If anyone knows where Steve Finnan is, keep it a secret.

 

I'd like to think the prospect of attending the 10th anniversary Istanbul reunion has made him take up residence in a cave in Afghanistan.

Hahaha Sterling's agent has called Carjacker a "knob"

 

Ahahaha

England squad announced:

 

Goalkeepers:

Robert Green (Queens Park Rangers), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley)

 

Defenders:

Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United)

 

Midfielders:

Ross Barkley (Everton), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Ryan Mason (Tottenham Hotspur), James Milner (Manchester City), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

 

Forwards:

Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal).

 

 

 

 

 

I'm sorry but that's an awful looking squad, what would be the league position of side if you took an average of where their respective clubs finished, 12th? Maybe lower? 

 

Shocking. 

I reckon that the under-21s would give that team a good game. 

 

Jamie Vardy, Ryan Mason, Tom Heaton....I may have announced my international retirement too soon. 

Oh for the days of Terry, Ashley Cole, Joe Cole and Lampard as the core of England.

 

 

I'm sorry but that's an awful looking squad, what would be the league position of side if you took an average of where their respective clubs finished, 12th? Maybe lower? 

 

Shocking. 

 

 

Challenge accepted - 7th.

Challenge accepted - 7th.

 

Better than I thought but still a testament of the level of quality of player currently playing for the national team. 

 

There's about 6 players in that squad with significant playing time in lower leagues, could you honestly see the likes of Spain or Germany calling up players of that caliber? 

Oh for the days of Terry, Ashley Cole, Joe Cole and Lampard as the core of England.

That group of players England had in 2004-2006 was let down by not having a competent manager. I actually think if Capello had managed that group they'd have been much better.

Happy for Berti, always thought he was a good player, good enough for us and from what I've seen of luis, we would have been better sticking. 

 

Hopefully he will displace Bains

Xavi leaving Barca at the end of the season and has agreed a 3 year deal with Qatari side Al Sadd. 

 

Can you imagine how big of step down that is for him ability wise? 

 

Joining an MLS side is one thing but Qatar football? If he sticks at that for 3 years I'd be amazed. 

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

I know but it's not like he's already short of a few quid is it? 

 

I mean professional pride, it's got to be pretty hard to stomach being arguably the greatest midfielder of your generation, who was a part of the one of the all time best club and international teams to playing in a desert with players who probably can't do keepy uppy for longer than 5. 

True, but with retirement in mind I am sure he wants to make (as much) hay while the sun shines!

I know but it's not like he's already short of a few quid is it? 

 

I mean professional pride, it's got to be pretty hard to stomach being arguably the greatest midfielder of your generation, who was a part of the one of the all time best club and international teams to playing in a desert with players who probably can't do keepy uppy for longer than 5. 

 

well hes fiinding it easy to stomach id guess

 

but i see where youre coming from, thats not a way a football legend should finish their career.

Maybe he wants to still play football but away from the spotlight. If anyone deserves a retirement like that it's a player like Xavi.

Teddy Sheringham is set to be the new  manager of League 2 side Stevenage. 

 

I know he was doing some part time coaching at West Ham this season but didn't realise he had managerial ambitions. Good to see him starting in the lower leagues and I hope he does well much like our own Jimmy Floydd did. 

Maybe he wants to still play football but away from the spotlight. If anyone deserves a retirement like that it's a player like Xavi.

 

An absolute legend, I even remember watching him at the Bridge back in 2000. I don't have a lot of time for Barcelona as a club but he's been not only a terrific player for years but also a great ambassador for the game. IIRC he's hardly ever said or done anything controversial either on or off the field.

I respect Xavi as a footballer but he is another of the brigade that thinks football should only be played the Barca way, the right way..

 

“Pep Guardiola is an important person for me – Jose Mourinho is a coach who focuses only on results,” Xavi told Panenka magazine.

“He says he is ‘The Special One’ because he won this and that in so many countries but I do not like the way his teams play.

“Who remembers the Inter side who were champions of Europe? For me, he has not left a legacy, unlike Cruyff has in the Netherlands.”

“Di Matteo was the same [as Mourinho],” he continued. “He won the Champions League, but from my point of view that team didn’t play at all.

“I am happy playing for Barca because of our philosophy.”

 

An absolute legend, I even remember watching him at the Bridge back in 2000. I don't have a lot of time for Barcelona as a club but he's been not only a terrific player for years but also a great ambassador for the game. IIRC he's hardly ever said or done anything controversial either on or off the field.

 

He's been a great player over the years but i have little respect for him after what he said about the way we won the Champions League. He's another arrogant prick who thinks you should only win football matches playing one way.

 

http://www.theshedend.com/topic/25125-xavi-slammed-the-former-madrid-and-inter-boss-style-of-play-while-also-criticising-di-matteo%E2%80%99s-champions-league-winning-chelsea-side/

Love the dissing of Xavi for having an opinion different to some on here.

 

I respect the man and I respect his views (after all, he's played considerably more football than me)  - does not mean I agree with them.

Edited May 21, 201511 yr by Crem

He never played for José. He has zero insight on what kind of man and manager he is.

I respect Xavi as a footballer but he is another of the brigade that thinks football should only be played the Barca way, the right way..

 

Wasn't aware of that. What can you expect though having been educated at La Masia since adolescence?. At least he's not a pr*ck like Busquets.

Edited May 21, 201511 yr by Celery1989

An absolute legend, I even remember watching him at the Bridge back in 2000. I don't have a lot of time for Barcelona as a club but he's been not only a terrific player for years but also a great ambassador for the game. IIRC he's hardly ever said or done anything controversial either on or off the field.

 

what?! the guy is the sorest loser that ever played the game! every time chelsea beat barca hes mouthing off how chelsea didnt deserve it, how they had more posession . . .

 

EDIT: a quick google search, 'xavi+posession' gets you this quote as the first result

 

We enjoyed the bulk of the possession against Bayern, they couldn't control the game. To look only at the result doesn't really tell the whole story."

that was after the 7-0 aggregate score.

 

yeah, ability wise the guy is a legend, but he was a humongous twat at times

 

Edited May 21, 201511 yr by launcher

Love the dissing of Xavi for having an opinion different to some on here.

 

I respect the man and I respect his views (after all, he's played considerably more football than me)  - does not mean I agree with them.

 

What do you expect ? The guy has shown no respect towards Chelsea or our style of football throughout the years. Why should we give him any respect if he can't show any respect to us ?

 

He is also one of the worst for running up to the ref and shouting for a red card when one of the Barcelona players would dive. The guy has been a great player, but he has been as much of a prick as any of the other Barcelona players over the years.

 

England squad announced:

 

Goalkeepers:

Robert Green (Queens Park Rangers), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley)

 

Defenders:

Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United)

 

Midfielders:

Ross Barkley (Everton), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Ryan Mason (Tottenham Hotspur), James Milner (Manchester City), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

 

Forwards:

Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal).

 

 

 

 

 

I'm sorry but that's an awful looking squad, what would be the league position of side if you took an average of where their respective clubs finished, 12th? Maybe lower? 

 

Shocking. 

 

I'm actually quite happy for Vardy, he's done well and to get called up is a great achievement.

 

No idea how Gibbs gets selected, he's been benched by Monreal for what feels like the majority of the season.