Ultimate Football (Soccer) Thread 2014-15

[Liventia]

Ashington AFC of the Northern Football League division one (level 9/step 5) have appointed former England fast bowler Steve Harmison (!!) as their new manager.

[Yellow Yellow Red]

Leicester have sacked Nigel Pearson. Perhaps related to his bizarre behaviour towards James MacArthur yesterday?

They since made a statement that they have not sacked him. Boardroom confusion or over-eager journalists?

[KoloToure]

Beautiful: http://gfycat.com/IdealScornfulBlacklab

[Osarius]

Beautiful: http://gfycat.com/IdealScornfulBlacklab

Been working on that delivery from open play with my team. It's so basic, but nobody ever seems capable of defending against it. Baffling.

[Yellow Yellow Red]

Beautiful: http://gfycat.com/IdealScornfulBlacklab

Been working on that delivery from open play with my team. It's so basic, but nobody ever seems capable of defending against it. Baffling.

One of my favorite things about reffing u-13, u-14, even u-15 level is being able to watch the difference between the teams that really practice set pieces and the teams that just practice them in the "get your head on the ball and send it towards goal" type set pieces.

I remember one game at the u-13 level where a team scored four goals off corners. It was a simple matter of crossing runs inside the box to split defenders off of their marks. The other team had no idea what was happening - they'd have to step around people and their mark would go free. It was really impressive from kids of that age. The set piece wizards probably could have mercy ruled* them if they were more accurate and stronger with the actual corner kicks themselves (which is no slight against them, given their age).

*Do you have a mercy rule in English youth soccer? Here it's if a team is leading by ten goals (or different in some tournaments - I've seen 6 and 8 also used) at halftime or at any point after half time the game ends.

[Auremena]

Been working on that delivery from open play with my team. It's so basic, but nobody ever seems capable of defending against it. Baffling.

One of my favorite things about reffing u-13, u-14, even u-15 level is being able to watch the difference between the teams that really practice set pieces and the teams that just practice them in the "get your head on the ball and send it towards goal" type set pieces.

I remember one game at the u-13 level where a team scored four goals off corners. It was a simple matter of crossing runs inside the box to split defenders off of their marks. The other team had no idea what was happening - they'd have to step around people and their mark would go free. It was really impressive from kids of that age. The set piece wizards probably could have mercy ruled* them if they were more accurate and stronger with the actual corner kicks themselves (which is no slight against them, given their age).

*Do you have a mercy rule in English youth soccer? Here it's if a team is leading by ten goals (or different in some tournaments - I've seen 6 and 8 also used) at halftime or at any point after half time the game ends.

Corners were always fun in youth soccer, and the only time I ever remember scoring (I was usually in goal, a CB or FB due to my size whilst in Belgium; despite being younger than most of the other children, I was slightly taller than most) was off one, despite us not really knowing what we were doing

[DesAnges]

Been working on that delivery from open play with my team. It's so basic, but nobody ever seems capable of defending against it. Baffling.

One of my favorite things about reffing u-13, u-14, even u-15 level is being able to watch the difference between the teams that really practice set pieces and the teams that just practice them in the "get your head on the ball and send it towards goal" type set pieces.

I remember one game at the u-13 level where a team scored four goals off corners. It was a simple matter of crossing runs inside the box to split defenders off of their marks. The other team had no idea what was happening - they'd have to step around people and their mark would go free. It was really impressive from kids of that age. The set piece wizards probably could have mercy ruled* them if they were more accurate and stronger with the actual corner kicks themselves (which is no slight against them, given their age).

*Do you have a mercy rule in English youth soccer? Here it's if a team is leading by ten goals (or different in some tournaments - I've seen 6 and 8 also used) at halftime or at any point after half time the game ends.

There's no mercy rule that in aware of but the FA have recently decided that goal difference will not be used to help determine league position in youth football. Which once again falls to misunderstand youth footballers.

[Eastfield Lodge]

One of my favorite things about reffing u-13, u-14, even u-15 level is being able to watch the difference between the teams that really practice set pieces and the teams that just practice them in the "get your head on the ball and send it towards goal" type set pieces.

I remember one game at the u-13 level where a team scored four goals off corners. It was a simple matter of crossing runs inside the box to split defenders off of their marks. The other team had no idea what was happening - they'd have to step around people and their mark would go free. It was really impressive from kids of that age. The set piece wizards probably could have mercy ruled* them if they were more accurate and stronger with the actual corner kicks themselves (which is no slight against them, given their age).

*Do you have a mercy rule in English youth soccer? Here it's if a team is leading by ten goals (or different in some tournaments - I've seen 6 and 8 also used) at halftime or at any point after half time the game ends.

Corners were always fun in youth soccer, and the only time I ever remember scoring (I was usually in goal, a CB or FB due to my size whilst in Belgium; despite being younger than most of the other children, I was slightly taller than most) was off one, despite us not really knowing what we were doing

I never played a proper organized game, but my worst ever 'game' saw me score a hat-trick of own goals, 2 of which were directly from corners.

[Auremena]

Just waiting for Kane to score a second goal...

[DesAnges]

MARIO FANTASTICO, MARIO MAGNIFICO, OLE OLE, OLE OLE

[Michael Rosen and his Plum Army]

TOP OF THE LEAGUE! Come on Boro, you can do this!

[DesAnges]

https://twitter.com/OliverKayTimes/stat ... 9955946498

Christ. Os, that's horrible.

[Evil Lord Sauron]

https://twitter.com/OliverKayTimes/status/565273169955946498

Christ. Os, that's horrible.

And into the relegation zone they go.

[Osarius]

It was a simple matter of crossing runs inside the box to split defenders off of their marks.

This is the problem with man-marking. Better coaching and that's not an issue. My team uses a sort of zonal system at all times. Man-marking is for special cases. Despite my team having a terrible record this season, they rarely concede from set pieces.

That out-swinging delivery to the back post, though, works all the time. Not just set pieces.
I just need them to see the opportunity more often in games. This past weekend, they had plenty of chances to use it, but they played balls into the channels instead (which were blocked) or back into the middle (and the opposition were well-organised on their own 18-yard line). Frustrating.

https://twitter.com/OliverKayTimes/status/565273169955946498

Christ. Os, that's horrible.

That actually makes it sound better than it is.

[Liventia]

Aston Villa have sacked Paul Lambert.

WhoScored: Aston Villa picked up 101 points and scored only 98 goals in 101 Premier League matches during Lambert's time in charge #avfc

[Osarius]

Aston Villa have sacked Paul Lambert.

Don't think any of us actually saw this coming. Lots of people hoped, but the general assumption was that he'd last until summer. Honestly, I'm not sure who they think they can bring in who would be an improvement with the current squad and the short time left the fix the situation. Perhaps more importantly, why wasn't the change made last month, when a new boss could have brought in the players he needs?

Realistically, the board didn't expect anything from Arsenal and Chelsea, but if losing to Hull was some kind of trigger, it's a pretty shitty policy. "Yes, we'll wait until a time when a potential new manager will be effectively powerless to actually affect change, then sack this guy if he loses to a team near us in the table." for fuck's sake.

I'm not even mad they sacked Lambert. I get it. I just don't understand the reasoning for doing it now. It actually feels like we're worse off. I thought we'd stay up even with Lambert and the goal famine. I think we're genuinely fucked now. We'll see, anyway.

[Angleter]

Aston Villa have sacked Paul Lambert.

Don't think any of us actually saw this coming. Lots of people hoped, but the general assumption was that he'd last until summer. Honestly, I'm not sure who they think they can bring in who would be an improvement with the current squad and the short time left the fix the situation. Perhaps more importantly, why wasn't the change made last month, when a new boss could have brought in the players he needs?

Realistically, the board didn't expect anything from Arsenal and Chelsea, but if losing to Hull was some kind of trigger, it's a pretty shitty policy. "Yes, we'll wait until a time when a potential new manager will be effectively powerless to actually affect change, then sack this guy if he loses to a team near us in the table." for fuck's sake.

I'm not even mad they sacked Lambert. I get it. I just don't understand the reasoning for doing it now. It actually feels like we're worse off. I thought we'd stay up even with Lambert and the goal famine. I think we're genuinely fucked now. We'll see, anyway.

I think those wins back in December gave the board enough faith to stick with him through January. I think now it had got to the point where they realised that we could scarcely do much worse than we have been since Lambert got his new contract.

Anyway, now let's hope that all the people betting on Glenn Hoddle are wrong.

[Eastfield Lodge]

Don't think any of us actually saw this coming. Lots of people hoped, but the general assumption was that he'd last until summer. Honestly, I'm not sure who they think they can bring in who would be an improvement with the current squad and the short time left the fix the situation. Perhaps more importantly, why wasn't the change made last month, when a new boss could have brought in the players he needs?

Realistically, the board didn't expect anything from Arsenal and Chelsea, but if losing to Hull was some kind of trigger, it's a pretty shitty policy. "Yes, we'll wait until a time when a potential new manager will be effectively powerless to actually affect change, then sack this guy if he loses to a team near us in the table." for fuck's sake.

I'm not even mad they sacked Lambert. I get it. I just don't understand the reasoning for doing it now. It actually feels like we're worse off. I thought we'd stay up even with Lambert and the goal famine. I think we're genuinely fucked now. We'll see, anyway.

I think those wins back in December gave the board enough faith to stick with him through January. I think now it had got to the point where they realised that we could scarcely do much worse than we have been since Lambert got his new contract.

Anyway, now let's hope that all the people betting on Glenn Hoddle are wrong.

At the rate Villa have been getting points this season and assuming you finish 17th/18th (take your pick), Newcastle just need two or three points to avoid relegation. On 32 at the moment, I'll be honest I'd like to be the right side of 40 points by the end; 8 points from 13 shouldn't be a tall order.

[Yellow Yellow Red]

I think Villa will stay up - but it'll be tight. I think QPR and Leicester are destined for the drop. I hope Burnley stays but, but I'm not sure. Hull could end up in a bit of trouble, but they're a better side than their place in the table shows. Sunderland could turn around (3 of their next 4 are winnable - home against West Brom, away to Man United, away to Hull, home against Villa). Even 6 points from the next 4 games could be enough to get them out of immediate danger.

As an aside - are the Villa fans I've heard calling in to shows serious about wanting Sherwood? I thought they were joking, but they seem to be straight about it all...

[Dumb Ideologies]

Don't think any of us actually saw this coming. Lots of people hoped, but the general assumption was that he'd last until summer. Honestly, I'm not sure who they think they can bring in who would be an improvement with the current squad and the short time left the fix the situation. Perhaps more importantly, why wasn't the change made last month, when a new boss could have brought in the players he needs?

Realistically, the board didn't expect anything from Arsenal and Chelsea, but if losing to Hull was some kind of trigger, it's a pretty shitty policy. "Yes, we'll wait until a time when a potential new manager will be effectively powerless to actually affect change, then sack this guy if he loses to a team near us in the table." for fuck's sake.

I'm not even mad they sacked Lambert. I get it. I just don't understand the reasoning for doing it now. It actually feels like we're worse off. I thought we'd stay up even with Lambert and the goal famine. I think we're genuinely fucked now. We'll see, anyway.

I think those wins back in December gave the board enough faith to stick with him through January. I think now it had got to the point where they realised that we could scarcely do much worse than we have been since Lambert got his new contract.

Anyway, now let's hope that all the people betting on Glenn Hoddle are wrong.

Glenn Hoddle should have every job. There should be a big assembly line producing Hoddles.

[Osarius]

are the Villa fans I've heard calling in to shows serious about wanting Sherwood? I thought they were joking, but they seem to be straight about it all...

I was reading posts on various forums etc earlier and in my frustration, I took to facebook to sum up my feelings on the matter.
Take from this what you will.



I love the club, but it's come to a point where I'm actually a little embarassed to admit I'm part of the fanbase.

Anyway, now let's hope that all the people betting on Glenn Hoddle are wrong.

Glenn Hoddle should have every job. There should be a big assembly line producing Hoddles.

I actually happen to think Hoddle is a fantastic coach.
Shit man-manager, though. And that's kind of what we need right now.

On a related note, Iain Macintosh wasn't far off...

December - Lambert apologises to supporters for a run of six games without a win. Alongside him, Roy Keane stares hard at the floor, trying to block out the screams in his head. "No!" the voices wail. "We can change!" Hours later, a number of concerned journalists wonder why the ominous words, "The time for change has passed. This is the quickening," have been picked up on their Dictaphones.

January - Paul Lambert is sacked. Roy Keane is offered his job. He stares at Randy Lerner and, for the first time in many months, a smile breaks across his face. It begins.

[Yellow Yellow Red]

Think the new guy will come from the inside (someone like Gordon Cowans, Given, or one of the Marshalls) or from the outside?

Gareth Southgate to make a triumphant return to Villa Park, maybe? Not gonna lie, I love this silly speculation window that comes every time a manager has been sacked (as long as it isn't my own team).

[Osarius]

Think the new guy will come from the inside (someone like Gordon Cowans, Given, or one of the Marshalls)

no.

Gareth Southgate to make a triumphant return to Villa Park, maybe?

god no.

[KoloToure]

Think the new guy will come from the inside (someone like Gordon Cowans, Given, or one of the Marshalls)

no.

Gareth Southgate to make a triumphant return to Villa Park, maybe?

god no.

Neil Warnock's about.

[Dumb Ideologies]

no.


god no.

Neil Warnock's about.

ALTERNATIVELY GLEN HODDLE