The Football Thread

[victor meldrew]

Unfortunately for Kane he will never get the service with England that he gets with those Spuds.
The media tend to class our players who are better than average as "World Class" when in reality they are generally not. I like Kane and he will probably be a Premier League great, unfortunately for him he is way out on his own in an England shirt.
With Joe Hart currently being flavour of the month between the sticks, if he is still in situ next summer then we are doomed.

Champions league returns this evening I wonder what midnight in Moscow will bring for Klippity, while Spurs will want to avoid the Greek tragedy Oel.

Pep will give his City squad the Darth Vader treatment "There'll be no one to stop us, this time."

Hoping all three get the result they want.

[footstep]

Monaco here starts by Porto.
Tomorrow, a must see Paris Bayern.
Liverpool in Russia, Real at Dortmund... and some I forget.
Multi channels needed !

[footstep]

Kane makes a very strong impression here.
How long since a top English scorer ? Maybe him ?

[pierrelm]

Originally Posted by footstep

Kane makes a very strong impression here.
How long since a top English scorer ? Maybe him ?

If we are talking about strikers who could have played anywhere on a world stage, then the obvious previous ones are Shearer, Lineker, Greaves and whilst not an out and out striker, Bobby Charlton. Kane looks as if he's going to be in that class.

Owen could have been, but injuries and, amongst his fellow players, being a thoroughly unpopular little so-and-so shaped his career; Fowler should have been, as he was one of the finest natural goalscorers we've ever produced, second only to Greaves, but he was too easily distracted. Rooney has always been sold by the media as a 'great' but never, ever produced in major competition.

Otherwise, going back to Victor's point, Buckland needs to be given a run as our keeper and someone needs to bring billy bigboots Dele Ali back down to earth and focus on his game, otherwise he looks like someone fast being convinced by his own publicity. We've had too many of those over the years. The rest look destined to underachieve in traditional English fashion.

[Meini Again]

Never really rated Shearer, on a par with Malcolm McDonald - imo

A journo's obvious choice though, (reporting big names rather than matches)....but not, I think, a fan's favourite.
If you witnessed him over the years, when TV wasn't ever-present, you'll have see the dives, the rolls and the cheating from Shearer. I really don't believe he was ever a Fan's Favourite and never a "World-Class" player outside the London media.

Gary L...yes. Never scored outside the box, went in where the boots and studs were flying. Harry K is the nearest I've seen to him, but... Harry K scores from outside the box as well.

I think, other than the financials, Harry K would benefit himself, and England, by a European sojourn.
He'd learn other than 'thump-and-hoof' or 'jump-a-clog' in any other league in Europe. He's at an age to absorb more advanced training / experience.

As I bet Levy realises as he prepares Spurs' 2018 budget.

[victor meldrew]

Originally Posted by Meini Again

Never really rated Shearer, on a par with Malcolm McDonald - imo

A journo's obvious choice though, (reporting big names rather than matches)....but not, I think, a fan's favourite.
If you witnessed him over the years, when TV wasn't ever-present, you'll have see the dives, the rolls and the cheating from Shearer. I really don't believe he was ever a Fan's Favourite and never a "World-Class" player outside the London media.

In a small northern town, our man has reached God like status and having worked in various parts of our green and pleasant land during the nineties, he seemed to be liked by most, with some, like myself, believing he had achieved a level of "World Class" ability. Perhaps if he had gone to Barca under Robson, things might have been different. It would have been interesting to see how he would have coped.

It would be advantageous to England if some of ours did venture abroad, but we seem to lack the ability to "join in" and most who have ventured across the channel normally return disheartened by the European adventure.

[pierrelm]

Originally Posted by victor meldrew

...
It would be advantageous to England if some of ours did venture abroad, but we seem to lack the ability to "join in" and most who have ventured across the channel normally return disheartened by the European adventure.

Eric Dier (who was a youth team player at Everton btw - only read that today) is one the few who went abroad and, unless my eyes deceive me, has been getting progressively worse ever since he returned.

I wish more of our prospects would go; It might do Dele some good to have a couple of seasons in Spain or Italy, depending on wherever the good coaches are. I think Shearer would've done a job abroad. Not outstanding, don't get me wrong, but certainly good enough.

One of the best centre half performances I ever saw was Boxing Day 1998 when we (Leeds) went up there in godawful weather and won 0-3. Shearer displayed all of his frustrated cynical side as the Leeds centre half kept him in his pocket for virtually the whole game. The Leeds centre half that day was an 18 year old Jon Woodgate.

Incidentally, apart from being a great day out in shite weather, it was also the best refereeing display I've ever witnessed. Players were sliding around, tackles were thundering in and the ref, Gary Willard kept perfect control, allowing the game to flow as much as it could in the conditions, and kept his cards firmly in his pocket. Proper football match.

[Greenman]

If Liverpool get through to the knockout stages of the Champions League I will be very surprised if we make it past the other teams we would face. They are quick on the break and devastatingly fast but at the back we are very vulnerable and something has to change. Definitely missing Lallana and not convinced about Karius in goal. Great save by Mignolet at the weekend.

[footstep]

Ancelotti fired!
Sagnol takes the role, waiting for the next manager.
Oktober beers !

[snowy25]

The usual names are already being touted as the next boss. Tuchel, Nagelsmann and surprisingly, or maybe not so, Klopp. It will be interesting to see who takes over as when the club tends to view the league and cup double as a minimum requirement the pressure is immediate.