Football Focus

[Jah Lush]

Mourinho is bang out of order.

[red devil]

Agree Jah. Can you imagine how much Mourinho would've flipped had Swansea scored whilst Hazard was rolling around feigning injury and not getting treatment? And then there's the whole 'down to 9 men' thing while Hazard had to go off and wait to come back on, errrrrr excuse me Jose, but as soon as Hazard pretended to be injured you were already down to 9 men. He's the one who deserved a rollicking. Not often I say this but I hope City scoosh them this weekend. On a positive note, refreshing to hear Pulis say he got it tactically wrong against City and not come up with a load of excuses...

[Parkdrive]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> Mourinho is bang out of order.

Him, the club, the owner and its racist captain and scum fans as well. No redeeming features about that god awful club. Toxic from top to bottom.

[maxxi]

Looks like she had no choice after the ref called her on;

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/eva-carneiro-latest-chelsea-doctor-who-has-been-demoted-by-jose-mourinho-was-summoned-to-the-pitch-by-referee-michael-oliver-10451094.html

[Otta]

Barton move to West Ham off. I think those fans that have pressured the club have cost themselves a good player.

A few years ago, I'd have called Barton a scumbag, but I think he has grown up quite a lot. He'll always pick up bookings, but he is a quality player. Maybe he'll end up with one of the promoted clubs...

[Alan Medic]

I'm not sure I buy that it was the fans reaction which caused this to happen. Seems fans were fairly split about having him or not. I think there's more to it. If the fans had that much influence then BFS would not have lasted so long.

They won't be asking for Sakho to be got rid on if he's found guilty of below......

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-3194410/West-Ham-striker-Diafra-Sakho-arrested-suspicion-domestic-assault-allegations-attacked-female.html

[maxxi]

Hm, yes I thought that about the Sakho thing too.

May not be fan pressure as much as Goldivan's perception of it and knee-jerk reaction to same. After the flak from BFS they are bending over backwards to 'please' the vocal fans as they believe it will help fill their pockets the Olympic Stadium.

Was Bilic persuaded to let it go or bribed with promise of better option?

Barton response (well he's always got something to say) was mature and reasonable - well it would be while he's in the shop window I hear (some of) you say...

http://metro.co.uk/2015/08/12/joey-barton-records-message-to-west-ham-fans-after-transfer-deal-falls-through-5338854/

[spoiltdog]

Barton possibly going to Watford

[ruffers]

Otta Wrote:

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> Shame no one had a word with the player for faking

> injury.

This is where it starts, and I'm fairly confident on past impression he was doing exactly what he was told... Just too well.

[Otta]

Arsenal fans must be pleased with the news that Wilshere will only be out a couple of weeks.

[????]

Fook me the fat old tosser is even more about our result at The Emirates than I thought he'd be.. :)

Allardyce regrets finishing 10th in first Prem season

Sam Allardyce has branded West Ham's owners "ungrateful".

He has also dismissed his former employers' chances of qualifying for Europe this season but admits his own lack of faith in the squad may have dashed his chances of getting a new Hammers contract.

Allardyce, 60, has lifted the lid on his summer exit after four seasons in charge at Upton Park, telling beIN Sports: "'The West Ham Way' is obviously not winning every week, like I tried to do!

"I did everything they asked for and they wanted more, and I found that extremely ungrateful in terms of what I'd done for them.

"They thought we could get into Europe [West Ham DID play in Europe this season but only after winning a place in the first qualifying round of the Europa League via the Fair Play Table] and thought they might be able to get to a cup final, and that wasn't in the format of the job description when I started.

"I don't take kindly to people who don't appreciate what you do for them.

AFPWest Ham's co-owners David Gold (L) and David SullivanGimme gimme gimme: Gold (left) and Sullivan wanted Europe and/or a cup

"We both decided to part company in quite an amicable way in the end, but I certainly wasn't going to stay, in my mind, for a long, long time.

"If [West Ham co-owners] David Sullivan and David Gold have told [new manager] Slaven Bilic that they expect to get into Europe this year then I think it's way beyond the capabilities of the squad at this moment in time.

"I told them that. Perhaps that's one of the reasons why they didn't renew my contract in the end?

"West Ham was a case of building a broken football club back up again. [Getting West Ham promoted] was the biggest job I had done in one season.

"Ultimately, my biggest problem was finishing tenth in the first year [back in the Premier League] ? I would have been much better off finishing fourth from bottom!"

Sam AllardyceSambusters: Allardyce's West Ham went up and stayed there but his methods were criticised

Allardyce's West Ham reign has left him convinced the days of managers ruling a club from top to bottom are over.

He added: "A manager today is fast becoming something owners don't want. They [owners] are in charge of the football club and want to see it flourish and the days of the manager being the almighty, dominant power like they used to be are long, long gone and you must build a relationship and understand."

[red devil]

Tonight's Villa v Utd match is the first Friday night PL game I believe, should be a cracking atmosphere.

A pain for travelling away fans, but no different really to a mid-week game.

Think it will be a big success TV wise with the Friday night office drinkers, so might become a regular event...

[Parkdrive]

I thought the first Friday night Prem game was Arsenal v Leeds April 2004, which I went to and it was well attended. A few pints were downed after the game by many, including myself

[red devil]

There have been loads!.. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ahead-aston-villa-vs-manchester-6241576

[Alan Medic]

I remember possibly the 1st ever Friday night game pre EPL. Was working in Edinburgh and my boss decided we would drive to Berwick to watch Man U v Spurs. It wasn't being shown north of the border. Live footie never mind Friday night games were rare in those days. Must check my facts as a long time has passed.

[red devil]

Is this the first time top-flight football has been shown on a Friday?

No, there have been quite a few games in the past held on a Friday.

The last one, outside of Bank Holidays of course, was the match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at Highbury in September 2003.

Two goals from Thierry Henry and another from Gilberto Silva guided the Gunners, in their 'Invincibles' season, to a 3-2 win.

The first live Friday night game is believed to be Tottenham's First Division match with Manchester United, which was broadcast by the BBC in 1983.

And Arsenal's famous 2-0 win at Liverpool in 1989, when a last-minute goal from Michael Thomas handed them the league title, was played on a Friday night and shown on ITV.

[Parkdrive]

red devil Wrote:

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> Is this the first time top-flight football has

> been shown on a Friday?

>

> No, there have been quite a few games in the past

> held on a Friday.

> The last one, outside of Bank Holidays of course,

> was the match between Arsenal and Newcastle United

> at Highbury in September 2003.

> Two goals from Thierry Henry and another from

> Gilberto Silva guided the Gunners, in their

> 'Invincibles' season, to a 3-2 win.

> The first live Friday night game is believed to be

> Tottenham's First Division match with Manchester

> United, which was broadcast by the BBC in 1983.

> And Arsenal's famous 2-0 win at Liverpool in 1989,

> when a last-minute goal from Michael Thomas handed

> them the league title, was played on a Friday

> night and shown on ITV.

Blimey I went to those 2 matches and watched the 1989 game in a mates flat in Tyrell road and then went to the Clock House for a top up.

[red devil]

I was a student in Scotland when the '89 game was on, watched it with an Arsenal supporting mate in the student union bar. I don't think I've ever celebrated more a non-Utd goal than that night, real edge of the seat stuff. Definitely had a top up afterwards...

[Alan Medic]

I only just found out that the reason the game is on tonight is because the police asked for it to be rescheduled due to an EDL march in Walsall. I had a hope it was that the EPL had decided to help English clubs playing in Europe like various other European countries do.

[Jah Lush]

What channel is the match on?

[red devil]

Sky I think, it was originally their 5-30 Sat night game until the above change...

[Jah Lush]

Bah! Murdoch gets none of money and I'm boracic so the pub won't be getting any of my money either.

[Alan Medic]

That was 100 mph stuff last night. United have 3 shots on target in two games. Rooney is looking like the version of him that's not very good. I'm hoping things will improve in terms of entertainment but happy with two wins. The defence looks pretty solid which is a plus.

[????]

I am going to UP today with a smile on my face and no intention of booing. Should be a cracking game COYI

[Jah Lush]

Out Roberto Soldado in Clinton Njie.

I liked Roberto and wish him luck at Villareal where I'm sure he'll find his scoring boots again. Shame it didn't work out for him at Spurs. He always gave his all for us and was popular with the fans and his teammates unlike the wage thief.