The Football Thread 2011/12

[tomvek]

Pity about Ole but at least he's sticking to his contract at Molde.

[Glowy69]

Apparently he hasnt said no.

Bloody sky said that Petrov had retired and in his press conference he never said he was staying.

I still believe

[Captain Kinopio]

As a Spurs fan I obviously want Bayern to win it.

If I were a neutral, I'd feel a little dirty wanting to see the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole lift the Champions League Trophy. Alongside Wayne Rooney, they're the banana splits that make it hard for me to feel much passion for the England team, let alone Chelsea.

Plus I've been to Munich twice and the people there are some of the nicest foreigners i've met.

What's wrong with Lampard?

Think I'll be supporting Chelsea, would be good to see a English side win it and it would probably help us to keep Tottenham out of the CL for another year

[Glowy69]

Tonight I will be a chelsea fan.

At the risk of upsetting sandy, I dilike german teams

C'MON CHELSEA

[Zellery]

Apparently he hasnt said no.

Bloody sky said that Petrov had retired and in his press conference he never said he was staying.

I still believe

It's all been translated from his press conference he held today.

[tomvek]

I think Chelsea can do well tonight. Overall I just want it to be an entertaining game.

[Parksey]

Any decent betting offers available online for the CL final? Last season, Paddy Power refunded all bets if Barca won in normal time, for example.

I can't see anyone but West Ham winning the play off final. They've beaten Blackpool 8-1 altogether this season, and I reckon they would have picked them as their opponents in the final ahead of Birmingham. Like I said, as a Boro fan, I want them out of the division, but I can't stand the way Allardyce has acted this season. He's just really lacked grace at times, especially when the pressure was on.

I don't buy all this talk about promotion being a massive achievement and a plaudit on his CV either - as I constantly bleat, they were by far the biggest (and, arguably, best) team in the division this season and so, to have to go up in the Play Offs, after being second for large portions of the season, is underachieving. With their wage bill, it is underachieving. With the players they have (PL standard players and England internationals like Carlton Cole and Rob Green) it is underachieving. True, in the Championship, promotion in any form is the goal, but I don't buy the argument that Allardyce has done "a good job" down there. They were tailor-made for a really strong stab at promotion this season - in the same way Newcastle were when they went down (arguably, West Ham were in a much stronger position than Newcastle, actually). I mean, even today, in the paper David Sullivan is interviewed describing how he was after 30 players in January. Players like Tevez and Torres on loan, Peter Whittingham, Romelu Lukaku, Jordan Rhodes and Jelavic. Him and Gold put £35m into the club this year and, while it is obviously a massive gamble, they are just lightyears ahead of pretty much every Championship club.

And that is why I want them out, basically.

Will still be cheering on Blackpool, mind.

[Glowy69]

Apparently he hasnt said no.

Bloody sky said that Petrov had retired and in his press conference he never said he was staying.

I still believe

It's all been translated from his press conference he held today.

Yeah and he said if we want further talks then "he'll see" He doesnt want to upset his team and players. The guy that told me about mcleish leaving on the day he did still says theres a big chance he is coming

[Glowy69]

This is what he posted

Yes, I saw the press conference and had a translation from a Norwegian fan.

They are only looking at half an answer to a question. The full answer was

'I have 2 years left on my contract, I'm not looking for a job. But if the right opportunity comes I have to look at it'

He goes on to say

'if Villa want further talks then we will have to see where they lead'

Not ruling himself out at all, in fact the whole tone of the press conference seemed aimed at keeping the fans happy. If he's says 'I'm off' and we don't off him the job that leaves him in a pretty stick position.

[PES Fan]

Would Villa fans want Holloway? I know he got angry at Villa over the Charlie Adam affair, but I think he's done a great job at Blackpool. Even if they win or lose today.

[Glowy69]

No, he is an idiot.

More from matt kendrick the brum mail villa editor

@MatKendrick: OGS has NOT turned down/ruled out Villa job. He said he works for Molde, has not had a Villa offer, but would consider it if one was made

[Captain Kinopio]

I really hope Blackpool win today

[tomvek]

Yeah, kinda want Blackpool to win myself.

[Parksey]

I really hope Blackpool win today

Looking at their team, Holloway has done well to get them up to 5th in the league after not really spending any more in the close season. They had quite a bad start as well, if I remember rightly.

I can't see past West Ham though. If they choked, I thought they would do so agaisnt Cardiff, but they rolled them over. I can't see them messing up now.

[Spindash]

I can only imagine how good The Big Sam's tweets would be if West Ham lost.

[Glowy69]

I love blackpool just because they beat the scum and kept them where they belong

[Glowy69]

Everywhere apologizing for getting it wrong now

[Parksey]

Quick betting post - what do people reckon to a very unambitious West Ham/Hearts/Bayern £10 bet? All three favourites, but returns £68.

[Captain Kinopio]

Quick betting post - what do people reckon to a very unambitious West Ham/Hearts/Bayern £10 bet? All three favourites, but returns £68.

Not worth it, change it to Pool and Chelski

[Glowy69]

Good odds parksey, do it