June football: Nothing to see here

[Gray Fox]

The needle has already moved. In the 00's/10's we had billionaire businessmen/oligarchs.

Now it is countries/the wealth of entire nations, where limits do not apply.

[Offshore Toon]

Football is pretty shit these days. Ten years ago, I'd be travelling over as much as possible to witness Newcastle become the next big thing, but it feels a bit damp. I don't even think we can be accused of buying anything currently either as we've just made some great decisions and ultimately had plenty of luck with it. Everything just feels stale and anything they try to do to fix that just damages the sport further.

[Lewis]

In the same way United broke football with their super dominance based on having the most money?

The period when United had the biggest revenues overlapped them being run properly, so they couldn't/wouldn't actually piss loads of money up the wall like Spanish and Italian teams did. They didn't even out-spend domestic rivals most years.

[Giggles]

The amount of hurt on Twitter is glorious.

[Luke Emia]

The period when United had the biggest revenues overlapped them being run properly, so they couldn't/wouldn't actually piss loads of money up the wall like Spanish and Italian teams did. They didn't even out-spend domestic rivals most years.

This is true to be fair to United. If Liverpool had been run anything like properly in the nineties United would have had a much tougher time of it.

I was listening to a podcast the other day and it summed it up perfectly. If Liverpool/United/Arsenal sign a 60/70 million player it has to work out see Sancho, possibly Nunez, Keita, Pepe, Pogba and Maguire for good examples of what can happen. They are lumbered with them and can’t get rid.

If City make a mistake it’s a never mind and they just go out and do it again. That’s how it distorts football, in the 90’s yes United could spend more on players than other clubs but if they got it wrong they will still stuck with them.

[Spikey M]

Glad I bothered going to the pub for that. :yawn:

[igor_balis]

I really hope City go on to break the sport and we all turn off in our droves.

Since losing interest in West Brom, which was sorta the emotional anchor in me caring about football more generally, I've very slowly realised that I don't really like football in a purely sporting and aesthetic sense that much.

it's prob just sunk cost fallacy by this point that keeps me watching. I watched the Notts Derbyshire t20 blast game the other day and realised I enjoyed it more than almost every premier league game I watched this season. Honestly think posting on this fucking place is probably not an insignificant factor in keeping me vaguely interested in football.

I really don't think it would take much for me to just stop paying attention entirely, and City winning everything will certainly help.

[igor_balis]

That's a question for everyone else actually - how much does everyone actually like football? As in, the game itself, trying to separate all the other cultural and contextual stuff like following a team and all that?

Previously I'd have been like obviously it's just objectively the best sport, but now I don't give a shit about it, I find it far less interesting than a lot of other sports which I never cared about.

[Baz]

I go on my phone a lot during most matches.

But when watching rugby, I don't look at my phone at all.

[Shindig]

The only time I regularly watch games in their entirety are the major international tournaments. I'll listen to Newcastle matches but that gives me a chance to do something else.

[Don]

I would normally tell you homos to find yourselves a separate thread but no, crack on, take July's thread too.

[niko_cee]

Football on tv is largely shite, and no one can be expected to sit through it giving it their undivided attention.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's got a lot worse since analytics and will get a lot worse yet.

[Kikó]

I love the game of football and mostly it's because I play and still want to play until my legs don't allow me to. In the past year I've managed to get to 9 different games and I've enjoyed it - to misquote Sean, it's not about football though but being with friends who you haven't seen in a while.

[niko_cee]

I was listening to a podcast the other day and it summed it up perfectly. If Liverpool/United/Arsenal sign a 60/70 million player it has to work out see Sancho, possibly Nunez, Keita, Pepe, Pogba and Maguire for good examples of what can happen. They are lumbered with them and can’t get rid.

If City make a mistake it’s a never mind and they just go out and do it again. That’s how it distorts football, in the 90’s yes United could spend more on players than other clubs but if they got it wrong they will still stuck with them.

This is hardly a hot take, and whilst true to an extent, it is also the case that City's major rivals [in financial terms] have been chronically mismanaged over their period of dominance [United and Chelsea]. They have both spent loads of money year on year [perhaps not City levels, but large sums] and got not much for it - so it isn't ALL about money.

Yes, City can sign players like Stones, Ake, Phillips year on year and have them do absolutely nothing for ages, but they do tend to come good in the end, which is probably a testment to both Guardiola's coaching and the good old tenet of TIME. In reality have they had that many bad ones? They seem to dodge so many bullets, whether by good fortune or design. I'm sure they were heavily linked with players like Fred, Jorginho, Maguire, Cucurella, before 'losing out' on them and not being lumbered with costly wastemen. Holding a team together at such a high level for so many years is also not just down to money. It has to be acknowledged, albeit begrudgingly, that they've done a phenomenal job there, even if the manager is a prick, the style of football is meh and the ownership is unpalatable. Perhaps the only redeeming thing about City is that the only City fans I know are all old men and so have clearly done the hard yards of being a football fan, so it's easier to accept a little bit of happiness for them.

I suppose it rankles a little bit more as a Liverpool fan as City have basically squashed what should probably have been a [more] golden period under Klopp [I mean, they have won everything under his management] on what is a comparative shoestring [95% of football fans saying spare me the sob story at this], but that's just the model of football we've been saddled with since it's inception in 1992.

Hopefully, having won the treble, they now fall apart.

[Lewis]

If Sir Alex Ferguson had a weakness - and it was probably more to do with the ownership structures than him - it was that he never kept building once his teams were on top. In 1999 they should have bought two top, top defenders and somebody with a bit of midfield/attack versatility (even accounting for it barely being a squad game then); but they bought Mikael Silvestre and Quinton Fortune. Then again, he was allowed to spend a bit in 2008 and wasted it on Berbatoss, so maybe it was his choice.

[Waffdon]

Julian Alvarez has won 13 trophies all coming in 13 different completions in under 200 appearances. That’s gotta be some sort of record?

Marcos Alonso has 8, can’t think of anyone else who’d be closer.

[Shindig]

Kingsley Coman? Nevermind, he's been picking up mostly Bundestrophies.

[Waffdon]

He’s not far off on different conpetitions but won Bundesliga about 5 times in a row.

[Giggles]

:D he probably doesn't even realise.

1667514353770455040

[Giggles]

I see Tom Cannon has picked you lot. Would he even get more than a couple of caps there?

[Raoul Duke]

Julian Alvarez has won 13 trophies all coming in 13 different completions in under 200 appearances. That’s gotta be some sort of record?

Marcos Alonso has 8, can’t think of anyone else who’d be closer.

Pedro or one of the Barca/Spain win everything crew?

[niko_cee]

That pic above looks a lot like a Klan rally at first glance.

[John Arne]

I see Tom Cannon has picked you lot. Would he even get more than a couple of caps there?

Given I've never heard of him, probably not.

[niko_cee]

Born: December 28, 2002 (age 20 years), Aintree, Liverpool, United Kingdom

[Jimmy Floyd]

Better off with us, he'll never get in the republic's team ahead of Ferguson.

[Giggles]

He'd be 50 caps for us and 2 for you. Though his decision and with my thoughts on international soccer then I'd have no disappointments if he picks his own country.

[Bam]

He'd be 50 caps for us and 2 for you. Though his decision and with my thoughts on international soccer then I'd have no disappointments if he picks his own country.

What like Rice?

[randomlegend]

That latex dress is bold

[randomlegend]

I appreciate I'm not doing my feminist credentials any good with these two posts after each other, but the female professionals on Soccer Aid are worse than most of the celebrities

[Giggles]

What like Rice?

At the time of Rices switch he was already being linked with moves to big clubs and fully expected to walk straight into the England first 11. Slight bit of a difference.

[John Arne]

Stevie G off to Ettifaq FC....

[-james-]

I cant believe England are playing fucking Malta this week. They should have called up "Tom Cannon" and whoever scored the most goals in league one.

[randomlegend]

1668312957560946688

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's because no one was there to hand out plastic flags.

[Shindig]

All the MASSIVE fans are lining the bus route (just barely), you pillock.

[niko_cee]

All the [new] City fans live in the home counties.

[Baz]

I don't understand.. what's wrong with Wigan Athletic fans?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They're rugby fans.

[randomlegend]

Apparently the news agency which Jassim Al Thani's Dad owns is reporting the Qatari bid was successful.

Looks like it's legit but who knows.

[phonics]

Even if accepted, if this is allowed to pass and they can still hold ownership of PSG then we may as well call it a day for the sport.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I might be done.

[Dark Soldier]

Drench me in the blood money :drool:

[randomlegend]

Either the Qatar bid has succeeded, or some idiots on Twitter betting on it on the stock market has tricked the BBC economics editor Faisal Islam into thinking it's happening which would be incredible :D

[niko_cee]

Think I could cope with Sheikh Jassim turning up with Mbappe in his luggage [not like that] if for nothing other than the meltdown it would bring from Tebas/Madrid.

[Lewis]

Is 'Sheikh Jassim' a real person? Not as in is it actually his hard-earned money, because obviously it isn't, but as in does that man you see in photographs actually exist? Every picture of him looks like what a Tunisian scammer would use to rinse a widow.

[niko_cee]

All part of the glorious return of the News of the World.

[Lofty]

As much as it is fun to lol at that video there were plenty of people there when it got going as evidenced by live tv reporting and my work panicking over the amount of strain being placed on the transport network.

[Kikó]

Is 'Sheikh Jassim' a real person? Not as in is it actually his hard-earned money, because obviously it isn't, but as in does that man you see in photographs actually exist? Every picture of him looks like what a Tunisian scammer would use to rinse a widow.

Apparently if you search for his name in arabic there are loads of pics.

[Baz]

Apparently if you search for his name in arabic there are loads of pics.

كبير القضيب شعر ضخمة

[Offshore Toon]

He looks just like Giggles in those pics.

[-james-]

1668686939338186753

I love him

[Baz]

Seeing him described as a walking Benidorm cracked me up.

[Spikey M]

He's basically Gazza. Post career meltdown and addiction problems guaranteed.

[Waffdon]

Without the woman beating part.

[Baz]

And everyone loves Gazza.

[niko_cee]

Gazza for the modern age maybe. Namely with most of the fun and excitement removed.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Gazza in this era would not be anywhere near professional football, or if he was he would no longer be Gazza.

[Don]

Very strange this as his greatest vids so far seem to have been drunkenly stumbling off a plane and pointing at a tasty gash from on top of a bus. The lols he's getting are an indictment of society.

[randomlegend]

He seems like the kind of person Wafflez went with to get his shit tattoo.

[Don]

Oh and nearly forgot the gammon angle, imagine Yaya or Pogba celebrating in this manner even without the lockdown drink driving charges, they'd be labelled sex-pests and sent back to the cotton fields. Instead, haha look at our charming white knight, great banter from the cutie.

[Offshore Toon]

I wonder what he's seshing to escape from. I bet his family put shitloads of pressure on him.

[Baz]

tbh I hope he comes out with addiction problems and knocks it all on the head. Kids absolutely love him, and he'd be a great "say no to drugs and booze" spokesman. Especially if it stems from some deep adverse childhood effects stuff. :drool:

[-james-]

He's not mental like Gazza and I don't think he has any real addiction/substance issues. Can turn it on and off like all kings can.

[Offshore Toon]

If he was fully in control of it he wouldn't have been drink driving a few years ago.

[Offshore Toon]

I'm basing the family thing solely off his uncle being a demanding cunt when Villa went to Brighton, but I reckon there's something there. If the rest of his family are like that, you know they've got their hands out constantly. I think Grealish is a decent bloke that would try to provide to everyone he could, but that shit weighs heavy and I'm just glad Almiron came out on top.

[randomlegend]

Have you just read a psychology book or something?

[Offshore Toon]

Just got the shits atm and bored.

[CJay]

£59 for the year for Viaplay is a pretty good deal (ends 20th June). It has all the Euros (and Nations League) plus La Liga. Few other random things thrown in too.

[Don]

Brother for that price you could have the [pirate] world.

Turned on to see our boy have a spaz attack. Croatia still doing bits with an average age of 63.7.

[CJay]

Weghorst’s inexplicable appearances at the top level of football continue. :cab:

[CJay]

Tasty ending. :cool: Lang with a 96th minute volleyed equaliser for 2-2.

[Don]

Oh Tyrell :D

[Waffdon]

Has there been a bigger fall off than Van Dijk?

[CJay]

Quality game. Hoping for similar scenes tomorrow night.

[Gray Fox]

The FIXTURE REVEAL is coming up today.

Liverpool have tended to get a bit samey fixtures lately. City at home in October then away in March time, Wolves on the last day, the derby in December etc.
I'm hoping for a nice change. Like that time we had Arsenal away first game up.

We have however asked for at least our first game to be away from home so it's almost guaranteed we've got Luton away first up.

[niko_cee]

Chelsea and Newcastle away in the first week or so.

At least we'll know whether it's worth bothering with the season by the end of August I guess.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I honestly think Chelsea are going down or coming close, and starting Liverpool - West Ham away - Luton will be 1 point from 9.

[randomlegend]

https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/manchester-united-negotiating-exclusivity-with-qatars-sheikh-jassim-6-bln-plus-2023-06-15/?utm_source=reddit.com


Exclusive: Manchester United negotiating exclusivity with Qatar's Sheikh Jassim in $6 bln-plus sale talks-sources

Grim.

[Dark Soldier]

Cannot fucking wait. The whole game is fucking corrupt and washed with blood money. Let's have it.

[Baz]

Especially if they go full Chel$ki and buy loads. :nod:

[Giggles]

Why is there nations league on when there's qualifiers underway? I thought this shit was just to replace friendlies in between?

[Kikó]

https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/manchester-united-negotiating-exclusivity-with-qatars-sheikh-jassim-6-bln-plus-2023-06-15/?utm_source=reddit.com



Grim.

I'm done when it's official.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

TTH Meet 2023 at an FCUM match?

[Ben]

Spain with two frogs in the centre of defence.

[Kikó]

TTH Meet 2023 at an FCUM match?

I've been meaning to get to Broadhurst Park for years.

[Giggles]

Spain with two frogs in the centre of defence.

I see better defending every Friday night over here than that number 18 put up on that disallowed goal.

[Giggles]

Why do Man Utd expect to think they're above it? The sport is gone, just get with the program if you want to keep up.

Debatable whether yank billionaires are better morally than the dust dwellers anyway.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'd rather be done with the sport than getting with the program.

[Kikó]

Just get with it man.

[Giggles]

:D no you won't be. Stop being dramatic.

[Offshore Toon]

A bunch of brown men hoovering up clubs to gift fans with pragmatism really is a product of issues much bigger than any of us can do anything about. Don't wear the weight of the world on your shoulders, Keeks. Get yerself a white gown and get ready for your first informal beheading.

[Giggles]

When you've a club you're massively bonded to from childhood in about 6 different countries then you can afford to lose one I suppose.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I found it quite possible to support the team while knowing your owner was bad news. It's when you try to twist truth and claim your owner is actually good news that the mental gymnastics come in.

The bigger issue is football in general being bought up by state wealth funds, rather than any particular club having it happen.

[Don]

Bow down to the muslim cock, please.

[Ian]

I'm with Mahow and Kiko on this. I can probably live with being owned by A Cunt because nobody who's not a tucking bastard can afford United but being owned by a state who mandate racism / homophobia / misogyny/ murder/ whatever is a different issue.

Maybe when it's announced I'll be like "oh hey I don't care!" but I don't think so.

[Kikó]

I found it quite possible to support the team while knowing your owner was bad news. It's when you try to twist truth and claim your owner is actually good news that the mental gymnastics come in.

The bigger issue is football in general being bought up by state wealth funds, rather than any particular club having it happen.

Maybe. The glazers were hard enough and took me long enough to come back to the table. I think I'll do the odd Euro away but I'm not sure I can be doing with the sport washing and defending off Qatar by United fans.

[Shindig]

Honestly, the Saudi money being spent on the likes of Anthony Gordon is the best twist I could've imagined for us. Man Utd's such a big club already that the money might not produce seismic change. Although things are probably different with big spending rivals (and err... countrymen?) down the road.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think they've been pretty sensible building it gradually, you don't want to end up as Winterfell-St-Germain with a load of lazy fucks on 250,000 a week.

[Shindig]

Joselu's going to wind up a national hero at this rate.

[Waffdon]

Lol at Southgate taking Colwill out of the u21 squad just to make him travel to malta and not make the bench

[niko_cee]

Getting him used to his future life at Chelsea.

[randomlegend]

1669639788658409472

Banger tweet.

[Lewis]

Saudi Arabia,[d] officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA),[e] is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about 2,150,000 km2 (830,000 sq mi), making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest...

[Giggles]

Cannon may have actually started this evening if he's had to resort to Idah.

[Gray Fox]

Trent wearing 10 for England.

Gareth the fucking coward finally doing it.

[Giggles]

What's the record on corners in a row? I think Greece had 6 in a few minutes there.

[Manc]

Pure filth from TAA.

[wullie]

Where's Michael Mifsud?

[Giggles]

VAR is the worst thing to ever happen the sport.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I remember us having trouble once in Malta, probably under Keegan, and probably at this time of year as I remember being at the Oval during it.

[phonics]

Was that not Macedonia? I remember alot of trouble with some team that had an orange flag.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah, that was under Sven. Malta we had trouble in what turns out to be an away warm-up friendly for Euro 2000 (what?) and needed a Heskey winner to snatch it 2-1.

[niko_cee]

Was 2000 the disastrous Dutch one?

Writing was obviously on the wall from the warm ups if so.

[Giggles]

Mikey Johnson, another piss and wind Scot. Lovely.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Cheer up Giggles, it could be worse, you could be Wales.

[Giggles]

The FAI seem to think Carsley will take over. Definitely can't see it.

[Gray Fox]

Martin Tyler gone from Sky coverage before the season. Geoff Shreeves gone from the touchline too.

[Waffdon]

A win pretty much will secure top 2 for Scotland today so Clarke will play for the draw and get beat 2-0.

[Waffdon]

Watching Lyndon Dykes is utterly depressing

[-james-]

IMAGINE doubting Steve Clarke's Scotland

[Kikó]

Aye it is 😂

[-james-]

Watching Lyndon Dykes is utterly depressing

:cool:

[Waffdon]

He is horrible when up there on his own. Not really his fault. Great touch there though

[Waffdon]

Referee has been a disgrace

[Waffdon]

Be harder to not qualify from this position. Spain will need to try hard against Georgia and norway just to make sure they qualify

[Offshore Toon]

What a night of football with that Scotland comeback and Joelinton scoring the opener on his debut. Maybe football isn't shit after all. :cool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1670186809341407233

How is he a professional footballer?

[Shindig]

Did he have a bet on for next scorer that wasn't him?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why are Brazil playing Guinea? Was no one else available?

[Giggles]

Brazil and Argentina are normally for hire for friendlies aren't they? Guinea must have got a few bob somewhere.

[-james-]

Peter Drury replacing Martin Tyler on Sky Sports. I cancelled my subscription the other day and the probability of me coming crawling back just ticked up a bit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He veers from sublime to ridiculous. Better than all the other modern day pricks with their stats packs, though. Wordsmith.

[phonics]

He’s so overrated. Alliteration should be novel for 8 year olds. Anything’s better than ‘and it’s live!’ though.

[John Arne]

This co-commentator in the Italy-Netherlands game is so annoying. Everything she says is just after-eventing.

Also, Netherlands are shit.

[Gray Fox]

The Dutch team is the worse I remember it being for quite some time, if ever.

Frenkie De Jong is obviously good and I'll still say Virgil will be a lot closer to his best after he gets a rest. Ake is good too.

Beyond that, what? De Ligt isn't there. Gakpo, Malacia and Timber fall into the shows good promise category, but then it's either they're too crap or they're past it.

[Waffdon]

Van Dijk is one of their biggest weaknesses. He’s been absolutely awful for them.

It’s a shame Botman and Ake are both left footed.

[Don]

Man said Malacia shows good promise :lol:

[John Arne]

Both commentators now suggesting that the now disallowed Netherlands goal came from a "very smart and unique free kick".... the guy shot and it was blocked, and fell to a Dutch player.

[Baz]

Is Koopmeiners playing? I rate him.

[Waffdon]

1670492385208422407

Is that even legal? Paramount are literally a partner of the PL as well as they have the rights in Mexico lol

[Gray Fox]

They're also not in competition in the UK with either of the two broadcasters we have. I doubt even Amazon would care either.

[Baz]

Maybe they’re mad about them cancelling the Workaholics movie.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65948357

Former Netherlands striker Quincy Promes has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for stabbing his cousin in the knee.

The incident took place at a family party in July 2020 and the Spartak Moscow forward was found guilty of assault by a Dutch court.

lol.

He's also been prosecuted for smuggling 1,360KG of Cocaine (not a typo) into the Netherlands and Belgium.

[Ben]

I did wonder at the time why he scarpered back to Russia.

[Dark Soldier]

O'Neil sacked by Bournemouth apparently. That's an odd one.

[Ben]

They must have someone decent lined up. We did something similar with Southgate years ago. Shouldn't have had the job in the first place but then had us 2nd in the league and we sacked him straight after beating Derby 2-0, because we had Strachan lined up. Set us back about 10 years.

[-james-]

Give them the benefit of the doubt on this one tbh. Can't imagine clubs are going to be lining up to hire O'Neil.

[Dark Soldier]

Laugh my arse off if they end up with Lampard

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65954183

It's Andoni Iraola.

[Shindig]

11th In La Liga? Alright, mate. See you at Wolves in six months.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bit of a risk for him. Guess he fancies the Poch route in, but Bournemouth are tinpot as fuck.

[Don]

Geezer seems like he knows what he's doing. Also 1 less gammon setting up his fucking lifeless team in whatever formation everyone else seems to be playing and throwing up Hail Marys. The managerial talent in the league is outrageous.

[niko_cee]

My first reaction to that was why have they appointed an agent and isn't he dead?

[Baz]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65954183

It's Andoni Iraola.
Falcao to Bournemouth?

[Boydy]

1670764779642712066

[Shindig]

He also had a Nile Ranger face tattoo which really, really completes the look.

[Giggles]

Middle eastern filth.

1670844402900582400

[niko_cee]

Probably award the two Arab teams 3-0 default wins.

[Giggles]

More than likely, they own the sport now.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It'll be interesting what prompts the contradictions to come to light around this sort of thing, in the sense that Arab culture is fundamentally about rich men dominating over women and slaves, that is or should be a problem in the wider world, but we're not yet ready to have that argument. There's a big clash between e.g. the New Zealand twitter account calling it out, and old school left over here who think anyone opposed to America = great guys. I think if Israel qualify for the World Cup that would do the trick. We should contrive to make it happen.

[Giggles]

I think the only good thing that will come from this game tonight is that it's Ferguson's 3rd cap.

[Giggles]

Obafemi looks as sharp as a beach ball.

[Foe]

Was iraola mad good on an old football manager or something? I recognise the name as a top RB despite the stats suggesting he otherwise.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I reckon he was a big time D/WB/AM R at some point. Not sure if that ever converted to real life deliverance. 406 goes around for Athletic and 7 Spain caps suggests maybe unlucky to coincide with *checks notes* Juanfran? Maybe not.

[Boydy]

He was brilliant in FM 2005 if I'm remembering right.

[Gray Fox]

I definitely remember buying him for Liverpool in the early FM games.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's some goal.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

lol at Kane being a selfish cunt and taking that penalty (it wasn't a penalty) before he was subbed off.

[Lewis]

He was brilliant in FM 2005 if I'm remembering right.

He was but they never accepted reasonable bids for him.

[Foe]

Hampden a swamp.

[Gray Fox]

I've heard from a reliable guy that Liverpools stand expansion is behind schedule and maybe even up to a month delayed. They haven't announced it yet as they're talking to the Premier League about what to do.

[Waffdon]

God, the things I’d do to see a decent striker/winger play for us

[SincereTheRebel]

He was brilliant in FM 2005 if I'm remembering right.

Is there an old database where you can look at players from FM and there screenshots?

[Waffdon]

McTominay is proper quality as a box to box midfielder. Or has been for Scotland anyway since being pushed on. 5 goals in 4 qualifying games :cool:

[Foe]

Should just accept his transfer to Everton this summer and become the new Michael Gibson.

Need to survive this next 35 minutes and then hopefully, it’s a case of applying for everyone ticket going for the euros. Mon.

[Lewis]

His best stuff for United has been when he's been able to get forward a bit and crash through people, because he is a proper athlete and he can finish reasonably well. What he definitely isn't is a holding midfielder.

[randomlegend]

He's pretty good against shite team where he doesn't have any pressure on him in midfield, but he's useless against good teams.

[Waffdon]

Donned Spain though :cool:

[Waffdon]

That being given as a penalty is such a joke

[Shindig]

Four straight qualifying wins seems like something Scotland have maybe done once.

[Waffdon]

Won 6 on the bounce in the last qualifications to finish 2nd

[Don]

Brazil and Germany in the mud was good fun but Malaysia 10-0 Papa New Guinea is the highlight today. Get the betfair charts up.

[Shindig]

Won 6 on the bounce in the last qualifications to finish 2nd

Oh, yeah. I forgot about Euro 2020.

[Manc]

This England U21 team is a bit mental. Seven midfielders on the pitch and not a single one who can defend.

[Waffdon]

Can’t believe Max Aarons is still eligible for that. Feels like he’s been around for years

[niko_cee]

Showing how little I know about these thing, I had no idea that Madueke [presumably the Chelsea one?] was English.

What the fuck is that England team anyway? No forwards?

[Manc]

Angel Gomes anchoring midfield is a sight to behold.

[Waffdon]

Buzzing to stream all of RC Strasbourg‘s games from next season onwards. :cool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've been there, a real contender for the most boring place in Europe.

[Kikó]

The same football owners owning multiple clubs is another sign of the times.

[Manc]

It's nothing new. The Pozzos have been at it for yonks.

[Manc]

Well worth checking out the highlights of France v Italy. Belting game.

[Baz]

City would probably still comfortably win the league with that James Trafford in net.

[Don]

Cherki has come on here with the biggest big-dick energy I've seen for a long long time. We're talking possible Zidane regen levels here, the vision is ridiculous.

[Lewis]

He looks about as nineteen as Zidane as well.

[randomlegend]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-66002380


He said his teammates called him donkey because they were aware of his affection for the animals, and because they are intelligent.

:D

I'm assuming that bit is old news but I hadn't seen it before.

[Don]

Manc linked to the guardian article 3 months ago, you waste of space.

[Manc]

The future not looking too bright for our German counterparts.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I might be asking the wrong questions here, but why the fuck are Qatar playing in the Concacaf Gold Cup? There isn't even a WC to prepare for or any upcoming hosting to bung for.

They are also coached by Carlos Queiroz and started with defeat to Haiti.

[Don]

I'm more fascinated by why the big 3 (Qatar too) are sending B-teams and went all-in on the Nations League a couple weeks ago. Didn't Gold Cup used to be the big regional tournament?

I watched a few games and Haiti's attackers are pure bulls, the likes of which would have a long and profitable career smashing old white American wives on camera :drool: Thierry Ambrose (ex-City youth player) was runnings rings around Canada the other day for Guadeloupe. Jamaica is England C so I fancy them to win it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was alerted to the tournament's existence via the fourth Jamaican goal in last night's win being scored by 'Whisper' Richards, whom we signed in March straight from Kingston College and I'm not talking the one in south west London. That in turn alerted me to his highlight reel, and what a football scene this seems to be: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtM9_iaX8Wg

[niko_cee]

Some top quality goalkeeping going on in there.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

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

What the fuck?

[Spikey M]

Must have been one hell of a fight.

[Ben]

1674275459821969408

[Gray Fox]

Liverpool have concluded the trail of rail seating was successful and are installing some in the Kop as well as I think the new Anfield road end.

With them essentially signing off on it, expect it to roll out to the rest of the league too.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Cardiff City has been ordered to pay Nantes the transfer balance for Emiliano Sala, who died in a plane crash before he could play for the Welsh side.

The BBC has been told that Fifa has told the Championship club to pay more than €11m (£9.45m).

That covers the last two instalments of the €17m agreed between the clubs.

Meanwhile, French prosecutors have confirmed several employees of FC Nantes have been arrested.

The beautiful game.

[Yevrah]

Are those two things linked, if so, how?

[randomlegend]

Presumably the Nantes employees were involved in/knew about the extremely dodgy circumstances surrounding the flight/plane.

[SincereTheRebel]

Fabregas has retired

[Manc]

Some goal from our boys.

[Shindig]

Anthony Wor Don. :cool: