Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Champions League draw at 11am :D

(Don't worry Mancunians, Europa League draw will follow it! :) )

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Well Damien we are not in either.:(

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Napoli vs Chelsea
AC Milian vs Arsenal

Ugh. We had had awful, awful luck in our draws so far.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Agree with all that. We haven't had a killer striker since Ronnie. A club of our stature should have a complete forward that other teams fear and this has been lacking for a number of years. When he's on form and in the right position Rooney can knock them in for fun but we can't rely on his inconsistency.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Probably the toughest draws the English sides could get...

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yup. Prefer AC Milian to Napoli but that's about it.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

bring em on :D

---------- Post added at 12:28 ---------- Previous post was at 11:39 ----------

Europa

Porto v Manchester City
Ajax v Manchester United
Stoke City v Valencia

;)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Darn right, I think they're well beatable

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Certainly beatable and I think the way the Italian sides are matched up against the English opposition is favourable. I think Arsenal would prefer AC Milan over Napoli and likely Chelsea prefer Napoli.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Come on Damien its not that bad as l forsee both English clubs going through to the Quarter finals.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16230934.stm

;)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

we against a valid Basle side. If the Swiss FA is suspended then whoever is scheduled to play Basle should get a bye to the next round, not move us to another competition. That isn't fair on the other clubs

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Premier League scores


Blackburn1-2West Brom

Everton1-1Norwich

Fulham2-0Bolton

Newcastle0-0Swansea

Wigan v Chelsea17:30

Wolves1-2Stoke



http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9663058.stm


How long can Blackburn and Bolton's managers last after another defeat.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Blackburn...1 game more

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

He might not even get that Colin.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I would have dropped him by now.

But i thought i seen rumour that he had two more games..not counting today's game.
And next game is against Bolton..I'm guessing the loser of that game..will be sacked.

And maybe even a draw.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Chelsea have dropped two more points at Wigan in a 1-1 draw and to be perfectly honest AVB still has a job on his hands as l still see too many of their players strolling through matches and if it was one of the Manchester clubs playing Wigan today they would have won quite easily.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...-lifeline.html

No way, I'd hate for us to qualify this way. We either get there by results or we don't.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

l have to agree with you as the players let Fergie down at the end of the day and once you are out that should be it.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Nope...not a Man Utd fan, but if they get through, good luck to them.

As long as it is what the rules say..then well done.

It is not as if the swiss don't have a choice, they can take action..and nothing will happen.

Slight sympathy to basle..but...they play for the swiss association...so must abide by what happens.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...m/16129427.stm

QPR 0 - 2 Man Utd

Well that 5 wins in the last 6 matches for Man Utd and now its up to Man City later today to reclaim top spot.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

should be very good game that bet you happy now with your team 2-0 up :)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yes its nice to get two early goals to ease the stress levels.:)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Won't be 2-0 for much longer if we carry on playing like we did in the last 15-20 minutes. Fortunately for us, Villa have been woeful.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...m/16129434.stm

Aston Villa 0 - 2 Liverpool

That will do nicely.:)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Silva 3 times in a row..has tried to do the "cute" pass...Man City almost slipping into Arsenal habit..trying to be too clever...simple is best..like maybe shoot at goal..don't try and walk it into the net

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...m/16129441.stm

Tottenham 1 - 0 Sunderland


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...m/16129455.stm

Man City 1 - 0 Arsenal

What a wonderful advert for the Premiership.:clap:

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

lacking a little quality for Arsenal. our current lot should be able to step up, add that little quality but its not there atm. nonetheless I agree, great game, great advert of the prem. Arsenal did do well to a certain degree, City could have a scored a few though.

Welbecks starting to play a lot like Adebayor to me

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Game was good...Arsenal still lack quality...but...if they get maybe three players..they will be back to their best...as long as no one gets injured

Still feel Man City has another gear...if they click

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yes out of the two Manchester clubs l feel City's strength in depth will win out at the end of the season and l see four clubs challenging for the other two champions league spots.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Wenger should sign Gourcuff but he's ruled it out though. in hope its got to do with keeping the fee down but theres the dreaded thought of Wenger never going back on his word. hes a real talent but is incredibly depressed in France/Lyon.

I hope Henrys re-signed :D

that'll be fine to be honest. Gourcuff and Henry in Jan.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Arsenal did fine. Good performance, was always going to be a very tough ask at City.

Like how City tried to make Nasri man of the match to wind up the Arsenal fans.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

What about Eden Hazard who Arsenal are rumoured to be after and as for Henry a true Arsenal legend but really he is past it.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

past it :no: :mis:

unsure about Hazard, quality player but who knows if Arsenal actually fork out for him. I'd like Jan Vertonghen in an Arsenal shirt, versatile defender.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

brilliant own goal :LOL:

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

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

That might get my vote for goal of the season.:clap:

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Best own goal of the year???

http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos...-v-citizen-aa/

---------- Post added at 11:10 ---------- Previous post was at 11:08 ----------

LOL Thenry beat me to it :clap:

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

http://www.sportinglife.com/football...medium=twitter

More to follow.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Terry must be worried...

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

will have to play Carroll now Suarez will be a big miss for Liverpool

---------- Post added at 20:20 ---------- Previous post was at 20:20 ----------

bet he gets off because he england captain

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Excellent news :)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Players are certainly going to think twice about uttering racist remarks!

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

if they do utter them they deserve what they will get on bans ect

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Be interesting to see how Liverpool handle this..

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Updated

http://www.sportinglife.com/football...8.html&BID=165

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

This is going to be potentially very messy

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/lates...fc-statement-8

"We look forward to the publication of the Commission's Judgment. We will study the detailed reasons of the Commission once they become available, but reserve our right to appeal or take any other course of action we feel appropriate with regards to this situation."

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yes l agree this could run and run and in setting a precedence here it will be interesting what the FA will do in regards to the John Terry case.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

The problem for the FA is that their judgement could be tantamount to slander/defamation of character (delete as appropriate) depending on the "evidence" they have supposedly have to hand. It's no secret that Kenny Dalglish has little respect for the FA as an organisation or those who make key decisions (rightly so). The outcome of the investigation comes as no surprise really.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Actually I think it is a surprise. I, like others, thought the FA would wimp out of making a proper decision. As long as they give Terry a similar punishment I think it sets out a good message. We do not tolerate racist abuse in British football.

Liverpool's statement does them no favours. They accuse Evra of making previous unfounded allegations when such allegations were not made by him but by others. They seem to think that Suarez is less likely to have made the remarks because he is a 'player of mixed heritage'. They also call on Evra to be charged. The whole statement is quite unkind to Evra which if the allegations are true, and the FA seem to think they are, is shocking behaviour from the club.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

so an 8 game ban that he will appeal and likely get reduced to 4-5 games instead

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I don't think we can really have any pre-conceived ideas until the full facts are revealed. The club knows exactly what evidence was presented so there must be some reason for that statement to have been released.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

You would hope so. I really dislike Evra but Liverpool casting such aspersions on his character is simply not on. If Suarez is guilty then they would have done so to the target of his abuse. I want to see Liverpool back up the comments about Evra's previous 'unfounded allegations' as it was my understanding those were not made by him.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I doubt this will stop racism in the game. Most of the insulting words or comments the players use are heat-of-the-moment stuff where you don't get the chance (or inclination) to stop and think what you're doing.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Me too Damien yes, it's a situation which really shouldn't have been allowed to escalate in this manner. I think there are a number of factors in play here, one of them being Mr Blatter's latest gaffe but I'm sure the contents of the findings will reveal all in due course.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

This Blackburn vs Bolton game is great fun to watch.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Yes it is and Mr Kean is 1/7 on according to the bookies to be the next manager to get the boot but somehow l cannot see any takers at that price.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

You are right, they weren't made by him at all.

I used to have more respect for Liverpool than our other rivals because of how the club was run, but they have come out of this very badly in my opinion and are making it worse with the statement they have released. Its one thing defending one of your players, but trying to turn it onto the victim is very poor. I think Dalglish has come out of this badly as well, he could have handled the entire situation so much better but has made himself look very foolish and has continued to do so after the verdict via twitter.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16237583.stm

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

They can have Simpson and Perch for free, twigs would make better full backs.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Seems you would like some new full backs so perhaps you can tempt Gary Neville out of retirement.:D

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Did anyone else spot this when viewing the classic own goal link,

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/896...from-2011.html

:D

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

John Terry will face a criminal prosecution for alleged racist remarks.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Just further on Damien here is the link and a couple of quotes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16284813

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

The FA won't interfere with a criminal proceeding so we'll have to wait.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

This is the analysis from BBC sports editor David Bond.

Ever since they've been briefing that a decision was coming you got the sense they wouldn't be building it up if they were going to drop it.

There must be some new evidence. What we've seen in the public domain is inconclusive.

It's extremely difficult for the England and the FA.

My understanding is that they won't suspend him and will let the case take its course. There is a precedent of course.

Steven Gerrard was charged with affray in 2008 and he continued to play for England.

It's hugely disruptive. England's next game is in February against Holland and he could be in court earlier in the month.

The FA will hope it's cleared up by then

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

So what is the public order offence that he is being prosecuted for? There has to be an underlying "basic offence" for it to be classed as racially aggravated.
From CPS website:-
Does this mean that every time there is an argument between players, that ALL of them will be prosecuted?

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Well the way things are going this could well be the case.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Which if found guilty, apparently carries a maximum fine of £2,500 - just a sneeze to JT. :rolleyes:

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

If he gets found guilty then the fine of £2,500 is frankly laughable in my mind when Suarez get a fine of £40,000.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

so the FAs independent regulatory commission wont step in after the case? its been closed for good? thats *beep* i thought they were going to wait until the police done their thing.

agreed 2500£ isn't much to him but having his name completely ruined is something else.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16290837.stm

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I for one am glad that JT has been charged, And not because l have a dislike for him, in the game of football players with his high respect from fans, he has badly let down the paying public by what he has done.

The CPS don't prosecute until they have good evidence of the charge, It will now be up to the FA to have the guts to do something about the charge brought against him, What they must do is to sack him from the captaincy of England, he has been charged, which he now has to defend.

Each time players appear on TV, you don't have to be a mind reader to lip read the language that comes out of the mouth's.

But it is unfair if he only gets fine so small compared to Suarez. The FA have to live up to the Respect tag.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

40 grand is small change to both men. I bet Terry would much rather that sort of sized fine than a criminal record involving racism. If found guilty just watch his sponsors do a runner.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

They are on the starting blocks now:D

Also Giggs has scored in another season.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Liverpool wore t-shirts with Suaréz's face on. Liverpool are not handling this well at all...

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

agree 100% there


Martin O'Neill's red and white army :):):):)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

positive Damien.. there'll put pressure on the fa to punish terry all the while both looking like mugs

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Here you are:)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16291583.stm

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

However it's fine for one England player to allegedly, racially abuse another player (The Pearce, Ince incident) as it can all be sorted out with a friendly phone-call according to Gordon Taylor at the time.

However, when the time comes for the feckless, blunt instrument that is the FA to score political points against Mr Blatter one of those dirty foreigners would be a prime canditate to make an example of wouldn't they, regardless of the nature of their so-called evidence. That is why Liverpool are aggrieved. The hyprocrisy of some people really is astonishing.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

so a 3way bust up is on the cards? bring it on...

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I think that the FA have not thought of this Respect campaign very well, IF, racism on the pitch is heard by the ref, he should apply the letter of the law, but some refs are scared to do this.

The FA are too soft, far to soft to apply this, as there is too much money in football, Liverpool and Chelsea should be totally ashamed of themself, BOTH clubs need to act on this too, BUT they are claiming that they will stand by the players.

JT has been charged by the CPS, and will face court, the FA have fined Suarez for the racism remark, what have both clubs done BOTH have come out with the same old crap ' no they would not do that'. Clubs have a duty to the paying fans that they show respect to the fans by acting on the problem.

I gave up reffing as the authorities don't care about it. IF a player commits a racist comment, then they must face a ban of longer than eight games and a prison term. This is the only way you will stamp it out.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Really? Have you seen how the Terry thing is being handled? It's certainly not ok for one English player to racially abuse another.

I don't see hypocrisy at all. Rooney got a multiple game ban for swearing into a camera, it's foolish to think that making racist remarks wouldn't warrant an even larger punishment. Liverpool have handled this awfully, from the press statement attacking Evra to the t-shirts.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

If Terry gets away with this scot-free then the FA will have no grounds to charge him and had this not been reported to the police by the member of the public there is no reason to believe that this particular incident would ever see the light of day.

Suarez on the other hand was charged on the basis of an accusation by another player and his case was heard by a supposedly independent disciplinary committee, appointed by the FA of course. The problem that the FA now have is that they have accused Suarez of something which will leave him open to potentially libellous actions such as the nonsense printed on the back of some of the red-tops this morning. The FA have opened a huge can of worms for themselves and started a war that will end very badly for them.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Wrong Uncle Peter, Racism has no place in football, when players show at fellow professionals, and players should be banned.

The FA can charge him on the basis of what is happening, bringing the game into disrepute (Terry that is).

Each game that is played and is on TV, players have to realise that what they say that is caught on camera, people lip read.

I say again, fans pay big money to watch there clubs and therefore should not have to put with foul language.

At Tottenham, the signs clearly tell the fans what they should do, this should apply to the players as well.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Racism is very wrong on every level and everywhere, not just football but neither player has been found guilty of such behaviour in a court of law. In the case of John Terry it remains to be seen whether or not he is found guilty as part of a criminal prosecution, until such time he is innocent.

Luis Suarez on the other hand has 14 days to appeal against the punishment dished out by the FA, remember that the FA play by their own rules as such are open to be accused of making arbitrary decisions to suit their agenda. This is of course the same FA who sent a brief out to UEFA to appeal against the punishment meted out to an England player after he had assaulted a fellow professional in an international game.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Commentary on that funniest dive sounds like Channel 9!

Scorchio... :D

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Premier League scores


Man City 3 Stoke 0
Fulham 0 Man Utd 5
Wigan 0 Liverpool 0
Aston Villa 1 Arsenal 2
Newcastle 2 West Brom 3
Everton 1 Swansea 0
QPR 2 Sunderland 3

http://www.sportinglife.com/football...1.html&BID=165


Good wins by Arsenal, and Both Manchester clubs.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

There is a lot of reason to believe it would have seen the light of day. The FA received a complaint on the same day as the police did and announced they would be looking into it before the police launched an official investigation. The FA started their investigation on the 25th October whereas the Police announced theirs on the 1st of November. The FA rightly creased to make a decision while Police investigations are ongoing.

The idea Terry or any other English player would have gotten away for the same incident is utterly unsubstantiated but even if it was, it would be an argument for them to be punished further - not for Suárez to be let off.

There is no supposedly about it. They were independent. This is an FA matter so of course they were appointed by the FA but it's disingenuous to claim they unduly influenced the committee. It's just, along with Terry, another in a series of conspiracy theories coming out of Anfield.

The newspapers are not the FA's problem. They avoided any suggestion of libel by finding Suárez guilty of using a word he admitted to using, although he disputes the context, they didn't call him racist.

Only Liverpool view this as a 'war', it's childish. They are going after Evra, and they are going after the FA over this. They are looking very bad in doing so. I am not sure how it will end badly for the FA since most, if not all, of the mainstream press seems to be scornful of Liverpool's press statement and the t-shirts. The best they can hope for is a legal action that forces the ban to be overturned which let's them keep playing Suárez but will damage Liverpool's image immensely. I am not sure Liverpool or their fans understand how they look from the outside in all of this.

They should have defended the player and quietly went about an appeal. They should not have attacked the accuser. Football has tried very hard to combat racism in the past 10/20 years and the idea that someone should be attacked in an official club statement for making such a complaint to sickening.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I think this is a very important point. It is not against the law (of the land or FA) to be racist, just as it is not illegal to be say, attracted to children (extreme example I know, but look at it in context).

What is illegal is to act on it, such as making a racially-based insult. I believe it is very simple to make a racial remark without actually being racist - one does not necessarily equate to the other.

Looking at it in this context, it almost makes a mockery of Terry say he's not racist, he has close friends from all backgrounds etc. Those circumstances do not prevent someone from making a particular comment in the heat of the moment. By the way I'm not saying that makes it ok, just making a distinction. When you're angry and want to irritate/annoy/get back at someone, it can be very easy to go for the lowest possible denominator.

As for Liverpool, yes they are being extremely childish and although this doesn't justify anything, I think the fact the complaint came from a Man United player speaks volumes about their response.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

l just thought you and Damien should look at this Youtube video in which Evra seems to have a track record of making claims against people and perhaps you should remember that Evra was outed as the main protagonist in France's World Cup strike as well so he perhaps we should be questioning him as much as people are questioning Liverpool and Suarez.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPHlbqsewew

http://sport.stv.tv/fifa-world-cup/c...ld-cup-strike/

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Suárez himself admitted using the word. He disputes the context.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

And this is the point.

Certain words cannot be used towards others on the field, regardless of context. Just as an example, if all Evra's mates called him n****** as some sort of term of endearment and the ref (or a tv camera etc) witnessed him doing so too, that would be a breach of the rules.

In this case neither the word(s) or the context make any difference.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

l am all against racism and if players are found guilty then yes the book should be thrown at them but answer this question What word are we going to use when 'black' becomes politically incorrect?

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Have you paid much attention to the case? He has been found guilty of using such language, language more offensive than 'black'.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

l have paid attention totally to the case but l am posing the question of sometime in the future will we be able to call someone black and you have not answered that question so far as if l call someone black will l be accused of being racist sometime in the future by someone.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

He has been found guilty of something the FA disciplinary committee have decided he is guilty of. The club know what evidence has been lodged against the player, what's missing at this point is their interpretation of the evidence which forms their judgement.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

I am not answering that question because it has nothing to do with the issue at hand and is a straw man argument.

---------- Post added at 11:28 ---------- Previous post was at 11:26 ----------

Yes, The FA decided he was guilty after a long process. Professional football clubs in the UK are subject to the FA's rules and practises. Every club in the country have to abide by them and following their disciplinary procedures if they fall foul of those rules.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

The FA cannot be allowed to make such decisions that will lead to damaging consequences for an individual or his family, that is the problem. If Suarez or any other player for that matter is stands accused of abusing another individual on the basis of their racial background then it is a criminal matter and should be dealt with as such. The wording of the FA charge can be interpreted as: might be racist but might not, either way we think it's against our rules while they have the audacity to stand there and thump the anti-racism tub.

This is exactly why the club have reacted as they have. The shock for everyone is that a club has actually stood up to the FA.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

No they accused him of using racist language. He admitted to using the words but disputes the context. It appears the FA spent a lot of time consulting spanish and south american language experts to judge the context.

No. Chelsea did the same, stuck up for their player. They managed to do so without attacking the accusers or Anton Ferdinand.

The shock is how Liverpool questioned Evra's character despite Suárez's admission he did say the word. Even if you believe everything Liverpool had said, Evra was not to know about the 'South American meaning' of the word he used. So why Liverpool still decided to attack him in an official press release is beyond me.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

The Patrice Evra who insulted Suarez with a derogatory term based on his origin and is not facing a similar charge?

ok then