[FOOTBALL] Weekend Football Thread - 10th to 13th February 2017

[Weaver]

Friday
Sheffield Wednesday vs Birmingham City - Sky Sports, 19:45

Saturday
Arsenal vs Hull City - Sky Sports, 12:30
Manchester United vs Watford
Middlesbrough vs Everton
Stoke City vs Crystal Palace
Sunderland vs Southampton
West Ham vs West Bromwich Albion
Liverpool vs Spurs - BT Sport, 17:30

Aston Villa vs Ipswich Town
Brighton vs Burton Albion
Derby County vs Bristol City
Fulham vs Wigan
Leeds United vs Cardiff City
Norwich vs Nottingham Forest
Preston vs Brentford
QPR vs Huddersfield Town
Reading vs Barnsley
Rotherham vs Blackburn Rovers
Wolves vs Newcastle United - Sky Sports, 17:30

Celtic vs Inverness CT - BBC Scotland, 12:15
Osasuna vs Real Madrid - Sky Sports, 19:45

Sunday
Burnley vs Chelsea - Sky Sports, 13:30
Swansea vs Leicester City - Sky Sports, 16:00

Hearts vs Hibernian - Sky Sports, 12:30
Cagliari vs Juventus - BT Sport, 19:45

Monday
AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester City - Sky Sports, 20:00

Lazio vs AC Milan - BT Sport, 19:45

[Reg]

Think Reading might slip up against Barnsley which would let us breathe a little easier.

I wonder if Sky and BT will stop picking Chelsea every week at some point. The excitement now is in the rest of the top 6 surely.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The rest of the top six are all on telly apart from Y-NY-TID who have been bumped off for a Swansea-Leicester six pointer.

[Disco]

So depending on who you believe Mark Warburton both has and hasn't resigned as Rangers manager.

[John]

The club put up an official statement saying they'd accepted his resignation, BBC contacted him and he claimed he hadn't even offered it, and now there are rumours going around that the official site was hacked even though it was also posted on their Twitter. Shambles all round.

[Disco]

830161030437277696
830163476983246848

Someone's having a fun evening.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It must be run by a bunch of low-rent thugs to have to a media operation like that.

[Giggles]

I thought they were doing pretty well too?

[Disco]

Almost as much of a shambles as that other club that used to play at Ibrox.

[Adamski]

Used to like you Disco.

[Giggles]

I used to lol the fuck out of them more when I worked with a load of their hardcore's and their Don't Do Walking Away crap (as attendances fell), but nobody wants to see their club going under and they've done well with the situation they were in.

[Adamski]

Never liked you so that's all good.

[Giggles]

I'd never doubt you.

The Scottish old firm fans were never as hateful as the NI old firm fans in fairness, so between sevco and paedos lolling at both was easy pickings. Fit most of the twats better to get down to Portadown or Glenavon on a Saturday.

[Adamski]

Seems to have left in quite acrimonious circumstances now if true. Thought he was getting the Forest job so handed in his notice, Forest pulled the job and he tried to come back :D. From the sounds of it he was jumping before he was pushed anyway but it saves us compensation.

You're right though, he's done pretty well and still getting mountains of stick. Can't think of any other manager who's job would be under pressure for being in second place in February the year after promotion.

[Giggles]

Exactly. If he was going to be pushed, what exactly were they expecting?

[Adamski]

I think the fact the football hasn't been great despite the philosophy he says he's brought in, no real progress in terms of players improving and Celtic having a ridiculous season hasn't helped.

[Magic]

Sevco. :harold:

[Shindig]

It's kinda Keeganesque but without the fan support, that. Expect it to go to court.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Kamil 'The Polish Messi' Grosicki to run riot today.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What exactly are Arsenal fans 'protesting' about? Ticket prices I could understand.

[John Arne]

I'm at the Saigon - Binh Duong game. There may only be 100 Binh Duong fans, but the ain't half making a racket.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

You know your defence is shit when Markovic can walk past them.

Shame Niasse is shit.

[Waffdon]

Kamil 'The Polish Messi' Grosicki to run riot today.

His lack of a left foot. :sick:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Celebrating like that after punching it in should be life with no parole.

[Waffdon]

How on earth doesn't the linesman see that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Walcott :harold:

What a fanny.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Gibbs should have been sent off there.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Not even a decision to make. If that was Costa or Aguero instead of Markovic it would have been an instant red.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Also, the Arsenal support has jumped the shark. Seething if their own side doesn't play like Brazil 1970, seething if the opposition does anything remotely physical or stands up for itself, it's all just one long seethe.

[John]

I used to lol the fuck out of them more when I worked with a load of their hardcore's and their Don't Do Walking Away crap (as attendances fell), but nobody wants to see their club going under and they've done well with the situation they were in.

That stuff did my head in as well, but attendances only really fell to any great degree over the course of one season, and that was more people voting with their feet against Ally's management in the Championship than anything else.

[Max Power]

(King) Billy Davies favourite for the Rangers job :D

[Adamski]

Sevco. :harold:

Your life. :harold:

[John]

(King) Billy Davies favourite for the Rangers job :D

He's been one of the favourites to take over every time there's been so much as a whiff of us changing manager for about fifteen years. Unless he's spent the bulk of the last few years getting psychiatric help though this isn't the time.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was a lovely goal.

[Danny]

I missed the first 20 but since I have had this on we should have scored 5

[Giggles]

That stuff did my head in as well, but attendances only really fell to any great degree over the course of one season, and that was more people voting with their feet against Ally's management in the Championship than anything else.

Yeah to be fair they didn't completely plummet and all the fellas I knew with season tickets that boated over every home game still kept going. There's probably not many clubs would come close with the same drop.

[Giggles]

Gabbiadini to Liverpool in July?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Martial has been great today.

[Lewis]

What exactly are Arsenal fans 'protesting' about? Ticket prices I could understand.

Whatever it is, it's awfully big of them to pick a shit Saturday match against Hull to make their point. Try doing it on the next SUPER SUNDAY.

[Giggles]

Maybe Twitter went down and they had no idea what else to do with their time.

[Reg]

We looked confident today, even after 3 games without winning. I was about to type that Knockaert looked quiet before realising he causally set up two goals.

Wouldn't put it past Huddersfield to gain 6 points on us, but hopefully we can get it done before the last few weeks.

[John Arne]

Wijnaldum has started really well.

[Smiffy]

Nice of you to come out of hiding, lads. A month later.

[Giggles]

Just seen Hoolahans goal :drool:

[Mike]

Seems the 2016 Liverpool side have turned up today.

[Boydy]

Mané.

:wank:

[Raoul Duke]

One Mané Team

[Kikó]

If Chelsea do end up losing a couple, this could end up a little more interesting especially with everyone bunching between 2-6th.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If Chelsea do end up losing a couple, this could end up a little more interesting especially with everyone bunching between 2-6th.

Is someone going to score 10+ points more than us in the last 14 games? I can't see it.

[John Arne]

Today's mangled pronunciation comes from Arlo White and his pronunciation of Matip as mar-tip.

[Waffdon]

Is someone going to score 10+ points more than us in the last 14 games? I can't see it.

13 points ahead if they win tomorrow with the majority of big games over. Kids will be playing with four games to go.

[Reg]

12 points Waff, and Man City could win Monday to make that 10. But yeah. They've got only 2 games left against the top six - Man City (H) and Man Utd (A) - and they've been steamrolling everybody else.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If City win every game, we can still lose the meeting with them and two others. It would have to be a meltdown of historic proportions and I'm not sure a Conte team will do that.

[Magic]

As a match going fan that's the worst. The absolute worst. Context + Warnock = hell.

[mo]

In dire need of change - Sherwood needs to fuck off so that a proper manager can be appointed, not some fair-weather bottling shithouse. And that won't happen, so I think relegation is a forgone conclusion. And I wouldn't imagine we'll come straight back this time.

[Waffdon]

Monaco's home form is absolutely ridiculous. They have a few tidy looking young wans.

[Lewis]

You have to wonder where David Moyes goes from here. He should find a solid Championship club and try building it around him like Everton, but he'll probably just take the next 'big club' (lower case, as in the people who think Leeds are still one) and hammer another nail into his coffin.

[John]

I wonder if we'll see Scouse this weekend.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There is too much Good Football in the PL these days for Moyes to compete. Remember how he used to butcher strikers? He should go back to Preston when that next comes up.

[Giggles]

There is too much Good Football in the PL these days for Moyes to compete. Remember how he used to butcher strikers? He should go back to Preston when that next comes up.

We've a few potential internationals there so he can fuck off.

[Lewis]

That Harry Maguire at Hull is billed as being six two, but he looks like the biggest unit in the game.

[CJay]

Good to see some energy back in our game today. Tottenham were woeful. Does Kane bottle it against the big teams? Just throwing that out there.

Markovic is going to be a beast for us in the future. :drool: Maybe.

[John]

That Harry Maguire at Hull is billed as being six two, but he looks like the biggest unit in the game.

Rannochia is meant to be six four and Maguire looks at least as big as him.

How the fuck has Gibbs got away with that? :D

[Ian]

Does Kane bottle it against the big teams? Just throwing that out there.

And Liverpool. :henn0rz:

Somebody asked the question about him being a flattrack bully on here recently, I'm sure.

[niko_cee]

That must be the first time in ages that all of Liverpool's front 6 (for want of a better term) have played together and the difference taking even one out is, frankly, alarming.

It's the sun ban wot won it.

[Giggles]

And Liverpool. :henn0rz:

Somebody asked the question about him being a flattrack bully on here recently, I'm sure.

Yev. He's not wrong either.

[Giggles]

That must be the first time in ages that all of Liverpool's front 6 (for want of a better term) have played together and the difference taking even one out is, frankly, alarming.

It's the sun ban wot won it.

Milking the bodies for a bit of form :drool:

[John]

Fucking lol at Bilic, the tramp, flinging microphones around. I hope whoever delivers the bill films it, because he's liable to go off.

[Kikó]

Is someone going to score 10+ points more than us in the last 14 games? I can't see it.

No neither can I. It's more unlikely than Leicester winning the league last year.

[Ian]

Yev. He's not wrong either.

Only a flat-track bully for Spurs, mind.

He wasn't even as good as that in the Euros.

[ScousePig]

You have to wonder where David Moyes goes from here. He should find a solid Championship club and try building it around him like Everton, but he'll probably just take the next 'big club' (lower case, as in the people who think Leeds are still one) and hammer another nail into his coffin.

He's doing his best to make us that solid Championship club.

[ScousePig]

And Liverpool. :henn0rz:

Somebody asked the question about him being a flattrack bully on here recently, I'm sure.

It better be true, I've used it with my real mates now.

[Giggles]

I wonder if we'll see Scouse this weekend.

I'll go with yes.

[John]

Sobhi looks a decent player for Stoke.

[randomlegend]

https://u.nya.is/vvsvsk.mp4

https://u.nya.is/agfuxf.mp4

Couple of horror injuries in Spain today :sick:

[Lewis]

The first tackler just walking away is pretty lol, but how did that second one break so easily?

[Shindig]

I can't decide from the bottom six who wants to survive less. It'll go down to goal difference with five of them being on 25 points.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm undecided who would be the funniest two clubs to finish 5th and 6th as well. All of them offer rich humour by doing so.

[niko_cee]

It's City and United.

No one really expected Liverpool to seriously challenge this season, Spurs are Spurs (and are going to go down the toilet waiting for their cheese room anyway) and Arsenal gives Claude and co a reason to assassinate Arsene. The other two are just unmitigated failures outside the top 4. It's probably 'better for the league' that way as well as neither of those will struggle to attract TOP players given the amount of money they can chuck at them but no one decent is going to join Liverpool or Spurs unless they are in the promised land of Champions League football.

[Giggles]

I'm undecided who would be the funniest two clubs to finish 5th and 6th as well. All of them offer rich humour by doing so.

Liverpool for obvious reasons and Spurs so long as Arsenal pip them to 4th on the final day.

[Smiffy]

Nah. Arsenal all the way. The thought of them slipping to 5th in the final few weeks having lost to Tottenham and Man United only to then be hit by the news Wenger is staying means that ArsenalFanTV would be primetime viewing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm not sure any of them are terribly bothered about being in the Champions League to be honest, it's more about avoiding the Europa League.

[Lewis]

Arsenal and City is the answer, since the others are all irrelevant. Liverpool and Tottenham won't be altered in any way by securing Champions' League football, although the expectation of finally being able to sign the 'missing piece' [from Southampton] will be lol when it cracks against reality, and United can (and will) buy anyone regardless, because Twitter followers are the new Champions' League football. Meanwhile, Arsenal missing out would send an existential crisis through the club, and City doing so would see clubs conspiring to finish fifth from now on because 'Pep' is a trailblazer.

[Gray Fox]

I think Lewis has it nailed on there.

I can't wait for a summer of reports that we wanted Aubameyang and he would come, only to never make any kind of approach, see him off to City and have us sign Balotelli 2.0 instead.

[SvN]

Obviously I'm biased, but Liverpool losing at home to an already relegated Boro on the last day of the season to be pipped by United (who win 1-0 courtesy of an injury time offside penalty for nothing scored with Pogba's fist) to fourth would bring a hearty chortle.

[Lewis]

In that eventuality you would want China-bound Wayne Rooney scuffing the offside winner in (after being terrible all day).

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Would be nice if Costa knocked Barton out today.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The first seven minutes of this suggest than Sean Dyche literally doesn't have a clue what he's doing.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

We're going to see at least 5 here.

[Waffdon]

This should end about 0-5.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just stuck £5 on over 4.5 Chelsea goals @ 9.

'Mon the flood.

[Lewis]

'Carra' sounds more Scouse than he does in the studio. He clearly works to soften his accent on the analysis (and it pains him), but he's just reeling it off like Stan Boardman here.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's a beautiful free kick.

[Waffdon]

Fucking hell.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It should be compulsory for every team to have a left footed free kick taker like that. Glorious goal.

[Giggles]

:cool:

Up there with Hoolahans from yesterday.

[Waffdon]

:cool:

Up there with Hoolahans from yesterday.

Not quite up to Howson's standard.

[Giggles]

Not quite up to Howson's standard.

I don't care about whoever Howson is.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Irwin
Harte
Brady

A fine Irish tradition, like Bailey's and misery.

A couple of ours don't fancy it (Costa and Matic) but the rest are playing superbly. Matter of time to win it hopefully.

[Giggles]

Irwin
Harte
Brady

A fine Irish tradition, like Bailey's and misery.

A couple of ours don't fancy it (Costa and Matic) but the rest are playing superbly. Matter of time to win it hopefully.

Brady is normally an absolutely useless set piece taker too, his corners especially, but one of those every once in a while gives him a good reputation for them.

[Waffdon]

King Fabregas on to set the winner up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We've been brilliant tee to green today, but ball kicking has been poor.

[Lewis]

Look at the companies represented around the Burnley pitch. It's an affront to the product.

[Jimmy Floyd]

CWR Scaffolds are looking to expand into the Indonesian market.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Do they even practise kicking the ball these days, or is it all 'shape' and movement?

There are a lot of top level players who just can't do it very well.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Do they even practise kicking the ball these days, or is it all 'shape' and movement?

There are a lot of top level players who just can't do it very well.

Much easier to blame 'the new ball' with even more curve.

[Giggles]

This is bullshit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

lol at that cheer at the final whistle. It's alright, guys, Leave won.

[SvN]

Just stuck £5 on over 4.5 Chelsea goals @ 9.

'Mon the flood.

Shrewd :cool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Shrewd :cool:

It's my middle name.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Even if that had gone perfectly we'd only have won 3-0.

[Reg]

The Burnley home/away discrepancy is surely one for a psychologist to come and work with the team. Or at least a case where Dyche should change anything possible - travel, training times, play two goalies, whatever. If they're good enough at home they should be good enough away.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They're quite an old fashioned team. They will never outplay anyone, but they will outfight you at home with the crowd behind them (we did quite well in that respect today except one too many midgets on the park really). Away, they just have about 150 six fingered fans following them to quiet, soulless caverns and there's nothing on the game, so the better players will win out.

[-james-]

It's an anomaly more than anything I think. Several home games this season where the result has flattered them by a couple of goals and after that it doesn't look nearly as impressive. In past seasons their home form is average at best. They will go down next year.

[-james-]

Half of this Leicester side need to be sacked at half time.

[Reg]

Those factors shouldn't influence the result that much though, and shouldn't be enough to mean they're great at home and awful away (http://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/burnley-fc/698/matches/) (10 losses and 1 draw in the PL). It's not like they've got nothing to work with.

[Giggles]

Bye bye Leicester.

[-james-]

Danny Drinkwater has England caps. Lol.

[7om]

Fuck me, Leicester are horrific. I know it was a FAIRYTALE last year but how can one team drop off this badly, so quickly? This can't all be on Kante. They all look lathargic.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The first thing he needs to do is chuck an extra man into midfield, and sacrifice one of the pointless wingers. Funnily enough we had this very conundrum at Chelsea in 2002/3, when he eventually realised he had to bin off one of Zenden and Gronkjaer.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fuck me, Leicester are horrific. I know it was a FAIRYTALE last year but how can one team drop off this badly, so quickly? This can't all be on Kante. They all look lathargic.

It is probably all on Kanté. He is the best winner of possession in the world.

[Max Power]

The first thing he needs to do is chuck an extra man into midfield, and sacrifice one of the pointless wingers. Funnily enough we had this very conundrum at Chelsea in 2002/3, when he eventually realised he had to bin off one of Zenden and Gronkjaer.

Did that once. In the Cup away to a full strength Everton. We won. Hasn't been seen since. It's bizarre.

Vichai in attendance and shaking his head. Ranieri will be gone tomorrow imo.

[SvN]

A lot if it will be down to complacency. They've got a Premier League winners medal now, who gives a shit what happens this season?

[Lewis]

Riyad Mahrez has had his career season, and Lee Chapman has reverted to being shit, so there goes fifty goals and their entire counter-attacking threat (which also dictates how opposition teams approach them). Think Liverpool when they lost Luis Suarez, except in this case everybody left behind is crap.

[Lewis]

Also, Claudio Ranieri is the last person (let alone the last manager) I would want to guide my team out of the Championship.

[7om]

I'd play this Slimani geezer over Vardy at this point. At least Huth and Morgan's crap long balls might actually find a head that way.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Claude :cool:

Clement was crap in his last job so I'm going to assume the Swansea upturn is all down to Claude.

[niko_cee]

Think Liverpool when they lost Luis Suarez, except in this case everybody left behind is crap.

So like Liverpool when they lost Suarez?

[Lewis]

If I remember rightly Liverpool improved their squad depth that summer.

[niko_cee]

The squad did plumb the depths.

Markovic.

:cool:

[Giggles]

Who replaces Claudio then?

[Max Power]

Pearson for a third spell

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Who replaces Claudio then?

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/02/13/article-1356576-0D27AC1D000005DC-750_634x404.jpg

[Kikó]

http://cdn.images.dailystar.co.uk/dynamic/58/photos/566000/620x/bob-bradley-557801.jpg

[Giggles]

http://ep.imgci.com/PICTURES/CMS/53300/53305.3.jpg

[SvN]

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

[Samadini]

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2008/11/18/1227047905393/Joe-Kinnear-001.jpg

[Disco]

GrandSoreEarthworm

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://media.balls.ie/uploads/2014/06/Herrera-4.gif

[Samadini]

http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/Glenn%2BRoeder_1141_18357783_0_0_16020_300.jpg

[Reg]

Sevilla have looked a bit tired. Leicester might catch them at the right time.

Sevilla should probably still be big favourites but it might not be an embarrassing aggregate, which is something.

[Yevrah]

Leicester being this shit is making me want to have a go with them on FM.

[John]

Leicester being this shit is making me want to have a go with them on FM.

Their stats are based on last season so Mahrez is still one of the world's best playmakers and Vardy will rip everyone to pieces. You'll piss it and it'll be incredibly boring.

[Luke Emia]

Anyway just on a side note with the Liverpool and squad depth. what has happened to Markovic at Hull? He's actually looked like a semi-competent footballer rather than the absolute retard who has been knocking around for a couple of pre-seasons and that year we played him at wing-back.

[CJay]

How has Vardy still not been dropped? He's had one good game - City - all season basically. Same goes for Drinkwater.

[Danny]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8czlQNP4G0w

:lol:

Went to college with him and saw this pop up on the facebook

[Shindig]

That'd stop me in my tracks. Fair play.

[Waffdon]

Bournemouth's defence is absolutely horrific.

[Waffdon]

Didn't even look like the referee seen that.