Football Focus

[red devil]

It's his general negativity, both on and off the pitch. A couple of weeks into the season and he was already saying Sunderland would struggle to avoid relegation. ''Thanks gaffer!''...

[Alan Medic]

@ Mick Mac. In case you don't know there's a documentary on the Lisbon Lions tomorrow BBC1 11.15.

[Otta]

Looks like BFS is hanging up his brown envelopes and retiring.

[Mick Mac]

red devil Wrote:

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> That's because the useless fooker is in effect

> still being paid by Utd. He's a shit manager and I

> doubt very much he'll be managing in the PL

> anytime soon...

I could have told you that before you recruited him. In fact I suspect I did. :)

[Seabag]

Otta Wrote:

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> Looks like BFS is hanging up his brown envelopes

> and retiring.

He can spend some of that hard earned cash now.

He's a twat, but will kinda be missed.

[red devil]

I reckon he'll be back around Christmas time, 6 months off, 6 months on, nice work if you can get it...

[Mick Mac]

Good luck to United tonight. Mourinho looks back on the 2003 Final, which was a cracking match:

"I keep saying that was the most emotional final of my career, because even the Champions League finals (of 2004 and 2010) were much more under control, the result was always under control. This one was 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, extra time, 3-2; it was a really emotional night for us."

 

[Mick Mac]

With what's happened in Manchester this week, let's all get behind MU tonight. I'm sure it wont be easy for the players or fans.

[Mick Mac]

Credit: Getty

The full poem is below

This is the place

In the north-west of England. It?s ace, it?s the best

And the songs that we sing from the stands, from our bands

Set the whole planet shaking.

Our inventions are legends. There?s nowt we can?t make, and so we make brilliant music

We make brilliant bands

We make goals that make souls leap from seats in the stands

And we make things from steel

And we make things from cotton

And we make people laugh, take the mick sommat rotten

And we make you at home

And we make you feel welcome and we make summat happen

And we can?t seem to help it

And if you?re looking from history, then yeah we?ve a wealth

But the Manchester way is to make it yourself.

And make us a record, a new number one

And make us a brew while you?re up, love, go on

And make us feel proud that you?re winning the league

And make us sing louder and make us believe that this is the place that has helped shape the world

And this is the place where a Manchester girl named Emmeline Pankhurst from the streets of Moss Side led a suffragette city with sisterhood pride

And this is the place with appliance of science, we?re on it, atomic, we struck with defiance, and in the face of a challenge, we always stand tall, Mancunians, in union, delievered it all

Such as housing and libraries and health, education and unions and co-ops and first railway stations

So we?re sorry, bear with us, we invented commuters. But we hope you forgive us, we invented computers.

And this is the place Henry Rice strolled with rolls, and we?ve rocked and we?ve rolled with our own northern soul

And so this is the place to do business then dance, where go-getters and goal-setters know they?ve a chance

And this is the place where we first played as kids. And me mum, lived and died here, she loved it, she did.

And this is the place where our folks came to work, where they struggled in puddles, they hurt in the dirt and they built us a city, they built us these towns and they coughed on the cobbles to the deafening sound to the steaming machines and the screaming of slaves, they were scheming for greatness, they dreamed to their graves.

And they left us a spirit. They left us a vibe. The Mancunian way to survive and to thrive and to work and to build, to connect, and create and greater ― Manchester?s greatness is keeping it great.

And so this is the place now with kids of our own. Some are born here, some drawn here, but all call it home.

And they?ve covered the cobbles, but they?ll never defeat, all the dreamers and schemers who still teem through these streets.

Because this is a place that has been through some hard times: oppressions, recessions, depressions, and dark times.

But we keep fighting back with greater Manchester spirit. Northern grit, northern wit, and greater Manchester?s lyrics.

And these hard times again, in these streets of our city, but we won?t take defeat and we don?t want your pity.

Because this is a place where we stand strong together, with a smile on our face, greater Manchester forever.

And we?ve got this place where a team with a dream can get funding and something to help with a scheme.

Because this is a place that understands your grand plans. We don?t do ?no can do? we just stress ?yes we can?

Forever Manchester?s a charity for people round here, you can fundraise, donate, you can be a volunteer. You can live local, give local, we can honestly say, we do charity different, that Mancunian way.

And we fund local kids, and we fund local teams. We support local dreamers to work for their dreams. We support local groups and the great work they do. So can you help us. help local people like you?

Because this is the place in our hearts, in our homes, because this is the place that?s a part of our bones.

Because greater Manchester gives us such strength from the fact that this is the place, we should give something back.

Always remember, never forget, forever Manchester.

[Mick Mac]

Sir Alex: the greatest feat in football history

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40053489

[Mick Mac]

Im running my own thread here. Is there any limit the on consecutive posts?

50 years ago, this evening, Celtic were the first Scottish team, the first British team and the first non Latin team to win the European Cup.

At half time in the final, Kenneth Wolstenholme, with Celtic trailing 1-0, stated that Celtic were fighting not just for themselves but for football, it was the best attacking team in Europe against the best defensive team in Europe.

Style and attack prevailed.

The local lads won out.

Apologies, but I had to get that in before midnight. It's a shame no-one else posted in support of this remarkable event.

It was nice to see BBC put the Glasgow 67 documentary on the main channel last night. Thanks Alan Medic for highlighting.

Forever 67.

[red devil]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Im running my own thread here. Is there any limit

> the on consecutive posts?

Don't know Mick, but they do say that talking to yourself is the first sign of madness.

Meanwhile back in the here and now...

Championes, Championes...

[Mick Mac]

I've watched it again, and I misquoted Mr Wolstenholme. His half time quote was actually:

"Celtic are not just taking on Inter, but they are trying to end the ice-age of defensive European football."

Ironically, having watched the Europa league League final last night, I see some managers are Herrera disciples, even now.

[Alan Medic]

Mick Mac Wrote:

> Apologies, but I had to get that in before

> midnight. It's a shame no-one else posted in

> support of this remarkable event.

> It was nice to see BBC put the Glasgow 67

> documentary on the main channel last night. Thanks

> Alan Medic for highlighting.

> Forever 67.

I hadn't seen that particular documentary before and would highly recommend it. It has a charm about it. It can still be seen on the BBC i player.

On a different note I'd be curious to know what Spurs fans here think they were missing that Chelsea had to win the league?

Good to see Jose at least happy for once. It amazing that one game defined how good or bad the season was for him & United. If they lost it would have been considered not good enough, but winning it means it was a great season. I seem to remember him saying winning the Charity Shield was LVG's and not his trophy. Seems like he's taken it back now though.

Why can't the FA Cup Final kick off at 3pm? It used to be the highlight of the year for me when there was hardly ever any football on TV. Too much football just dilutes what used to be a pleasure.

[Jah Lush]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> On a different note I'd be curious to know what

> Spurs fans here think they were missing that

> Chelsea had to win the league?

I don't think we were missing anything. Chelsea had no European distractions. Most seasons our points total would have won us the Premiership. We scored the most goals and had the meanest defence, three players scoring 20+ goals. Harry winning the Golden Boot again... I could go on but it's pointless. It's done and dusted.

I am very proud of our young team and the continued improvement we have shown over the past few seasons. Onwards and upwards.

[Mick Mac]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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>

> Why can't the FA Cup Final kick off at 3pm?

Because the Scottish FA Cup is at 3pm. :) the oldest trophy in football. I'll be watching both, one after the other. BBQ for the first one and out for the second one..... not that I care who wins the English one, but hope that anyone but Chelsea wins it.

[Mick Mac]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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>

> I don't think we were missing anything. Chelsea

> had no European distractions.

I'm wondering which team, without European distractions, will win the Premiership next season?

[Jah Lush]

It won't be Leicester.

[maxxi]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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>

> Why can't the FA Cup Final kick off at 3pm?

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Because the Scottish FA Cup is at 3pm. :) the

> oldest trophy in football.

Indeed - but if I were tempted to nit pick it should be added (thanks to The Scotsman) that it is only the oldest 'Association' football trophy as the Youdan Trophy (Sheffield Rules Football) is older and although no longer competed for it still exists.

And it's not the oldest Association competition either - which I think was the point of your answer to Doc's query - that would be the English FA Cup. So it Should kick off at 3pm. It really bloody should. :)

[titch juicy]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> Mick Mac Wrote:

>

> > Apologies, but I had to get that in before

> > midnight. It's a shame no-one else posted in

> > support of this remarkable event.

> > It was nice to see BBC put the Glasgow 67

> > documentary on the main channel last night.

> Thanks

> > Alan Medic for highlighting.

> > Forever 67.

>

> I hadn't seen that particular documentary before

> and would highly recommend it. It has a charm

> about it. It can still be seen on the BBC i

> player.

>

> On a different note I'd be curious to know what

> Spurs fans here think they were missing that

> Chelsea had to win the league?

>

> Good to see Jose at least happy for once. It

> amazing that one game defined how good or bad the

> season was for him & United. If they lost it would

> have been considered not good enough, but winning

> it means it was a great season. I seem to remember

> him saying winning the Charity Shield was LVG's

> and not his trophy. Seems like he's taken it back

> now though.

>

> Why can't the FA Cup Final kick off at 3pm? It

> used to be the highlight of the year for me when

> there was hardly ever any football on TV. Too much

> football just dilutes what used to be a pleasure.

I don't think we need much either. Chelsea were a bit of a freak last season. Some might argue that we need another striker. I disagree. Son scored a bucketful this season and will likely improve again next. We know all about Kane and Alli and I truly believe Janssen will come good. He showed real signs of it towards the end of the season. Besides, we were the division's top scorers.

I think the only area we need to strengthen is perhaps in wide attacking areas. We did this last summer bringing in Sissoko and N'Koudou. Sissoko looks like being a big error and N'Koudou hasn't really had a chance to show what (if anything) he can do.

And if Walker leaves, which is looking likely, someone to cover for Trippier. There's a lot of talk about tempting Dani Alves from Juventus. I think that would be ideal for the European campaign and to have an experienced winner in the squad.

[????]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Im running my own thread here. Is there any limit

> the on consecutive posts?

>

> 50 years ago, this evening, Celtic were the first

> Scottish team, the first British team and the

> first non Latin team to win the European Cup.

>

> At half time in the final, Kenneth Wolstenholme,

> with Celtic trailing 1-0, stated that Celtic were

> fighting not just for themselves but for football,

> it was the best attacking team in Europe against

> the best defensive team in Europe.

> Style and attack prevailed.

> The local lads won out.

>

> Apologies, but I had to get that in before

> midnight. It's a shame no-one else posted in

> support of this remarkable event.

> It was nice to see BBC put the Glasgow 67

> documentary on the main channel last night. Thanks

> Alan Medic for highlighting.

> Forever 67.

Bloody hell - Celtic fans go on about 1967 nearly as much as West Ham fans do 1966 :)

[Mick Mac]

maxxi Wrote:

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

> Alan Medic Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

>

> >

> > Why can't the FA Cup Final kick off at 3pm?

>

> Mick Mac Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

>

> > Because the Scottish FA Cup is at 3pm. :) the

> > oldest trophy in football.

>

>

>

> And it's not the oldest Association competition

> either - which I think was the point of your

> answer to Doc's query

I said oldest trophy. Anyway, I'm hopeful, no expectant, that it will be our third trophy this year - we call that a domestic clean sweep - a treble.

[Alan Medic]

They are still unbeaten domestically aren't they? I'm seem to remember RD saying what the odds were of that happening some months ago. They were quite attractive if I remember correctly.

PS What happened in 1966?

[Mick Mac]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> They are still unbeaten domestically aren't they?

> I'm seem to remember RD saying what the odds were

> of that happening some months ago. They were quite

> attractive if I remember correctly.

>

> PS What happened in 1966?

We won the double - West Ham won sweet FA.

[maxxi]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Alan Medic Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> > PS What happened in 1966?

>

> We won the double - West Ham won sweet FA.

After winning FA and Euro Cup Winners Cups in successive years West Ham's leading lights saved their energies to help England win a little something - now if Celtic's players had only been as selfless then Scotland would have- no... no that's just being silly.