The Round Ball Game

[gurnemanz]

Eagles soar onwards. Having a secure Premier League status is an alien concept for Palace fans. Watching the Chelsea game it suddenly dawned on me that I didn't need to hope Sunderland would lose.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

well as far as Palace and Pulis go the evidence of my own eyes is all that is needed; they play well and don't lose - and unlike his reign at Stoke he leads a team that seems to score at will ...

Pompey are an emblem of fan's power and i hereby support them in their liberation from corporate and greedy bar steward control! [and yes they are not high in their lowly table, but as noble a cause as you get these days in footie?]

and many thanks for the round up Rob - dismal reading for the West Lunnun Lad in my soul ... Bleus, Fulham and QPR all lost, still Brentford are doing well ... [never went to see them and a small consolation but an almost historically unprecedented level of success in my recollection]

[aeolium]

well as far as Palace and Pulis go the evidence of my own eyes is all that is needed; they play well and don't lose - and unlike his reign at Stoke he leads a team that seems to score at will ...

Well, I can't forget how absolutely awful Stoke were to watch for pretty much all of last season, ugly, negative and brutal. Pulis has performed a miracle with Palace but for me the test will be how they play next year.

Thanks for the results service, Rob, even though the bell of doom is being tolled for Hereford barring the unexpected (and Bristol Rovers may slip out of the league too). The Premiership ought to be Liverpool's now, and they deserve it for the style in which they have played. I've a lot of time for Brendan Rogers who did excellent things at Swansea.

[BBMmk2]

last time The Toon had five defeats in a row, Pardew was threatened with the sack. This time??

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

Well, I can't forget how absolutely awful Stoke were to watch for pretty much all of last season, ugly, negative and brutal. Pulis has performed a miracle with Palace but for me the test will be how they play next year.

Thanks for the results service, Rob, even though the bell of doom is being tolled for Hereford barring the unexpected (and Bristol Rovers may slip out of the league too). The Premiership ought to be Liverpool's now, and they deserve it for the style in which they have played. I've a lot of time for Brendan Rogers who did excellent things at Swansea.

that is why the Palace Revolution is so surprising

[jayne lee wilson]

Am I starting to think, "NEARLY there..?"

I'll be told off for saying that, just as I regretted my comment after Chelsea v Sunderland, "trust Chelsea to ruin the drama", I said, "trust Chelsea to ruin it for neutrals..." (It's those 3-3 cup finals, we're addicted to adrenalin. Or is it cortisol?)

....how very clever-clever THAT sounded at 2-3 against Norwich... strolling around in the first half, then awful echoes of Man City... it had to be Raheem didn't it? We'd really worry about him in Manaus...

WHAT a day... up at 8 for the China GP, back to bed, woke at 1202, "bet they've already scored" , I thought ... Oh yes, Raheem again!

Bit of a breather now, thank god.
Lovely thing... there are quite a few Liverpool supporters who want to see Everton make 4th.
(But don't tell anyone here I said that....)

[BBMmk2]

I was glad Chelsea lost!!

Is Pardew going?

[teamsaint]

Perhaps not that interesting for most MB members, but the gloss in that grauiad article does need to be dried off a bit before fan ownership becomes all the rage.

The "fan ownership" element of the pompey scheme has been diluted in little over a year from 59% to 50.3 %, and the board are seeking further external investment to pay for a new training ground.
The other 49.7% of the club is owned by a group of 11 business people, and there is still business to be done by them (not the fan owners) on land deals around fratton.

It would be good to see portsmouth genuinely fan owned and financially stable, after their two administrations, (check out the amount that was lost to the exchequer !!) but the current model is probably some way from one that other clubs might like to emulate.

[BBMmk2]

I was glad Chelsea lost!!

Is Pardew going?

[Word]

there are quite a few Liverpool supporters who want to see Everton make 4th.

Mike Dean, for one

[johncorrigan]

Am I starting to think, "NEARLY there..?"

I'm sure that a large number of 'neutrals' will be delighted to see Liverpool get over the line, Jayne, and not just out of sentiment but for the style of play that Rodgers has encouraged, the mix of youth and experience, and in particular the combination of creative genius and sheer hard work. However they've still got a couple of toughies coming up. I expect some interesting mind games from Jose this week in an attempt to unsettle Mr R, and then they have to wait till Monday the following week to play gurney's boys and Pullis won't be lying down. The one fixture in their favour looks like Bbm's Pardew crew (they seem to have got to the beach long before the kiosks opened) who shouldn't present much of a problem - I suppose you'll be hoping it's all done and dusted by then, of course. You just have to keep going, jayne.

But who's going down...I'm delighted that my English Team, Burnley, are almost certainly on the way up again, but who will they replace? Fulham and Cardiff have big goal difference issues it's hard to make a case for them. If the Sunderland/West Brom game is still a decider by then you have to think West Brom are in big trouble, and of course there's Norwich, but they were a touch unfortunate against Liverpool yesterday - think I'll plump for Cardiff, Norwich and West Brom...but I certainly won't be betting on it.

[EdgeleyRob]

Am I starting to think, "NEARLY there..?"

Thank you Jayne for adding a touch of class to the football thread.
In your honour I will add Liverpool to the 'teams to watch out for' list.
Glory hunter ? me ? Just doing my bit for the forum.

Business end of the season.

Brighton 1 Blackpool 1. Remain in the final play off spot by 1 point,whole bunch of teams could still grab this spot.
Sheffield Wednesday 2 Charlton Athletic 3. After 8 minutes were 2-0 up but let it slip against a team fighting the drop,15th.
Leyton Orient 1 Wolves 3. Brentford's draw today means Wolves are champions,1st trophy of the season for the forum.
Oldham Athletic 0 Coventry City 0. Remain 4 points clear of the bottom 3,but still work to do to survive.
Bristol Rovers 1 Rochdale 2. Outside the relegation zone on goal difference,in serious trouble.
Hartlepool United 2 Morecambe 1. Came back from 0-1 despite having a man sent off,17th but still not mathematically safe.
Plymouth Argyle 1 Wimbledon 2. Super away win,mid table and will be in this division next season.
York City 1 Bury 0. Scored very early,one more win will seal a play off place,incredible after their poor start to the season.
Hereford United 3 Alfreton Town 2. Vital win,remain in the bottom 4 with 1 game left,survival is out of their own hands,will need to win at Aldershot and hope Chester don't win their final game.
Wrexham 0 Lincoln City 1. It's been a poor season but at least they are safe.
Chelmsford 7 (SEVEN) Tonbridge Angels 1. Magnificent win,still need 1 more win from the final 2 games to ensure safety.
Colwyn Bay 0 Stockport County 0. 14 games without a win, no goals scored in 7 games, 3 away wins all season,other than that it's been a great season
Weymouth 2 Truro City 5. Great away win,17th and safe.

[antongould]

Great round up ER as per usual .....call myself a supporter - I didn't even realise we were playing....still to come back from one down with ten men is better than of late. My maths gets worse with the passing years but I think as Oxford play Wycombe we may be safe...... Should never have sacked Big John Hughes IMHO...

[EdgeleyRob]

Great round up ER as per usual .....call myself a supporter - I didn't even realise we were playing....still to come back from one down with ten men is better than of late. My maths gets worse with the passing years but I think as Oxford play Wycombe we may be safe...... Should never have sacked Big John Hughes IMHO...

That's good AG.

I thought about looking at all the possible ifs and buts for various of our teams,but then started to lose the will to live.

Lot's of rumours hereabouts re Moyesey,wonder if he's about to be given the boot .

[antongould]

That's good AG.

I thought about looking at all the possible ifs and buts for various of our teams,but then started to lose the will to live.

Lot's of rumours hereabouts re Moyesey,wonder if he's about to be given the boot .

Yes Moyes doesn't seem to be getting much of a vote of confidence......