The 2017-2018 Football Thread

[Apple fanboy]

Well he left it late, but Andy Carroll might have just saved our bacon with that late winner.
Up to 16th. Win our game in hand and we could be 12th. Sadly that game in hand is against Spurs tomorrow night.
Oh well!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yes, a busy night in trying circumstances for a number of teams.

Gary Lineker had an interesting tweet about how this intense winter sub-season serves to leave the players knackered by the following summer and that one should not express surprise when England fail to shine at international competitions.

That, of course, does overlook the fact that many of the stars of the premiership are not English........but play for other countries.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Yes, a busy night in trying circumstances for a number of teams.

Gary Lineker had an interesting tweet about how this intense winter sub-season serves to leave the players knackered by the following summer and that one should not express surprise when England fail to shine at international competitions.

That, of course, does overlook the fact that many of the starts of the premiership are not English........but play for other countries.

We had exactly that same conversation at work! That and the inevitable injuries to our star players in the summer.

 

[Alphazoid]

Another day another contentious penalty against Arsenal. Good derby though.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Arsenal v Chelsea ends in a 2-2 draw. A most welcome result for Manchester United, Liverpool and Spurs.
Man City are past caring about the rest!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Arsenal v Chelsea ends in a 2-2 draw. A most welcome result for Manchester United, Liverpool and Spurs.
Man City are past caring about the rest!

These night time matches are too late to follow comfortably when I have to be up early the following day, bright eyed and bushy tailed.

So, a very early night and a very deep - and welcome - sleep for several hours. And I awake to more drama and Arsenal snatching a draw from possible defeat.

Truth to tell, we'll do well to make the top four - we are constantly chasing them, as they remain tantalisingly in sight - so near and yet too far - to be overhauled cleanly. Fifth or sixth - perhaps fourth if the stars align sweetly in our favour - is the best we can hope for, I suspect.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

That, of course, does overlook the fact that many of the stars of the premiership are not English........but play for other countries.

True - but the key difference is that ALL of the players on the England squad play in England and are thus guaranteed to be worn out by the end of the season, whereas nations like Brazil don’t rely solely on their Premier League-based players during summer tournaments.

 

[Apple fanboy]

These night time matches are too late to follow comfortably when I have to be up early the following day, bright eyed and bushy tailed.

So, a very early night and a very deep - and welcome - sleep for several hours. And I awake to more drama and Arsenal snatching a draw from possible defeat.

Truth to tell, we'll do well to make the top four - we are constantly chasing them, as they remain tantalisingly in sight - so near and yet too far - to be overhauled cleanly. Fifth or sixth - perhaps fourth if the stars align sweetly in our favour - is the best we can hope for, I suspect.

Yes I think it's more likely to be Europa than Champions League this year for Arsenal. But you never know. See what happens in the transfer window.
[doublepost=1515046709][/doublepost]

True - but the key difference is that ALL of the players on the England squad play in England and are thus guaranteed to be worn out by the end of the season, whereas nations like Brazil don’t rely solely on their Premier League-based players during summer tournaments.

Very valid point.

 

[pachyderm]

These night time matches are too late to follow comfortably when I have to be up early the following day, bright eyed and bushy tailed.

So, a very early night and a very deep - and welcome - sleep for several hours. And I awake to more drama and Arsenal snatching a draw from possible defeat.

Truth to tell, we'll do well to make the top four - we are constantly chasing them, as they remain tantalisingly in sight - so near and yet too far - to be overhauled cleanly. Fifth or sixth - perhaps fourth if the stars align sweetly in our favour - is the best we can hope for, I suspect.

yeah the start time must have been 9:00 pm your time. wtf?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

yeah the start time must have been 9:00 pm your time. wtf?

Oh, dear.

Is it necessary to litter posts with profanities?

And who said I am currently in the British Isles? Not I.

 

[Apple fanboy]

We don't have a prayer tonight.
Kane starts. Carroll is a sub Arnautovic is out injured.
Best we can hope for is a draw.
Still Chicarito is back so everything crossed for the boys.

Come on you Irons!!!
[doublepost=1515098860][/doublepost]Well we've parked the bus and kept them at bay for the first half. 0-0.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Totally against the run of play we've scored a belter of a shot! Just hope we can keep the concentration up at the back. 15 minutes left to shut them out!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Totally against the run of play we've scored a belter of a shot! Just hope we can keep the concentration up at the back. 15 minutes left to shut them out!

And, as you said, again the run of play......Spurs would have been robbed had they lost; a draw seems more than fair, in the circumstances.

 

[Apple fanboy]

And, as you said, again the run of play......Spurs would have been robbed had they lost; a draw seems more than fair, in the circumstances.

The only thing that was a little frustrating (for Moyes), was the blatant foul on Lanzini in the build up to their goal. But a point is what we came for, and we defended well against a good side. Can't often say that about West Ham this season!

 

[Alphazoid]

Big Sam, Moyes, Roy have all turned their teams around. Most pleased for Roy and Moyes since they were savaged previously

 

[Apple fanboy]

Big Sam, Moyes, Roy have all turned their teams around. Most pleased for Roy and Moyes since they were savaged previously

I was anti Moyes when he got the job, but he is bringing me round.

 

[pachyderm]

Oh, dear.

Is it necessary to litter posts with profanities?

And who said I am currently in the British Isles? Not I.

I worry about you dude. I. Really. Do.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I was anti Moyes when he got the job, but he is bringing me round.

I think if he keeps you up, safely above the relegation zone, you will be more than happy with that appointment. And, in fairness, he seems to be doing that.

To be honest, precisely because the Premiership is awash (at the top) with gifted foreign managers - an she of them are excellent - it is easy to overlook the less flamboyant skills of mundane Englishmen and seemingly taciturn Scotsmen who lack their charisma and flair.

And people (with short memories) tend to forget Moyes was pretty good when he managed Everton, and you don't lose all of that overnight.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I think if he keeps you up, safely above the relegation zone, you will be more than happy with that appointment. And, in fairness, he seems to be doing that.

To be honest, precisely because the Premiership is awash (at the top) with gifted foreign managers - an she of them are excellent - it is easy to overlook the less flamboyant skills of mundane Englishmen and seemingly taciturn Scotsmen who lack their charisma and flair.

And people (with short memories) tend to forget Moyes was pretty good when he managed Everton, and you don't lose all of that overnight.

He was good at Everton, but it has all been pretty poor since then.
Nobody who took over from Fergie was ever going to have it easy. And tbh the team he inherited there was not a great one.
But what he has done at West Ham is to make the changes where he needs to (Adrian in goal comes to mind), and get the best out of players who were underperforming under the previous set up. Arnautovic is a transformed player of late. And at the back we now look like we can (on occasion), shut out teams, and good ones at that.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

He was good at Everton, but it has all been pretty poor since then.
Nobody who took over from Fergie was ever going to have it easy. And tbh the team he inherited there was not a great one.
But what he has done at West Ham is to make the changes where he needs to (Adrian in goal comes to mind), and get the best out of players who were underperforming under the previous set up. Arnautovic is a transformed player of late. And at the back we now look like we can (on occasion), shut out teams, and good ones at that.

But, I am not sure that anyone could have taken over successfully from Alex Ferguson; certainly, not someone who is competent, or good, rather than an outstanding presence who towered over his contemporaries and peers.

Candidly, it will be the same at Arsenal, when Wenger - whom I love for his integrity and vision but could sometimes cheerfully shake for his stubborn pride and unwillingness to learn from his mistakes (defence, Arsène, defence) - finally departs - this will leave a black hole at the heart of the system that only a giant will be able to fill half credibly.

 

[Apple fanboy]

But, I am not sure that anyone could have taken over successfully from Alex Ferguson; certainly, not someone who is competent, or good, rather than an outstanding presence who towered over his contemporaries and peers.

Candidly, it will be the same at Arsenal, when Wenger - whom I love for his integrity and vision but could sometimes cheerfully shake for his stubborn pride and unwillingness to learn from his mistakes (defence, Arsène, defence) - finally departs - this will leave a black hole at the heart of the system that only a giant will be able to fill half credibly.

I think you will burn through managers when Wenger decides to hang up his boots.
Not unlike Manchester United. But the days when managers stay for 10+ years are done.
It's not any different in the workplace. People move around a lot more than they used to.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Well, well, well. Satisfying revenge for Liverpool over Big Sam, with none other than Virgil van Dijk scoring the winner. 2-1 and on to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Narrative.

 

[Alphazoid]

Liverpool shade it but yet again another soft penalty. Player feels contact and drops dead in the box. the new Kop favourite also gets his debut goal...75m well spent.

Everton getting Bolasie back is a huge boost since they were crying out for width and pace. Meanwhile Lingaard seems to be doing Mou all kinds of favours recently. Speaking of Mou he's started another war with Conte

Also Wenger gets a 3 match ban and 40k fine. Mike Dean meanwhile...gets nothing. Also get the feeling refs now have it in for him and his team. Meanwhile the questionable decisions continue.

Would it be presumptuous of me to say i see Wenger leaving at the end of the season. He's been much more blunt in his opinions...aching to someone who knows he's about to leave.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Well, well, well. Satisfying revenge for Liverpool over Big Sam, with none other than Virgil van Dijk scoring the winner. 2-1 and on to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Narrative.

Very soft pen though. Football is NOT a non contact sport. If it is to become one, then I think I'll be looking elsewhere for entertainment. It's getting ridicules. I think some of these players spend longer in training learning how to win a free kick or penalty than they do playing the game.

 

[twietee]

Do you guys get video assistance next season btw? Got introduced this time in Germany (and with a horrendous implementation too, especially considering they had the complete last season as an internal test run..). But still way better than none imho.

Still baffled as to how one can muck up such thing so good that there are already people saying it should be undone..