Football: WORLD CUP 06 and close season/transfer discussion.

Rev. Stuart Campbell · Wed Feb 22, 2006 10:50 pm 0

Brilliant game, but Villareal must be sitting in the dressing room staring at each other in disbelief that they didn't win. They were in a different class to Rangers, and Riquelme was on a different planet - I watched, and I don't think Rangers got the ball off him once in 90 minutes. I haven't seen gorgeous, flowing one-touch football like that in I don't know how long - credit to Rangers for never-say-die spirit and some fast counterattacks in an extremely open and exciting match, but really they've got out of jail bigtime there.

Zen-Chan · Post by **Zen-Chan** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:03 am 0

No question, Villareal were on a totally different level in terms of sheer skill and flair, but I honestly think we probably made just as many chances over the course of the game.

Prso suspended for the second leg though - that's a real bastard . . .

Rev. Stuart Campbell · Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:16 am 0

Zen-Chan wrote:No question, Villareal were on a totally different level in terms of sheer skill and flair, but I honestly think we probably made just as many chances over the course of the game

Yeah, I'd say so. That's what good counterattacking in an open game will get you, though. The whole game was a credit to football, especially after certain recent matches.

Munky · Post by **Munky** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:40 am 0

i8manx wrote:Chelski 2-1 down,
The Retro pitch done nowt to help.

The post-match interview really cheered me up tonight.

Yes Mourhino, you arrogant cunt, that's how it feels when the other team gets away with blatant cheating.

GeeZa · Post by **GeeZa** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:48 am 0

Riquelme is my favourite player in the world at the moment. The guy is just complete class. When England beat Argentina 3-2 last November he pretty much pissed on everyone. By far the best player on the pitch.

Sickboy · Post by **Sickboy** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 7:52 am 0

Hehehe. That was extra-hilarious, given Mourinho's short-memoried, pre-match bleating about cheating. I love the way Messi had a shifty glance around, before launching himself into a few rolls. Argentinian simulation - best in the world.

But the move leading up their second goal was *gorgeous*. And credit to John Terry for the Braveheart defending. Should have been 1-4.

Benfica were shite and got a lucky break next to our unlucky break (Gerrard's dead-leg). We'll do 'em back at Anfield.

mac monkey · Post by **mac monkey** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:17 am 0

Yeah, its such a shame when cheating spoils a perfectly balanced match.
My heart goes out to all Chelsea fans and players

I bet Pepe enjoyed watching that, as he openly said he would be cheering Barca on

Dio · Post by **Dio** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:35 am 0

Strange game at Newcastle. Bossed the game well in midfield - by cracky, Parker / Emre / Solano / N'Zogbia looks a very, very handy unit - Boumsong might have played his best game yet, and Bramble looked great too. But there looked very little danger of any goals despite Ameobi not really doing that badly up front - lots of shots on target, all of them sailing easily into the keeper's hands. We need Dyer back badly and preferably Shearer too.

That said, Charlton were dismal, unimaginitive and unable to keep the ball - and Darren Bent's total contribution to the game was being caught offside about ten times. He can forget about any chance of an England place if he's going to play like that.

The crowd were picky because they don't like 4-5-1 and they like Uriah Rennie even less, but still clapped the team off the field. Oh what a difference a couple of games makes...

romanista · Post by **romanista** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 1:56 pm 0

Rev. Stuart Campbell wrote:
Zen-Chan wrote:No question, Villareal were on a totally different level in terms of sheer skill and flair, but I honestly think we probably made just as many chances over the course of the game
Yeah, I'd say so. That's what good counterattacking in an open game will get you, though. The whole game was a credit to football, especially after certain recent matches.

think i can dug up a villareal is much better than ranger comment from 20 pages back or so, when somebody thought it was as GOOD draw for rangers..

i went to the arena yesterday, and we left with a mixed feeling; we were 2-0 up after 20 minutes and ajax played a brilliant first half, which surprised everybody, but they couldn't keep it up for the whole game, and inter came back to 2-2, 4 minutes from time, still the general feeling was that of satisfaction, as it was ajax'best performance of the year, and we still have chance, albeit a small one, in the giuseppe meazza/san siro

merman · Post by **merman** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 5:45 pm 0

Dio - Benty had quite a few games like that at Ipswich, particularly away from Portman Road. But he's a better player than Crouch or Defoe.

PaulEMoz · Post by **PaulEMoz** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 5:47 pm 0

merman wrote:Dio - Benty had quite a few games like that at Ipswich, particularly away from Portman Road. But he's a better player than Crouch or Defoe.

Better than Defoe? That's quite a claim. I always fancy Defoe to score, whether he starts or comes off the bench. I'm really surprised he hasn't been playing as regularly for Spurs this season. I haven't seen much of D. Bent to really compare him to Defoe.

merman · Post by **merman** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 5:51 pm 0

PaulEMoz wrote:
merman wrote:Dio - Benty had quite a few games like that at Ipswich, particularly away from Portman Road. But he's a better player than Crouch or Defoe.
Better than Defoe? That's quite a claim. I always fancy Defoe to score, whether he starts or comes off the bench. I'm really surprised he hasn't been playing as regularly for Spurs this season. I haven't seen much of D. Bent to really compare him to Defoe.

Defoe has too many quiet games, I'm not saying he's a bad player. His first touch lets him down too often.

cyric100 · Post by **cyric100** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 6:13 pm 0

merman wrote:
PaulEMoz wrote: Better than Defoe? That's quite a claim. I always fancy Defoe to score, whether he starts or comes off the bench. I'm really surprised he hasn't been playing as regularly for Spurs this season. I haven't seen much of D. Bent to really compare him to Defoe.
Defoe has too many quiet games, I'm not saying he's a bad player. His first touch lets him down too often.

Bent is probably a more versatile player than Defoe. Defoe really needs the ball played to his feet; if the tactics of the game are for balls played in long from the back or high from the wings then he'll lose out more often than not. When Spurs have got a decent game passing through the midfield going he always looks dangerous, but otherwise can almost be anonymous. Doesn't help that he gets flagged offside so much (even when he isn't).

Bent may be the better option to take to the world cup, but if Defoe were on the bench I'd always feel there was a possibility of him creating some masterpiece from nothing.

Dio · Post by **Dio** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 6:20 pm 0

On last night's performance I wouldn't take Darren Bent to the LDV Trophy Final. It's not like he didn't have service, and for all the improvements in our defence, it's not exactly Italy or Germany, is it?

But I'm not convinced Defoe is the solution either.

PaulEMoz · Post by **PaulEMoz** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 6:26 pm 0

Dio wrote:But I'm not convinced Defoe is the solution either.

Out of what we've got available, I'd say he's most likely to get a goal from somewhere. I hope to hell we don't go back to the likes of Vassell. Although thinking back to some of the strikers that have played for England, anyone could get picked, really.

Also, now Alan Smith's knackered, will Eriksson finally pick a proper holding midfielder? Scott Parker, for example?