The Football Thread - Season 2013/2014 & World Cup

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What happened with the TP league table?
 
I can't see Liverpool doing so well next season unless they have considerable investment in the summer. They did what they did on a fairly small squad, and went out of both domestic cups fairly early in the season. To compete on 3 or 4 fronts you need a good 20 man squad at least. Being a Gooner, I know this is where we fail every year. Players get injured and our form drops because we don't have the depth. Arsenal are at least 3 or 4 players short, Liverpool the same.
 
Jelster said:
I can't see Liverpool doing so well next season unless they have considerable investment in the summer. They did what they did on a fairly small squad, and went out of both domestic cups fairly early in the season. To compete on 3 or 4 fronts you need a good 20 man squad at least. Being a Gooner, I know this is where we fail every year. Players get injured and our form drops because we don't have the depth. Arsenal are at least 3 or 4 players short, Liverpool the same.
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Agreed. It's going to be an interesting summer, but at least we're not handicapped with a lack of CL football this year as a carrot.
 
Damp Squib

Well done Manchester City Football Club!

I am now embracing the new era of football, which means I have to accept that Manchester City Football Club are not just a athletic association helipng oh bleurgh, i'm not helping my cause .... lol!
 
new2me said:
Damp Squib

Well done Manchester City Football Club!

I am now embracing the new era of football, which means I have to accept that Manchester City Football Club are not just a athletic association helipng oh bleurgh, i'm not helping my cause .... lol!
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What are you blethering on about ? :)
 
Looks like Shaw confirmed ahead of Cole for England squad. I know Cole is not always popular, but he is unfortunate with not playing this year as I feel he is one of the few England players who has consistently played well.
 
akr said:
Looks like Shaw confirmed ahead of Cole for England squad. I know Cole is not always popular, but he is unfortunate with not playing this year as I feel he is one of the few England players who has consistently played well.
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I rate Shaw highly (quietly hoping on that front for United) but as for Cole.....

There was a poll on TalkSpout the other day where they were asking for England's best player (The National team) over the last ten years. I thought for a few mins and came to the conclusion it was probably was him.
 
dinners said:
I rate Shaw highly (quietly hoping on that front for United) but as for Cole.....

There was a poll on TalkSpout the other day where they were asking for England's best player (The National team) over the last ten years. I thought for a few mins and came to the conclusion it was probably was him.
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Without a doubt.
 
Well done city you really were the best team throughout the season. Also well done Liverpool winning 12 of your last 14 games and losing only one is a remarkable achievement but it was just a touch to much in the end. Ironic it should be Gerard's slip that really ended the dream but despite that he is immense for Liverpool and England and I hope he really does get his premiership winners medal before he retires.

Steve.
 
akr said:
Looks like Shaw confirmed ahead of Cole for England squad. I know Cole is not always popular, but he is unfortunate with not playing this year as I feel he is one of the few England players who has consistently played well.
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He always seems to me with his off field antics a bit of a sh!t but he was undeniably one of the best left backs in he world. I remember in the euros when we lost to Portugal he had Ronaldo under his control leaving him pretty much ineffectual. We can only hope Baines is as good

Steve
 
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Sir SR said:
If Chelsea let him go.....cole to Liverpool? Although I suspect Madrid is more likely.
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A good short term solution, but I think Madrid is more likely with the cash they'll offer.
 
The23rdman said:
A good short term solution, but I think Madrid is more likely with the cash they'll offer.
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He's not called Cashley for nothing!

Anyway enough of these overpaid Premier League players, the real action continues tonight with our Championship Premier League wage players tonight. If you missed the first leg on Friday of Wigan v QPR, think back to Man City v QPR final day 2012. It was almost identical, well without the goals, entertainment, crowd, drama, but it was in the North West! 0-0 side to side exhilaration was had by all.

Anyway, has to be a winner tonight. Loftus Road will be rocking, until play starts at least. Wembley beckons for the winners and a chance to play Derby for the ultimate prize of promotion back to the PL and a season of aiming for mid-table mediocrity at best!
 
akr said:
He's not called Cashley for nothing!

Anyway enough of these overpaid Premier League players, the real action continues tonight with our Championship Premier League wage players tonight. If you missed the first leg on Friday of Wigan v QPR, think back to Man City v QPR final day 2012. It was almost identical, well without the goals, entertainment, crowd, drama, but it was in the North West! 0-0 side to side exhilaration was had by all.

Anyway, has to be a winner tonight. Loftus Road will be rocking, until play starts at least. Wembley beckons for the winners and a chance to play Derby for the ultimate prize of promotion back to the PL and a season of aiming for mid-table mediocrity at best!
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I think you've got your work cut out tonight and I'm fairly sure that neither of you will beat Derby.
 
Think not taking Cole was a mistake - personally think that we should have Baines at LB and Cole at RB in WC, as none of our RB are that good - Cole at LB would be better than Johnson imo.

Surprised Ruddy was overlooked for Forster - the Scottish league is a joke so he probably does little most games.
 
akr said:
I know Cole is not always popular, but he is unfortunate with not playing this year ...
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Cole has played 27 times for Chelsea this season. Oxlade-Chamberlain has only played 20 times for Arsenal but apparently that was enough. Cole's omission can't be justified on the grounds that he hasn't had enough match time, or that he's not fit, or that he hasn't been in form recently, or that he's under-performed for England in the past. He's the only left back we have with top-level experience; let's hope this decision doesn't blow up in Hodgson's face.
 
Cole's only played 11 games this year though, whereas all but two of OC's games have been this year
 
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England squad:

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Celtic), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City).

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United).

Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).

Attackers: Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United).

Standby: John Ruddy (Norwich City), Jon Flanagan (Liverpool), John Stones (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Andy Carroll (West Ham United), Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC).
 
StewartR said:
Cole has played 27 times for Chelsea this season. Oxlade-Chamberlain has only played 20 times for Arsenal but apparently that was enough. Cole's omission can't be justified on the grounds that he hasn't had enough match time, or that he's not fit, or that he hasn't been in form recently, or that he's under-performed for England in the past. He's the only left back we have with top-level experience; let's hope this decision doesn't blow up in Hodgson's face.
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I think it was the right decision to leave Cole at home. His current form is not as good as Baines or Shaw. Cole has actually only played 11 games since January whereas Oxlade-Chamberlain's missed most of 2013 and has played 20 games in 2014. So I think form and number of games played are very relevent. My only real surprise is the inclusion of Lampard I just cant see where he fits in Hodgsons squad.

Steve
 
The23rdman said:
I think you've got your work cut out tonight and I'm fairly sure that neither of you will beat Derby.
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It will be tough tonight certainly and Derby certainly look favourites whoever gets through to meet them - ultimately though we have to beat Wigan at home and Derby at Wembley to get promoted - we have a chance certainly. Worked at the old Wembley for quite a few years - would love to see QPR play there in the new stadium now as a fan - far more relaxing!
 
Byker28i said:
England squad:

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Celtic), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City).

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United).

Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).

Attackers: Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United).

Standby: John Ruddy (Norwich City), Jon Flanagan (Liverpool), John Stones (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Andy Carroll (West Ham United), Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC).
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I'm actually quite excited by this squad, particularly the midfield - and it's a long time since I've said that about an England squad.
 
lampard - one of those impact players and very experienced. Good to have in the squad with so many young players even if he doesn't play
 
Byker28i said:
lampard - one of those impact players and very experienced. Good to have in the squad with so many young players even if he doesn't play
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I suppose he'll probably use him as a sub, sort of steady hand should we need to steady the boat.
 
akr said:
I'm actually quite excited by this squad, particularly the midfield - and it's a long time since I've said that about an England squad.
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It's a nice looking squad, but I just don't see it scaring too many other countries. Good experience for the future though.
 
wibbly said:
It's a nice looking squad, but I just don't see it scaring too many other countries. Good experience for the future though.
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It has pace though. Damn, I just commented on England. Right I'll see you lot next season!
 
Spuff said:
I didn't see it but was that an exciting match? :)

Congratulations and I think you've got every chance against Derby!
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fabs said:
Very exciting, much better than the 1st leg. If we put as much heart into the final as we did last night, we've got every chance.
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As Marc says it was a great match, the complete opposite of the first game. I'm not a fan of Redknapp but to give him his due he made a change after 15/20 minutes last night which made a big difference, and 2 of his substitutions (Zamora and Yun) were very good and timed perfectly. Every player bar one late substitute was fully committed, great atmosphere, lots of tension and chances at both ends. I thought we deserved to go through as they really just sat on their early lead, but they had a great chance to make it 2-0 which might have sealed it. It was a great night but my throat is killing me. They also had a deflected shot in the last minute of extra time that just went past the post - from my angle most me and most of the people around thought it was going in which would have been heart breaking!
 
akr said:
As Marc says it was a great match, the complete opposite of the first game. I'm not a fan of Redknapp but to give him his due he made a change after 15/20 minutes last night which made a big difference, and 2 of his substitutions (Zamora and Yun) were very good and timed perfectly. Every player bar one late substitute was fully committed, great atmosphere, lots of tension and chances at both ends. I thought we deserved to go through as they really just sat on their early lead, but they had a great chance to make it 2-0 which might have sealed it. It was a great night but my throat is killing me. They also had a deflected shot in the last minute of extra time that just went past the post - from my angle most me and most of the people around thought it was going in which would have been heart breaking!
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You know what it's like to be a Bayern fan now :). Congrats hope it goes well at Wembley. Are you going?
 
jakeblu said:
You know what it's like to be a Bayern fan now :). Congrats hope it goes well at Wembley. Are you going?
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Will definitely be there, can't wait. I mentioned above last time we were in a play-off final we lost to Cardiff in Cardiff, which was bad enough, but my car also broke down on the M4 on the way back. A wholly depressing day! If Derby play as they can and we play like last night it should be a pretty good game. I genuinely don't mind if we go up or not, but know when I am at the match I will be dying for the win and promotion. We have 30k+ tickets so should be a great atmosphere, Derby will have the same.

Hope Leyton Orient win their second leg and also get to Wembley and go up, tough for them too but they would deserve it I think.
 
Tim Sherwood let go by Spurs, apparently they had a clause in his contract that he could go at the end of this season. Shame for Tim as he's done well in his time at Spurs
 
Byker28i said:
Tim Sherwood let go by Spurs, apparently they had a clause in his contract that he could go at the end of this season. Shame for Tim as he's done well in his time at Spurs
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Apparently best win ratio of any spurs manager. Wonder what exactly the Spurs board were looking for? I thought he made a few gaffs in his stint, his outburst against the players was embarrassing, but felt he deserved at least the start of a new season.
 
An experienced manager apparently. Not sure they wanted him spending any money?
latest rumour is the Southampton manager
 
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