The Ali Dia Football/Soccer Thread

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 28 Apr 2013, 14:28

QPR and Reading are officially relegated. I guess it was inevitable. Two possible away days for me next season, I may end up going to Loftus Road or the Madejski

Aerospeed · Post by **Aerospeed** » 28 Apr 2013, 18:40

redbulljack14 wrote:QPR relegated

Now I can return celebrating Man United's title.

Barbazza · Post by **Barbazza** » 28 Apr 2013, 18:41

redbulljack14 wrote:QPR and Reading are officially relegated. I guess it was inevitable. Two possible away days for me next season, I may end up going to Loftus Road or the Madejski

One of these clubs will be bankrupt by this time next year. Can you guess which one?

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 28 Apr 2013, 19:32

Barbazza wrote:
redbulljack14 wrote:QPR and Reading are officially relegated. I guess it was inevitable. Two possible away days for me next season, I may end up going to Loftus Road or the Madejski

One of these clubs will be bankrupt by this time next year. Can you guess which one?

QPR. And i'm fine with that.

Post by **Ataxia** » 28 Apr 2013, 19:50

JeremyMcClean wrote:
redbulljack14 wrote:QPR relegated

Now I can return celebrating Man United's title.

I'm surprised Man Utd fans need to celebrate any more. It was such a one-horse race this season I just imagine most fans going "Oh, we won again? Cool, I'm off to the pub..."

On another note, I'm not surprised that QPR and Reading went down. QPR have a collection of players and not a team; Reading just lacked quality.

Ferrarist · Post by **Ferrarist** » 29 Apr 2013, 13:39

redbulljack14 wrote:QPR and Reading are officially relegated. I guess it was inevitable. Two possible away days for me next season, I may end up going to Loftus Road or the Madejski

Although the pic of Nelson saying "haha" would have also been appropriate, I still find it satisfactory that one can't just easily buy themselves away from relegation. Also, Loic Remy must really bite himself into his butt, for not staying with Marseille.

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 29 Apr 2013, 14:33

Ferrarist wrote:I still find it satisfactory that one can't just easily buy themselves away from relegation. Also, Loic Remy must really bite himself into his butt, for not staying with Marseille.

Remy will go to Newcastle. I can see a lot of Premier League clubs being interested in him, and with Remy being French, it makes sense that he goes to Newcastle.

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 29 Apr 2013, 17:56

redbulljack14 wrote:
Ferrarist wrote:I still find it satisfactory that one can't just easily buy themselves away from relegation. Also, Loic Remy must really bite himself into his butt, for not staying with Marseille.

Remy will go to Newcastle. I can see a lot of Premier League clubs being interested in him, and with Remy being French, it makes sense that he goes to Newcastle.

Unless of course Newcastle also get relegated...

QuickYoda41 · Post by **QuickYoda41** » 29 Apr 2013, 18:07

redbulljack14 wrote:
Stramala wrote:Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug Oh bathplug

Javier Zanetti stretchered off against Palermo in the first half. Suspected achilles tendon problem. If he's ruptured it he could be out for months and months

Ouch, I hope that's not it for his career. Can't be an easy thing to recover from at the age of 39.

Hopefully, he will able to return. He wants to, that's clear from his words. Great idol!

QuickYoda41 · Post by **QuickYoda41** » 29 Apr 2013, 18:12

I didn't want to mention this in the same post with Javier Zanetti, but an absolute reject moment from yesterday from the Hungarian championship:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ5GYlkHqF8

Commentary is in Hungarian but I guess you don't need to understand it - the situation speaks for itself.

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 29 Apr 2013, 18:28

QuickYoda41 wrote:I didn't want to mention this in the same post with Javier Zanetti, but an absolute reject moment from yesterday from the Hungarian championship:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ5GYlkHqF8

Commentary is in Hungarian but I guess you don't need to understand it - the situation speaks for itself.

Once a Rubentus moron, always a Rubentus moron. No wonder he can't get a game in Serie A anymore.

gnrpoison · Post by **gnrpoison** » 29 Apr 2013, 22:35

Well that was an interesting night, really opens it down the bottom for the next few weeks. A win at Norwich and we could be out of it or only needing a point last day of the season. Do feel sorry for Sunderland but never expected that from Villa tonight, pressure on Wigan now as if we match their results in 2 out of 3 games I think mathmatically even if the win theirs in hand by low scores a point could be enough at their place in the final game.

Walsh_e · Post by **Walsh_e** » 29 Apr 2013, 23:21

From this weekend I think that nouveau chateau (or Newcastle as they used to be known) are badly in danger of going down, a huge defeat at home but the worst thing for them was that they basically gifted Liverpool every single goal, Liverpool weren't amazing or doing anything special, they just played through balls or balls over the top to a man out wide, but never did one player go with a man or even mark someone in the box, they basically stood still and wondered why it was all going wrong! Alán Pádews 8 year contract looking a bit silly now!

In League One I was pleased with Tranmere Rovers finishing in the top half, we had a great run at the top but always knew that we really didn't have the squad to keep it up and once injuries took their toll there was no way back. Good season in all, beginning to feel like the Arsenal of league one however, every year it is pointed out that we have one of the smallest budgets in the entire football league, that we'll do well when everyone else is forced to do the same, just doesn't seem like it'll happen though.

gnrpoison · Post by **gnrpoison** » 29 Apr 2013, 23:56

Walsh_e wrote:From this weekend I think that nouveau chateau (or Newcastle as they used to be known) are badly in danger of going down, a huge defeat at home but the worst thing for them was that they basically gifted Liverpool every single goal, Liverpool weren't amazing or doing anything special, they just played through balls or balls over the top to a man out wide, but never did one player go with a man or even mark someone in the box, they basically stood still and wondered why it was all going wrong! Alán Pádews 8 year contract looking a bit silly now!

In League One I was pleased with Tranmere Rovers finishing in the top half, we had a great run at the top but always knew that we really didn't have the squad to keep it up and once injuries took their toll there was no way back. Good season in all, beginning to feel like the Arsenal of league one however, every year it is pointed out that we have one of the smallest budgets in the entire football league, that we'll do well when everyone else is forced to do the same, just doesn't seem like it'll happen though.

Makes me think how screwed they would be if Villa had turned up for the first 45 mins against them at Villa Park earlier on this year, were very lucky towards the end we did not equalise.

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 30 Apr 2013, 21:35

I'm back, so time for another episoe of meanwhile in Belgium
-Beerschot realised they weren't getting a license, and decided to try and keep the team running for third division (which is even unlikely, declaring bankrupcy is probably the only possibility by now)
-Both WS Woluwe and FC Brussels have renamed themselves RWDM... (while WSW still don't have their license yet) this soap will continue for a while, and we might end up with dozens of teams calling themselves RWDM. (in fact, there is another small one in the provincial leagues)
-Anderlecht missed their 9th penalty of the season (most teams don't even get to take that much penalty's) and this is getting ridiculous. I can totally see them ending up with no european football, or worse, behind Brugge, who aren't having much of a great season either. Which is of course a good thing, as everybody loves to see Anderlecht fail this big. It even looks like Waregem doesn't even have to do an effort to become champion, who would have said that before the season?

Some positive news which i seem to have missed: Gert Verheyen has become a youth trainer for the national team, and he's also voted as the best tv-analist, and i have to say, he is actually the best tv-analist we had for a while. My respect for this guy is growing bigger and bigger. He's not afraid to say his opinion, but he never talks nonsens. Looks like the national team is learning from their mistakes and are picking the right guys now.

Post by **Londoner** » 01 May 2013, 20:39

Bayern have just hammered Barca again. 7-0 on aggregate.

roblo97 · Post by **roblo97** » 01 May 2013, 20:52

East Londoner wrote:Bayern have just hammered Barca again. 7-0 on aggregate.

Holy shite, Barca need better players although I presume Messi was injured hence the crap form for Barca
Just shows they are a one man team

Ferrarist · Post by **Ferrarist** » 01 May 2013, 20:59

Well, Barca has a couple of players missing, including Messi. Still, one does not simply win 7-0 by aggregate against Barcelona. Although I think that Dortmund will be the bigger obstacle to overcome.

takagi_for_the_win · Post by **takagi_for_the_win** » 02 May 2013, 17:06

roblomas52 wrote:
East Londoner wrote:Bayern have just hammered Barca again. 7-0 on aggregate.

Holy shite, Barca need better players although I presume Messi was injured hence the crap form for Barca
Just shows they are a one man team

The thing is, Barca when they're on song, are still very much the best team in the world. Its just that Vilanova, and that bloke who was in charge when Tito was in hospital, lack the tactical nous that other managers have, so much so that other managers can put out their teams to beat Barca. I mean, if you put Barca on a wet pitch, would they pplay well? No, because they play a fast, flowing style of play, which works best on a hard, dry pitch. Also, similar to how teams play Arsenal (who IMO play the best football in the EPL) teams just play defensive, killing their style.

I'm rooting for Dortmund in the final BTW

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 03 May 2013, 00:36

And the Serie A 2012/13 ROTY goes to...Inter's luck.

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 03 May 2013, 10:56

Stramala wrote:And the Serie A 2012/13 ROTY goes to...Inter's luck.

bathplug hell, another injury. How many players are left?

Ferrarist · Post by **Ferrarist** » 03 May 2013, 11:01

In other news: It seems like Red Bull has started to go Toro Rosso on Austrian football. Red Bull has bought the FC Liefering, a club from the outskirts of Salzburg. Officially, Liefering is independent from Red Bull, but they're also sponsored by Red Bull, have a similar logo to Salzburg (Which lacks "Red Bull" and the bulls) and also have their own section on the Red Bull Salzburg homepage. But why would Red Bull do this? Because the 2nd squad of Red Bull Salzburg can't enter the 2nd division in Austria, whereas Liefering could. That way, young players from Red Bull could climb the ladder all the way from the 3rd to the 1st division. A clever loophole abuse, but because it's Red Bull, it's still disgusting.

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 03 May 2013, 15:13

redbulljack14 wrote:
Stramala wrote:And the Serie A 2012/13 ROTY goes to...Inter's luck.

bathplug hell, another injury. How many players are left?

Left? Let me think...

GK
Samir Handanovic
Juan Pablo Carrizo
Vid Belec

DF
Jonathan Moreira
Andrea Ranocchia
Juan Jesus
Christian Chivu
Alvaro Pereira

MF
Zdravko Kuzmanovic
Mateo Kovacic
Ezequiel Schelotto
Ricardo Alvarez

FW
Tommaso Rocchi

That's literally all the first team players who are not injured. We can field a first team 5-4-1 with youth team players on the bench, basically. Things are really grim at the moment. Two signings the club completed months ago have picked up injuries since signing their pre-contracts (Ruben Botta and Mauro Icardi).

This just doesn't seem real at the moment...

TheBigJ · Post by **TheBigJ** » 04 May 2013, 10:14

This wrote:I'm back, so time for another episoe of meanwhile in Belgium
-Anderlecht missed their 9th penalty of the season (most teams don't even get to take that much penalty's) and this is getting ridiculous. I can totally see them ending up with no european football, or worse, behind Brugge, who aren't having much of a great season either. Which is of course a good thing, as everybody loves to see Anderlecht fail this big. It even looks like Waregem doesn't even have to do an effort to become champion, who would have said that before the season?

The Essevee just got thumped 4-0 by Genk, even though "analysts" were saying that Genk were finished, etc. They don't seem to be willing to win that title. I was at the Standard game last week supporting the home team and they played total bull first half. We didn't play well at all (as we've been doing all season) yet Zulte did bathplug all and couldn't handle our physicality and the amazing atmosphere.

Speaking of Standard Liège and of the surreal Pro League, we were something like 18 points behind Anderlecht just a month ago but thanks to the rejectful Play-Off system, if we beat Anderlecht on Saturday we will go above them and Zulte into 1rst place. It would also mean you have about 5 teams within 2 points of each other.

So yeah, if you're bored of all the runaway winners, watch the Belgian Pro League!

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 04 May 2013, 13:35

In another episode of Combi's Medical Malpractise...

Finally, some good news has emerged. Fredy Guarin, Esteban Cambiasso and Antonio Cassano are all returning from injury. We're now 1% less screwed than before.

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 04 May 2013, 15:26

TheBigJ wrote:
This wrote:I'm back, so time for another episoe of meanwhile in Belgium
-Anderlecht missed their 9th penalty of the season (most teams don't even get to take that much penalty's) and this is getting ridiculous. I can totally see them ending up with no european football, or worse, behind Brugge, who aren't having much of a great season either. Which is of course a good thing, as everybody loves to see Anderlecht fail this big. It even looks like Waregem doesn't even have to do an effort to become champion, who would have said that before the season?

The Essevee just got thumped 4-0 by Genk, even though "analysts" were saying that Genk were finished, etc. They don't seem to be willing to win that title. I was at the Standard game last week supporting the home team and they played total bull first half. We didn't play well at all (as we've been doing all season) yet Zulte did bathplug all and couldn't handle our physicality and the amazing atmosphere.

Speaking of Standard Liège and of the surreal Pro League, we were something like 18 points behind Anderlecht just a month ago but thanks to the rejectful Play-Off system, if we beat Anderlecht on Saturday we will go above them and Zulte into 1rst place. It would also mean you have about 5 teams within 2 points of each other.

So yeah, if you're bored of all the runaway winners, watch the Belgian Pro League!

Oh defenitely Essevee want that title, the millions of Champions League money will be directly used to finance their stadium (they've been planning for years, but only have half of the necessairy budget for it). But yeah, they've been the underdog the whole season, and now suddenly they are title favourites, and this pressure is new for them, and not really coming at the right moment. Good job by Standard though, they look the most consistent team at the moment and actually stand a chance. They gambled on using the main competition as training and now they look to peek at just the right moment. But the system is absurd, when even Club Brugge has a realistic chance of championship after such a rubbish season :roll:

Genk doesn't care much about the title, they are now fully focussing on the cup, and playing against Cercle, they should not lose it. And like analists told a lot of times, the title will be lost or won in the matches against Lokeren, the only play-off team that doesn't look like they'll stand a chance to win, but will still take of points from other teams. Oh how i would love to see Anderlecht not playing European football next year, and it's actually possible.
Waregem doesn't have to fear playing CL, it's more or less confirmed that Thorgan Hazard will stay on loan from Chelsea when they qualify for the CL, so that will convince other players to re-new their contracts, without asking ridiculous salary increase. Also fears that Waregem is going to make us Belgiums ashamed is rubbish. The last time Waregem played in Europe, they were the best performing Belgian team, and usually other Belgian teams in the CL don't win a lot of matches either.

And in the Meanwhile/only in Belgium category: Woluwe has gained its professional license after all after going to court a third time, so they can play promotion play offs. Still questions about it, they have no fans, no decent stadium, and as it seems, their investors don't actually exist. Meanwhile both them and FC Brussels want to call themselves RWDM, and want to play in the same stadium in Molenbeek (which is the only Brussels stadium apart from Anderlecht and the national stadium that is good enough for first division). It's going to be interesting to watch how the city of Molenbeek will handle that situation...
Anyway they'll be playing promotion play-offs against Cercle, Mouscron (or should is say Lille B) and Westerlo. Of course, STVV feel quite bathplugged now, and going to another court (this will never end)
To come back on the Beerschot issues, it looks like their biggest rival, Antwerp, hasn't paid it's players for a while either... so there's a possibility both teams go bankrupted now. It looks like it's all unraveling now, lot of investors trying to make the two clubs dissapear, and start a neutral new one, just like happened in Genk in the eighties. (they could as well use Berchem to start from, as that team look to be in reasonable financial shape now)

David AGS · Post by **David AGS** » 04 May 2013, 17:45

Stramala wrote:
redbulljack14 wrote:
Stramala wrote:And the Serie A 2012/13 ROTY goes to...Inter's luck.

bathplug hell, another injury. How many players are left?

Left? Let me think...

GK
Samir Handanovic
Juan Pablo Carrizo
Vid Belec

DF
Jonathan Moreira
Andrea Ranocchia
Juan Jesus
Christian Chivu
Alvaro Pereira

MF
Zdravko Kuzmanovic
Mateo Kovacic
Ezequiel Schelotto
Ricardo Alvarez

FW
Tommaso Rocchi

That's literally all the first team players who are not injured. We can field a first team 5-4-1 with youth team players on the bench, basically. Things are really grim at the moment. Two signings the club completed months ago have picked up injuries since signing their pre-contracts (Ruben Botta and Mauro Icardi).

This just doesn't seem real at the moment...

Three fit GKs, yet 1 fit striker!!!

I know Jonathan (Moreira), he can play. Had a great time last year at Parma. Seems Chivu been around for a very long time. Ricky Alvarez, hows he going? We (Arsenal) wanted him a year or so ago, but couldnt resist Inter with the Argentinian links (and presume cash)

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 04 May 2013, 19:36

David AGS wrote:I know Jonathan (Moreira), he can play. Had a great time last year at Parma. Seems Chivu been around for a very long time. Ricky Alvarez, hows he going? We (Arsenal) wanted him a year or so ago, but couldnt resist Inter with the Argentinian links (and presume cash)

Jonathan
Until three weeks ago, had been utterly useless. Has suddenly formed a very bizarre yet effective partnership with Tommaso Rocchi and started playing the best football I've ever seen from him. Given Zanetti and Nagatomo's injuries, this is his chance to shine.

Chivu
Well, he's not been the same since he got the skullcap. He is way too unpredictable, always getting carded and sent off. Sometimes has okay days, other days he's utterly useless. As I said, not the same guy who played so well for Roma.

Alvarez
Christ, you can have him. He's shown none of his so called potential at Inter. Thought I blame Inter really, as soon as players leave this club they seem to flourish. Sebastien Frey and Leonardo Bonucci are the first examples I can think of.

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 04 May 2013, 20:06

Championship finished today. Was hoping for Barnsley to be the third team to get relegated, not Peterborough. Posh was the best away day in the division, at least out of the ones i've done. Hull had secured a point against Cardiff and were waiting for Watford's game to finish, which was 10 minutes late. Watford couldn't find a winner, so Hull were promoted.

Meanwhile, we ended the season 12th, our worst finish since 1995/96, when we were 15th in what was Division 1 back then.

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 04 May 2013, 20:59

Just as well Udines...I mean, Watford, weren't promoted. Imagine how rubbish their team would be if they had to rely on players signed outright alone.

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 05 May 2013, 01:06

Stramala wrote:And the Serie A 2012/13 ROTY goes to...Inter's luck.

Don't worry about that, it could get worse, this year FC Brussels (second division) has played a few games with their back-up goalkeeper as a field player and the most recent game, one player that had broken his foot still kept on playing, simply because they had no other players left. Truth be told, they were fighting against degradation, but still, i can't think of many players willing to play with a broken foot...

David AGS · Post by **David AGS** » 05 May 2013, 06:37

Stramala wrote:Just as well Udines...I mean, Watford, weren't promoted. Imagine how rubbish their team would be if they had to rely on players signed outright alone.

Still got Playoffs to come though. Dont really care who goes up!

If I lean towards someone, it will be Crystal Palace, but mainly due to the Aussie connection thru Mile Jedinak, who relegated Petersborough with a last minute strike.

Post by **Londoner** » 07 May 2013, 19:43

Well, Wigan appear to be on their way to yet another escape from relegation. How do they do it?

Should Wigan hold on for the win, I think Norwich will be in all kinds of shite.

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 07 May 2013, 19:57

East Londoner wrote:Well, Wigan appear to be on their way to yet another escape from relegation. How do they do it?

Should Wigan hold on for the win, I think Norwich will be in all kinds of shite.

I wouldn't be saying that yet. Especially as Swansea levelled. Wigan could really dig themselves out of a hole with all 3 points here though.

Post by **Londoner** » 07 May 2013, 20:22

Bathplug. Wigan are going down, Norwich will be staying up.

gnrpoison · Post by **gnrpoison** » 07 May 2013, 21:53

that result all but guarentees Villa's survival with 5 above with 6 to go for. Wigan have to beat us for it to happen and the teams below us all win. Odds now are 66/1 and 100/1 in some places. So anyone fancy it?

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 07 May 2013, 22:52

Anyone see the Burton Albion vs Derby County score earlier. 8-8.

I know it was only a friendly, but that's an epic score.

Ferrarist · Post by **Ferrarist** » 08 May 2013, 09:13

Red Bull Salzburg went out of the Austrian Cup, after they lost 1-2 to 3rd division squad FC Pasching. After Red Bull went into the lead nonetheless! But what makes it interesting is that Red Bull is financially supporting Pasching, in addition to the other 3rd division squad FC Liefering. But with Pasching in the cup final against Austria Wien, who are on their way to win the Austrian championship, Red Bull may end up with two clubs in the Europa League! It'll be interesting to see the reaction of the UEFA, since they've already thrown AEK Athen out of the UEFA-Cup in 1998, because Athen had the same owner as Slavia Prague.

It might also become an interesting situation in the future, if Red...sorry, "RasenBallSport" Leipzig makes it into European competitions. Could this mean that Red Bull might sacrifice their Austrian branch, in order to benefit their probably larger German branch? I can't imagine that, as Red Bull, for all their disgusting actions in football, follows a clear philosophy of training their young players through all levels. But hopefully, RB Leipzig won't make it anywhere in German football over the next years.

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 08 May 2013, 09:47

Meanwhile, SAF is to retire at the end of the season in what I think is a big blow to the team.

roblo97 · Post by **roblo97** » 08 May 2013, 14:48

redbulljack14 wrote:Anyone see the Burton Albion vs Derby County score earlier. 8-8.

I know it was only a friendly, but that's an epic score.

What the bathplug :roll:

I hope spurs win tonight as I support them and I hate Chelsea as they are the arch rivals of spurs.
I also hope Wigan stay up because I think they were very unlucky last night