The 2013-2014 Football Thread

[takao]

after watching the first half Ajax : Salzburg ... what the h... did just happened there, Salzburg is slaughtering Ajax 0:3 ... so far Ajax had a single shot in the 43rd minute

that Soriano 50 meter screamer from the middle of the pitch ... that sure is going to get the austrian goal of the year award

 

[Jaffa Cake]

There is a Vauxhall motors F.C. in the Conference though (I think I saw them in some FA Cup results list a while back)...but they are owned by Vauxhall. Maybe it would be easier to change Hull's name to Allam FC...

Vauxhall Motors are a different case, though - they started out life as the works team for Vauxhall's factory in Cheshire and worked their way up to Conference North level. As such, they didn't actually change their name to reflect the company - they're similar to PSV or Bayer Leverkusen in that regard.

The tide does appear to be turning a bit, and for once the press seem to paint Hull in a sympathetic light, in contrast to the Phil Brown years. I suppose Steve Bruce has a lot more cred with the London press mob than poor Brownie.

We have got a very sympathetic press to date, I think a key reason for this is the growing feeling that supporters are being marginalised by clubs and increasingly bonkers owners - along with of fellow City types Cardiff and Coventry we've become a a bit of a focal point.

Additionally, I think the way the campaign has been conducted has won us a lot of friends - it's been very dignified and respectful, and despite what some may have you think our support for the team, player and manager themselves hasn't been compromised thus far.

 

[Cox Orange]

On Özil: Maybe he does not have a bad self-confidence, I would say it is rather a combination of a sleepy character with a "everyone knows I am good, so I don't have to show that everytime." and "Oooooh, next time."

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Europa League = snoozefest. Spurs are not in terrible shape despite the loss but Swansea no have to go win in Napoli to progress. No chance of that, methinks.

Vauxhall Motors are a different case, though - they started out life as the works team for Vauxhall's factory in Cheshire and worked their way up to Conference North level. As such, they didn't actually change their name to reflect the company - they're similar to PSV or Bayer Leverkusen in that regard.

Good point. It's one thing to create a club from scratch, another thing to try and change the identity of an existing one - especially one with more than a century of history behind it.

Additionally, I think the way the campaign has been conducted has won us a lot of friends - it's been very dignified and respectful, and despite what some may have you think our support for the team, player and manager themselves hasn't been compromised thus far.

The campaign has struck the right note and Allam looks pretty crazy by comparison. Also, nothing on the pitch suggests major upheaval. Here's hoping the FA grow a backbone for once.

On Özil: Maybe he does not have a bad self-confidence, I would say it is rather a combination of a sleepy character with a "everyone knows I am good, so I don't have to show that everytime." and "Oooooh, next time."

Özil doesn't exude confidence or leadership on the pitch, but he's been put under a lot of pressure from day one and he's playing in a team lacking a striker. He could do more I but I feel like at least some of the criticism being thrown his way is underserved. He's not a Yaya Toure, the kind of player who will gallop through the opposition and score goals.

 

[twietee]

Özil to me is like one of these kind of introverted artists that put so much pressure and thought onto themselves that they don't react really that well when external pressure is added up on that. I also think he genuinely isn't that guy who's exactly excitet to be (forced) in(to) the spotlight. That makes him a bit of a sad case imho since his talent is putting him right up there. Yet, he's still young and I believe he really can grow more into that role mentally. The price tag on him and Arsenal's heavy longing for a title while having an inferior squad may help with that or not. Couldn't tell.

Hobby psychologist over here..

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I agree with you - I think Özil is more likely to make the players round him play better than to constantly perform individual heroics. I don't think being thrust into the spotlight is something he wants. Nevertheless, he cost a lot of money and he will be under scrutiny.

 

[Kariya]

Özil needs Walcott and Ramsey back. Podolski too. They understand how he plays. Ox is starting to understand it too but Cazorla and Rosicky don't because they can't really handle wing play. So all they do is pass it to him again to work a miracle or try to cut in only to be cut out.

The Ox's assist against Liverpool and the Podolski goal against Coventry typify how Özil plays. That's the best way to use him. A peak-time Henry would've massively fed off him too.

Anyhow Özil will be fine he's already being coddled by Podolski.

 

[Happybunny]

after watching the first half Ajax : Salzburg ... what the h... did just happened there, Salzburg is slaughtering Ajax 0:3 ... so far Ajax had a single shot in the 43rd minute

that Soriano 50 meter screamer from the middle of the pitch ... that sure is going to get the austrian goal of the year award

I was not surprised that Ajax lost last night, but I was surprised with the ease that Red Bull Salzburg destroyed them. Salzburg played an open and attcking type of football that was a pleasure to watch. For too long Ajax have been trading on past glories won many decades ago.
Everbody and their dog can see what is wrong by Ajax, but I am not sure if anybody knows how to fix it.

 

[twietee]

On another note , I yet have to see a Bayern game versus another one of the big dogs where they convince me the first ~15 minutes. Saw it against City. Saw it against Arsenal. Saw it against Barca. Saw it against Dortmund. Etc pp. They play horrible each time (minimum fist leg).

Tells me two things: they do have the quality to adjust, turn it around and play out some uncanny domination for the rest of the game. And that they were lucky not to concede a single friggin' time which we all know is mostly the key to win these matches.

 

[Nieval]

On another note , I yet have to see a Bayern game versus another one of the big dogs where they convince me the first ~15 minutes.

Are you referring to Pep's Bayern or the Bayern of the last 2-3 years? Because Pep's Barca also had a similar tendency that I think is down to tempo, in that it takes a while to control the play and therefore dictate rhythm.

Having said that, Pep was quoted as saying something along the lines of "you cannot dominate Arsenal for 90 mins" so he may have instructed his players to be cautious the first part of the game to choke out the atmosphere and cool arsenal down.

That and, with time, the opposition players tire so their closing down becomes affected.

 

[twietee]

Are you referring to Pep's Bayern or the Bayern of the last 2-3 years? Because Pep's Barca also had a similar tendency that I think is down to tempo, in that it takes a while to control the play and therefore dictate rhythm.

Yes, I agree. But mostly pre-pep Bayern. I'll never forget 1-2 years ago going to a pub here in Munich to watch City against Bayern. Bayern fans were totally arrogant before the match but when the game started they got silent as to how terrible Bayern played being totally dominated by City, yet Dzeko missed an excellent opprtunity and Bayern scored after ~20 min rather lucky and then started to roll. Fans were of course totally forgetting first quarter of the game naturally.

Eversince I noticed that they do start bad into big games (also within the Bundesliga against Dortmund), sometimes horrible. Like last year against Barca when they were sh***ing their pants first 10-15min but somehow managed to go 7:0 against a team without a proper manager and an injured Messi (not to say Busquets was missing etc. pp.). Last years CL final topped that pattern, they were utterly lucky not to concede within the first half hour - of course this is always some sort of master plan..

But that said, they do have some players I personally really like (as football players mind) as Kroos and Robben along some others. Funnily both of them weren't rated that high by Bayern fans themselves not too long ago. More like the two scapegoats plus Heynckes. A coach that managed to lead them twice into the CL final within the two years he managed them...I could go on and on

All the luck to Arsenal!

 

[takao]

that's why the germans really like the "a football game is 90 minutes" saying. Bayern and their national squad being prime examples for having the confidence to not fall into a hurry and exhaust themselves too much early on

opposite to the austrian national squad ()and other teams who come out swinging for 30 minutes only to fall apart after the 70th minute.

that's also why the infamous "Bayern-Dusel" or Manchester United with their overtime goals isn't actually luck but hard work and a "we are going to win this" mentality
a european play off leg isn't won in 10 minutes, 20 minutes or a good first half but always at least 180 minutes

that said the first 15-Minutes Arsenal was the better team but Bayern had their chances as well: just after 3-4 Mintues Kroos had a great curling shot where Szcesny made a fantastic save.


on Özil and his mentality: i agree that he obviously needs other good players with a different character around him to really shine
Werder Bremen/Real Madrid/National Squad:
Torsten Frings/Xabi Alonso/Lahm: hard working, 90minutes effort no matter what
Claudio Pizzaro/Ronaldo/Klose: perfect pass receiver, needs few chances to score, absolute professional, excellent confidence

Müller is his polar opposite: spotty technique, hardly creates miracle balls but always throws everything he's got into the big games, covers great distances, tries to score a goal with all body parts available and huge mental strenght
(at work i put a bet on a Müller goal between the 81st and 89th minute, needless to say, he delivered)

 

[Lord Blackadder]

that's also why the infamous "Bayern-Dusel" or Manchester United with their overtime goals isn't actually luck but hard work and a "we are going to win this" mentality

I agree that hard work and a winning mentality go a long way towards producing wins out of potential losses or draws. But Bayern and Man Utd are also perfect examples of big teams who have gotten results by intimidating referees into making favorable decisions at key moments.

Sometimes they accomplish it by surrounding a ref, other times it happens simply because the ref knows Alex Ferguson is staring at him purple-faced from the sidelines, the Old Trafford crowd is screaming bloody murder and the championship is close on points. Refs are only human and even the best of them can succumb unconsciously to the pressure when big teams are playing.

It's not the same level of pressure as in a match between, say, Crystal Palace and Stoke, or Hamburg and Stuttgart, and the players, managers and fans know that.

EDIT: Rooney signs a new contract worth £85m (£One Gareth Bale), will be captain next season and is set to become the greatest Man Utd player of all time...at least in terms of goals scored.

This is a massive cash layout on one player but United have no choice and Rooney's agent knew it.

 

[daneoni]

Coleen will be hitting the shops hard this weekend to 'celebrate'

Nonsensical money for a past-it player whose team isn't even in the top 4.

Thought Walcott was ripping us off but now i don't feel so bad.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

He can still be a big player for United but my God, the wages...for that money they could have brought in just about any player on the planet. But how many top players would want to play there right now? That's the conundrum for Man Utd.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Another soul-sappingly efficient win for Chelsea. That game was dying for a decent striker.

Pretty handy result for Hull today though.

 

[Kariya]

EBJT to the rescue of course.

You know Chelsea really need a striker when they're forced to rely on even the defenders to pitch in with goals.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Two goals from Jelavic for Hull today, proving the doubters wrong!

I've got nothing against Ole, but if a Welsh club are going down this year I hope It's Cardiff rather than Swansea.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Tremendous result for us yesterday, and already our two new strikers look to be forming a handy partnership. Our goalscoring pains have certainly been soothed by Longjela.

In the stands, the City (Hull) fans had banners backing our Welsh counterparts' desire to wear blue, the City (Cardiff) fans meanwhile displayed their support for our campaign to protect our name. Great stuff.

 

[Kariya]

Euro draw

A: Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Iceland, Latvia, Turkey, Czech Republic
B: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Andorra, Cyprus, Wales, Israel, Belgium
C: Spain, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Belarus, Slovakia, Ukraine
D: Germany, Gibraltar, Georgia, Scotland, Poland, Republic of Ireland
E: England, San Marino, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovenia, Switzerland
F: Greece, Faroe Islands, Northern Ireland, Finland, Romania, Hungary
G: Russia, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, Austria, Sweden
H: Italy, Malta, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Norway, Croatia
I: Portugal, Albania, Armenia, Serbia, Denmark

 

[pachyderm]

the massive sheffield wednesday win 2 nil !!
dumbarton fc drew!

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Daniel Agger must feel pretty low right now - he was subbed out in favor of Kolo Toure. Toure looked terrified of the ball every time he received a pass, and I and every Liverpool fan in the stadium were terrified along with him. Too many mistakes and personnel shuffles in the back. Liverpool's forwards and midfielders work incredibly hard to win the ball back because they don't trust their own defense.

Sturridge is scoring often but I think the greediness is creeping back into his game. He needs to be a little more of team player. Skrtel finally penalized for all his tugging in the box. He's done it many times before and gotten away with it.

Swansea really put pressure on Liverpool's defense, and it paid dividends, but they lost possession in key areas - especially in the second half - and I felt they were flopping on the ground rather often.

But it's a win. A Mourinho team would win that match 1-0. Liverpool win 4-3.

 

[Happybunny]

News from the Eredivisie.

Ajax beat AZ by four goals, both teams had played in mid week. Then AZ won and Ajax lost.


PEC Zwolle could only manage a draw against Heracles Almelo


PSV won against NEC, the form is returning but to late to challange Ajax at the top.


Vitesse beat RKC to stay in third place.

Twente draw at home to Feyenoord



1 Ajax 54pts

2 Twente 48pts

3 Vitesse 46pts

4 Feyenoord 45pts

 

[takao]

News from the Eredivisie.

Ajax beat AZ by four goals, both teams had played in mid week. Then AZ won and Ajax lost.

on not so good news for ajax:
Salzburg put 8 players on the bench to rest them for the return leg.. and turned a 0:1 game into a 6:1 victory

their 11th victory this season with 4 or more goals difference in the league

 

[Jaffa Cake]

I promise you this now - if we make Wembley I'm making one of those cardboard foil covered cups to take. That's how much I'm up for this.