[Archived] Premier League Happenings

[Cherry Blue]

Rooney's closing in on £300k per week - disgusting.

[Guest Norbert]

Jesus. That is simply unacceptable to me. If he cured AIDS, then fair enough, but he is a thicko who kicks a ball about.

We all know that the game is nothing more than a sham like the IPL.

[speeeeeeedie]

Liverpool battered Everton last night. The Toffees had over 60% possession but couldn't do anything with it, even against a reserve back 4. Suarez and Sturridge are unstoppable.

[Audax]

I see the press is raving about Mata today and the performance for MUFC.

[Guest Norbert]

Against Cardiff. Wow.

[Audax]

Against Cardiff. Wow.

Maybe so. Still, I was looking at it from the vantage point that a Spanish International Player could step in like this. Again, speaks well for that National team of Spain. Shows how much talent they have when he is at least some of the time a substitute for Spain.

[cn174]

http://angleofpostandbar.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/in-memory-of-legal-backpasses-1863-1993.html

Didn't know where to put this link but I liked it - in memory of legal backpasses.

[Audax]

cn174: Good video, thanks for that.

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

Mourinho accuses West Ham of 19th century football. Some of Jose's teams I'd surmise did "park the bus" to get by Barcelona. Inter Milan a few years ago but maybe I am wrong, I'm no expert.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25956108

Sam laughs it off, a draw keeps Chelsea in 3rd.

http://int.soccerway.com/news/2014/January/30/allardyce-revels-in-mourinho-moans/n260346/

[Audax]

City at White Hart Lane 5-1 win, kind of puts things in perspective, they are rolling over a lot of clubs right now.

[cn174]

Jose's comments dont even make sense. In the 19th Century everyone played a 2-2-6 formation or something like that, the very opposite of West Ham's tactics. He just didn't like it cos WHU didn't roll over and let them win. Boo hoo.

City are looking good.

[John]

Jose should remember his tactics away at Arsenal & Man Utd this season.

[M-K]

I'm not sure having 28% possession and just one shot vs 39 counts as 'outwitting' the opposition.

Still, Chelsea have done that to Barcelona before.

[Waggy76]

Jose's comments dont even make sense. In the 19th Century everyone played a 2-2-6 formation or something like that, the very opposite of West Ham's tactics. He just didn't like it cos WHU didn't roll over and let them win. Boo hoo.

City are looking good.

City are on a completely different level ....It is frightening !

[thenodrog]

I'm not sure having 28% possession and just one shot vs 39 counts as 'outwitting' the opposition.

Still, Chelsea have done that to Barcelona before.

If WHU had scored the winner with that one attempt on goal Mohammed Ali would've called it 'rope a dope'.

[M-K]

If WHU had scored the winner with that one attempt on goal Mohammed Ali would've called it 'rope a dope'.

I don't know about that... Ali did it because he wanted to humiliate an inferior opponent. Wouldn't have been such a famous move if he'd called it 'park the bus'.

Maybe it's more like the scene in Shaolin Soccer where the keeper rolls the ball to the opposition so they can take clean shots at him, saves every one, then throws it upfield straight into the back of their net when he gets bored.

[DE.]

Jose's comments dont even make sense. In the 19th Century everyone played a 2-2-6 formation or something like that, the very opposite of West Ham's tactics. He just didn't like it cos WHU didn't roll over and let them win. Boo hoo.

City are looking good.

Yep. Proper defensive formations are relatively new. I watch videos of games in the 80's and laugh at how poor some of the defensive positioning is, let alone the 19th Century.

At the end of the interview he did admit that in Sam's position he might do the same thing, though.

[K-Hod]

Jose is being a terrible loser for a change. Has he forgotten that abomination of a game at Old Trafford earlier in the season where they played without a striker?

Or the Inter game v Barca years back? Pr1ck.

[Guest Norbert]

K-hod made the point I was going to make, but I'd add that Jose is never alone in such comments. Wenger used to complain about Blackburn's tactics every season, and ignore his own dirty players like Bergkamp and Van Persie elbowing defenders and stamping on people.

It is common for 'big club managers' to say such things, but they never have the grace or intelligence to see that because all the money is directed to the top few teams, who can poach exciting teenagers from around the world as well as the established stars, all the have nots can usually do is get a load of hard working, athletic bruisers and build a wall.

Good defending is as much a part of the game as good attacking.

[Amo]

Simple diversion tactics. That's all this is.

[M-K]

Good defending is as much a part of the game as good attacking.

Maybe some people are connoisseurs of defending and truly appreciate the skill of a well-timed offside trap ... the tap at the heels of a forward when he slips past a full-back ... the handful of a striker's shirt as they jostle for a corner ... the hopeful clearance towards the one player who isn't standing within five metres of the penalty area ... the inevitable resumption of pressure as the attacking side regains possession and surges once more into Big Sam's brick wall of tactical genius.

[FGS5635]

Bring back good old kevin keegan. The worlds gone to defensive and conservative these days

[M-K]

I've thought of a new rule to combat negative tactics:

Each team has three 'designated attackers' who can't enter their own half of the pitch. They're not permitted to cross the halfway line.

This would be awesome because:

- The attacking team could always outnumber the defending team

- You'd have the possibility of an exciting breakaway, because the defending team would always have three men poised to attack

- Keegan and Ardiles would come out of retirement and play a legendary series of 19-18 thrillers

- Joshua King would suddenly become the most sought-after player in the world

[Guest Norbert]

Maybe some people are connoisseurs of defending and truly appreciate the skill of a well-timed offside trap ... the tap at the heels of a forward when he slips past a full-back ... the handful of a striker's shirt as they jostle for a corner ... the hopeful clearance towards the one player who isn't standing within five metres of the penalty area ... the inevitable resumption of pressure as the attacking side regains possession and surges once more into Big Sam's brick wall of tactical genius.

That is more cynical defending as you well know. Colin Hendry was always one of my favourite players, as was Makelele, and football is not all about some brylcreemed nancy boy doing 400 step overs and back heeling it into the net. If defenders etc. bore you are close to being one of those shallow 'Champions League' armchair fans who'd happily fund the £300k p/w wages of your Ronaldos and support 5 major European teams simultaniously.

Were you upset when we beat Arsenal 2-1 a while ago when Dwight Yorke had about 2 shots?

[M-K]

That is more cynical defending as you well know. Colin Hendry was always one of my favourite players, as was Makelele, and football is not all about some brylcreemed nancy boy doing 400 step overs and back heeling it into the net. If defenders etc. bore you are close to being one of those shallow 'Champions League' armchair fans who'd happily fund the £300k p/w wages of your Ronaldos and support 5 major European teams simultaniously.

Were you upset when we beat Arsenal 2-1 a while ago when Dwight Yorke had about 2 shots?

Hey, I don't have to prove my hardcore credentials. I'm not even remotely hardcore - I'd be quite happy if they introduced a load of ice hockey-style rules to make the game attack attack attack!

A goalless draw means the defenders basically 'won' but for me it's the antithesis of sport as entertainment. That's one of the reasons I wasn't a fan of Big Sam at Rovers (the other reason being his face).

[yoda]

Hey, I don't have to prove my hardcore credentials. I'm not even remotely hardcore - I'd be quite happy if they introduced a load of ice hockey-style rules to make the game attack attack attack!

A goalless draw means the defenders basically 'won' but for me it's the antithesis of sport as entertainment. That's one of the reasons I wasn't a fan of Big Sam at Rovers (the other reason being his face).

You facist