What happened to all you Football Fans?

[SnapDragon]

1 hour ago, BigHewer said:

Which team is that, LSL?

My Tranmere Rovers still plodding along, going nowhere as usual.

Ah yes! Trammere Rovers.

A Toffee mate told me, that a few years ago, on the last day of the season, if Rovers had won and Everton had lost their game, they would have swapped places. Toffeez going down and Rovers up. It wasn't to be though. And the blue side of Liverpool have remained in place ever since.

I'll look that one up.Anyone know what season that might have been? Sounds interesting.

[SnapDragon]

2 hours ago, BigHewer said:

Would like to see PNE get in there, just as a nod to top flight history as first ever champions. Probably the Baggies though in my opinion.

When the organised footy started up, PNE were pretty dominant for the first few years, although 'only' winning the first couple.

Sunderland were up there too. I think the 'togetherness' of people in the midlands and north was party the reason for their dominance. Industries, and mining, spring to mind. It was not until 19 years after the league was formed that a Southern team even made top 3. And another 9 years before a London club made it. Although London had the 'very' occasional glimpse of the title, it was Gunners in the 1930s that did London proud.

Everton are a bit unique in that both times held the last titles through the WWs. And it is a bit of a trick question, on a footy quiz night; which city held the title for 9 years, without relinquishing it. It was the C of L. Between 37/38 (Toffeez) and 46/47 (Pool).

[BigHewer]

18 hours ago, Sticky said:

Ah yes! Trammere Rovers.

A Toffee mate told me, that a few years ago, on the last day of the season, if Rovers had won and Everton had lost their game, they would have swapped places. Toffeez going down and Rovers up. It wasn't to be though. And the blue side of Liverpool have remained in place ever since.

I'll look that one up.Anyone know what season that might have been? Sounds interesting.

The first season of the Premier League was Rovers' best ever finish - 4th in Division 1. Missed out on automatic promotion and lost to Swindon in the play-offs. Same season, Everton finished 4 points ahead of Palace, who were relegated from the PL.

I always thought it would be good to have a top flight team on the west side of the Mersey, but it's not to be. Most people support either Liverpool or Everton as you'd imagine. Actually there's a big Everton club shop on Birkenhead high street.

[BigHewer]

18 hours ago, Sticky said:

Sunderland were up there too. I think the 'togetherness' of people in the midlands and north was party the reason for their dominance. Industries, and mining, spring to mind. It was not until 19 years after the league was formed that a Southern team even made top 3. And another 9 years before a London club made it.

I tend to agree, probably some element of a determination to 'stick it to the man' as well.

Getting all deep and historical now, but I watched a great documentary a while back (on the airplane of all places) about one of the early FA Cup finals in the 1880s. Blackburn vs Old Etonians. The big talking point in the papers in the lead up to the game was that Blackburn were (shock... horror) training for the match and the big one: practicing set pieces, which was viewed as an outrage and against the spirit of the game.

Blackburn Olympic (Rovers from the following season) were the first working class northern team to win it and the first team to play a passing game and win it. Prior to that it was just long balls and teams routinely play 5 or 6 strikers. Cue northern dominance, and southern teams only won 3 of the next 50 FA Cups from that match.

[SnapDragon]

31 minutes ago, BigHewer said:

I tend to agree, probably some element of a determination to 'stick it to the man' as well.

Getting all deep and historical now, but I watched a great documentary a while back (on the airplane of all places) about one of the early FA Cup finals in the 1880s. Blackburn vs Old Etonians. The big talking point in the papers in the lead up to the game was that Blackburn were (shock... horror) training for the match and the big one: practicing set pieces, which was viewed as an outrage and against the spirit of the game.

Blackburn Olympic (Rovers from the following season) were the first working class northern team to win it and the first team to play a passing game and win it. Prior to that it was just long balls and teams routinely play 5 or 6 strikers. Cue northern dominance, and southern teams only won 3 of the next 50 FA Cups from that match.

Yup! When we played organised football back in the 1950s, someone would kick the ball, and we would all chase after it. Not the greatest of tactics there.

That bit about training instantly reminded me of a film also. No idea what it was called, but it consisted of two sets of foot soldiers, from opposite sides, ready to swap blows. However, one side didn't do the usual, and charge a couple of hundred yards to engage. They just stood firm, waiting for the enemy, to run double distance.

The two opposing Generals were on their horses, observing and chatting, when the charging occurred. One General complained to the other that it was not fair, that his warriors would be well out of breath when the two sides met for combat. The other General just shrugged and said; 'new tactics'.

[Lowseasonlover]

2 hours ago, Sticky said:

Yup! When we played organised football back in the 1950s, someone would kick the ball, and we would all chase after it. Not the greatest of tactics there.

That bit about training instantly reminded me of a film also. No idea what it was called, but it consisted of two sets of foot soldiers, from opposite sides, ready to swap blows. However, one side didn't do the usual, and charge a couple of hundred yards to engage. They just stood firm, waiting for the enemy, to run double distance.

The two opposing Generals were on their horses, observing and chatting, when the charging occurred. One General complained to the other that it was not fair, that his warriors would be well out of breath when the two sides met for combat. The other General just shrugged and said; 'new tactics'.

Kick and run 

[SnapDragon]

2 hours ago, Lowseasonlover said:

Kick and run 

Indeed. Bill Nicholson was a mastermind. Although it started in the early 50s.

In Spurs double year in 1960/61. Leyton Orient and Liverpool were in the 2nd league. They were both promoted in the following 61/62 season. As often as I could, I went to Brisbane Rd, to watch the Orient. But occasionally I would drift back to White Hart Lane.

There was a game that opened my eyes that season. It was Spurs v Pool. There had already been a game on the 12th April where Liverpool were 5-2 winners. And 3 days later the return fixture was at WHL. The Spurs really cut loose and won the match 7-2. But for me the day was somewhat special because Pool played in a different way. Back then virtually all teams played in the same format. 2-3-5. Now Spurs were a very good team, and Pool were just starting their road to future dominance. So a comfortable home win was expected. And so it turned out.

But i could see something different in Pool's style. Their outside men were one minute defending and the next attacking. Interesting. But the five across the front was king. The following season Pool were a different entity. Very difficult to beat, and although Spurs led for much of the season, it was the northern club that came with a strong late run to take the title. In that year's game at The Lane, a Roger Hunt hat-trick secured a comfortable 1-3 win. By this time everyone was aware of this new system. The 4-2-4.

Man U didn't copy the new style, and went on to glory in Europe playing 5 across the front. But before that the England team had showed the new system off to the world in 66. Sort of!

And the 4-2-4 was with us to stay. For 20 years anyway. There were variations, 2-4-4, and 4-4-2 , but essentially it was a new style of player interchangeability, that would allow domination in Europe. Plenty of other systems have come and gone. The Christmas Tree, Total, Zonal and Tippy Tappy are still available.

Will a true 4-2-4 ever come back to the top level? Could do.

[BigHewer]

Well well well.

Kudos for Postecoglou for doubling down on his tactics away to City, playing the high line. Could have gone either way, a draw a fair result. Spurs genuine title challengers.

Chelsea a tad lucky against the Seagulls with their non-penalty given. Ridiculous VAR. Suicidal tactics from Poch playing four center backs against Brighton’s width. Fatigue a factor in that result. I still don’t rate Chelsea much. 

[SnapDragon]

As an addendum to my recent post on the 4-2-4 system, I had a look at what Wiki had to say.

Wow! More systems available than I can recall. Worth a look, but have your pillow handy.

[Lowseasonlover]

Games are coming thick and fast, any predictions? 

[Lowseasonlover]

16 hours ago, Sticky said:

As an addendum to my recent post on the 4-2-4 system, I had a look at what Wiki had to say.

Wow! More systems available than I can recall. Worth a look, but have your pillow handy.

I played football at a pretty good level we had good teams at school, I also played for a Manchester Boys club, must have been around 1964 I would be 14 they club engaged the services of a coach, professional or not I dont know, but he was the one that first introduced us to 442, I remember him he was a scouser, the funny thing was it all started to make sense, tactic's. we went on to win a few trophy's and the league, 

That was I first learnt being right footed he now wants me to play left midfield as we say now and explained why, I have to say it worked cutting inside onto my right foot sending the ball through the middle I pulled that one of a fews times.

 

[SnapDragon]

51 minutes ago, Lowseasonlover said:

I played football at a pretty good level we had good teams at school, I also played for a Manchester Boys club, must have been around 1964 I would be 14 they club engaged the services of a coach, professional or not I dont know, but he was the one that first introduced us to 442, I remember him he was a scouser, the funny thing was it all started to make sense, tactic's. we went on to win a few trophy's and the league, 

That was I first learnt being right footed he now wants me to play left midfield as we say now and explained why, I have to say it worked cutting inside onto my right foot sending the ball through the middle I pulled that one of a fews times.

I played semi-pro (expenses met) with a couple of teams in Essex and Middlesex.

Looking back, I think Bill Nicholson was the first in England to experiment with the 4-4-2. After Spurs won the double in 61, the Charity Shield was played between an England X1 and Spurs. I'm having difficulty researching this, but the two Spurs' wing-halfs were responsible for taking care of the England wingers. So, in effect, they dropped back to form a 4-1-5 when defending and sprung to 2-3-5 when attacking. This was the very early, experimental 4-2-4 times.

[SnapDragon]

3 minutes ago, Sticky said:

I played semi-pro (expenses met) with a couple of teams in Essex and Middlesex.

Looking back, I think Bill Nicholson was the first in England to experiment with the 4-4-2. After Spurs won the double in 61, the Charity Shield was played between an England X1 and Spurs. I'm having difficulty researching this, but the two Spurs' wing-halfs were responsible for taking care of the England wingers. So, in effect, they dropped back to form a 4-1-5 when defending and sprung to 2-3-5 when attacking. This was the very early, experimental 4-2-4 times.

 

[BigHewer]

1 hour ago, Lowseasonlover said:

Games are coming thick and fast, any predictions? 

Squad depth and fixture congestion going to be an issue. I fear for Brighton and The Toon in particular.

[BigHewer]

1 hour ago, Lowseasonlover said:

I played football at a pretty good level we had good teams at school, I also played for a Manchester Boys club

 

19 minutes ago, Sticky said:

I played semi-pro (expenses met) with a couple of teams in Essex and Middlesex.

I played football when I was very young, but switched to rugby league when I was about 10. Played Hallenfussball (kind of like 5 a side on a wood surface) when I lived in Germany as a teenager. 

Always been more interested in football though. 

[Lowseasonlover]

2 hours ago, BigHewer said:

Squad depth and fixture congestion going to be an issue. I fear for Brighton and The Toon in particular.

will they sign Degea? 

[BigHewer]

15 hours ago, Lowseasonlover said:

will they sign Degea? 

With the injury to Pope, they might have to. I think they'll test the waters with Ramsdale first and if they can't get him..

Neves, Phillips, DeGea, Nketiah. Could be a busy January on Tyneside.

[SnapDragon]

Dear me! Got caught out with the EPL. I was thinking the matches were today, and missed the two last night.

What a game at Luton. Was gonner be yet another 3-3 when Ricey sorted out a great header to send Hatter's fans home sick as;; well hats!

The other match was pretty even looking at the stats.

So to tonight;;;

3-1 - Seagulls - Bees

1-1 - Palace -  Cherries

2-0 - Cottagers - Forest

2-2 - Blades - Pool

2-2 - Villa - City

1-2 - United - Blues

Some shock results there if I'm right. Never been wrong on footy forecasting. We will see.

•   Have the Blades sacked their manager yet? Heard a rumour.

 

[BigHewer]

21 minutes ago, Sticky said:

Have the Blades sacked their manager yet? Heard a rumour.

Wilder back in for the Blades, probably a smart move 

[Lowseasonlover]

 

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta booked for celebrating Declan Rice's 97th-minute winner at Luton... and he will now be BANNED from the touchline for Saturday's game at Aston Villa

 

[Lowseasonlover]

Did you get any of the results right? Good win for Villa, 

[SnapDragon]

59 minutes ago, Lowseasonlover said:

Did you get any of the results right? Good win for Villa, 

My forecasts were good. The teams let me down.

Villa and Seagulls; my two faves won though.

Got Fulham.

Tonight:

2-2 - Toffeez - Toon

2-2 - Spurs - Irons

[Lowseasonlover]

Favorable results for me would be Everton to beat Newcastle although I dont see it, 

And WH to beat Spurs, 

[Lowseasonlover]

 

FULL TIME: Everton 3-0 Newcastle

Twenty days after being put in the bottom three, Everton are back out of it and the crowd at Goodison Park is buzzing.

Newcastle looked and played like a team that has been plagued with injury issues but it was a fantastic performance from Everton.

A night to forget for Trippier who gave the ball away twice for goals from McNeil and Doucoure, before Beto put the icing on the cake with his first Premier League goal.

 

[Lowseasonlover]

 

Tottenham 1-2 West Ham: James Ward-Prowse and Jarrod Bowen help Hammers secure memorable win against London rivals to leave Spurs with one point from their last five games