You're right, it can, but not to a team that are apparently serious Champions' League contenders.

We'll have to agree to differ about Ribery's 'uncatchable' goal. More generally, Hart's having a terrible season so far. We're talking about someone who two seasons ago was a contender for best in the world but has since gone backwards, to the extent that serious questions are now being asked as to whether he should even keep his England place. (Fortunately for him, there's no obvious replacement waiting in the wings).

Prior to the game, there was talk about how bad City's defence was while Kompany was out and that they were back to form when he returned. What we saw on Wednesday night, though, proved that the problems run deeper than whether Kompany plays or not (those same people can at least now clutch at another straw by arguing that Kompany and Zabaleta (who was on the bench) have to play to keep them tight.)

Bayern dominated the midfield brilliantly, which I expected, but City seemed totally disconnected on the counterattack. I'm sure Pep must've been watching them amazed at how toothless and unorganised they were. In terms of individual talent City should be a handful for anyone, even Bayern, but they still lack any real cohesion for me.

I was really looking forward to seeing how this new Bayern faced up to a top team. They obviously looked great but I'll now have to wait till they play someone better than City were on Wednesday before I'm able to gauge quite how good they are.

EDIT: It strikes me that Hart's decline coincides with his humiliation in the penalty shoot-out against Italy in the last Euros. Maybe too simplistic but I really don't think he's been the same keeper since.

really? hart in decline? mang, i didn't know that. in my mind he was still some superman. ribéry's goal wasn't anything abnormal, i looked back at it and the ball bounces right in front of hart's hand. those balls are always a bitch to catch. but i'm sad to hear about his general performance. didn't know about that.

the thing with the offisde trap is that it's always a risk. either the team fucks it up or the ref doesn't see it and you're boned. happens to even the best teams. but when mistakes add up... yeah...

http://www.teamtalk.com/tottenham-ho...ed-over-chants

not a spurs fans but i find this a bit ridiculous

By the guy behind the zonal marking site:

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/tactic...d/1747?cc=5739

It'll be impossible to enforce, especially if the police try and charge a jewish Spurs' fan. Besides that, the most offensive West Ham chants aimed at Spurs don't even mention the word yid. The hissing thing, done to sound like a gas chamber, is far dodgier and the police have pretty much no chance at all of seeing who's actually doing it. The only way to stop is for the referee to abandon the game the moment he hears it.

Well Everton can't win 'em all. City were back on form after Tuesday's spanking.

Moyes should have stayed at Goodison Park

3 - 0. Against Spurs. At White Hart Lane. Without a proper striker.

Looking forward to seeing that on MOTD. In other annoying news Arsenal's draw has kept Liverpool on top. Urgh working with 3 liverpool fans tomorrow is not going to be fun.

Wait! Just double checked. Arsenal are on top by goal difference. Its the little things.

wow, great article, thanks! i really like how that guy thinks things through--never easy categorical pronouncements but rather a good reasoned examination of things.

anyway, a bit tragic, though probably a needed humbling if hart was indeed so cocky (i'd had no way to assess that). pirlo's statement was so awesome. anyway i'd really like to see him get back in good form -- he was such a pleasure to watch regardless of who he was playing for.

and congrats on your team's victory! are you feeling disoriented?


ha ha ha that explains so much!!

Woody Allen, Jackie Mason, Sammy Davis Jnr, Alan Sugar, Mel Brooks, Larry David


YOUR BOYS TOOK ONE HELL OF A BEATING.;)

????

im trying to guess from the stuff here ... are the spurs a traditionally "jewish" team?

are you an anti-dentite?

---


EDIT: The only arrest was apparently of a Spurs fan. I hate the phrase "political correctness gone mad" but ...

i know yr country polices language, but why are spurs fans "yids"? were they founded by disraeli or something?

this is all incomprehensible to me.

i should also add, i'm too buzzed to google it. ha!

Good result again today for Albion, probably should have won it. Anelka had two very good chances.

the section in london that the stadium is in has had a traditionally large jewish population. so alot of those people were tottenham fans.

oh, i see

that reminds me (wrong sport, i know) of some american baseball teams



guess which is fake and which is real, ha ha ha

Do the Washington Redskins ever get flack over their name?

all the time. right now they're being sued by the oneida nation (or in some sort of conflict/talks), and even obama has chimed in (he speechifies on every subject)... but funny thing, a lot of real injuns i know (meaning: everyday people, not professional complainers) don't mind the name and actually like the team, ha ha ha. the logo isn't as cartoonish as the cleveland indians though, but still, yeah, the profesionally offended are up in arms--others not so much.

what comes to this kind of nonsense, the white liberals are the biggest douche bags in the world. i read that blackhawks' logo has also created some sort of controversy

You're being silly. These are national teams, even if the Redskins have sucked as a team more years than they haven't (ask !@#$%! he surely knows:cool: ) they still play several primetime, nationally televised games, they are the team for the nation's capital, and by default the team of the White House. That is powerful symbolism that an obviously offensive term is used so casually on a national stage and under the spotlight with no scrutiny?

If it were the San Francisco Chinks, the San Diego Wetbacks, or the Brooklyn Shilocks wouldn't it be as obvious? Ok, my sister is a Hopi indian so maybe I'm biased :confused:



Redskins are probably the only American team that really does border on offensive. Of course High School teams like "Savages" or "Reds" are probably worse.

I think Braves, Chiefs, Warriors, Indians, Blackhawks, those aren't necessarily used in the pejorative sense, if anything the opposite. However the term Redskins is offensive just about anyway you slice the cake. Is it the most offensive? Not necessarily, though looking at the picture !@#$%! posted, I'd say the term "Redskins" fits much more in that racist context that Indians. Of course, considering how much Cleveland teams SUCK, that is probably more so what American Indians are offended by than the name itself ;)

Just love how white folk displace, kill, rape, and exterminate entire nations of native American people then cheer for teams named after racial stereotypes.

Has there ever been a superbowl between the cowboys and the indians?

The Indians are MLB baseball. The Cowboys play both in the same Conference (NFC) and also Division (NFC East) as the Washington DC Redskins, so while they've never played a Superbowl together (Superbowl is AFC vs NFC), they do play two games a year and have a historic rivalry.. They've played against each other in the NFC Championship game (which determines the Superbowl) three times, and the Cowboys lost all three. Cowboys have 5 Superbowl victories, Redskins have 3, though most of that is ancient history. Redskins won their first NFC East Division title last season.

yes but you're still white.

WHITE LIBERAL. ;)


right but as i've mentioned i've seen plenty natives who love the redskins and don't give a shit about the name or don't think it's offensive. they like that it's an indian on the logo and they say cool. many natives identify with the term "red." the native version of the oreo is the apple. and so on.

look here for example. i haven't met this guy, but there you go, he's proud of the redskins:

http://www.redskins.com/news-and-eve...d-18d7fb768bb7

these "offensive" terms usually get appropriated by their targets. like queer, or nigga, or obamacare.

and seriously, the san diego wetbacks would be an awesome name. i'd be an instant fan.

Yes but then both the Chargers AND the Wetbacks would come to LA and San Diego would be all the more devastated ;)

better yet make it the mojados. since it's gonna be yr official language.

Los Mojados de San Diego

Los Tigres del Norte

Los Hijos de la Chingada

etc.

okey. let's talk fútbol, mierda.

Black Lions looking to get the win on Saturday. GO ETHIOPIA!!

the win for what? qualifiers?

Yes, exactly. Its the FIFA CAF Qualifiers final round.

oh. it's international break again? i'm completely out of the loop right now. fuck!

alright. thanks for that reminder.

USA plays tomorrow but they already clinched it. Ethiopia is playing Nigeria. There are several other teams still playing to qualify as well over the weekend.. I understand, Euro league soccer is on, but its NFL season so I don't pay attention. International soccer is my game, its a summer sport when NFL and NBA are in the off-season ;)

Since Finland has no chance qualifying, I jumped on Iceland's bandwagon

Another magical Klinsmann substitution in the second half and Zusi's first goal sparked a rally. 2-0 win for USA and now they sit on top of their group. Mexico is fighting for its slot, but with Honduras' win its going to be tough for them, and it requires things going their way both with their wins and other group losses.

Big win for England last night. The 4-1 score flattered them a bit but it was a potential banana skin game so it's all good.

What about Holland, though? Didn't see the game but 8-1 against Hungary! Wow.

i hate the god damn international breaks!

Yeah, although another big international day on Tuesday, albeit only for the countries (like England) that still need to qualify. I'm not a huge England fan and there were times on Friday when I thought it'd be funny if we lost and ended up not qualifying, but I quickly remembered how dead it felt the last time I had to watch a big tournament we didn't get to (Euro 2008).

Hey! France won! 6-0! I couldn't spot any midfielder in the Australian team (2 shots in total, none on target), hence the amount of blue goals - all of which were beautiful, bar the wrongly awarded penalty.
It could have been more than that, except that the keeper suddenly had enough and paried a lot of the subs' attempts.
Best attacking display since a 5-0 victory over Scotland in the golden Zidane days (I think that was shortly after Robert Pirès' injury). What happened after that was a slow decay that started with a loss to Belgium and a terrible 2002 World Cup exit.
Les Bleus, in all their humility, are heading towards the play-offs.
Who wants a bite of cheese? Portugal? England?
Looking forward to hearing about Burkina Faso's second leg game against Algeria.

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/relega...d/1415?cc=5901

Great read about Klinsmann's evolution of the USMNT with insights from former USA greats..