alexf

Moment of the match, Willo taking on a fullback and doing stepovers never thought i'd see that in my life haha Shola is totally bossing it today. Think the fact he could be going to the world cup has given him a huge lift.

Probably got extended again. Or he forgot to go and police will come and arrest him on the pitch tomorrow

So they are basically saying, it was inappropriate but because a black guy did it and not a white guy then it's ok?

Shola's looked sharp in training for 13 years. Means fuck all come match day I suppose

With a lot of first team away on international duty, Pardew probably got more time to focus on Ben Arfa so be good if they worked out some problems and Hatem got his arse in gear. Shola hasn't embarrassed himself in the last few games by any means but we can't go on forever with him starting instead of someone as talented as Ben Arfa. That said, still won't surprise me come 3pm tomorrow he's named on the bench.

I was incredibly confident going into the Hull game, thought Ben Arfa was going to destroy them. This time is different. If Pardew & the players get arrogant like they seemed to going into the Hull game then it could prove to be difficult.

Felipao you seem to have quite a dislike for Ronaldo? All I think is that Messi has been just that bit better than Ronaldo for many years now but to be fair to Ronaldo he hasn't just given up cus he comes 2nd every year, he has kept going and when you compare there goal records, there's not much between them at all. But Messi just has that little something extra. Plus, many may not agree but I would argue he has had a better players to play with than Ronaldo in my opinion. Messi has grown up building a telepathic understanding with the likes of Iniesta and Xavi. Whereas Real chop and change their team a lot and I think people like Benzema, Di Maria and to a lesser extent Ozil are all a bit inconsistent. So I think as Messi has had a couple of issues over the last year, meaning he's not quite been at his absolute best, like in some of the important champions league games last year. I think that just opens the door for Ronaldo who happens to be in incredible form which falls nicely in time with the Ballon d'Or awards. That's why I think the press and everybody have started talking about it more, plus this idea that Ribery was favourite to be named the "best player in the world" just doesn't sit right.

Just a small comment about HTT's post. I'd say the vast majority, especially the media, overrated Bale rather than a handful of people on forums underrating him surely?

Sorry, it was just a link off newsnow so not sure if it's credible. http://www.nufcblog.org/2013/11/what-is-newcastle-uniteds-498000-payment-to-sports-direct-for/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-is-newcastle-uniteds-498000-payment-to-sports-direct-for#.Uo4ojMS-18E

Sorry if it's old news but just read we apparently paid sports direct nearly £500,000 last year.

Are Dortmund and Atletico better than Real Madrid then? two teams that beat Madrid when it mattered last season and nullified Ronaldo who also exploited the fact Madrid are very weak defensively on his side as well. Also again despite Ronaldo's goals... Madrid are currently 3rd in La Liga because they lost to both Atletico and Barca.... again where was Ronaldo in those games? I don't think its unfair at all, for the majority of his Real Madrid career he has defeated the smaller teams by himself but in key moments he's come up short. Saying Barca and Bayern are better is all fine and dandy but fact of the matter is last season it wasn't Barca or Madrid that meant Ronaldo was trophyless it was Dortmund and Atletico who are not more talented than Real in anyones language and that's the important part when discussing his claim for Balon D'or. For all his goals in 2013 when his team needed him most he was nowhere to be found. Athletico and Dortmund were better than Real in those games so yes. As a team Dortmund and Athetico worked better as a unit than Real. Mourinho's Madrid were very negative towards the end of his time there and didn't use there players to the best of their ability. Again take the star player from any of those teams and replace Ronaldo in the Real team with them and they fair even worse in my opinion. Ronaldo may well be able to win games almost single-handedly for his country and against most of La Liga but at the very top level like champions league semi-finals etc you need more than that. The best team will more times than not beat the team that has the best player. Madrid have been underachieving for a long time now. Just because they brought Ronaldo, doesn't mean they should start to hoover up all the trophies. Just like because Argentina have Messi and other quality attacking players doesn't mean they can dominate international football either.

Still think it's a bit harsh judging Ronaldo on Real Madrid's failings. Put Ribery in Real's team and they don't suddenly become Champions league winners. Barca have been a better "team" than Real the last few years which is why Messi has won more trophies and therefore more Individual awards. Just like Bayern were/are a better team than Real. I think it's unfair to keep punishing Ronaldo because he isn't in the best team. Some will argue that he is the reason they are not a good team because he's selfish and doesn't defend very well. But I would call those people idiots

I don't want to appear like I'm a huge fan of Townsend or anything Lets clear that misunderstanding up because he has a lot to learn and if he doesn't he'll probably fade away and never amount to much. I was simply defending him a little but because I think he has impressed in the few games he's played for England so far. Think it showed against Chile when he didn't play what he brings to the team. A team like England need someone with pace and who is direct and can cause problems by running at defences because the rest of the team are incredibly static in their movement. When the alternatives are people like Milner then I'll take Townsend ahead of him all day.

Think it was ignored because it was a stupid comment. He's a young player with a lot to learn but he isn't brainless. He's not James McClean

You're not being jumped on mate Just not sure we can write him off against "international defences" yet when he has done pretty well since bursting on to the international scene, and in all fairness probably our most dangerous player in those games, even the last two that we have lost. Germany of course have a strong defence and they doubled up on him many times last night. But I'd say that highlights England's lack of movement and not exploiting the spaces that opens up for others. Similar to when he played against us and we doubled up first half but then in the second we got stretched and he began to cause Santon all sorts of problems.

I just hope he wins it purely because for once it can be argued Messi doesn't deserve it and he has been so close to Messi in previous years, probably losing out once or twice purely because Messi is more universally popular. Obviously Messi deserved to win it the times he did as even though Ronaldo was scoring similar amounts of goals, Messi was leading his team to the champions league trophies etc. So yeah I know it has no factoring in who was best over the last 12 months(even though I do think it was him) but I think it would be good that he gets to win it this time because in the future if people look back in history and see he only won it once it may play down what a fantastic footballer he was.

I'd say Townsend's best games have been in the England matches so far. Whereas in the league he appears to be getting figured out, like against us where we put 2-3 players to cover him when he got the ball. So not quite sure where you're going with this mrmojorisin?

Give Bayern the team of the year award, if there is such a thing. Sure Ribery, Robben,lahm etc get headlines but the whole team was important. Ronaldo is just so ridiculously consistent. Think he's scored in like the last 7-8 el classicos in a row aswell so harsh to say he hasn't turned up in big games. He used to annoy me with all his theatrics but have been slowly building more and more respect for him recently and certainly this season I think he's playing his best ever football. Think messi will always edge the popularity contest when he's on top form, especially as it usually means barca win lots of trophies but because he's not been at his best lately I think it would be harsh for Ronaldo not to win this one.

That support they showed Debuchy as he came off near the end was class an all.

Townsend is far better at taking people on and shooting from distance. Walcott is far better at making intelligent runs and clinical finishing. Problem with Walcott is he is incredibly frustrating at being a winger, yet too light weight and various other things to play as an out and out striker. Always thought Walcott would eventually develop into a class striker but it's not really happened. Signs of it last season but then Arsenal put him straight back on the wing once he signed his new contract Townsend has a lot of raw talent but still has a lot to learn. But I think his style of play will make him a far better "winger" than Walcott eventually.

I think Long would be a serious lowering of standards. I think we can find someone better, even if we're in this buy cheap era.

Arsene on commentary?

So blatantly corrupt. They don't even care how obvious they are. Either they knew they fucked up with the Blatter mocking Ronaldo and how dodgy it would look if he didn't win. Or what that article says is true and too many people know they are bunch of corrupt fucks and no one has bothered voting.

Well, maybe you just mean last season because he's hardly won "zilch" in his career. I've seen him carry a Man united team and Real Madrid team to plenty of trophies in the past. I don't think you can give it to Ribery simply because he was part of an amazing Munich team. I know it should be irrelevant but I think because Ronaldo has been so consistent for so damn long, add in the fact that Messi normally wins but has had injury problems in the last 12 months, I just feel Ronaldo deserves it.

haha http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/fifa-extend-ballon-dor-voting-until-november-29-choices-can-now-be-changed-el-mundo-deportivo/