Football

[VauxhallandI]

Altrincham 1 - 1 Stockport C

Another superb result for Alty as they continue to get results despite losing their talisman striker Hulme to poverty stricken AFC Fylde at the start of the season.

I don’t believe that they will end up in the play off spots but staying up so we the fans get a season in the Conference would be a great result.

 

[DarloRich]

Christmas performances for Darlo:

Boxing Day: Darlington 0 v Spennymoor 0 - not a great game played in terrible conditions. A good point against a decent side.

28th: Darlington 6 v Blyth Spartans 0 - a very good performance against a poor team and apparently our first home league win since January 2020!

 

[backontrack]

Team of the Year:

Neuer; Alexander-Arnold, Ramos, van Dijk, Davies; Kimmich, de Bruyne, Henderson; Müller, Lewandowski, Mané
(Buffon, Alaba, Robertson, Thiago, Sancho, Messi, Mbappé, Haaland, Immobile)


EPL Team of the Year:

Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, van Dijk, Mings, Robertson; Henderson, de Bruyne; Mané, Grealish, Rashford; Vardy
(Dubravka, Baldock, Coady, James, Kanté, Wijnaldum, Salah, Son, Kane)

 

[adrock1976]

Some sad news from Scotland of the passing of former Dundee United manager and chairman Jim Maclean, who together with Aberdeen, made United a success in the 1980s as part of the "New Firm".

He was a no nonsense manager even to the level regarding new signing targets that if they were not prepared to relocate and reside in Dundee, he very clearly stated to them not to bother signing along the dotted line.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Some sad news from Scotland of the passing of former Dundee United manager and chairman Jim Maclean

Dundee United have a remarkable record of having beaten Barcelona in each of the four times that the teams have played each other competitively, the last two occasions, in 1987, under the managership of the late Jim McLean.

 

[youngiecj]

Farlsey 0 Boston 4. 5x clean sheets in a row. Ticking along as they say!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Sheffield Wednesday have sacked Tony Pulis after only ten games in charge... surprising but given they didn't really get the "new manager bounce" when he joined I'm not completely shocked. They may be beyond help for this season even having had their points deduction halved, unless Harry Houdini is available!

 

[Iskra]

Sheffield Wednesday have sacked Tony Pulis after only ten games in charge... surprising but given they didn't really get the "new manager bounce" when he joined I'm not completely shocked. They may be beyond help for this season even having had their points deduction halved, unless Harry Houdini is available!

It's their chairman that's the problem. It's strange they have no money for spending on players, but plenty for paying off managers. It reminds of Leeds about 5 seasons ago. I can't say I have too much sympathy however for Sheffield Wednesday fans- I've never met a more deluded set of supporters.

West Brom 0 Leeds 5.

I'm glad Bielsa triumphed over Allardyce. Some great goals, including a particularly good own goal, however West Brom were absolutely woeful so this game isn't much of a barometer. I'm very happy to be 11th in the Premier League and to have amassed 23 points before the half way point.

On the other side of the steel city, it's a shame to see the Blades on track towards breaking Derby County's record for least points gained in a Premier League season.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Rashford takes MUFC to second in the Premier League with a stoppage-time winner

 

[Bald Rick]

Rashford takes MUFC to second in the Premier League with a stoppage-time winner

There’s no justice.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It's their chairman that's the problem. It's strange they have no money for spending on players, but plenty for paying off managers. It reminds of Leeds about 5 seasons ago. I can't say I have too much sympathy however for Sheffield Wednesday fans- I've never met a more deluded set of supporters.

West Brom 0 Leeds 5.

I'm glad Bielsa triumphed over Allardyce. Some great goals, including a particularly good own goal, however West Brom were absolutely woeful so this game isn't much of a barometer. I'm very happy to be 11th in the Premier League and to have amassed 23 points before the half way point.

On the other side of the steel city, it's a shame to see the Blades on track towards breaking Derby County's record for least points gained in a Premier League season.

I know what you mean about Wednesday supporters, though the usual caveat about empty vessels making the most noise applies here: we have one or two Owls on here who don't seem to match that stereotype... though I'd be lying if I denied that beating them in the play-offs in 2017 was made sweeter by a bunch of their lads coming onto our forum after the first leg boasting that they'd already booked train tickets and hotel rooms!

Blades on the other hand have managed to contract an even worse case of "Second Season Syndrome" than we had.

After the disappointing last-second goal conceded on boxing day, we managed to bag a late winner tonight at home against Blackburn. Our squad is down to the bare bones and we still have one or two players on stupid wages and not doing anything to earn them... but Corberan is managing to get a tune out of us most games, and has even managed to turn Isaac Mbenza into a footballer. With some smart recruitment this window, the top six might be worth an outside bet. Not sure I want to go back to being patronised every week by MOTD again so soon, but perhaps we'll be a bit more savvy about what's required in the Premier League second time around.

By the way, if Bielsa needs to brush up on his English I'm sure his old friend Carlos will be happy to give him a few lessons over Zoom from down the A62...

 

[Bald Rick]

Astonishingly, you can still get 10/1 on the Blades staying up. Realistically, they need to win nearly half their remaining games, having failed to win any so far.

No bet!

 

[SuspectUsual]

Rashford takes MUFC to second in the Premier League with a stoppage-time winner

A rubbish result in a rubbish game decided by a rubbish goal

Meanwhile Halifax won again yesterday, with the added bonus of Matty Kosylo getting booked and then subbed at half time.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Dec 2020 ==

Astonishingly, you can still get 10/1 on the Blades staying up. Realistically, they need to win nearly half their remaining games, having failed to win any so far.

No bet!

That implies something like 1/11 on them getting relegated. For the professional gamblers who saw Frankel at 1/20 as the best bet of the year, that’s like printing money

 

[Bald Rick]

A rubbish result in a rubbish game decided by a rubbish goal

Meanwhile Halifax won again yesterday, with the added bonus of Matty Kosylo getting booked and then subbed at half time.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Dec 2020 ==



That implies something like 1/11 on them getting relegated. For the professional gamblers who saw Frankel at 1/20 as the best bet of the year, that’s like printing money

Indeed they are at 1/11. I suspect not for long.


Put another way; investors will happily put big money in the corporate bond markets at 5% annual return, knowing that they risk losing it all if the company goes bust.

In the Sheffield United relegation market you can get 11% return in 4-5 months, with the risk of losing it all if they win 32+ points from 22 games.

“Your capital is at risk, this does not constitute financial advice”

 

[scotrail158713]

including a particularly good own goal

I’ve just seen that. It may have been the first goal of the game, but it summed up the 90 minutes for West Brom.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Rashford takes MUFC to second in the Premier League with a stoppage-time winner

Seems strange that both Liverpool (1st) and Manchester United (2nd) have identical number of league games won.

 

[backontrack]

I’ve just seen that. It may have been the first goal of the game, but it summed up the 90 minutes for West Brom.

I can't see either West Brom or Sheff Utd staying up now.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I can't see either West Brom or Sheff Utd staying up now.

Derby County's unenviable record of 11 points for the whole season is under threat, it seems.

I note the absence of any opinion pieces in the papers or on TalkSport about whether Sheffield United are "The Worst Premier League Team Ever", oddly.

 

[SS4]

I can't see either West Brom or Sheff Utd staying up now.

West Brom were almost guaranteed to go down. Based on their summer deals (or lack thereof) it seems thev owners are after the cash from a one season stint.

They looked tired in the game against Liverpool and before that they were facing Manchester City - both very defensive games which are not easy.

The fixture congestion was affecting the villa at Chelsea too. We looked tired at the end of that game and resorted to route one at times - I wouldn't be surprised if it was affecting everyone at this traditionally busy time of year.

Next up is Manchester United on Friday. Win or lose I just don't want any controversy such as a VAR decision or a dodgy free kick etc

 

[Cowley]

West Brom were almost guaranteed to go down. Based on their summer deals (or lack thereof) it seems thev owners are after the cash from a one season stint.

They looked tired in the game against Liverpool and before that they were facing Manchester City - both very defensive games which are not easy.

The fixture congestion was affecting the villa at Chelsea too. We looked tired at the end of that game and resorted to route one at times - I wouldn't be surprised if it was affecting everyone at this traditionally busy time of year.

Next up is Manchester United on Friday. Win or lose I just don't want any controversy such as a VAR decision or a dodgy free kick etc

Funnily enough I said to both the lads that I reckon Allardyce will keep them up. I know that he’s had quite a break from football since ‘The Incident’ and perhaps things have moved on and I’m prepared to look stupid not just on here but also in front of my kids, but I just reckon he might somehow find a way to do it.

 

[VauxhallandI]

A rubbish result in a rubbish game decided by a rubbish goal

Meanwhile Halifax won again yesterday, with the added bonus of Matty Kosylo getting booked and then subbed at half time.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Dec 2020 ==



That implies something like 1/11 on them getting relegated. For the professional gamblers who saw Frankel at 1/20 as the best bet of the year, that’s like printing money

Kosylo has been great for us this season, what’s the beef on this one out of interest?

 

[SuspectUsual]

Kosylo has been great for us this season, what’s the beef on this one out of interest?

He’s just got massive anger management issues. We first came across him playing for Nantwich when we played them in the FA Trophy semi final and he was clearly a decent player but got riled easily. We signed him and he got better as a player but got loads of daft bookings for dissent. He then went to Fylde for the money (don’t blame him in the slightest) and when they came to the Shay last season he got so wound up by a bit of booing and heckling it was hilarious. Last season he also got a six game ban for spitting at an opponent, the second such ban of his career.

So a decent player with no brains. But as Neil Aspin always said, 99.9% of the time there’s a reason why players are at their level. We struck gold with Vardy because we gambled on him despite his reputation and persuaded him to dump most of his mates and focus on his football. I remember Aspin doing a charity Q&A when Town were in the unibond league and being asked why James Dean, who’d scored 40+ goals that season, got caught offside so often. Before he could stop himself Aspin replied “because he’s f*cking thick”.

 

[VauxhallandI]

He’s just got massive anger management issues. We first came across him playing for Nantwich when we played them in the FA Trophy semi final and he was clearly a decent player but got riled easily. We signed him and he got better as a player but got loads of daft bookings for dissent. He then went to Fylde for the money (don’t blame him in the slightest) and when they came to the Shay last season he got so wound up by a bit of booing and heckling it was hilarious. Last season he also got a six game ban for spitting at an opponent, the second such ban of his career.

So a decent player with no brains. But as Neil Aspin always said, 99.9% of the time there’s a reason why players are at their level. We struck gold with Vardy because we gambled on him despite his reputation and persuaded him to dump most of his mates and focus on his football. I remember Aspin doing a charity Q&A when Town were in the unibond league and being asked why James Dean, who’d scored 40+ goals that season, got caught offside so often. Before he could stop himself Aspin replied “because he’s f*cking thick”.

Thanks that was an amusing read! Yes quite how people expect footballers to be role models is daft eh!

Well we haven’t had any major incidents so far so fingers crossed it was just the Fax effect this time out!

 

[JamesT]

Seems strange that both Liverpool (1st) and Manchester United (2nd) have identical number of league games won.

Currently all of the top 4 have won 9 games (though Leicester City have played a game more). I don't think it's that abnormal, no team is playing exceptionally so its coming down to that moment where letting a goal in drops points or nicking one at the death wins you one. Liverpool have thus far managed to be better at avoiding defeat so have gained points through draws compared to Manchester United, Leicester City, and Everton.

 

[Iskra]

I know what you mean about Wednesday supporters, though the usual caveat about empty vessels making the most noise applies here: we have one or two Owls on here who don't seem to match that stereotype... though I'd be lying if I denied that beating them in the play-offs in 2017 was made sweeter by a bunch of their lads coming onto our forum after the first leg boasting that they'd already booked train tickets and hotel rooms!

Blades on the other hand have managed to contract an even worse case of "Second Season Syndrome" than we had.

After the disappointing last-second goal conceded on boxing day, we managed to bag a late winner tonight at home against Blackburn. Our squad is down to the bare bones and we still have one or two players on stupid wages and not doing anything to earn them... but Corberan is managing to get a tune out of us most games, and has even managed to turn Isaac Mbenza into a footballer. With some smart recruitment this window, the top six might be worth an outside bet. Not sure I want to go back to being patronised every week by MOTD again so soon, but perhaps we'll be a bit more savvy about what's required in the Premier League second time around.

By the way, if Bielsa needs to brush up on his English I'm sure his old friend Carlos will be happy to give him a few lessons over Zoom from down the A62...

Yeah that's always true, but living 1.5 miles from Hillsborough I come across a lot of empty vessels. I used to like Wednesday until I moved to Sheffield

I'm pretty sure Bielsa can speak English perfectly well, but uses the translator to buy time in interviews to provide more considered responses. It's probably why we never get tired old cliches and the blame game that most other managers trot out.

Derby County's unenviable record of 11 points for the whole season is under threat, it seems.

I note the absence of any opinion pieces in the papers or on TalkSport about whether Sheffield United are "The Worst Premier League Team Ever", oddly.

I think that would involve too many pundits eating humble pie. In their defence however, they don't seem to play bad whenever I watch them and they usually only seem to lose narrowly. However, they have set themselves up to fail by being over reliant on O'Connell for their style of play, they've subsequently been a bit lost without him. That's naive and controllable in my opinion. I also think Wilder gets an easier ride in the media for being English.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Yeah that's always true, but living 1.5 miles from Hillsborough I come across a lot of empty vessels. I used to like Wednesday until I moved to Sheffield

I'm pretty sure Bielsa can speak English perfectly well, but uses the translator to buy time in interviews to provide more considered responses. It's probably why we never get tired old cliches and the blame game that most other managers trot out.



I think that would involve too many pundits eating humble pie. In their defence however, they don't seem to play bad whenever I watch them and they usually only seem to lose narrowly. However, they have set themselves up to fail by being over reliant on O'Connell for their style of play, they've subsequently been a bit lost without him. That's naive and controllable in my opinion. I also think Wilder gets an easier ride in the media for being English.

There's definitely a tendency among the media to give English managers an easier ride... The example that immediately springs to mind is Sean Dyche who never gets called out on his hypocrisy over diving. Another example would be the condemnation Huddersfield received for the sacking of the Cowley brothers, when it was plain to see for those of us who had to sit through a string of 0-0s that the squad was lacking in fitness and finesse. The endless clichés in interviews also rubbed many of us up the wrong way- something that non-British managers are inevitably less likely to depend on.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

News breaking that former Scotland and Manchester United manager Tommy Docherty has passed away, aged 92.

"Tommy Docherty: Former Man Utd and Scotland boss dies - BBC Sport"

Tommy Docherty: Former Man Utd and Scotland boss dies

Former Manchester United and Scotland manager Tommy Docherty dies at the age of 92 following a long illness.

www.bbc.co.uk

Former Manchester United and Scotland manager Tommy Docherty has died at the age of 92 following a long illness.

As a player, Glasgow-born Docherty made more than 300 appearances for Preston and won 25 caps for Scotland.
He went on to manage 12 clubs, leading Chelsea to the 1965 League Cup title and he guided United to a 2-1 win over Liverpool in the 1977 FA Cup final.

"Tommy passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at home," his family said in a statement.

"He was a much-loved husband, father and papa and will be terribly missed.

"We ask that our privacy be respected at this time. There will be no further comment."

Docherty - affectionately known by his nickname 'The Doc' - died at home in the north west of England on 31 December.

After spells managing Chelsea, Rotherham, QPR, Aston Villa and Porto, he took over as Scotland boss in September 1971 on a temporary basis before getting the job full-time two months later.

But he was best known for his five-year spell at Manchester United, who approached him to succeed Frank O'Farrell in December 1972 while Scotland were on course to qualify for the 1974 World Cup finals.

They were relegated in 1974 under Docherty but they kept the Scotsman though and they bounced straight back to the top flight. Two years later, they won the FA Cup with victory over Bob Paisley's Liverpool, who had won the league and would go on to also win the European Cup that year.

Docherty's spell at Old Trafford also saw George Best fail to revive his United career, the retirement of Bobby Charlton, and the departure of Denis Law.

In 2014, he told the BBC he still regretted his decision to leave the Scotland job to become manager of United.

"I was stupid," he said. "I should have stayed with Scotland. [It was] partly the money, I have to be honest about that."

 

[VauxhallandI]

Shame, some character.

Also one of the worst managers of my lifetime at Altrincham!

 

[SS4]

Next up is Manchester United on Friday. Win or lose I just don't want any controversy such as a VAR decision or a dodgy free kick etc

So much for that. A soft penalty decision means we leave old Trafford with no points but with a decent, if wasteful, performance

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

So much for that. A soft penalty decision means we leave old Trafford with no points but with a decent, if wasteful, performance

Have the Villa had any firm offers for Grealish in the last few weeks?