The Football - 5-7 March 2016

[Toby]

There's some football on. You all know where to see fixtures. I'm not Reg. Talk about it here if you like.

[simon]

https://i.gyazo.com/39e3be7984c17bc9d6a69bf62e98c1d6.png

Just so we know.

[Greg]

Arsenal 5-0.

[Lee]

Arsenal win please. Draw would be nice if I can't have that.

I think our game is quite tough but being away suits our style. Play like we did against West Brom and we'll win.

[Toby]

All the references to Reg made me misread Greg.

[Giggles]

Is Greg one of the chuckle brothers?

You'd imagine the early game is a nailed on Arsenal win seeing as all week they've been FINISHED and have no HEART and DETERMINATION.

[Toby]

Spurs should give them a fisting.

[Giggles]

They should but they won't. They'll be in full shit the bed mode now.

[Byron]

Off the back of one loss? Nah. As much as I'd love Spurs to lose, if they were going full on breakdown they'd have done so by now.

[Samadini]

Players have turned on McClaren now. Once again the French contingent have fucked off to do their own thing together.

I imagine McClaren will get sacked tonight if they lose, so prepare to see a bunch of French cunts mooch around for 90 minutes and then celebrate a 3-0 defeat.

We'll be relegated if we lose today, since we can't even pick up a point away from home, so hopefully Dummett or Taylor somehow save the day.

[Giggles]

Off the back of one loss? Nah. As much as I'd love Spurs to lose, if they were going full on breakdown they'd have done so by now.

They normally leave it til around now don't they?

[Lee]

Chelsea are making the top four by the way. They'll be 8th if they win today, 7th if they win and Southampton don't.

[Toby]

Started a Last Man Standing thing today. It's going to be short lived if Aston Villa somehow manage to play football.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Chelsea are making the top four by the way. They'll be 8th if they win today, 7th if they win and Southampton don't.

Vanishingly unlikely. We'd need to drop points absolute maximum once.

You know what, if the title is on the line and our season is dead, that last game will be one of the weirdest of all time. The whole stadium will want Leicester to win. Leicester goals will be celebrated as if they were Chelsea goals.

[Shindig]

I hope for a scruffy 1-0 fluke but its terrifying when a squad can't be fucked.

[Samadini]

A few weeks ago I'd have fancied a win, but yeah, once the players have gone it's hard to ever predict anything positive.

Next few weeks are going to be grim.

[niko_cee]

You know what, if the title is on the line and our season is dead, that last game will be one of the weirdest of all time. The whole stadium will want Leicester to win. Leicester goals will be celebrated as if they were Chelsea goals.

Bit like when Blackburn won it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We had it once before in 97/98 when there was a last day relegation shit-off between Everton and Bolton, and we beat Bolton 2-0 to send them down, with our fans booing our own goals. Not sure why we wanted Bolton to stay up so badly.

[Lee]

I remember that. It was less about liking Bolton than wanting a smaller club to stay up at the expense of a bigger one, as I remember it.

[niko_cee]

Everton won anyway didn't they? Or have they been involved in multiple last day shit-offs?

[Lee]

They might have but they have been involved more than once. I remember them coming from behind in '94 to beat Wimbledon 3-2 and stay up and Sheffield United's expense. Pretty sure that was the first Match of the Day the old man let me stay up to watch.

[Shindig]

A few weeks ago I'd have fancied a win, but yeah, once the players have gone it's hard to ever predict anything positive.

Next few weeks are going to be grim.

And yet I still feel sorry for Steve. That dressing room have chucked it under 3-4 managers. They just don't fancy it.

[Samadini]

Exactly. They're going to be fucking off at the end of the season either way, so ideally McClaren stays on and we sign some players who actually want to play for the club, or, you know, play some of the youth.

Armstrong needs to play Championship football next season, so could work out quite nicely for him.

[Shindig]

There needs to be a purge.

[Samadini]

Marveuax's 40k contract is finally up.

Around 11 starts in his 5 years. #thankyousylvain

[Mellberg]

Sounds like similar issues to ourselves. Modern football in all its glory.

[Shindig]

Probably got 10 of those starts due to Obertan being unfit.

[QE Harold Flair]

This is going to be a bad day, I fear.

[John]

Kane looks like a proper shoot on sight pleb here. Get a market up on when he'll play his first pass.

[CJay]

Arsenal are a bit crap.

[Foe]

Arsenal are a bit crap.

They just haven't kicked on from the Leicester win at all.

[CJay]

All these sarcastic cheers from the Tottenham supporters will definitely come back to bite them. I hope.

[John]

Gabriel looked a bit Lord of the Rings there.

[Lee]

That'll do.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was lovely.

[CJay]

Haven't Tottenham won a ridiculous number of points from losing positions this season? I hope Arsenal win this, just to keep things tight.

[Giggles]

And there we have Tottenham Hotspur FC.

[Jimmy Floyd]

And there we have Tottenham Hotspur FC.

At least we were on the right side of history.

[Multi]

Ramsey makes you want to punch him all match long and then does stuff like that, the wanker.

[Max Power]

You'd fine Coquelin two weeks wages for that. Utterly brainless

[Baz]

That'll be the only red card he'll ever get. One of the best tacklers in the league, Coquelin.

[QE Harold Flair]

Fucking idiot.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Christ that was close.

[Lee]

Fuck's sake.

[Disco]

That'll be the only red card he'll ever get. One of the best tacklers in the league, Coquelin.

Which is fine when he isn't getting booked for deliberate handball.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Arsenal :D

[Lee]

Jesus that's a great goal. Cocquelin is a cunt.

[Max Power]

Lovely goal. Arsenal are a pathetic outfit

[Serj]

Cocquelin must feel like a complete tool now, and rightly so. Still, impressive collapse by Arsenal yet again.

[Browning]

Fucking hell, same old Arsenal.

[Disco]

It's the worst result for the league but the inevitable Arsenal collapse is always entertaining.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lamela :face:

[Foe]

You'd fine Coquelin two weeks wages for that. Utterly brainless

He's a moron but it was totally avoidable. Kane is mid jump and decides he'd rather get Coquelin sent off, trails his legs and goes down.

Pamela with an another example there. Jesus football is getting soft.

[Jeet]

Well done Spurs on winning the title.

[Foe]

Well done Spurs on winning the title.

Leicester better fucking win it. Arsenal clearly aren't.

[simon]

And there we have Tottenham Hotspur FC.

Haha.

[John]

Leicester will win it.

Spurs fans are such smalltime twats that even the idea of an unusual winner with a team full of domestic players can't outweigh my dislike for them. I'd rather Man City won it again.

Fucking superb timing, Draper.

[Lee]

Get in.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Paper mache wrists from Lolris there.

Draw would be perfect.

[Max Power]

Draw is magic.

Strange game this, fancy a Spurs winner still

[Serj]

Awesome. Now hold on to this, you bottlers. :drool:

[Jeet]

Get in false hope!!!!

[Jimmy Floyd]

Burnley v Blackburn has been a fine watch. Cross after cross, none of them finding their target. Burnley look set to win via a penalty won when a defender tried to kick the ball, missed and kicked a player.

Top of the market.

[Lee]

Prefer an Arsenal win to a draw. Arsenal being as close as six points doesn't matter; they won't do enough to win it. I want Spurs as far back as possible.

[Jeet]

Should have been 10 vs 10 that

[QE Harold Flair]

Fucking shithouse homer ref cunt.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Max Power]

Prefer an Arsenal win to a draw. Arsenal being as close as six points doesn't matter; they won't do enough to win it. I want Spurs as far back as possible.
I can see your point. You can spin all three results into positives. We just have to do our job later on.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm glad McManaman called out 'Fletch' on that.

It was just above him.

[Lee]

What a fucking time for the feed to go down.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fucking BT.

[Samadini]

Burnley v Blackburn has been a fine watch. Cross after cross, none of them finding their target. Burnley look set to win via a penalty won when a defender tried to kick the ball, missed and kicked a player.

Top of the market.

Forgot about that :D What a tit he is.

[Lee]

Nice result. If we win later. :drool:

[QE Harold Flair]

We would have won that easily 11 vs 11. We were cruising and had the better chances even with 10 men.

[Jeet]

Argh Citeh 5pts behind us with 2 games in hand!

[Samadini]

Riviere is starting upfront. Hopefully he's learnt how to kick a football, with some power, in the direction of the opposition goal in the time he's spent living in a cave.

[Jimmy Floyd]

'Body on fire, head in the fridge, so to speak'.

Nice one, Dychey.

Diego Costa is fake injured so we have Bert Traoré through the middle again. Love it.

[Spoonsky]

That was a massively enjoyable game.

[Samadini]

Throat in the lawnmower.

[Samadini]

Should be 2-0 Bournemouth already. :uhoh:

[Smiffy]

.....

[Giggles]

Haha.

Indeed.

[Lewis]

When Wenger sez 'The pressure of our supporters is relentless, and I'm in a good position to tell you that', is he moaning about their expectations? I can't think why they're getting bored of it all all.

[Disco]

I've not seen much of Bony this year but he looks utter garbage.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Isn't third higher than they have been recently? Above City and Chelsea, no less.

[Samadini]

Newcastle are definitely in this, both teams are similar in quality.

I believe again. :drool:

[Samadini]

For fucks sake.

[Max Power]

That timing:D

[QE Harold Flair]

Coquelin and El Neny looked good as a pairing today, before Coquelin fucked it up.

[John Arne]

My 15yr old nephew played a charity 5-a-side with Alan Shearer the other day - he played a nice ball and set up Shearer for a goal - Shearer didn't even acknowledge the pass.. he just turned and walked away.
My nephew was still pretty chuffed, though.

[Shindig]

He's obviously eyeing up the toon job.

[Jimmy Floyd]

According to the great wordsmith Paul Merson, it's 'all, all Bournemouth'.

Bertie :drool:

[Lee]

My 15yr old nephew played a charity 5-a-side with Alan Shearer the other day - he played a nice ball and set up Shearer for a goal - Shearer didn't even acknowledge the pass.. he just turned and walked away.
My nephew was still pretty chuffed, though.

I imagine it was the Sport Relief thing him and Robbie Savage were doing where they both played in 12 hour shifts or something daft. He was probably too knackered to acknowledge one goal in hundreds. The game (well, series of games) won't finish until gone six tonight.

[Max Power]

Chelsea six points off fourth AS IT STANDS

[Samadini]

Shelvey is having to give about 5 extra fucks to cover the likes of Wijnaldum, but he's going to get a red card at some point.

English PASSION :drool:

[John Arne]

I imagine it was the Sport Relief thing him and Robbie Savage were doing where they both played in 12 hour shifts or something daft. He was probably too knackered to acknowledge one goal in hundreds. The game (well, series of games) won't finish until gone six tonight.

Ah, that makes more sense!

[John Arne]

705760525511221248

I always thought that Chelsea got off lightly when they carried Drogba off on their shoulders mid-way through a game. Imagine if Liverpool had done that with Gerrard :drool:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgN4RbqL-Ws

[QE Harold Flair]

I imagine it was the Sport Relief thing him and Robbie Savage were doing where they both played in 12 hour shifts or something daft. He was probably too knackered to acknowledge one goal in hundreds. The game (well, series of games) won't finish until gone six tonight.

Fuck that shit. 5-a-side is more knackering that 11-a-side.

[Shindig]

I take issue with some of our fans whinging over the Dummett sub. We have fuck all defensive cover, you morons. Its a change he has to make rather than some tactical nonsense. Fucking retard factory.

[Samadini]

The Riviere project went well.

[John Arne]

Ronaldo just actually scored a free-kick for Real.

[Reg]

Not sure whether to go for the Leicester game or Dortmund-Bayern. Dortmund are 5 points behind so it's still conceivable they could win it.

[John Arne]

Aspas :drool:

https://gyazo.com/8100969e2dd3a1f04926c5a6407ac09d.gif

[John Arne]

And a hattrick for Ronaldo. 4-1

[Samadini]

Oh dear.

[Shindig]

Fuck it, Mike. Pillage us. Burn the village down with the kids inside. We're done here.

[Smiffy]

.....

[John Arne]

2 goals in about 12 seconds for Real. 6-1.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Surely McClaren has go tonight. How can you shed all those points, be 19th and then walk back into the dressing room to find that clown giving you inspiration?

Derby coming up as well, should learn from Sunderland.

[Samadini]

He is going tonight by all accounts.

[Shindig]

Howay!

[Jimmy Floyd]

Big Sam has donned this season so hard with the worst team ever.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Shindig]

Nah, they're all going to be in prison for aiding an offender.

[Browning]

Where is QPRs inevitable equaliser...

[Yevrah]

Martinez. :D

[Browning]

West Ham :cool:

[Smiffy]

.....

[Shindig]

Ian Cathro to shit out the last few games, then. Fuck.

[John]

We have a challenger for 'Samir Carruthers'.

Shaquille McDonald has just tucked one away for Halifax.

[Byron]

Payet is a God.

[GS]

Martinez Watch at Defcon 2.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Martinez. :D

Bottom half with a +12 goal difference is a fairly special effort.

[Danny]

706120612318683136

They might not have won but thats quite enjoyable.

[John Arne]

11 minutes added time in the Crewe-Burton game after Guthrie took a boot to the head. 1-1.

[Lee]

Can Newcastle not give McLaren next Monday's game before booting him?

Kante back in the team today. Please win.

[Byron]

Leicester win and there's 5 points between them and Spurs with 9 left to play. :drool:

[QE Harold Flair]

I don't know if I want Leicester to win or not. Not a nice position when watching a game.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Here's one. Aston Villa have scored 53 goals in their last 67 league matches. You'd want to shoot yourself. Present tense rather than conditional for Mellin.

[Shindig]

I've had a terrifying thought: Pearson is available.

[Browning]

They will surely go for Moyes won't they?

[Toby]

Bet Victor have West Ham to finish in the Top 4 at 12/1. That seems very tempting given the respective form of them and Arsenal.

[Shindig]

That seems fairly low risk. Loved Big Sam just now almost have a dig at the toon fans. This could sound funereal. :(

[John]

'Bouncebackability.' :drool:

Haven't heard that one in a while.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bet Victor have West Ham to finish in the Top 4 at 12/1. That seems very tempting given the respective form of them and Arsenal.

Good odds, but Arsenal are past masters at finishing in the top four.

[John]

Enter Niall Quinn to ruin my evening.

[Disco]

My opinion of Allardyce has changed completely over the past couple of years, I used to despise him but now? I'd love to see Sunderland survive. I still utterly loathe the constant gum chewing though.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Watford will get run over here. They look like they're on the proverbial beach.

In fact, everyone between Stoke and Swansea is now on the beach, and that's a lot of teams.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If the next France squad is named and N'Golo Kanté isn't in it, they should just shut the whole place down.

[Lee]

This is shit.

[Toby]

Watford will get run over here. They look like they're on the proverbial beach.


I missed the start but they're looking like the better team from what I've seen.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Since 20 minutes it's just been a shitfest. Leicester were opening them up before that.

Watford matches have been to this Premier League season what trips to the dentist were to my childhood.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Everton 3.21
Sunderland 3.07
Manchester City 2.96
Norwich 2.93
Leicester 2.93
Newcastle 2.89
Liverpool 2.85
Chelsea 2.83
Bournemouth 2.76
West Ham 2.69
Aston Villa 2.66
Arsenal 2.62
Tottenham 2.59
Crystal Palace 2.43
West Brom 2.32
Manchester Utd 2.25
Stoke 2.24
Southampton 2.24
Swansea 2.24
Watford 2.07

Evidence based posting.

[Reg]

Need a Vardy wonder goal or something to make up for picking this game over Bayern.

[Toby]

What's that, goals per game?

[Reg]

Sunderland and Newcastle fans getting excellent value for money.

[Giggles]

Is it? Sunderland couldn't be second.

EDIT: Ah, total.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What's that, goals per game?

Yeah.

What a finish.

[Toby]

Is it? Sunderland couldn't be second.


It would be goals by both teams, so about 3 out of 4 there will be conceded.

[John]

What a lovely finish.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This has been one of the worst games I can remember for goalkeeper kicking. Their boots are made of apple pie.

Amrabat is a classic North African. Would be a superb player if his first instinct was not always to do the most shithouse thing available.

[Lee]

Schmeichel's kicking is always disgraceful.

[TG09]

I have had enough of Arsenal, when we put ourselves in a good position we just make it more harder for ourselves. A sending off today and he hasnt been back that long.

[Lewis]

I thought West Ham would fade away once the initial gypo novelty wore off. The fucking state of Everton though. Get him sacked.

[Kikó]

Benfica Sporting tonight. Heading to the Benfica restaurant in Kensal rise for it. Massive game.

[John]

Ranieri even looks adorable when he's shouting. If there aren't little stuffed Claudios being sold in the Leicester shop they'll have missed a trick.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm no tactician so I couldn't tell you how randomly bringing on King and Jeff Schlupp at half time has won them this game, but I bet it did.

[Lee]

Grinding them out. :cool:

[Lee]

I'm no tactician so I couldn't tell you how randomly bringing on King and Jeff Schlupp at half time has won them this game, but I bet it did.

Both more attacking players, makes us more a 4-2-3-1 when attacking. He's done it the last three games when we've found it tough to find space behind and it has worked each time.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Lee]

Nine days off followed by Newcastle at home. Lovely. Then Palace away I think.

[GS]

Just looking at Leicester's fixtures, they don't have a "hard" game until May.

Fucking hell, lads. Let's keep it going.

[John]

Just looking at Leicester's fixtures, they don't have a "hard" game until May.

Fucking hell, lads. Let's keep it going.

I looked up all the fixtures the other night. Spurs have a couple of difficult games to play and Arsenal are done. It's theirs.

[Lee]

If we are to win it we need to extend our lead by at least a couple of points before we get to those last three games. United away, then Everton at home, finishing with Chelsea away.

[Kikó]

I'm looking forward to bumping my where will Leicester finish thread at the end of the season to see how wrong most of us were.

[John]

Claudio. :cool:

I think I had them finishing dead last.

[Giggles]

It's back on.

:rave:

[Samadini]

Newcastle are going to shit on you all next week.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Newcastle are going to shit on you all next week.

Under new manager until the end of the season Kev'n Keeg'n?

[Giggles]

I would have had them having problems the past 3 games but Newcastle is one I'd be comfortable with them seeing out.

[Smiffy]

.....

[phonics]

Have to think these games against relegation shitters are going to result in more dropped points than those last 3.

[Vim]

Dilidin dilidon. :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Have to think these games against relegation shitters are going to result in more dropped points than those last 3.

Just done Watford, West Brom and Norwich - 7 points. The same haul in the next three and they're making it very hard for everyone else.

[Lee]

Have to think these games against relegation shitters are going to result in more dropped points than those last 3.

This keeps coming up. Approaching Christmas it was all 'they've played nobody yet'. Then it was 'they've still got to go away to the big clubs', followed now by 'they'll struggle to beat the teams down at the bottom'. We've played three of them, winning two and drawing one (which we should have won comfortably, incidentally).

People are failing to cope mentally with the idea that Leicester fucking City might win the league. Me as much as anybody.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Smiffy]

.....

[Multi]

Leicester winning to me is preferable to Arsenal, who don't deserve it anymore after pissing their pants constantly. It would probably some of the best scenes witnessed in football for a long time.

[phonics]

This keeps coming up. Approaching Christmas it was all 'they've played nobody yet'. Then it was 'they've still got to go away to the big clubs', followed now by 'they'll struggle to beat the teams down at the bottom'. We've played three of them, winning two and drawing one (which we should have won comfortably, incidentally).

People are failing to cope mentally with the idea that Leicester fucking City might win the league. Me as much as anybody.

Think the point still stands. Smaller teams weren't playing you like they would 'big' teams previously. Look at those high lines v Vardy all season. I didn't say you wouldn't win them I just said that you'll find more difficulty (as has been shown by your results vs those teams) facing the smaller teams with ten men back than versus Chelsea playing a central midfield of Oscar, Fabregas and Willian. That's all.

[phonics]

I said this on another forum, someone suggested it's OK winning the big sides but losing to the likes of Bournemouth will be what gets them.

Three defeats. Arsenal x2 and Liverpool. :cab:

Who were the draws against? Remember that that's only a point.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Lee]

Surely that point stands for every team though? I'm not moaning at you especially, more the media who who seem to want seek every possible reason for us ending up not winning the thing. Presumably because they don't want to say 'yes, they'll win it' and then look daft for suggesting that LEICESTER CITY WILL WIN THE PREMIER LEAGUE when we end up not doing.

[Samadini]

Under new manager until the end of the season Kev'n Keeg'n?

Ashley would probably appoint 'Nacho' Gonzalez as his number 2 just to wind him up.

[phonics]

Surely that point stands for every team though? I'm not moaning at you especially, more the media who who seem to want seek every possible reason for us ending up not winning the thing. Presumably because they don't want to say 'yes, they'll win it' and then look daft for suggesting that LEICESTER CITY WILL WIN THE PREMIER LEAGUE when we end up not doing.

Yes it does work for every team. However you weren't being taken seriously for months before teams started setting up against you. Much like the Suarez inspired Liverpool. Whereas if you are Arsenal, City, United or Chelsea face that set up every week and your goals have massively dropped off facing teams who have since adapted.

[Samadini]

Surely the media don't want to say you'll win it because when you do win it they want to be able to say 'AND NOBODY AT ANY POINT BELIEVED THIS COULD REALLY HAPPEN OMG I'M DROWNING IN DRAMA' rather than worrying about looking silly predicting something and then it not happening.

[Jeet]

I'll take 4th spot gladly if it was offered now, could end up 6th! Still got to play West Ham and Citeh too.

[Disco]

This keeps coming up. Approaching Christmas it was all 'they've played nobody yet'. Then it was 'they've still got to go away to the big clubs', followed now by 'they'll struggle to beat the teams down at the bottom'. We've played three of them, winning two and drawing one (which we should have won comfortably, incidentally).

People are failing to cope mentally with the idea that Leicester fucking City might win the league. Me as much as anybody.

I think a lot of that will is simply because lots of people keep expecting things to revert to normal expectations. What they ignore is that there's only one metric for judging if a team is 'good enough' and that's how many points they have, Leicester have the most ergo they've been the best team. You can (and there will be lots who will) wank on about this team or that team underperforming but they won't be engraving any caveats onto the trophy. If it happens I can't think of any other sporting spectacle that will match it and it's blessed releif from normal Premier League closed shop drudgery.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Reg]

Not that I care or that it makes it any less brilliant, but I find it strange how a team that just looked a smidgeon above average v Watford might win the league. I know they're probably more suited to having more space to break into, but still, they look rather limited.

Them having comfortably the best defensive record would make it seem more reasonable, but they've conceded more than Tottenham, Southampton, Arsenal and Watford, and the same amount as Man City.

[Max Power]

Just looking at Leicester's fixtures, they don't have a "hard" game until May.

Fucking hell, lads. Let's keep it going.

West Ham come here in April sometime. And we did draw with West Brom, Bournemouth and Aston fucking Villa this year so nothing is taken for granted. Man United away and Everton at home are painted as 'tough' games but I see them the same as Newcastle at this point tbh.

Fucking hell this is mad. Mahrez is world class. Jeff Schlupp and Andy King, two academy graduates and League One players make the difference after half time to send us five points clear. I don't know what to do with myself.

[Lee]

Yes it does work for every team. However you weren't being taken seriously for months before teams started setting up against you. Much like the Suarez inspired Liverpool. Whereas if you are Arsenal, City, United or Chelsea face that set up every week and your goals have massively dropped off facing teams who have since adapted.

Have they? It's a bit difficult to say having played only three in this run against the 'poorer' sides but four in those games isn't that terrible a return. Other than the Norwich game we've been creating chances too. We should have had two more this evening and could easily have had another three or four against West Brom. That we didn't is a finishing issue more than anything else.

Watford aren't really a side who have adapted either. They always keep it tight and the home game was much the same, with us winning courtesy of two cock ups by Gomes. West Brom were very open. Norwich adapted and we struggled until Ranieri made much the same changes as he did at half time this evening, at which point we started getting in behind.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Max Power]

Best away record in wins, points and goals as well. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE POSSESSION STATS???

We're gonna win the league

[Reg]

I didn't even check that. :D Probably because it's so bloody weird.

[Lee]

Not that I care or that it makes it any less brilliant, but I find it strange how a team that just looked a smidgeon above average v Watford might win the league. I know they're probably more suited to having more space to break into, but still, they look rather limited.

Them having comfortably the best defensive record would make it seem more reasonable, but they've conceded more than Tottenham, Southampton, Arsenal and Watford, and the same amount as Man City.

We definitely looked a bit average tonight but I think that owes a lot to Watford's playing style. Our current defence is actually really good. We started the season with De Laet and Schlupp as full backs, both of whom are naturally attacking full backs. Since we started playing Simpson and Fuchs in the full back positions we've conceded 12 in 17 league games, fewer than any other side in the same period. Nine clean sheets too. Claudio knows. :cool:

[Reg]

Best away record in wins, points and goals as well. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE POSSESSION STATS???

We're gonna win the league
Wins and points don't help do they? They're not why something happens.

I know having 95% possession doesn't necessary help, as has been seen during United's thrilling efforts this season.

[Spoonsky]

Not that I care or that it makes it any less brilliant, but I find it strange how a team that just looked a smidgeon above average v Watford might win the league. I know they're probably more suited to having more space to break into, but still, they look rather limited.

Them having comfortably the best defensive record would make it seem more reasonable, but they've conceded more than Tottenham, Southampton, Arsenal and Watford, and the same amount as Man City.

I dunno, you can't play brilliantly every game. Even that Liverpool team in 13-14, which everyone said was so brilliant to watch, had some properly tight away wins in the spring. The real mark of a winning team is getting wins even when you don't play all that well.

[Lee]

Mahrez pulled up with cramp, by the way. My first assumption wasn't that, nor was it that he'd done his hamstring. I thought he was being a lazy cunt because he couldn't win the chase.

[Max Power]

Wins and points don't help do they? They're not why something happens.

I know having 95% possession doesn't necessary help, as has been seen during United's thrilling efforts this season.

What are you looking for though? We never really looked like conceding tonight. Had the best three or four chances. Plenty of goal attempts, a good amount of attempts on target (a metric we always rank highly on).

Play to your strenghts and keep your heads.

Dingly Ding Dingly Dong

[Disco]

Wins and points don't help do they? They're not why something happens.

I know having 95% possession doesn't necessary help, as has been seen during United's thrilling efforts this season.

Confirmation that stats are rubbish and only tell a small part of any story.

[Waffdon]

Another semi final. Utterly shocked what fkn scenes

[Reg]

I haven't mentioned anything about stats except to discredit them.


What are you looking for though?
Just a bit more creativity really. Even the title winners of past years who have been mainly seen as solid or reactive, Mourinho's first Chelsea for example, have had a little more spark on the ball in my opinion.

[Giggles]

I don't care if they shut up shop and win 1-0 with 5% possession and one shot on target a game so long as they do this.

It's Leicester City. Leicester City winning the premier league. Who cares how?

[Reg]

Nor do I. It's great.

[phonics]

Ha. How wrong can one person be? Suarez was part of Liverpool's successful season as shown by our record without when he wasn't playing being better.

I'd argue the three teams you mention have created the mess they find themselves in. Arsenal are the biggest chokers in England without a doubt, Chelsea players were trying to get rid of Mourinho and Man United can be beaten if you just attack them. Simples.

Learn to read a post Hazza.

[Giggles]

That German game should never have finished scoreless.

[Lewis]

Hugo Lloris should have had both of these. The overrated French coward.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Just remembered that Leicester had Cambiasso last season and that somehow some bloke called N'Golo Kanté has, if anything, been an upgrade.

[John]

Kante is amazing. I reckon they're pulling a Parent Trap with him, the amount of work he gets through.

'Fantastic Mr Fox!' :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

At one point early in the second half I thought 'fucking hell, he gets literally everywhere' and then realised it was Jeff Schlupp, who had come on for Albrighton. Still, he does get everywhere.

[ScousePig]

Fuck that shit. 5-a-side is more knackering that 11-a-side.

If you played them both for equivalent minutes perhaps, but a 90 minute 11aside game is more knackering than a 40 minute 5aside game (standard game times for each format).

[ScousePig]

Big Sam has donned this season so hard with the worst team ever.

Not true. 'On paper' we don't have a bad side at all.

[John]

They're all rated quite well in FIFA too. In reality it's a box of fiery shit.

Defoe excepted, obvioisly. He's still brilliant.

[ScousePig]

This keeps coming up. Approaching Christmas it was all 'they've played nobody yet'. Then it was 'they've still got to go away to the big clubs', followed now by 'they'll struggle to beat the teams down at the bottom'. We've played three of them, winning two and drawing one (which we should have won comfortably, incidentally).

People are failing to cope mentally with the idea that Leicester fucking City might win the league. Me as much as anybody.

Seems everyone is doing it. I've noticed it before, but when you scored today there seemed to be a bit of a strange reaction by all concerned. Rather than the fans and commentators screaming with DRAMA and PASSION, it was more this surreal realisation that it is really happening.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Not true. 'On paper' we don't have a bad side at all.

If I was building a mid-table Premier League side and given free pick of Sunderland players I'd have M'Vila, Defoe, possibly Cattermole if I enjoyed the challenge of playing with ten men, and possibly Borini.

Adrian was six yards off his line for that Lukaku penalty. I'd punish that with the opportunity to retake the penalty with no goalkeeper.

[Smiffy]

.....

[ScousePig]

Not that I care or that it makes it any less brilliant, but I find it strange how a team that just looked a smidgeon above average v Watford might win the league. I know they're probably more suited to having more space to break into, but still, they look rather limited.

Them having comfortably the best defensive record would make it seem more reasonable, but they've conceded more than Tottenham, Southampton, Arsenal and Watford, and the same amount as Man City.

They were miles better than Watford.

[John]

As if I wasn't already on the bandwagon a video of Leicester fans on the way to the game singing 'Fuck the IRA' has appeared. :drool:

[Lee]

Seems everyone is doing it. I've noticed it before, but when you scored today there seemed to be a bit of a strange reaction by all concerned. Rather than the fans and commentators screaming with DRAMA and PASSION, it was more this surreal realisation that it is really happening.

It's the same in the ground for home matches. There's a group of us who have had the same seats for a few years (odd that we meet and chat every couple of weeks but don't even know each others' names) and the way we celebrate goals has changed since Christmas. There's the usual jumping and shouting and all that but you can see the looks of utter disbelief in everybody's expressions. Every goal. And obviously I can feel it myself. I fucking love football.

[ScousePig]

If I was building a mid-table Premier League side and given free pick of Sunderland players I'd have M'Vila, Defoe, possibly Cattermole if I enjoyed the challenge of playing with ten men, and possibly Borini.

Adrian was six yards off his line for that Lukaku penalty. I'd punish that with the opportunity to retake the penalty with no goalkeeper.

That's not bad for a bunch of relegation battlers. You might have added Adam Johnson to the list until recently, and if Jan Kirchhoff can stay fit he's every bit as good a central midfielder as anyone in the bottom half.

[ScousePig]

It's the same in the ground for home matches. There's a group of us who have had the same seats for a few years (odd that we meet and chat every couple of weeks but don't even know each others' names) and the way we celebrate goals has changed since Christmas. There's the usual jumping and shouting and all that but you can see the looks of utter disbelief in everybody's expressions. Every goal. And obviously I can feel it myself. I fucking love football.

Must be absolutely bizarre, in the best possible way.

[Lee]

Must be absolutely bizarre, in the best possible way.

It is. The strange thing is we all still start the game with the same expectations we always would have. We have the usual 'what do you reckon today?' pre-match chat and not once has the response from any of us been anything like 'this lot are near the bottom, comfortable win'. We're still half expecting to lose every game and leaving the ground surprised that we've won. If we win the league Sky might have to create some fake crowd noise as we sit there in stunned silence.

All of us are different ages so have different benchmarks for what good for Leicester is. But I don't think any of us has properly got our heads round the notion that we are very likely watching the best Leicester side that has ever been. What makes it harder I suppose is that we've seen many of these players slogging in the Championship and looking hopeless in this league for a lot of last season.

[John]

That last Bournemouth goal is a disgrace defensively.

Have Bournemouth been sponsored by Wella in the recent past?

[Smiffy]

.....

[John]

Man City's third. :drool:

[ScousePig]

It is. The strange thing is we all still start the game with the same expectations we always would have. We have the usual 'what do you reckon today?' pre-match chat and not once has the response from any of us been anything like 'this lot are near the bottom, comfortable win'. We're still half expecting to lose every game and leaving the ground surprised that we've won. If we win the league Sky might have to create some fake crowd noise as we sit there in stunned silence.

All of us are different ages so have different benchmarks for what good for Leicester is. But I don't think any of us has properly got our heads round the notion that we are very likely watching the best Leicester side that has ever been. What makes it harder I suppose is that we've seen many of these players slogging in the Championship and looking hopeless in this league for a lot of last season.

I just hope if you do win it it doesn't transpire that Jamie Vardy is taking copious amounts of banned substances or is actually an alien imposter.

[Lee]

I feel sorry for Garde. Well, not that sorry, he'll be loaded; but he can't have realised just how shit Villa were. You wouldn't bother, would you?

[Jimmy Floyd]

That shot of Doug Ellis made me google him, and he's 92. What do they say about only the good dying young. Maybe evil is his lifeblood, which is why he's still going to watch Villa. There can't be any other reason.

[John]

The idea of Micah Richards calling and leading a 'crisis meeting' gave me a lol.

[Reg]

They were miles better than Watford.
I thought they were better.

Still, "miles better than Watford" doesn't scream Premier League champions.

[Waffdon]

Newcastlol

[Jimmy Floyd]

Watford are an appalling side. They've prospered because they have some idea how to defend (very rare nowadays) and Ighalo/Deeney were clinical earlier in the season. As a football team, though, they are horrid - narrow, strangled, and there's more creativity in Mahrez's arsehole than their whole team. They'll do well to stay up next year unless the Pozzos manage to raise the stakes, as they shifted most of the better players they have over from Granada for this year (hence Granada are doomed).

[CJay]

Still, "miles better than Watford" doesn't scream Premier League champions.

:cab:

What an odd comment.

[Giggles]

Really odd.

[Toby]

I don't get what Reg is on about, Leicester are great to watch. They knock it around well, and quickly, in a way where every time they go forward you feel like they might do something. It's like late 90s United.

[Lee]

To be fair he was only commenting on this evening and we weren't great to watch against Watford. Although what he means by being loads better than Watford not screaming Premier League champions I'm not sure.

[Toby]

I just saw this, maybe out of context.


I haven't mentioned anything about stats except to discredit them.


Just a bit more creativity really. Even the title winners of past years who have been mainly seen as solid or reactive, Mourinho's first Chelsea for example, have had a little more spark on the ball in my opinion.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What screams Premier League champions is that fact that they've played 29 games and lost three.

'Creativity' is only one way of winning. Another way is flying at them like a pack of wolves.

[Mellberg]

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11776/10193603/accrington-stanleys-disallowed-half-time-goal

Ouch.

That's the kind of situation which makes me properly suspicious. Since when do refs blow for half/full time when the attacking side has the ball in the box?

[Luke Emia]

Same as Jimmy I checked out Doug's age. Him and Mugabe are 92 who would have guessed.

[Toby]

If I was building a mid-table Premier League side and given free pick of Sunderland players I'd have M'Vila, Defoe, possibly Cattermole if I enjoyed the challenge of playing with ten men, and possibly Borini.

Adrian was six yards off his line for that Lukaku penalty. I'd punish that with the opportunity to retake the penalty with no goalkeeper.

Foul was outside the box and Besic celebrated having it given, so I don't have much sympathy.

[Disco]

Same as Jimmy I checked out Doug's age. Him and Mugabe are 92 who would have guessed.

I've never seen them together either. :sherlock:

[Smiffy]

.....

[Mellberg]

Lerner has led me to realise Ellis wasn't all bad, which considering he's maintained his health via the harvesting of children's organs, is quite an effort.

[Smiffy]

.....

[John]

Like fuck there's someone named Colly Moore. That's Stan on the wind up.

[Ian]

People are failing to cope mentally with the idea that Leicester fucking City might win the league.

This is me, though I'm not trying to dress it up as anything else or giving it the "Yeah but wait until [fixtures] :dc:" stuff. Just staring in wide-eyed, open-mouthed disbelief and I think my brain is really still refusing to accept that it's actually happening.

Leicester winning the league would be the best sporting thing of my lifetime (outside successes for teams I actually support, obviously) but I think if a mega-wobble happened and it didn't happen part of me would breathe a sigh of relief. Not lolling because schadenfreude, just because HOW THE FUCKING FUCK ARE LEICESTER FUCKING CITY THE BEST TEAM IN THE LEAGUE?

[Lewis]

The Doug Ellis handshake with (on?) Roman Abramovich was old football's dead cat bounce. If somebody tried that now Richard Scudamore would have them poisoned.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Ian]

You might call bullshit but to me personally as a football fan as opposed to a Liverpool fan but Leicester winning the league will surpass Istanbul as the greatest thing I have witnessed.

Objectively it'll be better than any of the United things. Considerably. But that'll be in a anecdotal way in the future. I won't actually care for more than about ten minutes after it actually happens unlike the United stuff.

Same when Greece won the Euros (Leicester winning this would be more remarkable than that.) It had the what-the-fuck factor but the response to it is short-lived.

I'd hope the Leicester fans will go on a non-stop bender until the next season begins, mind.