November Football: sponsored by Saudi 2034

[Ian]

The rights to this month's football thread have been purchased by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,. If you cannot see the poll then I'm afraid the government considers you an undesirable and your opinion not worthy of consideration. Or even pretending to consider.

Please become a fan of.your nearest Saudi-owned football team with immediate effect. It'll make things easier for you in the long run.

[Shindig]

Howay Allah ...ds.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I wondered why I was getting reports of 1,000 solid gold tankards being delivered to the Hamilton area.

[John Arne]

نحن نثق في Dario Gradi، طاقم فائق

[Kikó]

Everything about this thread has been well organised and I can only say positive things about this months thread.

[Gray Fox]

This is blatant post-washing right under our very noses.

[Spikey M]

Why are you bringing noses in to this?

[John Arne]

I have an idea for a new forum, and hear my out here. Rather than having a forum full of lots of differing threads and spread out everywhere in different sub-forums, we streamline and just have one thread down the middle; everything contained within a single thread boundary. And no cars.

[Kikó]

We've already sorted out the no women part.

[Don]

Brits crying about human rights injustices carried out by Saudis doesn't quite hit the same recently :harold:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I actually saw someone wearing an Al-Nassr shirt last week.

I assumed he'd have Ronaldo on the back but weirdly it was Alex Telles...

[niko_cee]

Was it actually Alex Telles?

[Jimmy Floyd]

We're playing Blackburn Rovers FC tonight in the Coca-Cola. Draw opening up, Port Vale and Middlesbrough in the hat, 4 more PL sides will go out tonight. Might be the last time I see us win a trophy. Can't wait to see how we fuck it up.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It was not.

I assume the guy is Brazilian though as he was wearing a Brazil shirt a couple of days later. No idea if there was a name on the back.

[Ian]

I wondered why I was getting reports of 1,000 solid gold tankards being delivered to the Hamilton area.

They are solid though so there's no space to fill 'em with the good stuff. :(

[phonics]

We've given this game to West Ham with that own goal. They're shit and doing nothing but the score means it doesn't matter. Meanwhile I have to listen to Alan Smith bang on about how Havertz should come off at half time despite him being the only player on either team to have any effect on the game.

[randomlegend]

Reguilon looks like he should be called Simon and fix printers.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Wonder whether baldy has the gumption to take Hannibal off before half time, looks like he could be sent off at literally any moment.

[Gray Fox]

Sideways rain in Bournemouth tonight. As soon as the ball comes off the ground it's all going to shit for both teams. The type of game you could easily see said wind take one over a keepers head from a long clearance.

[Waffdon]

Sterling with one of the worst halves of football you’ll ever see. Holy fuck.

[Jimmy Floyd]

For those who grew up watching Man U win everything for decades, this team is just such a joy to watch. Appalling players, appallingly coached, it's a wonderful thing to see.

[Gray Fox]

It's like watching current day Ferrari. You were absolutely sick of the sight of them in the late 90's/early 2000's however now seem to be in a constant desire to see in which new way they can fuck it up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Absolutely incredible that we let Lewis Hall go. Incredible.

[Lewis]

I've been watching this exact performance for years, which makes you wonder what exactly could rectify it.

[phonics]

Absolutely incredible that we let Lewis Hall go. Incredible.

It's so perfectly football to create rules to theoretically stop teams spending money only for those rules to encourage the sales of youth products to fund the purchase of dross in practice.

[Waffdon]

Two dons who should still be at Chelsea destroying Man Utd. How nice.

[phonics]

I've been watching this exact performance for years, which makes you wonder what exactly could rectify it.

I've said it for a couple of years. You need to bomb out 60-70% of the squad and rebuild the culture. Arteta went from a squad of 27 to 14 and we had to pay half of them to fuck off but it was worth it.

[Luke Emia]

For those who grew up watching Man U win everything for decades, this team is just such a joy to watch. Appalling players, appallingly coached, it's a wonderful thing to see.

Can’t get bored of it.

Even in the past few years where they have had slight upticks it’s only been down to one or two players going on a tear up. Bruno in 20/21 and Rashford last season.

[Yevrah]

I've said it for a couple of years. You need to bomb out 60-70% of the squad and rebuild the culture. Arteta went from a squad of 27 to 14 and we had to pay half of them to fuck off but it was worth it.

Agree with this completely, but the fact that Maguire's still there suggests the hierarchy will never let anyone do that.

[Gray Fox]

Liverpool wobbling. Big chance for a non top 4 winner here if the game goes on this way. It's near impossible for the team playing into the wind.

[Don]

Brav, please. Those Lewandowski comparisons are doing him a disservice.

[Baz]

For those who grew up watching Man U win everything for decades, this team is just such a joy to watch. Appalling players, appallingly coached, it's a wonderful thing to see.It is very amusing.

Not sure it’s quite at the lol levels of peak Mourinho though, although maybe the Jose factor helped to amplify the amusement.

[Kikó]

I've said it for a couple of years. You need to bomb out 60-70% of the squad and rebuild the culture. Arteta went from a squad of 27 to 14 and we had to pay half of them to fuck off but it was worth it.

We tried but half the squad are on inflated contracts so no one wants to buy them and they don't want to leave.

[Don]

Also, this Alex Scott geezer has some fucking aura. Saw one 2 second clip of him on MOTD where he got the ball in midfield and was pure calmness as he did a stepover and won a freekick. In this game he's already doing prime Douglas Luiz direct corner-kick efforts and tackling some world class players. Ridiculous talent, even more ridiculous girth.

[niko_cee]

:cool:

Was gutted Brighton didn't sign him after their midfield clear out.

The wind definitely assisting on the direct efforts from corners though.

[Gray Fox]

This Quansah lad could be a gem you know.

[Don]

I miss RL's football chat.

[niko_cee]

Bournemouth's 'keeper going up for a last minute foray only to block the shot of the cleverly worked freekick, lol.

Kelleher could barely kick the ball out of his half.

[Waffdon]

Lol at Bayern losing to a team near the bottom of the 3rd division.

[Baz]

This Quansah lad could be a gem you know.Speaking of which, Livramento is already so so good.

[Don]

Both him and Hall must have some serious fitness issues. Hall's thunderthighs suggest he's another Reece James, you can't play as a modern full-back with that physique (I haven't given this full thought to check if anomalies exist) and Livramento's ACL will probs pop again.

[phonics]

We tried but half the squad are on inflated contracts so no one wants to buy them and they don't want to leave.
Hence the last part of my quote. We paid Ozil, Aubameyang, Mustafi, Kolasinac over 20 million quid to leave and bombed out Torreira, Guendouzi and Mykitarian for a combined 10 million quid return. Meanwhile United wouldnt pay Harry Maguire 3 million quid to fuck off despite pulling West Ham’s pants down on a transfer fee in the first place.

The hierarchy needs to realise they’re fucked and restart. It’s the only way or you just end up looking like late period Wenger and putting band aids on a tumour.

[Manc]

No chance baldie sees the year out.

[niko_cee]

It's alright, Ineos are taking over football operations. No need to panic.

The old Glazer/United classic of the 'extra year option' on their contracts, which they always seem to take up even when the players are genuinely dreadful has always baffled me.


No chance baldie sees the year out.

4 of their next 5 games are away.

[Manc]

Newcastle
Chelsea
Bayern
Liverpool
West Ham
Villa

All in December. As good as gone.

[Jimmy Floyd]

After seeing what chaos they have reaped at Chelsea, my working theory is that American owners will always be a disaster everywhere unless they subcontract out all footballing power to people who know what they're doing (as in Edwards/Klopp making Liverpool good). If they try to interfere they just fuck it up because the sport works on completely different paradigms to what they understand. Shout out Randy Lerner.

Glazers or their people making decisions on player contracts and recruitment, deary me.

[phonics]

It's alright, Ineos are taking over football operations. No need to panic.

Not sure about their work on the actual football but can imagine United players increasing their amount of trips to Spain for 'recovery'.

Another farce that football refuses to address.

[phonics]

After seeing what chaos they have reaped at Chelsea, my working theory is that American owners will always be a disaster everywhere unless they subcontract out all footballing power to people who know what they're doing (as in Edwards/Klopp making Liverpool good). If they try to interfere they just fuck it up because the sport works on completely different paradigms to what they understand. Shout out Randy Lerner.

Weirdly, the Kroenke era was a complete disaster and then turned around the moment they took full control of the club. I do think their NFL team, the Rams, winning the moment they hired a decent coach and pumped money into the team helped them come to the conclusion that just keeping the club on life support is less profitable than investing and winning.

[niko_cee]

Have they lost the balls for the draw?

[Waffdon]

Port Vale or Middlesbrough in the semis :drool:

[Shindig]

Aww. I wanted Boro.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They should play the semis over four legs, not two. Endless scouse derbies throughout January.

[Waffdon]

They’re moving back to 1 leg semis from next season thankfully

[Gray Fox]

Weirdly, the Kroenke era was a complete disaster and then turned around the moment they took full control of the club. I do think their NFL team, the Rams, winning the moment they hired a decent coach and pumped money into the team helped them come to the conclusion that just keeping the club on life support is less profitable than investing and winning.

Rams are reasonably comparable here actually. They also hired a very young coach with zero management experience but one that had worked with the kind of guys they wanted at the former club. In the NFL, draft picks are your capital and they fully went fuck that and sold their picks for established players instead. The equivalent here of handing your manager a huge budget for a few years.

Over there the league itself and local councils will actually chip in to your new stadium, but not so much here. Now Arsenal are through the pain of the stadium they're well into that window mentioned above.

The gutting of the club to shift deadwood in a very short space of time and just accept being shit for a few years, is a very American concept too, so it's surprising the Glazers won't do it. They've even won a Superbowl with the Bucs a couple years ago.

[phonics]

Rams are reasonably comparable here actually. They also hired a very young coach with zero management experience but one that had worked with the kind of guys they wanted at the former club. In the NFL, draft picks are your capital and they fully went fuck that and sold their picks for established players instead. The equivalent here of handing your manager a huge budget for a few years.

Over there the league itself and local councils will actually chip in to your new stadium, but not so much here. Now Arsenal are through the pain of the stadium they're well into that window mentioned above.

The gutting of the club to shift deadwood in a very short space of time and just accept being shit for a few years, is a very American concept too, so it's surprising the Glazers won't do it. They've even won a Superbowl with the Bucs a couple years ago.

Where ironically they probably learnt the wrong lesson from that experience. I am certain the Brady signing resulting in a championship was why they went in for Ronaldo.

[Giggles]

I wonder in all the whoring himself out to be our next manager does Gus Poyet know the FAI are broke?

[Don]

Scottish stocks are high tonight. Lewis Ferguson banging a winner for Bologna and some random cunt has just beat Porto in their own backgarden.

[Magic]

That was :drool:

[Alex]

That was :drool:

Cracking performance. It was a bit of a dicey last fifteen minutes or so but other than that we dominated. Even at the end it was nice to see us knuckle down at the back and absorb the pressure.

Thought Kamara was immense tonight. The best player on the park.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Him and Ampadu looked a formidable duo. Would be surprised if you don't haul Ipswich in.

[Alex]

They look fantastic together, I agree.

Ampadu has been such a great signing, honestly. He's an absolute work horse and the lynchpin of the team for me. Not always the most eye catching player on the pitch but absolutely our best player at the moment, in my opinion. I actually think he should be made captain at the nearest realistic opportunity.

There was always that worry for us that we wouldn't be able to replace Tyler Adams. Now though I honestly don't think I would swap a fully fit Tyler Adams (if that ever exists again) for Ampadu. There may be some bitterness colouring that opinion but I'm mostly sure I stand by it. :D

[John Arne]

Interesting to see where Ten Haag draws the line. Knocking your bird about and giving her a slap, all fine with Erik, but someone dare go out and enjoy their birthday, as most adults do... "Unacceptable". Clown.

[Baz]

Szoboszlai throwing Keita under the bus. :drool:


Full interview in hungarian (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d32I_b32X8)

They are talking about his time in RB Leipzig, and how he trained even more when he was not starting.

The timestamp for the part that is criticised: 08:00

"Everyone wants to get into the starting XI. It is normal and that should be the goal in my opinion. Who is satisfied with sitting on the bench like this and watching the game? I am going to be honest, there are a few. And there were some in this team before I came here. I won't say any names, but I heard about it."

[Yevrah]

He definitely shouldn't be discussing this stuff in press conferences, it's bad man management.

EDIT: Out of the way Baz.

[niko_cee]

Seems a weird thing to rebuke him for. It hardly sounded a Neymar-esque escapade. Probably symptomatic of the pressure starting to tell somewhat.

What he really needs, rather than apologies, is for some of the big name players to pull their fingers out and do something useful on the pitch.

[Magic]

Cracking performance. It was a bit of a dicey last fifteen minutes or so but other than that we dominated. Even at the end it was nice to see us knuckle down at the back and absorb the pressure.

Thought Kamara was immense tonight. The best player on the park.

He was, asked my Hun mate why they let him go apparently he's got a shit attitude and is lazy the minute he can't be arsed anymore. Just got to keep him sweet I guess.

[Gray Fox]

What he really needs, rather than apologies, is for some of the big name players to pull their fingers out and do something useful on the pitch.

This seems like something the previous 3 managers would have liked as well.

This is what happens though when the deadwood is left to rot with zero consequences. Get the problematic ones and throw them in the reserves and put a hungry youth teamer in their place. At this point what could go worse? Then just shift them on in January for free if you have to.

[niko_cee]

Rashford left out completely.

:happycry:

And the less said about that back 4 the better.

Probably end up 0-1.

[Pen]

He was, asked my Hun mate why they let him go apparently he's got a shit attitude and is lazy the minute he can't be arsed anymore. Just got to keep him sweet I guess.

I don't think that's true in the slightest. Or at least I would be very surprised if it was. He was very good for Rangers until the new manager came in and he went straight from being a guaranteed starter to pretty much being iced out of the team. I think he wanted a move prior to that and maybe that's why his work ethic or commitment is questioned. Lucky for you and shit for Rangers as the fees touted for him before he was dropped to a bit part player were much higher and the clubs he was linked to were maybe a tad more lucrative from a playing/living perspective.

On his day his absolutely phenomenal. Does need someone like Ampadu next to him though as a defensive/holding midfielder he's not.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Rashford left out completely.

:happycry:

And the less said about that back 4 the better.

Probably end up 0-1.

Apparently he failed a fitness test this morning.

I don't buy it.

[Magic]

I don't think that's true in the slightest. Or at least I would be very surprised if it was. He was very good for Rangers until the new manager came in and he went straight from being a guaranteed starter to pretty much being iced out of the team. I think he wanted a move prior to that and maybe that's why his work ethic or commitment is questioned. Lucky for you and shit for Rangers as the fees touted for him before he was dropped to a bit part player were much higher and the clubs he was linked to were maybe a tad more lucrative from a playing/living perspective.

On his day his absolutely phenomenal. Does need someone like Ampadu next to him though as a defensive/holding midfielder he's not.

I only ask the questions.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Nice of Maguire to take himself out by heading an opponent's shoulder.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

McDon :cool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

VAR is a joke.

[John Arne]

Now I'm confused. That wasn't offside

[Kikó]

Another wonderful addition to the game from var.

[Gray Fox]

Perfect get-right game here for United. Fulham do pretty well on the ball but seem quite toothless up front without their Serb.

[niko_cee]

They also have a dreadful record against them [3 wins in 35 or something and no wins since 2009].

[John Arne]

Commentator on my feed kept saying "checking for subjective offside". The fuck does that even mean?

[niko_cee]

Interfering with play is a subjective decision, rather than an objective one which is what the lines are [arf].

[John Arne]

Who was interfering?

Anyway, this Bassey lad at the back for Fulham looks a right bomb scare.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Who was interfering?

Anyway, this Bassey lad at the back for Fulham looks a right bomb scare.

Maguire made a play for the ball.

[Don]

Fulham fans go Nando's and ask for no marinade on their chicken because the Lemon and Herb is too much. Fucking hell, let the Portugeezer go Bayern and do us all a favour.

[Clunge]

They'll nick this.

[Gray Fox]

This has been absolutely dire. Made even worse by Jermaine Jenas of all people demanding Mount plays right wing in the second half.

[Don]

When Garnacho broke through he looked elite. Incredible how quickly the flame has been put out thanks to a dogshit manager. Another few months and his confidence is destroyed and he's off to Sevilla to try and restart his career.

[Waffdon]

Same with Rashford. He’s been great under a proper manager like Southgate this year.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

When Garnacho broke through he looked elite. Incredible how quickly the flame has been put out thanks to a dogshit manager. Another few months and his confidence is destroyed and he's off to Sevilla to try and restart his career.

He went to shit when he transitioned into a lesbian.

[Gray Fox]

We really should be having an independent doctor looking out for concussions in the stadium.

[Gray Fox]

And this is what I meant about Fulham. They have United on the ropes here but won't score if they played til the end of the day.

[Ben]

Another spectacular display from Antony. Jenas nailed it actually, what does he offer?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jenas is a horrible co-commentator. Just going for Man U and individuals for the sake of it because he feels the narrative going that way. Reprehensible man.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Garnacho :lol:

[Don]

Another spectacular display from Antony. Jenas nailed it actually, what does he offer?

It's been incredible again. Someone needs to dig out some loss of possession stats because they must be eye-watering for him. He's literally a Sunday League flair player, just tries pointless shit and they'll come off 20% of the time whereas at that level I can't recall the last time I've seen any of our attackers lose possession from a failed dribble.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Has Jenas actually watched Mount play? Especially for us?

He's constantly talking about how he should be on the pitch.

[Offshore Toon]

Jenas is self-serving spastic. Put the TV on mute.

[Kikó]

Jenas is a horrible co-commentator. Just going for Man U and individuals for the sake of it because he feels the narrative going that way. Reprehensible man.

Agree with this. It's a bit much the amount of comment about united when it's just a bad game of football. Every second they both feel like they feel they need to speak as well, shut the fuck up.

[randomlegend]

This is one of the worst performances I've ever seen.

This team was never going to be challenging for the league without some major additions, but it's crazy how bad they are compared to last year.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fuck Fulham.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

We're back bitches.

[Don]

The Bayern lad passing to his mate to prolong the bants :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

They'll only be truly fucked when they stop doing this every fucking week.

[Ben]

That was absolutely nailed on after Fulham squandered all the pressure they put on after half time.

[Gray Fox]

Arsenals U18s game away at Brighton had to be postponed after the team bus rocked up at Bournemouth instead, which is 95 miles away.

[Don]

Fulham :D Meanwhile Girona on track to win La Liga because they rejected similar groupthink and realised pass and move and attacking is not a sin.

[Kikó]

Harry Maguire was again very good and it's good to see his confidence return. Pellestri was a very good sub.

[Don]

Dunk has just had a Van Basten ruled out by a disgusting VAR call :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hopefully mo will report back from Swindon 0 Aldershot 6 (51')

[Gray Fox]

Emma Hayes off to manage USWNT after this season. Should ruffle some feathers that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Wolves are shit.

[Waffdon]

Wolves have just had the same penalty as last week given against them :lol:

[Jimmy Floyd]

If I was a ref / VAR I'd be giving everything against Gary O'Neil until I saw the mouthy little prick in a dole queue.

[Lofty]

The Last Post sounded a bit wank there.

[Manc]

This could be anything. Dortmund a complete shambles

[John Arne]

Kane with another for Bayern. Dortmund are awful.

[Don]

What's the rule on that Havertz both feet in the air type challenge? Absolutely no control.

[Offshore Toon]

Booking half the Newcastle team for protesting a bad decision. :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Legendary refereeing in the otherwise appallingly bad Newcastle-Arsenal game. Turn a quiet game into a complete bloodbath by randomly booking three home players for dissent in about ten seconds.

[Don]

If Newcastle actually won anything they'd be the most hateful bunch of cunts about, as it is, it's fucking great entertainment watching them shithouse all over the gaff (especially against these bunch of soft cunts). Wilson, Gordon, Bruno G, Joelinton, just hideous humans.

[phonics]

Always the same with these ‘hard man’ teams. Everyone of them to a man a massive crying fanny.

[phonics]

There’s 3 clear reasons this goal doesn’t count and they’re going to find a way to ignore all of them.

[Don]

Fuck off, that's a clear goal.

[phonics]

Incredible stuff.

[niko_cee]

'There's no way that this is a goal'
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal


Chris Waddle

Ex-Newcastle winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think there will be a VAR check on this because a lot of things happened throughout that move.

There were pushes, the ball looked like it may have gone out of play from Murphy's shot, then the challenge into the back of White from Joelinton almost on the goal line.


Video Assistant Referee - goal given

:D

[Shindig]

The real shithouses are in the VAR room. :D

[Offshore Toon]

I think on balance it's a goal but could go either way. It defo wasn't a foul but the other two fuck knows.

[phonics]

Did that say 1 successful pass in 10 minutes :D

[niko_cee]

Both of these teams are horrid.

[niko_cee]

Foul throws being called in football is almost worse than forward passes being called in rugby.

Why does the foul throw rule even exist?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why does the foul throw rule even exist?

Because otherwise you could just bowl it in like a goalkeeper and the whole game would turn into one long set piece.

[niko_cee]

Not if you required it to be taken with two hands, as I assume is part of the rule which is never flouted.

Hadn't thought of bending the rules to that extent, more why a foot off the ground or the old drop in front of you aren't allowed, as neither seem to offer much advantage.

[niko_cee]

Arteta should bring Ramsdale on and send him up for the corner.

Those three corners modern football writ large. I suppose at least they didn't take them short.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Guess the clue's in the name (of the sport).

Arsenal not tough enough at a feral northern venue, a tale as old as time.

[Spikey M]

I've always thought we should get rid of corners and throw-in's and have a "freekick" from wherever the ball crossed the line. Image the chaos when the ball gets deflected past the post. :drool:

[Waffdon]

Always the same with these ‘hard man’ teams. Everyone of them to a man a massive crying fanny.

Hope you’re doing okay pal.

That soft underbelly showing again.

[phonics]

Arsenal not good enough for the win but Newcastle were abysmal and got given the most ludicrous goal because the entire VAR system is fucked.

‘It’s probably out but I’m not sure. VAR will check it so play on’
‘Porbably a foul but I’m not sure so play on’
‘Probably an offside but I’m not sure so play on’

VAR ‘well the referee on the pitch thought it was good so it’s a goal’

Aweosme.

Raya is shit btw. Enough to get me to vote BNP to get Ramsdale back in.

[Lofty]

Honestly not sure the soft underbelly bollocks stands tonight, Newcastle were turbo cunts in the first half and hardly unsettled Arsenal, but after the triple dissent yellow the ref seemed to shit his pants regarding getting out of the stadium alive so subsequent fouls were ignored.

If Granit Xhaka had done one of the fouls Bruno committed tonight he'd have been off.

[Gray Fox]

No VAR angle available to determine if the ball went out or if it was an offside. Stunning work all around.

[Manc]

Copa Libertadores final on BBC3 featuring Felipe Melo, Marcelo, Sergi Romero & Edison Cavani.

[Gray Fox]

Copa Libertadores final on BBC3 featuring Felipe Melo, Marcelo, Sergi Romero & Edison Cavani.

And most importantly, Andre. #Andre2024

[Offshore Toon]

I'm so glad I caught this match to appreciate Phonics losing his mind.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, Arsenal's problem isn't so much a soft underbelly [Saliba and co seem solid and probably need rescuing from the marble halls by a proper team] as being absolutely wank in most other areas of the pitch. I like Saka and Martinelli, but to be expecting them to replicate last season in numbers terms every year is probably a bit of a stretch. Havertz was an odd signing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Havertz is playing like they've cut his dick off, which is normally more of a Chelsea thing.

There should probably just be a moratorium on transfers between the clubs, for everyone's sake.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1720808189392830638

:D

dots.

[Lofty]

https://i.ibb.co/TMJRXCW/Screenshot-20231104-193858-Facebook.jpg

Lol

[mo]

Hopefully mo will report back from Swindon 0 Aldershot 6 (51')

Even if it hadn't been my daughter's birthday party this afternoon, I wouldn't have gone to this, and thank christ. I got out of the swimming pool and checked my phone around 3.15 to find it was 3-0 to Aldershot inside 9 mins. Finished 4-7. We've been routinely humiliated in the FA cup for years but never like that.

[Shindig]

Is this gonna be like the World Cup one where an overhead angle would've actually kept it in?

[niko_cee]

Ball overhanging the line then? Clearly in Japan world cup stylee.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Remember the Japanese overhang, lads. Ball in play.

Champagne popping at PGMOL Towers as Arsenal lose, 5 conspiracy points to Slytherin.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's a shit angle, I'm 99% sure the ball is overhanging the line.

[Adramelch]

I just discovered Schneiderlin is playing for a newly promoted club in the Greek top tier. He's 33, so not young, but still, quite the fall from grace.

[niko_cee]

Sheikh Neville is amazing.

[Waffdon]

Havertz is playing like they've cut his dick off, which is normally more of a Chelsea thing.

There should probably just be a moratorium on transfers between the clubs, for everyone's sake.

Mount and Havertz going for about 115m combined is one of the greatest swindles in recent times. Havertz must be clinically depressed or something

[Gray Fox]

Arsenals issue is their main forward. Gabriel Jesus is a good player but he's not good enough, or ever healthy enough, to win you a title. Nketiah not good enough against good teams. It also looks like they're in the position Chelsea were in, in trying to find somewhere to put Havertz.

[niko_cee]

This woman is absolutely thick as mince, pretty sure she was the one advocating for current Messi over Bellingham or Haaland as a player you'd want in your team the other day.

[Waffdon]

This woman is absolutely thick as mince, pretty sure she was the one advocating for current Messi over Bellingham or Haaland as a player you'd want in your team the other day.

Also looks like she was stung by a bee on both cheeks

[Offshore Toon]

Do Fluminense still have Ganso and that don of a manager? Mon if so.

[Shindig]

Crying before a ball's been kicked. They'll never win another world cup with that attitude.

John Kennedy on the bench. I love that.

[niko_cee]

John Kennedy on the bench for Fluminense.

Interesting to see what this Andre character is like.

[Gray Fox]

1720898032915431796

Arteta seething.

[phonics]

Arsenals issue is their main forward. Gabriel Jesus is a good player but he's not good enough, or ever healthy enough, to win you a title. Nketiah not good enough against good teams. It also looks like they're in the position Chelsea were in, in trying to find somewhere to put Havertz.

Not at all, our issue is our lack of chance creation. We're nearly bottom of the league in both Big Chances Created and Big Chances Missed. Conversion isn't the issue. Creating is.

Meanwhile Newcastle are top of chances created and we absolutely limited them. However, if a game is poised to be 0-0 all it takes is an absolutely abysmal set of refereeing decisions to turn 1 point into none.

[Shindig]

Okay, having seen the big calls from our game, the refs got VAR (probably) right. Without the overhead angle you can't be sure. The broadcast angle (as in when default angle when the match was in full flight) made it look like it was kept in.

The two reds, fucking horrible. Havertz should've gone. Bruno should've gone. As for the match itself, we pressured Arsenal really, really well and they couldn't answer it.

[phonics]

1720898032915431796

Arteta seething.

Absolutely agree with everything he said but as Gary O'Neil has seen, pointing out how incompetent these refs are only results in the old boys club saying 'Oh you thought that was a shit decision? Watch this you prick'

[phonics]

Okay, having seen the big calls from our game, the refs got VAR (probably) right. Without the overhead angle you can't be sure. The broadcast angle (as in when default angle when the match was in full flight) made it look like it was kept in.

Even if this is true, what about the obvious push in the back followed by the offside?

[Shindig]

Gabriel's stooping for the ball. It's not the contact doing that.

[phonics]

Gabriel's stooping for the ball. It's not the contact doing that.

Even if that assertion wasn't nonsense and we assume it's true, in which case Joelinton handballs the ball to control it. And the person he passes it to is still offside.

[niko_cee]

The ball wasn't out conclusively [see the Japanese overhang, great term Jimmy], it wasn't a foul and the 'offside' is virtually impossible to call [probably whether it bundled off Joelinton's arms as well, but then, it he chests it into his own arms does that initiate the weird handball rule?] so it was probably a case of well done to VAR or not finding a way to rule a goal out, even if it could have been borked on the pitch at a number of points.

[Shindig]

Aye, that.

Take it out on your fire alarm.

[Offshore Toon]

Phonics. :lol:

[phonics]

I just don't agree. I'm not sure how it makes me SEETHING or anything. Like I said, we didn't do anything near enough to deserve to win so it's 1 point dropped not 3. In my eyes, the ball is debateable but it's pretty clearly a foul, a handball and an offside. Saying the refs are incompetent has nothing to do with the outcome of this match, it's been pretty clear for a couple of years now.

[niko_cee]

What is clear is that David Raya is an absolute bombscare, and Arsenal don't have anywhere near enough going forward.

[Lewis]

Kane is up to fifteen goals in ten games. lol at the Bundesliga and everything, but I feel like he would have been doing similar numbers at City, what with him being a far better footballer than Haaland.

[phonics]

What is clear is that David Raya is an absolute bombscare, and Arsenal don't have anywhere near enough going forward.

He's abysmal. Just doesn't have a big club mentality. He tries to take shortcuts with his positioning constantly so when he misjudges it he's done for. And now he's actually scrutinised rather than ignored instead of going back to basics he's doubled down on it. It's been a month and a half and I think he's made 1 save that 20/20 goalkeepers in the league wouldn't have while he's probably cost us 6-9 points across PL and CL.

[phonics]

While we're at it, every clip of Xhaka I see for Leverkusen hurts me. The rumours are that it was basically his wife's call but what I would have done to have him out there.

[niko_cee]

lol at the ref not letting the Fluminense player back on in the lead up to the Boca goal, and while we're at it, lol at Romero going down like a sack of shit for the Fluminense goal.

[Manc]

Shades of Schumacher with that challenge.

[niko_cee]

There have been some seriously industrial 'challenges' in this.

[Offshore Toon]

Boca are so dirty. Really puts things in perspective, Phonics. Stick it on for your sanity.

[Manc]

Pat Nevin is great on commentary.

[Gray Fox]

Banger of a finish from John Kennedy

[Shindig]

John motherfucking Kennedy :cool:

[Offshore Toon]

South American football is class. Nutters riding on adrenaline at all times.

[niko_cee]

Sending someone off after scoring what is probably the best goal you'll ever score to win the biggest competition going in your part of the world is such a hateful thing. Why has football become so dreadful?

Would have been even funnier if VAR had then chalked it off and he'd been sent off nonetheless.

[niko_cee]

Watching South American football it's really hard to understand how their societies are generally in absolute ruins.

[Gray Fox]

How can this not be a red card.

[Shindig]

Red is the colour of passion.

[Gray Fox]

The last 10 minutes have been peak South American football

[Offshore Toon]

Yeah, this is amazing. Best CL around.

[niko_cee]

This ref is something else.

[niko_cee]

Also Wolves getting absolutely fucked by VAR yet again.

[niko_cee]

On the penalty intervention front, rather than have the poor VAR search for any minor contact to justify the onfield decision and thereby mitigate the need for a review, wouldn't it just make more sense, and probably be much quicker, to get the ref to go and review the decision as standard? They could then satisfy themselves that they have seen what they have seen, rather than have a third party try to determine what it is they've given whatever decision for?

[Clunge]

Pat Nevin is great on commentary.
Best in the business, imo.

[Jimmy Floyd]

On the penalty intervention front, rather than have the poor VAR search for any minor contact to justify the onfield decision and thereby mitigate the need for a review, wouldn't it just make more sense, and probably be much quicker, to get the ref to go and review the decision as standard? They could then satisfy themselves that they have seen what they have seen, rather than have a third party try to determine what it is they've given whatever decision for?

The rugby method of showing him it on the big screen would be procedurally best, but presumably they can't do that at football for public order reasons.

So much anger at games now.

[Lofty]

Yes I did think perhaps it isn't the vaccine that has resulted in more heart incidents at matches recently:

https://i.ibb.co/jHqpt3y/Screenshot-20231104-183551-Discord.jpg (https://ibb.co/JC8hZrv)

[Jimmy Floyd]

Just turned on Norwich v Blackburn, 0-2 with a completely toxic atmosphere and the fans jeering their own team. Quick google to find out who their manager is:


On 14 January 2019, Wagner and Huddersfield Town agreed to terminate his contract by mutual consent, with the team in last place and eight points from safety.


After a 3–1 defeat against Werder Bremen, the 18th winless league match in a row, Wagner was sacked on 27 September 2020. Schalke were relegated that season.


Wagner was unable to lead the Bern-based club to a fourth consecutive league title and was dismissed in March 2022. The team were in second place, 15 points behind FC Zürich.

What were they expecting?

[niko_cee]

He must either talk a really good game or regale them with stories about when he knew Klopp or something.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Arsenal have joined the open letter brigade I see. 50,000 morons in £70 replica kits screaming until their blood vessels burst whenever anything doesn't go their way. 22 players, subs and two sets of multi-million pound support staff trying to cheat to the fullest extent they can get away with every week. Apparently, though, the problem is with 'standard of officiating'. Sure.

[niko_cee]

£70 if you want to slum it in the fan version.

I don't know if they've already done it, but those people who wrote Why England Lose really ought to do a book about why people think they want VAR/refereeing consistency but they really don't.

Bottom 4 look like they're being cut adrift here unless Liverpool do something extraordinarily shit/selfless later on.

[Yevrah]

I suppose another problem with VAR is when you operate in a World where every decision should theoretically be the correct one and that doesn’t happen, it opens the door for shit like that.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I remember my team being on the end of, say, those Tom Henning Ovrebo nonsense decisions against Barcelona and fucking seething, which is part of being a fan. Another part of being a fan is, the next morning, having got over it because it's only football and shit happens.

When you convince yourself that shit should never happen in a sport riddled with subjective laws, you're fucked.

Incidentally I think the American-owned clubs are going in hard on this because they want to undermine the PL as much as possible, dreaming as they still do of a super league.

[niko_cee]

You'd probably find that most 'memorable' games of yesteryear would have gone differently, and less memorably, with the assistance of VAR.

Dudek always being miles off his line saving penalties, for example.

Seem to recall Bayern getting a bit of a raw deal in the 1999 final, although that may have just been them missing loads of chances.

[Gray Fox]

Somehow Luton away just doesn't feel right. Goe Jomez at LB/LCB too.

In the dark days this was a primed and perfectly placed banana skin. Good to see Diaz and Doak back on the bench today too.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I remember the last one of these (probably) in which Xabi Alonso scored from the halfway line.

[Don]

These fucking loveable band of child molesterers and racists are winning at Old Trafford next week, aren't they? Great endeavour from all of them.

[Gray Fox]

Lots of times picking the wrong pass and letting frustration boil over. Need to keep composure and the goals will come.

[niko_cee]

Sounds like a recipe for disappointment.

[Gray Fox]

Wrong decisions just keep being made. Alexis looking a little lost further back too.

I suspect a triple change isn't far off.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Chong :cool:

[Lofty]

Guess who picked Liverpool in LMS.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Guess who picked Liverpool in LMS.

lol. I was still annoyed at picking Wolves (instead of Palace) in mine.

[Gray Fox]

I dont agree with them being given but under their daft handball laws thats a penalty.

[niko_cee]

The VAR moon is waning at the moment, so no dice.

Just like to point out I called this weeks ago.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Luton a bit unfortunate there but 100 odd minutes is a such long time to have to play against a team with that resource disparity. Hopefully will give them enough belief to make the relegation battle interesting.

Very costly droppage for the scousers, City will win this one 5-0.

[Gray Fox]

The kind of game you get now and then on FM. You should have won 5-1 but you just don't. Good to see we didn't give up or SEETHE it away at the end, but that's 2 huge points dropped.

[niko_cee]

A disappointment for all concerned.

Football not the winner.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Never mind, the neutrals can look forward to some renewed joy tomorrow night.

[Shindig]

Charlton are trying to be a bit too cute for these paper people. Just smack a shot in.

[Baz]

Didn’t see much but looks like another Darwin Nunez masterclass at impersonating a worse Bobby Zamora.

[Waffdon]

When will Poch realise you cannot play Silva and Disasi together against a team on the break. This could be ugly unless the midfield and James have the game of their lives.

Caicedo sent off (34) and James to pull a hammy

[niko_cee]

Do Spurs still play on the break or are they not more about high energy Angeball pressing now?

[Don]

Maddison to be pocketed by Caicedo and Sarr and Bissouma to be made to look like fools trying to press Enzo.

[Waffdon]

Do Spurs still play on the break or are they not more about high energy Angeball pressing now?

Chelsea dominate the ball though. Only game they haven’t was against arsenal but then that was obviously a ploy which was working for 80 mins until the Spanish mong

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's best not to look at the team sheets before Chelsea games these days. Just turn on the game to cheer on the boys in blue and work out who everyone is once we're 2-0 down.

[Waffdon]

It's best not to look at the team sheets before Chelsea games these days. Just turn on the game to cheer on the boys in blue and work out who everyone is once we're 2-0 down.

He’s barley changed the team all season outwith injuries

[Waffdon]

Chelsea should really keep the blue socks for all games and not just against Spurs

[Spikey M]

Single colour kits should be a legal requirement. It looks so much better.

[Waffdon]

Absolutely state of the defence. Spaces everywhere. That’s what happens when you play centre halves at full back.

[Spikey M]

Chelsea look terrible

[Jimmy Floyd]

Single colour kits should be a legal requirement. It looks so much better.

Yeah m8. Brazil in all yellow vs Argentina in all sky blue, let's go. Wanker. Essex wanker.

[Ben]

Absolutely state of the defence. Spaces everywhere. That’s what happens when you play centre halves at full back.

Exactly my thought as soon as Kulusevski picked up the ball. Where was Colwill?

[Spikey M]

Yeah m8. Brazil in all yellow vs Argentina in all sky blue, let's go. Wanker. Essex wanker.

I only mean footballers, you can still wear your brown chino's with your Rugby polo-shirt, don't shit yourself.

[Jimmy Floyd]

How do you not score that? Even by our standard this centre forward is astonishingly bad.

[Waffdon]

This is an utter mess. Playing defenders who can’t run very fast against lightening quick players is one thing but at least if you’re compact it negates it. He’s got them playing wide open and right into Spurs’ hands. Moronic

[Ben]

This could be a massacre.

[Jimmy Floyd]

How the fuck has he got away with that? It's a jumping two-footer and a ten-match ban.

Such a bad sport.

[Waffdon]

He’s a lucky boy. That’s a leg breaker if Sterling doesn’t prance out the way

[igor_balis]

I don't think it's quite the CAREER ENDER Neville is going on about, but that tackle by udogie was incredibly stupid.

[Don]

Same as Havertz, there are no rules just vibes.

[Ben]

This could be a massacre.

I was going to add onto this "unless VAR comes to Chelsea's rescue" and it really should have done there. Honking challenge.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Romero should go here too. Filthy Argie prick.

This fixture brings out the best in me.

[igor_balis]

Wtf are the spurs players doing, they should win 8-0 but they're trying to get everyone sent off.

[Bernanke]

Romero needs to be off.

[Spikey M]

Handball surely. But Romero is going off here.

[Don]

Jackson ignoring his teammates celebrating and instead furiously shooshing the crowd. Romero in the wars. Prime favela fuckery :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

If Romero doesn't go here I'm driving to Klopp's gaff for a replay-the-match themed orgy.

[Waffdon]

That should be two sending offs. What a shambles.

[Lofty]

Same as Havertz, there are no rules just vibes.

Or VAR looking at Bruno's off the ball violent conduct and deeming it fine.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What we've learned, despite the pathetic VAR that should have them down to nine (Oliver blameless), is that this lot are weak as piss and can be got at. Fifth place incoming for them.

[Spikey M]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Waffdon]

This game is an utter circus