The Football Thread - Page 1963

**snowy25** · February 26th, 2017, 05:27 AM

Very true about how they played. However I think most fans, apart from Spurs that is, overlooked that because of what was happening. A team tipped for relegation was pulling away and going onto one of the most surprising sporting events of all time. Had Manchester United, Chelsea, Man City or Arsenal done it I suspect more would have been said about the style of play. Even me who prefers a team to play a certain way, even if it means results don't always come accepted City had no choice. They had to play a certain way because it gave them the best chance of making history.

**Motorboater** · February 26th, 2017, 11:30 AM

Romelu Lukaku becomes the equal highest goal scorer for Everton in the premier league era. . Inevitably, he'll be on top on his own. Personally? I think he's been wasted at there.

On another note. I don't see any Spanish or Italian football ever. But I'm loving the work I'm seeing of Fernando Llorente in the games I've seen him play for Swansea. I can't wait til he's a washed up 35yo. Hopefully he'll then come down here and play in the A League.

**snowy25** · February 26th, 2017, 12:42 PM

Llorente could have gone on to big things alongside his mate Muniain when they were touted to both move from Athletic Bilbao. However for Llorente it never seemed to click elsewhere and although reasonably successful in Italy he never reached the level he looked like he may do. Muniain on the other hand never actually left Bilbao because his attitude started to stink and it put potential suitors off.

**Old Jud** · February 26th, 2017, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devius

I just want to say watching Leicester take the title last season was a breath of fresh air,

100% in agreement with you sir. Knowing that United had about as much chance of winning the title as the DFS sale coming to an end, I was rooting for Leicester to win, just to break the monopoly.

The fact is that Leicester have their name indelibly stamped in football history books thanks (in part) to Ranieri.
Both he and the club can be proud of that, I doubt that he will be out of management for too long.

**Devius** · February 26th, 2017, 01:27 PM

HALF-TIME - Tottenham 4-0 Stoke

Harry Kane scores 23-minute hat-trick for dominant Tottenham - third hat-trick in nine games.
Kane then turns provider for Dele Alli to finish from inside the six-yard area.

[EDIT] FULL-TIME - Tottenham 4-0 Stoke
Tottenham move above Manchester City into second spot. Chelsea's lead at the top is down to 10 points.

Tottenham's last three results against Stoke - including this game: 4-0, 4-0, 4-0.
According to the BBC, Spurs fans were singing 'Can we play you every week?'

**victor meldrew** · February 26th, 2017, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devius

HALF-TIME - Tottenham 4-0 Stoke

Harry Kane scores 23-minute hat-trick for dominant Tottenham - third hat-trick in nine games.
Kane then turns provider for Dele Alli to finish from inside the six-yard area.

Can slaughter Stoke @ the Lane, cannot beat a Championship standard side at Wembley, a sign of things to come next season, perhaps?

**footstep** · February 26th, 2017, 03:03 PM

Lens Valenciennes 2 0.
We had to do it.
We did.
2nd now

**Devius** · February 26th, 2017, 05:36 PM

Manchester United 3 Southampton 2
Manchester United win EFL Cup

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a dramatic 87th-minute winner as Manchester United edged Southampton to win the EFL Cup in a pulsating Wembley final.

Ibrahinmovic had given United the lead with a sublime free-kick before Jesse Lingard made it 2-0 from the edge of the box after Marcos Rojo's cut-back.

Yet Southampton staged a remarkable fightback, Manolo Gabbiadini tucking home through the legs of David de Gea shortly before the interval.

Southampton equalised when Gabbiadini, a £14m buy from Napoli earlier this month, held off Chris Smalling before spinning and scoring with a low finish, before Ibrahimovic's powerful header from Ander Herrera's cross.

The Saints had been denied a third goal when the score was 2-2 when Oriol Romeu headed against the post from a corner.

Details:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39018813

**mungy** · February 26th, 2017, 06:32 PM

Get-in, 1st trophy under Mourinho.

Hard luck to the Saints...better team on the day lost.

**buttsie** · February 26th, 2017, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowy25

Very true about how they played. However I think most fans, apart from Spurs that is, overlooked that because of what was happening. A team tipped for relegation was pulling away and going onto one of the most surprising sporting events of all time. Had Manchester United, Chelsea, Man City or Arsenal done it I suspect more would have been said about the style of play. Even me who prefers a team to play a certain way, even if it means results don't always come accepted City had no choice. They had to play a certain way because it gave them the best chance of making history.

Thats why Mourinhos teams continually get labelled by the media as boring
His first instinct is to negate rather than create even when the team under him cost hundreds of millions to assemble.

Back in 2004/5 2005/6 where he took a team built by Ranieri & won just 2 EPL titles more than a few Chelsea fans I knew at the time expressed that the trophies werent worth the torture of watching them grind out wins against all comers.

You only need compare against other EPL winners around the time like Arsenal & Man U
Defensively sound but always taking the game on.

Think of the Liverpool v Chelsea 0-2 game when Man City pipped Liverpool for the title
Its the type of football that saw him never get Chelsea into a champions league final
Only when he got sacked did they take the next step and made 2.

Winning trophies isnt the be all and end all in a 38 game season unless your a complete
under dog who is so far off the pace its a miracle.

His basic philosophy seems to be - neutralise the opposition , wait for a mistake
and then think about scoring.

Its what has won him trophies everywhere

February 26th, 2017, 01:27 PM	#19625
Devius Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: It's a London Thing.... Posts: 23,507 Thanks: 142,113 Thanked 228,345 Times in 23,542 Posts	HALF-TIME - Tottenham 4-0 Stoke Harry Kane scores 23-minute hat-trick for dominant Tottenham - third hat-trick in nine games. Kane then turns provider for Dele Alli to finish from inside the six-yard area. [EDIT] FULL-TIME - Tottenham 4-0 Stoke Tottenham move above Manchester City into second spot. Chelsea's lead at the top is down to 10 points. Tottenham's last three results against Stoke - including this game: 4-0, 4-0, 4-0. According to the BBC, Spurs fans were singing 'Can we play you every week?' __________________ "I've had it with them, I've had it with you, I've had it with ALL THIS - I WANT ROOM SERVICE!* I want the club sandwich, I want the cold Mexican beer, I want a $10,000-a-night hooker!"* Johnny Mnemonic (1995) Last edited by Devius; February 26th, 2017 at 02:27 PM.. Reason: More info...

February 26th, 2017, 05:36 PM	#19628
Devius Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: It's a London Thing.... Posts: 23,507 Thanks: 142,113 Thanked 228,345 Times in 23,542 Posts	EFL Cup - Final Manchester United 3 Southampton 2 Manchester United win EFL Cup Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a dramatic 87th-minute winner as Manchester United edged Southampton to win the EFL Cup in a pulsating Wembley final. Ibrahinmovic had given United the lead with a sublime free-kick before Jesse Lingard made it 2-0 from the edge of the box after Marcos Rojo's cut-back. Yet Southampton staged a remarkable fightback, Manolo Gabbiadini tucking home through the legs of David de Gea shortly before the interval. Southampton equalised when Gabbiadini, a £14m buy from Napoli earlier this month, held off Chris Smalling before spinning and scoring with a low finish, before Ibrahimovic's powerful header from Ander Herrera's cross. The Saints had been denied a third goal when the score was 2-2 when Oriol Romeu headed against the post from a corner. Details: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39018813 __________________ "I've had it with them, I've had it with you, I've had it with ALL THIS - I WANT ROOM SERVICE!* I want the club sandwich, I want the cold Mexican beer, I want a $10,000-a-night hooker!"* Johnny Mnemonic (1995)

February 26th, 2017, 06:32 PM	#19629
mungy Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 3,400 Thanks: 8,933 Thanked 64,097 Times in 3,422 Posts	Get-in, 1st trophy under Mourinho. Hard luck to the Saints...better team on the day lost. __________________ My links expire with 1 months inactivity. If they are down PM me and I will re-upload.

February 26th, 2017, 05:27 AM	#19621
snowy25 Vintage Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,274 Thanks: 6,664 Thanked 23,144 Times in 2,260 Posts	Very true about how they played. However I think most fans, apart from Spurs that is, overlooked that because of what was happening. A team tipped for relegation was pulling away and going onto one of the most surprising sporting events of all time. Had Manchester United, Chelsea, Man City or Arsenal done it I suspect more would have been said about the style of play. Even me who prefers a team to play a certain way, even if it means results don't always come accepted City had no choice. They had to play a certain way because it gave them the best chance of making history.

February 26th, 2017, 11:30 AM	#19622
Motorboater Vintage Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 4,325 Thanks: 41,500 Thanked 38,254 Times in 4,299 Posts	Romelu Lukaku becomes the equal highest goal scorer for Everton in the premier league era. . Inevitably, he'll be on top on his own. Personally? I think he's been wasted at there. On another note. I don't see any Spanish or Italian football ever. But I'm loving the work I'm seeing of Fernando Llorente in the games I've seen him play for Swansea. I can't wait til he's a washed up 35yo. Hopefully he'll then come down here and play in the A League.

February 26th, 2017, 12:42 PM	#19623
snowy25 Vintage Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,274 Thanks: 6,664 Thanked 23,144 Times in 2,260 Posts	Llorente could have gone on to big things alongside his mate Muniain when they were touted to both move from Athletic Bilbao. However for Llorente it never seemed to click elsewhere and although reasonably successful in Italy he never reached the level he looked like he may do. Muniain on the other hand never actually left Bilbao because his attitude started to stink and it put potential suitors off.

February 26th, 2017, 03:03 PM	#19627
footstep Lost luggages? Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: France Posts: 7,268 Thanks: 92,097 Thanked 86,765 Times in 7,170 Posts	Lens Valenciennes 2 0. We had to do it. We did. 2nd now