*Official* English Football Season 2011-12

[sledger]

Haha, John Terry you absolute ****. What the hell was he doing there?

As much as I hate Liverpool, seeing that dumpling sat on his arse having ****ed up is always a gratifying sight.

Haha my thoughts exactly, hope they go back to being crap next week, but this was a most satisfying result.

AVB indeed treading on thin ice here.

 

[Pothas]

Yeah its a bit of a shame in some ways because thought he was actually getting somewhere prior to that ridiculous QPR match,

Defence has just been so poor though, Luiz is a joke defender and since when was Cole playing so badly?

 

[Furball]

Villas-Boas on borrowed time now. Hiddink looking for a new gig and all.

His appointment was a punt at best and now looks a complete white elephant. What was the compensation they paid? £11.5m?

Putting AVB on notice would be the most ridiculous thing to do. Since Mourinho left, they've been crying out for stability, and the problem with sacking the manager every 12-18 months is that the new manager inevitably has to shift some of the dross signed by the previous incumbent. Chelsea's team needs a complete rebuild, Mourinho's team has been allowed to grow old together and successive managers have been allowed to waste an awful lot of money on players that frankly haven't been good enough. When was the last time Chelsea made a signing that made you sit up and take notice? For the last 3 or 4 years they've operated in a frankly bizarre manner in the transfer market, by spending a lot of money on players that barely enhance the first XI. £20m on David Luiz for instance, was a complete nonsense.

 

[sledger]

I feel a bit sorry for him really, he's inherited a squad that is full of players who are either past their best, old, rubbish, mediocre or woefully under-performing. If you look at all of the players who appeared at some stage for Chelsea today, the only ones who I would say do not fall into any of these categories are Sturridge, Mata and Meireles. Two of whom were brought to the club under his instruction, and one who has only really began to perform under his management.

Edit: Yeah, what Furball said.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

How long till Hiddink takes over then?

 

[Furball]

How long till Hiddink takes over then?

Hope they do this tbh, would confirm their status as a joke club. Hiddink might get better results in the short term but it would just paper over the cracks at Chelsea.

Only a complete madman would pay £12m in compensation to bring a highly sought after manager to the club then sack him within 6 months. Then again, Abramovich managed to piss off Mourinho by interfering in transfer policy, so it's certainly not beyond him.

 

[roseboy64]

Hmm, everyone's talking about his ability to take the ball out of defence but I'd say his strength in the challenge is his defining feature. He wins the ball about as often as the other three defenders combined, a 50-50 is a 90-10 when Jones is involved. It really stands out in a team that still isn't putting enough pressure on the ball in their own half.

Phil Jones' #1 fan I see.

 

[roseboy64]

It's getting a bit embarrassing how much better Phil Jones is than the rest of our team. I think we might be taking the 1-0 love a little too far, these performances seem to get more painful every week. Take it though. Still not conceded since Citeh.

Considering we were shipping chances galore before it's nice to see some defensive stability. I'm sure goals will come soon. Have a nice run of games coming up.

 

[roseboy64]

Agree with those saying AVB should be given a chance. Can't bring in a manager for so much money and sack him without giving him time. As long as he manages to get them top 4 I reckon he'll be fine.

 

[sledger]

Phil Jones' #1 fan I see.

Must be an ironic comment surely. You of all people can't accuse anyone of being a Man Utd fanboy.

 

[Furball]

Andy Carroll's cameo reminded me of this:

 

[Eds]

Andy Carroll's cameo reminded me of this:

Haha yeah, good call. Was unbelievably awful on the ball.

 

[Nate]

Which is why he shouldn't be starting, regardless of how much he cost.

Such a better set-up from Dalglish. Please keep it.

YNWA!

 

[Furball]

I think on reflection I might have been a bit harsh on David Luiz when I described his signing as a "complete nonsense." It must be hard for him to concentrate on playing football when he's simultaneously plotting how to kill Bart Simpson.

 

[Eds]

Which is why he shouldn't be starting, regardless of how much he cost.

Such a better set-up from Dalglish. Please keep it.

YNWA!

Playing Kuyt on the right and seemingly instructing Johnson to roam forwards seems to work a treat more than anything, tbh. We looked really quite dangerous the whole game (the Chelsea domination period aside) from the right hand-side.

And I agree. Bellamy has shown far more than Carroll has, so really should start atm.

 

[cpr]

i still have time for Carroll as a footballer (as a person he's a penis). He needs to settle into a team, and get them playing with him, rather than aimlessly at him. Sure, being tall its tempting to put it on his head, but rather than making him the focal point of the attack, let him use his skill and strength to bring someone like Suarez/Bellamy/even Kuyt into play, run onto his lay offs and attack a defence at pace. He'll make himself available in the box again IF needed.


Its probably asking too much of a team like Liverpool to take the time to properly allow him to develop his game, as the pressures on to be pushing for trophies constantly. I feel the move was just a bit too early in his career. Another season at Newcastle would've been brilliant for him. Instead it'll probably be another year at least before him and Liverpool are properly in sync.

 

[Pothas]

Playing Kuyt on the right and seemingly instructing Johnson to roam forwards seems to work a treat more than anything, tbh. We looked really quite dangerous the whole game (the Chelsea domination period aside) from the right hand-side.

And I agree. Bellamy has shown far more than Carroll has, so really should start atm.

The second half then.

 

[sledger]

i still have time for Carroll as a footballer (as a person he's a penis). He needs to settle into a team, and get them playing with him, rather than aimlessly at him. Sure, being tall its tempting to put it on his head, but rather than making him the focal point of the attack, let him use his skill and strength to bring someone like Suarez/Bellamy/even Kuyt into play, run onto his lay offs and attack a defence at pace. He'll make himself available in the box again IF needed.


Its probably asking too much of a team like Liverpool to take the time to properly allow him to develop his game, as the pressures on to be pushing for trophies constantly. I feel the move was just a bit too early in his career. Another season at Newcastle would've been brilliant for him. Instead it'll probably be another year at least before him and Liverpool are properly in sync.

I think to some extent I would agree actually. The price Liverpool paid for him makes him appear considerably more crap than he in fact is. He's by no mean a great player, and some aspects of his game are just downright poor. But I think he's quite serviceable, certainly more capable and competent than some other players of a similar type (Bentdner, WAC). Dire bloke though, like you say.

 

[Pothas]

I think to some extent I would agree actually. The price Liverpool paid for him makes him appear considerably more crap than he in fact is. He's by no mean a great player, and some aspects of his game are just downright poor. But I think he's quite serviceable, certainly more capable and competent than some other players of a similar type (Bentdner, WAC). Dire bloke though, like you say.

This may be true but he really has been utterly woeful this season and does not look at all fit. Have no doubt that he is a better player than he is showing but is doing a very fine impression a terrible footballer at present.

 

[duffer]

Seriously though, Bendtner has shown way more as a footballer at club and international level than 35m has. I'd still take him any day of the week.

Funnily enough I quite like Villas Boas. Shame he'll get the sack for inheriting a team who's core is in terminal decline. Likes to actually play football and seems a pretty smart guy. Ancelotti must be laughing his bollocks off though. Wonder who's next in line for Abramovich's revolving door.