Football 2015/16

[pink_triangle]

1 hour ago, jackarmy said:

 

Survival and a decent cup run every now and then, with the occasional foray into Europe is as good as it's ever gonna get for us. But let's at least have some entertainment for ourselves and the neutrals in doing it...

To me style is very important for those middling 10ish premiership sides, because without it I don't see the appeal of being a fan unless you enjoy the status of being a premiership fan or enjoy watching the opposition.

Its funny a lot of our fans talk about "doing a Swansea or Bournemouth" but I'm not sure the premiership is the great fan experience that some make out. Don't get me wrong I would enjoy the novelty initially, but after a few years I think I would struggle to get as excited about a competition where winning about the same as you lose is about the most you can hope for.

[eFestivals]

I see there's a report that Rodgers isn't interested in Swansea because he believes he's going to be the next England manager.

[jackarmy]

8 hours ago, pink_triangle said:

To me style is very important for those middling 10ish premiership sides, because without it I don't see the appeal of being a fan unless you enjoy the status of being a premiership fan or enjoy watching the opposition.

Its funny a lot of our fans talk about "doing a Swansea or Bournemouth" but I'm not sure the premiership is the great fan experience that some make out. Don't get me wrong I would enjoy the novelty initially, but after a few years I think I would struggle to get as excited about a competition where winning about the same as you lose is about the most you can hope for.

Absolutely, entertainment is why we all go (at least initially), without that - what's the point?! I've heard fans of quite a few clubs like ourselves (who've spent most of their history outside the top flight) say that the real excitement is "the thrill of the chase" in trying to get to the Premier League. I'd say that's not far wrong...

It was certainly a better craic in the lower leagues, however there's something for seeing your club on a global platform, and having your shirt recognised in countries where they wouldn't have had a clue not even 5 years ago...

39 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

I see there's a report that Rodgers isn't interested in Swansea because he believes he's going to be the next England manager.

I called it when he left LFC - I think Rodgers will definitely be on the England shortlist. He talks a great game, and he'll fancy his chances of sweet-talking the powers that be with his "philosophy" and his dossier. They could do a lot worse!

[eFestivals]

6 minutes ago, jackarmy said:

I called it when he left LFC - I think Rodgers will definitely be on the England shortlist. He talks a great game, and he'll fancy his chances of sweet-talking the powers that be with his "philosophy" and his dossier. They could do a lot worse!

I reckon there's at least two in the queue in front of him - Big Sam, and Pardew - who are both English, don't forget, and that will have a bearing on things, too.

Why would England go for a 'foreign' manager and then not try and get the best foreigner who's available (that won't be Rodgers)?

I'm not really sure that Sam would get the shout but he's proving again at Sunderland that he's far from shit at his job. Given that the types we tend to go for all end to be shit anyway, I don't think Sam's style should be ruling him out.

I agree that they could do worse than Rodgers, but I don't see him at the front of the queue.

Edited December 10, 2015 by eFestivals

[jackarmy]

1 minute ago, eFestivals said:

I reckon there's at least two in the queue in front of him - Big Sam, and Pardew - who are both English, don't forget, and that will have a bearing on things, too.

Why would England go for a 'foreign' manager and then not try and get the best foreigner who's available (that won't be Rodgers)?

I'm not really sure that Sam would get the shout but he's proving again at Sunderland that he's far from shit at his job. Given that the types we tend to go for all end to be shit anyway, I don't think Sam's style should be ruling him out.

Pardew will probably get it, you're right. He's flavour of the month with all the media luvees right now. 

Will he be any good? He's shown previously that he can tend to struggle with players with big egos: (Tevez, Mascherano). But he's a good motivator, and maybe that's the most important thing about international football? You only get these players for a short amount of time. Chris Coleman with Wales has proven that to an extent.

[pink_triangle]

I don't think either pardew or Sam have a chance. If they don't go foreign it will be Southgate or Neville.

[pink_triangle]

23 minutes ago, jackarmy said:

Absolutely, entertainment is why we all go (at least initially), without that - what's the point?! I've heard fans of quite a few clubs like ourselves (who've spent most of their history outside the top flight) say that the real excitement is "the thrill of the chase" in trying to get to the Premier League. I'd say that's not far wrong...

It was certainly a better craic in the lower leagues, however there's something for seeing your club on a global platform, and having your shirt recognised in countries where they wouldn't have had a clue not even 5 years ago...

I

I'm not even bothered about the chase to the premiership, I just like being in a league where you have a chance of winning something whether championships or promotion. I have no doubt that being in the premiership is great initially (I'm not expecting to ever find out) but I wonder if there's becomes a point when making up the numbers loses appeal.

[eFestivals]

21 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

I don't think either pardew or Sam have a chance. If they don't go foreign it will be Southgate or Neville.

You could be right about Neville, tho I suspect he's about to blow his chances.

The point is, I don't see Rodgers at the front of the queue. There's English people who come before him if you want to regard Rodgers as not-foreign, and if you regard him as foreign there's other better foreign managers.

 

Edited December 10, 2015 by eFestivals

[jackarmy]

48 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

I'm not even bothered about the chase to the premiership, I just like being in a league where you have a chance of winning something whether championships or promotion. I have no doubt that being in the premiership is great initially (I'm not expecting to ever find out) but I wonder if there's becomes a point when making up the numbers loses appeal.

Neither we, it sort of just happened gradually... I remember getting promotion to the Championship from League 1 and thinking "How can it possibly get any better for us without a sugar daddy?"

[TheGayTent]

Allardyce for England manager? Well he's good enough for Real Madrid so...

[eFestivals]

11 minutes ago, TheGayTent said:

Allardyce for England manager? Well he's good enough for Real Madrid so...

whatever his style of football, he's pretty successful at setting teams up to get the points. How much as your own club spent recently to be no better than under Sam?

And anyway, it's not like Woy gives us dazzling footie. From one of his recent pre-match interviews he doesn't even give the players any instructions, and expects them to know what he wants to do via telepathy. And it shows on the pitch, too.

I'm not wanting Sam, but then again I don't think he'd do any worse than other options.

 

Edited December 10, 2015 by eFestivals

[GlastoSimon]

2 hours ago, eFestivals said:

whatever his style of football, he's pretty successful at setting teams up to get the points. How much as your own club spent recently to be no better than under Sam?

And anyway, it's not like Woy gives us dazzling footie. From one of his recent pre-match interviews he doesn't even give the players any instructions, and expects them to know what he wants to do via telepathy. And it shows on the pitch, too.

I'm not wanting Sam, but then again I don't think he'd do any worse than other options.

 

Roy is utterly, utterly dreadful. Sam certainly wouldn't do worse than Roy, but that's not saying much. 

Of the realistic candidates I'd say someone like Pardew would be a good move when you consider how he did at Newcastle generally and the job he's done at Palace. The attacking players seem to flourish under him (Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Bolasie amongst others) and I think we have some talent which could be nurtured in a similar way (Barkley, Sterling, Lallana to name a few). 

[TheGayTent]

2 hours ago, eFestivals said:

whatever his style of football, he's pretty successful at setting teams up to get the points. How much as your own club spent recently to be no better than under Sam?

 

Allardyce spent more than Bilic. Bilic will finish this season higher than Allardyce finished last season. 

Bilic has spent money wisely. Allardyce spent his money atrociously. 

That's before we even mention the football...

[eFestivals]

19 minutes ago, GlastoSimon said:

Of the realistic candidates I'd say someone like Pardew would be a good move when you consider how he did at Newcastle generally and the job he's done at Palace. The attacking players seem to flourish under him (Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Bolasie amongst others) and I think we have some talent which could be nurtured in a similar way (Barkley, Sterling, Lallana to name a few). 

I agree that Pards is making himself look very capable right now. I think being able to revitalise a failing team shows a capability beyond what the likes of (say) Rodgers has achieved at clubs.

I think the job might comer round a bit too soon for him tho, as I'm guessing Roy will retire after the Euros,

[Dan R]

1 hour ago, TheGayTent said:

Allardyce spent more than Bilic. Bilic will finish this season higher than Allardyce finished last season. 

Bilic has spent money wisely. Allardyce spent his money atrociously. 

That's before we even mention the football...

With international football his transfer record would mean bugger all, so the football is pretty much all that matters. Plus at this stage last season West Ham were 3rd in the league.

Edited December 10, 2015 by Dan R

[TheGayTent]

9 minutes ago, Dan R said:

With international football his transfer record would mean bugger all, so the football is pretty much all that matters. 

Of course - I wasn't making a point about transfers I was responding to one... 

10 minutes ago, Dan R said:

Plus at this stage last season West Ham were 3rd in the league.

We also lost 11 of our last 21 games winning only 3.

Put another way, 16 points from 21 games - relegation form.

Relegation form whilst playing abysmal football. 

Allardyce would make an abysmal England manager - fortunately, even the FA aren't that stupid as to appoint him. 

[Dan R]

7 hours ago, TheGayTent said:

Of course - I wasn't making a point about transfers I was responding to one... 

We also lost 11 of our last 21 games winning only 3.

Put another way, 16 points from 21 games - relegation form.

Relegation form whilst playing abysmal football. 

Allardyce would make an abysmal England manager - fortunately, even the FA aren't that stupid as to appoint him. 

I agree, I think it would be a terrible choice of England manager, would get reasonable results but terrible to watch. 

The results went downhill last season but there's no reason that won't happen with Bilic, especially if they get any more injuries.

[eFestivals]

7 hours ago, Dan R said:

I agree, I think it would be a terrible choice of England manager, would get reasonable results but as normal terrible to watch. 

corrected for you.

[pink_triangle]

I'm a bit disappointed in the draw. Wales have waited so long that I wanted a bit of glamour, instead we have a top seed next door featuring players I see every week and 2 pretty uninspiring other teams.

[lost]

I think Wales have a great chance of getting out of that group.. Maybe a glamour tie later in the competition?

[DomDom1984]

Aye, Wales should be delighted with the draw, as they're good enough to get out of that. Surely a decent wee run at it would be better than being papped out in a glamour tie?

Great result for Morton at Ibrox today, and we played well enough to warrant it. A lack of concentration after taking the lead probably cost us 3 points as Rangers really didn't offer enough.

[pink_triangle]

I just see it as a very dull group. 2 teams who stank out the last world cup and a team I admittedly know very little about. We have waited this long that I find it underwhelming being drawn against players I see every week on match of the day.

Most Wales fans are very happy, I just think there could have been more fun groups that we could have been competitive in.

[kaosmark2]

#VanGallIn

[eFestivals]

5 hours ago, kaosmark2 said:

#VanGallIn

I'll add to that.

What they hell was he doing, taking off the only effective player Utd had at a point where they needed to win the game?

Mind you, when Fellini is the most effective player you know you're shit anyway.

 

[thetime]

It's no surprise that result is it? When you have an 18 year old and a 19 year old as full backs. Add mcnair who is 20 at centre back and blind a midfielder playing CB.

Then add lingard, Powell, martial, perreria, depay who played are all 21 and under. 

I would hazard a guess that's the youngest team to grace the premier league this season. Blame recruitment, can blame that side though.