Football in January 2022

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

VAR is great.

[niko_cee]

That's an unbelievable decision, and opens up a whole can of worms in terms of how to defend those offside players. Just run into them I guess.

[Luke Emia]

If it takes you as long as that to decide how is it clear and obvious?

[randomlegend]

Dunno, is Tuchel a pressing manager?

Don't think so.

[Mellberg]

Raging.

[Yevrah]

If it takes you as long as that to decide how is it clear and obvious?

That's the crux for me. That was, what? 4 minutes of fucking about. Ludicrous.

[randomlegend]

That's an unbelievable decision, and opens up a whole can of worms in terms of how to defend those offside players. Just run into them I guess.

He quite clearly blocked him deliberately. He's watching him coming and making sure he's going to block him the whole way.

[Waffdon]

5 mins looking at offside and then gives something else :D

[Luke Emia]

That's the crux for me. That was, what? 4 minutes of fucking about. Ludicrous.

That's it really. 4 minutes on that but 'Somehow about Liverpool' the other week that Kane foul isn't even worth a look? It feels like goals are given forensic analysis but unless it leads to a goal nothing else is even looked at.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Raging.

Clear and obvious mate.

[Pepe]

I am not even watching, but VAR has and will continue to ruin the sport.

[Don]

Tuned in at HT. Sack the fucking nazi clown and bring Stevie in with Ramsey. We'll take the afro lad they chuck on too. Fucking hell :drool: my mushroom is out and ready for a bit of premium peppering before RL devours it once the equaliser comes.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What the fuck was that?

Why is Greenwood not passing and why is Rashford not trying to follow it up?

[Lewis]

Get lost Rashford.

[Manc]

You can see the early retirement in his eyes.

[Spikey M]

That's it really. 4 minutes on that but 'Somehow about Liverpool' the other week that Kane foul isn't even worth a look? It feels like goals are given forensic analysis but unless it leads to a goal nothing else is even looked at.

Let it go ffs.

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/01/11/20/23281398-0-image-a-80_1578776155574.jpg

[niko_cee]

Wait a minute, is chancer's chancer Bruno Fernandes the United captain? :harold:

Good to see Rashford has turned into a full-on footballing parody account as well.

[niko_cee]

He quite clearly blocked him deliberately. He's watching him coming and making sure he's going to block him the whole way.

Happens all the time.

[Mellberg]

He quite clearly blocked him deliberately. He's watching him coming and making sure he's going to block him the whole way.

Oh fuck off. 75% of set pieces ruled out from here on in please.

[niko_cee]

Oh fuck off. 75% of set pieces ruled out from here on in please.

Probably will be if United concede them, which, watching them here, they probably will.

[randomlegend]

This rage :drool:

[Mellberg]

This rage :drool:

I know. That’s exactly what I said you fucking spastic.

[Kikó]

I thought the obvious first check for the var was whether it was a foul. It looked pretty obvious something had happened in the build up.

Rashford is clearly mentally fucked.

[Lewis]

Mellin having courtroom flashbacks.

[randomlegend]

Tuned in at HT. Sack the fucking nazi clown and bring Stevie in with Ramsey. We'll take the afro lad they chuck on too. Fucking hell :drool: my mushroom is out and ready for a bit of premium peppering before RL devours it once the equaliser comes.

https://i2-prod.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article15386026.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200d/0_mourinhoJPG.jpg

[Mellberg]

Oh my dayz we have these fuckers on Saturday.

[Don]

Shearer's right, we shouldn't criticise Rashford as we don't know what's going on in his personal life.

All done without one of the elite talents in the global game after Mbappe and Haaland, too. Utd may be back.

[Mellberg]

Oh my dayz we have these fuckers on Saturday.

The silence since this post is called THE FEAR and a symptom of United being a load of shit for the last 10 years. Don, pray to Allah for me. May not care as much on Sat, but right now I would sacrifice family members.

[randomlegend]

The silence since this post is called THE FEAR and a symptom of United being a load of shit for the last 10 years. Don, pray to Allah for me. May not care as much on Sat, but right now I would sacrifice family members.

Deliberately seeking out Taz's curse on your own team :drool:

[randomlegend]

Actually referring to him as Don is the most nonce behaviour I've seen in a long time.

[Ian]

I mean I haven't looked forward to a United game in years at this point so the impending defeat to Villa brings me no special heebie jeebies.

[Manc]

Konsa needs a few lessons in the dark arts. I'd recommend standing side on for starters.

[randomlegend]

https://i.imgur.com/8uSto0b.jpeg

:D

[Mellberg]

Actually referring to him as Don is the most nonce behaviour I've seen in a long time.

I’ve seen your mugshots.

[randomlegend]

Bold of you to bring up mugshots.

[phonics]

I'd defend Villa here but even after resetting his password for him every Mellin post has had a ricochet shot at Arsenal so I'm going to stay out of it.

[Mellberg]

I just like going after the empire. Nothing personal. No fun in kicking the little man. Thanks for the reset.

[randomlegend]

Good to have it out in the open that I am the Empire.

[Waffdon]

I’ve seen your mugshots.

It is interesting RL and Lewis bring up nonce a lot when they both would be just behind Baz if you had to line up everyone from the board and select the local paedophile/serial killer.

[Mellberg]

You’re the size of an empire you fat cunt.

[phonics]

You’re the size of an empire you fat cunt.

:D

Okay now I'm on Mellins side.

[Manc]

Lovely needle for a Monday night.

[Boydy]

It is interesting RL and Lewis bring up nonce a lot when they both would be just behind Baz if you had to line up everyone from the board and select the local paedophile/serial killer.

:lol:

[Spikey M]

You’re the size of an empire you fat cunt.

:lol:

[Don]

Lovely needle for a Monday night.

Truly this. It's a sign of the times. Nature is healing and it's healing quick.

[randomlegend]

It is interesting RL and Lewis bring up nonce a lot when they both would be just behind Baz if you had to line up everyone from the board and select the local paedophile/serial killer.

That is the second time I've ever used the word nonce in the history of the board, you coke-addled fucktard.

[Waffdon]

Hahahahahahahah. Rattled, mate.

[Baz]

I’m not a nonce but I could definitely do a few murders and not be arsed.

[Lewis]

The no/out of date mugshot brigade have to be top of those lists until they prove otherwise.

[phonics]

I don't think Lewis looks like a nonce but is nailed on to be the picture under an article headlined 'Mother and three children die in Arson attack'.

[Waffdon]

https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E03AQF8yIiBm1VEsg/profile-displayphoto-shrink_200_200/0/1578675276131?e=1645056000&v=beta&t=mk2zlXFKQ1NqkVlZEF22B0oyuyfTMYLWweuXE3nbzA4

Debatable

[Lewis]

manc sean thinks I look like James Dean Bradfield, which I don't. He looks like Paul Heaton. We should put a tribute show on.

[Kikó]

That's an amazing shout 🤣

[Manc]

Is the AFCON coverage on the BBC a red button/iplayer affair?

[Don]

It's a shut the fuck up about this dogshit tourney affair.

No, all joking aside, keen to see Algeria today before the main course. I'm gonna unload £200 on Egypt outright to spice up the affair even though it's ill-advised with such reliance on an individual during COVID times.

Edit: https://www.live-footballontv.com/

Ya, red button/iplayer/website

[Don]

Sad to see backup Wealdstone player David Sesay not starting for Sierra Leone.

[Manc]

Some result for Sierra Leone if they can hold on.

[Don]

Caulker singlehandedly donning them senseless and they take 84 mins to throw on Benrahma, the fucking clueless Berber cunts.

[CJay]

Mahrez is technically on another level to everyone else, but unfortunately his teammates appear to be useless in front of goal.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Keeper has done well too.

Looks assured and had a cracking sweeper keeper tackle just before half time.

[Don]

Imagine my beloved Egypt won't have any finishing shortcomings with their 2 strikers and Salah doing whatever he does for them.

[CJay]

The screen showing the Egyptian lineup was good. Every player had their full 4 or 5 names listed. Totally incomprehensible. :D

[Ian]

The screen showing the Egyptian lineup was good. Every player had their full 4 or 5 names listed. Totally incomprehensible. :D

I've just looked at the England team to see who'd be coming off worst if they did that for England games.

I like Saka having a middle name and the initials 'T.M.' in the middle of his name and a big fan of Foden's middle name being Walter but the big takeaway for me was that Harry Maguire's actual first name is Jacob.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I used to enjoy when they wrote a player's names the wrong way round and it ended up sticking with them for an entire career, e.g. Finidi George, or John Obi Mikel, who is named neither Obi nor Mikel.

[Manc]

Onyeka on the bench. :sick:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ihenacho :cool:

Quality finish.

[Don]

Egypt are fucking dogshit. I want my money back ffs.

Algeria should coast this tournament.

[Manc]

Is it just me or is the ball absolutely flying?

[Luca]

Imagine my beloved Egypt won't have any finishing shortcomings with their 2 strikers and Salah doing whatever he does for them.

The Taz curse strikes again. :drool:

[-james-]

£25 million for a 30 year old Chris Wood is pretty epic tbf. I think it's important that we all channel all our positive energy towards Turf Moor for the rest of the season.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They'll only spend it on meat pies and gravy.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Keeper got the ball there.

Shouldn't be a pen.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Keeper :cool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sudan have 9 lives.

[Waffdon]

1481003750726717441

That second strike :drool:

Poor bloke

[thommo]

Shame the big oaf was about 5 yards offside for each one.

[Shindig]

I've never seen him so mobile.

[Don]

The Taz curse strikes again. :drool:

Stay out of this, Pepper Bae.

[thommo]

One more goal from us and maybe Reading can copy Blackburn's example and make a playoff push.

[Danny]

https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/s1nrx2/a_compilation_of_mohamed_kamara_sierra_leone/

That’s what it’s all about

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fuck a man crying with joy after getting a clean sheet, let's get back to watching highly paid men with Louis Vuitton washbags 'press' empty space like nephews at a rich man's wake.

[Don]

We don't need goals or even passes, we just need watermelon smiles.

[Boydy]

Is he not outside the box when he punches it at the 16 second mark in that video?

Edit: oh wait, does he head it?

[niko_cee]

I assume, without looking, that Nigeria are probably the toughest team in Egypt's group. Is there any chance of getting Salah home nice and early or have they expanded the format/made it almost impossible for any half competent nation to go out in the group stages?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Format is the same as the Euros, so they'd have to fail to beat both Sudan and Guinea-Bissau.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Khazri :harold:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What is the ref doing?

First it seems he blows the full time whistle 5 minutes early and now sends off a Malian player for a pretty nothing challenge.

[CJay]

Why is Yves Bissouma not getting a game for Mali?

Festival of penalty goals so far.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

And now he's blown the whistle again early :D

[Giggles]

A tournament for all for Africa.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Have Tunisia got a massive seethe on? Even by their standards this is early in the tournament.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

For some reason Mauritania/Gambia has been pushed back by 45 minutes.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Apparently it's because of the issues in the Tunisia/Mali game :harold:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1481294286192885762

I had no idea that CAF asked for a restart and Tunisia didn't show up.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They just tried to play Mauritania's national anthem but it stopped twice and the stadium announcer has asked the players to sing it themselves :D

[Manc]

Tonnes of material for Don to play with here.

[Spikey M]

The thin veil does seem to have slipped somewhat.

[Don]

https://c.tenor.com/c_XPwp0MNmsAAAAd/jose-mourinho-i-prefer-not-to-speak.gif

[Kikó]

Paging Lewis

Jason Burt in The Telegraph -

There is little doubt that Marcus Rashford is suffering a crisis of confidence. It is a crisis fuelled by years of trying to drag Manchester United back to where the club wants to be, of playing through debilitating injuries and constantly taking one for the team. A crisis born out of being an academy graduate shunted from position to position to accommodate others - and of never having a manager who has actually coached him to be the best he can be since his dramatic first-team breakthrough in 2016.

It is also a crisis that came into sharp focus during United’s unconvincing 1-0 FA Cup victory over Aston Villa on Monday evening. Some fans at Old Trafford turned on Rashford, who was vilified on social media for his lacklustre performance, with television pundit Alan Shearer even declaring that the forward “doesn’t seem to be enjoying his football much”.

There may be an element of truth in what Shearer says although the accusation by Steve McClaren, the former England manager and United assistant, that Rashford has an “attitude problem” is not only ill-informed but insulting.

It would be difficult to find a player who cares as much as Rashford. It does not mean the 24-year-old is not acutely aware of his form; just that he is understandably upset by the accusations that he lacks commitment given his love for United, the club he joined aged seven and the only team he has ever wanted to play for. If anything Rashford cares too much and has, on occasions, taken on too much responsibility and sacrificed himself for United.

There is a danger here – the danger that one of the finest talents England has produced will not go on to fulfil his potential, or even may have to leave United to do so. The club has to be careful with a player who is so desperate to improve and learn that he has put himself through triple training sessions, spends up to 12 hours a day at the Carrington training ground and quizzes Cristiano Ronaldo on not just what he eats but also on what specifically his muscle mass was at Rashford’s age.

The England international welcomed Ronaldo’s signing last summer, not least because he believed that, as with Edinson Cavani, here was a player he could learn from having had to take on so much responsibility since he was thrown into the team by Louis van Gaal for a Europa League tie almost six years ago. Rashford would appear to be a player who is crying out to be coached.

But Van Gaal did not last long as manager; Jose Mourinho seemed to resent the focus on Rashford and the fact he was the poster boy of United’s academy. There had been hope that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as a former striker, would be able to school Rashford on how to improve. Instead, Solskjaer barely took a training session at United and preferred to delegate to his coaching staff. When Rashford did approach him he was not helped.

It means that Rashford has never actually been developed; he has never had a manager who has put his arm around him and said, "Right, let’s make you the best possible player we can." Maybe that coach will be Ralf Rangnick although, understandably, the German is preoccupied right now, in the fire-fighting and crisis management that has not stopped at United since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

The dressing room discontent has not helped, even if it has been denied. There are players who want out, senior players, influential players. It is no secret that Paul Pogba intends to go when his contract expires this summer, as does Jesse Lingard, while Anthony Martial has reiterated his desire to quit and return to France. All are big personalities among the squad and it has been allowed to fester and have a draining effect on the team. It brings the mood down.

So has the perennial sense of failure. There have been perceptive comments about the poor body language in the team and the belief that they are playing for themselves; that a player knows that if he scores then the media scrutiny will fall elsewhere. And whatever the denials, that has not helped the togetherness.

Fitness has also been a big issue – as has the fact that Rashford has never, properly, nailed down a position. This season alone he has played as a central striker, in all three positions behind that striker and even at wing-back. It always seems that Rashford is the player who is moved to accommodate others and, understandably, it does not suggest a great deal of faith in his ability. Perhaps it also takes advantage of his willingness to do what he can for the team. He has been shoe-horned in especially when Pogba was fit and wanted to play on the left.

It is clear Rashford’s best position, for example, is on that side of the attack. Bizarrely United spent £73 million on a right-winger in Jadon Sancho last summer but have largely played him on the other flank while using Rashford on the right where he is clearly less effective. Senior players at United have found that unfathomable while it means that Rashford has never been able to grasp a role and build on it.

The injuries have been a significant problem and the question has to be asked as to whether United have managed Rashford correctly. It is no exaggeration to say that he has not played without pain for almost three years. While that is not unusual for a footballer it is for one so young and those issues can be traced back to the double stress fracture that Rashford suffered to his back during a FA Cup tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers in January 2020. Given it was already suspected that Rashford was suffering from a single stress fracture – although this was denied by United - was it really worth the risk of further injury by continuing to play the leading goalscorer as Solskjaer, who was under severe pressure, did?

Rashford was also suffering from a piece of floating bone in his ankle and further serious problems manifested themselves such as the left shoulder injury he suffered later that year and that eventually required surgery after Euro 2020.

As ever Rashford returned more quickly than expected but was he fully fit when he played again last October? The shoulder issue meant that he could not do the cardiovascular work he needed. Even so Rashford scored three goals in his first four games but his form dipped, he lost his place and has not scored in the l1 games he has played since. At the same time his absences from the team led to penalty and free-kick duties being taken away from him which, obviously, dried up a source of goals. Solskjaer responded by setting him goal-scoring targets. He did score – with 21 goals in 57 appearances although that did not stop him being criticised for not scoring more. It would have helped had the manager come out and explained what his role in the team was.

Rashford has no doubts about his ability. It is understood he accepts he is not playing well, that he is not being dynamic enough and not fulfilling a natural talent that other senior players have described as “phenomenal”. Maybe, for such a conscientious and considerate personality, he is overthinking too much although the one thing that does get him riled is the accusation that his off-field activities, his campaigning against child poverty, has served as a distraction. That could not be further from the truth given the fierce commitment he has shown not only to get fit but get back in the United team and be focused.

There are those who argue that Rashford might even benefit from a change of club; to go somewhere where the pressure of being the United academy graduate and playing for a team that means so much to him is lifted. But Rashford just wants to be the best he can be and to be that at United. He knows he is not playing well enough but remains fully committed and is determined to work his way through it as he stated last week on social media when he wrote: “I’m not sulking, I’m not unhappy, am I disappointed in some of my recent performances? Of course I am. I’m my own biggest critic. It’s been a tough start but I am determined to prove my worth. My dedication and desire to be here should never be in question. I love this club.”

More than anything else what Rashford appears to need is that arm around the shoulder from a manager who truly believes in him and wants to help him fulfil his huge potential. Hopefully that will happen.

[Luke Emia]

Did his handlers write that and just ask Jason Burt to put his name to it.

[Lewis]

I saw some tweets referencing something similar in The Athletic that seemed a bit 'prepared'. Maybe it was that.

[niko_cee]

Us normies have seen him for the fairly inadequate player he is since he signed that lolworthy contract whenever it was. Probably before.

Without watching much of United it seems a bit worrying Greenwood appears to be heading the same way [always looked a much better talent] but maybe the xG mafia are just catching up with him [as they had threatened when everything he touched was flying in from 30 yards].

[niko_cee]

That article is something else though.



one of the finest talents England has produced will not go on to fulfil his potential

:happycry:

A player who has a similar goal record to luminaries of the game like Darren Bent.

[Lewis]

Greenwood is just a greedy bastard, which could/should be kicked out of him. Rashford is a much more limited player, and a really dense one at that. He is fast, can carry the ball, and can kick it hard. This was all great under Ole Gunnar Binman, but if somebody comes in in their Tactics Truck wanting percentages (Jose Mourinho to an extent) and clever pressing he will flounder.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That is some hit but I think it's coming back.

[Waffdon]

At least Spurs can take solace in the fact they have the best stadium in the world if nothing else.

[Waffdon]

These two penalties Marriner has tried to give Spurs :D

[Don]

BBC have put out the Trashford press release too. Fascinating to know who is behind Project Trashford and their motivations.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There was an article wasn't there? From memory it was all about selling trainers.

[Manc]

DAZN reportedly close to securing BT Sport.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Would they be big enough to give Sky the shits, I wonder.

[Giggles]

What does 'over-the-top sports service' mean? Is it a technical term or does it mean they're all shouty American?

[Kikó]

It apparently means internet stream only. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over-the-top_media_service

Dazn are a huge loss maker do not sure how they're planning to turn it into profit.

[-james-]

"Over the top" is the worst thing to happen this century. All of my subscriptions are going in the bin if that becomes widespread.

[John Arne]

The Premier League need to pull their finger out and just start their own streaming service.

$50-a-season for a Premier League Team Pass.

They'd sell 300,000,000.... so, $15,000,000,000. Outsource the TV production and stuff... done.
Easy.

[Gray Fox]

I'm sure you can watch any PL game you want if you live in a non-UK country.

I'm stunned we haven't had the implementation of the "season pass" yet. Just want to watch United? Sure here pay this fee and you can see all United games live this season.

Amazon not really getting involved outside of the festive period is also a strange one.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It doesn't make sense for anyone to do that, with the inflated value of the TV rights, and for Sky who need to sell subscriptions.

I only started to understand business more after I understood that the consumer absolutely does not matter at all, especially in certain industries like this where the brand loyalty is bordering on slavish (i.e. they aren't going to up sticks and watch ice hockey instead).

[Boydy]

1481607302381776901
Interesting.

[Mellberg]

Yep, this is where Klopp proves if he's Ferguson or Mourinho. Can you revitalise or do you just bleed it dry and fuck off.

[Gray Fox]

It is interesting as we've had the same exact starting 11 for almost 5 years I believe.

Jota, Elliott and Jones being able to come in and the style/results remaining largely the same is a good sign. We're not really getting many goals from the Mane side of the pitch these days though, so I'd suggest that's where these links to Luis Diaz are stemming from. That's likely the next big purchase.

[niko_cee]

No one is going to be a Ferguson, but I doubt Klopp's going to go down in a fireball of embittered negativity either.

[Ian]

I reckon Klopp has a bit of the Ferguson about him in that I reckon there are probably some of the players who if/when they go elsewhere will turn out to not be nearly as good as they were cracked up to be under him.

[Spikey M]

Wasn't he on track to get Dortmund relegated before he fucked off?

it appears so. (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014–15_Borussia_Dortmund_season)

Edit: or not, but they were 18th mid season.

[Don]

As if he walked into a superstar squad :D Don't fucking mark loyalty and consistency as some sort of failing.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Well this game has started well.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Cameroon have looked good today, especially in the wide areas.

[Gray Fox]

Seems about full strength from both teams tonight. ESR missing could be big.

A bit disappointed not to see something a bit more progressive in centre midfield.

[Raoul Duke]

Xhaka is such a cretin

[phonics]

Jacky Wilshere to play in the North London Derby :drool:

[Spoonsky]

Love these games where our most incisive player in Joel Matip.

[Gray Fox]

Milner off for Jones for me, Clive.

[Gray Fox]

It's quite frustrating to see the obvious pass wide on, only to be ambled over there, then a cut back inside and lay it off to a CB.

[Spoonsky]

This is really shit.

[Spoonsky]

What are those subs :D

[Lofty]

Ox will score now.

[Waffdon]

0 shots on target against 10 men. Yikes.

Kiss of death no doubt.

[Spoonsky]

That is shocking.

The face Klopp just made me was amazing :D

[Waffdon]

Ramsdale with his usual over the top goalkeeping nearly costing Arsenal by trying to win a ball in the air and falling over leaving an open net was quite funny.

[Gray Fox]

Where was that kind of urgency at the end, throughout the rest of the game?

Worst performance of ours in quite some time. Minamino really needed to show something but he was dire.

[phonics]

All those doorknobs licked, all those dodgy test kit orders and couldn't even get a shot on target vs 10-man Arsenal at home. Van Dijk got knocked over by a 5 foot 2 Brazillian.

[Don]

The 0-0 away leg Carabao Cup semi trophy is gonna look great, you tragic fucks.

[Ian]

Them statistics. :drool:

[Lofty]

The 0-0 away leg Carabao Cup semi trophy is gonna look great, you tragic fucks.

Getting a goalless draw away at Anfield with ten men for the best part of the game is a decent result. Lets not pretend everyone wasn't expecting an absolute rout after Xhaka went off.

[Manc]

No Mane, no fanny. Geezer IS the press.

[Don]

Yeah, decent result, not worthy of starting to give it the big one.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Tunisia put in an appeal stating that the match between them and Mali should be replayed in full as the 90 minutes was not officially completed but CAF have told them to do one.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Tunisia's legal team are legendary. There was one World Cup qualifying campaign where they made it by getting various shit results overturned months later after doing deep dives on the opposition and identifying ineligible players. Every time anything goes against them in an Afcon they have a go as well.

[Gray Fox]

Alphonso Davies has stopped all football activity after scans showed heart inflammation.

[Don]

I see it's from COVID. Was he one of their unvaxxed fucks? Is it just a temporary thing whilst they assess it or is this retirement?

Edit: just temporary and seems he was vaxxed.

[Adramelch]

I didn't necessarily get the impression it's connected to covid either, just that they found it out during his post-covid tests.

[CJay]

Senegal v Guinea decent so far. I've seen some actual pressing and some actual attacking intent - all in the opening 10 minutes.

[CJay]

Mané has really fallen off a cliff the last year or so. He looks like his boots are made of lead.

[Gray Fox]

He looks like he's thinking about what to do every time now, whereas before it was natural.

[niko_cee]

He's always been one of those players where time to think is not a positive, although I think he's often been like that for Senegal where he obviously carries a bigger burden of expectation.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

How did Morocco not score there?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Salim Ben Boina :cool:

[Kikó]

The commentator on the second Morocco goal, so sure of himself when it looked (and ended up being) onside.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yeah I wanted it to be offside but it was clear as day.

Ben Boina didn't deserve it.

[phonics]

Too many goals, disgusting.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1482051459055337476

Arsenal using fake tests to back out of the derby?

[phonics]

To be the best you gotta copy the best. So funny/pathetic that a Granit Xhaka red card and Saka having the shits is getting a game postponed.

[niko_cee]

You probably need to at least fake some covid tests to pull that, otherwise the league will probably just say lol you had more cases in August so get on with it.

[Spikey M]

What were these "weather conditions" that meant they had to stay in Liverpool? :happycry:

[phonics]

You probably need to at least fake some covid tests to pull that, otherwise the league will probably just say lol you had more cases in August so get on with it.

Martin Odegaard has been kissing everyone to celebrate the 0-0 draw.

[phonics]

What were these "weather conditions" that meant they had to stay in Liverpool? :happycry:

The one thing that is actually proveable as it's recorded material.

[Gray Fox]

The first leg was shit enough, don't let the 2nd be even worse.

[Giggles]

It's all a bit small time. Aren't they meant to be the big time club?

[Waffdon]

Eze, Edouard and Olise front three for Palace :drool:

[niko_cee]

Good old VAR, 100% wrong with both decisions. Never a penalty [bit of the old Ronaldo burrowing there] and then I don't see how it is a foul by Maupay just because the 'keeper has two hands on the ball. His momentum takes him into Maupay [who is trying to pull out], the game doesn't stop just because two hands are on the ball.

[Waffdon]

You can’t hit the ball out the keepers hand. He clearly has two on it, not his fault Maupay knees it out.

[niko_cee]

Aye, but the contact is because they are coming together. Maupay pulls his leg/knee back if anything. I know 'keepers are superprotected, but getting two hands on the ball [whilst in the air] doesn't stop the game and if they lose it subsequently I don't see why it is automatically a foul. Really not the same as having the ball kicked out of your hands but whatever.

[Gray Fox]

Was it Schmeichel who had the ball with one hand on top, while it was on the ground? That was deemed in the keepers control, so if it ever was in his two hands you've no chance on that one.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ghana SEETHING at failing to beat Gabon.

[niko_cee]

Sounds like Aubemeyang will be retiring on that Arsenal contract of his.

[niko_cee]

Although, reading the story, it seems the headline is perhaps a bit misleading.

[Shindig]

He's back training so his ticker must be fine.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

So Benjamin Tetteh came on in the 91st minute at the full time whistle he punched a Gabon player then ran down the tunnel.

The ref then waited on the pitch demanding that he come out but he would not so ended up holding his red card up and shouting "for number 25" a couple of times.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60003289

Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed Gabon's Africa Cup of Nations draw with Ghana on Friday after scans revealed 'heart lesions' following a bout of Covid.

[Spikey M]

1481757075453710337?t=WiwQdAnVWBYW6NpP_3JeiA&s=19

His saivd him from the angles. <3

[Kikó]

DID HE HAVE THE VACCINE.1
#1!x

[Shindig]

Must've been the vulnerable shade of black.

[Waffdon]

Utterly pointless playing Lukaku against a decent team

[Shindig]

Sounds like our keepers are all out again. :uhoh:

[Jimmy Floyd]

We really need to get a left back in, even a shit one on loan.

Worst pass of the season there from Ziyech.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Grealish and Foden have a weirdly massive seethe on in this game. We've done a good job given that one of our centre backs is on work experience and our left back is on a yellow card and cannot defend at all.

[Waffdon]

We really need to get a left back in, even a shit one on loan.

Worst pass of the season there from Ziyech.

Kennedy was recalled :D

I don’t think they want anyone other than Emerson back as they’ll have 5 or 6 left backs on the book come summer.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Play the kid from the academy then. I just can't watch this cretin every week. Right down to Kepa's goal kicks aiming for his head and sailing out of play, like we're Egil Olsen's Norway.

[Waffdon]

At least Kepa has turned into prime Yashin ever since Tuchel came in. He’s brilliant every time he plays these days

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

At least Kepa has turned into prime Yashin ever since Tuchel came in. He’s brilliant every time he plays these days

Chelsea are losing due to a Kepa fuck up now, 100%.

[Don]

Wish there was a 1pm kick off in AFCON today, no one wants all this quality, pressing and tactical discpline.

[Kikó]

Such bitter tears. When is that Asia Cup again said no one.

[Waffdon]

Lukaku couldn’t have made that anymore obvious where he was going

[Jimmy Floyd]

If you're missing the Afcon just do a player cam on Hakim Ziyech.

[-james-]

Sterling has been good, but putting him against Alonso is making him look superhuman.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't know when this happened or if his bumbling style just speaks to me, but I learn more about the game from Glenn Hoddle's co-comms than just about any other source.

[Waffdon]

That free kick given on Grealish. No wonder he wins the ‘most fouled’ award.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Not a lot you can do about that other than try to end his career with a two footer.

[Don]

That was good stuff from Chelsea. Lukaku starved thanks to attempting to rely on shite like Ziyech, Pulisic, CHO and Werner to create but defensively very sound. Klopp to train attacking moves and Tuchel to train defensive shape would be some scenes.

[-james-]

Arsenal - Spurs game is off. What a joke this has become.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It will come back to bite them later on. Managers are just so short-termist and always desperate for rest right now. Totally transparent what they, Liverpool and other clubs have been up to.

[-james-]

Leicester are going to be a fun one. They're already four games in arrears and unless they get knocked out of the Cup or Conference League (Nottingham Forest and Randers FC in the next rounds) are going to have basically no midweeks to spare.

[John Arne]

Koln v Bayern just kicked off. Koln are adamant in playing out from the back and doing the typical German thing of defending incredible high up the pitch. It's no wonder Sancho scored a millions goals in the Bundesliga. Bayern are going to win this 0-5.

http://hockeyweb.site/daily/news/munchen-leve15/?sport=soccer

[Shindig]

Leicester are going to be a fun one. They're already four games in arrears and unless they get knocked out of the Cup or Conference League (Nottingham Forest and Randers FC in the next rounds) are going to have basically no midweeks to spare.

Easiest way to fix it is to push the Premier League final day back a week or two. Our matches haven't got a date either.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If you do that then they will barely have a break before the early-starting (to accommodate Qatar World Cup) 22/23 season. Managers just need to play weak sides and get beaten unfortunately, it's sport, shit happens. Squad availability is not and should not be a level playing field.

On a similar note, are we now stopping mass events every time someone feels ill in the crowd? Heads have gone.

[-james-]

You've got two weeks of Nations League starting on the 2nd June so that's a non-starter. Charity Shield is on the 31st July. Good luck fellas.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sir Rafa Benitez rapidly approaching beleaguered status now.

[Gray Fox]

Knight the man for services to Liverpool.

[phonics]

Give Steve Bruce the job.

[Luke Emia]

Knight the man for services to Liverpool.

What a hero. Honestly from a Liverpool fans viewpoint it couldn’t have gone any better.

Singing his name in the derby was I think what broke them. But anyways, they like to whinge and boo every week so surely he’s just giving them more chance to seethe.

[-james-]

Was going to stick Nigeria - Sudan on which is a 4pm kick off, but Sky are only showing the last half an hour because of the 3pm blackout. Good thing, that would have definitely bled Stalybridge Celtic's gate receipts dry.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Was going to stick Nigeria - Sudan on which is a 4pm kick off, but Sky are only showing the last half an hour because of the 3pm blackout. Good thing, that would have definitely bled Stalybridge Celtic's gate receipts dry.

Strange as they were bigging up that they're showing every single game of the AFCON.

Thankfully CAF are showing it live on Youtube:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbDUCCzD88g

[phonics]

1468901523149234182

1482357746100051973

:happycry:

[-james-]

Spurs had a load of covid cases didn't they? No way they'd have got it called off had it been only one.

[Pepe]

Morality and football. What a combination.

[Spikey M]

Phonics is thick as pig shit when it comes to Arsenal.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

How the fuck did Nigeria not score there?

[Gray Fox]

Ronaldo not even on the bench.

United will win comfortably.

[Kikó]

Like last game when he held us back.

[John Arne]

Almiron should be shot for his "defending" for the cross that Watford scored from.

[Gray Fox]

Agent Rafa :cool:

[Gray Fox]

Also, is that Adama Traores first goal contribution of the season?

[Manc]

Phonics is thick as pig shit.

Fixed.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Martinez appealing for a line of sight offside after that fuck up is proper life-means-life stuff.

[Giggles]

Jaysus, Idah actually scored.

[Gray Fox]

Sell Ronaldo. Don’t need him.

[Lewis]

I don't think I've ever seen one dropped cold like that. They occasionally slip under the 'keeper, but not like that where they have it wrapped up.

[Gray Fox]

The fuck is that tackle from Digne.

[Ian]

The fuck is that tackle from Digne.

I loved the appealing to the ref as if a borderline decision was going against.

[Kikó]

Relatively competent first half. Probably the best thirty minutes we've played all season.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Douglas Luiz should be walking for that, disgusting behaviour.

[Gray Fox]

There's a red card brewing nicely here.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Bruno :cool:

Fuck the Villa.

[Lewis]

[The] Villa have been seething all night. Randrew RATTLED them the other night.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sanson SEETHING :harold:

[Shindig]

I hope this doesn't drive Mellin back to a life of crime.

[Gray Fox]

You can actually see the cogs turning in Watkins head before he does anything.

[Ian]

Lovely assist from Fred.

[Ian]

That'd been coming.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Useless twats.

[Ian]

Matic was contributing about as much to the defence there as I am.

[Spoonsky]

You beauty.

[Kikó]

United are basically England's batters.

[Gray Fox]

Who wanted to watch the finish anyway?

[Ian]

Yeah using an injury as a chance for a sneaky ad break was a classy move. How very American of them.

[Giggles]

Oh dear.

[Manc]

Narrative!

[Mellberg]

*Mellin has entered the chat*

[Ian]

:D

[Giggles]

*Mellin has entered the chat*


https://c.tenor.com/5ZLFJMJK1OQAAAAd/big-cass-entrance.gif

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Surprised he'd show his face, imagine not beating this United side.