The Football Thread - Page 2005

~~TonyCal~~ · May 21st, 2017, 10:20 AM

Liverpool will go in playoff champions league

**george anson** · May 21st, 2017, 12:08 PM

That the FA let alone even more senior governing bodies have not introduced retrospective punishment has been a glaring oversight over recent years as the scourge of simulation has systematically permeated football the world over.

Players who have been shown to cheat should be fined, banned for some games and their managers spoken to. On the other hand those who have been wrongly booked should also be allowed to have their videos looked at and punishments removed.

Given time it might have an effect and make some players reconsider in that split second when they decide to throw themselves to the floor or subtly trip over an outstretched leg or indeed bump unnecessarily into an opponent.

Mazzarri will be leaving Watford today. Yet again the media are quick to criticize when they don't really have a handle on the local situation. The manager failed to learn English, barely got his ideas across to the players and has fallen out with some including Deeney.

I don't know about the training methods but we have had a very high incidence of injuries throughout the season and a terrible disciplinary record. People say that is not the responsibility of the manager but to an extent it is.

And the style of football has been atrocious. Hoofball with one player upfront a non existent midfield and constant pressure. Three results, wins against Manchester United and Everton at home and away at Arsenal do not make a season. Nor indeed the fact that a squad which is better than last season scraped points against Sunderland, Hull and Middlesbrough (indeed losing 2-0 at ten man Hull).

Off the pitch the club is very healthy something which I am sure the much lamented Graham Taylor would be proud of.

In international affairs Jorge Sampaoli has all but confirmed he will be Argentina's new manager. That after the disastrous reign of Edgardo Bauza much affected by the bankrupt AFA ( despite many millions residing in Swiss bank accounts) and his continual policy of picking non entities and the friends of Lionel Messi and Mascherano club.

His list for the upcoming friendlies is very offensive minded but he may need to be more pragmatic in what are qualifiers that could still see Argentina miss out on 2018. They include several players that many fans have been crying out for inclusion over the last year including Mauro Icardi who should form an interesting trident with Dybala and Messi and the inclusion at last of genuine fullbacks in Nicolas Tagliafico (touted as the next Javier Zanetti when a teenager) but not considered by Bauza because he was not tall enough.

Manuel Lanzini also gets called up after admirably filling in for Payet at West Ham although he will be hard pressed to get playing time given the form also of Alejandro Gomez in serie A.

As this season comes to an end I do find myself having to rub my eyes at the amounts of money being thrown about especially at what are no more than average players and the still shocking greed of players and agents with their stipulations and signing on fees.

I now only find myself watching international matches particularly CONMEBOL and Watford when they are on the road. I have even dispensed with watching much of the CL and EL. I wonder if others feel the same.

**snowy25** · May 21st, 2017, 01:02 PM

I read that he still required a translator to get his ideas across to players. That is fine for the first few weeks but ultimately it often causes issues. As good as a translator may be they are often unable to put across something that you can only do when you speak the lingo. I think not learning the language also shows a lack of commitment in some regards as it says you are not going to be here for the long haul. One of the reasons Moyes was sacked in Spain was simply because he refused to learn Spanish. The fans and the board saw that as a sign he was only there for a short time. Its often the case in any league that a manager who doesn't put the effort in loses his job sooner rather than later.

One of the things I admired about Lineker back in the day was his attitude to his new clubs. When he moved to Barcelona he learned Spanish and when he went to Japan he also learned the language. Whilst he may not have been fluent in either it did show that he was expecting to hang around a while. Obviously Japan didn't quite work out but he still planned for the long term.

**m100** · May 21st, 2017, 03:07 PM

if liverpool have any sense someone will feign an injury to get themselves five minutes on the arsenal match

just spoken to someone on the international space station and apparently you can see john terry's ego from space.

goodbye arsene, straight down the tunnel at the final whistle, coward.

**footstep** · May 21st, 2017, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowy25

Philipp Lahm has retired after a very successful career in the game. He won 8 league titles, 6 cups, 1 Champions League title a few other trophies and of course the World Cup with Germany. Arguably one of, if not the best full back of his generation he was able to play either side of the ptich and was blessed with pace, technique and great tackling. He was also someone who was as professional off the pitch as he was on it. He snubbed the limelight and kept a very low profile off the pitch. Unlike so many of today's players who seem to crave publicity. I am sure the club and Bayern's fans will miss him.

Philipp Lahm is a great one.

As a man and footballer.Respects.

**footstep** · May 21st, 2017, 04:19 PM

So goes our beloved soccer.
here championship is over England Spain(soon), Germany etc ....too.
So goes our beloved football: a world team everywhere, no more local, national players in our teams, just world European players, well Blatter won (and the money).
I hate Blatter. I hate Champions league with 3 no champions qualified.Then world cup with 99 nations.
They are killing football.. Money wins.
City won : oops: goals by kompany fernandinho jesus aguero (where's the english one?)
Same here and everywhere ,Paris, Monaco, and so on.

**Devius** · May 21st, 2017, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m100

if liverpool have any sense someone will feign an injury to get themselves five minutes on the arsenal match

just spoken to someone on the international space station and apparently you can see john terry's ego from space.

goodbye arsene, straight down the tunnel at the final whistle, coward.

So that's that then - Arsenal has nobody to blame but themselves for this decline...

**footstep** · May 21st, 2017, 04:30 PM

Arsene is an Alsacian...
When he says one, he doesn't think two.

**Greenman** · May 21st, 2017, 05:41 PM

Yahoo! Champions League back we go. My goodness that was a tense afternoon but as soon as Wijnaldum scored it took a lot of pressure off Liverpool and did you see the look on Klopp's face.
It won't get any easier in Europe and I suspect that some games could be difficult, but it will be more difficult if Liverpool don't sign some new players because other clubs will do and we will need to keep up next season. Not sure playing SydneyFC on Wednesday is a good idea unless Klopp's intends to use some of his other players and rest the bigger names.

**victor meldrew** · May 21st, 2017, 11:15 PM

It will be interesting to see if Liverpool's owners boost the squad this summer or just move equal numbers in and out, given that next season they will be playing twice a week, providing they get past the qualifier.

Should Wenger boy remain at Arsenal be ready for some major toys out of the pram episodes as they head off into Thursday/Sunday football.

As for my lot given how bad we have been this season finishing in a respectable 11th place does not seem to bad until you realise only six points cover 8-17 place, are standards falling or is the battle for 40 producing some negative football, especially away from home?

May 21st, 2017, 03:07 PM	#20044
m100 Vintage Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,505 Thanks: 5,110 Thanked 11,919 Times in 1,489 Posts	if liverpool have any sense someone will feign an injury to get themselves five minutes on the arsenal match just spoken to someone on the international space station and apparently you can see john terry's ego from space. goodbye arsene, straight down the tunnel at the final whistle, coward. Last edited by m100; May 21st, 2017 at 03:54 PM..

May 21st, 2017, 04:19 PM	#20046
footstep Lost luggages? Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: France Posts: 7,268 Thanks: 92,097 Thanked 86,765 Times in 7,170 Posts	So goes our beloved soccer. here championship is over England Spain(soon), Germany etc ....too. So goes our beloved football: a world team everywhere, no more local, national players in our teams, just world European players, well Blatter won (and the money). I hate Blatter. I hate Champions league with 3 no champions qualified.Then world cup with 99 nations. They are killing football.. Money wins. City won : oops: goals by kompany fernandinho jesus aguero (where's the english one?) Same here and everywhere ,Paris, Monaco, and so on. Last edited by footstep; May 21st, 2017 at 04:27 PM..

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May 21st, 2017, 10:20 AM	#20041
~~TonyCal~~ Banned! Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 200 Thanks: 167 Thanked 337 Times in 89 Posts	Liverpool will go in playoff champions league

May 21st, 2017, 12:08 PM	#20042
george anson Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Watford Posts: 8,749 Thanks: 21,772 Thanked 293,421 Times in 8,926 Posts	That the FA let alone even more senior governing bodies have not introduced retrospective punishment has been a glaring oversight over recent years as the scourge of simulation has systematically permeated football the world over. Players who have been shown to cheat should be fined, banned for some games and their managers spoken to. On the other hand those who have been wrongly booked should also be allowed to have their videos looked at and punishments removed. Given time it might have an effect and make some players reconsider in that split second when they decide to throw themselves to the floor or subtly trip over an outstretched leg or indeed bump unnecessarily into an opponent. Mazzarri will be leaving Watford today. Yet again the media are quick to criticize when they don't really have a handle on the local situation. The manager failed to learn English, barely got his ideas across to the players and has fallen out with some including Deeney. I don't know about the training methods but we have had a very high incidence of injuries throughout the season and a terrible disciplinary record. People say that is not the responsibility of the manager but to an extent it is. And the style of football has been atrocious. Hoofball with one player upfront a non existent midfield and constant pressure. Three results, wins against Manchester United and Everton at home and away at Arsenal do not make a season. Nor indeed the fact that a squad which is better than last season scraped points against Sunderland, Hull and Middlesbrough (indeed losing 2-0 at ten man Hull). Off the pitch the club is very healthy something which I am sure the much lamented Graham Taylor would be proud of. In international affairs Jorge Sampaoli has all but confirmed he will be Argentina's new manager. That after the disastrous reign of Edgardo Bauza much affected by the bankrupt AFA ( despite many millions residing in Swiss bank accounts) and his continual policy of picking non entities and the friends of Lionel Messi and Mascherano club. His list for the upcoming friendlies is very offensive minded but he may need to be more pragmatic in what are qualifiers that could still see Argentina miss out on 2018. They include several players that many fans have been crying out for inclusion over the last year including Mauro Icardi who should form an interesting trident with Dybala and Messi and the inclusion at last of genuine fullbacks in Nicolas Tagliafico (touted as the next Javier Zanetti when a teenager) but not considered by Bauza because he was not tall enough. Manuel Lanzini also gets called up after admirably filling in for Payet at West Ham although he will be hard pressed to get playing time given the form also of Alejandro Gomez in serie A. As this season comes to an end I do find myself having to rub my eyes at the amounts of money being thrown about especially at what are no more than average players and the still shocking greed of players and agents with their stipulations and signing on fees. I now only find myself watching international matches particularly CONMEBOL and Watford when they are on the road. I have even dispensed with watching much of the CL and EL. I wonder if others feel the same.

May 21st, 2017, 01:02 PM	#20043
snowy25 Vintage Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,274 Thanks: 6,664 Thanked 23,142 Times in 2,260 Posts	I read that he still required a translator to get his ideas across to players. That is fine for the first few weeks but ultimately it often causes issues. As good as a translator may be they are often unable to put across something that you can only do when you speak the lingo. I think not learning the language also shows a lack of commitment in some regards as it says you are not going to be here for the long haul. One of the reasons Moyes was sacked in Spain was simply because he refused to learn Spanish. The fans and the board saw that as a sign he was only there for a short time. Its often the case in any league that a manager who doesn't put the effort in loses his job sooner rather than later. One of the things I admired about Lineker back in the day was his attitude to his new clubs. When he moved to Barcelona he learned Spanish and when he went to Japan he also learned the language. Whilst he may not have been fluent in either it did show that he was expecting to hang around a while. Obviously Japan didn't quite work out but he still planned for the long term.

May 21st, 2017, 04:30 PM	#20048
footstep Lost luggages? Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: France Posts: 7,268 Thanks: 92,097 Thanked 86,765 Times in 7,170 Posts	Arsene is an Alsacian... When he says one, he doesn't think two.

May 21st, 2017, 05:41 PM	#20049
Greenman Live Legend of VEF Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Underground lair somewhere in the world Posts: 20,353 Thanks: 30,936 Thanked 383,516 Times in 19,356 Posts	Yahoo! Champions League back we go. My goodness that was a tense afternoon but as soon as Wijnaldum scored it took a lot of pressure off Liverpool and did you see the look on Klopp's face. It won't get any easier in Europe and I suspect that some games could be difficult, but it will be more difficult if Liverpool don't sign some new players because other clubs will do and we will need to keep up next season. Not sure playing SydneyFC on Wednesday is a good idea unless Klopp's intends to use some of his other players and rest the bigger names.

May 21st, 2017, 11:15 PM	#20050
victor meldrew Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: At the bottom of an empty glass Posts: 15,776 Thanks: 531,870 Thanked 179,944 Times in 15,764 Posts	It will be interesting to see if Liverpool's owners boost the squad this summer or just move equal numbers in and out, given that next season they will be playing twice a week, providing they get past the qualifier. Should Wenger boy remain at Arsenal be ready for some major toys out of the pram episodes as they head off into Thursday/Sunday football. As for my lot given how bad we have been this season finishing in a respectable 11th place does not seem to bad until you realise only six points cover 8-17 place, are standards falling or is the battle for 40 producing some negative football, especially away from home?