The Football Thread - Season 2013/2014 & World Cup

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Wenger Out!

This should be stated at least weekly on this thread - it just feels wrong without it.

Back to the championship and not the most exciting game I've been to, 0-0 v Brighton last night. Still top of the league and only 2 goals conceded. Only 1 fit striker mind you....

I note the rainbow laces campaign against homophobia is in action - whilst I have my reservations about that way they have gone about this campaign, it was still disappointing to still see homophobic chanting going on last night by a section of our supporters. You look at message boards and it's amazing how many people who would go mad about racism think nothing about homophobia. Odd.

Anyway, in other news I see Man Utd are bringing in a singing section - I actually think with all seater stadium more clubs should trial this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24153904
 
akr said:
Wenger Out!

This should be stated at least weekly on this thread - it just feels wrong without it.

Back to the championship and not the most exciting game I've been to, 0-0 v Brighton last night. Still top of the league and only 2 goals conceded. Only 1 fit striker mind you....

I note the rainbow laces campaign against homophobia is in action - whilst I have my reservations about that way they have gone about this campaign, it was still disappointing to still see homophobic chanting going on last night by a section of our supporters. You look at message boards and it's amazing how many people who would go mad about racism think nothing about homophobia. Odd.

Anyway, in other news I see Man Utd are bringing in a singing section - I actually think with all seater stadium more clubs should trial this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24153904
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Is it any different to chanting sheep shaggers when Cardiff or Wrexham play???
 
norters said:
It's very different. And the fact that you can't see that is very worrying!!!!!!!!!
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I meant in principle... i.e. those things are said due to race so effectively racism.

When I used to watch Cambridge there was a hell of a lot of banter... some aimed at Welsh teams, northerners and jobs, fat players, female linos/physios etc... like most banter/jokes the Newmarket Rd end that sang them would 'pick' on most aspects of life... Obviously it depends on the 'banter/chants' and what is said and how its said but in the main its what I would call banter. Unlike say pure racist abuse.
 
Whether you think it's the same or not is irrelevant - the point is it is wrong on all sorts of levels. I've no doubt some people see it as a bit of fun \ banter, in much the same way people found making racist slurs the same many decades ago. We've got to the stage most people accept the latter is wrong, but clearly more work is needed on the former.

Anyway in other news Joey Barton is having a great season for us so far!
 
Whether you think it's the same or not is irrelevant - the point is it is wrong on all sorts of levels. I've no doubt some people see it as a bit of fun \ banter, in much the same way people found making racist slurs the same many decades ago. We've got to the stage most people accept the latter is wrong, but clearly more work is needed on the former.

Anyway in other news Joey Barton is having a great season for us so far!
 
They were actually discussing the use of the "Y" word for Spurs on today's Daily Politics. Its use is something I find pretty strange and it baffles me that people want to defend it. The sooner that word is gone from football the better. I was pleased it actually made it on to a show like Daily Politics, however.
 
redhed17 said:
I think the usual suspects were expected to be frontrunners. ;) Chel$ki with Moaninho back, City and Tottenham with the money spent on already v. good teams. :shrug:
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By my reckoning City should be top and are currently furthest off the points you would expect them to have from the first 4 fixtures:

Liverpool on 10 points - 3 wins and 1 draw would have been likely.

Arsenal on 9 points - 3 wins and 1 draw would have been likely so probably should have had 10

Spurs on 9 points - 3 wins and 1 draw would have been likely so probably should have had 10

United on 7 points - 2 wins and 2 draws would have been likely so probably should have 8

Chelsea on 7 points - 3 wins and 1 draw would have been likely so probably should have 10

Man City on 7 points - 4 wins would have been likely so probably should have 12

5th fixture is a likely 3 points for Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea and probably 1 point for United and City
 
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dinners said:
Liverpool on 10 points - 3 wins and 1 draw would have been likely.

United on 7 points - 2 wins and 2 draws would have been likely so probably should have 8
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Do you think liverpool beating Swansea and drawing against United was more likely then?
 
new2me said:
Do you think liverpool beating Swansea and drawing against United was more likely then?
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Yep

I just worked on the basis that those teams could get 3 points for each of their fixtures so far - but 1 point for when they played each other.
 
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dinners said:
By my reckoning City should be top and are currently furthest off the points you would expect them to have from the first 4 fixtures:

Liverpool on 10 points - 3 wins and 1 draw would have been likely.

I would, with the form of recent seasons, expected 1 win, 2 draws and 1 loss, so 5 points. I hoped for 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss, so 7 points, if they could continue the form since January. So the start is a very pleasant surprise. :)

Arsenal on 9 points - 3 wins and 1 draw would have been likely so probably should have had 10

I would have expected 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss , so 7 points the same as Liverpool because they have become slow starters.

Spurs on 9 points - 3 wins and 1 draw would have been likely so probably should have had 10

Spurs have kept the same manager and spent significantly, so I would have expected 3 wins, and 1 loss , so 9 points

United on 7 points - 2 wins and 2 draws would have been likely so probably should have 8

Why you expected the Champions to not start as well as city baffles me. :thinking: Yes, they have a new manager, and a difficult start, (on paper) but they were so far ahead last year. I would have expected 3 wins, 1 draw, so 10 points

Chelsea on 7 points - 3 wins and 1 draw would have been likely so probably should have 10

With Moaninho coming back I expected to give the team a confidence boost as he does with all his teams. I would have expected 3 wins, 1 draw, so 10 points

Man City on 7 points - 4 wins would have been likely so probably should have 12

I don't see how you could have expected 4 wins from a team who finished so far behind Utd. :thinking: Yes, they have spent a lot again, but they also have a new manager in the mix and points to make up. I would have expected 2 wins, 2 draws, so 8 points

5th fixture is a likely 3 points for Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea and probably 1 point for United and City
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Because City, Utd and Chel$ki have had big pre-season changes, and have not started the season (as) well, there seems to be restraint in criticising yet (rightly so, because it's so early in the season) and some starting to re-adjust their expectations just in case. ;)

I see Moaninho is trying to take all the flak for Chel$ki's poor start and performances so far. If it continues, I wonder how long before he starts singling out players? :thinking: He seems to be singling out Torres silently by leaving him out of the squad, but none of their forwards have started with any form.

The form of Sturridge since he left must be very galling for Chel$ki fans. :D I always thought that he was never given a chance at Ckal$ki because of the expensive signings playing ahead of him, no matter how well he played. I'm so glad they let him go an Rodgers had the confidence in him. 17 goals in 21 games is far beyond anything anyone would have expected. Fingers crossed, long may it continue. :)
 
Why you expected the Champions to not start as well as city baffles me.

It would have been no surprise for City to have 4 wins from the fixtures they've played.

I wouldn't have expected 4 wins for United given they've played Liverpool and Chelsea.
 
Just one thing to keep in mind, no matter how much Spurs spend, they will not finish above Arsenal, it's one of those Premiership unwritten rules, like nobody gets a penalty at Old Trafford....
 
Jelster said:
it's one of those Premiership unwritten rules, like nobody gets a penalty at Old Trafford....
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ABU myth ;)

I've been watching the Womens footy this afternoon.

Currently 6-0 to England and they've been superb.
 
Liverpool lost the game, 0-1, but the 4 central defenders worked pretty well. Southampton don't have flying wingers thankfully. ;)

An interesting game, rather than an exciting one. It could have gone either way because there were not that many chances from either side.

Liverpool (and Southampton) lacked a bit of quality in the final third. :shrug:

Sturridge should have had a penalty after being caught in the box. Can't say the Ref wasn't well placed.

Bit of meh! game. There was always going to be a game like this after the start we've had. And it's not like we have been creating loads of chances like towards the end of last season, which is a bit worrying. :thinking:

Suarez could be back next game to add something a bit different.
 
Jelster said:
Just one thing to keep in mind, no matter how much Spurs spend, they will not finish above Arsenal, it's one of those Premiership unwritten rules, like nobody gets a penalty at Old Trafford....
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I believe Spurs had no penalties awarded to them last season..
 
My pal is a big Saints fan so he'll be well pleased.

On a different note it was some debut for Jesse Lingard at Birmingham. 4 goals and a 13min hat trick.
 
Bummer - Kompany back for City whilst RVP is out for United.
 
Not a bad game from Arsenal. Bit of a shame to have beens so disorganised for the goal we conceded, and it had been coming for 10 minutes or so, but that aside we played really well. Ramsey was sensational again, Mertesacker continued to impress, Flamini looks a great addition even if we'd have paid a few million for him, Giroud really imposed himself on a physical opposition and Gnabry can be very pleased with his contribution.

I'm a happy guy today!
 
pooley said:
I could have sworn this thread was normally full of united fans...
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Not full, but no more than Arsenal and QPR fans either.
Didn't watch the game today, but it sounds like the Middle East side deserved their win.
 
new2me said:
Not full, but no more than Arsenal and QPR fans either.
Didn't watch the game today, but it sounds like the Middle East side deserved their win.
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They were very good especially in the first half.

In all honesty though, City should be pulling teams apart like that week in week out including United.

Without competing in the transfer market, United have been the only club to hold their own in the Premier League in recent years against City and Chelsea.

I don't really have any expectations (high or low) for this season but if United aren't up there to stop City and Chelsea again, I at least hope Liverpool, Tottenham or Arsenal can pull their fingers out and take on the job for a change.
 
I must say City played brilliantly today, especially in the first half / 70 minutes.
Like Phil says, they should be tearing teams apart like that week in week out, but lately they haven't been. They had a good first Premiership match, followed by a further 3 mediocre or poor performances.
I was equally surprised by United's lack of enthusiasm and brilliance on the pitch today. Maybe it was the lack of RVP to gel them together, just like the lack of Kompany reeeeally shows with us.
We're only 5 games into the premiership, so today's result doesn't mean much in the long run, but City's display and dominance of the pitch today has made me feel much more hopeful than I was last week.
It's going to be a better season than I thought :)
 
Was very pleased with the Arsenal performance today. It's a shame that there were a few empty seats, maybe it was the kick off time.

Ozil looked sharp, Flamini is a 1 man army in the middle, and this bloke Ramsey, when did we sign him ? He's on such good form right now. We had a bloke that looked like him last year, but he kept giving the ball away.

Arsenal still need a serious stiker though. Good to see Arteta back too.

"We are top of the league" - been a long time since that was sung at the Emirates.
 
fabs said:
Di Canio sacked, if only we'd acted as quickly with Hughes last season!
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If only....

It appears Di Canio has not realised that shouting at players in lower divisions who actually have financial concerns does not work at PL level where players will quite happily say ok, play badly or not at all, still get paid a fortune and wait for you to be fired.
 
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