11/21/24
February 20, 2003
Bigmouth strikes again. : Fat, pompous Uefa president Lennart Johansson has entered the club v country debate by insisting international football must take priority over the club scene.
Don't feel bad at all....football is football everywhere but the US...i almost do the same thing everytime i post. Anyway, i think he is right! Judging from the wording of your post, you do not think so...
posted by StarFucker at 08:34 AM on February 20, 2003
I agree with you too, StarFucker, but perhaps that comes from growing up in a country where the highest soccer league is a few years old.
posted by pfuller at 09:24 AM on February 20, 2003
Thanks, I feel a lot better now. I don't have a lot of respect for UEFA or FIFA for that matter. They give the appearance of being full of junketing fat-cats. What I really object to here is that UEFA are claiming credit for reducing the amount of Champions League games when it was they who increased them in the first place. It's a tough judgement - club or country. At Birmingham we got a lot of grief about Robbie Savage not turning up for Wales, when it was their own stupid fault for not knowing the call-up rules. I can see both sides in that clubs pay a player's wages but national sides want to field the best team they can. I'm against reducing the size of the EPL though, as it means teams like mine will have even less chance of competing in the top league. This would be financially disasterous for the club.
posted by squealy at 09:28 AM on February 20, 2003
Woah woah woah! I didn't read the whole article...they want to reduce the size of the EPL!? What the hell for?! I don't understand why there are people out there always trying to change the fucking game!! Just leave it! Its fucking perfect! No more goddamn changes!
posted by StarFucker at 09:59 AM on February 20, 2003
Well, reducing the EPL would reduce the number of domestic games the teams have to play ... and take the pressure off reducing the number of Champions League games (which are more lucrative on average for all involved). Stupid greedy bastards.
posted by worldcup2002 at 10:42 AM on February 20, 2003
I knew you'd see it my way eventually StarFucker. The fact of the matter is, that in England at least, the vast majority of fans only have domestic football to support. Most fans don't want a European Super League or whatever, even the supporters of the big clubs. They'd rather see their teams compete against their traditional rivals. I'm not against involving more clubs in European cup competition per se, and I think the step to turn the second group stage of the Champions League into a knockout competition is a good one. However, the general consensus is that players are playing too many games, so something has to give. For me, despite my love of the England national team, it has to be friendly internationals. It's the best choice of a bad bunch.
posted by squealy at 10:58 AM on February 20, 2003
vito: Actually, the LPGA cleary states that only females can partake in their events, and something about how you have to have a handicap of 4 to even play (I don't know anything about handicap or what a handicap of 4 means in golf terms). I think its fine and great for lower-level athletes to move up to the next level, but when guys start moving down, thats another thing. If this dude gets in, whats stopping all the other guys out there who can't make the cut on the PGA from entering all the LPGA tourneys?
posted by jmd82 at 12:05 PM on February 20, 2003
uh....what?
posted by StarFucker at 01:41 PM on February 20, 2003
I think jmd82 got the wrong thread. Just wanted to clarify that I do not think that the EPL should be reduced in size either. Would clubs in several competitions ever consider dropping the FA Cup or UEFA Cup/Champions League at the expense of the other?
posted by pfuller at 01:57 PM on February 20, 2003
The dude makes as much sense as Johanssen, leave him be.
posted by Fat Buddha at 02:19 PM on February 20, 2003
I need to become a football fan just for the Smiths references. I don't think you'd get away with them talking to an American football fan.
posted by yerfatma at 03:59 PM on February 20, 2003
Anyone catch the Lazio - Wisla Krakow game!? HOLY SHIT!!
posted by StarFucker at 04:28 PM on February 20, 2003
Liverpool won 1-0 away to Auxerre in the fourth round, first leg of the UEFA Cup! Who scored? Defender and team captain, Sammi Hyppia. Owen and, yes, Heskey, continue to fire blanks. (groan) btw, SF: Murphy and Carragher played, too. But at least Riise and Dudek did, too.
posted by worldcup2002 at 06:29 PM on February 20, 2003
I saw that Worldcup! I'm watching the replay right now...fuck, Traore is pretty damn good! Fucking better than Murphy i'll tell ya that much... I just saw Dudek make a beautiful save... Carragher is such a piece of crap...receive a pass, step back, pass to Dudek....that is his whole game!
posted by StarFucker at 11:22 PM on February 20, 2003
When I grow up, I want to have eaten as many pies as Lennart Johanssen. 
posted by BigCalm at 03:11 AM on February 21, 2003
Starfucker and worldcup2002, you chuffin scouse gits, I will be at the game on Sunday and thinking of you both every time Dugarry smacks one home.
posted by Fat Buddha at 10:34 AM on February 21, 2003
HA!! You sore, pimple faced goat chuff! I predict a 3-0 game to Liverpool.... Owen with 2 and Riise with the 3rd. Dugarry trips over himself in the 68th minute...
posted by StarFucker at 11:26 AM on February 21, 2003
LOL! We must put this one up as a FPP! Just for the goat belly names SF is coming up with for FB. Hahahahahaha. FB: I couldn't be further from being a Scouser or a git, but I appreciate the compliment. You're just afraid of the trashing my boys will be giving Birmingham this Sunday. SF: I up your bet. I say 5-0 to Liverpool, Riise direct from a corner, Murphy from a free kick, Hyppia with a header, Owen with a typical breakaway finish and Heskey stealing the ball from Dugarry in the Liverpool half and then running it all the way into goal. And Dugarry to choke on his dentures at half-time. Hahahahahahaha.
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:59 PM on February 21, 2003
I know you aint scouse, I wouldn't have said it if you were; I was bestowing honoury scouse git status upon the pair of you no marks, along with the very quiet 86. Riise will never be any good as long as he keeps his shirt untucked, Heskey couldn't score in a barrell of fannies, the extremely odd looking Hyppia (IS THAT A DISEASE?) will be too busy worrying what subtle little shift of balance the mighty Dugarry will bamboozle him with next to worry about what is going on at the other end; Owen, the Welshman is finished, and Murphy never even got started. Easy win for the Blues, even the hapless Morrison might stick one in. Ps: how the hell do you spell barrell?
posted by Fat Buddha at 01:43 PM on February 21, 2003
Uh... Listen, you motherless son of a goat... I HATE Heskey! And i absolutely LOATHE Murphy! And all i can feel for Carragher is pity! But don't you DARE start talking about OWEN! And as far as Riise goes, is that the best you can do? Riise is a fucking all star and will take over for Roberto Carlos in that position. Dudek will have another clean sheet this week. Liverpool could beat Birmingham with 8 men...as thats basically what they are doing with the 3 stooges, Carragher, Heskey and Murphy out there... By the way, when is Bruce going to give Swierczewski a chance? Seems a waste to buy a quality player like that and leave him on the bench.
posted by StarFucker at 02:36 PM on February 21, 2003
Oops, meant to post this to soccer. How do I extricate myself from this emabarrasing faux pas?