01/2020 Football: V League Special

[Pleb]

:roflol:

[Shindig]

Unless VAR gets these decisions correct - which in this case I think it has - you can just see the emotion and excitement being taken from the game and all it's doing is making people furious.

Fury is an exciting emotion, Lee.

[John Arne]

17yr old Suphanat Muenta, a guy I predicted last year would be quite the player.

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[Giggles]

I'm coming around to VAR a bit when it's screwing West Ham.

[Spikey M]

The only saving grace VAR has, is that we can disregard Liverpool winning the league because they've had some generous decisions.

[randomlegend]

Mata, Matic and Pereira in the same starting lineup :sick:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Our starting lineup is dross as well, do all the teams have shop window orders from above?

[Giggles]

Idah gets a go at Old Trafford, as bad as they are that's a bitch of a first league start.

[Giggles]

That was a lovely ball in from Mata.

[randomlegend]

Mata has been good to be fair to him, and Matic ticks over pretty well in these types of games. Pei
Pereira is gash though.

[Waffdon]

Our starting lineup is dross as well, do all the teams have shop window orders from above?

Reece James/Hudson Odoi down the right is stuff of dreams though. The latter needs to stay at that side.

[randomlegend]

Greenwood is a huge talent.

EDIT: and Brandon Williams is about 800x as good as Luke Shaw as well.

[Raoul Duke]

Is Ruben Loftus Cheek dead?

[Gray Fox]

I wonder if Danny Ings would come back again.

[Ian]

Greenwood is a huge talent.

EDIT: and Brandon Williams is about 800x as good as Luke Shaw as well.

Bit harsh to call a youngster a 2/10.

[randomlegend]

Bit harsh to call a youngster a 2/10.

Didn't you see that fucking miss?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Is Ruben Loftus Cheek dead?

Yep and always will be other than little 2 month bursts, his back is fucked.

[Shindig]

Almiron's been right on cue lately. Decent point.

[Baz]

Japhet M’Bouba M’Bwiwa Abu Fuongo Manzambi Tanganga is an English professional footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur as a defender.

:D

[John Arne]

Japhet M’Bouba M’Bwiwa Abu Fuongo Manzambi Tanganga is an English professional footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur as a defender.

:D

He's also a 20yr old who looks about 34.

[Baz]

He's also a 20yr old who looks about 34.

MOTM so far.

[randomlegend]

MOTM so far.

His years of experience coming in handy.

[Gray Fox]

This version of Spurs is much better. Not letting anything rest.

[phonics]

It sounds thrilling.

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[Gray Fox]

The composure in our attacking play here is amazing.

[Waffdon]

Bobby is so good.

That goal was never not going to be given.

[Guybrush]

Bobby is so good.

That goal was never not going to be given.

Why wouldn't it have been?

[Waffdon]

Well if we’re being pedantic, it wasn’t even a Liverpool throw in to begin with. They didn’t exactly zoom in to see who hand balled it either

[Spoonsky]

That Firmino goal is brilliant, the touches by him and Salah are so soft. Spurs seem really unimaginative.

[John Arne]

Just seen the Arsenal highlights - why on earth were the Arsenal players remonstrating Aubameyang's red card? Absolutely nailed on.

[Spikey M]

Liverpool are paying the FA. Blatant red card.

[Waffdon]

That’s some clearance from Le Celso

[Spoonsky]

Great win, feels like Liverpool have been super lucky in terms of bad misses against them this season.

[Gray Fox]

I understand the Son miss, Trent maybe even clips it. The Lo Celso miss I just can't get it. He'll hit that 100 times and score 99.

[Mike]

It’s simply because it’s our year ;) :D :cool2:

[Gray Fox]

I also want whatever Wijnaldum has been taking.

I don't think I saw him stop running flat out at any point in that.

[Lewis]

Greenwood is a huge talent.

EDIT: and Brandon Williams is about 800x as good as Luke Shaw as well.

Since Phil Jones won't be playing every week now, I'm measuring Ole Gunnar Binman on how often he reverts back to that waste of space over Williams.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I discovered today that Luke Shaw was their player of the year last year. How did that happen?

[niko_cee]

Spurs were absolute turd and got what they deserved. Shame Liverpool didn't score after 2 minutes as they really ought to have.

Thought more would be made of that Robertson 'challenge' but I don't think that sort of thing is ever going to be enough to go from nothing to red card, it's two player lunging for the ball and he does get it cleanly. That said, if the ref gives it on the field it probably sticks. He is a right dirty fucker. Did he step on someone towards the end as well or just leave his foot in on Alderweireld? Loves a bit of needle.

Liverpool seem to be in that sweet spot teams rarely achieve where most of their opponents barely bother to try to beat them.

[Lewis]

I discovered today that Luke Shaw was their player of the year last year. How did that happen?

I think he had the least noticeable drop-off when the initial Binman Bounce wore off, but the obvious reasons why were missed.

[Shindig]

Three more injuries. Mint. :moop:

[Ian]

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This whole thread is amazing.

[Lewis]

I bet they would have smoked Luke Shaw out by now.

[Giggles]

That’s fucking nuts :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

How do they have any players?

[niko_cee]

The first rule of football club is it's a 3 week ban for talking about football club.

[Jimmy Floyd]

God, those Spurs v Liverpool highlights. The latter have the untouchable combination of being really good and really lucky that United had around the turn of the century.

Usually it comes back to bite you with a painful European demise.

[niko_cee]

1.24 v 1.23 xG

:harold:

What a load of shit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

How does that work? Van Dijk's, Son's and Lo Celso's alone must have been over 0.5 each.

[niko_cee]

It doesn't work, it's rubbish.

Do you get double xG for faffing two chances in quick succession a la Firmino and Chamberlain in the second minute?

Although this mob have it a more reasonable 1.1 v 1.78 (so 1 goal margin). (https://understat.com/match/11854)

[Jimmy Floyd]

Solskjaer very much reminds me of Gary Neville in the way that he spouts absolute bollocks coated in a veneer of the timeless majesty of Manchester United. It must be something common to all of that lot because I'm sure Giggs does it too.

[Gray Fox]

Andy Robertson is an artist in shithousery.

[Waffdon]

Andy Robertson is an artist in shithousery.

We taught him well x

[Spoonsky]

How do they have any players?

That's what I'm wondering. It would almost be worth it to show up just to see what these people are like.

[Mike]

That's what I'm wondering. It would almost be worth it to show up just to see what these people are like.

Turn up 30 seconds late, in a scarf, put your bag at the side of the pitch and ask some questions about page 12 of the handbook.

[John]

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[Gray Fox]

Give that man a new contract immediately.

[Spikey M]

His nose is definitely getting redder.

[Andy]

Bournemouth really as terrible, celebrates beating us at St Mary's like it was a cup final and they've completely gone to shit since.

Cant play out from the back and cant score goals. Going down.

[SincereTheRebel]

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[Pepe]

What was even the plan there?

[Pepe]

1215344871969624064

This whole thread is amazing.

Will need to follow that rulebook on the next kickabout.

[Gray Fox]

I believe that's 14 assists this season for De Bruyne. The record for one season is 20 and they still have 16 games to play. He could smash it.

[thommo]

Quite fun to watch Villa get absolutely pumped. Could have been more in that first half alone.

[Baz]

I believe that's 14 assists this season for De Bruyne. The record for one season is 20 and they still have 16 games to play. He could smash it.

Much like Liverpool could smash past 100 points.

[bruhnaldo]

Spanish super cup anybody

[niko_cee]

Looking pretty grim for Bournemouth and Villa.

[Ian]

Spanish super cup anybody

If WWE shows in Saudi have taught me anything it's that the front row of that will be a load of bored fellas staring at their phones.

They'll be going home in an orderly fashion in the streets of Jeddah tonight, Jeff.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

If WWE shows in Saudi have taught me anything it's that the front row of that will be a load of bored fellas staring at their phones.


In very comfortable chairs though.

[bruhnaldo]

fuck me this is boring

[SincereTheRebel]

Do mbappe and Neymar take it in turns to have yellow hair?

[niko_cee]

Liverpool have finally gone ahead of PSG in the league odds percentage thing on euroclubindex. :cool:

Suarez's injury a major blow to Barcelona as well apparently.

[Gray Fox]

Well all things considered it is nearly there for Liverpool.

City if they win every game can hit 95 points. Of their remaining 17 games Liverpool need 10 wins to hit 91 points. There'd have to be the biggest bottle job in history to fold from this position.

[niko_cee]

99.4%

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm glad they've done it like this, in what will by the time they mathematically do it in April be a boring anti-climactic shrug of the shoulders. If they had done it in either of the recent orgasmic charge of the light brigade attempts it would have been horrendous.

[niko_cee]

It's amazing how committed Rochdale were to fucking up for that Almiron goal. The other goals weren't much better (from a catastrophic defending perspective) either.

Boro also following the same template.

I don't watch a lot of lower league football. Is it all just useless carthorses being forced to play out from the back?

[Shindig]

Whelp, that's his drought done. Good job, Joseph. Tom Allen got an assist. No, me neither.

[Jimmy Floyd]

On the playing out from the back, I still need to have it explained to me why goal kicks going sideways is a good idea against the high press (there was even a law changed recently to encourage this practice).

[SincereTheRebel]

If a team just went route one in today's game to a big and then little man, you would score 10 goals a game.

[niko_cee]

Because you beat the press and then exploit all that sweet sweet space in between the lines.

Or you lose the ball and concede.

90% of teams that do it rely on punting a terrible ball into a midfielder and praying they either turn their man or pull off some sort of clever, low-probability flick, which is sort of where it falls down.

[phonics]

On the playing out from the back, I still need to have it explained to me why goal kicks going sideways is a good idea against the high press (there was even a law changed recently to encourage this practice).

The law change was to prevent players taking posession of the ball inside the penalty area when the keeper underhits his pass out. It was to make it harder, not easier.

[thommo]

I don't watch a lot of lower league football. Is it all just useless carthorses being forced to play out from the back?

It's the flavour of the past few years. Bielsa and his style at Leeds has helped to promote this way of playing, and more of the Championship clubs with lofty ambitions see it as the way to go to get promotion, as if you don't need to buy defenders with a least an ounce of ball control and technical ability.

Only a few teams can really pull it off, one of them being Leeds until it gets to March (or Christmas in the current season), and as much as it pains me to say, Brentford. Fulham do attempt to play that way but a lot of the time the build up play is too slow to be impactful, and a lot of the time we get more purchase with a long ball into Mitrovic to hold it up and bring the wingers into the game.

[niko_cee]

And yet seems to have led to a mass adoption of the tactic. phonics

[phonics]

And yet seems to have led to a mass adoption of the tactic. @phonics (https://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/member.php?u=1)

I think it just looks more obvious. Most have been playing out the back for a few years.

I think the success rate of a long goal-kick is <50% so it's just statistics.

[Ian]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51107343

Hakan Sukur is now a bookseller and cabbie...

[Jimmy Floyd]

The success rate of any goal kick is zero, because it's a goal kick.

Chelsea were obsessed with a man on each by-line for goal kicks under Sarri. We were quite good at it, and the net result was... possession in our own half. Splendid efficiency, get those analytics down my gullet.

[Pepe]

'Playing it from the back' was a huge thing in Mexico in the 90s and early 2000s, with Lavolpe being the alleged 'creator.' That Lavolpe who won one league in 20+ years. Biggest chancer ever.

[Pepe]

Most of the time it ended with hoofing the ball upfield after the very talented defenders scrambled around under light pressure. So much better than letting the goalkeeper do it.

[phonics]

The success rate of any goal kick is zero, because it's a goal kick.

Chelsea were obsessed with a man on each by-line for goal kicks under Sarri. We were quite good at it, and the net result was... possession in our own half. Splendid efficiency, get those analytics down my gullet.

Just because you do something to have possession of the ball, it still matters what you do with it after that.

[Shindig]

Ultimately, you play to your strengths. Rochdale should not be bothering, but they sure did persist. I'm a bigger fan of the keeper throwing it forward to get a quick move going.

[phonics]

That would be a brave tactic from a goal kick.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Incidentally I think playing it out works well with the very best players, but below that level almost no one is physically co-ordinated or well-coached enough to be able to perform it consistently. As such you should then mix it up and be unpredictable.

There, I've solved goal kicks. Next week, throw-ins from your own half.

[Shindig]

That would be a brave tactic from a goal kick.

Someone in Africa must've tried it? :D

[Waffdon]

Fred thinking he’s Alexander Arnold :D

What a mess.

[Waffdon]

This new handball rule is an even bigger mess.

[mo]

In and around 2013 Mark Cooper had Swindon Town playing out from the back (ala Rochdale), the idea being that Nathan Thompson was the 'ball carrier' into midfield. You won't be surprised to find that this cost the team a fair few goals.

[Lewis]

I honestly expected him to get run down then.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I can't wait to see how shit this side will be without Rashford.

[phonics]

Incidentally I think playing it out works well with the very best players, but below that level almost no one is physically co-ordinated or well-coached enough to be able to perform it consistently. As such you should then mix it up and be unpredictable.

There, I've solved goal kicks. Next week, throw-ins from your own half.

90% of professional players have the ability to do it. Only 5% have of coaches have the ability to teach it. Arsenal have been trying to play out from the back (in an era where opposition knows how to counter it) for 2 years. Arteta hugely increased the success rate of it in less than 3 training sessions. It’s about players standing in the right places according to the opposition not ability.

[Manc]

Wolves are toothless.

[Lewis]

Yeah 'cause BranDON Williams smashed their teeth out. :cool:

[Raoul Duke]

Yeah 'cause BranDON Williams smashed their teeth out. :cool:

He needs to sort his shit haircut out

[Lewis]

It's probably as good as it gets with his freakish Megamind head.

[Lewis]

https://i.ibb.co/hWz0xC6/NINTCHDBPICT000527863685.jpg

:cab:

[Shindig]

Give him a Cech helmet and send him on his way.

[mugbull]

We're shit, shit, we are shit

[Mellberg]

Leeds look to be having a serious go at fucking up promotion again.

[Max Power]

Leeds blowing it again?

[Jimmy Floyd]

The goal they conceded was a complete joke, Nakhi Wells basically basketballed it into the net with his hand.

They need two forwards who can stick it in the net, their tee to green work goes unrewarded because Bamford is shit, but with Bielsa it's all about the theory.

[Max Power]

Football probably doesn’t work like this but you think if they had some generic FL bagsman like Jordan Rhodes you feel they’d walk it. Certainly Bielsa doesn’t see it that way but every time I’ve seen Leeds in the past two seasons Bamford looks poor.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If you watch his interviews (which admittedly is not for the faint-hearted) he always goes on about Bamford's great physical characteristics, or whatever the cod Spanish is for that. I tend to think yes, but the Championship is a 46 game shitathon and to go up you need to burgle about 12 wins in games when you don't play well or necessarily deserve it.

[niko_cee]

Massive game at the Amex today, whoever loses is seriously in the shit.

Hopefully Norwich can firebomb Bournemouth's season.

[Mellberg]

Hesgoal down. Anyone have an alternative?

[Max Power]

Footybite

[phonics]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EOkexdXW4AE1VeJ.jpg

lol

[John Arne]

Haaland 23 minute hattrick after coming in second half on debut for Dortmund.

[John Arne]

Also, are we all aware that Trent Alexander-Arnold's uncle is the Man Utd club secretary? The things you know.

[phonics]

Arsenal have drawn 11 games this season :cab:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Seeing Joelinton chilling up front made me think of other shit strikers and that led my brain onto Oumar Niasse. I googled him to see where he is now, my best guess was Turkey or the Arab world, somewhere like that.

Imagine my surprise when it transpired he came on for Everton. Today.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Callum Hudson-Odoi another on the long list of 'prospects' who is fundamentally unable to kick a football properly.

[Gray Fox]

"Bruce Ball" in full effect.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We had that coming to us for the ponderous shite trotted out all game long. 11 right footers and did 0 unpredictable things in the match.

Newcastle have some truly comical players in their team but a fantastic manager.

[niko_cee]

I see the seemingly now traditional "you, no you" 4th place shit-off has started early this season.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Liverpool had better keep up their end of the bargain tomorrow.

[randomlegend]

Lol Haaland scored a hat-trick in his first game for Dortmund.

[Gray Fox]

It's very odd to be going into the game with little to no pressure on it from our side.

We'll see whether that works in our favour or not.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lol Haaland scored a hat-trick in his first game for Dortmund.

He came off the bench on the 56th minute when Dortmund were 3-1 down and had secured his hattrick (and a 5-3 win for Dortmund) by the 79th minute.

Flop /Smiffy.

[Shindig]

Glad we managed that. Takes a little bit of pressure off the Everton game coming up.

[Lewis]

Lol Haaland scored a hat-trick in his first game for Dortmund.

I read that he has a fifty million release fee, which means that he's basically on loan there.

[niko_cee]

Good of Norwich to try and drag Bournemouth down with them, but I still have grave misgivings for the Potter 'good football' project at Brighton. Some real six pointers against the rest of the southcoast shitters coming up. I'm yet to be convinced of the merits of possession without purpose.

[Mellberg]

We were poor in the first half. Brighton could've been out of sight. Fortunately a couple of smart changes (for once) and Jack Grealish happened otherwise we'd have lost that.

[niko_cee]

Grealish always plays well, and makes a difference, against Brighton.

[SincereTheRebel]

Compared to the 132 GKs from the top seven leagues around Europe. Kepa has a 55.4% save percentage. That puts him 127th on the list.

[Danny]

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[Shindig]

At least it's a cold night. :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1218681992759468033

1218630442896838658

:lol:

[Danny]

1218618117221494785

Oof

[Bob Sacamano]

Luka Jovic only netting once in 13 for Real Madrid is laughable, scoring a few in the bundesliga was hardly enough to warrant that move, everybody scores goals in Germany, even Batshuayi.

[randomlegend]

I read that he has a fifty million release fee, which means that he's basically on loan there.

That's apparently why we pulled out of signing him (although Raiola says he chose Dortmund).

[niko_cee]

Is the implication of that Kepa stat that he ought to have saved that goal yesterday? Seems harsh. He seems like he makes quite a lot of spectacular saves to me, so either he's chucking in quite a few he shouldn't, or Chelsea's defence are just shit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He's a perfectly good goalkeeper. People want Lev Yashin.

'Save percentage' is a nonsense stat, you'd need to see xSaves or whatever for it to mean anything, and even then...

[SincereTheRebel]

There is a reason why GKs who usually play for teams like Burnley make more saves than others.

[mo]

baldy corner flag dick-hit

Shouldn't have been stood in the aisle. Asking for it.

[Shindig]

The more interesting stats are how often they concede. Once every 68 minutes, according to FootyStats. He ranks 85th in terms of Premier League goals conceded, although that list is 150 players strong so that can't just be goalkeepers.

For clean sheets, he's at 23%

[Lewis]

That's apparently why we pulled out of signing him (although Raiola says he chose Dortmund).

Having seen the goals he scored, none of which would be conceded in England, maybe he's crap anyway.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It really is an eye opener whenever I see any Bundesliga how suicidally high the defensive lines are. It's like defending just isn't of any interest to them. His second and third goals in that hat-trick were like something from the early 90s in England.

[SvN]

The best offside trap in history


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBFS20wGd04

[Smjffy]

If Man United shit their way to victory today then I'm going to be heartbroken. :moop:

[Ian]

You shouldn't be. Not that it'll happen.

[Smjffy]

But perhaps this is where it starts....and by 'it', I mean Liverpooling it. :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

You shouldn't be. Not that it'll happen.

We've done all right against THE TOP FOUR/Six this year tbh.

It's the dross we've struggled with.

Not that it will matter if we win because Man City are handing it to Liverpool.

[SincereTheRebel]

This was a great watch


https://youtu.be/e6U92vtYh1k

[Smjffy]

I keep reading about how well you've done against the top 4/6 but is it really that much of an indication given Arsenal and Tottenham are every bit as fragile as yourselves, City showed you up in the Carabao Cup and Chelsea have also come unstuck against the likes of Newcastle, Southampton and Bournemouth?

By all rights we should absolutely swat you aside but there's no way this run can continue given we've got away with a few results ourselves and it just seems ripe that it'll be your lot that fuck it for us. It'll mean nothing for either team in the grand scheme of things but still, no one wants to lose to Man United. :moop:

Man City are fast replacing you as my hated team however. Hashtag tweets of #taintedtitle and moans about VAR ruining the game are a bit too rich when you've basically bought your way to titles and not a word of their FFP rubbish. I also dispute the argument that it's all because Laporte is injured that they've gone to shit. You can't have such arguments when you've spent such an obscene amount of money on defenders over the years. Stones, Otemendi and Mendy in particular are absolute accidents waiting to happen. I also hate listening to Guardiola after a match in which everything hasn't gone his way as though there's some sort of agenda to stop City winning.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I keep reading about how well you've done against the top 4/6 but is it really that much of an indication given Arsenal and Tottenham are every bit as fragile as yourselves, City showed you up in the Carabao Cup and Chelsea have also come unstuck against the likes of Newcastle, Southampton and Bournemouth?

By all rights we should absolutely swat you aside but there's no way this run can continue given we've got away with a few results ourselves and it just seems ripe that it'll be your lot that fuck it for us. It'll mean nothing for either team in the grand scheme of things but still, no one wants to lose to Man United. :moop:

Man City are fast replacing you as my hated team however. Hashtag tweets of #taintedtitle and moans about VAR ruining the game are a bit too rich when you've basically bought your way to titles and not a word of their FFP rubbish. I also dispute the argument that it's all because Laporte is injured that they've gone to shit. You can't have such arguments when you've spent such an obscene amount of money on defenders over the years. Stones, Otemendi and Mendy in particular are absolute accidents waiting to happen. I also hate listening to Guardiola after a match in which everything hasn't gone his way as though there's some sort of agenda to stop City winning.

You mention City twatting us in the Carabao but fail to mention us beating them away and us also being the only team to have taken points from you.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Buying the title. I suppose Salah, Firmino, Mané, Alisson and van Dijk were all found in a skip in Sefton.

[Smjffy]

You mention City twatting us in the Carabao but fail to mention us beating them away and us also being the only team to have taken points from you.

Both those results seem to surprise even your own supporters than any real expectation that you'd take something from them tbf. You beat them fair and square at the Etihad and it should have been more. Our game against you, probably less so although a draw was probably a fair result given we were both shit on the day.

[Smjffy]

Buying the title. I suppose Salah, Firmino, Mané, Alisson and van Dijk were all found in a skip in Sefton.

It depends which way you look at it. Obviously Alisson and van Dijk were pricey albeit offset by Coutinho's fee but the front three were peanuts in today's market. All three combined cost less than £100M probably.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

So our good results against the top 6 are either because they're also shit or they were so surprising that they don't really count.

Cool, thanks.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Tens of millions or a few more tens of millions, it's all the same. When a team wins the league with a significant number of homegrown players I'll be impressed. Until then, everyone attempts to buy the title, and the best-coached, best-performing team succeeds.

[igor_balis]

The phrase tldr was invented for you smiffy.

[Smjffy]

So our good results against the top 6 are either because they're also shit or they were so surprising that they don't really count.

Cool, thanks.

Nope. More that they should be taken with a pinch of salt as there's nothing top about them other than media driven. You've hardly beaten peak Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs ("lads, it's Tottenham"). Your best two results were probably against Man City and Leicester tbf.

As it is, I've just clocked that Luke Shaw is starting so may as well hand the three points over now.

[igor_balis]

Also utds starting xi is fucking hilarious.

[Smjffy]

The phrase tldr was invented for you smiffy.

Only works if you could actually read in the first place, igor.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Also utds starting xi is fucking hilarious.

I kept waiting for the attackers and they never came.

[SincereTheRebel]

Watching this Hertha berlin vs b.munich game. You realize how shit stadiums are with a running track around it. It's fucking terrible

[niko_cee]

Tens of millions or a few more tens of millions, it's all the same. When a team wins the league with a significant number of homegrown players I'll be impressed. Until then, everyone attempts to buy the title, and the best-coached, best-performing team succeeds.

You won't be, it'll be La Masia mate all over again.

[Smjffy]

Tens of millions or a few more tens of millions, it's all the same. When a team wins the league with a significant number of homegrown players I'll be impressed. Until then, everyone attempts to buy the title, and the best-coached, best-performing team succeeds.

So to quote Mahow, you mention Salah, Mane, Firmino, VVD and Alisson but fail to mention TAA, Robertson and Gomez. No team will win the Premier League with a significant number of homegrown players in England for the simple fact that English players simply aren't all that good compared to their foreign counterparts.

That said, if West Ham had their time again with the likes of Rio, Carrick, Joe Cole and Defoe etc all remaining then I reckon they'd have got as close to any. :nodd:

[Smjffy]

No hiding place today. If we don't beat that starting eleven then I'm hiding until May, I'd fancy a TTH XI to hold their own there.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You can have Trent, in the same way that we could have JT back in the day. They're bought in professional teams. If Liverpool had City's money they would spend it.

[randomlegend]

Rashford injured for "weeks" apparently. We are fucked lol.

[John Arne]

I don't want to sound sexist, but why do Sky's female pundits all have incredible orange faces? The amount of make-up is unreal.

[Smjffy]

You can have Trent, in the same way that we could have JT back in the day. They're bought in professional teams. If Liverpool had City's money they would spend it.

I'll get back to you in about five years times then when Brewster, Jones, Williams, Elliott and co win the league. :uhoh:

[Smjffy]

Rashford injured for "weeks" apparently. We are fucked lol.

Yet still have a chance for fourth on the basis that no one seems to want it. Personally, I'd love for Wolves to leapfrog yourselves and Chelsea for it. I like their manager, he seems such a nice guy.

[Gray Fox]

Good to see Fabs and the Giraffe back on the bench.

I actually reckon this will be a good game rather than attack v defence snoozefest.

[Mike]

Excited for today, really hope we win and think we should. Good to see Matip and Fabinho back in the squad too.

[SincereTheRebel]

Does wan bissaka still have 100% slide tackle accuracy?

[SvN]

He gave a penalty away the other week, so not quite

[randomlegend]

Does wan bissaka still have 100% slide tackle accuracy?

1218838661443325952?s=19

[John Arne]

That corner looked close to swinging out of play before coming back in.

[Ian]

Well, that's that. Start the bus up and let's get out of there.

[randomlegend]

We're going to get hit for about 7 here.

[SincereTheRebel]

That is pussy. That is not s foul. Eyes on the ball. GKs get too much protection.

[randomlegend]

That's an absolutely blatant foul on De Gea.

[Waffdon]

Man Utd must be the only team that can get a decision over Liverpool.

[Gray Fox]

That's a foul in todays age. The bigger concern is the entire team stopping and letting Firmino score.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think that was a foul, but the United players should all have been booked for dissent.

[igor_balis]

The way de gea got up in the refs face was shameful, I think that should be a red tbfh.

[SincereTheRebel]

Luke Shaw has slimmed down i see. Took the tubby cunt long enough.

[Ian]

I think that was a foul, but the United players should all have been booked for dissent.

Yep.

[SincereTheRebel]

Thats not luke shaw

[Danny]

Racist

[Waffdon]

Daniel James is Championship standard at best. How the fuck is he at Man Utd

[randomlegend]

Fucking hell what a take down that was by Shaw :D

[SvN]

Souness and Keane seem to think because he "went for the ball" it's impossible that it's a foul.

[niko_cee]

Fairly amazed the onfield ref didn't give the foul on De Gea (as it was a foul in the modern age) but also quite surprised VAR then went and overruled him.

[Lewis]

If all the 'good' teams United have beaten are actually shit, then Liverpool going undefeated is worth less because they won't have beaten anybody decent. Good to know.

[-james-]

Rashford was carrying a single stress fracture in his back, now has a double stress fracture after Wolves game. Expected to be out for 2-3 months. Also has piece of floating bone in his ankle requiring non-intrusive surgery to remove.

I am not a doctor but making someone with a broken back play football doesn't seem the best idea.

[Waffdon]

Absolute state of that whole defending and then finish from Salah

[John Arne]

Sky inviting Souness and Keane on knowing that they are pretty shouty and the then the cunt of a presenter takes the piss, "Are you ok, calm down". I hope Souness rips him a new one.

[Spoonsky]

Salah :D

[Spoonsky]

So far I like this half.

[SincereTheRebel]

Fred doing his best Anderson impression out here

[bruhnaldo]

what the fuck is Fred's problem?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Why is he trying to blast the absolute living shit out of the ball in that position?

[SincereTheRebel]

Man Utd have had good chances here. They should have scored 2 clear goals

[Waffdon]

Still can’t understand how Liverpool haven’t conceded in so long with Alexander Arnold and Harvey Price next to each other in defence

[Jimmy Floyd]

Still can’t understand how Liverpool haven’t conceded in so long with Alexander Arnold and Harvey Price next to each other in defence

I saw an XG league table this morning that had them 7 points behind City.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Oxlade seething :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Salah should have gotten a yellow for that.

[randomlegend]

Fairly amazed the onfield ref didn't give the foul on De Gea (as it was a foul in the modern age) but also quite surprised VAR then went and overruled him.

He completely bottled it knowing that he could just rely on VAR instead. He even put his whistle to his lips then didn't blow it.

I know it's just pointless bitching, but Maguire was fouled by Gomez for the Liverpool goal.

[Ian]

Bit cruel of Liverpool to keep us in this so long for a laugh.

[Ian]

When is the earliest Liverpool can win this so it can just get written off as the most boring runaway title win since whenever?

God knows how they've made such hard work.of.us there. We are fucking garbage.

[John Arne]

De Gea wanting to go forward for a corner :D You're literally the softest player in the league.

[John Arne]

This year might just be our year.

[Mike]

https://i.giphy.com/media/L2kVjDRvH0tszrKGGJ/giphy.gif

[Yevrah]

When is the earliest Liverpool can win this so it can just get written off as the most boring runaway title win since whenever?

God knows how they've made such hard work.of.us there. We are fucking garbage.

Think they need 10 more wins to mathematically guarantee it.

[Spoonsky]

Allison sprinting up to Salah :D

I almost never saw Salah so happy to score a goal either. Really fun game.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Liverpool could have won that 6-0. United are just an awful team. The only things that elevated them were occasional moments of spark from Martial, and the general sense of leadership when Mata came on. Everything else was dire.

Leicester are also going off a cliff so should be a tremendous chase for 3rd and 4th between various appalling sides. Sheffield United could get in the mix if they have a run. So could Wolves.

[phonics]

1218959377585098752

lollllllllllllll

[Baz]

:jayjay:

[Jimmy Floyd]

In happier news, Pardew won his first game in Holland against the backdrop of this banner:

https://talksport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/01/NINTCHDBPICT000555451887-e1579453078461.jpg

[Shindig]

Top effort. :D

[Gray Fox]

https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/82518903_10158728304047573_3801792389132058624_o.j pg?_nc_cat=1&_nc_ohc=5Clu4v5F9q8AX_2S7sp&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=68191e0da520df2caaefad4ea8b2c4cc&oe=5ECE2628


The 15 minutes after the break were relentless greatness. I don't know how that game didn't finish 6-2.

I think that tired the team out and the introduction of Lallana seemed to remove some potency. Still aside from a couple of defensive lapses that was a good performance.

[Smjffy]

:drool:

On another day that could have got silly but you'd take a win irrespective of the scoreline. Win against Wolves and West Ham before the end of the month then that's got to be all she wrote. Our fixtures after that are more than winnable.

Madness.

[Yevrah]

You're 16 points clear with a game in hand Smiffy. You've won the league.

[Gray Fox]

Liverpool have 64 points now. In 12 different previous Premier League seasons we've got 64 or fewer after 38 games. We still have 16 games left. Sixteen.

[Shindig]

The only thing that can take the shine off it is if they sputter to the end. Like, really grind it out.

[Smjffy]

You're 16 points clear with a game in hand Smiffy. You've won the league.

Yeah but Liverpool init. Wolves next and nothing more.

[Gray Fox]

Worth it just to hear the devastation of Martin Tyler when Liverpool score.

[Lewis]

I'm happy to announce that I missed the entire game. Was Luke Shaw playing in a back three? Fucking hell.

[Kikó]

We're shite. Williams is a player though so there is that.

[Lewis]

Royk Eane pulling the edge of his seat to bits is top telly.

[Smjffy]

Think they need 10 more wins to mathematically guarantee it.

Assuming Man City keep winning until then that means we could seal it at the Etihad. :drool:

[Kikó]

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5095061/celtic-manchester-united-tim-williamson/ Another Ed masterclass.

[Baz]

Alisson has more Premier League assists than Lingard, since January 30th 2019.

[Kikó]

We all have the same number of assists as Lingard, what's your point?

[Ian]

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5095061/celtic-manchester-united-tim-williamson/ Another Ed masterclass.

That might be the most Ed Woodward story ever.

[Smjffy]

If you could get rid of one tonight and only one, who would it be? The other two have to remain forever more.

Ole, Woodward or Glazers?

[bruhnaldo]

The "Jesse Lingard is a shit footballer" joke is a little stale at this, the 5th straight year of it's usage.

[SvN]

If you could get rid of one tonight and only one, who would it be? The other two have to remain forever more.

Ole, Woodward or Glazers?


God you're a fucking bore.

[Ian]

Ole is bottom of the list by a margin, that'll sort itself out one way or t'other.

If the Glazers go they'll probably be replaced by some even bigger set of cunts but might replaced Woodward.

If you say Woodward but keep the Glazers then maybe they replace him with somebody similar.

So given it doesn't matter I'll just say Woodward and by a margin because fuck him. That said I'd happily keep him at the club, just wouldn't give him any responsibility beyond lining up stupid sponsorships.

And to be honest in this hypothetical scenario it sounds like whoever remains is immortal so we'd by default become the most interesting club.

[Smjffy]

God you're a fucking bore.

I prefer being called Smiffy than God but I'll smite you, you little feck.

[Smjffy]

Ole is bottom of the list by a margin, that'll sort itself out one way or t'other.

If the Glazers go they'll probably be replaced by some even bigger set of cunts but might replaced Woodward.

If you say Woodward but keep the Glazers then maybe they replace him with somebody similar.

So given it doesn't matter I'll just say Woodward and by a margin because fuck him. That said I'd happily keep him at the club, just wouldn't give him any responsibility beyond lining up stupid sponsorships.

And to be honest in this hypothetical scenario it sounds like whoever remains is immortal so we'd by default become the most interesting club.

I love such hypothetical's. I made mention elsewhere though that since Glazers took over Man United have won five Premier League titles, four League Cups, an Fa Cup, six Charity Shields, the Europa League and a Champions League as well as a further two finals in that competition whilst spending over a billion pounds so it boggles the mind why supporters still want them out.

[Yevrah]

Probably because they're Americans.

[Ian]

Because they're relentless leeches who had most of that success by having one of the greatest managers of all time who could challenge and win with a handful of quality players surrounded by a load of absolute dross who'd been berated into overperforming. And then when he left threw enough money at it to for a couple of cups to come in. Broken clock, twice a day, etc.

[Lewis]

Liverpool almost won the league under Hicks and Gillett. What was the issue?

[Smjffy]

Because they're relentless leeches who had most of that success by having one of the greatest managers of all time who could challenge and win with a handful of quality players surrounded by a load of absolute dross who'd been berated into overperforming. And then when he left threw enough money at it to for a couple of cups to come in. Broken clock, twice a day, etc.

That was almost to a word what another Man United fan so then I ask, how are they to blame for being unable to replace one of the greatest managers of all time when said manager selected his replacement (Moyes) then they backed LvG and Mourinho and seemingly have backed Solksjaer in the last window as he outspent the entire division? I mean, what more can they actually do?

[Smjffy]

Liverpool almost won the league under Hicks and Gillett. What was the issue?

Well, I could list a million reasons but I'll start and stop at replacing Rafa Benitez with Roy Hodgson. Glazers are saints compared to those two.

[bruhnaldo]

Can we not do this shit again? How many times do we have to do the "aw jeeze the Glazers aren't THAT bad?" thing?

[Lewis]

I think the issue with the Glazers these days is that they just seem happy to sit there and let the club stagnate. They certainly did it on the cheap during the Alex Ferguson years, because 1) he enabled them to; and 2) those early debt interest payments were mental. But since then I don't think you could really accuse them of not putting the money up, because all of the managers have been backed to a decent extent. At the same time by all accounts Old Trafford is falling to bits, and in what other industry would Ed Woodward have been allowed to keep fucking things up for this long? Even if he excels at the commercial side of things, is it not beyond them to go over his head and appoint a Director of Football? They own the club, so ultimately they are responsible.