May the Fourthball be with you

[Manc]

Is he still a vegetable?

[Shindig]

Nevermind, John covered the college stuff. Anyway, I kind of like a dynasty. They all end but I do love seeing records tumble. I never thought Schumacher's would go. I thought Marquez would re-write the record books. I didn't think anyone would string together what Sebastien Loeb did in rallying.

And then there's whatever the fuck happened in Tennis this generation.

[niko_cee]

I reckon the trajectory with a lot of these people is they are hated in their pomp and then as they get older, everyone appreciates them. I even found myself having a slight soft spot for the hated M Schumacher in his last year or two.

I was probably the opposite with Schumacher. I wouldn't say I ever loved him, but I equally never hated him, mostly as a reaction against my dad who viscerally hated him.

But then, he was a long term backer of The Undertaker [from before he fought Hogan at Survivor series] so it's just one of those things I've chalked up to him being long term right about.

Football works differently due to the long-termism and basic hatred that runs through the game forever. No one ever develops a soft spot for x, y or z, but revisionism is often rife [ie United being ALL ABOUT ATTACK when they actually won 15 games a season 1-0 and had half their goals come from some combination of Ronnie Johnson, Gary Pallister and Steve Bruce etc].

[phonics]

Hearing Jack Pitt-Brooke talk about Tottenham is like listening to me talk about Arsenal.

[Don]

"I have said things. Would I say it again? No. I said Tottenham play how they play but are still only fifth. It felt good at the moment but it is probably wrong.

"I don't know which situation Pep was in. Getting knocked out of he Champions League is difficult enough to take. But then Liverpool made it to the final. You say what you say."

The sly digs from these two have been good last couple of days. Pep's gonna blow once we don it.

[Shindig]

Ah, Sunderland wobbling in the play-offs. A tale as old as time.

[Ben]

Sheff Wed definitely taking this at the end.

[Mellberg]

I don't want to jump the gun, but would that be a fifth season in League One? Some going that.

[Mellberg]

A gift from me to ScousePig and Martin, right there.

[niko_cee]

Is that Patrick 'next big thing' Roberts of Fulham/City fame?

[mo]

Yup.

[thommo]

He was electric back in 13-14 when we made a run to the Youth Cup final. Then Kit Symons brought him off the bench 20 times in the Championship for a combined total of about 200 minutes before he buggered off to City for around £10m.

[Alex]

1523957350360621056

I fear we may be going "full Lasso" here.

[Kikó]

I wonder if the Queen is going to die?

[Ben]

:D

[Jimmy Floyd]

I fear we may be going "full Lasso" here.

You've gone from Borges to Dan Brown.

[Shindig]

Don Revie probably just told his lot to "Get out there and fuck off."

[niko_cee]

Could do with a reverse of last season's debacle tonight. Make it happen Steven.

[Baz]

Salah and Robertson not starting.

Alisson, Trent Matip Virgil Tsimikas, Fabinho Keita Jones, Mane Jota Diaz

[Gray Fox]

While this team should win the game tonight, this does say he's probably more bothered about the two cup finals now if you pressed him on it.

[-james-]

1363200220616683521

On Haaland, this is perfect.

[Gray Fox]

Already seeing why we're after a new CM or two.

Curtis still wants too long on the ball and it goes to bits once Henderson/Thiago dont help Fabinho.

[Mellberg]

Mings having one of those games where he'll be responsible for about 3 goals.

[Gray Fox]

McGinn is one that's been linked in the past. I wouldn't mind him in either.

[Waffdon]

Fabinho faking an injury as he can’t be arsed? :D

[Gray Fox]

I really hope this is a precaution rather than a 2-3 week job.

[Mellberg]

Ref's on the take.

[Waffdon]

Refs on the take

[Gray Fox]

He's blind as fuck.

[Gray Fox]

Brave defending from the Villa player on the past post there. Could have done without HT.

I suspect Thiago and Salah will be coming in very sharply after HT.

[Mellberg]

Get Buendia on. Should start every single game.

[Waffdon]

I love how they’re saying no one, not even Coutinho, has confidence of beating Van Dijk 1 on 1 seconds after doing so

[Waffdon]

Gammy eyed grassing mong at the front in the Liverpool end

[Boydy]

Starting to think Liverpool won't won anything else this year. They're running out of steam/PEDs.

[Gray Fox]

They're running out of steam/PEDs.

This is what worried me with all of these games close together.

[Gray Fox]

Only time we've threatened is when we've had Diaz 1v1 with a defender.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Danny Ings needs to pull his finger out.

[Waffdon]

That first touch from Ings :sick:

[Mellberg]

Stick another in the 'brave' loss column.

[Don]

Imagine demonstrating such beta energy as a Liverpool fan, sort yourselves out.

[Mellberg]

Chukwuemeka is tidy and obviously has ability. Needs to have a Ramsey moment and go full player though.

[niko_cee]

Probably not the thread for it but fucking hell Wayne Rooney looks a bit tubby. Absolutely in his element in courtroom drawings though. Strong defendant energy.

[Alex]

We've just named a back line that consists entirely of four centre backs for the Chelsea game.

"DEFENCE! DEFENCE!" etc.

Maybe we'll line them up in two banks of two. Just stationary in the penalty area perhaps? Who knows. The game may be about to be revolutionised.

[Waffdon]

I’m away to go watch a game with our striker lining up with a D.O.B 4/2/06. There will be a few excitable catholic priests in the away end

[Shindig]

Watford hiring a Forest Green manager is definitely something that happens 40 years into a CM save.

[Kikó]

Youth cup final tonight. United v Nottingham Forest at a sold out old Trafford.

[randomlegend]

Free to stream on FaPlayer

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Watford hiring a Forest Green manager is definitely something that happens 40 years into a CM save.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61413324

Forest Green's owner Dale Vince told BBC Sport: "It takes a bit of the shine off winning promotion. If there's any karma in football they'll languish in the Championship and we'll meet them there in a few years' time."

"[Edwards] said he'd been advised by Watford and his agent to keep it a secret from Forest Green which I think is pretty poor from them. It's poor from Rob and he knows it.

"I thought I knew him better as a person."

The seethe from the owner :drool:

[Ben]

He'll be out on his arse by October like every other cunt. They must pay well because it's a hiding to nothing.

[Giggles]

You’d still have to take it though.

[randomlegend]

Some quality goalkeeping in this youth cup final so far :baz:

[niko_cee]

Fond memories from the youth cup finals of the mid-2000s when Liverpool won a few.

Really thought Paul Anderson was going to be the absolute tits.

[niko_cee]

Had to hope Wolves could salvage something tonight for there to be any hope, so that looks like it's gone.

[Boydy]

Had to hope Wolves could salvage something tonight for there to be any hope, so that looks like it's gone.

Nicely done.

[niko_cee]

I want fantasy points for the assist on that.

[Gray Fox]

The league is 100% gone. If we still had the GD advantage I’d say maybe, but needing to win a late in the season game by big numbers brings back bad memories.

EDIT: what a curse that was

[Don]

Pedro Neto remontada could be nicely timed. Also, stfu.

[Boydy]

Ah fuck.

[Gray Fox]

This Kevin fella seems alright though.

[Baz]

KDB is absurd

[niko_cee]

I stand by my original statement.

[randomlegend]

United have just benefitted from an atrocious refereeing decision in this youth game.

[Kikó]

The argie kid is great though.

[Don]

Laporte injury and Antonio vs Ake and Fernandinho. Hand us the title already :drool:

[Waffdon]

European away days are back. I hope it’s some shithole in Serbia or something. Mon the conference

[Waffdon]

Dylan Levitt would have got Man Utd into the CL places

[Lofty]

Fond memories from the youth cup finals of the mid-2000s when Liverpool won a few.

Really thought Paul Anderson was going to be the absolute tits.

Back when Jay Spearing was Gerrard's trogolodyte regen.

[Shindig]

Newcastle's U-18s have been demolished all season. Lee Clark's boy is at Liverpool now.

[Lewis]

United have just benefitted from an atrocious refereeing decision in this youth game.

Possibly the worst penalty decision ever made.

[phonics]

Watching youth football. How the mighty have fallen.

[niko_cee]

:D

It's a sure sign of bad times.

Martin Keown's pronunciation of longevity [longer-tivity] has just made my night. Completely offsetting all of Lineker's dreadful courtroom references.

[niko_cee]

Leeds really ought to cut their losses with the American and appoint Sean Dyche asap.

[Kikó]

Dylan Levitt would have got Man Utd into the CL places

He's very tidy. I think he'll be a decent player in the Championship at least.

I wonder if the FIL will fancy Dundee United in Europe :pards:

[niko_cee]

Looked a pretty soft penalty to me.

[phonics]

Can anyone explain what that penalty was for? I assumed it was a handball but didn’t see any contact?

[Gray Fox]

Seemed like he nudged Son while not really attempting to play the ball.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, ref's on the take here.

[phonics]

Was Saka not just nudged off the pitch? I'm just confused on what is and isn't a foul now.

[Gray Fox]

That ones definitely a foul.

[phonics]

And now the red card. Premier League needs this 4th spot to carry on clearly.

[Gray Fox]

I dont think the pen was really a pen, but that's as blatant a foul as you could make when already on a yellow.

[phonics]

Yeah but what constitutes it being a yellow card?

[phonics]

Saka gets fouled. Foul for Spurs. I see what's happening here.

[phonics]

I give up.

[Manc]

City have only conceded one goal from a corner all season? Surely not.

[niko_cee]

The standard of refereeing in the Premier League is just bafflingly poor. Can we not just sign some foreigners to do a better job [a la all other aspects of THE BEST LEAGUE IN THE WORLD]?

[niko_cee]

City have only conceded one goal from a corner all season? Surely not.

They just don't concede many goals full stop. How many games have they been behind in this season? The ones they've ended up losing [3] and Liverpool at Anfield?

[Gray Fox]

They have a +72(ludicrous) goal difference for a reason.

[randomlegend]

I've been saying for ages how dreadful the refs are and just get retards like Waff bealing about how I'm biased.

9/10 games I watch the refereeing is TERRIBLE.

[phonics]

Why are the commentary team arguing that that should be a straight red. What the fuck is this sport if that's a red card.

[mugbull]

The pen was more obvious than 80% of pens given. He shoulder barges Son out of the path of the ball

[phonics]

If that’s a shoulder barge then ben Davies should have been sent off for a straight red for denying a goal scoring opportunity as last man. Both are equally ridiculous assertions.

[phonics]

Neville: Players care too much about social media

Neville at half-time during a match he's commentating on:
https://i.imgur.com/Sd76UPr.png

[niko_cee]

Just realised this ref [Tierney] was the ref when Liverpool played Spurs down there.

Yellow for Kane and insufficient contact on Jota that time, so consistency obviously not his thing. Or perhaps it is.

[phonics]

Should Son even be on the pitch in mugbull world.

1524837140072386592

He's elbowed him in the face with intent there?

I don't think he should but we live in a world where that was a penalty so red card it is.

[phonics]

Just realised this ref [Tierney] was the ref when Liverpool played Spurs down there.

Yellow for Kane and insufficient contact on Jota that time, so consistency obviously not his thing. Or perhaps it is.

The key element the Premier League has taken from the NBA is that they get refs in to do a job. If Arsenal even draw here then it's a bit of a damp squib so get in a ref that'll do what you need them to do.

[niko_cee]

That's probably a bit strong. They're just fucking useless.

He's just a textbook first ruler as Jimmy would say.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The standard of refereeing in the Premier League is just bafflingly poor. Can we not just sign some foreigners to do a better job [a la all other aspects of THE BEST LEAGUE IN THE WORLD]?

They're worse, unless you went IPL, plucked the world's best and housed them in two storeys of seedy shag-pads in Stockley Park.

[niko_cee]

That would be the plan.

Either that or give that Mexican maniac Mike Riley's job and just make it spectacle.

[Don]

Ambitions of CL football with Nketiah leading the line :D

[thommo]

Can't believe anyone is really questioning the ref regarding the penalty or the red card tonight. They seemed like fairly straightforward decisions, and Holding in particular was a red card waiting to happen - he made about 2 or 3 bookable offences before getting his first yellow.

[Lofty]

Ambitions of CL football with Nketiah leading the line :D

Still sat in 4th with 2 games left and Nketiah leading the line :D

[Baz]

Really hope Palace beat United and West Ham get something from City (obvs) and/or Brighton.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61431507

"If I say what I think I am suspended for six months," said Arteta when asked about the officiating.

"I don't know how to lie so I prefer not to say what I think. I cannot say what I think.

"I am not unhappy with my players. I am proud of my players. I want the referee to come in front of the camera and explain his decisions. It's a shame because such a beautiful game was destroyed.

"The decision was made. We can't change it. The referee has to make a decision in football."

:harold:

[phonics]

100% correct.

[Ben]

While they weren't the most clear cut things I've ever seen, it's hard to argue against both the penalty and red card once they've been given.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Arsenal have the softest fanbase in history. Anything goes against them they basically turn into emos chugging My Chemical Romance out of tinny headphones.

[Shindig]

The penalty looks fine. He's not playing the ball. Same goes for the sending off.

[Raoul Duke]

Arsenal have the softest fanbase in history. Anything goes against them they basically turn into emos chugging My Chemical Romance out of tinny headphones.

MCR just released their first new song since 2014 (https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/my-chemical-romance-foundations-of-decay-stream-1235070306/). Coincidence? Or is Gerard Way a closet gooner?

[Luke Emia]

With the penalty don't give the ref the option to give it by being so fucking retarded. I don't even think it is that soft the ball is nowhere near them and he has just barged into him.

Anyway Arsenal are the new Liverpool in that all you ever hear is how they have the better players than anyone else in every position until it actually comes to playing a decent team and they get trounced by them.

[Ben]

Gary Neville said it on commentary regarding the penalty: if you're subtle enough and time it to just before the ball getting to you then you can ease the attacker off the ball like Cedric did and get away with it.

Alas, Cedric had neither timing nor subtlety.

[Ian]

Any manager who a) says they want the ref to be dragged in front of the camera to explain themselves and then b) says it's about RUINING THE GAME and not because they're seething their hole off wants booting down some stairs.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If I was a ref and was 'dragged in front of the camera to explain myself', I'd just bring a copy of the IFAB Laws of the Game and keep saying 'Who knows these better, me or you?' until everyone got bored and went home.

[Yevrah]

It is an absolutely ridiculous suggestion.

[Ben]

I wouldn't be completely averse to the idea of a referee doing interviews but they need to do it every game and when they made only brilliant decisions too. Everyone just clamours for it when they perceive the ref has fucked up which is the main reason why we'll never hear from them.

[Kikó]

It's not a surprise that referees are a dying breed when you've got managers basically calling them out at the top of the game. Why get into a profession that pays shit and you get abused? Get over it Arteta you knobhead.

[Lofty]

With the penalty don't give the ref the option to give it by being so fucking retarded. I don't even think it is that soft the ball is nowhere near them and he has just barged into him.

Anyway Arsenal are the new Liverpool in that all you ever hear is how they have the better players than anyone else in every position until it actually comes to playing a decent team and they get trounced by them.

Really? I don't think anyone is saying Cedric, Holding, Tavares, El Neny, Xhaka, Pepe, Nketiah or Lacazette are better than anyone else in their positions, definitely not any Arsenal fans.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's not a surprise that referees are a dying breed when you've got managers basically calling them out at the top of the game. Why get into a profession that pays shit and you get abused? Get over it Arteta you knobhead.

Happens throughout football from the highest level down to under 8s and is probably the biggest scourge on it as a sport.

There's no respect for the referee culturally built into the game whatsoever, just forlorn top-down 'respect' campaigns. In this respect I think it lags behind every other sport I can think of.

[Luke Emia]

Really? I don't think anyone is saying Cedric, Holding, Tavares, El Neny, Xhaka, Pepe, Nketiah or Lacazette are better than anyone else in their positions, definitely not any Arsenal fans.

Saka, Odergaard, Partey, Tierney, Ramsdale, Martinelli, White & Tomiyasu at varying points this season when you have won 3 or 4 games against shite have been lauded as some kind of second coming of the invincibles when in reality they are decent players who blow fairly hot and cold.

[Luke Emia]

Tierney is an awful ref it has to be said by the way. But as has been touched on up the page the standard of ref's in the league in general is terrible and it doesn't seem as if anything is really being done to make that standard better.

[niko_cee]

'Professionalism' and 'respect for the rules/officials' are, if not mutually exclusive concepts, not natural bedfellows.

Undue deference to 'authority' in the face of abject incompetence isn't probably something that benefits society anyway.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If we're going down that road, then Arteta on £3.6 million a year coming out and publicly berating someone paid 2% of that (according to back of a fag packet calculations) on his performance isn't a great look either.

[Kikó]

You don't improve the pool of referees by making abuse acceptable.

[Adramelch]

The penalty looks fine. He's not playing the ball. Same goes for the sending off.

Ye I am not sure what all this is about. Both calls seemed fairly reasonable to me.

[phonics]

I can’t wait for next week and see 35 penalties a game as these refs know the rules better than anyone. And we’ll just sit there and clap the ref off because without them, the game couldn’t happen.

[Spikey M]

The penalty wouldn't have been given 9 times out of 10, but it's within the rules to give it, so moaning is silly. The red was a red, and as for the Son "elbow", lol, have a day off. Watch it in real time.

[Ben]

The seethe. :cool:

[phonics]

The penalty wouldn't have been given 9 times out of 10, but it's within the rules to give it, so moaning is silly

How dumb is this sentence. Everything is within the rules to give.

[Spikey M]

How dumb is this sentence. Everything is within the rules to give.

Is it? You can give a penalty for passing the ball to another player then?

[Lewis]

Referees should earn more but also be subjected to more abuse and questioning. We can do without going down the gay rugby route of RESPECTING THE REFEREES DECISION MATE.

[Waffdon]

You’d think Arsenal had blown their chances at top 4 with the way he’s carrying on. Fucking hell.

[Spikey M]

He's legitimately unhinged when it comes to Spurs. I've never seen an adult buy in to tribal rivalry so much.

[phonics]

I didn’t complain about Spurs. I said the ref was shit. It had nothing to do with what team we were playing. We’ll probably still finish top 4 and then next year the refs will still be dog shit. Why should I suck off bad decisions.

[Spikey M]

:harold: sure.

[Lewis]

He's legitimately unhinged when it comes to Spurs. I've never seen an adult buy in to tribal rivalry so much.

El Hennerz vs Team Idiot.

[Lewis]

'Henners mate the moderator's made his decision, yeah? Mate. Mate he's made his decision...'

[phonics]

99 times out of 100 he wouldn’t make the decision he made but this is the one time he made the decision so why are you mad about it…

[Jimmy Floyd]

Referees should earn more but also be subjected to more abuse and questioning. We can do without going down the gay rugby route of RESPECTING THE REFEREES DECISION MATE.

That filters down to every level though and turns the refs on £25 a game in grass roots/kids football into punching bags.

[phonics]

I couldn’t give two shits about grass roots/kids football.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I couldn’t give two shits about grass roots/kids football.

Then you have absolutely no business watching the sport, or certainly not caring about it enough to seethe this much.

[phonics]

Okay, Helen Lovejoy.

[Lewis]

My old man once decked somebody at an under-fifteens rugby match because the bloke slapped my brother. Turned out my brother had racially abused his son and said his mum was a mail order bride (which was probably true).

[Lewis]

Okay, Helen Lovejoy.

:lol:

[thommo]

As if phonics has lost it this much over two fairly standard refereeing decisions.

[phonics]

What is this world where saying what you think on a forum is losing it. Yesterday I was mad. Today I’m just saying the ‘we must respect people being incompetent for the children’ is dumb.

[thommo]

A referee can be incompetent but it doesn't give players the right to scream abuse at him. Unfortunately it happens enough in top-level football and filters down all the way to youth games and Sunday league because they see the overpaid babies on TV doing it.

You might work with someone who is a bit useless at what they do, but you don't get the right to get in his face screaming he's a cunt.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This is some meltdown.

[phonics]

A referee can be incompetent but it doesn't give players the right to scream abuse at him. Unfortunately it happens enough in top-level football and filters down all the way to youth games and Sunday league because they see the overpaid babies on TV doing it.

You might work with someone who is a bit useless at what they do, but you don't get the right to get in his face screaming he's a cunt.

I’m not screaming abuse at him. Also, The useless person gets talked shit about enough by everyone else that they the eventually get the sack.

[Spikey M]

This is some meltdown.

It's not a meltdown and it's not because it was against Spurs. He's just commenting on how this has never happened to any other team and the ref is in fact a stinky poo poo head.

[Lewis]

1524768884988985347

'If I speak...'

[Spikey M]

:D

[Kikó]

The name is also *chef's kiss*

[niko_cee]

I see City have erected another statue and whilst I sort of get that that moment is probably the most meritorious of commemoration, it does seem to be getting a bit out of hand. They'll obviously have to have one of De Bruyne at some stage. Silva getting one sets the bar for Fernandinho to get one. Guardiola. Just seems a bit of a slippery slope.

[Ian]

Jamie Pollock next, please.

[Pen]

Should put them in the stands. Maybe they would eventually fill it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm still waiting for my 1,000 foot Drogba colossus on the Fulham Broadway.

[niko_cee]

Straddling the tube line.

Maybe have to demolish that Cadogan development so it can go from the Fulham Road to Kings/New Kings Road.

Watching this play-off, if we're going to have to reconcile ourselves to the fact that we might have to put up with Burnley for another season, it would be preferable if we didn't have to have Huddersfield as well.

[Shindig]

If they want to go down the iconic moment route, they need a sad Dennis Law.

[niko_cee]

'Man City' didn't exist before 2010 [or whatever].

And surely Dickov or whoever scored in that Play-off final against Gillingham [was it?].

[Jimmy Floyd]

The best City team was the Ali Benarbia-driven affair that went up (and then possibly straight back down) under Kev'n Keeg'n.

[Shindig]

Yeah, I wish Keegan kept going with those 2nd Division to Premier League efforts. Imagine Wigan coming through the ranks but with Kevin at the helm instead of Paul Jewell.

[Browning]

Shaun Goater surely has to get one soon.

[thommo]

The best City team was the Ali Benarbia-driven affair that went up (and then possibly straight back down) under Kev'n Keeg'n.

They stayed up comfortably I think. I remember them absolutely tonking us at Maine Road after we'd taken a really early lead, Anelka, Benarbia and Wright-Phillips running the show.

[igor_balis]

Gotta be Nicky weaver

[Manc]

Paulo Wanchope.

[Lewis]

'Pep' is the third biggest name in football. He's the only thing that makes City a Big Club.

1525236227674411011

[Shindig]

Massive.

[SincereTheRebel]

Its clearly Sun Jihai next. Followed by Stephen Ireland.

[Ian]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/52519595

Some good stuff in this. My highlights of the list:
44 - Roy Essandoh :cool:
43 - Hated it at the time, obviously, but it's a lovely goal and I love that sort of finish where it's close to the keeper but the striker squeezes it by them
34 - Love that sort of save. I wonder if that would still come up in these things if instead of a defender there it'd been another attacker who was there to bundle it in.
32 - The Sinclair overhead just gets better with age.
26 - Diving headers. :drool: Video here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q5-ANGlhuM) given those swines at the BBC didn't embed it.
25 - I'd entirely forgotten this one but it's great stuff with some top nostalgia names in there. Wasn't Jon Macken being hyped up when he first got signed from Preston?
20 - I think this might be the first United cup final I specifically remember watching. Hazy memories of the Everton one but I remember sitting down for this and it being shiiiiit. In keeping with United/Liverpool games to be fair. Great finish from Cantona though.
19 - I'd forgotten how much seethe this caused. :D With the world's greatest / worst ever manager threatening to call his players off, the big potato-faced tart.
15 - :drool:
5 - The Radford hit is obviously great and one I've seen dozens of times but what really struck me watching this is the absolute state of that pitch. Glorious stuff.
1 - Probably shouldn't be number one if only for Giggs' chest hair (and, well, y'know.) I remember I had to listen to most of this one on the radio for some reason but for reasons I forget, maybe I was sent to bed, I didn't even hear the Giggs goal but my sister had some friends over and one of them told me the next morning that he'd apparently scored one of the best goals ever. Of course in modern football he'd simply have been tripped by somebody about 40 yards before he hit the shot.

[Lewis]

You forget how good that Michael Owen winner was. He can only really score in that bottom corner, and even then it has to be perfect.

[Lewis]

The David Seaman save was recently ruined for me when I saw the state of his Twitter account. Why does he have a weekly podcast?

[Ian]

You forget how good that Michael Owen winner was. He can only really score in that bottom corner, and even then it has to be perfect.

Owen was just a proper finisher. I always think his goal against Portugal in 2004 is one that I'm not convinced there's an England striker since who'd actually score it just because of how instinctive it is and he knows he has to just try and hit it with no time to fart about trying to control it or fashion it into a chance he was more comfortable with.

[Lewis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_H_tLb1sXg

The most surprising omission.

[Shindig]

That amazing. :D

My first final I can remember watching is probably 1994. One-sided affair between Chelsea and United. Glenn Hoddle subbing himself on when the game was going pear-shaped stuck with me.

[niko_cee]

Watching this FA Cup rewind thing, those 1970 finals were something else. I know it's a game that has gone down in folklore but I don't think I've ever actually seen any of it before [maybe the odd mental challenge].

Hadn't realised today's final is a repeat of the final 10 years ago. Christ that was a depressing game.

[niko_cee]

This Forest kit is blinding. Not sure the TV contrast can actually handle it. They should be about 3 up so maybe their players' eyes can't either.

[Waffdon]

No Kai Havertz :(

3-0 Liverpool

[Don]

Pulisic :D

[Shindig]

Abide With Me shouldn't get this kind of abuse. :D

National Anthem? FACKIN' BOO.
William doing the meet and greet? BOO!
Show of unity for Ukraine? YAY
Kneeling before the game? BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Joyless cunts. This is why tradition is dead.

[Gray Fox]

Chelsea should forfeit this for playing in their away kit. What gives?

[Gray Fox]

Should be 2 up already. Hopefully don’t regret these wasted chances.

[Waffdon]

Chalobah against Diaz is not fair

[Guybrush]

Abide With Me shouldn't get this kind of abuse. :D

National Anthem? FACKIN' BOO.
William doing the meet and greet? BOO!
Show of unity for Ukraine? YAY
Kneeling before the game? BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Joyless cunts. This is why tradition is dead.

The first two? Fair game. The other two, no.

[Waffdon]

Chelsea should forfeit this for playing in their away kit. What gives?

Their home kit is disgusting so that’s a good enough reason

[Boydy]

That Salah banner they just showed with the camels shagging in the background. :lol:

[Gray Fox]

No idea how neither team have scored. Might be a repeat of the league cup final

[Lewis]

Once again, the managers should be fined for wearing their tracksuits.

[Shindig]

Tuchel needs to ditch the cap. He looks like a man receiving palliative care.

[Gray Fox]

Liverpool really here for the taking atm.

[Spoonsky]

We really go to shit in second halves; and ideally we've already scored a few goals by then to cover it up.

No worries though. James Milner winner incoming. :cool:

[Giggles]

Yeah you record spells a team that goes to shit all the time alright.

[Spoonsky]

This is roughly your 200th post making the same point, you might need to let it go. :D

Milner winning assist, should have been. This feels like a replay of the February final. Wonder if Tuchel has the chutzpa to put on Kepa again.

[Spoonsky]

Van Dijk off, perfect.

[Gray Fox]

The PEDs have ran out lads. We're fucked.

[Giggles]

This is roughly your 200th post making the same point, you might need to let it go. :D

Milner winning assist, should have been. This feels like a replay of the February final. Wonder if Tuchel has the chutzpa to put on Kepa again.

Which, using the same exaggerated count, is about 10% of the same point always falsely being made. If I’m calling you pessimistic cunts then it really is time for an inward look.

[Gray Fox]

I wonder if they'll Kepa again if we get there.

[Manc]

The game is there for the taking.

[Shindig]

The main thing I take from this is Luis Dias has more energy than a nuclear bomb.

[Spikey M]

Which, using the same exaggerated count, is about 10% of the same point always falsely being made. If I’m calling you pessimistic cunts then it really is time for an inward look.

It's the victim culture. They don't know how to deal with good times.

[niko_cee]

Get Divock on [is that allowed, are there 5 subs?].

Salah, Van Dijk and Fabinho injured in the space of 4 days not ideal.

[Manc]

This is horrendous. Both teams deserve to lose.

[Danny]

Loftus-Cheek :D

Came on and lumbered around for a while before being hooked.

[Giggles]

It's the victim culture. They don't know how to deal with good times.

And things really couldn’t get any better for them. But they go on like their dog died.

[Gray Fox]

Proper cup final somehow without a goal. Ebbed and flowed with each team taking control for 10 mins.

I feel a lot less confident up against Mendy.

[Waffdon]

Of all players to bring on, not sure I’d be bringing on Ross fkn Barkley to take one

[Spikey M]

I'm conflicted here.

Liverpool losing would be ideal, but Mendy making a mistake after being kept on would be really, really funny too.

[Waffdon]

Proper cup final somehow without a goal. Ebbed and flowed with each team taking control for 10 mins.

I feel a lot less confident up against Mendy.

He’s usually absolutely awful. Won twice against Egypt recently though but pretty sure he only saved one

[Spikey M]

Jesus the bowl cut on that kid. :D

[SincereTheRebel]

Kepa wants to be involved so bad. He has just put on his gloves

[Spikey M]

Should have gone with Kepa :D

[Waffdon]

Mendy gets smaller in goal.

[Luke Emia]

Allison being surprisingly useless on these pens.

[Spikey M]

Lol

[Spikey M]

Bollocks

[Waffdon]

Mason Mount is proper small time. Losing 6 finals in 3 years at Wembley is some going. He’s been anonymous or costed in at least half of them too

[Gray Fox]

Phew.

Alexa, play "One Kiss"

[Spoonsky]

Get the fuck in

[Guybrush]

Fucking get in! Fuck your Ross Barkley and Mason Mount!

[Gray Fox]

Greek Scouser. :wub:

[Spoonsky]

What a great penalty that is. :wub:

[Giggles]

Oh look.

[Waffdon]

Mason Mount is proper small time. Losing 6 finals in 3 years at Wembley is some going. He’s been anonymous or costed in at least half of them too

Nearly as small time as Charity FC losing 3 FA Cup finals in the last 3 years and 5 domestic finals in a row.

[Don]

Over to Moyesy's masterclass.

[Baz]

:jayjay:

[niko_cee]

I'm assuming no side has ever won two cup finals without actually scoring in either in a season.

Let's go for three.

[Mike]

Two down!

[Guybrush]

The fucking Greek Scouser!

[Ben]

Stayed back at the opposition's cricket club after the game to watch this. Absolutely fucking dreadful final. I couldn't have cared less who won but I suppose Chelsea deserved to lose more for wearing their away kit. Shite from both teams though.

[Guybrush]

Stayed back at the opposition's cricket club after the game to watch this. Absolutely fucking dreadful final. I couldn't have cared less who won but I suppose Chelsea deserved to lose more for wearing their away kit. Shite from both teams though.

Who gives a shit? Up the reds!

[phonics]

Lol at the retweet

https://i.imgur.com/PU7RGqi.png

[Baz]

What are other fans opinions of the "I'm so glad" Liverpool song?

[Spikey M]

It's terrible but perfectly on brand.

[Baz]

1525753874656776192

[Kikó]

Get a life.

[Giggles]

Is it not worth talking about? Fairly monumental if it happens.

[Spikey M]

It would only be "monumental" because football is such a backwards environment. Being gay is basically entirely normalised in the real world. It shouldn't need an announcement.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Is it fuck.

[Giggles]

It would only be "monumental" because football is such a backwards environment. Being gay is basically entirely normalised in the real world. It shouldn't need an announcement.
It isn’t even close, but more things like this are steps towards it.

[Spikey M]

I can only comment on where I live, but saying something homophobic round here would go down about as well as dropping the N word. Transphobia is still alive and well, but homophobia - atleast in public - is a no go.

There will obviously be exceptions, but I think football fans and the over 60's is about it.

[Shindig]

It'll be normalised once the fans stop giving them shit for it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can only comment on where I live, but saying something homophobic round here would go down about as well as dropping the N word. Transphobia is still alive and well, but homophobia - atleast in public - is a no go.

There will obviously be exceptions, but I think football fans and the over 60's is about it.

Depends what you mean by homophobia. 'xxx is a fucking faggot' may be rarely heard in polite circles due to the consequences, but it's still woven into everyday speech and actions in a way that would give any gay person at least pause for thought before being open about who they are.

It'll take another generation, maybe more, before what the liberal arseholes congratulate themselves on having achieved actually comes to pass in reality.

[Lofty]

Was that not just the Arabian Eminem getting carried away in the office?

[Kikó]

Last game for forum favourite Mark Noble and it's a good time to remember the special West Ham Man city friendship.

1405144605935509506?t=ffDqyv_S1fIhdIu8etlkFA&s=19

[Mellberg]

Homophobia is absolutely rife. There was a gay black lad who started working behind the bar in my local a few years ago. Working class shithole, but was my working class shithole. He was greeted as you may expect. Not with anyone actually saying anything abusive, but with contempt and lack of engagement. Fortunately in this instance, he had the force of personality and character to break down boundaries, but not everyone has that, and nor should they need it.

[Manc]

That's a vintage VAR handball.

[Mellberg]

That's not a particularly bad or good shout and is probably a penalty, but I do wonder how much the top 6 benefit from that shit over the course of a season. Marginal decisions categorically go their way and sometimes they are desperate to give them.

Actually, I don't wonder. The answer is a lot.

[-james-]

That sort of handball should never ever be a penalty. Dogshit rule.

[Mellberg]

Agreed. Bring back indirect free kicks.

[Yevrah]

That the Women's FA Cup final takes precedence over actual Premier League games on the fixtures tab on the BBC's sport page is madness. I genuinely thought there were no PL games on today as a result.

[randomlegend]

That the Women's FA Cup final takes precedence over actual Premier League games on the fixtures tab on the BBC's sport page is madness. I genuinely thought there were no PL games on today as a result.

Came here to post the same thing.