This one is for soccer fans

[Reality,,its here.Accept it.]

That is not the point. Mids are there to win the ball, and immediately pass it to someone who is in an atacking (or less vulnerable) position. This was Maradona's style of playing, if you watch his matches carefully. He would never linger on the ball. He would instantly pass it to somebody else, then get it back and then again instantly pass it to somebody else. He was famous for his driblling in the public, but his real talent lay in his ball distribution and vision. Sort of what Zidane and Beckam (to a lesser extent) do.

> Well i noticed i have 2 of the 3 midfielders u mentioned. and cruyff was known as a total footballer, he played all positions.. I got my defence covered..

[Sharjeel]

> Well i noticed i have 2 of the 3 midfielders u mentioned. and cruyff was known as a total footballer, he played all positions.. I got my defence covered..

Maybe I am a bit calculative and more tactical than you. I play CM a lot, which is why I can prolly argue the night away with you on whose tactics are better (your offensive minded or my neutral tactic).

[Reality,,its here.Accept it.]

> Well i noticed i have 2 of the 3 midfielders u mentioned. and cruyff was known as a total footballer, he played all positions.. I got my defence covered..

Maybe I am a bit calculative and more tactical than you. I play CM a lot, which is why I can prolly argue the night away with you on whose tactics are better (your offensive minded or my neutral tactic).

> Well what better topic can u find to argue about..

I think you are right when u say we have different tactics. But mine are oriented towards entertaining soccer, kind of brazillian way. I dont bother much about results. U win some , u lose some. When these magicians play its just soccer from an other planet. My team might not win the game but they win the hearts of the crowds. Thats one reason i dont like the german style of play, too mechanical.

[Sharjeel]

My team might not win the game but they win the hearts of the crowds. Thats one reason i dont like the german style of play, too mechanical.

German tactics are SHIT! Look at what they did in this World Cup. Man! I was hoping Argentina or France make it through and give the Brazilians a run for their money. Would have atleast been an entertaining game. As it were, the Brazilians were too good from the Germans in the Final. I don't like those Yellow Donkeys, but atleast they are better than Germany.



Would have been wonderful if it was Argie v/s Les Blues, as Zidane, Batistuta, Desailly and a lot of other legends from both teams were prolly playing in their last WC.

[Habitual Perfectionist]

My team might not win the game but they win the hearts of the crowds. Thats one reason i dont like the german style of play, too mechanical.

German tactics are SHIT! Look at what they did in this World Cup. Man! I was hoping Argentina or France make it through and give the Brazilians a run for their money. Would have atleast been an entertaining game. As it were, the Brazilians were too good from the Germans in the Final. I don't like those Yellow Donkeys, but atleast they are better than Germany.

Would have been wonderful if it was Argie v/s Les Blues, as Zidane, Batistuta, Desailly and a lot of other legends from both teams were prolly playing in their last WC.

Wow...another of my ilk. My personal faves are Argentina and the Azzurri.

[Jaszalcatraz]

Tonights a big night for Soccer fans. Champions League knockout phase draws are gonna be held tonight.

I will keep all fans posted as the results come out.

For people who missed the group stages here's the 16 who made it through.



AC Milan

Juventus

Internazionale

Werder Bremen

Bayer Leverkusen

Bayern Munich

Real Madrid

FC Barcelona

FC Porto

Olympique Lyonaisse

AS Monaco

PSV Eindhoeven

Arsenal

Liverpool (!!)

Manchester United

Chelsea



People who follow football post below ur fav clubs (not something like Man Utd but only when cantona was around).

And predict your winner of this years Champions League.



My all-time fav is Real Madrid and I hope they win this year's Champions League.

[Der Schakal]

I dont follow football but my bro's an expert and his fav. team is Real Madrid.So i am going with Real Madrid.

[Reality,,its here.Accept it.]

My all-time fav is Real Madrid and I hope they win this year's Champions League.

> Finally atleast one thing that we both have in common..

[Jaszalcatraz]

I was just abt to goto the other thread and say the same thing

[mark]

My team might not win the game but they win the hearts of the crowds. Thats one reason i dont like the german style of play, too mechanical.

German tactics are SHIT! Look at what they did in this World Cup. Man! I was hoping Argentina or France make it through and give the Brazilians a run for their money. Would have atleast been an entertaining game. As it were, the Brazilians were too good from the Germans in the Final. I don't like those Yellow Donkeys, but atleast they are better than Germany.

Would have been wonderful if it was Argie v/s Les Blues, as Zidane, Batistuta, Desailly and a lot of other legends from both teams were prolly playing in their last WC.

best moment of all of 2002 for me was Robbie Keane equalising against the germans in the last minute, the only player other than Ronaldo to score against them in the championship. The match finished 30 minutes before one of my final exams, couldn't concentrate on the exam at all.

[Sharjeel]

Me get goosebumps jes thinking about that goal! One of the most memorable moments of the modern WC. I don't remember the substitution, but it was the sub who created the goal.

[Habitual Perfectionist]

Favourite club? Gunners all the way. Too bad their outstanding run gave way to a stupid slump. Law of averages they say. But I'm sure they'll hit back after the christmas break as the team is full of class and unlike Real Madrid, they gel well as a team.



Champions League....my bet for winning this year would be Barca or Milan. I wish the two teams play the final and its not a repeat of the last time they locked horns (It was the European Championship then). Milan swept away Barca by 4 goals to nil then and it was one of the most lopsided matches in football history.

[Sharjeel]

Batistuta To Barca!?

12/2/2004 1:34:00 PM

http://www.goal.com

Barcelona daily ‘El Mundo Deportivo’ is reporting that the Azulgrana are thinking of signing Gabriel Omar Batistuta as a replacement for the injured Henrik Larsson.
The 35 year old former Boca Juniors, Fiorentina, and AS Roma striker is currently plying his trade with Qatar giants Al-Arabi, and has scored 25 goals in 18 games this season.

The contract binding ‘Batigoal’ to Barca would be on a six month basis starting in January.

The talks between the Liga leaders and the Argentine legend have already begun, and it appears Batistuta is ready to take a large pay cut compared tot he salary he currently earns in Qatar in order for a return on the main stage.

Forza Gabriel!!!

[Habitual Perfectionist]

WHOOOOHOOOOO



Batigol has been one of my alltime fvourites. Would be good to see him in action again.

[ycr007]

Batistuta's signing is subject to his Qatari Club Al-Arabi agreeing to let him go,I heard.Wonder how much of that is true.But isn't he past his prime???

I mean players like Maldini,Batistuta,Suker,Vieri,Bergkamp to name a few are now more close to hanging their boots than to scoring a hat-trick.

[Habitual Perfectionist]

Batistuta's signing is subject to his Qatari Club Al-Arabi agreeing to let him go,I heard.Wonder how much of that is true.But isn't he past his prime???
I mean players like Maldini,Batistuta,Suker,Vieri,Bergkamp to name a few are now more close to hanging their boots than to scoring a hat-trick.

Some of the greats (Baggio, Gazza, Zoff, Belanov & Zico are the names I can recall off the cuff) played their best soccer after they were considered past their prime.

[Habitual Perfectionist]

Add the wonderful Carlos Valderrama & Roger Milla to the list.

[ycr007]

I More or less agree with you,HP saar.Infact I haven't watched those great players play xcept for Gazza,Baggio n Valderrama.But all of them played some seasons ago when their respective leagues were far less competitive that what they are today.One got to see more classic football (Total Football as Cryuff proposed,I think) than attacking football.There were sublime goals,zip-zap moves,light-footed gents and all such stuff.



But nowadays most of the leagues are so competitive that even mediocre teams can afford to unnerve the Big names.Whereas this has proved to be a boon for many,I feel it has led to the decline of the quality.Agreed that there still are many a thrilling matches but they aren't they few and far in-between.





P.S:Just caught on the NEws that Arsene Wenger was Fined for calling RVN a Cheat & There are Rumours of Match Fixing in the German Bundesliga.Jesper Gronkaer's reportedly moving to Ateletico Madrid.

[CtrlAltDel]

*reads all unfamiliar names...*





YAAAAWNNNNNNNNNNN.....



*leaves thread...*

[mark]

Me get goosebumps jes thinking about that goal! One of the most memorable moments of the modern WC. I don't remember the substitution, but it was the sub who created the goal.

Sharj, if your talking about my post then you rock! it was Niall Quinn in his last ever match. classic moment in Irish football. then again nobody cares about irish football. Just like nobody cared about Greek football in 2004 until they kicked ass in the european championships

[Habitual Perfectionist]

Me get goosebumps jes thinking about that goal! One of the most memorable moments of the modern WC. I don't remember the substitution, but it was the sub who created the goal.

Sharj, if your talking about my post then you rock! it was Niall Quinn in his last ever match. classic moment in Irish football. then again nobody cares about irish football. Just like nobody cared about Greek football in 2004 until they kicked ass in the european championships

Quinn was the God of headers.



Mark...not everyone ignores Irish football. I've always been a big fan of Keano.

[Jaszalcatraz]

I'm a Roy Keane fan too

[mark]

Thanks to both of you for realising that my country's not as shite as we look.





however i must say "Keano", that is Roy Keane of Man. Utd didn't play for ireland in the 2002 WC, he left before the championship started in a hissy fit (i understand why though)



Robbie Keane (no relation) was the man responsible for any moments of excitement Ireland had in 2002.



I'm looking forward to 2006, we've got a few class players, Robbie, Damien Duff ( of chelsea), Clinton Morisson, Shea Given, Keano, etc.





1990 and 1994 were the classic years for irish football, getting to the quarter finals in 1990 (after drawing with england!!) and beating Italy in 1994.



last time we played England was about 10 years ago, we were 1-0 up, then the english fans started ripping up the stadium and the match had to be cancelled.

[Habitual Perfectionist]

Personally, I feel the Irish team in 90 was much better than their subsequent teams to the WC. Added to that, they had one of the shrewdest minds in the game, Jack Charlton, as the coach.



The Ireland-Romania match in 1990 was one of the best ever...although there was just one goal each from both sides and the match went to penalties. If soemone wants to see a midfield battle royale, that's the match.

[ycr007]

Yeah,Robbie Keane is a Dynamo of a player.I esp. like his signature rollover n Pump after Scoring a Goal.



Err...Until a few years ago I was of the Opinion that Ryan Giggs too was Irish.But later I realised,he was Welsh