[Football] Midweek Fixtures - Champions League & Europa League 2nd Rounds (13-15 Feb)

[Reg]

The Champions League ties are spread over the next month, for a full schedule click here (https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2507003.html#/). Televised Europa only - full list here (https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2018/matches/index.html#/rd/2000891/1).

All on the various BT Channels (Showcase where noted).

19:45 unless stated.

Tuesday
Crvena Zvezda v CSKA Moscow - 17:00

Juventus v Tottenham
Basel v Manchester City

Wednesday
Porto v Liverpool
Real Madrid v Paris

Thursday
FC Astana v Sporting CP - 16:00
Ostersund v Arsenal - 18:00
Ludogorets v AC Milan - 18:00 (Showcase)
Borussia Dortmund v Atalanta - 18:00
Celtic v Zenit St Petersburg - 20:05
FC Copenhagen v Atletico Madrid - 20:05 (Showcase)
Lyon v Villarreal - 20:05
Napoli v RB Leipzig - 20:05

[Baz]

Valentine’s Day football. :uhoh:

[Waffdon]

PSG are going to run riot against that aging Madrid team.

[phonics]

Ryan Mason has had to retire after that skull fracture.

Goes to show what Cech came through really.

[-james-]

PSG are going to run riot against that aging Madrid team.

PSG are hardly a fountain of youth, especially if you exclude Mbappe. PSG haven't had a difficult game yet this season. I reckon it'll be close.

[-james-]

An English team will win it this year. I've bet it at 11/8.

[phonics]

Madrid are going to beat PSG. Play like shit for months and turn it on just before the big boy CL matches, add to that the massively bottling Frenchness of that team and it'll be over before you can say Ronaldo 1-0.

[phonics]

It's not absolutely no pertinence to the upcoming football but this chart is pure :D

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DV0tP9gXcAAwWud.jpg:large

[SvN]

What the fuck is a DZ save?

[phonics]

As it states at the top, a danger-zone save. An open goal from 3 yards out would be a DZ save. A shot from your own half would be a save.

[phonics]

Lacazette is out for 6 weeks meaning our striker for this is Danny Wellbeck. Nice.

[Giggles]

As it states at the top, a danger-zone save. An open goal from 3 yards out would be a DZ save. A shot from your own half would be a save.

Where's the line where one becomes the other, or does it have to be an open goal from 3 yards out to be danger zone?

[phonics]

Where's the line where one becomes the other, or does it have to be an open goal from 3 yards out to be danger zone?

I assume when the likeliness of conversion is over 50%, no idea though.

[-james-]

Apparently Lacazette is out of the game on Thursday. Who's going to start up front? Jeremie Aladiere?

[-james-]

Just remembered Danny Welbeck exists.

[phonics]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DV6_v3qX4AEQeEt.jpg:large

[Lewis]

It's probably not a big enough game for him to turn up, so I would keep him rested for the semi-finals.

[Lewis]

Sky have four of the next seven broadcasting rights packages, BT has one, and the other two are up for grabs. And all for slightly less money than before. What a MASSIVE anti-climax.

[Baz]

All hail Sky.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Slightly less money than before? The end is nigh.

[Giggles]

:yn:

[niko_cee]

Are they moving towards 16.30 being the normal kick-off time on (Super) Sundays then?

[Magic]

Wow that was gorgeous.

The Yids. :lol:

[Magic]

This is what happens to English plodders. They can't handle anything other than straightforward direct football. Intelligence kills them every time.

Italian football. :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

lol at the Yids.

[Magic]

Hahhaa.

[Yevrah]

Slightly less money than before? The end is nigh.

Is it less than before prior to the two remaining packages being snapped up or after? If it's the former we're as we were.

[niko_cee]

Sky have paid more for the same.

It's more.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Plus BT have paid slightly less for 10 games fewer.

They're at a higher price per match.

[Magic]

Plus BT have paid slightly less for 10 games fewer.

They're at a higher price per match.

Those who shop at Sainsbury's will know this is all that matters.

[Magic]

another dive from one of PoCHEATinno's cunts. What a set of horrible cunts they are as a team.

[mugbull]

another dive from one of PoCHEATinno's cunts. What a set of horrible cunts they are as a team.

What, Kane?

Hahaha

[Magic]

:(

[Magic]

:harold:

[Giggles]

:D that's Auriers trademark right there.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's such a liability.

Higuain :lol:

[Magic]

:happycry:

[Magic]

I am SO happy the CL is back, though.

[Giggles]

That was fucking woeful from Higuain.

[Giggles]

I am SO happy the CL is back, though.

It only really starts now anyway, the group stages are fast forwarding material.

[-james-]

I fucking love Mousa Dembele. Top 2 in the world in his position.

[Magic]

It only really starts now anyway, the group stages are fast forwarding material.

Some games are decent. Like any group stage tbh. Apart from the Europa. That can get tae.

[Reg]

Love the Champions League. The pace of the games is fantastic.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'd be preparing anyone right now to come on for Aurier.

[Baz]

Love the Champions League. The pace of the games is fantastic.It really is the best football. Makes me so glad Liverpool are good again.

[Magic]

Derby and Killie. :harold:

[-james-]

Aurier needs to be hooked ten minutes ago. Absolute liability.

[Magic]

Wait Steven Caulker plays for Dundee? :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yids :drool:

[Bernanke]

Buffon. :(

[Lewis]

A shot saver would have used his feet there.

[Magic]

That's some injury list Juve have.

[Giggles]

Where's Wanyama? Surely he's better than Dier.

[Bernanke]

Bentancur making the dive-motion.... :lol:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Has Gigi chucked one in?

It's doubtful I'll ever watch European football again.

[-james-]

It's possible we seek different things in football, but I reckon continental knockout games have been the best thing on the calendar for a few years now.

[Giggles]

Has Gigi chucked one in?

It's doubtful I'll ever watch European football again.

It looked like he really badly positioned a wall and let Eriksen hit one low along the ground into the corner. Plus he should have stopped it anyway.

[-james-]

It's possible we seek different things in football, but I reckon continental knockout games have been the best thing on the calendar for a few years now.

I'm talking Copa Libertadores here, but the stuff on at the moment is alright as well.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's possible we seek different things in football, but I reckon continental knockout games have been the best thing on the calendar for a few years now.

They may well be but if they're on BT it's not happening. Radio will suffice for Chelsea games (if we ever qualify again).

[Giggles]

I'm talking Copa Libertadores here, but the stuff on at the moment is alright as well.

There's a load of Asian wank on too.

[-james-]

There's a load of Asian wank on too.

Asian and South American football are both nonsense, but only South American is enjoyable nonsense.

[Multi]

I see Lewis and Jimmy are still stinking it up in here. The forum kind of dead then or what?

[Giggles]

I see Lewis and Jimmy are still stinking it up in here. The forum kind of dead then or what?

Pretty much. Hammer is on the case though.

[Multi]

Actually it wasn't as dead as I thought, I was mistaking the thread created date for the latest post date and thought people hadn't been posting in any other thread than this since 2015. Tired. :facepalm:

I'm quite liking this Tottenham side, most of their lads are quite likable fellows, as is their manager. I mean Lamella is a bit of a twat, but Dembele is such a don he more than makes up for it. Eriksen, Kane, Ali and most of rest are all solid. Vertongen and the other English lad that look like he should work in an office are +/-. They have to have enough about them to go through.

[Lewis]

Hey Multi.

[Multi]

Sup champ?

[Lewis]

Not bad mate. Still patching up all the victims of Swedish migrant violence?

[Multi]

Yeah and barely surviving myself to boot.

Doing my residency in radiology though, so life at work is pretty sweet as far as health care jobs go.

[Mazuuurk]

You still in Romania?

[Multi]

Back in Stockholm since 2014, about the same time I started working and stopped posting here. Work at Karolinska Huddinge now, hit me up if you're ever admitted. :beer:

[Magic]

Holy shit the board just went up a level. :drool:

[phonics]

Have just seen an article using Man City beating the worst FC Basel team in a decade, who also just sold their best defender 2 weeks ago, as a platform to say that we're watching history in the making.

I've really enjoyed watching City this year but I'm slowly coming round to it being much funnier for them to gub it up and Jose Mourinho to lol at everyone.

[Giggles]

It's a new sport now. "Pep" has reinvented it.

[Disco]

It's a bit like trying to appreciate the Wermacht, sure Guderian and Rommel were pretty special but it's hard to disassociate them from the regime they worked for.

[niko_cee]

:D

A nice analogy.

I've no idea what is going to happen tonight. Porto are good at set pieces aren't they? Bodes well.

[phonics]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2018/feb/14/west-brom-sacking-chairman-chief-executive-pulis-pardew?CMP=share_btn_tw

In where someone who gets paid to write about football, questions how sacking the Chairman and the CEO could change football decision making at the club.

What idiot can think this:

'West Brom’s chairman and chief executive have apparently paid for dumping Pulis and replacing him with Pardew without the desired effect, but a new CEO is not going to win matches'

'It is tempting to wonder what difference a rearrangement of suits in the boardroom – the former chief executive Mark Jenkins has been brought back to take over the running of the club – can possibly make to this apparently hopeless situation. When you have just got rid of one of the best firefighters in the business – Pulis probably deserves that billing for his work at Crystal Palace alone – it must be hard to know where to look for another saviour but at this late stage a push for survival can surely only come from pitch level.'

'How many games Mark Jenkins is going to win remains to be seen, though already there appears to be an acceptance that some of them will be in the Championship.'

I mean really. I could quote 95% of the post. Pure idiocy.

[Lewis]

Are there any football (or sports) writers who come across as being actually intelligent individuals? Plenty of them seem adept at reading statistics and what is in front of them, but, unless they feel compelled to take a pointlessly short-termist approach to generate clicks and comments, I struggle to think of any capable of extrapolating from that and/or placing things within any sort of wider or long-term context. You get more insight and sense in the Football365 mailbox than from its paid writers.

[Disco]

Football pundits are trash is basically a staple of the board at this point.

[phonics]

Are there any football (or sports) writers who come across as being actually intelligent individuals? Plenty of them seem adept at reading statistics and what is in front of them, but, unless they feel compelled to take a pointlessly short-termist approach to generate clicks and comments, I struggle to think of any capable of extrapolating from that and/or placing things within any sort of wider or long-term context. You get more insight and sense in the Football365 mailbox than from its paid writers.

I think Rory Smith is quite good at this but the main reason he get's away with it is by never actually concluding anything.

From BTL:
https://i.imgur.com/qH1bX0C.png

[Lewis]

Does anyone else follow anything with the same depth of interest as we seem to follow football? Most political pundits are crap, and most of the rugby coverage I read is pretty naff; but what is the state of this stuff for something like Formula 1 or films or whatever else people like?

[John]

AV Club is probably the biggest site for television criticism - their Community reviews used to hit a hundred and thirty thousand comments a week - and it's pretty crap.

[phonics]

Didn't AV Club have a mass exodus of writers at one point? I remember there being a lot of drama around the editorial staff once they got taken over.

[Disco]

Mainstream coverage of F1 is pretty cursory, the stuff on the BBC site may as well not be there. The actual Sky coverage on the day has some good people (Brundle at least) but they fall into the same trap as everyone else so you're more likely to be go-karting with Sergio Porridge than hear a serious question being asked. Contrast this with someone like Joe Saward who writes an in depth blog and magazine, he might be a bit of an arsehole but he certainly knows his stuff.

[Kikó]

Danny Taylor is a proper journalist.

[phonics]

Yeah I'd call him an actual journalist rather than a writer.

[Kikó]

What's the difference?

[Lewis]

An actual/proper journalist uses his Old Trafford sources and press access to report on what goes on, where as a writer writes rubbish opinion pieces about how shelling out agent fees is an affront to the Busby Babes.

[phonics]

What's the difference?

One investigates a subject and reports on their findings. The other writes '5 things we learnt' pieces.

It's Nick Davies vs Marina Hyde.

[Reg]

Does anyone else follow anything with the same depth of interest as we seem to follow football? Most political pundits are crap, and most of the rugby coverage I read is pretty naff; but what is the state of this stuff for something like Formula 1 or films or whatever else people like?
Tennis has a better good to crap ratio, I think. It's less popular so I guess (generally) only the best will get paid to talk/write. Statistical analysis is easier and more suitable. And because there's not so much of a soap opera so you don't get so much fluff. It also seems to produce gold in long-form journalism.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Cricket has the best writing on anything by miles. Historically, anyway. Nowadays the papers mainly employ ghost written toss from Vaughan/Boycott and lazy cunts because there's no money in any sports journalism other than football. There is a lot of amazing writing that gets done though, mostly on the internet and a lot of it from Australia.

Someone like Neville Cardus or CMJ would be streets ahead of anything football has come up with.

[Lewis]

Anything good coming out of India?

[Jimmy Floyd]

There are a few good Indian writers, Dileep Premachandran being the best. India also has loads of statistics nerds, most of whom are full of shit or driven by nationalism but at least they're doing it.

Australia has the best writers, though. They have a little known writer called Christian Ryan who I think is the best writer I've ever read of any type, never mind sport.

Osman Samiuddin from Pakistan, too.

[mugbull]

Tennis is primarily aimed at smart people, so you'd expect that

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sunday Oliseh has quit as coach of Fortuna Sittard because his own board required him to take part in 'illegal activities', which apparently is match fixing.

Surely Dutch football must be suspended as a result.

[Baz]

Sunday Oliseh has quit as coach of Fortuna Sittard because his own board required him to take part in 'illegal activities', which apparently is match fixing.

Surely Dutch football must be suspended as a result.Did @Guido ever sign up here? That’s his team.

EDIT :humb:

[-james-]

How thick are they to go to the manager (and then sack him)? All you need is the keeper and centerbacks onside and you're sorted.

[Spoonsky]

oooh fuck I haven't watched Liverpool in a game like this since I was eleven years old.

[Giggles]

RTÉ showing this bollocks and not Madrid-PSG :nono:

[Lewis]

It makes sense to show the Irish teams.

[John]

That kid in the PSG trackie with a sign asking 'Van Djik' for his shirt has me hoping for a stadium collapse.

[Giggles]

It makes sense to show the Irish teams.

They're going on your side of the wall.

[Magic]

OMG this is electric.

Sorry, Giggsy.

[Giggles]

OMG this is electric.

Sorry, Giggsy.

I'm watching a cookery show :drool:

[phonics]

This game has been played at an insane speed from the moment it's got going and then Ronaldo gets the ball and needs eight touches to pass the ball.

[phonics]

Sunday Oliseh has quit as coach of Fortuna Sittard because his own board required him to take part in 'illegal activities', which apparently is match fixing.

Surely Dutch football must be suspended as a result.

Quick question, do you think this is real? Oliseh does have a reputation of making excuses for himself.

[Magic]

Kroos dive was pathetic and fuck Marcelo.

[phonics]

The Dani Alves' 44th game against Real is an excellent stat. One of those ones that catches you off guard.

[Magic]

The Dani Alves' 44th game against Real is an excellent stat. One of those ones that catches you off guard.

Yeah really cool mate.

:cab:

[Giggles]

I nearly fell off my seat.

[John]

You'd struggle to name a fact I care about less than that. Actually, you'd struggle to write a sentence I care about less. Utterly meaningless.

[Magic]

You'd struggle to name a fact I care about less than that. Actually, you'd struggle to write a sentence I care about less. Utterly meaningless.

I contend your second point.

[John]

Your disagreement interests me more and ten minutes ago I'd have had your opinion bottom of the list.

[-james-]

The SHOWCASE GAME is absolute crap. The winner won't make the semi final.

[Magic]

Your disagreement interests me more and ten minutes ago I'd have had your opinion bottom of the list.

I'll accept, given the list is quite short.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was a really clever pass by Marcelo.

Ronaldo should have finished it.

Nice of Areola to save it with his face.

[Magic]

A true shot stopper. :cool:

[John]

I'll accept, given the list is quite short.

Not a list of my active interests, a list of all things in which I could conceivably be interested.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Zidane on the edge.

[John Arne]

Porto are spending more time diving and asking for free-kicks than actual trying to defend.

They deserve to be 0-2 down.

[Magic]

The Queen
Great Britain
Bigotry
Me.

Dece.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Such a nice backheel by the dickhead to set that up.

[John]

Was it James who raved about Rabiot a while ago? He's everywhere here.

[Magic]

He reminds me of a very good Faillaini.

[Lewis]

Zidane on the edge.

With his body warmer on under his blazer. Bald chancer.

[phonics]

With his body warmer on under his blazer. Bald chancer.

Foreigners still struggling to get to grips with Tim Sherwoods tactical advances.

[John]

With his body warmer on under his blazer. Bald chancer.

I just noticed that. :D He looks absurd.

[phonics]

What actually happened for the goal? I was taking a piss.

[Magic]

FFS surely he should be off.

[phonics]

That is so soft.

[phonics]

Ronaldo about to go into bitch mode when that laser goes in his eye, closing his eyes, taking a breath, forgetting about it and whipping a proper penalty in is a proper sign of the difference between him and his old self.

[-james-]

Who broke the thread?

[Foe]

That is so soft.

If that's legitimately a penalty, football has become a non contact sport.

[phonics]

If that's legitimately a penalty, football has become a non contact sport.

He clearly grabs his shoulder in an attempt to put him off but I don't think he actually ever makes the action to pull him back because the other bloke doesn't shoot.

[Reg]

Was it James who raved about Rabiot a while ago? He's everywhere here.
Him and Verratti are class, although the latter is best when he's having loads of the ball. The chap I'd never heard of, Lo Celso, letting the side down. What a brainless penalty to give away - as bad as Aurier last night.

[John]

Him and Verratti are class, although the latter is best when he's having loads of the ball. The chap I'd never heard of, Lo Celso, letting the side down. What a brainless penalty to give away - as bad as Aurier last night.

Lo Celso is a kid starting his first game I'm sure. Bugger knows why he's playing. Presumably there's a hefty injury problem.

[-james-]

Aurier's was far more brainless. Lo Celso's was just naiveté.

[mugbull]

Lo Celso is a kid starting his first game I'm sure. Bugger knows why he's playing. Presumably there's a hefty injury problem.

Lo Celso has made more appearances than anyone except Rabiot and Cavani this season for PSG

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's his first Champions League start although he came on as a sub in all the group games.

[-james-]

Who broke the thread?

I've just figured out why there are two near identical threads at the top of the board. Concerned at how long it took me.

[CJay]

Lo Celso is a kid starting his first game I'm sure. Bugger knows why he's playing. Presumably there's a hefty injury problem.

He’s played plenty this season. Surely his biggest game, though.

[John]

Lo Celso has made more appearances than anyone except Rabiot and Cavani this season for PSG

He's started nine league games. He clearly isn't first choice, which was my point.

[phonics]

'is starting his first game' 'isn't first choice'

can't believe you didn't pick up on the nuance lads.

[John]

What nuance? I can believe quite easily that you'd grossly misunderstand the point someone is making. It's the defining characteristic of your posting.

[John]

With his body warmer on under his blazer. Bald chancer.

It isn't even a body warmer, it's a full bubble jacket. :lol:

[phonics]

Is this the first season Madrid have had goal music? Small club.

[Baz]

Liverpool are playing great here but Porto are a shambles. Football in Portugal must be seriously slow.

[Magic]

Psg. :(

[John]

That Trump advert for the FA Cup. :lol:

[Baz]

http://i.imgur.com/194ly4h.jpg

Surprised Milner can catch his breath for this interview. :cool:

[Multi]

The Dani Alves' 44th game against Real is an excellent stat. One of those ones that catches you off guard.

That's almost as bad as the NBA is getting now, saw a clip on their YouTube channel the other week "Porzingis first player in NBA history to register a 3 point shot and block in 15 consecutive games!". Fucking hell, to think that's someones job.

[phonics]

963892726080135170

That's a dig.

[Lewis]

lol they couldn't cut the mustard.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Quick question, do you think this is real? Oliseh does have a reputation of making excuses for himself.
They're up there in the league and recently bought out by shady Turks, so I would side with Sunday on this one.

[Lewis]

lol they couldn't cut the mustard.

'Well, Adrien Rabiot. You suck pal!' (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XepdzlxpqcY#t=5m32s)

[SincereTheRebel]

I still cant understand that tottenham and liverpool only got one trophy between them in the past ten years.

[Kikó]

They're not good enough to win trophies.

[Jimmy Floyd]

*not big enough clubs.

[Magic]

I still cant understand that tottenham and liverpool only got one trophy between them in the past ten years.

It's the MENTALITY.

[SincereTheRebel]

The kane and delli combination has been firing now for a few years straight. Liverpool had suarez and they only won a bronze cup. Both kane and suarez are arguably, the best strikers in the league since henry left. You dont want to be out here like arsenal not competing for years on end. Kane will be gone before too long. He is that good, he could go anywhere.

[Lewis]

Arsenal have won as much during their laughing stock years as Tottenham have since I was born (more if you consider the value of what they have won). Tottenham are a nothing club.

[niko_cee]

Liverpool have lost an impressive number of finals and semi-finals since whenever it was they won the league cup under Dalglish (was it?).

[Magic]

Liverpool have lost an impressive number of finals and semi-finals since whenever it was they won the league cup under Dalglish (was it?).

But they won the GREATEST FINAL OF THEM ALL.

[Magic]

You know I actually taped it (on VHS) in case I wanted to re-watch it in 10 years' time.

I grossly misjudged how fast technology would move tbh.

[niko_cee]

I have a DVD if you want to borrow it.

[SincereTheRebel]

Arsenal have not had a striker as good as kane or suarez since the last premier league win in 2004. They went through the 8 year drought, but over the past few years they have competed with t cup form. They are in another final this month vs man city :face:

[Lewis]

'RvP' at his best was at least as good as Harry Kane.

[Mike]

You know I actually taped it (on VHS) in case I wanted to re-watch it in 10 years' time.

I grossly misjudged how fast technology would move tbh.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1ioas3
Enjoy :p

[John]

Van Persie was there for maybe eighteen months, half of that at Man United, and even then I don't think he was as lethal a finisher as Kane. I'd reckon Kane already has more Premier League goals than Van Persie got in his whole time at Arsenal.

[SvN]

Van Persie won the league almost single handedly, though. I'd say that makes a big difference.

[-james-]

One of the things that always comes to mind with Kane is our Lee telling us he was hopeless during his loan spell in the Championship. That one hasn't aged well.

[Lewis]

He was a perma-cripple, but the point stands (good precedent for leaving a non-competitive chump team as well).

[John]

He also told us they played Kane on the left and he clearly wasn't suited to it so it's not like he was writing him off.

[Reg]

Kane's not all that. Flash in the pan. Four-season wonder.

[phonics]

How are BT still running these awful Trump FA Cup adds.

[Reg]

Is this just me?

https://cc-media-foxit.fichub.com/image/fox-it-foxsports/6d56e4d2-41be-4977-adef-91ada4c3f285/mario-mandzukic-630x630.jpg
https://usatftw.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/epa_epaselect_portugal_people_cristiano_ronaldo_ai _89883674-e1511799872950.jpg?w=1000&h=600&crop=1

Also (this from Football Weekly):

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DLOacHNW4AIaqe-.jpg:large

https://cdn.images.dailystar.co.uk/dynamic/58/photos/130000/620x/Roberto-Firmino-673183.jpg

[phonics]

I was about to make a post about how Eddie Nketiah looks exactly like Marlo Stanfield.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I thought that when he came on against us. My name is my name.

Kader Keita = Cutty, on the same theme.

[Disco]

I was watching the second series yesterday and realised Vladimir Kozlov is in it. Did not expect.

[Baz]

Mandzukic looks like Edd China in that pic.

[SincereTheRebel]

Kane is clinical. rVP probably reached a higher level in his game but kane is far more consistent and isnt made of glass. I prefer the more consistent players over players who go up and down throughout their careers in performance.

[Kikó]

Van persie is still playing. It's not very glass like.

[SincereTheRebel]

He played about half of arsenal games when he was there. He found his feet and was fit for three years straight where he killed it with arsenal and then man utd. He left for turkey after that. Dont try and forget about his time at arsenal not playing.

[phonics]

I just saw the results and thought, 'Ooh, that Atalanta result is good for us.'

Pathetic.

[Jimmy Floyd]

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-boss-antonio-conte-presented-with-manchester-united-shirt-from-jose-mourinho-in-press-a3767671.html

Mourinho will be kicking his minibar in tonight, all those careful mind games undone by whoever that mug is.

[Lewis]

https://s10.postimg.org/yvsmawmix/DWFJku_LWAAA68nr.jpg

He knew what would happen. :cool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Has any Italian ever done anything intentionally funny?

[Lewis]

If their films are anything to go by a good eighty/ninety per cent of Italian humour is based around fat and/or important people getting flustered, so probably not.

[Reg]

I thought the Real Madrid - PSG game was good fun but it was interesting hearing Football Weekly's take on it, pretty much summed up here by Jonathan Wilson. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/feb/15/neymar-cristiano-ronaldo-psg-real-madrid-champions-league-super-clubs

Some of the stats are pretty damning. No passes completed between Neymar and Cavani, or Ronaldo and Benzema.

The individual quality was enjoyable though. Did anybody notice Modric controlling the ball with his upper back? Ridiculous. And it was a fast paced game, even if there were more mistakes and less cohesion than you'd expect.

[CJay]

I’m surprised people still listen to Football Weekly.

[Jimmy Floyd]

After trying the two for a while I actually prefer it.

[phonics]

Agreed.

[Max Power]

I’ve binned both now. Not enough room on my podcast schedule. I’ll go with Football Ramble and Second Captains.

[phonics]

I've just seen an article criticising Arsenal for last nights performance :cab: Football365 baiting some angry Arsenal Twitter fans methinks.

[-james-]

Totally Football is generally better than the Guardian one, I think. Jimbo is a better moderator and the guests are better. I'd rarely listen to Football Weekly, unless I'm at an airport or something, because the takes are never really hugely different.

I can't listen to The Football Ramble any more, that fake exaggerated laugh (ha ha ha HA) they all do does my head in.

[Giggles]

I had stopped listening to FW way before the split. Tried both since but don't like either (really went off Richardson, he adds nothing). Second Captains and The Stand do me for the British stuff and there's 3 or 4 domestic league ones to cover that.

[Reg]

I prefer Jimbo over Max Rushden so tend to go with Totally Football. I've enjoyed some of the unexpected cameos on there but it can sometimes go too far and have three guests I've never heard of and who don't know each other. Whereas yesterday's Football Weekly for instance basically had three mates on and the conversation flowed better.

[Magic]

I remember I used to listen to the Gabriel Marcotti ones back in the day. Can't believe how full of shit that fat wop cunt was.

[phonics]

I listen to FW in the main because the guests are so much better. I really don't need James Horncastle insights considering he's already on 2 pods a week so I've heard everything he has to say. Michael Cox is fine and I do enjoy David Preece but outside of that it's all much of a muchness.

[Lewis]

I read TTH.

[phonics]

I skim it and assert my opinion based off that limited understanding. It's got me this far.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We are genuinely more insightful than any of them, save for any access they might have (which with most of these two bob journos isn't much).

[Pepe]

I read TTH.

Me too, and I don't even watch football anymore.

[Pepe]

Did anybody notice Modric controlling the ball with his upper back? Ridiculous.

My man Cuauhtémoc was doing that shit since the 90s.

[Ian]

Yeah but people can spell Modric.

[John]

Ronaldinho played a perfectly weighted through ball with his upper back in his Barcelona days.

[phonics]

Yeah but people can spell Modric.

[Ian]

Nah, we can spell Ronaldinho too. It doesn't have any of those suspiciously foreign-looking accents or umpteen consecutive vowels like Pepe's mate has.

[Mazuuurk]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8inzX538CpA

[Pepe]

https://j.gifs.com/rkD0V2.gif

https://eliasarriazola.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/cuauhtemoc-blanco-espalda.gif?w=1100

https://media1.tenor.com/images/69385e0b046a9fe22bcbb20a4514296a/tenor.gif?itemid=9868714

:cool:

[Pen]

The last one :D

[-james-]

Celtic were impressive last night, though Mancini's Zenit did look a total shambles.

Moussa Dembele capped a good week for the name, his hold up play is fucking good.

[John]

I watched it with a few crash barriers and they were all over Dembele for his terrible first touch and work rate.

Zenit looked like all their players had met for the first time on the plane.

[Lewis]

Fingers crossed for an Arsenal vs Celtic final, where the winning manager gets the Arsenal job on a Moyestastic six year deal.

Arsenal 4 - 0 Celtic
Welbeck (21, 38)
Oezil (53)
Iwobi (87)

[Magic]

Celtic would probably beat Arsenal.

Rodgers to replace Wenger?

[Lewis]

An Alex Ferguson coached World XI with peak Didier Drogba up front wouldn't beat Arsenal if Arsene Wenger's job was on the line.

[Giggles]

#GreatestLeagueInTheWorld trending like a fucker :cool: