The January Football Thread

[Offshore Toon]

Who the fuck is this Windass bloke and how do we swap him for Wood?

[Gray Fox]

He's the son of Dean Windass.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Chris Wood :lol:

[Spikey M]

Lol at Coventry.

[Waffdon]

He's the son of Dean Windass.

He was absolutely tragic for Rangers. As are a lot of people from England for some reason when they come up here. Diallo being the most recent.

That’s a strong Liverpool side. Same with Man Utd last night, teams taking if serious this year?

[Gray Fox]

7 days until the next game and 5 days from the previous one so putting the full team out makes sense. Can't turn your nose up at the chance of a trophy in our current situation either.

[Offshore Toon]

Frustrating to lose but happy we've secured top 4.

[Shindig]

This squad's earned the extra Saturday off a month.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Alisson :lol:

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Does highlight how much the squad needs improving overall. Appreciate the team needs rotated but it is the FA cup and a club that's been desperate for a trophy since forever, thought we might have started with a stronger 11.

[Waffdon]

Allison is obviously great but he has 2 or 3 of them in him a season.

[Dquincy]

That goal sums Liverpool up this season. Open defensively, can't cope with any sort of press and the sloppy mistakes.

[Gray Fox]

Your experienced technically gifted player doing stepovers on the edge of his own box also not the best idea.

[Lewis]

Hope TEG or JonWo come back to revel in that Wednesday win.

[Kikó]

He was absolutely tragic for Rangers. As are a lot of people from England for some reason when they come up here. Diallo being the most recent.

That’s a strong Liverpool side. Same with Man Utd last night, teams taking if serious this year?

I think the big clubs have been taking all the domestic cups seriously for a while.

[Don]

The problem is Trent is finished and Nunez is shit.

[Mike]

Nice goal that

[Kikó]

Lovely goal. What a terrible initial clearance.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Nunez didn't mean that.

[niko_cee]

Shinned it like a champ. :cool:

Do I not like Thiago.

[Gray Fox]

Thiago needs to read the room with these stupid flicks and backwards passes.

These are great when the team is on form. When everyone is struggling not so much...

Top quality from Darwin again and Trent with a great ball.

[niko_cee]

So good watching a game without VAR.

I assume that would have stood due to the bullshit intentional play of the ball/new phase of play interpretation, but still.

[Waffdon]

What? How is that not offside? :lol:

[Kikó]

I'm baffled. What's going on?

[niko_cee]

Apparently there is VAR as well, so as you were. Lino's seem to be flagging offside quite gamely/in an old school style which made me think there wasn't.

[niko_cee]

What? How is that not offside? :lol:

The Wolves player making a tit of the clearance 'resets the play'. It's bullshit but it's been going on since Dejan Lovren made a massive bollocks against Harry Kane in that 2-2 game of many penalties years ago.

[Kikó]

How are you supposed to defend that? Just leave it and hope for the best?

(Unless he was onside)

[niko_cee]

Yeah, you're meant to leave it. No fucks is given that the only reason you are trying to play the ball is the [offside] attacker lurking behind you. It's idiotic.

[Waffdon]

I genuinely didn’t realise that was the rule. I can understand it to an extent if the pass isn’t made for the player who is offside and the defender resets the play but that goal couldn’t be anymore offside if you tried. What a shambles.

[Kikó]

Absolutely mental. Inzaghi would have loved playing now.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's not offside.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, what's going on here?

How is that offside?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Unless the corner taker is offside there's no way Toti was ever off, he was behind the ball.

[Waffdon]

Salah’s goal standing but no that :D

[niko_cee]

Wolves continuing to pioneer ways to get fucked over by VAR. They got one of those daft corner taker ones at Anfield in the first season of its use.

[Baz]

And Mane’s against them was only give after VAR interference iirc

[niko_cee]

Whilst I can't complain too much about a 'ruling on the field stands' type call, it probably didn't need the 5 minute delay for the veneer of certitude that VAR professes to give, whilst basically just guessing as there wasn't an angle. I don't know how that is even possible? Do ITV4 only turn up with half of the necessary cameras?

[Ben]

Wolves robbed.

[Waffdon]

Was it a Liverpool defender who headed it back to Nunes? What’s difference between that and the Salah goal?

Wolves were robbed all over the gaff throughout as well. Should have had 2 clear fouls at the end outside the 18 yard box. Liverpool are a Salah away from being as bad as Potters’ blues

[randomlegend]

The problem is Trent is finished and Nunez is shit.

Don't be ridiculous.

It's the whole team that's finished and the club that's shit.

[Don]

Comparison to Chelsea is fair given both are going to be absolutely dominant in 6 months time.

[randomlegend]

:happycry:

[niko_cee]

Was it a Liverpool defender who headed it back to Nunes? What’s difference between that and the Salah goal?


Nah, it came off a Wolves player which is what makes him offside if he was in an offside position, even though the ball looks like it travels backwards.

[Manc]

Mathues Nunes looks a player.

[SincereTheRebel]

Liverpool 2-2 Wolves Reserves.

[Gray Fox]

Same offside shite that did for United yesterday does for Wolves here. It's basically saying he has to leave the ball and hope he's right that Salah is offside.

[Waffdon]

Nunes is miles onside for that 3rd Wolves goal as well.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMFKkUYb8/

[niko_cee]

Well, that's not going to improve Julen's mood.

Always amazes me how many people record football on their phones.

Edit, if you actually stop it [or try to as it's pretty hard] when the ball hits the Wolves player I think the corner guy is offside.

https://ibb.co/VQ1N0nc

That doesn't seem to want to link as an image.

[niko_cee]

I see the BBC article on the play of the ball offisde rule adds even more flavour. I always assumed the 'Goalkeeper exemption' for 'deliberate saves' [ie these don't reset the play so no offside tap-ins] was specific to the positions, but the quote they have:


"A 'save' is when a player stops, or attempts to stop, a ball which is going into or very close to the goal with any part of the body except the hands/arms (unless the goalkeeper within the penalty area)."

Would suggest that any player can make such a 'save'. Obviously this is unlikely to ever come up [due to where players generally are on the pitch], but I can definitely envisage a situation where it might. Unfortunately the only real solution is significant 'handball' style muddying of the waters about where an advantage is gained. I think this is probably needed as VAR for things like Mitoma's disallowed goal against Arsenal is making arbitrary decisions which have no real reference to any advantage being gained. Of course, this would only lead you to Bill Shankly's quote "'If a player is not interfering with play or seeking to gain an advantage, then he should be." I guess the he would have to be they these days. Offside probably needs to be automated.

[Gray Fox]

Well, that's not going to improve Julen's mood.

Always amazes me how many people record football on their phones.

Edit, if you actually stop it [or try to as it's pretty hard] when the ball hits the Wolves player I think the corner guy is offside.

https://ibb.co/VQ1N0nc

That doesn't seem to want to link as an image.

There's another deliberate Wolves touch right after that one:

https://i.gyazo.com/a693ba8c0b67ec6d0afeec5313ef014e.png

Looks as if Trent is playing them all onside. Apparently it stayed with the on field call because none of the angles available could show a near enough down the line shot for the lines to be accurately drawn.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, hadn't thought about the second touch. I guess that should be the decision point as that is when the ball is 'played' to him and he's clearly onside at that point. I want to say you shouldn't be able to flagged offside if you are running away from goal, although that would obviously be a terrible rule without nuance. In hockey they completely changed offside whilst I played from being football style to being only in the last 25. Made the game massively stretched [along with the move to astroturf and going aerial being a thing].

Running back and outside the penalty area would be better as an exemption, but would still have Van Nistelrooy camped on the edge of the box for the entire game. Maybe it shouldn't be possible to be offside outside the width of the penalty box? All these ideas clearly have massive exploits attached so it's probably just best to hope for a fully automated system.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Leeds :harold:

Ted Lasso getting donned in the Cup.

[SincereTheRebel]

At this level, players all where those tracker things for stats so they could make use it to track offsidess.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Decent save from Bagan that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:harold:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Another example of incentivising people to commit fouls, should be a penalty goal.

[niko_cee]

Still salty after all these years.

Red card advantage makes up for the 0.2 xG deduction or whatever it is.

Is Perry Ng really pronounced Perry En-Gee?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The wank offside rule strikes again.

Gnoto was offside in the build up but the defender headed it away.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm just against deliberate fouls in all their forms, I don't understand why they're built into football. Too many people watching basketball.

Leeds deserved that goal, really decent team to watch. Cardiff just some men in matching strips.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The wank offside rule strikes again.

Gnoto was offside in the build up but the defender headed it away.

No, that's just normal offside, was hours until he next got the ball.

[niko_cee]

Not sure that's really a case of the bad rule interpretation manifesting itself. The offside player needs to be the one that gets the ball straight after the defender's touch.

[niko_cee]

I'm just against deliberate fouls in all their forms, I don't understand why they're built into football. Too many people watching basketball.


Probably give the City game a swerve then. Thought their cynical fouling tendencies were in overdrive the other day.

I think the award of a penalty and a red card is fair recompense for a goal line handball, although the further you go into Suarez territory then the less equitable it becomes.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

BBC have shit the bed with their selection for the next game.

Why show Man City reserves v Chelsea reserves instead of Villa/Stevenage.

We want cup upsets.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They only show big division gaps at this stage if the small team is at home, otherwise statistically it's likely to be a 4-0 snoozefest, and you don't get the FA Cup vibe from big grounds.

[Adramelch]

I'm just against deliberate fouls in all their forms, I don't understand why they're built into football. Too many people watching basketball.

Leeds deserved that goal, really decent team to watch. Cardiff just some men in matching strips.

Even in basketball they have started giving a lot more unsportsmanlike/flagrant fouls when there's no obvious attempt to play the ball.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I know but the whole setup of basketball is that people 'take fouls' and rotate doing so as an integral part of the game, rather than a foul being something frowned upon.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The start of this game has been a tricky old watch. Chelsea trying to keep the ball 112 yards from goal while being ultra-pressed by five fresh drones.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Shame Havertz had to punch that away at a Premier League stadium where yet another dogshit blind referee can be corrected.

[Lewis]

I feel like you could train a dog to do what Conor Gallagher does.

[Lewis]

Look at Graham Potter on the bench, hungover in his dog-walking coat. What a terrible fit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I feel sorry for Potter. He has the most insipid collection of unmotivated 'senior' players you could ever find. At least Koulibaly looks like he gives a damn, even if in reality he's just more evidence of the pitiful weakness of the Italian league post 2010. Jorginho and Kovacic are just garbage, while Ziyech and Havertz don't look like they give a fuck. Aubameyang gone for a pub lunch today.

Mount is the exception as he actually shows leadership qualities and drives the team on, yet for some reason he's the one who gets all the online flak.

[randomlegend]

I'm just against deliberate fouls in all their forms, I don't understand why they're built into football

Agreed. If a player is ever in a situation where fouling is the better option then the rules are wrong.

[Waffdon]

I feel sorry for Potter. He has the most insipid collection of unmotivated 'senior' players you could ever find. At least Koulibaly looks like he gives a damn, even if in reality he's just more evidence of the pitiful weakness of the Italian league post 2010. Jorginho and Kovacic are just garbage, while Ziyech and Havertz don't look like they give a fuck. Aubameyang gone for a pub lunch today.

Mount is the exception as he actually shows leadership qualities and drives the team on, yet for some reason he's the one who gets all the online flak.

Mount is one of the worst things about the current Chelsea collection. No technical ability or tactical awareness whatsoever. A slightly more technically savvy Conor Gallagher. The best thing Chelsea can do is tell him to fuck off asking for his £300k a week and sell him on.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You spend far too much time on football twitter.

[niko_cee]

If you look at how infrequently penalty tries are actually given in both rugby codes you'll see how pointless the idea of a penalty goal would be [or perhaps, more generally, how much more subjectivity you'd be injecting into the decision making process]. Probably has to be a full Suarez diving save to be triggered and I don't think that would have been the case with that one today.

A free shot from 12 yards [and a player sent off] more than makes up for the loss of a goal.

A more interesting change would be to try and stamp out the tactical fouls designed to break up attacks and/or the awarding of a penalty for a professional foul outside of the box.

[niko_cee]

Now, I'm no frequent watcher of Chelsea, but "no technical ability or tactical awareness whatsoever" seems like a very weird critique of Mount. Always struck me as a player who's 'understanding of the game' [for want of a better vaguery] allied to decent competences in most other areas made him stand out - see how much more influential he was for Derby than Wilson who is probably a 'better player' in purely technical terms. I suppose you could just say that was his level, but I'd have him. Kind of a right place at the right time man.

[Jimmy Floyd]

In football it's literally only for this instance (a deliberate handball basically on the goal line), because there's no other instance where it would be appropriate.

How about two kinds of penalty - one from six yards and one from 18.

[niko_cee]

Would a six yard penalty be easier or harder? Head injury charities would probably take a dim view of torching the ball at someone from 6 yards.

Could give Neville Southall a career all over again. It's a lot of goalie to miss.

[Gray Fox]

Mount was also the one who played the incisive through ball for Havertz in the UCL Final, no?

[randomlegend]

If you look at how infrequently penalty tries are actually given in both rugby codes you'll see how pointless the idea of a penalty goal would be [or perhaps, more generally, how much more subjectivity you'd be injecting into the decision making process]. Probably has to be a full Suarez diving save to be triggered and I don't think that would have been the case with that one today.

A free shot from 12 yards [and a player sent off] more than makes up for the loss of a goal.

A more interesting change would be to try and stamp out the tactical fouls designed to break up attacks and/or the awarding of a penalty for a professional foul outside of the box.

I'd be down for a yellow card for the first player on a tea. to commit a tactical foul and straight reds for any subsequent ones. Making it a stone wall yellow would be the bare minimum, but you see teams get around at least some of that with the rotational fouling nonsense.

[Pepe]

Red cards ruin games way more than tactical fouls.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Would a six yard penalty be easier or harder? Head injury charities would probably take a dim view of torching the ball at someone from 6 yards.

Could give Neville Southall a career all over again. It's a lot of goalie to miss.

Alright - thirty yards, no goalkeeper, and it can only bounce once.

[Waffdon]

Mount was also the one who played the incisive through ball for Havertz in the UCL Final, no?

Yeah. Still doesn’t change the fact he’s not all that good. He should be a squad player at most, not starting every single week. Look at England without him messing every single attack up.

Koulibaly looking more and more tragic with every passing week. Tuchel’s signings last summer really have all turned out to be an absolute shambles.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Our fans singing for Tuchel is embarrassing.

Good ebening everyone.

[niko_cee]

As if Tuchel had any say whatsoever.

Haven't they got all of the finest minds in football directing there now? Presumably all miraculously not consulted about such matters as part of the interview process.

If Potter walks out of this with a 5 year pay-off for 3 months work the he'll have pretty much won football.

Crawley Town are probably hiring after that manager of theirs got sent down for racism [I assume in reality they have another manager but hey ho].

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Stevenage :cool:

As I said, BBC got the game selection wrong.

Giant killing > Two Prem sides sending out the reserves.

[niko_cee]

Aye, Jimmy [sort of] wrong with his 4-0 snoozefest prediction.

[Waffdon]

As if Tuchel had any say whatsoever.

Haven't they got all of the finest minds in football directing there now? Presumably all miraculously not consulted about such matters as part of the interview process.

If Potter walks out of this with a 5 year pay-off for 3 months work the he'll have pretty much won football.

Crawley Town are probably hiring after that manager of theirs got sent down for racism [I assume in reality they have another manager but hey ho].

Aubameyang and Koulibaly are the most Thomas Tuchel signings possible. Tuchel turned down Kounde and that’s why they got Koulibaly instead. Experience is all that matters to TT,

[Giggles]

There are cards for these things. Fuck all that penalty goal multi ball shite.

[randomlegend]

Red cards ruin games way more than tactical fouls.

People would stop doing it after about two games and you'd be left with neither tactical fouls nor loads of red cards.

[Shindig]

Yeah, punishment did wonders for diving ...

[Pepe]

We would get ten more VAR stoppages per game so that the fifty referee consortium can decide whether each foul was a tactical foul or not.

[randomlegend]

Yeah, punishment did wonders for diving ...

Because they never actually did it. They literally gave out about 3 yellow cards for a couple of weekends and then never did it again unless Daniel James is playing.

[Manc]

Guardiola would be finished if tactical fouling was punished.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Pepe speaks for Concacaf, where you could have the centre back throwing axes into the backs of strikers through on goal and the referee would just wave play on and shout sigue sigue as if ducking projectile axes has always been part of the game.

Free kick if someone falls over in the right back area though.

[Don]

No idea why Atleti-Barca is on ITV4 but :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Turned on just in time for Pedri to create a wonderful goal and for a whole load of bestriped Simeone gypos to immediately surrounded the greasy-haired ref to complain about nothing. I do miss regular La Liga.

Fuck Matterface though.

[niko_cee]

Interesting month ahead for Graham Potter's Chelsea, seeing as the knives appear to be being sharpened. Couple of West London derbies against the RESURGENT Cottagers, West Ham away, Palace and the comfort of a trip to Anfield. Can see him getting the bullet if things go poorly through that, which they well could.

Pretty sure Brighton went through these long winter malaises under him as well so don't say you weren't warned.

[Ben]

Potter has definitely been put on a pedestal with his "great manager" reputation but a) De Zerbi has proved already that he wasn't working miracles and b) the problems at Chelsea are way bigger than the manager.

He needs to be given time but I don't think he's an oracle either.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I rate Potter highly in terms of getting the most out of players over the long run, but his comportment / nice guy image is really hurting him badly, football people really dislike overt niceness. If he was a snarling cunt or hard man he'd get more time.

There's also an argument that when you step up to managing massive world egos, you need to have a bit more 'aura' than he has. A bit of a data analyst's pick.

He's also another for my Name Theory of Everything. Graham Potter is not a name that buys you respect in this arena. If he was called, I dunno, Mick Brown, he'd have more of a chance.

[Offshore Toon]

It is a shit name that he's clearly grown into. Aristotle Di Panini wouldn't find himself in this mess to begin with.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Roberto De Zerbi is a great example actually. Unless he blows it by walking around in a chef's hat shouting mamma mia, he's just got instant respect.

Neil 'Razor' Potter? I don't think so.

[John Arne]

Is you are bored, 30 minutes until Vietnam v Indonesia in the AFF semi final second leg (0-0 first game). Decent bit of needle between the two teams, particularly left back Doan Van Hau who should have been sent off about 3 times already in the first leg.


https://youtu.be/YmhM9SpN12I

[Jimmy Floyd]

Every year around this time I enjoy a little butchers at this wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%E2%80%9323_Coupe_de_France

Absolute fucking chaos. Top flight side Strasbourg out, but don't worry, 6th tier outfit FCO Strasbourg Koenigshoffen 06 continues the city's interest into the last 32. Nice put out a full side including the likes of Kasper Schmeichel, Ross Barkley and Nicolas Pepe, but they were no match for 3rd tier Le Puy Foot 43 Auvergne, going down 3-1 (I'd be a bit suspicious of any football club founded in those parts in 1943). Meanwhile, there's a bun fight going on with crowd trouble having stopped the 8th round game between Reims Sainte-Anne and Wasquehal (5th and 4th tier), that match will have to be replayed with the winner travelling to 6th tier Pays-du-Cassel, who don't even have a wikipedia page. The winner of all that mess will go on to host... Paris St-Germain.

[Don]

I bet some absolute monster African/Arab talents reside in those tiers. Erection inducing natural talent with absolutely zero work ethic :drool:

[John Arne]

Is the team from Reunion still in it?

[Ben]

Yep and that's not even the worst. Belfort had French Polynesia away. :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

US Tamponnaise (only the finest sauces) from Reunion have now sadly bowed out in the ninth round.

[niko_cee]

Potter has definitely been put on a pedestal with his "great manager" reputation but a) De Zerbi has proved already that he wasn't working miracles and b) the problems at Chelsea are way bigger than the manager.

He needs to be given time but I don't think he's an oracle either.

De Zerbi has made some minor alterations but it's still Potter's team. The acid test will be what can he do when they lose Caicedo and MacAllister in the summer. I do like that he seems to really like, and be getting output from Solly March. And his slightly more attacking approach generally.

[niko_cee]

Bareth Gale's jacked it in.

[Waffdon]

He’s probably been given a role with that Saudi golf organisation

[Shindig]

Bareth Gale's jacked it in.

First Steve Bruce and now this. What a dark day for the sport.

[phonics]

The irony of Arsenal getting consistently murdered when wearing our anti-knife crime kit is not lost on me.

[Yevrah]

It's good that having solved racism football has now set it's sights on abolishing knife crime. Cancer next please.

[phonics]

To be fair to the club, at least they aren’t selling it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's like Merc having a nightmare when they all wore lederhosen. Don't play silly buggers with the clothing.

[phonics]

Play like a League One team, score a League One goal.

[phonics]

Eddie now absolutely burying these poor guys.

[randomlegend]

Kobbie Mainoo starting for United :drool:

Kid is meant to be special.

[randomlegend]

Good special, not Taz special.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sky also going for PREMIERSHIP RESERVES over a potential giant killing.

Shambles.

[Dark Soldier]

Lovely goal by Antony. Garnacho looking up for it too.

[Danny]

Not bad from the fidget spinner

[Shindig]

Man, we have no cutting edge at the moment.

G'wan, Dan. :D

[Luca]

Don

Flip over to the United match if you’d like to have a wank over Pellistri. :drool:

[Luca]

An assist :drool:

[Shindig]

Rashford needs to start being sad again. Someone give him some minor inconvenience.

[Lewis]

Facundo Pellistri: World Class Assists (The New Zoran Tosic)

[Shindig]

Marcus, stop.

[Lewis]

Did Case-best midfielder in the league-miro do any of this playmaking for Madrid? I just remember him tackling and passing it three yards, which is why I didn't realise how ace he is.

[randomlegend]

Not a lot, but I guess when you're playing with Kroos and Modric you don't need to do much playmaking.

[Lewis]

Madrid just selling him like nothing as well. Manchester United is shit.

[Don]

Very difficult to see who stops this Utd side. Rampant. Antony, Rashford, Pellistri and Eriksen [RAPE] to smash City and Arsenal.

[Waffdon]

7/2 for them is very tasty. Man City aren’t all that great and look a bit meh whenever someone gets in behind them. Could be another high scoring game.

[Don]

I can assure you Man City are all that great and City -1 will be funding the copious lube for my orgy with the Man Utd melts on here.

[Baz]

:lol:

[Lofty]

The last two decent sides United played ended in draws so I wouldn't be streaming Glory Glory Man Utd just yet lads.

[Kikó]

It was good to get to old Trafford for the first time in ages last night. Charlton brought 9k fans and played some of the greatest hits like "your support is fucking shit" and "shall we sing a song for you".

Pellestri was bright. Hopefully we see a bit more of him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I know it's oooruguay who probably aren't that deep, but it seems bizarre he can be a FIFA World Cup starter for them and not get a sniff of Man U's first team soccer.

[Waffdon]

My mole tells me he’s absolutely bang average in the youth league too.

[Kikó]

I'm guessing he's been catching up on physicality since joining but it seems ten Haag likes how he's progressing recently. I'd much rather watch a ball player like him than gammon gammon Elanga.

[Lofty]

It was good to get to old Trafford for the first time in ages last night. Charlton brought 9k fans and played some of the greatest hits like "your support is fucking shit" and "shall we sing a song for you".

Pellestri was bright. Hopefully we see a bit more of him.

Any truth that Charlton were doing a racism and absuing the disabled section?

[Don]

He's a complete waste of space as was predicted over 2 years ago thanks to his lack of physical attributes and plain mediocre technical ability.

Uruguay's talent pool is very poor so it's no great achievement to be playing for them and Utd's stupidity in signing him is probably a big part of his undeserved opportunities (see also Varela).

[niko_cee]

What's happened to Amad? Was that just a straight con-job too? Wasn't he something like £40m or was that all tied up in future ballon d'ors?

[Waffdon]

He was pretty awful at Rangers but Sunderland fans seem to love him and he’s doing well there.

So, Scotland > Championship

[Kikó]

Any truth that Charlton were doing a racism and absuing the disabled section?

Didn't hear it if they did.


What's happened to Amad? Was that just a straight con-job too? Wasn't he something like £40m or was that all tied up in future ballon d'ors?

He's tearing it up for Sunderland from what I've heard.

[Don]

The kid is tearing it up with 7 goal contributions in 19 for Sunderland so they're now saying he could be the real deal and replace Antony next season for their Europa League campaign.

[randomlegend]

My mole tells me he’s absolutely bang average in the youth league too.

He couldn't get a look-in on loan at Alaves or wherever it was either. Looked good tonight though :sorry:


What's happened to Amad? Was that just a straight con-job too? Wasn't he something like £40m or was that all tied up in future ballon d'ors?

Yeah a big part of that £36m fee which was quoted everywhere was in the dreaded variables. As has been said, shit at Rangers (although unlucky with injuries I heard?) but the Sunderland fans seem bewildered as to how they've ended up with such a good player on loan in the Championship.


Don Completely agree about the Uruguay talent pool being absolute wank :baz:

[Ian]

A Rangers fan I worked with at the time said he looked alright enough in the first game, was absolutely nowhere near the level / intensity / whatever required for the Old Form game and looked lost and never really recovered from there.

[SvN]

Pellistri looked surprisingly good last night. Be good to see him get some minutes off the bench over the next few months.

[Danny]

Don Completely agree about the Uruguay talent pool being absolute wank :baz:

:D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Djenepo :drool:

Lovely finish.

[Don]

Only flicked it on now but quite interested in watching the 2nd half here if they throw the big guns on.

[Waffdon]

It’s hardly second string they’ve got out there.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Bringing on two defenders at half time :drool:

[Don]

When tf did Southampton sign Orsic? Tasty.

City ruing lack of Silva (and possibly Lewis!).

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

City are horseshit.

Rashford is going to batter them.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1613293445359063062

Deano :drool:

[Kikó]

The Saudis first trophy could be inbound.

[Lewis]

Imagine the nineties shame of losing to Newcastle in a final.

[Shindig]

When tf did Southampton sign Orsic? Tasty.

He just signed this week.

[Don]

Felix straight in :drool: Fascinating shit happening in Chelsea.

[randomlegend]

Felix and Mount behind Havertz is all kinds of lol.

[Waffdon]

Koulibaly is a secret agent I swear. The worst player on the pitch every week.

Him, Azpilicueta and Chalobah in the same defence :sick:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Potter getting sacked in the morning :drool:

[Waffdon]

He doesn’t help himself whatsoever by continuing to pick out of form players and going for experience.

[-james-]

He's shuffled the pack a fair bit hasn't he? I dunno who on that bench I'd rather have in the side.

[-james-]

As in season two at Brighton, anyone calling for Potter's head is a great big dumdum.

[Waffdon]

He's shuffled the pack a fair bit hasn't he? I dunno who on that bench I'd rather have in the side.

Koulibaly starts every game, so no. Same with Azpilicueta, Mount, Sterling when fit and Havertz just off the top of my head.

[randomlegend]

Chelsea would've been better off loaning Weghorst than Felix. Absolute nonsense front line.

[Lewis]

Chelsea have had great success over the years just hiring the most famous manager available. This is Andre Villas-Boas again.

[Waffdon]

Chelsea would've been better off loaning Weghorst than Felix. Absolute nonsense front line.

Poor bastard. I don’t know what’s worse, playing under Simeone or playing with Havertz and Mount alongside you. The latter just passes backwards at all times. Mostly to Azpilicueta in this game and he then goes all the day back because he is incapable of playing further forward at this point in his career.

Aubameyang will probably come on before Chukwuemeka as well. :sick:

[thommo]

Decent half, but we have given away a fair few chances. Need to tighten up 2nd half if we're going to hold on.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'd forgotten how naff the cottage is. 'London Calling' at half time. Live by the river, do you?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mount creates another goal. Clueless morons silent.

[Don]

This Hall fuck looks like another serious answer to an England problem spot. Class act.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Joao Felix looks wrong in blue, a bit like when Senna went to Williams. Hopefully he doesn't die in his third game.

[Waffdon]

Mount creates another goal. Clueless morons silent.

:lol:

Havertz there was utterly pathetic. Just pass it and stop playing safe.

[Waffdon]

Now Chelsea’s only decent midfielder this season is injured and on comes Jorginho to hand the points to Fulham. Fuck me.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That was a yellow, not a red. He was pulling out, no excessive force.

[phonics]

Simeone coaching rubbed off on him clearly.

[Waffdon]

Another player out for 3 games. What a season this is.

[Lofty]

Amazing scenes :D

[Don]

Cost per game has rocketed.

[Lofty]

Lmao Felix.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Emotional reaction from Fulham players and crowd did for him. At Stamford Bridge it would have been yellow.

[-james-]

About a million quid that will have cost. Class.

[thommo]

Jimmy's hatred for Fulham doesn't come out often but when it does, it's glorious.

[Ian]

Lmao Felix.

Excellent work.

[Waffdon]

This Hall fuck looks like another serious answer to an England problem spot. Class act.

He’s being played out of position. Should be playing in centre mid as an ‘8’.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The red card by our name on the score graphic always looks classy, a nod to the venerable Pensioners I'd like to think.

The gaping hole that now exists behind Havertz a touching nod to Captain Tom as well and the gap he leaves in our lives.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Kepa has the depth perception of a fucking plankton.

[Waffdon]

Oh, Kepa. What an absolute weapon.

Bye bye, Potter.

[thommo]

What a beautiful ball in from Pereira.

[Lewis]

Who is the most famous manager currently available? 'Poch'?

[Jimmy Floyd]

If we get rid of Potter he will (not might, will) go on to do really well at another club and we will regret it while cycling through the next five mongs.

PATIENCE.

[Shindig]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-64255270

That's him missing the first leg.

[Waffdon]

If we get rid of Potter he will (not might, will) go on to do really well at another club and we will regret it while cycling through the next five mongs.

PATIENCE.

Reckon he’s gone if they don’t beat Palace at the weekend.

[randomlegend]

That was a yellow, not a red. He was pulling out, no excessive force.

Something something clueless moron.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Reckon he’s gone if they don’t beat Palace at the weekend.

This game is a prime example of how none of this has anything to do with him. 1-1, momentum with us, bloke goes in with his studs highand then the second choice keeper fluffs a goal that the injured first choice keeper never would have conceded. What is Potter supposed to do about that?

[Waffdon]

Nothing really but the Yanks come across just as trigger happy as the previous lot. Finishing 10th with Potter would be the best possible thing to happen for Chelsea. Similar to the season before Conte won them the league. Hopefully with a lot more of the deadwood moved on and an actual midfield and not Azpilicueta covering for James

[Lewis]

Grahamp Otter.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If (as I think) they are doing this as if it's a baseball team, they will stick with Potter regardless of results - as they should - and wait until godawful crap has been shipped out. The only problem is their transfer strategy appears to be clueless.

One of the biggest nights in Fulham's history, this. You can tell from the excited smiles on the bench.

[Baz]

Fulham in 6th and absolutely flying. Love it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Is it fuck, they've won the Intertoto Cup.

[thommo]

One of the biggest nights in Fulham's history, this. You can tell from the excited smiles on the bench.

:drool:

Keep it coming.

[Jimmy Floyd]

:drool:

Keep it coming.

I only hate you when you play us, as your fans get absolutely bang up for it in a lower-league type way that ours just can't, which as a bigger club fan is a massive irritant (there are plenty such examples elsewhere in the country).

The rest of the time you're just Harlequins but playing football.

[Waffdon]

How are Liverpool and Brighton only 2 and 3 points ahead of this Chelsea side. I thought Chelsea would only be about 6/7 points ahead of 18th but they’re somehow still 10 points clear. There goes any fun relegation battles.

[Shindig]

The league is largely tripping over itself.

[SvN]

Ah Jimmy, it's sad to see you on the ropes like this.

[Lewis]

Floyd on the ropes. Waffelz swinging from them. 'Tobias' somewhere pretending he isn't bothered.

[Gray Fox]

How are Liverpool and Brighton only 2 and 3 points ahead of this Chelsea side. I thought Chelsea would only be about 6/7 points ahead of 18th but they’re somehow still 10 points clear. There goes any fun relegation battles.

Because we're also comically shite.

Just wait til this weekend when we're down Nunez as well. 4-0 to Brighton at least.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I get more annoyed when we lose than I am pleased when we win. Must be age and the fact that I've worked out all the dynamics that underpin, say, Karen Carney not understanding anything but still having a national platform to gas while I'm watching the game.

[Waffdon]

Because we're also comically shite.

Just wait til this weekend when we're down Nunez as well. 4-0 to Brighton at least.

Easy bounce back game the following weekend

[phonics]

I get more annoyed when we lose than I am pleased when we win. Must be age and the fact that I've worked out all the dynamics that underpin, say, Karen Carney not understanding anything but still having a national platform to gas while I'm watching the game.

Nah, you've been slowly slipping into the Arsenal banter era for years. This is how it goes.

[Waffdon]

Arsenal aren’t current Champions of the World. :cool:

[Don]

Apologies to see Jimmy have to put out the fires that the know-nothing media-narrative-consuming mongs are starting all over the place after a poor result but it happens to the best of us champ. You just have to retain the belief and inner-strength to trust in the xG and you too will live to enjoy the tears/silence of the masses when the inevitable success arrives.

If Nunez is indeed out, I could be in line for another busy shift come Saturday 5pm. Starting to really resemble the 20/21 season with the entire season coming down to a KO tie against Real.

[John Arne]

I'm off to Vietnam v Thailand tonight the AFF final :drool:

Hopefully lots of red cards and goals.

[randomlegend]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/01/13/tell-fix-how-casemiro-proved-catalyst-manchester-uniteds-transformation/

"Tell them I'll fix this"

:cool:

[Boydy]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/01/13/tell-fix-how-casemiro-proved-catalyst-manchester-uniteds-transformation/

"Tell them I'll fix this"

:cool:

Paywall, dickhead.

[randomlegend]

That quote is the only bit you need.

[randomlegend]

As one goal after another flew in and Manchester United found themselves 4-0 down and humiliated at half-time at Brentford in August, there were more than a few people at the club worried as to whether Casemiro might have second thoughts about joining them.

The clear signals as far back as late June, when conversations with the Brazil midfielder’s representatives first began, were that he was eager to leave Real Madrid for United.

And that interest did not waver even as the weeks passed and the player waited patiently in the background while the club maintained their protracted pursuit of Frenkie de Jong.

But the Brentford defeat, coming only six days after an opening 2-1 loss at home to Brighton, was so bad that there were concerns in some quarters it might be enough to convince Casemiro to back away. They need not have worried.

Casemiro, it turned out, was watching from home in Madrid and began sending messages to his agent saying: “Tell them I’ll fix this”.

If anything, the debacle appeared only to deepen his desire to move to Old Trafford and this notion of Casemiro having become “fixated” on the transfer, as one source put it, was reaffirmed when a United delegation flew to Madrid a few days later to seal the deal.

Over dinner, Real officials revealed they were going to give Casemiro a final chance the next day to reconsider his position and stay. But the midfielder would make it clear his sights were set firmly on Manchester, leaving Madrid with little choice but to sanction a £60 million transfer.

To say Casemiro has made quite the impact since his move greatly downplays the influence he has wielded on and off the pitch. He is the world class holding midfielder United have been craving for over a decade and the fans have taken him to their hearts in much the same way as the player has the club, city and Premier League.

The likes of Casemiro and fellow summer signing Lisandro Martínez have been central to restoring that bond between players and supporters after the disconnect last season. That was probably never better encapsulated than at Stamford Bridge in October when Casemiro’s dramatic 94th minute equaliser sparked wild scenes of celebration. Now 30, the only disappointment for supporters is they have had to wait until this stage of Casemiro’s career to finally see a midfielder of that calibre in a red shirt.

It actually comes as a shock to hear some of Casemiro’s closest confidants claim he has “never been this comfortable or happy in his career”. He first gave thought to leaving Real in the wake of his fourth Champions League success four years ago, when still only 26, but was determined to pursue a new challenge if the opportunity presented itself after winning the trophy for a fifth time with Madrid in May.

United fans had to wait seven weeks for Casemiro to make his first Premier League start as manager Erik ten Hag eased him in gently – and were left screaming out for him as they watched their side get demolished 6-3 at the Etihad Stadium in early October. Suffice to say, Casemiro will be the first name on Ten Hag’s team-sheet when Manchester City visit Old Trafford in the return game on Saturday lunchtime.

With Casemiro anchoring the midfield, United’s full-backs Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw have been liberated, and goalkeeper David de Gea and the two central defenders finally have the protection they craved. United are conceding 0.6 goals and 8.4 shots on average per game with Casemiro in the team as opposed to 1.5 goals and 11.5 shots per game when he is missing.

But he has also been fundamental to improving United as an attacking unit. Indeed, their fans have taken great delight in mocking the former Liverpool captain Graeme Souness who claimed, in the aftermath of Casemiro’s arrival, that the player has not got “any great range of passing” and he did not “see him making them any better when they have the ball”.

Maybe it is because Casemiro played alongside two of the great modern passers in Luka Modric and Toni Kroos at Real that his own passing was underestimated but it has transformed the way United play.

With Casemiro, United are averaging 64.1 passes into the final third per game compared to 51.3 without him and their open play crosses, possession and pass accuracy statistics all shoot up who dramatically when the Brazilian plays. Listening to the Old Trafford crowd roar its approval whenever Casemiro makes another raking pass has, sources said, left a huge impression on the player.

United’s recruitment team consulted Raphaël Varane about Casemiro as part of a robust due diligence process and the United centre-back’s immediate response about his former Real team-mate was unequivocal. “If you have the opportunity to get him, do everything you can to,” Varane said. The rest of the United squad were quick to realise why Varane was so effusive.

Casemiro is one of the first to arrive and last to leave training – he is often in early to have breakfast with De Gea and Bruno Fernandes – and exudes an aura of ultra professionalism and quiet authority. Team-mates regularly go to him for advice and have been struck by his thirst for the hectic English schedule and atmospheres in Premier League grounds.

He studies his opponents and their strengths and weaknesses in detail before games and is a huge football fan who will generally watch a game a day, which is surprisingly uncommon for modern day players. Some of the older academy players have been overwhelmed by the time he affords them. The Manchester United Foundation say much the same.

He has been having regular English lessons both inside and out the club and considers improving his grasp of the language his greatest urgency. That dedication is starting to pay off. Staff have been impressed by his knowledge of United’s history and, while he is a particular fan of Paul Scholes, he has enjoyed chatting about Eric Cantona and Roy Keane. Of all his current team-mates, Marcus Rashford is said to have stood out for him and he believes the England striker could become one of the world’s best.

Nor is he interested in complaints about the Manchester weather, reminding himself that his life now is far removed from the days when he was grateful just to have a roof over his head growing up in Sao Paulo.

United would have pushed the button sooner on Casemiro had Ten Hag not hung on as long as he did for De Jong. So long, in fact, that it was only in a big recruitment meeting in the days before the Brentford game that the decision was taken to finally abandon the pursuit of the Barcelona midfielder, park interest in the likes of Adrien Rabiot and land Casemiro.

United had been keeping Casemiro warm for over six weeks although it was made clear during that period that, if the purse strings had permitted it, the manager would have brought in both the Brazilian and De Jong. Real’s loss has most certainly been United’s gain.


Here's the full text anyway. Because I'm a top lad.

[Don]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64250020

Gahahahahahahahaha

[Lofty]

They'll be after FM for showing player weights next.

[Don]

Some good support for the banning of heading at least, even if it's on the grounds that it messes up their salon hair-dos.

Napoli-Juve tonight :drool:

[Giggles]

The soft twat.

[Ben]

Benjamin Mendy not guilty.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Benjamin Mendy not guilty.

In all bar two counts.

Jury failed to reach a verdict on one count of rape and one of attempted rape so he's facing a retrial.

[Baz]

1613298670543245313

:lol:

[Lewis]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/01/13/tell-fix-how-casemiro-proved-catalyst-manchester-uniteds-transformation/

"Tell them I'll fix this"

:cool:

I was tearing up at that. Already the Toppest Red signing since 'RvP'.

[Manc]

Napoli-Juve tonight :drool:

Bang up for this. 10 point lead up for grabs.

[Don]

I would have been on that bandwagon but attacking flair football with the next Maradona is so 2022, it's all about the rebirth of catenaccio. 7 goals conceded in 17 games and Pogba still to return and take them to glory :drool:

[randomlegend]

I would have been on that bandwagon but attacking flair football with the next Maradona is so 2022, it's all about the rebirth of catenaccio. 7 goals conceded in 17 games and Pogba still to return and take them to glory :drool:https://media1.giphy.com/media/ie76dJeem4xBDcf83e/giphy.webp?cid=6c09b95278339bf12b98441a1a14b786df0 05535cd5dac35&rid=giphy.webp&ct=g

[Manc]

Napoli smelling blood here. Could be anything.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Napoli :drool:

[Don]

Incredible stuff, might have to book a trip to Naples sharpish having watched The Hand of God recently.

What's dildoboy on? When I say I want Juve to win that's out of support. When I say City are gonna creampie Utd and have you licking the residue off my hairy balls, that's football insight/heritage.

[Dquincy]

1613838825788162048
Christ.

[-james-]

This should be a 3-0 Villa forfeit on account of Emery's coat.

[Don]

I don't want to suggest any old cunt could have predicted Gnonto was the truth and better than £150m Antony based purely off the size of his cock but...

[Ben]

That Georgian lad is pretty special.

[Alex]

I don't want to suggest any old cunt could have predicted Gnonto was the truth and better than £150m Antony based purely off the size of his cock but...

He looks some player. I've no idea how we managed to snag him, and for basically fuck all too. I think he was about 4 million quid.

[SincereTheRebel]

1613838825788162048
Christ.

This is wild :lol:

[Gray Fox]

1614231639306944512

Are they going to boo their way into the executive suite?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Haaland is going to look like a mug as we turn these pricks over.

[randomlegend]

Shaw centre back against Haaland is a bit :uhoh:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Trust the process.

[Don]

That injury is costly given the highly classy Sunday league tactics of lob it in behind for the black lad to chase. Thankfully the squad depth is undoubted with £165m Antony raring to do some spins.

[SvN]

https://i.imgur.com/d88mTTL.gif

[niko_cee]

There's probably a case for United paying Taz some sort of retainer to keep this shit going.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Had to be that prick too.