...::[The Footy Desk]::... (Part 1)

[Shoumaker]

and they have to be fair been the beneficiaries of decisions from officials who didn't get a good look at it and made a decision anyway.

Or maybe the referee thought he got a good view of it but made a mistake regardless. We can't claim the referee got a bad look just because he made the wrong call, maybe from his view at the time he thought for certain he thought it was a penalty. He doesn't have the advantage we have, we get to see the same incident several times and from several angles.

 

Every team has been f*cked one way or another because of these decisions. And we're always upset every time a bad call is made and then we all settle down until the referee makes another one. These things happen, it happened to us when Sterling was given offside, when Vidic was red carded.. and it'll happen again. Maybe we'll get f*cked against Norwich today because of this today but it happens.

 

Can someone please tell me proper way they would implement video technology without interrupting the flow of the game? Goal line technology allows a signal to be sent to the watch of the referee as soon as the ball goes past the line. But this (TheCacti's) idea seems to interrupt the flow of the game even if it's not for that long. I'm not up for many changes to be honest, it's the several changes in Cricket for example which has made it a sport not worth watching anymore I feel.

 

Maybe a system could be implemented where these incidents could be analyzed post match and offenders will be given a match ban or something? But I can't see this happening as a dive should be a yellow card as I've heard but won't bans related to diving help reduce it? I don't know.

[Girish]

I'm having reservations about Costa now though. Looking through his scoring history, apart from this season he's actually not that amazing. Last season he scored 20, but before that he never managed more than 10 in a season and that's despite playing a lot of games. What if this season's just a fluke. I don't want us to replace one Spanish flop for another. All I want is a good reliable striker, but they're so damn hard to come by.

While I somewhat empathize with your reservations, I'm afraid we don't have a choice other than going all out for Costa. What with the Chelsea board asking Mourinho to play by the FFP rules, Falcao and Cavani are out of the picture.

 

While it might be a one-off season for him, only Messi, Ronaldo and Falcao can boast of that kind of goal scoring record in the La Liga in recent times. 27 goals in 32 games can't just be a fluke. He's also scored in the CL, so he has pretty much announced himself on the big stage as well. Also, he's a Mourinho type of a striker; he's good in the air and can hold the ball on his own. The only thing we can doubt is whether or not he'll be able to adjust to the rigours of the Premier League. Shevchenko couldn't, but then again, we have Torres so you never know.

 

In summary,

Is it a gamble going for a striker whose had only one great season? Yes. Do we have a choice? No.

[I cucked Alex Jones]

I just turned on the TV and Liverpool is already two up. Holy sh*t.

[Nlwt]

How many does Suarez need to score now to beat Shearer's record? I wanna say 3 but may be wrong.

 

Just checked, Shearer has 34 in the League in one season, Suarez is on 31 including today's.

 

Berbatov just scored one of the coolest goals I've ever seen.

Edited April 20, 2014 by NathanT

[Max]

Yeah that Berbatov goal was class. Also, I am actually excited about England's attacking capabilities for once. Take a young, athletic squad to Brazil Roy, as the dinosaurs have had their time and that generation failed.

 

My starting XI would be:

 

------------------------Hart-----------------

 

Johnson------Cahill-----Jagielka----Baines

 

----------------Gerrard----Ox-----------

 

Lallana--------------Rooney-------------Sterling

 

-----------------------Sturridge--------------------

 

And with the likes of Henderson, Wilshere, Shaw, Welbeck, Barkley, Jones etc on the bench we have a squad full of athletes. Massive Shame about Jay Rodriguez as he would be a perfect back up/option to replace Sturridge. That team is very attacking and has a pretty weak back 4 but I feel that this is the perfect time to send out a young team to play without fear, like German did in WC 2010 and Euro 2012. Also, it plays to our strengths as for the first time in my memory we have far more talented forwards than defenders.

Edited April 20, 2014 by Max

[Nlwt]

My starting XI wouldn't be far from that to be honest. Not sure if I would keep Johnson there though. I'm still torn whether I'd shove him there or Walker.

[Crokey]

Horrible call by the ref to not even give a card or a free kick for that tackle on Snodgrass, probably why I don't rate Marriner at all as a ref.

[GTA_stu]

I think Shearer's 34 came when they still played 42 games in a season as well.

 

As for video technology, it's quite a tricky one. The flow of the game already gets disrupted by different things including injuries, substitutions, prolonged goal celebrations etc. So I don't think that's even necessarily too much of a problem, just as long as we limit video technology I don't think it would "interrupt the flow" of the game. There's different ways of doing it but I suppose one way would be to give managers 3 chances per game/per half to challenge the ref's call if they think it's wrong, much like in American Football. Another way would be to have it for all offsides and contentious penalty decisions, you'd just have 1 guy or a team of guys looking at these things on monitors and then you'd have a decision in 30-60 seconds. That might interrupt the game a bit too much though, it's hard to say.

 

As for our England XI, I still say we need to take JT.

[Nlwt]

@Stu: It was in the 94-95 season so I think it was thinking back. And I'd like to see Terry aswell but I can't see it happening.

 

Norwich put up a good fight in the end. Liverpool need to strengthen their defence imo.

[Hodgey.]

Just checked, Shearer has 34 in the League in one season, Suarez is on 31 including today's.

 

Suarez is on 30 goals and when Shearer scored 34 goals it was a 42 game season. The most in a 38 game season is 31 goals.

 

My starting XI would be:

 

------------------------Hart-----------------

 

Johnson------Cahill-----Jagielka----Baines

 

----------------Gerrard----Ox-----------

 

Lallana--------------Rooney-------------Sterling

 

-----------------------Sturridge--------------------

 

I'd go:

------------------------Hart-----------------

 

Johnson------Cahill-----Jones----Shaw

 

----------------Gerrard----Henderson-----------

 

Lallana--------------Rooney-------------Sterling

 

-----------------------Sturridge--------------------

Edited April 20, 2014 by Hodgey.

[Mr Rabbit]

How many does Suarez need to score now to beat Shearer's record? I wanna say 3 but may be wrong.

 

Just checked, Shearer has 34 in the League in one season, Suarez is on 31 including today's.

 

Berbatov just scored one of the coolest goals I've ever seen.

that 34 was in a bigger season, 31 is the record for 38 game season by shearer and ronaldo

 

cole also got 34 do not forget andy cole.

 

I'd be surprised if Suarez does not beat it but if he only levels it I think we will get an idea of just how good you have to be to beat 31, then again he had less games, but that IS his own fault.

Edited April 20, 2014 by Flynny

[I cucked Alex Jones]

 

We love you Ramsey!

[Banks.]

------------------------Hart-----------------

Johnson------Smalling-----Cahill----Shaw

----------------Gerrard----Lampard-----------

Sterling--------------Rooney-------------Welbeck

-----------------------Sturridge--------------------

Still think Lampard should go to the WC and start.

[Eminem!]

 

------------------------Hart-----------------

Johnson------Smalling-----Cahill----Shaw

----------------Gerrard----Lampard-----------

Sterling--------------Rooney-------------Welbeck

-----------------------Sturridge--------------------

Still think Lampard should go to the WC and start.

 

And Barkley

[Hodgey.]

 

 

------------------------Hart-----------------

Johnson------Smalling-----Cahill----Shaw

----------------Gerrard----Lampard-----------

Sterling--------------Rooney-------------Welbeck

-----------------------Sturridge--------------------

Still think Lampard should go to the WC and start.

 

And Barkley

 

 

You cant start 12 men. Plus even if England did we still wouldn't win it.

[Vercetti42]

Some good goals from Podolski and Ramsey in the Arsenal game.

[Shoumaker]

You cant start 12 men. Plus even if England did we still wouldn't win it.

If you guys don't play Lampard and Ashley Cole and go for the younger players you guys have every chance in the world.

Edited April 20, 2014 by Shoumic

[Hodgey.]

 

You cant start 12 men. Plus even if England did we still wouldn't win it.

If you guys don't play Lampard and Ashley Cole and go for the younger players you guys have every chance in the world.

 

 

I see no reason to play either of them, as even if we did we wont win it with them. Might aswell give some youngers players a chance and experience for the World Cup in 2018. Hodgson wont see it that way though and we'll get f*cked by Italy and Uruguay.

Edited April 20, 2014 by Hodgey.

[GTA_stu]

I'd go

 

----------------------Hart---------------------

 

Johnson------Cahill-----Terry-----Baines

 

-----------Gerrard-------Lampard--------

 

Lallana----------Rooney---------Sterling

 

----------------Sturridge--------------------

 

That's if Terry goes, although I don't think he will. If not Terry I'd go Jagielka in that position. I actually think Gerrard and Lampard will be able to play together in those deep lying roles. It was in 442 where they'd clash because they were both so attack minded, whereas now they both play much deeper for their clubs anyways so they're much more suited to that.

[Hodgey.]

That's if Terry goes, although I don't think he will. If not Terry I'd go Jagielka in that position. I actually think Gerrard and Lampard will be able to play together in those deep lying roles. It was in 442 where they'd clash because they were both so attack minded, whereas now they both play much deeper for their clubs anyways so they're much more suited to that.

 

I just dont see the point in Lampard. You could take him to the WC sure, but for years him and Gerrard have proven they aren't good enough when playing together so why would it be any different now? Seems like a waste to me when you could give someone else a opportunity that Gerrad and Lampard have had for years with no success. I put Henderson in my team alongside Gerrard as he is young, played well this year and knows how to play with Gerrard. If you wanted to play a more experienced deep lying midfielder rather than Henderson I'd put Carrick in there then as Lampard is and always will be more attack minded.

 

EDIT: If United dont do something about Coleman he is just going to rip them apart down the right hand side.

Edited April 20, 2014 by Hodgey.

[GTA_stu]

Hodgey, Yh but that was when we played a different sh*tty system and had different players. We had virtually no decent attacking midfielders other than Lampard and Gerrard. It was basically just those 2 and then a load of wingers like Lennon, Walcott, Beckham. That was also when we played sh*tty useless 442 and they didn't balance each other at all, and they were playing completely different roles at international level than what they were at club level. Gerrard was occasionally pushed out wide right for England and it was just a f*cking mess. We also had no other decent striker apart from Rooney. Plus I wouldn't say they were that bad together, the main issue seemed to be they didn't play as well for England as they did for their clubs but they were still alright I'd say. The system we used to play was so archaic and ineffective, I think that was more the issue than those 2.

 

Now we're playing a much better, much more modern system which isn't outdated. We're still no where near perfecting it but we're on the right track at least. I just think the pair of them have got so much experience and actually still have a lot of qualities, they'd be who I want in the big games against Ururguay and Italy.

[Hodgey.]

Hodgey, Yh but that was when we played a different sh*tty system and had different players. We had virtually no decent attacking midfielders other than Lampard and Gerrard. It was basically just those 2 and then a load of wingers like Lennon, Walcott, Beckham. That was also when we played sh*tty useless 442 and they didn't balance each other at all, and they were playing completely different roles at international level than what they were at club level. Gerrard was occasionally pushed out wide right for England and it was just a f*cking mess. We also had no other decent striker apart from Rooney. Plus I wouldn't say they were that bad together, the main issue seemed to be they didn't play as well for England as they did for their clubs but they were still alright I'd say. The system we used to play was so archaic and ineffective, I think that was more the issue than those 2.

 

Now we're playing a much better, much more modern system which isn't outdated. We're still no where near perfecting it but we're on the right track at least. I just think the pair of them have got so much experience and actually still have a lot of qualities, they'd be who I want in the big games against Ururguay and Italy.

 

I understand what you are saying but how many times has Lampard played in that deep lying role for Chelsea this season or any other season for that matter? To play that position you need to be a good defensive midfeilder and while Lampard may be good at tracking back he's never been that great of a tackler and will want to be going forward more. It's just his style of play. We have younger players that play that position that could do with the experience or use a more experienced player that plays that position on a regular basis rather than sticking Lampard in there again.

I'm not saying dont take Lampard in the squad but I definetly wouldn't start him alongside Gerrard any time soon.

 

EDIT: Great save by Phil Jones then.

Edited April 20, 2014 by Hodgey.

[Shoumaker]

EDIT: Great save by Phil Jones then.

It's as if he forgot there's a goal keeper behind him.

[Hodgey.]

United really are getting worse under David Moyes. If United keep him for next season it will be the worst mistake they could possibly make.

[Banks.]

At least I can say that I was right about Martinez

 

Sorry Niperkins, I liked your post a few times by mistake. Stupid phone.

Edited April 20, 2014 by Tommy.

[Hodgey.]

I see Fergie is at the game watching over Moyes again.

 

[Nlwt]

Arteta has got the London look.

 

[Hodgey.]

Welbeck is on. Watch out Everton

[Banks.]

Welbeck is on. Watch out Everton

Clueless.

 

Just like our performance.

[Hodgey.]

 

Welbeck is on. Watch out Everton

Clueless.

 

Just like our performance.

 

 

You're right, Welbeck is clueless.

Edited April 20, 2014 by Hodgey.