Too bad about Arsenal. I think they deserved to win even if they did not play amazing football. Birmingham were lucky but that's football.

At least there's Liverpool if I want something to laugh at. Torres shows what I've been saying for so long, they are a bunch of mediocre players. They should never let Benitez go!


Oh, so close! Damn, 6-0? They have the momentum and the champions' mentality...


Definitely. And he keeps getting better. I wonder where he's going to stop! He is devastating against weaker teams and the only thing I have not seen from him yet is a big performance! But I don't think I'm going to have to wait too long for that.

C.Ronaldo is amazing! he just needs to play like this in front of some bigger sides [especially in the CL] and he'll be the next Ballon d'Or winner.

It doesn't show anything. Newcastle are in a big crisis and without a coach. Besides, those results happen from time to time (like when Chelsea trashed City).

He's even a better player than he is a cunto.

24 matches - 22 goals for a winger. And he's only 22 yo.

Break a leg, Christiano.

Galliani would count him as 6 forwards!

And his(Ronaldo) job is also to also create, assist and make space. Gila's only job is score a friggin goal and he only manages 2 a year...

Always liked this guy (somehow)

He is the best, at this moment in time no one comes close to him.

I can't believe I've witnessed somebody say that!

In a league of mediocracy, sub-standard, very similar style of play players bar a few I think it's great to see Ronaldo.

Yes he goes down and moans a bit but if you look past that he plays the game the way it should be played!

I've got nothing against how he plays the game, he is a joy to watch. I was just surprised that you actually like him. I can't stand him.

I don't know, I've gotten to like him too. He's arrogant and all but he is one hell of a player...

I think he has the 'Mourinho Factor' everyone loves to hate him but deep down we all know he would be a loss to the Premiership if he went.

I've never hated Mourinho.

He'd certainly be a loss to the Premier League if he went, and that's about the only reason I want him to stay. Maybe if he played for one of the other big 4 I'd like him? It must be my blind hatred of everything United.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2YpS3fCkYS8

And to think this guy was almost signed by United...
I'm glad they went for Tévez. He's not a third of what 'El Kid' is.

PS: Rooney + Torres partnership would be something out of this world.

Torres is surely better but I don't think the difference is that big. Torres joined a team with no stars, only hard-workers that form a very good team. Tevez would never outshine CR and Rooney and I believe Torres would not either.

We share the same feeling!

I think Ronaldo is better than Messi, he's a 'complete' player, Messi is not [his right foot is paralysis. he's short. cannot score on header. doesn't have a great physique. is Argentine! etc.]





... !

that's funny cause every time i see him, he becomes a bigger c*** and more ignorant to me...

Many feel he's a ****, [in fact he is ], but few can deny he's a great player. being a hated icon among non-Man U fans of the EPL has helped him A LOT to become what he is now; he's growing on people... I think someday he'll have a change of attitude too...

+1

No matter how good he is, I still can't stand him.

And he needs to prove that he can perform in a big games. I bet he still has nightmares about Gattuso

He is but I respect him for he shows every week that he is a marvelous player! On the other hand, there are players like Robinho who are not even worthy of sucking CR's... and yet they are as arrogant as he is... that's the kind of players I'm never going to like.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2240166,00.html

Liverpool fans would be happy like pigs in shite.

But I doubt this will happen. Although, like we said 1 year ago - DIC would have been the best option for them instead of the american cvntos.

About CR: Something you don't get to really see on tv is the work he does off the ball, he never stops running. He's constantly trying to lose his marker when United are in posession, and when they're not in posession he actually tries to get back and help out his full back.

Now add that to what he does on the ball, and if that's not the most complete player, and the best player, in the World. I don't know what is.

Anyways, currently in the 43rd minute
Sunderland 2-0 Pompey
Keiran Richardson with both goals

(Go Black Cats!)

Our very own Ricky!

CR is the best right now just like Kaka was the best last season, they are both excellent players. Thing is, until I see CR take his team by the hand and give them the CL almost on his own I'm going to believe Kaka is better at his best (than CR at his best). What Kaka did last season I thought was not possible nowadays.

Plus defenses in the epl are a joke when compared to the class of defending in Serie A.

Kaka' is definitely the best in the world, no questions asked.


While CR, I'll give this to him, he's one of the top 3 in the epl at the moment.

But in the EPL, you aren't given all day to do what you want with the ball, you're closed down.

As for the EPL/Serie A defensive thing.. didn't Arsenal recently break the all-time minutes played without conceeding in the CL record?

I'm sorry, but did I offend you with 'my opinion' ?!

Well said. Cristiano is amazing but what Kaká did last season was

No.

Why, was 'my opinion' wrong?

I don't think this happens in Serie A. You may see it happen around the midfield area but it's not like any threat is going to come from so deep.

Serie A is nowhere near where it used to be when it comes to defenses. Ever since the man-marking tactics were abandoned you can see many goals banging in in every game. And EPL defenses are not much worse. Especially when it comes to the big 4. But in most EPL matches I see terrible defensive mistakes, this is the (only) difference. Since we were talking about CR, my belief is that he would be handed less goals in Serie A but it's not like many of the goals he scores are handed to him.

Oh heavens no !!! Of course your right

EPL defenses are the toughest in Europe !! My God, what was I thinking

Not sure anymore Sheva has hardly done it in the Premiership yet he still does it in Europe (when he plays!).

Kaka & Ronaldo are on another level to everyone, there is no one close to Ronaldo in the EPL at this current time.

Liverpool and Chelsea new kits for 2008/09.
Simple. I like both.

Liverpool one looks disgusting, it's probably the badge!

Actually their badge do need a re-style.



Just the bird on the shirt would be enough.

Or all-in-red:

Well, Sheva never did integrate well into the team in the first place .. I mean, he was used to playing in a certain system for Milan and which he excelled in for years, and in a league such as Serie A which has the best defensive lines in the world (at anytime, something I am convinced about). But at Chelsea, the long ball strategy isn't what Sheva thrives upon, it just killed his game.

CR on the other hand, is one of the best players in the EPL .. yes I agree with that. It's a very entertaining league, with open play, fast paced, etc etc ... But I just don't rate the defenders nor the defenses of the teams in the EPL (of course set aside the top 4). And with that said, if Gilardino plays in the EPL, he'd be top scorer no questions asked. Thus, my only point here, is that though CR is a great player in the EPL, I wont be totally convinced till I see him outplaying a 'real defense'

ooooooh the German new shirt looks HOT!!

Yeah there is this theory that he's not a big-game player, if you look at his international goals he has only really scored against relative minnows (bar Holland).

I don't think he'd suit the Serie A, then again I don't think Kaka would suit the EPL that well, just 2 different styles of football.

I'd agree with this. But I'd also say it's the case for every league. The top teams have great defenses, other teams generally don't have fantastic defenders.

I think it's very difficult to cross reference leagues and say a certain league has better attackers, better defenders, etc. Every player has their own style of play, and needs to play in a team, and league, that suits them.

As for Ronaldo. The only big-game I really recall him showing up for was when he hit a brace in a 4-2 win at Highbury a few years back. Other than that? Can't think of much.

Defenses, Serie A is leagues ahead of any other. We are not talking about superstars like Nesta or Maldini ... But ordinary defenses.

I mean, I watch games in Serie A and watch games for the EPL and La Liga, and the hard fact is that Serie A teams are miles and miles ahead of their counterparts in other leagues.

And I am not talking about tackling and what not ... I'm talking about organization, zonal/man marking, tactical set up, experience, etc .. (Of course the defenses of Serie A teams in the 80's were even better an early 90's were better than those today)

Am I being biased ? Not at all, because I am of the opinion that there are excellent midfielders and strikers in the EPL, such as Gerard and Rooney respectively (let alone the foreign imports).

But when you are talking about defense ... U know what, I'm not even gonna continue, cuz ur probably gonna reply ' thats ur opinion etc etc .. agree to disagree etc etc' ... Go watch a game for Siena or Torino or any of the midtable/low ranking teams in Serie A and watch for the defense; how it reacts to strikers of the caliber of Juve/Roma/inter/Milan/Fiorentina etc .. Then compare that to the games that u probably get access to in the EPL, teams like Newcastle and co.

I certainly agree with you when it comes to organisation with defenses. There are alot of EPL teams right now that just lack the correct organisation and communication with each other. Most notabley Spurs and Newcastle. This is where I do agree that Serie A has a bit of an edge.

The EPLs biggest problems defensively is set-peices. And Serie A teams certainly are better in this respect. Villa have certainly took advantage of this, winning a corner is almost like a penalty for us, our defenders have a total of 10 goals, Laursen has 6 on his own! and they're all from set-plays. And I certainly see less goals being scored from corners in Serie A - due to better organisation and set ups.

I think all teams, when playing the big team in a league, are shown to be worse than they are. Like Newcastle conceeding 6 yesterday, or Napoli conceeding 5 today. And I don't really consider these games too much as the better teams usually have a much better team all over the pitch.

I think what I'd say overall is.. Serie A doesn't necessarily have better individual defenders as another league, they just defend better as a unit.


@Porty. I think that Liverpool shirt is horrible, as is Chelsea's. The germany one looks pretty nice, though. Are they official or anything?

The german is. The others I suppose they are.

So isn't this like the second time...kurt and R7 were actually in agreement and still fought over it across threads.


In the lines of Cool Hand Luke... 'What we have here, is a failure to communicate'

I certainly disagree with these points. Apart from set-pieces where from you see less goals conceded in Serie A I don't think the calcio's defenses are anything special! Whoever has seen a single game from the 90's can easily realize it. Many many mistakes are made in Serie A matches due to bad organization! 3 of the 5 goals we scored last night were defensive errors, Ronaldo was twice allowed onside... that's terrible defending!

I think Serie A defenders are better skilled than the EPL ones. That's why it seems like the EPL defenses are so crappy. Most goals I see scored in the EPL are because of bad clearances and other kaladzities. I dunno about the organization but what I see is technical errors. While in Serie A there are few goal scored that way but there's no freaking organization of any sorts. It's tactical errors every single time...

So in my view, it's Serie A defenders are better but Serie A defenses are just as crappy as the EPL ones!

^^

Riiight!!



Round 2: England v Greece

Viva hellas...

What's up with Liverpool CEO Rick Parry and his stupid ties?









F muppet.

Yes, I agree.

His ties really are awful.

PINK AND GREEN STRIPES???
Gods, I've seen a lot, but PINK and GREEN ties???

I give the world a week. maximum.