On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[lard]

Sandperson Wrote:

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> At last! Of course we couldn't have done it

> without spending soooo much money as the guru

> Benitez has told us. What a @#$%&. (Apart from the

> fact he managed to spend ?20M on a player who then

> went straight back to where he came from for less

> money.) One more and they are well and truely

> knocked off their perch abnd that IS a fact. Bring

> on next season. ;-)

To think that money doesn't matter is daft.

I laughed when I saw that the first song you sang at the final whistle was about us.

[ratty]

Congrats to United - the best team won this year!

Super Pompey staying up too! Prem footy next year which did not look likely when Adams was in charge!

All in all an interesting season! I am gonna have a beer!

[Keef]

See SP, I come on and congratulate United, and then you come on with a post which reminds me exactly why I find it hard to be happy for them. It's the fans, more than the players (Ronaldo aside) who make them so easy to hate.

As Lenk says, it's funny in a pathetic way, that rather than being happy about winning, and enjoying that, the first thing that springs to the "minds" of the united support is Liverpool.

[Sandperson]

Oh, yes! Anna, Is said "one more and they are well and truely knocked off their perch". Keef, Thanks for the congrats (which you did say through gritted teeth), I was just a little disappointed that a manager of a top four club had a dig about spending money. Like Liverpool didn't?

Lard, it's always about Liverpool and always will be, (we are dead happy to win and dead happy to sing to you when we do) at least until we've got 19 and 6 and then you can do whatever you like..except win the league...or the European Cup.

Excuse me for enjoying my teams acheievements this season and reminding Liverpool how long it's been.

[Keef]

Well there goes me cheering the English team in the CL final ;-)

[Sandperson]

Keef! It wouldn't be the same if you did! Go for Barca, they've probably got a better chance anyway. :'(

[Atila Reincarnate]

I was looking out for the "White Pele" yesterday, but he didn't appear, mind you Shrek was on the pitch......................oh sorry, that was Rooney. I have to admit I was very pleased with our performance, and was baffled by Man Ure, not one shot on target. Roll on Champs League final, come on Barca. I've never supported any other English team in the Champs League and I'm not about to change the habit of a lifetime. Just a footnote to Mancs winning the title, did anyone notice that only one of the 6 or so people interviewed by sky sports outside old stratford after the game had a Manc accent?? Interesting.

[AnotherPaul]

http://www.oneanother.ltd.uk/i/PleaseLeave.jpg

Apols. for the shonky photoshop.

[mockney piers]

Congrats to Man U, as someone said best team did it. I actually think that had Guus turned up earlier it would have been theirs, but then couldve wouldve shmouldve, well done!!

And well done the *mighty* hammers too, thought we'd be embroiled in a relegation battle right now, so huzzah. Be nice to beat Tottenham though I can't see that happening, level pegging on points I reckon though.

['bout now]

congrats to Man U, back to my previous post about Tevez, reading about the "odour" around Joorabchian, has been linked to Arms and Drugs dealing, money laundering, had an international arrest warrant (now suspended) and left Corinthians broke and relegated. I knew something smelled.

[matthew123]

Who said the best won it this season?

Liverpool were the best Premiership team this season.. less defeats, more goals, best goal difference and also did the home & away double over both United and Chelsea, which was cemented with a 4-1 thumping at Old Trafford. They also hit the woodwork about 40 times which is a new Premiership record.

Rafa blew the title with his unnecessary cautious tactics at Anfield against the might of Fulham, Hull, West Ham, Man City, Stoke at Anfield. Liverpool failing to win Title was not really to do with money (as we can't complain too much when the money we do have is blown on crap like Dossena)... that is clear from the United team containing such illustrious regulars as O'Shea, Fletcher and JS Park.

Since Liverpool won at Old Trafford 2 months ago, teams have been having a real good go at United and there have been some extremely close encounters when on another occasion points would have been dropped, e.g. Villa, Spurs, Wigan, Arsenal. Prior to that we had likes of Fulham, Everton et al going up to Old Trafford and conserving their energies as a lost cause. Add on the fact of various dubious penalties given to United by Referees unfit to blow a whistle and it all adds up to United winning Title but far from being the best (I'd put both Liverpool and Chelsea ahead).

Congratulations to United for winning Title even if it does have alongside it an asterisk.

[JetSetWilly]

Atila Reincarnate Wrote:

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> I've just seen a posting on this thread saying

> that Wayne Rooney is the White Pele, you have got

> to be pulling my plonker. Pele was a graceful,

> artistic player. Now I ain't saying Rooney isn't a

> good player, but Pele he ain't.

he certainly isn,t, now colleen,s up the duff.

[Mick Mac]

Matt - the best team wins it every season. End of discussion surely - any what ifs or maybes are seen as sour grapes.

[mockney piers]

hear hear MM.

[Sandperson]

matthew123 Wrote:

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> Who said the best won it this season?

>

> Liverpool were the best Premiership team this

> season.. less defeats, more goals, best goal

> difference and also did the home & away double

> over both United and Chelsea, which was cemented

> with a 4-1 thumping at Old Trafford. They also hit

> the woodwork about 40 times which is a new

> Premiership record.

>

> Rafa blew the title with his unnecessary cautious

> tactics at Anfield against the might of Fulham,

> Hull, West Ham, Man City, Stoke at Anfield.

> Liverpool failing to win Title was not really to

> do with money (as we can't complain too much when

> the money we do have is blown on crap like

> Dossena)... that is clear from the United team

> containing such illustrious regulars as O'Shea,

> Fletcher and JS Park.

>

> Since Liverpool won at Old Trafford 2 months ago,

> teams have been having a real good go at United

> and there have been some extremely close

> encounters when on another occasion points would

> have been dropped, e.g. Villa, Spurs, Wigan,

> Arsenal. Prior to that we had likes of Fulham,

> Everton et al going up to Old Trafford and

> conserving their energies as a lost cause. Add on

> the fact of various dubious penalties given to

> United by Referees unfit to blow a whistle and it

> all adds up to United winning Title but far from

> being the best (I'd put both Liverpool and Chelsea

> ahead).

>

> Congratulations to United for winning Title even

> if it does have alongside it an asterisk.

You continue to speak total rubbish! First it's the refs, then it's the money we spend on players and finally when there's no other place to go except to say United were the better team you start spouting on about how Liverpool were the better team. How on earth do you make that out? We BEAT you. We have more points than you, which means over 38 games and now over 19 years we have been consistently better than you. End of story. I love the way that the interviews outside the game today they were all bleating on about how they didn't have the strength on the bench that United had, well boo hoo, why not try signing some consistently good players? Why buy a player for ?20M play him for a few games and sell him back to his former club? How can that be good for a team?

And as for AG's comments I've said it before and I'll say it again, not all Manchester United fans come from Manchester...shock horror! In fact in the very same interviews where the Liverpool fans were bleating on about how hard done by they were there weren't that many Scouse accents either...what do you make of that?

[Mick Mac]

Meanwhile north of the border its: Hibs 0 - 0 Celtic @ half time.

I feel the sheer excitment of this event has passed the forum by. Celtic need to win to have same points as Gers going into final game next week, how exciting is that, we had better score soon.

Still 0-0 - 75 mins gone - time running out but its all Celtic - not many proper chances though. Nervy.

[matthew123]

I don't know what you're on about Sandperson. I've talked about this season not the last 19 years!?

As for money, when did I say it was because of money!?

If you think people are going to fall into line and claim United are the best just because it's the easy thing to say you're wrong. It's not a case of being gracious in defeat it's a case of backing up what I said - if you really had any argument about any points I mentioned you'd have put in a counter argument rather than going for the old sour grapes / total rubbish reply..

Just for the record, as if it's not clear, United have been the best over the last 19 years closely followed by Arsenal..

[matthew123]

Talking of Scottish football, did you know that in theory the team that comes 6th in the SPL can actually have less points than the teams relegated... how weird is that!? Secondly following my above post would that mean the team finishing 6th is better than the team that was relegated?

[Sandperson]

My counter argument was made by my team who, in case you didn't notice, won the league yesterday beating your team. I'm afraid your argument that both you and Chelsea were better sides, the refs were pro-United and that teams didn't turn up against us does smack of sour grapes.

There's only one side who has played more games in a season than us and that was Liverpool back in the early '80s, I think there were twelve odd League Cup games you played that season. We have been to Japan (I know, I know a Mickey Mouse trophy) and won there a week before the busiest part of the season. We gave the FA Cup a good run and lost on pens and have won the league with games and time to spare and now have a Champions League title to defend. I can't see how you can say we haven't been the best side in the country this season?

[Mikecg]

Schtum........

[Mick Mac]

Celtic draw with Hibs - disaster.

[Keef]

For me, the team that wins is the best team of the year. I honestly don't think there was that much in it this year, and I do think that the strength in depth arguement is valid for Liverpool. United have a very strong squad, Liverpool have gaps in certain areas. I thought it was a good season, and hope Liverpool can build on it and make a real race of it next season...

[matthew123]

Very sad to see Jamie Carragher turning on one of his own team mates at the end, simply not the Liverpool way. Not sure the background to the incident but I'd guess it's been pent up over time, either way inexcusable behaviour. I'd much rather that kind of brutal passion was reserved by Carragher for taking on the Drog or Rooney.

Sad to see West Brom relegated, they've stuck to their guns about playing good football but it didn't work out for them so all the best to them for next season getting back into the Premiership.

[Atila Reincarnate]

Sandperson Wrote:

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>> And as for AG's comments I've said it before and

> I'll say it again, not all Manchester United fans

> come from Manchester...shock horror! In fact in

> the very same interviews where the Liverpool fans

> were bleating on about how hard done by they were

> there weren't that many Scouse accents

> either...what do you make of that?

It's interesting is it not, how Manc fans get touchy when anybody mentions this. As for the best team winning the league, I can see both sides of the argument. You can't argue with the fact that the team with most points wins the league, or the better goal difference if two teams are level on points, but it is also true that best (the team that's played the most attractive and skillful football consistently) team hasn't always won the league. And I defy anyone to tell me Man Ure have played the best footie all season cos they haven't, they've got the most points so they've won the league. Fair play to them. Unfortunately Man Ure and Chavski ( spuds is a given obviously) bring out the worst traits of m footballing character, Chavski because they represent all that is most distasteful about the game currently, and Man Ure because they seem to have an unholy smugness about them and seem to believe they have some kind of divine right over and above every other football club on the planet. As I say that is my view, but seems to be shared by many others from many, many clubs across many continents.

[Sandperson]

It's not touchiness AG just bbbbboooooooorrrrrrrrreeeeeeeddddddooooooommmmmmmmm.

I'm not sure you can have watched many United games this season as we have played some excellent football, as have Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool. In fact I would say that Liverpool have been playing some of their most attractive football this season for a long time.

I am biased but I have heard a lot of pundits saying Man Utd have played good football this season and I think they are right. We have played with pace and verve and not let our heads drop even when going a goal or two down, some of the passing has been superb. I'm guessing I'm not going to get an admission of admiration from either you or Matthew because you are United haters but I think if you ask most true neutrals they would say that United have been good to watch this season. Your last line is hilarious. Many people across the world hate Arsenal, many hate Liverpool and Chelsea too What's that got to do with it? And anyway surely their opinion isn't valid according to your logic about fans having to be local because they aren't supporting their local team or league.