Football 16-17

[mjsell]

2 hours ago, TheGayTent said:

We're improving or are City getting worse ?

Obviously Fonte has shored up that defence no end.

He and Fergouli really did leave Byram so isolated against Sane (who looks a player). Also, what has happened to Cresswell? he was one of the most consistent players at West Ham last season, and was pushing for an England place I thought. He has not returned well from his injury.

[TheGayTent]

3 minutes ago, mjsell said:

Obviously Fonte has shored up that defence no end.

He and Fergouli really did leave Byram so isolated against Sane (who looks a player). Also, what has happened to Cresswell? he was one of the most consistent players at West Ham last season, and was pushing for an England place I thought. He has not returned well from his injury.

Byram isn't a player as long as I have a whole in my arse. 

That apart, a defence is built on stability. After half a season we've already used 12 players due to various injuries - the only consistent has been Reid, and he has already played 3 different positions across the back line. 

The 12 are:

Reid (played 3 positions)

Cresswell (played 2 positions and missed a chunk through injury)

Arbeloa (played 2 positions)

Collins (spent much of season injured)

Ogbonna (now out for season injured)

Byram (not good enough)

Masuaku (now injured)

Nordveit (3 different positions)

Kouyate (2 different positions - been at AFCON)

Antonio (about the only position he hasn't played is in goal)

Fernades (3 different positions)

Fonte (just joined)

Very difficult to build up a relationship when you're in and out a team. Very difficult to build up a relationship with those closest to you when they are constantly changing. Take Cresswell for example, for starters he's been in and out through injury. Then in front of him on the left hand side he's had on different occasions Payet, Lanzini, Antonio, Fernades, Töre, and Ayew to work with both going forward and defending. Then on his inside, all of the following have played left centre half - Reid, Collins, and  Ogbonna. Finally, Cresswell as also played in a 4 and a 5, so they system has been different. 

It's no wonder Cresswell and the team haven't found any consistency this season. 

We'll be fine. Just need some better luck with injuries and a better summer transfer window in 2017 than we had in 2016. 

[big__phil]

Nicely written there @TheGayTent. Looking at that list, you do have a fuck load of defenders! Very good point about wingers (and midfielders in general) leaving defends exposed. It doesn't matter how good the defenders are, if you leave them in one-on-ones with attackers it's always tricky. The modern game means you can't really have attackers who only attack any more, everyone has to track back and help out. Mourihno, for all his faults, is very good at getting his teams to do this.

What do you make of between the sticks? Do you like Randolph?

[TheGayTent]

Well Kouyate, Antonio, and Fernandes aren't defenders by preference. They've just played there this season through necessity - which in itself goes a long way to understanding why we've been leaking goals. 

Not a huge fan of Randolph if I'm honest - he's generally a solid 6/10 player. Can't think of many points we've picked up where he's been the difference between 3/1 points or 1/0 none. 

 

Did Southampton sign a replacement for Fonte? If Van Dijk really is out for 3 months now things could get (even more) difficult for the Saints? 

[Hugh Jass]

20 minutes ago, TheGayTent said:

 

Did Southampton sign a replacement for Fonte? If Van Dijk really is out for 3 months now things could get (even more) difficult for the Saints?

They did not, they have to rely on Yoshida (who has never looked good) and some kids for the next couple of months.

[zahidf]

Man Utd are on a PL record run of staying in same position while going unbeaten + not being in top three (6th after last 13 unbeaten games)

[zahidf]

Oh, and well done to Peter Crouch for reaching 100 PL goals. Impressively, only 1 of them was from a penalty!

[mjsell]

10 minutes ago, zahidf said:

Oh, and well done to Peter Crouch for reaching 100 PL goals. Impressively, only 1 of them was from a penalty!

Yep am very pleased for him. Only two players have scored over 100 prem goals without scoring a penalty. Any takers?

 

[eFestivals]

25 minutes ago, zahidf said:

Oh, and well done to Peter Crouch for reaching 100 PL goals. Impressively, only 1 of them was from a penalty!

it's funny how everyone love Crouch nowadays.
(me too, btw)

And top marks for a celebratory 'robot'.

 

 

[The Nal]

19 minutes ago, mjsell said:

Yep am very pleased for him. Only two players have scored over 100 prem goals without scoring a penalty. Any takers?

 

I know Les Ferdinand is one because I heard him interviewed recently. No idea about the other though. 

Just googled and cheated for the other so wont say. Wouldnt have guessed in a million years.

Edited February 2, 2017 by The Nal

[TheGayTent]

Solskjaer ? 

Oh, and Crouch is a gangly twat 

[mjsell]

3 minutes ago, TheGayTent said:

Solskjaer ?

Only got 91

 

Interesting stat regarding Ole though - Only 3 of his 12 premier league seasons had more sub appearances than starts - despite being remembered as a super sub.

Edited February 2, 2017 by mjsell

[zahidf]

37 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

it's funny how everyone love Crouch nowadays.
(me too, btw)

And top marks for a celebratory 'robot'.

 

 

He seems like a nice guy who enjoys playing, so good for him!

 

And of course, the following interview exchange with him

 

Q: What would you be if you werent a footballer?

A: A Virgin

[TheGayTent]

17 minutes ago, mjsell said:

Only got 91

Damn. Can't think of others that scored that many who didn't take pens....tough one. 

17 minutes ago, mjsell said:

Interesting stat regarding Ole though - Only 3 of his 12 premier league seasons had more sub appearances than starts - despite being remembered as a super sub.

That's not interesting unless your understanding of why he was tagged as a super sub was lacking. 

[mjsell]

2 minutes ago, TheGayTent said:

Damn. Can't think of others that scored that many who didn't take pens....tough one. 

That's not interesting unless your understanding of why he was tagged as a super sub was lacking. 

Touché

Both his first and his last goal for United came 6 mins after coming on as a sub, both against Blackburn. Maybe I should have gone with that one.

 

[TheGayTent]

4 minutes ago, mjsell said:

Touché

Both his first and his last goal for United came 6 mins after coming on as a sub, both against Blackburn. Maybe I should have gone with that one.

 

Now, if that's true, there's a proper dressing gown, glasses wearing, statto stat. Top bombing sir. 

[eFestivals]

59 minutes ago, zahidf said:

He seems like a nice guy who enjoys playing, so good for him!

he does, yep. It's clearly about more than money or prestige to him, we need more of that.

 

59 minutes ago, zahidf said:

And of course, the following interview exchange with him

Q: What would you be if you werent a footballer?

A: A Virgin

 

[zahidf]

Benitez wont be at newcastle long it seems

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/rafa-benitez-newcastle-manager-future-in-doubt-transfer-policy-a7560331.html

[kaosmark2]

11 hours ago, The Nal said:

I know Les Ferdinand is one because I heard him interviewed recently. No idea about the other though. 

Just googled and cheated for the other so wont say. Wouldnt have guessed in a million years.

Dwight Yorke?

[Hugh Jass]

It's emerged that the reason Berahino didnt play for three months is that he was secretly serving a ban for failing a drug test. For all his bleating in the press and on Twitter the club were actually covering for him.

I know we did it to protect his transfer value but I wish we had hung the sulky twat out to dry.

[The Nal]

10 hours ago, zahidf said:

Benitez wont be at newcastle long it seems

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/rafa-benitez-newcastle-manager-future-in-doubt-transfer-policy-a7560331.html

He doesnt stay anywhere too long. He always gets sacked. Hes a c**t.

[eFestivals]

14 minutes ago, The Nal said:

He doesnt stay anywhere too long. He always gets sacked. Hes a c**t.

he's got bigger wants from an owners pockets than an owner wants to extend to him.

Then again, he supposedly only stayed at Newc because he had assurances about budgets, and it appears to be the case that those have been withdrawn by Ashley on the basis that the team is going well.

I actually think Ashley's call here is the better one, unless there was some super-kid somewhere they hoped to pick up on the cheap ready for next season. Summer buys are always better value, and Newc look comfortable for getting promotion without strengthening.

[mjsell]

6 hours ago, kaosmark2 said:

Dwight Yorke?

Scored 6 Prem penalties (for Villa and Blackburn, none with United)

[zahidf]

40 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

he's got bigger wants from an owners pockets than an owner wants to extend to him.

Then again, he supposedly only stayed at Newc because he had assurances about budgets, and it appears to be the case that those have been withdrawn by Ashley on the basis that the team is going well.

I actually think Ashley's call here is the better one, unless there was some super-kid somewhere they hoped to pick up on the cheap ready for next season. Summer buys are always better value, and Newc look comfortable for getting promotion without strengthening.

Its more the principle i guess: from that article, he wasnt put in charge of transfers as promised. I guess it may help their first year of premiere league if they do get better players into the the team now.

[zahidf]

42 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

he's got bigger wants from an owners pockets than an owner wants to extend to him.

Then again, he supposedly only stayed at Newc because he had assurances about budgets, and it appears to be the case that those have been withdrawn by Ashley on the basis that the team is going well.

I actually think Ashley's call here is the better one, unless there was some super-kid somewhere they hoped to pick up on the cheap ready for next season. Summer buys are always better value, and Newc look comfortable for getting promotion without strengthening.

Its more the principle i guess: from that article, he wasnt put in charge of transfers as promised. I guess it may help their first year of premiere league if they do get better players into the the team now.