The Football Thread

[tamsmith]

If Liverpool cannot beat a third rate Scottish team at home, who have not signed one new player in 11 months, then I think it is a very good bet that they will have a new manager before Christmas. Or maybe Guy Fawkes night.

[footstep]

Joe Barton near Marseille?It seems they wait QPR sign Mbia in a kind of exchange.A devil in Marseille?That's french newspapers write.....

[Roger Allott]

Spurs News:

It looks like we're losing the services of Rafael van der Vaart, who is on his way to Hamburg as I write this. That's disappointing, particularly because he's not trading up into a Champions League outfit, where someone of his talent deserves to be.

On the inward side of the ledger though is news (aka rumour, gossip, etc.) that a 'big signing' is coming from Spain, and will wear the number 9 shirt.

So that'll still leave VdV's number 10 shirt up for grabs, I suppose, as Adebayor seems happy enough with his number 25.

[victor meldrew]

Originally Posted by trugoythewhitedove

Do you suppose that he's trying to outlast Seeping Bladder, as the most corrupt, long lasting, spiteful old vampire ever to rape our beautiful game ?

And as the ticker-tape begins to roll, it seems that Andy Carroll is on his way to West Ham. What will Woy say ? More to the point, what does Victor say ?

Andy Carroll has certainly got to be better than Carlton Cole, who so far this season has spent more time moaning than attempting score. My only concern is the potential cost, the loan is going to cost about 2 million and if he has a successful season and stays, then it looks like another 17 million. We should not break the bank in search of false dawns. Given Liverpools lack lustre performances so far, Brendan Rodgers might be unemployed in the near future and a new man might just want AC back.

On the positive side, I believe he will bag goals for us and will supply a few as well. Defenders will certainly have more to think about, than they do with us at the moment.

Joe Cole has reportedly turned down a move to Spartak Moscow and is now in limbo. Rumours suggest he will be heading to Upton Park. This I seriously doubt, as there is no way we can afford his salary.

As for Europe, do not think any of the groups are easy, Surely the teams in Group D would want to be somewhere else. Utd might have an easy group on paper, but Braga are nobodies fools and Utd have had run ins with Galatasaray, before. They also need to get Central defenders fit as well. Michael Carrick at Centre back should be an opportunuty for most forwards.

Arsenal appear to be in transition, yet again, running teams ragged and not realising you have to score to win.

Groups A to D It is poosible for any two of the four two qualify, while Groups E to F it looks as though its three out of four, although no one will enjoy the trip to Celtic Park, regardless of how good or bad Celtic are, the crowd should at least, give them a lift.

Anyone watching the Super Cup?

20 minutes gone - Falcao 2 Chelski 0

[footstep]

3 goals Falcao! and 4 1 !Barton signed Marseille.Mbia Chelsea.Lloris Tottenhamur number one goal : a clever simple man and a great talent.

[pierrelm]

A few random thoughts:
1. Andy Carroll - I'm biased, as I do rate the bloke despite the ponytail; just the sort of No.9 shirt that could suit Arsenal, playing with Walcott/O-C out wide and injecting some variety into their game; I struggled to see the sense in LFC signing him in the first place as they've not played a decent winger since the late 70's and the one bloke that can cross, Gerrard, doesn't play wide right as a wingback. Where I still think... (sorry, I'll shut up)

There again both teams build ponderously; I can't help but think that if he were French or Spanish, someone would've snapped him up. All due respect to those at the Boleyn, but WHU is not a career progression. Under BFSam anyway... which leads me to;

2. Ian Holloway - you may not have noticed, but yet again, he's built a Blackpool side out of scraps that are cantering along in the Championship. It can't be too long before one of the 'bigger' clubs gives him the chance he deserves - again, I like the bloke, he's witty, entertaining and he does seem to know his own mind and produce half decent football teams.
I wonder what the odds are against him ending up at somewhere like West Ham (where I think he'd fit in a treat, 'tho I thought Bilic would've been there by now) or even Spurs, although they seem to have very lofty opinions of themselves these days...(does anyone genuinely rate AVB as highly as himself?).
Otherwise I could see Chris Houghton as their next boss. Now he's left Birmingham, they've plummeted. Another young British manager with loads of potential.

Any other candidates for first managerial casualty in the Prem so far?

[buttsie]

Ian Holloway is a very media savvy Manager who is interesting to listen to
Unlike some managers I could name who come across like automated robots

He had Blackpool purring like a rolls royce for the first half of the season and then sinking like the titanic for the 2nd after Charlie Adam started sulking,DJ campbell got injured etc etc..

That alone says hes probably best in the championship

I dont think thats a bad thing as to me there is more uncertainty and interest in the Championship than the EPL

I hope I'm wrong but last seasons EPL for mine was one of those once every 50 year seasons

Promoted clubs like Swansea & Norwich occasionally putting the big boys to the sword
Many putting Liverpool to the sword why Liverpool played their own game of dominate,hit the woodwork and win very little especially at home.

Unfashionable smaller teams being utter bastards to beat on their home patch

I cant recall the last time I saw a bottom club go to the top one and beat them
Man U v Blackburn at Old Trafford 2-3

Hopefully it continues because it seems the trend that is now in vogue is newly promoted clubs no longer go down straight away which has to be a good thing for clubs looking to build

I hadnt seen a season in the EPL that was that interesting since the early 90s
when the Canaries / Norwich were actually contenders for win the EPL. after being recently promoted.

"During 1992–93, the inaugural season of the Premier League, Norwich City led the league for most of the season, before faltering in the final weeks to finish third behind the champions, Manchester United, and Aston Villa."

[victor meldrew]

People might not like him and I don't want us to break the bank, but he created havoc in the Fulham penalty area and we are three points to the good. How kind of Chelsea to pay the bulk of Benayoun,s 92k a week, mad salary and we benfit from his silky skills. On a down note, Mark Noble is not signing a new contract and come January can pick his club, should anyone want him, if he goes I will be absolutely gutted. He is WHU through and through, well done SA for letting him go, although I hope not.

As for Holloway, I would not want hm at WHU, hopefully, our next manger will be heading to us from Wiltshire.

[victor meldrew]

Originally Posted by Inglorious

Anyone watching the Super Cup?

20 minutes gone - Falcao 2 Chelski 0

Watched the game and he is an outstanding talent. Chelsea get a footballing lesson.