[Football] Weekend Fixtures ft. North London derby (Fri 9th - Mon 12th February)

[Reg]

Have some time so I'll get this done early.

http://www.live-footballontv.com for others including some on FreeSports and more on Sky Sports Mix.

Friday 19:45
Millwall v Cardiff - Sky
Fiorentina v Juventus - BT

Saturday 15:00 (unless stated)
Spurs v Arsenal - 12:30 BT
Everton v Crystal Palace
Stoke v Brighton
Swansea v Burnley
West Ham v Watford
Man City v Leicester - 17:30 Sky

Celtic v Partick (Cup) - 12:15 BBC1 Scotland
Sheffield Utd v Leeds Utd - 12:30 Sky
Dagenham & Redbridge v Aldershot - 17:30 BT
Napoli v Lazio - 19:45 BT
Real Madrid v Real Sociedad - 19:45 Sky

Sunday
Huddersfield v Bournemouth - 12:00 BT
Newcastle v Man Utd - 14:15 Sky
Southampton v Liverpool - 16:30 Sky

Aston Villa v Birmingham - 12:00 Sky
Inter v Bologna - 14:00 BT
Ayr Utd v Rangers (Cup) - 14:30 Sky
Barcelona v Getafe - 15:15 Sky Sports Mix
Aberdeen v Dundee Utd (Cup) - 16:30 Sky
Roma v Benevento - 19:45 BT
Valencia v Levante - 19:45 Sky

Monday 20:00
Chelsea v West Brom - Sky

[Reg]

Quite interesting: 'The Premier League's central problem: the role of midfield controller' https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2018/feb/07/pogba-ramsey-epitomise-struggles-central-midfielder

Fancy our chances against Stoke. Davy Propper's been talking up our ability to play in the wind.

[Lewis]

I would have said Nemanja Matic is the United 'controller', but then you wouldn't have an article.

[CJay]

Yeah, strange to include Ramsey in that too I think. His problem is that he’s a goalcoring midfielder? Maybe manager’s should just set their teams up properly.

[SincereTheRebel]

Play ramsey and wilshere as the two in midfield wenger you fairy. Drop xhaka. Its not like he is a good defensive midfielder anyway. You lose nothing without him.

[SincereTheRebel]

TOTTENHAM TEAM NEWS

Starting XI: Lloris, Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Son, Eriksen, Alli, Kane.

Subs: Vorm, Aurier, Rose, Wanyama, Sissoko, Lamela, Moura.

ARSENAL TEAM NEWS

Starting XI: Cech, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Elneny, Xhaka, Wilshere, Ozil, Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang.

Subs: Ospina, Chambers, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Iwobi, Welbeck, Lacazette.

[Magic]

buzzing to see Heckers first game. He has 45 minutes to prove his worth.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Simultaneous early kick offs in south Yorkshire? I suppose they are famously experts when it comes to policing football matches.

[Magic]

Get that cunt out now.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Your full backs are a disaster. I hate it when they play mugs out of position. Just put a kid in.

[Magic]

This is awful. The LB is a proper LB.

[Boydy]

Spurs - Arsenal has been pretty fucking dull so far.

[Raoul Duke]

Allí and Aubameyang are competing for the "highest hairline" here

[Foe]

Spurs - Arsenal has been pretty fucking dull so far.

Yep. Total shit.

[Lewis]

Channel 4 has had classic Simpsons on since twelve so lol at you sports mugs.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The problem with Leeds is that they're just a terrible side with no idea of what it is or could be. Need to sack off all these average foreigners and either get better foreigners, or fill it with honest ecky thump types to create some sort of identity.

[John]

That's my favourite kind of goal. Pure nineties. :drool:

[Lewis]

Fucking get it together Arsene mate.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Arsene knows that 6th is the new 4th.

[Lewis]

Sixth and a UEFA Cup win. :cool:

[SincereTheRebel]

Dembele is one of the most graceful dribblers ive ever witnessed. He just ghosts past players.

[Foe]

Aubameyang on the wing with lacazette up front has been even more limp than the first half from Arsenal, which I didn't think was possible.

Jesus. That attempted finish. :moop:

[Magic]

That was shit. Don't think we'd have been any worse under the former manager...

[Giggles]

Probably not going to turn it around straight away.

[Reg]

I decided I should give Wilshere a chance after deciding he was an overrated muppet, and he looked Arsenal's best player.

[Magic]

Probably not going to turn it around straight away.

The problem wasn't the manager, it was the poisonous cunts above him deciding who and who wasn't good for the team. The end product is a team littered with problems and players who play no matter how shit they are.

[Lewis]

lol at 'Mkhitaryan' still trending. Jose Mourinho wins again.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That plus an Aubameyang goal drought should provide just the springboard Arsenal need to win their last seven games.

[Waffdon]

I know it didn’t matter, but Lloris is Claudio Bravo mk2 for closing down one on ones. The state of him for Lacazette’s miss in the last minute. Leaves half the goal open, same shit last week against Salah.

[Lewis]

He's the most overrated 'keeper in the business and has been for years.

[Waffdon]

A council version of David De Gea.

[Giggles]

A council version of David De Gea.

He's as overrated as De Gea anyway. I used to seriously overrate him myself.

[Lewis]

A council version of David De Gea.

So is everyone.

[Jimmy Floyd]

De Gea himself is the most overrated (shot stopping is A++ but everything else is nothing special). Courtois also very overrated. The best ones are those that just never make mistakes.

[Waffdon]

So is everyone.

Well, yeah, but they’re the most similar in terms of ‘keeping ability.

[Lewis]

These non-existent goalkeepers who never make mistakes would also not save half the attempts that Dave Gayer/Courtois would.

[John]

De Gea himself is the most overrated (shot stopping is A++ but everything else is nothing special).

We'll be getting a visit from Simon soon. 'Great shot stopper but...' is his Bat Signal.

[-james-]

Jamie Vardy taking the piss. Sportsman of a generation.

[Shindig]

Guys, if we win tomorrow, we'll be 13th! YAY :moop:

[Giggles]

Coleman injured again :moop:

[SincereTheRebel]

De Gea himself is the most overrated (shot stopping is A++ but everything else is nothing special). Courtois also very overrated. The best ones are those that just never make mistakes.

You dont really need much else if your shot stopping is A++.

[Giggles]

You dont really need much else if your shot stopping is A++.

That's a crazy statement.

[Spikey M]

It’s as if some of you have forgotten that Lloris is French. Superb shot stopping coupled with an inability to do anything else is in his DNA.

[Jimmy Floyd]

De Gea's achilles heel is tending to just stick on his line and leave balls which he should be claiming to everyone else. All Spanish keepers do it. It's the sort of thing that never goes down as a 'mistake' or makes him look stupid, but costs his team goals fairly regularly.

Courtois's is his annual red card.

[Kikó]

De Gea has one weakness and that's coming off his line. Otherwise he's excellent in everything he does.

[randomlegend]

Dea Gea is an absolutely brilliant keeper.

[SincereTheRebel]

That's a crazy statement.

He is there to save shots. He isn't there to assist goals or serve bovril in stand andy cole.

[SincereTheRebel]

Bayern munich bound leon goreztka really looks like a good player.

[Giggles]

He is there to save shots. He isn't there to assist goals or serve bovril in stand andy cole.

He's there to close down one on ones and deal with crosses, to name just a couple. As is every keeper.

To say all they do is save shots is like something a 4 year old would think.

[Lewis]

I suspect Dave Gayer is told to stick to his line, since it's not like he's a flapping mess when he does come out for things.

[Kikó]

I think he's accepted what he's good at so doesn't bother doing the stuff he isn't,

[Giggles]

I think he's accepted what he's good at so doesn't bother doing the stuff he isn't,

Should the ones that can catch crosses but not stop shots just stand there and watch them sail past then? Are they as good because they just don't do what they're shit as as well?

[Jimmy Floyd]

If you can't stop shots you'll probably be playing outfield.

Best keeper I've seen is Buffon who was/is just in total command of every situation. Casillas, at his best, was very similar to de Gea today, peerless reactions but stays always on his line and lets others deal with things. Kahn was a bit the other way, commanding in all situations but only 8/10 on the shot stopping.

[Kikó]

Should the ones that can catch crosses but not stop shots just stand there and watch them sail past then? Are they as good because they just don't do what they're shit as as well?

Well he doesn't have to claim crosses most of the time but it would probably help his defence if he did some of the time.

[Magic]

KDB. :drool:

[Reg]

Disappointing to give away a lead. Not that great an afternoon for us given rivals' results and our fixtures to come late in the season. Another peach (https://twitter.com/FootieUTgifs/status/962349519932416005?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc% 5Eandroid%7Ctwgr%5Egmail%7Ctwcon%5E7090%7Ctwterm%5 E2) from Izqueirdo though.

Everton fans booed Schneiderlin coming on today. I don't understand things like that.

[Kikó]

He must have been playing well above himself at Southampton because he was turd for us and seems the same at Everton.

[Spikey M]

He benefitted from having Wanyama next to him doing all the hard work. Look how good Kante made Danny fucking Drinkwater look.

[Lewis]

It's tragic that Sergio Aguero has spent his best years at City.

[Shindig]

I wouldn't call that a tragedy just yet.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Where should have have spent them?

[Lewis]

Real Barcelona.

[Danny]

https://i.imgur.com/MvNqOJ5.png

:lol:

[Danny]

Billericay Town FC fires Jermaine Pennant after the player was doing sex shows online with his wife for 6£ per minute (apparently)

962269068433686533

[Lewis]

At the risk of being all Scouse, have you ever read any quotes as blatantly made up as these (https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5543191/liverpool-jermaine-pennant-caught-online-sex-romp-wife/) from the unnamed 'punter'?

[Kikó]

“He was really going for it — maybe if he’d put as much effort into his sport he wouldn’t be in this situation.”

:rolleyes: sure mate. You were thinking all this while bashing one out I'm sure.

[Giggles]

Still always sounds weird when they pronounce the K in Knockhart.

[ScousePig]

https://i.imgur.com/MvNqOJ5.png

:lol:

What an amazing game.

And lol at that debate on goalkeepers.

[Giggles]

What an amazing game.

And lol at that debate on goalkeepers.

It was all for the triggers.

[-james-]

TalkSport had Alex McLeish on just now, ostensibly to talk about the midlands derby. Glendenning has asked him about the Scotland job, prompting him to instantly hang up. :cab:

[Waffdon]

Fire in on Aberdeen -3 lads

[Jimmy Floyd]

TalkSport had Alex McLeish on just now, ostensibly to talk about the midlands derby. Glendenning has asked him about the Scotland job, prompting him to instantly hang up. :cab:

Why can't he just say 'I have nothing to say on that'? Unless he had an agreement with the producers that it wouldn't be brought up, which given TalkSport's production values wouldn't surprise me.

[Kikó]

Maybe he run out of credit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Did Jack Grealish decide he was English in the end? We should seriously look at him for Russia instead of our rent a twats.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Villa currently as good as anyone outside the top 8-10 of the Premier League and will go up with ease. Grealish just fantastic.

[Magic]

Snods is sublime as well.

[Pleb]

This game is proper scrappy.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Pawson, the First Rule King does it again.

[randomlegend]

Thought Smalling had got a touch when I first saw it, but that should have been a penalty.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's one of those where if the same thing happened clearly outside the box he'd always give the free kick, but he's looked at it, thought 'shit it's in the box' and shat himself.

[Lewis]

Dwight Gayle really shat out on mixed-race ugliness. He looks like Dr Zaius.

[Magic]

Fuck the Gers.

[Lewis]

I bet Ed Woodward has forced Paulp Ogba to play like Ronaldo in 1998 to back up his social media big man talk.

[Pleb]

Woof.

[Lewis]

That goal is Chris Smalling's masterpiece.

[randomlegend]

We've been absolutely fucking atrocious today, to be honest.

[randomlegend]

The Newcastle goalkeeper looks quite good though. He can do shot-stopping and also other things.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Benitez should be close to manager of the year. These players are utter wank.

[randomlegend]

Just crap. Takes until the 85th minute being 1-0 down at fucking Newcastle before we actually put some pressure on.

Pogba was clearly injured and shouldn't have played. I also don't know why Mourinho insists on sticking rigidly to this 4-2-3-1 when it never allows us to control the midfield and we looked so much better in a 4-3-3.

[Lewis]

There was a low-key Lukaku masterclass amidst all that as well, but it seems a bit harsh to moan about him (plus you just have to price it in). Anthony Martial is toilet on the right too.

[randomlegend]

Lukaku played well. IDK why he gets stick every single game, he's doing very well with what he's being given (which is not much). We just don't control games in the midfield so the front players get isolated and either drop back looking for the ball or do nothing.

Stick another midfielder in there and let Pogba drift around on the left and he'll don teams senseless, but expecting him to sit in with Matic just doesn't work. He either stays there (and is wasted/rubbish) or he tries to do what he does well and we have Matic basically on his own trying to hold the whole midfield.

[Shindig]

Graft. We're still bobbins going forward but at least Kenedy gives us a bit of life. Dubravka's debut was pure Krulamania. Bournemouth away next. Oof.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You need an upgrade on Matic (I was saying the same about us this time last year, though, so careful what you wish for).

[Lewis]

He gets bullied by people half his size, can't control a ball, is always in the wrong position, doesn't win headers, and is crap at finishing ('Alexis' gave him a great chance six yards out on his stronger foot and he sliced it across the box); but yes he did play a couple of decent through balls. What I want to know is how shit Lindelof and Rojo are in training to not get starts ahead of the alternative. Do they not even turn up?

[randomlegend]

I really don't think Matic is the problem. You could swap him for prime Makalele and he'd struggle to do the job Matic is trying to do.

Either put another midfielder in there and let Pogba be the free-est of the three, or play him as the number 10 with a more defensive-minded player next to Matic.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I really don't think Matic is the problem. You could swap him for prime Makalele and he'd struggle to do the job Matic is trying to do.

Either put another midfielder in there and let Pogba be the free-est of the three, or play him as the number 10 with a more defensive-minded player next to Matic.

Alright I'll rephrase: you need more dynamism in midfield.

[Reg]

Just crap. Takes until the 85th minute being 1-0 down at fucking Newcastle before we actually put some pressure on.

Pogba was clearly injured and shouldn't have played. I also don't know why Mourinho insists on sticking rigidly to this 4-2-3-1 when it never allows us to control the midfield and we looked so much better in a 4-3-3.

Lukaku played well. IDK why he gets stick every single game, he's doing very well with what he's being given (which is not much). We just don't control games in the midfield so the front players get isolated and either drop back looking for the ball or do nothing.

Stick another midfielder in there and let Pogba drift around on the left and he'll don teams senseless, but expecting him to sit in with Matic just doesn't work. He either stays there (and is wasted/rubbish) or he tries to do what he does well and we have Matic basically on his own trying to hold the whole midfield.
They played 4-3-3 today though. Just not well enough.

Agreed on Pogba starting.

I think they're pretty much always a better team with Mata. He's a much safer bet to have an influence on the game than Martial/Lingard/Rashford etc. Helps outnumber the opposition and string passes together.

Overall though everything is still too slow and has been since Ferguson retired. They take too many touches, players have to leave their space to come towards the ball too often, and the player on the ball waits too long to pick a pass. There was a quote in one of the Guardian articles from Hazard saying that Mourinho doesn't coach 'automisations' - his attacking players have to improvise in any given situation. You can see the affect when comparing their play to Man City, Liverpool and co.

[randomlegend]

He gets bullied by people half his size, can't control a ball, is always in the wrong position, doesn't win headers, and is crap at finishing ('Alexis' gave him a great chance six yards out on his stronger foot and he sliced it across the box); but yes he did play a couple of decent through balls.

His control has been fine lately. He's in the 'wrong' position because we never get the ball into the right position, so he goes wandering for it. Like Alexis is doing coming and collecting the ball off the fucking centre backs. But yes he should have done better with the literally one chance we managed to provide him the entire game.


What I want to know is how shit Lindelof and Rojo are in training to not get starts ahead of the alternative. Do they not even turn up?

Phil Jones looks fine but Smalling is a complete mong. He runs like a mong as well. He just doesn't move or look like a professional footballer at all. If you didn't know, you'd believe someone who told you he was an amateur who won a competition to play a match. Which I suppose isn't all that far from reality.


They played 4-3-3 today though. Just not well enough.


No they didn't. It was Pogba and Matic behind Sanchez on the left, Lingard in the middle and Martial on the right.


Alright I'll rephrase: you need more dynamism in midfield.

I agree, but I think you get that by freeing Pogba up (when he's not playing injured). We definitely need at least one midfielder in the summer. Probably two.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I like McTominay but he'll inevitably get shunted out for insufficient social media impact.

[randomlegend]

Yeah I think he looks pretty good as well actually. Has that way about him - which young players who make it tend to have - that he is comfortable and not feeling out of his depth.

[Baz]

I hope van Dijk scores, so so bad.

[Reg]

No they didn't. It was Pogba and Matic behind Sanchez on the left, Lingard in the middle and Martial on the right.
I (and Neville) disagree. But I share your opinion on the Pogba/formation conundrum. Maybe 433 was Mourinho's preference if the stories about the Lazio chap were true.

[Lewis]

His control has been fine lately. He's in the 'wrong' position because we never get the ball into the right position, so he goes wandering for it. Like Alexis is doing coming and collecting the ball off the fucking centre backs. But yes he should have done better with the literally one chance we managed to provide him the entire game.

When he plays 'on the shoulder' he either mis-times his run (offside or too slow to react) or loses the ball; when he tries to hold it up he just doesn't; when he tries to lurk around like a finisher he gets in the wrong positions and absolutely never threatens; and when he comes deep he removes the focal point he had just spent an hour failing to be, albeit whilst being weirdly good at putting others in (but then why not just buy an actual number ten?). Remember that he cost loads and loads of money. Even with the resources United have, you expect a better return on that sort of investment.

Matic is brilliant, and people over-do the Paulp Ogba in a two stuff. It should be a thing of the past against anyone competent, but he is fine in one against seventy per cent of sides, and would have been today were he not clearly injured.

[Jimmy Floyd]

These Liverpool shirts are making me hallucinate.

[phonics]

How's Sanchez doing? Him having a shitter at United is pretty much all I've got to look forward to till Summer 2019.

[Lewis]

He was the only one doing anything.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The relegation 'battle' is a joke. Ten or so teams that only play when it suits them (generally in the first 5 games of a new manager's reign) and have zero mental strength between them. Southampton have made no effort today.

[Gray Fox]

To be fair their manager is top binman material.

[CJay]

Rafa getting one over José with that Newcastle side. :drool:

[Weaver]

Great result for us today - I was concerned after Huddersfield won this morning, which put us into 18th, so to be up to 13th for now is a relief.

Question for the TTH Massive: has Chris Smalling actually improved as a Manchester United player? This must be his 6th or 7th full season now, and I just don’t feel he’s got better - Phil Jones, meanwhile, is considerably better than he was when he arrived.

They are this generation’s Wes Brown and John O’Shea, for sure.

[randomlegend]

Smalling looked pretty good under LvG but he's been absolute shit this season. He's just not good enough.

Wes Brown and O'Shea were both better.

[Lewis]

They are obviously better than their 2011 selves, and Phil Jones is the better of the two, but it's worth remembering just how highly-rated Jones was when they signed him. Chris Smalling was a punt who occasionally looked like he could become pretty good, but, all 'future England captain (FEC)' BANTER aside, Jones was the best defensive prospect the country had produced in years. In that respect you could argue that he has been the bigger bust, although he has had shit luck with injuries (not unlike Wes Brown).

[Spikey M]

Captain, Leader, Loser.

[niko_cee]

The relegation 'battle' is a joke. Ten or so teams that only play when it suits them (generally in the first 5 games of a new manager's reign) and have zero mental strength between them. Southampton have made no effort today.

And yet it's probably going to need the highest number of points in years to stay up. Could genuinely be a 40 pointer.

I think Brighton are the only side that hasn't had a big 'upset' win this season now. They really are desperately handy.

[Reg]

I don't think we'll get one either. :( If we write off the remaining games against the best sides, that leaves 7 games. We're on 28 points and need, say, 38 points. 10 points from 7 games needed. It's going to be incredibly tight but I think we'll just about survive.

They've put a price increase of about 4% on tickets next year, which would be a bit weird if we went down.

[igor_balis]

Lol we're 7 points off safety now. Oh well.

[niko_cee]

I don't think we'll get one either. :( If we write off the remaining games against the best sides, that leaves 7 games. We're on 28 points and need, say, 38 points. 10 points from 7 games needed. It's going to be incredibly tight but I think we'll just about survive.


I don't know, those late season home games against Spurs and United have potential depending on how they sit with European fixtures (if those teams are still in Europe). WOuld beating Arsenal be a scalp?

[Reg]

Two good points. If their league positions are settled it'll help as well. Arsenal tend to do great after they've done crap and vice versa, right? So I guess we want them to thump Man City.

It's just how we've played against the top sides though - one-sided games, beaten each time and scored 1 in 7 attempts. (Done best against Chelsea probably? ... Lost 4-0 unfortunately.)

Hopefully we're safe by mid April anyway. Palace's next five are Spurs, Man Utd, Chelsea, Huddersfield and Liverpool. And West Ham have a similar run coming - Man Utd, Southampton, Chelsea, Stoke, Arsenal, Man City.

[Andy]

He benefitted from having Wanyama next to him doing all the hard work. Look how good Kante made Danny fucking Drinkwater look.

He was always a lot better than Wanyama for us. Strange how his career has dived since we sold him. He's the one I thought would really kick on.

[Andy]

The relegation 'battle' is a joke. Ten or so teams that only play when it suits them (generally in the first 5 games of a new manager's reign) and have zero mental strength between them. Southampton have made no effort today.

We've made no effort all season. I'm convinced the players want the manager gone and arent playing for him. The board are too arrogant to admit they've made a mistake and sack him midseason. It's a joke.

[Jimmy Floyd]

And yet at the same time wouldn't back him by spending much/any of the van Dijk money. Just a nothingy mess.

[nsd]

I resigned myself to Stoke being relegated when Brighton's goal went in. We're absolutely hopeless and we completely deserve to go down.

Oh well. More games for the cost of a season ticket in the Championship anyway.

[Kikó]

Chris Smalling is a fucking disgrace.

[phonics]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DVyAYbVWsAIai6a.jpg:large

No, that's a fucking disgrace. (The post, not Sanchez)

[Mazuuurk]

He did get to the ball really wonky there I seem to recall. But that's a skill he doesn't have, he always liked to take a ton of touches on the ball, unlike someone like Kane or Aguero who both just has that hard-to-define skill to position themselves to shoot quicker.

[Pleb]

He hesitated his first shot didn't he? 11mph my arse.

[Reg]

That tweet represents these times well. Every minor detail is obsessed over. Imagine walking out of the stadium fifteen years ago and hearing somebody say that.

[Lewis]

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/club/manchester-city/382/blog/post/3380307/guardiolas-purchase-justified-as-ederson-rewrites-the-goalkeeping-rulebook

I haven't seen anything like it since Manuel Neuer was doing it, and even then I hadn't seen anything like it since Victor Valdes was doing it. These people are idiots.

[niko_cee]

I would lol at the wind stuff, but Jurgen is right into that shit as well. Didn't he say something about a strange wind yesterday?

I reckon Sanchez could have hit that earlier but I guess he didn't realise by making sure he was allowing a blocker to get back.

[niko_cee]

Also, why is Conte wamping on about not being able to convince whoever to make signings? Haven't they spaffed more money on more players than virtually anyone else?

Or is he being genuinely self-critical and admitting their signings are almost universally wank?

[Jimmy Floyd]

We haven't signed his favoured players, who are all over 30 chumps like Bonucci and Llorente. I can see both sides of the argument but he is very firmly covering his arse.

[igor_balis]

i think we're gonna get relegated but i have a weird feeling we're winning tonight and getting conte sacked

[Reg]

I think Conte is trying to get himself sacked (paid off). Which seems odd - surely try to win the Champions League. His day to day can't be that horrible.

[Raoul Duke]

I think Conte is trying to get himself sacked (paid off). Which seems odd - surely try to win the Champions League. His day to day can't be that horrible.

I sort of get the feeling he never really wanted the job but just wanted a phat pay cheque. Now he's trying to get croaked so he can spend the rest of his days shouting at his spaghetti and meatballs in a solid gold house. He's never looked happy.

[Baz]

Bonucci would have won Chelsea the league.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah but no amortisation value.

[Kikó]

Gordon Taylor's wage £2.29m.

[niko_cee]

Yeah but no amortisation value.

Didn't he just want to stay with the spaghetti and meatballs as well though? Obviously, if that wasn't the case then signing him instead of Rudiger is a bit of a no brainer.

Falling out with and not replacing Costa remains the biggest issue.

[Kikó]

Guardiola's magic doctors have brought Sane back to life.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Costa was off either way.

[John]

Sturridge injured already. :D

[Samadini]

:happycry:

[Raoul Duke]

Guardiola's magic doctors have brought Sane back to life.

Did he get sent to Spain for "treatment"?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hazard is the best player in the world currently, I reckon. I just mean the last month or two, but he is.

[-james-]

Hazard is the best player in the world currently, I reckon. I just mean the last month or two, but he is.

He's not even the best Belgian midfielder in the world.

[Lewis]

The 'Fellainimania' stuff is only a joke you know.

[Pepe]

It's real to me.

[Raoul Duke]

Nacer Chadli > Eden "Eddie" Hazard

[Jimmy Floyd]

It is very Conte to bring on Carrie Gayhill for a morale-boosting 17 minutes.

[Waffdon]

He's not even the best Belgian midfielder in the world.

Has De Bruyne actually won a trophy yet? Hazard’s a better player regardless and doesn’t have a team built around him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

And he kicks the ball into the goal which is the point of football. De Bruyne mainly kicks it to other players.

[Danny]

Only 2 more times this season.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Has De Bruyne actually won a trophy yet? Hazard’s a better player regardless and doesn’t have a team built around him.

Belgian pro league and the League/Carabao Cup I think.

Elite.

[Lewis]

I would take Hazard over 'KDB'. He has carried Chelsea for years, and if/when he goes they are sunk.

[Waffdon]

Hazard has had Mourinho and Conte as his two main coaches. Says it all.

[mugbull]

Belgium genuinely have the manpower to make the semis at the World Cup, it all now rests on Roberto Martinez's shoulders......

[Reg]

Has De Bruyne actually won a trophy yet? Hazard’s a better player regardless and doesn’t have a team built around him.
I'd say it's entirely built around him this season and that Man City would play the same way if Gundogan and Silva, or whoever, were their centre mids.

They're both class but De Bruyne edges it for me. More likely to have a greater influence on any given game.

[Waffdon]

It’s really not. Giroud will probably help but only Fabregas is near his wavelength and he doesn’t have any legs.

[Reg]

If you mean in terms of the squad I see your point. But Chelsea's shape this season seems very much Hazard focused and as though the plan is for him to bail them out of playing so-so every game.

[Lewis]

Belgium won't even beat us.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I think score draw (1-1) due to a late Hazard or Lukaku goal.

On paper the squad is mega but it's just not going to work.

I think they'll sneak first in the group (on goal difference), beat whoever they get in the second round but then fail in the quarters.

[mugbull]

It won't work, because Martinez is mentally weak which will make all the players afraid of their own shadows in the knockouts. Should beat England comfortably though.