gazza ladra

it's crazy. the entire world cup bar 2 or 3 stadiums will be hosted in doha and its suburbs, and doha is a relatively small city. the other "cities" include places that dont actually exist atm and a couple of small villages around the size of Corbridge. and then in temperatures in excess of 40'c. in a country with backwards rules on sexuality equality, drinking in public, human rights, and the freedom of the press. and a place with absolutely no football culture to speak of where over a dozen of their national team players have just been imported from abroad. ive no doubt with the time they have to prepare they'll manage to pull it off, but that's not to say they deserve to host it, cos they don't. I don't disagree with you entirely. I just don't think that "deserve" has anything to do with it. Qatar is backwards. Ok. But since when has being "backwards" politically or socially ruled a nation out? Political backwardness didn't prevent Italy in 38 or Argentina in 78 from hosting. To say that they do not have the infrastructure to host the games is to instantly rule out 95% of the globe. I don't think that the bar for hosting the games should be so high as to eliminate poorer or smaller nations. FIFA already operates under the principle that the games rotate between the confederations. This endorses the idea that different parts of the globe are entitled to host the games. Prior to 2002, Asia was a glaring omission. Prior to the last World Cup, it was Africa. With Russia, they've got Eastern Europe for the first time. Qatar represents the Middle East/Arab world. I see Central Asia in my future. Uzbekistan 2034!

Qatar is effectively hosting the World Cup for the Arab world. Perfectly understandable.

@ thenorthumbrian 100% correct. I'm disappointed about the U.S. not winning-- only because I'd like to attend the games. But realistically, England and the United States have already hosted the World Cup and looking at it as a neutral I'd much rather see the games take place in a country that has never hosted the tournament before.

I'd rather see Nolan playing off Carroll. He's got a knack for being in the right place to put away Andy's flicks. AC created a number of opportunities against Chelsea that I think Nolan might have put away. Those opportunities were just wasted on Shola.

Just noticed that AC has been picked by 49% of the teams at Fantasy Football League.

Hope you are right. Doubt it though.

Well, Enrique made the soccernet team of the week. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=847157&sec=england&root=england&cc=5901 I love Enrique, but he was giving the ball away a little too easily in the second half for my liking. Good to see him get some recognition though.

I thought we were very, very fortunate to get the point. Sure Routledge's shot was the best chance of the second half, but Chelsea had so many and so much possession. They must feel that they dropped two points. I didn't think Guthrie was bad, he just didn't do anything that would want me to put in in the line up ahead of Nolan or Barton next to Tiote. Routledge, on the other hand, was quite good. Before today I don't think he's shown much this season. We've been a better side with Barton out wide. But after today's performance I'd certainly like to see Routledge start again, with Barton moved into central midfield. Happy with the performances from Campbell and S Taylor. Great performances all things considered: First starts, Taylor being out almost a year, up against Drogba, Anelka, Kalou. Wouldn't mind seeing either starting league games. I really like Williamson, but he has started to make me really nervous: he's a red card, penalty in the box waiting to happen.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=840703&sec=england&root=england&cc=5901

Connection Problems: I got excited, thought something had happened.

Yes.

I suppose that's a good result for us. Still-- hate Manchester United.

w00t Wofs

Fuck em. that's all

Great. Going to feel a whole lot better Sunday.

Barton and Carroll in my fantasy team. We're gonna win the league!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes. Deluded. Exactly. I was wrong about Parker. Isn't that the point of the thread?

The Guardian Squad Sheet reckons Smith with start in front of Tiote. Luckily, they haven't got it right yet. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/sep/24/squad-sheets-newcastle-united-stoke Tiote isn't listed as a sub either. Or injured. Or suspended.

Having watched the Villa game several hundred times, I can tell you that Williamson was holding players throughout the game. The commentators noticed too.

Parker, thought he wasn't good enough for us.

Switch to a host outside the UK-- problem solved. Your copyright laws are insane.

They're deluded.

Sol for Colo maybe. And Krul obviously. Otherwise the same lineup as that started against Everton.

Ok, I'm not from the North East and Sunderland really mean nothing to me... they might as well be Fulham to me. Still, I like reading about Newcastle United and with the exception of this forum and sundry NUFC blogs, there is nowhere on the interwebs that wastes as much time talking about my club as the SMB boards. It's clueless and frequently laughable, but no more than NUFC blog.

Ok. Breathe. The club that wins the League Cup qualifies for Europe. No? So, yes I want to see NUFC win the Cup. Winning the Cup, competing in Europe is a good thing no? More football. Makes it easier to attract and keep talent? What is difficult to understand?