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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: The beautiful game - the boys are back
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Imaginary Friend
Real to you
# 186
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Posted
The Football League kicks off this weekend, the Premiership and other European leagues soon after, and of course, the MLS is in full swing. So have at it, boys and girls.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
[Edited for thread title.]
[ 15. August 2016, 08:03: Message edited by: Imaginary Friend ]
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"We had a good team on paper. Unfortunately, the game was played on grass."
Brian Clough
Posts: 9455 | From: Left a bit... Right a bit... | Registered: May 2001
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Sir Kevin
Ship's Gaffer
# 3492
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Posted
My Tottenham side did well in North America, let's see how well we can do in North London. I hope I can get their first match in White Hart Lane on television here! It's just not the same reading about it after the fact or on 'Spurs TV' which seems to be only excerpts. Worse case scenario, I can try to remember the local postal address I was using before my membership lapsed. I really need to get some new kit soon, I may be filling in for a PE coach at school next week...
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If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Writing is currently my hobby, not yet my profession.
Posts: 30517 | From: White Hart Lane | Registered: Oct 2002
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Ad Orientem
Shipmate
# 17574
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Posted
Hah! Spuds first game against my fav West Ham. It was three wins out of three for us last season. I reckon we can do it again. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Posts: 2606 | From: Finland | Registered: Feb 2013
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Imaginary Friend
Real to you
# 186
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Posted
Sir Kevin, as I understand it, NBC have every Premier League match this year, so hopefully you'll be able to find it.
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"We had a good team on paper. Unfortunately, the game was played on grass."
Brian Clough
Posts: 9455 | From: Left a bit... Right a bit... | Registered: May 2001
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South Coast Kevin
Shipmate
# 16130
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Posted
Southampton Football Club, then. Looking at their transfer business so far this summer (see part-way down this article), I think we might be okay:
Shaw out, Bertrand in at left back
Lallana out, Tadic and Taider in at attacking midfield
Lambert out, Pelle in at centre forward
Lovren out - seriously need to replace him
Chambers out - not sure we need to buy a replacement
Forster in (it looks like) - upgrade at goalie, IMO
If the new signings do okay (a big 'if', of course) then I think Saints will be okay. Not 8th place again okay, but top 12 okay, I reckon. But do come back and laugh at me if we get relegated this season....
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My blog - wondering about Christianity in the 21st century, chess, music, politics and other bits and bobs.
Posts: 3309 | From: The south coast (of England) | Registered: Jan 2011
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Og: Thread Killer
Ship's token CN Mennonite
# 3200
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Posted
Every EPL game is streamed live for free in the US.
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I wish I was seeking justice loving mercy and walking humbly but... "Cease to lament for that thou canst not help, And study help for that which thou lament'st."
Posts: 5025 | From: Toronto | Registered: Aug 2002
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Sir Kevin
Ship's Gaffer
# 3492
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Imaginary Friend:
Sir Kevin, as I understand it, NBC have every Premier League match this year...
Well, we got screwed out of the friendly against the German side yesterday, which we won! Damned if I would have wasted my time screaming for Arsenal's defeat against City yesterday...
Must be sure to record this week's match against West Ham!
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If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Writing is currently my hobby, not yet my profession.
Posts: 30517 | From: White Hart Lane | Registered: Oct 2002
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Oscar the Grouch
Adopted Cascadian
# 1916
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by South Coast Kevin:
But do come back and laugh at me if we get relegated this season....
No, no laughter. It will be commiserations. There's nothing much worse than having a team of immense potential ripped apart before your eyes.
(Also, as a former inhabitant of Soton, I'll always have a soft spot for the Saints.)
On a different matter... At last, not a draw for the Whitecaps! Good win against a very strong Sporting Kansas City. Perhaps a place in the playoffs is still possible. With Aldershot winning their first game of the season, it's been a rare good weekend.
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Faradiu, dundeibáwa weyu lárigi weyu
Posts: 3871 | From: Gamma Quadrant, just to the left of Galifrey | Registered: Dec 2001
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Oscar the Grouch
Adopted Cascadian
# 1916
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Posted
I've got real soft spot for the Daggers. They've done it the hard way. No big shot owner pumping in tons of money (cough, Fleetwood... Crawley... cough). They've come up through non-league football and into the league by slow and steady development. A great club. I hope they manage to hang around for some seasons to come.
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Faradiu, dundeibáwa weyu lárigi weyu
Posts: 3871 | From: Gamma Quadrant, just to the left of Galifrey | Registered: Dec 2001
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Wet Kipper
Circus Runaway
# 1654
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Posted
will there be a Briskoda league at
fantasy.premierleague.com
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- insert randomly chosen, potentially Deep and Meaningful™ song lyrics here -
Posts: 9841 | From: further up the Hill | Registered: Nov 2001
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Imaginary Friend
Real to you
# 186
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Posted
There can be if you'd like to set one up.
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"We had a good team on paper. Unfortunately, the game was played on grass."
Brian Clough
Posts: 9455 | From: Left a bit... Right a bit... | Registered: May 2001
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Wet Kipper
Circus Runaway
# 1654
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Posted
Come join the League of Fools
private league, number 2172581-493552
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- insert randomly chosen, potentially Deep and Meaningful™ song lyrics here -
Posts: 9841 | From: further up the Hill | Registered: Nov 2001
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Stejjie
Shipmate
# 13941
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Posted
Thanks, Wet Kipper - never done a Fantasy League before, so thought I'd try my hand (I will no doubt be abysmal!!)
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A not particularly-alt-worshippy, fairly mainstream, mildly evangelical, vaguely post-modern-ish Baptist
Posts: 1117 | From: Urmston, Manchester, UK | Registered: Jul 2008
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Imaginary Friend
Real to you
# 186
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Posted
I shall have to apologise in advance: Two years ago I found myself cheering because Agüero had scored and he was my FF captain. At that very moment I checked myself and promised that I would never do FF again. It ain't right.
[ 15. August 2014, 11:22: Message edited by: Imaginary Friend ]
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"We had a good team on paper. Unfortunately, the game was played on grass."
Brian Clough
Posts: 9455 | From: Left a bit... Right a bit... | Registered: May 2001
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Imaginary Friend
Real to you
# 186
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Posted
Alrighty then, boys and girls. The Premier League is back. You ready?
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"We had a good team on paper. Unfortunately, the game was played on grass."
Brian Clough
Posts: 9455 | From: Left a bit... Right a bit... | Registered: May 2001
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Sioni Sais
Shipmate
# 5713
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Posted
I'm ready, not sure the Mancs were. They lost 2-1 at home to Swansea.
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"He isn't Doctor Who, he's The Doctor"
(Paul Sinha, BBC)
Posts: 24276 | From: Newport, Wales | Registered: Apr 2004
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South Coast Kevin
Shipmate
# 16130
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
I'm ready, not sure the Mancs were. They lost 2-1 at home to Swansea.
Louis van Gaal is not the messiah? Poor old Man Utd - still in significant need of new players, it seems!
Nervous anticipation is building in me for the Sunday lunchtime game - I'm a Saints fan and also a (pretty casual) Liverpool follower! I'm hoping for big things again from Liverpool, and I also think Southampton will be much better this season than many have been saying.
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My blog - wondering about Christianity in the 21st century, chess, music, politics and other bits and bobs.
Posts: 3309 | From: The south coast (of England) | Registered: Jan 2011
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Oscar the Grouch
Adopted Cascadian
# 1916
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Posted
So - if Van Gaal doesn't improve on 7th place this season, will he be given the heave ho as well??
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Faradiu, dundeibáwa weyu lárigi weyu
Posts: 3871 | From: Gamma Quadrant, just to the left of Galifrey | Registered: Dec 2001
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Sandemaniac
Shipmate
# 12829
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Posted
I don't often surface here, as frankly football isn't my bag. But I felt I had to share a spectacular piece of idiocy with you. Someone on the radio tonight referred to Arsenal as title contendors
It's the first game of the bloody season, FFS!
AG
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"It becomes soon pleasantly apparent that change-ringing is by no means merely an excuse for beer" Charles Dickens gets it wrong, 1869
Posts: 3574 | From: The wardrobe of my soul | Registered: Jul 2007
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Sioni Sais
Shipmate
# 5713
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Oscar the Grouch:
So - if Van Gaal doesn't improve on 7th place this season, will he be given the heave ho as well??
It could be a wake up call. His club career has been at Ajax, AZ Alkmaar, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. In the Dutch, Spanish and German leagues there really isn't much competition for the top club or two and, apart from his tie in charge at AZ, he's been manager at one of them. That isn't the case now, there's real competition in the Premiership.
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"He isn't Doctor Who, he's The Doctor"
(Paul Sinha, BBC)
Posts: 24276 | From: Newport, Wales | Registered: Apr 2004
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Imaginary Friend
Real to you
# 186
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Sandemaniac:
I don't often surface here, as frankly football isn't my bag. But I felt I had to share a spectacular piece of idiocy with you. Someone on the radio tonight referred to Arsenal as title contendors
It's the first game of the bloody season, FFS!
AG
It's an annual ritual for Arsenal to be declared contenders at the start of the season, for punditland to say that it's theirs for the taking in early December, and for them to win their fourth place trophy come May. So I wouldn't worry about what you heard on the radio today - it's just the natural order of things.
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"We had a good team on paper. Unfortunately, the game was played on grass."
Brian Clough
Posts: 9455 | From: Left a bit... Right a bit... | Registered: May 2001
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Piglet
Islander
# 11803
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Posted
As my Better Half put it: "The footie season's started. The bad news is Ipswich, Colchester and Norwich all lost. The good news is so did Manchester United".
![[Devil]](graemlins/devil.gif)
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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
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LeRoc
Famous Dutch pirate
# 3216
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Posted
After winning the first two games, my team FC Groningen is in third place now, behind PSV and Ajax. These games were against relatively weak teams, but it isn't a bad start. We have a midfielder Tjaronn Chery who seems rather good. At least he scores regularly.
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I know why God made the rhinoceros, it's because He couldn't see the rhinoceros, so He made the rhinoceros to be able to see it. (Clarice Lispector)
Posts: 9474 | From: Brazil / Africa | Registered: Aug 2002
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Imaginary Friend
Real to you
# 186
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Posted
Phroar!!
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"We had a good team on paper. Unfortunately, the game was played on grass."
Brian Clough
Posts: 9455 | From: Left a bit... Right a bit... | Registered: May 2001
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South Coast Kevin
Shipmate
# 16130
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Imaginary Friend:
Phroar!!
That is sexy football indeed. Did you see Henderson's pass to Sterling for Liverpool's first goal?
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My blog - wondering about Christianity in the 21st century, chess, music, politics and other bits and bobs.
Posts: 3309 | From: The south coast (of England) | Registered: Jan 2011
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Imaginary Friend
Real to you
# 186
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Posted
Anyone can hit-and-hope a forty yarder. ![[Biased]](wink.gif)
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"We had a good team on paper. Unfortunately, the game was played on grass."
Brian Clough
Posts: 9455 | From: Left a bit... Right a bit... | Registered: May 2001
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South Coast Kevin
Shipmate
# 16130
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Posted
Pfft.
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My blog - wondering about Christianity in the 21st century, chess, music, politics and other bits and bobs.
Posts: 3309 | From: The south coast (of England) | Registered: Jan 2011
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Oscar the Grouch
Adopted Cascadian
# 1916
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Posted
Whitecaps have slipped back into bad habits. A six match unbeaten run sounds good. Until you realise that it comprises of 5 draws and a solitary win. ![[Disappointed]](graemlins/disappointed.gif)
Still. I've booked my ticket for my first ever match at BC Place. Sept 27th - Whitecaps v Real Salt Lake. I'm guessing it will be yet another 0-0 snooze fest...
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Faradiu, dundeibáwa weyu lárigi weyu
Posts: 3871 | From: Gamma Quadrant, just to the left of Galifrey | Registered: Dec 2001
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South Coast Kevin
Shipmate
# 16130
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Posted
Ah, enjoy the game, OtG! Here's hoping for a seven goal thriller. I've got friends who live just outside Vancouver, as it happens, and they've been to a handful of Whitecaps games. I don't think recently, mind you.
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My blog - wondering about Christianity in the 21st century, chess, music, politics and other bits and bobs.
Posts: 3309 | From: The south coast (of England) | Registered: Jan 2011
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Oscar the Grouch
Adopted Cascadian
# 1916
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by South Coast Kevin:
Ah, enjoy the game, OtG! Here's hoping for a seven goal thriller. I've got friends who live just outside Vancouver, as it happens, and they've been to a handful of Whitecaps games. I don't think recently, mind you.
Seven goal thriller?
I didn't know games could end up 3.5-3.5!
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Faradiu, dundeibáwa weyu lárigi weyu
Posts: 3871 | From: Gamma Quadrant, just to the left of Galifrey | Registered: Dec 2001
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Imaginary Friend
Real to you
# 186
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Posted
Mario Balotelli has just completed his move to Liverpool. This could be fun...
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"We had a good team on paper. Unfortunately, the game was played on grass."
Brian Clough
Posts: 9455 | From: Left a bit... Right a bit... | Registered: May 2001
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Oscar the Grouch
Adopted Cascadian
# 1916
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Posted
Talking to a Liverpool supporter yesterday, we agreed that this will either be one of the greatest transfer dealings of all time or a wonderful farce. One thing it ain't gonna be is boring.
I also loved a quote about Super Mario - “the strange talent of making everyone happy when he arrives and even happier when he leaves”.
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Faradiu, dundeibáwa weyu lárigi weyu
Posts: 3871 | From: Gamma Quadrant, just to the left of Galifrey | Registered: Dec 2001
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Hedgehog
Ship's Shortstop
# 14125
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Posted
MK Dons-4
Man. U-0
Keep an eye out for low flying pigs.
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"We must regain the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and the world, and that being good and decent are worth it."--Pope Francis, Laudato Si'
Posts: 2740 | From: Delaware, USA | Registered: Sep 2008
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pjl
Shipmate
# 16929
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Posted
No shock result in that game then
Posts: 576 | From: england | Registered: Feb 2012
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deano
princess
# 12063
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Posted
It's bad for us. We are rebuilding and £200 Million worth of new players will take time to gel.
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"The moral high ground is slowly being bombed to oblivion. " - Supermatelot
Posts: 2118 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: Nov 2006
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Oscar the Grouch
Adopted Cascadian
# 1916
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Posted
£200m already spent and ManUre still to replace an entire defence and most of the midfield. Hmmm... Just how much more are the Glazers prepared to throw in? At least the forwards are ok....
Oh yeh, Rooney on a steep decline and RVP just about reaching his "best before" date. Who does that leave? De Gea..... I'll bet Luke Shaw is regretting his impetuous leap away from the Saints.
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Faradiu, dundeibáwa weyu lárigi weyu
Posts: 3871 | From: Gamma Quadrant, just to the left of Galifrey | Registered: Dec 2001
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Imaginary Friend
Real to you
# 186
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Posted
That was truly glorious!
It's just a shame that United couldn't complete Di María's signing in time for the game, because I'm sure he would have been the difference for them.
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"We had a good team on paper. Unfortunately, the game was played on grass."
Brian Clough
Posts: 9455 | From: Left a bit... Right a bit... | Registered: May 2001
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Oscar the Grouch
Adopted Cascadian
# 1916
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Posted
Yeh. Like a winger is the answer to all their problems....
Sod's Law dictates that having splashed all that dough on Tia Maria (sic), he then does his cruciate ligament within three games.
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Faradiu, dundeibáwa weyu lárigi weyu
Posts: 3871 | From: Gamma Quadrant, just to the left of Galifrey | Registered: Dec 2001
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Stejjie
Shipmate
# 13941
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by pjl:
No shock result in that game then
Oh I dunno, think MK Dons will be shocked they didn't get more than 4...
By the way, what's with the excuse I've seen elsewhere that this wasn't Man U's first team and .'. that explains the defeat? Is Man U's squad so weak that they don't have a second team capable of beating a League 1 side? If so, they really are in trouble this season!
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A not particularly-alt-worshippy, fairly mainstream, mildly evangelical, vaguely post-modern-ish Baptist
Posts: 1117 | From: Urmston, Manchester, UK | Registered: Jul 2008
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Oscar the Grouch
Adopted Cascadian
# 1916
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Posted
In previous years, Wenger has played his youth squad for League Cup matches and usually got Arsenal into the latter stages. The Man Utd team against MK Dons wasn't THAT full of youngsters and unknowns.
(Message to Danny Welbeck. Get away from Utd now. At the right team, you might develop into the decent (even world class) striker that you showed signs of a couple of years ago. At Utd, you'll just fester until they decide you're no longer wanted and then it will be too late.)
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Faradiu, dundeibáwa weyu lárigi weyu
Posts: 3871 | From: Gamma Quadrant, just to the left of Galifrey | Registered: Dec 2001
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Sir Kevin
Ship's Gaffer
# 3492
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Posted
We're Number One! Must call my friend the Goonie: his Arsenal side are mired in fifth while my Spurs are on top!
[ 28. August 2014, 06:21: Message edited by: Sir Kevin ]
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If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Writing is currently my hobby, not yet my profession.
Posts: 30517 | From: White Hart Lane | Registered: Oct 2002
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L'organist
Shipmate
# 17338
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Posted
So Michel Platini won't stand against Sepp Blatter for the FIFA job.
Yes, we know its by way of a dignified protest at Blatter's running again when he'd previously promised to stand down at the end of this term, and I know MP thinks there is more to do at UEFA, but still its an opportunity wasted.
With Blatter at the helm - and he'll be re-elected no problem - FIFA will remain as a by-word for graft, corruption and ineptitude.
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Rara temporum felicitate ubi sentire quae velis et quae sentias dicere licet
Posts: 4950 | From: somewhere in England... | Registered: Sep 2012
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Oscar the Grouch
Adopted Cascadian
# 1916
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Posted
Platini? Blatter?
Tomayto/Tomarto....
FIFA is corrupt from its roots up. The best solution I can see is for some powerful national associations (England, Spain and Germany especially) to withdraw and set up a rival organisation. It would be pretty bloody for a few years, but the end result would probably be a compromise organisation stripped of most of its tackier elements. With any luck, we might also get something more accountable to the paying public.
Lack of accountability is the real key here. As long as THAT continues, I doubt that it will matter who is in overall charge.
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Faradiu, dundeibáwa weyu lárigi weyu
Posts: 3871 | From: Gamma Quadrant, just to the left of Galifrey | Registered: Dec 2001
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Ad Orientem
Shipmate
# 17574
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Sir Kevin:
We're Number One! Must call my friend the Goonie: his Arsenal side are mired in fifth while my Spurs are on top!
Don't worry. It's only downhill from there. It won't take longer either.
Posts: 2606 | From: Finland | Registered: Feb 2013
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Ad Orientem
Shipmate
# 17574
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Oscar the Grouch:
Platini? Blatter?
Tomayto/Tomarto....
FIFA is corrupt from its roots up. The best solution I can see is for some powerful national associations (England, Spain and Germany especially) to withdraw and set up a rival organisation. It would be pretty bloody for a few years, but the end result would probably be a compromise organisation stripped of most of its tackier elements. With any luck, we might also get something more accountable to the paying public.
Lack of accountability is the real key here. As long as THAT continues, I doubt that it will matter who is in overall charge.
Yep. I agree with everything you say here. Indeed, I've thought for s long time that the FA, for instance, should leave FIFA and start a new world association.
Posts: 2606 | From: Finland | Registered: Feb 2013
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Imaginary Friend
Real to you
# 186
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Posted
...And if we only let rubbish countries in then we might stand an outside chance at winning the (new) World Cup!!
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"We had a good team on paper. Unfortunately, the game was played on grass."
Brian Clough
Posts: 9455 | From: Left a bit... Right a bit... | Registered: May 2001
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Ad Orientem
Shipmate
# 17574
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Posted
I reckon that if one big association was to leave others would follow.
Posts: 2606 | From: Finland | Registered: Feb 2013
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