2010/2011 Season Thread

[Captain America]

It really is ridiculous, all because the referee saw it and felt the players were punished accordingly, so the governing bodies can't touch it. It's counter productive, when they claim to be so desperately stamping all this out of football. Whatever the referees decision, these situations should be revised on a Monday morning. Anyone deemed to be being a shit, diving or playacting, or being a malicious little cunt should be slapped with a 15 match ban. You wouldn't do it again if you miss 1/3 of the season. It'd be like football prison.

Not that it matters. Even if they were given a 15 match ban, it'd be appealed, and they'd win. Somehow Eduardo won his appeal, and I really can't think of what ground they could have given to suggest that he wasn't being a grotty little cheat.

I don't see why football wont do it as well.

It works well for rugby. Even if someone does get a yellow or red card it still gets reviewed the week after and bans are handed out. NFL does it as well as do many other sports, just football once again refusing to move with the times (i.e. video reffing).

[Adam Easy Wishes]

Video reffing is slightly different.

There's a massive case to be made for referees being as much part of the game as the players...players make human errors and it's part of the game, for me, refereeing errors are as much part of the game too. As annoying as they can be. Part of the reason why football is brilliant.

[Soda Jerk]

I don't really like the idea of live video refereeing like in Rugby, except if it is goal line technology, but not for other decisions. There's no reason why the men in the FA can't sit down, review these incidents days after the game, then hand hefty punishments out for anyone caught diving or pretending they've been headbutted. That is always going to be done when the player thinks the referee isn't looking. I think there's quite a difference between human error and deceit. The frequency in which this sort of thing happens has grown massively, and alot of the time, innocent players are getting sent of as a result. If the governing bodies show no initiative to stamp it out, then it'll happen more, because they know they'll go unpunished and possibly gain an advantage in the game.

[Soda Jerk]

Video reffing is slightly different.

There's a massive case to be made for referees being as much part of the game as the players...players make human errors and it's part of the game, for me, refereeing errors are as much part of the game too. As annoying as they can be. Part of the reason why football is brilliant.

It could also be argued it's the reason why football is shit for the lesser teams. Referess cave in to pressures of big home crowds. You don't get a penalty at Old Trafford unless you get punched in the face within 3 metres of the referee and it's a clear, sunny day. 9 times out of 10 handball isn't given in the penalty area, especially against bigger teams. Nor is shirt pulling in the area, or a foul by the last man is rarely a red if you play for one of the BIG 4 (.i.e. Vidic on Agbonlahor in the CC final). As I said, I'm not really in favour of video refereeing, but it would deal out a bit of consistency in decisions, and as a result, I think the Premier League and SPL tables would be alot closer than usual.

[Paranoid Android]

I'm all for video technology for goal line and penalty decisions. I don't really understand any of the arguments against it.

The press seem to be going a bit over the top with City this morning after a flattering score line against a side that look like they'll struggle to do anything better than 7th for the second year in a row. Milner, Toure Yaya and Johnson all played well but I don't see the system of 1 striker who drops back to the half way line most of the time producing goals against the better sides.

Disappointed to see that Barca look like they're about to waste a load of money on one of the premiership's most dislikeable, dirty and over rated players.

[Alphas]

Retrospective uses of video evidence is definitely the way forward. If average Joe's watching Match of the Day and Sportscene can see a blatant injustice and cheating then there is no reason why a panel governing the game can't either.

[Soda Jerk]

I'm all for video technology for goal line and penalty decisions. I don't really understand any of the arguments against it.

The press seem to be going a bit over the top with City this morning after a flattering score line against a side that look like they'll struggle to do anything better than 7th for the second year in a row. Milner, Toure Yaya and Johnson all played well but I don't see the system of 1 striker who drops back to the half way line most of the time producing goals against the better sides.

Disappointed to see that Barca look like they're about to waste a load of money on one of the premiership's most dislikeable, dirty and over rated players.

I agree about City to an extent. Liverpool were just awful, but City have got plenty of capable goalscorers outside of Tevez, so I don't think it will matter too much whether he drops back. Until last season, Tevez was never really a goalscorer anyway. He was just one of those impact players, who had an affect on the game, and even though he scored alot last season, I still think his main strength is just buzzing around, making life difficult for the opponent, and using his strength to retain the ball in good areas. He'll still score a few too!

Mascherano is a dispicable human being, but he's certainly an effective player. I can't stand him, but I'd still have him in my team. He gets stuck in and breaks up the play a little. I love a midfield hardman, and he's got alot of finesse about his play when he's on the ball too. Great passer. Still a shitbag though.

[Lemonade]

Does anyone actually know what Man City's best XI is? Looking at their squad on Wikipedia, there's so many of the cunts I wouldn't know where to begin. I reckon the problem Mancini is going to have this season is finding a spot for all these guys, no player is going to be happy if they're stuck on the bench every game.

Def:

Richards, Bridge, Zabaleta, Boateng, Lescott, Kolarov, Toure

Mid:

M Johnson, Milner, Wright-Phillips, A Johnson, Barry, Silva, Viera, De Jong, Toure

Att:

Adebayor, Robinho, Santa Cruz, Jo, Tevez, Balotelli.

He should have employed my Football Manager tactics - one good player for every position, one average player for every position who will stay in the reseves, but can stand in if there's an injury or suspension, and a shit spare striker to make up the numbers. Squad of 23

[Adam Easy Wishes]

Hart

Richards - Toure - Kompany - Kolorov

Toure - de Jong

Milner - Silva - Tevez

Adebayor

[EDIT= Changed it...]

[Murrr]

Hart

Richards - Toure - Kompany - Kolorov

Toure - de Jong

Milner - Silva - Tevez

Adebayor

[EDIT= Changed it...]

Where do Shaun Goater and Georgi Kinkladze fit into this system?

[Soda Jerk]

Even then, your duplicate player needs to know his role as a utility player. Nearly all of those players are used to being starters. Tevez left United because he didn't want to fight Berbatov for a starting role. Balotelli went mental at Mourinho because he's fucking mental, and also because he wasn't getting picked, due to being ludicrously dogshit mental. David Silva almost retired from International Football before the World Cup because he thought he had no chance to get into the team. Yaya Toure had a buit of a bust up with Busquets for practically usurping him in the Barca team... Then you've got mild mannered Mancini. How is he going to stop a dressing room riot and keep them under wraps? He'll get buried under the turf if he leaves anyone out.

[Lemonade]

Where do Shaun Goater and Georgi Kinkladze fit into this system?

I'd have Paul Dickov playing just off Adebayor.

[Adam Easy Wishes]

I'd have Uwe Rsler playing just off Adebayor.

Fixed.

888

[Lemonade]

Even then, your duplicate player needs to know his role as a utility player. Nearly all of those players are used to being starters. Tevez left United because he didn't want to fight Berbatov for a starting role. Balotelli went mental at Mourinho because he's fucking mental, and also because he wasn't getting picked, due to being ludicrously dogshit mental. David Silva almost retired from International Football before the World Cup because he thought he had no chance to get into the team. Yaya Toure had a buit of a bust up with Busquets for practically usurping him in the Barca team... Then you've got mild mannered Mancini. How is he going to stop a dressing room riot and keep them under wraps? He'll get buried under the turf if he leaves anyone out.

Before he knows it he'll have messages popping up saying

Your assistant Brian Kidd has come to you regarding Carlos Tevez's happiness at the club. He feels if you want to keep the player happy you should involve him more in first team duties.

Followed by

Carlos Tevez has told the Manchester Evening News that he feels he may have to leave Man City due to a lack of first team opportunities. He has become frustrated with life at Eastlands and wants to leave the earliest opportunity. How do you respond to this?

- Inform Tevez that you understand his concerns and he will be more involved with the first team in the coming weeks.

- Inform Tevez you pick the team and you will decide the player's future

- Inform Tevez if he impresses you in training he will be given his chance in the first team

- Inform Tevez you are looking into the possibilty of giving him a short term move to allow him to get some first team experience

- Inform Tevez he will be sold at the next possible opportunity.

Followed by

Are you sure you want to resign as manager of Manchester City?

[Paranoid Android]

I agree about City to an extent. Liverpool were just awful, but City have got plenty of capable goalscorers outside of Tevez, so I don't think it will matter too much whether he drops back.

You're right but it depends how and if he uses them. Looking at the first couple of weeks games there is obviously a lot of shit that City could run riot against and bang in the goals but I think if they lined-up in the same way as last night against Utd or Chelsea they'd come up short. Probably still get a 0-0 due to Joe Hart being superman.

[Woodsinho]

At least they don't have to worry about where to shoehorn in Jerome Boateng for the next month - he got injured flying to Manchester when a stewardess smashed a drinks trolley into his knee.

[Paranoid Android]

Surely City could have afforded better than Ryanair?

[ca_gere]

I think people forget how long a season is nowadays. Especially with European football. City have a ridiculously large squad but with the amount of games they'll be playing it's useful because the following will happen:

1) injuries. 2-3 months here and there, maybe a season long Sidibe type one. All that money on a couple of big names only for them both to get injured is not good business. They've got plenty options with their squad, its like an insurance policy. Injuries are inevitable

2) One or two of the marquee signings not finding their form quick enough. Again, it happens every time. They moan about not getting a start, fuck em: ship em out, they've got other options. Dressing room disharmony will soon be put to one side when the team is gubbing other teams left right and centre and is on course for silverware.

The whole debate over whether Mancini will be able to keep everyone happy is irrelevant if the team is winning. Winning games is the only pressure he's under.

Again, last night Liverpool were poor but that was in a large part due to City's comfort in possession. They were triangle passing the fuck outta the ball.

[Guest Gladstone]

Check this out. Some of it is just insane.

Who does Ronaldinho play for now? Still at Milan?

[Soda Jerk]

Still Milan. There has apparently been alot of speculation surrounding his future. Not just with a move elsewhere, bt with him possibly hanging his boots up due to "losing love for the game". I don't know how true that is though. He's definitely still got it, but he wasn't disciplined enough at Barca. His lifestyle got the better of him and he rarely turned up for training or even games he was selected in the squad for. Leonardo really motovated him to play again, but I think that was all in hope that he'd get a place in the World Cup squad. Now that its out of the way, I'm very curious if he'll still play well, or if he'll even continue to play.

[Paranoid Android]

Milan are coming to Barcelona for a friendly tomorrow night. I'm going to the game hopefully being a friendly it will be quite open and Ronaldinho will get the chance to show off some of his old tricks. That video is pretty awesome. Shame he lost it so badly.

[Guest Gladstone]

Milan are coming to Barcelona for a friendly tomorrow night. I'm going to the game hopefully being a friendly it will be quite open and Ronaldinho will get the chance to show off some of his old tricks. That video is pretty awesome. Shame he lost it so badly.

Just read about that game - they're showing a 30 minute video on the big screen of Ronaldinho's best bits prior to the match.

Sounds a bit like it's a farewell to football from Ronaldinho.

Crying shame - the guy's only 30, and can do all that trickery for fun against anyone in the world. If he fancies it, I'll pay him 20 a week to play for Celtic.

[Paranoid Android]

For some reason one of the papers here has an interview with the "escort" Peter Crouch slept with. She talks about having slept with lots of players but from Real Madrid who are all dickheads apparently and treated her badly but of Crouch "Although he's not handsome, he was very nice and treated me very gently all the time."

[Soda Jerk]

Milan are coming to Barcelona for a friendly tomorrow night. I'm going to the game hopefully being a friendly it will be quite open and Ronaldinho will get the chance to show off some of his old tricks. That video is pretty awesome. Shame he lost it so badly.

He only lost a bit of pace. He's still got mad skills.

[Guest Gladstone]

For some reason one of the papers here has an interview with the "escort" Peter Crouch slept with. She talks about having slept with lots of players but from Real Madrid who are all dickheads apparently and treated her badly but of Crouch "Although he's not handsome, he was very nice and treated me very gently all the time."

"Crouchy" must have a 2 foot long dick. I'm sure that would help matters.