February Football: In time for Wolves vs. United

[Don]

In the brilliance of its glow, a flame so bright surrenders to the night, knowing its time is oh so fleeting.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Can't even last 5 minutes :harold:

[Don]

You can get creams for that.

[Waffdon]

1755603240715219157


Honestly thought this was a troll account.

[Jimmy Floyd]

In contrast to my usual 'heads have gone' stances on everything, I'm all for this. Any extra deterrent to cynical fouls is a good thing for the sport. Attackers have no recourse to violence to get what they want, defenders shouldn't have it either.

[Spikey M]

They'll only fuck it up and make more controversy for themselves

[Gray Fox]

In principle a decent idea. It will be implemented horribly.

I can't wait for a player from 'insert favourite team' to get a blue card for protesting a VAR penalty decision which is later proved (s)he was right. Now a goal down and down a player for 10 minutes.

[Waffdon]

Referee’s already interpret cyclical fouls differently to each other. It’s just another mess to add to it all.

[Spikey M]

Also, why is it a blue card? I'm no Picasso, but if we're having a halfway house between a yellow and a red card, it's an Orange card, surely?

[Ian]

Three minutes VAR delays to determine if a blue card is necessary. :drool:

[Ben]

Why blue tho

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What would you prefer? Rainbow? Pink? Purple?

[Gray Fox]

I'd be in favour of a rainbow card just to see the likes of Joey Barton lose their minds over some colours.

[Manc]

This explains Klopp's resignation.

[Kikó]

We have it in amateur football and I'm pretty sure I'm the only player to ever get sin binned for not backing off on a free kick.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Probably thought the rules don't apply to Lords.

[Kikó]

Was ist ein Lord

[niko_cee]

Why blue tho

Sky blue in homage to the finest exponents of the art.

Whilst I sympathise with the idea I'm not sure I like the idea of introducing something new that will be fucked up. Just make those offences red cards [with VAR review then available].

[Gray Fox]

My bingo card didn't have this on it.

1755654904348086661

[Giggles]

For fuck sake, I'd a bad enough day without coming home to the news that you lot get to hockey the fuck out of us twice.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I too give us a puncher's chance of once again lifting the Andy Townsend Trophy.

[Lewis]

The blue card sounds shit. Why do people keep feeling the need to fiddle around with the most popular sport in the world?

[John Arne]

This is because refs don't hand out enough yellow cards for cynical fouls, time wasting, bad language and general fuckery. Just start giving yellow cards properly and you don't need a blue card.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The blue card sounds shit. Why do people keep feeling the need to fiddle around with the most popular sport in the world?

Probably the most popular because it's been constantly evolving and improving. Crossbar, penalty box, yellow and red cards, backpass, liberalisation of offside, there are probably loads more.

[Spikey M]

It's popularity has peaked since the 90's and there have been zero improvements since then. Just irritating changes that nobody wants.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Its popularity hasn't peaked, it's still growing rapidly every year. It's a global cultural juggernaut destroying everything in its path. Your signal for when its popularity peaks will be when all the American owners sell up.

[Luke Emia]

Thiago could be done for the season by the sounds of it. A fitting end to his Liverpool career if ever there was one him and Naby can definitely be chalked up as could have been decent players if they could of ever stayed fit.

No amount of inhalers will ever fix them.

[niko_cee]

Feels like he was a bit of a Robben. Should have stuck to Germany

[Gray Fox]

A great shock.

1755903700093005929

[Giggles]

I too give us a puncher's chance of once again lifting the Andy Townsend Trophy.

The Rice Bowl.


1755904554137248252

[Jimmy Floyd]

We should never have picked him for that. Or maybe capped him once in a qualifier and then dropped him.

[Luke Emia]

A great shock.

1755903700093005929

I genuinely do feel that the whole sport is in the process of eating itself from the inside at the moment with all the chicanery around nation states, hedge funds and multi-club ownership. City's achievements over the past ten years are massively impressive two trebles of sorts and numerous league titles as well but everything they have done comes with a massive Asterix next to it based on the fact that everyone thinks they are breaking the rules.

I will always say how they supposedly have higher commercial revenue than Manchester United despite seemingly not having enough paying fans to fill their own stadium. Imagine if United, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern were taken over by one of these entities they would be unstoppable they already generate enough to be competitive but if they then had 'Tinpot Airways' banging another £200 million in each year as a 'going rate' sponsorship they'd be ridiculous.

[Serj]

massive Asterix

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ba/2e/19/ba2e19f39f8d8864899afe5e310f14e7.jpg

[Manc]

I wonder how football will view City if the charges stick. To this day I don't think Italians take Juventus seriously post Calciopoli.

[randomlegend]

It is a real precipice moment for football. If the charges don't stick it will be a free-for-all for the state-owned clubs as it will be clear the rules don't apply to them.

I suspect the government will prevent anything significant from happening to City due to not wanting to damage their relationship with Qatar, as I understand they already did with the Saudis by pushing the League to accept their takeover of Newcastle.

[Gray Fox]

Your standard points deduction wont cut it really. It's been talked about endlessly but Evertons indiscretion was much less than that of City and they're being pumped for 10+. But what would be enough? To be dramatic lets say they do get docked 40/50 points for a season. Is that enough? It'd likely see them struggle to stay up

A fine of any kind is very dangerous to get into. You then bring in the scenario of someone lawbreaking away to get titles now, then selling the club off and it'll be the new owners that suffer.

Removal of them from the league entirely would be some marker to lay down. No chance City wont tie that up in the courts as long as they can, but it should stand. Could maybe see a (The)Rangers style situation.

Then you bring into question the ill-gotten gains. They likely keep their titles, but we have seen other leagues strip clubs of them before. It's a very tricky spot for the sport to be in. As RL says, if the punishment is very weak, then the sport will indeed get so much worse. You also really don't want the league to hand out a punishment, only for City to fight it and win. Or even worse, have a Ferrari F1 style issue where they both come to an "agreement" and everything is henceforth dropped, but nobody knows what was greed.

[Shindig]

Revoke any titles they won during the transgressions, give them a points deficit and a heavy fine. Maybe even a transfer fine.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think it'll either be incredibly weak or incredibly strong, like, relegating them to the Unibond type strong. The former would keep Abu Dhabi onside and will probably be desperately lobbied for by a UK government of any colour, but would also fatally undermine the PL as an institution and probably lead to a super league very rapidly. The latter would protect the PL as an entity against future incursions from oil states, something they should probably be thinking about, but it might also risk a UK government bringing in punitive regulation in football after they haven't played ball with our dick-sucking foreign policy.

[niko_cee]

They'll be acquitted on all charges, but it will also forever taint their period of dominance, which will end whenever Guardiola fucks off.

[phonics]

My sources say the death penalty, for financial irregularities, being considered for Kevin De Bruyne. I am pro-life and take no pleasure in reporting this.

[Ian]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uefbPWAu1Wc

Some of these aren't really comedy misses but there are some classics in here.

[Mike]

Your standard points deduction wont cut it really. It's been talked about endlessly but Evertons indiscretion was much less than that of City and they're being pumped for 10+. But what would be enough? To be dramatic lets say they do get docked 40/50 points for a season. Is that enough? It'd likely see them struggle to stay up.

I would dock them say the ten points Everton got, but ten points every season for however many years the charges go back for. So if they’ve breached FFP or whatever over the last five seasons, I’d give them a ten point deduction for the next five seasons.

[Baz]

I’ve triple captained Darwin Nunez in fantasy football, so I can be extra-letdown by him when I see him in the flesh this afternoon. :stamford:

[Gray Fox]

Do you get points for hitting the woodwork?

[John Arne]

Ooft, that's a sitter.

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[niko_cee]

I’ve triple captained Darwin Nunez in fantasy football, so I can be extra-letdown by him when I see him in the flesh this afternoon. :stamford:

I'm not doing fantasy football this year, but don't Liverpool have a double gameweek next week with the Luton game being moved?

[Baz]

I won’t be there for them though.

[Gray Fox]

Sounds like the flu has run through the squad. Word is no Alisson(sorry Baz) and Jomez today because of it.

[Gray Fox]

Not exactly been a classic in the first half. Seems like they just kinda turned up and expected to win.

[Gray Fox]

Brighton with a bit of madness you'd expect of Angeball at the end there.

Good to see Nunez bag one for Baz in the stands today too.

[Mike]

He is, to use wrestling terms, unbelievably over and it’s fantastic.

[Shindig]

Can we not put someone faster than Dan Burn up against Elanga?

[Gray Fox]

Leverkusen pretty much dominating Bayern here.

[Baz]

My opinion is now even more informed and Darwin Nunez is cack.

Problem is he just needs to look like he nearly touched the ball and 90% of the crowd are shouting NOONEZ like he took on four defenders and assisted Ian Rush. Mind boggling.

And he’s not even that fast. Diaz would have him on toast in a race, everytime.

[Gray Fox]

I see you have taken his goal well.

[Spikey M]

Bayern (and Kane) not winning a trophy this season would be very, very funny.

[Waffdon]

Tuchel is allergic to league titles

[Giggles]

Kane not winning the handy Bundelsiga would be the most Spurs thing of all.

[Adramelch]

And let's not forget they were knocked out in the cup by a 3rd-tier club, so that's not even an option trophy-wise for him.

[Gray Fox]

He'll always have the Audi Cup.

[Adramelch]

The defending for that first Leverkusen goal was quite astonishing. They all just stood there and watch the ball reach Stanisic. Zero movement whatsoever.

[Bernanke]

Always rated Leverkusen. :cool:

[niko_cee]

Just seen the handballs in the Luton game yesterday.

Another Tierney masterclass. Guy has to be one of the worst officials to have ever picked up a whistle.

Feels like a big game for THE VILLA later.

[Baz]

Nice to have proper Super Sunday games with just the one 2 and 4:30 kickoff each.

[niko_cee]

I'm really not a fan of how the 4 o'clock kick-off seems to have permanently shifted to 4.30.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've never worked that one out. Does it suit TV to get a load more ads in or something?

[niko_cee]

I thought maybe yes in that the 2pm games run too late sometimes due to added time to thwart 3 solid gambling ad breaks in the gap between, but I think it started creeping in as a thing before super added time became a thing.

[niko_cee]

Why is Havertz ducking out of that one, even with the call from behind? Should be burying the header.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I thought maybe yes in that the 2pm games run too late sometimes due to added time to thwart 3 solid gambling ad breaks in the gap between, but I think it started creeping in as a thing before super added time became a thing.

It feels as if someone has just worked out that the ads between the games get most eyeballs so they decided to expand that space a bit.

I spend most of my free time now just noticing ways in which public-facing people are being cynical. Enjoyable.

[Manc]

Great assist from Ben White in blocking the keeper.

[SincereTheRebel]

Who the fuck is this Arsenal Set Piece coach?

[niko_cee]

Just shit defending from West Ham. Moyes will be seething.

[Waffdon]

Arsenal’s set piece coach should probably be on the same sort of money as Arteta

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

West Ham are all over the place right now.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

VAR taking its time again, he's miles on.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, they've gone to bits.

[niko_cee]

Blindingly obvious that wasn't offside.

[phonics]

Top, top 'ball hitting the net' noise.

[Gray Fox]

Now see, they are in the table about where you would expect West Ham should be, but there are a lot of anti-Moyes noises.

Do we think that they end up getting rid?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Jesus Christ, this is some collapse.

Ever since the first goal West Ham have forgotten how to play football.

[Waffdon]

3 set pieces. Moysie getting moysied

[phonics]

Getting bullied off the ball by a 4 foot tall Brazillian winger. How far we done fell.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yikes.

[Gray Fox]

I think in the space of 5 minutes West Ham have answered that question for me.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fans heading for the exits already.

[phonics]

Fans heading for the exits already.

I love when they try this. Is it not far more likely they're going for a pint or a piss?

[Waffdon]

Obviously not

[niko_cee]

Isn't that Will Still a West Ham fan? Are things still going we for him at Reims?

[Gray Fox]

Will Still the famous FM manager? Did you know he does have the correct license and so every game his te....

Yeah I think they'll be looking again soon.

[Waffdon]

Cody Rhodes theme song at half time :D

MASSIVE

[phonics]

The best set-piece scorer over the last 3 years.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GGEG3J7WcAI1KG1.jpg

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I love when they try this. Is it not far more likely they're going for a pint or a piss?

At 4-0 down at half time, at home? They're going for a pint (or maybe something stronger) but they're not coming back.

[Dark Soldier]

The best set-piece scorer over the last 3 years.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GGEG3J7WcAI1KG1.jpg

Put the vaseline down phonics

[phonics]

#Back

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.skysports.com/football/video/30998/13069399/remarkable-scenes-as-thousands-of-west-ham-fans-leave-before-half-time

Clearly going for that pint and a piss...

[niko_cee]

That is some seriously half-arsed/shambolic defending.

[phonics]

That Rice non celebration is the worst one of all time. Why are you running to the corner to not celebrate you knob.

[Waffdon]

Not sure why any West Ham would even stay in the ground at this point

[niko_cee]

Even in an absolute massacre Havertz remains allergic to scoring.

[niko_cee]

'mon Arsenal, everyone loves a good written number scoreline.

[Giggles]

Do they still do that thing where they read out all the scores on telly anywhere?

[Don]

Big up Lucas Paqueta for bringing them a European trophy and keeping Moyes in a job.

[niko_cee]

Presumably still on Soccer Saturday [Sky] and Final Score [BBC] although I've not seen them for a good while.

[Don]

Who did Leon Bailey have a scrap with at the end of a game once? I think it was last season and they may have had a run-in in the return game too. Google is just giving me reports of him assaulting some fan.

Edit: Ah it was the butcher. Hopefully fatboy's bullshit attitude against Bailey makes this tasty again.

[Spikey M]

Lol @ Wet Ham.

[Waffdon]

Man Utd being a bit average might make this point mute but Villa’s style and set up really suits them on the break

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Rasmus :wub:

What a hero he is.

[Gray Fox]

Could see a Villa wobble should they carry on to lose this. A win here would have seen it very hard for United to make 5th.

[Waffdon]

Villa letting Maguire get header after header is certainly something

[Dquincy]

Villa look proper shit.

[Waffdon]

Watkins waiting on the ball there was a bit odd. Was never scoring with the keeper on top of him

[Waffdon]

Casemiro :lol:

[John Arne]

TIL: van Dijk is 1/8 Chinese. Now I can't unsee the eye slant.

[Lewis]

John McGinn looks like the face Ricky Gervais does for Derek.

[Waffdon]

Mcginn has to be of the funniest footballers of all time. All bum and vibes

[Gray Fox]

I'm very surprised Ramsey hasn't been Newcastle'd or Spurs'd yet.

Seems like a very on brand signing for one of those two clubs.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's been coming.

We're shit at trying to hold onto leads.

[Gray Fox]

Douglas Luiz is just winning at everything isn't he?

[Clunge]

Get in Dougie. We can steal this. Been by far the better team.

[Lewis]

If I had some major accident in late-2021, and had only just come out of my coma, I would be watching this thinking that Ole Gunnar Binman was still managing United. Absolute plop. What do they do in training all week?

[Waffdon]

Watkins’ 1st touch has been a disgrace this game.

[Waffdon]

Late Man Utd winner all over this

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

McSauce :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:

Absolute don.

[Dark Soldier]

What a fucking cross

[Danny]

Thanks Waff

McSauce off the bench with another goal.

[Waffdon]

There you go.

Was so obvious. Villa just randomly stopped playing the past 10 minutes.

[Don]

Subbing out Bailey for fatman was disgusting but Villa's fall was forecasted by xPTS.

[Waffdon]

Emery barely ever rotating is probably catching up with him as well

[Lewis]

I was wondering what Gareth Southgate got booed on the big screen, and it turns out that he ambushed [The] Villa with a transfer request right before Euro 2000. Fucking lol at the speculation in this article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/euro2000/teams/england/782259.stm) before he went to Middlesbrough a year later.

[Kikó]

Baldy is back.

[Dark Soldier]

I was wondering what Gareth Southgate got booed on the big screen, and it turns out that he ambushed [The] Villa with a transfer request right before Euro 2000. Fucking lol at the speculation in this article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/euro2000/teams/england/782259.stm) before he went to Middlesbrough a year later.

Big Ugo and Joachim/Carbone mentioned at the end of the article. What an era.

[randomlegend]

Luiz doing his little wanker dance and then losing :lol:

[Shindig]

McTominania running wild.

[Pleb]

AFCON final is a thing

[Ian]

1756792038048092301

Well....

[Spikey M]

:D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Looks more like a Freddie Mercury homage, the one finger has saved him.

[Waffdon]

Badiashile out for a month.

Silva back in over Colwill tonight no doubt :sick:

[Luke Emia]

Badiashile out for a month.

Silva back in over Colwill tonight no doubt :sick:

Judging on the absolute state of him in the Liverpool game I can't say losing Badiashile for a month is a disaster. I know he was playing left-back in the second half but he was equally as shit in the first half.

[Waffdon]

And look what happens away to Villa when Silva is not next to him!

Silva plays selfishly. 5 yards deeper than anyone else and then stepping up to try play offside on his own is a personal favourite. If there’s a god, Colwill will start tonight and for the rest of the season at left centre half

[Waffdon]

Also, just a note on Boehly to prove he’s not in charge - the others in the ownership group have started dragging his name through the dirt with his SD period :lol:

[Gray Fox]

Blown ACL for Boubacar Kamara. Big blow for Villa and almost certainly rules him out of a summer transfer too.

[Waffdon]

Why would he have left?

[Jimmy Floyd]

To keep David Ornstein in a job.

[Gray Fox]

Because winning the transfer window is equally as important as playing pesky matches these days.

[Waffdon]

As expected, the dinosaur picks the dinosaur.

Means he will start at Wembley. :sick:

[Don]

You're up against a fucking disgrace of a side tho tbf. Wharton and Munoz (not having watched them yet) seem like good signings but there's no threat in that 11.

[Waffdon]

Oh yeah. Their 3 best players are all out injured so it should be a walk in the park regardless but winning means Silva stays in the team which is horrendous for the long term.

Think Chelsea have won 13 in a row against Palace. Them and Spurs always walkover against Chelsea

[Waffdon]

Do sky normally love a break? This is the third one since 19.40 lol

[Waffdon]

Really do not understand why Conor Gallagher starts football games against teams who sit in. Waste of a shirt

[Waffdon]

Madueke has been a disgrace this half. Absolute donkey

[Gray Fox]

80% possession. 0.07xG and 1-0 down. That's a painful watch.

[randomlegend]

Waff + Chelsea being awful is great value

[Waffdon]

80% possession. 0.07xG and 1-0 down. That's a painful watch.

Pochettino is really going to be in charge against your lot in 2 weeks. I need to go into hiding.

[Waffdon]

Reece James will struggle to even get back in the team whenever he decides to be fit unless Gusto plays left back

[Gray Fox]

Really do not understand why Conor Gallagher starts football games against teams who sit in. Waste of a shirt

Warra assist.

[Waffdon]

I have prayed for times like this. Goodbye, Thiago.

[Waffdon]

The perfect type of game for Frank Gallagher.

[Baz]

Palace embarrassing. Give it up, Roy.

[Waffdon]

Jackson :D

Somehow gets another booking. Nearly at 10 now

[Manc]

Do the Chelsea faithful only know one chant?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Disasi was going mental after the second goal. They might not be the best players we've ever had but they're really quite likeable.

[Waffdon]

Disasi was going mental after the second goal. They might not be the best players we've ever had but they're really quite likeable.

Youthful exuberance :cool:

Disasi loves a goal celebration. In the crowd at every opportunity.

[phonics]

Chelsea really have vibes'd themselves into late period Wenger with none of the respectability or success and I fucking love it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We're a lot worse than that.

[niko_cee]

I like this story about 'keepers not being replaceable in the albeit unlikely event that they get a blue card, leaving you with the choice of having to sub an outfielder and then have 2 'keepers when the other one comes back on 10 minutes later, presumably necessitating another sub, or chancing your arm with Kyle Walker in goal for 10 minutes.

[Gray Fox]

Is there something in the rules to stop teams just having their guys feign injury for chunks of the 10 minutes in order to run the clock down?

[Ben]

You know they haven't thought about that.

[niko_cee]

Is there something in the rules to stop teams just having their guys feign injury for chunks of the 10 minutes in order to run the clock down?

I thought players receiving medical attention were required to spend 90 seconds off the pitch, thus putting you down to 9 men, although there are loopholes in that for 'actual' injuries, however the fuck you determine that. I haven't noticed the 90 second rule being particularly stringently enforced.

Maybe a better way to address concerns about serious/professional foul play would be to have an 'on report' system if you must borrow something from rugby, with the threat of a one match ban if the panel think whatever you have done meets whatever the threshold is. At least that would provide a significant disincentive, which I guess is the whole point, without fucking the flow of the game itself up.

[Waffdon]

It’s 30 seconds. But if two players on same team collide I’m pretty sure they don’t need to go off the pitch. Remember John Terry saying him and Gary Cahill done it before

[niko_cee]

Didn't they make it longer recently, which is why quite a lot of players are saying no thanks to the medics coming on after lying on the floor for a bit?

Although I do quite like the idea of contrived, Benny Hill style collisions between players on the same team during any blue card period.

[Waffdon]

Definitely 30 seconds. They just get timed now

[niko_cee]

Got to think that there is so little fanfare for the return of the Champions League that they're going to need to do something with the format beyond pissing around with a mega group stage or whatever it is we get next year.

[Giggles]

Those two City finishes :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68287137

INEOS officially IN.

[randomlegend]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68287137

INEOS officially IN.

Old news mate, we're onto bringing in Dan Ashworth.

1757535343211942255

[-james-]

lol bayern

[Don]

Inter, PSG and Real seem the only sides capable of stopping City and I'm really not too keen on the latter two. A double treble would be a fantastic way of leaving with Klopp.

[Luke Emia]

Tuchel winning that Champions League will keep him at the top table for years. But, he’s so far from a top level manager. Seems like he’s alienated half the Bayern squad to me with his decisions and the squad building(which isn’t all on him) is horrendous.

lol at Kane moving for some easy trophies and ending up with fuck all potentially as well.

[Gray Fox]

Big problem for Tuchel is he's burned through two already, with a third top job seemingly slipping away from him. The only job he'd likely be appointed at in England again is United(maybe Newcastle?). In Germany he's ticked off the top two already and is there a point in going to a non-PSG club in France? Hasn't really lasted longer than 2 seasons anywhere since Mainz too.

As for our 'arry, I saw on Twitter someone said he's going to make the move to Celtic at 35 to try and win something and Hibs will appear and win the league. Could totally believe it too.

[Shindig]

I don't think Tuchel fits us. If we're going to struggle to compete in the transfer market, we're better off with the Eddie Howes of the world.

[Manc]

Steve Bruce could do a job..

[Shindig]

He's still waiting on the Man Utd job. Dan Ashworth's sure to make that one of his first suggestions.

[Adramelch]

Why would Steve Bruce want to drop down to United's level though?

[Ben]

Manchester United 2023 squad the most expensive in history (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68274866)

:harold:

[randomlegend]

I know it's all very early and there's no guarantees of anything, but the difference in how Ineos are acting compared to the last however many years of the Glazers is enormous. Actually trying to put a proper structure in place on the footballing side with competent people in role.

Back?

[Kikó]

Pull out the boom bust graph.

[randomlegend]

Back.

[niko_cee]

That UEFA report thing was quite an interesting read/scan through.

If by back you mean back to Fergie era levels, then that's probably never going to happen, although City getting fucked and Chelsea continuing to be run by morons will help.

[randomlegend]

Obviously I don't mean that. No club will achieve that level of dominance for that length of time in English football ever again.

[Waffdon]

Chelsea and Man Utd fighting out over another Brighton recruitment staff :lol:

[Jimmy Floyd]

No point hiring Brighton recruitment staff on Man Utd / Chelsea budgets. Actually amazing that they are stupid enough to think this. Just buy the obvious best players and you'll win more.

[Kikó]

And give them long contracts init.

[niko_cee]

Just buy the obvious best players and you'll win more.

Not quite as easy as that when you enter fallen giant status as the obvious best players aren't often that interested in long term projects and/or have better offers available to them.

Can they lure Mbappe, for example, in a world where limitless money is much easier to find and fund elsewhere?

That's where Ineos should be pitching their rebuild, a transformational signing.

[phonics]

Worked with Pogba.

[Luke Emia]

Not quite as easy as that when you enter fallen giant status as the obvious best players aren't often that interested in long term projects and/or have better offers available to them.

Can they lure Mbappe, for example, in a world where limitless money is much easier to find and fund elsewhere?

That's where Ineos should be pitching their rebuild, a transformational signing.

They'd be mad to do so. Looking at upwards of a million a week to get him. They have already had problems with paying players far more than they are worth and all it would do is fuel wage inflation within the squad further. I think he's a fantastic player but he has priced himself out of the market even for Madrid by being paid Messi/Ronaldo money at PSG. Even though he is obviously a brilliant footballer, I'm not sure he is on the same level as those two were at their peaks - and to be fair they actually only seemed to earn the crazy money over the past few years when they were probably past their peak.

[Kikó]

Not quite as easy as that when you enter fallen giant status as the obvious best players aren't often that interested in long term projects and/or have better offers available to them.

Can they lure Mbappe, for example, in a world where limitless money is much easier to find and fund elsewhere?

That's where Ineos should be pitching their rebuild, a transformational signing.

Evening Ed.

[Ben]

The pigeon has been sacked. Glasner coming in.

[phonics]

These clubs are obsessed with the Germans despite Klopp being the only successful one. One day these sporting directors will open their eyes and see the truth, the Bundesliga is a load of old shite.

[SincereTheRebel]

If you get Mbappe for anything less than a world record fee and wage. You have a bargain.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

These clubs are obsessed with the Germans despite Klopp being the only successful one. One day these sporting directors will open their eyes and see the truth, the Bundesliga is a load of old shite.

He's Austrian mate.

[phonics]

So was another famous German leader.

[Boydy]

1758112712804987209

Are they sacking a sick man or did the sacking make him ill?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sounds like he's been the victim of *stay with me, this is fucking funny what's coming up* a Palace coup.

[Manc]

The pulling power of the Premier (Super) League never ceases to amaze me.

[Yevrah]

Obviously I don't mean that. No club will achieve that level of dominance for that length of time in English football ever again.

Er, you wot? Man City are well on the way to doing it.

[randomlegend]

Er, you wot? Man City are well on the way to doing it.

I doubt it. Once Guardiola goes they won't be anywhere near as dominant, just as they weren't before he came, and he's not going to be there 26 years.

They'll obviously still be good because of their immense wealth and excellent overall setup, but not to the extent they are now.

[niko_cee]

Worked with Pogba.

Pogba was never any good, it's why they got rid of him the first time around when they were good and had non-idiots in charge. He probably had about 15 good games in his career. Maybe 30, I dunno.

Mbappe is not Pogba.

Now, realistically, it isn't happening, and Mbappe specifically probably isn't the best idea as he would be so expensive absent the ability for him to dodge tax [Spain] or be paid off the books [sand], but turning a team around often only takes one or two properly good signings and as a player he would obviously fall into that category. I suppose the main priority for them is to somehow shift all of the shite they still have on the books.

[randomlegend]

Pogba was good and we very much wanted to keep him first time round.

[Waffdon]

I might be reading into all a bit too much but I’m fairly sure De Zerbi will be going to Chelsea in the summer. Ffs

[niko_cee]

:D

Enjoy the ride.

I believe his buyout from Brighton is also crippling, as you'd expect.

[niko_cee]

On the Mbappe front, he's officially off somewhere in the summer.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68309952

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sign him up baldy.

[Gray Fox]

Did PSG not turn down something stupid like £150m for him last year? This could be PSG just done as a competitive entity too. You lucked out that the worlds best forward supported your club and even pissed him off to the point he left. I get they save on his massive wages but the PR will be bad.

Surely only Madrid and Saudi can afford to pay him what he wants?

[niko_cee]

It is estimated Mbappe earns around €200m per year (£171m).

How can anyone come even close to that? That's like 30% of Real's commercial revenue.

Sorry, 50% on the latest UEFA numbers.

:cab:

[Jimmy Floyd]

The kingdom can stump that up, no one else.

[niko_cee]

Is he any good at golf?

[randomlegend]

Presumably he's accepted he's not getting what he was at PSG when he leaves.

[SincereTheRebel]

At this point, you could argue the likes of R.Madrid and other prestige teams can get players on the cheap. If Man city want to sign me, i want £10m salary If R.Madrid want me, ill take £5m.

[John Arne]

Klinsmann sacked from South Korea despite it costing them a fortune to do.

At least know we know that you can't manage a national team via zoom. Clown.

https://www.spotvnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=63971

[John Arne]

1758206805333651783

[niko_cee]

Chelsea have made an offer to bring Brighton's head of recruitment Sam Jewell to Stamford Bridge. (Telegraph - subscription required)

:drool:

[SincereTheRebel]

1758206805333651783

Nothing to see here. Its a brazilian thing. They all get fat. Surprised he lasted so long to be fair.

[Gray Fox]

Trent out for over a month, Szobo a mystery when he's back and now Alisson has done his hammy. At least Salah and Bradley are back though.

[niko_cee]

Didn't they just say Alisson was back from injury today?

Thiago-itis is spreading, just get him out of the club and away from everyone.

[Baz]

Can Adrian play please

[Shindig]

Klinsmann sacked from South Korea despite it costing them a fortune to do.

At least know we know that you can't manage a national team via zoom. Clown.

https://www.spotvnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=63971

Was he still doing that shit from California? What a fucking charlatan.

[Waffdon]

Allison is injury prone as fuck for a keeper

[niko_cee]

Has he got a sister and is it her birthday?

[Gray Fox]

To be fair to him he played 37 league games last year and 36 the year before. A quick search discovers no sister for him to be flying away to celebrate turning older though.

[Don]

Injuries are ruining the season here. Kelleher was due the final and the rest of our games are largely piss so don't mind it but tomorrow is anything but. I've got a ticket in the Brentford end for it too :sick:

[niko_cee]

Just put a big bet on Brentford and everything will be fine.

You could get them around 5/1 earlier in the day.

[Shindig]

Or just ask which way Toney's betting and do the opposite.

[Waffdon]

That’s lovely from Jota and Nunez but why the fuck do teams still leave players one on one when they have an attacking set piece?

[John Arne]

What a finish from Nunez :)

[Waffdon]

Couple more injuries pls

[Gray Fox]

Fucks sake. At this rate Chelsea will have a chance.

[Gray Fox]

I also feel like Salah will end up coming back off. Big risk after weeks off with a hamstring injury.

[Don]

EPL season dissipating into a battle for 3rd ffs. Treble is on still obvs.

[Gray Fox]

Nunez off at HT...

Fucks sake.

[Manc]

Lots to like about this Leeds side. Eight wins on the spin.

[John Arne]

The Kelleher save prior to Toney's opener was very, very good.

[phonics]

Odegaard with a clean strike on the edge of the box is so, so good.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Are Burnley just accepting their status as Man City B, or are they maybe going to try and get to 20 points at some point?

[Gray Fox]

They're just hopeless aren't they.

Arsenal doing wonders for their goal difference the past week or two.

[Gray Fox]

I'm also not sure a signing could have gone any worse than Kalvin Phillips has.

[Ben]

Chelsea are playing well until they get 20 yards out then it's schoolboy stuff.

[Don]

If KDB does what Jackson does there, we're all picking ginger pubes out our teeth for the next hour. Sterling doing his best Haaland impression too. Tasty.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm obsessed with Jackson. Simultaneously the best and the worst player in the league.

[Ian]

I'm obsessed with Jackson. Simultaneously the best and the worst player in the league.

I haven't had this game on, does he still look like running is a new experience for him?