December football: Who's most out of place?

[Ian]

In these UNPRECEDENTED TIMES the league table has a few teams in unexpected positions so the poll is to have a guess at which of these will be furthest from their current position come the end of the season (it's City or West 'Aaaaaam, right?)

Otherwise it's a month of evermore football, but fortunately for the sake of Taz's emotional wellbeing I think we're done with international breaks for months now.

I'm also going to have to think of a January football thread topic following this year's V League extravaganza. Suggestions welcome.

[Baz]

City have games in hand. West Ham are just bonkers.

[Manc]

Sheff closely followed by Brighton.

[Lofty]

Given I can only see Arsenal beating Burnley in their next ten fixtures, we are probably higher than we should be right now.

[Don]

City at 9 places is the correct answer.

[Spikey M]

West Ham have no business being above 12th.

[Spikey M]

Newcastle vs Villa is off because of the dirty tier 3 coughing bastards.

[Don]

If that's all it takes they better be getting Thiago/Salah/Keita/Mane/Alisson(?)/Shaqiri to gob into the A/C vents on an hourly basis.

[Shindig]

I think some concerns were raised about the cleaning at our training facilities. 'cos like fuck is Mike Ashley coughing up £10 for some plastic shields and wipes.

[niko_cee]

Not sure I can remember the last time a non-frist choice Liverpool goalkeeper made a (proper) competitive debut (as opposed to in some mickey mouse cup) and didn't chuck one into his own net so best of luck to Kweeveeen tonight.

[Spikey M]

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/HardtofindSpryAlaskanhusky-small.gif

Kweeveeen

[phonics]

Hot take:

Tables shouldn't be published when there's less than double digits between 16th and 3rd.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've always had that view. In fact I wouldn't publish them at all until after the season is complete. They should just publish that big fixture/results grid and let people work it out themselves if they really want to.

[niko_cee]

Don't publish them and keep the scoring system secret until the end.

Yes, this year we were using the inverse Amsterdam Tournament rules . . .

[Manc]

Shakhtar beating Madrid home and away. Superb.

[niko_cee]

Also, this Newcastle game being postponed, I thought the official line was that unless you didn't have 14 available humans who can wear football boots then the game goes ahead?

[Ian]

Don't even publish it after the fact, just agree that it doesn't actually matter who won so long as everyone had a lovely time.

[Spikey M]

And most importantly, we all agree that West Brom are relegated.

[Shindig]

Don't publish them and keep the scoring system secret until the end.

Yes, this year we were using the inverse Amsterdam Tournament rules . . .

"One of you has 73% ..." <cut to smug Liverpool fan>

[Waffdon]

Allison must be the most injury prone goalkeeper of all time

[Luca]

Kelleher has strong Karis Lorius vibes.

[phonics]

One of the work permit rules is ‘the quality of the selling club’, how the fuck does that algorithm work? I know footballs not real life but the whole concept of the free transfer is employment law not football. How can you deny someone employment based on their previous position?

[niko_cee]

Sounds like a monumental fuck up in the offing unless getting paid the average annual wage in a week is like a million points.

[phonics]

Sounds like a monumental fuck up in the offing unless getting paid the average annual wage in a week is like a million points.

The rule for non-EU players that already exists makes sense. They got rid of the ‘exceptional talent’ rule they loopholed in and said ‘if he cost more than 10 million quid it’s fine’

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The game between Gladbach and Inter is batshit.

[niko_cee]

Kanté still fucked under that model though.

[Spoonsky]

Firmino must be one of the only forwards where finishing is the weakest aspect of his game.

[Don]

I remember when Newcastle picked up the highly rated prospect Ivan Toney only to almost ruin the lad's life. He's now well on the way to retiring Harry Kane.

[Shindig]

Firmino must be one of the only forwards where finishing is the weakest aspect of his game.

You're clearly not familiar with Joelinton's work.

[niko_cee]

Both ex-Hoffenheim, no?

:sherlock:

Most forwards can't finish for shit though, they're just marginally less bad at it than all the other players. Just look at every striker Brighton have had since Zamora (ok, Leon Knight excluded).

[niko_cee]

Curtis Jones sneaking all of these minutes under his belt is probably the main (only) redeeming feature of this season so far.

Also, Ajax haven't half had a mare in the two games against Liverpool with their 'keeper tonight and that OG in the first game.

[Baz]

Owen Hargreaves pronounces Kaka as Cacker. :wtf:

[niko_cee]

Do you opt for the bird call style?

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/e13a213f-b71d-405a-904c-4a8b79d96195#xBq0LHlmx8.copy

[Baz]

Do you opt for the bird call style?

Of course. That's his name.

[Smjffy]

West Ham being the most obvious but you know it's almost a given that they'll go on a stretch of winless games although I'd say all the 'United's' are in the most out of place positions. I'd expected Sheff United not to be rock bottom, Newcastle have clawed some good results and of course, the other one being higher than their performances should probably suggest.

Tottenham is an interesting one but it'll only take a few bad results for Mourinho's new vibe to turn sour I reckon.

[Baz]

Do you opt for the bird call style?

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/e13a213f-b71d-405a-904c-4a8b79d96195#xBq0LHlmx8.copy
Just seen your edit. I was going to post that exact video. :D Amazing.

[niko_cee]

I was annoyed I couldn't embed it - or get one with the full crack an egg on it and the ca-caw.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Leipzig are being such dicks.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mental game.

[Lewis]

lol was that a yellow because of how pathetic the dive was?

[Smjffy]

I just....whatever, really.

[Luca]

Paredes put his face in first, to be fair, and dove like a silly cunt. I'm happy for these little pecks to not be perfunctory reds.

[Smjffy]

At what point do you give up on Martial too actually?

[Waffdon]

Giroud will never not be :drool: worthy

[Waffdon]

Perfect hattrick to top it off :cool:

[Lewis]

At what point do you give up on Martial too actually?

He wants canning as soon as possible.

[Ian]

Martial was great after the restart but he's been fucking dogshit all this season.

Not that he's been the sole culprit here. We've wasted good chances, kept Fred on when he was clearly gagging for a red and started playing long ball to nobody in particular.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Giroud is basically Pele these days. Ageless.

[Waffdon]

Giroud is basically Pele these days. Ageless.

Even his penalty was better than anything anyone could do.

[niko_cee]

When has Martial ever not been 10/10 for about 5 games a season and mostly wank for the rest of it?

[Ian]

He's hitting new lows for disinterest.

[Waffdon]

How bad is Kepa that Chelsea are getting clean sheets with that back four and Jorginho

[Don]

Hopefully Utd can beat Leipzig and secure top spot because I'd suck all your mushrooms and swallow for us to draw PSG. We'd fucking destroy them and those tears would be sweeter than winning the whole thing.

[Ian]

Bad news then, we're finishing third.

[Don]

Frightening to think what score Chelsea could have racked up if Tammy Abraham had lined up today.

Fucking Olivier needs to fuck off cause the brexit means brexit vibes are ruining his last couple years.

[John Arne]

Just noticed that the two managers asking/complaining most for 5 subs in the EPL, used a combined 3 subs from 10 in the UCL last few days.

[randomlegend]

I've only watched the highlights as I was working yesterday when the game was on, but looked like we actually played pretty damn well and could well have won?

Fred though :D

[Ian]

We played alright for the middle portion of the game but still looked vulnerable any time PSG held onto the ball and spaffed those chances / decent positions.

[SvN]

We were the better team until the second yellow for winning the ball. Fred should've gone in the first half though, so it's hardly a valid complaint.

I don't think we looked vulnerable at all. We broke up their attacks pretty well, and De Gea made 1 decent save the entire game.

Just one of those games where we don't get the rub of the green. It happens. We'll get a result in the last game, I think.

[Kikó]

It was desperately stupid not to take Fred off at half time.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Leipzig will shit the bed, they're only a small club.

[Ian]

To be honest the biggest disappointment from last night is Cavani's chip not going in. You barely see chips any more (I assume some wankers have decided it's not percentage-y enough a shot to take) and it would have been a lovely example.

[Shindig]

3 of our first team that played against Palace turned positive, apparently.

[phonics]

I got really quite emosh watching the fans in the stadium. Like proper on the verge of tears.

[John Arne]

Vissel Kobe v Suwon just kicked off in the Asian Champions League if you fancy watching a bit of Thomas Vermaelan and Iniesta.

[ScousePig]

Any Birmingham or Bristol City fans on here? We've appointed Kristjaan Speakmann as tecnhical director and are about to bring in Lee Johnson as head coach.

A change in structure, at least.

[Spikey M]

I got really quite emosh watching the fans in the stadium. Like proper on the verge of tears.

:harold:

[igor_balis]

Everton look proper shit.

I'd go 4231/433 with hamez in front of the cms, iwobi right wing and..er...someone at right back.

[niko_cee]

I understand why they would do it that way, but watching the Reading game and seeing all the fans packed into one of the four stands is a bit :cab:.

[Giggles]

“He’s always been a wonderful player, we know that” - Steve McManaman about John Stones :cab:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Once pundits think that about you you're set for life, even if it's via being horrendously overpaid at Villa or Everton.

[Waffdon]

It’ll be no surprise to anyone that Man City are at home again to a relegation team. Same as every other week then.

[Giggles]

It’ll be no surprise to anyone that Man City are at home again to a relegation team. Same as every other week then.

They should really make everyone play everyone else home and away. Would be the fairest.

[Waffdon]

Not sure how Man City are getting away with it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

lol at Savage blaming Ederson there.

John Stones can do no wrong.

[thommo]

Not that it's going to make a difference, but that penalty was a fucking joke. Andersen waves a foot out, but it doesn't even look like he touches Sterling, and it's just glossed over instantly and the penalty is awarded.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Pep moaning and campaigning for 5 subs and then not using a single one...

[Jimmy Floyd]

Him and Klopp are serial offenders in that regard.

[niko_cee]

It's a non-story though, because as Herr Klopp points out, when you think 2 or 3 of your players may drop at any moment, you can't really make subs and then find yourselves down to 9 men for the last 10 minutes because you picked the wrong ones.

That said, all his waffle about load management in the SPL did sound a bit lift and coast, so maybe no thanks.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://i.imgur.com/NK59PO0.png

Taz is a hammer now?

[Spikey M]

Harsh. :D

[randomlegend]

Commentators talk such retarded shit it's unreal.

"I want to see Van De Beek taking up the position the referee is in, behind the two holding midfielders, he'd be in acres of space and only have the back back line between him and the goal".

Yeah mate I'm sure the West Ham midfielders will just ignore him if he does that :cab:

[Giggles]

First day back and all :D


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[randomlegend]

We've been absolute dogshit so far. It looks like we're trying some sort of fluid front 3, but rather than the Tevez/Rooney/Ronaldo days of them all being everywhere, they are all being nowhere.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

We're so shit.

[Waffdon]

Telles doesn’t have a clue where to be defensively

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lol at Haller.

[Lewis]

This is one of those 'what do they do in training all week?' performances. Paulp Ogba is an embarrassment.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was brilliant by Wan-Bissaka.

[mugbull]

What a pinch by AWB

[Waffdon]

Benrahma would have a field day against these lot

[Jimmy Floyd]

I only turned it on at 33 minutes but even in that time, if West Ham had a centre forward in their team instead of the battleship HMS Haller they would be three up.

[Giggles]

I know he’d start for us for 15 years and be our best player for 14, but is Declan Rice really a top EPL and top 5 international country midfield player?

[Waffdon]

Telles again :D

He’s utterly useless

[Lewis]

He's taken the two good players off.

[randomlegend]

Pogba :cool:

[randomlegend]

That's absolutely impossible to call for VAR unless they have a camera angle directly down the line which we didn't see.

[Waffdon]

About the 3 metres out of play, that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Greenwood is a beast.

[Lewis]

He should be doing that a lot more often instead of noncing about in the centre circle.

[randomlegend]

Bangers only.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That first goal was an absolute liberty, couldn't be bothered to make the call.

[randomlegend]

Anyone who thinks they can see whether that ball went out from the camera angles they've shown on TV is a moron.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Anyone who thinks they can see whether that ball went out from the camera angles they've shown on TV is a moron.

If they started drawing lines as they love to do for offside they'd have shown it 2-3 metres out, you can tell just by where it lands and its subsequent trajectory.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That is some pass by Mata.

[Lewis]

I hope United stay just close enough to first/second over Christmas for Ole Gunnar Binman to get ahead of himself and allude to the title charges of yore.

[randomlegend]

1335297532256284673

:moon:

[niko_cee]

Feels like every United game follows a similar pattern at the moment, they're absolute shit, the other team doesn't take their chances then they come back with a burst of quick goals to win.

[Lewis]

They're called tactics lad.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Martial coming off was crucial, once you've removed the lumbering mess from centre forward then it becomes a lot easier to put moves together (clearly West Ham did not learn this lesson).

[Jimmy Floyd]

Meanwhile this knee-booing stuff is interesting. I don't think the commentariat have realised for the last however many months that the good old white working class on both sides of the Atlantic find that stuff (the preaching and the pointless gestures, all of which basically amount to 'you lot are all racists') properly toxic.

I see also that Kick It Out have moved on to doing paragraphs about people taking 'the' knee (it's quite specifically 'a' knee, according to Kaepernick).

[Kikó]

Martial coming off was crucial, once you've removed the lumbering mess from centre forward then it becomes a lot easier to put moves together (clearly West Ham did not learn this lesson).

Exactly this. Should have been going at half time as he was stinking it up. Mata needs a run in the team.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'd love it if Lord Bamford dicks Chelsea.

[Spikey M]

Leeds are going to get a hiding.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Think this might be the game when we see King Kai start to take over the joint.

[Giggles]

Leeds are going to get a hiding.

:yn: :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:cool:

Mon then.

[niko_cee]

That's an unbelievable pass.

[Waffdon]

That pass is stunning

[Spikey M]

:rosebud:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Gahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

What a goal line clearance from Werner.

[niko_cee]

Another victim of the operation by the looks of it.

[Waffdon]

That’s two of the easiest chances he’s missed in the last few weeks.

[niko_cee]

At least he's getting in the right areas to miss them.

Like a Teutonic Andy Cole.

Hattrick inbound, natch.

[Waffdon]

Never seen anything like that in my life :D

[Spikey M]

1335316674485084164?s=19

:happycry:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ruben Dias had a cracker midweek:

1333890204260823040

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1335316376102326285?s=19

:happycry:

Gone.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That balls up from Mendy has been coming, he shits himself in innocuous situations at least once a game.

[niko_cee]

It's mad that the linesman has to 'let that play out' when the guy is about 5 yards offside. Someone's going to get seriously injured in the pointless play ensuing after that sort of thing one day and all sorts of questions are going to be asked.

[Waffdon]

Nice of someone being capable of finishing a Reece James cross.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If Werner was black, rather than someone who looks like he has been sent out to the eastern front in spring 1942, would people be calling him a pointless pace merchant? I mean, he isn't one, but I bet they would.

This was Ngolo Kante's worst half for Chelsea, so 1-1 HT is ok.

[niko_cee]

Chelsea should ease to a win here assuming Leeds continue to try and let them score.

Elsewhere I see Ronald Koeman's beard is half-alight.

[randomlegend]

It's mad that the linesman has to 'let that play out' when the guy is about 5 yards offside. Someone's going to get seriously injured in the pointless play ensuing after that sort of thing one day and all sorts of questions are going to be asked.

I'm sure I remember one earlier in the season where a Utd player (?Maguire) made a last ditch foul which was red card worthy but the player was offside. It's not very fair on defenders putting them in those sorts of situations when the player is offside.

[Reg]

Mata needs a run in the team.
Yes, would be interesting to see this. Too often it's only Fernandes who sees a through ball.

Really enjoyed that game, despite the shocking actual football in the first half. Football with fans, even if it's only 2000, is a zillion times better.

[niko_cee]

2000 (seething) fans in that stadium is probably more or less the feel of it when it's 'full'.

[Shindig]

We'll probably not see fans in St. James until April. Bit bleak, that.

[Waffdon]

2000 (seething) fans in that stadium is probably more or less the feel of it when it's 'full'.

Did I miss something with them jeering Llorente every time he touched it?

Werner really does have an unreal knack of being in the correct place. Could do with remembering how to finish though

[Jimmy Floyd]

That was a good display in the end and could have been double the score. Mount man of the match. Top :cool:

[Waffdon]

Barcelona lost again today. Atletico are going to piss the league this year - still got a game in hand too.

[Mellberg]

I do love watching Barcelona suffer. So far up their own arse, but when the chips are down they out themselves as such a shithouse outfit from top to bottom.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Cadiz are dons. Quality ground plonked on a silly island as well, a bit like Venezia.

[Lofty]

Odds on THE MIGHTY BLADES getting anything from Brendan's boys today?

[Baz]

100/1

[Don]

Utd/Bruno conning their way to no trophies :drool:

The xG for Chelsea game (4.9-1) :O

Millwall fans fucking donning it :cool: let that be the beginning of the end for this shit. And if any of the fans get any sort of punishment, I'll pay for their legal costs.

[Don]

That Pereira red :D fuck off VAR.

[Waffdon]

I brought him into my starting eleven this week too. Lolz.

Police horses and loads of other police surrounding Park Head for a behind closed door game is peak Scottish football

[Lofty]

How that defender didn't just bring Vardy down and take the red I don't know, imagine he is getting a bollocking right now.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Son is incredible.

[mugbull]

Hit me baby one more time

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I fucking love finishes like that.

[Waffdon]

4 on 2 :D

Arsenal will do well to finish 10th.

[Spikey M]

Arsenal really are absolute shite.

[Lewis]

1335635198785040387

[niko_cee]

Jesus. if Brighton win tomorrow night they'll go above Arsenal in the table.

Aubameyang well into lol how much are you paying him territory now. Another one on the retirement contract pile.

[Luca]

Wolves doing their best to honour the local custom with these Jimenez shirts.

[Spoonsky]

The Kop is back :drool:

[Vercetti]

Tyldesley could do with pulling his tongue out of Liverpool's arse, the fat-shaming piece of shit.

[Boydy]

Amazon Prime keeps buffering for me. Ffs.

[Waffdon]

The Kop is back :drool:

Most quiet ground I’ve ever been to.

Coady definitely didn’t mean that at all, the scouse mong

[Giggles]

Amazon Prime keeps buffering for me. Ffs.

It’s on Premier Sports too if you have BT.

[Spoonsky]

Anyone else catch that "it just feels as though we're winning" line about covid? :D

[Boydy]

It’s on Premier Sports too if you have BT.

I don't.

[Waffdon]

No surprises there. :D

[Spikey M]

No room. All the space around his TV is taken up by empty Pringle tubes.

[Spikey M]

But yes, this is a shit stream. I've had more stable hooky ones.

[Boydy]

No surprises there. :D
What?

[Luca]

I assume he was referring to the penalty being overruled.

[Offshore Toon]

Why does Clive Tydsley keep blabbering on as if his ramblings are amusing? Can't wait for him to get sacked so we can get another meltdown.

1282986037053140993?s=09

[Spikey M]

Why are the defence letting him shoot there?

[Waffdon]

His Euro 2021 mess made me mute the television.

Why have Wolves went to four at the back now? Coady is useless in it.

[Waffdon]

Celtic fans trying to attack their own coach leaving the stadium is amazing.

[Lewis]

1335638937264676869

I bet that was Claude.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:lol:

[Spikey M]

:D Fucking hell

[Waffdon]

1335620401330855939

:lol:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've seen him do it to a BLM flag.

[Don]

Sheff Utd are in deep bless 'em. If it happens, the scramble for Sander Berge will be something. An elite talent. Michael Edwards will be over that like the slut he is :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

He is very good and has Mourinho written all over him, so the fancy dan teams will need to move fast.

[Luca]

If Ole Gunnar Binman manages to keep the fraud going, we could bribe him with some proceeds from our upcoming smoked herring partnership.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I haven't seen this Mourinho face for absolutely ages. He is BACK, isn't he? Who could have predicted that Man Utd would be a terrible disaster for both parties.

https://i.imgur.com/bMUhKss.jpg

[Kikó]

I will be delighted if he wins the league for them.

[Raoul Duke]

Let's not forget that we also have a Mourinho vs Levy seethe coming in a couple of years too

[Jimmy Floyd]

For those bored by the monotony of club football, the World Cup draw is on in a bit. We, God's England, are naturally in Pot 1. Wales in pot 2. Scotland, British Ireland and Irish Ireland all in pot 3.

I'd like us to get a funky draw with awkward crowds (assuming there are crowds at all). Turkey or something.

[Ian]

As usual we'll get the most boring draw possible.

And I assume Denmark will end up with Ireland as it seems to have been mandated at some point that those two play each other forever.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If we get Slovakia or Slovenia I'll kick an animal. If we get both, I'll kick a whole species.

[Ian]

To be honest it probably barely matters. If Sir Waistcoat remains adamant that each line-up requires 8 defensive players it's all going to be unwatchable dross anyway, even by tournament qualifying standards.

[Waffdon]

If Scotland can draw Israel then they will. They’ve played each other about ten times in two years.

[Shindig]

The qualifying's the stuff we're good at, to be honest.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Why aren't Sky Sports News actually showing the draw?

[Giggles]

Can we get Wales and Denmark again?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The music they're using is brilliant.

The suspense that they're trying to add into the draw :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lewandowski dicking slabhead :drool:

[Giggles]

When do they actually start pulling out balls and where can I watch it?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They've started.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/54916539

Ireland have Portugal and Serbia so far.

[Giggles]

That’s much worse.

[Waffdon]

Scotland have caked this. Austria and Denmark is probably as easy as it can get from them two pota

[Waffdon]

If Scotland can draw Israel then they will. They’ve played each other about ten times in two years.

Fuck off :D

[Giggles]

At least the nordies got shat on and won’t be going ahead of us again.

[Spikey M]

It's not Slovakia or Slovenia but we've bagged ourselves a couple of Eastern European shitholes regardless.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Group F is a proper shit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Damn I wanted Cyprus, Poland and England in one group :(

[Giggles]

Sky are trying to make out Hungary will be hard for England :D

[Waffdon]

Scotland could have barely handpicked an easier group

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sky are trying to make out Hungary will be hard for England :D

They're not a bad side. They did beat Croatia and Wales in Euro qualifiers.

England shouldn't have troubles with them, will they? Probably because they like to make an arse of games like that.

[Spikey M]

Fucking hell. England's Group is what Giggles Hit List would look like if he was made the King of Ireland.

[niko_cee]

Look forward to the Norman Wisdom segments when England play Albania.

[Giggles]

Fucking hell. England's Group is what Giggles Hit List would look like if he was made the King of Ireland.

Who is it outside England and Hungary?

[Spikey M]

Who is it outside England and Hungary?

England, Poland, Hungary, Albania, Andorra, San Marino

But it was just Poland and Albania when I said it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Who is it outside England and Hungary?

Poland, Albania, Andorra & San Marino.

[Giggles]

Sounds like the packing line down the bacon factory.

[Manc]

You can already hear Klopp moaning about those San Marino games.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Croatia seem to have been given our group by mistake.

Wait, Andorra AND San Marino? These are dangerous times we live in.

[Pen]

We had terrible luck and on top of the shit luck we got shafted twice by a seemingly random ”weather rule” which saw us get Bosnia instead of Belarus and then Kazakstan instead of Estonia, which would’ve been a great away ☹️

Edit: France and Ukraine from the first two pots.

[Giggles]

We had terrible luck and on top of the shit luck we got shafted twice by a seemingly random ”weather rule” which saw us get Bosnia instead of Belarus and then Kazakstan instead of Estonia, which would’ve been a great away ☹️

Edit: France and Ukraine from the first two pots.

What’s the weather rule?

[Jimmy Floyd]

You can't have more than 2 teams from the silly snow countries in each group (or something like that).

[Spikey M]

Kazakhstan has brutal winters, no?

Edit: " The climate of Kazakhstan (excluding south) is sharply continental with average temperature between -4 °C and -19 °C in January and between +19…+26°C in July. In winter temperature may decrease down to -45°C, and in summer rise up to +30."

"Winter in Estonia is very cold: the temperature remains below freezing (0 °C or 32 °F) even during the day for long periods. The average temperature in January and February is around -1 °C (30 °F) on the two main islands (Hiumaa, Saaremaa), around -3 °C (26.5 °F) on the coast of the Gulf of Riga, -4.5 °C (23.5 °F) in Tallinn and on the north coast, and finally it drops to -6 °C (21 °F) in the inland north-eastern areas."

So how the fuck does that work?

[Danny]

I think you will find they are very nice.

[Spikey M]

:D

[Spoonsky]

"Based on UEFA Executive Committee decisions valid at the time of the draw, the following pairs of teams could not be in the same group:

Armenia & Azerbaijan
Gibraltar & Spain
Kosovo & Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kosovo & Russia
Kosovo & Serbia
Ukraine & Russia

Ten countries were defined as venues with a risk of severe winter conditions and a maximum of two such countries could be drawn in the same group:

Belarus
Estonia
Faroe Islands*
Finland
Iceland*
Latvia
Lithuania
Norway
Russia
Ukraine"

Kosovo :cool:

[Spikey M]

That is mental. Kazakhstan has worse winters than literally all of them (probably equal to Russia and Ukraine). And the Faroe Islands is basically the Shetlands.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Spain really need to get over themselves.

[Shindig]

Kazakhstan is a mountainous wind hell. That gives you the hard swings in temperature.

[niko_cee]

England and everyone is going to be on that list after Brexit.

[Spoonsky]

That is mental. Kazakhstan has worse winters than literally all of them (probably equal to Russia and Ukraine). And the Faroe Islands is basically the Shetlands.

Their stadium has a retractable roof. :thbup:

[Spoonsky]

Today I learned Astana was renamed Nur-Sultan last year after their old president. :cab:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nur-Sultan

[Giggles]

Has the soccer team had to change name too? I vaguely remember them playing one of our clubs recently.

[niko_cee]

Is that the gaff where they renamed loads of stuff randomly, like bread was now El Presidente's mum's name and such? And also where they liked boiling people in oil? Or is that another of the 'stans?

[Spikey M]

Their stadium has a retractable roof. :thbup:

Furry muff.

[Lewis]

Spain really need to get over themselves.

I was thinking that. It's a bit out of place in that sort of company.

[niko_cee]

Gross really does properly stop in his run up, which I'm pretty sure isn't really allowed.

Maybe they should get lines on that.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why is Ward-Prowse still bawling about that? I've seen batsmen given out caught for less.

[Giggles]

Is Smallbone injured or completely out of it now?

[Andy]

Well down in the pecking order.

Too lightweight for the centre of midfield and doesn't offer enough going forward for either of the attacking midfielders.

[Giggles]

We might have a change of getting him then.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bissouma is the class player on the pitch.

[Reg]

Yep, he's quality. Has really stepped up under Potter (don't know if it's mainly his influence or just more experience).

Decent half but would be nice to keep a clean sheet for a change. We're so bad at set pieces.

[Giggles]

Who’s Wolves most top top player these days? The Mrs wants to know for some present for her nephew.

[Andy]

Jiminez is the best player, scores all the goals.

[Giggles]

Jiminez is the best player, scores all the goals.

Cheers. Is he the one got the clatter on the head there recently?

[phonics]

Who’s Wolves most top top player these days? The Mrs wants to know for some present for her nephew.

Jiminez is the goal scorer, Traore (but he has Adama on his shirt I think) is the tricky winger, Neves is the silky midfielder who scores long rangers, and Coady is the top lad defender who loves to banter and get stuck in.

That covers the personality types the kid would want.

[Giggles]

She’d even heard of Jiminez when I said it so definitely the one.

[niko_cee]

:lol:

Just when VAR had a few half decent days they roll that out. Just put it in the bin.

[Andy]

We would have scored from the free kick anyway.

[Foe]

That vestergard lad is a bit good.

£41m for ake but how much did he cost?

[Spikey M]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55223935

That'll show 'em, lads. :face:

[Andy]

I think he cost 17m.

Hes starting to look decent this season and benefiting from a settled defence and system that works.

Hes absolutely awful with any ball over the top and not very commanding for a 6ft6 centre back.

He is Inproving though which is the key thing for anyone in our squad. We can't afford to buy ready made players so have to accept this sort of situation.

[Manc]

Neves being described as a silky midfielder. :happycry:

[Jimmy Floyd]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55223935

That'll show 'em, lads. :face:

This is a complete mess - absolute cultural breakdown in progress. Once the BLM people start trying to 'cancel' swathes of the general public there's no way back. People are racist, I'm afraid, which is why long term education is the way forward rather than trying to force them to bow down before symbolic gestures.

[Spikey M]

'They've linked arms with the other team lads... may... maybe the blacks are alright?'

*slow building chorus of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot*