The British & Irish Football Thread

[gvortex7]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

You must be like us, we always get horrific fixtures over Christmas. Chelsea, Man U and Liverpool. The Boxing Day game is away to Man U, typical.

Here is our upcoming scheduled for the next 4-5 weeks or so:

vs. Southampton on 11/27
vs. Manchester United on 12/4
vs. Watford on 12/10
vs. Arsenal on 12/13
vs. Liverpool on 12/19
vs. Leicester on 12/26

How is that for brutal? Ouch.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by gvortex7

Here is our upcoming scheduled for the next 4-5 weeks or so:

vs. Southampton on 11/27
vs. Manchester United on 12/4
vs. Watford on 12/10
vs. Arsenal on 12/13
vs. Liverpool on 12/19
vs. Leicester on 12/26

How is that for brutal? Ouch.

Pretty much the same, we have 3 of the big 6 as well. we also have Leicester and Watford all three of us can agree, our next few fixtures are brutal!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by tob

What do you think about the injury to Paddy Mcnair steedeel.

Not surprised Tob. We have had half the team out since the start of the season. Borini (big miss for work rate) Kirchhoff (big miss for defensive quality) Larrson (big miss for set pieces and effort) Cattermole (effort, Commitment, tackling) Billy Jones (just came back, not really a miss but playing better) and finally Rodwell (injured two weeks ago, we have won every game he hasn't featured in, every game he has featured in, we have lost, that's over 30 games by the way spanning two years in all competitions! )

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by tob

November is our worst period every season but this time we came away with draws against Spurs and United so its a small improvement this month but if we can keep with the pace of the others till February or March you never know.
Good news today is that Hector Bellerin signed a new long term contract with the club.

Thank goodness for that.
Watched Champions League Arsenal vs. PSG last night.

[Steedeel]

Good luck for the weekend fellows.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Oh indeed, paper talk is what it is, but in this crucial December/Chrimbo/New Year fixture list we've got Swansea, Southampton and Hull with games against Man U, Watford, Chelsea and Arsenal to come after that, so this really is make-or-break for Pardew coming up.

IMO we need a minimum of seven points from those first three games to give us any chance of keeping our heads above water heading into the New Year, so while he probably won't be sacked if we lose to Swansea I think he'll be gone if we're still winless after Saints and Hull.

Just to go back to this, both the Mirror and the Mail were reporting the exact same thing today: while Pards won't get the boot should the worst happen today, if he gets nowt from the next two then he'll be gone. Eh.

[tob]

I think Pardew will be gone soon don't know how Palace are in this much trouble because they do have good players.

[Geoff D]

Heh. Remember when I made a note that Swansea hadn't won in the last 11 games? That was because Palace are always so obliging when it comes to teams or certain players ending dodgy runs. We let the invisible man (Toure) hog the limelight last week, now Bradley will shirley have his first win as Swansea coach. And YET AGAIN Palace have conceded goals from set-pieces, all three in fact. What a shambles this defence has turned into.

Pards might not be gone this evening, but his employers are likely drafting a P45 just in case...

[Geoff D]

Pfft, and now it's 3-4 to Palace. But can they hold on, or will there be a Burnley-style sting in the tail? Madness at the Liberty.

[Geoff D]

There you go, 4-4. Both of these teams would be terrible dog-walkers as they can't hold onto leads to save their lives...

[Geoff D]

And Swansea get a 5th! Remarkable. Yep, it's Burnley all over again and I go from definitely watching MOTD tonight to not giving a shit. Funny that.

[Steedeel]

I feel your pain Geoff. Can't believe that result. Puts us bottom as well. We must beat Leicester next week!

Liverpool got their usual last minute pen but we are used to that. A bridge too far but we have some winnable games coming up. I feel more upbeat than I did a few weeks ago.

[Geoff D]

And so you should, your lot have displayed some real heart over these last few games. Hard luck today steed but did you really expect anything from that game? Leicester are far more likely to offer up a point or three.

As for Crystal Paralysis (as my old 6th form tutor used to call them), what always hurts is being undone by defending that'd shame a schoolboy side, never mind 11 Premier League professionals. When a team is their own worst enemy you can only see them heading in one direction, having lost 6 on the bounce and conceded 18 goals in the process. I think we're gonna have Fat Sam come in and do a rescue job, that sounds familiar

[tob]

That has to be the end of Pardew now.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

And so you should, your lot have displayed some real heart over these last few games. Hard luck today steed but did you really expect anything from that game? Leicester are far more likely to offer up a point or three.

As for Crystal Paralysis (as my old 6th form tutor used to call them), what always hurts is being undone by defending that'd shame a schoolboy side, never mind 11 Premier League professionals. When a team is their own worst enemy you can only see them heading in one direction, having lost 6 on the bounce and conceded 18 goals in the process. I think we're gonna have Fat Sam come in and do a rescue job, that sounds familiar

He would as well Geoff! He is virtually a guarantee of safety.

thanks by the way. Boro only got a point and so did Hull so it wasn't too bad. We need to be looking 2 wins from our next five at the very least. That will put 20 points in reach by Early January. I suspect that will be a target for Palace too Geoff?

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by tob

That has to be the end of Pardew now.

He looked like a beaten man in the after match interview Tob.

[tob]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

He looked like a beaten man in the after match interview Tob.

Didn't see it steedeel but i will be watching MOTD tonight.

[Steedeel]

Good win Tob. Keeps you ticking along.

[Steedeel]

Was going to say good luck Gvortex, but I see Southampton scored in first minute! Hopefully you can turn it around.

[tob]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Good win Tob. Keeps you ticking along.

Cheers steedeel just have to keep the pace with Liverpool,Chelsea and Man.City but Chelsea did us a favour yesterday by beating Spurs.