Football Talk

[anon06]

@Erica
Is there room for football talk on General Chat, before I start?

[Erica]

Hi @anon06 I will check it out for you and get back to you.

[anon06]

Thanks it’s a funny old game

[Erica]

Hi @anon06 thanks for asking and the answer is yes, as long as there is no hooliganism!!!
Perhaps we should be sensitive to those in Covid times who feel a crowded stadium is out of the question, yet another loss.
Yes, it is a funny old game, that’s life.

[anon06]

Does anyone have any predictions for the top four in the EPL.
I say City, Arsenal, 1st & 2nd 3rdNewcastle 4th Liverpool.
People are saying top 4 champions league place, but English European success in means 4th gets bumped down to Europa, if teams successful finish outside top4 eg Man U or Chelsea, it’s a funny old game

[Rammie18]

@anon06

After todays result I cant see Man Utd winning the europa… and the injuries they’ve received today will be a concern.

It’s a tough call as everyone is going to be playing the ones around them. So a run of 3 wins could make it yours to lose.

I’m going to go for

1. city
2. arsenal
3. newscastle
4. Brighton or
5. Man Utd
6. villa
7. Liverpool
8. spurs

This will change after the weekend so don’t hold me to it

[anon06]

I think the top 3 is decided in what order I don’t know put it that way apart from Newcastle getting 3rd. Ill say Liverpool 4th, because they have the players to at least win 3/5 games and draw other two. People forget sometimes the impact of the 3 point system. Inconsistent yes, but quality on their day more than others. Being an Everton fan Id never rule them out from experience sadly!
Re Europa utd have made life difficult for themselves, but they are still in the tie.

[Erica]

Hi @anon06 and @Rammie18
As a Gunners supporter I go for
Arsenal
Man City
Man United
Newcastle

It’s Arsenals to throw away

[anon06]

As an Everton fan I hope Arteta wins it and it is at least effectively “in their hands”, although they have to play City. Yet if my calculations are correct Arsenal would still have a 3pt gap on City if City won that game. Also in Arsenals favour City are in Champions League, A TROPHY THEY HAVE NOT WON. Although he won’t admit it, Pep would swop Premiership for Champions lg and that’s not disrespecting Arsenal who are FANTASTIC! @Erica

[anon06]

@Erica I have happy memories of Arsenal… Of course as a young bias Everton fan I was delighted at the Michael Thomas “It’s up for grabs now!” winner at Anfield in 89. I remember watching a famous Charley George Winner against Liverpool in the 1970’s in a Cup Final re-run. There was also the Littlewoods Cup in 1980s against Liverpool (old name for lg cup)
Of course I’m not like that now HONESTLY!
Another memory was on the rare occasion Ian Wright missed a “sitter”, he turned to the home fans and pulled his shirt over his head, who in turn laughed hysterically and clapped in appreciation of his humility.
Recently Wrighty said that he likes Everton, because they treated him very well, yes they did, like Royalty!!! He scored more goals against us than any other team. Infact only Rushie scored more in derbies for Liverpool than Wrighty did for Arsenal against Everton.
Great player Ian Wright! I suppose Ian Rush was ok as well🤣

[Erica]

Oh @anon06 happy memories

[Erica]

Hi @anon06 and @Rammie18
My son, who is 49yrs old now. had a great uncle (on my first husband’s side) who lived in Highbury near Arsenal’s old ground and he was a ticket holder. He got my son supporting Arsenal from a young age and therefore so did I.
My son is so knowledgeable on football now, it could be his specialist subject!!

[anon06]

@Erica @Rammie18
So after Everton getting beat 3-1 I’ve got my Man City & Man Utd scarfs ready. Who do Leeds play? Oh right!
I’m not bias and a victory for Liverpool would be of advantage to Everton but saying “Come on you Re*s” is just not natural for me though, it’s getting the words out I mean imagine Arsenal needing Spurs to win in the future it’s just difficult really I won’t be playing "You’ll Never Walk Alone ", thats for sure!

[Iain]

Anon06,
Got to ask do you win the Premiership or buy it?
If as much money per day was spent on Cancer research as players wages where would we be?

And before being asked I support Leicester Football Club English Premier Champions
not to be confused with Leicester City Football Club who are currently being whopped by Man City

[anon06]

Good points, yes too much money in football could be spent better elsewhere.
My post was sent with a hint of jest.
Seriously speaking we all want our teams to do well, but it all boils down to what your own team does.

On the subject of Leicester, its still a mystery why Claudio Ranieri was sacked? I don’t know what’s gone on behind the scenes, but you’ve gone from Claudio Ranieri (very good) to Brendan Rogers(very good) to Dean Smith?!

By the same token Everton sacked Silva…
Dyche is probably the best to handle our current scenario

Perhaps you share the same opinion about board and managerial decisions at your club?

I’m mystified by them

[diana]

Oh so good to see some football talk! The worst thing about being happily well three years post donor stem cell transplant (Acute Myeloid Leukaemia) is missing going to football (because of Covid risk). For my sins I’ve been a Saints season ticket holder for ten years, and it looks as though I’ll finally get back to watching them at St Mary’s in the Championship. I can’t say we don’t deserve it
I’m rooting for Arsenal to win the PL, really hoping City don’t beat them to it. I’ve always had a soft spot for the Gunners, ever since Wenger sprung into English football, and certainly since the days of the Invincibles.
Saints made the big mistake of buying too many young players with too few experienced ones to play them into the PL, and the less said about the Nathan Jones debacle the better
I’m hoping that Everton and Leicester come down with us - although now that Leicester have got rid of Rodgers (sorry, I’ve always thought he’s overly keen on himself and his own abilities) and brought in the Dean Smith team (I rate him more) maybe they’ll escape.
Since my transplant I’ve also started following women’s football, where I’m happy to say Saints women are doing substantially better than their male counterparts.
Thanks for bringing such a good topic to the forum!

[anon06]

@diana
Thanks for your reply and especially your final comments, although I would disagree with one sentence, being an Everton fan. myself, and think @Iain may also disagree with you being a Leicester fan. I agree with a lot of your post though.
A lot of justified criticism has been aimed at Everton due to breaking FFP rules, if found guilty which I understand and respect. A lot of Everton fans have been very critical of the board regarding FFP. There has also been criticism of the boards approach for Silva & Koemam, can’t comment on that other than to say they or the club failed them. Some fans would be happy to see the club go down to get rid of the board. Although I have my own opinions about the board (its not for hear to express in detail), I would never look upon relegation as an oppotunity for turning negative into a positive, Im sure Leeds fans would agree.
Sadly League positions don’t lie and clubs have themselves to blame

Only fans who suffer!

[Iain]

Hi Guys,
Can I be called a fan? Can I be called a fan of Leicester City Football Club?

Firstly I’ve not been in a professional football ground since the 1970’s. Doesn’t mean I dont follow my local team and feel the highs and lows.

And it’s not a health shielding issue nor was it fear of violence (fans and Police ) or my finances. I pay my SKY/BT and I do watch a lot of sports. But it is to do with money!

My maternal grandparents lived immediately adjacent to the old Foxes ground of Filbert St.
I used to attend home matches and enjoyed it. Soccer was for Saturday afternoons, a working ‘persons’ recreation time.

Then I started work at the same time that Jimmy Hills freedom of contracts took a grip. What was a professionally run game became one distanced from the supporters on the terraces. How could I relate to my 40 hour week to blokes earning more in 10 minutes of kicking a ball? Yes I knew they trained, on the Golf Course and in the bedroom and all that but they enjoyed playing didn’t they?

The start of soccer becoming a 365 day a year money and talk fest. Repeats ad nausea and more on Harry Kane putting his pants on backwards than is healthy. It is no longer about good play but how much did the player cost/earn and highlighting refereeing errors without actually calling them useless, which they’re not.

Directors as stock exchange merchants or offsetting tax? They’re more in tune with the FTSE than the fans! Meaninglessness contracts? Elitist? Unaffordable?

Those same grandparents came from a strong Rugby Union background so my allegiance was shared with Leicester’s premier football club the Leicester Tigers

To them I am a life long fan and supporter but even they (Professional Rugby) are becoming drawn into the financial mire that results from business before sport, entertainment or not.

As rightly said we all have our teams, sports and generations. Vive le difference!

[anon06]

@Iain
Thanks for your contribution

[Erica]

Hi @anon06 @Iain @Rammie18 @diana before anyone says anything, yes, I have taken in all the results this weekend and their ramifications for the Gunners!!!