Segun Oluwaniyi

Any image of Barton as a martyr being pushed out by the evil people running the club is absurd. I like the player alot, but in his time here he has had more criminal convictions (2) than successful and productive seasons (1). He has been a massive disappointment and waste of resources. I sympathise with Enrique and even Nolan, but I have little time for this idiot's complaints. We had every right to sack him in 2008, yet we stuck by his side.

I understand the fickleness of rankings and fair play to Norway, I did not realise they had also defeated Germany. Still, a problems arises when these rankings are then used to seed qualification tournaments. It just seems absurd to me that a nation can fail to qualify for every major competition in which they are allowed to compete and still be placed so highly by the system. I don't see the logic in that.

FIFA rankings are really annoying me at this point. How are Norway 12th? They haven't qualified for any major tournament in recent times, so they have accumulated nothing from the World Cup or Euros. They have nice wins over France and Portugal, but this is really all there is. Same with Burkina Faso. Why are they ranked above Nigeria and Cameroon? They qualified for 1 out of the last three ACNs and tallied 1 point in their 2010 showing. It reminds me of when Nigeria's ranking shot up to 12th around the 2006 World Cup because we didn't qualify and got to beat many rubbish teams.

Lee Evans: "Gonorrhea... Herpes... Madeupistan!" Aye, it wasn't far off that like. Some Scottish lad on another forum: I doubt that, tbh. Until your playing in 40 degree heat on a dirt pitch in some God-forsaken country, while feeling genuinely in danger, it is difficult to say what you would do. Away matches are difficult everywhere for everyone. Anyway, Africa and Asia's groups also appear easier because of the format. Asia's best teams go into a much more difficult group, while Africa's top 10 are subjected to ridiculous two match aggregate ties. I also don't understand what makes Brazil and Qatar especially difficult for Europeans. Qatar especially is only 7-8 hours away, which is just a night. Anyway, fairly happy with Nigeria's group. Malawi really shouldn't be an issue, nor should the four other teams that could possibly constitute our group (you never know with these jokers tbf though). The real challenge should be the playoff matches as you should expect. Looking at the rest of the groups, I fully expect Mali and Guinea to qualify above Algeria and Egypt respectively. Morocco have a fairly good team, and they will give Cote D'Ivoire all it can handle I believe. Zambia could provide a stern test for Ghana based on their 2010 ACN showing (I think Ghana should still walk that group, though).

Sorry my reaction was overzealous. I find it stupid that every single African world cup spot will be determined by playoff matches. It only benefits the pockets of those that run CAF, as they will make more money from these extra highly anticipated matches. Personally, I would much rather a setup that selects the best teams, as they will be representing our continent on the world stage. What if a nation wins all of the group matches, but falls in the last stage on away goals? It is just too open to fluky, unnecessary results, imo. Which is why no other federation uses such a system. Bradley is underappreciated because he's a boring American with no former pedigree. He's achieved alot with the US. They are a very organised and competitive side.

I'm going to do some research to make sure I am not misunderstanding it, but the format for African qualification to the 2014 World Cup seems to be completely absurd and insane. So, 10 groups of four. The winners of these groups will then advance to two-legged aggregate tie with another side to determine who gets the bid. Essentially, all of the African qualifiers will be decided in two-legged aggregate playoff matches. Even OFC, which only has half a bid has not resorted to something like this. What is the point? The games are going to be absolutely mental, though.

He's already 25 or so, and he wasn't even that productive or dominant in Holland, tbh. good player, but he'll never be anything more than that.

He's the sort of player who should play for a mid-level (4-7) team in England/Spain or a top team in France/Italy/Germany/Russia so he can really shine. He'll be wasted where he is at. There will always be someone better. edit: Essentially what Piss said,

Anyone who can legitimately freestyle for ten minutes while also dancing, needs to be given a record deal immediately.

These girls clearly have not rehearsed this act more than one time.

Is this awful video on Orlando's website meant to be the match? They couldn't afford decent cameras? It looks like an ACN qualifying match against Niger.

Money. Unlike in FM, Football League clubs have to pay a lot of extra money to take along 2 extra subs they'll never consider using. What? Do you mean things like travel expenses? Surely these massive football clubs could cover the cost of transporting two extra people throughout the relatively small area that comprises England and Swansea.

Wow. Rondon lost his head, man. This is mad.

As someone who follows African football and Newcastle, I've seen some bad football over the years, but this is the most dry, boring, and inane nonsense I've ever seen. Another brawl.

You have already responded to this statement. I would agree that it is incorrect, but you need to let old battles die.

You speak of this parity but Baltimore seems never to benefit from it. It does not exist if only 10 teams benefit from it. I am no expert on baseball (a novice, in fact), but my experience disputes your argument. The NBA has a weird lack of parity also. The teams that win are the teams that spend the most and the teams gifted stars in the draft (decided by Stern). Only the NFL is truly equal.

Do you all have the option of watching this on Youtube in the UK? Just discovered that I can watch this match on there. Quite nice. Good English coverage as well. As an aside: This tournament just seems very dreary so far. Atmosphere is depressing.

i've often wondered and asked about this in various places. whats to stop players just saying "nah f*** the draft, i don't want to go there" Yes, in the NBA for example, there is a wage structure for all of the 60 selections in the draft. For first round picks, the contracts are a guaranteed 2 years with two following years that the team has the option of activating. Players can not want to go to a certain place and what would most likely happen in that scenario is the team trading the player for another pick and other assets.

Is that 90 million pounds or so Man U have spent this summer? Where are all of these team getting this from?

What do we want? Everything to stay the same with mind numbing inevitability. When do we want it? Now. When have we had it? For twenty years.

With this spending, Liverpool have reloaded to become the team they were a few years ago when Rafa had them thinking the title was a serious possibility. At the end of things, they still lack the top level quality needed to win this league, but they'll be more competitive on that front.

The NBA allstar game is an embarrassment to the sport. Similarly, all non-international friendly matche are a waste of everyone's time.

I called them the two black players because I had forgotten the Brasilian's name. Both players have done fine for Chelsea, and have filled in for Essien (who has essentially been an absentee at times) a lot. They don't really need to replace him, imo. They'll get Modric and that young England starlet will start more. Cheik is not needed by them.

If you are buying a non-EU citizenship holding player from another English team who has received a work permit in the past, do you need to apply for another work permit when you sign the player?

Why is dated italicized? What the hell did you do?