21-03-2005 00:55									#31
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quote: Originally posted by Zopperoni I went to see Ajax - PSV today; we got trashed 0-4

I hope Van Basten was watching that as well...

quote: Unless PSV experiences a major collapse, they will take this year's title. Ajax needs to close a seven-point gap to overtake AZ for second place (Champions' League qualifier spot). It is a tough onus, but we're facing AZ at home in April, and they have a tough sked ahead (also with UEFA Cup matches in-between).

I think Ajax's primary concern at this point should be guarding their 3rd place from Feyenoord (only 3 points now...) -- I don't seem them catching up with AZ anymore.


In the meantime, FC Twente's renaissance continues: a 2-1 win over Den Haag For the first time in years we have a decent shot at reaching European football through the regular competition again We're currenty in 6th place and only 2 points below Vitesse (and rapidly getting closer)

	21-03-2005 00:57									#32
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quote: I think Ajax's primary concern at this point should be guarding their 3rd place from Feyenoord (only 3 points now...) -- I don't seem them catching up with AZ anymore.

Yeah, 7 points isn't exactly an easily overcome lead . Unless AZ collapses... and if they do, hopefully they are playing Newcastle in the UEFA Cup when it happens .

	21-03-2005 01:01									#33
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quote: Originally posted by Locutus I hope Van Basten was watching that as well...

He might reconsider his choice of Babel then... dang, he sucked donkey balls today.

Comical semi-related sidenote: a friend of mine caught Angelos Charisteas playing at the two-euro table at the local casino, what a pauper
He just went from the-man-of-five-million-euros to the-man-of-two-euros in one night.

	21-03-2005 01:08									#34
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Well, I wouldn't be complaining if Van Basten replaced Babel with Vennegoor of Hesselink (and Melchiot with Ooijer)

Ajax and Greek strikers

	21-03-2005 01:09									#35
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Haven't followed the premiership for a few years. My favorite team was always Blackburn Rovers though, since they had the coolest name (beside Blackpool, but they're in some lower division). How are they doing this year?

	21-03-2005 01:19									#36
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They're surviving in the lower reaches of the premiership and playing rather dull football. Mark Hughes is now their manager.

	21-03-2005 01:30									#37
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quote: Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui Watching Real Madrid vs Malaga, and wow, Beckham actually looks useful . Put him in the center of the midfield, and he does pretty good. That being said, I think Madrid needs a Striker who can put a head on Beckham's brilliant crosses. Of course someone like that wouldn't be famous enough to be a galacticos I guess .

Beckham looking good? Wow, that's a change. He's not been seen much in the games I've seen with Real. His talents has really been wasted as a galactico. But he's still a lot better than Raul. If he had not been their star for years, he would have been placed on the bench or worse a long time ago. And Ronaldo's fat...

	21-03-2005 10:25									#38
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quote: They're surviving in the lower reaches of the premiership and playing rather dull football.

I think you got that reversed, they are playing dull football SO they are surviving the lower reaches of the EPL .

quote: Beckham looking good? Wow, that's a change.

Yeah, I was shocked! Zidane and him were clicking in midfield in the game today. Ronaldo was crap though. Though Beckham should really come back to England. Real is not helping his career.

Oh, and Raul had a really good game. It was bizarro world .

	21-03-2005 11:08									#39
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quote: Oh, and Raul had a really good game. It was bizarro world

Hey, shut up, Raul rules!

	21-03-2005 11:15									#40
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He did rule, but nowadays, he isn't as good as he used to be. Owen should definetly start more for Real Madrid.

	21-03-2005 19:37									#41
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Btw, Az, do Isrealis think that you guys can make it to the next round in World Cup Qualifying, or would most Israelis treat it as a total shock?

	21-03-2005 19:43									#42
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quote: He did rule, but nowadays, he isn't as good as he used to be. Owen should definetly start more for Real Madrid.

Hey, the whole team pretty much sucks this year. I miss Vicente del Bosque.

quote: Btw, Az, do Isrealis think that you guys can make it to the next round in World Cup Qualifying, or would most Israelis treat it as a total shock?

Total shock would be an overstatement, esp. since the last couple of years mauled football pretty badly, and the interest is pretty low ( even though we're in a good standing, mind you! )
People would be very positively surprised, though, and it might reignite the love for football here. After all the WC is in Germany, which is relatively close, so many fans could travel to the games, etc.

	21-03-2005 19:51									#43
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11 points clear, 8 games to go. Can't win the Premiership until Bolton on the 30th April earliest, unless ManU lose...

	21-03-2005 19:57									#44
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Yeah, I noticed that Israel is not in a bad group and if, somehow, they can knock off Ireland, they are in a very good position to move on to the next round. After all, if Greece could win Euro 2004...

And the only Israeli football player I know is Eyal Berkovic. You'd have to educate me on their team if they go forward .

	21-03-2005 20:00									#45
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quote: Originally posted by MikeH 11 points clear, 8 games to go. Can't win the Premiership until Bolton on the 30th April earliest, unless ManU lose...

True dat, but its only a matter of time.

	21-03-2005 20:03									#46
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Yep. 5 of those 8 are home games too.

Be nice to wrap it up before the Champs League Semis.

	21-03-2005 20:05									#47
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quote: Originally posted by Lazarus and the Gimp I hadn't noticed that sectarian lyric in your sig before..... Interesting timing, given the current focus on stamping out sectarianism in football.

it's been there for ages. comes from old firm derbys.

international games coming up, you can tell sven is confident we can beat northen ireland, emile hesky is back in the squad!

	21-03-2005 20:09									#48
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quote: emile hesky is back in the squad!

For the love of all that is holy, why?

	21-03-2005 20:12									#49
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He's been playing pretty well, and he's always combined well with Owen. NI will be a tight physical game...

Heskey is one of those England players that gets a lot of abuse, like Phil Neville, that is totally out of proportion to their actual lack of quality. Both mainly get criticized for being **** when they've been played out of position, Heskey on the wing or Phil Nevill at full back.

Now that's a troll.

	21-03-2005 20:27									#50
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Heh...

Just get Rooney to play with Owen, IMO.

---

Interesting...

UEFA just said that Mourinho lied about Rijkaard talking to Frisk in the corridors, and are going to start disciplinary proceedings!

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headli...=328390&cc=5901

	21-03-2005 20:27									#51
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heskey has done well at birmingham, he's even scoring a few as well it's not that he's a rubbish striker, it's just that he should never be first choice for england.

talking of england strikers, it's all gone a bit downhill for poor old alan smith, hardly playing these days and now he's at least 6th choice striker for england, ouch!

	21-03-2005 20:29									#52
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quote: it's not that he's a rubbish striker, it's just that he should never be first choice for england.

Yep, that's my position as well. Good in the EPL, but he should be a backup on the English team. Then again, against Northern Ireland, maybe Sven doesn't think it'll much matter .

Though I don't think he'll pull out that 4-3-3 formation again .

	21-03-2005 20:38									#53
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I think he has been selected as backup...

	21-03-2005 20:40									#54
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yeah, dunno why we've got five strikers in the sqaud though.

	21-03-2005 20:41									#55
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Anyway it's only Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan.

As for Chelsea, I would be shocked if they get more than a reprimand and a fine.

	21-03-2005 20:41									#56
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quote: Originally posted by C0ckney yeah, dunno why we've got five strikers in the sqaud though.

I think he might play 3 up, hence 5 strikers.

	21-03-2005 20:44									#57
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well if he does, lets hope it works better than last time, and that we don't have andy johnson being played out on the right :/

	21-03-2005 20:47									#58
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Depends who it's against... if one of the three is Rooney in the hole with Owen + 1 as proper strikers I think it could work really well. Got Joe Cole as a Hole alternative too.

The +1 would he Johnson or Heskey in that situation I think.

I think if it was me I'd play Owen and Rooney up top with Cole in the hole and Gerrard, Lampard and Beckham (or Dyer) as a narrower midfield three.

	21-03-2005 20:48									#59
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quote: Originally posted by MikeH Anyway it's only Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan. As for Chelsea, I would be shocked if they get more than a reprimand and a fine.

True about NI and Azer...

As for Chelsea, this is more of a 'point' for the anti-Mourinho people (my Lord are there are a lot of them... like gnats!) to use against Chelsea and their wunder-manager.

quote: well if he does, lets hope it works better than last time, and that we don't have andy johnson being played out on the right :/

All to appease Beckham. Isn't SWP hurt at the moment anyway? Just go to a 4-4-2 and no one will complain that Becks is on the right if SWP is injured. Oh, and a 4-4-2 allows Downing to show what he can do on the left (if they start him, of course).

	21-03-2005 20:53									#60
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quote: Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui As for Chelsea, this is more of a 'point' for the anti-Mourinho people (my Lord are there are a lot of them... like gnats!) to use against Chelsea and their wunder-manager.

They're just jealous.

quote: Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui All to appease Beckham. Isn't SWP hurt at the moment anyway? Just go to a 4-4-2 and no one will complain that Becks is on the right if SWP is injured. Oh, and a 4-4-2 allows Downing to show what he can do on the left (if they start him, of course).

I don't think Downing is quite ready for the full international stage, but if they do play a straight 4-4-2 I'd certainly pick him on the left. This is opposition he should be able to do very well against. I don't think he's defensively good enough (yet) to be the first choice against more dangerous teams and we have other, better luxury players to choose from.