Segun Oluwaniyi

That was not the point of the discussion Diouf is involved in I don't think. He may be the leading Senegalese player of his generation (very very debatable), but unlike the players you named Diouf has not been a soldier and a warrior for his country. His attitude and actions have cost Senegal dearly. How can someone claim to be with Eto'o and Drogba when he cannot lead his (very talented) country past the preliminary round of WCQ. His club career is also a failure. Nothing but mediocrity Led them to their first ever World Cup with something like 8 goals in qualifying. I would say that has earnt him a lifetime of reprieve for any poor performances for Senegal since. Yeah Ok, that's great logic. I don't see why Senegal should have lower standards just because they don't have great history. You know Beckham should be allowed to f*** off from the National team and work to get talented players kicked off the squad because he scored that goal against Greece in 2002. The Senegalese fans would disagree with you. Notice the football in Togo and Angola isn't going completly mad right now. Both these teams made the 2006 World Cup, but people understand that was a miracle and that their countries do really lack the talent to compete. This is not the case with Senegal. They are flaunting players from all across Europe, but they couldn't even qualify to be one of the 20 teams that will attempt to qualify for the World Cup. Everyone involved in that shambles should be ashamed. Not only does he not show commitment in their colors, but he also had enough influence to ensure that Soulemayne Diawara and Mamadou Niang (Who is much better than Diouf) were not called up for the final and deciding encounter (according to his fellow teammates). What Diouf has done to Senegal is the equivalent of Keegan quiting and than working through the FA to get Oba and Owen suspended for the rest of the season. The guy is an absolute c***. End of story.

There have been an absurd number of goal in Bundesliga today. Also, Hoffenheim (Whom I like since they employ Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi and arenewly promoted) are top. League is mad this year

That was not the point of the discussion Diouf is involved in I don't think. He may be the leading Senegalese player of his generation (very very debatable), but unlike the players you named Diouf has not been a soldier and a warrior for his country. His attitude and actions have cost Senegal dearly. How can someone claim to be with Eto'o and Drogba when he cannot lead his (very talented) country past the preliminary round of WCQ. His club career is also a failure. Nothing but mediocrity

Yeah same one. I don't think he is all that terrible though. He has just had a bad time since leaving Sochaux and going to Charlton and Bordeaux

Also from that thread: Just today?, oh dear and "thanks AGAIN milner another f***ing waste." "MILNER YOU'RE GASH!" "Milner's been feckin awful!" "AND AGAIN f***ing WOEFUL. Milner back on the bench after this?" "Shocking shocking performance from Milner." "fuk off milner we dont want you! absolutely s****!" Sweet Jesus. Regardless of what you may think of his talent or little of it, he was player who always tried his best & didnt cause any off the field problems for the club I think gloating about Villa fans mocking him is pretty low. One would think the gloating is about Villa paying 12 MP for him.

YOu cannot even begin to contemplate starting a player because of a u-18 performance. They have to first perform at the reserve level at least (to be fair, Nile scored a fantastic goal in a reserve match). But u-18's is not a high level at all.

To be fair, there is alot of emotion around Senegalese football at the moment. They've exited the World Cup at tan embarrasingly early stage due to a loss to their inferior rivals Gambia on their home ground. The fans were very unhappy and they threw missiles and rioted. The players had to stay back in the locker room for a good while, and the Senegal FA office was attacked with rocks and such. All the great promise of 2002 is now completely and utterly gone. A big part of the reason for this is the action of the "big men", especially Diouf. As Diawara rightfully said, these players treated NT duty as a vacation and a party, and now as a result, they will be watching the next World Cup and African Cup of Nations on their home television sets. There is alot of fingerpointing and disharmony among the players, the fans, and the officials. As you may well know, Diouf is not very humble, and has a lot pf pride. He is just trying to hide from his shame. But stil:

Considering Chelsea's injury list, its quite amazing how easy this is for them.

This is off topic, but doesn't deserve its own htread so....... http://www.spymania.com/snds/Cassette%20Boy%20-%20Carry%20On%20Breathing%20CD%20-%20Football%20Bit.mp3

Which guy are you talking about?

Another thing is that they fouled up the whole Berbatov leaving thing...they should have just sold and gone and bought an actual replacement for Keane instead of desperately getting Campbell who has done little to date. I still think their "system:" has gotten them quality though.

The problem with Spurs is not the system. Right now, the biggest problem is that they've bought in too many players. The team doesn't know how to play together, and lost their two best players. I think they'll be just fine. It's not like Spurs haven't got good players in under their system. I just think they have changed the sqaud way way too much, and were destined for a bad start considering the insane window that just transpired for them.

Martins wasn't out for six weeks was he? Any one I hope to see Oba sprinting past Richard Dunne that would warm my heart. Is Xisco unfit or something. If not it should no doubt be Xisco and Martins up front. Oba reallu looked good towards the end of last season, and against Manchester United, hopefully his good form returns with his fitness. We need him. I could also do with him showing up the Colombia friendly, want him to stay relevant.

Who says Owen has to start?? He is really not someone you want to be relying on.

Under Capello I think English people will see the English team become a more effiecient unit. And I think they will qualify with ease. However, I still think this group of England players may be found wanting against some higher quality sides. But that's hust because I think some of the players that will be spotlighting for England at the 2010 WC are that talented. There is just less talent in the squad than of other "top" nations, but England must be taken seriously as a contender again.

You're right, Speedy Gonzalez usually refers to the Chilean-South African winger at Betis.

The fact that dcmk uses Shearer and Del Piero as examples of Serie A's standards dropping makes him seem clueless to me. Italy is strong league, I mean just look at the teams there. Inter, Roma, Milan, Juve, and Fiorentina are all very very strong teams. Then of course there are teams like Palermo, Udinese, Napoli, and even Lazio who all have their fair share of class players. The top three leagues in the world are very close imo. This idea that the Serie A has somwhow been relegated to a lesser league probaly stems from the whole match fixing debacle, but reports of its demise have been greatly greatly exaggerated. Also a point about Del Piero. He is absolute class. One of the best players of his generation. I don't know why he stops being class because he is 33. Its not like he's a geriatric, ffs. Last year was the first season in while he's played almost every match, and true to form he scored a ton of goals.

This whole Serie A is boring thing is nonsense by the way. If people just watched the football instead of spitting out stereotypes they learned as a child, things would be better. Plenty of talent and nice playing teams in Italy these days.

Mudingayi and Diakite too. The problem in Italy is the ultras. In England it is not a problem to single out and remove the racist idiot from the rather seperated all seater stadium. However, the ultras in Italy have far to much power and influence.

idk...Dirk Kuyt seems like a real likable guy to me

It would make no sense to bring in another experienced talented keeper. If we bring him in...we would have the most "good" keepers of any team in the world.

He's quite a character mehn.

Think you'll struggle to find a better left back in the entire world. I think he is certainly the best in PL and is on better form than the likes of Zambrotta and Abidal.

Kuba is a very talented player. He's been doing well for a while now.

In African News....2006 World Cup debutants Angola and 2002 World Cup suprise team Senegal have both been eliminated from qualification for the 2010 World Cup and African Cup of Nations.