The Football Thread 2011/12

[Kanbei]

Atkinson isn't refereeing the match on Saturday now, withdrawn due to a virus \o/ (Halsey instead)

Redknapp at his trial saying he can't spell, "can't even fill in a team sheet properly".

I'm just going to leave that there...

[abcd]

This team sheet?

[tomvek]

The Barca/Madrid game was fantastic fun, can't believe Real didn't win this with the amount of chances they created. Dani Alves' goal

Also a big to Gerry Armstrong, he talks so much sense during the La Liga games especially about the terrible diving/play acting.

[Corazon de Leon]

I watched the Clasico in a pub filled with Spanish folk, which was split about 60/40 for Barca. Excellent atmosphere.

[DML]

The reasons the guidelines are in place is just SO teams cannot unfairly spend and buy players beyond the call of duty.

Exactly. Therefore we have equal rights with everyone else, and that's as it should be. In which case, doesn't it follow that we can complain just as much as anyone when we're light for whatever reason - particularly when in many cases, it's beyond our control?

City have failed to keep a settled camp for what ever reason

BELM. Tevez aside, team spirit is good. It's nothing to do with being 'unsettled'.

If the team doesnt win trophies, there can be no excuse

Well, yeah, there can. Every game we've lost this season has had a major refereeing decision go against us - often controversially. About the only game we've won where we were lucky to was the Spurs game. So we can point to poor officiating as the reason we're not still in the FA Cup and Carling Cup and why we're not further ahead in the Premier League. As well as the fact that we're still a work-in-progress. Last season we won the cup and finished fourth, which was beyond most expectations when many pundits still acknowledged we weren't the finished article. That we've been on top of the Premier League for much of this season is a big step up from top four, particularly when you haven't come anywhere near close before. We're not a club that is used to this kind of scenario. Over the years, the likes of United have gained experience and a mentality that can help them over the finishing line. We don't have that. If we lose the title, it'll be disappointing, but "disaster" is overstating it.

Also, on a second note, how do City fans feel about not being in Europe in two years time due to the Uefa rules coming in? Because there is no chance of them now complying with them?

That's not true. There's every chance of us complying with them. Why do you think we haven't bought anyone in this transfer window? We're preparing for two years' time.

Firstly I wouldn't say that last night was all that contraversial a decision, at match speed it definitely looked a penalty, only when slowed down did it become questionable, but you can't have the ball hit a totally outstretched arm and not expect the ref to call for a pen. Overall Liverpool were the better team over two legs.

Of course the Cup was a massive breakthrough, but fourth was not 'beyond' expectations for last season - it was purely where the team should be aiming. If you'd finished fifth or lower you would have been laughed out of England.

We can also look at Chelsea as a case study of teams who have recieved vast amounts of money quickly - they won titles almost straight away.

[Spindash]

We can also look at Chelsea as a case study of teams who have recieved vast amounts of money quickly - they won titles almost straight away.

Chelsea finished in the top six for seven consecutive seasons before they were taken over.

[Minto]

Any other 'pool fans on here heading to the final?

[mcjihge2]

Redknapp at his trial saying he can't spell, "can't even fill in a team sheet properly".

This team sheet?

That looks too neat for 'Arry, it must have been Rosie who wrote that.

[Finiarél]

Any other 'pool fans on here heading to the final?

Me my old man and the family in law are trying to sort it out, So it's a maybe for me!
If not, will probably go the Albert with them lot Real scousers

[Minto]

Any other 'pool fans on here heading to the final?

Me my old man and the family in law are trying to sort it out, So it's a maybe for me!
If not, will probably go the Albert with them lot Real scousers

Booked my flights this morning as soon as I got home

Just need to get a ticket now

[DML]

We can also look at Chelsea as a case study of teams who have recieved vast amounts of money quickly - they won titles almost straight away.

Chelsea finished in the top six for seven consecutive seasons before they were taken over.

I don't think the gap is as big as you have suggested between top six and top twelve, and you spent more money.

Last season, a Cup represented true success - the first one. Failing to win a trophy this year should rightly be considered a joke. That said, if you win the league, its a great, great victory - small margins and that! This is not a team built particularly naturally, so the same 'five year plan' should not apply. I am certainly not suggesting Man City should be in the Champions League final every season, but the absolute minimum every season for City should now be considered to be at least one trophy.

[Pancake]

Well, yeah, there can. Every game we've lost this season has had a major refereeing decision go against us - often controversially. About the only game we've won where we were lucky to was the Spurs game. So we can point to poor officiating as the reason we're not still in the FA Cup and Carling Cup and why we're not further ahead in the Premier League.

No no no no no no no. Just no. You could point to decisions in cup matches maybe (although I still find it a very lame excuse) but over the course of a very long league season it's absurd to believe that your team has been conned out of a better finish by poor officiating. It effects all teams equally, whether you want to see it that way or not!

[Spindash]

We can also look at Chelsea as a case study of teams who have recieved vast amounts of money quickly - they won titles almost straight away.

Chelsea finished in the top six for seven consecutive seasons before they were taken over.

I don't think the gap is as big as you have suggested between top six and top twelve, and you spent more money.

City were in chaos before the takeover both on (losing the final game of the previous season 8-1) and off (former chairman paying wages out of his own pocket) the pitch, so it wasn't that simple. But that's gone now.

Last season, a Cup represented true success - the first one. Failing to win a trophy this year should rightly be considered a joke. That said, if you win the league, its a great, great victory - small margins and that! This is not a team built particularly naturally, so the same 'five year plan' should not apply. I am certainly not suggesting Man City should be in the Champions League final every season, but the absolute minimum every season for City should now be considered to be at least one trophy.

That's fair enough, but we've seen this season that anything can happen. If we do win the league this season, fantastic. If we don't then I won't be calling for heads to roll. The bigger picture is that we have an excellent young manager and a side which is growing together.

[Glowy69]

Well, yeah, there can. Every game we've lost this season has had a major refereeing decision go against us - often controversially. About the only game we've won where we were lucky to was the Spurs game. So we can point to poor officiating as the reason we're not still in the FA Cup and Carling Cup and why we're not further ahead in the Premier League.

No no no no no no no. Just no. You could point to decisions in cup matches maybe (although I still find it a very lame excuse) but over the course of a very long league season it's absurd to believe that your team has been conned out of a better finish by poor officiating. It effects all teams equally, whether you want to see it that way or not!

Poor reffing. I we are gonna be doing that, then I can comfortably say, we'd have qualified for the CL two seasons on the spin under MON, and won the league cup and got to the FA cup final. So thats a rubbish reason Im afraid, everyone gets gooseberry fool decisions.

Spinny is probably the most level headed city fan on here, and I can probably say with some confidence that he was gutted last night, Id have been mortified, I know I was when we lost to united even though they had a better team.

You want all the success you can get for your team. And city not winning something this year would be disastrous. It will be interesting to see how many players Mancini brings in in the summer

[Skippy]

Well, yeah, there can. Every game we've lost this season has had a major refereeing decision go against us - often controversially.

Sounding like a United fan there. That is what City are becoming though so I guess it's no surprise.

[TigaSefi]

Any other 'pool fans on here heading to the final?

Me my old man and the family in law are trying to sort it out, So it's a maybe for me!
If not, will probably go the Albert with them lot Real scousers

Booked my flights this morning as soon as I got home

Just need to get a ticket now

Getting a ticket or two is a priority. May even go down the £300 a ticket route

[Spindash]

Well, yeah, there can. Every game we've lost this season has had a major refereeing decision go against us - often controversially.

Sounding like a United fan there. That is what City are becoming though so I guess it's no surprise.

Just for posterity:

Here we go, my last 45 mins of Arsenal football for quite some time unless things change

I think I'm going to stop watching live but continue to follow until I see changes on and off the pitch

That's me done with Arsenal for the foreseeable future

[Glowy69]

Skippy

Turning your back on your club What a strawberry floating retarded thing to do. You lot up in the top 4/5 of the league at like spoilt brats sometimes

[Photek]

I have the same opinion of Arsenal fans, they just can't seem to understand that they are not what they once where and so, boo the gooseberry fool out of there own players.

Poor Arshavin, im trying to remember a Liverpool player that was Booed onto thep pitch.

[Glowy69]

Our spacker fans boo our players. But then a lot of our fans thinks its 2008 still Thats why our away form is better than our home form, Stephen Warnock got boo'd when he touched the ball. I went strawberry floating mental at the people around me