[FOOTBALL] Weekend Football Thread - 13th/14th/15th January 2017

[Weaver]

Friday
Derby County vs Leeds United - Sky Sports, 19:45

Saturday
Spurs vs West Bromwich Albion - Sky Sports, 12:30
Burnley vs Southampton
Hull vs Bournemouth
Sunderland vs Stoke
Swansea vs Arsenal
Watford vs Middlesbrough
West Ham vs Crystal Palace
Leicester City vs Chelsea - BT Sport, 17:30

Wolves vs Aston Villa - Sky Sports, 17:30

Sunday
Everton vs Manchester City - Sky Sports, 13:30
Manchester United vs Liverpool - Sky Sports, 16:00

The AFCON starts tomorrow too, but that has its very own thread.

[Giggles]

MANCHESTER VERSUS MERSEYSIDE.

Sky are pushing it hard.

[bruhnaldo]

God I can't stand losing to Liverpool. We better come with it Sunday.

[Lewis]

Paulp Ogba has his own Twitter emoji now (which he got a special haircut for), so he won't want to look like an idiot by losing.

[Reg]

Routine wins for us and Newcastle, I think.

Sunday looks good. I'm gonna go with United-Liverpool and then Sevilla-Real Madrid. It needs Sevilla to win to keep the title race interesting, otherwise Real could go 7 points clear with a game in hand.* Although it's set up nicely: 2nd v 1st, they drew 3-3 last night in the cup and have both won 5 of their last 6 league matches.

*If they do I'll sack La Liga off for the rest of the season (not that I've been watching much anyway) and just enjoy the Premier League which has been pretty great.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I watched Betis v Leganés last weekend in full. That should have been enough for an MBE for services to Anglo-Spanish relations. They were saying it was so bad because Betis were missing Joaquín. Fucking Joaquín, who was at his best literally 15 years ago.

[Giggles]

If someone had asked me when he retired I'd have said 5 years ago at least.

[Lewis]

I watched Betis v Leganés last weekend in full. That should have been enough for an MBE for services to Anglo-Spanish relations. They were saying it was so bad because Betis were missing Joaquín. Fucking Joaquín, who was at his best literally 15 years ago.

His BOTTLE went when the Koreans and a bent North African referee donned him. It's like your life has come full circle in this very moment.

[Max Power]

Costa had a bust up with the coaching staff so isn't travelling to fortress KING POWER.

Fancy us for a point at least. Ndidi to smash Kante to pieces. Maybe.

[Jimmy Floyd]

My pre-season prediction that we will finish 6th is looking strong at the moment.

Like hell has he had a bust-up with the fitness coach, he wants to take the Chinese dollar.

[Bob Sacamano]

Doukara is such a strange player, every shot he has seems to be in slow motion, he really hasn't a clue what he's doing and niether do the opposition.

Blistering start from Leeds here, need to score though.

[Magic]

That attempted scorpion kick goal. :D

This is the best I've seen us play.

[Magic]

Yes brilliant time to score. Fucking 4 points off auto.

[Waffdon]

Quite like Leeds. Desperately need to get rid of Rob Green though.

[Kikó]

Off to manc for the game on sunday. Pretty nervous that we will get found out and hand Liverpool the momentum in the run in.

[Magic]

Well that was really awesome.

[Yevrah]

Gary Neville 'The pundit' is on sky sports 1 at 7 tomorrow night. Essential viewing I suspect.

[Lewis]

You say that, but Martin Keown just said Olivier Giroud is one of the best strikers in Europe.

[Yevrah]

Talking of strikers, this only dawned on me the other day, but is Harry Kane a flat track bully?

I don't think I've ever seen him play well when watching a match, which tends just to be the bigger ones these days.

[phonics]

You say that, but Martin Keown just said Olivier Giroud is one of the best strikers in Europe.

Better goal per minute ratio than Messi :cool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Well done, Yev. He'll score minimum five times today.

[Yevrah]

Well done, Yev. He'll score minimum five times today.

Which would go someway to proving my point, no?

[Lewis]

Slaven Bilic was just sporting a decent head of hair on Football Focus. Good for him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Far be it from me to play the Peter Tatchell/Chelsea bedclothes role, but how has 'rentboys' in the context it is used not provoked OUTRAGE from the usual OUTRAGE-mongers?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Two more?

[Waffdon]

Tottenham have looked a bit good. West Brom aren't exactly pushovers either.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Tottenham have looked a bit good. West Brom aren't exactly pushovers either.

In this game they have absolutely been pushovers.

[Giggles]

This West Ham stadium looks weird on TV. I'm sure it's the angle but it looks really narrow and long.

Is there any regional channel or anything that would be showing Preston and Brighton?

[Kikó]

I love the energy of spurs. Really fit side who have some lovely players. The hattrick goal was great from Kane and Ali.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This West Ham stadium looks weird on TV. I'm sure it's the angle but it looks really narrow and long.

Is there any regional channel or anything that would be showing Preston and Brighton?

That's how it is, because there are such big gaps from touchline to stands, not unlike the old ground in Munich. I keep expecting Giovane Elber to pop up at the near post when they play.

[Giggles]

That's how it is, because there are such big gaps from touchline to stands, not unlike the old ground in Munich. I keep expecting Giovane Elber to pop up at the near post when they play.

That's exactly what it's reminding me of but I couldn't think.

[Reg]

Is there any regional channel or anything that would be showing Preston and Brighton?
The game's not on US TV which would be the best hope for a stream.

We're on Sky Sports on Friday though.

[Giggles]

The game's not on US TV which would be the best hope for a stream.

We're on Sky Sports on Friday though.

It's more Preston I want to see in this one. There's live streams going around from an Eastern European channel on the Preston forums but you need to be a member to have it shared.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sunderland fans leaving after 35 minutes, lol.

[Waffdon]

Sunderland fans leaving after 35 minutes, lol.

What's wrong with that? I'd leave after one goal went in last year as it was a predictable mess.

[phonics]

Iwobi, even ignoring his ability to force Swansea players to hit it into their own net, has been immense.

[Kikó]

Benfica are getting pumped.

[phonics]

So is Fat Sam :cool:

[Smiffy]

Jesus christ. You would pay £35M for a striker who can score goals like that! Carroll!

[phonics]

820308501209739269

For context

[Shindig]

We're not going up.

[Offshore Toon]

Carroll. :drool: The power on that.

https://streamable.com/fyyjc

[ScousePig]

What's wrong with that? I'd leave after one goal went in last year as it was a predictable mess.

Should probably be applauded for turning up.

I decided to get a ticket for our cup replay at Burnley on Tuesday, which means rushing from work to get there. Lol.

[Kikó]

Benfica back to 3-3 now. Twenty to go as well.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's going to be so disappointing for Arsenal and Spurs fans when we don't collapse without Costa. I really feel for them.

[Giggles]

If the relationship is dead in the water do you reckon they'll purchase in this window to try replace him?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Probably, they're not going to play Batshuayi.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If the relationship is dead in the water do you reckon they'll purchase in this window to try replace him?

Yes. How much for Kane?

[Giggles]

Yes. How much for Kane?

I was wondering that earlier myself. He'd have a high price but with Levy he'd definitely have a price. Would he fit though?

[Pleb]

Yes. How much for Kane?
£70m+?

[Jimmy Floyd]

They'd never get him, there'd be a riot. We'll buy some lumbering dickhead who Conte has managed before, I would have thought.

[Shindig]

They'll just un-retire Drogba.

[Giggles]

Depends on how good an agent he has. Isn't he relatively underpaid there?

EDIT: Probably answered my own question there.

[Danny]

They'd never get him, there'd be a riot. We'll buy some lumbering dickhead who Conte has managed before, I would have thought.

Llorente :nod:

[Reg]

Leicester look alright here. Would quite like to see Ulloa come on, especially if they keep getting crosses in.

Llorente would probably be a smart move. Short term option who knows the coach.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The System requires a bit of presence up there which Batshuayi probably does not provide, so Llorente is in the right profile, even if he hasn't done anything for three or so years.

[Boydy]

Andy Carroll.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Now that would be something. Still get bad dreams from his little half-hour cameo in the 2012 FA Cup final.

[Shindig]

That scissor kick injured him for 18 months.

[Reg]

How lovely. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jan/13/pere-gratacos-dismissed-barcelona-lionel-messi-remarks

[phonics]

Annoyingly they've put on The Ring directly after MOTD so I can't just put it on and pass out as I'll be blared at the moment it's over.

[Lewis]

How lovely. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jan/13/pere-gratacos-dismissed-barcelona-lionel-messi-remarks

If (when) he sues, would the club have to officially rubbish the contribution of its other players?

[Jeet]

Wright on Carroll's goal 'Better contact than Rooney's vs Man city' :D - That shined overhead goal

[niko_cee]

I shall be mercifully otherwise engaged during this afternoon's proceedings. I'm struggling to recall the last time Liverpool played well against United in the league. Even when they bummed them back in Suarez's time they weren't great and needed multipens to get going. Would be nice if today bucked the trend.

[Davgooner]

Here's hoping these two games are fucking shit. I'm sure that Neville thing later will be cracking as well.

:sleep:

[Reg]

McAuley looked a right mess for West Brom. I love Spurs' fourth goal.

Buzzing for the GNev2 programme, forget United v Liverpool.

[Waffdon]

Apparently Lukaku is playing his 300th club level game today. That seems absurd.

[Max Power]

Pep clearly noticed that teams out of Europe perform better in the league so he's planning to finish 7th this season to plan an assault on the title next year. Next level genius from him AGAIN.

[Smiffy]

Man City losing here doesn't bode well at all. :moop:

I'm expecting a dire game in our match too.

[Smiffy]

Pep clearly noticed that teams out of Europe perform better in the league so he's planning to finish 7th this season to plan an assault on the title next year. Next level genius from him AGAIN.

Is it genius when Klopp threw a Europa League final to achieve the same result?

[Magic]

Pep and Boreinho being proven myths. :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

The top six are basically guaranteed Europe, unless they somehow let Southampton win the League Cup and they all stuff up the FA Cup.

AFC Bournemouth champions 2017/18.

[Max Power]

Schneiderlin wearing number 2 is a disgrace

[Raoul Duke]

Schneiderlin wearing number 2 is a disgrace

Agreed. FIFA need to stop wasting time expanding World Cups and focus on important shit like this.

2 = RB, everyone know this.

[Lewis]

The Goodison Seethe is actually putting John Stones off. :lol:

[Amigo]

Does Pep Guardiola have what it takes to finish in the top four?

[Smiffy]

Sterling, Stones, Delph, Sinclair, Rodwell, Johnson, Sturridge....plus whomever beforehand but Man City should keep themselves as far from English players as humanely possible. I can't think of one who has done anything with them.

[Max Power]

Agreed. FIFA need to stop wasting time expanding World Cups and focus on important shit like this.

2 = RB, everyone know this.
Have a look at Sheffield Wednesday's squad numbers, if you can stomach it.

Centre forward with number 6. Central midfielder with number 3. Winger/full back wearing number 9. And worst of all, backup keeper wearing number 2 :sick:

[Giggles]

Who's the Davies guy in Evertons midfield?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sterling, Stones, Delph, Sinclair, Rodwell, Johnson, Sturridge....plus whomever beforehand but Man City should keep themselves as far from English players as humanely possible. I can't think of one who has done anything with them.

They only buy them to fill up the quota, but fact is they do have to fill up the quota.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Have a look at Sheffield Wednesday's squad numbers, if you can stomach it.

Centre forward with number 6. Central midfielder with number 3. Winger/full back wearing number 9. And worst of all, backup keeper wearing number 2 :sick:

Argentina of yore used to have their World Cup squad wear numbers in alphabetical order, with the exception of 10 which went to whoever they designated their lord and saviour. So goalkeeper Fillol wore 5 in the 1978 final, Ossie Ardiles 2, kept out of the number 1 shirt by squad midfielder Norberto Alonso.

[Giggles]

Who's the Davies guy in Evertons midfield?

The commentators pretty much covered it there.

Though Lukaku the cunt :D

[Waffdon]

I hope they give Lukaku that. Some goal.

[Baz]

Did Lukaku nick that? :D

Tom Davies has the look of someone who won a competition to play in a friendly and accidentally ended up on the teamsheet. Good play there though.

[SvN]

Did Lukaku nick that? :D

Tom Davies has the look of someone who won a competition to play in a friendly and accidentally ended up on the teamsheet. Good play there though.

I was thinking he looks like a member of a boy band playing at Soccer Aid.

[Lewis]

City are basically 'LvG' United. Those first two months was just confidence form, like when Fellainimania ran wild over those six weeks.

[Max Power]

Argentina of yore used to have their World Cup squad wear numbers in alphabetical order, with the exception of 10 which went to whoever they designated their lord and saviour. So goalkeeper Fillol wore 5 in the 1978 final, Ossie Ardiles 2, kept out of the number 1 shirt by squad midfielder Norberto Alonso.

Vile cunts.

Maradona always wore 10 though :cool:

[Smiffy]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jan/15/liverpool-joel-matip-manchester-united-fifa

Am I missing something about international football?

If he doesn't want to play for them then why does he have to miss out? Especially as he hasn't played since September 2015.

[Giggles]

Lookman looks like he's one of the mascots.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Otamendi should have been shown a red for that dive.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Because he hasn't 'retired' from international football, just basically can't be arsed to play the Afcon or qualifiers and will come back if they make the World Cup finals, Cameroon probably have the hump.

There's also a large number of Cameroon people in the same position so I doubt he's telling the whole truth either.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:harold:

What a game.

[SvN]

:harold: Amazing

[Lewis]

I'm filling my mother in on the history of Pep Watch.

'You can't have been the "only person in the world" saying it.'

Shut up, idiot.

[Smiffy]

Toughest league in the world. :nodd:

Everton have been well deserving of all four too.

[Waffdon]

Christ, he looks about 15. Bravo loves to concede low to his right.

'Pep' :drool:

[Magic]

Lewis's mum. :drool:

[John Arne]

Because he hasn't 'retired' from international football, just basically can't be arsed to play the Afcon or qualifiers and will come back if they make the World Cup finals, Cameroon probably have the hump.

There's also a large number of Cameroon people in the same position so I doubt he's telling the whole truth either.

I get your point, but a player shouldn't be 'forced' to retire from international selection (the FA/manager should simply not pick him if he isn't always available). He hasn't made himself available for over one and half years yet isn't cleared to play today - it's a complete joke - and Liverpool are partly to blame for letting it get this far.

[Waffdon]

Liverpool are getting spanked here.

[Lewis]

That interview was good. :|

[Smiffy]

I'm actually convinced we're going to lose. All the makings of a disjointed defensive performance, Hendo going off early due to not being fit enough, Coutinho replacing him and being off the pace as we succumb to a 2-0 defeat in a poor game.

Or we run riot which seems unlikely without Clyne and Mane on the right.

[ScousePig]

I'm filling my mother in on the history of Pep Watch.

'You can't have been the "only person in the world" saying it.'

Shut up, idiot.

She's done you there, to be fair.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I get your point, but a player shouldn't be 'forced' to retire from international selection (the FA/manager should simply not pick him if he isn't always available). He hasn't made himself available for over one and half years yet isn't cleared to play today - it's a complete joke - and Liverpool are partly to blame for letting it get this far.

I imagine someone in Cameroon is withholding the necessary paperwork to spite him.

[Baz]

Credit to Sky Sports. As much as the Manchester vs Merseyside thing is a bit annoying, they've done the buildup great. :drool:

[bruhnaldo]

I fucking hate them. C'mon United.

[bruhnaldo]

It breaks my heart to see Sir Bobby knowing the cunt Rooney has broken his record now. :(

[Lewis]

I bet it's the worst thing that's ever happened to him.

[bruhnaldo]

:rolleyes:

[Jeet]

I bet it's the worst thing that's ever happened to him.

:D

[Ian]

The fuck were those hands doing, Paulp?

[bruhnaldo]

Salon d'Or back in action I see.

What a horror show.

[Lewis]

He'll attempt a load of forty yarders now to make up for it. :drool:

[Lewis]

Was that Ander Herrera first on the scene demanding a booking? Legend.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That thing on Pogba's head is worth -1 goal a game.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What is Ogba doing?

[SvN]

Pogba on Henderson :D

[bruhnaldo]

The gif of Pogba destroying Henderson will only be useful if we somehow come back and nick this.

C'mon you dicks.

[John Arne]

Lovren booked for winning the ball, and Pogba gets away with that :D

[Shindig]

You guys are missing the BBL final for this. Our white guy just made an interception.

[Boydy]

That thing on Pogba's head is worth -1 goal a game.
:D

It really should be.

[Disco]

You guys are missing the BBL final for this. Our white guy just made an interception.

Is one of the teams seriously called the Glasgow Rocks? That's the best they could come up with, a rock?

[Baz]

Is one of the teams seriously called the Glasgow Rocks? That's the best they could come up with, a rock?Reminds me of Ibiza Rocks.

[Shindig]

The biggest surprise to me was Fab Flournoy still plays at 43.

[Baz]

Redders verbally tugging off Coutinho. I'd watch the real thing. :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Micky Targaryan to left back? Stunning.

[Waffdon]

Herrera and Pogba have been absolutely appalling

[Baz]

Pogba's man of the match for me.

[SvN]

We'll win this now.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's a cracking header.

[Lewis]

I was just about to lol at 'Zlatan' and recall his old big game disappearing acts.

[Jimmy Floyd]

1-1 is a good result, although Liverpool have dropped off so far now.

[Ian]

I didn't think Valencia was offside at all there, am I being a twat or is Neville?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Best thing Herrera has done today, always fun to make a Brazilian nonce have a chimp out.

[Waffdon]

Absolutely love that from Herrera.

[Bernanke]

I didn't think Valencia was offside at all there, am I being a twat or is Neville?

Neville.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I still need it explained to me why those fouls such as Herrera's there are not red cards.

[Lewis]

I think it's something to do with the rules.

[Danny]

"Uncharacteristic mistake from Rooney"

Maybe about 5 years ago.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think it's something to do with the rules.

Obviously, but why are the rules like that. You'd cut out the cynical foul overnight.

[Waffdon]

Chelsea seven clear now. Can still get them for just under evens for some reason.

[Danny]

It would last about 5 minutes. Like the CLAMPDOWN on wrestling at set pieces.

[Davgooner]

4th. :drool:

[John Arne]

Herrera grabbing his face when pushed in the chest - such a whiney little cunt.

[Reg]

Obviously, but why are the rules like that. You'd cut out the cynical foul overnight.
I was barking on about this a couple months ago and got laughed at. That one wasn't as bad as the kind where an attacker is hacked/pulled down where a certain big chance is coming. Sin bin is the answer, but I would be for straight reds if not.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It would also mean Uruguay cease to be a major football nation, but we have to make some sacrifices for the good of the game.

[Waffdon]

That Lewis Baker bloke from Chelsea on loan at Vitesse was sent off (straight red) for one of them cynical trips on the half way line. That would be awful if that was the regular.

[Smiffy]

I thought it was a decent result considering. Seven points off top is fine as it's still early days though. Swansea and Chelsea both at Anfield next up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That Lewis Baker bloke from Chelsea on loan at Vitesse was sent off (straight red) for one of them cynical trips on the half way line. That would be awful if that was the regular.

I'd rather people be good at football than good at tripping other footballers or pulling on their shirts. I'd give the discretion to the referee to decide whether or not a genuine attempt was made to win the ball and if not, an automatic red card anywhere on the pitch.

[John Arne]

I'm starting to think that Firmino is a massive waste of time. Can't hold up play, rarely actually gets past players... ok, plays the odd good through ball, but other than that - he's a bit of a waste of time.

[Smiffy]

You clearly know nothing with statements like that. You would need to take your shoes off to count how often he wins the ball off defenders and sets us on our way.

[Reg]

One of Pogba's worst games for United. Obviously made the big mistake for the penalty, but also lost just about every duel whether it was failing to tackle or keep possession, and didn't affect the game in any positive way.

[Smiffy]

One of Pogba's worst games for United. Obviously made the big mistake for the penalty, but also lost just about every duel whether it was failing to tackle or keep possession, and didn't affect the game in any positive way.

It will come in time but today he showed how inexperienced he actually is. Proper lost his way but didn't hide from it.

[John Arne]

You clearly know nothing with statements like that. You would need to take your shoes off to count how often he wins the ball off defenders and sets us on our way.

I'm not wearing any shoes.

[Boydy]

Why was Alexander-Arnold thrown into that game?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Tim Alexander-Armstrong looked pretty good to me.

[Boydy]

Really? He seemed a bit dodgy defensively, I thought.

[John Arne]

Why was Alexander-Arnold thrown into that game?

"Clyney" has an abdominal issue.

[Boydy]

Gomez was on the bench. Couldn't he have done a job at right back?

[niko_cee]

Trent's (going to be) a beast.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Anyone planning to watch Neville pleasuring himself, tune in for Tunisia v Senegal instead, it'll be awesome.

[Giggles]

Anyone planning to watch Neville pleasuring himself, tune in for Tunisia v Senegal instead, it'll be awesome.

Headless chickens and rubbish keepers on a dust track. Even Neville might win that one out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Football with rubbish keepers > football with good keepers.

[Offshore Toon]

Football with rubbish keepers > football with good keepers.
What about women's football?

[Jimmy Floyd]

That's the best of all as you can not only watch some rip-roaring association football unfold, but also rate all the fit babes.

[Shindig]

And you get to see genuine gulfs in class.

[Max Power]

Sevilla one of the most entertaining and likeable teams in a while. Just ended Real Madrid's mega unbeaten run with two goals in the last five minutes.

Needless to say I am well and truly HYPED for our 9-2 aggregate loss to them in the European Cup.

[Reg]

Sevilla win! Not a great game in truth. Real's 40 match unbeaten run ended.

edit-Max beat me to it. Didn't think Sevilla were as fun as other times.

[Raoul Duke]

I quite enjoy a Pep seethe, but the interviewers are so desperate for our league to be special and for him to admit that his obsession with possession (:cool:) won't work here.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Both him and the interviewers are a parody of themselves. The interviewers should be trying to gently coax out a seethe, not going straight down route one.

[Raoul Duke]

So Pep, you had 86% possession but still got pumped by Stoke - any ideas why that might be? Is it because Otamendi is absolutely shite? Is Yaya Toure as thick as he looks? What do you make of Slaven Bilic's hair transplant?

[Yevrah]

I was barking on about this a couple months ago and got laughed at. That one wasn't as bad as the kind where an attacker is hacked/pulled down where a certain big chance is coming. Sin bin is the answer, but I would be for straight reds if not.

I don't see why a sin bin is needed. A straight red would be ideal.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The aim in every sport should be to make the rules as far away from basketball as possible, and this is a good example.

[phonics]

Basketball doesn't have a sin-bin...

You get 5 technical fouls and you're ejected or you get 2(?) professional fouls and you're ejected.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I wasn't talking about the sin bin. Basically though picking up cynical fouls is not only the done thing but a key part of the tactics. And basketball, as we all know deep down, is rubbish. And because you have rolling subs it doesn't really matter if you get ejected if you spread your fouls over the game.

Actually, you know the worst thing about watching basketball? The squeak of the shoes on the floor.

[phonics]

Basketball is objectively, the second best sport.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's probably better than gridiron, I'll give it that.

The easiest way of telling what's a good sport is to organise a fictional tournament in it between England, France, Spain and America. If England come top two, it's worth a watch. If not, sack it off.

[Giggles]

Sack off football?

[Jimmy Floyd]

In the grand sweep of history we'd have France or Spain at football. Especially France. They don't even like the sport. The big four of football are Germany, Italy, Argentina and Brazil.

Another good measure is that if both Ireland and other countries bother playing it, it's worth watching.

[Boydy]

Stop maing up rules to just include cricket.

[Mazuuurk]

Jim for a guy who seemingly doesn't like Football as a sport or Chelsea as a team or England as a nation, you sure fret about Football, Chelsea and England a lot.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I like all of those things.

[Mazuuurk]

I like all of those things.

"The easiest way of telling what's a good sport is to organise a fictional tournament in it between England, France, Spain and America. If England come top two, it's worth a watch. If not, sack it off."

By conclusion - Football is not worth a watch. England is never top 2 in there. Maybe they would beat the US.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Oh we are, whose league is it you love watching again? Maybe not our current 1st XI national team against theirs.

[Adamski]

So an all Premier League XI vs La Liga, Ligue Un & MLS XI's?

[Jimmy Floyd]

What I really meant was a general comparison of the strength/popularity of the sport in said countries, not speculation on whether Antoine Griezmann could take on John Stones.

Or, in an even shorter version: NFL, baseball and basketball, and cycling, and handball, are all shit.

[phonics]

You run a cricket team. You automatically lose any license to call any other sport, shit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Not my fault you don't have an attention span.

[Mazuuurk]

What I really meant was a general comparison of the strength/popularity of the sport in said countries, not speculation on whether Antoine Griezmann could take on John Stones.

Or, in an even shorter version: NFL, baseball and basketball, and cycling, and handball, are all shit.

Well, that is different. I thought you meant who'd win a football match out of those nations.

And what I like - which is watching Premier League indeed - is irrelevant because all I ever do is praise it, not moan and fret about it as everyone on here seems to be doing all the time.

[Mazuuurk]

Handball is one of the most exciting sports there is. But you have to support a team in it really. I would imagine it would be the same with Basketball if you cared about it.

Ice Hockey is also pretty epic, but you'd never have France, Spain or the UK doing much there. I find all sports that are extremely slow like Cricket, Baseball and Golf quite boring to watch, but that's largely down to personal preference. I think they are just much more fun if you've actually played those sports (whereas for instance I've never played Ice Hockey other than a bit casually as a kid outside during winter, but I thoroughly enjoy watching hockey anyway).

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's just personal preference. Depends if you like explosive athleticism, or the psychological/tactical drama offered by the slower burning sports. I veer towards the latter myself, so I'm also in the camp of thinking this is the worst ever era for tennis, for example.

[Mazuuurk]

To me the qualities needed are not necessarily the most important, it's more the nature of the sport itself. For instance Ice Hockey is fast paced, but it doesn't seem to require superb stamina as you'll have many doing it up until they are 40 years old and still playing at the very top of the game.

Golf is the same in that respect to some extent, but I just find golf plain boring to watch. Cricket is the same in that regard - it's just very slow going (I've tried, actually, to watch it a few times). Though I appreciate there's some athlecism needed to be good at it (I imagine being an explosive runner is the second best attribute you can have other that doing bowling or what it's called) - the game itself is slow.


I guess there often causation between fast paced sports and athlecism, but not necessarily (a lot of Olympic sports are usually very slow and boring to watch for instance).

[Giggles]

What I really meant was a general comparison of the strength/popularity of the sport in said countries, not speculation on whether Antoine Griezmann could take on John Stones.

Or, in an even shorter version: NFL, baseball and basketball, and cycling, and handball, are all shit.

I know I like the NFL but you've too many right there to disagree with you.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Golf needs to speed itself up tbf, or introduce different formats.

Cricket is one of those things where I think you need to have grown up with it. I don't see it as being slow paced. It's just structured differently to the ball-in-goal continuous clock sports.

[Giggles]

I love a bit of cricket myself. Don't get as much time to take in a test on TV like I used to but at least it has the other formats. Going along to a game, no matter what the level, is a great way to spend a day too.

[Lewis]

I remember some of the Dutch headbangers ('Uto' and another one) on the Old Board lolling at me for suggesting that an all-time England XI would batter the clog-wearing Dutch one. Johan Cruyff, mate. Johan Cruyff. Johan Cruyff.

[Disco]

Handball is objectively terrible, there's not even a debate to be had there.

[Ian]

There's really not much point scrutinising sports by way of how shit/stupid they are. Other than the core athletics ones it's all nonsensical gibberish anyway. Football has the virtue of being the simplest at it's core. Once you get into multiple methods of scoring different numbers of points and the like you've really gone too far.


Golf needs to speed itself up tbf, or introduce different formats.

Cricket is one of those things where I think you need to have grown up with it. I don't see it as being slow paced. It's just structured differently to the ball-in-goal continuous clock sports.

I must be a bit of an anomaly insofar as I've come to cricket late and much prefer tests to the shorter forms.

[Disco]

I actually looked at the structure of the NFL on Saturday and it's pretty mental for a sport that's only about half an hour old.

[Ian]

Half an hour old and they fuck about with the rules every ten seconds.

Well, it's really two sets of five seconds so they can shove some ads in the middle.

[Giggles]

Rugby union does the same doesn't it with regular reviews and alterations to the rules? More sports should follow suit and make it less of a massive faff to do so.

Though rugby union is still unwatchable muck.

[Lewis]

That Gary Neville programme was pointless. I bet one on 'Carra' would be more fun, since he boozes on the train and has all the BANTER.

[Reg]

Yeah it wasn't great. It had some interesting moments, but it felt like they didn't have enough material to fully warrant a programme.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I haven't seen it, but via those Salford documentaries I feel I've seen all there is to see of Gary Neville sitting in the back seat of cars and patronising non-famous people.

[igor_balis]

Basketball is fucking rubbish.

[Lewis]

I haven't seen it, but via those Salford documentaries I feel I've seen all there is to see of Gary Neville sitting in the back seat of cars and patronising non-famous people.

One thing I did note was him not thanking some work experience kid who help his keys and his phone during an interview. I bet 'Carra' would have bunged him a fiver and told him some classic Steven Gerrard stories.

[Reg]

It's just personal preference. Depends if you like explosive athleticism, or the psychological/tactical drama offered by the slower burning sports. I veer towards the latter myself, so I'm also in the camp of thinking this is the worst ever era for tennis, for example.
I wondered if there was any real connection between the only two sports I watch (football and tennis) but they're the polar opposites in a lot of ways: one is among the most continuous sports and the other among the most discontinuous; one a team sport and the other individual; in one the competitors barely ever achieve their aim (a goal) and in the other the aim is often achieved within a few seconds (a point), one has barely any rules and the other lots of crucial rules.

Although there is a pattern in the sports I don't like: golf, cricket, baseball, darts, archery (sorry Mahow)... anything that doesn't require a lot of movement.

[Kikó]

https://s27.postimg.org/ofa8mrzdv/IMG_1768.jpg

"I just wanted to try to put a smile on his face given what he's going through," said Bradley Lowery.

[bruhnaldo]

Lmao "said Bradley".

[Giggles]

Are you losing your shit too Vim?

821101166767521792

[Lewis]

It looks like a battle map of Heysel.

[Reg]

Looks like a (bad) graphic design agency.

[Raoul Duke]

Looks like a B&W cutaway diagram of a flaccid cock from a hipster coffee shop book

[Jimmy Floyd]

Is neo-fascism a thing in design circles? First the Chelsea stadium, now this.

[Shindig]

Jorge Lorenzo pulled that off so much better.

[phonics]

Years ago I swore off designing logos because all I could make was terrible typography jobs with zero creativity. I could be making an absolute bomb these days.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Years ago I swore off designing logos because all I could make was terrible typography jobs with zero creativity. I could be making an absolute bomb these days.

Probably could, an American football team has changed their logo (they're moving to LA) to this:

http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/sporting_news/a1/cb/new-chargers-logo-ftrpng_1i1f7337zjgwr1n1ooujhrga2w.png?t=-1823183727&w=960&quality=70

Didn't go down well so they adjusted the colours which is still getting panned, obviously.

[Lewis]

Monday Night Football taking Claudio Bravo apart was lol. Save percentages can be a bit misleading, but fucking hell.

[Yevrah]

Is it 14 of the last 22 shots against him have gone in?

How are you feeling about Pep watch right now?

[Smiffy]

I thought it was confirmed on his debut just how big a liability City's keeper was going to be.

[Yevrah]

It shouldn't be forgotten that Joe Hart's still a bit rubbish mind.

[Lewis]

If the Old Board was still alive you could put the original quotes together and they would go viral on one of those content theft accounts.

'This Lad called "Pep" a bald fraud in 2011 and...'

It's probably all the sweeter for it having originally been seen as me SEETHING about United getting bummed a few months before.

[Lewis]

Not that I did ever call him a bald fraud. But so what? Once you throw in all the minor victories, like saying 'The Little Genius' was a waste of time as a central striker ('But he's scored a billion go...'), I can re-write whatever I like.

[Pleb]

It shouldn't be forgotten that Joe Hart's still a bit rubbish mind.
...and still our number one England goalkeeper if I'm not mistaken?

[Yevrah]

...and still our number one England goalkeeper if I'm not mistaken?

Apparently so, yes.

[Reg]

Not that I did ever call him a bald fraud. But so what? Once you throw in all the minor victories, like saying 'The Little Genius' was a waste of time as a central striker ('But he's scored a billion go...'), I can re-write whatever I like.
Err, what now?

[Lewis]

In the aftermath of Chelsea donning Barcelona in 2012, I suggested that Barcelona 2009 were better than Barcelona 2011, and that that was in large part down to Lionel 'Leo' Messi being better for the team (even if he personally scored less) floating around twenty yards further back, where he had more space and more scope to distort opposition defensive structures, instead of false nining straight into the middle of packed defences on the edge of the box. He had about forty La Liga goals at the time, so lol what you on about mate; but Barcelona realised it two years later, he got his mojo back, and they won the Champions' League with a binman in charge.

[Raoul Duke]

It shouldn't be forgotten that Joe Hart's still a bit rubbish mind.

Did well against Milan apparently last night.

I just think he's a bit average. Mingolet-level, rather than Lloris/De Gea/Cech etc.

[phonics]

I can't wait for all these tinpot clubs to get ITV digitaled

820948850693251073

It's going to collapse before the the next deal.

[Jimmy Floyd]

For something as MASSIVE as it is, around 1 million viewers on average for the biggest clubs is pretty rancid.

[Davgooner]

Monday Night Football taking Claudio Bravo apart was lol. Save percentages can be a bit misleading, but fucking hell.

He's an absolute clown and Hart should have burnt the place down after being turfed out for him. Just doesn't fucking dive for anything; that Willian goal a stark example.

[Reg]

In the aftermath of Chelsea donning Barcelona in 2012, I suggested that Barcelona 2009 were better than Barcelona 2011, and that that was in large part down to Lionel 'Leo' Messi being better for the team (even if he personally scored less) floating around twenty yards further back, where he had more space and more scope to distort opposition defensive structures, instead of false nining straight into the middle of packed defences on the edge of the box. He had about forty La Liga goals at the time, so lol what you on about mate; but Barcelona realised it two years later, he got his mojo back, and they won the Champions' League with a binman in charge.
Conveniently leaving out the fact that they also won the Champions League, and domestic league, in 2011.

Messi would be playing against packed defences whether he was on the right or in the middle. By that time teams started playing much deeper against them. In other words, if they didn't have Messi in the middle they would simply have a striker playing slightly more forward, being crowded in the box, and one less player to help with possession.

The change back to Messi on the right worked partly because teams had slowly got used to how they played. And a front three of Suarez, Neymar and Messi with Suarez in the middle meant they could go more direct and let teams come on to them a bit more. That doesn't mean it was a waste of time playing Messi there previously.

For me that 2011 side was possibly the greatest team I've ever seen.

[Lewis]

It doesn't ignore anything. The context of the discussion was that Barcelona had suddenly gone from amazing (2011) to crap (2012), and I thought their best side was in 2009. Teams were already used to how they played, but, with notable exceptions (Inter 2010, Chelsea 2009 if they had had a non-bent referee) they tended to find a way through. Then 'Pep' started poncing about with a 3-4-3 and 3-3-4, which everybody wanked over because of how many attackers it packed on the pitch (ignoring that the pitch stays the same size), and from 2012 they had a couple of years where defensive sides were donning them for fun as they fell over each other trying to force the ball to their false nine with eight defenders all over him nowhere to go.

[Yevrah]

I can't wait for all these tinpot clubs to get ITV digitaled

820948850693251073

It's going to collapse before the the next deal.

Isn't it the foreign market that keeps the price of these deals so high?

[SvN]

Does that downward trend not coincide with BT getting more matches?

[phonics]

Yevrah; It's both. This domestic deal was the highest it's ever been by 70% or something.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Does that downward trend not coincide with BT getting more matches?

It's an average, so no.

[SvN]

It's an average, so no.

Sorry, I get it. Average per game, right?

[Reg]

It doesn't ignore anything. The context of the discussion was that Barcelona had suddenly gone from amazing (2011) to crap (2012), and I thought their best side was in 2009. Teams were already used to how they played, but, with notable exceptions (Inter 2010, Chelsea 2009 if they had had a non-bent referee) they tended to find a way through. Then 'Pep' started poncing about with a 3-4-3 and 3-3-4, which everybody wanked over because of how many attackers it packed on the pitch (ignoring that the pitch stays the same size), and from 2012 they had a couple of years where defensive sides were donning them for fun as they fell over each other trying to force the ball to their false nine with eight defenders all over him nowhere to go.
They won the league in 2011 and 2013, both with Messi as a false 9, so it seems like you're shaping history to suit your preference.

[Adamski]

It doesn't ignore anything. The context of the discussion was that Barcelona had suddenly gone from amazing (2011) to crap (2012), and I thought their best side was in 2009. Teams were already used to how they played, but, with notable exceptions (Inter 2010, Chelsea 2009 if they had had a non-bent referee) they tended to find a way through. Then 'Pep' started poncing about with a 3-4-3 and 3-3-4, which everybody wanked over because of how many attackers it packed on the pitch (ignoring that the pitch stays the same size), and from 2012 they had a couple of years where defensive sides were donning them for fun as they fell over each other trying to force the ball to their false nine with eight defenders all over him nowhere to go.

The pitch stays the same size :D what the fuck?

[Mazuuurk]

He's not wrong, though. Pitches generally don't change size. They are made of grass, as well.

[bruhnaldo]

It made sense to me (which probably means it doesn't make any sense tbf).

[Lewis]

They won the league in 2011 and 2013, both with Messi as a false 9, so it seems like you're shaping history to suit your preference.

They were honking in Europe in 2013 (and in big games generally), and 2013/14 was his worst season. The point - rather than writing off everything that they did - is that the geezer, and Barcelona, were clearly not at their absolute best with him as the focal point of the attack.

[Mellberg]

Probably could, an American football team has changed their logo (they're moving to LA) to this:

http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/sporting_news/a1/cb/new-chargers-logo-ftrpng_1i1f7337zjgwr1n1ooujhrga2w.png?t=-1823183727&w=960&quality=70

Didn't go down well so they adjusted the colours which is still getting panned, obviously.

I was in San Diego when this was announced. They're LIVID.

[Magic]

He's not wrong, though. Pitches generally don't change size. They are made of grass, as well.

Holy shit remember in FM getting a new stadium with a much bigger pitch so your wingers could run at will? :drool:

Or was it editing it in the editor. LOL.

[Giggles]

I was in San Diego when this was announced. They're LIVID.

Not livid enough to pay up for a stadium.

[Disco]

I don't blame them, cheap gits can pay for it themselves.

[Ian]

Yeah, a billionaire owner of a billions-of-dollars asking for billions of taxpayer money for a stadium is lol. Still, he'll turn a profit when he sells them.