Football

The usual late September on Wearside then, with another disastrous start to a season and another manager under growing pressure. The worst thing is that I actually like Grayson a lot, he's a 'spit and sawdust' type who I've no doubt would have us challenging for the play-offs in more favourable circumstances. Unfortunately, our current reality is such that avoiding relegation to League One might be a decent outcome this year.

Poor old Carlo Ancelotti. He got the boot from Chelsea after winning the double, then from Bayern with eight games won out of eleven this season, having previously won the league. That's what I'd describe as a rather tough crowd.

^^  I guess the positive side for him is he will have a new job by next summer, at the latest.

12 hours ago, Michael* said:

Poor old Carlo Ancelotti. He got the boot from Chelsea after winning the double, then from Bayern with eight games won out of eleven this season, having previously won the league. That's what I'd describe as a rather tough crowd.

The problems with Bayern are greater than the manager. They should have started rebuilding after their 2012-2013 CL victory.

Instead they kept on relying on players who got further and further away from their peak. Robben turns 34 in January and he is still their second most important attacking option, depending on how you feel about Lewandowski.

On ‎27‎/‎09‎/‎2017 at 5:32 PM, Michael* said:

The usual late September on Wearside then, with another disastrous start to a season and another manager under growing pressure. The worst thing is that I actually like Grayson a lot, he's a 'spit and sawdust' type who I've no doubt would have us challenging for the play-offs in more favourable circumstances. Unfortunately, our current reality is such that avoiding relegation to League One might be a decent outcome this year.

And all with the never promising game at the under fire manager's old team right before the international break looming. I think regardless of the weekend you have to let SG continue, looking at October's fixtures, there's a lot of middling to dross opposition there. If he can't accrue decent points then, I suppose he's a goner. 

17 hours ago, Michael* said:

Poor old Carlo Ancelotti. He got the boot from Chelsea after winning the double, then from Bayern with eight games won out of eleven this season, having previously won the league. That's what I'd describe as a rather tough crowd.

Jeeves fluffed my pillows counterclockwise, off with his head! 

Record of the German clubs so far in the group stages of the Champions and Europa Leagues: 1 - 2 - 9

On ‎29‎/‎09‎/‎2017 at 12:23 PM, Frederick said:

And all with the never promising game at the under fire manager's old team right before the international break looming. I think regardless of the weekend you have to let SG continue, looking at October's fixtures, there's a lot of middling to dross opposition there. If he can't accrue decent points then, I suppose he's a goner. 

Being unable to compete with moderate sides like Barnsley, Sheffield United and Ipswich has been hard to take and Grayson's post-match interview on Tuesday evening suggested that he was starting to feel the heat, although I must say, it still gives me some hope that fans of all the other clubs he's managed still seem to hold him in high regard. A move away from this endless cycle of sacking the manager every year is long overdue, it's been proven to fail time and time again and we need to start getting it right.

I suppose you'd have to consider that two points lost after we started the game so positively, but heads didn't drop when we went 2-1 down, which was encouraging to see. All in all, a spirited showing that should buy Grayson some time.

Four wins on the bounce, some stylish, some not. Big love to Adomah, young Keinan and of course The Kodfather, Jonny Kodjia. Terry watch: half ropey, half classy but clean sheets are undoubtedly happening. October has two away derbys so that'll be sure to test our fragile (Arsene Wenger voice) mental strength.

Everyone go watch Kagawa's goal from yesterday. Was simultaneously baffled, charmed and a tiny bit annoyed Bosz wouldn't even smile afterwards. It's not small time to enjoy life, Peter! And then definitely don't watch Aubamayang's penalty. 

Almost all of our attacking players had (very) good weekends, so I am almost convinced they will fail to beat Bosnia Herzegovina next week.

ICELAND!!!

I'll probably end up cheering them on in the WC  

Pray for Scotland

8 hours ago, HitchcockBlonde said:

ICELAND!!!

I'll probably end up cheering them on in the WC  

Pray for Scotland

Their population is just a bit over 300K.

Qualifying for two straight tournaments is a fantastic achievement.

After qualifying for the World Cup, France's players and fans did the Iceland thunder clap thing. 

Come on France, you have to get your own thing.  

I know this is not new information, but it's difficult to qualify for the World Cup from CONMEBOL. I think Chile would have qualified easily from most (all?) other confederations.

I was afraid that Argentina wouldn't qualify but never even considered the possibility that the USA might not make it.

Which about sums up how much I know about international football.

Is a World Cup even a World Cup without Jozy Altidore? Still, at least it opens up the Golden Boot! 

We could do with an international lucky losers squad for Russia 2018, made up of talented players let down by inferior teammates. Pulisic, Bale, Robben, Vidal, Sanchez and Aubemeyang for starters. Big Jozy and Steven Fletcher as co-captains, obviously.

"Belgium played Bosnia on a cow pasture!" is a classic line.

^^  I saw another video of him in an interview from the following day. The interviewer asked if he was feeling any better after 24 hours and he said he felt worse.