Beeeeecccckkkkhhhhaaaam!!!!!

I agree with all of Linsi's comments, although not seeming to posses any facts (or intelligence) she is a truely wonderful person......

Well, that's a bit harsh, Lonzi...

Eddie, surely you're joking ? You'd rather Liverpool win the worthington than England the World Cup ? I grew up hating Liverpool - the reason being, that they always won everything. If I watch tapes of them playing now, I'm able to realise how much I missed out on. They won everything because they were the best club side there's ever been (stuff partisanship, they were, there is no doubt). I don't hate Liverpool at all now. I might laugh when they slip up to a poor side, but I cheer them on in Europe and I can enjoy watching them. Likewise *teeth a bit more gritted here* Leeds. Enjoyed England stuffing Germany much more than Man Utd mauling the Arse last season. More than anything since 4-1 against Holland. I have to agree with you that people supporting Man Utd who were Arsenal fans three years ago are irritating, but I've met just as many Liverpool fans who don't come from Liverpool. You don't need to be local to appreciate good football. I love football and I love it to be played properly - why should I get stuck with my local team who play very bad route one football ?

Liana I lifted this from Teamtalk for yer. I forgot to mention that Milan Baros, the 19 year old Czech striker, is joining Liverpool in November. Patrik Berger Position: Midfield Squad Number: 15 Born: Prague, Czech Republic, November 10, 1973 Height: 6.01 Weight: 12.10 Previous Clubs: Borussia Dortmund, Slavia Prague Blessed with an explosive left-foot and a keen eye for goal, Berger makes deep, penetrating (er) runs with his blistering pace. The arrival of close friend Vladimir Smicer helped Berger focus on his game more, and he remains one of Liverpool's main threats, whether playing wide on the left, or in his preferred central role. An established Czech international, Berger continues to excite the Anfield crowd. (of which you could be one, Liana) (my brackets) Photos on czechfootball.com I am reminded of Liverpool midfielder Stevie Gerrard being interviewed by Ian Wright on Radio 5 just before last season's FA cup final. Wright: You are a very versatile player, what's your favourite position? Gerrard: Same as when I'm having sex - tucked in behind the front two. God's honest truth - Ed.

Sorry Eddie, I lost it completely, somewhere around the "deep penetrating" part. Will have to go lie down, and finish reading post later. *exits, fanning self*

Sorry for the bloke-ish posting, Liana. It was a late posting - you know what that means. Advertisement: BEER Making ordinary people act like complete idiots since 1769.

Hey, Linsi - you should take a bow. Your thread is top of the General Discussion Premier League, with 53 points. Miles ahead of the competition. The 'Thread Manager of the Year' trophy beckons...

Linsi Please don’t apologise for opening this thread. It is not your fault that you innocently walked into a minefield. And don’t take my comments personally. Being a football fan, I can fully appreciate your enthusiasm for what was a superb goal at a vital moment for England. I do not wish to pour cold water on your joyfulness. Unfortunately, that free kick carried a lot of history with it into the back of the net. Forty year’s worth in my case (yes, I am an old git). I am grateful to you for providing myself and others with a platform on which we can discuss something that means a lot to us, even though it may completely baffle those who have no interest in the subject. So, no flouncing, please. Sit back and enjoy the cabaret! Andrew You have raised some interesting points which require a considered response. I’m rushed off me feet at the moment, so I ask for your patience in this. I feel as though I am about to embark on a bit of Footee Therapy, so I will retire to my bunker to contemplate a measured response which will ensure minimum collateral damage. MAN: Doctor, I think I’m a pet dog. SHRINK: Fine, please lie on the couch. MAN: I’m not allowed on the couch. (please yourselves…)

In the comfort of my own little world and feeling realitively safe now, I here by declare that I know bugger all about football, and my boyfriend would have stared in total disbelief at my initial comments!! "what the ell' do you know?" would surely have resonated in my ears and I would have been banished to the shed in shame....I still think it was a good match though........heh heheh

Eddie, I think you and Andrew made it what it is today!!

Did I miss something while I was puttin' me face on?.. Who's Beckham?.. What's all this about?

Linsi, one of the qualities of a great manager is to praise the team for the club's success. Move over Mike Bassett, England Manager....

Probably changing the little B's nappy at the crucial moment...

Linsi You are so right.....Beckham was a God today.....we were so lucky to get through and you just somehow knew that it would be David to come through....what a talent....what a player...what a goal....roll on Japan

"Bring it on!""

Dear All Sometimes some perfomances trancend fields. That happened today with David Beckham. It is more than a sport, it is a beauty and vision. Its poetry. Ralph

Funny old game init? The fans stay loyal to a team for a lifetime. The players and management bugger off to whoever will pay them the most. (except for Bully of the Wolves, eh Martin?)

I grudgingly acknowledge the B-word's contribution against an inferior side today. But don't forget it was the Liverpool boys who beat the Germans to make the whole thing possible. B- has today paved the way for Michael Owen to become the greatest player ever to grace an England shirt.

Well said, Ed. The real Reds stuff the good teams, the likes of Beckham shine against the sh*te. Same as it ever was. We would have cruised it if that greedy sod had let Stevie Gerrard score from all those other free-kicks that he missed.

"Ode to David Beckham" Those funny boots you wear, that ridiculous wife, the ever changing hair, your superstar life, The child conceived in New York, Oh well it could have been Croyden, Is it just all talk? Did the boy do well then? Oh Yes! Oh David! You beautiful Player, You Poetry in Motion, You never ending source of footie Genius, You sublime taker of Free Kicks, You Renaissance man, With the ball at your feet, Never come off the Pitch, And continuously make us happy. Like you did Yesterday, around tea-time, about 4-45, ish.

Yeah, yeah, yeah...but according to the front page we're supposed to be here to "celebrat" poetry, not football...(suprised you missed that one Andrea).

Eddie - I have done as you recommended, and visited Czechfootball.com. Saw the photo of Ptrik Berger, and I am e-mailing him immediately, inviting him to lay down too. I'm a little disturbed by the immensely unsexy nickname he has; "Berger - King" though I must admit, upon close inspection, he does appear to have a large whopper secreted inside the lower half of his football kit......

A Beckham Free Kick Make it something to savour. Thrill to its precision: the dip, the swerve, the pace. Make it ART, writ large. It’s your turn, don’t waver. Kill your indecision. Kick him hard but not his face. Make it his ARSE, no charge.

Bit lacking in grace Eddie. Stevie Gerrard is a great player, Michael Owen an exceptional one; but come on - when they play for England, they play for England. I cheered your lot on against Alaves and I thought Stevie should have won player of the season last year rather than Teddy. Personally I think Becks always plays better for England than he does for Man Utd. We were bloody lucky to get through, but sometimes you earn your luck.

as fine as beckham played I doubt we would have even drawn if it hadn't been for the under-rated sheringham. as well as being the only person on the pitch to connect with one of the many crosses and free kicks into the box it was his 'winning' of the dubious foul that enabled beckam the chance of the free kick and, just as important, it was he who unsighted the goalie and pulled the defender out of the way for the ball to sail into the net.

AHAHAHAHAHAHA bring it on! Beckham is a hero and England are gonna skin you all alive, just wait until we put the rest of the team on next time not those lazy *!@#!! who played. We are the champions my friends!!!

I didn't miss it, Fecky, I just decided to keep me mouth shut for a change... Besides, since it was the Fish (it was she, wasn't it?) I thought she'd done it on purpose, just to confuse me. And even if she hadn't, it would have taken a better (wo)man than I to contradict and correct our Cod.

OK, now I'm confused - I just checked and it doesn't appear to be there (although there was a celebrate. in the middle of a sentence that I corrected) I can only guess that one of the other editors corrected it (or that I'm being dim and can't see it!) If the latter's the case, mail me to say where it is someone, please! Serves me right for updating the front page at 2am when I got back from the pub...

Of course I was joking about the Worthington Cup! Eddie.

Andrea, now you must realise how aaaahhhrd I am... ... I've seen cod battered before.

1) England scored from two dodgy free-kicks which should never been given. Beckham cheated to get the first one. 2) Beckham was useless until the last 15 minutes. 3) Poland qualified weeks ago! Altogether now... POLSKA!!! POLSKA!!! POLSKA!!!

The thought of Feckless being aaaahhhrd is, I have to say, a trifle disturbing. Em, did you try my failsafe hangover cure (see previous thread - can't remember which one, offhand)?

I wasn't going to say anything. Though my second thought on hearing the result was "eddie!"

I was speaking to a scouse mate before the match, she claimed that if England won and a manc scored the winner, she wouldn't be happy. This is a girl who is going to Japan having won the ticket lottery and is now guaranteed tickets to all thew England games up to the semi-final (if they make it that far, of course) I asked her if she would cheer if Beckham scored, she said ...only briefly...it wouldn't make her happy at all.She's a mad Liverpool fan and hates all things Manc.... I just couldn't understand how she could not suspend hostilities against Man U when England were playing. She said it wasn't possible to. I'm not a Manc fan, or a Liverpool one...in fact I 'm not a rabid England fan.....being of Irish Descent and all that, but I was well pleased when that free kick sailed into the net and really esctatic that England are on their way....... Any Liverpool fans care to explain her attitude ?

Jeez, Martin, if she couldn't 'suspend hostilities' for a footie match, what hope the rest of us?

I was just thinking that. Ridiculous innit???

Martin, I have a few scouse mates, and their reasoning is beyond me!! Just nod and say yes every few minuets! (legs it quick....) Only kidding..... Linsi :o)

Was your first thought 'hahahahahahahahahahahahaha' ?

I used a term "suspended hostilities" before I heard about the current afghan hostilities....it just doesn't seem as important now...who cares if my mate hates the mancs.....

That's what I like; someone who really appreciates the finer points of the sport.

*looks at floor in guilty fashion* But Grimsby is semi-local to me. And Olympiakos will probably run rings round Lauren 'pension-book' Blanc tonight.

The Liverpool / Man United rivalry is only one of many in football. Wherever team sports are played there is always rivalry between teams and supporters who are geographically close. This is a two-way process. Man U fans hold Liverpool and its fans in very low esteem too. You can bet your bottom dollar that they were not overly keen on the Liverpool lads scoring all five goals against Germany. Another thing that informs the England debate is the fact that Scousers consider Liverpool to be a Nation State, akin to the Vatican City. We are Scousers first, English second. I would far rather see Liverpool win the Worthington Cup than watch England win the World Cup. Along with football supporters from many other clubs, we are bored with the hype that surrounds those Darlings of the Media up the East Lancs Road. The Boy David is the highest profiled player in their camp and thus symbolises everything Manc. Do not, however, be led to the erroneous conclusion that I hate the fine city of Manchester or its inhabitants. None of them support United anyway – they are all City fans. The prawn sandwich brigade are all from other parts of the country. If you took a footballing map of Britain and turned it on its end everything loose rolls towards Old Trafford. These sad individuals will be deserting in droves once the club’s decline really sets in. This is strictly a football matter. Those who liken the comments on this thread to the current world crisis are missing the point altogether. All those shouting the name ‘Beckham’ from the rooftops, ask yourselves a question: have you ever been to a football match (let alone one at Old Trafford) in your life? Or are you just another victim of the Manc Media Hype Machine?

Yes, I have been to many matches. (with my dad ...) does that count?.....probably not in ere'

In response to Eddie's closing comment. Is everyone who visists the abctales site, famous or professional poets/writers earning a fortune who can spout out every piece of literature ever written? (hopes that no one says "yes" to that!) If so, does that mean others have no right to see it or put out their work for others to see? Eddie, I simply made a comment on a piece of sporting entertainment and focused on (who in my eyes) performed well! We may not have all been to every football match, but surely we can comment without fear of being shot down in flames!! (what the hell AM I going on about?.....) Sorry, Christ! I'm boring my self to death here..... (regrets ever opening the thread...)

I appologise Eddie, reading through all the messages, I have no idea why I posted that last comment aiming it you..... I promise never to send another word here again.....goodnight.

i think that your comparison is interesting linsi ... tho i would amend it ... it is highly likely that a lot of people who post on ABC don't actually read much poetry or fiction (or whatever) ... that comparison is closer ... i don't know anything about football but i might be going to a match in december ... after that perhaps i will comment on football ... oooh ... there's a thought ...

That's what I was saying Fish, that none of us here (well not me anyway I'm too stupid), Are experts , and God, sod it, I promised I would never post another message, (legs it........)

Andrew, My distaste for Plastic Mancs is coloured by living in Aberdeen, which I refer to as Old Trafford North. As you will know, Alex Ferguson used to manage Aberdeen. The residual affection they feel for him up here is displayed by the allegiance of many Aberdonians to his current team. I have suffered the taunts and jibes of these Scottish Mancs for many years. Whenever I watch football in a pub up here I am surrounded by surrogate Stretford Enders singing the praises of a team to which they have no tangible connection. These same people will on other occasions be vilifying the same players for wearing an England shirt. The venom with which they do this has to be witnessed to be believed. In defence of the Plastic Scousers – they can hardly be accused of being glory hunters, since the team have won very little until last season’s glut of trophies. Generally, I have no kick against people supporting teams from towns other than their own. What I fail to understand is how they can be as passionate about it as people who support their home town team. Football to me is (was) a form of Socialism – the type espoused by Bill Shankly. It is a tangible connection to my roots. Being on the Kop all through the Sixties was a spiritual experience for me. I have never felt such a strong feeling of community and cameraderie since. The focus, the passion, the humour were powerful bonding agents. So much of what I hold dear in life – family, friends, a sense of fair play (calling that great Leeds team back onto the pitch to do a lap of honour after they pipped us to the Title at Anfield in 1969), a feeling of belonging to a community rich in culture and character – reached its zenith in the swaying of the Kop. Every time I watch Liverpool play I am reminded of where I came from, of who I am. My thoughts now shape what once shaped me.

Fair enough. I would agree that the best, purest expression of supporting a team comes from being there and growing up with them. My argument is with people that say it is the ONLY way of supporting a team - the Royston Vazey "Local Team for Local People" approach. There are more fake Man Utd supporters than fake anyone else supporters, but when people (not Eddie) say that just because you don't live in Manchester means you can't be a fan, this is unfair. The 'where were you when you were $### ?' chant is a much better test. Believe me, I spent the latter part of the seventies and the whole of the eighties wishing I hadn't given my heart away to a team that never quite delivered; and I've no illusions that we will keep the same level of support if we ever got relegated. (A feat for which Man City deserve respect) Even as a Manc, it does make the hairs on my neck stand up when the Kop is really going. Polish Mark - forgive my ignorance, but are Poland a bit tasty now ? They qualified easily, but I haven't known a Polish player since Boniek - are they someone we should hope to avoid in the draw ?

now listen here linsi ... lots of people have done the old flouncing off trick ... (myself included) ... and it doesn't work you know ... it is irresistable ... you just have to nip back to see if someone's answered your flounce ... and before you know it you are typing away ... and the flounce was a toothless flounce ...