Football 2015/16

[eFestivals]

4 minutes ago, kaosmark2 said:

It's amazing how significant these differences in form are when Liverpool are improving and how chance based they are when they're not.

Eh? I've certainly not been claiming bad luck for them when they've balls-up. I've been saying recently what a schitzo team they've been.

For a while they were excellent in one game, then grey as fuck in the next, and I wasn't blaming anyone but them - but they seem to be coming out the other side of that now, able to keep it going game after game. The number of chances they're creating has grown hugely, and they're also starting to shoot straight(er).

They defo look like they're going somewhere better than they've been.

Despite that, I'm having problems seeing the value in all of Firmino, Coutinio and Lallana - all of whom do some excellent work, but all of whom can be mighty crap as well. Last night for example there were countless times where Coutinio won the ball only to pass it straight back to the other team (something he's been doing a lot lately), while my mum could score plenty of the chances Lallana has had, and Firmino seems he isn't there a lot of the time .... and yet they must be doing enough despite that.

[eFestivals]

9 minutes ago, ThomThomDrum said:

What the hell was the story with Everton last night? They were awful! It could have been 10-0 had Liverpool taken so many of the chances they spurned (as they tend to do)

As for Liverpool doing better position wise in the league I think they may run out of games for that and are "hitting form" a tad late in the season to have a real effect. 

yep, it's too late. That 3-2 loss from 2-up a few weeks back is going to look costly at the end of the season I reckon.

But .... it's looking good for going forwards. The only 'big' player it seems they might lose in the summer is Sturridge, but if they do I don't think they'd miss him too much. Origi is starting to purr, and there's Ings to come back too.

But actually, I don't think Sturridge will be going anywhere very easily. I can't see a better team for him to go to, cos while his skills might deserve a better team his sicknote thing is going to make other clubs wary.

[strummer77]

2 hours ago, eFestivals said:

yep, it's too late. That 3-2 loss from 2-up a few weeks back is going to look costly at the end of the season I reckon.

But .... it's looking good for going forwards. The only 'big' player it seems they might lose in the summer is Sturridge, but if they do I don't think they'd miss him too much. Origi is starting to purr, and there's Ings to come back too.

But actually, I don't think Sturridge will be going anywhere very easily. I can't see a better team for him to go to, cos while his skills might deserve a better team his sicknote thing is going to make other clubs wary.

Liverpool look loads fitter and stronger. There seemed to be some injuries early on adapting to the workload, but the team now looks lots better for it. The most pleasantly surprising thing is how he's rotated lots of players - including youth players - and they've come in and done well.

The Southampton second half capitulation is the only real bad spot. Which was also the last time Skrtel and Benteke got a game...

It's not perfect of course, and although the competition isn't hard, this is the best Liverpool have played since April 2014.

Edited April 21, 2016 by strummer77

[Wooderson]

2 minutes ago, strummer77 said:

It's not perfect of course, and although the competition isn't hard, this is the best Liverpool have played since April 2014.

That LFC have used so many players is also noteworthy. Most in recent seasons.

[The Nal]

What was that twat Mori doing grabbing the Ev badge after nearly breaking Origi's ankle? 

 

[Hugh Jass]

I see Roy's come out and defended Vardy.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/apr/20/leicester-jamie-vardy-wronged-roy-hodgson

Now I love Roy, especially as I'm a West Brom fan, he's a gent and he gets a grossly unfair ride as England manager, but he's completely out of order here. Firstly, Vardy dived, now if he chooses to see it differently that's up to him. But to defend the abuse Vardy gave to Moss is just plain wrong. "He has called him a few names. He is human and that can happen". No Roy, he called him a f***ing c**t, it was pretty clear to everyone watching what was said. For the manager of our national team to just brush this off is him taking a steaming dump on any remaining semblance of the Respect campaign.

Apologies for the rant but I can't believe he did it.

[TheGayTent]

For someone who's been in his role for the length of time he has, he's been a bit daft. 

He obviously felt he couldn't openly criticise a player who is part of his Euro plans. What he should have done is not answer the question, like most media trained managers would have done. He could have given a completely non committal answer, neither criticised nor defended Vardy. 

The answer he gave just makes him look a twat. 

[Hugh Jass]

8 minutes ago, TheGayTent said:

For someone who's been in his role for the length of time he has, he's been a bit daft. 

He obviously felt he couldn't openly criticise a player who is part of his Euro plans. What he should have done is not answer the question, like most media trained managers would have done. He could have given a completely non committal answer, neither criticised nor defended Vardy. 

The answer he gave just makes him look a twat. 

Two words Roy:

No. Comment.

[The Nal]

I don't think Vardy dived. Looked to me like he tried to put himself goalside of the defender (where Vardy being fouled is a possibility of course) and got tangled and they both fell. Should've been a goal kick. 

[strummer77]

1 minute ago, The Nal said:

I don't think Vardy dived. Looked to me like he tried to put himself goalside of the defender (where Vardy being fouled is a possibility of course) and got tangled and they both fell. Should've been a goal kick. 

Agree completely. Not everything is a foul or a dive. Vardy tried to get fouled, but didn't.

[strummer77]

26 minutes ago, Hugh Jass said:

Now I love Roy, especially as I'm a West Brom fan, he's a gent and he gets a grossly unfair ride as England manager,

How does he get an unfair ride? He's the luckiest England manager in terms of treatment in my lifetime!

Imagine if Sven or Capello had got the team knocked out in the group stage! There would have been war.

Yes he has a good qualification record but he should. This summer will define his reputation in the job for me.

[ThomThomDrum]

3 hours ago, eFestivals said:

 

But actually, I don't think Sturridge will be going anywhere very easily. I can't see a better team for him to go to, cos while his skills might deserve a better team his sicknote thing is going to make other clubs wary.

If he can work with Klopp then I reckon Klopp keeps him.  Sturridge has hit his 50th goal for the club in less appearances than Fowler, Rush, Owen or Suarez..... now I know the injuries have made it that his appearances have been too few, but when he does appear in general the fella is pretty good and not to be sniffed at.

[eFestivals]

8 minutes ago, The Nal said:

I don't think Vardy dived. Looked to me like he tried to put himself goalside of the defender (where Vardy being fouled is a possibility of course) and got tangled and they both fell. Should've been a goal kick. 

I've only seen it the once, but it looked to me like it might have been a dive or it might have been an honest collision.

While I lean towards an honest collision, the way Vardy's body moved thru the air afterwards looks more dive than collision so I'm not surprised the ref gave it as a dive.

[Wooderson]

27 minutes ago, TheGayTent said:

The answer he gave just makes him look a twat. 

[eFestivals]

6 minutes ago, strummer77 said:

How does he get an unfair ride? He's the luckiest England manager in terms of treatment in my lifetime!

Imagine if Sven or Capello had got the team knocked out in the group stage! There would have been war.

Yes he has a good qualification record but he should. This summer will define his reputation in the job for me.

when England qualify well they normally perform poorly, and vice versa.

So I reckon we're out in the groups again.

[Hugh Jass]

10 minutes ago, strummer77 said:

How does he get an unfair ride? He's the luckiest England manager in terms of treatment in my lifetime!

He's had an unfair ride because the press have been out to get him since day one simply for not being 'Onest 'Arry. 

[The Nal]

5 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

I've only seen it the once, but it looked to me like it might have been a dive or it might have been an honest collision.

While I lean towards an honest collision, the way Vardy's body moved thru the air afterwards looks more dive than collision so I'm not surprised the ref gave it as a dive.

I think he was trying to plant his foot goal side, stamped on the defenders foot and they both went down. No foul either way, no dive, just a 50/50 tangle and a goal kick.

 

[Hugh Jass]

3 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

when England qualify well they normally perform poorly, and vice versa.

So I reckon we're out in the groups again.

I'm cautiously optimistic. The Spurs contingent gives me cause to hope for something better this time. 

Quarter final defeat to the first truly decent team we play beckons.

[eFestivals]

5 minutes ago, ThomThomDrum said:

If he can work with Klopp then I reckon Klopp keeps him.  Sturridge has hit his 50th goal for the club in less appearances than Fowler, Rush, Owen or Suarez..... now I know the injuries have made it that his appearances have been too few, but when he does appear in general the fella is pretty good and not to be sniffed at.

Yep.

And he's 2nd choice, which is when you start to wonder if he can work with Klopp.

It's been all over the papers that he doesn't feel appreciated, and the kop don't sing his name, and Klopp doesn't pick him, so it gets a bit difficult to think those stories are entirely false ... and they also say he's off in the summer.

Having said that, he looked happy enough last night. The way he came onto the pitch had all of his normal "I think I'm fantastic" arrogance, but I thought there was something a bit more - like he was getting that back from others too. There definitely seemed to be something more relaxed in him last night. So maybe, if there was a problem, it's been resolved.

[TheGayTent]

When football supporters themselves have been brainwashed into thinking something like Vardy's dive wasn't a dive, then you really have to throw your hands up in the air and give up. 

He didn't fall over through a clash of legs and momentum. He planted his foot and threw himself upwards and forwards. I was embarrassed for him. 

For Hodgson to claim it's not in his nature is also laughable. He did virtually exactly the same against Man Utd not long ago. 

[ThomThomDrum]

6 minutes ago, The Nal said:

I think he was trying to plant his foot goal side, stamped on the defenders foot and they both went down. No foul either way, no dive, just a 50/50 tangle and a goal kick.

 

If he wasnt diving to get a peno then he is an idiot as he 100% made a body movement in the air on purpose that could have been viewed as an attempted dive. Why are you making that unnatural body movement? 

[eFestivals]

3 minutes ago, The Nal said:

I think he was trying to plant his foot goal side, stamped on the defenders foot and they both went down. No foul either way, no dive, just a 50/50 tangle and a goal kick.

Thanks for the vid.

I can see now how their back legs get tangled, you're right.

But the way he takes off looks like a two-footed spring into the air, and the tangling feet are after the point you really expect them to get tangled - their trailing legs is the big contact rather than their standing feet. I reckon the ref was concentrating on the standing feet, missed the back legs tangling, and then saw what looks like a spring into the air.

I can see why he gave it as he did. It's far from the worst mis-call I've ever seen.

[Hugh Jass]

3 minutes ago, TheGayTent said:

When football supporters themselves have been brainwashed into thinking something like Vardy's dive wasn't a dive, then you really have to throw your hands up in the air and give up. 

He didn't fall over through a clash of legs and momentum. He planted his foot and threw himself upwards and forwards. I was embarrassed for him. 

For Hodgson to claim it's not in his nature is also laughable. He did virtually exactly the same against Man Utd not long ago. 

Hodgson also said his abuse was "only human". He obviously didn't go to the casino with him last summer.

[The Nal]

4 minutes ago, ThomThomDrum said:

If he wasnt diving to get a peno then he is an idiot as he 100% made a body movement in the air on purpose that could have been viewed as an attempted dive. Why are you making that unnatural body movement? 

I don't think its unnatural. He right leg got tangled. He tried to stay on his feet. He puts his right leg back down once it gets untangled but its too late.

Also his left leg gets lifted by the defender which doesn't help how it looks.

Edited April 21, 2016 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

5 minutes ago, TheGayTent said:

When football supporters themselves have been brainwashed into thinking something like Vardy's dive wasn't a dive, then you really have to throw your hands up in the air and give up. 

He didn't fall over through a clash of legs and momentum. He planted his foot and threw himself upwards and forwards. I was embarrassed for him. 

That's exactly what I was thinking.

But watch that vid Nal posted, and watch their trailing legs not the feel on the floor - it's where the big contact is. That trailing leg never makes the ground for him to spring from it.

It took me until about 3/4's of that vid to see it clearly, btw - so keep watching till you see it.

Edited April 21, 2016 by eFestivals