The Football Thread.......

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I see Messi has hit 50 goals in a single season...not bad I suppose!
 
joescrivens said:
If there is a positive to be found, I'll
Find it!!
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I think that's what being a football fan is all about really :thumbs:

fabs said:
Just seen a trailer for United tomorrow night, looks worth a watch (9pm, BBC2).
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Yep - I'll be watching. That part of United's history was before my time but it's been battered into me over the years. I'm sure my dad will be watching with a critical eye. :rules:
 
TriggerHappy said:
I see Messi has hit 50 goals in a single season...not bad I suppose!
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Shame in a way that the two best 'forward' players are over in Spain.

Messi is probably about the only player playing in the current era that you might hold up against the all time greats.

As for Messi goals - it's him and Ronaldo banging them in I guess. Ronaldo has 45 or so despite injury which after his 45 or so for United just goes to show what a player he is.

Both fantastic players :thumbs:
 
dinners said:
Yep - I'll be watching. That part of United's history was before my time but it's been battered into me over the years. I'm sure my dad will be watching with a critical eye. :rules:
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Yep, before mine too but even as a non Man Utd fan, it's always been a very large part of footballing history and a massive part of the life of a man who is still one of the biggest legends in football. The respect that all footballers have had (and still have) for him is immense.
 
Never mind Arsenal, there is always another season to win something!..........(do you want to save this comment for this time next season, when you go another without winning anything?)
 
Just come in and caught the end of the Bolton v Arsenal match.

Looks like it's a two horse race now.....
 
And that just compounds my fears I had about Arsenal. We're now left clinging to 3rd place with 2 hard games ahead of us. Sorry Wenger, but I've no faith left in you. Time and again you've shrugged off claims about our defence being weak yet every time we come up against a side capable of getting balls in the box we inevitably concede. There's probably 7 players that should go over summer and we need 5 RELIABLE players to come in!
 
lawrie29 said:
Never mind Arsenal, there is always another season to win something!..........(do you want to save this comment for this time next season, when you go another without winning anything?)
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you cant exactly gloat though, they are the ones sitting in a champions league spot whilst spurs and liverpool fight for an unwanted europa league place.
 
joescrivens said:
you cant exactly gloat though, they are the ones sitting in a champions league spot whilst spurs and liverpool fight for an unwanted europa league place.
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Yes we can!!

We won the PFA player of the year!!

Yes we are fighting for a Europa league place, but who has generated more positive column inches this season? Who has won more international fans this season? Who has half of Europe wanting to sign key players in the team? Who is having praise heaped on the manager? We have played Ac Milan, Inter Milan AND Real Madrid, we have beaten Arsenal at the Emirates (OK, so they beat us too, but we're used to that!) and we are on the way up, even if we are fighting for Europe. As Harry said, you expect Man U, Arsenal and Chelsea to take a top four spot. Man City have spent a stupid amount of money to get there, and Liverpool can never be discounted. So to be expected to make C/L football for 2 years on the bounce is a very big ask, and not really realistic.



If you could have offered this season to a Spurs fan before a ball had been kicked they would have grabbed it with both hands

If you could have offered this season to an Arsenal fan before a ball had been kicked they would not.

That says it all really.....


(and if you don't want the Europa league, we'll take it thank you!)
 
lawrie29 said:
Yes we can!!

We won the PFA player of the year!!

Yes we are fighting for a Europa league place, but who has generated more positive column inches this season? Who has won more international fans this season? Who has half of Europe wanting to sign key players in the team? Who is having praise heaped on the manager? We have played Ac Milan, Inter Milan AND Real Madrid, we have beaten Arsenal at the Emirates (OK, so they beat us too, but we're used to that!) and we are on the way up, even if we are fighting for Europe. As Harry said, you expect Man U, Arsenal and Chelsea to take a top four spot. Man City have spent a stupid amount of money to get there, and Liverpool can never be discounted. So to be expected to make C/L football for 2 years on the bounce is a very big ask, and not really realistic.



If you could have offered this season to a Spurs fan before a ball had been kicked they would have grabbed it with both hands

If you could have offered this season to an Arsenal fan before a ball had been kicked they would not.

That says it all really.....


(and if you don't want the Europa league, we'll take it thank you!)
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but you're still below them in the league, all that talk above of what you did or didn't expect for the club is very much 'little man' syndrome: We're a smaller club blah blah blah. The fact is they are still above you, as they are above us.

You can have the europa league spot!! Thursday night games playing substandard competition with substandard refs and commentators - it's sooooo lame!!!
 
Lawrie, whilst I am so annoyed that I see yet another season go by with nothing won, I am getting a little fed up with all the ranting from Spurs fans.

You qualified for Europe, so what ?

Have you qualified for Europe consistently for over 10 years ? (No)

Have you finished in the top 4 every year for the last 15 ? (No)

Have you had a good season ? Well you finished 4th last year, so anything less is failure.

And how Gareth Bale one PotY I'll never know, personally Scott Parker has been a rock with a failing West Ham side, Hernandez has been world class at Manure, and Van Persie has played fantastically since he came back from injury.

When Spurs can prove that they can do it consistently, then you know you have something special. And I'm sure most European players looking to come to the EPL would prefer to sign for Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea or Arsenal before they signed for Spurs.

Mind you, this year does in in "1" what did you win ?

Steve (a very disgruntled Arsenal fan...)
 
joescrivens said:
but you're still below them in the league, all that talk above of what you did or didn't expect for the club is very much 'little man' syndrome: We're a smaller club blah blah blah. The fact is they are still above you, as they are above us.

You can have the europa league spot!! Thursday night games playing substandard competition with substandard refs and commentators - it's sooooo lame!!!
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No, It's all to do with expectations. We didn't expect to have this good a season, Arsenal did not expect to have another dissapointing one, neither did Liverpool.

Ask a Birmingham fan whether they have had a good season and they will tell you the same.

The point is, with the financial security at the Emirates, the players they have, and the funds available ( Wengar always has funds, he says), the length of time playing in the C/L, and the fact they have won nothing for so long, the expectation is that they should win something.

If King Kenny gets you into the c/league, and keeps you there for 6 years, but you do not win another peice of silverware, would you be happy? Would he still have a job? how long was Benitez given after winning the C/L? Wengar has never acheived that goal.

It is fair to say that Spurs have overacheived, and Arsenal underacheived this season, regardless of league position.

And were happy playing on a Thursday, lets face it we need european football to keep our team together....
 
And Steve, how long have we had to put up with your gloating? I think it is time you learned to take a bit as well as give it? ;)

(And BTW we did win the Eefa cup in 1972, so ending in a 1 is not the be all and end all!)
 
lawrie29 said:
No, It's all to do with expectations. We didn't expect to have this good a season, Arsenal did not expect to have another dissapointing one, neither did Liverpool.

Ask a Birmingham fan whether they have had a good season and they will tell you the same.

The point is, with the financial security at the Emirates, the players they have, and the funds available ( Wengar always has funds, he says), the length of time playing in the C/L, and the fact they have won nothing for so long, the expectation is that they should win something.

If King Kenny gets you into the c/league, and keeps you there for 6 years, but you do not win another peice of silverware, would you be happy? Would he still have a job? how long was Benitez given after winning the C/L? Wengar has never acheived that goal.

It is fair to say that Spurs have overacheived, and Arsenal underacheived this season, regardless of league position.

And were happy playing on a Thursday, lets face it we need european football to keep our team together....
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It's bizarre reading this, on your merit Liverpool have had a better season than arsenal as well then, afterall the dismal end of last season and start of this we didn't expect to achieve anything, and we haven't - but look neither have arsenal but because their fans expected them to we have ended up better!!!! :D

At the end of the day compare the stats across competitions:

in the league arsenal scored more goals so far
conceded less
got more points
won more games,
sit two spots higher than you
are qualifying for the CL

In the carling cup they knocked you out in roudn 3 and reached the final

In the FA cup they went one round further than you

In the CL you went one round further than them but they bowed out to the likely champions

Oh but......... one of your players won an award!!!!! :lol::lol::lol:

face it, they have still done better than you lot. So you achieved more than you expected, thats irrelevant to what arsenal expected, you obviously need to set your sights higher and stop living in the shadow of your neighbours :clap:
 
I am not denying that Arsenal have performed better than us on the stats, and never have done.

But sit an Arsenal fan down and ask him if he is happy and he says no. Sit a Spurs fan down and he says yes. That is part of football.

Maybe you should be happier than a Gooner (well, in my eyes a Gooner is the last thing I'd want to be..;)), because you have acheived more than you expected.

I can't deny that historically Arsenal have a better record than us, but the fact that they have:
Been in C/l for the last 10 years, and finished in the top 4 for the last 15 means they SHOULD be doing better than us!! - I am not surprised they are. But they have reached a point where they want to win something, anything, and have not. This is something which the Arsenal team themselves are desperate to do - they are the ones saying that they are disapointed with the season.



And beacause we HAVE NOT been in the top 4 for the last 15 years, and HAVE NOT been in the C/l for the last 10 is exactly why we are happy.

And we are not living in the shadow of Arsenal, we are happy enough to stand out on our own, and by the expectations we (club, fans etc.) have set are perfectly happy with the season.

Oh, and in the C/L We got knocked out by the likely champions! (well they have already taken Barca in one cup comp this year).
 
im not arguing whether a spurs fan is happier than an arsenal one or not, im saying you cant really gloat as you havent done any better than arsenal, thats all. i'd swap being consistently in the cl and top 4 for ten years and not winning anything for not being in there at all.
 
So, we're very near the end of the season and nothing is decided as far as Champions/promotions/relegations in the top 2 divisions are concerned. So how about predictions from people (I just know Joe will be up for this! :D)

Here are mine:

Premier League
1st - Man Utd
2nd - Chelsea
3rd - Arsenal
4th - Man City

18th - Wolves
19th - West Ham
20th - Blackpool

Championship
1st - QPR
2nd - Norwich
Play Off Winners - Reading

22nd - Preston
23rd - Scunthorpe
24th - Sheffield Utd


I know most of the above isn't exactly Rocket Science but anything can happen in football so anyone think differently from the above?
 
fabs said:
So, we're very near the end of the season and nothing is decided as far as Champions/promotions/relegations in the top 2 divisions are concerned. So how about predictions from people (I just know Joe will be up for this! :D)

Here are mine:

Premier League
1st - Man Utd
2nd - Chelsea
3rd - Arsenal
4th - Man City

18th - Wolves
19th - West Ham
20th - Blackpool

Championship
1st - QPR
2nd - Norwich
Play Off Winners - Reading

22nd - Preston
23rd - Scunthorpe
24th - Sheffield Utd


I know most of the above isn't exactly Rocket Science but anything can happen in football so anyone think differently from the above?
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The only thing I would change in the Premier League is that the bottom 3 will stay as they are:

Wigan
Wolves
West Ham

(And full credit should be given to Blackpool for coming up, spending very little money and playing "Football")

I reckon QPR will end up 2nd. They're going to lose points over this dodgy player deal. I'm sure the Football League won't stop them going up, but they may still hit them with a few points....

Steve
 
ok i'm going to put my neck out and say that chelsea are going to win on goal difference now. I think man u will slip up and lose twice and chelsea will win all their games

so

1-chelsea
2-man u
3-arsenal
4-man city

18-blackpool
19-west ham
20-wigan
 
Jelster said:
The only thing I would change in the Premier League is that the bottom 3 will stay as they are:

Wigan
Wolves
West Ham

(And full credit should be given to Blackpool for coming up, spending very little money and playing "Football")

I reckon QPR will end up 2nd. They're going to lose points over this dodgy player deal. I'm sure the Football League won't stop them going up, but they may still hit them with a few points....

Steve
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I'd like to think that Blackpool can survive (if only because Holloway is their manager) but their form is poor at the moment and I just have a feeling that Wigan may yet pull it out of the fire.

As for the Faurlin shenanigans, I'm sort of optimistic as far as a points deduction is concerned. To deduct enough points to deny promotion the day before the last game would be a legal nightmare as there would be no opportunity for appeal and to deduct just enough points to push them down to 2nd would just make the FA seem petty and childish and I don't think they will want that.

joescrivens said:
ok i'm going to put my neck out and say that chelsea are going to win on goal difference now. I think man u will slip up and lose twice and chelsea will win all their games

so

1-chelsea
2-man u
3-arsenal
4-man city

18-blackpool
19-west ham
20-wigan
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Go on Joe, lower yourself and have a go at the Championship as well. :p
 
ok!!

1-qpr
2-cardiff
playoff winners norwich

22-crystal palace
23-scunthorpe
24-sheff utd
 
joescrivens said:
ok i'm going to put my neck out and say that chelsea are going to win on goal difference now. I think man u will slip up and lose twice and chelsea will win all their games
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Possible on paper Joe.

That said I can look at all the remaining fixtures and see all kind of results. :gag:.............

Chelsea

H TOTTENHAM
A MANCHESTER UNITED
H NEWCASTLE
A EVERTON

Man Utd

A ARSENAL
H CHELSEA
A BLACKBURN
H BLACKPOOOL


Arsenal

H MANCHESTER UNITED
A STOKE
H ASTON VILLA
A FULHAM
 
Well it's now 'squeaky bum' time I guess.

I'd take a score draw tonight against Schalke......
 
Utd could have had 6+ goals tonight, Neuer was amazing and the only reason we didn't.

Bacra vs Utd final will be epic!
 
I reckon it'll be a Madrid vs Utd final with Madrid winning it.
 
As for the league standings.

Premier League
1. Chelsea
2. Man U
3. Arsenal
4. Man City

18. Wigan
19. Wolves
20. West Ham

Championship
1. QPR
2. Norwich
Play off winners. Notts Forest
 
Well I'd have taken 2:0 before the game but a bit miffed it wasn't a bag full.

3 European Cup finals in 4 years would be great but more importantly it now means we can be a bit bolder with team selection for the Arsenal game at the weekend and perhaps keep a few big names on the bench for the return leg against Schalke with the Chelsea game in mind.

I'm so much more confident about that big title number 19 than I would have been with a 0:0 or 1:1.
 
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Not sure about the Real v Barca game but I'll enjoy watching it. Not really got a favourite out of those two.

I guess knocking Barca out in the semi's and then loosing to them in the following final means it would be nice for Real to reach the final just so if United do get there it's something a bit different. It would be nice to see Jose bring a team to a Wembley Final too.
 
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Two huge games at the weekend. Arsenal trying to prove that they really can perform in the big games at home to Utd. Also Chelsea hosting a Spurs side that need to win to stay in contact with Man City and that CL spot (City at home to West Ham so a likely 3 points there).

No clearer after the weekend though as i think both games will end in draws.

This leads to to 8th May and THE BIG ONE. Utd v Chelsea. 6 points gap 3 games left [inclusive]. Utd to avenge that Drogba offside goal which affectively sealed the Premier League last season (fans never forget!) with a 3-1 win and clich the championship.

Lets not forget the side show for the last CL spot. Man City host Spurs on the 10th May which could also be a winner takes all affair. Man City could be out of reach by then after their game against WHU, but Spurs should pick up points against Blackpool (home 7th May) and be well up for this one.

Relegation is so difficult to call. As already noted West Ham will lose against Man City. But then there are two consecutive Brummy derbies, Birmingham host Wolves (1st May) and Wolves v West Brom (8th May), anything can happen in derbies.

Wigan at home to West Ham (15th May) is their 37th match of the season so this could be the deciding game for either team.

Heading in to the final weekend Wolves are at home to Blackburn and WHU host Sunderland so the advantage has to be with those two (if WHU still have a chance). An away match against Stoke for Wigan will have them very nervous and Blackpool visit the Champions Man Utd who will start the party in style. So my final positions below.

1. Man Utd
2. Chelsea
3. Arsenal
4. Man City

17/18. West Ham and Wolves 38 pts (decided on goal difference)

19. Wigan 37 pts
20. Blackpool 36 pts
 
It is a big game for utd, if they beat the arsenal, it's all over.

Arsenal are playing like a bunch of softies right now, so it looks like this won't be a tough game for united but I'm hoping they can pull out one last performance before they settle into 3rd place and wither away again.

As for the united chelsea game, well anything could happen there, united will play for a draw i'm sure.
 
joescrivens said:
It is a big game for utd, if they beat the arsenal, it's all over.

Arsenal are playing like a bunch of softies right now, so it looks like this won't be a tough game for united but I'm hoping they can pull out one last performance before they settle into 3rd place and wither away again.

As for the united chelsea game, well anything could happen there, united will play for a draw i'm sure.
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United need two wins and one draw IF they loose to Chelsea AND Chelsea win all their other games.

Win loose or draw against Arsenal it's not over although I take your point that we'll be a lot closer. If we did get 3 points against Arsenal we could then loose to Chelsea and still win the title with a win and a draw even if Chelsea win their other games.

Pointless speculating really. All we can do is see what happens at the weekend and work it all out again :lol:
 
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Thought I'd be a neutral for tonight's CL SF but I find myself wanting Real to do well.

I guess a Real win would at least make the 2nd leg more interesting.
 
I hate to say it, but I just can't see Arsenal beating Man Utd on Sunday. As said, they have, as usual, reverted into their typical "Southern Softie" mode as they always seem to do at the end of the year.

On another note, I read today that Wenger is looking at another 2 young teenagers for next year. When will he come to his senses and realise that you need to add experience and muscle to the mix to make it work...

Steve
 
CaptainPenguin said:
Loathe and despise Mourinho and his anti football so

COME ON BARCA
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Sounds like the TalkSport Radio show I was listening to on the way home from work today.

As for the game so far - Almost 'Old Firm like' in how every little bit of nothing is blown out of all proportion. Petty handbags and Ref hassling.....
 
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Barcelona - Greatest team ever?

No way. Bunch of dirty little cheats. Sergio pretending he got hit in face in 1st half, Alves (and probably a large envelope to ref) getting a player sent off... Hope they go out.
 
cambsno said:
Barcelona - Greatest team ever?

No way. Bunch of dirty little cheats. Sergio pretending he got hit in face in 1st half, Alves (and probably a large envelope to ref) getting a player sent off... Hope they go out.
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I don't like the 'dirty little cheats' part of what they bring to the table either but they're not half bad and do work hard for each other. They could loose the cheaty element though as they really don't need it.

Messi comes up trumps again !
 
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