valdes not much better than any of england's shit keepers mind you...
― MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T BE LIVING HERE!! (Local Garda), Thursday, 16 June 2011 10:06 (twelve years ago) link
ValdesAlves Pique Ferdinand ColeBusquets Xavi IniestaMessi Villa Rooney
Would be alright. Being charitable to Rooney there, and I don't even think Valdes is that good. Maybe Joe Hart could make it depending on how he does in the Champions League next year.
― Matt DC, Thursday, 16 June 2011 10:07 (twelve years ago) link
Valdes has been ridiculously good for the past 2 seasons
Also Pedro >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Rooney
― ladyboner (a hoy hoy), Thursday, 16 June 2011 10:11 (twelve years ago) link
what makes me lol is there is one player in the england team i'd have over his barca counterpart in a heartbeat based on ability alone and he wasn't mentioned: ashley cole --ladyboner (a hoy hoy)
totally
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 10:36 (twelve years ago) link
jamesalves ferdinand pique rooney xavi fabregas iniestamessi gerrard villa
― Gary Numan, or Gary Fletcher (ken c), Thursday, 16 June 2011 10:39 (twelve years ago) link
i'm going to create this team tonight on fifa.
― Gary Numan, or Gary Fletcher (ken c), Thursday, 16 June 2011 10:41 (twelve years ago) link
tbfttl rodwell seems fairly intelligent for an english footballer
i guess he is in the awkward position of answering leading qns from hacks
albrighton quote worse
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 10:42 (twelve years ago) link
the only english midfielder that could work at barca is huddlestone
― beta the drivel you know (darraghmac), Thursday, 16 June 2011 10:46 (twelve years ago) link
foster
alves dann pique warnock
xavi gerrard lampard messi
rooney carroll
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 10:47 (twelve years ago) link
do think there is scope for a separate thread noting when british isles footballers claim technical parity with... well, anyone, i guess.
Not sure who these "British Isles Footballers" are... any of them not English?
― Letsby Avenue (Tom D.), Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:29 (twelve years ago) link
fletcher >>>>>>> busquiets
― ladyboner (a hoy hoy), Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:44 (twelve years ago) link
uhm
no
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:48 (twelve years ago) link
Absolutely, have you ever seen him play for Scotland?
― Letsby Avenue (Tom D.), Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:51 (twelve years ago) link
Absolutely, not as good as Busquets, in case there's any confusion there. Not even as good as Gary Caldwell when he plays for Scotland.
― Letsby Avenue (Tom D.), Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:53 (twelve years ago) link
fletcher is pretty good but busquets is probably the best dmid around now
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 12:53 (twelve years ago) link
sandro, thudd, jenas
― beta the drivel you know (darraghmac), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:00 (twelve years ago) link
but busquiets is a dick
― ladyboner (a hoy hoy), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:28 (twelve years ago) link
is there a reason u spel it like that
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:30 (twelve years ago) link
boo
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:31 (twelve years ago) link
cambiasso was great but i think he trailed off badly in the last year
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:32 (twelve years ago) link
Fletcher is hardly that likeable is he? Suppose anyone looks good in comparison to Busquets. He was also pretty crap last season even before his mysterious virus
― Number None, Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:34 (twelve years ago) link
i kinda like him
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:47 (twelve years ago) link
makes the most of his talents
Yaya Toure > Busquets
― Matt DC, Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:55 (twelve years ago) link
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:55 (twelve years ago) link
yes
― ladywood (a hoy hoy), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:56 (twelve years ago) link
yaya isn't a dmid, he was a playmaker at monaco and has just has his best season ever playing predominantly as a goalscoring box to box type
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:57 (twelve years ago) link
so... a creative player who is still better at dm than sergio buscunts
― ladywood (a hoy hoy), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:58 (twelve years ago) link
do u srsly think he is better than the player who has just replaced him
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 13:59 (twelve years ago) link
i mean i know it's a hoy but still
eduardo replaced henry doesn't mean he was better than him
― ladywood (a hoy hoy), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:01 (twelve years ago) link
yeah that's exactly the right comparison
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:01 (twelve years ago) link
Can't think why Barcelona would have replaced the African midfielder with the homegrown Catalan type.
― Matt DC, Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:02 (twelve years ago) link
jesus u ppl
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:02 (twelve years ago) link
like do u get anything about football
touré was patently inferior to busquets at dmid while they were still playing in the same side
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:03 (twelve years ago) link
toure is better than busquets, but not at dm, and certainly not as dm at barca
Song is also not a dm, and neither is thudd. They just hang round there while performing other functions
― beta the drivel you know (darraghmac), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:08 (twelve years ago) link
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 15:02 (5 minutes ago)
this is the one where they throw the ball, wear helmets and text pictures of their weiners, right?
― ladywood (a hoy hoy), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:09 (twelve years ago) link
touré will never be as good at any given role as busquets is at his
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:10 (twelve years ago) link
featuring delap, cech and shelvey, yeah xp
― r|t|c, Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:11 (twelve years ago) link
:-)
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:12 (twelve years ago) link
if u srsly believe barcelona overpromote their own youngsters at the expense of bought players u might want to consider former new messi bojan krkic whose agent is currently complaining he is getting shafted by barca who are trying to sell him to udinese against his will
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:14 (twelve years ago) link
DM at Barca is kinda different to being DM anywhere else though because they keep posession so well there just aren't as many opposition attacks to break up. Be interesting to see how Busquets would do behind midfielders that aren't Xavi and Iniesta.
In any other team Toure or Mascherano would be the better pick. Obviously Busquets is by miles a better passer of the ball than Mascherano, even if Masch is as good at positioning and better at tackling.
― Matt DC, Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:14 (twelve years ago) link
I mean obviously Barca are the best team in 20 years so who are we to judge but...
― Matt DC, Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:15 (twelve years ago) link
busquet's main attributes are his close control and positioning, his passing is usually pretty simple
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:16 (twelve years ago) link
How many simple passes have you seen Mascherano fuck up though?
― Matt DC, Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:16 (twelve years ago) link
i kinda hate busquets, wanted them to keep touré and thought mascherano would displace him this season, but the last season confirmed he is just insanely good at what he does, and i think 80% of that is transferrable to another top level side
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:19 (twelve years ago) link
then again my idea was that barca could do without without a dedicated deep lying, purely destructive midfielder hence my pref for touré as a kinda roving box to box type alongside x & i
but seeing busquets this season i doubt even fabregas is good enough to displace busquets and change the system of their midfield
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:24 (twelve years ago) link
cesc is going because xavi is getting on and iniesta hasn't the greatest injury record, not because of the cunt
― Samuel (a hoy hoy), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:27 (twelve years ago) link
idk if he is going
think arsenal would be happy to sell for a good price but barca have their own financial issues so
if it does happen, he will get enough games to keep him from bitching but assuming x & i are fit, their starting xi for big games will remain the same imo
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:29 (twelve years ago) link
Quite fancy watching that later. I've read a lot about it - even paid money to get football nemesis on special order from the library a couple years ago - but have watched maybe a minute of footage.
Nandor Hidegkuti 4eva
― Cuombas (jim in glasgow), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 16:48 (eight years ago) link
mortensen getting knocked out at 45 minutes, not 5
― sounding like a silly Iain Banks on a track (imago), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 16:50 (eight years ago) link
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/jan/13/louis-van-gaal-paul-scholes-manchester-united-coaching-staff
― Blandford Forum, Wednesday, 13 January 2016 14:41 (eight years ago) link
Scholes as a coach (as opposed to a manager) is not the worst idea I've ever heard, even if the article itself is terrible.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 13 January 2016 15:15 (eight years ago) link
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3731977/I-d-hailed-foreign-boss-claims-Burnley-manager-Sean-Dyche.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/sean-dyche-wants-a-pizza-the-action-as-burnley-return-to-the-top-flight-a7181411.html
why didnt i get round to reading this bollocks through sooner. i'm crying
― r|t|c, Thursday, 11 August 2016 20:22 (seven years ago) link
that's classic material
'go on Pep, tell us about your pizzas'
― ælərdaɪs (jim in vancouver), Thursday, 11 August 2016 20:45 (seven years ago) link
bbc radio pundit following interview with Woy: "you really hope he can get a job in this country as a Director of Football and not have to go to China or America or somewhere like that"
because it would suck to work in those place, of course
― Our Sweet Fredrest (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 11 December 2016 10:01 (seven years ago) link
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4114400/Darren-Fletcher-Manchester-United-illness-dream-West-Brom.html
'People talk about teams pressing but we did that first and then Barcelona took it on,' Fletcher explained.
'Before that in Spain it was, "You have it, we have it and then let's see who is best with it". But they saw what United did and realised that was the way to go.
'It's perfect. You don't even let the opposition have the chance to be in that lovely nice game. Barca eliminated that, but we did that first.'
― r|t|c, Saturday, 14 January 2017 23:50 (seven years ago) link
Pep Guardiola has not had it all his own way at Manchester City and Fletcher's take on that and his belief in Pulis's methods are fascinating.
Fletcher said: 'I heard Guardiola speak about the English use of the 'second ball' and it was interesting. English teams recognise you can control a game without possession.
'Turning teams round, playing a ball up and not caring if you win the first ball but ensuring you win the second or third ball. That's unique to British football.
'I am not sure you get too many of those phrases in Spain, where your manager always talks about pass completion.
'That's why stats don't always work. There are times when I can play a pass that's not complete, but it's what this team needs.
'It can leave a good team facing its own goal. They have to put the ball out of play and then we have territory and a throw-in that we have worked at.
'So now the ball is in their area and we get a chance or a corner. We are progressing but I haven't completed a pass have I?
'So my stats are down but I have done my job.
'At Man City or Barcelona, your passing stats will be off the charts but you have to look at football with your eyes as well. A pass that goes five yards isn't always that dangerous, is it?'
To listen to the way Fletcher has broadened his understanding in two years is intriguing. He has designs on coaching and keeps thoughts and ideas in a notebook.
― r|t|c, Saturday, 14 January 2017 23:51 (seven years ago) link
christ help us all
― trilby mouth (darraghmac), Saturday, 14 January 2017 23:53 (seven years ago) link
― Number None, Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:34 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:47 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteAmericanFolks.jpg (nakhchivan), Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:47 Bookmark
― r|t|c, Saturday, 14 January 2017 23:59 (seven years ago) link
Posted at 20:15Post updateNewcastle 3-0 Rochdale
In all seriousness Rochdale play some lovely football on the eye and should be applauded for it, I guess. You don't concede goals like that under Keith Curle though.
― opden gnash (imago), Tuesday, 14 January 2020 20:19 (four years ago) link
it's proving a poor night for lower-league goalies thinking they're iniesta, that's all
nothing wrong with passing it around the back if you have personnel who can handle it
― opden gnash (imago), Tuesday, 14 January 2020 20:55 (four years ago) link
lower league goalies thinking they're iniesta are tempting fate. before they know it they'll find themselves growing grapes, sending their quids on running a bodega in sussex, until one day the sky cracks open, death reigneth and a voice from above booms: 'you're trying to make wine in england ffs, what did you expect other than excrutiating pain and unending suffering, mortal?'
― Le Bateau Ivre, Tuesday, 14 January 2020 21:24 (four years ago) link
:D
like nigel blackwell himself
― opden gnash (imago), Tuesday, 14 January 2020 21:29 (four years ago) link
I'll take it!
― Le Bateau Ivre, Tuesday, 14 January 2020 22:34 (four years ago) link
Did you see the Bournemouth game at the weekend?
― Frozen Mug (Tom D.), Tuesday, 14 January 2020 22:35 (four years ago) link
that guy is a lower-league goalie making his three or four career EPL appearances tbf
― opden gnash (imago), Tuesday, 14 January 2020 22:37 (four years ago) link