April Women's Football Thread

[phonics]

1643967140968505344

Stellini mate, I'd spend as much time as possible not reminding them they're Tottenham if I were you.

[Jimmy Floyd]

'This is the history of the Tottenham' has gone straight into folklore and set them back another decade.

[Lofty]

What the fuck is a Finalissima?

[Shindig]

It's like a UEFA Super Cup but between the champions of Europe and the Copa America champions. It's the first year they're doing it.

[Lewis]

'This is the history of the Tottenham' has gone straight into folklore and set them back another decade.

It was the way he said it as well like it was obvious.

[phonics]

It being a foreign team as well. Like it's a story thats told far and wide through generation after generation what it is to be 'The Tottenham'.

[Ian]

The only improvement would be if he'd adopted the phrase "Lads, it's Tottenham" thinking it was some sort of Spurs battle cry.

[Manc]

Bielsa looks set to become Uruguay's head coach. Filthy.

[Shindig]

A man truly back in his element.

Meanwhile Gateshead are 6 points clear of the drop with two games in hand. I think that'll do it.

[Manc]

This Sunderland v Hull game is ridiculous.

[Gray Fox]

This Sunderland v Hull game is ridiculous.

I feel like I blinked and 3 goals went in.

[Gray Fox]

Everton all over the show at the back. Flood gates could open once they concede.

[Gray Fox]

A couple of terrible scuffs wide apiece now.

[Waffdon]

Doesn’t seem very Dyche-like to play this open to a side that can only score goals on the counter. They do look alright going forward though.

Godfrey doesn’t have a clue where to be positionally

[Gray Fox]

The Everton left beck is being terrorised.

[Lewis]

If Antony isn't even finishing chances on his left then he might as well not be playing.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Scotland's finest.

[Lewis]

Why not try Jadons Ancho on the right, where he can do them passes, and Antony on the left like a favela cunt Antonio Valencia?

[Gray Fox]

Really quite shite this Everton team.

[Waffdon]

Their team is full of utter dross. A small miracle if they stay up.

Lampard going straight back to 4-3-3, just because why not. Surprised he’s playing Koulibaly over Badiashile though. Makes no sense at all.

[Spikey M]

Spurs unchanged against Brighton after shitting the bed against Everton last time round. It's like Conte never left.

[Gray Fox]

Looks like at the least a pulled groin for Sir Marcus.

I still reckon Everton stay up. Southampton probably gonners and I don't fancy the chances of Bournemouth or Leeds.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If it isn't Southampton, Bournemouth and Forest then one of them has done a cracking job.

[Adramelch]

Forest have a horrible set of games remaining as well: Villa (A), United (H), Liverpool (A), Brighton (H), Brentford (A), Southampton (H), Chelsea (A), Arsenal (H), Palace (A).

[Gray Fox]

I had no idea their run in was that rough.

They'll need to be hoping in their last 4 games that aren't Southampton, the teams no longer have anything to play for by then.

[Waffdon]

Madrid will give Chelsea 5 with Cucurella, Koulibaly and Kepa all playing.

[Gray Fox]

Some great scores at HT there. Leicester could be right in the shit and have City away next.

Their run in is full of relegation 6 pointers after that.

[Waffdon]

Conor Gallagher being allowed to play 97 minutes is a war crime

[Lewis]

He looked good at Crystal Palace. Was that just his level, running around in less space and being allowed to take more pot shots?

[Waffdon]

He can run all day long and is aggressive. Probably perfect for ‘low block’ teams due to being able to do all the dirty work and being able to kick a ball hard. He shouldn’t be near a team that has more than 40% possession.

12 points off relegation - it is on.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If Leicester go down with their squad, then something has gone seriously wrong.

[Lewis]

I know it's possibly two more than the other teams down there, but don't Leicester have two good players?

[Shindig]

I was shocked to find out Jamie Vardy's had one goal in the league all season. Is he not getting the supply or is he done?

[Ben]

He’s 36 and his game is built on running behind defences. Done, I’d say.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They have three half-decent forwards, and Maddison/Barnes/Ndidi/Tielemans/Dewsbury-Hall behind just shouldn't be going down, particularly not when you look at the Bournemouth side to whom they lost at home today.

[Lewis]

I'm having my every few months browse of the table, and Aston Villa are sixth. Did they buy big in January or was Steven Gerrard that crap?.

[Gray Fox]

I feel like Maddison is not one in the team to fight for it when the going gets tough. He's a very, Newcastle in the summer for £40m type player. He likely knows it too.

Despite their 4 strikers combining for only 9 league goals this year, they're actually outscoring the teams around them quite significantly which suggests the problem is at the other end.

Danny Ward is not a good enough keeper for this level. Soyuncu their best CB has also appeared only twice this season for whatever reason too.

[Shindig]

I'm having my every few months browse of the table, and Aston Villa are sixth. Did they buy big in January or was Steven Gerrard that crap?.

I think it's the latter. Is it my imagination or did Stevie G publicly give Ollie Watkins shit at one point?

[niko_cee]

Good to see Feel Good Frank has really turned things around.

[niko_cee]

I'm having my every few months browse of the table, and Aston Villa are sixth. Did they buy big in January or was Steven Gerrard that crap?.

Yeah, I had to do a double take the other day when I was reading about the teams vying to be in the top 4 and they were mentioned.

[Jimmy Floyd]

When we played them (which feels like and surely was just days ago) we were level on points, so things must have escalated pretty quickly.

[Shindig]

If you look at their current run, they've had consecutive matches against proper relegation fodder.

[Gray Fox]

Haaland now with more league goals than Chelsea.

[Adramelch]

If you look at their current run, they've had consecutive matches against proper relegation fodder.

That's like half the league this season.

[Lofty]

Villa have played a lot of wank teams in a row at the right time, even when they comfortably beat Chelsea on paper they coughed up a million shots on goal as per the Emery way. If they have a few matches against competent opposition they'll revert back to type.

[Don]

Watched the City game and listen, even if we somehow don't anally destroy these soft twats tomorrow, the real takeaway is if this City side don't take the title it'll be an outrageous robbery. Absolute levels above.

[Lewis]

I thought that Mongland bicycle goal was a bit meh at first, like when a centre-back throws a foot at one, but the replay shows how good it is. He's moving in all directions to make contact.

[niko_cee]

I'd heard the ref [and linesman] in the Brighton game were pretty shit, but that was a fairly special effort.

De Zerbi is such a little don/street rat. Was half excepting him to knife Stellini in the tunnel as they were going down.

[Ian]

I thought that Mongland bicycle goal was a bit meh at first, like when a centre-back throws a foot at one, but the replay shows how good it is. He's moving in all directions to make contact.

I think if it was most other strikers you could probably still make an argument he's just hurled a body part at it but there are enough goals even just this season where he's contorting his body to make the best contact that it's clear the big freak knows exactly what he's doing.

[Gray Fox]

It's kicked off in Madrid tonight. Apparently Baena, a player for Villarreal put in a strong tackle on Valverde. In the handbags after he said to Valverde something along the lines of "cry like you cry now that your son wont be born."

Valverde tried to get him but couldn't and so told him he'd see him after the game. Insert Mourinho waiting in the car park meme here, because that's pretty much what he did and battered him by the sounds of it.

[Ian]

So I assume Valverde's wife has had a miscarriage or something?

If so this Baena lad sounds like he was asking for a good, hard punch in the face.

[Lofty]

Watched the City game and listen, even if we somehow don't anally destroy these soft twats tomorrow, the real takeaway is if this City side don't take the title it'll be an outrageous robbery. Absolute levels above.

They keep losing weird games including having already lost once to that Southampton side though, it's not a robbery if they fall asleep and draw against Everton etc. Also lost against a far inferior United side.

[Ben]

https://archive.is/2023.04.06-141359/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/government-put-pressure-on-premier-league-to-allow-newcastle-united-takeover-sx6n90xrl

Just rotten all round.

[niko_cee]

I see Brighton have had their third official apology of the season.

I think they've rather let the cat out of the bag [even more] with this apology business.

[Lewis]

Leeds are really bad. Another sacking might be necessary.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Didn't they win their last game?

[Gray Fox]

Losing is obviously bad, but losing by large margins when everyone is right on top of each other compounds it big time.

[Lewis]

Roy Hodgson up to twelth like the veteran plantation owner he is.

[Gray Fox]

'mon the Arsenal.

[Spikey M]

Useless scouse twats

[Lewis]

I should be happy about them beating City, and it might be slightly out-dated now, but Arsenal will always be the gayest, wankiest club of any note in England. Their TTH representation has always been absolutely honking as well (soz Beano lad).

[Shindig]

Arsenal have been great this season. They bought right in the summer and look like a proper unit for the first time in years. I don't think it'll last but it beats City running away with it.

[Ben]

Why was there a drinks break there? Seems every Arsenal game has one of these somehow after 20-25 minutes.

[Ben]

Rob Holding’s hair comeback is incredible.

[Shindig]

Ramadan, I think.

[Ben]

It’s not sunset yet though. Night games is fair enough but it’s not that.

[Shindig]

Well, Jesus has risen. Seems like a day too early.

[Lewis]

Tren Talexande-Rarnold. A rare double whammy.

[niko_cee]

Did Dele Alli go to shit after growing those dreadlock type things? Possibly something for Trent to consider as he's on the same trajectory at the moment.

[Luke Emia]

Tren Talexande-Rarnold. A rare double whammy.

I’ve defended him a lot in the past and it’s a structural issue with the defence and midfield. But he’s also been fucking useless this season.

[Ben]

For sure the shit team isn’t helping but his head has completely gone.

[Lewis]

Has his defending actually got worse, or has he merely lost his busy midfield shield and 'Virgil' covering for him being incredible? Because his defence was always about as good as Ian Huntley's.

[Luke Emia]

Has his defending actually got worse, or has he merely lost his busy midfield shield and 'Virgil' covering for him being incredible? Because his defence was always about as good as Ian Huntley's.

His defending has got worse but the midfield shield used to cover a lot as well.

[Gray Fox]

Xhaka being stupid and getting the crowd involved when we've drifted away from the game seems brainless.

[Lofty]

Lino attacked Robertson? :D

[Ben]

Keane going in on Robertson.

[Gray Fox]

What the fuck is that all about.

[phonics]

I don't understand the rules anymore. Absolutely desperate to get Liverpool back in this match so that Lino doesn't get sacked for chinning Robertson.

[Gray Fox]

Maybe take him off penalties

[Luke Emia]

I don't understand the rules anymore. Absolutely desperate to get Liverpool back in this match so that Lino doesn't get sacked for chinning Robertson.

U wot?

[Gray Fox]

Arsenal bringing the crowd into it needlessly. Have they not learned?

[Ben]

Klopp :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That linesman is an absolute hero.

[phonics]

How was Ben White booked for a follow through in the first 5 minutes but Kounate can spend the entire game barrelling through people?

[phonics]

That’s annoying. Thankfully I had it down as a draw. Come on Brighton.

[Baz]

Bloody Ramsdale

[Gray Fox]

Incredible save that.

The Arsenal bottlejob fully underway.

[Kikó]

Yay the city treble.

[randomlegend]

It’s not sunset yet though. Night games is fair enough but it’s not that.

Aren't elite sportspeople exempt during games etc?

[niko_cee]

Yeah, point probably about as good as Arsenal could have hoped for in the end there, which is a bit of comedown from having been 2-0 up. Their time wasting game is heroic, and should be respected. Shame to be giving City a leg up, but could have been worse but for some inexplicable missing late on [and earlier]. With nothing much to play for can they not just give 'Trent' a run in midfield for the rest of the season and let the Scottish kid fill in at the back?

[Gray Fox]

That'd be grand if the Scottish kid wasn't dead til next season. There's a youth out on loan doing bits at Bolton who may get a shot next year too.

Annoyingly, Trent was basically playing RCM in the final 10 mins and looked quality doing it. But surely now is the time to give things a shake up.

[niko_cee]

OK, fine, Milner or Gomez will have to do.

I'm not really convinced Alexander-Arnold would be all that great in at the midfield the way Klopp has traditionally played [he's probably best suited to going full Gareth Bale and being played where Salah plays, but that's not going to happen] but it's worth a go just to see.

Or go 4-4-2 (:drool:) and stick him on the right wing.

[Gray Fox]

Death, Taxes, James Milner needed to fill in at full back.

The Trent problem comes from the midfield. He hasn't changed albeit has maybe made a mistake or two more than usual.

If Liverpool play the way they expect to he doesn't actually need to defend much. Their game is based on dominating possession through recovering the ball in the midfield. Against pretty much everyone bar City you'd see them camped out in the opposition half, both full backs high and working the ball around. When they lose the ball, Wijnaldum/Henderson/Fabinho would sweep it back up fast and get it back to the creative players. Rinse and repeat.

What happens then is teams fall into the low block. To counter this Liverpool changed their midfielder philosophy and tried to bring in more dainty creative players. Thiago, Keita, Elliott, Jones, Carvalho etc.
These players have helped move it on, but the core of Henderson and Fabinho have gotten older and barely get a rest. Now you have a midfield that can't press so well and so the ball is easily passed them and then is usually in towards where Trent is or straight through the middle.

You can see this best when Liverpool play City too. A lot of City goals and chances come by passing through the press out to their RW position. The ball is then quickly passed into the middle and then usually knocked in the gap behind Trent or a shot happens.

While Liverpool need a Bellingham in there, they also need a couple more to do the legwork Henderson increasingly struggles to do.

[Ben]

I’m going to show my age here and finally ask: what is this “low block”?

[Lewis]

Parking the bus. Out tacticking.

[Gray Fox]

When teams set up with two banks of 4 or a 5-4-1/ 4-5-1. The idea is to lower the defensive line so there's little to no space in behind and then the bank in front of the defence also lowers to close the space just in front of the box.

[Ben]

Ah, so what Lewis said. Old ideas, new terminology.

[Manc]

Swallowed a laptop.

[Don]

I missed the first half but the BBC livetext for the first 40 mins was great lols, everyone and their dog just couldn't wait to jump on Trent/VVD/Klopp/the 97. Then I presume the fucking hungry muzzy cunt shins one in and they all do a narrative shift in turbo quick time. I tune in to second half and it's like a fucking non-league side/Man Utd have parked themselves up at Anfield with their only hope being wasting maximum time. Is that the highest xG in a game in the league this season? Fucking get the fuck outta here you North London wastemans.

[niko_cee]

Hadn't clocked Liverpool's xG, yikes.

Pretty much the story of the season.

[Gray Fox]

It feels like Liverpool struggle against xG for about 10 games and then smash someone 9-0.

It's going to be a strange feeling having these last 9 games with nothing to play for.

[Giggles]

9 games still? Surely aren’t out of top 4 by a long way then.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, they'd have to win all 9 to get to 71 points which United/Newcastle get to with 5 wins from 9 or whatever. 4th place will probably be around 71 points, but Liverpool aren't going to win 9 in a row.

Time to focus on getting into the conference league to be the first team to win that.

[Waffdon]

Carragher trying his best to big up Van Dijk on Twitter this morning is hilarious.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Carragher trying his best to big up Van Dijk on Twitter this morning is hilarious.

Are there any non-Liverpool fans that regard him so highly?

[randomlegend]

I mean he clearly was absolutely world class a few seasons ago. I remember saying on here that Liverpool's defending is just too suicidal and no matter how good he is, there's no way one player can fix it. Then he just did.

But he's a long way from that player now.

[niko_cee]

I always find it amusing how prissy footballers are when anyone intrudes into what they think is their exclusive domain - whether it's this linesman trying to shrug Robertson off or whichever team it was [Everton?] who got all shirty about Klopp running onto the pitch. The righteous indignation is always a bit much to take.

[Gray Fox]

The John Bostock with a banging free kick on the stroke of HT to put County 1-0 up at Wrexham.

[igor_balis]

The John Bostock with a banging free kick on the stroke of HT to put County 1-0 up at Wrexham.

friggin legend foster might have had a better chance if the wall jumped

[Gray Fox]

This games been mental in the 2nd half. Nothing had happened until the earlier free kick.

[Manc]

That defensive line from Notts County is ridiculous. They'll get found out next year.

[Gray Fox]

And of course Foster with the penalty save that essentially sends them up.

[igor_balis]

foster :D couldn't have bloody scripted it.

[Manc]

These youtubers really will do anything for content.

[Baz]

Enough of the TV show spoilers, lads.

[Shindig]

Gateshead won again. We max out at 69 points which erm .... would put us in the playoffs with 3 clubs genuinely shit the bed.

[niko_cee]

Guernsey hit the [magical] 40 points today and so are confirmed for another season in the ISTHMIAN SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION.

[Ben]

Do the FA subsidise travel to/from Guernsey? I can’t imagine level 8 budgets allow for that kind of mileage across the sea.

[niko_cee]

Guernsey have to do it as part of being in the league, so it obviously costs a fortune [by the standard of the level]. 30 odd return flights and a hotel stay must run to pretty big numbers every other week. They don't play in the FA Cup due to the gate sharing rules [twinned with the cost rules] which is a bit of a shame.

[igor_balis]

My mate is a West Didsbury fan (just "West" to the hardcore like him), and they have the Isle of Man in their league. Matey went there for a long weekend when they played, sounds proper shit.

[Lewis]

friggin legend foster might have had a better chance if the wall jumped

'Aww mate. The wall's gotta jump there mate, yeah? Has to mate. Mate. That wall was grim mate.'
*barely played and still cost United the 2009/10 title*

[Giggles]

The amount of new Wrexham ‘fans’ on Twitter is nauseating. Twats.

[Ben]

Is Isle of Man any good? I was supposed to go for the TT one year and my cousin offered to fly my dad and my mate and myself across so he could get the flying hours. Got as far as about Barnard Castle before he called a mayday and spun us round. Absolutely shitting it coming back into Teesside Airport to the sight of emergency services bolting down the runway to meet us.

[igor_balis]

Is Isle of Man any good? I was supposed to go for the TT one year and my cousin offered to fly my dad and my mate and myself across so he could get the flying hours. Got as far as about Barnard Castle before he called a mayday and spun us round. Absolutely shitting it coming back into Teesside Airport to the sight of emergency services bolting down the runway to meet us.

My mate said it was fun, but said it was quite backwards. Lots of weird pubs where everything felt frozen in about 2004, but I suppose that's fine if you're just getting battered with other footy anoraks.

[Manc]

My mate is a West Didsbury fan (just "West" to the hardcore like him), and they have the Isle of Man in their league. Matey went there for a long weekend when they played, sounds proper shit.

Proper Krombacher Ultra behaviour.

[Manc]

The amount of new Wrexham ‘fans’ on Twitter is nauseating. Twats.

Three touchdowns today. Guaranteed to win the Welsh conference.

[Lewis]

United arranging a friendly with them, and roping Sir Alex Ferguson into promoting it, has probably put any serious buyer off.

[Yevrah]

The Wrexham thing is genuinely the most interesting thing happening in English football at the moment.

[Spikey M]

It certainly has the pundits excited:

1645457411703025664?t=2CtXI4oD9Ua6WAr3dBUXrA&s=19

[Kikó]

My mate is a West Didsbury fan (just "West" to the hardcore like him), and they have the Isle of Man in their league. Matey went there for a long weekend when they played, sounds proper shit.

We used to play their second team quite a lot in the Manchester League. They've kicked on massively as a club and they have a lovely set up.

Nothing will ever top us pipping them to the title in 10-11.
https://i.ibb.co/Jrqt5Qm/Screenshot-20230410-212637.png

/Nostalgiaover

[Ian]

Is Isle of Man any good?.

I went in 2016 as my mum was from there, I hadn't been since before I could remember and attempts to arrange a family jaunt kept failing so I just went over myself for a few nights. That's probably about the right amount of time, there's enough to go about and have a look at but not loads.

When I went it wasn't TT but there was some other motorbike thing happening so it was busy enough that it wasn't quite but without being as rammed as I imagine it gets during the TT.

It might have been the distraction of just wanting to see where my mum grew up and go and see (again) all the places my parents had spoken about over the years but it definitely didn't have that awful sense of a place slowly dying like some of the other British seaside places I've been to.

[Shindig]

I don't think any place can match how dead the Scottish border towns feel like now.

[Lofty]

Being a tax haven probably helps.

[phonics]

Leeds have to pay 25 million quid to a player they never signed as well as 16 million quid to Leipzig. lol.

[Shindig]

Sounds like one of Ridsdale's old deals. :D

[phonics]

Apparently it works out at 700 thousand pounds per minute of game time which even makes Risdale look like a wheeler dealer.

[Shindig]

Anthony Gordon's season is finished. He's training with the reserved and out of the first team due to a disciplinary matter.

[Ben]

Who would have guessed that signing would not work out?

[Offshore Toon]

Is that just for kicking off when getting subbed against Brentford? I keep forgetting we signed him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I have never seen him interviewed so couldn't say whether he is a twat, but at minimum he is extremely badly advised.

[Offshore Toon]

That's a parody account, Shindig, you prat.

[Waffdon]

Shindig fell for a spoof account anyway.

[Giggles]

Yeah you always want to look at the @name.

[Shindig]

I figured something was up when nobody else was reporting it. :D

[Baz]

Former red David Thompson also fell for it and has now decided it’s his last ever day on Twitter. :D

[wullie]

Came from 2-0 down at half-time to being unlucky to beat Watford yesterday so while only a point doesn't help massively, we're through Easter and only three points off the playoffs which in itself is a minor miracle.

Highlight was Godden's goal, Ben Hamer happy to watch it go out for a goal kick
1645447521680932865

[Ian]

How do you reckon they'd get on if they managed to get promoted Wullie? Would it be a "take the beatings, take the money and regroup for a further attempt" type affair or would they be in a position to have a go of it with the new owner, etc ?

[wullie]

I would guess at the former, lovely to have all the money suddenly but not so nice watching Haaland set a single game goalscoring record against us.

Saying that the new owner's not had a transfer window yet so nobody's sure what to expect, although his early moves have been encouraging things that normal clubs do like concentrating on the training ground, retail side, hopefully getting the stadium situation sorted and most importantly not loudly threatening all the local people and groups you're supposed to be working with.

If we somehow did scrape our way up we'd need some kind of Forest level run of signings, we have maybe 4-5 players tops that I think would do ok in the Premier League and otherwise a lot of emergency backups or players to let go

[Ben]

I think a lot of clubs in the playoff hunt will be in the "take the beatings, take the money" scenario. We might even have the unique result of all three going up will be the three to come down. It's hard to bet against Southampton, Bournemouth and Forest/Leicester being the relegated clubs so those that survived are established in the Premier League and will likely invest (West Ham, Leeds) or improve just through having a decent manager in place (Everton, Wolves).

- Burnley have pissed the league but have a lot of loans which will need to be accounted for. They historically don't spend big so unless Kompany gets blood out of stone again then it might be a bit of a reality check for them.
- Sheff Utd have the more stable squad but have a lot of players in that Billy Sharp position of being great in the Championship but out of their depth in the Premier League.
- Luton are just incredible given what they've achieved with what they have but this lot will get schooled weekly in the top division. Guaranteed playoffs and I wouldn't want to be going there.
- Middlesbrough similar to Burnley in that we have a lot of loans in key positions (centre forward, goalkeeper, top assister in the league). In recent times we don't tend to splash out like we used to so would have to get incredibly cute in the transfer market to stay up if we get there as the current crop wouldn't cut it.
- Millwall overachieving like Luton given their budget. You expect them to run out of steam but have done well to stay up there. Would get battered in the top flight without a whole new team, though. They might not even make it as the gap is only 3 points back to Coventry in 9th.
- Blackburn, shite if I'm honest. Went on that crazy run at the start of the season where they never drew a game and they're fizzling out at the wrong time. Won't get in playoffs.
- Preston are a weird one. We thumped them about a month ago and they looked absolute fodder but they've won every game since and got themselves level on points with 5th and 6th.
- Norwich should be in the playoffs given their squad and budget but they've been hot and cold all season even after binning Smith. Away to Boro on Friday night and a loss there will be a big blow. Man for man they've probably got the best "Premier League ready" squad in the playoff hunt but they've just not performed all season.
- Coventry have a chance too as they're on a good run (apart from that crazy loss to Stoke) but we are starting to get into teams that need third party help due to the teams in their way. Like Boro they've had a resurgence from the bottom after a shocking start and that squad will need a lot of help to kick on further.

As a Boro fan, playoffs seem nailed on for us and I've got to be confident in our chances given the playoffs are us, Luton (banana skin admittedly) and then two of, likely, Millwall, Blackburn, Preston and Norwich.

[Waffdon]

Didn’t Burnley spend about £70m? Though admittedly they sold a fair amount of players so not really the owners money.

Apparently they’re willing to pay £30m for Maatsen.

[Ben]

I think their net spend was minus given they sold Pope, Collins, Cornet, McNeil etc.

It would be a big mentality shift for them to start paying big for players with Kompany at the helm when they refused to do it for Dyche. Kompany has even said he had a four-year strategy for them so promotion this season wasn't essential to their plans (whereas apparently West Brom are in big shit with FFP if they don't go up, which they won't).

[wullie]

Feels like Preston have crept into contention under shadow of darkness, I've been looking at all the results around us but they've not been on my radar at all.

I hope with Burnley going up they let Luke McNally join us, he's even been a bit rubbish for us in the last few games on purpose I assume to bring the asking price down. Good lad

[Ben]

Apart from the arse end fodder like Wigan, Blackpool and Reading, Preston were the worst team I've seen this season and that was less than a month ago. Fuck knows how they've turned that around.

[Don]

No Walker against Bayern BLM is a big ol' no-no and hopefully it delivers on its potential.

[Waffdon]

No Muller or Chupo Moting. Tuchel knows.

[SincereTheRebel]

The keeper in the Munich goal looks tiny.

[Waffdon]

Rodri is a proper plur

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What a save by Sommer.

[Manc]

Musiala killing every Bayern attack.

[randomlegend]

1645842115681714209

:lol:

[Waffdon]

Huh

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Bayern are looking so shit defensively.

[Manc]

Nagelsmann will be enjoying this.

[Waffdon]

Bayern are bang average m8 -james-

[Don]

Who tf is stopping these cunts :cry:

[Waffdon]

Nagelsmann will be enjoying this.

Dortmund rolling over yet again has saved him from a horrendous start. Kicked out of two competitions in a week

[Manc]

Yann Sommer is playing in the wrong era.

[niko_cee]

Being a tax haven probably helps.

Yeah, but they shunned that for many years, as they're a bunch of backward eejits (turned it all around with their VAT scams though and zero-ten bullshit). Proper land that time forgot in the 90s, probably more normal now, not been this millenium.

[Ben]

Sommer has had a wild game. Been both brilliant and shit at the same time.

[Spikey M]

1645842115681714209

:lol:

:D

How the fuck did this happen? Surely someone must have asked "erm... is this ok?".

[Spikey M]

Huh

1645844702434869266?t=dET_5H0AypOf6hXY3JfX5Q&s=19

[Yevrah]

I don't understand what the fuss is about.

[Waffdon]

Yeah, neither do I. I thought I was missing something at first lol

[Danny]

Judging by the score it looks like they forgot they were supposed to play

[niko_cee]

Who tf is stopping these cunts :cry:

Probably Napoli or bust at this point.

[Shindig]

Dele Alli is a drug addict. (https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1756730/dele-alli-picture-everton-news)

Imagine if that's the thing that ruined his career. :D

[Adramelch]

Probably Napoli or bust at this point.

We can always get a Real special where they play shit for all 180 minutes and somehow come out on top.

[Baz]

Drug addict =/= n2o

[randomlegend]

I don't understand what the fuss is about.


Yeah, neither do I. I thought I was missing something at first lol

You really think trivialising Alzheimer's (barely short of mocking to be honest) down to "lol we forgot some names" is an appropriate way to raise awareness?

[Ben]

I've just become aware of Ben Foster's YouTube channel. What a helmet.

[Yevrah]

You really think trivialising Alzheimer's (barely short of mocking to be honest) down to "lol we forgot some names" is an appropriate way to raise awareness?

Oh, I'd looked at it as Alzheimer's raising awareness of Women's football.

[Jimmy Floyd]

A propos of very little, but I've just seen that the 'Spain, Portugal and Ukraine' bid for the 2030 World Cup has now been joined by Morocco.

The three bids are therefore:

Spain, Portugal, Ukraine and Morocco
Greece, Egypt and Saudi Arabia
Chile, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay

If the latter doesn't win I might genuinely cry.

[Yevrah]

What the actual fuck is going on with Ukraine, let alone another three countries, standing behind a bid to partially host a World Cup in what is currently a warzone?

Although, I should add that is somehow still better than option 2.

[Bernanke]

That second one is absurd.

[Spikey M]

The South American one is the only one that makes any kind of Geographical sense.

[niko_cee]

Greece, Egypt and Saudi Arabia in the winter it is then.

[niko_cee]

I also see they've announced the stadiums for the UK/Ireland Euros bid and 5live are busy throwing shade on the Glazers claiming only 'state of the art' stadiums have been chosen, which is why OT isn't on the list. That's all well and good, until you see St James', Villa Park and Hampden Park are on the list, none of which are going to be boasting their own cheese room, I wouldn;t have thought. Also didn't realise the capacity of the Spurs Stadium is just over 60k [although not I think about it did they just make it a little bit bigger than Arsenal's?] - I thought it would be more like 70k+ being all newfangled and whatnot.

[Gray Fox]

You have to get the capacity just right. It's all well and good building an 80k seater colosseum, but as the Italian clubs can attest to, it aint all that. You want it full or close to for every game. It becomes a much easier sell to sponsors and your corporate seating too.

[Shindig]

And location. How many stadiums are right in the centre of their respective towns/cities?

[Baz]

Totally Wicked Stadium is. Sort of.

Speaking of which, fancy a tour of St. Helens?


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

[-james-]

Hampden is fucking terrible. Celtic Park or Ibrox would have been way better as well as being incredibly funny.

[Waffdon]

Yeah, should have been Ibrox or Murrayfield (or both). Celtic Park is also a cesspit. Hampden just needs redeveloped or knocked down. The running track absolutely ruins it never mind the lack of tiers.

[Giggles]

The only decent stadium we have isn’t on it. Though I suppose they had to include Lansdowne, but lol if the other one is ready thanks to GS and his mates.

[Shindig]

Has Murrayfield ever been used for football?

[Waffdon]

Hearts have used it multiple times.

[Shindig]

I'd take that over Tynecastle every week. Hell, get Tynecastle demolished.

[Waffdon]

Best ground in Scotland, you gimp.

[Shindig]

It wasn't when I fucking visited. Looked absolutely knackered. :D

[Waffdon]

The Main Stand was a bit grim and outdated but they’ve built a new stand now. Even with the old stand though it was the best. Proper atmosphere and fans right on top of the pitch unlike Hampden.

[Ben]

Camavinga at left back seems like a bit of a waste. They've been doing it a lot this season and they wonder why they're 12 points behind a bang average Barcelona.

[Waffdon]

That goal was always gonna come from Chelsea just giving it away down the sides at the back. They’ve got lucky about 5 times with it going out for throw ins rather than the centre of the pitch.

Sterling lack of ability kicking a ball coming into play there again

[Manc]

Leao is some specimen.

[Waffdon]

Reece James leaving Vini Jnr to Fofana so far isn’t making much sense. He’s gonna get sent off

[Manc]

Milan ripping Napoli to bits.

[Lofty]

Chelsea like an ageing pornstar stuck in a washing machine, whilst Madrid hover behind them with an erection. Put a Madrid front three shots on target bet builder on and it was paid out within half an hour.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What a pointless 45 minutes of pointlessness.

[Waffdon]

The shape has been all over the shop. Lampard might really just have to give up this managerial malarkey. He just seems a bit out his depth.

Can’t be helped with Fofana deciding to put his worst performance of the season in though and the two midgets up front playing for Madrid

[Jimmy Floyd]

We are so shit now that both he and Potter are/were well within their depth.

[niko_cee]

Napoli get rolled over by a bang average Milan side would be the most Napoli thing ever.

It's Real or bust to stop City, which is one of those nuke the stadium style choices. Maybe Lamps can save the day.

[Adramelch]

Napoli get rolled over by a bang average Milan side would be the most Napoli thing ever.

They already did like a week and a half back. I know it was a league game and all and it's a done deal pretty much, but still.

[Ben]

Sterling is just awful in this team.

[niko_cee]

They already did like a week and a half back. I know it was a league game and all and it's a done deal pretty much, but still.

I have absolutely no idea about them, and now see Osimhen is injured. Is that the big thing? On paper their team always looks a bit shite, but they seemed to overcome that. Perhaps things are leveling out at the wrong point in time.

[Waffdon]

This Felix performance is something else

[niko_cee]

Presumably this is why no one is really interested in Felix as a player.

The demise of 'Razza' is really quite sad. Had the potential to do anything when he was young, and it's been a steady descent ever since.

[Gray Fox]

Surprised Mane punching Sane hasn't been made more of. The boy was a saint when he was at Anfield.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Not sure that was the brightest, what was the chances of him scoring, 60% tops?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Chelsea in trouble now.

[Waffdon]

Jesus :face:

The defending from Cucurella at first and then Chilwell going full retard. The former is arguably the worst signing of all time.

[Waffdon]

This is the one time you want Gallagher or Mount on with their running about but he decides to bring another defender on lol

[Waffdon]

Kepa conceding another goal from outside the box. Just bin all the Spanish wankers at the club. They’re useless

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Bullshit red for Anguissa.

[Bernanke]

That's an extremely weak total red for Anguissa.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://dubz.co/video/adb6a6

First was pretty soft but a yellow for that is shocking.

[Bernanke]

First was soft but not too bad, could have been a foul by Tonali just before it as well though? Adding it all up over 5 minutes it's complete bollocks.

[Bernanke]

Hernandez is such a cunt.

[Adramelch]

Another win for Gateshead and they are now 9 points clear off the relegation zone with a game in hand. You're slipping Shindig

[Shindig]

13 points off the play-offs, 18 points left to win.

[Spikey M]

We are much 3 or 4 points away I think, but it doesn't really matter. Wrexham and Notts County will be the 2 that go up.

[Shindig]

Aye, although coming into it with 11 straight wins would be special.

[John Arne]

Fuck the world football thread...

Ho Chi Minh City FC v Binh Dinh tonight. We are shit, we are bottom, we are going to get relegated.

https://gyazo.com/04e033c61abbb2cfef3a324a0426af4f.jpeg

[Kikó]

Spalletti is a great manager. Hope he can turn that second leg around.

I don't understand Chelsea. They literally don't have a forward and not in a barca mate kind of way.

[Don]

Fuck the world football thread...

Ho Chi Minh City FC v Binh Dinh tonight. We are shit, we are bottom, we are going to get relegated.

https://gyazo.com/04e033c61abbb2cfef3a324a0426af4f.jpeg

Get in the travel thread, you melt.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1646589477446471695

:cool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sabitzer deserves to be made permanent.

[Dark Soldier]

Martial best forward in the world ebony don big dick slurp etc

[Lofty]

This Darren Ambrose stuff about Warnock has to be a wind up?

[Shindig]

"He was a chiropodist and he used to do my feet, he would not let anyone else trim my toenails and stuff, he would do it. He would have his little glasses and white coat and a bag of nail tools and he would do my feet.

:uhoh:


"If it was raining, he would have an umbrella and pull me out of training so the rest would get wet and I would be under the umbrella. We would all have a bargain bucket [from KFC], but they would make whoever was going to get it, he'd make them get me hot wings, I was the only one who was allowed hot wings - just me and him."

Erm .... okay.

[Manc]

Jose Mourinho has the look of a man who knows he's moving on to bigger and better things come the summer. Let it be Chelsea.

[Lewis]

Malacia single-handedly letting Sevilla back into this the gimp.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I turned it off at half time...

[Don]

The lols continue.

[Ben]

That's a magnificent header from Maguire. :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

I have to admit, this morning I hold my hands up to Boehly. Enzo Fernandez signing a one-year contract extension to take him from 2031 to 2032 is brilliant both in comedic value and comedic timing.

[Ian]

Well he had to celebrate Chelsea's 3-0 win over Real somehow.

[John Arne]

Think of the juicy huge FFP offsets.... oh, it's less than $2m a year :D

Worth it.

[niko_cee]

No further action against Unnamed Premier League Foolballersson over that suspected child sex business.

[Shindig]

That sure took an awfully long time to investigate.

[Giggles]

Get on Shels vs Rovers. Decent quality.

[Giggles]

Duff the manager too. Strange one, got no credit because of his nationality as a player where robben was covered in British spunk. Not half the player.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He was far better for us on average than Robben was. Absolutely bossed the 04/05 season including the Barcelona tie we won.