Dangermouth

So beat Crawley and they're through to the knock out rounds.

Redmond is playing pretty much as I thought he would i.e. flatter to deceive. He is, however, full of potential and while it might take a couple of years to show up I think he'll turn out a good 'un. Boufal has a quite limited repertoire of 'tricks' from what I've seen and some of them we saw from videos of Gaston when he was at Bologna. I think he needs to learn a few more stepovers and so on and get used to the fact that after his first game he will find himself facing 2 or 3 players every time with quick and forceful challenges made against him but further up the pitch where the free kicks won't matter so much. It will be fun to see him in the opposition area with the ball at his feet and defenders crapping themselves because it seems few defenders in our league can now tackle a good dribbler. HBS' defence actually seemed quite good at getting in tackles from what I remember.

The interesting things are that there are some good teams/squads that were assembled for far less and that most of the ones above us are what could be considered 'big' teams or heavyweights. Then there are the likes of West Ham and Everton. Wonder what WH will be when they have to buy Zaza, etc and what Everton would be if they didn't buy Bolasie?

Are you on some form of mind-altering medication? I tend to not advocate life bans and it's not my site. Were it, I would look closely at getting rid of you. As it isn't, even though for that comment alone you possibly deserve it, I'll point out some players who don't get a load of crap and the fact of which tends to bust this incredibly stupid comment out of the water: VVD, Bertrand. They happen to get judged on what they do for the team as does everyone else which is why Tadic gets ****, JWP gets ****, Davis gets ****. Maybe the latter get **** because they're white? Just for you:

Presume Sunday will be the big one. The day when there are a lot of idle people otherwise unengaged around. From what I can see from the video and transcripts this is what we're faced with. EB goes to a meeting with an agent (a mate) and meets a woman reporter from the Telegraph who tells him she wants to set up an agency that represents talented footy players from the far east or some form of training school. She wants to know how to get people at clubs in England interested. Someone suggests coach X and EB knows him and his situation and can comment. He can also comment generally on the wages people at that level in a club and in the football pyramid earn (£40-£60k per annum). He indicates that if an individual were approached to suggest to their club that they look at this pool of talented players a form of payment could be offered were either the recommendation to take place - so money for old rope - or the player signed by the club. So presumably the club would decide if the player was Ali Dia or Messi and act accordingly. Again, money for old rope. The only suggestion of wrongdoing might be were it the case that the recipient of the money to take it cash in hand and declare it and/or if by so doing they broke FA rules (as I believe is the case) in which case it's not a criminal matter but one where someone ought to get the boot from football-related activities. As so much of choosing a player is now done by a committee this approach seems rather stupid as it guarantees nothing. As others have said it does smack somewhat of alcohol-fuelled bombast. Which isn't to say that there wasn't and isn't a great deal of dodgy dealing going on; there probably is (as DT said - David Luiz - ????). I looked at the Cellino piece because I thought if anyone was 'dodgy', given he's been convicted of offences in Italy then there might be a case. Apparently he said to the reporters if their group bought a part of LUFC they could share in any profits made. Corrupt? How? So far this 'investigation' has more holes than it has genuinely worthy evidence from what I've seen and I think all of it should be released to the public at some time. In hindsight, I think they went for BFS because he had the weakest position: he had to be whiter than white in his position and he didn't actually 'advise' anyone. He just told them how the matter could be done and probably anyone who looked into it enough could work that out. There is also the report from the ex-Palace chairman on his views on TP ownership that was reported on the BBC. If, as he says, this is essentially someone signing away their image rights, then .... pfft, who cares? It would be better that no such thing existed and the likes of Zlatan shut his gob and just gave any money earned from mad Swedes buying mugs with his mug on to charity.

Evening both (Dutchie/NFS) 1/Pedant. Disagree about the 'need' for proper grammar, etc, but will leave it at that as I'm right on this one; you both demonstrate my point by your good use of language. Off to the pub.

"Gets" ... grrr. Yours is an impossibility as it stands (i.e. it is at the least gramatically incorrect). Please send the details of all your teachers; I think they should pay me for having to point out what they failed to correct during a no doubt expensive 'education'. Anyway, fingers crossed for tonight. It'll be a very hard game for us I think.

Not fussed about BFS one way or the other. About the last bit though. Is it illegal everywhere? Should it be (yes, it's a stupid way of doing things) if it's not? Is he the only person who knows? How many other people do know/can work it out - or new ways of doing it - and isn't it essentially simply profiteering by abusing a system e.g. same as tax evasion (legal loopholes or otherwise)? As I see it, it tends more towards the 'loophole' side and is Allardyce being a greedy bastard. I think he has by his conduct shown himself to be this and that in his position as England Manager, particularly with all the fun and games elsewhere in the game's governance, that it's simply a moral matter and he shouldn't have done it. If he had done it as an ex-manager describing to others how it could be done, however, or were he to have written a piece explaining this but from the perspective of how it was wrong I imagine the former would have him criticised, the latter praised. So the thing is in and of itself not much of anything as perhaps is that of the other two cases. One of them is someone agreeing to try to persuade someone else to buy a player ... um, that's tenous at best and one of them is of a manager who can't just go out and spend money but has to confer with a transfer board like so many managers (which should prevent one person's undue influence). As no names have been named and the 'source' is an illegal agent who has been discredited (but was as we might suspect probably a 'fall-guy') and little to no evidence presented I suspect this will result in papers being sold, people grumbling again as they always do about what they want to grumble about and nothing else. If Redknapp didn't get sent to prison for what was revealed in his case unless the Telegraph actually have something good this is all hot air. I suspect Wenger is the preferred candidate and it's a good get-out for him and Arsenal and he'll struggle because I doubt he gets enough time with the players (assuming he and his staff will need to coach a lot). He is, however, used to disaffected fans. Howe simply isn't good enough.

Far better than the old rubbish. Nice to be able to see games afterwards as well: good for highlights to argue about offsides and so on.

Hi Brazzer, Hope you're well. Is this video 'insulting' as the people who failed KS1 (fyi, it's a test for 5 year olds to see if they can put their hand up in class before they wet themselves) say or is it really the case that Barry Gale needs to trim his beard a bit? @ Manji - if you read some of Brazzers earlier posts he makes the point that on the ground those of different faiths tend to just mix like any other load of normal people who are the same but different. He and the other posters I think we have to take at face value and recognise that while there may be things we disagree with that have and will occur in that region that perhaps we could consider making the point(s) elsewhere and when as they *might* be more effective there and here are likely to be counter-productive (?). Let's hope we can get something out of this game as they don't have an extremely impressive record for nothing and for those who think we 'should' win because 'we are premier league' (ugh) - all I'll say is: Midget Land.

You do see a few kids playing street footy still - probably more in the North. Standard's often poor: they look like they have very weak ankles (if you know what I mean). As for the Bergkamp quote: haven't we all done this? I did. It's part of how I taught myself to be two-footed and obviously I was never a pro. I also used to walk the ball towards the wall so that I could get used to the increased speed of pass (i.e. the ball coming back to me) and having to react when it hit a divit and didn't come back to me as anticipated as well as height of pass, etc. I'm sure a lot of kids do this or something similar. Bolasie said he did similar; playing in an unorthodox environment to test his skills and trying to come up with 'new' moves while playing (I think) in a playground with swings and a slide, etc. As to Sue's point, I'm sure we all have known 'natural sportsmen - and women' those who can just play any sport well almost immediately and they have been ones who have been good at football. Interestingly enough, however, they haven't always been the best e.g. at reading the game. As you'll have gathered, things like that - I suppose it might now be considered 'game intelligence' - are ones I think are probably more important and I agree that having intelligent individuals is beneficial but I like to see that married with inherent talent. One of the best examples is, of course, MLT.

I've met loads of normal kids who are/were good and a few of them got 'picked up' in their teens. I'd suggest it's the middle-class kids with the posh kits and the organised games who aren't any good. But they never were and never will be but fitness and strength/speed/organisation aside there are tons of kids who are skilful and that in many different ways. If this type of scouting ever stopped then clubs were stupid, to be frank. I imagine the thing about kids' development is exactly the same as it is abroad e.g. South America where you have to learn close control in order to avoid cars, potholes, playing in the dark under dodgy lighting and because the focus is on style and fun as well as winning (you don't really win unless you do do it with style) and because it's natural: kids just copy bigger kids (often they play in mixed age groups etc) and because it's proper 'do or die' (if you're **** you get put in goal and the ball gets kicked at you hard or your brother/mates shout at you so you 'Get Good'. By the same token you get a lot of show ponies. @ Monk. That sound intersting and more valid because patently 10k hours kicking a ball with your left foot teaches you very little. Can you provide any links or information as to what to look at? I don't think it will ever really do what it's intended to because I think there's too much emphasis on picking kids early, looking for tall players etc and even though it's dressed up differently I see little to no difference when you look below the surface at what was done a few years ago as to what is done now. Particularly as if the age group is say 8-9 and some kids may not start until later. I knew of a couple of people who were decent who both started later and I believe Fraser Forster played rugby up until 14. What's your view on the talent v physique view? I would always tend towards talent i.e the Barcelona way. And what's your view on the newer technique vs the older? I don't think that spotting someone who's a good learner necessarily means much because they're unlikely to be the very best unless there is something more there i.e. I think we'll end up with capable clones who will need to be told what to do a bit more like American Footballers are rather than e.g. a Bobby Moore who apparently was very good at reading the game so could 'sniff out danger' before it happened. Finally are those who make it at the top better because they have the skills that others don't or because mentally they're better?

Seen elsewhere: "Credit to Southampton, at this stage of the game the players could be forgiven for trying to run the clock down and just hoofing the ball into Row A"

As I doubt they can mind-read and as it's normal for someone who's bust a gut to get in a good position and not get the ball, or the ball they want I'd say that was the commentators showing a lack of comprehension of the meaning of the word 'rift'. No idea about Tadic. Should he always smile for the camera to make people happy or are other expressions (e.g. the normal one which isn't a smile) allowed?

1/ I think Redmond is interesting. If he gets his head around things, I see possiblities. 2/ If people think VVD will go for the same price as Stones?! Madness! He's worth at least 10 $clongs. 3/ Sign everyone up on 5 year deals now. Apart from Hojbjerg who should get a 20 year deal. 4/ Wanyama wouldn't get in this team: in his position he'd have to play football and that's not his strength. Think that answers everything said on this thread.

Can't we just have everyone else drawing every game until the end of the season apart from when they play us and lose heavily (8-0+ to us)?

Be interested to learn (roughly) how you know this. Otherwise. Good. Damn good. I like the fact that e.g. Sims has started to look like he used to before his injury and I think there's more to come from him. Other decent players in that team too.

"He's recognized that when you have two otherwise equal teams, the one whose players have more energy available to them is likely to win." Utter rubbish. Prove it. And he's built his entire strategy around that Incorrect. He's said something very similar and done so repeatedly from the time that he arrived but it's for different reasons. He's never made this 'strategy' you allude to a part of his thinking. The comment to Reed should have been made to him several times before and is part and parcel of approaching a game intelligently: don't try to do too much and bear in mind the principal responsibilities of your role. If you're running around like a headless you're not doing a good job. Similarly his justification of the diamond, and of squad rotation is all ultimately linked to energy preservation, both during a game, and during a fixture-intense week. You might think this is a quirky basis for a management strategy. But I actually think it's quite brilliant. Why is it that in the premier league teams that cost a fraction of their opponents can some times beat them? There are only five explanations. While I broadly agree with this, Puel has himself (again repeatedly) made this point. It is not therefore innovative of you to repeat what has been said before several times. Indeed, had you listened (along with others) there would be no point in your repeating the obvious. You missed point 6 e.g. Aguero is much better than Connor Wickham, De Bruyne is better than Andrew Surman etc. 0/10 must try harder.

As a general rule, even if you're retired with nothing to do but stay on here all the time and push F5, why do you 'need' to speculate? It's a pointless, stupid and valuless habit. So what if he is or isn't injured? I think most of us would like to see him well and fit and playing well because he comes across as a genuinely nice bloke and when on song a damn good footballer who's great to watch and helps us win games which we all like. Fortunately the club and a great many other people avoid the need to have to have something to gossip idly about and just get on with things and in many ways none of this is really anyone's business. See the Van Arnholt episode at Sunderland, for example. You (i.e. not just you, but the public in general) are really just owed a team that is put out - all this other stuff is just guff.

I looked on the site; is that one half only or the players' contributions per minutes played? I don't think the pictures really help and raise more questions than they answer. The heat maps might as would being able to track each player individually throughout the whole of the game. Can't find the heat maps though. Redmond looked active, looked involved, played like he has a lot before for England and other teams but as he can roam can get more involved rather than being stuck on one wing as he was for Norwich. Obviously he'll work on his decision-making and shooting etc because he needs to. I do think Swansea were poor: quite passive in some respects. In the Europa I expect HBS to beat us quite easily; they might even top the group and I do expect West Ham to be quite a stern test because their last two results will have them geed up, they should be able to rest players and still beat Accrington easily and they'll want to get out of the bottom 3 and beat a team they consider to be small in comparison to them.

Do the people who post on here have alcohol-induced amnesia and problems comprehending well, anything? I do wonder. Seager apparently went to Walsall not Crewe, or was it somewhere else he was at? Rodriguez can't run despite his saying and it having been repeated many times that the tests that were carried out on him by the medical staff that were scientific (i.e. not the mad ramblings of the people who have been let loose to stab repeatedly at keys on a keyboard and post rubbish on this forum by people who go to matches and then imagine half of what's happened because even if it happens right in front of them - or not - they can't see it, don't understand it, decide that their addled view of insanity beats all. For the record. McCarthy is at Walsall. They think he's a bad centre-back and he doesn't head the ball. He does seem to be an ok right-back, however. Gape is at Wycombe. He can pass. He reminds them of someone called Scowton. I think he's the second one we've sent them that they like so they might want more of ours. Gallagher is at Blackburn. They like him. He has come to terms with his growth spurt it seems. The Crewe lot seemed to like Seager, even though he barely played for them. You can find all of this out by actually going to look for the information if you that interested rather than waiting to be spoon fed and then dribbling it all over your bib as your waffle incoherently like an apoplectic Alpine. The benefits of sending players out on loan is that they're put in the real football environment and then it's up to them; they make it or they don't. So good luck to Gallagher who does actually have a bit of skill, too. Another benefit is that you can read what the fans think of our youth and they'll do so in an unbiased fashion as, again, if they don't perform they won't be rated and while you're reading their forums you're not posting crap on this one.

They'll have to get to league 1 first though ...

I agree. Seeing him in the box you can tell he is a goalscorer and lives for it and he is one of the best English players at that particular skill (scoring) we have in the country.

Morning you Scouse git (no we've never met, but it's nice to see you come and post here and it's usually both intelligent and sensible so you're showing the Southerners up). I had you down to finish 3rd this season - City will win it - best players nothing much to do with the manager other than he doesn't have the failings of his predecessors and it'll be Spurs or Arsenal who'll just pip you. I think Puel has more chance of being UTD's manager after 3 years rather than Mourinho and I do wonder if they actually will challenge for the title during his undoubtedly fractious tenure. Do please tell your scouts you've bled us dry, however, unless you want a back up to Clyne in which case how does £90 million for Cedric sound? Cheap? Ok, 200, after all you are our best customer and after we've all finished laughing at Pogba we'll need to find someone else to provide us with amusement. Any tips for us on how to deal with the Sunday-Thursday schtick? It's new to us you see.

Thanks. Which explains why he and SL were considered offside as their heads were the offending parts although they were still mostly in line and (to me) had looked to play it well - I guess in that case they're just playing on the margins as they keep it very tight.