The English Football Thread

[gary gordon 1,777]

Rooney's head injury

WARNING: Don't click if you're squeamish.

An improvment to the ugly cunt. Wish it was worse, fucking mutt..

[Barbara 15,149]

I think this season might be the most interesting in the past few years. There are too many changes and a hint of unpredictability is in the air.

New managers, new stars playing for EPL.

I'm really looking forward to the best league in the world - and it only keeps getting better

[Rmpr 8,977]

Wales manager does not think that Ozil can take Ramsey's starting spot at Arsenal: http://www.thesportreview.com/tsr/2013/09/arsenal-aaron-ramsey-mesut-ozil-current-form/?utm_campaign=Twitter&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Twitter

LMAOOO :lol2:

And here me thinking the pub was crazy enough!

[gary gordon 1,777]

I'm so excited at the fact we get to see players like özil, Willian, Soldado, Paulinho, fernandinho, Navas etc play every week. Spain might have the two best teams in the world, but other then those two, la liga is as boring as bat shit.

[Tomo 21,733]

@Zinedine Iniesco, Out of interest, what is the opinion of Madrid fans to Carlo carrying the Jose tradition of playing Lopez and dropping Cassilas.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

I think this season might be the most interesting in the past few years. There are too many changes and a hint of unpredictability is in the air.

New managers, new stars playing for EPL.

I'm really looking forward to the best league in the world - and it only keeps getting better

Mourinho.....the crème de la crème

[Kojo 4,676]

Spurs will probably end up crashing outside of top 4 come the end of the season.

[Zinedine Iniesco 172]

@Zinedine Iniesco, Out of interest, what is the opinion of Madrid fans to Carlo carrying the Jose tradition of playing Lopez and dropping Cassilas.

Opinions differ for various reasons but i believe the majority want to see Casillas as the 1st choice keeper.

I think im going to write a bit of a long post so bare with me.

First of all the Spanish media and the fan base make a big deal out of this, they specially did so with Mourinho because most fans, AND the media considered it a political/power move from mourinho considering his history as a manager and in real madrid. But i do think that in the bottom line he was not comfortable or satisfied with Casillas' behavior and output.

Now with Carlo it has stopped being an argument about the man doing this, and more about the goal keepers, of course the media and fans are thinking about Casillas' legend and status and want to see him start but if this has happened with both mourinho and carlo, its simply because indeed Lopez is providing good enough evidence that he can bench iker.

I think that both Carlo and Mourinho have both in part benched Casillas for political reasons, but it is true that Iker has been in a bit of a decline over the past few seasons, and when looking at traits, Diego Lopez is a more complete goalkeeper than Casillas. Iker is all talent, reflexes, speed. When you get older you may start losing that.

All in all the rumor is that Casillas will be used in CL games and Copa Del Rey while Diego will be used in La Liga games, this is happening because the coaches want to instill the firm fact that madrid must not let politics over run its football, and also because Iker is no doing enough to win the role over a very in form diego lopez.

The rumor is that Iker could leave even by winter if his situation doesnt improve due to this being a WC year, but i doubt that since Del Bosque has so much faith in the hierarchy.

I think that if Diego Lopez keeps this going then Iker may vary well end up leaving, and Madrid will either stay with Diego for a few years, or sell him and Replace him with a guy like De Gea.

So the whole world isnt pointing fingers at carlo because it's a different man doing the same thing. Problem is Mou tried to bench the biggest Spanish pillars such as Ramos and Casillas when his power was dwindling due to the sporting and (other) failures while in madrid.

Carlo starts clean slate with Zidane. If they have done this its because they want to gives games to Diego Lopez AND Iker, or leave one of them with ZERO if they dont perform.

Either way this is not pointing well for iker, and if iker leaves it seems confusing to me what we would do with diego, as it would be a perhaps good move to go for De Gea.

This is no longer Mourinho vs Casillas, its now full on war between Lopez and Casillas, as it should be, fact is that Mourinho had planned doing something like this for a long time apparently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE1qc98m-vo

As a Madrid fan my self, i love iker but i want to see a change in scenery. I want De Gea here, i also want Arbeloa, Pepe, and Khedira to gtfo, heck even Benzema if he doesnt perform. Only worry is that it looks like his replacement would be Suarez and i dont want that kunt in madrid.

I think that by next year atleast 2 of the names i mentioned will have left.

[Spike 12,049]

Wales manager does not think that Ozil can take Ramsey's starting spot at Arsenal: http://www.thesportreview.com/tsr/2013/09/arsenal-aaron-ramsey-mesut-ozil-current-form/?utm_campaign=Twitter&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Twitter

LMAOOO :lol2:

Second striker. Even played on the wing a few times..

Yeah, I agree with him. Ramsey is a CM and Ozil is a CAM. Not only that but Ramsey has been top class for Arsenal this season, it would be mental to drop him for no reason.

If anything Wilshere is the true muppet of the Arsenal midfield.

I'm so excited at the fact we get to see players like özil, Willian, Soldado, Paulinho, fernandinho, Navas etc play every week. Spain might have the two best teams in the world, but other then those two, la liga is as boring as bat shit.

Ever watch Bilbao, Sociedad and Atletico Madrid? Not in the same class as Real and Barca but they are definitely better than most teams in the Prem. I'd rather watch Sociedad than Stoke to be honest! I'd also rather see an away match at San Sebastian than fucking Stoke, haha.

It's funny La Liga is both underrated and overrated for the exact same reason. People overrate it due to Real and Barca and they underrate it because of the gap Real and Barca make.

[English Freak 456]

Ever watch Bilbao, Sociedad and Atletico Madrid? Not in the same class as Real and Barca but they are definitely better than most teams in the Prem. I'd rather watch Sociedad than Stoke to be honest! I'd also rather see an away match at San Sebastian than fucking Stoke, haha.

It's funny La Liga is both underrated and overrated for the exact same reason. People overrate it due to Real and Barca and they underrate it because of the gap Real and Barca make.

From the Bilbao games I've seen, there not that great to watch.

The only team in La Liga (apart from Real and Barca) capable of making the top 6 in the PL would be Atletico Madrid.

Bilbao and Sociedad are good teams but I'm not sure if they'd be able to handle the pace and physicality of the PL over a 38 game season.

[Spike 12,049]

From the Bilbao games I've seen, there not that great to watch.

The only team in La Liga (apart from Real and Barca) capable of making the top 6 in the PL would be Atletico Madrid.

Bilbao and Sociedad are good teams but I'm not sure if they'd be able to handle the pace and physicality of the PL over a 38 game season.

I never said that Bilbao were a good watch (they were under Biesla) but they are very talented. And I think the 'pace and physicality' of the PL is silly arguement. Yes the PL is a very different beast to La Liga but you still have to appreicate the fact that many players from foreign league adapt to the PL incredibly well and since the players can it's illogical to think that a team can't. There would be an initial culutre shock but a team is like a living organism, giving enough time, resources and the right guidance it can adapt to any situation. Though that is a wholly idealistic view, I'm not saying that it is certain or not.

[gary gordon 1,777]

Ever watch Bilbao, Sociedad and Atletico Madrid? Not in the same class as Real and Barca but they are definitely better than most teams in the Prem. I'd rather watch Sociedad than Stoke to be honest! I'd also rather see an away match at San Sebastian than fucking Stoke, haha.

It's funny La Liga is both underrated and overrated for the exact same reason. People overrate it due to Real and Barca and they underrate it because of the gap Real and Barca make.

I take it for what it is. I'm a football fan but since the EPL is the only competition shown over here on Foxtel, I'd rather all the superstars play in it. I use to watch La Liga more then the EPL, unfortunately I was the only one and ESPN noticed that and decided not to show the games any more.

[Spike 12,049]

I take it for what it is. I'm a football fan but since the EPL is the only competition shown over here on Foxtel, I'd rather all the superstars play in it. I use to watch La Liga more then the EPL, unfortunately I was the only one and ESPN noticed that and decided not to show the games any more.

'Over here on Foxtel' haha what?

Yeah, I used to watch La Liga too on ESPN. And I watched everything else on Sentanta but they decided only the occasional Dutch and German match was worth airing.

[hjperdeath 2,226]

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has been fined £8,000 by the Football Association for comments he made in the wake of Aston Villa's 2-1 Barclays Premier League defeat at Chelsea last month.

Lambert was furious after Branislav Ivanovic was only booked by referee Kevin Friend for a foul on Christian Benteke - then went on to head home Chelsea's late winner - and also insisted his side should have had a penalty for an apparent handball by John Terry.

The FA said in a statement: "Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing, Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has been fined £8,000 in relation to post-match media comments he made after his side's game against Chelsea on 21 August 2013.

"The misconduct charge, which Lambert admitted, was that the comments implied the match referee was motivated by bias; and/or brought the game into disrepute, in contravention of FA Rule E3 (1)."

Lambert clashed with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho in the technical area following the incident and told the media afterwards: "We've been done by two decisions that were wrong.

"Decisions like that, I don't think you can miss them, I really don't. They're big game-changers. My team never deserved that."

[gary gordon 1,777]

'Over here on Foxtel' haha what?

Yeah, I used to watch La Liga too on ESPN. And I watched everything else on Sentanta but they decided only the occasional Dutch and German match was worth airing.

Setanta over here is balls. I had it for over a year and watched it probably 4 times. Can't believe they don't even pick up the Serie A.

[Spike 12,049]

Setanta over here is balls. I had it for over a year and watched it probably 4 times. Can't believe they don't even pick up the Serie A.

Why do you keep saying over here?

[gary gordon 1,777]

Why do you keep saying over here?

If i was speaking to you personally, I wouldn't. But this is an open forum. Other people not living in Australia read my comments.

[NishC300 1,865]

Winner of best Premier League Photo of 2011/12 season