ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

The Beautiful Game?

Having just watched the 10 mins of BBC highlights of the Brazil vs Belgium game at the Beijing Olympics, to get another look at Marouane Fellaini in a game context, I was struck by how out of place football seems at an Olympiad.

In which other sport do competitors HABITUALLY snarl, shout, swear and argue at the officials, both individually and collectively, and resort to down-right cheating? Just look at the Fellaini sending-off, for example.

Yes I know that occasionally a Swedish wrestler may throw down his medal, and a Cuban might prolong his Taekwando bout with the ref, but these incidents are exceptional and, in the latter instance, produced a life-time ban for the offender and his coach.

Football may be the known as the 'beautiful game' but 'Absolute fucking disgrace' is nearer the mark IMHO.
Chris Jones, Wakefield Posted 02/09/2008 at 14:07:33

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Jason Broome
1 Posted 03/09/2008 at 05:37:49

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Brazil?s cheating was a disgrace but I think Evertonians have a far greater concern.

Based on that evidence - we have just wasted £15 million!

Fellaini was poor!

He was directly responsible for Brazil?s goal, the boy tackles like a kitten, and, as in both Champions League games, is slow at tracking back.

On this evidence Castillo is more of a Premiership CDM due to the snap in his tackle and high energy.

Phil McKracken
2 Posted 03/09/2008 at 10:30:29

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You must have been watching the wrong player Jason, Fellaini was excellent in the middle of the park breaking play up and he just did?t give the ball away, strong on the ball and in the tackle, we have a real player in the mould of Viera.

Jason Broome
3 Posted 03/09/2008 at 14:07:26

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No Phil, it was definitely Fellaini.

Of course we will have to wait for his first game and time will tell but fans holding this kid out as the saviour better come to terms with the fact that he is not the finished article and has serious gaps in his game.

Carsley was a seasoned performer and the Premiership is relentlessly unforgiving, so putting too much weight on this boy?s shoulders will not help him settle and further undermine our teams moral.

He is young so Moyes will address this in time, but I have a feeling that Castillo is going to get more games than he thought possible because he is a high energy performer with bite in his tackle and more of what we need to fill the Carsley role.