi?
Shock aye the Nou
http://i.imgur.com/z9blM.jpg
Incredible headline work!!
It's about the only part of the red-top papers I really appreciate, and that is why.
Victor
As a Palace fan I'm absolutely delighted for Victor. Just a shame he now plays for Chelsea.
Such a nice, polite and down to earth kid when a Palace. Sort of the anti-Chelsea.
16.4% possession
The lowest ever in a CL win. Barca are gonna be fuming. :''D
their Twitter account was rather gracious
it's not so much Barca themselves...
more the press in Spain, particularly the Catalan press who'll lose the plot, but fuck 'em.
wouldn't surprise me if they just went with a tombstone on the front cover and a headline along the lines of RIP FOOTBALL.
you're not allowed to defend well against Barca or Spain. doing anything but playing into their hands and letting them spank your bottoms is frowned upon.
I look forward to them losing to Benfica and Spartak now.
Shakhtar would be a really good side
if their keeper wasn't so wank.
Celtic :)
fuck me, celtic won
CELTIC
good to see celtic finally get a win of note
shame their fans wont stop harping on about it for the next 20 years
wouldn't you?