Football season 2016/17
Posted by: Kevin-W on 15 June 2016
Given that the fixtures are now out, I thought it would be appropriate to start a new thread.
Christopher_M posted:Different question Kev, or anyone: In picture captions or sports stories in papers, online and on TV, how are you with the phrase. 'watching on'?
The context might be, 'Martin Caceres plays the ball with forward fellow new signing Mouez Hassen watching on'.
Drives me nuts.
C.
Chris
'Looking on' is better although 'watching on' is (just about) acceptable.
The thing that drives me nuts is slavering sports hacks laying on the familiarity, eg "Zlatan', 'Jose', 'Pep'. Drives me nuts - it's sycophantic and assumes a degree of intimacy that isn't there. These dullards may wish that 'Zlatan' was their mate, but they're not.
Kevin-W posted:Tabby cat posted:It will be interesting to see what margin Chelsea win the leauge by.I know they could derail but their seems great harmony in the squad and their just grinding the results out week in week out.
Kev did go to last night - How was it ?
I did Ian. Our indecisiveness and lack of pace on the wing was our downfall, despite our domination of possession and a good opening 20 minutes when Chelsea looked worried.Had Antonio, with his pace, been playing, we might have got something but the difference in class between the two teams was telling.
Chelsea were ultimately very good and didn't really look like losing once they'd scored. Nailed on champions I think.
Kev,
At least no relagation dog fight for your boys.Just a case of rebuilding for next season.
Think City will win at home to Stoke tomorrow.We should definatly get top 4 on present form.
Really hope Middlesbrough stay up but there just not scoring.Shame if they go down as it ment so much to their fans going up
From what I gather, Monaco played without fear in the Round of 16 game last night.
C.
Chris,
We should have parked the bus.But its not Peps style.Defence is the best form of attack and all that.
Luckluster in the first half.Oh well always next season.
Tabby cat posted:Chris,
We should have parked the bus.But its not Peps style.Defence is the best form of attack and all that.
Luckluster in the first half.Oh well always next season.
Looked to me like that was their first half plan, but Monaco's trapping prevented City from keeping possession.
Monaco's last goal was all too predictable. Hate the high line on set pieces - it almost always results in a stampede towards goal.
Tabby cat posted:Chris,
We should have parked the bus.But its not Peps style.Defence is the best form of attack and all that.
Luckluster in the first half.Oh well always next season.
Sorry to say it, but I don't think City's defence is up to 'parking the bus'. Pep needs to sort that before the 17/18 season.
Oh dear Arsenal lost to West Brom, what a shame 
Saints have just pulled one back at the Lane....
C.
Three more points.
Still second.
steve
Pompey in Disneyland, Mike?!
C.
Christopher_M posted:Pompey in Disneyland, Mike?!
C.
I've sometimes had cause to think our back-four have been, Chris.
More seriously, this development came as a complete surprise. Given the almost fatal consequences for the club from some former 'monied' owners, I don't think I'll be the only fan who will be very wary here. I was pleased to see the club's measured statement which included an assurance that all the club's shareholders will be given an opportunity to vote if anything comes of the offer. As I've got a share I'll be watching out for that. Meanwhile I'm just hoping/praying that we can hang-on to our third place in League Two.
Mike
^ I think Pompey have much to proud of with the supporters' trust etc. after the way they've been shafted in the past. Whether that pride and diy spirit of punk if you like, will ever get them out of League Two is another matter, but I'd like to think so. Disney money would. But would the fans be any happier?
A lot of money has gone into Eastleigh recently. Lots of new players, new fans too. Ground expansion. Big plans. The old guard of fans don't like it. They knew where they were once with the same old faces, and the same old football chugging on week after week. Difficult times.
Chris
Yes, it's a dilemma, Chris. We fans all crave success, which increasingly these days it takes big investment to achieve. But we also want to preserve the character of history of our club. The former carries risks and threats to the latter - look at the Hull City owner wanting to change the name of the club and the Cardiff City owner who insisted that the 'Bluebirds' henceforth play in red. 
So at the moment I'm inclined to stick with the model we've got. That's probably good enough for us to eventually climb back to the lower reaches of the Championship (our crowd base will support that), and accept that it also means foregoing another shot at the PL which carries so much financial risk if you get it wrong.
Another three points and great result for Crystal Palace.
steve :-)
Saints lucky to garner a point at St Mary's today against another south coast side, according to Radio Solent.
C.
Christopher_M posted:Saints lucky to garner a point at St Mary's today against another south coast side, according to Radio Solent.
C.
Well the Cherries did miss a penalty, Chris, so the Saints must have had some luck.
MDS posted:Christopher_M posted:Saints lucky to garner a point at St Mary's today against another south coast side, according to Radio Solent.
C.
Well the Cherries did miss a penalty, Chris, so the Saints must have had some luck.
True. I rather admire Harry Arter for facing the mics about that afterwards. I paraphrase, 'It's not life or death, I missed a penalty'.
C.
Three more points still second but closer to Chelsea; well done Crystal Palace. Spurs are beginning to look like the runaway express train, will Chelsea have the speed to keep ahead?
Can't see Chelsea dropping more points at the top.Nice to see Leicester's revival,I can't see them going down now.Hope Middlesbrough can get something away at Swansea,two clubs in desperate need of a win.
Going to the Emirates today to see Arsenal - Man City.Can't wait,always good to be with the City away supporters.Should be a cracking game.And a 4 pm kick off so more drinking time.
WTF Swansea?!
He, he, he.
3 more points and 3 more goals...
steve
I see a tougher Spurs on the horizon....
Referees get a lot of stick, sometimes rightly, and their reluctance to explain and acknowledge fallibility doesn't help their case. So credit to Keith Stroud for speaking out publicly today in admitting that he made a howler in last night's Newcastle v Burton game on the penalty incident and offering an apology. On this occasion his error didn't affect the result so no damage was done, but it could have. Everyone, including officials make mistakes from time to time, certainly the millionaire players do, so it's nice to see a referee admitting to one so I say 'well done that man'.
Tabby cat posted:Can't see Chelsea dropping more points at the top.Nice to see Leicester's revival,I can't see them going down now.Hope Middlesbrough can get something away at Swansea,two clubs in desperate need of a win.
Going to the Emirates today to see Arsenal - Man City.Can't wait,always good to be with the City away supporters.Should be a cracking game.And a 4 pm kick off so more drinking time.
I was there too supporting Arsenal and thought it was a pretty good match the atmosphere was far better than it has been (last night at West Ham it was back to normal levels though) a very good point for us as most commentators had us down as getting well beaten not so good for City though! A top four finish is still on for us and am looking forward to the FA Cup semi final against City again.
3-0 up at half-time at the Lane, I can't be the only non Spurs fans saying Come on You Spurs!
C.
Listening to the radio when these fixtures came out, it was interesting that all the pundits were blithely carrying on as if the old order (Man U, City, Arsenal, Chelsea) had not been disrupted.
All the "important" matches were these four plus Liverpool. No mention of the likes of Spurs, Leicester or WHU.
I suspect the newspapers will be the same.
But is the old order still tenable? There is no proof that Guardioloa or Conte will adapt to thePL, or that Maureen is the right choice for the Mancs.
Everyone has much more money, and, because of Leicester's achievement last year, nobody is scared of the so-called big boys, all the "little" teams no longer "know their place".
It'll be the most exciting, open season ever and the "big boys" and their media supplicants won't have it all their own way. So, at the risk of making ourselves look stupid, anyone got any predictions?