# SDMB Footie Focus: October **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 1, 2003, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885 "2003-10-01T08:28:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/21 "2003-10-06T12:05:59Z")
I agree. Club before country for me, for the same reason as you. While they’re certainly less interesting, I enjoy international tournaments without England far more. ---
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/22 "2003-10-06T12:52:59Z")
I’d definitely go for country over club. My association with Arsenal is nowhere near as strong as it is with Ireland. I’ve only seen Arsenal play a couple of times whereas I haven’t missed an Ireland home game for a long while and I make the odd trip abroad as well (I’ll be in Basle on Saturday). If I lived in London and had a Highbury season ticket, I might feel differently. Also, I can only imagine the absolute madness that would ensue if Ireland won the World Cup. Although the lack of a European Cup is a blight on Arsenal’s record, them winning it wouldn’t come close to an Irish world cup victory. Unfortunately, unlike **owl’s** example, the chances of AFC winning the Champions League, remote though they are, are greater than Ireland joining the handful of countries who have won the big one. Now, if you were to throw Dublin winning the Sam into the mix… ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/23 "2003-10-06T12:53:16Z")
Question for the Spurs fans: opinions on this article? > **[Andrew Anthony on the downfall of Glenn Hoddle](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2003/oct/05/newsstory.tottenhamhotspur)** > > Andrew Anthony traces the character flaws that blighted Glenn Hoddle's career and led to his sacking from Tottenham Hotspur, the one club he truly loved. ---
**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:** [October 6, 2003, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/24 "2003-10-06T12:56:43Z")
Club vs. Country Fwiw, I don’t think there needs to be an issue, in fact, I’m not even sure there is an issue – apart from tabloids looking to make a drama and a crisis out of not very much. If there’s anything at all, I suggest it’s part of the bigger issue of Prem Chairmen wanting it every-which-way; a 20 team league is to big, should be 16 or 18 with a winter break as well (the extra money just goes to over inflate already over-inflated wages, anyway). Too much rubbish in the top division, in my view. But what issue there is (re friendlies only, as best I can see), the Chairmen are ably supported by Scottish or French managers who, imho, use the issue to rag each other as much as out of any genuine concern – more playground stuff. On this, I don’t have any problem with Sven doing deals with managers over already established players. I’m not aware there is any kind of issue with genuine internationals or tournaments – this is a contractual arrangement negotiated by players and their agents. No issue, clubs can’t interfere if players have the right (now standard form, I’d imagine) contractual clauses. So greedy Prem Chairmen, otherwise motivated Prem Managers and a tabloid press wanking itself stupid over not distinuishing friendlies from genuine games, or established players from fringe . . . apart from that, if the rest of us act like grown-ups it’ll all be fine. Unless I missed something, which I might have done . . . ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/25 "2003-10-06T13:07:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crusoe \* > \*\*Question for the Spurs fans: opinions on this article? > > [http://football.guardian.co.uk/News\_Story/0,1563,1053544,00.html](http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,1053544,00.html) \*\* I read this on Sunday (corking picture of Glenn on the cover) and thought it was pretty much spot on. As it says when people appointed Glenn the manager what they were actually appointing was the memory of Glenn the player (and you can stick yer peles and maradonas up yer fundament - he was the best, bar none). THus he was appointed to the England job as an alternative to the dull long ball Taylor, spurs as a change from the Goonersaurus etc. It makes a telling point when it said that the most real sucess glenn had was when he was able to pick himself as a player - at Swindon. when he had to make others achieve he was found wanting. The feeling at White Hart Lane on Saturday was almost as if someone had died. We so desperately wanted him to do well. Oh well, things are looking up at the lane again. Until next week. Also Liverpool have got a defender who can stop a bullet. So why don’t they pick him instead of their comedy defence? ---
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/26 "2003-10-06T13:10:44Z")
**L\_C** , I think you’re being overly-analytical. I think **owl** was just indulging in a bit of whimsical hypothesis, on the lines of would your perfect woman have Kylie’s or J-Lo’s arse or what’s the best side one, track one of all time. So, club or country? ---
**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:** [October 6, 2003, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/27 "2003-10-06T13:14:20Z")
I believe I could accommodate all four options. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/28 "2003-10-06T13:22:40Z")
Originally posted by manwithaplan would your perfect woman have Kylie’s or J-Lo’s arse or what’s the best side one, track one of all time. * * * Neither - I want a threesome with Uma Thurman and cameron Diaz with our sweat covered bodies warmed by the heat of a blazing Highbury. And the answer to the other one is “Good Times Bad Times” on Led Zeppelin 1 (although London calling’s inspiration stands a chance too) ---
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/29 "2003-10-06T14:27:02Z")
The hippy in me likes “Like a Rolling Stone” on Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited but I’d have to go with “Ace of Spades” from Motorhead’s album of the same name. On the more important issue, I reckon Kylie and J-Lo’s arses are best left with their original owners - arse transplantation is still an emerging field of medicine. As for the hoped-for Highbury inferno, they should probably do it for the insurance. Actually, us half-hearted foreign supporters generally don’t give a toss about North London rivalry - it’s got bugger all to do with us and it’s been a fair while since Spurs have presented a credible threat. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/30 "2003-10-06T15:40:29Z")
I’l agree with Ace of Spades, your ears feel dirtier for hearing it. another great choice would be Stiff Little Fingers- suspect device. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/31 "2003-10-07T09:24:30Z")
Well there’s never a dull moment in football land. The duck-faced £33,000,000 liability has refused to take a drugs test, although he passed one a few days later (24 hours to clear Gianluca I believe), rukling him out of the Turkey game. Step forward John Terry (surely not Woodgate - what with all that’s going on and that). THis is actually what I would prefer. THe turks aren’t exactly blessed with blinding pace which is Terry’s major weakness. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2003, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/32 "2003-10-07T09:53:31Z")
As I read it, he didn’t “refuse” anything at all but rather “forgot” as he was _apparently_ moving that day. Anyway . . I have an emerging pet theory that Cambell is difficult to play with, not difficult in personality terms but, rather, that there’s something in his style that isn’t condusive to good teamwork with his fellow central defenders. There was nothing in the Campbell/Terry partnership last time to imbue me with any degree of confidence – but as that’s no different to usual, I suppose the exclusion of Peckham’s finest doesn’t make that much difference. I do, however, really wish that for one game only, Alan Shearer was available – this game is right up his ally. As for Rooney, I fear a Beckham vs. Argies/’Gazza’s tears’ moment but hope not; he’s a boy in every respect save in his football. You’ll all think me mad but first on my team sheet for this one would be Heskey. Here’s my minus Michael Owen team: I’d be tempted to pack the midfield with width and engines (4-5-1); Butt, Scholes, Beckham, Gerrard and Hargreaves/Dyer (with Rooney and Frankie Well’ard as Plan B) - Emile alone as the target and laying off to runners both wide and in the channels, Butt and Gerrad to protect the defence. Anyone else ? ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/33 "2003-10-07T10:01:16Z")
I like the idea of packing the midfield, but I don’t think we’d score in a thousand years with that firepower. Put Beattie in for Heskey, maybe. Is Owen definitely out? I’ve never rated the Campbell and Ferdinand partnership particularly highly. It looks good only because they address each other’s flaws, rather than because they complement each other’s skills. Campbell is slow and prone to accidental lapses; Ferdinand has terrible positioning and doesn’t do the simple things well. When Campbell is caught out by pace, Ferdinance can cope with that; when Ferdinand goes AWOL, Campbell’s strength and positioning help out. The problem is that while it does work a lot of the time, neither player looks anywhere near as good in other partnerships. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/34 "2003-10-07T11:47:12Z")
The idea of Heskey as a lone target man gives me the screaming ab-dabs. He’s not a goal scorer. I would go with a four man defence (well three defenders and cole) neville, terry, judas, and a. cole. I would play the midfield as a diamond with the ability to shift into a flat four: Beckham; gerard; butt and lumpalard (in the form of his life). Assuming no Owen (which looks likely) I would play Rooney and Beattie (again in top form). Subs: Robinson Monkey-heid (or woodgate) Scholes Hargreaves Heskey ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/35 "2003-10-07T12:00:31Z")
Well, balls. I watched Liverpool Arse in the pub. Having given up smoking a week ago, I got through 5 nicorette chewies in about 20 minutes either side of half time. The winning goal was, well, undefendable. The other was an OG. However, I am beginning to think that only Kewell and very occasionally Gerrard, Murphy or Riise have the ability to win a game against a top team by doing something special. Owen scores regularly, but the chances he scores from used to be slim. Now he must practically have a one-on-one. His missed aerial chances are becoming glaring, and the less said about any shot from outside the area the better. In short, where he was once thought so dangerous that he would have a man-marker _and_ someone picking up his run when Gerrard had possession, he is now merely the opposition striker. There is no more “give him half a chance and you’ve lost” mentality since he seems to need three decent chances for every scrambled goal these days. However, I have thought these things before only to have him end his run of poor form with serial hat-tricks comprising goals of the month. We should not have lost against either Arse or Charlton, but we did, to a contender for goal of the season in each case. I am tempted to bemoan how frustrating it can be to be a Liverpool fan, but in the company of Hod Botherers I would feel a little silly. But, FWIW, in the club v country debate I’ve actually started supporting _another_ country, which perhaps shows how little I adhere to patriotic nonsense. And yes, **owl** , I believe the police are looking into the feasibility of making vests out of Jon Ostemobor’s buttocks. I am reminded of the joke: Liverpool sign an Iraqi striker. During the war, he phones home, concerned for his family’s welfare. His mother, through constant explosions and gunfire, tells him how terrible life is, and he asks her “What can I do?”. “Well” she says, “we could always go back to Iraq.” ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/36 "2003-10-07T12:05:53Z")
BTW, why are southhampton getting rid of Paul Jones? ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/37 "2003-10-07T12:06:41Z")
As a lifelong Real Madrid fan and a Spaniard, that’s an easy choice for me. While there’s practically nothing I haven’t enjoyed winning with Madrid, I’ve got nothing but heartache from following _La Furia Roja_ – 'cept for some dim black & white memories of the '62 Euros. So yeah, I’d happily trade a couple of future CL titles for success in Portugal and/or Germany. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/38 "2003-10-07T12:11:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TwistofFate \* > \*\*BTW, why are southhampton getting rid of Paul Jones? \*\* 'cos the Finnish goalie is number one choice, and Jones is on big (for saints) money. Goalies are an expensive luxury for squad players, given the loan system allows replacements to be brought in if necessary. SENTIENT MEAT: How do you feel about Houlier? If I were a bin-dipper I would want rid of him. He has spent a lot of money on not much and Liverpool seem no closer to the top. If you did get rid, who would you want? Martin O’Neil perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/39 "2003-10-07T12:17:36Z")
While Paul Jones has been an excellent keeper for Saints, he’s 36 and, as **owlstretchingtime** says, undoubtedly on big money. They’ve got a decent understudy in Alan Blayney (NI U-21) and Niemi is a better first-choice keeper than Jones. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/40 "2003-10-07T12:34:31Z")
Nigeria have just appointed Bryan Robson as their manager. That’s them fucked then. They brew Guinness in Nigeria I believe? There is a very good article by Tom Bowyer in today’s telegraph about the corruption in football (I can also highly recommend his book - Broken Dreams). It may well be on their website - but you have to register The buyers of Sky’s 10% stake in Surrey United are Magnier and McManus - ie the Coolmore mafia. The same people who are in dispute with Taggart about Rock Of Gibraltar and are pally with Dermot Desmond. THis could get interesting. Once again Byan Robson is the manager of Nigeria. Its a game of two halves Bryan, and a few shots and a tequila slammer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885.md?page=3)