Football 2013

[Frank Manning]

OBF...I think Luton would rather be playing. They were on a roll! I confess that I really want them promoted this year, because it is a travesty for them to have beeen thrown out of the football league (unjustly) as punishment for whistle blowing the truth.

[Romig1]

Went to the game today and must have brought them a bit of luck. Wigan put us under a lot of pressure in the early stages of the 2nd half but gradually we started to play better and got our reward, but probably were not the best side.
That's a double for Huddersfield over Wigan this weekend, so a lot of happy sporting bunnies.

Blimey John, you chose the worst game for a while to watch.Not much football on display for a change - though that was due to the atrocious conditions affecting two teams who like to play a passing game.
As John reported, Town were under some sustained pressure for 15-20 minutes of the second half but battled back to win with a great shot into the bottom corner. A poor game however, with only 3 shots on target between the two teams.

It looked like an interesting game between Leicester and Watford!

[barney]

Well, we continued our win, lose, win, lose, win, lose, win sequence

Next up is Sheffield Utd at home on a Wednesday night.

Any betting types should have a punt on an away win

On a positive note, we're well out of the relegation battle now, or so it seems

He's hoping that Millwall & Charlton continue their downward sprial and we'll have a few more local games next season

[towny44]

Went to the game today and must have brought them a bit of luck. Wigan put us under a lot of pressure in the early stages of the 2nd half but gradually we started to play better and got our reward, but probably were not the best side.
That's a double for Huddersfield over Wigan this weekend, so a lot of happy sporting bunnies.

Blimey John, you chose the worst game for a while to watch.Not much football on display for a change - though that was due to the atrocious conditions affecting two teams who like to play a passing game.
As John reported, Town were under some sustained pressure for 15-20 minutes of the second half but battled back to win with a great shot into the bottom corner. A poor game however, with only 3 shots on target between the two teams.

It looked like an interesting game between Leicester and Watford!

Rob, It was one of those Schools matches and my Grand Daughters like to watch the occasional match, but we were in the lower tier of the north stand for the first and worst time, so that may have dampened their enthusiasm.

[RB1961]

Well we got a good thumping again.
Got manure on Wednesday so hopefully we can bounce back.

RB

[barney]

Rather be Wenger than Moyes at the moment

Wednesday is now a huge game for both sides and for very different reasons

If I'm absolutely honest, I'm sort of taking some perverse satisfaction on how the Man Utd fans are bleating on.

WELCOME TO OUR WORLD

[oldbluefox]

Derby 1 QPR 0

I love our woolly friends!! Well done!!

[barney]

Not wishing to sound horrible but IF QPR blow it, it will be justice for proper football

They already stand to get a huge fine under the FL fair play rule which they have totally ignored

It will never be a level playing field but obvious flouting has got to be discouraged

[oldbluefox]

My feelings also Barney. They knew the rules were coming into operation but have totally ignored them thinking they would be exempt if they got back into the Prem. This gives them an advantage over other teams who have adhered to the rules, especially those who are now fighting relegation.

[towny44]

Not wishing to sound horrible but IF QPR blow it, it will be justice for proper football

They already stand to get a huge fine under the FL fair play rule which they have totally ignored

It will never be a level playing field but obvious flouting has got to be discouraged

Life is never fair and there will always be someone or something bettor off or of higher standing than you or the team you support.
If the fair play rules ever extend to the Premier League then its goodbye to the top quality football we enjoy every week on Sky or BT. Nowadays even the relegation threatened teams have some top quality performers that light up a match and make it worth watching, if the fair play fanatics get their way this will all stop, and number one amongst them it that irritating Frenchman Michel Platini.
You have been warned.

[oldbluefox]

Not sure I agree with you towny. For my money the Prem has been ruined by Sky money and this has, in turn, impacted on the development of our national side with all the imports we have brought in.

City are currently sitting pretty at the top of the Championship and look favourites to go up. Whilst I enjoy seeing my team win, I don't look forward to the Prem where we will have a cat in hell's chance of achieving much apart from survival since it is now dominated by the big 4 or 5 who are so powerful that everybody else is making up numbers. For me there are too many big-time Charlies in the Prem and meanwhile the grass roots of our sport are struggling as a consequence.

Call me old-fashioned if you like but one of my most enjoyable experiences came when we were in Division 1 visiting some older style grounds where football was the key focus with true, genuine football supporters. I might feel differently about Sky and the Prem if the money were to be spread more evenly.

Going back to QPR the majority in the league voted for FFP. If any team decides not to abide by the rules then they will have to suffer the consequences later.

[Frank Manning]

I agree with you OBF.

[oldbluefox]

The last time we were up with 'the elite' I went to Old Trafford. Unable to get tickets in the away end we sat amongst the home 'supporters'. The concourse at Old Trafford was much more like a bus or train terminus than a football ground, the stadium itself was impressive ( ) but there was little enthusiasm. We sat next to a busload of Japanese 'supporters' who were clearly 'doing Britain', had been to the club shop and were now wearing everything they had bought, having retained their carrier bags ready to put it all away after the match.

The atmosphere in the whole place resembled a dentist's waiting room and did not get going until the second half when they managed to score. Give me the smaller clubs any day where you get good, honest banter from supporters who have not just jumped on the bandwagon but have followed and will continue to follow their teams through good times as well as bad.

[Dark Knight]

A fine and could be ,crucial result for the Mighty Rams
, however........Like OBF, I am not sure promotion is that good a deal, yes we will get oodles of cash for going up and plummeting straight back down..but Derby would be better off developing the side and trying to attract players who could keep us in the Premiership
Also, if we get promoted, the chances are our best players could be off, which just adds to the issue

[Romig1]

Another poor result form Town, who were second best to an organised, if unspectacular Forest side who had the stand out player in Andy Reid and deserved their win - albeit not by three unanswered goals. Jamie Patterson who scored two also looked a decent player (Town tried to sign him in the summer).

The stats once again tell a story at variance with the result. Town had 18 shots compared to forests 15. However, they managed to get 5 on target with 3 goals - we only got a single effort to trouble their keeper. To be fair, we only had a 10-15 minute patch in the second half where we were the better team, and the performance wasn't good enough.

[Quizzical Bob]

The mighty Saints thrashed Hull 1-0, watch out Man Utd & Everton, we're coming for you!

[oldbluefox]

Also, if we get promoted, the chances are our best players could be off, which just adds to the issue

The trouble is if you don't get promoted some of your best players will probably get picked off. There's more chance of hanging onto them if you go up. We could be in trouble if we don't get promoted this season as many of our best players are out of contract in the summer and will leave for free. If they go, good luck to them. There are plenty of good up-and-coming players out there so I wouldn't shed too many tears. The days of the likes of Matt le Tissier, Bobby Moore & Co who were loyal to the one club are over.

If we get promoted we'll have a look at some of your more promising players DK. Hopefully we can get them at a knockdown price!!!

Happy with the Saints result. They have done really well since they went up (for a smaller club) which is good for the game. Hull don't do business with us. They are still hurting since Pearson left them to come to us. How pathetic is that?

[Frank Manning]

Saints play some nice football. Not that I go, its too far. I might go and watch Bournemouth again soon, and definitely if Luton get down here.

[Susan Watt]

My sons friend took him to the Newcastle match last night for his birthday. They got slaughtered 4-0 at home by Spurs. There seems to be a pattern emerging as the last match he went to they lost 7-0 at home by Liverpool.

[oldbluefox]

Funny team Newcastle. You never know which team are turning up. Totally unpredictable.

[oldbluefox]

Sad news this morning that Sir Tom Finney has died. He was a true footballing legend and much like Bobby Charlton at Manu one of the last to be a one-club player. He always came across as a very quiet and humble man who, apparently, used to travel to and from training on the bus. Can you imagine that nowadays?

RIP Sir Tom.

[Frank Manning]

There were a lot of players in Tom Finney's era who were loyal to their club, and always approachable. It was a great time to be watching football regularly.

Who are nine points clear in the Skrill Championship? Come on you Hatters, surely those pigmy minds at Football League HQ cant keep you out now?

[oldbluefox]

7-0? 7-0???? Good heavens Frank, that was a bit of a mauling for Hereford. Bring back Ronnie Radford!! The enforced break didn't do you any harm, did it?

Good results for Romig's lot and Mob's crew. And a good result for us as we didn't play today and Burnley only managed a point at Bournemouth. Every little helps.

[Frank Manning]

Hi OBF, my grin gets wider every day at present. I just hope Luton can keep it up. Bournemouth play good football I am told, a friend of mine who supports them home and away told me that Leicester were the best side they had seen all season. He did post some photos of the match on his FB page.

[oldbluefox]

Another good result for us today - QPR 1 - Reading 3. We have a tough match on Wednesday against Forest at their place. Never usually get anything so I would be very happy with a draw and ecstatic with a win!!