The Football Thread 2011/12

[Parksey]

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

Blackpool? Nah, the West Ham one I am certain would come in.

I don't know much about Hearts and Hibs, admittedly. And if I bet on Bayern, I won't be disappointed if the English team win, that's my logic.

[Bigerich]

Doesn't say anything like Solskjær saying no on any website I can see.


Anyway, why don't people like Lampard? Is it because of that sex-tape thing or the 9/11 thing? If so, those must be more than 10 years ago..

[Zellery]

Everywhere apologizing for getting it wrong now

I really hope you're right mate.

[Corazon de Leon]

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.

I'm in exactly the same frame of mind Parksey.

As an aside, I might attend the Riverside next season, haven't seen Middlesbrough since they humped us 4-0 or 4-1 at Ewood a good eight or nine years ago and it's reasonably easy for me to get to(Got to go to St. James' Park the season Newcastle were relegated for a 1-0 away win, was a great day out). The Championship really does get better the more I think about it, even more so if West Ham leave it.

[Glowy69]

Everywhere apologizing for getting it wrong now

I really hope you're right mate.

BELIEVE

[Rik]

Doesn't say anything like Solskjær saying no on any website I can see.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appears to have turned down the chance to become Aston Villa's new manager.

Former Manchester United striker Solskjaer had talks with Villa on Friday about succeeding Alex McLeish, who was sacked on 14 May.

But the manager of Norwegian champions Molde said he is not looking for a new job.

"I have a contract for two more years and I'll stand by that," said Solskjaer.

Solskjaer flew to Birmingham on Friday for talks with Villa owner Randy Lerner.

But at a news conference in Norway on Saturday to clarify his position, Solskjaer said he planned to stay with Molde.

"I have not had any offers," added Solskjaer. "I'm not looking for another job.

"In football, and in life in general, things turn up that you have to make decisions about.

"I have a contract for two more years and I'll stand by that."

Not an outright no, from the BBC

[Steve]

Hope Blackpool win this!

[Moggy]

Come on Blackpool!

Although he is gas, I love Holloway.

[Parksey]

Yeah, if you feel your team can challenge for promotion and can survive financially, the Championship isn't all bad, Cora. I remember being glad, in a way, that we were a little out of the way of the relentless money-driven, greedy Premier League (a myth, really, as every level is money driven), where the same teams struggle to attain mediocrity each season. Obviously, as the season go on (we got relegated in May 2009) you do worry if you will ever get back there, and I imagine most neutrals forget we were ever an established PL side (ten years on the trot, was it, before we went down?).

Obviously, I miss the effect it has on the club and the quality of football and stuff like that. But the Championship is competitive, you get loads of cheap, away days on your doorstep and if you are up at the top of the table like we were this season, instead of looking over your shoulder like we did with Gordon Strachan, than it isn't too bad. The light at the end of the tunnel is, admittedly, the Premier League though, which nullifies my entire argument.

[Drumstick]

I really don't get the hate for Lampard. Terry, I totally understand, but for me Lamps has always been a pretty decent pro.

Yeah this.

Terry, on the other hand, is a scumbag, and since it has been ruled that he'll be allowed to get his grubby mitts on the cup, Bayern FTW it is.

[Glowy69]

Doesn't say anything like Solskjær saying no on any website I can see.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appears to have turned down the chance to become Aston Villa's new manager.

Former Manchester United striker Solskjaer had talks with Villa on Friday about succeeding Alex McLeish, who was sacked on 14 May.

But the manager of Norwegian champions Molde said he is not looking for a new job.

"I have a contract for two more years and I'll stand by that," said Solskjaer.

Solskjaer flew to Birmingham on Friday for talks with Villa owner Randy Lerner.

But at a news conference in Norway on Saturday to clarify his position, Solskjaer said he planned to stay with Molde.

"I have not had any offers," added Solskjaer. "I'm not looking for another job.

"In football, and in life in general, things turn up that you have to make decisions about.

"I have a contract for two more years and I'll stand by that."

Not an outright no, from the BBC

Which the BBC have since backtracked on

[Drumstick]

Anyone got a stream for the play off final? First Row appears to be on the blink.

[Corazon de Leon]

Yeah, if you feel your team can challenge for promotion and can survive financially, the Championship isn't all bad, Cora. I remember being glad, in a way, that we were a little out of the way of the relentless money-driven, greedy Premier League (a myth, really, as every level is money driven), where the same teams struggle to attain mediocrity each season. Obviously, as the season go on (we got relegated in May 2009) you do worry if you will ever get back there, and I imagine most neutrals forget we were ever an established PL side (ten years on the trot, was it, before we went down?).

Obviously, I miss the effect it has on the club and the quality of football and stuff like that. But the Championship is competitive, you get loads of cheap, away days on your doorstep and if you are up at the top of the table like we were this season, instead of looking over your shoulder like we did with Gordon Strachan, than it isn't too bad. The light at the end of the tunnel is, admittedly, the Premier League though, which nullifies my entire argument.

The away days are the best thing about it I think - pending today's result I have a choice of Blackpool, Bolton, Burnley(WEARGH), Boro and even at a push Derby/Forest that I can get down to, not to mention the home games against those teams. Hopefully if King Kean-y is released from his chores and the day to day grind of management to assume his rightful position as "Great Man of Blackburn" in an academy role, we'll be able to get someone in who can focus on attaining a good league position next season and be able to enjoy matches. I can't say I've enjoyed any game I've been to this season, even the 3-2 QPR game was brutal.

[Psychic]

Doesn't say anything like Solskjær saying no on any website I can see.

Not an outright no, from the BBC

Which the BBC have since backtracked on

Is that why the story is still on their main sports page?

[Spindash]

The away days are the best thing about it I think - pending today's result I have a choice of Blackpool, Bolton, Burnley(WEARGH), Boro and even at a push Derby/Forest that I can get down to, not to mention the home games against those teams.

you've also got Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley, Leeds, Huddersfield / Sheffield United. Maybe Hull if you go a little further afield.

[Dark Ritual]

Craig Gordon, once a £9M purchase, has been released by Sunderland.

[Lotus]

Update on the Solskjaer story now:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18126718

[Superking]

Not really fussed about who wins the champions league final tbh. The bitter spiteful side of me wants Bayern to win to spite Torres but in reality I have no dislike him so yeah I'm a complete neutral today.

[gaminglegend]

Craig Gordon, once a £9M purchase, has been released by Sunderland.

Still a brilliant keeper, just his injury record towards the end and his wages lead to his removal. The keepers we've got it would of been insane to imagine him staying, he was offered a contract, just not near his old one, and for him to stay and have to start from 2nd-3rd choice to get back to the number 1 spot would of been hell for him I'd imagine. He'll walk into a team on a free and be their number 1, a great keeper, sad to see him go.

[SandyCoin]

Wow, almost identicle.

Come on 'pool!