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April 25th, 2009
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Some Arsenal guys tried to do it two seasons back or something but they messed it up. But for statistics sake, it does go down as a missed penalty on the taker's side. |
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April 26th, 2009
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I wasn't pointing to the time-machine syndrome in this case - but that in recent years goalkeepers, in UK certainly, have been protected as never before, and also have particular benefit of subs. They are no longer legally hammered by forwards. |
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May 1st, 2009
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Tomorrow the decisive match here (and for the first time in 15 matches before over the years will it be decisive):
Madrid- Barca! I have heard it is going to be televised in the whole world, and I can just hope that soccer once shows justice and that the ball does whatever necessary to reward those who treated it so great this whole season... (but, as soccer is usually not just... I fear the worst...) Here the (satirical) take that we have seen in a program (Crackovia) where actors more or less resembling the actual players/coaches/presidents (in this case of Barca) comment on the situation in the Spanish league (the interesting part starts after 1:45 : In the beginning you can see (gay) coach Guardiola trying to motivate his players with the Goldberg Variatiions of J.S Bach (watch Puyol´s, Iniesta´s and Etoo´s faces, priceless!), then there is a discussion about how "Poems and Literature" are the most important things for a soccer player (to which the players correct: "*Three" things, mister..." - apart form what Etoo mentions: Titties, cars and party - "...Cup, Leauge and Champions!", explainig it by performing the old Queen song with this theme (and leave Guardiola not understanding anything), Prezzie Laporta with the tie around his head equally hilarious:
(and we still need some little revenge for the forced "pasillo" of 2008 when the league was already decided at the time of the match and Madrid had made champion... NOTE that I as sportsman and being "Culé" have no probs with playing the Madrid hymn here!):
Now, we shall see, whatever happens, Barca will still be leader after this match with 4 more to go... Aupa Barca!
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May 2nd, 2009
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Chelsea v. Barcelona upcoming. Any forecasts?
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May 2nd, 2009
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 Seriously, I know that after every good game follows a bad one, but if Barca just does half on WED of what they did today, Chelsea is out for sure... Quote:
2:6!!! A Culé dream come true, and I am not yet out of it (no team ever made 6 goals in the Bernabeu during the time I have been watching soccer, and this is many a years... it for sure is the first time ever Barca scored 6 in the Bernabeu), the stadium applauding to Barca (and for that: "Hats Off!" sincerely to the Madrid fans, Barca fans have never done it in similar situations - to their shame from my POV -). Of cause, in a situation like this you cannot talk to the Merengues (and probably not for the next 3 days) seriously, all were crying and even a word of consolation would have come over as offensive and arrogant (remember that by declaring yourself Merengue or Culé you make a political statement almost more than a statement about soccer: Madrid was/stands for/is Franco, Barca was/stands for/is The Republic of Inedependant Catalonia), but I really had to finally consolate that 85 yrs old Guardia Civil Major (actually, the bar owner) who burned his 70 yrs old Madrid Club Membership Card and delcared that he had lost faith in the Spanish Nation, I do not know whether I succeeded, seemed everything I and others were saying just was more salt into his wounds... Anyway, from my POV soccer for the 2nd time in just 12 month did justice to style, team and coach work this time, and we saw an epic match of the purest and most refined club soccer I have ever had a chance to see: The 2:6 was well deserved, it could have been 2:10 if it had not been for Casillas (who paraded 2 or 3 goals that were already sung out) or the referee (who did not give 2 clear penalties to Barca)... Well, now off to bed and trying to not awake from the dream...
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May 3rd, 2009
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Yeah - what a great win; a historic win I would suggest. I am sure Chelsea and Hiddink will relish a great battle, just as all of us will. I am a Spurs man, but I can't wait for this one. Of course Barcelona are highly rated here, so I hope the beautiful game is the winner, whatever the strategies.
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May 3rd, 2009
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Now a bit more relaxed, some more details on this historic match:
Madrid was - as Raul stated - "inferior but not worse" than Barca (he was referring to their spirit and style). Lucky for them, had they been worse than Barca it would have ended 2:15... Madrid gave all it had, which is pride, courage, fight (they ran marathons) and with Robben even a bit of glamour and deseqilibrium, but winning against the best team of the globe with those means only is like trying to invade the US with a tug boat and a yacht... Those neverending triangles formed by Messi, Iniesta and Xavi or Xavi, Etoo and Henry (I like the triangle method Guardiola implemented, a pyramide right from Valdez dwn to the goal) were never ever met by Metzelder, Heinze, Lass and Gago, sometimes Barca would let the ball circulate for 5 min and the Madrileños never had a chance to even touch it - though they tried hard going with up to three at each Barca ball bearer - , waiting patiently for the gap and then execute brilliance in a way that it actually looked really easy. It was no surprise, really, what happened at the Bernabeu, it was simply - soccer...  Brilliance vs. Impotence, and the end of a lie. Chelsea beware! Barcelona has made statistical history for the Spanish League now in various aspects and is aiming for more: Goals scored 100 after day 34, Goal difference +72, 85 points after day 34 (and four more to go), 22 wins in a row (totals: Wins 27, Draws 4, Lost 3). Beat Cruyffs "Dream Team" in all respects apart from not having won one title yet (fingers crossed). Match summary in English: http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1771/...t-the-bernabeu Goals: 1-0, m.14: Higuaín. 1-1, m.17: Henry. 1-2, m.20: Puyol. 1-3, m.35: Messi. 2-3 m.55: Sergio Ramos. 2-4, m.58: Henry. 2-5, m.75: Messi. 2-6, m.83: Piqué Player Ratings (English) http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1771/...-2-6-barcelona and a vid of the highlights (parades and goals) in HQ: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHPcws3LUSM Rattler |
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May 3rd, 2009
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Wow that is crazy.
I remember watching Guardiola play and he was a great player. Not many great players go on to be great managers but I guess he's an exception. |
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May 3rd, 2009
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13th - you might remember that once, when we were on the subject of UK crowd behaviour, I said that I was often amused by the humour of the Liverpool supporters.
Well, today their team was playing Newcastle, a team of immense support, currently fighting for survival in the Premiership; Newcastle have appointed Alan Shearer , the ex-England striker and Newcastle legend and icon, regular tv soccer pundit for some time, as temporary manager for the last few games of the season, in an effort to inspire the team. Well, he certainly inspires their crowd, who were loyally chanting his name even tho' they were 2-0 down. Then the Liverpool crowd started singing, with one voice it seemed, 'You should have stayed on the tele' - to the tune of 'Quantaramero.' He loved that as it happens, and it brought out broad smiles from him for his only highlight of the game. |
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May 6th, 2009
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 I like 'm but I prefer Sankt Pauli  . When ever I am in Hamburg I try to get a beer in Altona and buy a sweater/ shirt of SP. Their fans know the meaning of true loyalty. Something you see less and less in the soccer world...
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