Football

[Purple Train]

Have you been watching the Spitting Image sketch when David Owen and David Steel merged?

I'm glad somebody noticed, yes!

In any case, if you are uniting the two clubs, then the name is obvious.

This made me laugh probably more than it should have done - well played!

 

[gg1]

Amusingly if the two Manc clubs continue their current form, next season could be the first time neither have qualified for Europe since the ban on English clubs was lifted in 1990.

 

[PauloDavesi]

Birmingham City go top of League one with a solid victory at Crawley Town, 1-0, on a wet and miserable night.
with two sold out home games next, it could be a very good christmas for the club.

 

[DarloRich]

LONG trip on the supporters coach on Saturday to see Needham Market v Darlo in national League NORTH(!)

It finished in a 1-0 win for Darlo via a will Hatfield block buster that was the one moment of class in the whole 90 minutes.

13 hours on the coach. I must be mad!

 

[75A]

Now that's what I call a 'true' supporter, good for you, and good to the supporters for putting on a coach.
I hope you enjoyed the result and look on the bright side, it could have been on a Tuesday night!

 

[PauloDavesi]

Birmingham City win again, 2-0 against Burton Albion in front of a sold out St Andrews.

Oxford Unitied get a win in their first game under Gary Rowett, to move out of the relegation places, and coventry City win 4-0 at home against a very poor Plymouth side who remain bottom of the table, and have a -27 goal difference.

 

[Jimini]

Well well well.

Little old Fulham win at Stamford Bridge for the first time in 45 years

 

[1D54]

Well well well.

Little old Fulham win at Stamford Bridge for the first time in 45 years

Or first win in 22 attempts, which ever looks/ sounds better.

 

[Falcon1200]

Oxford Unitied get a win in their first game under Gary Rowett, to move out of the relegation places

Delighted that we got the win, and against a relegation rival, but having been 3-0 up conceding 2 goals was poor. Still, 3 points are 3 points!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

North West Counties Football League...Premier Division

Bury 2 ... Ramsbottom United 2

A rather amazing Boxing Day attendance of 5,834 saw the clash between the top two teams share the points.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Altrincham 0-0 Halifax

Former Halifax player and walking yellow / red card Matty Kosylo sent off for Alty in the tunnel at half time; Halifax dominated the second half but we couldn’t find a goal

 

[Scotrail84]

Hibs beat Hearts at Tynecastle today in the Edinburgh derby. A rare away derby win, and a touch of class from Dwight Gayle to win it for the men in green.

 

[youngiecj]

Boston 0 Solihull 1. Ten men again, another game we could have shoulda etc. Far adrift now, regional football again next year barring a miracle!

 

[High Dyke]

Boston 0 Solihull 1. Ten men again, another game we could have shoulda etc. Far adrift now, regional football again next year barring a miracle!

The Gingerbreads aren't much better. Lost 5-1 at home today, to Long Eaton Utd. For the first time in our 150 years we're facing Step 5 football next season.

 

[Iskra]

Leeds went top of the Championship on goal difference last night after a 0-2 win over Stoke City. Stoke did have a couple of spells of possession and one big chance but other than that it was very comfortable and Leeds should have scored more really. Unfortunately, Burnley beating Sheffield United earlier in the day means there’s a few teams close to the top spot, whereas if Sheffield United had won there would just be two teams at the top with a modest gap to 3rd place which would have been preferable.

The main feature of the Stoke V Leeds game was thick fog which meant you couldn’t tell what was happening on the far side of the pitch on the telly, making for comical viewing with even the commentators seemingly unable to discern what was happening at times.

Clip of foggy TV screen

 

[PauloDavesi]

There was fog over much of the country, visability seemd to be poor for the Birmingham game.

The fog must have badly affected the Plymouth "manager" who still thinks he is the right man to save his team

 

[DarloRich]

Darlington 4 v Scarborough 3

That might look like a Christmas cracker but really it was darlo playing well in patches and Scarborough getting a comedy own goal, a fluke and a third that due to the fog I don't think anyone saw!

The fog was so bad in the second half I was getting twitchy the ref might call it off!
There were 2419 there so a big crowd but working out what was going on at times was hard!

The screen shown above gives an idea of the view!

EDIT - just seen the post match interviews (and apparently the goals!) on you tube and both players said they couldn't see the other touch line or full back so it sounds like the ref did us a solid!

Now that's what I call a 'true' supporter, good for you, and good to the supporters for putting on a coach.
I hope you enjoyed the result and look on the bright side, it could have been on a Tuesday night!

A full 50/52 seater to each match at least. Cost me £30 which is the most expensive of the season. Mostly £15/20.

I hadn't been on the supporters coach since I was a kid and I have to say it was a good atmosphere, comfortable and a good time all round. Arrived about 90 minutes before kick off so had time for a stroll and a couple of pints. We even got a tub of Xmas chocolate for the journey!

Doubt we will be allowed back as we smashed both quizzes!

 

[SuspectUsual]

Took this at Alty yesterday. Quite pleased with it

 

[Cowley]

Took this at Alty yesterday. Quite pleased with it

Were you there in 1962 really?

 

[DarloRich]

Yesterday at Darlington

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The fog caused the proposed fixture of Oldham Athletic v York City to be cancelled yesterday. A pity as both teams have had good recent results in their league.

 

[Falcon1200]

Hibs beat Hearts at Tynecastle today in the Edinburgh derby.

Bizarre happenings with Hibs' first goal; First it was a goal, then it wasn't, then it was again! Got it right in the end though.

 

[150249]

State of affairs at Exeter City yesterday. May or may not have set fireworks off pre-game

 

[Scotrail84]

Bizarre happenings with Hibs' first goal; First it was a goal, then it wasn't, then it was again! Got it right in the end though.

Linesman flagged for offside but the ball came off Rowles and Bishiri was not impeding the view of Craig Gordon. Goal given, correct decision. Got to celebrate it twice.

 

[Purple Train]

Stoke have sacked manager Narcis Pelach after three months in charge. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5yw7pgq2lko)

Stoke City have parted company with head coach Narcis Pelach just 19 games into his tenure at the club, stating that the Spaniard was "not the right fit".

Pelach replaced Steven Schumacher on 18 September, signing a three-year contract, but has won only three times in the Championship, the last on 6 November, and the Potters lie 19th in the table.

They were beaten 2-0 by Leeds United on Boxing Day, during which the 36-year-old was criticised over his constant tactical changes.

Is this the correct decision, Stoke fans? The turnover of managers does seem ridiculous at the minute, although I note that Ruben Amorim's replacement has already been sacked by Sporting Lisbon!

 

[Lewisham2221]

Stoke have sacked manager Narcis Pelach after three months in charge. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5yw7pgq2lko)

Is this the correct decision, Stoke fans? The turnover of managers does seem ridiculous at the minute, although I note that Ruben Amorim's replacement has already been sacked by Sporting Lisbon!

Yes, but...

He was brought in to stop the rot and turn things around. That clearly hasn't happened - some may argue that things got worse - so on that basis, yes, he had to go.

But, there's clearly a deeper issue. Three different managers but very little difference noticed on the pitch. Nothing makes any sense. Players who show moments of promise one week, look practically Sunday League level the next. Winning lineups would be totally altered the following week and go on to lose or draw - obviously something behind the scenes must prompt such actions. Players who fans thought were "the problem" under Neil got dropped under Schumacher and Pelach but results didn't change. Other players who looked promising, now barely set foot on the pitch. Nobody looks like they have any fight, any desire, any passion. Eleven blokes go out each weekend, jog around the pitch for 90 minutes, lose, then go home - no doubt being paid handsomely. It doesn't matter which eleven men jog around the field, or which other handsomely paid man shouts things at them from the dugout - the end result is the same. Something else behind the scenes needs to change, not just the manager.

 

[dangie]

Stoke have sacked manager Narcis Pelach after three months in charge. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5yw7pgq2lko)

Is this the correct decision, Stoke fans? The turnover of managers does seem ridiculous at the minute, although I note that Ruben Amorim's replacement has already been sacked by Sporting Lisbon!

It’s usually me who posts on here about Stoke’s latest manager sacking, but I’ve just read it on here!

Not really a surprise, but any Stoke manager sacking never is. In six years, including stand-ins, Stoke have had thirteen managers. At least for Narcis Pelach, signing a three year contract but sacked after three months he should have a decent pay off. He actually seemed a decent bloke, in as much he tended to blame defeats on Stoke’s performance rather than bad luck or bad refereeing.

Sporting director Jon Walters says: “I'm absolutely determined that we will now make the right choice to take us forward.”

So what happened to all the previous appointments? I feel rather than moving forward, we will be moving down. It’s really hard being a Stoke supporter.

 

[PauloDavesi]

If they can wait a few days Wayne Ruiney will be available to ensure relegation.

 

[dangie]

If they can wait a few days Wayne Ruiney will be available to ensure relegation.

That’s not funny…..
The worrying thing is that Stoke is much closer to his home in Cheshire, so that would be a good move for him.

 

[PauloDavesi]

Seriously, would the stoke ownership really appoint someone with such a record of failure?

I can see Oxford moving out of the relegation zone very quickly now Gary Rowett is in charge.

Whoever takes over at Stoke, and Plymouth, has a massive job restoring confidence in a playing squad that has been badly mismanaged.