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[Kaiser Arian XVII]

When is European National matches start? Or have I missed them too?!

I suppose some old-players are going to retire after these matches. Inter Milan needs some good young players and should sell or force retire its old players.

Modifié par Imperial Sentinel Arian, 28 mai 2012 - 07:01 .

[Druss99]

Imperial Sentinel Arian wrote...

When is European National matches start? Or have I missed them too?!

I suppose some old-players are going to retire after these matches. Inter Milan needs some good young players and should sell or force retire its old players.

Next Friday, the 8th of June. The fixtures are down the right hand side of this... http://www1.skysport...itions/euro2012

[Druss99]

And football's most embarrassing transfer saga is over. Hazard has tweeted that he is signing for "The Champions League Winners". He still can't just bloody say the name of the team. Also showed that he's a liar and it was all about money. Why are Pascal Chimbonda and Wayne Bridge the only footballer's I've seen admit it?

[OBakaSama]

I didn't realise Soccer Aid was on. I think I saw it once before when it first started, but that was the end of that. Doesn't seem to appeal to me much, but then not much does now-a-days.

So much for the idea of Hazard staying at Lille then having now signed for Chelsea. So....off to Manchester, was he? Seems to be a financial move rather than anything else (understandably), though I wonder how many will suggest that it was a sounds footballing decision. As for Chimbonda and Bridge....I guess it's because they possess the virtue of honesty...?

I can sort of see where Blatter is coming from on the alternative to a penalty shoot out. I think he said something like football is a team game, yet the way a match gets decided with penalties seems to be contrary to that spirit. Thing is though, what else can be done? And more importantly, how? I mean, they tried the idea of the golden goal in extra time and that got scrapped. I think I saw someone comment moving penalties to the end of the 90 minutes, and then going into extra time. Something about that sounds fun.

Maybe....he needs something different to do if he isn't off to play golf....

At least Jagielka is in the squad now. Plus he can also fill in in goal. Bonus.

I guess any team would sort of miss out on that euphoria, but when it comes around you make the most of it. I'm happy we've got a second season in the Premier League considering I would have had us pegged as struggling against relegation. What I'm looking forward to is seeing whether we get some good signings to bolster the squad. And seeing where this Holt situation goes. And whether Lambert will be a managerial target for another club.

[Druss99]

You didn't miss much, it was kind of awful. Me and my mate were mostly just laughing at it and hoping for someone to get broken in two. It left us with the question of why can't celebrities kick a ball? The training and penalty shoot out video they showed was horrendous, alot of them claimed to have played at amature level, but bloody hell. I've not played in almost exactly two years, I was kicking a ball the other night and it was like I hadn't been away, these celebrities looked like they had never seen a ball before, you can't just loose it like that. It looked like they genuinely might fall over while taking penalties. It was mind boggling. Dalglish's team talk may have revealed where Liverpool fell down, I think a couple of ex-pro's topped themselves while listening to it.

I've no idea why Hazard came out with all that about signing for the team that will play him behind the striker(s) and will give him the most football when he knew all along he was going where the money was, which was Chelsea. He signed for the most dour defensive team, with no manager to promise him the position he craves and any manager they do hire probably fired in 6 months and Mata already in that position. Who did he think he was fooling? I foresee a massive headache for any manager getting that job.

Has there been anymore word on the Holt situation? I've barely seen it mentioned since. I saw Lambert getting annoyed when asked about managerial jobs at a press conference. Promotion strikes me as an odd phenomenon, even with the three promoted teams it seems the one going up via the play-off's gets the most out of it with basically a cup final and all, for the fans atleast. Doesn't seem to be much movement for most teams yet. Maybe the new Alan Partridge film will put Norwich on the map and make it more enticing for world class players just like London and Madrid.

Seems United are close to signing Kagawa, I have to say I'm excited by this prospect. From the little I've seen of him he could be exactly what we need playing off the striker. Looks almost like a young Scholes playing in that role. Be interesting to see if Sir Alex drops him deeper into midfield like he did with Anderson though.

[Druss99]

All the drama surrounding Eden Hazard seems to have been created entirely by Eden Hazard. He has spent most of the last year saying who he might play for including but not limited to...United, City, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal, Spurs, AC Milan, Inter Milan and I think Bayern Munich and Liverpool. Basically anywhere he thought he was going to get massive wages. Then he starts a whole song and dance about he will be playing in Manchester but won't say who for, then it's he has agreed terms with United, City and Chelsea all while talking cryptically. It's widely reported that United and City refused to pay him the £200k a week wages and £6m in agent fee's he wanted but Chelsea are willing to pay these. Then he comes out with utter nonsense about wanting to play behind the strikers, wants to now the clubs future recruitment plans and garanteed playing time. Which are ridiculous demands for a 21 year old who's only played in France. So obviously he winds up at the club that can't answer any of these questions for him because they have no manager but they were offering the most money, thus revealing thats what he was after all along. He also anounced his own transfer via twitter, after anouncing that he would anounce it instead of letting the club do it like a total diva. The whole drama is basically because he's a bit of a media wh*re. I suspect it will start again in a year or two when he "dreams of playing for Real or Barca".

Yeah there's skill but what if one team has a guy with an injured ankle? It really is a lottery. Golden goal just ended up with both teams afraid to concede rather than looking to score. I haven't actually seen any other suggestions. An egg and spoon race between the two captains?

Under 23's, something to do with the Olympics?

[OBakaSama]

Dalglish was managing one of the teams? Hm....might have provided some insight into how he managed Liverpool as you suggest, Druss. That all sounds rather....dour....

I get the feeling with Hazard that....well....he might even out-Twitter Barton (oh dear) at this rate. His demands seem strange to say the least: maybe he thinks he's being made Director of Football as well.... Seems to have quite an ego...ahh....on second thoughts, he might just fit in with some of the Chelsea players yet.

I haven't seen any news update on the Holt situation. The last thing I saw was that Lambert will speak to him (I think). Holt made it sound cryptic like Torres' broken promises thing; no details either. Will just have to wait it out. Will wonder if the Alan Partridge film will actually be filmed in Norwich. I think the Mike Bassett film was filmed somewhere else because Norwich didn't look like Norwich.....

I guess it would depend on the formation Ferguson will have the team playing. Hopefully in a formation that makes the most of his players, Kagawa included.

On the penalty alternative: how about instead of penalties we go for a set piece? You know, like in the Pro Evo games. If the defending team manages to clear the ball to the half way line (or it goes out) or defend for two minutes without conceding then the play stops. Teams swap over. Personally think any alternative would probably be rubbish.

[Druss99]

It was like someone giving a eulogy for someone they don't like after just being told their dog has died.

You know it's only a matter of time before he is courting a move to Spain and bigger wages if he does well. Chelsea clearly don't care about FFP either, giving a 21 year old those massive wages, what happens when it's time to renew his contract and he wants even more?

It can't have been any sort of promise about buying players or performance in the league, it must have been cash related or something. It's a strange one. I read Torres complain about Chelsea not treating him how they promised when he signed, more broken promises and bad signs for Hazard? I don't know why but I suspect Partridge will be filmed in Norwich to add to the authentic comedy.

I see Rooney going right up top in Europe and in bigger games with a 5 man midfield behind him, Kagawa operating just infront of the midfield or used when resting/dropping Rooney. We really need someone for that behind the strikers role because Rooney's short passing just isn't good enough.

The problem is that if there was an alternative they would have found it in the last 100 years or so. Probably...it is FIFA.

[OBakaSama]

That sounds....fun.....

Spain certainly seems to be the destination that players want to go to in recent times. I guess it's the lifestyle available over there and the weather that makes it attractive to quite few players. Oh...and the tax rate in England probably doesn't help too much either. That said, it does seem ridiculous that someone that young can earn so much as...well...pay increases just then seem even more ludicrous. I think I remember hearing something about when Giggs broke into the first team and demanding that he get paid enough to get a car or something, to which Ferguson dismissed the idea and suggested he get a bike instead given his age. As much as TV has elevated football, there is a sense that it has really skewered a lot of things in the game as well as the people involved in it.

Norwich are keeping the situation under wraps (understandably) and Holt hasn't added much after that initial report. As for Torres...well...he got an endorsement from Drogba, and without him there and assuming he plays up front then he may (finally) flourish. The thing about these promises is...well...if nothing is written in the contract then they have no legal standing. If they were then the player can surely claim a breach of contract and sue the club. Though I would like to point out that there should really be a distinction between a broken promise and an unfulfilled promise (just being picky).

Sounds about right I think. Though with Owen gone, Berbatov agitating for a move to get playing time, who else is there at the moment? Hernandez and Welbeck come to mind, though that's really only three. Will Man Utd try to add to the current strike force? Or is that enough due to the flexibility of the formation Ferguson intends to use?

Hm....very likely. Mind you, weren't some cup finals contested over two legs back in the day? That seems to be a change in itself. Though I assume games could still go to extra time and the penalties. Heck...stick with penalties and rather than have five players take a penalty have all remaining players on the field take one. Yep, disregarding players who have been sent off in which case it's tough on that team.

Just read that Liverpool are set to confirm Brendan Rodgers as manager. Good luck to him. Hope he's given a chance by their fans. Also....not too keen on Aston Villa making an official approach for Lambert. Tense times ahead for Norwich supporters.

[Druss99]

A part of me died after watching it....

Indeed, the tax doesn't help at all. Most of the European players seem to grow up supporting Barca or Real, they are the pinnacle for them, no matter how much its protested that the PL is the worlds best league and United the biggest club. Ha, I hadn't heard that one about Giggs and the bike.

No one can prove the promise even exists, especially when they won't reveal what they were. If its non-contractual then they can't really complain. Ah a subtle but important difference, what would Venky's claims come under? I think its just the en vogue excuse going around these days.

I think we will have Rooney, Hernandez and Welbeck as the out and out strikers and Giggs, Kagawa, Park and Young can all play behind the striker. There's also Macheda and Will Keane if Macheda isn't sold and Keane not loaned out. Valencia has been known to play striker too for Ecuador. We are also supposed to be getting that lad Powell from Crewe, you should youtube some of his goals bloody hell. Not sure if he is a striker or midfielder. I think we are covered upfront and can't see anyone coming in, especially if it might cut into Welbecks game time, he was a massive plus last season. We will prob go back to the 4-5-1 we used to win the CL, we tried it last season but Giggs was way off form and Park hadn't played in months, it failed miserably. Kagawa could be key to that. Oddly this is the most excited I've been about a signing since Berbatov, even though I've not seen a massive amount of him. Hopefully theres enough left for a midfielder and fullback. If we bring in another striker then I suspect alot of 4-4-2 but if Kagawa is the only attacking signing then I suspect its 4-5-1/4-3-3, though neither are ideal for our best winger, Valencia. Then again Kagawa could play behind one of Rooney, Welbeck or Hernandez in a 4-4-2. Hernandez would thrive on that in particular. Many options and I've clearly got way too much time to think about this.


I like that idea, don't see why its limited to 5 takers anyway. Not sure about two legs, can't quite recall that but they went to replays aswell I think not too long ago.

I don't see that appointment ending well, it will take time for him to change Liverpool to his way of playing, time that he won't be given before they are demanding Benitez back, which I believe they are already doing. One of them actually tweeted Obama asking him if he would get behind the Bring back Rafa campaign. If I put myself in Lamberts shoes I wouldn't join Villa, it can only go one way, they don't seem to have any money and a lacklustre squad. If I was going to struggle with either team it would be Norwich where everything he's done will buy him more time to fix things, if he does well there then bigger clubs that Villa will want him and if that happens Norwich might be easier to leave than Villa with all he's done. To me it would be too big of a risk joining Villa even if he feels he's done all he can at Norwich.

Modifié par Druss99, 31 mai 2012 - 03:23 .

[Druss99]

SSN are now reporting that Norwich have rejected Lamberts offer of resignation. Bloody hell, for Villa? I don't get that at all. It's a sideways step more than an upwards one, infact its probably a backwards step.

[OBakaSama]

May that part of you rest in peace....

I think we're very much a self proclaimed best league in the world sort of deal. I think historically the English top league may lay some claim, but actual ability and stuff....well...we see how that usually goes when we try to match skills with some continental clubs. (Oddly that seems to be a similar case for most English sports that originated here.)

I had spent time arguing a similar distinction in an essay, though marker never really understood what the difference was (worrying as these are academics....). With Venky's I'd imagine that they have broken promises (the rate of success) though possibly not the goal (Champions League football (it could still happen....)).

If a team play one up front, and that's their formation, then it seems three strikers would cover it. A switch to the old 4-4-2 would need another striker I think. I did have Macheda in mind, but nor entirely sure of his place in the team. Have heard about this Crewe youngster, and he certainly sounds like a really good prospect.

I sort of like that idea. So the team who has had someone sent off can blame the player who was red carded for letting the team down as they would have one less penalty to take putting them at a distinct disadvantage. Again, tough. And....maybe it was replays I was thinking of. Something of that nature anyway. We certainly don't get a final replayed now.

Rodgers to Liverpool is certainly an interesting appointment. And it will take time as any managerial change should. Let's just see how the fans take it. I may have missed a few mailboxes but the impression seems to be that there is less resistance to Rodgers taking over than Martinez.

As for Lambert...well....I think it was always going to be a struggle to keep. And Aston Villa at the moment doesn't really seem like an attractive prospect. Personally not sure what the attraction would be, but then again I'm biased. But then he did go to a relegation threatened Norwich from a doing very well Colchester side.

With the managerial changes at this time of the year it got me thinking. Will Curbishley get a new managerial position? Seems to have been out of the loop for quite a while.

[Druss99]

Aye, its a common thing with foreign comedians pointing out all the sports England invented for the rest of the world to beat them at. I think Real and Barca are just more talked about on the continent so players dream of playing for them.

I'd put the goal down as a broken promise too, there's no way they could ever have thought it was going to happen without investment. Unfulfilled if they had tried and failed, but they didn't even try.

Apparently Chelsea are after the Powell now too, reminds me of their initial ascent, sweeping in and offering more money to all our targets.

What if it was an unjust sending off though? Adds more drama but it could put refs under even more pressure.

There's still resistance from Scousers. If they lose a few games they will turn on him in an instant. The promoted managers seem to be flavour of the month as far as hiring is going.

I agree, I don't see the attraction at all. Villa look like a team going down soon to me. Talk of Steve Bruce and Maklie Mackay as favourites to replace Lambert.

I dunno about Curbishley it seems if someone was going to hire him it would have happened by now. When managers are out for a while they seem to get forgotten about. Keane's looking to get back into management too.

Apparently Chelsea have agreed a £38m deal to sign Hulk. How can they keep signing players with no manager? Does FFP mean nothing? I remain confused by that club.

Modifié par Druss99, 01 juin 2012 - 02:56 .

[OBakaSama]

Can't blame 'em for it. It is a rather comical situation after all. Especially after the 'we gave the world football so we should be hosting the World Cup!' attitude which came out after that farce.

Wonder if Venky's will sell the club. Did you read that article shortly after the season's end and they had a statement that they needed time to understand their situation and that they were confused? Seems to sum them up really.

More money, huh? It seems like FFP doesn't actually exist for some of these clubs. And that's fine if they just want to dominate domestically, but for UEFA competitions though....well....still seems odd to me.

Ah....that would just give us more talking points in pubs and here. Mind you, with some sending offs we do see the referee trying to make amends somehow.

Can see why as well given that all three promoted teams stayed in the league. Swansea did play some good stuff during the season. Liverpool and Aston Villa are clubs which are struggling on the field, so perhaps the respective boards like the footballing philosophies of the managers who gained promotion (which rules out Hughes obviously). Liverpool should be financially better, though goodness knows how long they've managed to keep buying players who didn't seem up to measure up to expectations went on for. Aston Villa aren't doing that well supposedly which makes the attraction hard to see. Bruce to replace Lambert? Hm....I'm rather hesitant about that myself. After that initial stint with Birmingham it seems that his subsequent jobs have seemed below par to me. His time at Wigan went OK I think, but not memorable to my mind. Mackay would be an interesting choice. Still remember when he captained the team to promotion the last time and...didn't even get to play in the Premier League. Something always struck me as odd about that.

Which other managers seem to be out of mind of late? Usually it's just a merry-go-round of job changes.

Hm...Holt is still unhappy. A move to Aston Villa beckons?

[Druss99]

Aren't England good at cricket again? They started piping up about it on SSN atleast for a while there.

I recall an interview with a startled looking man saying something along those lines and that they would decide what to do with Bob in June after they had time to digest it all. Maybe they got Champions League and Championship mixed up?

You would think, given that they operate at massive loses already, that Chelsea would be trying to avoid these massive cash splurges. I think Hulk will be a good signing but £38m? It's no wonder Sir Alex keeps complaining about a lack of value. This is the kind of thing FFP is supposed to put a stop to, so you would really expect them to make an example of Chelsea when the time comes.

It would but would they want a ref's decision having that much power? Effectively giving a team an extra penalty or two in a shootout to win it. I like the idea but unfortunately I can't see them having the spine to implement it.

Apparently Villa are only giving Lambert £10m-£15m to spend. Bruce does bring a good scouting network but has a Curbishley like habit of his teams dropping off in the second half of the season in recent years. Neil Lennon has been linked too but I don't think I'd take a chance on an SPL manager.

It is like a merry-go-round but once you get off for too long it can be hard getting back on. I had a few candidates in mind last night but most of them escape me now. Curbishley, Souness, Keane, Southgate, Benitez all seem to have gotten off and can't get back on.

I read somewhere Holt is having a tiff with the board of directors. Which to me suggests money is involved. Wouldn't be surprised to see him turn up at Villa. How long is left on his contract? Didn't he score like 15 goals last season? The board could ask for a fair chunk of change for him if he has a few years left.

Lampard is out of the Euro's. I dunno what the worst part about Hodgsons press conference was, the fact he seemed to be planning on playing Gerrard and Lampard, the fact that he thinks Henderson is a good option or the fact he never even spoke to Carrick and didn't seem to consider him, even suggesting that he still wouldn't get in the team.

[OBakaSama]

I think cricket is perhaps our most consistently best team sport on the world stage as it were. Not sure about the athletics. Mind you, the press will always find some modicum of success and magnify it.

Well...it's all champion then, innit? Or maybe, just maybe, they put in Benitez's dastardly plan of delivering a league trophy when he was in charge of Liverpool.....

Chelsea and Man City when it comes down to it; in the Premier League at least. Again...FFP wouldn't really apply to clubs willing to forfeit European competition. I suspect that should UEFA enforce the regulations and actually kick clubs out of the competitions then the clubs would try the courts to get reinstated or something along those lines.

Well...the idea is fun I think (my idea after all *cough*). And actually using it? Nah. Not a chance. But imagine if FIFA decided to trial these alternatives in a couple of matches though. Should be a laugh. Or maybe....customise a recent copy of Football Manager and have the managers play against each other with the players at their disposal; laptop to laptop.

That's not a lot, though I suspect it might still be more than what he would have got this summer from Norwich. Perhaps he thinks he can do more with that budget. Also reminds me of a game of Football Manager back in the day. Jumped ship to another club who apparently said I'd get this amount for transfers, but when I got there....had zilch. A Curbishley tailing off at the end of the season isn't too bad considering how his teams tend to be decently midtable and not in danger of relegation (though don't recall how his stint at West Ham went as I'm thinking more of his Charlton days). And not like how Hull stayed up that season where they had a cracking start and that was it. Not sure about Lennon either to be honest. Premier League is different to the SPL. It could be a rude awakening for him if he does go the a Premier League club.

Isn't Southgate now part of the FA's England initiative or something? I recall him having something to keep him busy from management. Benitez is an odd one in a sense, especially when the media had cited how well regarded he is on the continent; which makes it odd that clubs aren't turning to him. Perhaps his time at Liverpool and Inter has somewhat tarnished his reputation? Is Souness even interested in managing any more? Not entirely sure about Keane's ability at the moment. Did well at Sunderland at first, and then things didn't work out. His stint at Ipswich wasn't exactly memorable (not for good reasons anyway).

Yeah, it seems that is where the disagreements are coming from. It's been admitted by his agent that money does play a part in it, but not the entirety of the situation. Unlikely for an agent to come and state that it's all about the money. Only Drogba had something like that in the January window or thereabouts I think. Not sure how long Holt has on his contract. I read that there were discussions to extend with his contract that didn't go well, so that might be part of the reason there as well. Also implies his contract may be due as well.

With Lampard out injured it takes away the whole Lampard-Gerrard issue. To be honest, I think I would choose Lampard over Gerrard myself. Not sure why. For some reason I have it my head that Gerrard's style of play can be disruptive to the team's formation; at times his presence in the Liverpool team seems to do more damage to their playing style more. Maybe selectively choosing bad games or something. Though it would look bad on Hodgson if he played them together and the team did poorly. After all, how many managers have tried to accommodate them both and failed? Unless Hodgson had some sort of magic formula that was never going to end well. Again, Henderson seems like an odd choice. Given England's midfield option I would have thought Carrick would get a decent shout for a place in the first team.

Oh, see the news that Terry has been banned for three games in Europe? Sort of unexpected.

[Druss99]

SSN humping cricket may actually have been because sky was either showing or sponsoring it in hindsight. Much like their decisions that cycling is now an actual sport and that NFL became important when they started showing it.

Getting relegated in order to win a lower league? Benitez clearly is an evil mastermind.

Thats something I've never done in FM, I usually stick with the team I started with unless I get fired. I wouldn't hire an SPL manager unless they did well with a team other than Rangers or Celtic what does winning the league with Celtic prove? I read that Rodgers can't sign any Swansea players for a year, perhaps its the same sort of deal with Lambert?

Not sure what Southgate is at. Benitez is an odd one in every sense, I suspect he regards himself a bit above his stature. Souness I'm not sure about, he occassionally gets linked with jobs but never seems to get one, he doesn't like dealing with modern players he has said. Keane is... I dunno. He sold Jordan Rhodes very cheaply from Ipswich and made some other odd decisions but still managed to do ok at Sunderland mostly. I'd a vague list of people who I now can't recall, those are the best I could do lol.

Hhmmm so he's either asking too much or believes he's owed money that the board disagree with by the sounds of it. You have to admire them atleast admitting its about money. Did Drogba come out and say it? I'd a feeling someone did but wasn't sure who.

I'd agree but to be honest I'd drop both of them. Gerrard is a glory hunter who won't stay in position and can't keep posession to my eyes, Lampard needs two other midfielders to do the work for him and he either passes sideways, runs forwards or shoots on sight. I don't think either are world class midfielders. With a fully fit team I'd probably go with a midfield of Parker, Carrick and Wilshere.

Heard that, it seems to be being swept under the carpet. Surprised he didn't get more, he basically assaulted someone from behind for no reason.

Heard that United fined Tevez before he left the club for destroying the house they rented for him. £20k a month or a week the house was and he was cooking bbq's indoors, he left it in such a state that the place had to be fumigated.

[OBakaSama]

Can sort of understand that stance. 'This sport exists because we show it.'

And he would have gotten away with it if it hadn't been for those pesky players....

I chose to jump just to see what would happen. May go back to it one day; still haven't. And yeah, I would agree with that thought about a non-Old Firm team manager. Ferguson was manager of Aberdeen, was he? before moving to Man Utd if memory serves. When competition is so limited being a manager of the top teams doesn't really mean much. Going the other way, when Mowbray went north of the border it sort of suggested the level of competition to be expected in a sense.

I think those are the most high profile managers who haven't got a managerial job. Hm...who was manager of Leeds when things went to pot? Don't think he's managed since.

Holt's agent is starting to reveal the sort of things that have been going on. Age seems to be a factor. It's been suggested that Holt wanted a new three year deal and the board is said to have stated that he is too old. Sounds very Arsenal in a way, but there's the connection to money. How many times did Bergkamp wait for a new contract once he was over 30? Every year because of the way Arsenal did business my hazy memory suggests. As for Drogba, I think his agent or himself said earlier this year that he will go where the money is best as he needs as much as he can get at his age. Something to that effect anyway.

That too. A fully fit team would be nice seeing the number of players getting injured. And Ferdinand still gets overlooked. I understood the either-or situation that was put forth before the selection to some extent, but that situation is no longer an issue; so why overlook Ferdinand now? Doesn't seem to be a pure football decision now....

Hm...seeing it was dealt with at the time...I suppose it depends on UEFA's own rules and regulations. I think if a similar incident happened in the league the FA would not have even added any additional ban.

I think I heard that at the time as well. Strange person.

And so Norwich's search for a new manager begins.

[bFootball]

Is anyone here playing fantasy Euro 2012? I just realised how close it is and have set up my team.

[Druss99]

I haven't done any fantasy Euro 2012 teams yet. Where are you doing yours bFootball? I'm not even sure who is first choice for most teams anymore.

Indeed, I think it was Aberdeen. Goes back to my problems with Mourinho's claims to greatness too...

David O'Leary, he tried to make out he was basically one of the lads, trying to paint himself like he was still 25 and a buddy to all the players. He looked like an idiot before it all went wrong so its a bit unsurprising that he has struggled for work since.

I suppose thats a fair enough stance from the board, players in their 30's can take sudden dips in form and you could be left paying a player for 3 years based on form he can no longer achieve and with no sell on value. Most top clubs work that way, not just Arsenal. United have been doing it with Giggs for a few years. Incidently Scholes has signed for another year, hopefully he keeps up the form he showed this season and we don't overburden him. I'd hate for him to retire after the terrible form he showed towards the end of the season before last. Isn't Holt 32? A three year deal is a big much there.

I'm not overly surprised that Ferdinand is overlooked again, its the fact that Kelly was backup at all. He's even more mystifying that Phil Jones being in there. Is Smalling in? Surely thats enough rightbacks. Whats wrong with Micah Richards? Hodgson isn't doing himself alot of favours, not saying he's done badly but he is giving up easy ammo for the press/The Iron Gerbil to use against him. No doubt The Iron Gerbil will make mention of these decisions in either his column or when he's on BBC.

Since it was Terry the FA probably would have given him a medal. But its violent conduct and a straight red so there was always a good chance of a further ban. I was about to give an example but then realised that was in Football Manager, the lines are blurring.

Whats the feeling amongst the masses of Norwich about the manager hunt?

Does this thread cause anyone else's browser to crash regularly? I don't it anywhere else but here.

[bFootball]

 I'm using the official Fantasy game, here. It's very similar to the official Fantasy Premier League game. You can also log with your Google/Facebook or Yahoo account, which makes it simpler.

[OBakaSama]

In modern times I don't think many managers work their way up as it were. Probably partly due to the change in the financial status of football, and the big clubs requiring success to sustain their own status can't seem to afford a gamble on a 'untested' manager (which makes Rodgers appointment at Liverpool an interesting one). Mainly it seems to be managers moving from one big club to another, with fewer smaller club managers making the move up. When Ince went to Blackburn it proved to be too big a step up for him. Lambert worked up the leagues with Norwich from League 1. I think Paul Jewell is supposed to have taken Wigan up the leagues as well, but he hasn't taken that additional step whether due to ability or opportunity.

That's the one. Can't recall if he ever went anywhere else. Though his lack of self control with respect to budget requirements can't have helped either (though Ridsdale had a lot to answer for as well).

Holt is 31. Though from the board's point of view still the wrong side of 30. When big clubs take that sort of stance with older players it's reasonable to see a lower club with even less financial clout needing to be more pragmatic rather than sentimental. Unfortunate though. Read that West Ham are going to make a bid for him.

I suppose what baffles me with the call ups to replace injured players is that Hodgson isn't replacing like with like. Jagielka, who plays mainly as a defender, replaces Barry, a midfielder; though Jagielka can play midfield. Then a central defender in Cahill is replaced by Kelly who mainly plays as a right back (though apparently can also play in the middle as well). It's not really a like for like replacement Hodgson seems to be choosing, so it seems a bit strange. He has given his critics ammunition to use against him, and I imagine there will be a lot of sniping from all quarters as a result. England's performances will always be scrutinised but will be even more critical now since he 'wasn't the people's choice' and seems to have made some peculiar choices in replacements. Though I suppose the squad's average age is probably lowered as a result, and hopefully that will provide invaluable experience to the younger players for the future.

May as well give the Football Manager example if'n you ask me....

Hm....unsure. Generally unsure who would be the best person to fill the position. I see that Lee Clark has been mentioned by some I know. I read that the board are putting forth the idea of the search for a manager will be Europe-wide and has top league experience. Wonder who the board have in mind....

Not mine, though my browser has been a bit erratic this year crashing for no apparent reason, and needs goodness knows how many restarts before it becomes stable again. Almost tempted to get another browser as a result.

[Kimosabe]

So.. In a few days the madness will strike Europe once more and we will find out which team is the best and luckiest. But since it is always more interesting with some competition, shall we hold a pool?

[Kaiser Arian XVII]

I heard the news and saw the goals of Netherlands vs Ireland (6-0) ... that was very amusing.
Also I watched Mexicans were beating Brazilians hardly!
I've been busy this year and haven't seen more than 10 matches of football

So which team has kept the good shape and strength since 2010? I think Germany, Portugal and Italy will show good soccer in the coming European competitions.