The European football thread

[Qwerty75]

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

Sorry. I just thought I would do it wiki-style I guess, so that if it really catches on it is all there.
Sadly, it don't look like it will at present, but at least I'm enjoying writing it.

And now I know, I'll update it less often.

I think he meant the tactics guide posted for FM.

It's a pretty solid summary, BTW, but much of figuring out your tactics comes from common sense and trial-and-error. Pre-season friendlies are a good time to experiment and watch the matches to see what works for you and what doesn't.

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by Qwerty75

I think he meant the tactics guide posted for FM.

It's a pretty solid summary, BTW, but much of figuring out your tactics comes from common sense and trial-and-error. Pre-season friendlies are a good time to experiment and watch the matches to see what works for you and what doesn't.

I actually thought I might have read it wrong when I was in bed last night, but I wasn't getting up just to edit it. If I was wrong, then that's it.

[bababui]

Should one persons opinion convince you to alter your writing style??

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by bababui

Should one persons opinion convince you to alter your writing style??

I read it wrong. It had nothing to do with my post.

[bababui]

I meant your post before that one where you said you would post less.

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by bababui

I meant your post before that one where you said you would post less.

I meant less often between updates. But as the reply wasn't about my original post in the first place, it doesn't matter anyway.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

I meant less often between updates. But as the reply wasn't about my original post in the first place, it doesn't matter anyway.

As long as you still update.

Be glad you dont have to do a Barrow franchise in FM2007.

[LFC1892]

2005 Australia beat England by 239 runs in the 1st Test, England go on to win the Ashes.

2006 Australia beat England by 277 runs hmmmm is there a picturing developing ?

2006 Update England take control of the 2nd Test hmmm isn't this what happened in 2005, seems like Deja Vu isn't only happening in the cinemas

Time for a new sig.........

[bababui]

Australia would have also beat England this year in the World Cup, had they played.

[LFC1892]

Thanks Bababui,but not sure about that.....especially if the god-like Peter Crouch played,lol.

5 December 2006
ENGLAND CRASH TO DEFEAT
By Dean Wilson

ENGLAND suffered an astonishing record six wicket defeat in the second Test to cough up a 2-0 lead in the Ashes with just three games left to play.
Australia scampered over the finish line thanks to brilliant knocks from Mike Hussey (61 not out ) and Ricky Ponting (49) who got them past their target of 168.
But the Aussie hero was without doubt, the evergreen Shane Warne who claimed 4-49 from an incredible 32 overs and yet again cemented his position as the best leg-spin bowler of all time, if not the best bowler.

Advertisement
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England could not believe the remarkable turnaround. After scoring 551-6 declared in the first innings, they were shot out for 129 in their second dig and lost a match they should not have.

England's plan from the start of the morning was not to give anything away to the Australians and for 43 testing minutes that is exactly what happened, until a horror of a decision from umpire Steve Bucknor.

The patient Andrew Strauss advanced down the track and was beaten in the flight by Warne, luckily for him he didn't touch the ball as it ballooned up to Hussey at short leg. Unluckily for him, Bucknor gave him out.

Never mind, it was only one wicket and out came first innings double-centurion Paul Collingwood. How things had changed as a suicidal bit of cricket gifted the Aussies the vital momentum they needed to rip through the England line up.

Ian Bell dropped the ball down behind square on the off side, but was slow to react to Collingwood's call and as Michael Clarke and Warne combined to hit the stumps, Bell was run out by a mile.

No problem, Kevin Pietersen's a special player, surely he would steer England to safety. Two runs later he was gone too - bowled round his legs by a Warne turner that spat out of the footmarks to take off stump.

England were in real trouble, but if ever there is a man for a crisis, it is captain fantastic Freddie Flintoff, and as he strode to the crease, his country really needed him.

But with Warne whirling away at one end and Brett Lee steaming in at the other, the pressure was intolerable and Flintoff cracked in a massive way.

A waft at a wide one from Lee found the outside edge and the catch was gobbled up by Adam Gilchrist. Flintoff also did himself a disservice by waiting for the umpire's decision when he was clearly out. Perhaps he was too stunned to move.

By lunch England had lost four wickets for 30 runs in 28 overs. They were bogged down, scared of Warne's hand grenades and with nowhere to turn themselves.

Things didn't really improve thereafter as Geraint Jones slapped Lee to Matthew Hayden in the gully, Ashley Giles was squared up by Warne to be taken at slip and Matthew Hoggard was bowled by a googly.

Both Steve Harmison and James Anderson kept Collingwood company for as long as possible, but the simple fact was that England were not scoring any runs.

On a day when runs were just as valuable as batting out time, England massively failed in in the first department and put up a poor show in the second.

Australia signaled their intent right from the start of their innings as Justin Langer slogged Hoggard to deep mid-wicket for four and Matthew Hayden smashed Flintoff in the same direction as he came down the track.

Both openers though were dismissed as they tried to force the pace with Langer carving Hoggard to gully and Hayden top edging Flintoff to mid-wicket.

However in Ponting and then Hussey Australia have two of the world's best batsmen that not only know how to keep hold of their wickets, but know how to score runs too.

It was serene progress for the Aussies until over confidence accounted for Ponting as he drove straight to cover trying to bring up his fifty.

Damien Martyn almost certainly ended his Test career with a careless shot into the hands of Strauss at wide slip, and all of a sudden England were buzzing again.

But Hussey and Michael Clarke were not going to allow a repeat of the 'Botham' Test in 1981, and they saw their team home with ease.

The only two Englishmen I felt sorry for, were Flintoff,who I have a lot of respect for now(a really good bloke,with a love for cricket) and Hoggard who comes across a real laugh and bowled a great spell to pick up those 7 wickets. Gerraint Jones is my least liked current "English" player so far(Born in Papua New Guinea to Welsh parents and raised in Australia until he was 22)...he talks a big game,but fails to deliver(Read would be a much better option behind the stumps). Anyway, onto Perth now and psychologically, the English will be hurting,but Australia will have to make a change...Damien Martyn sucks.

[bababui]

Australia would have beaten Italy if there was a sighted referee in charge of the match.

[LFC1892]

Hmmm, the money will be great, but not sure about all these takeovers of EPL clubs...I'd much rather they all be English owned. At least the Sheikh has said they want nothing to do with day to day management of the Reds.

Dubai target Liverpool takeover - AP


Related Stories>>Benitez focus on football22 November 2006

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Liverpool said it is in 'exclusive negotiations' with a Dubai-based consortium for a possible takeover of the football club.

If the deal with Dubai International Capital (DIC) goes through, Liverpool will become the seventh Premier League club under foreign ownership.

The consortium is offering a reported 450 million pounds ($A1.13billion) for the five-time European and 18-time English champions.

"Liverpool Football Club today confirms it has entered into a period of exclusive negotiations with Dubai International Capital (DIC) about a possible investment in the club," the club said in a statement on Monday.

"No deal has yet been agreed and the detail of any transaction, which may or may or may not include a formal offer by DIC for Liverpool Football Club, is still to be confirmed."

DIC is the international investment arm of Dubai Holding, which owns and manages a number of companies. DIC has been given permission to examine the club's financial accounts before submitting a formal offer, probably later this month.

"This is the latest step on the road of finding the long-term investment that the club needs," Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry said.

"DIC is a potential investor with the resources and philosophy we believe could make them an ideal partner."

The main player behind the takeover appears to be the world's fifth-richest man Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Prime Minister and vice president of the United Arab Emirates whose family are linked with DIC.

The Ruler of Dubai's wealth - estimated to be around $A13billion - comfortably exceeds that of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

Dubai International Capital, formed in 2004, is a state-owned international investment company that primarily focuses on private equity.

DIC recently bought Madame Tussauds wax museum in London and the Travelodge hotel chain.

"Liverpool's investment requirements are well publicised. We hope we can agree a deal that will provide us with the opportunity to fund its needs both on and off the pitch," DIC chief executive Sameer al-Ansari said in a statement.

Liverpool has also been linked with other possible buyers, notably George Gillett, owner of the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL.

Six of the Premier League's 20 clubs are currently owned by foreigners - Chelsea, Manchester United, Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Fulham and West Ham.

Russian oil billionaire Abramovich owns Chelsea, while American businessman Malcolm Glazer - owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL team - owns Manchester United. Another American, Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner, took control of Aston Villa this season. Harrods' Egyptian owner, Mohamed Al Fayed, bought Fulham nine years ago.

Russian businessman Alexandre Gaydamak took control of Portsmouth in July, while Icelandic Football Association president Eggert Magnusson bought West Ham last week.

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by bababui

As long as you still update.

Be glad you dont have to do a Barrow franchise in FM2007.

I just can't do more than one dynasty at a time, and I'm really enjoying writing about Sudexcel. Sadly, no-one else is interested, and it will probably die soon.

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by GUTIERREZ

...and Hoggard who comes across a real laugh and bowled a great spell to pick up those 7 wickets...

My grandmother calls him "Laughing Harry".

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

I just can't do more than one dynasty at a time, and I'm really enjoying writing about Sudexcel. Sadly, no-one else is interested, and it will probably die soon.

It will only die if you stop writing it. Why not be like most artists and do art for arts sake.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

My grandmother calls him "Laughing Harry".

Whats your Grandmother doing watching cricket??

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by bababui

It will only die if you stop writing it. Why not be like most artists and do art for arts sake.

I guess if no-one else starts role-playing over there, I could always move it here, so you are right as always.

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by bababui

Whats your Grandmother doing watching cricket??

Well, why not? Women watch sport.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

I guess if no-one else starts role-playing over there, I could always move it here, so you are right as always.

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

Well, why not? Women watch sport.

Contridiction!! Contridiction!! Either Im always right or not.

I wish your grandmother had fount a slightly more exciting sport to enjoy.

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by bababui

Contridiction!! Contridiction!! Either Im always right or not.

I wish your grandmother had fount a slightly more exciting sport to enjoy.

That's what they played in the villages when she was young - cricket in the summer, football in the winter. That's why she enjoys watching them.