Europa League Final 18th May 2016, Liverpool crowned CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE; Heil Klopp!

[Baz]

http://cdn-04.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/incoming/article34719502.ece/c09dc/AUTOCROP/w620/Liverpool-Sevilla-final.jpg

Kickoff at 7:45PM
Coverage starts on BT Sport Europe from 6.30pm.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw9JKyZjm7k) How to watch Liverpool v Sevilla for FREE (in the UK)



Platform
Channel/Address


Freeview and BT TV
BT Sport Showcase (59)


Sky
BT Sport Europe SD (414/433)


Virgin
BT Sport Showcase (548)


BTSport.com
Click here (http://sport.bt.com/final)


YouTube
Click here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw9JKyZjm7k)




I was speaking to an Evertonian today, who wanted Liverpool to win. CL football next season. :drool: It's happening.

[Magic]

Funny how this competition was relegated to below the League 2 play-off final until a (TOP FOUR) English team does relatively well in it. Even when Boro managed to get to the final nobody really cared.

[Giggles]

Funny how this competition was relegated to below the League 2 play-off final until a (TOP FOUR) English team does relatively well in it. Even when Boro managed to get to the final nobody really cared.

It's only since this shower ended up in it. It was the biggest thing ever in 2001 too.

Avoiding like the plague.

[Magic]

Remember when it was on Channel 5? Colin Murray presenting. :sick:

The coverage has been miles better on BTS I'll give them that, it actually does encourage you to watch it.

[Manc]

Konoplyanka is a doubt. Mon!

[Waffdon]

All over the Europa machine that is Sevilla.

[Max Power]

Seville on pens

[Mike]

A spot in the CL final makes this final matter. It's a great addition to it.

Hopeful for a Liverpool win.

[Reg]

This was quite nice since I haven't watched Sevilla this year: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/18/europa-league-final-sevilla-player-guide

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sevilla in 90, 2-1.

[niko_cee]

Every other team (2) I have wanted to win a game this week has failed so not overwhelming confident for this, even though I'm fairly sure Sevilla are wank.

[SvN]

3-1 Sevilla is what my money is on.

[Magic]

2-2, 3-2 AET to Liverpool. #JFT96

[John]

This was quite nice since I haven't watched Sevilla this year: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/18/europa-league-final-sevilla-player-guide

I reckon I could have written a more informative guide to their first team than that. What exactly is 'scored a good goal the other week' telling you about their right back?

If Krychowiak and Banega turn up they'll win.

[Reg]

Feel free.

[Magic]

Let's hope Sevilla play that small, pacey striker Lorente.

[CJay]

I reckon I could have written a more informative guide to their first team than that. What exactly is 'scored a good goal the other week' telling you about their right back?.

I find Sid Lowe to a fairly poor writer. Too many of his sentences are like this. Really short. And punchy. As if he's trying to be dramatic.

And yeah, that's a terrible player-by-player guide. The Daily Star did as good a job today.

[Reg]

I like those dramatic articles. When he's good he's really good. Very knowledgeable, too.

[John]

I find Sid Lowe to a fairly poor writer. Too many of his sentences are like this. Really short. And punchy. As if he's trying to be dramatic.

And yeah, that's a terrible player-by-player guide. The Daily Star did as good a job today.

He's shit on Football Weekly, my only real exposure to his nonsense.

If I had to guess I'd say he's getting by on having had the good luck to be the man in Spain when 'Barca, mate' kicked into high gear.

[Reg]

His interviews are also good by the way.

Sevilla sporting director https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/17/sevilla-monchi-liverpool-europa-league-final

Soldado https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/apr/27/villarreal-roberto-soldado-spurs-liverpool-europa-league-semi-final

[Lewis]

I reckon there is more actual insight here than there is on the Guardian's overrated football portal.

[Giggles]

He's the only part of Football Weekly that I always skip forward on.

[John]

I've skipped whole episodes when Fernando Duarte's name has popped up in the introductions.

[Giggles]

Speaking of bits I normally skip, Second Captains had Marcotti on the other week and he sounded like he could hardly breathe. He must have doubled in size by the sounds of it.

[phonics]

This was quite nice since I haven't watched Sevilla this year: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/18/europa-league-final-sevilla-player-guide

Could read a million of these and I'd still assume Freddi Kanoute was still totally bossing it for them. What a man.

[phonics]

Speaking of bits I normally skip, Second Captains had Marcotti on the other week and he sounded like he could hardly breathe. He must have doubled in size by the sounds of it.

I noticed that, he was definitely walking somewhere, to be fair to him I've had to do that before and you could be in the greatest shape of your life but over a mobile while walking you're going to sound like an absolute mouth breather.

[Browning]

Supposedly Liverpool are lining up with: Mignolet, Clyne, Toure, Lovren, Moreno, Can, Milner, Lallana, Firmino, Coutinho, Sturridge.

[Pleb]

Funny how 414 is working on my box yet 433 (HD) isn't and I have a HD package :sherlock:

[Reg]

What's the deal with Sturridge? Does Klopp actively want to play him only sometimes, or is he now permanently half-broken?

[niko_cee]

He plays him whenever the full strength team is put out (and Origi is injured). I think the view is that he is only now getting anywhere near a decent level of fitness.

[Jeet]

Bt could have streamed in HD....

[niko_cee]

I'd assumed this would be an 8.05 kick off like the rest of the (civilised) Europa League evening schedule.

[Magic]

What time is KO?

[SincereTheRebel]

7:44pm

[Shindig]

Trouble in the Liverpool end earlier. :moop:

[John]

Do scousers say 'we know that' more than other people, or is it just that their daft accent makes those words sound particularly laughable and it sticks in the mind more when they say it?

[P_3]

C'mon you Reds. :flex:

[Magic]

Boring shite so far.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The ref is rocking the shit out of those socks.

[Magic]

https://twitter.com/TheSunFootball/status/733004033661800450

Murderers in fine form.

[P_3]

Diving Spanish pansies. Fuck off.

[Shindig]

Can't do owt about that. No penalty. Liverpool are looking dangerous.

[Magic]

Can't do owt about that. No penalty. Liverpool are looking dangerous.

You on about their fans or the game?

[Giggles]

https://twitter.com/TheSunFootball/status/733004033661800450

Murderers in fine form.

The Spaniards wouldn't want to get too close to any walls. Filthy tramps.

[Bartholomert]

I am at the game, Liverpool is doing alright, St Jacobs Park is pretty below average, and them not selling beer is a travesty / probably pretty smart, everyone around me is wasted and one guy just threw up.

Sevilla fans are maybe 1/5th the stadium and making more noise, pretty underwhelming from the 'legendary' Liverpool fans.

[John]

Liverpool have fans in every section of the ground other than the Sevilla section. Well fuck me, there's a revelation.

[John]

Diving Spanish pansies. Fuck off.

You're even after that from Milner.

[Shindig]

Owen Hargreaves' broadcasting voice freaks me out.

[Browning]

"Lovren knew he had to win that tackle... if he doesn't it's a foul."

Thanks for that.

This game has been crap so far.

[John]

Adil Rami must be hiding a second career as Fabricio Werdum.

[Lee]

That's quality.

[Browning]

Lovely goal.

[Boydy]

What a finish. :drool:

[John]

Stonking finish. Lol at both the Spanish kid trying to get over the fence at Sturridge and the scouse twat doing an Exorcist at the camera though. That's the real entertainment.

[Magic]

Have Villa really just been taken over by a Chinese billionaire?

Fuck my life.

[Browning]

Well he's undone his hard work there.

[Shindig]

I'd have still chalked that off if he didn't go for it. I hate this active bullshit. Lovely pressure from Liverpool, so far.

[Pen]

Hope Sevilla can still turn this around, but Liverpool have looked much better so far.

[John]

The Sevilla left back has been absolutely tragic, though their system does leave him seriously exposed. They seem to have pushed Krychowiak a bit wider for now, which is sensible.

[Browning]

This should be more than 1-0. Sevilla have looked woeful.

[CJay]

What a finish that was from Sturridge. We're putting in a heroic amount of effort with our pressing so far. Lovely stuff.

[Magic]

:D

Lovely stuff indeed. :drool:

[Magic]

Tale of two left backs tonight. Absolute shite the pair of them.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:harold:

[Browning]

Fucking hell Liverpool.

[Magic]

Holy shit Toure.

[Lewis]

This has got Mignolet penalty heroics written all over it.

[Reg]

Two centre backs were just ball watching. Nice goal from Sevilla's point of view.

[Bartholomert]

Lol. English supporters might actually be the worst, drunk and obnoxious, yet totally silent, low energy and incapable of supporting the team unless things are going their way.

[Magic]

Let's hope they smash your fat face in.

[Pen]

Apparently Liverpool and Sevilla fans have managed to engage in some fisticuffs inside the stadium after they found themselves in the same part of the stadium. Didn't look like much though from the clip I saw.

[Shindig]

At least they aren't armed, mert.

[Yeldoow]

Toure's really showing up Moreno and Lovren.

[Boydy]

Let's hope they smash your fat face in.

:lol:

[Boydy]

Get Moreno off to fuck.

[Magic]

Klopp's pressing plan hasn't worked and now they're out of ideas and on the back foot.

#clueless

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Coke :cool:

[Lewis]

That is one of the better final goals of recent years.

[Magic]

Oh shit. :drool:

[Boydy]

How did they get so good for this half? They shite in the first half.

[Reg]

Lovely goal. How has this team not won away from home all season? Bizarre stuff.

[Kikó]

Liverpool :)

[Magic]

How did they get so good for this half? They shite in the first half.

Alright Diljeet.

[Bartholomert]

That was unreal, Liverpool look demoralized body language wise

[John]

How did they get so good for this half? They shite in the first half.

Ever Banega got into the game. He absolutely runs the show for them.

[Magic]

:harold:

[John]

This is a stunning collapse.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:harold:

What a second half this has been.

[Browning]

This is a massacre.

[Reg]

Milner thought it was offside. He's literally jogging back as the shot goes in.

[Yeldoow]

What the fuck was that?

He's not going to be offside when Coutinho played to him.

[Magic]

THE LINESMAN HAD HIS FLAG UP EH EH URETBHDY.

Yeah? Perfectly fine goal Owen, you...boring, boring shite.

[Lewis]

They just look knackered. Press, press, press, press... Not over a full English season, mate.

[Magic]

Back to being a small time, insignificant competition for Ukranian and Russian backwater clubs.

[Magic]

KOLO HAS BEEN IMMENSE TONIGHT.

Expect his shite defending for the goals.

Cheers, Owen.

[CJay]

We've been so bad in this half. Literally gifted them their 3 goals. Embarrassing performance.

[Magic]

Can we change the thread title?

[P_3]

Bit of a fucking implosion there. 15 minutes to grab two goals. :uhoh:

[Magic]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ciwpka-WsAELjde.jpg

[Shindig]

<after Origi loses the ball easily>
"Liverpool need more of that."

Owen, man. Go into property management or something.

[John]

The only way the shape of his hand makes sense there is if there's a bat or bottle been cropped out.

[SvN]

3-1 Sevilla is what my money is on.

Cashed out because I can see Sevilla nicking a fourth.

[John]

Sturridge didn't look like he wanted to get to that ball.

[Magic]

Gamiero = James Hurley from twin peaks?

[SincereTheRebel]

Why are gameiro's arms so short?

[Vim]

"Offside maybe only by an arm".

Commentators that don't know the game piss me off. American, of course.

[Boydy]

Sturridge didn't look like he wanted to get to that ball.

Yeah. I think he's just knackered.

[Baz]

Thread title spoiled it.

[Disco]

Gamiero = James Hurley from twin peaks?

Not enough bogbrush hair.

Twin Peaks though. :cool:

[Luke Emia]

I never thought I'd hanker after the days of Glen Johnson. But tonight has been a special night.

[P_3]

Oh well lads, there's always next year. Oh, wait.

[John]

Moreno is an absolute joke of a footballer. Bet he's out with all his old Sevilla mates tonight.

[Magic]

Not enough bogbrush hair.

Twin Peaks though. :cool:

Better than any of John's comparisons.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The tears :drool:

[Shindig]

Sorry, crying scousers are hilarious. :D

[John]

Better than any of John's comparisons.

Excuse me, dicknut. James and Toby as Pinky and The Brain has never been bettered and that was about six years ago.

[Kikó]

Spain dominating Europe again.

[Pepe]

Did they bottle it? :harold:

[Lewis]

lol

[Magic]

Klopp's been exposed.

[Jeet]

Time to sell Sturridge please to Arsenal

[CJay]

That was terrible. At least we have less games next season.

[GS]

We deserved to lose that. Not that being in the CL wouldn't have been great, but THE EUROPEAN RUN has masked one or two fairly fundamental deficiencies in our team. Like not having particularly good players in certain positions. Klopp is a top, TOP manager though, so I think we'll do well over the next two or three years assuming we avoid some sort of implosion.

I like Moreno, for instance, but the lad simply can't defend and has the positional understanding of a vegetable patch. Fuck him off.

[Boydy]

Moreno is an absolute joke of a footballer. Bet he's out with all his old Sevilla mates tonight.

He used to be decent going forward but he doesn't even seem to be any good at that now. He's a fucking dogshit defender.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Come on chaps. One does not simply beat Sevilla in the Europa League.

[Pen]

What's with the Puerta memorial shirts? (I'm not sure its him, but the commentator said so) Do Sevilla wear them every year they win the Europa League?

edit: Might be a ten year anniversary thing from his first UEFA-cup win.

[John]

He used to be decent going forward but he doesn't even seem to be any good at that now. He's a fucking dogshit defender.

He's been responsible for some of the worst top level defending I've ever seen. The one tonight where he just toddled off into the middle and let Gameiro in at the back post should have seen him immediately catapulted out of the stadium.

[Magic]

Who the fuck was that taking a selfie with Coutinho? :D

[Baz]

Mert.

[Boydy]

Who the fuck was that taking a selfie with Coutinho? :D

:D

I was wondering that.

[Waffdon]

Cashed out because I can see Sevilla nicking a fourth.

http://imgur.com/WCazI0h

Shame I only put £2.50 on ffs

[GS]

He's been responsible for some of the worst top level defending I've ever seen. The one tonight where he just toddled off into the middle and let Gameiro in at the back post should have seen him immediately catapulted out of the stadium.

It was poor defending, including the original clearance, but in fairness Sevilla were never going to be as shit in the second half as they were in the first. We just didn't cope when they upped their game.

[Magic]

https://twitter.com/WillSmiith_/status/733036612939091968

More weirdly why does his Adam's Apple look like a pair of lips?

[Manc]

Credit where credits due. That second goal was pants wetting.

[John]

It was poor defending, including the original clearance, but in fairness Sevilla were never going to be as shit in the second half as they were in the first. We just didn't cope when they upped their game.

Not that one, the one where he just wandered off into an area of space where there was literally no way he could impact the game while Gameiro pulled onto the back post and almost scored. He was shit for the first goal too, and another eight or nine times aside from those, but the one I'm on about was comfortably the worst.

[Mellberg]

Lol. English supporters might actually be the worst, drunk and obnoxious, yet totally silent, low energy and incapable of supporting the team unless things are going their way.

In all fairness the Liverpool fans were amazing at Istanbul (that's in Turkey btw) and can take some credit for pushing this very team on from 3-0 down.

[GS]

Not that one, the one where he just wandered off into an area of space where there was literally no way he could impact the game while Gameiro pulled onto the back post and almost scored. He was shit for the first goal too, and another eight or nine times aside from those, but the one I'm on about was comfortably the worst.

Aye, that was appalling too. If we're not going to sell him, we should convert him into a winger and let him run about it. Like a very shit version of Gareth Bale. But the lad simply cannot be allowed to take his place in the back four again.

[CJay]

Is there a stat for tackles missed? We were awful in that regard.

[John]

Aye, that was appalling too. If we're not going to sell him, we should convert him into a winger and let him run about it. Like a very shit version of Gareth Bale. But the lad simply cannot be allowed to take his place in the back four again.

He isn't good enough going forward to play as a proper winger. He was always 'good for a full back' in attacking areas, rather than genuinely good. He'd need to be a very shit version of Roberto Carlos, but he's just too poor defensively for that.

Klopp will bin him. His full backs at Dortmund were far from spectacular, but they were dependable types who'd do their job.

[Jeet]

Like how BT keep rubbing in that it's a DOUBLE blow with no CL football to everyone they interview.

[Giggles]

Hopefully this will drop the potential transfers down a notch or two.

[Adramelch]

Spain dominating Europe again.

Third year in a row that both competitions go to a spanish team. Pretty insane.

[Luke Emia]

I thought Klopp was a bit slow to react he's normally pretty ruthless. He probably should have took Moreno off after the first 10 minutes of the second half and bunged Milner to right back and Clyne to left back because you just cannot carry someone who is defensively that bad. I just have no idea what he was doing with the initial header for the first goal? How can you be that far out of position from kick off? But then to compound it with the challenge was something else.

It didn't win Sevilla the game but when you do something like that after working hard to get an advantage I think it just destroys the confidence in the team. Another example this season would have been the Arsenal game at home. We would work hard to score and then literally chuck one in the back of our own net and for us to improve that's got to stop very quickly.

[Luke Emia]

He isn't good enough going forward to play as a proper winger. He was always 'good for a full back' in attacking areas, rather than genuinely good. He'd need to be a very shit version of Roberto Carlos, but he's just too poor defensively for that.

Klopp will bin him. His full backs at Dortmund were far from spectacular, but they were dependable types who'd do their job.

I think that's the thing he needs to be gone basically we need another Clyne. He's not brilliant but he's also not going to cost your 5-10 goals a season by basically being useless.

[Giggles]

Moreno's Wiki :D


His best performance for Sevilla came in the UEFA cup final in 2016.

[Boydy]

:D

[Boydy]

Where's Flanagan at? He was back recently, wasn't he? At least he can tackle.

[Mellberg]

Third year in a row that both competitions go to a spanish team. Pretty insane.

I doubt that's ever happened before.

[Serj]

That was piss poor from Liverpool. Even in the first half when they were overall the better side they had big problems just keeping control of the ball in midfield.

Moreno (obviously), Can and Coutinho were absolutely woeful.

[Adramelch]

I doubt that's ever happened before.

In the most biased statistic ever, they've won 13 cups in the last 11 years. 7 out of 11 in UEFA/Europa League and 6 out of 11 in Champions League.

[Kikó]

Seville have won more European trophies in the last ten or so years then united have in their history. Staggering.

[Lewis]

So why haven't the time-wasting bastards pushed on?

[Giggles]

So why haven't the time-wasting bastards pushed on?

They sell for big profit.

[Magic]

Seville have won more European trophies in the last ten or so years then united have in their history. Staggering.

FC United m8?

[Mellberg]

Have Villa really just been taken over by a Chinese billionaire?

Fuck my life.

Gut says he's a blag artist. I think we're in serious, serious trouble.

[Kikó]

So why haven't the time-wasting bastards pushed on?

United?

[Mellberg]

This man ran our club for a decade:


In spite of my personal affection for reading history I have come to trust the future more than the past. And when I refer to the 'past,' I do so lightly and lightheartedly. I refer to recent accounts - mostly in the press regarding the sale of the Club, that are so many miles from accuracy or truth that I can only assume that they too were written by people whose tongues were firmly embedded in their respective cheeks. It is football after all.

As I've said, it was my hope that ownership and custodianship of the Club would have been transferred some years ago when I knew that personal and professional matters made it impossible for me to contribute the time I did in my first five years with the Club. Time and immersion that is crucial to any formula for success. Still, fates are fickle in football so that we could claw back to safety last season, end up at Wembley at a Cup Final sitting amongst old friends!, and then spend the 2015/16 campaign at Bannockburn!

As I expect this to be my last message to supporters through the Villa website I thought it worth reiterating that my approach from the beginning, consistent with my longstanding affection for The Trinity, was in three parts: Villa Park infrastructure, Bodymoor Heath infrastructure and the Villa squad. I have a sneaking suspicion that my best chance of any tolerable memories in this regard will lie with the father and son of this trinity…! In the end, however, so many wonderful young players came through Villa during my time and it is to them and supporters alike whom I am indebted. Also, of course, I wish - without mentioning names, to say thank you to countless people with whom I worked at Villa Park and BMH who have touched me personally and from whom I have learned so much.

Finally, being conscious of the popular and dark pastime of wondering aloud how much was spent, or lost, I should like to think that I 'left behind' value which will hopefully endure and benefit this beloved old Club. In being sadly more than tone deaf, I'll not weakly risk trying to sound any positive notes. But what I will say is that if spending to restore and preserve the wonderful Jacobean Holte Hotel at the southern tip of the Ground, or researching and adding the Holte End mosaic as a nostalgic nod to that wonderful Leitch Stand of our past, add to the tally of personal losses then I can offer no counter argument other than to say I would do the same all over!

It is here that the agreement I wish to announce with Tony Xia ties into my short narrative: Tony has built his career around infrastructure. He is certainly a hugely successful businessman but importantly for me he is passionate about architecture, site design and planning. His commitment to invest in the squad, and leadership at Bodymoor Heath was expressed early on but as we visited together, and had some unrushed time to discuss his plans, Tony's excitement to develop Villa Park shone through. I remain convinced that this is a crucial part of the Club's future as it provides a critical, long-term second source of revenue and therefore sustainability for the Club from which squad-funding can potentially come.

It is with that that I want to say thank you, and to wish Tony every success going forward.

No wonder we're fucked. And now I suspect he's sold us to a shyster. Cheers Randy, you fucking tit.

[Mellberg]

He actually thinks he's William Shakespeare.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:harold:

Was wondering how long it would take.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

We're going to get bummed in a cup final too, mate.

[Spoonsky]

For fuck's sake :(

Alberto Moreno's Liverpool career makes more sense when you realize he's been a Sevilla double agent all along. Genuinely hateful player. Fuck Spain as a country.

[phonics]

He's crap.

[SvN]

The fact that Klopp has done in six months something that lvg hasn't been able to achieve in 2 years plus £300m+ suggests we'll be the ones smiling in the long term.

Plenty to look forward to.


That number gets bigger with every post.

[Lewis]

Why do United never get the benefit of net spend? Under that measure 'LvG' has spent £160 million, which is nothing when you consider that he has turned the entire squad over.

[Boydy]

But Fellaini's still playing.

[Davgooner]

No wonder we're fucked. And now I suspect he's sold us to a shyster. Cheers Randy, you fucking tit.

Genuinely mental, that.

[phonics]

When all those Chinese businessmen are being forced into buying stuff for the Chinese Super League by the Communist Party, you can tell that whoever Villa have ended up with is more than likely a total crook.

[Lewis]

But Fellaini's still playing.

Exactly. They still haven't spent enough. They're in that weird comedown phase, like when Real Madrid signed Thomas Gravesen, but nobody writing about these things has any memory or perspective, so you just get whinges about spending.

[Jeet]

Moreno last night was just LAMBERLEBABA JEFF!

[P_3]

Should fuck him off and stick with "Flanno" as a "Dave" clone.

[Manc]

Gomez will run Moreno out of the side next season.

[Giggles]

Ginola's had a heart attack.

[Reg]

But Fellaini's still playing.

Exactly. They still haven't spent enough.
He'd still play him with another hundred or two million spent. He's probably ahead of Mata in the pecking order...

[Boydy]

Moreno last night was just LAMBERLEBABA JEFF!

What?

[Ian]

Pardew says of winning the FA Cup: "As an English manager I'm coming closer than anyone for a long time."

He's got a good point. I mean, since an Englishman last managed a side to the FA Cup final it's been........... Christ, by the time the game is played on Saturday it will have been nearly 12 months.

[Giggles]

Who was in the final last year?

[Ian]

Tactics Tim.

And looking at it, Bruce was in the final the year before.

God, imagine his sickening face if we lose. :sick:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sherwood.

[Giggles]

Jesus it seems longer ago than that. I was manky drunk by the time it kicked off though.

[Lewis]

He'd still play him with another hundred or two million spent. He's probably ahead of Mata in the pecking order...

He deserves to be as well.

[Reg]

You're beginning to sound like van Gaal's agent.

[Lewis]

This (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36335384) sounds good on the twenty teams thing, but we need another division like we need bumming. It would be a perfect opportunity to bring the other British leagues into the fold as well, since it will presumably depend on mass relegations the year going into it (seven down? four down and none up?).

[Lewis]

They should both be sold in the summer, but Fellainimania was all down to him playing as a number ten (or his own version of the position), where as Mata has probably had two good games for United. Yes, he tends to be played out of position; but he has been crap even when things are meant to be going through him.

[Lewis]

For all you cynics questioning this Chinaman who owns Villa, have a read of his big plans (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/19/tony-xia-revamp-aston-villa-top-three-world-owner). 'My ambition is to bring Villa to the top six in less than five years and I hope it can be [one of] the top three in the world – even the best well known in the world – in less than 10 years'. So yeah. Have that.

[Magic]

For all you cynics questioning this Chinaman who owns Villa, have a read of his big plans (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/19/tony-xia-revamp-aston-villa-top-three-world-owner). 'My ambition is to bring Villa to the top six in less than five years and I hope it can be [one of] the top three in the world – even the best well known in the world – in less than 10 years'. So yeah. Have that.

Let's hope he's mentally ill.

[Magic]

This Falkirk Killie game is rancid.

[Giggles]

This Falkirk Killie game is rancid.

Are you really surprised?

[Magic]

No but the Falkirk Hibs games were exciting so...

[Magic]

Also lol at the final being two legs. Chris Sutton is miles better than Hargreaves and Owen.

[Magic]

Just watching the 05 CL final again. That Liverpool team. :harold:

How the fuck did Milan bottle it?

[Magic]

So I turned it off on 88 minutes and Falkirk have just scored...

Cheers MJ.

[Pepe]

So I turned it off on 88 minutes and Falkirk have just scored...

Cheers MJ.

How do you know? :sherlock:

[Magic]

How do you know? :sherlock:

Saw it on FB.

[Pepe]

I'm not buying it.

[Magic]

Jon Dahl Tomason. :sick:

[Lewis]

Let's hope he's mentally ill.

That (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/20/aston-villa-tony-jiantong-xia-villa-park) didn't take long:


One of the things we have thought about is using the Lotus Health (his health food business) name to rebrand Villa Park. Villa Park is a very historical stadium, so we will not simply and callously destroy a club’s history. We want to use Villa’s history and its substantial fan base around the world to also promote Lotus Health products and services globally. The ideal scenario would be for fans to enjoy Lotus Health products at Lotus Villa Park, it would be a great advert for both brands.

I bet Zimidy is stocking up as we speak.

[Pepe]

Win-win right there. Everybody wins!

Curious about that substantial fanbase around the world.

[Disco]

Fantastic atmosphere today in the newly re-named Powdered Tiger Willy Stand.

[Raoul Duke]

This is more mental:


My ambition is to bring Villa to the top six in less than five years and I hope it can be [one of] the top three in the world – even the best well known in the world – in less than 10 years,” Xia said in one of his first interviews since the deal became public.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/19/tony-xia-revamp-aston-villa-top-three-world-owner

:henn0rz:

[Baz]

Why the disbelief in this Villa takeover?

LOL if he thinks everyone will associate the word Lotus with his whatever food brand.

[bruhnaldo]

I was just going to say... Lotus being a British car company and all.