Page 2 • 'Scousers v Divers' predictions thread • Non-Gaming • Sport • Eurogamer.net

renzo 6 Apr 2005 09:24:54 3,195 posts
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Juve were quite the European powerhouse in the mid to late '90s, reaching three finals in a row (not to mention the '03 final appearance), but lately they've been looking very impotent. They've got one of the most experienced coaches in Europe, but I think their squad is a little too thin. I certainly don't see them going any further than the semis if they manage to get past Liverpool.

jaxon58 6 Apr 2005 09:26:19 2,555 posts
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Plus Liverpool have one of the 'best' divers in Europe, and that's Milan Baros.

Menace 6 Apr 2005 09:41:42 5,887 posts
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I think diving is done to antagonise the opponents, and get sympathy from the ref.. sometimes it backfires thankfully..

Nedved and Del Piero aren't running on full steam, but if they were Juve would be a powerhouse once again.. They got the away goal, I'm sure they'll make it to the final.. Personally I hope Lyon, PSV or Inter (in no particular order) win the CL.. but my money would be on AC Milan.. They are really in awesome shape and appear invincible..

Edited by Menace at 08:42:02 06-04-2005

renzo 6 Apr 2005 09:46:44 3,195 posts
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frod wrote:
It's my experience that Italian teams generally use diving as a means of running down the clock

So what you're saying is, English teams never dive or try to waste time?

marilena 6 Apr 2005 09:53:14 8,238 posts
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Menace wrote:
Nedved and Del Piero aren't running on full steam, but if they were Juve would be a powerhouse once again.

I'm afraid that Del Piero will never run at full speed again. Nedved is still a star, but needs to recover from his injury.

Stevas-mkII 6 Apr 2005 10:01:28 3,848 posts
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If the Italians are divers (note I said if, there), then there's a very simple explanation for it.
They're defenders are so bloody hard to get past (or, at least, they used to be).
This was down to a combination of two things.
The Italian league has been looked on as the top place to go for defending of the highest order for years now. Indeed, their defenders are considered the best - and not without good reason. This was because they were.
But they were also clever.
Well, clever enough to get round the average retarded hitler you find refereeing a football match, anyhow.
They learned the little tricks before anyone else. The standing on feet. The little pulls of the shirt. The 'oops, I am so clumsy' step-in block. That arm across. The so-called 'shepherding of the ball' out of play (for, like, FUCKING NEAR ENOUGH TWENTY YARDS). The 'accidental' but perfectly time tap on the back of the ankle.

So what did forwards do to get around this? They dived, plain and simple. It wasn't just Italians, it was forwards in the Italian League (which, as it turned out, would usually mean an Italian forward). What else are they going to do? Was it any wonder the Italians went thrgugh a stage where no fucker could score a goal?

And it took everyone else a while to catch on to all this.

But we did.

And so did our forwards.

renzo 6 Apr 2005 10:14:45 3,195 posts
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frod wrote:
I said that everyone dives when there's a tactical position to be gained, like penalties etc., but in addition, in my experience Italian teams in particular use it to run down the clock as well when the opportunity arrives.

Well I didn't see the Milan players diving when they were leading 2-0 on aggregate against Man Utd. I didn't see the Inter players doing it either when they were beating Porto. Italian teams may waste time like every other team, sure, but they don't do it by diving. In my experience.

marilena 6 Apr 2005 10:25:12 8,238 posts
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renzo wrote:
Well I didn't see the Milan players diving when they were leading 2-0 on aggregate against Man Utd.

That's because Inzaghi is out with a injury

.

I pitty the italians for on thing. They sometimes play to well for the referees. All their strikers have the incredible ability of staying exactly in line with the opposition's defenders, but very few referees have the eyes to notice this. Outside of their country they are mostly considered offside and this cuts their scoring chances in half.

Stevas-mkII 13 Apr 2005 11:57:36 3,848 posts
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So I did a quick search and this was the first one that jumped out. Apologies if it's opening old wounds (judging by the title this is certainly possibly).

Just wondering if it's on normal telly or not. (i.e. not Sky) Anyone?

Dougs 13 Apr 2005 12:00:40 100,414 posts
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Nope, Sky it is.

Stevas-mkII 13 Apr 2005 12:01:00 3,848 posts
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Arse.

Whizzo 13 Apr 2005 12:43:26 44,810 posts
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ITV only have rights to the Tuesday games, Sky has Wednesday's.

Stupidly ITV only seem to put out a highlights show on the same Tuesday so anything that happens the next day is obviously not shown. Why they don't wait until the following day and show highlights of both day's matches is a mystery. Perhaps they're not allowed?

marilena 13 Apr 2005 12:59:57 8,238 posts
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Let's hope not. Unfortunately, italian footbal fans are one of the most hateful types of people in existence.

Miata 13 Apr 2005 13:46:18 229 posts
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marilena wrote:
Let's hope not. Unfortunately, italian footbal fans are one of the most hateful types of people in existence.

Why?

This year there have been two incidents (Frisk getting hit and yesterday) which clearly show some tifosi are crossing a line they shouldn't, but I don't see many incidents in recent years to support the "all italian football fans are scum" reasoning. Do you?

Pinchy 13 Apr 2005 13:51:40 842 posts
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interesting article about the italian ultras.

Miata 13 Apr 2005 13:53:22 229 posts
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wasp wrote:

Yep.

Well, that's a pretty strong argument I must admit...

Honestly, I knew Roma and Lazio fans were regularly causing trouble but I was unaware the violence was widespread. My mistake.

Sid-Nice 13 Apr 2005 20:48:27 15,848 posts
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wasp wrote:
it's already starting

I wish they'd show videos of the crowd trouble, as the game is boring as fuck.

Deleted user 13 April 2005 20:52:41

Coma count: 5

I was going to make a Part Deux, but it looks like you all got there ahead of me.

lost_soul 13 Apr 2005 21:43:17 9,372 posts
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YYYEEEEESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

timo180 13 Apr 2005 21:43:52 2,714 posts
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Can anyone say w00t?

Menace 13 Apr 2005 21:44:07 5,887 posts
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so.. Lpool v Chealsea... both teams better at killing of the other teams than italian teams.. should be great (NOT).. zzZZzzzZZzz....

Go on Lyon, win the bastard cup please! =)

Edited by Menace at 20:45:13 13-04-2005

Deleted user 13 April 2005 21:45:09

Menace wrote:
so.. Lpool v Chealsea...

Is it? That should be interesting.

MikeD 13 Apr 2005 21:46:32 10,063 posts
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Menace wrote:
Go on Lyon, win the bastard cup please! =)

lyon?

/sends hitman to menace's house.

Menace 13 Apr 2005 21:51:00 5,887 posts
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MikeD wrote:

Menace wrote:
Go on Lyon, win the bastard cup please! =)

lyon?

/sends hitman to menace's house.

He'll have to pick a number..

Menace 13 Apr 2005 21:52:37 5,887 posts
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What, no penalty?? shitty referees here in the 1/4 finals..

Merk destroyed any chances Inter may have had.. Tonights ref at the juve game didn't know the offside rule apparently (soccernet agrees with me)..

MikeD 13 Apr 2005 21:59:45 10,063 posts
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It wasn't a clear penalty. He was going for the ball and didnt come into contact with the player.

jeez, this match is nerve-wrecking.

Menace 13 Apr 2005 22:01:09 5,887 posts
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MikeD wrote:
It wasn't a clear penalty. He was going for the ball and didnt come into contact with the player.

Hehe, no offense, but I think if you take off your psv-glasses you'll see it was indeed very clear! (is not a lyon fan btw., they've just played very attractive footie so far).. =)

MikeD 13 Apr 2005 22:03:59 10,063 posts
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They're not that attractive this match. I'd say it's pretty evenly matched.

And no, reruns show there was no cause to give a penalty. I think a penalty would have been given by many referees, but the fact that he falls doesn't there is a foul.

Menace 13 Apr 2005 22:04:44 5,887 posts
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The goalie hit his foot.. penalty! =)

'Scousers v Divers' predictions thread • Page 2