Football

[HST Power]

Aye, it isn't what it was 20 odd years ago, when Aberdeen , Dundee United , Hearts and the like still put a challenge in, and the standard has dropped unfortunately. Though your not exactly dripping with competition for the title down south it has to be said if the past 10 winners are anything to go by.

You have a point. Now the title challenge is mainly between United and Chelsea, with United coming on top about 99.99% of the time. I used to love the days when Arsenal were up there, fighting for the league and cup double, but those days are long gone and won't be returning any time soon. I remember when Scholes missed his penalty in the FA Cup Final and United, who had been the better team by far, lost the trophy to Arsenal. That was the one time that United actually played the best but still lost, though I was elated for days on end!

If it weren't for the distances and coach trips that would have to occur, Celtic and Rangers could join the Premiership. It would be very interesting to see how they would fare.

 

[CarterUSM]

I loved the season when Blackburn won the title, 95-ish? I don't really watch English football anymore, though even the diddy teams are full of quality, something lacking up here! Interestingly, many moons ago I read in a football history book, that Newcastle United applied to join the Scottish league in the 50's, but were knocked back for some reason. I liked their team in the mid 90's too, blew it the year Keegan went nuggets on the telly though!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I loved the season when Blackburn won the title, 95-ish?

Yep, '95. Only four teams have won the Premiership in 21 (?) years; Rovers (once), Arsenal, Chelsea and United. Mind you, you have to go back to the '90s to find when someone other than the Gers or the Enemy finished first and second (Aberdeen about '94 I believe) in the SPL.

 

[HST Power]

Gosh, my Dad went nuts when Newcastle blew their twelve point lead over United in 95-96. What an embarrassment!

 

[CarterUSM]

Yep, '95. Only four teams have won the Premiership in 21 (?) years; Rovers (once), Arsenal, Chelsea and United. Mind you, you have to go back to the '90s to find when someone other than the Gers or the Enemy finished first and second (Aberdeen about '94 I believe) in the SPL.

Aye, Aberdeen still had not a bad side then, why they sacked Willie Miller i'll never know, though their board were still expecting titles I suppose.
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Gosh, my Dad went nuts when Newcastle blew their twelve point lead over United in 95-96. What an embarrassment!

Aye, I was gutted for them, I took quite a liking to Newcastle that year, though they're a shadow of that team nowadays.

 

[HST Power]

Aye, I was gutted for them, I took quite a liking to Newcastle that year, though they're a shadow of that team nowadays.

It's such an embarrassment. I took one of my friends to see the pre-season friendly with Fiorentina and after five minutes of watching all the Geordies pounding their drums, screaming their heads off and singing like choirboys as the players kicked off, I really did how wonder how a club whereby the fans would happily burn their own houses down if it meant three points on the table, have failed to excel, win titles and get the players needed for glory.

 

[CarterUSM]

It's such an embarrassment. I took one of my friends to see the pre-season friendly with Fiorentina and after five minutes of watching all the Geordies pounding their drums, screaming their heads off and singing like choirboys as the players kicked off, I really did how wonder how a club whereby the fans would happily burn their own houses down if it meant three points on the table, have failed to excel, win titles and get the players needed for glory.

It's cool, I understand that feeling! Rangers are the same, we can still win the league here with a relatively poor team though!

 

[HST Power]

It's cool, I understand that feeling! Rangers are the same, we can still win the league here with a relatively poor team though!

Whilst I don't really follow Scottish football, I do have a slight soft spot for Rangers. I'd rather they won the league than Celtic any day of the week!

 

[Minilad]

Well done Southampton. Nice stroll in the park for you today !

 

[SS4]

Well done Southampton. Nice stroll in the park for you today !

Agreed, true premier league performance from the home team.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Fulham 2...Manchester City 2


City drop their first league points of the season, after establishing a lead in this match. Fulham still have the knack of producing interesting results on their own turf.

 

[valenta]

Fulham 2...Manchester City 2


City drop their first league points of the season, after establishing a lead in this match. Fulham still have the knack of producing interesting results on their own turf.

Good for Fulham, glad to see Man City getting stopped in their tracks!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Sunderland 4...Stoke City 0

A most surprising result, but Sunderland scored three early goals in the first half. Stoke City somewhat jaded after this week's Europa Leage game.
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Manchester United 3....Chelsea 1

A match of two halves, scoring wise. Chelsea knew that it was difficult, when they went off at half time three goals down, with Rooney scoring just before half-time. They scored through Torres (!!!) only 35 seconds into the second half, but that was the end of the scoring. Yellow cards were given for some nasty challenges in the second half.
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One for those whose teams have not had a good start to the season

Fort William in the Highland Football League have brought last years form into the current campaign:-

Played 6.... Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 6. Goals for : 3, Goals against : 30.

A 100% record. :roll: Consistency, if nothing else.

This is the league that Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Ross County, Peterhead and Elgin City all came from to enter the main level of football in Scotland.

 

[YorkshireRider]

Getting five players in fifty hours is a panic move and Arsenal did that.

Please do tell me from Arsenals squad list for 2011 what players do we have to be a top 4 team? Me i cant see them even qualifying for the Europa League. Arsenal fans are getting sick to the back teeth of just being a top four team, they want to see silverware and with the advent of oil rich oligachs and sheikhs that aint going to happen. Gone are the days when players wanted to play for us, now they cant wait to leave through the exit door.

Well nothing like a tricky 3rd round Carling Cup tie against Shrewsbury to instill confidence then. Followed by a league game against Bolton Wanderers, then a Champions League Fixture against Olymipiakos. This takes up to October then we have the North London derby. With games against Sunderland, Stoke and Chelsea in that October month. Could well see confidence hit Arsenal players putting in transfer requests.

Vermaelen, Walcott, Van Persie, Wiltshire, Ramsey. Flapping and panic after 5 games is nothing new in the football fan but the squad is more talented than the over-priced average one at Liverpool under the dour Dalglish although Tottenham do look good i reckon Arsenal can still pip them to 4th. I dont even think they should publish league tables until 10 games in as it is potty to read anything into them so early

 

[CarterUSM]

One for those whose teams have not had a good start to the season

Fort William in the Highland Football League have brought last years form into the current campaign:-

Played 6.... Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 6. Goals for : 3, Goals against : 30.

A 100% record. :roll: Consistency, if nothing else.

This is the league that Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Ross County, Peterhead and Elgin City all came from to enter the main level of football in Scotland.

I think they'd be better sticking to shinty, they're much better at that!

 

[Butts]

Yep, '95. Only four teams have won the Premiership in 21 (?) years; Rovers (once), Arsenal, Chelsea and United. Mind you, you have to go back to the '90s to find when someone other than the Gers or the Enemy finished first and second (Aberdeen about '94 I believe) in the SPL.

Hearts split Celtic Champions and Rangers 3rd by finishing runners up in 2005/06.

 

[ACE1888]

Will Manchester become 'the city' of the EPL like Glasgow is to the SPL we wonder? (ie the trophy destined to stay in one city). Can't see past either United or City(with their 'finances'), Chelski seem in the famous 'rebuilding stage now, forget Arsenal and Liverpool already, will be fighting it out with Spurs for 4th place at best....

 

[SS4]

Will Manchester become 'the city' of the EPL like Glasgow is to the SPL we wonder? (ie the trophy destined to stay in one city). Can't see past either United or City(with their 'finances'), Chelski seem in the famous 'rebuilding stage now, forget Arsenal and Liverpool already, will be fighting it out with Spurs for 4th place at best....

Unfortunately I can see that being the case. It's going to take Manchester City a long time to gain the referee's confidence in the way Manchester United have though

I hope United* win on Tuesday

* That's Leeds United

 

[phil8715]

I've had a terrible weekend, all my fave teams got beat. My main team Burnley got beat by the posh, Celtic got beat by Rangers and Liverpool got beat by the yids.

Not a happy bunny.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

A bad day for the "number two" teams in Spain and Italy today........


La Liga

Levante UD 1.... Real Madrid 0


Serie A

Napoli 3...AC Milan 1

 

[HST Power]

I second the point made by phil8715

It's been a truly awful week for sport in general! Arsenal lost, Madrid (my Spanish team) lost, Mancehster United (curse them!) won, Tottenham won and England were awful in the rugby.

United are going to win the title again. We're becoming like the SPL, only instead of Rangers and Celtic, we've only got one team playing decent title worth football! Even the City manager, who's spent £400m on new players, says he needs more!!!

 

[balne-wonderer]

Unfortunately I can see that being the case. It's going to take Manchester City a long time to gain the referee's confidence in the way Manchester United have though

I hope United* win on Tuesday

* That's Leeds United

Good man. I'll be there tomorrow supporting the mighty whites. £31 was the cheapest ticket, no discount at all for us season ticket holders. Thanks Mr Bates.

Expecting to get thrashed though.

 

[ACE1888]

Good man. I'll be there tomorrow supporting the mighty whites. £31 was the cheapest ticket, no discount at all for us season ticket holders. Thanks Mr Bates.

Expecting to get thrashed though.

Always rely on 'Uncle Ken' for popular decisions
He has got his (latest) retirement plan to think of you know...

 

[Phil6219]

Even the City manager, who's spent £400m on new players, says he needs more!!!

But that's just an excuse, we should have had that game wrapped up easy but instead started to drift off in that "Typical City" fashion which appeared to have finally gone this season.

I genuinely thought Mancini had finally understood the need to take the lead and keep pushing rather than sitting back and defend, sadly it looks like he has gone back to his old ways. We will not win the league with this mentality, if it came down to goal difference we wouldn't stand a chance based on our latest performance (even if we won 2-0).

Another big obstacle that we face is the officials, it's not as bad as two seasons ago when every man and his dog were against us but the amount of decisions that go for the red side of Manchester is beyond a joke. That said, officials are pretty much a joke anyway :roll:

Still I'll be there on Wednesday watching as we make a total mountain out of a molehill (that said Birmingham did win the cup last season)

Phil

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I do have to ask - is this the greatest tackle of all time?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWIUp19bBoA

Brilliant

 

[CarterUSM]

Did he get confused and think it was rugger?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

One for those in East Anglia....


Ipswich Town 3....Coventry City 0

Ipswich Town put the memories of the Blackpool match away and played really well, especially in the first half and were two up at half time. This now takes them to 13th position, but Coventry City are in the 20th position.

 

[HST Power]

I do have to ask - is this the greatest tackle of all time?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWIUp19bBoA

Brilliant

Not bad!

 

[Minilad]

Shewsbury take an early lead at Le Arse in the League Cup

Tee Hee

I know it won't last but it's fun anyway

 

[SS4]

I just hope we don't make such a meal of getting through as we did against Hereford


also, come on you shrews