Football in January 2022

[Adramelch]

Yeah if draw a parallel line to those it feels like his shoulder/head is behind the tip of the defenders foot. Just the camera angle being very deceptive.

[randomlegend]

https://i.redd.it/qjjtxpt7v9d81.png

Well on as it turns out.

[niko_cee]

Bad result for Leeds and human rights fans alike.

[Waffdon]

Raheem Sterling would have an outstanding highlight reel on sitters missed.

[Smjffy]

Well I'll be damned. Man City dropping two points was not to be expected. If Liverpool win their two games in hands, is it 'back on'?

[SvN]

https://i.redd.it/qjjtxpt7v9d81.png

Well on as it turns out.

I cannot believe how many people on Reddit are saying "His head's over the line! It's offside!"

[Smjffy]

Personally I think less should be said about whether it was offside or not and more said about wantaway Martial who made it all happen, I reckon.

[Manc]

Based on that performance I fancy Leeds for the drop. The defence is shambolic.

[Adramelch]

Nah, they've been like that all season. They just have the games were their attack carries them to wins (as it has so far) and that will probably be enough to save them. Plus their competition is just as abysmal, without the same offence.

[Manc]

What the actual fuck is this international break about?

[CJay]

What the actual fuck is this international break about?

Isn’t it just the mid-season break? With some CONMEBOL and AFCON thrown in.

[Manc]

Has Don been notified? He may not survive.

[Don]

Man didn't even mention AFC WCQs but we got fucking part-time football fans tweeting about Comoros' defensive shape :happycry:

[Lewis]

They don't have a shape. That's the beauty of it. It's all very primitive.

[Kikó]

Personally I think less should be said about whether it was offside or not and more said about wantaway Martial who made it all happen, I reckon.

Nice of him to turn up for once. He's also much better with hair than without.

[Bam]

Nice of him to turn up for once. He's also much better with hair than without.

:gay:

[Gray Fox]

I don't know why but I feel this has got a madness 4-3 about it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If I were Palace manager - and don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I necessarily should be - I'd have it at least in my top ten to-do items to possibly mark Virgil van Dijk at corners.

[Waffdon]

Andy Roberson really is the best full back in the world. Very good defensively, deceptively rapid and not many have a better delivery than him

[Spoonsky]

Totally agreed, I think he's actually underrated relative to what he does (and relative to TAA).

Liverpool have been so good to watch here. Nice to see the Ox hitting form too.

[Waffdon]

Van Dijk loves to try stroll through games and has been caught out by it multiple times this season

[Gray Fox]

I just dont think he quite has that burst of pace he had before the injury. He's still very good, but not quite the colossus he was.

Perfect 35 minutes, followed by a what the fuck was that?

[Spoonsky]

I don't know why but I feel this has got a madness 4-3 about it.

If Palace took those chances you'd be bang on. Hopefully some sanity will return at the break.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Andy Roberson really is the best full back in the world. Very good defensively, deceptively rapid and not many have a better delivery than him

Robertson, Tierney and Hickey is the biggest one position pile up for a smallish country I can remember. Maybe US goalkeepers about 15 years ago.

[Waffdon]

Hickey can play in midfield and is right footed so I’m hoping he can be played without too much of an issue when we he does eventually get called up. Another Italian club are trying to sign an 18 year old right back from Aberdeen as well as Nathan Patterson being sold to Everton. Sorted for full backs and centre mid, everywhere else is meh.

[niko_cee]

Lest we ever for get our Grass Roots roots, which tell as that fullbacks are essentially the professional footballers not deemed good enough to play in any of the more meaningful positions. Ashley "formerly a centre-forward" Cole led the way. Probably not so accurate in the current zeitgeist.

[Spoonsky]

This is :cab:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Palace should be about 5-2 up. Football is about composure in front of goal.

EDIT: my first Premier League goal of the new calendar year.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Come on Palace.

[Waffdon]

Van Dijk :D

[Spoonsky]

This brings up bad memories.

[Gray Fox]

Tactical madness this 2nd half. Palace gameplan is obvious and effective. Why play into that when you're 2-0 up?

[Waffdon]

That Spurs team :|

3 full backs, 3 centre halves and 2 defensive mids. Even then, Tuchel has given them a chance by starting Lukaku/Ziyech again. He must have a gun to his head

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's a clear dive.

Jota loses control of the ball and then casually steps into Guiata's path.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

VAR is a joke.

[Waffdon]

How are they even looking at this. Nearly as bad as trying to chalk off Kovacic’s goal against offside

[Gray Fox]

That's an absolute joke of a decision.

[John Arne]

That's an awful decision. Jota jumps into the keeper.

[niko_cee]

Maybe thst is the trade off for the two hands on the ball touch me and it's a foul rule. No two hands on the ball touch them and it's a foul.

Salt tears.

:drool:

VAR is so rubbish.

[niko_cee]

Meanwhile, in Africa Comoros have no actual goalkeeper so are going full Kyle Walker for their game against Cameroon.

[Gray Fox]

We absolutely need to be hearing what the referees are talking about if they're going to pull shit out like that.

[Ben]

How they came to that decision when they were actively discussing Jota losing possession of the ball I have no clue. Amateurs.

[Waffdon]

I’ve not looked at the table but Brighton, Palace and Chelsea must not be far off 40 draws between them by the time the season ends. I can’t actually remember the first two winning a game outside of Edouard’s debut for Palace

[niko_cee]

I was thinking to myself today had Brighton lost since they'd got done by City in what must have been mid-October. They probably have, but it feels like they haven't [and have drawn virtually every game since then].

Edit - they have lost against Villa and Wolves, but they have manged 10 draws and 2 wins in that run. Good god. That's a bit wrong, but still, 3rd fewest defeats in the league with 12 draws from 22 games. :cab:

[Spikey M]

Chelsea could register double figures here. This Spurs team is shocking.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This has been a far worse weekend of refereeing than the one a couple of weeks ago when everyone was crying about it. Simple stuff getting missed left, right and centre.

When this isn't a red, it won't even be a free kick :D

[Waffdon]

The fact he went with his left foot makes it look more deliberate and a red card

[Spikey M]

Brilliant tackle.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I mean, if it had been something other than a throw-in to Spurs it would have been nice.

[Spikey M]

I mean, if it had been something other than a throw-in to Spurs it would have been nice.

1485294613044867074?t=SRxG6NYF4GDSG7_u0SIuJw&s=19

Correct decision. He didn't get the ball. :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Referee is having a complete mare here. Demotion level performance.

Brad Friedel is great bench muscle.

[Spikey M]

VAR has somehow made the errors worse.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I mean, since he plays for my beloved blue boys I can appreciate the Thiago Silva hail mary dive, but if I were a Spurs fan I'd be putting my head in the freezer.

[-james-]

I was only half watching, did the referee blow before the goal was scored?

[Spikey M]

I mean, since he plays for my beloved blue boys I can appreciate the Thiago Silva hail mary dive, but if I were a Spurs fan I'd be putting my head in the freezer.

Both sides have been fucked over by mental decisions, so all is unfair in love and war.

[Lofty]

It really is criminal that Arsenal haven't managed at least one signing yet when it is clear the squad needs significant reinforcement.

[Adramelch]

We're only on the 23rd and everyone knows that last moment January signings are always successful, so you'll be fine.

[Waffdon]

That left foot is pretty special when he’s on it

[Ben]

Ziyech is pretty much just a left foot, but it's a good left foot.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Some of his crossfield balls are dreamy.

Fuck you Spurs. Go home. 1 win here in the last 70 odd games, and about 34 mental meltdowns in that time.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fuck knows how Extra time will go in this Burkina Faso/Gabon game as they both look so tired.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The state of Brian Hill. He looks like a Beatle.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

AFCON penalty shootout between Gabon and Burkina Faso on Sky Sports Mix is about to start.

[Waffdon]

The referees in England are shite but at least they don’t seem to book players for celebrating near fans anymore

[Jimmy Floyd]

AFCON penalty shootout between Gabon and Burkina Faso on Sky Sports Mix is about to start.

Only went to the 9th taker on each side, pretty tame for an Afcon shootout.

[Manc]

Is Nigeria v Tunisia on the beeb?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sky Sports Mix. Nigeria in their worst ever kit. Chris Samba on co-comms. His voice goes very well with my Sunday night ironing.

[Ben]

I approve of both Chris Samba and Nigeria's kit.

[Ian]

Is it just for me that the picture quality on this is really shit? Like even the Sky logo, the scores etc. but only on this channel for some reason.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mine looks pretty good. Maybe we've cut off HD to Scotland.

[Manc]

Am I the only person on the planet who doesn't have Sky?

[Giggles]

Are you watching on Mix? The picture on Mix is always shite.

[Jimmy Floyd]

No, but if you like to watch sport and have the financial means it's a pretty good investment.

[Giggles]

Am I the only person on the planet who doesn't have Sky?

Nobody has to ‘have’ Sky any more because of Now.

[Giggles]

No, but if you like to watch sport and have the financial means it's a pretty good investment.

Unless it’s the EPL it seems. Every time you lot are on about a game it’s on BT or Premier. What’s the ratio these days?

[Spoonsky]

My stream of Tunisia-Nigeria on beIn sports has just cut to a "commercial break" at about the 25th minute. I'm assuming the game itself hasn't paused but that they're just choosing to show commercials instead. What is this shit?

[Giggles]

It’s a fucking terrible game anyway.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Unless it’s the EPL it seems. Every time you lot are on about a game it’s on BT or Premier. What’s the ratio these days?

Sky have more games. BT mainly have the 12.30 Saturday kickoff.

[Gray Fox]

If you have an decent internet connection and a little bit of knowledge of where to go, you don't need anything else and you can pretty much watch any sporting event going.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Keeper needs a stronger wrist there.

[Spoonsky]

You can blame the keeper but he's hit it so hard and it's got a wicked knuckle. Great goal.

[Giggles]

If you have an decent internet connection and a little bit of knowledge of where to go, you don't need anything else and you can pretty much watch any sporting event going.

It’s never that handy though. Fucking about with pop ups and abrupt endings. If you’re into something then pay to watch it properly.

[-james-]

If you have an decent internet connection and a little bit of knowledge of where to go, you don't need anything else and you can pretty much watch any sporting event going.

Even if you have a decent connection it's often a faff and/or shit. You're paying for the convenience to be able to watch whatever football you want with no fuss, except the "whatever football you want" bit isn't really true.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Great impact from Alex Iwobi.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't want to have to worry about searching the web or knowing where to go. I want to walk up to my TV, press the 'on' button and have the game on the screen in glorious HD with zero chance of it buffering, cutting out or the authorities getting to me.

What else am I going to spend the money on. It's like a decent pair of trousers per month. It'll only stop being value if/when they lose more rights, but currently 70% of the football and nearly 100% of my other favourite sports are there.

[Pepe]

I, too, buy new trousers every month.

[Giggles]

My Sky Sports is 2 packets of fags a month. I used to buy 35 packets of fags a month. I’m watching the NFL now with zero hassle, not a chance I’m fucking about with a laptop with an ad covering half of it.

[Boydy]

I use my mate's Sky Go and then got a BT Sports pass for the Champions League.

Also can't be arsed with the faff of streaming. My internet connection is good but that's not the problem. It's the streams themselves that go down.

[Shindig]

MotoGP's video pass works out at £13.95 a month. It'd be the only sport I can give undivided attention to.

[phonics]

35 packets of fags a month? Jesus Christ I thought I had a problem.

[Giggles]

35 packets of fags a month? Jesus Christ I thought I had a problem.
Nearly one a day and extra when you’d be out.

[SincereTheRebel]

I, too, buy new trousers every month.

Trust me. Buy new socks every week.

[Manc]

What about tyres?

[Mike]

It’s never that handy though. Fucking about with pop ups and abrupt endings. If you’re into something then pay to watch it properly.

That’s only for free streams. I’ve a paid for IPTV, has all of Sky and then football from around the world. Works great, has a list of channels, sorted into category, such as Sky Sports and BT Sport, it even has a generic ‘Premier League’ one, which gets changed each game day to links to the game.

[SvN]

I have one too, and it's pretty good. There's been 2 or 3 times over the last few years when it's failed me on a big match and I've had to scramble around for a stream, but 99% of the time it works well. And I only pay £40 per year.

[Kikó]

Paid for IPTV which has worked flawlessly for 4 years. it's really seamless.

[Baz]

+1 for IPTV being totally worth buying.

[niko_cee]

What's the legal position of IPTV? Sounds a bit sketchy really. Is it not just the same as saying your car runs fine on red diesel so why shouldn't you use it?

[SvN]

It's obviously illegal.

[niko_cee]

That's where it falls down for me. I have no qualms about using illegal streams particularly (although I rarely do as I don't really enjoy watching football on TV at home all that much) but paying for access to illegal content is not on my to do list really.

[niko_cee]

I hadn't realised 'Atleti's' season had degenerated into a Barcelona-esque lolfest. Seems Franco's boys have that one seen up again.

[phonics]

Yeah that’s where I draw the line. I’m not paying for piracy.

[Kikó]

You wouldn't steal a car.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They've stolen the game, and we, the fans, in our fucking bedrooms with years-old dried semen lining the fucking walls, are going to steal it back.

[Giggles]

They've stolen the game, and we, the fans, in our fucking bedrooms with years-old dried semen lining the fucking walls, are going to steal it back.

They’ve made it what it is.

[Ian]

Stop shagging your walls, Jimmy, you'll do yourself a mischief.

[Disco]

Two sites aggregate streams for pretty much anything I ever want to see live, yes they hang every once in a while and there are sometimes a couple of adverts (although I'd wager far less than the normal broadcast) but the days of dodgystreamlol are long gone.

[Giggles]

Two sites aggregate streams for pretty much anything I ever want to see live, yes they hang every once in a while and there are sometimes a couple of adverts (although I'd wager far less than the normal broadcast) but the days of dodgystreamlol are long gone.

Right up until it just vanishes one day.

[Kikó]

But replaced an hour later.

[Disco]

Same url for at least the last two years, longer if you count the time they were subreddits.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This Guinea/Gambia match has 0-0 and a wild penalty shootout written all over it.

Obviously now I've said that there will be a late winner for one side.

[Lewis]

The parasite legal professional and the advertising twonk vs the scummy banker. It's piracy week on the Moral Maze...

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mo Barrow is class.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's never a booking.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Cracking final 15 minutes.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Gambia are dons. Santfiet has one of the best managerial CVs going, too. His previous four jobs before this were Togo, Bangladesh, Trinidad, Malta in that order. Has also coached Yemen, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Namibia and he's only 48.

Think those ten have a better cricket world ranking than football.

[Spoonsky]

Comoros stand-in goalkeeper has a glint in his eye. This is what dreams are made of.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That red is harsh.

Although the more I see it the worse it looks.

[Ben]

VAR only takes five minutes to ruin AFCON football, we're lucky here.

[SincereTheRebel]

What about tyres?

:D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The Comoros defender/keeper with the double save :cool:

[Spoonsky]

Unreal double save.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://mixture.gg/v/61ef08e528d4b

It's so good.

[Spoonsky]

That’s a shame, you almost felt Comoros could nick a goal. Cameroon aren’t up to anything.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Holy shit what a free kick that is.

Comoros :cool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://mixture.gg/v/61ef0f3da3188

[Spoonsky]

Holy fuck.

[Shindig]

The movement on that was lush.

[Spoonsky]

I’ve never wanted a team to score more here.

[Ben]

:drool:

[Shindig]

Aye, blow whilst they're on an attack. :moop:

[Spoonsky]

Ref’s absolutely robbed them with the stoppage time there.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Missed it as I was busy watching highlights of the 2013 Asian Cup, but that free kick is absolutely unreal.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/12524683/roy-hodgson-watford-set-to-appoint-former-england-boss-as-head-coach-following-claudio-ranieri-sacking

Woy is back.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That's about the last appointment I expected. Once they sack him: Ron Atkinson.

[Giggles]

Fuck they go through some managers.

[Manc]

Do we have any Watford fans on the board? Must be impossible to maintain any sort of attachment with the club.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They all love it, which is partly I think down to the base impatience of most/all fanbases nowadays, and partly because they're generally in a higher league than they were before.

I can't think of a recent example of a fanbase at large being against a manager sacking when it happens. They are all bang up for blood all the time. Little mini Goodisons all over the country.

[Gray Fox]

In true Watford spirit we should assign a member of the board that is to be a Watford fan until they change manager each time.

[niko_cee]

We had Demerit.

[Kikó]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/60125621

8 dead, 38 injured getting into the stadium yesterday

[Don]

Adds to the magic.

[niko_cee]

Ain't got shit on the Hajj.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Another early red card from VAR for the smaller nation in AFCON.

[CJay]

Senegal are one of those international sides who seem to be terribly coached. No cohesion in their play at all.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Cape Verde keeper just got knocked out, he's clearly concussed.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

VAR is a joke.

[Giggles]

I think that's the crowd the lad from here plays for, they were on about it on a podcast I was listening to this morning.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Here's the red card:

https://mixture.gg/v/61f02fc10d53d

Keeper isn't even looking Mane, he's just going for the ball.

[Giggles]

Ah, he was hauled off at half time. That sounds like it.

[Giggles]

Here's the red card:

https://mixture.gg/v/61f02fc10d53d

Keeper isn't even looking Mane, he's just going for the ball.

Just seen Mane scored too. How was he let play on after that? :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just seen Mane scored too. How was he let play on after that? :D

Fuck knows, if football really cared about concussions he'd have been forced off.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mane has just collapsed now...

[Don]

Nevermind the fucking fisherman, our boy looks dead from that ffs.

Edit: I wonder why :cab:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's now been taken off, clearly he was concussed. Who would have thought it?

[niko_cee]

What is the logic of that red card? He's not even actually the last man. Doesn't seem particularly dangerous [I was expecting an Ederson style wild/reckless clear-out] and the ball is going away from goal.

[Giggles]

Another thread pulled at Klopp's love of international games.

[Kikó]

What is the logic of that red card? He's not even actually the last man. Doesn't seem particularly dangerous [I was expecting an Ederson style wild/reckless clear-out] and the ball is going away from goal.

Agreed. It's a clash of heads which happens pretty often, seems incredibly harsh.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://mixture.gg/v/61f0483608a4c

Malawi with a great strike to open the game.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That ball goes like a missile I reckon.

[Pepe]

Who just decides to shoot from there?

[niko_cee]

Loving these .gg links, or are they just coming up for me?

[Shindig]

I get nowt so I assume it's just some Ukrainian lass flicking her bean whilst gunshots go off in the background.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The battle down this side between PSG's Achraf Hakimi and Nyasa Big Bullets's Gomezyani Chirwa is pure Afcon. The latter's approach has been to depart stage right and hope for the best, and so far it's working.

[Spoonsky]

I've always felt like a penalty is too harsh in that situation. Where are you supposed to put your arms while slide-tackling? Commentator seething about it though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Holy shit that free kick is incredible.

Might even be better than last night.

https://mixture.gg/v/61f05d49a4c81

[Spoonsky]

It's a great free kick. Nowhere near last night's though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's a great free kick. Nowhere near last night's though.

The placement is perfect though.

I'd still prefer the one from last night but it's a close contest.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That one was standard Trent at Stamford Bridge fare. Last night's was unbelievable.

[Spoonsky]

Conceding 40-yard wondergoals aside, Morocco look really good; I wouldn't bet against them to win the tournament. Hakimi is a true leader too.

[Don]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60130366

Another apology :D the fact I thought the picture was from 10 years ago is also class.

[SincereTheRebel]

Wait, Wiley got banned for what :D

[Kikó]

He's a massive anti-Semite. Rashford PR will be fuming.

[Spikey M]

Wait, Wiley got banned for what :D

He was spewing some Hitler Youth shit on Twitter last year.

[Baz]

Der Führer of Grime

[Mellberg]

What a ridiculous society we live in. Why do you have to confirm you're not a racist, simply because you're in a photo with a racist. They're on holiday, not plotting Holocaust II: This Time It's Serious.

[Kikó]

Hanging around with a known anti-Semite is not a good look.

[Baz]

It's not like they were with him just to discuss gassing jews.

[Spikey M]

So now we've got a United fan after their blood and a Scouser defending them? You've got this all fucked up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It confirms both players as racist Tory Tories. Dig their graves.

[Ian]

Surely hanging out with an anti-Semite is as Labour as it gets?

[phonics]

1486328040229679113

...

[Kikó]

It's not like they were with him just to discuss gassing jews.

How do you know?

If you're high profile and you're hanging about with a known racist, you probably need better friends.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Infantino on the two year World Cup is all the ills of the 21st century in one man and topic.

[Ian]

"The president of Fifa, Gianni Infantino, has said his plans for a World Cup every two years could stop African migrants from finding “death in the sea”, in an extraordinary address to European politicians."

Fucking hell, it's shameless isn't it?

[Lewis]

How do you know?

If you're high profile and you're hanging about with a known racist, you probably need better friends.

I doubt either of them heard about the anti-Semitism stuff, but using 'I don't actually read the Guardian' as an excuse brings its own problems.

[Manc]

How on earth have Ivory Coast not qualified for Qatar?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Because Cameroon are better than them.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Eric Bailly is brilliant, we really should use him more.

[Spoonsky]

That handball by Zaha :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Eric Bailly is brilliant, we really should use him more.

Just not on penalties...

[Ian]

Eric Bailly is brilliant, we really should use him more.

Maybe not in shootouts.

EDIT: :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Only the standard 10 penalties, worst AFCON shootout.

[-james-]

Ivorian keeper looked shit scared throughout.

[Spoonsky]

That was a great save on Bailly's penalty.

[Shindig]

I didn't rate his run-up. The Ivorian keeper basically took the De Gea approach.

[Manc]

Comical from Bailly. Made all the sweeter when you realise he shouldn't have been on the pitch.

[Don]

Mon my Kings :drool:

[Lewis]

1486411414231302144

I always figured he would be a blast it into orbit type, but that is far better.

[Reg]

I didn't catch that it was a no-look. If it really was that's proper facepalm stuff for the rest of his career. He was the coolest cat on the pitch in the 90 minutes, though. (I was cooking during extra time then joined again for the pens - safe bet as extra time is usually balls.)

Nice for Salah to be the hero. Still not sure about having your best taker as the fifth. Unnecessary risk, no? Maybe it's based on stats.

[Lewis]

It's probably anti-stats, based on old fashioned rubbish like it being the 'pressure penalty'. On a similar note, why do teams still just let anyone who 'fancies it' take one like it's 1996? Why don't teams know their best penalty takers from top to bottom?

[Manc]

I'm fairly certain Queiroz and his staff had a list only for Salah to give him the lowdown. Elneny straight up refusing was surprising.

[Pepe]

The fifth penalty thing definitely comes from it being the highest pressure one. Also, players who want to be heroes know that it is the most likely to be the decisive one, so they will want to take it.

Am I remembering correctly that Ronaldo didn't get to take one once, since he was the fifth taker and they lost before, or am I completely making that up?

[Reg]

Yep, 2012 Euros. (Had to look it up - I first guessed 2020, then the 2018 World Cup.) Spain won 4-2 on penalties in the semis.


It's probably anti-stats, based on old fashioned rubbish like it being the 'pressure penalty'. On a similar note, why do teams still just let anyone who 'fancies it' take one like it's 1996? Why don't teams know their best penalty takers from top to bottom?
Maybe some coaches reckon players won't fancy it when the actual moment arrives.

[Pepe]

Top managers sub their good penalty takers in at the last minute. :harold:

[Lewis]

There must be a point at which all the NERVE in the world isn't going to compensate for your crap ball kicking (see: Eric Bailly doing that), and it seems like something that could be worked out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'd have thought you should have penalty takers in order from best to worst (guess the first 3 in any order, since those kicks always happen).

[niko_cee]

Nice for Salah to be the hero. Still not sure about having your best taker as the fifth. Unnecessary risk, no? Maybe it's based on stats.

Aye.

Much better to save that for the likes of Bukayo Saka.

It'll be received wisdom saying yay butting up against stats wankers saying nay.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mali need to practice penalties.

[Spoonsky]

Vintage scenes there. 20 year olds strolling up and stroking the 8th penalty into the top corner. VAR interrupting the celebration was hilarious too.

[Mellberg]

"The president of Fifa, Gianni Infantino, has said his plans for a World Cup every two years could stop African migrants from finding “death in the sea”, in an extraordinary address to European politicians."

Fucking hell, it's shameless isn't it?

Quotes like this should be fed into 4chan, or wherever all the school shooters congregate and convince each other a female will one day touch their shoulder, and give them some direction and purpose in life.

[Ian]

I assume 4chan would take it the wrong way and try to find a way to sabotage the boats migrants use so they sink of their own accord.

[John Arne]

The current Australia v Vietnam game is 10 minutes delayed due to "VTV delaying broadcast of Vietnam-Australia to 'control politically-related sensitive images' ".

2022.

[Ian]

Just realised Gambia are managed by this fella Jimmy alerted us to previously:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Saintfiet

Had forgotten about his magnificent career trajectory but he's slightly spoiling it with this extended, successful stint with Gambia...

[CJay]

Hope Taz is all over these Asian qualifiers. Good to finally have some proper football to enjoy.

https://onefootball.com/en/home

[Don]

:drool:

Having to watch our game tomorrow due to playing football and a corresponding piss-up after but COVID absentees and a lack of jeopardy means it's a bit of a nothing round of games for us.

[CJay]

Former England U21 star Jiang Guangtai playing in Japan-China if anyone wants some English interest.

[Jimmy Floyd]

China still being absolute garbage, 20 years on from when they made the World Cup for the only time, is an interesting one.

[Ian]

I've seen people saying before that the issue is the culture discouraging individual creativity, etc. Surely all this means is they need a manager who wants players to follow orders without question.

What I'm saying is: Get Big Sam in, hand him a pint of baijiu and let him inspire them to success.

[-james-]

Just had had a quick browse of Asian world cup qualifiers over the years and it's surely the most foregone conclusion of the lot. Kuwait taking the sole spot in '82 is the only one that stands out but they were just off the back of two Asian cup finals so must have been some sort of golden age.

Would never have guessed that 1998 was Japan's first time at a World Cup. What's even better is that Kazuyoshi Miura scored 13 goals for them in the 1994 qualifiers while in his mid twenties.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They only set up the J League a couple of years before that iirc, qualification was seen as a sort of minor miracle at the time. They were probably bigger underdogs than Jamaica in the same group at France 98.

[Mellberg]

Just look at how much of a big deal Inamoto to Arsenal was (somehow still playing apparently). Before that Japan was just Nakata and a load of anime.

[Lofty]

He's no Tomiyasu :wub:

[niko_cee]

Ecuador v Brazil sounds like it was a pretty mental game.

[Ian]

Is getting the ball meant to matter these days in either of those overturned Alisson red cards?

I'd have thought the high foot certainly it was a case of 'clearly an accident but tough shit mate'.

[Ben]

I doubt it would have been overturned if it was the Ecuador goalkeeper.

[Ian]

No, I thought that.

[niko_cee]

I doubt it would have been overturned if it was the Ecuador goalkeeper.

100% this [wasn't the Ecuador goalie actually send off for a high foot incident?] although from the pic of the player's neck it looks like maybe he deserved it [not seen either incident].

Goalkeepers should be 100% punished for 'accidentally' wiping players out with whilst trying to get the ball if 'player safety' is to mean anything, although it probably depends on the extent to which the 'keeper launches as per the Schumacher scale [for example I thought that one in the AFCON the other day on Mané was harsh].

[niko_cee]

Just watched [some of] the youtube highlights of that game. 95% of it is fouls. Fucking hell, the Ecuador red was a proper effort. Full on WWE big boot right to the chest/throat. Alisson's first, yeah, I can sort of see why that got overturned, it is a bit different, maybe. He does get the ball and the guy does sort of run into his leg. Definitely not in the same category as the first but an AFCON VAR would definitely have the lesser naiton 'keeper off for it.

[Ian]

Just reading the BBC's bit about Robinho. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60109474)

You've got to be some piece of work to not only be involved in a rape/gang rape in the first place but then, having been convicted of it when the evidence includes messages that make it very fucking obvious were there, you just try and crack on with life and mug for the camera on Instagram with fellow rape-fan Neymar.

[Waffdon]

https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/chesterfield-manager-james-rowes-suspension-is-a-bolt-out-of-the-blue-says-first-team-coach-3545545

Apparently he asked the new masseuse if he could get his groin checked out and proceeded to whip his cock out and told her to ‘have a go on that’. Played it off by saying she passed the test and he could trust her with his players ��

[Ian]

It's amazing the things people will saying hoping somebody might actually believe them.

[Boydy]

"Have a go on that" :D

[Giggles]

The first one is some choice of picture to entice people to stadiums. “Come see some little knackers so they can rob your phone”.


1487138406257803267

[Boydy]

I'll never understand the popularity of those grey jogging bottoms.

[Giggles]

The same popularity as being unemployed for eternity has I suppose.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60174330

Lamps to Everton :harold:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Everton fans always manage to confound me, but the sudden groundswell of support for Super Frank there is a real head-scratcher.

[Lewis]

'...and the "Goodison Seethe". No, listen. The fans are obviously very passionate...'

[Lewis]

'Goodison Seethe' is still a unique TTH Google result.

[Ben]

Three games currently stopped for medical emergencies in the crowd. What's going on? :cab:

[Baz]

Bovid.

[Gray Fox]

Seems like the MK Dons one might have been their fans chanting Akinfenwa is a sex offender and he's gone over to the crowd kicking off.

[Ian]

Is that based on anything that's been in the news or something fan or just football fans being cunts?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Is that based on anything that's been in the news or something fan or just football fans being cunts?

Well he got upset about it, he doth protest too much.

[Manc]

Cameroon struggling to break down Gambia. The red card must be imminent.

[Ian]

Well he got upset about it, he doth protest too much.

Message board logic checks out.

[Giggles]

Why is there no EPL this week? Is there internationals coming up?

[Ben]

Two week winter break.

[-james-]

Why is there no EPL this week? Is there internationals coming up?

There are internationals everywhere except Europe.