Football Thread 2017/18

[oldbluefox]

I think if he achieves with us what he achieved with Southampton we will be happy but I see it really as somebody who will stabilise our position in the Prem rather than toying with relegation issues every season. You never know he may have re-thought his strategies and changed his tactics. Time will tell but he must have impressed our owners. I rather liked the look of Dyche, and a certain Mr Wagner but I think they are hanging fire until a big club comes in for them. Not forgetting your current manager Mr Silva (presuming you haven't sacked him yet!!! )
As for Mahrez some days he can be brilliant but on too many occasions he goes AWOL and we now have Demarai Gray champing at the bit so I'll not lose too much sleep if Mahrez does go. C'est la vie................. as Claude would say.

[towny44]

I see that Arsenal and Man city are still being allowed to play in the caribao cup, despire breaking the rules about the extra time substitutes allowed. It also seems a bit fishy that the 4 top teams left all managed to avoid each other in the draw, which once again was subject to problems and was not live but recorded. It appears that the EFL might be equally as bad an organisation as the FA, neither of them is really fit for purpose.

[Manoverboard]

There seems to be some sort of problem with the caribao's balls, best wishes for a full recovery

[oldbluefox]

It also seems a bit fishy that the 4 top teams left all managed to avoid each other in the draw,

I must admit I found that quite extraordinary. What are the chances of that happening? And what is so difficult about picking eight balls out of a pot that it caused 'technical issues'?

[barney]

I see that Gills recently departed manager has rocked up in Barrow Foxy.
Your part of the world I believe.

I hope that he does well because he is a really nice guy.

[towny44]

Unable to find a live stream for today's game and it was nail biting listening to the 2nd half radio commentary once we were down to 10 men, but another 3 points nearer safety earned today.

[qbman1]

Am I imagining it, or was Ciro Immobile a little excited at losing to Sweden last night ?!

DOmZBV4WkAA4YRT.jpg

[Manoverboard]

On a firmer footy footing ... are OBF's Foxes going to go down the tubes if their Thai owners use the Foxes' assets ' to pay off their alleged £323m tax debt in Thailand ?

ps ... it was a cold evening, perchance


.

[oldbluefox]

On a firmer footy footing ... are OBF's Foxes going to go down the tubes if their Thai owners use the Foxes' assets ' to pay off their alleged £323m tax debt in Thailand ?

I'll pay it off from my forum wages!!!

[oldbluefox]

How does Dier get into the England team, let alone as captain?
Commentators on the TV said what a good match he had had. I think they were watching a different match.

[RB1961]

How does Dier get into the England team, let alone as captain?
Commentators on the TV said what a good match he had had. I think they were watching a different match.

And one of the subs hasn't yet played for his club

RB

[oldbluefox]

I presume he had played for the U23s but it does raise the question if they are not good enough for their club why should they be good enough for their country.
It also raises another question why they are not playing for their club. Is that because the club has a surfeit of riches from foreign shores and there is no place for him.

[towny44]

I presume he had played for the U23s but it does raise the question if they are not good enough for their club why should they be good enough for their country.
It also raises another question why they are not playing for their club. Is that because the club has a surfeit of riches from foreign shores and there is no place for him.

In Chelsea's case that's certainly true, any midfielder would need to be something special to dislodge the likes of Hazard, Kante, Fabregas, Willian and Bakayoko, but he could still be good enough for England.

[oldbluefox]

Absolutely towny, which highlights a problem we have with the development of our national team when the big clubs hoover up all the best talent who have little chance of ever making it into the first team. You don't get match practice by sitting on the subs bench, if you are lucky enough even to get that far. Best option for these lads is to get a transfer out or a loan move so they can be playing every week.
Having said that we once had Harry Kane on loan and he was c--p!!!! Just goes to show what difference a couple of years can make.

[towny44]

The PL could help with additional loan signings by allowing more than one loan player from another club, and allowing more in total.

[oldbluefox]

We'll have that Mooy chap from your lot. An impressive player.

[RB1961]

Lot of footie over the last week.

Some good some bad...our defending yesterday was shocking and really cost us.

RB

[barney]

My first Gills game for a while on Saturday, away to Plymouth.

We are back to Kent in mid December for a few days and by an amazing coincidence, Gills are at home to Brizzle Rovers, so that's another one.

[barney]

The PL could help with additional loan signings by allowing more than one loan player from another club, and allowing more in total.

I disagree with any loans between teams in the same division Towny.

It distorts the league.

Just say that City loan a striker to say, Huddersfield

Then last game of the season, Chelsea need a point at Huddersfield to win the league, but lose 1 -0 with the goal scored by a City loanee and City win by a point?
And, that one goal win keeps the Terriers up at the cost to another team.

Loan to leagues below (or up) but not in the same division.

That is my opinion.

[towny44]

We will have to disagree about loans then Barney.

[Manoverboard]

I also believe in the principle of developing talented young players using the loan system, and right across the divisions.

Using Nathan Ake as an example ... he was loaned by Chelsea to Watford for the 2015/16 season. Watford let him learn on the job and selected him for every match. At the end of the season he returned to Chelsea, they and Watford evaluated NA's worth and after due consideration by all parties Chelsea sold him for £18m to Bournemouth.

The upshot being that NA plays regularly for a Premier League team on a very good salary rather than languishing on the bench at Chelsea, else playing for their under 23's development team, as a direct consequence of his loan to a Premier League Club, as in Watford in this example. Has he been placed on loan in a lower division he would have learnt zilch because he had already done that.

[barney]

Arghh. One ball away from Chelsea at home. Gills number 60 in the last four with Norwich Chelsea and ShefWed.
We got Sheffield. Ok but would have preferred Chelsea.

[oldbluefox]

Haven't you got to get past Carlisle first barney?
We have either Hereford or Fleetwood and knowing our past record against non league or lower league teams it could well be a banana skin. They are never easy matches.
Having said that I have been pleased with a certain Mr Puel since he arrived. He has cleared out some of the old guard in favour of youth and has got us playing football as opposed to hoof it and hope. Iborra looks a very good buy and a calming influence in midfield. Classy player.

[barney]

Congrats to the Leicester under 21's being the only Premier team left in the CheckaTrade Trophy.

[oldbluefox]

Congrats to the Leicester under 21's being the only Premier team left in the CheckaTrade Trophy.

I always thought the Checkatrade trophy was for League One and Two teams in order to develop their younger players. We had the best part of £46 million worth of talent on show that evening. Nice to have won but don't agree with it and find it rather embarrassing.