Another Drive4show 'Anything goes' thread

[dynamark]

First topic message reminder :

He came across very poor as did fellow lib Clegg with his constant sniping at the Brexit issue.
Good riddance to both.Libs may well be a non entity now.
Tories have to proceed with caution now and build up some confidence again.

Our fire guy at work is telling us today that they really should have gone for a full evacuation at an early stage but that runs right against all previous policy putting residents and fire staff in potentially greater danger.In Blackadder terms it would have been going 'over the top'

[beninho]

Ill take the bet on palace not going down. Who wants it?

[beninho]

West ham will be nowhere near going down. Theyve played teir first three games away from home. Burnley, Bournemouth, southampton, watford, Newcastle, all have a chance of going down.

[westisbest]

I don't think Palace will go down.
I'd almost put money on them staying up.

I went Swansea Newcastle Huddersfield at the start of the season.

Agree 4 games is stupid.

[kwinigolfer]

West ham will be nowhere near going down. Theyve played teir first three games away from home. Burnley, Bournemouth, southampton, watford, Newcastle, all have a chance of going down.

Agree about West Ham staying up; and also Southampton being in jeopardy, they just can't score - sold too many and now look a bit threadbare. 'Oodersfield looked awful last night, don't think they have a chance.

[beninho]

Good call on swansea forgot about them even Leicester, I think Shakespeare could be next for the chop.

Its a league where any team from 6 could win the league, then everton will cone 7th, and any team from 12 could go down, though I dont see stoke, baggies, west ham being in real danger.

[super_realist]

The Premier League could do with reducing their league to 18, there's a lot of dross in there.

West Ham could easily go down and I hope they do. They seem to suffer the same ego problem as Liverpool. Living in the past.

I disagree that any team from 6 could win. Liverpool and Spurs are a pair of bottlers, and Liverpool especially are nowhere near good enough, whilst Spurs seem to be in disarray a bit in terms of Wembley form. It's realistically 1 from 3, the three being Man Utd, Man City and Chelsea, the other three, Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool are there fighting for the remaining Champions League spot, but they're not serious challengers.

[pedro]

Agree on the top 3.

But why would they reduce the league when there's so much money in it? Not like they'd care about the quality of the teams as long as the demand for the product is as high as it is?

[super_realist]

Of course they'll never reduce it due to the money, but like a dead champions league rubber, there are too many completely pointless games.

We keep hearing incorrectly how the EPL is the best league in the world, but who cares about West Ham V Stoke or Palace V Brighton? There's just too much rubbish in it, too many teams who are down before February. It could be a better league if there was more balance in it.

[beninho]

Who cares about West Ham V Stoke, probably Stoke fans and West Ham fans. Fans that follow their team all over the country.

[navyblueshorts]

Of course they'll never reduce it due to the money, but like a dead champions league rubber, there are too many completely pointless games.

We keep hearing incorrectly how the EPL is the best league in the world, but who cares about West Ham V Stoke or Palace V Brighton?  There's just too much rubbish in it, too many teams who are down before February. It could be a better league if there was more balance in it.

Seem to recall it was only meant to be 20 (or was it 18?) in the EPL when it was being dreamed up, but money won out even then. No way on Earth it'll be reduced now, even if it would be sensible both from a competitive point of view and from allowing players less playing time during a season. The latter probably wouldn't happen though, as I'm sure they fill the space with more money-making schemes.

[beninho]

It started off with 22, and was reduced to 20 after a few seasons. Its 20 in Spain and Italy, with germany having 18.

[wiretapper]

14 of the 20 member clubs need to agree to pass a rule change and there is no way 14 clubs would vote to reduce the number 18.

Even if the benefits to footbal were definitive and proven there is no way 14 would vote for that.

[Roller_Coaster]

Especially when up to around 8 of them, and only rarely these days below 5, are periodically at risk of being in the relegation places until very close to the end of the season.

Turkeys voting for Christmas anyone?

[pedro]

Won't say whether 20 or 18 is the right number. But I think you need a few weaker teams in the EPL for the bigger games and the CL to remain interesting.

[raycastleunited]

I disagree that any team from 6 could win. Liverpool and Spurs are a pair of bottlers, and Liverpool especially are nowhere near good enough, whilst Spurs seem to be in disarray a bit in terms of Wembley form. It's realistically 1 from 3, the three being Man Utd, Man City and Chelsea, the other three, Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool are there fighting for the remaining Champions League spot, but they're not serious challengers.

I agree with this.

Man U, Man City, Chelsea top 3

Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool champions league contenders

Everton 7th

Then there's a bunch of teams who are just a little bit better than the relegation candidates: Burnley, Swansea, Watford, Bournemouth, West Brom, Palace, West Ham, Stoke, Newcastle. Any of these teams could go on a good run and establish themselves in the top half, or a poor run and find themselves in the relegation battle, there's little between them. Some of these teams who appear a bit crap have actually made some impressive signings, eg Renato Sanches at Swansea.

It's going to be a long season for Brighton and Huddersfield. Think Leicester and Southampton will also struggle, although they both have a proven goalscorer who could make a difference.

I think West Ham and Palace both have enough talent in their squads to score goals, and enough money to buy a striker in January if/when Carroll or Benteke get injured. In a relegation battle it's nearly always the sides with a goal scorer who stay up. I also think Hodgson's experience (West Brom, Blackburn, Fulham) will steer them clear of trouble.

I don't think Hodgson is the man to take Palace to the next level though. They need a different approach for that. There is a young manager currently available who won the league 4 times with Ajax, he could be a perfect fit. Oh wait a minute.

[pedro]

Well there might be the chance that De Boer didn't get along with the Palace management/board. So better end it swiftly than drag out the pain. Bad chemistry has seen many a coach being kicked out. And 4 losses never helps.

[navyblueshorts]

It started off with 22, and was reduced to 20 after a few seasons. Its 20 in Spain and Italy, with germany having 18.

Yes, it did, but the initial conversations were for less than 22 weren't they? They couldn't see the benefit of reduced numbers for the money. They still can't.

[navyblueshorts]

Well there might be the chance that De Boer didn't get along with the Palace management/board. So better end it swiftly than drag out the pain. Bad chemistry has seen many a coach being kicked out. And 4 losses never helps.

Maybe so, but does that explain the Manager merry-go-round that is CP since 2010? Common theme - the Board.

[raycastleunited]

It started off with 22, and was reduced to 20 after a few seasons. Its 20 in Spain and Italy, with germany having 18.

Yes, it did, but the initial conversations were for less than 22 weren't they? They couldn't see the benefit of reduced numbers for the money. They still can't.

Navy - it is less than 22. There are 20 clubs in the PL

[beninho]

so it seems the Emirates Stadium could not cope with fans looking to make an atmosphere! The response from some fans, really somes up modern football. Loads of Koln fans turned up, few skirmishes between themselves, but got seats in different parts of the ground and caused no problems. Yet fans said they were terrified, though i saw a picture of someone eating a pizza, which is worse then anything else that happened.

[Be_the_ball]

Apparently there was a steward on Talk Sport this morning (who described himself as a life long Arsenal supporter) saying the Club got it wrong, one area he pointed out was season ticket holders are allowed to see their seat for non league games, so thats where a lot of the Cologne fans got tickets from and ended up mixed in with Gooners. No real trouble as far as I heard but could be a real issue with a diff set of "fans".

[kwinigolfer]

Half time at the "Vitality". All the first half was missing was vitality.

[beninho]

Good old FA. Appoints a manager, then gets a warning about dubious behaviour in his past, doesnt bother looking into it for a few years, then thinks oops.

[McLaren]

So have they now decided he was racist?

[beninho]

Nope, he probably isnt racist, he definitely did say things a manager shouldn't have to his staff though. The implication is he nay have been getting it on with some if his girls at his job before in bristol. The fa knew he was cleared of something but dudnt bother to actually look at it in any derail befire hiring him.

[pedro]

They sack him beacause of "standards we set at the FA"...

cough cough

[super_realist]

So have they now decided he was racist?

Another peahead?

[navyblueshorts]

They sack him beacause of "standards we set at the FA"...

cough cough

Yep. Utterly pathetic. Sack a man who your enquiries have completely exonerated and most of his other players, including those of mixed race, appear to really like. The fact they've apparently paid up his contract to 2019 suggests they haven't 'sacked' him. I guess that might stop him looking into any legal action...

[beninho]

I dont think he has been sacked for whatever he said to some of his players though. It would appear he has been sacked for whatever he got up to with his players in his previous job.

[raycastleunited]

Sampson has been sacked because he “overstepped the professional boundaries between player and coach” while at Bristol. It's been stressed that he did nothing criminal.

It's nothing to do with racism allegations, just convenient timing for the FA that this has come to light right now. I'm sure it's just pure coincidence....

[navyblueshorts]

While at the same, when asked if he's fit to coach elsewhere and in the future, the FA reply "Yes, of course he is. There are no safeguarding issues." What a pathetic bunch of individuals.

[beninho]

Until it comes out, which it will, I have no idea whats gone on, but if people thought Sam A, was fairly sacked for what he did, i didnt think he should have been, if this guy has been banging his team he probably should not be in charge of england.

[Roller_Coaster]

Perhaps if they'd spent more time working on their defence...

[raycastleunited]

if this guy has been banging his team he probably should not be in charge of england.

Is this wrong? It has been stressed that the behaviour didn't involve children. Plenty of people have relationships with people at work, there's nothing inherently wrong with this. If the relationship involves a person who directly reports to the other, you could say there was a conflict of interest and therefore it makes sense to change the reporting line (by mutually agreeing changing roles or changing clubs, not by sacking).

Look at the GB women's hockey team: the captain is in a relationship with one of her team mates and there was no outrage. Karren Brady started seeing (and eventually married) one of her staff when she was MD at Birmingham. Again no outrage.

[pedro]

The FA repeatedly screws the nation - and they've never seen any problem with that.

[super_realist]

How have the FA "screwed" the nation? It's not like it's them who have stopped England becoming a decent team.

You can't polish a turd, and England are a great big steaming dog egg of a turd.

[super_realist]

Does anyone still think Palace are going to stay up? Another rout today, and the man who thinks he is as good as Ferguson has two losses on the bounce and zero points.

[navyblueshorts]

Does anyone still think Palace are going to stay up? Another rout today, and the man who thinks he is as good as Ferguson has two losses on the bounce and zero points.

Probably not and they've almost certainly exchanged a much more visionary coach, for a hod carrier. Well done, the Board.

[raycastleunited]

Does anyone still think Palace are going to stay up? Another rout today, and the man who thinks he is as good as Ferguson has two losses on the bounce and zero points.

I still think Palace have a good chance of staying up. Although their next 2 games are Man U and Chelsea so they could find themselves on zero points after 8 games. Getting 40 points from 30 games will be an uphill struggle.

[beninho]

I still think they will stay up. Even after such a horrendous start they are only a few points behind the teams above. In reality they are pror only 5 points behind where you would expect them to be looking at the fixtures.

[JAS]

Does anyone still think Palace are going to stay up? Another rout today, and the man who thinks he is as good as Ferguson has two losses on the bounce and zero points.

No, infact I'd like to see them go down, nothing against Palace, their fans or their players but the lunatic owners who think 5 games is anywhere near the right amount of time to judge how a reshaping of the team (which they MUST have signed up to) was going was just madness. So they get to 10 games in and the still haven't won...what then? Bin Roy? If not why not based on the (il)logic of the de Boer sacking. To me when millionaire owners make that sort of short term knee jerk, they deserve all they get.

[super_realist]

You'd have to say they've been incredibly stupid to put Woy in charge too. He's got a poor record.

[raycastleunited]

You'd have to say they've been incredibly stupid to put Woy in charge too. He's got a poor record.

Er... actually he's got a pretty good record with teams of Palace's ilk

[beninho]

Are people still finding speech impediments funny? Strange.

Anyway, I would say hodgson is a better fit at palace then de boer and would have been a better appointment at the stsrt if the year.

His record is not poor, look what he did with fulham and west brom, both teams of similar stature to palace. He could do a decent job. Its to easy to knock him because it ended badly at england, I would take him over de boer any day at a club like palace.

[super_realist]

Yes, his accent/dialect is funny, because it's a direct analogy for his bumbling, hapless, incompetent management style.

Fulham was AGES ago. How good was he at England or Liverpool?

Hodgson is an oaf, an oaf who thinks he is much better than he is, an oaf who thinks his multi million pay packet means he doesn't have to face the press for being a TERRIBLE England manager, an oaf who was quoted at Blackburn (another failed position) where he said he was in the same bracket of manager as Alex Ferguson, an actual winner. What a clown.

I used to think Hodgson was too intelligent for the players he managed, but he's just a self obsessed pipe dreamer who tries to be bright, when in fact he's simply too out of touch.

His best results were with Malmo and Viking Stavanger , that's probably the level he should be at. At West Brom his win ratio was a paltry 37% (39% at Fulham). That's not impressive, especially if you bring him in to beat relegation. He actually did better at Liverpool where he was considered to be CRAP. So what possible hope can such a deadbeat bring to a team as dismal as Palace?

[super_realist]

You'd have to say they've been incredibly stupid to put Woy in charge too. He's got a poor record.

Er... actually he's got a pretty good record with teams of Palace's ilk

No he doesn't, not unless you consider a win ratio of just more than a third is a success.

[beninho]

58% ,win ratio for england, statistically one if englands best managers.

[kwinigolfer]

Does anyone still think Palace are going to stay up? Another rout today, and the man who thinks he is as good as Ferguson has two losses on the bounce and zero points.

I still think Palace have a good chance of staying up. Although their next 2 games are Man U and Chelsea so they could find themselves on zero points after 8 games. Getting 40 points from 30 games will be an uphill struggle.

The comparative strength of the top six could work in Palace's favour - would think 36 or 37 pts might keep them safe - not much of a difference but every bit helps.

Agree that Hodgson is an average manager of top class players, but he was certainly adequate for Fulham and WBA. Palace have a decent squad, but he's got to get them motivated in a hurry - they looked like statues in the second half vs Citeh.

Some other teams are weak enough that Palace must have at least an even chance of avoiding the drop.

Whilst Everton really have their work cut out for them if they can justify being called a Top Seven team. (In fact, who would be a Top Seven team?) They need Coleman back asap. And somehow get Barkley in the mood when he returns.

[pedro]

Yeah ben, but you know it should be 100% (or above) for him to be perceived a success..

[super_realist]

Yeah ben, but you know it should be 100% (or above) for him to be perceived a success..

Not at all, but if you are considered a successful manager, I'd expect a minimum of 50% win ratio.

If you got 39% in an exam, or in an appraisal at work, do you think you'd done a good job?

Would you be happy if you had a 39% chance of survival if you had a problem?

What world do you live in where someone as abjectly ordinary as Wodgson is considered a good manager? He's almost as bad as Allardyce for comparison, just another loser manager, who keeps teams stuck in a rut of mediocrity.

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