AUGUST: Europe, fitba and the MAGIC OF THE CUP

[Giggles]

We’ve robbed another lad from NI. Never heard of him before though.

[Waffdon]

Di Maria will be the best player on the pitch. Proper big player game.

[Don]

PSG wins, Di Maria MOTMs, Neymar being a competent footballer, TTH has had a mare here.

[Pleb]

I'm waiting for the Neymar tears.

[niko_cee]

Too much hype about it being a goalfest, so 0-0 PSG on pens. Red Star Belgrade style.

[Lewis]

3-1 Qatar, Dire Maria finishing Faghow right off.

[Lofty]

PSG to dominate with some sparkling fancy dan football before losing 1-0 thanks to a goal on the counter.

[Giggles]

PSG to dominate with some sparkling fancy dan football before losing 1-0 thanks to a goal on the counter.

From Arsenal reject Serge Gnabry.

[Don]

Did Gnabry used to play for Arsenal?

[Dquincy]

Use to, but they rejected him.

[Lofty]

To be fair it seems Arsenal offered him a new contract but he wanted to leave so they had to sell or lose him on a free.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Arsenal also didn't want to play him.

[Don]

I reckon the last 45 minutes of BT has shown more black people than the same period of coverage on Mogadishu News Network.

[Shindig]

They're really turned up the crowd noise for this.

[Gray Fox]

If PSG play smart they should win this.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

McManaman referring to Bayern as Borussia Dortmund there...

[Lewis]

Is there some stupid public service obligation that forces BT to show the finals for free? Because I still refuse to believe it shifts a single subscription.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I have one but it's included in my Virgin TV package.

[Gray Fox]

This Bayern back line is a shambles really.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Dire Maria :harold:

[Pleb]

PSG getting FMed hard.

[Shindig]

PSG playing from the back gives me palpitations.

[Pleb]

This is getting tasty.

[Magic]

This is getting tasty.

:cab:

[niko_cee]

Is this available free to air in some way or another then? I'm watching it on some stream which seems to have Julio Geordio on co-comms, which is improving things quite a bit tbh.

[Shindig]

I'll be honest, I love a cagey 0-0.

[mo]

Is this available free to air in some way or another then? I'm watching it on some stream which seems to have Julio Geordio on co-comms, which is improving things quite a bit tbh.

It's on Youtube.

[phonics]

Is there some stupid public service obligation that forces BT to show the finals for free? Because I still refuse to believe it shifts a single subscription.

Yeah the final has to be on domestic tv.

[Pleb]

Neuer showing shades of 2018 against South Korea there.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What a fuck up that was.

Bayern bailed out because Herrera hates shooting inside the box.

[Raoul Duke]

What a fuck up that was.

Bayern bailed out because Herrera hates shooting inside the box.

Mbappe should have buried it though. Just leather it

[phonics]

Everyone shitting over Neymar and it's Mbappe bottling it.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, Mbappe has to bury that and the plan has worked to perfection.

[Waffdon]

Any other teams fancy missing so many chances against this Bayern team?

[Pleb]

VAR at the end of the half there :baz:

[niko_cee]

It was the same when Real won it a few years back. They actively had opposing 'keepers chucking it to their forwards through most of the knock-outs.

[Gray Fox]

All this needs is one decent connection on a finish and Bayern are in trouble. It should be 3-1 already.

[Spoonsky]

Bayern clearly aren't used to facing a team with any defensive solidity.

The first team to find a decent finish will win this I think.

[Don]

Took 40 minutes for Bayern to wake up. PSG looking to win this on fouls conceded, the scummy cunts.

[Lofty]

Arsenal also didn't want to play him.

He had an injury interrupting his development meaning he was playing like he has this last 45 minutes rather than setting the world alight.

[Dquincy]

Maybe he's a flat track bully.

[Gray Fox]

Someone break Neymar in half for fucks sake.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This needs a goal.

[Gray Fox]

PSG are starting to win the mind games.

[Pleb]

Scenes.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:rave:

Let the floodgates open and let's get the tears flowing.

[Gray Fox]

Neymar tears immediately please.

[Shindig]

Le PSG est dans les cordes.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Strange taking off Coman as he had Kehrer all over the place.

[Gray Fox]

Goal for Coutinho would complete the night.

[Pleb]

PSG are all over the place and Bayern is loving every minute of this.

[Waffdon]

Kicks him in the ankle and they don’t even check it lmao

[Shindig]

As quick as they are to get back, PSG aren't really that great at supporting when they go forward.

[Don]

Brazil's answer to Lee Trundle.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Dire Maria taken off :)

[Pleb]

A Neymar red would be funny as fuck.

[John]

Michael Jordan has been crap here.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mbappe, lolololololololol.

I know he's miles offside but he shouldn't be missing that.

[Magic]

Jesus awful game.

[Baz]

Manuel Neuer the absolute troll :D

[Gray Fox]

Mbappe was not offside. Last touch was a Bayern foot.

[Lofty]

Mcrappé

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Is VAR not working today?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://s.rfi.fr/media/display/c8d115a8-1542-11ea-8b1e-005056a99247/w:1280/p:16x9/2016-08-20t232811z_1304370877_rioec8k1t6k8x_rtrmadp_3_olym pics-rio-soccer-m_0.webp

[Danny]

Icardi cant even get off the bench :happycry:

[Pleb]

That Bayern win killed TTH.

[Don]

Someone tell the sister-shagger tears are not COVID compliant.

[Gray Fox]

Absolutely glorious.

Get the cheque written Barcelona.

[SincereTheRebel]

https://s.rfi.fr/media/display/c8d115a8-1542-11ea-8b1e-005056a99247/w:1280/p:16x9/2016-08-20t232811z_1304370877_rioec8k1t6k8x_rtrmadp_3_olym pics-rio-soccer-m_0.webp

Im sure he was a winner in this game where he shed tears :lol:

[Lofty]

PSG to dominate with some sparkling fancy dan football before losing 1-0 thanks to a goal on the counter.

:cool:

[niko_cee]

Mbappe was not offside. Last touch was a Bayern foot.

I don't think it works like that unless it was the Bayern foot playing the ball at him, not deflecting a ball played forward by a PSG player.

All the attacking players on both sides were absolute garbage, but Mbappe was particularly poor.

That was PSG's big chance.

As for Ceferin saying they want to move the whole format to 1 leg shit, fuck that, if anything, virtually every final ever played shows why it should be old UEFA Cup style and 2 legs in the final as well.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EgIkqxoXsAAfu40?format=jpg&name=900x900

[Pleb]

Glorious.

[John]

Those are the biggest, whitest trainers I've ever seen that Herr Flick has on his feet.

[Giggles]

One leg, no fans, tournament format. It’s the way forward.

[7om]

Icardi cant even get off the bench :happycry:

I was thinking that. And they brought on Choupo-Moting. Wasn't he the one who played for fucking Stoke a few years back?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Neymar having to be persuaded to get his runners up medal :harold:

[Shindig]

You got the full stages of Neymar in that match, to be fair.

1. Working hard the first half, demonstrating a new maturity.
2. Screaming and rolling around after an innocuous challenge.
3. Having a stroppy revenge kick.
4. Trying to make things happen on his own after the side go 1-0 down.

All the hits. Like, he looked good in the first half but chasing a game, he's not there.

[Spoonsky]

I thought it was a pretty enjoyable match. Would've been nice to see a few more goals instead of the bottlefest we witnessed.

On the whole, I think we can all say that it's good for the world that PSG don't win the Champions League.

[Gray Fox]

Neymar is very much that kid who was always a bit better than everyone at school, but never passed to anyone else because of it. Add in his attitude and antics, you're better off without players like him. He wants to do stepovers and tricks against goat herders when 4-0 up. Not so much against the best teams who don't care for that shit.

PSG had 2 main problems tonight. One was a lack of an even decent pass coming out of that midfield. The Bayern press was very effective but they did breach it a few times only for the killer pass to be dogshit. The other problem is Mbappe left his shooting boots in the changing rooms.

[SincereTheRebel]

Neymar gets a lot of anger, as he should being one of the best players in the team. The older i get, the more I appreciate players like him who bring entertainment to the game in a unique way.

[Shindig]

The Bayern press was very effective but they did breach it a few times only for the killer pass to be dogshit. The other problem is Mbappe left his shooting boots in the changing rooms.

Yep. Bayern's drilled to have that press the whole game. As soon as PSG dropped their heads, the midfield was Bayern's to play with.

[SincereTheRebel]

They have to bring the ballon d'or back and give it lewa.

[Dquincy]

... if anything, virtually every final ever played shows why it should be old UEFA Cup style and 2 legs in the final as well.
:vomit: Terrible idea, go to America if you want that shit.

[mugbull]

Yeah that’s some boomer shit. Single legs are way better

[Jimmy Floyd]

Go really American, best of five single legs. Get that TV money rolling in.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, you can fuck off with that mugbull.

It was more a reaction against the idea of having single leg knock-out games as standard (which would either be horrifically anaemic [maybe that's a plus point for some] or terribly unfair). Unfortunately there is no solution to the paralytic torpor that seems to ruin nearly all major finals. Safety first always wins, if not in the actual game, on the coaches' whiteboards at least.

[Giggles]

Obafemi is having a big strop about not making the international squad :D

[John Arne]

1297649982066102273

[Spoonsky]

1297869770302382083

:cab:

[Lewis]

WADA were all furloughed during the break.

[Kikó]

Haha. Clearly doped to fuck.

[Shindig]

Popeye would be ashamed of those arms.

[Don]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2020/aug/24/psg-have-learned-but-star-studded-system-is-rapidly-falling-out-of-fashion

This guy has quickly become my favourite sports journalist.

[Lewis]

Plucky little Bayern Munich, with better players than PSG in at least eight positions, striking a blow for the collective spirit.

[Don]

Yeah, there is that but he covers it well.

[Lewis]

He probably had a 'PSG Megastars Revel in the Talibanter' companion piece ready to go had any of their chances not been saved by the unheralded nobody keeping the Bayern goal.

[Don]

Listen, he looks well cute and the spitting image of Andrew Chan who I shared classes with during years 3-6. Was good at maths and introduced pokemon cards to County Durham so just fuck off yeah.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Liew is class, mainly because he doesn't care about the usual omerta that exists among journalists and spends half his time calling Matthew Syed a cunt.

[niko_cee]

You always seem full of praise for Liew but he generally comes across as a complete div in most of his writing/tv appearances to me.

He also uses the term 'delicious' in a football context, which is a growing trend I absolutely abhor.

Actually reading that piece its just wrong all over the place. Mbappe was laying it off all the time (too much imo - seemed to show a lack of confidence) and their best chance (which he missed) came after a series of passes to players in better positions where at least he and Herrera could have shot, he was probably expecting Herrera to.

lol at Hansi Flick having instilled some sort of philosophy of "systems and automatisms, highly choreographed pressing and sharply honed attacking patterns" in the 6 months he's been in charge. It's kick and rush with better players than most opponents and hope they don't take their chances, built on a more competitively distorting recruitment policy than even PSG manage. PSG sat deep and basically nullified their entire way of playing. Plus they're knee deep in FFP scamming with all these loans and swaps they're into. Nothing to commend the reich at all.

[niko_cee]

No Grealish in the England squad? :saywhat:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Harry Maguire is though :harold:

[phonics]

Harry Maguire is either lying or has walked onto the set of Taken 4.

[Don]

Mount, Ward-Prowse and Abraham ahead of Grealish and no LB. Checks out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mount will break the all time caps record. Seethe freely and without inhibition.

[Don]

He'll do well to get 3 more seasons of prem football.

[Andy]

No Grealish in the England squad? :saywhat:

If he had signed for one of the top 6 since the window opened he would be in the squad.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Southgate is a great one for picking submissive beta males and I doubt Grealish is one of those.

[bruhnaldo]

Man Utd should swoop in tp save poor Jackie Grealish and drop him right into the THEATRE OF DREAMS where his exploits will no longer go unnoticed by this dastardly waistcoat wearing imbecile :drool:

[niko_cee]

Joe Gomez having an absolute horror against Salzburg at the moment.

[Mellberg]

If he had signed for one of the top 6 since the window opened he would be in the squad.

Nah, Mings is in there for starters. And Calvin Phillips, Ward-Prowse, Ings, probably a handful of others.

I think he doesn't rate him, which is obviously mental.

[bruhnaldo]

Is it because Villa were in a relegation scrap so any time GS turned up to watch him play was likely against a top 6 club and Villa weren't set up in a fashion that would make the most of his creative talents or something?

I really never watch Villa so I'm sorry if this is a stupid suggestion.

[niko_cee]

Taz'll be loving some of these Red Bulls if he's watching this. Although one should probably have been sent off for a professional foul just then had this been a proper game.

[Andy]

Nah, Mings is in there for starters. And Calvin Phillips, Ward-Prowse, Ings, probably a handful of others.

I think he doesn't rate him, which is obviously mental.

Fair point, I'd forgotten about Mings playing a few games.

Maybe it's an attitude thing? I'd have him starting ahead of Maddison and Mount etc.

[Don]

2-0 down at HT and I pray it's because Klopp has them doing shuttle runs 12 hours a day because thishas been pure poison.

But yes on the RB boys.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I still live in hope of the 'Kop Chop for Flop Klopp' Sun headline coming through one day.

[Don]

I'm going to furiously delete all former appraisals of Brewster because he's got that FIFA 2000 shooting mode of always on target and powerful whatever the position, just after I've written a stern email to LFCTV for Aldrige's disgusting "he's athletic, quick and certainly has the build" line when we brought on King Kong's 17 year-old son. No place for that shit in 2020 ffs.

If we miss out on Sarr, just go with Brewster, Elliott, Serbian Yaya and I'll even take Nat Phillips as 4th choice CB if needs must, he's no more of a bombscare than Gomez.

[Lewis]

You would hope Aaron Wan-Dyspraxia gets into actual squads. The three right-backs in this one haven't got any defending between them, and that could come in handy the day we meet somebody decent.

[phonics]

Maguires defence of him not saying ‘fuck Greece’ because he’s a big fan of Ancient Greece.

[Giggles]

Send Grealish back if you don't want him.

[niko_cee]

You would hope Aaron Wan-Dyspraxia gets into actual squads. The three right-backs in this one haven't got any defending between them, and that could come in handy the day we meet somebody decent.

Not really, unless we go back to a back three.

Maybe he'll get drafted in when Alexander-Arnold pulls out of this squad (which is surely what not playing him so far in pre-season has been setting-up).

[phonics]

1298294112815325186

[niko_cee]

:D

Although those do sound some pretty trumped up charges. Imagine finding the only non-bent Greek coppers, seriously unlucky.

[Lewis]

Guilty of not offering them enough.

[Kikó]

I've already got 1000 t-shirts printed up.

[Lewis]

Justice for [Dropped a paving]Slab[on his]head. Get Wes Brown to admit to it but refuse to testify.

[Shindig]

You missed out the best charge, lads. Guilty of insult.

[Giggles]

The BBC already falling over themselves to get on the 'strip of the captaincy'/role model train :rolleyes:

[bruhnaldo]

Wait is he the captain of England?

[Danny]

Nah its Kane

[Giggles]

They referred to Solksjaer and Utd when it was mentioned.

[mugbull]

Adam Hlozek in the Czech squad finally

[Baz]

Eighty Million Pounds Harry Maguire going to Greek jail while Virgil Van Dijk (75m) prepares to destroy Arsenal on Saturday afternoon. :harold:

[niko_cee]

Isn't Maguire back in England?

[Danny]

And also isnt going to jail.

[Baz]

Don’t expect me to read the news, c’mon.

[bruhnaldo]

Mans finally win the league and they think they still gotta compare transfer fees lol

[Ian]

Don't let knowledge or facts get in the way of amazing bants, Niko.

[niko_cee]

Manchester United said in a statement: "Harry Maguire pleaded not guilty to all of the misdemeanour charges made against him and he continues to strongly assert his innocence.

"It should be noted that the prosecution confirmed the charges and provided their evidence late on the day before the trial, giving the defence team minimal time to digest them and prepare. A request for the case to be adjourned was subsequently denied.

"On this basis, along with the substantial body of evidence refuting the charges, Harry Maguire's legal team will now appeal the verdict, to allow a full and fair hearing at a later date."

:drool:

Criminal standard as well, presumably.

Not even the balance of probabilities used on certain individuals . . . :rosebud:

[Baz]

Mans finally win the league and they think they still gotta compare transfer fees lolIts just funny, because Maguire is soooooo bad at football.

[Giggles]

He is very average.

[Baz]

He is very average.

1284955655137374210

[Giggles]

Eighty million pounds.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Maguire :harold:

[Lewis]

United's best big game player this season.

[Ian]

Makes you wonder why Liverpool fans wank on about Klopp so much, really. We've got a load of bang average centre halves and a flappy goalie and we still only conceded three less league goals than them.

I assume if we had their personnel OGB would have them organised to have a 100% clean sheet record.

Do better, Jurgen, you useless fuck.

[Lewis]

He's out of the England squad for filling foreigners in. Game's Gone.

[Ian]

Somebody clearly didn't tell Sir Waistcoat that we didn't vote for Brexit just to go about treating foreigns as if they count the same as real people.

[Ian]

I've just actually looked at the England squad. What on Earth is a Kalvin Phillips?

[Gray Fox]

The Yorkshire Pirlo apparently.

[Shindig]

Kevin Phillips but on Pro Evo.

[Pleb]

Reading all of that caused me to eat my ginger biscuits and laugh my fucking arse off.

[Kikó]

Who does Kalvin Phillips actually play for?

[Baz]

Leeds.

[Lofty]

Le Tissier, Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson axed from Soccer Saturday.

[Ian]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5FsadHcoVA

Justice for Charlie.

[SincereTheRebel]

Le Tissier, Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson axed from Soccer Saturday.

My guess will be some type of black man will replace them and some type of women

[Baz]

Alex Scott and Emile Heskey, hopefully.

[SincereTheRebel]

Michah Richards is also laughing so my guess would be him

[Jimmy Floyd]

Does Chris Kamara and their various female / black reporters at grounds not do the box ticking? It's probably just a cost cut, knowing Sky Sports. Ever since that Thierry Henry madness they've just been cutting everywhere.

[SincereTheRebel]

Them Soccer Saturday man get a 5-hour time slot. The colour box is not ticked.

[Giggles]

Women shouldn't be on it unless they're covering women's soccer. Might as well have Darren Gough on it.

[Shindig]

Why? All football punditry is the same shit. It doesn't matter who's saying it.

[SincereTheRebel]

Why they haven't got a mixed-gender league yet, I don't know.

[bruhnaldo]

Alex Scott and Emile Heskey, hopefully.

Bro we literally JUST got Alex Scott finally don't you fucking dare.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Women shouldn't be on it unless they're covering women's soccer. Might as well have Darren Gough on it.

:cab:

[Ian]

And what are they doing outside the kitchen anyway, eh?

[Shindig]

"I hear you're sexist now, Father."

[Giggles]

What women have played the game? None, it's a completely different sport.

[Don]

I'll be fucked if I'm having this place entertain that woke shit, any one who disagrees with that Giggles post needs to fucking seek salvation.

[Ian]

So no rational reasons against then, as expected.

[Baz]

Bro we literally JUST got Alex Scott finally don't you fucking dare.

Are you familiar with Kerry Boyne? She’s on kids TV over here and mahgawd she is the one.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why they haven't got a mixed-gender league yet, I don't know.

I've always wanted to see mixed football. It would be fascinating. Let's say minimum five women on the pitch at once - where do you put them? And how much would the men pass to them?

[bruhnaldo]

It would be like FIFA Pro Club when you have teammates who refuse to pass to the bots

edit: Baz nah but she's a cutiepie herself i see

[Shindig]

Or challenge them. Like properly leave the foot in. I reckon up to a certain age, it wouldn't be a problem.

[randomlegend]

Should have goalkeeper and defence as women and midfield and attacke as men, make the scorelines more exciting.

[bruhnaldo]

What is it an 18 person squad these days?

9 men 9 women, start your best XI if you want but putting all 9 men out there and leaving no men as subs is a risk innit!

[bruhnaldo]

When an American finally wins the European Cup but surprise it's Christen Press :drool:

https://wallpaperaccess.com/full/2562823.jpg

pic tax

[Lewis]

Whilst I'm bumping my old posts:


I would ask Jeff Stelling who his five best mates are, sack him and them, and then just hope it all sorts itself out.

Him and other two are on borrowed time.

[SincereTheRebel]

Each game, you have six men starting and then six women starting the next game. We can make this happen lads. Who has the biggest online presence on here? Is that Baz. Sort it out..

[Lewis]

What about transformers?

[SincereTheRebel]

They can start their own league if there is enough of them that qualify.

[Giggles]

Need a transgender, an under 10, and a labrador on every team too. Just in case anyone feels left out.

[Pepe]

I've always wanted to see mixed football. It would be fascinating. Let's say minimum five women on the pitch at once - where do you put them? And how much would the men pass to them?

"Coed" leagues are a massive thing over here. The answer is wherever they want and never. It basically become a five a side with cones.

[Giggles]

Soccer is basically seen as a womens sport over there though.

[Pepe]

True.

[niko_cee]

Le Tissier has been fairly vocal against some of the BLM stuff hasn't he? Probably sealed his fate.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fucking have some of this up you, Celtic.

[Lofty]

"Coed" leagues are a massive thing over here. The answer is wherever they want and never. It basically become a five a side with cones.

I can only imagine any women playing in a game with men become like the post invincibles Arsenal where it doesn't matter how technically adept they are if their opponents are bigger and stronger than them.

[niko_cee]

I was talking to a football coach the other week who coached Maya Le Tissier (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Le_Tissier) and he said she was head and shoulders above everyone she played with when she played with boys of her own age, but then, she appears to be quite good. Probably no different to little runts like Messi still being quite handy even in the face of being kicked by someone who hit puberty at 7. Didn't work for Sonny Pike (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Pike) though. Turning down Ajax for Leyton Orient? That's not how I remember the programme going but whatevs.

[Lofty]

How old was that though? Arsenal now coach all the kids together up to a certain age, but I once flew home from Benidorm on a plane with the England Ladies U23 side and if I hadn't asked I would've assumed they were the U16s given the average height and build.

[bruhnaldo]

Conversely the US women's team got beat by like the FC Dallas U15's by a very large margin in a friendly match which constantly gets brought up when they go on their "PAY US MORE MONEY"

https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/a-dallas-fc-under-15-boys-squad-beat-the-u-s-womens-national-team-in-a-scrimmage/

[Pepe]

I can only imagine any women playing in a game with men become like the post invincibles Arsenal where it doesn't matter how technically adept they are if their opponents are bigger and stronger than them.

There is one woman who shows up to our weekly kickabouts once in a while. For some reason, she ends up on the ground any time someone comes anywhere near her. Like, she has zero balance whatsoever. She just swings at the ball wildly too, so you have to mind your shins.

[Lewis]

The Sunday foreigner football I used to play in Norwich sometimes had a bird come along, and whilst she was as good as anyone there skill/technique-wise, she couldn't kick the ball very hard, so she was basically useless beyond moving it on and dribbling the non-Eastern Europeans who couldn't bring themselves to bully her off the ball. Some guy used to bring his shit hot eleven year old nephew and that was a similar story. He would beat everyone with some Ronaldinho bollocks and then scuff a pathetic cross/shot away.

[Lofty]

Didn't United Ladies get battered by a team of boys who were clearly pissing themselves in the final whistle photo?

[Lofty]

The Sunday foreigner football I used to play in Norwich sometimes had a bird come along, and whilst she was as good as anyone there skill/technique-wise, she couldn't kick the ball very hard, so she was basically useless beyond moving it on and dribbling the non-Eastern Europeans who couldn't bring themselves to bully her off the ball. Some guy used to bring his shit hot eleven year old nephew and that was a similar story. He would beat everyone with some Ronaldinho bollocks and then scuff a pathetic cross/shot away.

This is another problem depending on the standard and game style, a girl used to come down and play in a casual kickaround we used to do, she was passable enough but as you say the challenges put to her were nowhere near the challenges anyone else recieved when on the ball.

[niko_cee]

How old was that though? Arsenal now coach all the kids together up to a certain age, but I once flew home from Benidorm on a plane with the England Ladies U23 side and if I hadn't asked I would've assumed they were the U16s given the average height and build.

U-16s I think, although she also played at U-18s I think (seems she's only actually 18 at the moment).

The leap to proper mens football at a pro level is obviously massive from that sort of age-group, she's obviously a pro now and I guess most of the people she was up against aren't, so at the equivalent elite level there probably isn't a comparison.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fucking have some of this up you, Celtic.

Cheerio :drool:

[SincereTheRebel]

Fucking have some of this up you, Celtic.

They really are shit. They get knocked off the champions league qualifiers by teams who are from the Bahamas. Year after year.

[niko_cee]

Wait, these qualifiers are 1 leg things?

[Giggles]

There ones last week were anyway.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yep, there would be no time to get them all in otherwise.

I don't see how losing to Ferencvaros is 'embarrassing', though, unless Scottish football thinks it's better than it is.

[Waffdon]

Yep, there would be no time to get them all in otherwise.

I don't see how losing to Ferencvaros is 'embarrassing', though, unless Scottish football thinks it's better than it is.

The same team did beat Lazio home and away last year. It’s as embarrassing as it gets. They’ll probably go qualify through the EL group stages again

[Ian]

I don't see how losing to Ferencvaros is 'embarrassing', though, unless Scottish football thinks it's better than it is.

Much like England (and probably most countries to some extent or another) there are plenty of corners of the media and fanbase who have funny ideas about who they "should" be beating.

Not helped by the fact that there's been a few campaigns in recent-ish years where they've done well against the big teams and then been fucking garbage against shit teams. Like the one where they beat France home and away, looked promising in at least one of the Italy defeats but then lost a crucial game to what might as well have been Georgia's under 18s.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The same team did beat Lazio home and away last year. It’s as embarrassing as it gets. They’ll probably go qualify through the EL group stages again

And the oppo drew with Espanyol and won away at CSKA Moscow, they're not some bunch of farmers. Just reasonable outsiders. It's like Chelsea losing at home to Palace. Happens.

[Manc]

Celtic haven't been relevant since 2006.

[Waffdon]

Them and Rangers are still more relevant than 80% of English teams, unfortunately.

[Don]

I really enjoyed those Celtic CL spells, David Marshall superkeepering Messi in a packed stadium sticks out even though I may have mixed elements of other games up to arrive at that memory. They enlivened what will now be a Tuesday night grind watching Lazio vs Puskas Academy FC.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Them and Rangers are still more relevant than 80% of English teams, unfortunately.

If you mean literally 80% of English teams down to step 10, then maybe.

[Kikó]

Le Tissier has been fairly vocal against some of the BLM stuff hasn't he? Probably sealed his fate.

He's a complete conspiracy theory knobhead.

[John Arne]

Barcelona's Worst 10 signing of the last 10 years... the state of some that toss.

10. Jeremy Mathieu – €20m
9. Lucas Digne – €16.5m
8. Thomas Vermaelen – €18m
7. Andre Gomes – €35m
6. Martin Braithwaite – €18m
5. Malcom – €41m
4. Antoine Griezmann – €120m
3. Ousmane Dembele – €105m
2. Arda Turan – €34m
1. Philippe Coutinho – €120m

Total - €419.50m

[SincereTheRebel]

Malcom?!?!?! Forget he even exisited. Is he still there?

Edit: He was sold to Zenit for €40m a year after he signed for Barca. Thats a good deal for Barca.

[SincereTheRebel]

I still think Griezmann, Dembele and Coutinho will have a part to play. They just overpaid for them. They will never be able to justify the price. They were always going to fail on the resale value. That was as clear as day.

Just because Neymar was sold for X, does not mean Y is worth Z.

[Baz]

120m for Coutinho and Liverpool performances didn’t suffer a jot. :drool:

[John Arne]

120m for Coutinho and Liverpool performances didn’t suffer a jot. :drool:

We bought Alisson and van Dijk with the money. Absolutely fantastic business, even if Coutinho was great for us.

[SincereTheRebel]

120m for Coutinho and Liverpool performances didn’t suffer a jot. :drool:

So true

[niko_cee]

Coutinho was more than €120m, even adjusting for add-ons not yet paid.

In fact, is that €120m not just the 'upfront payment' usually reported as £108m (in a total deal worth £142m)?

Dembele was something like €135m as well.

[Bob Sacamano]

Barcelona's Worst 10 signing of the last 10 years... the state of some that toss.

10. Jeremy Mathieu – €20m
9. Lucas Digne – €16.5m
8. Thomas Vermaelen – €18m
7. Andre Gomes – €35m
6. Martin Braithwaite – €18m
5. Malcom – €41m
4. Antoine Griezmann – €120m
3. Ousmane Dembele – €105m
2. Arda Turan – €34m
1. Philippe Coutinho – €120m

Total - €419.50m

Chrygrinski was a howler too

[Don]

I'l tell you what I really miss, clubs playing a gazillion friendlies and endless international tours and pre-season tournaments. Sat here longing for the Emirates Cup. Naaaaaaat.

[randomlegend]

Dembele has the talent to be top few in the world, but he's been absolutely ravaged by injuries. Not really something Barca could have foreseen. Barca fans generally say he's been very good for them when he actually managed to get on the pitch from what I've seen.

The real howler there is Griezmann because they bought him knowing full well they intended to play him out of position in a system that doesn't suit him then pulled the surprised Pikachu face when it didn't work. It's absolutely retarded.

[John Arne]

Coutinho was more than €120m, even adjusting for add-ons not yet paid.

In fact, is that €120m not just the 'upfront payment' usually reported as £108m (in a total deal worth £142m)?

Dembele was something like €135m as well.

How dare you question Planet Football's figures.

Issue an immediate apology.

[Pleb]

Pogba's got the Rona.

[SincereTheRebel]

Barca see Fabregas as a failure even though, as far as I can tell. He is the only player besides Messi who played that false 9 for them. He scored 50 goals over three seasons. It's a tough club to please.

[John Arne]

Isn't Aubamayeng out of contract now? Presumably, if so, he won't be playing at the weekend?
Many outlets seem to be suggest he will be.

Edit: 2021, not 2020.

[SincereTheRebel]

He has one year left unless there is some weirdo shit going on. I don't think he is signing a new deal. RVP and Sanchez were also in similar situations.

[phonics]

He’s already signed it. They did the announcement video two days ago.

[Danny]

Arteta coming out today about 30 seconds after you posted that saying :

"I keep being positive. We had some really good talks with him and his agent," Arteta continued.

"I am pretty confident we will find an agreement soon, that's my feeling.

"[It will be a massive lift] for everyone and for him as well. He should be very happy if he is able to stay at the club for a long time."

Sound like its not done yet.

[Don]

I'm worried about phonics' evaluation of source credibility.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/12512833/gabriel-magalhaes-aubameyang-announcement-video-rapper-arsenal/


But they thought the wait was finally over when a fan sparked huge excitement during a stadium tour.

He filmed an unknown figure standing in front of a camera on the Emirates pitch while wearing the new Arsenal away shirt.

Uploading the footage to Reddit, he captioned it: "I'm on a stadium tour and they're filming Aubameyang in the new away kit.

"New contract incoming."

But after a string of detective work on Twitter, fans finally realised the man was, in fact, a rapper called Yizzy filming a music video.

Yizzy later confirmed their disappointment with a selfie on Instagram of himself inside the Emirates.

He then took to Twitter to joke: "If you wanna know whether Aubameyang has signed or not. Go pre-order my song Thierry Henry."

Phonics got duped by a guy called Yizzy.

[phonics]

Lol he said the Gabriel deal isn’t done and the guy has already accidentally posted a picture of his official club photos on IG.

it’s done.

[Lofty]

https://www.buryfc.co.uk/news/latest-statement-07-08-2020/august/club-update/

Starts normal, veers off slightly halfway through :D

[Don]

By start I presume you mean the first 8 words. I can't even read that shit.

[Spikey M]

So that's what happened to Diljeet.

[Shindig]

It reads like a spam email.

[niko_cee]

How have the BBC got some sort of exclusive interview with Harry Maguire and neglected to put any of the details of it on their website (even typing that feels anachronistic)?

Looks a cracking interview. Top story on the 10 o'clock News. :/

[Lewis]

Referring to United 'one of' the biggest clubs in the world has done more to damage his captaincy than the incident itself.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This whole thing is a PR disaster and United are being unbelievably Scouse about it. Why is he going on telly and crying? Shut the fuck up and train.

[Baz]

And did you see those pit stains the size of dinner plates on that blue short sleeve shirt he was wearing on holiday? Might as well retire now and become a hermit to avoid the constant shame.

[Don]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2020/08/23/harry-maguire-bar-bill-manchester-united-news-mykonos-brawl-13166517/amp/

My only point of reference is Wayne Lineker's pedo den in Ibiza but these establishments are such a top top study in social structures and human behaviour at their most basic level. Throw in the Maguires and Ross Barkley munching lobster with their webbed hands alongside Judd Trump and love island alumni and I'd have given my left bollock to see it all. What a fucking belter :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53941208

Aww, he's just misunderstood guys.

[Lewis]

The People's Captain. Captain, Leader, Lad.

[SincereTheRebel]

The shape of his head is enormous

[Dquincy]

Slab head doing a Prince Andrew. (I don't mean molesting kids)

[Baz]

Omg a FIVE HOUR drinking session. He’s lucky to be alive. 1 like = 1 prayer for Harry and his alcohol addiction.

[bruhnaldo]

So the club captain can fight police but Utd won't go get Jack Grealish because he put a dent in someone's Hyundai.

[Shindig]

Harry followed quarantine protocol. :dc:

[Giggles]

You think the thick cunt would have better advisors than to let him go with the “feared for my life” story and he out acting the billy big bollocks like every English person ever went through the resort.

[SincereTheRebel]

This women's charity shield game. The finishing is extremely bad. Both Chelsea and man city both create one-on-one chances and they can't even get the shot on target.

[Shindig]

Good job they can finish from 25 yards.

[randomlegend]

It's a good hit, but as always in women's football the goalkeeping is laughable.