On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[matthew123]

What it has shown is that Big Sam has allowed himself to be used as a puppet by Alex Ferguson in his own row with Rafa.

Wonder what his mate Phil Brown will have to say about it all next Friday, before Liverpool play Hull..

[Michael Palaeologus]

What football is really all about.

[Mikecg]

Ferguson whining again, WTF has it got to do with him anyway.

[matthew123]

Wolves... I might have to make a trip to Molineux next season.. but I fear for any team in the Premiership managed by Mick McCarthy as I really don't think he cuts the mustard. Nevertheless they are a big club and with a bit of ambitious football (like Hull start of this season) I hope at least they put up more of a battle than the Baggies..

[Mick Mac]

Mick Mac Wrote:

(and I had backed

> Chelsea on Betfair and doubled up when they went

> behind - so now I am a Drogba fan

Wasn't "5.2" by any chance? Probably me that laid you.....laid Arsenal (small) at the same time but "got out" by laying the draw at "2.02" and at "1.52" so was lucky as I didn't fancy Chelsea b4 the match, at particularly at 0/1...

It was 5.2 on TLS yes - I hope I did not take your money though - don't like to take money from mates - small world though - thought Betfair was supposed to be anonymous.

Admire you for laying though - I only ever back, laying is a dangerous business, makes you understand that the bookies are quite brave in the risks they take.

[matthew123]

Well in a 2 horse race, you may get better odds Laying the other horse than Backing the horse you think will win and besides that on BetFair you can limit your stake either way.

Anyway, what I wanted to say was, who is being Arrogant now... after the Team he is putting out against Everton in this FA Cup semi final? Answers on a postcard...

[Keef]

Really annoyed, managed to avoid the FA cup score all day so I could watch highlights, then MOTD bloody announced it with no warning! Grrr! Nice to see Gazza looking happy and healthy though.

[matthew123]

Adebayor and Van Persie not in squad for tomorrow night's game at Liverpool.

Alex Ferguson has commented on the game..

"I don't know what Arsene will be thinking about tomorrow but no matter what, Arsenal always try,"

"That is the mantra of Arsene himself. He is a winner."

"Providing they try, it is all I can ask for."

"I am not concerned about tomorrow's game, I will concern myself with my own team. That is enough for me to think about."

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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

> Mick Mac Wrote:

> (and I had backed

> > Chelsea on Betfair and doubled up when they went

>

> > behind - so now I am a Drogba fan

>

> Wasn't "5.2" by any chance? Probably me that laid

> you.....laid Arsenal (small) at the same time but

> "got out" by laying the draw at "2.02" and at

> "1.52" so was lucky as I didn't fancy Chelsea b4

> the match, at particularly at 0/1...

>

> It was 5.2 on TLS yes - I hope I did not take your

> money though - don't like to take money from mates

> - small world though - thought Betfair was

> supposed to be anonymous.

> Admire you for laying though - I only ever back,

> laying is a dangerous business, makes you

> understand that the bookies are quite brave in the

> risks they take.

Good Luck to you Mick Mac- you Won the money, fair and square and given that I got the result wrong, I was delighted to only lose ?24.

Its the adrenalin at The Racetrack when you lay a fair sized Bet.

If I ever have to leave the game I will reveal some of the risks that I have taken.:(...its involved potentially losing all my money, on more than one occassion now, if truth be told, but I'm still there to tell the tale..B)

[Mick Mac]

Good for you TLS - there are too many dull people around who never feel the thrill of betting more than they really should.

As the old saying goes - you can take it with you...

(the bookie does that).

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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

> Good for you TLS - there are too many dull people

> around who never feel the thrill of betting more

> than they really should.

>

> As the old saying goes - you can take it with

> you...

>

> (the bookie does that).

you CAN take it with you?..:)...now I know why The Hyman Firm stopped off to spend a 50 pence Petrol Voucher last year when they gave a colleague a lift, and drove past 4/5 other Stations until they found one which accepted the Voucher..:)).

They were on their way home to Golders Green/Hampstead Garden Suburb with their combined 2 Million fortune safely stored away, presumably for a rainy day in Heaven....they are 94, 94, 85, and 64 respectively: a combined age of 337 years old!

[Tony.London Suburbs]

...B)

[Atila Reincarnate]

What a game. A makeshift side, away,up against a team with title ambitions. Come u gunners, I'm very, very proud of you. Sorry pool, I think you'll end the season without the title, it's on it's way back to the Mancs.

[citizenED]

Jesus, what a game! I'm breathless just keeping up with it. Four-goal Arshavin. Now to beat ManU and keep it really interesting.

[Atila Reincarnate]

I'm especially proud of the fact that nobody gave us a prayer for this game, but we always play better against the "BIG" sides. 2 points dropped Pool, Fergie calls this squeaky bum time I believe. What aplayer Arshavin is, now I can see what all the fuss was about.

[Mick Mac]

Arshavin - what a display

My boss at work is a massive Arsenal fan - goes into big sulks when they lose - lasts for days - a few months ago when Arsenal were trying to sign Arshavin I said to him it would be great is Arsenal managed to get him - he said he was not convinced - all Arsenal fans will surely be convinced of his quality now.

[can you keep him though - when the big clubs come sniffing? :)]

[Mick Mac]

Have had a quick look - MU can win the title with 5 wins and a draw from 7 games left.

Seems max that Pool can now achieve is 86 Points being 71 points plus 15. Still a chance for Liverpool I would have thought - however Betfair are offering Liverpool at 7.8 - quite generous I think, there are a lot of points to be won and lost.

(that could be TLS offering the 7.8 - so do not take much of his money)

[Keef]

Gutted I didn't get to see last nights match, and was more gutted every time I checked the score! Can't stand it when you can't even see highlights on fre T!

I was kind of expecting to drop points yesterday, everyone seemed to have forgotten we were playing Arsenal... Who, lets not forget, still go to Man U. I would suggest that Man U may have a harder run in, with the Manchester derby a week before Arsenal, plus the likes of Spurs... Then again, Liverpool have to play some teams who are fighting for their lives, so who knows..

Certainly harder for the pool now, but they've played the hardest looking game, and got a point, so could be worse. It's Man U's to lose thouh.

[SeanMacGabhann]

I'm expecting Man U to win tonight but they are still on a wobble. It could go either way. I would expect them to go on and win the title and I would be surprised if a fergie team capsized to that extent. But then again stranger things etc etc

Conceding 11 goals in 3 games against Chelsea & Arsenal is not league winning form, but it has only cost them 2 league points. The fat lady is in the dressing room and applying teh pancake, but she is a fair while from singing just yet

Keef - how did you listen to the game last night? If I'm not near a tv, I watch Soccer Special on Sky Sports News via a laptop - nearly as good

[????]

*whispers* ...Chelsea

[SeanMacGabhann]

wouldn't that be something. They would deserve it too.. but of all the cast-lists, it is theirs I dislike the most. I find it hard to get annoyed by the players at Liverpool or Man U even, but dem blues...

[Keef]

Chelsea are certainly still in it, and on winning form.

[Mick Mac]

Can't see Chelsea doing it sorry - Can't see MU dropping sufficient points to put Chelsea in the picture even if Chelsea win all their games.

[matthew123]

Another great 4-4.. and I thought Dirk Kuyt was sensational last night, with Yossi not far behind.

Liverpool only have themselves to blame if they don't win title. That is 14 points out of 18 against Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal this season. When Liverpool cut loose they're as formidable as anyone upfront - defensively they need a bit more pace at centre half alongside Agger.

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Mick Mac Wrote:

... (that could be TLS offering the 7.8 - so do not

> take much of his money)

Nice of you to say that Mick but at The Track that kind of attitude very nearly put me out of Business!:))

I made the rare leap from "Poacher turned Gamekeeper" and never missed a Meeting as a Punter (other than Holidays)....then I went from The Terraces to become one of "The Enenmy"...:))...

After 4/5 weeks of this I asked all the Guys I used to stand with why they were not betting with me and they said, pretty much,

"Tone, U R one of us, we like you and we don't want to take YOUR money!"...."We don't like xxxx or yyyy though!"

I replied "Thats all very well but I have t pay xxxx Expenses to The Track/Staff to bet and am not taking enough Business as you are trying to protect me!"....followed by..."I'm trying to take your f+++ing money!"...with a smile.

After that I traded with these Guys and Good Luck to whoever came out on top....

However, outside of "Business" it is not a good idea to give or receive Betting money directly with friends, you are right M8.