March '19 football, featuring DERBIES

[Lewis]

Dive.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's not a penalty but Fred has been a mess.

[Danny]

That's not a penalty but Fred has been a mess.

This. Why are you even giving him the opportunity to go down there?

[niko_cee]

That's a bullshit decision, but it would be interesting to know if VAR would overturn it. There is fractional contact, after all.

[The Merse]

phonics I thought arsenal stopped playing shit youngsters. That maitland-niles is dreadful

He had a decent game today and is a central midfielder.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That's a bullshit decision, but it would be interesting to know if VAR would overturn it. There is fractional contact, after all.

Clipping leg stump I think. You can stay with your on field decision Marais, you're on screen now.

How is this working in countries where they have it already?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This. Why are you even giving him the opportunity to go down there?

He's killed so many attacks as well by just running into a defender. He's utterly hopeless.

[SincereTheRebel]

He's the 3rd/4th choice right back. He's not been great recently but seems a bit unfair to judge him on it.

I judge a book by its cover. He isn't good enough.

[Lewis]

Not even being able to beat Arsenal will set Ole Gunnar Binman's job application back about three months.

[Boydy]

I judge a book by its cover. He isn't good enough.

By its tyres, you mean.

[Lewis]

I think Fred has been alright. Marcus Rashford has killed more attacks than anyone, and the less said about his mate the better.

[SincereTheRebel]

By its tyres, you mean.

:D

At least I'm consistent with my beliefs.

[Giggles]

Solksjaer out?

[niko_cee]

Yeah, it's a bit of a worry if they start cooling off on him.

What the fuck is wrong with fans at the moment though?

[Kikó]

Frustrating game but Lukaku failed to take any chances which cost us. Move on.

[phonics]

That Xhaka goal was karma for last year.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I think Fred has been alright. Marcus Rashford has killed more attacks than anyone, and the less said about his mate the better.

Rashford had a couple of moments though (the pass to Lukaku).

Probably all still pissed from midweek.

[phonics]

How do Arsenal not have another domestic game until April? How do you end up playing 27 games a week in December/January and now have 3 weeks off?

[niko_cee]

The Cup and an International break.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I like the March international break. One of the signs that winter is about to fuck off to the dustbin of history where it belongs (the Masters is the victory parade).

[phonics]

I like the March international break. One of the signs that winter is about to fuck off to the dustbin of history where it belongs (the Masters is the victory parade).

Not sure that March means anything anymore weather-wise, it's snowing in California atm.

[niko_cee]

Regardless of the weather, the return of daylight in the mornings and evenings is the herald of better things to come.

[Spikey M]

It's been like living in a constant hurricane here since Saturday.

Trees down, branches everywhere. 'Sake.

[John]

We had rain, snow, hail, gale force winds, complete stillness, and very pleasantly warm sunshine over the course of about four hours yesterday.

[Disco]

I'm about to mow the lawn between hailstorms, other than that is lovely today.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.com/weather/3494242

Pretty shit here too.

[phonics]

After letting you in it, more like Puta Cunta.

[bruhnaldo]

We had rain, snow, hail, gale force winds, complete stillness, and very pleasantly warm sunshine over the course of about four hours yesterday.

Didn't know you moved to Florida bub

[phonics]

Zidane back to Madrid :cab:

[Ian]

Well he needs something to do until Ole decides to give up the United job, I suppose.

[bruhnaldo]

If you're Zidane why the fuck would you do that

[Disco]

I thought he'd (very sensibly) said 'not yet'.

[Mazuuurk]

An astronomical amount of money, probably.

I suppose it can't get much worse for Real, so Zidane doesn't have THAT much to lose going there anymore. And no pressure to achieve anything until next season really.

[Lewis]

It's worked out quite nicely for him. Whether or not he actually knew the team needed breaking up last year, they will be chucking loads of money around this summer so happy days.

[Mazuuurk]

BTW Ramos seems to be Reals 3rd best scorer this year with 11 goals :cool:

[bruhnaldo]

https://e2.365dm.com/19/03/768x432/skysports-tottenham-arsenal_4604222.jpg?20190310215319

Gotta say that doesn't inspire confidence. Really needed to pick up points yesterday.

[Pleb]

We'll drop 6 more points for Arselol and give Ole the job after that.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You can put us down for goalless draws against West Ham, Burnley and Watford.

[bruhnaldo]

We'll draw Watford, outright lose to Wolves, beat West Ham, draw at Goodison, draw City at home, beat Chelsea to keep us mathematically in it when all hope will be lost, only to win our remaining fixtures and come up a point short.

[phonics]

Everton, Watford and Leicester away are all losses so you'll be fine.

[Lewis]

Arsenal managing to turn a win yesterday into a seethe about Jesse Lingard suggests a complete collapse is imminent.

[Shindig]

Meanwhile, the race for the bottom:

Newcastle: Bournemouth (a), Arsenal (a), Crystal Palace (h), Leicester (a), Southampton (h), Brighton (a), Liverpool (h), Fulham (a)
Southampton: Watford (a) Brighton (a), Liverpool (h), Wolves (h), Newcastle (a), Bournemouth (h), West Ham (a), Huddersfield (h)
Burnley: Leicester (h), Wolves (h), Bournemouth (a), Cardiff (h), Chelsea (a), Man City (h), Everton (a), Arsenal (h)
Cardiff: Brighton (a), Chelsea (h), Man City (a), Burnley (a), Liverpool (h), Fulham (a), Crystal Palace (h), Man Utd (a)

I'll not add Brighton the mix because I think Cardiff's run-in is glorious.

[bruhnaldo]

how in the fuck do u take corners here

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

[niko_cee]

Please say that's Spurs' new ground.

[Gray Fox]

It looks like it.

[niko_cee]

It is.

There's a fair bit of foreshortening or whatever it is called in that image though.

Or, you know, you just make the pitch a bit smaller.

It's not like anyone takes a corner from within the quadrant anyway.

[bruhnaldo]

I'm not gonna lie I didn't give it much thought beyond "lol what the fuck why do you BUILD a stadium like this" but i guess you could just make the pitch smaller but then why do it like that to begin with idk

i have many questions that don't necessarily need answers

[phonics]

You can't make the pitch smaller. All pitches must be standard size unless the stadium was built per-standardization.

[bruhnaldo]

Not gonna act like I knew that I just assumed you could from when they used to ask me in Football Manager what size I wanted the pitch for each season lmfao

Sorry.

Edit: Though I thought it had to be within certain dimensions I just assumed they had room to shrink lol

[Spikey M]

There's definitely bigger and smaller pitches in the Premier League.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/15122/10989411/will-the-bigger-wembley-pitch-affect-tottenham-this-season

https://www.football-stadiums.co.uk/articles/are-all-football-pitches-the-same-size/

You can make it smaller.

Why is Phonics always wrong?

[Raoul Duke]

They have min/max dimensions, no?

[bruhnaldo]

It says here actually, from the first article you posted:


That's because 105m x 68m is the stipulated pitch size by the Premier League. In other words, all Premier League clubs must have a pitch the same size as Wembley - unless their stadium doesn't allow for it.

Tottenham's White Hart Lane was an exception, with the stands at the 118-year-old ground restricting the pitch size.

Five other clubs are in the same position this season: Everton (100.48m x 68m), Chelsea (103m x 67.5m), Huddersfield (106m x 66.9m), Crystal Palace and Liverpool (both 101m x 68m) have been allowed to have smaller pitches, due to stadium restrictions.

So maybe they've thought "let's purposely build the pitch area smaller so we can have a smaller ground like at WHL" and the FA were all "Nah mate you fucked up"

Now THAT would be hilarious.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Maybe I should have read the article rather than just looking at the graph.

[Shindig]

I remember Highbury being a narrow pitch. It's an odd rule but I guess it level ... fuck, I'm not even finishing that sentence.

[SincereTheRebel]

Meanwhile, the race for the bottom:

Newcastle: Bournemouth (a), Arsenal (a), Crystal Palace (h), Leicester (a), Southampton (h), Brighton (a), Liverpool (h), Fulham (a)
Southampton: Watford (a) Brighton (a), Liverpool (h), Wolves (h), Newcastle (a), Bournemouth (h), West Ham (a), Huddersfield (h)
Burnley: Leicester (h), Wolves (h), Bournemouth (a), Cardiff (h), Chelsea (a), Man City (h), Everton (a), Arsenal (h)
Cardiff: Brighton (a), Chelsea (h), Man City (a), Burnley (a), Liverpool (h), Fulham (a), Crystal Palace (h), Man Utd (a)

I'll not add Brighton the mix because I think Cardiff's run-in is glorious.

Newcastle, Southampton and especially Cardiff can get the fuck out of here .

[phonics]

Mahow so desperate to shoot his shot that he ends with Bruh pointing out he's a tit.

[Gray Fox]

Newcastle, Southampton and especially Cardiff can get the fuck out of here .

Huddersfield are already 1 spot, only 2 more can go. They've got 14 points in 30 games and need 16 points just to get out the relegation zone now. With 8 games left they're gone.
Fulham are only 3 points better off than them as well.

Looking at those fixtures, unless Burnley win well in their next 4 games, they're fucked. Cardiff has a solid run in there too. Newcastle and Southampton will be fine.

[Giggles]

Outswingers all the way at Spurs then.

[mugbull]

Good luck if you're a team with no lefties and you get a left-sided corner

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mahow so desperate to shoot his shot that he ends with Bruh pointing out he's a tit.
I'll take a shot at any time from anywhere.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Spurs have been practising no-backlift chip corners for the last five years and are about to dominate world football using them. That's also the reason for no transfers and the stadium delay, they're just waiting for Eriksen's foot bones to be sanded off just so.

[bruhnaldo]

4D Chess wow

[John Arne]

I'm watching Johor Darul Ta'zim play Gyeongnam in the AFC Champions League.... And Jordan Mutch appears to be plodding through midfield. Twice the size of the Malaysian opposition.

Edit: only 27, and playing in the Premier season before last.

[Giggles]

:D I hope this is true.

1105497774131474432

[Offshore Toon]

Spurs probably want their fans as close to the pitch as possible. Then there's always the idea that they know its awkward, but they'll be the only team training for corner taking in such a tight space so they'll have an advantage.

[Spikey M]

:D I hope this is true.

1105497774131474432

:D

[Giggles]

:D

It is too. They felt the need to also announce that "he wouldn't be attending to accept the award" :D

The FAI are some shambles but anything that cements this fact is a good thing.

[Spikey M]

It is too. They felt the need to also announce that "he wouldn't be attending to accept the award" :D

The FAI are some shambles but anything that cements this fact is a good thing.

That is unfathomable. I don't care if he played like Messi, you chuck the thing at the soon deceased Robbie Keane over him, surely?

[Giggles]

That is unfathomable. I don't care if he played like Messi, you chuck the thing at the soon deceased Robbie Keane over him, surely?

They haven't announced the senior award yet. My money is going on Grealish. Or Eden Hazard.

[SincereTheRebel]

That rice kid does not even make 10 caps for england over the next 5 years. Guranteed.

[Giggles]

That rice kid does not even make 10 caps for england over the next 5 years. Guranteed.

Barring injury he'll have at least 25 in that time. There's no competition for his position (unless Southgate wants to use him as a central defender).

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was nice by Sterling.

[niko_cee]

How exactly did Schalke get out of their group? Or even finish in the places to qualify in the first place for that matter?

[Giggles]

I never knew Morata had left Chelsea.

[Lewis]

A.S. Ronaldo.

[Manc]

Juventus going hell for leather. Extra time all over this

[Giggles]

Cronaldo :cool:

[Mazuuurk]

Ronaldo seems like such a complete nutcase. Just obsessed.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Thought that was saved in real time.

[mugbull]

Juventus on par with Manchester United and Real as the worst club in football. Atletico have done absolutely nothing today though, so there's only so much you can say

[Waffdon]

That didn’t even look in when in real time. Some player. Who the fuck is Messi.

[Raoul Duke]

Schalke getting fisted.

Ronaldo :drool:

[Lewis]

Juventus going hell for leather. Extra time all over this

They could probably take every match left at a million miles an hour. It's not like they have any domestic strains left.

[Shindig]

That didn’t even look in when in real time. Some player. Who the fuck is Messi.

It makes me want to see Messi in a different competitive league just to see how he adapts.

[bruhnaldo]

can someone explain back passes to me cause he's kicked it back to the keeper there hasn't he?

[Shindig]

It needs to be deliberately played back.

[bruhnaldo]

i've never heard of this lad Juventus just brought on damn i'm out of touch or something

[bruhnaldo]

It needs to be deliberately played back.

I mean ok sure but idk seemed somewhat deliberate in a sense but I get why it wasn't called then

[Jimmy Floyd]

i've never heard of this lad Juventus just brought on damn i'm out of touch or something

My days of knowing who footballers are ended at about 27/28. 20 year old me would be genuinely disgusted.

[mugbull]

Not a penalty at all

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Never rated Bernadeschi much but some of the runs he's had today have been quality.

[Raoul Duke]

Ronaldo :cool:

[Offshore Toon]

JUVE, STORIA DI UN GRAND AMORE. :cool:

I do love these nights when Ronaldo just dons everybody silly.

[Lewis]

The 'keeper went far too early.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

i've never heard of this lad Juventus just brought on damn i'm out of touch or something

He scored two on the weekend.

[bruhnaldo]

I think Juve played Friday if I recall so I deffo missed it my fault

[Offshore Toon]

https://youtu.be/U9yPVNfSZ3E

:cool:

[Lewis]

This music is why Europe is crap.

[bruhnaldo]

Cristiano is amazing man

[Waffdon]

Trophy less Gerrard :drool:

[ItalAussie]

Not dead. Got up early to watch the Juventus-Atletico match.

What a game. I've watched the replay a half dozen times, and I still can't figure out how Ronaldo got to the ball for the first goal. Oblak's non-save for the second goal may be one of the best ever saves to not actually be a save in the end. And Bernadeschi's run to win the penalty was the highlight of the entire match. Ronaldo was worth every penny we paid for him.

[SvN]

If Juve win the Champions League this season, I'd say that confirms Ronaldo for the best Champions League player of all time. He's such a big game player.

[Lewis]

He already is the best Champions' League player of all time. The question is what it does to the main debate.

[SincereTheRebel]

I still edge Messi over Ronaldo. Both have had to change their game in recent years. Ronaldo is now on the end of everything in the box, whereas Messi is still trying to make shit happen on the half way line. Both are 1 and 2 of all time on my list.

[Waffdon]

He already is the best Champions' League player of all time. The question is what it does to the main debate.

This.

I’d still take Ronaldo regardless.

[Mazuuurk]

I'm amazed by Ronaldos seeming ability to will himself to score. Sometimes you can just see it on him, he's a beast to begin with - but somehow still has the ability to go into Beast Mode from there anyway.

[Pen]

Didn’t Ronaldo do this against Juve last season? (or the season before that)

[Mazuuurk]

Beeb has some highlight reel of LvGs best comments. That man was a genius.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/av/football/35145613


Captain "Mike Smalling" :D

[Disco]

Ronaldo > *

I don't think there's even much doubt about it any more.

[phonics]

Messi almost single handedly dragged Barca to a title last season. They lost one game all season, in which he didn't play...

[SincereTheRebel]

Beeb has some highlight reel of LvGs best comments. That man was a genius.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/av/football/35145613


Captain "Mike Smalling" :D

LvG looks like a worm.

[bruhnaldo]

Messi almost single handedly dragged Barca to a title last season. They lost one game all season, in which he didn't play...

Cristiano single handedly dragged Portugal to a Euro final and, especially given Real's results this year, seemingly 3 European Cups in a row though?

[phonics]

Those are cup competitions. You can add the amount of actually competitive games he played in in those 4 cups and it probably doesn't even add up to one league season. I'm not trying to do down any of those achievements but to say Messi isn't close is just horse shit.

[niko_cee]

It was 6-2 in leagues in his time in Spain, for comparison.

And they do say that's the true measure of a team, although I don't now about individual players.

[Disco]

Those are cup competitions. You can add the amount of actually competitive games he played in in those 4 cups and it probably doesn't even add up to one league season. I'm not trying to do down any of those achievements but to say Messi isn't close is just horse shit.

How many of league games were against Albacete U11's? And lets not get silly, nobody claimed it wasn't close.

[phonics]

How many of league games were against Albacete U11's? And lets not get silly, nobody claimed it wasn't close.

The same amount of games as Real Madrid I presume.

[Kikó]

I actually think it's ruud.

[mugbull]

Ronaldo definitely has more of that “clutch” factor that american sports journalists always talk about. Whether that makes him a better player, idk. He’s vile, though. There’s a reason Mike Tyson isn’t such a huge draw anymore

[Disco]

Yeah, he isn't a boxer anymore.

[Lewis]

I think it always came down to who had the better supporting cast, and to what extent that enabled them to do whatever they were doing. If Ronaldo wins multiple Champions' Leagues across three sides it would give him a better claim to have got the best out of his respective teammates, since Barcelona (and therefore the other bloke) have arguably under-achieved in the competition since 2011, when the rest of the side was pretty outrageous. They won in 2015 with peak Luis Suarez and Neymar on fire, but one in seven with Lionel Messi and the ability to sign whoever you want isn't particularly great.

[mugbull]

Lol. That's 10 times the penalty that yesterday's was

[Waffdon]

‘Only him’ says the commentator when Aguero literally done the same thing yesterday.

[Ian]

A thing is always better when a top, top player does it than when anybody else does exactly the same thing.

I remember whichever dickhead La Liga co-commentator it is Sky have / used to have coaxing himself towards climax because Messi was still running in the 90th minute.

[Mike]

Mane, obvs.

[Bernanke]

That's pure class.

[Giggles]

:D

1105935057074696195
small

[Raoul Duke]

I think it always came down to who had the better supporting cast, and to what extent that enabled them to do whatever they were doing. If Ronaldo wins multiple Champions' Leagues across three sides it would give him a better claim to have got the best out of his respective teammates, since Barcelona (and therefore the other bloke) have arguably under-achieved in the competition since 2011, when the rest of the side was pretty outrageous. They won in 2015 with peak Luis Suarez and Neymar on fire, but one in seven with Lionel Messi and the ability to sign whoever you want isn't particularly great.

These stats are mad:



Ronaldo is the Champions League’s all-time top scorer with 124, and there is more than that. Ronaldo without penalties is the Champions League’s second-top scorer. Ronaldo at Real Madrid alone is the Champions League’s fourth-top scorer. Only Leo Messi and Raúl have scored more Champions League goals than Ronaldo has scored in knockout rounds alone. He scored in the 2008 final (although he missed a penalty), in the 2014 final and twice in the 2017 final. In 2016 he scored the penalty in the shootout that won it.


https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/mar/13/cristiano-ronaldo-juventus-champions-league-atletico-madrid

[Lewis]

That might officially be the worst penalty ever.

[Mike]

Virgil!! :cool2:

[Waffdon]

English football taking over.

[Boydy]

Went for a shit and missed that goal. :moop:

[Giggles]

The longer the cunts are in this the better.

[Lewis]

Bayern are a proper direction-less mess. The pitfalls of binman management.

[Kikó]

The horror of a Liverpool double or a City Quadruple LOOMS LARGE.

[CJay]

Have we had 4 English teams in the quarters before?

Bayern were really bad tonight. Lewandowski is now too immobile for the highest level I feel. Bayern haven't really got much going for them player-wise. A load of big units and some foreign fancy dans with little end product.

[igor_balis]

Robertson getting booked was very stupid.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The pendulum has swung back around, PL now completely dominant again. Cue Karl-Heinz having another whinge in the summer no doubt.

[Mellberg]

Have we had 4 English teams in the quarters before?

Bayern were really bad tonight. Lewandowski is now too immobile for the highest level I feel. Bayern haven't really got much going for them player-wise. A load of big units and some foreign fancy dans with little end product.

I don't think so. Might be wrong and can't be arsed to check, but even the two years where we had 3 semi finalists there weren't four quarter finalists.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We had four in 07/08 (Ronaldo Year). The classic Sky Four, RIP.

[Guybrush]

08/09 as well.

[Mellberg]

I've done well there.

Villa 2 points off the playoffs from absolutely no where. Grealish back for 3 games and we've won all 3. I'd love him to stick around. Brilliant to watch, but think he'll be off in the summer.

[Manc]

Barca and City to draw the easier ties, small pockets v bin man & Ronaldo v VVD.

[Lewis]

You knew where you were with the Sky Four. We wouldn't have Trump or Brexit if they were still dominant.

[niko_cee]

Anyone but an English team.

Final tickets go on ballot tomorrow, fyi.

Flights to Madrid already seem to be going mental. :cab:

[Clunge]

I've done well there.

Villa 2 points off the playoffs from absolutely no where. Grealish back for 3 games and we've won all 3. I'd love him to stick around. Brilliant to watch, but think he'll be off in the summer.
It is remarkable what's happened in the past week - we've been completely directionless for months, scavenging the odd result here and there and drawing loads of games that just about kept us in the hunt. Now, Grealish back, three wins, and we're right in the hunt again at just the right time.

[Shindig]

Sometimes, all you need is a spark. Where would we be without Almiron?

[ItalAussie]

Didn’t Ronaldo do this against Juve last season? (or the season before that)

Last season. Got some against us in the CL final the year before, but it was really the Casemiro goal that did us in.

[ItalAussie]

I'm amazed by Ronaldos seeming ability to will himself to score. Sometimes you can just see it on him, he's a beast to begin with - but somehow still has the ability to go into Beast Mode from there anyway.

Without wanting to harp on about it too much, his first goal was a fantastic example. I'm not normally the sort of person who talks about things like "desire" or "wanting it more", but that goal was basically willed out of nothing. He was completely covered, and he still found a ghost of a way through.

[mugbull]

He scored that goal because he has hops that an NBA player would be proud of, not because he really wanted to score

[Pepe]

Hop off mate.

[phonics]

Paul Scholes has left Pldham :cab:

[Disco]

Blaming the club on the way out too.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Dynamo Kiev would be nowhere near Championship survival based on the evidence of these two legs.

[Waffdon]

Chelsea should sell Hazard if it means Hudson-Odoi staying.

[Giggles]

Does Wenger manage anyone now?

[Mazuuurk]

Where do you find streams for games these days? Cant find a good one for the Arsenal game :(

[Spikey M]

That's not the streams fault.

[Offshore Toon]

Footybite

[Giggles]

Who's the thick in the balaclava and did he play the whole match with it on?

1106313153581932545

[Ian]

Aubameyang wishing he was Facundo Sava.

[Giggles]

It's a wonder he's allowed flounce around in that.

[Waffdon]

Man City v Barcelona
Ajax v Liverpool
Man Utd v Spurs
Juventus v Porto

Thank me later x

[Jimmy Floyd]

This Europa League has a nice Cup Winners' Cup feel to it. I bet we'll get Arsenal next though.

[Giggles]

Man City v Barcelona
Ajax v Liverpool
Man Utd v Spurs
Juventus v Porto

Thank me later x

Liverpool won't get Ajax because Porto are there.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I hope Guy Verhofstadt hasn't checked the coefficient table lately, he might combust.

[Gray Fox]

That draw above has been making its way around today. Where did it originate?

I remember Roma v Liverpool tickets going on sale the day before the draw was made last season.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The final they want would be Juventus v Barcelona, so they need to try and see off City now. The above is what I would fix if I was an evil UEFA baron.

[niko_cee]

I reckon Juve are a better bet for knocking City out than Barcelona, although I tend to think both might struggle.

If it was going to be a UEFA hatchet job it would be the English sides against each other with Juve and Barcelona sharing the byes. Barcelona to breeze past Porto, Juve to ruthlessly crush the upstartish Ajax.

[Lewis]

I lolled at whoever tweeted it that United will get two away ties against Liverpool and City will get Burton Albion.

[igor_balis]

I know nobody else even remotely cares about the baggie boys but I totally supported the decision to bin off Darren Moore (despite absolutely worshipping him as a player), and I feel somewhat vindicated by the result last night. Top bloke, bad manager.

[CJay]

Beautiful draw.

[-james-]

Juve - Barca final is on, shock.

[Lewis]

There you go, City getting the piss draw.

[Kikó]

United to win it with style.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I will be supporting the other 6 teams. Stick it to the man.

[Kikó]

City Liverpool final and all media abolished.

[SincereTheRebel]

Juve - Barca final is on, shock.

We havent had a Messi Vs Ronaldo european final yet have we? :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

And let's hope we never do. Team sport.

[Giggles]

Liverpool won't get Ajax because Porto are there.

That was unexpected.

[SincereTheRebel]

The actual draw

Man City vs Tottenham
Barcelona vs Man Utd
Juventus vs Ajax
Porto vs Liverpool

[SincereTheRebel]

UL Draw

Slavia Praha vs Chelsea
Benfica vs Eintracht Frankfurt
Villarreal vs Valencia
Napoli vs Arsenal

[phonics]

Napoli in the quarters and Villereal or Valencia in the Semis. Not sure we could have got a harder draw.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Lower Priority Arsenal will have the legs reversed as well.

[Smjffy]

Semis then we go out to Barcelona...cracking draw though.

[Mazuuurk]

Didn't realise this was the case now:


From the 2018–19 season, if English clubs win both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, and neither finish the Premier League in a position that qualifies them for the UEFA Champions League, the following will happen:

The club that won the UEFA Champions League will go straight into the group stage
The UEFA Europa League winners will go into the UEFA Champions League group stage
The club that finished fourth in the Premier League will transfer into the UEFA Europa League

So there's a very real possibility of the 4th team in the PL not getting into the CL.

[Mellberg]

No there's not.

[niko_cee]

Only if the winners of the Champions League finish outside the top 4, which is pretty unlikely.

For 4th placed Arsenal to be shafted either United or Spurs would have to win the champions league and finish 5th and Chelsea would have to win the wafer cup and finish 6th (those league positions being interchangeable).

[John Arne]

Fabio Cannavaro new China manager.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47586593

Fifa has approved a revised 24-team Club World Cup starting in 2021 despite top European clubs saying they would boycott the tournament.

The new competition is expected to include eight teams from Europe.

It will run every four years and take place from June to July in the slot currently used for the World Cup warm-up event, the Confederations Cup.

What shit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This Leeds-Sheffield game has had a lively start. Two extremely good sides.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Outfield player in goal klaxon. Leeds should have pissed this but they have zero composure.

[John Arne]

Crewe were 0-1 down before scoring 5 goals in 9 minutes. 5-1.

[Shindig]

Well, I guess I'll take that point.

[Jimmy Floyd]

2-0 Swansea in the FA Cup, didn't see that coming.

[Shindig]

Second goal was nicely worked as well. The second half could be a proper sulk.

[Gray Fox]

Get your pennies on a City win.

[Boydy]

City's second was never a penalty and Aguero was offside for their third. Poor Swansea.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Quality side this.

[Pen]

Feel bad for Swansea. They were properly robbed there by the ref.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ref got threatened by Richard Keys with a razor blade at half time as the QUADRUPLE looked in danger.

[Pen]

Quality side this.

Yeah, but why Romero. I don’t get this cup keeper thing.

[randomlegend]

Yeah, but why Romero. I don’t get this cup keeper thing.

He's been a pretty amazing backup keeper, I think giving the cup games to keep him happy to stay is good business.

[randomlegend]

Wolves look a dangerous side. Very well drilled defensively and bright on the counter.

[Giggles]

How hard is it to realise there's no C in Doherty.

[randomlegend]

Christ, I've just seen the Swansea Vs City highlights. Swansea must be absolutely fuming.

Also I'm coming round to Jimmy's idea of below knee amputations as punishment for cynical tackles to stop counter-attacks. You should never be in a position where breaking the rules with every intention of getting caught is advantageous. I don't even blame the players for doing it - if the rules encourage it then the rules are wrong. Like that farce badminton match at the Olympics the other year where it was better to lose.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

We've been shit.

[mo]

Is it me or did Romero react in slo-mo to that shot?

[randomlegend]

Yeah, Wolves have deserved this.

After praising Romero earlier that was shocking keeping for the second goal.

[Lewis]

Ole Gunnar Binman being out-tacticked (again) more like.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's never a red.

[randomlegend]

????????

That's the softest red I've ever seen.

[Browning]

He's the last defender and he took the man before the ball.... looks like a red to me.

[randomlegend]

No chance. We'll still lose but that wasn't a red in a million years so well done VAR.

[mo]

Has a red card been overturned by VAR before or is this a precedent?

[randomlegend]

Wolves have been excellent but they are cheating buggers with all the professional fouls. That's about the 6th.

[Browning]

Even the commentator were saying the more you see it, the more it looks like a red. There's no chance it was a "clear and obvious error" at any rate. VAR seems to require about 52% chance the decision was wrong, rather than 100% like in the NFL (and like it's meant to work).

[Giggles]

:drool: :drool: :drool:

1107041606450978817

[Giggles]

It's all a bit strange but doesn't seem to be anything wrong with it.
Basically get paid €400k a year but then lend your employer €100k because they have no money :cab:

1107063813201973248

[Vercetti]

He's no Guillermo Franco, for sure, but I'm starting to quite like Hernandez, the little scamp.

[Shindig]

Okay, just saw Bournemouth's penalty. He ... made a lot of it. At least Ritchie's equaliser was properly smashed in.

[SincereTheRebel]

No point even having a debate. Nuno is the manager of the season.

[Clunge]

3-0 vs Boro. John McGinn and Super Jack on fire. Four in four now for Villa and we’re into the play-offs for the first time all season. We’re peaking right on time.

[Mellberg]

We're looking half decent. The signings of Mings (who is far too good for this division) and Hause have transformed the defence, whilst the return of Grealish has improved basically everything else.

We could do with going up this season. I don't particularly like the Prem, but wouldn't want to lose some of these players. Namely Grealish, McGinn and Mings.

[Clunge]

Getting Mings permanently would be a massive score. I’ve not been all that impressed with Hause though, tbh.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was looking at the table this morning and suddenly thought: what if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Rejuvenated Manchester United maintain their current 'net' league position of 6th (or real position if Chelsea get a point today), and go out to Barcelona?

What then?

[randomlegend]

Then we're still 1000 times better than under Mourinho and he'll still have done a fantastic job.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Will the suits get rid though? With 4th or a semi/final in the CL it would be an easy decision to keep him.

[-james-]

xG strikes again.

[Lewis]

I think everything beyond steadying the ship (in time-honoured, attacking, youth-trusting, Mike Phelan-employing, comeback-making...) was a bonus. These last two defeats have brought things back down to Earth bit, but he is still the best option outside of matey likely BOTTLING IT.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Also it's Phelan really isn't it? He's just a frontman.

[Lewis]

Phelan's at the wheel
Tell me how good does it feel
We've got Blackmore, Mark Robins, and Webb
This club has a long tradition of playing attractive, attacking...

[Kikó]

Also it's Phelan really isn't it? He's just a frontman.

How patronising.

United have a team with a number of deficiencies which have been shown up in a few games recently. Arsenal was unlucky, yesterday was poor. If we finish 6th then at least OGS put us in with a chance that of finishing top 4 as it was a complete disaster under Mourinho. PSG is a night that can't be taken away.

[Mike]

Mane, obvs.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This Millwall v Brighton game is epically bad. Massive hailstorm, nawty fans, both teams playing desperate football.

[Browning]

Was just about to say Liverpool aren't playing like contenders here and then they do that :drool:

[Boydy]

Ah yes, a good old Liverpool goalkeeper fuck up. It's been a while.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Everything about that was perfect, from Klopp having just brought Milner on presumably to shore things up, to the scorer, to Virgil van Dijk's face like he'd just had a baseball bat shoved up his arse.

[Mike]

Master stroke bringing on Milner! Mr Penalty.

[Shindig]

Sulley March deserves better.

[Gray Fox]

That's brain dead for their keeper. We were on the ropes as well.

[Boydy]

My fucking stream cut out just as Milner stepped back from placing the ball on the spot FOR FUCK'S SAKE.

[Baz]

My fucking stream cut out just as Milner stepped back from placing the ball on the spot FOR FUCK'S SAKE.Saved.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That Fulham goalkeeping error is nothing compared to the one which has just let Brighton back to 2-2 at the Den. Easily the biggest fuck up I've seen this season.

[mo]

Couldn’t happen to a more deserving team (Milwall). Monumental fuck up there from the keeper.

[Shindig]

Millwall have it in them to shit City out but that was daft. Brighton were toothless until the second goal. Even then, March has nobody near him. Millwall paid the price for backing off.

[Manc]

Clutch Mane is fantastic.

[Shindig]

He's been really reliable for a goal at the minute. What you want when Salah's not firing.

[Gray Fox]

As long as someone is putting it in the net I don't care who. But he's not scored in 6 or 7, and is still on the same goals as Kane and Aubameyang and only 1 behind Aguero. So he's not been all that bad.

I sense both goalkeepers are getting a slap after that game.

[Shindig]

I'm surprised Fraser Forster's played nothing this season beyond a couple of reserve games. Worth a look unless Karius comes back a new man.