Shearer9

How can anyone pretend like Rooney wasn't being a total cunt when he did it, and then gave the referee an absolute torrent of abuse. I have no problem with the decision.

I agree with most of what's been said in this thread but it always surprises me when people say things like this or only use the term 'footballing brain' to describe someone old or slow. I think most of the great players have had great footballing brains, the likes of Henry, Shearer, Keane, Giggs (the greats of the prem), etc. have all had great footballing brains, as well as the ability to match it. Having a footballing brain doesn't mean that you can't also use superior pace, technique, skill, strength, or basically any other purely physical attribute to supplement it. I'd also add that having a footballing brain is as much about knowing when you can do something as it is knowing when you can't. See Laurent Robert. Brilliant left foot, but not a brilliant footballing brain.

To be fair, the rape was more down to the fact that students at this particular Uni consumed more alcohol per week than almost anywhere else in the world and had massive nights out 4 nights a week, so 19 year olds + shitloads of alcohol = some sexually related crimes.

Imagine a young Giggs at Euro 96 in midfield with Gazza and Anderton and Shearer and Sheringham to supply...

Ibrahimovich spurns another chance.

Yeah, I have a feeling like there's gonna be a massive party atmosphere. I think we're planning to do a Cape Town-PE-Grahamstown-Durban-JoBurg type trip, with a visit to one of those other northern venues between Durban and JoBurg, reckon it'll cost about $4500-5000 US.

I spent the entire time in Grahamstown, which is in the Eastern Cape near Port Elizabeth. Pretty safe place, mostly petty crime apart from the occasional rape. I felt really safe for the week I spent in Cape Town, Durban is a pretty dodgy place though, I actually went to the rugby stadium which is right next to the new football stadium and that area seemed pretty safe, but there are parts of Durban that I wouldn't have felt safe walking around in at night alone. I didn't actually goto Joburg but I knew some people who did and some people who lived there, and they seemed to get through it ok. Apparently South Africa are hiring literally tens of thousands of new police to cover the tournament, most of whom I imagine will be stationed in the north. They're also trying to move people out of slums that are near inner cities (possible human rights violations here, similar to China for the Olympics), but I just get the feeling that South Africa really want to make a good impression now that they're on the world stage. That may mean negative things for poor locals, but I'm convinced that I can make a 3 week trip there, have a really good time, and be safe while doing it. Plus it will be cheap compared to Germany and the people speak English. And yes, they are selling 4 categories of tickets, only 3 of which can be bought by foreigners. The 4th category is really cheap and only for locals. My guess is that they're doing this because all of the rich white people with money are obsessed with rugby and aren't going to be too jazzed up for the football.

Tie over.

I recently got back from 6 months studying in South Africa and I've decided that I'm going to try and go back with a few friends for the world cup next year. You can buy team specific tickets that allow you to follow one team through the tournament, or you can attempt to get single game tickets. I'm not sure exactly how I want to do it yet, most of the games are in the north so I was just thinking about sticking in that area for most of the tournament. I feel like I have a good gauge of how much living expenses will be while we're in the country, planning to stay in hostels and eat/drink pretty cheaply. I wonder though, if there will be any market on the ground for tickets, and whether or not scalping will be bad, or if you'll be able to get cheap tickets outside the stadia. Anyway, if anyone has been to a world cup and seen price inflation on things like food, booze, lodging, or plane tickets, or has any idea what the local market will be for tickets in South Africa, I'd be interested to hear your views.

I'm quite partial to that New Zealand shirt, really like the simplicity of it.

Good header from Smith, how shit was that from Vidic.

Smith, wow...

Lead WBA to a great escape....

Yeah that was very odd. I got the feeling when I read that that his time at Portsmouth was limited But is that not what makes a manager, that self imporatnce, that ability to not seek the approval of others and be totally self sufficient. It can make a great player though...

Very strange man this Adams: "I don't actually like people," the former England captain admitted. "I'm a loner and if I had my way I'd just walk my dogs every day, never talk to anyone and then die."

Sven is in Columbus, OH for tomorrow's game against the USA...

Interesting to see where people stand on this one now, especially after Scolari's sacking. Still going with Man Utd but I think Liverpool will have a close second. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see Villa finish third at this point. Villa are actually really interesting to me, I think it's a case of the sum being much greater than the parts. Of the players that play regularly, this is how I'd classify them in a theoretical top 4 team. Top 4 Worthy: Young, Agbonlahor, Barry Borderline Top 4: Laursen, Bouma, Carew Friedel (age is the only reason I put him here) Not top 4 material: Everyone else. I think Everton probably has a better squad but Villa will finish well above Everton because O'Neill has it figured out and knows how to use speed and counter attacks. He also knows how to give each player on the pitch a definite role that contributes to an overall victory, I really wonder what he could do with a bit more money there.

Dunno if this was mentioned earlier in the thread, but I'm just watching MOTD from this weekend and Jo's dive for Everton was pathetic. Never, ever a pen, basically dove into O'Brien's legs, awful decision.

The most important injury we had all season, Kinnear missed today's game, and lo and behold, we won.

GET IN!!

God, to think Venables turned the job down because it wasn't a long term job and we're now offering Kinnear a 3 year contract...

Title almost certainly going back to Old Trafford now, with a small chance that it may go to Stamford Bridge.

I think if we slid into 20th over the next 2 or 3 games Ashley might consider changing the manager. We are going down though with Kinnear in charge, I now have no doubt about it.

PHEW Would rather see a draw there.

Interesting that NUFC.com are running with this quote from Hughton: "Unfortunately he had a top keeper in Shay Given in front of him." while the Beeb goes with this: "Unfortunately he has a top keeper in Shay Given in front of him."