birchesgreen
Established Member
Ronaldo is more Rocket Ronnie, insanely talented but also a huge egomanic.
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61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
Many of the greats of the past have been the classic "flawed genius" type: Maradona with his cheating and tendency to snort white powder, George Best with his battle with alcoholism, Cruyff's fondness for tabs which shortened his life... Pele seems to have avoided those pitfalls, as has Lionel Messi... but Cristiano Ronaldo is a weird one- he doesn't appear to have any substance issues, and obviously takes great care to keep his body at the peak of fitness, but does have a petulant side. As someone who is quite protective of his media image, his behaviour in storming off in Portugal's defeat did far more damage to his image than any media hit-piece could.
Mcr Warrior
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Not the worst selection I've ever seen, but reckon you're still two players short of a team, and who've you got playing in goal?
43096
On Moderation
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It's a bit forward heavy for a team: need a goalkeeper (Lev Yashin?), at least one more defender (Bobby Moore? Franco Baresi?) and a more defensive minded midfielder (Frank Rijkaard maybe?). No Marco van Basten, either...
swt_passenger
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But the principle of a mid season December World Cup has now been set - watch out for Stoke’s bid for a big competition in future…Not many World Cups are ever won on a cold, rainy night in Stoke. Horses for courses, and all that!
RailWonderer
Established Member
Midfield I'd have Xavi - Iniesta - Busquets Barcelona 2008-2015 era. They have 2 Euros and the World Cup together. At the rear I'd have Bonucci, Maldini, anyone Juve or Barca, or Paul Scholes or John Terry.
The best player I ever saw live was Zidane. A genuine magician who seemed to operate within a six foot force field, unbelievable awareness of space. That was in 1999 with France as world champions. They tore England a new one at Wembley.
Paul Scholes wouldn’t be fit to even go out and buy the polish for Zidane’s boots.
Paul Scholes wouldn’t be fit to even go out and buy the polish for Zidane’s boots.
Strat-tastic
Established Member
Maybe it was the novelty but I rather enjoyed a Christmas world cup.But the principle of a mid season December World Cup has now been set - watch out for Stoke’s bid for a big competition in future…
birchesgreen
Established Member
Its quite strange to have the world cup end but the season is only half done. We could have some interesting results over the next few weeks.
Yes I was thinking about which teams weren’t too effected by losing players for the tournament and have ended up having a decent break. Liverpool might fall into that category for example?
birchesgreen
Established Member
Looks like we'll have another winter world cup in 2030...
en.as.com
Who is Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo’s reported new club?
With just one solid offer on the table, everything points to Cristiano Ronaldo joining Saudi Pro League outfit Al Nassr in January.
en.as.com
DarloRich
Veteran Member
Spennymoor Town 1 v Darlo 3 ( FA Trophy)
Top of the league at Xmas
4th round of FA Trophy ( Southend away)
6 away wins in a row
2500 tickets sold for boxing day game
Top of the league at Xmas
4th round of FA Trophy ( Southend away)
6 away wins in a row
2500 tickets sold for boxing day game
RailWonderer
Established Member
He is one of the all time greats but it's a shame he went on Piers Morgan to mouth off about United because no one else in Europe will sign him, which is where he belongs. His talent is being wasted in the Middle East, but no club wants to sign someone who will play to 40 max and won't be on the starting XI at 40.Looks like we'll have another winter world cup in 2030...
Who is Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo’s reported new club?
With just one solid offer on the table, everything points to Cristiano Ronaldo joining Saudi Pro League outfit Al Nassr in January.
George Cohen: 1939-2022
The Official Website of Fulham Football Club: get the latest news, highlights, fixtures and results, tickets, Club shop and more.
www.fulhamfc.com
Everyone associated with Fulham Football Club is desperately saddened to learn of the passing of one of our greatest ever players – and gentlemen – George Cohen MBE.
A one club man, George made 459 appearances for his beloved Whites, in addition to earning 37 England caps, with whom he famously won the World Cup in 1966.
Born in Fulham, soon after the outbreak of World War II, just over a mile from Craven Cottage on Cassidy Road, George actually lived closer to Stamford Bridge, but it was the black and white half of the borough he opted for.
“It was easier to bunk into Fulham than it was to get into Chelsea,” he joked in a 2016 interview. “There was this big tree at Craven Cottage, and my friends and I used to climb up it and drop over the wall into the ground.
“The Club knew we used to sneak in that way, but it didn’t mind; I suppose it was a way of recruiting young supporters!”
As a child, George attended St John’s primary school, before moving onto Fulham Central secondary, which is now called Fulham College and is used by the Club on matchdays.
George stayed there until joining Fulham FC in 1956. Initially working as a member of the grounds staff, he soon swapped sweeping the terraces and cleaning boots for the big stage, making his debut against Liverpool as a 17-year-old in March 1957.
The following season, George established himself as the Club’s first choice right-back, revolutionising the role. Blessed with terrific pace, he became one of the game’s first attacking full-backs, setting the tone for how football is so often played today.
It was a successful campaign for the Whites, with a fifth placed finish complemented by a fine FA Cup run which was ended at the Semi-Final stage by Manchester United.
A year later, George started all but one of our 42 matches as Fulham won promotion to the top-flight, where he helped us stay for nine consecutive seasons, as well as getting another FA Cup Semi-Final under his belt in 1962.
His consistent performances were not going unnoticed, and in May 1964, Alf Ramsey handed him an England debut in a 2-1 win over Uruguay at Wembley. It was a shirt he refused to relinquish, taking the spot of national team captain Jimmy Armfield.
Of the next 27 matches England played before the World Cup, George started 23 of them and was Ramsey’s undisputed first choice going into the tournament.
As Ramsey did not play with conventional wingers, a lot of responsibility fell on the shoulders of the full-backs, an obligation that George relished.
England kept clean sheets in their first four matches of the World Cup, culminating in a 1-0 Quarter-Final win over Argentina which led to a famous photo of Ramsey stopping George from swapping shirts at full-time, with the England manager angry at what he deemed to be dirty tactics from the opposition.
George started the move that led to the goal which proved the winner in the 2-1 Semi-Final victory over Portugal, before playing all 120 minutes of England’s greatest game, as they saw off the challenge of West Germany to triumph 4-2 after extra-time in the World Cup Final - a match for which George was vice-captain.
He featured seven more times for his country after that tournament, and was duly awarded an MBE in 2000 for his services to football, alongside four of his teammates from ’66; Roger Hunt, Alan Ball, Ray Wilson and Nobby Stiles.
George’s playing days were cut tragically short at the age of just 29, after suffering a nasty knee injury. Cruelly coming at a time when he was playing what he considered to be the best football of his life, he never fully recovered and was forced to call time on his career.
One of the biggest endorsements of his talent came when the legendary winger George Best described him as “the best full-back I ever played against.”
After spending some time coaching the Fulham youth team, as well as England’s Under-23 side, George opted for a career change, becoming a success in the property and building markets.
A return to football beckoned, though, and it was only right that it was with Fulham. Brought back to Craven Cottage as a host in our hospitality lounges, George regaled guests on matchdays with stories of his career, quickly establishing himself as an absolute natural through his quick wit and gentlemanly persona.
It wasn’t long before he was honoured with his own suite, and any fans who were lucky enough to enjoy hospitality in the George Cohen Lounge will no doubt have wonderful memories of the occasion.
In 2016, the Club announced that a statue of George had been commissioned, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of one of our favourite sons lifting the Jules Rimet trophy.
There launched #Cohen66, a fundraising campaign that looked to raise money for two causes close to George’s heart – dementia and men’s health, two issues on which he worked closely with the Fulham FC Foundation. The excellent Fulham Memories initiative was born from the former.
The statue was unveiled in October of that year, with George typically humble about the whole thing.
“I mean, to think that they had made a statue; I find it absolutely wonderful that they even thought I was worthy of it,” he said. “Especially as it was alongside Johnny Haynes, the greatest name in Fulham’s history.
“To be alongside him, it was rather unbelievable. It was great to think that not only the Club, but the supporters had wanted to put a statue of me there.”
That was not the only honour bestowed upon George in 2016, as he was also granted the freedom of Hammersmith & Fulham, the highest civic distinction that a borough can give.
This was not just a recognition of his footballing achievements, but also of his tireless campaigning for research into cancer and dementia.
Following the introduction of the Forever Fulham award – presented to those players who have truly imprinted themselves upon the fabric of our Club – George was naturally one of the first recipients.
Only Johnny Haynes, Eddie Lowe and Les Barrett played more games for us than George. He is, quite simply, Fulham royalty.
All of our thoughts are with Daphne, his beloved wife of more than 60 years, sons Anthony and Andrew, his grandchildren and extended family, as well as George’s many, many friends.
Sad news here -- another of the 1966 crew has passed. I've had the huge privilege of meeting him over the years at Craven Cottage (and his now widowed wife, Daphne), and can only describe him as an absolute gentleman, who always spoke candidly not only about his FFC career, but of course the 1966 journey to winning the World Cup. Sad times.
Cheshire Scot
Established Member
R.I.P. Pele
www.bbc.co.uk
A wonderful player who thrilled world football.
Pele: Brazil football legend dies aged 82
Brazil legend Pele, who is regarded by many as football's greatest player, dies at the age of 82.
www.bbc.co.uk
A wonderful player who thrilled world football.
150249
Member
Terrible news. Truly tragic. RIP Pele.
23rd October 1940 - 29th December 2022
23rd October 1940 - 29th December 2022
R.I.P. Pele
Pele: Brazil football legend dies aged 82
Brazil legend Pele, who is regarded by many as football's greatest player, dies at the age of 82.
A wonderful player who thrilled world football.
I guess we all knew that it wouldn’t be long but even so this feels like a sad loss for the footballing world.
RIP
GS250
Member
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- 1,031
"Give me the ball, I do this, this, this, goal"
RIP Pele
RIP Pele
Gets a lot of stick that film but watched it so much growing up, love it.
RIP Luis Fernandez (Pele)
Cheshire Scot
Established Member
By coincidence 'Escape To Victory' has been scheduled on TV this afternoon.
Iskra
Established Member
Newcastle away today, poor quality game but a point is a good result considering Newcastle’s form recently. Great atmosphere in the away end 
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Northern Premier League...Premier Division
Ashton United 0 ... Hyde United 6
This Tameside derby is usually a tight-fought game and Ashton had drawn 3-3 against league leaders South Shields recently and had won 1-0 at Hyde at the start of the season. This one did not go to plan and Hyde scored three goals in each half to consolidate their second league place at the start of the new year.
Ashton United 0 ... Hyde United 6
This Tameside derby is usually a tight-fought game and Ashton had drawn 3-3 against league leaders South Shields recently and had won 1-0 at Hyde at the start of the season. This one did not go to plan and Hyde scored three goals in each half to consolidate their second league place at the start of the new year.
Mcr Warrior
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Perhaps not too unsurprisingly, the Ashton United manager (Michael Clegg) tendered his resignation after this New Year mauling.
High Dyke
Established Member
Grantham only lost 2-0 at league leaders Worksop Town.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Yet, were you, like I, absolutely astonished by the financial terms of his new Middle East contract, which seems unbelievable that anyone would offer such a fabulous salary for a player of his age.
birchesgreen
Established Member
Yes but good luck to the bloke. I think he is being paid more for being the public face of getting the world cup to Saudi Arabia more than anything on the pitch though.
Andy Pacer
Established Member
Definitely agree. It's almost his brand they're purchasing rather than his ability.
youngiecj
Member
- Joined
- 26 Feb 2012
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- 413
Kings Lynn 2 Boston 1. Truly in a relegation scrap now. 8 defeats in 9.
DarloRich
Veteran Member
Boxing Day: Darlington 2 v Scarborough 3 - argh. Poor show from Darlo. In complete control and took an easy lead. Gave a way 2 sloppy goals. Fought back to 2-2. Chucked it away.
2nd Jan: Scarborough 2 v Darlington 5 - Could have been 10. Gave away a sloppy goal and a soft penalty. Game suspended for 30 minutes plus due to misogynistic abuse of the female assistant referee.
Still top of the league!
Lynn are quite good tbh.
2nd Jan: Scarborough 2 v Darlington 5 - Could have been 10. Gave away a sloppy goal and a soft penalty. Game suspended for 30 minutes plus due to misogynistic abuse of the female assistant referee.
Still top of the league!
You could have done us a favour there
Lynn are quite good tbh.