Football 2010-2011

[eFestivals]

Similar to what United did with Berbatov mind. All clubs use underhand tactics.

Arsenal got Cesc in a not completely moral way themselves.

yup - Berba was in a car in Manc with fergie before he even had permission to talk to Utd.

But as you say, all clubs are at it - not only with established professionals, they're doing it with 6 year olds FFS!! :angry:

[jump]

Not sure. As good as Vidic is, i don't think his style would suit Barca as IMO he's not comfortable enough with the ball and doesn't move the ball on quickly enough. Ferdinand maybe a few years ago before all his injuries, but not now for me. As for the full backs, I'd take ABidal and Alves every day (and not just because i think Evra is a massive c#nny).

[Steve P]

Similar to what United did with Berbatov mind. All clubs use underhand tactics.

Arsenal got Cesc in a not completely moral way themselves.

[The Nal]

Weren't they playing an out of postion Mascherano as CB though.

Something that surprised me was Man U not trying to take adavantage and run most of their play aginst him instead of Pique.

[eFestivals]

Weren't they playing an out of postion Mascherano as CB though.

Something that surprised me was Man U not trying to take adavantage and run most of their play aginst him instead of Pique.

They played Mascho there due to injuries tho didn't they? They probably took pity on him, cos he wouldn't get a game in midfield.

I wet myself at that run forwards he had towards the end of the match - he'd take a few steps forwards, see that no Utd player was coming for him (hardly surprising, given how he gets nosebleeds when across the half-way line), and do the same again, and again, and again .... all the way to the other end of the pitch for him to get a cross in.

[eFestivals]

You need the ball to run at defenders though. It almost bordered on ungentlemanly contuct by Barca they way they didn't let Utd have the ball.

PMSL

[Steve P]

Presume you mean this Steve?

[Benj]

I think you'll find it would have been 9-0.

I'm surprised that an Everton fan knows what the Chumps is anyway.

[The Nal]

What I'd hate to see though is some of the Arsenal fans turning against him because of things that other players are saying or force him to say. If that makes any sense

Edited May 31, 2011 by The Nal

[pink_triangle]

All the rumours seem to suggest mark hughes is on his way to villa. I wonder if ancelotti would take a pay cut go to fulham, I assumed he would go to roma or juve. However everything I have heard suggests he wants to stay in london and unless roman goes mad and poaches arry, I cant see any other london jobs coming available anytime soon.

[jump]

What are people making of Sepp Blatter becoming re-elected again?

I just find it strange that apart from the one person who was kicked out for being dodgy no went up against him and the only countries complaining are England & Scotland what with all the corruption talk at the moment.

[the_hedge]

What are people making of Sepp Blatter becoming re-elected again?

I just find it strange that apart from the one person who was kicked out for being dodgy no went up against him and the only countries complaining are England & Scotland what with all the corruption talk at the moment.

[eFestivals]

What are people making of Sepp Blatter becoming re-elected again?

I just find it strange that apart from the one person who was kicked out for being dodgy no went up against him and the only countries complaining are England & Scotland what with all the corruption talk at the moment.

the issue is history.

Until the early 70's FIFA was essentially run as an extension of the FA.

Finally the rest of the world got its shit together, and Havalange became head of FIFA with the backing of other countries around the world, and with an understandable (in light of how things had been previously) anti-FA agenda. That anti-FA agenda continues under Blatter as Havalange's heir.

I'm not sure when corruption crept into it all - it might well have been how Havalange got to head up FIFA initially - but it's certainly been the case for a long while that the big-wigs at FIFA depend on their positions via corruption and the power of supporting individual countries FAs is via corruption. They support each other for their power and positions - and the money they get to pocket too. Because of this it's exceedingly unlikely that the corruption is ever going to be addressed from within FIFA or those corruption-supporting FAs.

This is why after Chuck whatshisname broke ranks the other day to stitch-up Bin Harrman (quite possibly at the behest of Blatter) he's since come under attack himself (someone in his own FA has tried to get him sacked) because if corruption is being exposed then just about everyone is in the frame.

Much the same exists around Blatter - if he's removed then there might be corruption investigations, it's likely that corruption will stop (and so their pockets will be lighter), and those FAs will no longer have the power that they currently do.

The only FA that has historically kicked up a fuss about the corruption has been the English FA, but because of the history of things this has been able to be presented as sour grapes - and at this current time they can add to that 'sour grapes' because we didn't get the 2018 world cup.

So the corruption gets to stay, and the view of the English FA is able to be presented around the world as sour grapes - which helps the corruption stay.

Any FA which might step out of line and support the English FA won't do, because they'll be marginalised within FIFA and so have less power .... and be taking fewer (or no) backhanders.

You only need to consider Jack Warner to see how it works. He's been accused of corruption countless times, but all that's succeeded in doing is bringing him closer to Blatter and giving him more power. I have no doubts he'll be cleared and re-instated from his current suspension, cos Blatter can't afford to have him as an enemy - he knows where Blatter's own bodies are buried.

Hope for the future comes from either Patini (who just about everyone reckons will replace Blatter in 4 years time - but Platini isn't interested in the job just now), or from a Switz govt report that FIFA have so far managed to have suppressed via various legal means but which is expected to be published at some point down the line (the Switz govt has given FIFA certain privileges in law which make it not subject to Switz law in many ways ... if the report ever gets published, those privileges are likely to be removed).

[Benj]

Hahahaha, did anyone else not know there was an England match on this w/e

The least anticipated match of all time ever??

[The Nal]

"West Sam".

Im here all week.

[spwan-of-the-devil]

Hahahaha, did anyone else not know there was an England match on this w/e

The least anticipated match of all time ever??

[Benj]

I did but I cant watch England anymore!

Edited June 1, 2011 by Benj

[spwan-of-the-devil]

Why, due to all the whoppers who support them or the c**tish players?

[pink_triangle]

the issue is history.

Until the early 70's FIFA was essentially run as an extension of the FA.

Finally the rest of the world got its shit together, and Havalange became head of FIFA with the backing of other countries around the world, and with an understandable (in light of how things had been previously) anti-FA agenda. That anti-FA agenda continues under Blatter as Havalange's heir.

[ste4_20]

Going up! Going up! Posh are going up!

Seriously guys. Prem league is dull and predictable. The lower leagues are the way forward. The championship is the best league in the world and posh are back in it.

[luckysalt]

Thanks Hou

Moyes or Hughes next, the ONLY choices for me, anyone else just won't do.

[eFestivals]

Tim Vickery one of my favourite football journalists has had a lot to say about this, discussing the other side of the story.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvickery/2010/12/fifa.html

People ask why the other countries dont make a fuss, but why should they. Look at the big nations who have hosted the world cup during the last 20 years, germany, italy, france, USA. Brazil are hosting the next one and Argenina probably 2022. These are all influential countries and have little reason to complain. Also why would africn and asian countries complain when they have been given more oppurtunity under blatter than any other regime.

I do find it a little hypocritical the english fa moaning about corruption when they were offering some dodgy sounding deals in an attempt to get world cup votes. It seemed to me all the nations applying were dodgy but some better than it than others.

cheers for that.

That touches on what I was meaning about FIFA being understandably anti-FA, as well as the corruption which enabled the FA to be marginalised and which continues today.

But of course that 'other side' of things is very valid too. It's a world game - and a women's game (women's football was banned completely under Rous), and the world body needs to reflect that.

And you're of course right about about the FA trying its own bribery to try and get the WC - there were those designer handbag 'gifts' to people like Warner (for his wife) which was exposed in the UK press. Like so many things about the English, it's something we're shit at.

[strummer77]

Thanks Hou

Moyes or Hughes next, the ONLY choices for me, anyone else just won't do.

Edited June 2, 2011 by strummer77

[eFestivals]

Moyes would be a decent bet. Can see him wanting a challenge at a bigger club ( ) with some funds

Someone mentioned that to me in front of a Man Utd fan the other day. That Man Utd fan said "hands off our next manager".

Edit: Hughes it is then! Breaking news he's left Fulham apparently.

at lunchtime I read an article which mentioned Fulham 'club sources' who said they were confident he didn't intend leaving.

[jammy2211]

Sad to see Hughes go really thought he could have brought the team further forward. Took him 4 or so months to sort the team out but we looked very very good under him by the end of the season. Poor show us not snapping him up on a longer deal tbh.

Guess it's Jol to Fulham then, which is okay, but I can see going pretty wrong...