...::[The Footy Desk]::...

[kietotheworld]

England were pretty woeful against the Ukraine the other night. I hope we play better tomorrow...not least because I have tickets.

Is it possible that the English actually deliberately lost? As revenge to Croatia for knocking you guys out of qualification for Euro 2008? When Croatia came to Wembley in November 2007, they had already qualified, yet they beat you to knock you out. Now when you have already qualified, and when you know that Ukraine winning will (help) knock Croatia out, it's possible that the team slacked off a bit as a bit of revenge to the Croatians.

 

Probably not true, but if it did indeed happen, then that's quite sly (and clever).

If that was the case then it would be a disgrace. You don't take 'revenge' on a team because they tried their best to beat you, it's jus good sportsmanship towards Russia. While it's not sporting, I could understand the players slacking off in the last two games, not for any revenge conspiracy though, simply because they've already qualified and don't want to risk injury.

[Ari Gold]

Yeah, well I honestly wasn't expecting that to be the case; I don't think that professional footballers are that sleazy. Still interesting to consider it though.

 

I'm happy for Argentina, more happy for Maradona actually. He received a lot of stick since becoming coach and was put under a lot of pressure from the get-go, and has led his team well. Apparently they didn't play the best game in Montevideo, but it's nice to see a debutant for the national team (Mario Bolatti) score in his first ever game in such a crucial moment.

 

I just hope we don't get drawn in the same group as them again, that would be just sh*t.

[LanceVanceDance07]

I'm happy for Argentina, more happy for Maradona actually. He received a lot of stick since becoming coach and was put under a lot of pressure from the get-go, and has led his team well. Apparently they didn't play the best game in Montevideo, but it's nice to see a debutant for the national team (Mario Bolatti) score in his first ever game in such a crucial moment.

 

I just hope we don't get drawn in the same group as them again, that would be just sh*t.

I disagree with Maradona leading his team well, because he simply didn't. He relies on last-minute heroics from his players, and then he insults the press and thinks he had a part to play in Argentina qualifying for the World Cup. Maradona didn't do sh*t. He's clearly the weakest link in the Argentinian national team.

 

What were the Argentinian FA thinking when they hired Maradona as the coach, they must be on crack. What Argentina need is a real manager, with proper tactics and leadership. If they still have Maradona as the manager at the World Cup, it will be one of the worst decisions ever made in football. F*ck, hiring Maradona in the first place was one of the worst decsions made in football.

[Chunk]

What were the Argentinian FA thinking when they hired Maradona as the coach, they must be on crack.

He's a national treasure, simple as. They worship him over there and thought that because he was a great footballer, he could be a great manager, which is still up for debate because they were pretty lucky getting to the World Cup.

[mark-2007]

I'm happy for Argentina, more happy for Maradona actually. He received a lot of stick since becoming coach and was put under a lot of pressure from the get-go, and has led his team well.

A team which, may I point out, has consisted of 78 players in the qualifying campaign for this World Cup. He may've been a great player despite unsportmanship and drug use, it doesn't look like he's cut put for management. And this isn't just based on his performance at Argentina.

 

Of course, I'll eat my words if they do well under him at the World Cup, but I'm pretty sure that's a meal I won't be having anytime soon.

[Ari Gold]

 

I'm happy for Argentina, more happy for Maradona actually. He received a lot of stick since becoming coach and was put under a lot of pressure from the get-go, and has led his team well.

A team which, may I point out, has consisted of 78 players in the qualifying campaign for this World Cup.

 

Is that even possible? That's like they have full rotations of the squad every second matchday.

 

I understand that he isn't the greatest manager, of course he isn't, but the fact that he's been put under so much pressure from the media and fans alike, and the fact that in the end he still delivered their desired goal of qualifying for the World Cup shows that he isn't just a hopeless slob who literally does nothing. A lot of the players would have respect for him due to him being like a God in Argentina, and that alone can be quite critical to the success of the team, just being an inspiration to the players and motivating them to do well.

 

It's better than having caretakers coach a few games each. They had to find someone who's at least half decent.

[Seddo]

He did give a good reply to the press after Argentine qualified because of the stick he got.

 

"They can suck it and carry on sucking it"

 

 

Torres and Stevie G out of our weekend game, times for some of our other players to shine (hopefully).

[LanceVanceDance07]

I'm aware of the popularity of Maradona in Argentina, but I still feel that the Argentinian FA should have chose a manager with some sort of managerial experience. Right now, Maradona, as a manager, has become more of a liability than a manager, and all the press and stick on him isn't going to help his cause. He has proven himself to be a tactical idiot.

 

Now that Argentina are in the World Cup, I think Maradona should quit while he's ahead. But then again, I would like to see him as manager at the World Cup, for entertainment purposes, and to see the team implode right before our eyes, because that is what's probably going to happen.

[Ari Gold]

All I'm hoping for is that we don't end up in the same group as them; I don't really want to go through the whole experience of losing 6-0 again, especially since we have a much better team now. No thanks.

[Chunk]

 

All I'm hoping for is that we don't end up in the same group as them; I don't really want to go through the whole experience of losing 6-0 again, especially since we have a much better team now. No thanks.

If you have a much better team, I wouldn't worry about getting trashed.

 

Anyway, we're 2-1 up. Defoe's been sent off though, which isn't good at all.

Edited October 17, 2009 by Chunk

[The Killa]

oh dear

 

 

[Seddo]

FUCKING KID NEEDS BARING FROM LIVERPOOL GAMES. REF SHOULD OF STOPPED THE GAME.

 

Still wouldn't of mind if it was a Liverpool goal and we still had plenty of time to score and even though it's Sunderland who are on a good run we should of at least scored one.

 

Team is a joke at the moment.

 

 

[The Killa]

I don't think we should have scored one, we didn't look like scoring at all. We've lost 3 games in a row with this being the worst performance out of them, absolutely laughable

[kietotheworld]

Disgraceful refereeing, lets be honest.

[SIKKS66]

Team is a joke at the moment.

October 25th can't come sooner...

 

Good to see Ed back in goal today.

[Seddo]

 

Team is a joke at the moment.

October 25th can't come sooner...

We might have a bit of attacking influence in our midfield if Aqua man is fit and plays. Our current CM pairings couldn't create a sand castle in a sand pit.

 

Just noticed Rangers taken the top spot in the SPL, neither Rangers or Celtic seem to want to stay on top, Celtic thrown away a 5 point lead already(?)

[EasyTiger]

Get in Villa, great performance today. Chelsea played some amazing football but seemed to follow every move with a weak shot straight at Friedel's arms.

 

I'm loving the look of the new defense, they're even scoring, just like having Melberg and Laursen back . As for the Balloon goal at Sunderland, I didn't think it actually effected the balls direction at first, after a second look though it's pretty certain Reina had it coming straight into his arms.

[Mand'alor]

What kind of balloon was it? It must have been fairly hard to deflect a football like that.

[Ari Gold]

Well, it was a big beach ball, and it only deflected the ball a few centimetres, but in the end it was enough to beat Reina.

 

Disappointing to see Liverpool drop 3 points against a beachball, you'd think that they would've been able to collect full points against it.

[AndyGanteks]

oh dear

 

 

Just seen this today, i laughed so hard, amazing, and i gotta say, unfair.

[Seddo]

 

What kind of balloon was it? It must have been fairly hard to deflect a football like that.

It's a beach ball from a beach set that's sold at the Liverpool store. It's crazy that how much it changed the direction of the ball on impact though.

 

[Tchuck]

How was that even allowed to stand? And why didn't the ref stopped the play with the ball in there?

Alas, this is mildly amusing LINK

[Lethal Nizzle]

Hope Chopra decks that Palace player when we're down their end next.

[The Killa]

http://store.liverpoolfc.tv/products/souve...h-set/pid-28099

 

I admit I got a kick out of the customer reviews.

 

And I still don't think the goal should have stood, and how unlucky was it. The ball was clearly rolling straight into Reinas arms

[Lethal Nizzle]

http://store.liverpoolfc.tv/products/souve...h-set/pid-28099

 

I admit I got a kick out of the customer reviews.

 

And I still don't think the goal should have stood, and how unlucky was it. The ball was clearly rolling straight into Reinas arms

Nice to see the ball hasn't thrown in the towel after a mediocre performance. Took it's shot well and then did very little else all game. 6/10.

 

It seemed like Reina went for the beach ball and not the football in the replays too.

[3minty3]

Its funny how before Reina saw the beach ball and put it in the back off the net. But as sunderland were attacking it blew out and stopped just outside the 6 yard box where it was hit by Bents shot. Spooky!

[JOSEPH X]

Hahaha, the vids been removed from youtube and the balloon`s been removed from the store. Nevermind, here`s something to cheer you scousers up

 

 

[Seddo]

Hahaha, the vids been removed from youtube and the balloon`s been removed from the store.

The beach ball has sold out not removed, talk about some easy cash flow.

 

That video is funny though, Neville's face at the end

[JOSEPH X]

Yeah, just been on redcafe.net and the last few have been bought by United fans who`ll be taking them to the game next week.

[Mand'alor]

It seems we have been drawn against France in the play-offs. This is both good and bad at the same time I think because France's team mentality seems to be all over the place at the moment, along with their coach.

 

But it is the French after all and they always seem to get through.