Football

[balne-wonderer]

Seing as your a Leeds Utd fan, and Man Utd are your biggest rivals, I'm guessing your just bitter that Man Utd are a successful team always challenging for trophies and titles.....

Anyway, your wrong about Yaya Toure. It will be Ashley Young he breathes on to concede a penalty :P

Man Utd aren't out biggest rivals at the moment sadly. That would be some middle of the road Championship team at the same level as us.

I'm not bitter at all about Manchester United's success and in many ways they done good things such as bringing through youth and investing in players for the future.

However, I do dislike some things about them. The masses of glory supporters, the joke decisions they get, Paul "I can't tackle but because it's hilarious I can do what I want and get away with it" Scholes, Gary "Leeds United mean nothing to us and just to show it I will write an entire CHAPTER about them in my auto-biography" Neville. You get the drift.

I'll be in the City camp tonight (and it even pains me to say that)

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

We all know what will happen tonight....

Scholes will go flying into a tackle, miss time it, cause someone injury but not get booked because it's good old Paul Scholes. Yaya Toure will then breathe on Nani and get sent off resulting in a ban for the rest of the season. Aguero will give Evra a strange look and will then be branded a racist and banned for 12 games, they'll be penalties, hand balls, disallowed goals, goal line technology etc etc.

The end result will be a 1-0 or 2-1 win for Manchester United.

Manchester City will not be allowed to win this game. I'd say the chances of a Man Utd penalty or a Man City player getting sent off tonight are incredibly high.

I hope I am wrong.

Was a special dispensation allowed against the points you make above that earlier in the season led to a score of Manchester United 1 Manchester City 6 ?....No-one on this forum has ever explained why the Manchester United bias by match officials, the F A, et al, was suddenly relaxed for that match, which led to such an amazing scoreline.

Could anyone shed any light on what happened on that day ?

 

[Oswyntail]

...

Could anyone shed any light on what happened on that day ?

Think of the Persian army. When they were being driven on by whips (Ferguson the bully) they could steam roller everything (Thermopylae). Take the fear away and they were ordinary (Plataea). ManU just stopped believing.

 

[Ivo]

Whatever happens, tonight's game is going to be one of the biggest Manchester derbies in history, and everyone knows it. More than 40 years have passed since City last won the title, and in that sense there is a more than a hint of irony in their last victory having been in 1968 - United's first European Cup triumph.

I for one do not want City to win. Not because I have so many relatives and friends that support United. Not because I support a top-end club that has effectively no budget to speak of and is effectively overachieving (those who think that trophies determine good managers - this is evidence to the contrary). Not because they don't deserve it. But because if they win we will have a second situation in less than 10 years of a club's first title in decades having been entirely down to money. Do we want a repeat of the Chelsea years? Were they really something fresh in winning in 2005? Of course not. And should City win, we will be facing the same problem all over again.

Money shouldn't be all that matters - but in this era, it has become all that matters. The very occasional super talents see the dollar signs and think it's for them. And the cycle continues ad nauseum. City are no exception.

In ages past, Chelsea still used a similar strategy of buying players with proven reputations rather than producing their own. But in those days, said players were often past their best - and often drawn up King's Road to the West End. Now, they now which players are not past their prime, but otherwise use a similar tactic - one that has been copied and then usurped by City.

You won't hear me say this every day, but...

Come on United!

I predict a 1-2 scoreline.

 

[balne-wonderer]

Was a special dispensation allowed against the points you make above that earlier in the season led to a score of Manchester United 1 Manchester City 6 ?....No-one on this forum has ever explained why the Manchester United bias by match officials, the F A, et al, was suddenly relaxed for that match, which led to such an amazing scoreline.

Could anyone shed any light on what happened on that day ?

I'm not sure of the reasons Paul but it won't be allowed to happen again. Bottoms have been smacked.

 

[SS4]

Booking for Kompany is Fergie's first favourable decision of the night. Will it be the last?

 

[Chew Chew]

Barry Robson never gave less than 100% in a Celtic shirt, sad day when he left, scored with his first ever touch for us too (came on as sub v Dundee United, took a free kick and scored ) Top Man!

That was against Aberdeen.

 

[Ivo]

Someone's not going to be happy after seeing his side lose tonight...

...right, Sir Alex?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Excellent

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I'm not sure of the reasons Paul but it won't be allowed to happen again. Bottoms have been smacked.

History appears to have repeated itself tonight.

 

[SS4]

How was the second half? I turned it off at half time because it sucked

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Special 30 minute Match of the Day tonight, BBC1, 2235

 

[SS4]

Special 30 minute Match of the Day tonight, BBC1, 2235

Manchester clubs getting preferential treatment again I see :roll:
Shame on you and your supposed neutrality BBC

 

[balne-wonderer]

History appears to have repeated itself tonight.

In what way? Man City's defence was superb, Kompany, Clichy and Zabaleta were fantastic.

Gotta say though, 7 minutes in, deliberate hand ball by Scholes - No booking

Yaya Toure throws a fit and throws the ball away - booking, fair enough

Paul Scholes see's a thrown in decision that he doesn't like and boots the ball away - No booking....

Also, what the hell is it with Rooney? Constantly swearing, cheating, pulling shirts, stamping on Kompany and yet completley getting away with it...just amazing. Kompany ended up getting booked instead! Just bizarre.

Still, the gulf in class fortunatley was too much for the ref to affect. Well done City tonight, fully deserved.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I believe Rooney hasn't been cautioned in the Premier League all season, according to BBC Sport's live commentary.

 

[Ivo]

Manchester clubs getting preferential treatment again I see :roll:
Shame on you and your supposed neutrality BBC

Maybe it was a condition of so much of the BBC moving to Salford?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Manchester clubs getting preferential treatment again I see :roll:
Shame on you and your supposed neutrality BBC

It does seem somewhat worrying this season in the Premiership when the top two clubs from Manchester are jointly about 17 points clear of the third club in the Premiership.

 

[SS4]

Also, what the hell is it with Rooney? Constantly swearing, cheating, pulling shirts, stamping on Kompany and yet completley getting away with it...just amazing. Kompany ended up getting booked instead! Just bizarre.

I believe Rooney hasn't been cautioned in the Premier League all season, according to BBC Sport's live commentary.

Anyone would think these events were related

It does seem somewhat worrying this season in the Premiership when the top two clubs from Manchester are jointly about 17 points clear of the third club in the Premiership.

I hope it's just a one-off. Arsenal had a poor start to the season and Spurs have recently dropped off. What you have to ask yourself is would any other club get the same treatment regarding coverage?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Still, the gulf in class fortunatley was too much for the ref to affect. Well done City tonight, fully deserved.

Manchester City have a remarkable home record in the Premiership this season, winning all but one of those games and drawing the other match.

They have so far been the highest scoring team and the team that conceded the fewest goals in Premiership matches this season.

 

[balne-wonderer]

I believe Rooney hasn't been cautioned in the Premier League all season, according to BBC Sport's live commentary.

If that doesn't display the sickening bias that refs have towards Man Utd then I don't know what does.

His performance tonight was an utter disgrace. Sadly, like good old Paul Scholes, he has licence to do pretty much what he wants.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Mancini seemed to have Ferguson well and truly rattled tonight. I wonder if Taggart has finally cracked??

Probably not though, he always seems to come back.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Also, what the hell is it with Rooney? Constantly swearing, cheating, pulling shirts, stamping on Kompany and yet completley getting away with it...just amazing. Kompany ended up getting booked instead! Just bizarre.

Speaking as a neutral on the matter of fouls being punished, I note that you did not mention the foul by Nigel de Jong on Danny Welbeck, which the match referee punished with a yellow card. I understand that Welbeck left the ground wearing a protective boot on his foot.

In your opinion, was that tackle what you would describe as fair and not worthy of a booking ?

 

[EM2]

Manchester clubs getting preferential treatment again I see :roll:
Shame on you and your supposed neutrality BBC

I'm pretty sure if both North London clubs, both Liverpool clubs or even two West Midlands clubs were in the same positions, then the same would have happened.
Remember ITV scheduling an extra edition of The Match in 1989?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQmO3S2eLPE

 

[balne-wonderer]

Speaking as a neutral on the matter of fouls being punished, I note that you did not mention the foul by Nigel de Jong on Danny Welbeck, which the match referee punished with a yellow card. I understand that Welbeck left the ground wearing a protective boot on his foot.

In your opinion, was that tackle what you would describe as fair and not worthy of a booking ?

It didn't need mentioning, it was the correct decision. I don't think it was a nasty tackle from De Jong and as you can clearly see on the replay it was a case of legs getting tangled up, Welbeck was unfortunate to pick up injury. However, as Welbeck was getting away from De Jong the yellow was fair.

Like I said before, I agree with the yellow for Yaya for his hissy fit and throwing the ball away but why was good old Paul Scholes not booked for booting the ball away when a throw in decision didn't go his way. And why was Scholes not booked for deliberate hand ball in the 7th minute? I don't understand why he is given immunity from bookings nowadays....

 

[Badger]

City may have bought their title but who honestly hasn't since 94? The top clubs are where they are because they are richer, that's how the current system works and that's how it's always going to end up. (The richest might not always win but you can guarantee it will be one of the richer that land the title.)

Going up from League 1 is Charlton, and then any four of Sheffield Wednesday, United, Wimbledon, Huddersfield, Stevenage, Notts County. Since Wolves are now a championship team...

I'd like to see the two Sheffield clubs and Notts County up just for a more interesting league, two major derbies. But since Charlton are champions, it's either two sheffields or two nottinghams for me. Not sure which I'd prefer.

 

[Donny Dave]

Badger, only 3 teams get promoted from League 1 (2 automatically, 1 via the playoffs). I presume your thinking about League 2 where 4 teams get promoted (3 automatically, 1 via the playoffs).

 

[YorkshireBear]

Badger, only 3 teams get promoted from League 1 (2 automatically, 1 via the playoffs). I presume your thinking about League 2 where 4 teams get promoted (3 automatically, 1 via the playoffs).

I'd like to see the two Sheffield clubs and Notts County up just for a more interesting league, two major derbies. But since Charlton are champions, it's either two sheffields or two nottinghams for me. Not sure which I'd prefer.

He does, you just have to read carefully. He his saying basically if he could chooce three teams, then it would be SWFC, SUFC and notts county.
But charlton are already champions so only one of the two big derbies he referred to is going to happen possibly, either big sheffield derby in championship or nottingham derby in championship.

 

[Ivo]

Going up from League 1 is Charlton, and then any four of Sheffield Wednesday, United, Wimbledon, Huddersfield, Stevenage, Notts County. Since Wolves are now a championship team...

Disgraceful! How can you post that and not feel shameful...?

Stevenage can go down next year for all I care

I would hope that if we don't have a double Sheffield promotion it will be Huddersfield that replace the unsuccessful club.

 

[tigerroar]

Disgraceful! How can you post that and not feel shameful...?.

I LOL'ed

 

[Ivo]

It's official: Roy Hodgson is England's new manager.

From the BBC:

Roy Hodgson has been appointed England manager on a four-year contract.

The West Brom boss succeeds Fabio Capello after talks with the Football Association on Monday and Tuesday.

He will remain in charge of the Baggies for their last two games of the Premier League season.

The 64-year-old will lead his country after managing 18 teams, including three national sides, during a coaching career spanning 36 years.

"Let's hope we can get everybody behind us and make certain that we work as a team and help the team get the results everyone in England expects and wants," said Hodgson.

Hodgson's contract at West Brom runs out on 30 June but the Premier League club said they have agreed to release him after their final game of the season on 13 May so he can prepare for Euro 2012.

England have two friendlies, at Norway on 26 May and home to Belgium on 2 June, before their first match in the tournament in Poland and Ukraine against France on 11 June.

The FA announced on Sunday it had approached Hodgson for the job despite widepsread speculation linking Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp with the vacancy after Capello quit in February.

Hodgson guided Switzerland to the 1994 World Cup and the side achieved a Fifa ranking of third in the world as they qualified for Euro 1996.

An interesting choice certainly, and one that shows that you don't need to be a top player to be a top manager (the long-defunct Maidstone were his best).

 

[EM2]

An interesting choice certainly, and one that shows that you don't need to be a top player to be a top manager (the long-defunct Maidstone were his best).

Only technically long-defunct. A continuation club was formed as Maidstone Invicta almost immediately after the original club folded and currently play in the Ryman League Div 1 South. And they finally get to move back to a new stadium in the town this summer after 23 years in exile.

Having said all that, Mourinho and Wenger never played higher than amateur level.