BelfastBloke's Rolling Footie Thread 2013-14 Season

[Pan]

The rolling Football thread for Season '13-14 might as well start off in the traditional way with the same intro as did the original rolling Football thread all those seasons ago. But with the new tradition of leaving the musty changing room of Dadsnet...
We've been top heavy with premiership stuff but it's really for any footie played on the planet and beyond.

Footie fans please sign in with

1.Which team you support.
2.Which team(s) you loathe.
3.How you are getting your kids to follow the correct team.

1. A thought on the season (Premiership/Championship/Champions? League/FA Cup/League Cup/all leagues world wide.)

Off the back of England's dismal showings, here's an analysis to try.

When watching lower league footie (below Prem.) try counting the number of successfully completed passes either team make, in the opposing teams half. It will make pitiful viewing. eg I was at Bramhall Lane a couple of seasons ago and Sheff U. made only 3 such combos in the first half. Bradford on Sunday didn't make any in the first half.

AND...the result at the end of the 4+ combos is usually a positive one: shot on target, a corner, free kick etc. But on these islands we still prefer to lob it up field and hope. And in the majority of cases lose possession. We seem to consider it a good rate of attrition, rather than playing the percentage which is much more effective.
It seems to be where the investment in a centre forward's ability to 'hold the ball up' comes from. Whereas forrin' coaches would wonder 'why do you want to hold the ball up?' Surely you wish to keep it moving?

Of course watching Scotland is just like watching Arsenal Brazil.

Anyone?

German reporter: "Mr. Hodgson, have you made any changes for tonight's game?"
Roy Hodgson: "Nine."
German reporter: "Stupid Englander, should have made changes."

The FA have announced tonight that they are going to re-release the Del Amitri classic "Don't Come Home Too Soon" as the official England World Cup song for Brazil 2014.

Being an England football fan is a lot like being married.
They're not the best looking and you can probably do better, but you stick with them in the vain hope they improve.

Horsemad Paleodad I'm not usually one for leaving early but at 2-0 down, playing badly & freezing in arctic weather all 3 of us were in agreement it was the right thing to do!

Apparently our lowest FA cup crowd since the 1800's! I'm sure we'll be better when you're there Paleodad, we obviously weren't prioritising the cup. My only advice is wear at least 3 pairs of socks.

Vikki, sorry - didn't mean to sound snippy, , it sounds hellish, so I don't blame you!
I think because I only get to a few games, and it costs me a fortune, I insist on staying until the lights go out!

That said, I do spend most Sunday afternoons freezing to death watching DS! smile]

3 points definitely required tomorrow, hopefully Tottenham can keep Citeh to a draw if they don't grind out a win.
DH is now predicting that West Ham will at best be in a relegation battle come the end of the season - but as he cheerfully added they are used to their spot at the bottom of the table so what's new ?

(Arsenal) - BelfastBloke
(Arsenal) - PadDad
(Arsenal) - Saltatrix
(Arsenal) - DanFmDorking
(Arsenal) - BigGitDad
(Arsenal) - ColdTruth
(Birmingham) - GingerCat12
(Blackpool) - ElBurroSinNombre
(Bournemouth) - GashInTheAttic
(Bradford City) - bobby zee
(Bradford City) - ClaretandAmberForever
(Brighton & Hove Albion) - GiveMeSomeSpace
(Coventry) - Truckulente
(Everton) - PresidentWensleydale
(Everton) - WhenSkiesAreGrey
(Hull) - BristolJim????
(Huddersfield Town) - Trublatmill
(Liverpool) - Binx14
(Liverpool) - cjdamoo
(Liverpool) - Justine MNHQ
(Liverpool) - TiggyD
(Liverpool) - RedDad
(Liverpool) - LurcioLovesFrankie
(Liverpool) - SparklingBrook
(Liverpool) - HorseMad
(Man. Citeh) - Singledadof2
(Man. Citeh) - Caron1968
(Man. Citeh) - ShabbaPinkFrog
(Man. Citeh) - MankyScotsLass
(Man. Utd) - Pan
(Man. Utd) - Changingman
(Man. Utd) - Mady50n
(Man. Utd) - NorthernExile
(Man. Utd) - JustGiveMeFiveMinutes
(Man. Utd) - LaraCroft2001
(Man. Utd) - 80sBabe
(Man. Utd) - AlbertGiordino
(Middlesbrough) - Iliad
(Millwall) - DaytimeDave
(Norwich) - Eeore
(Notts County) - Jenniferturkington
(Nott'm Forest) - MavisEnderby
(Nott'm Forest) - Warlock
(Nott'm Forest) - Weirdstuff
(Preston North End) - Chippy47
(Rangers) - WildThongsHeartString
(Reading)- GashInTheAttic
(Southhampton) - JetGirl
(Spurs) - Oblomov
(Spurs) - Whathappened
(Spurs) - MarsLady
(Spurs) - AVeryMerryPersonalClown
(Spurs) - MrsDeeBee
(Spurs) - (CurrySpice's 2nd team)
(Spurs) - ArrowToTheKnee
(St Mirren)-GashInTheAttic
(Sunderland) - KenDoddsDadsDog...
(Sunderland, Blackpool) - Purepurple
(Swansea City) - Deemented
(Telford Utd) - NicolasTeacozy
(West Ham) - BlondieDollFace
(Wigan) - MisterSpock
(Wolves) - CurrySpice
(Wolves) - Paleodad
(Wolves) - Vikki88
(Wrexham) - Changingman

So I met Pan on Saturday. He came to that London they have now, for Arsenal's win against Southampton.

Took him to a Gooner-run bar, where unfortunately we didn't watch the Merseyside derby, and then we watched the Arsenal game together in my seats.

Nice to meet you, Pan.

So that hoped-for Tottenham draw, that 80sBabe was wanting, didn't really work out, did it?

My hoped-for Man Utd draw, however, did.

Sounds like you had a good time!

Grumble grumble grumble.....re results over weekend.

BB it was fab. But really weird being in the 'North Bank' with a load of Gooooners. I'm surprised my feet didn't burn...
And thank you very very much for the experience - I haven't eaten since the Turkish meal, just too full still!

The best bit though was that Ozil was rubbish, to the point of being subbed. Nice.

ooh and also Arse could only score via a goal keepers feck up and from a bit of shirt-pulling for a penalty.

Having said that..it seems hacking down a player from behind with a swift kick to the calf only gets a yellow card.

Yep, what a fluke that was!

Yes it redefines what 'contact sport' actually means doesn't it? Even in rugby or American Football, or Aussie Rules, or hurling, or....basically any sport that doesn't permit a kick boxing technique... he would have been off.

"Arse could only score via a goal keepers feck up". That's true, of course, but when you look at WHY the goalie fecked up, it's because Arsenal were pressing so diligently high up the pitch. Giroud was pressing the goalie, and Cazorla and Wilshire were tight on the goalie's only two options.

Of course he should have just booted it out, but it does exemplify a deliberate strategy Arsenal have only developed this season, of pressing much more aggressively when the other team has the ball.

Why has it taken Arsenal so long to work that out BB?

Firstly, although it sounds obvious, it's a strategy that very few clubs fully execute as a general policy. Most only employ it for specific games. The fitness levels have to be very high and there are inherent dangers in it. But this seems to be the policy this season.

Secondly, we've changed Arsene's assistant manager from Pat Rice to Steve Bould; and that has resulted in more focus on defence. It's why you hear a lot of criticism about zonal defending - people like Jamie Redknapp zero in on it when it goes wrong. But look at our defensive record overall the season.

Thirdly, Arsene's had a re-think. Obviously he's always been focussed on attack and 'pretty football'. But looks like he's finally realised that the two things which have been lacking are too many errors, and team cohesiveness. (Team cohesiveness is why Arshavin was shipped out, and why he barely plays Bendtner). Again, this is stuff which is obvious, but he's stubborn, and he was focussed on other things.

Arsene was extremely lucky to have Arsenal's historic back four when he arrived in 1996 - all he did was extend their careers with his new-fangled (at the time) training methods. He hit lucky again with the defence which took us all the way to the Champs Lg final in 2006 (they were makeshift, and accidental - Flamini at left back!?). But this is the first time he's really prioritised the defence.

Seems to be working!

that's a fine explanation BB, and yet S/hampton were being dubbed the pressing game kings.

and....whilst cycling past the Etihad Stadium yesterday morning, I met Laura Trott! I know it is only weakly referencing footie, but....I was biking to work and her and a matey were cycling to the Velodrome, which is across the road from Citeh, in front of me. We exchanged comments at traffic lights how cold the weather was and then we were off. She was kitted out in her GB Cycling team attire and at one point I could have overtaken her. But it would have been rude to do so, so hung back and admired the view..

Just popping in to say hello to Pan

Wow Pan, how nice to chat to Laura Trott, you lucky thimg.

Evenin' mummylin, hoping all is well with you and now-not-so-little one. Mines is currently sprouting up. It's what happens when you feed them isn't it ?

Yes Horsemad - it reminded me of doing half marathons where the world's finest E Africans are running in the same race as you are. Riding my bike to work and working near the Velo means I see lots of 'Skytrains' training and little groups of elite racers, but this was the first time I was actually stopped with one of them. I just wish I recognised the other one too. Weird start to the day.

Meanwhile, back at the Emirates..

Just switched tv on - what has the game been like?

It was background noise here, but it looked pretty much an excellent practice match. M just didn't really compete and looked like they were expecting a defeat. Still Arse had to beat what was in front of them and they did that well.

United's plane having trouble at a German airport whilst pursuing a European Cup tie. No-one has said the word 'Munich' but they didn't have to. Blood ran slightly colder whilst it was read out on the news.

One good angle for the night. Felloony is banned.

Scary hadn't seen that on my news feed, off to find out what happened.

Munich was about taking off. This was about aborting a landing attempt 400m above the runway. Don't know why. Still...