Football

[ACE1888]

Best Goal should have been Di Canio's for West Ham, Rooney's was class, but Di Canio's was something else...then again Cisse's recent effort must be there and there abouts

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

But the simple fact is that we did drop points - Evra in this case is right. From 8 points ahead of city we gave it away and dropped silly points (such as Wigan and Everton).

My particular view as to points dropped in one match alone would be the match against Blackburn Rovers at home, which was not expected to be anywhere as difficult as matches against both Everton and Wigan Athletic.

It would be interesting to see if a league table were to be drawn up that featured only the last NINE games of the Premiership season.....can anyone oblige ?

 

[Ivo]

It would be interesting to see if a league table were to be drawn up that featured only the last NINE games of the Premiership season.....can anyone oblige ?

I'm on it. I'll post it a bit later.

£5 says Wigan are top (not really, but I honestly believe they will be)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Here we are then:

P  Team             P   W   D   L   F   A   GD    Pts

1  Wigan Athletic   9   7   0   2   17  8   + 9   21
2  Manchester City  9   6   2   1   22  8   +14   20
3  Everton          9   5   4   0   22  8   +14   19
4  Manchester U.    9   6   1   2   16  6   +10   19
5  Newcastle United 9   6   0   3   15  10  + 5   18
6  Fulham           9   5   1   3   11  11  ± 0   16
7  Tottenham H.     9   4   3   2   13  6   + 7   15
8  Arsenal          9   4   3   2   16  10  + 6   15
9  Chelsea          9   4   3   2   16  12  + 4   15
10 Queens Park R.   9   4   0   5   11  16  - 5   12
11 West Bromwich A. 9   3   2   4   10  14  - 4   11
12 Norwich City     9   3   2   4   13  20  - 7   11
13 Liverpool        9   3   1   5   12  11  + 1   10
14 Bolton Wanderers 9   2   4   3   13  19  - 6   10
15 Sunderland       9   1   5   3   9   13  - 4   8
16 Stoke City       9   1   5   3   8   13  - 5   8
17 Swansea City     9   2   2   5   10  17  - 7   8
18 Aston Villa      9   0   5   4   6   18  -12   5
19 Wolverhampton W. 9   0   3   6   10  19  - 9   3
20 Blackburn Rovers 9   1   0   8   6   18  -12   3

I wish I had put that £5 on now

A few notes:

• Wigan's late form really did save them! Half (rounded down) of their points came during the last nine matches.
• Only Everton () went unbeaten during this period.
• Aston Villa and Wolves both failed to record a victory during this period.
• Amazingly, the five London clubs are all next to each other - with three of them having identical WDL records!

------------------------

Meanwhile, England's squad for Euro 2012 has been announced:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18081125

Goalkeepers
Joe Hart, Robert Green, John Ruddy.

Defenders
Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Joleon Lescott, John Terry.

Midfielders
Gareth Barry, Stewart Downing, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Ashley Young.

Strikers
Andy Carroll, Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck.

Standby
Jack Butland, Phil Jagielka, Jordan Henderson, Adam Johnson, Daniel Sturridge.

Goalkeepers: Pleased for Ruddy, but Hart aside I have my doubts.
Defenders: Strong, if a bit short number on number. And why is Jagielka only standby?
Midfielders: Also strong, but most are either coming to the end of their international careers or fairly short on international experience.
Forwards: A gamble. I suppose Walcott could play up front if need be until Rooney returns.

There will be a Press Conference at 1400.

 

[CC 72100]

Not being ignorant or anything here, but who is Jack Butland?

Other thoughts: Would have liked to have seen Rio,Danny Sturridge, and Carrick (I'll get stick for that one) involved, could live with out Downing and Walcott.

What does anyone else think?

 

[SS4]

I though Walcott was injured? I can't say I'm entirely surprised though. Sturridge and Carrick I'd have in my team but not Rio Ferdinand, I don't think he's got that much left in him.

Frankly Sir Stanley Matthews would be better than some of this lot even from beyond the grave - now that was a man who put England first!
Where possible I'd use this tournament as a chance to set up a cadre of younger players ready to blossom not unlike Germany last time out iirc and get a team out of them. Leave the egos behind and start afresh. Naturally this would likely mean we get practically nowhere and the press would never allow it especially at Hodgson wasn't their number 1 hate target.

• Goalkeepers:
  1. Very disappointed not to see Foster
• Defence:
  1. Not bad choices. I'd leave Terry behind though.
  2. Jagielka (sp?) would be a sound choice IMO
  3. Shawcross in to give the defence some grit
• Midfield
  1. A true list of big names most of whom have regularly underperformed.
  2. I'd kick Lampard out to show the actual Chelsea manager who's boss
  3. Too many are also coming to the end of their playing careers
  4. We don't have enough raw power in there IMO
• Strikers
  1. Rooney has to come although being suspended for the first game helps nobody much as I'd love to see him left at home for his ego
  2. Andy Carroll is still too much of a liability IMO
  3. In keeping with my theme give Holt a chance to shine internationally

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
As for pre-season friendlies Villa to play Wolves at Molineux as pre-season plans take shape
Last season it'd have 0-0 written all over it but who knows now? Despite the actual being score 2-3

 

[Ivo]

I would have selected Holt as well. He more than deserves a crack at the truly big stage, and can reasonably be expected to consider it an honour to play for England and thus give it his all, unlike some of the egos behind him. I am pleased to see that Sturridge has been overlooked - I know he is still young, but I can't help but think of him as another Chelsea ego. Although that might be affected by having had two Chelsea supporters behind me when I went to watch the Holland game in February (they constantly "discussed" [very loudly] that he was the best player we had). As for Foster, didn't he retire from the England duty for family reasons? The Metro yesterday suggested that Hodgson tried to convince him otherwise but failed.

I wonder if one Mr Beckham ever crossed his mind? At least with him you will get a top player who is dedicated to the England cause.

Not being ignorant or anything here, but who is Jack Butland?

From Wikipedia:

Jack Butland (born 10 March 1993) is an English footballer who plays for Birmingham City. A goalkeeper, Butland has represented England at all levels up to the under-21 team, and was named as one of five standby players for the Euro 2012 squad. He made his debut in the Football League in September 2011 while on loan to League Two club Cheltenham Town.

In February 2012, Butland rejoined Cheltenham on a youth loan until the end of the season. He went straight into the starting eleven, and kept a clean sheet against AFC Wimbledon to help maintain Cheltenham in the automatic promotion positions. After Birmingham's first-choice goalkeeper, Boaz Myhill, injured a thumb, Butland was recalled by his parent club with three games remaining in the regular season.

Butland made his international debut on 3 October 2008, keeping a clean sheet as the England under-16 team beat their Northern Ireland counterparts 6–0 in a Victory Shield match.

He moved up to the under-17s in 2009, and the following year took over as first-choice goalkeeper during the final stages of the European under-17 championships, playing in the final as England defeated Spain under-17s to win the title for the first time. His performances earned him selection as one of two goalkeepers in the 22-man team of the tournament. Butland was part of the under-19 squad that reached the elite qualification round of the 2011 UEFA under-19 championships, but needing to beat Spain under-19s in their last group game, were eliminated at that stage on goal difference after the match ended 1–1.

Included in the squad for the finals of the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Butland kept clean sheets in all three group games as England under-20s qualified for the last 16. He conceded only once against the Nigerians in the last 16, but that was enough to defeat an England side that failed to score in any of their four matches. He made his debut for the England under-21 team on 1 September 2011 in the starting eleven for the 2013 European qualifier against Azerbaijan under-21. Although England won by an apparently comfortable six-goal margin, Butland had to be alert to ensure his clean sheet. He kept his place for the next two qualification games, wins against Iceland and Norway under-21.

Cheltenham Town one month, announced as standby for England at the Euros the next? hock:

It also means he conceded four against Southend. Now I'm worried.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I agree with not taking Rio, however Grant Holt and Peter Crouch should be heading to Poland in lieu of Carroll and Defoe.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Top player? Beckham? Seriously? Massively, massively overrated. Never better than good in my eyes, certainly never world class.

 

[SS4]

As for Foster, didn't he retire from the England duty for family reasons? The Metro yesterday suggested that Hodgson tried to convince him otherwise but failed.

I've not heard but it would explain why he's not in it.

I wonder if one Mr Beckham ever crossed his mind? At least with him you will get a top player who is dedicated to the England cause.

Set-Piece genius but otherwise distinctly average. Having old media darlings in the team does seem to be de rigeur for England

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Dalglish has left Liverpool - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18073446

 

[Donny Dave]

And the Premiership managerial merry go round gathers pace ....

"King" Kenny has left Liverpool now, with Martinez the favourite to get the job.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18073446

 

[YorkshireRider]

Bad news for the other 19 teams in the PL, Kenny Dogleash has gone, who we gunna laugh at next season?

 

[Ivo]

It was fun while it lasted

Liverpool love their archaic legends, so they should give the job to Robbie Fowler (Enjoy the Championship )

On the plus side for Idiots fans, Gerrard has been selected as Captain for Euro 2012.

 

[CC 72100]

I can't help feeling that Daglish only lasted so long because of his reputation.

I do like a good managerial merry go round mind, I reckon one of Martinez, Lambert of Brendan Rodgers. They seem to be in demand and highly rated at the moment.

 

[ACE1888]

No fan of Liverpool FC, but the news that 'King Kenny' Dalglish has been sacked, just sums L.F.C up, what a joke (P.S you move club legends 'upstairs by the way)...shocking

 

[YorkshireRider]

What so the next manager can have the ghost of christmas past lurking over him, just like Roy Hodgson had to put up with.

 

[richw]

I've not heard but it would explain why he's not in it.

Foster did indeed retire from International duty, for personal reasons was the given, but many insiders say it was due to bad relationship with capello!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

No fan of Liverpool FC, but the news that 'King Kenny' Dalglish has been sacked, just sums L.F.C up, what a joke (P.S you move club legends 'upstairs by the way)...shocking

I've heard he has been removed from management position, and has been offered an "upstairs" role.

 

[blackettstreet]

I'm glad to see Lampard made the England squad. Although he has lost his pace, he has reinvented himself in a deeper role and has passed the ball well from there recently. Nice to see Oxlade-Chamberlain in there as well, as he has a directness that few others in the squad do. Not so happy about Carroll and Downing though. Could Hodgson be planning 4-4-2 with a big No.9?

 

[richw]

villa best get in quick for any manager they want before liverpool get there first, (or chelsea for that matter, if they decide against Roberto getting the job full time)

 

[Badger]

Damn, Wolves could have had Dalglish.

 

[Ivo]

Damn, Wolves could have had Dalglish.

Why would you want him?

 

[Butts]

villa best get in quick for any manager they want before liverpool get there first, (or chelsea for that matter, if they decide against Roberto getting the job full time)

I wonder who Liverpool and Villa are lining up ? - I thought Dalglish would have got another season (probably would if the FA Cup had been won)

 

[Johnuk123]

Why would you want him?

I think he was having a joke.

 

[EM2]

With all these vacancies, I can just hope that someone wants to take Allardyce

 

[richw]

I imagine the following will be discussed in coming weeks capello wants to work in premier league prior to retirement, steve bruce is unemployed which is always a safe pair of hands for mid table nothing more, rafa benitez.

 

[sonic2009]

As a LFC fan, im glad Kenny has been removed from management.

Two and a half years, i had an email read out on Sky sports news, saying i would stick through the thick and thin with my team, which at times this season, i was fed up with the way we played.

I've always respected Kenny, and will still continue to do so. He's a ledgend as a player, but just can't cut it out as a manager now.

I think with a war-chest & decent manager, Liverpool will be competing for top 4 next season.

Some players i think Liverpool, could easily get :

Royston Drenthe
Arjen Robben
Luuk de Jong
Keisuke Honda

The list could go on.....

With a management shortlist of :

1. Brendan Rogers
2. Roberto Martinez
3. Rafa Benitez

My thoughts are that if Di Matteo doesn't win the CL on Sat.

Abromavich will get Gus Hiddink or Pep Guairdola, and i happily include Di Matteo on my management shortlist for LFC.

As for players who will improve :

Andy Caroll - despite many who have written him off, he has shown in the last few weeks he's getting fitter, and sharper.

Lucas Leiva - Before his injury he was a rock in our team, he will continue to grow & grow.

Luiz Suarez - Work him in tandem with Caroll & and if Liverpool were to secure a decent attacking midfielder such as Honda, i think Suarez will be a menance.

I do certainly hope the new manager includes Joe Cole in his plans, he has still got that vision and he's a good player when on form.

No doubt many will write us off, as many have said were a cup team, but as with 2005, when we won the CL, be prepared for a suprise next season.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

 

[richw]

I think if Liverpool got Brendan Rodgers, that will be no good for Andy Carroll, completely the wrong style of football, however Bellamy will fit well into Brendan Rodgers style.
As a liverpool fan, kenny's methods were too out of date

 

[Ivo]

Royston Drenthe
Arjen Robben

Two choices that would be very popular owing to their past Prem experience (one Everton, the other Chelsea)

]3. Rafa Benitez

I would like to see Rafa back. He did the Prem proud and should never have left. In fact, I *almost* liked Liverpool with him around. (Almost.)

But if he should dare call Everton a "small club" again...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

League 2 play-off second-leg result....


Southend 2....Crewe Alexandra 2...............Ivo will not be happy

 

[Ivo]

And they fell behind!

Oh well. Another year's toil down the drain. At least I might be able to watch Bristol Rovers vs Southend this time

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

And they fell behind!

Oh well. Another year's toil down the drain. At least I might be able to watch Bristol Rovers vs Southend United this time

After the cup matches between us earlier this year, it is a shame that Oldham Athletic will not have the chance to meet Southend United in League 1 next season, as I have now lost my football League 1 "repartee" contact now, Yorkshire Bear, as Sheffield Wednesday have been promoted to the Championship.