Conference trucks::football;1

    
    Hello,
    
    	I am a supporter of my Sevilla F.C., the Maradona's Team.
      Everybody knows the best player.
    The Expo 92, the Giralda, ...., and Maradona, three important reasons
    for living in Sevilla.
    I wait for your comments about the revenge of Maracoca.
    
    Bye.
    

    
    Hi Antonio,
    
    How about sharing your comments?
    
    - What is the general opinion about Maradona's chances of success?
    
    - Have you seen him play, and how does he look?
    
    - How has Maradona's arrival in Sevilla boosted the public interest for
    the team?
    
    - Will Maradona come back to the international scene as well?
    
    - Has he kicked his habits of eating too much, partying too much and
    experimenting with artificial substances?
    
    - How long will it take before this note is swamped with replies from
    Englishers who simply cannot forgive and forget the World Cup quarter
    final 1986, when an inferior team was beaten by a superb one and, in
    order to ensure a fair result, God intervened.
    
    cheers,
    
    	Stefan

he used his hand to knock England out of the world cup.

We would have won it as well...

8-)
Mike

Hello Spanish friend,

While you are there, could you please post Spanish results, League Table, leading
scorers, gossip, etc?

Since our former correspondant (Juanjo Arevalillo) left the company we have no 
news of Spanish football.

I just learnt that Rafael Martin Vazquez is back at Real Madrid. Bernard Tapie
amd Marseille sold him for 30 million francs (3.5 million pounds). Seems
he did not quite fit in and Marseille had to drop a foreigner in order
to buy another.

On the Maradona topic, I see no reason why Diego cannot make a comeback.

His talent is intact, he has not played for 2 years so to me he is 30 years old
and with a good fitness program he could be the best in the world soon.

I saw highlights of the Sevilla-M�nchen game and was impressed. The magical
left foot is still there (free-kick on the bar!).

Hasta luego,
�JF?

���    He's past it , Gazza now takes his mantle.
   
:-) :-) :-) :-)  

    
    ESSB::BLONG...
    
    You will see...the best player in the World is back and its not
    Maradona.
    
    Dave...

    
    
     Here we have a note about Maradona already being infiltrated by more
    nonsense about Gazza. Sure, he's a very good player but to suggest he's
    as good as the other fat one is garbage. Gazza has won nothing in
    football apart from sympathy from the English press and supporters for
    crying like a little child after being booked in the world cup. We have
    heard of his "magnificent fightback" from a horrendous injury to be
    again included in an England squad. Nothing is mentioned about 2 of the
    worst tackles/assaults I have ever seen on a football field, the 2nd of
    which led to the aforementioned injury. He should have been ordered off
    in the cup-final, as well as stretchered off.
    
     The Italian football on Channel 4 is being ruined by the constant
    mention of Gazza. On Sunday past, Peter Brackley kept dropping little
    hints about how well Gazza was playing, even though he was watching and 
    commentating on a different game. 
    
     Before I get flamed, let me say that I think Gazza is a very good
    player, but it will take many more years before, in my opinion he's
    fit to be mentioned in the same breath as Maradonna.
    
     Danny.

    
    RE:-2
    
    Yes you are correct...
    
    Ian Durrant is fit and well,and playing quite superbly.;>)

    
    Well, as far as I'm concerned Madonna is just a good singer 
    (although not my taste) and she certainly isn't fat. I've 
    never seen her play football in my life or soccer even. The 
    only sport I've seen her play is baseball and she ain't bad
    at that.
    
    As for drugs well, whatever she does in her own time is down to
    her.
    
    There is no comparison between Gazza and Madonna.
    
    JN.

    
STKOFF::SPERSSON "Pas de probleme"                   25 lines   6-OCT-1992 08:32
                                                                           ^^^^^
>    - How long will it take before this note is swamped with replies...
       ^^^^^^^^
    
UPROAR::WOODWARDD "Dave Woodward"                    32 lines   6-OCT-1992 14:59
                                                                           ^^^^^
>    Who gives a monkeys about a coke-snorting cheat like Maradonna ???
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------    
    
    The answer to my question is 6 hrs 27 min. Dave, I don't know how long
    you've been around but every time someone mentions Maradona in here it
    inevitably draws the kind of comment that .5 is an example of. All this
    for something that happened so long ago that if he had committed
    murder instead, he'd probably be released by now. 
    
    regards,
    
    	Stefan

    
    Hello world,
    
    First, my English is horrible. Excuse me.
    Well, I'm very happy for all the replies because there are
    people interested in the best sport : football, soccer.
    
    For  SPERSSON :
    
    	- Maracoca = Mara (Maradona) + Coca (Cocaine). It's the 
    	  popular name of Diego in the town.
    	- I have seen Maradona, all matchs and two trainings. 
    	  I have seen to God. He is a little fat, but his left foot
    	  is unrepeatable. He is the Glory.
    	- I think that he will come back soon to international 
    	  competition. The mister of Argentina was here for him.
    	- He is training two sessions in the day. You must not
          forget that the Sevilla F.C.'s mister is Bilardo.
    
    CHAMPOLLION :
    
    	- Yes, in three days I'll write the results of the Liga.
        - Martin V�zquez come back to Real Madrid (Prosinecki bye,bye)
        - Thanks for your opinion about Diego.
    
    For others :
    
    	- Gazza is the best player of Europe, really. I like his vision
    	  of the game. But Diego is the best player of the Universe.
    	  In other words, he is the MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE.
    	- If you don't know to Maradona, (not Madonna), then you
          can dedicate to the poetry instead of football.
    	- Ian Durrant? Who is he? Where does he play? (Not joke)
    
    Thanks. 

    
    
     re last,
    
     Antonio, Ian Durrant plays in midfield for Glasgow Rangers, the
    current champions of Scotland. He had won 5 caps for Scotland before
    suffering a very bad injury that put him out of football for 3 years.
    His injury was more severe that the little round chap down south had
    but he battled back to fitness and is now playing regularly for his
    club and is back in the international scene.
    
     Danny.
    
    ps He's better than Gazza any day :-)

    
    For DSMITH,
    
    	OK!! He is a good player from Scotland. I remember him.
    In Seville F.C, we got to McMinn and Jock Wallace, but they
    didn't make well.
    
    Thanks, DSMITH.
    

    I wish Maradona all the best in Sevilla -- he's going to need it. He
    was under a lot of pressure at Napoli where there was a lot expected of
    him. For his sake, I hope miracles are not expected of him in Spain. I
    think the `hand of God' thing sums up Maradona's career so far. He
    scored one of the best goals I've ever seen when he got the ball inside
    his own half and waltzed through the English team to plant the ball in
    the back of the net. But he is always remembered for other goal.
    
    As for Gascoigne, I think we should suspend judgement until next
    season. Give him this season to settle into Italy and to get back to
    full fitness. Then the following year, we can judge him against the
    other top class players in the Italian league. That should tell us
    whether he is a great player or merely a good one. 
    
    Jimmy

Antonio, any chance of you giving us a spanish game to predict in topic
168.

�@

    As a fan of the game, I want nothing more than for Diego Maradonna to
    regain as much of his brilliant past as possible. After 2 years without
    playing, I don't know if he can come back to being univerally
    recognized as the game's best player, like he was 5 years ago, but even
    at 3/4 of what he once was, he's still a great player.
                                                                       
    I had the pleasure of seeing Maradonna play live, in the Italian
    SuperCopa in Rome in September 1990. He scored 2 goals and tore apart 
    the Juventus defense, making excellent-timed passes to Careca and
    others, as Napoli won, 5-1. It was vintage Maradonna, and I've often
    wondered if we'll ever see that kind of spectacle from him again.
    
    As far as the coke thing goes, he's paid the price, so let him get on
    with his career. How many players have had drinking problems? Even if
    you hate him, you have to admit that he was one of the best of his
    generation of players.
    
    Tom

    
    Hello,
    
    	in two hours, I'm going to see the SEVILLA-ZARAGOZA match of the 
    League. I'm try to write all the results of the Spain League in the
    topic 168. Tomorrow, I'll report the score (I wait goals of Maradona)
    
    	Ah! I would like read your opinions about Simeone and Sucker,
    two players of Sevilla F.C. and the team in the match Sevilla-Bayern
    (Presentation of Diego)
    
    Thanks.
    

  This mornings paper, and yes we in the states sometimes do get soccer results,
  said that Maradona scored in Sevilla's 1-0 win over Zaragoza.........

  Didn't Maradona play in some league in Argentina while serving his ban from
  FIFA. Last May while in Belgium I seem to remember seeing a sports show on
  TV out of Germany showing Maradona playing in some type of league (obviously
  not FIFA sanctioned). Since I don't speak German I had no idea what the
  announcer was saying.........

  Let's get on with soccer....................


  Jerry

    
    SEVILLA 1. ZARAGOZA 0.
    Goal of Maradona.(Penalty)
    
    The match had to many foults.
    Diego played very well (not the team).
    Sevilla is in the 6th place (7+1 of 6 matchs)
    
    Regards.

    Maradona's return to international football can only help the game in
    general, and we the fans are the real winners.  Let's say he is
    successful, we get to see the most talented player of our time in
    action in superb fashion.  If he doesn't make it, then other talents
    (such as those populating the Italian stadia for example) will get our
    attention, admiration, and appreciation.
    
    I am getting bored with people constantly bringing up Maradona's private
    life.  It has been established that the little star from Argentina is
    not very smart.  His strength and the very reason we know him and talk 
    about him is his unusual talent.  Simply exceptional!  
    
    I hope this new relationship with Spain will work for Maradona. 
    However, I would not bet the house on it.  The kid has been spoiled by
    life, and it's going to be difficult for Bilardo or anyone else to
    keep him in line.
    
    BTW, I am one of those people who don't like Maradona, and cannot
    understand Argentina's superb record in international soccer since
    1978.  That never kept me from appreciating argentinian greats like
    Pasarella, Adiles, Kempes ('78), Burruchaga ('86, 90?), Canighlia
    ('90), etc...
    
    Jude   

    re :-1.
    
    How someone say they dont like Maradonna (wonderfully skillful player)
    but they are bored/tired with the personnel accusations , I dont know.
    
    All I know is that I've seen him play and he is a genius on the ball , 
    *but* the man is willing to cheat - the hand of god incident.
    
    I lose all respect for him when he did that - and denied it !!
    
    That to me is far more important than any football skills.
    

And please show some respect and spell his name right!

Come on Gas Coin!

�JF?

    Personally, I lost all respect for that cheating coke-head after WC86. 
    I don't care if he never kicks a ball again.
    
    Adrian

    I think you can still appreciate good footballing skills and recognize
    a player as one of the best the game has known, yet not particularly
    *LIKE* him. Gazza is one player that immediately comes to mind. 
    
    As for Maradonna as a "cheat" how is he different than, say, Jurgen 
    Klinsman, or other players who tend dive at opportune times. I'm not 
    trying to justify it, but let's face it, players will try to get away 
    with whatever the ref will let them. As for the 1986 hand ball, what did 
    you expect him to do, say "Sorry, lads, disallow the goal. I hit it with 
    my hand."? Take a reality pill! It SLAYS me how a lot of people seemed 
    to think England would have won, except for that goal. People conveniently
    forget the goal Maradonna scored later, where he completely fooled the
    entire England team. People forget that Argentina scored a clearly offside 
    goal against Belgium in the semifinals, but are Belgians still whining 
    about it 6 1/2 years later? 
    
    As for the Coke-head comment, is Maradonna's problem any different than
    George Best? Pick your poison, I don't see how abusing alcohol is any
    "better" than abusing an illegal substance. 
    
    Yes, I appreciate Maradonna's skill and "footballing genius," but I
    don't think I'd care for him if I met him in person. In fact Argentina
    is really the one country I don't like to see win, but you have to give
    them credit where it's due. I suppose being American allows me to
    appreciate football wherever its played, without getting caught up in
    any nationalistic battles, since my team will never be in the big-time. A 
    good friend of mine who is Dutch HATES Germany. While Germany aren't one 
    of my favorites, I at least appreciate guys like Rudi Voeller, Thomas Doll,
    Bodo Ilgner, Hassler, Riedle, etc. and recognize their talents. You CAN 
    have it both ways.
    
    Tom

	And some more...
	
	What would those English fans say about the 'incident' if it had
	happened during a Scotland - Argentina game rather than against
	England? Would we still here the same tune???

	Most english people (over)rate Gazza. Can you just remember what
	he attempted at two opponents in the opening 15 minutes of an
	FA Cup final recently? If that is not a disgrace then what is!
	Both incidents could have turned out to be a desaster for the
	opposing player, whereas Maradona's gesture only hurted your
	national ego (in my opinion).
	
	What about Watta's handplay against Marseille a couple years
	ago, I have not heard it mentioned by any noter in the past 2
	years...

							.Andre.

   
    Give it a rest for Christs sake. Who really gives a toss
    anyway ? I certainly don't and just for the record Madonnas
    handball against England was deliberate. I can't answer whether
    or not England would have won the game but Madonnas second 
    goal was sheer brilliance. 
    
    The "Waddle handball" that was mentioned was also deliberate but
    so what.
    
    The most complaints I've ever heard relate to the Germans loss in
    the 1966 World Cup final.
    
    JN.

The real frustration of English fans is not Maradona.  These fans truly 
love the game that their country is credited with having invented.  However, 
since 1966 when they won the world cup at home, they have not accomplished 
much in terms of world cup (they failed to even qualify for the final rounds 
in '74, '78, and '82).  At a club level, Liverpool used to dominate European 
(or even World) competitions; not anymore.  

So, what is an english fan to do?  Cry for years over Maradona's hand 
ball in the '86 game, make a lot of noise about any new player who can settle 
the ball instead of just kicking it high hopping for a lucky header. 

The last truly spectacular player to have come from England was Kevin Keegan.
I have seen him play with Hambourg in Germany around mid to late '70s.  But he 
himself must be frustrated also: he has never had a chance to play for his 
country in a world cup final.   

Here is where the English fan is coming from: the football program that has 
allowed the world to enjoy the likes of Banks, Moore, Best, Charlton, Keegan, 
etc, has not been able (for years now) to produce players that achieve world's
highest standard of football.  English fans feel that they are long overdue 
for something substantial from home that can put them back on the international
football map.  How will they do it,  bashing Maradona?  over selling Gazza 
(he may be good but the pressure on him is already too much)?  playing a style 
of football that is popular only inside Great Britain?  

IMO, it's back to the drawing board for England so far as football is 
concerned.  Some might say that they need a miracle.

Jude    

    
    I know we're losing the track of this a little but...
    
    Englands world cup record since 66
    
    66 Winners (Beat Germany in Final)
    70 Qf (knocked out by Germany)
    74 didn't make finals
    78 didn't make finals
    82 Made the finals (but if memory serves right, missed out on goal diff)
    86 Qf (Knocked out by the HAND OF GOD incident)
    90 Sf (Knocked out by Germany)
    
    I personally think that that's not too bad a record over the last seven
    world cups two QF's one Sf and one win.
    
    Keith.
    
    P.s. Kevin Keegan did play in the World cup finals. He came on as a sub
    	in the 82 finals.

    
    
    re last
    
     England lost the 1986 quarter-final as they only scored 1 goal whereas
    the Argies scored 2, the second of which will go down as the 3rd best
    goal ever scored in the world cup finals.
    
     The 2nd best was of course scored by Archie Gemmill for Scotland
    against Holland in the 1978 finals.
    
    
    
    The best ever goal of course was when a little fat guy outjumped Peter
    Shilton to score with a glancing header in the 1986 quarter-final. For
    such a small player to outjump a giant of a goalkeeper was truly one of
    sports greatest moments.
    
     Danny.

    re .30
    
    Yep, fair enough... Nice one.
    
    Keith.

re -2

	Thanks for the correction about the '82 world cup.  
	Back to Maradona, can anyone give an idea about the rest of the team 
(Sevilla)?  Does it seem like he can get great support from his teammates?  
Any other big names in that Sevilla team?  
	Maradona is getting old (relatively speaking).  He will be very 
effective but he'll need a lot of 'good' help.  

    
    	I just heard on the radio that Maradona risks not to be allowed
    to continue to play with Sevilla, as Napoli claims that the first part 
    of the transfer's amount has not been payed by Sevilla, and therefore 
    asked UEFA to suspend the player.
    
    Any news ?
    
    P-Y

    
    I saw on teletext that FIFA have rejected Napoli's request to declare
    the transfer void.
    
    Paul

    re:maradona's handball against england !
    
    what about DENNIS WISES GOAL AGAINST TURKEY LAST YEAR IN THE
    	QUALIFYING GROUP OF THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS ?. WAS'NT
    	THAT A HAND BALL.
    
               
    

    
    HOW DARE YOU !
    

    
    The ball came off his ear actually.
    
    JN.

    Sevilla & Maradona were going very well up to last week when they were
    beaten 2-1 by Athletico Madrid. They were only about 2 points behind
    the leaders but have now dropped back a bit to 4/5 pts behind.
    
    Maradona is truly a great player not like the Gazza man.... He inspired
    an average Italian team Napoli to league sucess and he practically won
    the wc on his own in 86 and nearly did it again in 90 with a crap team.
    I f he inspires Sevilla now aswell it will be amazing. Gazza can not be
    considered one of the greats until he wins something..... he might but
    I can't see him winning very much.
    
    Colm.
    
    p.s.  Can anyone tell me who Sevilla are playing this weekend.

EUFA are meeting today (?) to decide if Maradona should be suspended as 
Sevilla still haven't given a satisfactory guarantee that Napoli will get paid 
for the transfer. I think they're talking of about �3M.

g

    SEVILLA F.C will play against OSASUNA.
     
    

    I don't think I've seen an uglier sight than a little fat coke-head
    crying because he could'nt cheat enough to win the 90 World cup. I used
    to think he was a good player but he's just a spoiled brat.  He may be
    a great player but he's a disgrace to his nation. As said in an earlier
    note: "football can do without him." I'm Swiss, so I say this without
    any national prejudices.