Football season 2015/16

The scoreline flattered Chelsea. They seem to have real problems, probably reflected by Mourinho"s ridiculous spat with his medical team last week where he was really out of order. 

If you are basing that judgement on seeing it live at the game, Kevin, I can understand.  I thought the same when I saw it first on MoTD.  But replays showed a different view and as Bilic admitted in his post-game interview, it was dangerous play and deserving of a red card.  Credit to him for such honesty (Mr Mourinho, please note).

That said, I agree with you about Schmiechal. He was very canny in what he did, but slow-mo showed it to be the foul it really was.    

Yes, Steve, that stuff with the good doctor was unedifying and ungracious.  Rather pleased to see his team get stuffed this afternoon.

Maureen has really lost it. Apparently today's result was a "fake":

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33953838

As Alan Shearer agreed on last night's MOTD2 it was a 'fake' result, it should have been 6-0 to City.

Looking at some of the tweets from Chelski supporters yesterday even they seem to be losing patience with old Jose. His post match interview was even more deluded than usual.

It has been a little uneasy from The Bridge so far this season to say the least.

Pre-season results were pretty poor and ruthlessly displayed our frailties from last season (Costa's been worked out, Fabregas switches off, Hazard can't do it all with only Willian providing regular consistency in support, Terry's old, tired and slower than ever, Ivanovic is knackered, Cahill is patchy) without the positives of the season before (when they're on form, they're really on form and mental toughness helped) to bring balance.

Jose does seem to have gone somewhat overboard over the last week and is appearing more twit than tactician. Something's up behind the scenes methinks and I wonder that the theory behind Terry's subbing and Cuadradro's appearance was a tactic by him to the board saying 'I need a new central defender and a quality attacking dynamo and I need them now' holds water.

I can name at least 6 loan players (from more than 20) who could fit into the team right now and who are doing the biz elsewhere...

Chelsea sign Pedro. Huge blow for United?

Bloody hope so.

"He was the perfect teammate for me at Barcelona because his understanding of wing play was second to none. No one was better at applying pressure from out wide. It is a position that is in his DNA. It's been drilled into him by a lifetime at the Nou Camp..." Thierry Henry

Sounds like you guys stole a march on United. Good signing!

Well done, Bournemouth. First points in the PL and secured in an entering game away to the Hammers (sorry KevinW).

Man City will be pleased at Utd dropping points at home.

My feelings for my lot are mixed this evening. The downside is going 3-0 down at home. I thought our new defence was more solid than that. The up-side is showing the character to battle back to take a point, and with ten men for the last 30 mins.  Very early days in the season, I know.     

Don't apologise, we were very poor and Bournemouth were very good. They deserved to win. It was a thrilling game though (and at least we are still above Spuds).

But if we play like that against Liverpool next week we will be destroyed!

Seems like he can cope...

With the possible exception of Arsenal, the Premier League teams have to like their Champions League Group Stage draws.  Would not be shocked if all four make it to the Group of 16.

ATB.

Hook

I have been very much falling out of love with football for ages. A combination of the hype, excess and also the endless diving and thrashing around after any contact. The 'beautiful game' has looked pretty ugly to me for a while.

I maybe watched 4 games in full or part last year from the Champions league but now it is off TV it has struck me I may actually enjoy football again-on the radio.

This was how I first enjoyed European games as a kid, huddled under the covers with my portable radio and an earpiece when I was supposed to be asleep. Listening to the hissy coverage from impossibly exotic sounding places like Naples and Munich as Liverpool (usually) eked out another hard fought win.

I know that most of that magic has gone but I like the Radio 5 commentary and maybe without having to watch all the posturing I might actually enjoy the drama of a few games again-using my imagination via the radio.

Sport on the radio has always had a great appeal-my ideal way to watch cricket when it was still on BBC as with the sound off and TMS on the radio beside it.

What do more committed fans think? Will losing terrestrial coverage affect the interest in Champions League. Will everyone just get BT?

Bruce

Totally agree re the knock-out format. The group stages feature far too many dead games.

Bruce

Hi Bruce -

I would not call myself a more "committed" fan, as I don't support any particular team.  I've lost interest in most other professional sports, but I do still like watching football.

Over the years I have soured on most American sports.  Games are too long, with too many commercial interruptions. I may still watch an occasional championship game (Super Bowl, World Series, and so on), but hardly ever watch regular season games. I've enjoyed football since I was a kid, and I like watching European matches because of the limited time commitment: two continuous halves of play, with only a modest half time. 

My favorite event is still the World Cup, and I enjoy the passion it brings out in its supporters.  I really liked the documentary "3 Million", which followed the Uruguayan musician Jaime Roos and his (Dutch) photographer son, as they reunited at the 2010 South African World Cup, and filmed the Uruguayan national team. The movie was full of genuine emotion...and music!

I can see how the FIFA corruption, as well as the overall commercialization of international football can turn many off. But I still like following the various leagues. Here in the US, I can watch pretty much any game I want, either as part of my basic cable TV subscription, or through online apps.  NBC Sports shows all Premier League games, Fox Sports shows Champions League and Bundesliga, and BEIN Sports (a Spanish language channel) shows La Liga, Ligue 1 and Serie A (all with commentary in English). I can't watch them all of course, but I do enjoy the highlights.  BEIN has a show called "90 for 30", which condenses their top matches down to 30 minutes of viewing time (which for me, is just about perfect).

ATB.

Hook

Wat, are you at Portman Road today?.. we will be...Should be a good match against Brighton.. whoever wins  will build their early lead at the top of the league.

Indeed - it could have been worse. Applied for tickets for PSV Eindhoven away - not convinced I'll try for CSKA Moscow away though  #parttimesupporter 

Just discovered that BEIN Sports also now shows "Fútbol inglés", so we in the US can see an occasional Championship match!  Brighton leads 3-2 at the moment, but wait....did I just spy a large-browed, cone-headed fan sitting in the Sir Alf Ramsey stand? 

ATB.

Hook

What a day!

Beating liverpool at their place for the first time in 52 years. Spuds drawing, Chelski losing. Having the best goal difference in the EPL apart from Citeh.

Message for Liverpool fans: Can we play you every 52 years?

Wat, the first half was poor from Ipswich, the second half was strong but the result in the end was the 2-3 loss.. First this season.. Slightly disappointing to go into the international break with that. Agree about McCarthy .. a great manager and focus for the team..

Simon

Great result, Kevin.  And a performance  only exceeded by Palace's at Chelsea.  I wonder what the accumulator odds would have been on away wins for both Palace and the Hammers today?

Also very pleased that my lot nicked all three points at the death at Luton this afternoon.  A good weekend for footie so far.

Mike 

A good weekend for footie so far.

….. and you've even got to admire Citeh 

Having watched MoTD and Sky's Goals on Sunday this morning, I have to say Noble was very unlucky to get a red card at Liverpool yesterday.  He was initially fouled (for which the ref blew) then nicked the ball from the next player with the toe of his boot with the studs pointing down to the turf.  A perfect tackle.  I hope the ref rescinds the card when he reviews it.  Coutinho was also a bit unlucky to get he second yellow. He'd committed to the tackle and was well beaten by skill but the opponent simply fell over Coutinho's legs.  I can understand why the ref gave that one as he had to judge it in real time. 

Have to acknowledged that the Saints thoroughly deserved their victory this afternoon.  The Canaries are going to really struggle in the Premier League if they continue to defend like that, though.  Too many defenders watching the ball and not the man they should be marking.