General Football Nonsense

[Master Splinter]

Kung-fu keeper 'to be charged with attempted murder'

A Brazilian goalkeeper is to be prosecuted for attempted murder after a sickening attack during an U19 match.


Sport Recife goalkeeper Gustavo violently kung fu-kicked Vasco da Gama's Elivelton in the neck and was sacked by his club when footage of the incident emerged.


The referee immediately cancelled the match after the incident as Elivelton was rushed to hospital but remarkably he has escaped without serious injury.


Police have already talked to the victim plus five other players from Vasco, while they have made plans to interview the 18-year-old perpetrator and five of his now former team-mates.


However, the police officer in charge of the case has already confirmed his intention to charge Gustavo with attempted murder.


Elivelton underwent a number of tests in hospital after the attack but no permanent damage was found and he has already forgiven his attacker.


"I just hope he no longer has such an attitude on the field in the future, whatever team he is playing for," he said.


The offending goalkeeper has also apologised and said he wanted to do so in person.


"I'm sorry for what I did, I wanted to speak with him personally so I could apologise to him to try and calm him too," he said.


Gustavo could be banned from football for life for his action.


http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/article/62179/



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOxt4jwzb08&feature=related

:haha: :haha:

[Darth Vela]

Wow.

Hope he doesn't get banned for life so we can play him against Chelsea and Stoke...

[Master Splinter]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7kxTPJGeP8&feature=player_embedded

:haha:

[Letters]

:doh: Footballers really are such dicks.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Too early for the Prem thread, so, Tottenham vs Everton has been postponed.

[Cripps_orig]

Turkish FA have banned men from attending games for certain clubs as a way to deal with hooliganism :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Interesting idea. Would love to know what the other teams supporters would chant. :lol:

[IBK]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/article/62179/



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOxt4jwzb08&feature=related

:haha: :haha:

Attempted murder. WTF?

[Master Splinter]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0UMX-Rgnq0&feature=player_embedded

:haha:

Diving GHEL refs :bow:.

[Master Splinter]

Luton Town's Alex Lawless breaks hand in wall punch

Luton Town midfielder Alex Lawless has broken his hand by punching a wall at half-time in Saturday's loss to York.

With the Hatters 3-0 down, the Welshman, 28, did not re-emerge for the second half against his former club.

He will be out for about a month and has been disciplined by the club, with the punishment undisclosed.

"He does care and it was against his former club, I can understand the frustration," boss Gary Brabin told BBC Three Counties Radio.


"But his act has now cost us for the next month or so.

"I've spoken to Alex at length, he's absolutely gutted. He understands [the punishment] but we'll be keeping that in-house. He realises he's let us down and he'll be dealt with accordingly."

Lawless was already suspended for the visit of Cambridge United on Tuesday.

Saturday's defeat sent morning leaders Luton crashing from first to sixth in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15063746.stm

:doh:.

[IBK]

Bolton defender Gary Cahill could be in line for a stunning move to Barcelona as a long-term replacement for Carles Puyol. (Daily Star) 27/09/11

:lol:

[Master Splinter]

Bolton defender Gary Cahill could be in line for a stunning move to Barcelona as a long-term replacement for Carles Puyol. (Daily Star) 27/09/11
:lol:

:lol:

I saw that this morning.

It must be fun constantly making things up.

[Master Splinter]

Kettering strikers Moses Ashikodi and Jean-Paul Marna were sent-off for fighting each other as Hayes & Yeading won an eight-goal thriller.

Marna had made it 5-3 in stoppage time when the duo came to blows.

Hayes raced into a 3-0 lead through Tom Collins' drilled shot, a Louie Soares penalty and Pierre Joseph Dubois' header.

Ashikodi and Adam Cunnington replied for Kettering but Hector Mackie and a second from Soares kept Hayes ahead.

The game desceded into farce in the closing minutes. First, Ashikodi saw his penalty saved by Delroy Preddi.

Then Marna grabbed a consolation goal before the two forwards were red carded for scrapping to complete a miserable evening for struggling Kettering.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14982404.stm

:haha:

GHEL fest :bow:.

[Cripps_orig]

http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/oddballs/876658-jone-samuelsen-scores-60-yard-wonder-header-in-odd-grenland-win

Best headed goal of all time

[Cripps_orig]

A little more than a year after hosting a successful World Cup, South Africa woke up with a giant hangover after a failure to understand the rules saw them miss out on qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations.
http://d.yimg.com/i//ng/sp/eurosport/20111009/25/a47798a697eb1e7343a3f91aaff083ee.jpg Related links



Libya qualify for CAN as giants miss out (http://www.goonersweb.co.uk/08102011/58/world-football-libya-qualify-giants-miss.html)
Bet on Football - Get £25 Freehttp://serve.williamhill.com/promoLoadDisplay?member= euro11textlink&campaign=DEFAULT&channel=betnow_button&zone=1471622487&lp=0 (http://serve.williamhill.com/promoRedirect?member=euro11textlink&campaign=DEFAULT&channel=other&zone=593233285&lp=1471633447)






Coach Pitso Mosimane admitted he had changed tactics and played for a draw in Saturday's final qualifier at home to Sierra Leone, thinking it was enough to win the group and qualify for the 2012 finals.
However, South Africa actually needed a win to avoid being eliminated on head-to-head results between the three teams tied at the top of the table, but no one appeared to have studied the regulations correctly.
Despite playing out the draw, they were pipped by outsiders Niger, who qualified for the first time.
More embarrassingly, the Bafana Bafana celebrated their supposed qualification at the end of the scoreless stalemate in Nelspruit (pictured), thinking they had done enough to advance to next year's finals co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
"It's very sad for South Africa because the country deserves to be in next year's Nations Cup. I feel like I have failed," Mosimane told reporters.
The coach, who took over after the World Cup, was under the impression that goal difference was the determining factor to decide the group winners and when he was told that leaders Niger were losing in Egypt, he changed tactics and settle for a draw.
Niger had led South Africa by a point going into the final round of qualifiers on Saturday.
"Do you think I would have left (striker Lehlohonolo) Majoro on the bench and put on a midfielder if I knew that we needed a goal? It doesn't make sense," Mosimane said, before criticising the regulations.
"Africa is a jungle, my friend," Mosimane added. "The European and South American formats are so much better because everything is running smoothly, but it's very difficult to play in Africa".
However, Mosimane was not the only one to fall foul of a misreading of the rules.
The state-run African Broadcasting Corporation proclaimed qualification and the South African Football Association president Kirsten Nematandani even went on television to congratulate the team.


http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com//09102011/58/world-football-blundering-south-africa-miss-africa-cup-nations.html

English and the SA cricket team :haha:

KP :haha:

Trott :haha:

Strauss :haha:

And they lost in the Rugby :haha:

Mandela :haha:

Morgan Freeman :haha:

Matt Damon :haha:

[Master Splinter]

:haha:

Charlize Theron :haha:

Imhotep :haha:

Boooooooooooooooooooth :haha:

Radebe :haha:

Epic fail indeed.

[Cripps_orig]

Must be a South African thing. SHaun Pollock did the same for the Cricket team at the 2003 World Cup :lol:

[PGFC]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2047219/Craig-Bellamy-Racism-probe-launched-Liverpool-star-taunted-Brighton-fans.html


Football chiefs are investigating an official racism complaint about Liverpool star Craig Bellamy after he was called a ‘sheep-*****’ during a game.
Let's Kick Racism Out and the FA have launched inquiries.

The Wales and Liverpool striker was allegedly the victim of 'inhuman, degrading and vile' taunts by rival fans.
Bellamy was targeted by fans of Brighton when Liverpool played them in the Carling Cup last month. Liverpool won the tie 2-1, with Bellamy scoring the opening goal for the Premiership side.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2047219/Craig-Bellamy-Racism-probe-launched-Liverpool-star-taunted-Brighton-fans.html#ixzz1aOJsUjSf

So, Sheep-shagging is automatically associated with the Welsh is it? and not just an alleged proclivity of that horrible cunt Bellamy, who knew?

[GP]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP1N4PWneMI&feature=related

Somewhere in Coventry, Richard Keys is foaming at the mouth...

[PGFC]

I never get a smile like that when I do that on the tube :sulk:

[Cripps_orig]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3881742/Pesky-pranksters-mock-Emile-Hesky-on-FIFA-2012.html

Emile Heskey :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

Stuart Pearce is named GBs manager for the Olympics

Hope Powell is named for the womens

[Xhaka Can’t]

How come I'm always the last to know?

[Master Splinter]

I hope Powell gets the job too.

Sorry.

[Cripps_orig]

I hope Powell gets the job too.

Sorry.

Obvious and predictable. Still, made me chuckle

[Marc Overmars]

Wait, so there will be a GB team next summer?

Interesting.

Will it just be made up of English players because the others don't want to lose their independency?

[Cripps_orig]

The Scottish, Welsh and NI FAs refuse to let their players play in it but its not up to them.

[Marc Overmars]

It will probably be made up of shite ass players anyway because I can't imagine Wenger releasing the likes of Jack and Theo. Especially if they have already been to Euro 2012.

Beckham will be one of the over age players I bet.

[Cripps_orig]

Barry Bannan arrested for drink driving :doh:

[Master Splinter]

Barry Bannan arrested for drink driving :doh:

He's on his way :bow:.

Time for him to produce some bastards now.

[Master Splinter]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPu8AUwDMWU


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=iv&src_vid=SR5Ca61-xdM&annotation_id=annotation_964687&v=TLqamBO21SA

:wacko:

The player who got hit has apparently lost hearing in that ear and is out for three months.

The players who attacked the cunt should have been knighted, not sent off.

The match was abandoned, unsurprisingly.

Full story here. (http://www.101greatgoals.com/incredible-scenes-fan-attacks-steaua-bucharest-player-2-sent-off-for-retaliation-keeper-hit-by-flare-match-at-petrolul-ploiesti-suspended/113027/)

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Newcastle are to rename St James' Park as the Sports Direct Arena as they look to sell the naming rights to their stadium.

The Magpies hope to follow fellow Premier League clubs Arsenal and Manchester City by licensing the naming rights to the ground which has been their home since 1886.

St James' Park, which has a capacity of over 52,000, could join Emirates Stadium and the Etihad Stadium in adopting the name of an external backer if the plans announced today come to fruition.

Until the club can find a sponsor to buy the naming rights the ground will be named after owner Mike Ashley's sports retail company.

Newcastle originally planned to allow sponsors to link their brand to St James' Park but that idea, put forward in 2009, is now replaced by the offer to purchase full naming rights.

Deliver success
Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias said: ''Our aim for Newcastle United is to continue to deliver success for the fans and everyone associated with the club. We must make this club financially self-sufficient in order to deliver that success.

"To grow sustainably and allow us to invest in our future, we will need to rely increasingly heavily on commercial income.

"These are very difficult economic times and the board have a responsibility to maximise all revenue streams for the benefit of the club.

"Stadium rebranding offers a lucrative way for clubs to secure significant additional income.

"When we initially launched our plans at the end of 2009, we invited sponsors to attach their brand to that of St James' Park.

"However, it has become clear that in order to make the proposition as commercially attractive as possible, a potential sponsor must be given the opportunity to fully rebrand the stadium.''

Opportunity
Llambias added that a shirt sponsorship deal might also be available to any company interested in taking on the naming rights of the stadium.

"Naming the stadium the Sports Direct Arena helps up to showcase the opportunity to interested parties,'' he said.

"We are now actively seeking a long-term sponsor wishing to acquire full naming rights for the stadium.

"Our shirt sponsorship deal with Northern Rock will also expire at the end of this season, which presents would-be sponsors with the opportunity to acquire both the naming rights and shirt sponsorship deals.''

.


http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11678/7301078/Magpies-drop-St-James-

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mike Ashley. :haha:

Just when they might have a solid foundation, he can't help himself but sabotage it.

[Marc Overmars]

Rambo in the team GB kit.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/11/08/article-0-0EA6FF6800000578-375_468x540.jpg

Also, the kit will go on sale with a RRP of £52. :doh:

[fakeyank]

Mike Ashley. :haha:

Just when they might have a solid foundation, he can't help himself but sabotage it.

Would love it if they go on a losing streak now. Those Geordies will go fucking mental! :lol:

Its very likely they could as well... dont they play Chelsea, City in the coming weeks?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Yeah, Citeh away, Man Utd away, Chelsea at home.

[Marc Overmars]

They will take 1 point from those 3 games.

[Niall_Quinn]

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11678/7301078/Magpies-drop-St-James-

They can name it what they want but I don't know any Geordies who will call it anything other than St James Park. We can't be far off from renaming the teams now, Exxon Mobil Liberators vs Sainsbury Scalpers (or Man Utd vs Arsenal for the fuddy-duddys)

[Cripps_orig]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3916849/Is-this-the-worst-own-goal-ever-Check-out-Virgil-Vries-blunder.html

:lol:

Must Get

[Cripps_orig]

1538: Incredible story from Germany where the Bundesliga match between Cologne and Mainz was called off 40 minutes before kick-off after the referee tried to commit suicide. Babak Rafati was found in his hotel room less than two hours before the scheduled start time. The 41 year-old is in Hospital his condition is unknown.


:blink:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

That's horrible stuff.

[Cripps_orig]

LA Galaxy win the Superbowl/Stanley Cup/World Series etc

Beckham played a part in the winner scored by Lando Calrissian whatever

Becks :bow:

Great player

Must Get

[Marc Overmars]

He'll go to PSG then retire after the Olympics.

[Cripps_orig]

Hope he captains the team at the Olympics and wins the gold

Not watched Olympic football since the 1996 and 2000 Olympics.

Kanu and Lauren :bow:

Who won in 04 and 08?

[Marc Overmars]

I think your boys Argentina won gold at both.

[Cripps_orig]

Argentina :bow:

Gago and Di Maria :bow:

The latter scoring the winner in the final

Messi :haha:

[Cripps_orig]

German referee Babak Rafati, who was found in his hotel room after trying to kill himself at the weekend, has been released from hospital.

Rafati, 41, cut his wrists on Saturday before Cologne's Bundesliga match against Mainz 05, which was postponed.

His father Djalal said: "He said he loved me. He wanted to apologise. I am very happy that he is OK."

Rafati was found by his assistants in his hotel room bath tub two hours before the scheduled kick-off.

German Soccer Federation (DFB) president Theo Zwanziger praised the three officials for saving Rafati's life.

Zwanziger said on Saturday that he suspected the reason for the suicide attempt was the "immense" pressure on officials.

According to his father, Rafati seemed "happy" to be refereeing and had showed no signs of depression.

Rafati, who works as a banker, began refereeing DFB matches in 1997 and has officiated 84 Bundesliga games since his promotion to the top flight in 2005.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15822130.stm

More reason to get technology involved asap

[Master Splinter]

American Samoa football team celebrates first ever win

The team ranked as the worst international team in the world has won a game for the first time in its history.

American Samoa beat Tonga 2-1, a victory which came after 30 straight defeats in almost two decades.

They are currently joint bottom of world governing body Fifa's international rankings.

But reports said the players and coach of the Pacific nation celebrated as if they had won a major championship.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15879867

Tonga :haha:.

Although they are only two places above them in the rankings :lol:.

[Master Splinter]

Couldn't think of another place to put this. :unsure:


Uefa president Michel Platini reiterates his opposition to goal line technology. "How often do you have an incident where there is a real doubt as to whether the ball crossed the line? Perhaps once every 40 years," he insists. "I'm afraid that if you start with technology which is used once every 40 years, it could lead to other uses for the technology and I'm afraid that maybe this could lead to video refereeing. I don't think this technology is really good for football."

Platini :doh:.

A true imbecile.

He's a bigger blight on football than Blatter.

[Coney]

Couldn't think of another place to put this. :unsure:



Platini :doh:.

A true imbecile.

He's a bigger blight on football than Blatter.

"...once every 40 years". Huh? Which planet has he been on?

[Cripps_orig]

:haha:

And this is the guy who will take over from Blatter

Football :rose:

[LDG]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-16216966

Dennis Bender strikes again!

:haha:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Samuel Eto'o has been banned for 15 matches by the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) for his role in a players' strike.

The strike followed a row over bonuses after a tournament in Morocco in November and led to the cancellation of a friendly against Algeria.

The Cameroon captain, 30, has 10 days to appeal against the ban.

Vice-captain Enoh Eyong received a two-match ban, while Tottenham's Benoit Assou-Ekotto was fined $1,980 (£1,276).

The decision was published on the federation's website on Friday.

The federation said Eto'o was banned for "violating the internal regulations of the national team relating to loyalty and obligation of participating in a match".

SAMUEL ETO'O FACTFILEContinue reading the main story Born: Nkon, Cameroon, 10 March, 1981
Cameroon caps: 109
International goals: 54
International honours: African Cup of Nations (2000, 2002), LG Cup (2011)
Clubs: Real Madrid, Leganes (loan), Espanyol (loan), Mallorca, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Anzhi Makhachkala.
Cameroon have failed to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals, so the first games Eto'o will miss are the Indomitable Lions' opening games in qualifying for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2014 World Cup.

Cameroon begin their bid to reach the 2013 Nations Cup finals against Guinea Bissau on 29 February, with the return leg of the tie on 17 June.

They start their quest to reach the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with a match on 1 June against DR Congo.

Eto'o is the most decorated player in African history having won the European Champions League three times during his time at Barcelona and Inter Milan.

He has been named African Footballer of the Year four times and won an Olympic gold medal with Cameroon in 2000 and the Africa Cup of Nations in 2000 and 2002.

Eto'o moved to Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala in August 2011, becoming one of the best paid sportsmen in the world


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16182392.stm

[Japan Shaking All Over]

GH 'money grabbing' WUM

[McNamara That Ghost...]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4Pjeba0TDg&feature=player_embedded

Robben. :doh:

[GP]

:lol:

It's funny cos he's bald.

[PGFC]

Love this...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16300956.stm

[Cripps_orig]

AZ manager was spot on

[PGFC]

Rumour has it's a personal thing, the goalkeeper is/was seeing the blokes ex-, the bloke shouldn't even have been in the ground, he was banned a year ago...

[Coney]

Rumour has it's a personal thing, the goalkeeper is/was seeing the blokes ex-, the bloke shouldn't even have been in the ground, he was banned a year ago...

So a 'domestic' then. None of the Ref's business. Unless the keeper was shagging the ref's bint as well.

[Boss]

Duberry (the player Henry wrecked in our 5-0 win over Leeds) dressed up as Princess Leia:

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02089/michael-duberry_2089253a.jpg

:haha:

[Coney]

He's got a nipple erection! :yikes:

[GP]

FC Sion docked 36 points :lol:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16366160.stm

[Master Splinter]

United fans thought they were getting hauled back into the CL.

United and United fans :haha:.

[LDG]

Schteve McClaren ish back ash bosh for FShe Twente.

Yesh!

Schteve :bow:

[Young Guns 11]

Schteve McClaren ish back ash bosh for FShe Twente.

Yesh!

Schteve :bow:

:haha:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Vladimir Romanov statement.

As soon as Hearts moved closer to the third spot the monkeys start to squeal, lie and create conspiracy plots.

I thought I had expressed myself clearly - I am selling the club and I am not going to give any more money away. It is pointless to support show business, not football. Hearts is now living out of its own budget.

Everyone knew, including players, media and SPL that the wages are going to be paid as soon as the money was received for Eggert Jonsson, who was sold last year. But media still tried to create conspiracy plots about the team and managed to get a prompt and unwise decision from the SPL meeting, which the club asked it to postpone until next week in order to get opportunity to pay the wages.

As such I have not cheated anyone. The monkeys tricked the SPL, fans and themselves and showed who is in charge of the football mafia. They will continue to cheat as this is their job.

I am used to their lies. I remember when the fight started between two people at the end of one of our AGMs and all the cameras were there as they were expecting it. Later that episode was covered by all major stations as backdrop of the AGM, trying to portray the club as a mess.

I feel sorry for the poor monkeys. Mowgli is asking to work for the publicity of the Old Firm, that's why they have to lie and tell tall stories.

But there is no future for Scottish football while these media monkeys are in charge. Not just for football, but for the whole country. When people tried to protest in the streets, media turned it into chaos, demonstrating masked instigators and hired gangsters in front of the cameras.

I have nothing to prove. Seven years ago I proved that there was no football, but only show business. When Kaunas threw Rangers out of the competition you switched your TV off to avoid embarrassment. Fear takes away the wisdom.

I am going to reiterate once again - I am not going to gift the club money anymore. The only thing left for the club to do is to develop its own youth and attempt to enlighten people who have been deceived and held as part of a stupid crowd by Mowgli.

The progress is there - Mowgli is under prosecution and in exile. But until they open a zoo for the monkeys and keep them in cages, they will keep jumping on people who are straightforward and not afraid to speak."

:haha:

[Master Splinter]

:haha:

[Flavs]

Is that why we have the right and proper qualifications in England so we don't get people like him?

[GP]

Neil Warnock sacked?

I'm hearing a rumour.

[Rors]

Looks that way. Like him or not, ludicrous decision.

[Rors]

Sparky to take over...

[Master Splinter]

Oh FFS.

I thought I was first.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

They'll go down.

[Rors]

We were all beaten by Talksport anyway. That hurts dude..

[Dennis Bendtner]

Colin Wanker :pal:

I thought it was kind of inevitable given how he dependent he was on the transfer window keeping them up.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Still at least it gets rid of him before an unregistered player can send them down...

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Messi wins the Ballon d'Or again.

Guardiola gets the coach award whilst Neymar wins the Puskas award for best goal.

Ferguson gets some random cop out award.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Messi :bow:

Ronaldo :pal:

Pep :bow:

Mourinho :pal:

[GP]

Messi :bow:

Ronaldo :pal:

Pep :bow:

Mourinho :pal:

:gp:

[Rors]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/09012012/2/cantona-wants-run-french-election-paper.html :pray:

[Coney]

I bet the sardines are running scared now.

[Rors]

Cantona on Sarkozy - "Le Pen with a mask". He could be on to something here after all.
As long as he doesn't say "Don't let anybody tell you it can't be different this time"....

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bayern Munich vs India is on at the moment.

:haha:

[PGFC]

Good luck to Barnet FC tonight, 180 minutes from Wembley? well if the A1's busy, yeh probably :good:

[LDG]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/default.stm

RPQ appoint Hughes.

lol.

[PGFC]

A 2 1/2 years contract? that's ambitious...

[Syn]

Bayern Munich vs India is on at the moment.

:haha:

Bayern are leading 4-0 at HT. :haha:

Seems their football team is almost as bad as their cricket team.

[GP]

Bayern are leading 4-0 at HT. :haha:

Seems their football team is almost as bad as their cricket team.

Indians :haha:

Good for tech support, mind.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It's usually 4-1 within the first few minutes though...

[Syn]

Indians :haha:

Good for tech support, mind.

"Hello my name is John..."

Course it is.

:bow:

[GP]

I had to phone Dell once...

'Welcome to Dell technical support, my name is Cuthbert...'

No lie.

[Syn]

:lol:

[LDG]

Guy who works for me sent an e-mail starting "Dear Kingston"

E-mail reply said "For future reference, my name is Kingsley".

Kingston :bow:

[GP]

Your name is Kinglsey?

[LDG]

Your name is Kinglsey?

No :unsure:

[GP]

No :unsure:

Sorry Kingston

[LDG]

:lol:

I'm not coloured :angry:

[Ollie the Optimist]

didnt mark hughes say he was leaving fulham to go somewhere bigger? interesting definition of bigger

[GP]

didnt mark hughes say he was leaving fulham to go somewhere bigger? interesting definition of bigger

Hughes is an interesting definition of a cunt.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

A 2 1/2 years contract? that's ambitious...

he'll be sacked once they go down tbh.

[Syn]

Cantona might run for French presidency as a pub stunt. :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

OOTBALL: Oxford City sacked Lee Steele today after the striker posted a homophobic remark on Twitter about ex-Wales rugby player Gareth Thomas.

City manager Mike Ford, whose side play in the Southern Football League Premier Division club, said the club were forced to act when Steele posted a tweet concerning Thomas's appearance in Celebrity Big Brother.

Steele wrote: "I wouldn't fancy the bed next to Gareth Thomas #padlockmyarse."

Ford told the BBC: "On this occasion Lee's had to pay for his error of judgement. He's made a homophobic comment, (but) that doesn't necessarily mean he's homophobic."

The club said: "The Oxford City board have decided to release Lee Steele in view of his recent comment via social media which is considered seriously contrary to the ethos of the club."

Steele, who is 38, has played for a string of Football League clubs, including Shrewsbury, Oxford United, Brighton and Leyton Orient.

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/114061

:doh:

What a stupid reason to sack someone

[Kano]

i didn't see the programme but sounds very interesting.

could be part of the reason guys like chamakh, torres struggle so hard to regain any sense of form.


The closest thing to a conclusion was drawn by England's former cricket psychologist Steve Bull, who observed that modern sport sucks players onto a "train-play-travel" treadmill where performing in their sport becomes their sole and obsessive interest. That's fine when it's going well, but extremely damaging to their self-esteem when it isn't. As sport continues to grow as a global entertainment spectacle showered with increasingly mad quantities of cash, the pressures can only get worse.

http://www.theartsdesk.com/tv/freddie-flintoff-hidden-side-sport-bbc-one

[Syn]

I agree it's interesting. But Flintoff can fuck right off. He never deserved a career in sport in the first place. The fat, talentless wanker.

[Marc Overmars]

I agree it's interesting. But Flintoff can fuck right off. He never deserved a career in sport in the first place. The fat, talentless wanker.

Cricket's answer to Big Man.

[Syn]

Cricket's answer to Big Man.

As you might know, I dislike flintoff....but that's quite brutal.

[Niall_Quinn]

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/114061

:doh:

What a stupid reason to sack someone

It's getting ludicrous. Best thing is for nobody to speak ever because there always might be some utter fucked up whacked out busybody cunt out there who gets offended on somebody else's behalf without being asked. I suggesting killing these types of people but apparently that's offensive too.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/57886000/jpg/_57886130_evertonprotest.jpg

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has dismissed suggestions that he would consider taking Fernando Torres in exchange for Luka Modric. He also confirms he is heading to South of France to watch Loic Remy.


Sky Bet Update:
After rumous today, we've added Newcastle in at 10/1 to sign Eden Hazard. Chelsea (7/2) and Man City (4/1) are currently frontrunners to secure his signature though

http://www1.skysports.com/transfer-centre/clockwatch

[Flavs]

Do you think broadcast corporations chose the most annoying fucks to be football pundits and commentators out of some sick joke that we aren't party to?

I mean who thought it would be a good idea to replace sexist moron Andy Gray with Gary Neville? A man whose hatred within football circles is unparalleled? When they got rid of Richard Keys who came up with the idea to get Ben Shepherd in? A man so shit he couldn't even keep a job on breakfast telly!

The beeb are as bad, Motson, Lawrenson, Shearer, Hansen oh and fucking Gary Linekar a man of such low Charisma even snails mock him. ITV? Ruud Gulit ffs a man who can make Graeme Souness look balanced and informed, Ray Wilkins??

And dont even get me started on ESPN and Channel 5

Stan Collymoore?? Yes Dogging, wife beating, crackhead Stan Collymoore

Robbie Savage ARRRRRRRRRGGGHHHHHHHH!!!

:ilt:

[Syn]

Out of the people you've listed, I like listening to Ruud Gullit. Jamie Redknapp's alright too. Can't think of any others that don't annoy me - but I don't tend to watch their studio 'analysis' anyway...just switch over when they're not showing actual football.

[Flavs]

Jamie Redknapp's alright too. .

Jesus wept Syn i hope you are wumming

[Coney]

Jesus wept Syn i hope you are wumming

He must be literally taking the piss.

[Syn]

Jesus wept Syn i hope you are wumming

What's wrong with him? He's usually quite fair and isn't bitter towards any club. He doesn't say anything clever because he can't, but at least he's able to provide an accurate commentary unlike the 'back in my day, that wasn't even a foul' neanderthals.

[Marc Overmars]

+1 on Mr Literally, don't find him anywhere near as bad as other pundits.

Nothing wrong with Neville either, he's the best in the business.

[Cripps_orig]

Dont find much wrong with any of them.

Neville has surprised me. Hes very good. Hated the cunt as a player but a good pundit.

Hansen and Shearer are the best around though.

[Flavs]

+1 on Mr Literally, don't find him anywhere near as bad as other pundits.

Nothing wrong with Neville either, he's the best in the business.

you sick fuck

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Having Jamie Redknapp around is worth it just to see the contempt Souness treats him with. :bow:

The best pundits are on Sky's La Liga programmes (even Quinton Fortune!), shame they're barely given any time apart from Revista on a Tuesday.

[Niall_Quinn]

What's wrong with him? He's usually quite fair and isn't bitter towards any club. He doesn't say anything clever because he can't, but at least he's able to provide an accurate commentary unlike the 'back in my day, that wasn't even a foul' neanderthals.

What's wrong with him is he's Mr Media Trend and wouldn't have an opinion of his own if it saved his life. It's unthinking drones like Redknapp that keeps the whole circus rolling along. Moyes is a great manager, for instance. Says so in the Bible. If there's a general view to be held then Jamie will hang on for dear life until such a time as the opposite view prevails and then he'll jump all over that too, often forgetting to abandon the previous devotion in the process. His most impressive moment was dropping his t's on an ad for Thomas Cook. Yes, he really is as insignificant and hateful as that!

[Syn]

What's wrong with him is he's Mr Media Trend and wouldn't have an opinion of his own if it saved his life. It's unthinking drones like Redknapp that keeps the whole circus rolling along. Moyes is a great manager, for instance. Says so in the Bible. If there's a general view to be held then Jamie will hang on for dear life until such a time as the opposite view prevails and then he'll jump all over that too, often forgetting to abandon the previous devotion in the process. His most impressive moment was dropping his t's on an ad for Thomas Cook. Yes, he really is as insignificant and hateful as that!

Wears some good suits though.

[GP]

top man's finest.

[GP]

I bet he wears super dry as well. The cunt.

[Syn]

Nothing wrong with supe...nah, can't do it. Burn him.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Newcastle have signed Papiss Demba Cisse.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16599702.stm

Solid record in the Bundesliga.

[Marc Overmars]

Should be good for Ba to link up with his countryman.

[Master Splinter]

Senegal have the best set of strikers in the world tbh.

They're winning the next World Cup.

Also, this is not nonsense.

[Flavs]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16601927.stm

Chavski sign 3 brothers from Luton

[Flavs]

Wears some good suits though.

We are gathered here today to mourn the passing of our late friend Syn :rose:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Police have arrested a fourth suspect as they continue to investigate claims Tottenham spied on Olympic officials.

Baroness Ford, chair of the organisation initially charged with choosing the Olympic Stadium's tenants, alleged in November that private investigators hired by Spurs had spied on all 14 members of her board.

Tottenham deny the accusation, while the latest arrest of a 45-year-old man means four people have been now been questioned by detectives.

Three other men, aged 29, 39 and 57, have previously been arrested by the Metropolitan Police's Economic and Specialist Crime Command.

West Ham and Newham Council won the right to use the Stratford arena after this summer's Games only for a deal to collapse late last year against the backdrop of ongoing legal action by Spurs and Leyton Orient.

The Government announced the stadium would remain in public ownership and asked the Olympic Park Legacy Company to oversee a new tender process.


http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11675/7440295/New-arrest-in-spy-probe

[Dennis Bendtner]

Senegal have the best set of strikers in the world tbh.

They're winning the next World Cup.

Also, this is not nonsense.

I deliberated over where to put it. Are we using the AFC debate thread for such things? Seeing as Arsenal are doing nothing...but it might get lost amongst our crying.

If Cisse is reasonably good, Newcastle are one of the few teams with two good strikers. Well, outside the top clubs anyway.

[Boss]

Seems decent enough. 2nd top scorer in the Bundesliga last year with 22 goals despite playing for a garbage club (Freiburg) and has a record of better than one in two this. Not sure why we can't pick up players like him or Sow, who seem to be decent at scoring and would give us different options instead of relying on Chamakh and Park :doh:

Surprisingly for all Newcastle's form this season both Norwich and Blackburn have scored more than them (granted with much worse defensive records) and have only scored 4 less than us all season... :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4071976/Video-Shunsuke-Nakamura-bends-ball-through-moving-bus-window.html

How to get round teams that park the bus

[LDG]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4071976/Video-Shunsuke-Nakamura-bends-ball-through-moving-bus-window.html

How to get round teams that park the bus

:bow:

That's pretty awesome!

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Here is more on the news that LA Galaxy are understood to be interested in Leeds defender Alex Bruce.
by @SkySportsLewis 10:47 AM
The agent of Zlatan Ibrahimovic says AC Milan will be the last top European club the striker plays for but has not ruled out a future move to the MLS.http://www1.skysports.com/transfer-centre/clockwatch

[Cripps_orig]

Former England left-back Michael Ball has been fined £6,000 by the FA for posting homophobic comments on Twitter.

The 32-year-old, who had his contract terminated by Leicester City on Monday, admitted acting in an improper way after he was charged for a homophobic tweet about Coronation Street’s Anthony Cotton, with the FA giving out its biggest fine yet for such behaviour.

The ex-Manchester City player has since been warned about his future conduct, and his remarks regarding the actor have been deleted from his personal Twitter page.

Leicester’s decision to cancel the remainder of Ball’s contract by mutual consent had no connection to the comments he posted.

The FA has reinforced their message about the use of online media to players, having previously warned clubs about their conduct on social networking sites.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/01/24/2863693/former-england-international-michael-ball-fined-6000-for

FA :doh:

[Cripps_orig]

The so-called big-name striker Bayern Munich were set to reveal on Thursday does not exist.

A report on the Bavarians' official website revealed the club had secured the transfer of a 'bomb' striker, to be revealed at a press conference at 14.00 CET. However, the report was nothing more than a publicity stunt.

The club encouraged fans to watch the press conference via Facebook, but when the time came for the announcement, an envelope opened with the profile picture of the user viewing the stream.

"There will be a spectacular signing for the attack," Christian Nerlinger had said on the official Bayern website.

Later, the club released a statement, explaining that the purpose of the act was to underline the importance of supporters to the club.

"Dear fans, of course you've all noticed it already: The video of the press conferen wasn't completely serious, but a little fun for our fans on Facebook, where our fans are the focus.

After a brief period in which the club's website was offline, the club announced:

"Every single FCB fan is the 'spectacular new signing,' our 12th man!"

Earlier in January, Bayern president Uli Hoeness announced that his side were targeting 'a real bomb' for the attack. Whether the club will eventually target a striker remains unclear.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3275/bundesliga/2012/01/26/2867648/bayern-munich-bomb-signing-is-a-publicity-stunt

:lol:

Imagine if we did something like that. Gazidis and co would be killed

[Niall_Quinn]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3275/bundesliga/2012/01/26/2867648/bayern-munich-bomb-signing-is-a-publicity-stunt

:lol:

Imagine if we did something like that. Gazidis and co would be killed

I hope Wenger isn't going to stand for this, being out-WUM'd by the Germans.

[Master Splinter]

The WUMming stakes are definitely hotting up.

What will WUMger do next? :popcorn:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3275/bundesliga/2012/01/26/2867648/bayern-munich-bomb-signing-is-a-publicity-stunt

:lol:

Imagine if we did something like that. Gazidis and co would be killed

PHW would just to piss us off lol, he'd do the Arsenal sign Hazard one witha hazard sign lol.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

t least 73 people have been killed in clashes between rival fans following a football match in the Egyptian city of Port Said, state television reports.

The deaths occurred as supporters invaded the pitch after a match between top-tier clubs Masry and al-Ahly on Wednesday.

It is feared the death toll could rise as at least 156 people have been hurt.

It is the biggest disaster in the country's football history, said the Egyptian deputy health minister.

"This is unfortunate and deeply saddening," Hesham Sheiha told state television.

Some of the dead were security officers, the Associated Press news agency quoted a morgue official as saying.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote

"This is not football. This is a war”

In pictures: Fans clash

The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says it appears some fans had taken knives into the stadium.

Our correspondent says the lack of the usual level of security in the stadium might have contributed to the clashes.

Police in Egypt have been keeping a much lower profile since last year's popular protests that ousted President Hosni Mubarak from power.

Egyptian fans are notoriously violent, says our correspondent, particularly supporters of al-Ahly known as the Ultras.

They have been heavily implicated in confronting the police during political recent political protests, our correspondent adds. There is speculation that the security forces may have had an interest in taking on al-Ahly supporters.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16845841

Terribble news

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Horrible stuff.

[LDG]

http://threeandin.com/2012/02/06/spurs-need-to-know-their-place/

:haha:

[Cripps_orig]

Former Manchester United midfielder Ravel Morrison has caused controversy after posting a homophobic threat on twitter.

Responding to suggestions he was a drug user on Twitter, the West Ham star tweeted: “Crack head ? Go suck out u little faggot your a guy that talks if u see me you try slap me I'm in manchester every week.”
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The 19-year-old has seen his career blighted by a number of incidents including charges of witness intimidation and an altercation with his girlfriend.

Morrison has been hailed as the greatest youth talent to emerge at Old Trafford since Paul Scholes but joined the Hammers for a fee thought to be in the region of £1 million, rising to £2m, on transfer deadline day after Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly ran out of patience with his behaviour.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2897/championship/2012/02/07/2892373/former-manchester-united-youngster-ravel-morrison-in

:haha:

Also PC brigade need to STFU

[Marc Overmars]

He sounds like a nice chap.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fat Sam. :haha:

Good luck with that.

[Cripps_orig]

Homophobia is becoming less stigmatised in football despite the "extremely disappointing" comments of former Manchester United midfielder Ravel Morrison, according to Alan Quick of The Justin Campaign.

The 19-year-old footballer, who moved to West Ham on deadline day, caused controversy on Tuesday when writing a homophobic message on Twitter after being antagonised by a follower.

Morrison’s tweet, which has since been deleted, read: “crack head ? Go suck out u little faggot your a guy that talks if u see me you try slap me I'm in manchester every week.”

Speaking exclusively to Goal.com, Mr Quick condemned the player’s comments, and whilst suggesting the youngster may not have realised the ramifications of the message, he believes such attitudes only serves to bolster the view that gay people are yet to be accepted in the football world.

"It's extremely disappointing to hear that yet another professional footballer in England has used homophobic language,” Mr Quick told Goal.com

“Ravel Morrison may well not be aware of the damage those kind of remarks can do, but when football stars indulge in that kind of language, it only reinforces the view that football is not a welcoming place of LGBT fans or players."

The Justin Campaign, which aims to fight homophobia within the game, was set up in memory of former Norwich City and Nottingham Forest forward Justin Fashanu, who became the first English professional footballer to publicly announce he was homosexual. Fashanu tragically took his own life in 1998, with the campaign founded 10 years later.

In Germany, Bundesliga stars Mario Gomez and Philip Lahm both recently spoke out in support of homosexuality in football, and although Mr Quick believes England still has work to do to completely combat the negativity surrounding the issue, he believes progress is being made.

He added: "We have seen in recent years that high-profile players in the Bundesliga have spoken out, in positive terms, about the issue of homophobia in football, however in England this issue is only starting to be discussed by the game in general. But things are moving forward.”

A recently aired BBC documentary, ‘Britain’s Gay Footballers’, was an example of the increased dialogue over gay footballers, with QPR captain Joey Barton also revealing his belief that homosexuality should be accepted.

Barton said: "It's a subject quite close to my heart because my dad's youngest brother, the youngest of my uncles, is gay. And I didn't know for a long, long time.

"He thought because of the society that we were brought up in, which was quite working class, that it would be frowned upon or that we would disown him.

"So for a lot of years he was in turmoil and was resenting himself for the fact he had these feelings.

"I was like, 'I love you for you — not for the fact that you are straight or bisexual or all different manner of things. I love you because you're you.'"

Mr Quick praised the 29-year-old’s comments, and also stated that Premier League clubs are showing increased commitment to tackling the issue.

“We have recently seen Joey Barton discuss the issue maturely and intelligently on the BBC documentary ’Britain's Gay Footballers’ while the Justin Campaign has found that more and more Premier League clubs are starting to take the issue seriously,” he added.

“Things are moving forward finally, so, in relation to Ravel Morrison, hopefully he will be taken to task by his club over his remarks.”

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/02/07/2892486/homophobic-ravel-morrison-tweet-is-extremely-disappointing

Why is it so important? If gays dont want to come out then surely thats up to them?

[Xhaka Can’t]

It is likely more to do with being afraid to come out.

The abuse from opposing fans would be relentless.

[Cripps_orig]

Players are abused for one reason or another all the time. Why do Gays have to be treated special? Treat them like everyone else.

[Marc Overmars]

It's not even homophobic.

It's just the typical words of a stupid British chav who probably doesn't even know what he's saying.

[Rors]

Even at his tender age 'Ravo' already has a form-sheet as long as your arm, so I wouldn't be too surprised by this.

On the topic in hand, Barbara Royle got it right. If the FA want a tagline - ugh - they can do much worse than 'her':
"I don't care if somebody's gay, straight, or Australian - it's what they're like as a person that counts"

[Cripps_orig]

Even at his tender age 'Ravo' already has a form-sheet as long as your arm, so I wouldn't be too surprised by this.

On the topic in hand, Barbara Royle got it right. If the FA want a tagline - ugh - they can do much worse than 'her':
"I don't care if somebody's gay, straight, or Australian - it's what they're like as a person that counts"Fuck that, if they are Aussies then they deserve all the abuse

[Rors]

Fuck that, if they are Aussies then they deserve all the abuse

Encore...

[Olivier's xmas twist]

It's not even homophobic.

It's just the typical words of a stupid British chav who probably doesn't even know what he's saying.

This, but once again the PC brigade want to make it into an issue.

[Cripps_orig]

David Ginola has been badly hurt in a ski accident

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4117154/David-Ginola-news-former-football-star-Ginola-hurt-in-ski-accident.html

[Flavs]

ouchski

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-16987108

[Marc Overmars]

Rangers may go into administration.

SPL. :haha:

[Flavs]

Rangers may go into administration.

SPL. :haha:

:pal:

[Letters]

Rangers may go into administration.

SPL. :haha:

Might as well just crown Celtic perma-champions and be done with it.

SPL :rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

http://i.minus.com/ichFKNPPR0R9p.gif

[Letters]

:haha:

Some people have waaay too much time on their hands!

[Dennis Bendtner]

Just seen Rangers have had 10 points deducted.

They're still 9 points ahead of third. Not even La Liga can compete with that.

[Letters]

:lol: Complete joke of a league. Might as well shut the whole thing down.

[Syn]

Adebayor's been WUMing on twitter tonight. Some outrageous comments on there mocking people about money (should be said - in response to racist comments). It's quite possible his account has been hacked. Obviously Frimpong stuck his beak in.

Twitter :bow:

https://twitter.com/#!/Sheyiadebayor

[Flavs]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17086342

Good piece about how retarded and outdated the FA are when it comes to Gay footballers and comments from John Amaechi who has to be the tallest gay man in the world.

[Letters]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17086342

Good piece about how retarded and outdated the FA are when it comes to Gay footballers and comments from John Amaechi who has to be the tallest gay man in the world.

He's taller than you?

lol.

[Syn]

:lol:

[Flavs]

He's taller than you?

lol.

Much, much taller and much, much gayer

:unsure:

[GP]

He's taller than you?

lol.

I probably laughed at that more than I should have

[Flavs]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17110142

:lol:

[Letters]

Couple of Rangers jokes I heard:

Glasgow police are investigating a coin throwing incident at the Rangers v Kilmarnock match.
They're not sure if it was hooliganism or a takeover bid.

Rangers fans were pleased to hear that an Italian billionaire is looking at taking over Rangers.
No-one quite knows how to tell them it's the Pope.

[Letters]

Oh so that's who it was.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17114875


(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17114875):rolleyes:

[Cripps_orig]

Manchester United's Federico Macheda, Newcastle United's Nile Ranger and Walsall's Manny Smith have all been charged by the Football Association for alleged homophobic comments on Twitter.
The players are alleged to have acted in a way which was improper and/or brought the game into disrepute.
Each has until 1600 GMT on Wednesday 29 February to respond to the charges.
West Ham's Ravel Morrison and ex-Leicester player Michael Ball have recently been fined for similar cases.
Use accessible player and disable flyout menus

FA launches anti-homophobia campaign
Morrison was fined £7,000 by the FA in February after he admitted a charge of using abusive and/or insulting words on Twitter, including a reference to a person's sexual orientation.
Ball, who also played for England, Manchester City and Everton, was fined £6,000 for tweeting about Coronation Street actor Anthony Cotton.
The FA launched a new six-year inclusion and anti-homophobia plan last Monday called 'Opening Doors and Joining In' where it outlined its aims to rid the game of prejudice.
Macheda, 20, is currently on loan at QPR, having joined the west London club in January.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17178936

You'd think FA would have more important things to do

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Gabriel Agbonlahor has admitted he is looking forward to getting this season out of the way so that Aston Villa can rebuild in the summer.

Manager Alex McLeish stated from an early stage of the campaign that he was expecting a transitional period after replacing Gerard Houllier at the helm last year.

It has turned out to be a difficult season, with Villa struggling for consistency and currently languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League.

Supporters again made their feelings clear during Saturday's goalless draw with Wigan, but Agbonlahor is grateful they keep coming to try and get behind the team.

The 25-year-old is now looking beyond the end of this term to what he hopes will be a bright future for the club.
Battling

"It's one of those seasons you want to get out of the way and get through it," he said in The Sun.

"Then you rebuild. We know it's going to be difficult but we're battling away as a team.

"The fans are sticking with us with the way they turned out in numbers.

"We can't hear things on the pitch. We're just concentrating on the game so that doesn't affect us."


http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11677/7550942/Gabby-wishes-season-was-over

Villa :haha: even the players don't want to be there.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Premier League clubs could be in for another massive television cash windfall with a serious challenge to Sky's domination of top-flight domestic TV coverage by Al Jazeera now a "realistic prospect", according to the European head of ESPN.

The possibility of the Qatar-owned broadcaster going head to head with Sky has been speculated on ever since it beat Canal Plus to the French Ligue 1 and Champions League rights.

Now Ross Hair, head of ESPN for Europe, Middle East and Africa, believes Al Jazeera are likely to challenge Sky - a move which if successful would pose a serious threat to the Murdoch-owned satellite broadcaster.

The spin-off of a bidding war for the clubs could be a lot more cash for the 2013-16 domestic rights - the current three-year deal is already worth £1.782billion.

Hair told the Evening Standard: "We're expecting another Premier League auction in April or May. An Al Jazeera bid is a realistic prospect.

"They have done something very interesting in France in buying first division football against the incumbent satellite broadcaster Canal Plus and we've also looked at what they've done in other markets.

"You can draw parallels with the upcoming auction in the UK. Al Jazeera have the ambition to grow further in sport and into other markets."

ESPN are also set to bid as they are desperate to retain their foothold in the Premier League market - they currently show 23 live matches a season.

Premier League football has been the driving force of Sky's satellite TV success in the UK but they have not had a challenger of such potential threat before.

The financial muscle of Qatar has seen Al Jazeera become a major player in football rights, a process that accelerated when the Middle Eastern country won the right to host the 2022 World Cup.


http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Al-Jazeera-could-challenge-Sky-for-Premier-League-TV-rights-article872081.html

[Rors]

Clarke Carlisle on BBC Question Time tonight at 10:35. It'll be his second appearance. Surprised he has been invited back after his poor showing in January 2011; in which he clearly had the questions given to him beforehand (the rules are the panel have no idea what they will be), shoehorned awkward 'team' metaphors into everything, and continually called Alan Johnson "Mr Clark". Still, as long he gives Starkey a few pelters today, then I'll be happy.

(Also in attendance, this gonk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIwBvjoLyZc :pal: )

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Good start for Carlisle.

Shame about Starkey. :haha:

[Xhaka Can’t]

He's right about wimmin.

[Rors]

Whenever Starkey wheels out "Let me give you an example", my blood runs cold.. Practically cryogenic now.
Clarke has been a bit level-one/populist, but okay enough for that - it has served as a good foil for the more crackpot views on show. Far superior to his last showing anyway.

[Rors]

Hope the bloke in the audience Starkey tried to pick a fight with earlier gets a comeback...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The BBC must know what they're getting with putting Starkey on now, why don't they just put Adrian Durham on next weeks programme?

Strange to hear Clarke Carlisle called a trade unionist though. :lol:

[Rors]

?

Strange to hear Clarke Carlisle called a trade unionist though. :lol:

Yes :lol: All Starkey had to do was call him a "placard-waving leftie pinko Socialist Marxist Communist" and the sense of bafflement would have been sealed.
--
Next week: Eric Pickles. And Will Young. BBC death-wish continues apace.

[Rors]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/David_Starkey_LSE.jpg

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Yes :lol: All Starkey had to do was call him a "placard-waving leftie pinko Socialist Marxist Communist" and the sense of bafflement would have been sealed.
--
Next week: Eric Pickles. And Will Young. BBC death-wish continues apace.

Will Young? :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ucHC5Se9-A&feature=player_embedded

Classic reducer. Tit.

[Marc Overmars]

What the hell. :haha:

You knew what was coming when he started legging it.

[Flavs]

Scumderland :pal:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17257214

[Flavs]

Also did anyone see that Schteve McClaren's FC twente beat PSv Eindhoven 6-2 :wacko:

[Letters]

http://www.digitalspy.ie/showbiz/news/a369719/andy-gray-i-considered-suicide-after-sky-sports-sacking.html


Ex-Sky Sports pundit Andy Gray has admitted that he considered taking his own life following his sacking.

The 56-year-old, who was sacked in a sexism row that erupted following comments he made about a female official, told the London Evening Standard that he was emotionally damaged by the criticism.

When asked whether he had thought about suicide, he made the admission: "Yes. I would be lying if I said I didn't.


:rolleyes:

[GP]

http://www.digitalspy.ie/showbiz/news/a369719/andy-gray-i-considered-suicide-after-sky-sports-sacking.html




:rolleyes:

Hanging off the back of it?

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Administrators are accelerating the sale of financially-crippled Rangers with a view to avoiding implementing 'very severe' cost-cutting measures.

Duff & Phelps had hoped talks with players, their agents, manager Ally McCoist and PFA Scotland would bring about wage cuts with the club needing to save £4.5million this season.

In the wake of talks stalling on Tuesday night, the Administrators will now be holding discussions with prospective purchasers with a view to bringing fresh investment to Ibrox.

It has been revealed that without 'sufficient' cost-cutting measures or the receipt of substantial unplanned income the club will be unable to fulfil its fixtures this season.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11781/7577810/Gers-sale-accelerated

Rangers may not be able to complete their fixtures.

[Marc Overmars]

Can you imagine if they went bust? The SPL will be fucked given Celtic would then be clear to win every single title until the end of the time. Surely they would ask to move to England in that case.

[Master Splinter]

http://www.digitalspy.ie/showbiz/news/a369719/andy-gray-i-considered-suicide-after-sky-sports-sacking.html

:rolleyes:

You missed the best bit:


Defending himself, the ex-footballer added: "I do not see myself as sexist. Not in a million years. I have four daughters and I was brought up by a wonderful mother on her own. She's 91 and is distraught about what happened."

:haha:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Is he basically saying he can't be sexist because he has a mother?

[Syn]

Gareth Bale has been accused of diving for a penalty again in last night's game against Stevenage.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17298144


Stevenage defender Mark Roberts has accused Tottenham's Gareth Bale of going down easily to win a penalty in Wednesday's FA Cup replay.

Captain Roberts was adjudged to have fouled the winger and, with the game poised at 1-1, Emmanuel Adebayor converted on the way to a 3-1 victory.

"I've tried to block the cross and I thought he went down very easily," he told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"That's football at the very highest level, they look for those things."

He added: "In my mind it's not a penalty. I'm coming from a defender's point of view.

"He'll argue that I caught him. I'd have to see it again. I was a bit disappointed."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17298144


Bale has responded:


Bale: I don't dive

"If people want to say I'm diving then they can, but I'm trying to get out of the way and save myself, save my career if you like," he said.

"It's a bit annoying [when people say I dive] but you've got people flying in at you, you're trying to get out of the way of the challenge. If you stand there, you're going to get a whack.

"You can see why people say you're diving but I'd rather get out of the way than get hurt, that's what it is. It's football, a contact sport, things do happen and you've got to try to be clever with it.

"I'm more likely to try to get out of the way and not get hurt, rather than get hurt. I tend not to dive."

Despite being the victim of a number of rash challenges this season, Bale sees the treatment as a backhanded compliment to his abilities.

He added: "People want to take you down and get you out of the game and I suppose you can take it as a compliment.

"It's not nice but I think it's to be expected now. In a way they think that's the only way they can stop you. You get up and get on with it like the best players do, and go at them again.

"You get used to it. I've got a few people sent off by doing that this year. You get up and get on with it, it's a part of the game."

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Tottenham-Wales-star-Gareth-Bale-denies-diving-article875682.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

He seems well up himself. I think that attitude is having a negative impact on his game right now. Seems to go for glory far too often than he should because he carries this messiah complex. Good player, no doubt. But I don't accept he dives just to avoid injury. He dives to win penalties.

[Marc Overmars]

Gareth Fail

lol

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m04ekgSAlG1rp9xwfo1_500.gif

Yep, his career was definitely at risk here.

[GP]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m04ekgSAlG1rp9xwfo1_500.gif

Yep, his career was definitely at risk here.

And here


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxohXc99Hvc

[Cripps_orig]

THIS KO'd footballer saw stars — then saw RED as he was sent off for DIVING while stricken on a stretcher.

The incredible incident happened in a Belgian amateur match when Julien Lecomte clashed with a defender.

He was left sprawling on the floor but the referee was not convinced.

Despite receiving treatment from staff and being taken off the field by medics, the ref showed him a second yellow card because he believed Lecomte was CHEATING.

His team-mates were fuming over the decision and confronted the official who had to be protected by his assistants and staff.

When Lecomte came around, he was taken to hospital where docs confirmed he had suffered concussion and three displaced vertebrae in his back.



http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4180932/Video-Belgian-footballer-Julien-Lecomte-knocked-out-then-sent-off.html

Video of it on the link

One way to to tackle diving i suppose

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Lionel Messi says he has no ambitions to play in the Premier League because he wants to stay at Barcelona for the rest of his career.

The Argentina superstar joined the Barcelona Academy at the age of 13 and after winning five league titles and three Champions Leagues, he says he has no intention of ever leaving the Catalan club.

Speaking exclusively to Soccer Saturday, Messi admitted he likes watching Premier League football, but while he would not completely rule out joining an English team one day, he currently has no plans to leave Spain.

"It's a league I like," he said. "I have friends that are playing there and I follow it as and when I can. Players I like are Kun Aguero and Rooney. These are two players that I like.

"The truth is my idea has been to always stay in Barcelona and see out the rest of my career here.

"Like I always say, one doesn't know what can happen in the future but if it were up to me to decide, I would stay at Barcelona for the rest of my career."

Best ever

Messi produced one of the most eye-catching performances of his career with a five-goal haul in Barcelona's 7-1 Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen earlier this month.

The display prompted Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney to proclaim the Argentinian as "the best ever" on his Twitter account - and Messi said he was touched by the compliment.

"It was incredible for Rooney to say those things about me," he added.

"But not just Rooney, many other players in the profession put things in respect of the game where I scored five goals.

"I am very thankful and it makes me very happy that colleagues say words of support, especially when they come from players of Rooney's class."

Recognised

Barcelona are now targeting their third Champions League win in four seasons as they bid to become recognised as one of the greatest teams in football history.

Messi believes the key to their success has been the influence of coach Pep Guardiola, whom he regards as the best in the business.

And he says he has never seen a team that plays better football than the current Barcelona side.

"I didn't see the other great teams that people say have existed throughout history," he said.

"Mainly because of my age, I wasn't old enough to have seen the great teams that we are compared with.

"From what I have seen I think it is the best, but I can't really compare [older great teams] as I don't know enough about the others.

"Since Guardiola's arrival, he has made the team play this way. When he arrived he made me play higher up, closer to the goal in order for me to score more goals which, until his arrival, I hadn't done on a regular basis.

"He made us prepare better in training and for games, making it seem that every game was a final.

"He prepares everything with his vision when the games are played and everything he does shows he is the best coach in the world."
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7601027



To loyal to Barca to leave them and has the protection of Uefa with that team tbh.

[Coney]

And here


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxohXc99Hvc

It's not just the dive, the other giveaway is that he is turning to look at the ref before he has finished hitting the ground, as if he is saying 'how does that look?'.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Celtic 0-1 Kilmarnock in the Scottish League Cup final, only a few minutes to go.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Anthony Stokes booked for diving. :haha: Celtic were hoping for a pelanty.

[Syn]

Anthony Stokes booked for diving. :haha: Celtic were hoping for a pelanty.

Fuckin' Eduardo.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kilmarnock win it! :bow:

Celtic. :haha:

Wonder if Celtic will write to the SFA or UEFA again.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

BBC Radio 5 live Nigel Adderley

"It's been confirmed the father of Kilmarnock player Liam Kelly suffered a heart attack pitchside at full time of their win. The medical team had to give CPR and used a defibrillator on Mr Kelly in the midst of celebrating supporters."

Bloody hell.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And it is now being reported that he died.

[GP]

Very sad indeed.

[Flavs]

Vieira woa oh
Vieira wo o o oh
He comes from old Brazil and plays for erm Fleetwood town
....

http://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/teams/first-team/magno-vieira/

Dont know if anyone knows/cares but Fleetwood will be playing league football next season after opening up a 24 point lead on 3rd place Mansfield (while also having a 28 point lead on the play-of places) in the conference :yikes:

[Cripps_orig]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2885/europe/2012/03/19/2977572/samba-has-banana-thrown-at-him-during-anzhi-match

FIFA :bow:

Great decision to give them the World Cup

[Syn]

I have zero sympathy for him.

He should've known what he was getting into playing in a country like that.

You whore yourself to the highest bidder, this is what you get.

[Syn]

A few weeks old but:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoKFjSkMCiI

Looks like he might just be the next Walcott if he keeps this up.

[GP]

His hair is gayer than MOe's face.

[Letters]

http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/after-failing-to-score-in-5-games-magdeburg-fans-show-their-players-where-the-goal-is/

:d

[Flavs]

5 Players sent off, big punch up, 7 bookings and both teams likely to be docked points!

Just another night in Bradford

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17441660

:lol:

[Flavs]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17538766

Venables returns!!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Biggest club of his career.

[Master Splinter]

Crawley will probably be in the PL in a few years.

Stoke will finally have a genuine rival in the sub-human scum stakes.

Fat Sam will be their manager.

[Rors]

http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/shocker-ronaldinhos-terrible-miss-flamengo-v-bangu/

Gaucho :pal:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

At least he didn't fall over...

[Flavs]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17397058

Interesting, shows a slightly different view from the Nasri image

[Flavs]

FOOTBALL
Atalanta defender Andrea Masiello has been arrested in the ongoing Italian probe into match-fixing, and eight of his former Bari teammates are under investigation. Bari's last nine matches in Serie A last season are being looked into by authorities.

:lol:

[Flavs]

http://shirtyfooty.spreadshirt.co.uk/ol-purple-nose-C232433


:lol: :bow:

[Ollie the Optimist]

uefa have fined city 30k for being one minute late to the second half in their match against sporting.


the same uefa fined porto 16k for being racist. good to see they have their piroities set.

[Flavs]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17688465

:blink:

Always seemed a management guy to me...

[Cripps_orig]

Dortmund beat Bayern 1-0 in the title decider

Robben missed a penalty

[Cripps_orig]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17709412

Hope hes ok

[Dennis Bendtner]

"The day before a game he would come onto the pitch and show us what to do: 'You stand here, the goalkeeper will give you the ball here, kick it as far as you can and don't pass to anyone nearby. And we all run.'" - Alex Hleb on the methods of Alex McLeish.

:lol:

[Cripps_orig]

Dortmund win the Bundesliga

We need to get Klopp

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

:bow: klopp

a real youth project masterer :bow:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

:bow: klopp

a real youth project masterer :bow:

:gp:

Id take him now, Should be our next manager tbh.

[Cripps_orig]

Team GB v Brazil in a pre Olympic friendly

Will be at the Riverside

The draw for the Olympics is tomorrow

[Syn]

Coverage of the draw for the Olympics is on BBC2 now. Garth Crooks is a guest.

[Cripps_orig]

Usual BS before a draw

How many teams are in the Olympics Football?

Worth doing a sweepstake?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Always worth doing a sweepstake tbf.

[Syn]

If there are less than 12 teams, sure. Otherwise there aren't enough posters.

Spain must be favourites.

[Cripps_orig]

Robbie Savage and Sporty Spice are doing the draw :blink:

We're pulling out the big guns here

[McNamara That Ghost...]

They're having trouble with the sound; it's in Wembley, London right?.

Fat Ronaldo is there. :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

GB will be in Group A already according to Wiki

[Cripps_orig]

There are only 4 groups

Wtf is with all this Group F and G shit?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Why isn't there a graphic on screen? This is very hard to follow.

[Cripps_orig]

I have no idea whats going on :lol:

South Africa will play Sweden

Fuck knows what group

BBC :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

That was the women's draw?

Wow, how professional an outfit the BBC are. Can't wait for the Olympic coverage.

[Cripps_orig]

They were doing the womens draw? :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Men's draw now.

[Cripps_orig]

Mens draw on now

[McNamara That Ghost...]

WOMEN'S OLYMPIC FOOTBALL DRAW

Group E: Great Britain, Cameroon, New Zealand, Brazil

Group F: Japan, Sweden, South Africa, Canada

Group G: USA, France, Colombia, Korea DPR

Interesting.

[Cripps_orig]

Switzerland and Mexico in B

[Cripps_orig]

Brazil and Belarus in C

[McNamara That Ghost...]

GB and Uruguay together. :popcorn: