2008-09 Football Thread - The Second Half

[xUKHCx]

Pretty good system Jaffa. Did you look at the final table and think something was a miss though as I don't see West Brom getting above Middlesborough, although I haven't checked form as of late so you obviously have a better insight.

It Middlesborough and Sunderland go down it will surely boost the Newcastle lot as they will be the biggest club in the Northwest again.

So, for example, City play Manchester United at home on the last day of the season.

Totally through me as I could've sworn I watch Man City vs Man Utd at the pub earlier in the season but then realised it twas the other city you were referring too.

Yeah, it's still quite interesting. We should have the opportunity to put good space between us and Villa, as they may well lost to United and not win against Everton, their next two games. If they lose those 2, and we win our 2 - 9 points clear, I see us quite safe. Hm, I think we will do better against United and Liverpool than 2 losses.. our record so far against the big 3 others is WWD. We could well have an influence as to where the title ends up.

I was thinking about this earlier while driving and feel that you will have a huge say in where the title goes. That said Uniteds lead is two games worth.

In terms of Liverpool vs big 3 is WWDWW with the D being Arsenal. I have often had Arsenal (and especially Theo Walcott) as a bogey team for Liverpool.

Much like I had with Robben when he was at Chelsea.

I had Arsenal off 3rd by quite a little way but can't remember the games that I predicted to get that result. I think you will do better than my predictions but you do have the hardest run in of the big teams at this stage.

In your favour, Villa have hit a poor run of form which they need to address sharpish. I read recently that they've never won under Martin O'Neill during March, in his entire tenure at the club – if that's true it's quite a surprising fact.

Not only that but Everton are coming on strong so they could slip down to 6th. Now the difference between 5th and 6th isn't really that much apart from bragging rights and (£750000 iirc) as they will still get Europa league places.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Totally through me as I could've sworn I watch Man City vs Man Utd at the pub earlier in the season but then realised it twas the other city you were referring too.

Heh – no, there's only one City. Well, there's Stoke City as well but we'll not go there.

that does bring up one thing about our name, though. The club should really be either referred to as 'Hull City' or 'City' (or 'the Tigers', of course) – never just 'Hull', which in local sporting terms refers to pudgy egg-chasers Hull FC. Hence my mod-baffling reference to 'City'.

Did you look at the final table and think something was a miss though as I don't see West Brom getting above Middlesborough, although I haven't checked form as of late so you obviously have a better insight.

That really surprised me too, to be honest. If I've got it right, their results against 'middling' teams are pretty good – two wins and a draw in the past three at home for example (they shared the points with Bolton and recorded victories against Spurs and Manchester City), so my system indicated they'll pick up some points against the also-rans before the campaign is out. I think really though it's more a case of Middlesbrough suffering a serious slump than it is of West Brom turning into Brazil.

Either that or the system is fundamentally flawed. As are, by a curious coincidence, West Brom and Middlesbrough...

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Interesting system - also interesting to see Fulham finish so high, but going on current form it does make a certain amount of sense.

I still think Newcastle will go down because they are more or less rudderless and Owen seems to be off-form...they've dug themselves a big hole, and I just don't see them displaying the kind of fighting spirit that Stoke (for example) bring to matches.

When I did my fixture calculator a while back, Villa were playing well and Arsenal were not. But now things have changed, due no doubt in a great part to messrs. Walcott, Eduardo, and Arshavin (which is, I have heard, properly pronounced arshaVEEN).

I think Arsenal's results against United and Liverpool will determine just how close the gap between 1st and 2nd will end up being. They also have a good shot in the Champions league. I admit I had written them off a bit earlier, but the quality of the squad should now (I think) keep the "traditional" big four unchanged.

 

[Fuzzy14]

I think the system is fundamentally flawed because it averages the entire season rather than take into account local streaks so for instance the Tigers started off well but haven't been great as late, but I think your system will give them a more positive result than they perhaps are on course to do. Not to say that they aren't about to embark on a mental winning streak of course! Regardless, I think they'll stay up, Newcastle to go down and Liverpool to win, based on no science whatsover.

BTW, I thought the city was called Kingston and Hull was the name of the river? Why aren't you Kingston City FC?

 

[absit invidia]

Yeah, it's still quite interesting. We should have the opportunity to put good space between us and Villa, as they may well lost to United and not win against Everton, their next two games. If they lose those 2, and we win our 2 - 9 points clear, I see us quite safe. Hm, I think we will do better against United and Liverpool than 2 losses.. our record so far against the big 3 others is WWD. We could well have an influence as to where the title ends up.

I think Liverpool's is WWDWW (13/15), United's is LDLWL (4/15) and Chelsea's is DLLLL (1/15). So it, judging purely on form, it looks like you'd be looking to get more out of Chesea and United than perhaps Liverpool at Anfield.

EDIT:

I just did the title prediction thing on the BBC. Here is what I got:

 

[Jaffa Cake]

I think the system is fundamentally flawed...

Oh, undoubtedly. I took the last three fixtures home and away against the various groupings - in some instances these fixtures only took place up to a month or two back, for some others I had to go back several months. From my point of view, it only helped to reinforce just how poor our form has been of late. I'm not pretending for a minute it's a perfect or reliable system though, so I won't be applying to become Doctor Q's apprentice just yet. And come the end of the season, it'll be interesting to see whether my dodgy sums or proper predicting will be closer to the mark.

BTW, I thought the city was called Kingston and Hull was the name of the river? Why aren't you Kingston City FC?

As for the city name, our full Sunday name is Kingston upon Hull (ie, Kings Town upon the River Hull), as we do indeed stand upon the River Hull. For most folk it's just 'ull, though – which as you say is a little odd because most other similar towns and cities (Newcastle upon Tyne or Stoke on Trent to use two other Premier League examples) use the name of the town as the short version, whereas we for some reason use the name of the river. Still, if we were Kingston City FC that would be a bit rubbish, as it would invite further confusion with an egg-chasing outfit (Hull Kingston Rovers) and you'd actually be able to colour some of the letters in in our name.

Oh, and it's always nice to see a new face in here, absit invidia. Please state your club affiliation so we can decide whether to embrace you or gently mock you.

 

[Fuzzy14]

Oh sorry for mocking your efforts by the way. Not nice when you spend a couple of hours doing all the calculations then some numpty in the forum says it's rubbish! Football's great, just think of the millions on manhours people have spent on the Beeb trying to predict the end of the season.

If we were to name our fooball team after our river we'd end up with Clyde FC! How mad would that be! Oh wait a minute....

In the Other Predictor, I got nil point last week and Pachyderm scored 1 so well done you! No games this week due to the international

 

[pachyderm]

Oh sorry for mocking your efforts by the way. Not nice when you spend a couple of hours doing all the calculations then some numpty in the forum says it's rubbish! Football's great, just think of the millions on manhours people have spent on the Beeb trying to predict the end of the season.

If we were to name our fooball team after our river we'd end up with Clyde FC! How mad would that be! Oh wait a minute....

In the Other Predictor, I got nil point last week and Pachyderm scored 1 so well done you! No games this week due to the international

I highly recommend this game by the by. easy to play and all...

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I think 4 points is such a big margin at this point in the season.

I ran the rough the predictor again but recent form has tainted my prediction skills, I think my earlier prediction is probably more objective. In my "Liverpool Upset" scenario I have the Reds winning out with a healthy goal difference, and Man Utd dropping points to Spurs in a draw and a key loss in a thriller against the Arse. One can always hope...

In terms of the bottom it seems as if the magical 40 points will actually be about 35 ish if the league follows the projections as done by our panel of experts (i.e us lot )

Helped mostly by the horrific form of Middlesbrough and Newcastle.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Oh sorry for mocking your efforts by the way. Not nice when you spend a couple of hours doing all the calculations then some numpty in the forum says it's rubbish!

Don't worry, no offence taken or owt. You great numpty.

Anyway, a little something for you – further evidence to back up the claims of the Scottish that their national side have an air of aceness about them. It seems that even your opponents this weekend have had to concede this – Arsenal and Netherlands net-botherer Robin van Persie has come out to compare Scotland to one of the top club sides in the world.

Personally, I can think of no higher praise to give to a team.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Robin van Persie has come out to compare Scotland to one of the top club sides in the world.

He sort of manages to insult everyone in that article, though I suppose Hull City comes off the best.

The Scots better treat RVP nicely though - I need him to score a few goals against Man Utd when the time comes.

 

[xUKHCx]

I've had a long running argument with my girlfriend about Rafa and today I got final proof while watching Soccer AM.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Hmm, that picture was from last autumn judging by the poppy – although I don't know if the tracksuit tops pin it down to this season or a previous?

I wonder what he's smiling at – maybe Jamie Carragher had whispered to him what his brother allegedly got up to with John Terry's allegedly light-fingered mum?

 

[xUKHCx]

According to the sequence cut together by soccer am it was in reference to the Alex Ferguson balloon jumping incident.

Finland deserved the win over Wales, Wales didn't offer anything different at all.


I hope Northern Ireland lose, I absolutely hate it when the fans boo a national anthem. There is no need for such disrespect. Of course while I am writing this they go and score.


Edit: Equaliser by Poland which is great. And now even better by the Northern Ireland fans they have hit the linesman in the head with a coin. Come on Poland.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Norn Iron have the lead again, I hear.

Meanwhile, Alan Green really doesn't like the new England kit...

 

[xUKHCx]

Norn Iron have the lead again, I hear.

Meanwhile, Alan Green really doesn't like the new England kit...

Yeah, unfortunately I am watching the game (3rd of the day)*. Poland can't defend for anything.

England games on Setanta

The new kits look very much like Polo shirts




Look at Gareth Barry with his shirt tucked in doesn't really look like a football kit.

As I type Poland's keeper (who has been dreadful btw) gets done by a bobble and the back pass goes in 3-1 now.

*
Wycombe Wanderers vs Shrewsbury Town
Wales v Finland
Northern Ireland v. Poland

 

[Jaffa Cake]

To be fair, they do look a bit like a group of holiday reps in that picture.

I like it though, and I'll pick one up once the price comes down a bit in the discount sports shops.



My Jaffatar™ is already kitted out in his, mind.

From an English point of view though the situation with our forwards is a bit worrying, with the qualifier coming up mid-week. Heskey started but limped off, his replacement Carlton Cole went off with what looked like a groin problem, while his replacement Crouch has also been subbed too.

If anyone happens to be going along to that match, take your boots – at this rate you might just get a game.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

As long as Rooney and Gerrard stay healthy the other striker doesn't matter too much I think. Heskey still seems fairly effective though.

But the mistakes at the back are worrying - not something that one should see with Terry and Ferdinand back there I should think.

In lower-profile news, USA play a qualifier against San Salvador today. In terms of form we should win handily but the stadium environment will be very hostile, much like Guatemala.

 

[BoyBach]

Meanwhile, Alan Green really doesn't like the new England kit...

Methinks it was designed solely to look good with a pair of jeans. However, if I whip off my cynics hat, I must admit to liking its retro goodness!

(Now, if only somebody could point out to Mr. Rooney that he looks like a complete twonk with his collar "popped" - as I believe the Hip-Hoppers call it.)

 

[Silencio]

In lower-profile news, USA play a qualifier against San Salvador today. In terms of form we should win handily but the stadium environment will be very hostile, much like Guatemala.

Against El Salvador, presumably in San Salvador.

I guess this game is on ESPN2. I'll try to tune in just to see if the conditions in the stadium are just as unfriendly as they're purported to be, though it'll be hard to turn away from the very tight Villanova / Pitt Elite 8 matchup.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

It's on ESPN2.

Against El Salvador, presumably in San Salvador.

Yeah, I was typing quickly. Apologies to ES fans.

We should be able to take them, but we are missing Onyewu in defense (knee strain) and Tim Howard is suspended, so we're fielding Aston Villa's #2 Brad Guzan between the sticks and Columbus' Frankie Hedjuk at right back.

They are just getting the teams out now, FIFIA world #17 vs #106. The atmosphere looks incredible. 2 minutes into the game and it looks like El Salvador are coming out with all guns blazing, but team USA is bossing the game physically, especially in the air.

 

[Blue Velvet]

Meanwhile, Alan Green really doesn't like the new England kit...

Is there anything this man does like?

 

[Lord Blackadder]

USA 2-2 El Salvador. We top our group in CONCACAF, so the world cup campaign is still going well.

Like England, some defensive weaknesses showed themselves in the game and allowed ES to score early on. We were down by two with less than half an hour to go when Columbus captain Frankie Hedjuk dragged the team back into the match with a goal and an assist.

We have our own Torres too - José Francisco Torres, and the young holding midfielder came on as a sub and did well.

I've never liked the USA crest, but I think our jersey design is nice...it has to be, since we don't change ours every five minutes like England does.

 

[gauchogolfer]

I've never followed MLS but have decided to adopt Seattle as my team. The manager seems like a good enough guy (sorry your Lordship).

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Is there anything this man does like?

That's a very good question - and after a fair bit of thought the answer would have to be a resounding 'no'. I suppose though that's what hour after hour of being sat up on a wind-blasted gantry with the likes of Mark Lawrenson will do to you...

Out of interest your Lordship, how often does the US national team come out with a new shirt design? And how about the MLS - do the teams there try to cash in on a new shirt every year, or do they tend to retain them for a little longer?