Wednesday 9 April 2014

Jowsy Jose

Jose Mourinho has received hundreds of plaudits over the years. He's the man whose Inter stifled Barca, whose Porto won the biggest prize in club football from nowhere; a man whose tactical acumen is beyond compare; a man who takes all the flak and charisma for himself, allowing his teams to be really dull and really effective.


This season he has been his usual charming self. On occasions one is almost fooled into believing that he is being alarmingly frank. But this is the man who Barca fans still call The Translator - and you need to have just such skills available for every sentence that leaves his pursed little Thunderbird lips.


Jose: We have no strikers.
Translation: It's not my fault we can't score goals.
Truth: It is. He could've kept Lukaku and/or bought someone.


Jose: Et'oo is a pensioner.
Translation: He's not the young and ruthless player he once was, but that's not my fault.
Truth: It is; you brought the bloke in.


Jose: The team is too young to be successful just yet.
Translation: it's not my fault if they don't win anything, but if we do, well Jeez, we'll just have to accept that I'm a genius.
Truth: Chelsea still have oodles of money and talent, both of which should be sufficient to win something every year, regardless of who's in charge. (cf Di Matteo, Avram Grant, Rafa Benitez)


Jose: Wenger is a specialist in failure.
Translation: Wenger is a specialist in failure.
Truth: Wenger is a specialist in failure.


Whatever Jose says, its meaning always comes back down a mixture of extraordinary self-regard and a desire to spare his players the flak. To be fair Ferguson was exactly the same (only with all the suavity of house-brick).


And while no one can deny that he's good value as a gobshite, it helps to detach his eminent charm from the teams he puts out on the pitch. His most successful campaigns are invariably typified by a pragmatic hard-nosed approach to winning football games and last night's triumph against PSG was a case in point.


While it's lovely to have these twinkle-toed midfielders knocking it this way n that, PSG (which sounds to me like something bad you get in Chinese food) weren't really struggling to hold them out. Indeed for the last 25 minutes they looked far more likely to score and, with a bit more composure, would have done.


I just hope Cavanni displays the same finishing prowess against England in the summer. You'd think with a name like Edison he'd be a little more inventive.


Jose, desperate for that winning goal, ditched any pretence at elegance and threw on the Three Amigos - Scuffy, Puffy and Huffy - to somehow wrestle a goal from its least likely source. We were then treated to a display of footballing effluence from the Happy Special One as he resorted to Allardycean Prehistory for a way to unlock the French defence.


And as so often with a Big Sam or a Pulis, the plan only went and worked. Football from another century it surely was, but then sometimes we can learn from the past. I'm not sure there's a chalkboard at Stamford Bridge on which the gaffer puts three centre-forwards in the box and says "Roll it back to JT and let him hump it so hard it could be a team-mates's missus."


I've seen more creative ploys in a pre-pub Sunday league fixture. But given its success, why criticise? The manager left it to Lady Luck and the Blessed Woman came up trumps. In the myriad methods of Mourinho, the one constant seems to be Good Fortune.


Those people (myself included) who argue that Andy Carroll might just be a good option on the bench for Hodgson over the summer have been vindicated by this sophisticate's latest move. Your average central defender these days doesn't like it up 'em and Carroll isn't capable of much else.


Demba Ba claims in this morning's papers that Chelsea do have three good strikers. What apart from the one at Everton, you mean? I don't think so. Torres is like this ghost-like parody of his Liverpool self. Et'oo creaks along without truly threatening and Ba himself needs a team that plays to his strengths and this one ain't it. Route One isn't Option One, even if it worked last night.


None of which should detract from Chelsea's achievement, or Mourinho's wonderful touchline sprint. Another example of ego - 'ooh look at me!' - combined with cold-eyed ruthlessness - 'Nando get your backside into defensive mode, you goal-shy Jessie, we've got five minutes to hold out'.


In the meantime, the shakedown at the foot of the Premier League is suddenly becoming clear. Sunderland, woefully, have ground to a halt. Cardiff, 'lucky' red shirts looking ludicrous when watched by miserable blue-shirted fans, never were good enough, but Mackay would surely have had them a little higher.


The last spot seems like a straight fight between Fulham and Norwich. I was all for Norwich hanging on if only because they still had the same manager they started the season with. Until Sunday. A win at Craven Cottage would make them safe. If they fail, they're getting nowt from their last four games and Fulham will catch 'em.


In other words, it's utterly pointless changing the manager now. Every one of the bottom seven has changed their boss this season. Only in the case of Pulis has it made any bleeding difference. I tell you what even bleeding Merlin wouldn't last more than half a season in this country.


In other news the FA make a good decision. Hull City FC stays intact. It won't stop me pushing through with my plans at the Riverside, mind you. Middlesbrough Muggers, anyone?



















142 comments:

  1. Brilliant Robbo. Thank-you for keeping it real. Roll it back to JT......had me fallin' off me chair again.

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  2. Cheers RR.

    Slight disagreement though, loathe as I am to say it, Mourinihio played the odds yesterday, he knew exactly what he was doing. There was no panic with the score at 1-0 at HT, they took it easy until the 80 minute mark and then when into kitchen sink mode, got the necassary goal and them shut up shop. A masterclass..... Still think he's a total hippo yawn though.

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  3. What? New blog up without waiting to see what happens to Man U? If they manage to sneak a win today (and lets face it, in knockout games anything is possible), surely another blog will be due tomorrow.

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  4. Well, I guess not then. Atleast they opened the scoring, which really seemed to have pissed Bayern off.

    Tip of the hat to Diego Simeone and Atletico. Job well done, without their talisman Costa. Could be an all-Madrid CL final.

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  5. Chelsea all the way. I'm right behind you Bells as long as he starts at least one Englishman and chances are there'll be two!

    Great strike from Evra, shame it'll be forgotten in minutes.

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  6. Thanks Robbo, for the hilarious blog to soften the blow of returning to work once I figure out what time zone I'm in. (FYI: When traveling for business, do not forget to bring pants, or whatever it is you Brits call those long leg-covering garments one wears over underwear.) I think Mo likes to claim he has no strikers so if we don't win any silverware he can grouse that we were always 10 v 11.

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    Replies
    1. They're called trousers.

      Pants is what Arsenal have been over the last few weks.

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    2. I thought trousers were those who woke Northerners...

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  7. only if the chosen one had taking a leaf from the running ones book and defended their lead..whats with john barnes spewing rubbish every where on some south african sports station about tactics and grit...

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  8. (If a couple of people have already commented twice, does that mean I'm a respectable 5th, like Everton will probably be?)

    Nice stuff, Robbo. With Maureen talking in all them circles, he reminds me of Vizzini from the Princess Bride, of whom Westley states, "Truly, you have a dizzying intellect." 'Cept Jose would probably have kept straight on talking until poor Cary Elwes passed out, then garroted him.

    Somebody quite smart once said that luck is the residue of design. If that's so, then Chelsea have Jose's residue all over them. He really is a master of putting the right players on the pitch and getting the tactics right.

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  9. The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.

    Mourinho is the Sun Tsu of football. Only saf matched him in this regard (if your opponent is of choleric temperament - irritate him / Kevin Keegan)

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  10. Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

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  11. All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved....

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  12. Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy.

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  13. All warfare is based on deception.

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  14. Roman take note....

    Thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory:
    1 He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.
    2 He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.
    3 He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.
    4 He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.
    5 He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.

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  15. Probably my favorite....

    Can you imagine what I would do if I could do all I can?
    Sun Tzu

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  16. And finally, it had emerged that Mourinho WAS offered the man u job but when he looked at dad's legacy off crocks and ingenues he is reported to have told the Glazers

    'im not that fucking Special'

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  17. Maureen does irritate like underwear made from sandpaper,but he does get his tactics right more often than not,which is why I suspect Liverpool won't win the league (I realise that's slightly Irish,but I can see Chelsea beating Liverpool at Anfield.Sorry AH)

    His route 1 approach for the last 10/125 minutes worked (and I agree with you about Andy Carroll Robbo) which is the difference between JM and AW.AW doesn't do anything different at any time,hence my belief it's time for him to go.However,that's a different subject.

    As Tony Pulis has been mentioned,he should get the manager of the year award,as Palace were woeful before he took over.He won't get it of course,it'll go to whichever cash loaded manager wins the league.

    Finally,I'd be delighted to see Athletico win the CL (as well as La Liga).All Simeone has to do then is resist the urge to join Un**ed next season...

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  18. +1 for all the above I think arsene's got old man lazy. Certainly predictable.

    Atletico wetter like Chelsea in the second half. Much three inferior side, particularly without their talisman. But the sight of simeone on the touchline was inspirational, compare his 'bank manager' presence of his soon to be sacked barca opposite number. An object lesson in the possible impact of a top coach. It's only part of the job of course. Pulis isn't exactly charismatic but he should be manager of the year I agree, palace were toast when he arrived.

    The other thing that struck me about the barca match last night was how shit messi was, AM effectively smothered him. Didn't see the man u match but apparently Rooney was ineffectual in a big match, not for the first time. You could say he was injured (then why not take him off in the second half, Moyes, chicken?) but there's always an excuse isn't there, Wayne.

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    Replies
    1. A brave manager would certainly have taken Rooney off Blogidy.This is where Moyes falls down I'm afraid.He's quite a negative manager,not prepared to lose to win.Everton look a completely different team this season with Martinez in charge.We'll have to see if it's a one season wonder of course,but the signs are promising.

      Maureen is famous for his aggressive substitutions.Notice the difference between him and SAF after the Nani dismissal.

      Delete
  19. SAVE DAVE!

    I was starting to worry there for a moment, especially at the weekend when he actually played Mata in his preferred role and played Hernandez (would have him at Chelsea at a drop of a hat and Adam you did say if Manpoo could have Mata, we could have Hernandez so where's your end of the bargain?) But normal proceedings have been restored and ocne more, I can continue to laugh at their season.


    I am not sure what a Blog basically on the Yummy One is all about, when there are no pictures of him to just remind me how Yummy he really is. I can sense that all your criticisms of him and how irritating he is, are just a cover for your true feelings ...

    I do think we have a chance of doing Liverpool at home (I may well be proved spectacularly wrong) but not so sure Man City are going to have such a bad enough run in as to 'let' us win the title,.

    Anyway due to rubbish work-like commitments and not-so-rubbish holiday have not been about so much but back to to normal now hopefully.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Are you saying that Robbo secretly also wants to be covered in the residue of Joe-zay's design?

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  20. Replies
    1. Not funny| Jacks - well actually it was but I shall pretend to be outraged

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    2. tee hee.

      For old time's sake,here's one of Aldershot

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  21. nice shit once again Robson! off to play with my balls in the backyard

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  22. The DVD of Man U's season is now available in the pound shop for 50p

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  23. Well, I think we might struggle a bit against Jose too jacks, he seems to be a tactical genius when playing rival teams, but he does slip up against the Aston Villa's and Crystal Palace's, so we might still finish above them even if we dont beat them. It's Citeh who I think will nick it, as they seem to have no trouble winning against teams outside the top-4. Unless they lose both merseyside games (and I dont see that happening) and we win all our remaining games (again unlikely), they will beat us and chelsea to the title.

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  24. Replies
    1. Cheers, Trotts. All I have to do now is figure out how to avoid a 5 years olds birthday party in New Jersey that clashes with the Liverpool-Man City game. Do parents not check the sporting calendar when planning parties any more ?

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    2. Just ask the parents what's the Birthday Boy/Girl's favourite alcoholic beverage is and hope that they don't mind that the stripper that you booked for the bash, the one you met in your sexual deviants anonymous meetings, has a bit of a meth problem.

      Sorted.

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    3. you have choices AH. You could ask if they have the NBC Sports package and at least a 40" HD TV in a room well away from the kids or you could just tell 'em you're under the weather. If you get a negative response to the question, just use the ill health card. Or. convince your kid that he/she doesn't want to go to that party anyway as the parents are inconsiderate and bad planners, I mean, who plans a birthday party when there's a game on eh?

      I'll be watching from a lazy boy recliner with built in cup holders, in Fl, in between golf games.

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    4. I'll be watching 1 frame-per-minute live feed.

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    5. Why is the five year old doing anything other than watching the match as his party?

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  25. Manchester United manager David Moyes says his transfer targets will not be affected by the prospect of no Champions League football next season.

    He's obviously targeting players from the Championship league.

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  26. We get a day free of crime on Sunday, Pacquiao is fighting again.

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  27. Champions League semi-finals:
    Real Madrid v Bayern Munich
    Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
    ========================
    Keeping alive the possibility of an all-Madrid finals.
    I am putting my money on a repeat Bayern v Chelsea final.

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    Replies
    1. and my money's on Gareth Bale scoring the winner in the final against Chelsea!

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    2. How cool would it be if Courtois saved the penalty that put Atletico through?

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    3. And how funny if he makes the 'mistake' that let's Chelsea through.

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    4. It's going to cost Athletico 6 million euro to allow him to play against Chelsea,thanks to a bit of contractual nonsense.

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    5. EUFA are saying that contractual clause is verboten jacks so he may play, without financial penalty knowing his real owners don't want him to and when he replaces cech at Chelsea he'll be denied a parking space given gloves a size too small and made to play in a traditional Spanish kkk style pointy hat

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    6. I saw that in The Times today,although Courtois may start glowing in the dark if he does play.Not through Ready Brek either.

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    7. Ought to be uncomfortable for Courtois, as he's likely to either anger Jose by beating Chelsea or anger Jose by not beating Chelsea. I do like Cech, but that in itself might be enough reason to shed him (see Mata, Juan, and Lukaku, Romelu).

      But what does that have to do with Brek Shea?

      Delete
  28. 120 minutes of agony. Wigan were great, even though they looked knackered at the end they never gave up.

    That's how you take penalties though.

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  29. Mcnumpty: "....before Mertesacker arrived at the far post to score with a stooping header from Gibbs's scuffed shot."

    Obviously, confusing Chamberlain and Gibbs is not just a problem for Andre Marriner.

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  30. Dammit, if the second half is anything like the first, I'm gonna have a heart attack.

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    Replies
    1. AH? AH? I think we may have lost him...

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  31. I reckon Liverpool are favourites for the title now.didn't awe that coming

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  32. Bloody hell, almost had that heart attack.

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    Replies
    1. What a strange game. At 2-0 down when City brought on Milner, I reckoned we had the win easy, but he somehow sparked City into looking favorites to win. Before the start of the game, when there was some doubt about Kompany starting, I was praying he wouldn't but ultimately he gifted us the winner. What a year of football.

      We still have Chelsea and Crystal Palace away (unbeaten in 7 at home, winning 5), so lots of twists and turns still to come.

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    2. That was some game.

      Full marks to the Mickys.

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    3. Suarez and Sturridge were both abysmal today. Thankfully we had SAS (Sterling and Skrtel) to save the day.

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    4. Was also great to see a game where from start to finish to only thing on either team's mind was to score goals and win the game. Rarely see that anymore.

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    5. Glad you're still with us, AH - yeah, I didn't think much was going to happen in the second half, but Tim Howard, who was commenting for NBC, had it right - Milner really sparked City into a team effort through his hard work. I thought City were just about going to pip it before Kompany's miskick. Credit to Pellegrini, as his substitutions were astute. Great game to watch from two entertaining teams.

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    6. We're also going to be without Sturridge and Henderson now, so interesting times.

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  33. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  34. Arsenal v The Tigers in the final.

    Seeing that Robbo backed Hull, I'm pretty confident. ;)

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  35. Today showed why Liverpool and Man City can win the title but Chelsea can't. The universe simply will not allow a team so boring (and unable to finish) to win. Up a man against a subpar Swansea side and only as much scoring as the pope at a gay bar. (Only once and it was less enjoyable than expected.)

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    Replies
    1. Jowsy is the master of anti football and nothing is beyond him. It will all home on that Liverpool match. Mourinho's pupil Rodgers has the best first 11 but the squad I'd starting to fray at the edges now with injuries and suspensions. I have no idea who it's going to win the league it looks to me incredibly finely balanced 3-ways.

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  36. Robbo, to pick up on one comment you made: all the bottom 7 have changed managers, but only Pulis has worked.

    Could that be because only Pulis has PL relegation fighting experience and knows what to do?

    H2 no doubt you're still awaiting St Totteringham's day. On its way, despite the Gooners' best efforts. But you have more pressing matters to worry about.


    Jedi

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    Replies
    1. Jedi, all us Gooners are awaiting St Totteringham's day but this year it wont be much of a celebration. I'd prefer to forgo it this year if it means them finishing in the Europa league place at our expense.

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    2. Would you rather we surrender the FA Cup to Hull too, Mat?

      That's a Yourhopeless League place too.

      ps. Next years Europa League winners get a CL spot.

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  37. Btw I meant to say - how hilariously shit is Sanogo? He couldn't hit a barn door with a pig's arse on a stick (I bet he's brilliant on those manicured training pitches)

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  38. There hasn't been this much excitement since the romans feed the Christians to the lions
    -Sid Waddell

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    Replies
    1. Actually there's something about that quite that makes me think that actually the romans wouldn't have been very interested in the large scale martyrdom of fanatical immigrants. Otters nose?

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  39. Pacquiao won back the title he lost, on a dodgy points decision (read daylight robbery), to Bradley. There was no doubting the decision this time. Bradley was given a lesson on how to stay focused, work out your opponent then take him apart. Pacquiao will never be the same fighter he was 5-6 years ago but even at 35 years old he can still control the ring against any opponent. One of the best fighters to grace the modern boxing ring, in my opinion
    .

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    Replies
    1. Bradley looked shocked at the decision in their first meeting, and rightly so. A lot of debate among friends about how much the devastating KO loss to Marquez would affect Pac Man - I was one of the few to back him. Bradley classy in the ring, applauding the decision, but afterward, right away with the injury excuses... Manny never ducked anybody, fought some of the best in their primes (Barrera, Marquez, Morales). Absolutely agree with you, Bo, and if Mayweather was watching him cut the ring off and relentlessly pressure a younger Bradley, I'm sure he'll wait a couple of more years for Pacquiao to (hopefully) slow down before considering getting in the ring with him. Floyd's legacy is fighting guys who are past it, not quite there, and coming up in weight. Their records are impressive, but Floyd hasn't fought a fight he could potentially lose in years...

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  40. Unrest at The Vale.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27021805

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  41. Evenin' all. Crazy busy at uni at the mo, so haven't posted for a while, even though I've been lurking like John Terry at an award ceremony.

    Missed the Liverpool-City game the other day as I was watching Paris-Roubaix instead, but by all accounts, them plucky scousers are the new darlings of the footballing media. With the amount of Liverpool-supporting mates who've all of a sudden crawled out of the woodwork, I'm almost wishing for the days of smug Utd fans instead. Can't believe I just wrote that.

    As for my beloved Lilywhites - I just want the season over, Tim to be gone, and Rose, Naughton and Kaboul to go with him.

    I'll be back in a few more weeks. You stay classy.

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  42. FFP suddenly get’s interesting;

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/news/10766475/Manchester-City-to-be-made-to-pay-a-high-price-for-spending-spree-under-Uefa-Financial-Fair-Play-rules.html

    Uefa could really make a statement now. Sanctioning these teams, say by way of a transfer embargo, would be a step in the right direction.

    But how ridiculous would it be if they just fined clubs that have bottomless pits of resources?

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  43. Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo, 34, says former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson ruined his "purity" when he got Park Ji Sung to man-mark him during a game between his former club AC Milan and the Old Trafford outfit.
    Full story: The Times

    How "closely" did he mark him?

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  44. Vale is like a soap opera, jacks. The injuries to Doug loft (captain/best player) are extensive... pic below, pretty shocking, and although the twat who did it has been sacked I'm surprised the police aren't involved

    http://tapatalk.com/tapatalk_mobile_image.php?img=aHR0cDovL2ltZy50YXBhdGFsay5jb20vZC8xNC8wNC8xNS9vcmlnaW5hbC9yYXp1bWU5eS5qcGc%3D

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  45. Lifts injuries on back page of the Sun apparently..

    http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Port-Vale-Doug-Loft-s-horrific-injuries-pictured/story-20956218-detail/story.html

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  46. http://tenfactsabout.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/starwars.html

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  47. http://www.wsc.co.uk/wsc-daily/1176-april-2014/11399-five-ways-to-fix-football-s-failings

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  48. I always said that Tony Pulis geezer was great.

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  49. Not a good week for Man Citeh though.

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  50. then there were two, City are fucked. Up the Pool. I'd be worried though, Last chance that Elmandy might do something notable in English football!

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  51. I was hoping Palace would sneak a draw at Goodison Park... got a bloody surprise when I checked the results today.

    At this time of year, there are no easy games... just tough games and bloody tough games... the best teams to play are those safe from relegation but can't win a place in Europe; which leaves, as the table currently stands... Crystal Palace, Stoke, Newcastle and Southampton and of those, we only play Newcastle.

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  52. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists that he wants his side to try to win the Premier League title in the most sporting manner possible.

    What the fuck does that mean?

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    Replies
    1. It's a coded message to Suarez, bo i.e. you're doing well son, you've got the inner cannibal under control now in the next couple of games please don't try to bite anyone's fucking ear off

      Delete
    2. Also, to the same player, to stop drawing "contact" and then flopping on the deck like you've been tasered.

      Delete
    3. Every single footballer does that Scott.Some do it better than others,but they all go down in installments.

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    4. Point taken. It seems the more talent I think a player has, the more pissed off about it I get, somehow. Suarez=great player, seems to have his head screwed on right this term, it just takes away a little of the joy of watching him play when he's rolling on the floor...

      Delete
  53. From the Beeb: Cardiff letter says Crystal Palace result 'should not stand.'

    Perhaps Everton can send a similar letter? Worth a try.

    Honestly, the Palace game had me worried. Pulis seems to be on many Robbo blog fan Manager of the Year lists (including mine), and he's got Palace playing some good stuff. Throw in some shaky defending at critical spots, some missed chances, and there you go.

    We won the possession battle, though, and that consoled me on a day when it snowed in Minnesota on April bloody 16th...

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    Replies
    1. Pah,that's nothing.We've had snow in June in Buxton Scott.

      http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/2361401/Bird-still-foxed-by-day-snow-stopped-play.html

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  54. Of the relegation threatened teams, only 2 (by my reckoning) have stuck with their manager: Hull (Cup final, probably safe) and West 'Am (safe). One (Palace) changed early from an inexperienced to an experienced (Pulis) manager: safe. The rest have changed with no real effect on their chances. Lesson there.

    Must be the first time I've ever seen Gooners praising Pulis. Hankering for the old George Graham days? Or just worried?


    Jedi

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    Replies
    1. Perfect, Pulis for Arsenal!

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    2. Another factor working in Chelsea's favor, is that both city and liverpool have to play palace away who are one of the form teams at the moment. If Chelsea beat us, that could just do it for them, as that leaves them with sunderland, cardiff and norwich to play (who I've put my money on as the relegated ones this season).

      Delete
  55. jacksofbuxton17 April 2014 07:55


    Ha ha,liar....


    Yes, my pants were indeed on fire. ;-p

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  56. Have you SEEN baffles goal in the copa del Rey? He's practically running through the cried to get ahead of the defender. Incredible. Hats off but..what is the point of him being Welsh? He should be made to play for England.


    Gareth Bale's incredible goal against Barcelona |…: http://youtu.be/yWVrolNQ4RU

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  57. Baffled is the name off the defender, of course

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    Replies
    1. I told you not to buy that phone off Stanley Unwin Blogidy.

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    2. Smash and flakit i was when I boldryone the deertone, jack, deep joy.

      Delete
  58. your clone rarely is a peace of shot, flog

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    Replies
    1. Why thank yuo trot

      or

      how dare you sirrah! Why then i'll fite!*

      Or

      Thou hat committed fornication, but that was in a different country, and beside the wench is dead

      (delete as aproprite)

      * if its this one, meet me outside in 10 minutesd, if I'm not there, start without me

      Delete
    2. Your one of my favorite compete stranglers, trotts

      Delete
  59. Erik Lamela: Injured Tottenham midfielder to miss end of season


    Didn't he miss the begining bit and that period in the middle too?

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  60. Tim Sherwood has claimed that if Gareth Bale had remained at Tottenham, the north London side would be fighting for the Premier League title.
    ------------------------------------------------------
    Um..er..you're the guys that sold him Timmy.

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    Replies
    1. TIIMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAH

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xswRGUZrrG8

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    2. Um …er … Tim Sherwood probably had nothing to do with the sale of the Bale. If Tim is a manager of any quality, he would have been opposed to the sale. The sale was fueled by Bale's ego, and Levy's delusions of Tottenham becoming a tikka tikka Spanish side.

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    3. He was part of the spurs setup then, he is the manager now. If he doesn't like it, he should get the fuck out of there, instead of blaming their current situation on the lack of the one guy who the club sold, instead of the truckload who remain there including himself.

      Delete
    4. Why on earth would vale want to stay at spurs he's one of the best players in the world.

      On a serious note, a very different kind of leaving....RIP Dylan Tombides of west ham... aged 20. Absolutely tragic.

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    5. Dear AH,

      True that, Tim was part of the Spurs setup back in the day. He certainly was not in position to command D. Levy to do a ding dang diddley thing about Bale bailing. Tim took charge a squad of mismatched players with out any hope of fixing things in January transfer window. As far as I've read and seen, Tim hasn't used the sale of the Bale as an excuse. All he did was point out a bleeding obvious fact. Now, everyone's talking about the sale of the Bale, again. Unless there's an article or piece of media I have missed, Tim hasn't done as much complaining as he should have. When one considers the cost of Bale's replacement signings and their supposed potential for winning results, Tim is entitled to hand out a dozen or more SAF-styled hair dryer treatments in my opinion. I almost think caning should be implemented to improve performance. Some one once commanded, "The beating will continue, until moral improves." They were correct about the 2013-2014 Spurs in this case. Great googly moogly, the Spurs have been frustrating to support this year. Up, down, left, right, which way they're gonna go? Nobody knows for sure from one week to the other.

      The better quote from Tim is "All can improve", which most have failed to notice.

      Yo B,

      Had Bale stayed and helped build a most victorious Spurs dynasty, he would have become a legend of the beautiful game in his own right. Now, he never be more than one twenty-third of a typically above average side of highly paid marquee names in one of the least competitive leagues in the world. I'm sure Bale considers signing with Real Madrid as his childhood dream come true.

      It is truly sad about D. Tomides. Words fail.

      Delete
    6. The parallel with Liverpool/Suarez is interesting. Pool kept their star, spits cashed in on theirs. The difference of course is the spiders have a top manager and real talent in the ranks- a couple of highly motivated established stars - Sturrridge and Gerard who both had something to prove and a couple of young rising stars also keen to prove a point. Bale would have been a one man team this season if he'd stayed. Tim Sherwood's inspiring words reported today that he doesn't know his best team and his team are'much of a muchness' sounded to me like someone saying 'my players are shit and so am i'

      Delete
  61. Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure thinks he is not regarded as one of the best players in the world because he is from Africa.
    ======================
    An awesome player though he is, I don't quite think he deserves the 'best on the planet' tag as yet. He's simply not in the league of Messi and Cristiano (or indeed Bale or Suarez in my opinion, but that can be argued).
    Also the timing of this statement is a little questionable given that he goes on to say " he will be disappointed if he is not named player of the year by the Professional Footballers' Association."

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  62. has Borini won the title for Liverpool?

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  63. Holy shit 77 games unbeaten at home and then lose to the bottom club.


    In other news, David Cameron had been stung by a jellyfish..

    '"I felt the slimy spineless creature come into contact with me before feeling a sickening pain" said the jellyfish. 

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  64. Altidore finally did something useful... Chelsea, sans Hazard, looked like, well, Sunderland. Perhaps instead of buying twenty 'good' players we should try buying one or two world-class (or nearly there) players. Jose's style works unless we fall behind, then we rely on opponents' mistakes... and somehow, Sunderland didn't make enough of them.

    Title race isn't over. This one will go down to the final day. Not suggesting Chelsea will win, not after dropping points in such disgraceful ways of late, but it should be an exciting finish.

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    Replies
    1. Its not over by a long shot. For starters we havent beaten Norwich yet, so we're not 5 points ahead. Secondly, if Chelsea beat us next week, then the title is City's if they win the rest of their games (but one of which is away to Everton). So no one is going to be celebrating anything anytime soon. Absolutely breathtaking end to the season at both ends of the table.

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    2. Speak for yourself, I've started celebrating Liverpool's title win already, can't beat a 3 week bender.

      Delete
    3. Yeah, Chelsea should spend some more money if they want to win stuff.

      Delete
  65. i think Norwich and Palace may prove trickier than some pundits think. A draw tomorrow and no points at Selhurst are distinct possibilities

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  66. Obviously the title race is not over but with 4 games remaining the title is Liverpool's to lose, they just need to hold their nerve. Chelsea were in 'pool's situation a couple of weeks ago but fucked up. Citeh, with games in hand have done the same thing. Liverpool have the momentum, confidence is high and they are holding their form... if Fergie's Un**ed were in this position there would be little doubt as to the outcome.

    SAVE DAVE

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  67. Overheard in the Aston Villa boardroom.. 'there's only one way we're going to score'
    Drug scandal at unnamed club
    http://gu.com/p/3zhex

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  68. Not many like a good "Spurs in turmoil" headline as much as yours truly, however....

    If they win their last three games, which considering the opposition is a possibility, they will end the season on the same amount of points as last year, which was their highest point total ever. This in a season without Bale and with a shit load of misfits and two managers, that's not that bad, surely?

    IMHO, if Spurs are ever going to kick on, then changes need to be made at the very top. Bring in someone who stands by their choice of manager instead of firing him at the first sign of trouble.

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  69. Ten minutes in, Norwich dead and buried.

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  70. Well, we almost didnt beat them. At this stage though, I guess its the 3 points thats all that matters. Suarez's drop in form right at the run in is a massive fright.

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    Replies
    1. Suarez was top/

      Some of his passes were sublime.

      Deserved at least three assists.

      Delete
  71. Man U are so poo, that I switched over to the KNVB beker finale, the NL equivalent F.A Cup.

    Ajax v Zwolle.

    Ajax just scored and their own fans have bombed the pitch with fireworks.

    Game stopped, players off the field within three minutes. #actionpacked

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  72. They've got Van der Sar on now to try to keep the fans calm. WTF

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    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Crazy game, now it's restarted with Zwolle going 4=1 up within half an hour.

      In other news...

      How shit are Man U?

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    3. They are really shit is the answer. Even accounting for RIPs absence, they were abject. Rooney is clearly practising for the world cup.

      Loved this stat from the beeb - This is the first time in the entire history of the beautiful game that Liverpool and Everton have completed the double over Manchester United in the same season. 4-0 to Merseyside.

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    4. Well, seeing as how Crystal Palace came to Goodison, played well, and deserved their win - I guess Man U is more shite than Palace, at any rate.

      I'd forgotten we beat ManUre at Old Triffid! I remember it well, because that was the last time I was a little bit sorry for Moe. That is indeed a stat to warm the hearts of nations. Well, except the ones where they sell all those United shirts...

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    5. United won the possession battle, though. SAVE DAVE!

      Delete
  73. H2, what's your thoughts on playing Podolski up front and Giroud on the bench. I think Giroud is a decent player but playing in a team with title winning aspirations, he's more a squad player than a first choice striker. Podolski has played 11 PL games plus 6 as sub for a return of 8 goals compared with Giroud 33 games, 14 goals. Podolski's goal conversion rate is pretty good too (about 33%) compared to Giroud (around 12%.) Podolski would not be my first choice striker either but I think he may be a better option than Giroud until the end of the season.

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    Replies
    1. Arsene Wenger's policy of buying a striker then trying to play them as a winger to then convert them back to strikers worked with TH but I don't see it has worked with Podlo or Walcott, both of whom would be great centre forwards with the way Arsenal play. I can see the point in having Giroud (who I rate quite highly) as a target man who holds the ball up well if Rambo or AOC play behind him but otherwise we need a striker who can get on the crosses, through balls etc that the midfiled create. Podolski has shown he has a killer instinct in front of goal but doesn't convince me as a wide left player.
      In other wors, I agree Bo (although you wereen't asking ME!)

      Rastafairy

      Delete
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    ReplyDelete

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