Football 2011-2012

[kaosmark2]

Fulham fans have a general rule that if we beat you away you haven't got a hope in hell at the Cottage. Really can't see Wigan getting anything even with the recent form, they might scrape a draw. We're one of the strongest finishers in the league nowadays and I don't really see Wigan as equipped to beat us. The big teams they beat with solid defending and quick counter but it doesn't really work like that when you're playing mid-table sides.

I can see Bolton, Blackburn and QPR all failing to win too. Most losing tbh - although you expect the sides at the bottom to start coming good I just don't think any of them are really good enough.

Arsenal Chelsea is the interesting one... could be really really conjested up there is Chelsea win. Becomes more exciting if Chelsea get to the final too, as then theres a risk 4th won't even get a spot. Arsenal tend to lose in streaks too so I can see Chelsea winning that one if I'm honest.

[kaosmark2]

I think as well the media response is dictated by how much the media like a player, hence bale and gerrard at times getting a pretty easy ride compared to other people doing the same thing.

[eFestivals]

"He understands where we are coming from. Hopefully it makes a difference".

You wont hear stronger words than that from a manager about one of his players re: diving.

It depends what fergie's meaning when he's on about where he's coming from. That could be a variety of things, including "don't dive, but never lose us the chance of a penalty".

This is why I'm dubious about it being something as strict as you're applying to it.

Edited April 20, 2012 by eFestivals

[The Nal]

Just saw it there and I agree with Jaybles. Peno and a dive. He did clip his foot but Young tried to make sure he clipped the other foot off him too and the split legged swan dive was "dramatic" as Fergie said.

No doubt Fergie will have a word with him now. As he did with Nani, who has since cut that sort of nonsense out of his game.

Edited April 20, 2012 by The Nal

[pink_triangle]

Anyone else note how noone's criticised Parker for his awful performance in the cup and his ridiculous flare-up? Mikel may have kicked out at him, but for a supposedly composed, perfect role-model, perfect person, best choice for England captain it wasn't a smart reaction. Even 'Arry felt he needed to be taken off before he got sent off.

[strummer77]

Are we actually praising SAF for his response? It was just a bog standard reply wasn't it? I read it as 'yeah but others are worse. He didn't do much wrong'. As for Ferguson not tolerating diving... he doesn't tolerate it when it negatively effects the team and its reputation (e.g. Nani, now Young). He hasn't had much of a word with Rooney that's for sure, and if he has the bald one is ignoring it!

Not saying he's any worse than any other manager, but he's hardly a bastion of fair play!

The most ridiculous thing about Parker is his pfa player of the year nomination. Can anyone seriously think that he has had a better season than yaya toure or clint dempsey.

Edited April 20, 2012 by strummer77

[eFestivals]

Arsenal 2 - 1 Chelsea

that's a really difficult game to judge how the result might go i reckon. I think the result will depend very much on which competition Chelsea see as their biggest priority. And my guess is that, until mid-week at least, it's the Chumps.

So that's an Arsenal win, if I've called that right.

Whats so hilarious?

you wanting to take the very best possibility from something vague that fergie has said.

Fergie came out and said it. So you can bet it was a much stronger message privately. When have you ever heard a manager come out and say anything like that about one of his own players?

Thought it was proper order myself and something that needs addressing. Fergie doesn't want people diving, full stop.

He didn't say "I've told him never to dive ever again". He said "he knows where we're coming from".

And this was in a stream of words were he commented on diving all over the place form other team, other teams who benefit via that diving.

I agree that in many ways fergie is old school, but he's also very far from stupid. I find it hard to believe that he'd give any players an absolute instruction which would disadvantage his team.

And so my take on "where we're coming from" is something along the lines of "try not to embarrass the team, but don't disadvantage the team either. If there's a penalty to be won, win it if we're in need of it".

Nothing of me saying that is particularly about fergie. I wouldn't expect other managers to go any further than that (even tho I'd like it if they all did) because at the end of the day getting a result is the most important thing to them above just about anything else.

[The Nal]

Are we actually praising SAF for his response? It was just a bog standard reply wasn't it? I read it as 'yeah but others are worse. He didn't do much wrong'.

Edited April 20, 2012 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

No he meant what I've said. Trust me. Just as I was right about him having a word after last week, I'm right about this.

We'll get to see over the coming weeks and months. I don't share your confidence, for the reasons I've said.

[pink_triangle]

I think the best tactic is not to worry about the PFA awards. It's a popularity contest.

[strummer77]

Thats from last week after the game. At the press conference today he said "I've had a word with Ashley. He understands where we are coming from. Hopefully it makes a difference".

Believe me, for Fergie, thats a big statement. A verbal (and public) warning for Young.

Hes publically acknowledging that Young dives/goes down easy and is saying hes trying to put a stop to it. I think that deserves a little praise to be honest. Do you not agree? Much better than Wengers "I didnt see it" or not saying anything at all like most managers.

Edited April 20, 2012 by strummer77

[The Nal]

We'll get to see over the coming weeks and months. I don't share your confidence, for the reasons I've said.

[eFestivals]

I would agree with you if it wasn't for the improvement in Nani's honestly in the last two years, since Fergie had a word with him.

Did fergie have a word with Nani tho?

It might just be that Nani cottoned onto what was and wasn't considered bad form in this country, in the way that I presume Drogba has (mostly) too.

If fergie was that hot on stopping diving he'd have stopped skippy (who never seemed to lose the habit, as you said earlier), and he'd have had a word with Young before he ever kicked a ball for Utd.

My take on Young, based on him seeming to be diving more than ever this season (tho perhaps I'm wrong about that), is that he's feeling the pressure to perform for Utd, and that he feels that diving brings a bigger impact from him being on the field than he makes by staying on his feet. If that's how it is then I'm not expecting much change at all.

[The Nal]

Tell you who doesn't really go down though, Valencia. Part of the reason he's so effective in my opinion. I'd have him over Nani or Young every day of the week.

Edited April 20, 2012 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

Oh there was a full relapse against Barca the other night!! Spectacularly so. I think that was part of Chelski's tactics though. But yeah, he has toned it down a bit. It was cringing to watch for a season or so. The size of the bloke!

yep, he was defo dreadful the other night, tho I'm not entirely sure that any one of those was an actual dive. It was more the case that he was going down like he'd been shot from not-massive contact. That one where he got kicked in the nuts looked properly painful tho, I thought the commentator (on ITV) called that one very wrong.

And like you I thought that was a part of their tactics too, to break up Barca's flow. Seemed to work too.

The other night aside - and another game or two lately (I wouldn't be hugely surprised to find that Di Matteo has encouraged him to be doing it) - he's improved absolutely massively. It seemed to stop around the time that Enfield and Whitehouse were doing that pisstake of him, and I've wondered ever since if that was what stopped him.

[worm]

I wish Newcastle would stop showing off by pretending to be good. It's becoming believable.

[The Nal]

I wish Newcastle would stop showing off by pretending to be good. It's becoming believable.

Edited April 20, 2012 by The Nal

[Ed209]

Fergie would take winning above anything else. Youngs diving suited him to start with because it was helping him win. Now Young's got this terrible rep, Fergie's smart enough to see that it's become a detriment to his team so he's getting him to stop.

Naff all to do with tradition, everything to do with winning

[jammy2211]

Strongest finishers is surely a matter of what the manager imparts though isn't it? Jol had some bad times with Spurs tailing off at the end, and you lost badly at home to Swansea a few weeks back. Wigan are one of the form teams as well, hence why I've predicted them to win. It'd pretty much see them safe as well.

Bolton and Blackburn could certainly screw up, but you just have to go for the home team with it all to play for. I think Blackburn have the better chance, Norwich have tailed off a bit in recent weeks. QPR - Spurs should be a really good game though, both teams are stutterring, but still in the table position they want to be. Both want to get a bit of form going, and will fancy their chances against the other. I can't see Spurs winning it though, they're just not scoring enough atm.

Arsenal - Chelsea is interesting, but Arse tend to raise their game against the other big teams, particularly Chelsea. I don't think there's any real risk to the other teams of Chelsea winning the Champs Lge though, they've got to get a result at the Nou Camp, and then beat either Bayern on their own turf or Madrid. Worst team left in the competition by a long way.

[The Nal]

Fergie would take winning above anything else. Youngs diving suited him to start with because it was helping him win. Now Young's got this terrible rep, Fergie's smart enough to see that it's become a detriment to his team so he's getting him to stop.

Naff all to do with tradition, everything to do with winning

[kaosmark2]

The most ridiculous thing about Parker is his pfa player of the year nomination. Can anyone seriously think that he has had a better season than yaya toure or clint dempsey.

[kaosmark2]

I wish Newcastle would stop showing off by pretending to be good. It's becoming believable.

[kaosmark2]

We've finished strong under Coleman, Sanchez, Hodgson (Minus Europa season) and Hughes though - and looked great for the final run- in thus far. We had a blip against Swansea but won 3 in a row before that, and our last few results were 3-0 at Bolton and outplaying Chelsea. I think our team just has a fitness that keeps them going longer then most, or something. We'll see tomorrow, I watched both the last few games of Fulham and Wigan and can't see Wigan getting anything, we're just a lot better then them lol.

I tend to go with form at this stage of the season a lot and Swansea and Norwich won their last games, Blackburn and Bolton are on losing streaks now. It partly depends how much Swansea and Norwich care but I can't see them taking it easy. Going back to form with Arsenal too, Their whole season has felt like it's consisted of peaks and troughs. Have they actually bounced back from a first loss with a win this season? I wouldn't be surprised if they lose tomorrow and against Stoke... just seems to be how their season has gone.

[worm]

But this season they have surprised everyone. To the delight of the neutral too. They've been great to watch.

[strummer77]

Fergie would take winning above anything else. Youngs diving suited him to start with because it was helping him win. Now Young's got this terrible rep, Fergie's smart enough to see that it's become a detriment to his team so he's getting him to stop.

Naff all to do with tradition, everything to do with winning