February Football: The (Not A) Ho Chi Minh Special

[Waffdon]

Kante is back in training. Right in time for the 2nd leg of the Dortmund game with his new hamstrings. CL #3 is en route

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I think that's going to be ruled out.

[Ben]

Yeah I think so. Would be absolute robbery if they nicked it.

[Waffdon]

Potter is absolutely meh regardless if it counted or not. I can’t see him last long, just comes across as a bit of a loser. His subs are always tragic too.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

VAR taking the piss there.

[Ben]

Gotta draw those lines even when my nana can see it was obviously offside.

[Waffdon]

How is that not handball hahahaha

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can forgive Pawson for not seeing it, but the VAR will be getting buried for that.

[Ben]

The John Terry Special.

[SvN]

That's a ridiculous decision. If that's not handball then we may as well go home.

[Jimmy Floyd]

So frustrating to be robbed as blatantly as that after a very good display, far better than a declining West Ham side. Completely inept in the VAR room.

[Waffdon]

Bringing on Mount, Gallagher and Ziyech to try get a goal. I genuinely think he’s played for the draw, they didn’t even bother attempting to go forward that last 15 minutes. It’s time to go.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bringing on Mount, Gallagher and Ziyech to try get a goal. I genuinely think he’s played for the draw, they didn’t even bother attempting to go forward that last 15 minutes. It’s time to go.

Go and sit on a potty, you don't know what you're watching. The difference in 8 days last week to this week was massive and all of the above added something when they came on fresh. Mount broke the lines several times and Ziyech threatened with his deliveries.

Our twitter fanbase need to readjust to the new reality, this isn't the Abramovich era, this is a tank season and there won't be any sackings any time soon.

[Waffdon]

So frustrating to be robbed as blatantly as that after a very good display, far better than a declining West Ham side. Completely inept in the VAR room.

Took genuinely 2 minutes to work out if Rice was offside when it was clear he was at least 2 yards but waived away the penalty shout in 5 seconds.

[Waffdon]

Go and sit on a potty, you don't know what you're watching. The difference in 8 days last week to this week was massive and all of the above added something when they came on fresh. Mount broke the lines several times and Ziyech threatened with his deliveries.

Our twitter fanbase need to readjust to the new reality, this isn't the Abramovich era, this is a tank season and there won't be any sackings any time soon.

They were very good for 25 minutes and that was about it. Then it reverted to the same stuff since October. 2 wins in 14 PL games and both were at home to Palace/Bournemouth. He’s out his depth.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You're out of yours.

[Waffdon]

You claimed Mount broke the lines several times. Very good, shame his final ball both times he got in behind was dreadful. The less said about Gallagher the better.

Bringing Mount on to shift Felix out of the action was such a Jimmy Floyd substitution from Mr Potter.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Doesn't matter. It isn't win this game or we all die, it's building towards next season. There was progress in all areas and during a period when Mount isn't in the best of form, a good use of him is to come off the bench like that and add energy.

You see how he's gradually easing Chilwell back in, not making Mudryk play too many minutes? That's a man who has the board's backing and knows what he's doing.

[Waffdon]

I think he’s just too nice to be a top gaffa

[igor_balis]

Jimmy Vs Waff's bickering really is an encapsulation of... something, I dunno. opposing ideologies of the football spectrum. just need spikeylocks to come along and say the ideology in the middle of them is just right.

[Giggles]

The old style vs the YouTube clip FIFA generation.

[Lewis]

Jimmy Vs Waff's bickering really is an encapsulation of... something, I dunno. opposing ideologies of the football spectrum. just need spikeylocks to come along and say the ideology in the middle of them is just right.

TIME to the left of me, NARRATIVE to the right, '...and It's Live' with Matt Forde.

[Gray Fox]

It's not impacted the result of the game much, but I'm at a loss to explain this decision from VAR today.

https://i.gyazo.com/e4d30e7b7eb5f0df12ca569c5083c2b5.jpg

[Spikey M]

His foot is marginally past diers knee. Their arms don't count as you can't play the ball with them.

Edit: although Davies' head is ahead of his foot. Fuck knows.

[Shindig]

Bah, we're shite. :moop:

[Shindig]

My migga. :cool:

[Gray Fox]

His foot is marginally past diers knee. Their arms don't count as you can't play the ball with them.

Edit: although Davies' head is ahead of his foot. Fuck knows.

The line should be on Davies shoulder, so it's way off. It should be at least on, with the benefit of the doubt stuff we saw earlier in the season.

[Manc]

This Hojlund fella for Atalanta is going to be some player.

[Ian]

His foot is marginally past diers knee. Their arms don't count as you can't play the ball with them.

Edit: although Davies' head is ahead of his foot. Fuck knows.


The line should be on Davies shoulder, so it's way off. It should be at least on, with the benefit of the doubt stuff we saw earlier in the season.

That this conversation can / should even happen is everything that's wrong with the offside rule. Christ, what a shitshow.

[randomlegend]

It's not impacted the result of the game much, but I'm at a loss to explain this decision from VAR today.

https://i.gyazo.com/e4d30e7b7eb5f0df12ca569c5083c2b5.jpg

1624514322331275265

How can they be so consistently incompetent?

[randomlegend]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fg6B1YKX0AIOHyf?format=jpg&name=small

Came across this one again the other day. Look at it. It's laughable. How can a referee who will have refereed thousand of hours of football not realise that that doesn't look right?

[Don]

Whoever gets Rasmus Højlund is getting a better player than Haaland. Incredible talent.

[phonics]

We didn't deserve to win so I'm not that mad but if this is true alongside the Chelsea handball it's hilarious how VAR continually makes these people look more incompetent every day 1624537708587634690

[Shindig]

It'll be fine. The chasing pack are shitting the bed this week.

[Luke Emia]

We didn't deserve to win so I'm not that mad but if this is true alongside the Chelsea handball it's hilarious how VAR continually makes these people look more incompetent every day 1624537708587634690

It’s funny because it’s Arsenal and all that. But how is he forgetting to draw the lines? He has one fucking job.

[Jimmy Floyd]

At least three massive VAR shambles in different games today. I don't know how they manage it. VARs have a far, far easier job than on field refs. Not even 1/10th as difficult.

[Luke Emia]

I think the biggest frustration I have with it is that you see stuff which I think refs let slide because they think well VAR will look at it. Then when VAR do look at it they take five seconds and it’s done. But you know that five years ago the referee on the pitch would have made a decision which they just don’t seem to do anymore. So you have the worst of both worlds as then the VAR set a high bar to actually overturn an onfield decision.

[Dquincy]

That this conversation can / should even happen is everything that's wrong with the offside rule. Christ, what a shitshow.
The problem being is there isn't a better offside rule than the one we currently have. Even if someone suggested something mad like you're only offside if there's daylight between the two players, all this will mean is drawing the lines again but in a different location.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think the biggest frustration I have with it is that you see stuff which I think refs let slide because they think well VAR will look at it. Then when VAR do look at it they take five seconds and it’s done. But you know that five years ago the referee on the pitch would have made a decision which they just don’t seem to do anymore. So you have the worst of both worlds as then the VAR set a high bar to actually overturn an onfield decision.

In the World Cup it worked much better. Collina's way was to tell all the refs to make a decision and then if that decision needed varying, the VAR was to intervene. That way, unless the VAR is a complete wally and intervenes when he shouldn't and the ref after coming over to the screen decides to agree with his crap intervention (as in Portugal v Uruguay), the officials as a team nearly always arrive at the correct decision.

The big difference in the PL is that, because they have been pelted in the first years of having VAR, they have this 'clear and obvious error' principle. This may sound good in theory, but in reality it just encourages referees not to make a decision i.e. to wave play on and only when it is a real stonewaller will the VAR intervene. This is how you end up with awful decisions like the Chelsea one earlier.

Some interesting stats:

PL penalties per game this season: 0.23
Serie A: 0.29
Bundesliga: 0.32
La Liga 0.33

That is a big difference, particularly considering the PL is meant to be this fast-paced end to end physical league.

[niko_cee]

I am somewhat sympathetic towards the VAR in the Chelsea handball one as I think there is an understandable extent to which they, like all humans, have had their brains melted by the 'natural position' handball interpretation. At first glance you can sort of see it as being where you arm would be in a falling situation, then you step back and realise that the 'falling' is actually, in essence, saving. Similar to, albeit probably worse than, the Matty Cash, it isn't handball if it hits your thigh first handball interpretation, despite the same 'saving' being in operation.

Can't really forgive the lines ones though, and three in a day is, well, how does that happen? Was it their Christmas do yesterday or something?

[Baz]

I hope they keep getting it disastrously wrong because it increases the chances of sacking it off. This seasons done anyway.

[Giggles]

If Southampton were going to do it this soon they should have done it when Dyche was still available.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't get why he was stupid enough to leave Luton a second time. It's clearly his ideal environment. I guess these people are all so driven they just back themselves to succeed anywhere despite all evidence to the contrary.

[Spikey M]

What's Allardyce up to? I'm surprised nobody has tried to bring him back.

[Ian]

The problem being is there isn't a better offside rule than the one we currently have. Even if someone suggested something mad like you're only offside if there's daylight between the two players, all this will mean is drawing the lines again but in a different location.

Just give VAR a timer for offsides. If it gets to the point where you're having to draw lines and shit then it's not obvious that anybody should be getting stressed out about the real-time call.

They've proven that even when they take minutes and minutes they can still either get it wrong or get it "right" in a way that winds up basically everybody, so don't give them the time. Just give them enough time to slow it down, make sure nothing egregious has happened. If not, jolly good, crack on lads.

[Luke Emia]

Just give VAR a timer for offsides. If it gets to the point where you're having to draw lines and shit then it's not obvious that anybody should be getting stressed out about the real-time call.

They've proven that even when they take minutes and minutes they can still either get it wrong or get it "right" in a way that winds up basically everybody, so don't give them the time. Just give them enough time to slow it down, make sure nothing egregious has happened. If not, jolly good, crack on lads.

That’s some of it. If you can’t decide within 1 minute if a clear error has been made then one obviously hasn’t been made. As Jimmy said aside from a couple of things the World Cup seemed to have it pretty bang on.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'd missed Flamengo shitting out of the World Club Cup to Al-Hilal. Sign of the times.

[randomlegend]

Just give VAR a timer for offsides. If it gets to the point where you're having to draw lines and shit then it's not obvious that anybody should be getting stressed out about the real-time call.

They've proven that even when they take minutes and minutes they can still either get it wrong or get it "right" in a way that winds up basically everybody, so don't give them the time. Just give them enough time to slow it down, make sure nothing egregious has happened. If not, jolly good, crack on lads.

Don't Holland or somewhere have it so the lines are thicker on offsides and if when they draw them they are touching, benefit of the doubt goes straight to the attacker?

That only covers offsides obviously, but stuff like that seems like common sense.

[niko_cee]

Our lines were meant to be thicker this year, but that doesn't help when they are simply drawn in the wrong place.

Potter was right in his post-match comments, human error is still a possibility [inevitability], the only way it can work is for it to be an automated system, but that probably needs a rule change at the very east and then you get a rules divergence between the top division and the rest of the pyramid. The actual answer is to put it all in the bin and go back to moaning. I'm not even sure a 'challenge system' could really work, although it would be better than what we have.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It definitely feels better as a fan when you just think you've been stiffed by the ref than it does when you have been stiffed by not only the ref, but also by a second ref with a TV and every opportunity to put the first ref right. You're just asking for conspiracy theories to develop.

[randomlegend]

It definitely feels better as a fan when you just think you've been stiffed by the ref than it does when you have been stiffed by not only the ref, but also by a second ref with a TV and every opportunity to put the first ref right. You're just asking for conspiracy theories to develop.

There's no conspiracy to be had. Anyone with half a brain can see it's just incompetence. There are numerous incomprehensible decisions in pretty much every game but on balance they go for/against individual teams with pretty equal frequency, often within the same game.

[Foe]

Has any actual reason for the Lemina sending off been provided?

All I heard was “3rd person approaching the ref” which seems bizarre, given that happens about 5 or 6 times a game.

If that’s how they want to police it fair enough - but then we should be seeing about twenty yellows a weekend when it’s introduced.

Maybe the offside stuff has hidden it.

[randomlegend]

Has any actual reason for the Lemina sending off been provided?

All I heard was “3rd person approaching the ref” which seems bizarre, given that happens about 5 or 6 times a game.


I read the reason given was that he was approaching AGGRESSIVELY.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There's no conspiracy to be had. Anyone with half a brain can see it's just incompetence. There are numerous incomprehensible decisions in pretty much every game but on balance they go for/against individual teams with pretty equal frequency, often within the same game.

I didn't say it was a conspiracy. I said 'You're just asking for conspiracy theories to develop'.

[randomlegend]

Despite our differences, I don't dispute you having at least "half a brain".

[Yevrah]

There are numerous incomprehensible decisions in pretty much every game but on balance they go for/against individual teams with pretty equal frequency, often within the same game.

I don't believe there are any conspiracy theories to be had, but people parroted this nonsense pre VAR and there's no reason for it to be true post VAR.

[randomlegend]

Well maybe the stats prove me wrong, IDK, but watching every United game my crude assessment is that there is a pretty even split of absolutely ridiculous decisions which go for and against us.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Decisions tend to run for home teams, especially in passages when the crowd is up or there is particularly aggressive on-field intimidation of the ref (see Keane-era Man Utd). I also think a lot of referees are quite generous to the underdogs in massive FA Cup mismatches sometimes. Other than that, I don't think there is a 'big club' bias or anything like that which is frequently rolled out by provincial fans.

[randomlegend]

De Gea
Dalot
Maguire (c)
Shaw
Malacia
Sabitzer
Fred
Sancho
Fernandes
Rashford
Weghorst

That back line :uhoh:

[Spikey M]

I had forgotten you signed/ loaned that Burnley flop. :D

[niko_cee]

I don't get why he was stupid enough to leave Luton a second time. It's clearly his ideal environment. I guess these people are all so driven they just back themselves to succeed anywhere despite all evidence to the contrary.


Jones succeeded Ralph Hasenhuttl in November on a three-and-a-half-year contract after leaving Championship side Luton.

That's your answer right there [aside from the obvious career advancement side of things].

[Shindig]

He also probably thought he'd get a year in the Championship if it went south.

[phonics]

1624692633388871687

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was watching BT Sport Score at the time and it seemed to take forever for them to make the decision. Was Lee Mason having a shit at the time or what?

[Lofty]

I had forgotten you signed/ loaned that Burnley flop. :D

I think he's started every game since he arrived, not sure if he has managed a shot on target yet?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I know the Dutch are good at pumping up their own tyres, but Ten Hag convincing himself that Malacia should feature in top flight football is taking it a bit far.

[Luke Emia]

That United team is genuinely disgusting. How have they got out at the minute?

[Spikey M]

I think he's started every game since he arrived, not sure if he has managed a shot on target yet?

I haven't been paying attention, but judging from my prior experience of him, I'm going to guess no.

[niko_cee]

I thought he'd managed a goal, did I imagine that?

[Kikó]

He scored a few weeks back. I'm not sure what the expectation is from a last minute forward to replace Ronaldo but he's done ok considering.

United are rotating because they're playing every 3 days at the moment.

[Waffdon]

He scored in the 2nd leg against Forest I think

[randomlegend]

He scored a few weeks back. I'm not sure what the expectation is from a last minute forward to replace Ronaldo but he's done ok considering.

United are rotating because they're playing every 3 days at the moment.

Don't understand why Martinez didn't start this game though, given he's suspended for Barca anyway. Would make a huge difference to the back line.

Weghorst does fine. We needed cover for the terminally injured Martial and weren't going to get whoever the big striker signing ends up being in January. He brings other players into the game well.

We are a totally different team without Casemiro.

[Waffdon]

Genuine tragedy that this Man Utd team are comfortably in 3rd. They are utterly shite.

[Kikó]

Don't understand why Martinez didn't start this game though, given he's suspended for Barca anyway. Would make a huge difference to the back line.

Weghorst does fine. We needed cover for the terminally injured Martial and weren't going to get whoever the big striker signing ends up being in January. He brings other players into the game well.

We are a totally different team without Casemiro.

Martinez might be being saved for the cup final?

[Gray Fox]

Bombscare stuff from United here.

So fully expect 2-0, B. Fernandes penalty and Rashford late on.

[Lewis]

Case Miro being out also seems to have caused Fred to revert to full retard level.

[randomlegend]

Genuine tragedy that this Man Utd team are comfortably in 3rd. They are utterly shite.

We are genuinely quite good with our first 11 out. Our depth is just tragic and our only striker who isn't an emergency loan is never available.

[Kikó]

And we've had about 50 games in 50 days.

[Yevrah]

Yeah, when the first team is all out Man Utd are quite good.

[Ian]

Rashford adding headers to his game. :drool:

[randomlegend]

Never thought I'd be saying it, but I think it's time to give Rashford a run at centre-forward.

This better not be offside :(

[Ian]

Never thought I'd be saying it, but I think it's time to give Rashford a run at centre-forward.

Weghorst is proving to be a total momentum-killer so until we have other options I'd be tempted to put Rashford there unless it proves to take him out of the game.

[Gray Fox]

This Leeds keeper is bobbins.

[randomlegend]

Weghorst is proving to be a total momentum-killer so until we have other options I'd be tempted to put Rashford there unless it proves to take him out of the game.

He's scored within about 5 minutes of going up front at the end of the last few games. I think he can do it.

Garnacho is so fucking good.

[Magic]

Bombscare stuff from United here.

So fully expect 2-0, B. Fernandes penalty and Rashford late on.

Lol.

[Kikó]

Rashford is premium mbappe at the moment.

[Ian]

He's scored within about 5 minutes of going up front at the end of the last few games. I think he can do it.

Agreed, and it's definitely worth a try I think as it stands.

[Lewis]

They might as well trial him through the middle and starting Garnacho on the left before they spend half the summer budget on a striker.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I like this thing about not approaching/surrounding referees. Going to take the more knuckle-dragging elements in football ages to get their heads around it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Jack Grealish is scum.

[Gray Fox]

#TicketlessReds in the clear. It was the French and UEFA wot dun it.

[Gray Fox]

Jota, Firmino and Van Dijk on the bench tonight. At last some reinforcements.

[Waffdon]

That’s some midfield 3 battle. All running and not much else. Should be a special game.

[Gray Fox]

And thank fuck they've not put this at 12:30 on a Saturday like they usually try to. Should be a tasty atmosphere once a few snappy tackles go in.

[Waffdon]

Nunez should get in behind that right hand side with ease if he’s up for it.

I’m sure Coady will try help him out

[randomlegend]

That’s some midfield 3 battle. All running and not much else. Should be a special game.

Special needs perhaps.

[Baz]

I’d struggle to think of a worse regular starter in the Klopp era than Nunez.

At least Gomez has had decent form in the past.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was a lovely counter attack.

What's Pickford doing though?

[Waffdon]

Jordan Pickford. Fuck me.

[-james-]

Like when you bring the keeper out by mistake on FIFA.

[Giggles]

Nunez just has a cloud over him that won't last forever. I'd say money is to be made on him being top scorer next season.

[Waffdon]

Match fixing has to come into question with him at Anfield.

Sky really are a joke letting gimps like Carragher and Neville commentate on their teams.

[randomlegend]

Nunez just has a cloud over him that won't last forever. I'd say money is to be made on him being top scorer next season.

He hasn't.

He had ONE season at Benfica where he ridiculously outscored his expected goals, mostly by way of laughable goalkeeping mistakes.

He's just regressed to his mean. He's shit.

[Giggles]

Don't ever mention 'expected' anything to me. Load of horse shite aimed at a shower of youtube twats.

[Gray Fox]

You got so close to the real issue before shitting all over yourself.

He has indeed had one season as a Benfica starter, which was his only taste of proper European football as a starter before he moved to us. He's still finding his feet, but has all of the right tools to be a very good player.

[-james-]

He hasn't.

He had ONE season at Benfica where he ridiculously outscored his expected goals, mostly by way of laughable goalkeeping mistakes.

He's just regressed to his mean. He's shit.

He's averaging over 1.0 xG + xA per 90 this season which is elite territory. Best in the top 5 leagues in Europe this season, in fact, though he has less minutes and more sub appearances than the rest of the top 10.

[Giggles]

You only need to actually watch him playing to know that it's just a bit of a mental thing and he's just that last step away from a shit load of goals. Or yeah, opta instead.

[Giggles]

You got so close to the real issue before shitting all over yourself.

He has indeed had one season as a Benfica starter, which was his only taste of proper European football as a starter before he moved to us. He's still finding his feet, but has all of the right tools to be a very good player.


He's averaging over 1.0 xG + xA per 90 this season which is elite territory. Best in the top 5 leagues in Europe this season, in fact.

@Gray Fox (https://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/member.php?u=146) and there's your twat. Couldn't have paid for that timing.

[randomlegend]

You got so close to the real issue before shitting all over yourself.

He has indeed had one season as a Benfica starter, which was his only taste of proper European football as a starter before he moved to us. He's still finding his feet, but has all of the right tools to be a very good player.

No, he had two seasons as a starter. The first he scored 6 in 29 in the league. That was always his actual level. He's your Maguire.

[randomlegend]

He's averaging over 1.0 xG + xA per 90 this season which is elite territory. Best in the top 5 leagues in Europe this season, in fact, though he has less minutes and more sub appearances than the rest of the top 10.

Yeah, but he doesn't convert. As he hasn't for any other part of his career other than one outlier season.

I said he'd be shit before he came. He is shit. You mongs still want to argue that yeah ok he's shit but he definitely will be good.

He won't.

[thommo]

No, he had two seasons as a starter. The first he scored 6 in 29 in the league. That was always his actual level. He's your Maguire.

He only started 19 of those in fairness, and was substituted off in 8 of them.

[-james-]

Yeah, but he doesn't convert. As he hasn't for any other part of his career other than one outlier season.

I said he'd be shit before he came. He is shit. You mong's still want to argue that yeah ok he's shit but he definitely will be good.

He won't.

You brought up the xG. 37 goals from 36.5 xG going back to 20/21 when he joined Benfica. :shrug:

[Gray Fox]

@Gray Fox (https://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/member.php?u=146) and there's your twat. Couldn't have paid for that timing.

He's not going to knock Haaland levels of goals in, but buying the finished article is something we rarely do. I still think he's got a good 20+ league goals per season in him once he settles.


No, he had two seasons as a starter. The first he scored 6 in 29 in the league. That was always his actual level. He's your Maguire.

Or he took a year to settle and then banged in goals for fun. It's all in how you want to see it.

[randomlegend]

Or he took a year to settle and then banged in goals for fun. It's all in how you want to see it.

Watch the compilation of goals he scored that season for Benfica. It's so bad. So many are laughable goalkeeping.

[Gray Fox]

A good job we don't have laughable goalkeeping in the Barclays Premier League.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fo4AJtRWYAA6Okm?format=jpg&name=900x900

[-james-]

Finishing ability is way overblown most of the time. The absolute best (Messi) beat xG by about 15%, nearly everyone else is about 0-10% either way across their career with the occasional outlier spell.

[Manc]

This page has covered the spectrum.

I'm a Nunez fan. Fabinho not so much.

[randomlegend]

You brought up the xG. 37 goals from 36.5 xG going back to 20/21 when he joined Benfica. :shrug:

Hit me up next season when he's still putting up ELITE xNumbers and is still shit. Or the one after. Or when he's been sold to some b-tier European team for 30m.

[randomlegend]

Finishing ability is way overblown most of the time. The absolute best (Messi) beat xG by about 15%, nearly everyone else is about 0-10% either way across their career with the occasional outlier spell.

Nunez in a league of his own.

[Dquincy]

Yeah, but he doesn't convert. As he hasn't for any other part of his career other than one outlier season.

I said he'd be shit before he came. He is shit. You mongs still want to argue that yeah ok he's shit but he definitely will be good.

He won't.

That's a very strong judgment regarding a fella who's only had half a season in the prem.

[Giggles]

Or he took a year to settle and then banged in goals for fun. It's all in how you want to see it.

Opinions? I hope you haven't watched actual games to form those, that's amateur hour. Hopefully someone can hook you up with a definitive spreadsheet.

[Waffdon]

Can always rely on Everton to get confidence back into Liverpool not matter how shite the latter are.

And there’s Coady handing Gakpo his first goal.

[Gray Fox]

Opinions? I hope you haven't watched actual games to form those, that's amateur hour. Hopefully someone can hook you up with a definitive spreadsheet.

Sorry, I'll revert back to players either having to be the best on the planet or they're just shit.

[Don]

Gahahahaha look at our resident reddit expert try and discuss Nunez with xG stats to boot. Gutted I missed this.

[-james-]

I'm just a spreadsheet merchant but he's looked good tonight imo. xLiveliness off the charts.

[randomlegend]

Gahahahaha look at our resident reddit expert try and discuss Nunez with xG stats to boot. Gutted I missed this.

There's no discussion. I said he'd be shit. He's been shit. Until he stops being shit (which he won't) you can all chortle my balls

[Don]

We can do what? Head's gone :D

The football for both our goals was tasty af but it'll get lost in a sea of "tougher tests await". Gakpo has settled, Jota is back and once VVD replaces RL's brother from another mother, it's on :drool:

[Mike]

Time for our Bobby :wub:

[Don]

1625221067223576582

[Spikey M]

Beautiful.

[Mike]

https://i.imgur.com/FYBmUCu.png
What a man.

[randomlegend]

Pickford would fold him up like a picnic blanket.

[Luke Emia]

Pickford would fold him up like a picnic blanket.

Not with them little arms he wouldn’t.

[John Arne]

Given the thread title... an update on the MIGHTY CITY.

First three games of the season:

Nam Dinh 1-0 Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City 0-1 Hai Phong
Ho Chi Minh City 0-2 Khanh Hoa

Leaves us bottom of the league...



https://gyazo.com/05eda07714c336032d1c0c6b8fe67c99.jpeg

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jesse Marsch to Southampton is splendid banter.

[Manc]

Southampton aren't the worst team in the league, but they do have the worst keeper by a country mile. Drop Bazuna and they'll have a fighting chance.

[Giggles]

Jones very nearly did it early in play and bottled it. It's the first thing the new manager needs to do.

[Alex]

1625555498740113410

Basically we've scoured world football and discovered nobody even half decent wants the job (and I don't fucking blame them) so we've just called it off. This is probably, as much as I hate to admit it, the most sensible course of action we could take too.

[Giggles]

Liverpool hillsboroughing the shit out of the UEFA thing already the shameless cunts :D

[Don]

Check the squads for the Milan game. They'd be a poor sight for a Europa Conference League game let alone a CL game ffs.

[Jimmy Floyd]

1625555498740113410

Basically we've scoured world football and discovered nobody even half decent wants the job (and I don't fucking blame them) so we've just called it off. This is probably, as much as I hate to admit it, the most sensible course of action we could take too.

Is this definitely a better option than just keeping Marsch?

[Alex]

Is this definitely a better option than just keeping Marsch?

I honestly don't even know at this point Jim.

It looks like he's about to get the Southampton job though, doesn't it? So he's obviously going to spark a turnaround there and they will pass us in the league imminently. Nailed on.

[Kikó]

1625569595615547392?t=640MkQDt-zG3FIdJIdz9eQ&s=19

Jimmy did it better.

[Lewis]

Bit racist.

[niko_cee]

Whilst I guess it's due to the Queen dying and all, UEFA must be absolutely seething that Arsenal v City has been slated up against the Champions League games tomorrow night.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I did it better and a week ago, and still thought to myself afterwards 'that was a bit shit'. TTH content standards are unparallelled.

[Guybrush]

Liverpool hillsboroughing the shit out of the UEFA thing already the shameless cunts :D

Not sure how Liverpool had any say in the verdict, but judging by your horrendous takes in the other threads I shouldn't be surprised you don't understand.

[Giggles]

Not sure how Liverpool had any say in the verdict, but judging by your horrendous takes in the other threads I shouldn't be surprised you don't understand.

Say in the verdict? They’ve been hamming it up since the verdict

Stop talking rubbish, and never use the word ‘takes’ like that again. You’re not an American sports presenter.

[niko_cee]

You are taking the heavy mong line on that one though.

[Baz]

never use the word ‘takes’ like that again. You’re not an American sports presenter.Have a word with your man.

1065041831912722432

[Giggles]

He’s fairly maxing out the tosser scale in fairness. I’d expect nothing different.

[Lewis]

1625557915716227084

It's over mate.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It might have been over in the old Alex Ferguson football world. In the new self-help manual 10 year contracts world, he's here for decades and winning it all.

[Baz]

Anything about anything. :D

[Don]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/feb/14/graham-potter-rounds-on-pundits-chelsea-jude-bellingham-dortmund

The guy is too intelligent or football media cretins. Thankfully his bosses recognise this.

[Waffdon]

Jorginho/Xhaka double pivot tonight against Man City. :lol:

[Don]

3 at the back by City :drool:

Has Partey finally been sent down? And sushiface over White? Arteta's head's gone.

[randomlegend]

That City line-up is like one of DS' supertactics from FM.

[Lofty]

3 at the back by City :drool:

Has Partey finally been sent down? And sushiface over White? Arteta's head's gone.

Partey a precaution, his bail has been extended til the end of the season.

White has been a bit off it the last few games, Tomiyasu looked decent in the FA Cup.

[Waffdon]

Mount dropped in back to back games :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ffs, I forgot Chelsea were playing and now I have to spend my evening watching them. What a miserable thought.

[Giggles]

I can watch a bit of EPL but nothing leaves me colder than a CL game. They just seem so fucking benign and pointless.

[niko_cee]

Have Sky/'The Premier League' been cucked into not having this on TV by UEFA? Presumably it must have been originally slated as a TV game.

[Giggles]

Have Sky/'The Premier League' been cucked into not having this on TV by UEFA? Presumably it must have been originally slated as a TV game.

It’s on BT/ Premier from looking at my EPG.

[Giggles]

Actually looking again it may be only Premier Sports that it’s on. I think that only airs here (like the 3pm live Saturday EPL games).

[niko_cee]

Not here I don't think. It's bound to be on BEiN I guess [or however you write that].

[Ben]

Prime for some reason.

Also hence the weird kick-off time.

[niko_cee]

:hat:

[Danny]

Lovely finish

[niko_cee]

Lovely through ball.

[Giggles]

I have prime but can’t watch it because it’s on Premier, but I’m fucked if I’m paying for that.

[Waffdon]

Wouldn’t be shocked if Mudryk has a field day on the break here like the last time he was in Germany.

[phonics]

Nice for Ederson to get a booking for his 5th attempt at time wasting and then time wasting some more. Silva also gets to commit multiple fouls on Saka and no booking then they just rotate Ake on to him.

[niko_cee]

:D

That decision is hilarious.

Ederson off?

[phonics]

If it's a penalty than it's definitely a second booking surely. IDGAF tho. Ederson spending 5 minutes poiting at the corner that Saka places it in is funny.

[Manc]

That is a bizarre decision.

[Guybrush]

City are a horrible side.

[Boydy]

I have prime but can’t watch it because it’s on Premier, but I’m fucked if I’m paying for that.

Would a vpn set to the uk let you watch it?

[thommo]

Pretty fair penalty decision for me. Completely takes him out.

[niko_cee]

'Takes him out'

:D

They run into each other. Maybe if Nketiah could have gone on to influence the game, but the shot was off, it was incidental contact and a poor decision. Does that mean you can kick someone and fall over if you are both running? Fuck City though so fair enough, I guess it's not that far from the Harry Kane 'toe the ball out of play and fall over' special [which also categorically shouldn't be a penalty but always is].

[thommo]

The equivalent situation for an outfield player is a winger poking the ball past a defender who attempts a tackle and in the motion of doing so, runs into the winger. The shot being off has absolutely zero relevance to the situation (in fact the only relevance it has is preventing Ederson from being sent off).

[phonics]

I mean they give fouls for follow through 99% of the time.

[niko_cee]

Is this what the phrase 'anywhere else on the pitch' is designed to cover?

[Manc]

Would Taylor have pulled play back if the ball had rolled in the net? Not a chance. He's played advantage and inexplicably given Arsenal another roll at the dice.

[Giggles]

Would a vpn set to the uk let you watch it?

Probably would on a phone/laptop but can’t vpn on the telly app.

Edit - actually now that I think of it, it goes by your payment card so it wouldn’t work at all.

[phonics]

Would Taylor have pulled play back if the ball had rolled in the net? Not a chance. He's played advantage and inexplicably given Arsenal another roll at the dice.

In that scenario what advantage did they gain?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Lots of fascinating stuff in Dortmund-Chelsea. Potter's men playing on the counter. Bellingham trying way too hard to appear pumped up. Absurdly bad Spanish referee losing control. Kai Havertz's first touch shooting down one of those Chinese balloons. Julian Brandt looking like the untermensch have plenty to worry about yet. Nil nil.

[phonics]

What a lol yellow card. I dont think I've ever, ever seen that.

[Manc]

In that scenario what advantage did they gain?

A free shot at an open goal. You can't punish City for hooking the ball off the line.

[Waffdon]

Lots of fascinating stuff in Dortmund-Chelsea. Potter's men playing on the counter. Bellingham trying way too hard to appear pumped up. Absurdly bad Spanish referee losing control. Kai Havertz's first touch shooting down one of those Chinese balloons. Julian Brandt looking like the untermensch have plenty to worry about yet. Nil nil.

Yeah, that yellow card for Silva was a genuine joke. He’s definitely giving a dodgy penalty at some point.

Could have done with Giroud or someone in that ilk for Fernandez, Mudryk and especially Felix to play off of. It’s a bit of a miracle when the ball doesn’t bounce 5 yards off of Havertz.

[Spikey M]

1625908874816499721?t=kZainbWxXLhAPUcTZKMCUw&s=19

[thommo]

A free shot at an open goal. You can't punish City for hooking the ball off the line.

No Arsenal player touches the ball after the foul, there's no advantage gained at all.

They aren't being punished for hooking the ball away. If anything it's a good defensive move and they're rewarded as it gives them a chance to save the penalty.

[phonics]

A free shot at an open goal. You can't punish City for hooking the ball off the line.

Well it clearly wasn't a free shot since he got taken out 0.1 seconds later.

[niko_cee]

Mon the VAR.

:cool:

The desperate pleading of the commentary team to find incident in everything is so tiresome.

[niko_cee]

This has lapsed into a dreadful game. Not sure it ever wasn't really but it's just so bitty. Come on Arsenal.

[Dquincy]

A couple of things.

Arsenal are so prone to a fuck up. They seem to lack concentration so often.

I did not realise how average Jorginho is. Offers so little.

[niko_cee]

Fuck's sake.

What are Arsenal's defenders up to?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Too easy for City there.

[phonics]

Fair play, that's a great goal. I'm blaming Niko for being on Arsenals side.

[niko_cee]

I never really thought Arsenal could keep it up [their luck has been unbelievable - cf that disallowed penalty] but at the same time I didn't think they'd fold so quickly. I guess City could fuck things up but this result [if it stays like this] feels like it would be fairly major [at least until City are relegated/docked 400 points].

[phonics]

I think people were slightly overrating the idea that 5 points was this insurmountable gap for City before even factoring in that we still have a game against City to go after this.

[Raoul Duke]

City to win it, do the open-top bus parade and then get docked 87 points and get relegated

[phonics]

Do these Refs have it in their contract that their job is to agree with the on pitch decision no matter what it is?

[niko_cee]

Do these Refs have it in their contract that their job is to agree with the on pitch decision no matter what it is?

Both the pet ref and the commentary team have been at pains to back every decision. That would have obviously been even more ridiculous, but I'm amazed Richard Masters wasn't on the blower to Stockley Park to make the league more interesting.

Oh dear.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bellingham is having a risible game and should have been sent off for two yellows, second one (not awarded) was far worse than the first which was.

He just looks so angry all the time. Needs to calm down.

Emre Can has been wheeled out and almost immediately brushing with dismissal as well.

[niko_cee]

I'd obviously completely missed Scott Parker becoming the Bruges manager. What's that all about?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Deeply, deeply fortuitous goal for Dortmund. We are much the better side.

[Waffdon]

How many teams are going to concede from their own corner before realising you cannot leave 1 person back on their own.

Adeyemi is fackin rapid though

[randomlegend]

Deeply, deeply fortuitous goal for Dortmund. We are much the better side.

Only you could call a player carrying it three quarters of the length of the pitch, cleanly skinning a defender and rounding the keeping "fortuitous" :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Chilwell our best player by miles, can we really not give him another 20 here and play Cucurella at the weekend in the irrelevant league.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Only you could call a player carrying it three quarters of the length of the pitch, cleanly skinning a defender and rounding the keeping "fortuitous" :D

It was a fluke breakaway from a defensive set piece after we had dominated the entire half, and their main player should have seen red.

[Waffdon]

Chilwell our best player by miles, can we really not give him another 20 here and play Cucurella at the weekend in the irrelevant league.

No idea why Lewis Hall has been kicked out and behind Cucurella after upstaging him multiple times.

[randomlegend]

It was a fluke breakaway from a defensive set piece after we had dominated the entire half, and their main player should have seen red.

You get away with it because you're quite placid about it, but you're the most biased and delusional fan on here.

[Ben]

Pot kettle lad.

[niko_cee]

Chelsea game sounds a bit classic Potter. Always finding a way to somehow not score.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Our ball striking is so bad. Everything else, best for months. Potter is turning this around.

Think we'll turn this around at home without their corny fans influencing the referee. They are laughably wide open at the back, all the time.

[Waffdon]

Chelsea’s composure in front of goal is amazing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Chelsea game sounds a bit classic Potter. Always finding a way to somehow not score.

Does he just not have shooting practice? It's like the entire team just can't hit it with power anymore.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Such a horribly stressful and frustrating team to watch at the moment. Getting better all the time, vastly the better side tee to green in this match, but you just have to accept we're probably not getting more than 10 goals total for the rest of the season.

[Waffdon]

Get Ivan Toney in if he’s not banned for too long.

Chelsea should batter Dortmund in the return leg but they just don’t ever score more than once. I think they’ve only done it against Bournemouth at home since the start of October

[Jimmy Floyd]

Get Ivan Toney in if he’s not banned for too long.

Chelsea should batter Dortmund in the return leg but they just don’t ever score more than once. I think they’ve only done it against Bournemouth at home since the start of October

Against good teams the possible results are 0-1 or 0-0, against bad teams 1-1 or 1-0.

[Manc]

The Continent with the Premier League firmly on the ropes.

[niko_cee]

Does he just not have shooting practice? It's like the entire team just can't hit it with power anymore.

I haven't seen much of his Chelsea side, but at Brighton I always felt one of the biggest 'problems' was not committing enough players to attack/getting enough players into dangerous positions - sort of an innate conservatism linked to the maintaining of possession and the way the team was set-up/the type of players picked. I think you can see this with the way that 'RDZ' has come in and changed things up [although I have no idea if there is a statistical improvement in Brighton goals between the two]. There was obviously also a quality of players problem, to an extent, which I thought might be addressed at Chelsea [although from the outside this lot look a bit of a ragtag bunch] but his Brighton team always felt like it was on the cusp of an 8 game run without a goal.

[Waffdon]

Against good teams the possible results are 0-1 or 0-0, against bad teams 1-1 or 1-0.

Worst team in the league at home on Saturday to test the theory. If Chukwuemeka doesn’t start, we riot.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I haven't seen much of his Chelsea side, but at Brighton I always felt one of the biggest 'problems' was not committing enough players to attack/getting enough players into dangerous positions - sort of an innate conservatism linked to the maintaining of possession and the way the team was set-up/the type of players picked. I think you can see this with the way that 'RDZ' has come in and changed things up [although I have no idea if there is a statistical improvement in Brighton goals between the two]. There was obviously also a quality of players problem, to an extent, which I thought might be addressed at Chelsea [although from the outside this lot look a bit of a ragtag bunch] but his Brighton team always felt like it was on the cusp of an 8 game run without a goal.

We've been like that at times but with James/Chilwell have looked a lot more progressive. These are all quality players, but they've been bought as a baseball style investment project to have a run at the league in maybe 24-25 and thereafter. No interest in winning now and frankly no intention to win now. It's something that a lot of our fans (including me) and the media are really going to have to get their heads around because it's not the way club football has traditionally worked at all.

They left our one experienced number nine out of the squad for the CL which demonstrates better than anything that they aren't bothered about basically any result for the rest of this season. The hard part is when you ask fans to buy into that, or carry on watching.

It also makes me wonder if Boehly is all in on a superleague. In fact, it makes me quite sure that he is.

[Waffdon]

The Aubameyang thing is just really weird because they literally didn’t have to unregister him as could have punted their 3rd choice keeper and added the dev squad keeper to the ‘b’ list. Which they ended up doing anyway since Mendy is still injured.

He’s shite but at least he resembles a striker. Havertz just plays scared and spent half the game running back to full back to try make up for losing the ball.

[niko_cee]

Sky Sports News' 'Shebahn Aherne' asks "is Graham Potter really the right man for the job at Chelsea?"

:happycry:

[phonics]

This feels like the first era of Chelsea being a truly big team. Back in the day they could go through a poor run of form and it wouldn't be the top story in the running order but now it does. Chelsea Twitter is starting to pay off.

[niko_cee]

Good to see in the BBC gossip column today that


Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has met with Paris St-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi in Paris to discuss a possible summer transfer move for 31-year-old Brazil forward Neymar.

Not sure I can imagine a less Potter player.

I also liked the wording of this:


Bayern Munich have carried out internal analysis that has identified 29-year-old England striker Harry Kane, whose contract at Tottenham runs out in summer 2024, as the ideal striker for the German club to sign.

Vorsprung Ducht Research

[Waffdon]

Against good teams the possible results are 0-1 or 0-0, against bad teams 1-1 or 1-0.

2 goals from last 18 ‘big chances’. Offft. At least there’s creativity there now unlike the past 12 months.

[randomlegend]

Lots of stuff coming out of Qatar this evening saying they've all but agreed to buy United.

Blergh.

[Boydy]

Hopefully some Iranians buy Liverpool then.

[Manc]

The Iranian(s) is moving for Tottenham.

[Gray Fox]

I don't think anyone will be buying Liverpool any time soon.

[Ian]

Lots of stuff coming out of Qatar this evening saying they've all but agreed to buy United.

Blergh.

Blergh indeed. We'll see how I feel if it actually happens but I reckon I'm probably done if that goes ahead.

[Ben]

Will the fans kick off like they did with the Glazers?

[Ian]

I imagine some will, loads won't care either way, loads will just be glad of the money coming in.

[Gray Fox]

What kind of kick off time for a game in Spain is 5:45pm?

[Ian]

I feel like United have often got those in Spain, though I might just be thinking of one and it's the only one I remember.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Marcos Alonso at CB, lol.

[Ian]

Marcos Alonso at CB, lol.

He'll be alright, it'll take Weghorst 30 minutes to even get to their centre halves.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Weghorst is playing deeper for some reason with Rashford up top...

[Gray Fox]

There's some serious butchering of the name Araujo going on here.

[randomlegend]

Weghorst is playing deeper for some reason with Rashford up top...

He shifted to that position against Leeds for the period where we scored both our goals.

[Ian]

Is that a) because he actually somehow becomes useful there b) coincidence / in spite of his continued presence or c) just because he was out of the way and better players could get to attacking?

I noticed him drop deeper but certainly didn't notice him doing anything particularly effective but maybe I wasn't paying enough attention.

[randomlegend]

Both teams full of mistakes, both teams could've scored, Barca probably marginally better on balance. Quite entertaining.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fred the mong.

[Lewis]

Lots of stuff coming out of Qatar this evening saying they've all but agreed to buy United.

Blergh.

I saw my mate
The other day
He said to me
That it's haram to be gay

[randomlegend]

It's not actually pronounced A-rah-oo-ho right? It can't be?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What a finish.