BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 22 Jan 18 - 12:53 PM

Anyway, Swansea-Liverpool tonight. I can watch it on Sky on me phone. A victory for the lads would put clear blue water between them and Spurs and Arsenal and strengthen their place in the top four. Don't see why not...

Don't expect bloody brexit posts between eight and ten.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 19 Jan 18 - 06:06 PM

Chelsea are going through a very sterile patch at the moment, very reminiscent of Liverpool this time last year - up to Christmas 2016 I thought the reds were going to win the league, then it all went pear-shaped. I like watching Chelsea, despite their Chelski tarnish. I'm disappointed with Conte this season. He needs to get a bit more discipline into his players. Would you keep picking divers? On top of that, he comes from my very favourite Italian town, Lecce in Puglia. Definitely go to Lecce before you die. The Florence of the South!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 18 Jan 18 - 02:42 PM

Hi

I watched the match and thought it an excellent and exciting game.

Norwich gave Chelsea a hug shock and in my opinion I thought that Norwich was the better side in which they were very organised at the back and extremely dangerous on the breaks.

I agreed with the penalty decisions. Norwich were unlucky when they struck the post and fully deserved the excellent late goal.

Pity about the penalty. I agree that it is not a good way to decide a match.....but I can't think of a better way.

I n rugby we tried a few ways to get a decider in the few games that ended in a draw. We had a " shootout" in that we played on until one side scored. Don't think this would work for football as it would become difficult to score as the teams packed their defences.

Well done Norwich.

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Senoufou
Date: 18 Jan 18 - 01:56 PM

Everyone in our village was talking about the match this morning.
Poor little old Ellen (a tiny, very, very old lady) was miserable. She used to go to all their matches, home and away. Now she listens on Radio Norfolk, and if the Canaries win, she has a small glass of sherry. No tipple for her last night...

In spite of the strong winds and cold temperature, my husband wore his Norwich City football strip down to the village shop when he went out to get my paper. He was frozen when he got back, but he said he wanted to show solidarity!
(But the fickle thing has every football strip known to man, and wears them indiscriminately)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 18 Jan 18 - 05:50 AM

I thought the ref did quite well in the face of Chelsea's antics. The reds for Pedro and Morata were well deserved. I've watched that alleged Willian penalty about twenty times now and I think the ref was right not to give it. To me, Willian seemed to be trailing a leg in order to be deliberately caught, and he went down way too easily. Willian is a player I hugely admire but it looked to me like he was fishing for a penalty. Had it been given it would have been a soft one. Had that been Messi, Mane or Salah in the box they would have gone through hell and high water to stay on their feet and go for goal.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Senoufou
Date: 18 Jan 18 - 04:28 AM

We were on the edge of our seats (well, the sofa) all evening, and when Jamal Lewis scored nearly at full time, we could hear Ruth-over-the-road and her husband yelling in their front room! The Canaries played very well, solidly and steadily. But the behaviour of two of the Chelsea players (sent off) was awful. And the ref didn't appear to have a full grip on the match at all.
My husband was doing an African dance when Lewis scored. But penalties are a disappointing way to settle a match aren't they?

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 18 Jan 18 - 03:51 AM

16/01/18 Cardiff City secure a Home match (28/01/18) against Manchester City, following an away win 4:1 over Mansfield (after only managing a draw at home)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Jan 18 - 05:55 PM

Ah, sod it. Chelsea win on a penalty shootout after having two players rightly sent off. That'll teach these big clubs that it's counterproductive to field weakened teams against what they mistakenly see as lesser opposition. Kudos, Canaries!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Jan 18 - 04:55 PM

Oi, bloody Nora! Norwich screw Chelsea in the last seconds of added time! Extra time to come! Go, Delia!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 02:54 PM

Hi Re Giggsy.

I think he will be OK. He has had a lot of football experience in various roles. His playing record stands up for itself and he has had some experience as Assistant Manager Under Van Gaal and some more when he was a caretaker when Fergie left.

There is talk that Paul Scholes will be part of his assistance team.

I hope he does well but he will have a difficult task.

Cheer

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 02:47 PM

Hi Steve

There is no doubt about Sancez's ability. I am concerned about his affect on his fellow players and the rest of the club.

Maybe Maurinho with his wide experience of dealing with world class players will be able to deal with him.

Besides it's not certain that he will come. United are all getting pi**sed off with his antics.

Cheers Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 02:38 PM

hi Raggy

I understand your position on this. Pogba is a very unorthodox player.

He does at times appear to disappear for short spells. I think that some of it is because he has not been completely fit since his injury.

Just as he was getting fitter he got a ban for what I think was unfortunate.

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 02:23 PM

I wish him well, apart from when they play England or Ireland, but he has little experience. I'm not sure that despite his wide knowledge of the game he has what it takes, at the moment, to be an international manager.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 01:26 PM

We used to see Giggsy's family cars parked at Tesco's in Walkden. Apropos of nothing at all.

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 11:17 AM

Can't think he's ready for that. I want to be wrong.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 10:33 AM

New manager for Wales

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 06:54 AM

(Oh God, Stevie boy, don't mess with your too toos...)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 06:52 AM

To many to mes there to me

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 06:50 AM

He did earn his keep last night, I must admit!

Good luck if you get Sanchez, Mike. But, to me, a complete prima donna twat managing a complete prima donna twat doesn't look like a promising combination to me... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 06:32 AM

Acknowledged MikeL, as I stated earlier I'm not really a football fan, barely an armchair fan if the truth be known.

I just find that Pogba often seems disinterested in games, comes to life for a few minutes, seems disinterested again. He doesn't seem to work as hard as the other players more often than not.

I will defer to the greater knowledge of others.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 06:24 AM

Hi Raggy

" You can have Pogba, I don't rate him at all, £90 million up the Swanee as far as I'm concerned"

Just a little stat to show Pogba's worth to United.

Man U have not lost when Pogba has played They have not lost the last 35 times when Pogba has played.

Last night he completely dominated the game laying on the goals and made many fantastic long ball passes.

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Jan 18 - 05:54 PM

I suppose it was always going to be one-sided and that Man U might as well have conserved their energy for stiffer tasks. However, Mike, I'd put as my top priority playing unfailingly positive football aimed at scoring goals and giving thoroughly good entertainment to the millions of faithful supporters. I did see only two fairly short sections of the second half admittedly, but I saw quite a bit of Man U playing the time-ebbing midfield passing game with no ambition to push for goal, and you can hardly claim that Stoke's defence warranted those tactics when Man U have all that fire power. Bloody annoying.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 15 Jan 18 - 05:07 PM

Hi Steve

I just watched the whole match. Think you must have been at another one!!!

Granted the tempo was lower than Liverpools's But there is more than one way to win a game. Man U conceed far fewer goals and let's face it, we win more games. After all that is what the games is all about.

It was a little quiet at times tonight but it was pi**ing down and freezing cold. That kept the crowd quiet.

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Jan 18 - 04:31 PM

Been at a wildlife trust meeting this evening. Started to watch the United match at the start of the second half. Gave up after ten minutes. I have paint to watch drying. The atmosphere in the stadium is like that of a rather quiet morgue. Maybe it'll pick up.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Jan 18 - 01:19 PM

Next season. Dead cert.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 15 Jan 18 - 01:14 PM

PS Steve ........... you didn't remind me of the last time Liverpool won the Premiership

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Jan 18 - 12:50 PM

Beautiful piece of purple prose in today's Guardian by Barney Ronay, writing about the match:

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain took the ball deep in Liverpool's half and played a snaking pass inside John Stones. As Stones turned to shield the ball he was bullocked out of the way with malevolent glee by Firmino, a player for whom pressing and closing down is not so much a chore as a hungrily devoured pleasure.

With Stones on his knees Firmino paused, looked up and produced a moment of startling delicacy, from sledgehammer to scalpel in a single shift of feet, lifting a lovingly dinked finish past Ederson as he rushed out. For a moment the ball seemed to hang dreamily under the lights, the air rushing out of the stadium, before falling in a gentle parabola and bouncing in off the post.

Anfield exploded with a huge gurgle of joy.

Same here!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 15 Jan 18 - 09:36 AM

Hi Steve

First let me congratulate you on your pre-match " match of the Century" Comment.

It was my Wife's birthday yesterday and her sister who is home for Christmas took us out to a local pub for dinner. I was disappointed to hear this as I wanted to watch the match. However all worked out well as they put us in the snug where there is a a TV.

What a match !!! Two teams showing attacking football at it's best. Let me say now that the better team won, although it got a bit hairy near the end.

Raggy I disagree with you comments on Pogba. looking at the prices of players today he is not a poor bargain. Remember he has had a few interuptions which have affected his game but lately he has been running the games.

Steve being Steve of course had to be disingenuous with his remark about about " Watching paint dry". Admitted they are not up to Fergie standard, but they have been much more open and attacking recently, except in a couple of games when he " parked the Bus".

Oh and they are second in the league.

I will be watching them tonight on TV cos No 1 son is unable to get tickets.

Regards

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 06:05 PM

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 06:04 PM

Quite frankly, today's game will do down in the annals as one of the best matches of the Premier League era. The real winners were the fans of both teams who saw a scintillating match played with amazing skill and pace, and with positive sporting spirit. I'll be watching Youtubes of it 'til the day I die!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 01:27 PM

I very craftily avoided high-intensity kitchen activity this evening. I have a piece of brisket slow-cooking in the pot with porcini and veg, and I broke my golden rule by peeling the spuds before the game. I'm no fool.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 01:23 PM

Well what a match. I watched it all live on my phone. It was super-thrilling from start to finish, both sides going for it 100%, no defensive shite, no time-wasting, no parking the bus, amazing Anfield atmosphere. A brilliant match, the icing on the cake being City nearly grabbing it back after being a 4-1 down basket case with ten minutes to go. Even my toe nails are gone. I'm a shadow of me former self after watching that, I tell you. YES!!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 01:10 PM

I know you didn't take up my offer of a bet Steve, but if we ever meet again I will buy you a pint for Liverpools win today.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 01:02 PM

Well I'm buggered. Well done to Liverpool. I have to admit I'm surprised by the result and I'll not be able to watch the highlights as I'm creating a 4 course meal for 6 this evening.

Have a good gloat Steve, your team obviously deserve it.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 11:09 AM

Ok.. try to convince a non believer there is a team in the West country worth supporting...

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 11:01 AM

Steve, are you a gambling man. I'll put a pint on city to win.

I reckon it will be 3-1 or 4-1 City !!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 07:44 AM

Try this one instead

Mali

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 07:41 AM

Here you go Vic.


Mali

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Vic Smith
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 07:35 AM

Can any football fan tell me where I can get a replica shirt for the national team of Mali?
I would also need to have the following letters for the player's name - T - I - M - B - U - K and a hge number 2 to go under them.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 07:22 AM

You can have Pogba, I don't rate him at all, £90 million up the Swanee as far as I'm concerned. I don't think Rashford or Lingard will be on the market any time soon.

As for our moaning minnie of a manager I can't abide the man, he's like a petulant spoilt brat, but he does have a knack of winning trophies ............ something Liverpool haven't done for some time, just remind me when was it you last won the Premiership?

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 06:54 AM

Yebbut watching many a United game is akin to watching paint dry. And Mourinho has got cracking talent of the likes of Martial and Rashford who he can't seem to get the best out of. Mind you, if I were Klopp I'd be after Lingard with all that dough Liverpool's just amassed from the sale of Coutinho. And what about Pogba? Looks like a bloody waste of money to me!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 06:01 AM

Yebbut bollocks, I number of times I've heard Liverpool fans bemoaning the fact they haven't won a trophy for years beggars belief, and I'm not really a football fan.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 05:55 AM

Yebbut football is supposed to be entertainment for the masses!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 05:49 AM

"Their recent history has been one of scruffy 1-0 wins" ........ and a cupboard full of trophys!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Jan 18 - 05:36 PM

Ah, but it's how you play the game. For over twenty years United have concentrated on winning ugly. Their recent history has been one of scruffy 1-0 wins and games so tedious that even their own fans have slow-handclapped them. It's no different this season. Hardly surprising with the Petulant Special Juan at the helm! In contrast, Liverpool play scintillating footie, though with a very vulnerable defence. But Virgil is here to fix that. Watch this space. And this is turning into what I CALL a footie thread! Let's get tribal!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 13 Jan 18 - 04:21 PM

Do you want to have a look at the record books Steve.

Admittedly Liverpool HAVE been a very good and successful team but just remind me when the last time they won a trophy was?

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Jan 18 - 08:17 AM

Who?

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 13 Jan 18 - 06:28 AM

Match of the century tomorrow Steve, United are not playing till Monday and we're only playing Stoke.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Jan 18 - 06:13 AM

Grr...

Anyway, the match of the century at Anfield tomorrow, eh, Mike! I can watch it on my phone with my Christmas present, me cordless Bluetooth headphones, so as not to annoy the football-shunning Mrs Steve. Though she can still hear my oooos at near-misses and me swearing at the ref...

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Jan 18 - 06:08 AM

Sorry about that illiterate sentence "Only the Catholic grammar schools played each other." What I meant was that the Catholic grammar schools only played other Catholuc grammar schools! Well Thornleigh did anyway.