Yikes, I can't believe it's nearly the end of the season. I bought my Panini EURO 2008 album at the weekend under the pretence that it's for my daughter. Of course she's far too young to understand / appreciate.
At least we've got the league playoffs to look forward to. Often very exciting semi finals and godawful finals (in recent years at any rate!). I'm sticking my neck on the line to say Palace, Leeds and Stockport will go up.
Aren't Fulham doing well? Roy Hodgson has done one hell of a job there. Things seem to be coming together at the right time for him. It's just a shame that 2 of Birmingham, Reading and them have to drop as I really like the managers of each club. Bloody Bolton hitting form as well.
Well done to Stoke for their promotion. It's going to be a very interesting summer at the Britannia. I think they're pretty short of top flight experience and quality. Also comiserations to Leicester. Not really. I'm quite pleased they went down despite the fact I quite like Mandaric.
Final congratulations to Forest on their overdue promotion and hard luck to Bournemouth who just fell short of survival. Had they not had the 10 points deducted they would have finished about 15th.
AFC Wimbledon got themselves promoted after a late late show at Staines on Saturday. A goal down with 10 minutes t go, a goalkeeping error and a late Mark DeBolla goal sees them up. Part of me is pleased they've gone and part of me (the greedy money making part) is disappointed.
Share your footie stories here.
Flamini is signing for Milan.
Poor, poor Arsenal. All they need now is for Fabregas and Hleb to leave and they're up the creek without a paddle, so to speak.
So not up the creek without a paddle
literally then?
I would have been setting myself up for a stupid comment.
Seems I did anyway. You can't win on DiS.
my dads boss once said up a gumtree without a paddle
which was pretty funny
just like every season
....
FOOTBALL THREAD IS BACKK!!!!
there's an article on guardian.co.uk today about how arsenal's squad seems to be forever rebuilding. with wenger losing flamini and hleb (and possibly gallas?) and still looking for a first choice keeper, it looks like wenger's close-season transfer dealings are going to be more filling the new holes than strengthening the squad
PANINI sticker albums? they still do 'em?
Oh yes
And I've currently got 2 swapsies at the moment.
I'm not sure Hleb will leave
Isn't it only speculation at this stage? I'm upset we've lost Flamini, but he's not irreplaceable, plus he was demanding stupid stupid money after one good season. Still, I don't have high hopes for any silverware next season despite the improvements we've made this season.
Everyone prepare themselves for the
STEVE SIDWELL BIDDING WAR!
*Artur Boruc.
kinda nice to see
AFC wimbledon promoted in the same season as Milton Keynes Dons.
Why don't you like KFC Norbiton ht?
It partly stems
from when Dave Anderson left us for the AFC job (fair enough, who wouldn't have done) and then spent the next 3 seasons using us as a feeder club. Also a vocal minority of their internet wielding fans are full of overblown pomposity that seriously grates. Not that they're much worse than Tonbridge, Dover or Chelmsford fans though. I have to admit that those I've actually met and spoken to have all been great, and there is some genuine goodwill between us and them.
Aye
went to bromley - wimbledon last year, and the atmosphere was great, really seemed like both sets of fans hated each other...but there was nothing beyond singing and taunts, and the bar was great fun afterwards.
We are not the best of friends, no
Will be interesting to see what happens to Bromerleee now Dolke is selling up...
Might I add
the 18 points saga last season (still irritates every time it's mentioned) and the strange (if occasional) claims of being somewhat impoverished. By League standards, yes, but not in the Ryman League or even Conference South! They've also managed to destroy most of my dislike of MK Dons quite successfully over the last few years.
That aside, the majority of the fans are decent enough and most of the things the club does are done in the right way, it's just difficult to overlook the minority of things they do that aren't given the holier than thou stuff you get on occasion.
Sanctimonious
That's the word I was looking for earlier.
Good choice of word.
It is a real shame we have
managed to destroy your dislike for the scum
They're our feeder club now ;-)
I did notice that...
Suprised they are happy to admit they have players at "pub" level...
:)
Saturday was easily
in my top five footballing moments of all time. In fact the sheer explosion of emotion between 4.40 and 4.50 was better than any drugs or any sex I have ever had.
We didn't deserve it, but thats what makes football such a beautiful/horrible game.
"I'm quite pleased they went down despite the fact I quite like Mandaric"
How very different to my own views.
You're disappointed
they went down and don't really like Mandaric?
^This is how I feel.
I hear we're meant to be after Iain Hume
Mind you, we'll probably get linked with every available Championship/League 1 player between now and August...
Carlisle v Leeds
Does anyone know anywhere in Leeds that I can watch this in safety without the impending threat of near certain death at any turn? Elland Road/Any Pub ruled out.
It's been a pleasure knowing you x
When our paths next cross
you'll recognise me for my trademark lack of limbs.
At least I could have a go in the Paralympics...
JMags
Just make sure you dick the bastards!
I'm not too fussed about who goes up to the Championship with us as long as it's not dirty Leeds.
It's like a needle, stuck in the run-out groove from hell.
^Ken Bates Fan!
Sometimes, I sit and stroke my Ken Bates doll
while lighting another candle at my home-made temple to worship Rupert Murdoch. It's just how I roll.
I once saw Ken Bates with a life-size doll
exiting a restaurant in Leeds. It was a really angry looking doll in a grey jumper and white shirt. I hear they're using it as some sort of Keegan voodoo at Newcastle now.
Every night before bed I kiss my Mugabe Idol fashioned from matchwood and hessian and whisper 'Night Bertie'. Whatever floats your boat.
Well it's better than being a happy-clappy
armchair fan from nowhere!
it's ok, portsmouth will win on sunday, i have all the faith in the world
well i don't, but it's my only hope, gosh i hate football :(
Looking forward to seeing the mighty Wigan
demolishing Manky Spew on Sunday and seeing the trophy back at the bridge.
Milan say that they expect Drogba to stay at Chelsea..
..according to Sky Sports. Please, please be true.
The Times this morning
say that Chelsea have not offered a new contract to Drogba, although they have done to Ballack.
His contract has still got another year left though, right?
Doesn't mean he's necessarily leaving.
But surely
they'd offer him a new one or sell him rather than risk him leaving for nothing next summer.
Apparently we don't want to be held to ransom.
Bit strange given what some of our players are on. Especially as they don't seem to have any problem with giving Ballack a 2 year extention.
I'll be angry if he leaves because we don't give him the contract he wants, out team won't be the same without him. :(
what a slow week this is proving to be
waiting for Sunday. Expect there to be more United fans than Wigan in the JJB. Tickets will be going for all sorts of ridiculous prices outside the ground, and it won't be Wigan fans snapping them up.
I fully expect us to win but an early goal would be very useful to settle the nerves. Hopefully Anderson will get a start instead of Giggs now Nani's got himself suspended.
If you get an early goal, you win the title..
..as simple as that.
I'm a Chelsea fan and I'll be watching the Man Utd game instead of our one because I'm not even remotely worried about us beating Bolton at home.
Bolton will roll over
it'd take some truly freakish results for them to go down and they're obsessed with United.
I can't make my mind up what I think Bruce will do. I can't see him getting his players fired up to deny us the title but he won't want them to embarrass themselves. Though it's not like they'll have the crowd behind them. And their pitch is shite. Just want to get it over and done with tbh.
The pitch is a blessing.
I still can't see Man Utd losing but you never know.
Hopefully the Wigan players will be up for it just so they can be remembered for deciding the destiny of the title. All I ask is that they put a little more effort in than West Ham did.
I really hate
suggestions that West Ham just rolled over against Man United on Saturday. I defy any team missing about 11 first teamers to keep a United team eager to win the game as early as possible at bay. Yes some of what Curbishley said before the game was a little silly, but there is no way he would have told his players to go easy.
agreed 100%
They were thinking about their summer holidays.
Man Utd didn't even have to try.
As were Newcastle on Monday then?
Nope, they gave it a real go..
..as I knew they would, we were just better than them.
As did West Ham
just because they were outclassed and outplayed doesn't mean they didn't try. Suggestions like this really piss me off, a lot.
They didn't look as though..
..they were trying "that hard" to be honest, trying yes but not as much as they normally would.
You have to remember Man utd let West Ham win at Old Trafford last season to help them stay up.
right
So you differentiate between players trying hard but not as much as normal. How many West Ham games have you seen to make this comparison?
Your last comment is laughable
Why, it's very possible?
I've got no tangable evidence to support my claim but you can't say it's laughable.
yes I can
it's laughable.
I've questioned the credibility of football..
..of course you're going to react like that, no-one like hearing these things.
I'm just admitting that there might be and probably is corruption in the game.
I've reacted to a laughable
statement based on absolutely nothing by someone who doesn't really appear to know what they are talking about.
It's people looking for a story
where there really isn't one. Like when all those Spurs players ate a dodgy Lasagne before the West Ham game a couple of years ago cooked by an Arsenal fan.*
*Wildly inaccurate.
Man United didn't let
West Ham win last season. The Hammers might have wanted it more than Man United on the day but there is no way Ferguson would have let West Ham win, nor would the players who were playing for their place in the FA Cup Final side.
yes
West Ham didn't roll over, they were just very shit and cautious. That Ashton goal was a beauty though.
I'd only just sat
down after applauding Tevez's goal before I had to get up again and applaud Ashton's finish. Brilliant.
Chris Morgan
could be on his way to Bolton from Sheff Utd for £1million...I'd be quite happy with that to be honest...
Chris Morgan
could be on his way to Bolton from Sheff Utd for £1million...I'd be quite happy with that to be honest...
scolari to man city?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/7387397.stm
I despise that man.
;(
Scolari is to Sven
what Lux Luthor is to Superman
Talk about arch nemesis
Non- European footballers
will have to be able to speak English from next season if they are joining a new club or they won't be granted a work permit.
Berbatov's Milan bound...
...as long as he doesn't go to another PL club, i don't mind him going, especially as Eto'o will be a lillywhite soon...:)
Berbatov > Eto'o
Nope
Silly talk!
Berbatov has the rare ability to really drift out of games, and makes Anelka look eternally happy.
Eto'o is a bit similar and he's being played out of position a bit at Barca, but he'd make as much of an impact on the Prem as Torres did this year. A class act.
Eto'o could compete with Berbatov's moodyness.
I'd prefer Berbatov in my team anyway, I guess it's all down to personal preference.
I think Berbatov has certianly outperformed Eto'o this season though.
Maybe,
but I'd argue that both players were better last season, and that Eto'o certainly outclassed Berbatov then.
They're both great players, I just rate Eto'os overall game more than Berbatov's.
Agreed to a point
on this season's performances - but then Eto'o missed the first half of the season injured, then had the African Nations and is still into double figures for Barca...
Stoke!
Great season for the Potters, they've been building nicely for the last few seasons, but as ht27 says they are very short on top flight experience. At least they don't have to go through the playoffs and so have that extra month to prepare.
I heard that they have built a bit of a war-chest (around 7-10 million) and so could buy in some decent players. I think their best bet would be to tie up with a bigger club and loan their youngsters (a la Birmingham - Arsenal). Be nice if we signed Ameobi and now Berger is a free agent (he was quite a success at Stoke) he'd bring experience. Hendrie might be interested in a return too. I expect Stoke to go down, but with more of a fight than Derby.
Gutted about Flamini leaving Arsenal, and betya that Wenger doesn't buy but instead tries to adapt Diaby into the role. It ain't gonna work. Interesting times.
£7-10 million's not a lot...
It's not much at all
but as Wagert says, if Pulis can get some loanees and decent frees in during the summer they might have a slim chance of staying up...
Pulis is quite a shrewd chap
but I think most of the Potteries faithful would be happy with a season where they give it a fighting chance, rather than slumping every game. Stoke have a well organised defence, a couple of good (if unspectacular) keepers and a great team spirit. Thats already more than Derby had. I reckon they'll finish 18th, with Bolton and Palace (my tip for the playoffs) joining them going down. The problem will be getting goals.
I'm praying for Arsenal-Stoke first day of the season, that'd be a brilliant day out for the Potters, nd I'd get to see both my favourite teams.
I certainly think Stoke'll be quite different from Derby.
And I do expect them to make a fight of it...
Palace are my tip for the play-offs too
but they're the one team I really, really, really, really do not want to go up.
Yeah
I'm not a fan of Palace either. But then again, I haven't much love for any of the sides in the play offs. It'd be funny if Bristol C or Hull go up. Two teams with the potential to 'do a Derby'.
Why?
COME ON THE EAGLES