The Round Ball Game - II

[Lat-Literal]

We all have our problems, Lat lit!

It keeps looking like West Brom, Stoke and one other to me...I keep thinking that Huddersfield look a bit rudderless and in big trouble, but the Southern Saintees still need to pick up two or three wins. I feel Crystal Palace will be fine - they've got goalscorers. That's my two bob's worth, anyway!

On a different front, one point v the Arabs tomorrow night will do it for us.

Your team have done astonishingly well for two seasons running.

It must be very pleasing.

The foot of the Prem shows the perils of panic management change and whether it works. Should the 3 be West Brom and Stoke (2 clubs that may very well have survived if the change had not been made) and Southampton who maybe left the change too late!

Yes.

The managerial merry-go-round mid season was incredible.

I'm not sure whether it indicates a limited pool of talent or a complete lack of imagination.

I would be content for West Brom and Stoke to be relegated perhaps along with Huddersfield. At the very least, this doesn't clash with the interests of forum members.

CSKA Moscow play against at Arsenal at 20.05 on Thursday at VEB Arena, Russia. There is no clear steer from the Government on the safety of Arsenal supporters. It appears to me that they are being used as guinea pigs. If there are problems of a certain kind and England withdraws from the World Cup, I fear Arsenal and Arsene Wenger will be the scapegoats.

On the other hand, they won't get the credit if it leads to England rallying at the last minute to get the World Cup instead - something some MPs say that they want and I don't want for any one of a number of reasons. It seems to me that the police are already overly stretched on limited resources and it is the very last thing they should have to deal with at this time.

Latest

Chelmsford City 4 Whitehawk 2 2-2 at half time,won it with 2 late goals,3rd straight league win,5th
QPR 4 Sheffield Wednesday 2 4-0 down after 53 mins,back to back league defeats
Wimbledon 1 Charlton Athletic 0 Scored right on half time,1st win in 5 league games
Boreham Wood 0 Macclesfield Town 2 Scored in each half,12 points clear at the top
Ebbsfleet United 3 Wrexham 0 All the goals in the 2nd half,2 points from last 4 league games
Kidderminster Harriers 3 Stockport County 1 6 game winning run ended,remain in the play offs
Nuneaton Town 1 York City 0 Conceded a late goal,still in the last play off spot
Truro City 2 Concord Rangers 0 Both goals in the 1st 27 mins,4th place
Dundee United 1 St Mirren 0 Conceded an early goal,title celebrations on hold
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 Falkirk 0 Late winner,won 4 of last 5 league games

Champions League quarter final 2nd leg

manchester city 1 Liverpool 2 Forum derby,Reds through 5-1 on aggregate after conceding an early goal

A blip, as you suggest, for Stockport.

York fading alarmingly.

[BBMmk2]

A very happy MrsBBM today with Liverpool's win over The Unmentionables!

[Stanfordian]

Predictably Man City fans playing down their European exit. Hard to believe but City's only European success was UEFA Cup Winners' Cup way back in 1970.

[johncorrigan]

Dundee United 1 St Mirren 0 Conceded an early goal,title celebrations on hold
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 Falkirk 0 Late winner,won 4 of last 5 league games

Paul Sturrock has been brought in to do a spot of advising to Utd and it seems to be showing some results as the Buddies were largely kicked off the park last night, a bit like PS was as a player. (He was a dirty B*****d) Bit disappointing - hopefully the Buddies will get the result we need on Saturday versus our only rivals for the title, Livingston.

Great performance from Inverness and their fine manager, John Robertson. They've got a couple of games in hand and could yet sneak into the play-offs. They're certainly a team that have run into great form, hopefully not too late.

[jayne lee wilson]

Got your breath back after Real-Juve, CL fans...? Goodness!

Terrific tie and amazing goggle-eyed unpredictability tonight, but the more I see that penalty award, the more uncomfortable I feel about it. With any doubt, at a time like that, and with extra time almost upon us surely the benefit should go to the defender? Shame there was no camera-angle from behind Benatia.
Given his age and reputation, the Buffon send-off reminded me of Zidane's headbutt in the 2006 World Cup Final against Italy, but I wouldn't blame him at that stage....yellow card might have been a little wiser, or kinder, from Oliver.

As for City-Liverpool... I didn't really enjoy the 2nd leg until about 5 minutes to go! So tense. But what an epic, high-quality, thrilling battle across the four halves. Our front three get all the attention of course, but we won by defending so very well against some wonderful City team-play. Not always the case with Liverpool recently....!
I think you do get better quality football in the CL knockout rounds compared to most of the World Cup now, and I don't know how I'll feel about watching it taking place in Russia, let alone Qatar.
Viewers' Boycott, anyone?

[johncorrigan]

Terrific tie and amazing goggle-eyed unpredictability tonight, but the more I see that penalty award, the more uncomfortable I feel about it. With any doubt, at a time like that, and with extra time almost upon us surely the benefit should go to the defender? Shame there was no camera-angle from behind Benatia.

Jayne, I think it would have been a foul anywhere else on the pitch, and it looked like a penalty to me, though perhaps not stonewall. Mind you, wonder if he would have awarded it if the tie had been in Turin.

Given his age and reputation, the Buffon send-off reminded me of Zidane's headbutt in the 2006 World Cup Final against Italy, but I wouldn't blame him at that stage....yellow card might have been a little wiser, or kinder, from Oliver.

Interesting watching Roy Keane last night on highlights...when asked by Lee Dixon if he had any sympathy for Buffon, Roy gave the impression that they had form with each other...no sympathy from Roy for the big Italian. None from me either. The ref handed out 1 red card instead of 6 yellows, which would have been his other option. Less paperwork, I imagine... but a far less memorable dismissal than Zidane's Glasgow kiss.

[Pulcinella]

Expectation high at Casa Pulcinella following Wolves' win yesterday: is there a good reason why there's no mention of the match result here yet?

[cloughie]

Expectation high at Casa Pulcinella following Wolves' win yesterday: is there a good reason why there's no mention of the match result here yet?

No doubt edge will report it dreckly!

[Lat-Literal]

Arsenal are currently losing 2-0 in Moscow but it is 4-3 on aggregate. Around 300 Arsenal fans have travelled to this match and, according to Robbie Savage on BT, many of them were fraternising happily with CSKA supporters in Red Square this afternoon. What is more, they have all been presented with traditional Russian hats to keep them warm during the match.

[teamsaint]

Expectation high at Casa Pulcinella following Wolves' win yesterday: is there a good reason why there's no mention of the match result here yet?

Lots of excitement in the Black Country no doubt, and especially so with WBA heading in the opposite direction.

Lets hope WWFC fans can contain their excitement...the PL isn’t all its cracked up to be......

[cloughie]

Lots of excitement in the Black Country no doubt, and especially so with WBA heading in the opposite direction.

Lets hope WWFC fans can contain their excitement...the PL isn’t all its cracked up to be......

...and B'ham City still not guaranteed Championship status!

[Lat-Literal]

Arsenal (9-4) through 2-2 and 6-3 on aggregate against CSKA Moscow (200-1).

Salzburg (25-1) have beaten Lazio (7-1) and Marseille (20-1) have beaten Leipzig (7-1).

Sporting (100-1) only just failed against Atletico (11-10) after a very brave try.

[EdgeleyRob]

Expectation high at Casa Pulcinella following Wolves' win yesterday: is there a good reason why there's no mention of the match result here yet?

Sorry didn't have much time yesterday Pulcie

Wolves 2 Derby County 0 Scored in each half,now just 2 points needed for promotion and 4 for the title
Fort William 2 Wick Academy 2 Led at half time,secured the point with a late equaliser,3rd point of the season

Inter Cities Fairs Cup,quarter final,2nd leg

CSKA Moscow 2 Arsenal 2 Came back from 2-0 down with 2 goals in the last 15 mins,through 6-3 on aggregate

[EdgeleyRob]

...and B'ham City still not guaranteed Championship status!

Wolves v Birmingham on Sunday

[EdgeleyRob]

Got your breath back after Real-Juve, CL fans...? Goodness!

Terrific tie and amazing goggle-eyed unpredictability tonight, but the more I see that penalty award, the more uncomfortable I feel about it. With any doubt, at a time like that, and with extra time almost upon us surely the benefit should go to the defender? Shame there was no camera-angle from behind Benatia.
Given his age and reputation, the Buffon send-off reminded me of Zidane's headbutt in the 2006 World Cup Final against Italy, but I wouldn't blame him at that stage....yellow card might have been a little wiser, or kinder, from Oliver.

As for City-Liverpool... I didn't really enjoy the 2nd leg until about 5 minutes to go! So tense. But what an epic, high-quality, thrilling battle across the four halves. Our front three get all the attention of course, but we won by defending so very well against some wonderful City team-play. Not always the case with Liverpool recently....!
I think you do get better quality football in the CL knockout rounds compared to most of the World Cup now, and I don't know how I'll feel about watching it taking place in Russia, let alone Qatar.
Viewers' Boycott, anyone?

Looked a pen to me Jayne,as for citeh,they seem only capable of playing for one half of games just lately