Merry Christmas...it's December Football 2019

[niko_cee]

Is that not a red card?

[John Arne]

Just seen a HD replay. Outside and a red card.

[John]

Is Flamengo's entire squad made up of thirty six year olds who used to be good?

[Lewis]

Liverpool should have brought their VAR team with them.

[John Arne]

As Danny Murphy just pointed out, the Ref was looking at the wrong angle in the replay. VAR is fucking pointless.

[niko_cee]

I reckon Flamengo could have just set a record for the most number of players offside there when the 'keeper hoofed it back forward. Must have been at least half a dozen of them, maybe more.

[John Arne]

Henderson :drool:

[Shindig]

Are we going to get the South American strop, lads?

[niko_cee]

They'd have to concede another before losing it, I'd imagine.

[John]

That's some miss. Shame for such a young player to be shot to death.

[John]

Mane looks as though someone's set about him in his sleep with a set of clippers.

[Gray Fox]

I never want to play a Brazilian team again.

That being said - World Champions :cool:

[John Arne]

https://gyazo.com/5359e3aae2de04d229604ee1c7d3fec8.jpeg

[niko_cee]

I never want to play a Brazilian team again.

That being said - World Champions :cool:

If anything it's a small mercy they skanked River Plate at the death as River looked far more organised with their shitiness in the Libertadores final.

[Shindig]

River looked comfortable but had little in front of goal in that match. Also, as is customary now, here is the Rafa vs Bruce update:

Rafa's side took until the 11th of February to level with our current points tally. Dalian Yifang finished their season at the start of the month with Rafa guiding them to a 9th placed finish. In that time he has managed 7 wins from 17 games. Today was also Bruce's 7th win as manager.

[niko_cee]

Potter's also behind Hughton on the x games in comparison, but then, I'm not sure Brighton won again after the Christmas games until about April last season, and people rolled that stat out about Bodgers v Klopp for quite a while too.

[Reg]

Also we've played more tough away games this season than we had by the same point last year.

And it's a better league - the promoted teams are far better than the ones that went down.

[-james-]

Fallon Sherrock. :cool:

[Lewis]

It's all well and good having the first woman to win whatever in darts, but imagine being the first man to lose to a woman in darts. He'll never get over it. He's finished.

[Giggles]

Fallon Sherrock. :cool:

Soccer thread?

[Shindig]

Shameful lustage?

[John Arne]

Is it right this the Beeb stopped the broadcast night before the trophy awarding, to switch teh Michael Fucking MacIntyre?

[niko_cee]

They stopped it on BBC1, it continued online.

[Andy]

I thought Villa would be a banker today. :moop: Overrated pile of dross. This perception that they have enough to stay up is changing by the week. I half expected Sheffield United to have dropped by now too and given how Brighton were against Palace I thought they'd have enough but nope.

I'm going to start backing the team I think will lose to win instead. This last couple of weeks has seen nothing but last minute goals or the unlikelier team taking the points.

They are lost without Mings at the back.

I was hoping for a draw, luckily we took our chances and go into the festive period with a bit of confidence.

Genuinely think Danny Ings is as important to us as Le Tissier was in the 90s, we would be cut a drift if he was injured.

[Mellberg]

Andy hit the nail on the head. Without Mings at the back we're painful. Fortunately Chester's back from 11 months out and I'd put him in ASAP. McGinn went off injured after 4 mins, which is something we can't afford.

We're not that good though. It's all very well playing half decent football, but if you don't have a centre forward you're going to struggle.

[Waffdon]

‘Feed the Scousers’ must be up there with the worst chants going.

[Lewis]

I've noticed a dramatic increase in twatty hand-wringing over anti-Liverpool songs in recent seasons. Sport obviously isn't for you lads.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Until Liverpool stop singing 'Chelsea rentboys' they are hypocrites. Although if Twitter is anything to go by, a lot of them seem to genuinely think that 'rentboys' refers to mercenary players.

[Waffdon]

It’s the hypocrisy of it, if nothing else. Fucking blokes from Wolverhampton or Leicester singing it. Jesus.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Milan lost 5-0 to Atalanta today. It leaves them in 10th place. They've scored 16 goals in 17 games. This will be their seventh straight season without a top four finish. Surely the worst run club in Europe relative to resources?

[phonics]

Ivan Gazidis’ excellent work keeps on chugging. What a fucking moron.

[Lewis]

What resources? They're between Everton and Newcastle in the money league.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What resources? They're between Everton and Newcastle in the money league.

Yeah but they're not playing against Everton and Newcastle, they're currently about to be overtaken by Sassuolo and Bologna.

[Lewis]

Aaron Wan-Bissaka would be stacking shelves if nobody had ever spotted his tackling. I don't know why he crosses the half-way line.

He is legitimately Sunday league. How did he earn professional terms as a winger?

[Pepe]

The whole United squad is atrocious. Not a single player worth salvaging.

[mugbull]

PogbA’s gonna come on second half and save the day

[Waffdon]

Calvert Lewin’s arm still haunting De Gea. Sarr can’t even hit a ball correctly.

[SvN]

That's the problem with De Gea. No matter how well he might be playing, he's always got a clanger in him.

He probably has a couple of those every season.

[Waffdon]

That’s just as bad :D

[Smjffy]

:roflol:

[Pepe]

Bring P. Ogba in.

[Ian]

Well this was entirely predictable.

[Smjffy]

I think if Tottenham win Chelsea later then the top four is unlikely to change thereafter. You'd probably be better off trying to finish below the Europa spot too. Or is next season when that other competition comes into play? Conference League or whatever?

[phonics]

Pearson’s such a good manager. He might be a bit of a nutter but that’s such a good appointment for Watford.

[Smjffy]

In fairness they were very unlucky against us last week and I think with better weather conditions they'd have taken the three points. Is it just a new manager bounce though. Defeat today I think would have left them dead and buried but alas, football.

[Waffdon]

Mason Mount starting again. Call the police.

[-james-]

That three at the back for Chelsea is terrifying.

[Waffdon]

Alonso will probably score now he’s back at wing back, the murderer. Kante will need to have the game of his life.

[Pepe]

Isaac Success. :D

EDIT: His Wikipedia page is lol.

EDIT2: Nevermind, it has been edited.

[randomlegend]

Atrocious performance. Yikes.

[Pepe]

Need a Rashford update.

[randomlegend]

Need a Rashford update.

1208463159708794880

1208331460781989888?s=19


Only Raúl Jiménez, Raheem Sterling, Jamie Vardy and Mohamed Salah are involved in more goals in all competitions than Marcus Rashford this season among players playing in the Premier League. [Opta]

I gotchu.

[Pepe]

Jimenez. :cool:

[Kikó]

United are seriously bad.

[Smjffy]

I have a hunch Tottenham are going to stick a fair few past Chelsea. 4-1 FT. :nodd:

[Giggles]

That thing on the top of Tottenhams stadium looks like something from the reich.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I quite like how we've set up here, we are a lot more mobile than them across the pitch.

And there it is. Legend.

[Giggles]

Wilollian.

[Smjffy]

Chelsea's most reliable player for years. Nice.

Now pull your finger out, Spurs. :moop:

[John]

That touch in the box from Mount after Abraham put it over the top to him is almost enough on its own to bring me round to Waff's thinking on him.

[Waffdon]

He’s not a bad player. There’s just far too much over reliance on him when he’s their fourth best central player.

[Pepe]

Lucas Moura is every bit as shit as I remember him to be.

[Waffdon]

Thought Kepa’s head ate Sissoko’s knee at first there.

[mugbull]

Atrocious. Lucas needs off and so does Dier (as he always does when he plays)

[Jimmy Floyd]

That was way worse than it looked from Sissoko on the keeper. Completely reckless and out of control, very lucky that the limbs arranged themselves in a certain way or he would have walked.

[mugbull]

Dele though has to stay on, always. His trolling is the best in the league

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Dele Alli is absolute scum.

[John]

Dele Alli is such a hateful little cunt.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Aurier is the worst player on the pitch, and possibly in the world.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Gazzaniga :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

That is a penalty and a red card.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Why is he trying to kick that?

[Pepe]

:lol:

[Trancemeister]

Its a fucking stone wall penalty.

[John]

That has to be a penalty. The ref should be punished for calling a foul the other way initially, it's so clear.

[Waffdon]

What the fuck was that hahahahahah

[Jimmy Floyd]

How is it only a yellow?

[Giggles]

That surely needed to be red.

[Smjffy]

It didn't even need to go to VAR. It was so blatant.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That was a classic first rule decision, btw. Referees only react to things they expect to happen, not things that actually happen.

[mugbull]

That is a penalty and a red card.

What are you on about? Red card? It wasn’t even a high leg. Unless the shadow cast counts as the leg itself

[John]

I think the ref calling a Spurs free kick initially is a more embarrassing miscalculation than whatever karate kid nonsense Gazzanigga was attempting.

[Smjffy]

Those sort of calls is why VAR is a good introduction and if it was kept to such things then it would be better received than the offside calls by a strand of hair.

[Waffdon]

Sanchez’s reaction is what makes it even better. What a mess.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What are you on about? Red card? It wasn’t even a high leg. Unless the shadow cast counts as the leg itself

His foot couldn't have been higher if it was chilling with the Nazi cockerel on the roof.

[mugbull]

His foot couldn't have been higher if it was chilling with the Nazi cockerel on the roof.

It was high 5 meters before contact was made. The one cross-pitch camera angle made it seem like Gazzaniga was karate kicking him but he wasn’t. Was a fucking weird choice to not catch the ball, and a penalty, but it was literally only a body check

[John]

You don't have to actually kick someone in the head for high feet to be called. It was reckless, dangerous play, and irrespective of any penalty call it should have been a red card for that alone.

[Pepe]

Plus last man, wasn't he?

[mugbull]

You don't have to actually kick someone in the head for high feet to be called. It was reckless, dangerous play, and irrespective of any penalty call it should have been a red card for that alone.

reckless play would at least involve studs showing or a potential for injury which again wasn’t the case here

[mugbull]

Now that was a clear backpass

[Waffdon]

He’s away to start crying again. What a sap.

[Trancemeister]

Son as captain in my fantasy team :moop:

[mugbull]

This sport is so soft. I might start watching American football now

[Jimmy Floyd]

lol at that but to be fair it was worse than Beckham in '98, so you know.

[Foe]

Is that really worth a 2 or 3 match ban? Really?

Can see why they’ve given it, he’s given the ref a chance to send him off. It looks bad, it’s petulant but Jesus.

[Smjffy]

Stupid is as stupid does.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They've lost their heads just like 2016. Waiting for a nasty tackle shortly. Mourinho needs to get Alli off for his own good.

[Lewis]

Jose Mourinho is done. It's international management or bust after this job.

[Giggles]

That’s the second time I’ve seen this Mourinho Spurs and it’s the second time I’ve seen him tactically destroyed by a former team. Nice to see from Lampard though especially after all the doom talk of the last while.

[Smjffy]

Racist abuse too.

Classy.

[Yevrah]

Jose Mourinho is done. It's international management or bust after this job.

It's such a curious turn of events.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Lampard probably just got an old 2005 tactics sheet off his hard drive and changed the names on it.

Oh dear, here goes Gaz Nev - social commentator.

[Yevrah]

Oh dear, here goes Gaz Nev - social commentator.

What's he saying?

[Smjffy]

The abuse the Bulgarians got when England went out there and the way the press vilified an entire country when its been rife in England for ages makes it all seem to little too late in my mind.

Even the kick it out bollocks proved years ago they are just all talk.

[niko_cee]

Son seems to be developing a bit of a problem with red cards. That's 2(3) in about half a season.

Glorious day all round in the football really.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What's he saying?

Saying we are in no position to lecture Bulgaria about racism. We are, actually, as here it is 1-2 idiots and swiftly dealt with, whereas there it is an entire stand of ultras and widely encouraged/welcomed by the football and political establishment.

[John Arne]

If Rudiger told Dave that he had been on the end of some racist shit... then why didn't Dave just take the team off? What am I missing? (Except for Dave being Spanish)

[mugbull]

The abuse the Bulgarians got when England went out there and the way the press vilified an entire country when its been rife in England for ages makes it all seem to little too late in my mind.

Even the kick it out bollocks proved years ago they are just all talk.

I’m Eastern European and racism is utterly ingrained in Eastern European culture in a way it isn’t in England.

All these Welsh/Irish/Scottish angry types trying to call out the English for hypocrisy just to get one over them is so lol

[Jimmy Floyd]

If Rudiger told Dave that he had been on the end of some racist shit... then why didn't Dave just take the team off? What am I missing? (Except for Dave being Spanish)

There is a protocol which they follow, the first stage is a stadium PA warning and they have done that.

[Smjffy]

Saying we are in no position to lecture Bulgaria about racism. We are, actually, as here it is 1-2 idiots and swiftly dealt with, whereas there it is an entire stand of ultras and widely encouraged/welcomed by the football and political establishment.

He's only saying it now though, he was as bad as every one else when the country was giving it to the Bulgarians. Since then there's been a number of high profile incidents that have been caught/reported.

Every single country seemingly has an issue with it. It won't be stopped by football anyway as it's not an issue that's solely sports related. It's everywhere. Even our new PM is a racist cock.

[niko_cee]

It's alright, we can get Stormzy on to address (berate the country on) the racism issue, as he did so succinctly with La Republica or whoever it was the other day. Italians get it.

[Waffdon]

How are they even looking at the penalty when he’s a yard offside?

[Smjffy]

I’m Eastern European and racism is utterly ingrained in Eastern European culture in a way it isn’t in England.

All these Welsh/Irish/Scottish angry types trying to call out the English for hypocrisy just to get one over them is so lol

I don't think it's a reflection on England, it's a reflection on the UK as a whole. Wales is every bit as racist as anywhere else. I never knew how bad until I got with Banana. Just the way she was treated by even bank clerks etc surprised me. She too was Eastern European.

Case in point actually, the likes of Wrexham which voted leave the UK, I imagine large swarms of that was racial as over the last 10-15 years it went from barely seeing a foreign person to being overloaded with Europeans.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There are 50,000 people or whatever in the stadium, 1,000 of them are probably racist, the difference is whether one of the 1,000 feels like expressing that in the form of abuse. That cannot be policed by Boris Johnson or anyone else.

It is self-policing.

[Waffdon]

Doesn’t help that he’s an open racist though, does it?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I would say it makes absolutely no difference to anything whether he is or not.

[Smjffy]

No doubt. Every club has them, I just don't see why football should be expected to sort it out. Highlight the person, kick them out the stadium and make it a criminal matter. It just strikes me as though football has taken the microphone for things like racism when it's barely even football related. Those who are racist in the stadium are every bit as racist outside it.

It should be the law policing it. The only benefit of it happening in a stadium is you can zoom in on said person/people. That said, UK is one of the most watched countries on the planet so I don't know why we don't just round them all up and be done with them. Probably save a few quid.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think it's a reflection of how much more prominent identity politics is now than it used to be. As we saw today there are a lot of people out there who get very, very upset (for reasons I don't understand) about Stormzy being able to express an opinion.

[Lewis]

It all started when Liverpool failed to condemn Luis Suarez.

[phonics]

Can anyone link me a clip on what Neville said about what’s going on in the stadium. I can’t find anything.

[mugbull]

I would say it makes absolutely no difference to anything whether he is or not.

Of course it does

[Giggles]

There are 50,000 people or whatever in the stadium, 1,000 of them are probably racist, the difference is whether one of the 1,000 feels like expressing that in the form of abuse. That cannot be policed by Boris Johnson or anyone else.

It is self-policing.

Would it not be 26000?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Would it not be 26000?

Even using your logic, Tottenham was about 80% remain.

That is a stonking result for us. Could be a season-maker.

[Smjffy]

It all started when Liverpool failed to condemn Luis Suarez.

Nah. Peter Schmeichel getting away from it scot free probably set the ball rolling as it ties in with Blair opening the gates to the country.

[phonics]

Smiff trying to blame Man Utd for racism and then saying something racist is top stuff.

[Giggles]

Even using your logic, Tottenham was about 80% remain.

That is a stonking result for us. Could be a season-maker.

Yeah, was only a flippant remark anyway. The vote was for disillusionment for a multitude of reasons. Every country is racist to some extent though, I think the only reason this gets played up so much is that your media love to portray that you’re the only ones that don’t.

On the ball, that was indeed a very good performance, I quite like this Lampard side. Spurs are still spurs anyway, regardless of management or fancy stadium - slightest bit of expectation and the shit the bed. They’re such a gutless club.

[Smjffy]

Smiff trying to blame Man Utd for racism and then saying something racist is top stuff.

You think that's bad? I shit you not I had to delete donkey out of


The abuse the Bulgarians got when England went out there and the way the press vilified an entire country when its been rife in England for ages makes it all seem to little too late in my mind.

Even the kick it out bollocks proved years ago they are just all talk.

as I was going to say donkey's years then thought fuck. :D I only did that because I saw the Depay thing on YouTube too.

I think you do raise a point that should be explored though in that some people are racist, some say something racist without even being aware it's racist and then you have others who are so confused by it all because they themselves have never been subjected to anything close to it so how does one even relate?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Come on out Waff with your Mount hate. Boy is mature beyond his years and has a top tier touch.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fair play to Gary for calling out the Premier League itself there live on Sky, that's a fairly ballsy move.

EDIT: And Dave Jones absolutely shat himself in response.

[phonics]

Quotes?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Gary: The Premier League hides behind the FA on this sort of thing, it needs to stand up and do something (and then a load of stuff about how racism is accepted in political parties so of course it happens in football).

Dave: Those are the views of Gary Neville, not the views of Sky Sports.

Gary: Do you not agree with them, Dave?

Dave: It doesn't matter whether I agree with them or not.

Proper rights holder poo hitting the deck there.

[Giggles]

Go on the Gerreh.

[phonics]

Can’t be bothered to do tweet tags on mobile. Here’s the video

https://twitter.com/ryanbaldifw/status/1208836404073181185?s=21

[Waffdon]

Come on out Waff with your Mount hate. Boy is mature beyond his years and has a top tier touch.

He played well, but then so did everyone. I think that sort of game suits him. He’s useless against teams where creativity is needed.

[John Arne]

The protocol is shit. You shouldn't get three warnings on this. Time for players, the captain's, to stand by their mates and drag the team off immediately. The authorities aren't doing anything about it, so time for the players to act. Azpilicueta should have done something about it, and hopefully next time, he will.

[niko_cee]

Was it at Spurs where Aubameyang got a banana chucked at him?

[Jimmy Floyd]

They didn't get three warnings. It was one warning issued three times.

[SincereTheRebel]

I know players are not that smart, but they have to start leaving the field and going home if they really care about racism.

[Spikey M]

I don't understand the lack of action from players of the offending fan base. When it happened at City a couple of weeks ago, why isn't Sterling - vocal as he is on this subject - doing something about it? A show of support for the opposing players. Same goes here. Why isn't Kane going over to the fans? Do something. Some bullshit stadium announcement is going to do anything.

[John Arne]

I know players are not that smart, but they have to start leaving the field and going home if they really care about racism.

Spot on. Time to take it into their own hands. Forget the three warning, or one warning three times. It's bullshit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It is asinine in the extreme to blame players for not walking off when there is absolutely no evidence that the authorities would back them up in any way for doing so.

[Giggles]

It is asinine in the extreme to blame players for not walking off when there is absolutely no evidence that the authorities would back them up in any way for doing so.

The players hold the real power though. If there were no games then shit really hits the fan and the authorities would have few options.
The problem is that the main issue for the vast majority of them is the bank balance, not whether they or a colleague is getting racially abused.

[John Arne]

The authorities don't seem to be doing a lot a the moment, so I don't see a problem with the players taking their own action, regardless if anyone backs them up. Also, sports aside, if a mate of yours is receiving racist abuse, you do something about it - something more than telling the ref and playing on.

[mugbull]

I really don’t understand walking off. If players started doing that then some loser at every game would realize little insignificant he had the power to stop a major premier league football match just by yelling “nigger” loudly once. It would happen at every single match. Walking off is capitulating and giving some failure of a person all the power in the world

[Jimmy Floyd]

You saw what happened in the USA when NFL players started not even walking off, but doing a harmless kneel at the start of the game. If players started going on strike here they would be hammered. Most of them probably think why should we take all the flak when it's us getting abused.

[Smjffy]

Big Pete and Ian Wright, Suarez and Evra, Terry and Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole with the choc ice business, Silvas tweet just of the top of my head so it's a bit rich for players to be taking the morale highground as though it's just a select number supporters and the punishments have never been just. Supporters banned for life, players given a fine and a couple of games suspension.

I liked what Neville said but it's not just from politics fuelling it when it's been there for a number of years.

I believe it simply needs to be handed over the the police and the fill extent of the law used irrespective of who says it. Sterling was quick to voice his concerns which was good but then he let himself down by defending Silva. Blaming politics and Johnson isn't the right way to go either given its the media, supporters, individuals from certain parties (UKIP was rampant with it), the wider public, the grief Stormzy got on twitter was telling as well. Although I attribute that to people who aren't racist taking offence as he cited the UK is and I can imagine people felt that as an attack on them even though they aren't racist themselves, leave voters constantly called racist xenophobes by media another.

It's good that the discussion is behind had but talking about it won't change anything until serious action is taken. That Anthony Burke fella being an example. Arrested, released on bail and you know nothing else will come of it.

Black people also have to take some criticism themselves as they have been known to refer to each other as n***** whilst calling whites cracker Jack's or whatever. Then there's the Muslims who have had it bad.

I remember the Manchester bombing and how sad it was but one thing that popped into my head was how much I felt for Muslims who wake up the following day and have to go to work after it.

Then there's those we continually give coverage too with racial slurs hence the media being to blame too. Its simply not something which is just sports related but I think the lack of punishments in the past have helped too. Chelsea fans abusing the by guy on the train as an example. Then you have the stereotypes like when United sang about Lukaku or even Liverpool with Origi.

Where do you even begin to stamp it out is what I wonder.

[Smjffy]

Jesus. As timing would have it, I log into Twitter to see Katie Price attacking Stormzy and Nigel Farage being in line for a knighthood.

Fuckin' hell.

[Yevrah]

Walking off the pitch was something that should have been done ages ago but won't do any good now. That ship has long since sailed due to the ref (in theory) being able to cancel the game, which he never will of course.

[SincereTheRebel]

Racism will never die. However, people do not have to stand for it. Walking off makes a statement. It's just stupid how we are about to be in 2020 it hasn't happened on the biggest stage yet.

[Smjffy]

Racism will never die. However, people do not have to stand for it. Walking off makes a statement. It's just stupid how we are about to be in 2020 it hasn't happened on the biggest stage yet.

I'm inclined to disagree. Walking off merely stops the game, it doesn't stop racism and you can almost guarantee if a team does walk off the focus will be on praising them for walking off in the face of racism but then again, what does that actually do in the grand scheme of things?. If a person is racist then they are racist whether they are watching a football game or sitting at home behind a computer.

[Pepe]

If said racist person stops shouting racist abuse at people, that would be an improvement 'in the grand scheme of things.'

[Boydy]

Players subject to racial abuse should be given a free pass to deal with the abuser in a Cantona-esque fashion.

[niko_cee]

It has to be self-policing, ideally in the sense of people policing themselves away from racially abusing others (in whatever context) or obviously just not being a racist, but, failing that, in a football context, the policing has to come from the crowd around, and in that context I think 'the protocol' can work. Hopefully when these things happen others in the vicinity take a stand against it. I've never heard racist abuse at a sporting event, but I've seen plenty of lairy twats challenged when their behaviour requires it, so would hope people don't just sit on their hands if the guy in front is giving it the full monkey noise big one.

[SincereTheRebel]

Hitting teams financial would help. It would never happen but if a player gets abused at stadium x, the whole team and organisation should be punished with points deductions and stadium bans or something.

[Smjffy]

So punish those who weren't racist because someone in the crowd was? I don't see how a club is able to control what comes out of someones mouth or another person action.

[Pepe]

If players are walking out of matches, then the crowd is more likely to speak up against the few being wankers.

[phonics]

Was listening to a podcast and they mentioned Tom Ince. Remember when Paul was telling everyone he was going to Inter.

[SincereTheRebel]

So punish those who weren't racist because someone in the crowd was? I don't see how a club is able to control what comes out of someones mouth or another person action.

Yes. Punish them all. Im confident it will help the issue overall. Even though it is complete madness.

[Smjffy]

ADO Den Haag appoint....


http://i.imgur.com/coWRQeg.gif

[Spikey M]

:(

West Ham should be legally required to have him as their manager at all times.

[Ian]

Scoring the winner after that fucking dance was Lingard's career peak.

[Giggles]

His whole career.

[SincereTheRebel]

Lingard has gone over 24 hours without a goal or assist. That is over 1400 minutes. That is 16 full games. Not bad.

[Lewis]

Those sort of statistics make him out to be more useless than he really is. He shouldn't be starting for a club who have spent a trillion quid, but he would be down on the list of people who need bumming out to turn the CULTURE around.

[Kikó]

Lingard's constant involvement makes me worry about Ole's suitability.

[Shindig]

Late to the Pardew. Carry on.

[Spikey M]

7 posts up.

[Smjffy]

Well the Jurgen Klopp signs tread is ageing rather well. :D I was looking for a "Will Jurgen Klopp win the Premier League thread but doesn't seem to be one.

Simon however had this beaut. :drool:

https://i.ibb.co/PWn95zD/lol.png

Some of you were bang on the money btw. Kiko especially.

[niko_cee]

At least link it ffs, I think I was pretty sceptical.

[Smjffy]

https://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/showthread.php?247-Klopp-confirmed-at-Liverpool&highlight=Klopp

[Kikó]

Sadly right.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Only an air disaster can stop them now.

[phonics]

This version is so much older than I remember. Time flies.

[Smjffy]

This part is every bit as wrong as it was right.


He will do well, I imagine. Just not as good as the mental scousers are thinking, though.

Even the most mental probably wouldn't have expected it to be this good. If he lands the title then he's there with Shankly and Paisley forever more, I reckon.

EDIT: Also, this reads (http://grantland.com/the-triangle/jurgen-klopp-liverpool/)even better than it did then, I reckon. I would say we weren't prepared.

[Byron]

At least let this be the most smug you will get.

If Liverpool win the league and you go full on Scouse I'll be asking someone to ban you for a month.

[Yevrah]

He really has done an outstanding job and were I a jobbing winger playing at an anywhere near decent level in Europe I'd be praying for the call. What he gets out of players is ridiculous.

[mugbull]

And why is your every post in that thread an ellipsis?

[Shindig]

He's one domestic success away from a statue, although I'd argue he's done enough to be part of a Paisley, Shankly, Rafa, Klopp Mount Rushmore.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mount Scousemore. They could build it in the bay like the Statue of Liberty, albeit Liverpool was the world's number one slaving city, but whatever.

[Giggles]

Only an air disaster can stop them now.

If we all collectively make a Christmas wish :yn:

[Shindig]

I've been thinking about Luis Suarez and his influence on the decade. Not as a super-duper football megapower but as a man who managed to squeeze all his controversy into a single decade.

2010 World Cup Quarter Final - Handled on the line to stop Ghana taking the lead in the tie. He's sent off and celebrates Gyan's missed penalty.
20th November 2010 - Bites Otman Bakkal during an Ajax match. 2 match suspension which is then increased to 7.
15th October - Found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra during a match. 8 match suspension.
21st April 2013 - Bites Branoslav Ivanovic. 10 game ban.
2014 World Cup - Bites Giorgio Chielini. Four month ban and a 9 game international match ban.

What a top twat.

[Smjffy]

I've been thinking about Luis Suarez and his influence on the decade. Not as a super-duper football megapower but as a man who managed to squeeze all his controversy into a single decade.

2010 World Cup Quarter Final - Handled on the line to stop Ghana taking the lead in the tie. He's sent off and celebrates Gyan's missed penalty.
20th November 2010 - Bites Otman Bakkal during an Ajax match. 2 match suspension which is then increased to 7.
15th October - Found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra during a match. 8 match suspension.
21st April 2013 - Bites Branoslav Ivanovic. 10 game ban.
2014 World Cup - Bites Giorgio Chielini. Four month ban and a 9 game international match ban.

What a top twat.

But he was our twat. :drool:

As far as being a shit house though, John Terry takes some beating although we'd have have to extend it to century as opposed to decade. I think it's fair to say both have improved somewhat in the last 4/5 years though and let their football do the talking.

The part I've never understood about racial attacks by sportsmen or supporters is most of their team mates are black but some attack opposing players. It's one of those wtf things that my mind can't comprehend. The Chelsea/Tottenham game the other day being a good example as half the players on the pitch were black. You attack one, you attack all in my mind.

In short. Animals > People.

[phonics]

You’re surprised at racism being illogical?

[Smjffy]

Nothing surprises me in today's world. I remember a while back a couple took their baby on a bus and started freaking out because the baby died, it later transpired that the baby was dead all along and it barely touched raised a reaction if I'm honest. Sometimes I think the world would be better if something occurred which wiped 3/4 of it out.

In answer to your actual question though, of course it's illogical but I still struggle to comprehend how people can be like that. Not just race but in general too. You're not black, white, whatever, you're human. Or not as it appears being humane is a lost trait.

[SincereTheRebel]

Nuts


https://youtu.be/pvBD18mVVbo

[SvN]

Genuinely dreading the match tomorrow. Can't remember ever having lower expectations.

[Smjffy]

Genuinely dreading the match tomorrow. Can't remember ever having lower expectations.

Do you think Greenwood is going to get a start at all? I've brought him off the bench to replace Vardy. :cab:

[Pleb]

We are playing Newcastle don't forget.

[Smjffy]

Most anticipated United to be shit this season so another three points would go along way to surviving the drop and could even take them to the lofty heights of 7th or even 6th if Tottenham spanner it against Brighton which is pretty special all things considered but I'd like United to get them instead because I think Shindig's had it worse. :henn0rz:

[Mike]

As you were talking about players being a shit house, Andy Robertson is amazing at it, and I bloody love him for it.

Big game today, hopefully we get through it.

[phonics]

Jose dropping N’Dombele from the squad completely. It begins.

[Boydy]

I fucking hate VAR.

[phonics]

Var is fine. The rules are shit.

[Smjffy]

I had Harry Kane FG. :moop: I had a sixth sense that Brighton score next after it was (correctly) ruled out. FML.

I think VAR needs a little rejig for the offside calls, sod the whole body part, I'd accept the feet since it's football. Go by that and make it universal then it could/should be easier. Fractional decisions by armpits and hair strands is just too much.

[Giggles]

I fucking hate VAR.

It’ll eventually end the sport at these levels if they’re too stubborn/stupid to get rid of it before that.

[phonics]

Fucking hell Spurs. Even when I want you to win you fuck it up.

[Yevrah]

Another goal disallowed due a player's pubic hair being offside?

[Boydy]

Another goal disallowed due a player's pubic hair being offside?
Yep. It's bullshit.

[mugbull]

Var is fine. The rules are shit.

It’s this. VAR is fine, despite what the boomers say. The offside rule itself needs to be changed

[Yevrah]

Var is fine. The rules are shit.

It's VAR. If it hadn't happened we wouldn't be getting this crap and if you don't adjust the rules to compensate for these all too obvious outcomes then the implementation of the system is shit.

EDIT: Maybe a bit of both, but you get the idea.

[Giggles]

It's VAR. If it hadn't happened we wouldn't be getting this crap and if you don't adjust the rules to compensate for these all too obvious outcomes then the implementation of the system is shit.

EDIT: Maybe a bit of both, but you get the idea.

It’s sucking any immediate excitement out of the sport and is only going to get worse. After a good portion of goals now you’re straight to looking at the referee and waiting for the stupid review, no immediate celebration.
Once that’s completely gone, the game at the top level is gone.

[mugbull]

It’s been fine in other leagues, the Premier League has just made a mess of it so far. It has been getting a bit better though.

[randomlegend]

Ali being a cunt as usual.

[Pepe]

What should the offside rule look like, according to those that think that the rule is the issue?

[mugbull]

What should the offside rule look like, according to those that think that the rule is the issue?

How about: both of the attacker’s feet have to be ahead of the furthest defender’s trailing foot for the attacker to be offside

[Pepe]

How will that change having to review every call to make sure that there is not one micrometer of overlap?

[randomlegend]

I feel like wherever you draw the line, people are always going to complain about the offside decisions where the player is only a hair's breadth over said line.

[Pepe]

Yes, as long as there is a line, the problem remains.

[mugbull]

How will that change having to review every call to make sure that there is not one micrometer of overlap?

It won’t. VAR does that no matter what. But that’s not the problem

[Pepe]

What's the problem then?

[randomlegend]

I've only just seen the one from this match, it isn't even that close. He's obviously offside.

[mugbull]

What's the problem then?

It’s a game of inches. Giving the attacker an extra few inches, maybe feet, makes a huge difference in terms of the passing, attacking that can take place. You could also put a 15 cm buffer around the last defender that the attacker can be in, would have the same effect

[randomlegend]

That was a fantastic goal.

[Yevrah]

I did always say that offside would be the thing that kills it and it looks like it is.

You either accept that some decisions will be wrong and you get the benefit of being able to celebrate a goal almost immediately as a result, or you use VAR and have to deal with all the tedium that follows thereafter.

[randomlegend]

It’s a game of inches. Giving the attacker an extra few inches, maybe feet, makes a huge difference in terms of the passing, attacking that can take place. You could also put a 15 cm buffer around the last defender that the attacker can be in, would have the same effect

You're still just moving the line and people will still have the same complaints.

[mugbull]

You're still just moving the line and people will still have the same complaints.

I know. I’m more concerned about VAR ruling out goals that would otherwise have been given through benefit of the doubt, and in doing so making the sport less dynamic and direct. People will always complain once you give them the tools to do so.

[Shindig]

VAR is supposed to remove doubt from the equation.

[Pepe]

It’s a game of inches. Giving the attacker an extra few inches, maybe feet, makes a huge difference in terms of the passing, attacking that can take place. You could also put a 15 cm buffer around the last defender that the attacker can be in, would have the same effect

If the idea is to give attackers an advantage over defenders in an attempt to create more chances, maybe I could get on board with that.


I did always say that offside would be the thing that kills it and it looks like it is.

Everyone always said that, it was obvious. At least VAR was implemented in a time when offsides per match are way down. Imagine having VAR at the turn of the century, when the most common tactic was hoofing long balls to your pacey striker who was constantly trying to get behind the defensive line. Some matches would still be ongoing to this day.

[Yevrah]

Everyone always said that, it was obvious. .

Seemingly not so much as the authorities went ahead and did it anyway.

[Pepe]

The authorities care for very different things than we do.

[Shindig]

This Amazon coverage is alright. Sided with Chelsea v Southampton as it might be the better watch and influences our end of the table (that we're nowhere near).

[phonics]

I was right about Pepe. 3 managers and none of them think he’s worth a start. 70 million quid down the drain with that one.

[SincereTheRebel]

How long are we giving Arteta until the stress of arsenal attacks his hair?

[phonics]

Unstoppable force vs immovable object that one.

[Waffdon]

Chelsea are horribleeeee at home. Nice finish from Obafemi Martins

[Giggles]

How come Obafemi was playing? I thought the manager had took a big disliking to him.

[mo]

Eoin Doyle gets 11 in a row. Town 3 up by half time. Best not Chuck this one away as well.

[Waffdon]

Hudson Odoi has come back from his injury looking like a non league player.

[phonics]

Achilles injuries are absolute killers. You can barely walk let alone play.

[Giggles]

A piss poor day like this will hardly entice Amazon/Premier Sports back for much more.

[Smjffy]

I'm getting frustrated that almost every team I back these days, the opponent wins. I'm not talking one or two on a coupon, I'm talking every fucking team for at least 3/4 weeks.

[Smjffy]

PS. The quality on show in all these Premier League goals is abysmal. I thought Boxing Day usually meant goals.

[mugbull]

I'm getting frustrated that almost every team I back these days, the opponent wins. I'm not talking one or two on a coupon, I'm talking every fucking team for at least 3/4 weeks.

Maybe don't gamble then?

[Pepe]

Chelsea :harold:

[phonics]

Chelsea becoming an Arsenal 08-12 tribute act. It’s fun to watch but fuck me is it infuriating chucking easy games.

[Smjffy]

Maybe don't gamble then?

Funny. A fool and his money are easily parted.

The turn around is currently on. If of course Arsenal pull their finger out.

[phonics]

The AFTV lot have scarpered after one of them got arrested. Thank fuck this lot are finally being chucked out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

A bit like United, we haven't yet worked out how to play on the front foot. Unlike United, we will get there.

[Gray Fox]

This must be the 4th place that no one wants.

Concern for todays game. If there is a weakness in this team it's when we have the ball for extended periods and then get countered, something which Leicester can do to deadly effect.
There's a tough run of fixtures from now until the "winter break." Though being 13 points clear at this point even I'd see it as difficult for us to throw away.

[Smjffy]

Get onside and start believing, Fox. :cool: We'll win today but spanner it against Wolves more likely.

[Shindig]

First time I'm watching or listening to us all season. Also, Owen Hargreaves has three accents fighting at once.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Liverpool fans still pretending there is some kind of jeopardy. If you lose it from here the city should be nuked and Klopp hanged.

[Waffdon]

That Jordan Ayew goal was utter filth.

[Smjffy]

Best case scenario here is a 4-3 Newcastle win with Greenwood grabbing a hattrick. :eek:

Or you know, a repeat of the previous match. :cool:

[Smjffy]

Liverpool fans still pretending there is some kind of jeopardy. If you lose it from here the city should be nuked and Klopp hanged.

Nah, I've noticed most the noise comes from rival fans as opposed to ours getting too giddy. Focus on each game as it comes then we'll be fine but the reaction to when we inevitably lose a league game is going to be telling. We've come too close to often to think its ours to lose, it's never boded well. It's hardly a pretence either as if you saw the Watford match you could literally feel the nerves in the stadium come across on TV.

If we're still in this position by the end of January then yeah, probably have it tied up by March but we're Liverpool, we don't do things the easy way so the scepticism is fair.

[Smjffy]

Though being 13 points clear with a game in hand at this point even I'd see it as difficult for us to throw away.

Fixed that for you. :joy:

[Max Power]

Realistically it would need a spectacular injury crisis alongside Man City peeling off 10+ wins in a row. We can start the slide tonight. Liverpool third by March.

[phonics]

Weren’t city just 3 points better off last time Liverpool cocked it up?

[randomlegend]

Maybe if our results are bad enough for long enough, the weaker teams will start attacking us and then we can counter-attack them and win.

https://i.imgur.com/xP5Eo3a.jpg

[Smjffy]

We were seven points clear going into the game against City who had a game in hand, they beat us cutting it down to 4, then they won their game in hand and our two draws against Leicester and Everton fucked it. That goal line clearance by Stones...FML. :moop:

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/cpsprodpb/39AD/production/_105056741_pltweet.jpg

:worried: