Football

They haven't been in a major tournament since the 40's!?!
1958 World Cup.

A year in which all the home nations qualified.

damo you think citeh will finish top 4 this year then? judging by the CL talk. i can only see them pushing out woolwich of the big four. and it's by no means obvious that they will do better than villa, everton

Well, no, I mean, you're favs because you have better footballers in pretty much every position on the park (goalie perhaps excepted...) and a great manager. What you don't seem to have, currently, is a great team, so I guess we have to hope that you have an off night, that we have an on night, and we can take a lead to the Emirates and defend like hell.

Your CBs are potentially a problem, I guess - you look vulnerable to pace (which we possibly don't have) and I think Brown and N'Guemo both have the energy and attitude to try and upset Fabregas's rhythm.

Hope you enjoy the game, if you go. I just gave up my season ticket as I'm moving down south this month so the chances of me getting a ticket for the first leg are slim. :(

First leg is at your end isn't it?

We do have great players but you got it in one, when pressed and the rhythm is disrupted our game goes to pot, with out the rock fast defence we lose against less talented teams who get the ball in the box i.e. Stoke, Fulham etc

last year it was our LB and RB that took the game by the scruff when we were going under.

I am looking forward to it, if we get the first goal that settles the nerves i can see us sail on, to not go through is un-thinkable but at least it would free us up for the league!?

i don't see them finishing top 4 this season. but, a significant improvement over 10th will prove something is happening at the temple of doom. which will make it easier to attract players. which will enable a significant challenge the season after. in 2 seasons i still don't see money coming to everton.

its only a question of money for any player city have signed in the last year. like pistanator said, he's at a solid club with a solid manager who has made him the player he is.. handing in a transfer request is shoddy imo, its shows a lack of respect to moyes. .

billybob have to say I don't agree with you on the fact that Moyes has made Lescott the player he is, he was always premiership quality in waiting whilst playing for wolves and fair play to moyes who does this more than other premier managers in taking a punt on lower league players and giving them the opportunity to show that they are good enough to play in the prem. But to say lescott was made by moyes is a tad disingenuous.
Lescott by handing in a transfer request is saying I want to go, and everton would make a pretty profit if they sell, but he's under contract so everton don't have to. And no one knows how Lescott will react in the future to not going to city. At this point in time lescott has shown nothing but the desire to up his wages and possibly move to a club that has monetary ambition which has yet to prove standings wise.

to be fair, sparky did a fucking good job with wales, we came within a playoff (with a bit of controvesy) against russia of qualifying for euro 2004, including a 1-0 win against italy at home. the only problem was that our best players - speed, giggs, hartson, etc were pretty much on their last legs so it was all or nothing for that tournament for that group of players - we had 12 decent players then shit like earnshaw.

im an everton fan and im slightly worried for the upcoming season - villa will fall away again but spurs will be there or thereabouts this year. it all depends on how quickly man shitty click as a team, and how they cope as and when they have a wobble. there a lot of potential mental weakness and stroppiness in that team.

its gotten to the point where i think we should maybe take 20-25 mill for lescott, get senderos (who i actually dont think is that bad), a half decent right back and another centre mid and all will be tickety boo. my 2ps worth.

billybob have to say I don't agree with you on the fact that Moyes has made Lescott the player he is, he was always premiership quality in waiting whilst playing for wolves and fair play to moyes who does this more than other premier managers in taking a punt on lower league players and giving them the opportunity to show that they are good enough to play in the prem. But to say lescott was made by moyes is a tad disingenuous.
.

i have to agree with this. Someone was alway going to get him. he has been around for a long time. Everyone new he was good. Just didn't know he could step up his game to the prem at the standard he has. Fair play to moyes for buying him though.

billybob have to say I don't agree with you on the fact that Moyes has made Lescott the player he is, he was always premiership quality in waiting whilst playing for wolves and fair play to moyes who does this more than other premier managers in taking a punt on lower league players and giving them the opportunity to show that they are good enough to play in the prem. But to say lescott was made by moyes is a tad disingenuous.
Lescott by handing in a transfer request is saying I want to go, and everton would make a pretty profit if they sell, but he's under contract so everton don't have to. And no one knows how Lescott will react in the future to not going to city. At this point in time lescott has shown nothing but the desire to up his wages and possibly move to a club that has monetary ambition which has yet to prove standings wise.

ok, perhaps saying he's made him the player he is, is a tad too strong.. but he did pay £5 mil for a championship defender, which is quite a fair bit.. he was a good player, but with moyes he's become an england squad regular.. plus at a stable team like everton where he was allowed to play through a couple of bad spells he has matured into a versatile defender.. imo he's the best defender in the prem outside of the top four.

i dont blame him for wanting to leave in order to pursue more money, just feel that the transfer request is an insult to someone like moyes and to the club in general.

i made friends with an ex professional today. simon davies used to clean his boots and he spent time with matthew etherington when he was an apprentice. i flipped out and asked about a million questions then felt a bit silly. was 100% legit dude, the world of professional football is totally bizarre.

in answer to the question on the other page. when yr job could end at the next game, when you've given up EVERYTHING from the age of about 8 to play football, more than likely don't have ANY qualifications you go for the cash every fucking time, you're an idiot if you don't.

Tall Sam's started a Fantasy Football League, check out the thread
http://www.londonfgss.com/thread27094.html

details to join below. Time to put up or shut up! Geronimo de Santos for the win!

Code to join this league: 392691-206838

So ppl go to http://fantasy.premierleague.com and create your team. Then click leagues and join a league and enter the above code.

They haven't been in a major tournament since the 40's!?!

England have only been there to make up the numbers for a similar period.

and the isle of man have set the world on fire in the world cup during this time.

We do well in the competitions we enter.
As with all sport if we had any one exceptionaly good you lot would claim them as british anyway.

and the isle of man have set the world on fire in the world cup during this time.

Don't out yourself as a complete prick. With a population of 76,000 team sports will always be a challenge.

Some interesting debate on this thread for a change.
I personally think that Hughes did a pretty good job when he was at Blackburn. It all depends on how you measure success. If you measure it on winning trophies, then there are only a handful of successful managers in the Premier League. If he gets City into the top 4, which must surely be his aim this season, and then builds on it in the coming seasons, then he will be seen as a success. But even that may not be enough to save him from the boot.

oh come on now, it was an easy riposte to an easy joke at the golden generation.

clearly, lescott thinks that something big is happening at citeh. that's where his ambition lies.

it's definitely a big thing going on there, there's some good players arriving, Hughes is a good manager, there's more scope of if they get 4th/5th better players will arrive.

No matter how good moyes is, there's no chance of any money arriving anytime soon. as a player, at 28, with england ambitions, i.e. needing to be tested in the champions league. it's the right thing to do.

plus he'll double his wage.

28??!

Try 25

then he's definitely right to move then.

I'll quite comfortably bet anyone on here now £100 that we'll finish higher than City and another £50 they won't finish in Europe via league position

I'll quite comfortably bet anyone on here now £100 that we'll finish higher than City and another £50 they won't finish in Europe via league position

I'm tempted, but I don't reckon we will either.

You'll get:

SF in Carling
5th round in FA Cup
7th in League
UEFA...oh, hang on ;-)

i've realised a few things over recent years, one is that i'm become more of an abu (anything but united) then an arsenal fan. this stems from years of having them and the whole 'theatre of dreams', brian moore sucking them off on wed nights and the media having a whole love in with them then anything else.. plus don't get me started on fergie and his control of the fa/media. .. but anyway, my point is that anything that takes away from them is alright by me..

by that i mean, i'm happy man city are pursuing success in the manner they are. its exciting and good for viewing. i'm glad its man city too rather than an established top side. don't get me wrong i love the fact arsenal have a philosophy in how to play and how they are molding a young team.. but i couldnt care less for their successful business model of the club. i'd love a sugar daddy scenario where we attract players at their peak. i'm jealous of that.

First leg is at your end isn't it?

We do have great players but you got it in one, when pressed and the rhythm is disrupted our game goes to pot, with out the rock fast defence we lose against less talented teams who get the ball in the box i.e. Stoke, Fulham etc

last year it was our LB and RB that took the game by the scruff when we were going under.

I am looking forward to it, if we get the first goal that settles the nerves i can see us sail on, to not go through is un-thinkable but at least it would free us up for the league!?

Yep, next Tuesday. If Celtic score first, the crowd will get going – CP on a European night is something else. Should be a good 'un either way!

and how they are molding a young team..

That one isn't going to wash much longer

That one isn't going to wash much longer

Yup, they've been using that one since Vieira left... Transition etc... yawns