The English Football Thread

Mojo · 01-11-2014, 07:39 PM

While I acknowledge that is a huge ask, it is not impossible by any stretch. I'm worried that although we netted 4 today, in a huge game, and that was brilliant, we got three from setpieces and still dont have a reliable striker going forward.

But hey, we're off the bottom. Our upcoming fixtures present plenty of opportunities, its not like Old Trafford has been a fortress as of late and we've beaten Man City once a season for years now.

I'm encouraged at least.

~~Cuthbert~~ · 01-12-2014, 03:16 PM

You'll go through imo. But can't see anything other than a dicking vs City in the final. For whoever makes it. They're not gonna balls up two cup finals to underdogs (if Sunderland were to get through). You never know though, Blues did it in 2011.

Dunno who's gonna stay up. Would have had Fulham to go down pre-Rene but he knows his onions.

**Goofle** · 01-12-2014, 03:21 PM

United and City will be the final.

Mojo · 01-12-2014, 03:46 PM

So...thoughts? Incredibly harsh on Newcastle in my opinion, but when is someone active or inactive? He isn't impeding the keeper, he doesn't touch the ball, but he is standing in the six yard box, in an offside position, and has to move to avoid the ball.

~~Cuthbert~~ · 01-12-2014, 03:48 PM

Very harsh. Don't even think City appealed.

**Goofle** · 01-12-2014, 06:05 PM

Check Tiote's goal (see what I did there?) against Arsenal a few seasons back. That one stood.

Mojo · 01-12-2014, 06:17 PM

Right, but today Gouffran was stood directly in the line of the flight of the ball, infront of the keeper, in the six yard box. I wouldn't expect the ref to call him offside, as he hasnt blocked Harts vision, impeded him, or touched the ball. But can you really say he was 'inactive' or not influencing the play in any way?

I don't think it's a good decision to disallow the goal but I can see why he has. It's a harsh one, but surely the referee can actually call this one either way and still justify his decision within the rules?

**Goofle** · 01-12-2014, 06:45 PM

The bigger issue was M'biwa not getting sent off in all fairness.

~~Cuthbert~~ · 01-13-2014, 04:59 AM

Villa ended a five-match winless run in the Premier League with their New Year's Day victory at Sunderland.
They have lost half of their last 48 league matches at Villa Park, earning just 46 points in that period (W11, D13, L24).
Villa's tally of eight points at Villa Park is their worst record after 10 home matches of a top-flight season (based on three points for a win).
Paul Lambert's side have not scored in five of their last seven Premier League home games.
Villa have only scored seven goals at home, the fewest by any team in the division.
Christian Benteke has not scored for 11 Premier League matches. It's 13 hours and 29 minutes since his last goal, against Newcastle in September.

Lumping on Arsenal before the match to soften the blow. 3-1 Arsenal.

Newkie · 01-13-2014, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo

and we've beaten Man City once a season for years now.

Ech how do you manage it, been about 6 years since we've beaten them now, getting beyond a joke.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo

So...thoughts? Incredibly harsh on Newcastle in my opinion, but when is someone active or inactive? He isn't impeding the keeper, he doesn't touch the ball, but he is standing in the six yard box, in an offside position, and has to move to avoid the ball.

Surprise surprise I feel incredibly hard done by. Ridiculous decision and if in fact Goofy did count as interfering in play then I would like the rules put back to how they were years ago-either a player is on side or he is offside. He is in Joe Hart's general field of vision along with 15 other players, if that is just cause to rule a goal out for interference then why bother allowing people to stray offside anyway?

Most of us expected the loss so the result isn't surprising but the manner of it where we easily matched and outplayed them and Remy had two great chances but credit to Hart he had a great game. M'biwa could have been sent off for the challenge, but as Mike Jones is also the ref who let McManaman try and snap Haidara in half earlier this year go unpunished I would say at least he is being consistent in his reffing, even if it is ****ing appalling reffing at that. Nasri is out for 8 weeks which is nothing compared to what De Jong did to Ben Arfa when he snapped his leg in two places, City fans clapped him off but yesterday had their violins out.

Other than all that though some very good games of football on the weekend. Arsenal to go top tonight?

01-11-2014, 07:39 PM	#5071 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	While I acknowledge that is a huge ask, it is not impossible by any stretch. I'm worried that although we netted 4 today, in a huge game, and that was brilliant, we got three from setpieces and still dont have a reliable striker going forward. But hey, we're off the bottom. Our upcoming fixtures present plenty of opportunities, its not like Old Trafford has been a fortress as of late and we've beaten Man City once a season for years now. I'm encouraged at least. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

01-12-2014, 03:46 PM	#5074 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	So...thoughts? Incredibly harsh on Newcastle in my opinion, but when is someone active or inactive? He isn't impeding the keeper, he doesn't touch the ball, but he is standing in the six yard box, in an offside position, and has to move to avoid the ball. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

01-12-2014, 06:17 PM	#5077 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	Right, but today Gouffran was stood directly in the line of the flight of the ball, infront of the keeper, in the six yard box. I wouldn't expect the ref to call him offside, as he hasnt blocked Harts vision, impeded him, or touched the ball. But can you really say he was 'inactive' or not influencing the play in any way? I don't think it's a good decision to disallow the goal but I can see why he has. It's a harsh one, but surely the referee can actually call this one either way and still justify his decision within the rules? __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

01-12-2014, 03:16 PM	#5072 (permalink)
~~Cuthbert~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Black Country Posts: 8,827	You'll go through imo. But can't see anything other than a dicking vs City in the final. For whoever makes it. They're not gonna balls up two cup finals to underdogs (if Sunderland were to get through). You never know though, Blues did it in 2011. Dunno who's gonna stay up. Would have had Fulham to go down pre-Rene but he knows his onions.

01-12-2014, 03:48 PM	#5075 (permalink)
~~Cuthbert~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Black Country Posts: 8,827	Very harsh. Don't even think City appealed.

01-13-2014, 04:59 AM	#5079 (permalink)
~~Cuthbert~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Black Country Posts: 8,827	Villa ended a five-match winless run in the Premier League with their New Year's Day victory at Sunderland. They have lost half of their last 48 league matches at Villa Park, earning just 46 points in that period (W11, D13, L24). Villa's tally of eight points at Villa Park is their worst record after 10 home matches of a top-flight season (based on three points for a win). Paul Lambert's side have not scored in five of their last seven Premier League home games. Villa have only scored seven goals at home, the fewest by any team in the division. Christian Benteke has not scored for 11 Premier League matches. It's 13 hours and 29 minutes since his last goal, against Newcastle in September. Lumping on Arsenal before the match to soften the blow. 3-1 Arsenal.