Official FIFA Football thread

Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Spurs play Newcastle in the next round of the F.A. cup
Scottish Cup Semi Finals
Celtic V Hearts
Hibernian V Dundee United.
For keeping up to date on the beautiful game, check out this site.
http://www.skysports.com/skysports/home

Jermaine Pennant off to the slammer, Man Uniteds Roy Keane was also in court this week on assualt charges, but was cleared, and just today, a Man United Youth player has been sentanced to 10 months in prison. You are quite right Luther, think of all the people who would dearly love to play Football the way these guys do, and they mistreat their gift and great fortune by acting idiotically. Its a bit of a slap in the face to true Football fans as far as i am concered.

Total football pioneer Rinus Michels dead at 77...."Football is War"

One of the greatest, i wish i had seen more of his Holland team in the 70's. Played the beautiful game the way it is supposed to be played.

Eh ... there's been worse than Pennant. Just look at Rio Ferdinard, the British version of Ricky Williams (cept Rio didnt want to quit), Maradonna - drug addict, George Best etc.

I don't know whats the deal with the Man U Youth player, but if hes any good, he should recover.

Fact is, the great football clubs got there because they had the controversial players - Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Vieira, Rooney, etc that didn't give a shit about the fans really and more about winning. Course, they had the talent too and were smart enough not to do something as dumb as Pennant did, but there's been worse.

A year ago, or so, there was a huge scandal about some players (I think Leeds United players, not sure) that got involved in a trial for alleged gang rape of some female fans in some hotel. They were all young, dumb and drunk, and so was the girl. It happens.

Like in every sport, except cricket probably cos its so damn boring, they have their scandals.

I was also curious, what y'all use for your online sources on the soccer world?

I use the sun (www.thesun.co.uk), which on game days offer live updates on the game. Plus, I also check out page 3 (the chicks they pick are unbelievable. I'm in love with keeley.)

I also use soccernet on espn.com. Other than that, I have espn 2, and foxsports which I don't really have time to watch but I tivo it sometimes if a big game is on.

Eh ... there's been worse than Pennant. Just look at Rio Ferdinard, the British version of Ricky Williams (cept Rio didnt want to quit), Maradonna - drug addict, George Best etc.

I don't know whats the deal with the Man U Youth player, but if hes any good, he should recover.

Fact is, the great football clubs got there because they had the controversial players - Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Vieira, Rooney, etc that didn't give a shit about the fans really and more about winning. Course, they had the talent too and were smart enough not to do something as dumb as Pennant did, but there's been worse.

A year ago, or so, there was a huge scandal about some players (I think Leeds United players, not sure ) that got involved in a trial for alleged gang rape of some female fans in some hotel. They were all young, dumb and drunk, and so was the girl. It happens.

Like in every sport, except cricket probably cos its so damn boring, they have their scandals.







If you're talking about the "roasting" scandal, most rumours I heard pointed to Newcastle as the team involved.

I was not making out that Jermaine Pennant, or anyone else i mentioned were the worst offenders there have been in football, man, far from it, like you said Maradona, George Best, etc. But with all due respect, i think you have to agree Football is alot different than how it used to be when you could get away with lots of things. But rules are so tight now, and expectations so high and pressurised, not just for the team, but the entire football club. Players now earn Gross amounts of money for a game they love, all im saying is that the least they should give back is an honest and pure effort to do what thoudands of other people would love to do, and not abuse the privaleged position they are in.

Oh yeah, for sure HollowTree. I agree completely. I was just saying. There should be more players like Ryan Giggs, Michael Owens, etc. who truly appreciate their opportunities and try to give back to their fans and their club.


And yeah, the "roasting" scandal was the one I was referring too. I like the way they used that term, it cracked me up. I never thought of it in that context until the scandal came about.

Yeah, i agree with what you said about players like Giggs and Owen. And yeah, i must admit, "roasting" is quite an amusing phrase.

Kang said- If you're talking about the "roasting" scandal, most rumours I heard pointed to Newcastle as the team involved.

Yeah, I think Newcastle, or Newcastle players, were the ones involved in that, but i think the charges all got dropped and its been forgot about now.

And Gulgothir, yeah, the sun is a good place, but also check out
www.skysports.com
Probably the best place for Football on a whole, no page 3 models sadly

I'm partial to Teamtalk

Yes, that is another good site!

Rio Ferdinand never failed a drug test. He was late for the test, and when he did take it the next day, he passed. It was a travesty that he was suspended for 9 months. He missed Euro 2004 because of it, and he is England's best defender.

I think we're lucky in the fact that we have got 4 or 5 world class central defenders. Rio Ferdinand one of them, Sol Campbell, John Terry, John Woodgate (admitably when he's fit, Ledley King.

I think you could put any combination of them 5 in central defence and still England can play well. I wouldnt like to pick which ones the best.

Also on online resources i usually just stick with the english tabloids but if you want to here football chat on the radio visit http://talksport.net

Manchester United blew it against Crystal Palace today, only managing a draw. Now I think there is no way for them to overtake Chelsea for the title.

Liverpool also lost to Newcastle, which leaves them with very little hope of qualifying for the Champions League next season. Unfortunately, that probably means Steven Gerrard will be gone.

Stevie G WILL be leaving Liverpool at the end of this season. If it wasn't for him getting death threats against hes family Last season he would've been gone then.

If hes not a chelsea by August i will eat my hat

Please, anywhere but Chelsea.

Heres a nice Football story i found on the BBC website. Even though in the Picture it does look like Greame Sueness is pleasuring the young mascot.

Link

Nice story about Newcastle, who are slowly but surely getting it together, hopefully they can make a few signings in the summer and possibly contend for the title next year.

This Weeks Champions League Predictions. Tuesday

Chelsea 3-2 Barcelona

So tough to call, i believe Chelsea may just sneak it, but i honestly dont know how this one will go, i have visions of Ronaldinho running riot... but time will tell.

Lyon 7-1 Werder Bremen

Lyon should go through easily in this one, Bremens only hope will be a flying start and an early goal, i see Lyon being too strong however.

Inter 3-0 Porto

Im gonna go for Inter in this one, they should be pumped for the game, and Adriano scoring at the weekend may be bad news for Porto. Inters attack to be too strong, and the holders eliminated.

A.C Milan 1-0 Man United

I just fancy Milan to do it, been a long time since they have produced in the Champions League when it really mattered, i think they will this time though. Kaka can run riot, and with Crespo in good form, i see Milan pinching a goal, and holding Milan at bay

Wednesday

Monaco 1-1 PSV

Tough one to call, i fancy PSV to nip an away goal and go through with a draw.

Arsenal 2-1 Bayern Munich

Arsenal do not convince me in the Champions league at all. Although Bayern are missing Makaay, im tipping them to get an away goal to take them through.

Juventus 2-2 Real Madrid

Im expecting a good game here. Real are due a good performance and this will be the stage to do it. I will be dumfounded if Raul is picked ahead of Owen, if this happens Juve may just manage to go through, Owen is a poacher, perfectly suited for hurting an Italian team.

Bayern Leverkusen 1-2 Liverpool

Difficult to call, but Liverpool seem to be saving all their good play for this competition, and i see them going through with a 2-1 win.

Anyone else want to hazard some guess'? Over to you!

I dont think they will be contending for the title for another few years yet. One good thing they have on their side is that Alan Shearer might be staying next season instead of retireing like he said he would.

Keiron Dyer may be leaving at the end of the season because most of the fans HATE him for the way he was with Bobby Robson. They Hate Craig Bellamy (who doesnt) because he want on sky sports news and said his manager is lying about him feigning injury

Pattrick Kluivert is not settling in well at newcastle so he may be shipped out in the summer. Young midfielder and former Leeds United player James Milner also is not settling in well and may come back to Leeds on loan.


One plus point for Newcastle next season is that they are going to bid for Micheal Owen from Real Madrid. If he doesn't get regular football in spain i think he may come back to England in the summer

Yeah, i really do not expect them to be challenging either, just hoping, we would like to see as many teams as possible up there. I expect some pretty wholesale changes at Newcastle in the summer.

Champions League this week. My pridictions are
Barca 2 - Chelsea 1.
I believe Barca has a great chance to take out chelsea. Chelsea has to look for a goal early in the match and Valdez is not an easy keeper to beat. He had a great game over the weekend against Osasuna. He pretty much saved the game for Barca. They dont have Drogba(sorry if i spelled the brothas name wrong) and I hear that Glen Johnson is also sidelined. Barca dont have Marquez wont which sucks because he is my favorite player because i am a beaner just like him. They pretty much have a full team ready.Dont get me wrong Chelsea are a great team but Barca are way due for some titles and think this is there year!!

I hope Madrid gets there ass kicked by Juve.

Liverpool should move on the the next round of 8.

Man United are going to pull an upset i think in San Siro.

Porto are OUT!!!

Aresenal has a great last year but that is all they are going to get!! Nothing hear and nothing in the EPL! London Bastards!!!

As far as everyone else i hope the best teams wins.

The perfect final for me would be Barcelona vs. Manchester United!!!

Juventus knocks Real Madrid out of the CL for the 2nd time in the past 3 years.

Liverpool crushed Leverkussen 3-1 again for a 6-2 aggregate victory. There may be hope of Steven Gerrard staying at Liverpool after this season - if Liverpool wins the CL this season. If they get a good draw next round, against PSV or Lyon, they could advance to the quarter finals, and from there, anything could happen.