Football Focus

[Jah Lush]

http://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag237/jahlushhead/11063751_10153811127205830_4834840288838796009_n_zpsucholkfi.jpg

[aquarius moon]

If I could drive JL, I'd have loved one of those for away matches!

I can't even remember the last time I watched MOTD but I just have to stay up tonight to see those 3 goals.

[red devil]

Stick yer head on it son... http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2015/5/19/8620455/how-to-defend-like-manchester-united-phil-jones

[red devil]

Raheem Sterling needs to get himself a new agent, probably too late though... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32830357

[Otta]

Good riddance.

He can go to Arsenal and we'll have Walcott. Sorted.

[Parkdrive]

Otta Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Good riddance.

>

> He can go to Arsenal and we'll have Walcott.

> Sorted.

He's more likely to go to City, I wouldn't want him at our place, hugely overrated and has a far higher opinion of himself than anybody with a modicum of footballing knowledge.

[Parkdrive]

What I don't get is pundits like Phil Thompson calling him greedy because he wants to leave the club, by the same token then could Lallana be accused of being greedy when moving to Liverpool?

[Jah Lush]

It's the way he's going about engineering his move PD. No class.

[Parkdrive]

Jah Lush Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It's the way he's going about engineering his move

> PD. No class.

I agree Jah, but unfortunately it seems to be the way of things these days and I can't see it getting any better. I'm seriously getting hacked off with the whole Premier League thing. Going off at a tangent I know, but I went along to see my sons' friend play for Beckenham Town a few weeks back, and it was so refreshing not to have to put up with all the corporate crap that has taken the Prem over. The quality level wasn't great, but I got the distinct impression fans actually felt part of the club, and not a necessary evil to be tolerated which is how many fans feel about clubs in the Prem they've followed for decades.

[Otta]

That's why we're all down at Champion Hill these days.

[Jah Lush]

Yep, Dulwich Hamlet is my priority these days. Much more fun. I've not been to watch Spurs this season and I've not done that during a season in decades. I can no longer afford to go. The travelling there and back is a pain in the arse and I don't enjoy it as much as I do at Champion Hill.

[Mick Mac]

Although you could probably get from ED to WHL and buy a beer quicker than you would get served at Champion Hill.

[Parkdrive]

Mick Mac Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Although you could probably get from ED to WHL and

> buy a beer quicker than you would get served at

> Champion Hill.

Never had that problem when my son played for DH Youth I have to admit. I understand where you're coming from Jah, I've only been to watch the Arsenal 5 or 6 times this season and only because mates with season tickets have let me have their seats at face value, but the whole corporate thing does my head in. Do any of you ever foresee a time when the Prem bubble bursts?

[red devil]

The BBC are covering the FA Cup old skool stylee... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32801726

[Otta]

Mick Mac Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Although you could probably get from ED to WHL and

> buy a beer quicker than you would get served at

> Champion Hill.

Haha, you're probably not far off. Only downside. I take a couple of cans. Would happily give the bar my money but not if it means missing half the match.

[aquarius moon]

They don't search you?

Wow! Not like The Den is it?!

[red devil]

I hear Ot's daughter goes tooled up with the latest Peppa Pig toys...

[aquarius moon]

We used to take 'squash' bottles that weren't squash to The Den & got away with it every time. But I believe that all bottles are banned nowadays.

And I remember congregating under the bridge at Wembley with everyone else, downing all our cans before we went in.

Happy days!

[Otta]

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Ghent end 115-year wait for league title

Football

Posted at 12:47

Ghent celebrate

AP

It's been 115 years in the making, but Belgian club Ghent have finally won their first league title.

The Buffalos' 2-0 win over Standard Liege on Thursday clinched the title and secured a place in next season's Champions League. Buffalos? In Belgium?

The Flemish club have twice finished second in the league, have won three Belgian Cups and reached the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup in 1992.

Lescott wins WBA Player of the Year

Football

Posted at 12:38

Joleon Lescott was named West Brom's player of the season yesterday and the centre-back is clearly gracious in victory.

Whatever happened at the Baggies' end of season award ceremony though, it could never, ever top Louis van Gaal's sensational address at Manchester United's do.

And if you haven't seen it already, are you an ostrich?

Honoured to have won player of the year. Grateful the fans appreciated my efforts and for voting.

Joleon Lescott

JoleonLescott

Honoured to have won player of the year. Grateful the fans appreciated my efforts and for voting.

10:34 a.m. - 22 May 2015

Pogba and Evra in France squad

Football

Posted at 12:31

Paul Pogba

Reuters

France manager Didier Deschamps has named his squad for matches with Belgium and Albania. Paul Pogba and Patrice Evra are in it even though they'll miss the first game.

The Juventus pair will be unavailable for the 7 June fixture with Belgium due to their participation in the Champions League final the previous day.

France travel to Albania for the second friendly on 13June. And with Karim Benzema out injured, Deschamps has handed 22-year-old Rennes winger Paul-Georges Ntep a first call-up.

Get involved

#seasoninasentence

Posted at 12:24

Today we're asking for your verdicts on your team's season. Would they get a 10 out of 10, or a big fat zero? Have they over-achieved or under-performed? Can you sum up your season in a sentence?

Benjamin Dyke: 'Europ'in' for a miracle entry to Champions League but end up needing a miracle turnaround to stay in Prem. (Everton)

Thomas Adam Brooker: Great performances, unjust results, fantastic finish. Leicester's #seasoninasentence.

Big Brenny: Spurs - Seventh biggest budget in the PL and will be fifth or sixth so over-achieved in that sense but far too many mistakes. 6/10.

Get involved using Twitter via #seasoninasentence or on the Match of the Day Facebook page.

World Cup tickets on sale next week

Rugby Union

Posted at 12:18

Looking to bag a ticket for the Rugby World Cup? Tickets for a further 26 matches go on general sale on 28 May, organisers have announced.

Around 100,000 tickets will go on sale next week, in addition to the 30,000 tickets currently on general sale, with matches available across all 13 venues and for all 20 teams. Head over to the official website for more info.

Peterborough appoint Robertson

Football

Posted at 12:12

Peterborough United confirm Dave Robertson as their new manager on a three-year contract.

The 41-year-old had been in charge as caretaker boss since Darren Ferguson left in February.

Under Robertson, Posh won six of their 15 games, drawing four and losing five as they finished ninth in League One.

Palestine FA complain to Fifa over Israel FA

Football

Posted at 12:04

The Palestine Football Association (PFA) has complained to Fifa over Israeli authorities holding up a national team player as the squad travelled to Tunisia on Thursday.

The PFA say Sameh Maraabah was temporarily detained by Israeli authorities crossing between the West Bank and Jordan.

The PFA has already requested Fifa vote on suspending the Israeli Football Association, who they claim have violated rules relating to racism, players' free movement and where clubs are based. World football's governing body could vote at its next congress on 29 May.

England v New Zealand

Cricket

Posted at 11:59

England are all out in their first innings of the first Test at Lord's against New Zealand.

James Anderson was the last wicket to fall, caught and bowled by Matt Henry for 11. England put on 35 runs this morning for the loss of three wickets.

Anderson now has the ball in hand as the visitors begin their reply.

Test Match Special has ball-by-ball commentary on Radio 5 live sports extra and there is live text commentary on the BBC Sport website.

Ancelotti future at Real Madrid

Football

Posted at 11:53

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has been speaking at a news conference about his future.

Carlo Ancelotti

AFP

Napoli manager Rafa Benitez has been linked with the Italian's job at the Bernabeu.

"I haven't talked with the club about my future. The club has told me that we will talk when the season finishes.

"I'm not upset by the speculations of possible new coaches for Real Madrid, this is normal in the football world"

Football

Gerrard v Lampard

Phil McNulty

BBC chief football writer

Posted at 11:48

Plenty of debate around the respective merits of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard as the two Premier League greats prepare to leave for Major League Soccer with LA Galaxy and New York City FC respectively.

Former Manchester United star Phil Neville paid this tribute to Gerrard when he told BBC Sport: "Put him alongside Roy Keane, probably even ahead of Frank Lampard, put him alongside Paul Scholes or a Michael Carrick and you think United probably would have won more European Cups."

And he added: "If you talk about Liverpool players over the years - and they have had some greats - I have never once thought 'I'd like to put him in a Manchester United shirt'. Gerrard was one - put him in a United midfield next to Scholes or Keane and wow. Utopia."

So Manchester United fans - and answer honestly - is there another Liverpool player apart from Steven Gerrard that would have liked to have seen in your shirt?"

So come on RD...

[red devil]

Hmmm...probably Dalgleish. We had a strong connection with Celtic then, had previously signed Lou Macari, so was disappointed he went to Liverpool, but understandable with all the success they had at the time...

[Otta]

Macca? He was definitely good enough, remember him tearing you up when he was playing for Real.

[red devil]

A lot of the Liverpool players from the 70's & 80's would've been an upgrade on the players Utd had at the time. Wasn't a big fan of Macmanaman, but he did play very well in those games. Zidane was the man though. More recently, had Liverpool kept Alonso, Mascherano, Gerrard and Torres together they would've pushed Utd close, more often than the one season they did. I think the only difference between the clubs that season was that we had Ronaldo who could win a game on his own...

[DulwichFox]

aquarius moon Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> We used to take 'squash' bottles that weren't

> squash to The Den & got away with it every time.

> But I believe that all bottles are banned

> nowadays.

>

> And I remember congregating under the bridge at

> Wembley with everyone else, downing all our cans

> before we went in.

>

> Happy days!

You can take soft drinks in plastic bottles bought from the kiosk.. but they take the plastic top off

so it cannot be used as a weapon.

I've seen the guys that sit next to me with Hip Flasks.

Foxy

[red devil]

West Ham fans very quiet about the strong likelihood that BFS will leave next week. What's up guys, worried you might be tempting fate? Who do you want as a replacement?...

[Parkdrive]

red devil Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> West Ham fans very quiet about the strong

> likelihood that BFS will leave next week. What's

> up guys, worried you might be tempting fate? Who

> do you want as a replacement?...

It's rumoured that Slaven Bilic has been approached.