Football 16-17

[WS_Jack_III]

A few of you saying Championship is a good standard.

 

Having watched my team in it all season I think I have authority in telling you it isn't. Officials are garbage and we're top of the league without being particularly brilliant.

 

There's a few teams who play good football in there.

[kaosmark2]

58 minutes ago, Hugh Jass said:

Of course it almost certainly wouldn't, but stranger things have happened, Champions League winner Rafa Benitez currently manages a Championship outfit.

Rafa also manages a team with an average attendance in the top 10 of all major European countries, where the fans sing his name every game. And as TGT says, has a family settled over here.

I was shocked when he stayed last summer, but that's still less weird than the idea of De Boer going to a lower-middling Prem side.

[Hugh Jass]

Just now, kaosmark2 said:

.

I was shocked when he stayed last summer, but that's still less weird than the idea of De Boer going to a lower-middling Prem side.

Upper-middling please.

[kaosmark2]

Just now, WS_Jack_III said:

A few of you saying Championship is a good standard.

 

Having watched my team in it all season I think I have authority in telling you it isn't. Officials are garbage and we're top of the league without being particularly brilliant.

 

There's a few teams who play good football in there.

The standard in the Championship is equivalent to that of the bottom half of Ligue 1, La Liga, Eredivisie, Serie A, etc.

Some of our players have been seriously impressive (Ritchie, Gayle), but yeah, our defense definitely needs improvement if we go up.

[WS_Jack_III]

7 minutes ago, kaosmark2 said:

The standard in the Championship is equivalent to that of the bottom half of Ligue 1, La Liga, Eredivisie, Serie A, etc.

Some of our players have been seriously impressive (Ritchie, Gayle), but yeah, our defense definitely needs improvement if we go up.

Personally think it's a crap league. 

It's weird with Newcastle's defence. Clarke has seriously impressed me and I didn't want him at the club. Lascelles blows hot and cold though, not convinced with him. Conceeding from set pieces and crosses is an issue.

 

[kaosmark2]

1 minute ago, WS_Jack_III said:

Personally think it's a crap league. 

It's weird with Newcastle's defence. Clarke has seriously impressed me and I didn't want him at the club. Lascelles blows hot and cold though, not convinced with him. Conceeding from set pieces and crosses is an issue.

Depends what you mean by crap, the quality isn't that high, but it's not that high anywhere at present. For excitement I think it's pretty good, there's a lot more going on in mid-table than there are in most leagues (despite having 24 compared to 18/20).

I didn't want him either. He's probably been our best defender this season but that'd be a worrying thing in the Prem. Lascalles being inconsistent at 23 doesn't worry me too much, he certainly seems to be learning quickly and will probably become a Prem quality defender eventually. Hanley's been so bad when called upon, utter waste of a signing and I hope he gets shifted on in the summer.

[Hugh Jass]

7 minutes ago, WS_Jack_III said:

Personally think it's a crap league.

It's weird with Newcastle's defence. Clarke has seriously impressed me and I didn't want him at the club. Lascelles blows hot and cold though, not convinced with him. Conceeding from set pieces and crosses is an issue.

 

I have very much enjoyed watching the Championship this season, but then I loathe Aston villa FC.

[mjsell]

1 hour ago, WS_Jack_III said:

A few of you saying Championship is a good standard.

 

Having watched my team in it all season I think I have authority in telling you it isn't. Officials are garbage and we're top of the league without being particularly brilliant.

 

There's a few teams who play good football in there.

To be fair, change Championship to Premier League and you could be a Chelsea fan.

[LJS]

Ranieri, Classy to the last...

Quote

 

Yesterday my dream died.

After the euphoria of last season and being crowned Premier League champions, all I dreamt of was staying with Leicester City, the club I love, for always.

Sadly this was not to be. I wish to thank my wife Rosanna and all my family for their never-ending support during my time at Leicester.

My thanks go to Paolo and Andrea, who accompanied me on this wonderful journey. To Steve Kutner [Ranieri's agent] and Franco Granello [his Italian agent] for bringing me the opportunity to become a champion.

Mostly I have to thank Leicester City Football Club. The adventure was amazing and will live with me forever.

Thank you to all the journalists and the media who came with us and enjoyed reporting on the greatest story in football.

My heartfelt thanks to everybody at the club, all the players, the staff, everybody who was there and was part of what we achieved. But mostly to the supporters. You took me into your hearts from day one and loved me. I love you too.

No-one can ever take away what we together have achieved, and I hope you think about it and smile every day the way I always will.

It was a time of wonderfulness and happiness that I will never forget. It's been a pleasure and an honour to be a champion with all of you.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39083953

 

 

 

 

[WS_Jack_III]

3 hours ago, kaosmark2 said:

Depends what you mean by crap, the quality isn't that high, but it's not that high anywhere at present. For excitement I think it's pretty good, there's a lot more going on in mid-table than there are in most leagues (despite having 24 compared to 18/20).

I didn't want him either. He's probably been our best defender this season but that'd be a worrying thing in the Prem. Lascalles being inconsistent at 23 doesn't worry me too much, he certainly seems to be learning quickly and will probably become a Prem quality defender eventually. Hanley's been so bad when called upon, utter waste of a signing and I hope he gets shifted on in the summer.

Very worrying but you'd imagine Rafa has players in mind already. 

 

Hanley already wants away so I think you'll get your wish there. 

 

I'm very surprised Mbemba hasn't seen more game time, but I'm informed he wasn't great when he did play.

 

Was one of our better players last season but the same can be said of Perez and he's only played well for 2 games this season.

Edited February 24, 2017 by WS_Jack_III

[pink_triangle]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/02/24/claudio-ranieri-sacked-leicester-city-will-replace-latest/

For once I agree with everything he says.

[kaosmark2]

4 hours ago, WS_Jack_III said:

Very worrying but you'd imagine Rafa has players in mind already. 

 

Hanley already wants away so I think you'll get your wish there. 

 

I'm very surprised Mbemba hasn't seen more game time, but I'm informed he wasn't great when he did play.

 

Was one of our better players last season but the same can be said of Perez and he's only played well for 2 games this season.

Yeah, it depends a bit who's available, but he seems to have bought well for this season, Hanley aside. The job Murphy did last month when he got a run of games was really impressive. Most underwhelming signing at the time but really performed when called on.

I'm surprised Mbemba hasn't played more as well, but the game I saw him in he was bad (albeit better than Hanley). Maybe he's not got the right attitude for the championship.

[WS_Jack_III]

6 hours ago, kaosmark2 said:

Yeah, it depends a bit who's available, but he seems to have bought well for this season, Hanley aside. The job Murphy did last month when he got a run of games was really impressive. Most underwhelming signing at the time but really performed when called on.

I'm surprised Mbemba hasn't played more as well, but the game I saw him in he was bad (albeit better than Hanley). Maybe he's not got the right attitude for the championship.

Supposedly he's playing in a holding midfield role for his country. Maybe give him a run in place of Hayden while he is out. Surely better than Colback. 

[zahidf]

22 hours ago, eFestivals said:

if it's true, they've just blemished their hero status, while Claudio gets to keep his.

more in todays papers. Apparently the players met the owners 4 times to get claudio sacked

[Comfy Bean]

7 minutes ago, zahidf said:

more in todays papers. Apparently the players met the owners 4 times to get claudio sacked

The players are revolting !

[pink_triangle]

25 minutes ago, zahidf said:

more in todays papers. Apparently the players met the owners 4 times to get claudio sacked

I think the players know this season is their true level and are looking for a scapegoat.

[eFestivals]

33 minutes ago, zahidf said:

more in todays papers. Apparently the players met the owners 4 times to get claudio sacked

To be fair, it's probably that the owner asked to meet them. That's certainly how it is with the one I've read detail about.

[eFestivals]

9 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

I think the players know this season is their true level and are looking for a scapegoat.

nope, i say the opposite, that they believe last season is their true potential and Claudio is now holding them back.

While what you say is their true level is much more how it is.

Edited February 25, 2017 by eFestivals

[Hugh Jass]

Another day. Another three points.

We don't need de Boer.

[TheGayTent]

7 minutes ago, Hugh Jass said:

Another day. Another three points.

We don't need de Boer.

[kaosmark2]

If you're going to be an UPPER-middling team surely it's better to have enjoyment and hope of progress than ground out 3 points?

[pink_triangle]

I keep hearing talk that clubs can't afford to get relegated. If your a Stoke, wba, Leicester, Swansea etc, surely it needs to be built into your business model that you can afford relegation?

[Hugh Jass]

14 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

I keep hearing talk that clubs can't afford to get relegated. If your a Stoke, wba, Leicester, Swansea etc, surely it needs to be built into your business model that you can afford relegation?

We always budget for relegation. It's how we managed to yoyo for so many years. When we went down we were richer than everyone else and came back easily.

That said it looks much harder to come straight back now that Champ teams think nothing of dropping £10m on players.

[pink_triangle]

Just now, Hugh Jass said:

We always budget for relegation. It's how we managed to yoyo for so many years. When we went down we were richer than everyone else and came back easily.

That said it looks much harder to come straight back now that Champ teams think nothing of dropping £10m on players.

That's why I don't understand fans talking about the financial implications of relegation because if a club can't take advantage of the financial advantage from being in the league followed by parachute payments, I have little sympathy.

Having witnessed my club being relegated 3 times, I can say it sucks. However the financial implications were far from mind.

[Hugh Jass]

36 minutes ago, kaosmark2 said:

If you're going to be an UPPER-middling team surely it's better to have enjoyment and hope of progress than ground out 3 points?

We've been doing the former rather than the latter recently. Today was a grind though. The conditions were not conducive to good football.