Football

[Liam]

Was anyone surprised to see that Iceland made the play-offs ?

Not really. Iceland are going through a bit of a golden period, with many players playing well in top European leagues (look at Sigborsson's record for Ajax and Iceland). On the other hand Norway have lost a few key players, Both Riise brothers, Iversen, Carew, Gamst Pedersen. Any team would struggle to replace regular internationals those. Slovenia could have done better though.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I see that the powers-that-be at Middlesbrough have called an end to the three-year reign of Tony Mowbray. Results in the Championship have not been good this season, but the matter of the 1-2 home defeat in the Capital One Cup by Accrington Stanley who themselves are struggling at the wrong end of Division Two would surely have shown that matters were not all they should be at the club.

 

[EM2]

So, Pajtim Kasami's goal for Fulham. Better than Van Basten in Euro 88?

 

[valenta]

I see that the powers-that-be at Middlesbrough have called an end to the three-year reign of Tony Mowbray. Results in the Championship have not been good this season, but the matter of the 1-2 home defeat in the Capital One Cup by Accrington Stanley who themselves are struggling at the wrong end of Division Two would surely have shown that matters were not all they should be at the club.

I think it was time for Mowbray to go - they were making no progress. Favorites for the job are Tony Pulis, Martin O'Neill and Neil Clough.

 

[SS4]

Oldham Athletic seem to be playing a 4-6-0 at Molineux today yet the first few minutes action has belied this defensive formation. Anyone who wants to listen can get it on BBC WM

 

[familyguy99]

Oldham Athletic seem to be playing a 4-6-0 at Molineux today yet the first few minutes action has belied this defensive formation. Anyone who wants to listen can get it on BBC WM

I believe is 4-5-1 that Latics are using, good news is 0-0 at Half time in which I take that if it finish that scoreline.

 

[SS4]

I believe is 4-5-1 that Latics are using, good news is 0-0 at Half time in which I take that if it finish that scoreline.

Yeah it is in practice tbh

 

[familyguy99]

1-0 to Wolves but with 35th mins to go I'm hopefully Oldham will score.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
2-0 to Wolves now, I see Chelsea and Celtic are winning 2-0 and Arsenal are 1-1.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Wolves indeed beat Oldham 2-0 but I see Leyton Orient have lost for first time this season as Coventry beat them 3-1.

I see in League Two, Rochdale are top of division as they can behide to win 3-2 to Northampton and even score two late to win that match too, Chesterfield are now 2nd as they could only draw 2-2 to York and Oxford and Exeter finish 0-0, Accrington have won for first time this season as they beat Bristol Rovers 2-1 and Portsmouth game against Wycombe was abandoned at half time due to waterlogged pitch.

 

[SS4]

Indeed, could have been more nearer full time. Orient losing too is pretty impressive

 

[GWRtom]

so tonight's friendly finished
Dorchester 0 Yeovil 6

Deceptive scoreline through :/

Just seen some pics from Fratton park, The tunnel entrance was completely flooded!

 

[Morden Via CHX]

Wolves are not looking impressive in their games at all but just have a tendency to find another gear when required. I do think they are getting a bit lucky tho at the moment with results. That said I was pleased with tonight's performance and it's great to see that we finally have a manager that knows what he's doing.

 

[Butts]

Hi,

I don't want this to turn into a platform of match analysis etc, or indeed a place for talking about how awful it is, but something that has just cropped into my mind is how many rail enthusiatsts actually like the beautiful game too?

I can think of a few members on here, yet trains and footy never seem to be two things that go together...

So, anyone else like football?

Matt

Wolves are not looking impressive in their games at all but just have a tendency to find another gear when required. I do think they are getting a bit lucky tho at the moment with results. That said I was pleased with tonight's performance and it's great to see that we finally have a manager that knows what he's doing.

A shame they got rid of Mick - with him at the helm they would still be in the Premiership

 

[MidnightFlyer]

A shame they got rid of Mick - with him at the helm they would still be in the Premiership

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - Wolves' only mistake was leaving it so long to sack him. He should have gone before Christmas 2011 and not Feb 2012 when he was sacked, the longer they kept him the more certain relegation became. 5 wins in 6 months (what McCarthy 'achieved' that season) isn't the form of a manager who will keep you in the top flight.

 

[Oswyntail]

I do follow football although it's been a tough time for the villa this season.

If Butts is allowed to delve back to the first post, I think the above quote seems to sum up about 75% of the thread to date

 

[Butts]

If Butts is allowed to delve back to the first post, I think the above quote seems to sum up about 75% of the thread to date

Yes, sorry about that folks, my legendary "not Bill Gates" computer capability strikes again

Still it's interesting to see the genesis of this mammoth thread

 

[Robinson]

Another manager gone, in the shape of Crystal Palace's Ian Holloway.

Shame, his news conferences always guaranteed entertainment...

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Good, his constant whinging won't be missed. TBH he didn't do that spectacularly with Palace, last season was largely ridden on the momentum of Dougie Freedman and Glenn Murray. Perhaps he could take up a role with a team in Outer Mongolia so we have to hear even less of him. Please.

 

[bb21]

I quite like Ollie, however it is a results business nowadays and Palace can't afford the time to allow him to try and turn things around. Another eight games like that and they can find themselves adrift by an impossible margin.

Shows you the gulf between Premiership finance and Championship finance that clubs would do whatever they can just to avoid being relegated. Short-term results are everything.

 

[MikeWh]

Shame, his news conferences always guaranteed entertainment...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y6DyamXrmk

He certainly is leaving with his head held high.

 

[bb21]

Oh, dear. Palace are going to approach Tony Hoofball.

Not sure how many of the fans would be pleased.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Oh, dear. Palace are going to approach Tony Hoofball.

Not sure how many of the fans would be pleased.

To be fair to Pulis though, he's a lot like Sam Allardyce. Not such pretty football but you're as good as guaranteed never to go down. Quite whether Pulis can turn this around though is a different matter, at least his Stoke squad was actually of some PL quality.

 

[bb21]

To be fair to Pulis though, he's a lot like Sam Allardyce. Not such pretty football but you're as good as guaranteed never to go down. Quite whether Pulis can turn this around though is a different matter, at least his Stoke squad was actually of some PL quality.

The question is whether Palace supporters will warm up to his direct style of football. Palace are not famed for playing hoofball, and Pulis have never really succeeded at a club with a culture of passing the ball. He was a complete flop at Bournemouth and Bristol City. His two biggest success stories, Gillingham and Stoke, both thrived on long punts forward.

I will watch this one with interest. He might be able to get them safe but might do so in plenty of controversies I guess.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I think it was time for Mowbray to go - they were making no progress. Favorites for the job are Tony Pulis, Martin O'Neill and Neil Clough.

Well, whilst I understood the reasons that you named the first two of your candidates above, your nomination of Neil Clough came as a complete shock to me, as after his appearance on The Apprentice earlier in the year, I understood that he had been offered a position with Rightmove.

On an associated matter of the managerial merry-go-round that is now in full operation, I see that Nigel Clough has been appointed as the new manager at Sheffield United to replace David Weir.

 

[valenta]

Well, whilst I understood the reasons that you named the first two of your candidates above, your nomination of Neil Clough came as a complete shock to me, as after his appearance on The Apprentice earlier in the year, I understood that he had been offered a position with Rightmove.

On an associated matter of the managerial merry-go-round that is now in full operation, I see that Nigel Clough has been appointed as the new manager at Sheffield United to replace David Weir.

I thought I might include one real outsider ....

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It appears that UEFA were quite serious about their recent clamp-down on racism in football, that some forum members wondered about, as they have been very quick in already opening formal disciplinary proceedings against CSKA Moscow as a result of the racial behaviour and chanting by the home CSKA Moscow supporters in Wednesday nights Champions League game against Manchester City.

 

[familyguy99]

On an associated matter of the managerial merry-go-round that is now in full operation, I see that Nigel Clough has been appointed as the new manager at Sheffield United to replace David Weir.

I think Clough will do well at Sheff Utd and should take Sheff Utd into play offs in League One but if Leyton Orient, Wolves and Peterborough keep playing well and still be in top 3 come end of season then I can't seeing Sheff Utd going up this season.

 

[Butts]

It appears that UEFA were quite serious about their recent clamp-down on racism in football, that some forum members wondered about, as they have been very quick in already opening formal disciplinary proceedings against CSKA Moscow as a result of the racial behaviour and chanting by the home CSKA Moscow supporters in Wednesday nights Champions League game against Manchester City.

What a load of nonsense....if I was being paid as much as he is I'd consider it all in a days work.

If the chants had been "scotch git" "thick paddy" or welsh "sheep shagger" would any action have been taken ?

 

[Liam]

What a load of nonsense....if I was being paid as much as he is I'd consider it all in a days work.

If the chants had been "scotch git" "thick paddy" or welsh "sheep shagger" would any action have been taken ?

Probably not, but that doesn't make it OK.

 

[Butts]

Probably not, but that doesn't make it OK.

If someone wants to pay me 100K plus per week to run around (well at least try ) a football field I could put up with chants of any nature and laugh all the way to the bank.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

If someone wants to pay me 100K plus per week to run around (well at least try ) a football field I could put up with chants of any nature and laugh all the way to the bank.

It does seem to be a particular problem in certain Eastern European countries.