February Football: In time for Wolves vs. United

[Waffdon]

Jackson will be quality. In his 2nd year as a striker.

Look very good. No Silva does that. City will probably win but that first half was positive

[Gray Fox]

I've seen this script so many times before. 3 or 4-1 in the end to City.

[Waffdon]

Yeah, if (when) they score they’ll get another couple.

Get Nkunku on.

[Ben]

Enzo :lol:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Watching this as a Chelsea fan is real prison showers stuff.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If Casadei had a bigger dick / wasn't a coward he would have blocked that.

[Gray Fox]

Here comes the goal avalanche.

[Waffdon]

Another deflection for Rodri. Fucking cunt.

[Ben]

Has Pochettino ever made a decent sub? :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

If we'd sent on a remote-controlled wheelie bin with a max speed of 2mph it would have been more use than Nkunku.

[Waffdon]

Going 5 at the back to allow Doku to run at Gusto again and again wasn’t the smartest move in the world.

Surely to god Disasi-Colwill start next week though. Beasts

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't watch City a lot really, but when I do, their physical attributes always seem absolutely ludicrous. Kyle Walker burning past fresh-legged players in the 94th minute as if they aren't there. Not a chance they are clean.

We've played brilliantly tonight. Good result.

[Waffdon]

Colwill being a monster at centre half over Silva. Imagine my shock. Silva has held Chelsea back for years

[Gray Fox]

The state of them appealing for that handball. Such a detestable team.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Gallagher my motm alongside the two centre backs. Can't wait for us to try and flog him again in the summer.

[wullie]

Went to Stoke today, beat them 1-0 while not being very good and then on the way out saw Toby Jones looking like he was ready to cry, although to be fair that's just his face.

[SincereTheRebel]

Spurs were pretty shit. Besides the header at the end in which they should have scored. They were awful. Pedro Neto is probably gone at the end of the season. When he is fit, he is super direct with his running. Big offers will come at season end.

[niko_cee]

Neto is such a good player but I don't see how anyone can really risk big money on him considering his injury record. Is it multiple ACL and major hamstring injuries he's had? Next one could finish him for good.

Also, lol at that Nunez finish. What sort of maniac assesses that as the best option in that situation? Even if it was outrageously good

[SincereTheRebel]

Some team will put up £50m. His contract ends in 2027 so he is locked in but you cant keep players like that for long.

[Gray Fox]

He's the player United should have bought instead of Anthony. If Klopp were staying he'd be great to have, but fuck knows who is coming in or what style we're playing next year.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think I can guess what style you're playing next year.

[Gray Fox]

Depends who comes in. De Zerbi and it likely doesn't change up much. Xabi Alonso would be a decent departure from the norm of the last 8 years.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Maybe, I haven't seen Leverkusen. There's not exactly some Drillo Olsen waiting in the wings (now that's a niche bit of punnery).

The only team in the PL that I can see playing significantly differently to the others is Luton, maybe Everton. Now admittedly I haven't seen much of Sheffield Utd or Nottingham Forest, but it's broadly all the same stuff, just with varying amounts of the ball. What I'm looking for in a coach these days is can they motivate, and can they improve players and get players that you thought were shit to become big parts of something. Klopp has been amazing at that. Guardiola it's more about buying all the best players and then pumping them full of nandrolone.

[Gray Fox]

Leverkusen play a 5-2-3 that isn't really. The right wing back in Frimpong is essentially an advanced right winger, when he bombs forwards the others shuffle into a back 4. They play an almost exclusively short passing style. More so than Man City if you look at THE DATA. They don't tend to do much in the way of mad pressing, more death by possession.

He seems to have that rare combination of having been an excellent player, while also being on the ball enough to absorb the teachings of the managers he has worked under. Their performance against Bayern was a good mix of Guardiola attacking and Mourinho defending.

[Waffdon]

Some tackle from Holgate. Just about knee high.

[Gray Fox]

Holgate seeing how Kalvin Phillips has started as a challenge to him.

[niko_cee]

Hopefully Brighton really put these cunts to the sword.

Relegation can't come soon enough for them.

[niko_cee]

Isn't that weirdly offside?

ie - ball has gone backwards, but the scorer is in an offside position and hasn't been put back on by an intentional play of the ball?

[Ben]

Hopefully Brighton really put these cunts to the sword.

Relegation can't come soon enough for them.

I know it’s hardly surprising but I have first hand information of Chris Wilder being an absolute top tier cunt so I’m enjoying this.

[niko_cee]

Just a shame Brighton spend almost an hour focusing on going for some sort of passing record rather than trying to score.

[Giggles]

I think it's time I moved all my eggs to the Mark O'Mahony basket now that Ferguson is done.

[niko_cee]

At least that guy who got really annoyed whenever anyone mentioned the chance of him defecting will have less bother in his life now.

Have Sheff Utd got any better under Wilder? They seem just as shit as they were before really.

[niko_cee]

What a stupid foul/booking.

See the commentator mentioned taking one for the team there, would that be a blue card then whenever they come about?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Hojlund > Haaland.

[Lewis]

United gearing up to burgle fourth place.

[Don]

Mainoo is the real deal and unfortunately he doesn't even have the swagger to get involved in a rape or two. Hopefully just gets plucked for Real's Blacked XI.

[Waffdon]

Huge fan of Luton’s manager just saying fuck it and making every game open and frantic after their boring start to the season

Referee bottled that

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Casemiro is a lucky boy.

[Gray Fox]

I think it's probably fair. He wants hooking immediately though as he loves a foul.

[niko_cee]

Fair?

:harold:

Ref's totally bottled that.

[Waffdon]

Rashford really needs to give up this football thing

[Gray Fox]

You'd be annoyed if your teams player was off for that. Giving the ref a choice to make though.

Rashford wants sending off for that. As does the sound guy for Sky.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The audible "Fuck off Rashford" there after the wanker chants :D

Kenilworth Road is great.

[niko_cee]

"Fuck off Rashford""

"You fucking cheat!"

:D

[niko_cee]

Is Fatman not fit or is Ten Hag going full Mourinho on him?

[Gray Fox]

I think a bit of both, but more so the former.

[niko_cee]

Sheffield United captain Anel Ahmedhodzic on Mason Holgate's dismissal: "The red card killed the game, killed our plan and killed everything we worked for.

"If you ask my opinion I don't think it is a red card. I don't want to say more.

"From what I saw on the pitch I don't think it was [a red card]. Maybe the replay seems harsher than it is.

"But from my view on the pitch I thought it was a fair tackle."

:D

What a take that is.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Is Fatman not fit or is Ten Hag going full Mourinho on him?

Injured himself last week (and was subbed at half time), he was deemed fit for this game...

[niko_cee]

Meanwhile, in Germany . . .

Were Bochum the ones that got absolutely bodybagged by Bayern last season or earlier in this one?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Kenilworth Road is everything the private equity ghouls must hate about English football. Small, looks shit, probably not very profitable, hard to get TV equipment into, full of working class people swearing a lot. No wonder it didn't 'meet the requirements' pre-season.

It'll be a shame when St Mary's, King Power and Elland Road return in its place next season. Enough canapés for everyone at those three.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Meanwhile, in Germany . . .

Were Bochum the ones that got absolutely bodybagged by Bayern last season or earlier in this one?

They got smacked 7-0 earlier this season.

[Waffdon]

Reckon one of Leeds or Southampton bottle the play offs. Whoever doesn’t get second place

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Jonny Evans time :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What a block that was.

No idea what the keeper was doing.

[Manc]

Reckon one of Leeds or Southampton bottle the play offs. Whoever doesn’t get second place

Leicester aren't winning the league.

[Waffdon]

Luton’s keeper isn’t really aware of his surroundings is he

[Waffdon]

Leicester aren't winning the league.

They will. Leeds aren’t going to go win another 8 in a row. Suppose Friday night will confirm that or not

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Garnacho you absolute plum.

[Waffdon]

This keeper really isn’t built for the sweeper keeper life. Garnacho done him a solid.

[randomlegend]

It's genuinely beyond belief how poor we are at controlling a game after taking a lead.

[niko_cee]

Seems the Bochum fans have restocked their tennis ball supplies at half time.

:D

[Waffdon]

Wouldn’t surprise me if Luton equalise before a late Man Utd winner here

[Ben]

This ref is woeful.

[Lewis]

United haven't been good enough to get super-keepered by some nobody like this since about 2011. 'Sir Jim' working his magic already.

[Waffdon]

This ref is woeful.

Dodgy Liverpool decision in the cup final all over it

[Gray Fox]

3-1 down and now down to 10 men. Poor 'arry.

[Adramelch]

Two reds in consecutive games for Upamecano. Quite the form.

[niko_cee]

Kane going there and blowing up a previously unstoppable trophy machine is even funnier than Poch bringing his own brand of Spursyness to PSG and managing to lose the league to fucking Lille of all teams.

[Adramelch]

In fairness, Bayern have been just as bad (if not worse) for a couple of seasons now, there just wasn't a Leverkusen there to take advantage of the situation.

[Gray Fox]

Dortmund had the title in the bag on the final day last year. Then they bottled it.

[niko_cee]

There's obviously just been a certain je ne sais quoi missing though to tip the good ship Munchen.

Neverkusen as the arch protagonists a significant concern though.

[niko_cee]

Saw the random Harry Styles at Kenilworth Road story and though, ah, fair play, is he a Luton fan, and it turned out no, he's a United fan. Just the worst.

[Giggles]

Chris Coleman announcement imminent, not too unhappy with that.

[Ben]

I thought you were getting Carsley?

[Giggles]

They couldn't afford him according to reports. In fairness the FAI are broke and he's working for the biggest association in the world.

[niko_cee]

Carsley apparently thinking he's going to get the big job once Sir Gareth tanks another tournament is even more depressing than the thought of Phillips, Maguire, Henderson and all of the other idiots Southgate continues to pick tanking said tournament.

[Don]

Not watched a second of Jokensliga but xPTS suggests Leverkusen may crumble once that first defeat comes.

[Giggles]

Carsley apparently thinking he's going to get the big job once Sir Gareth tanks another tournament is even more depressing than the thought of Phillips, Maguire, Henderson and all of the other idiots Southgate continues to pick tanking said tournament.

He'd be insane to leave that regardless of the contract, plus the FAI thought it would be a good idea to tell any candidates that they'd be sticking their oar in on a backroom team.

Coleman is probably the best we can expect especially considering the other options were the likes of Lennon or the two Keanes.

[Jimmy Floyd]

One of my favourite traditional posts, next England manager odds update:

Potter 8/1
Howe 9/1
Carsley 9/1
Guardiola 11/1 (why do they put this in? Like when Wenger was third favourite for 20 years)
Cooper 14/1
Gerrard 14/1
Klopp 16/1 (as above)
Wiegman 16/1 (can you imagine?)
Mourinho, Tuchel, Pochettino, Carrick, Lampard, Rodgers, Rooney 20/1
Holland, Nagelsmann 25/1
Mancini, Martinez, Deschamps, Amorim, Rangnick, Allegri, Hasselbaink, Zidane, Parker, Wenger 33/1 (there he is!)
Dyche, Ancelotti, Herdman 40/1

Then below that you have joke candidates, Roy Hodgson sneaking in at 66/1 surely decent value. Think Dyche is a bit hard done by to be longer than JFH.

[Giggles]

Gerrard at 14's is the biggest joke there.

[Lewis]

On the latest Rio Ferdinand podcast thing Jose Mourinho claims that the job was his in 2008 but he turned it down. He also called Rio's co-host fat and buried him forever.

[Waffdon]

1759321129821327772


FFP going that badly? lol

[Jimmy Floyd]

£20 million for some centrist dad? Just load up the FM database and sort by potential ability. Must be about thirty quid on Steam.

[John Arne]

I do sometimes wonder if labour law just doesn't apply to football.

[Lofty]

The problem is if someone tests it in court they will likely win but then the whole house of cards making them all rich falls down if players can just give notice at any time then leave for free.

[niko_cee]

Not sure that's quite the case, really.

Presumably Ashworth was happy to sign this contract with the extended gardening leave/compensation clauses whenever he wandered out on his last employer after having his head turned. Was that Brighton or the FA?

Quite funny how many of Brighton's highly prized former staff might end up on gardening leave/being paid not to work. Makes you think.

[Raoul Duke]

It's a contract and works both ways. Hence why Graham Potter probably has a gold house.

[Manc]

Everton v Palace might just be the most toxic fixture in football atm. Get the popcorn in.

[phonics]

Maybe the greatest piece of punditry I've ever seen.

1759536844243394979

Just say "Jobs for the boys" Graeme, you'll sound like less of a twat.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Christine Lampard stands on the Giant's Causeway, skirt blowing in the wind, hand shielding her vision from the cold February sun as she gazes far out to sea.

"What do you see, darling?"
"I see footballers, Frank. Glasgow Rangers footballers."

[Don]

1756603183747441015

[Waffdon]

Saša Kalajdžic (that big bloke wolves signed before doing his ACL) has ruptured his Achilles for the 3rd time in 5 years. Pack it up son

[Luke Emia]

Rumours that Salah is injured again. If it's true and Nunez's is an issue then I think that's it pretty much fucked it because it's two games a week now for pretty much ever starting on Wednesday.

[Waffdon]

Smoke and mirrors. They’ll all start on Sunday.

[Don]

Really didn't need to waste 5 mins looking into bs rumours in a panic. Sort yourself out.

[phonics]

We're linked with a player from Sporting Lisbon for 45 million euros. Then I have a look and see he played for Coventry. Then I saw Coventry sold him for something like 25 million. How'd they find this guy? That must be their total transfer intake for a decade.

[niko_cee]

If it's Gyokeres then he came from Brighton.

[Don]

And he is shit hot.

[Waffdon]

As if Sporting would sell him for less than £40m. Another £25m on top of that maybe

[thommo]

We were always being linked with him when he was at Coventry, especially as he scored 3 as they did the double over us. Wish we'd bit the bullet this summer with the knowledge that Mitro was off to the desert.

[niko_cee]

1756603183747441015

Was this a Woy obit?

[John Arne]

Nothing to see here.

1759563442820714573

1759561056341442673

[Ben]

Was this a Woy obit?

I knew the "illness" was a kop out from the Palace board. Didn't dare sack him because he's some sort of legend.

On the other end of the scale, Sunderland have punted Beale already. :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c87n8dk1n5lt

Woy has STEPPED DOWN and absolutely not been fired or pushed in anyway.

[wullie]

We're linked with a player from Sporting Lisbon for 45 million euros. Then I have a look and see he played for Coventry. Then I saw Coventry sold him for something like 25 million. How'd they find this guy? That must be their total transfer intake for a decade.

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

Swansea fans laughed when we took him on loan, last week one of his goals made us another million. We've also got a healthy sell-on clause so he may single-handedly fund two years of transfers before we even dip into however much Sheffield United blew on Hamer

[Giggles]

Get Woy on the blower before Coleman signs on the dotted line.

[Baz]

Wow times must be hard in Ireland.

[SincereTheRebel]

1759567726756925479?
:lol:

[Giggles]

Wow times must be hard in Ireland.

Did a good job with Switzerland and hadn't the generational player that Coleman had with Wales. Maybe he's past it a bit but we're operating at a slim pickings level, never going to get anyone actually good.

[niko_cee]

Switzerland was 30 years ago.

[wullie]

Chris Coleman had the luck of inheriting a Wales team on the up that allowed him to fool people into thinking he knows what he's doing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Calling for an elderly man to be appointed from a hospital bed on the basis of his solid work at USA 94, the Irish game sounds in rude health.

[Giggles]

Like I said before - Lennon or the two Keanes? They could maybe wait on Barry to get sacked with Tuchel but they need someone in for the next games really.

I'd have that Bosnian lad who was with the Swiss recently above anyone but again, not a hope he could be afforded. It's not an attractive job without a big Trappatoni style payday.

.

[niko_cee]

Wait, Bareth Garry is at Bayern with Tuchel?

Ah no, Anthony Barry. Who's that then?

[Giggles]

Wait, Bareth Garry is at Bayern with Tuchel?

Ah no, Anthony Barry. Who's that then?

He was a coach under Stephen Kenny and then left to take a job with Martinez with Belgium, I think he's with him in Portugal too. Was a highly enough rated coach at Chelsea for a good while.

[Lewis]

I thought that I couldn't name an Irish player beyond that Brighton one, but it turns out Seamus Coleman still going. The rest of them no idea. Obviously there aren't as many 'Irish' floating around England now, seeing as the only Irish people who still move here are gypos and benders, but why aren't they producing their own players?

[Giggles]

I thought that I couldn't name an Irish player beyond that Brighton one, but it turns out Seamus Coleman still going. The rest of them no idea. Obviously there aren't as many 'Irish' floating around England now, seeing as the only Irish people who still move here are gypos and benders, but why aren't they producing their own players?

Because we have no league and the FAI thought we could just farm out development of players to England and Scotland forever.

[Giggles]

That said, there's a few premier league players floating around. Certainly on a getting more action than Coleman. Ogbene, Collins, and O'Shea play regularly enough and Kelleher might see a few games now. Championship is more than enough for the level we operate at though. Couple of lads doing decent around Europe too, mostly Ebosele and O'Brien.

[Luke Emia]

This could be the year the turd finally gets flushed.

Another points deduction of any significance should finish them.

[Don]

The Irish's BLM factory is what will drive their bright future. Franco Umeh-Chibueze is on the Palace bench tonight and going off his stats (and dreads), he's going to cost Chelsea about £200m.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ole Binman to takeover from Tuchel at Bayern apparently :lol:

[niko_cee]

Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is being considered as a short-term option by Bayern Munich if they opt to sack under-pressure Thomas Tuchel. (Sky Germany)

Please make this happen.

[Giggles]

Coleman OUT. What's Steve Bruce up to?

[Raoul Duke]

Coleman OUT. What's Steve Bruce up to?


Former Birmingham, Hull and Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce is interested in becoming South Korea manager after Jurgen Klinsmann was sacked last week, but he also features on shortlists for clubs in the Saudi Arabian Pro League. (Mirror)

:D

[Lofty]

Calling for an elderly man to be appointed from a hospital bed on the basis of his solid work at USA 94, the Irish game sounds in rude health.

Weekend at Blarney's.

[niko_cee]

Sam Jewell, Paul Jewell's son [!], has left as Brighton's head of recruitment to join Chelsea.

Sounds like a nepo-baby-properfootballman.

I'm sure he'll work wonders there.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Think we need a head of sales more than a head of recruitment.

[Gray Fox]

Poor Kylian has been rescued by his knights in Spanish armour. They've come riding in with a £128m signing bonus for him to subsidise his low, low wage of £13m a season.

[Jimmy Floyd]

In other French news Marseille, having already fired Marcelino, Jacques Abardonado and Gennaro Gattuso during the course of this season (league position: 9th) have just appointed as their coach the useless septuagenarian wanker who got fired by the Ivory Coast in the middle of the Afcon. I can only imagine the fun involved in being a Marseille fan. Just pops off every few weeks without warning.

[Gray Fox]

No Alisson, Trent, Szoboszlai, Jones, Jota, Nunez or Salah tonight by the sounds of it.

Annoyingly Klopp is always very vague about his injury updates, but it would appear Alisson, Trent, Jones and Jota will be month(s), whereas the other 3 are a week or two away.
As such I expect a couple of the young lads to be starting tonight. I would think he'd rather rotate a bit today and keep some of the people who are left, fit for the cup final.

[Waffdon]

Nunez and Salah is just made up stuff on Twitter by Liverpool fans pretending there’s a crisis

Klopp didn’t even mention either of them in his press conference .

[niko_cee]

There's probably something up with Nunez considering he came off but the Salah stuff does appear to just be some Egyptian ITK which didn't sound very credible.

Neither of them starting tonight, or even featuring probably not that indicative seeing as one is only just coming back from injury and the other had played quite a lot this season.

[Don]

Injury fucked our Messi/Doak's year up but let me see what Jason Koumas' lad is up to.

[Luke Emia]

Nunez and Salah is just made up stuff on Twitter by Liverpool fans pretending there’s a crisis

Klopp didn’t even mention either of them in his press conference .

I think with Salah it's probably a case of they only really wanted him to play 20/30 minutes on Saturday but circumstances meant he ended up playing for longer so it seems he might not play tonight to be ready for Sunday. Nunez will most likely be touch and go tonight you would think but will be fine for Sunday as well. Even without those two being missing there are still 9 out though and you could make the argument that Jota, Alisson, Jones, Szoboszlai and Alexander-Arnold would all start the final if fit.

[Waffdon]

Allison wasn’t even going to start.

Your outfield 10 will be better than the team that won 4-1 a couple weeks ago because Robertson and Salah will start.

Nunez is going to eat Silva alive.

[Gray Fox]

Goe Jomez has been a revelation at LB. Robertson isn't quite at it yet since he came back.

I was hoping to see the sexy Hungarian eased back in this week but we must wait it seems.

[Gray Fox]

Tuchel out at Bayern at the end of the season. Gives Xabi a decision to make.

[niko_cee]

Would be very Bayern/Germany if they just bought all of the best bits from their biggest/newest rival.

[Lofty]

Hopefully Lomonga does something useful tonight and snaps a key player.

[Luke Emia]

Tuchel out at Bayern at the end of the season. Gives Xabi a decision to make.

It's more settled at Liverpool and with less of a rebuild to do. But, get it right at Bayern which shouldn't be too hard lets be honest with the advantages they have over the rest of the league and he can win countless trophies and then go to Madrid. If he went to Liverpool and it didn't go well he's probably not going to get the chance at the other two. Whereas if he messes Bayern up he'd probably still get another go at Liverpool in the future. Plus at Liverpool he's got to get past Pep to win anything being realistic and how likely is that?

[Ben]

Surprised they haven't binned him immediately because that's them guaranteed not to win the league this season now.

[niko_cee]

Bayern's a bit of a graveyard for young/upcoming managers.

If they want one of those they may as well just stick Muller in charge. Klopp had better not end up there at any point.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They should go for the phantom manager. Any member of the public of decent Aryan stock could keep them ticking along.

[John Arne]

I genuinely don't think the Bayern first XI is actually that good.

Neuer and Muller are both wrong side of 34... Upamecano, De Light, Kim and Alaba are decent not world class. Sane, Davies and Gnabry hot and cold, Kane getting on, Kimmich has always been overrated. Musiala and Kane probably their only genuine World Class players.

[Waffdon]

Alaba :D

[Waffdon]

1760064839328637006


Phonics got a job at TNT doing graphics I see

[John Arne]

Oops. Exactly, so shit that they already sold him.

[Ben]

Upamecano is dreadful.

[Manc]

City's March makes for interesting reading. United, Liverpool, Brighton & Arsenal.

[Gray Fox]

I genuinely don't think the Bayern first XI is actually that good.

Neuer and Muller are both wrong side of 34... Upamecano, De Light, Kim and Alaba are decent not world class. Sane, Davies and Gnabry hot and cold, Kane getting on, Kimmich has always been overrated. Musiala and Kane probably their only genuine World Class players.

The Bayern side is similar to the PSG side that you'll see come the summer. It is more than good enough to win the league they're in, but they need to accept that it is not going to win the Champions League.

They have tried to buy in the next generation to replace the ageing stars, but it hasn't always been a hit. Mazaroui hasn't quite been it, Gravenberch never got much of a sniff there. De Ligt looks okay, but you'd expect more. Upemecano is a bombscare(whoever bought him over Konate wants shooting). That's a lot of money for a team that doesn't have Premier League money. Now they do have some genuine stars there in Musiala and the upcoming Tel(Taz will love this boy), but should their heads be turned then you'd start to panic if you were a Bayern fan.

Also doing the Chelsea approach of changing the manager every year just doesn't work. You have to bring in a guy with a long term plan and give him years, not months to get it off the ground.

[Waffdon]

Tel will be joining his French bredrens in west London

[John Arne]

What a tit.

1760073844906401902

[niko_cee]

I thought the same when I saw the headline, but the video makes it seem less bad. He is a bit of an autist though. Kind of a bit like Rishi in that he likes to try his hand at banter but he's really shit at it and it's a bit embarrassing.

Although granted it is probably unfair to expect scintillating repartee in a second, third or whatever language.

[Manc]

Those wrinkles on his forehead would disagree.

[Danny]

1760345358901629048

:d

[niko_cee]

:D

He's definitely a scam.

[Gray Fox]

Tuchel getting his agent to big him up for the United job. Would any United fans actually make that swap?

I know he's won the CL but his stock has never been lower for me. He's managed to fuck up two of the easiest jobs in football in what, 5 years? And that's with a Chelsea stint in-between.

[niko_cee]

That would be mad, although he'll fancy himself to be in the mix if/when they make a shit start to next season.

[niko_cee]

City's March makes for interesting reading. United, Liverpool, Brighton & Arsenal.

The BBC have been going big on the title race and remaining games today. Suffice to say if City are top at the end of March [there would be 8 games to go at that point] then things are finished. Even within 5 points of whoever is top you'd have them as favourites with the respective run-ins.

[Manc]

If all three teams mirrored thier earlier results against their remaining opponents the table would finish as follows.

1. Arsenal - 84pts
2. Liverpool - 83pts
3. City - 82pts

[phonics]

That'd be because we beat Liverpool and City at home.

[Baz]

Love how strong the Liverpool lineup despite missing so many. What an era. :drool:

[Gray Fox]

I just hope we don't need any attacking help off the bench. Much rather we're 3-0 up so we can get Jayden Danns on.

[niko_cee]

Obligatory is that Neil Danns son question.

Is Tsimikas actually fit or is he on the bench for lolz? Thought he was meant to be out for longer.

[Waffdon]

Luton are the most open team in the league these days so you’ll score a few on the break with ease.

It’s a shame Salah and Nunez will definitely start on Sunday as I’d have a wee bit of hope. But then I remember Thiago Silva is definitely getting thrown back in the side and I vomit a little

[Gray Fox]

Obligatory is that Neil Danns son question.

Is Tsimikas actually fit or is he on the bench for lolz? Thought he was meant to be out for longer.

Yes he is his son and Tsimikas came on in the last game.

[Shindig]

Old man suggests New Trafford (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68361025)

He's gonna die soon.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Talking like a house-flipper, which is ultimately what all modern club owners are.

How he can suggest using taxpayers' money for it with a straight face I have no idea.

[niko_cee]

I know they should have enough to get past Luton, but I'm not sure what Baz particularly sees in that Liverpool team.

[Mike]

Not the best start

[Gray Fox]

Diaz should have scored 2 already.

Still plenty of time.

[niko_cee]

Dropping points twice against Luton would be something.

Better silver lining Everton down if they do.

Liverpool have a bit of a thing about hopeless promoted teams who play in orange.

[Gray Fox]

A bunch of players being a bit too selfish in the first half. Plenty of promising positions ruined by someone shooting instead of the better pass. Also a fair few players slipping and getting the ball stuck under feet. Maybe got the wrong studs in.

[Gray Fox]

Mentality monsters.

[Waffdon]

Imagine my surprise at a team conceding 2 in quick succession to Liverpool. Every single time.

God, I can’t wait for Klopp to fuck off.

[Mike]

Phew

[Jimmy Floyd]

You should have been around for the Ferguson years, you'd have hated it.

[niko_cee]

How many games have Liverpool been behind in this season? Feels like they must be getting close to some sort of record in terms of points after being behind.

[Lofty]

The ref in this Porto match is comically biased.

[phonics]

This match is hilariously biased against being interesting.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13077704/luke-shaw-manchester-united-defender-to-be-out-for-months-with-leg-injury

Pukka Pie shares are about to go through the roof.

[phonics]

To sum this game up, a Porto player just threw out a throw in for a thowin without anyone touching the ball. I want to die of boredom.

[Waffdon]

Jesus Christ David Raya is tiny

[Luke Emia]

Arsenal are BACK

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:harold:

[Manc]

The last sixteen curse lives on.

[Waffdon]

I think he might actually just dive too early. Either way what a tit

[Lofty]

Arteta is the tit, not sure why he didn't make subs there. Yeah the bench isn't great but you at least have some fast fresh legs there to cause problems instead of letting gassed players on yellow cards stumble about.

[Gray Fox]

Arsenal tactically losing to keep Spurs/United out of a 5th place CL qualifying finish?

[Don]

That Porto team is fucking awful so lol at how shite Arsenal are.

[Baz]

I know they should have enough to get past Luton, but I'm not sure what Baz particularly sees in that Liverpool team.Are you mad? Aside from the lump up front and the seemingly literally disabled backup goalkeeper, there is no weak point. The backup players are good enough to walk into most sides outside the top three, never mind the first choices.

[Lofty]

They were all being kept quiet by the raw power of Lomonga, were they not?

[niko_cee]

Yes he is his son

On this, have Liverpool implemented some sort of CM2 style regen poaching policy where instead of shortlisting a retiring player and finding their regen they've just started wholesale recruiting the children of former professionals? Danns, Koumas, Clarke. What's the sweet spot? The dad obviously can't have been too good otherwise the kids end up like the Beckham lot or Callum Best, lower Premier League/Championship quality?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jos/Max is the sweet spot.

[niko_cee]

Midfield trundler parent then? Could you say that worked for the Lampards and the Redknapps or is that harsh on the older generation?

[phonics]

I don't think this is just a Liverpool thing. I think the whole Academy system is such a conveyor belt of churning out the same type of player these days that having a Dad keeps you on that conveyer belt a little longer.

[Waffdon]

Lilian Thuram might be the best producer. Both his sons are quality.

[niko_cee]

I suppose the acid test, which will probably end up with some sort of gulf state funded stud farm with Lillian 'covering' famous lady footballers, will be if the Kennys manage to produce some sort of cycling god from their various offspring.

Dani Alves has obviously jumped the gun on the concept though.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've always thought it's down to motivation and psychology. If the dad's too good, the kids end up as Kendall Roy / Jordi Cruyff. If the dad's there but never quite fulfilled his dreams, the kid inherits them and also has the best of everything to make a play of it.

I do love that idea though. Let's kidnap the entire Lionesses and use them as brood mares. If that isn't female empowerment then what is?

[Lofty]

Is it not also due to the thing now where clubs are chucking contracts at players kids to sweeten deals so we are seeing a lot more come through? And you can be quite average in the modern game and retire comfortable enough to never work again if you are sensible with cash, where as even top players had to find jobs after football a generation ago.

[Luke Emia]

Is it not also due to the thing now where clubs are chucking contracts at players kids to sweeten deals so we are seeing a lot more come through? And you can be quite average in the modern game and retire comfortable enough to never work again if you are sensible with cash, where as even top players had to find jobs after football a generation ago.

It does seem that most kids of players almost automatically get enrolled in the academy of the clubs they are at. So if they are getting the potential benefits of coaching from a very early age as well as potentially having an aptitude for the sport from just being around their parents as well they may have a slight head-start. I'm not sure any of these who are at Liverpool will ending being top quality players but they may still end up having decent careers. Much like their father's to be fair.

[Gray Fox]

The game has definitely changed in regards to recruitment of young talent. No longer is it enough to just sign the player. You need their mum and dad looked after, the agent needs more sweetening and if there's a brother or sister you need them taken care of too, or else they take the kid elsewhere.

Look at what happened with Odegaard. Remember his dad dragging him around all of the major players in Europe before deciding on Madrid? They sweetened the pot enough for the family that he went there, despite it probably not being the best move for the lad himself. Had he not become a good player, it wouldn't matter as much as the family is well taken care of.

As has also been said, unless you were at a big club even into the 90's/early 00's, life after the game was back to normal. Now you could play for Luton for 10 years and you'd never need to work again.

[-james-]

1760628964228583677


https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/021/267/swedish_chef.jpg

[Danny]

1760644288138924284

They do have some good ones

[Gray Fox]

Word is we're in 'advanced talks' with Alonso and the backup option is Ruben Amorim from Sporting.

[Giggles]

John Delaney would be proud. And this shower are looking for a billion quid state investment at the same time.


1760615029479461320

[Waffdon]

1760763212180455675

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:D

[John Arne]

Slightly mad news out of China.... Li Tie has been sentence to LIFE imprisonment on corruption charges.

[Dquincy]

Absolute melts.

'Lionesses taking in Marbella sun amid burnout debate'

https://www.skysports.com/share/13078355

[phonics]

Absolute melts.

'Lionesses taking in Marbella sun amid burnout debate'

https://www.skysports.com/share/13078355

Youre an absolute mong. The international level has literally not had longer than a 3 week break since 2016 due to the competitions changing/

[Baz]

(mini) Cup Final weekend is nearly upon is. Feels extra good when a win is all but guaranteed. What an era. :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

I wouldn't be so sure. That point at Man City (and the performance) has hardened Chelsea massively.

[Waffdon]

(mini) Cup Final weekend is nearly upon is. Feels extra good when a win is all but guaranteed. What an era. :drool:

You have won 1 of each trophy in nearly 10 years. The underachievers era.

[Gray Fox]

I can taste all of that salt from here.

[niko_cee]

I saw in that pick a combined team thing on the BBC that James was available to pick. They seem to have filtered out most of the injured players so does that mean he is indeed fit again? Does he only ever play against Liverpool?

[Ben]

Didn't he have hamstring surgery just before Christmas? If that's the case then no chance.

[niko_cee]

Probably, was just surprised to see him listed. Doesn't seem to have played recently so I'm going to say you are correct.

In other football news, I know the world is littered with stats wanker analytics bullshit these days, but these chancers at Carteret are surely plumbing new depths with this absolute wank. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68368787)

[Waffdon]

I can taste all of that salt from here.

It’s true though. Chelsea have won more in the same time Klopp has been around and there’s been some horrific squads and seasons thrown in there.

Nico Jackson winner or Sunday and I’m getting naked

[Gray Fox]

Salah, Nunez and Szobo to face late fitness tests. I would suggest all 3 are going to make the bench.

A few tasty Europa ties being drawn here. Roma v Brighton should be great.

[Waffdon]

The first two will start and it couldn’t be anymore obvious.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, and I don't think there's much chance for Szobozlai.

Trip to Rome to be stabbed in the arse, nice.

[Waffdon]

Big games for ten coefficient. West Ham losing to Freiburg could fuck things up tremendously

[niko_cee]

Aren't England insurmountably top of the UEFA coefficient rankings (https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/uefarankings/country/#/yr/2024)?

How can any other country overturn a 14 point plus margin, if that's what would have to happen?

Ah, is it this season only, not the 5 year average?

[Gray Fox]

1759903032198766733

Since that tweet, Frankfurt got knocked out of the Conference League which is a good result for a Villa/Spurs/United fan. West 'am losing to Freiburg would be obviously bad for those, but the bigger issue is Leverkusen and more importantly Dortmund getting easy draws. Bayern and Leipzig could also still realistically go through. Arsenal should recover and dump out Porto but the worst possible situation for England would be Arsenal drawing City next and two German clubs being draw together. It will likely come down to an English club having to win the Europa along with City winning the Champions League.

Villa also got Ajax which they should win but you never know how seriously they will take it. They should really because it helps them two-fold.

[Ian]

Lads all this coefficient chat is a bit high-octane for me, is there anything even more admin-y we could be talking about to give me a chance to settle down?

[Waffdon]

Silva has a chance to make the final. I swear to god.

He’s shite. So fucking shite. Never mind being shite and 39 whilst being half fit. God help me.

[Max Power]

Lads all this coefficient chat is a bit high-octane for me, is there anything even more admin-y we could be talking about to give me a chance to settle down?

Need some more transfer amortisation chat and speculation about what clubs lanyards are moving to and from.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The latter (front office people moving around) is the absolute pits, but is clearly what the modern fan is hungry to hear about. They are nearly always total irrelevances or failures as well but fans are just searching for any kind of hope, I guess.

I wonder what Sven Mislintat is up to these days, having done an absolutely appalling job at about three clubs in a row after being heralded as a completely revolutionary signing for Arsenal.

[Luke Emia]

The latter (front office people moving around) is the absolute pits, but is clearly what the modern fan is hungry to hear about. They are nearly always total irrelevances or failures as well but fans are just searching for any kind of hope, I guess.

I wonder what Sven Mislintat is up to these days, having done an absolutely appalling job at about three clubs in a row after being heralded as a completely revolutionary signing for Arsenal.

Yep, you always get this with Liverpool and how they have been such a well run club over the past ten years or so. Michael Edwards is a genius etcetera. Let's not forget that before Klopp signed the much vaunted 'transfer committee' had signed Borini, Lambert, Balotelli, Manquillo, Moreno, Cissokho and Lazovic to name but a few.

Even in the years where the transfers 'came off' you would say Van Dijk, Alisson and Fabinho looked like certainties to be good and you still have Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain who didn't work out. What they had was a couple of windows where Salah, Mane and Robertson came in for good money and Klopp was able to elevate them to a level they hadn't previously shown. The manager will always be the most important person at a club regardless of what any wanky journalists might tell you.

[Ben]

Football Manager has done this. It's enabled players to spend hours doing the non-football stuff on their games and now you've got the fans thirsty for this shit in real life. Revert the world to CM01/02 and see if Klopp (or the next big thing) can conquer Europe just by playing WWW2_Hard_Tackling, instead of pissing around with xG and wanting sporting directors with high innovation stats.

[wullie]

We've got Preston at home tonight. Despite being a season ticket holder due to dumb luck and circumstance I've not seen us lose a game since 2022 and I'm not there later so get all your money on an away win.

[Gray Fox]

West 'am have seemingly offered Moyes a new deal. I'm sure the fans will be thrilled.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We've got Preston at home tonight. Despite being a season ticket holder due to dumb luck and circumstance I've not seen us lose a game since 2022 and I'm not there later so get all your money on an away win.

I had a run like this at Stamford Bridge - I think it was 37 wins in a row I attended in the 2000s when I was a student member and could afford to go regularly on the cheap tickets. The run was finally ended, bizarrely, by a 2-2 draw with APOEL in the Champions League.

[wullie]

My proudest achievement as part of this run is while we were on the charge to the playoffs last season I managed to avoid the absolute battering (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65072879) we took from a woeful Stoke team.

[Ian]

You mean you caused it. Disgusting. Some fan you are.

[Gray Fox]

Under Roy I got tickets to two games in the first half of that season. Blackpool and then Wolves. Lost both games and looked the worst I've ever seen against Wolves.

The most comical thing about the latter game was that in the run up Paul Konchesky was getting stick and rightly so, because he is and was shite. However his mum had been on Facebook calling the fans scum for daring to be against her baby boy.
He was hooked in the second half after being booed and playing terrible, to many loud cheers when he came off. I don't think he ever played for us again.

[Lofty]

Wasn't there some mad forum poster on another forum somewhere back then claiming Konchesky was coming round and banging his wife on the regular and there was nothing he could to stop him?

[niko_cee]

I can taste all of that salt from here.

On the subject of saltiness, lol out loud at these comments from good old 'Pep'.


Responding to the comments, Guardiola said: "As [soon] as the teams admit it they will be closer to us."

The 53-year-old Catalan added: "If they want to deny it for things that are not the reality then it's their problem - it's not our problem.

"When I've been below teams I've always admired them and thought about what we need to do to be close, to challenge them.

"When we were below and United were winning, we were watching them, admiring them. That's why, for these type of comments, that I have the feeling that they will be back."

:happycry:

[Shindig]

West 'am have seemingly offered Moyes a new deal. I'm sure the fans will be thrilled.

I kinda feel like this is his last club, unless he fancies a go on the Everton trainwreck.

[Luke Emia]

Under Roy I got tickets to two games in the first half of that season. Blackpool and then Wolves. Lost both games and looked the worst I've ever seen against Wolves.

The most comical thing about the latter game was that in the run up Paul Konchesky was getting stick and rightly so, because he is and was shite. However his mum had been on Facebook calling the fans scum for daring to be against her baby boy.
He was hooked in the second half after being booed and playing terrible, to many loud cheers when he came off. I don't think he ever played for us again.

I went to that Wolves game. Took my best mate who’s a Wolves fan sat in the Kop he squeezed my leg and told me it was the best game he’d ever been to when they scored.

On the winning thing. I had a stage I think in the 06/07 season where I don’t even think I saw us score let alone win for about 5/6 games.

[phonics]

I've never seen Arsenal lose live :cool:

Who can argue with a 5 in 5 record (2 of them being in the Emirates Cup) over the course of 20 years.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We've got Preston at home tonight. Despite being a season ticket holder due to dumb luck and circumstance I've not seen us lose a game since 2022 and I'm not there later so get all your money on an away win.

22', 0-2.

[wullie]

Preston are 2-0 up within 20 minutes, can't help but feel a bit responsible.

[igor_balis]

The hodgson Liverpool era is really funny, cus as insane as Liverpool fans can be, they're ABSOLUTELY 100% right in that case, yet people still both-sides it and defend Woy, and it really winds them up. Quality.

[igor_balis]

Mate, we were 16th in the league and he was telling press that only losing 7-0 to Tranmere in the league cup was one of his proudest moments as a manager

Nah, you deluded scousers hounded out an experienced icon of English management cus you thought you were somehow above him

[Dquincy]

On the subject of saltiness, lol out loud at these comments from good old 'Pep'.



:happycry:

Absolutely nothing wrong with what Pep said. He's bang on. People/fans want other people/teams to fail because that's far easier than working hard to try to reach their level. Clearly for the scenario for fans of team, they have little impact on that, but they still want the other team to fail.

[wullie]

For fans of easy money, I'm not going to our cup game against Maidstone on Monday either

[Manc]

Georginio Rutter is some player.

[Ian]

Preston are 2-0 up within 20 minutes, can't help but feel a bit responsible.

Your fault again. You sure you're not a secret Leicester fan?