Ultimate Football (Soccer) Thread (2011-2012)

[Gravonia]

So anyway,

Any Ranger's fans on here?

What are you going to do if they go tits up?
I assume you won't go and support Celtic, so where will you go? Partick Thistle? St Mirren? Or will you start a new team à la AFC Wimbledon?

[Rubiconic Crossings V2 rev 1f]

I have heard Guardiola mentioned a lot in the rumor mill. Wouldn't be a bad pick, but would he want to go serve under Ruthless Roman?

I just don't see that happening.

Steve Bruce is available however.

First - Bloody good try by the Arse...shame that they seemed to run out of steam in the second half.

re Pepe...I agree...it just is not going to happen despite his contract finishing at the end of this season. He'll either re-sign for Barca (most likely) or go to Italy (slim chance of happening).

Steve Bruce is most likely off to Basiktas...

Coming back to Chels...funniest 'throwing hat in ring' was by the erstwhile Sven 'show me the money' Goran 'not at all greedy' Eriksson.

[Osarius]

Coming back to Chels...funniest 'throwing hat in ring' was by the erstwhile Sven 'show me the money' Goran 'not at all greedy' Eriksson.

He'd make an amusing Chelsea boss though.

I thought Hoddle's sudden re-emergence on the managerial radar was funny, personally. After the England manager debacle -- which, incidentally, had nothing at all to do with his actual managerial ability -- I'd imagine he's practically unemployable in the UK.

I kinda want him to get it though. Purely because I rate him very highly as a manager. He's done a fair bit for young english players over in Spain.

[Rubiconic Crossings V2 rev 1f]

Coming back to Chels...funniest 'throwing hat in ring' was by the erstwhile Sven 'show me the money' Goran 'not at all greedy' Eriksson.

He'd make an amusing Chelsea boss though.

I thought Hoddle's sudden re-emergence on the managerial radar was funny, personally. After the England manager debacle -- which, incidentally, had nothing at all to do with his actual managerial ability -- I'd imagine he's practically unemployable in the UK.

I kinda want him to get it though. Purely because I rate him very highly as a manager. He's done a fair bit for young english players over in Spain.

True...but the players would chew him up faster than they did Boas...and he's not exactly covered himself in glory. Lots of money but no glory.

Hoddle...now there's a name I've not heard for a while. Awesome coach...hell he effectively kicked off the Chelsea revolution in the 90's...and by getting top players like Vialli, Zola, Gullit etc really helped propel the EPL into the limelight. He didn't do too badly as England manager until the entire faith healing thing...which was more of an indictment of the English tabloid press than his managerial skills. God I hate the tabloids so much that I read the goings on in the Levison Inquiry with much glee. Bastards.

[Serrland]

Has anyone mentioned Louis van Gaal in association with the Chelsea job? Can't say he'd be a good fit, but when it comes to working over at Stamford Bridge there really isn't such a thing as a good fit as long as Tsar Roman the Terrible is pulling the strings.

[Lacadaemon]

Steve Bruce is most likely off to Basiktas...

Coming back to Chels...funniest 'throwing hat in ring' was by the erstwhile Sven 'show me the money' Goran 'not at all greedy' Eriksson.

Yeah, I know there's no realistic chance of Agent Bruce ever being allowed near Chels management. I just like suggesting him for every job because it's funny to watch him jumping up and down in the gallowgate when he's supposed to be doing other things.

Maybe they should go for Moyes. I'd like to see what he could do with a more than 50p transfer budget. Then again he'll probably stay with Everton till he retires.

Edit: And I'm totally forgetting Fabio Capello. He'd be brilliant, because he's already totally used to doing whatever Chelsea players tell him to.

[Lacadaemon]

So anyway,

Any Ranger's fans on here?

What are you going to do if they go tits up?
I assume you won't go and support Celtic, so where will you go? Partick Thistle? St Mirren? Or will you start a new team à la AFC Wimbledon?

I reckon they'll be 'rescued'. Doesn't stop Celtic fans being deluded about this somehow being their golden wonka ticket into the premier league however.

[Rubiconic Crossings V2 rev 1f]

Steve Bruce is most likely off to Basiktas...

Coming back to Chels...funniest 'throwing hat in ring' was by the erstwhile Sven 'show me the money' Goran 'not at all greedy' Eriksson.

Yeah, I know there's no realistic chance of Agent Bruce ever being allowed near Chels management. I just like suggesting him for every job because it's funny to watch him jumping up and down in the gallowgate when he's supposed to be doing other things.

Maybe they should go for Moyes. I'd like to see what he could do with a more than 50p transfer budget. Then again he'll probably stay with Everton till he retires.

Edit: And I'm totally forgetting Fabio Capello. He'd be brilliant, because he's already totally used to doing whatever Chelsea players tell him to.

David O'Leary is available...

Cappello would be hilarious...

Really I think Roman just needs to get a fucking fantasy football team instead of fucking around in real life. He obviously has not got the balls to boot Terry, Lampard and Cole...as well as Torres and a few others who seem to think they are entitled to a first team place.

Or, and this would be interesting....he walks away from Chelsea.

[I V Stalin]

Oh, Szczesny, I love you...

I would not settle right now for fourth place. We are four points behind the other north London club – I am not going to say their name – and hopefully we can challenge them. Hopefully Chelsea can challenge them for fourth place and I would be really pleased to see them in the Europa League next season. That would be fantastic.

Also, @Osarius: do you read Swiss Ramble? Latest post isn't really good reading for a Villa fan, though...

[Serrland]

So anyway,

Any Ranger's fans on here?

What are you going to do if they go tits up?
I assume you won't go and support Celtic, so where will you go? Partick Thistle? St Mirren? Or will you start a new team à la AFC Wimbledon?

I reckon they'll be 'rescued'. Doesn't stop Celtic fans being deluded about this somehow being their golden wonka ticket into the premier league however.

As a Hibbee myself I have no love for Rangers - but the SPL would suffer so much if they went under. They absolutely need to be rescued. Put under new management, stripped down to bare bones, sure, but the SPL would be in real danger of collapsing if Rangers sink. The same could be said of Celtic, too, so it's not just a Rangers thing. If the Old Firm stops bringing money and merchandizing and sponsorship money into the league, the lesser clubs, like my beloved Hibs, will find themselves in a hard place, too.

[Osarius]

Also, @Osarius: do you read Swiss Ramble? Latest post isn't really good reading for a Villa fan, though...

Yeah, I'd been meaning to check up on that. Had a hunch there'd be a Villa post following the 54m loss announcement.

Honestly, I don't so much mind that we're not particularly successful. Or even that we're selling our best players (I understand why its happening). I'm more mad that professional football clubs effectively sell entertainment, but I'm not being entertained by my favourite club. I could tolerate being in a relegation battle or promotion race every other year so long as I was entertained, you know? In addition, there's the "vision". Like... if you're not doing well now, but people believe in your vision for the future, you're okay (look at Arsenal, for example).

In retrospect, its a huge shame about Houllier really. I think he had us playing some lovely football (eventually) and while I didn't necessarily like the guy, I believed in his vision. Lerner and General Krulak appear to be suggesting that whoever is in charge now (and in the foreseeable future) will have to make use of the youth players we have... and to be fair, I watched the team's progress in the NextGen series and was impressed. So we'll see, eh? I'm not expecting a return to Europe any time soon, but I'll settle for a couple of cup runs and finishing around 14th in the Premier League every year for the next five years while we rebuild.




Just please don't make me watch McLeish's boring tactics for those five years.
What's King Kev up to these days? At least his teams were entertaining (for their comedy defending a lot of the time, but still...)

[Phoenigetuzstha]

APOEL 1-0 Lyon

Go ed' APOEL!

[Eastfield Lodge]

And Messi's just gone and made history.

[Rubiconic Crossings V2 rev 1f]

And Messi's just gone and made history.

He is quite good isn't he? and only 24. fair play to the lad.

In other news Wenger hacked off UEFA who in turn fined him.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17291879

[Phoenigetuzstha]

APOEL for the Champions League 11-12.

[Nazis in Space]

So much >rape

Not sure who's more humiliated, Lyon or Leverkusen. Hilarious all the same.

[Lacadaemon]

As a Hibbee myself I have no love for Rangers - but the SPL would suffer so much if they went under. They absolutely need to be rescued. Put under new management, stripped down to bare bones, sure, but the SPL would be in real danger of collapsing if Rangers sink. The same could be said of Celtic, too, so it's not just a Rangers thing. If the Old Firm stops bringing money and merchandizing and sponsorship money into the league, the lesser clubs, like my beloved Hibs, will find themselves in a hard place, too.

Sure they have to be rescued. If nothing else think of the Bowler Hat industry.

[Serrland]

Arne Friedrich to my Chicago Fire! Another cause for optimism for the coming season.

[Nazis in Space]

Arne Friedrich to my Chicago Fire! Another cause for optimism for the coming season.

You do realise that he does this in the aftermath of a practically career-ending injury, yes?

(And what a loss that was... Our defence fell apart once this happened :( He's just an awesome guy, too, not just as a player)

[Serrland]

Arne Friedrich to my Chicago Fire! Another cause for optimism for the coming season.

You do realise that he does this in the aftermath of a practically career-ending injury, yes?

(And what a loss that was... Our defence fell apart once this happened He's just an awesome guy, too, not just as a player)

I'm more excited about having a highly professional defender who can act pretty much like a coach to help with th mental and tactical development of our young defenders coming up through the ranks. He seems like the perfect guy for that, as I see it.

[Nazis in Space]

... That's actually a pretty justifiable expectation.

Can't think of many players that'd be better for such a role.

[Serrland]

... That's actually a pretty justifiable expectation.

Can't think of many players that'd be better for such a role.

That's why I was so glad to hear it. Not to mention the possibility of him saying good things about the league to former Germany teammates (that's you, Ballack!)

At this point with the MLS any European support is good support.

[Osarius]

At this point with the MLS any European support is good support.

*makes mental note to stress his nationality when applying for coaching roles in the US*

[Homelands our]

At this point with the MLS any European support is good support.

*makes mental note to stress his nationality when applying for coaching roles in the US*

*makes mental note to move the US on Friday*
I'll get a place there then?

[Hossaim]

*makes mental note to stress his nationality when applying for coaching roles in the US*

*makes mental note to move the US on Friday*
I'll get a place there then?

*makes mental note ot eat pancake tomorrow*

Europe league today correct?