amokop

Can't shake the feeling City have another wobble in them, this season can't end on a whimper.... drama will ensue on Sunday.

This season has been too mental to just roll over and die.... City have another wobble in them. One more twist.

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3:20Pm in Dubai, roasting hot day, back home, first tinny opened, ready for this..... no nerves, JFW!!

I remember the noise and what we achieved in 2005 against Chelsea, spines already tingling knowing the 45000 today are going to crank it up in the same way. Will be watching this in Dubai today.... Just wanted to be a part of this thread... JFW that is all....

I turned to the Mrs on Wednesday and said 'we may just have won this thing,' when O'Shea somehow missed the open goal at the end of the Sunderland game, had the same feeling when Dudek made the double save in Istanbul, an 'arl fella behind me in the Attaturk said. 'I think we've just won the European Cup lad.'

Then it would be interesting to see what evidence he uses to base this on. It's simply not true, there are all shapes and sizes and fitness levels of Asians as there are any other group. They are human beings with two arms and two legs they are not from a different planet who can't breathe the same air. How many big strong athletes are playing football for China, Japan, Korea, Mexico etc how big and strong are Sterling, Countinho even Yan Dhanda himself who is a slip of a lad. Messi was on some kind of growth hormone treatment to build him up? There are lads out there in the uk who are strong, fit and have talent. I don't know all the reasons why they don't get scouted but if top sports science bods are lecturing clubs with this stuff it's an indication of some of the reasons I guess. It will change, it already has started to.

Don't worry pal, not offended and don't think it's your personal view. I'm sure whoever told you that doesn't get much work in his field as he is talking gibberish

You have perfectly healthy athletes dropping down dead on a football pitch. none of the well reported ones as far as I know are from that region. Field hockey is a big sport in that region with a pro league, certainly takes as much effort as football. statements like that can be so detrimental and damaging. To label a whole region (not saying you are claiming that) with a genetic defect is a little disingenuous. And again, even if it where true, it doesn't explain the lack of Asian footballers in our pro leagues over here, I've played and seen many talented footballers who are Asian and have not seen any less fitness, ability or talent than any other group.

I'm sorry but that's nonsense (what you were told) and I guess it shows what these lads are up against to an extent.

Which may be true but doesn't explain why no British Asians are breaking through here where there is a large community playing and supporting the game but is being largely ignored albeit with very small pockets of succes.

Yeah Michaels dad is Indian and Zesh plays for Pakistan I think at a national level. That in itself is the issue, 2 in 30 years at the top level of English football. Think the lad at Leeds was Jaspal Singh, I'm sure he made a few appearances for the first team.

I agree there is a very slow change, and the midlands clubs like Walsall, Wolves, WBA (where we got Yan from) Villa are pricking their ears up to it. Let's hope this lad is 'the one' My 20th post in just under 10 years, full of pride. Roll on 2024 for my 40th post hopefully eulogising a Yan Dhanda hat trick against the mancs or blue noses.

It would add about 2 million to the season ticket waiting list! and worldwide club membership would go up ten fold. There is a real thirst for the sport within the community and I include the Asian communities here, north America and on the Asian continent itself. The star will have to come from these shores though, there is no investment in football in India/Pakistan etc, it's dominated by cricket hence the national teams barely get a mention.

I agree, not saying that because I'm an Asian. For example, we had a lad playing with us for a local team called Smethwick Rangers, he was a tall gangly chap and couldn't get into the team, was always a sub, his name was Carlton Palmer, he went on to become an England International and none of the really talented lads in the rest of our squad, and there really was some lads who should've at least made the old second division if given a chance (I don't put myself in that category) even got a call from a scout. It was just accepted that it wasn't going to happen. Things are changing though so hopefully with the likes of Yan and others the tide will continue to turn, because there is a lot of talent out there.

Not sure mate, I played myself as I said and we never had scouts at our games or tournaments. In those days it was the same lazy excuses as in 'there diet is wrong, they don't have the physical or mental strength, their parents want them to get an education' all very generalised. it was probably just as lazy of us to assume it was institutionalised rascism I guess the truth was somewhere between the two. It's just really difficult to believe that in the past 25/30 years no Brit Asian has made it to the premiership. I know Leeds had a winger a while ago who didn't quite make it and there have been one or two that seemed to get close but couldn't break through the glass for whatever reason. But what scouts need to realise is that there is a massive talent pool out there which needs to be tapped into, I know WBA and some other clubs around us actively do that now because of Yan and others. I can't see any of those reasons being used in this day and age, Yan has got this far because of his dad who is a top bloke and has supported him, obviously it helps that he has natural talent. Things are changing, in the semi pro leagues around Birmingham and the midlands there are some good clubs nurturing the talent and pushing the kids from the Asian community I think it's just a case of finding a break out star so to speak.

Yan Dhanda, he's got all the tools, could be a real star I used to play with his dad in the Saturday and Sunday leagues in Brum back in late 80's and early 90's, he's dad will keep him grounded. Also, could be the first British-Asian to really break through into the big time in england which would hopefully open the floodgates in the same way as it did for other ethnic minorities in the past. There are a lot of good players who just don't get scouted and looked at and I know a lot of people have high hopes for this young lad to change that within the Asian community.

http://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/01/31/liverpool-sign-yevhen-konoplyanka-according-to-report-in-russian-media/ Russian TV saying it's done at £16 million with about £57k per week

Yeah, he just says it was one of the greatest 'programs' of all time, doesn't call it a soap opera.

Reminds me of Gareth in The Office to Tim when his Girlfriend is sitting on the desk..... 'I'd only want your view if she was wearing a skirt because then I could look up..... at it!'

Still doesn't actually say in any of his quotes in that guardian article that he wants to go to Arsenal. Even mentions he's not looking to go to a local rival trying to make us feel gooey that he doesn't want to go the mancs. As my dad says, 'even a drowning man will thrash his arms and legs' he's backed himself into a corner and is desperate.

Was talking to Steve Kelly yesterday at the end of this years Hillsborough to Anfield Run. He got his degree at the university and has returned it to them in protest until they rescind Bettisons honorary degree. Strength and dignity of people like Steve and all the families never, ever ceases to amaze and humble.

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Which is interesting as I watched the game here in UAE yesterday and Dermot was on the panel with Peter Reid and Andy Townshend and he said that Clattenburg got it wrong and he doesn't see how it's a dive, I guess he must've slept on it. He did also say that he just cannot see how the linesman in our game can call offside for Luis in any way. He said from the lines mans position throughout the whole free kick and subsequent goal all he can see is a blue shirt which means he cannot think that Luis is offside. He then goes on to say that the Hernandes offside and Arteta's on Saturday he can see where the official may have got it wrong 'as those incidents happened so quickly'