Newty82

Wow!!! Is this still a lukaku thread?! Haha!! Reading the last 2 or 3 pages, and not being a part of it, I feel the frustrations of Mike, Matt, Haf, Blue boy and anyone else. As I have said before now, trying to have a full on in depth conversation with Cotto is impossible due to the contradictions, misquotes, unanswered questions etc. Thanks for reassuring me, unknowingly, that it ain't just me!!! What do you guys think of lukaku?

Nice one. liking that. Even the badge has grown on me.

...hope the fella is ok to be honest. Plenty of other footy forums out there to keep him busy. If you read this Nik...keep the chin up pal! TT is a very small dot on a massive map. Peace n out!!!

Just read a PM from a 'deleted account'...said he was leaving and thanks for nutritional advice. Guessed it was Nik. The bloke was harmless. He sometimes came across headstrong and direct, maybe overly defensive at times. But I think he has some, not sure of the right way to put it, some 'personal' problems??? I think he deals well with It. He always accepted when he was over the top and apologised. Takes a big man to apologise. You don't get it often. Shame he has gone. Gives some brilliant insights. Always got a feeling that football and football forums was his 'release' if you like. This is a good forum. Learn were to draw the line.

Good luck to him. But.....bastards!! Will you all stop nicking our backroom team, we're trying to build success here!!!

Hopefully a bit sooner!!!

I've had a Samsung galaxy 10.1 for a few years I think. Although I don't get much time on it as my 2 year old is always watching YouTube or now Netflix! Funny though, I had never updated it. So a couple of month ago I decided to run an update having realised I had never done one. Took hours. Once finished it felt like I had a brand new tablet...amazing. It was a total overhaul. All this technology though is running away from me. I can't keep up. Crazy.

Who the funk is ric wee? Haha!!! To be honest, I have a disliking for do gooders too. But only a certain type. But I don't dislike them as much as racists. So I'll let the do gooders off this time!!!

Same.

Actually probably being a bit OTT with Cotto there. Maybe your main gripe is the club getting involved. I dunno. Just can be read either way.

Massive subject this. To be honest though Cotto, I would have thought you'd be dead against racism etc after that fuss you made in those 'spade is a spade' posts? Remember? Now your whinging because someone has been banned for being racist? Honestly man, you are so inconsistent. Unreal. It's a good post though. Good enough for the bloke, throw the book at him. And any others. It is a bit of PR, of course it is. But who cares? We all know the rules nowadays. If you can't the heat, don't play with the fire. As for grasses n snitches...well I left school 16 year ago.

I think we are in a great position next season at CB. Having Stones, Jags and Peter Pan, I mean Distin, all available is brill. There should be no question of which one starts ahead of the other because with our extended fixture list all 3 are going to be pivotal in our success.

Yes! How the hell do FIFA do the rankings these days? I know they changed the method within the last 5-10 years. I nearly fainted when I seen Switzerland at 6th! Honestly....what the ffffff?!!! It's all some sort of points system based on meaningful games in the last 4 years. One thing for sure...England are about to slip!!!

Yes. Like it. Barkley hattrick too.

Actually, had a little think about this bit. WADAs banned substance isn't all about performance enhancing drugs as we know them but also recreational drugs...cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines etc. Knowing the lifestyle that a lot of footballers live, certainly those who earn a decent wage, I have no doubt that a high amount will at some point in their career, most likely in the teens to mid 20's age, dabble in recreational drug use. The governing bodies will know this. I think the biggest risk to testing footy players en mass is recreational drugs more than out and out performance enhancers. Still very bad for the game, it's sponsors (who probably have CEO'S etc who also dabble in cocaine!), and what ever else associated with the game.

Haha...nice one! (Well, kind of!)

Your right Nik, for sure. I think a problem can arise now with advances in technology and testing. For example, the use of some sort of oxygen tank (I can't remember the in depth details) to increase oxygen in the blood. Not cheating at all. But if blood tested this would show similar results to using something like EPO, which could get you banned under WADA rules. I may have the exact details wrong there, I watched a programme on Netflix about some American guy and steroids and other enhancers. This oxygen tank malarkee came up. But yeah, the whole reluctance of fifa etc comes down to money.

Boooom! You got me baby! Now that's enough about work, I rarely mention work outside of work!!! Home is for home, work for work. Going to have to behave myself now!!!

Ok. A little bit more! Anabolic steroids are very unlikely to be a wise choice for a footballer due to the increase in muscle mass. This would actually go against a footballers aims. Using something to help with endurance and recovery would be more likely. WADA (world anti-doping agency) say football needs to take a closer look at EPO useage...which helps increase the amount of oxygen in the blood. Very useful for a footballer. FIFA, UEFA, the FA...They all seem reluctant to fully comply with WADA strict testing and extensive list of banned substances. Football is just about the only major sport reluctant to fully test it's players on a significant scale. I think this says it all.

Nik...I'm not a pharmacist my friend. I am a manager in that 'world' if you like (honest mistake!). I work alongside pharmacist every day. I am into going the gym though, really enjoy that, and enjoy reading about sports nutrition etc. Sooooo...Christiano Ronaldo...He was used as an example of a footballer potentially on performance drugs and/or steroids because 'he's built like a brick shit house' or what ever was said. He isn't built in any such way, believe me. What he is is very athletic, in good condition and carrying very little excess body fat and/or water. This makes his skin quite tight around his muscles. It gives an illusion of being more muscular than you actually are, or 'bigger'. His stats aren't that impressive but normal for a football player...6'1", 13 stone, 24.5" thighs, 13" biceps, chest 43" (that seems quite big but I think it's his lats, he does have big 'wings'!!!). Going to put myself out there now to show CR hasn't taken anything to improve his build...I am drug free and certainly not big...5'7" (on a good day!!!), 12st3lb, 24.5" thighs, 15" biceps, chest 42". Yes, I know it's cringe worthy to do this but it's just to prove a point. CR is just a great athlete with a great diet. It wouldn't have taken much to build him up, just a bit of strength training. It's long been thought that steroids, hgh and other enhancers are only used by bodybuilders. For a long time, these guys took a lot of flak. They generally denied it's use. Now they are more open about it. Because they see the new generation using it far too much. Enhancers are used, no doubt about it. In every sport. To what degree depends on the sport and it's money value, and it's home country. I doubt much in the way of anabolic steroids being used in football, but other methods maybe. Also, don't forget that footballers regularly get injected with cortisone for pain relief. Cortisone is a steroid. There are many types of steroids. This is a huge subject, and I'm trying to watch eastenders before going in the gym!!! Speak later!!!

Haha.. neither do I, so I had to jump on someone else's gloat!!

Well said. And fair enough.

Gotta be honest, pre world cup, didn't see Costa Rica getting out of the group. Thought Italy would win group and be between England and Uruguay for 2nd. Been a few surprises in this world cup so far. It's great!!!

Haha...The poor bloke gets 'owned' too often!!!

Ha. I didn't vote either. Can't remember being overly impressed with the choices. So I just shrugged my shoulders and thought what will be will be.