Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

So would I ;)

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz1ByuwpFWX

That's the last of Andy Gray then.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

I'd prefer it if Keys was never to be seen again tbh, not that I watch that channel anymore. What Keys knows about football I could write on the back of a postage stamp. He is just a front man for Sky Sports, in this case football, an "Elton Welsby" character if you like.

Sian Massey carried out her role as assistant referee very well imo.

The obvious trouble with Gray and Keys is that, they assume the role of premiership football is their own for evermore, and can say what they like........THINK AGAIN !!

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

This whole lineswoman thing is imo getting completely out of hand. From what iv`e seen and read it what just a bit of harmless banter. As long as whoever is running the line, be it a man, woman or transvestite it doesn`t matter so long as they get the decisions right (a from iv`e seen the lass was spot on).
Sian Massey must have heard that type of comment hundreds if not thousands of times and it`s just water off a ducks back.
Why is it nowadays that everything you say is taken as being literal. Do we not as a nation have a sense of humour.

Do you really think that Keys and Gray thought Sian didn`t know the offside rule even though the governing body has placed her in that position. Maybe you don`t like them but come on, this is just silly.
I`d really like a woman`s take on this, iv`e asked most females i know and they just shrugged and said "so what", we say the same about you blokes and cooking.
Are you offended by it?

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Just been sacked...

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Please don't replace him with Sam Allardyce. Not sure I would be able to cope!

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

This is absoloutley ridiculous, blown out of all proportion

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

How long before he turns up on ESPN

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

There was another video leaked:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cS8O...layer_embedded

In the end I guess it was too much. Besides he wasn't especially good. "Can Messi do it at Stoke' was the best one.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

I might be missing something but i don't see how that video is in anyway sexist?

Basically a man has lost his job over a private conversation he had with a friend, the world has gone mad.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Well two videos where he made personal remarks about a lineswoman. I think the third incident of doing it to a Sky Sports presenter is what pushed him into the firing line, so to speak.

I think it's harsh but then I didn't like his commentary much anyway.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

ithink your spot on ,

i would think that sian knows the offside rule word for word given the test they have to pass and i suspect that Andy Grey knows that ,he says far worse things about male refs and linesmen ,totally out of proportion the whole afair

What i would be interested in knowing is who actually complained ,did Sian or was it some PC busy body getting offended on some elses behalf again ?

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

It's was the tone of their voice which implied that they were angry and miffed into the appointment of a woman rather than banter. Listen to the audio.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Another victory for the utterly stupid.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Surprised that pair lasted so long tbh. Sky must have jumped at the chance to get rid. Never heard anything meaningful come out of Gray's gob, just a load of random noise. When I had Sky Sports it was an excuse to make a brew while he was wittering on and playing with his subbuteo set.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Come on Ipswich do the Arsenal.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

At the game Ipswich have a large away following. Do they get more in the cup?

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Will Cesc Fabregas accuse Ipswich of rugby tactics tonight?

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

I need to be scrubbed down with bleach and carbolic soap for this but...Berbatov has been having a blinder the last few games.

*shiver*

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

:LOL:
To be fair to him, he has got bucket loads of talent, but the word laid back is an understatement when describing him.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Russ you only notice him now since Rooney has been terrible this season... he's only scored 3 times so far... whats wrong with him??? Still upset that Coleen isnt letting him score with the prossies he has been with?:p:

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

I only notice him since he's been actually performing like a striker should, it's only taken him 3 years.

Rooney has been awful, his worst season yet. He's had poor form in the past and bounced back but never anything as bad as this.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

but Russ even before the WC he was out of sorts... last season he was hit and miss, the season before when he had his gay lover (Ronaldo) was probably his best.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

I honestly think that BOTH Keys and Gray should have been sacked for this.

What they both done was dispicable and when Gray did that towards a member of the production staff, Keys made no attempt to stop Gray from saying and doing what he did, They both know nothing about football, and to slag off a female official in a'mans world' is beyond a joke.

This is why Ladies football is a great sport and for a female lino to be on the scene is brilliant, lets have more of them.

I bet Keys and Gray will end up on ESPN

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Whoa, steady on Arthur. I have watched several womens football games, ( not managed to watch all the way through one ) including international matches and TBH the standard is not very high. None of the worlds top womens teams would stand a chance against most decent mens amateur teams.

Personally I have never liked Andy Gray as a pundit but it is all just a bit silly. It looks as though someone behind the scenes has an agenda, he's had a good run, far to long IMHO but the way it has been done is pathetic.

Jim.

Jim.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

The thing is that they were on works time and I wouldn't be surprised if Sky didn't have some sort of policy in place to prevent this. I know my employer does.

Lesson learnt that if you're going to have prehistoric thoughts, keep them to yourself ;)

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

+1

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Probably a good thing he's not been handed a new contract on double the money recently then. Oh... :erm:

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

The problem is that these are not back room staff or office workers. Their perceived public personality is of immense importance. If that perception is of a couple of sexist 80's throwbacks who think Football is a 'man's game' then that is not the image Sky want to convey in their coverage.

Football in this country has been trying to appeal to more people, it's shed an image of hooliganism, or racism and now it's tried to decrease the impression that it's a sport for men. In recent years more and more women have been following football, the lineswoman was a extension of that, and these comments risked positioning Sky on the wrong end of that trend.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

It doesnt matter who they are. They were Private conversations and should have remained so. I'll bet the Sky Management who fired him have all made such jokes. Seems more like this was an excuse to get rid of him for whatever reason. I hope he sues them and wins.

Its a shame they cannot credit the viewers with a bit of common sense instead of getting "offended" on their behalf.

Its quite funny how so many people talk about tolerance, yet are totally intollerant of views that differ from their own.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

They might have thought it was a private conversation however it was witnessed (and not only witnessed but recorded).

If I made a sexist remark in a private conversation which was overhead with witnesses then I would be hauled infront of HR.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

From Sky's point of view it does matter who they are. They are the front of their Football coverage which is one of their core products, if they feel that they have two hosts who alienate a large part of the population then they may take action. It's a industry in which impressions and perceptions matter and have knock on effects on viewers and advertising.

It was a private conversation but it was one within a work place with several other people around, one of whom was recording, and I am fairly sure that if any member of a workplace gestured towards their groin, pulled at the front of their jeans, and said 'Tuck it in love' towards a female co-worker they would also be on shaky ground.

Never sure quite why only the immediate subjects of racism, sexism or any other from of discrimination are permitted to be offended. Should only Sian Massey be offended about the comments made about her and women in football? Or Women in General?

The intolerance of intolerance argument? I don't think people should be banned from being sexist but I don't think they shouldn't be questioned on it when they exhibit sexism either. Should they be fired? I guess that depends on the situation. In this case I would say no, they should be disciplined, however as I mentioned before Sky have the public image aspect to worry about which contributed to Andy Gray's firing.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Who says its alientated a large part of the population ? I'll bet a large part couldnt give a toss.

Since they were about Sian, only she has any reason to be offended, and do you seriously think she has got this far in her career without hearing it before and dismissing it and obviously proving them wrong.

What a nation of wimps we have become, everyone getting offended all the while by everone else.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

I think it was a setup as they wanted reasons to get rid of Andy Gray and deliberately recorded him in order to catch him out one way or an other, I rather doubt that the female official was overly bothered as she will have heard it all before and the simple fact that she officiates at such matches is proof enough of her skill.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

I was thinking women, who as I said are increasingly watching football which is something Sky would welcome. It might not make them switch off, but they won't like the presenters.

I think it's irrelevant if she has heard it before, not sure how it changes anything. Again, I don't understand why only the subject of the sexism or racism can be offended by it. I am sure women, or even men, in general can be offended by 'women don't understand the offside rule' or questioning their ability to do a job because of their gender.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

I read elsewhere that Gray is supposedly on £1.7M a year so if there's a semblance of truth in this I wouldn't be surprised if someone further up the food chain has found out and hit the roof. Most of the people I know are glad to see the back of him if not purely for the fact that the bloke just spouts utter drivel; if he was that clued up he'd have stayed in coaching/management and "conquered the bloody world" (copyright Billy Shankly)

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Apparently they were unpopular amongst the staff anyway, obviously one of them decided to release these audio and video clips.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Yep fuss over nothing, a severe telling of would have done imo, looks to me like they wanted him out and this was to good a chance to pass up. I was flicking through The Sun earlier at work and there was an article on Loose Women, now I don't ever remember watching it but if that report and this one from The Guardian are true why is nothing done about that or isn't sexism a two way street?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/orga...sewomenhateful

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Ugh. I hate that show. It's defiantly sexist towards men, full of sneering, derogatory comments all the time. It wouldn't the tolerated if it were a men's show doing it towards women. As has been mentioned, it's also sexist against women for presuming they are that stupid.

Again with the Andy Gray thing. I think disciplinary would have been enough but people who think it was nothing puzzle me, you do that in a workplace and your probably going to get in trouble.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Without even getting into the whole sexism issue...........

After the legendary 30-something midfielder Juninho scored one of his many patented free-kicks for Lyon in the Champions League, Andy Gray once remarked "Is he the new (Cristiano) Ronaldo?". He should have been sacked on the spot after that and countless other examples of his incompetency.

Keys is even worse and at times both of them make even the drunken moron in your local pub sound knowledgeable.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Richard Keys has resigned.

I echo Niles Cranes comment to be honest. In addition to the one he mentioned there was the infamous 'Could Barcelona do it on a cold night in Stoke' rubbish, they seem to be confused about tackling 'he got the ball' rubbish. Keys lately has been on a mission against Barcelona, he first suggested that they weren't that good because Inter beat them. When a guest interjected he stopped them and said 'well, clearly teams know how to play game them. He then kept trying to get Ray Wilkins to say that Chelsea had them beaten etc etc.

New presenters would be welcome.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Hooray !! :cleader:

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

He can repay his debt to society now and shave his hands for charity.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

so Birmingham vs Arsenal in the Carling Cup Final. Don't really like Birmingham, would enjoy beating them for a third time this season. I fancy our chances, especially since they won't be a home. Wembley is a big pitch if I recall, to our advantage although the quality less so.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Just think on the funny side of the Carling Cup, If Karen Brady and her cronies stayed at Brum, then they would have been going to Wembley - luaghable really, Just think they will be in charge of a Championship side next season.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

I think it's probably fairer to say that if they were in charge at Birmingham then Birmingham would not be going to Wembley.....

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

there is rumour that there is more to gray's sacking than this. he is one of the ones who apparently believed their phones were hacked by the notw, and has consequently instructed lawyers to follow this up with legal action being a possibility.

who owns the notw? news corp, who owns sky? news corp. just a big co-incidence like gray using this phone hack as a way to duck and cover? or more to to - suing the big boss for something done by a subsidiary........murdoch would have a have a heart attack with hell
freezing over before that happened https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2011/02/63.gif

he was allegedly on £1.7mil per year, if they wanted to get rid because of that they should hunt the idiot who signed it off...............what would rupert say to james about that then?



it was really a given that once they had gotten rid of gray that keys would go.

was thinking about keys new catchphrase 'smash it', can just hear the parodies of that salt 'n' pepper smash (h)it -no pun intended, oh ok there was :p: ...........ooooooooh smash it - smash it good, making it's way round the grounds https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2011/02/63.gif

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

It could get a whole lot worse than just Gray's sacking...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...ts-pundit.html

Probably tosh though

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

well only the face a mother could love now becomes that and only the voice a mother could understand - cos no other bugger can :D


thank bejezezus i gopt rid of sky sports, don't think i could stand to part with my subs knowing he'd be on.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

If Sky Sports employ Gary Neville in any capacity, I think I will seriously consider getting rid of SS. Andy Gray, I could tolerate, don't think I could tolerate G Nev

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

thats only coz he's won more trophies than the whole of the liverpool football team put together lol

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

He supports Leeds...

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Apparenlty Chelsea have had a £35million bid for Torres rejected today...

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Having missed out on breaking the "Bomber Found on Moon" exclusive, if this is the best that the Mail can come up with after all these years they might as well throw in the towel now.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

How many World Cup medals has he won :scratch:

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

And Torres has now asked Liverpool to negotiate the offer with Chelsea. Looks like he's on his way out of Liverpool...

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

I thought Chelsea were trying to reign in this mega-spending.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

The world according to Sky Sports, sources sources etc.

Suppose they have to fill their daily programme with something during a slow transfer window.

£50M is the opening gambit if they're serious btw.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

£50mil for a semi-perm injured player is madness. if was fit more than he is and playing as we know he can then fine - but as is, no way.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Meanwhile, in the land of reality

Liverpool agree fee for Suarez, now official

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/lates...ee-suarez-deal

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

if Torres is worth 50 million then rooney is by far the best player in the prem this year NOT.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Land of reality?? 22+ million quid for a player who has the potential to be the next Kyut, I hope I am wrong but our game is littered with Dutch based players who were great in the areo division (can't be bothered to look up it's proper spelling) and couldn't step up and I fear this might be another, I also hoped the new management and board would take time over transfers and not rush in imo Charlie Adam would have been a better signing.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Hmm he's not got far to go to reach the heady heights of Dirk's international scoring record then:

Kuyt 17 in 73

Suarez 16 in 38

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Seriously I wouldn't read to much into his international goal scoring feats, hat trick against Indonesia anyone...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Al...national_goals

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Better than not scoring any and not bad for the supporting forward.

Watch it, he'll have your ankles!

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

well lets see what he can do agaisnt some of the best defenders on the planet. huge risk imho but hope it works out for you.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

[inevitable joke]Looks like Liverpool are finally going to sign a decent backup for Reina then.[/inevitable joke]

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

And the reality is, Torres has handed in a transfer request...

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Yup. Liverpool have rejected Torres' transfer request.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

and he can play reserve team football until summer. He's not going to Chelsea, that's fantasy

oh and as I said, opening gambit is £50M and that's in the summer. Substantially more now at this point.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

as a Liverpool supporter, I honestly think it's on our best interests to sell Torres whilst we can still get a good return. Let's face it, for all the time he has been at Anfield, a vast majority of it has been spent in a combination (you chose which ones - we've seen it at some stage) of injured, being bloody lazy and/or sulking. I'll take the £50m thanks. Oh, and you can take N'Gog for nothing! then we can buy a couple consistently good players rather than a consistently bloody miserable one.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

It will be interesting to see what happens thats for sure, whether he goes in the next 3 days or is made to stay. I'd be suprised if Chelsea are the only team interested after this.

Its quite funny reading some of the reaction to it on RAWK. The shirt burnings have already started.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Given the no-nonsense attitude of the new owners it's inevitable that he'll be forced to serve his pennance until the close season at which point he can leave for his buyout value (£50M) to Barcelona or Real Madrid.

The boy is either a) crying because he now has some competition for his place or b) seeking a new contract (a la Rooney), neither of which is should be tolerated.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Or maybe he wants to win something?

He's been at Liverpool 4 years now and won nothing and that doesn't look like changing anytime soon. He probably wants champions league football as well which he wont get at Liverpool next season. He's nearly 27, has the potential to be the best striker in the world and wants to win something meaningful in club football. Can't blame him really.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

in which case he should have submitted a transfer request at the start of the season and not 3 days before the end of the January transfer deadline in the knowledge that many people were expecting him to move on in the summer anyway. A lot of the time it's the agents who are to blame... I wonder who made the details of Chelsea's bid public? it certainly wasn't Liverpool. These transfers all seem to be played out in the media these days to spark bidding wars and smoke out the potential "ninja bid" and of course generate news stories for crap sources like Sky Sports and the Sunday Times.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

It does look like he was waiting until the end of the season and its only the Chelsea bid that has made him hand in the request now. Maybe he thinks his best chance is to go now and that he wouldn't have the same opportunity in the summer.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Doubt very much he'll go to Real, he's an Atletico fan! Can't see him getting much of a look in at Barcelona either tbh, best bet imo is to sell him to Chelsea let them spend £50 mil on some one who is well on the way to being a crock.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

I really can`t believe it :shocked: Iv`e read two pages of posts regarding the sale of a player for up to £50 million and haven`t seen Man City mentioned once, are the planets alligned or something :p:
Seriously though, personally i don`t think Torres is worth that king of money purely because of his injury record. Maybe if it was one injury which meant he was out for a while, then a rehab period then OK. Trouble is he keeps on getting different injuries which must be slightly worrying to his suitors.
Don`t get me wrong, when firing on all cylinders the guy is world class, maybe the fact he`s in a very very ordinary Liverpool team (Gerrard aside), one which seems to live on past glories and don`t look like challenging at the top for quite some time!
I reckon most players of his quality would wan`t to be at a club that is challenging for honours or at least has the potential to be challenging for them in the near future (something i don`t think Liverpool will do unless an awful lot of dough is invested in players).

I reckon he`ll be at Chelsea in a day or three, price around £40 million...

Plus he`s eligible to play in the Champions League!

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

torres to chelsea would be a good move for him playing up front with drogba and having a decent midfield for the supply. What worries me as an arsenal supporter is how quiet wenger has been we are in need of a new defender and he hasn't bought cahill who basically said come and get me or a new goallie as 2 are injured of which either is a bit of a liability

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Yes!

Saints 1 United 0, half time.

Can we hold on for the next 55 minutes?

(45 if we get a sympathetic ref...)

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

If Chelsea haven't actually stopped their mega spending then I think we're going to have to get used to being a top 4 contender rather than title contender. Can't compete with both City and Chelsea buying all the top players all the time.

The Defender issue is hard. It is currently quite good, Djourou and Koscielny are actually forming a good center back pairing and I imagine that one of them will partner Vermaelen when he is fit. Leaving us with three decent center backs and Squallaci as additional cover. If he gets another center back then is it a case of them being cover, or do we get one who plays first team?

Goalkeeper as well. We have two fit first team keepers. Szczesny who is now our first choice keeper, and not only is he looking like a top keeper already but he is only 20. He is long term solution it would seem and set to be one of the best in a long time. Fabanski as his back up.

We look like we're after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Southampton's winger who has a lot of promise. Although I think United will end up offering more.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Flares in the Man U crowd, hope he gets ejected...

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Other than any safety issues, i don't have a problem with flares. In fact i quite like them when they're not misused.

Though this tweet from James Maw of Four Four Two magazine made me laugh:

GET THE FLARES OUT LADS - WE'RE BEATING LEAGUE ONE SOUTHAMPTON!

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

...but nobody knows their name ;) Just a Utd joke

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

So, are you happy with the result? ;)

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

imo;)
the match proved;)
that without first teamers;)
united can't beat a div 1 side;)

Just my thoughts of course;)

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Luckily, that's what the first team is for ;)

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

I am actually.

Gave you a run for your money.

Not that it will stop AF disrespecting lower sides by putting out his second team.

MU are, and always have been under his management, arrogant.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

It's utd's job to bring joy and happiness to the world, even if it doesn't last the 90 minutes ;)

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Usually lasts at least 100 minutes...

(or until utd score) ;)

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

it makes me laugh when non utd supporters make excuses why they didnt win, there 100 mins 150 mins ref was bad and on and on and on.

we didnt deserve a win, but southampton should have took there chances.

as for torres he's not as good as everyone makes out, he's not first choice for spain, he plays for a mediocre team who live on past glories, yes thats you liverpool.

and as for city spending hundreds of millions trying to buy the league title, not going to bloody happen, Abramovich bought chelsea in 2003 and has spent over 430 million and has only won the premier league three times, utd have spent 409 million since the premiership began and won 11.

at the end of the day you can slag utd off all you want, you can try and buy the title.
but at the end of the day SIR ALEX FERGUSON is the greatest manager of all time and utd are the best team since the premier league started.

END OF RANT I FEEL BETTER

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

OLike I have said before, it's not our fault that other teams haven't heard of the expression "play till the whistle" ;) They must think that all they have to do is score and that's the game over ;)

Strange how that we were winning at Blackpool before the 90th minute, but we didn't call it Holloway time ;)

Injury time is there for both teams ;)

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

If the lower team does the job then what's the problem? Rest key players.

---------- Post added at 09:18 ---------- Previous post was at 09:15 ----------

That's pretty illogical thinking. First choice for Spain is so difficult not because of him but because of the quality of the side. Fabregas doesn't get in the Spanish first team and that isn't because he isn't that good but because Xavi is ahead of him. He would walk into the first team of any other country otherwise, same with Torres.

Rooney, well Rooney when he was good, wouldn't have got into the Spanish team either.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

we played rbbish all match and Southampton played a lot of the better football. it showed clearly that players like Gibson, and Evns just aren't good enough and need to be moved on in the summer. it also showed how small and bad our squad is, as when our first team players are out, these players, who can't be a league one side, have to play

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Roman has been told to pay up or sod off, £50M is the asking price for Torres just as it will be in the summer when Barca will no doubt come knocking. Don't rule our Real either, boyhood rival or not, there's very little space for loyalty in the lawless landscape we currently know as football.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ol/9380389.stm

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

I don't see Barcelona coming in for him to be fair, they have quality attackers now and Torres will struggle to get into their team. They not going to pay £50 million for him.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

No I wouldn't have thought so but certainly wouldn't rule out a bid at least for someone who would be a valuable home-grown player.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Well if i was in Chelsea`s shoes i would tell Liverpool they can keep him. That`s really going to work, a striker who`s injury prone not getting his own way. No Champions League football on the horizon and no money in the back pocket.
I really can`t see one of the Spanish big two wanting him either (at least for that money).

Hats off to Notts County, City really were lucky to get a draw out of that match, a proper cup tie played on an awful pitch which looked like it was coated in silicone.
Surely the players must realize after about 10 minutes that slide rule passes along the deck just weren`t happening yet they continued to try :confused:
Impressed which Djeko (that goal should help him), appalled with Lescott (again :rolleyes: ) and am totally confused with James Milner. How does a player go from being top class, passing people and whipping in great crosses to not being able to control a ball and huffing and puffing but getting nowhere.
And for anyone who says City should be winning there all day long, there probably right but this is football and the F.A. cup ;)

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Fulham or Tottenham v Bolton or Wigan

Man Utd v Crawley

Everton or Chelsea v Reading

Leyton Orient v Arsenal

Birmingham City v Sheff Wed

Stoke City v Brighton

Notts County or Man City v Aston Villa

West Ham v Burnley

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

I think that's probably the idea and I suspect Chelsea knew that they didn't have a hope in hell of signing him just as we have no real intention of letting him go to the plastic flag brigade. Low trick though because it negates the key threat in a game they're always afraid of (the one in just over a week's time), especially a Chelsea team in it's current state of decline. Anyway the lads now got a few months to reflect on his decision.

Re: Football Season 2010/2011
 

Probably tie of the round in that it's the lowest positioned team in England vs the highest. That said Crawley are quite rich and have been buying players way above the norm for the Conference. The commentators were promoting it as the magic of the cup when they went though at the expense of Torquay but it shouldn't have been a surprise. Torquay are only one devision ahead of them and have significantly less to spend.

Another fun tie. Lots of cross over support there. As there would be had the tie been between either Spurs or West Ham, especially with the Olympic Stadium decision hanging in the air - posing a threat to the Orient's future.

Otherwise rather boring ties which no 'big' game. You would hope, as a neutral, that two of the big four (United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs) would get each other but no dice. As an Arsenal fan I didn't want a big team but would have enjoyed a United/Spurs draw.

---------- Post added at 16:42 ---------- Previous post was at 16:39 ----------

If there is one thing Barcelona are fine with it's home grown players. Madrid maybe. I simply do not see the need or desire from Barcelona for a player like Torres. Even one of his main selling points, pace, is rather redundant for a team that have the ball in the opposition's half as much as Barcelona do.

Certainly the possibility of competition from Madrid and City if Liverpool manage to hold onto Torres until the next window. City certainly would jump at the chance to 'weaken' Liverpool and avoid strengthening Chelsea.