The Weekend’s Other Games 16/01/21

[miller0863]

Early surprise victory for the Baggies in the Black Country Derby
Wolves 2-3 WBA

Leeds’ patchy form continues with 10 minutes to go
Leeds 0-1 Brighton

And
WHU 1-0 Burnley

[miller0863]

Oh and it’s Saturday afternoon so Harvey Elliott must have assisted a Blackburn goal?
Yes, he certainly has
Blackburn 1-1 Stoke

[ianlfc]

Another weekend and Celtic look to be dropping more points. 0-0 against Livingston at home.

[skyebo]

Another weekend and Celtic look to be dropping more points. 0-0 against Livingston at home.

I'm surprised Lennon hasn't gone by now. He must have friends in high places.

[ianlfc]

I'm surprised Lennon hasn't gone by now. He must have friends in high places.

It would seem that way, definitely a job for the boys there. There's even talk of bringing back Martin O'Neil !!
What Rangers have done and got right is they've gambled on a very good young manager with very good contacts. I can see Stevie staying another season or two with few pound to spend.

[skyebo]

It would seem that way, definitely a job for the boys there. There's even talk of bringing back Martin O'Neil !!
What Rangers have done and got right is they've gambled on a very good young manager with very good contacts. I can see Stevie staying another season or two with few pound to spend.

Yes, he's doing a fine job up there.

[miller0863]

He is doing an excellent job, won their Europa League group which included big spending Benfica.
Not only have they absolutely blitzed the league, in dropping 4 points out of 69 so far, they have scored 59 times and conceded only 6 in 23 games.
Doing fantastically well for his first job.

[Balinkay]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Er3zmsLW8AQBrdL?format=jpg&name=medium

There are two teams in this pictures... who had the brilliant idea to play in white?

[miller0863]

Approaching the hour and thanks to a soft Fulham sending off at the end of the first half it’s all Chelsea, Fulham holding on though
Fulham 0-0 Chelsea
Stats
Chelsea with 67% of the ball.
Fulham 6 attempts 0 on target
Chelsea 12 attempts 4 on target

[miller0863]

Finally Chelsea pressure tells and the ball drops to Mason Mount to shoot home from 8 yards.
Fulham 0-1 Chelsea
10 minutes left

[Steveo]

Wow Werner looks shocking. Keeper stranded - clean through on goal and he misses the target by a distance.

[miller0863]

Injury time and second half substitute Timo Werner is put clean through on goal, he placed his shot wide of the keeper and wide of the right hand post.
Whoops.

Anyway F/T
Fulham 0-1 Chelsea

[Kev0909]

Chelsea game was awful, they're shit

just about beat 10 man fulham. whole 2nd half with 10

While frank's in charge i'm not worried about them

[ianlfc]

He is doing an excellent job, won their Europa League group which included big spending Benfica.
Not only have they absolutely blitzed the league, in dropping 4 points out of 69 so far, they have scored 59 times and conceded only 6 in 23 games.
Doing fantastically well for his first job.

The latest I'm hearing is, Apparently Eddie Howe is the favourite to take over from Lennon. If or should it be when, he is sacked .

[miller0863]

Excellent finish by James Maddison for the opener on 38 minutes
Leicester 1-0 Southampton

[RedNoodle]

It would seem that way, definitely a job for the Bhoys there. There's even talk of bringing back Martin O'Neil !! What Rangers have done and got right is they've gambled on a very good young manager with very good contacts. I can see Stevie staying another season or two with few pound to spend.

Fixed for you. ;)

[RedNoodle]

Southampton have scored one goal in their last eight hours of playing time, and guess who that was against? :rolleyes:

[Balinkay]

Cracker of a finish though!

[RedNoodle]

Cracker of a finish though!

By an ex player of ours. One who I said would score against us before the game kicked off.

[RedNoodle]

Armstrong hits the bar with a long range thumper. Southampton then think they've won a penalty but it's ruled out for offside.

[RedNoodle]

Barnes has a shot cleared off the line.

[Balinkay]

By an ex player of ours. One who I said would score against us before the game kicked off.

I really liked Danny. Clearly a player in there... damn injuries.

[RedNoodle]

I really liked Danny. Clearly a player in there... damn injuries.

As did most of those who knew anything about him.

Given how we've hung onto other players with fitness issues, players who aren't anywhere near as good as him, I'm still miffed that we sold him. Personally I would not be at all surprised if Klopp wanted to keep him, but our 'overlords' said "no dice".

[RedNoodle]

Leicester have had loads of chances to double their lead. If Southampton get a late equaliser, the Leicester City players will kick themselves.

[miller0863]

Barnes puts it to bed in the 95th minute
Leicester 2-0 Southampton

[skyebo]

A fit Danny Ings will always get you goals. The trouble was, he was never shifting the front three, as Origi has already found out.

[RedNoodle]

FT Leicester City 2-0 Southampton

Barnes scores a late breakaway goal.

Anything less that three points for us tomorrow and I can see us continuing to slide down the table.

[miller0863]

Yep draw not good enough tomorrow, go for the win.

[Kev0909]

at least everton can't go above us yet

[RedNoodle]

A fit Danny Ings will always get you goals. The trouble was, he was never shifting the front three, as Origi has already found out.

Comparing Origi and Ings is like comparing me to Superman, or indeed anyone who can raise any of their body parts without calling out in pain.

That is one of our problems. Nobody should be undroppable. On recent form any of our front three should be under pressure for their place, but given our one and only decent alternative was injured after being played in a meaningless match, we have no choice but to keep playing them game after game, irrespective of form, fitness or opposition.

[Steveo]

Anyone seen Sid about lately..?

[Kev0909]

Anyone seen Sid about lately..?

Not since CCTV upset him

[skyebo]

Comparing Origi and Ings is like comparing me to Superman, or indeed anyone who can raise any of their body parts without calling out in pain.

That is one of our problems. Nobody should be undroppable. On recent form any of our front three should be under pressure for their place, but given our one and only decent alternative was injured after being played in a meaningless match, we have no choice but to keep playing them game after game, irrespective of form, fitness or opposition.

That's why they keep getting games, because no-one else can get any goals. Pointless looking at any of the midfield players for help.

[justme]

A fit Danny Ings will always get you goals. The trouble was, he was never shifting the front three, as Origi has already found out.
Exactly. Origi has hardly ever started has the main striker. Dann Ings wouldn't have gotten the games..Klopp wanted to keep him. But he was fair with Ings and let him go to get games.
In fact we have not actually ever bought a natural number 9 under Klopp..He likes players in the main role to drop off and be a false 9.

[Steveo]

Like that old false 9 Lewandowski. :D

[Balinkay]

As did most of those who knew anything about him.

Given how we've hung onto other players with fitness issues, players who aren't anywhere near as good as him, I'm still miffed that we sold him. Personally I would not be at all surprised if Klopp wanted to keep him, but our 'overlords' said "no dice".

Why would they say "no dice" to him but not Oxo or Keita?

[Steveo]

Both Ox and Keita look like Career sick notes. Ings was unlucky with bad injuries not a constant recurring lack of fitness. Besides who is going to pay a wedge for the Ox or Keita?

Money on them is lost - looks like damage limitation. Get as many minutes until contracts to run down - the. Sell cheap or let go.

Ings - a natural striker was always going to go for a mint. Even Benteke did.

The difference? Profit..
bought Ings for £8 million sold for £20..!

Profit....

[Balinkay]

But if you want damage limitation, surely it makes sense to sell as soon as possible before their value drops off further because of their age and contract length, no? They're not playing at all anyway - might as well make some money.

In the end you'll lose them for nothing when their contract runs out.

[Steveo]

Who will buy them for anything but a huge loss now? Who will pay their salaries.? And more importantly would it be close to enough to give Klopp enough to replace them?

The sad reality is - we are a selling club. For Klopp to keep his main men he has to “pay the bills.” His own words.

We went out and tried to get Keita on the cheap BEFORE anyone else entered the bidding - backfired. Were due to sell Coutinho and bag Virgil and the Ox in August nut Couts deal fell through and Ox arrived. A 2nd, 3rd or 4th choice player (Ox) again on the cheap due to injury record. Arsenal were cock a hoop they got £35 million for him.

This is why I give 90% of all the credit to Klopp - 10% to the owners - credit them for getting their man... but beyond that - this house has shallow foundations - they come from the Black Forrest and will likely return.

[Balinkay]

But someone will buy them for some money Even if it's a loss, some money is better than the no money we'd get when we lose them for free. They're currently not playing or contributing anything to results on the pitch so even giving them away would make for a smaller loss than keeping them around.

This line of thinking makes a lot more sense with Wij - he's playing regularly and contributing to results (and to money influx) so it possibly makes financial sense to hang on to him. I don't understand the thinking behind doing the same with someone who doesn't actually play.

[Balinkay]

Time will tell how well run the club is - I guess we'll find out once Klopp leaves, at least when it comes to on pitch success.

[Balinkay]

Ah, maybe it's for commercial purposes? I'm sure Oxo sells shirts and has enough advertising clout for it to play a role in making decisions like this.

[Steveo]

Yep time will tell and hopefully my outlook is misguided.

With the Ox and Keita and Shaq situations I think you are right, no logic in keeping hold of players who don’t play.

My assertions are just my best guess at why the club is seemingly continuing with them while also refusing to enter the market for any kind of CB cover.

Does look like we are out of juice and need another big sale to fund any top level signings.

[Balinkay]

Yeah, defo. It's weird... I guess the plan might have been to move some subset of Shaq, Origi, Oxo and Keita at some point this year but the pandemic made the climate too difficult?

Klopp is a ruthless fucker, as you say - doubt he'd be pushing to keep players but then I can barely see FSG doing the same... super strage.

[jr81]

Yeah, defo. It's weird... I guess the plan might have been to move some subset of Shaq, Origi, Oxo and Keita at some point this year but the pandemic made the climate too difficult?

Klopp is a ruthless fucker, as you say - doubt he'd be pushing to keep players but then I can barely see FSG doing the same... super strage.

Reading a bit on the event at the weekend with Sir Kenny, klopp and Ferguson. Ferguson said he wanted to sign Henderson but the medical team felt he would suffer with injuries. Ferguson said it was his job to make sure players were available. So didn't make the bid. When we looked at OX we should have known his injury record wasn't great, the same with shaq(although he as on the cheap). Keita has been unlucky.
But selling Lovren and not replacing him known we had 2 injury prone CBs was a mistake. So was that a board decision or managerial?

[ianlfc]

When the club considered furloughing employees, made me think there's not much money knocking about !!

[Kev0909]

When the club considered furloughing employees, made me think there's not much money knocking about !!

Yep same with wij and contract......

"but but its about how long"!!!!! there's been some reports of it being money, and the fact there's always normally a "sign on fee" even with contracts, agent fees and the likes

doomed i tell ya FSG probably unhappy they spent a lot more than they made in summer for once, (nothing compared to the likes of city etc but alot for fsg) and didn't get to sell Wilson grujic origi etc

[LEGS]

Reading a bit on the event at the weekend with Sir Kenny, klopp and Ferguson. Ferguson said he wanted to sign Henderson but the medical team felt he would suffer with injuries. Ferguson said it was his job to make sure players were available. So didn't make the bid. When we looked at OX we should have known his injury record wasn't great, the same with shaq(although he as on the cheap). Keita has been unlucky.
But selling Lovren and not replacing him known we had 2 injury prone CBs was a mistake. So was that a board decision or managerial?

Yes he did say that but he gambled on Van Nistelrooy after an ACL injury.

All managers take risks on players and lets be fair under Klopp only Ox had a bad injury record.

Im sure we will try to get rid of some of the fringe players like Shaqiri Origi Phillips Adrian in the summer.

I dont see Ox or Keita being sold though.

We wont get as much for those players now but selling clubs wont be able to command as much either and its time fees came down anyway.

[skyebo]

Reading a bit on the event at the weekend with Sir Kenny, klopp and Ferguson. Ferguson said he wanted to sign Henderson but the medical team felt he would suffer with injuries. Ferguson said it was his job to make sure players were available. So didn't make the bid. When we looked at OX we should have known his injury record wasn't great, the same with shaq(although he as on the cheap). Keita has been unlucky.
But selling Lovren and not replacing him known we had 2 injury prone CBs was a mistake. So was that a board decision or managerial?

Klopp i hope.

[miller0863]

5 minutes in
Sheff Utd 0-1 Spurs
Aurier

[Balinkay]

That's SHU 0-1 Spuds miller. :D Thought it was an OG for a second.

[Steveo]

He’s not the only one on the sauce.. I plan on being sozzled by 8pm tonight just before disappearing down behind the back of the sofa..

I hate these games with them bastards...

[miller0863]

Aye, wrong way round though Kane has put them 2-0 up now.

[miller0863]

Spurs as it stands level on points and goal difference with us.

Can’t contemplate defeat today, we’d drop to 6th this weekend if we lose.

[Kev0909]

Spurs as it stands level on points and goal difference with us.

Can’t contemplate defeat today, we’d drop to 6th this weekend if we lose.

Don't worry about it, FSG ain't

[miller0863]

McGoldrick heads one back for the bottom club
Sheff Utd 1-2 Spurs
Hour gone

[miller0863]

Very impressive finish by Ndombele
Sheff Utd 1-3 Spurs

[Kev0909]

Palace without Zaha and kouyate

Would take some liverpool style doing to blow this for city.

[miller0863]

Not even bothering with it, got Antiques Roadshow on.
All footballed out

[ianlfc]

Not even bothering with it, got Antiques Roadshow on.
All footballed out

That was me before Christmas. It's bloody awful and I'm not trying to be smart. Getting No fans in the ground is the biggest factor . The players just go through the motions.