Shak

True. I blame the old board, personally. Useless cunts never got anything right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBrnOpNaNH4

In the event of a draw, a randomly selected team that was eliminated earlier in the tournament then gets through, or even crowned champions.

Take penalties before extra time, then play extra time anyway. If it's a draw after extra time, then the team who won penalties gets the Big W. Better still, do all of this before the regular 90 minutes, have a penalty shootout then extra time. Then play the regular game.

The fat bastard defies belief, he really does. You know he'll still be at it in an old folks home some day, telling anyone who'll listen that Newcastle ruined him and that he was a better manager than Ferguson, just he got screwed over.

The point Dave was making I believe was that you have a tendency to lump in anyone who criticises the old board in any way at all with the few, and its a very small few from what I've seen, who do fail to give them any credit whatsoever for anything. My opinion of the old board/Shepherd was that their hearts were in the right place, they were genuinely trying to take the club forward, but their decision making at key times in their latter years of power seemed to indicate that they were always likely to struggle to get us there. I reckon quite a few share this opinion, and its very unfair to lump in anyone who does with the very few who fail to give them any credit whatsoever. Given the size of the club, it's reasonable to argue that there's nothing really stopping us from getting up among the top teams in the country again. Except, of course, how the club is run by those in charge. So for that reason I think people were happy to see a change at board level. Is the new board in any way gauranteed to be better? Not at all. But my feeling was that Shepherd's reign had run its course, and while nobody is denying there were some good times in there I do believe we'd gone as far as we were ever going to under him. So people are generally optimistic about having someone new in charge, and are waiting to see what happens. If they do a shite job and in a couple of years we're still stranded in mid-table, then you can bet that they won't be popular on here. But surely the deserve a fair chance first? And surely people don't deserve to be attacked for giving them that chance?

That would have the potential to go on for absolutely ages though surely?

My thoughts too. You have to be pretty exceptional to make it as a little guy in the Premierleague and I dont think he's that good. i.e. a Modric? Juninho did alright Zola also

Versatile and works very hard, two things Rafa absolutely loves. But even if you do rate the lad, how anyone can think he'd be a good acquisition for Liverpool is beyond me. What they really lack is that bit of class in wide areas, lots of efficient players but nobody who can conjure up that bit or true brilliance to decide a game. Not even Jon will argue that Milner is that type of player, surely? Bizzare signing for them if it happens, and would just further strenghten the notion that Rafa only knows one way to play.

Think they're great tbh. And it's not the "lottery" some people would have you believe either. It's not like every player just blasts the ball as hard as possible and hopes for the best, while the keepers randomly pick a side and dive there. To take a good penalty under such pressure is a great test of a footballers abilities, both mentally and technically. For goalkeepers its a great test of their abilities too, can you read the players body language well enough to get yourself in a position to make the save? Obviously there can be a degree of luck involved. Maybe one guy blasts one down the middle and the ball squirms in under the keeper, while someone from the other team can do the same and it catches the keepers leg and rebounds out. But it's no different from regular play, when games can easily end up being decided by deflections, bad refereeing decisions or any other number of variables.

Split myself laughing when I read the actual text tbh... Still, RIP.

Doesn't it just.

THE deadline.

Souness used the word "maestro" three times in the one sentence describing Arshavin on Irish TV here. Looks quality, been at the heart of everything Russia have done. Always wants the ball and his movement is very good.

Honestly I'd give him away at this point with what we'll save on wages. Think we'll end up getting £3m or so for him though, probably off Sunderland.

Defended Shola a lot over the years, gets way too much criticism from some people, some of it on a personal level which is a bit pathetic quite frankly because he seems a nice fella. Now though, I hope he just fucks off ASAP, the cunt.

Nah, just the rubbish ones. So his point still stands then.. Nah Beye, Owen and Martins FTW! Given up on wonderboy then? I do still rate N'Zogbia like, even when he's not arsed he's twice the player Milner can ever hope to be.

Got to believe he'll make a very good coach one day if nothing else, such a clever player as well as being so technically sound.

Nah, just the rubbish ones. So his point still stands then.. Nah Beye, Owen and Martins FTW!

Nah, just the rubbish ones.

Well if Fabregas isnt starting ahead of Xavi then he shouldn't be starting at all IMO. Iniesta can play from the wings, as he has done for Barca a lot and thats what he did yesterday. Fabregas wouldn't be as good in that role. Iniesta is the better player right now n'all IMO, but in time Cesc will be better.

for us or for villa/liverpool?? Have a guess, using the rest of my post to figure it out.

He doesn't have a good cross on him tbh, his deliveries generally lack any pace and it takes him an eternity to get the ball into the box. These two factors combined mean the crosses generally have to be absolutely inch perfect to have any chance of being converted, and they very rarely are. He's a useful player to have when you're doing poorly as he'll keep working and might beat his man a few times and maybe create a bit of space here and there, but in a team looking to play good football he's not what you want as he generally takes an age on the ball and rarely does anything of use with it, which can destroy any tempo the team is trying to build. £7m would be absolute robbery, IMO.

How about... you suck my balls, buddy. I don't wanna sound like a queer or nothing but..... Okay! Pfft, missed the setup completely. Very disappointing. Sorry Beginning to question the depths of your South Park knowldge to be quite frank, young Towelieson. I could see why you would question it after such a f***-up, but let me assure you, my knowledge is deep and true. We shall see. I'm going to design some fiendish tests for you, be on your toes.

That's actually pretty good. Like it. Not particuarilly, one fundamental flaw. If they've got any sense, both managers will get together and let each other score, so after about 2 mins, each game would be 1-1. The only bonus point system that has any mileage in it is the one you mentioned early scoring 3 goals (but only in victory as there may be some corruption if you awarded it in defeat too) or alternatively winning by a 3 goal margin. Not likely, considering that this would be considered match-fixing to an extent. Once somebody scores first then what exactly is their motivation to let the other team equalis? Given that neither manager would be stupid enough to agree to such an arangement on paper or on tape, there's no proof such an agreement was ever in place, and if there is then both managers are in deep shit.