Geordie Boot Boy

Hang on, is that Peter Crouch or not? If it is, what the hell's this shoot about? If not, then, "hey everyone, get a load of the Peter Crouch lookalike".

Puma's probably my favourite sportswear brand so I'm happy enough if it turns out to be them.

Diving is a way to get a competitive edge for your team. We want our players to put in everything they can to get a result for the team, yet some want their players to potentially limit their own contribution by refusing to dive. I can understand why it seems like you should be dead against it but it really is a situation of either nobody does it or everyone (who wants to get ahead) does it. I agree with the OP comment that the England players consistently get away with it in the press. Personally, I do see it as lazy xenophobia TBH. And it's not just Rooney and Gerrard either, e.g. John Terry pressurising referees is a form of cheating isn't it? Just about every team in the country tries that one though (professional and amateur). That actually bothers me more than the diving.

That's how I'd see it as well. I'd only play two of Gerrard, Lampard and Joe Cole, and Lampard is the one I'd leave out. To me it's about picking players who are going to give you a performance whatever the opposition. Lampard is obviously a very good player, but in a tight game against better or equal opposition he can disappear. Chelsea are nearly always better than the team they're playing so it's not something that's generally apparent at club level. Totally disagree. I think, of the three of them, Lampard is probably the least likely to disappear in the big game. He might not play well but that's another matter. He's always involved IMO. Gerrard is your disappearing man of those three.

"Graeme took a risk going there"? It'd have been more of a risk staying at a club which was in decline, because of him.

I got the feeling Rooney really wanted to prove that he's still capable of a bit of magic. He looked more exciting than he has for a while IYAM.

Agreed. Makes some good points. http://www.football365.com/john_nicholson/0,17033,8746_3612316,00.html

http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumb_62/114880154871bpH8.jpg

London and Bangcok. [sic]?

Quite stunning that! This guy has blown a hell of a lot of money on a bunch of players who don't even make the team anymore. Shocking stuff. Why were you the first reply to your own thread and you did it with a quote of the whole article? That kind of thing's really annoying when you're reading the site on your phone.

I agree with the sentiment, but that phrase always makes me laugh - "look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself a few questions". *looks self in mirror* "Did i look better when I had hair?" "When did i start puting all this weight on?" "Is my third chin immediately obvious?" "What is that weird hair growing out of my right nostril?" Well, I think we all have a better idea of how brummie looks when he's sitting posting on here now. http://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/58/03/22990358.jpg

I can't remember seeing that. I think it was one of the bairns (Kev? Jamie?) in one of the match threads.

That is actually a blessing in disguise. Lampard is sh*t and only ever performs when his side are comfortably ahead in games. He hides when the pressure is on. Lampard's scored lots of important goals for Chelsea and, until recently, he scored a fair few goals for England in tight situations. People can say what they like about him but I don't think there's any argument in him hiding in the big games.

I just can't see the Thierry Henry coming to Newcastle. He thinks of himself as cultured and classy and, as a city, Newcastle doesn't have an image that fits the bill. I think he'd turn us down. That being said, he's my favourite current non-NUFC player, so I'd love it to happen, hypothetically.

Good post. I went to the Barcelona game against Villareal a couple of months ago. Ronaldinho looked like he was trying hard, certainly that he hadn't lost any desire but he didn't play well. It seems plausible that his poor performance (and poor form) was down to his lifestyle away from football and a lack of effort in training from what you're saying. BTW, best player on the night was Iniesta. I hadn't watched them for a while and hadn't realised what a good player he's become.

Provided the winner of the other semi final wins the cup, I don't mind too much who is beaten in the final.

Liverpool complaining about the referee? That is priceless. It really is.

I hate deluded pricks like Bramble (Paul Robinson's another one). They're shit but if anyone points it out, they must have another agenda. They genuinely delude themselves into not seeing their own flaws.

Hate both teams quite a lot. I think Liverpool will win over two legs but I hope Chelsea do. Surely Liverpool's luck in Europe has to run out at some point?

People are free to do what they want but if I caught myself doing it, I'd feel a bit pathetic.

mackems.gif Good point. I hadn't taken that into account. Sorry, it wasn't worth putting anything else. The smiley did the job Always find it funny that players automatically become s*** if you don't like them for some reason (see the Chelsea clearout thread for comments about Ashley Cole for another example) Ashley Cole is a good example of someone who I hate but rate as a football player actually. So, no they don't automatically become shit if I don't like them. I think John Terry is a defender who "gets stuck in", has reasonably good leadership skills, and is good with his head for set pieces. When it comes to qualities like positioning, tackling and ability on the ball, he comes up short IMO as compared to someone like Ferdinand, Woodgate, and King for instance. [flippant]He always looks like a better player too because he's allowed to use his hands to block shots unlike most other defenders in the league.[/flippant]

Aye, I suppose it's more that I respect him than that I actually like him. You've got to respect someone who took a fairly average (IMO) amount of natural talent and made himself one of the most influential players in the World on a football pitch through sheer desire and determination.

mackems.gif Good point. I hadn't taken that into account.

I still say he's very overrated.

People on here don't seem to agree but I think he's a very good player, better than John Terry even (though, that's partly because I don't rate Terry that highly). He is injured far too much though. It'd be funny if they sold him and his injuries went away whereas Johnathan Woodgate reverted to type.