Football Thread 2017/18

[Manoverboard]

It is always a tad sad to see an established club relegated … and yet … Stoke, West Brom and indeed Swansea were all inclined to ' Park the Bus ' so in that sense it is a case of good riddance.

Will Wolves and Cardiff plus Fulham or Derby fare any better, possibly because they each have creative players at their disposal.

[Whynd1]

Not sure I like phrase good riddance Mob.

[oldbluefox]

Cracking match at Wembley this afternoon. Good entertainment which would have been even better had we won but a couple of schoolboy errors cost us. At least it was better than the uninspiring rubbish they have been serving up lately and had you said we would finish 9th at the beginning of the season I would have happily accepted it. I expect West Brom, Stoke and Swansea supporters would be saying the same.

[Manoverboard]

Not sure I like phrase good riddance Mob.

Probably not the best choice I could have made but the three relegated teams seemed to feature regularly at the end of MOTD because of their collective inability to score goals / play exciting free flowing footie. To attempt to survive they had to defend for their lives but such tactics although essential are not attractive to watch for the neutral viewer.

The Swans chose a Manager who, I believe, was out of his depth but one who will perform better in the Championship, perhaps the owners employed him with that thought in mind.

ps … I am of course sorry for you at the personal level that the Swans are being relegated but far less so from a footballing standpoint.

[barney]

So, you big boys get Wolves, Cardiff and mighty Fulham to play with next season.

Having watched Fulham in the play off final, they look like could easily hold there own in the Prem.
Wolves are minted so I don't expect they will struggle.
As for Cardiff ? They may be the ones propping up the table.
Chuck into the mix the newer Prem sides and it could be a very interesting season next year for the relegation places.

Up top is more obvious. City …...

[towny44]

So, you big boys get Wolves, Cardiff and mighty Fulham to play with next season.

Having watched Fulham in the play off final, they look like could easily hold there own in the Prem.
Wolves are minted so I don't expect they will struggle.
As for Cardiff ? They may be the ones propping up the table.
Chuck into the mix the newer Prem sides and it could be a very interesting season next year for the relegation places.

Up top is more obvious. City …...

I am hoping that Merson makes Hudds Town favourite for relegation again.

[oldbluefox]

I see Liverpool have released their new goalkeepers kit for next season........................

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On a human level I felt sorry for him but as a professional footballer at the highest level earning megabucks per week my sympathy waned somewhat and I started to sympathise with the Liverpool supporters who had travelled big distances at considerable expense who had to witness what happened.

[towny44]

I think Karius might need glasses, both incidents could be down to poor eyesight.

[barney]

The second one was sort of acceptable as the modern ball does move a fair bit in the air. We've all seen this happen a few times. But the first one ................ omg. I loved the way he immediately called to the ref claiming foot up. Benzemas foot was nearly on the ground. What a Muppet.

[Manoverboard]

I thought Villa were old and past their sell by date compared to the slick footy played by Fulham in the final. Really looking forward to Fulham arriving at Vicarage Road next season … will the Pozzos have egg on face for sacking the Serb I wonder.

Fulham can play a bit certainly, ditto Wolves but of the three promoted sides Cardiff seem most likely to struggle.

So ... apart from Watford, Huddersfield and Leicester who will the pundits predict for the Championship

[oldbluefox]

So ... apart from Watford, Huddersfield and Leicester who will the pundits predict for the Championship

Are you Merson in disguise? If he predicts you will be relegated you can feel assured you won't be. In fact, considering these pundits are all ex-Premiership players they are pretty clueless in predicting anything. Should be weather forecasters!!!

[Manoverboard]

Merson, naah, not me …. Lauro invariably forecasts us to lose as well

[barney]

Part of the reason that we all love football is the unpredictability of it all.
As a fan of a team that have been serial losers over the years, my expectations are obviously low, but every now and again we are surprised.

Where will my team finish next season?
I obviously have absolutely no idea.
We could finish top, we could finish bottom.
Most likely around mid table, but you never know.
Look at Shrewsbury last season. Top two nearly all year then blew it at the end. Probably just as well that the did.
I read an article about spending in the Championship Division recently.
To put into context, the season before last, Newcastle's players wage bill was £112 million for the season.
Burton, same division - £5 million
Gillingham - one division down - £2.5 million
Acrrington Stanley - one more down - £1 million

So, as in life generally, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer

[towny44]

Huddersfield Town have just made their most important signing since winning another year in the PL, manager David Wagner has signed a new 3 year deal until June 2021, along with his assistants Christoph Buhler and Andrew Hughes. Best news of the current transfer window so far.

[barney]

Bottom at Xmas towny and he'll be on his way, contract or no contract

[Manoverboard]

The ultimate Watford plan is obviously to have their ex Managers running all the Premier League clubs …. so far there are just the three including the latest, Marco Silva at Everton. Twelve points for the Pozzos to kill for me thinks .





.

[barney]

I think that he'll be a good fit for Everton.

I see Leeds sacked their latest after four months. They are clearly after the record

I loved Paul Tidsdale's departing comment on leaving Exeter
'they should have thought of that when they put me on notice'

For some background, Exeter is owned by the Fans Trust.
After 12 years in the job, they told Tidsdale that they wouldn't discuss a new contract until the season was over.
In the meantime, he had obviously lined up another job.
Word on the (lower league) street is MK Dons.

[Onelife]

Whilst it was a good result for England this afternoon l don't think we should get carried away by it.....had Panama had the strike force of let's say Belgium then they could well have been looking at a 6-6 draw considering the chances Panama had.

I thought England's defence was very sloppy.

[Stephen]

Great first half, too complacent in the second half. Still a good game though apart from the grappling, fouling bas*ard Panamanians

Typical, England play Belgium on Thursday and Mrs S and I have been invited out to a BBQ that evening. Think she might be going on her own unless the hosts have a TV set up in the garden.

[screwy]

Enjoy the BBQ Stephen,were through.! It's the next round we should be worrying about.

[oldbluefox]

I see the rugby chappies beat South Africa. Clearly they had been taking a few tips from the Tunisians and the Panamanians. Rugby tackles to be proud of.

[Onelife]

If VAR is to have any longevity in world cup football then there will need to be more consistency than what we have witnessed thus far.

Some terrible decisions as you have pointed out Foxy.

[Stephen]

Enjoy the BBQ Stephen,were through.! It's the next round we should be worrying about.

Thanks screwy. Would still like to have seen it though. Wonder if I can Send a sick note

[screwy]

Enjoy the BBQ Stephen,were through.! It's the next round we should be worrying about.

Thanks screwy. Would still like to have seen it though. Wonder if I can Send a sick note

Sorry Stephen, Death certificates only and to be delivered in person...

[Stephen]

Enjoy the BBQ Stephen,were through.! It's the next round we should be worrying about.

Thanks screwy. Would still like to have seen it though. Wonder if I can Send a sick note

Sorry Stephen, Death certificates only and to be delivered in person...

I'll send the wife