12/13 Football Thread

[Captain Clarkie]

Lahm got in UEFA's team at left-back. More baffling was the inclusion of Sergio Ramos at right back.

Ah yes, my bad, I meant the FIFA team of the year.

[Captain Clarkie]

I think that Adkins decision must have been made some time ago, it makes little sense otherwise.

[Captain Clarkie]

I'd like to see all of them earn what they really deserve and pay the tax most of them have been avoiding. I'd also like to see a proper socialist/left wing populist political party push a fairer agenda but that's not going to happen.

I'm not saying I think they're paid what they deserve, but who is? I'm saying you don't see the same level of outrage towards Film and tv stars, Formula One Drivers, Golfers, and other massive earners.

[king mob]

I think that Adkins decision must have been made some time ago, it makes little sense otherwise.

One of my mates is a Southampton fan and he's saying that nobody saw this coming, especially as Adkins had got the team playing good football and getting some excellent results. The feeling was he'd be given til the end of the season at least.

[king mob]

I'm not saying I think they're paid what they deserve, but who is? I'm saying you don't see the same level of outrage towards Film and tv stars, Formula One Drivers, Golfers, and other massive earners.

You don't and I seem to remember a discussion along these lines in the politics thread a while back. I agree though, it's odd you don't.

[Captain Clarkie]

One of my mates is a Southampton fan and he's saying that nobody saw this coming, especially as Adkins had got the team playing good football and getting some excellent results. The feeling was he'd be given til the end of the season at least.

And yet the decision already made previous to recent results is the only thing that makes sense. New Manager already holding a press conference, recent good form being ignored etc.

[Beni]

Maybe off top but I want to ask if any of you play, or played in the past?

I played a lot of goalkeeper before, more recently played right back. Played in local community league from 2000 to 2011.

[mcgaffer]

I started out as a winger, really fast and a good crosser. I got a trial with Bolton youth (I also regularly played with Nicky Hunt on my local field, who never seemed that good) and I played in a match against Man City youth which included Bradley Wright-Phillips. I didn't impress, but I did enjoy myself. I found my niche as a sunday league pub footballer as a defensive mid, despite my speed I found I played better when I slowed play down and dictated it, I'd always had good aim and pinged passes and crosses across the field as well as being a good manmarker.
As much as I love football my main skill was rugby. Rugby union. And I had two trials with Newcastle Falcons at the age of 16 (Jonny Wilkinson was playing for them at the time) I wasn't good enough and I have no regrets there. But Christ I was a bloody good amateur. I won the club colours for my town at the age of 18 (which meant I was an honorary member for life, and no one under the age of 27 had won it before). But I suffered bad injuries in my mid to late twenties, and I now only play rugby or football for fun, if required.

In terms of football though I couldn't hold a candle to my dad. He had trials as a youth player at Bolton, and Preston (Bobby Charlton was the manager at the time, and my dad clattered him with a hell of a tackle, then spent the rest of the match running away as Bobby tried to repay the compliment. He kicked ten shades of shit out of my dad and then congratulated him at the end for not crying off and exiting the match) My dad played two whole seasons for Wigan youth and joined Everton's books. He played two matches for the reserves and then broke his leg on a roofing job he was doing to put money in his pocket. Never the same player again, but regularly played in the Bolton pub leagues and was constantly mentioned as motm in the local papers.

[mcgaffer]

If we formed a CBR football team, I could just about manage as a defender now (as long as any nippy attackers didn't mind having their legs kicked out from under them)

[Puma]

I started off as a keeper for a number of years before I switch to center defender. I was known for my (as my Dad put it) bulldog style, no one was going past me. Offensively I was good at crosses into the box and taking corner kicks, never much of a scorer. My fondest memory is of playing against Michelle Akers (US Women's National team, Olympic team, & she received the FIFA Order of Merit) in High School; she was a terrific, focused player even then.

[mcgaffer]

Looks like we have a decent defence in place here.

[Alan Lynch]

Crikey, there is the makings of a solid backline in here. I haven't played a full 11 a side game for years now but when I did I usually ended up at right back. Not to any sort of level mind, only the odd game here and there.

[king mob]

Maybe off top but I want to ask if any of you play, or played in the past?

I played a lot of goalkeeper before, more recently played right back. Played in local community league from 2000 to 2011.

Played and coached kids til the Guinness and pies took their stodgy grip. Tried to get good enough to play professional, or at the least semi professional with the mighty Partick Thistle in the early/mid 80's but frankly wasn't anywhere near good enough in either a defensive position or in goal. Considered an option to try out for Queens Park but I'd left school and started work, so the logistics wouldn't have worked out sadly.

Coached kids when I moved to Bristol for a year or so, but again, work got in the way. Happy now to point and prod from the sidelines.

[king mob]

If we formed a CBR football team, I could just about manage as a defender now (as long as any nippy attackers didn't mind having their legs kicked out from under them)

I'll be Neil Ruddock and be in the bar shagging the chairman's daughter in the bog.

[JDogindy]

This is happy news for me, as Indianapolis will have a NASL team next season with long-term goals. In other words, we'll be getting a Division 2 club that'll be part of Lamar Hunt Open Cups.

Have to admit that it'll be good to see FC Edmonton and Carolina come here, like in the old days of the Blast. Of course, I hope the team will be a lot better than the Blast ever was.

And I voted to have the team named "Indianapolis United".