Come anticipate the COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP, Leagues 1 & 2, Conference, Hellenic, Miverva Spartan etc. 2006/07 !

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(Or is there a thread already?)

Anyway, I feel positively confident about Saints this year. Did anyone see Gareth Bale's goal on Sunday? 17 years old, his third ever first team game, beautiful curled 25-yard free kick. Then he does the same againagainst coventry. A star is born!

But, boringly, Brum or West Brom to win?

― Jamie T Smith (Jamie T Smith), Friday, 11 August 2006 05:31 (nineteen years ago)

OK - your predictions. who up? who down? who for the sack?

Will Niall Quinn give himself an early 'vote of confidence'?

― Jamie T Smith (Jamie T Smith), Friday, 11 August 2006 05:34 (nineteen years ago)

Anticipate is obv the wrong word, but y'know. See you later.

― Jamie T Smith (Jamie T Smith), Friday, 11 August 2006 05:43 (nineteen years ago)

There's already a thread. West Brom? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

― Son of Spam (noodle vague), Friday, 11 August 2006 05:57 (nineteen years ago)

Er - so where is the other thread? Damned if I can find it.

― Jamie T Smith (Jamie T Smith), Thursday, 17 August 2006 12:46 (nineteen years ago)

I will post here to make you feel better.

― Teh littlest HoBBo (the pirate king), Thursday, 17 August 2006 20:38 (nineteen years ago)

So hot on the heels of the Ashley Cole tapping up case, and the Obi Mikkel saga, Ken Bates complained that Chelsea had been interfering with three of his youth team. Chelsea have now responded by calling for the FA to punish Bates for 'insulting comments', and Leeds have in turn responded in frankly bizarre fashion:

A club spokesman said: "We are totally amused and look forward to receiving their (Chelsea Football Club's) detailed evidence to support their complaint."

Meanwhile, Leeds chairman Ken Bates said: "I haven't laughed so much since Ma caught her tits in the mangle."

Leeds United will be making no further comment at this stage.

― Teh littlest HoBBo (the pirate king), Thursday, 17 August 2006 21:00 (nineteen years ago)

I couldn't find the other thread either, so can I revive this thread to share my despondency?

So. Sunderland.

Four games gone, no points, no prospects, no left-sided players (previous incumbents sold to Boro and West Ham) and no proper manager.

And after weeks of speculation, our potentially talismanic season-saving, former superstar and goal-scoring partner of our temporary manager/chairman announces that he's decided to go to the bloody Baggies.

I wasn't convinced that SKP would have been the answer to our woes, but it seems a pretty damning indicator of the mess we're in.

I was going to say it couldn't get worse, but we're currently hanging on against Bury in the Carling Cup after a red card in the first five minutes.

"Foul and abusive language" apparently. FFS, he's from Barcelona, he's only been here five minutes and he's picked up the swearing before he's learned the set piece routines.

― Ranking Rupert (Ranking Rupert), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 18:30 (nineteen years ago)

four weeks pass...

Blackwell sacked by Leeds. Curbishley in the frame? I've heard rumours of Dennis Wise getting the job.

― Teh littlest HoBBo (the pirate king), Wednesday, 20 September 2006 14:31 (nineteen years ago)

one month passes...

Looks like I heard right.

Anyway, perhaps this near-completely-ignored thread is the best place to talk about the tin pot trophy tonight: the nightmare continues for Leeds - dumped out at home 3-1 by Southen. That's now 73 goals Leeds have conceded in their last 5 games. Meanwhile West Ham continue to reap the rewards of their inspired and in-no-way-dodgy signing of two Argentinian World Cup stars: knocked out by Chesterfield tonight.

― Teh littlest HoBBo (the pirate king), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 19:56 (nineteen years ago)

Can anyone else see this thread?

So, the big match today, the Manchester derby: Maine Road v FC United. Maine Road (formed by a City supporters club branch from Rusholme or somewhere about 50 years ago) normally get crowds of about 100, but have moved this match to Stalybridge Celtic's ground which holds about 6,000. FC United will probably take at least 3,000 fans, and Maine Road have been leafleting City supporters to try and get them to go. I expect fireworks. Literally, given the time of year.

― Sir Tehrance HoBB (the pirate king), Saturday, 4 November 2006 09:53 (nineteen years ago)

haha, sweet, sounds like a tasty match :)

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Saturday, 4 November 2006 11:11 (nineteen years ago)

'Twas 2-1 to the team in red. I wasn't there, but I saw this amazing goal at the match last week against the mighty Glossop, and did a bit of this.

― Sir Tehrance HoBB (the pirate king), Monday, 6 November 2006 17:14 (nineteen years ago)

Ian "Sewell" Holloway, from his BBC column:

Well someone's been ripped off there haven't they? Unbelievable. I wouldn't pay £73m for a load of squiggles. I do appreciate fine art but I don't think a load of squiggles is fine art at all.

I did a painting on that Stress Test programme when I was at QPR and I called it 'Promotion' because we got promotion after I'd done it, but I can't call it a painting really - it's just a load of crap on the wall. Hopefully someone will see it and pay me £73m for it!

Some of these art critics will be trying to read stuff into it but I think it's like the Emperor's New Clothes. What it needs is one little kid to stand up and say: "Hang on, that's rubbish!"

If this Pollock bloke painted a face and you could recognise it then that's great, but you're not an artist if you just go around and squiggle things on a canvas. I don't think so, anyway.

It's like I said last week about these hairdressers who cut it all different lengths and swazz it about with gel. I could do that. Absolute frauds the lot of them. And so is that Pollock.

― dommy p is alright WHICH IS A LOT MORE THAN I CAN SAY ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE (Dom, Friday, 10 November 2006 12:54 (nineteen years ago)

What a Stuckist.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Friday, 10 November 2006 12:57 (nineteen years ago)

three months pass...

With seven points separating the top eight teams, it's already squeaky bum time in the Championship. If we beat Derby today, I may be getting very, very drunk tonight.

― Ranking Rupert, Saturday, 24 February 2007 10:57 (eighteen years ago)

Oh my goodness. 2-1. Injury time winner from Liam Miller. Up to fourth.

And now four points between first and eighth place.

Pretty flipping exciting.

― Ranking Rupert, Saturday, 24 February 2007 17:05 (eighteen years ago)

i wonder if this is like, the most open title run-in ever! okay yes yes i'm sure it's nothing like it. but perhaps someone will ask the guardian knowledge bit for me.

holloway is right btw; anyone connected with qpr knows [Removed Illegal Link]

― r|t|c, Saturday, 24 February 2007 23:42 (eighteen years ago)

oh ffs what is this pussyhole illegal link shit

― r|t|c, Saturday, 24 February 2007 23:43 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAc8JooS3MY

― r|t|c, Saturday, 24 February 2007 23:43 (eighteen years ago)

THAT THERES ONLY ONE ARTIST CALLED POLLOCK

look just nevermind ok

― r|t|c, Saturday, 24 February 2007 23:44 (eighteen years ago)

Good grief.

Anyway, the Championship promotion race is marvellous, innit? Four points currently separate first and eighth, with a bundle of games in hand to mess things up ever so slightly. Assuming Stoke (9th) beat Barnsley on Monday they're still firmly in the hunt, and it's not beyond the realms of possibility that Colchester can get back in the mix too. We're in fifth, tied on 59 points with Cardiff, Preston and Wolves, one point behind Sunderland (the division's form side), two behind Birmingham (albeit they've two games in hand) and four behind Derby, who look to be fading a bit, and West Brom, who are being annoyingly West Brom-like at the top of the table. It's all quite a lot of fun.

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 25 February 2007 11:00 (eighteen years ago)

And next weekend's fixtures:

Derby v Colchester (Fri)
West Brom v Sunderland (Sat)
Birmingham v Cardiff (Sun)
Preston v Southampton (Mon)

I don't know if my nerves can take it.

Message to Gareth Southgate: Please grind out long, hard, exhausting 0-0 draw against West Brom in FA Cup on Tuesday, and score soul-sapping 23-22 win on penalties (Julio Arca scoring deciding penalty after SKP miss). The infliction of a minor injury sufficient to sideline Diomansy Kamara for one game would be appreciated. K thnx bye.

― Ranking Rupert, Sunday, 25 February 2007 18:36 (eighteen years ago)

I want the same last day tension of the 4 way fight for premiership survival 2004-2005 last game - 3 relegated [Norwich, Palace, The Deckchairs] and 1 stayed up [West Brom]

This time I want at least 4 clubs + to go into the last match with automatic promotion aspirations. With late goals scored/ conceded altering things.

Also the scramble for play off places will be dramatic.

Publish those last day fixtures !

― djmartian, Sunday, 25 February 2007 18:47 (eighteen years ago)

Colchester probably out of it after last night's result.

Very nervous about today's game at West Brom. Suspect this may be the weekend where the top three open up a gap.

― Ranking Rupert, Saturday, 3 March 2007 12:38 (eighteen years ago)

West Brom 1-2 Sunderland

Get in.

― Ranking Rupert, Saturday, 3 March 2007 16:53 (eighteen years ago)

AFCW 0 - 0 "promotion" rivals Margate

― Mark C, Saturday, 3 March 2007 17:17 (eighteen years ago)

So can football lovers and people sympathetic to our cause please sign the petition at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/wimbledon/?signed=a529ffc.67a480 - forgive the fact it's badly worded (apparently the site's fault, not the petitioner). Ta!

― Mark C, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 13:20 (eighteen years ago)

And we lose 3-1 away at Preston, leaving the table looking like this:

1 Birmingham 35 20 67
2 Derby 35 13 66
3 West Brom 36 22 63
4 Sunderland 36 17 63
5 Preston 35 14 62
6 Wolverhampton 36 4 62
7 Southampton 36 15 59
8 Cardiff 36 13 59
9 Stoke 36 14 54
10 Colchester 36 10 52

Not good.

― William Bloody Swygart, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 14:43 (eighteen years ago)

That Preston result was no good for us either. Likewise Derby coming from 1-0 down to win 2-1 tonight.

And it's Birmingham v Derby on Friday night. Can't quite decide whether I want a draw or a result that puts the winner out of sight but leaves the loser catchable.

― Ranking Rupert, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 22:38 (eighteen years ago)

Sheffield Wednesday have confirmed talks are continuing with a Chinese consortium about a summer takeover.

Owls chairman Dave Allen held a meeting with a Chinese party, headed by a multi-millionaire casino owner, before Tuesday's game with Plymouth.

A club spokesman said: "They have been talking again with the chairman. Dialogue is ongoing.

"There are a number of other parties that have been in contact about the possibility of investing money."

Allen, chairman at Hillsborough since 2003, first revealed he was keen to hand over control to someone who could wipe out the club's £26m debts at the turn of the year.

He said at the time: "We are not looking for small-time people, we are looking for a mega-rich businessman like Roman Abramovich at Chelsea, who want to buy a football club for a hobby.

Man, lower league football is going to wake up with such a bad hangover in about six years time.

― Dom Passantino, Wednesday, 7 March 2007 23:36 (eighteen years ago)

Barnsley away in half an hour's time.

We just lost a winger to injury last week, and now Keane has dropped Stokes and Hysen from the squad, allegedly because they and Fulop (sub goalkeeper - also missing) arrived late for the coach to the game.

Maintaining discipline is one thing, but this may turn out to be a case of cutting off one's nose to spite one's face.

― Ranking Rupert, Saturday, 10 March 2007 13:05 (eighteen years ago)

swygart how the hell did we get idiakez on loan! get in.

― r|t|c, Saturday, 10 March 2007 14:23 (eighteen years ago)

Idiakez just really hasn't bedded in at all for us, it seems, which is disappointing. He was being kept out of the first eleven by Jermaine Wright and Jhon Viafara, which kinda suggests something wrong.

Also suggesting something wrong is getting turned over 2-1 by bloody Stoke, who are now two points behind us. We're still very much in touch in play-off terms, but our form is not exactly looking clever, particularly given that the run-in seems to consist mostly of teams rather close to us in the table. Next three games are Cardiff, Colchester (both home) and Wolves (away). Blow those, and we're most likely out of it for another season.

― William Bloody Swygart, Saturday, 10 March 2007 19:23 (eighteen years ago)

MICK MCCARTHY IS JESUS

― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 11 March 2007 13:58 (eighteen years ago)

I'd not noticed, but Wolves really are on one fuck of a run, aren't they? That was their sixth straight league win.

Anyway, table:

1 Birmingham 36 21 70
2 Derby 37 13 69
3 Sunderland 37 19 66
4 Wolverhampton 37 5 65
5 West Brom 37 21 63
6 Cardiff 37 14 62
7 Preston 36 12 62
8 Southampton 37 14 59
9 Stoke 37 15 57
10 Colchester 37 10 53

Birmingham are starting to hit worrying form at the top. Sunderland and Wolves are gonna keep the automatic promotion race very interesting; the inconsistency of Brom, Cardiff, Derby and Preston means us and (after yesterday, annoyingly) Stoke have still got a sniff of the play-offs at least. The mini-group forming behind of Colchester, Palace and Plymouth still have an outside chance, but with nine games to go, they're gonna need to get a serious move on.

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 11 March 2007 15:08 (eighteen years ago)

I'd draw the cut-off at Stoke I think. The Championship always seems to go down to the wire, but this is the most intense run-in I can remember. Most of those teams at the top have still got some crucial matches against each other.

― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 11 March 2007 16:38 (eighteen years ago)

It looks like Dagenham & Redbridge will be a football league 2 club next season, another victory tonight and also Oxford in second place lost again. Dagenham have an 11 point lead and a game in hand.

― djmartian, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 21:57 (eighteen years ago)

GAH! Peter effing Whittingham snatches victory away from us against Cardiff, so we're still marooned in eighth, three points off the play-offs. Still, none of the big teams had great nights except for Preston - Brum lost at Norwich, Wolves went down against Coventry, Derby scraped a draw at home to QPR, Sunderland and Stoke cancelled each other out - so we're still in it. Wednesday might also have taken Colchester out of the equation, which is nice.

Tonight's results all about the bottom though, specifically The Miracle of Roots Hall - Southend beat Burnley and are now 20th! Admittedly, Barnsleh and QPR have both got a game in hand on them, but their great escape may yet come to pass. Leeds are also only three points from safety in last spot, and are helped by the fact that Luton look to be sinking without any semblance of a trace. Still all to play for...

― William Bloody Swygart, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 22:08 (eighteen years ago)

Crikey. As if it could get any more tense. We were dire tonight, but scraped the draw against Stoke. And with the exception of Preston's win, the other results were pretty good for us.

But, blimey, we need Stokes to start on the right wing on Saturday. I don't care if he's late every flipping day of the week. We look a mess without Carlos Edwards.

Would love to see Southend escape the drop, but Leeds must go.

― Ranking Rupert, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 22:29 (eighteen years ago)

1 Birmingham 37 20 70
2 Derby 38 13 70
3 Sunderland 38 19 67
4 Preston 37 13 65
5 Wolverhampton 38 4 65
6 West Brom 37 21 63
7 Cardiff 38 14 63
8 Southampton 38 14 60

Tomorrow

West Brom v Palace

And this weekend

Derby v Cardiff
West Brom v Birmingham

― Ranking Rupert, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 22:39 (eighteen years ago)

Would love to see Southend escape the drop, but Leeds must go.

Ranking Rupert on Tuesday, 13 March 2007 22:29 (15 minutes ago)

I have no fucking desire to be pelted with stones by a bunch of fucking Yorkshiremen at Sixfields next season, they can stay in the Championship.

― Dom Passantino, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 22:45 (eighteen years ago)

If you're really lucky you'll get Leeds, Hull and Barnsley.

― Ranking Rupert, Wednesday, 14 March 2007 00:13 (eighteen years ago)

This is a point, actually - League One promotion could well be rather fun. Scunthorpe look set for the Championship, with Brizzle Ciddy currently in the other spot, but in third... Yeovil Town. Ahead of Forest on goal difference, admittedly, but still.

― William Bloody Swygart, Wednesday, 14 March 2007 00:14 (eighteen years ago)

Dom I love you but every right-thinking human being in the country wants Leeds to go down. Technicallly we want Wise to get some sort of knacker-shattering Biblical uber-virus, but mainly we wany Leeds to go down.

― Noodle Vague, Wednesday, 14 March 2007 03:21 (eighteen years ago)

LEWIS GRABBAN I KISS YOU

Last-minute winner for Palace sees West Brom's form continue to hit the skids - on a less good note, it propels the Eagles to 10th, five points behind us. Still, Plymouth got tonked by Barnsley, so that's them definitely out of the hunt now.

Top ten:

1 Birmingham 37 20 70
2 Derby 38 13 70
3 Sunderland 38 19 67
4 Preston 37 13 65
5 Wolverhampton 38 4 65
6 West Brom 38 20 63
7 Cardiff 38 14 63
8 Southampton 38 14 60
9 Stoke 38 15 58
10 Crystal Palace 38 6 55

― William Bloody Swygart, Wednesday, 14 March 2007 21:50 (eighteen years ago)

My superstitious nature says the Wolves lost yesterday cos I started posting on this thread again (not because those cheating twats at Coventry wouldn't put the game back until tonight and give us an extra day to recover from Sunday), which I told myself I wasn't going to do. So I'll stop again, but only after I've said lol teh Baggies.

― Noodle Vague, Wednesday, 14 March 2007 22:02 (eighteen years ago)

"lololololololol", said managers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6453311.stm

― ken c, Thursday, 15 March 2007 13:42 (eighteen years ago)

soz
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6453311.stm

― ken c, Thursday, 15 March 2007 13:46 (eighteen years ago)

And Mike Newell's just been sacked, which I think pretty much signs Luton's relegation warrant.

― William Bloody Swygart, Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:52 (eighteen years ago)

Oooh

Southampton 1-2 Colchester

Saints stutter and Colchester give themselves an outside chance of the play-offs?

Now Dean "Pies" Windass stands, err, stoutly between the lads and a top two place this afternoon.

And Preston have just gone one up against Burnley. Which is worrying.

― Ranking Rupert, Saturday, 17 March 2007 13:35 (eighteen years ago)

Lads 2 Pies 0. Woot.

Table now:

1 Derby 39 15 73
2 Sunderland 39 21 70
3 Birmingham 37 20 70
4 Preston 38 15 68
5 Wolverhampton 39 4 66
6 West Brom 38 20 63
7 Cardiff 39 12 63
8 Southampton 39 13 60
9 Stoke 39 14 58
10 Colchester 39 9 56

Baggies to beat Birm tomorrow, plz.

― Ranking Rupert, Saturday, 17 March 2007 17:10 (eighteen years ago)

Colchester's fourth away win of the season, fact fans. I'm thinking this may not be our year. Fortunately, Cardiff's form is about as bad as ours at present. Unfortunately, Preston are starting to disappear over the horizon, leaving us with Wolves and the Brom, and much as I need WBA to stay within striking distance... there's just something wrong in cheering for Birmingham City. Annoyingly, we may well have passed the point where someone else cocking up will let us in, because we appear to be hell-bent on being at least as rubbish as everyone else. Sigh.

― William Bloody Swygart, Saturday, 17 March 2007 21:11 (eighteen years ago)

At an FA Appeal Board meeting today, the points deduction imposed on AFC Wimbledon by the Ryman League was reduced from 18 points to three points.

The points had been deducted after the club fielded an ineligible player, Jermaine Darlington, who had previously played for Cardiff City and had not obtained international clearance before representing AFC Wimbledon.

The Appeal Board ruled that, although the Ryman League had not misinterpreted its rules on eligibility and the decision to deduct 18 points was wholly in accordance with those rules, given the specific and unusual circumstances the deduction of 18 points was excessive.

The £400 fine imposed by the league was not reduced.

― Mark C, Monday, 26 March 2007 14:20 (eighteen years ago)

Nice one. Back on course for promotion, then?

― Nasty, Brutish & Short, Monday, 26 March 2007 14:47 (eighteen years ago)

I hope so! We're 5th at the moment after 1 point from 9, and 2nd-5th is the play-off zone. So cautious optimism, though we need to get our form back - we were amazing until 3 weeks ago.

― Mark C, Monday, 26 March 2007 15:02 (eighteen years ago)

David Healy scores for Leeds United ! 3 points

elland road rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooooooooooorsssss

― djmartian, Friday, 30 March 2007 20:39 (eighteen years ago)

Leeds 2 Preston 1

Oooh. That'll do nicely, dorty Leeds.

I'll even tolerate Leeds staying up if they win at Derby on the last day of the season.

― Ranking Rupert, Friday, 30 March 2007 20:40 (eighteen years ago)

Lads away at Cardiff tomorrow. Bit nervous about that one.

― Ranking Rupert, Friday, 30 March 2007 20:44 (eighteen years ago)

1-0. Hurrah.

But blimey: Wolves 0 Southampton 6

― Ranking Rupert, Saturday, 31 March 2007 16:26 (eighteen years ago)

AFC Wimbledon 9 (nine) Slough Town 0

― Mark C, Saturday, 31 March 2007 17:17 (eighteen years ago)

http://saintsfc.co.uk/uploads/images/feb_07/sfc_1170950019_saganowskiprofilelg.jpg

Let us all radiate in his glory.

We're right back in it now - ahead of Cardiff on goal difference, three points behind Wolves with a goal difference that murders theirs, four points behind Brom, and five off Preston (though they've a game in hand). Six games to go and the promised land might just be ours once more...

― William Bloody Swygart, Saturday, 31 March 2007 18:36 (eighteen years ago)

FC United march into their first final having overcome the mighty Congleton 4-3 in the prestigious North West Counties League Challenge Cup semi-final second leg.

― Nasty, Brutish & Short, Saturday, 31 March 2007 22:37 (eighteen years ago)

And in tonight's big match:

QPR 1 Preston 0

That'll do nicely, hoopy QPR.

― Ranking Rupert, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 21:02 (eighteen years ago)

And Leicester equalise against Derby!

Come on, you Crispy Boys.

― Ranking Rupert, Friday, 6 April 2007 15:17 (eighteen years ago)

1 Derby 41 16 77
2 Sunderland 41 23 76

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3 Birmingham 40 22 74
4 Preston 41 10 68
5 West Brom 41 19 67
6 Southampton 41 21 66

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7 Wolverhampton 41 -3 66
8 Stoke 41 18 64
9 Cardiff 41 10 63
10 Colchester 41 15 62

God's favourites, obv.

― William Bloody Swygart, Saturday, 7 April 2007 18:36 (eighteen years ago)

1 Sunderland 42 24 79
2 Derby 42 16 78
3 Birmingham 41 21 74
4 West Brom 42 20 70
5 Wolverhampton 42 -1 69
6 Preston 42 9 68
7 Stoke 42 19 67
8 Southampton 42 20 66
9 Colchester 42 16 65
10 Cardiff 42 8 63
11 Sheff Wed 42 3 62

Having just got home from work, where I stayed on half an hour to watch the end of us losing to Sunderland, I'd love to claim that they don't deserve it... but they do, really. On the one hand, their strikers do not look much cop; on the other, their defence are pretty handy, Carlos Edwards really must grace the Premiership next season, they did a very good job of closing us down and harrying us generally, and both their goals were superb strikes that we couldn't have done anything about (aside from possibly stopping Edwards from galloping all over the place for the first). They definitely deserved to win, but I'm kinda proud that it took two blinders from outside the box for that to happen.

As for us... we could probably do with another season before going up, honestly. We've some very tidy looking young players, but tactically they ain't quite there yet. Bale's an obvious future star - he's big, strong, committed, very skilled on the ball and defends well, but too often he launches the ball long and somewhat aimlessly. You'd never for a second think he was still only 17, though. Our back four as a whole looked good - Ostlund's a classic swashbuckling full-back, Pele's steady and pretty useful going forward, and Chris Baird is really turning into the player he promised to be back when he starred in the FA Cup Final in 2003. Going forward, not quite so sure - Belmadi's a good, busy player, but not especially a winger type; Viafara's workrate is fantastic; Nathan Dyer's another who needs at least another season, and a bit more meat on his bones - he's quick, but he takes too much on on his own, and he's not big or strong enough yet to really hold his own against the calibre of defence that Sunderland have. I have no idea what Jermaine Wright did in the match. Up front, Saga's a hero already, quick, busy, pesky, but again a lack of size kind of hinders him. This said, the goal seemed like the only real chance he got all afternoon, and he took it. Leon Best is physically there already, but he lacks a bit of guile. We just seem to not quite gel as a unit yet - our defensive positioning was a touch suspect at times, and our attacking policy didn't quite cohere at times, though that was as much to do with Sunderland imposing themselves on us as anything else. Oh, and Bartosz Bialkowski doesn't get enough love. Remarkably assured presence in goal, and he's not even turned 20 yet.

I can't see anyone stopping Sunderland now, and I don't think Birmingham are really good enough to overhaul Derby for the other automatic slot. In play-off terms... Christ knows. Preston are a massive beacon of hope for us, and West Brom and Wolves aren't quite consistent enough to be assured of anything yet. The big problem is that fucking Stoke have hit form again, and Colchester are quite clearly smelling blood in the air too. Cardiff seem out of it, and Wednesday's chances look remote, even if they've found quite a bit of form under Brian Laws. Still all to play for, though...

― William Bloody Swygart, Monday, 9 April 2007 19:19 (eighteen years ago)

so i obviously don't really give a toss about QPR really but hurrah for that Furlong goal that almost certainly keeps them up and sends Luton down.

― blueski, Monday, 9 April 2007 19:47 (eighteen years ago)

Just got back from the Southampton-Sunderland game... a pretty frenetic affair without many clear chances till the last 20 mins or so. I feared the worst when we went one down, but Keane seems to have instilled a never-say-die spirit in them which I haven't seen in a Sunderland side since, crumbs, probably the Reidy 98-99 promotion season.

Even when we equalised I would have been happy with the draw, but at that point Southampton almost seemed to let us back into it. Leadbitter's goal was a belter, and needless to say the celebrations in our end were quite bonkers.

Re our strikers: I thought Connolly worked his backside off, as he has done every time I've seen him (and when we signed him I was not impressed, but he has been excellent). Elliott is just back from injury and stil doesn't look quite on the pace. Stokes was dreadful.

That was my first trip to St Mary's. It is a very nice stadium, I must say, and the atmosphere was excellent. I'd much rather see Southampton up there than Birmingham and horrible, horrible clubs like Stoke.

― Ranking Rupert, Monday, 9 April 2007 22:20 (eighteen years ago)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/jonniekno1/safc_1176152936_saints7.jpg
Oo-err.

― Ranking Rupert, Monday, 9 April 2007 22:36 (eighteen years ago)

the conference run-in for the play offs is JUST as exciting as the championship ;)

1 Dag & Red 42 43 88

2 Oxford Utd 43 30 75
3 Morecambe 43 17 75
4 Exeter 43 16 71
5 York 42 16 70

6 Gravesend 42 8 68
7 Burton Albion 42 -1 66
8 Aldershot 42 5 63
9 Stevenage 41 7 62

ok, so daggers are up (well done them), but i still have the ph34r about exeter not getting to the play-offs (we were 3-0 with 20 minutes to go yesterday against crawley and those around me were still "well, we should be able to hold on for the draw" we did manage to hold on to our 3-0 though), especially as we have satanage as our penultimate game on 21st...

also i have 0 idea how burton are 7th with a negative goal dfiference either...

― CarsmileSteve, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 11:53 (eighteen years ago)

Pele's steady and pretty useful going forward

Quoting from the May 1957 edition of the Sao Paulo Telegraph there?

― Mark C, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 12:02 (eighteen years ago)


Billericay Town  	39  +29  74

-----------------------------------

Chelmsford City 	39  +42  71

Bromley 	        39  +29  71

Hampton & Richmond 	37  +18  71

AFC Wimbledon 	        39  +34  68

-----------------------------------

Margate 	        39  +30  67

Boreham Wood 	        39  +22  63

Ramsgate 	        39  +3 	 62

Tonbridge Angels 	39  +3 	 61

Gulp. We only managed 2 points from 6 this weekend, so I suspect automatic promotion is way beyond us with 3 games to go. Worryingly, Margate are only a point below us and it's looking like being a straight fight. Destiny is in our hands, which is nice, but we're faltering right now and we couldn't have chosen a worse time to do so.

― Mark C, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 12:10 (eighteen years ago)

i have 0 idea how burton are 7th with a negative goal dfiference either...

The have conceded 3 goals 6 times this season, but only scored 3 goals once.

― Mark C, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 12:12 (eighteen years ago)

wow, i have been to four of the grounds in the top seven, or are margate back in margate these days?

― CarsmileSteve, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 12:56 (eighteen years ago)

wolves have negative GD and are 5th!!!one1!

― 600, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 13:11 (eighteen years ago)

Sunderland 2 QPR 1
Ipswich 2 Derby 1
Birmingham 2 Southampton 1

Another Leadbitter winner, and four points clear at the top.

Woohoo!

― Ranking Rupert, Saturday, 14 April 2007 16:45 (eighteen years ago)

Now just two points between first and third.

Lads away at Colchester today. I'm braced for a defeat and an even more tense end to the season, though I'm hoping Wolves will do the business against Birmingham tomorrow.


1 Sunderland    43 25 82

2 Derby         44 16 81

3 Birmingham    43 23 80

4 Preston       43 13 71

5 West Brom     43 19 70

6 Wolverhampton 43 -1 70

7 Stoke         43 19 68

8 Southampton   43 19 66

9 Colchester    43 16 66

― Ranking Rupert, Saturday, 21 April 2007 12:35 (eighteen years ago)

I'm braced for a defeat

There you go. 3-1.

Haway, Wolves.

― Ranking Rupert, Saturday, 21 April 2007 15:57 (eighteen years ago)

1 Sunderland 44 23 82
2 Derby 44 16 81
3 Birmingham 43 23 80
4 Preston 44 12 71
5 West Brom 43 19 70
6 Wolverhampton 43 -1 70
7 Southampton 44 20 69
8 Stoke 44 19 69
9 Colchester 44 18 69
10 Sheff Wed 44 5 68

Yes, Sheffield Wednesday have a realistic chance of making the play-offs. There are now four teams desperately hoping for Birmingham bastard City to do them a favour against Wolves tomorrow.

This is bloody mad. But in a good way.

― William Bloody Swygart, Saturday, 21 April 2007 19:07 (eighteen years ago)

Birmingham bastard bastard bastard bastard City go top.

― Ranking Rupert, Sunday, 22 April 2007 12:56 (eighteen years ago)

That was a boring match :(

― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 22 April 2007 12:57 (eighteen years ago)

I changed my mind after 10 minutes. I just can't bring myself to cheer Brum, there's something so... crap about them. They're direct an' that, but they're not really much cop defensively, and they're physically strong but they just seem so artless with it. Jerome's goal was good (if slightly offside), but for much of that game they were pretty awful. I seriously hope they don't go up automatically.

Their keeper's not bad, though.

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 22 April 2007 13:37 (eighteen years ago)

It's hard to be too gloomy since we played so well for much of the match. I saw us getting beat at Hull last November and we were so bad I was afraid we were heading for relegation. McCarthy really has got something good happening. Michael Kightly is a very exciting prospect. The defence needs to be strengthened, but the work ethic throughout the team is the best I can remember seeing at Wolves. Whether we make the playoffs or not, I just hope that whoever is in the Boardroom come the summer gets behind MM and builds on what he's doing.

(They don't call Blues the Brummie Bashers for nothing.)

― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 22 April 2007 17:51 (eighteen years ago)

Sunderland 3 Burnley 2

After going 2-1 down.

Three penalties, two of them very iffy, two scored, one missed.

Two cracking long-range goals - Wade Elliott for them, and then Carlos Edwards for us. I jumped half way across the pub when that went in.

My nerves are shredded.

Come on, Palace v Derby on Sunday. I'm even thinking about going, to cheer on Palace. But there again, I am totally wankered. And it is fucking Palace.

― Ranking Rupert, Friday, 27 April 2007 23:36 (eighteen years ago)

WTF at the stop-start finish at Leeds, anyway Dean Windass is the man who saved Hull and Alan Lee consigns Leeds to League One, unless they can overcome a 9 goal deficit next week against Derby.

― Billy Dods, Saturday, 28 April 2007 16:40 (eighteen years ago)

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Wise

Dennis Wise was last seen sprinting down the tunnel, worried for his life, chased by hundreds of irate Leeds Utd fans, who wished to discuss team selections with him (although some TV pundits speculate his physical health may have been at risk, see History of A.F.C. Leeds, and comments made by Garth Crooks).

― Billy Dods, Saturday, 28 April 2007 17:47 (eighteen years ago)

Leeds fans are utter charmers, huh?

― Dom Passantino, Saturday, 28 April 2007 17:53 (eighteen years ago)

We're in the play-offs on goals scored. Next week, we have to beat Southend by more than Stoke beat QPR. It's gonna be quite a Sunday, that...

― William Bloody Swygart, Saturday, 28 April 2007 18:36 (eighteen years ago)

I'm going to see if I can score some Valium before next Sunday.

The Leeds fans can be charming in Division 1 next season.

― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 28 April 2007 18:53 (eighteen years ago)

I hear that they're just a small town in Yorkshire. Confirm/deny?

― Dom Passantino, Saturday, 28 April 2007 18:56 (eighteen years ago)

goodbye little leeds

― 600, Saturday, 28 April 2007 18:57 (eighteen years ago)

there'll be fighting on the streets of belle isle, armley and middleton tonite

― 600, Saturday, 28 April 2007 18:58 (eighteen years ago)

and by fighting i mean domestic violence

― 600, Saturday, 28 April 2007 18:59 (eighteen years ago)

I feel bad, because I do know one Leeds fan who's a great bloke. He's the only one I've met in my life, mind.

― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 28 April 2007 19:03 (eighteen years ago)

I work in an office in Leeds on Saturdays, and as such know a few quite nice Leeds fans. This said, I'm quite glad I'm getting a cab home this evening.

― William Bloody Swygart, Saturday, 28 April 2007 21:12 (eighteen years ago)

Clinton Morrison gives Palace the lead v Derby....

― Ranking Rupert, Sunday, 29 April 2007 13:02 (eighteen years ago)

2-0!!!!!

― Ranking Rupert, Sunday, 29 April 2007 13:55 (eighteen years ago)

Final score: Palace 2 Derby 0

Lads and Birmingham promoted.

Woo hoo!!!!!

WBS: Derby sounded rubbish. If Southampton get them in the play-offs, you'll hammer them.

― Ranking Rupert, Sunday, 29 April 2007 14:23 (eighteen years ago)

fucking birmingham. they are, as said above, just so crap.

hearing on the radio that leeds are going into administration this week - meaning presumably that theyre trying to get their 10 point deduction in THIS season and not next. is that right? buggers.

― r|t|c, Monday, 30 April 2007 12:14 (eighteen years ago)

in a perfect world they'd get their deduction this week, scrape a 1-0 win for the fans on sunday and return only to find out hull lost 10-0.

― r|t|c, Monday, 30 April 2007 12:16 (eighteen years ago)

AFC Wimbledon made the play-offs, you guys! Still so excited!

― Mark C, Monday, 30 April 2007 13:06 (eighteen years ago)

We're in the play-offs on goals scored. Next week, we have to beat Southend by more than Stoke beat QPR. It's gonna be quite a Sunday, that...

Blimey! It IS exciting. I was just about to get Saints v Southend tickets but then realised I can't go.

Surely West Brom and Wolves can't both win and Stoke beat QPR by lots of goals? So if we win, we're in?

Anyway, nice to see that after a VERY slow start, my thread got going. (I've been lurking on Saints Forever instead.) My Birmingham or Brum to win prediction wasn't so far out either despite the HAHAHAHAs.

Anyway, what about this Paul Allen chap buying Saints? I'm normally anti-billionaire, but he sounds like a proper Bond--villain character (mega-yacht called Octupus, complete with helicopter and submarine, crewed by ex-Navy Seals), so I'm quite keen. And at least he's not an actual criminal like the chap at Pompey.

― Jamie T Smith, Monday, 30 April 2007 15:39 (eighteen years ago)

The thought of any billionaire not being a criminal on some level makes me laugh :)

― Mark C, Monday, 30 April 2007 16:24 (eighteen years ago)

My Birmingham or Brum to win prediction wasn't so far out

So - will it be Birmingham or Brum?

― Nasty, Brutish & Short, Monday, 30 April 2007 19:31 (eighteen years ago)

I was laffing at the Baggies. Who have clearly not won the division. A winner is me.

― Noodle Vague, Monday, 30 April 2007 19:51 (eighteen years ago)

we're in the play-offs too, hurrah!

going down to exeter next friday to cheer the brave bauys on, then we are ON THE TELLY* for the second leg and, should we overcome nasty old oxford, we're going to WEMBLEY!!!!

*exeter city have NEVER in, i believe, 14 attempts EVER won a match shown live on television. however we could win 2-0 at ours, lose 1-0 on the telly and still get to wembley. although that is also on the telly...

― CarsmileSteve, Monday, 30 April 2007 20:39 (eighteen years ago)

I was laffing at the Baggies. Who have clearly not won the division. A winner is me.
A quiz:

Question: on Saturday 3 March, a Championship manager said, after his team had lost at home to Sunderland:

"But over the next 10 games I would suggest we will end up with more points than them because of the way we play. We will score more goals than them."

Answer: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/6414949.stm

Oh, how we laffed.

― Ranking Rupert, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 08:14 (eighteen years ago)

Leeds United are thought to be ready to file for administration after their relegation to League One was all but sealed on Saturday. (Guardian)

don't clubs that go into administration have points deducted? If so Leeds might start their first season in League 1 with minus points.

nasty old oxford

unnecessary.

― Grandpont Genie, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 08:23 (eighteen years ago)

AFCW's playoff vs Bromley away is tonight - I am already biting my fingernails (and regretting cutting them only yesterday). If we win we play Billericay for promotion to the Conference South...

― Mark C, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 09:41 (eighteen years ago)

So - will it be Birmingham or Brum?

Doh!

The thought of any billionaire not being a criminal on some level makes me laugh :)

Yes, yes, you're right, but I don't think he's actually on the run from interpol, like Gaydamak snr.

― Jamie T Smith, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 09:47 (eighteen years ago)

don't clubs that go into administration have points deducted? If so Leeds might start their first season in League 1 with minus points.

not if they time their administration correctly, as cambridge did last year, they can have the points deducted this season. however i don't think leeds will have enough time, dare they do it this week when they're not officially down? get the 10 points deduction and then scream in horror as hull lose 10-0...

― CarsmileSteve, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 10:11 (eighteen years ago)

sorry, r|t|c already pointed that out, didn't he...

the only reasons oxford are nasty mark is because they charge EIGHTEEN QUID in and only have three sides on their stadium, which is in the middle of nowhere.

― CarsmileSteve, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 10:13 (eighteen years ago)

they plan to erect a temporary stand along that side for the play-off, according to the Oxford Mail.

― Grandpont Genie, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 10:21 (eighteen years ago)

i bet that's where they're going to stick us as well, isn't it? no wonder it's "only" £16...

― CarsmileSteve, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 21:17 (eighteen years ago)

Hello Ryman league for another season ;_;

― Mark C, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 23:29 (eighteen years ago)

i thought first leg was only 1-0 dude?

― CarsmileSteve, Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:22 (eighteen years ago)

Only one leg :-(

― The Boyler, Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:25 (eighteen years ago)

:((((

aw, i hadn't realised, bad show.

― CarsmileSteve, Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:33 (eighteen years ago)

Exciting stuff this afternoon, especially at the foot of League two. Boston Utd take the league against Wrexham ensuring safety, Wrexham fight back in the second half and take the lead. Boston knowing they're going to get relegated go into administration with minutes of the game to go, having their 10 point deduction this season instead of next.

― Billy Dods, Saturday, 5 May 2007 16:53 (eighteen years ago)

Boston knowing they're going to get relegated go into administration with minutes of the game to go, having their 10 point deduction this season instead of next.

seriously, no boyler but is it only me that's finding this trend totally disgusting? administration's been such a grave issue for many clubs over the years, and many are still coming to terms with its consequences. what do you tell the likes of rotherham, who've struggled under a deduction all season? what about all the clubs who'd taken out crippling loans to avoid it, and even in some cases (hi dere qpr) got relegated eventually anyway? it's a joke.

― r|t|c, Saturday, 5 May 2007 17:21 (eighteen years ago)

also wow had bristol city really been in div 2 for EIGHT YEARS? the way they banged on about being sleeping giants you always thought it was only the other year.

― r|t|c, Saturday, 5 May 2007 17:25 (eighteen years ago)

Rotherham did the same last year; they had administrators with fax machines ready to enter admin if they'd lost their last match last year. As it was, they won, stayed up, and took the hit this year instead of last.

Leeds' will run and run. In and out of administration in hours, with creditors stiffed (it seems) and K. Bates in firm control. Hmmm.

― The Boyler, Saturday, 5 May 2007 18:26 (eighteen years ago)

It stinks. The League should deduct them 20 points next season for the pitch invasions, just to make a point.

Well done to Incey at Macclesfield. I hope this means he's got a second glittering career ahead of him.

― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 5 May 2007 19:53 (eighteen years ago)

oh, i didnt know that about rotherham. i suppose i'm generally not au fait enough with the in and outs to comment any further, but what's changed that administration's become such a loose, patronized situation? from a qpr point of view i remember when it was something to be dreaded. (then again i suppose we havent had to flog loftus road or anything, like leeds did.) and hasnt it only been just in the last few years that the fa stipulated points deductions on top? i vaguely recall reading about leicester being the first club to get away with murder, but i dunno what else there is.

― r|t|c, Saturday, 5 May 2007 20:37 (eighteen years ago)

Eyes down...

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 6 May 2007 11:28 (eighteen years ago)

derby, west brom, southampton and stoke to make playoffs

immense pissing away by preston if they fail isnt it?

― 600, Sunday, 6 May 2007 11:34 (eighteen years ago)

Good luck guys (inasmuch as it doesn't conflict with mine.)

― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 6 May 2007 11:34 (eighteen years ago)

xpost re: Preston's pissing it away - on the one hand, yes; on the other hand, Cardiff.

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 6 May 2007 11:38 (eighteen years ago)

oh yes, cardiff, i hadnt looked that far down the table in a while

― 600, Sunday, 6 May 2007 11:43 (eighteen years ago)

I'm at work today, and the telly's got the volume right down, so it sounded like the music playing on that Sunderland montage was 'Goal Scoring Superstar Hero' off Sensible Soccer. It was probably The Fratellis, but I feel the need to conjure up all the good omens I can.

Kudos to Don Goodman for staunchly maintaining his haircut, then wearing a headset that completely ruins it.

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 6 May 2007 11:45 (eighteen years ago)

Haway, Preston to beat Birmingham, but Southampton and Wolves to win too.

Hope Stoke get walloped at QPR.

― Ranking Rupert, Sunday, 6 May 2007 11:49 (eighteen years ago)

it should be playing best football record ever 'sunderland are back in the first division' from 1976

― 600, Sunday, 6 May 2007 11:51 (eighteen years ago)

amazingly this isnt on the sound of sunderland fc

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mackem-Music-Sound-Sunderland-FC/dp/B00004SRKU

but ready to go, by republica is

― 600, Sunday, 6 May 2007 11:55 (eighteen years ago)

i feel a bit like dommy p

― 600, Sunday, 6 May 2007 11:56 (eighteen years ago)

Second omen of the day: we've got Kenwyne Jones and Leon Best up front, with Rasiak on the bench. Hmm.

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 6 May 2007 12:02 (eighteen years ago)

Iain Hume gets the first goal of the day to put another dent in Wolves' goal difference. As things stand, that'd be enough to put us in the play-offs with Stoke at their expense.

Preston are battering Brum at the moment.

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 6 May 2007 12:09 (eighteen years ago)

And Ant Stokes puts Sunderland at the top for the moment.

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 6 May 2007 12:10 (eighteen years ago)

wolves and stoke both losing

― 600, Sunday, 6 May 2007 12:11 (eighteen years ago)

QPR 1-0 STOKE! Martin Rowlands is our hero. Sunderland now 2-0 up, Ipswich lead Cardiff.

On the telly, Brum are having kittens at just how fast Preston are. Lots of balls into the box, and the Blues really ain't looking too clever at dealing with them.

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 6 May 2007 12:15 (eighteen years ago)

And now we're choking it too - Southend go in front through 'Barrett'. Possibly Earl Barrett, I have no idea. This is now making Preston's domination of Brum even more annoying - no question they ought to be winning this, but if they do that kinda puts the kibosh on us.

Jamie Scowcroft puts Palace up at Colchester, more or less definitively ending their play-off chances.

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 6 May 2007 12:20 (eighteen years ago)

southampton 1-0 down against southend

where is GLOATING martian?

― 600, Sunday, 6 May 2007 12:21 (eighteen years ago)

woah is that normal telly? surely not

― 600, Sunday, 6 May 2007 12:22 (eighteen years ago)

Is there a website that updates the standings "as is"?

― Dom Passantino, Sunday, 6 May 2007 12:25 (eighteen years ago)

Everything's coming up West Brom - all around them lose their heads, Kevin effing Phillips gives them the lead against Barnsley.

Scores at present keep the play-off places looking pretty much exactly the same as they were before kick-off, Preston's goal difference freezing them out.

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 6 May 2007 12:25 (eighteen years ago)

wolves have equalized and wba are winning so at the moment its still

derby
wba
wolves
southampton

― 600, Sunday, 6 May 2007 12:28 (eighteen years ago)

wolves ahead, southampton level

positions unchanged, consolidated

― 600, Sunday, 6 May 2007 12:35 (eighteen years ago)

bit anticlimactic so far!

i see west brom have scored again

xpost

i see west brom have scored again

― 600, Sunday, 6 May 2007 12:47 (eighteen years ago)

Lollercoaster!

I can see Birmingham pinching this like they did at the Molineux the other week.

― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 6 May 2007 12:51 (eighteen years ago)

Just squinted over from work in time to see Kenwyne soaring majestically for our leveller. Bless 'im.

This does seem to be set up for yet more Blue-nose 'bysmalism. Preston's corners are weird, reminiscent of Andy Hinchcliffe at his peak, massive looping hospital balls that Colin Doyle and his defence are doing well to deal with.

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 6 May 2007 12:56 (eighteen years ago)

Half-times:

Burnley 0-1 Coventry
Colchester 0-1 Crystal Palace
Derby 0-0 Leeds
Hull 0-1 Plymouth
Ipswich 1-1 Cardiff
Leicester 1-2 Wolverhampton
Luton 0-2 Sunderland
Preston 0-0 Birmingham
QPR 1-0 Stoke
Sheff Wed 2-0 Norwich
Southampton 1-1 Southend
West Brom 4-0 Barnsley

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 6 May 2007 12:57 (eighteen years ago)

Except it wasn't half-time at Derby, cos they had a big stoppage to switch referees, and the home side went ahead in time added-on. This said, it is the deadest rubber of the day.

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 6 May 2007 13:06 (eighteen years ago)

Excellent passing move from Brum carves the defence apart, but McSheffrey puts his far-post header over the bar. Paul Simpson's tracksuit is horrible.

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 6 May 2007 13:08 (eighteen years ago)

Daz Murphy gets his second of the afternoon to put Sunderland 3-0 up at Luton. Unless Birmingham score, the title's heading to Wearside.

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 6 May 2007 13:14 (eighteen years ago)

Five for West Brom now, and an own goal puts Wolves 3-1 up. The Black Country boys are looking secure, so sixth spot is where it's at right now...

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 6 May 2007 13:16 (eighteen years ago)

Panic! In The Goalmouth, Leon Best's there to take advantage, and suddenly things are looking a lot rosier for us...

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 6 May 2007 13:19 (eighteen years ago)

Following a good five or ten minutes of Preston pelting Colin Doyle from distance, Birmingham get a good passing move together only for McSheffrey to miss another far-post header. Proper end-to-end stuff, but by god I hope it's all academic.

Hat-trick for Kevin Phillips, West Brom 6-0 up now.

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 6 May 2007 13:34 (eighteen years ago)

wba 7-0

― 600, Sunday, 6 May 2007 13:36 (eighteen years ago)

Ross Wallace gets a fourth for the Mackems...

... just as Simon Whaley puts Preston in front. Steve Kelly and Colin Doyle get in each other's way, Whaley mips the through ball off them and suddenly my chest's got a tiiiny bit tighter. We need to hold onto our lead to keep in the play-offs.

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 6 May 2007 13:45 (eighteen years ago)

4-1 to us, Kenwyne and Bestie both get braces. Derby here we come!

Sunderland beat Luton 5-0 and Brum have no reply at Preston, so The Miracle of St Grumpy comes to pass. Nyron Nosworthy takes his shirt off. His physique is, er, scary. Keano trudges down the tunnel contemplatively. Seeming him attempting to out-downplay Steve Coppell next season will be quite something.

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 6 May 2007 14:00 (eighteen years ago)

Haway, Preston to beat Birmingham, but Southampton and Wolves to win too.
Get the ferkity ferk in.

I've been down the pub. And I'll be going back down the pub in a very short while.

Up yours, Steve Bruce.

Good luck to Saints and Wolves in the p'offs. Not sure who I'd want to win. I still have a soft spot for Mick Mac and Wolves were good at the SoL, but Saints have played some splendid football this season.

― Ranking Rupert, Sunday, 6 May 2007 17:21 (eighteen years ago)

I'd've preferred to save West Brom for the Final. Not because I don't think we can beat them, but because those derbies are always so random. Still, I like our form as much as any of the 4 right now.

― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 6 May 2007 17:25 (eighteen years ago)

Of the top 6, 4 are currently receiving parachute payments, and one managed to get a new ground out of their PL money, whilst another ran out of parachute payments last year. From next year, the gap between relegated clubs and never-promoted clubs is going from 7:1 to 13:1.

It's been getting worse year on year, and the parachutes are having the same effect on the second tier that Champs League money does in the top tier.

― The Boyler, Sunday, 6 May 2007 19:23 (eighteen years ago)

Congratulations to Exeter City and all their supporters. Condolences to Johnny B and Mark H.

― Mark C, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 09:48 (eighteen years ago)

Harlow promoted after winning a penalty shoot-out, so they'll be playing AFC Wimbledon next season. Also, FC United (who havenarrowly won the league with 112 points) are playing a friendly at AFCW on 4 August.

― Nasty, Brutish & Short, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 10:02 (eighteen years ago)

(excuse me for a moment)

WEM-BER-LEE, WEM-BER-LEE
WE'RE THE FAMOUS EXETER CITY*
AND WE'RE OFF TO WEM-BER-LEE

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/155/424258482_c21c953cfe.jpg

*yes i know it's hypermetrical, it needs to be pronounced "X-der cidy" to fit, i'd have gone for "we're the famous ex-e-ter" myself, but there you go...

― CarsmileSteve, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 13:48 (eighteen years ago)

also, that's no friendly, it's the Supporters Direct cup isn't it (bah not much of a cup when other FAN-RUN teams can't enter, eh? eh? ;))?

― CarsmileSteve, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 13:55 (eighteen years ago)

Fucking Oxford. 2-0 up and lose on penalties? There have to be some serious questions about our tactics. We're gonna struggle next season what with wage caps. Well done Exeter and everything, but jesus, we threw this season away big style.

(Last season we felt shit in the last home game of the season watching the opposition go mental after our worth opposition got promoted when we got relegated, and we have to do the same thing this season. I. Hate. Football.)

― The Wayward Johnny B, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 14:02 (eighteen years ago)

sorry Johnny.

― CarsmileSteve, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 14:13 (eighteen years ago)

SD Cup this year not featuring AFC Wimbledon or FC UNited shocker!

― The Boyler, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 14:18 (eighteen years ago)

hein? who's in it then?

they (by which i mean YOU ;)) should make it a PROPER tournament, 8 sides over four days or summat, revelling in the glorious ~~socialism~~ um, fan-power of it all :)

― CarsmileSteve, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 14:25 (eighteen years ago)

We try, but when we contact the potential entrants and ask them to commit to a tournament, they get twitchy and say the manager wants to determine the level of opposition, and so they can't sign up until they know who'll they play, and since no-one signs up properly, it never gets going. I had a whizzer idea though about what to do if City get into the league, and it involves having four teams in the same league owned by trusts who play each other home and away across the season :-)

This year Enfield Town vs Cambridge City innit

― The Boyler, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 14:39 (eighteen years ago)

related question: are we the first trust-owned club to play at w*mbley?

― CarsmileSteve, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 15:17 (eighteen years ago)

Yes.

― The Boyler, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 16:32 (eighteen years ago)

even though Exeter normally play in ghastly red and white stripes that remind me of a certain horrible south coast club, i was impressed with the Exeter supporters at Oxford last night on Sky TV.

― djmartian, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:35 (eighteen years ago)

So my dad rings me up this morning and apparently Matt Murray is out with a broken shoulder. Shit. According to Radio WM it's true but I won't be convinced until I hear it officially.

― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 13 May 2007 09:24 (eighteen years ago)

Don Goodman said so, it must be true, sorry NV...

― CarsmileSteve, Sunday, 13 May 2007 10:56 (eighteen years ago)

Flippin heck. Wolves v Baggies sounds exciting. Two goals for SKP now.

― Ranking Rupert, Sunday, 13 May 2007 12:14 (eighteen years ago)

A little disappointed but there's still a lot of football in this tie and our away form vs their home form is an interesting match-up. We looked like tired for the last 20 tho.

― Noodle Vague, Sunday, 13 May 2007 13:00 (eighteen years ago)

We still look tired. I'm not hopeful.

― Noodle Vague, Wednesday, 16 May 2007 19:38 (eighteen years ago)

Not good enough. ;__;

― Noodle Vague, Wednesday, 16 May 2007 21:09 (eighteen years ago)

I am currently thinking about Wembley about once every fifteen seconds.

This kind of excitement usually presages disappointment.

― Tim, Thursday, 17 May 2007 13:26 (eighteen years ago)

tim you never responded to my email about peckham:/

― 696, Thursday, 17 May 2007 13:26 (eighteen years ago)

knock knock
who's there
orange you glad i put 'minerva spartan' in the thread title for easier search purposes

― blueski, Thursday, 17 May 2007 13:28 (eighteen years ago)

G I'm sorry, things have been a bit mad. I'll try to mail you soon.

Up the bleddy City.

― Tim, Thursday, 17 May 2007 14:58 (eighteen years ago)

right up 'em!

tim, you'll be pleased to hear the woodberry is opening at ten and there are free bacon/sossidge sammiches :)

― CarsmileSteve, Thursday, 17 May 2007 15:14 (eighteen years ago)

I have just watched The Gas win.

(I understand this means nothing to anyone outside me and Martin S)

I am pissed.

― aldo, Thursday, 17 May 2007 21:18 (eighteen years ago)

Forest 2 Yeovil 5.

The dream ticket of Yeovil-Colchester in the Championship and Forest-Leeds in League One is still on...

― William Bloody Swygart, Friday, 18 May 2007 21:26 (eighteen years ago)

aye i just saw that result, 5 goals for yeovil! away at foresty:)

― 696, Friday, 18 May 2007 23:09 (eighteen years ago)

Milton Keynes 1 - 2 Shrewsbury (1-2 on aggregate)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

― Mark C, Friday, 18 May 2007 23:21 (eighteen years ago)

Also, AFCW have signed Marcus Gayle. Marcus Gayle!

― Mark C, Friday, 18 May 2007 23:22 (eighteen years ago)

i just looked at this wikipedia. i didnt know he played in finland for a short while (and scored 9 goals there)

― 696, Friday, 18 May 2007 23:28 (eighteen years ago)

am i right in thinking that crewe are set to have 2 full backs called billy jones! cool.

(sorry tim)

― r|t|c, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 10:18 (eighteen years ago)

Congrats to Mr Skidmore and his Gasheads.

― William Bloody Swygart, Sunday, 27 May 2007 09:17 (eighteen years ago)

UNTOLD RICHES FOR DERBY COUNTY

― Mark C, Monday, 28 May 2007 15:53 (eighteen years ago)

Congratulations to Derby County and all their fans on a tremendeous achievement.

― Dom Passantino, Monday, 28 May 2007 15:54 (eighteen years ago)

i feel justice is done given Derby's pts total.

actually feel a bit sorry for MK Dons tho!

― blueski, Monday, 28 May 2007 16:15 (eighteen years ago)

Blimey, Stephen Pearson actually *does* have his uses. Who'da thunk it?

― ailsa, Monday, 28 May 2007 22:38 (eighteen years ago)

Uh why, Steve?

― Mark C, Monday, 28 May 2007 23:39 (eighteen years ago)

because I always feel sorry for clubs that have a considerably higher pts total than the other teams in the play-offs but end up losing out. i'm not really in favour of play-offs altho it provides cruel excitement/drama ala penalties aet.

― blueski, Tuesday, 29 May 2007 10:09 (eighteen years ago)

So who will Billy Davies be managing next season? Not Derby, I'm betting.

― Tom D., Tuesday, 29 May 2007 10:12 (eighteen years ago)

I have been very emotional about MK Dons sad defeat in the play-offs, then losing their manager.

Steve, seriously, you can park your pity, because really, when truth be told, they are bunch of cunts. I find this helpfully counterbalances any misguided sentiment in their direction.

― The Boyler, Tuesday, 29 May 2007 10:54 (eighteen years ago)

my sympathy transcends cnutishness on this occasion. feel the love!

― blueski, Tuesday, 29 May 2007 11:01 (eighteen years ago)

football clubs are just businesses now

― 696, Tuesday, 29 May 2007 11:03 (eighteen years ago)

it wasnt like this when we won the league, thats for sure

― 696, Tuesday, 29 May 2007 11:03 (eighteen years ago)

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