Segun Oluwaniyi

I heard that too. It's funny also because the guy is commentating by himself and says some cringe-worthy things. It's the same for every Newcastle match on ESPN. Still, 46,000 for a Monday second divison match is astounding.

ESPN commentator: "Again he shows great spirit. It's not just Kevin Nolan's goal that have caught the eye this season, it's his all-around play."

Poor defending for that Blackstock chance. Needs to improve, can't afford to go down here.

Is this Jeffren decent? I haven't seen him before.

I really don't know what your problem with him is.

IP, do you have experience in graphic arts or something? I have to say your efforts in this thread are really of a high calibre.

The MLS has enough problem keeping the teams viable and successful (wll not successful, but alive) without random, no mark second divison teams filling up the top division.

Box-to-box has always struck me as, barring a select few, a player who isn't particularly good defending or attacking really. Recklessly banded about term making players sound better than they are. Position doesn't really exist in the modern game anyway.

I like that kit a lot. Nicer than Addidas ever put together for NUFC. The pose is quite ridiculous, though. I have one of these type MetroStars shirts with Diallo on the back. http://www.byronalvarez.com/chivas_alvarez_08142002v111.JPG Or at least I used to have one.

How is that Nigerian kid Ekpo? He looked decent in the Olympics.

Porto angry as Hulk gets belated reprieve -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Porto will seek compensation from the Portuguese league after the federation reduced Hulk's suspension from four months to just three games - 14 less than the forward has already sat out. Hulk was suspended for four months by the league, with team-mate Cristian Sapunaru handed a six-month ban, for their part in a tunnel bust-up involving Benfica stewards last December. However, the federation has now slashed that to just three matches - four for Sapunaru - following Porto's appeal. The centre-forward has already missed 17 games, which has had a detrimental effect on Porto's hopes of retaining the title, leaving coach Jesualdo Ferreira fuming. "Finally we have the decision of the Portuguese Football Federation's Council of Justice to remove Hulk's and Sapunaru's punishments, after nearly three months of absence," he said. "When I said it was a disgrace, it seems that I was right. All this damaged Porto, its players. They are major investments and we feel aggrieved." Porto have released a statement announcing they have "instructed their lawyers to bring the appropriate measures of accountability and compensation" against both the league and its directors, as well as calling for heads to roll. The repercussions following the federation's decision have already started with league president Herminio Loureiro handing in his resignation. However, Ferreira believes that should be just the beginning. "We were deceived," he said. "The sackings, which have started today and will probably continue, are not enough for us, because we went through some very complicated situations. "We are happy that Hulk and Sapunaru have had their sentences reduced, but we are angry to have been harmed. The way we were penalised on a sporting level is hard to tell. "How is it that Portuguese football, which will have a team in the World Cup, can transmit these images to the world?" Porto were one point behind Benfica in the Liga Sagres standings when the suspensions were enforced but now trail the league leaders by 11 points with just seven games remaining. Sapunaru was sent out on loan to Rapid Bucharest in February. --------------- I think I'd be slightly aggrieved as well. "Penalty" seems to a be word most people cannot say correctly. I know a lot of Nigerians say "penarity".

I'll assume he no longer plays for MLS, but Mamadou Diallo is he greatest player in the history of that league. My cousin gave me a Metrostars shirt of him that I used to wear, until it stopped fitting and I didn't wear it anymore.

We've got by far the easiest run-in of the lot but we've left it a bit too late to get fourth. It would take a collapse by more than one side. tbh I wouldn't mind finishing 6th/7th and still missing out on the Europa League because less games would make it easier to have a proper push for 4th next season. Let's be entirely honest, the Europa League is a total waste of time. I shed precisely zero tears when we went out at the first hurdle this year. Love these team that kill themselves to get in Europe, and don't try when they get there ammuses me. The arrogance from teams who haven't been in the CL in ten or more years is quite funny to me.

If Kadar counts, than we definitely need to be counting N'Zogbia.

Napoli are a very good side and have passed them in the table. Tons of talent on that team, but yeah Juve are rather pitiful now. Can you imagine a Juve team with a GD of +3 30 matches into the season? Still, they are only 3 points off of fourth place. It will be a dogfight to the end.

Maybe I am being misunderstood here. What I am saying is that for the welfare of the gay footballer it is probaly beneficial not to come out. Who wants to deal with the inevitable media storm or negative attitudes that will be present among other players? I've posted two examples of openly gay atheletes. One was isolated from the community and the other met some similar negative reactions from honest players, which is representative of what he would have faced in the locker room. If one was to come out today, the reaction from the media would be positive (The politically-correct nature of society), but I honestly think it would be much different among players and other people in football. This is why no gay player has come out, imo. It is obvious they exist. Religion doesn't isn't really relevant in this case.

To me a failure does less than what is expected of him. Imo, neither Butt nor nolan or failures. Nolan has proven himself to be a decent player with good instincts, who is rather worn-down physically and unfit. Butt has been useless for three years now. He's unequivocally proven himself to be finished as a footballer at any decent level. This is what I expected from both. Shola and Barton are definitely both disappointments, though. However, this is because they haven't been able to stay fit at all.

I think that with Kadar's versatility, it is likely he will see a fair bit of time next season, whether we are in the Premiership or not.

I don't think Baba meant it like you're thinking tbf. I think he's saying it's an example that would terrify any gay footballer, rather than being critical of Fashanu himself. Feel free to correct me though Baba. Well yeah, I am not really being critical of Fashanu himself (though he is no saint. Do not forget their was a rape charge hanging over him before the hanging). The fact of the matter is that the only openly gay footballer saw his career go into tailspin and ended up dead eight years later. If the first black footballers had horrible career experiences, found no success, and ended up killing themselves then it probaly would have set back integration for a fair bit. No one wants to have to carry the weight that Justin did. It is much easier to play pretend and hide your sexual orientation. On my point about the atmosphere around professional sports, here is an interview about John Amaechi, a basketball player that came out after retirement (British-Nigerians breaking down barriers!): These attitudes are more common in male-dominated industries than other places, imo. It is best to keep quiet.

Tevez is an interesting example. I thought of him as an outcast from a club. Mr. Ferguson wasn't playing him too much and Man U didn't show any urgency in getting him to sign permanently. (i.e. they didn't enter serious negotiations during the season) From what I could understand, they just weren't very interested in paying 30-40 million pounds for a backup striker. Regardless of all that though, I agree with the point about forcing the players hand. Especially these days, when agents exert such a heavy influence over players. That will definitely be the case in some situations.

You're being too negative about the modern footballer. If you'll notice, the players they've gotten thus far are outcasts from other top clubs after a pay day, or the top players from middling sides that are in a different stratosphere financially. The top, top players who have their pick of any club in the world, have almost universally rejected them. They've had the money for four windows now. At what point have they beaten out any of the clubs I mentioned, or any other top club for a top player? Eto'o, Kaka, and Ronaldo all went to more established, popular, and historically successful clubs. City are still nouveau riche. This counts for something in the minds of players and everyone else. They have a way to go, yet.

Marseille was actually put in their as a bitter, bitter joke, but I think there is a lot more prestige in playing for teams with more history who are already constantly in Europe and near the top of their leagues anyway. Most players don't want help build a club, they want to go to one that is established and continue the tradition. Unless you are talking about giving out outrageous wages for average players (tbf, City do this occasion), all those clubs would be willing to pay top players very high wages.

You're mad if you think they are ahead of Inter, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Milan, Juve, Valencia, and Olympique Marseille.

Tbf though, if City want any of your players, they'll probaly end up getting them. They're fans are well within their right to throw names around when the club is in the position that City is.

The Fashanu story isn't exactly encouraging anyone to come out. He lived throughout his career searching for love and lust in the shadowsand the darkness. When he finally did admit his way of life, he was otracised, his career took a turn for the worse, and all the events culminated in him commiting suicide. He didn't set a good example.