2011-2012 European Football Thread.

[gallden]

Thanks guys if I can figure out how to load some pictures I'll have plenty. Shame that it doesn't look like Steven Gerrard is playing.

[atom_25]

The Men in Blazers commentary on USA- Italy was hilarious.

Almost forgot the most important thing, those new kits are horrendous.

[Basketeer]

The Men in Blazers commentary on USA- Italy was hilarious.

Almost forgot the most important thing, those new kits are horrendous.

They're so good. "Offside had a great game."

I've come to the conclusion that Nike should not be allowed to make uniforms. For any sport. Ever. They vie with Under Armour for the absolute worst taste. College football uniforms are a complete joke now thanks to those two. NFL teams will look like ****e when Nike takes over.

These new away kits are terrible. "Sleeveless" but still including the sash and weird grey colored numbering. I don't know what the hell is going on with that collar. And the U.S. patch is still reminiscent of something I would've worn at the U-12 level.

I don't know what is so difficult and painful about going with simple, elegant uniforms. England has great kits (Umbro) because they don't try to do too much. Shirt, collar, and patch.

[Basketeer]

Robin van Persie pulls out another win in his game against Liverpool...

Szczesny was brilliant on that PK. Kuyt should have railed home the rebound though.

What the hell is going on at Chelsea? AVB is likely to be shown the door in the very near future. Abramovich will be through the roof if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

It's incredibly unfair to AVB, in my opinion. He's a quality manager that needs to be given complete control of his roster. In the offseason (assuming he's still around, which seems highly unlikely), he ought to dump dead weight from bygone eras (Drogba, Lampard, Malouda, Ivanovic...maybe even Terry and Cole) and begin re-constructing the roster how he sees fit. Build around guys like Mata, Sturridge, Ramires and...Torres. The latter probably wouldn't hurt from going on loan either.

And David Luiz is the worst central defender in the Premier League.

[Skeletor]

AVB needs to learn to keep his foot out of his mouth.

[Skeletor]

Looks like Rafa is going to take over Chelsea.

[Basketeer]

Looks like Rafa is going to take over Chelsea.

I wonder if Abramovich will let Di Matteo finish the season and then try to sign Pep away from Barcelona.

[Scrat1]

Wolves didn't do themselves any favors today, but that's the best game I've probably ever seen Fulham play. Absolutely sublime. Can't wait to see this crop of players go up against some of the bigger clubs.

[Skeletor]

Apparently Rafa turned down an 18 month deal from Chelsea and the word is either Pep or Mourinho will be the new manager come summer time. But you can't trust the English press, as I've come to learn.

[atom_25]

Shola "the Mackem Slayer" Ameobi is a legend and I thank you again for your service and not having to wake up this morning having lost the Tyne- Wear Derby. Not for the faint of heart that match.

[Basketeer]

Shola "the Mackem Slayer" Ameobi is a legend and I thank you again for your service and not having to wake up this morning having lost the Tyne- Wear Derby. Not for the faint of heart that match.

First half was boring as all hell. Mike Dean was throwing out cards left and right. But so good to see that whiny tart Cattermole get a red at the end. He just got smacked with a 4-game suspension for it as well.

Shola loves the derby.

[atom_25]

First half was boring as all hell. Mike Dean was throwing out cards left and right. But so good to see that whiny tart Cattermole get a red at the end. He just got smacked with a 4-game suspension for it as well.

Shola loves the derby.

The refereeing was awful. Its a derby and a charged atmosphere, but how can you play any footy when play is being stopped every other second by a clueless referee. And the Mackem's penalty was another awful decision. Really really awful refereeing imo.

[atom_25]

The refereeing was awful. Its a derby and a charged atmosphere, but how can you play any footy when play is being stopped every other second by a clueless referee. And the Mackem's penalty was another awful decision. Really really awful refereeing imo.

Rewatched the match last night and have to reiterate how bad Mike Dean is as a referee. He gave a penalty for shirt pulling, but did not give one for a blatant 2 handed shove in the box, a handball (where the hand was raised over their head and was hand to ball moreso than ball to hand), shirt pulling in the box, and a shoulder tackle in the box where there was no attempt to play the ball. I am not saying that any of these incidences are clear cut penalties, but if you are gonna call a game a certain way, you have to be consistent with your decisions which he clearly was not. Also Cattermole's first challenge was awful and if that happens any other time in the game or in any other game, that is a straight red. All this and I am not even touching on all the yellows he gave out (some warranted and others not) that really changed the way the game was played.

[Skeletor]

Some good fixtures in the Prem today. Everton hosts the Spurs at 12:30 our time with Everton on a good run as of late.

I'm going with a 2-1 Everton win.

[gallden]

Some exciting stuff at the Stadium of Light with Liverpool. Not serious.