Football

[Ivo]

And if Southampton do win promotion, Nigel Adkins will have probably the best managerial record around, as it will be his 4th promotion in 6 seasons.

Not bad for a physio! :P

I would have responded by calling you "biased", but this cannot be denied

Adkins for England anyone?

 

[valenta]

Hope Southampton clinch that automatic promotion place, the less of Sam Allardyce's football tactics in the premier league the better.

 

[EM2]

Hope Southampton clinch that automatic promotion place, the less of Sam Allardyce's football tactics in the premier league the better.

In the past, I would have agreed but some of the performances in the last few weeks (e.g. Millwall, Blackpool, Barnsley, Brighton, 2nd half of Birmingham) have been excellent and exhibited good, fast, passing football.
I am as anti-Sam as they come, I never wanted him anywhere near West Ham but said that if he could prove that he could manage a team to actually play like a West Ham team should, then I would hold my hands up and say I was wrong.
Not quite done enough yet, but I'm happy to give him another season, whether in the nPC or the BPL.

 

[richw]

with regards to southampton/ west ham, found an article on BBC that says if southampton draw, and west ham win by 4 goals, then West Ham and Southampton will play a one off match to determine who gets 2nd place with auto promotion and who goes into the plays off! as they will have a identical record.

 

[Robinson]

with regards to southampton/ west ham, found an article on BBC that says if southampton draw, and west ham win by 4 goals, then West Ham and Southampton will play a one off match to determine who gets 2nd place with auto promotion and who goes into the plays off! as they will have a identical record.

Don't think so; as I understand it if that happens then it goes to the head-to-head record - which would go in favour of Southampton.

 

[Ivo]

Don't think so; as I understand it if that happens then it goes to the head-to-head record - which would go in favour of Southampton.

I wish that was true, and it certainly should be, but Sporting Life suggest otherwise:

If two or more teams finish level on points, goal difference and goals scored at the end of the season and the championship, a promotion place, play-off place or relegation place is at stake they will then play off to decide who finishes higher.

 

[YorkshireRider]

If West Ham win by 4 goals and Southampton draw then West Ham go up on goal difference, if West Ham win by 3 goals and Soton draw then it really depends on the exact scores of each game.
However theres little chance of Coventry getting a result

 

[ole man]

Reading the sporting life column, it says that if any teams finish with equal points, goal difference, and goals scored and equal head to head record then it goes on Alphabetical order, me thinks that if that did happen West Ham should change there name.

There must be a fairer way than alphabetical order and has this rule ever been enforced??

 

[RyanB]

Reading the sporting life column, it says that if any teams finish with equal points, goal difference, and goals scored and equal head to head record then it goes on Alphabetical order, me thinks that if that did happen West Ham should change there name.

There must be a fairer way than alphabetical order and has this rule ever been enforced??

I don't think that's ever likely to happen, it's very rare when teams are only able to be separated by goals scored. So, Alphabetical order would likely never come into play, but if it did, I suspect there would probably be a one off play-off match arranged between the two sides instead.

 

[Ivo]

Reading the sporting life column, it says that if any teams finish with equal points, goal difference, and goals scored and equal head to head record then it goes on Alphabetical order, me thinks that if that did happen West Ham should change there name.

There must be a fairer way than alphabetical order and has this rule ever been enforced??

Not sure if it's ever been enforced, but it only applies when there is nothing important left to play for. I would be more worried about WC 2014, which could potentially go down to luck of the draw - literally. (Immeasurably unlikely however.)

West Ham should change their name to Scum United. That way your method would see them promoted

 

[RyanB]

Did you read the latest news that Rangers have been given a 12-month ban by the Scottish F A from signing any new players (and a fine of £160,000) and that they have given Craig Whyte a ban from football for life (plus a fine of £200,000).

Both parties have been given three days in which to lodge any apppeals.

Whyte deserves his ban, even from the very start he always seemed like a shady character. I feel that in future, people looking to purchase football clubs may well come under much greater scrutiny to make sure that they haven't had any shady dealings in the past.

I believe that Rangers intend to lodge an appeal, although I don't think that any punishment will change. The punishment is deserved and a fine like that is pointless when said club hasn't got two pennies to rub together

 

[SS4]

0-0 at Half Time.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Elsewhere, in a rather minor game it's Barcelona 2 - 1 Chelsea (HT) Chelsea have the away goal but Terry has seen the red card
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

 

[MidnightFlyer]

So it looks like Chelsea are heading off to Munich. Minus Terry, Mikel, Ivanovic, Ramires and Meireles. Looking at that I think they are at a severe disadvantage to the winner of tomorrow's tie already!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
... And in news I care much more about, it finished 1-2 to Bolton at Villa Park.

*Waits for usual post courtesy of XC Driver or SS4*

 

[SS4]

I'm too depressed to post now. Looks like we'll be joining Wolves :cry:

 

[valenta]

Aston Villa right in the relegation mix now!

Annoyed that Chelsea have won, could scupper Newcastle's chances of a Champions league place.

 

[YorkshireBear]

I'm too depressed to post now. Looks like we'll be joining Wolves :cry:

You should of been 3-0 up at half time, only yourselves to blame. Couldnt finish off the chances given to you.

 

[SS4]

You should of been 3-0 up at half time, only yourselves to blame. Couldnt finish off the chances given to you.

Unquestionably.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Aston Villa right in the relegation mix now!

Annoyed that Chelsea have won, could scupper Newcastle's chances of a Champions league place.

Dont worry, the rule now is if you win it you dont qualify.

 

[CC 72100]

Well, good effort Chelsea. You need a bit of luck to beat Barca but they got it. Only problem is do they have enough, non-suspended players for the final? :P

 

[SS4]

Time to bring on a player rebellion. McLeish doesn't know his arse from him elbow - better off not to listen to him. Why bring on the Fonz when we needed a big man up front

 

[valenta]

Not an easy set of fixtures for Villa to finish the season with
WBA
Spurs
and Norwich.

 

[richw]

Torres definitely picks his moments, how the hell on earth did chelsea pull that off with no recognised centre backs. and 10 men!

 

[valenta]

Dont worry, the rule now is if you win it you dont qualify.

Excellent news, thanks very much!

 

[CC 72100]

Also, did Branislav Ivanovic genuinly not know that he wouldn't be playing in the final only when Geoff Shreeves interviewed him?

 

[Darandio]

Dont worry, the rule now is if you win it you dont qualify.

No, it was changed after Liverpool in 2005. If you win the Champions League, but have not qualified through your league position, you are entered into the preliminary rounds. The top 4 places remain unchanged.

The idea from Uefa was that it would always be an extreme circumstance should it happen, that if you did win the Champions League, 99 times out of 100 you would have been in the coefficient places within your domestic league anyway.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Excellent news, thanks very much!

I got told that because of the liverpool debarcle a few years ago.

Girlfriend now lives in newcastle so im urging you on too.

 

[richw]

If chelsea win but dont finish in top 4, the premier league only gets 3 places.

 

[YorkshireBear]

No, it was changed after Liverpool in 2005. If you win the Champions League, but have not qualified through your league position, you are entered into the preliminary rounds. The top 4 places remain unchanged.

The idea from Uefa was that it would always be an extreme circumstance should it happen, that if you did win the Champions League, 99 times out of 100 you would have been in the coefficient places within your domestic league anyway.

Oh i may have misunderstood it then. So basically 4th still get champions league even if chelsea win?

 

[Darandio]

He is right to be worried actually, the top 4 places are not then guaranteed. Should Chelsea finish outside the top four, they would take a place if they won it.

The rule now from Uefa is that the winner has a right to defend their title. It has already been discussed prior to this match and confirmed by Uefa that Chelsea can indeed take the place by winning the trophy, but not as runners up.

http://news.uk.msn.com/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=161186490

Oh i may have misunderstood it then. So basically 4th still get champions league even if chelsea win?

I've amended it above. Initially, it was how I explained, but the tournament gained an extra team and upset the coefficient. It seems they changed it, but still only really expected it to rarely happen.

 

[valenta]

Oh i may have misunderstood it then. So basically 4th still get champions league even if chelsea win?

From reading the official regulations, unfortunately I think 4th place (if Chelsea win) mean the Europa league.