Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

It broke before midnight else I'd have thought the same thing.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Bolivia 6 - 1 Argentina - FT

Wow.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

thats not a bad score at all.... but then Poland 10 San Marino 0 isnt too shabby either.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

To be expected. San Marino are about as good as your local pub team. In fact, considering their size and population and virtually all their players being part-time footballers, they basically are a pub team.

Argentina on the other hand had a full squad with the likes of Messi, Tevez etc and Bolivia have been barely average for the last 15 years. It's Argentina's worst result for about 50 years.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Well done Scotland (and England, and Holland) :)

---------- Post added at 23:38 ---------- Previous post was at 22:59 ----------

I bet Argentina (like most other teams) haven't played many matches at 3,600 meters above sea level though:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ls/7978041.stm

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Well it's been Bolivia's home ground for many decades and they meet regularly. So actually, they have and they won there a couple of years ago.

Oh, and Maradona on FIFA attempting to ban matches in La Paz:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Ok. Fair enough :)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Ronaldo to leave United in summer?:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...adrid-transfer

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

11 months ago we had the same story.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

It wouldn't suprise me if Ronny goes this time. The Prem seems to be bringing out the worst in him. In some ways it's his own fault for the diving, to be fair to him last couple of seasons he dumped it and got stuck in, and still got it in the neck from officials. This season he is back to diving, and it's back to "Cry Wolf" when he actually gets dropped.

Only thing is, if Fergie is at UTD, I don't see any of them leaving. So that is a saving grace. But he supports Madrid as does his mum, so it is inevitable he will go at some point.

Plus, bit of a stop start season in general this year, never seemed like it got going, and now we are closing on the end. So might get another out of him regardless.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I have to agree, not because i'm an LFC fan but because i watch football. I also think he likes the limelight too much and doesn't get so much as he would like what with the other players in the team. Whether or not he'd get this at the Bernebau (sp.) is another matter.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Thing is, if he drops below par at UTD, there is always Rooney or Tevez to amplify it. He has nowhere to hide. He has to bag two per game, it's an impossible standard to maintain. And now he seems to be getting frustrated with it. Still bagged plenty of goals for a winger, he should be satisfied.

It's alright going to Spain, then there is Messi...................

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Suprise suprise, 9 games left in the league, quater finals of the champions league and FA cup semi-finalists, lets try and unsettle a few of their players, it happens every year and rarely anything happens. It was only last month there was talk of him signing a contract extension but doesn't unsettle the team who are oncourse for winning everything does it? I wonder when a paper will have the breaking news that Tevez/Vidic/Evra/Rooney is leaving, next week before the FA cup semi final would be my guess :rolleyes:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

...........I just didn't want to be the first UTD fan to say it.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

It's probably a load of ******** from Real again.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

so another nail in the coffin of Newcastle then..... any bets on the chances that they are staying in the league?

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Fulham 0 - 1 Liverpool :D

Gawd only knows how we didn't score in the first half, thought it was gonna be one of those games where nothing went in. No need for squeaky bum with Yossi on the pitch :rofl:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

8th time this season that Liverpool have won in injury time, lucky.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Lucky or not a win is a win. Shame we didn't sort it out in the first half, but he who waits and all that ;)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

OK, why is it luckier to score in injury/stoppage time than at any other time throughout the game?

Does the game stop after 90 mins exactly where you come from or does your team continue to play until the final whistle? :)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Judging by the fact that the hit the bar/post 3 times in the first 20 mins alone, i'd say they were unlucky to get just the one.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I had good odds on Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and United all winning, So I was pretty pleased for Liverpool to get that goal :D Phew!

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Now THAT is what you call a come-back :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Ok l give up, where did the SIX minutes come from in the Man Utd game, added on time, and WHY wasn't Makeda booked for running into the tunnel crowd - its a bookable offence, on leaving the field of play.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

5 minutes Arthur old boy - you never heard of 'Old Trafford overtime"? :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Well, Fergie nearly cost us with his insane tactics, Villa must have done triple takes when they saw Neville in at Center Half v a bloke the size of a house and the fastest player in the Prem. I had my head in my hands. Come back Carlos before this idiot starts playing Giggs in goal.

Good player Macheda, hopefully he can take his reserve form into the 1st team - unlike Rossi.

Fergie: VDS - Fletch - Oshea - Evans - Evra - Welbeck - Giggs - Carrick - Nani - Tevez - Ronaldo. THAT was the team you should have gone with you plank!

---------- Post added at 17:04 ---------- Previous post was at 17:01 ----------

Also, the 1st goal. Backpass, now Friedel picked it up to save a goal, that is deliberate handball and so why don't keepers get a Red card? As we have found out with Ronaldo and Scholes.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

To be honest I wouldn't be surprised if this is VDS's last season as first choice. Villa's second goal should never have gone in and it's not his first schoolboy error recently either. Yes he did well earlier in the season but all it takes is one or two more silly mistakes like that again and Scouseland takers the title.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

He scored 90+4 - so anything else was to Villa advantage, not us. Villa shouldn't have kept wasting time.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Well don't forget, all the decisions at OT go United's way don't they...

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

three wingers in your midfield?

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Last season was his last, but Ben Foster just keeps getting injured, he is the future in net for us. Yeah, VDS can make silly errors at times. And it makes the back 4 nervous.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

All i can say is what a goal!

Are you watching Mersyside?? :D



Are you talking about the keeper that kept a run of clean sheets for 1311 minutes this season?

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Giggs has been in midfield all season, Welbeck is a striker, but he has pace, and it is less of a risk sticking him out right and let him run at them than Nevill, hardly played in two years, past his best anyway in at Center Half against those two.

---------- Post added at 17:11 ---------- Previous post was at 17:10 ----------

Lets be honest, he hardly had to save a shot in that period.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Yes that's the one. A clean sheet doesn't mean we won. That run was good but all it takes is another mistake like today and all that's to waste.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

It's probably just as well Man U won 'cos neutrals don't like a one horse race for the title at the end of the season. :)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I reckon Arsenal hold the key - Scouse and United still have to play them. Which team do Arsenal hate the most though? I reckon they'll job to Liverpool just to make it tough for United.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Yes, watched the whole game. Credit where credit is due, congrats.

You didn't make it look easy out there today and villa looked tired at the end, making mistakes etc.

Looks like its going to be an exciting end to the season :)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Arsenal want as many points as possible, they need to avoid slipping to 5th (still possible, only 6 points ahead of them). They also want to try and finish 3rd if they can. So I do not think they want to lose to anyone. Besides as an Arsenal fan I would rather United win the title than Chelsea or Liverpool.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Hoping the Arsenal game is insignificant. Cos they are about to go on a run I rekon. But if we need to beat them at OT to win the Prem we will do it. Fingers crossed that we have seen the back of injuries and suspensions, they have nearly cost us. We need to get that back four back in and stable again.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Please watch the match if your going to comment on things like that, he DID get booked for his celebrations.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I don't think VDS was especially at fault for either goal, it was the crappy defence that was the problem there!

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

'A clean sheet doesn't mean we won' - How would that be VDS fault?

All keepers make mistakes, he's been pretty solid this season and is still one of the most solid keepers around, i've seen Foster play in the reserves a few times this season and he seems to make more mistakes than VDS imo.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

The lad is 17 and went over to his parents! What do they expect? There is no common sense in football. As I have already said, I am more interested in why Friedel didn't get a Red card.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I'm talking about his clean sheet run. Yes it was helpful but not conceding doesn't mean we'll win a match. Admitedly it helps but other teams still win without a run like that.

He's making too many crucial mistakes for my liking. Still a quality keeper but signs of unreliability are appearing.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

It's still dangerous though, it can quite easily injure someone in the crowd.

Also i'm pretty sure a passback isn't a red card offence in the rules of the game.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Because the laws of football don't class a goalkeeper picking up the ball from a backpass as handball (assuming he is inside the box at the time). Hence why its an indirect fk not direct.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

exactly if someone was in the front row with young children they could be crushed and injured. I wish Andy Gray and Rednapp could work that out it isn't ridiculous to book someone for putting others at risk

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...s-premier-.jpg

---------- Post added at 17:37 ---------- Previous post was at 17:35 ----------

That's dubious. It's still deliberate handball. Don't think he even got booked.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

It's not deliberate handball. Read the laws.

Are you are suggesting the laws are changed so it is deliberate handball? So if a goalkeeper handles the ball from a backpass that equals the keeper sent off and a penalty?

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I would say keeping a run of clean sheets is more than just helpful for a team, it's what he's there to do and if he's still doing it that consitantly i can't see the problem we have. Personally i didn't think he was at fault for either goal today, the defence was shocking for both goals, Neville can't play centre back especially against a player like Carew and the second goal was a mix between not closing Carew down and then Evra just stopping and allowing Agbonlahor a free header. I think we would be hard pressed for finding a better keeper at the moment.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I'll agree about the defence, in the middle it's Ferdy/Evra or bust. But VDS isn't getting younger and mistakes can creep in a lot quicker. I'm not convinced he's going to be 1st choice for long.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Hi shadow demon, I didn't see the booking, as about three minutes later, l turned it over, l am still trying to figure out, where the SIX added minutes came from.:)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

It was 5 but I guess they added a min because of the United Goal and booking.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Then don't complain that he didn't get booked if you turned it over and didn't see it ;) It was five minutes inury time, there were a few injuries, Agbonlahor and Cuellar were down for quite a while each and also Ronaldo and Barry, but yes five minutes was a lot, i would have said about 4 minutes :)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I am saying from a backpass, they can't handball it. If he knows it is a backpass (sometimes it isn't always clear) and today he did, he grabbed it cos he had nothing else to do, it's deliberate handball. Deliberate handball is deliberate handball.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Even if it was a back pass, it is an indirect free kick, and you cannot score from it, Even though, when the kick was touched by Giggs(l think) and then Ron' scored from it, which you can't, l suggest read the FA Rules, and it clearly tells you, you CANNOT score from an indirect free kick, it has to be kick to another player, before this can happen.:)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

You have completely lost me. Giggs touched it, then Ronny hit it, that has nothing to do with the backpass or the handball.

It was a backpass, a clear one, and so if you handball it, when you shouldn't, it is deliberate. And if that isn't the rule, then it needs changing.

At the end of the day a keeper can cheat and get away with it. If he is in a position where a ball gets knocked back to him and an opposing striker is lurking he can just pick it up. Give away an indirect freekick, not get booked and can stick a 10 man wall in front of it. It's very rare those "Pen Area" freekicks ever produce anything. So it is more than worth the risk, today it failed, most times it doesn't. If you know you will get a Red and an indirect freekick then you are forced to control it and deal with it. And if you can't, so be it.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

To be fair to Friedel, he was already committed to diving down for the ball and was probably as surprised as anyone when Milner touched it back. He really couldn't get out of the way in time and it was just instinct to handle the ball in that split second.

Jim.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

But then Scholes last week was a reflex action, an outfield player can't use that as an excuse, not so sure a keeper should. As I said, given a certain set of circumstances the keeper could commit a "Pro Foul" (indiscretion) and get away with it.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Let me make it a little clearer, When you get a back pass, and the keeper picks the ball up, its an INDIRECT FREE KICK, A player, then places the ball, the ball then has to be kicked, NOT touched like Giggs did, the ball then goes further, and is touched by someone else, it is only then a player can whack the ball, BUT you cannot score a goal, from an indirect free kick.

If you see a ref, with his arm up, then its IN DIRECT.

We have so many mistakes in football today, l think they should thro the rulle book away, as the refs, don't look at it in todays game, AND l still want to know where the SIX minutes come from, you get 30s seconds for subs, injury time is down to the officals, normally you get 3 minutes added on but NOT six minutes, unless there was a serious injury.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I see what you are getting at, you are saying Giggs doesn't move the ball before Ronny hits it. Well I can't argue until I see Match Of The Day, it was on MUTV but I only saw him hit it.

Villa were wasting a fair bit of time, end of the day we scored 94, so any extra time favoured Villa not UTD. Listen, I aint sticking up for refs, as far as I am concerned they have had a ruddy agenda all season with us, starting with that idiot Riley at Chelsea. But I am not having todays win clouded with controversy. I could easily say he played six mins to allow Villa to get a third. Trust me, I was screaming for him to blow.

In this day and age refs should be ex players.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

:rolleyes:

Giggs touched the ball, thats the free kick over with, Ronaldo kicked the ball after the free kick had been taken so it's a perfectly legitimate goal. If Giggs or Ronaldo had just shot from the free kick and scored it wouldn't have been a goal because as you said it was an indirect free kick. Ronaldo scored indirectly from the free kick so there was nothing wrng with it whatsoever. And once again it was 5 (FIVE) minutes injury time.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Kingbuxton, I agree totally with what you are saying, that ex-players should become ref's.:)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Good game on MOTD apparently. :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Oh without doubt. They are better equipped to deal with the cheat...sorry, gamesmanship that is rife. They are also generally fitter and better able to deal with situations. And it will get shut of the biggest issue with refs "Camera is on me" look how some refs will card "Generic Player X" in comparison to how they will card say Rooney, it's so OTT at times. Arm straight up. Chest out. Run and come to a stop. It makes me sick.

And this isn't me sticking up for UTD, Villa got absolutely bummed on several off-sides today.

I understand that game is hella fast, someone like Ronaldo level on an offside is almost impossible to spot, I get that. But some decisions are just pathetic.

---------- Post added at 21:17 ---------- Previous post was at 21:16 ----------

@pedantic, change that avatar dude, don't jinx us with overconfidence :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I couldn't possibly do that, judging by todays game, it's my new lucky avatar. :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

@Arthurgray50@blu, sorry, but no chance, Giggs rolled that at least three feet before Ronaldo hit it.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Well yes thats already the case.

Deliberate handball in the way that every save a keeper makes is deliberate handball, but not what the laws of the game class as deliberate handball.

I just don't see it a serious enough offense to justifiy a sending off and a penalty

---------- Post added at 22:45 ---------- Previous post was at 22:44 ----------


Are you insane? Do you watch any games or do you just make up your own opinion about what happens?

The ball clearly moves a good two feet before ronaldo strikes it

http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/2323679/

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Every save a keeper makes isn't a backpass. Once that backpass happens he is basically an outfield player, if he handballs it to stop a goal attempt then it is the same thing. Also, I never said a penalty, I said indirect freekick and red.

But I will say, having seen it again, it's not as deliberate as it first looked, but again, a lot of handballs are nothing more than a reaction without intent. But my complaint still stands, given the right circumstances a keeper can cheat and get away with it.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I think Villa more or less made up Ronaldo's mind up for him with that free kick. Nicky Shorey on the far post, the blokes about 4' 8". :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I was thinking that when I was watching it. It's obviously something AV don't do in training otherwise somebody might have seen the flaw...... 10 of us block of 7/8ths of the goal and leave the midget with the rest. :confused:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Unless, of course, they ignored the managers instructions, either way it was a bad decision.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I have to say depite the win we were awful. how many chances did we really create ? Not many and apart from the goals we didn't really have any other shots on target. Ronnie's second goal was a bit of a scuffed shot and then we had to rely on a winner in injury time. Although that was only 5 mins and not the 6 Arthur was quoting.

Nani just isn't good enough, Neville is too small to play against Carew, O'Shea can't tackle or pass and has no positional sense and we have too many players who just aren't performing this season. We have the best player in the world who loves to run at people at pace and take people on but all season long we have slowed our play down which doesn't help Ronnie at all

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

We were missing about 7 or 8 first team players yesterday though. First half we were awful especially defensively, i thought we played much better second half. We did create a few good chances, Giggs in the first half, Evans should have scored in the second half and Welbeck also. I think we just have to take the points with so many players out injured/suspended, the performance doesn't matter. You know what they say about teams that still win when they play badly though ;)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Who was the scottish fella being interviewed by sky sports after the United win?

Fergie seems very selective whom he gives post match interviews too, particularly when they draw or lose, in them circumstances you dont see his mug at all, preferring instead to send out his number 2.

Still, nice to see him on the road to recovery, maybe he will be able to give a press conference at the end of the season, given enough notice ;)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Ferguson gives all interviews except to the BBC because they accused his son of criminal behavior in a Panorama episode. All the MOTD interviews have Phelan (or Quieroz back in the day). Sky and ITV feature him normally.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

You clearly don't watch any post match stuff then, he always gives post match interviews after every match except to the BBC where it's always the assistant giving them.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

There was stoppage time for when Agbonlahor scored and took a knock, Barry took a knock, and Cuellar did something (can't remember what) to himself - 3 Villa injuries, plus time added on for the goals.

I'm a Villa fan, and even I couldn't see anything wrong witht the amount of time - I don't think we were time-wasting, but Man U managed to get us with a particularly good final goal :shrug:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

i've never been a fan of that stupid board they use anyway. To be honest in almost every game this season I can't work out where the standard 2-3 mins for the first half and the 4-5 for the second half comes from. the same as when Liverpool scored in the final min against Fulham it seems the FA just want to drag out games a bit longer now.

If you add up the 30 seconds ref is meant to add on for subs and goals then half the time it seems as if they are saying with no goals or subs they won't put any mins up at all

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Well, they will have to perform much better in the second leg, no English team has won there so there has to be a first time.:)

Sloppy at the back, gave the ball away far to often all over the pitch but you have to admit that Porto did play very well.

Ps. The goals in the Villareal v Aresenal game were both stunners.

Jim.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Awful defending, Porto's second goal sliced it right open.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

What a world class goal from Ade.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Yep. A lot like his goal against Newcastle last season. Tonight's was probably far more difficult, the Newcastle one looked better at least though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIWSCbn2qog

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Not so sure it was time to start playing 4-3-3 again, strange tactics as usual from Fergie. Could have/Should have gone Park Left/Ronnie Right and Rooney/Tevez up front. Seemed like nobody knew where to play. When they supported Rooney, no width. When they went wide, no support for Rooney. They where all over the place first half hour.

Oshae is awful - he got battered when he was at RB, they just hit us down the left all night, then the first time he touches it when he get tucked out of the way at center half he heads it across the goal! He gets worse season on season that bloke.

Rooney is making Ronaldo look rather pedestrian these days, head and shoulders above the best player in the world.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Was at the match last night (still suffering, got back to hotel at 2am, up for flight to belfast at 5:30am and in work for 8!)

Ronney is the only one who came out of the game with any credit. Don't think I saw Ronaldo track back once

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

What about Carlitos, I heard he had a blinder, he must be gutted to play second fiddle to Berbatov, who in terms of effort isn't fit to lace his boots.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Wouldn't say he played a blinder as he only had 15 minutes or so. Took the goal well, but I didn't seem him create alot else. Worked hard though

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Now that's dedication!

Ronaldo may not track back, but he does throw his arms about a lot, so maybe he is trying to fly back?

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Arsenal/Porto and Chelsea/Barca semis?

Looking likely to me.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Typical Liverpool , had to go one better than United, Man U were poor but the Scousers were absolute rubbish. Still, it might knock the wind out of their sails for the Premiership race.:)

Jim.

PS, As for blaming O'Shea for the second goal, who was Neville marking.:rolleyes:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I love the sound of tumbleweed drifting through scouseland :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

We were pretty dire, especially after the 3rd goal. We just fell to pieces.
But i'm ever hopeful ;) (everyone loves an optimist)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Don't fancy our chances much either. Porto looked a very good side.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Yes they do but the scousers haven't shut up about us losing so it's only fair we drum it back in to them ;)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Feel free, i give it - so the least i can do is accept it also ;)

btw, i'll be going to bed shortly, so make it quick :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Not the first time a woman has said that to me :spin:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

:D Thats how i know i'm tired when i go giving you ammo like that :p:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Why do you tend to score quickly:D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I suppose, but it would have been better if he headed out, or up or backwards in fact in any direction other than the one he did.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Gawd, go to grab a beer as the whistle blows for kick-off for city v hamburg and 30 secs later come back to a 0-1 score for city... :rolleyes: