Paphos People

Is Cattermole any different to Barton or Smith ? Apart from the fact that if he was sold he would actually be worth 6 times either of them ?
On the subject of dirty players, isn't The Mugs an academy for dirty players learning their trade ?
What about the latest to come off your production line......Hit Man Carroll ?
Roger, engage your brain next time and get back on topic !
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Been sniffing the barmaids apron again Discopants????

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Roger

"Be who you are, not what others want you to be"

I thought you had with your ridiculous comment. I did share a bottle of wine with Mrs DP as it happens, red, of course.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Back on topic, looks like Torres might be out which will be a big blow for Spain, one of the pre-tournament favourites.

I've a sneaky feeling Argentina might do very well - Maradona might be a loose cannon but you can't rule out a side with absolute world class talent like Messi and Gutierrez.

I didn't see that one coming now.
I can't be bothered to respond.
Gary zzzzzzzz

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So close yet so far away

Hey, I was being serious - I think Argentina are a decent bet to win, I've even had a few quid on it.

Also going to have a patriotic punt on Rooney for top scorer.

Any other decent wagers out there??

I declare my bias from the outset to get that point out of the way fIrst.

What do you all think about both Dawson and King going as the defensive pairing given the fact Ferdinand and Terry are not setting the world alight at the moment.

King has played the last 3 Spurs games in a row over 10 days so he has shown he can do it if needed. His form has been exceptional.

Any thoughts.

Cheers

John

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Never let truth get in the way of a good rumour.

Well isn't Ferdinand Captain ? and if he is he has to go.
I think Ferdinand is overrated and wouldn't have a problem with King and Dawson going. They are better bets than Lescott and Upson.
To Martin, I would say that on paper Argentina look awesome and do have a great chance.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Happy for Ferdinand and Terry to go, not too sure about them in the first 11.

Only problems for Argentina is the apparent lack of team spirit, they seem to be more like individuals and not a team. Not sure Maradona is the right man to forster team spirit, unless it involves illeagl substances or pigging out on junk food.

I dont think England will win it but I do think it could be a European country, possibly Germany.

Cheers

John

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Never let truth get in the way of a good rumour.

Read that Gareth Barry is out of World Cup. Maybe Huddlestone could go !
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Problem is, if we keep selecting Spurs players to make up the backbone of the England team then we will only end up 4th

Dont think Huddlestone has had a great season and cant see him figuring in Capello's thinking.

Cheers

John

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Never let truth get in the way of a good rumour.

Okay then what about Jordan Henderson ?
Gary

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So close yet so far away

I don't think there'll be too many surprises in the squad to be honest, although apparently Fabio did go to watch Sol Campbell this weekend...

Don't rate Sol Campbell.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

I watched Hold The Back Page last night and I have obviously got it all wrong.
According to the 4 journalists on there, Heskey is a God and Bent has no chance.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

But he's in the 30 and Zamora is not.
He'll be upset when he doesn't go( again)
Gary

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So close yet so far away

He's obviously first reserve though - if anything happens to 1 of the other 4 he'll definitely be going (real possibility given Heskey's injury record especially....)

Been linked with Man City this week i see - would he go?

Colo and Jonas make the provisional squad for the Argies:

http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20100511/-colo-and-jonas-make-provisional-world-cup-squad_2240137_2049968?

Martin, I saw the headline on our message board about City but didn't read it. He was linked with Man United last week.
I'm not surprised the press are linking him to other clubs, players who can get the number of goals he gets are few and far between.
Will he go ? Who knows, but one thing is for sure, without his goals this season we would have been relegated, so how valuable is he to us ?
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Still ready to show my AXXE in Fenwicks Window if the Bent boy actually goes. In preparation, I have agreed with Fenwicks management for a charity event to be held, details to follow, all fans attending to wear their team strips.

Must say I was somewhat surprised at some of the potential attendees and the ommissions!

Downgrading my prediction to Quarter Finals only!

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Roger

"Be who you are, not what others want you to be"

Where the hell are you right now Looking Backwards ?
Gary

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So close yet so far away

I think he's somewhere in Paphos because I'm going down the pub with him tomorrow night - any messages you want me to pass on?

Tell him his secret is safe with me !
Now then, I see Carragher has been recalled. I cannot agree with this decision. I saw him at our place early in the season and he really struggled. He continously fouled players and badgered the referee.
As a result, when I've watched Liverpool on TV I have paid attention to him and he has lost it. Not good enough for me.
Here is a clip about Brazil and Argentina that might interest.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvickery/2 ... squad.html
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Well, the provisional England squad has been name.
Heskey
Ok, it's a different style of striker, but why pick someone who doesn't start when there's another English Striker who starts nearly all the game for the same team. I don't understand.

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Alison - Ali for short

I don't know anything about football but I'm going to put a bet on. I'm going to tell my husband (who's football mad) that I've studied the teams and I think .???... is going to win! Any tips please??? So far, I'm following CF - Argentina to win (that's the only tip I've seen!)

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~ Julie ~

~The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose~

Mmmmm what about tipping Spain ?
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Very sensible - you're clearly a lady who recognises a top tipster when you see one!

Decent result in the friendly last night, but the performance wasn't brilliant.

Not looking good for Mr Bent...

No it's not. Not surprising though is it ?
I suspect he is injured, I have read that he was unable to train over the weekend.

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So close yet so far away

Might get a run out against Japan, will need to do something pretty spectacular if he does though.

Or hope for something bad to happen to Defoe.

You don't need to tell me. He needs at least 2 goals !!!
That would give Capello a headache.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... -need.html
This is typical of the press isn't it ?
A bloke who is a Villa reserve.
I haven't read a thing about Bent although SAFC.Com confirms he has tweaked his hamstring.
The press conveniently forget that Defoe has been really poor as well in the run up to the end of the season and Capello was banging on about players in form. Most of my mates accept he ain't going and say that is a good thing for us ( as in Safc)but I don't think it is a good thing at all.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

It's a good thing in that he won't get injured, but bad if he starts thinking he's never going to get picked for England unless he's playing regular European football and decides to move on - the bias towards players from the "top" teams is shocking at times.

That's a good point.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

I read the Daily Mail today. It gave a blow by blow account of yesterday's strenous England training session. It outlined who was in contention with who. Bent didn't get a mention other than to say he missed a penalty.
According the Daily Mail he just isn't in contention.
He must have been the only one of the 30 not to get a mention.
He himself has told friends he feels he is fit and sharp.
The same hacks who have totally ignored him will be saying he should have gone should we fail to score goals.
That's life I suppose.
Gary
Oh and they were raving about Adam Johnson and Scott Parker.

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So close yet so far away

It's a shame Bent didn't get a run out in either of the friendlies - I was looking forward to seeing if he was any good.



Squad due out tomorrow - don't think there'll be any big surprises.

Final prediction time - I'm going for England to make the semi-finals, and Argentina to win.

CF - I'm not sure if you're being really, really sarcastic about Bent or you just slept through the first half of the Japan game, as Bent played the 1st 45mins. As the whole team play fairly awful, it was tricky to judge Bent.

I know England friendly are usually pretty awful but that game against Japan was shocking. Our Cypriot neighbour on Saturday, during his Eurovision song contest party, said that he thought England could win the World Cup. He was probably trying to be nice, but seriously we'll be lucky to get pass the first round if we play anything like in the friendlies.

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Alison - Ali for short

Martin, I am gonna remember this comment from you when , in the future I lay into you. It's comments like that that remind me why I hate the mugs so much. You know, jealousy is a hard pill to swallow and you are finding it hard to swallow.
Bent got absolutely no service, well he wouldn't would he when every time Rooney got he ball he put it out wide to the wingers to give Capello a chance to decide who is best out there, ignoring any runs his centre forward made.
Bent had 2 chances in the first half, he messed one and had a good dig at the other.
Bent won't go to the World Cup and geordies will rejoice but time will tell whether he should have gone or not. One thing is for sure, he scores 25 goals a season, yes 25, and he is out of the geordies reach.
Bring on next season, Gary

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So close yet so far away

Don't do footie but if england can get everytime they play for opposite team to score own goals in own net we could win world cup.I think we lost against japan

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Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly!
Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably
And never regret anything that made you smile Warning Internet forums may contain nuts

Well it's now official. Darren Bent is not going.
The second highest English scorer in the Premier League with 25 goals is not going and the Aston Villa reserve who scored 3 goals is.
Mmmmmm
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Anyway I am gonna go to the bookies and see what odds I can get on Darren Bent scoring more goals at this years World Cup than Emile Heskey !
Gary

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So close yet so far away

No real surprises in the final squad, apart from maybe Walcott being left out, but he was shocking in the last couple of friendlies.

How do people think we'll be lining up in the first game then? I'll go with:

Green
Johnson
A Cole
Ferdinand
Terry
Lennon
Lampard
Gerrard
J Cole
Rooney
Heskey

I'm going to stick up for Darren Bent and say he should be going. He's a good English player/striker.

We all have our faults, just Darren's fault happens to be playing for Sunderland.

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Alison - Ali for short

I'd like to think that playing for Sunderland did not affect Capello's choice. My club still has a certain image I know, but the club are working hard to get rid of that by cementing themselves as a Premier club. Sunderland will always be less glamorous than our neighbours. It's a fact that Newcastle is a lovely city, as is Durham, but have a look round Sunderland, it is a dump.
However, I have to say, if he was playing for a Southern club he would have been going and would have had more chances than he has had. I noticed the press making a lot of the fact that Walcott wasn't going but no mention of Bent not going.
The fact is, as we've seen in other competitions, 4 strikers is a gamble, especially when two don't have much versatility.
Capello said he would choose players in form, he didn't.
I do hope, genuinely, that Capello's choice is the right choice, time will tell.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Bent was never good enough to go to the World Cup with England for the reasons I stated in an earlier e-mail (and not just because he is a SMB). His performance against Japan was awful and his strength in goal scoring was shown for what it is with one easy chance and another possible, that true Internationals would have at least got on target. Goals he scores aplenty in his bread and butter league, but he is no International Player. Saves me having to "show my Axxe in Fenwicks Window though!!!!!

Be interesting to see his reaction next season when he has to start again.

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Roger

"Be who you are, not what others want you to be"

Roger, the records will state he is an International player, he's got 6 caps.
I have just read that in the 6 main European leagues, all the players who scored over 20 goals will be at the World Cup, if their country qualified.
As I pointed out to you before he got no service whatsoever against Brazil and the whole team were poor ( you know that). Against Japan Rooney elected to spray passes out to either wing to let the wingers have a run rather than put balls through to Bent. In that game to my recollection, only one ball was played through for Bent and he got on it and nearly scored.
It may well be that he hasn't gone cos Rooney doesn't gel with him and if that's so well let's just see. His game is all about scoring goals, nothing else and when it comes to that he is World Class.
You would not be saying what you are saying if he played for The Mugs.
You will have the chance to watch him in action for yourself in the skin, when he scores against you next season.
Enjoy your trip,
Gary

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So close yet so far away

I am (enjoying my trip). A good reasoned response by you!

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Roger

"Be who you are, not what others want you to be"

I prefer to accept Sir Geoff Hurst's opinion that Bent should have gone along with Johnson.
Even my Mag windowcleaner has just pointed out that Darren should have gone, after all, he scored more goals than Torres and Tevez didn't he ?
We'll have to agree to disagree.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

English Strikers I think should be part of England team over Heskey, that aren't picked. This is based on last season performances. I know that some strikers don't work it some set team ups and it's not a easier as all that. But I got bored this afternoon while waiting for working to appear. It's alphabetical.

Agbonlahor, Gabriel
Bent, Darren
Campbell, Fraizer
Kevin, Davies
Nugent, David

I also think that some them come above other pick english strikers as well.

So basically, that's how PANTS I think Heskey is.

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Alison - Ali for short

Well I wonder if he is actually past it cos his bosses at Villa obviously think he is.
What's done is done and I sincerely hope he is not past it, but I'm not sure.
Oh and another for your list, Carlton Cole.
Gary

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So close yet so far away

Yup, apologises, to Mr C Cole there. Shame he had that injury mid season as he probably would of been a lot higher on goals scored as well.

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Alison - Ali for short