Football journalism

Can a Frimpong hat trick be far behind? That's three goals, not a yellow, yellow and red card.

How fitting was it that Robert Pires -- who, along with Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira formed the attacking spine of that storied unbeaten side -- should be in the stands to witness the latest sleight-of-foot magic unfolding in the 18th minute. (Although I'm pretty sure that Cazorla waxes his eyebrows, which none of the Invincibles would have considered.)

But anyone who has watched Arsenal this season knows that the only holding the Welshman does is after the game when he clutches the bottle of champagne awarded to the man of the match.

fucking hell

pure ideology

Before that, however, Brendan Rodgers must try to find a way of muddling past West Bromwich Albion, which will be no easy feat. Steve Clarke's side are just a top striker and left-back away from being a serious force and are inspired by a player whom Rodgers would love to be able to call on and fill in for Coutinho. If Stéphane Sessègnon is on song on Saturday, the Baggies could beat Liverpool for the fourth time in a row. PD

perfectly captures my unease about tomorrow tbf

in turn perfectly capturing how the weekly lfc unease parade is mostly self-absorbed twaddle

long may it continue

the important thing to remember is that every time a midtable team's best player plays does well against a europa league level team, they are PAYING THE PRICE for not buying him to use as a substitute

Gary Medel has long been a ‘football hipster’ favourite, a part of Marcelo Bielsa’s beloved Chilean side that went to the 2010 World Cup. The “Chilean Gattuso” will provide plenty of tenacity, commitment and the odd yellow card.

any reference to football hipsterism in journalism is obviously execrable but if there is a football hipster favourite from the that side surely it would be isla?

michael cox is on dis ting, v nicely understated

― navihchkan (nakhchivan), Thursday, 17 May 2012 19:54 (1 year ago)

Szczesny has also developed his game thanks to increased competition -- by his own admission. "I raised my standards when Lukasz [Fabianski] got his chance in goal," he told Arsenal's match-day programme earlier this season. "When you realise your position is not safe, you give it that little bit more -- 110 percent rather than 100 percent." Which, using the footballer-to-fan percentage conversion scale, means Szczesny wasn't giving 100 percent.

WHO IS ILKAY GUNDOGAN?

He was born to Turkish/German parents and played for Bochum and Nurnberg before signing for Dortmund in 2011.

A central midfielder who can act as playmaker - not too unlike Shinji Kagawa.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2498173/Manchester-United-need-sign-midfielder--Rene-Meulensteen.html

they don't mention whether he can play on the wing

What was Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola doing at a trendy London eatery on Friday afternoon... meeting Luis Suarez’s agent?

Sportsmail can reveal the Spaniard - who joined the German giants in the summer - was in the Big Smoke over the weekend making the most of the international break with a trip to London.

But was he here on business or pleasure?

Guardiola enjoyed lunch in Borough Market’s lively restaurant Eliott’s Cafe - and was joined by Liverpool forward Suarez’s representative.

Of course, the Anfield hero’s agent is non other that Guardiola’s brother Pere.

The Barcelona legend, who was with his family, posed for photographs with fellow restaurant goers who recognised him.

Friday’s Guardiola family rendezvous certainly got chins wagging among the more knowledgable diners at the restaurant.

Was it simply a leisurely Friday afternoon family get together? If so, why were the Spaniards meeting in London?

Suarez to Bayern Munich? Surely not?

Yesterdays second captains podcast was quite exceptional, i thought.

Yes, really enjoyed that thanks. Two stories, neither perennials nor obscure at all, and then run them for all they're worth. The speakers seem to know less than the Football Weekly lot, but they more than make up for it with a bit of focus.

This was a really good thread btw, far too long since we've had one similar.

Guardiola enjoyed lunch in Borough Market’s lively restaurant Eliott’s Cafe - and was joined by Liverpool forward Suarez’s representative.

Good choice!

been catching up on some recent sunday times styles and now feel certain camilla long is the gatekeeper to b ronay's keymaster

just sayin like

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GhostWiper

05 December 2013 12:05pm
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1. Ask Ashley Young to dive more
2. Start properly initimdating referees again
3. Bring back Fergie time. I can't believe last night's game has finished already.
4. Ban some journalists from the club. Specifically the ones who are printing the results and league table
5. Deflect the attention by picking fights with other managers and call it mind games.

^^^an example of non-Menippean satire

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-reveal-plan-make-6394831

Fresh from banning ncjMedia titles , Newcastle United have broken from the pack to move in a new direction in terms of their relationship with the rest of the print media.

They have told reporters from national titles who are working in the North East that they will no longer be given access to their players between matches this season and will instead give those “privileges” to organisations that pay them.

This has never happened before. They are the first Premier League football club to try to do this and it will be interesting to see what kind of reaction it garners.

At least one national newspaper has delivered an unequivocal ‘no’ but the club seem determined to test the water on an unpopular plan.

The club have rather optimistically graded the packages as bronze, silver and gold with the level of payment determining the level of access.

Which package includes access to Steven Taylor?

need a few joe kinnear press conferences to whet the appetite imo

Newcastlol remain at the bleeding edge of finding new ways to make us lol

press shd retaliate by refusing to name them - use references to "a medium-sized northeastern club" - or any of the players in any match reports

a ban on alan pardew's voice being used on tv/radio

we will not negotiate with geordies

Amazed they haven't tried charging the press an admission fee to actual games yet tbh

all voices to be overdubbed by Brian Sewell

press shd retaliate by refusing to name them - use references to "a medium-sized northeastern club" - or any of the players in any match reports

A self-respecting media would've done this the first time Ferguson or whoever banned reporters. Ideally they'd just pretend they didn't exist - 3-0 walk overs for whoever the opponents are that week, a GSTQ-style blank in the league table, girl-with-monkey on screen for three minutes during motd.

who is more obsequious, sports journos or royal correspondents?

It was possible to script the narrative of Arsenal exhibiting time-honoured failings, chiefly the one about coming up short when the prize is in sight. They were passive in the second-half. They looked tired. After the 1-1 home draw against Everton on Sunday, this was another bad result and, next up for them, is Manchester City away on Saturday lunchtime. It is all going wrong … David Hytner

Aw c'mon, I mean I know you need to find an angle and I know a touch of hyperbole gets readers going - but maybe give it a week before unleashing this sort of challops?

David Hytner had AVB sacked last week didn't he?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/12/sports/soccer/ray-hudson-mixes-soccer-calls-with-awe.html

love the dour sad sacks in the comments, people are jealous of ray

Okay, this is awesome

“Cristiano awakens his sleeping sword of destruction — and it is Excalibur!”

"Messi, merciless, like Kathy Bates with that sledgehammer."

Lol yeah, that @liverayhudson account is fantastic value

"1-0, Pandev. "Pandev emerges from the shadows and Dracula, on a plate of liver, feasts!"

they might be funny written down but he is genuinely impossible to listen to

The past year or so has seen the resurgence of the out-and-out centre-forward – Robert Lewandowski, Falcao, Gonzalo Higuaín, Asamoah Gyan, Olivier Giroud

Admittedly I haven't seen much any UAE football but that seems like typical Wilson throwing in Gyan's name amongst that company.

Ha! Just looked up his stats. 53 goals in 48 appearances!

Guardian doing their best 100 footballers of 2013 thing. Nice to see that Kagawa had a better year than Javi Martinez.

got Nesta on the voting panel though, even the ILF Awards can't compete with that

Wonder where Emmanuel Mayuka will be this year.

Shinji Kagawa is no longer a footballer. He's an idea. And it's only gotten more powerful

A one year away from MLS Frank Lampard better than Isco as well. Madrid have missed a trick there.