On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[Mick Mac]

Hahahahahahahahahahahahhahahhahhhahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahaha

Celtic top again - Gers could not take the pressure of being top for 4 days - game on it will go down to the last day guaranteed - its always more exciting in Scotland.....Game on...either team could win it now.

[Annasfield]

and there you have it. :(

[Mick Mac]

Where is PGC when you need her/him. I'll happily pay for that double scotch to help console.....;-)

[Sandperson]

What are the chances of not getting a point in two games? Still possible Anna. But I hope not. Good win in the end (and we didn't need "Fergie Time").

[Mick Mac]

Sandperson - Can I remind you of my faith in MU - backing them at 100/30 after they lost to Arsenal in November when 4th in league and 8 points behind Chelski - just have to wait 4 more days for the money..assuming you can beat Arsenal this time round?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I'm ready for my double, Mr de Mac.

[Sandperson]

Yo can MM and you can buy me a double as well if you like!

[Mick Mac]

If its a Celtic and MU title double, you can all have a double.

[david_carnell]

On this Stoke ugly football argument I fall firmly in the pro-Stoke category. For all the arguments already espoused by Keef et al.

And as for not being entertaining? Trust me, when you don't support one of the big 4 nothing is more entertaining than watching them struggle against such lowly opposition. All those millions spent and some long grass and a throw in cause havoc. Brilliant.

[Atila Reincarnate]

Stoke are shit, full stop. Let's hope they get what they richly deserve, relegation

[matthew123]

Remember the Crazy Gang? They were a novelty to start with but eventually half the League copied their tactics to compete and the top flight became more and more about physical power and the long ball over the next 10 years. Dire football compared with the 80s - all of a sudden you had boring, boring Arsenal and the chest stamping Manchester United on top. The England team was a complete failure as the most effective players, as a direct result of the shift in football style brought on by Wimbledon, became the likes of Dennis Wise, Carlton Palmer and Fash the Bash.

If Stoke are successful other teams will follow that model - and we'll soon be returning to the dark ages.

How do you stop likes of Stoke - e.g. ban the towel & direct throw into box, or does every team follow same tactic.. where winning a throw in near corner flag is more important than pass and move on edge of box?

[Sandperson]

Still peeved about the 1988 cup final Matt? :))

[red devil]

English football suffered in the mid-80's to mid 90's, not because of the likes of Wimbledon, but because of the 5 year European ban imposed as a result of Heysel. It took us another 5 years to eventually catch up with the Europeans...it's laughable that people think the face and style of football will change because of a novelty long throw-in...

[david_carnell]

Quite.

And you can't have it both ways - either they're shit but their style of football enables Premiership survival (just) or suddenly a punt & run game seems the new method to win the league and Man U sell Ronaldo and get Duncan Ferguson out of retirement.

When the big boys allow for more money to be filtered down to lower placed clubs and lower divisions they can start moaning. Until then they can sit on their piles of cash and shut the fuck up.

[Keef]

Wasn't Gary Neville once known for his long throw in? And some guy at Tranmere a few years back, it's not a new thing, and it works. I'd bloody well use it. Frankly, wishing relegation on a team is pure sour grapes because they made you look a bit silly when your team couldn't beat them (not to anyone in particular).

The only teams I wish relegation on, are teams managed by Big Sam or Neil Warnock.

[Annasfield]

The long throw isn't the issue. It's the time wasting that goes with it. You're right, if the refs aren't going to do anything about then we're screwed. Doesn't mean we have to like it.

Oh and re' supporting the big four. Some of us were born in those circumstances and it wasn't a choice. Hope that's okay.

[david_carnell]

Anna - no you don't have to like it; but constantly harping on about it, coupled with wishing relegation on a team just because they figured out a tactic to beat some of the big boys without spending billions is, as your fellow red Keef says, sour grapes.

And if you're ok with being brainwashed from a young age then I am ;-)

[snorky]

Keef Wrote:

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

> Wasn't Gary Neville once known for his long throw

> in? And some guy at Tranmere a few years back,

> it's not a new thing, and it works. I'd bloody

> well use it. Frankly, wishing relegation on a team

> is pure sour grapes because they made you look a

> bit silly when your team couldn't beat them (not

> to anyone in particular).

>

> The only teams I wish relegation on, are teams

> managed by Big Sam or Neil Warnock.

You missed out that slimy twat Steve bruce

[Keef]

Some of us were born in those circumstances and it wasn't a choice.

Ha ha, that does actually sound a bit scary.

your fellow red Keef

I don't think I count as "a red" anymore to be honest. I'd never realised you had to do so much to earn your stripes and work your way up the ranks. Frankly I can't be arsed with any of it. The banter, the blind loyalty, the superiority, it's all just a complete load of shite based around a meaningless game.

I know SP left this thread for a while, and if I'm honest, I thought he was being over sensetive to things. However, this thread just makes me angry, and life is far too short to get angry about a pathetic game. It's fun to watch, but it means absolutely bloody nothing!!!

[Atila Reincarnate]

My my we are all getting a bit carried away here. The bit by david_carnell about the big 4 spending billions is not quite correct, Le Boss has stubbornly refused to spend any money at all on established players, Arshavin being the exception to the rule. I like to watch football being played well, not kick and rush or shaven headed thugs trying to kick the living shit out of the opposition because they are not as gifted as their opponents, and Stoke aren't the first to resort to such tactics and I'm sure they won't be the last. That doesn't mean I have to like it and it's not sour grapes, it's not pleasing on the eye, they are about as easy on the eye as a needle through the retina.

I say again good people, I hope Stoke are relegated for the sake of the beautiful game, which is an alien concept to such sides. I can't believe Tony Pullis is being touted as manager of the season, has everyone totally missed the brilliant efforts of Woy Hodgson. The man has done miracles at Fulham, and they play the right way. And they don't spend billions.

[david_carnell]

Alright billions was a tad hyperbolic. Hundreds of millions is not however. The point remains.

As does yours about Hodgson. Genius. Don't forget where Fulham finished last year and that was only because he rescued them from relegation. Along with Zola, he's done a damn fine job.

[matthew123]

>> I'd never realised you had to do so much to earn your stripes and work your way up the ranks.

What!? Who!? Why!? As far as I'm concerned all Liverpool fans are equal.. although I do like to have the final word ;-)

Football is a sport and without sport the world would be a much poorer place. I personally don't understand the beauty in towelling the ball dry for a long throw in - and the fact Gary Neville used to do it should tell you everything you need to know about that particular technique.

Anyone who claims Stoke are upholding the ancient traditions of British Football may as well say that the graffiti artist Banksy is a modern day Grand Master.

[Sandperson]

Banksy is!

As I've said before these teams can play however they like. I personally always liked the way that Blackburn got accused of playing rough with Arsenal, it showed they'd got to them and made the Gooners look weak. Let's face it Liverpool resorted to the long ball hoof when they got desperate for a goal this season and it worked. You do what you have to do and more power to you!

Edit to say, don't go anywhere Keef! It's cold out there....and the place wouldn't be the same without your conflicted views! ;-)

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Alas, I have to go to bed (strong medication) so I won't know the result til tomorrow. Good luck David but I hope we thrash you.

[david_carnell]

Cheers PGC but....

COME ON LEEDS!!!