Festive Fixtures ft Arse-Liv on a Friday night, El Clasico, Boxing Day & Milan derby

[Reg]

http://www.live-footballontv.com - more live on TV.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/championship/scores-fixtures - Championship.

Friday 22nd
Arsenal 19:45 Liverpool (Sky)

Saturday 23rd
Everton 12:30 Chelsea (Sky Sports)
Brighton 15:00 Watford
Man City 15:00 Bournemouth
Southampton 15:00 Huddersfield
Stoke 15:00 West Brom
Swansea 15:00 Crystal Palace
West Ham 15:00 Newcastle
Burnley 17:30 Spurs (BT)
Leicester 19:45 Man Utd (Sky)

Real Madrid 12:00 Barcelona (Sky Sports Mix)
Kilmarnock 12:30 Rangers (BT)
Aston Villa 17:30 Sheffield Utd (Sky)
Juventus 19:45 Roma (BT)

Tuesday 26th - Boxing Day
Spurs 12:30 Southampton (Sky)
Bournemouth 15:00 West Ham
Chelsea 15:00 Brighton
Huddersfield 15:00 Stoke
Man Utd 15:00 Burnley
Watford 15:00 Leicester
West Brom 15:00 Everton
Liverpool 17:30 Swansea (Sky)

Dundee 12:30 Celtic (BT)
Burton 15:00 Leeds (Sky)
Brentford 19:30 Aston Villa (Sky)
Lazio 20:00 Fiorentina (Cup QF) (Sky Red Button)

Wednesday 27th
Newcastle 19:45 Man City (Sky)

Hearts 19:45 Hibernian (Sky)
Milan 19:45 Inter (Cup QF) (Sky Red Button)

Thursday 28th
Crystal Palace 20:00 Arsenal (Sky)

[Mazuuurk]

Arsenals fixtures are weird. First in the first round and last in the second round.

[Kikó]

I think we are going to drop points against Leicester and mourinho will say something ridiculous to deflect.

Massive game really considering the last defeat.

[igor_balis]

I think we're getting 0 points from 6 and going down.

[niko_cee]

Hopefully Swansea won't have been able to shuffle Tony Pulis and his two banks of five in before the game on Boxing Day (I know they're not interested, but that's what they always say, oi oi etc).

[Magic]

Fucking hell we're on Sky on boxing day at fucking Burton?! WTF!

[Disco]

Why are people so obsessed with Ryan Giggs getting the Swansea job when it would be the most brainless appointment imaginable.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Because he's famous and used to play for Manchester United.

[Ian]

Famous, yes, but his Welshness is more of a motivator for these particular rumours than the Unitedness.

Generally speaking the press will wet their pants harder when some of the Lolden Age of English football are looking at management jobs. Terry, Gerrard, Lampard.... I dunno if any of the United lot from that time would do anything other than get laughed out of the room unless they were being interviewed by the Class of '92. Imagine a serious club taking on Rooney as a manager.

[Lewis]

If club legends want to manage the first team then they are better off going the Steven Gerrard route and hoping that the opportunity to binman their way into permanent manager status presents itself (as it did at Barcelona and Madrid). It might not be the case for Liverpool, but probably Chelsea, and certainly United, will never hire somebody from a small [domestic] team ever again, so unless Ryan Giggs won the league with Swansea (or John Terry with Brentford) he would still be a million miles away from the job he craves. With that in mind, any high-profile ex-player would be much better off taking the five million quid a year on offer to talk shit on BT/Sky than actually having to work for a living.

[-james-]

Saturday 23rd
Leicester 19:45 Man Utd (Sky)



:eek:

[Jimmy Floyd]

The last manager we hired from domestic was Glenn Hoddle.

[Kikó]

Are you going tomorrow Waffdon ?

[Mazuuurk]

:eek:

Was thinking that too.

It's quite glorious, the more they are stretching the weekends out really :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

I want every game 15:00 and only one of them has cameras at it. The good old days.

[Mazuuurk]

Of course you do :console:

[Jimmy Floyd]

The best way to experience a game is to read a 300 word match report in the paper the day after. 'Norwegian import Leonhardsen was unable to change the scoreline with a rasping 25-yard drive, turned over the bar by the fingertips of Segers. Ron Atkinson was pleased with the draw, however, saying afterwards: 'It's a learning curve for the lads'.'

Better still, actually, just seeing the result buried in tiny print on the full page of all results, while you are bored on a Sunday morning waiting for your dad to come back from the dump, and then screw up your eyes to read a really badly written league table with loads of dots and no position numbers on it.

Leeds..............21-14-3-4-38-12-45
Aston Villa......21-11-6-4-34-14-39
etc.

The Vauxhall Conference. Enfield nil, Stevenage Borough nil. Woking one, Northwich Victoria one. Ten score draws, one no score draw. Next on Grandstand: rugby, and it's Bath versus Orrell.

[Kikó]

And that's why I voted brexit.

[Disco]

When did Ron Atkinson ever manage Leonhardsen or Segers?

[Jimmy Floyd]

He probably didn't.

[Mazuuurk]

Jimmy do you refuse to use a Smart Phone because you think there's "nothing Smart about it" by any chance?

[Kikó]

Jimmy posts on here of his Amstrad. British values.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Amstrad? Isn't that immigrant machinery? I write my posts out on a typewriter, fax them to my stockbroker, and he dictates them to the lady at the telephone exchange.

[Lewis]

This (https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DRolJ3wWAAAiD9G.jpg) bit of Ryan Giggs' interview is a bit weird. How does he think 'Pep' and Zinedine Zidane got their starts?

[Kikó]

Apparently there is some truthiness in Giggs comment regarding umbop and Jesus. Give it giggseh till the end of the season.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The first sign of a bullshitter is when they use phrases like 'I know what a Manchester United player looks like'.

[Kikó]

He's probably right but he's a massive turd who doesn't deserve anything.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I saw van Gaal linked with the Swansea job. Well I say that, I assume it was him, because there was a clickbait headline which I didn't click onto saying 'Former Man Utd boss linked with Swansea'. I assume it must be Louis, as Ron Atkinson is still in prison, Tommy Docherty's getting on a bit, and whilst I'm sure Fergie is after a new challenge it would be a curious move for him.

[Lewis]

Apparently there is some truthiness in Giggs comment regarding umbop and Jesus. Give it giggseh till the end of the season.

Yeah, but five million each sounds a bit optimistic. Gabriel Jesus already had a thirty million release clause three years ago, and given that Kylian Mbappe effectively replaced Anthony Martial at Monaco, I reckon they would have conned a similar fee out of any club coming in for him. With that in mind, the club passing over on them doesn't seem all that stupid.

[Mazuuurk]

I would assume pretty much all of the Top Clubs have a pretty decent idea about all the best 16-or-so-year-olds around in Europe and all have scouted them once or twice.

Whatever compels them to sign some and not others, I've no idea.

[John Arne]

A fair few empty seats at the Emirates.

[-james-]

Jack Wilshere is a gonner.

[phonics]

Can't believe a guy who's never played left back left Salah unmarked on the counter.

[Mike]

Even his headers are full of flair!

[John Arne]

Wilshere will start England's first game at the World Cup.

[phonics]

Jon feeling burnt after I won on the Euros.

[-james-]

Laurent Koscielny is also a gonner.

[John]

Salah should have a hat trick already.

[phonics]

Laurent Koscielny is also a gonner.
This one is true. His Achilles are dead.

[Boydy]

Streaming is absolutely fucking shite these days, isn't it? There's only ever about two streams on reddit for games I want to see these days and they probably only work for about ten minutes each. FFS.

[John Arne]

Acestream continues to work as great as ever.

[Boydy]

Yeah but I've read it's meant to be dodgy as fuck.

[Mike]

Streaming is absolutely fucking shite these days, isn't it? There's only ever about two streams on reddit for games I want to see these days and they probably only work for about ten minutes each. FFS.
The Acestream links on reddit are normally fine, just download the player and paste the link in.

[Boydy]

Fuck it, downloaded it. Who cares. Seems to be working pretty well.

[Foe]

That's a howler from Mig Nolet.

[John Arne]

Does Ming know that he can use both hands? Useless twat.

[Mike]

We could end up letting a load in now, it’s the Liverpool way.

[Mike]

See :(

[Boydy]

Yeah, that was fucking useless. Just as I was thinking recently that Mignolet had put his stupidity behind him.

[-james-]

Alright then.

[John]

Lovren must be the worst twenty five million ever spent in any arena.

[Boydy]

Jesus fucking christ.

[John Arne]

Why can't any of our midfielders position themselves as a holding midfielder? They offer no support to the back 4 at all.

[Dark Soldier]

Why can't any of our midfielders position themselves as a holding midfielder? They offer no support to the back 4 at all.

Because Klopp can't do shit bar make the front three or four play well. He's fucking hopeless at the rest of it.

[Mike]

Remember when Mane was amazing. I’d sub him off here.

[John]

This game is wild.

[John Arne]

Arsenal's defenders are even worse than ours.

[John Arne]

Remember when Mane was amazing. I’d sub him off here.

Yeah, he's becoming so incredibly frustrating.

[Boydy]

Who's co-commentating on Sky?

[Mike]

Carragher

[Jimmy Floyd]

I hope Liverpool fans are aware this is as good as it'll get with Klopp. If he could organise a defence he'd have done it by now.

Stupid game played by two god awful sides. Whoever is in Arsenal's midfield (Wilshere? Xhaka?) need an injection from the vet.

[Giggles]

Was he this much of a chancer at Dortmund?

[Disco]

There's only two and a half decent teams in that league, he didn't have to be any good.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He had Hummels and Subotic over there who, at the time, were world class and certainly much better than the mongs he has assembled here.

Nothing wrong with the attack but it only gets you so far.

[Jimmy Floyd]

On another note, this was a good article earlier and makes an interesting observation about how Sean Dyche has got rid of all the black players and non-English speakers.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/burnley-brexit-britishness-sean-dyche-premier-league-most-interesting-project-a8124456.html

[Lewis]

Brendan 'Brendan' Rodgers > Jurgen 'Jurgen Klopp' Klopp

[niko_cee]

What's the record for 3-3s in a season?


I hope Liverpool fans are aware this is as good as it'll get with Klopp. If he could organise a defence he'd have done it by now.


:D

Who would it be 'better' under?

I know Waff waxes lyrical about him, but Robertson might be even worse than Moreno defensively. Those crosses and attacking runs though. :drool:

It's a shame Mané has gone to complete shite. I blame me having drafted him in the fantasy thing.

Mignolet is such a spastic.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Pulis or Jacques Santini.

Personally I like Klopp, but Fenway will tire of him in the end.

[niko_cee]

Maybe so, but they won't be any better off for having done so.

And, as was the case with Dortmund, personnel make a huge difference. Liverpool are never going to shut games down under Klopp (what a dreadful thought anyway) but that doesn't mean they have to have a band of inexperienced youngsters, relegation pick-ups, journeymen and seasoned fuckwits in defence. It just happens they do at the moment. That said, buying some idiot for £70m isn't going to be a magic bullet either.

People forget they have played the entire season without their only passable defender from recent seasons (Clyne) as well.

[Guybrush]

1 defeat in 19. We are utter shite.

[Ian]

Remember when Mane was amazing. I’d sub him off here.

Wait, Sadio "Awesome Every Fifth Game" Mane isn't proving to be a consistent game winner? Huh. Weird.

[Lewis]

Reading back two years ago, it was only me, John, and mokkers calling him a whopper. Not that we even needed insight (which is what it was) when this (https://twitter.com/BVB/status/652219055940747264) was happening.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I just went looking around the European tables to find out who the good managers are I haven't heard of/don't know their work well, but it's another year of utter dredgery isn't it. All the 'big five' titles are over before Christmas, except Italy.

Bayern have recovered from that shitty start to be 11 points clear of Schalke, who have a 32 year old in charge who looks like a genuine pervert. I suppose there's that bloke at Hoffenheim, but come off it, he must be the new AVB, empty bottles of schnapps and all.

Italy has Sarri at Napoli, but they made a spectacular arse of the Champions League and his previous record of spending 25 years scooting around the boot in a Fiat 500 doesn't suggest there is much in him. Inter have that bald twat who used to manage Roma, and Roma have someone who looks like Jarvis Cocker but might actually be a goer based on his record.

France isn't even a league, although Claudio Ranieri has taken Nantes to fifth in classic fashion which is lol. Simeone has been at Atletico for too long (they will go back to being shit once he leaves) and I think would really struggle outside a Latin culture, and that goon at Valencia has Juande Ramos written all over him. Probably the next Barcelona bin man anyway.

So there you are.

Marcelino
Sarri
Di Francesco
Hoffenheim child
Sean Dyche

Next Liverpool manager. One of them probably next Chelsea manager as well.

[Lewis]

Smallpockets DOWN
David Moyes UP

[Baz]

Just watched it now- shocking on quite a few levels. Hopefully that’s the last time we see Mignolet with his gloves on, at least. Robertson and Lovren possibly aren’t even footballers. Without Salah, Coutinho & Firmino we’d be about as good as Everton - possibly worse.

Also googled Kelly Cates; can’t believe she’s 42.

[phonics]

Went out for a cigarette at 2-0 after we'd been awful the whole time and came back to see us 3-2 up only for us to be awful the rest of the time. We are absolutely rotten to the core.

[Waffdon]

Went out for a cigarette at 2-0 after we'd been awful the whole time and came back to see us 3-2 up only for us to be awful the rest of the time. We are absolutely rotten to the core.

How slow are you at smoking?

[phonics]

5 minutes?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Rooney out 'ill' / pissed.

Hudson-Odoi on the bench, shit just got real.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Big Sam's just said there's a 'shortage of talent worldwide'. Interesting take.

[Disco]

My new favourite game (taking over from counting how many starting players have numbers outside the proper 1-11 range) is seeing which teams have the most double barrelled names that could also be Wiltshire villages. For example, is Compton-Dando a charming village on the river Chew or is he lining up for Palace on Boxing Day?

[Baz]

Rooney out 'ill' / pissed.

Hudson-Odoi on the bench, shit just got real.Mad Friday innit.

[John Arne]

Rooney out 'ill' / pissed.

Hudson-Odoi on the bench, shit just got real.

Apparently half the Everton team have the shits/man flu.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Midday clasico has taken me by surprise, as has Barcelona playing four four fucking two.

[John Arne]

:D

https://gyazo.com/2cc7cb48c8fee2f6de5ccc67ae4cbed5.gif

[Jimmy Floyd]

The home end looks like a Klan rally.

[Bernanke]

This is pretty entertaining.

[John]

The home end looks like a Klan rally.

Flicked over for a second to see this and fucking hell. :D That end of the ground looks like a lost Rothko.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ah good, we've triggered the Goodison Seethe on about the 20 minute mark by Victor diving over their bomb scare of a left back.

[niko_cee]

Good to see some proper management bringing the football back down to earth with a bump.

[John]

I'd somehow missed Youssuf Mulumbu signing for Kilmarnock. He's about three levels above this league.

[Kikó]

I'm off to Tannadice in a minute for the massive 2nd v 4th fixture against Livingston.

[Waffdon]

Enjoy, Shagger.

Hazard is too good for the majority of his teammates.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This is dreadful fare. We have the best individual attacking dynamo in the league, but everyone around him is a twonk.

EDIT: High five, Woff.

[niko_cee]

Always nice to see Franco's boys take a beating.

[Magic]

I'm off to Tannadice in a minute for the massive 2nd v 4th fixture against Livingston.

You're a more legitimate fan than Waff.

[Weaver]

Nice to see Carvajal channeling his inner Steven Taylor there.

Barca could end up getting a few more from here, Madrid are struggling.

[Waffdon]

You're a more legitimate fan than Waff.

Don’t really do hone games anymore. Being hungover every Saturday doesn’t help.

[Raoul Duke]

Madrid getting molested here. Who do they bring in when they knee-jerk and fire Zidane?

[Kikó]

You're a more legitimate fan than Waff.

Mate, I've even got a scarf.

https://i.imgur.com/JsmUdzu.jpg

[Waffdon]

Arabtrust. Get in the sea, you nonce.

[Kikó]

You want some?

[niko_cee]

Aitor Karanka.

[Magic]

Manchester/London/Newport-on-Tay (for the Welsh and English among us) is far more Dundonian than fucking Carnoustie.

[Waffdon]

Manchester/London/Newport-on-Tay (for the Welsh and English among us) is far more Dundonian than fucking Carnoustie.

I only live there. Just like you live in Broughty Ferry. Dick.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Victor Moses continually refusing to go on the outside of Cuco Martina has ruined Christmas for me.

[Waffdon]

Hazard needs to move to Spain as soon as possible and get a record amount of red cards given for fouls against him.

[Magic]

I only live there. Just like you live in Broughty Ferry. Dick.

:(

[Reg]

Real look like a classic case of a team lacking motivation after winning everything.

All the big teams might be able to put everything into Europe if the leagues are pretty much wrapped up by March.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bakayoko has got worse with every appearance for us. Not sure he really knows what he is as a footballer.

[-james-]

I refuse to believe Zappacosta isn't just some guy that runs a pizzeria in Naples.

[Jimmy Floyd]

lol at how much the Evertonians are up for a fortuitous 0-0 at home to third place (they're 9th).

Our problem this year is routinely not scoring enough goals. Hard to think who you change though. Probably need more dynamism from midfield.

[Waffdon]

Chelsea’s team is full of some proper mediocre, mid table players.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Chelsea’s team is full of some proper mediocre, mid table players.

Same players pissed the league last year, although that was before every man and his dog was playing 3-4-3.

Moses was infuriating in that game, at least crapper crosser was taking on his man.

[niko_cee]

32% possession, no shots on target, merry christmas from Big Sam's school of science.

Chelsea are absolute dross as well.

[Jimmy Floyd]

32% possession, no shots on target, merry christmas from Big Sam's school of science.

Chelsea are absolute dross as well.

I thought we looked somewhat there for the taking defensively, surprised they didn't go for it more second half. Still, respect the point and all that.

[niko_cee]

I believe he actually said that (exact words) in the post match chit chat.

Your boys are getting turned over on Boxing Day as well.

[Magic]

Poocastle. :harold:

[igor_balis]

I'd somehow missed Youssuf Mulumbu signing for Kilmarnock. He's about three levels above this league.

In my 20ish years of supporting west brom he's definitely in my favourite 5 or so players. Speaking of which, Mulumbu in his prime would be priceless to us now. We're definitely going down.

[Kikó]

Dundee United's second goal was lovely. Back to front passing move.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why are there two clubs in Dundee? What is the dividing line?

[Magic]

Tim/Prod, the same line that divides every two club city.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Which one are the Catholics?

[Magic]

Dundee FC were the original team, I believe they didn't sign any Catholic players (initially). Dundee Hibs were formed afterwards by priests (or some Catholic people) to cater for the large Irish community. They folded (I think) and then United was born. I think then the line disappeared and it just became a local rivalry but initially it certainly was religious.

[Magic]

I'd like to clarify as well you never really get any sectarian bullshit now, and we hate both SELLICK and The Rangers equally, disgusting West coast scum cunts.

[Kikó]

Why are there two clubs in Dundee? What is the dividing line?

It's amazing that both stadiums are about 50m from each other.

The attacking players United have are actually decent. They're nice to watch.

[Shindig]

Hang on. I've just got in and seen the score. Saivet scored for us!?

[Waffdon]

I'd like to clarify as well you never really get any sectarian bullshit now, and we hate both SELLICK and The Rangers equally, disgusting West coast scum cunts.

Up the Ra

[Magic]

Another one for you Keeki.

[Shindig]

Phew. Pity we've got City next. :moop:

[mugbull]

I've been getting into a bad habit of half-watching every game I watch, so that over the course of 90 minutes I remember about 4 or 5 things that happened and definitely don't know why things happened. Lazy shit. Anyway, today is the dawn of a new day and I'll be watching Tottenham-Burnley intently, split-screen, providing commentary on the action as it happens

[mugbull]

THFC: Lloris (C), Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Sissoko, Eriksen, Dele, Son, Kane

Sanchez is back but Poch still starting Dele over Lamela. Hmmm nahh. He'll probably come on at minute 60 when it's still 0-0

[mugbull]

No i fucked up it's Dele Alli, not just Dele. Your dad being absent doesn't absolve you of the responsibility of having two names

[mugbull]

The streams are shit. Lookin like this may be tougher than expected

[niko_cee]

The game's probably going to be shit too so I wouldn't worry.

[Disco]

2e436502ac6622eb97aa7e53e773c04c38135325
81798947da7b89e57e7a6243bb0f15560e8e3444

Both stable for me, second one is slightly lower quality.

[mugbull]

BT's color commentator sounds like he's crying

[mugbull]

2e436502ac6622eb97aa7e53e773c04c38135325
81798947da7b89e57e7a6243bb0f15560e8e3444

Both stable for me, second one is slightly lower quality.

Are those acestreams? Never got around to getting the software, is it worth?

[Kikó]

Yes.

[Giggles]

The streams are shit. Lookin like this may be tougher than expected

Tougher for who? Aren't Burnley higher in the table?

[mugbull]

Tougher for who? Aren't Burnley higher in the table?

Tougher for me to provide a fun yet insightful commentary on the football match

[Giggles]

Tougher for me to provide a fun yet insightful commentary on the football match

Insightful. Now I know you're joking.

[mugbull]

Insightful. Now I know you're joking.

I ain't no reg but I appreciate the angles

[niko_cee]

I wonder if the diving panel convene over Christmas.

[mugbull]

I wonder if the diving panel convene over Christmas.

Not a dive

[Disco]

Are those acestreams? Never got around to getting the software, is it worth?

Well it's free and it's more consistent than web streams.

[mugbull]

Well it's free and it's more consistent than web streams.

I'll fuckin download it all at HT mate


I really hope Dele Alli scores a beaut today, their boos are too extra

[mugbull]

Fuckin Aurier, he does this all the time

[mugbull]

Ok I'll calm down on the one-line reaction posts, I'm not being too insightful out here. Might do a HT wrap up

[niko_cee]

I really hope Dele Alli scores a beaut today

He's more likely to be sent off and/or be retrospectively banned for deception as I have him in my fantasy team.

[mugbull]

He'll be sent off too, don't worry mate.

[Magic]

Acestream is ace.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That should be their slogan.

[mugbull]

They're there for the taking and we're just fucking shit up left and right.

[mugbull]

Oh Sonny boy

[Magic]

Meelan getting fucked again at home. :harold:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Aston Villa game is a belter, features the most egregious first rule refereeing performance I've seen for a long time (you know those ones when both teams start baying for it and they just stand motionless and stop making any decisions at all), and Mile Jedinak putting in a turn at centre half so incompetent that Steve Bruce must surely be sacked for fielding him there.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

944641886492512256

https://www.dairycouncil.co.uk/assets/generated/gallery/c81d9715bcbb34620e21d36825a906a5.jpg

[Jimmy Floyd]

Reading up on Milan, it really is an absolute mess. They may have money now but there is much more money elsewhere and this will be five straight years they haven't qualified for Europe.

[Weaver]

Hang on. I've just got in and seen the score. Saivet scored for us!?

Saivet AND Diamé scored, with Chrissy Atsu scoring the third and assisting the other two :cool:

[Giggles]

I don't know who any of those are but I'll guess Newcastle or West Ham?

[Samadini]

Saivet AND Diamé scored, with Chrissy Atsu scoring the third and assisting the other two :cool:

The side is so much better with Atsu in it. He's not even that good, but he's capable of making some impact on games, which you can't really say about many of the other players in the squad. So much better than bloody Gouffran.

[Magic]

Reading up on Milan, it really is an absolute mess. They may have money now but there is much more money elsewhere and this will be five straight years they haven't qualified for Europe.

They don't have money...

[Jimmy Floyd]

They had a net spend of £150 million in the summer, that is having money. They seem to have spent it largely on retards, and now hired a shit manager on his player reputation, but that's beside the point.

[Waffdon]

Horrific defending but that’s brilliant from Mahrez.

[niko_cee]

I can only imagine how angry conceding that sort of goal makes Mourinho.

[Ian]

Excellent stuff.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He's got his Malcolm Tucker bollocking face on.

[niko_cee]

Was it Lindelof just sauntering back? He'll never play again.

[Shindig]

The side is so much better with Atsu in it. He's not even that good, but he's capable of making some impact on games, which you can't really say about many of the other players in the squad. So much better than bloody Gouffran.

He runs. Sometimes with purpose. Basically the whole reason I liked Sissoko.

[phonics]

They had a net spend of £150 million in the summer, that is having money. They seem to have spent it largely on retards, and now hired a shit manager on his player reputation, but that's beside the point.

Borrowed from a hedge fund that'll take over the club if they don't get into the CL this year.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mata :drool:

I love it when he turns up.

[niko_cee]

That's gone in the middle of the goal.

[Waffdon]

Keep Rashford off set pieces 2k17!

[Foe]

That's gone in the middle of the goal.

Aye. I think a decent keeper should save that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That might be the best pass that Lukaku has ever produced.

Shame Lingard fluffed it.

[Waffdon]

That’s so bad hahahahah

Identical to Torres in his Chelsea days.

[Lewis]

It wasn't that much of a howler with the defender closing in.

[Ian]

Two great passes from Lukaku.

[Magic]

Monk sacked. :harold:

[Lewis]

This would be 10-0 without idiots.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That Amartey red card rings some serious match fixing alarm bells.

[Waffdon]

Poor Lukaku tonight.

[Waffdon]

It wasn't that much of a howler with the defender closing in.

Alright, RL. It was an open goal. It was pathetic.

[Baz]

:lol:

[Waffdon]

That’s some cross.

[Ian]

What a load of nonsense.

[Magic]

:D!!!

Excellent.

[Lewis]

If he puts it into the middle of the open goal then it gives the defender the best possible chance of stopping it, and then everyone lols at him for not putting it in the bottom corner. Nobody since Mark Hughes whacks those into the top corner, so he tried to do the right thing.

[Reg]

Half of the season gone and one point off 10th. Hughton's bossed this. If Gross doesn't score/assist, we don't score. He's got to be the bargain of the season.

United were good there in the main. Just couldn't finish. They've all had a mare allowing a player struggling to walk continue at centre back.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The ref will be sobbing into his United duvet cover tonight.

The fourth place thing has lost its lustre now everyone has all the money and no one watches European games, so the only things left on the Premier League season are relegation, and individual NARRATIVEs. Long may they reign.

[Giggles]

The ref will be sobbing into his United duvet cover tonight.

The fourth place thing has lost its lustre now everyone has all the money and no one watches European games, so the only things left on the Premier League season are relegation, and individual NARRATIVEs. Long may they reign.

This (the second part) couldn't be more true. Europe means fuck all now and when you've a team a cert for the league it's as boring as absolute fuck.

[Kikó]

Dreadful from united. The game was there to be won and if they weren't such feckless idiots then it would have been a 3/4/5 goal to 1 game. The Smalling situation was farcical.

[mugbull]

Huh? Since when does Europe not matter?

[Jimmy Floyd]

It matters in footballing terms, but ten years ago it was everything to clubs because of money and status. The TV deal has diminished its importance.

[Max Power]

Harry Maguire is such a big beautiful boy :wub::wub:

[SvN]

I'm definitely seething my tits off. I can't remember the last time I was so livid with a football result.

[niko_cee]

Hadn't realised Leicester had equalised until I just caught the end of it on MotD.

lol

[Jimmy Floyd]

My mum was SEETHING because me, my dad and my brother were all watching it, and apparently Christmas means you have to stop watching things you're interested in and talk to her about her friends who are functioning alcoholics, so we turned it off at 90+1 to stop her tantrum from going nuclear. Tragic scenes.

[mugbull]

It matters in footballing terms, but ten years ago it was everything to clubs because of money and status. The TV deal has diminished its importance.

I really doubt spectators take the CL less seriously because of the Premier League TV deal, and as a result I also doubt the club management does

[Shindig]

It's definitely the case for the Europa League, though.

https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=2493323.html#/

Just some info on prize money. Clubs make bank off Europe but the idea of Thursday night footy seems to get up some people's skirts. And it looks like gate receipts eclipses any prize money you'd get from UEFA.

[mugbull]

Yeah, it makes sense that the second-rate club competition would be less popular, but that's mostly true for the teams that expect to be in the CL. For the other ones it's a big deal.

[Shindig]

Aye, unless their squad is small and they can't deal with two games a week. I fucking love Europe in all it's forms. Can't wait to get back their under our new owner Mike Ash Lee.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I really doubt spectators take the CL less seriously because of the Premier League TV deal, and as a result I also doubt the club management does

No but it means they don't need the money from being in it, which they used to.

This season I think we'll see the English five throwing everything at it though, as the league title is over.

[niko_cee]

It still matters to the extent that it allows clubs like Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool to attract a 'higher calibre of player' in the all important transfer market, which usually means overpaying for some overrated shithead rather than scouting anyone properly. All hail the market!

That said, it also probably represents the best chance that tier of club has of winning a major trophy (slim, versus none for the league title).

[Lewis]

The clubs (even United) still need it insofar as Adidas or whoever want it, so never getting into it again would hurt, but ten years ago missing out for a year was seen as setting you back five, which isn't the case now. The fact Milan have banked everything on it is proper small time.

[Lewis]

lol at Ander Herrera telling Phil Jones to do one when he told him to cover at right-back. Well done Jones, who sounds like future captain material (for England as well?), but matey is obviously playing for a move - Alex Ferguson would have given him Christmas with his family and then had him killed - and it all suddenly makes sense.

[Reg]

Mourinho should be blamed for the Smalling cockup too. He could have easily repositioned players when Smalling sat down and the game stopped.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Herrera could get a move to Barcelona I think, not because he's good enough but because their current binman will know him and he's the type of player (non-Castilian, but a shithead and fills the homegrown spots) that Barcelona would sign.

[Kikó]

I hope he gets a move soon because he's a completely ineffective player every time he comes on. But then taking an attacking player off for a defensive one is pure Mourinho.

[Lewis]

The players tried to re-position themselves and Herrera didn't want to. Short of running on and telling him off any manager is slightly powerless in that situation.

[Kikó]

Yeah and at the same time, there is no reason to bring Herrera or the Albanian on.

[Yevrah]

You don't sound like you're a huge fan of Mourinho Kiks?

[Lewis]

The only other substitutions he could have made were Marcos Rojo/Luke Shaw, but that would be NEGATIVE and we would be drowning in tears.

[Kikó]

Or you don't make a sub. It's not compulsory. We were controlling the game with the front four all playing well.

I'm not against Mourinho Yev, I think he made a few mistakes yesterday but it's probably because he thinks the majority of his team are idiots.

[Lewis]

They weren't unreasonable substitutions with all the fixture congestion. If they play like dickheads when they come on then you're probably shit out regardless.

[Reg]

The players tried to re-position themselves and Herrera didn't want to. Short of running on and telling him off any manager is slightly powerless in that situation.
That was before the pause in play. Mourinho could clearly tell them what to do when Smalling's having a sit down for two minutes.

Herrera is a decent squad player I think. But at the moment he's third choice behind Matic and Pogba which is probably one step too high.

[Kikó]

They weren't unreasonable substitutions with all the fixture congestion. If they play like dickheads when they come on then you're probably shit out regardless.

I think you win the game before retreating.

The players are clearly unable to organise themselves.

[niko_cee]

I thought Herrera was supposed to be good? I guess that was before Mourinho came in and made United great again.

[SvN]

He was great last season. He's been appalling this season.

[Kikó]

He's really been below average this season. Doesn't really attack or defend very well and is really good at pointing and crap fouling.

[Shindig]

Just seen the highlights of our game. Could've finished 5-3 to us. Diame's finish looked lucky to find the net. He just toe-poked it like he was trying to land a conversion.

[Yevrah]

Yesterday's (65+) edition of the Sunday Supplement was a thing of wonder.

[John Arne]

L'Equipe's description of Burnely is a bit weird...



“Formed with 80% British players and 100% white players, Burnley is the surprise team of the season. 40 kilo-meters north of Manchester, everything is from another century.
Burnley’s team photo is such a programme. Guys with short hair, flattened noses, big ears, ready to fight, who seems to announce their style of play on Saturday afternoon and their lifestyle as Saturday night. There is no single black player in the squad of the 7th-ranked in Premier League, coached by a ginger English-man Sean Dyche (46 years old). And it’s as difficult to believe that’s premonition*as it’s coincidence.

In fact, there was a coloured*player in the early season photo, Daniel Agyei, and he was loaned to Walsall. That’s not why he was loaned, of course, but so goes Burnley FC, a team that looks like the city, a northern enclave forty kilometers from Manchester, which voted 70% for Brexit , which had been the breeding ground of strong racial tension, in 2001.”

[Magic]

Fucking hell. :D

The 'that's not why he was loaned out of course' had me.

[Danny]

Nahki Wells must be delighted to know he is white now.

[John Arne]

I watched the PSG youth team this season, 10 of the 11 were black. Racist fucks.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Tendayi Darikwa? Or has he been sold?

[Lewis]

I watched the PSG youth team this season, 10 of the 11 were black. Racist fucks.

My uncle has two kids with a woman who had a pre-existing mixed-race kid, and he's supposed to be mega at football because he's bigger and faster than every other ten year old in a fifty mile radius. He's never met his black dad (what really?!), and apparently doesn't even know what a half 'n' half is, which - depending on your view - is pretty sweet/weird.

[Pleb]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42484704

:cool:

[Baz]

Monk to Swansea?

[Shindig]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42484704

:cool:

I can get behind that.

[Kikó]

FC united v class of 92 later. Should be a good game.

[Pleb]

VAR would of had a field day if they disallowed Kane's second goal there.

Good strike though. Southampton are on the ropes.

[Waffdon]

Harry Kane is incredible.

[Giggles]

Harry Kane is incredible.

Will he score when it matters in a game vs a big team though?

[Kikó]

On a mild pleasant evening in Madrid.

[Giggles]

On a mild pleasant evening in Madrid.

In real proper league games though. The CL is just an interesting sideshow for most clubs.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lloris is so shit.

[Pleb]

Tottenham are so shit.
Fixed.

[-james-]

Chris Sutton isn't sure about centre forwards that wear gloves.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The revelation that trackies are banned under the Sean Dyche regime, never mind gloves and hats, was an interesting one.

[Dark Soldier]

We're the best team in the world :happycry:

[Kikó]

Banging free kick for the second. Bit unlucky to be losing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sounds like the same thing that happened to us on the first day of the season.

[Dark Soldier]

I like how we've brought Ibra in to do the Rooney role

[Kikó]

I really wish it was possible to brutally murder 90% of the squad.

[Dark Soldier]

De Gea, Pogba, Bailly and Rashford/Martial (the latter when he's not having continuous brainfarts) are the only ones I give a shit about. Matic has dropped off a cliff, lovely stuff.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Azpi to Morata again, what a pair of legends.

[phonics]

Can Eden Hazard fucking do something? I've had the cunt every week apart from the two he actually contributed.