sorry, I must correct this post. Colin Nish couldn’t be in full flight, I doubt he can even get off the ground.
Dear Aston Villa,
Bad luck. Thanks for trying, though. Top stuff.
All the best,
Liverpool
p.s. give our love to Gareth.
You could be right and then again…
I feel that the games Jo has played for the Toffees has improved his game insofar as the English game is played, we’ll take him back when the loan is up and I’m hoping he’ll be a much better player with City.
He cost us £18M, Everton don’t have the spondulicks to even contemplate buying him
I think that some of the difference has to do with the breadth of the squad and the extent of the season any more. As Ferguson was saying in an interview available on the ESPN website, with as many players as the team carries now, you end up picking and choosing a side from game to game based upon all sorts of factors, and having a “starting eleven” just isn’t realistic anymore.
That’s certainly true, but it was no less true in 98/99, and even 93/94 and 95/96 were fairly busy seasons - they all had the same number of league and domestic cup games, the only difference was probably the slightly smaller number of Champions League games, and the occasional World Club Cup/European Super Cup.
My impression is as follows (it could be wrong, I haven’t checked and I’m too young to remember properly).
“Ever-presents” (defined as playing in (probably starting) in well over 90% of games:
93/94: Schmeichel, Bruce, Pallister (?), Irwin, Ince, Kancehlskis, Giggs, Hughes, Cantona.
95/96: Schmeichel, Neville (G), Giggs, Beckham, Scholes, Keane, Cantona, Cole.
98/99: Schmeichel, Neville (G), Stam, Giggs, Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Cole, Yorke.
08/09: Van der Sar (?), Ronaldo, …?
I’d be fascinated to know if anyone with more time can confirm or disprove this “data”.
The fact that the fixture list was almost as congested in 98/99 may well be true (probably is). But what isn’t true is that the clubs hadn’t expanded their rosters yet to accomodate that sort of season. As I recall, it was about the time of the 98/99 season that Ferguson started talking about needing to expand the number of quality players to avoid having the effects of such a crowded season play havoc with quality. Now, they’ve accomplished that, thanks to massive spending on newcomers, while working hard to retain what people they already have.
Balls; I had a tenner at 9.4 decimal on Porto to win that, and but for two Bruno Alves howlers, I would’ve been 84 quid to the good. Man U were atrocious in the first half - I don’t think I can remember when I last saw a United side pass so poorly. Ronaldo gave the ball away so many times I lost count, and must surely be vexing even United supporters with his tendency to pout after being divested of the ball, instead of giving chase like some of his more committed teammates.
The pre-match (and in-running) odds were crazy, though. Almost 9-1 for the Porto win pre-match, and it was still 8-1 for long periods when the scores were level. As Barry Glendenning said on the Guardian live commentary, what person watching that match could seriously suggest Porto would win it only one time in 9?
I must not develop a Betfair habit, I must not develop a Betfair habit, I must not develop…
This is true. I suppose the effect of this is that the starting eleven is bound to be less settled, but it allows better coping with injuries etc. I suppose we were just lucky in 98/99 etc. to have no major injury problems.
I agree United were poor but I think many of their errors were inflicted by Porto taking the game to them. Porto’s game-plan was excellent and probably the best way to beat this United team - even with Scholes and Giggs they seemed unable to calmmy build up an attack from the back as they used to do so effectively. Quite interesting in the light of the previous discussion in this thread on teams putting 10 men behind the ball against United to try to get a draw, and largely failing. True, the fitness level of that Porto team was probably significantly higher than that of, say, Sunderland, but I think the point still stands, which was my opinion at the time.
I’m hoping that United will play the same way (but with fewer unforced errors) in the return leg, but Porto will be unable to exhibit the same freedom in front of a home crowd. If not, United are probably only going to be able to win 4 cups this year.
Oh look, a flying pig;)
Well, shit.
These rants from Rafa really seem to hit the spot…
I still preferred yesterdays result: Leyton Orient 2 - 2 Leeds. Leeds were 2-0 up with a man advantage and still managed to drop 2 points. Hehe. I wasn’t really expecting them to threaten us for automatic promotion but it’s still funny.
His timing stinks. If he would so kind as to rant away when we’re winning everyone would think he’s a hero. But, no.
Noting for the record that Barça really thumped Bayern, while Man. U. was not exactly dominant at home. So, if the English sides are going to triumph as thought, they will have to elevate their games a bit…
Gentlemen and ladies…the real game is tonight…yes it really is 
Hamburg v Man City in the 1st leg of the last 8 of the UEFA Cup.
I’m not making any predictions but a draw will do us fine, for those interested it’s live on ITV 4
Kick off is 7:45, I expect you’ll all be glued to your TVs cheering City on
Indeed. It’s not that I disagreed with Discordia that Barca are the tournament favourites, it’s just a matter of degree - despite this week’s results, I still don’t think they’re going to have it easy in the semis and final. All the English teams can definitely play better than they did this week - and have done so several times this season.
Presumably, so can Bayern.
Oh bollocks.
Still with the the away goal all City need do is score 2 in the 2nd leg without reply and they’re through to the semis.
I am not optimistic.
As for Robinho, an expensive flop, a very fucking expensive flop.
At the start of the season he set off like a house on fire but now he’s absolute shite.
God damnit Posh! Win 7 in a row and then go and drop 2 points to the team at the bottom. ARGH!!! Still 4 points clear of 3rd but still, we should be 6 points clear!
I can understand Mark Hughes constantly defending Robinho, you have to back a player in public at least, but it’s sounding a bit monotonous now.
Watching Robinho last night doing his multiple step-overs and the defender casually taking the ball off him gave me my best laugh of the day.
When he did the step-overs and the defender took the ball from him I just sighed.
Monotonous? it’s fucking boring