April football: Is it COMING HOME?

[Gray Fox]

Trent's fine where he is now. He's just a casualty of the injury crisis and I'm not talking about the defensive one, though that hasn't helped either.

If you imagine Liverpools strongest XI, you have Henderson in there, who is his biggest miss. The usual style is to keep both full backs high up the pitch, with Gini and Henderson tucking into the channels between the CB and advancing full back. Fabinho then usually sweeps up the middle. This is where Liverpool used to dominate teams into submission. The ball would almost always be won back on the press and even if you did get through all that, there was the small matter of Alisson and Van Dijk to still navigate.
It would be standard to not only see Liverpool with near 70% of the ball most games, but very few chances would be given up with that other 30%.

Now what is happening is that he's being left to kind of do it all himself. The midfielder on his side has tended to be Thiago who can't tackle and doesn't provide anything near the help Henderson would. This could be seen as a criticism of Klopp that he hasn't another guy who can play this role. Milner/Jones could be seen as the most similar but both tend to be the left side of the team when they play.

It also hasn't helped that while Aerially dominant, Nat Phillips doesn't get about the pitch greatly well.

I think you'll see Liverpool invest heavily in the summer, with or without a top 4 finish(I don't think we get it). Looks like Konate from Liepzig will be coming in, but a few new faces in the midfield/forwards department are surely a lock.

[SvN]

What's happened to Keita? Is he injured or what?

[Gray Fox]

Keita has a cycle he goes through.

Gets fit > Breaks into the first team > Game 1 and 2 is meh > Game 4/5 he starts to play well > Gets injured. Repeat.

Current state is the 2nd stage. Klopp put him for his return game against Madrid and he was that bad he was hooked in the first half.

[Baz]

Too busy thinking about his rape victims.

[Manc]

Alberto Aquilani syndrome.

[Waffdon]

I’m pretty sure VAR just ruled that West Brom goal out wrongly by measuring their stupid lines against the wrong player :D

[Waffdon]

Everton game should be good. Just the 7 centre halves on the pitch and 9 defenders :sick:

[Reg]

Yep, weirdly defensive lineup from them.

Still the Gross/Moder - wing backs but not wing backs and nobody behind them - system for us.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sane is horseshit now.

Also, in the last 25 minutes or so every Bayern player looked scared to shoot, they were constantly looking for knockdowns to other players.

Flick taking off Chupo Mouting who had scored earlier for Javi fucking Martinez is criminal too.

[Waffdon]

That Porto goal was as good as Rooney’s shin

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1382074758318100480

Glorious.

[Lewis]

Sane is horseshit now.

He was their best player. :cab:

[Don]

That was the worst Quarter final performance I've ever seen, the cunt benched Taremi for over an hour too. Fuck off.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He was their best player. :cab:

Hernandez was.

Sane was probably their next best player although he made a lot of mistakes. Mainly that chance near the end of the game in which he passed it right to Navas instead of finding someone else with a pass/chip.

[Reg]

Flick taking off Chupo Mouting who had scored earlier for Javi fucking Martinez is criminal too.
Very odd substitution. You’d pick him to score out of anyone.

I think they left it too late to really go for it. Then again... Mbappe on the break.

Gnabry available and it would’ve been theirs I think. Lewandowski and it’s probably 7-3.

[CJay]

I’m not sure how PSG contrived not to score in that game. They had an entire half free for the fastest striker in the world to run into. Although there was one grossly incompetent offside call against Mbappe in the first half. What happened to letting the play run?

Bayern’s problem is they have little creativity. It’s all angled passes and crosses. They didn’t really create a lot of decent chances.

[Lewis]

1382076187116236811

What?

[Waffdon]

I came in to post that. I’ve watched it about 50 times and still don’t understand it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

But she's winning the race to the ball :cab:

[niko_cee]

What's the consternation here? The decision by the ref or the decision by the player?

Defender's been completely sold out by her 'keeper (women's football eh?) not being in the right place to sweep that up. She could probably have 'eased up' in front of the attacker in a less overtly stupid way, mind, as opposed to putting an NFL block in.

[John Arne]

Following our centerback getting an 8 month ban a few weeks back, last night out goalkeeper headbutted the assistant ref (after he gave a soft 96th min free kick from which the oppo scored). Another loooong ban incoming.

[Shindig]

Christ, the highlights of that women's match are horrific.

[Kikó]

What's the consternation here? The decision by the ref or the decision by the player?

Defender's been completely sold out by her 'keeper (women's football eh?) not being in the right place to sweep that up. She could probably have 'eased up' in front of the attacker in a less overtly stupid way, mind, as opposed to putting an NFL block in.

The player. She just needs to take the ball, she's well ahead of the other one and has a number of options which isn't running into the striker. Option 1, take it, turn play it out. Option 2, pass back to the keeper (the distance is there). Option 3, clear out of play if she's not confident to take it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The more I watched it I wondered if there was some kind of optical illusion going on and the NI player was actually going to get to the ball first, but it doesn't look that way from the behind-the-goal angle. I think it's just a misjudgement of that.

[Raoul Duke]

What's the consternation here? The decision by the ref or the decision by the player?

Defender's been completely sold out by her 'keeper (women's football eh?) not being in the right place to sweep that up. She could probably have 'eased up' in front of the attacker in a less overtly stupid way, mind, as opposed to putting an NFL block in.

She could have easily just calmly knocked it back to the keeper (which is why she doesn't come out, I'd assume)

[Ian]

I've just learned that Fulham have a yoof called "Delano Splatt", which I find rather pleasing.

[niko_cee]

She could have easily just calmly knocked it back to the keeper (which is why she doesn't come out, I'd assume)

Yeah, I dunno, she does sort of look like she's running in treacle.

[Pepe]

Women and spatial awareness amirite?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Jude Bellingham actually has a goal and not a yellow card this time.

City on the ropes.

[Waffdon]

That Casemiro tackle :lol:

[Spoonsky]

Feels like Barcelona except they can't finish today.

I'd love City to go out here too.

[Manc]

Jota for Firmino and Liverpool can tie this up.

[John Arne]

Aye, Firmino has been dross.

[Mike]

Should have finished one of those chances but we’re still in the game. Hopefully get a goal early in the second half.

[Don]

We're raping them as hard as one expected really, imagine 1 goal will really make them shit themselves, hopefullyget it before we have to sacrific the balance and take Milly and Gini off.

[Lewis]

Never a penalty. Mourinho was right.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

UEFA needs more money.

[Dquincy]

Typical Liverpool this. So wasteful up front.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fuck City.

[-james-]

Typical Liverpool this. So wasteful up front.


138 goals from 130 xG over the last couple of seasons. Computer says no.

[Dquincy]

138 goals from 130 xG over the last couple of seasons. Computer says no.

This season?

[CJay]

Pretty disappointed in the lack of a real strategy in this half. Just lobbing it in from deep to nobody in particular.

[Manc]

Shaqiri & OLC from the bench. :happycry:

[Manc]

What a fraud Thiago is btw. Even when games are made for him he can't pick out a pass.

[CJay]

What a fraud Thiago is btw. Even when games are made for him he can't pick out a pass.

I thought he did well. :shrug:

Not sure how that game was made for him to pick passes - Real had a 9 man low block for the last 15 minutes.

[Don]

Sickening. Left to support Real Madrid as the only stomacheable winner :sick:

[Spoonsky]

Abysmal subs by Klopp at the end there.

Ultimately just needed to score one of the first half chances.

[Baz]

We. Are. Fucking Shit. Yeah, we are fucking shit. :joy:

[Spikey M]

We're raping them as hard as one expected really, imagine 1 goal will really make them shit themselves, hopefullyget it before we have to sacrific the balance and take Milly and Gini off.

:cool:

[CJay]

Abysmal subs by Klopp at the end there.

Ultimately just needed to score one of the first half chances.

What else was there? Fresh legs and something different was the order of the day. Mané can do nothing right at the minute, and Firmino is a wasteman, so we weren’t any worse off with the replacements.

[Lewis]

138 goals from 130 xG over the last couple of seasons. Computer says no.

https://i.imgur.com/0yPFqYT.png

[Spikey M]

Quincy 1 - 0 Spreadsheet

[Spoonsky]

What else was there? Fresh legs and something different was the order of the day. Mané can do nothing right at the minute, and Firmino is a wasteman, so we weren’t any worse off with the replacements.

Taking off two strikers for two midfielders when you need a goal just doesn't make sense. We spent the last 10 minutes pitching crosses into the box with nobody there to head them. I know neither of them has been great recently but it's not going to be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who suddenly unlocks the 10 players they have behind the ball.

Our strikers are painfully inconsistent, and this season especially, but I always find it strange how easily people forget the last 3 seasons of success where all three of them were fundamental.

[Lewis]

Quincy 1 - 0 Spreadsheet

He's conquered all the spreadsheets
He's never gonna stop

:rave:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

How much did you lose over the two legs, Taz?

[Don]

None of your dirty business, you tranny.

[Spikey M]

Taz could bet on a daylight and there'd be an eclipse. I've never seen anything like it. It's incredible.

[Dquincy]

Quincy 1 - 0 Spreadsheet

:cool:

[Don]

I realise this is what my detractors wish to paint as the narrative due to me being so FUCKING MASSIVE but rest assured, I remain FUCKING MASSIVE.

[Spoonsky]

Taz could bet on a daylight and there'd be an eclipse. I've never seen anything like it. It's incredible.

Isn't it more that he relentlessly (and beautifully imo) backs Liverpool in a season where they keep losing?

[Waffdon]

How are Man City nearly evens to win the whole thing? PSG to beat them in the home leg is 19/10. LUMP

[-james-]

Love how riled Lewis gets when I xgpost. My point is that it's just lazy/inaccurate to say it's typical Liverpool to be inefficient at finishing chances. Their finishing in the recent era is massively above average. There is enough of a sample for this to be indisputable fact.

[-james-]

They have underperformed vs it a bit this season though yeah lol.

[phonics]

We're so crap these days that the Dulux Dog slagging off Spurs 3 minutes after being announced as an official club sponsor is up there as a top 1-2 highlight of the season.

[Dquincy]

To elaborate on curly's post. This is brilliant. :D


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[Waffdon]

Christ, Europe about to have another all English final in both competitions. BITW

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Arsenal (and probably United too) will fuck it up.

There's also no chance that City are getting to the final.

[Lewis]

Imagine the shame of losing the UEFA Cup final to Arsenal. It would without question be the new post-2013 low point.

[Kikó]

Arsenal (and probably United too) will fuck it up.

There's also no chance that City are getting to the final.

Only real if taz posts it.

[randomlegend]

How are those not fouls on Amad lmao.

[Spoonsky]

Imagine the shame of losing the UEFA Cup final to Arsenal. It would without question be the new post-2013 low point.

What's the current holder?

[Lewis]

I don't know. In hindsight much of the 'LvG'-induced misery can just be filed under 'Banter Era', but, given that everybody our age had only ever known success, the December/January leading up to this (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/25740123) was painful.

[Don]

Imagine thinking Moyes was the problem with that line-up. No wonder he's gone off football and is purely shooting at THE SCIENCE now.

[Lewis]

There was a brief movement to blame Sir Alex Ferguson for leaving a load of shit behind, but then people started to see how badly run every other aspect of the club was and it flipped into thinking he must have been even better than everyone thought to win titles with much of that load of shit.

[Kikó]

I don't know. In hindsight much of the 'LvG'-induced misery can just be filed under 'Banter Era', but, given that everybody our age had only ever known success, the December/January leading up to this (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/25740123) was painful.

Those penalties were something to behold. I think I went to a home game v Stoke in the period and typically, it was 0-0 at half time. I think it ended up being 1-0 but I'm pretty sure that was the only excitement, shot or anything in the entire period.

Shame really, LvG's personality was much more interesting than the diabolically dull football.

[Bernanke]

1382737179487649794

[Jimmy Floyd]

Comments like that are a symptom of why footballers are despised in wider society. Get over it you tosser.

[Waffdon]

Frank Lampard really should be taking that England U21 job

[Lewis]

I like that Napoleon is still the second top Russian villain after Hitler. I doubt he barely even registers in the popular British imagination these days the poor little bastard.

[phonics]

Opened Twitter and saw that Spurs v Everton was about to kick off. I think the TV stations being obligated to show the matches and so refusing to lay them over each other to maximise viewing is genuinely damaging to 'the product'.

[Offshore Toon]

The most annoying thing is BBC refusing to say which channel the games are on in hope that you tune in to the radio.

[phonics]

The most annoying thing is BBC refusing to say which channel the games are on in hope that you tune in to the radio.

As someone who hasn't watched more than 3 games a season not on a stream that's not a big issue for me.

[Offshore Toon]

I've got IPTV and the Amazon Prime games always leave me bewildered.

[Shindig]

Kane's done his ankle in? It's like clockwork, isn't it?

[niko_cee]

That was a fairly comedy goal, added bonus of a red card chucked in as well.

Good grief, Fabianski bringing the lols too.

[-james-]

Yeah alright Newcastle are safe. Actually look like a football side these days.

[Shindig]

For such doom and gloom over the season, we could only be 3 points off last year's points tally. 41 if we beat Fulham and Sheff Utd. It's all been a bit Pardew-esque with how hot and cold we've been. They key players have come back at the right time and Willock's been a welcome addition.

[Gray Fox]

From the outside looking in, seems that getting ASM back has been the difference.

A win against Leeds later and everything starts to look rosy for Liverpool.

[Raoul Duke]

Norwich going up is good. Always though they were a decent side and some tidy players. Yellow kit too.

[Waffdon]

Rodri, Fernandinho and Jorgingo all in midfield. I think majority of TTH could out run them.

This has 0-0 all over it unless Werner fancies running in behind and remembering how to shoot

[Shindig]

From the outside looking in, seems that getting ASM back has been the difference.

Yep. Almiron's been decent as well but Saint Maximin really likes to run at people. It can't help but lift those around him. Shocking defence, though. At least we're reacting well when we concede.

[Waffdon]

Fernandinho still not booked and James goes in for winning the ball :D

[John Arne]

Was just about to say that. Fernandinho stamps on Mount's face, then attempts to chop him in two - nothing. James wins the ball and is booked.

[phonics]

Mendy is enormous. Looks like when an adult playing in a kids game.

[CJay]

It’s days like this where Sterling really looks totally out of his depth. It’s no wonder Pep has barely played him recently.

[phonics]

Watching City be all over Chelsea and not really create anything is giving me real late-era Wenger vibes.

[Kikó]

Great to see another year without the treble.

[Waffdon]

Chelsea’s squad depth is going to be ridiculous after this summer

[mo]

John Sheriden resigns as Swindon Town manager, now that we've hit bottom of the league. 27 defeats (which could still rise to 31) is our highest amount of defeats in a season since 1894-95, remarkably.

[SincereTheRebel]

Sherfield Utd are gone but Wolves have been poor all season. Not even goals in the team. This William Jose can piss off wherever he came from. Should have brought in Giroud instead

[SincereTheRebel]

Im not sure If wolves can relegate wba, but if they do :drool:

[SincereTheRebel]

1383527569815863301?s=19

[John Arne]

What on earth is that last defender doing?? Edge of the 6 yard box, facing Messi - and he shows him inside? I know he's probably shitting the bed, but that is awful defending.

[Don]

I think it's more Messi showing him outside tbf :D Mad quick bodyswerve. On a similar note, the way ASM made one of the West Ham whiteboys shit themselves for Ogbonna's OG was hilarious.

[Waffdon]

Diop, you racist slag

[Don]

No, he was white, you blind cunt.

:baz:

[Don]

Oh Scotty :(

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It was clear a late Arsenal goal was coming.

Parker doesn't know how to set up his team to keep a lead.

[Don]

Great to see Juve lose today.

[randomlegend]

LWogba :drool:

(:uhoh:)

[randomlegend]

Wonder if the lads will count that as the early goal conceded at home.

[Lewis]

LWogba :drool:

(:uhoh:)

Ron Atkinson's commentary notes.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Rashford :lol:

[Gray Fox]

Neville is furious about this potential super league.

[Don]

1383797449957859334?s=20

You know it's bad when you're getting donned like that by Micah Richards :D

[Waffdon]

Martin Tyler randomly screaming Rashford’s name there :D

[Waffdon]

Man Utd are quite good at winning games they don’t look good in. We’ll get to see if they manage to finally win a semi final this year with this new confidence

[Lewis]

Neville is furious about this potential super league.

Once again I'm left wondering what Tottenham have ever done to be part of these discussions. Jose Mourinho is the biggest thing about them.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Give "Donny" more minutes.

[Kikó]

Good result.

[Lewis]

Another spectacular pre-assist. What could you class the dummy in the first goal as? The co-assist.

[randomlegend]

8 points to catch up with 6 games to play? Easy.

[niko_cee]

Not once Neville's docked you 60 points and David Moyes' West Ham are lolling their way to the title.

[Gray Fox]

1383830563300077569

[Kikó]

Sky taking the moral high ground is all sorts of lol.

[Shindig]

Is Salford run on a non-league budget, Gary?

[Kikó]

I don't think he was criticizing owner investment in general.

[SincereTheRebel]

In guessing Leicester couldn't afford the entry fee so Spurs took the spot instead.

[Dquincy]

This Super League move is somewhat baffling. Allegedly, UEFA and the Premier League have the right to expel the clubs from their own competitions if they pursue this. So it all just stinks of being a power move against UEFA (rather than actually going through with it).

[Manc]

Big dick NRG from Nev is lovely to see.

[Shindig]

This Super League move is somewhat baffling. Allegedly, UEFA and the Premier League have the right to expel the clubs from their own competitions if they pursue this. So it all just stinks of being a power move against UEFA (rather than actually going through with it).

If I was UEFA, I'd call their bluff. Let them do it and they'll spend all season playing 22 games a season with a three-month break in the middle. 11 home games vs 17+ in a proper league with a cup games and European games. They'll bleed money unless a stupid TV deal made up the numbers.

[Gray Fox]

This is just a protest against the changes to the Champions League that UEFA wants to make.

The Premier League would also never kick out any of those clubs. There's not a chance someone who has grown up a Chelsea fan is going to suddenly abandon them and follow Crystal Palace or West Ham.

[Waffdon]

They’ve released a statement saying it’s going ahead as soon as possible. I wonder who the other three clubs are. PSG I would assume. Doubt the German clubs will be involved

[Gray Fox]

I imagine Juventus and the two Milan clubs, along with Real, Barcelona and Atletico.

PSG and Bayern crucially have not agreed to it as yet. If those two get on board and maybe bring Dortmund, I could see them doing it.

[Don]

Would be beautiful if it did happen but I don't see how the logistics could work. You'd just have a league that would be full of past it names and money hungry Neymars so basically MLS. If it did, it would lead to some revolution so chalk it up as yet another awakening thanks to COVID.

[Gray Fox]

Well, shit.

https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/431801-leading-european-football-clubs-announce-new-super-league-competition#

[Waffdon]

I imagine Juventus and the two Milan clubs, along with Real, Barcelona and Atletico.

PSG and Bayern crucially have not agreed to it as yet. If those two get on board and maybe bring Dortmund, I could see them doing it.

It’s the English clubs, the Milan clubs, Juventus, The Madrid’s and Barcelona. Spurs and Arsenal don’t half look out of place

[Dquincy]

This is just a protest against the changes to the Champions League that UEFA wants to make.

The Premier League would also never kick out any of those clubs. There's not a chance someone who has grown up a Chelsea fan is going to suddenly abandon them and follow Crystal Palace or West Ham.
The fans can carry on supporting the likes of Chelsea, they just won't be seeing them play in the Premier League or Champions League. Would love to see them all booted out for this.

[Dquincy]

It’s the English clubs, the Milan clubs, Juventus, The Madrid’s and Barcelona. Spurs and Arsenal don’t half look out of place

Spurs and Arsenal are definitely the relegation fodder (if only this mickey mouse competition had relegation).

[Gray Fox]

The new annual tournament will provide significantly greater economic growth and support for European football via a long-term commitment to uncapped solidarity payments which will grow in line with league revenues. These solidarity payments will be substantially higher than those generated by the current European competition and are expected to be in excess of €10 billion during the course of the initial commitment period of the Clubs. In addition, the competition will be built on a sustainable financial foundation with all Founding Clubs signing up to a spending framework. In exchange for their commitment, Founding Clubs will receive an amount of €3.5 billion solely to support their infrastructure investment plans and to offset the impact of the COVID pandemic.

So essentially we're all making sure each others backs are scratched to stop anything like Leicester winning the league again.

[Dquincy]

1383911336300609539

Well that didn't take long.

[Boydy]

What are the proposed changes to the Champions League they're pissed off about?

[Waffdon]

I hope UEFA aren’t using empty threats. Imagine they banned the players from international football :D

[Shindig]

On the flipside, the abdication of the six clubs makes our European slots quite awesome. Leeds and Villa grinding out score draws in Tiblisi. :cool:

[Gray Fox]

UEFA banning them makes no difference. This Super League has a staggering amount more money in it.

It's down to the Premier League now.

[Don]

This is absurd. What the sweet fuck is going on in the world?

[Waffdon]

UEFA banning them makes no difference. This Super League has a staggering amount more money in it.

It's down to the Premier League now.

Not that it will happen, but I doubt players would be too happy not being able to play for their countries at major tournaments. Or am I missing something

[Don]

UEFA banning them makes no difference. This Super League has a staggering amount more money in it.

It's down to the Premier League now.

It's a massive weapon UEFA have. They will essentially have every player that signs up be publically recognised as a mercenary (yes, even more than now). Fans will burn Anfield down before they have a chance to play a game in that shambles.

[Gray Fox]

I'm still at the point where I don't think it will actually go ahead, but this is a serious bluff calling contest now.

[Lofty]

Didnt the ECB say the same thing when the IPL started?

[phonics]

How do I find a new club? I can’t follow my Dads team, being a West Brom fan sounds awful.

[Shindig]

Have you not got a Swiss team?

[igor_balis]

How do I find a new club? I can’t follow my Dads team, being a West Brom fan sounds awful.

https://i.imgur.com/AHG2uMD.gif

[Gray Fox]

1383914005048094722

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1383910477386764292

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They also say that Dortmund and PSG have said no.

[Bernanke]

Leipzig. :lol: It would be them from Germany.

[Lewis]

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

Essential reading lads (finally). It's a wheeze to get their own way on the Champions' League reforms.

[Waffdon]

They also say that Dortmund and PSG have said no.

Surprised at PSG but I think one of their directors is involved within UEFA

[Waffdon]

Champions League and Europa League temporarily cancelled:lol:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1383917732685516802

[Don]

This is my Chauvin acquittal. Board up your fucking windows.

[Bernanke]

1383925153399152649

[Waffdon]

This is all a bit mental. Even VAR has its fans, I doubt you’ll find anyone other than Asians and Africans that would support this

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Rumours are that Klopp has walked.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1383927682769985543

[Don]

I'm absolutely fucked. First day back at work after a week off and I was intending on getting a good night's sleep.

[Lewis]

1383851519217324041

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:lol:

[Bob Sacamano]

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[Gray Fox]

https://i.gyazo.com/b988b5d35cc7ddc82c4dd6a77d4ce33f.png

[Luke Emia]

Sky taking the moral high ground is all sorts of lol.

Exactly this. I'm not a fan of this Super League shit. But, there seems to have been a very collective amnesia regarding how the Premier League was formed, the impact it has had on the rest of the league & the fact that the big clubs have hoovered the vast majority of the money since it's inception. Something like this was always going to happen because the biggest clubs are only interested in what is best for them.

[Mellberg]

£3.5bn? If this goes ahead and they're allowed to stay in the league I'll give it up.

If they're fucked off and the Prem becomes rugby league with the same rules then fanfuckingtastic.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm joining Taz's militia - he can teach me how to use an automatic weapon and the ways of the mujahideen, while I'll supply the list of local restaurants the Chelsea players frequent, for the first wave of killings.

What I don't understand is why they have now suddenly been driven to such an extreme measure. It's not as if life is going badly for them now.

[niko_cee]

Presumably Covid provides an excellent backdrop to leverage their financial might against and also allows for the 'structural and financial reform is needed to save the game' li(n)e.


Rumours are that Klopp has walked.

He can come and managed FC Liverpool of Liverpool.

Wait . . .

[SincereTheRebel]

Wolves have won more top league titles than Spurs. Shambles.

[Ian]

If United are doing this as an excuse for me to finally stop watching them then I'm all in favour.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was thinking about alternative clubs this morning. Sutton Utd might be a good one. Woking are a bit too shit and full of plebs, and Wimbledon are a bit up themselves.

[Kikó]

I was playing at Dorking Wanderers for a game on Saturday Jim, lovely little stadium. Shame it's about 90 minutes from me but it's in a lovely setting.

[Ian]

I suppose I'd throw what enthusiasm I have for football into going out of my way to watch more Coventry games. Another club with shithouse ownership.

I'll start pricing up a Mo Konjic tattoo.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was playing at Dorking Wanderers for a game on Saturday Jim, lovely little stadium. Shame it's about 90 minutes from me but it's in a lovely setting.

Yeah, the cricket ground there is the same. England hardly gets more beautiful.

[Waffdon]

Mourinho sacked. Must have not liked the Super League

[Offshore Toon]

If all the richest clubs fuck off to start their own sport and our takeover goes through. :drool:

It might be a good thing. Imagine the variety in the European competitions. There's no shortage of good players about so there'd be plenty of competition. Can see it becoming a league/union type deal with players switching codes and the like. If they create a money driven Yanktastic version of soccer, then we might end up moving away from that.

[niko_cee]

Football would undoubtedly be better off without the 'big clubs', for a while at least, until the next batch rolled around I guess.

Presumably Spurs have had to sack Mourinho now on the off chance that they might win a cup next week and they probably couldn't do it after that. Absolutely baffling.

[niko_cee]

Either that of they've got Jo Moore (was that her name) in to do their press work.

[niko_cee]

Are they doing a minute's silence for The Duke/The Death of Football at tonight's match?

[Spikey M]

Football would undoubtedly be better off without the 'big clubs', for a while at least, until the next batch rolled around I guess.

Presumably Spurs have had to sack Mourinho now on the off chance that they might win a cup next week and they probably couldn't do it after that. Absolutely baffling.

That and the hope of an extremely timely "new manager bounce" I imagine.

[Shindig]

I don't know what could be more exciting: An empty stadium for the League Cup final or 8,000 angry, violent punters.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm disappointed that Sky haven't lined up boos for every single Liverpool touch.

[niko_cee]

Considering how unwatchably bad football is in a fanless environment it feels like there's a very simple solution to all this breakaway nonsense, and if the fans won't do it (they won't) then lets start revoking some safety certificates.

[Waffdon]

This game has been horrendous. Chelsea will probably do a 2012 and win the CL/FA Cup and finish 6th

[Bernanke]

Schalke's fall from grace sure is something. 5th in the league in the winter break 19-20, then won their last game in match 18 of that season. In all of last year and this year they've won a total of three games.

[Manc]

Relying on a 37 year old KJH to score goals is a bit lol. He wasn't the most mobile at his peak.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

*The Hunter.

Please get his name right.

[Ian]

You didn't even put a :drool: in there 'How so you're not even adhering to your own style guide.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He flustered me.

[Raoul Duke]

And hiring that binman who was Jurgen's mate and was terrible at Wigan (?)

[niko_cee]

Huddersfield.

[Manc]

Terrible? He got his team promoted to the promised land. :cab:

[Shindig]

It should've been Lee Clark. :moop:

[randomlegend]

Lewis

We're going to win the league.

[Lewis]

Well done.

[randomlegend]

Lewis

We're not going to win the league.

[randomlegend]

That's a stonewall red.

[Foe]

Players attempting to clear the ball should not be deemed an aggressive tackle.

It’s a booking, he’s late, but it’s not a 3 game ban.

Displaying it as if it’s a studs first lunge is ridiculous.

[randomlegend]

He went in studs up knee height, of course it's a red.

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

Not a red :happycry:

[Foe]

No he didn’t. He went in side foot first to clear the ball and didn’t get there first.

[randomlegend]

Side foot :D

[Foe]

This would happen almost every time someone kicks a football more than 30 yards if you plonked a player beside them.

It’s contact. It’s a foul. It’s a yellow.

[Foe]

I’m not denying his studs caught his knee. That’s not the challenge he’s making though, is it. If you don’t understand that, you don’t understand motion.

[randomlegend]

It's reckless and dangerous, he hits him knee height with his studs, it's an absolutely blatant red.

[randomlegend]

I’m not denying his studs caught his knee. That’s not the challenge he’s making though, is it. If you don’t understand that, you don’t understand motion.

Understanding motion is exactly what you need to be able to do to understand why what he's done is dangerous.

Players don't have carte blanche to go flying in any way they like provided they are aiming for the ball.

[Kikó]

This would happen almost every time someone kicks a football more than 30 yards if you plonked a player beside them.

It’s contact. It’s a foul. It’s a yellow.

The player beside them part is pretty important.

[Foe]

It’s clumsy and late.

Respectfully disagree, but whatever.

[Manc]

England are in deep trouble in the summer if that boy starts.

[randomlegend]

Jesus christ, you've got to be absolutely brainless to get to do that on a yellow.

Is Grealish injured? Villa are awful.

[Don]

You've got to be more brainless to care :baz:

[Spikey M]

No he didn’t. He went in side foot first to clear the ball and didn’t get there first.

:D

[Manc]

The Athletic is now available for £1 per month. Get involved.

[Ian]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/apr/23/manchester-united-ed-woodward-got-one-days-notice-of-super-league-launch


it is understood he felt uneasy regarding the lack of competition in a new tournament in which 15 clubs including United would be guaranteed entry, and spent the next two days considering whether he could support it.

But surely that element of it is basically the headline thing from whenever he first saw these proposals?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Plebs like him wouldn't have been in the loop, this was about moving the share prices.

[Kikó]

Ed 100% would have known the full deal. He's arse covering.

[igor_balis]

1384064533233238016

Lolz

[Waffdon]

Ryan Giggs charged with assault on two women. He’s a bit of a creepy cunt, isn’t he?

[Offshore Toon]

He hasn't exactly endeared himself to people post-playing career, but surely enough's enough at this point and we'll never hear from him again?

[Ian]

Fingers crossed.

[Kikó]

This probably rules him out of the United job.

[Ian]

Fingers and toes crossed.

[Lewis]

Paul Scholes must be relieved that he's no longer the biggest post-playing twat of the crew.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Rumours are that he's been sacked from the Wales job which you'd hope is true.

[Manc]

Hope? He's done.

[phonics]

Gary Speed > Chris Coleman > Ryan Giggs is a distinct moral and talent decline each time.

[Shindig]

Does Craig Bellamy have his badges?

[Lewis]

Gary Speed didn't even work his notice, so I'm not sure how fondly the Welsh FA regard him.

[Disco]

Quite a lot of Wales feels like it's still in the 1950's (when topping yourself was still a crime) so that must count against him too.

[Shindig]

Jose Mourinho, Wales Manager.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That would actually be a really good fit if it wasn't for Bale.

[Shindig]

"When I need Gareth I'll call him up." :cool:

[niko_cee]

Having Martyn Tyler call them 'the shameful six' sort of makes me want said six teams to collectively to tell Sky/The Premier League to stick it and watch the world burn.

[Shindig]

It's all a bit 'We made you and we can destroy you'.

[phonics]

This match is the best advert for a super league they could do. Fucking atrocious.

[Manc]

Not when it involves one of the SUPER teams.

[Don]

They'll need some goalkeeping reinforcements if they're to avoid the ignominy of finishing 20th in the SL.

[CJay]

Funny that they sold the best keeper in the league this season for a pittance.

[Mellberg]

I say thanks every day.

[Dquincy]

I don't remember there being a recent season where so many teams are vying for 3rd and 4th place.

Exciting.

[-james-]

West Ham might genuinely be in with a shot if they get a result tomorrow. Chelsea's run in is brutal and everyone else below them is just a bit shit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The unstoppable force of poetic justice is now with them and Lester too.

[niko_cee]

This bit of the BBC Gossip page took me aback somewhat this morning:


Everton's Norwegian striker Josh King is in talks with Turkish side Galatasaray and the 29-year-old seems set to leave the club this summer.


Not sure I had any recollection of him having gone there.

It also too me about 3 days the other day to remember Ajax were in Liverpool's Champions League group this season, which I'm not sure says more about me, the Champions League group stage or the general plight of football in the last year.

[Mellberg]

Think it was Jimmy who said new football gets forgotten pretty quickly and the old stuff you can recite to the closest detail. Very true. Off the top of my head I'm not sure what our third fixture back was, but you ask me to talk you through the Channel 5 hosted 97/98 UEFA cup run and it's no problem.