*Official* English Football Season 2012-13

[wpdavid]

Better than it might have been but a decent side would never have let the win slip. Apparently we're two points behind them. Does that mean we're probably in the play-offs, or do we have games in hand?

 

[Neil Pickup]

We need to beat them at Wembley in the return leg or it's probably play-offs.

 

[The Sean]

Better than it might have been but a decent side would never have let the win slip. Apparently we're two points behind them. Does that mean we're probably in the play-offs, or do we have games in hand?

Nope, the only games in hand are sitting with Poland and Ukraine, and whichever of them wins that will only be a point behind England.

 

[Cevno]

Assuming a win for everyone in the remaining games against San Marino, the group looks something like this:

1. Montenegro - Pld 6 - Pts 14
2. Ukraine - Pld 7 - Pts 14
3. England - Pld 6 - Pts 12
4. Poland - Pld 6 - Pts 11



Left to play:

1. Montenegro vs 2. Ukraine
Moldova vs 4. Poland
3. England vs Moldova
4. Poland vs 1. Montenegro
2. Ukraine vs 3. England
2. Ukraine vs 4. Poland
3. England vs 1. Montenegro
3. England vs 4. Poland
1. Montenegro vs Moldova

 

[wpdavid]

Thanks for those. The trip to the Ukraine looks fraught with danger. IIRC we were lucky to draw at Wembley, and we were lucky to win there in the euros as well. And didn't we lose a previous qualifier there a few years ago?

 

[GIMH]

Just saw a few highlights - the pitch looks like its been airlifted in from the 1970s tbh

Yeah this winter has been brutal on it. Stifling our ***y football tbh although we played some decent stuff on Saturday, because our wingers are awesome

 

[The Sean]

Edit.

 

[Uppercut]

Thanks for those. The trip to the Ukraine looks fraught with danger. IIRC we were lucky to draw at Wembley, and we were lucky to win there in the euros as well. And didn't we lose a previous qualifier there a few years ago?

Montenegro have similarly ugly fixtures, though. You'd think they'll all take points off each other so a win vs Montenegro at Wembley would probably allow a few slip-ups.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Then we can get knocked out in the second round anyway.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Then we can get knocked out in the second round anyway.

Missed out on penalties.

 

[sledger]

Actually forgot there was a game on last night, which shows how much I care about these sorts of matches I suppose.

 

[wpdavid]

Actually forgot there was a game on last night, which shows how much I care about these sorts of matches I suppose.

As did Carrick and Gerrard for most of the second half, so you're in good company.

 

[sledger]

BBC Sport - Phil Brown to manage Southend United in Wembley final

Does anyone else think the idea of Sturrock being told he could take charge of the game despite being sacked extremely odd?

 

[Pothas]

Diaby out for 9 months then.

 

[sledger]

Diaby out for 9 months then.

Surely the end of his Arsenal career. Feel sorry for him, as he's had rotten luck, and on occasion looked like he would be a really decent player. One suspects there's no coming back from this though. At least it means Wenger will be forced to buy a combative midfielder, I suppose.

 

[Pothas]

Yeah it's a shame, I liked him but always felt like it was never going to work out.

 

[Cabinet96]

I'd forgotten he even existed during some of his long injury lay offs (or at least assumed he'd left). Sad because, as Sledger said, he was a good player at times. Still pretty young as well.

 

[sledger]

He doesn't really have time on his side though. He might not be ancient, but he won't play again (at the very earliest) until he's 27 years old. That's a fairly advanced age for a player who's spent the majority of his career out injured and not really achieved a lot whilst he's been fit. He may yet turn things around and make something of himself, but I'm not sure how many clubs will be willing to take a punt on him given his track record.

Edit: Having said that, he's apparently under contract with Arsenal till 2015. Why is it that it's only ever the Arsenal player's who are any good who seem to be perpetually out of contract?! ffs

 

[grecian]

Really hard to support England nowadays

 

[Pothas]

Just brilliant.