# SDMB FOOTIE FOCUS: September **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 1, 2003, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942 "2003-09-01T09:30:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/1 "2003-09-01T09:30:06Z")
Since the “Footie support group” thread was a little out of date, I thought I would start a new one each month specifically for discussing all aspects of the beautiful game, including individual member’s performances in the [Straight Dope Fantasy League](http://bbcfootball.fantasyleague.co.uk/friends/friends.asp?pin=339411&refresh=120). Being an exiled scouser myself, I shall take the part of Ray Stubbs (who, incidentally, is the resident alcoholic of the White Hart pub by the river in Chiswick, near Barnes Bridge station - I kid you not). Of course, this means all of you are represented by some horrific hybrid comprising Mark Lawrenson’s hair, Mick McCarthy’s nose and the basilisk eyes of Garth Crooks. Topics this month:[ul][li]After a flattering win against The Other Side, must Liverpool give Houllier time to allow his grass-roots reorganisation to show results (like the world-beating French national team) or should we say _see yer_ and allow another manager to reap those rewards (like the world-beating French national team)? [/li][li]The Chelski Money-Laundering Project: Dream Team, or Nightmare on Fulham Broadway?[/li][li] MUrdoch United or L’Arse for the title? The tension is absolutely bearable.[/li][li] Tottenham ‘Til I Die: You guys must be fuggin’ MENTAL. [/li][li] The Drop Zone: Sir Robbie Bobson (112) nominates himself as Toon penalty taker and A Man Called Steve takes the Borough from Middles to Distinctly Lower. Plus fox-hunting from Leicester, and the boy who cried “Wolves”. [/li][li] Nationwide/Scotland: if it’s not Cardiff or Marine AFC I scarcely give a hoot, but you guys carry on.[/li] International: The Welsh dragon requires a puff of Ventolin to get to Portugal, while England bedazzle the world with inspirational 2-1 wins against unbelievably crap teams.[/ul]Plus, **Gazelle** is off to a flyer in the first weekend of Month 1 of the Fantasy league. **London\_Calling** , however, appears to have Tottenham sewn into the very fibre of his being. Who will be that elusive cheap-striker-with-80-odd-points like Beattie last season? ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/2 "2003-09-01T09:45:16Z")
Australian Doper checking in here. (One who sadly, is more of a Rugby fan that FA Football sadly…) Question: How highly regarded are Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka at the moment? (I’m assuming infinitely more so than Mark Bosnich - the wanker…) ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/3 "2003-09-01T09:51:32Z")
Kewell is, in my opinion at least, overrated. He was a good player at Leeds, but being surrounded by some very ordinary players that wasn’t too difficult. I watched the Liverpool game on Saturday and he was nothing special; a nice finish for his goal, but I don’t remember him doing anything really exciting beyond that. I rate him roughly as much as Steve McManaman in his later Liverpool days: capable of some really good moves, but not consistently enough to justify a vast price tag. Of course, he may yet prove me totally wrong. Viduka has a mixed reputation among the Leeds fans I know. They think he’s lazy, slow and has a bad attitude, but since he still manages to knock goals in they seem willing to keep him and be happy with that. Bosnich has vanished from the radar after his drug problems. The last I heard Portsmouth wanted to offer him a deal, probably as a reserve keeper, but couldn’t agree terms. No other club’s touched him. One of the most interesting looking Aussie prospects seems to be Brett Emerton at Blackburn. I’ve heard good things about him, especially considering he was relatively cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/4 "2003-09-01T09:58:02Z")
Ahhh… well thanks for that. So no real knockout Australian players on the scene then at the moment? Say, like in the calibre of a Van Nistleroy? Please note: I’m not searching for “feel good” platitudes by the way - we Aussies would prefer to hear the truth than some sort of “faint praise” if you know what I mean… ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/5 "2003-09-01T10:05:29Z")
Truth? You will lose the world cup. Hehehe ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/6 "2003-09-01T10:11:05Z")
And further, there is no country I would prefer to see WIN the World Cup than New Zealand. And even though this is a (hopefully temporarily brief) football code digression, one of the things which amuses we Aussies endlessly is that by far the majority of we Aussies are quite happy and comfortable when New Zealand wins on the World Stage. It’s very much a sense of familial pride as it were. But I’m not sure if such magnanimity is entirely reciprocal at times. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/7 "2003-09-01T10:22:16Z")
**Boo** , Daddy Kewell was always my favourite non-Liverpool player at Leeds, ever since I saw him beat three players and cross for Viduka with his left foot round the back of his right leg - no player in England would try, let alone acheive, something like that. Liverpool need a “missing link”, a Pires or a Giggs, and I think Harry might be it. Unfortunately he might be another Jari Litmannen - brilliant but used poorly. Viduka is a genuine all-round (literally) goalgetter on a par with Jimmy Floyd. If Leeds sell him they will be in big trouble. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/8 "2003-09-01T10:23:34Z")
And knock it off with the rugby talk. What magazine programme d’you think this is, Scrum Five? ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/9 "2003-09-01T10:42:04Z")
Cardiff? Heh, give me TNS anyday. After having a great looking team right up until this weekend, I’m not rightly amused with the performance of my players. Not rightly amused at all. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/10 "2003-09-01T11:10:07Z")
Smirk away, **Twisty** , but if Cardiff can stay in the first division this season I can see them nibbling at the play-offs in future ones. Sam Hamman’s the man with the plan (not **manwithaplan** , you understand), Lennie Lawrence is a shrewd old dog and more and more of the valleys are coming to Ninian park on a Saturday afternoon: the potential fan base is simply _enormous_, like having one club in all of Birmingham or something. If Sam ever convinces the RFU to lend Cardiff the Stadium for big matches then the Premiership beckons at a very audible volume indeed. Incidentally, I had the opportunity to see TNS play a home game in the Stadium (literally 5 mins walk from my house) against Man City last week. I declined. FF-wise, 'tis only the first weekend, my son. Take heart - I am also counting on Phillips putting a few past Wolves this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/11 "2003-09-01T12:00:35Z")
I had a look at the overall Fantasy League table and the guys at the top had transferred players after Saturday’s matches to have more players playing on Sunday. It might be a tactic worth considering but I suspect most of us will need all six monthly transfers for injuries etc. Great start for the Arsenal but I don’t hold out much hope once injuries and suspensions start taking their toll - the squad looks very light. The best hope is that Chelski and United take a while to bed in a first eleven and Arsenal can steal a march. Based on last season, a thirty point lead at Easter should do the trick. A fortnight’s break for internationals now. Hopefully, Ireland don’t fuck things up this weekend against Russia as I don’t fancy my already booked trip to Switzerland in October being for nowt. Ireland have Turkey in a friendly next Tuesday so we’ll be careful not to cause them any injury, lest their chances against Ing-Er-Land be compromised;). ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/12 "2003-09-01T12:16:51Z")
No Robbie Keane either, **man**. The Republic might be tempted to re-create past glories and go with a forward line of Aldridge, Houghton and Cascarino. ---
**Author:** ![pierre72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b2d939/32.png) [@pierre72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pierre72)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/13 "2003-09-01T12:18:50Z")
As a QPR supporter, can I ask that we please hold off on the “Cardiff are great and are destined for great things” talk? Please? Memories of the play-offs are still raw, and we’ve sold our best player to them. Sulk… Still, back to the topic. I can’t believe I’m already in negative territory. Cudicini the only player to register a score, and that was -1. Balls. I may need to use my transfers early…! ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/14 "2003-09-01T12:26:19Z")
Comiserations, **Peeeeete** - aye, it was a tight old game, no doubt about it. Cracker of a goal to win it though, I would hope you were gallant enough to agree. ---
**Author:** ![pierre72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b2d939/32.png) [@pierre72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pierre72)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/15 "2003-09-01T12:29:34Z")
Bollocks. ---
**Author:** ![pierre72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b2d939/32.png) [@pierre72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pierre72)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/16 "2003-09-01T12:32:03Z")
😃 Yes, it was good. Hell of a game. One tiny mistake by our central defence to let them in. Of course, had “Fireman” Sam’s trained monkey not set off the fire alarms in the team hotel the night before… ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/17 "2003-09-01T12:34:17Z")
That happened to L’Arse on Sunday morning also, apparently. I smell something other than smoke. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2003, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/18 "2003-09-01T12:54:04Z")
It a f\*cking disaster and I don’t want to talk about it. As for the title - as usual, for me it all depends on the mixture of squad strength, injuries and, as importantly, collective character – which obviously puts the Ashburton Grovellers in third spot behind ManYoo and the Launderers. I’m keen on MoneyLaunderers FC doing to well; quality in big numbers, lots to prove (as individuals and collectively) and a squad that’s seemingly been bought _specifically_ to mount two separate campaigns - and I’m not talking about the FA Cup. Big question: How will John Inman mould the squad cos they could do awfully well in Europe, imho ? ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/19 "2003-09-01T13:11:33Z")
Good question, **LC**. I think he’ll priotise Crespo, Veron and Makele for Champs League and keep the likes of Big Frankie Lamp Hard, EmManuel from Barcelona and Jimmy Floyd Facialexpression for the midweek scrap at Villa Park and the like. Should John develop a fast counterattacking game, I would like to see the likes of Duff and Mutu trained in shouting “I’m free!” to their defence. ---
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/20 "2003-09-01T13:30:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SentientMeat \* > \*\*No Robbie Keane either, **man**. The Republic might be tempted to re-create past glories and go with a forward line of Aldridge, Houghton and Cascarino. \*\* With the availability of a triumvirate of such prowess as Gary Doherty, David Connolly and Clinton Morrison, I’m already looking at villas in the Algarve;). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942.md?page=2)