Weekeend Football (15/01/11 - 16/01/11)

[AaronWHUFC]

http://i.imgur.com/B1IYd.png

West Ham V Arsenal is live on ESPN
Sunderland V Newcastle is live on SS1/HD1
Liverpool V Everton is live on SS1/HD1
Tottenham V Man Utd is live on SS1/HD1

I feel a home win today. Conflicting reports out of Upton Park about Grant's future. Some say he'll be a goner after the Arsenal game and replaced by Martin O'neill but some very senior board members telling Journo's he won't. We'll see.

[El Wayneo]

Chelsea 3 - 1 Blackburn

Man City 4 - 0 Wolves

Stoke 1 - 0 Bolton

West Brom 1 - 1 Blackpool

Wigan 1 - 2 Fulham

West Ham 1 - 1 Arsenal

Birmingham 2 - 1 Aston Villa

Sunderland 0 - 2 Newcastle

Liverpool 1 - 1 Everton

Tottenham 1 - 1 Man United

[shawry]

All the reports Ive seen have indicated that he will be sacked regardless of the result?

Seems a little strange, but thats football I guess.

As for Martin O'Neil, that seems strange, I would of thought there were potentially more stable clubs he could of gone for?

Darlington face Bath City today in the FA Trophy, heres hoping for a win :)

[AaronWHUFC]

That's from SSN. Not the most reliable. Although, Guardian Journalist Jamie Jackson has said he's spoken to a very senior board member saying he hasn't.

Sky sports news are a bit crap with romours though :p

I don't actually want O'neill. I don't like his attitude (Don't give me what I want and I'll walk). I also fear for the Academy, I can't see him bringing much youth. He dismissed Bannan and Clarke at Villa who have shone under Houllier. He told them they weren't good enough.

[El Wayneo]

I think if they get rid of Grant they should just have a caretaker for the rest of the season, no point bringing someone in who'll get no money, no players and a very erratic team.

I heard Di Canio is going to manage them next season.

I think they will have another good game as Arsenal are currently playing badly and West Ham have been pretty decent in thier last couple.

[shawry]

O'Neil didnt walk because he didnt get what he wanted, he walked because he had players sold from under him, and told he couldnt replace them.

When you have just guided the side to another successful season, you really dont need to put yourself under the stress of trying to achieve as much, but with less.

Theres a shortage of good out of work managers, by definition; the chances are they would be in work already if they were decent.

So I actually struggle to see who you will bring in if you get rid of Grant.

[El Wayneo]

Kenny Dalglish?

[AaronWHUFC]

I can't see Di Canio myself. Having seen first hand what new managers can do (Zola), I'm sure the board will look the other way.

Although they've treated Grant like crap. I feel sorry for him because at any other club there would be media outrage.

[shawry]

Kenny Daglish, I struggle to think why people think he will be a success at Liverpool this season.

He achieved success at Liverpool because of the team he inherited, and success at Blackburn because he had loads of money to spend.

He has struggled hugely elsewhere, and lacked real commitment / has issues which means that when things got a little difficult he leaves.

Liverpool are struggling now, not because of Roy Hodgson, but because the previous board/owners didnt back him, so he couldnt get the quality of players he wanted, they were already a side well on the decline.

Liverpool wont go down, because the talent they do have should be more than good enough, but Hodgson would of got the same end result.

[El Wayneo]

Not really he's only stayed in the premiership managing because he was a Chelsea manager, he got lucky really, inheriting Mourinho's squad and having a decent run, played 54 won 36 but didn't win anything.

I made Di Canio up.

[shawry]

Although they've treated Grant like crap. I feel sorry for him because at any other club there would be media outrage.

I dont think thats strictly true.

If results had been better then maybe, but they have been far from decent.

Its not like Chris Hughton being sacked from Newcastle, or even Big Sam getting sacked by Blackburn - both of these were ludicrous decisions.

As a supporter of Darlington, I know a lot about boards making a laughing stock out of a club, and feel both Newcastle & Blackburn did that.

Middlesbrough did the same when they sacked Southgate when they were (I think) 2nd in the league? If they had sacked him at the end of the previous season no one would of batted an eye lid, but its clearly a bit different when you are 2nd.

[AaronWHUFC]

I'd call this unfair:

Asking Grant what player he wants, getting the player in, getting the contract and medical sorted, then have Karren Brady say no to the deal and tell the world she pulled the plug in her newspaper column

Not backing him in public...ever. Not once, not even a vote of confidence after wins.

Then despite him meeting targets like beating Wolves, getting points ect., he wakes up this morning to find out on SSN that he could be a goner. He's not got to lead a team to play Arsenal today.

It's not fair at all if you ask me. I'd expect a bit more class from a premier league club.

[ThunderFlash]

3 massive derbies over this weekend, should be good viewing most games.
Can't see United overcoming Spurs, those 2 normally put on a good game when they meet, United's toughest game of the season so far will be this one and they will lose. Maybe by more than my 2-1 prediction.
West Ham's recent form hasn't been too bad, shouldn't really be getting rid.



Chelsea 2 - 1 Blackburn

Man City 3- 0 Wolves

Stoke 2 - 1 Bolton

West Brom 1 - 2 Blackpool

Wigan 2- 0 Fulham

West Ham 1 - 3 Arsenal

Birmingham 2 - 0 Aston Villa

Sunderland 2 - 2 Newcastle

Liverpool 2 - 1 Everton

Tottenham 2 - 1 Man United

[AaronWHUFC]

One loss in the last 7 games. Sackable for sure.

[El Wayneo]

Its not uncommon though in football, it doesn't matter about your record, if they want you gone you go.

[shawry]

One loss in the last 7 games. Sackable for sure.

But 3 losses in 9

Only 3 wins in last 12 premiership games

14 pts from last 36

ultimately he is going to pay for a bad start

[El Wayneo]

Football focus basically confirm oneil to takeover.

Grant took a deal on Thursday tO leave.

[shawry]

Im sure he will get a decent payoff.

[El Wayneo]

Lawro is very angry about how grant has been treated.

Very very angry.

[shawry]

Damn i wish i wasnt at 'work'

I know the board havent been great, but regardless of that his results havent really been good enough.

[El Wayneo]

Now there are saying that the fans are blaming Liverpool players as they can't blame king kenny.

[shawry]

Now there are saying that the fans are blaming Liverpool players as they can't blame king kenny.

But they were happy to blame Roy!!

Ive argued with Liverpool fans (my brothers) over this, most of Liverpools problems are down to the previous owners, if they had backed Roy then they would of been ok.

But the fans were on his back before they even started

[El Wayneo]

Wayne bridge on loan to west ham.

Santa cruz goes back to Blackburn on loan.

[ThunderFlash]

Now there are saying that the fans are blaming Liverpool players as they can't blame king kenny.


Totally different set of players currently to a couple of weeks back, understandable really :rolleyes:

[jb0wns]

im hoping for a win from the gunners and a loss from manchester united. i think football is, to an extent, boring now ues to the fact of manchester winning nearly every year. i suppose thats one of the reasons ive moved over to being a rugby league fan :)

[GJF47]

Hoping for a Toon win tomorrow but cant see us getting anything without Carroll and Tiote. Means Smith will probably be playing again :(

[Tainted]

Just watched bits and pieces of the Liverpool v Everton game. There were definitely signs of improvement from Liverpool. There first goal shouldn't have been allowed as the ball clearly went for a goal kick but they were awarded the corner. Ah well, at least they didn't lose to Everton twice this season.