The Footie Thread

[pendodave]

I can’t be arsed arguing with you as you are never wrong but it’s far from a few.

This BBC article probably sums it up…

David Moyes: West Ham's fans divided over man who delivered Europa Conference League title

David Moyes, who guided West Ham to their first major trophy in 43 years, continues to divide opinion among the club's supporters.

www.bbc.co.uk

Attended today. Thought we were pretty decent after Pacqueta was moved to CF and Bowen went back to his best (imho) position on the right. Yernighted were competent and starting to look quite threatening...until they weren't.

I don't have a problem with people complaining about Moyes. Especially those who pay good money to watch it. I think there's a difference between those that follow remotely, so are more concerned with league position, results etc, and those that attend wanting to have an enjoyable, entertaining, thrilling even, afternoon. We have quite often failed to provide it.

It's a shame that, as ever, the conversation immediately becomes binary. Is he quite good? Mostly. Could he (or someone else) do better? Probably. But it's impossible to have a nuanced discussion online.

Still. It's only footy, and either way it's not really getting in a state about. Grown up people should probably care rather less about it.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Agree Nunez .
cant agree Szob I think what’s in front of him is half the problem.

We gave the ball away so much it was shocking.

Give up on VAR if they can’t see that they should scrap it.!

Nunez will come good once he has fully settled and gor used to whats around him. Szob hasn't been there more than 5 minutes, and his ability is astounding but right now we need a holding midfielder to provide that Fabinho role.
Elliot is giving Klopp a real headache, and I would also say Southgate.....but he wont get a look in.

 

[srixon 1]

What does that tell us about VAR though.

Gives it they agree.
Dosnt give it they agree.

They both can’t be correct decisions.

Handball rule is just not fit for purpose now, it’s just a joke!

The ref’s just can’t win whatever they do.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

Attended today. Thought we were pretty decent after Pacqueta was moved to CF and Bowen went back to his best (imho) position on the right. Yernighted were competent and starting to look quite threatening...until they weren't.

I don't have a problem with people complaining about Moyes. Especially those who pay good money to watch it. I think there's a difference between those that follow remotely, so are more concerned with league position, results etc, and those that attend wanting to have an enjoyable, entertaining, thrilling even, afternoon. We have quite often failed to provide it.

It's a shame that, as ever, the conversation immediately becomes binary. Is he quite good? Mostly. Could he (or someone else) do better? Probably. But it's impossible to have a nuanced discussion online.

Still. It's only footy, and either way it's not really getting in a state about. Grown up people should probably care rather less about it.

Thing is in 2023 we have lost an entire 4 games at home

I remember the season we went down in 2003 going week in week out to see us not win at home! I'd much rather what we have now

 

[Pin-seeker]

Nunez will come good once he has fully settled and gor used to whats around him. Szob hasn't been there more than 5 minutes, and his ability is astounding but right now we need a holding midfielder to provide that Fabinho role.
Elliot is giving Klopp a real headache, and I would also say Southgate.....but he wont get a look in.

How long you giving him?
Looks like a headless chicken to me.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

How long you giving him?
Looks like a headless chicken to me.

As long as he needs. He is young and has a 6 yr contract. He is starting to link up well with Salah as well.

 

[Tashyboy]

The ref’s just can’t win whatever they do.

one of the problems for me is that refs are restricted with some of the rules.
VAR is there to help with off side and goals, any handball in the lead up to goal, straight reds, dangerous play. It is in place to correct a wrong.That I get.

But the Boly sending off. Say what you want but it is a bollox Decision. The ref gave him a second yellow when it was him fouled. He is sent off. Why coz VAR cannot overturn a yellow. The rules of VAR have now stopped a ref from Correcting a wrong.. How is that right.

 

[Deleted member 1740]

The refeees sub concious bias must've been xmas shopping today.

Full respect to Arsenal, they're a very good side who are 12months ahead of this new Livetpool side

If Liverpool can't win the PL i hope City do.

 

[Pin-seeker]

As long as he needs. He is young and has a 6 yr contract. He is starting to link up well with Salah as well.

He’s now 24 & come with a massive price tag.
Sorry but you dont get as long as you need when you’re at a top team.
Is he really starting to link well with Salah??
Didn’t even get a start today against the top of the league

 

[Tashyboy]

The refeees sub concious bias must've been xmas shopping today.

Full respect to Arsenal, they're a very good side who are 12months ahead of this new Livetpool side

If Liverpool can't win the PL i hope City do.

If City don’t do it and I would be gobsmacked if they do. I always like an outsider. So for me it would have to be Villa.

 

[Deleted member 1740]

If City don’t do it and I would be gobsmacked if they do. I always like an outsider. So for me it would have to be Villa.

Villa wont win it, they lack the quality to compete with Arsenal Liverpool and City.

 

[Tashyboy]

Villa wont win it, they lack the quality to compete with Arsenal Liverpool and City.

I think they could struggle with the length of the season, watch this space. Ave a feeling this season will go to the wire. What could be a biggie is the African Nations cup.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I'm late to the party but I've just seen Boly's second yellow . When things are going against you.........

Interesting fact from the commentator, 2022 was the only year since 2010 that Forest didn't change their manager. @Piece you want to watch out, they will be stealing Watford's crown on that front

 

[Junior]

I don’t miss many games and I have to question that stat. Just what do they mean by “chance” because United simply aren’t creating clear chances? They’re just not. Hojlund gets the occasional half chance at best.

The defensive injuries are a huge issue. I believe that’s the TENTH centre back pairing we’ve started in eighteen games. Not many sides can suck up that sort of inconsistency at the back and still get results.

I’m not sure another striker is the answer, apart from maybe taking some of the pressure off Hojlund. Because another striker won’t paper over the cracks - those either side and behind a front man just aren’t doing enough. Not even close.

That team yesterday was a mid table team at best. I saw our cb pairing and feared the worst.

I hope we get players back from injury and sort out the right side quickly. Last season we had Varane and Martinez most games (with shaw and AWB as full backs) and infront of them were Casemiro and Eriksen, with Fred /McTominay filling in where required. What I’d give for that now.

 

[Tashyboy]

Having watched MOTD last night and looking at the analysis of Utd. They were shocking. The supply to the one Centre forward is nothing short of scandalous. Yet Utd just look so easy to play against. Gonna be another long five months for them.

 

[Swango1980]

Sancho? If ETH hadn't frozen him out and caused another bust up? Not that I rate Sancho and his attitude but he's a much better player than Antony. The problem is ETH wants a winger to defend first, rather than attack.

Sancho was pretty terrible before his exile. No better than Antony. Also, his apparent attitude says to me he should be nowhere near the side. Even Matic said he was always late.

If ETH wants a winger to defend first, it is interesting that Utd have the least defensive wingers in their history, who made virtually no effort to get back and help the team.

The reality seems to be more the fact we have too many bad players, who think they are stars. They prance about in the Man Utd shirt thinking they are awesome, yet can't control the ball, make a simple pass or run.

 

[Hobbit]

Once upon a time it was @sawtooth that used to take all the stick about Arsenal and Wenger. Now it seems to be Man Utd and some of their supporters. They’re 6pts from City & 6th place. A good January, including the window, by them and the odd hiccup by those above them could see them pushing for top 4. A bit of a stretch maybe but who knows.

Perhaps a bit more depressing is if Utd in 8th are considered such a poor team, what does that say about the teams immediately around them. And if the other teams are so poor, is the Prem really the top league in the world?

The fans have every right to expect more from one of the biggest clubs in the world. Their standing in the game, globally, and their spending power clearly suggests that their squad should be top 4 at CL level let alone at Prem level. That fact that their continued demise appears to show no indication of changing would also suggest that the people managing the club are making a right Horlicks of it.

 

[pendodave]

Once upon a time it was @sawtooth that used to take all the stick about Arsenal and Wenger. Now it seems to be Man Utd and some of their supporters. They’re 6pts from City & 6th place. A good January, including the window, by them and the odd hiccup by those above them could see them pushing for top 4. A bit of a stretch maybe but who knows.

Perhaps a bit more depressing is if Utd in 8th are considered such a poor team, what does that say about the teams immediately around them. And if the other teams are so poor, is the Prem really the top league in the world?

The fans have every right to expect more from one of the biggest clubs in the world. Their standing in the game, globally, and their spending power clearly suggests that their squad should be top 4 at CL level let alone at Prem level. That fact that their continued demise appears to show no indication of changing would also suggest that the people managing the club are making a right Horlicks of it.

I don't think United are poor poor. They are just poor compared with how they used to be, how much money they've spent, and how they'd like to be. I've seen poor, and it doesn't look like united. They are a bit average and lacking in confidence. They are also probably better than the 8th placed team in the various continental leagues.
I don't particularly dislike MU, but I think it's really good for the game that they're in this state. It reminds us all that clubs need to be well run, and that complacency and incompetence actually have a cost. The various American owners and their plotting for closed shops and automatic inclusion in various superleagues/European competitions would take this out of the game. It would be the ruin of it imho. Failure is the juice for English Football, it would be pointless without it.

 

[Billysboots]

Having watched MOTD last night and looking at the analysis of Utd. They were shocking. The supply to the one Centre forward is nothing short of scandalous. Yet Utd just look so easy to play against. Gonna be another long five months for them.

The stats Alan Shearer referred to are nothing short of staggering. Between them this season, Garnacho and Antony have passed the ball to Hojlund a mere eleven times. That’s absolutely unbelievable. And yet I see fans calling for a new striker? It’s plain to see where the problem lies.

Alas, I can’t see ETH changing much. All we keep hearing these days is that United must “stick to the plan”. What plan? Just what is it? Slow, ponderous build up play before getting the ball to the wide men, both of whom are doing absolutely nothing with it, whilst all the time allowing the opposition to get into their shape? If I can see how easy that is to defend against surely the manager and coaches can.

United are not a possession based team. They showed that yesterday. They dominated possession and did the sum total of nothing with it. Neither are they a counter attacking team. They simply don’t have the players. So what are they? I simply have no clue, and until the manager identifies a clear plan, and has the players to execute that plan, it’s just going to be more of the same.

 

[Golfmmad]

I also think you're missing a central midfielder who can play the right pass and has composure. I don't watch Liverpool every week but looking at the Man Utd and Arsenal games, I'm stunned Szoboszlai is starting. Not sure I've seen someone make the wrong pass, at the wrong time, with the wrong weight or give the ball away so often when in dangerous positions. He just makes your whole attack so scatty and desperate IMO. Obviously Nunez isn't upto it. It's now 18 months and he's shown no signs of improving. He's got something there but clubs like Liverpool can't give people 3-4 years to come good. A couple of good signings and you win the league by 10 points. As it stands, can't see you finishing Top 2. VVD is back to his best though, looked very good recently.

Sadly VAR impacted the game more than any of the football. Cast iron penalty in the first half, just amazing how it wasn't given. Every week numerous blatent mistakes and no excuse for them. Shameful.

I think Liverpool were absolutely robbed to not get that cast iron penalty!
Odergaard was very clever but an out and out cheat. He could see out the corner of his eye that Salah would have at least got a shot away or even scored!
I don't often complain about things VAR but how they didn't give that one amazes me.
And that's coming from a neutral!