gazza ladra

Another step on the slippery slope towards an American-style playoffs system. There was a time-- as recently as my youth-- when how a team performed over the long haul of a season was what really counted. To win the pennant was an achievement. Only the team that won the league advanced to the playoffs. Then they introduced divisions (first two, then three or four) and playoffs and "wildcard" teams, which hadn't even managed to win their divisions, and all manner of bullshit until the season itself didn't really matter anymore. It's all about jockeying for position in the playoffs--- when the the real competions starts. These changes merely debased the baseball season; for other sports it was much, much worse. Hell, half the clubs in the basketball, hockey, and soccer leagues make the playoffs. Some achievement. Barring a promotion- relegation system, there has to be something in place to keep half the fans interested througout the campaign. So the champion crowned at the end of the season is the winner of a short tournament. It's all good for television revenue though... and, afterall, isn't that what it's all about? We Americans love it; it gives us the opportunity to gather around the water coolers and discuss our favorite commercials. Welcome to the future, suckers!

Fine. Take the Cup. Just fade down the stretch in the league. Do you think our league form or injury situation would have been any different had we knocked out WBA? Well, I certainly don't think our league form or injury situation was likely to improve if we were still in the Cup. If WBA have a good run great. If they win the thing.... well, good for them. Rather WBA took it than say Chelsea.

Fine. Take the Cup. Just fade down the stretch in the league.

I think the thinking was that Barton would return and having Barton back would be the same as signing two new players--- or something to that effect.

Is that good? Rather have WBA saddled with a futile FA Cup campaign a bit longer.

That's because Chinaglia was/ is an absolute penis. From what I've read, he's lucky not to be in prison now for fronting a mob attempt to buy Lazio. Still, the moment in the film where we've just heard everyone under the sun talk about him being a prick and he says "I don't give a shit" is priceless. That's him all over.

Yes, Bocanegra is a lock. And Beasely is pretty far off the chart now.

Max Bretos on FSC is. He also happens to be the worst commentator ever. Does he have a job anymore? Disappeared from the airwaves hasn't he? Not that I really miss him.

Size, history of near misses, importance to regional identity, and geographic/mental distance from the centers of power. To me the clubs' lack of success is the less telling in identifying "foreign NUFCs" than the other factors--past championships shouldn't eliminate obvious candidates. Someone mentioned PSG earlier; to my mind OM is a better French NUFC. Napoli is perfect for Italy. I'd eliminate clubs like PSG, Roma, and Hertha straight off because they are from the capital. Barca would otherwise be good fit except that they are far too successful. What about Athletic Bilbao?

That documentary on the Cosmos is class btw. Definitely worth a watch. Yeah, it brought back a lot of memories. Things I had forgotten. I was a little kid in the late 70s and the film is a useful reminder to those who were not around at the time (either too young or in Europe) what a huge star Georgio Chinaglia was. As a kid, I didn't know Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Best or Alberto or any of the other stars that had come to retire on a big fat paycheck from a hole in the ground. Chinaglia was the player that we all emulated on the playground. Sure, the US media was a 24-hour Pele circus, but on the playground Chinaglia was king. Really.

Good for them. They did really well in the window. Not especially sympathetic to Bolton or their fans, but ... it's nice not having "Bolton" in the Premier League.

I really dont see why we bought him. 2mil as well. Why we didn't get some youngster on loan instead of buying a 4th choice striker is beyond me. He's been first choice.

I liked Faye-- the second one, really under-appreciated. Might take him ahead of Bassong.

if were a couple up i wouldnt be surprised to see him to solidify things Five Man Backline.

Positive Smith will see some minutes though. Super sub?

It's fair. A simple message. A starting 11 that puts 5 past an opponent will receive an encore. The fact that Lovenkrands isn't starting is a bit disappointing. But he was really effective coming on as a substitute-- so I'm not surprised that Hughton is going with the exact plan that worked so well vs. Cardiff.

So, then, Lovenkrands is not starting? Edit: No. No, he isn't.

05. Liverpool fan for a day until I learned what the Champions League was. Couldn't bandwagon. Waited for the next season, decided I would support the worst team I saw. I chose them after visiting Newcastle and really falling in love with the area. It was right around the time when Fox Soccer started broadcasting here so I chose them and have watched almost every match since - missing very few indeed. Similar story for me. I was initially leaning towards Arsenal, because they play really beautiful football. I don't remember the exact game of my conversion, but I absolutely fell in love with the Toon the first game I saw them play. I knew Shearer from 96 and Robson from 1990--I was in Italy at the time. Until fairly recently, it was easier to see international football than European leagues in the US. So I enjoyed 1 1/2 seasons of bliss as a fan and then Partizan happened and its been nothing but misery since.

Given the knee-jerk/bipolar mood swings of the newcastle-online collective unconscious, I suggest the thread by retitled "Hughton (Will lead us into Europe if we get promoted)" Even better if his name is spelled "Houghton"...

Nolan to score. He'll do just enough to remain a lock for the starting 11 and thereby prolong the misery on these boards.

The affair must have taken place while Bridge and the woman were still together, otherwise I really don't see the issue--- inasmuch as it would warrant stripping Terry of the captaincy. Having extra-marital affairs is not that uncommon and it would not affect team morale-- so it wouldn't be an that important. If Bridge and the woman had separated, than Bridge has no bone to pick and the papers don't have much of a story.

No. They are not too good to go down. No. They will not go down.

5/6 years ago Keller was the starting keeper at Tottenham, and they went out and bought Paul Robinson-- because he was the better keeper. Just saying....

I've never understood why Kasey Keller is so highly rated by some American fans---some, not all. I've heard some former American players (Alexi Lalas and Eric Wynalda) make positive fools of themselves by praising him to the skies... A couple of weeks ago Wynalda was carrying on about how the US has the best collection of goalkeepers in the world. Wow. Just wow. During the same show, he said something about how Leeds might hold out for £10M for Beckford. Totally fucking clueless. If you think that the football pundits are bad in England, you should try watching a little Fox Soccer Channel next time you visit North America. 1878 gets it just right. Friedel really was/is something special. And Howard is decent--- unquestionably the best now available. But beyond that... well, Howard looks to have the job for a while.

Surprised that Slovenia are in Pot 4-- they've qualified for 2 of the last 3 World Cups. And then, Russia, who have qualified for one are in Pot 1.