The Round Ball Game - II

[cloughie]

Yes, where does the time go?

Managerial situation perhaps not so clear cut at Leicester now.

Saints finish eighth but manager likely to go? Not much excitement at SMS all season according to Le Tiss. Think that's what Sainty was saying too.

Let's be honest not much excitement anywhere below the top few sides. Can all that money spent in the Prem really be value for money. What mediocrity - 7 points separating 8th and 17th, 2 out of 3 of last year's new arrivals in the top flight going back down. All very poor methinks and down they'll come flashing their failure booty to plunder the pick of championship players with the help of their greedy agents.

Thanks for this seasons Green 'un, edge and we'll be back for more come August.

[teamsaint]

Thanks for a brilliant season of Round ups ER, they always make a great read, and they take some putting together. Quite a task when you have piano practice to fit in as well .

Puel's job looking a bit dodgy right now.8th position flatters us,2 points fewer and it would have been 13th. The vultures are circling for our defenders, and there is going to be a big job to do for whoever is in charge.

David Wagner is a popular choice.

[cloughie]

Thanks for a brilliant season of Round ups ER, they always make a great read, and they take some putting together. Quite a task when you have piano practice to fit in as well .

Puel's job looking a bit dodgy right now.8th position flatters us,2 points fewer and it would have been 13th. The vultures are circling for our defenders, and there is going to be a big job to do for whoever is in charge.

David Wagner is a popular choice.

You may get him but only if Reading win at Wembley.

[aeolium]

Many thanks to ER and teamsaint for the updates throughout the season which I've been following but not commenting on of late. The Caley Thistle season was a bit depressing though I've always had a sneaking suspicion that they were gatecrashers in the Scottish Premiership and perhaps more suited to a lower league which they will now have. Perhaps they needed a merger with the Hereford Bulls who seemed to have been winning almost every game for the last couple of years - a sort of Inverford or Hereness.

The Premiership down south has been a dull affair mostly, with the only excitement being the battle for relegation. I'm pleased for Palace and also for Swansea and the efforts of Paul Clement to drag them to safety from what looked a hopeless situation - great credit also due to Leon Britton who was with them in the dark days of 2002 when they were nearly relegated from the Football League.

I can see there will be a move towards a European superleague before long. The gulf in class between the top Premiership clubs and many of those in the lower half is at times enormous, and Celtic are just wasting their time, and everyone else's, in the Scottish Prem. The same thing is happening in other big leagues in Europe, the domination of a few elite and very rich clubs.

[gurnemanz]

Sincere thanks again to Rob for ongoing results service.

Re the "gulf" mentioned above. The evidence is not conclusive: Leicester did win the League; Palace did beat Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool while still under serious relegation threat (and were a bit unlucky to lose to Spurs).

Views differ:

gulf - Pulis

no gulf - Sparky

[aeolium]

Re the "gulf" mentioned above. The evidence is not conclusive: Leicester did win the League; Palace did beat Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool while still under serious relegation threat (and were a bit unlucky to lose to Spurs).

Fair point, but if you compare it with say the 2010-11 season - same 6 teams finishing in the top 6 but in different order - the top 6 teams finished with a lot more points this season than in that one. In fact fifth place Arsenal's mere 75 points this season was only 5 lower than the total Man Utd won with in 2011. And there have been more brutal mullerings of lower clubs this year than I can remember for a while - and that with some of the top clubs, Arsenal, arguably Liverpool and Man City, underperforming relative to their squad capabilities. Pace Leicester last season, I think the winner will almost invariably come from the same pool of 6 clubs. As a competitive league, the Championship has been a lot more interesting this year.

[cloughie]

Sincere thanks again to Rob for ongoing results service.

Re the "gulf" mentioned above. The evidence is not conclusive: Leicester did win the League; Palace did beat Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool while still under serious relegation threat (and were a bit unlucky to lose to Spurs).

Views differ:

gulf - Pulis

no gulf - Sparky

Of course there is a gulf, the tables do not lie! 23 points between 6th and 8th and then the mediocrity mini league down to 17th, and the bottom three firmly anchored finally with a six point gap! Next season I expect Newcastle and Brighton will flourish, but the playoff winners will struggle. Time will tell!

[teamsaint]

Big Sam seems to have retired from football.

A decision to be applauded, I think. ( I mean that in a good way !!)

I wonder if the idea of a French manager appeals for South London's no1 club ?

[gurnemanz]

Just read through many and diverse comments on Holmesdale fansite - a loquacious bunch. General surprise and not universal dismay. His efforts were appreciated but he was never really loved - no chanting his name in the fanatics' corner. Many possible names mentioned - even Moyes! As long as we beat Brighton ....

[EdgeleyRob]

More forum success

Manchester United beat Ajax 2-0 to win the Europa League and give the city a tiny bit of cheer during a difficult few days

[Lat-Literal]

Not that anyone is asking but while I have had more upbeat footballing moments in 46 plus years this afternoon must rate as the most emotional.

I cried for a solid 15 minutes and there must have been sheer joy in that mix among other things, given that I've been grinning rather madly since.

C'est le dernier qui a parle qui a raison..........as ever until the end of time, Arsene in!

[BBMmk2]

Quite a rough game imo. But one of the best ones I have ever seen.

[Lat-Literal]

Quite a rough game imo. But one of the best ones I have ever seen.

That's football!

But integrity wins - I can guarantee that this man will never acquire a tattoo:

https://www.umaxit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Wenger-1.jpg

[EdgeleyRob]

Not that anyone is asking but while I have had more upbeat footballing moments in 46 plus years this afternoon must rate as the most emotional.

I cried for a solid 15 minutes and there must have been sheer joy in that mix among other things, given that I've been grinning rather madly since.

C'est le dernier qui a parle qui a raison..........as ever until the end of time, Arsene in!

I'm asking Lat.
I was thinking,cracking game btw,if York had stayed up what a great season for you,FA Cup and FA Trophy not bad though.

FA Cup final

Arsenal 2 Chelsea 1 Forum derby,Gunners deserved it I think,Took the lead on 4 mins then scored a 2nd after Blues red card and 76th min equaliser

Scottish Cup final

Celtic 2 Aberdeen 1 Took the lead on 9 mins but were pegged back 2 mins later,lost it on 92 mins

Just Exeter in the play offs tomorrow and our season is over,must tot up the cups we've won

[Lat-Literal]

I'm asking Lat.
I was thinking,cracking game btw,if York had stayed up what a great season for you,FA Cup and FA Trophy not bad though.

FA Cup final

Arsenal 2 Chelsea 1 Forum derby,Gunners deserved it I think,Took the lead on 4 mins then scored a 2nd after Blues red card and 76th min equaliser

Scottish Cup final

Celtic 2 Aberdeen 1 Took the lead on 9 mins but were pegged back 2 mins later,lost it on 92 mins

Just Exeter in the play offs tomorrow and our season is over,must tot up the cups we've won

Yes indeed - The York result was very bittersweet. I wasn't there but have seen them twice at Wembley in play-offs - one good and one bad. Crewe 1993, the year when I was also at the Arsenal FA Cup final replay and Oxford 2010 which having been a regular at football for so many years was sadly the last match I attended. Although like anyone I wobble, loyalty is one of my characteristics for better or for worse. There has not been a moment when I have opposed Wenger and I just hope now that he stays. He means a lot to me.