Vinny Green Balls

Very happy to see Holden in consideration of a few. And he is not even playing in his best position. He is the best crosser of the ball that the U.S. has produced, with the possible exception of Eddie Lewis in his prime. And with both feet. That said, I think he would be a sub at best. A few for me are still up for grabs for the midpoint best team, but I would definitely have Carroll, Nasri and Bale in it. And given who Barton is playing with, I would likely throw him in there. At times, he has looked like he would win the game single-handedly.

let's buy Gervinho. Everyone will be happy then.

The blatantly obvious analysis by John Harkes. "This is the knockout stage, so they must score more goals if they want to continue." Must really irk Wynalda, who is a decent commentator, that Harkes first bangs his wife, then keeps his job with sterile, unincisive, and often idiotic analysis.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2009/1/9/1231495145053/Lee-Bowyer-001.jpg Jonathan Banks ---> Beverly Hills Cop villain http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsB/913-875.gif Lee Bowyer ----> Insufferable douchebag whose only positive contribution was popping Dyer.

FSA represents everything that is odious in the footballing world. This may sound idealistic, but I actually watch the game to be entertained. His anti-football is an entertainment black-hole, sucking any enjoyment into its event horizon, never to be seen again. So from that perspective, it pleases me that he got sacked. Not to mention that this arrogant douchebag looks like a hybrid of Cory Haim and that flying monster from The Neverending Story. That said, their reasons for sacking him were shit.

The players can't be faulted for this mess, but they could've well hid, and concentrated more on getting moves away from this poison cloud. One game only, but it appears that they are not going to allow 2008-09 to happen again, despite Ashley's best efforts. Agreed that this is the most likable squad we've had in awhile. Gotta love Barton for his contradictions. Seems an incisive, yet humble guy in his interviews, but we all know that he is a lit powder keg, ready to do something completely insane at any time...like a Hun in a Roman bath.

Donovan's best position is behind the striker. He's an outstanding passer of the ball with very good vision, and obviously a lot of pace (amazing that a fair few Earthquakes fans used to bitch that he wasn't fast enough). He's also a great finisher, but lacks a killer instinct. Would likely pass the ball if he had an open net. He's an average dribbler, who won't beat you with skill but with pace. The weakness that would be brutally exposed in Newcastle, however, is his horribly fragile personality. He claims that he has changed, but I highly doubt it. The feeling at the club has to be perfect for him, or he disappears into mediocrity, which is what I think would happen here. Seen this all before with the Earthquakes, the Galaxatives, and the U.S. Could have been an incredible player, but doesn't have the nuts for it.

Donovan doing his obsessive compulsive sign of the cross 1500 times before every penalty he takes. Just irritates the piss out of me.

i suppose it's better than chat roulette.

I'm the best supporter. Until the 90's, I had no connection to the city. I live in a relatively footballing-unfriendly country. And I chose to support a perennially under-achieving club who gets off on shafting its supporters, while every other asshole in the States chose Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and ManUre, and now Spurs. So argue amongst yourselves over the also-ran trophy.

I have followed Holden since I first saw him score a wonder goal 2 minutes after he came on as a sub for the Dynamo 4 years ago or so. He is the best all-round player the U.S. has ever produced. The holding role he plays for Bolton is not his best position. He was fantastic on either wing for the Dynamo, as he can cross well with both feet. A good versatile player you can throw anywhere in the midfield. Probably not realistic now, mind you.

I would agree that some fans get on players backs too sharpish like. Welcome to nearly every sports club on the planet.

I'd love Donovan here, but he gets jaded very easily. I've seen this from him ever since he joined the Earthquakes back in 2001. This club does not strike me as a place that would give him the stability that he needs. And he sorely lacks the toughness to adapt to any old environment.

The good old salad days...when men were men, who took it up the poop chute without a word of complaint. A proud stock of miners getting mined themselves.

Stevie, are you ok, are you ok, Stevie? You've been hit by...Smooth Genitals a song for Campbell or Xisco.

the thickness of his cock tends to remove any facial angularity. could make iggy pop look like Mike Ashley after a 2-hour backstage session.

Would you support Kim Jong Il just because you were born above the 38th parallel? This is certainly nowhere near that level, but unconditional support can be particularly destructive. The difference between patriotism and nationalism.

He, along with of course Barton and Carroll, is the difference between lower mid-table and a relegation scrap. Certainly an X-Factor. Apart form scoring, you really don't know what he does well, but when he's gone, we are much the worse for it. Reminds me of nearly every player on this year's World Series winning Giants team. Or like Ozzy in Black Sabbath. Ozzy, a mediocre singer on his best days...but thrown together with Iommi, Butler and Ward, then the sum is much greater than the parts.

genius.

Certainly respect this, but I still disagree. For me I suppose it hits too close to him when a well-liked principal at the high school I was teaching at was jettisoned and replaced with a sniveling yes-man who knew nothing, nor cared anything about the bleak educational situation in South LA. We can only be taken for mugs for so long. Pricks like this sociopath need to be made and example of, instead of giving them a massive bailout (whether tacitly or no). One victory won't wipe this ill feeling away for me. Canny mad how your school situation resembled a situation at Newcastle like, happened to me once - we got a new headmaster and in his first assembly said "who's Daniel Armstrong?", the kid put his hand up, and the headmaster goes "you're a cunt". Must be an attraction just below my conscious level toward coups, and a resentment toward acts of utter douchebaggery, because I didn't commit them myself. Disappointment at being a 35 year old man who still hasn't earned a spot on A&E's Evil Men Week. That fucking brown-nosing Pol Pot asshole.

Maybe he's both narcissistic and a golden shower enthusiast, so this is just another day at the office.

Pardew to head to Nolan's with the gutter glitter in celebration?

Certainly respect this, but I still disagree. For me I suppose it hits too close to him when a well-liked principal at the high school I was teaching at was jettisoned and replaced with a sniveling yes-man who knew nothing, nor cared anything about the bleak educational situation in South LA. We can only be taken for mugs for so long. Pricks like this sociopath need to be made and example of, instead of giving them a massive bailout (whether tacitly or no). One victory won't wipe this ill feeling away for me.

Didn't see the match today, but he just seems to be getting quicker with every game I have seen.

Yes. He might not be worth 20 million pounds to the outside world, but he is worth more than that to us. We will never likely replace like for like without spending big, in all honesty.