January Football: This Time It's 2024ier

[Ian]

What a year 2023 was for football. All those balls which got kicked, all the human rights abusers having all the money funnelled at them, all the PRESSING. Phwoar.

Still, while football is FUCKING RELENTLESS at least we have an international tournament to look forward to. Hooray!

Happy new year, lads.

[Baz]

Liverpool are gonna win the league. :youpi:

[Shindig]

Oooh, all the Guinea's qualified. And Mauritania who I guess are the tournament's minnows.

On the Sincere scale:

Guinea-Bissau: Top Guinea
Guinea: Middle Guinea
Equatorial Guinea: Bottom Guinea.

[John Arne]

Papua super jealous right now.

Papua New Guinea: Right Guinea.

[Spikey M]

I demand daily threads.

[Manc]

Looks like the Beeb/Sky aren't bothering with AFCON.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Looks like the Beeb/Sky aren't bothering with AFCON.

Eurosport.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The only time it's been on Sky it was disastrously badly covered, so back to its ancestral home of Eurosport is definitely good news.

[Lofty]

Barrow pissing in Ryan Reynolds' pocket to start 2024 :drool:

[Giggles]

1741511514123653450

[Waffdon]

Barrow pissing in Ryan Reynolds' pocket to start 2024 :drool:

They’ve just shot their load in added time

[Alex]

We're 2-0 up at half time and Bamford has found the back of the net. Truly a wondrous start to the year.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Barrow pissing in Ryan Reynolds' pocket to start 2024 :drool:

Maybe you should have waited a bit, lad.

[niko_cee]

They’ve just shot their load in added time

45+9, 45+11 and 45+13? :cab:

[Lofty]

:D

Barrow do love a comeback though so a couple of quid on the win at 40/1.

[wullie]

Not beaten Middlesbrough away in the league since the 90s, just finished 3-1. Combine that with the playoff win there and there's a chance we're finally someone's bogey team, I've been on the right side of that.

[Lofty]

Apparently the Wrexham player who smashed the Barrow lad unconcious so he had to be stretchered off in the first half did the same to his replacment (with the same result) in the second half, no cards shown though :eyemouth:

[John Arne]

Hong Kong just beat China 2-1 :D

[Luke Emia]

So is Partey injured? Or is it actually that thing everyone knows about but that you aren’t allowed to say anything about?

[Lofty]

He's been complaining about lack of game time apparently which is a bit odd if he is injured...

[Baz]

He’s trying to force his way into the starting lineup.

[niko_cee]

Seems a decent team Newcastle are putting out, haven't they been bleating on about injuries? Also sad times no Trippier to chuck one in. First missing out on Maguire and Bruno against United and now this?

[Ben]

Everyone has been bleating on about injuries this year it seems. It’s just the trendy way of saying you’re shit. Either that or this new fashionable playing style of requiring your team to run non-stop for 90 minutes is actually breaking bodies.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's the latter, but you can't compromise on that, the data says never compromise.

[Gray Fox]

It's also why mentions of the clock stopping when the ball goes out have gone quiet. Imagine all the extra PRESSING.

[Waffdon]

Another dreadful Antony Taylor penalty decision that they won’t overturn

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Liverpool :lol:

[Waffdon]

Salah has to have the worst penalty taking technique in the league

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Salah has to be one of the worst "regular" penalty takers ever.

He misses so many.

[Gray Fox]

He had a great record because he always went keepers left or down the middle with power. He then started to try and place them to keepers right and sent a few wide of goal. Since then he's blasted almost every one down the middle again and you get what you get there.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, he's never inspired much confidence but there was a period where he was ridiculously reliable.

Certainly no Joao Pedro though.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Newcastle are a funny team, they remind me of Mark Hughes's Man City. Everyone contributes something but none of them are quite good enough to be top, top, top players. Except Miley. He's a joke.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Salah is right to be steaming at the ref there. Atrociously bad mistake not to award the yellow to Guimaraes once play had eventually stopped, the assessors will slaughter Taylor for that.

[Ben]

I’m sure Taylor used to be good, or at least gave the illusion of being. Has VAR exposed him now, or has he got too far up his own arse?

[phonics]

It’s amazing how many bookings Newcastle manage to avoid for straight up cheating.

[Gray Fox]

Anthony Taylor clueless.

[phonics]

This bald bloke has lost it. You can’t give a free kick for dissent can you?

[Lewis]

Lewis Miley would be enormous if he didn't have a Spikey head.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I’m sure Taylor used to be good, or at least gave the illusion of being. Has VAR exposed him now, or has he got too far up his own arse?

He's been the 2nd best in the country behind Oliver for a long time but he hasn't had a good season and is probably being caught by Rob Jones, Andy Madley and a few others.

[phonics]

I’m thinking Bruno should round out the half by just picking up the ball and running it over the goal line for a try. Think Newcastle might actually get 6 goals for it.

[Waffdon]

Worst league since Leicester won it?

Liverpool are a right gang. Them and Arsenal have done well to get as many points as they have with the performances

[Gray Fox]

This bald bloke has lost it. You can’t give a free kick for dissent can you?

Between that and not booking a player for the most blatant cynical foul you'll see, you'll get full Klopp rage after this one.

Handing out bookings for daring to be questioned as well. Proper small time.

[Don]

Very rare to see a Klopp Liverpool side lose their heads so real credit to Newcastle's cuntishness. And if anyone was wondering what Antony would do under a proper manager, see our very own favela rat, what a useless cunt.

[Dquincy]

Worst league since Leicester won it?

Liverpool are a right gang. Them and Arsenal have done well to get as many points as they have with the performances

This.

No way Liverpool or Arsenal will win the league this year. Really wanted Nunez to be the striker Liverpool fans all hoped he would be, but beyond a bit of cult fandom, he's not that good, sadly.

[Manc]

Worst league since Leicester won it?

2019/20 was honking.

[niko_cee]

Isn't a lower points total to win it more reflective of a better league?

[Gray Fox]

The only reason Liverpool or Arsenal were being talked up is because the goal robot has a software glitch and the best player in the league/world has been out since August.

[Luke Emia]

This.

No way Liverpool or Arsenal will win the league this year. Really wanted Nunez to be the striker Liverpool fans all hoped he would be, but beyond a bit of cult fandom, he's not that good, sadly.

This said to my missus reminds me of Benteke you never back him to score a one on one.

[niko_cee]

That and they both have accumulated a lot of points, well, had up until recently.

[Luke Emia]

Jota on Nunez off he is genuinely stopping attacks today.

[phonics]

Isn't a lower points total to win it more reflective of a better league?

People just want to moan. Teams with a 100% win record = league is shit. Teams at the top don't win every game 3-0 = They're shit.

Waff is the outlier here because the reason he thinks it's shit is that Chelsea aren't involved/are shit.

[Luke Emia]

Jinx.

[Gray Fox]

Jota on Nunez off he is genuinely stopping attacks today.

Great assist.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You can give a free kick for dissent, but it was a bit weird to do it when he did.

Another goal scored from their own goal line, the game has gone through the looking glass.

[Manc]

Luis Diaz with two ridiculous passes.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Isak :cool:

[Don]

You can give a free kick for dissent, but it was a bit weird to do it when he did.

Another goal scored from their own goal line, the game has gone through the looking glass.

That may have something to do with us having the greatest long passer in the modern game.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There you see the difference between a centre forward capable at this level, and Darwin Nunez.

[igor_balis]

Isn't a lower points total to win it more reflective of a better league?
It doesn't really say anything about the outright quality of the league as a whole one way or the other does it? Though I suppose if you accept that the lower end of the table remains relatively consistently crap, a higher points total does mean a more outright excellent team at the top. In the Leicester season it was definitely cus all the usual challengers were rubbish, rather than the likes of west brom, Swansea etc being better than the equivalent mid-table sides other seasons.

[Giggles]

People just want to moan. Teams with a 100% win record = league is shit. Teams at the top don't win every game 3-0 = They're shit.

Waff is the outlier here because the reason he thinks it's shit is that Chelsea aren't involved/are shit.

Everything now has to be the best ever or worst ever, usually decided in a few minutes. Every time Liverpool aren't 3-0 up after 25 minutes here you'd think they were battling relegation. I haven't checked the score but I'd be very surprised if they aren't winning.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That may have something to do with us having the greatest long passer in the modern game.

Who comes into his own when you stand on your own goal line and attract pressers away from the space he's going to pass into. The fun will come when somebody decides to stop pressing, and we revert into another exciting Rafa the Gaffer / 4-5-Jose thrill-seeking era.

[igor_balis]

Lol at how fucking rubbish Salah was in the first half and how he looks world class again now.

[Gray Fox]

Szobo looks injured but I dont agree with the other changes.

[Baz]

Nunez finally off. Hope he breaks both legs getting on the team bus later.

[Manc]

Joelinton is playing a different sport.

[Gray Fox]

The fuck did Dubravka have for tea?

[Gray Fox]

That's how you beat a superkeeper. Exquisite move.

[Don]

If Jota spent his gaming time at the gym he'd be better than Mbappe. Absolutely filthy football brain.

[Manc]

Salah peaking just in time for AFCON.

[Luke Emia]

Done well to concede two goals tonight I have to say. Especially considering we have absolutely fucking battered them all game.

[Baz]

WTF Jota

[Waffdon]

Why does Jota even go down :D

[Gray Fox]

Just put it in the net for fucks sake.

[Waffdon]

VAR and Taylor are abysmal. A horrible combination

[phonics]

A truly hilarious dive.

[Gray Fox]

I fully expected he was booking Jota for it. Taylor hasn't had a clue all night.

[igor_balis]

I'll have to see it again, but I actually think it was a pen. Felt like the contact came later than you initially think it does, and he doesn't actually take a load of steps afterwards. Might be my eyes deceiving me tho.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

How on earth have VAR not overturned that one? :D

[Don]

If you think there's no contact there, you shouldn't be watching the sport.

[Guybrush]

I fully expected he was booking Jota for it. Taylor hasn't had a clue all night.

The Gomez one there sums him up. Utterly useless.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

If you think there's no contact there, you shouldn't be watching the sport.

Enough for a penalty??

Just put the ball in the fucking net.

[phonics]

Yet another red card Bruno manages to avoid somehow.

[niko_cee]

Selfish Salah returning there a bit. Should have squared it.

He's also suffering from longer hair making you look balder syndrome.

[niko_cee]

Highest xG ever?

:happycry:

Newcastle such a dirty, shitty side. Don't accept any invitations to the embassy Eddie.

[Don]

Enough for a penalty??

Just put the ball in the fucking net.

If you feel contact you go down, if you try and stay up you're putting yourself at a disadvantage for what, so that gammons can praise your heart? Geezer's elbowed his foot.

Mac's pass for it too :drool: welcome back, son.

[Spoonsky]

Nunez haters can do one, of course his finishing needs to improve but he creates so much.

Fun season.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

If you feel contact you go down, if you try and stay up you're putting yourself at a disadvantage for what, so that gammons can praise your heart? Geezer's elbowed his foot.

Mac's pass for it too :drool: welcome back, son.
If he stayed up it's an open goal.

[Shindig]

Not a clue where our next win comes from. The mackems on Saturday might end Howe right there.

[niko_cee]

It's an odd one.

I guess he's just such a pro that it overrides the rational part of his brain.

Eddie Howe beating the drum for their 'penalty' quite funny though. Clue should generally be when there's absolutely no appeal from the apparently wronged player.

Taylor has always been a dreadful ref.

[Don]

Highest xG ever?

:happycry:

Newcastle such a dirty, shitty side. Don't accept any invitations to the embassy Eddie.

Just seen this. 6.67 on understat and Opta reporting 7.27, fuck me.

Only defeat thanks to a ridiculous own goal and red card, a load of other ridiculous red cards, City still to come to Anfield, key absences overcome, my girthy member as hard as ever, Israel in tears, what scenes.

[John Arne]

Just watched the highlights - I could have been selective editing but Newcastle just fouled, fouled and fouled and seem to get away with about 5 bookings.

[Shindig]

There's a reason we've got about 4 players close to 2 match bans. :D

As for the penalties, the first one was fine, second was bloody useless. Stay on your feet and get the job done. I loved Salah's ball for Gakpo's goal, though. Dead simple but curved balls round defenders always bring a smile from me.

[Luke Emia]

I see 'WAZZA' has gone. The glory of Birmingham binning off a perfectly good manager for a 'big name' for the second time and getting burned in exactly the same way is just beautiful.

[wullie]

Shame, I was hoping to see how far their winning mentality hire was going to take them.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They richly, richly deserve to get relegated to League One but I don't think it's ever going to happen, they've been clinging on since I was a student.

[Manc]

Squires (https://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2024/jan/02/david-squires-on-what-the-football-world-will-look-like-in-2024) on top form.

[niko_cee]

These random kick off times are messing with my brain. Why is this on at 7.30? I thought that was an Amazon week thing? And then there's the Wolves game on the 22nd which has sprung out of nowhere [pretty sure it wasn't scheduled for then as I'm now going to it due to a season ticket holder being away], and that's a Monday night at 7.45, I think on BT, all of which are unheard of things.

[niko_cee]

Also, Brighton's suicidal drop ball goalkick routine isn't going to end well with Webster back there.

[niko_cee]

Just roll it in the corner Joao.

[niko_cee]

Squires (https://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2024/jan/02/david-squires-on-what-the-football-world-will-look-like-in-2024) on top form.

Their Football Daily column has been quite good as well the past few days.

[niko_cee]

Seeing as this thread is now a stream of consciousness, how is a Spanish court deciding if something that happened in Australia might be a crime or not?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-67861492

Also, Albert Luque? Not heard about him for a while.

[Yevrah]

Are there grades of sexual assault and coercion in whatever jurisdiction this might be tried in or is Rubiales facing an equivalent punishment as Andrew Tate is for the hideous shit he's been accused of?

[Bishop]

Are there grades of sexual assault and coercion in whatever jurisdiction this might be tried in or is Rubiales facing an equivalent punishment as Andrew Tate is for the hideous shit he's been accused of?

I'm no fan of Tate but I strongly suspect certain people wanted him taken down. We see it happen all the time. Same with Alex Jones, same with Trump. They tried it a bit with Peterson too, and Rogan. Anyone who isn't a woke prat that's very popular, basically.

[niko_cee]

Did old HB get instabanned?

Why are we still doing that?
Are there grades of sexual assault and coercion in whatever jurisdiction this might be tried in or is Rubiales facing an equivalent punishment as Andrew Tate is for the hideous shit he's been accused of?

No idea, but isn't it pretty fundamental that criminal investigations or whatever are within the jurisdiction attempting to carry them out? If not, what's to stop Saudi Arabia requesting the extradition of all the gays [in the village]? Pretty sure Australia have their own laws about sexual assault.

[Baz]

Did old HB get instabanned?

Why are we still doing that?Sad bastard admins.

[Ben]

Arsenal are understood to have complained to the Premier League's refereeing body over the rough treatment received by Bukayo Saka.

The winger was the third most foul player in the top flight across 2023 with only Jordan Ayew at Crystal Palace and Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes being scythed down more often. It is those high numbers that prompted the Gunners to raise the issue as part of a wider conversation with the officials.

:happycry:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Arsenal only do the most Arsenal things. They're like the footballing wing of the Good Law Project.

[SvN]

Sad bastard admins.

More like SADmins.

Wasn't me.

[Yevrah]

As a first offence and a guilty plea you'd get less for manslaughter than we've given Harold. I'm all for banning him again if he's as intolerable as he was last time, but let's at least give him a chance not to be.

[Lewis]

Yeah. Justice for Harold.

[Spikey M]

It's been about 10 years. Give him a chance at least.

[niko_cee]

*board collapses under unprecedented spamming campaign*

[Jimmy Floyd]

Someone from the north east, tell me why Sunderland have decorated their bar with Newcastle colours and insignia. I've seen a lot of twitter outrage (no doubt rightly), went to the Sunderland forum where in the space of five hours there is already a 95 page thread (literally 95) of THIS IS A DISGRACE OWNER OUT NOW but I cannot anywhere see the reason why it has been done.

[Waffdon]

Is it not just the branding of Carling? I assumed they were genuinely dumb and didn’t think it through

[Shindig]

Yeah, it's Carling branding but the words BLACK AND WHITE are setting them off. For all they know, Carling could be big nWo fans.

[niko_cee]

Why would you move this game to a Thursday night only to bury it on ITV4?

[niko_cee]

You also have to question how these matches get picked. Is the third round so bereft of apparently interesting games that Palace v Everton which, on any given weekend would be in the running to be the least entertaining matches going, is a highlight?

I see Calvert-Lewin has been earmarked for the killer slo-mo treatment. There's so little in that. Disgraceful decision.

[Waffdon]

Can’t believe they’re still doing replays in the FA Cup. Get it in the bin

[niko_cee]

Maybe they should include a system of sealed bids whereby each team has to state the price they would accept for it to go to pens, and the price they are willing to pay to avoid the replay - you could make it a little game of higher/lower or something.

[niko_cee]

Also, can't be overstated how mad the whole 'get on with the game' outrage is when you've got McNeil down, seriously injured in the tiny area between the byline and the crowd, surrounded by medics and whatnot and there's a sense that the game should continue because he's not on the pitch.

[Shindig]

I assume it still benefits the non-league lot to get a home tie at someone big. They can sell a lot of scarfs, hastily erect a temporary stand (MORE OF THIS, PLEASE!) and then mention how a run to the 4th round has kept the club running for a year.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Replays are the best. Anything which pisses off managers should be maximised. In fact there should be no pens in the FA Cup, just endless replays.

[Shindig]

Alvechurch and Oxford City contested the most replayed tie in the 1971–72 qualification, in a tie which went to 6 matches.

The Isner-Mahut of cup ties.

[ScousePig]

Someone from the north east, tell me why Sunderland have decorated their bar with Newcastle colours and insignia. I've seen a lot of twitter outrage (no doubt rightly), went to the Sunderland forum where in the space of five hours there is already a 95 page thread (literally 95) of THIS IS A DISGRACE OWNER OUT NOW but I cannot anywhere see the reason why it has been done.

Nobody's quite sure, but the whole thing has been a saga, ever since the draw was made. It's possible that there's been a bit of misunderstanding - Newcastle fans have access to one of the corporate suites so it made sense that Sunderland memorabilia would be removed or covered up in that area, but not replaced by Newcastle stuff.

Sunderland were going to do a full lower tier display/tifo, then it emerged Newcastle were being given one of the whole home ends (6,000, including lower tier and thousands of season ticket holders having to move. Thankfully I'm at the other end). This is despite cup games in the past being restricted to 2,000 fans for 'safety reasons'.

Then the club announced that nothing anti-Saudi regime would be permitted so it all got scrapped. Only today have the Newcastle display people announced that they're not allowed a display either, suggesting it was actually being strongly considered. Photos have also emerged today about the huge segregation in place, and many people have pointed out that they have tickets where the segregation is currently in place.

For anyone interested, Newcastle fans are all being coached in in separate bubble trips, starting at 8.30am. They won't be given their ticket until they're on the coach and they're not allowed to leave it.

It's all been a bit of a shit show and I'd rather just have the game out of the way.

[phonics]

While I agree with the sentiment, the idea of Sunderland protesting the ownership of someone else considering their owner is quite lol.

[ScousePig]

Also Jimmy, if you see a couple of threads down there's our owner apologising via Instagram.

Look a bit further down and there's a 2k thread on the display stuff I mentioned and a 3k thread on the build up to the match.

I'd recommend you sign up as the off topic section has a fairly active cricket forum.

[ScousePig]

While I agree with the sentiment, the idea of Sunderland protesting the ownership of someone else considering their owner is quite lol.

I don't think our owner really compares to Saudi Arabia.

[phonics]

I don't think our owner really compares to Saudi Arabia.

No, the Louis-Dreyfus group has been the cause/enabler of human misery for far longer.

[ScousePig]

Really? I'm not sure, you'll need to enlighten me.

[Manc]

Gather round children.

[phonics]

Really? I'm not sure, you'll need to enlighten me.

In agriculture they're THE global force because they've been profiteering off famine since the great depression then war broke out and they used those profits to spin off into manufacturing weapons during WW1, this got them access to the mining trade in the various colonies where to this day they're the third largest company in the sector behind Glencore and Trafigura who are also globally reknowned for being evil. So having spent the mid-19th to the mid-20th century exploiting the 3rd world as efficiently as possible, it was time to turn inwards. Forming a company to harvest and sell patient and medical industry data to Pharmaceutical companies marketing departments, that company was co-founded by Arthur Sackler, you might recognise that name because that would be the family that bribed doctors to prescribe their highly addictive opiates to people resulting in 250 million prescriptions a year for a drug more potent than morphine, creating addicts and destroying families for profit. All this and ignoring running hedge funds, energy companies, oil and gas companies is bad enough. But then the coup de gras, where do you and your evil friends turn if your evil gets in the news or you plan to be evil and need to put a nice face on it, Saatchi & Saatchi. Perfection.

Its fine though, no-one gets rich by being nice. You have to break a few eggs etc. So let's just look at their contributions to sport. The father of Sunderlands owner got into sport when he left Saatchi to become CEO of Adidas, he had no experience in the sector but the owner was a mate of his. The company was in dire financial straits despite the continued shipping of all manufacturing to various sweatshops across Asia that it was nationalised by the French state. A weird move that was in no way influenced by the owner of Adidas being a government minister at the time. The company would begin to recover thanks to the safety this completely legitimate and above board decision provided, where it would eventually be sold to the Father who kindly paid agreed to pay 'above market value' for the company. Having set the market value himself as the CEO of the company and being the only one able to approve a sale. Buying a company with an annual revenue of $4.7 billion for half a billion dollars despite his valuation behind half of that. What a kind man. A truly impressive feat and a life well lived. Having achieved all that it'd be cruel to hold the 10 million in FIFA bribes against him.

Edit: Probably my most well researched post ever, it's wild how difficult it is to actually find out how they got there. It's just like 'A man bought some grain, then time passed and he owned 50% of the sugar farms in Brazil'

[ScousePig]

Thanks, that's some cracking whataboutery.

[phonics]

Saying both are evil is not whataboutery.

[Shindig]

Hmmmmm ... I think that Calvert-Lewin red is going to stand. Over the ball is usually dangerous play in today's game.

[niko_cee]

It will stand because there is a blanket non acceptance that Emilio Martinez trying to kill Rashford the other week is dangerous when you can freeze frame a high foot which barely touches anyone. It's difficult to buy into the whole "if you've played the game" spiel , but sometimes that view isn't Joey Barton levels of stupid. Another good acid test is if literally no one gets agitated by something, then it is probably, in all likelihood, not something needing serious scrutiny and sanction. It's easier just to roll out some bullshit to justify the decision. Roy Hodgson had it right, at a loss, but he could come up with some passing justification which is good enough for Howard Webb and his gang of useless wankers.

[Waffdon]

A Sunderland win here would be mega

[Shindig]

It's the likelier outcome. He haven't won one since 2012 or something.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'd love a dirty game here. Some proper naughty challenges and a bit of needle is what I want.

[Shindig]

A whole stand full of mags. We've come a long way since the away bans.

[niko_cee]

Newcastle to smash them.

[Shindig]

Stripes vs stripes. It doesn't clash but I don't like seeing it.

[niko_cee]

I was going to say the opposite. It is unusual but I like it. Moar home kit usage.

[Don]

Kits are fucking annoying but class affair. Please someone break Gordon's legs.

[Ben]

This game has always been stripes vs. stripes as far as I can remember.

I'm a big advocate of playing in your home kit unless the clash is obvious. Middlesbrough have developed a horrible habit of using our away blue/yellow kit whenever possible just because it sells well.

[Shindig]

Class finish. No keeper's saving that. :D

[Waffdon]

Joelinton is the biggest looking 6ft1 bloke I’ve ever seen. Honestly thought he was 6ft3 or 4

[Shindig]

We've controlled the midfield pretty well. Sunderland's not giving us that much space but they've left the wings free a couple of times.

[Shindig]

Well, that's cool. :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

You see so, so many goals conceded dilly-dallying at the moment. Just fucking punt it lads.

[Shindig]

Gordon wasn't going anywhere there. Don't lay hands on him and nowt happens.

[niko_cee]

He's probably conned the defender a bit there, but what on earth is he doing running into Gordon?

[Don]

This Ballard has looked like your typical gammon CB, made it into Arsenal academy off his physique and began his descent down the divisions ever since thanks to having fuck all else. Awful side this Sunderland team, too, not a fucking clue what to do.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Maidstone with a nice giant-killing, if giant is the right word for Stevenage, but there's a very big gap between the two.

Managed by George Elokobi. That was unexpected.

[Shindig]

I wonder if Bob Murray's book will have a chapter on Premier Passions?

"Anyway, this interior designer reckons red isn't a good colour for the changing rooms ..."

[niko_cee]

Who was the Wimbledon youth, I think, who had a similar name to Elokobi, who was epic in one of the early champ managers?

[Jimmy Floyd]

This Mick Beale bloke you can tell is a chancer within 10 seconds of him starting to speak. He talks like a door to door salesman.

[Danny]

Who was the Wimbledon youth, I think, who had a similar name to Elokobi, who was epic in one of the early champ managers?

Jobi McAnuff? Think that was 03/04

[Don]

Efan Ekoku?

[Bam]

Efan Ekoku?

He wasn't a Wimbledon yoot.

[Don]

Ahhh I remember the one, was mad on CM3 or something but can't recall the name. What days :drool:

[Giggles]

Trevor Benjamin?

Edit - no he was Cambridge if I remember right.

[Max Power]

Serge Mafoko?

[Don]

Bosh.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, could have been him, he was stellar, although I wanted it to begin with an 'E'.

[niko_cee]

There was also Lionel Morgan, but it wasn't him I was thinking of. Thought this guy was more of a forward than an AML/AMR.

[Waffdon]

Pochettino is such a mong. Moans about injuries and lack of fitness but rarely makes changes.

[Ben]

We’ve completely changed tactics here which I guess we had to do to try and compete.

Carrick > Pochettino

[Waffdon]

We’ve completely changed tactics here which I guess we had to do to try and compete.

Carrick > Pochettino

Wouldn’t surprise me if Pochettino walks over in Tuesday. So bad

[Waffdon]

Bringing on Thiago silva at home to Preston. God, I need somebody to lynch this cunt.

[Giggles]

3-0 up. Calm down.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

With Thiago scoring one.

[Waffdon]

Who cares. Preston were dog meat and he’s bringing on 1st team players for no reason with a cup semi final on Tuesday after crying about injuries all season.

Silly cunt admitted to playing Lavia and Ugochukwu half fit and both are now out again for weeks.

[Don]

Besides the fact the team needs the result, experience and match time, who exactly did you want him to start? Your moaning is too much.

[niko_cee]

At this point it feels like Lavia has spent more of his career unavailable than putting in the sort of performances you'd think about paying £60m for. Wasn't he 'good' for Southampton for about a month or two at the start of last season and it's been wall to wall wank and injured ever since?

[Baz]

I swear the fact he was only 4.0 on FPL has given people rose tinted glasses on how good he ever was.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1743720787561878013

Actually looks nice without the sponsor.

[Don]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2024/jan/06/jurgen-klopp-man-management-liverpool-premier-league-data

Bang on.

[Ian]

1743720787561878013

Actually looks nice without the sponsor.

If only there was some sort of lesson which could be learned from this.

[phonics]

Clubs make like 4 quid a shirt so I don't think there's much to learn.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Who cares. Preston were dog meat and he’s bringing on 1st team players for no reason with a cup semi final on Tuesday after crying about injuries all season.

Silly cunt admitted to playing Lavia and Ugochukwu half fit and both are now out again for weeks.

You really need to stop reading Reddit or wherever it is you get these opinions.

[Waffdon]

What?

Nkunku out injured for 3-4 weeks again. Another player to recover from an injury and to be out. It’s not even unlucky at this point. Too many similar injuries have happened to the point someone is clearly not doing their job correctly

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's modern high pressing football, you're always going to have ten out at once, everyone does.

[niko_cee]

Wait, Nkunku is injured again as well?

:happycry:

[Waffdon]

So it seems.

James, Chilwell, Fofana, Chukwuemeka, Chalobah, Lavia, Badiashile, Ugochukwu, Cucurella, Sanchez and Nkunku the current list. 80% of them have been out for months as well.

Chukwuemeka, Chalobah and Lavia were all only meant to be out for 3-5 weeks at the start of the season and Lavia is the only one who’s played any minutes so far. (25 mins at that)

[Manc]

The Operation must have expanded.

[John Arne]

What's the deal with Lewis Hall at Newcastle? Signed for 28m (+7m add-ons) and has played a grand total of 100 minutes so far this season, despite Newcastle's other full-backs looking knackered.

[SincereTheRebel]

The Operation must have expanded.

:lol: Those Africans are made of glass.

[Shindig]

Is there some appearance trigger for the obligation to buy?

And he's played 264 minutes this season. November he was playing some U-20 Elite League thing. One CL appearance and a couple of Carabao cameos. :D Was on the bench yesterday but would you waste him on a dead game?

[Waffdon]

Apparently it’s not to do with appearances and more to do with where Newcastle finish in the table. Don’t really understand it though. Fuck all game time when they had no defenders or midfielders for a while (he’s a centre mid, just every manager has played him at left back for some reason)

[John Arne]

Is there some appearance trigger for the obligation to buy?

And he's played 264 minutes this season. November he was playing some U-20 Elite League thing. One CL appearance and a couple of Carabao cameos. :D Was on the bench yesterday but would you waste him on a dead game?

Reports suggest it's a mandatory future fee.

100 mins in the Premier League, and its January. Bit weird.

[Alex]

1744014001984672157

The Bamford redemption arc is full steam ahead.

[Waffdon]

Hamez Rodriguez esque

[Gray Fox]

Speaking of Chelsea injuries. Seems Sam Kerr just blew her knee out in their training camp.

The Operation is expanding.

[Gray Fox]

No Van Dijk today so a back line of Trent, Konate, Quansah and Jomez.

Arsenal should score 4+

[Waffdon]

A draw in the Arsenal game would be great if not just for the fact it means the fans have to watch the same game 4 times in a 6 week period

[niko_cee]

No Van Dijk today so a back line of Trent, Konate, Quansah and Jomez.

Arsenal should score 4+

Are you assuming 1 own goal each here?

[Don]

Not enough has been said about how VVD is basically back to his pre-injury greatness. Will miss him for sure but their biggest threat in their XI is Reiss Fucking Nelson. Mac to run this show.

[Gray Fox]

It's a surprisingly strong team from Klopp. That said, a look at the bench says his hands have been a little tied with what he can do given how seriously he wants to take it.

[Shindig]

The state of this Arsenal kit. The ref's still going to book you, even if he can't see the numbers.

[phonics]

Arsenal love a near post corner. It's like our set piece coach is a Serbian from the late 90s.

[Ben]

The state of this Arsenal kit. The ref's still going to book you, even if he can't see the numbers.

It’s class. Unfortunately the sponsors have demanded their logos be in black so they’re still visible. Otherwise it’s Santos 1958 levels.

[Gray Fox]

What is unacceptable is this sock nonsense. Wear a size up instead of cutting all of these holes out.

[Ben]

What is unacceptable is this sock nonsense. Wear a size up instead of cutting all of these holes out.

Isn’t it because it’s supposedly helps you not cramp up? Even though the theory was pretty much debunked but they still do it anyway.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67903643

Golden Lion came so close to causing an upset.

[Giggles]

That has to be Kelleher finished there you'd think.

[Gray Fox]

We're so very close to the full Goe Jomez experience here.

[Boydy]

Are they both wearing away kits in Arsenal Liverpool? Why?

[Gray Fox]

Are they both wearing away kits in Arsenal Liverpool? Why?

Because of KNIFE CRIME.

[Waffdon]

Watching Havertz is painful as is watching McAilistair take a ball on the turn

[SincereTheRebel]

Watching Havertz is painful as is watching McAilistair take a ball on the turn

Havertz plays with zero aggression.

[Gray Fox]

Curtis Jones obliterating a man was not on my bingo card tonight.

[niko_cee]

Gakpo in midfield is always a bad sign, as is Macca in the pivot against a press.

[Don]

Havertz is a disgrace. But so is all of them bar Saliba, so toothless and mediocre.

I've said a lot of bad stuff about Gomez but don't get it twisted, the man is a monster, especially against shite like Saka.

[Gray Fox]

Gakpo in midfield is always a bad sign, as is Macca in the pivot against a press.

Yeah Mac I can cope with in there. Gakpo proves he isn't a midfielder every time he's on screen. Gravenberch on ASAP please.

[Ben]

Ken Shamrock theme on the PA system at the Emirates. :cool:

[Gray Fox]

I can hear Taz typing out favela cunt already.

[Giggles]

Ken Shamrock theme on the PA system at the Emirates. :cool:

He has got to be a yobyobyee with a name like that.

[Gray Fox]

See this is much better. We may yet lose, but going down fighting like this is much preferable. I've no idea who is playing where but fuck it, carry on.

[Waffdon]

Martinelli just needs to keep running at Alexander Arnold. The latter looks like a child defending him

[Baz]

If Darwin Nunez could play football, he might be quite good.

[Gray Fox]

If it's still 0-0 at the end someone needs to do the honourable thing and chuck one in their own net to avoid the replay.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm all aboard the draw here, I want to see Klopp die of grief.

[Shindig]

That'll be that.

[Gray Fox]

Trent Alexander-Beckham.

He's even got the Predators now too.

[Waffdon]

If it's still 0-0 at the end someone needs to do the honourable thing and chuck one in their own net to avoid the replay.

Since you asked so nicely.

Hopefully Arsenal score but if not LOL at them

[Raoul Duke]

Havertz is completely shit. Kills every attack

[Jimmy Floyd]

Liverpool have deserved this. Arsenal devoid of anything.

[Gray Fox]

Another season with no trophy at the Emirates. Arsenal finished.

[Waffdon]

Liverpool beating Chelsea on penalties in both cup finals is still on.

God help us.

Liverpools only defeat being with 9 men at spurs is beyond mental. Klopp is an absolute genius. Team spirit really is something else.

[Don]

Embarrassing performance from the home side. Konate, Ali, Gomez, Bradley, Jones, Jota, what a fucking genius that nazi cunt is.

Edit: Waff earning the don in his name :cool:

It really is true though, there's no overcomplicated tactical masterclass here, it's more about bravery, heart, work-rate, all down to that cunt.

[Shindig]

Liverpool beating Chelsea on penalties in both cup finals is still on.

God help us.

Liverpools only defeat being with 9 men at spurs is beyond mental. Klopp is an absolute genius. Team spirit really is something else.

The way they keep going for a full 90 is quite mad.

[Waffdon]

Granted Arsenal let them off but still.

Wouldn’t surprise me if they lose the league on draws again. Don’t think there’s a world where Man City don’t win it as they’re still due their 10 game winning streak which will put it beyond doubt

[Mike]

I’m ready for Gomez to score his first ever goal in the last minutes of the match that gets us the title.

[Don]

PSG playing a strong XI against sixth-tier amateur side should be good fun.

[Shindig]

Is the Coupe de France still big on upsets?

[Manc]

Konate & Saliba really are something else.

[Waffdon]

Yet Upamecano will still somehow start for France

[Lofty]

It's clear Arsenal really need a top class striker but I don't think Arteta managed that game well. It was inevitable at half time that Liverpool would win.

[Dquincy]

If Darwin Nunez could play football, he might be quite good.

Nunez front left is so much than Nunez in the middle.

[Baz]

Left on the bench, even better

[Don]

If you can't see what Nunez brings, look at that Arsenal attack. They'd sell their stadium for a player like Nunez.

[Don]

Some cunt's edited Joe Gomez's wiki to say he's 26 :D

[Gray Fox]

Keep the faith Baz.

[Baz]

Only good thing he did was slap the fans head after the first goal

[Jimmy Floyd]

He's very similar in what he offers to Nicolas Jackson, i.e. a chaotic hype man with little footballing merit.

[Waffdon]

I’ve never seen someone get as much stick as Jackson does. You’d think he went for a Hojlund or Nunez type fee.

Gotta be the colour of his skin.

[Adramelch]

In other news, Mazzocchi was subbed in at half time for his debut at Napoli (his boyhood club) only to get sent off 4 minutes later for this challenge:

https://streamin.me/v/c5bf2bbd/o

Dream debut.

[niko_cee]

Not the best challenge.

Still made to appear worse by the freeze frame. In trying to pull out of it he's made it worse.

[niko_cee]

On the power of the freeze frame, I was wondering yesterday, had Kiwior flicked that ball over the bar rather than into his own goal would there have been any case for it being a penalty seeing as Ramsdale absolutely obliterated whoever it was that was in front of him or are 'keepers just allowed to do that?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Probably would have been waved away via the unwritten 'ball's going out anyway' rule, or to put it perhaps more broadly, the 'it's not a penalty in any unusual or unexpected sequence of events that aren't exactly what the referee expects to happen three seconds earlier' rule.