Trumpet

We all love an underdog story, but I guess it's better for football that Mexico win. They are a proper footballing nation and bring more quality to the tournament. New Zealand is a rugby nation and they won the rugby world championship not too long ago (if I ain't mistaken), so that won't be a biggie there. I love it when used-to-be shit countries in football, make grass root level changes and improvements to gradually improve their football and make football their most popular sport. something Iceland started a decade ago and is now bearing fruit.

Imagine playing a flat back 5, and yet always leaving the 2 opposition forwards free and unmarked. and what was that on set piece defending for the second goal ?? a Kiwi mate of mine said their coach Herbert is a bit like Pulis and now I can see why. Zero ambition going forward....

Great story ~! ------------------------------- Carlos Henrique Kaiser ~ Football’s Greatest Liar He is the greatest con-man in the history of football. Using charm and trickery as his weapons, he deceived major clubs into giving him a contract. His name? Carlos Henrique Kaiser – the Brazilian man who “wanted to be a footballer without having to play football.” Millions of boys share the dream of becoming a professional footballer. Most of them give up once they realize they lack the talent needed to succeed. Carlos Henrique Kaiser didn’t give up. Like Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in Catch Me If You Can, Kaiser used his ability to make friends, his daring and his wit to accomplish something unimaginable. He built a 20-year-career as a striker – despite never scoring a goal. Kaiser’s strategy was as easy as it was effective. In the early 80′s, he made friends with some of Brazil’s most famous players: Romario, Edmundo, Ricardo Rocha, Renato Gaúcho, Branco – the list goes on. Whenever they signed a new contract, they would convince their club to give the ‘talented’ Kaiser a three month trial contract. Immediately after signing his deal, Kaiser would confess that he needed a couple of weeks to get fit. So for the next month, he would run laps around the pitch at day, and frequent Rio’s party scene at night, relying on his status as professional footballer to impress women. Once the first month had passed, Kaiser would make his appearance on the training pitch. Now part two of his plan kicked into action. “I would have someone pass me a ball, and kick it far away”, he stated in an interview with Globo. “Then I’d grap my hamstrings in agony and spent the next 20 days in the medical department. There were no MRI scanners in those days, so they had to believe me.” While ‘injured’ he worked to make himself popular with his teammates. “In those days players were not allowed to leave the hotel before a match”, Kaiser stated. “So several days before they would arrive in the hotel, I would rent a few rooms and hire women to stay there. So now when the players arrived, they didn’t even have to leave the hotel to meet women.” Most coaches and doctors just considered Kaiser unlucky. But some saw through the facade. While at Botafogo in the early 90′s, Kaiser ofted carried around an early, and huge, mobile phone. He used it to hold extensive telephone conversations in English with, apparently, interested clubs from foreign countries. It was easy to fool his fellow players, since none of them spoke Engish. But the team doctor did. He quickly realized that Kaiser’s English didn’t make any sense. One day while the con-man was taking a shower, the doctor went to check out Kaiser’s phone – and discovered it was a toy phone. After such incidents, Kaiser simply moved to another club, where he would repeat his successful formula. Aside from Botafogo, he had stints at several other major Brazilian clubs: Flamengo, Vasco, Palmeiras and Fluminense, to name a few. While under contract for another Brazilian club – Bangu – and still ‘working on his fitness’, Kaiser faced an unwelcome surprise. He was included in the squad. “The coach assured me I would only sit on the bench. But the team was losing and the coach suddenly told me to warm up.” Entering the field would expose his lack of ability. He had to do something. Quick. “I noticed that the fans were insulting their own teamś players. So I climbed into the fence and launched verbal assaults against the fans.” Kaiser received a red card. Club president Castor de Andrade was furious and demanded an explanation. Kaiser knew what to say. “Before you say anything, listen. God gave me a father, who passed away. But he gave me another”, pointing to De Adrade. “And I’ll never allow anyone to say my father is a thief. But the fans were saying exactly that. That’s why I intervened.” De Andrade awarded Kaiser with a six-month extension. A few years later, Kaiser pushed his luck even further. Seeing how all the big Brazilian football stars were making their move to Europe, Kaiser decided he couldn’t stay behind and signed for French club Gazelec Ajaccio. There he faced his biggest challenge yet during his first training session. Hundreds of fans had arrived to witness the undoubtedly wonderful skills of their new Brazilian star. Kaiser didn’t want to disappoint them, so pulling his old trick – collapsing into agony after his first touch of the ball – wasn’t an option. Instead, to the delight of the fans, he started kicking balls into the crowd. And continued doing so, until there were no balls left. The coach had no other choice than doing 90 minutes of physical exercise, which Kaiser actually excelled at. Ultimately, he stayed several years at Ajaccio, which featured in France’s Ligue 2, managing twenty short substitute performances. He finally returned to Rio and ended his impressive career, during which the fabled striker had scored zero goals. http://www.4dfoot.com/2013/06/18/carlos-henrique-kaiser-footballs-greatest-liar/

Yeh 4 spots for Asia is enough, might have been harder for Uruguay if the game was in June, considering the heat and humidity of the middle east. Australia got beat there 2-0 ( yes we are s***). Realistically Japan, South Korea, Australia and one other is enough. You're forgetting the master-mind that almost denied Korea automatic qualification http://www.dailystar.com.lb/dailystar/Pictures/2013/06/22/184317_mainimg.jpg

just send Suarez back to Liverpool already. But seriously, Jordan have been depressingly shit. diving bastards. They are by no means the 5th best team in Asia...their Asian play-off win vs Uzbekistan was a big big shock as well. Uzbekistan were one goal away from eliminating Korea and direct qualification, but as usual, they bottled it against a shit team in Jordan in play-off. Spurs of Asia. Blatter and Platini can fuck off with WC needs more Asian/African teams. Uruguay have been wank, yet they strolled this game.

Mexico have called up an all-domestic league squad for the play off. No players from Europe. Newzealand missing their best player Reid, through injury. Guess their only hope of scoring is a Smeltz header or Wood coming up with a moment of brilliance. Looking forward to see a white bus parked at Azteca for 90 minutes on Wednesday.

Wildcard played. Realized clean sheets really mean fuck all in the end of FF. It's all about having midfielders and strikers who score 1 or 2 every week. So screw the defense, and get the super stars as forward line (so you can captain them depending on who they are playing ) http://i43.tinypic.com/2khv85.png

Is it your BBC Predictor table ?

Wouldn't say that just yet. They were always going to be motivated for a big game. I think their undoing will be the games against mid-table teams where players like RVP and Rooney won't be as motivated to run around for 90 minutes. Thank god International football has come to take away their momentum. It's also funny that if you guys had won that home game to Hull, you'd be 6th now. Table can still change a lot in 2 weeks: Everton vs. Liverpool Arsenal vs. Saints Westham vs. Chelsea Cardiff vs. United City vs. Spurs No team has a banker here. **carefully wanks at prospect of going top with a win at Goodison**

Dropping like a stone. From 2nd in N-O 2 weeks ago to now probably 20. Time to use the wildcard.....worst weekend yet. Still anyone wanting to transfer shall wait until end of international break because a lot of injuries can still happen.

You won't Mole Can see Pardew being up for it and you guys win 2-1. Spurs will get a consolation goal via a penalty from Soldado Got the score line wrong, but game result correct. Have a magnificent day Mole. What a fucking result

GET IN !! Superb result guys !!

You won't Mole Can see Pardew being up for it and you guys win 2-1. Spurs will get a consolation goal via a penalty from Soldado

I'm not confident given our last 2 games and our perennial bottle-jobs against you. Think you're massive value odds-wise. Not seen your game today but heard you were rather lucky with the draw. Your result went kind of under the carpet with all the controversy of Chelsea game. Had it been Moyes, I'd be a bit more confident considering his decade derby record, but Martinez' first derby in front of home crowd with chance to go level with Liverpool ?! That should surely set it up fantastically. Though Rodgers has a very good head-to-head record against Martinez' Wigan with both us and Swansea in the last 2 years, I am still very afraid of Lukaku as he gave us nightmare in both games with WBA last year. A win for either side will be absolutely massive though. Suarez won't be back to in England until 24 hours before the derby either, so he probably won't be at his best. One thing I am fairly sure of though is that I don't think this one will have a red card. so hopefully it'll be a great game. The last derby at Anfield with Suarez suspended was the worst derby I've seen entertainment-wise in years.

I too, think the derby in 2 weeks will have a winner. A comprehensive one too. It'll finish 2-0 to either side. Soton are doing fantastically all with their record signing being absolute cack. If Osvaldo actually starts scoring, then they may even reach greater heights. They are fantastic defensively. Yes, they've conceded 2 goals in the last 2 games (Was in no doubt the moment I got Boruc in my fantasy team), but both have been down to drastic luck for opposition. I think they'll do great away at Emirates and SB and at least get 1 point from those 2 games. Not sure what I want from United-Arsenal game tomorrow. United fans think they are back to greatness with Moyes after a spell of decent results against Sociedad, Stoke and Fulham, so it'll be nice to see them set back and 11 points off top in November. On the other hand, if Arsenal end their bottling streak at Old Trafford tomorrow, it'll give them a feeling of invincibility and self-belief to go all the way IMO. Massive game for both teams. Fuck it, go Arsenal (or draw). Fancy one of you guys or Sunderland to cause a shock tomorrow as well. Hope it's Newcastle, though the game has a 84th minute penalty given away by Tiote all over it.

After today's results, really hope Dortmund can get a win vs. Bayern in 2 weeks time or else the league is pretty much done. Subotic seems to have torn his ACL...and Dortmund's 2 games back from int'l break is vs. Bayern and Napoli. Will make or break their season. Leverkusen bounced back after their shock defeat last week....tidy little team. Hope they beat the Mancs in CL after the break. Looks like it'll be a battle between Schalke and Wolfsburg for that last CL spot.

A bit daft to think Norwich had more attacking potential with Grant Holt up top as opposed to 15M combined of Van Wolfsinkel and Hooper.

Sometimes you really feel for the players and honestly this whole "Respect" campaign for the refs is a load of shit. They get paid to do their job competently, and more often than not, they ruin an organization's year of hard work with a single terrible decision which could cost them millions. That was mind-blowing ! wondering if a red has the power to send a player off if for example a WBA player told him "fuck off you bent cunt" after giving the penalty. It'd be nice if players at least had that sort of power against the refs.

This Fulham side is one of the worst in history of PL.

Anyone else is impressed by Olympiacos ? They used to be "just there for the sake of it", but they've been impressive so far. Pretty much all but have eliminated Benfica. Porto themselves are facing a struggle to get out of their group. So much for 2 Portuguese top seeds. Both will probably now go and destroy teams in EL and keep Portugal's coefficients high mind you. Happy Solbakken is doing well for FCK. Same night he beats a star-assembled Mancini side managed Galatasaray in CL, Wolves draw Carlisle in League 1. United's group will be exciting as fuck if Lever and Shakhtar both win next round which is probable.

End to end stuff in St Petersburg

Shelvey is going to get a fine for that "Swim Away" gesture, isn't he ?! Daft lad. On and off the pitch.

Roma to make it 11 in a row ? Napoli and Juve both trying to keep up with the pace, their clash next week is gonna be great to watch. Callejon though ! He's been a superb transfer so far. Absolute goal machine...and is very good at scoring belters too. Mertens quickly displacing Insigne in the starting XI as well. Milan already 16 points off CL spot. Don't think they can have a turn around like they had last season.

Fantastic win ! Said it on tuesday night here that you'll stand a great chance of getting something from this game if the tempo is high and Pardew gets it right tactically. Great job stifling Chelsea and then taking your chances when it mattered. Just had a feeling it'll happen, should have put money on that. Hope you win again next week !

Chelsea look a bit good. hope Pardew is ready for the tactical battle on saturday. A good start with high tempo and at least a draw is achievable.