The 2012/2013 Football Season - Fans Thread

Sports Sports: Chat / Discussions
61

Yes Bob, a point is always handy.
The second half of the Reds game was good, I honestly thought they were going to pull it off and deserved to really.
Mr Suarez has real problems with his reputation with the referees but did not deserve to get a caution today.

Glad to see the Imps getting the points, you see John, I knew Mr Oliver would get you the winner.

As for us, a hard fought draw but apparently very boring.
Still, it is a clean sheet but we badly need a striker, ole fumble feet just aint it.

Onward.

62

Three points, hard earned as usual. Took two penalties and a late goal to secure it. Nothing in life, or football is easy, so lets accept it and move on. Trouble with the diving scenario is, how can you tell when its real or not? When someone goes down like Tom Daley, its hard for the Ref to give it. I don’t think players should be booked for so called simulation, useless its really blatant. Don’t forget, the Ref has no access, mores the pity, to slow motion replay. The fact the penalty is not awarded is. sorry, is penalty enough.Good draws for you two guys, close games both of them. Feel sorry for my daughters team,(she lives in Southampton), they got a real kicking from Arsenal. Still no points, but they have been playing top of the table sides.

63

Spot on as usual John,
It is strange about the Saints but I think they will overcome the present problems.

They were one of the best teams to watch in the Championship last time round and they don’t suddenly become a poor side.

Onward

64

I think that once Southampton get over the cultural shock of playing in the Premiership they will possibly do quite well, especially when they start to meet the lower placed clubs.
I hear a rumour that Andy Carroll is recovering a lot quicker than at first thought Hammer, it is to be hoped he is.

65

Bob, I read on one site that is usually pretty accurate that Andy Carroll could even be back in the next week or two.

Good news for us but I hope he is 100% before he plays and they do not risk his career by doing something silly.
I also read that Allardyce has admitted there is a January return clause in the loan agreement so watch this space.

One thing is certain, we will have to seriously contemplate replacing ole fumble feet Cole as he was very poor again against the canaries.

Onward.

66

I always thought that Carlton Cole was never destined to be much more than a Championship player at best. Trouble is, good quality strikers are thin on the ground, and those that are the bizzo, come with a huge price tag. Got a feeling that West Ham will persevere, as Reading yesterday were dreadful, and poor old Saints look average in this league. So Hammer, put away your worry beads, as they say down south
sorted!

67

This weekends fixtures.

Lincoln City are at away at The Lamb Ground for their match against Tamworth on Saturday, the kick-off is at 3:00pm. The Red Imps manager David Holdsworth, speaking on his sides injury situation has said that he was hopeful of some light at the end of the tunnel this week but it would not appear to be happening. He said, “I don’t think it’s sufficient for a player to train for one day and then come back into the team having been out for four weeks”.

“Both Adam Smith and and Tom Miller came back a little bit early. They wanted to get back and put themselves on show. That’s a good sign”." He also went on to say “It’s a nice feeling when players do want to come back in, but we have to be professional in our approach and make sure we use them at the right time.”

The Lambs who currently sit in eleventh place in the table will be hoping to repeat last season’s 4-0 drubbing of Lincoln. Manager, Marcus Law was unsurprisingly chuffed with his side’s 2-0 win at Gateshead Saturday last and is hopeful of more goals from Tommy Wright and co. Like The Imps, Tamworth’s injuries are featuring heavily and we are only just into the season but Laws should have Marcus Kelly and Sam Oji back this week.
For Johns sake I hope the Imps will cast such a spell it will be a case of the lambs to the slaughter.

As for the Hammers, Sunderland AFC are our guests at the Boleyn for Saturday’s encounter. The Kick-off being 3:00pm. The Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill is a wily chap who is already talking up our side in a bit of reverse psychology but he aint fooling many. He has a knack of producing good teams and his side is growing in confidence as they look to win their first Prem game this term. The Black Cats’ are embarking on their third away game out of the last four games and have thus far got credible draws against the top echelons of the league but it is a win they need.

We will still be without Jack Collinson and Andy Carroll but everyone else seems to be fit. The condition of Jack is a concern as he has not even kicked a ball since our promotion while Andy seems to be making good progress. If we are to survive in this league and having seen most of the opposition - albeit briefly - there is no real reason for us not to, a few players have got to step up and do the business.

I shall of course be hoping that Mr O’ Neill - Whittington and his feline entourage will turn again once more and head off back empty handed.

For purely football reasons alone Sunday’s clash between Liverpool and Manchester Utd at Anfield is eagerly awaited, the kick-off being 1:30pm. The Reds will be wanting to record their first league win of the season and what better way than against their opponents. Last time round this fixture finished in a 1-1 draw. At the time of writing, there seems to be a dearth of team selections from any accurate source to ponder so we can only surmise.

This match is also more significant as it is the first chance at Anfield since the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report for the club to pay tribute to the 96 fans who lost their lives in 1989 and offer thanks and respect to the families who have fought unceasingly for justice ever since that awful day.

A time perhaps to put away all the past tensions and animosity and for our football family to come together and show all the anti this, that, and the other brigade that this is how it all should be done. That said, three points for the home side will do very nicely, thank you.

Sorry for the length of this epistle, it is the new crayon they have given me, it will not stop. :blush:

Onward

68

Good luck to everyone this weekend.
I am still getting over the shock of seeing Liverpool’s kids winning away 5-3 in the Europa League:) Young boys of Berne against the even younger boys of Liverpool LOL, good for the neutrals I would say but a good learning curve for some of the youngsters on display.
Yes Hammer, I read about the “January return” clause regarding Andy Carroll, makes you think I agree.

69

Not a good weekend for any of our teams but from what I saw on the local news and read tonight, all due respect was paid by the fans at Anfield today and that is the most important thing.

70

Pretty dire stuff from The Imps. A goal down in only one minute, captain sent off along with theirs. Another weary battle to stay in this league, can’t get any worse. Well done the Hammers, Nolan getting a well deserved point. The Liverpool game seemed quite muted unsurprisingly, shame that was’nt a draw in the circumstances. Good to see appropriate behaviour, handsakes, and above all dignity to the 96. Not surprised Terry has slung it in with England.Surely the court case should have been the end of it, and now its all dragging on again. Got a feeling some dark forces(no pun intended!) are at work behind the scenes, demanding blood at all costs. The whole business is so depressing. Just like the weather at the moment!

71

Like you John I find it tragic that this is still going on.
It must be nearly 12 months since it all kicked off. I cannot see how even the FA - who are still firmly entrenched in the jurassic period - can think this is a good idea.

Their handling of the situation thus far has been less than adequate. It cost the resignation of the coach which while we may think was a good move, the timing most certainly was not.

I agree with Terry that his position as England captain was made untenable but his position in the squad was less than certain so it may be a blessing in disguise.

That does not negate the appalling behaviour of some at the games headquarters, instead of the witch hunt perhaps we should be seeking the head of David Bernstein.

72

Reminds me of that old adage “You can’t beat the system” but I do think that John Terry has got a point regarding the FA, whether or not he will be missed at International level is another thing, the whole sorry saga should have been put to bed a long long time ago, just creating more fodder for the drama seeking media trolls.
West Ham certainly left it late to snatch a point in their encounter with Sunderland, Matt Jarvis making a big difference when he came on as sub, must admit that Nolan’s very late goal to bring them level looked to be down to sloppy work in the Sunderland defence but was just reward for the home side plugging away until the very end.
Lincoln are in the bottom four of the Blue Square Prem after their 1-0 reversal at Tamworth, I agree with you John, not looking too good at all, hope it improves pretty soon for them.
What can I say about my favourites? The best I have seen them play so far this season, in fact for much of the first half they were indeed superior to their illustrious visitors and it was a real choker to lose to a penalty, the referee was a bit up and down, certainly not a “homer”. Playing with Ten men for a long period didn’t improve things but it seems to be all coming together although injuries to Agger and Kelly will not improve the outlook. So there we are, finishing the game with Nine men on the pitch but I do get the feeling that pretty soon some team is going to get a real good hiding from Liverpool, we will be climbing that table and that’s for sure.

73

Good result for the Imps beating Nuneaton 2-1 tonight at Sincil Bank. A late goal saw them take all three points despite missing a penalty in the 90th minute. This win lifts them out of the relegation zone into a much healthier 15th spot.

The Hammers were well and truly humbled 1-4 by a pretty ordinary Wigan side which gives you some idea of how bad we really were. I don’t mind in the least being dumped out of the league cup but it is the manner of the defeat that is galling. Why we enter these competitions and put out a team destined to lose is unfathomable. That said, it is still so disappinting to see even our second eleven so soundly beaten in defence and anywhere else on the ground.

Is Harry still unemployed? I only ask because


However bad the result tonight, one event was to make it all worthwhile. Young Dylan Tombides, our 18 year old Australian striker who was only recently given the all-clear to resume his career after having fought cancer, came on to make his first team debut.A sight better than any other.

Well done Dylan, now keep it going my son.

Tomorrow night sees an interesting clash in the aforementioned league ( Capital One ) Cup. West Brom take on Liverpool at the Hawthorns. I cannot really see the Reds, who are the current holders and who rather like this competition, fielding a weakened team.

The Baggies have only ever got past the third round once in the last six tournaments but Steve Clarke may want to throw caution to the wind and have a real go at this one and they have not fared too badly off against the Reds in recent times.

A good one for the neutral.

74

Three points? Forgotten what they looked like! Can’t understand why teams don’t take the League Cup seriously. Sending out scratch teams is insulting to the competition, and the poor old fans who once again get the rough end. Hammer Harry? surely not George! He has more twists and turns than a corkscrew, Match of the Day, Bournemouth guru, possibly loads of adverts to come, playing Del Boy’s grandad in any future Fools & Horses, no way Jose! (or Pedro as Del would say). Good luck to Dylan, a rare good football story to savour. If Liverpool played as they did against Utd, I fear for the Baggies. Lets hope all clubs try and play decent squads, injuries permitting.

75

John, I don’t seriously think it would happen but we have to do something. The gruesome twosome, spitting cobra and BFS are killing our club.

I suppose Del would say, Pot Pourri!, boeuf a la mode but being a Peckham lad he would probably be a Charlton supporter. :cool:

76

R.I.P John Bond, you were not a great manager but you did some really good things and helped a lot of youngsters.

77

Yes, very sadly another light has gone out.

What can we say about Muffin ?, one of a kind, a decent man, forthright, loved a joke but was football through and through. He played for us from 1950 until 1966 making nearly 450 appearances which in itself is a feat not many have managed. He was probably one of the original academy players to be guided by such luminaries as Paynter, Fenton and Greenwood.

He was in good company with players like Malcolm Allison, Ken Brown, Noel Cantwell and Ronnie Boyce to name but a few. He kept his place in the side by hard work and not least because he was the best right back we have ever had. He was over 6’ tall but never looked out of place on the ball and possessed a fearsome shot hence his nickname. A perennial favourite with the die-hards of the chicken shed that is for certain. He lived very close to the Boleyn for most if not all his time with the Hammers and did a bit of coaching with a couple of other players at a nearby school.

John was in our side when we won the Second Division title in 1958 and also the 1964 FA Cup, he played in our triumphant 1965 Cup-Winners’ Cup competition.

After West Ham he went on to play for another three years at Torquay United then under the managership of former team-mate and ex Hammer, Frank O’Farrell.

His first season as a manager was in 1971 where he guided Bournemouth to promotion from the old Fourth Division and followed this up finishing third in Division Three. His next club Norwich saw him lead them back from relegation and to the 1975 League Cup final. He joined Manchester City and took them to the 1981 FA Cup final.

He had some pretty short stints at Burnley, Swansea, Birmingham, Shrewsbury and finally Witton Albion although he did have a brief fling with Wigan on the coaching/scouting front.

RIP Muffin, on me 'ead son.

78

A lovely decent man, well worth listening to. He was of his era, which sadly is no more in terms of integrity and honesty.One despairs of what he’s left behind in football at the moment, greed, cheating, lack of discipline, not very much indeed of which John stood for, may he rest in peace, god bless me old son.

79

I met him at a presentation do back in the early eighties, Alex, ( Malcolm Allison to most people) introduced him to me and said he had the best job in football, new manager of City. He did get City to Wembley and I never understood why he resigned. It was widely reported that they had a heated verbal scrap, more like handbags at ten paces. I found him very pleasant to talk to and knowledgeable, not just about football either.

80

Only four matches!! sounds like racism to me, surely it should have been eight to be fair to Suarez, unless it is because Terry is British.