StevieC

2 years there as a teenager showing lots of potential- how does that make him their best ever over the likes of Dixie Dean?

This content is not viewable to guests.,This content is not viewable to guests.

This content is not viewable to guests.,This content is not viewable to guests.

This content is not viewable to guests.,This content is not viewable to guests.

The semantics of the word 'resemble' being something of an abstract concept then?

Any player that can stick with his slow movement can take him out of the game. I reckon even Traore could do it if given the job. The more I think about it, the more he seems to resemble Beckham as a player.

and when Didi appeared- he disappeared. Hardly a world class trait to be taken so easily out of a game.

Well put Leo. As far as Gattuso is concerned, he could be the Mancs new Keane and provide them with the player they need to build a team around. Going back to the wet fish at the core of this debate- it's no coincidence that he needs a nutter with him in midfield to be in any way effective which is precisely why a Barca midfield (even with Marquez behind them) would be toothless with him there.

Watched him with great interest as he was constantly hyped and wasn't particularly impressed. A good player but not half as good as you'd think he was by the way certain pundits went on which ironically enough seems to be where many here have got their views from too. Watching Xabi against France was watching a master in action yet he seemed to pass under everyone's radar which makes me think that Pirlo is another player de jour that some pundits have picked up on and started a massive daisy chain which has crept onto the internet.

He's so lightweight they'd be overpowered. They've got Xavi to act as playmaker and he's as good at moving the ball as anyone. In fact, he's be hard pushed to shify Deco who's got decent movement as part of his armoury.

This content is not viewable to guests.,This content is not viewable to guests.

Can't imagine Anny Rd with long hair.

meant in the sense he would no longer be LB. Would quite happily see Djimi leave and Warnock be emergency cover.

back to the future style mockering?

A farce or genuine entertainment that tests the fitness of the players and acumen of the coach. In a normal game situation the abandonment would be as a result of multiple injuries or sendings off indicatin something dangerously worng or a hazard to the players- this would BE part of the game and specatcle and is a greater test of footballing ability and nerve than the current lottery. It would also be a schit load more entertaining than just keeping going.

This content is not viewable to guests.,This content is not viewable to guests.

No one has really defended Zidane's actions. That's not to say Materazzi's isn't a complete c*nt. The two are seperable.

What's to like? He's not a hard man defender- he's a coward. He's not an arch wind up merchant- he genuinely is that much of a c*nt. He's a deceitful, snide, diving emblem of everything wrong with the game at present and he deserves to be publically garrotted- or perhaps guillotined as an example to all the other cowardly f*ckers out there.

would be for me.

a better passer than Xabi? Ta da Riise.

Maybe if he asked for 230,000 other incidences of being a cheating, schnide c*nt into consideration.

This content is not viewable to guests.,This content is not viewable to guests.

Agree that Lippi justified his reputation by creating making the team more than the sum of its parts. Catenaccio I can appreciate but this team, except for the occasional moment of fluid brilliance, were dull and insipid. Their persistant cynicism and histrionics just made me loathe them further although my hatred of Materazzi over all others for the last few years may well be clouding my judgment.

Don't think many teams would chance it tbh. Their needs to be more of a hook to make en masse defending and hoping to nick one less of an attractive strategy and reward a positive attitude and making goals more likely- such as removing players. The other alternative is each manager has to remove 5 players before extra time starts- again a tactical and fitness related battle with a much more open pitch.

which just goes to prove what a god awful tournement in terms of footballing entertainment its been. They were boring, unadventurous, cynical and fortunate- only one of those four goes towards making a memorable and worthy winner although I'll grittingly admit that the semi-final was worthy of the occasion.