Soda Jerk Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 I'm usually very disinterested in La Liga, but this season has started off great with Valencia and Villareal leading the line, Barcelona struggling for results and Real Madrid struggling for goals (until last night). Valencia have had quite reasonable luck with their openeing fixtures though, but they showed they are a very capable side even against Man United.The Real Madrid camp is becoming increasingly intriguing, especially as Ronaldo has become the most unbearable he has ever been in his career, all whilst Mourinho lauded him as "untouchable" very recently. The hug he gave Higuain before kick off looked very laboured, and not completely reciprocated, and Ronaldo showed no desire to support the frontman like Di Maria did, who was just fantastic last night, and seems to be able to ration his individual flair with his work ethic and selflessnes. If Ronaldo didn't cost Real Madrid 80million, the likes of Di Maria and Higuain could, and should usurp him out of the side. Since he is such a marquee signing, it will simply never happen. real Madrid could have scored 10 last night, with ease. Ronaldo made stupid decisions whe Higuain was constantly in good positions, often infront of goal with an open net. Surely the fans can't be far away from losing their patience with him. I really hope his selfishness costs them points sooner rather than later, as Real Madrid winning despite Ronaldo being a mardy twat is simply papering over huge cracks in the way they operate as a team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonade Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 John Hughes - heess a'gone.BBC Sport - Football - Manager John Hughes parts company with Hibernian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonade Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 So, the Scotland squad.... thoughts? Looks half-decent to me, though there's a few names missing and a few on there that don't exactly inspire confidence. Defence looks very thin on the ground, especially with Hutton and Caldwell both carrying knocks. However that said, we are going to ABSOLUTELY FUCK Czech Republic and Spain, of that there is no doubt.Scotland squadGoalkeepers: McGregor (Rangers), Gilks (Blackpool), Gordon (Sunderland)Defenders: Hutton (Tottenham), Berra (Wolves), McManus (Middlesbrough), G Caldwell (Wigan), Weir (Rangers), Whittaker (Rangers), McEveley (Barnsley)Midfielders: Adam (Blackpool), Brown (Celtic), Dorrans (West Brom), McCulloch (Rangers), Fletcher (Manchester United), Morrison (West Brom), Robson (Middlesbrough), Maloney (Celtic)Forwards: Fletcher (Wolves), Iwelumo (Burnley), Mackie (QPR), Miller (Rangers), Naismith (Rangers). BBC Sport - Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot out of Scotland squadMeanwhile, Scotland coach Craig Levein revealed that Wigan defender Gary Caldwell has no chance of playing in both qualifying matches.Caldwell has yet to play for Wigan this season, having just returned to fitness after summer surgery on a hip problem.Levein says he will wait to see how the former Celtic and Hibernian player performs in training before deciding if he can play in one, or part of one, of the two qualifiers. Why pick him then? Waste of a spot IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodsinho Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 How can he have 'no chance of playing' while simultaneously being given a chance to prove himself in training? That makes no sense.Kevin Davies is in the England squad. Good for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonade Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 How can he have 'no chance of playing' while simultaneously being given a chance to prove himself in training? That makes no sense.Kevin Davies is in the England squad. Good for him.It's not very well worded, but I think it means he has no chance of playing in both games, but will get to play in one if he proves he's fit enough. Either way, bad move, we should be picking fit players who are in good form, like.... er..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murrr Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 How can he have 'no chance of playing' while simultaneously being given a chance to prove himself in training? That makes no sense.Kevin Davies is in the England squad. Good for him.Cyril has deserved a cap for a while, I reckon. Better player than Carlton Cole and Bobby Z. Probably >Heskey too.Ben Arfa's got a double leg break and will be out for at least 6 months. What a kick in the teeth. I almost feel as bad about this as I did when we were relegated. It's just typical Newcastle, really: we sign a top quality player who comes into the squad with an instant impact, and a couple of games later he's crocked. I hope we sign him at the end of the season, because the lad's absolute class. Fuck Nigel De Jong. May a thousand plagues be cast upon him.Fingers crossed that the remaing players have what it takes to keep us up. Cheick Tiote looks absolutely immense, though. Brilliant signing thus far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nev Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Scotland are really short of goalkeepers. Cammy Bell has been called up in place of Matt Gilks. Fuck me, it'll be Ryan Esson next!Kirk Broadfoot and Matt Gilks have withdrawn from the Scotland squad ahead of the Euro 2012 double-header against Czech Republic and Spain.Don Cowie, Kevin McNaughton and Cameron Bell have been called in to replace them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murrr Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Who is Cammy Bell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossP Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Scotland are really short of goalkeepers. Cammy Bell has been called up in place of Matt Gilks. Fuck me, it'll be Ryan Esson next!One of the best keepers in the SPL just now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkaline Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 One of the best keepers in Inverness just now Adjusted that rather bold statement to be a little more realistic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossP Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Adjusted that rather bold statement to be a little more realistic.BBC Sport - Football - Dundee Utd 0-4 Inverness CT = yet another clean sheet for Esson. Wonderful save at the death as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkaline Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 BBC Sport - Football - Dundee Utd 0-4 Inverness CT = yet another clean sheet for Esson. Wonderful save at the death as well He's still not as good as:McGregorAlexanderEnckelmanForsterZaluskaPossibly even:LangfieldRandolphPernisCombeHe's not even overrated. He was shit at Aberdeen, a failure at basic league level in England and he's the best of a bad bunch at ICT. Rose tinted specs Ross.That was a shit game on our side, we made you lot look good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murrr Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Everybody knows that Fraser Forster is the best keeper in the SPL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nev Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Just seen this: Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli quizzed by cops after breaking into a women's prison in Italy - News - MirrorFootball.co.ukThe lad is batshit mental. De Jong should have a word with him, sort him out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossP Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 He's still not as good as:McGregor - had a good season I agree (minus acts of generally fud'ness v. Aberdeen and Hibs)Alexander - Hasn't played in the SPL this seasonEnckelman - rottenForster Solid enough startZaluska - Dumped after a poor start to the seasonPossibly even:Langfield - Remind me how he got on in his appearance(s) this season?Randolph - solid enoughPernis - A good keeper but has had a poor start for his standards Combe -ABSOLUTELY rotten and also not getting a gameHe's not even overrated. He was shit at Aberdeen, a failure at basic league level in England and he's the best of a bad bunch at ICT. Rose tinted specs Ross.That was a shit game on our side, we made you lot look good.Report card handed back. *Must try harder... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkaline Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Report card handed back. *Must try harder...Chortle.Most of those keepers would walk straight into the ICT team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossP Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Chortle.Most of those keepers would walk straight into the ICT team.Our sub keeper Johnny Tuffey (Northern Ireland no.2) is a better keeper than most of the ones you have mentioned. Tuffey call up for Italy & FaroesWhilst how many of that list will be travelling on International Duty this weekend...? McGregor. Maybe Pernis or Enckleman are still there or there abouts, I can't be bothered checking.Like I said; must try harder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkaline Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Our sub keeper Johnny Tuffey (Northern Ireland no.2) is a better keeper than most of the ones you have mentioned. Tuffey call up for Italy & FaroesWhilst how many of that list will be travelling on International Duty this weekend...? McGregor. Maybe Pernis or Enckleman are still there or there abouts, I can't be bothered checking.Like I said; must try harder.I'm sure i could get a call-up to the Northern Ireland team. Can you name me more than 5 N.Ireland goalkeepers playing at a reasonable level? I could name a bunch of Scottish keepers playing at a good level. What's your point? Shit goalkeeper gets called up for national team that doesn't have much to chose from. If he'd been called up for England i'd be impressed. Fuck, he's an International goalkeeper, Butcher must be pigshit thick if he's picking the un-capped Esson ahead of Tuffey. Faaaak orf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossP Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 I'm sure i could get a call-up to the Northern Ireland team. Can you name me more than 5 N.Ireland goalkeepers playing at a reasonable level? I could name a bunch of Scottish keepers playing at a good level. What's your point? Shit goalkeeper gets called up for national team that doesn't have much to chose from. If he'd been called up for England i'd be impressed. Fuck, he's an International goalkeeper, Butcher must be pigshit thick if he's picking the un-capped Esson ahead of Tuffey. Faaaak orf.This post just shows how little football you actually see outside Sky/ESPN/streamed matches. You're demonstrating a very naive attitude, which I'm surprised to see you display. i.e. I don't know anything about this player, but I notice he plays for N.Ireland (ranked above Scotland btw!)... therefore he must be rank. Do a bit more revision on Johnny Tuffey then get back to me. That, or quit fishing. kthxbai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkaline Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 This post just shows how little football you actually see outside Sky/ESPN/streamed matches. You're demonstrating a very naive attitude, which I'm surprised to see you display. i.e. I don't know anything about this player, but I notice he plays for N.Ireland (ranked above Scotland btw!)... therefore he must be rank. Do a bit more revision on Johnny Tuffey then get back to me. That, or quit fishing. kthxbai That's not what i'm saying at all, way to drop a pre-conceived notion about me in there too by the way. There's a lot more high level competition for starting places in the Scotland squad and there are a lot more of those fighting for a squad place that are playing consistently at a higher level than there are in the N.Ireland squad. Looking at te current squad they've only got Maik Taylor who has actually played at a decent level (Tuffers playing a few casual games for ICT does not count as consistently performing at a high level i'm afraid). Scotland have:GordonMcGregorMarshallAlexanderGilksGallacherTurner (Not as consistent as the others i'll admit but decent enough and i'm sure you'd have him over Esson or Tuffey)All of which have played at least at Championship level in England (which is a substantial jump up against SPL level).Esson bottled it in the lower leagues in England just like he bottled it at Aberdeen. ICT took a chance on him (when very few others would) and yes, he's a decent player for a team like ICT but he's not an international goalkeeper by any stretch. He's had a decent run of games but he's not a great goalkeeper. I think ICT owe more to the fact that they're riding on the wave of a good promotion campaign last season. The indian summer won't last and i'll expect to see you skimming the bottom three come the end of the season. Getting horsed 6-0 by Celtic is a good indicator of ICTs short comings. If you lot can stay up this season then i'd expect a better run next year as there's a decent team spirit at ICT with the current group of players (something that's lacking in most of teh SPL teams) and there are a number of reasonable players in the team to build round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 I say, this has all got rather heated! Here's a picture of Sieb Dykstra twatting an uppity Hun, just to make everyone feel better: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkaline Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 I say, this has all got rather heated! Here's a picture of Sieb Dykstra twatting an uppity Hun, just to make everyone feel better:When did it get heated? No-one's calling anyone names or anything, it's a healthy discussion between two people with differing opinions. Why's everyone on this board so intent on stifling discussion for throwing shitty puns about and the suchlike all the time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 To be honest, the conversation just made me long for Sieb, and Google decided to imortalise him whacking Marco Negri(?). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 Fuck Nigel De Jong. May a thousand plagues be cast upon him.He's been dropped from the Dutch squad because of his leg breaking antics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeanette Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 He's been dropped from the Dutch squad because of his leg breaking antics.Nigel de Jong escapes FA punishment but is dropped by Holland | Football | guardian.co.ukBert van Marwijk has some interesting comments in that article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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