The Real Football Thread

Page 49 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Apr 4, 2011
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Couldn't wait for the real world
To test the strength of the lion's heart.
Cats like me and you,
Have got laws,
That they adhere to.
Laws outside the laws,
As laid down
By those we don't subscribe to.
The world is getting stranger.
But we'll never lose heart.
We can't just wait for the old guard to die,
Before we can make a new start.
Bring on the revolution.

The Pretenders
...And my Athletic
 
Mar 6, 2009
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A sad night for the Athletic fans but also a bad night for me as my team is definitely not going back to the Premier league.

Those goals by Falcao were something else, Athletic were so poor in the first half they gave themselves too much to do.
 
Apr 7, 2011
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There is something about Draxlers nomination which really don't like.
Roughly one and a half year ago, Draxler wanted to quiet school and be a pro player only. Joachim Löw as many others, were arguing against that and said it would be better for him to finish school. And indeed he continued his school.
No he is entering the final phase of his A level exams.
But what's happens now?. Löw calls him to the national team and Draxler won'tnot take his exams at it was planned.
I really think this stupid as hell. Let the boy do his school. Hell he's only 18. If he keeps on he'll have so many opportunites to play big tournaments. But for now he should focuus on his school.
This is really a stupid move by Löw. I can not undertsand this at all!
 
Mar 10, 2009
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Blanc has named 12 players from overseas in his provisional squad. Rest will be announced next Tuesday and all will be Ligue 1 players.

Defenders: Gael Clichy (Manchester City), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Younes Kaboul (Tottenham Hotspur), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Philippe Mexes (AC Milan), Adil Rami (Valencia)

Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle United), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Samir Nasri (Manchester City)

Forwards: Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle United), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)

Left-back is sorted with Clichy and Evra. France has incredible quality for this position, kinda glad that Abidal is out so Clichy gets a chance. And he's better than Evra and Abidal when going forwards. Evra has struggled a bit this season and I wouldn't be surprised to see Clichy being the first choice.

Centre-back positions are also a bit crowded. Blanc seems to fancy Mexes and Rami, while I personally think that Mexes is bit of a hazard. Would love to see Sakho but doubt he will make the squad. He's one for the future though and shall dominate together with Varane. Koscielny is very underrated and he's of good quality, hopefully he gets the nod ahead of Mexes. Kaboul is decent, but bit like Mexes and prone to mistakes. Good back-up though.

Right-back was looking excellent right until Sagna broke his leg again. Debuchy was on fire against Germany and proved he's world class. He'll be France's first choice now Sagna is out. Debuchy is a very good modern full-back as he's excellent going forwards and can put in good crosses. Reveillere will probably get the notch too, though I don't like him at all. Domenech said he's France's best right-back so that about says it all.

Cabaye and M'Vila will be sure starters. Blanc played them together for the first time against Germany and that worked very well. Much better than Diarra-Cabaye/M'Vila. Both are very good players at both ends. Diarra will probably be picked too to give options and to rest M'Vila and Cabaye.
Nasri is a sure starter as well. When Blanc took charge Nasri has been France's engine and will continue to do so. Fine season with City and he'll be even better with France as he'll have more freedom. Ribbery will also be seen in the starting XI with possibly Hatem Ben Arfa filling the midfield. Nasri to play in the middle, Ribbery and HBA as wingers. Remy will provide good cover up for HBA and Remy can be used as a striker as well as he is very much like Henry. Malouda is good to have in the team as he's one of the most experienced players in Blanc's young side. Menez will also feature in Blanc's plans.

Benzema is the undisputed first choice striker. Followed by Giroud

Goalkeepers will surely be Lloris as first choice, followed by Mandanda and Carrasso, thus probably forming the best goalkeeping trio in the Euro.
 
Mar 13, 2009
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Anyone else watching "DAS KLASSIKO" tonight?! I am excited already and can't wait for it to start. For those who are not Bundesliga aficionados, I am talking about the final of the DFB Pokal in Berlin's Olympiastadium between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Even if you are not an expert on German football I highly recommend you tune it because this is usually great entertainment.

Dortmund has won the championship and beat Bayern 4 times in a row with 7:1 goals. But Munich are correct to point out that the last two games were really close and decided on small details. Will Dortmund still be concentrated anough after already playing an amazing season? I think yes: this is a historic chance for them to get the first "double" in the club's history. What about Bayern? Can they focus on this "small" final with the big one against Chelsea in mind?!

We will find out tonight! No matter who wins it will be the perfect ending to an exciting season.
 
Jan 27, 2011
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I'll watch it.
With my father being born less than 20 km from Dortmund, I'm naturally for the team in black and yellow.
I think Klopp will have his team top-tuned for this. And I hope they'll win.

Long-term I'm interested in whether Dortmund can play as well in the Champions League next year as they do in the Bundesliga. This year was a bit of a disappointment.
 
Mar 13, 2009
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Nice I am a Dortmund fan as well. Yes Champions League was a disappointment, let's hope they've learned their lesson! The year before that they were in Europa League and it wasn't quite as bad but still disappointing. So most players have some experience playing internationally now.

I must say in this competition Bayern might have a slight advantage because they are used to playing finals and succeeding in the K.O. system. Dortmund already had a lot of trouble getting there against Düsseldorf and Fürth
 
Mar 13, 2009
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Wow, what a game .... forgive my outburst but "DA IST DAS DING!!!!" ("There is the thing", classic german proverb which is said when winning a trophy in football).

They punished Bayern's mistakes without mercy. I think they had 6 chances and scored 5 goals. This is the best BVB of all times, historic win. I am going to miss Kagawa. To all ManU and Premier League fans: you will have a lot of fun with this player. Consider yourselves lucky!!
 
Jan 27, 2011
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Well, that wasn't half-bad. :D

I absolutely adore Kagawa, his assist for the 4-1 (I think) was world class.
Looking forward to how Klopp will compensate the loss of this player. Reus to become even better than he is now?
 
Mar 13, 2009
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Yes I think the loss of Kagawa is not only a loss for Dortmund but for the whole Bundesliga. In my opinion he has been the most spectacular transfer in recent history. Reus of course has a whole different situation: Kagawa came for 350.000€ (sic!!!!), he had nothing to lose, nothing to prove and everything to gain. Reus on the other hand comes for 17.5 million, that's exponentially more pressure. But in many ways he will have it easier: Dortmund is his home and he will not have to integrate or learn the language like Kagawa. In any case the only reason I can somewhat tolerate the loss of Kagawa is because of Reus. Although it is too bad that we miss out on the magic triangle Götze-Kagawa-Reus. Can you imagine?! It would be insane.

/edit: I will also miss Kagawa's interpretor who has been ever present on the bench for two years, nicknamed "the fittest interpretor" in all of Germany :D

But overall I'm happy he gave one last show and got such a spectacular send-off because in the last Bundesliga game against Freiburg he couldn't make an impact. This is the proper send-off that he deserves!

/edit2: Now they are interviewing Magdalena Neuer, another great sportsperson that I was sad to see step down!
 
Mar 13, 2009
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Also interesting for all our Aussie users is that Mitch Langerak got to play for about 70 minutes after goalie number one Roman Weidenfeller was injured! He didn't have too much work though: I think four shots on goal, one on the bar, one over the goal, one he saved and one impossible to save. He almost gave me a heart attack when he came storming out of his goal for no apparent reason but fortunately there were no consequences! Anyways I am happy for this young goalie that he got to be a part of such an important victory, he got some chances this year where he was unfortunately unable to show his talent but last year against Bayern he was amazing so we know he's got talent!
 
Feb 16, 2011
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Torres to play on the right wing in CL final! Ramires will be sorely missed.

Maybe we should have a seperate CL final thread?

Blue is the colour!

One man went to mow a meadow, one man and his dog...Spot! Two men went to mow a meadow, one man and his dog...Spot!......Chelsea! Chelsea! Chelsea!
 
Auch, I haven't seen the pictures of the United players after the City scoring.

I didn't want City to win but I'm not United fan either. So this finish was just.. I don't know.. Something you'd see in a movie script. Amazing. Absolutely amazing way to finish a season of 38 games.
 
Oct 16, 2009
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Normally a Man.Utd. fan (well I was as a kid) but glad City won. First title in 41 years or something? Good for them.

Football is in a sorry state though. City has proved that money is all that matters in the sport. I cbf to watch anything but the World Cup and Euros these days.
 
Mar 10, 2009
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The best thing that could have happened, at least for the neutral spectator. What a climactic end of the premier league, a real nail biter.
 
goggalor said:
Normally a Man.Utd. fan (well I was as a kid) but glad City won. First title in 41 years or something? Good for them.

Football is in a sorry state though.
City has proved that money is all that matters in the sport. I cbf to watch anything but the World Cup and Euros these days.

In a sorry state?

You are not really a fan of football, though.. are you..? :)