The Football Thread - Page 1954

**Greenman** · February 11th, 2017, 05:18 PM

Whoo-hoo! What a dream start for Liverpool- 2-0 up on Spurs with two quick goals from Sadio Mané come on you Reds!!

**tsunamiSD** · February 11th, 2017, 09:29 PM

Watched the Arsenal and Barcelona games on cable TV; both games close in the early going, but Barca ran away with their game in the second half.

I thought that Hull were unlucky in their first goal given up (which could have been called a hand ball) but were very lucky not to get at least more yellows with 1 or 2 players being sent off due to accumulation.)

**Ace1965** · February 12th, 2017, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenman

Whoo-hoo! What a dream start for Liverpool- 2-0 up on Spurs with two quick goals from Sadio Mané come on you Reds!!

I was afraid that Spurs would mount a comeback in the second half but it never appeared. Liverpool just seemed to have them rattled.

I can't believe that this is the same team that has struggled so badly over the last few weeks. Although this is just one game but it has to boost their confidence.

**footstep** · February 12th, 2017, 09:42 AM

Paris 0 3 at Bordeaux . Ready for Barca?
I say yes.
Take care barca, take care........

**Ace1965** · February 13th, 2017, 12:24 AM

Leicester has now not scored in 6 PL games. A new record in the PL. At what point does Ranieri sit some of these guys and try to find someone that wants to play hard? I think he now knows that he might have been too loyal to some players. Today it looked like Slimani and Gray were the best players for the Foxes.

**buttsie** · February 13th, 2017, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ace1965

I was afraid that Spurs would mount a comeback in the second half but it never appeared. Liverpool just seemed to have them rattled.

I can't believe that this is the same team that has struggled so badly over the last few weeks. Although this is just one game but it has to boost their confidence.

Spurs away from home are a work in progress given before the Liverpool game they were

4w-6d-2l - hardly fitting for a team 2nd on the ladder

They remind of the Man City under Pellegrini - great record at home but inexplicably
unable to consistently replicate that form away outside of the 2 epl title seasons.

If Man City beat Bournemouth away they'll be 2nd even after getting flogged by Everton 4-0 and Leicester 4-2 (10/12/16)

Says so much about the teams above them over the past month

I always get the impression the squads at Spurs & Arsenal really dont believe
their good enough to win the EPL.

**snowy25** · February 13th, 2017, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ace1965

Leicester has now not scored in 6 PL games. A new record in the PL. At what point does Ranieri sit some of these guys and try to find someone that wants to play hard? I think he now knows that he might have been too loyal to some players. Today it looked like Slimani and Gray were the best players for the Foxes.

The problems for Leicester are numerous. The players are a yard slower than last season. Their passes a yard shorter than last season. A few players are there a season too long and its showing. Their real player of the year Kante is no longer there. The players are not hungry for success as some no doubt feel they have reached their career peak with a PL medal. Last season every single player would run and run and run. I don't see the same mentality this season and its shows. One big thing this season also is players are not as rested as last time around. Last season Ranieri gave the players 2 days off a week and they have not been able to do that this season.

Leicester are I believe the worst defending PL winners in the relative short history of the PL. They may well go down as legendary poor if they also manage to get relegated. Which is not a impossibility at this point. They really are in trouble and whatever they seem to do changes nothing. They play Liverpool, Hull, Arsenal and West Ham next in the league. None of them easy games and especially Hull who are fighting for survival themselves. With other teams playing before them Leicester could be bottom by the next league game.

**Ace1965** · February 14th, 2017, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowy25

The problems for Leicester are numerous. The players are a yard slower than last season. Their passes a yard shorter than last season. A few players are there a season too long and its showing. Their real player of the year Kante is no longer there. The players are not hungry for success as some no doubt feel they have reached their career peak with a PL medal. Last season every single player would run and run and run. I don't see the same mentality this season and its shows. One big thing this season also is players are not as rested as last time around. Last season Ranieri gave the players 2 days off a week and they have not been able to do that this season.

Leicester are I believe the worst defending PL winners in the relative short history of the PL. They may well go down as legendary poor if they also manage to get relegated. Which is not a impossibility at this point. They really are in trouble and whatever they seem to do changes nothing. They play Liverpool, Hull, Arsenal and West Ham next in the league. None of them easy games and especially Hull who are fighting for survival themselves. With other teams playing before them Leicester could be bottom by the next league game.

You've got 13 games left in the season, if they don't shake something up in the next 2 or 3 games, it will be too late. It is very possible out of the next 4 games you've mentioned, they might get a single point. That leaves 9 games for survival. I don't think they can beat Liverpool or Arsenal. West Ham seem to be doing good. And like you said Hull is no push over.

**snowy25** · February 14th, 2017, 04:24 AM

Its a struggle for my home town that is no lie. There is a real possibility that they will go down with their current form. As I said the next time they play a league game they could be bottom of the table. Then it gets very tough as psychologically its a killer for most teams at this stage of the season. Their going to be relying not just on their own results but others results to help them. The thing is those teams are sneaking the odd point here and there and Leicester are not. That could be a huge game changer come the end of the season. What I do expect now is Ranieri to do what he feels is right and step down no matter what happens. I think he will leave to allow someone else to either bring them back to the PL or have a better PL season next time around.

**victor meldrew** · February 14th, 2017, 07:28 AM

Looking at the likely candidates for the drop Sunderland seem favourites to finish rock bottom. Palace don't seem capable of winning a game at the moment, while Hull just need to get some help from officials as some of the decisions going against them are not helping matters. Leicester seem to have just fallen apart and need to get some results at home. Middlesbrough's lack of goals could see them dragged into the bottom three while Bournemouth are still winless this year. Swansea appear to have turned it around but could still be dragged in if it goes pear shaped.
Still thirteen games to go and a couple of three pointers and you can leap frog your rivals for the drop and with some of them playing each other in the coming weeks it might well go to the last day of the season to see who drops into the Championship.

February 11th, 2017, 05:18 PM	#19531
Greenman Live Legend of VEF Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Underground lair somewhere in the world Posts: 20,353 Thanks: 30,936 Thanked 383,504 Times in 19,356 Posts	Whoo-hoo! What a dream start for Liverpool- 2-0 up on Spurs with two quick goals from Sadio Mané come on you Reds!! __________________ There was only ONE Greenman, and you accepted no substitutes! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Rest in peace MaxJoker-you will be sorely missed. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 20,000: Milestone reached!

February 13th, 2017, 12:24 AM	#19535
Ace1965 Vintage Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 828 Thanks: 58,691 Thanked 9,695 Times in 817 Posts	Leicester has now not scored in 6 PL games. A new record in the PL. At what point does Ranieri sit some of these guys and try to find someone that wants to play hard? I think he now knows that he might have been too loyal to some players. Today it looked like Slimani and Gray were the best players for the Foxes. __________________ Shaved pussy is boring. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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February 11th, 2017, 09:29 PM	#19532
tsunamiSD Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 53,015 Thanks: 633,094 Thanked 640,211 Times in 53,098 Posts	Watched the Arsenal and Barcelona games on cable TV; both games close in the early going, but Barca ran away with their game in the second half. I thought that Hull were unlucky in their first goal given up (which could have been called a hand ball) but were very lucky not to get at least more yellows with 1 or 2 players being sent off due to accumulation.)

February 12th, 2017, 09:42 AM	#19534
footstep Lost luggages? Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: France Posts: 7,268 Thanks: 92,097 Thanked 86,759 Times in 7,170 Posts	Paris 0 3 at Bordeaux . Ready for Barca? I say yes. Take care barca, take care........

February 14th, 2017, 04:24 AM	#19539
snowy25 Vintage Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,274 Thanks: 6,664 Thanked 23,142 Times in 2,260 Posts	Its a struggle for my home town that is no lie. There is a real possibility that they will go down with their current form. As I said the next time they play a league game they could be bottom of the table. Then it gets very tough as psychologically its a killer for most teams at this stage of the season. Their going to be relying not just on their own results but others results to help them. The thing is those teams are sneaking the odd point here and there and Leicester are not. That could be a huge game changer come the end of the season. What I do expect now is Ranieri to do what he feels is right and step down no matter what happens. I think he will leave to allow someone else to either bring them back to the PL or have a better PL season next time around.

February 14th, 2017, 07:28 AM	#19540
victor meldrew Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: At the bottom of an empty glass Posts: 15,776 Thanks: 531,841 Thanked 179,897 Times in 15,764 Posts	Looking at the likely candidates for the drop Sunderland seem favourites to finish rock bottom. Palace don't seem capable of winning a game at the moment, while Hull just need to get some help from officials as some of the decisions going against them are not helping matters. Leicester seem to have just fallen apart and need to get some results at home. Middlesbrough's lack of goals could see them dragged into the bottom three while Bournemouth are still winless this year. Swansea appear to have turned it around but could still be dragged in if it goes pear shaped. Still thirteen games to go and a couple of three pointers and you can leap frog your rivals for the drop and with some of them playing each other in the coming weeks it might well go to the last day of the season to see who drops into the Championship.