Football season 2016/17

It's always good to see anyone and everyone take 3 points off Liverpool 

Come on guys. Rather than focussing on Liverpool dropping three points, how about acknowledging what a tremendous performance the Cherries put in to achieve it? 2-0 down. Then 3-1 down with 15 mins to play, and against a top-flight and in-form club.  Well done Eddie and his team, I say. 

But where is the fun in that? 

Chris Dolan posted:

But where is the fun in that? 

Especially when your own team is not exactly a source of unbridled joy this season

2-2 at Anfield, I'm guessing Kevin might have something to say....

C.

Chelsea managed a win again, Costa's goal absolutely typified his performances and character this year. Marvellous.

Christopher_M posted:

2-2 at Anfield, I'm guessing Kevin might have something to say....

C.

Chris, I was expecting us to get massacred today, especially after they scored after just five minutes, but it sounds as if we acquitted ourselves well today - and for once I'm looking forward to MOTD. A good confidence boooster for fans, manager and team going into the Burnley game on Wednesday...

So for once, I'm quite happy!

Woeful City performance.Pep's really got to sign some more defenders in the January transfer window.Good to see the old Leicester back,hope they have turned a corner in the Leauge

Shame Middlesbrough didn't get anything at Southampton I really wanted them to get a point there.

Good to see West Ham get a point at Anfield.Very encouraging result.

Chelsea are flying and it pains me to say I think they will win the leauge

Saints played roughly 70 minutes against ten man Stoke, for one of the dullest 0-0s you are ever likely to see.

C.

Chelsea win again. Seems like they get two types  of games right now, Baggies and Sunderland type with 8 man defences, which we win 1-0, or teams that come and play and lose by more but make a better game. Averages say we will lose soon, perhaps through Season H1 yellows suspending half the team at once!

Man City will feel they deserved their victory over the Gunners this afternoon, and they certainly bossed the second half. That said I felt Arsenal had a first-half goal ruled out for offside that was marginal, which would have been 2-0, while City's equaliser looked to me more offside than the Arsenal's ruled-out effort. Still that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.  Chelsea's weekend again.     

I only saw the second half but Arsenal were as bad as they were against United at Old Trafford - except that they managed to equalise at Old Trafford. I was hoping for draws today 

Delighted to see Saints come back from 1-0 down to win 3-1. Steven Davis' second half introduction made the difference. Was quite surprised though to see hitherto in-form Bournemouth offer so little.

C.

Having taken the lead with a powerful Shane Long header, Saints conspired to lose 2-1 to Tony Pulis's WBA at St Mary's today. Loud booos at full-time. Very few shots on goal. No pace, Albion just happy to sit back and soak it up as Saints chased their own tails.

The only positive I can take is the one I hang on to, from the Independent on Sunday of a few years ago when Pulis was Stoke's manager: "Throughout the post-match press conference, manager Pulis maintained the demeanour of a regimental sargeant major whose hemorrhoid cream was not working as quickly as he would have liked".

I could see us getting turned over big time at Everton on Monday.

Meanwhile it's all Chelsea....

C.

My sympathies, Chris. Disappointed with my lot's draw yesterday, too. On the basis of watching them on Sky labour to a draw against a probably doomed Hull I don't think you should fear Everton too much. The Toffee's looked poor defensively.

Thanks Mike. It's just that Goodison is fearsome.

Here's to progress from your men too.

Chris

Surprised none have mentioned that scorpion goal yet.

C.

Christopher_M posted:

Surprised none have mentioned that scorpion goal yet.

C.

Giroud's goal was pretty amazing. So was Mkhitaryan's. Both great candidates for GOTY!

Saints were good for a point until about 60 mins had gone. But when the first went in, heads went down. They were't coming back.

Still, apart from Liverpool home and away in the semi-final of the League Cup, a run of what should be fairly winnable games for the rest of Jan and early Feb. The trouble is Puel's football is boring the tits off the fans.

C.

Mike Dean, Mourinho's key signing of the season. Perhaps the worst performance by a ref I have ever seen.

What was the key signing? The ref? Did MU need a new one?

I thought it was a typical Mourinho team's performance at the London Stadium, looking to stifle the game and frustrate the opposition having gone one up. I agree Dean's performance was poor. That said I could see why he gave the red card. While Jones' theatrical reaction probably contributed to the decision, the tackle was rash - both feet off the ground and looking like he jumped in. Dean was only a few yards away from the incident.  While WHU might appeal the red card I strongly suspect such a appeal would fail.  

MDS posted:

I thought it was a typical Mourinho team's performance at the London Stadium, looking to stifle the game and frustrate the opposition having gone one up. I agree Dean's performance was poor. That said I could see why he gave the red card. While Jones' theatrical reaction probably contributed to the decision, the tackle was rash - both feet off the ground and looking like he jumped in. Dean was only a few yards away from the incident.  While WHU might appeal the red card I strongly suspect such a appeal would fail.  

BBC website now saying that WHU have indeed appealed Feghouli's red card.

MDS posted:

MDS posted:

I thought it was a typical Mourinho team's performance at the London Stadium, looking to stifle the game and frustrate the opposition having gone one up. I agree Dean's performance was poor. That said I could see why he gave the red card. While Jones' theatrical reaction probably contributed to the decision, the tackle was rash - both feet off the ground and looking like he jumped in. Dean was only a few yards away from the incident.  While WHU might appeal the red card I strongly suspect such a appeal would fail.  

BBC website now saying that WHU have indeed appealed Feghouli's red card.

....and as predicted, the appeal has been rejected and a 4-game ban imposed.  Don't know clubs bother when the TV replays show ample evidence to allow a panel to uphold a referee's decision (which they will be pre-disposed to do).

MDS posted:

MDS posted:

MDS posted:

I thought it was a typical Mourinho team's performance at the London Stadium, looking to stifle the game and frustrate the opposition having gone one up. I agree Dean's performance was poor. That said I could see why he gave the red card. While Jones' theatrical reaction probably contributed to the decision, the tackle was rash - both feet off the ground and looking like he jumped in. Dean was only a few yards away from the incident.  While WHU might appeal the red card I strongly suspect such a appeal would fail.  

BBC website now saying that WHU have indeed appealed Feghouli's red card.

....and as predicted, the appeal has been rejected and a 4-game ban imposed.  Don't know clubs bother when the TV replays show ample evidence to allow a panel to uphold a referee's decision (which they will be pre-disposed to do).

That's odd, because it [Ferghouli's red card] has been rescinded. Perhaps you were thinking of Man City's Fernandinho, whose appeal has failed. He is now banned for four games. I do hope all of this wasn't wishful thinking on your part...