2011-2012 European Football Thread.

[Basketeer]

Fair enough. Sorry I took some of my frustration out on you.

Nah, don't worry about it. The civility and intelligence in this forum is refreshing, especially compared to some other message boards I frequent. People over here know their stuff when it comes to soccer.

I'm with ya, I tire of hearing about John Terry and Luis Suarez's exploits. Both are exceptional footballers, which I think is something that gets lost in the shuffle. Every sport needs villains, I suppose, which is what they've become over the course of their careers.

[gallden]

To be fair, it doesn't help his cause when he:

a) handballs on the goal-line in the World Cup to deny an obvious goal (for which he was adequately punished)

b) consistently flops around the field with Liverpool

c) flips-off the crowd after losing to Fulham

He's not exactly endearing anyone to himself. However, like you said, those aren't indicative of him using a racial slur, nor should he be punished for the latter on account of those reasons. I just happen to think he's probably guilty.

This is just the thing though, there are a fair few British players that do all you've mentioned above, and you don't see the FA, media witch hunt to the degree you're seeing it with Suarez. Ashley Cole flips the V's all the time he also shot a groundskeeper with a rifle. Gerrard flips the V's, and we all know about the Savior of England Rooney. I can guarantee you any player would have done what Suarez did in the WC, if Gyan (i think that's who it was) makes the penno this is a non starter. What they're going to end up doing is driving the best foreign players in the world out of the league, it's happened to a certain extent with Ronaldo II and a little bit with Cesc.

[Basketeer]

This is just the thing though, there are a fair few British players that do all you've mentioned above, and you don't see the FA, media witch hunt to the degree you're seeing it with Suarez. Ashley Cole flips the V's all the time he also shot a groundskeeper with a rifle. Gerrard flips the V's, and we all know about the Savior of England Rooney. I can guarantee you any player would have done what Suarez did in the WC, if Gyan (i think that's who it was) makes the penno this is a non starter. What they're going to end up doing is driving the best foreign players in the world out of the league, it's happened to a certain extent with Ronaldo II and a little bit with Cesc.

Yeah it was Gyan. I was pulling pretty hard for Ghana after they knocked out the U.S....curse you Uruguay!

I dunno, Terry's been getting slammed pretty hard for his alleged racism. And English players are traditionally under the sharpest scrutiny of all. Heck all it takes for Terry to lose his captainship is for him to bang his teammate's wife.

Ronaldo II left for $, Cesc left because he was homesick (and for $).

[Remember The Alomar]

Yeah it was Gyan. I was pulling pretty hard for Ghana after they knocked out the U.S....curse you Uruguay!

I dunno, Terry's been getting slammed pretty hard for his alleged racism. And English players are traditionally under the sharpest scrutiny of all. Heck all it takes for Terry to lose his captainship is for him to bang his teammate's wife.

Ronaldo II left for $, Cesc left because he was homesick (and for $).

I think you're correct here, but Gallden is correct in pointing out that there is a nasty little xenophobic streak within the British press. British players are scrutinized and criticized as well, but only after they've been built up. They love tearing down their heroes.

Overall, football journalism is godawful.

[Basketeer]

I think you're correct here, but Gallden is correct in pointing out that there is a nasty little xenophobic streak within the British press. British players are scrutinized and criticized as well, but only after they've been built up. They love tearing down their heroes.

Overall, football journalism is godawful.

I'd hate to be an English footballer. Not even NFL players scrutinized as hard.

And this is why the only football journalists I follow religiously are Grant Wahl, SIR Ian Darke, and the Men in Blazers.

[Remember The Alomar]

I'd hate to be an English footballer. Not even NFL players scrutinized as hard.

And this is why the only football journalists I follow religiously are Grant Wahl, SIR Ian Darke, and the Men in Blazers.

Love Darke and Wahl (I believe he lives in Baltimore as well). Never heard of Men in Blazers.

In general, I think the Guardian's coverage is pretty good. There are some pretty good Liverpool journalists as well.

Speaking of Liverpool, I'm convinced that if they had someone who could finish playing along side Suarez they'd be in the top 3. I would have smashed a wall if they lost today. 25 shots, eight on target, one goal. Lord.

Edit: 62%-38% possession advantage as well. They NEED to buy a finisher this window. Carrol has proven his worth. The John Lackey of Liverpool.

[gallden]

Charlie Adam was excellent today so was Maxi. Skrtel Agger partnership look boss together. And we need a Van Nistelroy type of goal poacher. But you'd think for 35 million quids you could have bought one.

[Scrat1]

Was hoping Real Madrid would topple Barcelona today and they probably would have if Ronaldo had executed in front of goal. He had more than a couple of head scratchers. Real started out routinely stripping Barcelona of possession, but by the last thirty minutes Barcelona had their confidence back and that was that.

[atom_25]

I'd hate to be an English footballer. Not even NFL players scrutinized as hard.

And this is why the only football journalists I follow religiously are Grant Wahl, SIR Ian Darke, and the Men in Blazers.

The Men in Blazers podcast is great. I started listening to it earlier in the season and have not missed a subsequent episode.

[atom_25]

The mighty have been falling the past few weeks: the Manchesters out of CL, Real Madrid (granted to Barca), and now City. Glad City lost as they now won't wrap up the title before the New Year, good for the league imo.

[gallden]

Good win for the chavski, was really pulling for City to win for obvious reasons. I like AVB a lot.

[Basketeer]

The Men in Blazers podcast is great. I started listening to it earlier in the season and have not missed a subsequent episode.

I'm devising a scheme to get a blazer patch, probably in the form of an eloquent letter. I yearn to be considered a GFOP with the likes of Sir Ian Darke, Steve Cherundolo, and the Ambassador of Montenegro.

[Basketeer]

Good win for the chavski, was really pulling for City to win for obvious reasons. I like AVB a lot.

It's hard not to. I dislike Chelsea (but less so since the rise of City), but AVB is brilliant. If he can appease Abramovich (no easy feat), he's got excellent staying power.

I wouldn't be surprised if he excelled at Chelsea and then jumped ship (Fergie's replacement...?)

[Remember The Alomar]

I wouldn't be surprised if he excelled at Chelsea and then jumped ship (Fergie's replacement...?)

I think a certain other Portuguese will end up being the heir to Ferguson.

Don't know if you mentioned it Basketeer, but who do you support? I must have missed it.

[gallden]

I loathe TSO, he is a horrible man, I would want him no where near Liverpool.