December 2014 Football/Fútbol Discussion: The Glen Johnson Appreciation Thread

[AkydefGoldberg]

Smash and grab.

Liverpool will be feeling more confident, if they win tomorrow, for Sunday. We were woeful and won thanks to RVP/De Gea. Young, Carrick played well.

[PorkChop]

Fellaini is shite.

[Romo]

Wigan at home... smashed um last time we played um... expecting to do the same again.

[prophet]

Well that was excrutiatingly, gut-punchingly amazing.

Devastated that we've not progressed obviously but the emotions I felt for the last 10 minutes of that game I haven't felt for a long time (even longer if you don't include Bradford memories).

I'm still scratching my head at some of Rodgers' decisions. Firstly why Enrique started the game is a fucking mystery - he's not played for a good while and you decide to bring him back during the most important game you'll have all season? Moreno is far from the finished article but he's brilliant going forward, has blistering pace to burn and gets stuck in. (Moreno came on for Enrique at half time. Great - but you've cost us 45 minutes worth of attacking down the left)

Second heads gone moment of the night was the decision to take Lambert off for Markovic. Markovic? I'm not complaining about taking Lambert off because he did look shattered and was ineffective but why the fucking fuck when you have Coutinho (who made a difference) and Lallana (the most technical player in the side) on the bench would you decide to bring Markovic on? I understand he offers a more direct attacking style of play but he hasn't played in a good few weeks so again, as with Enrique, I can't understand that decision.

The sending off was unfortunate. Nothing to do with the player (though I'm expecting Aky to argue otherwise) and it was never in a million years a red card. You sort of run the risk of being penalized when you raise your hand high but there was literally no intent, no malice and virtually zero contact. The referee has completely and utterly murdered the game there and he should be ashamed with not just that horror decision but his complete butchery of the game via stopping it every 2 minutes before any momentum can build.

That said, what good is turning up for the last 10 minutes? All that passion and energy was a joy to behold but where was that for the first 80 minutes of the game? It shouldn't take a piece of world-class from Gerrard to spark the team into life and as he said in his post-match interview all-in-all they didn't deserve to qualify, it's just gutting to have come so close. Ah well, Europa League it is.

Rant over. Sorry lads, had to get that out of my system.

...

Pls cum back suarez/sturridge

(Also has Borini fucked a member of Rodgers' family? Only explanation as to his disappearance off the face of the earth)

[AkydefGoldberg]

Fellaini is shite.

He was last night tbf but he's had a much better season than last, the bloody lampshade.

But Liverpool can't have any complaints - not deserved to go through in a group that they should have grabbed second. Agree with Prophet on the BR teamsheet: defensive with two DMs, no Lallana and no real pace up front.

As expected, will disagree with the sending off. Yes, the player goes down like an actor but Markovic doesn't do that, doesn't get the red. European refs less lenient so he was playing with a risk to do that. Similiar to Nani getting sent off in 2013 vs. Madrid at Old Trafford. It was harsh but had he not jumped that high for the ball, including the dodgy Turkish ref, put the onus on the ref to send him off. But red card can't hide Liverpool's poor displays.

Considering United's performance last night, Liverpool should be utterly motivated for Sunday and deliver a better performance - still not getting carried away about a positive result. But can't deny, would be utter sweet to deliver another blow to what has been a miserable week for them.

[prophet]

I know I called it but I find it hilarious you agree with the red card

[PorkChop]

It was a weird red card. I don't get why Markovic felt the need to flail his arm out like that, the guy was nowhere near him and Markovic was under no pressure. It wasn't like Markovic needed to shield him off the ball or anything, so why he's throwing his arm out like that is beyond me.

It was a soft red. There was barely any contact, and if Markovic really wanted to thump him he could've done quite easily. Instead it was just a graze on the tip of his nose.

I guess it comes down to what the ref saw. He was fairly close and he would've seen an arm come out and hit the Basel bloke above the neckline, and he went down like he'd been pepper-sprayed. I'd have booked Markovic for it but I've seen the replay and the ref hadn't. Weird incident though.

[Kyle]

So, Messi will get how many goals today vs PSG?

[AkydefGoldberg]

I know I called it but I find it hilarious you agree with the red card

I agree with it - but only just. The touch that Markovic gave to the player is probably by how much. Surely you can see that if he doesn't do that, he doesn't get sent off and give the referee - a European one at that and who will see the game more sternly - a decision to make. Markovic's fault completely. No need to do that. Basel's player was a dick for his reaction but expect that from those players playing abroad.

[SKS]

[PorkChop]

Delph and Vlaar could be fit for the game against West Brom. Good to see Delph back so soon, especially now that Ashley Westwood and Joe Cole are out. I'd start Grealish though and give Delph a run out at 80 minutes if he's fit enough, I wouldn't bother with Vlaar though as Okore and Clark have been great at the back.

I'd take a draw against the Baggies but there's a part of me that thinks we could win - I can't remember the last time Villa won three in a row though!

[PorkChop]

Did some research - the last time Villa won 3 in a row was December 2009 when we won 5 on the bounce, against Portsmouth, Hull, Man Utd, Sunderland and Stoke.

The memories

[AkydefGoldberg]

^Just seen Lescott bantering with a kid at a hospital in Birmingham, fair play to Joleon - must be hard if he's a childhood Villa fan. Also good that he did engage with the kid in that way, kinda re-assuring to see.

[AkydefGoldberg]

So much for Keane's stay at Villa being a success
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... rture.html

Never will change despite working with O'Neill for Ireland. He can't be trusted with the manager's job.

[PorkChop]

So much for Keane's stay at Villa being a success
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... rture.html

Never will change despite working with O'Neill for Ireland. He can't be trusted with the manager's job.

Not sure how much I believe that story.

Alan Hutton praised Keane's impact quite recently, and said Keane leaving was a shock: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/f ... oy-8241199

I think a lot of it is also newspaper sensationalism. Villa were doing badly and had Roy Keane in the dugouts, therefore Roy Keane must obviously have been starting secret training ground fights, because that's what Roy Keane does. The media love a good 'Roy Keane has gone mental' story, and from what I've seen, there's very little substance to suggest he left Villa on bad terms. I call BS on this 'Daily Mail insider source'.

[PorkChop]

Former Villa man Craig Gardner on how Villa supposedly aren't one of the major midlands clubs:



Thanks for the lol, Craig.

[AkydefGoldberg]

I hope Lescott is going back to that hospital to banter with that Villa fan on Monday morning!

Nervous about tomorrow, despite United's five wins in a row, but quietly confident of a win.

[PorkChop]

Of course, Craig Gardner would score the winner after I made fun of him.

Kieran Richardson lost us that game. Bellend.

[prophet]

Brad Jones starting in net against United today, with Mignolet dropped to the bench.



Not bothered that Mignolet has been dropped - he's been shit all season and deserves to be on the bench. I just can't get my head around the timing of it though, you don't drop him against Stoke/Sunderland but decide to cash in and drop him against Man United away? Right.

Sterling up-front on his own with Coutinho and Lallana in and around - that is the type of tactic you use against Basel in a must-win game, not so much against your biggest rivals away from home so I'm a little bit worried but at the same time delighted, it's about time Lallana got to start and I'd rather go for it and lose than play it safe...and still lose. Hopefully Rodgers' decisions work out well and we all herald him a genius after the game.

[PorkChop]

Some questionable timing for those tactical changes, even if some of them are the right decision. I'd have dropped Mignolet weeks ago but there's no use in doing it before such a big game and unsettling the team. It's good to see Lallana starting as well, but I wouldn't put Sterling up front on his own, even if he can terrorise United's shitty defence with his pace.

United's results have been good but their performances have been terrible. Liverpool could pick up the win here, especially if they get the first goal. That will be pretty crucial.