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[L1NETT]

Just play Wilshere or Gnabry as the false number 10 or summat.

Or, get John Carew or Mido on a free. Spend Spend Spend.

 

[Jack cw]

Wtf is with this club and injuries

They are all afraid of Özil

 

[Plasma]

Did Giroud miss any matches through injury last year? Hopefully he stays fit anyway so we don't have to use one of our backup strikers.

 

[Broder Salsa]

Mirror thinks he's 7 weeks away from match fitness.

Lets face it. Bendtner is never going to be fit again. But pretty sure he isn't injured, is he? I can't even find anything googling.

 

[Hindle]

People are massively underestimating Belgium at next years WC. I expect they'll be finalists.

Thierry Henry for the Ireland job btw?

 

[subtles]

looooooool Mazzarri

 

[Broder Salsa]

People are massively underestimating Belgium at next years WC. I expect they'll be finalists.

Thierry Henry for the Ireland job btw?

If anything people are massively overrating them, everyone are fucking talking about how they could be the big surprise. People keep hyping them up but they have yet to show much at all, they got lots of talent that's for sure but lets wait and see how well they will actually do.

 

[Salvadora]

Did Giroud miss any matches through injury last year? Hopefully he stays fit anyway so we don't have to use one of our backup strikers.

He can't be playing three times a week though, that's mental.

Lets face it. Bendtner is never going to be fit again. But pretty sure he isn't injured, is he? I can't even find anything googling.

Thought I heard something an injury to him, but it looks like there isn't. Ain't ready to be playing for Arsenal anytime soon though.

 

[arkon]

If anything people are massively overrating them, everyone are fucking talking about how they could be the big surprise. People keep hyping them up but they have yet to show much at all, they got lots of talent that's for sure but lets wait and see how well they will actually do.

Yeah. Let's see what they can actually do when it matters.

 

[KidA Seven]

People are massively underestimating Belgium at next years WC. I expect they'll be finalists.

Thierry Henry for the Ireland job btw?

No one's underestimating them. They'll never achieve the world cup unless Godnan Zidane plays with them. Even if he's on the bench, his presence will seal a win through god's will.

 

[Hindle]

If anything people are massively overrating them, everyone are fucking talking about how they could be the big surprise. People keep hyping them up but they have yet to show much at all, they got lots of talent that's for sure but lets wait and see how well they will actually do.

They have the talent and a really great team spirit. You can tell when they play that they just have the time of thier lives.

That helps a lot.

 

[Timurid]

People are massively underestimating Belgium at next years WC. I expect they'll be finalists.

Thierry Henry for the Ireland job btw?

They're still too young and inexperience to make a great run in the World Cup next year. Probably 2018 WC would be a great year for them.

 

[L1NETT]

You can tell when they play that they just have the time of thier lives.
.

Yes I Swear, it's the truth

And I owe it all to you

dum dumdum dum

 

[Hindle]

They're still too young and inexperience to make a great run in the World Cup next year. Probably 2018 WC would be a great year for them.

Well they do have players who've been involved in high pressure games, be it title deciders, European finals or relegation struggles. The entire squad come to think of it played a key role in the PL in recent years.

 

[omgkitty]

Here's a great article about Rene Meulensteen and Ronaldo:

Ronaldo’s rise accelerated under Sir Alex Ferguson and the coach Rene Meulensteen at Manchester United particularly at the start of the attacker’s phenomenal 2007-08 season.

“Don’t underestimate the importance of the manager, the father figure,” emphasised Meulensteen on the shaping of the then 22-year-old Ronaldo, “but it’s also about details.
"That season we won the Champions League, at the beginning, Ronaldo was suspended for three games [after being sent off at Portsmouth], so I stayed behind to work with him. I knew what Ronaldo wanted. He wanted to be the best player in the world. I told him: ‘I can help you with that. There’s nothing wrong with your work ethic, it’s a wave pushing you forward.’ So I drew this diagram for him, pointing out his details as a player.
“There’s the ‘tactical’ bit, awareness, understanding, decision-making. There’s the ‘physical’; everyone has his peak fitness, especially Ronaldo, his pace, strength, stamina and agility. There’s the ‘personality’, winning mentality and attitude. The last bit is ‘technical’, the basics, passing, shooting, moves, turns, and other skills to dominate the one to one. I asked Ronaldo: ‘Where are you good at?’ He said: ‘Skills.’ ‘OK, so with one-touch and two-touch play, plus the moves you have, will make you unpredictable and therefore very hard to defend against.’“

Meulensteen addressed another issue. “I told him: ‘The problem is also your attitude and therefore your decision-making. At the moment you’re playing to put yourself into the limelight, to say “look at me, how good I am”. Therefore, Mr Ronaldo, you are doing a lot that doesn’t mean anything for your team-mates’. He accepted this. I said: ‘You need to score more goals. Targets, aims.

"Cristiano, I’ve looked at your goals last season, and you only scored 23 because you want to score the perfect goal all the time. ‘Look at me! Top corner!’ The most important individuals are the ones who elevate the team, not themselves. You think it’s the other way round. No, no, no. Elevate the team and the team will then elevate you.’”

The Dutchman asked United’s No 7 to set a goal target. “Ronaldo said: ‘I think I can score between 30 and 35 goals.’ ‘OK,’ I said. ‘I think you can go over 40. This week, in these training sessions, I’m going to work on your way of finishing.’”

They first discussed Ronaldo’s mindset when approaching goal. “I told him: ‘Look at Shearer, Lineker, Solskjaer and Van Nistelrooy: who say give me the ball, that goes in the back of the net.’“

Ronaldo was focused more on the spectacular. “He was thinking: ‘That ball comes to me, I hit it top corner.’ I needed him to get out of that. I told him: ‘It doesn’t matter how you score, where you score, as long as the ball goes in the net.’” It was time to score ugly goals as well as beautiful ones.

“We worked on positions, which zone he was in, 1 (in front of goal), 2 (to the sides) or 3 (further out). We worked on what type of finish. One-touch. Do you need to control it? Volley it. Pass it in. Side-foot it in. Chip it in. We worked on certain goalkeepers. Did they have a certain trend? It’s details. When [post-Ronaldo] we played Schalke away in the Champions League semi [in 2011], we knew that Manuel Neuer, a good goalkeeper, was like Peter Schmeichel and would come out with a star jump [spreading himself]. So we worked on finishes low to either side, low through the legs.’’ Ryan Giggs scored.
Back in that early-season period at Carrington in 2007, Meulensteen and Ronaldo worked on different goalscoring scenarios every day but with one staple for each drill. “It was four repetitions, move on, four repetitions, move on,” Meulensteen explained. “That’s what I’ve learned from experience. People hold their concentration for 1 2 3 4 Bang.’’

Ronaldo was educated to create an image of the situation and the desired outcome: “Where am I [position]? Where’s the ball coming from? Where’s the goalkeeper? Where’s the finish?” Meulensteen gave colours to the four corners of the goal. “Cristiano had his back to the goal. He had to shout which colour, green whichever, he was aiming for, so subconsciously working his brain. He knew his target in advance.’’

By the end of January, Ronaldo had scored 27 for United. “You have to reset your target because you have already achieved it,’’ Meulensteen said to Ronaldo at Carrington. “You can now do two things, you can take your foot off the pedal, say ‘I’m happy with this’, or break your personal best and then you have March, April, May to come and that’s when these things are won.” Ronaldo was determined to continue his upward trajectory. “Now we worked on ‘attitude’,’’ continued Meulensteen.

“I put a video together for him about top professionals like Muhammad Ali, Pele with little quotes from them. ‘Just have a look at this video,’ I told him, ‘I know you have a big TV. Read the clips. It will put you in good stead.’ There were little quotes about hard work and focus: focus on performance rather than outcome, focus on putting your qualities for the team and also body language. There were loads of times with Cristiano when he shrugged his shoulders, so I put a video clip together.”

The clips were of Ronaldo’s body language. “Do you realise how important an impact body language and facial expressions have on the millions watching?’’ Meulensteen asked Ronaldo at Carrington one day. “What do you mean?’’ Ronaldo replied.
Meulensteen continued: “Do you remember the goal you scored against Sporting [Lisbon on Nov 27, 2007] at home, the free-kick? You turned around to the camera, and did this [spreads hands out]? What were you trying to say? Sorry? Or were you trying to say ‘look at me, nobody else can do that’?’’

One of United’s kit-men was present.
“I asked him what he thought the gesture meant,” Meulensteen recalled.
“I’m the best,” was the kit-man’s take on Ronaldo’s stance. So Meulensteen turned to Ronaldo and said: “That’s what the millions think. They look at you as arrogant. You do the same thing when you get hacked down, ‘ahhh’, toys out the pram: ‘You can’t kick me, I’m Cristiano Ronaldo.’ You need to learn to play football the way Bjorn Borg and Roger Federer play tennis. Ice-cold. The moment people stop kicking you is because they’ve found another way to stop you. You want people to kick you. You need to make sure you see it coming. Make sure you’re clever’.”

It was back to the video-room. “I showed him clips of Johan Cruyff, an expert at avoiding tackles. He saw them coming, would change direction, and people would slide in front of him. I told Cristiano: ‘The most important thing is your facial expression, don’t react at all. Stand up, brush yourself off, and that defender thinks, ‘what can I do next?’ Overpower him with your qualities as a footballer, belittle him with your skill. You’re in control, not someone else.’

“If you look back to the season, he was tremendous. He scored 42 goals. Look back to the Champions League final: he scored the header, fantastic, apart from one moment when he let himself down, the [missed] penalty. That’s when Ronaldo thought: ‘It all comes down to me, that’s what I want.’ What happens? He loses focus. I mentioned it to him afterwards but he knew.”

So what of Bale’s arrival at the Bernabéu? “I don’t think it will affect him [Ronaldo] that much,” Meulensteen said. “In my opinion, Bale is nowhere near on the same level, absolutely not. Ronaldo is a far more complete player. Bale will still be important. He has time to settle in. It will make Real Madrid stronger, even more powerful. But if for whatever reason Bale came and Ronaldo would leave it would make Real Madrid weaker.”

 

[Hindle]

Yes I Swear, it's the truth

And I owe it all to you

dum dumdum dum

Neverlands are going out at the group stages btw.

 

[GorillaJu]

We talked a bit about that story already, omgkitty. It's interesting enough, though.

On the topic of Belgium, they have a ton of talented players on their side, but they just seem a little disjointed and that they could really struggle against teams who have what they lack most in a solid game plan.

And if you compare their team to other top European teams, you'll see they aren't really all that stacked. Where they have lots of players who are doing well in PL teams, they don't have anything like Spain, with Xavi/Iniesta/Busquets who practice with each other 350 days a year, or Germany which has ridiculous depth, and more talented and experienced players than Belgium in pretty much every position.

Compare Benteke, Mirallas, Hazard, Witsel, Fellaini with Gomez, Ozil, Muller, Bender, Schweinsteiger and Khedira. It's S quality (minus Khedira) vs. A quality.

 

[Shagwell]

Here's a great article about Rene Meulensteen and Ronaldo:

Thanks for sharing that mate that's a fascinating little article.

 

[Walshy]

Here's a great article about Rene Meulensteen and Ronaldo:

That is a brilliant article.

Anyone know why he got sacked from Anzhi after 16 days? Seems a bit strange.

 

[sohois]

We talked a bit about that story already, omgkitty. It's interesting enough, though.

On the topic of Belgium, they have a ton of talented players on their side, but they just seem a little disjointed and that they could really struggle against teams who have what they lack most in a solid game plan.

And if you compare their team to other top European teams, you'll see they aren't really all that stacked. Where they have lots of players who are doing well in PL teams, they don't have anything like Spain, with Xavi/Iniesta/Busquets who practice with each other 350 days a year, or Germany which has ridiculous depth, and more talented and experienced players than Belgium in pretty much every position.

Compare Benteke, Mirallas, Hazard, Witsel, Fellaini with Gomez, Ozil, Muller, Bender, Schweinsteiger and Khedira. It's S quality (minus Khedira) vs. A quality.

I would say that Belgium have an 11 to compete with any other team in the world; to suggest that they are a rank below Germany seems incorrect to me. Benteke, for example, appears to be a more complete striker than Gomez, whilst in defence they are stronger so long as the likes of Mertesacker are still starters. What I would identify as a significant weakness is their lack of depth beyond that. Other than in goal there is a huge drop off from the first team which the other European nations just don't possess. And as you did mention there appears to be the management problem, a lack of cohesion in the team which is a significant drag on their performances.

 

[Wilbur]

We talked a bit about that story already, omgkitty. It's interesting enough, though.

On the topic of Belgium, they have a ton of talented players on their side, but they just seem a little disjointed and that they could really struggle against teams who have what they lack most in a solid game plan.

And if you compare their team to other top European teams, you'll see they aren't really all that stacked. Where they have lots of players who are doing well in PL teams, they don't have anything like Spain, with Xavi/Iniesta/Busquets who practice with each other 350 days a year, or Germany which has ridiculous depth, and more talented and experienced players than Belgium in pretty much every position.

Compare Benteke, Mirallas, Hazard, Witsel, Fellaini with Gomez, Ozil, Muller, Bender, Schweinsteiger and Khedira. It's S quality (minus Khedira) vs. A quality.

Swap Khedira for Gundogan and you're set for fucking life

 

[Raptor]

Man Im really bad at Fifa now, played a match against Barca with Dortmund and I only had one shot at target with Lewandoski and the keeper blocked it.

Barca didn't had one shot at all, I don't know how to make plays anymore god damn.

Mexico is so shit right now, heads needs to roll, put Zague, put El Abuelo Cruz for fucks sakes but put someone that "wants" to win.

 

[Sleeplessnights]

lol, you think you can leave, just like that? We own you.

Uuuuuhh

I knew that, I read the contract. Of course I did

This is meh.

Listen to: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fvo4eUnVUiA&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dfvo4eUnVUiA

Yeah, I like it. It's the third track!

 

[Showaddy]

I may be really, really late with this but Holy Fark at the size of GTA V's map, here the picture with GTA IV layered on top:

http://www.gamrreview.com/media/images/gta-v-map-1.jpg

 

[GorillaJu]

Swap Khedira for Gundogan and you're set for fucking life

You're right - weirdly, he wasn't listed on Germany NT's Wikipedia page, so I assumed he was playing for his team of ethnic heritage.

 

[Hindle]

We talked a bit about that story already, omgkitty. It's interesting enough, though.

On the topic of Belgium, they have a ton of talented players on their side, but they just seem a little disjointed and that they could really struggle against teams who have what they lack most in a solid game plan.

And if you compare their team to other top European teams, you'll see they aren't really all that stacked. Where they have lots of players who are doing well in PL teams, they don't have anything like Spain, with Xavi/Iniesta/Busquets who practice with each other 350 days a year, or Germany which has ridiculous depth, and more talented and experienced players than Belgium in pretty much every position.

Compare Benteke, Mirallas, Hazard, Witsel, Fellaini with Gomez, Ozil, Muller, Bender, Schweinsteiger and Khedira. It's S quality (minus Khedira) vs. A quality.

Fairly accurate summary, except Germany just lack the balls to win a major title IMO. I also think the team spirit isn't there due to the Bayern -Dortmund divide?

This Belgien team, they just remind me of Spain going into Euro 2008, they're up for it Basically. I'm clearly in the minority here though lol.

 

[omgkitty]

You're right - weirdly, he wasn't listed on Germany NT's Wikipedia page, so I assumed he was playing for his team of ethnic heritage.

It says he has 8 appearances for them, I definitely think he should start over Khedira. Hell, Lars Bender should start over Khedira.

Also, here's a picture of Gundogan's attractive cousin:

 

[Yen]

It sucks (1) living in the countryside, and (2) being unable to drive. Grr

 

[Yurt]

 

[dc89]

I may be really, really late with this but Holy Fark at the size of GTA V's map, here the picture with GTA IV layered on top:

Some people might not want to see that....

You've mucked the spoiler tags up.

 

[Shatner's Bassoon]

Really all I want to do in GTA is get a bunch of people in a car and then drive off a mountain.

 

[Meier]

I know this is old, but can anyone actually watch this whole video, from beginning to the end?

Tosh had him on his show this season. It was amazing -- that video is such a classic.

As the best defender in the world of fifa 13 and will be top 3 on fifa 14. im ashamed of EA, totally let me down, the tackles and first touch is cool but the containing is miserable.

i don;t if your being sarcastic or whats your problem with sir but look at this true facts

--- i was in your " GAF club "

your not good enough to play along me

you will never be as good as me

you will never play along aside of me again

you will never be as good as me x2

This fucking guy. I can't stop laughing every time he posts. :lol

 

[Showaddy]

Some people might not want to see that....

lol yeah I'll just link it instead.

 

[Meier]

oO, apparently Shakhtar has convinced Taison to apply for Ukrainian citizenship with a hefty 500k€ bonus. It will help Shakhtar to get around Ukrainian limit for foreigners in UPL and he will be theoretically available for the national team

He's only been there in the Ukraine for 3 years. I know most places require at least 5.. some need even longer. I guess he could play for the Ukraine during the next Euros perhaps?

 

[KidA Seven]

It says he has 8 appearances for them, I definitely think he should start over Khedira. Hell, Lars Bender should start over Khedira.

Also, here's a picture of Gundogan's attractive cousin:

There's got to be better pictures of her if she plays volleyball.

 

[Linius]

Wow, Pitchfork gives AM an 8.0. I really expected them to smash the Monkeys this time, especially after that twat from the needle drop went out with a 3 out of 10.

 

[omgkitty]

Wow, Pitchfork gives AM an 8.0. I really expected them to smash the Monkeys this time, especially after that twat from the needle drop went out with a 3 out of 10.

Surprisingly, AM is the highest rating they've ever given an Arctic Monkeys album. Still think AM has a weak 2nd half and isn't as good as their other albums.

 

[Linius]

Surprisingly, AM is the highest rating they've ever given an Arctic Monkeys album. Still think AM has a weak 2nd half and isn't as good as their other albums.

I'm loving it. I really like the fact that they move on as a band and try different sounds and so far none of their albums left me with disappointment. And it's funny how Pitchfork rates every new AM album a little higher than the one before. But it's still weird that they never got a BNM. I mean bands like Smith Westerns who make fun garage rock/ pop rock albums score an BNM easily and those are albums you forget about as time passes. Arctic Monkeys came with a debut album that blew people away and will always be seen as one of the best albums over the past decade.

 

[LabouredSubterfuge]

People seem to be a little queasy from this Liverpool gesture:

Terrorist attack? #YNWA

Someone died? #YNWA

Lost your cat? #YNWA

Not sure why Liverpool feels the need to use that slogan quite so broadly. Doesn't it just devalue it?

 

[Yurt]

Balotelli on his ovation at Juventus Stadium: “I thank the fans & compliment them, as I wasn't expecting such a nice reaction"

Don't get used to it

YNWA with the Azzurri shirt Mario.

 

[omgkitty]

People seem to be a little queasy from this Liverpool gesture:

Terrorist attack? #YNWA

Someone died? #YNWA

Lost your cat? #YNWA

Not sure why Liverpool feels the need to use that slogan quite so broadly. Doesn't it just devalue it?

I am all sorts of shocked and appalled by this

Spoiler

Yeah I don't give a fuck

 

[Yen]

It's just a slogan of solidarity. I'd say a loss, or death, or atrocity is the most appropriate time for it.

 

[Zabojnik]

What is with that PS4 price in Argentina? Are you fucking kidding me, 1200$?!

 

[sohois]

What is with that PS4 price in Argentina? Are you fucking kidding me, 1200$?!

It seems its mostly a tax charge.

No surprise really. With all the noted Argentinian tax dodgers they have to make the money up from somewhere.

 

[BlindCommunication]

I don't think there's any debate about Belgium NT really. As many have already mentionned, vastly overrated players, we'd be lucky to qualify for Brazil. Our star players are not in the same league as average players of moribund nations like England or France. It's not because you perform for Spurs or Arsenal that you're a world class player. I don't even think it's a lack of depth, I'd say the starting XI isn't that good. You can swap Lukaku or Vossen for Benteke, there won't be any significant drop in quality but they are nowhere near guys like Rooney or Benzema.

The lack of clear gameplan is another problem. Wilmots is great at giving the boys some passion and heart but he's not really tactically sound.

 

[Rhaegar]

There's got to be better pictures of her if she plays volleyball.

I like the way you think.

 

[Gareth Bale]

Does anyone remember that video of Jeff Stelling and someone else arguing about something and the other guy (I think it was Phil Thompson) comes back with the most ridiculous line? I've been trying to find it.

 

[Sleeplessnights]

Here's a great article about Rene Meulensteen and Ronaldo:

That was a great read, thanks for sharing.

 

[omgkitty]

There's got to be better pictures of her if she plays volleyball.

You would think so. She's still super cute though.

 

[Wilbur]

Played more FIFA and PES. PES wins. 7/10 demo > 6/10 demo

It delivers on feeling organic and unpredictable. FIFA everything feels signposted.

the king is not back but he's walking around outside the castle trying to put his robes back on