Shearer9

Ameobi 3-1

Ben Clark 2-2

Owen Goal 2-1

Ameobi GOAL!

Goal, Hatlepool, James Brown

I thought there were logistical problems (like the lights going out in the semi-final) as well as political ones (when fan trouble was expected in one city so the game was moved to another). I wonder if this will actually be a success for Venezuela, I remember reading that the model for hosting major tournaments (mostly international football tournaments and the Olympics) was basically spend hundreds of millions or billions up front and then hoping that the areas affected reap the economic benefits through tourism after the fact, has anyone seen an articles about how Venezuela did on that? And yes, It'd be great to see so many goals scored in a world cup, although I remember Euro 2004 as pretty exciting stuff.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6899670.stm Looks like they're planning on turning the Galaxy soley into some sort of revenue source based on Beckham's name. Yeah, this is good for football in the US, sends out the right message.

There's also the distraction factor. I'm surprised nobody has brought up the Tevez/Mascherano thing with West Ham, damn near got them relegated (saved them by chance in the end).

Surprised he's not going for £9m or some such ridiculous fee knowing Charlton...

Hilarious. Given scraps all night and no real clear cut chances to even attempt a shot at goal and he is slated. He wins basically all the balls in the air and he is slated. Despite this being played in hot, humid conditions and playing with some sub standard players around him. What was he suppose to do all night? Run up and down the wing? Put in a few crosses, which lead to goals? He did what he could, he held the ball up and won the balls in the air. He scored a goal and this is playing in a side that was utter shit all night. I dont think i would expect much more from any players. Target men, especially if operating as a lone striker, have to work a lot harder than that in order to create goals and chances. Think about Drogba, Van Nisteelrooy, and Kevin Davies from Bolton, those guys are/were target men, and they really had to put in all-action performances to lead the line, something Viduka wasn't doing. There was almost no movement from anyone on the team, including Viduka. Yeah, he's happy to stand around and win speculative long balls when they get near him, but that's not gonna cut it in this league, the pace is a lot faster. I'd like to see him along side a pacier partner, and I think a Viduka - Owen/Martins partnership has promise, but he really shouldn't be played as a lone striker. And it was a pretty laid-back performance regardless.

I remember the old predicition league had a bonus question every week, like "first scorer" or "number of corners" or some obscure thing like "Total League One Attendance for the weekend". Any plans to work anything like that in?

I can understand what you're saying but I can't help being cynical about his comments tbh. He was challenged weeks ago to make that kind of statement and if he had made this statement then, I would have believed in its sincerity more than I do now. My view is that he kept quiet to evaluate his options, found there weren't any so has then made the statement. MO says he doesn't respond to rumour. If he didn't want to then, why does he want to now? The easiest way for him to clear the air and bring sincerity to this statement is for him to say that he is signing a new contract with the opt out clause removed. Until he does that, there will always be the feeling that Owen is simply waiting for a club to activate the clause. Why should he sign a contract with the release clause removed? If he'd signed for Manchester United then I would see no need for him to have a release clause in his contract, and I'm sure he would too. But he didn't, he signed for Newcastle United - recognising (as I and others with their heads screwed on do) that we are pretty much second-rate, and quite volatile as a club, he negotiated a release clause in his contract in case things went tits up. If I was as good as he is, and was making Newcastle my club after time at Liverpool and Real Madrid, I'd be sure to request a release clause too. The clause should have been for at least the price we bought him for, that's the only thing that grates in all this, but that's down to our master negotiator of a chairman. As for his comments, I could have done without him making them at all, and just been happy to see him start the season playing for us. But when there's clamour all summer for him to make the comments, I'm certainly not gonna slag him off for finally making them. Despite also being cynical of Owen's motives, I still think there might be a bit more to it. The amount of unprofessional administration and management he's witnessed here over 2 years must have been shocking for a player of his quality, and I can imagine that until he saw Sam's methods that he was also probably pretty worried about being perenially injured like he has been. I think a week with Big Sam and the lads in Austria at least "sealed the deal" as far as him staying in Newcastle, if it wasn't the entire reason in itself. I mean, can you imagine him making this kind of statement under Roeder or Souness?

What kinds of posts was he making?

Got all of the English transfers: http://home.skysports.com/transfernews.aspx

That Celtic away kit is really nice. Very much in the vein of that Arsenal Highbury anniversary kit, the darker colors and low key.

Anyone know if this applies to the US Setanta channel?

My guess is that those were just continental players who would only play for one manager in England: Wenger. They wound up back on the continent because that's where they started and are comfortable. I dunno about Overmars and Pires, but Anelka, Henry, and Vieira were all pretty heartfelt on a move away from Arsenal, and when players that talented want to leave that badly, then they usually get what they want.

I think Bridge's biggest asset is getting forward and supporting the left side. He's always getting forward and putting in quality crosses.

I'm sure he's figured out that with a decent manager and squad he won't get any more games.

I remember really enjoying it when Norwich beat ManUtd 2-0 a few years ago. It was 0-0 at halftime, and the way it just built and built and built towards Norwich winning was really exciting. Then they had to desperatley hang on at the end. Quality game.

I seem to remember liking the them before the current one, but I can't remember how it goes. Anyone know where it could be found?

Surely better at that than playing in midfield

He's an awful commentator too. Always talking over the other guy. For a color commentator he needs to shut the fuck and and stop sucking the argies' collective dick.

Argentina brought a full strength squad. Bet they maul the US Thursday. The Americans brought an "experimental" squad. Won't be able to manage Tevez, Messi, Riquelme.... (Not that our best 11 would do much better) Still, I appreciate the thought. This past weekend they beat Mexico-- first time I've seen them "play" with Mexico and win. Ehh, I don't know about that. We always give the mexicans a good battle. It pisses me off though that we put so much time and effort playing teams like Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, et cetera and we don't use our resources to go up against actual competition. I mean, how are the yanks supposed to get better? Against mexico, we got dominated in the first half to come back and get a p.k. and a pretty lucky goal. Other than those two, we played terribly, and that really shows when we get into a competitive international stage. I guess a rivalry will be a rivalry though. Not necessarily who has the better players, but who will show more of the will to win. It's more of a political thing. The US fucked up at the world cup and didn't get the manager they wanted so they knew they had to get something this summer. Even with a full squad nothing was guaranteed at the Copa America. Thus all the eggs went into the Copa America basket. And plus the MLS season screws everything up.

That sale really does put things in perspective. If a consistent golden boot winner and world class player over 7 or 8 years is worth £16m, even if he is 30, then no way is Bent worth £17m, after two pretty good season. I see the logic that Bent is worth £17m to Charlton, as I think he would be prolific in the Championship and could well be the difference between promotion or not. But he's surely not worth that much to any buying club.