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

[Waffdon]

Their mentality really is something else.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Beautiful.

[Boydy]

That all stemmed from Bajcetic giving possession away cheaply again.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's always Gomez.

[Boydy]

And the deflection to take it in from Gomez.

Just *chef's kiss*.

[Boydy]

Get both of them off to fuck.

[Manc]

This is right up there with the 2018 final. Strange turn of events.

[Boydy]

Why did Nunez not fucking play it to Gakpo there?

[CJay]

Think Baz has it right with the 6-3.

Gomez is just not good enough, and hasn’t been since his good 4 months in 2019.

[randomlegend]

I knew I'd enjoy this.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm fucking loving this.

Taz, you good?

[Boydy]

Regretting paying for the BT monthly pass now.

[Waffdon]

Liverpool have been absolutely fucking shambolic since the 10th minute. Only thing they’ve done since then is that fluke thanks to Courtois.

Proper joke of a midfield which probably isn’t helped by Fabinho and Henderson both playing right back to cover ‘Trent’

[Boydy]

Alaba going off injured was a blessing in disguise for Real. That space Liverpool kept finding before he went off just hasn't been there since.

[Spikey M]

Lolol

[Boydy]

Milner and Matip should have been on at half time for Bajcetic and Gomez.

[Boydy]

Fuck me, it's Milner for Henderson.

[Ian]

Gosh, you absolutely hate to see it don't you?

[Boydy]

McManaman daying Bajcetic was starting to give the ball away. Was the thick cunt even watching the game?

[phonics]

Yeah, first proper day of football since world cup. Give me that Darwin all-clear and some pre-match racist abuse of Vini and we're cooking.

Lol

[Manc]

Fucking embarrassing.

[Don]

https://www.thisisanfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021-07-29-182-Liverpool_Hertha.jpeg

I'm gonna dance on the feckless mong's grave when he succumbs to whatever death early-onset dementia brings on him.

[randomlegend]

This "You'll Never Walk Alone" at 5-2 down is fucking tragic :lol:

Funeral atmosphere.

[Waffdon]

Wasn’t even Gomez at fault. Midfield got absolutely ran through and Van Dijk is as much of a horror show

[CJay]

We somehow won the game comfortably on xG. I don’t remember many good chances we missed. Only managed to post 0.07 in the second half though. :cab:

[CJay]

Wasn’t even Gomez at fault. Midfield got absolutely ran through and Van Dijk is as much of a horror show

Any time I’m asked about Liverpool’s problems the only apt comparison I can think of is that our midfield is like a sieve. Everyone just runs through us without any difficulties.

[Luca]

Sorry Taz :drool:

[randomlegend]

Real Madrid have scored more goals in England in 2023 than Chelsea

Bangers everywhere tonight.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64717692

Brazil's Dani Alves has had a request to be released from jail on bail rejected by a Spanish court as an investigation into an alleged sexual assault continues.

Alves, 39, has been held since January over an allegation he assaulted a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in December. He denies any wrongdoing.

His lawyer had asked for him to be released if he surrendered his passport and wore an electronic tag.

The court rejected the request, saying it considered him to be a flight risk.

Has to be going down.

[Shindig]

Speaking of Barca, is anything going to come from the £1m bribe to influence the refereeing?

[randomlegend]

Apparently in Spain if you cheat then so long as you don't get caught for 3 years, it's all good.

[Gray Fox]

They've also been doing it since 2003.

Was listening to the game at work, I was hopeful after the first 15 mins or so, but then you have to remember that this is still mostly the team that have been recently spanked by Brighton and Brentford.

Most disappointing thing is 4 of the 5 goals are directly from mistakes. Poor touches from Bajcetic and Fabinho lead to two and Goe fucking Jomez provides further lols. Other than the one he caused, Alisson could do fuck all about any of the goals too.

Seems as if Real got to half time having sussed it out and came out ready in the second half. A shame, but to be expected given recent form when facing the best team on the planet.

[phonics]

I mean they found blood bags from the biggest doping doctor in the country labelled with player names and the court chose to burn them instead of investigate them. It’s a corrupt league.

[Kikó]

We somehow won the game comfortably on xG. I don’t remember many good chances we missed. Only managed to post 0.07 in the second half though. :cab:

I would hold on to this. Ultimately, xG is much more meaningful than some arbitrary score at full time.

[niko_cee]

Unfortunately actual errors are more determinative than expected goals.

[John Arne]

Joe Gomez's Ae are off the chart...

[CJay]

I would hold on to this. Ultimately, xG is much more meaningful than some arbitrary score at full time.

Was more commenting on the oddity of it as I couldn’t recall any serious chances we missed in the first half.

Looking forward to Leipzig tonight. No KDB for City.

[Baz]

Fantastic game but the commentary for their second woke me up on the settee, so I’m off to bed. Hopefully wake up to BT highlights of a 6-3 stonker.

Turns out this was an excellent decision.

[Waffdon]

Was more commenting on the oddity of it as I couldn’t recall any serious chances we missed in the first half.

Looking forward to Leipzig tonight. No KDB for City.

Shame Nkunku signed for Chelsea for this summer as he’s taken on the injury curse and looks like he’s got another muscle injury after being out for 2.5 months. He’d have had fun in behind that City defence.

Never mind, Turbo Timo loves the CL.

[-james-]

Was more commenting on the oddity of it as I couldn’t recall any serious chances we missed in the first half.

Looking forward to Leipzig tonight. No KDB for City.

You got a huge chunk of xg from the two close range blocks during the 6 yard box melee, and another from Salah's goal. Didn't really create much apart from that.

[Don]

Neither did they.

[SincereTheRebel]

Werner The Burner to run riot

[phonics]

Neither did they.

Well they created at least 5.

[Don]

Oooo a whole five.

[niko_cee]

You don't need five chances to score five goals.

That's the problem with xG.

Most goals aren't 'likely' under the metric.

[phonics]

What

[niko_cee]

My point was that smacking one in from 30 yards gets you 1 goal, but about 0.05xG, so goals can occur without the statisticians thinking they were at all likely to happen [and those goals occur absent the existence of 'a chance'], and in fact most goals are xG 'unlikely' [but I suppose that depends on how you view the gamut of xG likelihood - I suppose 'likely' should start at about 0.4xG rather than 0.5xG as general probability would suggest].

[Waffdon]

This Man City game couldn’t be more boring.

[phonics]

My point was that smacking one in from 30 yards gets you 1 goal, but about 0.05xG, so goals can occur without the statisticians thinking they were at all likely to happen [and those goals occur absent the existence of 'a chance'], and in fact most goals are xG 'unlikely' [but I suppose that depends on how you view the gamut of xG likelihood - I suppose 'likely' should start at about 0.4xG rather than 0.5xG as general probability would suggest].

I'm going to assume you're talking to some nerd rather than me who just replied to Taz saying they didn't create much with me pointing out that Liverpool conceded 5 goals.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

City have been sleeping this half.

[Waffdon]

Gvardiol just absolutely dominated Ruben Dias there.

Leipzig much better this half, should go on and win this if they keep this up

[Waffdon]

Haaland should just bench himself when De Bruyne isn’t on the pitch because nobody else will be looking for him with a pass

[Giggles]

All this relentless fucking whinging about Nick Pope. I hope he gets off and lets in 3 through his legs in the final.

[Waffdon]

That Barcelona team looks so average tonight. Surely they have someone better than fucking Sergi Roberto to play out wide

[Shindig]

All this relentless fucking whinging about Nick Pope. I hope he gets off and lets in 3 through his legs in the final.

We won't appeal it. "It was an accident" doesn't really cover handling outside the box.

[niko_cee]

That Barcelona team looks so average tonight. Surely they have someone better than fucking Sergi Roberto to play out wide

Gavi and Pedri both injured?

Torres and Fati on the bench, are they coming off injuries or something?

[Waffdon]

Pedri injured and assume Gavi is suspended. Fati is always injured so wouldn’t surprised if he’s not fit.

Could be 3 atb I guess but they usually play straight up 433

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That should have been 1-0, poor from Bruno.

[Spikey M]

Nile Danger Ranger trending on Twitter in 2023. :cool:

1628843189565005825?t=XJwxCpVfgMNevY8h9Eo6cA&s=19

:harold:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fernandes misses a great chance to make it 1-0 and now gives away a penalty...

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

De Gea's wrists turn to mush during penalties.

[Luca]

Joke of a call, that.

[Kikó]

Terrible first half.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fred :cool:

What a lad.

[Waffdon]

Raphinha and Antony battling it out for who is the biggest joker.

[Waffdon]

Garnacho really pulling off that Tranny look he’s going for

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Antony :cool:

Whose the joker now?

[Waffdon]

Raphinha and Antony battling it out for who is the biggest joker.

That was always going to happen. :D

[SvN]

Taz just collapsed through the ropes

[Yevrah]

This match is the perfect example of why I think Gareth Southgate is shit.

[Ben]

It seems like people haven’t cottoned on yet because he’s still a fresh kid who does some skills but Garnacho is a little cheating cunt. Blatant dives and/or play acting at least the last three or four times I’ve seen him.

[Waffdon]

5 minutes added:lol:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ten Hag > Xavi.

[Luca]

Taz in the mud. :drool:

[Ian]

Ten Hag. :cool:

[Waffdon]

Relying on Eddie Howe to stop these on Sunday isn’t going to end well.

[Don]

These mans getting hyped for beating that dogshit side with the favela Harvey Elliott even managing to find his level :happycry:

[Luca]

These mans getting hyped for beating that dogshit side with the favela Harvey Elliott even managing to find his level :happycry:

Thiago played Tuesday mate

[randomlegend]

So satisfying shitting on those cheating, ref-bribing, Mes Que un Club cunts.


These mans getting hyped for beating that dogshit side with the favela Harvey Elliott even managing to find his level :happycry:

That dogshit side are 8 points clear of the team that minced you lot 5-2 the other night :happycry:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Shaktar are bottling these pens.

3-1 up after 3 pens a piece and it's no into sudden death.

[Boydy]

1628895121763622924

:lol:

[Ben]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64755067

The suit worked.

[Manc]

1628895121763622924

:lol:

Instinctively knew where the goal was.

[Waffdon]

Kante back in first team training. He’s not trained since Tuchel was in charge. He’s probably confused as fuck at who everyone is.

[Kikó]

Ten Haag yet again stepped up with his half time team talk and subs. He's getting them spot on every week at the moment. Antony is shit but he can hit the ball well. Garnacho's turn of pace late on was brilliant and his one two to nearly create a goal, superb.

Onto Seville.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Glad to inform you that Argentine TV's take on this is United won because 'Lisandro wants to win every match'.

Coincidentally it seems that Juve's win was all thanks to Di Maria and Roma's down to Dybala, what a night they must have had.

[randomlegend]

Not wrong.

[Raoul Duke]

Ten Haag yet again stepped up with his half time team talk and subs. He's getting them spot on every week at the moment. Antony is shit but he can hit the ball well. Garnacho's turn of pace late on was brilliant and his one two to nearly create a goal, superb.

Onto Seville.

Saw a couple of stats that we've had the most goals scored by substitutes and most goals in the last 15 minutes of any top European side this season

[Don]

#FergieReborn

[Kikó]

Taz is having his planet of the apes moment.

[Shindig]

Don't mention apes around him.

[Spikey M]

1629316487101001728?t=ccC2gLvlDOyQMW3hlzlVTw&s=19

:lol: fuck sake

[Baz]

Glad the swellings gone down.

[Baz]

1629246967220953090

[Lewis]

The odds of him returning for pre-season training must be dropping by the day.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Coventry are looking very good in this game.

Sunderland are all over the place.

[Shindig]

The odds of him returning for pre-season training must be dropping by the day.

He's gonna Benoit them both.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Amad Diallo :drool:

What a finish.

[phonics]

This Arsenal game feels massively 'when, not if' which makes it feel like we're about to lose 1-0.

[Lofty]

Chalking that Trossard goal off is a bit mental.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

City look like they're in a fisting mood tonight.

[Shindig]

The bottom half is a bit mad. Anyone up to Palace looks at risk.

[niko_cee]

Palace will be fine in a few hours. Everyone south of them looks like they could be in contention though.

[niko_cee]

Henderson-Milner-Keita midfield.

:happycry:

Has anyone done a bone scan on Fabinho? Is he actually 45?

[Gray Fox]

Not a Nunez in sight. This could be very painful.

[niko_cee]

Probably not the worst thing, he'd only end up headbutting Anderson again. It'll probably end up an easy win [Palace doesn't seem to be the fortress it is in my mind and hasn't been for about 10 years] but it could equally go the other way. Looking at the teamsheet their team is pretty dire as well. Why this is being put into some sort of prime time advert for the Premier League spot god only knows.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Most of these lads https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumbayá_F.C. are chilling in the hotel lobby with me at the moment. I'll pass on any match fixing requests from the community.

[Shindig]

Cumbaya, My Lord ... surely that's a chant they have.

[niko_cee]

Most of these lads https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumbayá_F.C. are chilling in the hotel lobby with me at the moment. I'll pass on any match fixing requests from the community.

I assume you have tipped their manager off about that striker at Penarol [or wherever it was].

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sadly he's gone to Red Bull Bragantino, which must be about the most dystopian club that exists in the world. It's a small world on that front however as today's opponents for Cumbaya are of course:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guayaquil_City_F.C.

[niko_cee]

I think you meant to link to these cunts (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guayaquil_City_F.C.).

That badge. Dystopian indeed.

[Shindig]

It's like a fake team in Pro Evo. :D

[Gray Fox]

The complete lack of Goe Jomez gives me some hope.

[Baz]

Jota starting = Liverpool win

[Gray Fox]

The corpse of Naby Keita out there is determined to have Liverpool lose.

[Dquincy]

The corpse of Naby Keita out there is determined to have Liverpool lose.

Trent might have something to say about that.

[Giggles]

Trent might have something to say about that.

ALEXANDER ARNOLD. Don’t be an F1 cunt.

[Gray Fox]

It's the nerves that are apparent when they're given any kind of adversity.

Henderson and Milner have now reverted to safe mode with their passing. It all kind of slowly shuts down.

[Gray Fox]

It'd be bordering on a crime if Liverpool get a goal from this.

[Luke Emia]

This has been a very hard watch. We aren’t great with Thiago in the team but we are absolutely horrendous without him.

Fabinho is having a good go to see if he can get the Keita treatment as well.

[Kikó]

Palace play like a team that rock up on match day. They're awful.

[Giggles]

This has been a very hard watch. We aren’t great with Thiago in the team but we are absolutely horrendous without him.

Fabinho is having a good go to see if he can get the Keita treatment as well.

I haven’t checked the score but I bet you’re winning.

[niko_cee]

At this point I can only assume [hope] that Fabinho has hired a body double and taken the year off.

[Luke Emia]

I haven’t checked the score but I bet you’re winning.

Nope.

[Giggles]

I’ve just copped when reinstalling livescore that if you say you’re under 18 you get a nice clean app and none of that council estate scumbag betting crap on it.

[Waffdon]

Do Crystal Palace ever score a goal? They must be the most boring team to support in the league by a mile. No rivalries, no relegation scraps, draws every week.

[Manc]

At this point I can only assume [hope] that Fabinho has hired a body double and taken the year off.

The fall off is incredible. Matip a close second.

[SvN]

Coincided with their asthma clearing up

[Don]

These mans asked for that dire midfield against Real :happycry:

Mins for Jota, Bobby and no injuries. Massive win.

[Dquincy]

ALEXANDER ARNOLD. Don’t be an F1 cunt.

Mate, I went with the single syllable. Not typing the rest of that out.

[Spikey M]

TAA. Pronounced "Tar".

[Dquincy]

TAA. Pronounced "Tar".

Not sure Trent would like that.

[Waffdon]

3pm kick off for Celtic/Rangers is interesting today. Already multiple videos of their fans scrapping (or at least running up and kicking before running away again) outside Hampden by 9am. :lol:

Full blown mayhem when Celtic win pls

[Waffdon]

Potter bringing Koulibaly, Sterling and Ziyech all in. Absolutely shitting himself and going with experience.

[Shindig]

Chalk this one up to getting old but I've got excitement for the final.

[Yevrah]

I can't remember the last time I looked forward to a domestic cup final this much. Both teams in the ascendency and not enough influence from the desert backers to kill the spectacle.

[Don]

You literally only care thanks to the desert money making Newcastle seem romantic again.

[Dave.]

Manchester United fan for the day.:cool:

[Yevrah]

You literally only care thanks to the desert money making Newcastle seem romantic again.

Not really as they haven't really spent enough yet, but there will come a point when they're spunking £300m every window and it'll be dull as shite.

[Shindig]

Aye, although I'd like to hope the Man City charges stick and the Premier League lays down some kind of precedent. 'cos they were really mad when our deal eventually went through.

Also, Chelsea spent £500m and it's been hilarious.

[Manc]

Chelsea's squad is made of glass.

[Spikey M]

How much did they pay for the Ukrainian TikTok dancer?

[-james-]

Chelsea squad is obscene. Might even challenge for top four next season.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I think that Ziyech red was a little harsh.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That took far too long but I think that's the correct decision.

[Waffdon]

What the fuck was that process :lol:

Potter repeatedly starting Ziyech after he was minutes away from being sold is the most Potter thing ever.

[Foe]

This game seems to be a race to get an opposition player sent off, rather than actually trying to score or gob forbid win the game.

The state of football. Grim.

[Ben]

Potter repeatedly starting Ziyech after he was minutes away from being sold is the most Potter thing ever.

Absolutely bizarre. His head is clearly not in it, and he’s never give too much of a shit even when he was in good form.

[Waffdon]

He has to be taken off at half time. He’s liable to get bookings most games anyway as he’s always giving fouls away but he’s clearly wound up as well. Not even taking that into account he has been dreadful.

Big half for Potter. Win and I think the fans will give him more time but they’ll be hounding him out if they lose.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What a finish from Skipp.

Probably the only good thing he'll ever do.

[Waffdon]

:lol:

Keeps Ziyech on and concede after 15 seconds. Graham fkn Potter. Absolutely shite from Kepa initially to not gather the ball and the poppadom wrists

[-james-]

I love Joao Felix but he is just too much of a wimp, isn't he.

[Spikey M]

The whole team is lacking in testicle.

[Waffdon]

Oh yes, Mason Mount will make all the difference here.

Two brand new wingers that you signed in January but he brings on a midfielder to play there.

[Manc]

Lose to Dortmund and Potter is finished.

[Shindig]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-64776824

I hope the Met are ready. :uhoh:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Chelsea are an absolute mess.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Imagine putting Sterling on Kane.

[Gray Fox]

I'm all for giving the manager a chance to turn it around, but there's just no signs of it being even on the horizon.

[Don]

Potter doubters remain clueless. This squad is what's caused this. Next season, they're cooking.

[Shindig]

Oh, christ. Now it's hit me.

[Ben]

Why have Sky deleted the United from Newcastle? I noticed it a couple of weeks ago but it seems a conscious effort on every graphic to not include it.

[Manc]

The pace of this final is unreal.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What an absolute don Casemiro is.

[Shindig]

Bugger. And I just don't see us putting one away.

[Lewis]

Is he onside because the defender in front has his foot in the air?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Hand us the trophy already.

[Shindig]

Fucking hell.

[Gray Fox]

30 or so solid minutes and then it's all fallen apart.

[randomlegend]

Ten Hag :cool:

[Lewis]

I love Weghorst, the ungainly mong. He can't believe his luck.

[Lofty]

Why Newcastle aren't pumping balls to ASM in the hope of getting Dalot sent off I don't know.

[-james-]

The Pope would've saved that.

[Dave.]

Truly excellent.:lol:

[Ian]

I love Weghorst, the ungainly mong. He can't believe his luck.

He's absolutely hopeless but I don't bear him any ill will because he's just been massively overpromoted. Fair play to him.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Casemiro is a fucking mountain.

[Ian]

Well this has been absolutely marvellous so far.

[Don]

Many people doubted the Mbappe comparisons but to be so decisive in hitting the ground like a sack of shit and causing a deflected own goal. This is Trashford's world and we're just living in it.

[Kikó]

Taz is about as relevant as Liverpool at the moment and as impactful.

Time to properly bury these Saudis second half.

[phonics]

Chelsea are late Wenger era Arsenal levels of bad. Including half the squad being quality technically but soft as the day is long.

[niko_cee]

Taz is about as relevant as Liverpool at the moment and as impactful.

Time to properly bury these Saudis second half.

Cool it mate, you've not been bought by their enemies yet.

[niko_cee]

Also, it's going to take fairly strong ownership to stick it out with G Potz at Chelsea, and I'm more inclined to believe he's going to lol his way out of there having blown a £50m hole in their finances through acquisition and pay-off costs.

[Spikey M]

Nick Pope's going missing in the morning.

[Don]

Antony watch was fruitful tonight :D

[randomlegend]

Liverpool watch has been fruitful all season.

[Lewis]

This has been like a peak Jose Mourinho performance.

[Gray Fox]

Those plastic flags are painful to see.

[Shindig]

Hopefully it's not another 25 years for the next runner's up medal.

[Ian]

:cool:

[Waffdon]

Casemiro gonna go down as the GOAT.

[Kikó]

The difference this team is with a proper manager. Shaw actually meeting his potential and AWB suddenly looking like more than a tackle monster, rashford being mbappe, Dalot looking like a full back. The list is endless.

Bald is best.

[randomlegend]

Casemiro and Varane's mentality is insane. 5 CLs each or whatever it is and yet they're out here looking like their life depends on winning the Carabao cup.

Absolute beasts.

[Dave.]

Thank you Manchester United.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Where's Dubravka? He's not collecting his medal now?

[Baz]

Can we have a Casemiro please Jurg?

[Shindig]

Where's Dubravka? He's not collecting his medal now?

Oh, I didn't think about that. :D

[randomlegend]

I love Weghorst, the ungainly mong. He can't believe his luck.

https://i.imgur.com/JPYqi1f.png

:D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Seems we broke Barca.

They just lost 1-0 to 19th placed Almeria.

[Shindig]

Alright, now the dust has settled, some thoughts:

The defeat was kinda expected but we went for it in the first half-hour. We had the same mentality at the Liverpool game so maybe that's Eddie's plan. Like, we create chances now but nobody can stick them away. We need more quality and some depth to this side. European football should help entice those kinds of players. Hell, the busier schedule demands a bigger squad.

Karius did well enough. I can't really hold him at fault for either of the goals although Botman's own goal is painful to watch in slow motion. You see Karius react and it's just too late to get a solid hand on it. Shaw's delivery for Casemiro's goal was beaut. They carried a danger on the break we just simply can't match up to and you know someone like Rashford will put them away right now.

If this final was a few months back, I'd have expected a tighter game but United have really, really got their act together. It's a three horse race and the red side of Manchester seems to have the momentum. Unfortunately, we play City next. :moop:

[Don]

Mbappe is doing Trashford things out here. I think he may well be at peak Messi levels already.

[Gray Fox]

Alright, now the dust has settled, some thoughts:

The defeat was kinda expected but we went for it in the first half-hour. We had the same mentality at the Liverpool game so maybe that's Eddie's plan. Like, we create chances now but nobody can stick them away. We need more quality and some depth to this side. European football should help entice those kinds of players. Hell, the busier schedule demands a bigger squad.

Karius did well enough. I can't really hold him at fault for either of the goals although Botman's own goal is painful to watch in slow motion. You see Karius react and it's just too late to get a solid hand on it. Shaw's delivery for Casemiro's goal was beaut. They carried a danger on the break we just simply can't match up to and you know someone like Rashford will put them away right now.

If this final was a few months back, I'd have expected a tighter game but United have really, really got their act together. It's a three horse race and the red side of Manchester seems to have the momentum. Unfortunately, we play City next. :moop:

I think your midfield just needs that bit of creativity. The wide guys are fine, but could always be worked on and Isak should be good enough for the level you need once he settles in. Problem was as soon as they scored that second, they just sat back and asked what you've got. Always tough to break a team down who is doing that, never mind one with Casemiro and Varane in it.

[Shindig]

Sure and we really have missed Guimaeres. I still want to see more of Gordon but I don't see him as the answer.

[randomlegend]

I don't know if he's usually better nowadays, but Saint-Maximin today still looks like he is an incredible dribbler with very little end-product.

[Shindig]

Pretty much. He'll struggle to get you five goals or assists a season. Same goes for Almiron, despite his daft purple patch.

[Waffdon]

1629698906744299522

The defender passing to his former teammate forgetting they’re on different teams is the funniest thing you’ll see all weekend. You can see the striker call for the pass as well :D

[Ben]

That is unbelievable. :D

[Shindig]

That's genuine craft. :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1630287017069117443

:drool:

[John Arne]

Jurgen Klinsmann is the new head coach of South Korea.

[Lofty]

BBC Gossip claiming Chelsea might bring back Tammy Abraham :D

[John Arne]

Chelsea on FM24 is going to be fun if you like selling 20 players to trim your squad.

[Ben]

Plus they've got Lukaku coming back.

Daily Star this morning claiming that if they don't qualify for Europe then they'll struggle to hold onto Loftus-Cheek, Gallagher and Mount. TURMOIL.

[Shindig]

I've only just realised Ross Barkley plays in France now. :D

[niko_cee]

Nice puff piece about Brighton by the beeb today. Ignominious cup exit on a wet/windy night in Stoke inbound no doubt.

[niko_cee]

Plus they've got Lukaku coming back.

Daily Star this morning claiming that if they don't qualify for Europe then they'll struggle to hold onto Loftus-Cheek, Gallagher and Mount. TURMOIL.

Loftus-Cheek and Gallagher have no real place in a 'top' team.

Other media gems include:


Chelsea manager Graham Potter fears his training sessions are being ruined because of the huge squad. (Mail)

Potter is facing two make-or-break games to save his job despite receiving backing from the Chelsea owners. (Telegraph - subscription)

At this point he should probably be going full on old school champ manager and running two entirely different teams, although maybe they don't have the midweek heavy fixture schedule to make that workable.

[Waffdon]

You can add Thiago Silva to the injury table. Out for 6 weeks or so. I think every outfield player has now been injured for at least a few weeks at some point who started the season other than Havertz. I

[Spikey M]

The Tax Man has been paid. You will need a new plan for the March Football Fred, Ian. This must be what it was like in the olden days when a story came in late. You have 8 hours to find a new scoop.

[Ian]

Fuck's sake. Weeks of research. WASTED.

[niko_cee]

Is that Gross at left back again? Hope Stoke haven't got anyone who can run on their right flank.

[-james-]

Facundo Buonanotte starting. £60m bids by June etc.

[Manc]

Mourinho picking up his third red card of the season. Has to be a record.

[Spikey M]

Shame he wasn't in goal, I'm out of answers in the Trivia thread.

[Manc]

Pure filth from Palhinha.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was some finish.

[Manc]

Is the itv coverage being filmed from the moon?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just spotted that Utrecht (7th in the Eredivisie right now) are getting spanked by Spakenburg, an amateur team, 4-1 at home.

[niko_cee]

Spankenburg!

[randomlegend]

1630510427737149442

Chelolsea.

[niko_cee]

There was only 1 contender for their February goal of the month. Also saw them linked with De Zerbi today.

[Baz]

1630510427737149442

Chelolsea.

That is madness

[Waffdon]

Liverpool/Wolves for about the 6th time this calendar year alone I see is on the cards tonight. How lovely.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We're doing the yank-style tank season in a system where there is no advantage in doing so. Apart from no Europe I guess.

[wullie]

Boehly's playing the long game, he knows they'll get a favourable pick in the next draft.

[John Arne]

Wembanyama as the new Chelsea number 9 :drool:

[Gray Fox]

Liverpool/Wolves for about the 6th time this calendar year alone I see is on the cards tonight. How lovely.

I must have seen about 50 clickbait articles about "Why it is ILLEGAL to show the game live on British TV!"

Thankfully it's a whole 6 months at least after this before facing this lot again.

[randomlegend]

Lukaku scored more goals than Chelsea in February...with 2.

[Spikey M]

:D