Octoberball: In which Barca appeal a £265 fine.

[SincereTheRebel]

C.Ronaldo could get two goals tonight which will put him at 700 in total

[Reg]

World Cups and Euros > Champions League knockouts > Leagues > Champions League group stages > FA Cup and League Cup > International qualifiers, for me, Jeff.

[mugbull]

International Qualifiers > FA Cup / LC if the qualifiers are relevant, for sure

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'd love the qualifiers if I was from a more cusp-dwelling country. England seem to exist in a permafrost whereby qualification is a stroll but tournaments are a hopeless case.

[Giggles]

We get to just about enough to keep it interesting and getting out of a group at the tournament is a success. It’s great.

I’d still take club soccer over international though as I’m more invested from going to the games.

[niko_cee]

Liverpool's 16 year old haircut has been suspended for being naughty on social media.


The video, which is only a few seconds long, shows the player speaking into the camera
which has in the background a televised football match which shows Harry Kane, among
others. A caption on the screen says ‘fucking mong’ and the player can be heard to say
the words “I’m Harry Kane and I’m a fucking mong”. It appears clearly from this that the
player was attempting to impersonate Harry Kane in a derogatory way and insulting way

:D

[Pleb]

Anthem Watch was a right BELTER

[Pleb]

Well this is a game :baz:

[John Arne]

Michael Keane should be nowhere near this squad, let alone the starting XI.

Also, a certain free kick for Rose before the corner. Baffling decision.

[thommo]

Liverpool's 16 year old haircut has been suspended for being naughty on social media.



:D

He was an absolute cunt in the youth squads at Fulham by all accounts.

[Manc]

GS getting tactically donned yet again.

[Pleb]

What a MELTDOWN!!!

[Waffdon]

Faf when Southgate blows it with this England squad. He’s useless.

[John Arne]

Fuck me, Barkley is shit. Trippier and Rose not much better.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Czechs are a good-looking nation, aren't they. Even their designated carthorse was a beautiful man.

Also better at football than us, it would appear.

[niko_cee]

Faf when Southgate blows it with this England squad. He’s useless.

As are most of the squad. The dream is he manages to fluke another tournament run and then takes over at United next season.

What's the deal with Trippier? Is it believed Simeone has taught him something? lol. I don't watch much of Walker but I can only assume he's not being picked (at least in the squad) out of cleverness on Gareth Southgate Badger's part. Was he saving Chilwell and Alexander-Arnold for Bulgaria or something?

Danny Rose. What is it that people say? Oh my days. He's just awful. Keane was right about him at half time.

Other Keane's bang average. Rice, same. Henderson, same, particularly when you play the pair of them as some sort of defensive double pivot. Mount's played about 10 minutes of proper football, Sancho probably even less (oh but he's so good in Germany!) and you've got Rolls-Royce's like Ross Barkley and Marcus Rashford to make the difference off the bench. Please, stop!

Made up for 'The Cobra' chap who got the winner (which came from Pickford being shit/being put in the shit by playing it round the back). Well deserved.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Rose for the first goal was worthy of being packed off to the airport there and then.

Henderson and Barkley between them must have an IQ of minus five.

[Manc]

Don't agree with the Barkley stick. Played Kane in within minutes of being on.

[Lewis]

We've got two really good players (Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane), probably about four more decent ones (none in midfield), and a load of wankers. We will go out to the first decent team we come across next summer, just like last summer.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We could do with Maddison in midfield really.

[Shindig]

Longstaffs for all.

[phonics]

Remember when people were adamant that Dello Alli was good?

The midfield should be Rice behind Grealish and Henderson or Winks with Maddison behind a front two of Sterling and Kane. Or drop Maddison and add Sancho if you want to 4-3-3.

Otherwise you go 3 at the back with Stones Holding and one other making you less reliant on full backs doing the work at both ends.

[Waffdon]

Remember when people were adamant that Dello Alli was good?

The midfield should be Rice behind Grealish and Henderson or Winks with Maddison behind a front two of Sterling and Kane. Or drop Maddison and add Sancho if you want to 4-3-3.

Otherwise you go 3 at the back with Stones Holding and one other making you less reliant on full backs doing the work at both ends.

Rice/Henderson/Winks should all be playing for one position. A combination of any two is dreadful.

[phonics]

No way to get the football up the pitch otherwise until Ox comes back. There’s no central midfielders that can dribble.

England look like a team that are playing academy football rather than real matches. It’s like watching the FA youth cup.

[Lewis]

I never thought he was any good. :cool:

[phonics]

Yeah but Fraudiola the Binman winning leagues with record points counteracts that one.

[Raoul Duke]

Winks is complete bilge

[phonics]

Winks is complete bilge

Fair. I genuinely couldn’t think of another central midfielder that can pass the ball 5 yards so went with him.

You knew Southgate was just a nice waistcoat when he called up that Chelsea defender Tayako or whatever despite not keeping a clean sheet.

[Lewis]

Yeah but Fraudiola the Binman winning leagues with record points counteracts that one.

Champions' League or bust. Doubting Jurgen 'Jurgen Klopp' Klopp and Antonio Conte were the real shitters.

[Manc]

Winks is a poundland version of Verratti. An essential cog imo.

[phonics]

In Southgates defence, I'm not sure there's a harder job than England manager. You have to develop a team that spends 90% of it's time being expected to beat the opposition by 2-3 goals with a squad that would lose on paper to the France B Team who you're also expected to beat. I can't imagine trying to draw up a style hence the 'counter attack and set pieces' thing they have going on which is how literally none of the good players in his team play normally.

[Reg]

Alli's good but has dipped, for now at least. Scoring 18 Prem goals in 16/17 was brilliant, especially considering he's not an out and out forward. Still only 23 too. How many players have done more than him before that age?

Midfield should be Henderson behind Mount and Maddison.

[phonics]

He literally did nothing apart from head balls in from the back post. Unless you're going to score at the rate of Messi/Ronaldo than that's not going to cut it.


Midfield should be Henderson behind Mount and Maddison.


Lol any half decent midfield would shut that down immediately, this isn't FM. 2 of those players are played at 10 for a reason.

[SincereTheRebel]

Winks is a poundland version of Verratti. An essential cog imo.

:lol:

[Spikey M]

We've got two really good players (Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane), probably about four more decent ones (none in midfield), and a load of wankers. We will go out to the first decent team we come across next summer, just like last summer.

Probably. Although Liverpool have shown that you don't actually need a midfield.

[Shindig]

I can't remember the last time Alli did well in an England shirt.

[Spikey M]

Winks is good at what he does (snapping at heels, winning possession and passing sideways) but he is reliant on having others around him that can actually do something with the ball. As things stand he is fucked at both Club and International level.

[Luke Emia]

Probably. Although Liverpool have shown that you don't actually need a midfield.

I suspect that's what he is trying to build the team like. Which then makes picking someone like Mount tonight all the more baffling.

[Giggles]

I can't remember the last time Alli did well in an England shirt.

Hasn’t he been shit in every shirt for ages now?

[phonics]

Probably. Although Liverpool have shown that you don't actually need a midfield.

Liverpool have 3 absolute runners and 2 more on the bench. England has 1.

[niko_cee]

Henderson is ropey as the 1 defensive midfielder against decent teams. It's why Klopp rarely plays him there. He's good for energy and whatnot, and not without other qualities, but he's not a true defensive midfielder.

England are just doing what they always do and promoting young players into the first XI way too fast on the back of a few months of decent form. Declan Rice is nowhere near the required level to do the job he is meant to be doing, probably same for Sancho. I like Mount as a player but come on. In most nations we consider to be rivals they'd all probably still be in the youth ranks.

Arguably the bigger problem is that our defence and goalkeeper are absolute shite, and there's no escaping Pickford it would seem.

[niko_cee]

Liverpool have 3 absolute runners and 2 more on the bench. England has 1.

England have always played like Liverpool, it used to be the sum of the parts not adding up, now it's the having a perhaps less than top notch midfield. Difference between the two now is, though, that Liverpool's attack, defence and goalkeeper are light years ahead of England (as well as manager).

[Spikey M]

Liverpool have 3 absolute runners and 2 more on the bench. England has 1.

Which is fine. But replace them with 3 retards and they probably still finish second. It's the front 3, the wing backs and the defence that get them where they are.

[Giggles]

Definitely need a slice of luck today, the Georgians normally play us off the pitch.


1182993064702332929

[SincereTheRebel]

Is that Glenn Whelan or?

[Giggles]

It is. And he’s still twice the player Jeff Hendrick is.

[Giggles]

Ireland look like a team in preseason.

[Mellberg]

How's Hourihane doing for you boys?

[Giggles]

How's Hourihane doing for you boys?

Decent. Wouldn’t set the world alight but nobody is ever going to in our setup and playing with better players at Villa would suit him more for a bit of freedom. It’s nice to see every set piece not wasted like back in the Robbie Brady days too.

[Giggles]

That said, as I typed that he took two abominations of corners.

[Mellberg]

Cheers. His set pieces and ability to strike the ball have always been there. It was influencing games away from scoring goals and assisting where he struggled (as daft as that sounds). Stepped up a level with that this season. Hopefully you boys see the benefits too.

[Giggles]

Cheers. His set pieces and ability to strike the ball have always been there. It was influencing games away from scoring goals and assisting where he struggled (as daft as that sounds). Stepped up a level with that this season. Hopefully you boys see the benefits too.

That’s it really. He’s very good in an open game but he does struggle for us a bit because he’s in a midfield 3 and most games are dogfights with attacking balls coming hot and high. He isn’t great at taking some control. I could see him being vital once Stephen Kenny comes in for McCarthy though.

[Giggles]

It’s such a bad thing to need, but this team badly misses David McGoldrick.

[Giggles]

Aaron Connolly looks raw but exciting for down the line. Should have had at least one though.

[Giggles]

That was a shit performance but a decent result.

[Giggles]

Also, Dietmar Hamann is so much better at analysing a game than the propaganda crew.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I see the Great Penaldo Bottle Job has begun in earnest.

[Giggles]

That’s some good work from you boys

The twat falling isn’t even the worst bit, but hang the fucking flag the right way around in the first place. #BREXIT


1182311466441101312

[Jimmy Floyd]

An Irish bar with faulty fittings, what a surprise.

[Giggles]

An Irish bar with faulty fittings, what a surprise.

Trap set for the Brits. Why change it if it’s worked for years?

[Giggles]

Dion has it to a tee.

https://pca.st/episode/e47746fe-bd28-4ee9-80f9-f3d53e8c8adc

[Reg]

Lol any half decent midfield would shut that down immediately, this isn't FM. 2 of those players are played at 10 for a reason.
Why's that? And neither of them always plays as a no.10; they both can and have played in a midfield 3.

[niko_cee]

Hasn't Mount being playing in a more advanced role for Chelsea?

I could see him and Loftus-Cheek making a decent 'pair of 8s' with Kanté doing all the donkey work behind them, but England don't have a Kanté sadly, so would probably just get overrun by half-decent teams.

[Reg]

Yeah mostly, in a 4-2-3-1 and a 3-4-2-1, but has played in a 4-3-3 as well.

There's no perfect midfield solution for us that I can see. I'd play Winks over Henderson if he was playing for Spurs but for some reason(?) he isn't a guaranteed starter.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mount is a 10 really who can also come from wide of a 3 if needed. I really rate him but I'm not sure how he's found his way into the starting England XI at this point. Southgate seems to think it's the under 21s.

Is Grealish still qualified? He's going to turn into this generation's Le Tissier.

[niko_cee]

Steady on.

[Max Power]

Maddison has played his best stuff for us as an 8 rather than a 10 or out wide.

[SincereTheRebel]

For some reason, im watching Coventry vs Tranmere. Coventry have had 18 shots in 80 minutes. Tranmere have just scored a banger with their first shot. Coventry are playing home games at Birmingham.

1183362964000251904

[Spikey M]

FM20 :cool:

[Pen]

I see the Great Penaldo Bottle Job has begun in earnest.

We’re still on favourites to go through with Italy and losing away to Bosnia isn’t such a surprise as they are better than us on paper. The manner of defeat raised some concerns though as we were completely outclassed.

Biggest grief in the last two defeats have been two joke penalties against us which have both resulted in big goals against us considering the group.

[SincereTheRebel]

Random.

He is 42 today. :cool:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yoe0voebGU

[Waffdon]

Should be McGinn starting every week for Man Utd instead of that mong McTominay.

[Kikó]

Doesnae play for us.

[Mellberg]

Fucking love him. Gone in the summer but it's gonna cost an absolute fortune.

[Waffdon]

We turned down paying £50k for him when he was at St Mirren Hahahaha

[bruhnaldo]

Like when people use Persia instead of Iran.

Wait Persia is Iran?

[mugbull]

Fucking American

[bruhnaldo]

:henn0rz:

[Raoul Duke]

I'll take "Things you should Google before you post them publicly", for $600

[Giggles]

It’s probably not something most people need to know really.

[Lewis]

I lived with an Iranian at university who insisted on 'Persia', but then she bowled around with her hair out and everything so probably doesn't like Iran.

[Waffdon]

That England midfield is so shit. No idea how Rashford/Trippier are starting either.

[Ian]

Rashford is still normally pretty decent for England isn't he? Southgate is a bit like that, even if he has been as rubbish as anyone else for United.

Ross fucking Barkley though.

[Ian]

Dream strike partnership of McNair and Evans smashing the Czechs here.

[niko_cee]

2 weeks off for Trent.

:drool:

[Giggles]

:D nice.

1183423313063923713

[John]

That must be about fifteen years old.

[Giggles]

That must be about fifteen years old.

I wish I'd seen it sooner then.

[John Arne]

That's a spank.

[Disco]

Well that calmed everything down didn't it.

[John Arne]

If you concede a free-kick, and then stand right over the ball - if the oppo then is a bit of a dick and kicks the ball at you - you deserve to be booked. As soon as the free-kick is awarded, get back 10 yards.

[John Arne]

Well that calmed everything down didn't it.

Yeah does seem a bit counter-productive. If morons are doing monkey chants (it sounded like booing to me), asking them politely to stop isn't going to work.

[Shindig]

Ross Barkley's England Hat Trick, in Cinemas now.

[Browning]

This is surreal to watch. Just ban them indefinitely.

[niko_cee]

I can't believe that guy from Hi-De-Hi (https://davidcroft.co.uk/Hi-De-Hi/Episodes/#) (a) isn't dead and (b) appears to be on the Bulgarians backroom staff.

Not to make light of it, and I can well imagine the Bulgarians are massive racists, but hopefully this racist chanting is a bit more than simply booing black players/Raheem Sterling otherwise, closer to home, that's Liverpool's title hopes in the bin right there.

[Lewis]

I can't think of a single racism-induced stoppage in this country since we voted to leave these retard Europeans behind.

[Gray Fox]

Wouldn't be shocked if England don't come back out in the 2nd half.

I'm amazed everyone is remaining relatively calm.

[niko_cee]

Half time racism highlights.

:cool:

Probably better than the football, certainly from the Bulgarian perspective. World class prejudice.

[John Arne]

A partial stadium ban seems a bizarre punishment. Only your diehards and ultra's can watch the next game, nobody else.

[Lewis]

'...these scenes, Roy?'
'Listen, if you're gonna be a top player... You don't see your Ronaldos and your Gareth Bales going out there and being black.'

[John Arne]

The bloke on the Guardian MBM is pretty much in tears at this stage. But deep-down, I reckons he's loving it.

[John Arne]

:D

https://gyazo.com/fcae7a91374b8ffdfa4b7c51d6673a24.jpeg
https://gyazo.com/b7e0e67a3d7042e97e60dc7cf841a756.jpeg

[Shindig]

Maybe it's a Rodney Dangerfield fan club?

[Disco]

They've let someone in carrying the horn of Gondor, a few jumpers would be easy.

[niko_cee]

When did Bulgaria become non-league standard?

[Spikey M]

I reckon that over-all their hue is darker than hours. Mental fuckers.

[John Arne]

Barry Glendenning's take on the evening has been a interesting Twitter read. I think he may have had a few shandies.

[Giggles]

It is all a bit holier than thou when they're just as bad normally though. The Bulgarians need to be turfed out but a lot of these horror merchants could look a bit closer to home too.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, it's so ridiculous.

"We don't want to be talking about this . . ."

Course not. So much guttedness that the game wasn't called off.

Then again, the idea that this FARE bunch had 25 reports of racist abuse in England this year against 3 in Bulgaria makes you wonder if anyone involved in any level of this has any sense whatsoever. Some non-league game (Dover?) has been getting referenced a lot in that regard recently.

Presumably there are FARE observers/twitter informers scrutinising that level of the game in all countries. Or not.

[mugbull]

Of course Bulgaria has far more acts of racism per capita than England

[SincereTheRebel]

I dont know why they don't hold hands, walk off and refuse to play if its that bad.

[Jimmy Floyd]

As English people we should by now be used to the idea that the rest of the world is properly bitter about us.

[John]

Barney Ronay had a quality piece the other day in which he compared racial abuse aimed at black England players to England fans singing 'Ten German Bombers', and suggested, with his tongue planted nowhere near deeply enough in his cheek, that the England side would be equally justified in walking off the pitch should that song be heard as they would be upon hearing monkey noises.

[John Arne]

Barney Ronay had a quality piece the other day in which he compared racial abuse aimed at black England players to England fans singing 'Ten German Bombers', and suggested, with his tongue planted nowhere near deeply enough in his cheek, that the England side would be equally justified in walking off the pitch should that song be heard as they would be upon hearing monkey noises.

Glenndenning made a similar point last night. Also, apparently booing the opposition national anthem is racist, and you know, not just booing the opposition.

[SincereTheRebel]

I was putting together a trvia fo Marcos Rashford and his goals per game ratio in the prem league since i saw a stat that Niklas Bendtner had a similar record in the league. Below, are just a few other players who have similar goals in the league (around 30) and goals per game (0.25)

Marcus Rashford
Sylvain Wiltord
Nikica Jelavic
Juninho Paulista
Hamilton Ricard
Henri Camara
Rickie Lambert
Djibril Cisse
Nicklas Bendtner
Mikael Forssell
Jay Rodriguez
Peter Ndlovu
Salomón Rondón

[Ian]

My main memory of Hamilton Ricard (other than the dynamic duo of him and Brian Deane smashing us about years ago) is him attempting an absolutely dreadful shot from kickoff.

Also when I Googled "ricard vs manchester united' this is what came up:
https://www.just-drinks.com/news/pernod-ricards-chivas-regal-expands-manchester-united-deal-with-us-only-expression_id129494.aspx

Another mega signing for Woowar.

[John Arne]

Vietnam take the lead in Indonesia!!!!!

[Yevrah]

This isn't to say he won't ever be any good, but whatever the reasons, Rashford's goalscoring record is properly crap.

[Manc]

He is playing for a tremendously average side.

[SincereTheRebel]

He is playing for a tremendously average side.

Glenn Murray 0.27 and Charlie Austin 0.32 played for shit sides and both have better goals per game ratios

He has a lot of potential. It just hasnt taken off for him yet.

[Waffdon]

This isn't to say he won't ever be any good, but whatever the reasons, Rashford's goalscoring record is properly crap.

Tammy Abraham is two goals short of his highest league total after eight games and four from all competitions (whilst playing in the PL, he’s got a lot more goals overall in forty less games)

He’s just meh.

[John Arne]

Indonesia 0-3 Vietnam.

20 minutes left.

😎

[Ian]

The worrying thing about Rashford is that even though his end product has always been a bit ropey he usually looked, whether starting or as a sub, like he had a chance of making something happen but even that's fading.

[John Arne]

Vietnam won 3-1. Unfortunately, Thailand somehow best UAE at home, which isn't a great result for Vietnam.

Elsewhere, Infantino and 0 fans watched the Korea's draw 0-0 in Pyongyang, China continued to be rubbish and drew 0-0 away to Philippines. Cambodia, coming off a 14-0 loss to Iran fared slightly better, going down 0-4 to Iraq. Africa's Herve Renard, now in charge of the Saudi's, currently 0-0 away to mighty Palestine.

Australia battered Taiwan 1-7, India 0-0 Bangladesh having just kicked off. Japan dispatched of Tajikistan 0-3.

[Giggles]

As English people we should by now be used to the idea that the rest of the world is properly bitter about us.

They were making Nazi salutes and wrecking bars in Czechia last week so it's hardly time to be precious. Nobody is bitter about you at all, they just don't share the blinkered view that you have of yourselves.



.

[mugbull]

Nobody was making Nazi salutes in Prague you bitter mong

[Giggles]

Bloody third world countries and their pitches.


1184148544799809537

[John]

What's going on with Finland having a cinema screen at one end of the ground alternating between showing the game and distracting, massive adverts?

[Jimmy Floyd]

They were making Nazi salutes and wrecking bars in Czechia last week so it's hardly time to be precious. Nobody is bitter about you at all, they just don't share the blinkered view that you have of yourselves.



.

You weren't engaging in whataboutery when Lukaku got abused in Italy, were you? So why now? Because there's a deep visceral bitterness in many countries about the English ever being the good guys. Sometimes we are, sometimes we're not. We all need to get over ourselves - us about 80 year old world wars, and you about that.

[John]

Oh lovely, the Finnish IMAX screen is showing tweets too.

[Giggles]

You weren't engaging in whataboutery when Lukaku got abused in Italy, were you? So why now? Because there's a deep visceral bitterness in many countries about the English ever being the good guys. Sometimes we are, sometimes we're not. We all need to get over ourselves - us about 80 year old world wars, and you about that.

Having a few players abused doesn’t makes you the good guys? :cab:

Of course if shouldn’t happen, but the uproar is massively hypocritical seeing as you lot have run rampage around Europe for decades now.

[Giggles]

How's Hourihane doing for you boys?

Not well enough apparently. Very very odd.

1184160881380339712

[Pen]

What's going on with Finland having a cinema screen at one end of the ground alternating between showing the game and distracting, massive adverts?

This game is in Turku (probably because pre the decision our FA thought there wouldn’t be that much demand for this game). The stadium is shit, but at least we’re winning and so close to qualifying.

[Pen]

Our Olympic stadium is being renovated so all games have been moved to other stadiums.

[Giggles]

Jesus, Mick Mc has just confirmed that he’s playing a back 3 with Enda Stevens as one of the 3 and James McClean as left wing back.

Playing wing backs and Doherty on the bench :nono:

[Giggles]

How come a 30,000 seater stadium has so many empty seats? Are the Swiss not normally fairly well supported?

[mugbull]

De Gea injured, pile the Man Utd misery on please

[Giggles]

That’s some miss from Embolo.

[Giggles]

Coleman is having his worst match in a long time and is a red card waiting to happen. Doherty would be absolutely ideal right now.


EDIT: Didn’t think that’s how the red would come.



.

[Spikey M]

1184212217740365825?s=19

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Bit too much hair.

[mo]

Well that was a lot of effort for something underwhelming.

[Pen]

We’re going to the Euros 😎

[Spikey M]

You're also going to Stratford:(

[phonics]

How come a 30,000 seater stadium has so many empty seats? Are the Swiss not normally fairly well supported?

Had no idea it wasn’t sold out so didn’t try to buy tickets. That on top of It being in Geneva will be your main factors. There’ll be as many Brits supporting Ireland as their would be neutrals.

[phonics]

Also that stuff about best fans in the world. They’d all been drinking since about 2 and were mostly wankers. One of the eight blokes called Gerry I was around kept telling any woman within 5m of him that they ‘were fecking gorgeous do you want some?’

[Giggles]

Most of them, like most Irish people, are absolute wankers.

[SincereTheRebel]

Most people are wankers. I now fully understand why some people like animals so much because they seem to be much better than people.

[Lewis]

But the craic!

[Spikey M]

All people are wankers. There's levels of wankdom, but we're all cunts about something.

[Jimmy Floyd]

All people are wankers. There's levels of wankdom, but we're all cunts about something.

Bob Ross having three wives backs this up.

[SvN]

Only one divorce though. His second wife died of cancer, and his third wife married him just before he died, presumably so she'd inherit his estate.

[Disco]

No benefit of the doubt for you bitch.

[phonics]

Most of them, like most Irish people, are absolute wankers.

All the sound people were from Dublin. Cork was pure wankers and Limerick folk were 90/10 wankers.

The Gerry thing wasn’t even being a bit xeno. They were genuinely all called Gerry with a few Daves and a Neil.

[Giggles]

The Limerick FC crew always draw the biggest Garda presence at Tolka when they visit. And there’s only about 30 of them come up.

[Ian]

I'm glad that I've seen Pogba won't be able to play against Liverpool so I can remember and pretend to notice his absence.

[Smjffy]

I'm glad that I've seen Pogba won't be able to play against Liverpool so I can remember and pretend to notice his absence.

I'm starting to think we're going to fuck it in epic fashion as it's all going far too well. 8 points clear, a few fortunate wins, direct rival losing key players, United and Everton languishing lower than low and now De Gea and Pogba ruled out of Sunday....

Fully anticipating some fucked up shit going down this season.

[Gray Fox]

I think it will be a much tougher game than is being anticipated. We don't have a great recent record at Old Trafford either.

[Smjffy]

Aye, it's been a while. I'm half expecting us to spank them, awaiting the inevitable 0-0 or worse, the 1-0 win for United with the goal coming in the most spawniest of ways.

We have to go for the win though.

[Gray Fox]

I'm looking at the next 4 league games. United, Spurs, Villa and City. I'd take 2 wins from 4 so long as we beat City. Anything we can get from United is a bonus, while Villa might be a sacrifice game for rotation.

The key is to beat City. In each of our last 2 proper challenges it was the results against them that cost us(though usually away). We need to be getting as many points away from them as possible before the Dubai Cup comes along and fucks with our season.

[Smjffy]

I'd say it was a failure to take chances against United, Everton, Leicester and West Ham more than City. Hopefully Klopp just gets them thinking about the next game only but if we collect another three wins before City then the lead could be big enough to cope with December's heavy load.

[Lewis]

I'll be driving home so I'll miss it. :drool:

[Ian]

"Anything we can get from United is a bonus."

Behave yourselves. The game is constantly one of the most overhyped fixtures in football so there's no concern "Oh but they always raise their game!" And we are, on current form form*, everything a team shouldn't be if it wants to give this Liverpool side problems.

Of course there's no accounting for the possibility of us happening to have a good day by accident at the same as Liverpool have a shit one but there's nothing going on to give cause for anybody to believe Liverpool shouldn't be the favourites.

* Since, what, February?

[Ian]

Was reading an article by Rob Smyth about Solskjaer there and he links to an old article of his (calling himself a 'reformed moron', in reference to the content):
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jul/31/sport.comment

Digs at Fletcher ("inadequate"), calling Carrick the wrong signing, the implication that we'd have been better off signing Damien Duff than Patrice Evra, saying he feels we could go on to finish 5th that year and some absolutely incredible lines about Ferguson. Hindsight and everything but I think even reading that at the time I'd have thought it overly critical.

"And the thing is, it is only going to get worse: Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham have all made shrewd, cheap signings and are going in one direction."

Excellent stuff.

[Lewis]

I read that earlier and thought the same. They were very much a Good Young Side in 2005/06, but he seems to think they scammed their way to second scoring as many goals as Chelsea.

[SincereTheRebel]

https://mol.im/a/7584159

£369k per month

[Gray Fox]

"Anything we can get from United is a bonus."

We have not played well at Old Trafford once under Klopp if memory recalls. I still think United will put up a much better fight than people think.

[Mike]

We’ll batter them.

[John Arne]

Hugo Sánchez..



....including 38 goals in the 1989–90 season, tying the single-season record set in 1951 by Telmo Zarra and earning the European Golden Boot award for the best scorer in Europe. Remarkably, all 38 of these goals were scored with only a single touch


Saw this mentioned somewhere a few days ago, then watched the video. Class.

[John]

Must have been some touch.

[Ian]

:D

[SincereTheRebel]

I was watching giroud's arsenal goals a few months back, and 80% of them were first touch, outside of the boot goals in the six-yard box

[Pleb]

The Bulgarian coach has resigned.

[Giggles]

He'd want to. They're fucking shite.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They seem to be in proper Andorra/Liechtenstein territory these days, which is a bit of a joke for a nation which used to be able to field decent sides. Add in the massive population flight over the last 20 years and I think it's unlikely we'll see them at a tournament again.

In this case though it looks as though the government has stepped in as the existing football setup (chairman, manager and team) has made them into an international embarrassment this week.

[John Arne]

Does that mean FIFA banning them for Government interference? If so, lol.

[Giggles]

That's what I was wondering too, as I know the government's hands were tied here too or else the whole of the FAI would be in the dole queue. FIFA are fairly strict on that.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They can probably ask people to resign without leaving a paper trail. It was being reported as the President asking everyone to quit, though.

[John Arne]

Ryan Sessegnon being a Spurs player completely passed me by.

[niko_cee]

You and Mauricio Pochettino.

[mugbull]

? Guy’s been injured

[John Arne]

No shit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Tottenham are the subject of the next 'All or Nothing' documentary being filmed this season, which at current rate should be a fairly easy answer to the titular question.

[Giggles]

I'm going to take a blind stab at 'nothing'.

[mugbull]

The curse of the documentarians continues

[Shindig]

We never should've agreed to Goal.

[mugbull]

Lucas Moura is the only player who's able to perform for us these days. We don't deserve him

[Yevrah]

Man Utd are 16th as it stands. :D

[mugbull]

Watford should be up by 4

[niko_cee]

Have Spurs played well in any games this season? Seems, from the outside, that they've been pretty gack all season. The one game of theirs I did watch was the Villa one and they were pretty lucky in that.

[mugbull]

We were good against Crystal Palace and in the first half against Bayern. That's about it though

[niko_cee]

Just gone quite heavy on City to beat Palace and see they've left out Aguero and don't seem to have picked a defence. Good times.

:cab:

[-james-]

Ends about 3-7 by the look of it.

[niko_cee]

Sounds like VAR has been busy today, and Watford have been massively done in the arse by it again.

[mugbull]

Sounds like VAR has been busy today, and Watford have been massively done in the arse by it again.

Nah, VAR made the right call on that one. The hubbub had to do with the fact that VAR awarded the goal but the stadium scoreboard showed 'No Goal' and the teams had no idea what to do for a solid minute

[mugbull]

In any case, yet another atrocious performance with no signs of improvement. I remember at the end of last season when I mentioned how glad I was that the season was ending soon and everyone thought how ridiculous that sentiment was, given we'd squeaked through the CL final. But this has been in the works for a full 12 months now.

[niko_cee]

Everyone seems to be saying it hit Alli's arm though, and weren't they denied a fairly obvious penalty as well (going off the bbc reporting)?

[mugbull]

It bounced off his shoulder. I don't really know where the shoulder ends and arm begins, but calling a handball against that would definitely run coutner to the 'spirit of the game' or whatever. Not that refs care about that at all these days. But yeah, they could've had a pen in the first half

[Shindig]

Wolves, West Ham, Bournemouth and Villa are our next four. That'll probably determine where we're at.

[niko_cee]

Hennessey looks an absolute bombscare here.

[John]

That's a lovely goal.

[Waffdon]

Lol at De Bruyne not getting a penalty. Zaha full on pushes him over. VAR clearly thought so too but realised it’s not allowed overturning Referees decisions and only goals.

[Waffdon]

Sterling really struggles at the simple things sometimes :D

[niko_cee]

What's the deal with the slow creep towards 16.30 as the default super Sunday time? Is this an 'Asian market' thing?

[John Arne]

What's the deal with the slow creep towards 16.30 as the default super Sunday time? Is this an 'Asian market' thing?
We ("Asia") are ahead, not behind. We prefer earlier kick offs. #StopBlamingAsia.

Probably those fucking yanks.

[Baz]

On Liverpool -3 :chief:

Gonna be a mauling, boiiz

Even without Salah. :uhoh:

[Kikó]

God help us.

[Ian]

That midfield.

[Lewis]

I'll be driving home so I'll miss it. :drool:

We set off early ffs. Is that a back three or Tuanzebe in midfield?

[Waffdon]

That Man Utd team is absolutely special. I presume it’s five at the back with Rashford/James up top trying to get in behind.

Hopefully one of three games in the year Rashford turns up.

[Gray Fox]

Rashford has ruined Trent before.

A bit disappointing to see Salah not even make the bench, but Klopp seems not assed in the presser so can only hope Divock delivers again.

[Smjffy]

This is gonna be a shitfest as per, isn't it?

[Gray Fox]

Looks that way.

Ole has clearly given the order to just make us drop points by any means. I also think Klopp would take a draw.

[bruhnaldo]

This entire "Aw jeeze idk what will happen :uhoh: " from the liverpool contingent on here is annoying as fuck.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Liverpool will win but it will be a proper shitfest with them scoring in the final 15.

[niko_cee]

This entire "Aw jeeze idk what will happen :uhoh: " from the liverpool contingent on here is annoying as fuck.

Liverpool haven't played well at Old Trafford since Torres went mental that time, I don't think. Even the win against Moyes' team was laboured and heavily penalty assisted.

[Lewis]

I hope the Saudi Arabians ban Alex Ferguson from the ground. Who does he think he is?

[Max Power]

This fixture is consistently the dullest load of old shit ever. This game a worthy addition to the pantheon.

[Lewis]

The composure on show here. I would swap 'Andreas' for Marouane Fellaini every day of the week.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Gary Neville is unlistenable these days in big United games, or rather bigger United games, as there is no such thing as a truly big United game these days.

[Waffdon]

Since when did VAR interfere with fouls before goals. It happened nearer Man Utd’s box :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Has Jürgen Klopp had his teeth done?

[Lewis]

Is there scope to rule out a goal if it comes off a throw-in that shouldn't have been?

[Danny]

Has Jürgen Klopp had his teeth done?

Got them done at Firmino's dentist

[Boydy]

Just get rid of VAR. Fucking fed up hearing about it.

[John Arne]

Klopp needs to chill out - perfectly fine goal.

[Lewis]

Got them done at Firmino's dentist

He is Firmino's dentist.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That should have been a goal.

[Waffdon]

Hahahahaha

Liverpool’s cheque in the post obviously hasn’t arrived this week.

[Boydy]

What a heap of shit. Both of those goals were fine.

[John Arne]

I mean it's handball. Accidental, but the new rule says it's handball. Klopp needs to stop fucking moaning and sort the midfield out.

[SvN]

Are you lot intentionally being thick? That's a clear no goal, based on the new rules this season. It hits his hand.

[Waffdon]

City’s goal got chopped off against Spurs for about the same. If it hits an attackers hand they give it but don’t care if a defender does. Whole system is a shambles.

[John]

It always catches me a little off guard how quick Dan James is.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The whole system seems to be designed to rule out goals that would once have been allowed to stand. Is the league GpG down? I'm surprised they allowed the first one to stand.

[Gray Fox]

I'm fine with the 2nd being no goal if it's being applied across the board. Things like that have to be black and white.

That first goal is going to be contentious for a while I think. This still 4-3-3 needs to piss off, or at least put Ox in the middle and give us someone there who can pass.

[John Arne]

I'm fine with the 2nd being no goal if it's being applied across the board. Things like that have to be black and white.

That first goal is going to be contentious for a while I think. This still 4-3-3 needs to piss off, or at least put Ox in the middle and give us someone there who can pass.

Ox for Henderson and get Milner warmed up. Our midfield is so ploddy.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm fine with the 2nd being no goal if it's being applied across the board. Things like that have to be black and white.


It seems that is the goal right now.

[Mike]

Not great this from us. Hopefully we’re better in the second half.

[Gray Fox]

I understand this midfield against say City. But as seen on a few occasions, United can be got at.

Big test now if this is supposedly going to be different this year.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If Liverpool turn up they will score 3, United are completely wide open at the back.

[John Arne]

Why's the ref stopping the game for that?

[Boydy]

Fuck Dan James.

[Ian]

As if they're losing to this fucking rabble.

[Lewis]

This fucking GAME-RAISING rabble. The new Steve McLaren's Middlesbrough.

[Lewis]

Ashley Young you cunt.

[John Arne]

I genuinely hold off on celebrating anything not 100% now unless VAR has confirmed. Fucking stupid VAR.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fucking Lilliana.

[Mike]

Phew

[Giggles]

At least they can't to a 100% season now, the unbeaten one is going to be bad enough.