FromBelgium

Hi everyone! For those of you who understand French, Big Mo is now live on Belgian TV. ca. 15 mins interview Available on the net. www.rtfb.be/sport. then click on "studio 1". I think they re-run it for a week (if you catch it post live streaming, it's around min 25). Regards.

great result, lads! congrats!

lack of top level fitness imo. it was like an FA Cup game where the prem side emerges in the last 10 mins against lower opposition however valiant they may have been. gallant effort, deserve credit, but left empty-handed.

only 4 or 5 stadiums in belgium can host more than 15,000

Ajax- French type of academy. All kids are taught to play 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 from the age of 8 so anyone who makes the grade can rather easily fit in. Plus excellent regional (well, national, considering the size of the country) scouting. I think that the academy was set up in earnest after we lost several very promising youngsters to neighbouring France / Holland. So we copied them. The kids go to school every day until they're 18, they are encouraged to further their curriculum because in football you never know but they are all cultured footballers. In the end, talent speaks and gets you in the 1st team but there are many former Standard youth players who play semi-pro footie in the lower leagues. There are even late developers.

exactly my feeling. the thing is we can create some sort of hostile atmosphere at home, but can we handle a hostile atmosphere away from home? A packed house here is about 15,000. The trip to Athens will be a major test, methinks.

Obviously the better side won. 70 % possession finally pays. But it was just fitness won it in the last 10 mins. You can raise up your game up to a certain point, then lack of top, top level fitness makes you lose your concentration. It finally told. Here's the difference between a good team and a big team. Standard played above their usual level (a bit like when they scared the crap out of LFC) against the Arse who were appaling at times, hence making it an interesting contest. Two players stood out and are great promises: Carcela and Mananga. Both teens and absolutely fantastic on the night. We'd probably be decent contenders for UEFA Cup (or whatever they call it these days) if there wasn't any reprieve from the Champions' League. quarter final and above with a bit of luck type of thing.

Witsel now serves an 8 match ban and Defour broke his foot in an innocuous challenge last weekend. He's out for 3 months at least.

For those who can't watch at home, here's an internet link: http://www.atdhe.net/index.html

Hi lads! Haven't turned up for a while, but still checking on the Toffees' and big Mo's situation. We gave the Arse a lovely ride for their money yesterday night, but it's not my point. After all, a defeat, however brilliant you may have been, leaves you with fuck all. Just wanted to tell you I joined an Arse forum and dropped a line and got absolutely no effin' reply. Nothing to compare with the warm welcome you gave me a year ago. I wish you an excellent season, however wobbly the start may have been. Regards.

HANDS OFF!

Extremely useful with 7-10 goals a season, but not a natural striker imo. We did miss his physical impact on a couple of occasions this season, we'd have had the title secured much earlier (bloody play-offs, thought my heart was going to burst) with him in the side. From what I saw on MOTD, he has vastly improved. He had hardly anything left to learn here, so fair play to him. And David Moyes was certainly the best manager (bar Wenger? No, don't shoot me!) for him

However disappointing the result may be, take pride boys! You had a difficult Cup run and going into the final does Everton a lot of credit. A couple of adjustments to the side and you should give the Big 4 some hard times in the years to come. I do sincerely wish you all the best.

And I certainly am one of them. Bring that Cup home, lads!

Sickening, TBH.

We didn't really turn up in Stuttgart, poor performance after an extremely convincing match in Bruges a few days before (1-4). We made up for that last w-e with a sweet game against Ghent (2-1). The reception to our former manager - now in Ghent -, the one who gave us the title back after 25 years last season, was nothing short of fanstastic with the four stands chanting his name. Goose pimples and sore throat. My girl is from Portugal. Bring on Braga. Full bj at stake, lads! (no you won't know what I'm up to if we lose) And a very happy Xmas to you all!

Three good first half goals and Sampdoria fly home wondering what's hit them. Second half was about controlling the game and make sure nothing stupid happened. Standard-Sampdoria 3-0.

I'll never, ever shed on tear for the Skates.

We won 0-1 (De Camargo, 36') in Belgrade yesterday night and top our group with 6 pts from 2 games. A draw next Wednesday against Sampdoria would see us mathematically qualified for the last 32.

The Arse, both Mans, Juventus and Real Madrid sent their top scouts last week. Big, big money in the pipeline. Just hope he sees the season through and doesn't jumps ships in January. Squad stretched. Can't see a last minute replacement.

Fantastic finish! Well done!

And Bolton are after Witsel. Cologne after Dante. Marseilles after Jovanovic. Exodus looming

Allons les Rouges (equivalent to "Go Reds go!")

So would I, mate, so would I . But going through the group stages would already be an achievement when you see we've been drawn with Sevilla, Sampdoria, Stuttgart and Belgrade.

Game highlights http://www.rtlinfo.be/sport/news/article/1...urop%C3%A9ennes Next appointment: Belgrade on Nov 27. I'll be 45 on the 28th. Guess what the icing on my birthday cake would be