The English Football Thread

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

Lol @ Spuds.

[Laylabelle 9,396]

Aguero being out makes sod all difference as so far still managing to find goals.Not the one man team made out to be and Jamies ooo Chelsea have the advantage article was daft

[dee25 1,044]

We've only dominated them and deserved to win once in 4 attempts under Jose - the 1-0 away win last year when they had to play Demichelis in the midfield. I really don't understand Jose's cautiousness against City. They are not that good and they're certainly there to be got at. Compare our away performance to them this year against Atletico's against Real Madrid (a much more formidable opponent) and our tactics look amateurish.

Honestly, I think the worst way to play against City is sitting back. Those tactics might work against Arsenal but City will pick you off if you back off on them and allow them time on the ball, especially in big matches where they're usually up for it. The games we beat them last season were games where we actually played aggressively and with high intensity. You can say we were lucky to beat them at home but in that game I remember them struggling to deal with out pressing and us creating good chances with even Torres hitting the bar.

[Laylabelle 9,396]

Sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt.Whats done is done need to focus on what we have coming up and learn from mistakes and not piss around with chances

[Sheva. 5,373]

According to live commentary, Lukaku scored an OG for Soton.

[Fernando 6,496]

Annoying as hell.

What's so annoying as hell about some fixtures that are easy for both teams?

I rather they have tougher fixtures around March then now.

Because look how we was ahead and they catch up?

If they have tough fixtures in March, and slip up there can be very fatal.

So save them tougher fixtures for later.

[Laylabelle 9,396]

Plus its just on paper.Man U looked a likely win given their form..not so much same with Sunderland.On the day can go either way

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

According to live commentary, Lukaku scored an OG for Soton.

He's a natural goalscorer.

[The Chels 2,502]

Honestly, I think the worst way to play against City is sitting back. Those tactics might work against Arsenal but City will pick you off if you back off on them and allow them time on the ball, especially in big matches where they're usually up for it. The games we beat them last season were games where we actually played aggressively and with high intensity. You can say we were lucky to beat them at home but in that game I remember them struggling to deal with out pressing and us creating good chances with even Torres hitting the bar.

Completely agree. City probably loved our tactics - they attacked without having to worry about defending. I really can't see the advantages of a low-block, sitting-off approach compared to a high-intensity pressing game in games like this. The latter gives us a much bigger attacking threat and means we're not pinned back all the time having to make last-ditch clearances (e.g. Ramires').

[Fernando 6,496]

I think its their attacking style of play. Down a man their attacking kids just sit back more, without really changing their shape too much. Even looking at them today, their holding mid fernandinho was practically living in Palace's box every time he got the chance.

I expect West Ham to rollover to us at home. Stoke is the danger game to me, especially consider the siege mentality they have at home.

You sure about West Ham?

They are on a roll and momentum is on their side.

Giving that the fixture is the 26th after Christmas it makes it a very dangerous game.

As we don't know if some players might have party too much or what not.

Concentration might not be to the fullest in games right after holidays.

[Laylabelle 9,396]

Man U 1-1 Falco.Watch them win this now

[Pizy 18,477]

What's so annoying as hell about some fixtures that are easy for both teams?

I rather they have tougher fixtures around March then now.

Because look how we was ahead and they catch up?

If they have tough fixtures in March, and slip up there can be very fatal.

So save them tougher fixtures for later.

How the hell are our fixtures easy?

City should piss all of those games even without a fit striker and most of them are at home. We have Stoke away which is never easy, a Boxing Day London derby against an in-form West Ham, away to over achieving Southampton, away to Spurs who are hitting form and will want revenge, and Newcastle who is our bogey side and just beat us.

Our fixtures are very difficult and José has said as much in his past few press conferences. I'd MUCH rather have the easy fixtures now in this grueling period than during the run-in when small sides are fighting for their lives and others are fighting to get into the top 4.

Wouldn't be entirely shocking to me at all if City have a 3-6 point gap above us after the next 5 matches.

[Fernando 6,496]

How the hell are our fixtures easy?

City should piss all of those games even without a fit striker and most of them are at home. We have Stoke away which is never easy, a Boxing Day London derby against an in-form West Ham, away to over achieving Southampton, away to Spurs who are hitting form and will want revenge, and Newcastle who is our bogey side and just beat us.

Our fixtures are very difficult and José has said as much in his past few press conferences. I'd MUCH rather have the easy fixtures now in this grueling period than during the run-in when small sides are fighting for their lives and others are fighting to get into the top 4.

Wouldn't be entirely shocking to me at all if City have a 3-6 point gap above us after the next 5 matches.

So I don't understand why it's annoying then and your complaining?

We agreed that it's better to save the tougher fixtures for March then now for City.....

[Laylabelle 9,396]

End of the day regardless of what our fixture order are if we want to win the title gotta beat what's in front of us.One minute they may be seen as easy another hard.If we perform how we are capable of them we can get points

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

Never a red.

[lucio 5,418]

referees need to stop blatantly cheating

[Pizy 18,477]

So I don't understand why it's annoying then and your complaining?

We agreed that it's better to save the tougher fixtures for March then now for City.....

We're saying the exact opposite. I'd rather have easy fixtures NOW like City do.

[Pizy 18,477]

Refs under instructions from the FA here to make this season's title race interesting.