Long live the FA Cup
You’ll no doubt get a lot of these, but it’s 5pm on Saturday, I’ve been listening to the radio for the last four hours, and I can’t remember a weekend of Premier League action this exciting for a long time. And it’s not over yet.
Looks like the FA Cup still has its place after all.
Dan
…No glamour ties huh.
There have been at least five great stories from Wolves stunning liverpool to non-league Lincoln making the fifth round from a goal down to Arsenal’s new signings Welbeck and Walcott humiliating southampton to Wycombe’s valiant effort and Leicester’s dramatic equaliser.
The FA Cup is alive and well friends and long may it continue.
Timi, MUFC
Almost out of words at how bad Liverpool are
I don’t think there are enough words in the English vocabulary to describe just how utterly awful Liverpool have been for this entire month. A loss to the 18th-placed championship team with their fourth-choice goalkeeper, I’m not even surprised anymore.
From second place with a chance at a title and two cups, to limping out in pathetic fashion from two competitions and now being in real danger of dropping to 6th place.
It feels like an eternity now when Liverpool looked like they were going to score on every attack. Now it feels like I’ve been watching the same game on repeat, sideways passing and then losing the ball and getting cut to ribbons on every counter attack. The players are listless, passionless, and just jaded, it reminds me of the Hodgson era or the lowest ebbs during Rodgers’ time.
I love Klopp, I adore the man, I still think he’s brilliant. The kneejerk reactions from pundits and fans, who are very much enjoying this Liverpool meltdown, now say he’s a fraud and has been found out. I don’t think that’s the case, I just think the team is knackered, low in confidence, and with the barrage of fixutres, he has simply not figured out a way to stop the rot. But the buck has to stop with him.
Why are there no backup wingers when the formation relies on pace? Why is TAA the backup RB? Why is Lucas still in the ****ing team? Why does every corner fail to beat the first man? And why is the team still so jittery on defense?
A win is needed against Chelsea, nothing less. Do that, and perhaps some confidence will return and the team can hold on to a top 4 spot. Lose, and I fully expect the Liverpool train to continue its complete derailment.
I love Klopp, and I don’t think the club can do better, but he needs to right this ship. There are no more cup fixtures, no more distractions, league or bust, otherwise serious questions need to be start being asked of everyone at the club.
CB (Not angry anymore, just fed up), Washington DC
Didn’t fancy the FA Cup anyway
Exiting the two cups this week could work out in our favour. With just the league to concentrate on, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs to visit Anfield, it is set up for a cracking final four months.
If you look at the our last eight games vs Chelsea’s last eight, the title race is far from over. If we beat Chelsea on Tuesday, everyone will be talking up our chances again, and I’m certain they will come to Anfield looking to avoid defeat.
If we are five points off top with eight games to go we will definitely be in with a shout.
KP SA
Arsenal midfielders showing Ramsey how to play
What a joy watching The JEFF and The Ox doing the simple things well, with pace, control, an ability to tackle and pass.
Wonder what Sanchez is thinking as he watches, knowing that he’ll be playing with Ramsey and his pointless 180 turns, playground failed flicks, passes that are ten yards off target and selfish shooting on Tuesday. Be prepared for some “WTF” looks and flailing arms from the great man.
Anti-Ramsey Gooner
…Did I just witness The Ox putting Aaron Ramsey’s Arsenal career out of its misery?
If so, my sincerest thanks, Alex.
Johnno
Amazing work from Stewie G
It must be a complete coincidence that Arsene Wenger is away from the team’s spotlight, control relinquished to Steve Bould…and the following happens:
* Clean sheet
* Tactical organisation
* Players with clearly defined roles
* Motivation from the kickoff
* Team cohesion
* Zero defensive stupidity
* Ruthless, incisive football as opposed to boring, sideways rubbish
* Proactive subs before the standard 70th minute
* A team that improved after HT
Like I said, must a total coincidence. Just like in 2006, the one season Keown was allowed to coach the defence for European games, they set a new CL record. I suspect the performance at Chelski will also be far better than you’d usually expect.
Stewie Griffin
Miaow to Klopp
Maybe Klopp might consider mixing his tactics up as a lot of teams appear to have worked this Liverpool side out?
I hear some forward-thinking teams on the continent are playing a direct style of football that consists of quickly moving the ball from defence or midfield to an awaiting forward player from distances of over half the pitch away. Just a thought.
The Flan, North London
The weirdness of selling Snodgrass
I’m really struggling to come to terms with the decision by Hull to sell Robert Snodgrass. His attacking contributions are well documented and Hull’s playing style is improving under Marco Silva’s tutelage to the point that escaping relegation seems more likely today than it has for a month. Why then, have Hull sold their main attacking outlet, as opposed to using him?
The only rationale is the price. I don’t think you’ll get 10 million for a paceless winger at any time other than right now. This also makes sense when coupled with Jake Livermore’s transfer: never before and never again will you see Jake Livermore demand a price of 10 million. These two would also be amongst Hull’s higher earners and so freeing up space on the wage bill and 20 million isn’t a bad return (for Hull) for two players who, at their peak, won’t be more than mid-table players.
Whatever the reason, this is definitely the most balls-out, ‘go big or go home’ approach Marco Silva could’ve taken. As a neutral to the relegation fight, I hope it works. And if it doesn’t, I hope he is persevered with in the Champo because he looks like a man with a plan and he knows the way he wants that plan executed.
Also, how the f*** is Sam Clucas a Premier League football player? Fair play to him for grabbing his chance but how the f***?
Emad MUFC Boston
Some simple rules changes
There’s been some interesting debate on rules changes since Marco Van Basten (ex-striker) suggested getting rid of offside, amongst other things (who’d have thought !!).
Despite some interesting technology becoming available, surely we hit the low hanging fruit first – implementing some (pretty minor) changes that have been massively successful in other sports.
Firstly, timekeeping. There’s a world of difference between “approx. 1 min of injury time”….and “there are 26 seconds left and you’re 1-0 down”. Pretty much every other sport has this – basically a link from the ref’s watch to a stadium clock. It’s not rocket science, it adds to the excitement (I’ve never understood the appeal of Fergie time) and if you stop the clock for major injuries and substitutions, you also remove a couple of major sources of time-wasting and irritation to fans.
Secondly, 10 min sin-bin (orange card). Firstly, two yellows would get 10 mins off the field, but also, surely any current red card bar deliberate violent conduct (trying deliberately to hurt someone) could just be an orange. Every week, some idiot accidentally goes over the top with a miss timed tackle, and gets sent off thus ruining the contest – just give him 10 mins to have a good think about his behaviour. Also with a lesser penalty, more sh#thousery can be punished with a more appropriate offence – dive…10 mins, clear time wasting…10 mins, screaming at the ref…10 mins.
Lastly, and straight out of field hockey and rugby’s book, for a foul, the ball doesn’t have to be stopped or even kicked to anyone else…you can just dribble away with it (as long as you pass through the place where the offence happened) – no messing around. And if a defender deliberately tries to stop the quick free kick happening…10 mins for you, sir…The impact on both hockey and rugby have been massive, speeding up the games and making them much more exciting.
All pretty easy stuff, and simple to implemen
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