December: Iiiiit's fooooootbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall!

[Ian]

Yeah, boy, after watching all those foreigners ponce about it's time for REAL FOOTBALL.

Just look at United's December opponents. Burnley! Nottingham Forest! Wolverhampton Wanderers! Those have all the romance of Qatar and the exotic allure of Poland so who needs the World Cup anyway?

And I don't need Christmas anyway, because what could be a better present than starting three football threads in one month? Absolute bliss.

[Spikey M]

It will be interesting to see how the shite teams / players perform after having an unofficial winter break.

[7om]

I sure can’t wait to watch Haaland stick 9 past the likes of Bournemouth and Crystal Palace. What drama!

[niko_cee]

Aye, watching England roll 6 past a bunch of shit handling fuckwits much much better.

Genuine shades of Yev's 'never gonna watch football again' post 2012 Olympic shtick. Maybe that's why we need summer world cups, everyone needs a month or so to cool off.

[Yevrah]

Genuine shades of Yev's 'never gonna watch football again' post 2012 Olympic shtick. Maybe that's why we need summer world cups, everyone needs a month or so to cool off.

As if I said that. :D

Really looking forward to the league and Champions League coming back.

[7om]

Aye, watching England roll 6 past a bunch of shit handling fuckwits much much better.

Genuine shades of Yev's 'never gonna watch football again' post 2012 Olympic shtick. Maybe that's why we need summer world cups, everyone needs a month or so to cool off.

:D

I wasn’t being entirely serious but okay.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was completely out of football pre World Cup so now actually more interested, although I'm sure the first couple of times watching Yank Chelsea will knock that out of me.

[niko_cee]

All building towards Benny Doakglish (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63813304) running rings around City next week.

[thommo]

Despite the pretty impressive final, I definitely felt like the tournament waned somewhat after that brilliant group stage. It wasn't helped by nearly every game just feeling like one of those pre-season friendly tournaments with minimal atmosphere.

[Shindig]

Yeah, only the Mexicans and Arab nations really brought any kind of atmosphere. Even then, it's a partisan crowd which you don't tend to get at tournaments beyond the host nation.

It could've been a cluster fuck. Instead we got a fantastic tournament with sprinkles of fuck clustered within.

[Waffdon]

All building towards Benny Doakglish (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63813304) running rings around City next week.

I can’t believe The White Endrick is Scottish. What a time to be alive.

[Lewis]

I can't say I'm overly bothered about the League Cup, but the fascinating title race between Manchester City (Abu Dhabi/China) and Arsenal (Dubai/Rwanda) should serve as a decent palate cleanser after all of the disgraceful sports-washing we've just endured. Hopefully my team can have a decent run in the Emirates FA Cup.

[Kikó]

Proper football is back finally. Looking forward to the boxing day fixtures and eating turkey. The lazy Germans are all on a winter break so it's all about the bsplspb.

[Shindig]

Another win and clean sheet. Like we've never been away.

[niko_cee]

Colwill and Gilmour starting for Brighton today for Waff's viewing pleasure.

No idea how Brighton are lining up with that XI.

[Waffdon]

Scott Fraser to run riot for Charlton :nod:

[Giggles]

Colwill and Gilmour starting for Brighton today for Waff's viewing pleasure.

No idea how Brighton are lining up with that XI.

Needs more Evan Ferguson.

[randomlegend]

Wan-Bissaka being useful in the final third? Is this real life?

[Lewis]

That cross was sort of a tackle.

[Lewis]

lol who is this goalkeeper? Proper flapping idiot.

[randomlegend]

Class from Rashford.

[Ian]

A Ben Arfa of a run but good at the end a decent, shot-clock-defying finish.

[randomlegend]

That nutmeg :drool:

[Waffdon]

Lol at Charlton going through after missing 3 of their first 4 pens in the shoot out

[niko_cee]

Yeah, kind of glad I dodged this one on the basis of Brighton not selling tickets to any non-members

[niko_cee]

Having not seen the game at all last night it comes as no great surprise to find out that with the game on the line Solly 'the great enigma' March Harry Kane'd what would have been the winning penalty into orbit. Not sure I've ever known a player with a stronger aversion to scoring. The ways he finds to miss ostensibly unmissable chances never ceases to amaze. How do you become an elite level footballer, primarily [or at least originally] as an attacker whilst having 0 for both composure and finishing?

[Jimmy Floyd]

You can get a long way just by running hard, good positioning and nudging the ball into roughly the right areas, can't you? Especially these days.

[niko_cee]

Absolutely, the weird thing with him though is that he started out as a 'skill player' [to borrow language from another code] so it is just odd that he has absolutely no vestigial goal scoring ability whatsoever. There must have been a level where he was good at it. Maybe getting plucked straight out of non-league football with Lewes and dropped into a much higher standard was the cause.

[Lewis]

1605948713607782402

Festive.

[Baz]

Doesn’t even work.

[Don]

I enjoyed it. More indirectly though from the geberal vibes it's spreading.

[Don]

Apparentlt Firmino is injured :happycry: No Trent too. About to get pumped but look at that midfield still :drool:

Kelleher
Milner
Matip
Gomez
Robertson
Bajcetic
Thiago
Elliott
Salah
Nunez
Carvalho

[Giggles]

Chapman is such a terrible presenter.

[Gray Fox]

Please Santa bring us Konate and Virgil back in one piece so I never have to watch Goe Jomez again.

[Foe]

These advertising boards are fucking enormous.

They’ve doubled up. Really distracting without actually helping you work out what it’s even advertising even in if you wanted to.

Fuck off.

[Gray Fox]

If De Bruyne doesn't get a CL winners medal before he retires it will be a crime.

[Don]

Nat Phillips is made for defending that Norwegian oath.

Much to my surprise, it's damn good to be back, the quality of football is so much higher than international football.

[Dquincy]

Can't work out if Nunez is an absolute chancer or not.

[Don]

He isn't. Happy to help.

[Gray Fox]

I suspect City will take this from the bench. Liverpools midfield a little bit on the lightweight side. I suspect it wont be long before we see Henderson or Keita, if not both. The Milner injury probably puts pay to Doak getting a decent run out.

[Gray Fox]

Typical batshit Liverpool. How I've missed it.

[Lewis]

If De Bruyne doesn't get a CL winners medal before he retires it will be a crime.

He should show up in more big games then the translucent neek.

[Jimmy Floyd]

From now on I think they should award trophies to players rather than teams. Nahuel Molina, for example, what the fuck did he do to deserve a World Cup winner's medal? Mbappé had a far better tournament and yet he didn't get one.

[Shindig]

He got a golden boot.

[Gray Fox]

That actually happened this year when Leo Messi finally won the World Cup.

[Don]

1606053003164667904

He's so fucking right here, the amount of dirty coughing gammons on the trains today was disgusting. Thick as fuck.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/dec/22/stay-at-home-if-youre-unwell-say-experts-as-flu-and-covid-cases-rise-in-england

[John Arne]

Talk about a fall from grace. From England starter to being hauled off in the first half playing in Turkey.

1605851436360802304

[Baz]

He's so fucking right here, the amount of dirty coughing gammons on the trains today was disgusting. Thick as fuck.Always been the case and I bloody hate it. Even before Covid it always pissed me off when my mates turned up to something with their kid who was clearly full of a bug. If you or someone you're coming with is ill, just don't come. :nono:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Dele Alli should clearly retire, he hasn't been interested for years.

[Lofty]

Yes back in my ticket slinging days it was always a nightmare when you would be in the middle of the commuter train with everyone coughing and spluttering around you, knowing all you could do was accept your fate.

[niko_cee]

I suppose it's fair enough if you're in charge of an elite sports team (although Klopp was still being a bit of a div) but anyone else getting shirty over a bit of coughing, particularly from children, needs to sort their life out.

[igor_balis]

I guess presenteeism is alive and well despite the best efforts of covid.

[Giggles]

Shit needs to get done.

[Baz]

I suppose it's fair enough if you're in charge of an elite sports team (although Klopp was still being a bit of a div) but anyone else getting shirty over a bit of coughing, particularly from children, needs to sort their life out.

My life's fine. Keep your mangey kids away from me.

[niko_cee]

All kids are mangey. If you want to forego all human contact for half the year that that's your choice, but the onus is on you. Hermetic life.

[Foe]

Elite level football from the highlands tonight on sky sports. Tune in for an 8 minute contest.

[Baz]

All kids are mangey. If you want to forego all human contact for half the year that that's your choice, but the onus is on you. Hermetic life.Mine are not.

[niko_cee]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j95kNwZw8YY&ab_channel=MarcEder

[ScousePig]

My life's fine. Keep your mangey kids away from me.

Presumably you never go near Mike.

[Dquincy]

Mine are not.

Oh, you're one of those parents.

[Gray Fox]

Kalvin Phillips is apparently the new Luke Shaw. Guardiola seething.

[Ben]

Putting on weight in that Arab heat is a good effort really. On my annual summer visits to Cyprus I consume shit loads of food and beer yet easily lose a few kilos because of the heat.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If I'd spent the last few years playing under Bielsa and Guardiola, a few weeks with Southgate sounds like a great opportunity for a few steamed hams.

[John Arne]

Good read about Will Still, a 30yr Englishman (raised in Belgium) currently head coach in Ligue 1 with Reims.

https://www.coachesvoice.com/cv/will-still-interview-reims-west-ham/

[randomlegend]

Kalvin Phillips was never that good anyway.

[Magic]

We'll have him back plz.

[Spikey M]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64090081

Conte is a a moany cunt isn’t he? Have the players actually played anymore than a normal December would have them? The players that got to the final (all 2 of them) maybe, but the rest have had atleast a fortnight off at this point. :happycry:

[Ben]

Enough of the right people will probably think he’s correct so it’ll take a bit of pressure off when they get rolled over by Brentford.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Football managers at this time of year are the worst. Either they're in floods of tears because there are too many club games, or they are weeping with frustration because there aren't enough club games.

[Don]

Spurs bench looks like relegation fodder.

[niko_cee]

Well, that'll be Spurs turning this on its head with a few subs then.

[Spikey M]

Baffling from Conte all round here.

[Lewis]

Does the Conte gimmick work with a club that won't actually win anything? If he wins you a league then you put up with his hysterical Italianism.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Toney > Kane.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jesus, forgot we were 8th. Thought we were a poor 5th/6th.

Well, 9th after this finishes.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's a class header.

[Giggles]

Bring back Qatar vs Ecuador.

[Gray Fox]

Suddenly a game has emerged.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Doherty :lol:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mbuemo at it now.

[Gray Fox]

The Mbuemo one was that comical he should have been sent off for it.

You could see on his face he'd fucked it.

[Don]

Oi Giggles, your Irish boy Hodges is getting a start at Wolves ahead of Nunes and not due to some gammon brexitball manager. Kid is built like a bull too.

[Giggles]

Oi Giggles, your Irish boy Hodges is getting a start at Wolves ahead of Nunes and not due to some gammon brexitball manager. Kid is built like a bull too.

Yet he wasn’t even worth sticking on the bench in Malta in November, saying a lot about the current management. If he impresses and kicks on you’d be thinking he’s another one who’ll end up playing for his home country.

[Gray Fox]

Leicester are getting hit for double figures if this carries on. Newcastle started on fire.

[Shindig]

Leicester's waking up a little.

[Gray Fox]

Aaaand back to sleep.

[Shindig]

Let's just hold on a second. Brendan might deliver a rousing half-time team talk.

[Gray Fox]

I've seen him manage my club. The thing you speak of does not exist.

[Don]

Absolute limbs in Everton. Lamps was up to his old tricks of all emotion and no idea. Chucking on kids and whatnot in search of the narrative and they go and concede a last-minute goal on the break. Inject it :D

[Gray Fox]

Not far off outright Liverpools strongest XI. This weeks solution to the LW problem is to put Oxlade there. Can fully expect to see him hauled off after 60 mins having done very little. It'd be nice just to not concede first for once.

Big goal at the death at Goodison too.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It would be best for everyone if Everton went down and stayed down for a good few years. They need to train their fanbase out of buying into the idea that they're still a large or important football club on the national stage.

[Gray Fox]

Completely agree. I did want them to stay up in years gone by for the sake of having the derby and such. However their fanbase has devolved into outright bitterness for the sake of it, so fuck 'em.

[Gray Fox]

That's obscene. Never disrespect this man with Kieran fucking Tripper ever again.

[Don]

Wonder how many gammons will praise Trent for the sort of ball only he in the world can produce :happycry:

[Lewis]

It would be best for everyone if Everton went down and stayed down for a good few years. They need to train their fanbase out of buying into the idea that they're still a large or important football club on the national stage.

Everton have got a proper Big Club stadium coming round the corner, so no chance of that, even if it bankrupts them in the lower division.

[Spoonsky]

:drool:

Trent’s gonna be trolling people like that for the rest of the season.

[Boydy]

I'm missing the start of the Liverpool game because of having to update my parents' Amazon firestick which they've seemingly never used since I got them it, probably at least three years ago.

[Don]

Boydy, can you fucking learn how to shop like a competent adult pls. Ta.

[Gray Fox]

Buendia marking Van Dijk from a corner. lols ensue.

[Don]

10/11 starters fit and we piss the league. Where's your fucking 7 year curse/klopp's finished/Liverpool's finished bullshit now, you moist melts :drool:

[Spikey M]

Yet he wasn’t even worth sticking on the bench in Malta in November, saying a lot about the current management. If he impresses and kicks on you’d be thinking he’s another one who’ll end up playing for his home country.

It does seem strange that the Irish FA don't lean on the manager to play these youngsters so that they're not free to fuck off. I wonder if it's the players / agents keeping their options open? But then why accept the call up?

[Giggles]

It does seem strange that the Irish FA don't lean on the manager to play these youngsters so that they're not free to fuck off. I wonder if it's the players / agents keeping their options open? But then why accept the call up?

Accepting the call up isn’t too bad at U21 level because who cares. Rice was kind of different because he played 3 senior friendlies for us.
My opinion is only okay Irish born lads but if that’s not the plan then the thinking needs to be to cap them early. This management is as bad as the last on that front. Kenny needs to go soon anyway - it hasn’t worked.

[Spoonsky]

That is class.

[Waffdon]

Nunez man of the match :lol:

Holy fuck

[Gray Fox]

He's been outstanding.

[niko_cee]

Nunez is absolute maniac. That first time volley from that massive dropping ball in the first half was brilliant. Perhaps that was his version of trying to take a touch.

The whole first half was brilliant. Banzai defending all round and 'Trent' was absolutely on it.

Controlling the game can do one, so Thiago can probably fuck off as he's an absolute passenger in such harum-scarum games.

[Baz]

He's been outstanding.

Are you trolling?

[Gray Fox]

Most certainly am not.

He was unplayable by the Villa defence and the only thing that stopped him scoring about 5 was himself, which will change as he settles.

[Giggles]

Most certainly am not.

He was unplayable by the Villa defence and the only thing that stopped him scoring about 5 was himself, which will change as he settles.

Or he can’t finish for shite.

[niko_cee]

I couldn't work out if he was trying to dummy that one he stepped over after about two minutes or if he was trying to do one of those Cruyff-backheel-type finishes, probably the latter knowing him. He should probably have had the ball in the net 3 or 4 times, although most would have been ruled out as he has a lax attitude towards the offside rule to say the least. My personal favourite was when he was looking to get a ball in from Salah, who eventually obliged, but was just conclusively offside for the entirety of the attack. The header he missed and the one-on-one, although he'd run a long way and it was on his bad foot [lol, which one?] were ones he should have scored. Zero fucks given. He was quality and the team won. Job done.

[SincereTheRebel]

Everton fans getting on the Everton players' keeping possession in the last minute. They hurry the ball forward, lose possession and Wolves get a goal, down the other end.

[Giggles]

The team that scores the most goals wins.

[niko_cee]

That's a nice goal, shambolic defending, but a nice goal nonetheless. Maybe that Stade Riems guy is closer to his dream then he thinks.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Everton fans getting on the Everton players' keeping possession in the last minute. They hurry the ball forward, lose possession and Wolves get a goal, down the other end.

A classic example of the pros vs fans dilemma. Pros know a point is fine, fans always bellow for more.

[phonics]

I didn’t see a minute of the game but this Arsenal team are built different. I’m genuinely worried that I’m going to be sad when we don’t win the league.

[SincereTheRebel]

A classic example of the pros vs fans dilemma. Pros know a point is fine, fans always bellow for more.

12th Man Ay It

[Baz]

Odegaard for Arsenal has a bit of Gerrard for Liverpool about him. If he gets injured, surely City steamroll the league.

[Magic]

Haaland to score about ten tonight.

[Baz]

Haaland to score about ten tonight.Who for?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hopefully Chelsea.

[Magic]

Lol my days are messed up.

[niko_cee]

No Caceido for the Arsenal match. :(

Stroke of good fortune for them. Doubt Mac Allister will be back so it's all on Billy G to turn in his one decent performance every calendar year requires.

[Lofty]

Odegaard for Arsenal has a bit of Gerrard for Liverpool about him. If he gets injured, surely City steamroll the league.

Taz still thinks he's a binman.

[Don]

Yep, nullified so easily against top class opposition. Bruno without the tramp behaviours.

[Waffdon]

No Caceido for the Arsenal match. :(

Stroke of good fortune for them. Doubt Mac Allister will be back so it's all on Billy G to turn in his one decent performance every calendar year requires.

Levi Colwill looking good. Doubt Webster gets back into the team now

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jorginho/Zakaria, the midfield of destiny.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Very hard coming back to our dogshit national VAR procedure after the far superior World Cup one.

[niko_cee]

Levi Colwill looking good. Doubt Webster gets back into the team now

Yeah, he's been very quietly assured when he's played. Shame it's only a loan.

[Waffdon]

The biggest player on the pitch taking set pieces for Bournemouth is an interesting one

[Waffdon]

The referee blowing to make sure that’s not given as a goal regardless of VAR :D

Never a foul in a million years. Was a stonewall penalty earlier as well

[niko_cee]

I don't think refs are under an obligation to not give [what they deem to be] fouls in the same way as the offside rule is implemented.

[Waffdon]

It was never a foul in the 1st place but all he had to do was wait 1 second so they could have a look at it. I reckon he knew the penalty check was going on in the background and didn’t want the drama of the goal being chopped off and a penalty given to Bournemouth

[niko_cee]

Doesn't work like that though as if he lets things go there isn't another look at it [due to the theoretically higher bar for intervention] and it being a marginal call. Perhaps it was an attempt to even things up though, to some extent.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It was a soft 'foul' for the second one but so be it. The one on Pulisic earlier was a horrible decision though, and he also missed a ridiculously easy decision when Bournemouth should have had a GK but he gave Chelsea a corner. Will be a trip to the Championship for him next week.

Tony Pulis knows literally nothing about football, quite incredible really.

[Waffdon]

James and Fofana are both made of literal glass. Must like the recovery sessions too much together

[niko_cee]

FFS, didn't even make it far enough to nab a clean sheet. Have the operators increased their range away from simply nobbling forwards to ruining fullbacks as well now?

[randomlegend]

Ten Hag starting Luke Shaw at centre back and leaving Maguire on the bench :cool:/:D

[Waffdon]

Looks like it. He goes off and they start playing like Sunday league footballers. Standard stuff

[Shindig]

Bold.

Bald.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Looks like it. He goes off and they start playing like Sunday league footballers. Standard stuff

We need to get some backup wing backs in January, can't rely on these two to stay fit.

Referee has been so awful here. One of those low-key atrocious performances that doesn't impact the result but will see him absolutely hammered in his assessment.

[Waffdon]

Need about another 6 signings to become competitive. These Potter subs haven’t half kept the tragic Tuchel era alive. Properly grim and negative.

[mo]

Poor effort from Hennesy on Martial's goal, you'd expect him to be able to throw his right arm out with a bit more force.

[Manc]

Are Forest missing a few goalkeepers? How do you sign 22 players and end up with Wayne Hennessey in goal.

[Lewis]

Did Forest leave their kits at home?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Miles offside.

[Danny]

Are Forest missing a few goalkeepers? How do you sign 22 players and end up with Wayne Hennessey in goal.

Henderson usually. Assuming he cant play against United.

[John Arne]

Guangzhou relegated yesterday :)

[John Arne]

Interesting situation in the Vietnam-Malaysia game last night. Malaysian player deemed to have committed a foul whilst off the pitch (behind the goal), ref awarded a penalty. Apparently if a foul happens off the pitch, a free kick is awarded at the nearest point to where the incident happened.


https://youtu.be/HYfK44EvrBQ

[Kikó]

Two of the strangest red cards I've ever seen.

[niko_cee]

Jay Spearing's looking pretty rough for a 34 year old. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64108010)

[Lewis]

He's never looked better.

[Ben]

House cured Addison’s with a dose of cortisol. Sorted.

[Don]

Grealish is Antony minus the favela upbringing these days. So useless.

[Kikó]

Dundee United 1 up vs Ross. Huge game at the bottom of the spl sponsored by s.

[Magic]

We're absolutely awful.

[Alex]

Gnonto has been the only bright spot. Added points for him getting into it with Grealish just then. :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Lol at Neymar having a fight with Clement Turpin and coming second. A career heading for an inelegant conclusion.

[Don]

Some big boy CL side needs to bust a gut to sign Taremi, top 5 striker in world football currently and will go for a reasonable fee given his age and creed.

[Waffdon]

Leicester have a Tyrone Mings moment every time I watch them.

[Waffdon]

Has there been a bigger fall off than Van Dijk since his injury? He’s been a liability for a decent while now.

[Waffdon]

Leicester have a Tyrone Mings moment every time I watch them.

This stupid prick for Leicester is on for a hat trick of own goals. Jesus

[niko_cee]

Has there been a bigger fall off than Van Dijk since his injury? He’s been a liability for a decent while now.

I think there's a few things at play with this though, not all of his own making. He's definitely dropped off, but then the level he was at was insane, and Liverpool have basically given up trying to defend since Wijnaldum left, he's still one of the best centre halves going.

Also, 2 own goals, lol wut?

[Waffdon]

The first own goal was spectacular. He looked like he just gave up for the second which comes from Nunez missing another sitter so he’ll get praised for that.

[niko_cee]

Nunez always causing trouble, his pass to Salah was sublime. :cool:

Thiago is so woefully ill-suited to Liverpool's style of football.

[Waffdon]

Nunez always causing trouble, his pass to Salah was sublime. :cool:

Thiago is so woefully ill-suited to Liverpool's style of football.

He’s already getting the Timo Werner sympathy :drool:

[Mike]

Thiago is fantastic.
Nunez isn’t. I hope he comes good though.

[Manc]

He's all instinct.

[Gray Fox]

Caught moments of the game and it looked a bombscare all round.

Crazy how Liverpools midfield just vanishes without Fabinho in it. Leicesters goal was comical, but then so were all 3. There's an obvious and abundant need for someone in there to do the dirty work. Henderson can't cover the ground as well these days and the rest in front of Fabinho are all not interested in doing so, or are shite at it.

Thiago is grand in the team if the other guy can also defend. Harvey Elliott is not that guy and also now looks injured anyway.

Nunez is impressing me in everyway bar putting it in the net. I still think he'll start to put that right once the supporting cast is back in place.

[niko_cee]

What's happened to Sancho? Is he injured?

[Gray Fox]

And also Sir Marcus?

[Ian]

Mon then Randrew, what are Reddit's finest minds saying Rashford has done?


What's happened to Sancho? Is he injured?

He's away in the Netherlands being reprogrammed still, I think.

[phonics]

Last Man Standing curse.

[Waffdon]

Garnacho’s teeth :D

[Baz]

And also Sir Marcus?

*Daniel

[Don]

Another stunning 45 from the favela cunt :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Any rumours on what Rashford was disciplined for?

[SvN]

He slapped Ten Hag on the head.

[Gray Fox]

His hair does need feeding tbf.

[Giggles]

Hodge or Collins playing for Wolves?

[Gray Fox]

Collins. He's done well today.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sir Marcus :cool:

[Spikey M]

Liverpool really should have let Spurs take Nunez.

[Lewis]

Who is this Wolves manager dressed like a seventies shagger?

[mo]

The only thing I've seen about Rashford was that he went out with Jesse Lingard the night after the Forest game - out til 5am and *takes large pinch of salt* stole a pack of biscuits from a Morrisons food bank trolley.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

VAR taking food out of kids' bellies.

[Gray Fox]

Big fan of the ref now just not giving fouls against Casemiro knowing he should have already been off.

[Spikey M]

The only thing I've seen about Rashford was that he went out with Jesse Lingard the night after the Forest game - out til 5am and *takes large pinch of salt* stole a pack of biscuits from a Morrisons food bank trolley.

Blatant bullshit but :D

[Lewis]

United have definitely got Rashford playing to a shot clock.

[Kikó]

Another good win. Wolves is always a shitfest so it's a great result.

[Lewis]

lol at me being a Casemiro-sceptic by the way. He's United's best player by an absolute mile.

[Don]

Look at the gammons (Rio as honorary member) wank over Trashford whilst his stats are about half as effective as main-BBC-headline-maker Darwin. I love these mongs.

[Kikó]

Him and Varane are actually looking like the Real Madrid versions which is nice.

[Lewis]

Top CB and CDM in the EPL.

[Ian]

Yeah I thought Casemiro was gonna roll up in Anderson-esque shape and see out a cushy contract but he's great.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Casemiro reminds me very much of when they let Makelele go despite him still having 3-4 good years left.

[Ian]

Also if we inexplicably spend a billion quid on this Argentine fella he could form Enzo and Cas to be our second wrasslin-themed midfield.

[Yevrah]

Haaland has now scored more goals himself than nearly half the sides in the Premier League.

[Shindig]

We need to get Wilson on.

[Alex]

We need to get Wilson on.

I have to say, seeing Wilson and Saint-Maximim coming off the bench when you already have us under the cosh like this is very disheartening!

Would love to escape here with a point.

[Waffdon]

Arsenal are pissing the league Leicester style.

[randomlegend]

Look at the gammons (Rio as honorary member) wank over Trashford whilst his stats are about half as effective as main-BBC-headline-maker Darwin. I love these mongs.

Rashford has a goal or assist every 99 minutes, Nunez every 104 minutes this season.

[Don]

Rashford has a goal or assist every 109 minutes, Nunez every 86 minutes this season.

Corrected, mongboy.

[Shindig]

Bugger. The chance was there to hop back to second. Would've made the Arsenal game really tasty.

[randomlegend]

Corrected, mongboy.

If you cherry-pick which stats to include, yeah.

86 = 1/2 of 109 quickmaffs

[Don]

That's literally all competitive games this season, keep licking my balls please.

[Lewis]

City not winning the league (or anything) whilst their giant mong snaffles the individual awards for himself would be pretty lol.

[Alex]

Bugger. The chance was there to hop back to second. Would've made the Arsenal game really tasty.

Aye, I'll take that all day for Leeds. I expected us to get battered going into that. Which, I mean, we very much did, just thankfully without conceding a goal. :D

Trippier must have taken more set pieces in that game than he takes in an average months worth of training.

[ScousePig]

Ellis Simms has been recalled by Everton. Hopefully not the start of a mass exodus.

He did a decent job as backup striker but Everton fans won't be overly excited by his return.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Arsenal aren't actually going to win the league this season, are they?

[Don]

What the fuck was that from Lamptey? Jesus.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Arsenal aren't actually going to win the league this season, are they?

Easily. Anyone but Man City is already out of the race.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Surely Man City are just trying to make as many believe that Arsenal will win before clawing them back.

Seems strange that Arsenal are back in contention having not been close for what, a decade?

[Foe]

The change in mentality and recruitment is massive for arsenal.

The squad is so better now, even than last season. They’ve just been purging the squad of players that clearly aren’t good enough and replacing with pretty proven if Under stated talent.

They aren’t the best team on paper by a long way, but get them believing and working and they’ll consistently beat the shit.

Saka and martinelli will hopefully just keep getting better. Jesus is a blow, but nketiah should fight to prove himself.

I’m just glad dross like jenkinson, squillaci, Andre santos, pablo Mari, kolasinac, etc seem to be a thing of the past.

The two seasons being terrible have helped weed out who of the youth/reserves actually had a shot being kept and martinelli, ESR, saka and nketiah stepped up, whilst shit like reiss nelson and willock were shown to be not at the required level.

Whoever signed saliba needs some credit too. Man is the future at the back.

[Yevrah]

Strange feeling wanting Arsenal to win the league, but I do.

[Shindig]

Everything's clicked into place for them.

[Giggles]

Definitely love to see them win it at this stage. I don't see it happening just yet, but the turnaround has been way quicker than expected.

[phonics]

God we're good :cool:

[Lewis]

I hope we can unban Harold for the title.

[phonics]

Don't try ruin the only good thing to happen in my life in years with that please.

[SincereTheRebel]

I still think Man City will be too strong. A few injuries to Arsenal, specifically to Partey, Saka, and Gabriel and they will stutter. It's Arsenal lads.

[SincereTheRebel]

They are brilliant to watch though. Especially that Norwegian Blonde and Saka. His ability to dribble off balance, while using his strength to keep the ball. A joy.

[Waffdon]

They’re going to break City’s points total :lol:

[phonics]

Not that it's particularly effective but the Mitoma guy looks tidy.

[Ben]

Who was saying Ødegaard is useless?

[Giggles]

Who was saying Ødegaard is useless?

Our resident wrong.

[phonics]

Not that it's particularly effective but the Mitoma guy looks tidy.

This guy knows ball.

[Foe]

Saka is just exceptional. England having him and Foden on either wing for the next 5-8 years is just worrying. Two tremendously talented youngsters.

Martinelli. :cool:

[phonics]

I was getting worried for a second there and then they go do that. Exceptionally poor from the keeper though.

[Giggles]

Didn't even realise Ferguson was in the squad :cool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Arsenal trying to bottle it.

[phonics]

Furious at myself for knowing ball so good.

[Kikó]

City not winning the league (or anything) whilst their giant mong snaffles the individual awards for himself would be pretty lol.

At the risk of tempting fate, I did think would Haaland make everything channel through him and then make them more one dimensional because of it. Bit like Ruud with us, suddenly it was only him who would score to the detriment of others. I'm all for it if it stops city winning the league.

[Lewis]

I think everyone wondered that but didn't want to be on the wrong side of an :evictory: by posting it.

[SincereTheRebel]

Somebody did mention that somewhere on here. Exactly that. city usually have 5 players scoring 10 goals each but now they have put all their eggs into one basket with Haaland dropping 50.

Once they get going, they still be will too strong.

[randomlegend]

They've still got Alvarez, Foden and Mahrez on course for at least 10 goals this season.

[niko_cee]

I said that Re: Haaland, but am probably going to be wrong about it as his 50 goals see them win the league and likely everything else.

Cracking game at the Amex tonight. Shame Sanchez decided tonight was going to be one of his chuck a few in games. Brighton did well to recover from a dreadful first half [non-existent midfield in the absence of Caicedo and MacAllister] and it was just a shame the VAR funkill wagon ruled out the grandstand finish that the game deserved. I didn't really understand the offisde, but if it was one of those 'offside by an ankle whilst actually running back ones' that's the sort of decision I've long thought the whole rule is going to need to be changed over.

[Shindig]

Yeah, that doesn't look too concerning.

[niko_cee]

Also Gilmour was pretty shit, but I reckon he'd look a lot better with the aforementioned midfielders playing with him. Don't think De Zerbi really rates him though.

[randomlegend]

He looked useless when I watched him for Norwich as well. He looks super smooth on the ball but he doesn't actually do anything effective.

[phonics]

It's insane to look at the table and see that we can lose both games to City and technically still win the league.

[Don]

Arsenal fans not been involved in top 4 for a decade at this stage and it really shows. It's not even half-way through the season, you're not winning shit against City :D

[niko_cee]

They have a chance if they can keep entirely injury free [particularly in key areas - thought they went to bits slightly when Partey went off today] but I tend to think that the attrition of the season will wear on them and they'll be reeled in at some point. City chucking in a seriously sub-par season might help them.

[phonics]

I don't think it's a serious possibility whatsoever. The above talking about Arsenal winning the league was all from non-Arsenal fans trying to jinx it. On what I said there was a reason for the use of the word technically in that sentence. Losing any of Ramsdale, Ben White, Partey, Xhaka or Saka for extended periods and the seasons toast for sure.

[Giggles]

Reading Irish soccer Twitter you’d swear Evan Ferguson had just scored his 17th of the season.

Aaron Connolly anyone?

[The Merse]

I don't think it's a serious possibility whatsoever. The above talking about Arsenal winning the league was all from non-Arsenal fans trying to jinx it. On what I said there was a reason for the use of the word technically in that sentence. Losing any of Ramsdale, Ben White, Partey, Xhaka or Saka for extended periods and the seasons toast for sure.

I’m less convinced on the latter point. Losing them all, for sure. But we could cope without one of them at a time for a fair old while. ESR and Jesus to come back still, and there’s clearly ambition to add ammunition to the forwards in this window.

It’s been quite the season, grand vindication for those of us labelled as ‘Artetasexuals’ for simply seeing promise and wanting to give it time. Atmosphere home and away has been superb. Missed West Ham and Brighton due to festivities, so can’t fucking wait to be back in my seat for Newcastle. After a the late Wenger and Emery seasons where I felt myself resenting paying £s to sit amongst groaning old cunts, I’m now shitting a brick at the prospect that the geezer I’ve been renting off since just before Covid deciding he wants the ticket back before I finally get an offer off the club (been 7 years on the STWL).

Long way to go, and I still firmly have us pegged for 2nd in my mind, but if we keep pace up with 6 wins in Jan & Feb, against serious opposition, then it’s properly on.

[The Merse]

Arsenal fans not been involved in top 4 for a decade at this stage and it really shows. It's not even half-way through the season, you're not winning shit against City :D

This time last year we were donning City off the pitch until the red, and they still needed an injury time winner.

[Gray Fox]

Seems very much a case that Arsenal took their medicine for the hangover of the new stadium. Wenger kept the ship afloat and then Emery was supposed to have come in to do what Arteta is now doing.
As has been said, clearing out the deadwood has been his best work and they're now in a place where they can compete on and off the pitch.

Of course Arsenal are by far the preferential winner of the two, but Guardiola will soon start his shit mind games("Arsenal are the best team to ever football!" "This is the Emirates!") and City will start getting some very dodgy decisions go their way.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lads, it's not fucking December anymore.

[Lewis]

All the True Blue Gunner Gooners (bang!) coming out of the woodwork. Harold, TG, Taz deep down... Dave will resurface before long and all the forty year olds will start twerking.