[FOOTY] Weekend Fixtures ft. a genuinely pretty super Sunday (4/5 November)

[Reg]

http://www.live-footballontv.com for more.

Saturday
Stoke 12:30 Leicester (Sky)
Huddersfield 15:00 West Brom
Newcastle 15:00 Bournemouth
Southampton 15:00 Burnley
Swansea 15:00 Brighton
West Ham 17:30 Liverpool (BT)

Shaw Lane 12:30 Mansfield Town (FA Cup, BT)
St Johnstone 12:30 Celtic (Sky)
Newport County 17:15 Walsall (FA Cup, S4C)
Brentford 17:30 Leeds (Sky)
Dortmund 17:30 Bayern Munich (BT)
Barcelona 19:45 Sevilla (Sky)

Sunday
Spurs 12:00 Crystal Palace (BT)
Man City 14:15 Arsenal (Sky)
Chelsea 16:30 Man Utd (Sky)
Everton 16:30 Watford

Inter 11:30 Torino (BT)
Middlesborough 12:15 Sunderland (Sky)
Fiorentina 14:00 Roma (BT)
Juventus 14:00 Benevento (BT)
Sassuolo 19:45 Milan (BT)
Real Madrid 19:45 Las Palmas (Sky)
Sporting CP 20:15 Braga (FreeSports)

Monday
Chorley 19:45 Fleetwood (FA Cup, BT)

[Giggles]

This early game is on Sky Sports Mix for anyone that doesn't have a Sports sub.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I do like the FA Cup early rounds, unlike the start of this Hughes v Puel disaster.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I reckon before every Premier League match, each manager should, separately, be offered a 0-0 draw. If both managers take the 0-0 draw, the match doesn't take place and the 0-0 is awarded. If one of the managers says yes but the other doesn't, the team whose manager said yes is given a 6-0 defeat and the match isn't played.

It would save a lot of time and increase managerial honesty by 100%.

[niko_cee]

You could have Kilroy compere it.

[Giggles]

The fans would love that.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Crouch should still be with England as a specialist bench option. He's come on and literally won 10 headers in five minutes here, including a goal.

[John]

Shaqiri has such a comedy run, those little fat legs scampering around. He looks like Patton Oswalt too so it's doubly pleasing.

[Giggles]

Is that where Berahino is now? He really fucked up.

[Magic]

Warcock. :harold:

[John]

Villa one nil down after sixteen seconds. :D

[Waffdon]

Villa one nil down after sixteen seconds. :D

Every other team on the coupon winning. Great.

Lol at Pulis playing 5 defenders and 3 defensive midfielders again.

[Lewis]

That Celtic record is quite impressive, even in their worthless system.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I take it this will be the Match of the Day that Gary Lineker lets Manish Bhasin do.

[Waffdon]

Burnley one point off of third place with ten goals scored and nine conceded. Jeeeez

[Shindig]

January can't come soon enough. We've got nowt up top.

[Reg]

Fantastic start for us, we're 8th! Unfortunately our glass ceiling though, as we can't compete with financial heavyweights like Burnley.

[igor_balis]

fuck off pulis

[Max Power]

Is Hughton a bit underrated? Don't see how Dyche/Howe are obviously better managers than him, yet they get linked with big jobs all the time.

[niko_cee]

Younger, and hence more fashionable.

I would also imagine it would be a lot harder to extract Hughton, and doubt someone like Everton would be sufficiently alluring. Maybe he can replace Smallpockets when the time comes, but that'd never happen due to his age and lack of glamour. I'm not sure he's got what it takes to go beyond being very well organised.

[Lewis]

Also racism.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Dyche just used 'gameplan' as a verb in his post match interview. I really, really want him to get a big job.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fucking lol at the Leeds goalkeeper.

[-james-]

Watching Dortmund - Munich and it's fucking shit. German football has completely fallen off a cliff.

[Magic]

Watching Dortmund - Munich and it's fucking shit. German football has completely fallen off a cliff.

Serie A. :)

[-james-]

Five minutes later there's been about five more chances. Dortmund are by far the better side going forwards but they simply cannot defend. I've watched their last four games and Bayern's attack is completely limp, defensive errors or moments of Arjen Robben aside. PSG will beat them about 3-0 again next time out.

[Magic]

Also our manager will be sacked tonight.

[Giggles]

926836463320252416

[niko_cee]

Yeah, I saw that on the bbc live feed thing earlier (it's not working on that link).

Mental.

[Giggles]

Yeah, I saw that on the bbc live feed thing earlier (it's not working on that link).

Mental.

I had seen it on another tweet but thought it was just a geo thing why that wouldn't play for me, like the way all the BT Sport ones don't.

[Reg]

Serie A. :)
There's Genoa v Sampdoria which I didn't include, if you're hungry for some Serie A tonight. Who do you think will win it this year?

[Magic]

There's Genoa v Sampdoria which I didn't include, if you're hungry for some Serie A tonight. Who do you think will win it this year?

Honestly? Napoli, Roma or Juve but I hope Inter shit their way to the title.

[Danny]

https://streamable.com/ekjcl

Streamable link

[niko_cee]

Sounds like Slaven will be getting the bullet in the morning.

[CJay]

West Ham have downed tools. The amount of 3 on 3 or better breakaways we’ve had in this game is telling of players who just aren’t trying. Bilic will go tonight I reckon.

[Magic]

7 defeats in the last 9 games. :sick:

[Giggles]

Ordinarily a Liverpool win is never palatable, but I can get on board with another nail in the 'ammers coffin.

[-james-]

Someone told me that he tried to resign a few weeks ago but they wouldn't let him because they couldn't think of anyone better.

It's really amazing how many horrifically organised clubs there are at the highest level, considering the money involved. No wonder Sean Dyche's Burnley are in sixth place. There's a definite karmic beauty to Palace, Swansea and Everton being the bottom three.

[Adamski]

Honestly? Napoli, Roma or Juve but I hope Inter shit their way to the title.

That’s a real honest answer with some top drawer insight. My moneys on Utd, Spurs or City for the prem. Don’t rule out Chelsea though.

[Giggles]

You've said 3 teams too many for the Prem.

Anyway, I didn't have you down for a Serie A expert.

[Magic]

That’s a real honest answer with some top drawer insight. My moneys on Utd, Spurs or City for the prem. Don’t rule out Chelsea though.

I watch occasional matches on BTS, I don't read EXPERT OPINION on football 365 you fucking teabag flinging cunt.

[Magic]

Also that was a disgrace.

[phonics]

Moyes in at West Ham :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

That would be class just for the reaction of all the entitled barrow boy Essex wankers.

[Adamski]

I watch occasional matches on BTS, I don't read EXPERT OPINION on football 365 you fucking teabag flinging cunt.

Do you at least agree that Messi or Ronaldo are definitely the best two players currently playing?

[Magic]

Do you at least agree that Messi or Ronaldo are definitely the best two players currently playing?

No that's Harry Kane. Do you even like football?

[Kikó]

I hope we do Jimmy's 0-0 idea today as it'll save a lot of boredom. I expect Chelsea not to lose today as they always do at home to us.

[niko_cee]

I didn't see much of the game yesterday (MotD highlights), but I much prefer the idea of Oxlade-Chamberlain starting in actual midfield rather than as an attacker/winger, which was presuably why he decided to join Liverpool in the first place.

[Giggles]

Cup final day here. Got a ticket last week (€15 :cool:) and if I make it to Dublin in time I'll go. Hopefully there's no double for CC.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sonaldo with a weak foot finesse shot.

Just like FIFA 17.

[Giggles]

Why are Tottenham down to 3rd and 4th goalkeepers? Presuming Whiteman is a goalkeeper.

[Waffdon]

Why are Tottenham down to 3rd and 4th goalkeepers? Presuming Whiteman is a goalkeeper.

Bit obvious, init?

[Giggles]

Injuries, suspensions, resting?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

De Bruyne is ridiculous.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Classic Sterling :harold:

[niko_cee]

Arsenal extremely fortunate to be only 1 down.

[Reg]

Not a fan of how the crowd are on Sterling's back, there were quite a few groans and whispers even before that pass. It seems a little picky to bemoan your player when you're top of the league and the player in question has already got you 7 league goals.

[Kikó]

De Bruyne is ridiculous.

Best player in the league by a distance.

[Lewis]

Best outfield player in...

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Monreal is shit too, despite Arsenal fans rating him every few months after playing well in 2 games.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why did Wenger come here with a midfield two of Xhaka and Ramsey? Does he need to be sectioned?

[Lewis]

It seems odd that you can't barge a 'keeper over the line when elsewhere it would just be 'good strength'. City look more getatable than their defensive record would suggest (like Barcelona always did), but you probably need to actually commit to doing so like Liverpool would, so get on the 0-0 for EL MASSIVO.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

927196319571210241

[Foe]

Why did Wenger come here with a midfield two of Xhaka and Ramsey? Does he need to be sectioned?

Thinking coquelin, who cannot tackle and isn't particularly great at headers, would be strong choice at CB is a more worrying choice.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

927196326479237120

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why is 'Pep' hooking Aguero at 2-0 with half an hour to go? Seems a bit spreadsheet.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Or maybe why their £50m striker was benched.

[Magic]

Why is 'Pep' hooking Aguero at 2-0 with half an hour to go? Seems a bit spreadsheet.

They're playing Arsenal, not Stoke.

[John Arne]

That is horrid by Arsenal.. 3 defenders stopped what they were doing to ask for offside... at least cover the runner whilst raising your arm.

[Yevrah]

Why did Wenger come here with a midfield two of Xhaka and Ramsey? Does he need to be sectioned?

He's completely lost it at this stage.

If this stays in Man City's favour it'll be interesting to see what Mourinho does this afternoon. Would a(nother) eye-bleeding defensive display and a point really be good enough?

[niko_cee]

Both City players were offside though.

Not the first time they've had something like that go in their favour this season.

[Yevrah]

Both City players were offside though.

Not the first time they've had something like that go in their favour this season.

If you spend as much time attacking as they do it's hardly surprising.

[Magic]

He's completely lost it at this stage.

If this stays in Man City's favour it'll be interesting to see what Mourinho does this afternoon. Would a(nother) eye-bleeding defensive display and a point really be good enough?

They are aiming for top 4.

[Foe]

Both City players were offside though.

Not the first time they've had something like that go in their favour this season.

Yeah, commentary is a bit odd. They're both offside and the graphic shows that, yet they're claiming xhaka is wrong? What?

Almost as bad as when keown was trying to claim an arsenal player shouldn't be offside because he was "mostly onside". Erm, not the rule Marty.

[Reg]

Arsenal centre backs doing a Barthez and putting their hands up instead of playing to the whistle.

[John Arne]

Both City players were offside though.

They were, but that's largely irrelevant (especially given neither of the center halves could see Bellerin almost playing them on). It's schoolboy defending - and they even had a few seconds to react.

[Lewis]

It's hardly unreasonable to think that you can concentrate on holding your line and expect the officials to spot two players being a mile offside.

[niko_cee]

If you spend as much time attacking as they do it's hardly surprising.

What, that the offside rule seems not to apply? I must have missed that rule change. Does it require a certain number of forward passes in the opposition half or heatmap profile to activate?

[Serj]

The Sky commentary is a bit bizarre on that one. They've been repeatedly shown that it was clearly offside yet they still pretend Koscielny played him on. Do they have tiny screens in the commentary box?

[Reg]

It's hardly unreasonable to think that you can concentrate on holding your line and expect the officials to spot two players being a mile offside.
Why would you risk basically giving a goal away for free when decisions can be incorrect?

[John Arne]

It's hardly unreasonable to think that you can concentrate on holding your line and expect the officials to spot two players being a mile offside.

They weren't a "mile off", they couldn't see their full-back, and it's pretty normal to carry on playing whilst raising your arms... Both centre-halves completely stopped for 1-2 seconds.

[igor_balis]

man city haven't really had to get out of 3rd gear here, if they'd really wanted to they could have scored about 8 today

[Lewis]

Why not pick the ball up and run with it and hope the referee doesn't notice?

[phonics]

I had the game coming through the set-top box and turned a Sky stream on at half-time thinking we'd played okay and the Coquelin thing had kind of worked with him just running at people but never being allowed to pass the halfway line. Only to find them slagging Arsenal off saying 'it could have been 4' like it's a goal when the ball gets into the penalty box. City are always going to create chances but most of them were off-target or blocked on sight.

The pen was a bit soft and the offside was annoying both from the should have spotted it and not playing to the whistle. I'm not entirely sure what Wengers trying to do with Lacazette.

[niko_cee]

Whether it could have been 4 (it could have) or not, Arsenal were extremely lucky to go in only a goal down, although perhaps that fortune reversed itself in the second half when decisions started going against them.

[John]

If Lukaku can target Christiansen in this game he ought to dominate him. As good as he looks technically, Christiansen appears to be properly frail.

That big CHELSEA REMEMBERS display can fuck right off. If they want to be ostentatious about it they should follow our lead and get an anti tank gun in to begin and end the silence.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Putting Ethan Ampadu on the bench instead of David Luiz is top trolling. Bruce Buck has probably been in there like Larry David this week going 'but where are all the young players?!?!'

[Pleb]

That would of been a great own goal from Jones.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Cracking finish by the gurn.

Probably should have stood too.

[Waffdon]

Phil Jones :D

That wasn't a foul at all.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Shame that wasn't on Lukaku's head.

[Pleb]

Rashford's on one.

This is a belter.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This ref has a picture of Andrei Kanchelskis tattooed on his tiny bell end.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The hair made him miss.

[Pleb]

This first 20 minutes is a bit bonkers.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Bailly is a fucking mountain.

[Waffdon]

One day Marcus Rashford will take a decent set piece.

[Yevrah]

What, that the offside rule seems not to apply? I must have missed that rule change. Does it require a certain number of forward passes in the opposition half or heatmap profile to activate?

Obviously not.

It's just that people make mistakes and there's more chance of a mistake being made the more often you're put in a position to make one.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fucking great header.

[Ian]

Anybody fancy marking him? No?

Cool.

[Waffdon]

That's a beautiful header. Lukaku will score more goals, a bit like Higuain, against the smaller teams where they're sitting back but Morata is the better player.

[randomlegend]

Fellaini :)

[Waffdon]

Everton's current team will get relegated.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Maybe Barton was right about Unsworth being too fat.

[Waffdon]

Rashford ahahhahaha. Get him in the sea.

[Magic]

Vincenzo Montella in charge of Milan? Lolol.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lukaku seems to look more like Stormzy with every game.

[Waffdon]

Everton's current team will get relegated.

Soz, Watford x

[randomlegend]

Bakayoko's hair is fucking atrocious :D

[Lewis]

That's a beautiful header. Lukaku will score more goals, a bit like Higuain, against the smaller teams where they're sitting back but Morata is the better player.

Big Ron must sit there SEETHING about him on those MUTV things he inexplicably does.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Time after time Herrera loses his head in these big games.

[randomlegend]

We've been pretty crap from what I've seen. Desperately need Pogba back.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We're inviting the classic United late equaliser now. Fucking Italian managers.

[randomlegend]

It's been about 5 years since we did classic late equalisers.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hence their classic status.

[randomlegend]

Fair point.

[randomlegend]

Why are there 12 minutes of stoppage time in the Everton game?

[Lewis]

We've been pretty crap from what I've seen. Desperately need Pogba back.

Paulp Ogba is obviously MASSIVE, but everyone else (not Lukaku) is still better than the balls they have been producing since he got injured.

[Waffdon]

Lol at Man Utd players allowing Rashford to take absolutely ahin. BIn him off.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Please Rashford, no more corners.

[Waffdon]

Kante carries this Chelsea midfield and defence. It's ridiculous how much Leicester and Chelsea have relied on him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think that's probably the end of the football season as a meaningful thing, other than Arsenal and Liverpool dicing for fifth.

[Waffdon]

Everton game sounds mental.

[Kikó]

We're really average without pog. Herrera is a midfielder who can't attack or defend. Micky is a complete disgrace, he's more cowardly than Di Maria.

[Raoul Duke]

We're really average without pog. Herrera is a midfielder who can't attack or defend. Micky is a complete disgrace, he's more cowardly than Di Maria.

Herrera is a shuttler and works really well in a three. Not so much in a two as he's not really specialised enough at anything. I much prefer Mata over Micky T, but I'd like to see Rashford - Lukaku - Martial have a run.

[Mazuuurk]

You need Zlatan back, that's all.

[SvN]

I've lost all faith in Mkhitaryan ever coming good now. He's just not cut out for the Premier League. Replacing him should be our priority in the summer.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I genuinely didn't realise he was playing yesterday. When they slated him in the post-match on Sky I was like 'huh?'

It was an odd performance from United, I thought Lukaku and Rashford were actually quite good but the midfield got completely taken out by ours. On that evidence I'm not unhappy with having Bakayoko rather than Matic, even if he blew a few chances.

[SvN]

I think Jose got it wrong yesterday - we didn't have the players to play that system. Pogba instead of Herrera and we might've seen more of the ball.

[niko_cee]

Is Jose in his little horse phase or is this as good as it is going to get for United under him?

[John Arne]

Bilic has gone

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/nov/06/slaven-bilic-sacked-west-ham-david-moyes-manager

[phonics]

Is Jose in his little horse phase or is this as good as it is going to get for United under him?

Well it is his second season. He's normally murdered the cleaning lady within the next 9 months.

[Jimmy Floyd]

People keep linking him with PSG but I can't see it. He would bore himself to death there, reduced to standoffs with Neymar and manufactured MIND GAMES with Rudi Garcia.

Part of me hopes he manages to wind up 'Pep' into some kind of capitulation this season but it doesn't look likely.

[Jimmy Floyd]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41702779

The Big Sam thumbnail wearing an open neck shirt with loads of buttons undone and a gold necklace is just too good.

[phonics]

Has anyone ever thought that the biggest block of 'BRITISH MANAGERS' isn't 5 clubs not hiring them but the 15 below them only hiring the same 3-4 of them?

[Yevrah]

Has anyone ever thought that the biggest block of 'BRITISH MANAGERS' isn't 5 clubs not hiring them but the 15 below them only hiring the same 3-4 of them?

Very good point that.

And it's the poppy that completes the look on the Big Sam thumbnail. :D

[Disco]

That shirt was amazing, at least five buttons unused on the collar at least.

[Lewis]

And he gets a little dig in about them thinking they're something towards the end. :cool:

I think it can get better for United under Corporate Mourinho. There are still a few positions where the current starters can easily be improved, and obviously making a huge attacking signing would add a new dimension (money spent since 2013 is irrelevant), so he has at least a year until any serious moaning can be directed his way; but after that he could well be under a bit of pressure.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm not sure Mourinho will ever make a team that scores as many goals as a Guardiola team does, so he's kind of got to just hold tight waiting for them to fail.

[Lewis]

Possibly not (at least with United), but he can make one that doesn't let stupid shit goals in like yesterday and lose the midfield. It's worth remembering that over the past couple of years City have spent almost a hundred million more, and 'Pep' inherited a better side to begin with (or at least the basis of one), so having a MELTDOWN over them is a bit pointless. They would more than likely win the league this season without them in it, so everything just takes a bit longer and costs more.

[Jimmy Floyd]

'A Guardiola side' obviously takes into account that he'll have the best players and the highest budget in the league by miles.

[phonics]

A Mourinho side has never taken that educated guess...

[Jimmy Floyd]

The last time Mourinho had unquestionably the best squad in his league was probably 2006/7.

[phonics]

You were the one who said highest budget, it's not other peoples fault he can only spend it on players from Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola and Pini Zahavi.

Mourinho features in 4 of the 10 most expensive signings of all time.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't know what the Barcelona/Real Madrid balance is but I treat them in my mind as two sides of the same bollocks corrupt franchise.

I see Michael Emenalo has quit. Farewell, we hardly knew ye.

[Mazuuurk]

You have got to hand it to Pep with this City side though, that he does seem to have gotten quite a few of these players to another level this year.

Kevin De Bruyne has essentially gone from average-talent winger to some sort of Xavi reincarnation or something, and Silva is kind of the same in that he's quite changed his game, Sterling has all of a sudden got good decision-making, Kyle Walker keeps doing actually dangerous crossing now, and even Stones is looking something like a top level defender these days.

All of these players keep going on about how Pep has changed their lives and they'd probably let him shag their wives if he wants, and noone really seems to be doing much complaining even though the team is essentially full of players who would be a week-by-week starter in any other team but gets rotated all the time in City.

So he must be doing something right in that club. Seems a bit like it was a perfect match in a way, as he has complete freedom and not a few strong Players who are more important than the manager (like Barca and possibly Bayern had).

[phonics]

De Bruyne ended his breakout season with 16 goals and 27 assists in all competitions, and was named the 2015 Footballer of the Year in Germany

'Average-talent winger'

I could do this for literally every player you mentioned but I'll just stop there.

[phonics]

David Luiz gets dropped and Emenalo gets pushed out the door the same day? No coincidence.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Somewhere at home I have one of those war room whiteboards for Chelsea internal politics, like they do in season 1 of the Wire for Barksdale, White Mike and Kintell motherfucking Williamson, but even that doesn't really clear any of it up.

The Telegraph are spinning it as 'a blow for Abramovich', presumably in the same way that if I spill coffee it's 'a blow for the table'.

[Kikó]

And he gets a little dig in about them thinking they're something towards the end. :cool:

I think it can get better for United under Corporate Mourinho. There are still a few positions where the current starters can easily be improved, and obviously making a huge attacking signing would add a new dimension (money spent since 2013 is irrelevant), so he has at least a year until any serious moaning can be directed his way; but after that he could well be under a bit of pressure.

A few... At least 6-7 positions. We've got a lot of crap in there and Woodward needs to actually get the players rather than haggle over a few million.

City are far and away better than us. If we finish top 3 it'll be a good season with that team.

[Adramelch]

Since we don't yet have a proper thread, I'll just put it here:

Manolas will be suspended against Croatia because he intentionally got a yellow card in the match against Cyprus so that he would serve a suspension in the match against Gibraltar.

The even weirder thing is that this decision was taken a few days ago, while the incident happened over a month ago. Just FIFA things I guess.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Is it in the rules that they can do that? Thick as shit from him if it is.

[Adramelch]

I don't know and most articles on the matter are in Greek sites so no unbiased sources. Presumably there's no such rule but I can't say for sure.

The question is, how do you even decide such a thing? He got a yellow card for time-wasting in a must-win game where we were 2-1 up. He clearly did it intentionally, but it just seems so sketchy.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They should appoint a Proper Football Man as an extra official at every game to adjudicate on such things, like they do in F1 with the drivers' steward.

I remember once David Beckham 'picked up' a yellow card to absorb his impending ban against Azerbaijan, and a fuss was kicked up, but I can't remember the exact whies and wherefores.

[SvN]

It reminds me of when Roy Keane's suspension was put on hold until he was match fit again.

[SvN]

They should appoint a Proper Football Man as an extra official at every game to adjudicate on such things, like they do in F1 with the drivers' steward.

I remember once David Beckham 'picked up' a yellow card to absorb his impending ban against Azerbaijan, and a fuss was kicked up, but I can't remember the exact whies and wherefores.
I think a fuss was only kicked up because he was stupid enough to admit to it in the post match interview.

[Browning]

Do yellow cards carry over to the play offs? By which I mean would a yellow in the first leg mean he missed the second? If not they should have just benched him in the last game.

[Lewis]

A few... At least 6-7 positions. We've got a lot of crap in there and Woodward needs to actually get the players rather than haggle over a few million.

City are far and away better than us. If we finish top 3 it'll be a good season with that team.

In terms of the strongest XI I would say they need four players (centre-back [unless Victor Lindelof magically comes good], left-back [same for Big Fat Luke Shaw], attacking midfielder, proper right-sided player - and those last two have to be proper mega). If they got those then it would presumably sort the depth out as well by keeping the likes of Phil Jones away from important fixtures whilst also forcing Chris Smalling out the door.

[Giggles]

Pirlo has retired. I expect we'll be to the knees in everyone's tears here within the hour.

[Magic]

Another utter, utter legend. :(

[Adramelch]

Do yellow cards carry over to the play offs? By which I mean would a yellow in the first leg mean he missed the second? If not they should have just benched him in the last game.

Pretty sure they do.

[Giggles]

Them starting to interpret these things as grey areas is a dangerous game. Either he was booked or he wasn't and it should be left at that.

[-james-]

I happened to watch the second leg of New York City FC's play-off semi final last night. They brought him on in the 89th minute with them a goal down on aggregate, he received the ball twice, massively overhit a long ball each time and then trudged off. Bit of a shame.

[niko_cee]

Moyes appointed at West 'am. Take 'em down Davey.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Gold and Sullivan really are a pair of legends. Think of the most unpopular possible appointment and do it really quickly.

[Kikó]

Alex McLeish narrowly missed out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The official statement is just amazing on so many levels.


West Ham United can confirm the appointment of David Moyes as the club’s manager.

The 54-year-old Scotsman arrives with tremendous experience and pedigree, having managed in the Premier League for 14 seasons, with eight of the last nine ending in top eight finishes.

The former Preston, Everton, Manchester United, Real Sociedad and Sunderland boss has been voted the League Managers’ Association Manager of the Year on three occasions, in 2003, 2005 and 2009, and won 10 Premier League Manager of the Month awards.

He enjoyed a magnificent eleven-year tenure at Goodison Park, leading the Toffees to the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and an FA Cup final, before being hand-picked by Sir Alex Ferguson as his successor at Manchester United in the summer of 2013.

Joint-Chairman David Sullivan said: “I would like to welcome David to West Ham United.

“This is a unique position for David Gold and myself - it is the first time in almost eight years at West Ham United that we have appointed a new manager during the season.

“We need somebody with experience, knowledge of the Premier League and the players in it, and we believe David is the right man to turn things around and get the best out of the players at the Club. He is highly regarded and respected within the game, and will bring fresh ideas, organisation and enthusiasm.

“He proved with Everton that he has great qualities and we feel that West Ham United is a Club that will give David the platform to display those qualities again.”

Born in Glasgow on April 25 1963, Moyes enjoyed a 19-year playing career that started with Scottish giants Celtic and took in spells with the likes of Cambridge United, Bristol City, Shrewsbury Town, Dunfermline Athletic and Preston North End, finishing with over 550 league appearances.

However, he had always been destined for a future in coaching – having taken his coaching badges at the age of just 22 – and when the opportunity came to step up at Preston in January 1998, the then-34-year-old began his managerial career.

After saving Preston from relegation in 1997/98, he then led them to the Division Two title in 1999/2000, before following that up by reaching the Division One play-off final the following year, when they missed out on promotion to the Premier League by a whisker.

In March 2002, Moyes took over at Everton, replacing fellow Scotsman Walter Smith. He took over the Merseyside club when they were above the relegation zone on goal difference and led them to safety with a 15th place position.

An impressive transformation of the club’s fortunes followed and they finished seventh in Moyes’ first full season in charge. In the 2004/05 campaign, Everton finished ahead of Merseyside rivals Liverpool in fourth position, their highest ever Premier League finish to date, and secured Champions League qualification as a result.

After establishing Everton as a successful Premier League side with top eight finishes in his last seven years in charge, Moyes was selected by Sir Alex Ferguson to take on the daunting challenge of replacing him at Old Trafford in May 2013.

Moyes won the Community Shield at Wembley in August – becoming the first Manchester United manager ever to win a trophy in his first season in charge, but left the club after just ten months.

In November 2014, he took over at Real Sociedad for a year-long spell in Spain’s La Liga, leading the club to a famous win over Barcelona in January 2015, before returning to the Premier League in the summer of 2016 with Sunderland, where a difficult year ended in relegation last season.

Moyes will meet his new players for the first time at Rush Green on Tuesday morning, before taking charge of the team for the trip to Watford in the Premier League on Sunday 19 November.

[phonics]

Anyone noticed that they've only given him a contract till the end of the season when it goes tits up?

[John Arne]

Kane, Winks, Alli, Henderson, Delph and Sterling withdraw from England squad. I mean, for fucks sake.

[niko_cee]

At least Henderson didn't play at the weekend (and is shit) but yeah, what's the point? Adios ranking points, hello dreadful world cup draw.

[Reg]

I mean, it could be chance, and Alli was injured for Sunday's game, but it seems a bit ridiculous. I was looking forward to this International break due to us playing Germany and Brazil rather than Malta, but that's 5 out of 11 starters gone.

[niko_cee]

Midfielders: Eric Dier (Tottenham), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Jake Livermore (West Brom), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Crystal Palace - loan from Chelsea), Ashley Young (Manchester United).

Forwards: Tammy Abraham (Swansea - loan from Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester).

:D

So bad. They may as well put the U17s out.

[phonics]

#WilshereOnThePlane

[niko_cee]

They'll probably call Lallana up to injure him again.

[phonics]

I found out the other day that Dean Ashton actually got 1.5 million out of the FA for the injury in England training that forced him to retire.

[Jimmy Floyd]

No one will withdraw from squads next year when there are UEFA Nations League points at stake.

[igor_balis]

There must be better midfielders than Livermore available, surely?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Can Claudio Yacob get a passport yet?

[Disco]

Anyone would think people don't want to play in a pointless game arranged solely to ensure there's enough money for the FA to waste on whatever bullshit they've dreamt up this week.

[John Arne]

There must be better midfielders than Livermore available, surely?

Tom Davies?

[Reg]

Butland
Keane - Stones - Cahill
Walker - Dier - Delph - Trippier
Lingard - Vardy - Rashford

Watch out Brazil :cool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

How the fuck is Diego still in the Brazil squad. Don't tell me, he gets 12 assists a year in their league which is about League One standard, and knows the right drug lord.

[Adramelch]

At least Henderson didn't play at the weekend (and is shit) but yeah, what's the point? Adios ranking points, hello dreadful world cup draw.

I might be remembering wrong, but I think the draw is off October's rankings.

[phonics]

Diego Simeone has been offerred the Everton job and the Spanish papers aren't rebuffing it immediately. Surely not.

That style of club does make more sense then him trying to turn up at a United or the like but still.

[Giggles]

Surely he has Arsenal if he wants it in the summer.

[phonics]

I don't think it'd be a great fit. Simeone is a street fighter of a manager and we're a ballet class of a team.

I also think he'd get owned in England due to the language barrier.

[Giggles]

Oh yeah, it'd probably be terrible but he'd walk into it if he wants it.

[Mazuuurk]

I don't think it'd be a great fit. Simeone is a street fighter of a manager and we're a ballet class of a team.

I also think he'd get owned in England due to the language barrier.

Always seemed like that was exactly the kind of manager Arsenal needed (as also it would inevitably lead to some sort of reckoning in the Arsenal Instagram Club ranks).

[Jimmy Floyd]

Simeone is the gypo's gypo, so Liverpool would be a very apt home city for him and if the money's right then why not.

[Magic]

I don't think it'd be a great fit. Simeone is a street fighter of a manager and we're a ballet class of a team.

What the fuck. :D

[niko_cee]

I was going to query whether England were really going into these games with the midfielders and attackers previously listed, but, never fear, I see Jack Cork has been called up.

:cab:

Suck on that "The Ox" et al.

[John Arne]

Keisuke Honda :drool:

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