Football Focus

[Mick Mac]

Where is West Ham supposed to be west of ?

[Alan Medic]

East.

[maxxi]

Yes it's a bit of a disaster atm - but I'm not too worried.

The stadium is awful and was always going to be and the change was bound to affect the team and those home losses have meant a drop in confidence leading to away form suffering etc etc.

Add to that the injuries and the 'settling in' of new players and it's a kind of 'been here before' scenario, but once some work is done on the shocking defence and the players get used to each other and the shitty stadium atmosphere I think things will get better.

Enough potential in the last 35 minutes to see that this is a damaged and leaky vessel rather than one going under.

[Otta]

Trying not to get excited about Liverpool, as there are still issues with defence, and we've always done well against the "big" teams, it's the Burnleys that we need to beat consistently, and that has been the same for years and years. Hull at the weekend will be a test.

BUT....

They are looking pretty decent and seem to have a good spirit...

[Mick Mac]

Otta Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Trying not to get excited about Liverpool, as

> there are still issues with defence, and we've

> always done well against the "big" teams, it's the

> Burnleys that we need to beat consistently, and

> that has been the same for years and years. Hull

> at the weekend will be a test.

>

> BUT....

>

> They are looking pretty decent and seem to have a

> good spirit...

I'm feel you have copied and pasted this from previous years Otta?

[red devil]

Interesting stats on who's done the most mileage in the PL... http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/lazy-man-united-jose-mourinhos-8867582

Doesn't surprise me that we're bottom, looking ponderous again with painfully slow build-ups. Just like under LVG we've got too many players playing in their wrong position...

[titch juicy]

Otta Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Trying not to get excited about Liverpool, as

> there are still issues with defence, and we've

> always done well against the "big" teams, it's the

> Burnleys that we need to beat consistently, and

> that has been the same for years and years. Hull

> at the weekend will be a test.

>

> BUT....

>

> They are looking pretty decent and seem to have a

> good spirit...

Liverpool have been installed as clear second favourites for the title.

City 4/6

Liverpool 5/1

Chelsea 9/1

Arsenal 12/1

Man Utd 12/1

Tottenham 16/1

[red devil]

No Everton? Could be this season's Leicester. Last season City won their first 5 games and everyone said the league was theirs to lose, which they did...

[titch juicy]

red devil Wrote:

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> No Everton? Could be this season's Leicester. Last

> season City won their first 5 games and everyone

> said the league was theirs to lose, which they

> did...

Everton 7th favourites at 66/1, Leicester 8th at 100/1.

[Mick Mac]

Parkdrive Wrote:

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> Can't see beyond City now, just a scramble for

> runners up, 3rd and 4th.

I remember this from August 2015 so dug it out ....... a year ahead of his time and looking spot on for 2016/2017

[Otta]

Mick Mac Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Otta Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Trying not to get excited about Liverpool, as

> > there are still issues with defence, and we've

> > always done well against the "big" teams, it's

> the

> > Burnleys that we need to beat consistently, and

> > that has been the same for years and years.

> Hull

> > at the weekend will be a test.

> >

> > BUT....

> >

> > They are looking pretty decent and seem to have

> a

> > good spirit...

>

>

> I'm feel you have copied and pasted this from

> previous years Otta?

Ha, exactly, Liverpool will take a while to gain my trust. Very surprised to see the bookmaker's odds, but suspect that may change.

All that being said, they looked great against Chelsea.

And they should have taken 3 points from spurs.

[titch juicy]

Otta Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Mick Mac Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Otta Wrote:

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> > -----

> > > Trying not to get excited about Liverpool, as

> > > there are still issues with defence, and

> we've

> > > always done well against the "big" teams,

> it's

> > the

> > > Burnleys that we need to beat consistently,

> and

> > > that has been the same for years and years.

> > Hull

> > > at the weekend will be a test.

> > >

> > > BUT....

> > >

> > > They are looking pretty decent and seem to

> have

> > a

> > > good spirit...

> >

> >

> > I'm feel you have copied and pasted this from

> > previous years Otta?

>

>

> Ha, exactly, Liverpool will take a while to gain

> my trust. Very surprised to see the bookmaker's

> odds, but suspect that may change.

>

> All that being said, they looked great against

> Chelsea.

>

> And they should have taken 3 points from spurs.

I think a draw was a fair result. A proper game of two halves.

Incidentally, Spurs are yet to concede a goal from open play this season. (one penalty and one floated free kick that went through everyone)

[Mick Mac]

What Joey did next

One source said: ?Barton told some home truths and not all of the boys reacted well. One of them pointed out to Joey that they hardly lost a game last season and had been doing fine without him.

?Barton responded by saying they were playing against s*** teams in a s*** league. But he lost the plot when one of the boys said they managed to beat Celtic last season without him too - and that he hardly got a kick against them at the weekend.

?It was all getting very heated but when Warburton tried to calm it down Barton went

head-to-head with him too.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

He is not the most likeable character, for sure. There is an interesting piece in "The Scotsman" on how he should be placed to get the most out of his ageing body. Don't think the journalist likes Warburton very much.

[SCSB79]

He's done - interview from the guardian will be the final nail in the coffin.

Shame, i thought he'd be a good signing, but he's been awful in each game so far.

If you are that good joey, why have you been crap in every game...

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/sep/19/joey-barton-interview-conflict-rangers?CMP=share_btn_tw

I suspect the three weeks is to give Rangers enough time to get rid and cross all t's and dot all i's from a legal stand point.

[Otta]

Other than being an angry little prick, Barton has always talked up his own ability (and probably believes what he is saying). Years ago he was questioning why Steven Gerrard was an England player and not him. Now say what you like about Gerrard, but they were leagues apart.

[Mick Mac]

Peckhamgatecrasher Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> He is not the most likeable character, for sure.

> There is an interesting piece in "The Scotsman" on

> how he should be placed to get the most out of his

> ageing body. Don't think the journalist likes

> Warburton very much.

@PGC - He seems to have divided the team and turned some against him. You shouldn't take on the manager, especially one who is himself under pressure. It's unfortunate to be honest. I think he will play again for Rangers. He's had his wings clipped and it depends how he reacts. I'd assume he isn't able to make any comment at all for the 3 weeks and he'll be ok, if that's what he wants.

[red devil]

One of my school friends had a family budgie called Joey, that wouldn't shut the fook up either...

[Mick Mac]

The Scottish Football Association and the Gambling Commission are understood to be looking into claims the ex-United man, now of Rangers, placed a bet on Old Firm rivals Celtic to be heavily beaten by Barcelona last Tuesday.

The Hoops lost the Champions League clash 7-0 in the Nou Camp.

The SFA has a strict no-betting policy on football games and if found guilty Barton could face a ban.

Barton is unlikely to face a major punishment if the alleged gambling was restricted to one incident.

But a potential SFA charge will leave Barton even more vulnerable after his club suspension cast major doubt on whether he would play for Rangers again.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I've just read that "Guardian" piece. He sounds fairly introspective and rational, but I wouldn't want to play alongside him after reading it.

Mick, of course one shouldn't confront the manager in that way - at least not until one's retired!

The absolute cynic in me thinks it's strange that he now has three weeks to publicise his new book.

[Mick Mac]

Peckhamgatecrasher Wrote:

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I wouldn't want to play alongside him after reading it.

Its not reached that stage at Rangers yet PGC.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Are you dissing my left foot?

[Parkdrive]

I may have been wrong about last season but then who wasn't. One thing that has not changed is celtic are still shite in Europe

[titch juicy]

United need to snap out of this very quickly or Mourinho will be gone before Christmas. He imploded last year. He'll do the same again. Twice as much pressure on him this time around. He's already had brilliant success with Chelsea, they forgave him but different story here.

[Jah Lush]

96th minute to beat who?