The Round Ball Game

[EdgeleyRob]

and finally (you'll like this gurney),

FA Cup,

Brighton 2 Arsenal 3. Rallied in the 2nd half from 0-2 down,but couldn't find the equaliser.

In other news,Adrian Chiles sacked as ITV live football anchorman,result !!!!

[teamsaint]

"Southampton 2 Crystal Palace 3. Forum derby,all the goals in the 1st 40 minutes,Saints led twice."

Koeman commented after losing: "It's not normal that a team like Crystal Palace – with all due respect, because they played very well – creates so many possibilities,".

......!

With all due respect, it's not normal for a "team like Southampton" to be so well placed in the League as they are now and it is certainly inadvisable for them then be so carried away with their own success as to be astonished that "a team like Palace", currently below them in the League, might actually manage to "play very well". I have always been rather sympathetic to Saints but am becoming increasingly less well-disposed. Pride cometh before a fall.

What Big Ron is quoted as saying in full;

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman: "It's not normal that a team like Crystal Palace - with all due respect, because they played very well - create so many possibilities.

"At least we had a good reaction in the second half, but it wasn't enough. We like to play offensive football, but we need communication in the defence to work together.

"We'd like to win every game, but we know our level and we have to be good to win games like this."


Highlights are mine. It reads to me that he was disappointed that Palace had so many chances, not that he was surprised that they played well. 10 is certainly far higher than many PL clubs have been having against them. Chelsea for instance had 7 shots in the league game, 1 on target.

Not sure we are that overdone on pride.
You may recall a first choice Saints team recently got beaten in a QF by a league 1 team.

Saints fans would certainly not be happy if they thought that Ron was disparaging about Palace, after a well deserved win, and I don't think he was being.

[EdgeleyRob]

Latest.

League Cup semi final 2nd leg.

Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0 (agg 2-1 AET). Forum derby,cracking game by all accounts ,Blues 7th League Cup final.

League games.

Sheffield Wednesday 0 Birmingham City 0. Probably a decent point against a side in good form,9th.
Truro City 2 Chippenham Town 0. On a fantastic run,2nd half goals take city up to 4th.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

it was a cracker; fluent attacking football, clumsy confrontational football, fast football ... i had an idyllic evening watching the game in a pub with mainly Liverpool supporters, the crack was great as well as the game ... and some brilliant personal performances [both keepers and Willian stood out for me]

[Beef Oven!]

it was a cracker; fluent attacking football, clumsy confrontational football, fast football ... i had an idyllic evening watching the game in a pub with mainly Liverpool supporters, the crack was great as well as the game ... and some brilliant personal performances [both keepers and Willian stood out for me]

Willian is the player that I've been most impressed with in the English game this year, from any club.

Is there not a bit missing from your post? Ahem, DC's performance

[jayne lee wilson]

it was a cracker; fluent attacking football, clumsy confrontational football, fast football ... i had an idyllic evening watching the game in a pub with mainly Liverpool supporters, the crack was great as well as the game ... and some brilliant personal performances [both keepers and Willian stood out for me]

Yes, a great and thunderous confrontation but... as Mourinho said after the infamous ghost goal... "now I am sad." But to lose to such a poor goal - a poorly defended cross of all the sucker punches, after all the efforts to tighten up over the last few weeks...?!

Doesn't bother me much all that much if Diego Costa, great team player and striker that he is, stamped on various ankles accidentally-on-purpose, accidentally, or just plain viciously - it still seems a pity that he has to go around niggling at opponents & winding them up so much. I know he's not the only one, but I admire him a little less because of it... It feels like the footie equivalent of Aussie sledging...

AS for the brilliant Willian... He never quite gets his due praise does he, but without him in the engine room, without his soft touch, iPad control... Chelsea wouldn't be quite so tough, or quite so pretty.

OK, we still have the FA and UEFA Cups to go for (and no Chelsea in either )... The season is still alive, but... We still can't achieve that big win over a big team. The playmaking is there... the goals aren't.

[Beef Oven!]

Willian is the player that I've been most impressed with in the English game this year, from any club.

Is there not a bit missing from your post? Ahem, DC's performance

Update: Last night, on reading up how British boxer Kell Brook's recovery from that crazy machete attack that he suffered is going, on the same page was a link to footage of Willian viciously hacking down an opponent, then squaring up to everyone and punching a player in the face. All in Mexico. Well, I don't like it when footballers behave like that and I have to say that I've gone off him a bit.

If players want to punch an opponent in the face, they should get in the ring with a boxer who will be equally motivated to punch them back.

Rant over

[johncorrigan]

That's the weekend sorted for me...The Buddies managed to hold on to a one goal lead from minute 6 against the Jags...some new signing from Oldham on his debut...and Big Jim went another game without a booking...joy!!!

Good luck to most of the rest of you this weekend!!

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

well DC is having to do his porridge for the stamp [BO are you sure it was Willian who did that?] and misses the big game today in consequence .... such is football

and a draw might be the likeliest result between the two contenders ... back to the pub!

[Beef Oven!]

well DC is having to do his porridge for the stamp [BO are you sure it was Willian who did that?] and misses the big game today in consequence .... such is football

and a draw might be the likeliest result between the two contenders ... back to the pub!

Here's the video. Willian's name is linked (highlighted in blue) - when you click on the link, it takes you to Willian, the current Chelsea player.

https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/early-doors/ronaldinho-plays-peacemaker-after-team-mate-s-savage-tackle-punch-combo-211403437.html

[Alison]

Manchester United versus Leicester City. today.

[teamsaint]

That's the weekend sorted for me...The Buddies managed to hold on to a one goal lead from minute 6 against the Jags...some new signing from Oldham on his debut...and Big Jim went another game without a booking...joy!!!

Good luck to most of the rest of you this weekend!!

great stuff.

[Beef Oven!]

Good luck to most of the rest of you this weekend!!

Thanks for the kind sentiment, Johncorrigan.

United will give those Leicester upstarts a damn good thrashing today.

[EdgeleyRob]

Partick Thistle 0 St Mirren 1. At last some daylight,could have done without Motherwell and Ross County getting a point but 3rd from bottom is good for now.
Hull City 0 Newcastle United 3. Scored just before half time,finished the job in the 2nd half,straightforward win v a poor side.
Crystal Palace 0 Everton 1. Conceded in the 2nd minute and couldn't find a way back,13th.
Liverpool 2 West Ham United 0. Late Sturridge (YES STURRIDGE)goal made sure,5 points off the top 4.
Manchester United Association Football Club 3 Leicester City 1. Late consolation but the damage was done in the 1st half,including an own goal.
Chelsea 1 the other team 1.Blues scored 1st but conceded 4 minutes later,hanging on a bit at the end,remain 5 points clear.
Blackpool 1 Brighton 0. Seaside derby,Seagulls would have hoped for better v the team at the bottom,just above the relegation zone.
Reading 2 Sheffield Wednesday 0. Both goals in the 1st half,Owls have lost their recent good form,down to 10th.
Coventry City 2 Rochdale 2. Leading 2-1 at the break,probably a decent point v the promoton chasers.
Hartlepool United 3 Plymouth Argyle 2. Super win,almost threw it away at the end,just 7 points from safety.
Morecambe 1 Wimbledon 1. Took an early lead but were pegged back before half time,13th.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 Ross County 1. Winning run came to an end with a 2nd half own goal,3 points off top spot.
East Stirlingshire 1 Clyde 2. Went behind in the 2nd half and got back to 1-1 then conceded with 10 minutes to go,now bottom.
Dartford 2 Bristol Rovers 2. Led twice,should have probably done better v the relegation strugglers,remain in 2nd.
Wrexham 0 Torquay United 0. A point ends the losing run,17th.
Chelmsford 2 Whitehawk 1.All the goals in the first half,the winner in the 46th minute,7th
Boston United 1 Stockport County 1.Took the lead and went in at the break 1-1,turned out be a great point v play off rivals after being battered in the 2nd half.
Truro City 2 Burnham 1. Scored the winner right on half time,City on a super run,3rd just 2 points off the top.

Southampton play tomorrow.

[Alison]

Fair play Beefy.

We were doing fine until first United goal which was offside.

At least not entirely disgraced, a deserved consolation goal and the chance to really put things right against Palace next week.