# SDMB Footie Focus: April **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 7, 2004, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715 "2004-04-07T10:28:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/21 "2004-04-13T07:40:05Z")
Well that’s the title decided. It goes to the nomadic south london club, who stormed away in the league, but suffered a recent hiccup when it looked like the title might be going to west London instead. However class won through. Yes - AFC Wimbledon have won the Combined Counties League and are promoted to (I think) the Ryman. I haven’t got my head around this league pyramid thing yet. I was out in Wimbledon last night, and the town was full of people in AFC shirts, scarves etc. It was a marvellous sight, especially as Franchise FC were relegated in the same week. I also had the misfortune of watching Man City at White Hart Lane, which is quite possibly the biggest waste of 90 minutes that I have yet to experience. Roll on next year. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/22 "2004-04-13T09:46:48Z")
> [@Really Not All That Bright](#): > > An expat wishes to know… has Wayne Rooney done anything since _that_ goal against Arsenal last season? Nothing much. Apart from eat a shitload of pies. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/23 "2004-04-13T10:55:48Z")
In fairness, I think his Pie eating was well underway before the arsenal goal. Incredibly overrated, and yet the rumor mill has him poised for a big money move to Man U. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/24 "2004-04-13T11:03:25Z")
> [@Really Not All That Bright](#): > > An expat wishes to know… has Wayne Rooney done anything since _that_ goal against Arsenal last season? Well, his family are breaking all known records for chavness. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/25 "2004-04-13T11:19:56Z")
I can’t stop thinking that he’s going to head down the Gazza\* route to self destruction if he stays at Everton. He needs a firm managerial hand if he is to develop into a decent player and i’ve a feeling that he won’t get that at Everton. Similarly the club knows he could go to a bigger club and get paid more if they’re not careful - so are bound to treat him with kid gloves rather than the kick in the arse he’ll need. \*What will be the Scouse version of “Fog on the Tyne”? Answers on a Postcard to Simon Cowell. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/26 "2004-04-13T11:46:36Z")
Oh, the ignominy. Challenging Birmingham and Charlton for fourth _and losing_ was not the height of our ambition at the beginning of the season. I’m afraid that Houllier is simply not tactically or strategically sophisticated enough, and he is being found out every other week these days. Even average managers need only spend a couple of hours studying Liverpool’s play to work out that putting a midfielder _here_ and _here_ when you lose the ball will utterly disrupt the impatient, rushed counter-attacking game he has instilled. The endless triangles are now straight lines, and we’re failing maths badly. Phillipe Mexes of Auxerre is now on the grapevine, as well as the usual nods towards the north. I think his last act might be to sign Djibbril Cisse, but I cannot but wonder why the board would allow a departing manager to spend so frivolously. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/27 "2004-04-13T11:55:29Z")
I was listening to 606 last night, and there were some VERY unhappy mickeys on the phone. They all said more or less what Mr Meat has said. I would add that i have seen how easy it is to take a club from “big 5” status to also-rans. It takes: Boardroom incompetence and unrest, poor management, poor (but costly) transfer dealings and a failure to address problems when they arise. I have seen it in London and I think I am seeing it in Liverpool. If I werea bin-dipper I would want houlier out as soon as possible (certainly from the moment that 4th place was no longer possible) and to get in a manager that can deal with underperforming players - Martin O’Neil is the obvious choice. How much do you want for Gerrard? (assuming he wouldn’t mind playing in the Nationwide?) ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/28 "2004-04-13T12:16:25Z")
In other news, Germany invades Poland - said all this about Houllier three months ago. The only point for me is that 30+ points behind the Champs doesn’t equal 4th place, it equals mid-table medicority. By definition. But I’m repeating myself. Echo **Owl** about the game at the Lane yesterday; utter boredom. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/29 "2004-04-15T11:37:49Z")
Well done Newcastle, hard luck Celtic. These players are all available on a Bosman in the summer. Thgere’s one or two I’d be happy with… Couto (Lazio), Mihajlovic (Lazio), Helveg (Inter), Almeyda (Inter), Pisano (Brescia), Vargas (Empoli), Zebina (Roma), Lima (Roma), Signori (Bologna), Spinesi (Bari), Alcides (Mirassol), Evanilson (Dortmund), Lamotte (Schalke), Djordjevic (Schalke), Lequi (Atletico Madrid), Melchiot (Chelsea), Trabelsi (Ajax), Bastürk (Bayer Leverkusen), Neuville (Bayer Leverkusen), Ramelow (Bayer Leverkusen), De Pedro (Real Sociedad), Cambiasso (Real Madrid), Conceicao (Real Madrid), Lisztes (Werder Bremen), Mateo (Racing Santander), Larsson (Celtic), Misimovic (Bayern München), Prso (Monaco). ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/30 "2004-04-15T11:44:23Z")
Just for my peace of mind, where did you get the list from **Owl**? ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/31 "2004-04-15T12:07:44Z")
Not to worry, found this on a Spurs board: Possible Bosman’s in 2004 ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/32 "2004-04-15T13:00:27Z")
I got it through SIMB, which I definately NOT linking to here - the offenderati would explode with self-righteous indignation. However I have seen similar on other sites. Good article in the Standard tonight putting the shoe into Pleat… ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/33 "2004-04-15T13:05:10Z")
Also today is the anniversary of Hillbrough - 1986. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/34 "2004-04-15T15:06:21Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > Also today is the anniversary of Hillbrough - 1986. Me & my dad unsuccessfully tried to get tickets for that semi-final. Some mates weren’t so lucky. I remember our school trip to Alton Towers 2 days later was a sombre affair. Someone burned a Sun newspaper after its unsympathetic allegations - it has never sold well in Liverpool ever since. RIP Roy Hamilton, aged 34, my school friend Stuart’s dad. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/35 "2004-04-15T16:44:56Z")
The trully galling thing (well actually one of many) about Hillsbrough is that pretty much no one was that suprised by it. Spurs had played there a few years before in a semi (Vs Wolves) and pretty much the same happened. No one died but there were some quite badly hurt people around. It followed the same pattern as 1986, crowds outside the ground, but the kick off not delayed, poor stewarding funnelling too many people into the central pen. Also the reaction of the police was the same in that they didn’t realise that people were being hurt and refused to react. If they had learned from that then 1986 would never have happened. Many supporters of other teams had similar experiences in west Yorkshire too. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/36 "2004-04-16T09:40:17Z")
1989, **owl**. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/37 "2004-04-16T10:57:19Z")
You are, of course, right. I miss the terraces deeply, but that was too high a price. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2004, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/38 "2004-04-21T10:55:53Z")
Oh dear, what the hell was Inmanieri thinking? I always thought that when faced with 10 man opposition, the generally accepted substitution is a fit and fresh midfield runner who puts them under even more pressure - Joe Cole would have fit the bill. Veron looked like the poncey teen being found out in a big boys game, Jimmy Floyd Facialexpression was shooting at goal from near the touchline and that Huth non-entity made Igor Biscan look like Platini. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2004, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/39 "2004-04-21T11:20:26Z")
Makalele should be fined his whole season’s wages for that dive. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2004, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715/40 "2004-04-21T11:26:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Makalele should be fined his whole season’s wages for that dive. More fitting still, the aggrieved Monaco player should be allowed a free punch in the gob without penalty. I hope the supporters of Chelsea’s next Premiership opponents let him know how unpopular such antics are here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-april/238715.md?page=3)