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Jennifer1984 On July 20, 2022
Returner and proud





Penzance, United Kingdom
#2026New Post! Jan 27, 2021 @ 23:36:15
The Premier League race is getting interesting now. Manchester City hit top place on Tuesday evening by winning 5-0 away at relegation threatened West Bromwich Albion. Ilkay Gundogan scored twice, Joao Cancello, Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling added the others in what was really a rout. City could have scored ten.

Manchester United could have leap frogged them back into top spot tonight by beating even more relegation threatened Sheffield United at Old Trafford. The Blades have won only one league match all season but they doubled that by beating United 2-1. Manchester City are now bookies favourites to win their third Premier League title in 4 seasons. They have a game in hand over all their rivals and are points ahead of them all and with a better goal difference.

Challengers Everton and Leicester City played out a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park and tomorrow will see a mouth-watering clash between the two other league title contenders, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

Manchester City can sit back and relax. They have points in the bag this week. United, Leicester and Everton have all dropped points and at least one of either Spurs or Liverpool will drop points tomorrow.... both of them if the match ends a draw.

A lot of people wrote Manchester City off when results went poorly at the start of the season, mainly due to new players taking time to fit into the team. But they have moved smoothly into gear now and won their last nine premier league games, conceding only one goal in the process.

Last season's leaky kitchen colander defence has become an impenetrable barrier with Ruben Diaz being spoken in the same breath now as City's now legendary former central defender and captain Vincent Kompany.

Praise indeed...... but he's worth it.
shadowen On March 22, 2024




Bunyip Bend, Australia
#2027New Post! Jan 28, 2021 @ 06:07:24
@Jennifer1984 Said

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.

Yep, 2 wins in their last 8 games and sitting 9th. Lampard certainly had them ticking along nicely. Hard to understand therefore why they sacked him.

@Jennifer1984 Said

...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.

If I were a gambling girl................
shadowen On March 22, 2024




Bunyip Bend, Australia
#2028New Post! Jan 28, 2021 @ 06:19:17
Under Lampard Chelsea often appeared to lack structure. This was esp. true going forward where their attackers tended to lose shape and leave a lot of space behind them. This is turn made Chelsea vulnerable to counter attacks. Expect things to be very different under Tuchel. He is very much in the mold of Klopp. His sides have traditionally played with a high defensive line. Full backs in particular are encourage to push deep. His sides are also renowned for their aggressive pressing and organisation. Under Lampard it appeared as if players were given a lot of freedom out on the pitch. Under Tuchel the players will be well drilled and will know exactly where they are meant to be in any given scenario. This i think will help Havertz and Werner who have both failed to make much of an impact thus far.

Of course it will take Tuchel time to shape the team and get them playing as he would like but under him Chelsea seem to have a road map forward, not something that was evident when Lampard was in the driver's seat. Time will tell.
Jennifer1984 On July 20, 2022
Returner and proud





Penzance, United Kingdom
#2029New Post! Jan 29, 2021 @ 21:48:31
Amazing how you can make that assessment after only one match....... a 0-0 draw at home against a Wolves team 8 places below Chelsea in the league at kick off.

Yep, really getting the best out of Werner who on our football coverage (which you wouldn't have seen because you're in Australia, or so you tell us) looked just as out of touch as he did before.

No matter, early days. I still think he's a good player who simply hasn't adjusted to English football yet. Don't forget, players coming from the continent often struggle in their first season in England because they're accustomed to spending January on a beach somewhere in their mid-winter break. We don't have one here..... actually, the football fixture list becomes even more congested by the FA Cup. A pissing down with rain night in Manchester or a beach somewhere in the Caribbean.... where would you rather be.?

As for sacking Lampard....... The Chelsea board have a habit of sacking managers without really giving them time. They sacked Roberto di Matteo just a dozen or so matches after he won the Champions League because they were only 5th in the Premier League. Methinks they had every intention of getting rid of Lampard, results or not, some time ago and the man himself and the players knew it. It's a commonplace event at Stamford Bridge.

In all probability, Lampard only survived as long as he did as manager because of his popularity with the fans, and the owner figured if he was going to do it anytime, he should do it before fans come back.

Yep, Chelsea were on a bad trot. It doesn't make them a bad team. Manchester City fell as low as 13th in the Premier league a month before Christmas. Where are they now..?

Plenty of City's plastic fans wanted Pep Guardiola out too. Mostly the ones in Algeria who got miffed because he didn't play Mahrez for three matches.

Tuchel may do a good job and he may not. If he doesn't he'll be out very quickly. At least he won't have to deal with a transfer embargo in the way that Lampard did when he started at Chelsea. It's a bit late for him to change the squad now so he'll have the excuse that he needs time to build his own team.

We'll not have a good idea of how good a manager he is until after the summer. Any success he gains before then will be with Lampard's team responding with the usual "New Boss Bounce" as it's known here.

Let's see where Chelsea are this time next year.


In the meantime, it's good to see you've dropped this "Chelski" bollocks. Now you can start calling Wales...... er..... Wales. The six nations starts next week. I'll await with interest.
Jennifer1984 On July 20, 2022
Returner and proud





Penzance, United Kingdom
#2030New Post! Jan 31, 2021 @ 00:16:33
Breaking Spoof News:

NEXT CHELSEA MANAGER TO BE OFFERED A 45 MINUTE ROLLING CONTRACT

After the sacking of Frank Lampard after just 18-months in the role, the next Chelsea manager will be given a 45-minute rolling contract by the club’s owner, Roman Abramovich.

The contract will come with an option to extend to a full 90 minutes if the club are winning that particular game at half time.

Former Dortmund and PSG boss Thoman Tuchal has been given the privilege of leading the team for the first half of Chelsea’s next game, with Max Allegri lined up should they be losing at half-time.

It is believed that the Russian billionaire will consider turning to former Chelsea forward Andriy Shevchenko if the Chelsea end up losing the game.

A statement on the club’s website read, “We would like to offer Frank our gratitude for his efforts, but his inability to s*** trophies every time Mr Abramovich clicks his fingers means that he simply had to go.”

Pressure has been mounting on Lampard after a summer in which he spent £200m, and he appeared to have a difficult relationship with several of Chelsea’s senior players, many of whom it often looks like he could put on a pair of boots and easily replace.

A club spokesman told us, “Whoever is lucky enough to get the job of Chelsea manager will have our complete and unequivocal support.

“Until at least lunchtime tomorrow.”
TenaciousDave On February 11, 2022
The Anus Of Satan





Jeffrey Dahmer's Lunchbox,
#2031New Post! Jan 31, 2021 @ 02:20:53
@Jennifer1984 Said

Breaking Spoof News:

NEXT CHELSEA MANAGER TO BE OFFERED A 45 MINUTE ROLLING CONTRACT

After the sacking of Frank Lampard after just 18-months in the role, the next Chelsea manager will be given a 45-minute rolling contract by the club’s owner, Roman Abramovich.

The contract will come with an option to extend to a full 90 minutes if the club are winning that particular game at half time.

Former Dortmund and PSG boss Thoman Tuchal has been given the privilege of leading the team for the first half of Chelsea’s next game, with Max Allegri lined up should they be losing at half-time.

It is believed that the Russian billionaire will consider turning to former Chelsea forward Andriy Shevchenko if the Chelsea end up losing the game.

A statement on the club’s website read, “We would like to offer Frank our gratitude for his efforts, but his inability to s*** trophies every time Mr Abramovich clicks his fingers means that he simply had to go.”

Pressure has been mounting on Lampard after a summer in which he spent £200m, and he appeared to have a difficult relationship with several of Chelsea’s senior players, many of whom it often looks like he could put on a pair of boots and easily replace.

A club spokesman told us, “Whoever is lucky enough to get the job of Chelsea manager will have our complete and unequivocal support.

“Until at least lunchtime tomorrow.”

Football sucks. Hockey rules!
mrmhead On March 27, 2024




NE, Ohio
#2032New Post! Feb 06, 2021 @ 18:17:31
Why is the ball yellow?

Just flipped on Premier League Soccer (sorry) ... and the ball is yellow.

I've turned it on a few times before and I don't remember the ball being yellow.

At least they're not adding that stupid computer generated spot and streak like they do in hockey (which I watch less than soccer)

They're tied 0-0 ... though I know that's not how you Brits say it
Jennifer1984 On July 20, 2022
Returner and proud





Penzance, United Kingdom
#2033New Post! Feb 06, 2021 @ 19:38:30
@mrmhead Said

Why is the ball yellow?

Just flipped on Premier League Soccer (sorry) ... and the ball is yellow.

I've turned it on a few times before and I don't remember the ball being yellow.

At least they're not adding that stupid computer generated spot and streak like they do in hockey (which I watch less than soccer)

They're tied 0-0 ... though I know that's not how you Brits say it



It's a marketing thing. The "official" ball is changed every season so that kids will pester their parents to buy them this season's ball. It's just another way of screwing money out of parents.

I believe this sort of practice is something that we learned from you guys over the big water.

Before the advent of the money printing machine that is the Premier League, the FA allowed only two types of ball. The main ball was just plain old white. An orange ball could be used if the pitch had a covering of snow on it.

Before my time, but I've seen some of the old matches on retro TV and the old white ball looked alright to me. Also, the new football tend to deflate far more regularly than the old ones. Matches are often interrupted now by having to change the ball because the one in use at any given time has started to deflate.

Profit above quality, eh..?

PS. When no goals have been scored, we just say the match is scoreless.
Jennifer1984 On July 20, 2022
Returner and proud





Penzance, United Kingdom
#2034New Post! Feb 07, 2021 @ 23:25:45
Wow..... what a spanking win for Manchester City at Liverpool tonight.

In what was expected to be a tight, low scoring game, City ran out 4-1 victors after the Liverpool defence, and goalkeeper Allison in particular had a meltdown in the second half.

The game was goalless at half time and Gundogan had missed a penalty on the half hour. I think City should let goalkeeper Ederson take spot kicks in future.

But Ilkay Gundogan redeemed himself ten minutes after half time, smashing home the loose ball after Allison could only parry Sterling's low shot. Stones had a goal disallowed for offside before Salah equalised with a penalty.

After that it was one way traffic as City, inspired by young Phil Foden - now nicknamed "Mini Messi" by City fans - who ran the Liverpool defence ragged. Gundogan added a second after Foden ran back a loose kick out by Allison and crossed low and hard.

Sterling added number three, nodding home from two yards (just his kind of range) after Foden again intercepted another loose kick out from Allison and skipped through the Liverpool defence before cheekily lobbing the ball to the back post where Sterling was waiting.

The icing on the cake came three minutes later when this time, Foden decided to help himself to some glory. After again shredding the Liverpool defence with close control dribbling, he smashed the ball into the roof of the Liverpool net. An exceptional finish to a superb performance.

Jurgen Klopp looked shell-shocked on the touchline. City's second half performance was right out of the top drawer. Liverpool couldn't live with them and they are now ten points behind City who also have a game in hand.

Liverpool's chances of a second Premier League title evaporated in the second half at Anfield today.

City lead the league table, five points clear of Manchester United in second place (and with a game in hand) and they look like they mean business. Spurs visit Eastlands next Saturday.
shadowen On March 22, 2024




Bunyip Bend, Australia
#2035New Post! Mar 30, 2021 @ 15:23:14
Hate, hate, hate the proposed changes to the Champions League format. As always, money trumps everything else.
shadowen On March 22, 2024




Bunyip Bend, Australia
#2036New Post! Apr 14, 2021 @ 17:23:06
Only 2 pts separates the top 3 teams in La Liga with just 8 games to go.
shadowen On March 22, 2024




Bunyip Bend, Australia
#2037New Post! Apr 14, 2021 @ 17:29:59
Meanwhile in Serie A Juve's run of 9 straight titles looks like coming to an end thanks to Conte's Inter.
shadowen On March 22, 2024




Bunyip Bend, Australia
#2038New Post! Apr 14, 2021 @ 17:35:55
In Ligue 1 only 5 pts separate the top 4 teams.
Jennifer1984 On July 20, 2022
Returner and proud





Penzance, United Kingdom
#2039New Post! Apr 19, 2021 @ 15:07:13
The proposals for the new European Super League will meet stiff resistance. EUFA, FIFA and the FA Premier League have a number of weapons at their disposal, not least the international copyright on the laws of football. They could refuse to allow the laws as they are written to be used. This would necessitate the ESL making a similar move to that of Rugby League when the RFU refused to allow their breakaway professional league to use RFU laws in 1895.

It created a game that was (and still is) a travesty of rugby football.

I doubt it would prevent the league taking place but it would differentiate between "real" football and the imitation variety. It would also make players choose which code to play, something that many might be reluctant to do.

A number of penalties have been proposed, such as relegating the clubs who have joined to the Championship, expunging their Premier League record and making players who play for ESL clubs ineligible for international football thus depriving them the opportunity to play in the European Championships or World Cup.

It remains to be seen what steps will be taken. Probably, in the end, none at all. After all, we're talking about the top six clubs in England. They have a lot of clout and they own all the money. Without them the Premier League isn't quite so Premier after all.

It will be worth watching what takes place between now and August.
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