Pedro, The Unsung Hero

By: IBES

First of all, hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving Holiday and enjoyed some great food, shopping deals and of course hanging out with friends and families. I am also sure that for most fans, this Thanksgiving became less stressful or more relaxed after Barcelona defeated Inter Milan 2-0 this past Tuesday. With Ibrahimovic and Messi not inserted into the starting lineup, there were doubts and concerns about that encounter being a difficult match for the club to win. Thankfully, the academy players came to the rescue with Pique and Pedro scoring early on in the first half to ease nerves and help Barcelona regain the group. Perhaps Pep and the fans have to be thankful for Pedro coming through for the club so far this season with 10 goals in all competitions thus far and is currently the team’s top scorer.

“El Canario” Pedro is enjoying a fine sophomore season with Barcelona and it’s been a blessing of some sort. With the departure of Eto’o and the injuries affecting Ibrahimovic, Henry and Iniesta, goals were going to be tough to come by. Nevertheless, the goals have still come, but from unlikely sources thanks to Keita and Pedro. Pedro is the team’s top scorer in the Champions League, while Eto’o has yet to score in Europe and has scored in five different club competitions in one season, a feat only done once by Giovanni Silva back in the 1997-1998 season while Stoichkov, Salinas and Txiki only scored in four.

No one had any high expectations of Pedro of ever being great for the club unlike Bojan, Gai and Messi. I saw something in him when he scored that brace in last season's Champions League qualifiers against Wilsa and thought he could be a fine addition as a winger for the club. Not only is he a good winger, but seems to be a good fox in the box for the club too. The Canary Island native came through the youth academy and got some limited appearances last season. Pedro was thought of as some bit role player who would feature in the Copa Del Rey games, throw away Champions League group stages games and other league games where the league title had been clinched. However, after the sale of Eto’o, loaning out of Hleb and the high inflated transfer prices that followed Real Madrid’s summer of signings and hindered Barcelona’s chances of signing new players, Pedro has come in handy and, out of nowhere, has scored 10 goals for this club.

Pedro is not that highly rated either with some criticizing his lackluster work ethic, his tendency to lose possession and add to the fact that his name is pretty basic. Pedro used to go by Pedrito but overall, the name lacks a certain pizzazz such that as Ronaldinho, Romario, Eto’o and Ibrahimovic. Nevertheless, Henry and Raul have also shown us that players can be great with boring names too as long as those players can score, and Pedro so far has done just that. Of course I am not saying Pedro is as good as Henry and Raul, but his goals sure have helped the club this season.

His first goal was in the first leg in the Spanish Super Cup against Athletic which was the game winning goal. He then followed that game winner with another one in the UEFA Super Cup Final when Pedro came on as a substitute and scored with five minutes left in extra time to clinch the cup for the club. He also scored a memorable goal against Almeria and notched a brace in a Cope Del Rey game too. Now of course some of the credit also goes to his teammates for making him look good too but Pedro is sure taking advantage of his opportunities this season. Sadly, it also begs the question of what’s taking Bojan so long to score too. Pedro has scored as many goals as it takes Bojan to score all season.

Of course when all the big name players are healthy, Pedro will go back to the bench and see less minutes but no one can deny that he has played a big part in the team’s positive start in this new season. Here’s hoping that Pedro gets to score the FIFA Club World Cup and becomes the first player ever in the world to score in six different club competitions and the club finally wins that trophy to add to the museum. Until then, here’s hoping that the guys remind Real Madrid who truly is the best team in Spain tomorrow in the Camp Nou.

The Interview: Ruudlover

Tell us a bit about yourself …
I’m Sarah... im 20 years old and i’m currently studying at University. I was born in Luton, and moved to Dunstable when I was 5, those that know geography know that they are next door to eachother... so we literally moved about a 5-10 drive away. Dunstable’s far nicer anyways!

Ive got a small, but close family, with 1 brother and 5 cousins. I was brought up in a Christian family, and I myself (after much rejection) am a Christian. I’ve got a great set of friends from church back home, and i’d say there influence on me has been key.

I’m a sporty, intelligent, sociable, fun, popular and energetic girl who loves being around my friends and having a good time. I like to be spontaneous, love banter, and would happily spend my life chilling on the top of Dunstable Downs with my friends.

I was a bit of a rebel as a kid, and was always annoying my parents and brother and was always in trouble at school for talking and being rude. I’ve grown up a lot since those days, and i’m a friendly, well mannered and kind person who when i got to 6th form teachers seemed to love, and my lecturers are the same! As you may have already guessed... ive got a bit of an ego, a friendly one though!

Are you happy at the moment?
I’d say so yes. I’m enjoying my life a lot at the moment, Uni is going great, i’m an active member of my course, I do lots of great voluntary work, which will help my career, ive got some amazing friends both in Sheffield and at home, ive got a great social life. I’m happy living with my boys in Sheffield, its great banter and i’m still really close with everyone who matters back home.
I’d say there are 2 negatives, one is the lack of a lovely man in my life, well I’m literally in love with my best friend.. but thats complicated! Second is that i’m a walking cripple, my knee and shoulder is screwed and ive barely played football in 3 years!

If a tree falls in a forest, and nobody hears it, does it make a sound.
Yes... if i ever see a tree fall and not make a noise i may change my opinion, but at the moment.. a tree falling = noise

I saw the Christmas Coca Cola advert the other day, does this mean I can now put my Christmas tree up despite the fact it’s not December yet?
Defiantly... if the boys i live with weren’t such boring bastards i’d have had mine up last week.. the holidays are indeed coming!

If you could travel anywhere, where would you want to go and why?
Australia. Just a country that has always interested me, i think i’d suit living there. I’ve always had somewhat of a romantic vision of me coaching sports on a sunny beach in aus, it will never happen mind.

I see you fathering the kids of a jailed black man and living off benefits on a council estate. What do you think?
Really? Then you don’t know me at all. Would be the last thing i do.

What is your favourite childhood memory?
Hmmm.. I didn’t have an overly exciting childhood filled with amazing events, just lots of very good days, but i’d probably say the day I got my dog, it was the day before my 5th birthday, and I remember travelling what seemed like miles (probably was) to pick him up, then having people round the house and passing him round everyone... not very exciting

How’s your football career going at the moment?
Rubbish, non existent in fact. As many people know I snapped my knee ligaments 3 times, and i’ve had two lots of surgery, add that to the fact ive needed shoulder surgery for about a year, its not fun. So yea... i was very very good, i had the chance to make it big.. but that dreams over now

What is it you’re actually studying at uni? Are you there just to get pissed up most nights, if not every night of the week?
Sports Development and Coaching. I really enjoy it too. I got good grades at A-level and could have studied anything really, and gone to 98% of Uni’s too but Sport is the only thing im really interested in, and have a passion for. Sports Science is just boring and really doesn’t have much of a career path, whereas my course does. I could walk into a 30k job once graduated if I wanted too.. and thats just starting quite near the bottom. Hallam has a VERY good reputation in Sport now as well which is a bonus. I aim to be the next Sue Campbell (google her) and be a big name in the sporting industry. With the volunteering i’m doing, it will defiantly help, add that to the fact with it i’m nailed on to work at London 2012 too.

On the pissed comment.. I don’t go out much these days, once, maybe twice a week if I can be bothered, now we have houses we tend to just chill out there more, have people round, go round others, its much better.

What was the best day of your life and what was the worse?
Hmm.. as with the childhood memory, not much sticks out. Ive had loads of amazing days, but none ive considered to be the best day of my life. The worst... on holiday with my family and friends, the summer between year 8 and 9, so i was 13, received a phone call from my best mate telling me one of my really good friends had finally lost his battle with leukaemia, horrible, horrible moment

Forum members, past and present … Favourites and least favourites?
Forgive me if I miss anyone, always hard to think off the top of my head

Fave: Stone_Monkey, Yid, Sparky, Tanghe, Scholsey, ITF, Gib, Adaroooooney, Siefer, Pibe, rowdy (lampardlover/carefree cfc)

Least: Southern Dandy, illmatic, scoot, bossa(when he does that stupid lollz crap) infact any portugese member, barcelina, german dudek

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
Hopefully married with kids with a good job in sports having just enjoyed, or anticipating the World Cup in England, i’ll hopefully be living in either Nottingham, Sheffield or Manchester too. However, it will all depend on finding a man really!

Do you like cheesy Wotsits?
Yep. Really romantic when you share a packet too

If you could meet anyone (living or dead) who would it be and why?
Sir Bobby Charlton. The man is a living legend and I have the upmost respect for him, what with what he achieved with United and England, and the work he does now. Football needs more Bobby Charltons

Why do you hate Barcelinha? She's a crackwhore Romanian, take pity, she was probably an orphan and had to live in eastern Europe...you know what that means. You don't? Oh I forgot...English girl. It means communist state...no coca-cola etc.
She’s an attention-whore who thinks everybody wants to know everything about her. She feels the need to reply to every single thread and make it about her, or post something totally irrelevant or stupid in an attempt to be funny, she’s stuck up her own arse and thinks the forum should revolve around her. Her footballing knowledge is laughable and an insult to women football fans, she always avoids debate by insulting people, as she doesn’t have the knowledge to debate anyways, her opinions on players are based around whether she thinks they will be good in bed too. Basically yea, she annoys me.

Favourite country you've visited?
America, simply because it contains Florida, which would be my favourite holiday destination thus far.

Where would you like to be in 10 years?
See above homie

Do you think its slightly embarrassing that our own Prime Minister couldn’t write a letter to a grieving parent who lost her son whilst serving in the army, without spelling mistakes and didn’t even put her correct name?
Embarrassing yes. I do kind of feel sorry for him that he is lambasted with whatever he does (mainly due to the fact he more often that not made to look stupid, but still, im a nice person). I mean atleast he took the effort to write the letter, however it was not professionally presented in the slightest, and thats his down fall. All it would have taken was to re-write it after the mistake, or atleast get it double checked!

What's the largest age difference between yourself and someone you’ve dated?
A whopping 2 years, i’m only 20, and up until Uni ive kept to people from my school year to be honest. This lad was lovely though, but he was more best friend lovely than boyfriend lovely.

Why do you support Manchester? Doesn't it shame you that you are basically funding some northern team, and most northerners are dirty thieves and terrorists...
I always assumed it was due to my parents, when they were younger they were both United fans, mum even had a massive George Best love in, and although i’d still call them fans, especially mum, Luton has taken over more of my dads attention. But I found out recently it was due to my brother.

He’s 3 years older than me so growing up I copied everything he did, I wanted to be just like him, so he supported United, I guess because they were the best! So I did too... he didn’t like this so switched to Arsenal (to be fair, this was before they became good) luckily I had the sense not to copy him again, and kept United.

Can I ask you a personal question...are you virgin? Cos I'm virgin too, and virgin to virgin customers get free minutes, cheap texts and stuff.
02 Kiddo.. 600 mins, 1200 texts, free internet. £20 a months, thanks!

Any plans for the future?
Much of what I said in the 10 years question. But ill add that i’m tempted to work with disabilities in sport, I do volunteering based around this and it’s amazingly rewarding. I’d love to coach/manage a team or in a sport which is represented at the Olympic games, that would be excellent. If not this, then i’d like to work for one of the major sports agencies (UK Sport, sport England, youth sport trust, NGB’s, womens sport foundation, disability England etc etc) or if worse comes to worse.. be a PE teacher.

How long is a piece of string?
Depends how long you need it to be

Best memory from being at Old Trafford?
If I was interviewed a few months back i’d be struggling for an answer. Ive watched many a match, but they all seem to be uneventful (except from when i was on MOTD) but i went to the Manchester Derby this year, and it was by far the best game ive been too. It was just so eventful, and the scoreline and finish was beyond what anyone what have predicted. I was sat next to the city fans too, which was good banter. It was weird in the stadium when Rio ****ed up for 3-3, as it was Rio it seemed people didn’t want to get angry and start throwing insults, instead everyone was just stood shellshocked, the tension for those last few minutes could have been cut with the knife.

But when micky owen popped up with that goal, everyone just erupted, i was man hugged by the man next to me, everyone ended up jumping all over everyone, and as we were next to the city fans we just all turned and celebrated at them. One of the best moments though was turning round and seeing fergie celebrate, and then Red Nev running up the touchline, thats something i’ll never forget, it was epic!

10 members of the forum ... 5 you're going out with for the night, 5 you're pushing off a cliff ... who are they and why?
Night out: Gaz, Yid, Sparky, ITF and Tanghe
Push off a cliff: Barcelina, dandy, bossa, illmatic and the german dudek

Ruud. Why? He's a horse faced gimp.
When it comes to football i’m easy to please. I like players who do there job and do it well (as well as those fancy dan, technically gifted types, workhorses don’t appeal to me, hence the tevez and park hatred) and Ruud did just that, give him the ball and he would score, he was world class for us, and exceptional striker, who had much more to his game than people gave him credit for. His job was to lead the line and score goals, and he did that fantastically well. I kinda became a bit obsessed with him though, had a poster of him on my wall in his second year with us, and one night I thought he was quite good looking ( i like my men tall, dark and handsome) so yea, i googled him a bit more, and it grew into an obsession, since he left its all died down a bit, but he’s still my favourite player.

What your favourite foreign football team and why?
Barcelona. When I was younger my grandparents visited Barcelona and brought me back a top and i’ve liked them ever since then. I was also a big Ronaldo fan back in the day too. In 2004/05/06 I was able to watch them more and more thanks to sky, and they played sublime football which I just loved, I was a bit of a Ronaldinho fan too. So yea, its always been Barca for me.

How does it feel to be a typical English girl? Goes to uni, becomes a drunk 'ho, and if lucky will end up living in a cul-de-sac watching this morning as if it meant something?
Shows you don’t know me at all, as i’m not remotely like that. Yes I do enjoy a good night out, and yes I do drink when I go out, but its about once or twice a week maximum. I much prefer just chilling round a friends house, or having a few drinks at the pub and a gossip, or going on road trip, long walks and watching the stars or just sitting on Dunstable downs or in a park just relaxing. The whole going out and getting pissed thing is pretty boring now, and i’ve never really been a big fan of it in the first place anyways.

Are you happy with the way Michael Owen has settled in at the club?
After that goal against City he can spend the rest of his career hola dancing for all I care. Nah, but seriously, I think he’s done OK for us, scored a few games, and showed glimpses. His finishing has been a bit poor (he’s no Ruud) but he’s a good stop gap, because hopefully soon Welbeck will be ready, he’s going to be a star

What do you find attractive about the millionaire magician Paul Daniels?
His dashing smile and pleasing tricks.

Twilight; team werewolf or team Vampire?
Ermmm.. I don’t get this whole twilight thing, never read the books, watched it on tv, or watched the films, so I really have no idea about anything i’m afraid. However, one thing I would say is I found it both sad and weird that many people (including a few of my best mates) felt the need to go and see the new film at 00.05, just wait a few hours fools

If you were given a shotgun and you were told you have to shoot through both yours hands and feet in 30 seconds otherwise you'd die, would you do it? (Inspired from Saw)
Defiantly... otherwise i’d die! Plus.. I could cope with being disabled, I could still compete in many a sport, so nothing to worry about there!

What is your favourite comfort food, and what is your strongest memory tied to it?
Soft chocolate chip cookies. Yum. Strongest memory would be me and my best friends buying about 20 between us once we’d got our a-level results, and going and sitting in a lovely sunny park, eating them and just chilling and enjoying each others company. Was a great day that.

Do the other females on the board put you to shame with their posts regarding football or anything in general?
Nope. To be honest, since Shell left, and I don’t see Mare around much in the football section anymore, only Yid makes worthwhile football contributions, even then, i hold my knowledge in high regard to be honest and don’t find myself being put to shame, even though i’d always read what Yid has to say!

Does it take you much to get drunk?
Not these days no. I used to be a bit of a lightweight, but not recently. We tend to make bowls/troughs these days before we go out, mixing about 7 drinks, and even then it takes about 6-7 glasses to get drunk.

You’re a massive football fan … do you prefer playing or watching?
Difficult one this. I love both, and infact I’ve also always loved going training aswell, the banter is better, but if I was to choose watching a cup final, or playing one, i’d choose playing, so my answer will have to be playing.
What's your best memory of playing football?
I’d say a game against West Ham a few years ago. They were our rivals to the league title. We were 2-0 down within about 20 minutes, and frankly not playing very well, however in the second half we came out like a team possessed and played really really well, we pulled a goal back quite quickly, but it took 2 late goals, a screamer from 30 yards with a couple of minutes remaining, then a tap in at the far post with the last kick of the game to win... it was an amazing feeling and we went on to win the league, that was a great season.

Do you have a recurrent dream?
Nope... but I do have dreams which cause me to have the same reaction, whereby I wake up and think i’m still in the dream and end up turning lights on/ locking doors, opening doors, going for a walk, and thinking people are in my room.. its a bit weird that

What would I find in your refrigerator right now?
Pineapple and orange juice, milk, butter, eggs, yogurts, vodka, beer, jam, mayo, cheese, tomatoe ketchup, bbq sauce, brown sauce.

Only the pineapple and orange juices are mine.

Interview compiled by Lil Yiddo with questions submitted by members of Soccer 24-7.

Dissa-punditry

Oh, the joys of a TV Licence! I recently discovered them after coming home from a hard week's work - and a strenous series of booze-drinking marathons - to find that we have three and a half hours worth of Football League highlights, Five hours of chaotic, yet perfectly co-ordinated fun on Sky's "Soccer Special" (You know the drill, a host of ex-footballers and makeshift sports reporters getting excited over massive games... such as Huddersfield vs Yeovil), and an approximate 380 minutes of live football, brought to you by Rupert Murdoch's propaganda wagon, Sky Sports.

Quality. Integrity. Expertise. That's what should follow a flurry of goals, and a hastily arranged highlights package. Yet, what hampers this familiar, and natural flow seems to be pundits who have been rounded up with giant fishing nets. After all, you look at who is slouched on the expensive, probably swedish cream sofa's, and get treated to a pile of trout. Perhaps I'm being unfair; they are paid to offer their opinion, their opinion is offered, the show ends with a few opinions offered by footballing bastians such as Jamie Redknapp, and people's champion, Robbie Savage - now making more appearances for the BBC than his beleaguered Derby County side.

Or maybe I'm taking this a little personally. After starting a three-year course in Sports Journalism (Don't laugh, it's actually a REAL course!), I cannot help but feel my oppurtunities to rise through the ranks, prove myself at the highest level, and become established as a reputable journalist are being marginalised by 'familiar faces'. Alas, I suppose that's what sells though. Thinking about it pragmatically, the prospect of seeing Mark Lawrenson and Alan Hansen disect the day's most important games, with their amazingly over the top computer technology, is a lot more appealing than me and my mates from just another university going over the screen with our cursors and admittedly, if given the chance, just drawing comedy beards on the managers when there's a break in play, using the same Microsoft Paint tools Alan and Mark use to highlight where runs could've been made, and what areas should have been attacked.

There's a trust issue too. Four young, unshaven journalists let loose in front of a a national audience would be a disaster. Even seasoned campaigners, who have travelled the length of the country and dug out the most minute detail of a Carlise and Plymouth 0-0 draw in the depths of winter, just would not reel in the viewers. The fact that Jamie Redknapp was a Liverpool icon, Andy Gray will always be the world's most scottish man, and David Platt was (through gritted teeth and clenched fists...) an important goalscorer just have elements to it that make their opinion worthwhile. Yes, that's hard to take, but a reality that won't change soon.

Think about it, the major institutions now have their own show-stealing double acts: Sky Sports have Richard Keys and Andy Gray, the two stalwarts of sports broadcasting that balance banter with analysis perfectly. It would be criminal not to mention the Jeff Stelling and Chris Kamara partnership, the host and livewire pundit respectively, on Soccer Saturday. So many classic moments between them, due to Kammy's eccentricity, and Jeff's razor sharp wit. Feel free to reel off any of Stelling's genius one liners to yourself... Finished? Great! However, what Sky also have, as previously eluded to, is Jamie Redknapp. Many guests have appeared in their studio's in a bid to show they can still talk a good game - Ruud Gullit. Sven Goran-Eriksonn. Even Bruce Grobbelaar. Yet none as single minded, and clueless as Redknapp. He sits, slyly swaying on his comfy spinning chair, offering no more than reviews of the bleedin' obvious.

"So Jamie, another comfortable win for Chelsea..."

"Yeah, they've won comfortably again, Chelsea... time for a knee's up, Richard?"

Admittedly, that has not happened... Yet. I urge you to just take in the next combined hour of analysis the smarmy cockney has to give, and see if you feel a dash more enriched, or bit pissed off as you've just wasted quite a lot of your sunday afternoon listening to Jamie Redknapp. And I made you do it!

As for the BBC, they have quite a vast empire. Local Radio, and yes, of course I'm going to use BBC Radio Nottingham as an example, are the best example of build-up, reporting, and analysis. Colin Fray and John McGovern make an excellent commentary team, all held together by the glue in the middle, Robin Chipperfield, holding together four and a half hours of unrefined sport with interviews, reviews, and a look into the possibilities of the afternoon's games. Truly hard workers, with a very special end product. However, and this is going to sound random, but having the dis-pleasure of listening to BBC Radio Humberside whilst visiting family in Hull this weekend, I was treated to two clowns in a 10 minute epic of trying to pronounce "Junior Stanislas", leading to a failure to report on two goals and a penalty incident at the KC stadium. I will not name these fellows, for I have compassion.

Then we branch out to BBC Radio 5live, with a plethora of commentators, reporters, pitchside men, anylasists, and tea ladies all working frantically to produce what is really, a quite comprehensive round up of the hectic programme of saturday sport. Although changing the commentators every twenty minutes works well as a system, it does suffer a little from "Too many chefs" syndrome. However, when Alan Brazil and Graham Taylor are sharing the mics, I reconmend you listen in - Taylor referred to Brazil as 'Stupid' on air, and naturally, it wasn't taken too well. You won't have to fine tune you're frequencies to detect that frosty atmosphere!



And then of course, there is the BBC TV network, spearheaded by Match of the Day. Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson are the best pair seen on a saturday night since Holly Willoughby ('s cleavage) presented Dancing on Ice. You just cannot get mad at them, they are part of the very bright, very stylish furniture. However, someone I will allow you to get mad at is one Steve Clardige, the former Millwall and Portsmouth striker who is the main pundit on The Football League show, hosted by a rather well conducted Manish Bashin. Claridge, the missing link in Darwin's chain, seems to start arguments no-one is connected to, involved with, or interested in. He also seems to just agree with everything Manish says, yet I suppose people like Steve do have to be spoon-fed. He is perhaps the person most out their depth, at giving in-depth analysis. Something that hasn't gone un-noticed, is that pilchard in sheep's clothing, Robbie Savage, has wormed his way onto the oh-so coveted studio sofa's. No-one in the right mind will tune in to see his honest opinion, it's more of a morbid curiosity factor. People are not thinking this man is the Albert Einstein of footballing tactics. It's more down the lines of 'Now would be a great time for a studio light to come crashing down...' Only time will tell if he can become the next Gary Lineker - God knows what crisps Savage would endorse. Cheat and Onion? Ready for a-salting? Prawn Cockhead?

I'll leave you to devise your own vulgar jokes, but the fact of the matter is that you can study all of your life, receive the highest honours at the most prestigious university, and become quite the integral journalist, yet all that will pale into comparison when you have a twenty year journeyman style career under your belt. Unfortunately, this is a market that will only get narrower, and with the celebrity culture that has engulfed Britain, it will have to be a famous personality, instead of a Joe Bloggs, that tells you why Wolves were never going to beat Liverpool, as you scoff your pot noodle, idlly channel-surfing, and waiting for the freeview porn to get a little naughtier. Maybe the girls will touch each other tonight?

So, looks like we will all have to make do with the mindless droning of the people that made it, yet still wouldn't mind a few more grand in the back pocket, sacrificing quality for curious interest.

Steve Rider, Andy Townsed, and Clive Tyldesley - The ITV representatives... No news is good news, right? Except you Andy. You could also do with a muzzle.

Member vs. Member XII

The Biggest Competition on 24-7 Returns!

Ok here we go.

Member vs Member, the annual competition for who is the best member in the ultimate popularity contest on Soccer 24-7.

Hugely successful and entertaining in the past lets hope this time round is too.

Basically, you all enter and get drawn into groups. People vote for favorite members and the top few progress through until we get down to the champion.

For those knocked out early there is also the UEFA Cup, so even if you can't get in with the big dogs you can knick some silverware in the other part of the competition.

The propaganda posts (As seen above) are the stuff of legend round here to those who do not know.

So sign up here motherfuckers, add your name to the list. We shall begin hopefully on November 23rd.

A Manic Loop Production.

The Interview: Barcelinha

Tell us a bit about yourself …
At about 10 am on a probably cold February morning, the doctor extracted me from my mother's womb – Private Sorrow was born. Because God is an ironic bastard, as the first child of a family of doctors, I had a medical condition, that was surgically fixed 2 years later.

The first few years were spent with my grandparents on father's side, since my parents were relocated by the “regime” in the country. I was a sickly child, with various digestive problems, going into my early teen years, which would explain why I look underdeveloped even now, when I'm “pushing 30”.

And yet, I was a happy, normal, quite pampered kid, getting the best care, the best doctors, making friends easily. This changed when we moved house after 1st grade, because the new community didn't quite receive me with open arms. I became closed up, friendless, to the point of being bullied by the fat chick in class because I was skinny.

I enjoyed high school, as a time for discovering music, football(ers) and boys. I've always wanted to stand out, whether I was the “weird chick with the walkman” - high school, the “Barca chick” - uni or simply the “token alkie” - at work lol.

I am a very contradicting individual, either dynamic or lazy [or as I put it, comfortable], shy or loud, emotional or plain cold, impulsive or over analytical. I am usually trigger happy: act now, think thoroughly later, which I can say cost me certain times, but I'm not willing to change that.

I believe I have above average moral standards and an innate spirit of justice and from the age of 12, I knew I wanted to do law, and even if my conviction faltered over the years and I had my moments of doubt regarding this career, at this moment, I feel it is maybe the best choice I ever made.

I love reading good literature and listening to music, mainly old stuff, as you may have gathered from the music forum. I am a passionate individual and I take way too many things personally. I love football and I consider it one of my 4 main interests in life [reading, music and men being the other three].

I don't think I'm an achiever, but so far, more or less out of hard work mixed with chance, I have made it pretty well. At this point in my life, I could say I am emotionally stable and professionally content,.

Can you explain the offside rule without using google/wikipedia/etc?
I suppose I could: when the ball is passed, the person it's intended to reach shouldn't be in front of opponent players. It's calculated at the moment of the pass, duh.

Did I pass??

Have you ever considered breast implants?
No, I'm content with what I have, as shocking as this may seem to you. Just a few weeks ago, I managed to find a bra my size, 28AA – at the kids' section.

Favourite pizza?
Mushrooms, ham, olives, NO cheese,

Is it ironic that you are being interviewed here by Kirstie, whose (much appreciated) hard work has resurrected this great section that you single-handedly fvcked up and discarded to the trash heap of S24-7?
I think the interviews died off on my term because people boycotted them by not voting in polls, or not sending questions, and generally not giving a damn. I think it had a lot more to do with who was running them rather than then actual system.

I have the feeling that Yiddo is rightfully using her good rep on the forum to keep the interviews going, props to her for that though.

And anyway, Berean, I think you're just bitter you never got to play interviewer.

Have you ever defended anyone in a beardist lawsuit?
I cannot yet practice in court, but God is my witness, I'd do it, turn the case into the greatest precedent ever and even work pro bono.

Do you like cheesy Wotsits?
Well, I don't like cheese, so no. Sorry if I missed the innuendo.

Why do you portray yourself to be such a slag on here?
Because that's what I long ago felt the forum wanted of me in order to fit in. As far as I can remember, I beat both Bardez and Yiddo in the first UEFA MvM I took part in cause of the “slut” pic I had as campaign poster, so I guess that worked, and frankly, no-one seems to mind a little flirt.

On the other hand, I'm a red blooded woman and I believe expressing yourself and your sexuality is nothing to be ashamed of. Besides, where do you want me to be a slag, at the office?

There are only 2 male colleagues, one is happily married and the other one is ugly and possibly gay.

It's all done with lots of irony and self irony on my part, [including the above-mentioned campaign poster] but most of you don't see that and I'm not the type to explain jokes.

Where do you hope to be in 5 years time?
Hopefully anywhere but Romania. I want to have become a full trademark attorney, a lawyer with my own practice and maybe even moved out of my parents'.

Ideally, I see myself practicing IP law in Barcelona, but I am too much of a comfortable person to actually leave the country, unless I'm thoroughly convinced, or politically things go worse!

10 members of the forum - 5 you're going to go out on the town with, and 5 you're going to push off a cliff. Name 'em off and why ...
I like so many people here! If I have to pick five, I'd pick the Barca forum lasses, Super Pibe and Gumball.

Pibe and I go a long way back, I believe he's the first person off this forum that I spoke on MSN with. Gumball seems like a nice guy, and brings the fresh sexy to the forum. Barcachica is my soulmate and e-wife, Viva Barca is my protegee and fcb<3[barca] shares my weird taste in men.

Us girls can finally discuss the degree of Pique's hotness with or without the beard and since we're all from different backgrounds and cultures united by our passion for Barca, we could have a great night.

Or I can go partying again with the Lisbon based members, cause I was off that night . Hurley can come too. There's only 2 people I really dislike: ITF, cause he's a hypocrite, and Cal, because he offends me on so many levels. But let not let them be lonely in their fall, Libertine and Thiggy can join them. Maybe the most offensive EPL noob too.

What’s your job occupation?
I work as an associate for a multinational Industrial Property firm, operating all over Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the CIS. Basically, and although I am not a trademark agent yet, I take care of contentious and non-contentious trademark and design matters, from registration to drafting opinions in prosecution and enforcement cases. In about 1 year and a half, I can take the exam for becoming a TM attorney, which would enable me to represent clients before the PTO [patent trademark office].

Lately, I have become a trainee lawyer and I hope this will offer me even more options in the future as well.

Your profile says you have an interest in writing. What have you wrote in the past?
I used to write short odd stories, usually not longer than a few word pages. Just some random things that inspired me. I've always been quite creative, starting with my chaptered written documentary about a civilization on Venus, living in a country called Metafozia when I was 10.

My best work of my “serious era” would be either the Left Hand Trilogy – completely lost in various pc crashes – about the actions of the a girl's left hand in various stages of her drug abuse or The House of Sadness, recovered from sent emails by miracle, essentially about the power of human cruelty that not even love can overcome.

Anyway, a couple of years ago, I got a terrible case of writer's block and thus these days I only write silly sentimental stories,

I don't think any of it is good enough to be published though, except maybe my Barca Diary running from the 2001-2002 season up to 2006ish, when I replaced it with the forum.

Being a career criminal and all, wouldn't you be more at home supporting Real Madrid?
I like what this question implies, but I'll have to disappoint you, I'm not a career crim. Not even an occasional one.

You like talking about sex a lot, sex with other women even, sex with members on this board, sex with football players, sex with just about anyone actually. Do you actually have a lot of sex?
In the undying words of Lane Kim from Gilmore girls: “those who can, do. Those who cannot, talk about it” – approximate quote. I'd love to have more sex, but unfortunately, I don't have anyone to do it with. Trust me, one night stands with Romanian guys is not something I'd want to do. And my last bf couldn't keep it up, because life is ironic like that.

Thought so. Why do you talk about it so much then? Is it just for the attention?
Refer to the above. It's anyone's ideal to have more sex, or it should be, since sex is a natural, healthy activity that makes people [at least one of them] feel good afterward. So, yeah, I talk about it so much, in hope I'd somehow summon it.

Besides, the 'she'd get it 'we see in so many threads where women are mentioned is no different than me saying I'd fuck Ibrahimovic's brains out really, so quit applying double standards.

You don't like it when people say bad things about you. But do you appreciate that when you throw so much attention on yourself some of it will turn negative?
Well, it is the peril of attention seeking, but frankly, I've learned to stop caring so much over that what's said on a footie forum. And I don't think anyone likes people saying bad things about them, do you?

For instance some of the people here that mercilessly bully Scoot, etc, cannot even take a mild joke about them being chubby chasers.

I'm assuming a lot of the questions directed at you in this interview will be sexually motivated. What do you think that says about how you are percieved on here and do you like it?
I have taken the slag role upon myself and if I could start all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. What does annoy me is that everyone here seems to have such a high moral standard and is so easily offended by my overt sexuality. At least publicly.
It's not Quakers America, is it?

Sith or Jedi
I grew up impersonating Princess Leia [or rather “being” Leia'] so Jedi it is.

Why do you insist on giving girls a bad name by constantly displaying that sex appeal is your first trait when it comes to judging footballers for example?
Haha, when have I ever done that? Seriously, do you think I consider Yaya Toure world class and ahead of Mascherano cause I like his hammies?

I never judge footballers' skills based on their looks, and if I ever said omg let's buy X cause he's hot, I was most likely joking. But sarcasm doesn't travel well over the internet.

Ok, so basically I sometimes comment on how X Y Z looks like just to spice things up and I find it funny to see the reactions, just some light fun, because people should already know I'm just joking. For instance, it so happens that Gourcuff, who is a greatly talented footballer – I think anyone that ever saw him play would agree - and would fit nicely with us, is also drop dead gorgeous. Why should I ignore that?

Why can guys watch Female Tennis for some hottie, and even openly claim that's the only reason they bare to watch, and I can't express my opinion regarding a good looking footballer? Hmmmm???

But yeah, keep applying double standards.

Your favourite childhood memory?
Definitely the day I reenacted Star Wars Episode IV with my toys. I even built the X-wings battleships the Imperial fleet used from some sort of lego we had back then. I was six and I player Leia's role myself, since we didn't have barbie dolls in Romania yet. I think my fav soft toy animal, a human-like dog played Luke and an orange plastic bear was Han Solo.

If you could sign anyone for Barca who would it be?
Yoann Gourcuff. CAUSE HE'S SO HAWT!!!!!

Frankly, I'm most concerned about the defence. We have a packed midfield – even if Xavi's gonna turn 30 next year and Iniesta seems to have recovered rather badly from the injury – and we have a nice attack, because I believe Bojan is the future.
But the back 4 has been rather off this season. So I'll say Albiol, cause he deserves a nice team.

Why you so weird?
Because it's fun. I don't want to be average, I want to stand out.

Michael Jackson … A legend that will never die?
Never been a fan, but I think the music industry owes him a lot, so he was pretty much a legend while alive and now that he's dead, his flaws [aka the possible child molester persona] will be forgiven and he will live on through the music alone.

Who is your favourite poster on the forum and why?
These days, Hurley – cause he antagonizes me SO goddamn much, it's almost sexual.

If you could have an orgy with 5 guys from the forum, who would they be?
The Portuguese forum.

Do you still hate Yiddo and Ruudlover?
I don't hate them, I actually find it funny how they “consider themselves better” and hold the moral high ground when it comes to hot footballers........lol.

Truth is, they're both inferior to me, upbringing, education, culture, style, so I can just watch them bury themselves with their anti me tirades from my throne.

Benfica are scum, yet you lend them players. Why?
I'm not in charge of FCB, unfortunately, otherwise that sort of outrageous thing wouldn't happen. Besides, we lend them a crap player muahahahahah.

How long until I see you working as a hooker in Amsterdam like the rest of your peers?
Hold your horses big boy and stick to wanking over printouts of me, cause that won't ever happen.

How old do you have to be before you can say someone died of old age?
With the medical progress of today, I'd say over 90. My Grandma is turning 80 soon and I wouldn't say she's old.

What got you into watching football?
Ronaldo the original. I saw him in a Nike? ad in 1998 and thought he was cute. I decided I wanted to see more of him than 30 seconds randomly during the day, so I started watching football. Funny, but the only Brazil games I remember watching at that WC were the semifinal and the final. Besides Ronaldo and some others, I discovered the sport itself, and frankly, with both parents and grandpas crazy about it, it was just a matter of time until I became a fan as well.

So, we know that all gypsies are crooks, the question is are you innately born with these "skills" or is there some kind of village apprenticeship you have to go through?
OK. I could probably reply this in a funny way, humouring you. But I think A. stereotyping gypsies as thieves and crooks is really not helping their cause and it should probably stop.
And B. stereotyping all Romanians to be gypsies is just like saying that all English have bad teeth, all Americans are fat and stupid and all French cowards, etc etc.
I can take the gypsy banter, but I think it's overdone by now.

Why do you get so obsessed with footballers?
I get obsessed with a lot of things, but since this is a football forum, discussing footballers comes up a lot more, doesn't it?

Have you ever been abroad?
Yeah, it's my aim to get out of this country at least once a year. I've been to Lisbon, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Budapest and hopefully more to come soon

Why Barcelona?
I started off as a mere fangirl, and I think the fact that I'm willing to admit it should mean I have outgrown this. So, I had a huge crush on Kluivert and followed him and his career, even though the means were limited those days. And then he moved to stay to Barca and between 1999 and 2001, I turned into a proper fan, because, in my heart, the club simply got bigger than the player, to the point of being my favourite thing ever for a while.
To my good name, I never rooted for AC Milan.

Is there an EPL team you follow?
I like Liverpool, to this day, I consider them my second team, but I don't follow them anymore [as in watching games etc.] because I don't have the time really. I do want them to do well and I considered their victory over Milan scum a personal victory of mine

Is it really humid, or is your insane afro intentional?
Haha. I wouldn't call it intentional, but it's naturally curly and I can't be bothered nor want to straighten it. Are you saying it doesn't look good on me??

How do you feel about DP?
Despite some misunderstandings in the past, I think he's a nice guy, just drew some silly conclusions from my ironic speech. I get along with him - apart from all issues concerning Zlatan - and I hope he doesn't think I'm a stupid fangirl anymore.

Why do you have such a low self esteem?
I have tremendous high self esteem. I am vain as fvck and consider myself the greatest. However, I function on feedback, just like any entertainer. And not getting any, or getting negative feedback can get me down, for a while. Then I remember I am amazing or someone makes me laugh and it's all right in my world again.

If someone owns a piece of land, do they own it all the way to the centre of the earth?
Haha, no. The underground is actually state property and they can expropriate you if oil/gas etc is found. Or not. I cannot be bothered to check the law.

There’s negativity between you and Yiddo, why is this?
We're the titties alpha and omega .

OK, serious answer: I don't like her, and she doesn't like me, and quite frankly, if you cannot see the differences between us that lead to this mutual dislike, then you need to check your understanding levels.

What makes you so sure you are going to heaven?
I'm not so sure or sure at all, but this is because I don't see religion like this, with such definitive distinctions: bad guys, good guys, heaven, hell. First of all, it is a little simplistic to believe that all mankind eventually divides in good people, that will go to a place of eternal bliss and bad people, that will rot in the pits of damnation. Most people aren't all good nor all bad. Heck, everyone's mixed.

And second of all, the idea of living all your conscious life only for whatever might happen in the afterlife is a little depressing.

In short: I don't believe in heaven/hell, and I have the feeling this was an invention of the Church, to keep people in check. But seriously, thanks for the question, because it got me thinking and got me to conclude this, as these sort of things don't really come up in daily conversation.

Regarding the above, are you concerned that you may not make it?
Nope, cause there's nowhere to make it to. Life is what you live on earth. I have no concerns/inquisitions/fears over what happens after you croak.

Why are you such an attention seeker?
Because it's fun innit. Frankly, I don't see why this is a bad thing. Blending in is for sheep, and frankly, I don't want to be part of the herd. I'd rather stand out and if I have to act up for it, then I will.

What other sports do you like? Do you play any yourself?
I'm a calamity with sports, I can't even kick a ball, so nah. I think I could be good at something individual that requires a lot of discipline, but I never really tried anything.

I used to like basketball when I was in high school, mainly cause I got to see the school team's games and we were the best! I still like to watch high profile games, but I barely have time for football these days.

Same F1. Major Ferrari/Schumacher fan, and I used to be glued to the TV during his confrontations with Hakkinen. Ditto for Moto GP, but I just don't have time for anything. It's almost a miracle that I still try to watch other games than Barca's.

Do you believe in signs? And if you do, do you 'look' for them in order to decide on something in your life?
I do. It's not that I believe in the paranormal, but I think some things are more than just they appear to be. I also believe coincidences have more to them. But I don't “look” for them, they just seem to happen. But they do influence my life a lot, I guess – basically the last 2 years and a bit have been controlled by coincidences – helping me see things in a different perspective. Not necessarily the good perspective, and I often take silly, rash decision, but that is, after-all, who I am.

How do you deal with negativity/criticism?
I have a short fuse, so not well. Especially when [I feel] it's not warranted. But any feedback is better than none and I usually learn from it. On the spot though, I feel wronged and I can feel blood pulsating in my ears.

Do look forward to settling down with a hubby and maybe a bunch of kids etc?
Haha, yeah. Despite all the sexsexsex I seem to spout around, I am a one man's woman. And I can see myself with kids, it'd be great, I'd love a couple of kids.

However, the chances of that happening aren't high. In high school, I was predicted to divorce a few times, which seems likely, since the men I'd marry wouldn't be the man I need, and funnily enough, I don't want children out of wedlock.
I may end up alone with a dozen cats.

What forum member would you like to see return the most, if any?
Rob The Red, he was quite an awesome guy, nice sense of humour and I liked his thinking in certain matters. Also, he had that Imperial Trooper pelvic thrust MSN smilie....:which I lost. If anyone has it, please do not hesitate!

Would you ever like to move to another country? If so, where and why?
Yeah, Romania's a shithole that's not gonna fix itself...ever. Of all places, I'd love to move to Barcelona, mainly so I can be close to the team and maybe even see some games. But I guess that's any away Barca fan's dream.

I guess that seems like a very simplistic answer, but the food is excellent, the weather is nice, the people are cool, the city is beautiful and buzzing, I feel I'd fit in, somehow. Maybe one day, Barcachica and I can move there and live happily ever after.

Interview compiled by Lil Yiddo with questions submitted by members of Soccer 24-7.

Women's Soccer in the US becomes more bad ass by the day. Dana White Interested.

By: Celticrugby

Some of you may have heard about the New Mexico defender who employed MMA moves on her BYU opponents last week (if you haven't you have to fucking see this). Now, it seems its spread to the high school fields of Rhode Island.



When will the government act? We may need a federal bill passed to ensure the safety of our women players. Hope. Change. Can that stop brawls? Maybe a girl called Hope could, but the idea of Hope won't.

American(s) Abroad

USA vs. Costa Rica with the Motor City Supporters Club Part II

:30 – Jozy wins a corner to the cheers of the bar. Maybe he and not Donovan will be the first “world class” field player for the US. The jury is still out from a club perspective, but for the Nats he usually does the business.

3 – An early but easy test for Tim Howard to gather up.

4 – Sloppy ass defending from the US, what looks like some foreshadowing and the same type of play we saw against Honduras. Thankfully CR's shot dribbles slowly toward Howard for him to pick it up.

7 – It took seven minutes for the first massive dive from Costa Rica. Hopefully this won't become a theme like it does in many CONCACAF games. I think back to USA/El Salvador when their keeper fell to the ground and rolled around for 8 minutes when he wasn't hurt at all. Nice to see time wasting already beginning.

9 – Conor Casey misses a chance that I might have put away. I knew that Honduras game would lead him to be in this squad, and I was feckin' right. Everyone already begins to groan every time the ball comes near Casey. I am secretly debating whether I'd rather have him in there or Josh Wolff....that's how dire this situation is.

Also in the 9^th minute, all of the #9 signs go up in the crowd in remembrance of Davies who was involved in a life threatening accident. A few people at the Motor City Supporters club printed them out and they hold them up as well in his honor.

10 – Centeno of Costa Rica shoots from point blank range and Howard makes an amazing save. If there is one thing the US does on a world class level (other than have our FA fuck up) it's producing goalkeepers.

14 – Altidore receives a bullshit yellow card, when the Costa Rican player was the one who left his foot in the tackle. Here we go again....CONCACAF refs proving themselves to be worse than the SPL (which, if you don't know is shite).

15 – My full Irish breakfast is finished, and I'm on my second diet Coke now. The caffeine makes me yell louder every time Casey fucks up.

16 – We have a Honduran fan in our presence watching the match because if we win or draw, they qualify over Costa Rica in the Hexagonal stage with Costa Rica forced to take on the fifth placed South American team in a playoff. This leads to several conversations between US fans one being the following:

“Why don't you like Costa Rica more than Honduras?”

“Maybe its because Honduras doesn't throw bags of piss and batteries at our fans and players”.

“Good point”.

20 – Costa Rica's Ruiz scores on an Onyewu misplay where he was completely caught out. The atmosphere in the room goes from hopeful to dismal in a matter of seconds. Our best defense recently was in the Confederations cup with Gooch and DeMerit in the middle and Bocanegra on the left, but due to an eye injury DeMerit wasn't with the team and that goal might not have happened with him in the middle.

0-1 Costa Rica.

22 – The US plays a ball to fucking no one. Hundreds of miles away groans and swear words come from the crowd at Claddagh's Irish pub in Livonia, Michigan.

24 – Oh. My. God. Apparently Ruiz wants to have the game of his life tonight and he has an amazing strike that sails past Howard. No one could have saved that, a piece of world class finishing from the Ticos.

0-2 Costa Rica.

27 – A Donovan free kick on the side of the box is punched away by the Ticos' keeper. The US' best attacking move in some time is all for naught.

28 – A kid at a table near me orders the bangers in mash, which leads to several jokes...the quote of the night “I love sausage in my mouth, especially with white creamy mashed potatoes all over them”.

We're a mature bunch in Livonia. Still, this joke does not rival the penis looking sausage story from Frankenmuth during high school on a German Club field trip...now that one is a doozy.

I'll tell this story, since I'm sure we'll be flooded with emails asking about the German Club Frankenmuth Penis sausage story.

Senior year I was in the German club at my high school. It just so happens that there is an “all German town” called Frankenmuth (also home to the largest Christmas store in the world). They have an authentic German restaurant there known as Zender's. So our club takes a bus up there and we go into Zenders sit down and order food. Scott orders the sausage platter, while the rest of us stick to Zender's “world famous” chicken.

The sausage platter is soon delivered to Scott. On this platter are a variety of choice German sausages. However, as Jim soon points out one looks exactly like a penis and I mean, exactly like one. We all say to Scott “Dude, there is no way you are actually going to eat that are you?”

Scott replies “Of course I am!” to our disgust he takes his fork and cuts into the tip of the penis sausage and then....a massive amount of water and fluid burst from the tip of the sausage and spill all over the table. The force of the penis sausage's fluids were so strong it spun it around several times.

Needless to say, we were all cracking up, and the story is now at legendary status.

The worst part is he actually ate it after that. haha

30 – Costa Rica is now brimming with confidence, toying with their touches outside the US box.

32 – Donovan thinks he's playing gaelic football for Cork and sends a shot over the cross bar. I begin chanting “Sebo! Sebo! Sebo!”. Ach, if you don't support Celtic you may not get that one.

34 – Montero is booked for a challenge on Donovan and the crowd ironically cheers that the ref got one right.

35 – A Costa Rican player is “dying” in the ground. Not booked for feigning injury and time wasting. Which makes a member of the Motor City Supporters club to ask “Why don't they get booked?”.

36 – Donovan has a great passage of play, lifting the ball over the Costa Rican defender after Jozy flicked the ball to him, but Donovan skies the shot wide of the Costa Rican net. Fuck. Things aren't looking good here.

38 – As my third diet coke arrives I yell Conor Casey is a gumpy fuck as he messes up yet another play. Chatter around the bar agrees with me, and one person asks me what a “Gump” is. Why isn't Kenny Cooper playing? Argh.

41 – Jozy's fouled and the US gets a free kick at the top of the box. The shot is deflected and it goes out for a corner.

43 – The US' best chance of the match, but the forwards pass between each other too much and no one decides to be selfish and put one on net....another opportunity wasted.

45 – Another Costa Rican player rolls around in agony trying to stop the US momentum that had been building. This goes on for some time and eventually the added time at the half was about 3:35.

Half – Time to lick wounds and berate our favorite team's play. During this time the Argentina game is also going on, as a member of the club yells out “Maradona's cocaine for everyone!”.

A commercial for FIFA 10 comes out, once again reminding me that I won't get it and that Europe gets it two weeks earlier than us. Bullshit.

One of my favorite commercials rolls...the one with Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head. I love that one and I'm on my fourth diet coke.

2^nd half begins – People are mulling about now, and the room is now more crowded then when the game started. Some text back and forth with people at the game to try to get the “vibe” of how things are over there, as it doesn't always translate on TV.

49 – Holden flights a shitty cross that sails way over the Costa Rican net.

54 – The inevitable Kenny Cooper discussions begin, when will he get in, and why the fuck didn't he start in the first place. Bradley refuses to make subs at times, and its clear the US is stalling and something needs to change. Benny Feilhaber has dropped out of the match completely, its clear he too needs to go off.

55 – Another cross to the Costa Rican GK. Not going to win a game like this....

58 – More Gumpy jokes about Casey. Ugh. Why is he still in this match?

59 – A low Costa Rican shot from Ruiz is caught by Howard.

61 – Some deft defending from our captain to block a Costa Rican cross. The fans in the bar are getting restless, when will Bradley finally make a move.

62 – José Francisco Torres known as 'El Gringo' in the Mexican Leagues for choosing to play for the US over Mexico (Mexican father, American Mother but born in the United States) comes on for Benny Feilhaber. Who at this point should be called Failhaber.

65 – Bornstein shoots over the bar, and at this point it looks like some fans are trying to sneak out.

67 – Now this is interesting...Robbie “Runs like a chicken with his head cut off” Rogers comes on for Holden. No idea what Bradley is thinking with this one. The decision also seems to boggle the minds of others at the Claddagh Pub.

70 – Bush League defending again and the US are at 6's and 7's at the back.

72 – Rogers crosses the ball into the box, it falls to Donovan who shoots, has the ball parried away, and out of nowhere Michael Bradley slides in and scores a really scrappy goal. The bar erupts in cheers. Maybe our team does have something left.

USA 1, Costa Rica 2

73 – Rogers hits a shot that goes wide of the net.

75 – A lobbed cross is gathered in by the Ticos' keeper.

77 – Rogers heads wide. All hustle no finish.

78 – The old adage from FM comes into play as Gooch boots the ball into row Z.

79 – Kenny Cooper FINALLY comes on for Conor Casey. A standing ovation is in order.

80 – Jozy steals a ball from Costa Rica and rushes toward the goal but shoots it over the net. The tension is growing, and the groans are getting louder with every passing minute.

82 – Gooch's knee buckles going to head the ball out. This is not what we need right now, as he is forced to exit the game through injury, so now the US is down a goal, and now playing with 10 men.

86 – I have no idea what the hell is going on. The Costa Rican coach is going completely apeshit. Costa Rica is time wasting as if their lives depended on it (and they do). I hope the ref adds on a lot of time for all this crap.

89 - The Costa Rican manager and his #2 are forcibly ejected from the game after getting in heated arguments with the 4^th official and trying to time waste, leaving some random trainer as the stand in manager for the rest of the game.

90 – I think this trainer is the GK coach. I try to think back to when I've seen the manager and his #2 ejected in the same match and I can't. All my examples keep coming up in the sport of baseball.

There is 5 minutes of added time.

94 – Not much is happening, but the the US is pressing and putting in some great tackles, while Costa Rica flops and time wastes.

94:30 – Corner kick for the US. Rogers takes it and swings it in...Bornstein gets space enough to get his head on the ball and put it into the goal. Everyone at the pub is on their feet screaming, yelling, hugging and high fiving. What a fucking comeback.

USA 2, Costa Rica 2

95 – The whistle blows,and fireworks light up the night sky in DC. What a finish.

Final thoughts – The US shouldn't have been in this position to begin with. It's been Bradley's tactical ineptitude and poor play that put us here. This game should have been a win, not a come from behind draw like we had in El Salvador in beginning of the Hexagonal qualifying.

These are band-aids that are hiding the real problems. If the US keeps going this way, I fear for how we will do at the World Cup in 2010. Then throw in the fact Davies is out for 2010, and Oguchi Onyewu is out for 6-10 months with a knee injury.

The tests against Slovakia and Denmark might tell us something, or nothing at all. We shall see.

At least we qualified #1 in the Hexagonal stage, although supposedly it won't matter in terms of WC seeding.

The Interview: Tic Tac Addict

---

Tell us a bit about yourself …

I’m 24 and live in Surrey.

I support Arsenal and work as a Recruitment Consultant in the engineering industry.
I play 5 a-side football (for the mighty ‘Phantom of the Chopra’) in defense with a knack of scoring goals and am an all round good guy.

As well as football, I enjoy playing darts, pool and Badminton (various amounts of each) and like drinking/watching football and regularly do both.

I also like cooking and playing on the x-box in my spare time.

What’s your highest qualification?
A-Levels. English Literature and Business Studies (I got a U in Psychology AS levels if that means anything?)

Why TicTacAddict? Do you like them THAT much?

You should never take anything I say literally.

No, I am not addicted to Tic Tacs and do not shake if I haven’t had one for a while, constantly wondering where my next Tic Tac is coming from.

But, I do like them. I don’t know why. I was a pack a day person at one point, although I’ve cut down recently, would now last me a couple of days.

Normally get a pack of four, keep three in the office and take one to the car so I nearly always have some on me.

I can’t tell you when it started, or why, but they do say humans are creature of habit and for me that habit is Tic Tacs.

Usually not in the morning (well, one when I get in the car), but then after lunch to home I munch away (only one at a time though, never two or more like some uneducated people do)

LSOE. Racist or misunderstood?

I’m not sure, but he certainly wants to present himself as one.
Is he actually? Who knows.

I get the strong impression that LSOE just wants to be controversial, and it doesn’t matter what that means.

If the Nazi’s were in power, he’d be a Communist. If the Communists were in power, he’d be a Nazi.

My U in AS Psychology tells me that he had bad parents as a child and the only way he could get attention was by acting up. This is what he is doing now, acting up for attention. Only he isn’t clever enough to do it, so he has to steal from LittleJohn, his father who never was.

What's you favourite non alcoholic and alcoholic drink?
Alcoholic: Baileys coffee. You couldn’t obviously drink them one after the other in a pub. But I LOVE that drink. Honestly, if you haven’t tried it, you haven’t lived.

Non Alcoholic: Tea. Don’t really drink coke etc so has to be tea. Gets me through the days! I know what you’re thinking, awfully English of me.

Who do you hate more? Spurs or Chelsea?
Spurs, no two ways about it.

I actually quite liked Chelsea and some of their players when I was going up (the likes of Zola and Wise) and this was due to a lot of my family being Chelsea (a divide in the family…).
But NO ONE is a Yid.

Every team needs that one team that they can’t stand, it’s healthy for the game and makes great entertainment for the neutral.
What’s your favourite tic tacs? mint or the multi coloreds?
Mint

If you are asked to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth and your the main witness, what happens if you say "no"?

You wouldn’t say no though, would you?

One of those examples where you either would and so you would say yes or you are a liar and you would say yes as a result...

Nobody would admit that they are about to lie and then lie, unless they are a very bad liar.

Do you like cheesy Wotsits?
No, I don’t like Cheesy Wotsits.
I don’t eat crisps of any kind now, but when I did I never liked Cheesy Wotsits anyway.
Although, I have a funny feeling you weren’t talking about the actual crisps…

Does Jere spout the biggest amount of crap ever in the Arsenal forum or what?

Ha ha everyone is entitled to their opinion, and some I agree with and some I don’t. I have to say, Jere I don’t often (if ever)…but if you agreed with everyone there would be no need for Forum!
New Thread: I think this
Everyone else: I agree!

How boring would that be?!

Why do you think you know everything?

It’s a gift…

That’s half a question and half a statement.
I don’t think I know everything. Far from it.

Are you easily offended or do you see yourself as quite a laid back person who can have a laugh and a joke?

I’m quite laid back.

I’m no hippie, but if someone says something about me I take it in good humour. I don’t often get offended but like all people do have my own ‘pressure button’.

But…its not really a question you can answer yourself. I always think those type of questions are best answered by those who know you. So…do you think I am quite laid back person who can have a laugh and a joke?

You say you don't believe in God. Have you ever thought about becoming a Muslim?
No

But seriously. If you don't believe in God, that means you don't think anyone will judge you, which means you can do all sort of evil things because you don't think you're going to hell. How do you handle this? Do you have any morals?

People judge me all the time. My work colleagues, my friends, my family…so that’s a ridiculous statement to make. In fact, I’m judging you (I’m assuming Calean?) for making that very statement.

I don’t think I’m going to hell, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have morals. I do have morals, I like to think very strong morals so I have nothing at all to ‘handle’.

Because I don’t believe in God, I don’t spend my days plotting to take over the world.
Christians annoy me. They are very self-righteous, more so than any other religion I would say (certainly in my experience). How many times have you heard ‘I wouldn’t do that, I’m a Christian’ as if that’s some sort of defense? Often said by people who HAVE just done that.
Christians think they are better than anyone else, and anyone who isn’t a Christian is missing out on something…hence the Holy Crusades.

This isn’t all of them, and I’ve met some very nice ones with quite open views, but a lot of them preach about other religions and the non religious with some sort of ‘I am mightier than you’ view that instantly makes a mockery of their own preaching. And they can’t see it.
Example of a Good religious person: Puerco
Example of a Bad Religious person: Calean


Would you like to be a mod here?
No way. I’m not on here enough to be a good mod, plus some of the crap those guys get...not my cup of tea. I wouldn’t have the patience for it, fair play to those that do, because with me as Mod I think the forum would go down quicker than a recently blown on Drogba.

Craziest 24-7 member?
Who’s that guy who doesn’t say much at all, but every now and again pops up with some random crap? I can’t remember his name, will let you know when I next see him.

Who is your least favourite user of all time... got to be Geeman?
LSOE. This guy posts LittleJohn crap and tries to pass it off on his own. It wouldn’t be so bad if he posted it and said ‘this is what I think’. But he doesn’t, he posts it and says ‘this guy is really spot on’ and then goes about sucking him off. He then tries to say the most controversial thing to get a rise out of people.

I often stay away from him and rarely go into any of his threads. Every now and again I snap though, but try to just say something quick and sarcastic rather than get into an argument because at the end of the day, you can’t win an argument against someone who doesn’t have any views to call his own. He’s just a middle man between me and LittleJohn.

Who is more evil, Stalin or Thatcher?
Thatcher. The bitch stole my milk.
To be fair Stalin never did anything to me. I always judge people on their actions towards me, not others.
Championship football, who would be your chosen team and why?
I don’t really have any preferences in the Championship.
Further down it would be Brentford, my best mate played for their reserve team and a lot of my drinking days have been held surrounded by Brentford supporters.
If I was pushed for the Championship I would say Ipswich just because of that year they came up when they finished 5th (I think) and had some really good players. A lot of whom stayed in the Premier League when they went down.
How many fingers am I holding up?
Holding up where?

You're not funny. Discuss
I very possibly am not. It really depends on the point of view on the questioner.
I have a sense of humor that some people really quite like, but a lot of people really do not. So you’re obviously the person that doesn’t, and that’s fine by me.
People think I tell jokes to make other people laugh, and I don’t, it’s just an added bonus if they do. I tell jokes because it makes me laugh, and in particular the reactions of others when I tell particularly dry/dark ones.

If you were to recommend a comedy TV programme to us all, what would it be?
Probably the first few series of Peep Show.

If you owned an invisible pig what would you call him?
‘Tottenham finishing in the top four this season’.
It’s a long name, I’d probably just shorten it to ‘Lol’, and my reason being you can’t see either of those things, can you?

The world is going to hell in a hand basket, so if you were like the ruler of the world, what would you do to stop it?
I can honestly say I’ve never been asked that before.
What would I do? Erm…I’m not sure. What could I do to stop it?
I’m not sure how the physics of this world works

Best up and coming player at Arsenal?
So many to chose from, but Wilshere looks different gravy. Can’t wait for him to get a little older.

2012...scary stuff eh
I’m crapping myself at the very possibility.

Sith or Jedi?
Is that a Star Trek thing? I’m one of those people that have never watched it. Not much of a film fan, especially science fiction.

Do you fancy yourselves to win the Champions League?
I think we can, especially if we continue playing the way we have started. But there are so many teams that can win it…who knows, a bit of skill and a lot of luck and anything can happen. Until you are out, you always have to believe your team can win it, or how can they?
I really think its why Liverpool have over achieved in that competition recently. To win it after being three goals down at half time? Possibly the best game of football I’ve ever watched, and the players were able to do it because the fans never gave up on them and drove them forward.
I really do think that Arsenal, with one of the greatest first 11 in the world at the moment, are let down big time by their 12th man. We need to get behind the team and not boo or gasp so much in the stadium.

Do you still think that we're interested in your misfortunes with ladies? By the way, what happened with that fat one you disliked but would do anyway?

Some were, as you obviously are too….

I posted something different and I though amusing, some agreed and some didn’t. But would I do it again? Always!

Anyway, that girl? Nothing happened, we met again and then she became crazy(ier) and so I ignored her.

The standard boy meets fat girl, fat girl falls in love with boy, boy thinks about ******* her, fat girl becomes crazy, boy runs away story.

If you could take one player from Spurs, who would it be and why?
I wouldn’t. I seriously wouldn’t.

If they could stay fit I would have taken King or Woodgate. Both quality, quality defenders. But they can’t stay fit and King is really just a cripple (he makes Scoot look lazy. Scoot…look at King and you really have no excuses)

Do you actually watch football?
Yes, constantly. Almost any premiership game that is on, and even a lot of lower leagues. Don’t watch many European games which is why I shy away from conversations involving European teams or players. But within England? Yeah, lots.

Why not try and be original instead of hanging on to bambers pubes?
Bambers pubes must be made out of steel nylon!

I am always trying to be original. I’ve never copied anything Bamber has said so I have no worries there. If we are both similar people, which I don’t think we are I just think we have a similar sense of humour, but if we are similar people then so be it.

Do you like being called ticktock?
Yes, but only when you call me it. It makes me feel special.

The Inbetweeners, discuss.
I watched the first series for the first time last weekend funnily enough.
I thought it was very funny…anyone with an immature sense of humour and who doesn’t take things too literally then watch this as it is funny.
Its like Peep Show for teenagers (that adults can also like)

Rangers and Celtic...any preference.....if so why?
Rangers of course.
Step dad is rangers, his family is rangers, my best friend is rangers and I know the words to the national anthem.
So really, it has to be rangers!

What was the name of your high school?
Glyn Technology School

Why are you still a virgin?
I never knew a priest as a kid

Will you be watching the “David vs. Goliath” fight at the weekend or is boxing not your thing?
Not really my thing.

Least favourite sport and why?
Cricket. Don’t mind playing it, but watching? My god…any sport that can last for four days and still end a draw isn’t a sport for me.

Who will win the A) Premier League, B) FA Cup, C) Carling Cup?
I’d like to say Arsenal to all, and I firmly believe that we will be there or there abouts with all of them…but if I was to use my head I would say:

Premier League: Chelsea (so strong and experienced)
FA Cup: Liverpool (might have nothing else to go for so will give it all in this competition)
Carling Cup: Man City (they really want to win something with their investment and this might be it. I do believe they will beat our kids because they are at home and I can imagine will play with a strong team)

Your five favourite members are ...
In no particular order they probably are:
Manic Loopy
Fredo
Leeman
McVince (as I always read it anyway)
Leeman

Interview compiled by Lil Yiddo with questions submitted by members of Soccer 24-7.