Shadow on pitch becomes the NEW line ..

Throw in from the edge of the shadow (Cardiff- Reading)

Latest update from DCFC Blighty land.

We were outclassed by a super Fulham side ooooozing quality and money. Gotta say I knew this was gonna happen having witnessed the first leg, where we were out matched everywhere.

Good luck to Fulham. We are a bigger club. But they have a TYCOON bankrolling them and it shows.

Fulham v Villa in the playoff final <Jess> .. I love Villa so am going with/wanting them , but I've a nagging feeling this Fulham side is just too good.

Where are you ?

Hope all ok ?

Don't like it when you go AWOL like this ...

Talking Frank
Frank Lampard and Jack O'Connell

My good <Hazza> thanks mate but I just haven't had time to be posting online.

I've been taking care of my mother full time for the last three months and it's a very difficult job. My mom isn't difficult but looking after her is difficult. I should be back more regularly when WORLD CUP starts.

Howay <Dr. O'Footy> I will certainly be catching all of the England matches. I may sound crazy but I think they have the raw attacking talent to win this tournament. Our squad is young. Remember when the babies won the UEFA Championship for City? After the first match of that tournament every pundit in England was tearing <Sir Alex> a new one for playing teenagers. Who got the last laugh there eh?

I see an eerie parallel between <Hazza> and <Becks> in that <Becks> was, and remains, every bit as thick as <Hazza>.

<Beckham> was living proof that a borderline retarded lad could contribute to a major trophy win.

That's very true but Ferguson had Giggs, Beckham, Scholes, Butt and the Neville's and they went on to win over 10 league titles. Southgate is no Ferguson and his "fledglings" were better players... This is the problem in England. We've clamoured for a young squad, throw them in at the deep end and see how they do but we'll be moaning like hell if we don't reach the quarter finals at least. I'm pessimistic about this team, as usual we're not good enough and I just feel we'll be out in the 2nd round. Remember Brazil14? I said England will be on the first plane home? I was wrong, Spain went home first and us 2nd! This squad isn't as good as the 2014 squad. It'll be Germany, Brazil or Argentina who win it.

<I see an eerie parallel between <Hazza> and <Becks> in that <Becks> was, and remains, every bit as thick as <Hazza>.

<Beckham> was living proof that a borderline retarded lad could contribute to a major trophy win.

I'm hoping the same for <Hazza>.>

<Hozza> That is fantastic news on <Frazza> taking the helm at <Derby>!!

Congratulations and I predict immediate success. You guys are still near the top of the table so I predict you will be promoted next season.

I predict <Spurs> finish 2nd or 3rd again, don't win any hardware, and lose key players to other clubs.

<O'Footy>

lol I saw what you did there- <Hazza> is <Hurrikane>, and <Hozza> is <Harry Lime>.

Although I doubt England would do any worse if <Harry Lime> were included in the squad.

I'm sure your prediction will prove more accurate than mine, but I am already in magical thinking- one game at a time.

Oh yes and don't forget we decided that <AJ> would be <Gozza>.

First off.. Me and the good <Doc> have a history on here and various agendas, all of them pretty pathetic, but it is what it is. I'm better looking than him, better at chess, better at football, know more about football, know more about John Lennon, The Fabs and music in general. He knows all this deep down. That's why he has me on "Ignore" .. lol

Anyway quickly moving on!

Re The Mighty Spurs.. you are forgetting the new stadium buzz and bounce effect! Playing at Wembley was always gonna be a no show , the Tottenham jinx there is well and truly enshrined, but playing in a spankingly shiny all new WHL will have a massive impact methinks..

<PocketChess> has things to prove. As in actually winning something, agreed, but glad he didn't go to the monsters in Madrid.

Sir Frank .. ( it's Sir now, he's got a knighthood in my world now lol ! ) Sir Frank has a mega challenge here at PP but I'm sooooooooooo ecstatic he's taken us on !

Ingerland have hope , ok WE have hope in Russia, it's as wide open as I can remember a World Cup being in my lifetime, but just feel we lack a midfield talented enough to make an impact, and there are just better sides there .

I'll be back with a top ten of my predictions <Jess>

Anyhow, I thought I'd just share my thoughts as WC 2018 is about to start:

The last 12 World Cups have not once failed to disappoint.

About half of those have actually exceeded the above expectation: them have left a taste of disgust.

Examples: two Argentine teams, and one French team that celebrated disgusting thuggery; one south American goalie murdered by his home fans for a mistake in goal; David Beckham getting pilloried by his home fans for getting sent off; obviously corrupt or, at best, incompetent refereeing nearly every time.

I hope to be able to refrain from following this year: can one expect better in Russia, of all places?

<hemy> Thanks for the warnings. Last world cup I was sure there was a conspiracy against <Neymar> because the referees were allowing the opposition to mug him in every game. Not only did they not call fouls, the didn't give the right penalty for the few fouls they did call against the savage tackles on <Neymar>. There should have been literally hundreds of yellow cards, and several red cards, handed out for this deliberate assassination of <Neymar>. There weren't.

So we lost the chance to see one of the most exciting players in footy history do his magic on the field.

Shameful refereeing. Criminal, I would call it.

On the lighter side, Russia seems to worry about the most bizarre items possible. They have published a warning that Russians shouldn't have sex with foreign people during the tournament.

<Hozza> <Pocket Chess> is one of that rare breed of manager who still values personal loyalties. I just hope he proves to be that equally rare breed of manager who has the ruthlessness necessary to win hardware.

<Sir Frank> has been knighted by <Hozza> and that's good enough for me. Possibly we should hold an online ceremony and invite him to participate. It was just 4 or 5 years ago he retired, because I remember watching him in his last season- still a useful and classy player, could have played more even.

<Tiggler> I hope you can visit here frequently with footy observations or any other observations. If you continue to post on footy topics here you might run the risk of getting a footy nickname though.

Possibly <Tizza> or <Tigga>.

My footy mates call me <Jeff> or <Jezza>.

<Harry Lime> is <Hozza>, and <Dr Winston OBoogie> is <Dr O'Footy> or <O'Footy>.

<Paint My Dragon> used to post on footy in here, but he stopped posting before we had a chance to give him a footy nickname.

Possibly that's why he stopped posting here!

<Tiggler> lol HAND OF GHOD and <Zidane> just about cutting the guy in half with his boot.

Do you mean make chess-related names for the football players? I'm up for it, but it seems daunting.

Does that mean that Russia were 5 goals better than Saudi Arabia? I wasn't thinking about it that way, but that is how it turned out.

<Tigga> Interesting. Does this mean that now we refer to <Manchester City> as <Magnus Carlsen>?

<Tigga>, fellow footy fans-

I just watched this terrific biography on legendary gaffer <Bobby Robson>- I think it is brilliant: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6864864/

<Russia v Saudi Arabia> 4-0

Well this is the first match I watched so far and I enjoyed it. Good flow, no major controversies and the referee was grand, in my view.

The Russian number 6 <Claymation Shev> got two goals, but it was his first that was highlight of the match for me. Russians were calm on the break and exhibited some lovely one and two touch footy to get <Claymation Shev> in position for a quality finish. The punters seemed happy, especially <El Presidente Putin>. If I'm not mistaken, the <King of Saudia Arabia> also had a good time sitting up there with the Russky top dog.

<Examples: two Argentine teams, and one French team that celebrated disgusting thuggery; <one south American goalie murdered by his home fans for a mistake in goal;>

That's not true. It was a <defender> called Escobar who was Columbian. Scored an own goal! Went back to Medellin (probably the worst move he could make!) and got shot 12 times.

<David Beckham getting pilloried by his home fans for getting sent off; obviously corrupt or, at best, incompetent refereeing nearly every time.>

<Dr. O'Footy> Yes I have Spain v Portugal teed up on the TIVO already!

What a fascinating story of <Bobby Robson> who came so close to winning the World Cup- twice. Who won the UEFA Championship with <Ipswich>. Who managed <Barca> and also two <Portugeese> clubs, who practically raised <Paul Gascoigne>, who rescued <Alan Shearer's> career.

The part of his story that angered me the most was being replaced at <Barca> by <Louis Has a Lot of Gall>, who almost succeeded in destroying football at <Manchester United> by putting everyone- including the players- asleep for a season.