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Jennifer1984 On July 20, 2022
Returner and proud





Penzance, United Kingdom
#2011New Post! Aug 25, 2020 @ 22:37:43
shadowen On March 22, 2024




Bunyip Bend, Australia
#2012New Post! Nov 10, 2020 @ 07:10:42
What an impact Diogo Jota is having. It did seem like his red hot form would see him start in the place of Firmino. Instead Klopp opted to keep his much heralded front three and add Jota to the mix. This meant at times the reds were playing a variation of 4-2-4, though without the ball they more resembled a 4-2-3-1. It will be interesting to see if Klopp continues with this set up.
shadowen On March 22, 2024




Bunyip Bend, Australia
#2013New Post! Nov 10, 2020 @ 07:20:12
A VERY long way to go but the early signs are that the title race in Italy and Spain could be the most contested in a number of years.
shadowen On March 22, 2024




Bunyip Bend, Australia
#2014New Post! Nov 23, 2020 @ 03:54:52
And so the reds make it 64 matches unbeaten at home in the EPL. They last tasted defeat at Anfield in the EPL back in April 2017.
Jennifer1984 On July 20, 2022
Returner and proud





Penzance, United Kingdom
#2015New Post! Nov 25, 2020 @ 22:07:53
Liverpool 0 Atalanta 2


OK, so it's Champions League, rather than Premier League but it's their second defeat at Anfield in this calendar year in the Champions League.

I think the emerging threat of Chelsea in the Premier League shouldn't be underestimated. Frank Lampard now has his team ticking nicely along. And they're hungry.

Of course, Liverpool remain favourites to retain their title, but they're clearly not the team they were last season. They're getting results, but not as imperiously and the old saying could come back to haunt them:

It's one thing to win the league title. It's something else to retain it.

Spurs are likely to fade as the season wears on. Spurs have always been a cup team. Only two league titles in their history says much. They always fade in the league. In the words of Alex Ferguson once at (the old) White Hart Lane, his voice, dripping with scorn and low regard for United's opponents that day said to his players: "Boys...... it's Tottenham."

Manchester City are in transition having lost David Silva. Sergio Aguero is past his best and Fernandinho needs replacing as his effectiveness is fading with age. The new defence is still bedding in, Ferran Torres has looked good early on and Phil Foden is maturing into the fine young player we all know he is going to be. Pep Guardiola has signed a new two year contract to see the job of rebuilding the team and he will see the job through. City will come again.

So, while Liverpool are the bookies favourites for the league, keep an eye on Chelsea. They're currently at 80/1 with some bookies which has to be a pretty good punt for anybody with a tenner they don't want to burn a hole in their pocket. Liverpool are 6/4 on so not much to be had there.

If I were a gambling girl................
Jennifer1984 On July 20, 2022
Returner and proud





Penzance, United Kingdom
#2016New Post! Nov 25, 2020 @ 22:17:24
Sorry to hear of the death of Diego Maradona, reportedly from a heart attack at the ridiculously young age of 60.

He could be a sod at times.... THAT goal against England in the World Cup in 1986 should have haunted him, but typically, he was instead celebrated the world over for the sheer chutzpah of being a 5' 8" player who -apparently - outjumped the 6' 3" Peter Shilton, who also had his arm extended to (legitimately) punch the ball clear. The referee didn't seem to suspect that anything might be amiss in this apparent mismatch.

But hey-ho... water under the bridge.

He followed up that arrant act minutes later by slaloming through the England defence to score a second goal of outstanding brilliance. That was Maradona.

His performances in Italy with Napoli helped them to back to back Scudettas and wherever he went, fans drooled at the thought of seeing him play. He put bums on seats wherever he went.

But always, amid the silky skills and dazzling football, his dark side followed him. Clashes with officialdom and referees... drugs abuse.... bad behaviour. He was a mercurial talent, but a flawed one.

Was he better than Pele..? I don't know. Both were before my time (I was barely two years old when "The Hand of God" outreached Peter Shilton's usually flawless timing). Fans will argue long and loud about who was the better player.

There will be deep mourning in Argentina and Naples for a long time to come.
Jennifer1984 On July 20, 2022
Returner and proud





Penzance, United Kingdom
#2017New Post! Dec 23, 2020 @ 23:41:39
League Cup Round 5 results:

Brentford 1 Newcastle Utd 0
Arsenal 1 Manchester City 4
Stoke 1 Spurs 2
Everton 0 Manchester United 2


Semi Final draw (2 legs)

Manchester United v Manchester City
Spurs v Brentford.

So, it's yet another City vs United semi final in this competition. There have been three in the past, which has ensured that both clubs have never yet met each other in the final.

City lead the rubber so far with 2 victories to Uniteds' 1 including last season when City went on to win the trophy for the third consecutive season. If they win it this season they will equal Liverpool's record of 4 consecutive League Cup wins.

Predictably, these ties have always been close, but perhaps the most bizarre incident in any of them occurred in the 1970 semi final second leg at Old Trafford.

City had won the first leg 2-1 but United came back in the second. United led 2-1 in the dying minutes and it looked like the match would go to extra time.

City were awarded a free kick on the edge of the United penalty area in the last minute of normal time. what happened next would haunt United goalkeeper Alex Stepney for the rest of his career.....




Manchester City went on to win the trophy for the first time, beating WBA 2-1 in the final. Incidentally, their goalscorers in the cup final were Mike Doyle and Glyn Pardoe, who are the grandfathers of a young rising star at Eastlands.

Mike Doyle's son married Glyn Pardoe's daughter and their son Tommy, 17, has broken into the first team squad this season, making several first team appearances in the League Cup and even as a sub in the Champions League.

Funny how things go around, isn't it..?
mrmhead On March 27, 2024




NE, Ohio
#2018New Post! Dec 24, 2020 @ 00:01:05
In the final game at the legendary MAPFRE Stadium, Columbus Crew SC lifted MLS Cup 2020.
(About 120 miles south of me ... I used to pass by it regularly to/from picking my son up from college)

Old news

Too bad they didn't promote/televised this more. I would have put on a few playoff games. It was just an 11:00pm sports news blurb the day or two after they won.
Jennifer1984 On July 20, 2022
Returner and proud





Penzance, United Kingdom
#2019New Post! Dec 24, 2020 @ 16:10:59
@mrmhead Said

In the final game at the legendary MAPFRE Stadium, Columbus Crew SC lifted MLS Cup 2020.
(About 120 miles south of me ... I used to pass by it regularly to/from picking my son up from college)

Old news

Too bad they didn't promote/televised this more. I would have put on a few playoff games. It was just an 11:00pm sports news blurb the day or two after they won.



Hey..... thanks for joining the conversation. There are some interesting stats on that link of yours, not least that it appears DC United didn't win the MLS when Wayne Rooney played for them.

I must confess that my usual interest in football extends only so far as the English and Scottish leagues. I'm much more of a Rugby Union fan.

It's nice to see your local club have had some success. Do you think this will bring about an increase in interest for football (I do so despise that horrible "S" word..... even though I know its origins and the person who invented it)* He should have been drummed out of Oxford University, the cad..!!

I'm afraid my interest in NFL is over for this season.... I cheer for NY Jets. Silly me. LOL. So, football and rugby it must be for the rest of this season.

Do you have a favourite British club..?











*In 1863, Charles Wreford-Brown, who later became a notable official of the FA, was asked by some friends at Oxford University if he'd like to join them for a game of "rugger" (rugby). He refused, saying that he'd prefer instead to go for a game of "soccer" - a play on the word "association" (as in Association Football, the correct full title of the game). The name caught on...... Dammit....
mrmhead On March 27, 2024




NE, Ohio
#2020New Post! Dec 24, 2020 @ 19:48:03
@Jennifer1984 Said

Hey..... thanks for joining the conversation. There are some interesting stats on that link of yours, not least that it appears DC United didn't win the MLS when Wayne Rooney played for them.

I must confess that my usual interest in football extends only so far as the English and Scottish leagues. I'm much more of a Rugby Union fan.

It's nice to see your local club have had some success. Do you think this will bring about an increase in interest for football (I do so despise that horrible "S" word..... even though I know its origins and the person who invented it)* He should have been drummed out of Oxford University, the cad..!!

I'm afraid my interest in NFL is over for this season.... I cheer for NY Jets. Silly me. LOL. So, football and rugby it must be for the rest of this season.

Do you have a favourite British club..?











*In 1863, Charles Wreford-Brown, who later became a notable official of the FA, was asked by some friends at Oxford University if he'd like to join them for a game of "rugger" (rugby). He refused, saying that he'd prefer instead to go for a game of "soccer" - a play on the word "association" (as in Association Football, the correct full title of the game). The name caught on...... Dammit....


Maybe their new stadium will drum up more interest.

Give it one more week for the Jets - They're playing the Cleveland Browns this week. Just a few years ago they were 0-16, but now they're heading for the playoffs, if they don't blow it.


I'm not familiar with British clubs.
About the only other "football" I watch is World Cup or Olympic.
Jennifer1984 On July 20, 2022
Returner and proud





Penzance, United Kingdom
#2021New Post! Dec 26, 2020 @ 18:19:44
Football is a national obsession here. There are four live matches on TV today, all shown consecutively so as soon as one match finishes, the next one starts. And it's the same tomorrow..!!

English clubs do well in the European competitions, mostly though, with the use of foreign players.

What those fans don't seem to have switched on to yet is the fact that laws coming in, by virtue of Brexit, are going to limit the number of overseas players that can play for any one club.

That is undoubtedly going to hamstring English clubs like Liverpool, Chelsea, and the two Manchester giants in the European competitions because those top players that leave England will join the likes of Madrid, Milan, Munich, Barcelona and others who will say "Thanks, Brexit".


Yeah... Jets had a good win against LA Rams, which was pleasing. I will bow to your superior knowledge of the gridiron game and the way your league system works, and I'll "keep the faith".

Have a good week.
mrmhead On March 27, 2024




NE, Ohio
#2022New Post! Dec 27, 2020 @ 03:10:15
@Jennifer1984 Said

Yeah... Jets had a good win against LA Rams, which was pleasing. I will bow to your superior knowledge of the gridiron game and the way your league system works, and I'll "keep the faith".

Have a good week.


They've been showing "Premier League" games on Saturdays on NBC. Not sure how that fits in with your British clubs.
They have to compete with about 6 other channels of College football all day long.
But Sundays are definitely for NFL this time of year.

And as for Jets vs Browns:

Baker Mayfield will reportedly be missing nearly his entire receiver corps when the Cleveland Browns play the New York Jets on Sunday.

Wide receivers Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones and KhaDarel Hodge have all been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, as has linebacker Jacob Phillips, the Browns announced on Saturday. The players were reportedly deemed close contacts of a player who tested positive for the virus,
Jennifer1984 On July 20, 2022
Returner and proud





Penzance, United Kingdom
#2023New Post! Jan 03, 2021 @ 06:43:46
Covid 19 is taking its toll on football here.

Matches are still being played behind closed doors, in empty stadiums. Only TV money is keeping the game afloat.

Manchester City have been struck by the virus. Gabriel Jesus and Kyle Walker both tested positive which has meant that two City matches over the Christmas period had to be postponed.... this will lead to fixture congestion later in the season..... when they least need it if they're to mount a serious Champions League challenge.

The League Cup Semi Finals have been reduced to single matches this season. For the first time ever, the semis will be played over a single match rather than a two-leg home and away tie with an aggregate score deciding the winner.

Covid is hitting the game hard but somehow, it's keeping going.
Jennifer1984 On July 20, 2022
Returner and proud





Penzance, United Kingdom
#2024New Post! Jan 07, 2021 @ 17:57:01
The League Cup final for this season will be between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City after City booked their fourth consecutive final and their fifth in six seasons by beating Manchester United 2-0 at Old Trafford last night. On Tuesday, Spurs beat Brentford 2-0 in the other semi final.

This is the fourth time City and United have contested the semi final in this competition. City now lead the head to head with 3 wins to United's 1.

City clearly wanted it more than United, having had the sad news earlier in the day of the death of Colin Bell, who played in the last great Manchester City team of the 1960's and 70's. Bell is legendary among older City fans and one of the grandstands at Eastlands Stadium is named after him. He played in City's first three ever League Cup finals in 1970, 74 and 76.

On Tuesday, Spurs made pretty hard work of overcoming lower league opposition. Brentford have never played in a major final of any kind but they put in a spirited performance and, had they not had a goal disallowed by VAR revelealing that the goalscorer had half of one foot in an offside position, the scores would have been level at 1-1 going into the last few minutes of the game. Spurs sealed the win with a late second goal after Brentford had a player red-carded, again, on VAR evidence.

City have struggled to find form this season, mostly due to injuries to players like Sergio Aguero and Nathan Ake and Covid 19 infections to goalkeeper Ederson and Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus. New signings Ruben Diaz and Ferran Torres have taken time to settle in.

But they've found their mojo now. They beat Chelsea comprehensively 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and put an in-form United team to the sword last night on their own ground with goals from John Stones and Fernandiho.

The final will be played at Wembley on 24 April, later than usual due to the Covid-19 disrupted season.

City are the holders and have won the trophy four times in the last five years.




Jennifer1984 On July 20, 2022
Returner and proud





Penzance, United Kingdom
#2025New Post! Jan 18, 2021 @ 19:26:15
Head Coach of the England Women's National team Phil Neville has jumped ship.

He's now got himself a very nice deal with Inter Miami in the US and has decided that managing the England Women's team isn't for him any more. That's loyalty for you. As he left he told the press that, "In my time in charge of the England women, I've learned a great deal about coaching".

Well, bully for him. It's so nice to know that HE has benefited from the job. As for the team, well, when he took over England were ranked third in the world. They are now ranked sixth.

England women did win the She Believes Cup nd finish 4th in the World Cup in 2019. The early performances of his time in charge being mostly due to the team he inherited. After winning that trophy he began to change the team and its tactics. That's when things started to go wrong. 7 defeats in 10 matches was the worst run since before the Hope Powell era.

Phil Neville acquired the managership of the England women's team despite having never been in charge of ANY football club before, despite a strong bid for the job from Mo Marley who was the players choice.

Nevill never was as popular with the players in the way that Hope Powell was respected and Mark Samson was liked (until the truth about his sexual history with young girls at Bristol Academy came to light).

Neville cut a dour figure, constantly going on about his family connections* and talking about the job more in terms of what he would get out of it rather than publicly prioritising the needs of the team and its players.

Netherlands manager Serina Wiegman, current manager of Holland, is scheduled to take up the job September.

It's about time the England Women's team was managed by a woman again.





*Sister Tracey was coach of the England world cup winning netball team, and brother Gary is a prominent pundit on Sky Sports (although he failed dismally in his only foray into management.... being sacked by Spanish club Valencia after only 3 months in the job)
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