Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

it is definitely going 'down to the wire'

i.e. it is between Grimsby & Orient for the 3rd automatic place, whatever happens between Northampton & Oxford...

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Just how the game is ment to be played, all or nothing.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Mind you, I could do with Grimsby having to go through the play offs. Last time they did it, the town was deserted - I got so much done without having to avoid the crowds :D

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Gerard says England won't win the World Cup without Rooney.

Come on!!!!

They won't win it WITH him :D

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

More chance with him than Crouch

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Call up Harewood... please... he's brill... :)

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

I would go along with that, but I have this nagging feeling Heskey might get the nod, or even Bent

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

You are having a laugh Hesky ........ he has scored one goal this season if they pick him we should demand Sven give's us a refund on his wages.

---------- Post added at 23:05 ---------- Previous post was at 23:02 ----------

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Yep, but I was referring to Sven Goran Errikson, but you never know, he may surprise us all yet and choose someone who I would also like to see in the sqaud, and that is Aaron Lennon of Spurs, btw, in case you are not sure, I don't want Heskey anywhere near the squad

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Look at that I was so shocked I posted again instead of editing, you know the real reason why I am shocked is because earlier today I was thinking about possible forwards and I actually thought of Hesky but dismissed him ever since then though I have been feeling ever so slightly sick, Sven is going to pick him, ho well try again in four years I surpose.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

You have hit the nail on the head, there are not many to choose from....

While the premiership is good entertainment, most of the players are from overseas, therefore I think we will struggle as usual, I will say we might make the quarter final stage, the winners will be imo either Germany (being the host nation), Argentina or Brazil, and as a wild card.........Mexico :D

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

I think you may be right about Germany they are a lot better than people give them credit for and in Lucas Podulski? they have a fit Wayne Rooney, speaking of Wayne apparently because he has an injury going into the competition he can be replaced up to 24 hours before the start of the our first game so Owen may well end up going anyway.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

If Rooney and Owen are not 100% they should not be in the squad imo, this is the world cup after all.............

Harewood and Lennon might not be bad replacements for Rooney and Owen, the only downside is that they might freeze on the big stage.

This is a tough one to call for England, so it depends on who Errikson picks for the final squad

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

I can guarantee Harewood will be fine if he's called up. He has the ability and he really won't care about the shirt he's wearing - in the detrimental sense.

The fact he seamlessly transferred from us to w ham, as well as from the CCC to PL, indicates that the step to international should be no problem - provided he has the ability. And I think (and it's nowt to do with the Forest connection) that worse strikers have been capped. Bent for example.

If there is any doubt whether Rooney or Owen will make it, they should go. A half-fit Wayne Rooney could still be worth having and is better than a fully fit Bent. As for Crouch I like him, he offers something different and should probably start.

Other than that, the only real option is Defoe and Vassell who are too similar (so only one should go) and neither are playing well.

PL top scorers:
Thierry Henry Arsenal 24
Ruud van Nistelrooy Man Utd 21
Darren Bent Charlton 18 - did nothing on his debut to suggest he's any good
Robbie Keane Tottenham 16
Frank Lampard Chelsea 16 - going anyway
Wayne Rooney Man Utd 16 - will go if fit
Marlon Harewood West Ham 14 - nuff said.
Craig Bellamy Blackburn 13
Aiyegbeni Yakubu Middlesbrough 13
Henri Camara Wigan 12
Didier Drogba Chelsea 12
Collins John Fulham 11
Ahmed Mido Tottenham 11
James Beattie Everton 10 - too low a tally to be considered.
Hernan Crespo Chelsea 10

Where are Defoe, Vassell, Crouch... well, Crouch does more than score and the aerial threat posed by his size is a problem anyway.
Who else is there that could possibly go?

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

well you forgot AJ from the list above.. would take him if Owen can't make it

got my tickets for the Palace v Watford game.. hope i'm in a good mood come sat afternoon

we beat them twice this season but still worried about Kiraly in goal and Borrowdale at LB :Yikes:

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Flicking through the channels last night I saw the funniest thing ever, Boris Johnson playing football!

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

I think you'll find that Boris Johnson was playing rugby - it's just that he happened to be in the middle of a game of football ;) :D

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

I haven't stopped laughing, the german is just about to nut meg him and Boris clatters him headfirst. :p:

There is your replacement for Rooney!

His quote after was even better...

"There was no malice in my actions. I was going for the ball with my head, which I understand is a legitimate move in soccer."

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

AJ is good but i just wouldn't take a League striker to the world cup.

What's wrong with Kiraly, he's a good keeper :S

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

When is it that Errikson names his provisional squad ?

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Monday :)

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Yes but not when the ball is on the ground Boris!

Still, one of the best tackles I've seen in years :D

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

OK thanks :tu:

It will be interesting I reckon.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

I can't say that I am disappointed.....

Creditworthy link ;)
In fact it is about time :tu:

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Only another season at least, bad luck today, you should walk it next season.


Oh and welcome to the Conference Oxford.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

**** happens. The way i see it, it's been practically out of our hands for lost of the campaign. Especially today, even if we had won then because Swansea and Barnsley did, we wouldn't have made 6th anyway.

We should get a manager in for next season, let's keep the squad together, a replacement for Gary Holt and a right winger because good as he is Southall's getting on a bit, and we'll walk next season.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

well we should have been 2 goals up from the first half and then as soon as the second half started we let in a goal and our heads dropped.. didn't do anything for the next 30 mins

Boyce could have pulled one back but then hit it straight at the keeper.. could have won the game but lost three nil.. very upset now and can't see us winning at Watford by 4 goals.. looks like AJ will leave in the summer now

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Swansea!!!!!!!!!!! Keep your bottle lads and it's the championship for us next season!

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Russ. Seriously. Not in the mood.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Eugh!!!!

I can imagine you having sympathy for my feelings had SWANSEA!!!!! not made it to the play offs :D

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

I see that Oxford took the plunge. :p:

Very apposite really inview of the fact that Accrinton Stanley are coming up. Oxford actually took their place, 44 years ago.

SDAL is very quite.:)

Also glad to see MK Dons going down again, what happened to Wimbledon FC was a disgrace, but the new Wimbledon are on the way back up.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

I'm just about here it's taken me a bit to get over the fact we are down not a nice Feeling at all :( ya talk about ironic the season accrinton come in to the League We plunge out.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Good news for Arsenal fans, 7 Spurs players have food poisoning.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

That David Dein gets everywhere :D

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Good news for West Ham too! ;)

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

:rofl:


Enjoy the qualifying rounds won't you :D

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Oh dear.

Does than mean United automatically get in to europe and Liverpool have to go through the hassle of hoping to qualify?

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Yup

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Just the way it should be :D

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

looks like Ruud has played his last game for us... he drove home and never made the bench.. another player Fergie has driven out of the club

might go to AC or PSV for onlu 8 even though he is worth about 15 m

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

A 30 year old worth £15m? Not sure about that. If he does go (and let's face it, there's more chance of Henri staying at @rse than RVN at United) then we'd better replace him - I'm still not convinced about Saha and Rooney needs quality cover.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

i don't agree with saying another player fergie drove out? . . its so easy to blame fergie rather than the player. the team put out without RVN thump 4-0 and looked to play with smiles on faces which is something you wouldn't have seen on ruud even if he had of started. the younger players look to be key to our future so is it not more sensible to think fergie did the right thing and that ruud has become too big for his boots mean as utd man i can even say that ruud has been a legend for us in past but this season he has just lacked something his play has been lazy at times ive been over to alot of games this year and even chatting with mates in stand they say same that maybe the team has just out grown ruud we play a different game now and saha fits better into that style of play. .

i have no doubt fergie will sign another striker in summer but first and foremost i see 1 or two midfiedlers coming in first.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

:sick:

A couple of players looked a tad pallid, but AFAIK, there wasn't much evidence of :sick: on the field...

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Is it true that next year Tottenham will be sponsored by "pampers".

:D

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Agreed, although Nistelrooy's record is good, 150 goals in 200 appearances, his attitude especially of late sucks, my guess is he is more concerned about about his position in the dutch team with the impending world cup coming up in about 30 days time, he only has himself to blame if he is omitted imo.

The United team seem to gel better when he is not playing as I have mentioned on numerous occasions on here, I am surprised it has taken Fergie so long to notice it.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

i just expect in coming weeks alot of talk of midfielders and possible striker coming in. if we don't spend this summer then it will be another chelsea title.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

I can't remember who they were but there was talk recently of SAF being very interested in 2 midfielders, and when RVN leaves we HAVE to replace him - failure to do this will hand Chelsea another title.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

well lets start talk then. . . what midfielders/strikers would you like to see United chase in summer.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

You can have Djemba-Djemba back if you want him ;)

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

yeah ive read somewhere he punched ronaldo in training. .

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

not read that about punching Ronaldo.. at the moment the team isn't playing to Ruud's strength if we had two proper wingers crossing the ball into the box he would get 40 goals a season as the style of the team has changed Ruud hasn't fitted into it so well..

The problem with Saha is that you can't rely on him over a 40 game season.. we all know he will miss a few games through injury so we need someone like Ruud at the club too

great to see Rossi get a start but not his best game.. he's already had about 3 hat tricks in the reserves.. not kept full track might have been more.. and deserved to play..

Ruud might be off to AC or PSV.. if he signs for AC I expect Shevchenko to go to Chelsea

still think we can get more than the quote 8m which is only the same amount as Crouch went for.. also look at what happened when we got rid of Bartez.. we paid of his contract instead of selling him.. Stam went cheap ( and we are still owed money on that ) and even Beckham could have gone for alot more.. Real would have gone to 40m but we never even asked that much

we not great at these sort of dealings

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

thats true. . we lack a crosser of ball since beckham went, although i am still behind fergies decission to let beckham go we haven't replaced him...

diarras name keeps getting thrown around for midfield as well as carrick. i still think graveson would be good worker for midfield. and what about ballack does anyone know whats going on with him, will he be a chelsea moneygrabber next year?

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Yeah some people on Red Issue mentioned a fight in training between Ronaldo and van Nistelrooy.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

who won ?

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

i think ruud won but ronaldo winning in long term cause ruud is on way out. i think its obvious why they don't get on. ruud doesn't like to check back and forth waiting on a cross from ronaldo that will never come.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

I see Fergie paid off Charlton to secure 2nd spot ;) tsk tsk.... Pretty good season all round for us I think. Massive total and I think we could have done even better. Looking forward to next season. Just need a striker as our midfield is extremely strong with Sissoko, Gerrard and Alonso.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

ha liverpool need a striker and we need a midfield lol

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Swap you Ruud for Xabi

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

You might be better of with Sissoko

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

No one having Xabi :) or Sissoko. They are absolutely brilliant and such a steal at 10 Million for Xabi.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Ruud aint worth 8mill but because its man u they will get it. Fergie selling at the right time.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

who do you support? with right service ruud is one of best strikers in world. easily should command a +10m transfer!

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

He is 30 now though.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

He has not really done much this season either apart from disrupt the dressing room.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Preliminary World Cup Squad:

Robinson (Tottenham), James (Manchester City), Green (Norwich), G Neville (Manchester United), R Ferdinand (Manchester United), Terry (Chelsea), A Cole (Arsenal), Campbell (Arsenal), Carragher (Liverpool), Bridge (Chelsea), Beckham (Real Madrid), Carrick (Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Jenas (Totenham), Downing (Middlesbrough), J Cole (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham), Rooney (Manchester United), Owen (Newcastle), Crouch (Liverpool), Walcott (Arsenal).

So, no Ledley King who's been outstanding for most of the season, but Theo Walcott's in, who has yet to play in the Premiership. Talk about a surprise selection - no-one else will know anything about him (including the England players!

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Walcott is in the England squad! :p:

He hasn't even played for Arsenal

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

This squad is going to be trimmed, so he may not go, why is Hargreaves included again.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

I still reckon that Hargreaves has got some dirt on Sven - it's the only reason I can think of for his continued inclusion :disturbd:

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

More to the point, why has he only picked 4 strikers? Two injured, one 17 year old with half a dozen championship games and a giraffe.

Looks to me like you'll be playing 4-5-1 (ie lump the ball to the giraffe)
:D :D :D

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

A Giraffe would be better in the air than Crouch. Also why has he picked Jenas ahead of Shaun Wright-Phillips, who is a better player and not currently injured.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Well, Joe Cole can play in the 'support' striker role if he has to. As for Wright-Phillip,s the problem he has is that he's hardly played this season. Granted, more than Walcott, but still not a lot :shrug:

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Because SWP is crap, have you seen him play for Chelsea this season?

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

He is better than Jenas and because he has hardly played this season at least he is well rested :) and we all know what the lad is capable off.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

has Sven actually seen Walcott play somehow i doubt it.. he might as well have picked me

Defoe should get the nod in front of Theo as should AJ.. King too

wouldn't take Hargreaves or Jenas.. Rooney is unlikely to play at all even if we make the final and Owen is still injured too so apart from a 17 yo we have no strikers.. at int level Crouch won't be able to cope and think most world class defenders can deal with him easy plus he can't head the ball anyway..

looks like Cole will play on the left which means each time he gets the ball he cuts in on his right foot again something that is easy for defenders to cope with..

not sure if we will get out of the group now

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Arsene Wenger said in the paper that he had phoned Sven to tell him about Walcott, you are right alot of this squad are either injured or recovering from injuries both left backs for instance

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Didn't Arsene also say that Arsenal's last few games had too much riding on them to give a young player his debut?

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

if he wasn't good enough to play in them games then he's not good enough for the WC

getting worried now.. has bridge been playing for Fulham the past few games ?

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

i can't believe bridge and campbell got in ahead of WES BROWN!!!!

and theo walcott, whos he lol, defoe will be kickin himself, what does he need to do to get on england team. and lets not forget darren bent has scored upward of 20 goals this season and where is he?

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

I think Bridge and Campbell got in ahead of Brown for two reasons - firstly, Brown has had a few fairly serious injuries that kept him out for long stretches, and secondly because he's crap ;)

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

wes brown crap. . you talk out of your @ss!!! campbell went AWOL and has looked shakky at best all season and as for bridge has broken and ankle if your worried about injuries and form then these two wingnuts shouldn't be near the team!!

well am from N.I so if england wanna ruin there world cup chances with picks like that fair play to them lol

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Well, I'm not worried about injuries and form - I just happen to think that Brown is rubbish (and, strangely, my backside agrees with the rest of me :disturbd: ). IMO, Brown has done very little to justify being picked for the squad but, by the same token, I don't think Hargreaves deserves to be there either...

EDIT: And I think you'll find that, when I'm on here, I'm talking out of my fingers ;) :p:

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

would rather take King over Campbell

Brown is quality and has been our best defender over the season.. he wasn't great when he made the side a few years ago but has got better and better

Cole and Bridge have been injured all season as are Rooney and Owen

only one player has come back from a metatarsal injury early and that was Beckham who was never fit and jumped out of the way of the ball :Yikes:

can't see Rooney even making the final so Defoe should be going as should AJ

how many games as Theo played for Southampton ? he's never played against a top quality world class player

he's the same as Pennant was a few years ago and look where he is now

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Come on Theo is a lot better prospect than Pennant, some of the goals he scored for Southampton were top draw. Agree with you about Defoe though, possibly instead of Hargreaves, it looks like we have far to many midfielders.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

I agree with both yourself and sherer - we should have King in instead of Campbell, and Defoe in instead of Hargreaves, which would give us more options up front, and better cover for the defence (bearing in mind that King makes a very good defensive midfielder if required).

Still think Brown's rubbish though :PP:

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

King is still injured. Guess Sven didn't want to take any more injured players.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

I thought that to, but when you are taking as many injured players as he is would one more make any difference.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

It has now become obvious why you follow Villa :dozey:

For me Wes Brown has been one, if not the most consistant player for United this season, but I don't suppose you get to see them that often.

But of course you are entitled to your opinion :D

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Just seen London Tonight Spurs are considering legal action against The Marriott Hotel and the Premier League over the food poisoning incident. Apparently The Marriott Hotel are also investigating to see if the team was 'nobbled' either by an Arsenal fan or by shady characters involved in far eastern betting syndicates.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

I wasnt near them! I swear :D

Seriously though. I hope if it was intentional it was not a Arsenal fan.

Although I think Marriott should check themselves to see if it was them who messed up the food.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

10m if he was few years younger yes, paying anything above couple of a million for someone over 29 is a ripoff.

I support my local club of course Leics City.

---------- Post added at 21:30 ---------- Previous post was at 21:28 ----------

Hargreaves plays in germany so it makes sense he is going. What did surprise me is the striker selection. 4 strikers with only 1 fully fit, 1 more partially fit, 1 who hasnt played a game since january and another who is unlikely to be fit. Joe Cole apperently might be used up front if needed. I suspect they got walcott to maybe be a supersub if needed.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

I do so hope that Watford can do the business in Cardiff ( sorry Palace) we do not need these animals or their loutish supporters back in the Premiership.

Leeds beat Preston 2-0 but get 8 yellow cards and 2 red. :mad:

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

To be fair the two players that got sent off each got a yellow for kicking the ball away.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

They just refused to accept that their dreams were flushed down the toilet. The whole affair makes me sick to be honest, then again, let's not get too bogged down discussing it all. I suppose the HSE, Met and the relevant lawyers will get down to digesting the evidence before deciding where to bring up the decision.

On another note. No Marlon :( and Theo ficking Walcott who has done WHAT?

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Have you had permission from Nugget to post that?? :D

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Who he? :D :angel:

Imodium's on tap... well, lasagne.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Nugg!! Your forum needs you! :D

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Top quality toilet humour there. As for Marlon I speak as a West Ham fan, he is just not good enough, granted if the likes of Bent, Heskey, Johnson ect are worth a cap then he is to, sadly he lacks that little bit of extra class, one thing I will say for him though is he has a lot of bottle, he had a pretty torrid time last year, what with being played on the right wing, the fans started to turn on him and he battled on and his hard work has been rewarded this season.

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

Well, as a Villa fan, I've come to recognise rubbish when I see it ;)

As I've said, it's just my opinion - Brown may have been consistent, but it doesn't mean he's been consistently good :p:

In fairness, I think he's missed his chance as as result of injuries and loss of form from a couple of seasons ago - unfortunately, Sven's shown a tendency to stick with what he knows in the past so, when Brown hasn't been available, he's slipped down the pecking order :shrug:

Re: [Merged] The Football Thread 2005/2006 Season
 

well looks like ruuds on way out saw on sky sports news this morning before heading to work that meetings were held yesterday and today before testimonial tonight about ruuds future.

its now well known thanks to press what the issues were with ruud, bust ups in training, moodiness. best to get him out am afraid if hes affecting morale.