Kuyt is a fucking legend already! He's already notched 5 Premiership goals. His link up play with the other attackers is amazing, almost Dalglish-like, and he has great strength. The man has everything: vision, power, aerial ability and a great finisher. No wonder Feyernoord were loathed to let him go! I hear that the Feyernoord fans still display their Kuyt banner at matches and I can understand why as he's developed a great rapport with the Liverpool fans already. Legend!

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Good to hear, I've seen him score two pretty cool goals. He's a good striker but definetly a hard worker too, he makes more metres then anyone else on the field (during his feyenoord days)

He's playing against England tonight, Van Persie is at home with his wife having a baby and Robben is terribly out of shape so I wonder how that'll go.
Van der Vaart is probably a midfielder/winger and Seedorf will play his first match under Van Basten, can't wait to see how he does, I'll be checking out the match at the pub.
Ofcourse it's just a friendly match but Seedorf really can prove himself here!

About the Feyenoord fans, yes, you're right. They still have banners of him and he promised to be back because he was very much in-touch with the Feyenoord fans.
When he and Kalou left, Feyenoord went to shit, their other ace striker Romeo Castelen is also injured. Feyenoord is down in the shitters, Ajax and PSV are fighting for the prizes with AZ allways on their ass.
It's kinda sad for Feyenoord because they used to be up there with Ajax and PSV!

PSV is furthest in their teamplay right now, they're usually pretty attractive to watch but result is their no.1 priority. Ajax is way more fun to watch and very creative but they lack the teamplay part. (but with Gabri, Stam, Huntelaar, Babel and Sneijder they've got a pretty good team) PSV is allready placed for the next CL round and I've been to Amsterdam to see Ajax whoop Austria Wien's ass.

So far for the update on the Dutch soccer world

Oh, Kuyt scored around 20/30 goals during the seasons he played here, I wonder how far he'll get in England..

Huntelaar however scored 33 goals last year and 54 in all matches played (for holland and young holland as well, beeing the top scorer on EK under 21 after they won it)

I want Huntelaar to come to United. Not going to happen but I think he is class.

Poor Liverpool and arsenal fans.... looks like a 2 horse race.

I can remember when a certain metaltabber said "United are in trouble for 5 or 6 years, I've seen the same thing with liverpool". Oh how wrong, how wrong.

holy shit, john, what it takes for Liverpool to win a fuckin match?

United have only played Liverpool and Arsenal from the top sides - both at home - and they were comprehensibly outplayed by the worst Arsenal side I've seen for years. When the tough away games roll round, then we'll see

TTA: Yeah, it's very frustrating at the moment. The delivery from the wide men yesterday was absolutely shocking. Fucking terrible. That's where our problem lies: we don't have quality wide men. This is why Benitez wants to play Gerrard out on the right - he doesn't, deep down, think that Pennant is good enough. And he's right. Oh, what I'd give to have Shaun Wright-Phillips or Aaron Lennon in our team.

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while listening to the bbc today at work, i heard them talking about possibly testing out some system with 6 cameras posted in different angles that are hooked up to a computer that will let the computer decide (with greater accuracy than some guys eyeballs from who knows what angle) if the ball crossed the goal line or not.

CELTIC!!! FUCK YEAH VENNEGOOR!!!

United flexed their muscle in the second half yesterday. Poor benfica, totally outclassed, meh second tier league anyways.

Even though my excitement levels were raised for about 20 minutes, I always felt that Benfica would cave in. They were giving away too many free kicks in dangerous positions and with disgusting, third division, centre-half animals like Vidic causing havoc that's never a good idea.

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What I hope least is that Huntelaar goes to any South-European club. With only a small group of exceptions, every Dutch football talent fayls over there.
For example: Marco van Basten had to stop at the age of 28 because he was kicked to hell in Italy. The football players over there (especially the Italian ones) have the thoughts wandering in their minds like: 'It may be I do not end in this match, but then you will not as well.' So if Huntelaar reads this: do not go to any Italian club, because you will be kicked to hell, and do not go to any Spanish club, because you will not play much there. This last thing is also for English players. Except for someones, every English football player going to Real Madrid will not play there. This is not just Michael Owen.

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For everyone blinded by Dirk Kuyt: He is not a technically huge talent after all. He is a good hard worker - which is the mayn reason that he is playing at this level - and he has the luck to play with Stevie G in one team. Gerrard can get a team working. You could see that, because when Gerrard was not in good shape, Liverpool sank to somewhere near the half of the league table. Now he is back in shape, and Liverpool is rising back to the top. The gap between Chelsea and Liverpool is too big, but I still hope and think they can reach the Champions League, for which they only need to be at forth place of the table at the end of the season. They are back in the race for European football, but they have no practical chance to be the champs of the Premier League this year.

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the second goal killed the match. from that point, Benfica only wanted to avoid total humiliation, which they did.

I'd like to think the first goal killed it, it was just a matter of time before the flair of united scored another.

Vidic is a deadly threat from the air, don't be mad because liverpool doesn't have an answer, John.

:edit Stick man doesn't count either lol

He knocked you out of the FA Cup last year, though

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I'd like to thank the woodwork, bad finishing, Frank Lampard, and Arsenal.

Yeah, now Man U will be the champs of the PL this year.
I am a Chelsea fan for something like eight years now (my overall favourite FC in England is still Ipswich Town , but they will not become the English Champions within at least twenty years, and probably they will never be, as they have never been). But I like the English football more than any other football in the world. They play football in a high tempo, which makes nearly every minute exciting (this was not really visible this season thus far, but I hope it will be better every match). It does not really matter to me which club will be the champion after all, as long as every match matters until the end.
But I think it is time for Liverpool to become the champions agayn (which they may become imo), because they have England's best midfielder (FL is the best number two), and because they have not been this for too many years now.

A question: how do I get my brothers (one Man U fan, one Arsenal fan) convinced in a friendly way that Jonathan O'Shea is not the best midfielder ever?

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Slap them

So let me get this straight, they think O'Shea is the best midfielder ever? Seriously? I'd introduce them to netball and tell them never to watch football again. Or do this:

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True, they usually do very well in the german competition and ofcourse there's some dutch in the premier league too.

I don't think Huntelaar can cut the cheese yet. He's been in TERRIBLE shape lately, whilst he was scoring his ass of last year. The only striker in top shape here right now is Alfonso Alves (Heerenveen, 16 goals in less matches)

Oh, Arouna Koné is doing allright too but he just seems to fuck up the not-so important matches for PSV. But that's a basic PSV problem, if they need to win, they usually do. If it's not important anymore they become total fuckups.
They're beeing chased by Ajax and AZ in the competition but Ajax is not really doing that well, even though they've bought Gabri (barca) and Roger. Babel is back from an injury so I have my hopes up for Ajax...

Ohyeah, about Kuyt, he's a worker and makes more metres then your regular striker, I totally agree he's not much of a technicial player but sometimes he surprises me.

Anoter dutch striker causing a stirr, RVN, he's been playing pretty well for Real Madrid lately, oh and he kicked cannevarro's ass, hahahaa

What? A RVN bust up again? Any online links to this, I must read it?

He should have played against Portugal, United should have never gotten rid of him for so less (or not at all), he is the greatest goal poacher ever. Period.

EDIT
Nevermind, I found some

Um yes! http://www.clubcall.com/index.jsp?storyID=302217

He has scored a hat trick agaynst Excelsior, so let us hope he gets his shape back.

It does not matter whether PSV plays well or totally screwed up this year, because for the result of the match it does not make any difference. They win anyway.

Babel is not a good striker. I do not understand MvB to select him for the national team and not selecting good ones, like Davids and Huntelaar (which was damn-good in that period).


That is what I like about Kuyt. He is not a really extraordinary talent, but he works hard and gives everything every match.

Cannavaro is a football player who should have been kicked his ass at least six years ago.

Barclays Premier League this weekend:
Stevie G scored a wonderful goal for Liverpool agaynst Charlton Athletic to make it 0-3.
Arsenal played an unfortunate draw agaynst Pompey: 2-2.
Man U lost the away match with 1-0 to the Hammers.
Chelsea lucky beating Everton with 2-3 with wonderful goals from Lampard and Drogba.
Man C lost to the Spurs with 1-2.
Speed scored a penalty for Bolton agaynst Villa: 0-1.
Hulse scored his fifth goal in the PL: Wigan Athletic - Sheffield United 0-1.
Bentley scored the winning goal on Madejski Stadium. Reading - Rovers 1-2.

Fulham - Middlesbrough today.

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United are playing better without him this season.

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Chelsea were awful in that match and, in truth, we should of won it. It's just a bitch when you're winning against a team that has players who can do those kind of things - I was absolutely gobfucked when Drogba scored that goal.

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Babel has some fantastic moments every now and then but I don't get him. Non the less he's the deciding factor for Ajax in crappy matches.. sometimes he's playing out of his skin and most of the time he's utter shyte. MvB has a weird selection system, everyone keeps talking about it hehe.

Davids isn't a striker and he's been over the top for a while. There's better midfielders out there, Seedorf, V/d Vaart, Sneijder, Van Bommel and more..
But Davids is an 'engine' on the midfield and will allways kick everyone up the ass when it comes to motivation.

Huntelaar did score a hattrick against Excelsior but my grandma can do that, jeez they are piss-poor this season. Huntelaar is still at only 10 goals and half the season is over, even Sneijder has more. Alfonso Alves has like 17, N'kufo and Lazovic are on his tail. Huntelaar has fallen victim to the tactics Ten Cate is using.

PSV has been winning nearly all matches even though they played some really ugly ones! Patrick Kluivert has re-found himself, damn he did score some neat goals. Shame his condition won't let him play more, I bet he's going back to Ajax within the next 5 years before he retires.
PSV will definetly be the champion of holland again, they're so far ahead it's not even funny. Ajax has been throwing points away and have been terrible lately!

In other news; PSV has bought 17/18 year old supertalent Jonathan Reis, from Brasil, promising to be the next Ronaldo or something. PSV has a history of Brasilian players and making them work out in a team, like they did with Alex, Ronaldo and Romario...
Might be a good investment for the future, he's signed a 5 year contract so I wonder if we'll hear from him!

I wonder how that will turn out. I don't think he's ready for it yet!

Oh shit. Hiddink is gonna coach Chelsea??? please nooooo!!!!

A good striker should be playing good constantly, and Babel is playing too much like a Sine function. Such strikers shouldn't be playing in the national team, unless there is nothing else to choose.


That's what I like about Davids. He is experienced and motivated. The only thing is that he is booked too much.


That's exactly the problem he has now. Ten Cate is a plague for Ajax.


That's the problem of the Dutch competition. It is not exciting.


The BEPL is much better to look at. For many reasons.

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It was a so damn great goal! just like the 2-2 of Frank Lampard.

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Liverpool 2 - Chelsea 0
Congratulations, John

Arsenal 2 - Man U 1
LMAO

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chelsea played like absolute shit first half and still without terry in the back lines its pretty hopeless

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I figure you haven't seen much of our competition then, because that's very much untrue, the competition has been super-tight for years!

I do agree that PSV is making things a bit dull, they're Holland's Chelsea, with only 5 Dutch guys in the team.
But even now with PSV reigning supreme, the playoff-system can turn everything around at the end of the year. And wtf is BEPL??


Van Persie did a good job with Arsenal, shame he broke his foot
Oh Kuyt did a good job as well, good to see Chelsea got their asses beat, I bet Hiddink is going to coach them next year

I hope hiddink does coach chelsea, he was great with the socceroos

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Hey Def, who's this 18 year old that Liverpool have signed from Ajax and is he any good?

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I was suprised he went to Liverpool. He has not made the A1 team, then got pissed out it so he wanted to leave. haven't seen him live or on the telly.

Hmm, strange...

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BEPL means Barclays English Premier League

Robin is out of play for at least six weeks, and I really hope for Arsenal and for him that he can play soon enough.

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I was not talking about the competition itself, which is indeed quite exciting if PSV does not win every match they play (Roda JC - PSV 2-0 getting on the right way), but about the matches individually. Agree or not, but the only FC in the Netherlands who can play good football worth watching is AZ Alkmaar. They are the only club who can play quick football, like they do in England. They just miss the quality to play good matches a whole season.

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Thank you liverpool for showing up, rolling over, and handing Manchester United the Prem! How sweeeeeeet it really is. UNITED UNITED UNITED

Man U also plays quite boring football. But how DAMN!!! great save from Sar to the attempt of Crouch!!! First defeat in years on Anfield Road for Liverpool.

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Rolling over? We made you look like a Championship side and it was only Van der Sar that kept it from being two or three to us before you even had a decent sniff at goal. The free kick that resulted in the goal was never a free kick in a million years yet Giggs "asked" the referee for it and the cunt obliged. Jammy bastards. Oh, and time wasting from the first whistle to the last is hardly how United usually play their "fluid, attacking" football is it?

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man utd played really fuckin awful because liverpool set out there stall so well. Liverpool were by far the best team and did deserve to win but alas utd got lucky and scored. Unlucky liverpool, but fair play utd. I reckon they'll go on to win the prem. Thank god, someone other than the evil evil chelsea

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I cannot see any point in hating Chelsea. I am a Chelsea fan ever since I was 5, and I still am.

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Anyone but Man Utd is my philosophy if Liverpool can't win it.

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I like arena soccer, I mean "futball".

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If European Football was even shown here in the states, I'd probably give it a try, but it never has been.

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Tom Hicks (new owner of Liverpool along with George Gillett) will probably show Liverpool on the networks he owns.

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Thats a lie. ESPN and ESPN 2 both show Champions league. Fox sports world also shows the english prem ( the only league you need to watch)


ANYWAYS

Liverpool, very very lucky to move on, honestly 10 players defending? Joga bonito!

it may just be ignorance?

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Liverpool win on away goals!!!
I am so DAMN glad that Inter, Barcelona, AND Porto are knocked out!

And they should imprison Marco Materazzi. He is nothing but a criminal. Just like De Rossi, and most Italian football players. I think the only few Iatlian players who can play good football are Pirlo and the goal keepers (Toldo more than Buffon).

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Liverpool were not lucky in the slightest (not like United in the first leg against Lille when they relied on the referee ruling out a perfectly good goal and then letting Giggs take a "quick" free kick even after the opportunity to do so had passed). While United were barely scraping past Lille (yes, Lille, the rank outsiders for the tournament and quite possibly the worst football team I have ever seen take part in this competition [although credit were credit's due, they did beat United last year]) we were beating Barcelona - the holders and tournament favourites - at the Nou Camp. Liverpool remain the only English team to beat them there in over 50 years of European competition.

If anything we were unlucky last night as we should have been 3 or 4 goals to the good before half time. Barcelona were lucky to still be in the game by the time they scored. Over the two legs we were tactically superior to Barcelona, we created the best chances and we thoroughly deserved to go through.

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For all you non football fans I'll translate what john said. "Liverpool were not lucky in the slightest" - This means that winning 2 - 1 and losing 1 - 0 means we are the better team. 1 - 1 record anyone?

"relied on the referee ruling out a perfectly good goal" - I hate VIDIC because we didn't sign him.


"While United were barely scraping past Lille" - I wish we could win the 1 - 0 games.

"Over the two legs we were tactically superior " - We had everyone defending, making it impossible to score goals thus being tactically superior


"we thoroughly deserved to go through" - We will lose to united next round 2 - 1 and 1 - 0

Liverpool were indeed by VERY far the better team at Anfield. Alas AC Milan is knocked out already, because I would really appreciate a repeat of the final in 05. 3-0 at halftime already and still in play.

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I guess you think Christiano Ronaldo the best football player in the world. He is a pest on Man U, because he goes down especially when nothing happens, clayms to be kicked in a million parts, complayning to the ref, and then suddenly he is angry.
Carvalho is also a jerk, I agree, but he is not SUCH a cunt.

To me there is no Portuguese football player who can play nice, adorable football.

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Nah, I hate Vidic because he's not a defender, he's an animal. He's the same as Silvestre; he constantly fouls attackers and gets away with it because he plays for Man Utd.

United fans are quick to chastise Chelsea's and other team's style of play but when their own team grinds out flukey results devoid of any attacking quality it's "winning ugly" and "the sort of victory that wins Championships". It's precisely for that attitude why everybody hates Man Utd (this dates back to the 70s and 80s when they were winning fuck all as well).

To say Liverpool simply defended against Barcelona is plane wrong. I'm sure even a cursory glimpse of the match statistics last night will prove me right. In fact, we had less possession than Barcelona and still created more chances than them. Reina hardly had a save to make that didn't involve throwing his cap onto the ball.

Liverpool are now playing with great confidence in Europe and I'd be confident of beating any of the teams still left in the competition. It's also worth noting that a large portion of this Liverpool squad have won the European Cup before and so have a wealth of experience to call on.

May I also remind everyone that Man Utd have got the same European pedigree as Nottingham Forest and only one more European Cup win than the likes of Aston Villa, Celtic and Steaua Bucharest. And Forest had the good grace to retain it, as Liverpool did in 1978.

"You've won it two times/You've won it two times/Like Nottingham Forest/You've won it two times" -chant sung on the Kop to Man Utd fans

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live in the present John, not the past. Poor Ruud, can't believe the nazi's beat them.


and United won !!!!

I hate it when people say "live in the present" with regards to football. It's only ever uttered by the supporters of less successful clubs. It's typical of the Sky Sports generation, who've been fed statistics by Sky that neglect the 120 years of football history that occurred before League Division One became the Premiership [eg, Sky commentators and presenters constantly mention that Liverpool have never won the Premiership while in the process neglecting to mention that we've finished top of England's league system 18 times, 3 more than our nearest rivals].

[The fact United have "29 years" emblazoned on a banner at the Stretford End to taunt Manchester City fans about the period of time passing since they won a trophy further proves that the past is lived in by football fans. It's also another example of Man Utd's legendary arrogance.]

"Live in the present" also implies that the best team to ever play in England since 1878 is whoever is top of the Premiership in the current week, which is ridiculous. Domestically, it is obviously the Liverpool team of 1987/88, which played the most breathtaking football that I have ever seen. John Barnes at his peak was immeasurably better than Cristiano Ronaldo and far more productive without having to cheat and dive his way through games. Plus we had the brilliance of Beardsley and Aldridge, not to mention the likes of Whelan, McMahon and Houghton coupled with the defensive lynchpins of Hansen, Gillespie and Nicol. Sir Tom Finney himself described Liverpool's 5-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest that season as "the finest display of attacking football he had ever seen". He still stands by that statement.

United fans can't take that they neither have the same level of history, nor the same level of respect that those great Liverpool teams earned. Gary Neville's ambition of winning another 3 titles and another 3 European Cups makes me laugh. Good luck with that, Gary. He knows they won't do it on his watch, he just likes trying to wind Scousers up (which he fails in doing - he just looks stupid to us).

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The best season Man U ever had was the legendary double in 95/96. They however have some good matches every now and then, but that's all.

The only players of Man U that can play football worth watching are:
1) Sar
2) Scholes (not always, but he had some A+ matches)
3) Solskjaer
4) Saha and Rooney in some matches.

At Liverpool, everyone can play good matches.

Chelsea has only a few players not worth watching.

Arsenal have some turtle in the defence (Senderos) but at least most of the time they can play football worth watching.

Man C have some frustrated players who are very good without this team. Most of all I mean Joey Barton (who almost looks similar to my twin brother).

Also very funny is watching West Ham and Watford slumbering agaynst relegation in a match at West Ham. My father and I decided to watch that match, after which my brothers entered and wanted to watch Man U and Arsenal. The answer simply was no, because those matches hurt our eyes.

|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

The most tight and exciting competition in England is the Coca Cola Championship. The numbers 1 to 8 fight for promotion, the numbers 14 to 24 fear for relegation. And with Birmingham beating Derby County, it is even not sure which of the top 8 clubs will be the champs.

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I think you missed Ajax - PSV today, else you wouldn't say that.

5-1 for Ajax, still my favorite Dutch club, by far. Technically they are a lot like AZ.

AZ beat newcastle in the uefa cup, newcastle was piss-poor in the away match. They've been solid 3'th in the competition but just threw a few matches (and the title with that) away.

PSV beat Arsenal but that match was pretty damn boring, PSV has too many injured strikers at the moment, they lack the players to play attractive soccer right now. Hence their loss today, they lacked offensive options.

Ajax is 5 points behind P$V right now, I hope they beat PSV for the title but they probably won't...
I was glad to hear PSV will invest in more Dutch players next year, they're like the Dutch Chelsea right now even though they have a tiny-ass budget they have like 50+% south-americans in their team. (whilst Ajax and AZ have a majority of Dutch players)

And did anyone hear the name Alfonso Alves yet?

I honestly indeed did not see the match, but the full-time score is probably saying enough about this match.

But a thing I think you oversee is that one match says nearly nothing about the performance in the rest of the season. This match was very important for both teams, because its result either made PSV the champs, or made Ajax be back in the race. Thus there was a lot of pressure on both teams.

I stick to my opinion, as I think AZ is the only team in the Dutch competition. Ajax have Sneijder, shooting nearly every ball he gets off target.

Ajax is going to be the Dutch champions this year. Remark my words.

Indeed, I did so. He is on top of the Dutch score table all season.

I was in Amsterdam for band practice last Thursday, and I saw loads of Northern Rock shirts. I felt pity for them next day: they spent money on a ticket to the Netherlands to see their club losing.

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I saw twenty minutes of the match Real Madrid - Gimnastic, and it was immediately clear what the problem was at Real Madrid: All of them are lazy football players who only go for their own success. It is not a team, it is a group of ten football players and a goal keeper. I still do not understand why Ruud went to Real. Ruud is a team player, and he cannot rely on his team mates, which he could at Man U.

Christiano Ronaldo played a good match this weekend.

One thing I hope he reads: If there were any rumours true about Frank Lampard going to Juventus: He will definitely not play enough matches there. And he will be kicked to pieces there. Same as I stated at Marco van Basten playing in Italy some pages back.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6473681.stm

israel grinds to a halt as roughly 400,000 works go on strike. the only exception they are making for the strike is to allow the english football team to arrive so they can have their match against israel. after that flight is in, they go back on strike and nobody else will be able to land.

Honestly, If you think that the past history actually means something to the outcome of a game your completely wrong. Its the skill of the players on the pitch, during a specific game that wins games, not the fact that you have won 500 championships. This is the difference between a football fan, and a footballer. Footballers outside of a certain hometown few, or smart few, know very little about their club teams. If you were to ask Riise about liverpool 25 - 30 years ago, i can almost see the stupid look on his face. Does that mean that he is a bad player? Not at all. Does that mean that it leaves him at a disadvantage when he goes to score a 35 yard strike? Certainly not. I'd love to rant more about why liverpool hasn't won the prem yet, but class calls.

haha, he's been out of shape that's true. they should have sold him instead of van der vaart he's the king of HSV!

I don't think AZ is the only team in the dutch competition, Ajax can play a brilliant game but they're not 'steady' this season. Sometimes they show a little of the '95 spirit. Hope to see that the whole next year.
I'm going to see them in the cupmatch in the Amsterdam Arena, good fun, big pints and loads of wasted dutchies cheering for their team.

About the Newcastle guys, it's part of the English spirit, I've been in touch with English soccer fans for a few years now, truly the best guys you can imagine and they're good fun as well. (plus they can keep up with my drinking)
It's a shame a few guys ruine it for the rest, it really is. Because they're far better soccer supporters then the average Dutch supporter.

I think you oversee some points here. Sir Alex Ferguson is the Man U coach for more than 20 years now. He has a reputation, and whatever team is on the pitch, the face of Ferguson in every case remayns the Man U face. Same with Mourinho the last few years, and Arsenal with Wenger.
Liverpool have Gerrard and Riise as the face.

Second, it is not just the skill of the players that wins a match, the result depends on luck and shape rather than skill and experience, else Southend United would never have beat Man U for the League Cup (or are you a DIE-HARD Southend fan since they beat Man U?).

>Christiano was considered to have the best and the worst trick in one match<
This type of tricks and attempts to impress the female fans together with the schwalbes he thinks necessary to do make him an irritant football player.

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It is because football in England is also a political matter and they have some laws for it that makes the English football fans good people. But I think it is a very good thing, and they should best also do such thing in the Netherlands. Then and only then there is a chance that ADO become a football club with a reputation bit better than they have now. I also do not get any clou of the Ajax-Feyenoord conflicts at every match.

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Luck is a by product of skill, like the saying goes you gotta be lucky to be good and good to be lucky.

I'm sick and tired of everyone hating on Ronaldo. I'm dutch, and I really feel for you england fans but even so I can still realize that he is a special talent. He is a game changer, yes he may go to ground easy, yes his flair may be too much but honestly every time he touches the ball he is a threat offensively. Call him a cheat or whatever you will, but he gets results and to me that is a good football player.

Something we should all discuss is perhaps letting standing room be brought back into EPL games. I know the krouts allow standing room for domestic games and even have a way of putting seats in for fifa/uefa games.

I am one in favour for it, but I'm sure the F.A. will have nothing to do with it.

Standing room should never be allowed back into Premier League stadia. The Hillsborough disaster would, without question, have been avoided if the Taylor Report findings were in force at that date. There is no support for this idea among FA or Premier League officials and I, for one, completely agree with them.

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off the topic of European football Australia vs China this weekend im guessing Australia win 2-0

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They'll probably win.

When are the English playing again? they're qualifiers haven't been going that well, have they?

The Dutchies are playing against Roumania this weekend with a very attack-minded team, there's a bunch of guys no here due to injury but I hear this is the deal:

Goal: Stekelenburg
Defence: Jaliens (wtf?!?) Bouma, Mathijssen, Van Bronckhorst
Midfield: Sneijder, De Zeeuw, Van der Vaart
Attack: Babel, Robben, Huntelaar

Seedorf told the press the return of RVN is only a matter of time. I hope so! (Even though Huntelaar is also getting back in shape right now)

ADO is in the degradation zone right now. My nephew is a big supporter of them and they're getting a new, modern stadium built as we speak. Biggest misser ever made by a club since they're going back to the Jupiler league haha!

The Ajax - Feyenoord stuff is so last year, Feyenoord has been asswhooped the last few times they played so it's all good. It's just one of the biggest rivalry's in Dutch soccer.. It's 'the Classic' as they call it.

Ronaldo is a skilled player but sometimes he acts like a total wanker, like screwing Rooney and shit, that was uber-gay.
Shame Robben is also a diver these days, Marco van Basten has told him to stop it lol.

just like i said Australia win 2-0, China big divers who suck dick

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From the beginning I hoped ADO was getting relegated immediately. And I hope they finally make it that far this year.

Never listen to Marco. He is proven wrong by leaving the experienced football players behind and coming up with players we already considered wrong.
Robben is getting back to a good (or at least better) shape, as long as he is not selfish. Which he is, like Sneijder.



They should not exchange Ruud for Huntelaar, but for Babel. He is the weakest link in the Dutch strike.

I have never sayd Christiano is a bad football player, I only sayd he is an annoying sort, and it is comprehensible, but poor that Man U cannot do without him.

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The dutch shape under Macro is very wrong i think. Imagine that dreadful WC game, where the pork and cheese score and cocu replies by hitting the underside of the bar. Imagine RVN taking that chance...Imagine Figo, crying as RVN takes the penalty shot and sinks the pork and cheese once and for all.

anyways... if i was macro my shape and team selection would be like this

----RVN-----Huntelaar-----

--------Van der Vaart-----------

Robben-----Van Bommel------Seadorf/Sneijder

-----Gio-----Bouma ------Kromkamp

Much debate to the right side however, I wouldn't mind it even if Van persie played the wing. I do however think that the diamond shaped midfield is the way to go, same with 3 defenders. Van Bommel would play holding midfield, and Robben has free range.

Robben is a striker unwise to condemn to a left midfielder. And leave Sneijder off your selection. He is the plague on the international breakthrough of Van der Vaart. Ronald Koeman did not see that, and he was always making both of them play instead of just one. And Gio is called Van Bronckhorst, the weakest link of the Dutch team. I still do not understand why he is still playing at Barcelona.

My selection would be like this:

GK:
Sar, Stekelenburg, Timmer (the last ones only when there is no need making Sar play)

Def.:
(we actually need good defence, so this is all I can come up with)
Boulahrouz, Stam, Cocu, Heitinga, Reiziger (if he still plays), Kromkamp

Midfield:
Van Bommel, Seedorf, Davids (respecting the discussion above), Van der Vaart/Sneijder (never both) and whatever we have to fill up the midfield.

FW:
Huntelaar, Ruud, Kuyt (for he is one of the best team players in the Dutch team), Robben (if he stops falling that much), Jan VoH (may be useful in some ayr duels)

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Gio isn't playing much for Barca, rumours are he's going back to Feyenoord, haha!!!
My ideal team would be:

GK: Van der Sar
Defence: Heitinga, Boulahrouz, Stam, De Cler (or Opdam)
Midfield: Van Bommel, Seedorf, 'Von der Vaart'
Forward: Van Persie, Huntelaar, Kuyt

I don't know why you put Cocu in defence? lol. Reiziger plays for PSV but he's usually just taking care of the snacks on the bench
The diamond shaped midfield has been tried under Dick Advocaat, I think that wasn't much of a succes. Story with Sneijder and Van der Vaart comes to mind. Van der Vaart is in top shape, saving HSV from degradation single handed.


Best Dutch squad ever:

Hans van Breukelen
Ronald Koeman, Berry van Aerle, Frank Rijkaard, Adrie van Tiggelen
Jan Wouters, Arnold Mühren, Gerald Vanenburg
Erwin Koeman, Ruud Gullit
Marco van Basten

Shame the last one isn't much of a coach. More like Cruijff's puppet...

Coming back to Robben, I really think he's turned into a diver, before playing the GERMAN ref warned him not to dive. Kinda weird situation. But I can't blame him, he's brought it on himself. I hope he gets back to his old shape, he's getting better again but he needs to stay on his fucking feet!

BTW, AC Milan's Paolo Maldini had a doctor's advice to play only one instead of two matches per week.

What a legend, 39 years old and still one of the top defenders.

He is indeed a GOOD Italian player. Not a lazy arrogant n00b.

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Davids has no legs left, and Staam is in international retirement.

I like robben on the left wing playing like a ronaldo role, he can push up to become the 3rd forward.

I think a better question is WTF is wrong with england. Gerrard and lampard cannot play together unless you push gerrard into a holding role.

ahh class, more ranting later

McClaren is the only person in the world who can't see that Gerrard and Lampard are incompatible in the centre of the park. Given Gerrard's inspiration and better goal to game ratio for England (since Euro 2004) it's got to be Lampard that makes way.

Either way, fuck McClaren and fuck his filthy, dirty quiff. Half of England wants us NOT to qualify for Euro 2008 because it would mean him getting the sack.

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Isn't he the guy who won't retire until he plays 1000 matches ACM??

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He might very well be so yes.

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Gio scored us the winner last night, still think he doesn't belong?

I was quite surprised to see him play on the midfield!

I must say the match was pretty good to watch, lots of attacking combo's, though there was some very piss-poor finishing + hitting the woodwork a couple of times.
Van Persie needs to get back on the field and he should play on the wing, I also hope RVN gets back soon.

Van Bommel is turning into a real german by the way, haha what a wanker. Has anyone noticed his behavior as well?

Oh and Romario is almost at 1000 goals

Can't blame you guys John. You should have gotten Hiddink

1 more but his goals are from when he played juniors and everything else so he kind of cheated

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HAHAHAHA def I love you hahahaha

Hey, don't we all

Ajax won with 3-0 this weekend and P$V tied with 1-1. This is very good for the competition, Ajax is only 3 points behind with 4 games to go
I'm a big Ajax fan so I hope they continue like this and I hope P$V will continue like they are, they're in terrible shape, Liverpool won't have much problems with them.

Kone and Alex are both injured and they have a B1 player in the team, 16 years old!

Still think he does not belong. Same as when Babel would have scored.

The worst problem is that everyone thinks the Netherlands is an absolute top football country, which we are definitely not.



Three terrific goals by Liverpool to beat PSV: 0-3. Piece of cake on Anfield, John

Filthy AS Roma have a home-whistler and therefore Scholes sent off within 20 mins (Totti is a criminal on the pitch; I still cannot understand why there are no fayr nice games possible with Italian clubs) and Man U lose in Italy. Hope they soak the Earth with blood of Roma on Old Trafford.

Chelsea played a good match agaynst Valencia with two beautys of goals. Let's hope they make mincemeat of them in the return.

Bayern are going to beat AC Milan in Germany.





Right, guys: which team is going to win the CL this year?
a) PSV
b) Liverpool
c) AS Roma
d) Man U
e) Chelsea
f) Valencia
g) Bayern
h) AC Milan

I of course hope either b or h, and I think Liverpool will win it.

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I was shocked to see the Police attack the United supporters. From what I was reading, missles were being thrown into and from the united supports but the police chose to attack without mercy. Many supporters had their cameras taken away but the police, however if you go to youtube there is a supporter video showing all.

Its very hard for me not to sterotype here espically with all the soft fouls, diving, and heavy handed policing that went on. Like USS said I hope United come out flying at Old Trafford, 3 - 0 would be the perfect result.

United to win CL

AC Milan was pretty crappy against Bayern. I hope Liverpool wins it, I guess they kinda deserve it.

They didn't have much problems with PSV. PSV has too many injured players right now, including the WHOLE axle of the field. Withouth a fit Cocu, Alex, Kone/Farfan they are nothing. Koeman had to use midfielders in defence and call upon a B1 player to complete the team. Pretty sad but hey, that's soccer too. It could have been a more interesting match if the team was complete. They'de probably still lose but not with 0-3.
They've been crap in the competition too due to the exact same reason, I hope Ajax walks away with the title

What is the definition of a top football country? We're allways in the CL/Uefa and usually there in WC/EC's.
IMO England, Germany, Italy and Spain are bigger football country's but whats the definition eh? Worldwide we definetly do belong to the top ten. And I'm not talking about lame UEFA rankings.

We haven't won anything since '88 and that was an exceptional generation of players. (van Basten, Cruyff, Koeman, Gullit, Rijkaard, etc)

There's a lot of good dutch soccer players out there, enough to make a good team. Unfortunatly they allways fail to operate as a team. Which is why I hope Van Gaal will coach the dutch team in 2010. He is a proven winner. (ajax, '95)

I'll be in the Kop to enjoy it as well!

Out of the quarter finalists we looked the strongest side, although it has to be said PSV were very, very poor. I don't know how they got past Arsenal!

We're not scared of any of the remaining teams and there's a really good feeling around the club at the moment, especially in the Champions' League. Could be our year again - I certainly think that reaching the final is very attainable and if we do get there I'd be very confident of lifting 'Ol Big Ears for the sixth time.

My line up for the semi-finals:

Bayern Munich v Manchester United
Liverpool v Valencia

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PSV has also lost against NEC today if Ajax wins tomorrow they will take over the first place, HELL YEAH!!!

John, they've been poor ever since they're missing Kone, Aisatti and Alex. Farfan has been terribly out of shape and Cocu has been playing with an injury the last few matches. They're basically missing the whole axle of the field! their selection just isn't wide enough.

Don't be mistaken though, they have allmost no budget compared to spanish and english teams. They have a transfer budget of 5 million this year, which is a total joke if you look at their opponents' budget. It's quite a feat to be with the last 8 for a few years in a row. They just haven't got the quality to push through. (only when they are in shape and then they get a injury time goal against Milan)

It's kind of a surprise though, they came out of the winter stop in terrible shape and the defence is a shithole withouth Alex. They haven't won in the competition for the last month and it seems they are losing the title as well. How glorious would it be for Henk ten Cate to get the title in his first year after coaching barca

The time is here for revenge, blood will be spilled. GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED

HAHAHAHAHA seven goals, who wants it next? hahahahahahahahahahaha

Wow, Valencia got owned!

they sure played like shit though. The English clubs are doing very well this year in the CL!