daniel robert chapman wrote:
It also means that Nottingham Forest and Leeds United will meet in the third division next season.

Ahh Forest, how you have fallen. There will be tears in the Trent End again I'm afraid.

I wonder if Forest are currently the lowest ranked team ever to have won a European Cup?

daniel robert chapman wrote:Nice work, Nice! (I resist that joke most of the time, surely I can be excused once?)

You are excused.

In answer to Kenoki on the David Beckham C/NC, about the differences between the MLS and the English Football League Pyramid system:

Kenoki - I don't know the specifics on costs/etc because I've never been involved, but you've got the theory. Your club would have to meet certain standards on the way up though: clubs have been denied promotion to the next level because their grounds aren't up to standards of facilities and safety. But if you've got the money and the balls and the talent, and about twenty years, it is possible.

The most famous of the few case examples is Wimbledon FC, who climbed at a rapid pace from the Southern League to the old First Division and then won the FA Cup, before it all went tits up (there's a slight difference here in that in the old days, you had to be 'elected' to the Football League). Their story, along with that of Milton Keynes Dons should show some of the differences between "our" system and "your" system, and the feelings about it over here.

The clubs to watch now are AFC Wimbledon, and the appalling and arrogantly named bunch of whiners (in my humble opinion) known as FC United of Manchester, who I'd rather not talk about. After Wimbledon become MK Dons, their fans formed their own club, and are now doing a pretty good impression of repeating history by climbing the leagues at a rapid pace.

There are very complicated historical reasons why this is the system in England, but the basic reason it still exists is because there is a sense, maybe of guilt, I don't know, that while the Premiership would love to close it's doors and never suffer a relegation they realise that they shouldn't do that. Leeds have suffered badly from this the last few seasons, and that's quite right because we've been shit.

The most obvious reasons I can think of for the MLS not doing this is firstly because the historical need isn't there and secondly because the MLS is a money-maker. I know people like Alexi Lalas will tell you that they're trying to establish 'soccer' in the USA for the good of the American people, but the reality is that it makes millions throughout the world but not in the States. With that end in mind, the focus is on the top, sellable league, rather than spend time and money setting up the US equivalents of, say, Huddersfield Town.

Plus, from my limited knowledge of US sports, relegation isn't really a common thing, is it? "Wait - we can lose at this? Fuck that!"

I'd been meaning to bump this before the Beckham/Pyramid stuff came up, as it hadn't been up here since before the FA Cup final. I guess repetitive boring pointless fatigue set in. But silly season is starting for transfers, and The Guardian threw up a couple of good YouTube clips today, and so off the top of my head:

FA Cup Final: Meh. But that Drogba can finish.

European Cup Final: Liverpool could have taken that, but as soon as they started with one up front, it was all over. They were relying on taking that one lucky chance, which for a squad packed full of strikers, is a bit daft. Oh, and can I say fuck you, once again, to Harry Kewell? Fuck you, Harry Kewell. Fuck you.

Denmark v Sweden: 3-3 with minutes to spare, Sweden get a penalty, Danish fan invades the pitch and attacks the ref. That's a good block from the Danish defender, there. But to abandon the match after that? Seems a bit much to me. I don't know if there seemed to be a risk of more would-be attackers - and is always pointed out, rightly, one of these days the guy'll have a knife - but even Leeds v Ipswich finished after all those pitch invasions. The Guardian also point out, I think from Israel, a rather late in the day but very effective way of dealing with pitch invaders. I can't find the video for Brian Clough cuffing every fan he could get near, but you remember.

Also pointed out by The Guardian: how to deal with a showboater. Now, I admire skill as much as anyone, but 1) this twat is taking the piss and 2) it's always funny to see a piece of skill followed by a clattering. Is the guy signing for MUPLC next season? He'd better not try any of that nonsense.

Leeds: I haven't a clue anymore. Bates secured the votes of the creditors needed to accept his bid, after a recount. He need 75%; the recount gave him 75.2%. For fucks sake. Krasner and Morris, two self-interested fools who want to buy the club, are talking about high court action. They can fuck off. Much as I hate Ken Bates, I'm going with better the devil I know on this one. And Bates' no-doubt devious plan seems to rely on Leeds being successful on the pitch, which is fine by me, whereas Morris (a local slumlord) keeps talking about a '£400m leisure complex and a 50,000 capacity stadium'. And as far as Bates goes, isn't it traditional to hate the chairman? I'm much more comfortable with a hate-figure like Bates in charge than cuddly old Ridsdale.

Transfers: Newcastle. It's started. They're gonna be good. When Allardyce booted Bramble out on the first day, you knew good things were happening. Marko Viduka will score a hatful, and he'll set up a hatful more for Michael Owen. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Beckham: it amused me to note that Alexi Lalas has misinterpreted the 'if he wants to play abroad, I'll drive him to the airport myself' line (I believe recently used by Terry Venables about Olivier Dacourt) as a way of providing a player with a helpful service, rather than as a way of telling a player to fuck off, and here's my boot up your arse to help you. Oh, funny Americans.

What have I missed? When does pre-season start? Why hasn't Mourinho been sacked yet?

daniel robert chapman wrote: Is the guy signing for MUPLC next season? He'd better not try any of that nonsense.

Ah, perhaps not. In the comments for another video:

smoggy4life wrote:he was in our local paper the other day boro wer sed to be interested thts how i heard about him

daniel robert chapman wrote:Transfers: Newcastle. It's started. They're gonna be good. When Allardyce booted Bramble out on the first day, you knew good things were happening. Marko Viduka will score a hatful, and he'll set up a hatful more for Michael Owen. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Even if Allardyce kept the exact same squad as Roeder, I'm sure he'd still guarantee a finish in the top five or six just by virtue of his backroom staff and training methods alone. Oddly enough, I was reading on various NUFC boards that the large backroom staffs that are de rigeur of every American sporting organization (i.e. coaches for strength and conditioning, fitness, diet, etc.) -with a few notable exceptions (Milan, Barcelona, Ajax, Man United, maybe one or two others) - seems to be by and large quite absent in the European game.

daniel robert chapman wrote:Oh, and can I say fuck you, once again, to Harry Kewell? Fuck you, Harry Kewell. Fuck you.

Even more so, can I say Fuck you Bolo Zenden? Fuck you, Bolo Zenden.

They're both useless cunts, and have been for quite some time. Also, Rafa cocked that one up. Didn't go to two strikers until the last 12 minutes of the game. He's stubborn to the point of idiocy sometimes.

Speaking of Rafa and stubborness, it's rumoured that Marseille can't afford to buy Cisse outright and want to extend his loan for another season, but Rafa just wants to offload him for £7 Million. He scored 14 goals in 23 appearances for Marseille, not bad for coming back from a broken leg (again). In fact, though many people say he's a one trick pony, he's delivered goals wherever he goes.

As for Newcastle, if Allardyce can convince the board to tear up their "ooh, I've done my hamstring" training pitch, then he could even save himself on backroom expenditures, as really hamstrings in training have been the bane of Newcastle for several seasons. Viduka is getting just a little bit long in the tooth, but he'll do well, and with bouth Boumsong and Bramble gone, you could put the Queen in the Magpies back line and still do better. So perhaps, just perhaps, this will be the year that Newcastle wake up from their "sleeping giant" routine. Though I have to say letting Scott Parker go doesn't look to have been the smartest move. It will be interesting to see how they rotate Ameobi, Martins, Owen, and Viduka. I think Ameobi, if his surgery went well, is finally ready to come into his own. Keep Duff and Dyer fit, and Barton out of jail, and offensively they're a force to be recokoned with.

Don't think Mourinho will get sacked. Despite his mouth and shenanigans, he's a quality coach. Abramovich would be wise just to keep his hands off the team, quit forcing players on him, and just leave well enough alone. Do that, and Mourinho will keep Chelsea at the top. (and seconded, Drogba can finish, and has been quality for them, and much less of a diver this term.)

I'm interested to see how Roy Keane's first season as a top flight manager goes. Opposition might be afraid he'll dash off the touchline and break their legs. I really dislike him. Hope he gets relegated.

daniel robert chapman wrote:
Transfers: Newcastle. It's started. They're gonna be good. When Allardyce booted Bramble out on the first day, you knew good things were happening. Marko Viduka will score a hatful, and he'll set up a hatful more for Michael Owen. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

I'm more afraid of what Joey Barton might do.

night_tools wrote:I'm more afraid of what Joey Barton might do.

It's okay. Apparently he's been keeping fit this summer by training in a boxing gym in Liverpool. So what's to worry about?

sleepkid wrote:Speaking of Rafa and stubborness, it's rumoured that Marseille can't afford to buy Cisse outright and want to extend his loan for another season, but Rafa just wants to offload him for £7 Million. He scored 14 goals in 23 appearances for Marseille, not bad for coming back from a broken leg (again). In fact, though many people say he's a one trick pony, he's delivered goals wherever he goes.

Who would pay £7 million for Cissé? He's rather an ass than a pony...
I agree he's a one-trick pony: all he can do is run quickly and shoot the ball somewhere (generally some meters above). I understand Benitez: though it hurts me to say that, even Crouch is better.