Midweek football

[-james-]

Champions League, mate.

City are on at 17:55.

[Ian]

Ugh.

[Lewis]

If 2007/08 is anything to go by, the midweek games will do for Mourinho and then Bryan Robson will get them to the Champions' League final.

[John Arne]

Looking forward to seeing Joe Linton for Hoffenheim.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Man City :lol:

[Jimmy Floyd]

What is actually lol, rather than a team conceding a goal, is that a Man Utd youth player is trending on twitter (in London). Desperation ahoy.

[John Arne]

The ref in the Man City game just penalised them (well, made them take it again) for taking a throw in too quickly :D

[Kikó]

Tonight will be shit but I think they win. They'd rather stay in the champions league for the next manager than chuck it all away

[SincereTheRebel]

Looking forward to seeing Joe Linton for Hoffenheim.

I had to double check the team sheet :D

Riess Nelson is on the subs bench. Quite a few English youngsters are finally getting decent loan moves overseas.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I had to double check the team sheet :D

Riess Nelson is on the subs bench. Quite a few English youngsters are finally getting decent loan moves overseas.

I thought he was an English youngster for a good while. McManaman is constantly saying his name like he is.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Gundogan seems to get injured all the time.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What a mong that defender is.

[Kikó]

This midfield is absolutely dreadful. You've got two one paced midfielders who can be passed around and then Pogba who has this uncanny knack of standing near the possession but no where near to put someone under pressure or actually do the things a fucking midfielder should do. He's a fucking dreadful midfielder.

Valencia is phoning it in as well. He just jogs a little forward then thinks that's the job done. No ambition to join Sanchez on the right, just release it and stand at full back. Grim doesn't sum it up.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I think they've actively decided to try and get Mourinho fired now.

[Kikó]

He's just playing a team that are limited in their abilities. Even if it was PEP he couldn't make Fellaini and Pogba a good CM partnership.

[niko_cee]

Matic, Fellaini and Pogba does sound like a midfield for the ages.

Mourinho's a pleb and all, but the inescapable fact is that United's team (squad) is deeply average and has been for a number of years. It's borderline miraculous how relatively successful they've been since Fergie left.

[Kikó]

Yep - and our scouting ability has been incredible to fit shit pegs for round holes. Shaw is probably the only thing that is a positive this season.

[Raoul Duke]

Matic, Fellaini and Pogba does sound like a midfield for the ages.

Mourinho's a pleb and all, but the inescapable fact is that United's team (squad) is deeply average and has been for a number of years. It's borderline miraculous how relatively successful they've been since Fergie left.

Which is fine if he wasn't the one agreeing to all these deals for overpaid fuckwits.

I've been watching Bayern vs. Ajax (because I am a hipster) and so far Ajax have been unlucky not to be winning. Some great youngsters in their side (Van Den Beek, Taglifico, Onana, Neres, De Ligt and more). I wanted to see Frenkie De Jong but he's not involved.

[randomlegend]

We spent £50m on a more dynamic midfielder in Fred and then as soon as he doesn't set the world alight immediately it's back to Fellaini.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Does Akinfeev get his clean sheet with that?

[Kikó]

Yeah the Fellaini thing is just a constant nightmare. Not as much as Lukaku is though.

[randomlegend]

I also don't believe this squad is anywhere near as bad as Mourinho is making it look.

[niko_cee]

It's Jimmy's Belgian rule in reverse.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yeah the Fellaini thing is just a constant nightmare. Not as much as Lukaku is though.

I was really positive about this season when it looked like Fellaini was going to leave on a free transfer.

[randomlegend]

I was really positive about this season when it looked like Fellaini was going to leave on a free transfer.

Yeah, felt like the end of a shit-smeared era.

And now here we are.

[niko_cee]

So is it going to be Carrick to blazer out the rest of the season or do you double down and call for Binedine Binman?

Better act quick though, his old employers may want him back.

[randomlegend]

Watch Fellaini head it in.

[Mike]

Jose for life! What a man!!

[Magic]

:harold:

[Lewis]

I think if he went now you would say, all things considered, that 'LvG' did a better job.

[Waffdon]

Does Akinfeev get his clean sheet with that?

He’s been doing well since breaking the duck last year tbf.

[Kikó]

I think if he went now you would say, all things considered, that 'LvG' did a better job.

How?

Football is equally bad - Mourinho finished 5th, Europa League, League Cup and 2nd. LvG finished 6th, 4th and an FA Cup.

[Lewis]

I think he got more out of what he had to work with than Mourinho is doing. He obviously oversaw some shite recruitment, but Mourinho has definitely benefited from better backing and an ability to concentrate on particular areas. He got Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger, and they've spent two-hundred million quid on midfielders since.

[John Arne]

U19 football in Italy and Spain really is a joke. Watching Liverpool v Napoli, all the Napoli have their chin up, chest pumped out, shouting and balling.. and then a Liverpool player goes within 5yrds of them and they are on the floor screaming. Same last season when we played Athletico and I think Roma. It's a different, more embarrassing they're playing.

[niko_cee]

The end of that game sounds fairly lol.

Multiball!

[niko_cee]

Jesus, the blast from the past thing on the beeb's livetext brings back memories. Bad memories.

Blast from the past
Napoli v Liverpool (20:00 BST)

The last time Liverpool visited the Stadio San Paolo, back in October 2010, they came away with a forgettable goalless draw in their third Europa League group-stage tie.

They had won just one of their opening eight fixtures in the Premier League, and went into the game on the back of a 2-0 Merseyside derby defeat at Goodison Park.

They were 19th in the table under Roy Hodgson and the squad they named that day didn't include Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

They have come a long way since then...

Liverpool XI that day: Reina, Kelly, Carragher (C), Skrtel, Konchesky, Poulsen, Spearing, Shelvey, Jovanovic, Babel, N'Gog.

:sick:

[Luke Emia]

the Everton game referenced is when Woy told us it would be utopia to win there even though we won 2-0 the year beforehand.

What a retard.

[John]

Lol at that lineup.

[Mike]

Much better line up tonight

[Trancemeister]

Lloris :lol:

[Giggles]

Lloris :lol:

He'd drive you to drink.

:henn0rz:

[Boydy]

What happened Keita there? I missed it.

[Magic]

Holy fucking hell.

[Boydy]

What's that in relation to?

[Shindig]

Ha. Bruce gets a cabbage thrown at him AND he's sacked in a 24 hour spell.

[Giggles]

What's that in relation to?

According to Twitter I'd assume Rakitic.

[mugbull]

This is some AVB tier football

[Raoul Duke]

One-man team :nodd:

[Boydy]

Bring Sturridge on. Maybe also give Salah a month off.

[Mike]

Not great this tonight. Stealing a point really.

[Mike]

:(
Been coming all game

[Boydy]

Fuck's sake. Had a fiver on Inter, Barca, Porto and Liverpool. All the rest did the business. Would've returned around 90 quid.

It's worrying how toothless the attack has looked at times so far this season.

[Gray Fox]

It seems to have devolved slightly into just hitting it at the front 3 and expecting them to do something. I can see why he wanted to add Fekir on top of this lot.

[Spoonsky]

Went to shit when Keita went off. There's no real replacement for him now that Can's gone.

This group's going to be interesting.

[Magic]

What's that in relation to?


According to Twitter I'd assume Rakitic.

Yep. What a game. Messi awesome.

[Gray Fox]

It was the same problem against Chelsea. None of that midfield 3 is ever going to run at you with the ball, so if you close down the pass option you should be good. Ox and then Keita do change that, but now looks like we're without both for a bit.

[Spoonsky]

I forgot Ox was even alive.

[mugbull]

The Tottenham second half was really fuckin good, but Jesus that first 45 made that Liverpool game from a few weeks back look like a World Cup winning performance

[phonics]

I can't work out if Tottenham get absolutely mugged off by not one by two Suarez dummies because they're on another level or if Spurs are just shit.

[niko_cee]

Hopefully Keita isn't too bad. Why were there no fans in the lower tier? Is that normal?

Game was too much like the second leg against Roma last year (which I guess was notable for Chamberlain's absence) where the middle of the pitch felt too stretched, only this time without the better functioning attack.

Just got to survive the City game and regroup over the international break.

[Smiffy]

I'm more concerned about the City game than last night, we should win both games against whomever got beasted by PSG so you never know.

Our run since Spurs has been decent enough and level on points going into the City match is better than I expected. If we avoid defeat then the international break could be a blessing in disguise.

[phonics]

Arsenal are 1-0 up already. The Qarabag defender tried to appeal for offside while standing on the post.

[John]

Who's the little ASBO kid running around the right of the attack for Arsenal?

[phonics]

Smith-Rowe, everyone raves about him but all I see is him getting into the right situations then planking it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Phonics strikes again.

[phonics]

Unai Emery reading my posts out at half time is the new thinking this club has needed for years.

[Waffdon]

Chelsea properly waste having the best youth academy in Europe. Only one youth player on the bench against a bunch of joiners.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Morata has PROPERLY had the Operation now. It's absolutely remarkable, that procedure, it delivers time after time after time. The surgeon's scalpel does not miss.

[Trancemeister]

Karius yet again with a howler.

[Spoonsky]

Hopefully Keita isn't too bad. Why were there no fans in the lower tier? Is that normal?

It's like that every week, not sure why though.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Being Neapolitans it's probably to stop them chucking bags of piss on the pitch, or similar.

[Magic]

Rangers donning it in Europe really is quite lol.

[Shindig]

Party like it's 2008.

[five time]

Morata has PROPERLY had the Operation now. It's absolutely remarkable, that procedure, it delivers time after time after time. The surgeon's scalpel does not miss.

Was he ever good? More or less binned at Madrid and Juve before Chelsea got their hands on him.

[Giggles]

Any Villa fans here now? Chances of O'Neill?

[Boom-Boom-18]

Jose is apparently set to be sacked this weekend regardless of the result vs Newcastle.

[Waffdon]

Neville is FUMIMG

[Jimmy Floyd]

A lot of United fans I know seem to be very pro-Mourinho compared to the NARRATIVE. I don't know if that's indicative at all.

I think it's a long, slow road to having to accept that City are now the bigger club (in the realpolitik sense rather than the wanky schoolyard debate sense), with a far superior football setup in every way, and it'll take a decade or more to overcome that even with extreme competence at all levels (of which there is currently little).

[phonics]

The inspired choice to unite everyone would be Henrik Larsson till the end of the season.

[Reg]

Murray's making a mug of my 'none of our strikers to score more than 10' prediction. On merit he should have been in the England squad at least a few times.

March needs dropping. Kayal is great, hope he keeps his place ahead of Stephens.


A lot of United fans I know seem to be very pro-Mourinho compared to the NARRATIVE. I don't know if that's indicative at all.

I think it's a long, slow road to having to accept that City are now the bigger club (in the realpolitik sense rather than the wanky schoolyard debate sense), with a far superior football setup in every way, and it'll take a decade or more to overcome that even with extreme competence at all levels (of which there is currently little).
Are there many match-going fans that are against him? It certainly doesn't seem it to me, but I'm not at all knowledgeable about the local fanbase.

[Gray Fox]

I know of 2, Old Trafford visiting regulars here and both of them want him out.

[Lewis]

Competing NARRATIVEs dictate that you can't think the club is a shambles *and* that he is doing a crap job, although that is very much the case.

[Ian]

with a far superior football setup in every way, and it'll take a decade or more to overcome that even with extreme competence at all levels (of which there is currently little).

Yeah, that's your issue more than Mourinho in the big picture sense. The structure in place is designed to make money and hopefully win some football matches.

But surely if we're settling for not winning the title we could be doing it in less grim, divided style.

[Jimmy Floyd]

At this stage of the cycle they need to do what Liverpool did a few years ago and throw a risky but exciting coach at it. Sarri would have been good but he's nowhere near corporate enough for them, and they just don't take risks as a club so his peers are all out too. It'll be Famous Zinedine Zidane and he will fail miserably.

[Ian]

I'm not sure if you mean the failure will be miserable or he'll be miserable or both but I'd go for option number 3.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm all for bin men, but you've got to have your own bin men. If you parachute bin men in from another local authority, they won't know the routes, they'll do the blue bins on a Wednesday when it should be a Monday, it just won't work.

And just as everyone starts to have that thought, Gary Neville starts ranting with PASSION on TV.

[Ian]

My dad genuinely wants us to give Ryan Giggs a go at some point. I suppose it's possible he'll end up a good manager but I just think of that video of his team talk.

[Lewis]

Roy Keane deserves a go at some point because why not.

[John Arne]

I attempted to post a clip of that Ryan Giggs team talk, however, every single YouTube video appears to have been taken down.

[niko_cee]

Should have put the farm on Brighton last night. Not just because it was West Ham. The season ticket holder I go with has missed, I think, 4 or 5 home games since they were promoted, those being Swansea, West Ham (I think) and Arsenal last season and United and West Ham this year. He's a curse.

[Mellberg]

Any Villa fans here now? Chances of O'Neill?

Too many burnt bridges there I hope.

[Kikó]

If we're going for the cheap option I'd rather they tried Butt. Otherwise try get someone like Pochettino.

I want Jose out and the boiled down to the Sevilla game where he thought cowardly tactics would win and we were outplayed by an average Sevilla team. Still, if you're going to have a manager who you believe in, who you offer a contract to then you back him. You don't think the solution to a 19 point gap is a couple of untried players and undermine the manager. Ultimately Woodward is a symptom of the Glazers who have no real interest in the team other than the money it provides.

I'd still rather them then the tyrants from the middle east. Prefer not to have blood on our hands.

[Lewis]

You say 'tyrants from the Middle East' (and the Chinese government), but look how much money they've put into the women's team.

[Giggles]

Too many burnt bridges there I hope.

Wishful thinking :(

[Magic]

Nicky Butt wtf? :D

[Kikó]

You say 'tyrants from the Middle East' (and the Chinese government), but look how much money they've put into the women's team.

We've got our own now!

[Kikó]

Nicky Butt wtf? :D

Well it makes more sense than Carrick or Giggs. He's managing the youth team and has a wealth of coaching experience at the club.

[Magic]

None of those options makes sense you nonce.

I must admit I too had your thinking, my standards had been lowered that much I wanted McCarthy or Bruce in before we got God.

Feel for you brother. But awesome lol.

[Kikó]

I'm not suggesting them you dolt. I'm saying if they're going for the cheap option which they likely will i.e. someone involved already at the club.

You'd like to think they would have a succession plan other than let's get Zidane. Get that Leeds manager in.

[Waffdon]

I’ve bet on Leeds three times now and they’re about to lose for the third time. Soz, MJ x

[Magic]

Ref a total cunt.

[Giggles]

Matt Doherty scores. He surely must be better than Cyrus Christie, right?

[Disco]

lol

[Trancemeister]

Oh boy 2-0 now :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fucking lol.

Nice knowing you Mourinho.

We need so many new players too.

[Shindig]

I refuse to get carried away by this.

[Gray Fox]

3 more years. 3 more years.

[niko_cee]

Fuck off with this shit.

Maybe Rafa can just switch dugouts. That's how it normally happens, isn't it?

[Giggles]

Are the players trying to get him sacked, is he trying to get sacked, or both?

[Shindig]

I hope Jose goes full John Carver after this.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

McTominay back in defence? Fuck me.

He wants to go.

[Gray Fox]

Tactical sub after 18 mins? Wow.

[John Arne]

18th minute sub :)

[Giggles]

Wasn't Bailly the second coming of Franco Baresi about a month ago?

[Magic]

:D

Dots.

[Trancemeister]

Bayern Munich down 0-2 at home too. Against Mönchengladbach.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Wasn't Bailly the second coming of Franco Baresi about a month ago?

Mourinho despises him.

He has Smalling and Phil Jones ahead of him.

[Shindig]

It's Steve Bruce.

[Lewis]

I thought Ashley Young was most to blame for those goals, but I suppose you need a right-back on the pitch.

[niko_cee]

What's happened to Bailly? Wasn't he supposed to be some sort of God-tier defender? Reduced to being subbed after 20 minutes and mocked for his penalty-taking inadequacies?

This was the break when Liverpool binned Bodgers wasn't it?

[Gray Fox]

Alan Curbishley 16-1?

[niko_cee]

Let it be Big Sam.

He's local and everything.

I could almost tolerate them being good again if he was in charge.

[randomlegend]

Ed Woodward would appoint Donald Trump manager before he appointed Big Sam.

[Gray Fox]

Fucks sake De Gea.

[niko_cee]

Sod being linked to Pogba all the time, Barcelona should go all out for De Gea whilst this malaise persists.

[niko_cee]

On the subject of Big Sam, I'd love it if Rafa came out and did the wavy hands thing if this scoreline persists.

[Boom-Boom-18]

McTominay looks totally out of his depth at centre back. What a bizarre move.

[Luke Emia]

They look an absolute shambles at the back. Comically bad. If Rafa issued the coupe de grace the irony would be fabulous.

[Andy]

Wasn't Bailly the second coming of Franco Baresi about a month ago?

He's gash. Plays for United though so everyone assumes he's great.

[randomlegend]

Bailly was really good until he got injured and Mourinho decided he wasn't going to give him more than 1 game in a row unless he plays flawlessly.

[Lewis]

Eric Bailly gets hyped up as a cult figure, but he is actually good at all the dirty defending like in that Liverpool game last season when (own goal aside) he was MASSIVE, so he would benefit from having a composed and intelligent centre-back partner (Toby Alderweireld maybe) like when Chris Smalling had Daley Blind doing his thinking for him.

[Mike]

https://media.giphy.com/media/N3nLahYHseZvq/giphy.gif

[Shindig]

Even with the personnel, you'd expect a switched on United to defend against one of the worst forward lines in the league.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Smalling, Pogba and Matic as a back three?

Fuck me.

[Lewis]

Even with the personnel, you'd expect a switched on United to defend against one of the worst forward lines in the league.

This is the basic point of it all really.

[Giggles]

Smalling, Pogba and Matic as a back three?

Fuck me.

For real? :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

For real? :D

Looks that way although Pogba has freedom.

McTominay was hooked.

[Gray Fox]

For real? :D

He's not kidding. They've resorted to punting it to Fellaini already.

[Lewis]

You're better off following this through the club Twitter account than streaming it. Proper Chemical Ali stuff half of it.

[randomlegend]

You're better off following this through the club Twitter account than streaming it. Proper Chemical Ali stuff half of it.

I don't understand this post, does it mean all the streams you're finding are shit?

[niko_cee]

Wait, he took McTominay off at half-time?

:D

Half-a-million a week and a £50m midfielder on the bench too. Where to start.

[Lewis]

I don't understand this post, does it mean all the streams you're finding are shit?

I mean its attempts to put a brave face on things is more entertaining than the actual match.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It could be Martial, he's done nothing today.

Who has done something (bar De Gea) today?

[randomlegend]

I mean its attempts to put a brave face on things is more entertaining than the actual match.

I see. Well if you ever need streams mate I'm your man.

[mugbull]

Rashford is a total nobody

[randomlegend]

Wait, he took McTominay off at half-time?

:D

Half-a-million a week and a £50m midfielder on the bench too. Where to start.

Andreas Pereira was looking good until he was inexplicably dropped. Fred looked to be settling in well too. And yet here we are with McTominay starting. He really is trying to get sacked.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was a nice free kick by Juanito Mata.

[randomlegend]

I honestly hope we don't come back.

[Shindig]

Ruh-oh.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's probably the only decent thing Martial has done today.

We're winning this from here.

[Gray Fox]

This has been coming since Newcastle stopped trying. Looks like we'll see if this "out regardless" rumour is true.

[Shindig]

Christ. I didn't think we had it in us to chuck this. :(

[randomlegend]

Why does it take us to be in complete shambles and up shit creak to start playing well?

[Giggles]

Christ. I didn't think we had it in us to chuck this. :(

Of course you did.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Of course it was the shit one possibly saving Mourinho.

[Giggles]

Where's Lingard btw? Injured or finally found out?

[Mike]

Nuts :(

[Shindig]

Sack Benitez.

[Lewis]

Why don't they run around and try like this normally?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Where's Lingard btw? Injured or finally found out?

Injured.

[Lewis]

I joked ages ago about converting Lukaku into a right winger. Might as well give it a go with 'Alexis' as a pretend striker.

[Gray Fox]

So, does he still go?

[Shindig]

Of course he does. It's Steve Bruce.

[randomlegend]

Given we'll never play that attacking under him again despite clearly being capable, yes.

[Ian]

We're BACK.

[Giggles]

Mourinho should just tell the press it was never in doubt and walk out.

[Shindig]

"Go ahead, hire the Steven Bruce. I am more Steven than him."

[Magic]

Lol at that.

[Kikó]

Fuck off you cunts. United.

[randomlegend]

Fuck's sake Mourinho is coming across really likeable in the post-match stuff.

[Magic]

Fuck's sake Mourinho is coming across really likeable in the post-match stuff.

New 5 year contract? :drool:

[niko_cee]

Interesting to see how that Young handball, which was a virtual carbon copy of the one Brighton conceded against Spurs (if not more of a penalty), was reffed where the team dynamic is switched around.

Is that the third time United have come back from 2 down at half time this year (Palace, City, Newcastle)? Mental.

[Shindig]

It's a lead we didn't have to work for and it showed. We had no idea what to do with it. We're down this year. Easily. Why doesn't Fellaini start every game? He's genuinely influential.

[Kikó]

Interesting to see how that Young handball, which was a virtual carbon copy of the one Brighton conceded against Spurs (if not more of a penalty), was reffed where the team dynamic is switched around.

Is that the third time United have come back from 2 down at half time this year (Palace, City, Newcastle)? Mental.

We didn't get a hand ball either in the second half when the Newcastle player caught it.

[Lewis]

That looked like one of those evening-up decisions from the earlier mistake.

[Shindig]

Aye, Muto handled. We're missing the organisation that propelled us last season. We need a massive January with massive new owners or else we'll be meeting Sunderland in the championship. Hey, that's a silver lining.

[SincereTheRebel]

The tackle of Lucas was brilliant by the way for the sending off. Straight assault.

1048596775613976582

[Waffdon]

That whole Arsenal goal was lovely.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ross Barkley again. Superb start to the season from him.

[John Arne]

I don't think I have ever seen Hojbjerg have a decent game. Admittedly I haven't watched Southampton a lot, but those games I have seen, seem to pass him by completely.

[Waffdon]

Rangers’ goal is the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time.

[SincereTheRebel]

Rangers’ goal is the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time.

Link the goal then you cunt.

[Waffdon]

Link the goal then you cunt.

Search it on Twitter, you faggot.

Kepa is a quality keeper.

[-james-]

Oh, Alvaro.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's so strange, he does everything right and then the glue factory instincts kick in.

Our keeper is such a hero. Yet to chuck one in as well which normally happens to Johnny Foreigner keepers early in their tenures.

[phonics]

Having a confidence against teams worse than you is nice. And that third goal.

Just look at it:
1048921571992248320

[Mike]

City are going to batter us today I feel :(

[Jimmy Floyd]

Danny Ings is a horrible cunt. Atrocious footballer as well.

[niko_cee]

It's a nice goal but I was expecting more having seen the live text write-up. I thought it was going to be a proper one-touch precision thing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's a nice goal but I was expecting more having seen the live text write-up. I thought it was going to be a proper one-touch precision thing.

It's Arsenal remember, anything that happens to them, good or bad, is overhyped by a factor of 1000 online.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's a nice goal but I was expecting more having seen the live text write-up. I thought it was going to be a proper one-touch precision thing.

You have to account for the 'Arsenal, it's almost Barca football mate' wankathon though.

Twitter is probably claiming it's the greatest goal ever scored.

[Shindig]

I think I prefer that goal to the usual pass madness. They kept that move alive, rather than being fully in control.

[niko_cee]

City are going to batter us today I feel :(

Yeah, I'd take a draw now.

That said, I've lost fantasy faith in Mo and Co, so they'll probably run in 4 between them today.

[Giggles]

Arsenal overreaction? I refuse to believe it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I can see Liverpool winning actually.

John Stones against this front 3 (well 2 and a half dead Salah) is asking for trouble.

[niko_cee]

The thing that always amazes me about City is how they get away with such a lightweight midfield. Fernandinho's the only one who isn't a flouncy midget, but somehow it works.

[Boydy]

Oh fuck, Lovren's starting.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The thing that always amazes me about City is how they get away with such a lightweight midfield. Fernandinho's the only one who isn't a flouncy midget, but somehow it works.

Barcelona were the same. Doesn't matter if you never give the ball away.

[SincereTheRebel]

Oh fuck, Lovren's starting.

One of the best defenders in the world.

[Danny]

https://streamable.com/3ymo0

Rangers goal, the one I assume Waff is in about.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lovren is a donkey.

[Magic]

"Salah on par with Messi"

:lol:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Didn't expect this game to be a total shitfest, but it has been.

[John Arne]

I don't trust Alisson one iota.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Two clear penalties against Lovren today, not given because refs just don't give decisions on sudden incidents. They only give penalties if they can see it coming five seconds beforehand.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Case in point.

[Waffdon]

What’s he doing :D

[SvN]

Lol at Mahrez. He should never take another penalty again.

[Waffdon]

Holy fuck

[Jimmy Floyd]

Never put North Africans on penalties ffs. Hot blooded, adrenaline-filled idiots.

[Max Power]

He’s always been an awful spot kick taker. Half the ones he scored were bad for us.

[niko_cee]

Can't believe they didn't have Silva take it. I'm pretty sure he never misses.

Take that all day long. Play wank, don't lose. Hopefully things pick up after the internationals.

[Waffdon]

I can’t even imagine David Silva taking one. I’d feel like he’d be as shit as Mata at them.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, I think I must have been thinking of someone else. Apparently he's only ever taken one in the league and missed it. :/

[niko_cee]

Dunk in the England squad.

:cool:

Not before time, although Coady may feel a bit aggrieved.

[John]

Mbappe has scored four against Lyon in the space of about fifteen minutes.

[Ian]

Not even 15 minutes. :|

[Baz]

Goat

[SincereTheRebel]

He is really good player. The way he moves on the ball, he has something different about him.

[-james-]

I can't suss this season out. Every top, top team seems a bit shit. Or at least not nearly as good as they were last season.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The question is whether the country is mentally ready for a Chelsea-Arsenal title race.

[phonics]

Being less than 10 points off the top, 10 games into the season is enough of a title challenge for me to claim this season done. Shut it down boys.

[phonics]

We've abandoned Puma and have signed for Adidas :drool:

[niko_cee]

I see Aiden Huzzah's kicking off round two of his interminable who will I sign for roadshow.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He's playing for his Alexis Sanchez/Robinson Cano contract (with whichever club) and will then sit back on that until retirement/MLS. It's part of the ongoing baseballification of football.

[Waffdon]

Rather he went to MLS than Real Madrid. Least he’d be the best player in the world there

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why do all these people dream of Real Madrid anyway? I'd rather be a worshipped legend at Liverpool/Arsenal/Chelsea than go and drown there.

[Giggles]

Why do all these people dream of Real Madrid anyway? I'd rather be a worshipped legend at Liverpool/Arsenal/Chelsea than go and drown there.

Living in Spain.

[Waffdon]

I think he stays at Chelsea for one more crack at the Champions League anyway. Reads as if he’d sign a new contract.

[Kikó]

Meanwhile Wazza bagged another two last night for DC. 9 in 14.

[Yevrah]

Even in the glue factory state he's in he must be a class apart from most of the rest of the plebs in that league.

[Giggles]

Don't hit them much better than that.

1049388095534071808

[phonics]

Why do all these people dream of Real Madrid anyway? I'd rather be a worshipped legend at Liverpool/Arsenal/Chelsea than go and drown there.

You're also from England. This is a Belgian kid who moved to France at a young age. When Eden was the same age you were falling in love with Zola, he was watching Zidane. He had the added bonus of watching Del Piero/Ronaldo rather than Michael Duberry.

The man could have won himself 5 titles at Lille if he wanted to be worshipped as a legend.

[mugbull]

I know a guy from Argentina who supports Sevilla and apparently everyone thought he was gay growing up because he didn’t fuck with either of the Clasico crew

[phonics]

Argentina, famous for SJW culture

https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/67/590x/Ezequiel-Lavezzi-804746.jpg

[Jimmy Floyd]

You're also from England. This is a Belgian kid who moved to France at a young age. When Eden was the same age you were falling in love with Zola, he was watching Zidane. He had the added bonus of watching Del Piero/Ronaldo rather than Michael Duberry.

The man could have won himself 5 titles at Lille if he wanted to be worshipped as a legend.

The tapas argument is better than that one. I hardly think Mr and Mrs De Bock circa 2000 are sitting down in their Poirot pyjamas after a hearty waffle, chips and mayo supper, washed down with Leffe beer, to watch an evening's La Liga action any more than I was in England.

Football just seems to have got into a rut in the last decade whereby Madrid/Barcelona are seen as the natural destination of choice for any top player and I really don't understand why.

[phonics]

I think it's thought of as achieving the end game of football. It's like if Lebron James had never come around to destroy the Lakers/Celtics hegemony.

[niko_cee]

Because they pay top (acceptable) money and their feckless country offers the most opportunities for massive (3rd party) fraud, with little to no attached jeopardy. Italy loses out due to having ballsed the money-side of things up.

[Kikó]

Even in the glue factory state he's in he must be a class apart from most of the rest of the plebs in that league.

Bradley Wright Phillips of playing football in England fame, is the first player to score 20+ goals in 3 seasons. What a man.

[igor_balis]

the way that not supporting a giant team is seen as some sort of weird anomaly in a lot of countries is the best argument i've ever seen against cultural relativism. i'd vote tory and support a 2nd scramble for africa if the only thing we enforced on our captives was making them support teams like rotherham united.

[Pepe]

I think it's thought of as achieving the end game of football.

That's basically it. That is where the best players go, so if you think of yourself as one of the best, that is where you want to be. It is all ego-driven.

[phonics]

the way that not supporting a giant team is seen as some sort of weird anomaly in a lot of countries is the best argument i've ever seen against cultural relativism

*googles gif of someone taking a massive bong rip*

[Baz]

That Ramsey goal is indeed class.

[Gray Fox]

Yeah he'll do alright for us next year.

[SincereTheRebel]

Ramsey at Man Utd with the refresh would be OK. He isnt good enough to get into the current Liverpool team. Oxlade had the foresight to take a short-term step-down in order to make a long-term step-up. He got injured though and he does not get back into the Liverpool team right now either if he was fit.

[niko_cee]

Erm, yeah he does.

He might find it harder next year when Keita and Fabinho have had time to adjust, but right now he'd be the first midfielder on the team sheet.

[SincereTheRebel]

Are you talking about ramsey or oxlade?

[niko_cee]

Chamberlain.

[SincereTheRebel]

I disagree completely. You dont really want to break up a strong partnerships Liverpool have created in midfield. Oxlade comes back once fit and goes on the bench. It will take either someone else getting injured or another player falling off complety before he gets back into Liverpools midfield.

[niko_cee]

Liverpool's midfield is pretty workmanlike and has sorely missed the attacking impetus Chamberlain gave them. I don't think it's a coincidence that the team has been much less dynamic in an attacking sense since he got injured (other than for the rest of the match he got injured in).

Milner is an excellent player, but he doesn't have the ability to carry the ball/go past a player any more really, Henderson's an honest trier but technically limited, Wijnaldum's an odd one as he probably should have the game to play that '8' role but somehow ends up being a bit defensive/sideways-passy so ends up as 'the 6'. When they signed those midfielders in the summer I imagined the long term plan was for Fabinho to be the defensive pivot or whatever you call it and for Keita and Chamberlain to be the two 8s Klopp likes to have.