The Football Thread - Season 2013/2014 & World Cup

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fabs said:
Di Canio sacked, if only we'd acted as quickly with Hughes last season!
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Stupid decision... the board knew (or should have known) the type of manager he was, then gave him £20 odd million in the summer and should have known that a squad change like that would probably take time. Yes, Sessegnon was good player and should have stayed, but I do find it a strange decision.
 
TriggerHappy said:
Not a bad game from Arsenal. Bit of a shame to have beens so disorganised for the goal we conceded, and it had been coming for 10 minutes or so, but that aside we played really well. Ramsey was sensational again, Mertesacker continued to impress, Flamini looks a great addition even if we'd have paid a few million for him, Giroud really imposed himself on a physical opposition and Gnabry can be very pleased with his contribution.

I'm a happy guy today!
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Only saw highlights (spoiled by that inane idiot Motson), but not so sure about Gnabry...

Hope Arteta does not come straight into team, as how can you drop Ozil, Ramsey or Flameni?

Anyway... proof that Wenger has lost the plot... in papers when asked about Rooney, says he may not bid as we have Bendtner and Sanogo... yeah right!
 
Rooney was the only player that looked good for utd yesterday. I still don't see fellini as good enough and he seems to have upset the dynamic of the team.
 
cambsno said:
Stupid decision... the board knew (or should have known) the type of manager he was, then gave him £20 odd million in the summer and should have known that a squad change like that would probably take time. Yes, Sessegnon was good player and should have stayed, but I do find it a strange decision.
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Sessegnon drunk before a match, sacrifice one player to get the others on line. He was shocked at their levels of fitness and I guess they just aren't hungry enough anymore. D canio is passionate about his football and wants others to be the same.

The trouble is, who would want to manage them?
 
cambsno said:
Only saw highlights (spoiled by that inane idiot Motson), but not so sure about Gnabry...

Hope Arteta does not come straight into team, as how can you drop Ozil, Ramsey or Flameni?

Anyway... proof that Wenger has lost the plot... in papers when asked about Rooney, says he may not bid as we have Bendtner and Sanogo... yeah right!
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Gnabry was good. He was really strong holding the ball up against heavy pressure, tracked back well and delivered some good balls. He didn't do anything to get everyone raving about him but he didn't put a foot wrong either.

I think the mixed reception is because fans expect him to play in exactly the Walcott role. Despite being a fast player he doesn't have the same turn of pace that Walcott has for defenders to really fear. He doesn't look to make runs between the left back and left centre back and cause confusion with who should pick him up. He's more of a traditional winger, whilst Walcott is essentially a second striker that starts from the right. If you look at our average positions when Walcott plays he's always our most advanced player and Giroud drops a little deeper. None of that is Gnabry's game.

If anything it highlights just how essential Walcott is to the system we've developed. He's a pretty unique player in what he does, certainly within the premier league, and in his absence we have to play differently.
 
cambsno said:
Stupid decision... the board knew (or should have known) the type of manager he was, then gave him £20 odd million in the summer and should have known that a squad change like that would probably take time. Yes, Sessegnon was good player and should have stayed, but I do find it a strange decision.
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The stupid decision was hiring him in the 1st place, the guy's a ticking time bomb! I keeping hearing how he "saved" Sunderland last season, more likely they stayed up in spite of him rather than because of him.

As for the give it time argument, plenty of people were saying that about the Hughes mercenaries this time last year and look how that turned out. The squad was a festering wound that was beyond healing long before he was removed.
 
Leyton Orient get another win tonight - 8 wins out of 8, what a start.
 
Leyton Orient get another win tonight - 8 wins out of 8, what a start
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Good win, we don't usually fare too well at Griffin Park, come on you O's

Only another 26 points to be safe from the drop
 
TriggerHappy said:
Gnabry was good. He was really strong holding the ball up against heavy pressure, tracked back well and delivered some good balls. He didn't do anything to get everyone raving about him but he didn't put a foot wrong either.

I think the mixed reception is because fans expect him to play in exactly the Walcott role. Despite being a fast player he doesn't have the same turn of pace that Walcott has for defenders to really fear. He doesn't look to make runs between the left back and left centre back and cause confusion with who should pick him up. He's more of a traditional winger, whilst Walcott is essentially a second striker that starts from the right. If you look at our average positions when Walcott plays he's always our most advanced player and Giroud drops a little deeper. None of that is Gnabry's game.

If anything it highlights just how essential Walcott is to the system we've developed. He's a pretty unique player in what he does, certainly within the premier league, and in his absence we have to play differently.
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Walcott's main attribute is actually not his speed, it's his acceleration. Yes he is very fast, but the ground he can cover in the first 4 or 5 strides just leaves defenders in his wake.

Gnarbry is a different type of player, more skillful and stronger, but he's no slouch either....
 
Home tie against Norwich in the next round for United, I'm happy with that.

Possible Arsenal v Chelsea tie too which is good for the neutral.

As for tonight's United v Liverpool game - delighted not to get knocked out. With so many 'big' games at the start of the season, Moyes hasn't really had the opportunity to look at some of the 'squad' players yet and they did well tonight against what was probably the strongest side Liverpool could have played.
 
I see Moaninho is subtly managing the Chel$ki expectations of the game today by saying that Spurs can win the League. ;)

If they get beat the today, it will be by a title contender, so no shame in that. If they win, they will have beaten title contenders. :shrug:

I don't remember him complementing too many teams, Utd aside, during his first stint at Chel$ki. ;)

Hopefully the Tottenham v Chel$ki is a good competitive game. :)
 
Mark halsi as ref. let's hope he doesn't feel the need for too many cards (for spurs).
 
Byker28i said:
Mark halsi as ref. let's hope he doesn't feel the need for too many cards (for spurs).
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Mark Halsey is a retired ref now working for BT Sport.

Mike Dean is today's ref.

Perfect result in that game for me!
 
Spurs looked great in the first half. Torres lucky to be on, then unlucky to get the second yellow. Spurs seemed lost in midfield until Torres was sent off.
 
Chelsea, in the first half, were horribly disjointed. There was absolutely no partnership between Mikel and Lampard deeper in midfield and ineffective pressing from Oscar, Hazard and Ramires ahead of them left that weakness all too exposed. Once Mikel had come off and couldn't chase the ball all over like a headless chicken and Ramires dropped in to deep cm role rather than wide right Chelsea head a much more rigid shape and you could see the difference in the way they closed out the space for Spurs.

Unfortunately the BT Sport web app chose to have a fit just after 70 minutes so I missed the remainder of the game. It's working again now though :bonk: Judging by twitter it seemed to happen to an awful lot of people at the same time!
 
I caught most of the 2nd half and Torres was having a very good half. From what I heard he'd stepped it up for the 2nd half.

He deserved the first yellow, pulling at someone's neck could had caused more trouble. He raised his hand in any case.

For the 2nd yellow, I'll have to see it again, but I think he was a bit out of control for the first tackle and then straight into the second a fraction of a second later. I think the yellow may have been for the first tackle, or both tackles. I'll have to see it again on MotD.

It was a good end to end game the bit I saw. :)
 
nice to see cardiff doing a bit of attacking today the work ethic of the whole squad is fantastic mutch winning goal was a cracker. 3 fantastic points i am delirious:clap::clap::clap:



bleddyn
 
A very interesting set of resjlts today. The Man U on line coversge shoed the description "Moysie Time" tag for extra time. Nooo it will always be Fergie Time for me.. Moyes is going to have to step up and buy a hair dryer.....

Watching Swanssa v Arsenal game. Swansea do play hard at home!

Having BT Sport through Sky is very good value (free) and watching a poor first half Chelsea, Mikel's replacement was the catalyst for a far more decisive Chelsea.

Torres was a joy to watch at times but he was sure to be off as he was 'clumsy' - the first yellow carx for scratching may well earn him an FA review and a few extda days ban to add to thd 1 match bsn for the red card he finally got.

Overall an interesting and unexpected day so far results wise.
 
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fabs said:
Not a good day the the Manchester teams
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West Brom 'were' without a win over United since 1984 and none at Old Trafford since December 1978. :eek: I know they haven't been playing them every year since then. ;)

Good day for the Baggies though. :clap:

You don't know what you're going to get with City from week to week either. :shrug:
 
I'm just about to watch the Arsenal game on Arsenal Player having missed it yesterday. What a great service this is now it's free this season! I wonder what the score will be :D
 
fabs said:
Great day in the Championship for us. Another 3 points, another clean sheet which makes it 7 in a row and 11 hours 24 minutes since we conceded a goal in the league.
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Am out of the country at the moment, but my brother went and said it was the best he has seen us play in quite a while. We seem to have been winning ugly so far this season so nice to have a good entertaining performance. I will admit when I saw we had signed Kranjcar I thought here we go another 35 old, was surprised to see he was only 29, seems to have been around forever - by the sounds of things he had a great game.

I'm not sure I'll ever be a Redknapp fan, but credit where credit is due, his signings this summer and our league table are more than I expected.

glad to see the defence holding up despite Onohua being out who was arguably our best player this season before he got injured.

It's a nice change to have good performances from players all over the pitch!
 
akr said:
Am out of the country at the moment, but my brother went and said it was the best he has seen us play in quite a while. We seem to have been winning ugly so far this season so nice to have a good entertaining performance. I will admit when I saw we had signed Kranjcar I thought here we go another 35 old, was surprised to see he was only 29, seems to have been around forever - by the sounds of things he had a great game.

I'm not sure I'll ever be a Redknapp fan, but credit where credit is due, his signings this summer and our league table are more than I expected.

glad to see the defence holding up despite Onohua being out who was arguably our best player this season before he got injured.

It's a nice change to have good performances from players all over the pitch!
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Indeed. I only got to see the obligatory 20 seconds of coverage on the Football League Show :suspect: so I only had the (poor) commentary on QPR Player to go on but Kranjcar got a standing ovation when he went off and he isn't even fully fit yet!
 
Getting a bit of altitude sickness from all the way up here at second in the league. Has anyone seen Utd? Anyone? Hellooooooooo??? :)

#moyesin
 
norters said:
Getting a bit of altitude sickness from all the way up here at second in the league. Has anyone seen Utd? Anyone? Hellooooooooo??? :)

#moyesin
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yeah man united are just under cardiff city :lol::lol::lol:




bleddyn
 
fabs said:
Indeed. I only got to see the obligatory 20 seconds of coverage on the Football League Show :suspect: so I only had the (poor) commentary on QPR Player to go on but Kranjcar got a standing ovation when he went off and he isn't even fully fit yet!
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McClaren looks like he is heading Derby's way - could be our biggest loss this season, let's see. Hard to know from the outside how much influence he has with Redknapp there, but he is known for being a great coach so him leaving certainly won't be a positive.
 
have not got round to doing the points yet, but here are everyone's predictions and the current table for comparison

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TPLeague1b.PNG
 
2/20 correct positions for me at this stage...I think that will be about what I end up on if I'm lucky :lol:
 
TriggerHappy said:
2/20 correct positions for me at this stage...I think that will be about what I end up on if I'm lucky :lol:
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I think I have 1 correct at the moment. :bonk:

I'm obviously glad I'm wrong about Liverpool's position so far. ;)

Biggest disparity so far are Hull and Utd. Who knew Hull would start so well. :eek: :shrug:

Could Utd be in such a position at the end? ;) It's going to be interesting. :lol:
 
TriggerHappy said:
2/20 correct positions for me at this stage...I think that will be about what I end up on if I'm lucky :lol:
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redhed17 said:
I think I have 1 correct at the moment. :bonk:

I'm obviously glad I'm wrong about Liverpool's position so far. ;)

Biggest disparity so far are Hull and Utd. Who knew Hull would start so well. :eek: :shrug:

Could Utd be in such a position at the end? ;) It's going to be interesting. :lol:
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You can tell how much more open it is expected to be from the predictions - much more of a mixed bag this year - and of course Ozil and some others signed after the deadline for entries. Maybe next year we will have that deadline post transfer deadline day.
 
I'm still relatively happy with my predictions plus or minus a couple of places. The only major change I'd make would be to pretty much swap West Ham and West Brom based on the football I've seen from each so far.
 
ive heard man ure are thinking of changing their name to Port Talbot....seeing as they are between Swansea and Cardif :lol:
 
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