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2008-09 Football Thread - The Second Half
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And rightly so, it seems...I'm starting to get a bit nervous, truth be told.
I've been quite optimistic on Hull's behalf, but after today's 1-2 loss at home to Stoke, I'm not really that sure anymore...now you're in trouble.
And West Bromwich might just have gotten the lifeline they needed...
At the final whistle, the incestuous mug-makers unfurled a large banner reading 'WER STAYING UP'. The illiterate buffoons.
We fell into our usual trap against the bigger teams we lofted ball after ball into their box. Given that the average height of a Stoke City player is somewhere about the seven foot mark and it was the diminutive Nick Barmby we were expecting to get on the end of these balls, it was a plan doomed to failure.
I did note though that our advertising boards were a good eight or nine feet closer to the pitch than normal, in order to prevent Delap taking a mighty run up. Heh.
Anyway, beat Bolton and Manchester United and we're safe. I'm off now to compose a 'Why the Championship is better than the Premier League, so there' list...
We fell into our usual trap against the bigger teams we lofted ball after ball into their box. Given that the average height of a Stoke City player is somewhere about the seven foot mark and it was the diminutive Nick Barmby we were expecting to get on the end of these balls, it was a plan doomed to failure.
I did note though that our advertising boards were a good eight or nine feet closer to the pitch than normal, in order to prevent Delap taking a mighty run up. Heh.
Anyway, beat Bolton and Manchester United and we're safe. I'm off now to compose a 'Why the Championship is better than the Premier League, so there' list...
Imagine if the Albion stay up, would be great to see and an incredible story! They play very watchable football and have some good players (Greening, looks like Jesus, plays like a god! ) would much prefer them to teams like Bolton in the league
) would much prefer them to teams like Bolton in the league
My condolences Jaffa; it's a tight race now but your boys still have their own future in their hands to some degree. You need to throw everything at Bolton though, since nobody can expect points from United. Expect the worst and hope for the best.
Glad to see Torres and Gerrard playing together again - look what happens when they do! Liverpool is a world class side but we need perhaps a little more depth if we are going to lift titles. Let's see if Man City can make things a little interesting tomorrow. Also good to see them score three, goal difference is important these days. I think we need to win out even if it doesn't change things, and let Fergie know we'll be back next season to pick up where we left off.
Middlesbrough and Newcastle are in a tough situation - neither can afford a draw, but both sides leak goals. They can't afford to sit back, but if they attack they will concede, so I'm gambling that that their defense will be shaky and we'll get a scored draw.
Glad to see Torres and Gerrard playing together again - look what happens when they do! Liverpool is a world class side but we need perhaps a little more depth if we are going to lift titles. Let's see if Man City can make things a little interesting tomorrow. Also good to see them score three, goal difference is important these days. I think we need to win out even if it doesn't change things, and let Fergie know we'll be back next season to pick up where we left off.
Middlesbrough and Newcastle are in a tough situation - neither can afford a draw, but both sides leak goals. They can't afford to sit back, but if they attack they will concede, so I'm gambling that that their defense will be shaky and we'll get a scored draw.
Imagine if the Albion stay up, would be great to see and an incredible story! They play very watchable football and have some good players (Greening, looks like Jesus, plays like a god!
love to see west brom stay up and hull too... can't be though...
Sunderland could still go down! I wasn't saying it would be good to see hull go down, I like Hull, especially the team that played in the first 6 months of the season
lol. sorry jaffa, i agree on this one. although i really think they should be relegated.
HULL CITY A.F.C. staying up would be a better one though.
I've got very mixed feelings on this one.
Obviously, as a Wolves fan Albion are not my favourite team. There are years and years of bad feelings between our two sets of fans, which has escalated out of control since they gifted us Steve Bull in the mid eighties.
But it has been over 25 years since the big four Midlands sides (us, them, Birmingham & Villa) were in the top flight together and I think it would be good to see them battling against each other again after all these years.
So I suppose I'm in a win-win situation. I can laugh my socks off at my mates if the Baggies go down or look forward to the intense rivalry next season if they stay up.
I don't want to sound harsh, but I have to agree, for the following reason. I've only seen a couple West Brom matches this season, but I don't understand why people say they play "attractive football".
True, they try to play a possession game, keep it on the ground and ping the ball around. But they aren't quick enough or precise enough to play that game in the premiership. Their defense can't handle premier league attacks. So, while they try to play attractive football, they don't have the tools to make it work against most of the teams in the league.
Stoke and Hull City have, at times, played a much more effective if not as ambitious type of game. I think pragmatism is the order of the day for a promoted team's first season. If WBA stay up it will be through luck as much as anything (but you could probably say the same about the bottom five right now) - but if it does happen it will be interesting to see how their strategy changes next season (and the same can be said for Stoke and Hull City). Will they get back to basics, or keep trying the "attractive" thing going?
In MLS news, defending champs Columbus finally have their first win, 3-2 over Kansas City, after an 0-2-5 start to the season (the worst ever for a defending MLS champ
). It's about bloody time is all I'll say...we are scoring goals at a similar clip to last year, but a few key injuries tore a big hole in our defense, and it cost us.
West Brom played some good football last season and it was little surprise they won the Championship... er... championship as a result. As you say your Lordship, Stoke City's approach is further towards the other end of the spectrum (although they do have some quality in their side too), while we're somewhere between the two.
At the start of the season it was West Brom the 'experts' had down as the most likely survivors, while Stoke would struggle and we'd be relegated by the end of October.
I think the problem West Brom have found is that they're trying to continue the positive approach which won them the title last season, but the Premier League is a much more unforgiving environment – as you allude to, their opponents need fewer chances to score, while the Baggies get less opportunities themselves.
At the start of the season it was West Brom the 'experts' had down as the most likely survivors, while Stoke would struggle and we'd be relegated by the end of October.
I think the problem West Brom have found is that they're trying to continue the positive approach which won them the title last season, but the Premier League is a much more unforgiving environment – as you allude to, their opponents need fewer chances to score, while the Baggies get less opportunities themselves.
I'll be cheering them on too. After we did them a favor in beating Cardiff, they can return the favor by beating the blunts!
...And there are no easy answers to the riddle. Assuming the team survives, they have to decide how to spend their limited resources. In the case of WBA, should they stick with the attractive football and try to become the "poor man's Arsenal"? Or should they become a more direct, physical side? The pundits whine about route one football, but they really aren't showing much sympathy for a side that has tried and failed to play Galactico-style football on a shoestring budget.
Roy Hodgson is a worthy manager, and I'd love to see Clint Dempsey in Europe next season, so I hope they make it. European football seems a poison chalice for mid-table clubs though. They either make a run, and then drop places in the league, or they play reserve sides and get dumped out.
I'll be cheering them on too. After we did them a favor in beating Cardiff, they can return the favor by beating the blunts!
Fizzoid = Wednesday...?
we're all wednesday aren't we?
Can I just point out when I posted that picture (courtesy of the BBC) on Saturday I was demonstrating the illiteracy and wasn't mocking Hull/Jaffa.
Still a long way to go which is why my celebrations at the weekends Old Firm game are a bit more muted, because I expect both teams to drop points in the last three games so top of the league is still in flux.
Unusual calls on the terraces of Motherwell's Fir Park at the weekend, "Don't gerintaehim!" As a result of no yellow cards they got a Fair Play place in the UEFA cup.
Still a long way to go which is why my celebrations at the weekends Old Firm game are a bit more muted, because I expect both teams to drop points in the last three games so top of the league is still in flux.
Unusual calls on the terraces of Motherwell's Fir Park at the weekend, "Don't gerintaehim!" As a result of no yellow cards they got a Fair Play place in the UEFA cup.
I proclaim Sheffield Wednesday (along with the inestimable Sheffield FC) to be the acceptable face of South Yorkshire-based football. Barnsley, Doncaster Rovers and the Blunts can only dream of being Wednesday.
1-1 at St James' Park at the moment. This would suit us...
Good job too – in the manner of Ledley King, I was just about to send 'one of my boys' around to teach you the error of your ways...
1-1 at St James' Park at the moment. This would suit us...
Guilty as charged!
Do you post here: OwlsAlive
I proclaim Sheffield Wednesday (along with the inestimable Sheffield FC) to be the acceptable face of South Yorkshire-based football. Barnsley, Doncaster Rovers and the Blunts can only dream of being Wednesday.
Good job too – in the manner of Ledley King, I was just about to send 'one of my boys' around to teach you the error of your ways...
OH AYE!!!
Hull's free fall seems to continue.... where will the fall end? The Championship?
Well, seems certain now that Newcastle have overtaken Hull...
Well, seems certain now that Newcastle have overtaken Hull...
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