Football thread 2015/2016

[gfwgfw]

MOB

Watford well and truly spanked Arsenal's botties

Good result for the Cherries and the Saint's, both good games

[oldbluefox]

Well done Watford.
I always liked Arsenal and Mr Wenger, over and above Chelsea but after our match against them I was bitterly disappointed with the tactics they employed. As early as the third minute Silva got his ankle clipped and was rolling around (I think I counted about 5 rolls before he came to a standstill) as if he had been pole axed and as the match wore on and the threat of losing became more apparent there was more play acting from others in the team and more pressure put on the ref. Simpson's sending off was harsh but when you are already on a yellow card you don't risk it and the foul which lead to the equaliser was stupid and needless so no complaints from me about the result, only Arsenal's tactics.
Louis van Gaal was equally incensed when they played Man Utd, (although his acting was a bit ham) but it seems a pity that a team of very capable and exciting players has to resort to such tactics.
There was an Arsenal supporter on 5Live tonight bemoaning the fact that his team were out of the Cup and only third in the table. Good grief I feel sure many supporters and their teams would swap places. Why this expectation?
I would have been delighted to get 3rd in the Prem at the beginning of the season. As it stands I am getting used to my lot being top dog and will be almost disappointed if we don't finish the job off. Whatever happens it's been an incredible season for us and wherever we finish will be an absolute bonus. Now let's beat the Geordie boys tomorrow night and stretch that lead again.

[RB1961]

You missed Drinkwaters tackle on Ramsey Foxy....I don't think that Arsenal in general are any worse than another team...DId Vardy run into Monreal...who knows but at times we can all be blinkered. I don't think Wenger tells them to act like girls but as I say they all do it to some degree.
Expectation...the money we have spent over the last 2 years means we cannot moan we don't have the finances to keep up with chelski etc and as the 3 richest clubs are having all having poor seasons (based on the last 3) then we should be grasping the opportunity to win the league as they may not be so sh@t next season.
Wednesday we have Barca so that's us out of the Champions league and on Saturday we have Everton away lose that and the slim chance of the prem is gone. So 3rd or 4th again....the best team in the league will be top at the end of the season.
I'm undecided about Wenger but has he gone a bit stale...has the club gone stale....who knows. Does Wenger have to much say in the club. What does Steve Bould do cos we can't defend. Will a change make it better it hasn't for Manure.
It's just so disappointing..

RB

[oldbluefox]

You missed Drinkwaters tackle on Ramsey Foxy....

Indeed I do remember that and not so sure it was a foul myself. I also saw Ramsey crouch down injured until he realised he wasn't getting the free kick then get up, chase after the ref and then join in the attack. Injury suddenly gone, not even a hobble.
It's not just your team RB (although in the City match and the one against Manu it was pretty bad) but I am always amazed that one minute these players are critically injured and minutes later galloping up and down as if nothing had happened.
In my day as an amateur you didn't go down unless you were genuinely hurt. The sight of the trainer running on with a sponge and a bucket of cold water was enough to encourage you back on your feet if you could.

[Manoverboard]

The ' girls ' of Arsenal annoy me no end and I usually sit there screaming appealing calmly for a yellow card for their obvious simulation.

Against Watford Arsenal did NOT dive, chase the ref nor cheat as is their want but why was that ... ' respect ' perhaps because they know that Watford do not overly employ these type of antics. Witness the leg breaking tackle by Gabriel on Deeney ... no fuss was made at all. I hope however that a three match ban will be dished out in retrospect plus one more for his second flying tackle later in the same game.

ps ... I was deffo pleased on Saturday to note that the Cherries look safe for another season at least

[oldbluefox]

Witness the leg breaking tackle by Gabriel on Deeney ...

ps ... I was deffo pleased on Saturday to note that the Cherries look safe for another season at least

Definitely a two footed tackle and well off the ground. It's a wonder he didn't break Deeney's legs. All credit to Deeney for not remonstrating - something we'll be well pleased with when he is in our team next year!!!!

Pleased to see the Cherries getting another season in the Prem. On the balance of the quality of their football they deserve it.

[RB1961]

Gabriel was a red card all day long. The ref had a good view but I don't think he even gave a foul. Have to say I don't rate him. Cheap import who can't defend or win 50/50s.

Had the p!ss taken out of me all day at work...banter in overdrive..even had a manure supporter say they will win the league next season...talk about deluded.

Good luck the foxes tonight...although beware new manager syndrome.

RB

[RB1961]

I thought we had em wobbling at 1-1...

RB

[oldbluefox]

They're in a league all of their own. No shame in losing to them. Why don't we just give them the Cup? What a wonderful player is that little Messi.

[oldbluefox]

I saw an interesting comment recently:
"I'd love it this season if Leicester win the league, West Ham make the CL, Watford win the FA Cup, the three promoted teams stay up at the expensive of three 'big' clubs and Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd and Liverpool all fail to make the CL.

What a great way to show that more money isn't everything and that stockpiling £25m players doesn't guarantee success".

I know I am biassed but what a shake up of the Prem and football in general if this did come to pass. Personally after all the arrogant c**p which has been spouted about little tin pot teams from national press and so-called football pundits, it makes for a refreshing change. How dare they break up the status quo?
What do you think?

[towny44]

To make the leagues more interesting I have always thought it might be a good idea to make the reward for winning the Premier league, promotionion to league 2!!!
A bit similar to Rangers recent experience in Scotland, but on a regular revolving basis, maybe then the big boys would vote to share out the TV money a bit more evenly.

[oldbluefox]

Not sure about being demoted, it's taken us so long to get there. Can you imagine the likes of Silva, Aguero and Rooney in League 2?
However I do agree about the funding not only through the leagues but also at grassroots level. On the continent a high proprtion of villages have all weather pitches with floodlights. My local village team 'performs' with no changing rooms on a mole ridden pitch normally used by the local secondary team and this is not uncommon. Many local teams are finding it hard to continue playing, let alone develop junior teams. It is a national scandal when you consider the amount of money flowing through the Premiership. On 5Live the other day they were suggesting a levy but as the Prem is independent of the FA that idea suddenly seems to hit the buffers.
In the good old days the smaller clubs were kept going by developing young players who were then bought by the bigger clubs. Nowadays clubs (mine included) go abroad to scout for talent and a revenue stream is lost.

[barney]

All the Premier League fans are now getting to see what football is really about.

The lower leagues have always been very competitive and that is what actually makes the excitement for the fans

The Premier league (best league in the world, don't make me laugh) has been dominated by the 'big boys' for far too long and became predictable.

As a fan of football, it's been brilliant to see upstarts like Leicester, West Ham, Spurs and others punching above their weight.

Long may it continue, but I fear it won't.

Even more money will be chucked at it by the bigger clubs and ultimately, for a time anyway, money talks.

I'm seriously looking forward to Burton Albion at home on the first day of next season to Newcastle or Villa or Sunderland.
Will their fans remember what it's like to stand on a terrace?

[Manoverboard]

Two errors of judgement have caused the shift, imo.

1. The Big Boys have paid the price for playing possession football, next year they will play like Bournemouth, Watford or Leicester.

2. The Hornets relative success has been built on powerful mid-fielders whereas the Big Boys have employed creative lightweights.

Next season will be a whole lot tougher and Michael Owen reckons the Foxes will get relegated .

[oldbluefox]

According to Mark Lawrenson's weekly predictions after 25 matches:
Liverpool will have been unbeaten and vying with Chelsea for 3rd place
Newcastle will have been comfortably mid table
Leicester and West ham would be fighting it out to avoid 18th position
After Leicester's 13th defeat of the season against Man City has increased pressure on beleaguered Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri and confirmed what the BBC pundits said all along about the unwisdom and backwardness of his appointment in the summer.

He's worse than Keefy Onelife for his predictions!!!

Hope you are well Keefy!!!

[oldbluefox]

Looking for a win for Bournemouth tomorrow. Come on you Cherries!!!!

[towny44]

It may be cold and cloudy outside but after beating Leeds 4-1 there is plenty of sunshine in my heart.

[oldbluefox]

I thought Leeds were your friends?

[Frank Manning]

That money flowing through the Premiership is paying enormous salaries to a few unimpressive prima donnas.

[gfwgfw]

That money flowing through the Premiership is paying enormous salaries to a few unimpressive prima donnas.

Spot on Mr Manning

I do sincerely hope Leicester top the Prem . . . and Bournemouth are playing Prem footie next season . . . both on the brink of sinking not so long since

Lubbooo all

Graham

[Quizzical Bob]

It was a rather special day at St Mary's this afternoon, one that will live long in legend.

[oldbluefox]

Great come back by Southampton after going two down. Not seen it yet but it spounded quite a performance. Hope they've got that out of their system before we play them!!! Looking forward to it.

[Frank Manning]

It was a rather special day at St Mary's this afternoon, one that will live long in legend.

Especially after the ref gifted Liverpool a let off which was a penalty for everyone else. Southampton were a revelation. My Mum would have been in seventh heaven if she had seen that performance.

Bad luck Bournemouth, Spurs are just too good. They are the real threat to Leicester, Foxy.

[qbman1]

This is a bit sad - just heard that Johan Cruyff has died from cancer at 68

[Manoverboard]

.... and Adam Johnson gets 6 years in prison.

A very sad day for football are those two unrelated events.