The Football.....

[Hitchington]

After today's mauling, Watford's 'defence' should be forever known as 'The Gap.'

We had our 5th and 6th choice centre backs playing and City were helped by starstruck ref and assistants, but no excuses though. At least we had a go and Silva didn't play a negative defensive formation. City should win everything this season on that display.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

We had our 5th and 6th choice centre backs playing and City were helped by starstruck ref and assistants, but no excuses though. At least we had a go and Silva didn't play a negative defensive formation. City should win everything this season on that display.

They won't.

The only team from the English top flight that came close to winning everything was the Reds with their '99 treble - probably the best footballing achievement in this country in my lifetime. They were a far stronger and more cohesive unit than today's MCFC imo and even they couldn't manage to make a clean sweep of pots.

I think MCFC will do well this season but their limitations are in defence - they look slick in midfield and have obvious firepower up front. But, to me at least, the link between defence and midfield is disjointed and their defence seems all at sea at times. They've thrown some serious money into their defence but it doesn't seem to be gelling at the moment

They are off to a good start in the Prem' but they've had a pretty easy intro' with their fixtures tbh.

Hope they don't stuff us at The Bridge later this month in which case I may have to eat my words

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Hmmm. Even match. First half Gooners, second half The Blues.

Kante/Fabregas are an ineffectual midfield pairing - hope I never see that combo again.

Oliver got the Luiz red right but otherwise was utterly useless. Kolasinac who went down with a mighty squawk and played dead for a few minutes made an amazing recovery though - I wished my old body healed that fast.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Hibs managed to take a 2-0 lead and convert it into a 2-2 draw.
Forfar got pumped 0-5 by Arbroath, surely Gary Bollan must resign or the board sack him now.
In the amateur game, we won 4-2.

 

[Roadhump]

I see Ronald Koeman is now the bookies' neck and neck favourite with Slaven Bilic to be the next managerial casualty:

http://www.thesackrace.com/next-premier-league-manager-to-leave

Ah well, Ronald, if you sell your main goalscorer and replace him with a load of one paced number 10s, what do you expect?

Think it's going to be a long hard season for Everton. Fourth defeat in a row. Ironically the best performance of those 4 losses, today resulted in the heaviest defeat after a final five minute implosion (which I fully expected once Utd got their second, such is the mental fragility of our team at the moment). Good players but no pace, no width and you're always going to struggle at the back if your defensive linchpin is Ashl(iabilit)ey Williams.

 

[Andrew_P]

I do not have an opinion on Football anymore, I support Palace....

Bakery Sako - 55k a week!!? Looked about 4 stone overweight yesterday yet got muscled off a header buy a tiny left back. Puncheon seems to have turned going around in circles in to an art form. And we have somehow converted Cabaye into a second rate midfielder. The One shining light yesterday was Loftus Cheek and he is on loan from those west London twots who have snaffled up all the young talent with no intention of ever bringing them through but cannot bare the thought someone else might want a look in! Then you have our 30 million pound striker who has never really been a lead the line target man yet we seem intent on launching balls at him, wouldn't be that bad but we are launching them 15ft around him, poor sod. We play a natural left footer on the right wing "as he prefers it" and force a right footer to play on the left so you have endless cutting back to try and cross it, even I could defend against those. Players like Delalany and Mutch getting contract extensions and backroom staff having a good splash of ex Palace about them. We hire a Continental coach to play "Barcelona" type possession football, then wonder why is doesn't work out when we have a team that could have been assembled by Graham Taylor to play counter attack or long ball. Then we do not support them in the transfer window. Then Appoint good old Roy. You couldn't make this stuff up really. Hopefully Roy might bring a bit of sanity but I bet he was thinking what have done, this was meant to be my swansong!

I would love to know what clause Pardew signed to keep his gob shut, he has been bursting at the seams trying to keep it in. Chairmen should be seen and not heard, particularly when it comes to team and playing style!!

 

[Accy cyclist]

All this talk of Premiership unrest makes me think about how life's much simpler in the lower leagues. My team's doing ok at the moment. It's early days as they say,but Stanley are looking good at the moment. Could this be their year for promotion? http://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...ague-two/11039587/chesterfield-1-2-accrington

On about the Premiership,i noticed Rob Elliot is performing so well for Newcastle these days. He was our goalkeeper when Stanley won the conference 11 years ago. He was a vital part of that promotion winning side. I wouldn't say we wouldn't have won promotion without him,but i don't think we'd have won the league by 11 clear points. Is he one of the best uncapped English goalkeepers around? I'd say if he was from one of the lesser expectations countries like Scotland or Wales,he'd have 20-30 caps by now!

 

[AndyRM]

Elliot has been capped @Accy cyclist.

For Ireland.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Elliot has been capped @Accy cyclist.

For Ireland.

Well i didn't know that! I heard him talking the other day on tv. I've got more of an Irish accent than him! I know the other loanee keeper in Stanley's promotion side (Darren Randolph) has played for Ireland.

 

[Paulus]

All this talk of Premiership unrest makes me think about how life's much simpler in the lower leagues.

A good draw for Barnet ,1-1 away to Carlisle. Almost a win, Carlisle got the equaliser in the 87th minute.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Elliot has been capped @Accy cyclist.

For Ireland.

Not much of a record though.

2004 Republic of Ireland U19 1
2014– Republic of Ireland 4

I thought he'd have had more appearances than that.

 

[AndyRM]

Well i didn't know that! I heard him talking the other day on tv. I've got more of an Irish accent than him! I know the other loanee keeper in Stanley's promotion side (Darren Randolph) has played for Ireland.

Randolph was actually born in Ireland. Elliot has Irish heritage which qualifies him.

The most over-looked English keeper going is Fraser Forster I reckon.

 

[AndyRM]

Not much of a record though.

2004 Republic of Ireland U19 1
2014– Republic of Ireland 4

I thought he'd have had more appearances than that.

Shay Given only (properly) retired in 2016.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Elliot has Irish heritage

"Heritage", i like that! Once of a day it had to be no less that grandparents. Now it's "My great, great, great, great, great grandfather".

 

[ianrauk]

All this talk of Premiership unrest makes me think about how life's much simpler in the lower leagues. My team's doing ok at the moment. It's early days as they say,but Stanley are looking good at the moment. Could this be their year for promotion? http://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...ague-two/11039587/chesterfield-1-2-accrington

On about the Premiership,i noticed Rob Elliot is performing so well for Newcastle these days. He was our goalkeeper when Stanley won the conference 11 years ago. He was a vital part of that promotion winning side. I wouldn't say we wouldn't have won promotion without him,but i don't think we'd have won the league by 11 clear points. Is he one of the best uncapped English goalkeepers around? I'd say if he was from one of the lesser expectations countries like Scotland or Wales,he'd have 20-30 caps by now!

Quite true.
I have supported and been going to see Chelsea play since 1974. I gave up my ST a few years back now. I just wasn't made to feel welcome by the club or even feel part of the club anymore rather then being seen as a cash cow. The big clubs don't really want ST holders anymore. They want the day tripper who buys into the whole thing and who spend more money. In the club shop, food, programmes etc.
I do miss it so do go to the occasional game every now and then. But you are now talking a day out at football costing £100. Ticket, travel, beer, food etc It soon adds up.

Since getting rid of the ST I have been meeting up with mates on CL evenings in a pub to watch it, have beers, something to eat and it's half the cost whilst having some good banter with your mates rather then having to sit next to some random day tripper who has no idea.

I have also been going to see Bromley FC play in the National League. OK nowhere near as good football being played but it is jolly fun. £15 a ticket, I can cycle to the ground. I can drink a beer on the terrace and I can stand where I want in the ground.