The January Football Thread

[Luca]

lol he's so slow.

He takes out two defenders for Nuno Nernandes’ goal, tbf.

[Lewis]

Woutamania walkin' wild.

[Lofty]

Failed to register a single shot on target.

[-james-]

Antony looks crap. That midfield is good though.

[randomlegend]

I mean that's a blatant penalty.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Casemiro :face:

Arsenal game is going to be really tough without him.

[randomlegend]

Fred was already warming up to come on as well :D

What a tit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was a special free kick.

[-james-]

RIP title challenge.

[randomlegend]

We've been rubbish this half. Should've had a penalty but can't really complain about this scoreline.

[Waffdon]

That was deserved. Man Utd have been passing it round the back and then just lumping it up front on repeat for about 15 mins straight.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Casemiro should have won it.

[Don]

Lol at fatface today. Hear Antony was solid.

[Danny]

What a tackle that is

[Ian]

That tackle from AWB. :cool:

[Waffdon]

Wan Bissaka really has crafted the sliding challenge. Has he ever got one wrong

[Waffdon]

Casemiro out of the Arsenal game with that booking. Odegaard is going to have fun.

[Kikó]

That was deserved. Man Utd have been passing it round the back and then just lumping it up front on repeat for about 15 mins straight.

Basically this. Second half was poor until we conceded, probably should have been a pen, oh well.

[phonics]

Casemeiro got himself suspended? The only thing that had me worried. :drool:

[Manc]

RIP title challenge.

It was never on.

[niko_cee]

Casemiro :face:

Arsenal game is going to be really tough without him.

Is that Arsenal facing another team shorn of their best player by a suspension? Stars aligning and all that.

[Ben]

Arsenal would pump them anyway, Casemiro or not. Especially if Weghorst and Antony are starting.

[niko_cee]

United have a bit of a hoodoo over Arsenal though, don't they? Always seem to have Rashford and Martial turning up against them.

[Waffdon]

Just at Old Trafford it seems. Away side doesn’t really do well in the fixture apparently, United have won twice away in 10 years and there’s been some hideous Arsenal sides in that time

[Don]

I don't know, Malacia could trouble them down their right hand side.

[Don]

Ings to West Ham and Wood to Forest are strange deals.

[randomlegend]

We're only third and they're all already more interested in us than their own clubs. Imagine if we actually get good again.

We are, as they say, massive :drool:

[Lofty]

It's more you are horrible cunts.

[Spikey M]

We're only third and they're all already more interested in us than their own clubs. Imagine if we actually get good again.

We are, as they say, massive :drool:

Rivals not liking their rivals, whatever next?

[randomlegend]

And I thought rents were meant to be expensive.

[Spikey M]

Not in rough areas.

[-james-]

1616069113519939584

Gets the ball tbf.

[Spikey M]

It's a bad tackle, but 7 games is a joke. It's a standard red card. Football players are hospitalised all the time.

[Boydy]

Not in rough areas.

Your head's a rough area?

I suppose you wouldn't get much space for your rent there anyway.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Tbf, he made no attempt to pull out of it whatsoever and it was extremely high at normal standing height. If any 'foul' (as opposed to vampiric behaviour) is going to a attract an extended ban it should be that.

[Spikey M]

Your head's a rough area?

I suppose you wouldn't get much space for your rent there anyway.

I am not one of those wringing my hands over Man Utd being good again.

[Spikey M]

Tbf, he made no attempt to pull out of it whatsoever and it was extremely high at normal standing height. If any 'foul' (as opposed to vampiric behaviour) is going to a attract an extended ban it should be that.

I think slow motion makes it look worse than it was. I doubt there was any time to pull out (as the Bishop said to the actress).

[Boydy]

I am not one of those wringing my hands over Man Utd being good again.

I assumed RL was replying to you too up above. Just let me make a small head joke ffs.

[Adramelch]

I do agree that 7 games is too much, but at the same time, I wouldn't quite say it's a standard red card. I do think a longer ban is warranted, just not that long.

[Kikó]

It's not like Eric Bailly to be ridiculously clumsy. I wouldn't be surprised if it was him that was the player that ended up in hospital either.

[randomlegend]

Yeah 7 game ban is irrelevant because he'll be injured for that long after doing that anyway.

[Don]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64325548

:D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Can someone enlighten me on 'play through the thirds'? Have heard it more and more of late and absolutely not a scooby.

[Adramelch]

I am assuming it's the equivalent of playing it out of the defence.

[Don]

As in play passes between the lines rather than punt it from defence to attack or simply run it down the wings and get a cross in, I assume.

[Lofty]

De Gea crying about that Casemeiro yellow is quite amusing.

[Spikey M]

Anton Walkes of Tottenham Youth and Portsmouth... erm, fame(?), has been killed in a boat crash

[Ian]

https://i.ibb.co/7njSmdH/image.png

Ronaldo looks like he's straining to eject a monumental poo.

[Jimmy Floyd]

All this shit is going to be pretty funny looking back in 30 years once half the gulf states have been made uninhabitable by climate change (this is genuinely going to happen, btw).

I guess if they build massive underground air conditioned lairs in NEOM they might be alright.

[Shindig]

Chris Wood to Forest. Erm ... okay.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Pep weirdly defensive there when talking about De Bruyne.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That light show :face:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Martin Tyler suggesting that Kane wouldn't trade his 200+ goals for a trophy and that his goals are his trophies :cab:

[Gray Fox]

Don't you disrespect the Audi Cup like that.

[Ben]

He's one of the best play-by-play commentators there's ever been but at some point in the last 5-10 years he started interjecting his own opinions into his commentary and it was quickly evident he's full of guff.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

City :lol:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:lol: :lol:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Spurs should realise their mistake at half time and act accordingly.

[Waffdon]

Haaland turning Man City into a good team from the best team is hilarious.

[Spikey M]

Ah Tottenham. Never change.

[Gray Fox]

Give it up Antonio, a leopard never changes its spots.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Alvarez is real son-in-law material, probable malvinas belief system aside. Probably done a 5km run and made her breakfast in bed before 7am.

Grealish is the one you pray she goes nowhere near.

[Spikey M]

Grealish is the one you pray she goes nowhere near.

If Grealish wasn't a footballer he would be a Twitter Banter Merchant working part time in a chip shop.

Foden would be a crack dealer.

[Waffdon]

I reckon Foden still does that on the side.

[Danny]

Lloris is done.

[Gray Fox]

They need to cancel his contract.

[Lofty]

The crowd there looking like Mahrez just sank a putt on the first hole of a golf round rather than capped a 3 goal comeback :D

[Shindig]

Heads have gone.

[Spikey M]

Never mind Lloris, Perisic is being absolutely abused.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Spurs should realise their mistake at half time and act accordingly.

Naturally.

[Spikey M]

Never mind Lloris, Perisic is being absolutely abused.

And Sessegnon appears to be the answer. :happycry:

[Lofty]

Just need a Kane SOT to land my bet builder and he double dribbles unmarked.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just need a Kane SOT to land my bet builder and he double dribbles unmarked.

I need an Ake yellow for one of my card multiples to come in and somehow he didn't get a card for his awful challenge.

[Dquincy]

Didn't realise how bad spurs are. Appreciate they are playing City, but the gulf in quality is massive.

[Dquincy]

They're just so tragic.

[Danny]

Commentator on NBC "Harry Kanes vacant expression sums up how Tottenham feel tonight"

Pretty sure thats just his face.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64330259

Mick McCarthy is back bitches.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've been reading Holloway's book (fuck knows why), and that prick who used to run Blackpool sounds like an absolute menace. Oyston or whatever his name was.

[Danny]

Is that convicted rapist Owen Oyston (https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/7utm8h/karl_oyston_is_no_longer_the_chairman_of/)

[Baz]

Great set up, well executed. 25 mins gap probably slightly beyond the maximum for the ultimate payoff though.

[Alex]

I've just seen that the rearrangement of fixtures have aligned it so that we are currently slated to play both our league fixtures against Man United back to back, away on the 8th February and at home four days later. :moop:

I mean you never know, but I can't say I'm enthusiastic about the prospect!

[phonics]

Meanwhile they absolutely refuse to arrange our Everton game. My presumption is theyre waiting till the last minute for TITLE V RELEGATION DRAMA.

[Gray Fox]

When Liz popped it we lost a home game against Wolves and away to Chelsea. It was said at the time there was absolutely nowhere to fit any rearrangements in, until February at the earliest.

Luckily we're about to go out of the CL and FA Cup so there should be some room. There's been no mention of the games otherwise.

[Shindig]

Yeah, the Queen's fixtures (tm) have yet to be rearranged. Honestly, they should just give us the points.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We played ours against the footballing wing of the Harrods department store last week.

[Gray Fox]

Juventus just got docked 15 points.

[Giggles]

Have I just rear the same thread twice.

[niko_cee]

Has there ever been a team more committed to cheating the system than Juve?

[Shindig]

You mean aside from Marseille's excellent doping?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't speak Italian so it's hard to know the culture there exactly, but there's always been this stench of entitlement that comes from both them and Milan in particular, as if in times when they aren't winning by fair means they are only doing Italian football a favour if they cheat to win instead.

Same thing exists at Real Madrid although they are much more entrenched in the Spanish establishment so it's easier for them to get away with it.

We don't have anything comparable in England.

[Spikey M]

Spurs "signed" Paratici form them, and he has been banned for 30 months. No idea if it applies in England but I imagine the FA/PL will be taking a pretty close look at them/him now too.

[Gray Fox]

That's one brave Liverpool lineup for a match they absolutely have to win.

[Waffdon]

Chelsea’s midfield is Jorginho, Gallagher, Hall. I’m sure you’ll be fine :lol:

Should have just started Mudryk for the 1st half. At least Liverpool have Salah in attack because besides that both sides look like they should be exactly where they are in the league.

[Gray Fox]

It's interesting that he's dropped pretty much every one of "his boys."

Perhaps no longer playing people out of blind faith. Though Trent and Nunez being on the bench is more to do with them barely training this week.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The way the teamsheet is written on club twitter I'm not convinced it isn't just two left backs. Rank, either way. 5-0 Liverpool.

[Waffdon]

It can’t be 3 atb unless he’s putting Hall on the right which would be sackable.

Hopefully it’s still 0-0 or something into the 2nd half and we get to see Mudryk up against Milner or ‘Trent’.

Edit: apparently it was meant to be Kovacic for Gallagher but the former seems to have joined all his mates on the sickbed. Lovely

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Liverpool :lol:

[Gray Fox]

I've had enough of this shit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Boooo.

[Gray Fox]

That should be a goal for me, Clive.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He was fucking behind him. What a stupid sport.

[Waffdon]

How can that even be offside. What a horrendous rule

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They're trying to make the rule as complicated as possible.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They're trying to make the rule as complicated as possible.

They would argue it's as simple as possible, but that's a great demonstration of its absurdity. Offside was not invented for players standing behind the player striking the ball to be flagged offside.

[randomlegend]

Rebounds to players who were offside when the shot was taken are and always have been offsides. Not sure what the whinging is about.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If he passed it to him instead he would have been onside, because he was fucking behind him.

[niko_cee]

I'm struggling to visualise what's happened there from the various text reports. How can a player be offside if they are behind the ball? Isn't that de facto onside (or every cut back type goal in history may well have been offside).

[randomlegend]

If he passed it to him instead he would have been onside, because he was fucking behind him.

No he wouldn't. His foot - which can legally play the ball - is ahead of the ball, which is all that matters in the the rules.


I'm struggling to visualise what's happened there from the various text reports. How can a player be offside if they are behind the ball? Isn't that de facto onside (or every cut back type goal in history may well have been offside).

Foot was ahead of the ball.

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

It's not even tight.

[Jimmy Floyd]

No he wouldn't.

Yes it would, because the ball would have gone backwards, because he was standing fucking behind him.

[randomlegend]

Yes it would, because the ball would have gone backwards, because he was standing fucking behind him.


A player is in an offside position if:

any part of the head, body or feet is in the opponents’ half (excluding the halfway line) and
any part of the head, body or feet is nearer to the opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent

He is in front of the ball, therefore offside. You are wrong.

Cut-backs are not offside if the player is behind the ball when it's played, position of the player who makes the pass is irrelevant.

[Spikey M]

1616776778487590913?t=hOMxwZOGX8mln6-WK-3wlg&s=19

:D

[Ian]

I've got toe Coventry / Norwich game on. 3-2 to Norwich after 27 minutes.

[Gray Fox]

The better choice. This has been dire.

No signs of any passing through the midfield. Everything is in over the top as soon as possible.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We're sharper than Liverpool all over the park. Got to make it count on the scoreboard before they bring all their bench on.

Easy, easy chances missed by Thiago Silva and Badiashile.

[John Arne]

If a defensive player were to be penalised for simulation in their own area, would it be a indirect free kick to the oppo?

[Jimmy Floyd]

That was such a bad decision when Jorginho went down. A classic example of a ref looking to 'manage the game' rather than give what he sees.

[niko_cee]

What's happened to Fabinho? Seems to have gone to absolute shit this season. I assumed it was the toll of having to play alongside Thiago, but it seems to be more than that.

[Manc]

This is a peak Goe Jomez performance. Absoutley mindless.

[Waffdon]

Desperately need some of Chumwuemeka in this game.

[Gray Fox]

What's happened to Fabinho? Seems to have gone to absolute shit this season. I assumed it was the toll of having to play alongside Thiago, but it seems to be more than that.

Was knackered coming into the season. He's looked alright lately but he keeps getting played with Thiago and Elliott as the midfield 3 with him. Gives him far too much to do. Not surprising he looked a lot better with Wijnaldum and Henderson in front of him.


That was a vile half with a few promising moments. Gapko is not yet ready to be leading the line in this kind of game. He looks like a guy that's just come in from Holland.
Once again the few promising times have been when a player has taken on a braver/riskier pass and a few have come together. The worst moments when someone has taken an easy option.

This game definitely needs Nunez.

[niko_cee]

Liverpool need to go 4-4-fucking-2 with Nunez up top and Trent down the right, but, having bought the world's supply of wide forwards I guess that's probably not the best long term plan.

Actually, that's not true, most of the forwards they have can play through middle.

Mike Bassett in.

[Waffdon]

Mason Mount by the way. Bloody hell.

[Spoonsky]

That would have been football's greatest goal.

[Waffdon]

Hall is showing his inexperience far too often. Probably needs taken off

[Manc]

Milner red imminent.

[Waffdon]

This has Nunez scruffy goal all over it

[Manc]

Chelsea should be able to run over that current midfield three.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mudryk looks bright.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sending on Trent to defend against Mudryk?

That's not going to end well.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He'll score a free kick so it won't matter.

Mudryk's first 20 minutes = white Salomon Kalou, and I say that lovingly as there was no greater Kalou advocate than I.

[Waffdon]

The lack of final ball from Chelsea is killing them.

Do not bring Aubameyang on ffs

[Gray Fox]

Mudryk looks like a player that just makes things happen so far. Hard to quantify until he's played more.

Noticable that since the midfield 3 again had Thiago and Elliott propping it up, the performance has reverted to recent type.

[Spoonsky]

Is five subs just permanent now? Still feels weird for each side to be making a triple change.

[Waffdon]

Any other Chelsea player fancy falling over when on the attack :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Chukwuemeka has slipped three times in three minutes since coming on. Wear the right fucking boots you prat.

[Spoonsky]

This is excellent chaos.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Gallagher has put in 3 snide challenges this game and the ref is refusing to book him as he's one of the players I've bet on to get a card.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bit of Goodison Park developing here, lovely stuff.

AGAIN he fell over. Must be wearing slippers.

[Gray Fox]

Theme here of players in good positions on both sides either just wanted 10 extra touches or falling over.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bit of a frustrating watch that, we looked much more dangerous tee to green but we're still horribly imprecise in the final third, not helped by Havertz's general lack of energy and sharpness in that position. Thiago Silva immense as ever. Goalkeeper didn't put a foot wrong either, think he's earned the number one off Mendy.

[Waffdon]

Felix-Mudryk in the same side should mean Chelsea are no longer boring to watch.

Two weeks to get James/Chilwell fully fit and Caicedo added to make their midfield look a bit more solid.

[niko_cee]

Struggling to remember the last time a Liverpool-Chelsea game didn't end in a draw.

[Manc]

Newcastle have got a serious opportunity here.

[Don]

Mudryk :drool:

Nunez :drool::drool:

[randomlegend]

8th :drool::drool::drool:

[Waffdon]

Struggling to remember the last time a Liverpool-Chelsea game didn't end in a draw.

3 games in a row without a goal too. The rescheduled game should be coming up soon as well :D

[-james-]

Not to get carried away but Mudryk does look like the greatest player of all time.

[Don]

Don't disrespect our Kaoru like that.

[Lewis]

lol Everton are bottom of the league.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I really hope they give him at least one more home game.

[Luke Emia]

I really hope they give him at least one more home game.

I really hope they give him the rest of the season.

[Giggles]

Ferguson is going to end up with you cunts :(

[Manc]

Bottom Ireland might as well call it a day if so.

[Spikey M]

Mason Mount has caught whatever virus ended Dele Alli.

[Shindig]

Palace are such a roadblock for us.

[Waffdon]

Do Newcastle ever concede?

Eddie Howe has went from 6 goals every week at Bournemouth to the most dull manager in the league. Fair play

[Shindig]

Haven't conceded in the league since 6th November. He's got us pressing a lot but we've just not got the goods up front.

[Don]

The 'aww Lamps has been hard done by' takes are incredible. The man's ability to whip up support amongst gammons will never be diminished.

[Lewis]

I don't think there is anything to suggest that he is a good manager, but Everton don't have any good players, so it's hard to pile all of this on him.

[Spikey M]

Have we ever had a season where all 3 promoted teams stay up?

[Danny]

The only exceptions, in which all three promoted teams survived, were the 2001–02, 2011–12 and 2017–18 seasons.

Three times apparently

[Jimmy Floyd]

Frank did a good job with us. When I say a good job, I mean we finished 4th under him (maybe 3rd, I can't remember) with Tammy Abraham leading the line, and we're now 10th.

In the right circumstances he'll do well in the future. Suggested good fits: Rangers, Bournemouth, Bristol City.

[Shindig]

The transfer restrictions seemed to work out well for him. Assuming he had input into the Everton transfers, he's been rotten with a budget.

[Jimmy Floyd]

With Lampard I always think back to this video:


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

There's obviously just something about him, even dating back to when he was a child, that upsets the football fan in the pub. Maybe it's the fact he had a famous dad or whatever, so it's silver spoon thing, I don't know. But it's interesting the visceral fan response to him has always been the same, even when he was indisputably one of the best players in the country for a decade.

[Shindig]

Lampard is a Christian, and credits his faith for helping him cope with the death of his mother.[245]

In 2000, Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and Kieron Dyer appeared on a sex video that was filmed at the holiday resort of Ayia Napa in Cyprus. Channel 4 aired a brief edited[246][247] clip as part of their 2004 documentary Sex, Footballers and Videotape, claiming it was used to "remind the viewer that this is based on real life." On 23 September 2001, Lampard, along with three other Chelsea players, was fined two weeks wages by the club for his behaviour whilst on a drinking binge on 12 September. Lampard and the others had abused American tourists at a Heathrow hotel, just 24 hours after the 11 September attacks. A hotel manager stated: "they were utterly disgusting. They just didn't seem to care about what had happened".[248]

Lampard is a supporter of the Conservative Party and was rumoured to run as a candidate for Kensington upon Malcolm Rifkind's retirement at the 2015 general election. He subsequently denied that he was running to be an MP.[249]

Plenty to choose from, to be honest. And over a dozen children's books.

[Kikó]

That video of Lampard is brutal. Imagine going in like that in front of a 17 year old with incredible potential.

[Don]

Can we start posting some links pls. The Sunderland one (Alnwick and a couple others) is the only one that comes to mind and that was quality.

[Spikey M]

Who the fuck is Scott Canham? :D

[randomlegend]

With Lampard I always think back to this video:


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

There's obviously just something about him, even dating back to when he was a child, that upsets the football fan in the pub. Maybe it's the fact he had a famous dad or whatever, so it's silver spoon thing, I don't know. But it's interesting the visceral fan response to him has always been the same, even when he was indisputably one of the best players in the country for a decade.

This, along with your "people only hate Mount cus someone who looked like him was picked over them at school", are both completely insane posts.

[Lewis]

I didn't realise Frank Lampard did rile the football fan in the pub, except insofar as he was associated with those Chelsea teams that nobody liked. And even then John Terry, Ashley Cole, and probably Didier Drogba (until he retired and we were all encouraged to forget he was a shithouse for some reason) would have been more obvious hate figures. Beyond that he was always good for England, donned James O'Brien that time, and seems like an alright fella. The Everton fans don't even blame him for any of this, and they would be prime candidates for hating him by Floyd's estimation.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Mount thing is actually the same phenomenon, except without literal family relations involved. Players assigned teacher's pet status for no real reason. Declan Rice will end up as another one if he ever goes to a big club.

[Waffdon]

Mount pisses people off because he is undroppable. He has been genuinely bad majority of this season but will still start regardless. If he’s not playing in a midfield 3 then he shouldn’t be playing. He’s not good enough to play in a front 3.

His fail compilation from yesterday was just a bit sad.

[Don]

Brav if he was some black as coal African fuck with a colourful hairstyle and some personality he'd have been shipped off to Rimini FC long ago.

Winks with a flukey CL medal.

[Spikey M]

People don't like Mount because he's shit Jimmy. There's not much more to it than that.

Also, if any of the Golden Generation were hated for no real reason, it's Gerrard. I don't recall any hatred for Lampard other than from West Ham fans.

I think you're basically doing the same thing the deranged fans on club forums do, in believing there's a mass conspiracy against your team / players.

[Ian]

Gerrard is a big scrunchy-faced Scousey Scouser. More than enough reason.

[Yevrah]

Frank did a good job with us. When I say a good job, I mean we finished 4th under him (maybe 3rd, I can't remember) with Tammy Abraham leading the line, and we're now 10th.

With a Champions League win inbetween. :cab:

He's not a very good manager and might well be a bad one. Which isn't to say that'll always be the case, but getting Everton relegated will be some effort.

[Dquincy]

With Lampard I always think back to this video:


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

There's obviously just something about him, even dating back to when he was a child, that upsets the football fan in the pub. Maybe it's the fact he had a famous dad or whatever, so it's silver spoon thing, I don't know. But it's interesting the visceral fan response to him has always been the same, even when he was indisputably one of the best players in the country for a decade.

Some impressive gaslighting there from young Jimmy. Fair play.

[Jimmy Floyd]

People don't like Mount because he's shit Jimmy. There's not much more to it than that.

There are lots of shit players. Almost all professional players are shit, if Mount is the bar. Therefore we must conclude that it's the gap between what people think of him and what successive managers (Lampard, Tuchel, Southgate, Potter) think of him. And then we have to consider what causes that gap.

[Spikey M]

There are lots of shit players. Almost all professional players are shit, if Mount is the bar. Therefore we must conclude that it's the gap between what people think of him and what successive managers (Lampard, Tuchel, Southgate, Potter) think of him. And then we have to consider what causes that gap.

I think it's just a difference in how fickle fans are compared to managers. Managers understand form and that this is the same Mount that was decent enough last season. They'll give him time. Meanwhile fans are only ever 3 games away from deeming a player THE GOAT or THE WORST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE. Sadly, wee Mason has been contributing nothing for half a season now.

[Lewis]

Mason Mount is just going through the Tom Cleverley cycle.

[Don]

Malacia benched is a big call. Antony-watch to provide the lols.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sky's pre-amble to Arsenal v United has reminded me. You remember one year, these two were up there for the title? Hammer and tongs, it was. Roy Keane versus Patrick Vieira, up and down, ninety minutes of pure charisma. At the end, van Nistelrooy missed a penalty, and Martin Keown went raaaa at him from behind. Afterwards, there was a fist fight, and Fergie kicked a frozen pizza into Arsene Wenger's face.

Great memories. Proper characters. You read today's teamsheet and I've never heard of any of them. Still, rivalry. Epic.

[phonics]

Keanes moustache is an absolute disgrace.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Malacia benched is a big call. Antony-watch to provide the lols.

OBSESSED.

He was only starting because Martinez wasn't fit so Shaw went to CB.

[Ben]

Well done to the kit man for the poor letter spacing on R Ashford's shirt. :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sir Marcus :drool:

[Ben]

R Ashford :cool:

[randomlegend]

:drool:

This has been a great game so far.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He's been a threat since the very start, Ben White is all over the place against him. Arsenal look dangerous too though. Proper game.

[Lewis]

That is the best goal he has ever scored, and the shot clock has been vindicated.

[Lewis]

His celebration is shit though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Wank Bissaka.

[Don]

There's one good footballing side here and another that is a lolfest. Antony looking so intense and serious everytime he gets on the ball only to do a simple 3 yard pass back or lose it :D

[randomlegend]

Antony looking so intense and serious everytime he gets on the ball only to do a simple 3 yard pass back or lose it :D

Excellent analogy for your posting.

[Kikó]

Very enjoyable first half. We've been ok other than the run up to the equaliser.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

ffs.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That was as good as Rashford's. Brilliant ball striking, makes a nice change to see it.

[Don]

Man, all the utd boys were really enjoing it too :(

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lisandro :cool:

Lovely header from him.

[Yevrah]

Lisandro Martinez might be the closest thing I've seen to a honey badger in football.

[Lewis]

Best header since Javier Hernandez at Stoke, or Javier Hernandez in the Charity Shield.

[Jimmy Floyd]

United these days are really, really hard to like for the neutral. I started this game not caring who wins and now I'm on the verge of ordering a Freddie Ljungberg ceiling poster.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Offside, surely?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Nope, Wank Bissaka playing them on.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fantastic. Had that coming to them.

[Don]

Tell your children about the 2 week title challenge with Wout Weghorst as a starting frontman. Heady days.

[Waffdon]

I hadn’t realised Man City still have to play Arsenal twice. That really is a massive goal then.

[Lewis]

Mikel Arteta is such a little gimp.

[Ian]

Well, that's annoying but Arsenal were definitely the better team.

[Kikó]

Arsenal deserve it. We didn't have an answer to the pressure and Saka tore it up. They're going to be hard to stop.

[randomlegend]

One of the best games I've seen in ages but Arsenal deserved to win in the end.

Striker and another midfielder in the summer and we might actually be a good side next season.

[phonics]

Woof. I love this team.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I hope they outlast Noel Gallagher's men as well. Best team to watch in the league.

[SincereTheRebel]

Zinchenko being playmaker from left-back is just silly.

[-james-]

One of the best games I've seen in ages but Arsenal deserved to win in the end.

Striker and another midfielder in the summer and we might actually be a good side next season.

Keeper too shirley. Anything in the pipeline there?

[phonics]

Has anyone worked out what Ten Hags special plan for Scott McTominay was?

[Kikó]

Keeper too shirley. Anything in the pipeline there?

Jack Butland :cool:

[randomlegend]

Keeper too shirley. Anything in the pipeline there?

Keeper too eventually, but with how much strikers cost I doubt we'll do all three this summer and striker/midfielder are higher priority. De Gea is better than he was playing out from the back, even if he'll obviously never be Ederson.

[randomlegend]

Has anyone worked out what Ten Hags special plan for Scott McTominay was?

Show he's shit so he gets funds to replace him in the summer?

[Lofty]

I saw the start of the WSL Chelsea Liverpool match today, later found out it was postponed after 6 minutes :D In the build up they showed highlights of the previous meeting, three penalties and seemingly no power behind any of them. Is this a thing, are they incapable of striking the ball properly?

[Gray Fox]

I saw the start of the WSL Chelsea Liverpool match today, later found out it was postponed after 6 minutes :D In the build up they showed highlights of the previous meeting, three penalties and seemingly no power behind any of them. Is this a thing, are they incapable of striking the ball properly?

Apparently the pitch was clearly frozen, but the ref ignored both teams protests and tried to carry on with the game. Immediately became apparent the pitch was unplayable.

[Lofty]

It looked hilariously foggy too.

[Lewis]

I saw Kathy Burke booting off about undersoil heating being mandatory as if week-to-week they aren't operating at the same level as the various crap leagues where these sort of postponements are routine.

[Foe]

Just did some quick googling, aside the top 5/6 teams it’s a couple of thousand fans, if that.

Given ticket prices are also like £6-8 the league is still absolutely miles away from being economically worthwhile for that sort of facilities.

The “match day income” must be similar to what, a national league north or south team?

[Foe]

Gateshead average attendance is similar to lower end of WSL and the ticket price is twice as high for Gateshead.

Needs some fairly hefty TV money to prop it up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Apparently the ref wanted it called off hours before, but the powers that be told him/her he/she had to get it played.

I live about two miles from there, I couldn't see out the window at the time and it was completely frozen on the ground. Obviously some pressure from above around not showing that the women's Prem doesn't have the same facilities as the men's.

[Luke Emia]

Gateshead average attendance is similar to lower end of WSL and the ticket price is twice as high for Gateshead.

Needs some fairly hefty TV money to prop it up.

Yeah it’s miles off. That every to channel is falling over themselves to broadcast women’s sport blows my mind aside from tennis the viewing figures can’t be that great yet everyone seems to be desperate to make it the next big thing on tv. I assume because they can pick the rights up for next to nothing?

[Baz]

I wouldn’t watch women’s garden soccer if it was in my garden at the same time as something I wanted to watch on TV.

[randomlegend]

One of my wife's friends is an ex-professional women's footballer and she won't watch it because it's "fucking shit".

[Boydy]

Lisandro Martinez might be the closest thing I've seen to a honey badger in football.

What does this mean? :D

[Lofty]

Even if it was comparable to the men's sport which it really isn't, it lacks a key ingredient: vitriol. The key thing non football fans witter on about that makes women's football better than men's is the atmosphere apparently. Missing the point that tribalism and shithousery is exactly why the men's game is so successful.

[Yevrah]

What does this mean? :D

The man's scoring looping headers while wearing a bandage and sporting a black eye. Not a single fuck given.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg

[Jimmy Floyd]

Even if it was comparable to the men's sport which it really isn't, it lacks a key ingredient: vitriol. The key thing non football fans witter on about that makes women's football better than men's is the atmosphere apparently. Missing the point that tribalism and shithousery is exactly why the men's game is so successful.

Yeah, the games all sound like a swimming gala.

The world is only going one way though, no point fighting it. Equal pay will be here in our lifetimes.

[Lewis]

A flat 'Football Wage', to be paid to every player in every division, roughly equivalent to what the average nurse earns. Any additional endorsement income taxed at ninety-eight per cent to pay for more migrant hotel rooms.

[Ben]

Football ushering in socialism. :drool:

[Spikey M]

Yeah, the games all sound like a swimming gala.

The world is only going one way though, no point fighting it. Equal pay will be here in our lifetimes.

We do need to fight it though, because they are talking absolute shit. The reason woman footballers don't earn as much as men is because women aren't fucking watching it. Why is that men's fault? Get off your arse, go support your local team. Fill the fucking stadium. Demand more women's games on TV. Actually watch them. Generate some fucking revenue.

It's basic supply and demand and we need to stop pretending these answers are unknown when some shrill blue hair starts whining.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's men's fault because we held the women's game back forever / literally banned it for decades.

The feminist era means that men are increasingly not in control of household spending or their own leisure time either, so I'd enjoy men's football while you can. I sound like an incel here but I think it's basically true.

[Yevrah]

The feminist era means that men are increasingly not in control of household spending or their own leisure time either, so I'd enjoy men's football while you can. I sound like an incel here but I think it's basically true.

You're gonna have to elaborate on that. A serious amount to unpack there.

[Spikey M]

I reckon 60 years is enough time to get over that. And if anything, if should be driving more women towards embracing their footballing sisters.

On the women controlling money thing, that's not my experience. I had a 5 year absence from going, but that's because babies are time and money hungry creatures. Now I take my boy to the football and my wife takes our daughter to shows etc. Similar is true for friends that take their kids to West Ham.

What you are saying is probably true for the poor cunts that married Twitter / TikTok weapons, but most people are still normal. Normal women aren't holding the purse strings screaming PATRIARCHAL TOXIC MASCULINITY IT'S ALL MEN UNTIL IT'S NO MEN FREE THE NIPPLE!

[Yevrah]

Give it time and the Women’s game will be full of biologically born men, that penny will drop and Men (and whoever else enjoys it) will be able to go back to watching the Men’s game in peace, while the screamers turn their attention to JK Rowling again.

[Boydy]

What sort of fucking boomer convention have I logged on to this morning?

[Yevrah]

I think one that is increasingly deciding to call out the bullshit that surrounds us.

[Shindig]

I think the product should get better with time, to be honest. They've went from being banned to a professional status with no real in-between. It's all happened very quick.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You're gonna have to elaborate on that. A serious amount to unpack there.

'I'd enjoy men's football while you can' is tongue in cheek, but football crowds are far (far) older than they used to be and the game from a marketing perspective clearly has a need to embrace whole-family entertainment rather than being a male outlet as it always has been - at least if it wants to maintain high prices that lock out young working class men. Part of that means taking women's football seriously no matter what.

I seem to remember the figure being that women make 75% of household spending decisions (I got this from an ECB event a couple of years ago, as they fretted over how to market their own sport) but I can't find anything from the UK gov with a two-minute google of that.

[wullie]

Team GB women vs Canada is still the fullest I've ever seen the Ricoh, although an early try at a YOU'RE SHIT-AH at a goal kick, never seen such daggers.

[Spikey M]

I think one that is increasingly deciding to call out the bullshit that surrounds us.

Be fair to Boyd, it's the Oxbridge (and their American counterparts) debating societies that started us down this road, so it must be a bit of a culture shock.

[Dark Soldier]

What sort of fucking boomer convention have I logged on to this morning?

Equal parts hilarious and sad.

GrandpaSimpson.jpeg

[Lofty]

Team GB women vs Canada is still the fullest I've ever seen the Ricoh, although an early try at a YOU'RE SHIT-AH at a goal kick, never seen such daggers.

:D

This is it, some of my fondest memories of going to watch Barrow even when it was terrible football, losing streaks, freezing rain were the shouts on the terrace. Highlights being some old fella calling the referee 'a callow youth' for failing to book an opposing player, the stewards absolutely shitting it when some 12 year olds rushed forward after a goal with a flare and some home fans managing to infiltrate the away end and steal their flag prompting the home support to sing 'where's your flag gone?' To the tune of 'where's your mama gone?'.

Maybe it's the clamour for Women's football to be taken super seriously after the likes of Keyes and Gray lolling at them but it just seems so sterile.

[wullie]

The good part was that Canada won 2-0 but could have had 10 so while it didn't get nasty, the crowd did start to turn a bit negative which made me feel right at home again. Just looking at the stadium and the highest attendances I've seen other than that are when we lost 2-0 to Chelsea in the FA Cup, lost 3-0 against Crewe in the JPT and lost 2-0 to Accrington in League 2. When people turn up, never goes well

[Baz]

I mean, whether they’re there or not, really.