Football Focus

[malumbu]

Villa lucky not to get two players sent off defending one attack - ref soft on them, wonder if this has happened in such quick succession. Not a fan of their manager.

[maxxi]

maxxi Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Bring on the Scousers!

>

> 😎⚒🥳

What a game and what a result! Whatever happens now this is the best Irons team for a long while - the more so that it is a team and not one or two starry individuals - Benrahma, Fornals, Soucek, Rice, Cresswell, Antonio, Bowen etc. A bit of striking back-up in January and I've got a feeling it could be our best ever Premier season.

[diable rouge]

A lot of credit has to go to WH's owners, they were always first in the firing line when things weren't going well, and they took a massive risk taking on Moyes 2.0, lots of grumbling from fans at the time...

[diable rouge]

Arsenal fans would be right to feel aggrieved after that refereeing performance.

New Year, same old inconsistencies...

[Alan Medic]

I couldn't fathom how their goalscorer decided to celebrate by hugging some fans. If this was anything other than stupid I'd like to know why.

[maxxi]

maxxi Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> maxxi Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Bring on the Scousers!

> >

> > 😎⚒🥳

>

> What a game and what a result! Whatever happens

> now this is the best Irons team for a long while -

> the more so that it is a team and not one or two

> starry individuals - Benrahma, Fornals, Soucek,

> Rice, Cresswell, Antonio, Bowen etc. A bit of

> striking back-up in January and I've got a feeling

> it could be our best ever Premier season.

This post has aged well- COYI

[diable rouge]

I've enjoyed watching West Ham's progress, the Hammers fans might even one day forget about the Boleyn.

On that subject, I miss the West Ham bantz on this thread, is there nothing that will bring them back?...

[jazzer]

"Burnley sack manager Sean Dyche with eight games left of Premier League season"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61116929

[diable rouge]

On the Fantasy Football game, if a player, say a defender, doesn't play that week, FF will automatically replace them with one of subs who plays in the same area i.e another defender, or if that's not possible, change the formation and sub in a midfielder or forward if possible.

Does anyone know how they choose which player? I'd always assumed they picked the one with the most points, but this week they subbed in someone who only scored 1 point while another player who scored 11 points has been left on the bench.

I've been robbed!...

[Alan Medic]

I always thought differently. I assumed they select your 1st choice sub, then 2nd, then 3rd. Subject to it not leading to more players in that area than is allowed. I think his confirms it:

[diable rouge]

Thanks for feedback Meds, after I posted I found out about that 'highest priority' reference but couldn't find out how you 'assign priorities'. I've tried to move my subs around the subs bench but they just return to their original position. I've sent a message to their help desk so await what they have to say...

[Alan Medic]

Just click on the little symbols (chevrons?) to the left of the player and that will highlight the player. Do the same with whoever you want to swap with, and they'll change places.

[diable rouge]

Thanks, you learn something new every day, too late for this season, still need to play my bench boost... :)

[Alan Medic]

Me too and there's a lot of games in this Round. Hoping for mucho points!

[malumbu]

Enjoyed listening to the match tonight on Five Live. It felt old school rather than streaming, watching in the pub etc. Hadn't realised they had got rid of the away goals rule. Not sure why apart from the increased likelihood of extra time and more advertising revenue. Some things were dsft -golden and silver goals and needed to go

[diable rouge]

Spurs signing Bissouma for ?25m + add ons is the steal of the summer so far...

[Alan Medic]

I thought United losing Pogba for free was better than that!

[diable rouge]

Quite! Don't know where to start with Utd at the moment, Rangnick wasn't wrong when he said the squad needs life-saving surgery. As it stands we need...

A goalie to replace Henderson.

Another centre-back, preferably left-footed, and a right full-back (Wan Bissaka probably back to Palace on loan)

In what was already a lacklustre/weak midfield, 4 of the most experienced have left, so they need replacing and at least one other.

A right-winger.

A back-up striker, can't rely on Ronaldo to play every game and/or be injury free.

So that's 10 players minimum.

We're already over half-way for the period between ETH being named manager and the start of the new season, and still no concrete news of any new signings. Fergie and Gill always tried to do their transfer business before the pre-season tour so Fergie could work with the new players.

Just have to hope that there's lots going on behind the scenes and new players will arrive soon...

[Alan Medic]

I think your Fantasy Football comments got lost in the transfer window RD. Is the EDF Fantasy Football league lost forever? Any participants who are actually on the Forum maybe say so, and maybe it could be revived.

[maxxi]

I've logged onto FPL and created team etc. if RD (or anyone else) wanted to set up a league and enough forumites were interested I'd be in.

Takers..?

[Alan Medic]

I'd be in if there's enough interest. From what I read in the Help section it requires the original Admin of a league to renew it each season. Nothing to stop a new one being created though............now where's DR/RD disappeared to?

[Ladygooner]

I would be interested in joining for the new season

[maxxi]

Okay i've set up a league (I think!) and this is the link:

https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/0bcr11

That last bit is the code to join - 0bcr11

If anyone wants to join try this and let me know if it works as this is the first time I've tried to set one up and the site has changed layout somewhat.

[diable rouge]

Time for some pre-season musings/predictions.

Hard to see beyond the top two again, they were 18pts clear of Chelsea, the same distance that Chelsea were clear of West Ham in 7th. That's a big gap to close no matter how well clubs below them have done in the transfer window.

But...this is going to be a very unusual season in that we have a World Cup smack bang in the middle of the season, an unknown factor which could lead to injuries, fatigue etc. But could it also benefit key players that aren't going such as Salah?

I thought City didn't look as flowing or cohesive as normal with Haaland up front, he'll score goals for sure but I don't think City are going to blow away everyone else on the strength of just his signing. Nunez however looks a better fit into LFC's system.

With the WC I think it will be important to get off to a good start and I therefore think this will favour....due to club allegiances I'm forbidden from saying anything more.

Spurs could be the closest challengers, only 3pts behind CFC and have bought well. Arsenal have also bought well and had a very good pre-season, but I'll go with Spurs 3rd and CFC 4th.

Utd will play better (not difficult) but will need this season to adapt to ETH's system and get the players he wants...I'm currently in Barcelona attempting to kidnap De Jong.

West Ham will concentrate on and win the Europa Conference League...

[Alan Medic]

If Qatar paid through the nose to ensure they got the World Cup, what did they want it for? With the competition upon us, all it seems to have done is to attract negative publicity about the country. I don't get it. What are the plusses for them?