May the Fourthball be with you

[Ian]

Fuck sake Ian. 4 days deep.

Made it seem like I was waiting for today intentionally with that title to do a crossover between this and the Star Wars joke.

Nailed it. I'm a genius, not a lazy forgetful twat.

Anyway, first up is City vs. Real Madrid where for fuck's sake I actually want Real to win. What a cursed fixture. All Benzema headed goals please.

Other than that I suppose the other main talking point is THE RACE FOR FOURTH. Poll assumes that Chelsea aren't fucking up hard enough to drop out of the top four altogether.

Oh, and there's also a league winner to be determined but whatever. I suppose I'm hoping for City so Liverpool don't / can't get the quadruple?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What time do you call this?

[Ian]

What time do you call this?

May the Fourth mate. Can't you read?

[Shindig]

It's like the bins. Bank Holidays always push it back.

[Ian]

Yeah, what Shinners said. He gets it.

[Manc]

Bale & Hazard absent from the squad with injury. They both need putting down.

[Don]

Walker being fit decides this and you mongs were dismissing him as a liability.

[Lewis]

City stand the best chance of beating Liverpool, so City it is.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Laporte is a fanny.

[Manc]

That'll 100% lead to a red for either party.

[Waffdon]

How has Modric been booked for being slapped in the face? :D

[Waffdon]

City stand the best chance of beating Liverpool, so City it is.

‘Pep’ isn’t ever winning a CL again the big fraud. Madrid it is, they don’t lose finals.

[Panda Bear]

Has there ever been a player more miserable and lonely than Lukaku?

What a massive waste of a giant-sized Michael Owen.

[Lewis]

This City shirt is an embarrassment.

[Ben]

Casemiro should be off really, between that scissor tackle and ridiculous dive.

[phonics]

I cannot listen to 'Fletch' say Benzimar for another 45 minutes.

[Don]

Real Madrid passing is so smart and it has to be to beat the City press so often. Great game to watch.

[Boydy]

This City shirt is an embarrassment.

I fucking hate it so much. Didn't Puma do it for a load of clubs?

[Ben]

Fernandinho for Kyle Walker? Vinicius will destroy him, they're better off putting Zinchenko on and switching Cancelo.

[Ian]

This City shirt is an embarrassment.

It's the absolute pits.

[Shindig]

Lingard's contract expires in June and Newcastle, AC Milan, Juventus and Paris St-Germain have already expressed an interest in the 29-year-old midfielder.

Heh. Seriously, we could do without. It's funnier if he winds up at PSG.

[Raoul Duke]

Heh. Seriously, we could do without. It's funnier if he winds up at PSG.

Messi, Lingard

[Lewis]

A proper manager would have just run him out of the club in the summer, but Lingard's year has shown exactly what a little gimp he is.

[Ben]

How has Casemiro not got a yellow card tonight? :D

Little scrote.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Useless pricks.

[Waffdon]

Foden dreams of being on Mahrez’s level

[-james-]

Foden dreams of being on Mahrez’s level

Mahrez was playing for Le Havre reserves in the French fourth division at Foden's age so I reckon Foden will be alright.

[Bam]

Poor old Walker, he was so injured that he could only roll over four times! What a character.

[Boydy]

Real Madrid are a bit shit.

[Waffdon]

A Man City/Liverpool final. They’ll all be hugging and kissing each other in the build up and wish each other good luck. Grim.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mon you pricks.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

HOLY FUCKING SHIT.

Let's go.

[Yevrah]

No fucking way. :D

[Boydy]

What the fuck :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Benzema-esque with that header.

[Waffdon]

Hahahahahahahahahah

[Baz]

:lol:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Could have won it there.

[Yevrah]

If only they'd spent that £100m on a striker rather than spunking it on Jack Grealish.

They'll get a winner before the whistle goes. :D

[-james-]

How the fuck do they always do this?

[Ben]

Hell of a bottlejob this.

[Ian]

:rave:

[Ian]

How the fuck do they always do this?

They feel like a bit of a throwback. They don't swarm you with a mad press, they don't throttle you by holding onto the ball forever. They just seem to trust that they've got the players to do the job and I love it a lot more than I wish I did.

I'm probably underselling things a bit but they don't look like a team with A System.

[Waffdon]

How the fuck do they always do this?

Which team

[Raoul Duke]

How the fuck do they always do this?

They have that Fergie time flukey streak

[Boydy]

Hopefully they tire themselves out enough in extra time to drop points at the weekend. :yn:

[Spoonsky]

That is astonishing.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

If Pep blows this again how much longer does he get considering he can't deliver them the Champions League?

[Yevrah]

That looked like a dive at first glance.

[Waffdon]

If City lose here they’re definitely going to lose the league as well aren’t they :sick:

[Yevrah]

But he didn't get the ball.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:drool:

Glorious.

[Ian]

Benzema. :cool:

[Yevrah]

If Pep blows this again how much longer does he get considering he can't deliver them the Champions League?

How much longer is on his contract? I suspect they'll give him that at least.

He really is wank at one off ties though, isn't he?

[Waffdon]

Unless it’s the League Cup, aye

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

How much longer is on his contract? I suspect they'll give him that at least.

He really is wank at one off ties though, isn't he?

Contract expires next season but they've agreed an extension until 2025. No idea if it's been signed though.

[Jimmy Floyd]

No chance they'll replace Pep, there isn't a better coach out there.

[Boydy]

Why did Sterling get booked for that? It was a brilliant tackle.

[Lewis]

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

[Waffdon]

He was in the air and won the ball with his bum lol. Commentators are fuming - imagine if they do it to Liverpool in the final :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He was in the air and won the ball with his bum lol. Commentators are fuming - imagine if they do it to Liverpool in the final :drool:

With some late goals too.

The seethe from McManaman in particular will be delightful.

[Yevrah]

No chance they'll replace Pep, there isn't a better coach out there.

There are manifestly better coaches out there at winning the Champions League. I don't know how much the City board care about that, or for that matter, how much I do.

[Yevrah]

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

The money they have and playing in the Premier League makes them a big club.

[CJay]

This has been amazing.

I’d rather lose it to Real than City, but with Pep’s record in Europe you’d argue we’d be better off playing City. The thought of Vinicius vs Trent in the final 😳

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

If Vinicus doesn't moan about handball he could have taken a shot there.

[Yevrah]

"Don Carlo"

Rio is such a pleb.

[Jimmy Floyd]

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

Him and Noel Gallagher.

[Ian]

Imagine how fucking furious you'd be if this happened to you on FM.

Two goals in injury time to take it to extra time then immediately a penalty would be "laptop out the window" material.

[Lewis]

The money they have and playing in the Premier League makes them a big club.

A big club. Not a Big Club.

[Lewis]

People who think Big Clubs are big clubs know nothing about Big Clubs.

[Lewis]

Him and Noel Gallagher.

He is anti-Big Club. Every time he pops up on an official level it sets them back eighteen months.

[Yevrah]

I suspect these Big Club rules probably haven't applied since 1987.

[Ben]

Pep fucked this by bringing Fernandinho on, as it shifted Bernardo Silva out of central midfield and he had a hold on it.

[Waffdon]

That centre half looks about 40 and should be included in the nonces thread

[CJay]

Camavinga looks brilliant.

[CJay]

That centre half looks about 40 and should be included in the nonces thread

Apparently made a few appearances while on loan for Wolves in 19/20. A classic Real jobber - Pavon-esque.

[Danny]

Pavon :D

Flashback to when Real thought him, Bravo and Helguera were going to keep cleansheets with Carlos disappearing down the left and the rest of the galacticos infront of them :lol:

[Boydy]

Ref didn't even play the full injury time :D

[Yevrah]

I'll take being catastrophically wrong about the strength of the Premier League vs. the rest of Europe for that. A proper final at the arse end of it too.

[Ian]

"Pep" teams resorting to launching it into the box. :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Absolutely glorious.

[Spoonsky]

Can't be a worse way to lose than that. :D

Shame we don't have any City fans here anymore.

[Gray Fox]

Absolutely get fucked City.

I don’t mind if we end up losing to Madrid in the final. They’ve been some special team this year.

[Ian]

Well worth making sure the May thread would open with this game, you ungrateful heaps of shit.

[Waffdon]

Absolutely get fucked City.

I don’t mind if we end up losing to Madrid in the final. They’ve been some special team this year.

Wot

[Spoonsky]

City can get fucked but I feel for De Bruyne. Has his face broken by Rudiger last year and now watches this shit unfold from the bench.

[Danny]

Wot

I would assume thats mind less than losing to City.

[Shindig]

The last time those two sides met killed a career. So there's high stakes.

[Don]

14 shirts out :D :D

[Spoonsky]

It will be a great final. It's just a shame they don't still have Sergio Ramos so Salah can spit in his face.

I wonder if City will just take this out on the Premier League now, or if they'll go into some psychological collapse and hand that to us too.

[Yevrah]

The fucking state of this post match analysis.

[Gray Fox]

The last time those two sides met killed a career. So there's high stakes.

He’s still at the club as well.

[niko_cee]

1-0, Robertson (82).

[Manc]

McManaman is seething. Must have blown a small fortune.

[Gray Fox]

Can we go live to Bernardo Silva now please?

[Spoonsky]

The clearance by Mendy and that subsequent save by Courtois are so good.

[Manc]

What the sweet fuck is this coverage?

[Ian]

People aren't still being surprise at BT coverage being irredeemable garbage, surely? Or are they somehow being even worse than usual?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I turn off all games at the final whistle. If I need bad football takes I can just read some of Taz's posts.

[Waffdon]

Eden Hazard redemption arc. He loves a goal against Liverpool.

[Gray Fox]

Did it all get a bit “I can’t believe a team dared to beat Man City!” In the end?

[Waffdon]

You should see when Liverpool play if you think that was bad.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Real Madrid's is a classic 'name on the trophy' run. Liverpool should be about 40/1 for the final.

This all started when I sat outside a budget hotel in Madrid last October and listened to four Spanish men on the next table rant to each other about how Premier League money was ruining football and Real Madrid should always be the best by right.

[Kikó]

I went to bed at 1-0 so that's a pleasant surprise. It is all set up for Liverpool to win it all now and Guardiola to take hostages. Those Grealish chances near the end (the block and the save) turned out huge.

Benzema is by far one of my favourite players ever. Top quality old school centre forward.

[Ben]

Getting mugged off by Sheriff in the group stage then memeing their way past all the big hitters whilst being thoroughly dominated is absolutely brilliant. Liverpool can get fucked thinking they're going to ruin this.

[Giggles]

Just seen the goal times on livescore there. Fucking hell they must have fell asleep altogether.

[Don]

What a night. You live for this shit and the morning after radio commentary re-runs :drool:

Camavinga is the second-coming of christ/Pogba. Rodrygo is a bum. What a night it's going to be come 28 May.

[Baz]

I don’t wanna blow my own trumpet too much but

1165698245928062976

[niko_cee]

Some special effort by the mentality midgets to lose that last night going off the highlights.

Why did they take De Bruyne off? Is he still not fully fit or something?

Whilst it wouldn't have counted I quite liked Real's second half rush restart that 'Vini Jr' missed.

[Waffdon]

I’m not sure it was offside. Certainly didn’t look it on the one angle

[Luke Emia]

Real Madrid's is a classic 'name on the trophy' run. Liverpool should be about 40/1 for the final.

Has the feel of 2005 about it. A team that shouldn't be there in all honesty has made it through and they seem unbeatable.

[niko_cee]

I’m not sure it was offside. Certainly didn’t look it on the one angle

I thought Carvajal looked offside when the ball was played to him, but there wasn't much in the way of a replay so maybe not.

Giggles will be doing his nut with all this false writing off of Liverpool's chances. They'll probably bum Real out of existence. Salah certainly seems up for making it some sort of grudge match.

[niko_cee]

Although maybe that was said last time round, I dunno.

Think their route to the final in 2018 might have been even more unlikely/lucky. Bayern's 'keeper going mental rings a bell in the semi [and obviously Liverpool's in the final].

[Reg]

I love the Champions League (in Patrice Evra voice).

Sort of would prefer Man City to win it before Pep leaves because I find it silly how some still try and portray him as a failure.

But Real Madrid being Real Madrid amazingly doesn’t seem to get old. Some great stats from Dermot Corrigan / The Athletic:-

Camavinga showed phenomenal composure, energy and ability once more. In the 440 minutes when he has not been on the pitch against PSG, Chelsea and City, Madrid have scored five times and conceded nine. During his 160 minutes of substitute appearances in those same matches, they have scored nine and conceded just twice.

Rodrygo has also hit tremendous form just at the right moment. The young Brazilian has six goals in his last six matches in all competitions – after four in his previous 79. One of those was the late volley, from Modric’s sublime pass, which took the quarter-final against Chelsea to extra time.

[Ian]

I love how the media do an about face after a result like that and go from fawning over Guardiola to WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING?

Caught a bit of Sky Sports yesterday where Dr Bruyne was being interviewed and they were desperately wanting him to give Guardiola sole credit for his success and he's like "Well the players also work really hard so maybe I would be successful with another manager as well" and the response was to ignore that and ask what aspect of his game.he most credits Guardiola for. Cringeworthy stuff.

[Waffdon]

Madrid look like they’ll be set for a good while with some of the players they have. I’d worry about Ruidger alongside Militoa (sp?) next season though. Both batshit mental

[niko_cee]

Did Thiago ever get a champions league medal at Barcelona? If he did a Liverpool win would put him up there with Seedorf in terms of winning it with three different clubs. Has anyone equaled/bettered that?

Seems he did in 10/11.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Seedorf with 3 clubs
Chris Ronaldo, Kroos, PK, Eto'o, Redondo, Rijkaard, Kovacic, Shaqiri, Sturridge, Thiagos Alcantara and Motta, Xabi Alonso, Deco, Bosingwa, Paulo Ferreira, Hargreaves, Paulo Sousa, van der Sar, Panucci, Desailly, Deschamps, Jugovic, Savicevic, Koeman, Malatrasi, Belodedici with 2 clubs (props to the latter for somehow having done it with Steaua and Red Star)
Darren Potter, Stephen Warnock, Chris Eagles with 1 club

[Bernanke]

1521983049612906501

Baldest of frauds.

[Yevrah]

That is pretty damming. It's alright not to win it every year, but chucking away decent positions in the flash of an eye repeatedly is not ok.

92 minutes in total there and 20 goals conceded. :cab:

[Spoonsky]

They definitely have a collapse in them. I remember that flurry of Liverpool goals in early 2018, culminating with that Salah chip over Ederson from 40 yards.

At the same I find the revisionism after this kind of thing a little grating. City dominated for 90 minutes and should have scored multiple other chances (across both legs), Madrid hadn’t had a shot on goal until Rodrygo scored. And then absolute madness happens; but afterwards every pundit speaks as though it were somehow inevitable and Real Madrid were always looking like pulling it off. They weren’t at all, which makes it so much better.

[Yevrah]

Every pundit? I didn't see any of the BT Sport ones saying that. McManaman was still in shock as the Kia adverts rolled.

[Waffdon]

Madrid did have quite a few chances in the game. They just made a mess of it each time until the flurry of goals. Liverpool were never losing to City and their 10k fans in the stadium. Madrid should be able to make a game of it. Hopefully they stop playing Kroos who is utterly pointless and dreadful.

[Giggles]

I thought Carvajal looked offside when the ball was played to him, but there wasn't much in the way of a replay so maybe not.

Giggles will be doing his nut with all this false writing off of Liverpool's chances. They'll probably bum Real out of existence. Salah certainly seems up for making it some sort of grudge match.

Nobody believes it anyway. Liverpool will win every game until the end of the season, including this one.

[Shindig]

I missed Gateshead being crowned Champions on Monday. Could break 100 goals for the league season.

[Waffdon]

Feyenoord fans haven’t half battered some of them Marseille casuals. The videos on Twitter make them looked either proper knocked out or dead.

[Waffdon]

Scott Wright starting a European Semi Final is some laugh. He’s fucking awful

[Giggles]

Has there ever been a European semi where both teams have as few as 23 years under their belt?

[niko_cee]

:D

Doubt it.

[Waffdon]

For fuck sake. Liverpool and Rangers double is enough to end the world

[Waffdon]

Nkunku :drool:

I hope Klopp doesn’t get his hands on him

[Waffdon]

What on earth is with all these fucking goalkeepers

[Lewis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU2d1PhTzcs

:rave:

[Shindig]

Imagine the violence at a Rangers v Liverpool Supercup. :drool:

[Lewis]

Jose Mourinho in another final as well. :cool:

[Waffdon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU2d1PhTzcs

:rave:

Get in Spikey’s thread pronto.

[Manc]

Chris Smalling looked foot perfect across both legs. Get him on the plane.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fwonkfort vs Bronckhorst. What a final.

[Manc]

The Kiko derby.

[Don]

Roma vs Feyenoord in Albanian heartlands is what we're all here for.

[Lewis]

1522332294383554561

Lovely to see them integrating.

[Giggles]

He’ll get death threats for the flag beside his name.

[Lofty]

Wouldn't be surprised if Salah coasts the final and signs for Madrid afterwards.

[Ben]

That Frankfurt stadium looked like somewhere I'd want to be. I've been to a few games in Germany (St. Pauli, Dortmund, Cologne) but that was on another level last night.

[John Arne]

Swansea City are looking for new owners if anyone has $5.20 lying around.

[Jimmy Floyd]

God I'd love to own a football club. Not a non-league one though as they're full of wankers. It'll have to wait for the millions earned by Mellin shorting the collapse of western civilisation.

[Kikó]

That Frankfurt stadium looked like somewhere I'd want to be. I've been to a few games in Germany (St. Pauli, Dortmund, Cologne) but that was on another level last night.

It's a great stadium and they're going to add another 11k seats. The middle screen hovering over the pitch reminds me of something in the NHL.

The walk to the stadium is cool as well. Basically walking through some forest road with loads of places to buy beer and food for next to nothing.

[Gray Fox]

Arsenal extend Arteta to 2025.

[Don]

So pointless.

[Reg]

That Frankfurt stadium looked like somewhere I'd want to be. I've been to a few games in Germany (St. Pauli, Dortmund, Cologne) but that was on another level last night.
How was St. Pauli?


It's a great stadium and they're going to add another 11k seats. The middle screen hovering over the pitch reminds me of something in the NHL.

The walk to the stadium is cool as well. Basically walking through some forest road with loads of places to buy beer and food for next to nothing.
What do you make of the different style of atmosphere in German games? A friend has been a few times and was struck by the constant unwavering singing and lack of reactions to goals. English atmospheres maybe more rollercoasterish.

[Giggles]

Aren’t German games full of tourists these days, even more so than the EPL? That surely has to affect atmospheres and all.

[Kikó]

There are reactions but I'd go with that analysis. It's mostly non stop and continuous rather than spontaneous and reactionary. I went to Dortmund- Juventus years ago and Juventus pumped Dortmund but the home fans just continued at the same pace and passion throughout. Makes you think are they even watching but it makes for a good noise.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've always had as a very niche interest in the different goal roars in different countries. In Spain (I've only been to one game there which ended 0-0) it's such a low sound that they seem to be saying gooool rather than anything like the yyyeeeeah! that is the British goal noise. Italy I think is mostly siiii with a bit of other general sounds of the Italian man mixed in.

Germany should logically be jaaaa! but I can't imagine it in my head.

[Spikey M]

I've always had as a very niche interest in the different goal roars in different countries. In Spain (I've only been to one game there which ended 0-0) it's such a low sound that they seem to be saying gooool rather than anything like the yyyeeeeah! that is the British goal noise. Italy I think is mostly siiii with a bit of other general sounds of the Italian man mixed in.

Germany should logically be jaaaa! but I can't imagine it in my head.

I thought I was alone in appreciating this. :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

I used to think the British sound was the best (hi Giggles) but lately I've started associating it with the Croydon boxpark and beer throwing, so my favourite goal sound is now a ripple of polite applause as seen at kids' games.

[niko_cee]

The German crowd model sounds dreadful, but very much in keeping with the 'organised fun' stereotype one might imagine.

Much like 'doing the Poznan' is dreadful.

Going to the football is mostly about suffering, not we support our local team shit. It's the suffering that allows you the explosion of joy when a good thing happens. Then VAR came along and mostly fucked that up.

[Ben]

How was St. Pauli?

It's a proper rough and ready ground. Like Craven Cottage with a few battle scars. But the energy is just tremendous, 90 minutes of pure chaos. I enjoyed it more than the Yellow Wall.

[Boydy]

I was at a Hertha Berlin game a few years ago and there was a guy leading the chanting while others chanted back at him and then some drums as well. Did feel very organised. And a bit Nuremburgy or something.

[Shindig]

I wouldn't mind another World Cup in Asia so we get that shriek that reminds me of 2002.

[Ian]

I like the one Partick Thistle fan in the away end at Motherwell who shouted at the opposing Eastern European goalkeeper "YER NAME'S WORTH A MILLION POINTS IN SCRABBLE YA FUCKIN' ARSEHOLE."

Every crowd should have a Scrabble-based heckler in.

[Ben]

I like the one Partick Thistle fan in the away end at Motherwell who shouted at the opposing Eastern European goalkeeper "YER NAME'S WORTH A MILLION POINTS IN SCRABBLE YA FUCKIN' ARSEHOLE."

Every crowd should have a Scrabble-based heckler in.

:D

[Lofty]

Tabloids saying an unknown England international shagged a trans woman and was subsequently blackmailed for £30k on the back of it, any guesses? :D

[Baz]

No comment.

[Giggles]

You'd surely get more than 30k for that if they're an international. Another 0 at least.

[Mellberg]

Yes Jacky boy.

[Spikey M]

No comment.

He was the trans woman doing the blackmailing.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1522916822449807360

:cool:

[Mellberg]

Nyland :face:

He’s an absolute top level, nobody better, shot stopper. Just a complete melt on a constant wobble.

Villa are winning at today’s football, which is nice.

[niko_cee]

Bit mankad for me.

Booking for unsportsmanlike conduct.

[Waffdon]

Chelsea :D

Tuchel hasn’t half just thrown the season. Bringing Saul and Sarr on confirms that

[Giggles]

Is that the Saul that was real good for Seville?

[Waffdon]

He was good for Atletico 4/5 years ago

[Giggles]

Atletico, yes. Under Simeone.

Never know he ended up at Chelsea.

[mo]

Bristol Rovers had to better Northampton's result by 5 goals to go up automatically. Northampton won 3-1, Rovers won 7-0 against Scunthorpe (who played 7 teenagers) :scratch:

[mo]

Anyway Swindon made the play offs, which looked incredibly unlikely on Easter Monday, so I'm happy. Great achievement having been under embargo all season (other two clubs, Oldham and aforementioned Scunthorpe, were relegated) and nearly having gone bust in the summer.

Never seen us have success in the play offs, so not expecting that to change!

[Shindig]

Gateshead sign off with a win. Just the 99 goals, though. Macauley Langstaff takes 28 goals for the season, equalling Lee Novak's club record.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

RagnickOut.

[Kikó]

New midfield genius scoring against us. Excellent.

[Luke Emia]

Tuchel is lucky trigger happy Rom is no longer in charge he’d surely be getting the sack if he was.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Brighton handed out their player of the season award from 96/97 at half time.

25 years late seems the appropriate time.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Absolutely embarrassing.

[Kikó]

Negative goal difference now?

[Boydy]

What happened to United today? Fucking hell.

[Kikó]

We're shit mainly.

[Gray Fox]

Probably the toughest league game there is left for us here. Spurs the only team we've to play who have anything more than pride to play for.

I feel they always play well at Anfield before doing something mad to chuck it away in injury time.

[Manc]

Spurs sitting deeper than Frank Lampard's Everton.

[Gray Fox]

A couple of better touches and this could be 2-0 either way really.

This one is going to come down to a nervy finish.

[Waffdon]

Not allowed to defend against Liverpool

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Liverpool in the mud.

[Gray Fox]

Quadruple in the mud.

[Shindig]

You do the hard work against us and then bin it against the home banker. State of your club, mate.

[Gray Fox]

Tbf Liverpool have been asking for this for a few weeks. Diaz coming off the bench has solved it, but maybe it's time to send for Divock.

[Gray Fox]

Lucky, lucky fuckers.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Frank Lampard-esque.

[Gray Fox]

Should be about 8 mins added on here. A shame no Origi for this.

[Boydy]

Liverpool should let Salah go and sign Son to replace him.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Why is Hojbjerg not trying to score there? Fucking plum.

[Gray Fox]

Criminal from the Spurs player to not go for goal at the end there.

The point doesn't kill the league, but it does put it on life support.

[Kikó]

Amazing scenes in Schalke v St Pauli at the top of the 2/Bundesliga. Pauli 2-0 up at half time which was meaning the league had two points from 1-5th with one to play. Schalke came back 3-2, promoted. Fans on the pitch with some absolute states. Great stuff.

[randomlegend]

Anyone seen the Serie A table lately?

:harold:

[phonics]

How have United only got 1 game left?

[niko_cee]

Yeah, I was wondering that when Lingard's entourage were bleating about him not getting a send off the other day. Only had 2 left at that point and both away.

Brighton. :cool:

[Ian]

How have United only got 1 game left?

Don't care, it's a beautiful thing.

[Mellberg]

Man Utd lost at today’s football, which is sad.

[Shindig]

I'm convinced the keeper Bristol Rovers put seven past won a competition (or lost one) to be between the sticks.

[Lofty]

Reeks of Police Machine

[Waffdon]

I see Klopp is crying again because a team didn’t lay down for him and his pill popping Bois.

[Baz]

Ralf P28 W11 (39%) D10 (36%) L7 (25%) :lol:
Ole P168 W91 (54%) D37 (22%) L40 (24%)
Jose P144 W84 (58%) D32 (22%) L28 (19%)
LvG P103 W54 (52%) D25 (24%) L24 (23%)
Moyes P52 W27 (52%) D10 (19%) L15 (29%)
Fergie P1500 W895 (60%) D338 (23%) L267 (18%)

Pep @ City P348 W253 (73%) D44 (13%) L51 (15%)
Klopp @ Liverpool P376 W231 (61%) D85 (23%) L60 (16%)

[Baz]

1522997830394200066

[Mellberg]

Mourinho with decent figures there. Had the dressing room's number too.

[-james-]

1523235267607367680

Unbelievable. Neville, Scholes, Keane, Ferdinand etc are just pure poison at this stage. Best of luck Erik.

[Lofty]

Mourinho finishing 2nd with United really was the achievement he said it was, in hindsight.

[niko_cee]

OGS did it last year.

Neither event had anything to do with the quality of United or their coaching.

[Kikó]

Yeah it was all black magic and mysticism.

[Shindig]

Fergie finished a Steve Bruce-and-a-half? As for Ralf, he's United's Joe Kinnear but with much less swearing.

[niko_cee]

I suppose in fairness to Mourinho he did make it over 80 points, but both of those seasons for United have felt like serious outliers in terms of miraculous results gained [see yesterday v Brighton against them winning there and playing almost as badly last season] and other teams being shit as much as anything.

[Mellberg]

Fergie finished a Steve Bruce-and-a-half? As for Ralf, he's United's Joe Kinnear but with much less swearing.

As long as he's not Tim Sherwood/Remi Garde.

[Mellberg]

Our signings that summer were:

Jordan Vertout
Jordan Amavi
Adama Traore
Idrissa Gueye
Jordan Ayew

Most of them were bombed out straight away by Tactics Tim for Richards, Agbonlahor, Lescott etc. Pretty much all did very well after leaving. Now that dressing was an absolute snakepit.

[Gray Fox]

Pep @ City P348 W253 (73%) D44 (13%) L51 (15%)
Klopp @ Liverpool P376 W231 (61%) D85 (23%) L60 (16%)

Interesting that the losses stay pretty much bang on, but Guardiola converts a lot of those games like yesterday into wins.

Probably explains why he dominates the league like he does.

[Gray Fox]

Leeds in full on meltdown here.

[Shindig]

Everton's next game is against Watford. I'd call that safe. Burnley staying up on goal difference might be how it gets decided.

[Waffdon]

Leeds win on Wednesday so that should see Burnley go down

[Lofty]

If Arsenal win Thursday they are Top 4 confirmed. Big if.

[Gray Fox]

Spurs in decent form for now though. They probably should have won reasonably easily yesterday.

[niko_cee]

Not that I guess it really matters, but I hope they didn't give Chris Wood a long contract.

[Kikó]

Salernitana v Cagliari on now. THE RELEGATION SIX POINTER. And it's live

[Shindig]

Man, we shat that right out.

[Don]

Interesting that the losses stay pretty much bang on, but Guardiola converts a lot of those games like yesterday into wins.

Probably explains why he dominates the league like he does.

Given their records are pretty identical over last 3 seasons IIRC, it's just a marker of Klopp having started with dogshit.

[Don]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61373787

West Ham and/or Villa can don them, we just need to avoid a Villa upset.

[Bernanke]

Leao is absolutely filthy. :drool:

[Mellberg]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61373787

West Ham and/or Villa can don them, we just need to avoid a Villa upset.

Sorry to disappoint, but this has been a season of 'brave' losses against anyone decent. Can't see it.

[niko_cee]

The amount of bitterness that seethes out of City/Pep/'Bernardo' is quite something.

Those late goals probably seal the deal though, +4 goal difference is quite a bit to make up even if they do lose a game.

[Gray Fox]

I was just coming to say the same thing.

He comes across as so small time.

1523361233096921094

[Shindig]

Look, not even enough people in Manchester like City enough to fill the ground.

[randomlegend]

United have sold more tickets for their youth cup final than City get for Champions League games.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They're probably the biggest small time club in history.

[Lewis]

Bigger crowds, bigger crowds, Man United
Playing football the Rangnick way

[Waffdon]

The amount of bitterness that seethes out of City/Pep/'Bernardo' is quite something.

Those late goals probably seal the deal though, +4 goal difference is quite a bit to make up even if they do lose a game.

And yet they’re still somehow way behind the pecking order when it comes to it with King Klopp at the top.

[Pen]

Everyones favourite clubs in England:

1. Liverpool
2. Sunderland
3.?

I would’ve thought Liverpool aren’t particurlarly liked outside of Liverpool, although obviously more liked/disliked than City.

I don’t think the way City got their success is something that many people find very interesting or likeable. It’s was all a bit Qatar World Cup.

[Spikey M]

The only team I hate more than Liverpool is West Ham.

[Shindig]

As a squad, I've softened a little towards City. The core that makes that team tick were assembled relatively cheaply. The Robinho's didn't land but Kompany, De Bruyne and Aguero did. And they've had some homegrown talent come through. Still, it's ran like a credit card. They're not operating at cost and they'll never make that money back on merch or global appeal.

Everyone's favourite club is never that liked. It's usually in opposition to a much bigger threat. Newcastle were it under Keegan and then our fans spent the next two decades moaning about the good old days. Liverpool did that during the title drought. Leicester might've sneaked a few seasons of good will for their rise. At the end of the day, nobody likes a monopoly. It's why Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher got so much shit.

[Ben]

It's why Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher got so much shit.

Nail on the head there. Vettel is the darling of the grid these days, but back in the Red Bull domination period, everyone hated him.

[niko_cee]

And yet they’re still somehow way behind the pecking order when it comes to it with King Klopp at the top.

Yeah yeah.

The problem with City [as has been an issue for most Pep teams] is that Guardiolaball is dreadful to watch for the most part so, combined with other obvious factors, there isn't much love for them. Perhaps the novelty and sheer quality of Barcelona's players made it good, but in the Munich and Manchester incarnations it's all just extremely dull crushing inevitability.

[Giggles]

True that. I don't watch as much as I've used to, but from any time I've seen either lately you'd expect any real neutral would rather see Liverpool come out on top based on the spectacle alone. Infinitely better than City to watch.

[Pen]

Everyone's favourite club is never that liked. It's usually in opposition to a much bigger threat. Newcastle were it under Keegan and then our fans spent the next two decades moaning about the good old days. Liverpool did that during the title drought. Leicester might've sneaked a few seasons of good will for their rise. At the end of the day, nobody likes a monopoly.

That’s very well put actually.

[Jimmy Floyd]

British sports fans have quite a fondness for the underdog. I presume it's the same with Europeans, I don't know. I always find it interesting watching American sport and that isn't the case, they want the same person/team to dominate for ages and have a 'dynasty'.

[John Arne]

The strangest thing about the US is the absolutel paucity of professional teams.

Basketball, one of the biggest sports in the US, has just 29 pro teams - and whilst there are lots of amateur leagues, there is zero focus on the sport outside of the NBA, and a little for the G-League.

Same for the other 3 sports - huge country, huge population, yet so few teams to support.

EDIT: the college system fills in some gaps, but there's still so many larger cities with no pro teams.

[Kikó]

British sports fans have quite a fondness for the underdog. I presume it's the same with Europeans, I don't know. I always find it interesting watching American sport and that isn't the case, they want the same person/team to dominate for ages and have a 'dynasty'.

I love the dynasty to be honest (maybe because United were the dynasty for ages). I wanted Stephen Hendry to keep dominating and Sampras and Woods to keep going.

[Kikó]

The strangest thing about the US is the absolutel paucity of professional teams.

Basketball, one of the biggest sports in the US, has just 29 pro teams - and whilst there are lots of amateur leagues, there is zero focus on the sport outside of the NBA, and a little for the G-League.

Same for the other 3 sports - huge country, huge population, yet so few teams to support.

EDIT: the college system fills in some gaps, but there's still so many larger cities with no pro teams.

It's because the amateur stuff is basically loaded with money due to their system, no?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I love the dynasty to be honest (maybe because United were the dynasty for ages). I wanted Stephen Hendry to keep dominating and Sampras and Woods to keep going.

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.