acrossthepond

It's the abortion of a football match you could expect with Rehhagel sending a team out tbh. Oh, I don't know. Turned out enjoyable enough, although the Greeks wouldn't have looked out of place wearing Rangers shirts.

Russia hit the self-destruct button on that one. Looked lively but they've had no composure in front of goal. Sweden-Greece should be a great match.

+1 Voted for Portugal though. They turn my stomach.

Have you watched him at Barcelona? Lost whatever he had. There might be something to the notion that a return to England would revitalize his career but I can just see him being another foreign flop.

He'd just be another Alan Smith in our squad anyway, not good enough to be first choice striker and no kind of a midfielder at all. No thanks.

We might see him in two or three years. He'll never survive the Premier League the way he is now, by all accounts he was poor for Barca in a weaker league. Compare him to Bojan and you'll see the kind of player Barca wanted from Dos Santos (and probably the kind of player Spurs think they're getting.) Also, media darling? Sleeping giant? Are you totally off your rocker? They hate us (well, really, they love us since we're such a comedy club that they can sell papers on false stories they invent about us...).

Here's some gossip: From http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id...443&cc=5901 Flop-tastic. at the bolded bit.

Oh wow. Wouldn't CSKA Sofia's "financial situation" be greatly improved by participating in the CL rather than being excluded from it? Sounds like a setup if I've ever heard one.

I really want to burst into spasms of laughter here, but in the end I can't find the cynicism. Fingers crossed lad, here's hoping for your sake it isn't true.

Drogba is a world class striker, naturally, and not a bit overrated. He does have an arsenal of dirty tricks that he pulls out at a moment's notice but that doesn't stop him from being quick, physically powerful, difficult to mark, and nearly unstoppable. When you look at how many he scores and how many assists he has, you'll see who's world class. Also you probably didn't watch the ANC if you're talking about how Drogba didn't perform against a "bunch of nobodies." You're one of those who still thinks African football is kicking a deflated ball around a dried-mud pitch while villagers with baskets on their heads look on.

wouldn't go for torres spain? Well to go for Torres/Spain you'd have to think Spain will win, which is a bad shout. Support for Portugal also makes me sad. That lot got beat by Greece in their own country -says it all really. These pundits seem to think Portugal is just 10 Ronaldos and a keeper when in reality they have a handful of total nobodies and another handful of aging, petulant ex-world beaters. They also seem to forget Ronaldo often goes missing in big games. I'm a little biased though since I despise Portugal. Watching them play leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I enjoy both the Star-Spangled Banner (that's the USA anthem before you ask) and God Save the Queen. A lot of what can fairly be considered American culture is trash. Living on the coasts as we do, Noelie and I are spared the worst down-home excesses, but maybe newcastlebootboy and Zathras can elucidate on more central USA life. Country music, NASCAR, tractor pulls, lawnmower races, grits, scrapple, Cracker Barrel, Harleys, etc. are just some of the "cultural advances" given to us by the central and southern States. As regards this hatred of USA perceived flag-waving and jingoism, a lot of false patriotism has of course gone on here since 9/11 but finally people are beginning to see beyond the rhetoric.

This was always going to happen, and although he hardly evokes sympathy I do feel sorry for him. Naturally since it's Chelsea we won't hear how their "fickle, toxic, vicious" fans etc. demanded better. I think it'll be Hiddink.

For the tactical ineptitude of losing a penalty shootout? Just for losing. I doubt the Russian will be happy at getting beat in his own country. He covets the CL more than any other trophy and he's lost out again. Just my thoughts on the matter.

This is it exactly. Was nearly praying for Terry to score the penalty so Ronaldo's dirty, disgusting cheating stutter-step penalty miss could cost them the final. Wonder what that the gum-chewing bastard would've had to say about that. That said, what was Terry doing taking the 5th penalty? Maybe this is the "tactical ineptitude" we keep hearing about. Should surely have been Kalou or Anelka, even with Drogba sent off. Surely Avram will be on his way now?

Alright, fine. I'll take this thread in good faith after all although Danny did himself no favors with the Berbatov thread. I'd have Keane and maybe Lennon. Woodgate also but for reasons alluded to he couldn't return to the north-east. Keane is a quality player and Lennon looks like he has something about him that I think Keegan could polish. Chimbonda is a poor defender on top of being a class A wanker who thinks he should be starting for Man U and Dawson is, as has been mentioned, a sideways step from Taylor at (very) best.

Modric But seriously, for you even to talk about us taking your rejects is laughable and pricing Dawson at 7m is a sure-fire sign of early-onset dementia. Dawson is not a centre-back. He looks more like he got left back. You're on the wind up again? No problem. We'll just lump you with Tosser Torres and the rest of the two-bit WUMs who turn up on this board looking to get a rise. I wonder if Tactical Genius Ramos will figure out a way to beat us next year? Ponder on that this summer maybe and come back next season.

Obv windup from the start. Anyone who opens his post by calling us barcodes can fuck right off. I don't even want him - he's not as class as people make out. Can't understand the fanboyism that goes on over him.

I do want to see Trundle in the Premier League, and I'm proud of Bristol City who are on the brink of two successive promotions. Following their relegation, they'd probably have a solid financial base and they could begin on their success and become a powerful Championship team.

Old Pompey crest was better. Same with Wigan. Both canny especially that Hajduk one.

Cue the LOLcats. I'll start.

From ESPNsoccernet - http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story...os1&cc=5901 Very harsh - bordering on ignorance - to list Enrique there. I think Nugent should be up there with Smith, and Malouda should certainly feature.

Lazy journalism, this bit. I really doubt the Mackems are in for this lad, the press can just link them with any Irish, Championship, or Irish Championship player and it seems plausible though.

Give him a break, if it was NUFC gone down he'd hardly be giving us a hard time like this. Would've preferred to see Fulham go down, seems like they've been on life support in the Premier League for years now, but they deserve their escape. Birmingham I have no sympathy for, getting rid of Bruce was a fool move and they should know it by now.