Feb Footy: Southend United and football's demise

[phonics]

1226616368876937224

I'm checking betting markets for that one.

[Shindig]

"And Ken Bates returned from Mount Mason with these ten commandments ...."

[SincereTheRebel]

Lyon have pulled 2 goals back and are losing 3-2. Barca and Betis have both gone down to 10 men wkity 10 minutes left. Goals or all the place

[SincereTheRebel]

Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Joaquin is playing for Betis as the number 17 and the captain's armband.

[Mike]

Very up.
Had £2 on four games, cashed out for £147! Most I’ve ever won! Was too much of a wimp to hold on

[John Arne]

Meet Yangon defender Ernest Aboubacar. 27 years old.

https://gyazo.com/85ad547db41b115bc07acb3aadc58476.jpeg

[SincereTheRebel]

:D

What happened that Lazio player who was 14, but look 42? I read all these stories about youth players who are older than they claim. But surely if they were older, it would clearly show in there age group and development.

Edit: Joseph Minala 23 currently on loan at Bari doing fuck all.

[niko_cee]

I see City's game is back on next week, ruining both their winter break (lol) and the chances of a sneaky fantasy football double gameweek (not lol).

[John Arne]

:D After waiting what feels like 10 years to finally launch, Inter Miami may have to now drop the 'Inter'.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/feb/11/inter-milan-trademark-lawsuit-inter-miami-mls-soccer

[Spikey M]

AC Miami

[Jimmy Floyd]

There's nothing cringier than American teams trying to sound European. 'Real Salt Lake', do me a favour. Call them the Reno Screeching Burger Stompers and get on with it. Authenticity >>>

[thommo]

Let's not forget Sporting Kansas City. At least the San Jose Earthquakes have the right idea.

[mugbull]

At least the San Jose Earthquakes have the right idea.

It’s a hilarious name. Someone should found a Canberra Wildfires

[Smjffy]

Beckham should have just used Miami Fusion II.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Miami Vice FC.

[Baz]

Inter Miami (for now, anyway) are scheduled to play the first home game in club history on 14 March against LA Galaxy after opening with back-to-back road matches at LAFC and DC United:sick:

[John Arne]

MLS have had a shitty week, what with Nashville also having big stadiums issues. They were only awarded a franchise due to building a soccer specific stadium - and now they can't get permission to build it.

[bruhnaldo]

Everyone's favroite Orlando City Soccer Club enjoyed a 1:0 victory in preseason against Thierry Henry's Montreal Impact last Saturday though :drool:

[Lewis]

American rugby league teams have the best names. They've tried to copy Australian and English teams, who themselves tried to copy American teams decades ago, so you end up with some right twice translated bollocks.

[Waffdon]

Rangers shit the bed again after beating Celtic at New Year. What a sight.

[John]

We've been dreadful since coming back from Dubai.

[Gray Fox]

Good to see Gerrard outing himself as shite before anyone started getting ideas of him replacing Klopp further down the line.

[John]

Good to see Gerrard outing himself as shite before anyone started getting ideas of him replacing Klopp further down the line.

He's done nothing of the sort. He'll be a brilliant manager in three or four years, once he's got enough experience under his belt to change the game with subs and switch to plans B and C. He might not be the next Liverpool manager, but he'll definitely manage them at some point.

[Gray Fox]

You'll have to forgive me. I saw the title had been bottled and assumed it was him.

Do you get the feeling he'll stick around until he gets it right there?

[niko_cee]

I would imagine so, unless an offer from the Premier League comes in.

[Ian]

I'm not sure they're BOTTLING it anyway. A ropey run of form but the competition is a tram who always win the league by a country mile so while that's who you have to beat not being as good as them is not necessarily shameful.

That said Gerrard seems to think they're BOTTLING it and and he's more of an expert on the matter than me.

[Reg]

Sky Sports did a poll for a combined Liverpool 2020 and Man United 1999 side.


Combined XI: Schmeichel, Alexander-Arnold, Stam, Van Dijk, Robertson; Beckham, Scholes, Keane, Giggs; Salah, Mane

Subs: Alisson, G Neville, Henderson, Firmino, Cole

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/11932122/revealed-your-man-utd-99-vs-liverpool-20-combined-xi

I would probably pop Cole or Yorke in ahead of Mane to head in the dozens of stupidly accurate crosses from Alexander-Arnold and Beckham.

[CJay]

Sky Sports did a poll for a combined Liverpool 2020 and Man United 1999 side.



I would probably pop Cole or Yorke in ahead of Mane to head in the dozens of stupidly accurate crosses from Alexander-Arnold and Beckham.

I’d choose Mané over Salah every day of the week. Not even close.

[Lewis]

United should have both of the full-backs, and it should be Mane and Firmino up front.

[-james-]

*Generic Manchester United 1999 would lose 8-0 to Liverpool 2020 post*

[Waffdon]

Feels like Wolves have a goal disallowed every week through VAR

[SincereTheRebel]

Feels like Wolves have a goal disallowed every week through VAR

It really is getting go levels now

[Baz]

Good to have Liverpool back today.

[Waffdon]

Danny Ings:D

[niko_cee]

Good goal from him to make up for it though, and that's a cracker from Vydra.

[Gray Fox]

Klopps sides have seemed to always struggled in windy weather. Interested to see if this carries on today.

[Gray Fox]

We're not bad at this football game you know.

[Giggles]

Fitting that it was 25 years ago when you'll probably get to do the same again this year (though most likely against the Germans this time).


https://www.balls.ie/football/lansdowne-road-riot-359144

[niko_cee]

Wrecked Matt Le Tissier's England career that game.

Shame they didn't manage to kill Terry Venables in all the rioting, the massive twat.

lol if you think that's happening again.

[Giggles]

Wrecked Matt Le Tissier's England career that game.

Shame they didn't manage to kill Terry Venables in all the rioting, the massive twat.

lol if you think that's happening again.

England v Germany in Dublin? There aren't enough lols that you think it won't. Hopefully we'll have some sort of backup crew like the time the orange tried to march in it.

[niko_cee]

I had thought England played all their games at home, but I see the last 16 and QFs would be at other locations.

There are probably as many pissed up English folk in Dublin tonight as there would be for a game there, and I'm not sure it's much of a combat 18 crowd anymore, even if they do manage to herd their worst behaviour together.

Did England B play Ireland (B?) at some point around that time? That's another odd game that sticks in the memory.

[Giggles]

There was one in Liverpool but it was a year or two earlier.

[mugbull]

What the fuck is Alderweireld playing at today

[mo]

What the fuck is Alderweireld playing at today

Great finish at the other end though. Both defences piss poor, as has been some of the finishing.

[SincereTheRebel]

What a shocking mistake from the Villa defender. Son scores in the 93rd. Reina has to do better than that though.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Villa's defending was completely all over the place in the bits I saw, they did well not to concede several more.

[Smjffy]

That's a huge three points for Tottenham tbf but Villa were the architects of their own downfall. You can't see too many proper winnable games in their next few fixtures. Southampton (a), Leicester (a), Chelsea (h), Newcastle (a), Wolves (h), Liverpool (a), Man United (h). Perhaps four points at a push?

[niko_cee]

Quite a few of the teams down there seem to have horror runs of games at the moment.

[Waffdon]

Only team that is horrid to face is Liverpool in this league

[Smjffy]

Watching Arsenal against Newcastle is some seriously tough viewing. 0-0 on the cards?

[Shindig]

Yeah, let's right this one off. :moop:

[Gray Fox]

If Spurs somehow miss out on 5th then I'd love for us to sign Son. Seems a very Klopp player.

[Smjffy]

He'd cost more than Mbappe with Levi doing the negotiating.

[Shindig]

I don't think I've seen a more talented Asian player, to be fair.

[niko_cee]

I was reading earlier about some record Cronaldo was in danger of breaking for consecutive goals in Serie A, then I see he didn't feature at all today. Did Sarri just leave him out?

:D

Think it was Batistuta's record so glad it still stands. Bet there's some seethe going on there if he was left out.

[niko_cee]

Ashley Young terrorising Serie A. :roflol:

[Gray Fox]

So, Marega of Porto was racially abused in a game tonight. He decided to walk off the pitch. The rest of his teammates instead of showing support, shouted at him and tried dragging him back when he was trying to leave the pitch.

Took him a couple of minutes to get off as he was obviously emotional. Soon as he left the game continued as if nothing had happened.

[Smjffy]

I was reading earlier about some record Cronaldo was in danger of breaking for consecutive goals in Serie A, then I see he didn't feature at all today. Did Sarri just leave him out?

:D

Think it was Batistuta's record so glad it still stands. Bet there's some seethe going on there if he was left out.

I don't even think it's all that impressive given the amount of penalties involved.

[niko_cee]

Apparently he asked to be rested anyway, boo.

Got a lot of time for Lazio after watching that game. What a bunch of misfits on a mission, manager included. I'm quite enjoying these Serie A Sunday evenings, having probably not watched a game from Italy for about 10 years.

Cursory lol at Real Madrid, City really ought to absolutely spanner them whenever the play.

[Waffdon]

Celtic done them home and away with a virtually full strength team. Scotland’s back.

[SincereTheRebel]

I don't think I've seen a more talented Asian player, to be fair.

Please

https://www.abc.net.au/news/image/9128760-3x2-700x467.jpg

[Shindig]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Footballer_of_the_Year

In footballing terms, Australia is not Asia. They just play against Asians.

[Giggles]

I’m hoping he did that deliberately and isn’t that thick.

[Shindig]

This is Sincere. He'll think about it, decide he wasn't being thick and then call me a pussy.

[Mellberg]

That's a huge three points for Tottenham tbf but Villa were the architects of their own downfall. You can't see too many proper winnable games in their next few fixtures. Southampton (a), Leicester (a), Chelsea (h), Newcastle (a), Wolves (h), Liverpool (a), Man United (h). Perhaps four points at a push?

Agreed. Think we might struggle and four is about right. I'd say one against Chelsea and three against Liverpool.

[John Arne]

The opposite, surely.
In the footballing terms, Australia definitely is Asia (the link you posted even has an Australian winner).

The question is whether Australians should be considered when generally discussing 'Asian footballers'. I think they should be now, but can understand the reluctance when discussing historical figures.

Interested to hear Queenslander thoughts.

[SincereTheRebel]

This is Sincere. He'll think about it, decide he wasn't being thick and then call me a pussy.

100% asian. 100% pussy.

[Giggles]

He’s Australian so he’s not Asian. Where he plays doesn’t come into it.

[John Arne]

He’s Australian so he’s not Asian. Where he plays doesn’t come into it.

Should Irish players therefore be considered foreigners in the Premier League? :D
I get your point, but I think It's a little more nuanced within the context of football. Just look at the likes of Guyana, Suriname, Israel and Kazakhstan.

[Giggles]

Should Irish players therefore be considered foreigners in the Premier League? :D
I get your point, but I think It's a little more nuanced within the context of football. Just look at the likes of Guyana, Suriname, Israel and Kazakhstan.

Of course they should.

[Giggles]

Here is the Porto racism incident mentioned above. Otavio and Henriques should feel fucking ashamed of themselves. Disgraceful teammates.

1229127492889382912

What were those thick cunts of team mates at? He should have decked 3 or 4 of them.

[John Arne]

What were those thick cunts of team mates at? He should have decked 3 or 4 of them.

Yup - awful behaviour. Excuses already coming out. "They were trying to calm him down so he didn't get a second yellow card". "They didn't want the racists to win".
Imagine being racially abused in a bar, and when attempting to leave, your "mates" start screaming at you and dragging back into the bar to finish your pint.

[Giggles]

The twat with the man bun especially needs a good slap. Absolute madness though, he clearly wanted off and all of them pulling and dragging out of him, even one of them making the ’loopy’ sign.
Like you say, how they try paint this should be laughable.

[Clunge]

That Son goal was just sickening. No one to blame but ourselves, but still, absolutely gut-wrenching after such a brilliant game.

[Mike]

I’m hoping he did that deliberately and isn’t that thick.
Plus....
https://www.lfchistory.net/images/profiles/player_kewell.jpg

[Queenslander]

The opposite, surely.
In the footballing terms, Australia definitely is Asia (the link you posted even has an Australian winner).

The question is whether Australians should be considered when generally discussing 'Asian footballers'. I think they should be now, but can understand the reluctance when discussing historical figures.

Interested to hear Queenslander thoughts.

We are definitely asian when it comes to football. I would consider the current under 23s to be Asian footballers.

It is hard to get across how big the Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Thai communities are down here especially during the world cup and asian cup years. The sub continent blokes dont like football.

[Ian]

Since when is a nationality "when it comes to football" a thing?

And more importantly does United being European "when it comes to football" mean I can ignore a lot of the Brexit bollocks? Because if the made-up hogwash isn't going to work in my favour then I'm not interested.

[John Arne]

Since when is a nationality "when it comes to football" a thing?

And more importantly does United being European "when it comes to football" mean I can ignore a lot of the Brexit bollocks? Because if the made-up hogwash isn't going to work in my favour then I'm not interested.

I guess when a country like Australia changes Confederation halfway through their existence.
It may be different for Queenslander, but for me, Australia is basically Asia anyway - it doesn't feel like a seperate continent - and feels more contected to East Asia than countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia.

[Queenslander]

I see what I have done. :moop:

We are an Asian country if I was to attempt to explain my opinion to an American or European.

[niko_cee]

You're not, on any level.

[Shindig]

As a European I can tell you that shit does not need explaining. Australasia is its own continent, not Asia.

[SincereTheRebel]

He’s Australian so he’s not Asian. Where he plays doesn’t come into it.

His country play in asian football tournaments. In the scope of this conversation, Cahil is up there as one of the best asian players to ever do it.

[thommo]

His country play in asian football tournaments. In the scope of this conversation, Cahil is up there as one of the best asian players to ever do it.

Australia also take part in Eurovision, but it doesn't mean they're European. Cahill is not an Asian footballer.

[niko_cee]

They've got one of those pick a combined side things on the BBC website for United and Chelsea. Really highlights how few decent players both have got. Think I ended up with some weird 3-3-3-1 formation as otherwise you're essentially having to commit to one of their leftbacks, all of whom are dreadful.

[SincereTheRebel]

Australia also take part in Eurovision, but it doesn't mean they're European. Cahill is not an Asian footballer.

If Australia take part in Eurovision and do well. Then Australia are one of the best eurovision players.

[SvN]

They've got one of those pick a combined side things on the BBC website for United and Chelsea. Really highlights how few decent players both have got. Think I ended up with some weird 3-3-3-1 formation as otherwise you're essentially having to commit to one of their leftbacks, all of whom are dreadful.

I think that's unfair to Williams. He'll be starting ahead of fatboy every game next season.

[Lewis]

He should be doing this season, but...

[niko_cee]

As if to prove my point the final analysis has an ageing centre-half turned rightback there. Williams would have been a better shout. Also lol at Abraham getting in.

[John Arne]

Barcelona have been given permission from La Liga to sign a striker, despite the league being outside of the transfer window, due to the injury to Dembele. What a joke league.

[phonics]

Never noticed how much Tim Cahill and Alexis Sanchez lookalike.

[phonics]

Please

https://www.abc.net.au/news/image/9128760-3x2-700x467.jpg

https://s.hs-data.com/bilder/spieler/gross/50628.jpg

[Pepe]

https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/files/2015/02/RIQUELME.jpg

[phonics]

I don't see it at all. That's just racist.

[Disco]

I've missed something here because I'm not sure why you've posted either of them.

[Waffdon]

Pedro-Batshuayi-Willian is as good as it gets.

[Giggles]

Pedro-Batshuayi-Willian is as good as it gets.

At what?

[Waffdon]

I’ll leave that to you to decide. Not sure scoring goals would be the appropriate answer though

[John Arne]

I've just noticed that we have the same amount of points as Man Utd and Chelsea combined.

[Giggles]

:D I’d missed this. He must have been out the day they were handing out brain cells.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020/0216/1115702-derby-condemn-ex-players-young-black-lads-remark/

“Speaking on BBC Radio Derby's Sportscene Podcast, Ramage said:
When I look over and I look at certain players, their body language, their stance, the way they act, you just feel, 'whoa, hold on a minute - he needs pulling down a peg or two'. So I'd probably say that about all the young black lads."

[Waffdon]

1229491521688391680?s=21

Lol

[niko_cee]

Yeah, you'd think whoever else was presenting/producing when he said that would have been on him fairly quickly to 'clarify' what he meant, so presumably those people hate him and just let his media career quietly slide down the shitter. What a div.

[Shindig]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51537554

Heh. I hope it's true.

[Waffdon]

Kante hasn’t half turned injury prone.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Maguire :lol:

[mugbull]

Son's red card count in the past year would have gone from 3 to 0 if we had had these VAR judges at our games

[phonics]

Yeah, you'd think whoever else was presenting/producing when he said that would have been on him fairly quickly to 'clarify' what he meant, so presumably those people hate him and just let his media career quietly slide down the shitter. What a div.

I thought this because, it being a podcast and all meant it went through an editing process but looking at how local that production is, I doubt the kid putting it together even listened while editing.

[Waffdon]

That’s as clear as a red you can get.

[phonics]

Son's red card count in the past year would have gone from 3 to 0 if we had had these VAR judges at our games

He broke a blokes leg and won on appeal. Please don't try the woe is me shit.

[CJay]

That’s as clear as a red you can get.

Yeah, really not getting how that wasn't deemed sufficiently dangerous. :cab:

[CJay]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51537554

Heh. I hope it's true.

Barcelona's brand = Messi. If Bartomeu doesn't realise that then they deserve to lose him.

[mugbull]

He broke a blokes leg and won on appeal. Please don't try the woe is me shit.

He didn't break Andre Gomes's leg, lolwut

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've missed Bailly, what a man.

[phonics]

Sorry. Multiple fractured ankle.

[mugbull]

Sorry. Multiple fractured ankle.

:D

Go watch a replay of the incident again and then have a sleep

[niko_cee]

Was it Taylor who gave a foul against Chelsea when the Spurs 'keeper karate kicked someone? Booking Willian for that was laughable. A foul as clear as day.

This game is definitely in the so bad it's good bracket.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lovely header and a surprisingly decent cross by AWB.

[niko_cee]

Pedro-Batshuayi-Willian is as good as it gets.

I was wondering why Chelsea went and bought Ziyech the other day (thinking they had quite a few attacking midgets) but now I get it.

[CJay]

I love how Pedro slows to a standstill every time he gets the ball, patiently waiting for the galloping Azpilicueta to slowly overlap for a terrible left footed cross.

Fair play to Martial - didn't think he had that in him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Batshuayi is fucking tragic. Would score 40 in the Championship but just not good enough for serious football.

[niko_cee]

Bossed it in Germany . . .

Every time you see that Maguire one it becomes more inexplicable how he stayed on the pitch.

[phonics]

Batshuayi is fucking tragic. Would score 40 in the Championship but just not good enough for serious football.

Lampard being anti-Giroud is proof that he's a bad manager.

Just checked and it seems the only trophy Lampard won after Giroud joined the league was a Europa League Trophy. Man is jealous of big Oliviers trophy cabinet.

[niko_cee]

Fred pushes Azpilicueta as much as he then pushes Williams there. VAR's having a bit of a shocker tonight.

[CJay]

That's a terrible decision. A clear push from Fred led to Azpilicueta doing that.

[Waffdon]

Fred pushes him into him.

VAR on the payroll tonight

[phonics]

I'm not watching the game but I'm glad 'physical contact in football hasn't made sense for years' viewpoint is coming to the fore.

[Waffdon]

Regardless of the decisions, Chelsea will struggle to get top 7 at this point.

[niko_cee]

Super Frankie Binman's pulling a reverse Sarri this season.

[Luca]

Please. Fred tickled his back at best.

[niko_cee]

Aye, just like Maguire tickled Batshuayi's balls in the first half.

[niko_cee]

:D

Fucking hell United haven't half been lucky tonight.

[Luca]

Thought that was nasty and Maguire got away with one, tbf.

[niko_cee]

That 'wall' looked fairly inexplicable and was.

[niko_cee]

Maguire's explanation of the ball kick is amazing.

[Kikó]

Both VARs were right. Fuck off.

[Kikó]

Red card was bollocks mind.

[Waffdon]

Both VARs were right. Fuck off.

You’ve visited Fife too much. Making you go crazy, my guy

[Kikó]

Two hands into Williams and a snide offside. What's the issue?

VAR still crap but at least it was quickly crap.

[niko_cee]

Azpilicueta only put his hands out to "stop himself falling into Williams".

[phonics]

Maguire's explanation of the ball kick is amazing.

"I studs firsted him in the balls to stop him from falling over. If anything, it was for his own safety."

I know he can't admit to it otherwise the charge is in the post but really? Do you think they have a PFA lawyer on hand for those sorts of situations?

[Lewis]

lol a goal off a corner. Chelsea want folding letting one of them in.

[niko_cee]

They let a lot of them in apparently. 1 in every 8 they face (or maybe 11), which seems mental either way.

1 in 120 for Liverpool.

[Luca]

Somehow about Liverpool...

I haven’t been around here for a while, but I’d like to register my (rather vanilla, I suppose) view that Andreas Pereira is likely the least gifted United player I’ve seen in years.

[phonics]

lol a goal off a corner. Chelsea want folding letting one of them in.

Was checking something and found out that United have conceded the second least goals from 'Open Play' and the (joint)third most goals from set pieces. Get Tony Pulis in and you lot are golden.

[phonics]

They let a lot of them in apparently. 1 in every 8 they face (or maybe 11), which seems mental either way.

1 in 120 for Liverpool.

The average is 1 in 14 so it's not that wild. They're actually the 9th worst team at conceding from set plays (I can't find specifically corners). Villa have conceded almost double.

[phonics]

While looking for the stuff above I also came across a 'Goals against according to minutes' table which is quite amusing just to look at Villa. They're tight for the first fifteen minutes of games, get distracted and fall apart but regroup for injury time, and then repeat that for the second half.

Meanwhile Wolves concede a quarter of all their goals in the first fifteen minutes and barely let one past them in the second half.

[niko_cee]

This Carragher-Keane combined XI is comedy gold.

[Lewis]

Was checking something and found out that United have conceded the second least goals from 'Open Play' and the (joint)third most goals from set pieces. Get Tony Pulis in and you lot are golden.

That sort of thing adds weight to the good set-up shit players argument.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Although United is a hard game for us because they are perfectly suited to playing against us, and although the officiating was an Ovrebo-level farce, this is the point where our shite squad is catching up with us a bit. We have done the season the wrong way round as if we'd been 8th all year and were now storming through then everyone would be really positive, even though we'll end up on the same points total we were always going to.

4th still could be achieved because none of the others are much better and we burgled a few results early.

[phonics]

We have done the season the wrong way round as if we'd been 8th all year and were now storming through then everyone would be really positive, even though we'll end up on the same points total we were always going to.

This is me, I started looking up what our next 8 games were and building points tables going into the international break.

[niko_cee]

We have done the season the wrong way round as if we'd been 8th all year and were now storming through then everyone would be really positive, even though we'll end up on the same points total we were always going to.


In other circles this is what gave rise to the phenomenon sometimes referred to as 'the graph'.

[mugbull]

Son played the full 90 with a broken arm. Legend. He's out for some time now though so maybe it wasn't worth it

[Smjffy]

Although United is a hard game for us because they are perfectly suited to playing against us, and although the officiating was an Ovrebo-level farce, this is the point where our shite squad is catching up with us a bit. We have done the season the wrong way round as if we'd been 8th all year and were now storming through then everyone would be really positive, even though we'll end up on the same points total we were always going to.

4th still could be achieved because none of the others are much better and we burgled a few results early.

I think both teams were pretty poor and offered very little in the first half but at the same time I think Chelsea were unfortunate at times, Willian getting booked for diving when it was a foul, probably just outside the box but still. Maguire not getting his marching orders as there's no difference in what he did and what Son did except a great deal more pain but the biggest issue for Chelsea was starting Batshuayi which ironically, I loaded up Livescore just to copy and paste his name and it turns out the Somali translation for Batshuay is insane which is quite apt. Insane that he's considered a top flight footballer.

I still think you'll get 4th/5th as Man United are unlikely to string a run together, Arsenal have won just once in God knows how long and Tottenham's task just got a little harder due to Son being injured. Bizarre stat though, Spurs have taken more points than anyone else bar ourselves since Mourinho took over. :cab: Bonkers.

[SincereTheRebel]

This Carragher-Keane combined XI is comedy gold.

How Carragher is still on tv after spitting on underage girls, i dont know.

[niko_cee]

Bizarre stat though, Spurs have taken more points than anyone else bar ourselves since Mourinho took over. :cab: Bonkers.

Aren't they level with City having played a game more? But yeah, everyone's been shit since whenever that happened. Well, more shit.

[phonics]

Have they played anyone apart from City that's above 15th in that time?

[niko_cee]

They lost to Liverpool.

And to United maybe?

[phonics]

Yep. Beat City and Wolves, the next highest position team that they've beaten in that time is Brighton in 15th.

[Smjffy]

On tonight's football, I may be slightly over-confident but I have a hunch we're going to brush Atletico aside instead of the anticipated low scoring match. It's really weird watching Liverpool and wondering where the next defeat is going to come from as I can say without much bias that we're truly a step above most sides at this moment in time. I'm all for an unbeaten season but given it's been so long I don't care all that much although I do think we should put some serious effort into chasing the treble as I think that would cement our current status as the best in the world. Three European Cup finals in three seasons...four out of five if you include the Europa League is some really good going no matter which club achieves it.

If I was to reflect a little further then I do sort of see how annoying I must have been over the years thinking this season would be our year etc as quite frankly we piss on every single side we've had since I've supported them. I would like to think it's over now but until these five league games are completed then I'm going to keep a low profile. :D

[niko_cee]

'Atleti' seem pretty shit, but then so are Napoli and their snidey defensive shite seems to be quite effective against Liverpool.

[Smjffy]

Fair but then I think if we met Napoli now as opposed to in the group stages then we'd have rinsed them. For all the praise we've got, I don't think we've even been 'that' good with the exception of a few games. Leicester at the end of December was probably the first match in which it all came together whereas our fixtures in January could have seen a few dropped points on another day. It makes a mockery of the whole weak league narrative given there's been a number of teams who have run us close. I'm still surprised that Napoli decided to get rid of Carlos and replace him with the fraud that is Gattuso.

[Ian]

Atletico have won less than half their league games this year, they're not very good.

[Danny]

1229759057478782977

[niko_cee]

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Mane, Salah, Firmino.

Subs: Adrian, Milner, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Minamino, Origi, Matip.

Most predictable line-up in world football.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They couldn't have made it more obvious.

[mugbull]

Yep. Beat City and Wolves, the next highest position team that they've beaten in that time is Brighton in 15th.

You seem to be getting jealous again tonight. Had a chance to look at Son's "leg breaker" by the way?

[Smjffy]

You seem to be getting jealous again tonight. Had a chance to look at Son's "leg breaker" by the way?

There's a number of Everton fans on Twitter calling it karma....:cab: I mean, the video footage is as clear as day that it was from the collision with the ever useless Aurier.

[-james-]

Champions league knock-outs baby. :swing:

[SincereTheRebel]

PSG and Dortmund sound like goals galore. 4 goals a game in recent games

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:rave:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Liverpool need to win this in order to distract them from their unbeaten season attempt. I'm not having this.

[Gray Fox]

All of this "lol Atletico are shit" in the build up proven wrong inside a few minutes, even if it was sloppy.

An away goal and a draw/1 goal deficit wouldn't be too bad from here.

[phonics]

Thorgen Hazard makes off season I can’t be bothered Eden Hazard look like prime Eden Hazard.

[CJay]

Is Salah totally incapable of standing his man up and going past him (or at least trying to)? He just doesn’t seem to do it anymore.

The one team you don’t want to allow to fart in a scrappy 4th minute goal is Atletico. This is going to be a long dull night by the looks of it.

[John Arne]

How on earth does Danny Mills get paid to be a commentator? Absolute fucking dross - he must just flog himself out for a bargain price.

[Gray Fox]

This now shows perhaps the one weakness in this lineup in that there's no real creative type in the middle. I see why we score more with the Ox there.

[phonics]

Neymar is so much better than everyone on this pitch. It’s such a shame he’s a cunt. He should be Michael Jordan level.

[SincereTheRebel]

Neymar is so much better than everyone on this pitch. It’s such a shame he’s a cunt. He should be Michael Jordan level.

Isn't Neymar one of the best, most popular, most recognizable, highest-earning players in football?

[Gray Fox]

most popular

I'd debate that heavily.

[phonics]

Isn't Neymar one of the best, most popular, most recognizable, highest-earning players in football?

So is Steph Curry in Basketball. Doesn't make him Jordan.

He's been terrible since I posted that. M'Bappe has been truly anonymous though.

[SincereTheRebel]

That black Dortmund defender is humungous

[phonics]

The left back? He’s hilarious. Can’t pass a ball 5 yards but who cares.

[John Arne]

The fake aggression that dominates Spanish football really is the worst. One minute bumping chests and squaring up, the next rolling around holding their face. Cunts.

[SincereTheRebel]

So is Steph Curry in Basketball. Doesn't make him Jordan.

He's been terrible since I posted that. M'Bappe has been truly anonymous though.

That would make Jordan, Messi or Ronaldo?

[Shindig]

Surely Jordan is Pele?

[phonics]

Hazard is shit. This is either the greatest collection of over rated players there’s ever been or everyone is playing awful.

Yellow card for that? Even the ref is having a mare.

[mugbull]

Biggest surprise of the day is finding out that Emre Can is 26. Thought he was in prime fatherhood age around 32

[niko_cee]

Probably best to get out of this with a 1-0 and risk a Benfica ambush at home, this ref has red cards written all over him.

[phonics]

That would make Jordan, Messi or Ronaldo?

Think the existence of the other one means neither of them are Jordan. Closest I can think is probably pre-knee injury Ronaldo.

[Gray Fox]

All set up for Lord Origi to save the day later.

Seem to have stopped Atletico getting much more than a long ball over the full backs to now. Ball needs to move quicker into the final third though. A bit ponderous and allowing them to reset for now.

I sense a goal, even if it comes in defeat is vital tonight.

[niko_cee]

In the other game PSG look a bit crap but Dortmund need to make something of these breaks/chances they're getting.

[phonics]

They spent 25 million on Hazard? Theo Walcott is a superior player. Fuck me.

[phonics]

Dortmund almost pulled off an absolutely sick trick set-piece and Sancho passed it to the wrong player.

[phonics]

That black Dortmund defender is humungous

Ok I’m convinced they’ve just flown him over from the NBA all star weekend. He can’t kick a football. It’s genuinely like putting me out there.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Neymar is such a snide little cunt.

[Foe]

That black Dortmund defender is humungous

Zagadou?

He still an absolute bomb scare? Think he was PSG youth and given a chance because he’s a monster.

[phonics]

This match has done more reputational damage to literally every other team in their respective leagues than I thought possible. Both these teams look like trash. Emre Can looks fast.

edit: @Foe (https://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/member.php?u=48), yes that bloke. Terrible player.

[John Arne]

The ref in the Liverpool game just stopped the game (mid-play) due to a fairly run of the mill ankle knock :/

[John]

Think the existence of the other one means neither of them are Jordan. Closest I can think is probably pre-knee injury Ronaldo.

How could Neymar possibly 'be Jordan' while both of those exist if one of them existing means the other one can't be?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Haland does it again.

What a don.

[phonics]

A truly awful goal for an awful game.

[phonics]

How could Neymar possibly 'be Jordan' while both of those exist if one of them existing means the other one can't be?

Because the other two are in their mid 30s?

[SincereTheRebel]

Veratti is brilliant

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Zagadou was all over the place.

I also now have the Agadoo song stuck in my head thanks to him.

[John]

Because the other two are in their mid 30s?

Neymar isn't far off thirty himself. By the time they're both out of his way he'll be well over thirty himself.

[SincereTheRebel]

Zagadou?

He still an absolute bomb scare? Think he was PSG youth and given a chance because he’s a monster.

He just missed a sliding tackle that gifted psg a goal

[mugbull]

Haaland's looking like I do after finishing an HIIT session

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Haland :drool:

Absolute fucking thunderbolt.

[John]

Is it Keown commentating on the PSG game? I think he's just had a live psychotic episode.

[John]

That's a missile.

[mugbull]

Well then.

[phonics]

Is there anything better in football than when you can hear the ball hit the net like that?

[mugbull]

Marco Verratti is the real wasted talent at PSG

[John Arne]

I don't think I'm being biased when saying the ref in our game has been fucking awful. He's fallen for everything, and given free kicks when ball has clearly been won.

[niko_cee]

Just need to get the fuck out of there and hope you get that Turkish nutter to ref the second leg.

[phonics]

Owen Hargreaves just said that Dortmund deserve more :cab:

[CJay]

Atletico present a strong argument for single-legged knockout games. No one should have to watch them play their team twice in a short space of time. :moop:

We were slow and terrible, as we generally are in Europe, actually. Hopefully Mané will be back at his best for the 2nd keg

[Gray Fox]

1-0 may not be horrible in the grand scheme. No away goal I feel will be crucial.

Didn't understand taking Mane and/or Salah off. Wijnaldum killed every attack he got involved in and passing was far too slow.

Referee just seemed to give the free kick to whoever fell on the floor.

[niko_cee]

Mané was clearly going to get sent off the next time one of them went down holding their face.

Maybe he's not fully fit yet either.

[Dan]

Pompey :cool:

Utterly fucking terrible for 80mins but somehow pulled it out of the bag in stoppage time.

[phonics]

Atletico present a strong argument for single-legged knockout games. No one should have to watch them play their team twice in a short space of time. :moop:

We were slow and terrible, as we generally are in Europe, actually. Hopefully Mané will be back at his best for the 2nd keg

Us losing a Europa League Semi-Final at home 1-0 to an Atletico who were down to 10 men after 8 minutes might have been the most depressing match I've watched.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hope I'm not about to torpedo Dortmund's campaign by being the first person in the world to point out this rules infringement, but how is Erling Haaland not cup tied for this?

[Smjffy]

I thought we were pretty poor throughout tbh and the stop start nature of the game killed any chance of getting into our stride. Origi coming on for Mane was as pointless as Mane going off, Atleticos goal was fortunate at best and I think only one real chance fell to both teams. Salahs head and Morata(?) slipping.

Another night at Anfield it is.

[Foe]

Hope I'm not about to torpedo Dortmund's campaign by being the first person in the world to point out this rules infringement, but how is Erling Haaland not cup tied for this?

No longer a thing. They removed that limitation this season.

[Gray Fox]

You can now play for a different team in the knockout stages. Same from Europa League to Champions League.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Because Salzburg aren't in the competition any more.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Europa to CL I can understand, but playing for two different teams in the same cup is absolute bullshit. He was well aware during the group stage that he would be transferred to Dortmund so could have done whatever in order to influence the competition in their favour rather than Salzburg's.

[Gray Fox]

Biggest example of that although not as influential was Minamino. We knocked them out of our group and then he went directly to us. Makes you wonder about the tepid nature of the final game over there.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

45.01 As of the round of 16, a club may register a maximum of three new eligible players for the remaining matches in the current competition. Such registration must be completed by 3 February 2020 (24:00 CET) at the latest. This deadline cannot be extended.

45.02 Any or all of the players from the above quota of three may have been fielded for another club in the qualifying phase, play-offs or group stage of the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League.

Does this mean he could have been eligible even if Salzburg had qualified?

[Gray Fox]

Yes.

[John Arne]

Dortmund finishing the game with three English-born strikers.

[Danny]

Reyna the other one?

[mugbull]

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

At 0:48 :pards:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Banger.

[Waffdon]

Hope I'm not about to torpedo Dortmund's campaign by being the first person in the world to point out this rules infringement, but how is Erling Haaland not cup tied for this?

Makes no sense as to why Chelsea didn’t buy Zyiech in January now

[niko_cee]

Ajax just didn't want to sell him then.

I thought it made less sense to buy him in February than to just wait for the summer, but maybe they figure he might not fancy it if they finish 8th.

[John]

1229899910293659648

Didn't realise he was that quick.

[Yevrah]

He looks like Usain Bolt in the way he moves.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Some guy in the comments is saying that Sky Italia clocked him doing 60m in 6.64 seconds.

The World Record at that distance is 6.34 at altitude, 6.39 not at altitude.

Bolt's 60m time during his World Record run was 6.31.

[Mellberg]

On tonight's football, I may be slightly over-confident but I have a hunch we're going to brush Atletico aside instead of the anticipated low scoring match. It's really weird watching Liverpool and wondering where the next defeat is going to come from as I can say without much bias that we're truly a step above most sides at this moment in time. I'm all for an unbeaten season but given it's been so long I don't care all that much although I do think we should put some serious effort into chasing the treble as I think that would cement our current status as the best in the world. Three European Cup finals in three seasons...four out of five if you include the Europa League is some really good going no matter which club achieves it.

If I was to reflect a little further then I do sort of see how annoying I must have been over the years thinking this season would be our year etc as quite frankly we piss on every single side we've had since I've supported them. I would like to think it's over now but until these five league games are completed then I'm going to keep a low profile. :D

Top few lines make for a good post-match read.

[Ian]

Not sure why that moron Klopp didn't use the greatest weapon at his disposal, the greatest side in the country who recently completed football's greatest ever achievement: The youth side that beat Shrewsbury.

No wonder they lost.

[niko_cee]

Methinks too much is being made of the 'Anfield factor' for the second leg, you can tell Athletico really got under their skin with their miserable football. Just need to fluke one in (as they did) to break the game open but it's going to be another eye-bleeder in all likelihood. Probably need Chamberlain and/or Keita to provide more of a midfield goal threat if they're going to have 70% of the ball again. At least they should probably be back in rhythm when the next game comes around.

[Spikey M]

Is there still time for the wheels to come off? :drool:

[Giggles]

That was a first leg? What are the obituaries for then? Liverpool will put at least 3 on them at home.

They aren't half at some high and mighty moaning today though. You'd think when they win most games so easily that Klopp wouldn't get stroppy when someone doesn't lie down for them.

[John Arne]

What is it with British commentators not being able to spend 1 minute to research how to pronounce names. Whore-land?? WHORE-LAND?

[John Arne]

I fail to see how Wenger's new Offiside will fix anything.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/feb/19/arsene-wenger-uses-fifa-role-to-propose-new-offside-law-marginal-var-calls-ifab



“There is room to change the rule and not say that a part of a player’s nose is offside, so you are offside because you can score with that. Instead, you will be not be offside if any part of the body that can score a goal is in line with the last defender, even if other parts of the attacker’s body are in front.

“That will sort it out and you will no longer have decisions about millimetres and a fraction of the attacker being in front of the defensive line.”


They will still measure it using the exactly the same system - but rather than measure the furthest forward part of both players, it's going to be the furthest back of the attacker, and the furthest forward of the defender. This is going to solve nothing.

[John Arne]

It also means that this would be onside...

https://gyazo.com/89be580dc2d26499948df1d630d87f54.jpeg

[John]

What is it with British commentators not being able to spend 1 minute to research how to pronounce names. Whore-land?? WHORE-LAND?

It's more like Hall-and, which I'm almost certain is the correct way to pronounce that name.

[SincereTheRebel]

I like to think commentators do pronounce player names correctly. It annoys me when players are in sit-down interviews and reports don't ask them how to pronounce their own name

[John Arne]

It's more like Hall-and, which I'm almost certain is the correct way to pronounce that name.

I was going from this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wwRouchWAA&t=53s The commentators from last night (not sure if it was BT, Sky or US) were butchering it. Har-land is about right.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The correct way is Hau-land, as in 'caught'. They've been saying it correctly since his dad was around.