Football (Soccer)

[SKD_Tech]

Well I watched the pre-season game of the American Football tonight. The Saint's played well! Defence was up and Offence was great!

[Oriphus]

Yeah Chelsea match on in an hour

I agree Arsenal did play a lot better with 10 men instead of 11, but we all know Campbell's record with sending off's. He let his foot hang in for a while, and when you look at the close up, it shows him watchin his foot as if aiming it. However, i dont think it was a sending off offence as there was another defender behind him. It shouldve been a yellow card for sure though.

Christiano Ronaldo is very promissing, but as you say, he shouldnt really be a starting player every match. He needs to mature slightly and keep his skills frsh and alert. Remember Owen at that age, he went through a bit of a trough a while back, but seems to be coming out of it. I think Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney are very similar players, and when playing for England, Owen tends to look after him well. I think that Christiano Ronaldo should mainly be a bench starter this season until he has developed the necessary maturity and experience to play the way he is expected to. However, comparing him to Pires, lol - you are Arsenal right through

This Chelsea Liverpool match will be amazinf. Lets see if Roman Abromavich has managed to buy a load of top players, or if he has managed to buy a top team. I hope Liverpool destroy them, though it is doubtful. Damian Duff was a star signing for them. I felt Man Utd couldve done with him as a future replacement to Giggs. But then again, Im not the manager of the team thats won 8 out of 11 Premiership titles, so what do i know

[admin]

but we all know Campbell's record with sending off's

According to Arsenal.com, the record stands at 3 yellow cards and 3 red cards up to now. That's since August 2001. Not the greatest record, but not bad considering the amount of tackles he put in. I would say that he takes more than the usual amount of responsibility for a central defender (especially when partnering a less able defender, like Cygan or Toure), and hence, he has to clean up other's mistakes, which leads to desparate tackles flying in (as was the case with last season's first red card, in a bid to save Cygan's error).

However, comparing him to Pires, lol - you are Arsenal right through

Actually, I originally typed "He's almost as good as Pires", and thought better of it

Watching the Leeds v Newcastle match right now. 2-1 to Leeds in the 83rd minute, seems Newcastle are making their usual slow start to the season. This either means Newcastle will get thrashed by United again next week, or it could get them all fired up and only lose by a small margin Should be a good match either way.

As for Chelsea, my bet is on Abromavich splashing the cash to buy the League (which will then be renamed to the FA Abromavich Premier League), make it a rule that Chelsea gets a 20 point start ahead of all other teams, and then for Chelsea to still come in fifth.

[Oriphus]

lol - i like your chelski idea on the league. It is a bit ridiculous whenever someone comes along like that and spends big bucks. It ruins the transfer market to a certain extent. United never really have any money problems, especially since BskyB made a big profit this year. Arsenal are in a bit of difficulty trying to fund their new stadium, hope it works out ok for them in the end though.

Actually, I originally typed "He's almost as good as Pires", and thought better of it

You would've had me well fired up with a comment like that. It would nearly be as bad as saying that Thiery Henry is as good a striker as Rudd Van Nistelroy. Dont say it. Dont you say now!!! Imagine having Rudd Van Nistelroy and Theiry Henry as a strike partnership. It would be amazing to say the least!

Did you see any of the Liverpool vs Chelski match today? It was a really good match with a good pace. Veron played well and scored an amazing goal from edge of the box, he hit it with such pace. Damian Duff, as alsways, looked very good, as did Liverpools Kewell. High hope are on him for the future. The scoreline of Chelsea 2 - 1 Liverpool was deserved though, especially considering the penalty fiasco (spelt wrong).

This either means Newcastle will get thrashed by United again next week, or it could get them all fired up and only lose by a small margin

I dont think we will thrash them next week, however, i dont see them as much of a challenge to us either, though it could go all wrong like it has before. The main teams im worried about facing United are in order of most feared:
1) Arsenal
2) Chelsea
3) Liverpool

After that, i think we'll beat everyone else pretty easily, bar any injury problems we might have. I would rather see Arsenal or Liverpool beat us than Chelski. I hate Chelsea, especially since Zola has gone. Looking forward to watching the United match on MUTV tonight at 12 midnight.......

[admin]

I watched most of the game live, something that I'd normally never do when Liverpool "hoof it up" FC are playing. Kewell was good, very pacy, although I thought Liverpool were unlucky in the first half not to score at least once.

Chelski were good as well, Veron being effective, Gronkjaer was very good down the right as well. Both keepers were excellent, as expected. I was hoping Owen would miss both penalties

It's only the third time that Chelsea have won at Anfield in 61 years or something, so they must be pretty happy. I don't mind Chelsea beating Liverpool (a draw would have been better though), but it's their fans that I can't stand. No doubt that after one single victory, which they won by the smallest of margins, they will be hailing themselves as the new Real Madrid (if they haven't done so already), and ready to win all trophies before them. Can't wait to see them lose their first game

[Oriphus]

It would have been so funny if Owen had of missed both penalties, though i wouldve felt slightly bad for him. Good old Jersey Dudec was pretty good for Liverpool, a few amazing saves, contributing to an overall very enjoyable match. I think a draw between them would've suited us both better though

Have you watched the United match yet? Just finished watching it. It was an average performace by United up until the 60th minute or so, whereupon the young Ronaldo came on and showed his flare. Man, this guy was amazing for an 18 year old, reminded me a bit of when Solskjaer and Owne started for their respective teams. He moves so fast and is match with his amazing ball control. He also can cross teh ball with amazing accuracy and skill. David Beckham?? Who is David Beckham?? lol. I think he will be here to paly a great part in the future of Man Utd, though i hope he isnt made to paly to soon. The Portugal side has called him up on Wednesday.

Also, Djemba Djemba looked like he had been in the squad for years whenever he came on. He is another future potential hero of Uniteds. I think he is being drafted in as a future midfield controller in replacing the legendary Roy Keane in a few years (i hope to God no time soon - we love you Roy).

You are living in Australia at the min, but are you actually Australian? If so, you should be proud and hopeful of Harry Kewell, a promising young winger. Australia did very well against England last time thy played, the future looks bright for them!

[admin]

I am an Australian of Chinese descent - been here for about 15 years, so it's a miracle that I follow "soccer" at all.

Would have been a lot more happier if Kewell moved to Arsenal instead, but I fear the Houllier effect on him will turn him from a good player, to a true "Liverpool" player, ie. boring. I've watched Arsenal before the Wenger revolution, so I know boring when I see it

I haven't watched the extended United highlights yet, but from what I've seen (and heard), C. Ronaldo looks a great player. Djemba Djemba looked good in the Comm. Shield as well, apart from the kick at Campbell, of course. As good as C. Ronaldo is, if Arsenal had signed him, it would have been their most expensive signing to date, so unless Arsenal have loads of money, he would have been out of reach. It's good to have money.

[Oriphus]

It is good to have money as you say, but it is also good to have a strong squad and not need to spend any money, like the position Arsenal are in. All the money in the world wouldnt necessarily buy you a good squad. Do you remember Inter Milan some years back got taken over and spent massive amounts, and still did pretty poorly. I know what your saying about Liverpool being a boring time. They are to narrow and just snd the long balls forward. THey need to play more, like what Man Utd and Arsenal do.

On the Ronaldo and Djemba Djemba front, i think we are on a winner. Really looking forward to Ronaldo's next start. I just paid the rest of the ticket price for my trip to Old Trafford against Arsenal. Cant wait...............

Chinese, living in Australia and following football. Damn, that is pretty cool.

[dodyskin]

Oriphous, just to make sure, United is your local team isn't it?

[Oriphus]

Local...sort off. I live across the water (the Irish sea) from Old Trafford, so its not really local as such. But I am a member of Man Utd and a shareholder (1 share lol) and a massive fan.

[admin]

I've never understood the "support your local club" argument. If everybody did that, then there wouldn't be any "world" class clubs at all, just a bunch of "local" clubs (and some pretty big "local" clubs in India and China!!).

This only seem to come up when someone's a fan of a successful team - if someone lived in Manchester and supported Barnet, then that someone would be considered a fantastically loyal supporter. The other way around, and that person's a glory hunter instead.

IMO, as long as you stick with the club you support through thick and thin, then you're a true supporter regardless of where you come from (or when you started supporting them). If someone stops supporting a team after they stop winning (like some of the Arsenal "fans" that changed their allegiance from United after the double season, and I suspect, have changed back again now), then they're a glory hunter.

I've supported Arsenal since the day I started watching "soccer" and never considered supporting another club after that. Not even if Wenger leaves and takes all the French stars with him

[Oriphus]

I agree with you 100%. My dad always has a go at me when i say Man Utd win or anything. He says something like - are they from Manchester, when i say no, he says well then how can it be the Manchester United Football club. He manages a company that owns a few other companies in Europe, so i always throw back that at him saying how can your comapny own those companies whenever they are so far away. It does get very fustrating the whole 'local' team argument.

I've been a Man Utd fan probably since i first bought a football shirt. My mum bought me a liverpool shirt when i was younger, but whenever i saw the players at Man Utd, Gary Pallister and the crew, i loved them more. So i started watching it more. Ever since i was 11 i have been a United fan, more and more so over the recent years and i just keep getting more obsessed with them.

[dodyskin]

local versus global

[nit]if you were from manchester and supported barnet you would not be loyal, you would be insane. [/picked]

it's an interesting question really isn't it. i think the difference is between; being part of a community and the sports team being a representation of that community, and identifying with a brand through which you compete with others in a passive consumerist way. when teams become businesses like muplc then it is perfectly reasonable to market them as such. branding a product to create a loyal customer base has been with us since the industrial revolution began removing us from direct markets ( I'm not complaining, i sure as **** don't want to churn my own butter). the difference with sport is that the consumer is unaware, often aggressively unaware that he or she is a consumer being sold a product and is not involved in any pro-active way with that product. on the other hand, if you think about it, a community identity is kind of like a brand too, so maybe it's all the same thing. all i know is, more and more mancunians are turning away from man.u, feeling priced out and alienated from what was previously a major part of the citys' culture. how can it be anything to do with manchester, the players ( apart from scholes, my boyfriend went to school with him namedrop namedrop) the manager and the fans aren't from here , ****, most people living in manchester can't afford to even watch it on tv, so it's really just a company which happens to have the same name like: natwest, halifax or scottish power. which is fine i suppose, just a bit frustrating for us mancunians. ah well, I'm off to watch moss side movers, they're so local I don't even have to leave the house.

[Oriphus]

A very true piece there - i do agree with a lot of it. But this - HUH??

most people living in manchester can't afford to even watch it on tv

[admin]

One good thing about United's focus on business is that they have some great merchandise. Arsenal's merchandise are horrible, limited, expensive and look like the stuff that the other Nike supported clubs didn't want, which is probably the case anyway. And they don't have to get a bank loan everytime they want to buy some new players, or in Arsenal's case, get 10 different bank loans to build a damn stadium.