01/2020 Football: V League Special

[Ian]

Happy new year, everybody! It's that time of year when people start to think of how they should change their lives or better themselves. I mean, probably. I won't but some people pretend they're gonna do that.

And with that in mind the question on everybody's minds is: With their new season just a couple of months away what are the new year's resolutions for each V League team? Well, you need wait no longer! With the help of some questionable Wikipedia research I have all the answers you need.

Becamex Bình Dương Lots of people hope to find a long term relationship in the new year and Becamex should be hoping for the same.... with a manager. They're not far removed from a league double, and while their finishes have improved year on year for the last few years they've also got form for rattling through managers in short order since their formation in 2002. With Carlos Olivieira now joining maybe it's time for them to give themselves a chance to LOVE, y'know?

Dược Nam Hà Nam Định Đội bóng Thành Nam, or "The Wall" if you haven't been keeping your Vietnamese up to scratch, showed us last season just how tough in can be in the tightly contested midtable of V.League 1. Just 13 points separated 3rd and 13th and the club fluctuated between the relegation battle and AFC Cup qualification battles. Their resolution should be to keep journeyman Diogo Pereira, who has found his goalscoring niche in the V. League, in and around the goals as they strive for consistency.

Hà Nội The catchily-nicknamed Purple-Yellows just need to keep doing what they're doing. With three league wins in the last four seasons, a whopping TWENTY players who have their own Wikipedia pages and seven of those having pictures you can tell they're a force to be reckoned with. If their media team resolve this New year to get every player a Wikipedia page we could be looking at one of the great sporting dynasties.

Hải Phòng The Red Tide need to enjoy playing at home more. Last season they won more away than at home which frankly is disappointing for the team who so memorably won the Vietnamese Cup a year after their foundation under the management of club legend Dylan Kerr.

Hoàng Anh Gia Lai The halcyon days of the early 2000s behind them, they just need to try not be so bloody boring. 9th, 13th, 12th, 10th and 10th again in the last five years. That is some mid-2000s Fulham bullshit right there. Nobody wants to be mid-2000s Fulham, aside from perhaps 2019 Fulham.

Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh They've only existed since 2015 and this is already their third promotion and seem to have been helped by their links to Ha Noi. Ride those coattails, lads!

Quảng Nam I'm already gaining a new admiration for John Arne managing to stay so interested in the V. League and I'm only halfway through.

Sài Gòn Keep the snazzy colour scheme for their kits. After the dark days of trying to find something to write about Quảng Nam the hot pink of Sai Gon's shirts has really lifted my spirits. Look at this snazzy number from 2018. (https://en.nhandan.org.vn/cdn/en/media/k2/items/src/641/f78433f9222bffee0adada68c0584bc6.jpg) If manager Hoàng Văn Phúc can channel that flamboyance into their play they could escape the midtabe quagmire they've been in since their promotion in 2015 and make an impact further up the table.

SHB Đà Nẵng I was going to write a bit here about their manager Lê Huỳnh Đức as he seems to have gone from being one of Vietnam's best ever players through to being one of the country's better managers. But then I saw they have a player called Nguyễn Thế Hưng. 'The Hung!' He sounds like a medievel king who chose his own royal nickname because he had a, ahem, large opinion of himself. JA can fill in the gaps I'm sure.

Sông Lam Nghệ An Inspire a more dedicated hardcore of fans. Their current supports have not even bothered themselves putting the team's V.League finish for 2019 on their Wikipedia page! Fear not though, I am here to tell you they finish 7th, with about a third of their home games being 0-0 draws. No wonder the fans can't be arsed.

Than Quảng Ninh After a few years tickling the balls of the idea of getting into that AFC Cup group stage qualification spot. They should get a few more Nguyễns in to make sure they have enough players for the extra fixtures as I'm not sure the 9 Nguyễns they already have will be enough.

Thanh Hóa Prepare for life without Italian manager Fabio Lopez. Not because he's amazing and going to get poached. In fact, in spite of his apparent excellent grasp of Lithuanian and his experience of Bangladeshi football Lopez seems unable to fully capitalise on his two years of experience as a professional goalkeeper and now appears to specialise in managing a couple of different clubs per year. Thanh Hóa will be hoping for the skills he showed when he took the Al-Ahli U23s from 6th to second in the glory days of 2018.

TP Hồ Chí Minh Try not to be such a heap of shit against the two relegation-spot teams. If they hadn't dropped five points to the 13th and 14th teams last year they'd.... well, still have been second on goal difference. But still, losing at home to Sanna Khánh Hòa BVN. You'd be fuming wouldn't you?

Viettel Viettel are the army team, so I turned to reading less on their form over previous seasons, how many Nguyễns they have, etc. and looked at Vietnam's human rights record. It's not pretty reading so I'm pretty sure Viettel could turn a 6th place finish of last season into a title challenge this year with a few tactical midnight raids into suspiciously talented opposing players.

Next month: As requested by Spikey, next month's subject will be looking into what the state of Southend United tell us about modern football.

For the benefit of Sincere and Bruh who waited until October or whatever to decide they had an issue with me not putting fixtures in the opening post I can confirm that this month a number of teams will play other teams in a plethora of different combinations in matches of varying importance and interest. Some of these matches will be good, others will not.

[Pleb]

You what mate.

[Ian]

Alright I was beaten to it. This was for John Arne.

[Pleb]

:D

[Giggles]

This is some effort and cements Ian as the true owner of these threads.

[Pleb]

This thread is probably more better because it has a detailed recollection of the V League.

[Disco]

Fucking tryhard.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ian's on the ropes.

[Ian]

I'll still be doing Spikey's request even if I'm late again. Dedication.

[Pleb]

Leap year this year :sherlock:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Well done, this thread was my first proper laugh of 2020, and it had strong competition from the Hootenanny transitioning directly from Rick Astley's 'Never Gonna Give You Up' into Stormzy's 'Vossi Bop'.

[John Arne]

That was great. And more accurate/informative than most of the local newspaper coverage over here.
Fuck Saigon
'Mon the Ho Chi Minh City FC
Whilst you mentioned the link between Hanoi and Ha Tien and Saigon, the corrupt bastard owner also owns Quang Nam, Quang Ninh and Danang. Although he had just sold Saigon.

Also disappointingly Thế Hưng is pronounced 'Tay Hun'.

Top effort.

[Ian]

Is that a guy or a firm, JA? I spotted some stock company appearing a few times in ownership chat but couldn't be arsed going back through it to dig up what was happening there. /journalism

[John]

Well done, this thread was my first proper laugh of 2020, and it had strong competition from the Hootenanny transitioning directly from Rick Astley's 'Never Gonna Give You Up' into Stormzy's 'Vossi Bop'.

That was quality, as was Vic Reeves seemingly pissed out of his mind, repeatedly telling everyone to buy toilet paper in bulk when asked for his thoughts going into the new year.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This is the first year I've appreciated the whole fever dream vibe they're going for, with Stormzy properly delivering I need all the homage could you pay me some, man dropping bangers on your baby mums etc to a bemused white audience, and then it pans straight to Ally McCoist enjoying some banter with Dick and Dom while Ainsley Harriott looks on.

[Shindig]

White rap audiences are my favourite. It made Kanye's set at Glastonbury even more daft.

[Ian]

The live text man is seething about VAR in the Brighton game.

[John]

This is the first year I've appreciated the whole fever dream vibe they're going for, with Stormzy properly delivering I need all the homage could you pay me some, man dropping bangers on your baby mums etc to a bemused white audience, and then it pans straight to Ally McCoist enjoying some banter with Dick and Dom while Ainsley Harriott looks on.

I enjoyed watching the bloke who played one of the slavers, I think, in Game of Thrones straighten up and get ready for his moment every time Jools Holland bimbled over to Celebrity Corner only to be completely ignored because Jools obviously just thought he was someone's mate.

[Mellberg]

The live text man is seething about VAR in the Brighton game.

You want to see the goal Grealish had ruled out after 10 minutes. It's a disgrace. Fortunately it's 1-0 anyway.

[John Arne]

Is that a guy or a firm, JA? I spotted some stock company appearing a few times in ownership chat but couldn't be arsed going back through it to dig up what was happening there. /journalism

It's a guy, Đỗ Quang Hiển, who owns T&T and SHB (the big two). He also owns Saigon-Hanoi Securities (SHS), Saigon-Hanoi Fund Management (SHF) and SHB-Vinacomin Insurance (SVIC). It's a bit of catch-22. Without his backing some of the smaller teams may have died already, but then it creates uneven competition, and the fact the he invested in these teams in the first place was just to win favour (and contracts) with the local government.

[Gray Fox]

1212354287134793728

:facepalm:

[Ian]

Clear and obvious. :cab:

[Shindig]

Letter of the law, not spirit.

[Pleb]

VAR :face:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That decision is fucking mental.

[John Arne]

1212354287134793728

:facepalm:

Strange that the defender is given a thin line, whilst the attacker is given a thick blue line - you'd have thought using the same thickness of line would be appropriate.

[John Arne]

Brighton fans giving it the old 'oooooooh you're shit, ahhhh' on goal kicks is very 90's non-league, and very shit.

[Giggles]

Tidy.

[John Arne]

What's the point of a drop ball if you cant contest it? Might as well just give the team a free kick.

[Giggles]

Chelsea vanished in that one.

[Waffdon]

Lampard doesn’t know how to win against the shite anymore.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We beat Arsenal just the other day.

[Gray Fox]

I think Wolves have just been done by VAR again.

[Shindig]

Nigel Pearson's a managerial juggernaut.

[phonics]

1212354287134793728

:facepalm:

What are people angry about here? This happened all the time pre VAR too?

[Lewis]

There is something off about that Brighton goal. It's the bicycle kick of a man who has never even attempted one before. He basically falls over into it. And yet it's so graceful.

[niko_cee]

The BBC's write up of the Brighton game is a laugh.

Chelsea were absolute wank, their worst ever performance in the LGBTQIA derby and had their 'keeper to thank for the point in the end.

Reece James was total bobbins so quite where his apparent MotM performance came from, who knows? All he seemed to do was leave it on all and sundry whenever he went up for an aerial challenge. Abraham was poor as well. Chelsea are going to end up with all their slightly better than average youth players on 200k a week in short order. United should piss their way to 4th, sadly.

[Shindig]

We're going to slide back into the dogfight at this rate.

[Boydy]

What's behind Southampton's recent change in form?

[John Arne]

What's behind Southampton's recent change in form?

Dropping Yoshida and that absolute lump, Vestergaard, I imagine.

[Giggles]

Was Mourinho trying to read what the fella on the Southampton bench was writing?

[John Arne]

Pearson for Manager of the Year, then.

[Max Power]

No Vardy, no problem. Choudhury’s strike a great moment and a lovely goal.

[Giggles]

What's behind Southampton's recent change in form?

Not many would have stuck with the manager these days either. Good to see it pay off.

[Lewis]

1212421340281614338

He's blamed the ball boys for slowing the game down as well. Football 'eritage.

[John Arne]

Mourinho creating side stories after his side have just been beaten. Surprising stuff.

[Waffdon]

The BBC's write up of the Brighton game is a laugh.

Chelsea were absolute wank, their worst ever performance in the LGBTQIA derby and had their 'keeper to thank for the point in the end.

Reece James was total bobbins so quite where his apparent MotM performance came from, who knows? All he seemed to do was leave it on all and sundry whenever he went up for an aerial challenge. Abraham was poor as well. Chelsea are going to end up with all their slightly better than average youth players on 200k a week in short order. United should piss their way to 4th, sadly.

Why do all Brighton fans support two teams?

Also, Man City at home again. They had an away game this year?

[Giggles]

Hopefully this tubby Finnish lad has a mare so Idah gets a run.

[Giggles]

Also, Zaha never deserves a big move for modelling his head on Jason Lee.

[Boydy]

Not many would have stuck with the manager these days either. Good to see it pay off.
Yeah, before I posted I actually checked to see if they'd got rid of Hassenhuttl as I thought it seemed like a new manager bounce.

[Giggles]

Yeah, before I posted I actually checked to see if they'd got rid of Hassenhuttl as I thought it seemed like a new manager bounce.

Looking at the results there was one very easy opportunity. More clubs need to stick it out a bit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mourinho plus a bit of aggro is still the best laugh in football.

[Giggles]

Surely has to be Portugal for him once he’s ran this time.

[P_3]

Bournemouth are getting relegated aren't they? :(

[Jimmy Floyd]

They stood no chance up against Moyes and his swashbuckling brand of football.

[Lewis]

Why do all Brighton fans support two teams?

Lots of people from somewhere with a bollocks local team pretend to support them but actually support a good team (like you and Chelsea). When Hull City started coming up in the mid-thousands half the United and Arsenal fans at school jumped ship.

[niko_cee]

Why do all Brighton fans support two teams?


I'm not a Brighton fan, I just go to their games every so often.

[Lewis]

Your commitment to hiding your Brexit sympathies is like something from a KGB textbook.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Around here there's a part time Fulham contingent that hops on when they are challenging for Championship promotion (or above), and then disappears back to Man U and Arsenal when they fall below that.

[John Arne]

Fuck me, Gabriel Jesus is a fucking pussy.

[Giggles]

That’s some load of bollocks in the Norwich game. You could see instantly on the very first replay freeze that it was a goal yet it still took
3 or 4 times longer than it should have.

[Shindig]

Felt like they got a bounce from the Leicester thrashing.

[phonics]

Arsenal have gone with a team of 4 attacks that don't defend and 6 other players who can't. Should be interesting on the counter...

[phonics]

Felt like they got a bounce from the Leicester thrashing.

Think there's a stat around that no team beat by 7 or 8 goals have been relegated in the same season.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Horseshit.

Nottingham Forest were relegated the season we beat them 8-1.

[Shindig]

We thumped Sheffield Wednesday 8-0 the year they went down.

[niko_cee]

Is Pogba basically on strike now?

[randomlegend]

Is Pogba basically on strike now?

IDK what to think any more. He clearly was actually injured, but suddenly being out for a few more weeks after nearly being back seems bizarre. But then if he's 'on strike', why did he play in those two games recently?

Who's going to buy him anyway?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I had forgotten how bad Matic is these days.

[phonics]

Can anyone, anyone explain that Kolasinac booking. I swear half the rules don't make sense these days.

[randomlegend]

The only way it wasn't a booking was if the ref was being lenient because it was a few minutes in, to be honest.

[phonics]

The only way it wasn't a booking was if the ref was being lenient because it was a few minutes in, to be honest.

Please explain why?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Shaw is woeful.

[randomlegend]

Shaw needs binning.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's annoying losing to teams battling relegation.

[randomlegend]

Fully deserved by Arsenal, we've been dreadful.

[Ian]

A fairly damning indictment of Arsenal that they're bad enough to beat us.

[Max Power]

Top four has to be nailed on for us from here. None of the chasing pack look like getting it together and we are a well oiled shit beating machine.

[phonics]

I thought all the stuff around Arteta was a bit nonsense but I'm now on the 'Pep with a decent hairline' train. There's a system in place for the first time in years.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Why is Maguire so shit at set pieces now?

[phonics]

Why is Maguire so shit at set pieces now?

Lacazette has absolutely bossed him. Man against boy.

[Lofty]

I thought all the stuff around Arteta was a bit nonsense but I'm now on the 'Pep with a decent hairline' train. There's a system in place for the first time in years.

Same, excited to see who he brings in. Concerned we will run out of steam again in the second half though.

[niko_cee]

Top four has to be nailed on for us from here. None of the chasing pack look like getting it together and we are a well oiled shit beating machine.

Yeah, top 3 isn't changing.

4th is anyone's guess.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lacazette has absolutely bossed him. Man against boy.

You could say the same about any Arsenal v United player after that half.

The only positive is that Pepe is making Shaw burn off some calories.

[phonics]

Jake Humphreys so sick of pushing the WWE on BT that he opens with 'Look, I'm sure you know by now...'

[SvN]

The absolute state of Pepe

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I had forgotten that Lingard was playing in this.

[randomlegend]

Lingard is absolutely dreadful.

[phonics]

Terrific insight from the commentary team. "This is where you win or you lose now."

Thanks for the update.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lacazette :lol:

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Nation of Arsenal have done us a right turn this Christmas.

[Lofty]

The Nation of Arsenal have done us a right turn this Christmas.

The upturn in peformance overall meant I wasn't even that upset you beat us, as strange as that is.

[Lewis]

I thought Arsenal were clever playing in the midfield where United didn't have any players. Luke Shaw as well fucking hell. It's things like putting him back in that raise the biggest questions about Ole Gunnar Binman.

[randomlegend]

So Pogba needs surgery on his ankle which is why he's out for another 3-4 weeks. If we don't sign 2 midfielders in January then we're fucked.

[niko_cee]

That Solskjaer said he's been advised to have an operation by 'his people' doesn't really sound too clever.

[randomlegend]

He also said Utd have done scans and are in agreement with the consultant that he needs surgery.

It sounds like it's a situation where surgery isn't urgent, but needs to happen at some point and they've now been advised that it's time to go ahead with it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Raiola probably told him no one is offering enough money this January.

[niko_cee]

Regardless of whether the club agree or not, Solskjaer has clearly chosen his words there. And the subtext is Pogba is a massive waste of space who can't be relied on.

In other news poor old Big Dom Solanke. He really needs to start playing in midfield or something as being a striker really isn't for him.

[Lewis]

It reads like him chucking him under the bus, but I suppose it depends on how long the surgery could have been put off for. If it could have waited a few months then he has presumably chosen to prioritise the Euros (and subsequent summer transfer) over doing a job now, so fuck him.

[Pleb]

Derby giving the captain's armband to Rooney for their match tonight is pretty fucking hilarious.

[Waffdon]

See Liverpool are playing and full strength starting eleven. Definitely isn’t peds or anything involved.

[niko_cee]

There's literally no need to rest players until about April, other than as squad management. 9 days until the next meaningful game, so this team picks itself.

Liverpool have also been very lucky with scheduling over the past few Christmases.

[Boydy]

Pretty sure if playing football and training was my full time job I could play three matches a week.

[niko_cee]

Evidently not enough peds for Keita.

[niko_cee]

Must have given his to Mo.

[randomlegend]

Henderson is quality. I'd be tempted to sell De Gea in the summer if anyone is still willing to pay decent money for him.

Edit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/DeanHenderson2018.jpg/1280px-DeanHenderson2018.jpg

That hair is majestic.

[niko_cee]

The selling De Gea ship sailed with that new contract of his.

[randomlegend]

PSG might be stupid enough.

[Raoul Duke]

It always bother me that Mane's hairline starts about an inch further back that it looks like it should

[Mellberg]

Heaton and Wesley both out for the season. Jed Steer (number 2) still out 'til the end of Feb and McGinn until March/April.

:face:

At least Mings is back.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, you're fucked. Wanna borrow Andy Lonergan?

Actually, that 'keeper you played against the Liverpool youth team was half-decent.

[Danny]

They are looking at Butland apparently.

[SincereTheRebel]

It always bother me that Mane's hairline starts about an inch further back that it looks like it should

Comes like Robocop

https://www.dreadcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/RoboCop-1987-Weller.jpg

https://www.sofoot.com/IMG/img_580_380_center_articles-476811.jpg

[Mellberg]

Nyland. He's alright, but third choice. Steer is second choice, but out until end of Feb.

Don't think we'll sign a keeper as we even have Kalinic who's fourth choice (and a twat).

[igor_balis]

Nyland. He's alright, but third choice. Steer is second choice, but out until end of Feb.

Don't think we'll sign a keeper as we even have Kalinic who's fourth choice (and a twat).

Being a fourth choice keeper :drool:

[Shindig]

On that note, do we still have Rob Eliot? Wikipedia says we do but I won't believe that until he gets a run-out against Rochdale.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

"I don't know Robin and Robin doesn't know me," Solskjaer said on Friday.

"He probably doesn't have a right to criticise my management style and I won't change."

"Yeah Robin, he took my [shirt] number 20 and that's probably all he's going to take from me as well," Solskjaer said.

Meow.

[Spikey M]

The last swipe doesn't even make sense. Properly rattled.

[Giggles]

It reads better than it actually looked on video. He’s big time rattled.

[Spikey M]

Just watched it. He's on the brink.


https://youtu.be/RfK5EqemeZ0

[Shindig]

"Yeah, well ... how many Manchester Uniteds have you managed!?"

[Giggles]

1213229488416415744

[Shindig]

If Joelinton scores, we riot.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The 'I don't live in the medieval times' parting shot as he walks away is bizarre.

[Ian]

Charlie Nicholas probably thinks Solksjaer has absolutely nailed van Persie with that epic verbal beatdown.

[SincereTheRebel]

Sounds like he is really salty about that shirt number.

[Lewis]

Explains why Diogo Dalot can't get a look in.

[igor_balis]

Ole gunner solsjkSOUR am I rite

[Shindig]

That equaliser felt so inevitable. We should've had the game won but Joelinton is shot.

[Giggles]

Idah you little dancer :cool:

[randomlegend]

The 'I don't live in the medieval times' parting shot as he walks away is bizarre.

I think he was trying to make a point about it not being the bad old days and he doesn't have to be an angry shouty man to be a good manager.

[Waffdon]

Tom Pope scoring is amazing after his tweet the other month. :D

[randomlegend]

Utd game was fucking atrocious.

[SincereTheRebel]

Are Man Utd in a worse state then Arsenal?

[Ian]

I'm glad I tuned in for that.

[randomlegend]

Are Man Utd in a worse state then Arsenal?

Yes

[Lewis]

Arsenal are just having the same bounce United had this time last year so all of the HOT TAKES from the other night are wank.

[niko_cee]

Arsenal are in a far worse position than United, although that's not to say United's position is in any way enviable. Arteta's as big a binman as Solskjaer, probably bigger really.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They are both in the same position of being owned by asset-stripping Americans. Liverpool lucked out on that one.

[niko_cee]

You have to have an asset before you strip it, so we're in phase 1. No idea what Kroenke's game is.

I think our Americans basically lucked out with Klopp and the transfer market.

[Spikey M]

Aren't Arsenal on the brink of breaching FFP? They're spending what they can. Their problem, so far as I can see, is that they have spent 11 kagillion quid on their attacking options and got everyone else from the local foodbank.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You have to have an asset before you strip it, so we're in phase 1. No idea what Kroenke's game is.

I think our Americans basically lucked out with Klopp and the transfer market.

It leads to a setup which is unbelievably corporate (particularly at United). This may be financially lucrative but doesn't actually breed footballing success. To win on the pitch you need a bit of luck, a bit of money, but more importantly a couple of good leaders (be it manager, sporting director, chairman, star player) and clear chain of command. That is why Chelsea's Russian gangster model is much better able to re-invent the team every couple of years than United's pot noodle model. There must be so many competing interests within the hierarchies at United and Arsenal. Back in Fergie and Wenger's time you knew who made the decisions and that everything going on around the periphery of the side only existed to serve the team being good (admittedly this may have been less true in the post-Rock of Gibraltar Fergie final decade, but he was still the boss and everyone knew it).

Leicester under the Thais is actually another great example of doing it right. The Thais are in charge, they parade around with elephants and giant cans of beer and whatever else, and that's it. Their aim is for the team to do well and they try (mostly successfully, thus far) to put the right people in place to do it.

I don't really know how FSG work but I do get the feeling that if Klopp left tomorrow to become the fifth member of Kraftwerk, they probably wouldn't fuck it up and turn the club into a money-shitting mess.

[phonics]

You have to have an asset before you strip it, so we're in phase 1. No idea what Kroenke's game is.

Doubling his money while spending none is what he's doing.

The 2011 takeover bid by Stan Kroenke puts the club's market capitalisation value at £731m. As at 5 March 2018, a single share in Arsenal had a mid price of £30,000, which set the club's market capitalisation value at approximately £1.9 Billion.

All funded by loans based off his other assets [American Sports and Walmart]

It'll be almost impossible for him not to make a billion pounds selling the club without having spent a penny and prior to him taking the club private in 2017/18, Financial Results showed he was taking out 3 million quid a year + his salary/dividends.

It's disgusting how easy it is to make money when you're already rich.

[Gray Fox]

I think our Americans basically lucked out with Klopp and the transfer market.

It's been a combination.

Do you remember how shocking our transfers were with Ian Ayre? They(FSG) came into the business vastly under-prepared and not understanding the game at all and hired some guys they heard good things about. Dalglish got the sinking ship at least seaworthy after Uncle Roy tried to sink it. But he was clearly limited.

Rodgers came in and the money was spent, but not well. Lots of players bought for £10m+(which was a lot more meaningful to us back then) that flopped. Sakho, Allen, Clyne, Markovic, Balotelli, Moreno, Borini, even Firmino and Lallana under Rodgers didn't work.

Though around the same time Rodgers came in, they slowly started fixing things commercially and behind the scenes at the club. Not long after Klopp arrived we appointed Peter Moore and later Michael Edwards. Those 3 things combined turned it on and off the pitch, but it wasn't a quick fix.

We also had the advantage that really no matter how bad we got, 7th or 8th was the lowest we could fall due to financial disparity over those below. That's not so true now. Look at Arsenal just squeezing into the top half after half the games are played.

[Lewis]

Has this Nottingham Forest penalty been turned down over his arm or was it his knee?

[Gray Fox]

Everton full strength today while Liverpool have rested heavily.

[Giggles]

Everton full strength today while Liverpool have rested heavily.

That would stand to reason wouldn’t it? One is about to be league winners and is a year removed from winning the champions league and the other would celebrate for 6 months for any form of silverware. The Cup is hardly on Liverpool’s radar.

[Gray Fox]

I'm quite happy to be fair. No one overly cares for the 2 domestic cups these days, but now we'll get to see what the likes of Minamino and Elliott/Jones can do against your average premier league team.

[-james-]

It's Everton at home in the cup. You'd have to be a Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool style figure to get away with putting out this sort of side.

I guess you've got to rest the back four, you lose any of them and it all going tits up is suddenly within the realms of possibility, and once you're doing that you might as well just sack the game off entirely. Chirivella over Oxlade-Chamberlain in midfield is clearly a shop window thing.

[Giggles]

It's Everton at home in the cup. You'd have to be a Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool style figure to get away with putting out this sort of side.

I guess you've got to rest the back four, you lose any of them and it all going tits up is suddenly within the realms of possibility, and once you're doing that you might as well just sack the game off entirely. Chirivella over Oxlade-Chamberlain in midfield is clearly a shop window thing.

It’s the fa cup. It hasn’t been important to proper clubs in decades.

[niko_cee]

Doubt Oxlade has it in him to play the 90 at the moment. I suppose Keita and Shaqiri would play but for injuries.

Chirivella is the only slightly meh inclusion. Surprised Hoever hasn't got a game, even if out of positon at leftback.

Don't think the result is necessarily a forgone conclusion at all.

[Giggles]

Doubt Oxlade has it in him to play the 90 at the moment. I suppose Keita and Shaqiri would play but for injuries.

Chirivella is the only slightly meh inclusion. Surprised Hoever hasn't got a game, even if out of positon at leftback.

Don't think the result is necessarily a forgone conclusion at all.

Does anyone think Liverpool still won’t win?

[John Arne]

Liverpool: Adrian; Milner, Gomez, Phillips, Williams; Lallana, Chirivella, Jones, Elliott; Minamino, Origi.
Subs: Kelleher, Mane, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Brewster, Hoever, Larouci.
Everton: Pickford; Mina, Holgate, Coleman, Digne; Sigurdsson, Schneiderlin, Sidibe, Walcott; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Stekelenberg, Baines, Keane, Delph, Bernard, Davies, Kean.

[niko_cee]

Does anyone think Liverpool still won’t win?

I think it'll be more than a little embarrassing for Everton if they can't at least squeak a draw, having gone full strength.

[Gray Fox]

Take the fact that it's Everton out of the thinking and everyone would agree. He played a very similar team at home to Arsenal.

There's a great chance of winning the league and the champions league should be played for too.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The league is in the bag, he should be trying to win this as well. Sacking off the cups is small time.

[Reg]

Agree with Jim. Everton have to win this now, not doing so would be a major knock on Ancelotti and the players.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There are actually a few clubs who, if anything, need to start sacking off the league. Liverpool are probably about 3 wins from being able to do so, while Arsenal should be prioritising the cups straight away.

[Manc]

Everton will walk this.

[Pleb]

That Liverpool rookie left back has got some proper muscles on him.

[Gray Fox]

And immediately you see why he rotated. There's going to be a fair few kids on the bench for Spurs away at this rate.

[Reg]

There are actually a few clubs who, if anything, need to start sacking off the league. Liverpool are probably about 3 wins from being able to do so, while Arsenal should be prioritising the cups straight away.
I think winning the cup would be better for Arsenal and Man United than getting into the Europa, but the moneymen would presumably disagree.

[John Arne]

Chirivella is a proper tidy footballer.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They both need to win the Europa, which should be by far and away the priority over the league. Then (certainly in Arsenal's case) they need to get back into the Europa to have a go at winning it next year so the FA Cup would be the best route.

Arsenal v Leeds tomorrow I am very much looking forward to, although this has been a very watchable game so far too.

[Spikey M]

And immediately you see why he rotated. There's going to be a fair few kids on the bench for Spurs away at this rate.

The under 11's would beat Spurs at the moment.

[Manc]

Williams has impressed. Nice to see a Liverpool right back in position.

[Gray Fox]

Yeah some good displays from the youngsters so far.

Jones seems to hold the ball a little too long, but he'll learn. Williams looks good. We do seem to go to pieces on the break though, so I expect Everton will stick one away eventually.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Williams has impressed. Nice to see a Liverpool right back in position.

Shame he'll have to leave if he wants this not to be his final ever professional appearance.

[Bob Sacamano]

Is Brewster just a waste of time? It looks like he'll be having a career similar to Nathan Eccleston at this point.

[Manc]

What a hit.

[Gray Fox]

He's set for a loan out to probably Swansea. Big hopes but yet to see anything.

[-james-]

Must be fucking horrific being an Everton fan.

[Lewis]

If Everton had been relegated during those pre-Moyes seasons where they always just survived they would have never come back up. What an absolutely shit club.

[Gray Fox]

Boss that.

[John Arne]

“I always said we had the best two teams on Merseyside… Liverpool and Liverpool Reserves.”

[John Arne]

Gomez and Lallana were superb. Williams, Jones and Chirivella all very good.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The good news is we can't now go out to the game raising twats 1-0 away in the fifth round to some £9 million Peruvian fart scoring his only goal for the club at a full throttle screaming Goodison.

[SincereTheRebel]

Even better news is that with world 3 in motion, it should cancel football and stop Liverpool from winning the league.

[Shindig]

Nah, the Third World War (tm) only affects third world countries. :dc:

[Spikey M]

Post Brexit Britain vs Somalia. :drool:

[Giggles]

Why is the kickoff tonight down as 4 minutes to 8.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's 7.55 plus one minute for mental health.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Early days in this one but Leeds look the far more accomplished side. Just not sure their centre forward is good enough so the gooners may nick it 1-0.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This is a skullfucking. Leeds would be top half in the Premier League easily.

[phonics]

The one player who hasn't looked any good under Arteta has been Guendouzi. Absolutely all over the place.

[Ian]

Players really need to stop kicking the ball out for what invariably turns out to be some tart pretending he's hurt.

[Shindig]

Man, that cup draw is kind to us.

[Giggles]

This is a skullfucking. Leeds would be top half in the Premier League easily.

Not without a competent goal scorer.

[Ian]

All that fucking about over that free kick to end up as an overhit backpass.

[phonics]

All that fucking about over that free kick to end up as an overhit backpass.

Incredible. Half the team should get booked for time-wasting.

[Manc]

Arsenal are horrific.

[phonics]

Booing your team off at 0-0 in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. Fuck me. Delete this club.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm trying to pinpoint the exact moment Arsenal turned from a proper club into the current laughing stock. I'm not sure but I think it may well have been Mantralux's 'Realistic Arsenal Database'.

[Lewis]

It was the 2011 League Cup final.

[Giggles]

Eduardos leg.

[Lewis]

It was the 2011 League Cup final.

And it was this (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/feb/28/jack-wilshere-arsenal) rather than the actual game.

[phonics]

I'm trying to pinpoint the exact moment Arsenal turned from a proper club into the current laughing stock. I'm not sure but I think it may well have been Mantralux's 'Realistic Arsenal Database'.

The Ashley Cole / Gallas swap deal. After getting to a Champions League final with a defense that consisted of Eboue, Senderos, Toure, Flaimini and then in the summer, lost the best left back of a generation over five grand a week and his replacement took Dennis Bergkamps number.

[phonics]

Reiss Nelson is constantly slipping over. He needs longer studs or something, I thought it was the pitches he'd played on but this is 3 games at home in a row now.

[Giggles]

Back in your box Leeds.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If this aversion to having a good striker in his squad has been typical of his career, I can kind of see why Bielsa has never won anything despite the amazing football produced.

[niko_cee]

Just not sure their centre forward is good enough so the gooners may nick it 1-0.

Bamford is the public school Dominic Solanke. Neither of them are cut out to be a centre forward.

[Manc]

Anthony Taylor having a shocker.

[Gray Fox]

How isn't that a red card in todays game?

[phonics]

I bloody love Gabriel Martinelli. What a lovely little player.

[phonics]

Absolutely mugging off that Leeds player in the corner after I post that as well. Hope someone doesn't break his ankles or something because he'll be an absolute legend.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Running it into the corners from 80 minutes onwards is asking for trouble.

[phonics]

Gabriel Fucking Martinelli.

I'd almost give him man of the match if this was a 0-0.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He is a lot better than Nelson, who doesn't look like a top flight player to me. Very reminiscent of Gael Kakuta (Nelson, that is).

[Ian]

Pep Guardiola: ‘I’d rather live in the Maldives than manage United’
(https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jan/06/pep-guardiola-manchester-city-manchester-united)

I'm loving the Guardian using the headline to make this sound like a really lame attempt at a put-down rather than the reasonable statement it actually is about not managing the biggest rival (for want of a better word given that United aren't close to City at the moment) of clubs he's already managed.

Massively looking forward to the game tonight, obviously. Fingers crossed we might even manage a short on target. :drool:

[Lewis]

Where we streaming these things lads?

[Ian]

Ah good, Williams alongside the calming veteran presence of FEC

[Manc]

Where we streaming these things lads?

Echo this. Footybite has disowned me.

[niko_cee]

Even if there is a clear offside in the build-up I don't see why you wouldn't boot that into the goal and let VAR get to work.

[Ian]

Well City may as well sit back now and take an easy 1-0 aggregate back home.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I am very much in tune both with that goal and with Martin Tyler citing a poem to honour it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

We're shit.

[Ian]

Still, at least it's not medieval times any more.

[Lewis]

Fucking hell just sack him.

[niko_cee]

Can you wait a couple of weeks?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lol.

[niko_cee]

Probably not.

[niko_cee]

Somebody get Phil Jones a ticket to get back in.

[Mike]

Great this :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't watch a lot of United, but this is terrifyingly bad.

[bruhnaldo]

Poch so so soon

[niko_cee]

I don't watch a lot of United, but this is terrifyingly bad.

It's dizzying highs and terrifying lows with this lot. Mostly the latter. If they concede first they're mincemeat against anyone half-decent.. Their midfield as currently constituted is a major issue.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was nice though.

[Raoul Duke]

Did Dalot finger Ole's children or something? He never gets a game.

[Danny]

He has just come back from injury

[Mellberg]

They need to sign an entire midfield and they should be doing it now. Every player in that central area is either shit or a cunt.

We might go one step further tonight and get thoroughly dollied without scoring.

[Lewis]

1214822416209321985

That sums him up better than all the gurns in the world.

[John]

For full effect you'd want him letting the ball bounce over his head in the first place.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Maguire is out indefinitely with a hip injury so we're going to be seeing more of FEC :drool:

[Lewis]

If Axel Tuanzebe doesn't start every possible game I'm giving up.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's injured still I think.

[Lewis]

Balls then. I switched off at 1-0 last night. I'll see you at the Euros (where we will be shit).

[bruhnaldo]

I honestly wish I could just not watch it anymore tbh.

I have enough absolute depressing trash to watch now that Orlando City start back up in a month and a half.

[Lewis]

I'm still interested, but it's 2020 and I've spent enough of my life watching Phil Jones be crap at football.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You should switch allegiance to Portsmouth, or, if you really want to damage your brain, Southampton.

[Shindig]

It's a life sentence, lads.

[Offshore Toon]

My string of illnesses does match up quite neatly with sacking off Newcastle as it happens.

[Lewis]

You should switch allegiance to Portsmouth, or, if you really want to damage your brain, Southampton.

In spite of all their EVERYONE IN PORTSMOUTH SUPPORTS POMPEY bluster, it seems like everyone here under forty is actually an Arsenal fan who just liked Portsmouth for a few seasons.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's not really a football area is it. I imagine the main sport to be this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32s4qCCFnmk).

[Raoul Duke]

You could be the new guy with the bell in the crowd, or that dickhead with the hat and all the badges

[Lewis]

Isn't that the same bloke?

[Raoul Duke]

I hope not. That's just too much twat for one person

[Mellberg]

If Axel Tuanzebe doesn't start every possible game I'm giving up.

Has he been injured all season? Was superb last year. Has to be better than everyone bar Maguire and Lindelof?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

We've recalled Borthwick-Jackson who couldn't get game time at League 1 Tranmere Rovers (who are 21st right now) :drool: Our defensive problems are solved.

[Ian]

This "Maguire has totally has totally fucked his hip" turning into "He's well 'ard and will be back tomorrow" doesn't half reek of us desperately rushing him back and inevitably causing his leg to fall off tomorrow. Hopefully I'm just being cynical.

[Waffdon]

Hahahahahah. VAR is funny.

That crowd reaction was amazing.