The World of Football/Soccer.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by Tommysixfingers

I'm sorry mate but as much respect I have for Larsson, and I have lots, and lot's of respect, for being an absolute role model for a young footballer I must say C.R.

As good as Larsson was a couple of years ago, C.R is one of the absolute best players that I've seen and I firmly believe that he can win games on his own.

Larsson is/was a very good player with unsurpassed work ethics and a professional way of carrying himself. I have so much more respect for Larsson than C.R but in terms of pure quality as a player there is no comparison in my mind.

But Ronaldo only turns up when he wants to, I'll agree Ronaldo can win games on his own but he the interest is gone or it doesn't go his way then it can be like playing with only 10 men.

[Tommysixfingers]

Originally Posted by zoraster

The goals tally suggests otherwise If you actually watch United the number of chances created in open play have been staggeringly low recently. They won a very poor league last year mainly thanks to Vidic et al keeping it tight at the back. In fact going forward last year was probably the worst I’ve seen United – bar the late Ruud era – since Sexton was giving us all nightmares.

I’ll repeat it once more; United totalled just 68 goals last season. For United that is an appalling record, although they’ve twice done worse in the Ronaldo era. You’ve got to go back to 93 for the previous time they failed to break the 70 barrier.

First let me say that my last post came out a bit harsh. No harm intended.

Let me ask again, what team besides Barca, did you think was more potent than Man U over the last season? If they wore underachieving last season all other teams must have done the same.

[zoraster]

Originally Posted by bababui

LOL

And losing by far their most dangerous offensive player wont hurt them even more.

I give you the previous most dangerous player going to Madrid... It is actually removing the biggest anchor. United were better post Ruud, and I bet they'll be better post Ronaldo. Less predictable, less one dimensional, harder to defend against. Simply removing Ronaldo for Valencia will make them a more pacey and direct attacking threat, and that is how United play when they are at their best.

[Tommysixfingers]

The rain is absolutely pouring down outside, my wife is away with friends and my daughter is asleep. Oh how I would want there to be a good game on the TV right now

[bababui]

Tommy..Wimbledon Womans Final???

[zoraster]

Originally Posted by Tommysixfingers

Let me ask again, what team besides Barca, did you think was more potent than Man U over the last season? If they wore underachieving last season all other teams must have done the same.

Yep, that pretty much was the case, as I stated earlier in the thread. Last year the EPL in particular was very mediocre, but across the continent it was hard to find many sides you could honestly say had an impressive campaign.

However the point came up in relation to United alone. It compared United with United, and how they've been far less effective with Ronaldo. For such a great attacking player that surely shouldn't be the case.

[ukhotstove]

Personally I don't think there is an outstanding team not even Barca, I mean they didn't beat Chelsea in the semi finals only going through on a last minute away goal (yes i know those are the rules ). Then they went onto beat United in the final who were absolute rubbish but still Barca never looked like they were going to take them apart, at this moment in time I can't think of a top quality team club or international wise, why do you think I put a few pounds on England for the World Cup

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by Tommysixfingers

The rain is absolutely pouring down outside, my wife is away with friends and my daughter is asleep. Oh how I would want there to be a good game on the TV right now

Home United are beating Young Lions 3-1 in the S-League in Singapore but not sure what channel you could pick the game up on.

[Tommysixfingers]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Personally I don't think there is an outstanding team not even Barca, I mean they didn't beat Chelsea in the semi finals only going through on a last minute away goal (yes i know those are the rules ). Then they went onto beat United in the final who were absolute rubbish but still Barca never looked like they were going to take them apart, at this moment in time I can't think of a top quality team club or international wise, why do you think I put a few pounds on England for the World Cup

I wish that the Italian teams could show up to compete next season but to be honest I don't see that happening. Serie A is struggling compared to the EPL and La Liga.

The trend in Sweden right now (football wise) is that everything related to Italian football sucks. Being half-Italian myself I would like nothing more than to put a lid on the bs.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by Tommysixfingers

I wish that the Italian teams could show up to compete next season but to be honest I don't see that happening. Serie A is struggling compared to the EPL and La Liga.

The trend in Sweden right now (football wise) is that everything related to Italian football sucks. Being half-Italian myself I would like nothing more than to put a lid on the bs.

I think the scandals have had a knock on effect for Italian football, personally I enjoy watching Italian football but their a shadow of their former teams. Confederations Cup was a prime example, no way would any Italian team from the past have let Brazil beat them 3-0 to let the US go through.

[mlyons]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Of the 25 goals he scored 4 goals came against teams that were relegated (Middlesbrough and West Brom), 2 goals against teams that were in the Championship (Derby County), 4 penalties, 6 more of his goals came against teams in the bottom half of the league so nearly half of his goals came against teams out of the top half of the league.

Oddly enough, nearly half of Manchester United's matches were played against teams out of the top half of the league.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

I think the scandals have had a knock on effect for Italian football, personally I enjoy watching Italian football but their a shadow of their former teams. Confederations Cup was a prime example, no way would any Italian team from the past have let Brazil beat them 3-0 to let the US go through.

Yeah. The Italians let themselves be beat.

I remember when the Italians allowed the South Koreans to beat them in 2002 and allowed the Aussies to beat them im 2006 before the ref stepped in to stop them.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by bababui

Yeah. The Italians let themselves be beat.

I remember when the Italians allowed the South Koreans to beat them in 2002 and allowed the Aussies to beat them im 2006 before the ref stepped in to stop them.

Trust me Italian teams of the past would have watched Brazil go 1-0 up then spent the next part of the game hacking players down when the ref wasn't watching and rolling round for 10 minutes everytime they were tackled.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by mlyons

Oddly enough, nearly half of Manchester United's matches were played against teams out of the top half of the league.

Well if you want to split hairs which you seems like you often want to do he scored 5 goals against teams who finished 4th or higher in their respective leagues and to be honest the only goals that made any difference against those top teams were the goal in Porto and the 2 goals against Arsenal.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Trust me Italian teams of the past would have watched Brazil go 1-0 up then spent the next part of the game hacking players down when the ref wasn't watching and rolling round for 10 minutes everytime they were tackled.

The standards of officiating are different these days. They actually try to follow the rules of the game now.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by bababui

The standards of officiating are different these days. They actually try to follow the rules of the game now.

Have you seen the ammount of diving, playing acting in the game recently ?

[bababui]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Well if you want to split hairs which you seems like you often want to do he scored 5 goals against teams who finished 4th or higher in their respective leagues and to be honest the only goals that made any difference against those top teams were the goal in Porto and the 2 goals against Arsenal.

Ironically, he also attracted double coverage which allowed other players ont he team to step up. He did his job.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Have you seen the ammount of diving, playing acting in the game recently ?

They are trying to take advantage of the fact that the refs are actually calling fouls.

[ukhotstove]

My calculations over the past 6 years he's scored 136 goals but only 18 against top teams.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by bababui

They are trying to take advantage of the fact that the refs are actually calling fouls.

No their taking advantage over the poor quality of refs and the ammount of pressure on refs, far as I'm concerned you dive you cheat and should be banned.