April FOOLSball more like

[Gray Fox]

Very good first half from Everton. Exactly what was required and surely should have been expected?

Richarlison is however making his usual show of himself. I think Liverpool got spoiled in midweek with how easy it was.

[Don]

Want Pickford to fuck up in the 94th min and Klopp to flop his piece in and around Frank's mouth. More likely is we run riot.

[Giggles]

What’s going on? I checked the teams expecting to see the Kellehers and Origis had been rolled out.

I assume the first one will mean at least 5.

[Gray Fox]

What’s going on? I checked the teams expecting to see the Kellehers and Origis had been rolled out.

I assume the first one will mean at least 5.

Everton currently want it more. Liverpool really look like they've turned up expecting to knock it about like they did against United and it isnt working.

[Spoonsky]

Liverpool have a dangerously complacent streak at times.

[Guybrush]

The ball was in play for about 12 minutes in the first half.

[Waffdon]

That’s a penalty the other way

Let’s them take a quick goal kick to not allow a check as well :D

[Ben]

VAR are Burnley fans.

[Gray Fox]

Absolutely not at it today.

Save us Divock.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, one last hurrah for big Div.

[Waffdon]

The better full back of the two.

[Waffdon]

Signing Diaz at the end of January sorted Liverpool’s season right out

[Danny]

Always Divok

[Gray Fox]

Save us Divock.

Cheers lad.

[Mike]

Oh Divock :wub:

[Gray Fox]

Top shithousery from Alisson at the end. Love that man.

[Spoonsky]

22 PL goals for Origi, six against Everton. What a legend.

Salah is so good in that first goal too.

[Lofty]

Supposedly Poch out and Conte in at PSG :D

[Gray Fox]

I need to see him trying to tell Neymar and Messi to defend.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

£12.6m for Small Pockets.

[Lewis]

Who does Conte think he is offering his services whilst under contract? Daniel Levy will be wearing his hair transplant next season.

[Lofty]

1518283057987571713

[niko_cee]

Brighton desperately need some better forwards [shock horror]. Whilst it's fun watching Danny Welbeck gambling around the pitch in his dotage years, he's really not that great, and Maupay just isn't up to it. They could do a lot worse than getting Big Divock in on a free, save him from a fate worse than death at acey meelan or wherever it is he is supposed to be going.

They also need to sign Alex Scott [the Bristol City one] to build on the Maya Le Tissier Guernsey links.

[Waffdon]

I’m expecting a 5 game retrospective ban for Mane randomly stubbing two different people in the eye, the small ming

[Luke Emia]

It’s going to be beautiful if Everton go down. Could be a long one if they do as well because the club is an absolute fucking basket case. Hopefully Super Frank finishes the job from here.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Could have been that you just watched the last ever Liverpool v Everton derby. Avoid each other in the cups and a quick liquidation thereafter.

[Gray Fox]

You could see it today. Their gameplan was working well for about 60 mins and they were still seething themselves to pieces.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Or maybe a merger. Red shirts, blue shorts. 'Liverpool United'. Club motto: You'll Never Seethe Alone.

[Reg]

Brighton desperately need some better forwards [shock horror]. Whilst it's fun watching Danny Welbeck gambling around the pitch in his dotage years, he's really not that great, and Maupay just isn't up to it. They could do a lot worse than getting Big Divock in on a free, save him from a fate worse than death at acey meelan or wherever it is he is supposed to be going.

They also need to sign Alex Scott [the Bristol City one] to build on the Maya Le Tissier Guernsey links.
Nothing wrong with Welbeck (…apart from that he can’t play half the games). Could do with an upgrade on Maupay - or Maupay upgrading himself - but it’s more goals from midfield we massively lack. More may come from Mwepu and Mac Allister next season.

[phonics]

Could you just start playing worse against us specifically? It's brutal every year.

[Don]

Top shithousery from Alisson at the end. Love that man.

Imagine MOTD2 not showing this. Like fucking hell, just eat into the insightful punditry of the MOTDX boys and show the best bit of this weekend's football after the Betis scenes.

If it's not on 2Good2Bad I'm gonna DM some monkey emojis.

[Lewis]

Gary Neville et al would implode if Everton even looked like going out of business. Everton. A massive club like Everton? Never even been relegated before. They're a massive, massive club. Howard Kendall. Everton.

[Lewis]

'We're not talking about Bury or Oldham. We're talking about *Everton* Football Club.'

[niko_cee]

Nothing wrong with Welbeck (…apart from that he can’t play half the games). Could do with an upgrade on Maupay - or Maupay upgrading himself - but it’s more goals from midfield we massively lack. More may come from Mwepu and Mac Allister next season.

Nothing massively right about him either. He's fine, but he could do with being improved upon.

Maupay looked like he was running in treacle at points today. He's just not up to it. Another one in the hinterland between probably too good for the Championship and not good enough for the Premier League.

Agree on the midfield. Bissouma was obviously a miss today [although not many goals there]. Caceido and Mwepu both good until the final third, whereupon they generally about face. Potter is definitely an excellent coach up until that final third. Playing out from the back and knocking it around in tight spaces is second nature, but when it gets into the attacking third you can see the NFL quarterback style progressions going through the ball carrier's head every time and everything just slows down. Maybe it's a consequence of having somewhat limited players who don't trust themselves [or can't be permitted] to play instinctively. Not sure Mac Allsiter is ever going to amount to a whole hill of beans, game passed him by today.

The defence and shitkicking midfield departments are completely fine [Cucurella is top quality], just add a top quality attacker to play alongside Trossard up front [depending on how you set up] and so many of these draws could be wins.

[Giggles]

Weren't Everton one of these newly minted clubs a couple of years ago (around the time Ancelotti went there). What happened them?

[niko_cee]

They spent all their money on Alex Iwobi and a litany of other shite, then appointed Frank Lampard when things were looking bleak.

They still have their wealthy owner, and plans to move into a massive new stadium at some point.

Nice contrast to the season when you turn the clock back to 3 or 4 games in or whatever it was, Arsenal rock bottom and Everton flying high. Think their win at Brighton was the last time they won an away game [in August].

[Don]

That Trossard pass for their second but also that JWP first is a great mark of how ridiculous he is. I haven't sensed such danger from a set-piece specialist since Juninho Pe.

[Shindig]

Everton's squad is a real hodge podge. Richarlison aside, they're rancid up front but they have a couple of good youngsters. Dele Alli's continuing to feel anonymous and I forgot they had van de Beek. Too many players have gone missing for largely the whole season and the fresh blood has done nothing to boost confidence.

Rafa was shit as well. "Hey, Solomon Rondon. He scored in unremarkable numbers in China, he'll do."

[niko_cee]

What happened to Livramento yesterday? I assumed it was going to be some sort of freak Cissé style horror leg break given the way the ref reacted but they showed it on MotD and it must have been more of an internal thing, which is probably worse in the long run/recovery terms if it's his knee.

[CJay]

What happened to Livramento yesterday? I assumed it was going to be some sort of freak Cissé style horror leg break given the way the ref reacted but they showed it on MotD and it must have been more of an internal thing, which is probably worse in the long run/recovery terms if it's his knee.

Looked a bit like Michael Owen vs Sweden in 2006 (for some reason I feel really old typing that).

[Shindig]

I just had to refresh my memory on that. I knew it was innocuous but the way his standing leg goes is bizarre.

[niko_cee]

Everton want answers over non-award of penalty!

:D

Is that a thing now?

He didn't get the penalty because he [Gordon] is a diving little shit, had been diving all game, and when a tight call came along [STONEWALL :roflol:] the ref erred on the side of him being a diving little shit. If it gets given VAR doesn't overturn it, but if it doesn't get given tough shit [unless you're Arsenal maybe]. This isn't last season where every microscopic bit of contact is deemed sufficient to generate a foul.

Emerson Royal went through Jota in a much more industrial style earlier in the season and it was him 'playing for it' and so VAR had no interest. C'est la vie.

[Ben]

My only takeaway is that VAR not even looking at it was very odd.

[Giggles]

Once the final whistle blows nothing should ever be looked at or questioned.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't get teams who lost by 2 or more goals crying over a single incident. If it's a last minute thing that would have changed the result, fine, let it all out, but if you're that good you'd have scored again and/or stopped the other team from scoring two.

Everton Football Club need about 25 years out of the top flight to calm the fuck down.

[niko_cee]

My only takeaway is that VAR not even looking at it was very odd.

Don't most things just get quickly looked at and dismissed without the VAR REVIEW fanfare?

[Waffdon]

Usually but the referee let Liverpool kick off straight away so I’m not sure they even bothered. I don’t think you can kick off if it’s under review

[Gray Fox]

Another big irritance of mine on VAR is that the actual referee in the booth is a fully qualified Premier League official. Yet they will never make on field calls themselves. Even if something is blatant they wont overturn it, they'll just send the other guy to the monitor.

[Ben]

“Stockley Park” is the issue. Employing another ref to oversee a ref is ridiculous. Just send the on field man straight to the monitor like most other countries where it works alright.

[Kikó]

My ongoing boring statement that var is shit and has ruined the game.

[Yevrah]

My ongoing boring statement that var is shit and has ruined the game.

It's funny, I thought legions of offside goals having let the play go would be its undoing but they appear to have fucked it in a myriad of other ways too.

[Kikó]

Every rule now seems infinitely more confused and applied differently on a game by game basis. I thought the whole point was to get the big decisions right yet we're talking even more about referees and whether the decision is right.

[Manc]

Lovely bit of needle to this game. A Zaha red looks inevitable.

[Lewis]

What was that shit floating around about how it can't be handball, like that blatant Arsenal handball in the box was, if your hand is touching the floor? That sounds like a recipe for some quality goal line blocking.

[Yevrah]

I think a big problem is that they should have had a look at every single rule before they brought it in and ascertained whether they needed to change any of those in light of it.

Offside, for example, was a rule brought in to stop goal hanging and shouldn't in a million years lead to a goal being disallowed if a slowed down replay viewed eight times suggests the striker's left testicle was ahead of the defender.

[Baz]

Olise is so good.

[Don]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2022/apr/25/paul-pogbas-wasted-prime-should-be-a-cause-for-sadness-not-sneering

Hear, hear. Thankfully he'll still have a couple of seasons to prove his outrageous quality at a functioning club.

[Shindig]

Paul Pogba hasn’t really improved in six years at Manchester United. But then, who has?

Scott McTominay. Do I get points for that?

[Lewis]

Other than for the first three months under Ole Gunnar Binman, his best season was his first one where 'Zlatan' was wasting one or two highlight reel assists every game. I'm not sure where he goes from United. In the game as it is now he's a number ten or he's a borderline liability.

[Jimmy Floyd]

A league where you get time and space to fart around and pick out outrageous passes. In our football these days it's run hard for 90 or go home.

Italy would work (again).

[Lewis]

Italy, or humiliating the French league but costing them in the Champions' League quarters.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If he went to a random French team, let's say Nantes (if they're in the top flight), he could probably get them within 10 points of PSG.

[phonics]

People who don't think Pogba is good are idiots. Just tell him what to do, it's really not that hard. United haven't had a good manager in 9 years and people are shocked he isn't performing. Remember when United were wining every game 4-0 in Mourinhos first year?

[Giggles]

Yeah he seems like the sort of cunt that would do as he’s instructed.

[Kikó]

People who think it's because Pogba hasn't been told what to do are idiots. He doesn't have the discipline or fitness to be a centre midfielder, makes awful decisions in dangerous parts of the pitch and has limited desire to actually dominate a midfield. I'm not going to be sad the preening look at me arse is gone. Absolute time and energy waster.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He's one of these people who wishes he was an American basketballer rather than a French footballer, I think.

[Lewis]

At some point there will need to be an official club statement about how Mourinho was right about every single player. They can't keep denying him the justice he deserves.

[Baz]

A league where you get time and space to fart around and pick out outrageous passes. In our football these days it's run hard for 90 or go home.

Italy would work (again).
Thiago and KDB do that no problem in the Premier League. Pogba just cba

[Jimmy Floyd]

They skip the farting around bit (well, De Bruyne does).

[Waffdon]

Thiago and KDB do that no problem in the Premier League. Pogba just cba

How have you managed to compare all 3 of them players :D

[Don]

Brexit gammons saying Pogba doesn't have the discpline or fitness to be a central midfielder just because he doesn't sink wifebeaters and burn in 18 degree sun :happycry:

[Baz]

Just read that Fabregas has more career goal contributions (338) than Thiago has total career starts (328) and don’t know what to think.

[Waffdon]

It was a laugh reading the Liverpool fans on Twitter saying Thiago was far better as he played a massive role at Barcelona and Bayern

[Jimmy Floyd]

Thiago is just Jon Mikel Obi but with light enough skin that you're allowed to call him a good passer.

[Don]

The man levitates. Pure art with the ball at his feet.

[-james-]

Just read that Fabregas has more career goal contributions (338) than Thiago has total career starts (328) and don’t know what to think.

You should think that that's a very stupid way of determining that one player is better than another.

A quick google will also tell you that it's made up.

[Reg]

He's one of these people who wishes he was an American basketballer rather than a French footballer, I think.
Wouldn't that require a million games a season, though? And on that topic...


At some point there will need to be an official club statement about how Mourinho was right about every single player. They can't keep denying him the justice he deserves.
Mourinho said that Pogba can do well at the World Cup because it's a short period of time for him to absolutely focus. Seems pretty bang on.

[Waffdon]

You should think that that's a very stupid way of determining that one player is better than another.

A quick google will also tell you that it's made up.

What’s the real figures boss man

[Jimmy Floyd]

There are no real figures because a 'goal contribution' does not exist.

[Don]

There was a player RL used to talk about a lot during an extended period of time in reference to his goal contributions, anyone remember the name?

[-james-]

Fabregas 336 all competitions (excluding the two assists he got for Chelsea reserves). 240 in league appearances, 387 if you include senior internationals. [1]

Thiago 396 all competitions, 265 league appearances, 442 including internationals. [2]

Also what Jimmy said.

[1] https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/cesc-fabregas/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/8806
[2] https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/thiago/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/60444

[Baz]

I’ve addressed it.

1518963297961324545

Thanks everyone.

[Don]

:rasta:

[Danny]

Based on transfermarkt, it looks right

https://www.transfermarkt.us/cesc-fabregas/leistungsdaten/spieler/8806/plus/0?saison=ges
https://www.transfermarkt.us/thiago/leistungsdaten/spieler/60444/saison/ges/plus/1#gesamt

Cesc
125 G + 213 A = 338

Thiago
450 games - 122 times subbed on = 328.

[Ben]

I’ve addressed it.

1518963297961324545

Thanks everyone.

Coming for the "goal contribution" bullshit, staying for the Mellin millions.

[-james-]

:baz:

[Yevrah]

There are no real figures because a 'goal contribution' does not exist.

:D

[Don]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/apr/26/unai-emery-admits-villarreal-need-a-perfect-performance-to-beat-liverpool

Intelligent analysis of the monster we have become this season. We're now linked to signing Pogba's regen from Monaco in the summer too. Jesus, it'd get dull if it wasn't for the perma-erection.

[Kikó]

Brexit gammons saying Pogba doesn't have the discpline or fitness to be a central midfielder just because he doesn't sink wifebeaters and burn in 18 degree sun :happycry:

Surely as someone who wanks over xG, xA, xB that the mans stats are a complete shambles. Alternatively, you can use your eyes.

[Don]

Your 'team' is broken, as is the environment but any fool can see how ridiculous a talent Pogba is when he makes any and all opposing players look like a child with his physical strength and ability to shield the ball whilst also being able to pick out a pass if afforded the time and space. These infested waters' obsession with kick and rush headless chicken football can't cover that shit up.

[Spoonsky]

I think you can blame Pogba for not leaving United when he clearly wasn’t happy nor arsed. He was never going to do better for United, but he could have just left; and he’s chosen money over a better career in that respect.

[Kikó]

I'm sure all the big teams will have him now he's on a free and he can prove the United fans wrong etc.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Your 'team' is broken, as is the environment but any fool can see how ridiculous a talent Pogba is when he makes any and all opposing players look like a child with his physical strength and ability to shield the ball whilst also being able to pick out a pass if afforded the time and space. These infested waters' obsession with kick and rush headless chicken football can't cover that shit up.

Would he get into the Liverpool 11? Who does he get in ahead of? How many goal CONTRIBUTIONS would he get in the team?

[Don]

In a functioning team, having a differential like that who can literally dominate opposition midfielders would be massive. He ain't working in a Pep/Klopp side but any other team he strolls into and improves.

[Yevrah]

Would he get into the Liverpool 11? Who does he get in ahead of? How many goal CONTRIBUTIONS would he get in the team?

Not that I'm saying Pobga is, but there are a lot of players who're pretty damn good who wouldn't get into that Liverpool side - it's clearly one of the best ever assembled.

[Kikó]

Not surprised that YouTube football fan Taz rates pogba. It was just the white man keeping him down.

[niko_cee]

Pogba's not quite in the Balotelli 'you can see he has talent' camp, but at some point you do have to wonder whether, as a player, in a team game, when your contribution to your team's performances [or lack thereof] is taken as at least persuasive evidence of whether you are in fact actually really good at the professional version of the game.

There are loads of players who can do a million keepie-uppies and all sorts of wonderful tricks, and yet there's Sylvan Wiltord with the decorated career at the very top of the game.

Pogba's ended up a poor man's Gerrard. A player without discipline, but who could make up for it through sheer effort and ability, but Pogba's all too often lacked the former, it would seem.

[Giggles]

Talent is nothing without attitude except in a very rare case. Pogba is not one of those cases. Talented player but the sum of all his parts make him a waste of space at best, but probably leaning more on the side of a complete poison.

[Gray Fox]

I'm sure someone has said it above, but Pogba is grand if you play in a league where time on the ball is allowed.

You see the flashes of ability over here. 4 assists in the one game and such, but he'd be much better off going to Germany or France.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This will just make the bottlejob even sweeter.

[Giggles]

Is this a first or second leg?

[Waffdon]

1st.

It’s about time Mahrez was back starting for Man City in a big game. This midfield/attack is by far their best. Think there’s potential for another high scoring game here. Madrid wingers should get a load of joy against City’s full backs throughout

[Waffdon]

Surely Man City aren’t going to sell Jesus to Arsenal or to whoever

[Yevrah]

The level at which the Premier League are above the rest of Europe must be terrifying UEFA.

[-james-]

The level at which the Premier League are above the rest of Europe must be terrifying UEFA.

The Super League already exists.

[-james-]

Mahrez wants sacking for not squaring it there.

[Waffdon]

That would have been a beautiful goal.

Madrid are a mess. Kroos is absolutely past it

[Ben]

City might end up regretting passing up all these chances. Should be 4 or 5.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Benz :drool:

More please.

[Waffdon]

He’s so good

[Ben]

Eder is really bad.

[Don]

The level at which the Premier League are above the rest of Europe must be terrifying UEFA.

And by Premier League, you mean 2 clubs. Moyes anti-footballing his way to some historic European run doesn't change the fact the EPL hype gets shown up with the rest.

[Waffdon]

And one of them clubs you refer to has only made one final and weren’t even a match in said final :D

Spain and England just fluctuate on who dominates. It wasn’t long ago Real Madrid won 4 in 5 years and Emery and Sevilla winning the other competition every year

[Yevrah]

And by Premier League, you mean 2 clubs. Moyes anti-footballing his way to some historic European run doesn't change the fact the EPL hype gets shown up with the rest.

I don't. Chelsea won it last year and Man Utd won't be this shit forever.

[Waffdon]

Unless I’m missing something, only Chelsea and Liverpool have won it since 2007/08 season so not that dominant at all. Just seems like when an English team does win it they have 3 teams in the semis

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fuck sake Madrid.

[Lewis]

Liverpool would easily beat Madrid, so we ought to be backing City anyway.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Villarreal will beat Liverpool.

Mon Madrid.

[Waffdon]

Villarreal watching this knowing the ball will only be in play for about 30 mins tomorrow. :drool:

Twitter were bad enough with Everton, they’ll be even more seething tomorrow

[Lewis]

The first game is at Anfield. Scamming the home leg 1-0 isn't going to be much use.

[-james-]

Villarreal will beat Liverpool.


They certainly will not.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That is some finish.

[Gray Fox]

Felt like City had the ball a full 10 mins before that goal. They make it look effortless.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Allez allez.

[Gray Fox]

Check out the big balls on Benz.

[Ben]

That fucking guy.

Peak Madrid to get bossed off the park and the tie is pretty much even.

[Lewis]

Deport.

[Ben]

Deport Darren Fletcher. He's somehow worse at football commentary than he is boxing.

[Don]

Liverpool would easily beat Madrid, so we ought to be backing City anyway.

We won't find it much easier than City did, Vinny and Benz being threaded through by Modric is basically our kryptonite.

[Lewis]

Modric would look like Alan Barnes by half-time.

[niko_cee]

We won't find it much easier than City did, Vinny and Benz being threaded through by Modric is basically our kryptonite.

Bayern would have been an interesting prospect, with all their pace. Doubt they would have the gumption to sit off and just knock long balls over the top, but who knows.

I have no idea what Villarreal are all about. I'm guessing extreme organisation with some nice technical players through the middle, and pace from that Chukwueze chap who has been getting linked all over Europe for years.

If I were a neutral I'd expect Liverpool to crush them.

[niko_cee]

Also that City game looked wild. I can see it being suggested that they'll rue their missed chances, but they'll probably stick another 4 past them next week. Some seriously odd things in the game as well. Why did no one [ie Laporte] bother to try to close Vinicius down as he ran half the length of the pitch completely unopposed?

[Don]

https://mobile.twitter.com/Millar_Colin/status/1519040888986648580?t=YnTgwZdIRM5osp-84YLrXQ&s=08

Muslim domination yet again.

[Don]

Jesus, there's a tweet lower down that says Juan Mata signed for Utd at 25. One is everyone's favourite little Spanish genius and the other is dealing with Kiko throwing bananas at him whilst outperforming the former. You love to see it.

[Kikó]

I love Mata and don't understand why he has barely been used for the past 4 years.

[Reg]

Also that City game looked wild. I can see it being suggested that they'll rue their missed chances, but they'll probably stick another 4 past them next week. Some seriously odd things in the game as well. Why did no one [ie Laporte] bother to try to close Vinicius down as he ran half the length of the pitch completely unopposed?
Hailed as the best goal since sliced Maradona by Darren Fletcher too. (Was good by Vinicius, just bad by Man City - especially Fernandinho.)

Fantastic game. These slightly mental Champions League ties are much more fun than the 1-0s of 10-15 years ago, while also higher quality.

[Spoonsky]

It felt like both center backs were so concerned about Benzema that they didn’t want to step at all. It was great composure by Vinicius to be fair, having run half the pitch like that.

[Shindig]

Nah, the closing down for Vinicius would've just opened someone else to score. Nobody wanted to leave their man and Fernandinho gave him that side of the pitch all to his own.

EDIT: What Spoonsky said.

[Waffdon]

Just the two Spurs and Arsenal rejects in that Villarreal midfield. :D

[Shindig]

Anybody else annoyed we're not getting tournament footy in the summer?

[Jimmy Floyd]

No. November is fucking bleak at the best of times, let's move them all there, and shorten the club season accordingly. Or in non-tournament years, play all the qualifiers in that window and then don't have international breaks for the rest.

[Waffdon]

Not sure Dani Parejo could play any slower if he tried

[CJay]

We've been sloppy. Winning the ball well high up the pitch, but no one seems to be set to do anything with it once we get it. I'd get Keita on for Henderson for a bit more drive.

[Gray Fox]

Very much a late 00's Champions League tie this. There wont be many big chances or goals.

Liverpool being a little too safe and slow with the ball. Trent has also developed an annoying recent habit of not hugging the touch line. He's often almost a RCM, which cuts out some width and takes some of his crossing away.

[igor_balis]

lol what a gimp

[Giggles]

Having watched 10 minutes of this (it’s all I can take of Gerry Armstrong), Liverpool will have 3 minimum by the time this is over. Definitely no need for any pearl clutching.

Edit - and there’s the start of it.

[Waffdon]

How have Villarreal got this far with this geezer in goal

[Giggles]

Having watched 10 minutes of this (it’s all I can take of Gerry Armstrong), Liverpool will have 3 minimum by the time this is over. Definitely no need for any pearl clutching.

Edit - and there’s the start of it.

Probably 5 or 6 now.

[igor_balis]

Having watched 10 minutes of this (it’s all I can take of Gerry Armstrong), Liverpool will have 3 minimum by the time this is over. Definitely no need for any pearl clutching.

Edit - and there’s the start of it.

yeah i'll give you that

[Waffdon]

I’m still seething that Liverpool are getting to three finals with the run in they’ve had in every cup.

Shut the world down if they manage to win all 3.

[Boydy]

I’m still seething that Liverpool are getting to three finals with the run in they’ve had in every cup.

Shut the world down if they manage to win all 3.
:happycry:

[Boydy]

Why does Owen Hargreaves sound like John Barnes?

[Waffdon]

:happycry:

:(

[Gray Fox]

Has this keeper had his hands amputated?

[-james-]

I’m still seething that Liverpool are getting to three finals with the run in they’ve had in every cup.

Shut the world down if they manage to win all 3.

Can't have been easier than Chesterfield, Plymouth, Luton, Boro, Palace?

[Mellberg]

Can't have been easier than Chesterfield, Plymouth, Luton, Boro, Palace?

That Chelsea run this year? How in the name of fuck.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Some fucking splendid Travelodges on the A-roads outside those five places I bet.

[Don]

I may start upping the posts from last season of stupid fucks doubting Klopp/VVD/Matip/Thiago/Fabinho/Mane/Salah/Me.

[Waffdon]

Can't have been easier than Chesterfield, Plymouth, Luton, Boro, Palace?

:D

Yes, this Champions League run truly tops that. Thank you.

[Lewis]

Chelsea's run was harder because Chelsea aren't as good. :evictory:

[Waffdon]

Champions of Europe, we know what we are.

[Spoonsky]

Feels like since Mane and Salah came back from AFCON and then those WCQ their connection has only been stronger. Like a couple that gets closer after a big fight. (Definitely not Mane being moved to center forward.)


I may start upping the posts from last season of stupid fucks doubting Klopp/VVD/Matip/Thiago/Fabinho/Mane/Salah/Me.

Remember my friend saying last Feb or March, "So this Liverpool era is already over, isn't it?" Yep, over and done with, man.

[Luke Emia]

:D

Yes, this Champions League run truly tops that. Thank you.

Quick let Juve and Bayern back in so we can beat them instead.

In all fairness couldn’t have asked for much more than Benfica but everyone thought we’d be playing Bayern and Inter was about as hard a second round draw as you could ask for after winning the group.

[Shindig]

Why does Owen Hargreaves sound like John Barnes?

Well, you have to hold and give but do it at the right time.

[Waffdon]

The same Inter involved in some sketchy match fixing tonight to hand their rivals the title on a silver platter

[Queenslander]

The Roar are atrocious they play in front of 3 people all the way out in Redcliffe.

https://i.ibb.co/XZMmxyC/279106301-10160135738982728-1481565873987992609-n.jpg (https://ibb.co/5WwqhYR)

[Mellberg]

I went to the last one of those three team pre-season tournies I can remember. Was Villa, Benfica and Feyenoord an hour from Faro. The train station we arrived at was distinguished by a wonky brick cabin, with a horse tied to it by some old rope, and endless fields. Think we beat the Dutch and lost to the locals. This one...a bit too far.

[Reg]

The Inter 'assist' that presumably Waff was referring to:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORy1ee7dmaw

[Waffdon]

Match fixing.

[Baz]

I may start upping the posts from last season of stupid fucks doubting Klopp/VVD/Matip/Thiago/Fabinho/Mane/Salah/Me.

Leave me claiming Thiago has no influence on games in the past please.

[-james-]

Mino Raiola is dead. :cab:

[phonics]

Jorge Mendes assassination?

[Bernanke]

Nah, just fat.

[Gray Fox]

Raiola reckons he isn't dead.

[Ben]

Well that was a strange couple of hours.

[Gray Fox]

Jurgen Klopp extends his contract to 2026 :D

[Gray Fox]

Confirmed

1519707459929128961

Along with Pep and all of the major coaching staff. I'm so glad...

[Giggles]

RIP everyone else. He’s twice the manager Guardiola is.

[Waffdon]

Marcus Rashford to return to form for one night only and fire Man Utd into Europa League.

[Ben]

Roy Keane ain't his biggest fan. :D

[Kikó]

RIP everyone else. He’s twice the manager Guardiola is.

Why do you think that? I think he's very good but it's hard not to say Guardiola is the same.

[Giggles]

Roy Keane is basically trying to be a Sun headline at this stage. That's what comes when you've nothing to really say though.

[-james-]

There is nothing more shit in football than the "your support is fucking shit" chant.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Chelsea's "Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea" chant is worse.

[Lewis]

I went to that Hull vs United cup game a few years ago and 'WE SUPPORT OUR LOCAL TEAM' was bouncing back off the thousands of empty seats for the full ninety minutes.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The fans turning up 15 minutes late to the game in protest.

The Glazers wont know what's hit them.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61261144

CSKA Sofia have appointed Alan Pardew as their new manager.

The 60-year-old returns to full-time management for the first time in two years after leaving Dutch side ADO Den Haag in April 2020.

Pardew is back :drool:

[CJay]

Kai Havertz is a bit crap. Two very presentable chances muffed up so far.

[Kikó]

United are laughably bad.

[Giggles]

This is like a different sport to the one I watched on Tuesday night.

[Waffdon]

I’ll be shocked if Man Utd don’t win this or Chelsea don’t scrap a 1-1 with a late penalty. This same game has happened 15 times since Tuchel took over

[Gray Fox]

Tuchel seems great for getting them up for cup games. Perhaps lacks the true consistency of the league, but then that is skewed at the minute by the obscene standards being set by the two above him.

[Waffdon]

Marcos Alonso really is one of the best strikers of a ball/finishers in the league at this point :D

[Waffdon]

Kante costing Chelsea goals every other week at this point

[Kikó]

Ronaldo remains the problem

[Lewis]

Tuchel seems great for getting them up for cup games. Perhaps lacks the true consistency of the league, but then that is skewed at the minute by the obscene standards being set by the two above him.

He's a defensive manager with crap/inconsistent attackers. He's Rafa Benitez at Liverpool. They would have been in it with a peak Fernando Torres, but they spent ninety million on a pudding.

[Yevrah]

Ronaldo remains the problem

I have to agree that this is the dumbest narrative I've seen for some time, along with him being too old to play every week.

[Kikó]

The boys from Frankfurt are winning. 😎

[Lewis]

There have been a couple of games where he's looked like Romario grubbing around for his 'thousandth' goal, so the odd week off might not have done him any harm, but they need him so whatever. He would have had forty by now if City had signed him. What an idiot.

[niko_cee]

Ronaldo remains the problem

Going off this [and the last few performances] everything is the problem.

Quality finish and first touch notwithstanding.

Chelsea not much better. £200m+ for a front three of Havertz, Werner and Big Rom is pretty lol, not that they all play, but don't worry, there's another £100m or so chilling on the bench in the form of Pulisic and Ziyech.

[-james-]

The only way Ronaldo would have been a good signing would have been if they'd defied the odds and won something. In every other case, someone who will still be there in 2024 would have been superior.

[Waffdon]

Going off this [and the last few performances] everything is the problem.

Quality finish and first touch notwithstanding.

Chelsea not much better. £200m+ for a front three of Havertz, Werner and Big Rom is pretty lol, not that they all play, but don't worry, there's another £100m or so chilling on the bench in the form of Pulisic and Ziyech.

Not much better but current European Champions and been to the final of every possible tournament under Tuchel lol. They’re a fair bit off the league but they’re not Man Utd bad.

[Lewis]

To be fair, he was arguably stunting Mason Greenwood's progress early on.

[niko_cee]

2 times, we won it 2 times, against City . . .

[Gray Fox]

United in truth only really signed Ronaldo to stop any potential move to City, which appeared his only other possible destination. Can you imagine a finisher of his calibre in that team?
That and if you get the chance to sign a player of Ronaldos quality you just dont turn it down. 36 or not.

[Yevrah]

He's the best player they have, even if that is only in the short term and they obviously signed him to win things, even if things meant the Europa league.

[Kikó]

We've been a shambles the entire season. Thank God it's nearly done.

[Don]

Ronaldo at City would have bagged us the title already and an easy route to CL glory.

[Adramelch]

Tuchel seems great for getting them up for cup games. Perhaps lacks the true consistency of the league, but then that is skewed at the minute by the obscene standards being set by the two above him.

Barely to be honest, seeing as they can get a maximum of 81 points this season which is on the (very) low end of title-winning tallies. In the last 15-20 years, I'd say Leicester were around that mark and maybe one of those United titles where they won it just because the rest of the field was even worse.

[Manc]

Reece James is a monster. Simply has to start in Qatar.

[Shindig]

See? It feels weird saying stuff like that when the tournament is almost 9 months away. We should just ask Qatar to nominate a proper country as Qatari soil for the tournament duration for a summer slot.

[Waffdon]

Reece James is a monster. Simply has to start in Qatar.

If he’s going 3 atb surely to god it’s James rcb and Alexander Arnold in front. The former is just an absolute colossus though. He literally had everything.

[Lewis]

One of them could play in a midfield three with Rice and Bellingham with the other at right-back, but it's hard to see Southgate ditching that Rice/Phillips 'pivot' whilst he still has a hole in his arse, and that sinks both of their chances (see also: Kyle Walker playing under any and all circumstances).

[Ben]

James, Alexander-Arnold, Rice and Bellingham is just :drool:

Then Maguire :facepalm:

[Don]

What the sweet fuck is the Nazi playing at?

[Gray Fox]

I suppose this tells us Tuesday is perhaps a bigger priority for him.

Though this team should still win the game, I feel like it's going to be disjointed and scrappy.

[Lewis]

Every Liverpool player on the pitch is still better than every Newcastle player. Shut up.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Refs want Liverpool to win then.

[Gray Fox]

James fucking Milner.

[Guybrush]

Refs want Liverpool to win then.

Assume that's a joke, seeing as he clearly won the ball.

[Shindig]

Are UEFA planning on doing anything to Russian clubs for next year's competitions?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Miles on, refs are a joke.

[Don]

We've officially broken the sport. The fucking level of control with an English spine of Gomez, Milner and Hendo and their Brexitball education is unheard of. So enjoyable to watch.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Soft shite Milner getting knocked out by the ball :lol:

[Gray Fox]

You mean James Milner man of the match?

[Manc]

Job done. On to the next.

[Shindig]

Gateshead won 3-1 against Southport. Brackley lost to Blyth Spartans. 5 points clear, two games to go.

[Gray Fox]

Burnley scored 2 in the last 7 mins to beat Watford.

Norwich are now down, but Burnley are above Leeds who are now looking nervously over their shoulders.

[niko_cee]

Mike Jackson and the know-nothing American ownership turning received football wisdom on its head at the moment.

[Waffdon]

Europa League here we come :drool:

[Giggles]

Europa League here we come :drool:

Can’t see Arsenal and Spurs catching you tbh.

[Shindig]

Just seen the Milner/Schar thing. I wouldn't whistle for that. Milner got there first. City's up next for us. Good job the hard work was already done.

[Waffdon]

can’t see arsenal and spurs catching you tbh.

dundee’s going down down

..

[niko_cee]

Watching the last 10 minutes of this Old Firm game, Rangers must have been pretty special to be 6 points behind Celtic.

Also, is it at all concerning for United fans that 'Amad' barely seems to have played at all for Rangers since scoring on his debut for them? Has he been injured?

[Lewis]

It's too cold for him.

[Waffdon]

Watching the last 10 minutes of this Old Firm game, Rangers must have been pretty special to be 6 points behind Celtic.

Also, is it at all concerning for United fans that 'Amad' barely seems to have played at all for Rangers since scoring on his debut for them? Has he been injured?

He can’t hack the famous Scottish Premiership.

Celtic’s style suits the league whereas Rangers are a bit more compact and have been held to draws a fair amount. Europa League probably stopped them winning the league as they’ve dropped points a fair bit after a Thursday

[Waffdon]

Take a shot every time they mention fireworks

[-james-]

Amad has looked crap whenever I've seen him. Being kept out of the side by Scott Wright isn't a strong look.

[-james-]

Everton have been pretty good here. Them being odds on to go down is a mad state of affairs.

[Waffdon]

Their home form has always been okay. The issue is they’re a joke away from home and they have 3 away games left. Burnley play Aston Villa twice who are dreadful. Think the only hope for them is if Leeds lose out from here but they’ll steal a win from somewhere

[-james-]

Home/away "form" is a myth, pass it on.

[Waffdon]

They have 6 points away from home. Some myth.

[Gray Fox]

Leeds next play Arsenal away and then Chelsea at home. Depending on how today goes they could be bottom 3 after that Chelsea game.

You've also got to factor in teams coming up against others who now have nothing to play for. I feel like it's between Everton and Leeds looking at the games left. The latter having a tendency to lose and lose by 3+ every time may well fuck them over with that goal difference.

[Waffdon]

They have 6 points away from home. Some myth.

1 point since October :D

[Waffdon]

Offft. There can’t be many teams that give away goals like that every other week.

Charity FC

[Gray Fox]

Oh fuck off Chelsea.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, their last win was, surprise surprise, at the Amex.


He can’t hack the famous Scottish Premiership.

Celtic’s style suits the league whereas Rangers are a bit more compact and have been held to draws a fair amount. Europa League probably stopped them winning the league as they’ve dropped points a fair bit after a Thursday

I don't know the exact mechanics of this, or if it indeed will be the case, but is Rangers' good run in Europe going to benefit Celtic by way of coefficient for the Champions League next season? Would be quite lol and a bit of a travesty if so.

[Ben]

Burnley play Aston Villa twice

How/why?

[-james-]

1 point since October :D

They're a bad team, bad teams lose away from home. Maybe there's something causal in the pattern but it's probably just noise. Home/away form is mostly just taking a small sample and chopping it in half.

[niko_cee]

How does that work?

Must be covid related, I was looking at their fixtures earlier and noticed they play them next, then in their penultimate game as well.