Hammer, I’ve got to take my hat off to you,(even though I ain’t got one!). Your information is always spot on, and informative. The Imps really have to start getting their act together, following the debacle of the FA Cup replay, nuff said on that one.Have to say Hull are inconsistent at best, and can see you guys sneaking all three points. Same for Liverpool, Swansea are bad travellers. Mags, its probably that most of us on this thread are of a certain vintage, and believe in fair play and sportsmanship, on and off the field.There’s enough grief going on in the world, without creating more here.
HeyCity were playing alright the other night(Manchester)bet my Dad was watching his team.Cant think whats happened to me and football, used to be a big follower, now never think of it.
My thoughts exactly Mags, although what I know about football wouldn’t cover the back of a stamp, I enjoy the write ups and the wit of the lads here, and of course Annie when she drops in, well done all.
Hear, hear to that John. I guess it was my dad who instilled in me that ‘sport’ was the thing that mattered above all else in football.
Many a time after watching us youngsters get yet another mauling by some fancy Dans from across the river he would come out with the well worn - even in those days - phrase of, “It’s better to have played and lost than never to have played at all”.
Then he’d fetch me a right hander round the ear’ole for letting some gazelle of a right winger continually flash past me like I was stood still.
Not really, I made that last bit up. His big hero of the day was of course Sam Bartram the legendary Charlton Goalkeeper who is still known to this day as a true sportsman.
I once read Sams autobiography and just one little snippet in there shows the humour in football that is sadly missing today.
The passage refers to a match between Charlton and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
He wrote, “Soon after the kick-off, the fog began to thicken rapidly at the far end, travelling past Vic Woodley in the Chelsea goal and rolling steadily towards me”. “The referee stopped the game, and then, as visibility became clearer, restarted it”.
“We were on top at this time, and I saw fewer and fewer figures as we attacked steadily.”
The game went unusually silent but Sam remained at his post, peering into the thickening fog from the edge of the penalty area. And he wondered why the play was not coming his way.
“After a long time,” he wrote, "a figure loomed out of the curtain of fog in front of me. It was a policeman, and he gaped at me incredulously. “What on earth are you doing here?” he gasped. “The game was stopped a quarter of an hour ago. The field’s completely empty” 
I totally agree, this thread is amusing, cleverly written with friendly banter. I absolutely hate football and don’t even want to try and understand it. Never miss this thread, thanks from me too, you certainly know your stuff 
Nice to read the favourable comments from our ladies, good to have the female outlook, keep them coming ladies!
Further proof that Wet Ham seem to be playing better away from home, goals by Jack Collison and that man again, Sam Baldock, steering them through 2-0 in a tricky encounter at Hull City, never an easy place to go, mind you Liverpool seem to be falling into the same pattern, after an easy win at West Brom, today they struggled at Anfield against newly promoted Swansea in a 0-0 stalemate, hate to say it but it is certainly looking as if Andy Carroll is becoming heavy baggage and the Reds may have to once again become active in the January transfer window, what a situation!
Hey Jim, Beath did it again to remain in top spot, well done to them, is it perhaps too soon to think of possible promotion, what do you reckon?
John, even time for a smile from you as the Imps edged out Barrow 2-1 compensation in some way for that rotten FA cup exit. Onwards and upwards!
I had already written this up by the time I saw Bob’s post so I hope you don’t object to me still posting it Bob.
The Blue Brazil came from behind to win 1-3 at East Fife although the Fifers Sub Robert Sloan almost scored from a free kick to give the home side hope. Just as well the Beath keeper managed to keep it out with his feet.
A winner from the on loan Jordan Morton assured victory for Colin Cameron’s men and stopped him going completely nuts.
This win maintains league leaders status over Arbroath on goal difference.
Good news at last for the Red Imps and new manager David Holdsworth.
In a bold move he gave the nod to his three new signings for the home tie against Barrow, and it paid dividends.
After a cagey bit of sparring between the teams City looked increasing like the team to score and so it was about halfway into the first period that new boy Platt slid a peach of a ball through for Smith to slot home.To make matters worse for the visitors within 2 minutes the lead was doubled when Cristophe did the old soft shoe shuffle and chipped the stranded keeper with considerable aplomb.
Can one have considerable aplomb??? perhaps a surfeit?? whatever, he scored.
A nervy last few minutes saw Barrow pull one back but I am glad to say the Imps held out for a most welcome 3 points.
Things did not seem to go too well at Anfield as the Swans held the Reds to a 0-0 draw. I have yet to see any reports or highlights on the match but my good mate from over that way was at the game.
He tells me that Andy Carroll set the tone by missing a first half sitter from six yards.Even Dirk Kuyt coming on in the second half made no difference and in the end Swansea looked the better side. I believe there were a couple of penalty appeals turned down so I will have to tune in tonight to see them.
The happier Hammers laid one ghost to rest at the KC stadium by coming away with a 2-0 victory agains Hull, thanks largely to, and here I have to conceed dear old fumble feet Cole.
That said, an inspired performance by Bob Green especially late on in the match ensured we kept the spoils.
I would think the Allardyce is thankful of a couple of weeks rest for the team so we can try and get our very high injury list down.
England play Spain in a pre-arranged friendly at Wembley next Saturday 12th November. The FA had wanted our players to display the Armistice Day emblem on their kit on the eve of Remembrance Sunday, but Fifa rules mean no changes can be made to official kit.
I read that the FA are to hold further talks with Fifa in a bid to allow the England team to wear the poppy on their shirts when they play Spain next Saturday but it is thought that the requests will be denied.
As far as I know Fifa’s rules state that players’ equipment should not carry any political, religious or commercial messages. It is difficult to see where a shirt that has a small poppy printed on the front of it contravenes the regulations. After all, national teams wear black armbands to mark the passing of an influential figure in the game and other members of society, is that not against the letter or at least the spirit of the rules?
It is perhaps worth noting that the IRB( International Rugby Board ) applied commonsense by allowing England and Australia to pay tribute to the Armed Forces by wearing shirts with poppies during a test match.
Of course one does not have to look too deeply to see the problem here.
Sepp Blatter the rancorous President of FIFA and his merry pillars of moral rectitude have had it in for England for sometime so any hope of fairplay and decency left the building long ago.
We could always defy the ruling but then we would be well and truly up the creek as National football bodies must abide by Fifa rules or risk being expelled.
Appalling.
Thats great news lads and thanks for the reports, the landlord had a pint pulled and on the counter for me when I walked into the local at lunchtime…Free!, I think he’s converted to Cowdenbeath on the quiet, cheers lads.
I was at the game on Saturday. Two goals in two minutes! Thats the good news. Barrow got one back in stoppage time, clue squeaky bum time. The Imps like to live on the edge. Don’t want to be a told you so Hammer, but Hull are either great or ghastly. Thought Green was back to his best, and your favourite player Cole?, the business. Got the Scousers wrong though, Swansea’s goalie Worm just as good as Green was for West Ham. Not surprised about FIFA’s ban on the poppy. If we had bunged the bastards, all would have been well. Can’t believe we can’t tell them to stick their outfit where the sun don’t shine.
Couldn’t agree more John, I never have liked that smarmy creep Blatter or his cohorts with their holier than thou attitudes, wonder what would happen if England did in fact take to the field with their poppy shirts, just a thought!
Bob, I would imagine it would give Blatter the chance he has looked for, to kick us out of International football.
The problem we would face is to get support from other countries. Let’s be honest here, we have not got all that many friends due to a lot of wrangling that has gone on, largely due to an inept FA.
We seem to have a similar situation with Michel Platini and UEFA but then none of the frogs like us much.
I would not like to bet on what would happen if we pushed them into a corner by defying them.
It probably doesn’t bear thinking about George, just my wicked sense of humour but in a sport where fair play once ruled supreme, it makes one feel quite sad to see what we have now become due to, as you said, our inept FA, just pawns to our European masters I suppose.
On a brighter note, I present to you, today’s Premier League results.
Bolton Wanderers 5 Stoke City 0
Fulham 1 Tottenham Hotspur 3
Wolves 3 Wigan Athletic 1
Amazingly that was Bolton’s first home victory of the season!
Spurs are in 5th position whilst Wigan are firmly anchored in bottom spot.
Sad to hear that one of our local legends has joined the heavenly all stars today.
Jimmy Adamson of Burnley FC has died at the age of 82.
He turned out for Burnley - his only club as a player - from 1947-1964 and captained the Clarets 1960 title-winning team as well as leading his team out at Wembley as ‘footballer of the year’ in the 1962 Cup final against Spurs.
After his playing career ended he managed Burnley, Sparta Rotterdam, Sunderland and Leeds.
RIP Jimmy
RIP Jimmy, A players player indeed, loyalty personified as well, we used to always refer to him as “Mr Burnley”.
England 1. Spain 0. Wembley.
It makes a pleasant change to be able to post on an England victory.
Tonight we pulled off an unlikely 1-0 win over Spain, the world champions. Frank Lampard enjoying his role as stand in captain got the winner in the 49th minute. A free kick was whipped in and Darren Bent beat everyone in the air; his header hit the spanish post and Lamps was on hand to nod in from about a yard out.
It could have been oh so different as for the first half hour or so England just looked like lambs to the slaughter as the Spanish players knocked the ball about at will and the home side were left to chase shadows. The masterclass in ball control orchestrated by Xabi Alonso was impressive but did not produce the goal fest promised.
Scott Parker was clearly not overawed by the Spanish Armada and resolutely stuck to his defensive role and by doing so was able to make his tackles count and remain in position. No surprise to me that he was deservedly man of the match.
As a longtime fan of Scotty and not just because he is an ex Hammer I think Postman Pat Capello is still rueing the day he did not include him in the last World Cup squad. Just a shame he is getting on in years now.
The second half got a bit livelier and Mr Fabregas came on for Spain and forcefully renewed his acquaintance with a few of the English boys. Other than that he like Torres did not make much of an impact.
England dug in and with some resolute defending during the closing stages came out deserved winners in an overall entertaining match.
Certainly a morale boosting victory for the national side despite all the prophets of doom and gloom having their collective pre-match mutterings and the two Itv commentators were oh so pessimistic with their comments but lo and behold, our Frankie gets the winning goal, thanks to Darren Bent and mysteriously the negative remarks change into praise! Where do they get these people from?
Anyway, it was certainly a shot in the arm for England, now we will see what sort of display they produce against Sweden on Tuesday next.
Fully agree about Scott Parker, an inspiration to all around him.
Hi Bob, any thoughts on the likely captain for the Swedish encounter.
I did hear that JT was spending a lot of time in the local IKEA for scouting purposes, strange terms they use these days.
I would imagine that the returning John Terry will be reinstated as captain although I would personally let Frank Lampard do the honours.
I see that Capello has made something like 8 changes for this encounter,
Jack Rodwell and Kyle Walker are in line for their first starts while John Terry and Gary Cahill are to return.
However Daniel Sturridge, who had been expected to join Bobby Zamora starts on the bench.
This is a bigger match than a lot of people believe, England have not beaten Sweden since 1968! 12 games ago. I am actually looking forward to seeing them perhaps gain a deserved victory tomorrow evening.
Manchester City - Who would have thought!