It Could Get A Bit Messi In Here - The Football Thread.

Just quickly wanted to say a few words.

Felt randomly very sad today reading the coverage about Pelé. Which is weird because I normally don’t tend to get too emotionally involved in the deaths of people I didn’t know.

I think a lot of it is that he is pretty much the footballer who transcended the sport and defined both it and what it meant to be the greatest. Some of my fondest memories of being and kid and getting into the game were wearing out VHS tapes on Pele and the great Brazilian sides in which he played. Pelé, like that yellow shirt meant mystique and skill and excitement.

Leaving weird references to farmyard animals to one side, I know there are arguments as to other players being the best, but Pelé is and always will be the greatest.

Rest in Peace.

PS. That Heaven XI with Best Maradona and Cruyff playing off Pelé is looking pretty tasty.
 
Joe Mac said:
a lot longer surely? West Ham challenging foe the top 4 two years in a row was a bloody miracle that should buy him the space to try to bed in all the new players.
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I'm not so sure. West Ham are no longer the lovable mid tier side that everyone wants to succeed because they play nice football.
Now they are top 5 in attendance with big ambition. I don't think Moyes is the guy to get them there and if they don't start picking up points soon I can see him getting canned particularly if the footie is ugly too.
 
Englishbob said:
I'm not so sure. West Ham are no longer the lovable mid tier side that everyone wants to succeed because they play nice football.
Now they are top 5 in attendance with big ambition. I don't think Moyes is the guy to get them there and if they don't start picking up points soon I can see him getting canned particularly if the footie is ugly too.
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I mean weren’t West Ham the horrible mid table, often relegated, side everyone hated because they had toxic fans and were from London? They’d have ate themselves if they were chocolate too because once upon a time they had a couple of good England players.

If they seriously think they’re a team with the fan base, income, reputation and squad to do better than a David Moyes then they really don’t deserve him. A good man and competent manager who has vastly outperformed the squad he has had there.
 
Joe Mac said:
I mean weren’t West Ham the horrible mid table, often relegated, side everyone hated because they had toxic fans and were from London? They’d have ate themselves if they were chocolate too because once upon a time they had a couple of good England players.

If they seriously think they’re a team with the fan base, income, reputation and squad to do better than a David Moyes then they really don’t deserve him. A good man and competent manager who has vastly outperformed the squad he has had there.
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I'm just throwing it out there for discussion. And David Moyes, while he did a decent job with Everton, has not won anything anywhere.
 
Englishbob said:
I'm just throwing it out there for discussion. And David Moyes, while he did a decent job with Everton, has not won anything anywhere.
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Outside of the big four (five now with city) who has during his management career? Spurs won a league cup once and a couple of shocks?
 
Joe Mac said:
Outside of the big four (five now with city) who has during his management career? Spurs won a league cup once and a couple of shocks?
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I mean, the bigger point is that Moyes is known for defensive shape and solidity while eking out results.If he can't bring that to this team I don't see why you would stick with him.
If a team is playing unattractive football AND not winning the fans won't stand for it no matter who you are.
Maybe there is more going on but I don't see any progress over the last year.
Just to add, I don't have a horse in this race and it matters not to me what happens.
 
Englishbob said:
I mean, the bigger point is that Moyes is known for defensive shape and solidity while eking out results.If he can't bring that to this team I don't see why you would stick with him.
If a team is playing unattractive football AND not winning the fans won't stand for it no matter who you are.
Maybe there is more going on but I don't see any progress over the last year.
Just to add, I don't have a horse in this race and it matters not to me what happens.
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Yeah my horse in this fight is the utterly ridiculous trend of just dispensing with managers at the first sign of difficulty. West Ham have been 12-18 for two decades. In the three years before he arrived they were insanely lucky not to go down. He had them in contention for fourth until the last game two years ago and until the last couple of games last year with largely the squad that had been so dysfunctional. He was allowed to begin a rebuild and should be allowed to attempt that, and the pain it always creates, unless it’s much more dangerous than a sticky start.

Maybe I’m out of step but this constant sacking of managers who’ve done good jobs is one of the biggest things turning me off football, it’s not quite “banter culture” which is sub-human, but it’s not far off.

As for style. Before this summer has he ever had the money to spend to buy players who can win expansively. He doesn’t play hoof it football either.
 
wokeupnew said:
Yeah they still haven’t played City and Newcastle yet. I think both will be real challenges for them
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Newcastle are well organised and have a buzz behind them but they’ll do well to finish top four this year. They still miss that little bit of extra quality to win tight games when they’re not playing well. Their games ahead of those around also have to be taken in account with their position. Howe has done an outstanding job there so far.
 
Joe Mac said:
Yeah my horse in this fight is the utterly ridiculous trend of just dispensing with managers at the first sign of difficulty. West Ham have been 12-18 for two decades. In the three years before he arrived they were insanely lucky not to go down. He had them in contention for fourth until the last game two years ago and until the last couple of games last year with largely the squad that had been so dysfunctional. He was allowed to begin a rebuild and should be allowed to attempt that, and the pain it always creates, unless it’s much more dangerous than a sticky start.

Maybe I’m out of step but this constant sacking of managers who’ve done good jobs is one of the biggest things turning me off football, it’s not quite “banter culture” which is sub-human, but it’s not far off.

As for style. Before this summer has he ever had the money to spend to buy players who can win expansively. He doesn’t play hoof it football either.
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I'm with you to a certain extent but you risk going broke if you drop into the championship with that stadium. ( I don't think they'll go down btw). It'll just be interesting to see what happens.
I should have said pragmatic as opposed to unattractive in terms of style.
Btw. What is "banter culture"? 🤷‍♂️
 
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