Football 16-17

[The Nal]

35 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

yep, thought it wasn't so likely this year, but it now looks like it is.

Yeah thought they looked strong alright. Winnable games coming up though. West Brom, Palace, Bournmouth, Swansea, Burnley, Watford. 

[eFestivals]

23 minutes ago, The Nal said:

Winnable games coming up though. West Brom, Palace, Bournmouth, Swansea, Burnley, Watford. 

I said much the same for Liverpool a few weeks back

 

[big__phil]

Even though the lino got the first goal wrong, they (City) would have won anyway. Arsenal were dreadful after going ahead, especially in the second half. Any other day and we would have lost by 3 or 4.

As for Wenger blaming the ref, that is absolutely the right thing to do. The more focus away from our toothless performance the better.

[The Nal]

1 hour ago, eFestivals said:

I said much the same for Liverpool a few weeks back

As did I! Its why I don't gamble. Big game tonight for both teams. Bragging rights aside. 

[ThomThomDrum]

That win for LFC will keep Chelsea honest to a degree, but for how much longer one does have to question. Chelsea's current winning habit is ominous. Lots of 1-0s and none of them nervy. Thats a good look to have.

Also Liverpool have City and Utd on the horizon and can also drop points to anyone on any day. On paper Chelsea only have one real tough match for them in their next 5........Chelsea could be putting things to bed in a way when they play the Gooners on Feb 4th.........

Edited December 20, 2016 by ThomThomDrum

[eFestivals]

18 minutes ago, ThomThomDrum said:

That win for LFC

looks like Mane and Sturridge aren't mates - Sturridge ran towards him to get praise, and Mane made sure he ran a different direction

 

[eFestivals]

27 minutes ago, ThomThomDrum said:

Also Liverpool have City and Utd on the horizon and can also drop points to anyone on any day.

Liverpool have been consistently good for the last year-ish against the 'top' teams. It's the weaker ones they've struggled against.

(So I've just guaranteed they'll lose against City & Utd now )

 

5 minutes ago, Scruffylovemonster said:

Didn't notice that. Will look out for it on MOTD later. 

i'm pretty sure Sturridge wasn't any part of the group hug - despite him being the first & nearest player to run towards the scorer.

It defo looked like Mane was taking avoiding action, but perhaps I'm reading too much into it.

 

Edited December 20, 2016 by eFestivals

[The Nal]

1 hour ago, Scruffylovemonster said:

And what a damp squib it was. Barkley lucky to escape a red. Injury time winner from a mis-hit shot rebound. End of highlights!

Actually missed the goal. Turned it off. Dreadful game. LFC just about deserved it I suppose but two shite teams at the moment. 

[eFestivals]

8 minutes ago, The Nal said:

Actually missed the goal. Turned it off. Dreadful game. LFC just about deserved it I suppose but two shite teams at the moment. 

Firmino is a bit anonymous when he plays to the side. He looks about the same form as Brodgers had out of him at the mo.

Rumour from the commentator of the stream I watched last night is that Phil will be back for the City game, which is a couple of weeks early. That should perk them up a bit.

[thetime]

Am I right in saying Liverpool will lose mane in Jan?

[eFestivals]

5 minutes ago, thetime said:

Am I right in saying Liverpool will lose mane in Jan?

yep, for the ACoN.

There's been a few rumours that Klopp wants to get someone else in, tho i can't remember if I've seen a name linked to that want. I guess ings was the planned cover at the start of the season.

Trying to take a dispassionate look at things, I reckon if Liverpool were top or very close to it they'd go all out to get someone in, but with Chelsea so far out in front a push for the league this year is probably already beyond them. So if falling back to an initial target of top-4 they don't need to go all-out and will get better value and more options in the summer - tho it might be that recent injuries have made Klopp feel the squad is a bit thin for the front line so he needs cover anyway.

[The Nal]

21 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

Trying to take a dispassionate look at things, I reckon if Liverpool were top or very close to it they'd go all out to get someone in, but with Chelsea so far out in front a push for the league this year is probably already beyond them. 

Nah its only 6 points! And Chelsea have Spurs, Liverpool and Arsenal coming up. 

[eFestivals]

5 minutes ago, The Nal said:

Nah its only 6 points! And Chelsea have Spurs, Liverpool and Arsenal coming up. 

I wasn't saying I think it's impossible for them to finish above Chelsea (tho I don't think it's going to happen), just that the gap opens up a broader consideration of whether buying now is the right thing to do.

After all, if they did buy they'd probably be hoping that whoever they bought didn't get on the pitch anyway, as they'd probably be cover more than a starter .... and Klopp might think the kids he has sitting there already are as good as anyone he might buy to sit on the bench.

As for Chelsea, it's occurred to me that xmas dinner and missing Costa might see them drop points in their next match. It's hard to see them dropping many points tho.

[eFestivals]

2 minutes ago, Scruffylovemonster said:

Need to strengthen squad if qualify for CL, or even Europa, anyway. We have a strongish 14 or so but after that it's very thin. Especially at the back

yep, it's thin and they'd definitely need better for Europe, but they'll also do best at getting the better players in the summer rather than now.

[ThomThomDrum]

Fellaini on his way to Milan? Utd fans must be buzzing with the prospect

[The Nal]

4 minutes ago, ThomThomDrum said:

Fellaini on his way to Milan? Utd fans must be buzzing with the prospect

[ThomThomDrum]

5 hours ago, eFestivals said:

i'm pretty sure Sturridge wasn't any part of the group hug - despite him being the first & nearest player to run towards the scorer.

It defo looked like Mane was taking avoiding action, but perhaps I'm reading too much into it.

 

There was 2 hugs. One around Sturridge and one around Mane. Probably reading too much into it

 

[eFestivals]

9 minutes ago, ThomThomDrum said:

There was 2 hugs. One around Sturridge and one around Mane. Probably reading too much into it

Fair enough, i can only work on what I saw - which was Sturridge running towards Mane, Mane changing the direction of his run to take him away from Sturridge, and then no sight of Sturridge in the group hug.

 

[thetime]

Doesn't matter does it? Sheringham and Cole didn't like each other but were on the same wavelength, same as Ronaldo and RVN.

I'm sure there's plenty of team mates who can't stand each other, same with any workplace.

[eFestivals]

9 minutes ago, thetime said:

Doesn't matter does it? Sheringham and Cole didn't like each other but were on the same wavelength, same as Ronaldo and RVN.

I'm sure there's plenty of team mates who can't stand each other, same with any workplace.

I wasn't saying it mattered particularly, just that it amused me that Mane didn't seem to want to credit Sturridge.

By all accounts Sturridge is a bit of a strange fish and not the most matey with other teammates, but I don't think that comes out in how he plays or how others play with him. Like any striker he has a bit of a greed-for-goals problem, but I don't think any selfish play goes beyond that.

(and if he didn't have that greed-for-goals 'problem' they wouldn't have won last night, so I'm not saying it's out of place, either).

[The Nal]

15 minutes ago, thetime said:

Doesn't matter does it? Sheringham and Cole didn't like each other but were on the same wavelength, same as Ronaldo and RVN.

I'm sure there's plenty of team mates who can't stand each other, same with any workplace.

Sheringham/Cole was crazy though. Played together for four years and Cole said "I never spoke a single word to him". 

[TheGayTent]

Just now, The Nal said:

Sheringham/Cole was crazy though. Played together for four years and Cole said "I never spoke a single word to him". 

Not many people like Sheringham in any walk of life. 

[kaosmark2]

Shelvey found guilty of racist abuse and given 5 games.

Club have said they've asked FA for details and will refrain from further comment until receiving them.

Assuming the FA have made the right decision, and I'm not going to second guess them, I hope the club fine him 4 weeks wages or whatever for the missed games and make clear it's not acceptable. Be interesting to see how our players react to the news as well. 

[eFestivals]

1 minute ago, kaosmark2 said:

Shelvey found guilty of racist abuse and given 5 games.

Club have said they've asked FA for details and will refrain from further comment until receiving them.

Assuming the FA have made the right decision, and I'm not going to second guess them, I hope the club fine him 4 weeks wages or whatever for the missed games and make clear it's not acceptable. Be interesting to see how our players react to the news as well. 

any ideas what he's reputed to have said/done?

[The Nal]

20 minutes ago, Scruffylovemonster said:

(I didn't know Chris and Ruud didn't get on). 

Yeah RVN hated him because he never crossed the ball. And then kicked him in training and swung a punch at Rio for defending him. Then said "Go cry to your Daddy" meaning Carlos Queiroz but Ronaldos Dad had died shortly before so it didn't go down too well. 

19 minutes ago, TheGayTent said:

Not many people like Sheringham in any walk of life. 

So I believe yeah. This was poor.

 

9 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

any ideas what he's reputed to have said/done?

He called Romain Saiss (a Moroccan) a "cous cous nonce"

Edited December 20, 2016 by The Nal