Football Season 2017/18

Great result for Liverpool FC last night - Could see them making the final.Hope so and next season I think they will be top of the Leauge in the prem if their form the last couple of months is anything to go by.Theres no where like Anfield on a Champions Leauge night with the floodlights on.Supporters with their scarfs up and the singing.Top club.

Another absorbing game last night.  Roma's two goals at the end suddenly makes the second leg interesting. The pace at which Liverpool played and attacked for most of the game must have been very uncomfortable for Roma, compared to what they are used in in the Italian league.  If Liverpool play with that intensity in Rome I can see them scoring again. Anyway, I strongly suspect most Liverpool fans would have taken a 5-2 win if offered it before the game last night.  

Valuable 3 points for Fulham this evening, challenging with Cardiff for the second promotion spot to the PL. But what on earth has happened to the Black Cats? Bottom of the PL last season and now guaranteed to finish bottom of the Championship.  Coleman hasn't been able to turn things around. The problems must be pretty deep. Doesn't seem right for a club of their stature and support to be playing in League One next season.   

Nice Result for the Saints Chris - something to Cheer you up.....Where visiting Kev in London tomorrow    ......

Yes, that was a 'must win' for the Saints and they delivered. Coupled with Swansea's home defeat, the saint will now believe. Indeed I think they play one another soon.

Also delighted to see Palace romp to a big victory and pretty much confirm survival.   

Thanks Ian and Mike. All at the club are very happy tonight. Indeed Hughes said himself that nothing other than a win would do today. There is now a glimmer of hope. Two of the three remaining games are winnable.

On a personal level, I ran into an old colleague who has long since worked at the Telegraph, Jeremy Wilson, at lunchtime in the press room. Great to catch up after all this time, and hear about life at Telegraph Towers.

MDS posted:

Yes, that was a 'must win' for the Saints and they delivered. Coupled with Swansea's home defeat, the saint will now believe. Indeed I think they play one another soon.

Also delighted to see Palace romp to a big victory and pretty much confirm survival.   

I have a feeling Southampton will survive and the last relegation place will go to Swansea or Huddersfield.

I agree with you, Thebigfredc. Saints' away game at Swansea could be pivotal.

I suspect there are also very many Baggies fans frustrated that their turnaround in form has come too late. Under 'Big Dave' Darren Moore (known as "Bruno" when he played for my lot) WBA have pulled off some impressive results. The fans must be asking why that wasn't possible under the much more experienced Pardew. 

MDS posted:

The [WBA] fans must be asking why that wasn't possible under the much more experienced Pardew.

Absolutely. But who knows the collective minds of footballers?

I read from Pompey News, Mike, that your hoped for consolidation is to be a reality following the Charlton defeat. Next year...

Yesterday's results went against us and I really can't see us getting anything when City come calling later today...  squaky bum time again...

I can't see us getting any points from our remaining games,  can see it going to the last game against Everton, and won't fat sam just love to send us down

Christopher_M posted:

MDS posted:

The [WBA] fans must be asking why that wasn't possible under the much more experienced Pardew.

Absolutely. But who knows the collective minds of footballers?

I read from Pompey News, Mike, that your hoped for consolidation is to be a reality following the Charlton defeat. Next year...

Absolutely, Chris.  Given the changes in management, team, owner and a higher division, I'm happy with a mid-table finish.  I think we've lost 20 games this season, not remotely the form of a side that warrants a play-off place.  As you say, next year.....

beginner posted:

I can't see us getting any points from our remaining games,  can see it going to the last game against Everton, and won't fat sam just love to send us down

Interesting to see many Everton fans whinging about Big Sam's style, much as happened at the Hammers.  I think Everton in mid-table is a very respectable position.  

Usually one team in the bottom three makes a last ditch recovery and a team that’s nearly safe self destructs, I think Southampton just might survive....

wenger2015 posted:

Usually one team in the bottom three makes a last ditch recovery and a team that’s nearly safe self destructs, I think Southampton just might survive....

So do I....but at whose expense? 

MDS posted:

wenger2015 posted:

Usually one team in the bottom three makes a last ditch recovery and a team that’s nearly safe self destructs, I think Southampton just might survive....

So do I....but at whose expense? 

Huddersfield? West Ham?

wenger2015 posted:

MDS posted:

wenger2015 posted:

Usually one team in the bottom three makes a last ditch recovery and a team that’s nearly safe self destructs, I think Southampton just might survive....

So do I....but at whose expense? 

Huddersfield? West Ham?

Swansea are in a very difficult position but looking at the fixtures I think Huddersfield most likely to drop. Their last three fixtures look very tough whereas I can see Swansea picking up points e.g. last game at home against Stoke.

Nice to see Wenger given a respectful and deserved send-off my Fergie and and Old Trafford crowd this afternoon. 

His successor has big job though: an inconsistent United, who have been a long-way off City, are 20 points ahead of the Gunners. That is one hell-of-a-gap.   

I think despite the best efforts of the Media, most of the top top managers have a mutual respect for each other....

Im sure next season all of the top 6 will endeavour to strengthen.... in a way these teams are in a league of their own.

I think next time round, Man City will not have it quite so easy....

Kev,

Pablo Zabaleta a City legend...nuff said ........Did you go today ?  I  Missed it all.Still think you will stay up this season

Tabby cat posted:

Kev,

Pablo Zabaleta a City legend...nuff said ........Did you go today ?  I  Missed it all.Still think you will stay up this season

 

Hi Ian - yes I went, unfortunately. If we survive, it will be only just. I can't see us getting any more pooints to be honest. Moyes was tactically inept. The only way to contain City is to attack them, but again an overly cautious Moyes defended deep, and City took advantage.

Kevin-W posted:

Tabby cat posted:

Kev,

Pablo Zabaleta a City legend...nuff said ........Did you go today ?  I  Missed it all.Still think you will stay up this season

 

Hi Ian - yes I went, unfortunately. If we survive, it will be only just. I can't see us getting any more pooints to be honest. Moyes was tactically inept. The only way to contain City is to attack them, but again an overly cautious Moyes defended deep, and City took advantage.

Attack City? I think your being a little naive. City are an exceptional team.... even the top teams don’t adopt that policy.

I think you have a good enough squad to stay up.

wenger2015 posted:

Kevin-W posted:

Tabby cat posted:

Kev,

Pablo Zabaleta a City legend...nuff said ........Did you go today ?  I  Missed it all.Still think you will stay up this season

 

Hi Ian - yes I went, unfortunately. If we survive, it will be only just. I can't see us getting any more pooints to be honest. Moyes was tactically inept. The only way to contain City is to attack them, but again an overly cautious Moyes defended deep, and City took advantage.

Attack City? I think your being a little naive. City are an exceptional team.... even the top teams don’t adopt that policy.

I think you have a good enough squad to stay up.

I think Liverpool have made a pretty good job of taking games to City and with some success.

MDS posted:

wenger2015 posted:

Kevin-W posted:

Tabby cat posted:

Kev,

Pablo Zabaleta a City legend...nuff said ........Did you go today ?  I  Missed it all.Still think you will stay up this season

 

Hi Ian - yes I went, unfortunately. If we survive, it will be only just. I can't see us getting any more pooints to be honest. Moyes was tactically inept. The only way to contain City is to attack them, but again an overly cautious Moyes defended deep, and City took advantage.

Attack City? I think your being a little naive. City are an exceptional team.... even the top teams don’t adopt that policy.

I think you have a good enough squad to stay up.

I think Liverpool have made a pretty good job of taking games to City and with some success.

They have, but have also had that little bit of  luck you need.. but to be fair they say you earn your luck..maybe 

wenger2015 posted:

Attack City? I think your being a little naive. City are an exceptional team.... even the top teams don’t adopt that policy.

I think you have a good enough squad to stay up.

City are not invulnerable, as a number of teams have shown a number of times this season. We actually did well against them earlier in the season with a more attacking-minded line-up. Moyes' lack of imagination and caution has cost us dearly in our last three games (Stoke, Arsenal, City).

We might have a 'good enough squad to stay up' on paper, but football, as the old cliche goes, is played on grass. If we stay up, it will be because there are three worse teams, not because of any merit.