11/12 Football Thread

[king mob]

Well, I'm only able to speak for myself and my friends, but barring one liverpool fan, we're all quite pleased. Experienced at international level, continental experience, we all think he's going to be more hands on at the new Burton centre than Redknapp would've been, it more seems to be the press throwing their toys out of the pram than anyone else.

With Redknapp talking about using Scholes and relying upon the remnants of the 'Golden Generation', I know form talking to English mates that Redknapps wouldn't have been popular just for that, let alone the fact he's only one an FA Cup as opposed to Hodgson's quite impressive CV. Also, if England are being honest he's more likely to get more out of average players than Redknapp would, but that's not stopping the media mounting up the hate against Hodgson.

Meanwhile at the ongoing Rangers saga, a preferred bidder has been found but this is possibly the worst possible bidder for the club as the general consensus is that Miller is a front for someone else, possibly Craig Whyte. The quicker Rangers resolve themselves the quicker we can rewrite Scottish football.

[king mob]

Son of a bitch! Cisse's goals are worth looking at apparently.

The second goal is the best goal you'll see all season by a mile.

[mcgaffer]

Chelsea defender David Luiz, 25, has emerged as a shock summer target for Spanish giants Barcelona, despite a mixed opening season at Stamford Bridge.

Shanghai Shenhua head coach Nicolas Anelka hopes to lure Manchester United striker Michael Owen to China. The 32-year-old is out of contract this summer.

Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita, the 32-year-old Mali international thought to be wanted by Liverpool, could be about to snub the Anfield side and agree to a switch to AC Milan.

Sochaux's Marvin Martin, a possible target for Arsenal, looks set to replace Eden Hazard at Lille if the midfielder moves to an English club as expected this summer.

Southampton want to mark their return to the Premier League by signing £4m-rated Wolves winger Matt Jarvis, 25.

Montpellier captain Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, 22, has reportedly expressed a desire to play for Manchester United or Arsenal next season.

Tottenham could be embroiled in a summer battle with Benfica and Inter Milan for PSV playmaker Georginio Wijnaldum, the 21-year-old Dutch international who has a £20m release clause in his contract, according to Portuguese paper A Bola.

Meanwhile the Gunners have joined the long list of clubs interested in the services of SC Heerenveen striker Bas Dost, 22, who rejected a move to Aston Villa because he will only move to a "big club".

Reading manager Brian McDermott has axed 13 players - including Andy Griffin, Brian Howard and Tomasz Cywka - from his promotion winning squad due to the Premier League's 25-man squad rules.

Martin Olsson, Junior Hoilett, Yakubu, Paul Robinson and Steven Nzonzi will all leave Blackburn Rovers this summer if the club are relegated to the Championship.

Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila was forced to miss his side's clash with Ajaccio this weekend after his arrest for allegedly attacking a teenager, frustrating scouts from Arsenal and Inter Milan, who were due to watch the 21-year-old.

A drunken fan was reportedly prevented from attacking Blackburn manager Steve Kean by a security guard, after the offender broke into the club's training ground.

England manager Roy Hodgson hopes to persuade West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster, 31, to come out of international retirement, but the Baggies stopper looks set to stand by his decision.

Hodgson is set to receive good news from Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand. The 33-year-old is reportedly planning to tell the new national manager he will make himself available for selection for Euro 2012.

Everton captain Phil Neville, 35, and Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer, 41, are being targeted by Hodgson for the job of assistant manager.

Meanwhile, there are reports Paul Ince has already been offered a spot on the England coaching staff. The 44-year-old played under Hodgson at Inter Milan.

Britain's number one tennis player Andy Murray and former Manchester United defender Gary Neville are among those to have criticised the Sun's front page story about Hodgson's appointment.

West Bromwich Albion fans are planning to don England shirts and Hodgson tribute masks to see off their departing boss at the Baggies' final home game of the season against Arsenal.

[Captain Clarkie]

The second goal is the best goal you'll see all season by a mile.

So I've heard from a friend who was at the Bridge, won't be able to stream them until late tomorrow night though.

[Puma]

Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila was forced to miss his side's clash with Ajaccio this weekend after his arrest for allegedly attacking a teenager, frustrating scouts from Arsenal and Inter Milan, who were due to watch the 21-year-old.

If I was a scout I think I'd be more concerned about the arrest than frustrated by his missing a match.

[mcgaffer]

Fiorentina boss Delio Rossi has been sacked for physically attacking his own player in a spat over a substitution.
Ex-Manchester United triallist Adem Ljajic sarcastically applauded Rossi's decision to replace him in Wednesday's Serie A match against Novara.
Rossi then clambered into the dug-out and aimed a punch at the forward.
Club president Andrea Della Valle dismissed Rossi after the match. Team manager Vincenzo Guerini will replace Rossi until the end of the season.

[Alan Lynch]

Meanwhile at the ongoing Rangers saga, a preferred bidder has been found but this is possibly the worst possible bidder for the club as the general consensus is that Miller is a front for someone else, possibly Craig Whyte. The quicker Rangers resolve themselves the quicker we can rewrite Scottish football.

First I've heard of the White rumour, although there are serious questions over exactly why Miller wants to buy Rangers. He's not a fan and he surely can't expect to make a serious profit from it.

The second goal is the best goal you'll see all season by a mile.

Agreed. It's stunning, even the Chelsea fan I was watching with agreed. Didier Drogba's reaction also tells a story - he was as impressed with it as the rest of us.

[king mob]

C
Everton captain Phil Neville, 35, and Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer, 41, are being targeted by Hodgson for the job of assistant manager.

Meanwhile, there are reports Paul Ince has already been offered a spot on the England coaching staff. The 44-year-old played under Hodgson at Inter Milan.

Shearer. Dearie me.Ince at least makes some sense.

[king mob]

First I've heard of the White rumour, although there are serious questions over exactly why Miller wants to buy Rangers. He's not a fan and he surely can't expect to make a serious profit from it.

Miller has no real motive to buy the club, and there's doubts as to whether he'd have the money to run Rangers, so this added with the complete lack of what he'd do with Whyte's 85% that he still owns is launching the theories that Miller's a frontman, if not for Whyte then someone else.

[Puma]

I'm glad we won but that was a rather dull Cup match.



and, of course, goal line technology comes into the picture yet again.

[Captain Clarkie]

I'm glad we won but that was a rather dull Cup match.



and, of course, goal line technology comes into the picture yet again.

Watched with a hangover and two Liverpool fans. I did not enjoy the last half-hour. Still, Silverware.

[king mob]

I'm glad we won but that was a rather dull Cup match.



and, of course, goal line technology comes into the picture yet again.

It was a dreadful, dreadful game and Chelsea's 10-0-0 formation in the last 20 minutes was frankly embarrassing for the Chelsea fans I was watching it with as our Scouser mates were ripping the piss out of them. The game wasn't helped by Liverpool forgetting to turn up til an hour had passed.

I can understand Chelsea's negative football (this wasn't a defensive display, it was about killing off the game totally) but I have no idea what formation Liverpool were playing, who was playing where and who was supposed to be doing what apart from Craig Bellamy who was the only Liverpool player in the first half who seemed to care. They seemed to work better with Andy Carroll (whose goal was the only piece of quality in the game) but even then I was looking at Gerrard and Henderson and wondering what they were supposed to be doing?!

And yes, there should be some sort of goal line technology, as that shot looked to me that it'd crossed the line initially, but replays clearly showed the shot was well saved. As for the kick off of 5.15 that was bloody stupid, and yes, I understand it was to cash in on the American and Asian audience but as usual the authorities don't seem to give a toss about the fan here, and especially the fans who actually pay to go to a game.

[king mob]

Some little star has uploaded the 2002 documentary about Partick Thistle's promotion season in 2001/02. Prepare for an hour of world class power swearing, bullying, John Lambie smoking tabs while swearing at players and the ongoing saga of Thistle's ack of success.

[Captain Clarkie]

(whose goal was the only piece of quality in the game)

Not true, Chelsea's second, and a lot of their counter-attacks were quality, Liverpool's build up to the Cech save on the line was quality, as was the save itself.

[Aubergine~!]

Shit. That's the League to Man City.

Hoping I'm wrong, obviously, but United have well and truly bottled it.