AVB's tactics backfired when he was too stubborn to change things (the 2-2 draw with United being the exception where they were a lot deeper) but his Plan A would have got it right more often than Sherwood's. Their firepower should be enough to beat most bottom half teams but when there's 6-8 teams competing with them for European places there's just too many difficult games to play that really aggressive 4-4-2 when getting ripped apart once or twice by your rivals, as we've seen, takes you right off the pace.

AVB's tactics backfired when he was too stubborn to change things (the 2-2 draw with United being the exception where they were a lot deeper) but his Plan A would have got it right more often than Sherwood's. Their firepower should be enough to beat most bottom half teams but when there's 6-8 teams competing with them for European places there's just too many difficult games to play that really aggressive 4-4-2 when getting ripped apart once or twice by your rivals, as we've seen, takes you right off the pace.

 

The damage is already done for Spurs imo. Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal are far better than them. And Chelsea and Man Utd have the better squads and look like they have another gear there still. I think Spurs will finish somewhere between 5th and 7th. I just can't see them in the top 4. Not enough fire power, and too many athletes instead of footballers. I think the extra striker will help Soldado, but they don't have the team to be able to play two midfielders. They'll get overrun against the teams that like to press.

 

Must say I'm loving how tight it is at the top. Makes it so exciting! Liverpool were top at Christmas but could be out of the top 4 by New Year, madness!

Soldado would be fine as a lone striker if the attacking midfielders gave him some decent support. Sigurdsson and Eriksen looked like doing that at times before the latter got injured, but the team they put out today was suicidal.

Soldado has played his entire career as a lone striker and has an excellent goal record as a result but whenever I saw Spurs play his best involvements were in bringing others into play, particularly against Man Utd, he had one half decent chance which he put wide and was harshly blamed for, but if it was on target Evans would've blocked it, but played a couple of wonderful passes to others.

Mackay gone now!

Yay we won finally, life under steve cotterill isnt so bad. Is a better team performance and winjing against walsall was greeted with scenes as if we had won the playoffs lol. Apparently we are getting bobby zamora too :D

 

onto our rivals in malaysia, we always knew the malaysian red drsgons with no soul fc were an embarrasment, but this is ridiculous. I actually rated mackay. Apparently theres a strong rumour that tan may become manager himself, the odds have gone down too. More of a laughing stock to come. Guess we can really truely say that 'you look like ***** when you tap your head' ;)

What's the betting Malky Mackay gets a new job before Cardiff get a new manager?

What's the betting Malky Mackay gets a new job before Cardiff get a new manager?

 

I think they'll hire someone pretty sharpish. They were apparently after a manager currently in work at Serie A. Can't imagine how Cardiff fans would feel if they ended up with Dave Jones.

4-1 win v stevenage was a good result and signs are looking good. Jay emmanuel thomas is the 6th highest goalscorer in europe in 2013 apparently! :o long may it continue, hopefully we dont sell him as even though he can be perceived as lazy, he creates and scores for fun and is a useful asset to have.

Premier League

 

Goalscorers

01 Luis Suarez LIVERPOOL 19

02 Sergio Aguero MAN CITY 13

03 Loic Remy NEWCASTLE 10

=04 Romelu Lukaku EVERTON 9

=04 Wayne Rooney MAN UNITED 9

=04 Daniel Sturridge LIVERPOOL 9

=04 Yaya Toure MAN CITY 9

=08 Olivier Giroud ARSENAL 8

=08 Eden Hazard CHELSEA 8

=08 Alvaro Negredo MAN CITY 8

=08 Aaron Ramsey ARSENAL 8

=08 Jay Rodriguez SOUTHAMPTON 8

 

 

Leyton Orient v Bristol city called off owing to structural problems with Brisbane Road.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25513053

 

There has already been some deals sorted ready for tomorrow's start to the transfer window. Most high profile that I have noticed, Given extending his loan at Middlesbrough.

 

In relation to the transfer window, I found this an interesting read. It relates to what the Premier League clubs require.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25488699

Leyton Orient v Bristol city called off owing to structural problems with Brisbane Road.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25513053

 

Quote]

 

Sounds fishy to me. Without 2 top scorers and a host of other injuries, plus a bad run of form to play us. Im convinced its part conspiracy as they should have got it fixed by now! :D

 

Suspected that about Wolves for us earlier this season.

 

Disappointing result today, I am not overly optimistic about our trip to Sunderland this weekend. Lack of goals away from home is a concern.

Premier League

 

Goalscorers

01 Luis Suarez LIVERPOOL 20

02 Sergio Aguero MAN CITY 13

=03 Loic Remy NEWCASTLE 10

=03 Yaya Toure MAN CITY 10

=05 Romelu Lukaku EVERTON 9

=05 Wayne Rooney MAN UNITED 9

=05 Daniel Sturridge LIVERPOOL 9

=08 Olivier Giroud ARSENAL 8

=08 Eden Hazard CHELSEA 8

=08 Alvaro Negredo MAN CITY 8

=08 Aaron Ramsey ARSENAL 8

=08 Jay Rodriguez SOUTHAMPTON 8

a draw against Watford was a good result, however we should have won. Watford dived and cheated a lot. Young Wes Burns really is one for the future, absolutely superb when he has played. Hopefully we win the replay as we could get to play man city at the Etihad. I never been there and its a dream of mine to go one day, so if we make it I will be so excited lol :D

Karleigh Osborne signing is a decent addition. he's been a rock on loan and so glad to have him permanently. Tyrone Barnett I dunno much about, but if he can score that's good.

 

just had a thought about West Ham, after losing 5-0 to florist and 6-0 to man city, and needing a striker, surely becchio at Norwich wouldn't be that bad a signing for them. Banged them in in the championship for fun so maybe they should enquire, I dunno. :)

 

anyway onwards and upwards with cotterill's cider army, keeping the red flag flying high! :D

So the top seven sides (apart from Arsenal) all won this weekend. Guess we'll start to see those teams pull away now.

 

Really interesting in the Premier League right now. So close at the bottom (there's ten teams that can realistically go down) and so close between the top seven teams as well. The big games are going to be so crucial, so I'm expecting a lot of 0-0s and 1-1s..

Premier League

 

Goalscorers

01 Luis Suarez LIVERPOOL 22

02 Sergio Aguero MAN CITY 13

=03 Loic Remy NEWCASTLE 10

=03 Daniel Sturridge LIVERPOOL 10

=03 Yaya Toure MAN CITY 10

=06 Olivier Giroud ARSENAL 9

=06 Eden Hazard CHELSEA 9

=06 Romelu Lukaku EVERTON 9

=06 Alvaro Negredo MAN CITY 9

=06 Wayne Rooney MAN UNITED 9

Mata strongly linked with a £40m move to Man Utd.

 

Don't feel he's the type of player that they need, or that Moyes knows how to use, but slightly worried that it might actually lift Man Utd to actually play semi decent.

There's talk that Mourinho will try and string it out as long as possible and then cancel near deadline day, which I would love.

 

Their squad looks great now and probably only a proper top striker away from being European contenders. Still think City needed Matic more though.

There's talk that Mourinho will try and string it out as long as possible and then cancel near deadline day, which I would love.

 

Their squad looks great now and probably only a proper top striker away from being European contenders. Still think City needed Matic more though.

 

Me too but I can't realistically see that happen. They need the money to finance a move for a striker, be it this window or summer. This could sway the deal for Rooney if they go for him. And finally Man Utd are not a risk to Chelsea anymore, but they still have the chance to take points off their title rivals. Plus Mata will want to leave because he's not playing and his World Cup place is possibly at risk now.

 

Just don't think Mata is the type of player they need. Moyes didn't rate Barkley, passed signing on Ozil and can't play Kagawa. Hope Mata's good at running aimlessly.