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hansamike (and Amsterhammer) - at the risk of sounding like a broken record regarding our players leaving... one's actually been training at the Hammers this week.
http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/cen … -Ham/72389
Doubt that he was ever a chance for a signing (especially not now with Stewart Downing) but the experience or the fact that somebody's noticed him won't hurt.
All the best for Rd 1.
I see it is only for a week. I hope that he gets a fair crack because after 24 hours flying to the UK he won't be fit for too much for a couple of days!
Talent will out. If he has got it then they might take a flyer on him, sign him and loan him out for him to get the necessary experience. But it ain't easy. Going from being somebody in a smaller pool to nobody in a big pool with lots of competition is very tough. I'm not sure about the lower echelons at WHU, but Allardyce is at least an 'attitude' spotter. If a player has the necessary talent, with the right attitude and a willingness to work for it, he tends to give them a shot when he can. After all, he was no great shakes himself....................
I don't know if he is the first this season so far but Bruno Labbadia just got the chop at VFB Stuttgart. 3 games in, admittedly no points yet and a Euro League game to win this week but Bruno is already history. He had lasted 988 days in the job which is the longest a Stuttgart manager ha survived for many a year.
They were in the cup final last season losing only to all conquering Munich. Maybe it is an inspired decision but it does the club no credit whatsoever particularly as they only awarded him a new contract until 2015 in May!
Ex player Freddy Bobic is the sport director there. I think he should be sacked for
1) awarding a new contract to a manager he didn't like
2) appointing a manager he didn't like in the first place
Which only goes to show high powered ex players with little or no managerial experience shouldn't be in charge of running football clubs.
So the silly season has already begun. The Bundesliga has 2 more candidates already, Fink at HSV and Keller at Schalke. Both have just received the clubs backing. that's that then!
Who's gonna be the first in the Prem? I fancy Pagers could be in thin ice if they. Don't get some good results quick. Anyone else?
Blimey no other posts in here since August. Seems like the forum has lost all interest in this sport, which I find surprising.
I'll post for my own fun then. My last post concerned the sudden sacking of a manager and here we go again.
Di Canio. It was an risk appointment considering his experience to date, and his bust ups with players was known. Nevertheless I was shocked to hear the news.
12 games is a bloody short time to give any manager but if the discontent at the club was so great already then something had to change. Clearly sacking the first team, much as they might deserve it, was not an option, so easier to can the man and get someone else.
Players to day are a thoroughly sad bunch I feel. Almost detached from real life. However I accept Michael Owen's comments that as employee's they cannot be spoken about so publicly the way di canio has done. There are rules about this, so in this regard he was wrong. But overall his methods are right. Demanding more commitment, respect and professionalism is absolutely correct.
I hope he chooses to start again. I think he should take a lower side with good support and bring it through the divisions to the top. I think he could do it. One of the Sheffield's might be right for him. Great football fans who respect loyalty, hard work and committment.
Would I have him at West Ham? Well, it won"t happen while we are in the Prem and have the same sort of power pansies they do at Sunderland. But if we are languishing in Div 1 with an empty Olympic Stadium I would drive him there myself if only to have the chaos!
Has football, the European / World version anyway lost all interest for forum members. Apart from myself and Shadowblue no one else has posted since July!
Have we become so jaded and depressed over modern sport? Armstrong's cynical cheating, Vettel's monotonous dominance, football's relentless extravagance..........I mean 85 million for Gareth Bale?
I would have thought that tomorrow, at any rate for the English forum members and/or football fans in general held some interest.
Amusing that almost 40 years to the day we face Poland again to qualify for the world cup finals. Back then it was winner takes all and Poland justified their qualification success by going on to take 3rd place in the (then) West Germany Finals.
England sacked Sir Alf and began their terminal slide into mediocrity at the international level. Apart from the occasional bright spot it has been 40 years of hurt since then. A victory tomorrow and qualification for Brazil won't wipe out that long period of mourning and we won't be denying Poland a place in the finals either. They too have squandered their chances this time around despite having some truly class playersin the line up, but then England know all about that too.
So onto tomorrow and what does the match hold. I fancy an England victory in this 'must win' game, but it won't be without its moments. This Polish side has the quality to deny us so England HAVE to be bold and take an early command and never reliquish it. The stage is set, and if they really do have 18000 fans there to cheer them on the atmosphere will be rabid.
Despite the optimism the result isn't a done deal. Failure to qualify tomorrow will be another national football set back and give more credence to the argument that we have to seek short term solutions such as coercing more non-English players to sign up for the national side. I'm no jingoist but I'm with Jack Wilshire on the subject. Foreign imports may have spiced up our domestic league but it is murdering our footballing future.
We don't do politics on here, but this is a sporting question as much as political. Personally I was always for the independence of the 4 'Home' countries in sporting matters, but we are Team GB in the Olympics and I do feel there may be a case for Team GB in football now, certainly at the World Cup level anyway. Still if Scotland go for full independance it will all become academic on that score.
Anyway, as far as tomorrow goes..........come on England!
Nice interview here with Jan Tomaszewski. The Polish 'Clown' who denied us back in '74
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba … paign=1490
I have an interest and watch EPL so I can see the best players in the world go at it.. I've been hotly following the drama of CONCACAF playdown qualifiers over here for WC. Mexico hangs by a thread, much like England where a great team has become a shadow and coach of the week is the result. USA is in easily with the demise of Mexico and rise of other powers in our region. Panama has been surprising as well as some others. Our national league is improving in quality of play but nothing like the stuff across the pond. Not enough money to pay those ridiculous sums in the game here. I haven't posted because the thread is Eurocentric and I have little to add.
Rick
speaking for myself I have to admit to have become frustrated with football of late.
Professional game: - pathetic reports about the likes of Rooney criticising the manager who has a claim to having been one of the best ever, - moaning at being asked to play in midfield so much so that he wanted to leave, - what sort of message does that send out to children about football being a TEAM game? - And he has always been a forward who will track back to his credit so what was the problem? - Oh another glory hunter who think he is above taking direction from others!
The Bale transfer; what a stupid amount of money, - with Real Madrid essentially buying a name, and then the farcical situation of Daniel Levy trying to keep the deal under wraps until the very last day so as to keep Ozil out of Arsenal...
Dyke as FA Chairman, spouting off rubbish....
Spurs loosing to West Ham at WHL. Tow steps forward, one step back.
England team, - Jack Wilshere coming out with very stupid comments about nationality, - has he taken Joey Barton as an advisor? The game is far too territorial to ever allow a GB team, pathetic old fashioned divisions, lack of vision has all but imploded the Welsh and Scotish game. - And the English FA think that they are far too good to ever need the help of others.
England v Poland.... - We qualify and the press build up as cup contenders, we loose.... and the calls for Hodgson's sacking, either way it is months of over opinionated press rubbish to come.
Junior game: 14 years olds believing that hours spent on their xbox playing Fifa14 will in some way help their game. Midfielders who week after week refuse to track back, blaming others for goals being scored against the team. Parents complaining that their son is on the sidelines refusing to accept that their child's absence from training influences my decision on who plays, - and that if their son along with 4 others only wants to play as a striker then they are limiting their own pitch time - not me!
England's football future will never sort itself out until the FA put money into development of grass roots, an interesting term as the pitches are the first thing that need change. Either that or move the season. It is impossible to develop anything much more than a long ball game or physical game until there are pitches available to play passing football on during the English winter. They need to focus more on development of the player and less on results, as they do in rugby and many other sports.
The positive, - good to see a product of a youth academy coming through; Andros Townsend. Now watch the press build him up, put the responsibility of a nation on his shoulders and then pull him apart at the first sign of being human....
Premier league could be closer this season, but more of a lottery.
Sorry for my negativity.
speaking for myself I have to admit to have become frustrated with football of late.
Professional game: - pathetic reports about the likes of Rooney criticising the manager who has a claim to having been one of the best ever, - moaning at being asked to play in midfield so much so that he wanted to leave, - what sort of message does that send out to children about football being a TEAM game? - And he has always been a forward who will track back to his credit so what was the problem? - Oh another glory hunter who think he is above taking direction from others!
The Bale transfer; what a stupid amount of money, - with Real Madrid essentially buying a name, and then the farcical situation of Daniel Levy trying to keep the deal under wraps until the very last day so as to keep Ozil out of Arsenal...
Dyke as FA Chairman, spouting off rubbish....
Spurs loosing to West Ham at WHL. Tow steps forward, one step back.
England team, - Jack Wilshere coming out with very stupid comments about nationality, - has he taken Joey Barton as an advisor? The game is far too territorial to ever allow a GB team, pathetic old fashioned divisions, lack of vision has all but imploded the Welsh and Scotish game. - And the English FA think that they are far too good to ever need the help of others.
England v Poland.... - We qualify and the press build up as cup contenders, we loose.... and the calls for Hodgson's sacking, either way it is months of over opinionated press rubbish to come.
Junior game: 14 years olds believing that hours spent on their xbox playing Fifa14 will in some way help their game. Midfielders who week after week refuse to track back, blaming others for goals being scored against the team. Parents complaining that their son is on the sidelines refusing to accept that their child's absence from training influences my decision on who plays, - and that if their son along with 4 others only wants to play as a striker then they are limiting their own pitch time - not me!
England's football future will never sort itself out until the FA put money into development of grass roots, an interesting term as the pitches are the first thing that need change. Either that or move the season. It is impossible to develop anything much more than a long ball game or physical game until there are pitches available to play passing football on during the English winter. They need to focus more on development of the player and less on results, as they do in rugby and many other sports.
The positive, - good to see a product of a youth academy coming through; Andros Townsend. Now watch the press build him up, put the responsibility of a nation on his shoulders and then pull him apart at the first sign of being human....
Premier league could be closer this season, but more of a lottery.
Sorry for my negativity.
Everyone needs to rant, vent and get that stuff out lest it fester. Good stuff, it should be in a major publication!
Yes Ian, I agree with Rick. Top rant.
That's what this thread needs from time to time. I just wanted to know somebody was still out there and cares about the game. Care enough to write something, anything. Even in the negativity the passion is still there.
An interesting pair of matches in WC qualifying tonight over here with Mexico facing elimination or a last-chance home and away series vs New Zealand for the wild-card berth to Brasil. Both the US and Costa Rica are qualified and would like nothing better than to send hated Mexico home. The US can give an assist to their nemesis by a meaningless win or tie at Panama which would guarantee that game. Mexico is at Costa Rica, never an easy game against the Ticos in their own stadium as the US can attest. The home crowd gathers outside the visitors hotel the night before and raises a din all night hoping to assist a sleepless night, then hurl ziplock bags of urine, red-hot coins and flashlight batteries at the visitors on the pitch. A win or tie by Mexico assures that playoff game as well if the US loses.... Jurgen Klinsman is playing a mix of regulars and reserves in Panama. Mexico better play like the possessed in Costa Rica.for there is no tomorrow with a loss! My money's on Panama as our team takes a breather and lets Mexico sweat! 
Rick
I followed the unfolding events on live ticker as England sweated on a victory over the Poles, whilst watching the Germans curious performance against Sweden live.
I think England shaded the match as they needed to with the drama of failure providing the necessary angst to the occasion. If Poland's finishing had been just a little better England could have had a far mightier job on their hands.
But the job is done, and fair play to Hodgson for fielding the right team to get the job done. He has a nice balance of age and youth in the squad, so it is just the overall quality that is lacking. This could be overcome by getting the players he has to focus on eradicating silly mistakes. Poor passing decisions still counts for most of the cheap ball loss and if even lower quality players can be trained to be more consistent in their passing it would make the overall team far more formidable.
We can't win the thing, everyone knows that, so I hope Hodgson bloods all the necessary young players in the run up to the competition with a view to using as many as possible there.
On the face of it the German result of 5-3 away to Sweden looks comprehensive. The match was meaningless to the Germans in terms of qualification, but then again, NO match is meaningless at this level. Fact is, the Germans have tremendous player quality in depth, but have begun making mistakes. After 44 minutes they were 2-0 down and only a goal immediately before the break make it respectable. They had dominated play but 2 errors allowed the Swedes to convert the only 2 chances they had! Disturbing for Jurgi Loew.
A devasting flourish after the break restored normailty, with a Schoerle hat trick nosing the Germans well in front. Nevertheless, 3 goals conceded is not what the Germans are looking for performance-wise.
As with England, cut down on the poor judgement errors and anything is possible.
I'm glad we will be there in Brazil, even if it means that watching it will be as painful as ever. I hope Hodgson goes for pace and uses players like Townsend to properly put the wind up opposition defences. As we know, and the world knows, England play a fairly predictable game style. We won't ever change, because that is a style our players use every weekend during the season. So it needs to become our strength again. The players must be fitter, faster, more resourceful, and resolute than the rest. Gerrard and Lampard have been good servants and deserve to go again, but for the rest I hope Hodgson is ambitious and gives the young 'uns a chance, and that Rooney finds his mojo in a major competition at last.
In one of the most improbable outcomes in the history of WC qualifiers, The US came from behind with 3 goals in the 2nd period, 2 in injury time by reserve players, to beat Panama 3-1 after Mexico had lost to Costa Rica 2-1. This eliminated Panama and gave Mexico a last minute stay of execution. The Mexico fans were cheering the US and US fans were cheering Panama in the last minutes of the US-Panama game after Mexico had been sent to the brink. Go figure. 
Congrats to England for going on without additional drama. We'll see you in Brazil.
Rick
RickB wrote:Congrats to England for going on without additional drama. We'll see you in Brazil.
Rickthanks Rick. Have to say, the Pols played like their lives depended on not getting beat - fair play, made England fight for every ball.
Now, who's gonna pay to go ?..... the best part of £8,000+ i heard - if nothing else ..... bloody good holiday!
Hell of a party and you can bet that the local tourist sites will have some very special rates for the visitors. 
Apologies, Mike. Of course, I'm still plugged in to footie, though certainly with less enthusiasm than I used to have.
We spunked all our dosh on Carroll, who hasn't played one minute this season, without having any other striker option that is Prem worthy. How long has it taken CFC to get fit enough to make the bench, as he did yesterday? God knows what happened at Spurs....the Citeh defeat was pretty much as expected. I see us surviving, without pulling up any trees, in Harry-speak. I like Arsenal for the title, if Ozil stays sound. I couldn't believe that Real sold him. Brilliant signing for Wenger!
Ajax sold their best and only creative player, Eriksen, just before the deadline without replacing him. Ajax has loads of money in the bank, but they aren't spending it. Most of us expect a finish between 3-5 this season, since they're trying to muddle through with players who, on the whole, just aren't good enough.
Messi has been injured. 
and Barca aren't what they used to be.
Holland were always going to qualify from their easy group. Nobody expects much from the WC, though we'll probably do better than England, depending on the draw, of course.
I'll look in more often. COYI! 
Junior football update:
Yesterday I switched to playing the boys 4-2-3-1 (from 4-4-2) out of frustration of midfield players refusing to track back and it was a dramatic change, - we won 3-1 against a team who beat us 4-nil a month ago. A few moans from a coupe of the lads as all they want to do is play as strikers, but for us as a team it gave us the best of both worlds with the 4-2 proving very difficult to break down, - and the 3-1 effective going forward. And at last the boys starting to play together as a team, working f reach other.
Amazing football update, Sheffield United finally won. Halllelueah 
Junior football update:
Yesterday I switched to playing the boys 4-2-3-1 (from 4-4-2) out of frustration of midfield players refusing to track back and it was a dramatic change, - we won 3-1 against a team who beat us 4-nil a month ago. A few moans from a coupe of the lads as all they want to do is play as strikers, but for us as a team it gave us the best of both worlds with the 4-2 proving very difficult to break down, - and the 3-1 effective going forward. And at last the boys starting to play together as a team, working f reach other.
Love that! got a great story...hmm...forgive me, those who've read it before.
2008-03-15 15:23:06
bigjeffjones
BONAMETAL
Online
From: New Smyrna Beach, FL
Registered: 2007-12-08
Posts: 4,972
I love soccer although i'm far from an expert. From an old post for my euro brothers:
Funny thing is life. One year, way back when, Tia and I came off an undefeated season coaching kid's soccer to find ourselves the following year with rookies & misfits. (City league). The kids were fine. They were teachable, but the parents made me lose my religion more than once. (What little of it I practice.)
We lost every game that season and I listened to experts (parents) talk smack at me and I had to throw a leg over Ms. Tia to keep her from hurting some "soccer mom." Funny.
Until the last game...we obliterated the best team in the league 5-0. Everything came together. Every time we scored I would cast that 1000 meter stare at the bleachers and those biddies would just squirm. The applause would die and the only sound on that field was the voice of Coach Jeff & Coach Tia.
When the final whistle blew, Tia was jumping up & down and pounding on me. I pointed at the crowd and said now. I'm sure they heard that explosion the next town over. I just sat down & tried not to weep. When we walked off that field the parents from both teams were still there, screaming their heads off and stomping those bleachers.
That memory is sweeter and clearer than the 3 undefeated seasons. Ah vindication. and I'm no super coach. I'm just a regular guy who works hard every once in awhile.
Rock On & Keep the FAITH
It is
Blues From the Bottoms
like it BJJ.
- Can't help but think that Spurs still have some way to go with only coming through against Hull with a 1-nil off of a penalty - as opposed to Liverpool who seem to have got their strikers firing on all cylinders - amazing goals this weekend. I know, I am starting to sound like a Chelsea fan, never happy! 
- But can't help but think that the two Manchester teams are going to at some point soon start playing better team games and come back into the running which will make that top four extremely aggressively contested.
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