[polpot]

Nono.. I agree with you about Mexes. He should be there with Squilacchi...


Trezeguet.. umm... i've never been convinced about him. But yes, he does have a good international record. based on current form, he should be above Henry.

The France national team are a funny bunch. In 2006, domenech made some huge decisions and people predicted that they would crumble. But they didn't.

I was watching a repeat of their Euro 2004 match gainst England. I really think its an honour to just Watch Zidane play. He has to be the Maradona of our generation.

[Jok3r]

---off topic--

I think since so many people have already posted regarding the awards, we can take coolroy's suggestion & close them early(to maybe have a next round ,ie of best starting 11 of the season in EPL & europe)

I suggest we take the date forward to 11th, ie count the votes on 12th

So since it makes 2 votes(me+roy), 3 thanks to this post will confirm taking the date final as 11th, & everyone can complete filling up their votes by that time...
& I also second the suggestion of adding a youtube link to the goal & save of the season...

cheers..

EDIT: Date finalized...votes will be counted on 12th now

PS : if you are interested in having the next round(ie of starting 11 one) do write so as a PS in your next post...so coolroy can come up with the rules after this one ends

[polpot]

El Classico update:


13': Raul scores from just outside the box. Bit of controversy as Marquez seemed to have been tripped before the ball was laid up for Raul.


24': Another controversy. Toure takes down Ramos. Freekick on Right near corner of the box. although replays clearly shows the dive. He had dived even before the contact. I bet Real fans disagree Anywho... Horrible marking by Barca, Robben heads in Reals second.


Half Time: Real are pummeling Barca who look zonked and high. Only other event was when Messi was elbowed by Guti. should've according to me been sent off.


50': Marcelo's low cross put in but the cross was declared outside before. Replays show that the ball was in when crossed. What is with the Ref? Is he high? ThAT MAKES IT 4 IMPORTANT DECISIONS

58': A sublime throgh ball sees Guti one on one who slides it across to Robinho who is dramtically.... blocked and the Barca defence get back they are unable to clear the ball but Valdes keeps screaming while laying on the ground. But Rijkaard has used his 3 subs. Valdes gets up after sometime and is seen healthy and fine arguing with the ref.
Man, what a match!!!

60' : Diarra cleared off the line from a cross.

62': Higuain on for 30 seconds. Walks in a goal. run by Diarra, a through ball brialliantly controlled by Higuain and a wonder finish. 3-0.... Barca fans, hide!!

66': Marcelo, Left back, cuts in and shoots. good save

76': robinho on a break. Drifts in from the left. Shoots. Puyol who is 2 metres away lifts his hands to protect his face. Penalty given.
Ruud converts.
4-0. Rijkaard is looking at the ground.

78': Gilt edged opportunity to ruud but saved by Valdes
Real are hitting top gear

82': Messi wonder skills. Awesome shot. Awesome save by Cassilas to low right.

86': Messi again twists and turns and another save.

87': Messi slides a good through ball to Henry who shows glimpses of his Arsenal finishing. 4-1

91: Xavi red card to make the day worse.

Full Time: Madrid showing that they are the true Laliga champs. Villareal have secured automatic UCL place and Barca will have to qualify.




PS: Valencia too win... Almost out of danger. YipEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

[swagatsinha]

Originally Posted by polpot

62': Higuain on for 30 seconds. Walks in a goal.

As I said, the boy's Real's super-sub.

Interesting piece of trivia on the BBC discussions: LAst time Sven was sacked, the bosses tried to replace him with Scolari.
Deja Vu, anyone?

Link for the confused Thaksin:
BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Man City | Thaksin leaves Eriksson in limbo

P.S.: I'm up for the next round. Formulate the rules. Also, we can use the Orkut comm to full use by putting up polls for the players. Just a suggestion. The polls there seemed to throw up interesting results. Torres is considered a better striker by a mile, even by United fans.

[ankit_insane]

Wow, this thread moves fast! I was off PG since yday evening, and took some time to read the posts!

El Classico, it mostly lives up to its name. It did yday. I simply love seeing the tension on the faces of the players. As well as the English clubs are doing now, i feel there is no bigger rivalry in football than Madrid-Barca, and may never be. I love the quote that ive seen the Barca fans hold sometime- Catalunia is not Spain. Love the intensity.

The seasons been perfect till now, as Madrid is my 2nd club, and you all know my 1st club, and what its doing!

Small update from my side, SIBM wait is over. Got confirmed there yday, so going there for sure.

[alagati]

Some transfer news :

Peter Crouch is set to thrash out transfer talks with Rafa soon, the deal which Rafa claimed he had offered Crouch actually was a 5 min informal chat..!!
Liverpool also claim they shall sign most of the transfer targets by May end and not wait till August..!!

Man City :
Scolari's agent denies that he is heading to Man City, also a Benfica delegation were filmed with Sven yday..looks like he's on the way to his old club.!!

[rushivasani]

Some more transfer news..

1) Chelsea place a 70 mln euro ($108 mln ) bid for Ramos.
2) Spurs in talk with Barcelona for Eto..

Hail ManUtd....

[rockball]

El Classico just summed up Barca's season. They have been so poor this season. Guardiola is now likely to succeed Rijkaard and we can see a host of players leaving the club in the summer.
Eidur Gudjohnsen, Ronaldinho, Pinto, Thierry Henry, Edmilson, Giovani dos Santos, Santi Ezquerro, Lilian Thuram, Oleguer, Albert Jorquera, Zambrotta....now thats a huge talented list!

[ambujesh]

my views on el-classico....
Real Madrid Played brilliantly
Barcelona were pathetic
Referring was bad to say the least..
end result total humiliation of Barcelona...as if forming a guard of honor for your most bitter rival was not enough Real Madrid had to rub salt into Barcelona's wound. higuain is the new super sub...5 games of the bench 5 goals, yesterday within 57 seconds....
guess who scored with his first touch of the ball RUUD VAN NISTELROY
frankly speaking madrid could have scored 7-8 goals but Valdez kept them out...
barcelona is in the same situation as real were 2-3 years ago...too many egos....and they should do what real did..buy sensibly...
i mean when last winter real bough Gago and higuain from Argentina i was thinking real will be lucky to get into UCL with these players and guess what i was totally proven wrong....
there are some tough times ahead for barca and they will do well to come out of it as quickly as possible.

[coolroy]

Originally Posted by ankit_insane

As well as the English clubs are doing now, i feel there is no bigger rivalry in football than Madrid-Barca, and may never be. I love the quote that ive seen the Barca fans hold sometime- Catalunia is not Spain. Love the intensity.

Well, there are multiple angles to this. Barcelona-Real, Milan Derby, Merseyside Derby are some of the fiercest rivalries. But nothing tops the Boca Juniors VS River Plate rivalry. Its the most fiercest in football. Period.

Originally Posted by ankit_insane

Small update from my side, SIBM wait is over. Got confirmed there yday, so going there for sure.

Gr8 news. Congrats.

P.S : Suggestions for the Season's EPL 11 are welcome. PM me if you have any. Will start the analysis competition as soon as we have concluded with the season's votes.