The Football Thread 2017-18

[abcd]

I'm pretty sure these football players can charter there own plane to Russia if the original plane gets full.

[Photek]

I quite enjoyed the inclusion of video ref. Must be annoying for the fans in the stands though not to be able to see the replays though like you can in other sports. That said too many fans attending the matches wouldn’t be able to cope with it as they still wouldn’t agree with the refs decision if it goes against them.

The big plus was both Wenger and Conte not questioning any decisions afterwards.

They should use the NFL system and have both managers have 2 calls per match.

[Benzin]

Palace apparently agreed a fee with West Ham for Diafra Sakho, taking the total up to 2 Sakhos and a Sako in the squad

[TigaSefi]

Does anyone ever agree with tigasefi in this thread?

Obviously people are going to have different opinions. But sometimes his opinions are just totally strange.

No, a couple of months ago, I think it was him who wanted Klopp sacked.

Yes we were leaking goals like a Thames Water pipe and points as well when leading games. Drives me mad that he took so long to sort out the defensive frailties. Sorted it out roughly by making Salah a goal machine who really saved his bacon. Love the attacking mentality.

[Preezy]

Back to this Rooney Rule thing quickly - in general I agree with it, but in practice would it actually make any difference in the top clubs? Example:

- City knew (and knew for some time) that they wanted Pep, interviewing a BAME candidate would have been paying lip service to the rule.

- United knew (and knew for some time) that they wanted Jose, interviewing a BAME candidate would have been paying lip service to the rule.

- Chelsea knew (and knew for some time) that they wanted Conte, interviewing a BAME candidate would have been paying lip service to the rule.

I agree that in the "lesser" clubs that perhaps don't have such a good chance of picking the top coaches there's more of a chance of the rule having a positive impact, but people are kidding themselves if they think that the elite clubs will go along with it.

[Moggy]

Back to this Rooney Rule thing quickly - in general I agree with it, but in practice would it actually make any difference in the top clubs? Example:

- City knew (and knew for some time) that they wanted Pep, interviewing a BAME candidate would have been paying lip service to the rule.

- United knew (and knew for some time) that they wanted Jose, interviewing a BAME candidate would have been paying lip service to the rule.

- Chelsea knew (and knew for some time) that they wanted Conte, interviewing a BAME candidate would have been paying lip service to the rule.

I agree that in the "lesser" clubs that perhaps don't have such a good chance of picking the top coaches there's more of a chance of the rule having a positive impact, but people are kidding themselves if they think that the elite clubs will go along with it.

The rule doesn’t stop clubs getting a manager that they want in the way you said above. Clubs are still allowed to go for a coach that they want.

The rule is only really for when they are open for interviews.

[Parksey]

It won't make a difference in the short-term, as the cast majority of the world's top coaches are white and European. The big clubs tend to pick from quite a small pool of talent and it's the same names that crop up.

The idea is probably to get a more diverse interview pool going so that hidden or ignored talent might get noticed and that, eventually, this diverse talent might rise up to the top.

The other thing is that it will give ignored minority coaches interview experience and maybe a chance to network and the like, which will hopefully lead to them becoming stronger candidates for future posts.

Like I said, I think management jobs at the top, and especially in the PL, can be pretty static in terms of the names mentioned. Look at how Pardew was a shoe-in for the West Bromwich job, despite never really doing anything at any clubs, bar maybe the one season at Newcastle where he finished 8th. Regardless of ethnicity, it would be nice to just have clubs talking to more left-field choices at times.

[Mafro]

What was with Chelsea's line-up last night? Just the two attackers.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

I quite enjoyed the inclusion of video ref. Must be annoying for the fans in the stands though not to be able to see the replays though like you can in other sports. That said too many fans attending the matches wouldn’t be able to cope with it as they still wouldn’t agree with the refs decision if it goes against them.

The big plus was both Wenger and Conte not questioning any decisions afterwards.

They should use the NFL system and have both managers have 2 calls per match.

Based on last nights match Conte would have used both up within the first minute. I would love to know how many times he turned to the 4th official and drew a square in the air towards him.

[KK]

366 - Jose Mourinho has now spent twice as long living in Manchester's Lowry Hotel as the 183 days Alan Partridge spent living in the Linton Travel Tavern.

[Photek]

Jurassic Park!

[Saint of Killers]

All the Sanchez chatter on radio made me wonder if anyone else would go in for a cheeky bid:

Manchester United offer £25m for Alexis Sánchez in attempt to hijack City deal

• City submitted £20m bid for Arsenal forward earlier this week
• United offer Mkhitaryan as makeweight but salary a stumbling block

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... ez-arsenal

If Sanchez is up for the move then United should offer to make an upfront payment to make up the shortfall in Mkhitaryan's wages.

[shadow202]

All the Sanchez chatter on radio made me wonder if anyone else would go in for a cheeky bid:

Manchester United offer £25m for Alexis Sánchez in attempt to hijack City deal

• City submitted £20m bid for Arsenal forward earlier this week
• United offer Mkhitaryan as makeweight but salary a stumbling block

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... ez-arsenal

If Sanchez is up for the move then United should offer to make an upfront payment to make up the shortfall in Mkhitaryan's wages.

Apparently Liverpool are also sniffing about, would be made up if he signed for us but I can't see it.

[gamerforever]

I would say that the only team he will join is Man City simply because he will get the most money there and win the title too! He will also be playing the best football under the better of the 3 managers. The only downside is whether he will play the majority of games.

[PES Fan]

All the Sanchez chatter on radio made me wonder if anyone else would go in for a cheeky bid:

Manchester United offer £25m for Alexis Sánchez in attempt to hijack City deal

• City submitted £20m bid for Arsenal forward earlier this week
• United offer Mkhitaryan as makeweight but salary a stumbling block

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... ez-arsenal

If Sanchez is up for the move then United should offer to make an upfront payment to make up the shortfall in Mkhitaryan's wages.

Not happening.

This is his agent or Arsenal trying to hurry the deal to City and pay up. Man Utd won’t say anything as they won’t mind City paying more.

[Saint of Killers]

Aww

[PES Fan]

Aww

I wouldn’t want him anyway. He’s a great player but he’s 29 and I don’t think he’d be playing like Giggs or Robben did in their 30s. Someone like Ozil who relies less on speed, I would happily take. Madness that Arsenal have got it to this position. They going to need to spend £200m most likely to replace these two.

Would be more disappointed if City went in for Dybala and we didn’t.

Also Martin O’Neil is in talks with Stoke. The media moans when clubs give foreign managers jobs rather than young British managers. Yet this season it seems it’s the same old British managers. I know clubs are scared of relegation, but besides Allardyce none of them are safe bets. I’m surprised none of them have gone for Michael O’Neil.

People questioned when Potchetinno took over Southampton or even Silva last year. Both did decent jobs.

It will be the same cycle next year probably. Half these managers will end up getting sacked and we’d get someone like Hughes getting another job.

[Fuzzy Dunlop]

To be fair, we did try and get Gary Rowett, so we were looking to give a young English manager a chance. But he saw sense and signed a new contract with Derby who are in a good position to get promoted themselves.

Seems like it's now down to Martin O'Neil and Quique Sanchez Flores. Though I wouldn't rule out Rafa as he gets on with the chairman and has PL experience. If it is O'Neil I can only see it being a short term deal till the summer, ideal for both parties IMO.

[Winckle]

I would say that the only team he will join is Man City simply because he will get the most money there and win the title too! He will also be playing the best football under the better of the 3 managers. The only downside is whether he will play the majority of games.

[Dual]