Official Football Thread

Then I'll try to be a nice man and ask positive questions, like: Who would you like to be the new man in charge at St. James' Park? I've read someone suggesting that Alan Shearer would be the man, but I guess most of you would prefer someone more experienced? I mean, Shearer doesn't have any managing experience, and being a leader on the pitch doesn't necessarily make you a good leader off the pitch.

*Or vice versa, as Ivar Hoff (a Norwegian football coach and later a TV commentator) stated once - about himself who was never a great footballer: "You don't need to have been a horse to become a good jockey"  :bigsmile: I guess the opposite could be said as well. Being a good horse doesn't make you a good jockey  ;)
 
I tell you who would have been good at St James, Erikson. Bit late for that now though. :D

I think Shearer, if he can tear himself away from his cushy job as a BBC pundit, should have a go to test his mettle at being a manager. Perhaps a future candidate for the England job (after Capello has done his job).
 
Sense dictates that Shearer must get some managerial experience before taking over at Newcastle. But can you imagine him giving up the comfy sofa at MOTD for taking over a Championship or League 1 side? I can't see it happening. I reckon he'll go straight into the Newcastle job, whether now or later, whether by himself or alongside someone like Keegan.
 
Was I pleased as punch that Spurs thumped Arsenal the other night - 5-1. Arsenal fielding a below strength side is no excuse either. Set's up a rather interesting final with Spurs playing Chelsea. Ironically, as this cup becomes so de-valued in the rounds, it still manages to get big names in the final each year.

As for cups, and of a different stature, Southend host Barnsley tonight in the FA Cup. I'm going for Southend to triumph and reach the last 16 to equal their record in the FA Cup (only twice before have they reached that stage).
 
@Genghis Khan:

Croatia - Holland
       
Date:  (tomorrow) Wednesday 6 February, 20.30 o'clock (8:30 pm, Dutch time that is)
                                       
Stadion: Poljud Stadion, Split (35.000 spectators)       
Referee: Cesar Muniz Fernandez (Spain)

Hope you're able to see it!
 
I'm going to that one. Probably. Forostar, a nice fact for your country - Croatia has never won on Poljud.
 
Nice you're going!

Fact is that Holland has never won of Croatia.

The short history between our countries:

1 match:
(World Cup, in France, for the 3rd place)
11-07-1998  Nederland-Croatia:  1 - 2 
 
Talking of frendlies, England take on the Swizz tomorrow at Wembley. Capello's first game. Should be good and I'm hoping for a win so at least England can say they done the double over the joint hosts in our last two frendlies. Some comfort for no being there. :D

Tomorrow also notes a sad day in football as it marks the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster that took the lives of 8 of the Manchester United team of that era along with 15 other people.
 
About that sad disaster, yesterday I saw something about it on TV. They showed a photo of the team (Bobby Charlton also was there), plus a very rare program book of the first match of Man United (vs Sheffield if I remember well) after the crash.

I'm sure the British will do a good remembrance.
 
About remembering the disaster - for some reason, the Premiership managed to set United up against City on the home game closest to February 6th. A bad move, as City is one of the few clubs who are strong enough rivals to have some fans who will sabotage any kind of silent remembrance before the game. Of course, most City fans wil behave, but there are three clubs who should simply not play at Old Trafford so close to this date. City, Liverpool and Leeds. I mean, there are idiots in any supporter crowd including United's own, but only with the three aforementioned clubs are there supporters who are likely to sabotage with booing or Munich chants. United are soon to play Arsenal - if this game could have been played this weekend instead any trouble would be avoided, and it would be a reminder of the final game played on British soil by the Busby Babes before the air crash.

http://www.arsenal-world.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=375392

Officially, Manchester City have done what they can in order to make sure nothing unpleasant happens. They have appealed to their fans to show respect and they have also agreed with Manchester United to wear sponsor-free retro shirts for this game. A nice gesture by both City and the sponsors of both clubs.

I have seen multiple suggestions that instead of the common one minute of silence, one should carry out one minute of standing applause. In that way the few fools in the crowd will not be heard. But of course, showing respect for the 23 dead and the other involved in the disaster by applause could be seen as inappropriate by some. However, when one has to expect some fuckers singing rude chants, wouldn't it be quite inappropriate to let those few sabotage the event?

I wish that the 50th anniversary of the air crash is remembered with dignity - and I also hope that United will have the decency to admit that the survivors weren't treated too well by the club afterwards. Several of the players who survived were bitter at the club for years, and as far as I know, United have never admitted clearly to them that they were not treated well.

I also wish that Bobby Charlton will witness United lifting more European cups  ;)
 
Forostar said:
About that sad disaster, yesterday I saw something about it on TV. They showed a photo of the team (Bobby Charlton also was there), plus a very rare program book of the first match of Man United (vs Sheffield if I remember well) after the crash.
Click to expand...
If my history is correct, it was indeed Sheffield Wednesday they played the following match.

@EW: One reason why Man U have asked for the minutes silence and not what City have asked for (a minutes applause0 could be summed up by what my boss said to me the other day: "To applaud a person in celebration of their life is a nice touch, but to do the same to a group of people taken so early in tragic circumstances, is not so tactful." I am sure the City fans will behave and with the TV coverage of this game, the idiots will so easily be weeded out and named and shamed.

And I too hope Sir Bobby will be around for many more years, but not just to witness more United European Cups.
 
Forostar said:
@Genghis Khan:

Croatia - Holland
       
Date:  (tomorrow) Wednesday 6 February, 20.30 o'clock (8:30 pm, Dutch time that is)
                                       
Stadion: Poljud Stadion, Split (35.000 spectators)       
Referee: Cesar Muniz Fernandez (Spain)

Hope you're able to see it!
Click to expand...

I will certainly try.  If I don't watch it live, I'll watch the summary.  I have a lot of work right now, so my plate is really full.  Just my luck.  :)
 
Hmm, I 'm not that confident. Marco van Basten said that the Croatians love their own country a lot, and that's true. I think Croatia will be motivated way more. And they're good! I'm really convinced that Holland will have a hard time.

Croatia impressed me very much when defeated England, after they knew that they could not loose their number one position in their group. Hardly ever seen such spirit!

In any case, it will be exciting! Playing vs countries like these will never feel like a friendly (at least for me).
 
Albie said:
If my history is correct, it was indeed Sheffield Wednesday they played the following match.

@EW: One reason why Man U have asked for the minutes silence and not what City have asked for (a minutes applause0 could be summed up by what my boss said to me the other day: "To applaud a person in celebration of their life is a nice touch, but to do the same to a group of people taken so early in tragic circumstances, is not so tactful." I am sure the City fans will behave and with the TV coverage of this game, the idiots will so easily be weeded out and named and shamed.

And I too hope Sir Bobby will be around for many more years, but not just to witness more United European Cups.
Click to expand...

I agree on that, remembering a disaster where 23 people were killed with applause would seem less than tactful and I guess that's why it will not be done. It is going to be a minute of silence. And most of the City fans will behave, that's for sure. The air crash in 58 was a blow not only to United as a club, but to the entire city of Manchester. Most people understand that. But because the rivalry is so strong I am afraid there are a few morons that will spoil it. If that happened, I would of course like to see them named in the Manchester Evening News as well as on TV, so they would have to live with the shame.

And for Sir Bobby - of course I don't hope he keeps alive just for the European Cups, I meant to say I wish him the best for the years to come, I hope there will be many years and I am sure he would like to witness United lifting that trophy again  :) Actually it was quite touching for me back in '99 to see his reaction when the game was finished and United had won. Just too bad Sir Matt didn't hang on long enough to see it ...

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Something else - Norway are playing Wales tonight. My guess is that we get a dull draw with very little action, just like it usually is when Norway play friendlies. Except when we play Brazil and Argentina, of course. (Or, for friendlies well outside the Norwegian league season, where we have collected some embarrassing defeats as well).
 
Natalie said:
I'm rooting for Holland in any case.
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You're way better at this than me, it seems!

Croatia-Holland: 0-3!

A nice match to watch, especially the first half. The Dutch really played well, and had about 55% ball possession! Thanks to the class of Van der Sar, our goal was kept clean.

The Poles did very good business vs the Czech Republic: 2-0 
 
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