EPL 2022 / 2023

@Higgins said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

@KiwiPie said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

@Higgins said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

WIth Wrexham getting tonked 3 - 1 away at lower midtable Halifax it now sees @kiwipie and Notts County sneak into the lead on goal difference after they pummelled Weadstone 3 - 0 at home. It is noted, however, that Wrexham still have a game in hand and they host County on Monday in a match that is likely to decide who wins the Vanarama National League!

Yeah forget Arsenal v Liverpool, Wrexham v Notts County is the big game of the holiday weekend. Goal difference is so close and with both teams scoring bags of goals, it could still be decisive. Suddenly a draw isn't the disaster it would have been for us against Wrexham and a win puts in charge again.

Macaulay Langstaff has 41 for the season after 41 games without a penalty taken and it will be interesting to see if he gets snapped up by a League 1 or Championship team.

Maybe he should have taken that very late penalty? I can imagine the language forthcoming after that miss. A draw would have been priceless to you guys.

Yep a draw and it could go to the last game, us losing that game means we are relying on Wrexham to cock it up and I can't see that happening. Everyone will expect us to romp through the play-offs but it won't be that simple.

Wrexham able to bring in Ben Foster, a top level keeper (and apparently pay him 4.5K per week) when they had a goalkeeping crisis.

Haaling is so good. Not goal greedy happy to pass when needed.

Erling Haaland is a goal-scoring monster.

@sparky said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

Erling Haaland is a goal-scoring monster.

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Next one to beat is Clive Allen at 49 for the season in all comps (I think) and then the English record of Dixie Dean (63). Then Messi for 73(?)

A huge day at the bottom of the table and a massive late win for Bournemouth over Spurs should mean they stay up. Fulham do them a favour by beating Everton, Palace beat Southampton and Man City roll over Leicester and suddenly Bournemouth, Wolves and Palace are looking well clear.

@KiwiPie said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

A huge day at the bottom of the table and a massive late win for Bournemouth over Spurs should mean they stay up. Fulham do them a favour by beating Everton, Palace beat Southampton and Man City roll over Leicester and suddenly Bournemouth, Wolves and Palace are looking well clear.

Well, I didn't predict that, but all results went my way. That was only the second win against Spurs in about 12 attempts. We deserved the win and I thought the better side on the day.

We have next three games in a short time period against fellow strugglers. If we can get 1-2 wins and points out of all as a minimum I will say safe. Currently looks like safe, but with our goal difference and how frequently the bottom of the table changes each week, I don't think we are there yet.

Part of why I love a good relegation battle so much is because it's so dynamic. A couple of decent upsets is normally decisive in a close race so every match could be a key part of the story. Whereas at the top of the table it tends to be a drag race all about one or two key ties.

Aston Villa have come a long way since Emery has taken over. Guys like Mings, Luiz, McGinn, Konsa and especially Ollie Watkins look like world beaters currently, and what a signing Alex Moreno has been at left back! And only for 13 mil. The beauty of signing guys from overseas as they are far cheaper than local english players and better half the time as well.

We really made Newcastle look poor and probably deserved 5-6.

Champions League is probably out of reach, but any European position is considered a success for us, especially after the disastrous start under Steven Gerrard.

@posters

What makes you support a certain team? Like are you from Bournemouth bay imports or did you just randomly choose them?

Me I’m supporting arsenal to a certain extent bc

Anyone but MC
My cousin lives in arsenal territory
My fellow Swiss Xhaka is in the team

MC are playing damn good football though and are easy on the eye. Arsenal HAVE to win the away match at city (or at the very least draw) otherwise it’s curtains.

@Billy-Tell After college but before University, I worked for a year in England as a sub teacher and sports coach. Just happened that the nearest city was Bournemouth and went to a few games (in Div 2) with a few locals. Growing up as a young kid supported Liverpool, but changed after a year of indoctrination spending a year in the area

Another draw for arsenal after a 2-0 lead. And a missed penalty. That is called choking.

Arsenal fold under pressure from West Ham. Saka misses a penalty. But I can't stand the incessant search for them and surely if someone goes down in the box there has to be evidence that they would actually be able to play the ball. But the rules are what they are. Watching this game I was reminded why I stopped watching soccer, I game I played all my life. Players clutching their faces, especially Arsenal, to try to gain a free kick is distasteful. Jesus and Viera I could do without. There is no intention to stamp this rubbish out either. Man City is by far the better team.

Sat through most of the Forest v Man U game this morning. Forest looked devoid of any ideas, United strolled to a 2-0 win and now the bottom 4 all look doomed with the teams above getting results and none of them getting any wins recently.

Notts keep hope alive with a home win while Wrexham draw away

Wrexham with home games v Yeovil (22nd) & Boreham Wood (6th) and 2 wins clinch the title. Final game is away at Torquay (21st). Notts away to Maidstone (24th) & home to York (18th). Not a lot of hope unless Yeovil can stop Wrexham winning this week.

@Billy-Tell said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

@posters

What makes you support a certain team? Like are you from Bournemouth bay imports or did you just randomly choose them?

I lived beside Stamford Bridge for a while in 2002. Loved match day and I also had a few kiwi pals that supported Chelsea

Feel quite distant from the club now TBH, too much turnover snd not enough players there long enough to build a feeling. Kante and Azpil kind of it now. Thought Mount a chance for next Lamps but who knows.

Looking forward reading all the bullshit Liverpool replies ….

@Billy-Tell Grew up in Shropshire, UK with Shrewsbury and Wrexham equal distance away but "supported" Leeds instead as I liked the name (and they were good). Only team I went to watch was Oswestry Town (made the 1st round of the FA Cup in the early 1970s.

Went to Loughborough University in 1982 (Seb Coe lived around the corner at one point) and had both Nottingham clubs and Leicester in the top flight. Went to games at all 3 grounds, Forest were in their dull phase, Leicester were nothing much and I fell in love with Notts. Remember beating Spurs 3-0, leading Leicester 2-1 at half-time and losing 2-5 with Lineker scoring 4 and then leading Watford 2-0 after 10 minutes and being 4-2 down by half-time. It was never dull. Was going to every home game while I was at Uni and I was doomed. Would travel to see them in the late 80s and 90s before moving out here. Went to Wembley 5 times in less than 10 years - good times.

Had a Subbuteo game as a kid in NZ. Chose the red team. Looked up a football mag and supported ManU as a result (when they were quite shit)

The first team I followed in the UK was Brighton as I lived there and it was their first ever season in First Div.

Couple of years later I was living in Ealing and working in Holland Park. Guy at work was a mad keen lifelong Fulham supporter and he dragged me along to the Cottage the year they should have been promoted under MacDonald.

Got back into supporting them from afar when Fayed took control the glory years culminating in Europa League Final. Discovering a few podcasts has made following them much more real.

Last two seasons have been a blast - especially after dreary Parker-ball.

@broughie said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

Watching this game I was reminded why I stopped watching soccer

@broughie said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

Jesus and Viera I could do without.

A terrible thing to say so close to Easter.

@Billy-Tell said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

@posters

What makes you support a certain team? Like are you from Bournemouth bay imports or did you just randomly choose them?

My pommie neighbors son was an Arsenal supporter in the days of Charlie George, Alan Ball and George Graham (early 70's).

Does anyone remember those Commando war comics? I used to read those a lot when I was younger. They always had a picture and profile of football players of the era on the front and back inside covers. It might have been Liam Brady or Alan Sunderland, I can't remember which, but I've supported Arsenal since then.

@Bovidae said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

Does anyone remember those Commando war comics

Where I got all my WWII history from...
Eat lead Fritz!!

@dogmeat said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

@Bovidae said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

Does anyone remember those Commando war comics

Where I got all my WWII history from...
Eat lead Fritz!!

Loved Commando comics. Achtung spitfire!

@canefan selling for up to $120 reserve on Trade Me

@dogmeat said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

@canefan selling for up to $120 reserve on Trade Me

Unopened originals?

@Bovidae said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

Does anyone remember those Commando war comics? I used to read those a lot when I was younger. They always had a picture and profile of football players of the era on the front and back inside covers. It might have been Liam Brady or Alan Sunderland, I can't remember which, but I've supported Arsenal since then.

Yep. The commando and there was another comic. Don't remember the player pictures but there was a Shoot mag with a team each month in the centerfold.

@MajorRage said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

@Billy-Tell said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

@posters

What makes you support a certain team? Like are you from Bournemouth bay imports or did you just randomly choose them?

I lived beside Stamford Bridge for a while in 2002. Loved match day and I also had a few kiwi pals that supported Chelsea

Feel quite distant from the club now TBH, too much turnover snd not enough players there long enough to build a feeling. Kante and Azpil kind of it now. Thought Mount a chance for next Lamps but who knows.

Looking forward reading all the bullshit Liverpool replies ….

Played soccer as a kid and me and all my mates just wanted to ball like John Barnes and Ian Rush. Didn't follow Liverpool per se until a few years later, after I'd stopped playing soccer, and all my old soccer mates had switched over the following Man U. That rankled and so I decided to stick with Liverpool. Went to the city a few years later when visiting family who live in the Wirral, managed to go Anfield. Honestly find followj g Liverpool, and the whole EPL thing in general, to be highly addictive - but in the same way social media is addictive - equal parts enjoyment and outrage. The product they have is great and they know exaclty what buttons to push to get you hooked and to get you coming back for more. Wish I felt that way about rugby generally - the ABs is the only rugby I won't miss these days

@junior said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

@MajorRage said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

@Billy-Tell said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

@posters

What makes you support a certain team? Like are you from Bournemouth bay imports or did you just randomly choose them?

I lived beside Stamford Bridge for a while in 2002. Loved match day and I also had a few kiwi pals that supported Chelsea

Feel quite distant from the club now TBH, too much turnover snd not enough players there long enough to build a feeling. Kante and Azpil kind of it now. Thought Mount a chance for next Lamps but who knows.

Looking forward reading all the bullshit Liverpool replies ….

Played soccer as a kid and me and all my mates just wanted to ball like John Barnes and Ian Rush. Didn't follow Liverpool per se until a few years later, after I'd stopped playing soccer, and all my old soccer mates had switched over the following Man U. That rankled and so I decided to stick with Liverpool. Went to the city a few years later when visiting family who live in the Wirral, managed to go Anfield. Honestly find followj g Liverpool, and the whole EPL thing in general, to be highly addictive - but in the same way social media is addictive - equal parts enjoyment and outrage. The product they have is great and they know exaclty what buttons to push to get you hooked and to get you coming back for more. Wish I felt that way about rugby generally - the ABs is the only rugby I won't miss these days

So far this season I've only watched one full super rugby game: Chiefs vs Canes in the weekend. Otherwise it's just been highlights. But I won't be missing City vs Arsenal. The history of Super Rugby is how to ruin a once great competition by stupid expansion. The Super 12 is how it should have stayed! Else Super 15 if we really had to give the SA another team and appease the Australians. With Pacific Island players given more room to play for franchises, especially the Aussie ones.

@junior I saw the 89 Cup Final including the last 20 minutes of the game and all of extra time from pitch side (i was in charge of stewards and we went onto the ground to prevent any crowd incurions). Watching Barnes taking a corner from no more than 3 metres away is a memory I will have forever. Along with how small football players are / were.

Currently losing to the bottom placed team in the premier league is an A-level choke. It’s all over for arsenal you’d think.

Then again….

@Billy-Tell Hardly a choke. Man City is simply a better team and could run the table with wins. Is there a game you foresee them losing?

They will beat Arsenal by at least 3 when they play next and will win the title. Heck they would win without Haarland.

Well done Arsenal securing the draw..the bottom half of the prem take a sigh of relief as Southampton remain rooted to the floor lol

@broughie said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

@Billy-Tell Hardly a choke. Man City is simply a better team and could run the table with wins. Is there a game you foresee them losing?

They will beat Arsenal by at least 3 when they play next and will win the title. Heck they would win without Haarland.

That won't make it feel any better, feeling like they had a chance to win only to fall in the final run home

@canefan True but we know who the best team is and Arsenal had to win out and beat City at home. Was never going to happen. For this team 2nd is pretty good but they need more in the midfield and defense to make an impression next year.

I know it's the lower leagues, but Wrexham are poised to return to the football league after years in the wilderness. I'm looking forward to Welcome to Wrexham series 2

Oh well, Arsenal will have to add the Etihad to the list of other stadium (Anfield, WHL, Old Trafford) where they've won the PL.

You can't give up soft goals by losing possession in your own half against any team. A great comeback but the last two games have been about not converting goal-scoring opportunities.

@broughie said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

@Billy-Tell Hardly a choke. Man City is simply a better team and could run the table with wins. Is there a game you foresee them losing?

They will beat Arsenal by at least 3 when they play next and will win the title. Heck they would win without Haarland.

Not getting 3 points at home to Southampton is a complete choke. What are you smoking?

@Billy-Tell said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

@broughie said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

@Billy-Tell Hardly a choke. Man City is simply a better team and could run the table with wins. Is there a game you foresee them losing?

They will beat Arsenal by at least 3 when they play next and will win the title. Heck they would win without Haarland.

Not getting 3 points at home to Southampton is a complete choke. What are you smoking?

I support Spurs so I should know. We are the King of Choke! Very Spursy from the Arse

@Billy-Tell Yes not a good result at home but I stand by my point the Man City is the best team and would win despite the result today. What are you smoking? Is City the best team and if your were a betting man who would you bet on? I am an Arsenal fan but can see the limitations of this team.

@broughie said in EPL 2022 / 2023:

@Billy-Tell Yes not a good result at home but I stand by my point the Man City is the best team and would win despite the result today. What are you smoking? Is City the best team and if your were a betting man who would you bet on? I am an Arsenal fan but can see the limitations of this team.

Arsenal who were leading comfortably have now have had 3 consecutive draws. 2 after leading 2-0 and last night scoring two late goals to salvage a draw at home against the worst side on the league. That is choking. Losing to city at city is to be expected. But if they had won the last 3 games they could afford that loss.