Football Focus

[earlydoors]

Reading that back I sound like a real wet blanket.

It was brilliant.

[Parkdrive]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> That's true and he should have signed for Spurs.

And he would have won f**k all, same as Sol Campbell until he joined us :-)

[Alan Medic]

In case the WH fans don't know, Nobel's testimonial is on BT Sport from 1.30 today. I believe Sam is managing the All Stars team 😀

[red devil]

Noble has been quite complimentary about BFS, saying clubs had contacted his agent after they were relegated, but he decided to stay because the club had appointed BFS and the players he subsequently bought in...

[titch juicy]

So, England's squad for the Euros more or less picks itself if certain players are fit, doesn't it?

Goalkeepers: Hart, Forster, Heaton

Left Backs: Rose, Bertrand

Centre Backs: Smalling, Cahill, Jagielka, Stones

Right Backs: Walker, Clyne

Midfielders: Dier, Henderson, Milner, Barkley, Alli, Sterling, Lallana

Forwards: Kane, Rooney, Vardy, Welbeck, Sturridge

My xi for Russia would be:

Hart, Rose, Smalling, Cahill, Clyne, Dier, Henderson, Alli, Lallana, Rooney, Kane

Barkley and Vardy as impact subs.

[red devil]

I hope Roy stops experimenting in the remaining friendlies and gives his preferred starting eleven for the Russia game as much game time as possible to gel, especially the back four. I would go for the similar team tj with the exception of Welbeck for Lallana, as I think he offers more pace and physicality...

[earlydoors]

The main weakness with the England side is the manager.

I don't think he will be daring enough when it comes to the crunch in a big game, say a quarter or semi final.

That may manifest itself either in his selection , his tactics or his substitutions.

We were awful in the world cup and Woy's lucky he was kept on in my book.

[titch juicy]

I've never been convinced by Hodgson, but do feel that he's been a little hamstrung by virtue of the fact that he's always had a bang average group of players to work with, til now.

I don't think he's been afraid to experiment- he's given 34 debuts during his 4 years.

[earlydoors]

He doesn't look like a winner to me. He's got no previous record of being a winner either.

Then again neither does Claudio Ranieri.

[Jah Lush]

earlydoors Wrote:

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> He doesn't look like a winner to me. He's got no

> previous record of being a winner either.

>

> Then again neither does Claudio Ranieri.

He's done all right.

Managerial

Halmstads BK

Allsvenskan (2): 1976, 1979

?rebro SK

Division 2 North (1): 1984

Malm? FF

Allsvenskan (5): 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989

Svenska Cupen (2): 1985?86, 1988?89

Inter Milan

UEFA Cup Runner-Up (1): 1997

Copenhagen

Danish Superliga (1): 2000?01

Danish Super Cup (1): 2001

Fulham

UEFA Europa League Runner-Up (1): 2010

A comparison with Leicester and Ranieri? I hope not.

Hodgson started his managerial career in 1976 at Allsvenskan side Halmstads BK, having been recommended by then-Malm? FF manager Bob Houghton. Hodgson spent five years at Halmstad, winning the league championship in 1976 and 1979. His success with Halmstad in 1976 is considered one of the biggest surprises of all time in Swedish football.[9] The year before, Halmstad had struggled against relegation, surviving only on goal difference and before the 1976 campaign began they were almost universally tipped for relegation. Hodgson himself says that "my greatest achievement would have to be the water-into-wine job at Halmstads BK."

[earlydoors]

He's a good experienced coach and manager of that there is no doubt.

He did a great job with Fulham....not so great with Blackburn and Liverpool.

And what the stats you've written above don't show is the good job he did with the Swiss national side.

But....

...I think he does better when expectation is lower. His record also suggests that he works better with a certain level of player, but maybe not so well with top class players.

[Jah Lush]

I didn't show his stats with the Swiss national side, because he won nothing with them, though as you say, he did a 'good job' with them. What I was pointing out to you was stuff that he'd won after you'd clearly stated he hadn't won anything and of course, he's won plenty.

Anyway, back to the meat and potatoes - can Spurs win at Liverpool? Can Southampton do us a favour and win at Leicester? Can Crystal Palace get anything at Upton Park and can Watford put the Gooners noses out of joint at the Effeminates?

[earlydoors]

Thanks for pointing it out to me though I think you know what I meant when I said 'winner'.

Winning the Danish league is ok but you, me, Dulwich Fox or Sue could probably do that if we took over one of the top teams in Denmark or Sweden....bit like managing Celtic.

Spurs to win at Liverpool.

[red devil]

16 years ago to the day...

The Hammers are getting hammered :)

 

[Otta]

Apparently Roberto Firmino is a doubt for tomorrow's match. That'll be music to Spurs' ears I'd imagine.

[Jah Lush]

Couldn't give a shit who you put out just as long as Spurs win and hopefully Leicester lose the day after. Shall we watch it down the pub together? Assuming you can get away that is.

[Otta]

Unfortunately I am tied to the desk this weekend writing an essay which is due Monday.

I am not confident as spurs are playing so well, and no Firmino is a blow as he's a real threat. But it should be a tasty match.

[Jah Lush]

Bah! Anyway, we have an appalling record at Anfield. I'd be very happy if you won every single game for the rest of this season but just not tomorrow. COYS!

[Otta]

Was keeping an eye on the bbc website, and once Spurs equalised I thought they'd probably win it, so pleased with a point.

Apparently that was the last time this season that Spurs will play their match before Leicester.

[Jah Lush]

I shouldn't be disappointed but I am slightly. Not many teams go to Anfield and come away with a point. So it's a very good result for Spurs. If Leicester lose tomorrow, it's still a point gained.

[earlydoors]

It was a good point for Spurs. It may seem like two points dropped but psychologically it keeps their momentum going as they didn't lose. Yes Leicester could open up the gap today but I feel somewhere in the run in they will have a wobble.

If they don't then good luck to them as they will be deserved champions.

[Alan Medic]

What a free kick by Payet. When he shot to that corner of the goal I literally thought there was no way it was going in.

[Otta]

red devil Wrote:

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> Leicester's fixtures...

>

> Leicester v Southampton - 1pt

> Sunderland v Leicester - 1pt

> Leicester v West Ham - 1pt

> Leicester v Swansea - 3pts

> Man Utd v Leicester - 1pt

> Leicester v Everton - 3pts

> Chelsea v Leicester - 1pt

>

> Total 66 + 11 = 77pts

>

>

> Spurs's fixtures...

>

> Liverpool v Tottenham - 1pt

> Tottenham v Man Utd - 1pt

> Stoke v Tottenham - 3pts

> Tottenham v West Brom - 3pts

> Chelsea v Tottenham - 1pt

> Tottenham v Southampton - 3pts

> Newcastle v Tottenham - 3pts

>

> Total 61 + 15 = 76pts

>

>

> Leicester Champions!...

Well you got Spurs right this weekend, but Leicester 2 points up at this stage ;-)

So Leicester now need 4 wins from their last 6 and the title is theirs whatever else happens...

I almost feel more excited than I did when Liverpool came close a couple of years back. This just isn't supposed to be happening.

I almost feel sorry for Spurs, because any other year they'd have massive support from neutrals wanting them to win instead of the same old suspects. But throw a team that were nearly relegated last year in to the mix...

[red devil]

How about this for a stat...exactly a year ago Leicester were bottom, 7 points from safety, a year on and they're top by 7 points!

[Otta]

It's just craziness.