The Round Ball Game

[gurnemanz]

Just returned from German jaunt, including maiden visit to Bayreuth Festival, to discover that in our absence Palace have contrived to descend into chaos (yet again). No manager, first two games lost and interesting times ahead.

[EdgeleyRob]

Just returned from German jaunt, including maiden visit to Bayreuth Festival, to discover that in our absence Palace have contrived to descend into chaos (yet again). No manager, first two games lost and interesting times ahead.

Yes indeed,a crazy situation there.

Today.

Aston Villa 0 Newcastle United 0. Not a classic,Toon of the mark.
Chelsea 2 Leicester City 0. Forum derby,was always going to be tough for the Foxes.
Crystal Palace 1 West Ham United 3. Chamakh goal gave hope,manager situation needs sorting.
Southampton 0 West Bromwich Albion 0. A game of few chances by all accounts,Saints first point.
Brighton 2 Bolton Wanderers 1.From 1-0 down,second win of the season.
Middlesbrough 2 Sheffield Wednesday 3. Were 3-0 up but managed to hang on,top six.
plastic dons 0 Coventry City 0. A good away point.
Wimbledon 1 Hartlepool United 2. Forum derby,Dons 1-0 up at the break,first win for Pool.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 Celtic 0. Fantastic win,OG sealed the points.
St Mirren 0 Dundee 1. Conceded a late goal,remain pointless.
Berwick Rangers 5 East Stirlingshire 0. Bad day at the office,man sent off in the second half.
Bristol Rovers 1 Telford United 0. First win of the season.
Alfreton town 2 Wrexham 3. Managed to hang on after leading 3-1 at half time,top five.
Chelmsford 1 Sutton United 1. Took the lead with a Pen before an OG levelled it.
Stockport County 3 Bradford Park Avenue 1.Injury time third calmed the nerves.
Arlesey Town 1 Hereford United 1. Late equaliser earned the point,17th
Truro City 2 St Neots Town 3. Managed to claw back a 2-0 defecit before conceding a third,10th


Liverpool play on Monday against you know who !!

[teamsaint]

Thanks for the round up ER. Hope you were there to see County grab those points.

Good to see the Gas getting rolling too.

[johncorrigan]

St Mirren 0 Dundee 1. Conceded a late goal,remain pointless.

Not only pointless, Rob, but goal-free too ...thanks for all your efforts!!! Things can only get less bad!

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

it is, as the Spurs manager wisely said, only two games in ... so allez les bleus!

his team played rather well too in knocking Sir Harry of his perch ...

[aeolium]

Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 Celtic 0. Fantastic win,OG sealed the points.

Top o' the world, ma!

Arlesey Town 1 Hereford United 1. Late equaliser earned the point,17th

You know things are tough when the club names sound as if they come from a novel. Surely there isn't a real place called Arlesey?

Thanks for the update, ER.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

You know things are tough when the club names sound as if they come from a novel. Surely there isn't a real place called Arlesey?

Thanks for the update, ER.

a well know station to users of the suburban train services from Kings X though not in the Hogwarts class!

[jayne lee wilson]

So the great day comes.... it feels too early in the season for an encounter like City-Liverpool, you just hope something kicks it all off...
But last Spring's thunderously emotional 3-2 was a heart-thumping one-off, one I'll never forget!

I wish Balotelli could play... a shade worried about tactics (and Gerrard's demeanour) after the game against Saints. I certainly won't be eating before this one. One of my living on coffee days...

[teamsaint]

So the great day comes.... it feels too early in the season for an encounter like City-Liverpool, you just hope something kicks it all off...
But last Spring's thunderously emotional 3-2 was a heart-thumping one-off, one I'll never forget!

I wish Balotelli could play... a shade worried about tactics (and Gerrard's demeanour) after the game against Saints. I certainly won't be eating before this one. One of my living on coffee days...

Hmm....our subsequent lacklustre display against the Baggies doesn't make for encouragement for the reds.

but its a funny old game.......

hoping the game will inspire me to continue my current winning run in Rummikub......

[EdgeleyRob]

So the great day comes.... it feels too early in the season for an encounter like City-Liverpool, you just hope something kicks it all off...
But last Spring's thunderously emotional 3-2 was a heart-thumping one-off, one I'll never forget!

I wish Balotelli could play... a shade worried about tactics (and Gerrard's demeanour) after the game against Saints. I certainly won't be eating before this one. One of my living on coffee days...

May as well et summink to eat now Jayne.

[jayne lee wilson]

I think that's what you call a bruising encounter...
Something of last weekend's worst fears confirmed too... compact shape, good organisation, neat passing... lack of final-ball cutting edge. Then you go one down and...

For all his evident intelligence, I'm not sure Rogers knows what his best team is now. The system is still in place - and works well, but the brilliance & unpredictability has gone... the matchwinner. Sturridge worked terrifically hard, Lambert did a job for us and Markovic looked "useful" when he came on, but...
Liverpool seemed to want to pass it into the net sometimes.

So - put Balotelli straight in against Spurs - but where does he go?
Pellegrini's City look ominously strong (neither team looked greatly changed in shape or approach), and he times his substitutions with a sharp exactitude. No such thing as a "second team" at Manchester City.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

early days Jayne early days .... Liverpool have a great squad and Manager the Team will surely follow!

[Ockeghem's Razor]

Not a propitious start to the season for the Shire, then. Obviously the new tangerine away strip has yet to work its magic

[teamsaint]

early days Jayne early days .... Liverpool have a great squad and Manager the Team will surely follow!

So what would be a par performance for the reds this season? Fourth place and the last 16 of the CL?

Reckon Rogers would take that.

And a par performance for the Shire? Only 3 points off the playoff places ATM........some of these fancy away strips take time to bed in.......

[Ockeghem's Razor]

And a par performance for the Shire? Only 3 points off the playoff places ATM........some of these fancy away strips take time to bed in.......

Yes, but...this time last year we were top of the league (or the Scottish Third Division to give it its proper name) and my team has an unenviable reputation for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. But we have a new coach and hope, triumphing over experience, is high.