*Official* English Football Season 2011-12

[roseboy64]

No, absolutely not. Sacking arguably the most popular and successful manager the club has had for about two decades simply because a manager with a better reputation has become available is a ridiculous idea. The idea that Spurs would become better because they now had a "better" coach is a paper possibility. If Spurs harbour the serious ambitions they claim to, then any move than could potentially destabilise their current status would be completely undesirable, particularly if such a move entails sacking a manager who's turned the team into a team capable of qualifying for Champions League spaces. If it ain't broke, don't fix it etc...

Agree with Sledge. Ramos and Jol were/are better coaches too but Harry deserves his keep at WHL.

Just basing it on Spurs' failures in the second half of the last two seasons. He's had them in good positions and then they've faltered a bit when it came to the crunch. Not denying the good work he's done but his flaws won't progress them. Of course, I'm saying this from seeing what Spurs fans views are on him so likely to be off either way.

 

[TT Boy]

Anderson's ruined himself really. As well as being injury prone though that's no fault of his. The rest is.

Off the field he hasn’t done himself many favours but it also didn’t help that he came to the club as a talented attacking midfielder and has been asked to play a holding defensive role to make up for the inadequacies of the other centre midfielders at the club.

Moot point on Hazard mind, as he said he will be wearing blue next season and United can't afford him anyhow.

 

[TT Boy]

I heard some extraordinary rumours regarding the Scottish mafia but it's hard to know whether it's trolling or not. A lot of people hate that guy. All got deleted pretty quickly though so who knows.

Yeah, I heard the Glasgow mafia one as well. Related to what's his name also being a significant shareholder in the club. Involvement of the agent Jerome Anderson in the club stinks as well. Not sure what to make of it but the club has got financial problems, the club is being exploited and the club will likely be in administration even with more asset stripping to take place in the summer. But on that, clubs best player is available for nothing,while the rest won't fetch more than 10 million combined and that's probably overdoing it.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

What a game this morning!

I'm pretty convinced Hazard will be a City player next season, and Johnson will be allowed to leave. Probably to Liverpool or something.

 

[marc71178]

Definitely against Welbeck getting a call up - seen him a few times this season and never played well. Needs too many chances to score which is OK when you play for Manure against weaker defences, but not at International level.

 

[sledger]

I'm pro-Welbeck. But only because I don't see any real alternative. Would only take one of Crouch/Carroll, and no way I'd want to take Crouch.

Daniel Sturridge may be worth a shout. But the fact that both he and Welbeck are being seriously considered just demonstrates how poor England are in this area.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Sturridge will go. Covers wide right too which means that if Woy fancies a punt he could leave both Theo & Lennon out and maybe take the Ox, who's a good bench option and, incidentally, the closest like for like we have for Whine.

 

[grecian]

Hmm two horrendously slow strikers is pretty easy to defend against. I'd sooner just go with one striker and it'd have to be Carroll. Then the rest of the team fits into a Chelsea-style system quite nicely. If it works, great and if it doesn't you can go to Rooney-Welbeck after the first two games.

I wasn't suggesting we play them together, but think they offer different options in the squad. I'd play Crouch up front for the first game with Walcott and Young behind him, towards the wings. Carroll, and the Ox my bench options.

Essentially a 4-3-2-1

 

[Tom Halsey]

Think Welbeck should definitely go, he's had an OK season and there aren't any particularly viable alternatives. Wouldn't get into my starting XI though.

 

[Uppercut]

Welbeck's a terrible finisher, rubbed in by the fact that his pace and movement get him so many chances. He drops deep to start attacks pretty effectively and is good at holding the ball up and keeping possession. He reminds me of Adebayor a lot- really solid technique, especially for an English striker. He'll combine a lot better with Rooney than anyone else will but there isn't much point in playing him off a big man.

 

[grecian]

Welbeck's a terrible finisher, rubbed in by the fact that his pace and movement get him so many chances. He drops deep to start attacks pretty effectively and is good at holding the ball up and keeping possession. He reminds me of Adebayor a lot- really solid technique, especially for an English striker. He'll combine a lot better with Rooney than anyone else will but there isn't much point in playing him off a big man.

This is the problem isn't it, his understanding with Rooney could be key, but then do we take two guys who might not have any part in the first games, could be knocked out by then. I wouldn't take him myself.

 

[Uppercut]

Yeah, it's really not ideal. If I thought there was a non-dire alternative I wouldn't bother taking him either.

 

[Ikki]

What a game this morning!

I'm pretty convinced Hazard will be a City player next season, and Johnson will be allowed to leave. Probably to Liverpool or something.

****, I hope so. I rate Johnson far higher than Downing.

 

[wpdavid]

I wasn't suggesting we play them together, but think they offer different options in the squad. I'd play Crouch up front for the first game with Walcott and Young behind him, towards the wings. Carroll, and the Ox my bench options.

Essentially a 4-3-2-1

That would get my vote as a formation and front three for the first game. There's no point at all in playing two up front for the sake of it, given how dire the options are. Carroll's uncredibly lucky to even be discussed after one and bit decent games, but I suppose that where we're at. And I don't rate Welbeck either. But I have no idea who the alternatives are.

Midfield 3 will be Parker, Barry and Lampard, won't they?

Centre backs shoud be Cahill and one other, but I don't know if Cahill will be fit.

Richards at right back? He's not great, but he's years ahead of Johnson & Walker.

Plus Cole & Hart of course.

 

[grecian]

That would get my vote as a formation and front three for the first game. There's no point at all in playing two up front for the sake of it, given how dire the options are. Carroll's uncredibly lucky to even be discussed after one and bit decent games, but I suppose that where we're at. And I don't rate Welbeck either. But I have no idea who the alternatives are.

Midfield 3 will be Parker, Barry and Lampard, won't they?

Centre backs shoud be Cahill and one other, but I don't know if Cahill will be fit.

Richards at right back? He's not great, but he's years ahead of Johnson & Walker.

Plus Cole & Hart of course.

Hmm, Parker dropped off this season quite sharply. I am the only fan in the world of Carrick, so I'd play him instead, Barry deserves it for his season with Citeh, and one of Gerrard or Lampard for the other place, for me anyway.

I want Lescott and Jagielka, but Cahill has put in some decent performances for Chelsea.

Agree with Richards, Kyle Walker winning the Young player award was bizarre, bloke can't defend, just like Johnson.

 

[Eds]

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[BoyBrumby]

How that wasn't a straight red is beyond me. Has nothing going for it. Carroll's lucky it connected from behind so the muscle rather than the bone took the force. Bet he's got a helluva bruise today but better than a compound break.

I suppose because Essien was booked at the time there can be no retrospective action either.

 

[Tom Halsey]

Carrick rightlyfully came in for some criticism in the couple of seasons prior to this one, but he has been the best English midfielder this season. I'd have him, Lampard and Gerrard if it was a midfield three personally. As an aside, I don't get the Parker hype really. Good player, but nothing special and I have no idea why he won the FWA footballer of the year last year.

Depends how much credit Cole has in the bank, but Baines has been better than him for a couple of years now IMO. The right back options are all fairly dire and Walker may not be brilliant but he's the one I'd probably go for, though I doubt Richards is a much worse option if at all.

Don't rate Cahill at all, I'd probably have Terry and Lescott at the centre of defence.

 

[sledger]

Not the first time Mr Essien has behaved in such dickheaded fashion either.

 

[TT Boy]

Not the first time Mr Essien has behaved in such dickheaded fashion either.

Gone as a player, no longer got any athleticism, just dirt. If Obi Wan starts in front of you, you know your time is up.

Maxi got a nice little send off last night. Been a good solid pro for Liverpool. They need more of those types of players i.e. the Dempsey's of this world, proven players than all these one season wonders or never-beens.