2011/12 Soccer Thread - Because Vacations Are For Cowards

davet010 wrote:

Anything good ? All we got during the game was a hen (which the dimwit commentator on Sky didn't understand), and some fat berk who threw his season ticket at Steve Kean in the second half.

Not much. Security were wading into the Blackburn supporters and confiscating/destroying anti-Venkys signs and security was lined up to prevent further Blackburn supporter pitch invasions. More amusing was him wishing that there would be similar outrage by Edmonton Oilers (hockey) fans, the worst team in the NHL since 2005.

I see West Ham have made it to the Championship playoff final at Wembley. I'm hoping to see Blackpool up again.

I guess the difference in reaction stems from the one thing that is absent from US sports, relegation. Unlike, say, the Oilers, they won't be playing the same teams next year. Believe me, relegation hurts.

As our friends from Cologne will now demonstrate. Good job, Podolski !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...!

Ah I wonder how this one's gonna play out.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012...

Also, funny but on a completely different note, the accuser getting schooled by the accused in a different scenerio.

davet010 wrote:

I guess the difference in reaction stems from the one thing that is absent from US sports, relegation. Unlike, say, the Oilers, they won't be playing the same teams next year. Believe me, relegation hurts.

Oh, I understand* relegation hurts but there's something to be said for poor management being punished, losing not being rewarded, and actually cheering for your team to win for the entirety of a season rather than spending half a season or so hoping they'll lose to secure a better draft pick.

* "Understand" meaning I kind of get it though I can't say I'm attached to a soccer club that's gone down like I am to the hockey team I've followed all my life. When Newcastle went down all it meant for me was that I would rarely get to see them on television. I was also deathly afraid of them dropping further but that was more me underestimating the squad, not understanding the Championship, believing Mike Ashley was a vengeful maniac, and over-valuing their horrible form in the pre-season friendlies.

Pikey26 wrote:

Ah I wonder how this one's gonna play out.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012...

Impossible? Absolutely not. Is Royston Drenthe someone who, from what i've read about him, I completely trust in this circumstance? Not entirely. This is happening in Spanish football however, so i'm pretty sure Messi could've chased after him in a KKK outfit wearing John McClane's sign from Die Hard: With A Vengeance (if you saw the movie, you know which one i'm talking about) and he might get a one game suspension. More likely a $25 fine, payable "when you get around to it, y'know, or don't."

Nice job, Atletico!

Borussia won 5-2 against Bayern in German Cup final. Hat-trick for Lewandowski, three assists for Piszczek and Blaszczykowski. Nice! Bayern was a mess defensively, Lewandowski had three simple finishes and other two goals were results of a penalty and careless backpass. Having seen four of their recent games (against Real and Borussia) I'd give Chelsea an edge in the final.

edit: Messi has 72 goals this season. Cristiano is at 59. Can you guess who else (in major leagues) came close to 50?

RVP? That's the only idea I have.

Also, jesus Christ, Borussia. I really wish that team could stay together for another 2-3 seasons so we can see them really give the CL a crack.

Kagawa is almost surely leaving. Three Poles are staying, I think, so i Gotze and other big players. I'd say they will be playing the same first eleven next season with Gotze coming back from injury in place of Kagawa and maybe some new midfielders.
I don't think they're close to CL winners quality, though.

RVP doesn't even have 40 goals, try again.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar?

Yes, good!

Stunning final of the season.

Holy crap. What a comeback for City.

I can't see, I can't speak, I can't do anything right now other than type and cry.

Congrats to Berto and the boys - nobody believed a month ago. I took the beer out of the fridge at 89 minutes and prayed to the God of Dickov, and how he has repaid me.

Commiserations, seriously, to Fergie and his bunch. Gave it their all with a non-vintage team, and took it up to the last minute. But I still maintain we'd have had it in the bag with 3 games to go if Tevez had behaved, Yaya not been at the ACN and Kompany not missed games for ludicrous refereeing decisions.

Now if you will excuse me, I am going out to get PARALYTIC.

Best finish to a Premier League season.

Bar none.

Simply insane finish, across the board.

Brian Phillips, on Twitter[/url]]AGEURO SCORES THE WORLD LIQUEFIES EVERYTHING IS FINISHED RAIN OF FIRE RAIN OF FIRE RAIN OF FIRE

[Edit to add: really happy to see QPR stay up. Love watching scrappy underdogs keep the big teams on their toes.]

Not a huge fan of soccer, but this morning's events were simply gripping. To watch the Man U players/fans go from complete hysteria from winning their game and seemingly locking it up to Man C scoring TWO in stoppage time in the period of two minutes was unreal to watch.

My biggest issue watching the sport - the fact that goals are so hard to come by - really made it all the more dramatic today. WOW.

Re: Premiere League

HOT DAMN! This was reminiscent of Bayern Munich winning the Bundesliga title well into stoppage time in 2001. Only even more stunning. Mind blown.

A toned down version of what was going on in my house at the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVxw_...

Wow. I think we've finally seen something that topped Michael Thomas's goal.

davet010 wrote:

A toned down version of what was going on in my house at the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVxw_...

I'd like to hear you do that with your Mancunian accent

We were watching it on two screens with Arsenal and City games side-by-side. I can't remember more tense ten minutes of watching football.

Happy drinking, Dave!

Also, Vincent Kompany - "You want to say it's the best moment of your life but... please never again this way."

My favourite thing today though, is Harry Redknapp saying absolutely deadpan and with the most solemn look on his face "Fantastic season, couldn't have asked for more".

DERP

edit: Oh, and another nice thing: Pippo Inzaghi won the game for Milan today with trademark Inzaghi move in last game of his career. Go to 101greatgoals for emotional celebrations galore.

UCRC wrote:

My favourite thing today though, is Harry Redknapp saying absolutely deadpan and with the most solemn look on his face "Fantastic season, couldn't have asked for more".

DERP

Redknapp is the main reason I'll be hoping Chelsea wins the Champions League next weekend. Well, that and a Chelsea team not in the Champions League will still spend to improve while a Tottenham team not in the Champions League will probably be weakened a fair bit.

edit: Oh, and another nice thing: Pippo Inzaghi won the game for Milan today with trademark Inzaghi move in last game of his career. Go to 101greatgoals for emotional celebrations galore.

Ha, typical Inzaghi. Del Piero also scored in his last game for Juventus (who went unbeaten this season).

Ahhhh well. There's always next year.

One of our worst teams so far since Premier League debuted still managed to tie the champions on points. That' still something to take away yet.

The Glazers better f'n cough up.

Grats Davet, we'll see you at the Shield.

Prederick wrote:

Wow. I think we've finally seen something that topped Michael Thomas's goal.

woah woah woah hold up

congrats dave! Atleast it was exciting for all the neutrals involved. Happy to see the football league system put up last day with so many games that mattered.

edit: oh yea as for Arsenal... yikes.

What a season. I'm going to have split loyalties again next year, with Reading joining Fulham in the top flight.

Meanwhile, in Spain, Villareal went down, not even 10 years removed from that astonishing trip to the CL semis. Sad to see the Yellow Submarine go. Although, if I may, EAT IT GIUSEPPE ROSSI.

UCRC wrote:

I'd like to hear you do that with your Mancunian accent

Oh no you wouldn't.

But as Manchester is one of the world's foremost music cities, allow me to share a Mancunian playlist to sum up the day.

The Smiths - "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" (me, pre-game)
The Fall - "Kicker Conspiracy" (Watching Hansen and Lineker trot out their anti-City bile, week after week)
Blue Orchids - "No Looking Back" (me, crossing fingers for no 'Typical City')
Joy Division - "Leaders of Men" ('And you wish you could hide, maybe go for a ride' - me, feeling the tension pre kick-off)
James - "Why So Close" (Last day of the season, and it's down to goal difference.)
Inspiral Carpets - "I Want You" (me, to PabZab after he opens the scoring)
Joy Division - "The Only Mistake" (Joleon Lescott's back header...)
The Fall - "Green-eyed Loco Man" (Yes Joey Barton, that's you...nice loooonng ban in your future)
New Order - "Shellshock" (City go 2-1 down, they are still winning)
Durutti Column - "You've Heard It Before" ('And City are going to fall short' - yes I have, too many times)
The Smiths - "What Difference Does It Make" ('And Dzeko makes it 2-2'....)
The Smiths - "Panic" (...'but is there enough time left ?')
New Order - "Fine Time" ('Aguero.....)
Happy Mondays - "Hallelujah" (.....Aguuuuerrrrooooooo')
The Fall - "Time Enough At Last" (me, to ref 'Whistle up, for f**k's sake!")
New Order - "Dreams Never End" (let's hope I don't wake up tomorrow to find that this is a Dallas-type hallucination..)

It's not, so tonight I shall go into town and take some photos of the celebration just to provide a permanent record.

Which, of course, makes today totally right for....

New Order - "Blue Monday".

I thank you.

EDIT - when did Arsenal sign Fulop ?
EDIT2 - Joey Barton. Seems to have spent the evening in a tweet war with Alan Shearer (who properly dissed him on MOTD), also now saying that he was 'totally in control' when he got his red card and was trying to ensure he also got a City player sent off. That'll be a few games more onto your ban, you waste of carbon. I seem to remember you asking for a move from City 'to win things'. Instead you got a relegation while City won the league. How'd things work out for you ?

Yeah, it was tense.

That slide tackle by Gibbs was fantastic.

I was in an NYC Arsenal supporters bar and as the final whistle blew the place exploded with chants of champions league, etc, etc. Everyone was especially happy because we were also watching the mancs fans (on one tv) cry and fall apart. 30 seconds into glorious songs the guy next to me suddenly has his hands on his head and is mumbling "no...no! No no no". I look up to see Aguero being mobbed by his team and the 3-2 score. My hands go to my head and I'm sure the guy next to me noticed and looked up at the tv. Within 10 seconds there was a sickening wave of silence as everyone just stood there in shock watching Mancini and the blues celebrate.

Biggest buzz kill ever.

NYC Arsenal supporters bar. Happy because they think United have won the league.

Sometimes, only Semtex will do.