The Footie Thread

[HomerJSimpson]

Yeah, his touch and finishing is a bit scattergun but he will keep on causing problems, as a centreback you can't switch off. I didn't see the second half but it looked like VVD was loving the first though. Toney is probably a better footballer but Antonio has a big physical advantage. England need some help up front with the form of Kane and no Plan B

A lot of the more direct forwards have had a poor first touch but when the ball sticks and they start to get a head of steam up it frightens defenders to death especially in the current era. Moyes definitely getting the best from him

 

[clubchamp98]

Jamaican . Looks like he never got a look in for England, although was an unused sub under Allardyce in 2016 and pulled out with injury under Southgate in 2017. He finally decided he wanted to represent Jamaica, obviously gave up on England. Made his debut for them last month, at the age of 31.

That’s a pity with DCL ,Ings and Bamford injured.
We will have to do with Kane.

 

[4LEX]

That’s a pity with DCL ,Ings and Bamford injured.
We will have to do with Kane.

Can't believe he's 31, seems like yesterday he was a youth prospect.

DCL, Ings and Bamford is a really poor bunch. We better hope Kane gets back on it.

 

[clubchamp98]

It was an interesting game but don't you see the worrying signs of last season in there? It was all sideways passes and aimless crosses. Liverpool weren't outplayed, you controlled the match but were so predictable, even Moyes had a game plan to counter it. I watched the first half before going out and knew you'd lose. West Ham looked like scoring everytime they attacked.

In my eyes it was a definite red card so it changed the game dramatically.

Having seen Chelsea, Liverpool and City a lot this season I can't call it. Could be a genuine three horse race.

Yes there are things I don’t like.
Klopp has his way of playing and dosnt change it.
Why we play such a high defensive line is a worry
But let’s not forget if Mane could finish we should have had at least another goal.
Plus our keeper ( who is usually solid) had one of those days! It happens.
We might be predictable but it’s still very difficult to stop when we play well.
But when teams sit back we struggle to open them up sometimes.
It’s why I have said we need a proper goalscorer. And a plan B.

 

[4LEX]

Yes there are things I don’t like.
Klopp has his way of playing and dosnt change it.
Why we play such a high defensive line is a worry
But let’s not forget if Mane could finish we should have had at least another goal.
Plus our keeper ( who is usually solid) had one of those days! It happens.
We might be predictable but it’s still very difficult to stop when we play well.
But when teams sit back we struggle to open them up sometimes.
It’s why I have said we need a proper goalscorer. And a plan B.

You're such a good team and have started the season on fire, but yesterday was a huge match for the title. A win and you'd be flying. A predictable defeat and it opens up the same questions. The same thing that happened at West Ham will happen half a dozen more times this season but I don't think Liverpool have the quality to answer the questions. Mane has always been high energy, low on quality, he just benefits from the system and chaos it causes. If Salah doesn't turn up in a key moment, you're struggling.

City are way off getting 90 points without a sriker and Chelsea have injury issues so it really should be yours to lose.

 

[AliMc]

I’d be surprised If Gerrard left Rangers this season

Seriously you think that, a club that he has commented have given him no money to spend to compete in Europe, just announced £23.5 million losses in the last year, Gerrard cares about Gerrard, if he ultimately wants to be considered for the Liverpool job he's not going there directly from a club in Scotland, Villa would appear to be a good stepping stone, personally I think Villa would have been better off keeping Smith, just my opinion ?

 

[rudebhoy]

I’d be surprised If Gerrard left Rangers this season

I wouldn't.

His long term ambition is the Liverpool job. He will recognise that a good stint in the EPL will help his case enormously.

He's not getting it anywhere as easy at Rangers this season, dropping a lot of points, conceding a lot more goals, and Celtic looking like throwing down a serious challenge after last season's capitulation. Also, financial problems looming again - chairman has publically stated they need to raise £7.5m to see out the season. Might not sound a lot, but this is the SPL not the EPL, and the banks won't lend them a penny. Good chance they will be losing some of their better players in January to cover this.

If I were him, I'd be thinking this is a good time to cash in his chips.

 

[AliMc]

I wouldn't.

His long term ambition is the Liverpool job. He will recognise that a good stint in the EPL will help his case enormously.

He's not getting it anywhere as easy at Rangers this season, dropping a lot of points, conceding a lot more goals, and Celtic looking like throwing down a serious challenge after last season's capitulation. Also, financial problems looming again - chairman has publically stated they need to raise £7.5m to see out the season. Might not sound a lot, but this is the SPL not the EPL, and the banks won't lend them a penny. Good chance they will be losing some of their better players in January to cover this.

If I were him, I'd be thinking this is a good time to cash in his chips.

Good post rudebhoy

 

[Swango1980]

Seriously you think that, a club that he has commented have given him no money to spend to compete in Europe, just announced £23.5 million losses in the last year, Gerrard cares about Gerrard, if he ultimately wants to be considered for the Liverpool job he's not going there directly from a club in Scotland, Villa would appear to be a good stepping stone, personally I think Villa would have been better off keeping Smith, just my opinion ?

Why not?

He could continue to build a strong legacy in a relatively easy league up in Scotland, get used to that winning mentality as a manager, and then be a good fit for Liverpool when the time comes. Or, he could go to a rubbish team in the Premier League and take a huge risk. If he turns them around, fair enough, but he is still unlikely to put them in a position where every game they expect to win. So he'd still not be a manager that people would consider a "winner", perhaps at best a reputation as a good solid manager like Moyes. Worse still, he finds the players are just not good enough, or he gets bad luck, and Villa continue to be a poor team. That could well and truly end his hopes at becoming Liverpool manager in the future. I think he'd be better staying up in Scotland for the time being.

 

[rudebhoy]

Good post rudebhoy

Just saw yours after I posted (I was catching up and was a few pages back when I replied)

 

[Billysboots]

Think people would just prefer more honesty, less hypocrisy and far less repetition, may just be me though.....

We certainly seem to go around in circles a lot, when a debate has already been done to death. Did I mention I think Solskjaer should go? ?

Seriously, though, the repetition must be mind numbing for the neutral.

 

[rudebhoy]

Why not?

He could continue to build a strong legacy in a relatively easy league up in Scotland, get used to that winning mentality as a manager, and then be a good fit for Liverpool when the time comes. Or, he could go to a rubbish team in the Premier League and take a huge risk. If he turns them around, fair enough, but he is still unlikely to put them in a position where every game they expect to win. So he'd still not be a manager that people would consider a "winner", perhaps at best a reputation as a good solid manager like Moyes. Worse still, he finds the players are just not good enough, or he gets bad luck, and Villa continue to be a poor team. That could well and truly end his hopes at becoming Liverpool manager in the future. I think he'd be better staying up in Scotland for the time being.

Have you looked at his record in Scotland? He has won 1 domestic trophy out of 9, and that was due in large part to Celtic's catastrophic self-destruction. St Johnstone have won more trophies than Rangers in that period, it's not a great record at all.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Seriously you think that, a club that he has commented have given him no money to spend to compete in Europe, just announced £23.5 million losses in the last year, Gerrard cares about Gerrard, if he ultimately wants to be considered for the Liverpool job he's not going there directly from a club in Scotland, Villa would appear to be a good stepping stone, personally I think Villa would have been better off keeping Smith, just my opinion ?

The money…he will follow the money as players do.

In last transfer window StJ lost their best midfielder to PNE and best defender to Wigan…why? Well both young - the midfielder was being paid £800 a week at StJ and a reported £10,000 a week at his new club. I think the defender was similar situation. OK I know StJ ain’t Rangers…but they most years balance the books. Doubt even Rangers have the money to compete for StJs best players…?

Gerrard will go if the offer is made, to a decent mid-table Championship club or at best a EPL/Championship yo-yo club.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Have you looked at his record in Scotland? He has won 1 domestic trophy out of 9, and that was due in large part to Celtic's catastrophic self-destruction. St Johnstone have won more trophies than Rangers in that period, it's not a great record at all.

Aye - the mighty Saints of last season, but not so mighty now they have lost their two best players…and that’s pretty much all it takes to swing from double Scottish cup winners to struggling to get into mid-table…yet they still make Rangers struggle to beat them ?

 

[Swango1980]

Have you looked at his record in Scotland? He has won 1 domestic trophy out of 9, and that was due in large part to Celtic's catastrophic self-destruction. St Johnstone have won more trophies than Rangers in that period, it's not a great record at all.

He didn't take over a successful team, so I wouldn't expect him to immediately start winning every trophy. However, he must have been doing something right, in winning their first Premiership trophy in 10 years. Celtic were woeful, but that could as much been a part of actually having a challenger for the first time in ages, and they couldn't cope with the pressure Gerrards team put on them. Cup football is cup football, it is not always the best team that win the trophy.

Regardless of that, how many trophies is he likely to win at Villa?

 

[rudebhoy]

He didn't take over a successful team, so I wouldn't expect him to immediately start winning every trophy. However, he must have been doing something right, in winning their first Premiership trophy in 10 years. Celtic were woeful, but that could as much been a part of actually having a challenger for the first time in ages, and they couldn't cope with the pressure Gerrards team put on them. Cup football is cup football, it is not always the best team that win the trophy.

Regardless of that, how many trophies is he likely to win at Villa?

He took over the team with the second biggest budget. Which was probably 10 times that of the team with the third highest budget. They should have been good enough to put up a decent challenge in his first two seasons in the SPL, but Celtic won both at a canter. Rangers were actually 11 points worse in the second season.

Celtic's implosion was not down to not being able to handle the pressure - they had won 10 domestic trophies in a row by that point, including 6 cup finals, so were used to pressure. They fell apart due to a perfect storm of not bothering to invest in an stale and ageing team and having a clown as a manager who refused to go even when it was obvious he had lost the plot (and the dressing room) totally.

But in answer to your question, I'd guess he would win one less trophy at Villa than at Rangers, however if he can get Villa in the top half for a couple of seasons, it's job done.

 

[AliMc]

There is a challenge in Scotland this year and not just from Celtic, he is in charge of an aging team on the way down (going by their poor form this season) and Celtic look like they may be on the way up

Why not?

He could continue to build a strong legacy in a relatively easy league up in Scotland, get used to that winning mentality as a manager, and then be a good fit for Liverpool when the time comes. Or, he could go to a rubbish team in the Premier League and take a huge risk. If he turns them around, fair enough, but he is still unlikely to put them in a position where every game they expect to win. So he'd still not be a manager that people would consider a "winner", perhaps at best a reputation as a good solid manager like Moyes. Worse still, he finds the players are just not good enough, or he gets bad luck, and Villa continue to be a poor team. That could well and truly end his hopes at becoming Liverpool manager in the future. I think he'd be better staying up in Scotland for the time being.

Why not?

He could continue to build a strong legacy in a relatively easy league up in Scotland, get used to that winning mentality as a manager, and then be a good fit for Liverpool when the time comes. Or, he could go to a rubbish team in the Premier League and take a huge risk. If he turns them around, fair enough, but he is still unlikely to put them in a position where every game they expect to win. So he'd still not be a manager that people would consider a "winner", perhaps at best a reputation as a good solid manager like Moyes. Worse still, he finds the players are just not good enough, or he gets bad luck, and Villa continue to be a poor team. That could well and truly end his hopes at becoming Liverpool manager in the future. I think he'd be better staying up in Scotland for the time being.

Rangers look like an aging team this year on the way down with little or no money to spend to improve things, Celtic look to be on the way back up and probably will make more signings in January, stopping 10 iar was massive last year, of course they could win it again this year but at least there is a challenge this year, the prospect of losing to an unknown Australian from the J League won't do the ego much good, his stock is high in England just now, I think he's for the off

 

[AliMc]

There is a challenge in Scotland this year and not just from Celtic, he is in charge of an aging team on the way down (going by their poor form this season) and Celtic look like they may be on the way up


Rangers look like an aging team this year on the way down with little or no money to spend to improve things, Celtic look to be on the way back up and probably will make more signings in January, stopping 10 iar was massive last year, of course they could win it again this year but at least there is a challenge this year, the prospect of losing to an unknown Australian from the J League won't do the ego much good, his stock is high in England just now, I think he's for the off

Sorry don't know what happened there, I was typing this in the hospital after getting my flu & booster jabs and lost the signal

 

[Swango1980]

He took over the team with the second biggest budget. Which was probably 10 times that of the team with the third highest budget. They should have been good enough to put up a decent challenge in his first two seasons in the SPL, but Celtic won both at a canter. Rangers were actually 11 points worse in the second season.

Celtic's implosion was not down to not being able to handle the pressure - they had won 10 domestic trophies in a row by that point, including 6 cup finals, so were used to pressure. They fell apart due to a perfect storm of not bothering to invest in an stale and ageing team and having a clown as a manager who refused to go even when it was obvious he had lost the plot (and the dressing room) totally.

But in answer to your question, I'd guess he would win one less trophy at Villa than at Rangers, however if he can get Villa in the top half for a couple of seasons, it's job done.

Seriously!? What pressure? They had zero competition for 10 years, there was no pressure on them at all. The Scottish league was an embarrassment. It would be like Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal, Leicester (and maybe even West Ham and Everton) all getting booted out of the Premier League, and then Man Utd fans boasting about winning the title every year.

Also, Rangers finished with 78 points in the 2018-19 season, and with 67 points in the 2019-20 season. So, theoretically you could say they had 11 points less. However, are you forgetting about Covid, and the fact the season was ended early. Rangers played 9 games less in Gerrard's second season. If they had finished the season, and scored at the same rate, they'd have ended up with 10 points more in his second season.

I'm not saying he won't go, he may well do. Bookmakers think so. I just think it is a big risk. I don't follow Scottish football and cannot speak on behalf of Rangers fans. But, I'd imagine Gerrard may be becoming a cult hero up there with their fans. I suspect he'd like that, and it always helps the CV. Winning things and being adored by the fans. It could that he could build on that legacy, and the only other team he'd go to would be Liverpool for understandable reasons (or even England). In the wider scheme of things, I doubt many care he is not winning domestic cups in Scotland, albeit it would be a nice addition. It is the fact that he won the Premiership, the key title. They are also aiming to do the same again for the second consecutive year. Does he just walk out on Rangers now, to take on a rubbish Premiership team that he has no real ties to? Maybe.

 

[AliMc]

Seriously!? What pressure? They had zero competition for 10 years, there was no pressure on them at all. The Scottish league was an embarrassment. It would be like Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal, Leicester (and maybe even West Ham and Everton) all getting booted out of the Premier League, and then Man Utd fans boasting about winning the title every year.

Also, Rangers finished with 78 points in the 2018-19 season, and with 67 points in the 2019-20 season. So, theoretically you could say they had 11 points less. However, are you forgetting about Covid, and the fact the season was ended early. Rangers played 9 games less in Gerrard's second season. If they had finished the season, and scored at the same rate, they'd have ended up with 10 points more in his second season.

I'm not saying he won't go, he may well do. Bookmakers think so. I just think it is a big risk. I don't follow Scottish football and cannot speak on behalf of Rangers fans. But, I'd imagine Gerrard may be becoming a cult hero up there with their fans. I suspect he'd like that, and it always helps the CV. Winning things and being adored by the fans. It could that he could build on that legacy, and the only other team he'd go to would be Liverpool for understandable reasons (or even England). In the wider scheme of things, I doubt many care he is not winning domestic cups in Scotland, albeit it would be a nice addition. It is the fact that he won the Premiership, the key title. They are also aiming to do the same again for the second consecutive year. Does he just walk out on Rangers now, to take on a rubbish Premiership team that he has no real ties to? Maybe.

Your right Swango he is a cult hero to their fans and rightly so although I've seen that one of them is now comparing him to Harold Shipman !