Football Midweek Fixtures - 26-28 April

[Reg]

Tuesday 19.45

Man City v Real Madrid - BTS Europe

Hull v Brentford

Wednesday 19.45

Atletico Madrid v Bayern Munich - BTS Showcase / BTS Europe

Thursday 20.05

Villarreal v Liverpool - BTS Europe
Shakhtar Donetsk v Sevilla - BTS Showcase / BTS2

[Jeet]

No Ron.

[Byron]

No Jeff either.

[Magic]

City v Madrid or Hull v Brentford? :hmm:

[Weaver]

I'm fancying City tonight - Aguero and Silva got half an hours rest on Saturday, no Ronaldo for Madrid and they barely nicked a 4-3 win on Saturday at Vallecano.

Atletico/Bayern on free TV tomorrow :drool:

[Magic]

Those flags. :sick:

[John Arne]

Who at City thought that sheen would be better than matte??

[Magic]

Ramos' hair. :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I can see this being 2-2.

Although, it's hard to see where those 2 goals are going to come from for Madrid but still.

[Raoul Duke]

Who's this gimp in for Ronaldo and why isn't 'Jamez' and/or Isco playing?

[John Arne]

There's goals in this. 4-2 City.

[Magic]

Choosing Pepe over Varane. :harold:

[Raoul Duke]

Aguero looks injured already

[Reg]

I wish Hargreaves would tell us more about the 'modern game'.

[John Arne]

It would be great if for 2 minutes the commentators could remove Ronaldo's cock from their mouth and actually talk about the players on the pitch.

[Magic]

I've seen more of Groanaldo sitting in the stands than the actual game.

[Magic]

Also fucking lol at Bale's hair.

[Magic]

Well utter shitfest so far. Might stream the Hull game instead.

[Magic]

Didn't realise Pepe was actually Brazilian.

[Baz]

Get on Livingston vs Rangers.

[John Arne]

Did Marcelo really just ask for the free-kick because Kompany kicked the ball at Vasquez :D

[Magic]

Has there even been a fucking shot? What absolute turd. No doubt Toby is finding this TACTICAL BATTLE utterly fascinating. If he isn't dead, that is. He's probably not been noticed if he's jumped off a bridge as boats will mistake his unfathomable skull as a bhoy.

[CJay]

A bhoy.

[Waffdon]

Real Madrid can fuck off if they don't win this.

[Raoul Duke]

Ronaldo will give them a bumming in the second leg, anyway.

[Jeet]

0-0 again in the 2nd leg please and ET before they play us.

[Magic]

What utter shit. Thank fuck I opted for Jeremy Wade instead of another half of this shit.

[Waffdon]

No Diego Godin. :(

[John]

Muller starting from the bench is on odd one, but Rio Ferdinand has gone a bit overboard. Guardiola has taken goals out of his team for no reason, apparently, and it's the same as dropping Messi.

[Magic]

Fuck sake Owen on again. :(

[John]

Owen's justified his presence there by calling the ref 'Mark Battenburg'. On yersel, Owen.

[Lee]

That's fucking brilliant.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Niguez is having a party.

Stormer of a goal.

[Max Power]

Bayern getting battered early doors. Great goal.

[John]

That's tremendous.

We had his brother on loan at Rangers years ago and he was rubbish. A midgety winger type without any of the qualities such a player needs.

[Sam]

What a goal. Pep's reaction. :D.

[Magic]

Holy shit what a goal.

[Waffdon]

Saul's donned it in about five different positions this season.

[Giggles]

Ordinarily couldn't root for a Pep team but Atletico are far more 'mate' these days so fuck them.

[Magic]

BvB and Atletico are the fashionable, hipster teams to furiously masturbate over these days.

[John]

'Mark Battenburg' once more. Someone's cracked that one just before he went on air and he's fucking loved it.

[John Arne]

Why is Torres always staring at the floor? Miserable bastard.

[Boydy]

Ordinarily couldn't root for a Pep team but Atletico are far more 'mate' these days so fuck them.

You don't want them to win because they're too mainstream?

Hipster.

[Jimmy Floyd]

In other news, Dujon Sterling has given us the aggregate lead in the youth cup final second leg.

[Vim]

I get so bored of football when it's not Juve playing. No emotional pay-off for me.

[Magic]

Torres. :(

[Waffdon]

That 'wid have been a beauty.

[Bob Sacamano]

Ordinarily couldn't root for a Pep team but Atletico are far more 'mate' these days so fuck them.


BvB and Atletico are the fashionable, hipster teams to furiously masturbate over these days.
Just fucking enjoy it you fucking bores

[Magic]

:sick:

[Reg]

Bollocks to that yellow. Koke gets away with dribbling the ball fifteen yards up the pitch and rolling around like a tit to waste time, and Neuer gets punished for picking him up.

[Lewis]

2013 Bayern would have bummed this lot. Bummed them to pieces.

[John]

Vidal has made a howling arse of just about everything he's done tonight. Dismal performance.

[Reg]

Not impressed with Bayern. They looked like they knew how to play out of defence but then a bit muddled once they actually had to create. They'd obviously have one but I couldn't tell you what their plan in the final third was.

[GS]

Hard to see Atletico going through if the pattern of the game is the same in Munich. Munich didn't play well, but there's no way they go another 90 minutes without the pressure paying off.

[CJay]

Atletico have conceded 4 goals at home in 16 Champions League games under Simeone. :| They're going to win the whole thing.

[Waffdon]

Oblak's record is obscene. They should be more solid next week - I'd hope he'd actually use his subs effectively as well. They always score away from home in the big games.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've just read an article about Leicester in the Speccie which claims they are the most brutal champions since Billy Bremner's Leeds; that their success has come 'without one memorable performance'; that defenders Morgan and Huth 'ensure that opposing attackers end up in row Z'; and that their success is only lauded 'because it came cheap'.

This all seems to have made a random selection of people extremely upset, and I can't fathom why.

[Byron]

Did Souness write that?

[Josh]

Looks like we will be exercising the break clause in Flores' contract at the end of the season: http://www.wdsport.co.uk/2016/04/watford-to-replace-quique-sanchez-flores-as-head-coach/

Absolute madness. Things haven't been going too well recently and the football is negative but he seems to be a pragmatic chap and survival was always the key which was achieved months ago.

I'm sure we will bring in Nomarko Italiano as a successor and go through this all again at the end of next season.

[SvN]

I'll be hoping you go down next season if that happens.

[Boydy]

That's ridiculous. Why would you get rid of the most stylish manager in the league?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Italian owners always just sack managers for the sake of it, don't they? Almost a way of life that the coach continually changes regardless of results. Milan and Juventus exceptions that come to mind.

[phonics]

The guy has won about 3 games since January. If he looked like Phil Brown instead of what Phil Brown thinks he looks like, everyone would be calling him a chancer that fluked a run at the beginning of the season. He plays about 7 defensive midfielders a game and chucks it up long to Troy Deeney. It's not exactly tactical mastermind shit.

[John]

Right, we're being fooled by his good looks and lovely coat.

[phonics]

Right, we're being fooled by his good looks and lovely coat.

No you're fooled by not seeing / not caring much Watford and a run of clean sheets at the beginning of the season. The rest just helps.

Aidy Bothroyd was laughed out of the league for playing like he did when his team was 8 million times worse than this one.

[Josh]

What about if the first half and second half of the season was reversed? He would be a genius that kept us up.

I'm not saying he is the most attacking manager but he hasn't exactly got the right wide players at his disposal. He does have a habit of square pegs in round holes but we were absolute favourites for the drop at the beginning of the season. We then secured premier league football next year months ago and got to a semi final of the FA cup which we haven't done for a very long time.

Yes the second half of the season has been pretty bad but promoted teams have previous for performing well the first half and then tailing off. He definitely deserves another season.

[John]

That's a handy reminder of what I've seen and cared about.

They were good enough at the start of the season to justify not sacking the manager, and with that in the background they've not been bad enough recently to justify sacking him. They've been safe for ages, will finish lower midtable even if they end the season as poorly as they've been recently, and got to an FA Cup semi final. That's a good season for a newly promoted side, regardless of where the results fell in the year.

[Lee]

No you're fooled by not seeing / not caring much Watford and a run of clean sheets at the beginning of the season. The rest just helps.

Aidy Bothroyd was laughed out of the league for playing like he did when his team was 8 million times worse than this one.

Aidy Boothroyd took them down. What a shit comparison. This is the first time Watford have stayed up in the top flight in about 30 years. He got them to the FA Cup semis too. He has clearly done a very good job.

At least give him the transfer window and half of next season to look for signs of progression, if that's what they're after. I thought the Pozzos would just want Premier League steadiness and the associated income for years on end.

[Josh]

We also have 4 games remaining which we took the maximum 12 points from in the first half of the season, 3 teams of which are part of the bottom 4 clubs. You could argue that without all this shit going on with a settled side we could take a large chunk of the 12 again meaning we would end up with 50pts plus. which would see us as one of the better promoted sides to come up in recent seasons.

As it is, we will probably take between 1 and 5 but that would still see a great total for a newly promoted team.

[phonics]

What about if the first half and second half of the season was reversed? He would be a genius that kept us up.

Yeah but you take momentum from the last season. Look at Pards' Newcastle sides for inspiration. Teams that end crap, start crap a lot of the time. I'm not saying he's some sort of charlatan but the defence of him is very Nigel Adkins.

Both sides are justified, I just think the idea of "HOW COULD THEY POSSIBLY SACK A MAN WHO HAS WON 3 GAMES IN 6 MONTHS, IT'S MADNESS!?!?!" is dumb.

[phonics]

At least give him the transfer window and half of next season to look for signs of progression, if that's what they're after. I thought the Pozzos would just want Premier League steadiness and the associated income for years on end.

He'll take the Valencia job before it comes near to next January. Hence the Pozzo's making the move.

Why would you give a manager that has zero control over transfers 'a transfer window' anyway? It's not like the players at his disposal now are crap.

[Josh]

Yeah but you take momentum from the last season. Look at Pards' Newcastle sides for inspiration. Teams that end crap, start crap a lot of the time. I'm not saying he's some sort of charlatan but the defence of him is very Nigel Adkins.

And who is to say we wouldn't have won 3 of the last 4 this season before this happened? Yes we are shit at the moment but Sunderland, Villa and Norwich are very shit.

Now we will never know as him knowing he is going and the Pozzo's knowing he is going means everything will be played out very differently to if he was backed.

[phonics]

And who is to say we wouldn't have won 3 of the last 4 this season before this happened?

Because before this happened you barely won a game in 4 months.

[Josh]

Because before this happened you barely won a game in 4 months.

Neither have 3 of the 4 teams we are playing.

[Josh]

Since Jan 1st:
Sunderland - 4 wins
Villa: 3 wins
Norwich: 3 wins
Watford: 7 wins

[phonics]

Yeah, and they've all sacked their respective managers (twice in Villas case) and are about to be relegated because of it.

Once again, I'm not stating that he should definitely be sacked but I am saying there's a case to be made rather than say, SvN's reaction to the situation.

[Josh]

Yes and we are nowhere near relegation and could potentially finish in the top half.

Anyway, looks like you aren't going to be convinced this is a bizarre decision.

I support Watford and I'm obviously frustrated with QSF's shortcomings but he has done enough for a second season.

[John]

Yeah, and they've all sacked their respective managers (twice in Villas case) and are about to be relegated because of it.

Norwich haven't and Allardyce took over in October, but which side are you arguing with that?

[phonics]

Genuinely forgot about Norwich. What a dull team. What a dull team that we'll have gained 2 points from all season. God we're shit.

[Reg]

Asenjo, Mario, Bailly, Ruiz, Costa, Dos Santos, Pina, Bruno, Suarez, Soldado, Bakambu

Mignolet, Clyne, Toure, Lovren, Moreno, Lucas, Allen, Milner, Lallana, Coutinho, Firmino

Quite a contrast between that Liverpool midfield and attack. Solid, high workrate, commitment etc midfield compared to flashy, skilful, trendy false niney attack.

[Magic]

Yes and we are nowhere near relegation and could potentially finish in the top half.

Anyway, looks like you aren't going to be convinced this is a bizarre decision.

I support Watford and I'm obviously frustrated with QSF's shortcomings but he has done enough for a second season.

Let's face it, Italians are utter cunts.

[Manc]

Allen to run this.

[Raoul Duke]

The Liverpool game has been pretty good so far. Quite open but evenly matched.

[Boydy]

It's good except for all the fucking rolling around on the floor. Get up you fannies.

[Lewis]

That's a pretty tasteless comment to have made this week.

[Magic]

That's a pretty tasteless comment to have made this week.

*black guys gif*

[Boydy]

That's a pretty tasteless comment to have made this week.

:D

Shit.

[Boydy]

Lallana hasn't done much. I'd take him off and bring Sturridge on. There's a real lack of anyone in the box.

[Raoul Duke]

He's done no more/less that Coutinho or Firminho. They could do with one of them off maybe, but I think he'll keep it tight until about the 60th minute.

[Magic]

Lallana hasn't done much. I'd take him off and bring Sturridge on. There's a real lack of anyone in the box.

Bit fucking tasteless that comment after this week eh? Right lads? Fucking come on then.

[Boydy]

He's done no more/less that Coutinho or Firminho. They could do with one of them off maybe, but I think he'll keep it tight until about the 60th minute.

Firmino had a good half. He was constantly pressing and nicking the ball off Villareal high up the pitch. Coutinho had the ball in dangerous areas a few times but didn't end up doing much with it. Lallana was completely anonymous.

[Magic]

Marcelino. :D

[John]

The Villareal manager is a proper histrionic twat. He looks a bit like Lee Evans the way he's strutting around.

[SvN]

Lovely stuff.

[Magic]

:drool:

[Magic]

I'd happily watch an entire game of Marcelino cam.

[John]

He's just done about three laps of the technical area after a last minute goal and not one person has celebrated with him. His staff clearly fucking hate him.

Denis Suarez looks a lovely little player. He's been very tidy all night, that bollock he dropped to let Moreno in aside.

[Serj]

That's suicidally high pressing from everybody bar the two centre-backs in the second-to-last minute. :cab:

[Boydy]

He's just done about three laps of the technical area after a last minute goal and not one person has celebrated with him. His staff clearly fucking hate him.

Denis Suarez looks a lovely little player. He's been very tidy all night, that bollock he dropped to let Moreno in aside.

Aye he looks quality.

[Raoul Duke]

:eyemouth:

Moreno should have squared that breakaway to Ibe. Liverpool had nothing on the bench really. Benteke and Sturbridge don't chase the game enough in a game like this.

[Spoonsky]

Fuck me, what on earth were we doing there :face:

[Max Power]

Bruno Soriano is quality.

[Boydy]

Moreno should've squared it, yeah. He shouldn't have been out of positio at the end either. He's a defensive liability.

Ibe's shit too. Head down and run with it and then produces nothing. Sturridge should have been on from half time or shortly after it.

[Magic]

Sakho wouldn't have let Suarez in behind.

[Spoonsky]

Moreno shits his pants every time he's in a position like that. It's the same shot every time, high and wide of the near post.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've told you before, Spanish teams are invincible.

Villarreal have been shitting out 1-0s like that all season long in all competitions.

[GS]

We deserved that. They didn't play very well, but we didn't show much interest in trying to win the game. Stupid defending like that in stoppage time, mind you. We'll go out next week, probably on away goals after a 2-1 win at home.

[Jimmy Floyd]

And their 10th in all. That's quite a lot.

[John]

Magic must despise them.

[niko_cee]

What's the deal with Skrtel?

Moreno's general uselessness is probably why they've been linked with that German leftback for ages.

[phonics]

Poch has signed a contract until 2021.

Can't wait for this to go tits up.

[John]

Manchester United appear to have signed some kid called Chong. That has to be a wind up.

[Disco]

Why?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/chong.jpg

Fellaini you lose.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There is a point where an afro stops being cool and starts being get a haircut you scruffy bastard. That is a long way past that point.

[Raoul Duke]

We used to have a geezer called Dong, so there's that.

[bruhnaldo]

Dutch guy I talk to on another forum raves about the kid and says he'll be a great player for us.

Though he said the same about Memphis, so... who knows. (not that I've completely given up on Memphis or anything)

[John Arne]

I think that Chong fella is half-Indonesian or something.

[Magic]

One of our directors (read: owner's sons) has instragram'd a picture of his new haircut (a skinhead) with the hashtags #nazi #gestapo. He was pulled up on it so changed #nazi to #SS, which is arguably worse.

:D/:face:

[John]

Why?

I immediately thought of the bird from Commando so maybe 'Chong' is a more common name amongst Dutch teenagers than I realise.

[Lewis]

He's a striker as well. You can't be a striker with hair like that.

[Spoonsky]

That afro is droopier than your nan's tits.

[Lewis]

That's a pretty tasteless comment to have made this week.

[Magic]

Is he holding his head up like that so the big bush on his head doesn't cover his eyes? Not good for his posture.

[Raoul Duke]

It looks even worse here:

http://i3.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article10793982.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/tcJPG.jpg

[Magic]

What a fucking disgrace, look at the colour of it.

And the hair, too.

[Disco]

U wot m8

http://i.imgur.com/ey6Alzf.png

[Kikó]

Him and Sanchez donning it next season behind Rashford and Rooney.

[Raoul Duke]

Is this Sanchez scamp any good, or are we just looking to buy Mendes a new gold house?

[Kikó]

He's good but he's a deep lying midfielder so he's not going to bring the attacking dynamism we need.

[John]

He did put one in the top corner from the car park so he might be able to do everything. That might have been on his debut actually.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3564420/Manchester-United-step-closer-completing-46m-Renato-Sanches-Benfica-chief-arrives-London-talks.html

Christ alive.

[Weaver]

Right, we're being fooled by his good looks and lovely coat.

Quote from Trevor Sinclair on Football Focus earlier: 'Quique Sanchez Flores has done a brilliant job and he looks like an absolute film star. '

At least we're not the only ones.

[Boydy]

They only got promoted last season and they're sitting 12th in the premiership. How is that not pretty decent?

[Shindig]

Come on!

[Spoonsky]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz_mFLLNI5g