[FOOTBALL] Midweek Fixtures - FA Cup 5th Round Replays & Arsenal-Man City (27-29 Feb)

[Reg]

Tuesday
Swansea City v Sheffield Wednesday - 20:05 BBC

Wednesday
Tottenham Hotspur v Rochdale - 19:45 BT

Thursday
Arsenal v Man City - 19:45 Sky Sports

A reminder of the cup draw:
Sheffield Wednesday or Swansea City v Rochdale or Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion
Leicester City v Chelsea
Wigan Athletic v Southampton

There is some other stuff too, including Italian Cup and EFL Trophy http://www.live-footballontv.com

[Magic]

Dreadful midweek football this.

[Max Power]

Napoli are such a good side. Just scored delightful third against Cagliari. Gonna be sad when they inevitably blow the league to Juventus.

[Pleb]

Will Arsenal learn from their shitfest on Sunday afternoon at Wembley?

Probably not. Aguero 4-0.

[phonics]

The Brendan Rodgers links begin :moop:

[niko_cee]

When we lost the league cup final to city we roasted them in the league a few days later so I have the utmost confidence in Arsenal to do the same.

Bodgers would be amazing at Arsenal. MENTALITY!

[Mazuuurk]

This is neither here nor there, but I'm trying to think if Wenger has ever really had a falling out with a player?

There's something odd about how everyone inside the club at Arsenal, players and Coaches etc, all seem to blindly just Love Wenger and always seem to defend him no matter how shit the club is doing, whereas everyone one watching by is seeing a massive cockup. Even when you have a situation like that with Sanchez, it seems everyone is defending everyone and even he kept his head down and did a decent job given the circumstances (see for instance Mahrez who started being a cock after not being sold and countless others).

All other "big" managers seem to continuously and routinely have falling outs with some of their players but everyone at Arsenal just keeps their head down and focusses hard on doing a very mediocre job out of everything.

[phonics]

It's going to be someone that gets on my tits like Bodgers or it'll be a wave of former Invincibles players walking in like it's the Class of 92 that will embarrass themselves and make me hate them.

[-james-]

Apparently Arteta is in the frame, because of the "great job he's doing at City". :cab:

[phonics]

I think he's a very smart guy and has probably learnt a lot but I'd prefer he had a test run somewhere else.

TBH this could be all fixed over night if you let Santi Cazorla play in some sort of exo-suit.

[-james-]

It might just finish Sol Campbell off if Arteta gets the job over him.

[Lewis]

Remember a couple of years ago when everyone was worried about the next Arsenal manager being their David Moyes? What a legend Arsene Wenger is doing that himself and making life easier for the next bloke.

[phonics]

968465110170824704

It's like when you're trying to take the drivers license off your Grandad.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Four more years! Brendan would be a good second best, but I want him at Chelsea if we can't attract Mark Hughes.

[phonics]

Remember when Nasri's girlfriend got on his Twitter account and started telling everyone he'd shagged his nurse. One of the pictures she uploaded showed him hooked up to some sort of IV drip and he's been banned for 6 months because of it.

One of the best examples for keeping your dick in your pants in years.

[Kikó]

968380571490619392

:cool2:

[Pleb]

968220624354234368

urm...is he alright?

[phonics]

It was All-Star week last week in the NBA. It's all out debauchery for a week for the players and just so happened to be the most entertaining one from an audience perspective in years.

If I was a player I'd definitely be up for a week of getting wasted, shagging the fittest birds in the country and having a kick about.

[Lewis]

The North (which Lukaku would not get a game for) would batter the South. Especially if it was done with fan votes, because then it would just be Arsenal plus Harry Kane.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's the most pointless thing you could possibly imagine unless Lukaku needs his ego stroked. The baseball one is taken INCREDIBLY seriously in terms of who is selected for it, and then not at all seriously when it comes to the actual game.

[Lewis]

That said, I would like to see some mocked up Northern Monkeys and Southern Fairies crests.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The south would piss all over the north. The north need their shitty tribal identities to perform.

GB&I v Johnny Foreigner would be a better game.

[John]

It's the most pointless thing you could possibly imagine unless Lukaku needs his ego stroked. The baseball one is taken INCREDIBLY seriously in terms of who is selected for it, and then not at all seriously when it comes to the actual game.

Being selected for it is considered a sort of MVP award for your particular position.

[Lewis]

In that case you could play the United defence, the City midfield, and the Liverpool front three. All under the control of the Everton manager.

[Reg]

The south would piss all over the north. The north need their shitty tribal identities to perform.

GB&I v Johnny Foreigner would be a better game.
That would be fun. GB&I would get thumped though.

Premier League vs Serie A/La Liga would also be fun.

[Lewis]

We would lose 10-0 to a foreigner team, but the Premiership would beat the other leagues.

[Foe]

It's the most pointless thing you could possibly imagine unless Lukaku needs his ego stroked. The baseball one is taken INCREDIBLY seriously in terms of who is selected for it, and then not at all seriously when it comes to the actual game.

That one actually matters too no, as does the winning conference not get the extra game in the world series, and thereby the most chances to assert it's own set of rules?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm not sure, in an actual game. My opinions of these things are clouded by Australia absolutely thrashing the World XI in cricket about 10-15 years ago. Johnny Foreigner would just be a bunch of individuals thrown together. GB&I could have Sean Dyche as coach, short shorts, an R&R trip to La Manga, and would just be too tough.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That one actually matters too no, as does the winning conference not get the extra game in the world series, and thereby the most chances to assert it's own set of rules?

Used to, but they've got rid of that. The seventh game now goes to better regular season record. The codgers had it the year just gone (and fucked it up as per).

[Lewis]

Wouldn't somewhere between half and most of an actual cricket World XI from that period have been Australian, making the World XI actually a bit second rate? You would probably have one British player in a current Premiership XI.

[Jimmy Floyd]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/14758/scorecard/221840/australia-vs-icc-world-xi-only-test-icc-world-xi-tour-of-australia-2005-06/

On paper World XI was at least even and probably (a bit) better, although Lara was a bit past it by then, but the result was an absolute shoeing. I can see why too, how would you get yourself up for World XI victory playing alongside a load of blokes you don't know.

Premier League All Star Game would be like that but both teams not caring instead of just one. A pointless exercise.

[Lewis]

In this particular case the domestic side would be absolutely crap though.

[Reg]

I'm not sure, in an actual game. My opinions of these things are clouded by Australia absolutely thrashing the World XI in cricket about 10-15 years ago. Johnny Foreigner would just be a bunch of individuals thrown together. GB&I could have Sean Dyche as coach, short shorts, an R&R trip to La Manga, and would just be too tough.
If they wanted to keep it tight they could just field an XI of Spaniards, who'd thrash the Brits. A French XI or Belgium XI would probably win too.

[phonics]

That one actually matters too no, as does the winning conference not get the extra game in the world series, and thereby the most chances to assert it's own set of rules?


If so, that's literally the worst rule I've heard of in any sport ever.

Imagine that, 'Well we beat Barcelona 2-1 but Brazil won the Confederations Cup that year so it went to a replay and Barcelona won the Champions League on xG'

[John]

Imagine that, 'Well we beat Barcelona 2-1 but Brazil won the Confederations Cup that year so it went to a replay and Barcelona won the Champions League on xG'

What? That bears no resemblance to the defunct rule Foe was on about.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's because unlike in other US sports where the league has the same rules in different conferences, the National League plays with the pitcher having to bat but the American League uses a designated hitter instead of the pitcher batting, so when they play the WS the home team's rules apply.

It's more like if La Liga didn't use the backpass rule but Serie A did, or whatever.

[John]

Has there been any indication yet what the Angels will do with Ohtani. They play in AL, so really he shouldn't be doing everything, but in Japan he was the best pitcher and best power hitter in the country at twenty one.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He'll be a DH and pitch one night in 5. No chance he'll be seen in the outfield.

[niko_cee]

Just watched Ronaldoless Madrid labour to a late 1-0 defeat at plucky Espanyol. Fucking hell they're shit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I wonder if we could persuade Zinedine to make the move over here when Conte no doubt goes the other way.

[niko_cee]

The best bit being Sergio Ramos appointing himself centre-forward in chief and then them being caught out at the back in the last minute.

Obviously there were other players out, but it didn't look like a particularly bad side Madrid put out (unless you don't buy into the idea that all of their young players are brilliant).

Zidane's going to be a one club man.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I guess he could start doing whatever di Stefano did for the last 45 years of his life, aside from his lol disaster spell as manager.

[phonics]

Arsenal announced record profits despite revenue dropping by 30 million quid.

lol.

[-james-]

lol VAR

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The decision for the first disallowed goal was shocking.

[Giggles]

Never knew a penalty wasn't retaken in that case.

The whole thing really is a massive pile of shit though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was close.

The scenes had VAR taken away another one.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Robbie Savage saying 'Moira' is really fucking annoying.

[Lewis]

I was just about to find a stream for the last half hour. Never mind.

[Weaver]

Robbie Savage saying 'Moira' is really fucking annoying.

And the other commentator saying ‘Si-sock-ho’ was driving me barmy.

Enjoyed the first half, didn’t see the second.

[SincereTheRebel]

Griezmann scored another four goals today. That's two games in a row he has scored 3 goals or more.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11838/11271391/watch-antoine-griezmann-follows-sevilla-hat-trick-with-four-against-leganes

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sissocko probably more correct, strictly speaking. Not enough for me to start saying it though.

I'll die on the Ebway hill first. Ebooay is like calling someone an ooanker.

[Lewis]

What a set of semi-finals we have lined up:

United vs Leicester
Southampton vs Swansea

Then a United vs Southampton final. The Arabs will be pulling their sponsorship as we speak.

[Lewis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeK82garsow

Oh yeah and has everyone seen that? He must have family members who could intervene.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I bet he always wears something with the Arsenal badge to show he's a real fan.

Getting donned by a 12 year old :harold:

Seething.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ty is a hero. Stand by your man.

[Reg]

Unfortunately, Neymar has not only broken his metatarsal but has also gone blind.

https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article12109470.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/Brazilian-superstar-Neymar-arrives-at-Ri.jpg

[Mazuuurk]

Just found out that Neymar also seems to be having some right dodgy relationship with his sister just like Oscar.

What's up with Brazilian stars getting their incest on?

[Giggles]

Just found out that Neymar also seems to be having some right dodgy relationship with his sister just like Oscar.

What's up with Brazilian stars getting their incest on?

As a former Portugese colleague of mine used to say; all Brazilians are gypsies.

[Magic]

Just found out that Neymar also seems to be having some right dodgy relationship with his sister just like Oscar.

What's up with Brazilian stars getting their incest on?

I bet she's incredible, though. Don't act like you wouldn't take a BJ from your sister if she looked like Rita Ora.

[Kikó]

Hi Donald.

[phonics]

Rita Ora looks like something a neural network would come up with as attractive. She's the uncanny valley of hotness.

[Yevrah]

I hate to say I told you so (well, obviously I don't), but looking at the highlights of the VAR decisions last night, I told you so.



23: Son's right-footed strike gives Tottenham the lead but there is yet another delay while VAR checks there is no reason to disallow the goal. The original decision stands.

31: Rochdale's Stephen Humphrys equalises after he is played in by Andrew Cannon but there is another short delay while VAR checks there is no reason to disallow the goal.

53: VAR is consulted yet again as Llorente scores Tottenham's third goal.

65: There is another brief delay as Tottenham's fifth goal - Son's second - is checked by VAR. The goal stands.



If the facility is there to check, it's going to be checked. All the time.

[Kikó]

They're using it wrong.

[mo]

Stop getting VAR wrong!

[Pen]

I hate to say I told you so (well, obviously I don't), but looking at the highlights of the VAR decisions last night, I told you so. If the facility is there to check, it's going to be checked. All the time.
Isn't that what the vast majority here said?

[Giggles]

They're using it wrong.

They're using it at all. That's wrong enough.

[Magic]

Isn't that what the vast majority here said?

No.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Unfortunately, Neymar has not only broken his metatarsal but has also gone blind.

https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article12109470.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/Brazilian-superstar-Neymar-arrives-at-Ri.jpg

Didn't I predict he would be injured for the rest of the season as soon as they lost to Real Madrid?

Neymar deserves lifelong misery, just a horrible person. He also deserves a career-ending injury but he will be absolutely fine.

[Magic]

The arsenal lot really are a bunch of pathetic cunts.

[niko_cee]

Why are the lines on the pitch blue? Is it a snow thing?

[SincereTheRebel]

Why are the lines on the pitch blue? Is it a snow thing?

Probably. I suspect when they installed them, there was still white all over the place.

[Magic]

Arsenal fans belong in League 2.

[Giggles]

Where's the crowd?

[Pleb]

Well then lads we got another thumping on our hands.

[Magic]

:harold:

I really like Bernardo. Where's he from?

[Max Power]

Playing some lovely stuff. Could be five or six tonight. Sane on fire.

[Magic]

:drool:

[mugbull]

I hope this goes double digits

[Jimmy Floyd]

I hope Arsenal are running at least.

[Magic]

Omg he's from my adopted country. :cool:

[Mike]

Aye, double figures here

[Pleb]

RIP the dream.

[phonics]

Lol they've scored literally every shot they've had in 30 minutes. It's like having Woj back.

[Magic]

:D

Oh my days.

[SincereTheRebel]

Sane have been superb the first 30 minutes. He is making food out of the arsenal defense.

[Magic]

KdB barely even been in it yet.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just put it on.

I hope Neville has been tearing into them.

[Lewis]

969306417344770050

:lol:

[Pleb]

Well that escalated quickly.

#WengerOut in full effect I see.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Where's the crowd?

Hopefully they announce a full house attendance as they always do.

[Magic]

Just put it on.

I hope Neville has been tearing into them.

He's not. Arsenal haven't been poor.

[-james-]

Arsenal have been decent, they just can't defend. It's probably the best half of the season from City. Sadism.

[phonics]

He's not. Arsenal haven't been poor.

Literally the most frustrating part of it.

[Lewis]

I've only just turned it on, but the defending for all three of these goals was a joke.

[phonics]

Endlessly analyzing whether someone should have done something different at 3-0. It's 3-0 and the guy got a bad bounce.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Stuck £25 on Aguero to score at anytime @ 2.8 at half time.

'Mon lad.

[Magic]

Hope he goes off injured.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ref with a blinding touch there.

[Magic]

No wonder they're shit having two scum rejects upfront fuck me.

[Lewis]

Do Arsenal even have a penalty taker?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:lol:

[Lewis]

Apparently not.

[Magic]

:harold:

[Lewis]

The slower replay makes that look like the most sign-posted piece of shit penalty you'll ever see.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That penalty sums up Aubameyang as a player. Lazy fuck.

[Magic]

Ederson. :D

'Hold my beer'

[Lewis]

Ederson is a pudding.

[-james-]

Aubameyang has to be one of the worst signings of all time.

[Magic]

Danny Welkeck.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Aubameyang has to be one of the worst signings of all time.

Was it panic or is the Dortmund bloke just an idiot?

[Pleb]

Both.

[niko_cee]

That really was the perfect storm of shitness for my fantasy team.

Is it me or is The Neviller upping the northernness in his commentary? "Game at weekend"? I don't remember him talking like that in't paast.

[-james-]

Was it panic or is the Dortmund bloke just an idiot?


I don't know. He certainly never had fifty five million to throw at a player at Dortmund so maybe he just got excited and went for the first striker he could think of. That or he wasn't particularly involved in the deal.

[Lewis]

Oezil just reflecting on his new contract there.

[Magic]

That really was the perfect storm of shitness for my fantasy team.

Is it me or is The Neviller upping the northernness in his commentary? "Game at weekend"? I don't remember him talking like that in't paast.

I noticed that as well. :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43242006

Democratic Republic of Congo striker Cedric Bakambu has signed for China's Beijing Guoan in what is understood to be an African transfer record.

The Chinese Super League side has not released the sum paid for the 26-year-old, but sources close to the player say it amounts to $90m (£65m).

Fucking hell.

[Pen]

No.

Who here are for it then? James or Reg I think but other than them I can’t think of anyone.

[Magic]

Who here are for it then? James or Reg I think but other than them I can’t think of anyone.

I made a pro thread about it.

[Reg]

Who here are for it then? James or Reg I think but other than them I can’t think of anyone.
I'm undecided yet - early days. If it becomes commonplace having to wait until you celebrate then I'll be wholly against.

That said, I didn't see enough of a reason for it to be introduced in the first place. I don't agree with the idea of sport needing to be 100% faultless.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This second half is a bigger insult to Arsenal than losing 8-0. City have felt sorry for them and visibly turned down chances to attack.

[Magic]

Christ didn't realise Yaya still played for them.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's been a good training session for them.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hopefully they announce a full house attendance as they always do.

They actually fucking have as well. I bet Wenger just texts the attendance to someone at half time.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Hopefully they announce a full house attendance as they always do.

58,420 which is only about 1000 under full.

[John]

Hopefully they announce a full house attendance as they always do.

They have as well. I thought Celtic were the only idiots who tried that one.

[Mike]

The Arsenal attendance announcement :D

[Lewis]

If God or whoever ever does the right thing and obliterates all of those filth countries like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and there was a MASSIVE fire sale at City as a result, then Leroy Sane would be the first name on my ideal Ed Woodward tweet-friendly hit list. Don't Germany have a good striker as well now? Wankers.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Everyone below Arsenal has a negative goal difference.

[phonics]

Do Arsenal even have a penalty taker?

It's Santi Cazorla who hasn't played a game in 2 years, then Giroud who isn't at the club anymore, then Sanchez who isn't either, then Lacazette then it's whoever.

Glad I left at half-time. I couldn't watch us concede every attack while not being that awful.

[Reg]

They have as well. I thought Celtic were the only idiots who tried that one.
Happens at Brighton as well. They just go off tickets and season tickets sold and not how many turn up.

[Shindig]

Meanwhile, Neville's first game in charge of the women's going great. 3-0 against France who I believe used to be good.

[phonics]

They have as well. I thought Celtic were the only idiots who tried that one.

Literally every team announces season tickets as sold.

[Shindig]

Happens at Brighton as well. They just go off tickets and season tickets sold and not how many turn up.

I'd argue that's the more meaningful stat.

[John]

Literally every team announces season tickets as sold.

That's just a lie.

Rangers certainly don't do it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Attendance is supposed to be a record of how many come through the turnstiles, not some financial transaction made weeks/months earlier.

[phonics]

That's just a lie.

Rangers certainly don't do it.

You think a comparison of a different country with different rules is apt in this situation?

[Reg]

Attendance is supposed to be a record of how many come through the turnstiles, not some financial transaction made weeks/months earlier.
With electronic tickets nowadays it's easier to announce the actual figure in time, so it can only be for the sake of vanity.

[mugbull]

You think a comparison of a different country with different rules is apt in this situation?

Delusional :happycry:

[Jimmy Floyd]

With electronic tickets nowadays it's easier to announce the actual figure in time, so it can only be for the sake of vanity.

Or as a telling sign that the club doesn't give a shit what the supporter experience is as long as they take their money.

I'm pretty sure Chelsea don't dress it up.

[John]

You think a comparison of a different country with different rules is apt in this situation?

Yes. 'Literally every club' includes, shockingly, literally every club.

[Shindig]

I think we've probably done it on League Cup nights. You could argue they're anouncing the figures like that in case thousands are running late.

[Giggles]

Happens at Brighton as well. They just go off tickets and season tickets sold and not how many turn up.

BUT CELTIC DO IT!!!!!!


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