rua

I thought it had to be something with this pic:

Physioroom have him out until 25th October, another 5 1/2 weeks away

The most fucking ridiculous poll I've ever seen on this site. There is nothing similar in how they left the club, their motives are quite different. I don't think either can be considered traitors for leaving when they did or for going to Madrid, perhaps Owen can be questionably viewed for deeds done since leaving Madrid. I'll definitely miss Xabi as he has been a refreshing break from the usual modern footballer and has always displayed a bit of understated class both on and off the field. I wish him all the best and hope the rest of his career and life are successful, healthy and happy. Of course that is unless he comes up against us. All this comes of course with the usual disclaimer, IMHO

Here's the latest comments from Pandev himself (allegedly) Pandev "Voglio andare via" 08/06/2009 22.58.22 - (AGM-DS) - Milano, 8 giugno - "Voglio andare via dalla Lazio - ha dichiarato Goran Pandev - perché il mio ciclo qui è chiuso". Il 25enne attaccante macedone ha manifestato ai microfoni di Sky Sport 24 il desiderio di lasciare il club biancoceleste: "Ho chiesto al Presidente di trovare una soluzione e vendermi. Ho vissuto cinque anni bellissimi. La Lazio mi ha dato molto e io ho dato molto alla società ma negli ultimi mesi ho tirato i remi in barca. Mi aspettavo una chiamata da Lotito per il rinnovo del contratto ma non è arrivata. Ora voglio trovare altre motivazioni e giocare in un’altra squadra". (R. Datasport, DTS) Basically he's saying that he's had 5 great years with Lazio but has not been offered a new deal. It's time to go and play with another squad. BTW, the mention of barca there is boat

Imo, Keane is being a twat (again), where is this dignity he spoke of just after he moved back to Spurs. When Crouch started with us he was contributing positively to each game he played, he was pulled up plenty of times by refs (especially in Europe) but he generally got on with the game. During this time he received constant public support from Rafa (don't know what it was like privately but I am going to presume it was pretty positive too). Once he became an England fan (and media) favourite he got a couple of public warnings from Rafa to make sure he kept up his workrate, privately I'm sure he was more than warned. Towards the end, we were playing at home (can't remember who against, but I remember the look) Crouch was in the box when a shot came in from the right, keeper parried and the ball went to the edge of the 6 yard, from the look and reaction Rafa gave on the sideline you could see that the end was fast approaching. Crouchy had lost Rafa's trust. I'm not trying to be an amateur psychologist, reading Rafa's 'body language', there was real rage. There was one European away game this season where Keane fluffed a shot (the pass to him wasn't the best either though). Keane then protested to the ref and continued to protest to the ref until the ball had gone down towards our goal AND returned to the opponents box, where we were awarded a corner, Keane was STILL protesting at the ref. For me, that typifies Robbie Keane's spell with us. Just to clarify here, I had no agenda against him, I live about a mile from where he grew up. I am one of those who's cousin hung around with him when they were young (not that I believe that either). I wanted him to succeed when he went to Inter (had he scored the overhead kick against Helsingborgs in that home qualifier I am sure he would have lasted longer). I didn't think was good enough to play for us, I didn't think he worked hard enough but was hoping to be proved wrong. I also didn't think Houghton was good enough either. As for those latest comments coming out today, I wish he'd just shut up. He said he wouldn't make any undignified comments when he was offended by what Rafa had to say, but for me this just shows that he can't get over it, he's not going to shut up which was part of his problem when he was with us. Apologies for the rant and remember that it was written IMO.

Sorry Natt, I don't appear to be able to edit the post, I will keep looking though

Fantastic work Nattalia, had to put it up here, click on the image to get the full download

Maybe he saw the sub bench at city and saw that he couldn't rest on his laurels for one decent performance in the first team

On the Rangers side McGregor, Papac, Mendes, Ferguson are good players and would get into (and strengthen) most premiership teams, imho, of course. Celtic were missing McGeady, Maloney, Nakamura, Jim Vinegar with Robson and Hartley just back from injury. Mizuno only just had his first start last week. McDonald aside, that is their attacking setup, it was not surprise to me that there was no sign of any cohesive passing game. On paper, Rangers should really have won this or at least not get beat.

Didn't get to see the game, either live or stream only had the limited commentary on here which did appear very gloomy. For once the highlights on MOTD must have made the game a bit better. The most pleasing part of the play, especially in the first half was that the players were really closing the pompey players down, forcing them into giving the ball away cheaply. Again, I did only see the highlights from MOTD but having read through the commentary on here I was pleasantly surprised by the game and definitely would not jump on Lucas' back as much as some in the other parts of the forum.

Did I not hear a chant, something along the lines of: We hate the Scousers ??? Surprised nobody's mentioned it on here

Eamon Coughlan (Irish Olympian) - he was running in UCD at the height of his 'fame' and I think I got his autograph about 10 times for various friends and such like. He had no problem and actually started to recognise me after about the 5th go. Ollie Campbell (Irish Rugby player) - wanker (based on my one encounter with him) I must have been about 9, was in Lansdowne about 5 hours before a 5 nations match and he was strolling across the pitch, nobody else around so I asked for an autograph and he point blank refused, I joined the campaign for Tony Ward to be reinstated as Irish out-half from that moment on. Mark Kennedy - I played for a club that had an annual pre-season match against Millwall until McCarthy became Irish boss which was the season I joined, therefore missing out. Kennedy was, by all accounts a prize prick. Patrick Moore - was over in Dublin a few years ago promoting a book on a telescope 'Leviathan of Parsonstown'. There was supposed to be a meteor shower and those at the lecture were invited onto the roof of liberty hall in Dublin, of course it was cloudy and we couldn't see a thing. He was really good natured and a pleasure to chat to. Morrissey - frequent visitor to Dublin, I met him once on Grafton Street and he stopped to chat, after a while quite a crowd was gathering, so I left:smile: Larry Mullen - surly shite, was in a crowded pub around the time of the Joshua Tree album, it was impossible not to bump into people, especially if you were trying to go to the bar. Someone did bump into him and he went off on one, telling yer man 'not to touch him or bump into him'. Bono and the Edge were there too, but there was no shite from them. Joe Jordan & Gordon McQueen - met them in Madrid airport in 1982, they were trying to buy tickets for the world cup final. Maybe it was because the were begging, but they both came across as decent, even if one of the tickets they got was mine. I should get out more

They shouldn't be able to change or extend the league during the season, especially as there would have been absolute uproar from Celtic (let alone the fact that they had a cast iron legal case which would have led to absolute chaos in the SPL for quite some time). If the SFA (how apt) are serious about promoting the league they should sort out some type of policy NOW, not wait until someone else gets towards the latter stages of any European competition. You're being a bit kind there are so many players that would struggle to get into a championship side - Naylor, Jim Vinegar, Sno, Weir, Dailly, Samaras, Donati, Caldwell (the last three aren't too bad, but I think they have been found out a bit), Adam, Cousin. One thing Rangers have got is that Fleck lad, really impressive young player (not based on last night), should really be pushing for starts next season well ahead of anything else there in the forward line Hopefully not, still doesn't appear be capabale of consistent end product at all. TO be fair, he never hides from the ball but I really don't think he'd be good enough for us

... and may wish to leave the club in the summer. Didn't see that coming. Here's the link from Setanta.

First attempt at a mosaic/stained glass thing and a bit of work left to be done but it puts the idea out there...

I was wondering that myself, I had a look at that earlier and saw one of mine earlier... Which coincidentally looks a lot like this one... But I promise I didn't see Chorlton's one (which is undeniably so much better that had I done so I wouldn't have bothered with mine). I wanted to add another one on RAWK But I don't have the rights :wallbutt:

I can't get the metallic bit, but I couldn't resist a try

I saw that, who was he shouting at?

did a quick one too: Couldn't find a decent res one though, maybe I'll have another look later

wouldn't surprise me in the slightest

This piece comes from kop-tv.com, I don't know how reliable they are, but it is definitely very interesting if true: The rumours around the ground were suggesting Pako Ayesteran and Rafael Benitez had put their differences aside and that the recent good atmosphere was nothing to do with the rumours that Rafa was to extend his contract. Pako was seen on the pitch at the final whistle congratulating both Fernando and Stevie. linky

Yea, I'd have to say that there's little chance myself. Rafa was recently quoted as saying that there was little between them anymore after claims of disloyalty. I was looking for the specific quotes but can't find them, yet...

I believe that the reserve keeper should be the one on the bench. I think it is unreasonable to expect any keeper to not play at all and be 'ready' for competitive action

He was fantastic yesterday, Sampdoria would have walked that had they had a centre forward who could have put away any of the plethora of chances he created (sound familiar???). Just to correct a couple of things, he wasn't sacked by Real, he's still their player. Also, since he's shown the desire and (relative) stability this season most of the bigger clubs in Italy (Inter, AC, Juventus, all the usual suspects) are looking at trying to get in ahead of Samdoria. As far as I am aware, the original deal they have with Real is for a €6 million deal, Samp don't really have that money and are also looking for Real to pay some of his wages even after the transfer. As good as he is, I'm not sure that he would be able to handle playing in England. He's Tarrantino's version of Bellamy