Football

[EbbwJunction1]

I do enjoy reading these match reports, but there's shurley shome mishtake here .... "The hosts took the lead after ten minutes when Jamie Barron got on the end of a cross from Jamie Barron"??

 

[507021]

What a game that was, although I could barely look at it once City pulled back to 4-3. Thankfully, we ended up as the first team to beat City in the league this season. I think that has to be a contender for game of the season, with Mo Salah's brilliant goal a contender for goal of the month at the very least.

Still, I think we desperately need a new goalkeeper. I don't think Karius has the confidence and Mignolet isn't consistent enough, the odd good game is no good because it's the bad games that cost us the points. It's a shame van Dijk couldn't play in this game too, but I think Klopp did the right thing to rest him as a precaution.

 

[fowler9]

What a game that was, although I could barely look at it once City pulled back to 4-3. Thankfully, we ended up as the first team to beat City in the league this season. I think that has to be a contender for game of the season, with Mo Salah's brilliant goal a contender for goal of the month at the very least.

Still, I think we desperately need a new goalkeeper. I don't think Karius has the confidence and Mignolet isn't consistent enough, the odd good game is no good because it's the bad games that cost us the points. It's a shame van Dijk couldn't play in this game too, but I think Klopp did the right thing to rest him as a precaution.

Brilliant game, I was fuming we stopped playing at 4-1. Both teams played very well, we just got the breaks until, as I say, we stopped playing.

 

[EM2]

I do enjoy reading these match reports, but there's shurley shome mishtake here .... "The hosts took the lead after ten minutes when Jamie Barron got on the end of a cross from Jamie Barron"??

Possibly not! In the NFL playoffs, Tennessee Titans scored a touchdown when quarterback Marcus Mariota caught a pass from quarterback Marcus Mariota.

 

[507021]

Brilliant game, I was fuming we stopped playing at 4-1. Both teams played very well, we just got the breaks until, as I say, we stopped playing.

It was a very, very silly thing to do against a team like City, but thankfully it didn't bite us in the **** this time.

 

[Butts]

Brilliant game, I was fuming we stopped playing at 4-1. Both teams played very well, we just got the breaks until, as I say, we stopped playing.

At least you can say you beat "The Champions" come the end of the season.

You need the FA Cup / Champions League Double this year.

 

[AlterEgo]

What a game that was, although I could barely look at it once City pulled back to 4-3. Thankfully, we ended up as the first team to beat City in the league this season. I think that has to be a contender for game of the season, with Mo Salah's brilliant goal a contender for goal of the month at the very least.

Still, I think we desperately need a new goalkeeper. I don't think Karius has the confidence and Mignolet isn't consistent enough, the odd good game is no good because it's the bad games that cost us the points. It's a shame van Dijk couldn't play in this game too, but I think Klopp did the right thing to rest him as a precaution.

Salah’s goal was not difficult to execute, firing into basically an open goal from 40 yards. Nice first touch but that’s a chance nearly every striker should be scoring. Put it this way, if he’d missed it you’d be unhappy.

Firmino’s goal on the other hand was a great example of sheer strength to earn the chance and then a technically difficult and astute finish to actually score. It was the best goal of the game in my opinion.

Our goalkeepers are really gash. A dodgy goalkeeper doesn’t inspire confidence within the defence. I’ve played centre half before and you really need the mental assurance the goalkeeper is going to win balls he comes for (this affects the decision making process - do I stay here on the penalty spot as the forward challenges my goalkeeper or do I rush back on the line to cover a clearance playing everyone onside in the process?). You also need the reassurance he will stop the shots he ought to be stopping. That’s why you show attackers the outside. If you can’t stop him, make the angle right and get yourself in a position where he’s going to have to shoot into the near post. Again, you need the assurance the goalkeeper isn’t going to allow easy shots in his near post.

 

[507021]

Salah’s goal was not difficult to execute, firing into basically an open goal from 40 yards. Nice first touch but that’s a chance nearly every striker should be scoring. Put it this way, if he’d missed it you’d be unhappy.

Firmino’s goal on the other hand was a great example of sheer strength to earn the chance and then a technically difficult and astute finish to actually score. It was the best goal of the game in my opinion.

Our goalkeepers are really gash. A dodgy goalkeeper doesn’t inspire confidence within the defence. I’ve played centre half before and you really need the mental assurance the goalkeeper is going to win balls he comes for (this affects the decision making process - do I stay here on the penalty spot as the forward challenges my goalkeeper or do I rush back on the line to cover a clearance playing everyone onside in the process?). You also need the reassurance he will stop the shots he ought to be stopping. That’s why you show attackers the outside. If you can’t stop him, make the angle right and get yourself in a position where he’s going to have to shoot into the near post. Again, you need the assurance the goalkeeper isn’t going to allow easy shots in his near post.

They were all good goals, to be fair. Still, he's up to 24 goals for the season now which is beyond what I was expecting (15-20) when we first signed him. Firmino is very underrated in my opinion, what a player he is.

I really hope Klopp addresses the problem and goes out to get a keeper in this transfer window, and have Danny Ward as back up. Then in the summer, I'd look to offload Mignolet and give Karius a season in the reserves to try and build up his confidence. If we actually had a decent keeper, I think we'd have several more points than we do at the moment.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I do enjoy reading these match reports, but there's shurley shome mishtake here .... "The hosts took the lead after ten minutes when Jamie Barron got on the end of a cross from Jamie Barron"??

Shows how high his fitness level must be...

 

[DarloRich]

BBC report that Cyrille Regis has died: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42687285

 

[WelshBluebird]

Ryan Giggs Wales manager then. Not convinced sadly. How on earth can we expect Welsh players to give their all for a manager who couldn't be bothered to turn up to games when he was a player?

 

[DarloRich]

Paul Lambert in at Stoke: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42689053

Stoke City have appointed former Aston Villa and Norwich boss Paul Lambert as manager.

The 48-year-old Scot has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract after Mark Hughes was dismissed this month.

Ryan Giggs Wales manager then. Not convinced sadly. How on earth can we expect Welsh players to give their all for a manager who couldn't be bothered to turn up to games when he was a player?

because they are international footballers representing their country?

 

[WelshBluebird]

because they are international footballers representing their country?

The same could have been said for Giggs himself, but we all know that history!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Ryan Giggs Wales manager then. Not convinced sadly. How on earth can we expect Welsh players to give their all for a manager who couldn't be bothered to turn up to games when he was a player?

Between the 16 years ranging from 1991 to 2007, he played for Wales in every one of those years with a total of 64 international matches, scoring a total of 12 goals.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Between the 16 years ranging from 1991 to 2007, he played for Wales in every one of those years with a total of 64 international matches, scoring a total of 12 goals.

64 caps in 16 years, averaging less than 4 games a year.

Now obviously that doesn't tell the whole story, the average is a bit unfair as games would have been grouped together more, and Wales didn't play in any major tournament during that time (so comparisons to say England players aren't really possible).

But it is very well known, at least among Wales fans, that Giggs missed a lot of games, mainly friendlies (he did not play in a friendly between 1991 and 2000, and then missed a tonne after that too), due to "injury". And yet played for Manchester United both in the run up, and then after the Wales game. Suspicious no? From what has been made public, it does sound like it may have been Alex Ferguson pulling the strings there rather than Giggs himself, but it still is a pretty sore topic with Wales fans.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

64 caps in 16 years, averaging less than 4 games a year.

Now obviously that doesn't tell the whole story, the average is a bit unfair as games would have been grouped together more, and Wales didn't play in any major tournament during that time (so comparisons to say England players aren't really possible).

But it is very well known, at least among Wales fans, that Giggs missed a lot of games, mainly friendlies (he did not play in a friendly between 1991 and 2000), due to "injury". And yet played for Manchester United both in the run up, and then after the Wales game. Suspicious no? From what has been made public, it does sound like it may have been Alex Ferguson pulling the strings there rather than Giggs himself, but it still is a pretty sore topic with Wales fans.

With "friendly" matches, they are often used as a way to evaluate new players at a different level than they would experience at club football level. International matches are a different kettle of fish. I am glad that you mentioned the Ferguson influence on such matters, as it would be unfair to lay all the blame at the feet of Giggs if his club manager became involved.

 

[AlterEgo]

With "friendly" matches, they are often used as a way to evaluate new players at a different level than they would experience at club football level. International matches are a different kettle of fish. I am glad that you mentioned the Ferguson influence on such matters, as it would be unfair to lay all the blame at the feet of Giggs if his club manager became involved.

It would still be unfair for Giggs to have the balls to ask players to play for him as Welsh manager.

Leadership is about not asking others to do things you didn’t or won’t do.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It would still be unfair for Giggs to have the balls to ask players to play for him as Welsh manager.

Leadership is about not asking others to do things you didn’t or won’t do.

I thought international matches were there to represent your country, not a team manager, unless you tar all such players with the same brush.

 

[Minilad]

RIP Cyrille Regis.
An icon of Midlands football and a thoroughly decent chap.

Also, Lambert to Stoke......hahahahahhahahahahahahahahahaha. Good luck with that

 

[AlterEgo]

I thought international matches were there to represent your country, not a team manager, unless you tar all such players with the same brush.

Not sure what your logic is.

Would be like saying soldiers on deployment are there to represent their country or their regiment, so it would be okay to employ officers to organise and command them who didn’t understand the basic tenet of leadership which is as I mentioned above.

The manager of a football team is someone in a leadership position who ought to possess leadership qualities. Giggs doesn’t have the respect of many people because of his past history of dodging games, whether that’s entirely his fault or not is neither here nor there. He doesn’t have the respect.

Bad appointment.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Not sure what your logic is.

Would be like saying soldiers on deployment are there to represent their country or their regiment, so it would be okay to employ officers to organise and command them who didn’t understand the basic tenet of leadership which is as I mentioned above.

The manager of a football team is someone in a leadership position who ought to possess leadership qualities. Giggs doesn’t have the respect of many people because of his past history of dodging games, whether that’s entirely his fault or not is neither here nor there. He doesn’t have the respect.

Bad appointment.

That being the case, we all know where the blame should lie for his appointment.

 

[fowler9]

Salah’s goal was not difficult to execute, firing into basically an open goal from 40 yards. Nice first touch but that’s a chance nearly every striker should be scoring. Put it this way, if he’d missed it you’d be unhappy.

He tried a long pass, carried on his run and met the ball as it came back to him. I thought he did pretty well.

 

[DarloRich]

The manager of a football team is someone in a leadership position who ought to possess leadership qualities. Giggs doesn’t have the respect of many people because of his past history of dodging games, whether that’s entirely his fault or not is neither here nor there. He doesn’t have the respect.

Bad appointment.

Surely the issue is whether, or not, the players respect Ryan Giggs.

 

[AlterEgo]

Surely the issue is whether, or not, the players respect Ryan Giggs.

Who knows whether they do or not?

If I were a Welsh player, I probably wouldn't.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The appointment was made by the Football Association of Wales, but no-one seems to attach any blame to them.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Not sure what your logic is.

Would be like saying soldiers on deployment are there to represent their country or their regiment, so it would be okay to employ officers to organise and command them who didn’t understand the basic tenet of leadership which is as I mentioned above.

The manager of a football team is someone in a leadership position who ought to possess leadership qualities. Giggs doesn’t have the respect of many people because of his past history of dodging games, whether that’s entirely his fault or not is neither here nor there. He doesn’t have the respect.

Bad appointment.

That is pretty much my view. Obviously only the players really know how they feel. But if my boss was trying to get me to work hard and go the extra mile for them, when I knew full well they hadn't when they did my job in the past, well lets say I may not be so willing!

The appointment was made by the Football Association of Wales, but no-one seems to attach any blame to them.

Oh trust me, I have plenty of issues with the FaW, including this. They are fully responsible for their appointment. If it works, and I am really hoping I am proven wrong, then hats off to them and I shall shut up!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Being a York fan, I'm never happy.

The Tuesday night match tonight away at AFC Telford shows York registered a 5-3 away win. A case of two teams with poor defences or with good forward play?

 

[507021]

Jos Luhukay managed to bag his first win as manager of Sheffield Wednesday this evening, which should hopefully give us a bit a of a confidence boost. Good to see us progress in the FA Cup, although I think we might as well try and get a bit further given we're surely out of contention for promotion!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Rather a good result for Wigan Athletic in their 3-0 FA Cup 3rd round replay win against Bournemouth last night.

 

[DarloRich]

Recent Darlo performances:

A) Harorgate 3 v Darlo 0 - shambolic

H) Darlo 1 v Moneybags Salford 2. sigh. Should have had at least a point. we won penalty at 0-0. The resulting effort is the worst I have ever seen. Worse even than the infamous Barry Conlon penalty which at this present time is out past Venus. went behind, fought back, chucked it away in the last minute.

A) Alfreton 1 v Darlo 1. sigh. Darlo on course to "win ugly" (as they say) in a relegation 6 pointer ( as they also say). Scored early through Styche redeeming his awful penalty miss above. Fought, battled, jumped in front of balls, defended well, three points safe, corner turned, out of relegation zone, not pretty but job done. Conceded last minute penalty after young on loan keeper is alleged to have struck centre forward who had been battering him all game with no protection from the ref. Silly. One of the challenges would have look out of place in the 1950's when you could charge the keeper. Keeper sent off. 1-1.

( in true Arsene Wenger style i didn't see it as it was at the far end and the ball had gone)

1 point adrift of safety. 1 win and 2 draws in 11 games since Tommy Wright took over. We are going down. The one positive sign is that we have games against those around us coming up starting with Chorley at home on Saturday. We have to win some.