2010-2011 Football Thread

[Lord Blackadder]

Fair point.. I don't know what I expected really, just wanted to rant!

It isn't ranting if it's done on camera - they call it "analysis".

Just so we're all aware, it's now apparently the case that – of the 25-man squad submitted at the start of the season – you can only play half of them during the course of the campaign or the Premier league will get cross with you.

It's nonsense. A team must name a squad of 25 players, and barring one or two exceptions (like a goalkeeping injury crisis) that squad represents a manager's pool of choices for the season. What is the point of further restricting a manager's ability to rotate the squad?

Once your 25 man squad is accepted by the league, you should be able to rotate your starting XI as much as you want. The "weakened squad" argument is such a subjective one that I can't see it ever holding water under scrutiny. The League/FA should just admit it's a silly rule and abolish it.

Next thing you know, teams will have to list a "best XI" when the season starts and will be fined every time they don't field those players without a good reason.

 

[Fizzoid]

It'll certainly be interesting to see what the PL do after Wolves' suspended fine after last season's changes, as they then set the precident.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

A key difference this time though is the new squad rule – Blackpool can quite rightly argue that any players they fielded are listed as part of their squad, which was registered with and approved by the Premier League earlier in the season.

 

[Fizzoid]

Good point!

In other news, it' seems Milan Mandaric is lining up to take over the mighty Owls. I usppose any cash is a bonus for us, but I wonder just how many more managers we'll get through

 

[Jaffa Cake]

In news that may or may not interest XIII, Big Vito made his Tigers' debut (along with a red third choice 'keeper's shirt I haven't seen before) in last night's important 2-0 win at Preston, pulling off some good saves including a vital fingertip diversion to frustrate the struggling Lancastrians.

He has a very Italian nose.

 

[Fuzzy14]

I'm a bit worried about today's visit from Aberdeen. It's normally a bad tempered match, but with Aberdeen losing their last 4 matches including last week against Celtic, I think they might be a bit of a wounded dog.

Manager Mark McGee has the full confidence of the board, which of course means his jaiket is hanging on a shoogly nail!

 

[daneoni]

Game of two halves that was. Cracking second half but poor Villa...failure at the edge of success.

 

[oscillatewildly]

Ferguson let the midfield get dominated for too long. I know Nani crossed for a goal, but he and Park looked shagged for most of the game, and I was surprised to see them stay on. It worked out in the end, but subs should have been made about 15 minutes before Aston Villa scored.

How long before Albrighton gets a full cap?

Cheers,
OW

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I just....Arrggh.

Stoke are dreadful, boring, dull, physical, anti-football, and effective. Fuller scored the ugliest goal ever. Tony Pulis's hat looks stupid.

Woy got the tactics wrong, no width, Miereles was poor, Kuyt should have started on the right, Jones was beating Kyrgiakos in the air the whole match. We just had nothing today. Lame, lame, lame.

I hate Stoke. And to top it all off, Mrs Blackadder "likes" Rory Delap. Twisting the knife, she is.

 

[daneoni]

Disappointing result for Liverpool again. That said, Stoke is one of the worst places to go and play 'football'

Will the Arse be able to take advantage of today's results...time will tell.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

And to top it all off, Mrs Blackadder "likes" Rory Delap. Twisting the knife, she is.

It's not surprising that he's a hit with Lady Blackadder – he is famous for having a very long one.

 

[oscillatewildly]

I just....Arrggh.

... Fuller scored the ugliest goal ever. Tony Pulis's hat looks stupid...

The Jones goal was okay.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

In international news, Fabio has called up Cardiff City striker Jay Bothroyd into his squad for England's friendly against France. Nice to see he's not afraid to look beyond the Premier League.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

It's not surprising that he's a hit with Lady Blackadder – he is famous for having a very long one.

"Long One?" Wha-hey, sounds a bit rude, doesn't it?

The Jones goal was okay.

I'll give him that. Jones is a decent player, very strong on the ball.

In international news, Fabio has called up Cardiff City striker Jay Bothroyd into his squad for England's friendly against France. Nice to see he's not afraid to look beyond the Premier League.

That is interesting. Let's hope he sees some action.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

"Long One?" Wha-hey, sounds a bit rude, doesn't it?

That reminds me of one of your ancestor's infamous parties (the BBC did a couple of series' worth of documentaries on them years ago). Wasn't that said by a fat, drunk bloke wearing a huge pair of fake breasts?



Probably not him though, obviously.

 

[daneoni]

Phew...glad we scraped that. Fabianski with some killa saves again.

EDIT: On another note, will someone tell Bosingwa to do something about that unibrow.

EDIT2: Insane performance by Sunderland. Brilliant.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Yikes. Sunderland makes our victory over Chelsea look labored...currently watching Rafa embarrass himself in the Milan Derby.

The Premier League is weak this season - and I like it. I still expect either Chelsea or Man U to win the league easily, but it's great to see them drawing and losing with some regularity. It's less predictable.

That reminds me of one of your ancestor's infamous parties (the BBC did a couple of series' worth of documentaries on them years ago). Wasn't that said by a fat, drunk bloke wearing a huge pair of fake breasts?

Indeed. It's a shame the comedy breasts phenomenon has become passé. Especially since so many of my ancestors turned out to be such boobs.

Probably not him though, obviously.

No, but he may be a descendant of Lord Percy, a contemporary of my Elizabethan ancestors....

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Capello faces France with Crouchy, Bothroyd and Carlton Cole. Who starts?

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Start the boy Bothroyd, I say.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

The Milan Derby has heated up. Both Materazzi and Pandev should have been sent off for Inter. Milan hang on to their narrow lead but are a man down.

Start the boy Bothroyd, I say.

A 4-5-1 then? Or perhaps Bothroyd and Crouchy in a 4-4-2? The French are not very good right now, it seems overcautious to go with a lone striker.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Oh no, I mean start him alongside another striker. I wouldn't turn my nose up at Crouch.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

EDIT: Despite being a man down, Milan hold on to their 1-0 advantage to win the Milan Derby. I had to giggle a bit when Zlatan ended up smashing Materazzi in the face with his elbow. Well done, Zibra.

I wouldn't turn my nose up at Crouch.

Considering his height, few people could.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

FIFA is toying with the idea of capping agents' cut of player's wages at 3%.

Sounds like a good idea on the face of it. Though, assuming it happens, that just means agents will demand higher salaries for their players' services in order to cover the loss.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

I think FIFA's main issue with the huge sums that agents are 'earning' is that they're not getting a cut...

 

[Silencio]

United announced today that the Glazers are going to fully pay off the club's payment in-kind loan on November 22nd to the tune of £220 million, cutting the club's overall debt level by over one third. They say they're not taking money out of the club to pay off the loan.

Can't say their financial worries are over by any means but this is an encouraging step.