The English Football Thread

[We Hate Scouse 10,327]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/early-doors/mum-touched-prem-stars-funeral-tribute-her-young-104933172.html

Massive respect to Swansea

[The_Flash 1,144]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/early-doors/mum-touched-prem-stars-funeral-tribute-her-young-104933172.html

Massive respect to Swansea

Totally agree that is so sad, someone so young to die like that. Really lovely of Swansea to go. I am sure it would have meant the world to his parents that they took the time to mourn a member of their Swansea family. Big respect

[bababoom 4,478]

[The Skipper 20,609]

The England national team fascinates me. Here is how I'd manage the bastards:

Starting XI

Lallana - Rooney - Walcott

Gerrard - Carrick

Barry

Baines - Smalling - Jones - Chambers

Forster

Bench

Hart

Shaw

Jagielka

Milner

Barkley

Lambert

Sturridge

Reserves

Ruddy

Cahill

Johnson

Lampard

Rodriguez

Sturridge should start up front with Rooney. Surely you can't bench a guy who has alongside Rooney been the best English player offensively this season Walcott's injured for the WC anyway.

My starting XI would probably be something like this (if I could bring back JT):

That would be the base formation. Having 3 midfielders capable of passing, plus one who can drive with the ball (Wilshere and Lallana when he drops deeper) should allow a nice possession game, with runs off the ball from Sturridge and Rooney and link up play between them providing the threat in the final third. Rooney can also drop deeper and search for a pass which Lallana or Sturridge would get onto:

When transitioning to attack on the right, the team shape would roughly change to this:

Sturridge cuts in up front, Rooney comes deeper to orchestrate the attack and offer an option with Wilshere, Walker providing the overlap for the space Sturridge has left.

On the left:

Shaw provides the overlap for Lallana, Sturridge cuts in from the right as well and vacates a space which is covered by Gerrard, while Lallana and Luke Shaw (in the team because he and Lallana are incredible on that left side for Southampton) work their magic on the left.

It would actually be a very solid team capable of some nice football. Shame the FA can't get in a decent manager to implement an idea like this though.

Edit: quickly added some images to illustrate the formations a bit better. I'm bored lol.

Edited February 3, 2014 by The Skipper

[bushman 2,043]

The biggest cunt in football is Wenger the baggy coat of the cheapest a-holes in England.

Now, this poodle admits he would not have pursued the loan signing of Kim some crock from Abba had there been more time before the closure of the transfer window. This cunt had 31 days to buy a decent player but he brings damaged goods .

I do not know who will win the PL now, but one thing I know, it must not be fucking Arsenal. These cheap dogs do not deserve it, I feel.

[guddy6969 201]

Perry Groves on talk sport saying Luke Shaw will have to choose between Man u and Liverpool... no mention of Chelsea at all, I idiot..

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Rivals ganging up to ban City: Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal may test Champions League ruling on Financial Fair Play Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool could use UEFA small print to challenge Manchester City¡¯s right to play in the Champions League next season.

The rules now effectively set up a scenario where rivals can claim City have cheated their way to passing UEFA¡¯s ¡®Financial Fair Play¡¯ (FFP) test.

It is understood lawyers for a host of ¡®major clubs¡¯ are aware of these potential rights to make appeals -- thanks to recently amended Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations ¡ª and are monitoring the situation closely.

On Saturday night Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who faces City on Monday in the game of the season so far, accused some unnamed clubs of ¡®dodgy FFP¡¯.

He said: ¡®There are clubs that are following exactly the project of Financial Fair Play and there are other clubs doing it in a dodgy way. For me, that is very clear. I don¡¯t say the clubs ¡ª that is not

my job.¡¯

When asked specifically about City, and a potential UEFA investigation, he added: ¡®It¡¯s for Mr Platini and other people to analyse it, it¡¯s not for me¡­ I¡¯m waiting for that.¡¯

FFP rules compel clubs to limit losses for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons combined to 0537million, with a ban from European competitions the severest theoretical punishment.

City last week announced losses for 2012-13 of 0551.6m, meaning they have lost 05149.5m over two years.

They can perhaps ¡®exempt¡¯ as much as 05110m of those losses to meet FFP requirements. But they face accusations their losses are artificially low after earning cash from ¡®intellectual property¡¯ sales to related companies. UEFA sources have confirmed this will be

investigated to see if it is ¡®real¡¯ income.

Amended small print in the 2014 UEFA FFP rulebook, just published, includes two key changes; one allowing clubs to ¡®plea bargain¡¯ punishments for overspending, and another that allows other clubs to challenge those plea

bargains if they feel the outcomes negatively affect them.

Liverpool are one of the clubs not in a position to compete with City's financial muscle. Arsenal could be another team to benefit if City are to face a form of

punishment

Title rivals: Arsenal could be

another team to benefit if City are to face a form of punishment

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2550222/Rivals-ganging-ban-City-Liverpool-Chelsea-Arsenal-test-Champions-League-ruling-Financial-Fair-Play.html

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Rivals ganging up to ban City: Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal may test Champions League ruling on Financial Fair Play Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool could use UEFA small print to challenge Manchester Citys right to play in the Champions League next season.

The rules now effectively set up a scenario where rivals can claim City have cheated their way to passing UEFAs Financial Fair Play (FFP) test.

It is understood lawyers for a host of major clubs are aware of these potential rights to make appeals -- thanks to recently amended Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations and are monitoring the situation closely.

On Saturday night Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who faces City on Monday in the game of the season so far, accused some unnamed clubs of dodgy FFP.

He said: There are clubs that are following exactly the project of Financial Fair Play and there are other clubs doing it in a dodgy way. For me, that is very clear. I dont say the clubs that is not

my job.

When asked specifically about City, and a potential UEFA investigation, he added: Its for Mr Platini and other people to analyse it, its not for me Im waiting for that.

FFP rules compel clubs to limit losses for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons combined to £37million, with a ban from European competitions the severest theoretical punishment.

City last week announced losses for 2012-13 of £51.6m, meaning they have lost £149.5m over two years.

They can perhaps exempt as much as £110m of those losses to meet FFP requirements. But they face accusations their losses are artificially low after earning cash from intellectual property sales to related companies. UEFA sources have confirmed this will be

investigated to see if it is real income.

Amended small print in the 2014 UEFA FFP rulebook, just published, includes two key changes; one allowing clubs to plea bargain punishments for overspending, and another that allows other clubs to challenge those plea

bargains if they feel the outcomes negatively affect them.

Liverpool are one of the clubs not in a position to compete with City's financial muscle. Arsenal could be another team to benefit if City are to face a form of

punishment

Title rivals: Arsenal could be

another team to benefit if City are to face a form of punishment

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2550222/Rivals-ganging-ban-City-Liverpool-Chelsea-Arsenal-test-Champions-League-ruling-Financial-Fair-Play.html

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

Anybody up to see Spuds play the gooners?

[Jype 6,398]

Anybody up to see Spuds play the gooners?

Face value £61 per ticket, nothing out of the ordinary these days. As for the £316 per ticket I'm pretty sure you could find some companies who charge similar prices for tickets to any sold out Chelsea game and some people, mostly tourists, will happily pay those prices not knowing they're getting ripped off.

[bababoom 4,478]

My starting XI would probably be something like this (if I could bring back JT):

I like that team, the only thing i dislike is Walker. I'd rather Glen Johnson at RB. Walker used to be your typical fullback, good going forward shit at the back, now he's shit at everything, so poor. Maybe even Clyne at Southampton, he's back from his injury, so hopefully he has a good run of form.

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

Face value £61 per ticket, nothing out of the ordinary these days. As for the £316 per ticket I'm pretty sure you could find some companies who charge similar prices for tickets to any sold out Chelsea game and some people, mostly tourists, will happily pay those prices not knowing they're getting ripped off.

Even the greenest of tourist should know they are being ripped off for that value.

[Special Juan 28,140]

Anderson "There is a lot of players at United who want out"

[Jase 43,479]

[The Skipper 20,609]

I like that team, the only thing i dislike is Walker. I'd rather Glen Johnson at RB. Walker used to be your typical fullback, good going forward shit at the back, now he's shit at everything, so poor. Maybe even Clyne at Southampton, he's back from his injury, so hopefully he has a good run of form.

Yeah I was a bit iffy about Walker but I rate him higher than Glen Johnson and completely forgot about Clyne. Clyne would start over both for sure.

[robdog 2,084]

Lord Bendtner....he does what he wants. #fuckingwanker

Why can't I sell that punk from my FIFA 14 FUT side? Nobody wants that fool

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Anderson "There is a lot of players at United who want out

Looks like Mata jumped into the sinking ship after all.

Guess that means the Moyes' revolution next season is not gonna happen. I reckon high profile players will think twice about joining Moyes' United now.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Too bad City got such an easy programm of late. We only can hope this has knocked them so hard, they lose their rhythm. Next week, Liverpool will play Arsenal and probably send City top. If we do not win next game, our victory at the Eithad was worth only a nice memory. We have to put them under pressure until they slip up.

[Hutcho 8,443]

[The_Flash 1,144]

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2550902/David-Moyes-unwanted-records-Following-Manchester-Uniteds-defeat-against-Stoke-1984-Sportsmail-looks-ahead-embarrassing-feats-await-Red-Devils-manager.html#ixzz2sM4ucx9L

How many more unwanted records will Moyes break this season?

• Manchester United have already lost eight games this season in the Premier League. The most they have lost in a whole Premier League season is nine in the 2001-02 and 2003-04 seasons, finishing third on both occasions.

• Moyes' side have lost four home games in the league season. Should United lose three more at Old Trafford they will beat their previous Premier League record of six home defeats achieved in 2001-02.

• Last season, under the stewardship of Sir Alex Ferguson, United achieved their best ever points total after 24 games - this season is their worst at the same stage.

+13

Poor form: The current Premier League campaign is United's worst at this stage of a season

• Last time United lost 10 games in a season was in 1990-91 when they finished the campaign in sixth place.

• The club's record number of defeats in a 38-game season is 16 in the 1989-90 campaign. United finished 13th that year, which was Ferguson's third full season in charge at OId Trafford.

• They have lost three games in a row this season (against Spurs, Swansea and Sunderland), for the first time since 2001. The last time United lost four games in a row came in 1961 following defeats by Birmingham, Arsenal, Bolton and Sheffield Wednesday - the club have never lost five games on the bounce.

• United need to win nine of their remaining 14 matches to merely equal the club's lowest ever Premier League wins total of 21, achieved in 1996-97.

• Should David Moyes's side concede another 17 goals between now and the end of the season, the club will have broken the record for the most amount of goals let in in one Premier League campaign, having shipped 45 in 1999-00 and 2001-02.

• Rooney, RVP and Co must score another 20 goals to beat the club's record of fewest goals scored in a Premier League season, having found the net just 58 times in the 2004-05 season.

• United's FA Cup defeat by Swansea on January 5 - the first ever time the Swans had won at Old Trafford - was just the second time in 29 years that the Red Devils had been eliminated in the third round.

The teams Moyes still has to face who are keen to end their United hoodoos

February 22 - Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park: United have not lost to the Eagles in the league since May 1991 when they were beaten 3-0.

March 8 - West Brom at The Hawthorns: United have not lost against the Baggies in the league away from home since March 1984 when they were defeated 2-0.

April 12 - Hull City at Old Trafford: The Tigers have never beaten United in the league.

April 26 - Norwich at Old Trafford: United's last defeat at the hands of the Canaries at Old Trafford came in August 1989 as they lost 2-0.

May 3 - Sunderland at Old Trafford: They have beaten Moyes' side in the Capital One Cup this season but Sunderland's last league victory at Old Trafford came all the way back in May 1968.

Current unwanted Manchester United records held by David Moyes

-Suffered first home defeat by West Brom since 1978.

-Lost to Newcastle at home for the first time since 1972.

-Everton won at Old Trafford for the first time since 1992.

-Suffered First EVER home defeat by Swansea in this season's FA Cup third round.

-In January, the Red Devils suffered three defeats in a row for the first time since 2001.

-Saturday's defeat against Stoke was the first at the hands of the Potters since 1984.