[Closed] Soccerball 2016/2017 - Jumpers For Goalposts Megathread.

The referee was bottling it early on in the city barca game, barca should have had three yellows and city should have had a penalty befor barca scored. But once they did they were all over city, picking up every second ball with ease. Then when city got one back and in the last 5 mins of the half the situation was reversed, amazing what a difference a bit of belief can make.

celtic doing alright, gladbach no as good as at celtic park though, good goal they scored, though we were a bit slack defensively, 1-0 to them.

City need to just calm down a tad, Sterling could have got a second yellow then for holding onto the ball (even though he never deserved the first).

Well, what a cracking second half that was, and a deserved victory for city.

That was an absolute belter of a match! Fair play to city. Barca were all over 'em first half. That must have been some half time team talk from Pep

Just as well it lived up to billing. We were going to go and watch Rammy United play Tadcaster, but decided to watch this instead. Finished 3 all.

Mesut özil I want your children

1-1 each dembele penalty.

Showing some reasonable confidence away from home, good experience. still in with a chance. something to play for in the 5th game, mibbe even 6th.

Got too fancy Gladbach to get a point though, we need a win.

Quality comeback from the Gunners, capped by a wonderful goal.

Yep, good comeback. Good results tonight for the UK teams.

I'm just looking back at the predictions some of us made . 10 games in they are looking a little suspect. My favourite is Binners saying that " Pogba has really hit the ground running and it bodes well for the future . "

I still stand by my predictions

Oh and predictions
Arsenal
Man City
Utd
Spuds
Bournemouth to get top 10
Relegated
Sunderland
Swansea
Hull

But I would like to swap Utd for Liverpool please . Ta!

Didn't see any of it but fine result from City. The fans must be pinching themselves, Mesi scores first and City win 3-1 against Barca

Not sure why everyone is getting carried away by the city result. Barca aren't the force they were and if this was the proper European cup they would of lost 5-3 on aggregate...

PrinceJohn - Member
Not sure why everyone is getting carried away by the city result. Barca aren't the force they were and if this was the proper European cup they would of lost 5-3 on aggregate...

But it's no the European cup, it's 3 points.

Ye canny down play the beating of barca ffs. 😆

Great game and atmosphere at the Etihad last night. I was only mildly pissed off to discover that my car had been broken into!

Given that we won I can say this without bitterness but I really think that the competition is corrupt. The referee was so biased it was unbelievable. I was right in line with the trip on Raheem and it was obvious. The amount of dodgy fouls Barcelona get away with is staggering and it happens in every match.

It is particularly enjoyable listening to all the sad Manyoo fans and Jose's pet journos trying to belittle the result. It was Barca's B team etc. etc.

Thanks Pep and the team for a great night. I cannot wait for the Celtic game 🙂

But if it was the old format, Man City wouldn't have had to chase the game in Barcelona and might have settled for 2-0. But then Barca scoring first in the replay would have meant City needed 4 goals to go through, and they'd have been ripped to shreds in the last 15 minutes going all out.

If my aunt had bollocks.....

3 points and some self-belief. Priceless.

If it was the old format the only English team in it would have been Leicester and ManU wouldn't have won it with Fergie either.

Cletus congrats 🙂 ... given you are in Machester aren't you just glad when the car isn't broken into 😉

My favourite is Binners saying that " Pogba has really hit the ground running and it bodes well for the future . "

We've established some time ago that you wouldn't want to be putting money on my predictions 😉

At the moment we're going to struggle to make top four, to say the least. I was watching the City game last night and thinking that if it was us playing Barca, on present form, we'd be getting walloped!

Where's our OP Bongo these days? Has he done a runner?

I'm just looking back at the predictions some of us made

I find it amusing looking back at some of the things people say on all of the footie threads. You're doing well so far Howsyourdad1, very impressive. My tip for the top was Man Utd, before I realised Jose's special powers had deserted him! 😀

Yeah I'm surprised at Utd , thought they would be right up there . Of course it can all change in a few games , look at Chelsea now after we destroyed them. Thing is with Utd I can't see really what they can change ....

How long has Moyes got? Perhaps a return to Utd?

Odds on a Moyes return get shorter with every gash performance.

That own goal was a marvellous way for Inter to lose. The dirty cheats.

What a goal from Sow. I cannot believe how bad Manyoo are atm after spending so much.

I am almost starting to feel sorry for them 😆

same as LvG lots of possession and no penetration
Everything is always sideways and no one beats their man or even tries to take them on

we do look spectacularly ineffective still

We were absolutely awful tonight. Again! I fear that watching Jose's inevitable impending meltdown will make his departure from Chelski look dignified. It's like he's compressed his usual 2/3 year cycle into a few months

Their first goal was a bit special tonight though

We were absolutely awful tonight. I fear that watching Jose's inevitable impending meltdown will make his departure from Chelski look dignified. It's like he's compressed his usual 2/3 year cycle into a few months

I keep banging the drum, but it's all boiling down to confidence issues and mental fragility.

United are playing JUST LIKE England - talking the talk, possibly even convincing themselves that they are dead good - but when it comes to the crunch they do not have the true belief that they can outpass, outmaneuver, out sprint the opposition.

Casing point, look at Luke Shaw's performance last night (harsh, because he probably isn't match fit)- I don't think I saw him take a single touch. Every single ball he played was first time, and as a result he gave the ball away more than any player on the pitch.

Mourinho should be instilling belief, he should be reminding them why they were chosen to represent United at the highest tier of football, instead its these players that are literally scared of the ball.

It's abundantly clear to me that psychology plays an enormous part in football when it comes down to such fine margins at the top. Mourinhno appears to completely lack the humility and man management skills to drag this lot back up.

Head down the road to Anfield, and you see a man manager getting vastly more out of a team that were previously under-performing. He is convincing them of how good they are and what they can achieve - and they are responding. You can taste the feel good factor there - at United the taste is sour, with a hint of rancid.

There is a point to that but you also have to have the players on the pitch to deliver

i agree they are fragile but they also lack incision but they can retain poissesion whilst doing not much with it

We are very easy to sit deep against , whilst maintaining a defensive shape as we are never fast on the attack and then counter us because our defence is fragile- not least when we play wth two centre backs who are not really cente backs

i do agree that jose criticising them openly is odd- we played well but lacked some incision in the final third and were out done by two world class goals which were pretty much their only chances is a better comment, even if not wholly accurate, than saying we are shit, did not care and are mentally fragile.

they were never at fault for that first goal its just a great goal, they happen in football sometimes- same with the second one - which was never a foul he just fell over.
Heaping yet more pressure on them - claiming they dont care and dont perform -has never done england any good and it wont do Man U any good.

Jose does not seem to be the manager he once was.

Jose does not seem to be the manager he once was

Watch the game again, and see how terrified Shaw was when passed the ball. The lack of incisiveness you mention is evident, for me it boils down to 2 things:
1) Lack of belief that as an individual, they are capable of making the incisive play - or moreover, fear of giving the ball away and resulting in thier potential mistake becomming the catalyst for the opposition scoring
2) Complete lack of leadership on the pitch, leading to effectively a bunch of rabbits in opposition headlights

The first goal, albeit audacious, followed a complete lack of pressing from the full backs - a lesson that should surely have been learned following the Chelsea result?
The 2nd goal - De Gea stepped to the right when the only place that ball could ever have passed him was to his left. He was also completely unsighted by the wall - which wasn't even required from that distance.
Taking away nothing from both finishes, they were almost freak goals in their execution. But United had a ridiculous amount of possession, and 1 shot on target..

I try my best not to bash managers, especially so early in their tenure - but its now 3 seasons of the same negativity. £300+ million and 3 managers later, nothing is changing.
Fingers crossed that Jose's class shines through after a season or so and several more transfer windows(!) - trouble is - I really cant see United finishing top 4, I think they may even struggle for top 6!
Can the United machine withstand such a lowly league position?

The main problem is lack of Viera's/Keanes/Scholes/Pirlo's available for purchase, and a lack of management able to handle such a big club.

Can Jose get them out of this? I don't think he can and it's just a matter of time before Utd are looking for a new manager

Jose does not seem to be the manager he once was.

This must have hurt, even just a little bit...

Can Jose get them out of this? I don't think he can and it's just a matter of time before Utd are looking for a new manager

i think we might see a proper toys out of the pram, mega-flounce pretty imminently. He doesn't look like he's got a clue how to change things. The team is going backwards, and looking less confident every game. An Jose slagging them in public is hardly going to help

United had a ridiculous amount of possession, and 1 shot on target

A depressingly familiar scenario, that hasn't changed much under Jose. i can't even be bothered shouting at the telly any more. I just play a pre-recorded message that says "Oh FFS!!! Will somebody just ****ing hit it?!!!!!". Its like they're all terrified of shooting. Or even attempting it.

I'm off to watch Burnley tomorrow, as it'll likely be more entertaining, attacking football, and better for my blood pressure 😀

I've been watching Brighton at the Amex - and have started to remember what it's like to enjoy watching football again!

i think we might see a proper toys out of the pram, mega-flounce pretty imminently

. The team is going backwards, and looking less confident every game. An Jose slagging them in public is hardly going to help

I think we all expect a toys out the pram moment but it seems like some are pressing him to encourage it

For £10m per year, you could press me as much as you want. I would be a 24/7 media charming machine.

Maybe with all those nights alone in a big Hotel, he'll go......

[img] [/img]

[b]HEEEEEEERES JOSE!!!!![/b]

Yes Boro! Oh Bournemouth 🙁

We are top of the league say we are top of the league! Its absolutey brilliant and pisstaking-tastic that manyoo are shite and their gloryhunting shit stained fans are suffering at the mo.... long may it continue!

We are top of the league say we are top of the league! Its absolutey brilliant and pisstaking-tastic that manyoo are shite and their gloryhunting shit stained fans are suffering at the mo.... long may it continue!

Really? Could you have not just stuck with a great win and being top of the league? Obviously not, we have to have the puerile tribalism which says far more about you than your intended target.

We are top of the league say we are top of the league! Its absolutey brilliant and pisstaking-tastic that manyoo are shite and their gloryhunting shit stained fans are suffering at the mo.... long may it continue!

I can't for the life of me work out why Chelski fans, and the club generally, are so disliked, and have such an unpleasant reputation. Can you?

Well I had a fantastic day at Burnley yesterday. Brilliant game! 2 up in 12 minutes, Palace got 2 back in the second half, then Burnley grabbed a 93rd minute winner and the place went nuts!

I know plenty of disillusioned people (myself included) have mentioned going seeing local, smaller clubs.We've been to watch Ramsbottom United of late, and its good fun.

But yesterday I had the pleasure of being a guest at Turf Moor of one of the local social enterprise organisations which have strong links with the very community-minded club. I've worked with them before and Burnley has always come across as a really professional, well run set up.

We did the ground tour before the match, and Sam Vokes and Tom Heaton were sat having a brew, and happily chatted away to us, and posed for photos with the kids. They then wandered down the touchline chatting to the fans who'd turned up early. A bit of a contrast to Old Trafford, to say the least. Great atmosphere before and during the game. Really enjoyable!

All in all it kind of restored my faith in premiership football a bit, in the fact that it didn't seem like the idea you have of premiership football.

Anyway, back to today and watching a bunch of overpaid prima donnas, who don't look like they're enjoying their football one little bit, while the Scowling One paces the touchline, with a face like a smacked arse, shouting at the ref. Hey ho!

That was an absolutely cracking finish! Pity it was in to his own net!

OOPS! 😳

So Maureenho has already started slating his players. I'm beginning to think he may not even make it past the January window..

How much do you think United would have to pay to get rid of him?

I'm not surprised to hear him having a go at Luke Shaw - he was pretty scathing of him when he signed for Utd over Chelsea when he was Chelsea boss. Inferred he was greedy basically. Jose being a pretty good holder of grudges means he's getting it now!

If his plan is to alienate half the squad he's going the right way about it but it's a bit of a gamble if he expects to be handed another couple of hundred million to replace them. I think he also believed his own ego when he took over thinking he only needed 3 or 4 players to turn them round - well he got in who he wanted and they're still the same unbalanced squad playing stodgy, slow football with players bring played out of position. Champions League qualification looks a long shot.

agreed.
Im not convinced his all out offensive strategy will work for him, but frankly, id rather see this squad completely shaken up/disassembled than put up with another 3 years of the same turgid beige football.

As a saints fan I think luke shaw has moved to a big club to early in his career. Same mistake made by Walcott, oxlade chamberlain and chambers. I think they'd all of benefited from staying out of the limelight and learning their trade for a few more years first. Unfortunately the money being dangled under their noses turns their heads. To be fair to Walcott I thunk we had to sell him due to financial problems but I don't think it helped his career.

It's a big call to remain though and resist the lure of playing in the Champions League - and the cash! From the player's perspective it is a short career and one injury or loss of form can scupper the chances of a big move. I do think more needs to be done to compensate the clubs like Saints who bring through so many players.

I think Luke Shaw might be done for (at least at top flight CL level). I can't see him ever getting back to full fitness, as it was a really bad injury and even before that he was having fitness issues. I mean the guy over his short career has had Hodgson, LvG, Pochettino and now Mourinho questioning his fitness, that can't be a coincidence.

So no pre match comments before we duff up the auld enemy at Wembley tonight?

Big night for Scotland. Win and we're back in the chase, lose and the game is over and BGS should be out on his arse.

Interesting line up chosen to, strikes me as a last throw of the dice rather than a concerted and well thought out plan, but you never know, it might work. England aren't a great side, definitely beatable and we play best when we're underdogs. That said, we're pretty shite too, so all bets are off :p

lose and the game is over and BGS should be out on his arse.

Why ? Failing to qualify for the World Cup is the expected result (stretch target 😉 ) surely ?

Nights like these I'm glad I don't have Sky - phew !

The FIFA poppy issue is a disgrace they should be ashamed, as per the Tweet .. FIFA have bigger issues to worry about

Rockape63 - Member

So no pre match comments before we duff up the auld enemy at Wembley tonight?

There's always a chance that England are going to destroy their age old footballing enemies, England

whatnobeer - Member

Interesting line up chosen too

Pretty boring tbh, it's no 4-6-0.

Scotland are playing in PINK!! 😯

Yes and it's hideous.

Looks like we've gone to Wembley on a hen night.

All that way to pick up a chicken?

Good start for Scotland, awful start for England!

if they'd taken chances it might be a bit different

3-0 up but were still shite and Sterling looks awful as usual.

I have never been less excited over a traditionally classic encounter. When England scored I didn't even register a murmor of celebration. I think my England is well and truly broken.

Rose was very good as were the other spurs and pool players, defence was poor. Thought snodgrass was better than most of the scots. Ally Mcoist has much much more passion than anyone else in Wembley tonight.

Seems like Scotland forgot to practise defending crosses. Dismal efforts to track the runners in the box. Although I was quite impressed with some of Scotlands attacking midfield play, but they need a finisher (and to practise defending set pieces).

I didn't watch it, because it's Friday night and life really is too short to watch Engerland, but would a fair summary be:

England were shit?
Scotland were shitter?

I didn't watch it, because it's [s]Friday[/s] any night and life really is too short to watch Engerland

FIFY

Nice to see the tradition of thuggery and violence was upheld before the match. Wonder if we'll see the same at England's rugby match tomorrow?

I doubt it. They'll all be regaling each other with reminiscences of happy, carefree, more innocent adolescent days, stained with the butter drips from crumpets

I didn't watch it, because it's Friday night and life really is too short to watch Engerland, but would a fair summary be:

England were shit?
Scotland were shitter?

England were average, Scotland were better than usual, but not good enough. Missed enough chances to have changed the game early on, awful defending from cross balls.

Why ? Failing to qualify for the World Cup is the expected result (stretch target ) surely ?

It's more the manner of the failure. We should of been challenging for 2nd, instead we're 2nd last with some pretty abject performances and results.

The squads of Northern Ireland and Rep of Ireland, arguably Wales too minus Bale, are no better than Scotland's and look at what they've achieved of late. Trouble is, I'm not sure who would replace Strachan.

- Member
The squads of Northern Ireland and Rep of Ireland, arguably Wales too minus Bale, are no better than Scotland's and look at what they've achieved of late. Trouble is, I'm not sure who would replace Strachan

I'm totally fed up of that argument, 'there's no one else'.... **** off.

There are loads of good coaches all over Europe, nor just in Scotland or rUK, and if the SFA don't have a succession plan , then that's where the issue is. Wales and NI have done well with youngish managers who have coached around the leagues, there's loads of guys like that.

I'd have given Lambert a bash, but he's in a job now. Tommy Wright would be good I reckon, as would Derek Adams.

I have the feeling that many of the best managers we either couldn't afford or wouldn't want the job. McLeish did a reasonably good job last time around, but we should be aiming higher. We have a solid, if not spectacular group of players. Many of them playing at a decent level in the premier league, we shouldn't be failing to qualify time and time again 🙁

Compared to wee Chesney, mcleish and Smith did a right good job, wee Chesneys record is as bad as vogts.....

Wee Chesney - lol! There may be lots of good coaches around Europe and I would not be opposed to getting one if he's the best candidate. To dirty the thread a little, and use a rugger analogy, look at what Eddie Jones has done with England. Same players, huge difference in confidence in performance and hence results. However, what decent coach would want the Scotland job? Every dismal campaign lessens the lure of the job and the fact the club game has never been more powerful surely lessens the appeal further. It's sad but unless there is a glut of decent players somewhere coming through - and that could happen, Belgium were gash for years and look at them now, I think we're doomed. Each qualification group gets harder as the coefficient goes down - couldn't even qualify for the Euros when UEFA enlarged it to 24 teams 😐

@shortbread England Rugby. Quite a lot less pressure now home world cup has been and gone. Many teams in transition or just taking a breather really imo.

@whatnobeer, I should have added a smiley as I was just teasing really. However, yes agreed challenging for 2nd would have seemed possible. Iceland made the Euro SF and you can't say they have better players.

I don't think Scotland are good enough man for man, regardless of manager and certainly worse than Wales. Snodgrass, Fletcher and Brown are really the only players of quality. Scotland only have 13 players playing in the PL that must be an all time low.

Good old England - snatching an average result from what would've been a good one...

Hard to argue with that except to say 2-2 with Spain is an above average result

There wasn't many first choice players on the field by then so hard to take much meaning from it except for individual performances

Interesting without the so called leadership of Rooney they looked much better as a team... Odd how that happens when England can't play the players who are leaders...

Well that was a bloody travesty! Arsenal deserved nothing out of that. Absolutely outplayed for 89 minutes, with not a single shot on goal, and got away with what was a stonewall penalty. But we should have put that game to bed long before they had the chance to score. They were there for the taking today

Great comment from Mrs Binners watching Firmino, with his ludicrous haircut, warm up for Liverpool...

"Who the ****'s that? Bam-Bam?"

😆

Well that was a bloody travesty! Arsenal deserved nothing out of that. Absolutely outplayed for 89 minutes, with not a single shot on goal, and got away with what was a stonewall penalty. But we should have put that game to bed long before they had the chance to score. They were there for the taking today

Not quite how I saw it, although it was an odd selection from Wenger which allowed Man U to take the initiative. I was crying out for the removal of Elneny and the arrival of Giroud. Man U certainly had a great chance to take the points, but never really looked like getting two goals. As for your stonewall penalty, not even your old mate Gary Nev thought it was!