Moderators Zico Posted January 23, 2006 Moderators Share Posted January 23, 2006 for this line alone: When it comes to illusion and reality, no side remains more full of delusions than Manchester City. how fookin true http://football.guardian.co.uk/Match_Repor...1692646,00.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mounts Kipper Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 this paragraph somes it all up for me. This was not a vintage Bolton afternoon but there can be nowhere more pleasant to watch football in the Premiership. The stadium is an architectural triumph, there is a bond between fans, manager and team, and Bolton's physical presence is allied to an eagerness to spread the play. If Bolton really do play ugly football, then half the sides in the Premiership must qualify as obnoxious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest crazytrain Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 Good, unbiased review at last, but can anyone clear up what they meant by the following: It was the Mexican's first start in a home league game and he sullied it in the second half with a spot of play-acting under challenge from Richard Dunne. Dunne's mind was still fuzzy after a bloody clash of heads with Giannakopoulos in the first half but he still knew chicanery when he saw it and Borgetti deserved every moment of the tirade that followed. I was at the game and have absolutely no idea what they are talking about so I must have completely missed it... :-s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M46 Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 Ive started to read the Guardian online for their football coverage. They must actually send a reporer to the games unlike the red tops which give you 1000 lines of shite like "Sam and Pearce battle it out the national coaches job" and just print three lines about the match. Is the observer the sister paper to the Guardian? M46 Guardian reader, to tight to buy a copy though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonk Posted January 23, 2006 Share Posted January 23, 2006 Nolan reaps another dividend as Bolton profit from their honesty David Hopps at Reebok Stadium Monday January 23, 2006 The Guardian What Sven Goran-Eriksson needed more than anything on Saturday was a cleansing of the soul - no fake sheikhs with their posh yachts and deceitful conversations, no more talk of managers taking bungs, Aston Villa and the workrate of Rio Ferdinand. What Eriksson needed was a reminder of what must have attracted him to football in the first place, something decent, something honest, something that he could believe in. There is no more honest team in England than Bolton and there is no more honest footballer than Kevin Nolan. Eriksson came to the right place. Sam Allardyce's assessment of Nolan should be taken on trust, even by an England manager who no longer knows illusion from reality. There were no extravagant claims, just sheer common sense. "Kevin deserves a look in," said Allardyce. "I don't know if he should be in the first XI but, if they are taking 22 or 23 to the World Cup, then he should be in that, without any shadow of a doubt." Eriksson has never chosen Nolan. He is overstocked with central midfield players. Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are both world class and, if either is injured, then Joe Cole or David Beckham would welcome an opportunity to move off the flanks. But Nolan remains Bolton's heartbeat. He set up their first goal, scored their second and, as ever, bristled with purpose. Joey Barton, in Manchester City's midfield, was eclipsed. A Bolton side that had lost four players on African Nations Cup duty won in comfort in a strangely subdued contest. This fixture is billed as a Greater Manchester derby but Manchester City clearly do not believe it. They had been at their best in overcoming Manchester United a week earlier but here they trundled through 90 minutes without forcing Jussi Jaaskelainen into a save. When it comes to illusion and reality, no side remains more full of delusions than Manchester City. Bolton finally found City's measure in the closing minutes of the first half. Kevin Davies, adapting well to an uncommon role wide on the right, fed Nolan, his back-heel was pounced on by Stelios Giannakopoulos but the goal was poached by Jared Borgetti. It was the Mexican's first start in a home league game and he sullied it in the second half with a spot of play-acting under challenge from Richard Dunne. Dunne's mind was still fuzzy after a bloody clash of heads with Giannakopoulos in the first half but he still knew chicanery when he saw it and Borgetti deserved every moment of the tirade that followed. Nolan did more for the second goal than might have first appeared. His finish, after Dunne had fallen, trying to clear, was relatively simple but Nolan's presence had also caused Sylvain Distin's weak header from a Giannakopoulos free-kick. Nolan's 22-yard drive almost brought Bolton a third before the interval. This was not a vintage Bolton afternoon but there can be nowhere more pleasant to watch football in the Premiership. The stadium is an architectural triumph, there is a bond between fans, manager and team, and Bolton's physical presence is allied to an eagerness to spread the play. If Bolton really do play ugly football, then half the sides in the Premiership must qualify as obnoxious. The worst tackle on Saturday was committed by City's Trevor Sinclair, a trip from behind on Tal Ben Haim in the closing minutes, borne of frustration, for which he was fortunate only to be booked. But Sinclair deserved Rob Styles' leniency. He had posed City's only attacking threat, twice going close with near-post headers from Barton's corners. David James had a typically twitchy afternoon, spectacular when he palmed aside Ricardo Vaz Te's 20-yarder but disoriented by a couple of crosses. "England's No5," sang the Bolton fans. For Eriksson's benefit they should have followed up with the traditional refrain: "And you'd better believe it." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traf Posted January 24, 2006 Share Posted January 24, 2006 David James had a typically twitchy afternoon, spectacular when he palmed aside Ricardo Vaz Te's 20-yarder but disoriented by a couple of crosses. "England's No5," sang the Bolton fans. For Eriksson's benefit they should have followed up with the traditional refrain: "And you'd better believe it." Fantastic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junot Posted January 24, 2006 Share Posted January 24, 2006 Ive started to read the Guardian online for their football coverage. They must actually send a reporer to the games unlike the red tops which give you 1000 lines of shite like "Sam and Pearce battle it out the national coaches job" and just print three lines about the match. Is the observer the sister paper to the Guardian? M46 Guardian reader, to tight to buy a copy though Yep, the Observer and Guardian are related. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whites man Posted January 24, 2006 Share Posted January 24, 2006 It depends which Guardian reporter covers the game. Louise Taylor always puts the boot in & is frequently factually incorrect, this chap will do though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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