The English Football Thread

[NikkiCFC 7,582]

James McClean is fined two weeks' wages by Stoke City and deletes his Instagram account after posting an image of his home school 'history lesson' while wearing a balaclava to mimic the IRA

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-8160247/James-McLean-fined-two-weeks-wages-Stoke-City-home-school-history-lesson-mimicking-IRA.html#comments

[NikkiCFC 7,582]

Chelsea assistant manager Jody Morris names his ultimate Premier League XI... and picks five former Blues but NO Liverpool or Manchester City stars make the cut

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8159799/Chelsea-assistant-coach-Jody-Morris-names-ultimate-Premier-League-XI-picks-FIVE-former-Blues.html#comments

JODY MORRIS' TEAM

GOALKEEPER - PETR CECH 

LEFT BACK - ASHLEY COLE

CENTRE BACK - JOHN TERRY

CENTRE BACK - RIO FERDINAND

RIGHT BACK - GARY NEVILLE

MIDFIELD - PATRICK VIERA 

MIDFIELD - FRANK LAMPARD

MIDFIELD - PAUL SCHOLES

LEFT WING - EDEN HAZARD

RIGHT WING - CRISTIANO RONALDO 

STRIKER - THIERRY HENRY 

Finally a team I can agree with.

[Vesper 27,310]

I agree with it all except one

Claude Makélélé replaces Viera

that team is so loaded offensively and Makélélé provides a better defensive spine, but it is close and I can so see why he went with Viera, who was far more versatile

in fact those two are arguably the two most underrated players in EPL history, as both were easily all world XI quality for ages

Makélélé being allowed to leave Real Madrid was probably the stupidest thing they have done in the past 25 years

 'Why put another layer of gold paint on the Bentley when you are losing the entire engine?'

- Zinedine Zidane, August 31, 2003

the rest are perfect

[Vesper 27,310]

Friday March 27 2020 Football Nerd

How football's suspension could negate injury problems By Daniel Zeqiri Jose Mourinho has not solidified Tottenham's defence CREDIT: PA Throughout football's coronavirus hiatus, we remain committed to providing a weekly newsletter of football facts, analysis and retrospectives. If there is a topic you are keen for us to cover please email [email protected]. Above all, stay safe. Those supporting the argument that the season must be completed at any cost are fond of claiming the 'integrity' of the Premier League must be preserved. The integrity of this season will be unavoidably compromised however, by the number of injured players who would have missed the closing stretch of the campaign but could be fit when football resumes. Given the human, social and economic cost of the coronavirus pandemic such concerns are frivolous trivialities, but interesting to consider nonetheless. Tottenham Hotspur are the most obvious beneficiaries from the delay, with Jose Mourinho on record as saying he could not wait for the season to end such were their injury problems. Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane faced an uphill battle to play again this season due to a broken arm and a hamstring injury, likewise January signing Steven Bergwijn after straining ankle ligaments. All three key attackers could be available if the season is completed in June and July. Opponents who have already played Tottenham twice would undeniably have an advantage over those who have not, but there are no perfect solutions to this unprecedented problem. Key injuries were looking like defining the race for Champions League football and the Europa League places, with Chelsea and Manchester United missing 13 first-team players between them when football was suspended just over a fortnight ago.   CREDIT: OPTA Frank Lampard's squad were badly creaking, with N'Golo Kante, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Tammy Abraham all suffering recurring problems and setbacks as they tried to return to full fitness and Mateo Kovacic limping off against Liverpool in the FA Cup. Christian Pulisic was also yet to return from injury and Ruben Loftus-Cheek a long-term absentee. United did not have the same quantity of injuries, but were thriving without their two most talented players. Paul Pogba had barely kicked a ball since the autumn while Marcus Rashford has now been granted extra time to fully recover from a stress fracture to his back. At the bottom of the league, Bournemouth's chance to recuperate could be bad news for Watford and West Ham in the two places above them outside the relegation zone. Eddie Howe's team had a horrendous spate of injuries this season with eight first-team players absent when the season was paused. Defensive stalwarts Steve Cook and Simon Francis could be back, while all Bournemouth fans will be praying David Brooks finally gets a clean bill of health. Elsewhere, Everton fans could get their first sight of central midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin since August while Arsenal's luckless left-back Kieran Tierney could be back in contention. Both were substantial purchases last summer, but could be like new signings this.

[Jase 43,479]

 

[Jase 43,479]

Not a bad idea...

 

[Laylabelle 9,296]

Yeah I dont think itll be end of April somehow.

[chippy 342]

I hope this feeling goes away, but at the mo I could care less if I never see another football match or any sporting event again.

 

[NikkiCFC 7,582]

 null and void, null and void, null and void...

[NikkiCFC 7,582]

Carragher team of the season: Henderson, TAA, VVD, Gomez, Robertson, Henderson, KDB, Grealish, Salah, Mane, Aguero.  Not sure about Gomez, Salah and Aguero.

[NikkiCFC 7,582]

18 hours ago, Jason said:

Not a bad idea...

 

Would that mean no football from December 2022 till August 2023? 

Do you want to play last 16 in CL in pre season? Bad idea if you ask me. NULL AND VOID!

[Jase 43,479]

1 minute ago, NikkiCFC said:

Would that mean no football from December 2022 till August 2023? 

We're probably already gonna go a few months without football now. So, no exactly big deal if that were to happen. 

2 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

Do you want to play last 16 in CL in pre season? Bad idea if you ask me. NULL AND VOID!

By that you mean the resumption of this season's UCL Round of 16? If the authorities follow AVB's idea, then that wouldn't be an issue. 

Haven't bothered to think much about it but the only reason I would want this season to be declared null and void is that it would likely benefit us in terms of Champions League qualification (and to see Liverpool NOT be crowned champions). Otherwise, I'm not sure what's the point. Not sure why everyone is so rigid about the European football schedule that 2019/20 must end by June or July or whenever so that 2020/21 can start on time in August, which may not even happen if this virus situation persists. On top of that, the 2022 World Cup will throw up a mess to the scheduling when it comes around and this whole coronavirus feels like a perfect opportunity to take and adjust the football seasons accordingly for that. 

[Fernando 6,376]

2 hours ago, Jason said:

We're probably already gonna go a few months without football now. So, no exactly big deal if that were to happen. 

By that you mean the resumption of this season's UCL Round of 16? If the authorities follow AVB's idea, then that wouldn't be an issue. 

Haven't bothered to think much about it but the only reason I would want this season to be declared null and void is that it would likely benefit us in terms of Champions League qualification (and to see Liverpool NOT be crowned champions). Otherwise, I'm not sure what's the point. Not sure why everyone is so rigid about the European football schedule that 2019/20 must end by June or July or whenever so that 2020/21 can start on time in August, which may not even happen if this virus situation persists. On top of that, the 2022 World Cup will throw up a mess to the scheduling when it comes around and this whole coronavirus feels like a perfect opportunity to take and adjust the football seasons accordingly for that. 

It's much easier to cancel this season and start the new season fresh in August. 

[Jase 43,479]

3 minutes ago, Fernando said:

It's much easier to cancel this season and start the new season fresh in August. 

[MoroccanBlue 5,198]

Expected to start again in July. Assuming the league then ends in September. 

Wonder how the transfer market plays out. Does it still open normally in July? 

[NikkiCFC 7,582]

19 minutes ago, MoroccanBlue said:

Expected to start again in July. Assuming the league then ends in September. 

Wonder how the transfer market plays out. Does it still open normally in July? 

In July? 

Coronavirus: UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says season risks being lost

Ceferin: "We have a plan A, B or C: to restart in mid-May, in June or at the end of June. If then we wouldn't be able to do any, the season would probably be lost"

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11965081/coronavirus-uefa-president-aleksander-ceferin-says-season-risks-being-lost

 

[MoroccanBlue 5,198]

1 hour ago, NikkiCFC said:

In July? 

Coronavirus: UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says season risks being lost

Ceferin: "We have a plan A, B or C: to restart in mid-May, in June or at the end of June. If then we wouldn't be able to do any, the season would probably be lost"

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11965081/coronavirus-uefa-president-aleksander-ceferin-says-season-risks-being-lost

 

Yes. July. 

 

[Vesper 27,310]

9 minutes ago, MoroccanBlue said:

Yes. July. What’s the president of UEFA got anything to do with the English FA? 

 

 

The Premier League is reportedly set to restart in July with matches to be played behind closed doors unless the coronavirus situation in the UK worsens.