The British & Irish Football Thread

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Geoff and Steed -
I'm starting to really get concerned now for your boys. Man I hope both of you don't go down.

We are gone Penton Man. No miracle this year. We are so bereft of quality and fight, it's clear for all to see. The question now, is can we get rid of the team and rebuild quickly enough to go straight back up. It will break my heart to lose Defoe though. I ****** hate football sometimes. It would be easier not being a fan.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

I missed the first half an hour of this past Saturday night's Match of the Day
(unfortunately Lineker was presenting, I'm warming to Shearer and I'm not sure what to make of Ruud Gullit (spelling?) at times, when he is a pundit on the two Match of the Day programmes), so I didn't see the extended highlights of the Swansea vs Liverpool game. I can't remember if I saw the quicker highlights during last night's Match of the Day 2.

Glad we got the three points against Sunderland. Breathed a huge sigh of relief, after our last game or two.

Warming to Shearer? I don't like you anymore!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

You never know, things could turn themselves around. It's happened before, Sam Allardyce keeping teams up in the league.

This is going to look like I'm being negative towards a couple of posters, but a thread could be started for the Championship. Posters will make crossover appearances from one thread to the other, and vice-versa.

I can't wait for that!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Even when you have positive thoughts that your team will win against a lower-placed team, there's that niggling doubt that the other team will cause a shock and beat us.

I was trying to picture something as funny as what you said about the boots, but the best I could think of was throwing beach balls on the pitch. Can only speak from an Albion fan's point of view, but I think when West Brom play their last away game of the season, the supporters dress up in beachwear or fancy dress (but normally it's beachwear).

My players have been on the beach since November lol.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

I don't get Liverpool. They seemed to have been cruising along this season, until recently. They were taken to a third-round F.A. Cup replay by Plymouth, then in the replay they didn't exactly thrash their opponents.

Our second goal against Sunderland (from Brunt) was one of the best goals I can remember seeing this season, along with that West Ham goal recently, and that free kick scored by Rooney (I can't stand the 'invincible' Manchester United though). I don't mind that Stoke City are right behind us in the league, as it's very good to have another Midlands team in the top half of the table (Peter Crouch only needs to score another goal to reach 100 goals scored in the Premiership), and I like the job Mark Hughes has been doing at Stoke City, especially after the dodgy start to this season.

That upcoming game betwen Crystal Palace and Sunderland is going to be what they call a 'six-pointer'.

The Palace game will be irrelevant for us. We still need two wins to get over the 20 point barrier. Palace will stay up, already told Geoff!

[Steedeel]

Geoff, I see you are in talks with Patrick. If you sign him, you have a player who needs a lot of coaching defensive wise. He really needs to learn correct positioning and pretty much most aspects of his defensive game. However, he is dangerous going forward. Great shot on him and tricky to deal with. I think big Sam must think he can coach him and bring the best out of him. Moyes hasn't got a clue.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by tob

The Transfer Window will close on Tuesday night the 31st.
No news on any players coming to Arsenal penton but if we do go after a player i let you know.

Please post publicly rather than PM, as my inbox has been flooded recently.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Geoff, I see you are in talks with Patrick. If you sign him, you have a player who needs a lot of coaching defensive wise. He really needs to learn correct positioning and pretty much most aspects of his defensive game. However, he is dangerous going forward. Great shot on him and tricky to deal with. I think big Sam must think he can coach him and bring the best out of him. Moyes hasn't got a clue.

Whether it's Patrick or Patrice we need a left back desperately, shore that position up and we might just start getting somewhere.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Warming to Shearer? I don't like you anymore!

This will likely be a short-term thing. So I'll be back in your good books soon. It's partly because of who is Shearer's co-pundit on the Match of the Day programme he appears on. Currently, my favourite pundit on the Match of the Day programmes is Danny Murphy. When I don't like Shearer, is when he talks like his opinion is gospel and the last word on the subject (ie. there's only one right opinion, and it's Shearer's).

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I can't wait for that!

After a brief shaky start to the season, it's looking like Newcastle are on their way back to the Premiership. I think Aston Villa and Leeds United are doing well also.

[OceanBlue]

Football highlights programmes on BBC One this coming weekend and into next week (source: a UK TV listings magazine, and times are subject to change):

Saturday 28th January: Match of the Day: FA Cup Highlights: 10.30 pm - 11.55 pm
Sunday 29th January: Match of the Day: FA Cup Highlights: 10.30 pm - 11.20 pm
Tuesday 31st January - Match of the Day: 10.45 pm - 12.05 am.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

After a brief shaky start to the season, it's looking like Newcastle are on their way back to the Premiership. I think Aston Villa and Leeds United are doing well also.

Villa are not doing that well. Granted, they have improved under Bruce but I wouldn't say they are doing well. Something like nine points off the play offs.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

After a brief shaky start to the season, it's looking like Newcastle are on their way back to the Premiership. I think Aston Villa and Leeds United are doing well also.

I tell you what, Brighton going up as Palace go down will be as heartbreaking to us as Newcastle passing Sunderland on the way up, we hate Brighton with a passion.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Villa are not doing that well. Granted, they have improved under Bruce but I wouldn't say they are doing well. Something like nine points off the play offs.

I had in my head that Aston Villa had improved since last season (in the Premiership). How are Ipswich doing? The last few seasons it seems like they've always been in or near to the play-offs.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

I had in my head that Aston Villa had improved since last season (in the Premiership). How are Ipswich doing? The last few seasons it seems like they've always been in or near to the play-offs.

Worse than Villa my friend!

[tob]

I like to see Southampton to go on a win the League Cup.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by tob

I like to see Southampton to go on a win the League Cup.

Imagine how gutted Sky tv will be. They were frothing at the mouth with the prospect of Man U and Liverpool. It's not enough that they are on every week lol.

[tob]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Imagine how gutted Sky tv will be. They were frothing at the mouth with the prospect of Man U and Liverpool. It's not enough that they are on every week lol.

I agree and Southampton in the final will make it a better game to watch if they are against Man.United the last couple of United and Liverpool games were boring.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Worse than Villa my friend!

I did read something a few weeks ago about a team in the Championship who were towards the bottom of the table. Then since they had a new manager they had a change of fortune and shot up the table. I'm sure it was either Aston Villa or Leeds United.

[OceanBlue]

Aren't some of the big teams in the Premiership hundreds of millions of pounds in debt? How is it that they're still allowed to spend tens of millions of pounds on new players?