The Soccer thread

[Cards13 9,117]

Another big night tonight. Chelski vs Spurs should be a ripper.

Liverpool vs Swansea to see if the Reds can keep the momentum going.

[Grapeviney 9,799]

Bit annoyed that my boys (Spurs) couldn't get the win and further stake their claim at the top end of the table.

Even more annoyed that I dozed off in the second half and missed Costa's bib-throwing petulance at Jose!

[Cards13 9,117]

Bit annoyed that my boys (Spurs) couldn't get the win and further stake their claim at the top end of the table.

Even more annoyed that I dozed off in the second half and missed Costa's bib-throwing petulance at Jose!

Haha God I love Chelsea this season.

[Macca 17,032]

Haha God I love Chelsea this season.

They might get on a roll Cards ... all the teams at the top are dropping points and if Chelsea can start winning consistently, they can start to bridge the gap - can't see them winning the whole thing but they might sneak 4th spot and get into Europe.

I had a quick look at their fixture and their next 8 only includes a couple of tough games. Mind you, the Costa reaction could set things back again. I wonder if they'll spend up big in the January window.

Your lads aren't far away either ... I still reckon it's Man City's title to lose but there's a number of clubs who could win the whole thing. Leicester aren't going away easily but it would still be a major surprise if they got up.

[Cards13 9,117]

They might get on a roll Cards ... all the teams at the top are dropping points and if Chelsea can start winning consistently, they can start to bridge the gap - can't see them winning the whole thing but they might sneak 4th spot and get into Europe.

I had a quick look at their fixture and their next 8 only includes a couple of tough games. Mind you, the Costa reaction could set things back again. I wonder if they'll spend up big in the January window.

Your lads aren't far away either ... I still reckon it's Man City's title to lose but there's a number of clubs who could win the whole thing. Leicester aren't going away easily but it would still be a major surprise if they got up.

4th, fook off tha Thar is Liverpools spot?!

[Macca 17,032]

4th, fook off tha Thar is Liverpools spot?!

ha ha!

It's probably a long shot but I can't believe that a club with the talent that Chelsea have will finish outside of the top 6 or 8 ... they'll need to make their move now though - win 5 of their next 6 and their back in it.

[Dr John Dee 1,057]

4th, fook off tha Thar is Liverpools spot?!

Sorry, Arsenal is already preparing to exercise its traditional option on fourth. Liverpool will just have to plan on third.

[Cards13 9,117]

On 1 December 2015 10:43:59 am, Dr John Dee said:

Sorry, Arsenal is already preparing to exercise its traditional option on fourth. Liverpool will just have to plan on third.

Hahha.

Well after last night the Goons could end up on top. MU can't score, City can't win, Chelski are hilarious. 

Massive massive game Liverpool coming up against the Toons. Really need to get the full points after riding a wave positivity after the Saints hammering mid-week.

[Macca 17,032]

2 hours ago, Cards13 said:

Hahha.

Well after last night the Goons could end up on top. MU can't score, City can't win, Chelski are hilarious. 

Massive massive game Liverpool coming up against the Toons. Really need to get the full points after riding a wave positivity after the Saints hammering mid-week.

It's gone past the embarrassing stage for Chelsea now ... if Chelsea weren't still alive in the Champions League then I reckon Mourinho might have been moved on by now.

The bookies don't seem to like Spurs or Leicester at all but neither team can be ruled out in all honesty ... anyway, there's massive interest now in the race to the title. 

The better teams are losing or drawing at home to average teams and that trend may well continue ... unless one of the top fancies gets on a streak. Which one? (or 2) ... who knows?

As you said Cards ... a huge game for the Reds tonight.

Edited December 6, 2015 by Macca

[Cards13 9,117]

10 minutes ago, Macca said:

It's gone past the embarrassing stage for Chelsea now ... if Chelsea weren't still alive in the Champions League then I reckon Mourinho might have been moved on by now.

The bookies don't seem to like Spurs or Leicester at all but neither team can be ruled out in all honesty ... anyway, there's massive interest now in the race to the title. 

The better teams are losing or drawing at home to average teams and that trend may well continue ... unless one of the top fancies gets on a streak. Which one? (or 2) ... who knows?

As you said Cards ... a huge game for the Reds tonight.

 

 

 

 

.

Macca absolutely shatter my fing internet is down, went down yesterday morning, no techie until Tuesday morning.. Shattered it can't watch it. 

[Macca 17,032]

9 minutes ago, Cards13 said:

Macca absolutely shatter my fing internet is down, went down yesterday morning, no techie until Tuesday morning.. Shattered it can't watch it. 

Well, I've just about given up predicting soccer Cards but Liverpool should win considering how Newcastle have been going ... there I go again. Anyway, we'll find out soon enough.

My Hammers got a draw at Man U last night but I'm quite disappointed we didn't win! That's how much things have changed - any other year a draw at United would have been cause for celebration

[Grapeviney 9,799]

Yep - it's time to take Leicester seriously as a contender, and to abandon the idea that Chelsea can somehow magically revive its fortunes. 

The two goals that Stoke put past City were both sensational - especially the second, set up by a sublime turn and pass from Shaqiri. They could easily have finished with 5 or 6. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpU3zsBJ24s

 

[Cards13 9,117]

Well thank Christ I couldn't watch it. 2-0 loss. 

 

Plenty of of ups and downs to come with lots more ups.

[Macca 17,032]

It's a tipsters nightmare this year in the EPL

Had a look at Leicester's next 6 and we're probably going to find out at the end of that stretch whether they've got a genuine chance or not ... then again, we may not find out such is the nature of this season.

vs Chelsea, @ Everton, @ Liverpool, vs Man City, vs Bournemouth then @ Tottenham

They get 10 or 11 points out of all that and they're right in it.

 

[Dr John Dee 1,057]

And now Bournemouth have rolled United. WTF is going on? At this rate the Arse will end up accidental champions.

[Macca 17,032]

4 hours ago, Dr John Dee said:

And now Bournemouth have rolled United. WTF is going on? At this rate the Arse will end up accidental champions.

... and away at Villa promises nothing for Arsenal later tonight ... then again, the Gunners might win 4 nil.

The best part of the season is the unpredictability of the games ... there's been a spate of injuries with the more notable teams but the other less notable teams seem to be bridging the gap with greater spending power and astute signings.

Soft tissue injuries seems to be at an all time high but oddly enough, that's good for the league (in some ways)

[Dr John Dee 1,057]

19 hours ago, Macca said:

... and away at Villa promises nothing for Arsenal later tonight ... then again, the Gunners might win 4 nil.

The best part of the season is the unpredictability of the games ... there's been a spate of injuries with the more notable teams but the other less notable teams seem to be bridging the gap with greater spending power and astute signings.

Soft tissue injuries seems to be at an all time high but oddly enough, that's good for the league (in some ways)

2 nil as it turns out, but that doesn't mean you're not 100% right.

[Macca 17,032]

7 hours ago, Dr John Dee said:

2 nil as it turns out, but that doesn't mean you're not 100% right.

Liverpool, Spurs & Man Utd all dropped points to help your blokes (I'm assuming the Gunners are your team) ... what's the bet we see a draw in tomorrow's game? (Leicester vs Chelsea)

I reckon Chelsea won't park the bus because of where they're situated on the table ... therefore, we'll hopefully see some goals ... Leicester 2 Chelsea 2 (although, I can also see a Leicester win)

[Cards13 9,117]

Fing Liverpool. One minute they get your hopes up.. 2 chitty games later. 

[Grapeviney 9,799]

..and damn you Spurs. 

Fourth spot there for the taking and they snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. 

Watched the Gunners-Villa match last night, a very dull affair. Highlight was probably the Arsenal fans chanting that Villa should be relegated - along with Chelsea. lol

 

[H_T 3,049]

Would love to see Leicester on top at Christmas, in fact as much as I'd like to see Utd win the EPL - I don't think they will - I hope Leicester win it. Maybe it's the MFC/Underdog in me...

[Grapeviney 9,799]

And it's goodbye to Jose Mourinho, with Guus Hiddink set to step in as caretaker.

Given the increasingly fractured relationship between coach and players in recent weeks, and their abysmal record (Champions League aside), it was bound to happen sooner or later, but it would still be hard to pull the trigger on a coach with a record like Mourinho's.

There were reports that he was in tears after being told, but if anyone in the sporting universe is likely to land on their feet following a sacking, then Jose's the man. 

Will be interesting to see where he goes next.

Edit: some important fixtures this weekend, with Liverpool away at Watford and Arsenal hosting City. 

[Cards13 9,117]

Would be amazing is Jose ends up and Man U in the short term. With LVG clearly struggling to get a win up JM might be breathing down his neck, depending on what Pep has been up to in the back ground and Simone. 

 

Liverpool have had a dip and need to get back on the winners list if they want to get back into the CPL.

Great to see the Leicester getting up again and sitting on top at Christmas time.

[Palace Dees 2,340]

Sad to read of the passing of Jimmy Hill.  Match of the Day was what got me interested in (English) Soccer - or if we are to be truthful, the real football. I started barracking for Man U because they were called the Devils and they wore all red (like my then VFA team Preston), I sinned and swapped teams in 1989 after a tiny article in the MFC Newsletter stating Melbourne has formed an alliance with Crystal Palace FC,  stating we had reciprocal rights with supporters of either club having membership rights at the other - something I'm sure is long gone.  Anyway, Palace wore red and blue and were very much an underdog - both of which appealed to be.  As fate would have it within a year Palace played in their only FA Cup final ever drawing 3-3 after extra time, only to lose the replay 1-0 to Man U!!!!

I have since become a fanatical follower (hence my name combining my 2 obsessions) getting up at 2am to watch them live each week and getting right shirty if they lose.  They have been fantastic this season, having recruited brilliantly and finally keeping a manager for more than half a season.   

Importantly I see similarities with the Dees as Palace have come from an even worse position than the Dees.  If you'd have told any EPL follower Palace would be a top 6 club - above the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Everton etc you would have been admitted.  These things can happen and I backed Palace to do what they have done so far this year because I could see what was happening off field.  I get the same feeling with Melbourne.  They will be knocking on the door of the 8 in '16 and I'm super confident will be a finalist in 2017.  I can see the day when red and blue ribbons will be tied on the AFL Premiership and the FA Cups (prefer EPL title but will settle for this) in the same year.

Bucket list complete!  

 

[Cards13 9,117]

Another loss, no I was a thrashing. 3-0 to Watford, they look tired. Klopp statement he won't buy in Jan might need to be revised after the last 2 weeks of poor results. His high tempo game style would take some time to get the fitness up to for the players let alone with a squad that has under performed for some time. The bounce we had with Klopp coming to th club looks to be wearing off.