Football

[Antman]

I wish him all the best, despite everything. He seems really sincere.

Not a word I'd readily associate with Sam Allardyce.

 

[backontrack]

1st and 2nd only, playoffs, pah, manufactured nonsense

Top two should go up. The bottom four should go down.

In the Premier League, I think there should be a relegation play-off for the third team against the third team in the Championship. Two legs, one at each ground.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I like the idea of changing the playoffs to a similar format to that used in Super League, as there is precious little benefit in finishing 3rd compared to 6th in the current format. We finished 6 points ahead of Millwall and that counted for nothing in the playoff final.

Our two playoff final wins came when we finished 6th (1996, Division Two) and 7th (League Two). Our three playoff losses came when we finished 4th (1988, Division Two), 5th (last season, League One) and 5th (this season, League One). We've won and lost under the current format as much as anyone. But it just doesn't sit right.

I'd keep 3rd-6th, but have 5th v 6th at the 5th's ground in a one-off game, who would then play 4th at 4th's ground in a one-off game, with the winner then playing 3rd.

 

[bb21]

I'd keep 3rd-6th, but have 5th v 6th at the 5th's ground in a one-off game, who would then play 4th at 4th's ground in a one-off game, with the winner then playing 3rd.

We can extend the season further by having 20th playing 19th away, winner plays 18th away, winner playing 17th away, etc. There will be no "nothing game" left this way.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Could just get rid of play-offs altogether. Top x amount go up, bottom y amount go down. Ridiculous that you could end up with 20 points more than a team, yet they get promoted vice you. 46 games is more than enough to prove superiority.

If not, perhaps we should also have a play-off between first and second. If third need to prove their abilities again, then why not the team who finish first?

 

[bb21]

Could just get rid of play-offs altogether. Top x amount go up, bottom y amount go down. Ridiculous that you could end up with 20 points more than a team, yet they get promoted vice you. 46 games is more than enough to prove superiority.

If not, perhaps we should also have a play-off between first and second. If third need to prove their abilities again, then why not the team who finish first?

Money, money, money.

 

[Antman]

Could just get rid of play-offs altogether. Top x amount go up, bottom y amount go down. Ridiculous that you could end up with 20 points more than a team, yet they get promoted vice you. 46 games is more than enough to prove superiority.

If not, perhaps we should also have a play-off between first and second. If third need to prove their abilities again, then why not the team who finish first?

Well if we are going to have play offs, and I don't see any likelihood of them being scrapped now have 3rd home to 6th and 4th home to 5th in the championship with the final at the home of the higher placed team, no more two legged semi finals and no more finals at Wembley. I would also add the proviso that the 4th,5th and 6th placed clubs have to finish within 10 points of the 3rd place club in order to qualify.

 

[Antman]

Chelsea have cancelled the victory parade planned for Sunday in the wake of events in Manchester.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40031876

 

[backontrack]

David Squires is good this week.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal.../24/david-squires-on-manchester-a-city-united

 

[EM2]

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ism-chelsea-farewell-last-premier-league-game

But despite the flak coming his way, 36-year-old defender Terry remains unrepentant.

“I couldn’t care less, I promise you,” he said. “All I care about is celebrating with my Chelsea fans. Me and them have a wonderful rapport and have done for 22 years. Nothing that people write or say can ever get in the way of that.

“If that’s the way I want to go out, that’s the way I go out because I’ve been here 22 years, I’ve won so many trophies – so if I wanted to play one minute and come off, I would have done.

“I wanted to play 26 minutes because the shirt number means a lot to me and the supporters so as long as they are happy – and I was over the moon with the reception – I promise you I could not care less.”

Talk about having a high opinion of yourself! It should be down to the manager who plays, who gets subbed and when.
Who says there's no such thing as player power, eh :roll:

 

[AlterEgo]

United leading through a lucky deflected goal. Sigh.

Ajax have been poor though.

 

[Darandio]

United leading through a lucky deflected goal. Sigh.

Ajax have been poor though.

Indeed.

The build up was rather interesting, with various claims that even Man City fans would be rooting for United to do it for the city.

Erm, no they won't.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Clearly Ajax lack pace at both ends of the pitch.

 

[AlterEgo]

United lead 2-0 thanks to rubbish Ajax defending. Ajax really haven't turned up tonight and United will be able to quite easily close the game off now with a two goal lead.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Chris Smalling is my man of the match so far.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Well United. I'm a Derby fan but the nevertheless I'm pleased that they've won. Their supporters have sang their hearts out.

 

[Kite159]

So with Man Utd into the champions league group stage, will Southampton take up a place in the Europa League next season?

 

[BlueFox]

So with Man Utd into the champions league group stage, will Southampton take up a place in the Europa League next season?

No. There can be a maxumum of 7 clubs in Europe, so by having an extra place in the Champions League we lose a Europa League place.

 

[Groningen]

So Manchester United plays european against the winner in the Super Cup against Juventus or Real Madrid. I think that have not a chance against 1 of the 2. But maybe miracles can always happen of course.

 

[AlterEgo]

So Manchester United plays european against the winner in the Super Cup against Juventus or Real Madrid. I think that have not a chance against 1 of the 2. But maybe miracles can always happen of course.

The Super Cup is just a pre season sideshow. I don't think either team will field a full side.

 

[SteveP29]

I'd keep 3rd-6th, but have 5th v 6th at the 5th's ground in a one-off game, who would then play 4th at 4th's ground in a one-off game, with the winner then playing 3rd.

Similar to the playoffs in Scotland then,
winner goes up automatically, 5th plays 4th (2 legs), winner plays 3rd (2 legs), winner plays penultimate finisher in division above (2 legs)

 

[SteveP29]

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ism-chelsea-farewell-last-premier-league-game


Talk about having a high opinion of yourself! It should be down to the manager who plays, who gets subbed and when.
Who says there's no such thing as player power, eh :roll:

Contrast that to Paul Scholes who just said, that's it and retired

 

[Darandio]

And now Garry Monk has resigned from Leeds. Quite a manager merry go round this week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40046074

Garry Monk has resigned from his position as head coach of Leeds United just two days after Italian businessman Andrea Radrizzani completed his takeover of the Championship club.

The 38-year-old was appointed on a rolling one-year contract last summer and guided them to seventh in 2016-17.

Monk was expected to sign a new deal after the buyout of Massimo Cellino.

A statement said: "While we are deeply saddened by Garry's decision, there is no individual bigger than our club."

Leeds had spent much of the season in the play-off places, but missed out on a spot in the top six after a run of just one win in their final eight games left them five points adrift.

Monk, who spent 10 years at Swansea as a player before taking over as manager from February 2014 to December 2015, was the sixth full-time head coach appointed by Cellino during the Italian's controversial reign from June 2014.

The club statement said they had "reluctantly accepted" Monk's resignation.

It added: "Andrea made it clear to the media yesterday that his intention was to exercise the club's option to extended the manager's contract for another 12 months and immediately begin negotiations for a longer term deal.

"Mr Radrizzani has met with Garry twice since taking over at Elland Road earlier this week and during the second meeting yesterday it became clear that Garry was considering life beyond Leeds United as at no time did Garry wish to discuss terms for a longer contract.

"Following that meeting yesterday Garry's agent requested that the option was not exercised and his resignation was received this morning.

"We thank Garry for his contribution during his time at Leeds United, we are disappointed that would could not continue on this journey together."

Monk won 48% of his league games in charge of Leeds - 22 of 46 played - the fifth-highest percentage in the club's history.

 

[ExRes]

Poor old Leeds supporters, perhaps they should start a campaign to have Harry Kewell replace Monk before he gets settled in at Crawley

 

[Darandio]

Marco Silva has now resigned from Hull, more expected than other recent ones but at this rate there will be nobody left!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40043130

Marco Silva has resigned as Hull City manager after the club's relegation.

The Portuguese, 39, replaced Mike Phelan in January on a deal until the end of the season but could not save them from a drop to the Championship.

He led Hull to six wins from his 18 Premier League games, with relegation confirmed after a 4-0 defeat by Crystal Palace on 14 May.

Hull said they were "disappointed" by the departure of a "firm fans' favourite".

 

[DasLunatic]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19bvUnXqvA08s-b3qwduivITVE4bWc_LJqITCEhqChow/edit?usp=sharing

This spreadsheet contains the league standings of the top six steps of the English pyramid (i.e down to National League North/South) as one large 160-team table. (Spoilers: Chelsea still come first). Feel free to peruse the statistics...

 

[roversfan2001]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19bvUnXqvA08s-b3qwduivITVE4bWc_LJqITCEhqChow/edit?usp=sharing

This spreadsheet contains the league standings of the top six steps of the English pyramid (i.e down to National League North/South) as one large 160-team table. (Spoilers: Chelsea still come first). Feel free to peruse the statistics...

We're above Burnley...

 

[Butts]

Well done to Arsenal winning a record 13th FA Cup - seven of which have had Wenger at the helm (another record !!)

As I think The Clash said "Will he stay or will he go ?"

 

[Steveman]

Well done to Arsenal winning a record 13th FA Cup - seven of which have had Wenger at the helm (another record !!)

As I think The Clash said "Will he stay or will he go ?"

I think he'll move upstairs - technical director or similar, I don't think he'll leave the club totally.

 

[LuSiVe]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19bvUnXqvA08s-b3qwduivITVE4bWc_LJqITCEhqChow/edit?usp=sharing

This spreadsheet contains the league standings of the top six steps of the English pyramid (i.e down to National League North/South) as one large 160-team table. (Spoilers: Chelsea still come first). Feel free to peruse the statistics...

9th from bottom. Brilliant.