Any REAL football fans here? (Page 29)

But....

but.....

but....

he is the special one!

Crud.  They had the friggen match and tie all done up in a nice little bow and then they had to let Forlan score!  DAMNIT!

So it will be Atl. Madrid v. Fulham in the Europa final.  I'll have to be cheering on Fulham for that one.

And just like that the season is over.

Chelsea wins England.

Bayerns wins in Germany.

Inter in Italy.

And my boys went out with a deafening whimper like they entered the season. 

Meh.

Well, the WC starts soon.  Month away.  Should be interesting to see what happens.  LOTs of injuries around the globe that is going to affect the teams, US included.

Anyone with any predictions?

Yeah, sorry about your boys, Crowny. Should be a very interesting off season for LFC. I actually watched the EPL trophy presentation yesterday after the game. I guess it was good to have someone else win it this year. Chelsea's definitely a talented team.

Well, my Sounders have had a very disappointing season so far. The organization is offering ticket refunds for the LA game.

Can't wait for the WC either. When you asked for a prediction, my initial reaction was Spain. Then I googled WC odds and the oddsmakers agree. Spain, England, and Brazil are the favorites. As you've mentioned earlier, I just want the US to make it out of the first round.

I just can't see England as one of the top 3 Favorites.  I just don't see it at all.

I hate to say it but I agree, I just don't see England in the top three.  It just doesn't seem to be there in the team right now.

Spain, yeah, they have named Torres in the squad despite his knee surgery last month. Brasil always a shot.

As for the US making it past the first round, I think they have a real good chance this year, they need to come out all guns on the 12th, England typically have at least one dodgy game in the first round that makes things interesting, perhaps it's the USA's turn to make that giant killing :-), Either way, I will be throwing a WC kick off party on the 12th and handing out a bunch of England hats/flags for the neighbors :-)

All the guys here I talk to in VA are happy to follow the England team as long as it's not against the USA, there is still some love for back across the pond.....

I just did some reading up about the squad, Capello has now launched a venture called Capello's Index.

It's a site on which he will publish his rating of the team's performance within 2 hours of each game, he will review all the individual players and score their performance......

hmmm....not too sure on that idea.  sounds good for the fans, but sounds like a money spinner for Capello, he should be 100% focused on the squad and championship, not launching venture web sites!!!!

I like the idea...as long as the rating are from the public...after all that is who you are representing. I would think that the players would be very aware of a public rating system like this and since vanity runs high amongst them - they would be motivated to perform a little better.

The days of playing for the shirt and Country are behind us - too much money, idolization and celebrity is given to these mongs - they get an inflated ego thanks to the attention and adoration of the media and public.

It would be nice to see some actual accountability for performance even if it is an "index"

On the WC - England will advance, beat Paraguay in the R32 and lose to Argentina on PK's...oh wait that was 1986.....still it will be something along those lines.

There will be a dark horse ( no pun intended because this is in SA)....either an African team or an Asian team will do very well...maybe not win, but I think they could make the finals.

One advantage though for the European teams is the weather...its winter..so the heat wont be a factor like other WC's but altitude will...should be a wide open tourny...

Does this strike fear into your heart when you read it?.....nope...didn't think so...

England WC Squad....only 23 go....but still

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green.

Defenders: Leighton Baines, Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock.

Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Forwards: Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney.

100% with you, there are some great players in here, but they are not the hottest around right now, unless some of these boys play at the top of their game, and the newer boys play way above their expectations this is not the team to take the WC, no matter how much I would love it.  and I will be shouting for it. 

they have a chance to do well, but all of them must gel, if they're all focused and the likes of Terry, Lampard and Gerrard take control of the games they should do ok, but I don't think a WC win is in the near future for England....would love to be 100% wrong on that :-)

I too agree that as a whole it does not strike fear into me.  Unless, as you said, they really play up. 

Shrek (Rooney) worries me, but he is having some niggling injury issues that might carry over.

Gerrard is coming off of arguably his worst professional season ever so he could either pout about it or pick it up and turn a corner.

Garreth Barry is supposedly hurt and only time will tell with him.

Hesky is old, but hell, he brings a hell of a lot of experience and if he is at the top of his game, he could easily score quite a few.  Then again, he has a very bad habit of missing some very easy sitters so we shall see.

Some that REALLY suprise me are Carragher, King and SWP.  Carragher is coming out of retirement.  Surprised he was picked.  King, might be interesting but I just don't see it.  And then there is little SWP.  The littlest player.  Then again, he did score a header this past weekend. 

Anyway, this is why I love the build up to the WC.

The US announces theirs at 2pm ET today.  Then the REAL fun begins. 

Looks like Atletico Madrid   2 - 1   Fulham in Europa Final. Wiining goal in 116th minute. Too bad game was not available from my local provider. Still good for Fulham, maybe more next year? I guess that's what Everton thought this season.

Fulham is the Euro fairy tale this year at least for the EPL - must admit it was a down year for the Champions league teams...however, they only have themselves to blame and the normal course of events will be restored next year when there will be at least 2 in the semi's and one in the final.

Speaking of which...Inter vs Bayern...Yawn! this is going to be excruciating on the neutral unless Moaninho decides to come out and play..which is against his DNA!..After all he got fired from Chelsea for playing boring Football...apparently results aren't everything.

I dont even know when this game is...that shows my level of interest from an enthusiastic soccer fan!

What a fantastic final!..great football, end to end stuff - players laying it all on the line for the richest game in Football....and so glad to see the best team win....congratulations..

BLACKPOOL! - headed to the EPL...

Thought I was talking about the Champions league? Nope..that was a boring, insipid typical Moaninho game..and I even forgot to watch it live...thank god I could FF on the DVR

Now he gets to take his brand of anti-football to Real Madrid..not sure that is going to go over very well at the Berbabau

Well done to Blackpool!  Well deserved.

No, I was certain you weren't talking about the Champions League final I agree.

Welcome to the thread.

Welcome.  The more the merrier. 

otongki - 2010-05-25 1:44 AM

zed707 - 2010-05-25 12:00 AM

Bcozican - 2010-05-24 9:57 AM

What a fantastic final!..great football, end to end stuff - players laying it all on the line for the richest game in Football....and so glad to see the best team win....congratulations..

BLACKPOOL! - headed to the EPL...

Thought I was talking about the Champions league? Nope..that was a boring, insipid typical Moaninho game..and I even forgot to watch it live...thank god I could FF on the DVR

Now he gets to take his brand of anti-football to Real Madrid..not sure that is going to go over very well at the Berbabau

 

No, I was certain you weren't talking about the Champions League final I agree.

For what is worth, UCL shows plenty of great matches (Inter had the most of it)... and to what van Gaal said, the best team in Europe were Chelsea, Manchester United, and Barcelona.

Some thoughts on the WC, or we shall converge in the other thread?

Will probably make it easier.  We can pick this one back up when the WC is over.