The European football thread

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by canadiancreed

And is there no leagues worthy of talk outside of the MLS and Western Europe? Is Eastern Euro a black hole or something?

In terms of club football, they are nowhere as competitive as the Western European leagues, mainly down to the difference in finance.

But you can comment on them, if you have something cc.

Originally Posted by darkhorse

Impossible, I'd say.

It's not mathematically impossible, but it is highly unlikely they would be able to get promoted.

Originally Posted by darkhorse

Nope. Thread title and initial post might be clues to that.

"After the sucessful WC thread (which is still ongoing) I decided a week or so ago that there is enough of a following around here to give football its own season thread.
Most of Europe is gearing up for the 06/07 campaign and this is the thread to disscuss it all.
Enlgish football, SPL, Bundesliga, French football, Serie A, Spanish club play and everything else."

I don't see any problem with anyone discussing MLS. After all, many posts on the league have already been made in this thread.
And I suspect it wasn't included as it has already been underway for three months.

[canadiancreed]

Would that be the same hockey where the top league has shipped most of Canada's teams to the US?

COnsiering it sold it's soul to the US quite a while back probably. Like msot things Canadian, we give it away for pennies on the dollar.

[magnet]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Forgot who the Hearts fn amongst us is but news coming out is that Andy Webster is leaving and joining my local team Wigan Athletic.

That would be me. So, in other words, you're saying Hearts are guaranteed 3rd or lower in the SPL.

[rudel.dietrich]

You can discuss football from anywhere in the world.

However since at any given time there is a season going on I thought the thread would focus on the upcoming European season which all starts about the same time.

Feel free to disscuss MLS, J-League, K-League, Australian Premier League and south American and central American football.

Whatever you wish

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by magnet

That would be me. So, in other words, you're saying Hearts are guaranteed 3rd or lower in the SPL.

Sorry to say yes although Rangers do have a new manager and new outlook so you could catch them, personally I think Celtic will win the title.

Webster is supposedly having a medical on Monday at Wigan hopefully they sign him as centerback isn't a position we have in depth.

[bababui]

You can discuss football from anywhere in the world.

I think The Raiders will shock this year. Art Shell will build a powerful running game to go with Moss and Porter, If only we can build a decent defense.

[ukhotstove]

Breaking News.

Raiders will shock with Al Davis not sticking his nose into any game plans, Raiders will actually decide if they are to stay in Oakland or go back to La then go back to Oakland then go back to LA but in the end decide to play half their games in Oakland and half in LA and change their name to Oakland Raiders of Los Angeles

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Breaking News.

Raiders will shock with Al Davis not sticking his nose into any game plans, Raiders will actually decide if they are to stay in Oakland or go back to La then go back to Oakland then go back to LA but in the end decide to play half their games in Oakland and half in LA and change their name to Oakland Raiders of Los Angeles

Slight problem with that though. Anaheim is a lot closer to Los Angeles, than Oakland is to LA, so it would be hard to add the "of" bit to the team name, and get around it like the Angels have.


And bit OT here, but I actually used the Angels name change tactic, for the name of one of my EuroLeague teams - strange but true fact.

[Sdpm100]

AC Milan still are hoping to play in UEFA Cup, as they say Empoli don't have "UEFA licence" (which I've never heard of tbh )
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5787500

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

AC Milan still are hoping to play in UEFA Cup, as they say Empoli don't have "UEFA licence" (which I've never heard of tbh )
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5787500

AC Milan ought to play in the 2006-07 prison cup

Italians and corruption..who knew??

[ukhotstove]

The words funny, no and bone spring to mind << insert smiley sigh

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

The words funny, no and bone spring to mind << insert smiley sigh

If you knew all the illnesses I've had, including a very rare one, it is hard for me to have a funny bone, I'm sad to say.
If I offended, to you. It was supposed to be a jokey reply, but I obviously got it wrong.

[ukhotstove]

Only thing I can see Milan refering to is the registration of teams for the UEFA Cup but I think I read somewhere that doesn't close till next week so Italy could still register Empoli for the UEFA Cup if that's the case.

[ukhotstove]

Found the story that I read it from, reading it I can't see Milan playing in the UEFA Cup as it states.

All are barred from playing in Europe - Juventus, Milan and Fiorentina in the Champions League; Lazio the Uefa Cup.

I know it means that Milan are banned from the Champions League and doesn't mention the UEFA Cup but can't see the Italian FA letting Milan* get away with playing in the UEFA Cup.

This is the link.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...pe/5164194.stm

[ukhotstove]

Magnet, there was a piece on Hearts on Sky Sports News yesterday according to the report they have broken the record for season tickets, don't quote me but sure they said Craig Sives would be the one to replace Webster.

[magnet]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Magnet, there was a piece on Hearts on Sky Sports News yesterday according to the report they have broken the record for season tickets, don't quote me but sure they said Craig Sives would be the one to replace Webster.

but, Webster is a defender and Sives is a midfielder...

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by magnet

but, Webster is a defender and Sives is a midfielder...

Hmmm according to the official website he's a central defender, was doing something else at the time so wasn't paying attention to much to the name although it may have been Berra, as they both match the description that I did hear and that was young player that had come through the youth team and also had played for the Scotland under 21's which they both have.

[ukhotstove]

p.s. Have to see who lines up against Osasuna tomorrow in the Champions League game.

[ukhotstove]

New Wigan Athletic kit for the 2006/07 season.

http://www.wiganlatics.premiumtv.co....2947466,00.jpg

[magnet]

Looks like they signed a new defender too:

http://www.heartsfc.premiumtv.co.uk/...69335,00.html?

(in case you need to register and bugmenot doesn't work...)

Originally Posted by heartsfc official site

Valdas Ivanauskas tonight told the media that he is closing in on the signings of Greek defender Christos Karipidis and Chilean striker Mauricio Pinalla, as things begin to take shape for the new season.

Speaking at Hearts pre-match news conference at Murrayfield tonight, ahead of the Champions League challenge match against Osasuna, the former Lithuanian striker admitted he was pleased to be close to bringing in fresh talent into his squad.

Tam Ritchie and Steven Pressley talk tactics

He said: "These are players we have a big interest in - Karipidis and Pinalla - and yesterday they had medical checks. We are now waiting for the results and now the last contract details. If this is ok it is possible that both players will stay with Hearts. Both players are good players and if they are ready to play for Hearts I am happy!"

"If I say names of the players and Hearts name then in the next moment there are two or three clubs coming in with another, bigger price. It is a better situation for me to tell you when the players have actually signed. Right now I cannot say."

What do you think?

Valdas also confirmed that he has five Lithuanian players on trial at present. He emphasised: "It is just for trial. One or two players might be good for Hearts, and if they are we will take them, but they are just for trial. I know the players. I have worked with them. I worked with them two years ago, and in two years there is a big difference. For the quality, I think two of those players have a big chance."

The head coach also confirmed he knew nothing of a potential move to Wigan for Andy Webster of Rudi Skacel's latest movements, with suggestions he has arrived back in Edinburgh in the last 24 hours. "Andy is not ready to play for Hearts [anymore]," Valdas said. "For him he is going to change clubs. It is a big close for us, but it is football."

Steven Pressley will walk the other way tomorrow

In other news the Hearts boss is convinced that Hearts will be facing Bosnian opposition next week in the Champions League qualifier. Valdas added: "I have information from the game in Belarus and I think the first Champions League team will be Siroki. We saw good things in Siroki but also problems for us. We have got lots of information and video tapes. Tomorrow is the next game and by Friday we will have more information.

Hearts will take no risks with injuries tomorrow night. Paul Hartley, Neil McCann and Jose Goncalves will definitely miss out against Osasuna. Valdas Ivanauskas hopes to have Edgar Jankauskas, David Cesnauskis and Craig Gordon back for the clash with the team that finished fourth in La Liga last season.