A thread to discuss football during April

[Ian]

LA Galaxy and the Portland Timbers have got April off to an AMAZING start with Ibrahimovic scoring two penalties.

On our shores we're getting off to a thrilling start too with tonight's big game, Curzon Ashton vs. Blyth Spartans, kicking off at 7.45pm.

Some other highlights of the month's football include France Women vs. Japan Women in a friendly at 8pm on Thursday, Wimbledon vs. Accrington Stanley on Saturday, Red Bull Salzburg vs, Sturm Graz on Sunday the 14th, Strømsgodset vs. Mjøndalen IF the very same weekend(!) and many, many more that I can't see because the BBC's general fixture list only goes up to the 15th for now.

[phonics]

Genuinely no idea how you come back from this. A goalkeeper that's scared of the ball?

1112451516315639814

[SvN]

That gif is 3 years old, when he was 17.

[SincereTheRebel]

At least a third of the close range shots would be blocked if defenders would face the ball, instead of turning their back to it. A goalkeeper though, that is a disgrace.

[Pleb]

QPR have sacked McClaren :D

[bruhnaldo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q2inkOZA1E

This dickhead did this right in front of me last night. I'm so sad, so very very sad.

[SvN]

QPR have sacked McClaren :D

I was just reading about that. I somehow completely forgot he managed Newcastle a few years ago. I genuinely can't remember it at all.

[Queenslander]

Steve McClaren's Middlesbrough had me playing hundreds of hours 20 years ago.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

At least he can spend more time with Casper.

[Pleb]

Are we now officially in the TITLE RUN IN this month?

[niko_cee]

Yeah, Sky rolled out the associated bunting this weekend just gone.

[Bernanke]

https://twitter.com/edendassidy/status/955687891144986624?lang=en

This is quality. Personal highlight:


February 2011 - A nine year old named Filippo held a banner at the San Siro begging Inter to stop losing cos they were teasing him at school. Inter invited him to training ground, apologized to him officially then lost their game

[phonics]

Yeah, Sky rolled out the associated bunting this weekend just gone.

I saw Sky posting a Neville quote on the sky website and they actually capitalised 'The Run-in' like it was God or something.

[phonics]

Oh and the top earners in futbol:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D3FXVfvX4AI8Oji.jpg:large

Considering Bale signed that contract, what, four to five years ago? He's not done badly to still be up top.

[SincereTheRebel]

Sanchez is truly a don.

[Lewis]

That is a bit lop-sided. Is Ronaldo really on two million a week, or have they just not included anyone else's sponsorship earnings?

[phonics]

That is a bit lop-sided. Is Ronaldo really on two million a week, or have they just not included anyone else's sponsorship earnings?

IIRC Juve's ticket prices went up 15-20% to pay his wages even though bringing him in massively boosted their sponsorship income

edit: lol it was in fact 30%, an increase which covers exactly one week of Ronaldos wages.

[Lewis]

Even still. Nowhere else has Messi earning that in salary, and surely Paulp Ogba pulls in a fair amount of Adidas (and whatever else) money.

[phonics]

Even still. Nowhere else has Messi earning that in salary, and surely Paulp Ogba pulls in a fair amount of Adidas (and whatever else) money.

Take it up with France Football mate.

Teams for tonight:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D3FhZgZW0AQJT-o.jpg:large

Is Karl Darlow the most Proper Football Man name about in the modern game?

[John]

Take it up with France Football mate.

Alright, Harold.

[randomlegend]

At least he can spend more time with Casper.

:D

Destroy and exit complete.

[Lewis]

Woah what is Ander Herrera doing the little 'I love this club me' weasel?

[Shindig]

I was just reading about that. I somehow completely forgot he managed Newcastle a few years ago. I genuinely can't remember it at all.

It really has been a blur since Twente.

[phonics]

I'm not his biggest fan but Ramsey is absolutely bossing this game.

[phonics]

I'm not his biggest fan but Ramsey is absolutely bossing this game.

More than deserved.

[niko_cee]

If Arsenal lol their way into 3rd (or even 4th) it's going to somewhat put pay to the idea that the top end of the Premier League is packed with insurmountable Europe-dominating quality.

That said, I see 5 of their last 7 games are away, and all of them 'tricky', how does that work?

:cab:

Opposite view would be they are all against mid-table, nothing to play for already-on-the-beach bilge.

[niko_cee]

The capitulations Spurs and Chelsea have put in to get to this point can't be overstated. They must have been a dozen points clear of the chasing pack at points.

[phonics]

The capitulations Spurs and Chelsea have put in to get to this point can't be overstated. They must have been a dozen points clear of the chasing pack at points.

Spurs were 13 points ahead of United when those 'Could Spurs go above City?' stories ran. They've picked up a point since mid-February.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That is some clearance off the line.

[phonics]

Matt Richie has prevented two clear goals with that fall in the box and that clearance. Fun game though. Arsenal normally slow the fuck down when faced against this sort of team but it's been high tempo throughout.

[phonics]

If that's a yellow, the game has gone.

edit1: I am absolutely tempting fate but Ki has been a real disapointment for Newcastle. I thought he'd go on to earn Nobby Solano levels of legend status.

edit 2: That is an absolutely awful goal, zero pressure on any player.

[Mazuuurk]

Matt Richie has prevented two clear goals with that fall in the box and that clearance. Fun game though. Arsenal normally slow the fuck down when faced against this sort of team but it's been high tempo throughout.

That's one thing I really like about Guendouzi. He constantly brings up the tempo in midfield.

He does a fair few mistakes for it as well (and his quality in games steeply decline after the 70th minute every time), but still. Very impressed by him given his age so far.

[SincereTheRebel]

When ive watched Guendouzi play, he just seems like a taller Wilshere with more hair. That whole age thing. Wasnt old Jack doing the same thing, but then never improved at all during his time at Arsenal?

[Mazuuurk]

That's quite true I guess. Wilshere had better touch. But he got so fucked by his injuries (and maybe from smoking and drinking and what have you to an unknown extent) - but I still think he could have been a proper great player with less injuries and maybe better mentality.

Of course you never know. Doesn't mean there isn't potential.

[thommo]

Let's get this relegation done and dusted tonight please. No false victories at the last, just a soul-sapping 1-0 loss at Watford and back in the Championship before Easter, and I can already begin to brush this car crash of a season under the carpet before August swings back around.

[Foe]

Sky channel 115 now for some elite level football. :cool:

[SvN]

We're going to have to be at our best tonight to beat "The Wolverhampton Wolves" according to the pundit on NBC.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

McTominay :cool:

Good hit from THE LAD.

[randomlegend]

Nice finish that.

[niko_cee]

If Nuno's already taken the Chelsea job someone should tell him that they could do with his side returning from holiday here.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Jota is just offside.

Fred is useless though.

[SvN]

He's nowhere near offside.

[Foe]

Drapers brother nearly scored, nearly got sent off and got hooked at half time. 2-1 though :cool:

[Ian]

Best bit of defending of the game so far was Lukaku when McTominay was lining up another shot on the edge of the area.

[bruhnaldo]

Pogba is fucking useless 9 out of 10 matches.

[niko_cee]

Also, well done to whichever set of fans are paying their respects to Bobby Firmino.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If Nuno's already taken the Chelsea job someone should tell him that they could do with his side returning from holiday here.

They always get up for TV games.

[niko_cee]

With Neves well on his way to being the next one, the question now arises which £50m midfielder has been the most disappointing this season? Keita has done fuck all. Fred has done less than fuck all and Jorginho is actively harmful to his side much of the time. Mahrez gets himself out of the equation by being relatively useful on occasion. Any other contenders?

City dodging the Fred and the Jorginho bullets is a right sickener.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What a mong.

[Mazuuurk]

Fabinho, and arguably that Seri who was supposed to be really good.

As for next seasons contenders, I'm expecting Ajax to sell half their team to various top clubs for sums that'll end up looking even more ludicrous than they initially did as these lads start assisting the opposition teams proper.

[SincereTheRebel]

The crazy fees are only going to last so long once clubs figure out the players that they are signing for £70m+ are fucking atrocious.

[Mike]

Fabinho is quality, should be our first pick in midfield really. Are you thinking of Keita who has been a disappointment for sure.

[Ian]

Binman out.

[Ian]

Lol at Jones and Smalling sandwiching their own goalie too.

[bruhnaldo]

am fuckin seething me

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fabinho, and arguably that Seri who was supposed to be really good.

As for next seasons contenders, I'm expecting Ajax to sell half their team to various top clubs for sums that'll end up looking even more ludicrous than they initially did as these lads start assisting the opposition teams proper.

Fabinho was £40m and has been great, Seri was £30m and shit.

[Mazuuurk]

Fabinho is quality, should be our first pick in midfield really. Are you thinking of Keita who has been a disappointment for sure.

He's started looking alright now, but he started the season wank.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Also, Jones and Smalling should never be on the same pitch together.

[Mike]

He didn’t play for months while he settled in? Been ace since.

[Mazuuurk]

Who scored that goal for Wolves, was it Jimenez at the end of the day?

[Mike]

Good old United :D

[Lewis]

This is probably better than coasting to third and kidding themselves that various players are good enough.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Would be our first loss after scoring first in almost 80 games.

[bruhnaldo]

This is probably better than coasting to third and kidding themselves that various players are good enough.

they all need to go

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's a shame Smalling couldn't get the double.

[Lewis]

Would be our first loss after scoring first in almost 80 games.

I bet half of those finished 1-1.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I bet half of those finished 1-1.

Sky said we've won 60 odd of those but I don't buy it

78 without a loss, 69 (oioi) of those were wins.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1113175288635109376

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D3LL1RAW0AMSMgr.jpg

:lol:

[randomlegend]

....dog dirt....

[Kikó]

Young is shite. As is Pogba.

[Gray Fox]

Messi with another belter of a free kick.

1113189584647729155

[Kikó]

And Suarez bagged last minute.

[Shindig]

Alright, two down. Over to you, Cardiff.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Pogba can still make himself a 6th place ring so it's not all bad.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1113001051114954754

Pickford doesn't like people calling him butterfingers.

[Magic]

Someone called his fiance a fat cunt apparently.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Someone called his fiance a fat cunt apparently.

Maybe she should shack up with a kickboxer.

[Shindig]

There's only one way to really solve this.

"Yeah, mate. That's why I punch." :cool:

[thommo]

A typically awful defensive performance in the 2nd half to seal our relegation. 9 straight losses, 76 goals conceded. It's a sorry fucking tale.

[SincereTheRebel]

Hopefully Wolves can keep a hold of the manager and the cirital players in the team. If history is anything to go by, there are going to be teams who come in for the likes of Nevas, Nuno, Doherty and Coady. Buying elite players from elite teams isnt really the way forward anymore. You are better off buying the best players from mid-table teams and then they take it to another level.

[John Arne]

I can't see any top 6 team coming in for Coady or Doherty - so I reckon could stay.

[SincereTheRebel]

Doherty has been the best RB in the league by far. Biased. He would walk into Arsenals slot. Man City too if they decided to move Walker to CB which is very possible.

[SvN]

He's no Ashley Young

[SincereTheRebel]

He's no Ashley Young

His time has come and gone.

[Andy]

Hopefully Wolves can keep a hold of the manager and the cirital players in the team. If history is anything to go by, there are going to be teams who come in for the likes of Nevas, Nuno, Doherty and Coady. Buying elite players from elite teams isnt really the way forward anymore. You are better off buying the best players from mid-table teams and then they take it to another level.

They will all be off in the summer and Mendez will make a small fortune on every deal.

Looking forward to another summer were we have no one worth selling.

[niko_cee]

The only player I can see someone spending big money on out of that Wolves team is Neves.

Moutinho's too old to interest anyone, Jiminez needs to be signed by Wolves (rather than sold by), and the rest are just decent players. Big clubs in the market for players from within the league are going to want them to be either 'top, top players' (only maybe Neves at Wolves) or homegrown, which doesn't catch many of their players. Coady's not getting a move to a top 6 club so I doubt there's much point in him leaving the 7th placed one, which probably applies to most of them.

[SincereTheRebel]

After Moise Keane suffered racist abuse for scoring vs Cagliari. Bonucci claims Kean must take 50% of the blame for celebearing in front of Cagliari fans like a lunatic


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-6879551/Leonardo-Bonucci-says-Moise-Kean-50-50-blame-racist-abuse.html

[bruhnaldo]

What do you mean like a lunatic? Serious question cause the "celebration" was pretty tame in itself.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He celebrated by putting his hands up in front of the crowd.

To say that he should take some blame for receiving racist chants (which were happening prior to the goal) is lunacy.

[bruhnaldo]

I guess we can talk about the glories of AFCON in this thread then.

[phonics]

Two football threads at once is madness.

[Ian]

After all that effort I went to to find out the hottest April fixtures too. :nono:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'd blame Phonics for not closing it earlier.

A March thread only closed on the 3rd of April? Lazy prick.

[phonics]

We don't close any of the others, most times people can work out what month it is and post appropriately.

[bruhnaldo]

So what's really going on in your life that you decided to exercise a little faux power, my boy?

[Gray Fox]

Hard Brexit is coming for him.

[Giggles]

Two football threads at once is madness.

The incident I posted happened in March so if I'd posted it in the April thread John would have been along to chastise me.

[Jimmy Floyd]

https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/1113384899208257537

With Bonucci (and indeed Allegri) coming out with utter shite like this, it makes me wonder about Italy a bit, a thought I had earlier in the season when Sarri was going out of his way to say Kanté isn't a 'technical' player (he is one).

[niko_cee]

What's there to wonder about? They're even more racist than the Spanish, which is some going.

How many black players have they had in the national side? Liverani, Balotelli and this Kean chap? I remember Liverani being a big deal because he was the first and quite a lot of the locals weren't all that keen.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2956380/Former-AC-Milan-coach-Arrigo-Sacchi-says-black-players-Italian-youth-teams.html

I've just stumbled on this. Always a great way to start with 'I'm certainly not racist'.

[bruhnaldo]

weren't all that................ keen.

:henn0rz:

[-james-]

Hudson-Odoi starts for Chelsea.

City are fielding the reserves against Cardiff and are still 1/12 to win.

[Waffdon]

Hudson Odoi, Loftus Cheek, Christensen and Emerson :drool:

[Mike]

City draw tonight boys!

[Giggles]

Every podcast I had on today was on about Spurs new stadium, are they in it tonight?

[Max Power]

Man City could have had four already. Might get double figures if they are bothered.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Every podcast I had on today was on about Spurs new stadium, are they in it tonight?

They are.

[phonics]

If Palace and Brighton could cement their places in next years league tonight, it'd be appreciated.

[phonics]

Man City could have had four already. Might get double figures if they are bothered.

I checked BBC 4 minutes into the game after seeing this post, they'd had 91% posession and 2 shots and they scored in the time it took me to write the post above.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We are absolutely shite. Absolutely fucking shite. We approach every game with the intensity of a vets' warm up game.

If any of these mug United, Spurs and Arsenal teams finish below us they should be expelled from the FA.

[phonics]

I will never accept Giroud playing for Chelsea. It's wrong but I can't bring myself to wish him failure. I just want him to be happy. The perception of him by the public/pundits vs literally anyone he's ever played with is testament to his greatness.

[Waffdon]

He should start every game Hudson Odoi does. They look great together.

[phonics]

He should start every game Hudson Odoi does. They look great together.

He looks great with anyone that has a good first touch and can pick up a ball deep or run beyond him, everyone except Sanchez weirdly. Those two were always crap together. That season hwere Ramsey scored 15 goals or so were mostly Giroud assists or him being left open because two men were marking Giroud.

[mugbull]

As dominant as you can be without scoring there. Cue Trippier blundering to give Zaha a goal on the counterattack on the second half for a 1-0 Palace win

[SincereTheRebel]

Can Cardiff get relegated tonight? They can fuck off.

[Shindig]

No, give it a couple of weeks.

[Spikey M]

Crystal Palace goal in 5, 4, 3, 2...

[Spikey M]

Never mind

[Jimmy Floyd]

All I'll say about Giroud is that to my amateur observation he is a lot better at playing centre forward in English football than Gonzalo Higuain is.

[mugbull]

There hasn't been a worse Tottenham player in my lifetime that Trippier

[Disco]

How old are you?

[mugbull]

22

[Giggles]

Was everyone not blowing Trippier this time last year?

[niko_cee]

Haven't they still got that useless dutch twat they refuse to play at the club? He's probably worse for starters.

I always thought Trippier was decent (maybe in a good signing way more than anything) but ever since Mokkers went nuclear on him earlier in the season I've noticed more that he does tend to make a lot of errors.

[mugbull]

Ok, i mean in terms of players who get actual gametime

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Haven't they still got that useless dutch twat they refuse to play at the club? He's probably worse for starters.

Yeah, apparently they didn't even bother to give him a squad number this year.

[bruhnaldo]

Man I remember in summer i was ready to give Spurs 50m for Trippier to solve our wing back problems lmfao

NEVER TRUST A WORLD CUP that's what I say now

[Giggles]

Haven't they still got that useless dutch twat they refuse to play at the club? He's probably worse for starters.

I always thought Trippier was decent (maybe in a good signing way more than anything) but ever since Mokkers went nuclear on him earlier in the season I've noticed more that he does tend to make a lot of errors.

Alderweireld?

[mugbull]

The only thing Trippier was ever good at was crossing, and even that is so predictable now. He’s an absolute retard.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Alderweireld?

Vincent Janssen.

Alderweireld is Belgian and plays most games.

[mugbull]

Man I remember in summer i was ready to give Spurs 50m for Trippier to solve our wing back problems lmfao

NEVER TRUST A WORLD CUP that's what I say now

You Win the lottery or something?

[bruhnaldo]

You know it's funny I stared at my post for a solid minute and thought yep, someone is gonna snipe that aren't they.

[niko_cee]

You didn't say 50m whats.

Could have been skin cells.

[bruhnaldo]

Oh you obtuse bastard you know we don't have a pound key on these keyboards. :yop:

[niko_cee]

I was trying to help you out dip$hit.

[Spikey M]

Don't be m€an.

[Giggles]

¥ou pack of ¢unts.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

₼orons.

[niko_cee]

Good to see Zidane doing his bit for the binman spring.

Has he fully dropped Courtois or is he injured or something?

[bruhnaldo]

Yesterday he said some ominous shit like "Next year there will be no question on who the goalkeeper is!" so I'm guessing Thibaut is Toast.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Good to see Zidane doing his bit for the binman spring.

Has he fully dropped Courtois or is he injured or something?

Dropped.

Zidane doesn't rate him.

[niko_cee]

And his son is the back-up?

:D

I know I should have got that from the video posted the other day by someone (phonics?) but I'd always assumed Zidane's son was (is) a diminutive little playmaker. I didn't realise he had more than one.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

And his son is the back-up?

:D

I know I should have got that from the video posted the other day by someone (phonics?) but I'd always assumed Zidane's son was (is) a diminutive little playmaker. I didn't realise he had more than one.

4 sons but only two play right now.

Zidane actually sold Enzo (the midfielder but he's 6 foot 1) to Alaves. Although he's since moved on.

[niko_cee]

I think thinking he is small comes from the fact that the last (only?) time I saw him he was probably 14.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47811338

Wolves have signed Raul Jimenez on a permanent deal.

[niko_cee]

What is it about being a left back for Spurs that appears to make people fall profoundly out of love with the game?

[mugbull]

Rose has clinical depression or someth, and BAK BAK was a total cunt

[Shindig]

The Rafa-go-round has started again. He's signed with a French agency now which leads some to suspect he's off to France in the summer.

[Spikey M]

What is it about being a left back for Spurs that appears to make people fall profoundly out of love with the game?

I think it's playing left back for England in an Eastern Euro-slum that's the issue here.

[Mazuuurk]

The left-back said: "When countries get fined what I probably spend on a night out in London what do you expect?"

Classic way of admitting you've been naughty by bringing up a larger issue so no-one takes notice.

This is where those extra pounds he always seem to be carrying comes from.

[SincereTheRebel]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47811338

Wolves have signed Raul Jimenez on a permanent deal.

I have been completely wrong about most of the Wolves signing since promotion. I thought Jimanez and Jonny would have been rubisshDoherty would not be good enoough for the league and selling Barry Douglas was madness. Totally wrong.

[Gray Fox]

Quite an attacking 4-3-3 tonight. It'd be nice to not have a nervy, scrappy game.

[Andy]

Shane Long ready to have his one decent game of the season and mug off VvD.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, Long has form against us, although I'm not sure for Southampton (oh yeah, the League Cup). I'm sure he was so irritating for Reading that Liverpool were linked with buying him at some point.

Could do with a performance (and a goal!) from Keita.

[Gray Fox]

Keita plays better when he remembers he's very good at taking his man on. Sitting and passing is not his game. The best thing for me to see tonight would be Salah squaring the ball to Mane for once for a goal, instead of selfishly taking a shot on and having it saved.

[Gray Fox]

For fucks sake.

[Gray Fox]

This guys got Klopps 4-3-3 well and truly sussed out.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Allowing Shane Long to score against you should result in a points deduction.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Trent gobbing down his chin :sick:

[Gray Fox]

Matip getting bullied by every member of Southamptons attack is irritating.

[Kikó]

Allowing Shane Long to score against you should result in a points deduction.

Something like 3 points?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Something like 3 points?

At least 6, he's that tragic.

[Mike]

Hopefully the goal calms us and we go on to win.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Also, Salah was offside.

[niko_cee]

Would that comeback in VARland then? So, if there's a 5 minute phase of play leading up to a goal, do you go back through all of it to make sure everything is legit or are there break points?

At least Keita has the goal, now get him the fuck off as there's no chance of a decent performance. Get someone on to help Fabinho out and stick Big Div on for 4 up front. How many times can you legitimately go to the skanking well?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The VAR wouldn't rule it offside because Southampton had long enough to reset? You wot? I don't think it was long enough and also if they just stopped in the hopes that it was offside they would be rewarded?

[Gray Fox]

To get to half time at 1-1 is a miracle. I'd have Milner on for Keita. Oddly we seem to be getting joy from crosses.

This game is going to go frantic in the last 20 mins if there are no goals until then.

[niko_cee]

The VAR wouldn't rule it offside because Southampton had long enough to reset? You wot? I don't think it was long enough and also if they just stopped in the hopes that it was offside they would be rewarded?

Yeah, it's going to be well shit.

[Baz]

Is Ox dead?

[niko_cee]

The year's not up yet. He comes back in a couple of weeks.

[Baz]

Just in time. :happycry:

[Gray Fox]

Is Ox dead?

Back in training but not properly fit. Like just getting him back at the start of pre-season.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

WHAT ATMOSPHERE!!!!

Just look at the light going on and off.

[Gray Fox]

What the fuck is this light bollocks all about? They'll all have plastic flags next.

[Mellberg]

Anyone who thinks Liverpool are on for the league is barmy. They might win tonight, but every game is a scrap, whilst City are strolling to 3 points every week. Something will give eventually.

[Boydy]

Don't bring Henderson on ffs.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Like fuck is that a penalty Carragher.

He was halfway to the ground when he was touched.

[Boydy]

Stonewall.

[thommo]

Never a penalty.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Stonewall.

Stonewall booking for Keita, yes.

[Boydy]

I still think Liverpool need a proper out and out striker. Especially for games like this. Salah can't sprint in behind teams who sit deep. They need a battering ram sort of player.

[thommo]

£35m and you can have Mitrovic.

[Baz]

Calm down lads. It’ll come.

[mugbull]

Stonewall.

Lmao tier

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Nice of Van Dijk to pick himself up as soon as the ref blew his whistle.

[mugbull]

I don't understand at all how that's a foul on Virgil. He's jjumping over the Southampton player and then falls on his ass?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I know he scored but why didn't he just pass it? Would have been an easy finish for Firmino.

[Gray Fox]

That's exactly what I was on about from Salah before.

[Mike]

Good old Mo. I was saying ‘pass pass’ ha

[Boydy]

He probably should have passed but fuck it, it went in.

:youpi:

[Lewis]

Teams are just letting Liverpool win now. I know City are a top-to-bottom scum project, but people really need to think this through.

[Boydy]

Don't bring Henderson on ffs.
I take it back.

[Baz]

Calm down lads. It’ll come.:)

[thommo]

Pack it in Carragher you numpty.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Still time for Lovren to chuck a couple in.

[Mike]

Hendo magic :cool2:

[Gray Fox]

bUt HeNdErSoN iS oNlY gOoD aT SiDeWaYs PaSsEs.

https://i.gyazo.com/dd802c39231b402684308ce73d77b3a1.png

[Boydy]

Robertson. :lol:

[Boydy]

bUt HeNdErSoN iS oNlY gOoD aT SiDeWaYs PaSsEs.

https://i.gyazo.com/dd802c39231b402684308ce73d77b3a1.png

I mean, normally he is.

[Mike]

Hendo has been boss since coming on.

[Gray Fox]

Look how shite our midfield was before he came on and how much control we've had since.

[Lewis]

That said, I would take a Liverpool title win if it was the difference between City winning everything and not. I think we would probably never hear the end of that for longer.

[Boydy]

Look how shite our midfield was before he came on and how much control we've had since.

Why were you saying during the Spurs game 'Fabinho away at Southampton, for the love of god' then?

[Boydy]

That said, I would take a Liverpool title win if it was the difference between City winning everything and not. I think we would probably never hear the end of that for longer.

As much as I don't like United, I'd hate to see their treble outdone by City.

[Andy]

Hassenhuttl is working miracles for us to be able to compete with this squad but there's just such a huge gap in quality which really told towards the end.

The Salah goal was ridiculous, Bertrand should have shown his experience and got a couple more back to the halfway line to help him out.

[Gray Fox]

Why were you saying during the Spurs game 'Fabinho away at Southampton, for the love of god' then?

Because the 3 of Hendo, Milner and Gini all try and do the same job, which ends in a lot of tramping over feet. It needs Hendo, Fabinho and one other. Hopefully the Ox soon.

[Andy]

Look how shite our midfield was before he came on and how much control we've had since.

Helps that our whole side was blowing by the time he came on.

[Gray Fox]

I was massively impressed by Southampton, but they're resembling us under Klopp in his first season, the change to mega pressing is great for 60 minutes, then fatigue comes in.
A few more players of quality and they'll do well under him.

[Mike]

This interview is ace. I bloody love Salah so much

[Lewis]

As much as I don't like United, I'd hate to see their treble outdone by City.

It's not even that. City can be 0-0 with somebody after twenty minutes and Martin Tyler sits there, tweaking his nipples, whispering to himself about 'City and late goals'. If they won every competition then Sky would probably fit every house with a rolling news screen that can't be turned off like them North Korean radios.

[Yevrah]

Given we're all 30+ now, is 'hating to see someone else win' even a thing any more?

[mugbull]

City are preferable to United every day of the week. Having no supporters is better than having uniformly terrible supporters

[mugbull]

Given we're all 30+ now

Speak for yourself, I'm still young enough for spite

[Gray Fox]

Given we're all 30+ now, is 'hating to see someone else win' even a thing any more?

I think the consensus is how badly the fans will go on about it.

Though given how all Liverpool fans have heard about since 2014 is 'the slip' it kind of comes back around so.

[niko_cee]

Anyone who thinks Liverpool are on for the league is barmy. They might win tonight, but every game is a scrap, whilst City are strolling to 3 points every week. Something will give eventually.

I've long thought Liverpool's ceiling was about 90 points, which, given how City are going isn't going to be enough. Still, the more they do this kind of thing the more the soul-crushing belief builds.

That Keita 'penalty' gets given every time on VAR (there's contact even if the defenders is pulling out and the attacker is trying his best to run into his leg), although if we're going to use VAR to get rid of the toe-poke it ahead of the defender and go down under contact rule then I'd be all for that and maybe some good can come of it.

Like every person on the planet I was wondering when Salah was going to pass the ball but, fair fucks to the little gimp, that was a great goal.

Alexander-Arnold and Robertson were fully tragic tonight. The former just seems to go through phases of lacking any sort of composure (age) and the latter is prone to being caught out and then falling over inopportunely a lot (that late fould was reminiscent of the one he got away with against City last year).

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't begrudge Liverpool fans anything really on the football side of things, it's the city that needs not to be champions.

[niko_cee]

It's impossible not to feel antipathy towards all other football fans when it really comes down to it. In the cold light of day you can respect their team's achievements or whatever, but the reality of being partisan is that you don't like the others and don't want to really see them do well. Yes, I was glad to see United beat PSG, and yes, I'd rather see an English club do well like an old man, but, do I really want United to win the Champions League if it comes down to them being in the final? I don't know.

Even Leicester fans are bellends in the wake of their miraculous win, when you see them up close and are on the other side, and there isn't a more generally unifying story than theirs.

[Giggles]

I don't begrudge Liverpool fans anything really on the football side of things, it's the city that needs not to be champions.

No.

[John]

Gordon Strachan wondering earlier if we'd afford Adam Johnson the same sort of protection we do black players should he get abused if he decides to come back to football is probably the most tone deaf thing I've ever heard said aloud.

[Shindig]

I hope he got a clout for that.

[Disco]

Is Pavel his new PR man or something?

[John]

1114203787336519680

Extraordinary.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fuck me.

[Gray Fox]

Please don't tell me they let him carry on talking after that.

[Yevrah]

What was the studio response?

[Lewis]

lol at him gesturing to whoever it is before he says it. Also, 'Bearded Genius' is a wanker.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Will I get points if I call Adam Johnson a nonce?

[Magic]

"He's done his time". :D

It's just so perfect. What an analogy for the present moment. For everything.

[Spikey M]

Strachan needs his laptop ceasing.

[Giggles]

The 'tackle' at the start :|

1114278066816073728

[SincereTheRebel]

Great tackle. Its a rare sight to see players run off the field when they get red carded. He didnt give a fuck.

[niko_cee]

I didn't realise Salah played for Chelsea during that game in 2014. City playing Palace away on the same day is weird, hopefully things go differently next week.

[Shindig]

My only hope is that Strachan can't remember what Johnson actually did. EDIT: He's been talking about this since last week. Whoops. Next weekend feels decisive for the title. Chelsea might show up. It's been surprisingly exciting.

[Mellberg]

He's been off the grid for a while. Probably wants a bit of attention before he croaks it. Backing up nonces is as good a way as any.

[Gray Fox]

I didn't realise Salah played for Chelsea during that game in 2014. City playing Palace away on the same day is weird, hopefully things go differently next week.

Fixture wise the pressure should flip around. This will be the 3rd of three properly tough games for us, but will be the start of Citys defining run. They've got 4 away games left(Palace, Burnley, United and Brighton) and face Spurs 3 times in about 8 days as well.

If Liverpool come through with another win, the fixture list list contains a lot of teams with nothing to play for. Cardiff away could be tricky because Warnock hates Liverpool for something that happened 10 years ago, but then you've Huddersfield at home, Newcastle away(should be well safe by then, also Rafa) and then Wolves who will either have a cup final to think about or potentially nothing, being already safe in 7th.

Last time we went into that Chelsea game it wasn't just belief, it was almost expected. That's why it was so deflating. This time is different. We'd all love to win it, but I'm not even mad if we don't. City are just that good.

[John Arne]

Currently at the Ho Chi Minh City derby.

Absolutely turgid. Decent crowd of about 4000.

0-0. 20' left.

[Magic]

I hate football.

[Shindig]

Yedlin seems like a bit of a penalty magnet.

[Alex]

I hate football.

Fucking Leeds mate.

[Waffdon]

Fixture wise the pressure should flip around. This will be the 3rd of three properly tough games for us, but will be the start of Citys defining run. They've got 4 away games left(Palace, Burnley, United and Brighton) and face Spurs 3 times in about 8 days as well.

If Liverpool come through with another win, the fixture list list contains a lot of teams with nothing to play for. Cardiff away could be tricky because Warnock hates Liverpool for something that happened 10 years ago, but then you've Huddersfield at home, Newcastle away(should be well safe by then, also Rafa) and then Wolves who will either have a cup final to think about or potentially nothing, being already safe in 7th.

Last time we went into that Chelsea game it wasn't just belief, it was almost expected. That's why it was so deflating. This time is different. We'd all love to win it, but I'm not even mad if we don't. City are just that good.

How couldn’t you be mad? It’ll have been the bottle jobs of all bottle jobs. The only team since Liverpool to lead at Christmas and not win for about 100 years.

[Gray Fox]

We're on for 90+ points and up against the best Premier League side ever. There's no bottle job here.

[Waffdon]

Well there is when you had the chance to go ten points clear after Christmas? How isn’t that a bottle job?

[Shindig]

How couldn’t you be mad? It’ll have been the bottle jobs of all bottle jobs. The only team since Liverpool to lead at Christmas and not win for about 100 years.

I've seen worse. Lived worse.

[Waffdon]

That doesn’t count.

[Trancemeister]

Dortmund are getting raped by Bayern.

[Guybrush]

How couldn’t you be mad? It’ll have been the bottle jobs of all bottle jobs. The only team since Liverpool to lead at Christmas and not win for about 100 years.

I'm sure we've got more points at this stage than we've ever had, even in league-winning seasons.

[niko_cee]

I think the main thing is, regardless of whether Liverpool win the league or not (and this is obviously a very good chance) there is a sense that this team will endure a bit better than the previous contender versions (which have been almost immediately and obviously broken up, or just not that good/reliant on one super player). Until Barcelona buy Van Dijk for £300m that is. They should be there or thereabouts for a few years yet.

[niko_cee]

VAR working it's magic again in the cup anyway.

I reckon Walker should probably go for that, even if it's daft/soft. Once you go head-to-head and you move your head like that you're asking for trouble.

[Gray Fox]

Well there is when you had the chance to go ten points clear after Christmas? How isn’t that a bottle job?

Pretty much both points below. The Chelsea game of 2014 was bad. We didn't even need to win the game and played right into Mourinhos hands at the time. I'm happy with this season regardless and for once I don't think it's a fire sale in the summer and back to square one.


I've seen worse. Lived worse.


I'm sure we've got more points at this stage than we've ever had, even in league-winning seasons.

[Shindig]

VAR working it's magic again in the cup anyway.

I reckon Walker should probably go for that, even if it's daft/soft. Once you go head-to-head and you move your head like that you're asking for trouble.

All it would've taken would be for Jahanbash to go down. Still, Brighton offered nowt and City pressured them well.