NationStates

Drama in Belgium. Cercle Brugge need a win to stay up, are 2-0 in the lead in minute 87' but take three goals in the final minute and are (as good as) relegated. I'm already glad my fav team (Zulte-Waregem) is out of the relegation zone because what they've shown this weekend was disgraceful. Two defensive midfields who hardly did a sprint all match. Awful.

In more joyous news, I might be able to top of my London visit - the weekend of the 15-18th May - with my first English football match. I was intending to go visit West Ham - Everton, which seems both like an interesting fixture (Hammers are what Germans call a Traditionsverein, Toffees have their Belgians) and a good chance to get some tickets for a not sky-high price. Any hints or advice?

What with it being the last home game for West Ham for the season you may find it more difficult than it would otherwise be to get tickets at Upton Park. Normally I would suggest a lower-league game, but the Football League season will be long over by then.

What happened to Fulham?!? So far down in The Championship

I guess it's Martin Jol's parting influence. RKC Waalwijk (a club that he also used to train) has also gone waay downhill.

The Blaatschapen wrote:What happened to Fulham?!? So far down in The Championship

I guess it's Martin Jol's parting influence. RKC Waalwijk (a club that he also used to train) has also gone waay downhill.

Getting rid of Martin Jol should be a criminal offence.

Bhutan defeat Sri Lanka 2-1 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate, making the 2nd qualifying round of the Asian World Cup qualification. Not bad for the worst team in the world.

Gallant losers again...

Uitbregen wrote:Gallant losers again...

Tyldesley and Townsend could have sounded a bit less like their mothers had just died.

ITV commentary over-the-top as usual. Sky are fairly pro-British teams but ITV take the piss.

Some shocking penalties in Atleti–Leverkusen tonight.

So, Poyet is gone and Sunderland have appointed Dick Advocaat for the rest of the season...

...All just in time for the Tyne-Wear derby on the 5th April.

Eastfield Lodge wrote:So, Poyet is gone and Sunderland have appointed Dick Advocaat for the rest of the season...

...All just in time for the Tyne-Wear derby on the 5th April.

Mate... they conceded four to Villa...
They could appoint Jesus as player/manager and stick Him in goal for the rest of the season and not be saved.

Osarius wrote:

Eastfield Lodge wrote:So, Poyet is gone and Sunderland have appointed Dick Advocaat for the rest of the season...

...All just in time for the Tyne-Wear derby on the 5th April.

Mate... they conceded four to Villa...
They could appoint Jesus as player/manager and stick Him in goal for the rest of the season and not be saved.

I was more pointing out what seems to be a trend of Sunderland signing new managers not long before a Tyne-Wear derby. Which, of course, they'll win...

Eastfield Lodge wrote:

Osarius wrote:Mate... they conceded four to Villa...
They could appoint Jesus as player/manager and stick Him in goal for the rest of the season and not be saved.

I was more pointing out what seems to be a trend of Sunderland signing new managers not long before a Tyne-Wear derby. Which, of course, they'll win...

Ehh... Seems more like it'll be a goalless draw or a scrappy 1-0 win to Newcastle tbh.

Osarius wrote:

Eastfield Lodge wrote:I was more pointing out what seems to be a trend of Sunderland signing new managers not long before a Tyne-Wear derby. Which, of course, they'll win...

Ehh... Seems more like it'll be a goalless draw or a scrappy 1-0 win to Newcastle tbh.

If Adam Johnson remains suspended, possibly. To be honest, we haven't exactly been great at defending recently either, so I don't know.

Eastfield Lodge wrote:

Osarius wrote:Ehh... Seems more like it'll be a goalless draw or a scrappy 1-0 win to Newcastle tbh.

If Adam Johnson remains suspended, possibly.

Speaking of Adam Johnson... I saw an interesting heatmap of his recently...

Osarius wrote:

Eastfield Lodge wrote:If Adam Johnson remains suspended, possibly.

Speaking of Adam Johnson... I saw an interesting heatmap of his recently...

Not bad.

8 best Champions League clubs are now Atletico, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Bayern, FC Porto, PSG and AS Monaco.
Number of teams by country

Spain: 3
France: 2
Germany: 1
Italy: 1
Portugal: 1

If France or Italy gets further in this competition than England in next few years then they might get the 4th CL spot and England may lose their 4th.

Silky football from Dynamo Kyiv.

Liventia wrote:Silky football from Dynamo Kyiv.

Damn, that's quite the score.

Teemant wrote:8 best Champions League clubs are now Atletico, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Bayern, FC Porto, PSG and AS Monaco.
Number of teams by country

Spain: 3
France: 2
Germany: 1
Italy: 1
Portugal: 1

If France or Italy gets further in this competition than England in next few years then they might get the 4th CL spot and England may lose their 4th.

Frankly it would take a miracle for Italian football to overtake the English coefficient in the next 5-8 years. France, too, actually. One or the other would definitely need to win both the CL and EL to overhaul in the next 5 years.

Well, Winter World Cup confirmed for 2022. This may just be the breaking point...

That was just painful. Felt like half of Dynamo's goals were miracles, while Barkley hit a couple off the post when it still was well within reach. Then again, the defense was awful in the first half and I pretty much gave up hope on a comeback when we didn't make any changes until it was already too late. Story of our season, I guess...

Equestrian States wrote:That was just painful. Felt like half of Dynamo's goals were miracles, while Barkley hit a couple off the post when it still was well within reach. Then again, the defense was awful in the first half and I pretty much gave up hope on a comeback when we didn't make any changes until it was already too late. Story of our season, I guess...

Though Barkley's shots were awesome, it was so frustrating as there was an easy lay off which would of resulted in one on one situations or tap ins and it was so obvious he was going to try and shoot. You are right miracle goals and you needed that little bit of luck as it was an even game, (despite the score line). Sad to see Everton knocked out fingers crossed you now avoid relegation.

Equestrian States wrote:That was just painful. Felt like half of Dynamo's goals were miracles, while Barkley hit a couple off the post when it still was well within reach. Then again, the defense was awful in the first half and I pretty much gave up hope on a comeback when we didn't make any changes until it was already too late. Story of our season, I guess...

I suspect that is Martinez gone at the end of the season, regardless of the remaining league form. That's some serious regression in one season.

Thing is, there aren't that many options about to replace him properly. Kenwright might take a punt on Howe, Karanka, or McClaren but I don't see it happening or any of them leaving if they all come up.

DesAnges wrote:

Equestrian States wrote:That was just painful. Felt like half of Dynamo's goals were miracles, while Barkley hit a couple off the post when it still was well within reach. Then again, the defense was awful in the first half and I pretty much gave up hope on a comeback when we didn't make any changes until it was already too late. Story of our season, I guess...

I suspect that is Martinez gone at the end of the season, regardless of the remaining league form. That's some serious regression in one season.

Thing is, there aren't that many options about to replace him properly. Kenwright might take a punt on Howe, Karanka, or McClaren but I don't see it happening or any of them leaving if they all come up.

Well, mid-table is still a faint possibility if we can put any kind of run together since our remaining schedule isn't impossible.

That said, if Martinez wants to keep his job through the end of 2015, Everton need to be nowhere near the bottom of the table in May and get off to at least a decent start next season. I don't think Kenwright sacks him this summer unless a manager who would actually be an improvement over Martinez becomes available and/or we're actually in the relegation battle until the end. Personally, I'd rather give Martinez one last chance, but if Everton starts poorly next season, I just can't see him lasting much longer than October if he even survives the summer.

Equestrian States wrote:

DesAnges wrote:I suspect that is Martinez gone at the end of the season, regardless of the remaining league form. That's some serious regression in one season.

Thing is, there aren't that many options about to replace him properly. Kenwright might take a punt on Howe, Karanka, or McClaren but I don't see it happening or any of them leaving if they all come up.

Well, mid-table is still a faint possibility if we can put any kind of run together since our remaining schedule isn't impossible.

That said, if Martinez wants to keep his job through the end of 2015, Everton need to be nowhere near the bottom of the table in May and get off to at least a decent start next season. I don't think Kenwright sacks him this summer unless a manager who would actually be an improvement over Martinez becomes available and/or we're actually in the relegation battle until the end. Personally, I'd rather give Martinez one last chance, but if Everton starts poorly next season, I just can't see him lasting much longer than October if he even survives the summer.

Well a chance to actually buy more than a couple of players that he wants might help. Blowing your load on Lukaku last year when the squad needed more work than just a striker and Besic was a bit foolhardy. Some decent CBs might help, Distin's legs have gone, Alcaraz never was that good and Jagielka is starting to decline. You really only have Stones.

A player, incidentally, I'd like to see Liverpool try and nick in the summer. No offence.