June: Boring, modern-day football to resume

[Smjffy]

I can imagine David Gold is one of the few chairman in the league who's thankful games are played behind closed doors.

That trio is something else. If I didn't think West Ham were a joke of a club then I'd almost feel sorry for them but the only club in the division who gets that luxury is Newcastle. Not so much a soft spot but jesus it would kill me supporting my club under Mike Ashley.

[Lofty]

Catch 22 situation really with Auba as he scores goals and that's a valuable currency. Before Man City game you still had a small chance of getting back into Europe which would have helped any rebuild but I can't see that happening now at all. I don't know much about Kroenke other than he was battling with that other chap at board level for a long time (has he gone now?)

How do you change the culture at a club when it starts from the top down? Arteta doesn't strike me as the sort to call anyone out. It cost Rafa his job doing just that but at least the club changed too as a direct result. Perhaps Arsenal need something similar if Kroenke is indeed that bad. I mean, he's at least opened the coffers as the last three seasons you must have spent at least £300M+.

Kroenke managed to scare off Usmanov in the end, Usmanov is now financing Moshiri and Everton. When he won that battle he gained total control of the club and took it off the stock market. There was a chance of EL in the league, though not sure it helps with the workload but obviously financially it is needed. We are still in the FA Cup but playing like this it's a pipe dream.

To be fair to Arteta he has said things that aren't massively contentious but have diverged from what the top brass have said already. Arsenal have spent it's true but in the resulting power vacuum from Wenger's departure now we see a lot of the money being swallowed by poor deals with agents, and even prior to that when we did spsnd big it wasn't necessarily a good result. We spent a fortune on Pepe but it's an installment deal gamble that our next two windows have been sacrificed for: that's why Arteta's new manager transfer window was two players on loan and recalling a loanee. Hopefully Tierney and Saliba turn out to be solid signings because at the moment there is only the hope of youth at the moment, despite them even mangling that the best they can (not sorting Saka's contract months ago etc).

[Lofty]

I can imagine David Gold is one of the few chairman in the league who's thankful games are played behind closed doors.

That trio is something else. If I didn't think West Ham were a joke of a club then I'd almost feel sorry for them but the only club in the division who gets that luxury is Newcastle. Not so much a soft spot but jesus it would kill me supporting my club under Mike Ashley.

You wont be feeling sorry for them if the Saudi lottery comes in and the glorious Anfield revolution is crushed underfoot in record time.

[Shindig]

You say that but the prospective future owners are currently in a dispute with the league over piracy and currently suing Barclays for $1.6bn's worth of damages over some dodgy Qatari payments. Mike Ashley's got a home-grown quality to his crookery. The new guys are international shithouses that'll probably depart and take the club out with it.

[niko_cee]

You wont be feeling sorry for them if the Saudi lottery comes in and the glorious Anfield revolution is crushed underfoot in record time.

I'd be all for it.

It takes a good few years to get a sugar daddy club up and rolling (so the revolution will probably go under another well-financed bus) and, perversely, I reckon the more of them you have the more competitive the league becomes, which should help the tier 2 financial clubs if they can run themselves well enough. Sadly Newcastle are bound to fuck up having money.

[Smjffy]

Pretty grim reading but only because you can see some similarities. Excessive agent fees is a Liverpool speciality.

Where would you start spending first? I mean, you're looking like you'll lose Auba, Tierney seems as though he's been injured since day one, David Luiz is a bombscare, you've potentially lost your keeper, Ozil still seems to be in a self imposed lockdown....if I took rivalries out of it then it is actually pretty sad to see what both Arsenal and United have become given how dominant both have been but I can't help think it's deserved purely because it's been self inflicted for both clubs.

Moving it back to #somehowabout....we've somehow managed to get the best of both worlds. Fantastic owners for the best part and the arguably the best manager in football (Pep still edges it but you could watch Klopp all day talk about even non football things and still come away smiling)

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I had to turn the game off.

West Ham are the pits.

[Smjffy]

You wont be feeling sorry for them if the Saudi lottery comes in and the glorious Anfield revolution is crushed underfoot in record time.

History has a habit of repeating itself and IIRC it happened with both Chelsea and Man City but I wouldn't begrudge some filthy money at Newcastle but only if they don't go all serious. I want a throwback to the Keegan years but with better players. I imagine for Newcastle too it would be more about style than trophies but who knows. Football under Rafa and Steve Bruce is/was hardly exciting.

[Shindig]

I'd be all for it.

It takes a good few years to get a sugar daddy club up and rolling (so the revolution will probably go under another well-financed bus) and, perversely, I reckon the more of them you have the more competitive the league becomes, which should help the tier 2 financial clubs if they can run themselves well enough. Sadly Newcastle are bound to fuck up having money.

We're fucking up the entire process just to get the money in the bank. There's no way this takeover happens. Not when they've pissed off the league and the title sponsors before they've even got through the door.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kql7E7dMWdE

:harold:

[Shindig]

"Week in, week out." Watching repeats, lads?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

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

:lol:

[Smjffy]

DT for the hat-trick?

[Lewis]

Arsene Wenger should start phoning in waaaaaying them and rubbing his carefree retirement in their faces.

[SincereTheRebel]

West ham are really bad

[SincereTheRebel]

1274406701962334220?s=19[/url]

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's a cracking finish.

[Don]

Shut the fuck up Wrighty and crack a joke.

[Giggles]

Fuck Neto. That cross :drool:

[Shindig]

Heh. "And football's making a difference." Y'fucking animal, Linekar. :D

[Don]

Ayew just cleared his nose on camera. I want VAR and I want a 6 match ban.

[CJay]

Not sure how Cahill is getting away with that one.

[Foe]

Playing the ball with his instep, most likely.

It’s unfortunate contact for sure and a sore one for king, but it’s not malicious, it’s not violent. It’s not even a foul.

[Smjffy]

After Liverpool, Palace have Burnley, Leicester and Chelsea.

Cheeky bid for top four? :D

[CJay]

Playing the ball with his instep, most likely.

It’s unfortunate contact for sure and a sore one for king, but it’s not malicious, it’s not violent. It’s not even a foul.

Jeans said that too, but it’s all a bit Bart windmilling his arms and walking towards Lisa. He’s followed through studs up straight into someone’s ankle, at great speed.

[Foe]

It’s nothing like that.

Cahill slides in to play the ball with his instep.
Cahill plays the ball with his instep.
Cahill collides with Josh king.

If you want to keep tackling a part of the game you have to accept that sort of challenge will happen on occasion. You can’t go flying in studs showing to go through the ball into a player, but you need to be able to try and play the ball. Otherwise the whole point of the game is moot.

[Shindig]

Bournemouth look a little buggered. It's all well and good Jenas going on about how they should be up for it but .... like, they've not played competitively for months and there's a pandemic on.

[Pleb]

Brighton doing the double over Arsenal :D

Incredible.

[Manc]

Wolves and United v likely to make the top five imo. I can see Spurs just missing out.

[SincereTheRebel]

Traore came on and changed the game inside three dribbles.

Talk of Nuno extended his deal at Wolves too.

[Gray Fox]

The more I see of Adama Traore the more I get behind the rumours of Liverpool nabbing him. Wolves are going to struggle to hold that side together.

Also personal highlight of that Arsenal game is when the players kick off at Maupay at the end, the stadium noise guy starts playing boos :p

[Giggles]

The Norwegian game on Eurosport is better than that shit at Newcastle.

[Shindig]

We look alright but, man, that 1 v 1 was the last thing Joelinton needed. I hope someone's telling him every day just to smack anything that comes his way and not think about it.

[Giggles]

You knew the second he got through that was going to be the outcome.

[SincereTheRebel]

The more I see of Adama Traore the more I get behind the rumours of Liverpool nabbing him. Wolves are going to struggle to hold that side together.


Liverpool cant afford him and their strip is too small for him to fit.

[Shindig]

C'mon, they make kits for fat people. I've seen them.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Second yellow for a cynical foul on an otherwise clean through Joelinton, talk about a wasted death.

[Shindig]

He had a man coming back to help as well. :D

EDIT: Heh. And they're talking about a top six finish. They've been rusty.

[Waffdon]

Well they’re 2 points off 5th so it’s not like it’s out the question.

[Smjffy]

Newcastle with more wins in the league than Arsenal, the same goals against and a God awful goals for column. Jesus.

Bruce isn't the answer but he's pulled this season out the bag with some very unlikely wins.

EDIT: Before the 2 goals Newcastle were the leagues lowest scorers too. FML :D

[Don]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EbCvHcTX0AA7rBK?format=jpg&name=medium

:cool:

[Disco]

Traditional Newcastle look.

https://i.imgur.com/HWcyebC.png

[Gray Fox]

Proper salt in the wounds stuff with even Joelinton scoring.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bruce is a very good mid-table manager who has done a solid or better job pretty much everywhere he's been, the problem is fanbases always want ambition (or over-ambition) and excitement rather than that.

Now, Ruben Loftus-Cheek is starting so I'd better get the snacks in before his spine falls off again.

[Don]

Steady, he's not exactly Roy Hodgson. They've massively overperformed this season, they should be right down there.

[Smjffy]

Bruce is a very good mid-table manager who has done a solid or better job pretty much everywhere he's been, the problem is fanbases always want ambition (or over-ambition) and excitement rather than that.

Now, Ruben Loftus-Cheek is starting so I'd better get the snacks in before his spine falls off again.

I think my biggest gripe (if there even is one) with Bruce is I'd question his loyalty to any project/cause/club as much as I'd question his tactics.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah and good management/organisation is what makes you overperform, he's arguably done as good or a better job than Rafa with equally turd tools to work with.

No one is as good as Roy Hodgson. Roy Hodgson and the talent pool provided by the Croydon Triangle/Luka Milivojevic is a mesmerising sporting combination.

[Shindig]

If anything, he's carried on what Rafa set in motion. Minus Rondon and Perez's goals. And defensively, we're largely been sound. The exceptions coming against Leicester and Arsenal where we conceded 9.

[Don]

Nah, this has firmly been a case of luck carrying them to a false position.

https://understat.com/league/EPL

Those stats :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

There is no such thing as a false position. The aim of football is to score goals, not to get in positions where you're likely to score them.

[Don]

Hello 2015, I've missed you.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You need to go to Sean Dyche's efficiency classes.

[Shindig]

"How to be an efficient Sean Dyche. Step One: Shave that Ponytail."

[Gray Fox]

Chelsea going 5 points clear this afternoon seems crucial to their chances.

8 games left but they have some tricky games, meanwhile the Olympic Diving Team have a piece of piss run in.

[Don]

Far be it from me to ask why a black life with superb muscle definition and optimum body fat percentage is being favoured but you have to ask how Davis is starting when you look at his professional record.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mason Mount is light years ahead of anyone else on the park here, including Grealish. I would much rather have a good solid British chap with a blue passport like Ben Chilwell pissing every left sided attacking position up the wall than have to watch Marcos Alonso do it any longer.

In answer to the Kenan Davis puzzle, what I've concluded over the years is that managers love players who do what they ask them to do.

[Smjffy]

Chelsea going 5 points clear this afternoon seems crucial to their chances.

8 games left but they have some tricky games, meanwhile the Olympic Diving Team have a piece of piss run in.

In fairness it's the shit they can't seem to beat.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We piss about in front of the defence too much and when you've got Giroud and his first touch of a grandma with an iPad, it's hard to keep anything going and penetrate.

Loftus-Cheek also looks like a man who hasn't played for a year.

[Waffdon]

Chelsea always fail in games they have all the ball. Least surprising score line ever.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Chelsea always fail in games they have all the ball. Least surprising score line ever.

Correct, if you defend behind us with all 11 then you've got a guaranteed clean sheet unless we get a top corner or a set piece.

[Don]

Lamps' Chelsea have been a nothing team since he came in. No plan whatsoever, you can tell he's just setting up drills out of his FA coaching manual and taking Mount to one side to tell him how much he believes in him.

[Waffdon]

Willian/Azpilicueta is such a rough combination against teams that defend deep. They’ll drop points there and beat Man City.

[Lewis]

Lamps' Chelsea have been a nothing team since he came in. No plan whatsoever, you can tell he's just setting up drills out of his FA coaching manual and taking Mount to one side to tell him how much he believes in him.

A list of players in his desk drawer with 'Arm round the shoulder' or 'Rollocking' written next to them.

[John]

Kovacic is such an odd footballer. Technically he's comfortably top five in the league amongst central midfielders, but he somehow conspires to do absolutely nothing any time I watch him. It's very tidy, nice to watch nothing, but nothing all the same. He should be Modric.

[Gray Fox]

Will Chelsea get Werner and Ziyech before seasons end?

[Jimmy Floyd]

No, they join up in July.

Are we ever going to have to go to Bayern Munich and get thrashed again?

[Shindig]

Erm... we'll still be playing in July.

[mugbull]

Czech league has reintroduced spectators, yesterday's Sparta game had an attendance of 3.5k. It changes everything tbh

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ross Barkley, Jesus wept. Might as well bring on Boris Johnson.

[mugbull]

What are the little pointy things underneath the back of the shirts? Are they like Opta sensors or something?

[Spikey M]

Erm... we'll still be playing in July.

The transfer window doesn't open until the last games are finished. Not sure if it's immediately after the last final whistle or if there's more delay after that but 'July' is the answer.

[Waffdon]

Rudiger is Chelsea’s worst centre half which isn’t a pleasant thought.

[mugbull]

Can't believe Pulisic got himself a sleeve. Ronaldo's lack of tattoos is more and more impressive by the day

[Gray Fox]

You also feel Villa need a point at least today. Wolves, Liverpool, United and an unpredictable Newcastle in their next 4 fixtures doesn't paint a pretty picture.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Lampard's FA coaching manuals >>> John Terry standing chewing gum, arms folded in silence.

[niko_cee]

Keita and Minamino start for Liverpool.

Get the feeling the former needs to shine in this little run of games to the end of the season.

[Gray Fox]

Keita may well be at the last chance saloon. That being said he tends to come in and start to play well by game 4 or 5 of his run then gets injured for 6 weeks. Rinse and repeat.

Minamino by all accounts wasn't settling well until before the break so interesting to see him thrown in over say, the safer option of Origi.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Reece James was brought on presumably to run it out on the counter and keep the ball, and has lost it three times in five minutes through stupid decision-making, that is the sort of thing that costs you games. Fortunately didn't this time.

[Don]

Keita may well be at the last chance saloon.

Gahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahhahahahahh aha. Ahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahaha.

[Mike]

Robertson not even sub.. hope it’s nothing too bad.

[Don]

They seem to be fielding some little ginger regen as an attacking outlet, bless.

Minnie finally not being relied on as some BTEC Bobby is welcome to see what he can do. If he struggles today ship the cunt out.

[Baz]

They seem to be fielding some little ginger regen as an attacking outlet, bless.:lol:

[Smjffy]

Keita may well be at the last chance saloon. That being said he tends to come in and start to play well by game 4 or 5 of his run then gets injured for 6 weeks. Rinse and repeat.

Minamino by all accounts wasn't settling well until before the break so interesting to see him thrown in over say, the safer option of Origi.

If Keita could remain fit then he's automatically starting games and I'm prepared to wait it out.

Minamino I'll judge next season but I'm doubtful. Origi for all his awesomeness has been pretty poor so far.

We're recording the biggest win out of all the games played so far or we're losing 1-0 because law of averages ha

[Giggles]

1274765778382811136

[Mellberg]

Commentator there struggles with that whole talking thing. Bit of a problem.

[Gray Fox]

Decent enough so far. A lot of keep ball may pay off towards the end of the game.

Minamino doing well off the ball, but doesn't quite get it going forward yet. A few times him and Frimino have come deep for the same ball. It's stopping Trent getting forwards too so we may well see a switch into Salah if he's at all ready.

[Don]

Yeah great heart from Captain Tsubasa and I wish him well in his crowning Europa League triumph with 1860 Munchen in a few years time but let's stop fucking about now and get some Ox/Origi/Ibe specimen on to do something worthwhile.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Is anyone else hearing a high pitched buzzing noise in this match btw?

[Gray Fox]

I thought that was my headphones. Thank fuck.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I thought that was my headphones. Thank fuck.

I watched the first half on my laptop and thought there was something wrong with the speakers so turned on the TV.

[Don]

I thought the five subs could only be used in three windows? That was our fourth set of changes.

[Shindig]

Milner was injured so maybe that's an exception.

[Gray Fox]

It's 3 stoppages of the game. Ones at half-time don't count.

[Don]

Pickford's Ritalin is wearing off. Float some balls high to drop 20 yards short of his goalline and watch the carnage.

[Don]

It's 3 stoppages of the game. Ones at half-time don't count.

I see.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

ffs Everton.

[Gray Fox]

I'd rather play with 10 men than Lovren.

[Mike]

He really is rubbish.

[Smjffy]

Well that was shit.

[Mike]

I can see the funny side of 6 0-0’s to win the league

[Don]

Solid point that in a hostile Goodison Park. Thank fuck Robbo and Salah are back or else we could get fucking dicked against City.

[Shindig]

I can start back up the Bruce vs Rafa watch. Steve's four points ahead of Rafa's tally at this point last season.

[Gray Fox]

Salah looked liked he was gearing to come on for the last 15 before we sent on the self-implosion device.

The set of changes before that killed the attacking intent off though. Firmino always gets himself free and Keita was the guy likely to pick him out.

Again showing the need for an actual back up left back. Perhaps also that something different up front is needed too.

[niko_cee]

Highlight of the game was definitely Mané charging off down the line as everyone else took a knee at the start.

Pretty stodgy stuff but hardly surprising considering how things usually go at Goodison, add Ancelloti into the mix and the way the game went becomes even more likely. They just didn't have enough grease up front to steal the win at the end.

How many recent derbies at Everton have they come away saying "will they ever get a better chance to win"?

[Shindig]

I did panic every time Everton played out from the back.

[Jimmy Floyd]

https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/1274812825358290944

Absolutely love that shit. You normally only see that type of refereeing in the African Nations (and Pak v Eng 2000 in Karachi), ref has just decided the timewasting cunts have it coming to them and will make it happen whatever it takes.

[Spoonsky]

It was nice watching Liverpool again, shit or not.

It's uncanny how quickly Lovren influences the game once he comes on. Van Dijk must despise the man.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Tremendous by the ref.

[niko_cee]

Heart-warming to hear Jean Michel Seri name-checked in that, wasn't he the black Xavi at one point?

[Manc]

Out of touch on the island I see.

[John]

https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/1274812825358290944

Absolutely love that shit. You normally only see that type of refereeing in the African Nations (and Pak v Eng 2000 in Karachi), ref has just decided the timewasting cunts have it coming to them and will make it happen whatever it takes.

They had a goal disallowed just before that all went down, a beauty of an overhead kick ruled out because the VAR men had spotted a foul at the other end of the pitch at least a minute and two full attacks earlier.

[niko_cee]

Out of touch on the island I see.

:D

Yeah, I thought that was dodgy in the moment but couldn't be bothered to find out where he was from and didn't want to just go with 'African'.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He played for Fulham last year and I don't want to use problematic racist language, but I think he was the laziest footballer I've ever seen at that level.

[Smjffy]

1275057834057584642?s=20

Someone find Paul Merson because Mourinho just absolutely buried him. :D

[Don]

"He scored 58 goals in 1 and a half seasons. Which gives a 29 average per season."

But yeah, I fucking love it and I fucking love him.

[Lewis]

It's tragic that he never did the business with United. If he could have taken over in 2013 and nabbed a couple he would still be touring them round the world three years after being sacked.

[thommo]

He played for Fulham last year and I don't want to use problematic racist language, but I think he was the laziest footballer I've ever seen at that level.

I would like to put forward Andre Schürrle as even lazier still. Don't think I ever saw him track back to our half.

[Smjffy]

Chelsea sell Pasalic who plays zero games for them but makes them £10M.

Owned it.

[SincereTheRebel]

They have been playing FM for years

[niko_cee]

How many changes is that for City? Their squad is insane.

[Bob Sacamano]

The Sky BLM trailer :D

The balls on some geezer to literally make a stand against this taking a knee bollocks. I'll buy their shirt. Burnley, I'm looking at you. Fucking in one of the most well-paid industries where Black Lives are over-represented to a laughable degree they have the cheek to milk this shit like this.

This just flew over the Etihad

1275142251916730371

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Great finish but why are they all touching his face in the celebration?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's an incredibly harsh penalty.

[niko_cee]

Burnley's categorically not a town of racists though, right?

[Giggles]

Aren’t they the poster boy demographic for it? Looks like the sort of spot that was 99.5% for Brexit.

[Lewis]

Burnley going out of their way to shit the bed about it is a bit off. If the statement serves to somehow diminish black lives, then think it through lads... An eye roll would have sufficed.

[Waffdon]

Aren’t they the poster boy demographic for it? Looks like the sort of spot that was 99.5% for Brexit.

100%. The guy that organised it has selfies with big Tommy Robinson all over his social media surprisingly

[Shindig]

I believe his parents call him Christopher. :dc:

[Don]

Cracking banner scenes. I checked the score on BBC, saw it was 4-0 and thought I'd won FPL with Sterling TC'd, KDB and Laporte. I hope Pep gets his fuckin throat slit by a Libyan.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:D

[Don]

https://twitter.com/MIKESACUNT/status/1275186832607674372?s=20

You know things are bad when they're claiming McNeil as a black life. His dad's barely the colour of my balls ffs, at least go with Lennon.

[Smjffy]

If Keita could remain fit then he's automatically starting games and I'm prepared to wait it out.



Or not. :wanker: Hopefully it's not true but it won't matter now regardless as it's already out there so he's guilty, she's lying, neither will be believed and victims of abuse continue to get abused with only a tiny fraction brought to justice. I really don't understand what is wrong with human beings. Sick fuckers everywhere.

I sort of think she's lying. I'd like to think her mother would be much more concerned than omg and she'd have been a bit too shaken up but seemingly fine thereafter but it's one of those init, how do you prove either side.

1275163645765451776

[Don]

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1256321417794269185/cHuSP4lg_400x400.jpg

:harold:

They're really going for it on Twitter this week. I've seen Ansel Elgort, some UK rapper, Westwood, Bieber and now this all in the space of last three or four days.

[Spikey M]

A black woman in slippers. Incredible if true.

[Adamski]

Chelsea sell Pasalic who plays zero games for them but makes them £10M.

Owned it.

Sort of, he’s been one of Atalanta’s best players for a couple of years and doing well in the CL. I think it was a pre agreed fee, but it’s still a huge bargain.

[Kikó]

Or not. :wanker: Hopefully it's not true but it won't matter now regardless as it's already out there so he's guilty, she's lying, neither will be believed and victims of abuse continue to get abused with only a tiny fraction brought to justice. I really don't understand what is wrong with human beings. Sick fuckers everywhere.

I sort of think she's lying. I'd like to think her mother would be much more concerned than omg and she'd have been a bit too shaken up but seemingly fine thereafter but it's one of those init, how do you prove either side.

1275163645765451776

Sexual assault is a term of endearment where he's from. Get out the t-shirts Kenny.

[Smjffy]

Sexual assault is a term of endearment where he's from. Get out the t-shirts Kenny.

One of your weakest posts ever. Be better than that, Kiko.

[igor_balis]

One of your weakest posts ever. Be better than that, Kiko.

It's still better than his twitter bantz, be grateful keekz saves his A game for us.

[Kikó]

What's my twitter bantz? Do I have any?

[igor_balis]

What's my twitter bantz? Do I have any?

Well that and here is all i have to go on since you won't play quiplash with me. Coward.

[Kikó]

You text me at 8 o clock when United are on you twat.

[Lewis]

Now Taz is back he can't just lift all his/GS' Group banter and pass it as his own.

[Don]

I bet the snake was stealing all my best material these last few years.

[SincereTheRebel]

I bet the snake was stealing all my best material these last few years.

I found out one of my mans who is now married to a pakistani dime. Used some of my jokes to woo his current wife. It hurts.

[Smjffy]

What's my twitter bantz? Do I have any?

Forget your bantz, what's your Twitter? :D

I created a new one a few days ago because the other just had way too much irrelevance.

TTH twitter still going?

[Lewis]

I bet the snake was stealing all my best material these last few years.

He was even gahahaha-ing at people for a while but he couldn't pull it off.

[Baz]

TTH twitter still going? https://twitter.com/ThirdHalfTTH

[Ian]

Looks like my monthly football threads are the backbone of that.

[mugbull]

Going to a Sparta game tonight, hype af. They've got two young players, one 16 and one 17, that are going to be world class in 5-7 years. Both named Adam. Remember this space.

[Waffdon]

There must be about a 1.5ft difference in height between Brighton’s two full backs :D

[Don]

Whisper it but I do like what Jose is doing with that Spurs side. He could easily bin off the South Americans and lump 40 yarders for Kane to nod down to Son but his team selections hint at some scenes imminent.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Have Zamora and Redknapp watched West Ham this year?

[niko_cee]

Brighton making a mockery of their own reticence to resume playing. They should really have known that no tempo, no atmosphere football would be right up their street.

Should have brought Muzza on for the penalty (or Gross). You can almost do that with 5 subs and not have it be too risky.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Musical drinks break :rave:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I hate those offside VAR calls.

[mugbull]

17 year old Adam Hlozek with 2 goals today. He'll be a slightly worse Gareth Bale eventually. Adam Karabec, though. A taller Pirlo in the making

[Shindig]

Warnock's come out of retirement to manage Middlesbrough for 8 games. Mad.

[John Arne]

I'm off for my first away game of the season in a couple of weeks - away to Hong Linh Ha Tinh (Hanoi B, lol). They got 22,000 for their last game (stadium holds 14,500 or something :/ ). Should be good. We are top following our 3-1 destruction away to SLNA last night.

[Manc]

I need a Vietnam team for the banter. Can Tho seems the closest thing to a Mekong Delta team. Bottom of the second division. Lovely.

[Ian]

I need a Vietnam team for the banter. Can Tho seems the closest thing to a Mekong Delta team. Bottom of the second division. Lovely.

If you're looking for an exhaustive guide to the top division teams then look no further. (https://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/showthread.php?2585-01-2020-Football-V-League-Special)

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1275543830037696512

I really hope that's true.

[Lewis]

Big Fat Luke Shaw aside wahey that United line-up. :cool:

[randomlegend]

On paper that's our strongest line-up IMO. Brandon Williams in for Shaw arguably.

INB4 we fail to break them down for 70 minutes and lose to a counter-attack that De Gea and Maguire make a mess of.

[niko_cee]

Wouldn't McTominay for Matic be a better option? Or is macho man decent again?

Your midfield will probably be overrun by their sneaky overlapping centre-halves or whatever it is they do.

[Giggles]

How did BBC get all these games?

[randomlegend]

The one in front of the back four isn't McTominay's best position; he's a better player than Matic nowadays but Matic is really our only specialist in that roll in the squad tbh.

[randomlegend]

How did BBC get all these games?

Covid

[Giggles]

I thought there was only one or two on the original list.

[niko_cee]

They have 4 don't they all in, and sky are chucking a bunch of the shit games they've picked up on to some sort of freeview thing aren't they?

[Giggles]

They have 4 don't they all in, and sky are chucking a bunch of the shit games they've picked up on to some sort of freeview thing aren't they?

They’ve that Mix channel that’s free I think.

[Waffdon]

This shade on the Everton game is fucking horrendous.

[Ian]

The PM, Sir Marcus Rashford, has made a bit of an arse of that chance.

[randomlegend]

Bruno + Pogba together completely transforms this team.

Rashford should probably have two goals, although that second one was a difficult take.

[Shindig]

We now interrupt this football match to bring you a history lesson from Jonathan Pearce.

[Yevrah]

The fact that this game switches channels at 7pm is why terrestrial television can't have nice things.

[Shindig]

Gotta get out of the way of The One Show, I guess.

[Lewis]

Bruno + Pogba together completely transforms this team.

Rashford should probably have two goals, although that second one was a difficult take.

It looks getatable to me, so I would like to see it at full fitness and/or against a good team.

[SincereTheRebel]

These Bournemouth players are snapping wolves players at every opportunity

[Shindig]

I wonder what odds I could get for Everton to go through the remainder of the season with 0-0's?

[randomlegend]

Converted winger AWB with the assist.

[Lewis]

Anthony Martial finding his ultimate level against the seventy per cent fit.

[Waffdon]

Usually on plays well against Everton and Chelsea.

[Shindig]

I wonder what odds I could get for Everton to go through the remainder of the season with 0-0's?

Nevermind. :moop:

[Spikey M]

I'll give you 1000-1. Minimum bet £10.

[Shindig]

I would've got those odds for Dwight Gayle scoring. Blimey. :D

[Lewis]

If I'm still watching Shaw as first choice next season I'm all in on the Saudi Arabian takeover.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Big Tony :cool:

Lovely goal.

[Mike]

Full strength Liverpool.

[Mike]

Not a fan of music after a goal, they could at least play the songs that players songs are based off.

Guess I have to get used to hearing Song 2.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was once told by someone in the business that sponsors love goal music, stadium music, any kind of loud and intrusive music in sport - particularly the same old familiar tunes which are overplayed - because it creates a subliminal link in the viewer's mind, whenever they hear the music, to the brands they were being exposed to at the time - shirt sponsors, pitchside sponsors, the club itself.

[Mike]

Song 2 always makes me think of that time it was on a FIFA game, so yeah

[Lofty]

I was once told by someone in the business that sponsors love goal music, stadium music, any kind of loud and intrusive music in sport - particularly the same old familiar tunes which are overplayed - because it creates a subliminal link in the viewer's mind, whenever they hear the music, to the brands they were being exposed to at the time - shirt sponsors, pitchside sponsors, the club itself.

Bang on the money, why do brands like Coca Cola and Budweiser spent fortunes on advertising when everyone knows who they are? Same reason.

[mo]

Road to WC 98. Christ. Think I spent more time designing disgusting kits than I did actually playing it.

[Raoul Duke]

I was once told by someone in the business that sponsors love goal music, stadium music, any kind of loud and intrusive music in sport - particularly the same old familiar tunes which are overplayed - because it creates a subliminal link in the viewer's mind, whenever they hear the music, to the brands they were being exposed to at the time - shirt sponsors, pitchside sponsors, the club itself.

Also helps flag it up to YouTube's auto-moderation tools for copyright infringement

[Smjffy]

I was once told by someone in the business that sponsors love goal music, stadium music, any kind of loud and intrusive music in sport - particularly the same old familiar tunes which are overplayed - because it creates a subliminal link in the viewer's mind, whenever they hear the music, to the brands they were being exposed to at the time - shirt sponsors, pitchside sponsors, the club itself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpQYsk-8dWg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpQYsk-8dWg

I watched this not too long back and there's a chunk in it which mirrors what you said but aimed primarily at children. Interesting watch I thought.

[Don]

I meamn I think it's fairly common knowledge now that Harvey Elliott will win the Ballon D'or and bring the world cup home as the most gifted English footballer ever but Williams is gonna push Trent into midfield towards end of next season.

[Giggles]

Why does “Trent” never have a surname?

[Mike]

Takes too long to type.

[Don]

I'd use TAA but him and I are on first name terms.

[Smjffy]

I meamn I think it's fairly common knowledge now that Harvey Elliott will win the Ballon D'or and bring the world cup home as the most gifted English footballer ever but Williams is gonna push Trent into midfield towards end of next season.

Pfft. Markovic will still come good....

[Waffdon]

Atalanta winning again with goals galore in their game. Only one game under 3 goals since half way through December as far as I can see

77 goals for in 27 league matches :drool:

[Don]

It takes some real special incompetence to fail to win with Pogba in your team, what the fuck were they doing these last few years? Really hope he leaves, only reason they remain a UCL contender.

[Don]

Is there anything of value whatsoever to Brighton [now that Jahanbakhsh has been discarded again]? It's like their entire squad and manager was created [exceptionally succesfully] as a stock team of unremarkability both in ability and appearance.

I can get behind the Lamptey kid they stole off Chelsea and the Argentinian Alexis Mac Allister who is clearly complete horseshit but has milked the fact he looks like Messi's body double.

But, on the whole, Potter's done fuck all after the initial wanking over worthless possession (actual worthless possession too, not the sort you cunts were labelling whilst watching the greatest Barca and Spain sides). He seemingly picks his team using some sort of random number generator which you can't blame him for given it's identical stock players everywhere.

Ultimately, what I want to say is, get the fuck out of my league you dull cunts.

[Smjffy]

:drool: Chelsea are an amazing club and I've not had a single gripe about them in the last 15 years. Frank Lampard is a very good manager and has shown plenty of promise and I hope they win the FA Cup and finish in the top four because London's biggest club deserves it.

[niko_cee]

Balls to that. Better to win it by beating them at their gaff.

Chelsea will probably rob something tonight though.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We will get something off man siddy tonight. Pep's football sets itself up to be trolled by us, and we need the points far more than they do.

[Shindig]

If someone could put Aguero out of action for Sunday's cup tie, that'd be grand. Thanks.

[SvN]

He's just had knee surgery.

[Shindig]

What about his other knee?

[Manc]

Leicester are 5/2 to finish outside the top four. Pile on.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't know. They've got to lose 7 points to United or Wolves over the course of 7 games. They don't have an easy run but even if they win 2 of their 4 'easier' games (Everton, Sheff Utd, Palace, Bournemouth) that would make United win 5/7 including their meeting on the last day, and United are not that great a side.

Leicester are well capable of getting points off Arsenal, Spurs and United in their 'harder' games too.

[niko_cee]

This is what I was thinking before the shutdown happened. Even if you legislate for Chelsea and Leicester dropping points, the chasing pack are still going to have to go on a (somewhat uncharacteristic) winning streak to overhaul them unless someone properly melts down. United did have decent form before the break, I guess, but they're never seemingly that far away from an inexplicably bad performance. As the games run out gaps of any sort are significant. Same down the bottom with Taz's beloved and now almost certain to stay in the league Seagulls.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think we'll probably get Leicester so I'm pretty confident about our top 4 chances even if United do go on a streak through their (very forgiving) run-in. Even then, there are teams trying to stay up in their list, unless Bournemouth just give up.

[Max Power]

We’ve fallen off a cliff, I was hoping the break might see us recharge and work some stuff out but the same issues remain that existed from Jan-March and we don’t even have our best player now through injury.

Still think we’ll scrape it but need probably two wins from our next two league games (Everton and Palace)

[SvN]

It's going to be tight, I think. I feel a lot more confident after yesterday's performance. We could've (and perhaps should've) been up 4-0 at half time, and we struggled horribly against them in December.

If we can keep Pogba, Bruno and Rashford fit, I'd fancy us to end up in a playoff with Leicester on the final day.

[Ian]

I think we'll probably get Leicester so I'm pretty confident about our top 4 chances even if United do go on a streak through their (very forgiving) run-in. Even then, there are teams trying to stay up in their list, unless Bournemouth just give up.

I was pondering United's run-in the other day and whether playing the shitter teams (who we've tended to be crap against) will be better here because they might need to be pushing for results / goals or worse just because of the extra welly they'll theoretically be giving it.

[Smjffy]

I said in January I thought Leicester would still drop out of the top 4 despite being 11 points clear and I haven't budged on that but it'll be close. I obviously hope it's not United but looking at the fixtures they probably have the best chance, except they've struggled against the supposed weaker sides all season. Chelsea, Wolves, Sheff United all face one another too but if Harry Kane starts scoring then Tottenham might just leapfrog you all for 4th.

So anyone of those six teams will get the final two places, I reckon.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Spurs are never doing it and nor are the MIGHTY BLADES. I haven't checked Wolves's fixtures but they'll have to finish ahead of United and I can't see that. They are a team of mercenaries and have many, many abysmal off days which are not noticed because no one cares about them.

[-james-]

The four best teams in the country are Manchester City, Liverpool, Wolves and Chelsea in that order. Not sure the forecast is gonna land this season but worth getting involved for 2021.

[Kikó]

Spurs are never doing it and nor are the MIGHTY BLADES. I haven't checked Wolves's fixtures but they'll have to finish ahead of United and I can't see that. They are a team of mercenaries and have many, many abysmal off days which are not noticed because no one cares about them.

United or Wolves?

[Don]

I've got Utd dropping 4 points tops now that they have 2 midfielders willing to pass forward.

https://www.worldfootball.net/table_calculator/eng-premier-league/

3. Utd 68
4. Leicester 67
5. Chelsea 67
6. Spurs 62

If Spurs can win their face-off with Leicester and Rodgers continues to bench Tielemans, I could see them maybe pipping Leicester. Wolves and Sheff Utd not in it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

United or Wolves?

Wolves. I mean, all professional teams are literally teams of mercenaries, but Wolves is just Porto-on-the-Stour in terms of being a trading post for Mendes profit. They have an excellent coach which I think is most of the reason they are doing so well.

[Kikó]

I think they're a great outfit. I'd happily have Espirito Santo as the United boss.

[-james-]

Wolves are in their element with a congested fixture list and a fully fit first choice eleven. Adam Traore is arguably the best player in the league at the moment. Hard to see where they drop points. Chelsea on the last day should be big.

[Don]

Sheff Utd, Everton and Palace are the sort of teams that will make Adama look like Trevor Benjamin and without Adama they're just a comfortable mid-table side.

[Jimmy Floyd]

In the same way that I'm arguably the most handsome man in Europe.

[Raoul Duke]

Wolves are in their element with a congested fixture list and a fully fit first choice eleven. Adam Traore is arguably the best player in the league at the moment. Hard to see where they drop points. Chelsea on the last day should be big.

They have a tiny squad and a heavy reliance on Jiminez/Traore - I think you could make the same argument the other way

[Andy]

I don't know. They've got to lose 7 points to United or Wolves over the course of 7 games. They don't have an easy run but even if they win 2 of their 4 'easier' games (Everton, Sheff Utd, Palace, Bournemouth) that would make United win 5/7 including their meeting on the last day, and United are not that great a side.

Leicester are well capable of getting points off Arsenal, Spurs and United in their 'harder' games too.

Arsenal isnt a harder game anymore. If/when we beat them this week we go level on points and we are no near the level under Koeman or Pochettino.

Other than a few top quality attackers they are a really bad side.

[Manc]

Hot take.

[Don]

The descent there is another mindblowing show of incompetence. Stick some figure from a bygone era in charge to play a 4-4-2 with those two frontmen and they'd piss most games. Instead they're too busy looking to reinvent the sport and take backhanders.

[Andy]

Hot take.

I'm always here with the breaking news.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53171423

[Kikó]

Stupid that. Everyone knows he was a Gooner.

[Lewis]

Bin Laden is believed to have ordered the attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September 2001 and a number of other terrorist incidents.

As in it hasn't actually been confirmed?

[Jimmy Floyd]

If he hasn't faced a jury at Woolwich Crown Court then it's just speculation.

[-james-]

They have a tiny squad and a heavy reliance on Jiminez/Traore - I think you could make the same argument the other way

They have a tiny squad that is more used to a busy schedule than any other side in the league, and they've also barely had a soft tissue injury to their main men in the last two seasons.

[Waffdon]

Mahrez up against Alonso should be a laugh. Man City going with no striker on the pitch and Chelsea with ten men due to Ross Barkley starting.

[phonics]

I’ve heard Gundogan has been playing as a striker for them in training.

[Spoonsky]

@Liverpool fans do you prefer City drop points today or no?

Personally I hate it when teams win the league because their opponents dropped points, and it would be great to win it against them next week.

[Waffdon]

Liverpool’s fans on the Zoom nonsense and studio full of Liverpool affiliations. :D

[Giggles]

@Liverpool fans do you prefer City drop points today or no?

Personally I hate it when teams win the league because their opponents dropped points, and it would be great to win it against them next week.

For the way they’ve played this season they deserve to win it on the pitch themselves. I know they won’t much care in the big picture but it would be a shitty way to win it tonight.

[Jimmy Floyd]

A shocking Chelsea 0-0 Man City in an empty stadium would be a fitting way for The People's Reds to win The People's Title.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

A shocking Chelsea 0-0 Man City in an empty stadium would be a fitting way for The People's Reds to win The People's Title.

If a shocking collapse wont happen then this is the second best outcome.

[Luca]

Them City kits are all sorts of horrid.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Also, I don't know if anyone's pointed this out but it really is very fitting that The Graph should once again hold true with the peak of scouse optimism being reached in late June.

[niko_cee]

:D

Not sure this is peak optimism though. That was probably late-Feb.

As to Spoonsky's question, I have a historical acquaintance (who I never now see) who is a rabid Chelsea fan and absolutely despises Liverpool so, even though it's completely unnecessary, hopefully they do the job tonight as it'll probably piss him off royally.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've got this game on the radio (with no crowd noise) and the only background noise I can hear is Jody Morris going: 'Ross... Ross... ... ...Ross..' like that Partridge episode, and what I presume is Lampard clapping hard whenever Mount misplaces a pass.

[Waffdon]

What the fuck was that :D

Pulisic has been great whenever he’s played for Chelsea

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

£50m for Mendy? Christ.

[Spoonsky]

Ohhhhh you fucking legend.