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Given how great their season is going being knocked out of Europa doesn't seem like that big of a deal really.
Yeah, check out the stands. They're half empty.
Yeah I know, but it still sucks to see them go down like that in a very winnable game at home. I think that they are nearly a lock to make a CL berth this season, but I still don't like it. Sergio Asenjo was in goal today, but he was only 1 of 2 or 3 non-starters playing. Falcao put one of the post and went the full 90.
dude looks like a chimp mated with an elf but his accuracy off those free kicks is uncanny...
They knocked the cinderella story Crewe team out of Europa last month so #### them.
The Eastern European teams are not only getting more talented, but they are getting better at staying match fit in what is now their off-season. I'm not convinced that playing these games in their off-season is a disadvantage anymore.
So many starts and stops over the years. I hope they can get this done. Would be so good for the league.
Funny thing is when I saw that you had the latest post in the thread, I figured you beat me to the punch, what with your username and all.-QG
Was busy playing Mass EffectFunny thing is when I saw that you had the latest post in the thread, I figured you beat me to the punch, what with your username and all.-QG
Any idea if he is retiring because he is gay or is he retiring for other reasons?
yeah, I read that from your original link. I was not able to understand if he was retiring because he came out or they just happened simultaneously.Hope it works out for him. He was never going to be a star but I always thought he was going to be a decent pro in MLS/smaller Euro leagues. Maybe he realized that he was never going to make it to the point where it was enough to want to hide who he was
A glimmer of hope in a year that's been full so far of news about match fixing, racism and cheating.
'Eephus said:
The response is, most definitely.Too bad that he comes out AFTER "retiring". I don't blame him at all, and am amazed at his bravery here... but we're still too far away from a time when we (society and his peers) can accept a professional athlete as being gay the way we can accept a professional athlete who is another religion or race. oh... right.@ The Emirates
The combination of the colors of uniforms in that game makes it look like 22 clowns running around
Goalkeeper instincts
I thought it was an easy hand ball until the back side replay. I think it actually did go off of Matt Smith's head. His reaction was instant as well.
looks like you might be right - that really slow motion one looks like it missed the arm and hit Smiths head.
Fined by whom? Are you thinking match mixing?
The FA. I believe they fined Blackpool for the same thing last year. You are supposed to field your best eleven. They allow for resting players, but when a club pulls a "B" club rest day they generally get fined.
I had a vague memory of this so I looked it up. It was Blackpool for a game back in November 2010 for resting 10 players. Holloway threatened to quit after the fine and then went on to appeal but I could not find the result of the appeal. I personally don't think the FA has any right to tell a team who to start unless they believe match fixing is going on. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/mobile/football/teams/b/blackpool/9382766.stm
They paid the fine. I don't care much for FAs policies generally, but this rule makes sense. Playing reserve teams in EPL games isn't acceptable. Benching your entire team is a lot different than rotating players.I imagine the managers know they are going to get fined going into the game.
The FA rules state you have to name a 25 man roster for a season. A manager should be allowed to choose how he manages his players so that he ends up with the best results for his team at the end of the year.In Swansea's case, the following priorities are likely in place for yearly goals1) Avoid relegation2) Challenge for a Europa League spot3) Perform well in Cup competitionsWith Swansea in no real danger of relegation, the League Cup final becomes their biggest game of the year since they can get into the Europa League via a win.I think it would be absolutely outrageous, (unless match fixing was suspected) for the FA to have any say in how Swansea tries to meet its yearly goals.Knowing that the League Cup final is one week away and that they were in no danger of relegation, on the road, I have no problems with the decision of the manager to rest his best players in prep for the final next week.
Chicago holds his rights. It'd be cool if he'd have a change of heart on the retirement.'Eephus said:
I think the FA gives quite a bit of leeway in meeting the obligation of fielding a competitive side. Benching 9-10 starters is just asking to get fined.Given the point system the EPL utilizes you can't have teams choosing which games they are going to throw and which they are going to field a competitive team
He started 4 players who started the week before against QPR. Swansea has started different lineups almost every game this season. Trying to figure out who their manager thinks their best 11 is not something any outsider should have any say in.It would be one thing if he started a team with close to zero EPL appearances this year, but he didn't. Vorm, Tiendelli, Davies, DeGuzman, and Hernandez are all regular members of the squad and all started today. The subs of Rangel, Routledge and Dyer are all regular squad members.
