2006-07 Soccer Thread

[SirFozzie]

BTW, Man City's Ben Thatcher has been handed a EIGHT game suspension for his brutal challenge on Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes. He has missed the last two games after being suspended by the team, so he will miss the next six games. He was also fined six weeks salary.

There's also a sword of Damocles over his head, because there was an additional 15 game suspension tacked on, but suspended as long as he doesn't get into any more trouble over the next two years.

But if anything ever deserved a seaon long ban, it would be this:

[Critch]

Ben Thatcher is also being investigated by police for alledgedly elbowing an opponent in the face during a reserve team match at the end of last season.

Sounds like a nice guy.

[Critch]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Ezarik

Friday at 2:00 PM Eastern on ESPN2.

Thank you very much.

[daedalus]

Yes. Yes, indeed.

[Critch]

Originally Posted by daedalus

Yes. Yes, indeed.

Very good game after the Chelsea v Liverpool snoozer too.

[SirFozzie]

Ouch. saw the collision, and it was bad, but I didn't think it was THIS bad:

Surgeons told Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder on Sunday that Shay Given's injuries were similar to those caused by the impact of traffic accidents. Given, the 30-year-old Republic of Ireland international, will spend several days at a London hospital after undergoing surgery to repair a one-centimetre tear in his bowel following a clash with West Ham striker Marlon Harewood on Sunday.

[cthomer5000]

Public Service Announcement

The documentary "Once In A Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos" is airing tonight at 9PM Eastern on ESPN 2.

http://imdb.com/title/tt0489247/

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

Public Service Announcement

The documentary "Once In A Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos" is airing tonight at 9PM Eastern on ESPN 2.

http://imdb.com/title/tt0489247/

Thanks for the heads up! I just grabbed the book, and I didn't know it was going to be shown on free TV

[cthomer5000]

No cup competition talk?

Tottenham made it through to the group stage of the UEFA cup... so they scored as many goals in the first round there as they have in 6 league games (that's 2 FREAKIN goals... ugh!)

[ISiddiqui]

Martins shows that he's worth every penny as he gets a nice brace to help Newcastle move on. Hopefully more of that in Prem matches .

[cthomer5000]

And I hope everyone has seen Crouch's great goal against Galatasaray:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aY_0iEl5NTE

Not something you expect out of a 6' 7" guy.

[SirFozzie]

West Ham is just not a very good team this year.

[Mr. Wednesday]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Ouch. saw the collision, and it was bad, but I didn't think it was THIS bad:

Surgeons told Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder on Sunday that Shay Given's injuries were similar to those caused by the impact of traffic accidents. Given, the 30-year-old Republic of Ireland international, will spend several days at a London hospital after undergoing surgery to repair a one-centimetre tear in his bowel following a clash with West Ham striker Marlon Harewood on Sunday.

The more I see the replays, the more I think Harewood should have been at least cautioned, if not sent off.

[Critch]

Wow. Robin van Persie's goal v Charlton. Just close the goal of the season competition and give him the award now.

[law90026]

Originally Posted by Critch

Wow. Robin van Persie's goal v Charlton. Just close the goal of the season competition and give him the award now.

Amazing goal ... such a contrast to the miss he had in front of goal later in the match.

[Ryan S]

I decided to bump this thread to get some comments from our French visitors.

[SirFozzie]

Troll! Troll! TROOOOOLLLL! :0

[Critch]

Great day for the Scotland team. We rode our luck, particularly in the first half, but it's goals that count.

Made even better by the fact England didn't win

[SirFozzie]

Gah. Former Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers Goalkeeper Stefan Postma is not having the best of years. Not only did he break his leg and is out for a while while playing for his new Dutch football team ADO Den Haag.. he also lost the bidding against a UK Tabloid for a sex video of him and a woman.

The reason he so desperately wanted to get the video before the Tabloids did? Er.. let's just say in this video, the woman was the one giving, and he was the one receiving. Sadly for Stefan, the tabloids won (couldn't expect to outbid them, I guess), and now the video is out in full glory on the web.

Gives new meaning to the phrases Back Pass, and Own Goal, huh?

[Critch]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Gives new meaning to the phrases Back Pass, and Own Goal, huh?

Stefan Postma is Dutch, I'm led to believe this is normal behaviour over there

Following on from the strange soccer news, apparently Jamie Carragher's brother "knobbed" John Terry's mom in an elevator in the England team hotel at the World Cup.

Liverpool fans are trying to compose a song about it to sing at their games.

[Katon]

Well, I suppose they've got to find something to sing about, given the way things are going for them on the pitch.

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Gah. Former Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers Goalkeeper Stefan Postma is not having the best of years. Not only did he break his leg and is out for a while while playing for his new Dutch football team ADO Den Haag.. he also lost the bidding against a UK Tabloid for a sex video of him and a woman.

The reason he so desperately wanted to get the video before the Tabloids did? Er.. let's just say in this video, the woman was the one giving, and he was the one receiving. Sadly for Stefan, the tabloids won (couldn't expect to outbid them, I guess), and now the video is out in full glory on the web.

Gives new meaning to the phrases Back Pass, and Own Goal, huh?

Wow, I bet that's one quiet locker room after that happened.

[Crapshoot]

Hey, when we can't spend $80 million on backups every off season - things are a little harder.

[Katon]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

Hey, when we can't spend $80 million on backups every off season - things are a little harder.

I didn't know Reading spent $80 million this summer. Or Bolton, or Portsmouth, or Villa . . .

[Ajaxab]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the latest on the Italian bribery scandal. I guess Juve have had their penalty reduced again, this time after an appeal to the Italian Olympic Committee. Now they only have a 9 point reduction as opposed to the 17 point one they had before. Fiorentina and Lazio were also given points back with Fiorentina getting 4 and Lazio getting 8.

How this helps the perception of Italian Football is beyond me. When is the next appeal coming? Can Juve miraculously get demoted and promoted in the same season by continuing to launch appeal after appeal?

[AlexB]

Excitng times for Leicester fans - Milan Mandaric has made a £25m bid for the club! Woot!

After the Martin O'Neill years we have been a yo-yo losing momentum, and have been skint for the last 4-5 years. Mandaric, his money and his track record are very appealing right now.

However, being a Leicester fan for nearly thirty years, I know it'll probably get fucked up - due to previous financial mismanagement (which saw us go into administration and nearly out of business) the new club was set up with a ruling that no one shareholder can hold more than 5%, so there's a lot of people to say yes to this before it goes ahead...

On the plus side, these people are people who claimed to genuinely love the club (Gary Lineker & Emile Heskey for instance pumped money in to help save us) so if they truly do, they should see that we are going nowhere fast at the moment, and this represents an excellent opportunity.

When you're smiling, when you're smiling...

[MJ4H]

Haven't seen it really mentioned here, but there are reports around now that the USA is very near completing the deal that would make Klinsmann the national team coach through 2010 for 3 something million per year. Personally, I couldn't be happier with this. Still not official, but apparently it is all but.

[ISiddiqui]

If it does happen, I just hope that the US soccer faithful haven't hyped him up too much. I don't want to hear "Fire Klinsi" after our first qualifying loss or something.

[Galaxy]

Slightly off-topic, but I see that Roman Abramovich is facing the most expensive divorce ever. I wonder if it will impact his spending, and expose where he gain and has his wealth (illegally?). Interesting note is that it is believe that the five kids are hold ownership of the property (and he controls it until they are 18).

[SirFozzie]

From France:

Marseille could soon face a points deduction after an incident last weekend at Nice.

A local firefighter lost two fingers when picking up a projectile thrown apparently thrown by a Marseille fan early in the game against Nice.

Thinking it was a flare, the firefighter gathered it up to place it in a bucket of water. However, it turned out to be a homemade explosive device and blew up in his hand.

On Wednesday, Marseille owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus and president Pape Diouf visited firefighter Anthony Roko in hospital, where they were met by Nice president Maurice Cohen.

"We are all devastated by this," Louis-Dreyfus told the club Web site.

Diouf has also met with all Marseille's supporters groups.

"They know we have all have a collective responsibility at this club," Diouf said. "But before we talk about any sanctions, let's spare a thought for this young firefighter who is still suffering after a long operation."

[Crapshoot]

Okay, everyone one of you needs to watch the Chelsea-Tottenham game - its football at its very best, with a little bit of everything. Just wow.

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

Okay, everyone one of you needs to watch the Chelsea-Tottenham game - its football at its very best, with a little bit of everything. Just wow.

WHAT. A. GAME.

[Crapshoot]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

If it does happen, I just hope that the US soccer faithful haven't hyped him up too much. I don't want to hear "Fire Klinsi" after our first qualifying loss or something.

Aha, but that's when you know they'are actually football crazy fans.

[PraetorianX]

WOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!

My SPURS beat Chelsea for the first time since the Premiership started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




YES! All is well in the world! Now if only Indy can be NE tonight, this will be a truly great day!

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by PraetorianX

WOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!

My SPURS beat Chelsea for the first time since the Premiership started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They did their best to give me a heart-attack in the last 15 minutes. This is a huge, huge win, and now actually gives me genuine hope for the remainder of the premiership season. I had all but written it off and turned my attention to the cup competitions prior. I mean, if they can put themselves in a position to fight for the #4 spot down the stretch, it would be huge.

[Easy Mac]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

If it does happen, I just hope that the US soccer faithful haven't hyped him up too much. I don't want to hear "Fire Klinsi" after our first qualifying loss or something.

If we lose anywhere other than Mexico City, there better be "Fire Klinsi" chants.

[Oilers9911]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

From France:

On Wednesday, Marseille owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus and president Pape Diouf visited firefighter Anthony Roko in hospital, where they were met by Nice president Maurice Cohen.

In another French soccer note, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, daughter of owner Robert was escorted out of a Marseille match this week for wearing a Paris St. Germain hat in the owner's box.

[Jonathan Ezarik]

Originally Posted by Oilers9911

In another French soccer note, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, daughter of owner Robert was escorted out of a Marseille match this week for wearing a Paris St. Germain hat in the owner's box.

The actress from Seinfeld?

[Ryan S]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Ezarik

The actress from Seinfeld?

She is Robert Louis-Dreyfus' cousin.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by Critch

Stefan Postma is Dutch, I'm led to believe this is normal behaviour over there

It's entertaining to see how much sex toys the fans of the opponents of ADO Den Haag have found in their homesand to donate to Postma's collection. He could start a whole museum.

[SirFozzie]

Huge day in MLS, as Colorado travels to Houston and my Revs go to DC in the conference finals

[Katon]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

They did their best to give me a heart-attack in the last 15 minutes. This is a huge, huge win, and now actually gives me genuine hope for the remainder of the premiership season. I had all but written it off and turned my attention to the cup competitions prior. I mean, if they can put themselves in a position to fight for the #4 spot down the stretch, it would be huge.

Given the way Arsenal and Liverpool have been doing recently, it shouldn't be too hard to get into that fight.

Congratulations on a great performance; it's a pity Poll wasn't up to the same level as the two teams, but that doesn't take anything away from how well Spurs played.

[SirFozzie]

1-0 Revs at halftime of the ECF, Twellman with a huge goal.

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by Katon

it's a pity Poll wasn't up to the same level as the two teams

He seemed a bit trigger-happy, but I didn't see any outrageous calls. I think the fact that John Terry didn't even argue the second yellow in the slightest is very telling.

[SirFozzie]

1-0 Revs, it's a final! New England will play either the Rapids or the Dynamo in MLS Cup 06.

[Katon]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

He seemed a bit trigger-happy, but I didn't see any outrageous calls. I think the fact that John Terry didn't even argue the second yellow in the slightest is very telling.

Really? Haven't seen full highlights yet, but almost everyone I've seen comment (both Chelsea fan and non) has said that disallowing Drogba's goal and not sending Ghali off for his elbow on Essien were both questionable decisions at best. Terry's second yellow is a bit harder to argue with for exactly the reason you point out. On the other hand, I have seen the replay for that particular incident, and it's certainly not clear from a distance what Poll objected to.

This isn't meant to be a knock on Spurs at all. It was an excellent performance - Dawson especially - and while from the bit I saw a draw would have been the fairest result you certainly did enough to deserve the win. It's just that ever since that Henry quick free kick debacle a couple of years back my patience for Poll being an idiot at Chelsea games has been basically zero.

[Critch]

In the angle from behind the goal you can see Drogba push the central defender forward while the ball is in the air to make some space for himself. Can't see much to argue with it being disallowed.

Have to wait too to get the full story of why Terry got his 2nd yellow card. He did set off Chimbonda and Zikora, then hit a cheap shot as he ran away in Polls full view, so could be for the persistent fouling. Noticably Poll saw what happened, made his decision straight away, and Terry didn't argue.

[Ryan S]

Originally Posted by Critch

In the angle from behind the goal you can see Drogba push the central defender forward while the ball is in the air to make some space for himself. Can't see much to argue with it being disallowed.

The ref told Sky Sports that the goal was disallowed because John Terry pushed a Tottenham player before the corner had been taken. (Though surely he should have stopped the corner being taken if there were problems in the box)

He also said that the red card for Terry was for pulling a player down.

[Critch]

Originally Posted by Ryan S

The ref told Sky Sports that the goal was disallowed because John Terry pushed a Tottenham player before the corner had been taken. (Though surely he should have stopped the corner being taken if there were problems in the box)

Well there you go then, two reasons to disallow it

The whistle went long before the ball was into the area, don't see what the ref can do more than that.

I didn't think Poll did very well, thought the bit where he booked both Chelsea defenders (Cole and Makelele?) for not retreating, while allowing Lampard and Ballack to argue every decision was wrong.

[cthomer5000]

Wild start to this Houston-Colorado game!