The English Football Thread

~~Cuthbert~~ · 01-08-2013, 06:49 PM

Villa had loads of chances but couldn't put them away. Bradford were clinical. If we play like that in the home leg we're going to Wembley.

2 goals needed and we're through.

~~Cuthbert~~ · 01-09-2013, 03:43 PM

Chelsea 0 - 2 Swansea.

I love the League Cup.

Trollheart · 01-09-2013, 06:23 PM

Thank god my telly is broken and I didn't have to watch that!

What did I say about losing to Bradford? Someone disband this team now, so I don't have to keep following them! Jesus! You can't even say "Lambert out!" (which many no doubt will) --- he did great with Norwich, and much of this is that Scottish ****er's fault anyway! Why did they ever give him the reins??

But in the end, the managers don't play: it's down to the team, and they ess yoo see kay! Man.

~~Cuthbert~~ · 01-10-2013, 11:28 AM

Do you think Villa can turn it around TH? I think if there's an early goal in the home leg the place will be rocking. Not won anything since '96 so this is the best chance in years if Swansea beat Chelsea which they should do now.

If Lambert buys some experienced heads this month I see no reason, provided we go through and Chelsea go out which looks likely, why we can't win the League Cup. Yes we're crap, but so were Blues when they won it.

Optmistic Villans we are here

Trollheart · 01-10-2013, 05:59 PM

I really don't know man. I didn't see the match, but Villa's performance up to now has been woeful. Have you ever seen a team beat so comprehensively three times in a row? Usually a huge defeat like 8-0 makes a team take a hard look at themselves and they come back fighting, but nothing about Villa's games at the moment gives me hope they can halt the slide towards relegation.

Maybe it'd be good for them: knock some good old reality into their heads?
As for the cup, who know? But if they can't make it work in the prem it's really not going to matter: it'll only be a smokescreen. TBH I'd prefer they got kicked out of the cup, so they could, maybe, devote all their energies and attention to survival in the top flight, if that's even possible. Victory in the cup might make them complacent again, which would be the last thing we need...

~~Cuthbert~~ · 01-12-2013, 10:53 AM

I think that might be the game that sends us down sadly.

Face · 01-12-2013, 05:33 PM

I don't understand it because it happened so suddenly, they were trundling along, then suddenly they imploded. No personnel changes or what have you, just the thrashing from chelsea and no bounce back, nadda.

~~Cuthbert~~ · 01-12-2013, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Face

I don't understand it because it happened so suddenly, they were trundling along, then suddenly they imploded. No personnel changes or what have you, just the thrashing from chelsea and no bounce back, nadda.

I think TH said it after the Chelsea game but the team is mostly kids. Not children, but inexperienced, young players. The risk was that should they get a thrashing, would they have the mental strength to bounce back and the answer is clearly no. With each game without a win that goes by the pressure grows and the worrying thing is a win won't even take the team out of the relegation zone now. We're relying on the teams above to slip up.

Worst goal difference in the league.
Not scored in 4 home games on the trot.
Missing sitters left, right and centre.

The Championship surely beckons now.

Trollheart · 01-12-2013, 08:14 PM

In fairness, we turned it on in the second half and gave it a go, but we were undone by a criminal penalty decision and a scumbag diver.

Trouble with us is there's no leadership. Back in the old days, people like Andy Townsend or Paul McGrath would be geeing the guys up, instilling some fight into them. Even in the days of Yorke or Milner, you had people who knew how important it is to come back after a serious defeat. Other teams do it, Man U in particular, although they're several classes above us.

Once you let the rot sink in, once the heads droop there can often be no coming back. I think as I've said a spell in the lower tier is the best thing for us now. Less pressure --- not that we've ever been under that much; perennial underachievers they call us --- and a chance to regroup. Let a few of those who are not prepared to stay and fight **** off to Norwich or Stoke or wherever -- Benteke will surely go if/when we go down, which is a pity as he's one of the few who could help us back up --- and maybe rebuild from the ground up?

On a happier note, sort of, props to Reading for coming back to win after being 2-0 down --- eight minutes of madness that resulted in a totally amazing and needed victory for them.

FluffyK, didn't realise you were a Villa fan?

~~Cuthbert~~ · 01-13-2013, 07:31 AM

Yes, it is a strange one though tbh.

I grew up a Man. United fan (dad's not in to football much) and have been to loads of their games (Premier League, League Cup went to every round in 2009!, Champions League, FA Cups), including their aways as recently as 2009, still got friends in Manc who attend the games. I used to hate Villa, because my cousin is one of those try hard "support your local team" football fans who supports Villa, which just made me follow Man. United even more, plus all the kids in my class would do the same and I'm quite stubborn

The moment that changed it for me was seeing Blues beat Arsenal in the Carling Cup in 2011, that felt different to any of the trophies I've seen United win, and from then I have cared more for my local teams. Villa are the closest to my house and so it made sense to follow them, although I would like Birmingham City and West Brom to do well too.

I realise I'm opening myself up for a ton of criticism here

I still like United as I grew up watching them but Villa are my team.

01-09-2013, 06:23 PM	#4103 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Thank god my telly is broken and I didn't have to watch that! What did I say about losing to Bradford? Someone disband this team now, so I don't have to keep following them! Jesus! You can't even say "Lambert out!" (which many no doubt will) --- he did great with Norwich, and much of this is that Scottish ***er's fault anyway! Why did they ever give him the reins?? But in the end, the managers don't play: it's down to the team, and they ess yoo see kay! Man. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018*

01-10-2013, 05:59 PM	#4105 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	I really don't know man. I didn't see the match, but Villa's performance up to now has been woeful. Have you ever seen a team beat so comprehensively three times in a row? Usually a huge defeat like 8-0 makes a team take a hard look at themselves and they come back fighting, but nothing about Villa's games at the moment gives me hope they can halt the slide towards relegation. Maybe it'd be good for them: knock some good old reality into their heads? As for the cup, who know? But if they can't make it work in the prem it's really not going to matter: it'll only be a smokescreen. TBH I'd prefer they got kicked out of the cup, so they could, maybe, devote all their energies and attention to survival in the top flight, if that's even possible. Victory in the cup might make them complacent again, which would be the last thing we need... __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

01-12-2013, 08:14 PM	#4109 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	In fairness, we turned it on in the second half and gave it a go, but we were undone by a criminal penalty decision and a scumbag diver. Trouble with us is there's no leadership. Back in the old days, people like Andy Townsend or Paul McGrath would be geeing the guys up, instilling some fight into them. Even in the days of Yorke or Milner, you had people who knew how important it is to come back after a serious defeat. Other teams do it, Man U in particular, although they're several classes above us. Once you let the rot sink in, once the heads droop there can often be no coming back. I think as I've said a spell in the lower tier is the best thing for us now. Less pressure --- not that we've ever been under that much; perennial underachievers they call us --- and a chance to regroup. Let a few of those who are not prepared to stay and fight **** off to Norwich or Stoke or wherever -- Benteke will surely go if/when we go down, which is a pity as he's one of the few who could help us back up --- and maybe rebuild from the ground up? On a happier note, sort of, props to Reading for coming back to win after being 2-0 down --- eight minutes of madness that resulted in a totally amazing and needed victory for them. FluffyK, didn't realise you were a Villa fan? __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

01-08-2013, 06:49 PM	#4101 (permalink)
~~Cuthbert~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Black Country Posts: 8,827	Villa had loads of chances but couldn't put them away. Bradford were clinical. If we play like that in the home leg we're going to Wembley. 2 goals needed and we're through.

01-09-2013, 03:43 PM	#4102 (permalink)
~~Cuthbert~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Black Country Posts: 8,827	Chelsea 0 - 2 Swansea. I love the League Cup.

01-10-2013, 11:28 AM	#4104 (permalink)
~~Cuthbert~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Black Country Posts: 8,827	Do you think Villa can turn it around TH? I think if there's an early goal in the home leg the place will be rocking. Not won anything since '96 so this is the best chance in years if Swansea beat Chelsea which they should do now. If Lambert buys some experienced heads this month I see no reason, provided we go through and Chelsea go out which looks likely, why we can't win the League Cup. Yes we're crap, but so were Blues when they won it. Optmistic Villans we are here

01-12-2013, 10:53 AM	#4106 (permalink)
~~Cuthbert~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Black Country Posts: 8,827	I think that might be the game that sends us down sadly.

01-12-2013, 05:33 PM	#4107 (permalink)
Face Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: UK Posts: 306	I don't understand it because it happened so suddenly, they were trundling along, then suddenly they imploded. No personnel changes or what have you, just the thrashing from chelsea and no bounce back, nadda.

01-13-2013, 07:31 AM	#4110 (permalink)
~~Cuthbert~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Black Country Posts: 8,827	Yes, it is a strange one though tbh. I grew up a Man. United fan (dad's not in to football much) and have been to loads of their games (Premier League, League Cup went to every round in 2009!, Champions League, FA Cups), including their aways as recently as 2009, still got friends in Manc who attend the games. I used to hate Villa, because my cousin is one of those try hard "support your local team" football fans who supports Villa, which just made me follow Man. United even more, plus all the kids in my class would do the same and I'm quite stubborn The moment that changed it for me was seeing Blues beat Arsenal in the Carling Cup in 2011, that felt different to any of the trophies I've seen United win, and from then I have cared more for my local teams. Villa are the closest to my house and so it made sense to follow them, although I would like Birmingham City and West Brom to do well too. I realise I'm opening myself up for a ton of criticism here I still like United as I grew up watching them but Villa are my team.