The British & Irish Football Thread

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

There was one bit during the second half last night where Leicester picked up the ball on the left side of defence and within the space of a few seconds it had been worked to Mahrez over on the right wing thanks to a succession of crisp, confident passes and it was just beautiful to watch.

DIRECT football. Something Arsene should think about and if he doesn't have the players to do it....acquire them!

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

They still looked like the Harlem Globetrotters compared to the panicked hoofball that Palace play, my lot treat the ball like an unexploded bomb! GET RID OF IT!!!

There was one bit during the second half last night where Leicester picked up the ball on the left side of defence and within the space of a few seconds it had been worked to Mahrez over on the right wing thanks to a succession of crisp, confident passes and it was just beautiful to watch.

Sure, they got nervier the longer the game went on but they ran down the clock superbly at the end, if you do win it then Ranieri's defensive steel will have done just as much as the prodigious attacking prowess of Vardy and Mahrez.

And, right on cue, there was a bit in the paper today about how the Leicester defence are among the top performers in the Premier League's defensive stats. Solid defence, peerless attack, players who aren't afraid to keep the ball BUT who crucially don't get caught up in trying to pass every goal into the net (unlike a certain North London team I could think of), Leicester have got the lot and they will fully deserve the title if they can see it out.

[Geoff D]

Oh, that's right: I came in here to gloat at Mr Pulis being ordered to pay Palace £3.5M after they took him to court over the way he buggered off two seasons ago. Sure, he kept us up and guided us to our highest league finish in 20-odd years but he never got on with the higher-ups at the club; apparently he asked that his bonus payment (for keeping us up) be brought forward...and then he promptly left the club just before the start of the 2014-15 season having collected his loot!

Cheeky bastard got what was coming to him IMO. He's gotta pay back the £2M bonus PLUS damages PLUS costs, £3.5M altogether so maybe next time he won't pull such an unashamedly greedy trick.

[tob]

Great result david.

[David LFC]

Originally Posted by tob

Great result david.

Always nice doing a job on that lot, should have had few more goals over the two legs.

Dortmund up next can't wait.

[tob]

Originally Posted by David LFC

Always nice doing a job on that lot, should have had few more goals over the two legs.

Dortmund up next can't wait.

They should be two good games.

[Penton-Man]

Big derby weekend for some...good luck to all involved. I'll be watching

I just caught the Champions draw....a dream final of Barca vs. Bayern is still possible.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Big derby weekend for some...good luck to all involved. I'll be watching

I just caught the Champions draw....a dream final of Barca vs. Bayern is still possible.

Thanks. I am very nervous.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Thanks. I am very nervous.

I think so too for like with the change in manager at Chelsea, their (newcastle) players are now out to prove something.....but if you have good luck, you never know.

Man, I never realized how much money they spent on players over the past couple transfer windows.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I think so too for like with the change in manager at Chelsea, their (newcastle) players are now out to prove something.....but if you have good luck, you never know.

Man, I never realized how much money they spent on players over the past couple transfer windows.

It's just with our total dominance over them over the last few years I have a nagging feeling our run might end. Hope to goodness I'm wrong.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

It's just with our total dominance over them over the last few years I have a nagging feeling our run might end. Hope to goodness I'm wrong.

“Keep the Faith”
http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/...y-646934083974

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

“Keep the Faith”
http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/...y-646934083974

Lovely story, if it had been a black cat I would have been completely convinced to keep the faith!

However, I do love our four legged friends so it warmed my heart.

[Pizzamorg]

Only caught the second half of the second half, but in that last half an hour or so of football Palace looked pretty damn great given their form. No offence but I'm not gonna complain, three points!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Pizzamorg

Only caught the second half of the second half, but in that last half an hour or so of football Palace looked pretty damn great given their form. No offence but I'm not gonna complain, three points!

I think you guys have done it now. This is league winning form including grinding out results at potentially tricky venues.

Geoff, sorry it had to be Palace. However you can rest easy. Neither of us or Newcastle can get the necessary points to overtake you. We aint good enough.

[Geoff D]

Well done Leicester, keep it going!!

Rest easy? I would if Swansea and Norwich hadn't both won today. We've got West Ham next after the international break (which we always lose after, not that our current run would be any different anyway) and Norwich play Newcastle on the same day. We won't beat West Ham and I can see the Canaries beating the Magpies, so when we play Norwich a week after that they could overhaul us with another win!

It's all well and good Palace looking "great" but today we couldn't score in a brothel which has been our problem all season long. They've flattered to deceive, they really have, and I've got a dreadful feeling that we're gonna be caught out. From 5th in the table to 5th from bottom in the space of three months, only ****ing Palace could balls it up so spectacularly. And I'm not buoyed by the cup run either, I'd trade winning the damned thing for just one more win in the Premier League this season. (BT sport have got the Palace/Watford semi too, so that hasn't lightened my mood any.)

Best of luck tomoz anyway, Steed.

[Geoff D]

BTW Steed have you seen Palace's run-in? I mentioned we've got West Ham then Norwich. Then it's Arsenal and Man Utd (we've taken ZERO points in the games we've played against either team since being back in the Premier League) with Newcastle to finish off April. There's a reorganised game against Everton to fit in somewhere and May sees us at home to Stoke and away to Saints last up, both are teams who could be fighting very hard for a European spot.

Beat Norwich and Newcastle and we should be safe - just - but I reckon Bamford's gonna score the winner against us in the Norwich game and Newcastle under Rafa should be a different proposition in a few weeks' time. Not looking good at all.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

BTW Steed have you seen Palace's run-in? I mentioned we've got West Ham then Norwich. Then it's Arsenal and Man Utd (we've taken ZERO points in the games we've played against either team since being back in the Premier League) with Newcastle to finish off April. There's a reorganised game against Everton to fit in somewhere and May sees us at home to Stoke and away to Saints last up, both are teams who could be fighting very hard for a European spot.

Beat Norwich and Newcastle and we should be safe - just - but I reckon Bamford's gonna score the winner against us in the Norwich game and Newcastle under Rafa should be a different proposition in a few weeks' time. Not looking good at all.

I can see your concern but I honestly think you are ok. Norwich may have won today but West Brom had nothing to play for and are mediocre even when they have. Norwich still have us and Newcastle. Bottom teams playing each other over the next few weeks. I think Palace will scrape home.

[Geoff D]

WBA had plenty to play for when they banged 3 past us in half an hour! ****ing Pulis probably told them not to bother today to spite Palace after he got landed with that £3.5M bill.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

WBA had plenty to play for when they banged 3 past us in half an hour! ****ing Pulis probably told them not to bother today to spite Palace after he got landed with that £3.5M bill.

It's a different world isn't it? Imagine what we could do with 3.5 million.

[Geoff D]

Not a result that helped either side today then Steed, but it was the perfect one for Palace so I'll take that.