The British & Irish Football Thread

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Love this thread. Whenever the small fry dare to pipe up the big boys are always so quick to cut 'em down to size. It's amazing the bravado that a last-gasp win can instil in people, isn't it? Oh, for the days of Suarez crying his eyes out on the Selhurst pitch...now the only tears are our own.

Just seen the pen, anyway. There was definite contact with Benteke but only Damien bloody Delaney could pull out of a challenge and still deliver the tinest tap with his trailing knee. Always amuses me how the biggest lads fall over so easily, Heskey was/is the same. I dunno what is is about that corner of the pitch, Spurs got awarded another dodgy penalty for a handball on Dean Moxey in our first game back in the Prem in 2013.

Me? Bitter against the unrelenting incompetence of the officials? Never.

Too right. All because of a very fair statement. Liverpool do get rewarded a freakishly high number of pens. They top the chart for most penalties since the premier league was formed. There wa no doubt in my mind today that the penalty was going to be awarded. It was the slightest of touches and IMO, a dive. Frightening how many times refs fall for it.

[Pizzamorg]

Liverpool play pretty dirty too, admittedly we had good games from them this campaign but I remember last campaign when Leicester were struggling and Liverpool still spent both games concentrating on trying to win free kicks through theatrics rather than playing actual football. No wonder for every season they finish in the top four, they spend another five or six out of it.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Love this thread. Whenever the small fry dare to pipe up the big boys are always so quick to cut 'em down to size. It's amazing the bravado that a last-gasp win can instil in people, isn't it? Oh, for the days of Suarez crying his eyes out on the Selhurst pitch...now the only tears are our own.

Just seen the pen, anyway. There was definite contact with Benteke but only Damien bloody Delaney could pull out of a challenge and still deliver the tinest tap with his trailing knee. Always amuses me how the biggest lads fall over so easily, Heskey was/is the same. I dunno what is is about that corner of the pitch, Spurs got awarded another dodgy penalty for a handball on Dean Moxey in our first game back in the Prem in 2013.

Me? Bitter against the unrelenting incompetence of the officials? Never.

The laughable thing is we would get better crowds than Liverpool if we were in their position. We are only 2,000 short of their crowds now and that's with a bottom three side for the last 4 years. By their reckoning we should be classed as giants because we pissed the top flight from 1882-1885! It's a long time but it's still history right? League champions six times, FA cup winners twice and record crowd 75,000! By David's rules we should be classed as Giants because history makes the club apparently.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Pizzamorg

Liverpool play pretty dirty too, admittedly we had good games from them this campaign but I remember last campaign when Leicester were struggling and Liverpool still spent both games concentrating on trying to win free kicks through theatrics rather than playing actual football. No wonder for every season they finish in the top four, they spend another five or six out of it.

I can remember McAllister falling five yards outside the box at our place and still getting a pen some years ago. The (in my opinion) bias from refs is shocking.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

If Arsenal doesn’t win the title this year (which they should have but they won’t), I truly would like Leicester to take it. That would be pretty cool in my eyes.

The question in my mind is whether Dicaprio would be a good choice for the lead role of Vardy without having a native British accent or should the producer go for someone who does? I think he did ok in Blood Diamond with the South African accent, no?

btw, is anyone here…. other than the Leicester and Liverpool supporters truly happy after this weekend after all was said and done? Or

It needs to a U.K production. In the style of The Damn United maybe? Jack O'Connel has to be the first choice. Ideal for the role IMO.

[Bucky]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

If Arsenal doesn’t win the title this year (which they should have but they won’t), I truly would like Leicester to take it. That would be pretty cool in my eyes.

The question in my mind is whether Dicaprio would be a good choice for the lead role of Vardy without having a native British accent or should the producer go for someone who does? I think he did ok in Blood Diamond with the South African accent, no?

btw, is anyone here…. other than the Leicester and Liverpool supporters truly happy after this weekend after all was said and done? Or

I'm happy

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Bucky

I'm happy

As a Snderland fan, I wasn't! You guys are safe now in my opinion.

[Pizzamorg]

I agree, this late in the game, struggling sides, I think it'd take something really disastrous for Swansea to find themselves back in the relegation battle this campaign. That just leaves the four teams to battle it out now, which is high drama as one team still has the chance to save themselves out of the four. My money is on Sunderland, they are the masters of the great escape and they – while not on great form by any means – are on the best form out of the four, if they keep managing draws while the others keep getting losses then it'll be all over.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Pizzamorg

I agree, this late in the game, struggling sides, I think it'd take something really disastrous for Swansea to find themselves back in the relegation battle this campaign. That just leaves the four teams to battle it out now, which is high drama as one team still has the chance to save themselves out of the four. My money is on Sunderland, they are the masters of the great escape and they – while not on great form by any means – are on the best form out of the four, if they keep managing draws while the others keep getting losses then it'll be all over.

It comes down to the Derby I think mate. Going to be massive. I need (as you do!) Leicester to beat them next Monday night. I will be shouting for Leicester a bit louder than normal.

Swansea have suffered since selling Bony (even though he has been poor) Gomez is not a 15 goal a season man so they have looked a bit toothless at times this season.

[Pizzamorg]

Leicester never seem to perform well against the "smaller" boys as they do the big boys, just can't seem to turn it on the same. Likewise with Newcastle now fighting for their lives, I think Leicester are gonna have a real hard time. Then again, just like against Watford, all it took was one world class finish and it was all over so hopefully we can do that again.

[Geoff D]

Wait 'til you play Palace, you'll get some goals gifted to you if you can't score normally. We're nice like that.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Wait 'til you play Palace, you'll get some goals gifted to you if you can't score normally. We're nice like that.

Or Sunderland!

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Love this thread. Whenever the small fry dare to pipe up the big boys are always so quick to cut 'em down to size.

For the record, that doesn’t apply to me….https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...y#post11818983

And with the upcoming fixtures (including accounting for out of Prem competitions), I think that L.C. has to be the big favorite to take the title…..and deservedly so for how they’ve played as a team.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Bucky

I'm happy

I don't keep up with this thread regularly so I didn't know there was anyone of Swansea sentiment.

Anyway, well you’ve also got hard shelled crabs, great places to eat ‘em (http://www.phillipsseafood.com/ ) and no matter the specialty, a perennial high on the list of Best Hospitals in the U.S. (http://health.usnews.com/best-hospit...spital-6320180 ).

So, you should be happy.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

It needs to a U.K production. In the style of The Damn United maybe? Jack O'Connel has to be the first choice. Ideal for the role IMO.

Either way. I hope it comes to fruition for if L.C. wins the title it will be a BIG milestone in sports history and the movie could inspire some kids somewhere to be overachievers...which is a good thing.

[Geoff D]

I read this in the paper earlier and, surprisingly enough, found myself agreeing with every word. It's a piece in response to the news of the "big five" and their recent meeting with the henchman of some American zillionaire to try and create some sort of "closed" competition, but given the recent turn this thread has taken I thought it also had some relevance...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...ng-scared.html

[quirkmanly]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I read this in the paper earlier and, surprisingly enough, found myself agreeing with every word. It's a piece in response to the news of the "big five" and their recent meeting with the henchman of some American zillionaire to try and create some sort of "closed" competition, but given the recent turn this thread has taken I thought it also had some relevance...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...ng-scared.html

I heartily agree with the article, but with the sole emphasis on greater financial gain and the globalization of club's brands it's not entirely unexpected, and arguably it's a natural progression. The problem is, SKY opened Pandora's Box on football 20 odd years ago and once it secured it's foothold, attracted foreign investment and lost sight of what it had been for the prior century and a bit, it has always been headed in this kind of direction. That, along with the bastardization of the "Champion's League", into a TV driven money spinner means this kind of idiocy will always being bubbling away in the background now. It's an horrific prospect.

[tob]

I like to focus from that article on Ranieri and what he is doing that any manager in his position would do now just waving or passing on any pressure on his team with the final games to play back on to the other teams so the media can focus on the big clubs faults this season.
This Question he brings up every time on why a little team like Leicester is doing better than us, well i like to look at it this way why in 2016 are we only now seeing a team like Leicester challenging at the top when no club like Leicester has not stepped up in the past.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by tob

I like to focus from that article on Ranieri and what he is doing that any manager in his position would do now just waving or passing on any pressure on his team with the final games to play back on to the other teams so the media can focus on the big clubs faults this season.
This Question he brings up every time on why a little team like Leicester is doing better than us, well i like to look at it this way why in 2016 are we only now seeing a team like Leicester challenging at the top when no club like Leicester has not stepped up in the past.

I think we are seeing a true one-off. The constant billions being pumped into the usual suspects should mean that they are untouchable. That's why the whole country (neutrals) want Leicester to win the league. It proves it can be done. It's a perfect storm. A combination of shrewd signings and players hitting a peak at the perfect time. It's a two fingered salute to all the over the top worship the top four receive. Admittedly, the guaranteed bloated piggy banks will remain, but boy, will it put a smile on my face if Leicester hold on.

Now, on the flip side, will we ever see a top four club relegated? I doubt it very much. It would be just as surprising as Leicester winning the league. (Or Liverpool for that matter )

[tob]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I think we are seeing a true one-off. The constant billions being pumped into the usual suspects should mean that they are untouchable. That's why the whole country (neutrals) want Leicester to win the league. It proves it can be done. It's a perfect storm. A combination of shrewd signings and players hitting a peak at the perfect time. It's a two fingered salute to all the over the top worship the top four receive. Admittedly, the guaranteed bloated piggy banks will remain, but boy, will it put a smile on my face if Leicester hold on.

Now, on the flip side, will we ever see a top four club relegated? I doubt it very much. It would be just as surprising as Leicester winning the league. (Or Liverpool for that matter )

No billions being pumped into Arsenal but the likes of City,United and Chelsea is a different story.
I be happy to see Leicester win the title too as its not Spurs but this small team mentally they keep going on about is getting annoying now.
They are a Premier League status club with a big stadium and big crowds and foreign investors which bring me back to my point why didn't they look at challenging at the top more often instead of believing their small team status and taking that to the pitch with them.
Don't know what you mean by over the top worship with the big clubs just loyal fans you see with other clubs only difference is more oversea fans through the bigger clubs legacy and history.