Slitherine

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ORIGINAL: terje439

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ORIGINAL: Zorch

This is for those of you who follow the game known as American Football.

There are 4, count'em, 4 games in London this season:

-- Sept. 24, Ravens vs. Jaguars at Wembley Stadium (9:30 a.m. ET)
-- Oct. 1, Saints vs. Dolphins at Wembley Stadium (9:30 a.m. ET)
-- Oct. 22, Cardinals vs. Rams at Twickenham Stadium (1 p.m. ET)
-- Oct. 29, Vikings vs. Browns at Twickenham Stadium (9:30 a.m. ET)

Times are USA Eastern time.

Hopefully the turf won't be too badly torn up by the uncouth colonial savages.

We now return you to your regular thread.

Too bad I do not have vacation then, would have gone to the UK for that.
I am good at picking teams that will make you suffer as a fan though

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ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

Zorch, what are exactly doing these four American football teams in London? They play, I assume, but what competition? Or is this just some sort of exhibition?

I never watched a full game of this sport.

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ORIGINAL: Zorch

It is a regular season game for these teams. The NFL season consists of 16 games in a 17 week period.

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

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ORIGINAL: loki100

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

Well good luck to Partick Thistle - but with regard to Tottenham, I think it is quite simple. We have to play Arsenal and Manchester United + a recovering Crystal Palace and not least, that perenial bogey team for us West Ham United.

So I think that even in the spectacularly unlikely event that Chelsea collapse (have you seen the dross they play in 5 of their last 6 games?) then we still wouldn't be able to bridge the gap.

I think a Europa League spot for us is secure though.......and maybe even scrape a Champions League place....possibly.

I can't actually get used to the idea that (a) it will take a momumental collapse for Spurs not to make the CL and (b) even then we will finish above Arsenal ... these things seem wrong.

warspite1

LOL. I understand. As humans we need our anchor points, our certainties, our rocks on which we can rely as life throws up its myriad variables on a daily basis. Arsenal finishing above us and in the top 4, while Spurs are well.... Spursy, are two of those anchors.

Mind you, as much as I may wish for a Chelsea collapse, I didn't want Chelsea to lose yesterday. Now all of a sudden we are favourites for the FA Cup semi-final! Harry Kane is apparently giving it the large about us beating them in the Semi-Final and this will lead to Chelsea mucking up their run-in....

Can we all just calm down please? Chelsea will beat us next week - and quite comfortably - as the Spursy team that took to the field in October and November will turn up at Wembley, and then Crystal Palace will take a point off us, Manchester United will beat us - as will West Ham and Arsenal - and we then have the usual nervy, will they-won't they get a Champions League spot end to the season.

#predictableandspursy

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

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ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

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ORIGINAL: Zorch

It is a regular season game for these teams. The NFL season consists of 16 games in a 17 week period.

I see. This nomadism sounds really weird but I guess they are trying to sell the sport abroad.

In football (soccer that is), your "home" or stadium is really important. In football mythology, supporters like to think they are sacred fortresses that the enemy horde or tribe should never storm It's your soul, your HQ.

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ORIGINAL: warspite1


...

....and so it starts....

To be fair, I think Mauricio Pochettino needs to take this one on the chin. Tactically he played a stinker and that is not said with hindsight.

We have a successful team, a successful set-up, but in our biggest game for years, the manager decides to play Son as a wing back.....

No one in the papers or on TV seems to be pointing out that at 2-2 we had a definite penalty either or that, once again, the referee (remember 2012?) seems to be - shall we say - not exactly Spurs friendly. How many fouls did Alonso get away with before he was finally booked? But these gripes about the referee are nothing compared to the self-inflicted wound of team selection....

So Chelsea will beat Southampton on Tuesday - gap back to 7 - and then at best we will draw with Palace (although after that, I revise my prediction to a probable Tottenham defeat instead).

Europa League here we come and player exodus begins in the early summer.

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ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

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ORIGINAL: Orm
Mourinho 2 - 0 Conte

More like

Mourinho 5th place - Top of the league Conte

He better wins the UEFA Europa League (= Champions League via a service door).

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

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Warspite
Guardiola failed at Bayern and his start at Manchester City has not exactly been stellar.

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ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

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Warspite
Guardiola failed at Bayern and his start at Manchester City has not exactly been stellar.

But you never mentioned that Mourinho also failed because he did not win the Champions League with a football giant: Real Madrid. He missed the 3 chances he had. And he REALLY was supposed to win it...

Weird omission.

Besides, let's not resurrect this argument... again. Well, if others want to add something...

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

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ORIGINAL: warspite1
So do we make Jose Mourinho out of bounds on this thread?

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Interestingly, despite you saying that he needs to win the Europa League for a Champions League spot, Mourinho's United are now just one point behind City...

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ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

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ORIGINAL: warspite1
So do we make Jose Mourinho out of bounds on this thread?

Of course not.

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

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ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

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Interestingly, despite you saying that he needs to win the Europa League for a Champions League spot, Mourinho's United are now just one point behind City...

Don't tell me a CL spot will be an Alamein / Stalingrad / Midway amazing thing

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

...and yes, Conte is achieving with a squad that Jose built (and yes I think Conte is one brilliant manager too).

Just like with Ranieri at Leicester, when players - with the money and power they have these days - turn on a manager, there is only one winner. Jose won a league title with Chelsea and then, for what ever reason, the players stopped playing for him. That says more about them than it does Jose.

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

...and yes, Conte is achieving with a squad that Jose built (and yes I think Conte is one brilliant manager too).

Just like with Ranieri at Leicester, when players - with the money and power they have these days - turn on a manager, there is only one winner. Jose won a league title with Chelsea and then, for what ever reason, the players stopped playing for him. That says more about them than it does Jose.

quote:

ORIGINAL: shunwick

Vanarama National League Highlights Show | Matchday 45

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jsreGs1Ijg

EVERY PREMIER LEAGUE FAN IN 90 SECONDS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP5m608TXBo

Best wishes,
Steve

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

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ORIGINAL: warspite1
for what ever reason, the players stopped playing for him. That says more about them than it does Jose.

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ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

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ORIGINAL: warspite1
for what ever reason, the players stopped playing for him. That says more about them than it does Jose.

In every single job, if employees are not doing their job, it's the boss' fault. He allowed this to happen. Excuses, excuses and yet more excuses.

Besides, why this sudden naïveté? It's always the same old story with Jose. 1. two seasons: park the bus; 2. third season: crash the bus.

AND

Après moi le déluge

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

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ORIGINAL: warspite1
I have to say that I have no idea where you're coming from.

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ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

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ORIGINAL: warspite1
I have to say that I have no idea where you're coming from.

I was clearly replying your comment or "players let me down" theory.

This is not the first time -and won't be the last- this theory is mentioned (other coaches, teams or even past eras). The Ranieri affair ie sacking involved this theory too. True or false, who really knows?

The thing is I don't believe a single word Jose has to say. He's proven countless times that he is both ruthless and dishonest. Ranieri on the other hand I might believe him -his behaviour is "normal"

So some journalist writes a piece about this theory. Because Jose said it in the first place? Does that piece make the theory authentic? Not to me.

What I believe is that Jose inevitably brings with him the tools that doom his teams. The famous siege mentality and of course the assorted endless antics, humiliations and scandals.

Three years is all he needs apparently: bingo! The human beings at his disposal are utterly worn out after this ordeal. And then these exhausted players let him down... oh well.

This is credible. Conspiracy theories, I don't buy them, thank you.

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

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ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

The question is, are you a Porto, Inter or Chelsea supporter? As far as I know, you're not.

No - as you know, but that has nothing to do with anything

I don't like any of those teams either so all I see is a guy with millionaires' expensive toys. And he manages to win, oh quelle suprise. Who ever said he coached mickey mouse teams?

Okay we are going round in circles - this has all been brought up before and if you are going to insist that winning the Champions League with Porto is something anyone could do well I can only guess at why you would do that

As if he was the first guy to win leagues and CLs. Plenty of them out there. Each year *someone* wins these trophies. Besides, the CL title is basically a matter of luck (the cup thing vs regularity ie leagues).

Who said he was the first. No idea what this has to do with anything

A humble and rather gray guy like Del Bosque can also say he's won leagues and a couple of CL. Oh, and one Euro and one WC. Has anyone ever said that guy was top notch? Of course not. Needless to say, the guy never ever pretended he was the best thing out there.

No idea what this has to do with anything

And Jose does not build teams, by the way. He inherited Inter (*already* successful, I had to correct you on this one), Chelsea and Real Madrid toys. As I said, Jose worns out the toys. It's amazing Conte could inspire these guys again.

No you didn't, nice try but I had to correct you. Inter won how many Champions League's under Mancini?

But you were the one that mentioned Guardiola's failure. Well, at least he didn't miss the Bundesliga titles. Mourinho won 0 CL and 1 (out of 3) leagues with Real. That has to be the most abject failure then

So you don't rate anything Mourinho's done but you rave about Guardiola winning the Bundesliga in a one-horse race?

What you need to understand is that you will never get me to praise this personage. NEVER. All I see is mega expensive teams using cowardly small teams, relegation fodder miserables tactics. You like that? Fine. I don't. Now just respect this point of view.

What are you talking about? I am not asking you to praise him - but equally I am not the one that, for no good reason brings up anti-Jose rants with boring monotony. As I said, if you are going to bring up that rubbish then expect to be challenged.

And you already know it. Parking the bus tactics are perfectly legitimate and rational when your struggle is about mere survival. For example Sunderland in the EPL. Here it's not a choice, it's the only rational option if you're visiting Chelsea or Spurs

Why are you trying to tell me what you think I know? If Mourinho had played Barcelona at their game then he wouldn't have won the Champions League. He found a way to beat Barca by playing the best tactics for his group of players - its called managing.

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

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ORIGINAL: warspite1
if you are going to insist that winning the Champions League with Porto

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Warspite
its called managing.

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ORIGINAL: TulliusDetritus

To be honest, in general I don't praise any coach. Too subjective: how do you measure it? A pissing contest? Well, then Del Bosque has to be the winner yes or yes. I simply don't praise them (Mourinho AND guardiola etc).

The exception is when exceptional things happen ie Ranieri and Leicester or Benítez and Liverpool 2005. The former was astonishing, the latter, pure luck (the cup thing).

Other than that I can say I prefer Guardiola simply because he proposes attacking football, and that's what I like. As opposed to the mourinhesque "I'm the best, I'm the best!!", you will hardly get me saying x guy is better than y guy.

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805