Re: The Football Chat Thread : Mon Dec 26, 2011 9:51 pm  

McClennan wrote:

Seige mentality. I'm sure you're aware of how that works

seems to be working for them, haven't lost since

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Mon Dec 26, 2011 9:55 pm  

duke street 10 wrote:

Think this season proves how average the premier league has become...that the top 2 (who didn't qualify for the knockout rounds of the Champions League) can be so far in front of the others that everyone talks about a two horse race.

In terms of quality its been very poor, when a team like Norwich can come up and look comfortable at this level shows how many dross teams are hanging on each season by their fingertips.

Its been awful this year, Everton have been pretty much gash all season yet have mustered up 21 points and sit in the top half....just.

Can't see Arsenal and Chelsea getting anywhere near the CL final either.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Dec 27, 2011 12:04 am  

everton's pen

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Dec 27, 2011 12:05 am  

brilliant penno decision up at Sunderland.... can't believe Osman had the cheek to appeal for it, bit of a disgrace imo.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Dec 27, 2011 1:15 am  

100% Wire wrote:

brilliant penno decision up at Sunderland.... can't believe Osman had the cheek to appeal for it, bit of a disgrace imo.

He is a vile character Osman, an absolute disgrace of a human being. Scum!

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Dec 27, 2011 6:36 am  

duke street 10 wrote:

Think this season proves how average the premier league has become...that the top 2 (who didn't qualify for the knockout rounds of the Champions League) can be so far in front of the others that everyone talks about a two horse race.

In terms of quality its been very poor, when a team like Norwich can come up and look comfortable at this level shows how many dross teams are hanging on each season by their fingertips.

correct,the general level of the Premiership is comparitively poor and has been getting worse for the past few seasons - that doesn't mean other european leagues are any better,just that the Premiership is poor.
But why pick on Norwich City as an example ? their record in and out of the top flight since the early seventies has been pretty good comparable to the likes of Wigan,Swansea, Sunderland, Wolves,Blackburn except for one freak season when they bought the title,WBA, Fulham,QPR and even Newcastle !
The Canaries have always tried to play football the 'right way' even when they were a mid-table second division two side in the mid-sixties usually on a low budget so I would consider them as a success story in the whole scale of things - slag off other teams and be a bit more realistic and fair mate.
Paul Lambert has worked miracles with almost no investment bringing the team up two divisions - well done lads,the pride of East Anglia !

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Dec 27, 2011 12:16 pm  

Ajw71 wrote:

Utd will probably overtake City at some point, but City will still win it. City have played most of the big teams away and still have to bring Utd back to Eastlands. End of Jan, Utd have a tricky spell.

Yeah, you're always spot on. we never win without Rooney....oh wait. I can see the ABU oozing out of you.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Dec 27, 2011 1:03 pm  

100% Wire wrote:

brilliant penno decision up at Sunderland.... can't believe Osman had the cheek to appeal for it, bit of a disgrace imo.

Might as well make use of Howard Webb's...lack of clear vision, so to speak

Was a shocking decision but he (or Baines, can't remember exactly) had a stonewall penalty turned down against Villa, so as they say, they even themselves out...

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Dec 27, 2011 1:15 pm  

sanjunien wrote:

correct,the general level of the Premiership is comparitively poor and has been getting worse for the past few seasons - that doesn't mean other european leagues are any better,just that the Premiership is poor.
But why pick on Norwich City as an example ? their record in and out of the top flight since the early seventies has been pretty good comparable to the likes of Wigan,Swansea, Sunderland, Wolves,Blackburn except for one freak season when they bought the title,WBA, Fulham,QPR and even Newcastle !
The Canaries have always tried to play football the 'right way' even when they were a mid-table second division two side in the mid-sixties usually on a low budget so I would consider them as a success story in the whole scale of things - slag off other teams and be a bit more realistic and fair mate.
Paul Lambert has worked miracles with almost no investment bringing the team up two divisions - well done lads,the pride of East Anglia !

I wasn't picking on Norwich, just using them as an example as to how well they are doing compaired to established Premier League like you have stated.

Generally teams that come up to the top table battle and scrap to get a foot hold (a la Stoke) then add quality later on if they survive their 1st season. The fact they look (so far) like they have been there for years (and fair play to them) says alot about the clubs who have trousered the cash for years but look pish poor!.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Dec 27, 2011 1:43 pm  

duke street 10 wrote:

I wasn't picking on Norwich, just using them as an example as to how well they are doing compaired to established Premier League like you have stated.

Generally teams that come up to the top table battle and scrap to get a foot hold (a la Stoke) then add quality later on if they survive their 1st season. The fact they look (so far) like they have been there for years (and fair play to them) says alot about the clubs who have trousered the cash for years but look pish poor!.

let's face it the quality of football through the divisions is pretty poor - look at the Championship and see the level at the moment - it's a lottery with such a poor standard it doesn't really matter who goes up though it would be great to see the clubs with the solid fanbase ie Leeds,Forest,Derby,Southampton,West Ham & the two Sheffields etc to name but a few given the chance if only for the loyal fans who deserve better.

question is of course,why has the general level of football dropped ? Probably a million reasons though the tendancy to take more non british players rather than develop the youth systems filled with young british lads is my biggest gripe.I can just imagine the likes of Bill Nicholson,Bertie Mee,Ron Greenwood,Don Revie,Shanks,Sir Matt et al turning in their graves at the the thought of the lack of british players coming through or not being given the chance.....