The British & Irish Football Thread

[tob]

Graham Taylor R.I.P
http://www.skysports.com/football/ne...former-players

[Geoff D]

Sad to hear about Taylor.

In other news, **** me we're close to signing Patrice Evra from Juve apparently!? If there's one area where we're chronically screwed it's the left back, and sorting that position out would help to balance the defence in general.

Okay Steed, we're not quite as hard up as I thought we were! But I still think they need to shift a few players to free up some more funds, wouldn't surprise me at all if Benteke was carted out.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Sad to hear about Taylor.

In other news, **** me we're close to signing Patrice Evra from Juve apparently!? If there's one area where we're chronically screwed it's the left back, and sorting that position out would help to balance the defence in general.

Okay Steed, we're not quite as hard up as I thought we were! But I still think they need to shift a few players to free up some more funds, wouldn't surprise me at all if Benteke was carted out.

I don't think Sam is that big on Bentekke. I can see him offload for more funds.

As for us, it's hotting up. I hear we are considering a new head of catering swoop. Apparently, the pies are not as nice as last season. Oh, and we are considering a big money move for a dozen new microwaves to ensure sufficent flow on match days.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by tob

Graham Taylor R.I.P
http://www.skysports.com/football/ne...former-players

Came across as a decent bloke. Sad news and quite young really these days.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I don't think Sam is that big on Bentekke. I can see him offload for more funds.

As for us, it's hotting up. I hear we are considering a new head of catering swoop. Apparently, the pies are not as nice as last season. Oh, and we are considering a big money move for a dozen new microwaves to ensure sufficent flow on match days.

I've heard from my sources that the manager of the nearest chippy to you has been put on 'gardening leave' ahead of his big money move. Exciting culinary times ahead!

In slightly less exciting news, Palace have signed Schlupp for £12.5M. Good little player but do we need ANOTHER BLOODY WINGER? It's like Pardew never left. Yes, I know we're missing Zaha at the AFCON but it makes me wonder whether Schlupp is his replacement, either for Zaha or for that useless tart Townsend.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I've heard from my sources that the manager of the nearest chippy to you has been put on 'gardening leave' ahead of his big money move. Exciting culinary times ahead!

In slightly less exciting news, Palace have signed Schlupp for £12.5M. Good little player but do we need ANOTHER BLOODY WINGER? It's like Pardew never left. Yes, I know we're missing Zaha at the AFCON but it makes me wonder whether Schlupp is his replacement, either for Zaha or for that useless tart Townsend.

Hope not Geoff, my local chippy does fantastic Curry.

Hands off Ellis!

New signings? I am not familiar Geoff. What does it mean?

[Geoff D]

I believe it's this newfangled thing which allows you to actually bring players into a club, Steedy. Crazy, but true. I hope you get to experience it again at some point

[Geoff D]

Ugh. When West Ham thrash you 3-0 at the ground where they've apparently got a bit of home sickness you know you've got problems. For all our talent, for all our finances, for all our whatever, we're only a point off the foot of the table and it's only by the grace of three teams being even worse than us that we're going to stay up. Next three leagues games are Everton, Bournemouth and Sunderland. To say that we need the points is an understatement.

Nice to see Hull get a bit of the new manager bounce. Pity we got **** all.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Hope not Geoff, my local chippy does fantastic Curry.

Hands off Ellis!

New signings? I am not familiar Geoff. What does it mean?

How do they communicate these days when attempting to sign new players - carrier pigeon, message in a bottle?



P.S: Albion are probably, as always, going to leave it until the last minute to sign a player. I wouldn't be surprised if they sign someone on loan, rather than pay for a new player. Now that Schneiderlin has gone to Everton, the only name rumoured is a player which clubs Schalke and a Premiership team are also interested in (is it Southampton?).

[OceanBlue]

It was always going to be a tall order against one of the best teams in the Premiership at the moment, Tottenham. So the result wasn't a shock. Without using fruity language (and I don't mean apples, melons and pears), we were poor today. The only consolation I can think of, is that we are still 8th in the table (our goal differene is 0 now), two points in front of Stoke City. I think our next game is against Sunderland next Saturday.

And can they have Gabby Logan on Match of the Day more often please.

[OceanBlue]

It was sad news this past week about Graham Taylor passing away. They were talking on the local news programme about when he was manager at Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers (along with his time as England manager).

[Penton-Man]

So, after a hectic holiday season with close and extended family followed by floundering around at CES 2017, I’m finally caught up with all my recorded Prem league matches from the last couple weeks to where I’m at a steady state equilibrium and I tune in to today’s matches and pregame commentators to find out that the big theme of the day is some players and…..

The O'Jays - For The Love of Money (Audio) - YouTube

Does team loyalty still exist?

[Geoff D]

Someone offers you £600K a week to play in some backwater league halfway around the world, what would you do? TBH team loyalty went the way of the dinosaur a long time ago.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Ugh. When West Ham thrash you 3-0 at the ground where they've apparently got a bit of home sickness you know you've got problems. For all our talent, for all our finances, for all our whatever, we're only a point off the foot of the table and it's only by the grace of three teams being even worse than us that we're going to stay up. Next three leagues games are Everton, Bournemouth and Sunderland. To say that we need the points is an understatement.

Nice to see Hull get a bit of the new manager bounce. Pity we got **** all.

Yep, hate trips to the capital because we have such a bad record with virtually all London clubs. We have had some thrashings off West Ham in our time.

I think for Palace, it's all about who comes in, big Sam will know who he wants and he will know the slackers. Come February I think you will see a improvement in terms of back to back wins Geoff. He was the same here. He didn't have a instant impact. It was a gradual thing and I see the same for Palace.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

So, after a hectic holiday season with close and extended family followed by floundering around at CES 2017, I’m finally caught up with all my recorded Prem league matches from the last couple weeks to where I’m at a steady state equilibrium and I tune in to today’s matches and pregame commentators to find out that the big theme of the day is some players and…..


The O'Jays - For The Love of Money (Audio) - YouTube


Does team loyalty still exist?

No chance. As Geoff said, there is simply too much money involved. Integrity is a dying quality IMO. Agents and Sky are slowly destroying the game and many are becoming fed up. You can see it on the terraces.

[Steedeel]

Pathetic yesterday. 42,000 fans despite the worst premier league SAFC team I have seen. Wouldn't blame Defoe for leaving because he is starved of decent service yet still manages 12 goals so far. Incredible that. Our worst nightmare of Newcastle promoted and relegation for us is going to happen. Honestly, I am looking for heart and character and I don't see it. Body language, willingness to look for the ball etc.. not in evidence apart from Mr Defoe and Larson, Sebastian is too slow for the Premier league now though.

I only see it getting worse. I await clever comments from Lineker about fans leaving early. He already had his little digsearlier in season but no doubt the (in my opinion) jug eared twit will mention it again. Ironic from a guy who probably hasn't paid for a ticket in his life.

[Steedeel]

Well done Tob, Penton Man. good solid win. Unlucky Ocean.


Good luck GVortex

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Yep, hate trips to the capital because we have such a bad record with virtually all London clubs. We have had some thrashings off West Ham in our time.

I think for Palace, it's all about who comes in, big Sam will know who he wants and he will know the slackers. Come February I think you will see a improvement in terms of back to back wins Geoff. He was the same here. He didn't have a instant impact. It was a gradual thing and I see the same for Palace.

Didn't Fat Sam have more time to turn it around at Sunderland though, having been appointed in October as opposed to the end of December at Palace? And he still managed a 3-0 win in just his second game for you. As I said before, we've got a team that's shot both physically and mentally, they look like they've got nothing left to give and I don't see a handful of new players being able to change that. The worst thing at the moment is that the goals have dried up, losing our star man to the AFCON hurt us big time but also Sam's defensive work, he's so intent on getting everyone back defending that they've got no puff left to launch counter attacks, which is fine if you're not conceding but we've only got a clean sheet against third-tier opposition to show for it.

Sure, set pieces then become a lot more important but we've gone from being one of the very best set-piece teams - in terms of attack and defence - to one of the very worst in the space of a year and it's shattering as a fan to see your team wither and die like this, as you know. But when it rains it pours, as although we gift goals away (Christmas was last month, fellas ) we're also having people score worldies against us (Giroud, Carroll) which no amount of defending could prevent.

February's good and all but we've got games against Bournemouth and yourselves to deal with and if we don't get something significant from them then we're doomed. We won't get a bean against Everton, they've just dismantled Citeh 4-0 and will be flying. Well done vortex!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Didn't Fat Sam have more time to turn it around at Sunderland though, having been appointed in October as opposed to the end of December at Palace? And he still managed a 3-0 win in just his second game for you. As I said before, we've got a team that's shot both physically and mentally, they look like they've got nothing left to give and I don't see a handful of new players being able to change that. The worst thing at the moment is that the goals have dried up, losing our star man to the AFCON hurt us big time but also Sam's defensive work, he's so intent on getting everyone back defending that they've got no puff left to launch counter attacks, which is fine if you're not conceding but we've only got a clean sheet against third-tier opposition to show for it.

Sure, set pieces then become a lot more important but we've gone from being one of the very best set-piece teams - in terms of attack and defence - to one of the very worst in the space of a year and it's shattering as a fan to see your team wither and die like this, as you know. But when it rains it pours, as although we gift goals away (Christmas was last month, fellas ) we're also having people score worldies against us (Giroud, Carroll) which no amount of defending could prevent.

February's good and all but we've got games against Bournemouth and yourselves to deal with and if we don't get something significant from them then we're doomed. We won't get a bean against Everton, they've just dismantled Citeh 4-0 and will be flying. Well done vortex!

Yes, but up until January it was still relegation form. It was a huge improvement once the transfer window shut and Sam brought in 3 players who transformed our season. We basically showed top 6 form to win so many games after that.

Could Palace be one job too far for him? It's possible, but I honestly think he will see you clear and then improve you further next season. You are the Palace fan and you know your own team but from a outsiders view having only watched Palace a handful of times excluding MOTD, knowing Sam he will get you into shape and secure that bumper Sky payout. I would gladly swap positions with you at this point.

[Steedeel]

Congrats Gvortex on that thumping victory!