Soccer 24-7 Blog

2010-11-05T13:08:00.002-04:00

And...the NY/NJ Sellouts are out of MLS Cup

2010-10-07T14:27:00.001-04:00

Insanely Brilliant Goal scored in Northern Ireland

Get in.

Sven on Tour

2010-10-04T18:21:00.002-04:00

Will Sven go anywhere? I think the answer must be yes.

At his peak when he got the England job, I think it would be hard to imagine quite the past 2 years of this formerly highly sought after manager.

Svens previous track record spoke for itself, highly successful in Sweden, Portugal and Italy, he is almost a pastiche of himself now. Leicester City, for all their good points are not a big club. Yes they have won minor trophies in the last 20 years and they were a semi permanent fixture in the top flight. But that was the 90's. Leicester spent time in league One not long ago, and they have Steve Howard for a striker. This is not the stuff of big clubs. So now they have Sven.

This is a man who was at Notts County last season. In one of the weirdest deals of all time. In fact had it not been for his spell at County this move to Leicester, the third biggest team in the East Midlands, may have raised eyebrows. Now its more just humourous comments in blogs and tweets. He is yesterdays man desperate to prove he can do well.

Now an extra facet to consider in this move is Milan Mandaric. hardly a man known for sticking by his managers, as Paolo Sousa can now testify. Mandaric is always quick to get rid of someone he deems not good enough. Now bare in mind Sven in his last few jobs generally hasn't lasted long. Mexico wasn't his finest hour, and Ivory Coast disappointed in South Africa this summer. A Leicester team that is struggling is hardly going to change this track record. He can't get anyone in till January on a permanent basis, if there is money there from the new Thai owners. And there is the final connection, Thailand consortium owns the club, they get in Eriksson, as did Thasksin Shinawatra in his spell at Manchester City. This is a link I have now heard a few sources speculate on. And maybe now Svens arrival confirms this.

It is almost certain that come the end of the year if Sven made it then that I think they will part company sooner rather than later. Sven doesn't have longevity in a job now, Leicester sack managers like its some kind of weird fashion. This is not a marraige made in heaven

2010-10-04T13:27:00.027-04:00

History Repeats itself: The State of US Soccer in 2010 before the Fall Friendlies

We're baaaaaaaccccckkkkk.

Fall (or autumn if you prefer you silly Brits) is finally here and with it comes nicer weather for me because 100F weather in Detroit isn't really my cup of tea but more importantly it brings a slew of US soccer friendlies.

USA fans are on the edge of their seats as the team who despite horrible tactical decisions that almost lost them every game at the World Cup in 2010 and saw them go out prematurely to Ghana is ready to get back into action against two teams who frankly, at home they should beat.

Every US fan is ready to see their new manage....

With the new look tea...

With interesting oppone...

Ok, with the same old shit except Jermaine Jones might actually play this time.

American soccer, mainly Sunil Gulati, or as I lovingly call him Gooflati has yet again lost the plot.

There is a famous phrase that's used that I think Gooflati doesn't really get.

The phrase of course is "history repeats itself".

Now, this phrase as you well know is used in a negative way, not a positive way. When this phrase is used, it's to say you should look at the historical record, see how things went wrong and try to avoid them in the future.

Unfortunately for us Gooflati I believe feels that he has to adhere to this old adage because clearly qualifying for the World Cup and then fucking up constantly is what a country who is primed for success should be doing.

Gooflati lecturing on how to ruin teams

There is a cognitive disconnect here. This is a man who has made bad decision after bad decision and yet gets unanimously voted in again as head of soccer in the US? It seems its the one job in the country where you can have a bad performance and still get re-hired.

He started out with ruining a successful Metrostars (for you new soccer fans, that's the team that NY/NJ had before they sold out to Redbull, alienated their fan base, spit in the face of New Jersey etc etc and became the NY Sellouts).

New York you'll be surprised to know was actually drawing in large crowds and was being run fairly well until this muppet came in and made them the running joke in the league.

Then after that disaster he took over the US national team, which is what runs US soccer in this country. Interest lives and dies with the national team.

The reason for ESPN picking up soccer on a more regular basis was not the MLS, it was the success of the national team who finally got its act together when they had to host the World Cup in 1994.

The goal then became qualifying for the World Cup, which at that time made sense since the groundwork of producing a consistent national team was at the forefront.

Fast forward years later when the US has had some decent World Cup runs (2002, 2010), has most of its premier players playing in Europe, and has a league to develop its younger talents and you think the goal would change.

However, Gooflati was quoted as saying "Our goal is to qualify for the WC" (this was in the lead up to 2010).

So....the goal is the exact same as it was in 1990? In 20 years the goal is the same despite the US qualifying for the WC easily every time since they took the modern sport seriously, won the CONCACAF major tournament the Gold Cup 4 times (as many as Mexico in the same time period) and was the runner up 3 times.

When US soccer took the competition seriously it took 4th in the Copa America, the premier Conmebol competition (Yeah, Brazil, Argentina their feckin conference), which Gooflati completely disrespected that entire federation by sending a horrible team in 2007 after turning down bids from them from 1996-2006. Our squad was then summarily embarrassed, and our country being embarrassed apparently means nothing to Gooflati as he was the one who made sure the a USA C team went up against the best teams in South America.

Frankly stated, but the US and Mexico should qualify for the World Cup every single go around. It sounds arrogant, but if you look at the numbers in a book like Soccernomics something that on paper is easily found out using statistics.

CONCACAF is improving, there are tough games and most of the other teams in the region are improving every year, but with their resources, neither team should fail to qualify for a tournament unless severe investment is made in the Caribbean and Central America, something that I don't see happening.

Yet, this is the goal?

How shortsighted is that?

I think my goal is to breathe today. That's essentially the bar Gooflati is putting up. An easy hurdle so he and the US soccer good ole boy network can give themselves a pat on the back for.

Wake the fuck up. This isn't Guadeloupe, this isn't Jamaica, this is the "sleeping giant" waiting to be awakened.

Instead of moving forward, Gooflati feeds US soccer its share of sleeping pills with his bad decisions, his refusal for change in order to improve, and the fact he will only take on managers who are essentially "Yes Men".

A Celtic commentator and member of the Lisbon Lions Jim Craig once said that really the shelf life for a manager should be a maximum of four years, unless they are one of those once in a lifetime sort of guys like Jock Stein, Sir Alex Ferguson, Shankly and the like.

Is Bob Bradley that? Is Bruce Arena that?

No.

There is no doubt Arena did a rather superb job with the team in 2002, a German handball away from perhaps going to the Semifinals, where the US hasn't been since the World Cup started in 1930.

He brought in 40 new players into the US squad pool, which no one had done up to that time.

One could see how he got an extension to his deal, he did everything Gooflati and US soccer wanted. He put the MLS over the National team at times for friendlies. He did the throwaway friendlies playing crap MLS players so teams could say they had an "international" player even though they had no chance of being in the actual squad.

Arena then found himself like so many managers do finding himself tied to his favorites, unwilling to let go and cap new players like he did in the lead up to 2002 and what happened?

The US with some bad play, bad calls and horrific tactics went out in 2006. Ironically to Ghana who put the US to the sword in 2010.

Now, for probably the first time the country seemed deeply interested in a WC not on its shores, as ESPN had record ratings for the 2006 World Cup (even better ones for 2010) and after the tournament it was clear that Arena was done, and the man next in line was Jurgen Klinsmann, a man who using his knowledge he gained from American training techniques completely revamped Germany and almost took them to the final.

Here was a guy who was technically a "foreign" manager, but who with his links with the Galaxy and the fact he lives in the US has knowledge on American soccer. He was as many would say the perfect fit.

However, despite brief press pressure, Gooflati refused to sign Klinsmann because he wanted control to completely revamp (read: for the better) US soccer so it could compete at a higher level.

Gooflati, whose power was now on the line turned him down so he could keep his good ole boy system intact.

Now, in most countries, this wouldn't have happened because the press and fan pressure would have been too much to see the head of a federation turn down this opportunity.

So instead he hired a Bruce Arena clone in Bob Bradley, who in every way is Bruce Arena minus the fact he isn't a self centered asshole.

Now, in 2006 I wanted Bob to be the #2 (perhaps lead the team in 2010 depending on what Klinsmann did).

Instead he got the top job, because it was the best post he could get and he agreed to do whatever Gooflati said.

He did EXACTLY what Arena did (see he is a clone here....) when he was first called into action by calling up if I remember right 50 new players into the US system, but then found his favorites who he continually plays, does the MLS friendlies to hype up their players, which is not the job of a national team manager.

His crowning achievement was the 2009 Confederations Cup where the US lost to Brazil 3-2 in the final. Many point to Bradley's tactics as being why the team lost, despite being up 2-0 at half time.

It was a sign of things to come.

In 2010, the US got out of the group on top, despite Bradley's best efforts to make sure the tactics were horrible enough to lose each game, and then his inexperience showed against Ghana, a team that the US could have gotten past had his moves not been simply put, retarded.

Gooflati again sticking to his adage "history repeats itself" has brief talks with Klinsmann, on which they again don't agree on anything in writing and he then re-hires Bradley without looking for any other managers. He looked at two candidates, just like 2006 all over again.

Needless to say 2014 looks bleak. Bradley. Gooflati. Same old same old. Maybe buying this T-shirt will help me feel better about myself and my country's team....

...because right now there is nothing to look forward to.

Here is the squad for the two games next week:

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton).

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Saint-Etienne), Steve Cherundolo (Hanover), Clarence Goodson (Start), Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham).

Midfielders: Alejandro Bedoya (Orebro), Michael Bradley (Moenchengladbach), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Brek Shea (FC Dallas).

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Eddie Johnson (Fulham).

As you can see, at least it isn't a shite MLS filled squad, but most of the country's best players.

I love how Parkhurst was the best MLS defender for some time, and only gave away something like 5 fouls in a few seasons (which is unheard of in any league), and hardly got a call up, moved and then never got a call up.

Honestly, had he gone with the Republic of Ireland, he might have already been in their set up.

JJ needs to get in, that's really what I'm looking forward to. Shame I couldn't be at this one as I always go to the games in Chicago, but it's my official boycott match as I hate the direction this team is going.

Match info:

10/9 - USA vs. Poland - 8pm EST on Fox Soccer Channel and Galavision
10/12 - USA vs. Colombia - 8pm EST on ESPN 2 and Galavision

Don't Tread on This.

Article by Celticrugby.

Funniest Penalty Ever?

2010-09-11T15:30:00.003-04:00

This penalty is brilliant. The keeper saves it and walks away with a job done,, but where's the ball going?

What if Yugoslavia Never Broke Up?

2010-09-08T16:44:00.004-04:00

To those of you who follow the forum you may have seen a debate whereby we have been looking at whether Yugoslavia might have been a greater force in world football had the nation not fragmented in the early part of the 90’s.
1998 saw Croatia reach the last 4. Arguably a wonderful achievement for a nation of 4 and half million people. Croatia now it ha s matured somewhat on the football stage and are known for the ability more than their at the time funny appearance in chequered shirts.
If you add in Serbia, or more to the point Yugoslavia at that time, which was largely, Yugoslavia and Montenegro, to that equation who had a decent enough team to qualify for the World Cup and make it to the second round before being finished off by the Dutch

If you look at the Croat squad for that world cup
1 GK Dražen Ladić
2 FW Petar Krpan
3 MF Anthony Šerić
4 DF Igor Štimac(
5 DF Goran Jurić
6 DF Slaven Bilić
7 MF Aljoša Asanović
8 MF Robert Prosinečki
9 FW Davor Šuker
10 MF Zvonimir Boban
11 MF Silvio Marić
12 GK Marijan Mrmić
13 MF Mario Stanić
14 DF Zvonimir Soldo
15 DF Igor Tudor
16 FW Ardian Kozniku
17 MF Robert Jarni
18 DF Zoran Mamić
19 FW Goran Vlaović
20 DF Dario Šimić
21 MF Krunoslav Jurčić
22 GK Vladimir Vasilj

In that are some of the top names of the late 90’s. Robert Prosinecki was a prestigious talent. Suker and Boban were in their peak in Serie A.
The squad in its core was excellent, Some of the squad players however were not exactly at top clubs. If you added the Serbian squad to this, or at least replace some of the Croat squad with some of the Yugoslavians..
1 GK Ivica Kralj
2 DF Zoran Mirković
3 DF Goran Đorović
4 DF Slaviša Jokanović
5 DF Miroslav Đukić
6 DF Branko Brnović
7 MF Vladimir Jugović
8 MF Dejan Savićević
9 FW Predrag Mijatović
10 MF Dragan Stojković
11 DF Siniša Mihajlović
12 GK Dragoje Leković
13 DF Slobodan Komljenović
14 DF Niša Saveljić
15 MF Ljubinko Drulović
16 MF Željko Petrović
17 FW Savo Milošević
18 MF Dejan Govedarica
19 MF Miroslav Stević
20 FW Dejan Stanković
21 FW Perica Ognjenović
22 FW Darko Kovačević

There is enough talent in there to be melded together with the Croatians to form a very formidable side. Dragan Stojkovic was a wonderful player, but he and Prosinecki probably couldn’t be in the same side. Savicevic, Mijatovic and Mihajlovic would all be able to grace most of the other world cup squads for certain, then there are younger players who went on to become wonderful players too

All this looks fairly solid as a squad before you even remember Slovenia and Bosnia also had teams that didn’t make the World Cup but still had wonderful players. Zlatko Zahovic would light up the European Championships 2 years ater, and he is also a player who could well have featured here. Another in the mould of Stojkovic, he may not have fitted in well with a number of prestige players as it as it, but it underlines the strength in depth the Yugoslavians could have enjoyed. Add in the Bosnians Hasan Salihamidzic and Elvir Bolic and there could have been even more class in that squad.

And then there is what they could have now.
Croatia may have not made the World Cup and Serbia may have been mediocre there too, but amongst Slovenia and Bosnia they have some of the World's top players.
The Croatians Modric, Kranjcar, Rakitic, Pranjic, Olic and Eduardo. The striking talents of Dzeko from Bosnia, with defensive strength from the Serbians in the guise of the likes of Vidic.

Indeed on the forum debate it was suggested that this team might be up there with the very best

-------Handanovic
Srna Ivanovic Vidic Kolarov

--Kuzmanovic Stankovic
---Krasic Modric Jovetic
---------Dzeko

This is all however complete conjecture. We will never know, but that’s the beauty of footballing debates.

Join the debate on the following link (link may have to be copied and pasted)

http://www.soccer24-7.com/forum/showthread.php?t=182443

Pre Seasons are So Dull

2010-07-31T12:37:00.004-04:00

OK, so I have had 2 and a half months now of no domestic football. The new season is a mere week away, and I sit here on a Saturday bored rigid.
Yes the World cup was a nice distraction for a month, even if some of the football left a lot to be desired, but now my real passion is back, my team, Nottingham Forest.
So why do I have this feeling of apathy? Forest have done nothing this pre season. We havn't signed anybody, or it sems come close to signing anybody. So in what should be an exciting period, I just feel like its going to be a season of mediocrity. We have only let two players go and neither of them were exactly first teamers. Yet there is a feeling of dread coming up really. That this season isn't the one, it isn't going to be exciting, and that it's merely a case of going through the motions.
And its the same with all the teams. Maybe, its the economy, but it just doesn't seem like an exciting pre season. Maybe I am getting old.
In the past I'd be excitied at all the new football kits being relaeased and seeing which ones were good and which ones were horrific. The 90's were a superb time for this, as there really was a time of releasing horrendous shirts.You'd laugh at some monstrosity of an away shirt someone had been given, and then pleased that some designer somewhere had made a shirt that ok for your own. Now everyone seems to be adopting a more reserved manner. Kit's are largely more classical and hardlybreak from the basic templates. There's always someone though who comes up with something horrible.
Then there are the adverts. Well I haven't seen much advertising heralding the oncoming season. There was a time it was everywhere. It's almost as if this season is going to sneak up and surprise us all. There used to big brash adverts, but now it merely seems like people think if you don't know August means a new season you aren't worth talking to.
And even on the forum, (yes the forum for which this blog serves, http://www.soccer24-7.com/forum) that not much is happening.
Perhaps its we're all jaded after a world cup. It'd only been 2-3 weeks now since all that ended, so it's not like we've had a barren summer where the return is wlecomed in like in an odd numbered year.

Lets just hope this apathy goes away and is replaced with unbridalled joy.

Cheering on the the Underdog in the World Cup

2010-05-23T18:54:00.002-04:00

Maybe it’s because I am English, maybe it’s because I am a Forest fan but I always find myself drawn to the underdogs in the World Cup, and this year will be no different.

I honestly think some of the best World Cup stories come from the no-marks who go on to succeed against all odds. There is almost always a fairytale story somewhere in the World Cup.

This weird desire for some country I might never even visit let alone have any particular affinity for other than in this month long period of time gives the World Cup a new guise for me. I think in part created from me being an impressionable 9 year old during World Cup 1990. I remember telling my friends I thought Cameroon would at least draw with the World Champions Argentina. Never mind getting to the Quarter Finals where a slight confused part of me kind of wanted the Indomitable Lions lead by Roger Milla of corner circle hip wiggling fame, to actually put us out.

1994 passed me by. A lot of games being on too late for me to watch though I do remember being woken up about the Dutch impending doom against, and my memory might be wrong, Saudi Arabia? Even so, I did enjoy the dour Bulgarians putting out the Germans

1998 was the first World Cup I made a solemn promise to watch all the games, I missed a boring 0-0 involving Paraguay and someone else because of I had an exam that day. This was the year I had bought a Nigeria shirt, I liked the shirt and they had a good growing reputation after the 1996 Atlanta Olympics win. They put in a good account of themselves, again reaching the knock out stages.

2002. The best year of the under dog. Senegal and their defeat of France. South Korea and the somewhat suspect run to the semi finals. And the fact pre tournament I was talking (although somewhat drunkenly) to a Turkish guy in one of the kebab houses of the student ghetto of Liverpool where I lived at the time that I thought Turkey might do well. I also said Ronaldo would be top goal scorer. I wish I were a betting man at that time.

2006 to me wasn’t a great underdog year. Yeah the Germans had no expectations and did well, but none of them set the world alight really to me. I cheered for the Australians because I have spent a lot of time there. Apart from that no-one took my fancy

This year and the ultimate underdog for me. North Korea. Partly out of fear that if they fail badly at the World Cup that they might well all get assassinated by Kim Jong-Il in a purge of failed footballers. The fact there is doubt it being broadcast there unless they win, coupled with nobody knowing anything about them, and attracts me to their cause. Long gone are the days where the sticker albums were filled with vague comments about players knew nobody knew much about, the globalisation of the game has changed that, but for the North Koreans. I also will have a vague soft spot for the Aussies again and maybe New Zealand.

All in all I hope this is a good underdog year again, these make the events more memorable. Like with other sporting underdogs succeeding, it always attracts the attention. Not like Eddie Edwards, or Eric the Eel, but underdogs actually succeeding

2010-05-23T18:33:00.000-04:00

MLS clubs should give a damn about CONCACAF Champions' League

by Max Power

It doesn't pay to win, but that's not why we play.

It's often been said that clubs from Major League Soccer don't put enough effort into external competitions such as the US Open Cup or the CONCACAF Champions' League. But they should care about a fledging competition, because the MLS was once, and to some extend still is, a fledging competition. Therefore, they should give a damn.

We all know why these competitions are played...for money, and to a lesser extent...for pride. But, I think the MLS and the United States Soccer Foundation should look at it from another angle, playing against our regional competition will help our national product tenfold. If we look at the European model, those teams are playing against the best competition available. Instead of playing a defensive Stoke or Wolverhampton, they are playing an explosive Barcelona or tactically smart Inter Milan. In the same light, MLS club would be playing against skillful Mexican clubs and physically tough and emotionally draining Saprissa.

Case in point, the Puerto Rico Islanders play in (at the time of competition) the USL first division. They fared well in their respective league, but they were a revelation when they played the top teams of the region. They eventually lost in the semi final but went on to play in USL final against Vancouver. It was a test of skill, depth and mettle of the club and they past the test with flying colors.

I have full faith in the MLS. Since the birth of the league, and my personal love for the game has grown, the league has been been growing. Even a decade ago, the league was on life support and a couple of the teams had to be folded; but as Forbes Magazine reports, 3 of the 16 clubs operated with a profit. However, this is all changing. As the fan base grows for each team, the clubs are moving into smaller, soccer specific stadia which relieve the team's balance book of expensive rent. They now own property outside of markets that are growing. I believe within 5 years, the number of clubs operating in the black will double, if not triple.

If the MLS teams are able to field competitive squads in CONCACAF Champions' League, they may be able to beat their Mexican counter parts, who have up until now, dominated the competition and went on to play in the FIFA Club World Cup. I'm not saying our boys will be able to beat the FC Barcelona or Boca Junior clubs of UEFA or CONMEBOL Libertadores, but the prize money is available. Even if they finish last, they still stand to earn $500,000.

But, today my argument is not about the financial benefit of participating in these competitions, but the sheer experience of playing against the best competition of our region and perhaps the best competition in the world. The subsequent money will roll in with increased interest in the league. People in England, Germany and Russia will be interested in where all these American players are coming from and how they're able to beat a strong Spanish team in a Confederations Cup or why their next defensive prospect is currently playing for a Real Salt Lake or Chicago Fire. If we can improve our game, the product will produce the results and that will produce the money to go out and do it again next year.

2010-05-21T13:29:00.001-04:00

Write the Future

2010-05-14T00:02:00.002-04:00

Playoffs: Agony/Ecstasy

They say the best way to go up is via the playoffs. The feeling of euphoria of navigating these most tricky of matches and the success of an on the day success makes it a day like no other.

As a Nottingham Forest fan I think it is something I am starting to doubt we will ever experience.

Three times now we have qualified to the playoffs and three times we have failed in the semi finals. A strange aura of acceptance seemed to emanate from City Ground last night.

Like we all sort of expected to be defeated, despite having a wonderful home record, finishing above Blackpool in the league and arguably having the better team on paper.

This, the wonderful unpredictable nature of Football though. A team who have a wonderful home defensive record (indeed 12 hours without conceding a goal) and we go and concede 4, and I won’t take anything away from Blackpool, they deserve to be going to Wembley.

It’s been a day now; it still doesn’t make the bitter pill easier to swallow. I saw the goals earlier, and it remained difficult to watch. When we lost to Yeovil in the playoffs in much more dramatic and self destructive style, it took me fully 2 years to be able to watch those goals again on Youtube. And even then it was painful.

This time it is easier to take in. Maybe because we didn’t have the two goal lead from an away leg. Maybe because this season we have been far better than any of us expected, whereas in the League One playoffs we had much higher expectations.

Some have said the playoffs are merely unfair. A way from the football league to stretch the season out and mil more money, but consider the three Forest games and each one has been utter excitement, in which the game takes many twists and turns. Seldom is it a mundane one goal in over two legs match.

For instance, right now I am watching Cardiff v Leicester. The first leg may have been just a single goal, but this second leg has been exciting with goals flying in and shots rattling the woodwork or with great saves, making it hang in the balance so finely.

My brother last year managed to attend the playoff final when Sheffield United reached it and lost to Burnley, my brother I should add is a Sheffield United fan. He said that losing in the final is worse than whatever I can feel now. It’s the worst game to lose in football was his contention.

Maybe it is, I’d almost say I would like to know. The one main way we had of comforting ourselves was the fact it’ll save £100+ each for not having to buy a ticket, get the coach/train/car etc down to London and then the other associated costs of beer and all that jazz. It’s scant consolation.

We all knew we’d prefer to have “wasted” that money and lose at Wembley than the semi finals which have become our graveyard.

And this is the beauty of the playoffs.

It can be torture, it can be ecstasy.

2010-05-12T13:44:00.001-04:00

Pitch invasion makes man in wheelchair on a mission.

2010-05-07T00:54:00.000-04:00

Big Honky Ocho on E:60

2010-04-30T12:05:00.005-04:00

Danielle Fornarelli launches the 2010 US World Cup Jersey Sexy Time Style

Safe For Work, but it is a Playboy link...More Photos here.

2010-04-20T13:32:00.003-04:00

HOW CAN (S)HE SLAP? Croatian League Style

Scores a goal, runs into the stands, gets punched in the face. God I love this sport.

2010-04-07T13:39:00.001-04:00

Charlie Davies is Back.

Rejoice US fans!

Thanks to SBI and The Shin Guardian.

2010-04-04T22:26:00.007-04:00

The Interview: Smeg Devil

Tell us a bit about yourself … Well I’m 22 born on 25th April, I was 2 weeks late and 3 and half days in labour (my mum reminds me of this often), female and from that beautiful place Yorkshire. I’m 6foot and a half, I think and single. Lived in Notts whilst I did my degree and I miss that place such a lovely city and lots of friends down there. I work in the finance department for a major provider of Care Homes/Services in the UK – those who know me know the one... I love music, used to go to gigs every week or so when growing up. Slowly getting back into it... DKM, Hole and Rebellion on the cards so far I don’t know what else you wanna know.....

What’s the time? 10.58

How many fingers am I holding up? 4

I like your, youre a nice girl, why dont you post more often? Swings and roundabouts, I didn’t post much because I couldn’t be bothered to – stuff going on at home. But now that’s fixed, I’m about – granted it won’t be all day everyday as I’m not a student anymore, and god forbid I find myself a social life.

What’s your fave man type...loud and brash or quiet and understanding Not sure, I do like the quiet and understanding ones. Someone I can have a conversation with about stupid things but also geeky stuff. I like someone who won’t treat me like I’ve been treat in the past. I don’t think I have one type – I mean I love Johnny Depp and on the other hand my first love Alan Smith will always be there. (Does anyone remember my Alan Smith days??)

Are you a girly girl or more of a tom boy? Now I know sitting on the fence isn’t a cool look, not to mention uncomfortable. I like my girly things – bags and shoes, developing a fashion sense (shock horror) but at the same time, I love football, rugby and F1, as well as gymming it up. I would think that I am a nice balance of the two..

The girls on the forum, discuss. I like Yid, our Kirstie, spoken to her on bookface and seems a lovely lass albeit a bit short but good things in small packages right? She can keep the boys in toe and enjoys a good night out. I believe Miss Ruudlover to be a lovely lass however paths haven’t crossed recently but she is a honorary Yorkie so all isn’t lost. Others lasses on here, I don’t come across often or have much to say about them.

What's your favourite curse word? ****... Although that doesn’t help due to the filters... Sh!t I guess. Mainly for Shizz and Sh!t the bed phase. Don’t know why either. Don’t swear much either.

What made you support man utd? Erm I don’t. Think may have missed the point. It blatently says that I support Leeds. Maybe I’ve missed the point... I miss having my season ticket – Stopped because I went to uni and considering getting one back again... hopefully well need to find a friend – don’t want to be a billy no mates.

Pogo sticks...now they are fun eh Never been on a pogo stick. I know that’s a shock right. I prefer space hoppers.

How does it feel to be a girl on this guys saturated forum? It doesn’t bother me – I mean the way that the guys jump on the back of the girls is wrong at times but kind of expect that when it’s like 500000:1. I think it is nice that we can all play along nicely sometimes and get on.

Is it just football you have a liking for or are there any other sports you have a big interest in? I have a fair few interests... Football it’s Leeds. Rugby – both codes I can happily watch and scream at tv or ground. Since I’m getting on with my life, I have really got back into League – I go to home games regularly and scream at the team – coincidently they’ve lost the matches I’ve been too. I love the atmosphere and the fans. Next home game is Toulouse on Monday if any of you fancy it....

Describe your perfect man. If he existed what would he look like? Someone that wants to talk to me, someone who makes me laugh and smile, gotta like sport and actually going to matches. Then take me out for a good time at a gig. Not a lot to ask really.

David Beckham. On a scale of 1-10, how gutted are you for him that he wont be playing at the World Cup? I am gutted but it isn’t the end of the world. He can still do a lot for the team and the sport at the world cup so I don’t think it is a massive blow for the sport. For himself it is a big blow – feeling like he had something to prove at this world cup. **** happens and that is one of the worse things to happen. He won’t be playing for a very long time and will always have problems with it now.

Did you ever get the swine flu? Nope I didn’t, was quite lucky and a few people at work did get it but me nothing.

In general, do you get along better with boys or girls? Well it depends I get along with both. Quite a few of my close friends are male and I’d trust them with a lot and I have my two best friends who are female and not girly girls. Suppose it depends on who it is – I don’t go out of my way to make friends with an airhead as that imo would be pretty damn pointless, I don’t want to screw her.

Bounce (pogo) by System of a Down...would be a great new national anthem...waddya think I think it is a good choice however not my personal choice for a national anthem... Would have to be something like Elegy by MH or Walk by Pantera – think that would spice things up a bit.

What is your favourite Sublime song? Daterape – If anyone has seen me in rock city/cookie doing this then they’ll understand. It’s the lyrics, the beat and the way it’s just perfect to bop about to. On the other hand I do love What I Got? It is a beautiful song. Quite happily sit and listen to 40oz to freedom now.. Thanks

Pick 5 men in Hollywood that you'd like to sink your teeth into. Assuming you were a vampire. Johnny Depp. Colin Farrell. Gerard Butler. Ryan Reynolds. Jude Law... I dunno, I’m sure it’ll change – well the first 2 won’t I Love them Long Time.

Do you like Cheesy Wotsits? I am in the LIKE camp for Cheesy Wotsits. I haven’t had any in a while though my favourites are kettle chips. Nom nom nom.

If you could have picked any soccer match to watch live, which game would you have picked? (I guess passed, present or future) I would love to have seen England winning the world cup – the kind of atmosphere felt and knowing that you could be proud to be English and have faith in the team. Having said that on a lighter note, I would just love to see Leeds win a match and get automatic – typing this as Leeds about to lose to Swindon. Morons.

Where would you want to go on your honeymoon? And why? Plenty of places to choose from and lots of time to save up... Chile, Aruba, Argentina, Canada, Caribbean, Seychelles.... Somewhere pretty, things to do and see other than that just being with a nice person

Are you worried that Naz will top himself, or are you not bothered either way? Not arsed really. Well he ain’t bad and I admire his work for charity and the dedication and commitment he has is amazing. Just up and down like a yoyo.

Is the idea of 'fangirl-ism' in any way repulsive to you and would you think less of a person if they happened to be one? What the hell is a fan girl? – checked Wiki and Urbandictionary. It is a bit bizarre being that obsessed with someone that you pretty much stalk every move. I know I like people who I know I can’t have but wouldn’t own every bit of merch. Can’t say I’d think any less of them – bit weird maybe but aren’t we all?

Assuming there is a heaven, when you get to the pearly gates, what do you want god to say to you? Bout time you showed up, it’s your round.

Do you think we should have something like 'Pogo stick Tuesday'...where we all have to compulsory bounce around like loons...like for all day? Nope that is ludicrous, I can’t pogo stick. I believe it would compromise Hula Hoop Fridays and Space Hopper Sundays – wouldn’t want to overcomplicate things.

If you had to pick one guy and one girl from the forum to beat with a stick, who would they be? Linha – Gets wound up too easily about being picked on and then goes for sympathy.. it wouldn’t be a beating more of a quick word – play it cool and they will drop the ****. Illmatic – Really needs to get a grip and to get laid.

Why do you think Barcelinha wanted you to be interviewed so badly? Is it because I’m cool? Is Manic Loop different in real life from his s24-7 persona? Not really. Love Pete – he is pretty much my big brother, can talk to him about all sorts of stuff. I should be visiting soon and going out. He is loud and has issues with speech when he has had a few but then again he is fun to be around. I mean he has seen me grow up pretty much – I was 14 when I joined...

How many pogo sticks am I holding up? One in each hand.

Do you believe in star signs? No. I think they are ridiculous. So vague and far from the truth.

How tall are you really...in feet and inches and not that faggy metric gobbledegook? Still 6 foot and a bit.

Was it you who starred in that old movie 'Attack of the 50 Foot Woman'? Nope not me I’m afraid.

I mean hey....I dun wanna go on about it but would I need to jump on a pogo stick to meet you eye to eye? Quite possibly unless you are 6 foot.

Harry Kewell, your feelings on the man. expand please. I absolutely hate him, I cannot remember who but I had this arguement with someone – might have been at work. Him and Viduka are two of the biggest disappointments ever – lazy and performed when they wanted to. They really wind me up.

Who are you and what do you want with SmegDevil? Don’t really know what to say to that. She is here and always has been.. I wonder if I’ve been cloned and leading a double life and don’t realise it.

Are you sick of the pogo type questions yet? Yeah patience is wearing thin now.

No really...I mean really...are you sick of them yet? I’m done with them

Are you a summer or a winter person? I think I’m more of a summer person. I love waking up going to work in the sun and coming home in the sun. Sitting in a beer garden and chilling outside.

Do Pirates make good lounge decorations? Yes I loved that pirate and now he is relegated to the garden. Sad times.

How do you react to the news that speakeasy is now the horn in hand? Say whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?! Knocked through now? They have always been owned by the same people for years. The short guy dark hair. Most of the barstaff work at both. I do love a good horn in hand session.. had plenty of good times in that place..

Bargain hunt or cash in the attic? Neither. Rather watch Homes under the Hammer.

Where is your favourite place that you have ever been? Banff- hands down I loved that place. Freaking love Canada.

What is your ideal pet? I have my idea pet, he is a staffie cross, and is called Winston about 3 years old.

You're really old skool on here, did you ever think you'd be here so long and what made you stay? I’ve been here forever – didn’t think i’d be here this long. I mean I’ve grown up with the site and I’ve seen people come and go. The site going through busy and quiet times so laugh when newbies complain that it is failing.

Who will you be voting for in May? Labour. Will never ever vote Conservative. Lib Dem is a close 2nd and may change in the next few weeks but I fecking hate David Cameron.

Which member is the most annoying person on the site? Dragonlord is fairly annoying. And which member is your favourite? Don’t really have a favourite, I mean I talk to a few that I get on well with.. Like Big D, Ginger Ninja and Lib. Not really thought about having a favourite. Oops.

What’s your favourite theme park? Universal Studios Islands of Adventure – Incredible Hulk and Duelling Dragons, my two favourite rides in the US. Alton Towers – the best one in the UK. Definitely Universal wins hands down, sad thing is I’ve been there more times than I have Alton Towers. It was only 20mins to get to and much easier to get into the car park. Plus the weather and the higher standard of rides. Even the Dr Seuss land is brilliant. Love Love Love Looooooooooooove Universal.

Do you like snow Not anymore, The big freeze spoilt that one... I love snow when it’s done properly I mean governments/grit – not the whole world stops because it was cold.

How long did it take you to complete you’re interview? A long long time. A very long time – I had to break it down over the day so to speak. Thank god that is over its taken forever!! Think this is the most difficult thing I’ve done – essays and dissertation was easy.

Interview Compiled by Lil Yiddo.

2010-03-24T14:41:00.002-04:00

The Yanks are coming. 77 Days.

A highlight to get you pumped if you are a US fan...or get you on our bandwagon if you are looking for a WC team to root for.

This is a fantastic highlight (cheers to Patrick Owen of NaDeadRaibead)...minus the Edu goal against Celtic of course. That could have been edited out.

77 days until USA vs. England. Don't Tread on This.

2010-03-19T01:27:00.002-04:00

Big Honky Ocho does the Business.

and that's why he's one of my favorite players. Don't Tread on This.

2010-03-15T14:59:00.001-04:00

Hat Tricks over the Weekend for your viewing enjoyment

Robbie Keane puts three past Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup Quarterfinal.

1.

2.

3.

Messi vs. Valencia

- From SoccerbyIves.net

Gonzalo Higuain vs Valladolid

2010-03-13T00:35:00.000-05:00

Schalke Fans go Apeshit

Talk about street cred.

2010-03-11T15:45:00.016-05:00

The Top 10(ish) Soccer Commercials of All Time

By: Celticrugby

Since about 1998 soccer commercials have been popping up for every major tournament, boot releases and just for the hell of it.

This is the comprehensive list of the top soccer related commercials of all time. If you've been a fan of the sport since at least 1998 you'll know most if not all of these commercials, although there might have been one or two you haven't seen that's slipped through the cracks.

It was really too hard to whittle it down to just 10, so I've included some honorable mentions. If you feel your favorite commercial was slighted, or isn't on here, make a comment either here, on the forum or via email at soccer247blog@gmail.com. I'll make sure its added.

Let the countdown begin.

Honorable Mention # 2: The Impossible Is Nothing featuring Messi, Altidore etc.

The main feature of these ads were players overcoming adversity to get where they are today. While they aren't filled with Ole's and amazing goals, they were made to benefit and encourage the younger players of the game.

Jozy's spot.

Messi's Spot.

Honorable Mention # 1: Pepsi's Medieval Commercial

#10 - Euro 2004's Road to Lisbon

Unfortunately for some, the Greek defense wasn't the highlight of this video.

#9 - +10 Dream Team from the 2006 World Cup

#8 - Nike's Good vs. Evil

#7 - Brazil vs. Portugal (World Cup 2006)

#6 Team Nike vs. The Ninja Samurais

You know what is cooler than a ninja? A ninja samurai.

#5 - Irn Bru's Scotland's going to the World Cup Commericals (WC 2006)

I was in Scotland at the time these were running, and I must say, it could be one of the best overall advertising runs of all time.

#4 Gatorade's Take Me Out to the Ballgame

My favorite US spot of all time, and one that probably encapsulates the team and its experiences the best.

#3 Henry's House

That crazy Frenchman is at it again.

#2 Take it to the Next Level

This actually might be "technically" the best, but the #1 commercial of all time is essentially the Godfather of soccer commercials.

#1 Brazil in the Airport

The classic takes it in the end.

Comments, Feedback and bitching is welcome.

2010-03-11T15:01:00.000-05:00

The Interview: Del Piero

Tell us a bit about yourself ...

Well, my real name is Omar as some of you may know, i am a 25 years old Egyptian guy, i work as a Solution Expert for an Apple premium reseller (Part Time ATM), i am Engaged to a girl that i love and we're currently working on getting married.

You are having a dinner party and 5 guests from here are coming ... who and why?

Red4eva - Very intelligent and educated person, i am sure we will have some interesting conversations.

Killah - My best friend/nemesis, we disagree about almost everything yet he's one of the few people i consider to be a real friend of mine on here.

Celticrugby - 100% Win.

Patmurphy - Again one of the few real friends i made here, we share this interest in Directing and Cinema and we can talk for hours about a single scene in a movie, sadly like red he's not active anymore.

DvA - I have no idea what nickname he runs by on the forum nowdays, however he's one of my best friends on here and we can talk for hours about Portugal and Egypt and how similar they are, lazy people corruption etc, FTW .

Can you speak Italian?

No, however i can understand what a conversation is about when i hear it as i recognize most words because it's close to French and i can read some of it.

What do you really think about Calean?

He's a fine example of why many people see religious people as absolute retards, self-righteous ignorant and bigoted moron.

I appreciate your usually fair and (somewhat) balanced opinion on things in the middle east when discussed. What is your opinion on the Egyptian blockade of Gaza? And your reaction to the criticism you take from some other Arab sources over this?

We're just trying to stop a dirty political game thats being played by Israel atm, they basically have a long term plan to transform Sinai into one big Palestinian refugees camp like in south Lebanon which i hope we as Egyptian would never allow.

As for shutting down the underground network between Egypt and Gaza i am all for it because it really hurts our economy and security with potential hardcore political terrorists entering Egypt.

How many fingers am i holding up?

I'll tell if you tell me which finger i am holding up .

When do you next see Juventus winning the title?

With this management? never.

Nastiest guy in 24-7 land

Nastiest? gotta be that dude who used to get drunk and post about his erotic adventures and sometimes pornography, you will know who i am talking about if you log on during the dead night hours.

What is your favourite childhood memory?

When i got my first Dog, Rockey.

Do you think Del Piero (the player) would of got far more praise in his career had he moved to another league to a club like say Real Madrid?

Yes of course, i mean look at Raul, the guy suck balls and they made him a god . Seriously i was just joking, but yeah i believe with the propaganda machine they have at Real Madrid he would have became 2x the legend he is today, same goes for the EPL and specially Man Utd ofc.

If you could change one thing about Soccer 24-7, what would it be?

Bring back the bloody radio!

Is a Jaffa cake a biscuit or a cake?

Biscuit?

Do you consider yourself a religious Muslim?

No, i don't consider myself religious at all and i know this could anger some people but i don't believe any religion should be taken to the letter.

Do you like cheesy Wotsits?

I have no idea what the hell is that, gonna google it now.

What are your thoughts on the Iranians and their quest for nukes? Should something be done? If you were in charge of the world response, what is your roadmap for this issue?

I believe that either we take the nukes from everyone or we don't, but under the light of the current situation more people with nuke mean that it's less likely for anyone to use his because they will be afraid of retaliation.

Again we are putting you in charge of the world. What is your roadmap to peace with Israel/Palestine? What is an acceptable/equitable 2-state solution (assuming you desire that) for you?

I don't really care, but i think the only thing that would work will not be suitable for the Israelis since it involves giving half of Jerusalem to the Palestinians or giving the entire city to an International entity like the U.N.

Other than that it will never work because the Arabs and the Palestinians see this as a religious war and Jerusalem is the goal, just like it always was throughout history, same goes for the Israelis which can be seen and proven in their recent actions

[in response to that question] Do you think that your plan/view is realistic and could it happen in our lifetimes? Why or why not?

No i don't as i said because it's a religious war that will never end because sadly religion knows no compromise.

Captain Kirk...coolest white man ever

There is no such thing as a cool white man .

What members that left or were banned would you bring back and why?

Firestarter so we can have more epic threads, he was good for business.

Nicest guy on 24-7 land

Nicest? Celticrugby ofc and i think everyone here will agree.

Working hard or hardly working?

Working hard to find a new job, hardly working in my current one ever since i converted to part time.

Sith or Jedi

Sith ofc, Jedis are fags.

Favourite foreign country you have visited and why?

France, mostly because the only other foreign country i have been to was Cyprus and i was 8 month old or something . However i lived in Paris for 2 years and i must say it's beautiful, i know people talk about lots of things when describing how beautiful a place is and all it's pros and what not but seriously for me it was all about the mood, Paris has this awesome unique autumn feel to it, and btw i went to London for a day and all i remember that it was dark and rainy and it was a family visit so i can't really judge.

Favourite number and why?

18, my birthday, i know so predictable.

Cats or dogs?

I used to say dogs as i always raised dogs in my childhood but then i got Ceasar my current cat he's a cat who acts like a dog if you know what i mean , so in respect to that mofo i will just say both.

As a Juve fan do you want Benitez as your manager next season?

I highly rate him and he is known for achieving great feats with little resources, the kind of thing that we need at the moment.

If you had to die one way or the other, would you rather burn alive or drown?

Drown ofc, even though i used to be in the Egyptian National team for swimming .

Should Sombreros be mandatorily worn on every Tuesday

That would be awsome, **** yea.

Top 5 films of all time?

It's an impossible question to answer for me, i am a movie buff so i have like 100 favorite films and i can't just pick just 5 and ignore the rest, but if you just want to me to pick 5 of my favorite films randomly i will pick:

City Of God, Fight Club, Amores Perros, The Godfather, Amelie.

As an Egyptian how come you follow Italian football?

The Egyptian league suck balls and i never felt emotionally attached to any Egyptian team, in fact i wasn't a football fan at all till i watched Juve once by chance on tv and ever since i was hooked to them.

Pooh or Piglet?

None, both are fags.

What team besides Juve do you like to watch?

I don't watch anything except Juve especially recently, but i usually just watch the big CL games if Juve is not playing that night and ofc the Classico and sometimes Man Utd vs Arsenal, and the old firm when i can. but as in following another team, no i don't.

Totti or Maldini?

Totti is the greatest Italian to ever touch a football, thats a fact.

Climate change...b0ll0cks or truth

Would you ******* believe me if i told you that last week it ******* snowed here in Cairo and it wasn't even cold during that day?

What's your take on the john terry fiasco?

These things annoy me because i believe that people have no right to interfere with celebrities private lives, i don't think he wronged anyone except his wife and it's a private issue and people should just mind their own business but ofc i am dreaming.

Oh and i honestly don't give a **** about what John Terry or any other celebrity does in their private life, he may shag a goat for all i care.

Best and worst moment in your life so far?

I had many bad moments and many good moments but one of my absolute worse was when my grandfather died, as for the best moment it's really easy to pick, it's when i got together with Nahla, i know it's sound cliche but it's true.

Ever been to the Delle Alpi? If so what is your best memory there?

Sadly i haven't got the chance to go there, but hopefully i will get the chance to watch Juve-Inter @ the new Juve arena sometime during 2012 .

The Egyptian NT ... they can do so well at the ANC and yet can't qualify for a bloody World Cup. One, what is the problem? And two, how do you view/what is your opinion on this generation of players and how they should be looked upon? Champions for their ANC glory? Failures for repeated failure to qualify for WC? Somewhere in between ...

The problem is mental thats all, we have a ghost in the closet called qualifying to the WC, Egyptian players really do need therapy to get rid of the amount of pressure they have regarding the WC qualification.

As for the current generation of players i have to say that they are the best in this country's history in my opinion and not just for the results but for the amount of talents that this team have.

Their only problem is psychological, this is why they beat Italy, embarrassed Brazil and got knocked from the U.S, this is typical Egyptian nature, achieve the impossible and fail at the easiest of tasks.

What, if any, are your pet peeves?

Damn you, i had to wiki that to understand the question, anyway what annoys me the most if i understood the question correctly are the so called social people who wear a fake smiling mask just to try and keep a good relation with everyone, they make me sick if you know what i am on about.

Will their ever be true peace in the world

Never, Peace is bad for business mate.

Name an interesting fact about yourself.

I have anger problems and when i get angry i often say things i really regret later.

Let's say the title race is down between Inter and AC, who do you want to win it?

Ac Milan ofc, if the title race was between Aids and Inter Milan i would cheer for Aids from the bottom of my heart, GO AIDS!

2012 is just round the corner...are you scared

Believe it or not i haven't seen the movie so no, i am not scared.

Do you think during the Calico scandal, Juventus's penalty was harsh enough?

It's spelt Calcio and i believe Juve was set up, Moggi was never proven of actually buying games, he used his influence to pick certain refrees will for our games at a time where Milan's president was the prime minister of Italy and was known to practice his influence over the league, Moggi said he did what he did to protect Juve and i believe that story. Also Juve back then was truly the best team in Italy, just look at the WC final and how many Juve players were in it. however this entire topic is closed for me, lets we forget please.

Are we being controlled by the New World Order

We were always controlled by some kind of secret order criminals, politicians and business men, the pigs and dogs ruling the sheep, and whatever that order is it will be considered the new world order if you know what i mean.

Do you also think Diego is a bust?

How can people judge a player when the entire team plays like shite, the manager is crap and the management are a bunch of tards, i still believe Diego is a very talented player who will hopefully prove me right under the right management which i hope for after this season's nightmare ends.

Brunettes....sexiest wimmin on the planet....agree?

Hells yeah!

Do you think Inter and/or AC Milan are cheating?

It's Italy, there is always someone using some kind of influence, i wouldn't say cheating but yea there is ofc some kind of influence outside the pitch.

Which member would you gladly punch in the face?

Sultan.

Favourite sport outside of football?

Swimming.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you want to go and why?

Well if i were to go in order to settle and live then i would choose Australia, it's an awesome place and the weather is nice specially for an Egyptian not to mention that they got plenty of opportunities.

But if you were talking about a vacation then i would ofc go to somewhere in the Caribbean.

Who are your favourite members on here and why?

The ones i picked for dinner and for the same reasons.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I need to be more persistent and serious about certain thing and i need to get rid of my anger issues.

5 Things you'd like to see Juventus do in the next 5 years?

I will just sum it up in one thing, find back the spirit of the real Juve, the spirit that the great Juve of the mid 90's had or even that of 2003, i want the players to have the desire to win, i want them to understand the greatness of the shirt they are wearing.

How did you meet your stunning missus? Any plans for marriage?

In a friend's birthday that i ironically didn't want to be at in the first place, i had a ******* crush then i made a common friend ask her to come in a hang out the 2nd time we exchanged numbers then we started going out alone, and here we are almost 4 years later planning for our marriage

Interview Compiled by Lil Yiddo.

2010-03-05T22:38:00.002-05:00

The Interview: Mejulian

Tell us a bit about yourself … I'm 33 yo, born and raised in Mexico City, married with no kids and I live in Montreal, Canada, where I moved in Nov. 2008. Before that I lived in New York City, Hong Kong and Boston. I like running, photography (a little more serious than taking pics), hiking and heavy metal. I am a telecom engineer and currently work for the largest telecom vendor in the world. We give services to operators in the Americas, but I spent most of my time in the US.

Have you met up with any members from the forum?
No, I was once in Detroit at the same time as CelticRugby but I had too much work and couldn't get free time (plus, it was very cold, or so I thought). IBES was in Mexico City for a whole summer but I was away on business.

Look at this weather reporter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qmFy...layer_embedded
sure she’s banging, but do you have any objections to this? maybe from an ethical viewpoint? the girl that does the finance has a lot to live up to, surely!
Wow! I had never seen her before. Hey, you never know, she might be an educated meteorologist (highly unlikely). So no, I don't have any objections to it. I'm all for hot girls on TV. Besides, you don't really need that much to do that job, at least not if you just limit yourself to reading the charts, which most TV experts do, anyway. No doubt some are trained, but when they appear on TV they're working under their true capabilities. Replace them all with hot girls.

Sith or Jedi?
Jedi, they might not look intimidating but will still kick your ass.

Why do you support Pumas?
When I was a kid, around 7 or so, my best friend's dad used to take us to the stadium every other Saturday to see the team. He had studied at the university Pumas represent and had been following the team since the amateur times, he was hardcore fan. I fell in love with the sensations there: the noise, the smells, the constant rain and the overall atmosphere. My love for the team grew up from there.

Also, are you the one that got IBES to support them? or did he find them on his own?
When I met IBES he was already supporting Pumas. Apparently he started supported America when he started following Mexican football, because they're the team usually shown on US TV, but then his wife (girlfriend at the time) showed him what a disgraceful organization they are and pointed him in the right direction. I find this strange, though. I don't understand how you someone can convince you of supporting a team. Either you feel it or not, you cannot just decide on it. In any case, it's good he supports a proper team.

Do you have a favourite football team in Europe or one you follow at all?
In the 80s I started supporting Barcelona (an exception in Mexico, most people were into Real Madrid because of Hugo Sanchez) and did it through the early 00s, but my interest for them eventually faded. I thought it was a joke that an alleged symbol of their regional identity was a Dutch speaking team. The team preferred to shop abroad, even for **** players, and they just didn't care about local players. Sure, that was a trend through Europe, but that didn't make it any better in my eyes. At some point I realized that Barcelona is no different than Real Madrid (as their supporters like to believe) and my interest on them disappeared. That is when they became more successful, but I didn't care anymore.

I also followed Fiorentina in the 90s because of Batistuta. He's one of my favorite players ever and he made Italian football bearable. I still followed him with Roma but that was it.

I kind of like Newcastle United. I met Shearer and Robson back in 2005 when they played in Hong Kong (by met I mean saying hi).

Sombreros.....should they be mandatory every Tuesday?
No, my head is too big and I haven't found a sombrero that would fit. I look stupid with them.

What is your best football related memory?
This game http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6h2j...eature=related

Cruz Azul had a great regular season, breaking every record available (more goals scored, less allowed, top scorer, etc.) and Pumas had barely made it to quarter finals, so it was supposed to be an easy stage for them. We surprised and tied at home, but on the return leg we were going to be the victim. My friends and I arrived early to the area around the stadium, got drunk at a nearby bar and got to our amazing seats. Jorge Campos stopped an early penalty, but Cruz Azul still managed to get the lead. With less than a minute left we had all of our team in the box, all the 11 players, and Jaime Lozano, who was playing his first season with the top team and later became a world cup player, caught a header to decide the game. We had to be escorted by the police after the riot that ensued. Awesome night.

What’s your most embarrassing moment?
When I was 16 I had an overdose at a big party and an ambulance had to pick me up to take me to the hospital. I just remember the alcohol part (drinking half a litre of tequila in the way from the liquor store) but not the drugs, at least not that day. My first memory after the event is the bright light of the hospital. Anyways, when I managed to get back to school a week later, everybody was pointing at me and talking behind my back. Kind of embarrassing, I guess, but then again at that point in my life I didn't really care that much about others, so it wasn't that bad.

Who is the better footballer, Messi or Ronaldo?
Cannot say, to be honest. I don't follow European football anymore. I'm going to say Ronaldo to avoid upsetting the Portuguese members, though. He's also the most attractive, guys. Oh, and he's not gay, he's just too emotional and has a sense of fashion.

Who do you think are the best members on the site to discuss football with?
I haven't discussed much football in a long time, but when I did I liked talking about it with IBES, Killah and Aequitas, basically the guys who know football outside of Europe. Killah, in particular, knows a lot of football history and knows what's happening around the globe. I don't know how managed to finish university with all that time spent studying football.

How many fingers am I holding up?
5

Do you have an kick ass Mexican recipe's you can give?
I cannot cook anything, not even scrambled eggs. Sorry to disappoint here.

How do you rate the Mexican League to world leagues, and do you like its current structure as opposed to the traditional European format?
The structure is the worst one I can imagine. We divide football year in two seasons, which leads to two champions per year. Then the teams are divided (unevenly) in groups with the top two of each group making it to the final phase (on top of that if a third place in a group has more points than a second one they play each other). This means that sometimes more than half of the teams make it to the second round. Once there you only need three or four good games to win the championship. Pumas actually did this a few years ago. We were the 9th place (out of 18 teams) and still won the championship. This obviously dilutes the value of a title. I like the final phase format (similar to that of the champions league), but I'd have it only once a year.

The most laughable thing is relegation. First division teams are forced to have a team in the second division, but these teams cannot be promoted because they might have to play their big brothers later on. In practice, only a handful of teams are eligible for relegation/promotion

All these stupid rules are in place because the owners of the teams are the ones making the rules. So they don't want to have relegation, want to maximize revenues and want more chances of winning something. It's like asking a bunch of spoiled kids to decide how they want to be graded at school.

The ironic thing is that despite a system that favors mediocre teams, the quality of the league is acceptable. It's hard to compare them with European leagues because it's difficult to set a standard for them. The top European clubs are miles away from any Mexican team, for sure, but I think your average Spanish team, for instance, is probably on a similar level (they might be better, but not by that much). In the Americas I think that we have the third best league, after Argentina and Brazil.

What are Mexico's chances at the World Cup? Juande Ramos the man to lead the team to respectable quarter final appearance maybe?
We're going with Javier Aguirre as coach and that won't change. We have enough individual talent to have a decent world cup, but we all know that is never enough, you have to have one talented team. The friendly games we have before the world cup are of good quality and I hope they will help us to get in good shape for the tournament. At least we should get there with a defined first team, not like we did in Germany.

I think we're a better team than South Africa and Uruguay, the results against the latter show it, and I believe we can get a positive result with France. If we make it to the second round anything can happen there. Well, that's the cliché, but it never happens for us. Anyway, there's always a first time and I'm hoping that this is the one for Mexico. I feel we're going to make history (at least for us) in 2010. I don't know how much of that feeling is just pure hear, though.

Are you looking forward to the world cup in the summer?
Yeah, too bad that I'll be in the US and there's no football culture there, at least not for the Mexican standards. You have the odd football bar, but you can go all day without picking up a football conversation, even during the world cup. But I am really excited about Mexico in the world cup. I have great hopes and I truly believe we can have a good tournament. Other than that I just hope to see good games and as less cheating as possible.

What do you wish you could have done in Minnesota that you didn't get a chance to when you were there?
Catching a hockey game. This is something I've been wanting to do for some time now, but tickets are too expensive where I've tried (New York and Montreal). I thought they would be cheaper in Minnesota, but I was way wrong. I guess I'll have to wait for a chance in Dallas someday (my company has a big office there). I also wish I had the chance to check out the north, I read that the sights are awesome, but I was working too much and didn't have the time.

What do you think the reason is behind people being ignorant of other cultures? why do many rely on media stereotypes?
Many people just don't want to be bothered by thinking on matters that don't have any impact on their lives. That is OK, I have zero knowledge of South Korean politics, for instance. The problem is when people don't want to appear as not having an opinion and then resort to whatever they've heard on TV to appear as having certain knowledge. This is something I constantly live in the US and Mexico. It's amazing how little these two know about the other and how much they think they do. Lots of Americans believe the whole Mexico (with the exception of the resorts) looks like the towns shown on the Mariachi movies (limited electricity, no modern appliances, no doctors, etc.), and in Mexico many believe Americans are a bunch of xenophobic, fat racists. There's nothing wrong with admitting you know nothing or little about a certain country, just accept it and don't say the first thing that comes to your mind.

Do you enjoy travelling all over for your job? Is your wife completely on board with that too or do you guys eventually want to finally settle somewhere?
My wife is partially on board, she supports me and tries to enjoy as much as possible, but she wished we stayed somewhere for a while. I guess she understands this is the best move for us, at least financially, but sometimes it's hard on her, especially when she cannot plan things, have her family visiting us, get a job, etc. Her support means everything to me, though, without it I would look for something else.

We intend to eventually settle in Montreal. I'm working on moving up in the organization to the jobs that don't require too much travel and, if that doesn't work, I'll have to move to a different area, or probably try to join one of our customers (that is a typical career path). I do want to settle within a couple of years and I'm working hard on it.

You’re an old school member of Soccer24-7, what’s kept you here so long?
There's a great sense of e-friendship. I do feel like I know some of the guys here (Dandy, IBES, Todd, Stan, Bamber, Manic, Killah, etc.) and staying is like keeping an eye on how my friends are doing. The forum has its up and downs, but there's always a great bunch of people around and that makes it worth staying. I don't really want to join another forum where I don't know anyone, and I don't want to stop visiting forums either.

What's your say on IBES leaving the forum, its surely the biggest incident to hit this forum, and we have had a few in recent times?
That was really shocking. He was very dedicated and I didn't expect him to leave after what appeared to me as a minor incident (or series of incidents). We've seen worse **** throughout the years and he had never left. I have the feeling that there's more to it than what we know, so we can only speculate (maybe work is taking more time from him, I don't know). We'll miss him a lot for sure. He was a great asset to the forum. I hope he decides to come back later on.

What’s your favourite sport?
Obviously football, it's the only sport I can stand watching for over an hour without getting distracted with other stuff, even with all the whining, faking and cheating that goes around. I would like to play but I suck at it.

What’s your least favourite sport?
Baseball. It's so slow, retarded and fatties dominate the game. The players are so limited on their skills that they need a coach telling them to run or stop. God forbid they have to turn their heads and see what is going on behind them. I do enjoy going to the odd game here and there, but only because I like seeing stadiums, eating hot dogs and drinking beer.

Do you think people outside of CONCACAF underrate/disrespect the countries that play in it?
For sure, especially Europeans, who fail to see they also have a bunch of terrible teams that are three points guaranteed. At the end some qualifying groups in Europe look like CONCACAF in the sense that it's obvious who's going to make it to the world cup (I'm not saying the level is similar). Another factor is that, while teams like El Salvador or Guatemala might be easy on paper, the playing conditions on their stadiums (crap field, close standings, objects flying around and a constant threat of violence) make it hard to play there. I have no doubt that France, for example, wouldn't have a problem with Honduras at home, but it wouldn't be that easy in Tegucigalpa. Another typical argument is that we would fail to qualify if we played in Europe. That is based on nothing, Mexico has had good games with the top European teams at world cup level (Germany, Italy, Netherlands) and has beaten those from the second tier. Why wouldn't we qualify?

South Americans also like to have a go at CONCACAF, when some of our crap teams, like Suriname and Guyana, are actually from their area! And again, remove their big teams, namely Brasil and Argentina, and the rest are not something to be afraid of.

What do you really think about Calean?
Calean is a racist, homophobic (too obsessed with homosexuality, by the way), xenophobic, religious bigot with limited intellect. He is unable to build an argument and lacks basic reading skills. He's the perfect pawn for politicians (on the right, of course, if the leader is black then it's a different matter); just feed him the religious/patriotic speech and he will buy it immediately. The ironic thing is that he considers himself a good Christian. The man is a disgrace.

Favourite childhood memory?
I didn't share too many moments with my dad, sometimes he was really busy, others he had other interests, and maybe that's why one of my best memories is when he took me to Chapultepec, a 1800 acres park in Mexico City, which at that point I considered to be far away. I was probably four at the time. We played football and ate with the street vendors. Then we walked on a bridge over the main highway and watched the cars and buildings for a while (that was quite an experience for a suburban boy). Finally, we went to a motocross show at the Azteca Stadium; they had a bunch of American guys doing all sorts of crazy tricks. I had the greatest time ever, I don't know why he didn't want to share those things more often. Now that I think about it, this is some sort of bittersweet memory. On the one hand it feels good when I remember, but it feels bad when I realize it's so special because I never had many moments with my dad.

As you are 'Old Guard' what changes (good or bad) have you noticed about 24-7 over the years?
When I joined, the forum was kind of right wing and it gradually took a turn left, don't know why and don't know exactly when. Another big change is that there's some sort of post-Ticcan time. Ticcan posted so much that he seemed to be the member with the highest visibility, which wasn't really that good for us. I didn't have a problem with him, on the contrary, but he wasn't the kind of member you want to have as the prominent one. When he left a balance returned to the forum and no one had the face of the forum anyone. Other than that I think everything else has been cyclical. Good posters come and go, some moments are slower than others, and overall everything stays the same. Manic Loop should take most of the credit for that. This is a great site and will stay like that for a long time.

OK so none of us really know what NAFTA (Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte... whoops that screws up the acronym) does for us, so can you give us your take on what it's like living in all three North American countries?
It's great, I am so happy living in the area. Mexico is my favorite country. I've lived most of my life there and is the place of my greatest memories. My family lives there and it's where I feel completely comfortable all the time with no awkward moments or cultural differences. There's also a football culture (nonexistent, at least at that level, in the US or Canada) and the food is just fantastic. It's too bad that violence is eating us slowly and there's no end to it on sight.

The US is an amazing country, there I've found great education, work and had great experiences. People are friendly (even in NY, where they're supposed to be rude) and there's no way you can get bored. It's amazing how many activities there are for any interest you have. Anywhere I can join a runners' club and find interesting photography workshops. There's also almost every weather and geography, which makes it great for all sorts of outdoor activities. The USA was the first country where my wife lived (apart from Mexico, of course) and she was very nervous when we move to New York. Back at home she had heard all those stories of racist policemen harassing Mexicans, people denying you service at restaurants, violent border officers, etc. The reality is that she found a great bunch of respectful people, always willing to help you out and with a great sense of community. Everywhere we've been to Americans have make her felt welcome. That is why the US will always have a special place in my heart. I love that country. Oh, and they have free refills on your drinks.

One interesting think that's happened to me is that in the US I'm a far left winger that sometimes appears as hating the country. A couple of years ago an American friend invited me to have lunch at his home with his family. At some point we were talking politics (not a good idea) and it didn't take that much for him to resort to the typical "but if you hate the US so much, why do you live here?". Americans might bash their government all the time, but they don't like it when someone else does it (I guess that's true everywhere). I've never understood why people equate government to country. In Mexico is the other way around. There I'm extreme right and have sold myself to the gringos. If you don't blame the US for everything and see grey areas (like their role fighting communism in Latin America) then you're obviously licking yanqui boots. You cannot win with these arguments.

I haven't experienced Canada that much. I'm supposed to live there but I spent a lot of time away and I haven't had the chance to get a routine in Canada. Still, what I've found so far makes me want to make it my home. Montreal is a city of a perfect size, big enough to avoid getting bored, but not so big that it becomes chaotic. The weather is not that intimidating once you know how to dress, and the people are relaxed. Plus, bilingualism adds and enjoyable factor and great learning opportunities. I'm also getting into the different winter activities (I'm practicing X-country skiing), so I can get out and enjoy the outdoors all year. The combination of high taxes and limited health care is a disgrace, though, and might be the only thing that would push me away.

Leet Speek. Is it the downfall of 24-7?
No, we have lots of members who write properly and are quite active. The kids using that writing don't seem to stay long. If it becomes too much I'm sure it'll be taken care of Manic-style.

You seem to be quite a quiet member, why is this? Do you just like to observe?
There's not much to discuss these days. Most of the discussions end with Calean acting like a retard, so I just log in have a quick look and then do something else if I don't find anything interesting. Also the kind of offices where I've been working lately don't allow any privacy and I don't want to be too obvious when I'm doing nothing.

Captain Kirk...coolest white man on the planet...agree?
No, that's John McClane for sure.

Do you dream in English? or Spanish? Also, which language do you enjoy speaking more?
Spanish for sure. I've had a dream in English here and there, but Spanish is the language in my mind most of the time. I enjoy Spanish more, as I'm more competent there and is obviously the language I speak with my wife. There are lot of things I cannot fully express in English, at least now without making a pause. It's frustrating because I feel like my spoken English hasn't improved in the last three years and I don't know how to work on it. Practice doesn't seem to be enough and I don't think lessons would help.

We’re just over a month into the new year, how has 2010 started for you?
Pretty much the way I thought it would go. Nothing special has happened, which is good when you consider all the things that can go wrong. I was hoping to get a new assignment at work, but I'm still in the same project.

You’re stuck on a desert island, what 3 members would you like to have with you and why?
Gadger, his training would allow him to hunt our food and increase our chances of survival. He seems to be quite smart and I'm sure we could have interesting conversations. CelcticRugby to keep things under control with lots of common sense. Finally, LilYiddo, no explanation necessary here.

Mexico has had one of the largest and longest UFO 'flaps' in history....have you seen one yet?
Not me, but I have a friend who's seen a few (or so he says). He actually spends his vacations and weekends driving to remote places and looking for sightings. He's convinced that governments conspire to keep the UFO truth hidden from us. No, he's not USA Blue.

Do you like cheesy Wotsits?
No, the taste is too strong on the tongue and stays there for a while.

If you were to recommend a comedy film to someone, what would it be?
I don't have a sense of humour, I don't really laugh at comedy films. I like shitty, Hollywood blockbusters, anyways, so I'd go with Vince Vaughn's movies. I like the guy.

Lets say I’m planning a trip to Mexico, what are the top 3 places I should see on my visit?
Cancun, but also include it's surrounding area, avoid all-inclusive resorts where you don't experience anything different. You can do everything there: nightlife, good food, awesome beaches, Mayan ruins, nature parks, great hiking, underground swimming, etc. All within a two-hour drive. You can get drunk on a world-class nightclub at night, wake early the following day, visit Mayan ruins and be back at your hotel for afternoon drinks. It's just great.
Chiapas. Here you have Palenque, an amazing Mayan city and smaller colonial towns that would give you an idea of the hidden corners of the country that have a culture of their own. All of it surrounded by jungle, waterfalls and very nice natural sights. This is not for everybody, though. You won't find any clubs or hot girls here.
Mexico City. It's chaos but worth experiencing. The city has lots of world-class museums, top nightlife, great food and football.
With these three places I think you'd get a good grasp of Mexico's diversity. If you're the adventurous type you could go to a border town dominated by drug lords and take your chances there, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Are there any members that you didn’t like when they first joined but over the months/years changed your mind on?
Manic Loop. When I joined he was on a long holiday in Australia and used to randomly appear and have what I perceived as power trips. With time I understood where he was coming from. BamberGascoigne as well, I don't even remember why I disliked him, but I did. He's a great poster.

When I think Mejulian, I think of the colour Green. Why is this?
Mexico plays with a green shirt, most popular chiles are green, my eyes are green as well. There you go.

What were your three favourite things about Minnesota?
Trying ice skating on a frozen lake! That's something I saw on movies when I was a kid and never thought I'd do it myself. Then all the lakes everywhere, you cannot move more than a kilometre without seeing one. When spring starts they make a beautiful combination with all the trees growing up again. Finally, the most important, the people. CelticRugby mentioned something about the expression "Minnesota nice". I think I know where that comes from. Everywhere you go you can pick up conversation and people seem to be genuinely interested when they say "good day". I have very good memories from Minnesota (even when I got stuck on a highway at -35C).

Interview Compiled by Lil Yiddo.

2010-02-28T04:58:00.002-05:00

Bridge makes Terry bite the curb

2010-02-23T02:44:00.002-05:00

The Interview: Manic Loop

Tell us a bit about yourself …
Well I am who I am, what you get on 24-7 is what you get reality, I don’t hide behind any persona. Most people by now will have a decent gauge of me, but if not here we go. Born on the 17th May 1981. Youngest of 3 brothers and have lived in Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire my entire life (baring 3 years in Liverpool at uni, and 8 months in Australia travelling, but they were never “home”) Went to a school that’s now a housing estate and went to Uni of Liverpool getting a 2:I in Ba Geography. Went travelling, got job, did job for few years, didn’t like job, have gone back to Uni, to Sheffield Hallam to do a Msc in Urban Regeneration. Have followed Forest my entire life (baring a brief dalliance aged 5 with Liverpool) Currently live with my brother, but hes away most of the year. I love music, (rock mainly) I like films (not as much as I did, and TV. I live for going to the pub with mates. Many a good time in there, though as many friends settle down its not what it was, as they don’t come as much. I adore travelling, and try to get as many places as I can.

Where is Geoff?
HA. Well yeah you create a character you use for so long and it sticks. He has been retired to the dark recesses of my brain. Was fun whilst it lasted. Thhat thread where Arsene Wenger (Madcap) interviewed him was stunningly great fun. Hell he even co-presented one of the radio shows with me. I miss his agony uncle thread as well.

Ok Manic with our immanent promotion coming, have you got any further requests for our end of season party?
Firstly, imminent. My only request is Eiko Koike. Go google image. I’m sure shes a Forest fan. Or a Gamba Osaka fan (go go Gamba, with much gusto)

What's your natural hair colour?
Hello Meg. As you know it is clearly the greatest of the hair colours.

What outside of a house/car is your most extravagant purchase?
Not purchased a house…. Now this depends. Probably a plane ticket to Australia. But then the Forest season tickets aren’t as cheap as they may be.

If you were taking part in Come Dine With Me, which 4 members would you compete it out with?
Interesting twist, namely because they;d need to be able to cook. This instantly just about gets me to disqualify most people under 25. I go on the basis I couldn’t cook before that age. I’d say mejulian, I’d hope he can cook Mexican, then I’d choose Berean Todd, I reckon he’d be able to cook well. Actually scrap my previous comment about age. I’d invite Smeg Devil, as she owes me a few meals from the times I’ve cooked for her. I’ll throw in bamber for good measure.

Cats.....discuss
Ha. My brothers girlfriend who is essentially my housemate desperately wants a cat and I keep informing her I’ll encourage it to play in the main road. I don’t dislike them, I just see them as boring. Dogs are fun, cats just fvck off.

Favourite non staff member?
Umm, bambergascoigne or Berean Todd.

Is there a lucky lady in your life? How did you/would you charm a lady you were going to date?
No, and because of this maybe my advice here isn’t the most suited. I’m a fvck up when it comes to girls. Essentially I miss opportunities that do exist but persue ones that don’t. And then get all Bossa and obsessive over them.

You come across as being a bit boring, discuss.
Depends on what you like to do. Its all entirely objective. I think I know who asked this and your merely just someone with some unexplainable grudge. Anyway, you win some you lose some in life. You may find me boring, others may not. That’s just how it is. If that’s how you find me, then fine. I don’t think I am, but then who thinks of themselves as boring? I like what I do and I do what I Like. Therefore I am not bored. Discuss that.

Forest...when do you think they will get into the Premier League?
Yes. I do. I think we are better than any of the teams that we would face in the playoffs (where I think we will end up) Staying up is another matter all together.

Do you miss the old nags you used to sit near in your old job? Not even a little bit?
Yes and no. I used to talk a lot of stuff about Lost and Dexter with one of them. One of the others I got on well with. The thing is after my moaning threads one of them left which made life more tenable in the office. I also got to know well this other guy who sat nearby who I had used to have a decent chat about music with (he used to be a drummer in some thrash band in the 80s)
Now I’m not there I guess I realise it wasn’t really all that bad

What makes you so dedicated to the forum?
Dunno really. Well in part now because I’ve been here so long. So much time invested here that to walk away would a) feel like I wasted 8 years. And b) take something I enjoy out of my life. Ultimately I care about this site probably because I have been here since day 1. When you build something you take pride in it. If I was merely a member I’d have walked away within a year and probably in the ticcan days,But because I’ve been an integral figure here, then I have always wanted to carry on through those tough days knowing it will come good. That’s increasingly harder these days. Posts are down, the networks gone, but that also forces me to make this place stronger again. That fall and decrease in traffic galvanises a desire to bring back the good days. Roll on the world cup

Do you like cheesy Wotsits?
Not bad. I don’t like the way they stain your fingers. Plus theres better crisps, but I will occasionally dabble

What’s your worst habit
Farmville.

Is that little flick natural?
Flick? The flick in the hair? Yes entirely natural, As is the flick in my right foot when I go running (tried training it out, didn’t feel natural) so yeah those 2 flicks are natural. Unless you mean Flick from Neighbours.

Will 24-7 ever get back to what it was like in the good old days?
See above. I think we can. The problem is the feeling of complacency. People all say yeah lets get this place going , or that ideas great, but in reality are only willing to minimal effort. Theres a few people who really do try hard here, and full of great inentetions, but the effort isn’t always rewarded with results. Take the blog site. Great idea, everyone says, yeah lets get involved. And the promptly can’t be arsed. But then that’s the same in all walks of life.

Also when people mention the good old days when do they mean? This place evolves. People would think when it was busy, but have you read some of those threads? They are horrible. Just pages of drivel of people arguing the same point repeatedly with Ticcan. Then further back when people say it was fun, I actually think a lot of those threads are retarded now. But they existed in a time and place that was fun, but that time was then. Things change. You have to make a new age and not hark back to some mythical golden age. You also have to remember the way days go. The arly days always considered the best is when we were new, we were brash, we annoyed people. You can’t act like as a big site.

So your voice is actually appealing... you've obviously seduced women before with it and it 'kinda' worked on me. Would you consider it your best asset? and if not, what is?
I don’t consider a voice to be an asset. For one I could put on other ones. I don’t regard it on a girl would be like breast, legs etc. That being said I have met girls whose voice just melts you away, (mainly French) Considering my slight frame I consider that I actually have quite chunky calves from the running I’d do. I am expecting you all to say my hair. I admit its somewhat of a hindrance at times.

If you could kill someone in 24-7 land and get away with it who would it be?
I wouldn’t kill anyone. That’s a bit of harsh reaction to what is essentially just someone else putting over their view. As much as I dilike what a number of people have to say I would never actually say I hate any member (well maybe Firestarter in the past, but half of what he said and did was an act so that he’d get attention he seem to so crave, whether that be good or bad)

How quick will you be to run onto the pitch when promotion is confirmed?
Considering I sit att the back of the upper tier and it takes me 15 misn to get of ground at best of times…….not very quick at all, as I won’t be bothering.

Favourite chocolate bar?
Ummm, twix please

Zequi, why?
ask him

Favourite alcoholic drink
Well, hey, I drink Lager, but considering the maret for it where I live I mianly drink Fosters. Given a choice and an endless vat of money I’d drink most Czech beers though. If they served Gambrinus, Staropramen or Pilsner Urquell on draught where I live, then them. I also lived on Victoria Bitter in Australia. I am very partial also to a few Japanese beers.

Worst job?
The worst day of work I ever had was when I worked for an eco lodge in Queensland. I basically did odd jobs there. One day my task was basically to turn the compost heap. This is a compost heap in the freaking tropical jungle. It stank worst than anything ever. A smell I couldn’t get out of my nose for days. The thing was crawling and I mean crawling with maggots. It was just vile. The consistency of it was horrendous to. It squelched. Just vile
For an actual proper job and not just one task in my role, then picking fruit was just sh1t. **** pay, too hot etc.

What does your office deal with?
I’m a student.

Favourite soft drink?
Coca Cola

What do you think to how this forum has gone? Did you ever imagine it would grow/last this long? What are we doing for the 10 year mark?
If you told me we’d be here 8 years down the line then I’d have never believed it. But considering at times we had 3X maybe 4X posts the day we do now, I’d be a little upset. Considering I’m only in this game because I made a forum on EZboards in 2000 one night when drunk and got my mates to join then one thing led to another then even more so. If you’d told me then, when we’d had 6 regs that I’d be where we are now, then I’d be amazed. People will say it was better. But then I remember the days before that. As for the 10 yyear mark. Well we got 2 years to go. I don’t honestly see what we can do to celebrate it. Baring in mind we could get hacked tomorrow like we once did, I don’t know if we’d come back from that again.

Favourite staff member
For the sheer effort you can’t look beyond Celticrugby. However longevity theres Boovy. And then theres the fact Killah saved our ass a few times.

What is it about them foreign women that you like so much? Our Brit girls are one of a kind
Well. If you may have noticed I havent really blathered on about foreign women as much anymore. I never have had an issue with British girls. Just back in the day I was with a Japanese girl. That kinda cultivated my obsession there. But hey I am mainly over that now. Apart from Eiko

People from Derby speak very strangely, don't they
Not at all, rather how they talk than Brummies or Mancs

Do you like Sombreros?
As a fair skinned person, they can be a life saver in certain conditions. However would I wear one out of choice. No

Do you think every Tuesday should be like Sombrero Tuesday?
You can wear a big fvck off Sombrero every Tuesday, talk like Antonio Bandera’s for as long as you want, drink a bucket load of Tequila and then watch a compulsory Spaghetti Western....sound ok to you meester?
No

Joel Lynch. Forest Legend? I think so anyway.
He’s played what 12 games? And for most of them he was much maligned. Have I answered the question

Snog, Shag, Marry … The bitches on the forum.
Well basically of the girls on the forum I only ever have had any kind of conversations or contact with 2, being Yiddo and Smeg. Therefore I couldn’t really assess the others
That being said
Snog – any of the others. Your exempt from the next two.
Shag - Yiddo – I assume she knows what shes doing. I also presume it would be a good ride. And I would
Marry – Smeg – Simply cos I now her and I get along very well and have similar tastes in a lot of things. I also know shes very happy with her man though, so there you go

What 5 members would you love to see back on the forum?
Ibes – top guy. Only just gone, but I’d love for him to come back
Booser – Always funny. I stand by the fact the funniest thread ever was his one of the 24-7 members and their pets. The G comment was the greatest piece of comedy ever on this forum
Red4eva – thought Tim was top user. Intelligent and all that jazz and contributed in many areas
Shanks – All round top user. In all areas of the site. You can’t ask for more than that
Zizou – a legend and hall of famer if we had such a thing. He was a top guy. Probably before most of your times here though

I’ll give Caddy a mention too. Legend

Nottingham Forest, do you think they will get automatic promotion or face the play offs?
As said above. Playoffs

You've been here from day 1 and seen every classic 24-7 thread come to light. What's been your favourite ever thread?
There is so many. I honestly wouldn’t include the Firetstarter classic, or the G goes to Moscow. Jakey G has a kid was epic. We used to have loads like that in the past. Like I said above, there were 2 or 3 epic picture threads from Booser that simply were hysterical

You've also seen lots of retards/crap members over the years as well. Who was the worst/biggest tard?
Could almost do a time line of tards
The first we ever had was a Barnsley fan called Tykey Tyke frum Tarn.. He simply posted “lolololllolololololololol” I every post

The next was Mr Jimmy. He knew Mark and basically took this as an excuse to spout sh1t.
Highbury Lad was always fun to mock.

Probably the worst ever though was Swissknife. I mean wtf was he ever doing?

I will give honourable mentions to Crazysah and his desire for girls in football shirts pls thx. JAkey G was pretty much retarded. Sniper was epically dumb. ReAl MaDriD was ultimately stupid. The guy achieved mod status then used this to edit or delete any posts who disagreed with him. You can’t look much past BArdez meltdown either. That was both tragic and hysterical.

I heard a rumour you like to deconstruct antique telephones you buy from charity shops then re-assemble them, is that true?
wtf are you even on about. You get nominated for tard award above.

Snog Marry Avoid, Harewood, Darcheville, Van Hoijdonk
Shut the fvck up

What’s your biggest regret?
well, theres 28 years of regrets. I regret not working harder at school, I got complacent. I could and maybe should have done a different undergrad degree. I regret turning a couple of girls down or not going places I shoulda done thinking they’ll stay there forever for me to get. There was a girl I adored and would have done anything. She once text me I love you, I was at a gig and instead of going meet her after it, I thought I need to be up for work in morning, that was pretty dumb to be honest. However I am happy in life. To change 1 small thing at any other juncture is to potentially alter that. That girl ultimately got a job in London. So it wouldn’t have worked out. I dwell too much as it is without really thinking of regret so to speak. Do I regret not taking ajob at some point that might have led to me a different career? Maybe. Do I regret not doing more prep for this dream job interview one time? Probably. But would I have been happy there… who knows.

So you're at uni once again. How you finding the student life compared to the first time around? What do you want to do when you get your masters?
It is very different. For one back in my day the internet wasn’t so integral. Things like intranets, also so much information being available online. E journals and Google Scholar have completely changed the game in the nearly 10 years since I was there. I think I’m wiser too.Not more intelligent. Just more clued up

How does it feel knowing the only way you got an interview was through rigging the vote system?
Would be an interesting story if it had any truth to it. For one there were 6 voters. I got 3, hardly loads to shoutabout is it? So who is this bitter soul? I can prove it too.

Sith or JedI?
Fvck george Lucas for ruining my childhood

Where is the best place you have travelled to in the world?
Erm. Well. Australia was awesome. I loved New York. Tromso was the most beautiful place, as the amazing fjords around town were breathtaking. Tasmania was incredibly beautiful too.

So John Terry done the dirty on an old pal by sleeping with his ex missus and now she’s supposedly up the duff. How would you react if you were Bridge?
I’d fvck his sh1t up.

What 5 members do you have the most respect for?
Respect?
Well. Berean Todd. He actually manages to talk religion whilst not coming over as an ignorant pompous tvvat. Bamber, funny guy who retains himself despite having a million kids.

Celticrugby for being the nicest guy in the world. Mejulian, top guy. Boovy, putting up with being fellow admins for 8 and a half years.

Interview done and compiled by Lil Yiddo

2010-02-19T14:32:00.002-05:00

Big Honky Ocho's wife paints her Kit on

God Bless America's WAGs. Check out SI for 29 more photos. Hopefully the trend continues.

Bethany Dempsey...now we just need BiancaCakes to follow through. Come on Landon.

2010-01-17T19:47:00.004-05:00

The Interview: nAz

Tell us a bit about yourself …

Well...

My name is Naz.

I am a 21 year old Muslim currently studying Theology and working part time for a charity within fundraising. I am hoping to become a teacher at either college lev el or secondary school level. I may just do secondary school just for the challenge

I would call myself British unlike some other people who were born in this country but have Pakistani/Indian/Arab etc family. My parents are both from Pakistan however they moved when they were young so they understand the western way of life, I guess.

I’m not the most confident person in the world and I am actually very shy when I first meet someone however when I do get in my comfort zone I can open up and be more comfortable.
I love music and films. I tend to mainly listen to rap/hip hop tracks but can listen to anything that quality whether it is rock, rap, dance etc.

I have a fiancé who I intend to marry and I love her to bits. I have been with her for 2 years this Tuesday (sexy time)

Did I see you join a facebook group that involved telling your girlfriend to make you a bacon sandwich?
Did I? Wait, let me check.

Ahhhh. I see now. It was this group. http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?...6087674&ref=ts
That group pwns imho.

Do you like cheesy Wotsits?
Okay. I don’t know how to answer this tbh.
If we are talking literally, then yeah I like.
If we are talking about some sort of sick sex joke or something I would go for the answer that makes me seem the most gay.

Why Liverpool?
I think I have explained this on the board before.
Basically when my parents and uncles and aunts moved to this question, they came in the 70’s and 80’s and at that time Liverpool dominated and they were the team that got my family into watching football and ever since then all my family has supported Liverpool since then.
Whether or not you think I’m just an out of towner glory hunter or some ****, I honestly couldn’t give a ****.

What's your best memory of a game you were in attendance at?
I’m not going to lie and act like I have been to many games however there was one memory that sticks out when I went to Anfield for the first time watching a premier league game. It was when Crouch scored his first ‘goal’ for Liverpool. It was great because the crowd just wanted him to score so badly and everyone went ballistic when he scored and watching him run the pitch because carra wanted him to jump in the kop. He got knackered at before he could reach it from the other side

Fowler or Torres?
Fvck me, tough choice.

Footballing wise? I would say Torres. He is a brilliant player and a joy to watch. There are not many players to say the least at Liverpool that give you that WOW factor and always seem to amaze you. Torres is that player. Even when you think he has had a sh1t game and he is out of sorts...BANG, a moment of genius that wins you the game or once chance and one goal.
However, in terms of like fan favourite, I would have to go for Fowler. He was my first footballing hero that I looked up to and his love for the club is amazing like the 4 times hand gesture he did to the Manchester United fans....brilliant. Also, he is left footed like me and I score goals like him all the time when i go football and I score all the goals and maradona once scouted me and would have played me in the argentina squad if i were argentinian.

Be honest, what are your views on interfaith dialogue and the treatment of other religions in Islamic states?
I’ll be honest. I have no idea of how much interfaith dialogue there is in Islamic states. However I am guessing there is a minimum amount which is not a good thing. One thing I appreciate about the west is the freedom to practise religion. I mean even in Muslim countries I am unable to practise my religion the way I wish. For example when I went to Saudi, I was nearly arrested for worshipping in my own way. It’s a crazy world we live in.

Interesting fact, now, ass fag.
About myself? If so, I have memorised half of the Holy Quran off by heart.
In general- When hippos are upset, their sweat turns red.

I need love advice, can you help, I met a girl on Monday, after chatting and getting her digits a name, and a date with me tomorrow at 9 we went for a drink on Tuesday, now she wants to do something on Wednesday, what would you suggest?
Anal rape FTW

Seriously though. Go out to eat or coffee or shisha or something lol. I don’t know why anyone on here would want advice from a virgin but I guess you don’t know much about her so I think this kind of thing would be better than a movie because you can talk. I don’t know if that makes sense.

If you get married to this woman, i wanna invite to the wedding otherwise im going to take my testicles and rub them all over your cats vagina.

Best childhood memory?
Going to Pakistan when I was young. I loved it there, the culture, the traditions and also seeing my extended family. The weather is great; the people are amazing and friendly. I used to go swimming everyday in a local dam. I got really attached to Pakistan and when I left I was in tears, I wish I could go back.

You seem to be pretty devout in your Islamic faith. Tell us about your background. Were you always this way or what made you become so? Do you come from a family background that was very religious?
Well, my parents have been devout Muslims ever since I can remember and they have brought up their kids in a very good Islamic household. Making sure I got a good normal education as well as an Islamic education. When I was younger I would go to school from your normal 9-3 and then straight after I would go to the local mosque to memorise the Quran from 4.30-9.00pm.
I’m not going to lie; this was a very dark period in my life. I was actually depressed and I this was in the ages from 10-15. I would get beat up at the local mosque whenever I would make mistakes in my memorisation of the holy Quran. I was constantly drained and had no energy because i would go from Monday to Saturdays.

I eventually quit the class near the end of my gcse’s and concentrated on my normal education. That day was a momentous occasion even though my parents were still upset I hadn’t completed the Quran

Sorry if I have rambled on a bit in this question but fvck it, this is MY interview. I could go on and on about the threshold of a donkey when a monkey sticks its foot up its ass if i wanted but Im not into that ****.

You don't live near Liverpool yet support the only top four side not to win EPL title, conscious decision, or epic fail?
hahahaha

I don’t give a **** tbh. I have a feeling that when Liverpool do finally win the title (I HOPE TO LIVE TO SEE THE DAY LOL) that I may lose my interest in football after that because its like when you love the chase of getting a girl. Once you got her, you’re like **** this ****. Does you get me homedawg?

Can you tell us a bit about Sufism (I know we all have wiki) and how do you relate to that sect of Islam? Through parents or individually? id imagine you are Sunni from birth anyway. id imagine you're Punjabi then.
Sufism is a complex and broad subject. However the best way I can describe Sufism is to say that it is the spiritual aspect of Islam. To live a life in a state or trying to achieve asceticism and to prepare more for the next world rather than concentrating on this world and thinking that you will live forever.

I relate to Sufism through my parents and have studied it myself individually; it has always been something that helps me.

I would say one of the main benefits of Sufism for myself has been to look at difficulties and hardship as a test from God and to always remember the perceptiveness of this world and that the next world is the one we must prepare for.

Any hobbies?
Playing football and I used to be big into bike riding but haven’t been going for a long time. Maybe when the weather picks up

Ignorance is born through lack of knowledge, but the knowledge is there, why don’t people acknowledge it?
Maybe it isn’t because they don’t acknowledge the knowledge. It may be because they misinterpret it or may even be that their mind is deceitful, locking off that knowledge through a mental block to protect them from the harshness of reality.

If you could get rid of one member, who would it be?
No one really. There is no one that doesn’t contribute in some way to this site.

When are you getting married?
Soon. I am praying for this summer. It would most likely happen early august God willingly and everyone is invited

I had to do some convincing to my parents as I am marrying outside the family which is the norm within my culture. It has taken two years to convince them and now we are looking to arrange it in the summer.

If I was going on a holiday to Pakistan, where would I go and what would i do?
There is a lot of culture in Pakistan and some beautiful Masjids to visit. The best place I visited was Lahore. It has a bit of the night life and it has a lot of beautiful mosques there which I visited. Ive also been to Islamabad where Faisal Masjid is which is pretty impressive.

However, i love it because I lived within my families village and experienced a different lifestyle which is what I look for when I go abroad and was why I hated Dubai. It sucks.

What do you think of Sultan? do you think his hate of Islam is now becoming an act, he’s putting on a show? its like he’s trying to hate islam even more than he really does, do you agree?
I don’t like the guy. I think he is a hypocrite of the highest order. Fair enough, he left Islam. I have no problem with that. The guy talks like he is Gods gift to mankind and that his opinion is only valid. Atheists talk of how religious people should respect their beliefs, however with someone like him it is very hypocritical because he blasts other people for having certain beliefs.

When he isn’t discussing religion, he’s ayt.

In your view, do you view Sufism as the best 'face' for Islam to put forward in terms of opening up dialogue with the West and promoting cultural harmonization between different cultural groups?
Yes, very much so. Sufism is the way forward. It is the sect of Islam that doesn’t have any sort of radicalism. It is kind of like our Buddhism. It promotes peace and it focuses on the individual which is what Muslims need to focus on at the moment. For me, Sufism is Islam and there are aspects of Sufism in most religions and most Sufis don’t have any problem with living in the west and respect this country unlike the people from Islam4uk.

What is your favourite place that you have travelled to and why?
Madina in Saudi Arabia. More specifically, the Mosque of the Prophet Muhammad. I have never felt more spiritually at ease than when I am there. It is amazing to feel the difference between Makkah (where the Ka’aba is) and Madina. It is the most peaceful place.

After them I would say Mafia Island just off Tanzania, amazing place with amazing people. Syria was also brilliant because of the people, just friendly and very accommodating.

Do you believe Liverpool will finish in the top 4?
I don’t think we will. The squad is very poor and out of form and I believe that teams like Man City and Tottenham have more in their locker. Also, these two teams look like they mean business this year.

Watching Liverpool play is worse than stabbing yourself in the eye at the moment.

What's your stance on Sufi-influenced spiritual organizations that have sprung up in non-Islam countries that, even though they are not in any sense a Muslim organization of any sort, incorporate many of the teachings and spiritual methodology of Sufism in their outlooks? Do you think that cheapens Sufism and is an insult to the faith?
I don’t believe it cheapens Sufism at all. Many people argue that Sufism isn’t even something that is Islamic but is universal. I don’t believe that myself however I do not think it cheapens Sufism and I believe people can use it by any medium they wish to as long as long as it benefits them.

Obviously I do wish more people become Muslim Sufis but if it did help them in some way that is always a positive thing.

If you could travel anywhere where would you go and why?
Morocco. Because its a beautiful country with so much heritage and culture. Plus its an Islamic country which would mean all the food halal

There have been, many comparisons and contradictions to yourself and the boxer Naseem hamed. Both very small and skinny, both called Naz, one is a Prince, ones a Queen. Are you handy in a fight?
hahaha. Interesting question to say the least. Im not skinny by the way but I can be your queen

Im not the type to get into fights to be honest. Im a very non confrontational kind of person and I don’t think I would do well in a fight.

The last fight I had was with my older brother in which both of us were losers

Im a lover...not a fighter.

Favourite non scousers player and why?
In the team now?

Has to be Torres for obvious reasons. I also loved Alonso when he used to play for us

Who do you hate more? Everton or Manchester United.
Manchester United.Everton is more of a local thing and I don’t know many Everton fans in real life tbh. United fans are fvcking everywhere and each one talks more **** than the last when it comes to football and all the ones I know CANNOT take banter at all.

The ones on this site are brilliant though.

Does it ever piss you off that Anfield is full of these johnny come lately fans who don't live in the City and have no real link to the club, keeping honest local fans like yourself at home or behind your keyboard, forced to watch some stream in Indian or a language you don't understand?
It really does piss me off. All these foreigners coming into our country, taking our women, taking our jobs, eating our curry, drinking our tea.

Deport them all back to Pakistan I say.

Are you the Liverpool fan who's a virgin?
Yup. Virgin by choice not by looks like half the guys on this site. (sleeping with hookers doesn’t count RM)

What's Naz rocking on his Ipod when he's down the street?
Mainly Rap and Rnb. Im listening to a lot of Chamillionaire at the moment, I think he is a real good on topic rapper and just a mixture of all the latest tunes really.

How is it as a British member of islam in the UK do you ever feel like the stereotypes hold you back?
Not much tbh. Im not the type to complain about it or feel like Im being held back by stereotypes. There are many different challenges in life that come in different forms that different types of individuals have to come across and get past. If you let **** like that hold you back, you will not get far in life.

How strict are you on religion?
I used to be very strict. I remember back in school and a part of college life, I wouldn’t even speak to girls because of religion and i used to pray 5 times consistently a day. I used to be at the mosque reading quran after school for around 4 and a half hours a day.

At this moment of time, my religion has fallen a lot and I hope to get a spiritual recharging and will be hoping to perform the pilgrimage of Hajj this year insha Allah (God willingly)

If you could bring back one member, who would it be?
I wouldn’t say this member has gone but I would like to see Killah start posting in here again. I speak to him often on msn and he’s a top bloke and someone I can relate to a lot.

What are your views on Sha'ria law? Specifically as relates to the treatment of women?
I believe it is fair. I also believe that Islam empowers women and does not oppress them at all.

Firstly look at the Quranic passage ‘there is no compulsion in religion’

Not only does this mean that we must force everyone to become a Muslim but it also means that even performing religious acts cannot be forced on a person. They have to want to do it. For example, the wearing of the scarf. If a Muslim woman doesn’t want to do it then that is up to her, there is no oppression like many mistaken there to be.

Islam gave women rights at a time where female babies were being buried alive. Just look at the rights of wife within marriage.

You are having 5 forum members over for dinner and some fun. Who is coming and why?

SMG316- He is one of my favourite members on this site and me and him hit off from the get go. I think he is someone that I would get along with in ‘real life’ as well. And I can cuss him for bein Indian and he can cuss me for being a Pakistani

Killa- The guy cracks me up with some of the stuff he comes out with in msn convos and it would be good to chill with.

Bossanova- I find him to be the most interesting person on this site and he comes out with a lot of funny ****. He can also ramble on about this bird that he fancies.

The Big Easy- He is just a loveable guy. Never really noticed him much before but he would be good to go out with and he can take the piss out of me for the whole ‘FA Cup Draw’ thread

RCKB- Even though he has had a lot of stick lately. I don’t believe he is a racist at all but I like him and think he would bring out the devil within me lol

Have you had enough of the snow yet?
No- I cant get enough. It makes everything look ever so pretty
winter>summer any day of the week.

Big Freeze in football, don’t you think it was a bit of a over-hyped crap all these games getting called off?
Not really, you can always reschedule and the safety of people is lot more important than some football game. Postponing a football game is better than having someone die in a car accident or something like that.

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

2010-01-02T01:44:00.003-05:00

Member Interviews: grobbelaargate

Tell us a bit about yourself...
I'm Sean Facer. Aged 25. 6ft tall and weighing in tonight at 14st. Live with my mother, but looking to change that within the next year. I work for plastic moulding company which is a shithole and I've been wanting out for a while but sadly in this day and age, it's not a choice so work my way up the ladder I try until something better comes along. I don't get up to much in the week besides work. I love music, reading football autobiographies on a rare day and I'm developing skill in Italian cuisine. At the weekend, it's time with my girlfriend, who I've been with for 19 months and counting.

My first Wolves game I went to see was against Notts County in December 1994. We won 1-0, Bully was the scorer and it was John De Wolf's debut that day too. I've been a regular season ticket holder for fifteen seasons and I'm considering it making it the final season seeing as we're at the top.

If you could sign anyone for Wolves, who would it be?
Michael Essien (not Mancienne for you dyslexics out there). He can do almost anything with great efficiency. Defend, tackle, pass, attack, score, run from box-to-box and he has a great physical conditioning. More valuable than Drogba, Lampard and Terry combined. Closest player to resemble Duncan Edwards.

So, its snowing. Do you want to come and make a snowman and some snow angels with me? It would be pretty cool.
Why not? Love snow angels. Love making huge snowballs as well. Would be cool indeed.

What's your political views?
Labour through and through. Even though I'm slightly disillusioned by this government restricting our freedom of choice. Still better than having the Tories and that phonie David Cameron in though. So in a nutshell, I'm left-wing.

Have you even been arrested?
No. Had aspirations to be arrested for being too merry though.

Why is Craddock your favourite player?
He's been a sensational performer over the last few seasons and I dread to think where we would be without him. Last season - for me - emphasised his importance to the team. We had Neill Collins in the team and we just brought in Christophe Berra and we leaking goals for fun and then we dropped Collins and Craddock stepped in and we've been keeping clean sheets or conceded just the one goal every game. If wasn't for him, we would be stuck in the CCC, or worst, be the whipping boys of the Premiership. I wasn't expecting him to be a starting regular this season but was expecting a new contract as 'thank you'. And he's a top fella too. Does a lot of charity and community stuff. A club legend in my eyes

What wrong with your club's badge, it looks like a disney icon.
Disney icon? You think so? I always thought it looked like one of those blocks you see on that old quiz show Blockbusters. I must say, it does look minimalist, looking at it. My good friend Nes does some great artwork. Ask upon request and I reckon he'll display

I was at the game where the woman got hit by a firework, I'm convinced it was an assassination attempt on the Premiership's greatest ever striker, why do Wolves dislike Shearer so much and are there any plans to greet Craig Bellamy in the same manner?
I think the fans dislike Shearer because of what happened in that game. Shearer lunged in with two feet on Lee Naylor and referee Steve Bennett gave him a talking to whereas minutes later, Naylor was pulling Shearer's shirt, nowhere to go anyway, Bennett books Naylor. It's either that reason or that Lescott had Shearer in his pocket in that great FA Cup tie the season before.

I think the fans hate Bellamy a bit more just for the fact that he's had a bit of a ill-disciplined past. A good seeing to from Kevin Muscat when Bellamy was at Norwich won't forgotten easily.

Who was your idol as a child and why?
Peter Schmeichel. I was inspired by him to play goalkeeper and tried to emulate him in every single way but dye my hair blonde and have a red nose. A lot of kids mocked my shouting and my way of spreading my body out. **** them. I stopped them from scoring.

What's your favourite holiday destination?
I love to go back to Barcelona again. Beautiful weather, great football, beautiful sites and views to see. I wanted to stop forever rather than just the week.

Are you aware of the past of the Wolves fans on this forum and the association of madness?
Nes mentioned this forum to me and he does tell me of the nutters that were on here, past and present. Some like Woof and Norwolf remain thank goodness.

How do you rate England’s chances in the World Cup?
A better chance than last time, and the only two things that's changed since 2006 is the management and discipline. Very highly just by looking at how the tournament has panned out, we should make the semis with ease, permitting we're at full strength. Got one or two weak links in the team but I'm confident that we can overcome this to stand a good chance.

Shag, marry, kill? Shakira, Rihanna, Cheryl Cole.
Rihanna - kill - I can't be dealing with someone/something that says the last two syllables of every single sentence.

Shakira - shag - But she's gott a shut the **** up though.

Cheryl Cole - marry - She deserves better. I am better.

Have you ever broke a bone?
Nope. Had a curly wurly finger for a week though. Why it didn't break is beyond me.

Do you like sombreros?
I love them. I went to Madrid and Barcelona but I never had the chance to go out and buy one. Next time, eh? And a moustache to boot, yah?

Whats your alcoholic weapon of choice?
Can of Budweiser. It tastes better of the can than the bottle. First choice every time I'm out on the tiles.

Do you like Cheesy Wotsits?
Nah. Space Raiders FTW!

Are there any users you just simply think are idiots?
Upon my short time here, I haven't had much time to judge who's an idiot to be honest. But two names springs to mind are Akira and Calean. OTID and Sniper were tools too. Good calls on getting rid.

Give me your 5 track album of 2009
Grizzly Bear - Fine For Now
John Frusciante - Dark/Light
The Decemberists - The Rake's Song
The Horrors - Sea Within A Sea
**** Buttons - Surf Solar

A curry and a pint of ice cold lager....heaven eh?
Oh yes! Chicken jalfrezi, peshwari naan, can of Bud. MWAH!

You’ve become quite a popular member in a short space of time, how are you finding your new found fame?
I'm handling it alright. Bit overwhelmed when I looked that MvM results and see that I've beaten someone like Foley who is a decent bloke and has been on this forum for years. To be honest, I couldn't imagine myself having such status once I joined but there's some great people on this forum and there's been so many great threads that it's made me stick around here for much longer.

We've all seen your penis, does this embarrass you?
Not really. It's all about efficiency over size for me. It's like comparing Maradona to Heskey. Which is the more effective? I'll leave it for you to decide.

What's your idea of a culinary treat?
Post-match pakoras and samosas

Even though West Brom yoyo, would it be right to say they're a better side than Wolves?
To be honest sometimes I watch West Brom in the CCC and wished we could play that kind of attacking football. But to answer to the question, they have had the upper hand on us in recent years and why not as they've got a good group of players themselves

January. One in, one out … Name them.
Out - Wayne Hennessey - cash him in for big money before he exposes himself as an average keeper.

In - Benni McCarthy - We don't have time for SEB getting there and if Doyle gets crocked, we're doomed. Proven goalscorer at this level is sorely needed.

Is Calean an idiot or misunderstood?
Idiot. From what I've seen, the boy is not right in the head. The power of Christ has corrupted him.

If you could kill anyone and get away with it who would it be?
Simon Cowell. He's made millions by making karaoke singers look like superstars before spitting the flavour out of them. Since when was singing for 2 minutes for once a week live with all the poxy choreography in the world made an artist great? Plus if I kill him, ITV won't have a leg to stand on. I'll kill him by having him and myself with a baseball bat in my hand so he won't know what's coming.

Same question but say if it was a 24-7 member.
Akira. His knowledge of football is poor. And I'd kill him the same way as Cowell.

Do you remember your "first time"? Was it special?
Christmas Eve last year. I'd say it was. We've been wanting to do it for a bit but something always had to crop up. So glad we did and glad it was with someone I had feelings for.

So you support Wolves, what I want to ask you is, which type is your favourite. Is it Grey Wolf, Tundra Wolf, Arctic Wolf?
Grey Wolf. Scary as hell.

What is your greatest Wolves' memory?
Beating Charlton 3-2 two seasons ago. I watched it on the big screen in a pub in town. The atmosphere was awesome and when SEB scored that amazing goal to make 2-1, the place erupted but when Karl Henry made it 3-2 in the 94th minute, the city could hear the pub scream from the rooftops and I was buzzing so much I felt like a kid at Christmas. I stopped in town afterwards, got pissed, yet I was still buzzing. Got home at 3am and still buzzing, didn't go to sleep until 8am.

If you had the chance to go into space, would you?
If you guarantee my return, then yes. Going into space isn't a big deal as much as it was years ago.

What runs but never walks, has a mouth but never talks?
An Ethopian athlete.

What’s your best podcast on your iTunes?
Don't do podcasts. Don't have the time for them.

What's your favourite smiley? Share it with us.

So we’re halfway through the season (almost), how do you fancy your chances of staying up?
Very likely, we've finally got a team that's playing week in, week out and getting used to each other's game. I think another striker is sorely needed. Without Doyle, we won't look like scoring.

If your a wolves fan.. why the name grobbelaargate?
At the time prior to joining I was a bit fixated with the matchfixing scandal back in the 1990s, particularly with Bruce Grobbelaar's case as he sued The Sun and was awarded compensation only to be counter-sued and left bankrupt. And I was struggling for a name at the time too. I love to change it now but I'm known by it by a lot of people now so I'm sticking with it.

Tell us about your career. What do you do? What does your job role include?
Career? What career? I did rotten in school so I went straight to college and did NVQs in Business Administration. Managed to get Level 2 but could not get a job in the office/admin field so I'm sticking it out in a factory for the time being. I seem to have lost my career drive over the last few years.

I've been doing a variety of roles over the last few months. Been toolsetting on laser-marking machines, been doing some material handling and I've been packing mouldings, which is boring. Dunno whether I wanna stick it out here and try moving up the ladder or look elsewhere.

What do you want for Christmas?
Peace on earth and a jazzmaster.

Is the Molineux ever gonna have the corners filled in?
Steve Morgan has mentioned doing the stadium as a whole ie getting the fans closer to the action, filling in corners etc. I think he'll get around to doing it as soon as our Premiership status is stable.

Sith or Jedi?
Chewie. I don't follow Star Wars, but Chewie looks awesome.

Have you ever needed stitches?
Once back in 2003. I was walking - sorry, staggering - back from a notorious pub that has since seen a few friends of mine get glassed or the **** kicked out of them. A bunch of guys got out of a car and beat me down. Luckily enough, instinct got me to put my hands over my head and I got kicked in the ribs, hands and fingers, all bruised at the end of the beating, fingers and hands more so. Still managed to have a few nasty blows to the head. I required 12 stitches in the back of the head.

What’s your views/opinions of the females on the forum?
Yiddo - Top lass of the class. Friendly, talks a really good game, gets along with everyone.

Barcelinha - Decent poster when she pops in the EPL section. Great taste in music.

Ruudlover - United through and through. Don't see her much outside the United forum but she's alright.

In all honesty they're stark contrast to the females who I talk to about football. They can't talk a good game to save their lives.

That's all the females I know of on here so if I missed you out, I apologise, unless your name is Clare Balding.

Are you travelling home and away with Wolves whilst they play their football in the Premier League?
I can't be arsed to travel away to be honest. I'm taking a page out of Geesus' book not deciding not to bother after he went to watch us get demoralised 5-1 against Blackburn when we were in the Premiership first time around.

What's your biggest fear?
Although I'm slowly overcoming it, it's heights. My girlfriend dragged me to Pleasure Beach a few weeks ago. Good money to hear me scream my ass off on the Pepsi Max. Lost my voice halfway through.

Are you a Facebook kinda person or is it Twitter for you?
Facebook. I do my best to have time for Twitter though.

Have you bought your tissues for after you get knocked out the FA Cup against Tranmere?
I have indeed Scoot. I'll be needing them whilst I'm eating my curry whilst watching us stuff the jingle bells out of your lot.

Do you play football if so, what position and what’s on your pre-match iPod selection?
I do, though it's just a big kickabout with the lads if it's all arranged. I play goalkeeper, but recently have been trying my luck in a number of positions.
As for a pre-match playlist it's very much the same as what I play before I go out on a matchday...

Jeff Wayne - Eve of the War
Talking Heads - Crosseyed And Painless
Jorge Ben - Ponta De Lança Africano (Umbabarauma)
Liars - Plaster Casts Of Everything
Radiohead - The National Anthem

How many fingers am I holding up?
Orange?

The day Wolves got promoted, how did you feel?
Not as ecstatic as most fans as sensed it was gonna happen weeks prior to the QPR game. Still very chuffed though.

Who do you think will finish in the top 4?
Right now Man Utd and Chelsea are shoe-ins. It's up in the air for the two spots. I reckon Villa will have the mileage and the squad this time around. Arsenal will be there and abouts with or without Van Persie. Liverpool seem to have a habit of finishing seasons strongly over the years but their squad has weakened for the losses of Arbeloa, Hyypia and Alonso, despite the arrivals. Spurs are a good side who will be lurking around but they need to start beating big scalps to be certain of a place. Man City has the advantage of having the resources on their side, but whether it'll be used wisely remains to be seen. But if Mancini identifies the problem behind the leaky defence, they're a serious contender.

Who do you think will get relegated?
At this point and time...

Pompey - they have a chancer for an owner and have spent nothing on players and it wouldn't surprise me if the last of their star players left.

Hull - A sitting duck without Jimmy Bullard and Geovanni looks like a different player from the one that wooed me.

Third spot can be anyone from 12th downwards. Hard to tell.

Thank you and Merry Christmas!

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

2009-12-23T18:54:00.000-05:00

Lech Poznan Fans at a U-11 Cup game

Unbelievable.

2009-12-19T15:23:00.000-05:00

Barça end 2009 with their sixth cup after defeating Estudiantes 2-1 for the FIFA Club World Cup

By: IBES

FC Barcelona and Pep Guardiola celebrated their last triumph of 2009 with an amazing come from behind win against Estudiantes to capture the FIFA Club World Cup in extra time. Just like their semi-final win, Barcelona were down to an early goal in the first half but a goal from super sub Pedro two minutes before the end of the game kept the club’s hope alive and Messi sealed the game with his goal in extra time to give a fairy tale ending for an amazing year. Under Guardiola, FC Barcelona have become the only team to win every competition they have been a part of in 2009.

Barcelona’s first appearance in this tournament was during the Cruyff “Dream Team” era when they lost to Brazilian side São Paulo 2-1 after taking the early lead with a Stoitchkov team. Their only other appearance was a few years ago when the Rijkaard managed Barcelona lost to another Brazilian side, Internacional , 1-0 with the goal coming with just eight minutes left in the game. Fortunately for Barcelona, this final will be different in that it will not be against a Brazilian side this time nor is being played in Japan, but in the UAE. Would third time really be a charm?

Guardiola‘s starting 11 for this epic final would be Valdés in goal supported by Alves, Puyol, Piqué, and Abidal in defense. The midfield consisted of Xavi, Sergio Busquets, and Keita to support the front three of Messi, Ibrahimovic and Henry. This meant that Keita would replace the injured Iniesta and unlike the semi-final, Guardiola would only go with one defensive midfielder and thus Touré Yaya was relegated to the bench. The starting eleven for Estudiantes were Albil, Rodríguez, Cellay, Desábato, Ré, Díaz, Benítez, Verón, Braña, Pérez and Boselli.

The first half was a rather disappointing one for Barcelona as they seemed to be the less active side of the match. Estudiantes wasted no time to let Barcelona know that they would be in for a good match when, in the third minute, their captain Veron cleverly chipped the ball over Puyol for his teammate Perez. Fortunately Valdés was alert to what was occurring and came to the rescue and blocked Perez’s shot with his legs. Certainly an early warning sign of things to come for FC Barcelona.

In the 7^th minute, Barcelona would create their own scoring chance that would put a scare to the hearts of Estudiantes when Ibrahimovic delivered a fine through ball, courtesy great back-heel pass, to Xavi who opted to pass instead of to shoot when he was within striking distance. The ball would thus dribble its way out for a goal kick. The game would get more physical and intense from the Estudiantes players who clearly were succeeding in ruining Barcelona’s free flowing passing game. The game then would have its first controversial moment.

The final’s referee was Benito Archundia who seemed more content to let the players decide the game and thus was very lenient with the physical play at time, although he found it appropriate to book Messi for diving. However, in the 31^st minute, what appeared to be a penalty for Barcelona was not awarded by Mr. Archundia. Replays showed that the Estudiantes keeper Albil did make some contact with Xavi’s right leg inside the box but the end result was a goal kick for Estudiantes. If that no call didn’t cause fury for the Barcelona fans, then they all would feel despair later on when Estudiantes took the lead.

Just five minutes later, Estudiantes would strike a dagger into the hearts of the Barcelona fans when Boseli was able to get in between Puyol and Abidal and score a header goal past Valdés for the opening goal of the game. Although it appeared that Boseli was originally offside when Díaz delivered his cross, the referee chose to allow the goal to stand.

Just like the semi-final clash a few days ago, Barcelona were down a goal in the first half yet again. Barcelona seemed rattled by that goal and could not create much scoring chances with the exception of an Ibrahimovic bicycle effort during a free kick that he was inches from connecting with. The first half would thus end 1-0 in favor of Estudiantes. Although some would say Estudiantes did not do much to earn the lead, Barcelona did not exactly play any better themselves.

The second half would see Guardiola bring on Pedro in place of Keita before the start of the second half. Whatever Guardiola must have said in the locker room during halftime must have worked because the players came out to play in the second half with hunger and intensity that was lacking in the first half. It seemed to Pep that the only way to beat Estudiantes was going to win was with speed, quick passing and intensity.

Ibrahimovic was pushing this team ahead with his attempts on goal and his passes. He has a one on one chance with the keeper in the 51^st minute that Albil was able to save. Pedro then would become the go to guy with the end result consisting of squandered chances. In the 59^th minute, Henry crossed the ball to Pedro that just missed and the two minutes later, Ibrahimovic’s cross to Pedro would be intercepted by Albil. However, Pedro would work some of his magic in the 68^th minute when he displayed some great skill to elude three Estudiantes players, only for his shot on goal to be saved by the keeper and result into a corner.

Throughout the duration of the game, Messi had been rotating between playing in his usual right wing side of the 4-3-3 formation and in the center of the field. He was constantly hounded and surrounded by two to three Estudiantes players and if he managed to escape from their clutches, he would suffer a forthcoming tactical foul. However, with the introduction of Pedro, the team would move around with more pace and that would aid the team in their possession. However it was the final ball that was lacking from the club who seemed content on delivering crosses into the box all game long.

More controversy would occur in the 74^th minute, when another call for a penalty would be missed by the officiating crew. A cross from a free kick far from the box was headed by Piqué for a shot on goal that resulted in a corner kick. However, the referee and his assistants missed the clear penalty on Ibrahimovic and thus another valid penalty was missed. Another cross four minutes later would result into a great scoring chance for Ibrahimovic but his header would sail wide. Sergio Busquets would be substituted for Touré Touré and with only 12 minutes left, one had to wonder what was going through Guardiola’s mind. Who would be his ace in the hole when it came time for the final substation?

In the 82^nd minute, Guardiola decided to take off Henry for Jeffren. Clearly this was a surprise move since Jeffren had just come back from an injury and his last appearance was over a month ago in the Copa Del Rey. Fortunately his speed as a left winger would play a vital role against the exhausted Estudiantes team who still played hard defensively to ensure that Barcelona would not equalize. Jeffren kept eluding his would be defender with ease and get into the box first almost every time. With two minutes left in the game, Barcelona’s magic would make yet another appearance in 2009.

In the 88^th minute, Barcelona kept pushing forward for the equalizing goal. Touré Yaya passed the ball to Xavi whose cross would be intercepted by Veron when he jumped to head the ball away. However, Veron’s effort caused the ball to sail backwards to the box and Piqué would jump and head the ball before anyone else could. His effort would fortunately result in a clear scoring chance for Pedro who would rise up and score a great header goal that sailed over Albil into the back of the net. 1-1 and the game was far from being over now. What seemed to be a repeat of their last cup defeat in this competition was now given a blank piece of paper for the players to write another chapter in this amazing year for the club.

The game would end without anymore scoring chances and both clubs rested a bit and listened to their managers give out instructions. Barcelona seemed rejuvenated and had an extra bounce in their step and went on the offensive. Messi had a free kick effort just fly over the bar in the 93^rd minute and Alves’s cross to Ibrahimovic was a just bit too high for Ibrahimovic to handle and cause a scoring chance. Messi and Ibrahimovic would then hook up together for some quick passing that resulted in having a shot on goal that just went wide in the 96^th minute. It was their best chance of the half and one had to hope that it would not be the last.

The second half would be the club’s last 15 minutes to find the game winning goal or this cup was going to have to be decided on penalty kicks. Five minutes into the half, Messi would make sure that he would have the last word of this tough physical clash of champions. In the 109^th minute, Messi innocently passed the ball to Xavi. Xavi then would pass the ball to Alves who was a bit far from the penalty box. Nevertheless, Alves noticed Messi racing towards the goal and Alves thus delivered one of his crazy crosses we have grown accustomed to seeing throughout his time with the club. Alves’s most recent memorable cross was the one in El Clasico which assisted Ibrahimovic in scoring the only goal of the game. In this game, his cross would fly into the box and Messi outraced Veron and another defender to the ball and chested the ball down for the game winning goal. 2-1 and the little man from Argentina had once again scored in another final and further add to his magical season and cement his status as the best played in the world right now.

Estudiantes did not have much left in the tank but they did not surrender. It was not their turn to find an equalizer and they almost had one in injury time. Estudiantes were awarded a free kick in the dying seconds of the game and Veron delivered a cross into the box that Desábato headed towards goal. In that moment, all the Barcelona fans’ hearts skipped a beat when they saw the ball seem to be destined to be a goal; only for it to barely miss the goal and go out for the goal kick. A sigh of relief for Barcelona and its fans and the referee signaled the conclusion of the game after Valdés kicked the goal kick to the center of the field.

Barcelona endured a tough and physical game but ultimately won the cup that Cruyff and Rijkaard’s teams could not win. 6 amazing cups in one year and as the players began celebrating this amazing achievement, Guardiola finally got caught up in the moment of this achievement and began to cry. He was consoled by some of the trainers and Henry and Ibrahimovic. It was the latter that then made Guardiola laugh and regain his smile. FIFA presented their individual awards and Xavi won the Addidas Bronze ball while Messi won the Addidas Golden Ball and the Toyota award. After all the players received their medals, captain Puyol was handed the FIFA Club World Cup Trophy to end the long wait to bring that trophy back to Barcelona.

Next for the club is a friendly in Kuwait before they begin their winter break. What lies ahead before they resume their 2009-2010 season is uncertain. A new chapter for this club begins with possible winter transfers, presidential campaigns and titles to defend. One can only hope it will be as successful as this past year was for the club and for the fans. ¡Visca Barça!

Match Factos:

Estudiantes: Albil; Clemente Rodríguez, Desabato, Cellay, Re (Rojo, 90'); Verón, Braña, Benítez (Matías Sánchez, 76'); Pérez (Núñez, 78'), Boselli, and Díaz.

FC Barcelona: Valdés; Alves, Piqué, Puyol, Abidal; Xavi, Sergio Busquets (Touré, 78'), Keita (Pedro, 45'); Messi, Ibrahimovic and Henry (Jeffren, 82').

Referee: Benito Archundia (México).

Bookings: Messi (17'); Díaz (45'); Clemente Rodríguez (57'); Enzo Pérez (64'); Henry (81'); Pedro (90'); Sanchez (93'); Rojo (111'); Valdés (117'); Braña (118')

Goals:

0-1, Boselli (37')

1-1, Pedro (88')

1-2, Messi (109')

2009-12-16T19:48:00.003-05:00

Barça Defeat Atlante 3-1 in the FIFA Club World Cup Semi-Final

Written by IBES

FC Barcelona kicked off their quest for the elusive FIFA Club World Cup with a 3-1 come from behind victory over Atlante. Barcelona started the game with Messi, Henry and Piqué on the bench. They did not enjoy the best of starts when Atlante surprised them with an early goal four minutes into the game but Barcelona equalized half an hour later through a corner kick goal from Sergio Busquets. The second half saw the introduction of Messi and Piqué and it would pay off with Messi scoring the go ahead goal and Pedro scoring the third and final goal and become the first player to ever score in six different competitions in a season. Three goals courtesy of the La Cantera means Barcelona will now face Estudiantes in the FIFA Club World Cup Final on Saturday.

Guardiola decided to rest some key starters for this game. Messi, Henry, Keita and Piqué were not selected to be starters. Keita had suffered a knock and was doubtful for this game but Messi had been recovering the day before at the beach and seemed like he could feature as a substitute if needed. The starting eleven for this semi-final were Valdés in goal with Alves, Puyol, Márquez, and Abidal in the defense. The midfield consisted of Xavi, Sergio Busquets, and Touré supporting the front three of Pedro, Ibrahimovic and Iniesta. Guardiola’s selection seemed a bit odd to have two defensive midfielders starting and Iniesta play again as a left winger in Henry’s usual spot.

The game started off in the worst way for Barcelona when just four minutes into the game, Atlante was able to get the first goal of the game by catching the Barcelona defense napping. Atlante’s Argentinean keeper Vilar free kick from the midfield resulted into a long ball landed to long ball beat Rafa Márquez and Alves and allowed Atlante player Rojas to get to it first, lob it over VALDÉS and score courtesy of his sliding effort to ensure the ball goes into the back of the net off a tight angle. Just like that 1-0 and a great sucker punch delivered to Barcelona.

Barcelona immediately tries to respond when Alves’s danger cross missed the rushing Pedro’s head by inches. Barcelona then was awarded a corner kick and almost scored from Busquets’s header had it not been for the quick reflexes of Vilar.

Atlante would catch the defense napping again in the 10^th minute as they a through ball from the midfield beat the offsides trap. However Puyol was able to catch up to Atlante’s counter attack and mess up their counter attack chance when he deflects a pass backwards to eliminate the scoring threat. From them on, Barcelona would dominate possession and have some scoring chances the rest of the half.

In the 23^rd minute, during a counter attack for Barça, a cross from Alves to Ibrahimovic eludes Vilar and both Vilar and Ibrahimovic battle for the ball outside the left side of the box. Ibrahimovic crosses into the unmanned goal but Atlante’s defenders clears it. In the 25^th minute, Iniesta blasted a shot from outside the box that just sails over the cross bar. Lots of possession for Barcelona but they lacked that last killer pass or valid shot on goal.

In the 30^th minute, Touré had a nice give and go with Xavi that Touré controls and takes a shot from outside the box but his effort is high over the goal. Two minutes later, Barcelona were awarded with a free kick and Ibrahimovic’s long range effort blazed over the wall and just over the cross bar and Vilar’s hands. Barcelona’s hard work and determination would finally pay off a few minutes later with an equalizer.

As the half continued to be dictated by Barcelona, one had to wonder if Guardiola’s decision to start with the two defensive midfielders of Touré and Busquets was a mistake given that Atlante had taken the early lead and were now parking the bus and waiting for the perfect moment to go on a counter attack. Fortunately, these two players would be involved in getting the game tying goal off a corner kick. In the 34^th minute, Xavi’s corner kick was headed by Touré and the ball landed in front of Busquets to score the equalizing goal. Barcelona would continue to threaten courtesy of another corner kick that Xavi passed to Dani Alves who cross was headed wide by Rafa Márquez in the 43^rd minute.

The referee would award one minute of injury time and Barcelona had a chance to end the half in their favor when Xavi got the ball back from a turnover and delivered a fine through ball into the box for Alves only for Alves’s shot is inches wide. That would be the last scoring threat from Barcelona as the referee whistled the end of the half. What started badly for Barcelona at least ended on a good note with the Busquets goal.

Both sides started the second half with no changes to the starting lineup but that would not last long. After watching the team play five minutes into the second half, Guardiola decided to make two substitutions. In the 53^rd minute, Messi came on for Touré and Piqué came on for Rafa Márquez . The substitutions would pay immediate dividends just a minute later.

Barcelona’s hopes of reaching the final took a positive step just a minute after those two players came on the pitch with Messi adding to his memorable year with the go ahead goal. The goal came from a nice pass from Ibrahimovic to Messi who was able to control the ball and elude Vilar and tap the ball under Vilar that took a slight deflection from Vilar’s hand, and a sliding Atlante defender for the go ahead goal. Just like that, the magic between Messi and Ibrahimovic leads to another goal and gave Barcelona a 2-1 lead.

The game was now swinging in Barcelona’s favor since that go ahead goal meant that Atlante would have to abandon parking the bus and attack. Atlante did manage to create a slight scare in the 59^th minute when they caught Piqué flatfooted but they failed to get a shot on goal. Barcelona then would create a scoring chance thanks to a free kick that sailed into the Atlante box that allowed Ibrahimovic to heads it back into the box but no one was there to score and Atlante defense kicked it out for a corner. The game would finally be out reach after the hour mark thanks to the record setter Pedro.

In the 66^th minute, Pedro would become the first player to score in six competitions in a single season, courtesy of some nice work from Iniesta. Iniesta displayed some great skill as he took on two defenders inside the box and was able to beat 3 Atlante players with a magnificent pass to the onside Pedro. Pedro would then calmly strike the ball to the top left of the goal and calmly write himself into the history books as the first player ever to score in six different competitions. Since August, Pedro has scored in Spanish League, Champions League, Copa del Rey and the Spanish and European Supercups. The score now was 3-1 and that goal was the final nail in the coffin and ultimately, 3 goals courtesy of La Cantera for the victory.

The rest of the match would continue to full of blown chances, especially from Bojan who came on for Iniesta, and missed scoring opportunities but the score would remain the same and Barcelona are heading to their third ever final for this intercontinental event. They will be facing Argentina’s Estudiantes this Saturday after Estudiantes defeated Pohang Steelers yesterday. All Barça fans will be hoping that third time’s a charm this Saturday and lift the cup that has eluded their grasps twice in the past.

Match Facts:

Atlante: Vilar; Miguel Martínez, Fernando Navarro, Guillermo Rojas, Luis Velásquez (Pereyra, min.63); Daniel Arreola, José González, José Guerrero, Christian Bermúdez; Santiago Solari (Carevic, min.56) y Rafa Márquez el Márquez.

FC Barcelona: Valdés; Alves, Puyol, Rafa Márquez Márquez (Gerard Piqué, min.54), Abidal; Xavi, Touré (Messi, min.53), Sergio Busquets; Pedro, Ibrahimovic e Iniesta (Bojan, min.76).

Goals: 0-1, min.5: Guillermo Rojas. 1-1, min.35: Busquets. 1-2, min.55: Messi. 1-3, min.67: Pedro.

Referee: Carlos Simon (Brazil)

Bookings: Solari (min.8), José Guerrero (min.40), Luis Velasquez (min.61), Ibrahimovic (min.65), Piqué (min. 90 + 2)

The Ongoing Saga of Notts County

2009-12-15T15:58:00.004-05:00

I will say this first about Notts County, nothing is never dull there. It has been just over 2 months since my first piece about the Magpies, and there has been a whole host of developments.

Munto Finance, the shady Middle Eastern investment company turned out to be nothing more than a front for a crooked structure based in Britain. There were no wealthy Arab oil sheikhs, just a guy with a shady past trying to cover his tracks. Especially when connections to Kim Jung-Il the secretive and elusive leader of North Korea (part of the axis of evil) was uncovered, with an unspecified “gift” being given to him.

Munto have been replaced now, Peter Trembling has taken the club over. Quite was his finances are unsure. There are a host of people speculating that Sven, who has earned millions in his career, may put money into the club. But hang on, that’s not what he signed up for. He signed up for £2.5 mill a season (of which he was earning considerably less, with much promised in shares in more shady companies in the umbrella of companies investing (i.e. money laundering) in Notts County.

For Forest fans, the mocking County gave us at the start of the season about how soon they would be back to the top of the pile in Nottingham, it is almost amusing. We have always had a certain kind regard for County. Wanting them to do better than to fail. This infuriates County, who hate us, and the feeling has not till this seen been reciprocated. Now with their new brash manner, you begin to dislike them in the same way man City have rubbed a number of people up the wrong way in the Premier League

Peter Trembling, who was merely the mouthpiece before is in charge. Now you could argue that maybe he has liked what he has seen enough to invest, so things must be ok? It would appear no, manager of 7 weeks Hans Backe just this morning walked out the club after complaining about “broken promises.” One can assume he was promised vast sums, and has been told there will no longer be money in January to spend.

There was also the news when Trembling took over he will be looking for investors in the club. That’s never good news. Just look at Portsmouth over the last 6 months. Each successive new owner there has talked about securing new investment. The fact is in the world right now, with the economy in tatters, there are not people on every corner wanting to fling millions into clubs finances that seem to have been modelled on a house of cards built on quicksand. Indeed, just look at their fellow nicknamed Magpies, Newcastle United. Mike Ashley has been looking to offload a club with arguably one of the best foundations in terms of large ground, huge support and a Premier League infrastructure, and no-one wanted to touch them with a barge pole.

Sven says he is staying, but Sven is still trying to sort out the money he is owed in a Swiss owned mineral firm. My guess he is merely holding out on resigning till he gets this cash. Once it appears if it ever does, then Sven will get the hell out of there as soon as possible. The whole scheme seems to be poisoned.

It would appear one of the most unlikely dreams in the football league in completely unravelling. I would hate to see it become a nightmare and see County slump in the second half of the season, and god forbid enter administration. There has been talk the likes of Kasper Schmeichel and Lee Hughes, the much heralded summer signings may already have to go. Large wages and potential fees would entice County to get rid to cut costs that presumably they cannot sustain any more.

Let this be a lesson football clubs. Those people promising the world may be actually delivering nothing at all. It’s been a roller coaster of a ride thus far, and we’re still unsure where it’s all going to end.

2009-12-09T18:30:00.004-05:00

The Interview: Da Fat P0rn Sta

Tell us a bit about yourself …

His name is Grant.
Grant is the wrong side of 30.
Grant works for an oil company in payroll, which ironically doesn’t pay well.
Grant lives and has finally bought a flat in a small town 40m North of Aberdeen.

I actually do very little but work during the week and get pissed of a weekend on double vodkas and jagerbombs. Huge fan of music in general and films, but you’ll never ever see me watching a horror, ever. I do have a bad rep amongst some of my mates of ranting too much and not liking any popular music, which isn’t always true.

Really I support Aberdeen, but really don’t have the finances to go watch in a regular basis and this will be even more some now. I follow Spurs, for some unknown reason that I really can’t think why, and have done for about 15 years. The same goes for Real Madrid, but I do remember liking Hugo Sanchez so that might be that reason.

Do you like Sombreros?

I used to have a sombrero. A big yellow and pink gay looking thing that I took back from Disney on my first trip there. I took it to a Mexican night at the local and haven’t seen it since.

Leonard and Penny - True Love? Will it last?

Ah, TBBT. Love it to bits. It’ll be on/off as all the American sitcoms make these ‘couples’. One of the best on TV at the moment though by a country mile. And the nasty things I would do to Kelly.

What mainstream act at the minute would you consider not being "dirge"?

I had a feeling we’d eventually get to my musical tastes. One of y mates says exactly the same that I hate anything that is popular. It’s a fallacy, it’s just that most are. I think that the main problem is that when one genre makes it big, like indie or RnB is now, then you get these record companies just piling out any old **** to boost their stocks. Same happened with nu-metal, britpop etc. And it’ll happen with the next popular genre.

That being said I never answered the question really. I like Foo Fighters, KOL, RHCP, Green Day... it really depends what you constitute as popular. I’ve never been one for the ‘pop’ stuff even when I was young. I remember when my sister was looking at Kylie albums in Woolworths I was looking at the cool Iron Maiden covers, this before I had heard any. The first album I bought was Appetite for Destruction by GnR.

I try and not post in stuff that I don’t like, but sometimes the temptation is too much. The charts don’t really bother that much as I haven’t looked at them for years.
I could go on and on, but I think I’ll stop there.

You have pure disgust for shows like x factor etc.... but do you not see that some of the contestants actually do have talent?

I have disgust with all reality TV shows not just X Factor. This series of it is the most I’ve ever seen though, about 3/4 episodes which I was forced to watch in a mates house so I have a better understanding of it to rant at it.

They can sing and hold a note, which seems to be the requisite in the program. You could go into any karaoke bar in the world and pick out one or two that could do the same as the majority on those programs. They all seem to be carbon copies of each other with no real differences in their singing styles. If you like that then I guess it’s great, but they are the most bland monotone personalities for people who are supposed to have the ‘X Factor’. If I had to pick someone to win this year it would have been Jamie because he was a little different from the mould.

The other thing about that program is the different styles every week. Swing, big band, rock etc. It makes no sense to me, I know it’s to drag it out and make it a program. However, do you think Frank Sinatra, James Hetfield or Beyonce was made to sing out of their comfort zone to see if they had it? Of course not and the winner isn’t going to be made to after they win. So why do it now? Make them sing songs that they would be singing.

Has international football gone down the drain this decade?

To be honest with you I hardly watch a full game of football in general now. I get bored after about a half, every game is very similar to another. Football in general, IMO has went downhill a over the last, yeah probably decade. A lot of the time you can tell 2 or 3 passes in advance what’s going to happen.

But you have to remember I’m from Scotland and our football has been going downhill for longer than 10 years.

Did you ever had a homosexual experience?

The closest I got was when my finger slipped through the paper when I was wiping my arse.

Do you like cheesy Wotsits?

I’m going to be innocent here. I love crisps in general, they’re my major downfall. I can eat Wotsits so yes. Although I’d thank you more for Pickled Onion Monster Munch.

Why the nickname?

At the time I was registering I had long hair, as I do now and a dodgy ‘tash/goatee thing. My mate was going on about with my gut I looked like Ron Jeremy. Hence the name. I think it probably still fits.

Why Jack Blacks love child?

I take it whoever this is hasn’t seen any pics then. I’m told there is a very close resemblance. In fact... couple of years ago I was over to Florida on holiday in a timeshare complex. A couple of mates were over sitting at the bar while I went to the apartment and checked on the international scores (about the time we beat France with McFadden’s screamer). I got a phonecall from my mate saying they were getting pissed there tonight and there was a **** dude on a guitar. I went over and the said dude stopped in the middle of a song, pointed at me in the doorway and screamed ‘It’s Jack Black!’, the entire bar went silent and looked over at me... well apart from my 3 mates who were doubled up. I had to convince at least 3 dumb couples I wasn’t him.

Why why why Delilah?

Delilah always seems like a munters name to me, so I guess anything for attention.

What's the biggest problem facing the Scottish League? Lack of money? Lack of talent? Lack of managers or all of the above?

The money has a big part in it. With money you can get all of the others. Attract better players, better training facilities etc. The likes of Larsson, Laudrup etc wouldn’t come here now on the 10k that they would more than likely get. We have to remember we are a nation of 5million, we’re never going to be World Champs the best we can do is follow the the likes of Hollands blueprint, but it seems like the suits have some sort of allergic reaction to common sense.

You are stuck on a desert island, all you could take were a CD player, a TV and a DVD player and five of each medium, what five DVDs and CDs would you bring?

God, I’ll have to give this some serious thought. Only five of each? ****.

Films.
1. Blazing Saddles
2. Dark Knight
High Fidelity
4. Goodfellas
House Box Set (hope that counts)

Music.
1. The Wall - Pink Floyd
2. Career Moves - Loudon Wainwright III
3. Best of - The Wildhearts
4. Where The Wild Things Are - Karen O & The Kids
5. Blast Tyrant - Clutch

This will change every day and in no specific order.

Your co-worker comes by your desk and sticks his/her tongue at you, what do you do?

I’m actually pretty laid back at work, in my last appraisal I was told I was probably too chilled compared to the rest of my dept. Mind you they are all women so they don’t count. I’d probably do nothing.

However, when I worked with all men in my first job I’d have told them to go f*ck himself. But that isn’ nasty there, in fact they’d have been impressed I didn’t call him a c*nt. Then again sticking their tongue out is hardly anything there. We used to get bored in the afternoons and do all sorts of stuff, like selotaping boots to the roof, doing phonecalls to the payphone across the road, making up fake letters etc. We had nothing better to do.

Top 5 members who you would like a conversation with...wearing sombreros.

Grobbelaargate
scottdc
CelticRugby
Blue
Sinate

Sombreros...discuss

They are probably the only hat that is only cool with a ‘tache and for that they should be commended.

Best score from a xxx flick?

3 w*nks in one sitting probably. Although I have cut down my p0rn to about 30 ‘movies’. I prefer the ‘fake amateur’ ones though.

Is it just me or do the eastern European flicks sounds dubbed down to the moans and grunts?

To be honest I’m not really watching for the dialogue. Next time I’ll have a listen and see what Sylvia Saint is saying.

Who are you going to root for at the World Cup, if you will root for someone in particular that is?

The reason I have so many teams in my fav teams is that I really have to root for someone. I find it more enjoyable watching a game if I want someone to win. Even if it’s ManU v Arsenal I have to pick a side. The World Cup? I tend to chose after I see all the teams play though. See team I like to watch and usually an underdog too. I always like Argentina, maybe Mexico?

HD ruined porn or made it better?

Really doesn’t bother me at all. Sometimes I think some of the more ‘ropey’ actresses would have been better had we not had HD. I really didn’t need to see all their pock marks or 15 inches of makeup.

Who would you consider to be the best male and female actors of the current generation?

The ones coming through? I like Emile Hirsch and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Shia Leboef looked good but he’s picked some really bad parts recently and will have to pick some good ones to get out of the rut.

Female? Hmmm, I’ve never really been that big on female actresses. Zooey Deschanel, but that shocks noone. Zoe Salanda and I think that Christina Ricci should be doing more.

What's your favourite curse word?

F*ck and c*nt. I use swear words far too much. Like those annoying valley girls use like... I use f*ck and c*nt. Maybe even more. I think it’s what happens when you work in a fish market with just ‘macho’ men, of which I am defiantly not.

Sumerians....like....WOW...I mean...seriously...WOW!!!

Sumerian rock my boat Blue. I just can’t get my head round how far advanced they were compared to anything at that time. They had their hands in the babylonians, egyptians, romans, greek civilizations. And yet they get practically no credit. You look around today and they still influence. They are a remarkable people. Go read about them people!

Is it true the further north of Scotland you go the tighter the pockets become?

You walk around in this town with your hands in your pockets all day you’ll not have any arms left. I’s a tad rough. Not Moss Side, but rough enough.

How old were you when you watched Porn for the first time and what’s the story behind that?

I honestly can’t remember. It would have been the early days of the internet because shockingly I was never that into p0rn in school and such. Getting the internet opens a whole new world... and it usually involved p0rn. It would have probably been one of those cheap nasty sites. I’m thinking some link from thehun.net. God, there is a blast from the past. Is that site still running?

My god! It appears it is.

Ron Jeremy, living legend, how did he get famous?

I don’t know. It must have been **** easy to get into p0rn way back when because he is one big fat ugly hairy greasy bastard. Someone once told me it’s because the average guy can relate to him. **** that. I don’t watch p0rn for the guy you ******* homo.

Ron Jeremy avatar, where is it?

It’s still on th comp somewhere. Having his grotesque face winking at you would hardly give my chances on the MvM any good though would it?

2012.....oh dear

I’ve never really fallen into the 2012 thing. I never really believe anything where they give precise dates. They always, but always fall back on the different calendars, earth rotations etc to back up that it is coming but in the next few years. Mayans were extraordinary though. Their mummies are ****ed up.

Why do you post like you have something constantly up your ass?

Apart from the butt plug? Ah well what can you do? My personality is one of you love it or hate it. Trust me it can be a lot worse outside this little whole we hide in. I’m sicker, fouler and rant a hell of a lot more on the outside. However my mates think it’s hilarious for some reason.

Favourite sexual position? And WHY?

Her on top. Defiantly. I can look like I’m actually doing something when I get her to do the work. And watching everything shake like it’s supposed too. Not my horrendous out of shape body move like I’m doing the truffle shuffle.

How come Scotland cannot qualify for the big tournaments? Was it the case of European teams back then being less to compete for the spots were bad or just the talent is not there anymore?

I think it’s a little of column A and a little of column B. There really wasn’t as big a gap between the big and small teams back then, not just taking Scotland into account but all. Can you imagine a team like Steau winning the Euro Cup now? Never going to happen. The CL is set up such as the big teams from the big nations are going to win. Most of the smaller nations have to go through several qualifiers just to get to the groups while the 4th placed team, who can be as much as 20 points behind, in the larger nations walk in.

That’s a rant about the club teams I know, but I was in full mode there. Scotland’s entire footballing infrastructure needs an overhaul. They just aren’t willing to do it. Every year we’re being told there is a great nw batch of talent coming through and it never materializes.

You have also to remember that, as far as in the World Cup, Eurpoean teams had far more places to take. Now they’ve taken away some to give to Oceania, Africa etc there are going to be less Euro teams qualifying. We fell into the category that would have made it through in those places.

What’s your deepest darkest fetish?

I have no real fetishes. Really. I can’t imagine the S&M stuff or anything. normal stuff for me I’m afraid. Not even on any drugs. I’m a boring old fart now. If it makes the answer seem better I can make something up.

I’d love a 14 year old Liechtenstein born amputee to take a **** on my chest while playing ‘Hit me baby one more time’ on the kazoo, as a Romanian orphan buggers me senseless with a piece of splintered bossel wood.

Sith or Jedi

Jedi. Sith always seemed cooler, but you don’t get the chance with Leia if you’re Darth Maul.

Sheep apparently hate the Old Firm but if you were born in Glasgow, which of the OF would you go for and why?

I know some here are going to say I told you so, but Celtic. My dad supports Celtic even though he’s a proddy and he doesn’t know why he supports them. There are no links to either side through any of my family so it’s weird. He thinks there was a guy called R Beattie who played when he started watching but can’t be sure.

That and a lot of my mates support Rangers and I’ve never been one to follow a trend.

Cats are really cool eh

I fancy this, I fancy that
I wanna be so flash
I give a little muscle
And I spend a little cash
But all I get is bitter and a nasty little rash
And by the time I'm sober
I've forgotten what I've had
And ev'rybody tells me that it's cool to be a cat

If it’s good enough for Jools Holland it’s good enough for me.

Captain Kirk is/was the coolest ever white guy...agree?

Damn no. Have you seen his songs? Mind you the Ballad of Bilbo Baggins was worse. Coolest white guys? Johnny Cash & Dean Martin. No contest.

Do you install toilet paper so that you pull from the top or the bottom of the roll?

From the bottom every time.

What would be an ideal solution to Celtic and remembrance Sunday due to recent behaviour of the fans of Celtic at Falkirk?

I really don’t believe that there is a perfect solution. Morons like that you really can’t reason with. They can’t help but be involved. Yet you can’t interfere in their right to say what they want. I like the make as much noise as possible during minutes silences’ they do in Italy, but it really isn’t acceptable in this case.

In a perfect world they’d be banned, but this is an imperfect world and it really isn’t do-able.

Your thoughts on psychedelic music would be greatly appreciated.

I find it to be a weird genre as there really is no inbetween. I’s really good or shit. And by **** I mean really ******* ****. Early Floyd, Love, 13th Floor Elevators, Jefferson Airplane, The Move all very good indeed. But then there is a point where drugs transcends the music and if you listen to some of Beefhearts stuff it shows.

What’s the best porn you ever watched?

I don’t know. I don’t watch it for acting or storylines. I remember one person saying that their mate had over 100 porn films like it was a good thing. He’d replied saying he had 2 because it was to do a job. I like the fake ‘reality’ ones though. There is a Dirty Latina Maids one and a Amateur Allure one I enjoy greatly. Nowt freaky though unfortunately.

The Old Firm wanting to leave Scottish Fitba...what are your thoughts.

My first thought as a non OF guy is that if they want to leave, then leave. The problem being is that we really don’t know how it will affect Scottish football until it actually happens. Could be good, could be bad and no matter what anyone says we really will never know unless they do move. Not that I can ever see it happening. The English clubs would have to agree and there would have to be a lot of money passing hands to ok it with lower EPL and CCC teams voting for their own interests (and fairplay to them).

Why do you post like you have something constantly up your ass?

Do I? I think I can guess who this is. I do like a rant, it serves as lifting a weight from your shoulders it’s good for you. There are certain things that I feel more passionately about than others, films and music usually. Although I’ve tried to keep out of threads in the music forum about artists that I don’t like. Sometimes my will power overtakes me though.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Super intelligence. It would make it so much easier to actually know how to get everything I want the easy way.

If Heaven does exist, what do you want to see in it?

I want it to be something I can’t imagine. Everything I an imagine would in time become boring. Don’t know if it’s just me, but eventually I can pick faults in the best of things. I can see heaven being different for different people that is the only way I can perceive it to be perfect. Can see my idea of heaven being the same as some Amazonian tribesman’s.

Your musical taste is quite varied, would you say you have a favourite genre or sub-genre?

I think it’s pretty obvious it’s rock. It always has been. I have been going off stuff at the minute as I haven’t seen anything I really got excited about in a while. I like a little of most genres though, but rock predominantly. Karen O & The Kids soundtrack for Where the Wild Things Are kicks ******* ass though.

Why doesn't the SPL make it a 20 league team and not have us see clubs face each other 5 or 6 times?

Your guess is as good as mine. The only thing I can see is money. Two or three leagues always seemed like a better idea to me. Makes far much more sense. As well as a pyramid system with teams from the Highland League and South of Scotland replacing teams that come bottom of the bottom league. The whole system needs a shake up. Whoever thought up the top and bottom 6 idea needs to be buckwheated!

There are only a few women posting regularly on this predominantly male forum: what do you think of the each of them?

Do I have to break them down individually? I really don’t talk to any of them on a constant basis. In fact I think that Yiddo is the only one I really do at all. I do find it strange that most of them have a hatred of ‘linha. I like ‘linha. She’s no worse than any other member here. I have found that about females in general though, that they are more likely to hate someone than men are. Men are more likely to just ignore them.

A bit off there though. All in all they all seem to be nice enough.

Can a male ever fake an orgasm and get away with it?

I think so. I have done, well I think I did. i was very drunk at the time. It would be a lot easier if they were pissed and you didn’t sheath up though.

What ladies in here do you want to star in your next home movie to be posted on red tube?

I’m more of a spankwire guy, but whatever.

Mare
‘linha
Yiddo

Catfight come hadcore porn is always going to be fun.

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

2009-12-04T13:54:00.001-05:00

2010 World Cup Draw

Group A
South Africa
Mexico
Uruguay
France

Group B
Argentina
Nigeria
South Korea
Greece

Group C
England
USA
Algeria
Slovenia

Group D
Germany
Australia
Serbia
Ghana

Group E
Netherlands
Denmark
Japan
Cameroon

Group F
Italy
Paraguay
New Zealand
Slovakia

Group G
Brazil
North Korea
Ivory Coast
Portugal

Group H
Spain
Switzerland
Honduras
Chile

2009-12-01T17:40:00.001-05:00

Barcelona go back on top as they defeat Real Madrid 1-0

By: IBES

Fresh from their impressive victory over Inter Milan this past Tuesday, FC Barcelona prepared for their second big home test this week when they played hosts to Real Madrid for this season’s first leg of El Clasico. Although the match was tough and at times physical, second half substitute Ibrahimovic scored the only goal of the game to give Barcelona their third consecutive victory over their arch rivals. The win catapulted Barcelona to the top of the league standings with a two point lead over Real Madrid.

Much of the pre-game discussion revolved around who would start for Barcelona for this match. Messi, Ibrahimovic and Touré Yaya did not feature against Inter Milan and thus many expected all three to start. However, Messi would be the only one of the three to start. Guardiola went with Victor Valdés in goal with Dani Alves, Puyol, Piqué, and Abidal as the starting defenders. Xavi, Sergio Busquets, and Keita formed the midfield that supported the front three of Messi, Iniesta and Henry. Real Madrid’s starting eleven consisted of Iker Casillas in goal with Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, and Arbeloa in defense. Lass Diarra, Xabi Alonso, Kaká, Marcelo, Cristiano Ronaldo and Higuaín were the other starters.

The game was played on the club’s 110^th birthday and what better occasion to celebrate this event than to host this game. Not even the rain would deter the fans from coming to this game, with over 97,000 in attendance to witness this match. Both teams had some shots on goals but the best scoring chance of the half belonged to Real Madrid when Kaka set up Ronaldo in front of the goal alone one on one with Valdés, only for Valdés to block Ronaldo’s attempt with his feet. The save was reminiscent of last season’s home game when Valdés blocked Drenthe’s shot when Drenthe was all alone with Valdés. Marcelo would also have a chance to score but Puyol would ensure there would be no shot on goal when he slide in and blocked Marcelo’s shot. It would not be the last time that Puyol would come to the rescue of the team with last second tackles that prevent open shots on goal. The first half would come to an end with a scoreless draw and two bookings awarded to Real Madrid and the linesman constantly raising the off sides flag against Barcelona.

The second half would bring no changes to either squad but that would not be the case for long. Just a few minutes into the second half, Guardiola decided to sub off Henry for Ibrahimovic. Busquests had picked up a booking a minute before that substitution and that booking would come back to haunt him later on. Just five minutes after coming on as a substitute, Ibrahimovic would score his first ever clasico goal.

In the 56th minute, Dani Alves delivered one of his uncertain crosses and this time, Ibrahimovic would volley that cross into a goal, leaving Casillas no chance of saving it. After surviving the physical and punishing style from the Real Madrid midfield and defense, Barcelona got their goal that would force Real Madrid to abandon their defensive approach. Nevertheless, five minutes after that goal, Barcelona players and fans would go from an upbeat attitude to that of concern and disappointment when Busquets was booked for a handball. His second booking meant that Barcelona would play the next 30 minutes of football with just 10 players and Guardiola was not too pleased.

Madrid began to attack and could have easily equalized but for Ronaldo’s header effort barely missing the goal. He had been unmarked but his header just sailed over the goal and that would be Ronaldo’s final shot on goal as he would be substituted for Benzema. Four games against Barcelona and still without a goal. Keita would be also subbed off for Touré Yaya.

Even though Barcelona was down to 10 men, both teams would have golden chances to score goals. Piqué had a great chance to double the team’s lead when his header effort just missed wide in the 68th minute. A minute later, Benzema would find himself in a great position to score for Madrid, only for Puyol to slide in for the rescue and block Benzema’s shot with his legs again.

Puyol would continue to bail out the team inside the box numerous times as the match continued. Abidal would then find himself with the ball on a counter attack in front of Casillas’s goal, only for his shot to barely miss the goal in the 71st minute. Yet, Barcelona were performing better than they were when they were playing with 11 men due in large to their great passing, great recovery of the ball and Madrid’s Marcelo sloppy play aiding the Blaugrana immensely. Benzema then would have another golden opportunity in the 80th minute when Xabi Alonso’s corner fell to him, only for Benzema to blast his effort wide. Barcelona’s last best scoring chance occurred in the 89th minute when Messi received the ball that eluded Pepe inside the box but his sitter effort would be blocked by Casillas’s legs to prevent what could have been the final nail in the coffin.

The game would get chippy and the second half was evident of Madrid’s rough challenges that lead to bookings for Madrid’s Lass Diarra, Alonso, Marcelo and Pepe. Lass would get second yellow card for his wreck less challenge on Xavi near the end of the match and allow both teams to play the remainder of the half with 10 men.

The referee awarded three extra minutes but none of the teams could use that additional time to score a goal and thus the game ended 1-0 in favor of Barcelona. Madrid might have been the better team in the first half, but Barcelona was the better team in the second half and Ibrahimovic’s goal would be the difference. It was their third victory in a row over their arch rival and allowed Barcelona to take the top spot in the league table.

Next up for Barcelona will be an away trip this Wednesday against Xerex that is being pushed up early because of Barcelona’s involvement with the FIFA Club World Cup later on in mid December.

A win there would give Barcelona a 5 point gap in the standings. So on the 110th anniversary of the club’s formation, FC Barcelona played their game and found a way to defeat their eternal enemy. One could say that Barcelona’s lone expensive signing came through while Real Madrid’s expensive signings could not on this day.

The second leg in Madrid later on in the season will be just as exciting.With this result, this victory constitute the Club’s best start to a league season. It’s even better than last season, when Barça accumulated nine wins, two draws and one defeat at the same stage. Barça has nine wins and three draws thus far into this new season.

Barcelona: Valdés; Alves, Puyol, Piqué, Abidal, Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Keita (Touré Yaya, min.66), Messi, Iniesta and Henry (Ibrahimovic, min.51).

Real Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, Arbeloa (Raúl, min.75), Lass Diarra, Xabi Alonso, Kaká, Marcelo, Cristiano Ronaldo (Benzema, min.66) and Higuaín.

Goal: 1-0, m.56: Ibrahimovic.

Referee: Undiano Mallenco

Bookings: Arbeloa (min.34), Albiol (min.41), Pepe (min.69) and Marcelo (min.79)

Red Cards for being booked twice: Sergio Busquets (min.50 & 63) and Lass (min.48 & 90).

2009-11-30T22:19:00.002-05:00

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.

2009-11-29T19:32:00.004-05:00

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

2009-11-22T20:11:00.002-05:00

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.

2009-11-19T20:12:00.006-05:00

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.

2009-11-16T15:55:00.004-05:00

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.

2009-11-10T13:28:00.003-05:00

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.

2009-11-08T17:01:00.016-05:00

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.

2009-11-06T00:18:00.003-05:00

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.

2009-11-03T13:33:00.009-05:00

American(s) Abroad

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

By: Celticrugby

Spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch. The old adage still holds firm as I exit my house en route to meeting up with the Motor City Supporters club. This time, it also includes IPOD and scallycap which one cannot forget especially with a 20 minute drive ahead of them.

Lock, Stock, and IPOD in tow I head for my car as the sun begins to go down. It's the beginning of fall in South Detroit (which doesn't exist except for in a song by Journey) and a select few are all following a relatively same routine and drive to meet up at Claddagh's Irish Pub in Livonia to watch our national team which already qualified for the World Cup courtesy of a 3-2 win in Honduras that left more questions than answers on the field earlier that week.

The week leading up to this one had been fraught with a bit of controversy. The US game was not being broadcast on cable because the Hondurans sold both the English and Spanish rights to a PPV channel.

What made it worse is that its a PPV channel only available en mass at a bar. It's the same rip off Setanta does to Celtic, Rangers, rugby and Gaelic supporters all across North America, except we all know about their ass raping tactics (you pay $10, $20, or even $25 for the game).

This has never happened with our US national team before, so we were of course all up in arms about how this won't essentially be on “free tv” and how its a fucking farce that CONCACAF allows for these rules in the first place.

What most of us don't know is that the US pulled the same shenanigans on Honduras years ago, when the game here was made PPV, so a lot of them (and our fans too) were denied access. So Honduras figured a bit of how's your father back in our faces for scorn years past wouldn't hurt.

This was the main reason I didn't pay 25 bucks to watch the game with the Motor City Supporters club at some Mexican Restaurant the weekend before.

Part of it was principle as in “Fuck you, I'm not paying because this could spark a trend and you would do it more often” and the second part was that I had maybe sixty dollars in my bank account, and I'd rather eat and watch on a stream than pay to watch at a bar.....a bar that I later found out was fulled with maybe 300 Hondurans, about 9/10s more than what the Motor City group brought.

Tonight however was on ESPN2, and I wanted the full bar experience with fans, so there was only one place to be in the mythical South Detroit (really called “downriver).

And so begins the running diary of the USA/Costa Rica Match.

725pm – Jump into the car, trying to find the right music to get fucking pumped for the game...what does one choose? The US kinda lacks songs, other than those composed by Big Honky Deuce spittin' troof from the boof, or old war songs like “Over There”. Social Distortion, that's the ticket. “Angel's Wings” blasts out of my car windows as I pull out of my parking lot and get onto the highway.

730 pm– The song ends, and I figure, I am going to an Irish bar so I might as well blast some of the Celtic punk. “Miss Success” by the Booze Brothers is next up, and I yell out every time they say “Miss Success is a lovely bitch” and think about how this song eerily parallels our national team success. Is it that? Or is it me making way too much out of a song about some elitist girl this French Irish Punk band is singing about.

734pm – You've got to admit, it seems strangely American to be listening to a band from France playing Irish music, as you drive to an Irish pub to watch the United States national team. The Melting Pot / Salad bowl examples come to mind. Would Irish fans be going to an American pub to watch their team? Would French fans go to Irish pubs to watch theirs? Is this dynamic an American experience? Or is it shared by others around the world.

745pm – Driving just above the speed limit (yeah, I need to renew my license) I get to the exit just as “Over there” by Billy Murray starts blaring through the speakers in my car. One more song (Katie at the Races by the Tossers) and I pull up at the pub, pumped the fuck up ready to take on the world and a full Irish Breakfast.

(Yeah, I'm a breakfast at night person).

747pm - I park the car get out, and step into the pub. My new family awaits in the back in our own special room, with TV and control over the remote.

I greet the few guys that are already there (about four) looks like fashionably late is the flavor of the night. Immediately we talk about the Honduras game, how I missed it, how we were outnumbered like 300 to 1 in the bar.

750pm - Being half Bostonian I order some clam chowda (that's right its feckin' chowda we don't need the -er) to start and we get down to business. Who's starting? C'mon ESPN don't keep us waiting.....

755pm – Our room is filling up and the lineups for the US are announced and here's how we line up:

-----------------------Howard

Cherundolo---Onyewu---Bocanegra----Bornstein

Holden----Feilhaber--------Bradley------Donovan

-----------Casey--------------Altidore

756pm – The Chowda has been completely demolished (still not the best in Michigan, for that its Red Coat Tavern) and I begin to write what will be about eight pages of notes on the game.

I'm not drinking because I have no money in my account, so its diet coke (I'm on my second) and I order the same meal that gave us a win last time...the full Irish Breakfast.

We start bemoaning the fact Conor Casey is actually getting another game. I even go so far to say that I'd rather see Brian Ching start than him because he has more to offer (this is a big consolation on my part given Ching's reputation in my US soccer circles).

Casey, or “Gumpy” as I call him doesn't do much...except smash people. A bit of a Lee Mcculloch type where you wonder how the words “footballer” or “soccer player” could ever be associated with them. However the game before he scored twice against Honduras. Which, I knew would be enough to have Bradley keep selecting him, even if we have better talent that needs games (read: Kenny Cooper).

758pm – The teams emerge out of the tunnel and apparently Costa Rica isn't playing the US today, they are playing McDonald's.

At least I won't have to sit through commercials until half..but this is pretty bad.

8pm – Anthems. I always wonder where our anthem ranks in terms of world anthems. I'm not a massive fan of ours, but there are many that are much worse (England's and West Indies Cricket). Rugby anthems put these to shame anyways.

It's also at this point I realize the team aren't wearing black armbands for the woman who died in the accident involving up and coming US striker Charlie Davies the day before. Davies is now out for 6-12 months, and the US fans had already planned tributes to hold cards of his number 9 up for him during the 9^th minute of the game (it was at this point he was still going through surgeries, and even now there are many to go).

I still wanted to see our country honor Ashley J. Roberta who died though. When Celtic lost a fan who was hit by a car going to the game on a European night, they wore armbands in his honor, and I thought she at least deserved some sort of remembrance.

But, no. The US messes this up too.

My cousin Jen texts me back. She doesn't get ESPN at her house, so she can't watch her bhoy Holden play. Who the hell doesn't get ESPN these days that has a TV?

The room now has more than 20 people in it, with more filtering in ready with their beer orders before kick off.

The game begins.

2009-11-02T14:39:00.001-05:00

Miss 24-7 Round 3 Begins today!

Delta Goodrem

Nina Moric

Alessandra Ambrosio

Sofia Vergara

Jennifer Love Hewitt

Padma Lakshmi

It's coming down to the wire, and every vote counts. Vote today here.

2009-10-30T14:54:00.001-04:00

Barcelona Players Rack Up More Individual Awards

By: IBES

Fresh from having Xavi and Messi collect UEFA Club Football Awards, FC Barcelona reaped the benefits of winning the treble last season by winning the majority of the individual awards in the LFP Awards ceremony on Monday. Dani Alves, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, and Sergio Busquets all received awards on their performances last season along with Josep Guardiola for his management of the club.

The LFP awards are voted by a committee of former and current players and managers. The players were in Madrid Monday night to collect their awards and club President Joan Laporta,Techincal Director Txiki Begiristain and External Relations Director Manel Estiarte also accompanied the players to attend the ceremonies.

Dani Alves was voted Defender of the Year with Gerad Pique being runner up. The award for best midfielder went to Xavi Hernandez ahead of Toure Yaya and Lass Diarrá. Andrés Iniesta won the award for the Attacking Midfielder of the Year ahead of Santi Cazorla of Villarreal and Valencia's Juan Mata. Sergio Busquets won the award for Best Newcomer ahead of Apoño of Málaga and Lassad of Deportivo. Unfortunately, Víctor Valdés did not win the award for his position with Iker Casillas winning the award as best keeper. However, Valdés did receive the Zamora trophy handed from Marca this week. The award is handed out to the keeper who conceeded the least amount of goals in a season.

It was no surprise as to who would win Manager of the Season, with Pep Guardiola duly awarded for his brilliant debut season. Unable to attend the ceremony, Manel Estiarte picked up the award on his behalf. Guardiola also won the Miguel Muñoz Trophy as last season's best manager which is also awarded by Marca. Vice-President Rafael Yuste accepted the award on behalf of Guardiola.