[swagatsinha]

Regarding goal mouth clearances, one of the best methods would be to use the methods used by ice-hockey where the goalpost lights up. Another method that was tried by FIFA was using balls with chips inside which gave a signal when they crossed the line. This was used in the FIFA Club World championships in December.

[midnite_blues]

Originally Posted by the_egonomist

Man, considering the injuries we have seen this season (top of mind eduardo and the man city defender who dislocated his shoulder and many more)!!

How can you say that the game shouldnt be stopped for treatment? I mentioned it before that there are a lot of players who misuse this for wasting time or to get others in trouble. And the miracle drug that cures them. Moreover, we are talking about stoppages for appeals in events leading to goals.

Cheers.

p.s: Forgive me if I sound rude...

I never said that the game shouldn't be stopped for such injuries or for any injuries for that matter... all i meant is that if we can actually stop the so called "flow" of the game for such things, then why not for a few contreversial decisions too...

[swagatsinha]

Disclaimer: Subject to change or deletion based on user's thoughts and events yet unforeseen.


General Awards(across all leagues)

Player of the season: Cristiano Ronaldo (No doubts here)
Team of the Season: Juventus (What a comeback!!)
Underdogs of the Season: Villarreal
Coach of the season: Claudio Ranieri

Goal of the Season:
Save of the Season: Brad Friedel's entire match against Manchester United.

Worst(or most hyped) Player of the season: Nani (don't kill me for this..but I do believe he's run out of steam) (P.S.: This is most hyped, not worst.)
Youngster of the Season(Player who had his debut season): Sergio Aguero/ Fernando Torres
Oldie of the Season(player with 5+ years in the same team): Alessandro Del Piero
Revelation(unexpected)Player of the season: Ashley Young

English Premier League

Best Goalkeeper: Tim Howard
Best Defender: Nemanja Vidic
Best Midfielder: Cristiano Ronaldo
Best Striker: Fernando Torres
Best Buy: Ashley Young
Worst Buy: Darren Bent

La Liga

Best Goalkeeper: Ricardo Lopez Felipe (Osasuna)
Best Defender: Pepe
Best Midfielder: Andreas Iniesta
Best Striker: Daniel Gonzalez Guiza (Mallorca)
Best Buy: Pepe (I doubted if he was worth the money they splashed out for him..but he's been good)
Worst Buy: Thierry Henry

Serie A

Best Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon
Best Defender: Ivan Cordoba
Best Midfielder: Danielle De Rossi
Best Striker: Alessandro Del Piero
Best Buy: Christian Chivu
Worst Buy: Maniche (Technically, not a buy..but still)

[Jok3r]

1st doubt?

Anyone other than torres for the best buy of the season in the EPL??...HOW?

paint yourself a picture...imagine liverpool this season with crouch, voronin & kuyt..
or ask sumit

cmon...i thought this was a slam dunk award...
hes easily one of the best striker across europe & epl...if not THE best based on current form..
& in his 1st season poeple dont think him worthy of being the best buy?!?

[the_egonomist]

@swagat - yep goal mouth clearances should go the ice hockey way. i did hear that ADIDAS are testing balls with gadgetry inside to get further diagnostics of the game.

Yes, Ashley Young has been real good this season - perhaps big four material.

@polpot - fair enough. Cech and Terry didnt play enough. But when they do they instill confidence and belief that has a spill over effort. I for now dont always equate in terms of games played - I prefer to relate in terms of impact.

@midnite_blues - Sorry misinterpreted that very differently. Have to admit that many a times players make do with injuries just to slow the tempo down.

@the guys
One revision I would like to make (after retrospecting on the Best Buy category where I erroneously put Martins) is to include Craig Gordon. I think he has been phenomenal and has been instrumental in Sunderland's success. Again not sure if he was bought this season or last. Any clarification on that?

Cheers!

[sumitrocks]

Originally Posted by Jok3r

paint yourself a picture...imagine liverpool this season with crouch, voronin & kuyt..
or ask sumit

As said by Himanshu, I tried 'painting' a picture of the Reds with Voronin instead of Torres. And let me assure you, the 'painting' was one of the most dismal I have ever seen ... almost gave me a heart attack. So, I don't believe any transfer has been more valuable to a club than that of Torres.

[midnite_blues]

Originally Posted by the_egonomist

@swagat - yep goal mouth clearances should go the ice hockey way. i did hear that ADIDAS are testing balls with gadgetry inside to get further diagnostics of the game.

FIFA has officially scrapped the chip-in-ball technology... after nearly four years or so (not so sure) of fiddling with it... though goalposts lighting up is a good idea... but the surface area of a football being much larger than that of a hockey puck, i doubt if it will be really successful... especially with the rule being that atleast half of the ball should cross the line...

@polpot - fair enough. Cech and Terry didnt play enough. But when they do they instill confidence and belief that has a spill over effort. I for now dont always equate in terms of games played - I prefer to relate in terms of impact.

But the same can be said for Rio and Vidic also... Its been just short of phenomenal this season... Being rock solid at the back and staying that way for almost the whole season takes a great amount of effort...

@midnite_blues - Sorry misinterpreted that very differently. Have to admit that many a times players make do with injuries just to slow the tempo down.

well thats always there... but who can properly judge if a player is actually injured or just feigning injuries... its here that the concept of "sportsman spirit" kicks in... the players also have to do their part... else we'll always have such setbacks...

@the guys
One revision I would like to make (after retrospecting on the Best Buy category where I erroneously put Martins) is to include Craig Gordon. I think he has been phenomenal and has been instrumental in Sunderland's success. Again not sure if he was bought this season or last. Any clarification on that?

Cheers!

Craig Gordon = ... he pulled off some stunning saves this season, but more often than not was let down by the back 4... Yes, He was signed this season from Hearts for a record signing fee of 9 million pounds...

[alagati]

Some breakings news :

Guardiola shall be annouced soon as the new Barca coach..!!!

N as for Liverpool news, former Kop hero Patrik Berger has been suspended by Coach Martin O Neill for advising Barry to join Liverpool, if the chance comes..!!!
Now aint he a true scouser ??!!!

[polpot]

Originally Posted by Jok3r

1st doubt?

Anyone other than torres for the best buy of the season in the EPL??...HOW?

paint yourself a picture...imagine liverpool this season with crouch, voronin & kuyt..
or ask sumit

cmon...i thought this was a slam dunk award...
hes easily one of the best striker across europe & epl...if not THE best based on current form..
& in his 1st season poeple dont think him worthy of being the best buy?!?

I agree it would have been torres if it hadn't been for Benitez resting him. I compare Liverpool of the last season with this one and what do I see?
This season 4th compared to last season's 3rd
UCL Semis compared to Last season's final.
Obviously it does not mean that this season's team isn't better. It is. But there is no end product. Torres might have recued them from possibly a 5th or a 6th position but then there is Gerrard and Mascherano, who has been fantastic contributing only to a 4th place finished.
Compare that to Martin Petrov whose team mates went missing after the first two months. And after that its only been Petrov playing, as if, for his life at City. Larger impact and end product/.

[alagati]

Originally Posted by polpot

I agree it would have been torres if it hadn't been for Benitez resting him. I compare Liverpool of the last season with this one and what do I see?
This season 4th compared to last season's 3rd
UCL Semis compared to Last season's final.
Obviously it does not mean that this season's team isn't better. It is. But there is no end product. Torres might have recued them from possibly a 5th or a 6th position but then there is Gerrard and Mascherano, who has been fantastic contributing only to a 4th place finished.
Compare that to Martin Petrov whose team mates went missing after the first two months. And after that its only been Petrov playing, as if, for his life at City. Larger impact and end product/.

Buddy, you've got to look at the quality of the top 2 in premiership...Its like top 2 in europe....so Liverpool is like 4th in Europe....Its no mean feat ending in top 4 in the permiership....has any other team apart frm big 4 done it of recent ???

Spurs spent a lot n are still spending...are they any closer ???!!!

So, I dont think its fair to say Liverpool are not progressing....its like accusing Massa of being slow to Kimi ( assuming Kimi has the better race engineer, better car n all that..!!)

It is tough sticking to Man Utd and Chelsea, and if Liverpool has done that consistently, then they need to be appreciated..!!

P.S: Reina in running for the golden glove....he has one more than david james....with one match to go....though I dont think he's the best...Cech has been superb in all the key games..!!!