Ultimate Football (Soccer) Thread 2014-15

[Eastfield Lodge]

Joey Barton sent off for a punch to the nuts. Why am I not surprised?

[Eura]

We've done the double...over Man United. In the league. The double. Both my "love Swansea" and "dislike United" sensibilities are being fulfilled at once.

I don't think we'll be able to make a run on the Europa League after our slump in January and the strength of Southampton and West Ham, but there's a good chance the Swans could beat their points record in the Prem and finish higher than 9th.

[Liventia]

Thoroughly professional performance by the Reds today. Fantastic win – and up to 6th. Just 4 points between Arsenal in 3rd and Spurs in 7th…

[DesAnges]

Jordon Ibe can play.

[Bandwagon]

*Facepalms Brendan Rodgers.*
There was a time you wouldn't have been happy with 6th place.
But that time isn't now.

[Liventia]

*Facepalms Brendan Rodgers.*
There was a time you wouldn't have been happy with 6th place.
But that time isn't now.

Really? Ask any Liverpool fan if they'd be happy with 6th place after a run of results that's seen us lose one of our last 14 games and none of our last 10. The aim has always been 4th and why should we settle for anything less?

[New Stephania]

The aim has always been 4th and why should we settle for anything less?

In pre-season most Scousers I know were saying the title was theirs this season, after a poor start suddenly the entire story changed.

[Liventia]

The aim has always been 4th and why should we settle for anything less?

In pre-season most Scousers I know were saying the title was theirs this season, after a poor start suddenly the entire story changed.

I don't know what Scousers you know then, because I think the consensus was last year was a bonus and we were still building for a Champions League place.

[New Stephania]

In pre-season most Scousers I know were saying the title was theirs this season, after a poor start suddenly the entire story changed.

I don't know what Scousers you know then, because I think the consensus was last year was a bonus and we were still building for a Champions League place.

I know a few who are fully deluded cartoon Scousers and some who are pessimists. Before the season started the former were going on about how Manchester City got lucky and "this is Liverpool's year", the latter basically stopped caring when Luis Suarez went to Spain and they take more pleasure in watching Barca at the moment.

[Yellow Yellow Red]

Lamela must be infuriating to Spurs fans. The occasional glimmer of brilliance, but then so many bizarre decisions.

Idea: I'll stand over the ball and do cute little stepovers for a few seconds until someone cleans me out and boots it upfield to set up a counter. That sounds like a plan.

Idea: I'll put my head down and dribble into three defenders!

Idea: I'll cut inside and then stay there without making an effort to get back wide for the next ten minutes.

[Evil Lord Sauron]

I don't know what Scousers you know then, because I think the consensus was last year was a bonus and we were still building for a Champions League place.

I know a few who are fully deluded cartoon Scousers and some who are pessimists. Before the season started the former were going on about how Manchester City got lucky and "this is Liverpool's year", the latter basically stopped caring when Luis Suarez went to Spain and they take more pleasure in watching Barca at the moment.

Most 'scousers' around my area were saying they were nailed on for 3rd, behind City and Chelsea (or vice versa) but without Suarez the season would be tough. Hardly any were saying they'd win unless it was tongue in cheek, especially after losing their best player. After the start they had 4th place was looking virtually impossible.

Anyway in other news Wrexham are 90 minutes away from a Wembley final. With prices going for as little as £7.50 for a student really hoping we can make it.

[Osarius]

Lamela must be infuriating to Spurs fans. The occasional glimmer of brilliance, but then so many bizarre decisions.

Ehhh, I dunno man. they seemed fond of Aaron Lennon.......

Anyway in other news Wrexham are 90 minutes away from a Wembley final. With prices going for as little as £7.50 for a student really hoping we can make it.

Been considering trying to get tickets for the JPT final, since I'm vaguely fond of Walsall. Wembley's a great day out.

[Evil Lord Sauron]

Anyway in other news Wrexham are 90 minutes away from a Wembley final. With prices going for as little as £7.50 for a student really hoping we can make it.

Been considering trying to get tickets for the JPT final, since I'm vaguely fond of Walsall. Wembley's a great day out.

I do like the stadium, and it can either be your worst day or your best supporting a club. 2 years ago driving back after we lost the play off final, never felt worse, conversely the trip back from 2 months early after winning the cup was the greatest day. Trouble I have with Wembley is there is next to nothing surrounding it. The Wrexham games were about a third full and the few surrounding pubs/places to eat were already jammed. No idea what it would be like with a sold out stadium.

[Osarius]

Trouble I have with Wembley is there is next to nothing surrounding it. The Wrexham games were about a third full and the few surrounding pubs/places to eat were already jammed. No idea what it would be like with a sold out stadium.

Yeahhh... that caught me out. I had to spend a few hours just generally dicking around, and it wasn't a pleasant day (because February, lol). Post-match, most people seemed to leave pretty much straight away... and contented ourselves with mocking the United fans who got off the train before us, lol. Didn't quite make up for the devastating feeling after the loss, but let us feel like we'd won something.

I did manage to get a table at a restaurant to eat before the game, but I got there really early, so that probably helped. A few friends went to a pub with a supporters group, apparently they'd rented the venue and sold tickets beforehand. Wouldn't have thought it would be so bad for a smaller attendance, to be honest. Seems a bit strange that there's not more to do in the area, thinking about it. Kinda never put much thought into it, was too hyped for the match at the time.

[Yellow Yellow Red]

Lamela must be infuriating to Spurs fans. The occasional glimmer of brilliance, but then so many bizarre decisions.

Ehhh, I dunno man. they seemed fond of Aaron Lennon.......

Ha, fair enough. And I suppose there are still a number of them who still rate Townsend...

Speaking of Spurs - I get that he's in wonderful form, but why on earth is Kane taking penalties? His conversion rate is now 40%. I like to think that I would have a better penalty rate than that!

[Osarius]

why on earth is Kane taking penalties? His conversion rate is now 40%. I like to think that I would have a better penalty rate than that!

I have seen it suggested that a penalty awarded is worth about 0.75 goals, because of the probability of conversion. That is to say, an average player, acting as penalty taker on a team awarded four penalties in one match would be expected to have a hat-trick at the final whistle.

Without larger samples etc it's impossible to really make a judgment but at the very least, among professional footballers, a conversion rate of below 50% appears to be particularly bad. Your question is a valid one, perhaps.

[Evil Lord Sauron]

Trouble I have with Wembley is there is next to nothing surrounding it. The Wrexham games were about a third full and the few surrounding pubs/places to eat were already jammed. No idea what it would be like with a sold out stadium.

Yeahhh... that caught me out. I had to spend a few hours just generally dicking around, and it wasn't a pleasant day (because February, lol). Post-match, most people seemed to leave pretty much straight away... and contented ourselves with mocking the United fans who got off the train before us, lol. Didn't quite make up for the devastating feeling after the loss, but let us feel like we'd won something.

I did manage to get a table at a restaurant to eat before the game, but I got there really early, so that probably helped. A few friends went to a pub with a supporters group, apparently they'd rented the venue and sold tickets beforehand. Wouldn't have thought it would be so bad for a smaller attendance, to be honest. Seems a bit strange that there's not more to do in the area, thinking about it. Kinda never put much thought into it, was too hyped for the match at the time.

It could of been I was just under prepared for it. I'm used to the Millennium Stadium where I go to see Wales in the Rugby and saw Wrexham lift in JPT (formerly LDV) where the stadium is right in the centre of the city and you can't fail to not get into a pub no matter how big the game. So we didn't book anything and as kick off times for both games at Wembley were early you couldn't realistically get there any earlier.

[Devvo Mate]

Bristol Rovers are now only a point off the automatic qualification spot for League 2 after Barnet had a shocking few games. Never been so excited over such an inconsequential league in my life

[Evil Lord Sauron]

Bristol Rovers are now only a point off the automatic qualification spot for League 2 after Barnet had a shocking few games. Never been so excited over such an inconsequential league in my life

Yay! Another Conference supporter. I'm not alone!

P.s. you are welcome, we desperately needed that win over Barnet on Valentines day.

[DesAnges]

Bristol Rovers are now only a point off the automatic qualification spot for League 2 after Barnet had a shocking few games. Never been so excited over such an inconsequential league in my life

Up the Gas!

[Devvo Mate]

Yay! Another Conference supporter. I'm not alone!

P.s. you are welcome, we desperately needed that win over Barnet on Valentines day.

You should be safe from relegation I reckon, I'm just hoping Barnet continue their collapse and we overtake them, they were summat ridiculous like what 12 points clear earlier on in the season now look at them. Touching distance. I can smell league football again.

[Devvo Mate]

Up the Gas!

Never thought I'd see a man with a Liverpool flag say those words. You a real life Scouser or just a fan from somewhere else?

[DesAnges]

Up the Gas!

Never thought I'd see a man with a Liverpool flag say those words. You a real life Scouser or just a fan from somewhere else?

My dad's from Merseyside and I was born there but I've been in the Bristol area for all but 6 months of my life. So a bloodline-legacy thing.

[Evil Lord Sauron]

Yay! Another Conference supporter. I'm not alone!

P.s. you are welcome, we desperately needed that win over Barnet on Valentines day.

You should be safe from relegation I reckon, I'm just hoping Barnet continue their collapse and we overtake them, they were summat ridiculous like what 12 points clear earlier on in the season now look at them. Touching distance. I can smell league football again.

We should be after that win over Barnet, but it is depressing when you look how much we've given Wilkin and our budget this season. Not to mention we've traditionally been competing at the top end for the past 6 years (with the exception of last year). Only the FA trophy to play for now.

But you are right Barnet have had a huge collapse. They seemed nailed on for promotion in Jan.

[Devvo Mate]

My dad's from Merseyside and I was born there but I've been in the Bristol area for all but 6 months of my life. So a bloodline-legacy thing.

Ah right, well I'm Bristol born and bred but in Liverpool now so I've become a part-time Everton fan on the basis that's who most of my mates follow.