Official Football Discussion Thread 2011/12

[Keith]

Well I don't actually own a house so it is just aswell then Arsenal scrap a win LOL!

I was pleased with Villa's point at Goodison not least because we were behind twice, and by all accounts we were terrible. Not suprised we got bossed in midfeld that is our weakest area right now and Everton always try to over run teams there. Anyway we remain unbeaten and next we have a very winnerable home match against Newcastle which I should be going to with a bit of luck.

Looking forward to the match tonight QPR VS. Newcastle. Newcastle have started better than I expected, but sometimes go missing away from home, and QPR have struggled so far, but have now added a number of good players with top flight experience. I see this one as a draw, which I don't think either team will be unhappy with.

 

[Troy]

You were right Keith. QPR vs. Newcastle ended in a 0-0 draw. Slightly disappointed that QPR couldn't get that one goal but in the end a draw against Newcastle is a decent result.

 

[Andrew]

Fernando Torres has been told to explain an interview in which he seemed to criticise Chelsea team-mates.


Torres, 27, spoke to the website of Spain's Primera Liga last week, with a translation appearing on his personal website that quoted him as saying the club's older players were "very slow."


The striker has insisted he was misquoted in the English translation.


However, Chelsea, who are seeking an original Spanish version, are unlikely to fine the player.


The interview with Torres was authorised by the club - had it not been he would have faced heavier censure - but he is still set to have to explain the contents to manager Andre Villas-Boas.



While the English translation carried the direct criticism of team-mates, a Spanish version on his site carried a line that translated as saying the team "play very slowly".


Keen to get an original version, Villas-Boas said: "We are going in-depth to regain the tape of that interview.


"We'll see if things play exactly as they are in that interview."


Asked what action would be taken if the translation proved accurate, the Portuguese said: "We'd just talk. Just talk to share opinion.


"If it was unauthorised, I'd fine him, of course. Anyhow, it's one player's perspective.


"I don't think it's a perspective that the manager shares. I don't have to share my players' ideas sometimes.


"I think we have competence, apart from the 'age problem', which for me is not a problem.


"Maybe we just have to speak about that situation and he has to see our view as well."


In the original interview, Torres admitted that it had taken him longer to settle at Chelsea than he would have predicted.



Despite becoming the most expensive player in British football when he completed a £50m move from Liverpool in January he has since scored just once in 22 club matches, was not involved in Spain's Euro 2010 qualifier against Liechtenstein last week and found himself restricted to a late cameo in Saturday's Premier League win at Sunderland.


Declining to say whether Torres was in line for an immediate recall for Tuesday's Champions League opener against Bayer Leverkusen, Villas-Boas said he hoped being dropped could add as extra motivation.


"I think any player who's not part of the squad or the selected players is not happy," he said.


"I'm glad because maybe you can stimulate them to go one step further, or motivate them a bit more."


What are your thoughts on Torres here? He says Chelsea are playing too slow for him, Chelsea will be quizzing him about this.

​

 

[Keith]

I don't see him being at Chelsea for very long, not because of this, but just because he doesn't seem to fit in there, he was bought for all the wrong reasons, and he just is not the player he once was.

 

[Keith]

I am off to Villa tomorrow for my first game of the season as we face Newcastle at Villa Park. After a good draw at Everton last week, we need to get a win out of this one, it has been a decent start, we are still unbeaten, but we cannot go too long without getting a second league win, and this is a good chance as Newcastle are poor away from home. I will be positive and go for a two nil win, and go for Agbonlahor and Bent to score.

 

[Troy]

It was the week of the promoted teams this week. Norwich, Swansea and QPR all won. Tottenham thrashed Liverpool 4-1, Man City drew with Fulham 2-2 and Man United beat Chelsea 3-1. Torres managed to score for Chelsea but he also missed a sitter in the second half. Arsenal lost 4-3 to Blackburn thanks to two own goals. Arsenal are sitting fourth to bottom and their defence is still in a bad state.

 

[Doink]

Yeah, was suprised at the results this week. It was 4-0 Troy

 

[Keith]

Things are starting to go the other way for Villa, a poor display and defeat in the Carling Cup (which is a big complutation for us) and another missed chance to win at the weekend. We have Wigan at home on Saturday, and if we don't win that I will start to worry.

Seems like Torres is starting to prove me wrong, his performances are becoming more consistant, and he did score at the weekend even before getting sent off LOL. Anyway Chelsea can not be counted out of the title race, they are ticking along nicely, and both Manchester clubs will drop points as the season move along so you never know.

 

[Keith]

Finally Villa's second league win of the season, and another fine performance for Gabby, so at the moment things are not looking too bad, but we have Man City up next and that will be a real test, thing is we can't be too nageitive against that sort of team.

 

[Troy]

City and United finally got back on track with 4-0 and 2-0 wins respectively. Liverpool beat Everton 2-0 but Everton weren't helped by the fact that a player was sent off before the half hour mark for a tackle that should have had a yellow card at most.

Chelsea are currently thrashing Bolton 5-1 with Lampard scoring a hat-trick.

 

[Prodigy]

QPR got schooled 6-0 lol. Shame but they will bounce back. Swansea won 2-0 against Stoke which in my eyes is a shock result but hey I have predicted all promoted teams to stay up... Bolton are on a bad run of form losing 5-1 to Chelsea, but don't forget they have played most of the big sides now so hopefully they bounce back.

 

[Troy]

When I logged off yesterday it was only 2-0 so I had a rude shock this morning when I saw that it was a 6-0 loss especially to Fulham! Good to see Swansea win though, I like seeing the promoted teams winning and not dropping back down right away.

 

[Keith]

Man City away for Villa this weekend, was thinking of going as Manchester is not far from me, but I am a little hard up for money right now and I have a trip to Liverpool the day before, so will have to give it a miss. Anyway think this might be our first defeat in the league.

 

[Troy]

Man United vs. Liverpool is happening right now and with about five minutes left it is tied up 1-1. Gerrard scored for Liverpool whilst Hernandez scored for United. Be interesting to see if either team can break the deadlock in the last few minutes.

 

[Troy]

Game finished 1-1.

Man City are on top of the table after a 4-1 win! Chelsea remain third with a 3-1 win over Everton. QPR could only finish with a draw which was disappointing.