The Ali Dia Football/Soccer Thread

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 06 Aug 2013, 23:56

watka wrote:Wolves are becoming one massive joke aren't they?

I know, it's sooo bathplugging funny.

I still can't believe they did the double over us last season.

roblo97 · Post by **roblo97** » 07 Aug 2013, 05:54

FullMetalJack wrote:Middlesbrough win Reject of the Round for the first round of the Capital One Cup, after losing 2-1 at home to Accrington Stanley.

They're a team that normally make good starts to a season too.

You have to be really crap to loose to Accrington Stanley

dinizintheoven · Post by **dinizintheoven** » 07 Aug 2013, 20:07

FullMetalJack wrote:Middlesbrough win Reject of the Round for the first round of the Capital One Cup, after losing 2-1 at home to Accrington Stanley.

Should have drunk lots of milk.

Post by **Londoner** » 07 Aug 2013, 20:31

roblomas52 wrote:
FullMetalJack wrote:Middlesbrough win Reject of the Round for the first round of the Capital One Cup, after losing 2-1 at home to Accrington Stanley.

They're a team that normally make good starts to a season too.

You have to be really crap to loose to Accrington Stanley

I like Accrington, because of their history and how the club rose again having fallen to pieces in the 1960s.

Alextrax52 · Post by **Alextrax52** » 07 Aug 2013, 20:34

FullMetalJack wrote:Middlesbrough win Reject of the Round for the first round of the Capital One Cup, after losing 2-1 at home to Accrington Stanley.

They're a team that normally make good starts to a season too.

Boro have been crap since the 2nd half of last season. At December in that point of the season they were in the playoffs and then deteriorated badly into 16th by the end of the season. Looks like they haven't stopped the rot as it were. I wouldn't have been surprised if they lost to Dagenham and RedBridge

roblo97 · Post by **roblo97** » 07 Aug 2013, 20:37

East Londoner wrote:
roblomas52 wrote:
FullMetalJack wrote:Middlesbrough win Reject of the Round for the first round of the Capital One Cup, after losing 2-1 at home to Accrington Stanley.

They're a team that normally make good starts to a season too.

You have to be really crap to loose to Accrington Stanley

I like Accrington, because of their history and how the club rose again having fallen to pieces in the 1960s.

IMO beeting BORO is a huge result for them

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 07 Aug 2013, 21:00

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:
FullMetalJack wrote:Middlesbrough win Reject of the Round for the first round of the Capital One Cup, after losing 2-1 at home to Accrington Stanley.

They're a team that normally make good starts to a season too.

Boro have been crap since the 2nd half of last season. At December in that point of the season they were in the playoffs and then deteriorated badly into 16th by the end of the season. Looks like they haven't stopped the rot as it were. I wouldn't have been surprised if they lost to Dagenham and RedBridge

It's the second half of every season that they're normally a bit shite. They start seasons very well.

Post by **Ataxia** » 07 Aug 2013, 21:04

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:
FullMetalJack wrote:Middlesbrough win Reject of the Round for the first round of the Capital One Cup, after losing 2-1 at home to Accrington Stanley.

They're a team that normally make good starts to a season too.

Boro have been crap since the 2nd half of last season. At December in that point of the season they were in the playoffs and then deteriorated badly into 16th by the end of the season. Looks like they haven't stopped the rot as it were. I wouldn't have been surprised if they lost to Dagenham and RedBridge

It's very much representative of their form in the last four seasons. If Southgate hadn't received his P45, I'd be willing to bet that they'd probably have returned to the top flight in 2010. As it goes now, Strachan and now Mowbray have now managed to clip a talented squad down to a large pile of "meh". Yeah, Curtis Main's got potential, but the side is barely Championship quality. I know they might not have the budget, but they could at least try and make more astute signings, surely.

dinizintheoven · Post by **dinizintheoven** » 09 Aug 2013, 15:17

A question for This:

When I was a nipper (20+ years ago now...) and was a regular reader of Shoot! there were always a few pages about football in the rest of Europe, and in Belgium, Anderlecht were the team to beat. I remember looking at some of the pictures and thinking "what is that shirt sponsor? It's this weird 'G' and nothing else..." Here's the 1990/91 kit for example:

Am I right thinking this is an old Gazprom logo, given that it looks very similar to what Zenit St. Petersburg have been displaying in more recent times:

And if it is Gazprom, did they pay up? And if so, given that this was in the death throes of the Soviet Union, where did the money come from?

I ask because of all the problems Sauber are having with their new Russian overlords...

watka · Post by **watka** » 09 Aug 2013, 22:24

The logo is that of Generale Bank, which became part of Fortis (current shirt sponsors). So pretty boring.

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 09 Aug 2013, 22:26

watka wrote:The logo is that of Generale Bank, which became part of Fortis (current shirt sponsors). So pretty boring.

I was about to answer, but you were faster. That is indeed right. And boring, well, what did you expect from Anderlecht? :lol:

It was quite a habit in the nineties, as Club Brugge also had a bank sponsor (Gemeentekrediet), also only with a logo. That one turned into Dexia, their current sponsor. Quite boring teams they are, indeed.

dinizintheoven · Post by **dinizintheoven** » 10 Aug 2013, 12:24

That makes a lot more sense.

Ferrarist · Post by **Ferrarist** » 10 Aug 2013, 16:09

First leg of the Bundesliga, and here are some notes:

- Bayern won as usual, as they defeated Mönchengladbach 3-1. Gladbach fell victim to two penalties, which were awarded within seconds of each other! While Marc-André ter Stegen held the first penalty, he couldn't hold the second. Also, Dante fell shortly back towards old Gladbach times (He's played for Gladbach before coming to Munich), as he's scored an own goal.
- Dortmund won 4-0 against Augsburg, who tried to defend themselves as good as possible. But they couldn't stop Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scored three (!) goals in his very first Bundesliga game.
- Wolfsburg lost 0-2 against Hannover AND lost two players due to red cards. I'm actually surprised that Hannover won, because I expected Mirko Slomka to be the first coach that gets sacked. But the honour may go to...
- ...Armin Veh! My god! What was Eintracht Frankfurt doing in Berlin? They lost ONE-SIX! That's right, Hertha's scored one, two, three, four, five, SIX goals! Remember, Hertha is a promoted team, while Frankfurt qualified for the Europa League!
- Leverkusen won 3-1 against Freiburg, while Nürnberg managed to equalize an early 0-2 against Hoffenheim. Although a goal was wrongly not given to Hoffenheim, as the ball clearly crossed the line, yet the referee and his assistants didn't see it. :lol:

It was an entertaining 1st leg so far. Braunschweig plays Bremen at 6.30, while Mainz squares off against Stuttgart and Schalke plays against Hamburg tomorrow.

Post by **Ataxia** » 10 Aug 2013, 23:17

Dammit, Birmingham...why did Darren Randolph have to have such a good game?

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 11 Aug 2013, 00:01

Ataxia wrote:Dammit, Birmingham...why did Darren Randolph have to have such a good game?

We seem to have good luck with goalkeepers, maybe Randolph is no exception.

Within the last few seasons, we've had Joe Hart, Ben Foster and Jack Butland.

Post by **Ataxia** » 13 Aug 2013, 11:45

After Stech broke his hand in the Birmingham, Yeovil needed to pick up a decent keeper on loan...and they've got one! Wayne Hennessey, ladies and gentlemen.

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 13 Aug 2013, 11:55

Ataxia wrote:After Stech broke his hand in the Birmingham, Yeovil needed to pick up a decent keeper on loan...and they've got one! Wayne Hennessey, ladies and gentlemen.

Let's hope for his sake that the same thing doesn't happen in a few weeks, as we're at Yeovil in the next round of the League Cup. I'll try and go to this one.

Barbazza · Post by **Barbazza** » 13 Aug 2013, 20:52

Ah, Marek Stech. One of many players that Fatty has shipped out of our club without them really getting a proper chance. Today we bought a player we don't need, we have 3 strikers - 1 injured, 1 not really looking up to the Premier League, 1 kid. He's finally turned us into ****ing Bolton.

takagi_for_the_win · Post by **takagi_for_the_win** » 17 Aug 2013, 19:32

To any Liverpool fans on here- WE LET YOU WIN :evil:

Aerospeed · Post by **Aerospeed** » 17 Aug 2013, 20:05

takagi_for_the_win wrote:To any Liverpool fans on here- WE LET YOU WIN

I hope the Liverpool fans enjoyed their lead in the standings... :lol:

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 18 Aug 2013, 20:56

And STVV started their season on a false note after a defeat in the cup against Leopoldsburg. You are probably thinking 'who?', it's a small team in 4th division from the region of Limburg. In fact, all other teams from Limburg got defeated as well, except Bocholt, (who beat Antwerp)

Meanwhile, theres plenty of trouble at Zulte Waregem. Apparently, the deal of keeping Hazard that he would be team captain, with which other players disagreed. Now he himself decided to gave away his captain band, to keep the peace. But his manager is less amused. So the owner of the team had enough of it and quit (altough it must be said that his ambitions were never realistic to begin with)
Meanwhile standardwinslol

Post by **tommykl** » 19 Aug 2013, 00:29

This wrote:Meanwhile standardwinslol

You have no idea how happy I am for that to be a thing :mrgreen:

watka · Post by **watka** » 22 Aug 2013, 23:09

Looks like Cercle will have one of those seasons were they survive because someone else is worse than them (probably Leuven or Oostende).

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 23 Aug 2013, 00:12

watka wrote:Looks like Cercle will have one of those seasons were they survive because someone else is worse than them (probably Leuven or Oostende).

I think it will still be a hard season, they got a good start, but they had to play against teams like Mons, Lierse and Oostende, not exactly the top teams, and they already lost 4 points in those games. I don't think they will get in trouble, though, Oostende are really the weakest link in this competition. It looks like there will be 7 teams trying to avoid that 15th place, and my gamble is that Mechelen will be the ones that end up in that spot. Why? Because it's a team that everybody assumes they'll have an aesy season, as they always do but that way, such a team can fall asleep, just like what happened to Cercle and Westerlo before.

And Tommy, enjoy the Standardwinslol as long as it last, at the moment, 5 or 6 teams are able to win, and especially Lokeren look consistent enough to be a real challenge. (Genk is too inconsistent and i think Anderlecht, Club, Gent and Zulte have too much happening behind the scenes, or things aren't happening yet but look inevitable, Anderlecht can deal with that sort of issues, but he other teams will not) Also the Standard-trainer is really an arrogant twat. I don't think he will last more than 2 years, and it will not be on friendly terms that he'll leave.

The good news is that my local team Hades has won on its debut in national division 4C! Good job guys, you make Hasselt proud! (unlike those losers from Sporting)

Rejectful meanwhile in Belgium? well, Emile Mpenza (still remember him?) says he thinks he can still get selected for the national team. The guy is somewhere in his mid thirties and hasn't played in a good competion for years. Also the only Belgian team slightly considering him is Oostende. Yup, sounds like a good idea. Probably he'll score one goal and then got injured for 3 years again :lol:

Also, what is Waasland Beveren doing? They've already done 18 transfers for this season. That can't end well.

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 24 Aug 2013, 13:20

This wrote:Rejectful meanwhile in Belgium? well, Emile Mpenza (still remember him?) says he thinks he can still get selected for the national team. The guy is somewhere in his mid thirties and hasn't played in a good competion for years. Also the only Belgian team slightly considering him is Oostende. Yup, sounds like a good idea. Probably he'll score one goal and then got injured for 3 years again

He couldn't even break into the first team while playing in the Azerbaijan Premier League! I think most of the general population of Belgium deserves a call up before he does. Especially Gaby Mudingayi.

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 25 Aug 2013, 00:31

Stramala wrote:
This wrote:Rejectful meanwhile in Belgium? well, Emile Mpenza (still remember him?) says he thinks he can still get selected for the national team. The guy is somewhere in his mid thirties and hasn't played in a good competion for years. Also the only Belgian team slightly considering him is Oostende. Yup, sounds like a good idea. Probably he'll score one goal and then got injured for 3 years again

He couldn't even break into the first team while playing in the Azerbaijan Premier League! I think most of the general population of Belgium deserves a call up before he does. Especially Gaby Mudingayi.

Well, he's got world cup experience :lol:

Only 4 other belgian players from that era are still active today. The others being Van Buyten, Simons, Sonck and Goor.

TheBigJ · Post by **TheBigJ** » 25 Aug 2013, 11:49

This, why is Guy Luzon an "arrogant twat" when he has conducted himself with dignity, played down our good start to the season and still let's the players be applauded on their own instead of joining in, mainly because he realises the fans still aren't convinced?

I've been impressed by him.

Post by **Londoner** » 25 Aug 2013, 17:30

In probably the upset of the season (so far), Man City have just lost 3-2...to Cardiff City of all teams!

Must be galling for Man City fans, knowing your team hasn't spent enough money to beat a newly-promoted side...

dinizintheoven · Post by **dinizintheoven** » 25 Aug 2013, 20:53

East Londoner wrote:In probably the upset of the season (so far), Man City have just lost 3-2...to Cardiff City of all teams!

Cerddwyr edrychwch i'r chwith!

watka · Post by **watka** » 25 Aug 2013, 22:50

The Welsh are invading!

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 25 Aug 2013, 23:20

TheBigJ wrote:This, why is Guy Luzon an "arrogant twat" when he has conducted himself with dignity, played down our good start to the season and still let's the players be applauded on their own instead of joining in, mainly because he realises the fans still aren't convinced?

I've been impressed by him.

I've read some interviews with him. He always talks about how great he is and how succesful he has been in the past. And the worst thing is, he hasn't had that much results at all. Okay, he diserves a chance, but an attidude like that will no doubt end in tears. I hope for you people that he will win a title before that happens, that's why i predict he will last 2 seasons. Don't get me wrong, he is by no means a bad trainer towards his own players, but his attitude towards the media is just one of the worst i've ever seen. Maybe he reacts different to the Walloon media, i don't know. But on the so-called Di Resta scale, he scores a big fat 10.
Then of course, some trainers with a hopeless attitide towards the media do get succesful eventually.

Now of course, all my predictions (except the standardwinslol thing) have gone wrong, with every JPL team doing exactly the opposite of what i predicted them to do.

TheBigJ · Post by **TheBigJ** » 26 Aug 2013, 12:06

This wrote:
TheBigJ wrote:This, why is Guy Luzon an "arrogant twat" when he has conducted himself with dignity, played down our good start to the season and still let's the players be applauded on their own instead of joining in, mainly because he realises the fans still aren't convinced?

I've been impressed by him.

I've read some interviews with him. He always talks about how great he is and how succesful he has been in the past. And the worst thing is, he hasn't had that much results at all. Okay, he diserves a chance, but an attidude like that will no doubt end in tears. I hope for you people that he will win a title before that happens, that's why i predict he will last 2 seasons. Don't get me wrong, he is by no means a bad trainer towards his own players, but his attitude towards the media is just one of the worst i've ever seen. Maybe he reacts different to the Walloon media, i don't know. But on the so-called Di Resta scale, he scores a big fat 10.
Then of course, some trainers with a hopeless attitide towards the media do get succesful eventually.

Now of course, all my predictions (except the standardwinslol thing) have gone wrong, with every JPL team doing exactly the opposite of what i predicted them to do.

The only reason he went on about his record is precisely because both the media and fanatical Standard supporters completely dismissed him the moment he walked through the door (myself included). Everybody was going on about his failure with Hapoel Tel Aviv and his under-21 record, so he just produced his record of getting struggling teams into the Europa League. The media treatment he has had is disgusting, because the media automatically assumed all Standard fans were against just because some loons stormed into his first press conference. The fact is most Standard fans are fully behind Luzon and the team, they just don't like the way a club legend in Micrea Rednic was treated by that odious man Duchatelet.

Basically, unlike Di Resta who is hailed from the seven seas by the Beeb and Sky, Luzon has the right to defend his achievements.

As far as I can see the only real surprise is how slow Brugge have started, but that seems to happen every season, so it shouldn't be. TBH I'm very surprised we're starting to win as consistently as this. Our team is so solid at the back (Kanu is a beast) but offensively there is still a lot to be desired. If we come up against a team capable of scoring goals against us then we will get dominated. But Luzon has already said he's focusing on improving the players on a technical level before we get our tactical game sorted, which is really what was missing last season in terms of basic passing.

Oh, and remember Ron Jans? He is now his home team Zwolle, and has guided them to the top of the Eredevisie ftm. Should never have been sacked. Nor Rednic.

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 26 Aug 2013, 20:39

It's not just how the media treats him. He talks about how great he is even when journalists don't ask about it. That is arrogance, not the media's fault. It takes more to convince me. It's not just his career succeses he talks about, but also how his personal life is so succesful. That's just not the attidude you need in a country like Belgium.

Well, Jans is a good guy, but i think his dutch football style didn't fit with the players he had at his disposal at Standard. He came at the wrong time, like many before him did. It's nice for him that he got good results in the Dutch competition.

Also i don't think Rednic was the real reason those people protested. The real reason is just about these people being anti-duchatelet. Sacking Rednic was only a trigger, but not the underlying reason. Remember that STVV fans almost invaded Duchatelet's home, which is actually worse than invading the stadium. It also has to do with Roland's political ideas. Don't forget he's a liberal politician, and a noticeable part of Standard's fans are working class people. There was/is a lot more happening than meets the eye, but the media ignores that. Then of course, people from Liège in general do have a reputation for being a little bit hot-headed. In flanders the city is called 'de vurige stede'.
Also in Liège, RFC has released new stadium plans. Will it happen this time? And where do they get the money from, if even first division club Mons can't get the money for completing their stadium? (because these plans are of similar size)

roblo97 · Post by **roblo97** » 26 Aug 2013, 20:49

It seems spurs are going to sale bale soon

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 26 Aug 2013, 22:01

Bloody hell, the Man United vs Chelsea game was shite. I was expecting so much more, even though they had that awful 2007 FA Cup final, so I shouldn't have been too surprised. Hopefully the cup games tomorrow are more entertaining.

watka · Post by **watka** » 26 Aug 2013, 22:07

Cagey as heck but as a Chelsea fan I'm happy with the point.

Ferrarist · Post by **Ferrarist** » 30 Aug 2013, 10:26

So Milan sells Boateng to fund a signing of Kaka...morons, bathplugging morons!
On the other hand, it could be the case that Boateng really didn't want to stick around any longer in Italy, where it seems to be common to greet African people with monkey chants. It's also good for the Bundesliga, even if Boateng went to Schalke...

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 30 Aug 2013, 11:52

Ferrarist wrote:So Milan sells Boateng to fund a signing of Kaka...morons, bathplugging morons!
On the other hand, it could be the case that Boateng really didn't want to stick around any longer in Italy, where it seems to be common to greet African people with monkey chants. It's also good for the Bundesliga, even if Boateng went to Schalke...

At least the other half of Milan is doing something in calciomercato! Inter is doing nothing. We need to completely overhaul our midfield and bring in some new wing backs. The solutions provied to us so far by the "genuis" of Marco Branca is midfielder Saphir Taïder...and that's it! What the hell! Quit signing so many centre backs you assclown, we need Radja Nainggolan & Mauricio Isla and we need them now!

Visconti · Post by **Visconti** » 30 Aug 2013, 16:57

Ferrarist wrote:So Milan sells Boateng to fund a signing of Kaka...morons, bathplugging morons!
On the other hand, it could be the case that Boateng really didn't want to stick around any longer in Italy, where it seems to be common to greet African people with monkey chants. It's also good for the Bundesliga, even if Boateng went to Schalke...

Actually, Berlusconi was running short of money for his weekly bribe!

In all seriousness, the Kaka' rumour has been around for 3 years now, I doubt we will see the now average player anywhere near an Italian club, especially with his $5mill wage.

takagi_for_the_win · Post by **takagi_for_the_win** » 31 Aug 2013, 11:17

Visconti wrote:
Ferrarist wrote:So Milan sells Boateng to fund a signing of Kaka...morons, bathplugging morons!
On the other hand, it could be the case that Boateng really didn't want to stick around any longer in Italy, where it seems to be common to greet African people with monkey chants. It's also good for the Bundesliga, even if Boateng went to Schalke...

Actually, Berlusconi was running short of money for his weekly bribe!

In all seriousness, the Kaka' rumour has been around for 3 years now, I doubt we will see the now average player anywhere near an Italian club, especially with his $5mill wage.

I miss the days when Kaka was good