# SDMB FOOTIE FOCUS: November **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 3, 2003, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133 "2003-11-03T11:13:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/61 "2003-11-07T13:23:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\*Arm Kasey Keller with a Gattling Gun? \*\* He’d drop it. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/62 "2003-11-07T13:24:39Z")
Wear Inter Milan shirts? I can’t see Spurs winning either, but Arsenal are still massively overpriced. _Ergo_: Five of my hard-earned pounds on the boys in white to win at 6/1, since betting like this will yield payouts more than a seventh of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Bakhesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Bakhesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bakhesh)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/63 "2003-11-07T13:31:26Z")
Has anyone heard the rumour about the City of Manchester stadium. City were all ready to name a stand in their new Stadium after Colin Bell, but then changed their mind at the last minute. The reason… Someone pointed out it would be know as the Bell End. ---
**Author:** ![Barks\_dog\_food](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c68b51/32.png) [@Barks\_dog\_food](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barks_dog_food)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/64 "2003-11-07T13:35:58Z")
Posted by mistake. Here’s the whole thing. How to get a draw, or if you’re lucky win, against Arsenal: You need to play, as **L\_C** said, 4-5-1 to stop the Arsenal midfield from supplying Henry and to eliminate any space between the midfielders and defenders. When Arsenal gains possesion be agressive and make freekicks, Arsenals counterattacking must be stopped. Everyone has to run home when possesion is lost. The first 15 min are the most important. If you don’t stop Arsenal from scoring the game is lost. But this is also the time Arsenal is most vounreable, the midfielders should put oressure on Gilberto and Parlour since these are the Arsenal players most likely to make mistakes. This is the only time you can push up the back four, after the first 15 min the defence should stay low. At this point you should consentrate on stopping Arsenal from scoring, only counterattack with few players and they should try to get free-kicks or corners where Arsenal is more vounrable. Don’t know about the other English teams in CL but for Arsenal the biggest problem is that we need to many chances to score. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/65 "2003-11-07T13:53:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bakhesh \* > \*\*Has anyone heard the rumour about the City of Manchester stadium. City were all ready to name a stand in their new Stadium after Colin Bell, but then changed their mind at the last minute. > The reason… > > Someone pointed out it would be know as the Bell End. \*\* I think they did actually go ahead with that name in the end. They claimed the vote for the new name was rigged, but Colin Bell made one hell of a fuss about them reneging and I _think_ they agreed in the end. ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/66 "2003-11-07T15:43:06Z")
Derby matches are always unpredictable, but I think Arsenal must be on a high now that they’ve actually won a Champions League match. Despite all the speculation about the back four’s potential weaknesses, it looks like Toure is fitting in quite nicely as a centre-back, and his partnership with Campbell is promising. Surpringly, it’s the forwards who have more problems now–we’re relying far too much on Henry for goals, and he currently lacks a decent partner up front. I’m also a bit worried about the midfield, with Vieira being out for the next two months and Gilberto being rather inconsistent. Nevertheless, tomorrow should be entertaining. 2-0 to the Arsenal. ---
**Author:** ![Barks\_dog\_food](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c68b51/32.png) [@Barks\_dog\_food](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barks_dog_food)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/67 "2003-11-07T18:11:22Z")
I agree that the back four has been briliant, not only has Toure played well I also think that Cole and Lauren is better. What surprised me was that the midfield was the weakest link. Pires didn’t play that well untill a week ago and Parlour was weak when he played rightwing and untill recently he and Gilberto didn’t play well together in the centre, giving away the ball to easily. I think that the relyance on Henry to score goals was a symptom of our poor form in the midfield, now that that’s over (hopefully) I think that we’ll see more goals from other players. Bergkamp has been better lately and he is a player that needs several games to get in form. Kanu has also been better this year. If we can avoid more injuries it looks good. It’s going to be a good football weekend, first Arsenal - Spurs (well I’ll probarbly see Wolves - Birmingham first), then the Norwegian cup-final on Sunday before Liverpool - Man U. ---
**Author:** ![Barks\_dog\_food](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c68b51/32.png) [@Barks\_dog\_food](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barks_dog_food)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/68 "2003-11-07T18:18:12Z")
And Chelsea - Newcastle. And then I’ll still miss the live last stages of Rally Great Britain where Solberg could win the title. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2003, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/69 "2003-11-07T18:57:49Z")
I agree with the description given by **Barks’ dog food** ; the Spurs midfield has go to be all over the show, running and biting at theri heels for the ninety minutes - not the 90 seconds we can expect from Guf and Sharon. I also like the Grovellers back 4 at the moment. Both Cole and (especially) Lauren look very comfortable playing with Toure. Campbell just does what Campbell does. Grovellers 1 Spurs 1 - you read it here first! ---
**Author:** ![Barks\_dog\_food](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c68b51/32.png) [@Barks\_dog\_food](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barks_dog_food)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/70 "2003-11-08T18:45:54Z")
2-1 The fair result would probarbly have been a draw but when Spurs couldn’t score more than one it had to be a win. The game reminded of the Liverpool game. The Spurs goal looked offside (Postiga not Aderton) and when Henry were onside for a great chance minutes later but ruled offside it felt unfair. But I shouldn’t complain about the ref since Arsenal got fewer (or Spurs more) yellows then they deserved and the linesmen made mistakes against both teams. Arsenal were the best team in the first half but several errors from Arsenal players gave Spurs chances and Postiga should have scored. In the second half I expected Arsenal to take over but instead Spurs put pressure on Arsenal. Spurs put alot of pressure on Parlour and Gilberto and the way they handlet it was horrible. I am still not sure if Spurs were good or Parlour, Gilberto and Lauren made them good. But playing so high on the field cost alot and I knew that as long as they didn’t score they would have to pay just as Liverpool did. If Spurs had been up 2 goals by then they might have won but the last 20 min or so they didn’t have the strenght to hold on to the lead. Maybe staying high on the field too long decided the game, anyway with Cygan and Bergkamp Arsenal took control I’m trying hard to understand why Edu doesn’t play more when I think about the last few games with Parlour and Gilberto. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/71 "2003-11-10T11:20:59Z")
Oh for fuck’s sake did we buy a monkey’s paw or kill a black cat or something? How did we lose that? We were all over them like a rash, should have been at least 3 up at half time and lost out to an offside goal and and unlucky deflection. Postigia - Oh dear; another pointless foreigner mugging us off. Rebrov revisited. And Bribery is getting quieter - something i would never have believed possible. Leeds:- They’re stuffed. I han’t realised quite how low they’d sunk. I can see them becoming another Notts Forrest or Sheff weds. Looks like they’re going to sack Reid - who on earth would want to take over? Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch. Chelsea - looking very tasty indeed. Let’s see if they can keep it up. ---
**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:** [November 10, 2003, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/72 "2003-11-10T12:19:51Z")
3.00pm, switch to the Prem game and . . . the bloody Spanish are showing Charlton vs. Fulham ! This satellite malarkey isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. No French chanels so I listened at home on FiveLive. Bollocks! It sounded like lucky, lucky Arsenal, again – Henry offside for one, and the ball looping off a toe and over the ‘keeper for the other. Oh well . . . At least Pleat’s tactics, formation and selection made sense after the dreadful debacle that was the Bolton game. He did go 4 – 5 – 1 for most of the game (or so it sounded) with Dalmat and Sharon (right side, not central) rather than Ricketts and Mazabela. That wasn’t too horible. Guf Poyet not even on the bench . . . I heard Frankie Well’ard was 16/1 for PFA player of the year . . . I’m about to look into that. Seems a bang on. ---
**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:** [November 10, 2003, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/73 "2003-11-10T12:26:18Z")
Rumour of a £1 million pay off for Reidy at Leeds. He’s not at training this morning . . . I’d believe it if there was a sensible replacement . . . Eddie Gray ? Shame the transfer window isn’t open, I also hear Tore Andre Flo is looking for a move . . . ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/74 "2003-11-10T12:29:00Z")
Paul Hart has been linked with Elland Road. Apparently he’s not too popular at Forest recently (a bad run) but Leeds like his track record with young players and little spending money. The Guardian mentions some questions over his ability to handle pressure, but Leeds are in the position of not being able to pick and choose. The idea that Neil Warnock would go to Leeds–well, I’m not at all convinced about that one. ---
**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:** [November 10, 2003, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/75 "2003-11-10T12:38:42Z")
On second thoughts, it’s not that straightforward 😃 : [http://www.premierbet.com/index.asp](http://www.premierbet.com/index.asp) Henry 3 Van Nistelrooy 3 Viera 8 Mutu 9 Roy Keane 10 Pires 14 Owen 16 Crespo 20 Duff 20 Lampard 20 Makelele 20 I’d have thought being able to handle pressure might be helpful, but I agree he could be the one given his history at the club. Interesting . . . ---
**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:** [November 10, 2003, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/76 "2003-11-10T12:41:16Z")
Couple of interesting things in that PFA list; the launderers vote is split five ways so even their own team mates will be divided. Having said that, Frankie is the second Englishman on the list . . . . ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/77 "2003-11-10T12:50:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\*Rumour of a £1 million pay off for Reidy at Leeds. He’s not at training this morning . . . . \*\* I wouldn’t take a cheque if I were him… Now it’s time for the Euro qualifiers (and another Sven snore-athon against the Danes). And as people are keen to know what Bontcho Guentchev is upto - he scored in FC london sofia’s 7-1 win over willesden in the Middlesex premier league (this is the league that gets occasional coverage as it has the Stonewall team in it, cue jokes about being pulled off at half time.) ---
**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:** [November 10, 2003, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/78 "2003-11-10T13:07:12Z")
Here’s yer man, **Owl** : [http://www.chrisrand.com/bontcho.html](http://www.chrisrand.com/bontcho.html) Re: The Friendly I think this is potentially more interesting that some. Context; England could be a purring Rolls Royce but, because of that left-side hole, they’re more like a three-wheeled wagon at times. This generation is coming to its peak and we need _someone_, anyone, with a left boot to give us genuine balance, especially building understanding and support with/for Bridge/Cole and tearing up the line to worry the fuck out of whoever. So, here’s the perfect chance to look at Alan Thompson. I hope Sven does because it’s the most important issue, imho. This could actually be a side to scare the best, but we do need to find an answer to that left side. F\*\*king Ryan Giggs father! ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/79 "2003-11-10T13:15:32Z")
Yes, young ryan wilson made a terrible choice. I don’t really know Alan Thompson - and have the usual worries about people who play well in Scotland - ie John Hartson played well in Scotland. If Lumpalard doesn’t start in CM then he might be worth a try on the left. ---
**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:** [November 10, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133/80 "2003-11-10T16:26:32Z")
[Read all 'Bout It Read all 'Bout It, Peter Reid Dismissed! New Crisis at Leeds! Read all 'Bout It](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/3256351.stm) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-november/211133.md?page=5)