The CCC Discussion Thread 2008/09

[johntheclaret]

How quickly, from hero to villain.

Thanks to Sky Sports News

Boothroyd leaves Hornets

Watford have parted company with manager Aidy Boothroyd after a poor start to the season.
Boothroyd has been in charge at Vicarage Road since March 2005 and guided the club into the Premier League the following year.
The Hornets were relegated from the top flight after finishing bottom of the table with just 28 points and were not able to bounce straight back up.
Watford began well in 2007/08 but ended in a play-off spot and lost to Hull over two legs.

They have made a disappointing start to the current campaign and are languishing in 21st place in the Championship following Saturday's 4-3 defeat at home to Blackpool.
Watford have lost their last three games and Boothroyd has now paid the price with club bosses desperate for results to pick up.

"It is with some sadness that we have taken the decision that the time is right for a new manager to take Watford Football Club forward," Chairman Graham Simpson confirmed on the club's official website. Both parties feel that his tenure at the club is simply at an end."

The Hornets will aim to get back on track when they make the trip to Swansea at the weekend.

[devilsadvocate]

Could we see Alan Curbishly at Elton's Gay boys?
Curb's real name is gay enough to fit in at Watford - Llewellyn Charles 'Alan' Curbishley .

[Dirko]

worst refereeing performance ever, how can that prick sleep at night after costing derby a win ,twice in one night. A one all draw when we scored three goals, the last decision he made was just crap, i sat stunned on the lounge for 20 minutes after the game. If we miss the playoffs buy 1 point i think i may fly to england and pay him a visit. this man should be fired, he has been suspended for a month for the reading debacle, has sent off 10 people in 35 games and now he has cost us 3 points anda chance to move on to the cusp of the top six. I am just shattered, i cant wait to read the transcripts of the press conference.

Holy shite ! Another Ram ! That's three of us now. McAlmanac, heyyouinthebushes and I ! Woohoo !

Yeah, I was right pi55ed off, but thought I'd wait for a day or two to post. I think the ref choked on the what would be billed as the biggest
game of the regular season for the CCC. The Derby v Forest derby is a rivalry that should be treated with competence not some half assed ref display. Don't fret hey you, the season is long, and we have the squad to push, especially if we get the coin in the transfer period....

[johntheclaret]

I think the steel city derby might give ya a run for ya money jabber.

[Dirko]

I think the steel city derby might give ya a run for ya money jabber.

Steel city ? United v Wednesday....

Yeah but they don't count

[johntheclaret]

I think the steel city derby might give ya a run for ya money jabber.

Steel city ? United v Wednesday....

Yeah but they don't count

Correctamundo

Preston v Blackpool has a bit of spite about it too. Has the quality if not the quantity when it comes to ripping each others limbs off.

None of them including Derby v Forest come anywhere near to a Clarets v b4st4rds clash though.

[RoosterMarty]

Cardiff vs Swansea is pretty big derby too. It's been a while but November 30 will be huge. It's been given standalone status and rightly so!

I guess you can argue that it's not a 'derby' in the true sense of the word.

[johntheclaret]

So there it was Friday afternoon when a mate of mine turned up at work suggesting we take a trip to the Wolves on Satdee.

Some how I wish I hadn't bothered. Burnley were bereft of ideas and barely mounted a single threat. 2 - 0, that was a joke too. Wolves were no better and considering they are top by 6 points leaves me flabbergasted. 2 shots on target brought a single goal.

Yeah I know they have been attributed to a 2 - 0 win, but the 1st goal was an outrage. Kightly's first of a brace was a joke. Kightly sticks out an arm hitting the ball onto the post, the ball comes back off the post, and Kightly, even to his own suprise that the whistle hadn't gone, heads the ball into an open net. Everyone had stopped, including the Wolves attacker, no doubt expecting a handball decision, such was the openess in which he blatantly, in the style of the great Joe DiMagio, swung his outstretched arm onto the ball.

Burnley were so incenced that 2 players were booked, including keeper Brian "the Beast" Jensen, who kicked the ball so hard it cleared the Steve Bull stand. We never recovered from that disgraceful decision and it just went from bad to worse.

The referee had no idea, stopping the game everytime (on the rare occasions) that he awarded the Clarets a free whether we were in possession or not, giving the Wolves plenty of time to re-group. And for the 2nd game running, the Clarets were denied a clear penalty, and at 1 - 0, this could have been the turning point of the game.

It was interesting to hear a couple of Wolves fans we got talking to on the way back to the car, saying how they couldn't believe we didn't get a spot kick. Honesty is easy when you win 2 - 0. The ref seemed to have it in for Burnley after that early altercation with the entire team and he exacted his revenge with 6 bookings and a red.

In all, a sh1t day. Warm beer in plastic bottles ,(ok I understand the security issues), but would it be too much to ask to take them off the shelf above the chip fryer, and put them in a fridge, having to sit 10 feet away from a hostile bunch of home fans, telling you what a sh1t team you have, whilst having to endure a directionless (is that a word), game, referreed by a numpty.

Highlight of the day, the Wolves fans humming the Hovis theme tune, and the Clarets singing "We want to be together" in that 80's Black Country advert accent. Gold.

Oh and 1,300 Clarets bringing the house down with a rendition of "1 - 0 to the referee", 1 - 0 to the referee", 1 - 0 to the referee", 1 - 0 to the referee",

Anyway, onto the Bridge. 7,000 manic Clarets wearing flat caps, I can't wait.

[johntheclaret]

Hey RM, I didn't know if you had heard about this or not.

Thanks to The Sporting Life (and others)

CHOPRA LOANED TO BLUEBIRDS

Sunderland's Michael Chopra has returned to Cardiff on loan in a bid to rediscover his touch in front of goal.

The 24-year-old has managed only six senior appearances for the Black Cats this season, five of them as a substitute, although he made a memorable impact from the bench with a match-winning double against derby rivals Middlesbrough in September.

Chopra will spend the next two months at Ninian Park after seeing his chances of forcing his way into a side strengthened by summer arrivals

[johntheclaret]

Pressure for results is as hot in the CCC as it is in the EPL

Thanks to The Sporting Life

PARDEW LEAVES CHARLTON

The board at The Valley finally lost patience with the 47-year-old following Saturday afternoon's 5-2 defeat at home to Sheffield United.
The result saw Charlton slip into the Coca-Cola Championship relegation zone on the back of a run of eight games without a win.

Pardew said: "My record coming to this club has been good, but it's been difficult here. When I arrived they were on the slide and I haven't been able to stop that. We're in a sticky situation and I have to accept whatever decision is made."

In a statement on the club's official website, www.cafc.co.uk, Charlton chairman Richard Murray said: "On reflection of results so far this season, and looking at the future challenges for the remainder of the campaign, it was agreed by both parties that Alan would leave the club with immediate effect."

Pardew, who took previous club West Ham into the Barclays Premier League and to the 2006 FA Cup final, arrived at The Valley on Christmas Eve of the same year following the brief reigns of Iain Dowie and Les Reed.

The former Addicks midfielder narrowly failed to keep them in the top flight, but hopes were high of an immediate return despite the loss of key striker Darren Bent to Tottenham.
However, a promotion push failed to materialise and Charlton eventually finished in a lowly 11th.
This season has seen the club lurch from one setback to another, with a proposed multi-million pound takeover from Dubai falling through while the team continued to struggle.
Charlton have won just six of their last 29 Championship matches and are currently four points off the foot of the table.

Assistant boss Phil Parkinson, the former Colchester and Hull manager, has been placed in temporary charge for Tuesday night's trip to QPR.
Alan Curbishley, who quit The Valley after 15 years in charge at the end of the 2005/06 season, will be an early contender for the vacant role.

[johntheclaret]

The story of a wasted opportunity and an EPL ref.

Fair do's to Donny. They rocked up with 1,500 travelling fans and thier comedy Red n White Hoop guernseys, and played with passion and determation, in a game that the Clarets really needed / should have won.

Yet again, the ref was the star of the show, and it beggars belief that those in charge of allocationg ref's to games, persist in sending EPL hacks down to the CCC. They have no idea. Don't get me wrong, this isn't just another dummy spit because Burnley didn't win, they didn't deserve to win, they didn't show the fire and passion that Donny did.

But "those that decide" need to look at the different style of football played in the CCC. If you need a comparision, it's like the difference between AvFL and SANFL. CCC is raw brand of football, more contact, less diving and of course lacks some of the skills of the well timed tackle that exist in the EPL.

EPL ref's just aren't switched onto this and yesterday EPL referee Bennett demonstated that time and time again. Firstly he failed to penalise with a booking, an atrocious tackle on Chris Eagles leaving the Burnely side incensed. There was only going to be one outcome and when Thompson reacted to another poor, poor tackle, he was booked. 5 minutes later, Thompson exacted his revenge. Burnley was down to 10 and the game was killed.

Donny huffed and puffed for the rest of the 1st half and all of the 2nd half, whilst the Clarets shut up shop, making only a handful of foray's when it was safe to go forward. Despite all their pressure, Donny showed why they are at the foot of the CCC. Plenty of effort, but couldn't hit a barn door with a tractor.

Anyway my point here is, had Bennett booked Matty Mills for his deliberate foul on Chris Eagles, the players would have known exactly where they stood. Instead Mills did the same thing to Thompson, a big lad and doesn't take kindly to that sort of naughiness, who promplty "expressed" his displeasure ending up with both players booked.

Had Mills been carded for his 1st challenge on Eagles, then he would have been gone, but instead Thompson, who was clearly upset by Bennetts inconsistency, decided he would throw in a clog himself 5 minutes later and Bennett promply raised a second yellow and that was that.

So Burnley spent the last hour and a bit with ten men, the fans paid good money to see less than 30 minutess of football, Bennett spent the rest of the day making up for his failure to make the right decision after 10 mins, by blowing the whistle for every challenge single tackle, foul or not, and the Clarets had the opportunity to put pressure on Readings 3rd spot stolen.

All in all a shite day.

[johntheclaret]

Just thought I would post a piccy of Turf Moor

Turf Moor.jpg (40.8 KiB) Viewed 261 times

.

[johntheclaret]

Just following on from my Clarets review, here's a story that kind of backs up what I was trying to say.

Thanks to The Sporting Life

COYLE UNHAPPY WITH MILLS

Burnley manager Owen Coyle felt Doncaster defender Matthew Mills got off lightly after striker Steve Thompson was sent off in the goalless draw in the Coca-Cola Championship.

Striker Thompson, a summer signing from Cardiff, became involved in a confrontation with Mills in the 12th minute which saw both men booked.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, the pair clashed again and Thompson's challenge on the former Manchester City defender led to referee Steve Bennett showing the Scot a second yellow card.

It was not what Coyle - who was appointed as Clarets manager a year ago to the day - had in mind as his high-flying side sought to enhance their promotion credentials.

Coyle, who will now be without Thompson through suspension at Barnsley on Monday, said: "I can see why Thommo was sent off. He was late getting over to the challenge but I don't think he actually caught the lad."

"But the player (Mills) that Thompson fouled shouldn't have been on the pitch at the time. For me, he did the worst tackle in the game on Chris Eagles and the referee gave a free-kick.

"He stayed on and then got a yellow card in his tangle with Thompson - but it should have been his second yellow card. But I'm not getting away from the fact that Thommo shouldn't have been so rash in his challenge."

Doncaster manager Sean O'Driscoll suggested Thompson was lucky to still be on the pitch following his part in the earlier incident.
O'Driscoll said: "I didn't think Thompson touched Mills at all for his second booking. But in the previous incident when they were both booked I thought he threw a punch."

[devilsadvocate]

Just thought I would post a piccy of Turf Moor

Turf Moor.jpg

.

Good work mate. I can't believe I left the camera at the hotel when I was up. WAFDH! Love the Moor. Should be rocking in a couple of weeks time for the Scum. Great time to be playing them. But given Burnley's form, it wouldn't matter if Brazil was coming up, they'd be up against it .

Come on you clarets!

[johntheclaret]

Sad thing is I won't be there. Off to China 29th and not back until 5th.

Bugger

Will have to find a bar in Ningbo that is open at 4:00am that has Skysports on. Hmmmmm what are the odds on that ?

[devilsadvocate]

Sad thing is I won't be there. Off to China 29th and not back until 5th.

Bugger

Will have to find a bar in Ningbo that is open at 4:00am that has Skysports on. Hmmmmm what are the odds on that ?

Take your laptop and hit up ding'the king of streams'linga for an Iraqi channel.

then hope the hotel doesn't call the cops when you go mental as Eagles bangs in a winner in the 93rd minute

Here's hoping anyway.

Failing that, you can always hit the Fusion lads up for a running commmentary. That way, even if you do go out, you'll spend the night in stiches with the banter you can throw back and forward with them .

[johntheclaret]

It's a shame the EPL don't show the same commitment too!!

Thanks to The Sporting Life

LEAGUE CLUBS TO VOTE ON QUOTA

Football League clubs will vote on the introduction of a 'home-grown players' quota at an extraordinary general meeting next month.

The proposal will be considered in a meeting at Derby's Pride Park ground on December 18 with the rule, if approved, set to take effect from the start of next season.

The quota would require clubs to include at least four players "registered domestically for a minimum of three seasons prior to their 21st birthday" in their 16-man match-day squads.

Football League chairman Lord Mawhinney said: "We believe it is time for the Football League to make a clear and unequivocal statement of intent about the importance of developing young players in the domestic game."

He added: "The aim is to establish this principle by setting a threshold that our clubs can accommodate and then to consider raising that level over time.

"It is important we demonstrate that, as a body of clubs, our commitment to youth development is total.

"Therefore, not only are we pulling out all the stops to develop these young players in the first place, we are also ensuring that they have the opportunity to show their talent in the first team.

"Fourteen of the 23-man England squad that beat Germany in Berlin last week were developed by youth development programmes at Football League clubs. Looking ahead, we want to increase that proportion even further."

The proposal has been put forward by the League's board of directors and mirrors that of UEFA, rather than the more controversial 'six-plus-five' policy championed by world governing body FIFA.

A statement released by the Football League announcing the news today said: "The board has concerns over the legality of the latter (FIFA's six-plus-five proposal) in European law.

"This means that players will be considered as 'home grown' regardless of their nationality."

Mawhinney hopes the introduction of the rule, if passed next month, would be welcomed by supporters.

"Local fans watching locally developed players at their local club is at the very heart of what the Football League is all about," he added. "I believe that by introducing this rule League clubs, once again, will be taking a lead that others will want to follow."

[johntheclaret]

About time too. now maybe Derby will have the opportunity to fulfill their potential again.

thanks to the Daily Mail

Jewell resigns as Derby boss after fans turn angry over Ipswich defeat

Derby County have confirmed that Paul Jewell has quit as manager after fans turned on him following a disappointing defeat in his 50th League game in charge.
The former Wigan boss' departure had been widely anticipated after his failure to attend a post-match press conference following yesterday's 1-0 home defeat against Ipswich.

The club this morning posted a statement on their website which read: 'Derby County can confirm that the club has parted company with manager Paul Jewell with immediate effect.
'Paul has taken the decision to leave his role as he believes it is in the best interests of the club, and feels his is no longer in a position to take the club forward.'
Jewell's assistant, Chris Hutchings, will take charge of the team for the FA Cup third round tie at Forest Green Rovers and the Carling Cup semi-final against Manchester United.
Jewell took charge at Pride Park 13 months ago with the club rock bottom of the Premier League.

[whufc]

It's a shame the EPL don't show the same commitment too!!

Thanks to The Sporting Life

LEAGUE CLUBS TO VOTE ON QUOTA

Football League clubs will vote on the introduction of a 'home-grown players' quota at an extraordinary general meeting next month.

The proposal will be considered in a meeting at Derby's Pride Park ground on December 18 with the rule, if approved, set to take effect from the start of next season.

The quota would require clubs to include at least four players "registered domestically for a minimum of three seasons prior to their 21st birthday" in their 16-man match-day squads.

Football League chairman Lord Mawhinney said: "We believe it is time for the Football League to make a clear and unequivocal statement of intent about the importance of developing young players in the domestic game."

He added: "The aim is to establish this principle by setting a threshold that our clubs can accommodate and then to consider raising that level over time.

"It is important we demonstrate that, as a body of clubs, our commitment to youth development is total.

"Therefore, not only are we pulling out all the stops to develop these young players in the first place, we are also ensuring that they have the opportunity to show their talent in the first team.

"Fourteen of the 23-man England squad that beat Germany in Berlin last week were developed by youth development programmes at Football League clubs. Looking ahead, we want to increase that proportion even further."

The proposal has been put forward by the League's board of directors and mirrors that of UEFA, rather than the more controversial 'six-plus-five' policy championed by world governing body FIFA.

A statement released by the Football League announcing the news today said: "The board has concerns over the legality of the latter (FIFA's six-plus-five proposal) in European law.

"This means that players will be considered as 'home grown' regardless of their nationality."

Mawhinney hopes the introduction of the rule, if passed next month, would be welcomed by supporters.

"Local fans watching locally developed players at their local club is at the very heart of what the Football League is all about," he added. "I believe that by introducing this rule League clubs, once again, will be taking a lead that others will want to follow."

Would this then hurt the CCC teams that get promoted as their depth probably won't be as good and therefore they would struggle even more so in the EPL.

[Dirko]

Seeya Jewell. Can't say I'm too surprised. Please please make a good manager choice Derby !