Official Football Thread

Eddies Wingman said:
....but the only Schalke player who can be proud of himself today is Manuel Neuer.
Apparently, Fergie has his eye on him as a possible replacement for Van der Sar.
 
Of course he has. The only problem is that he is more or less ready for Bayern München. I hope Fergie can make him and Schalke change their minds.
 
The semi-final last night was disappointing in so many ways.

First of all, the constant drama-queenery from both sides, especially in the first half. At every contact between players, someone seemed to be mortally wounded - until the 10 team-mates surrounding the referee had convinced him to give the opponent a yellow card. These two teams are two of the best in the world. Then why act like this? A bunch of premenstrual prats. They made Nani look like a tough guy and Drogba look like Mr. Honesty himself.

Second: Real Madrid showed no desire to attack at all. They were at home against their arch rivals, for fuck's sake! They have invested billions in their squad, most of it on attacking players, and  yesterday they seemed to be satisfied with letting Barcelona pass the ball around in midfield. They paid the price, though.
 
Agreed.

On your first point: and when someone is fouled, it's just like the boy who cried wolf. Pedro was clutching his face whenever he was tapped on the shoulder all match, and then when he's stamped on by Marcelo (deliberate, no doubt) nothing happens.

But it also needs to be said, Messi's two goals were both brilliant, especially the second, and Xavi too had a good (and fair) game.
 
Great goals, no doubt about that, and Messi also mostly behaved in a civilized manner. Participated in the ref crowding, which seems to be more of a strategy than just lack of discipline, but besides that he wasn't involved in any of the nonsense.

I actually wish Pedro, Busquets or Di Maria get hurt for real in the return leg, and the ref overlooking it (because they, as you say, cry wolf all the time) until he sees the blood running from their noses.

I really, really hope the final gets a no-nonsense referee who can handle such situations and doesn't fall for the theatrics.
 
Lets put this here instead:

I did not actually watch the game but I did hear things about this. Plus I heard that Barca players kept hounding the ref.

Two solutions:
1. You go down injured you must leave the field of play for at least 2 or 3 minutes to get treated. No ifs, no buts.
2. Only the captain can talk to the ref. End of story. If the captain is a goalie, then a nominated outfield player is the only player to talk to the ref.

Simple, really.
 
I mostly agree, but I think that in addition to the captains, the players involved in the situation (one from each team) should also be allowed to talk to the ref. But yes, the communication between players and referee should primarily go through the captains.
 
Albie said:
2. Only the captain can talk to the ref. End of story. If the captain is a goalie, then a nominated outfield player is the only player to talk to the ref.

I'm sure that was introduced by the FA or FIFA a few years back, but like the Respect campaign will now, fell on deaf ears.

Albie said:
I did not actually watch the game but I did hear things about this. Plus I heard that Barca players kept hounding the ref.

Both teams were as bad as each other. Madrid maybe fouling a bit more, Barcelona more theatricals.
The funny thing about Busquets repeatedly feigning injury in his face etc. is that he supposedly portrays himself as the hardman of Spanish football. Laughable.
 
national acrobat said:
I'm sure that was introduced by the FA or FIFA a few years back, but like the Respect campaign will now, fell on deaf ears.
You're right, and I think it was the FA that tried it out.
 
national acrobat said:
I'm sure that was introduced by the FA or FIFA a few years back, but like the Respect campaign will now, fell on deaf ears.

Both teams were as bad as each other. Madrid maybe fouling a bit more, Barcelona more theatricals.
The funny thing about Busquets repeatedly feigning injury in his face etc. is that he supposedly portrays himself as the hardman of Spanish football. Laughable.

Does such a creature exist?
 
Even speaking relatively, he's a pathetic specimen. His arms look like they're made of pipe-cleaners.

Albie said:
You're right, and I think it was the FA that tried it out.

They probably realised they were fighting a losing battle when the captains were players like John Terry, Rooney and Joey Barton. :D
 
national acrobat said:
They probably realised they were fighting a losing battle when the captains were players like John Terry, Rooney and Joey Barton. :D

What? Fucking what?

:innocent:

No, Rooney has actually been captaining the team a few times, but not regularly. These days it's Vidic.

Anyway, I think such a rule would have to be enforced strictly, from day one, in order for it to work. Yellow cards would be flying for a few weeks, no doubt about it, but after that, only the extremely hot-headed and the thick would keep bothering the referees.
 
Eddies Wingman said:
What? Fucking what?

:innocent:

No, Rooney has actually been captaining the team a few times, but not regularly. These days it's Vidic.

Yeah, I thought he'd been captain a couple of times, and couldn't be bothered to think of a better example (same with Barton). ;)

keane.jpg
 
Great performance by Messi. Shitty game overall, everything has been said. But the second match should be interesting, there's no room for Mourinho's defensive tactics, he now needs to go on all out strike. On Camp Nou. Ha! However he could be "cautiously offensive", eg. what he did in Copa del Rey final. Without risking a catastrophe, and without holding much hope of winning with 2 goals difference. Let's face it, if he goes on all out strike, he'll either win 0-3 or lose 3-0, with slim chances of doing the former. Score of 1-1 at Camp Nou wouldn't be so painful.

So i predict either 1-1 or a high Barcelona victory (three goals diff, min.)

Also, when Barca kicked Madrid's ass 5-0, Ramos did a terrible foul on Messi (went directly for the leg), then he punched Puyol who got propelled to the ground (and immediately got up, so no simulation), got a red card, and while he was leaving the pitch, he pushed Xavi in the face. IMHO, Madrid tends to behave way more unfair-play against Barcelona than opposite.
 
What happened to the crap version of Arsenal we've seen since the Carling Cup final? They were actually good today. Now the home match against Chelsea can become a title decider. It really should have been over now.
 
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