The Round Ball Game

[johncorrigan]

Scottish Cup 4th round replay.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4 St Mirren 0. Forum derby,Buddies well beaten,ICT march on.What was the manager's excuse John ?

I think he's bought some 'off-the-peg' excuses on ebay, second hand from Alan Pardew who doesn't need them this year, Rob.
The Buddies boss told BBC Scotland: "We looked totally bereft of confidence from the very first goal. Once that went in you could see our confidence draining.
We can't afford to give a goal away, let alone four."
I expect the next press confidence to bemoan the quality of excuses these days.

[cloughie]

I think he's bought some 'off-the-peg' excuses on ebay, second hand from Alan Pardew who doesn't need them this year, Rob.
The Buddies boss told BBC Scotland: "We looked totally bereft of confidence from the very first goal. Once that went in you could see our confidence draining.
We can't afford to give a goal away, let alone four."
I expect the next press confidence to bemoan the quality of excuses these days.

Looks like a rerun of the Suprcaley headline for Celtic read Buddies!

[aeolium]

I think he's bought some 'off-the-peg' excuses on ebay, second hand from Alan Pardew who doesn't need them this year, Rob.
The Buddies boss told BBC Scotland: "We looked totally bereft of confidence from the very first goal. Once that went in you could see our confidence draining.
We can't afford to give a goal away, let alone four."
I expect the next press confidence to bemoan the quality of excuses these days.

It could have been a lot worse, jc. I was listening to the Sportsound commentary and Caley apparently missed four or five golden chances and should have been out of sight at half time. I think that hoary old favourite of commentators, "defence parting like the Red Sea", may have been pulled out of the cliche cupboard. The Buddies were unlucky to have come across an Inverness side at the top of their game and unlike earlier in the season going all out on attack from the start.

The English Premiership already looks like a two-horse race (though perhaps 9 or 10 contenders for relegation). Saints were a bit unlucky to lose last night. If the manager hadn't made all his substitutions before that defender got injured then they might have held out. But they clearly missed Schneiderlin and the squad looks to lack depth.

Thanks for the round-up, ER.

[teamsaint]

It could have been a lot worse, jc. I was listening to the Sportsound commentary and Caley apparently missed four or five golden chances and should have been out of sight at half time. I think that hoary old favourite of commentators, "defence parting like the Red Sea", may have been pulled out of the cliche cupboard. The Buddies were unlucky to have come across an Inverness side at the top of their game and unlike earlier in the season going all out on attack from the start.

The English Premiership already looks like a two-horse race (though perhaps 9 or 10 contenders for relegation). Saints were a bit unlucky to lose last night. If the manager hadn't made all his substitutions before that defender got injured then they might have held out. But they clearly missed Schneiderlin and the squad looks to lack depth.

Thanks for the round-up, ER.

funny thing squad depth.
our best area for real quality cover is central Midfield, but we finished last night missing Schneiderlin, Cork, Ward -Prowse and Toby(who is a defender primarily, but has been superb covering in midfield). TBH, no team would be unaffected by that number of proper first teamers missing in one area.
Nonetheless, it is true that smaller clubs will always struggle with being able to cover in the depth that the top half dozen can.
I don't thing Big Ron had much chance with the substitution, as Long was clearly carrying a knock. Losing Toby was such a blow, he really is top class. I really hope we can get him permanently, (I think we have an option to buy).


anyway, cometh the hour......

[jayne lee wilson]

SCENE: FA Tribunal.
TIME: Grey afternoon, December 2014.

Panelled Oak, stern men in suits...
"Good afternoon Mr. Balotelli, please sit down..
We have considered all the evidence in your case, and here is our judgement:

You're not the Messiah, you're a very naughty boy!
Now go away and behave yourself!"

Dear Mario... he couldn't resist posting a racist-anti-racist joke poster, could he? Kicking his heels around Melwood, chatting distractedly to physios... he gets bored and makes trouble for fun...
For heaven's sake someone, give him a cat. Shankly, it's time for your second coming!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/anfields-kop-cat-dodges-keeper-741620

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/dec/02/mario-balotelli-guilty-of-naivety-not-racism

[jayne lee wilson]

Oh yes, the footie...

Tough months for me, tough months for Liverpool FC, c'est la vie...

With the 2-2 in Razgrad, Brendan Rogers seems ( belatedly, one might think...) finally to have decided to grit it out...
A grittily desperate, cut-head header from Johnson for 1-0 against Stoke, a laboured victory against lively Leicester (who worried us to the end, 3-1 never looked safe till injury time)... with a better strike force in the new year we might even compete for 4th against superteams like Southampton!... truly, we Liverpool fans bear the cross of our memories. But wait, there's always the League Cup! Are Chelsea still in that? Ah...
Time was, we won that one for fun...

Don't despair, teamsaint!
... keep tight, keep your shape. Aim high. I do take a perverse delight that Southampton, who seemed to sell us their best players, have ridden high while we shuffle the team, moan and languish mid-table... truly, the manager is all. Everything comes from the top.

But - next week, a true European Night to thrill to, the atmosphere steaming out of the TV! Hope my heart can stand it....

[Alison]

Thanks for the positive Leicester verdict, Jayne. I'm encouraged!

[EdgeleyRob]

Good to have you back on the footy board Jayne,this Rafa back to Anfield rumour isn't going away.
Any words of encouragement for Stockport County ?

and Alison,what on earth has Nige Pearson been saying ?

[Alison]

Yeah he was a bit out of order there. But I support him still!

[cloughie]

Good to have you back on the footy board Jayne,this Rafa back to Anfield rumour isn't going away.
Any words of encouragement for Stockport County ?

and Alison,what on earth has Nige Pearson been saying ?

Rafa and loads of dosh for players so he can sideline all Rodgers purchases - are the Liverpool owners that desperate? But then they brought Dalglish back without giving Hodgson a chance!

[cloughie]

Yeah he was a bit out of order there. But I support him still!

It's tough at the bottom - but he needs to keep fans and players on board.

Maybe this approach is right - I personally think Stu is the best manager we've had since Trevor Francis, though Sturrock did a job for us for a while.

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheff-weds/alan-biggs-at-large-selfless-stuart-gray-accepted-the-pressure-and-took-the-heat-off-his-players-1-6987258

[Beef Oven!]

"Stu is the best manager we've had since Trevor Francis, though Sturrock did a job for us"

When one utters sentences like that, one knows the team one follows is crud!!

[Alison]

"Stu is the best manager we've had since Trevor Francis, though Sturrock did a job for us"

When one utters sentences like that, one knows the team one follows is crud!!

Bit harsh Beefy. Cloughie knows Wednesday's history and current scene very well. He's a good judge.

[Beef Oven!]

Bit harsh Beefy. Cloughie knows Wednesday's history and current scene very well. He's a good judge.

They should have kept Eustace for a few more years.

[cloughie]

Bit harsh Beefy. Cloughie knows Wednesday's history and current scene very well. He's a good judge.

Thanks Alison. One question Beefy - When and Why did you become a Man U supporter?