February Football: In time for Wolves vs. United

[Bam]

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?

That was when he was at West Ham.

[niko_cee]

Fulham well on their way to getting mugged again.

[Don]

Some down to the bones Fulham XI and they're dictating play at Old Trafford. The false form of this Utd side is quite a fantastic development really.

[Don]

10+ min of injury time to come here too, Fulham need a second.

[Gray Fox]

United just don't seem to offer anything up front with no Hojlund. Which says both a lot about him and Rashford at the same time.

[Kikó]

Rashford is rank.

[Don]

Fuck off is Adama not in Saudi.

[Gray Fox]

Even they don't have enough oil.

[Dark Soldier]

Yanited yanited

[Don]

Look at little Amad and his skinny frame trying to play EPL football :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Captain. Leader. Slabhead.

[Gray Fox]

Fulham dropping deep far too early in this one.

They'll be so cross when McTominay scores the winner.

[Dark Soldier]

Hahaha

[Don]

Maguire chasing Adama there :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Slabhead should have just flattened Adama and taken the red.

[Gray Fox]

Slabhead should have just flattened Adama and taken the red.

As if he could if he wanted to.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

As if he could if he wanted to.

He had a chance when Adama first got the ball. He then skipped past Slabhead as if he wasn't there.

[Gray Fox]

I'm taking Adama in that clash all day long.

I feel like he does that kind of run 10 times a game, but then only finds the right pass with 1 of those occasions. This was the 1.

[Lofty]

Erik Bin Bag.

[Don]

Mon Iraola, you show that bald cunt who's the top Basque bastard.

[Kikó]

Squad depth is diabolical. What a waste of a billion.

[Dquincy]

Man Utd have conceded 435 shots in the Premier League this season. Only Sheffield United have conceded more.

From twitter. Fuck knows if it's true.

[Shindig]

Karius starts. Oh.

[Gray Fox]

Congratulations Arsenal on another 5 goal win.

Bayern bottling again it seems.

[Don]

Bournemouth are cooking here. Midfielder on for a CB with 10 to go too, all whilst your gammon gaffer would be telling Solanke to sit deep and protect the 1-0.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Watching the Man U highlights, looked like Fulham absolutely battered them. Fair play to Marco Silva, who I always thought was fraud of fraud hall.

[Kikó]

I don't think outplaying united is the sign of not being a fraud.

[Waffdon]

Cracking weekend for Pochettino’s plucky blues and their hopes for European Football

[Gray Fox]

If Chelsea win tomorrow is it Europa League or Conference League?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Konferencja.

[Shindig]

We're nowhere near it. Last year's unbeaten run and defensive record feels like something we will never get back to.

[Gray Fox]

I think Newcastle are getting the very harsh lesson on the difference between a good season and sustained success.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Also a harsh lesson in how you can't do an Abramovich / Mansour run to the top in the FFP era.

[Lofty]

1761487500684525999

[Luke Emia]

I’m led to believe

United are BACK..

[Ian]

The Daily Mash once did a headline "Liverpool turn corner into alley full of zombies." That's basically United now.

[Kikó]

Despite fears after some recent wins, we are 100% back.

[Ben]

I know it’s only Wolves vs. Sheff Utd so “who’s arsed” but why is that game overlapping with the cup final? Especially weird as Sky are broadcasting both. Bring the Wolves game 30 minutes earlier and problem solved…

[Waffdon]

Cup final time got moved by the police. Must have not bothered doing the same elsewhere

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Met have dealt with scouse fans on tour one too many times.

[Gray Fox]

Hoping to have Alexa blasting out One Kiss by 5pm.

I think we've only ever played well at Wembley once, even then we went from 3-0 at HT to a nervy 3-2 by the end. Maybe it's the massive pitch.

[Bam]

Hoping to have Alexa blasting out One Kiss by 5pm.


Why do they sing that song?

[Gray Fox]

Why do they sing that song?

She performed it in our CL final loss in Ukraine. We seem to have adopted it since. Even turned her into a fan.

[niko_cee]

Why winning the Carabao Cup final could cost Chelsea money – or a European ban


Chelsea can win their first trophy since Todd Boehly’s consortium bought the club when they play Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final – but it’s not all good news.

If the Blues do upset the odds and beat the Premier League leaders at Wembley, there could be a financial sting in the tail that costs them millions of pounds or even incurs a ban from competition.

The upside of winning a trophy would be some much-needed glory after a difficult start to the Boehly era, qualification for the Europa Conference League, and some justification for the £1bn Chelsea have spent on transfer fees in that relatively short time.

In purely financial terms, they would receive prize money from Carabao Cup organisers the EFL, although that only amounts to a meagre £225,000 – which is less than Raheem Sterling’s weekly wage.

On top of that, bonuses would also be due from Chelsea’s sponsors, who include Infinite Athlete, Nike, Bing and Trivago.

But those boosts could be all but wiped out by the club itself having to pay bonuses to their players and staff, who are reported to be on heavily incentivised contracts.

More significantly, qualifying for the Europa Conference League may not be the benefit that it at first seems for reasons related to financial fair play rules (as they used to be known).

It’s a complicated scenario but in essence the problem is this: Chelsea’s vast spending on new players since Boehly’s takeover in summer 2022 almost certainly means they would fail Uefa’s financial sustainability regulations (as they are now called).

And the punishment for breaching those rules is likely to be either a substantial fine running into the millions of pounds, or a ban from European competition.

:D

Likely bullshit but whatever.

[Lofty]

The Met have dealt with scouse fans on tour one too many times.

I have heard there is a sizeable contingent going down ticketless too, Wembley security as shambolic as it is.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why winning the Carabao Cup final could cost Chelsea money – or a European ban



:D

Likely bullshit but whatever.

I'll take it as an insurance explanation for us going 3-0 down in the first 20 minutes.

[Ben]

Liverpool @ 5/4 is looking beautiful.

[Waffdon]

Especially before the team news is announced

[Gray Fox]

I'm anticipating all kinds of Waff seethe if Thiago Silva is named.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm a big Thiago Silva fan but after the performance of Disasi and Colwill at Eastlands last week, you'd have to be clinically insane to start the old man for this match, assuming of course that you're aiming to win it.

[Gray Fox]

I think it depends which Chelsea turn up. The one that played at City could really cause depleted Liverpool some problems. How you deal with Diaz will be the key.

That is unless somehow Nunez starts. Now I think Salah and Nunez will make the bench(but not Szobo), but I wouldn't be expecting more than 20 mins from Salah. The only thing that sticks in my mind is he left Gakpo on for the full Luton game despite it being in the bag after 71 mins. He took Bradley off around the time of the 3rd goal too.

EDIT: From what I'm told neither of Salah or Nunez made the squad.

[Waffdon]

Diaz v Gusto is a mismatch and I’m not talking in favour of the attacker.

[Shindig]

I'm still wrapping my head around Karius being called into action again on a League Cup final weekend. And it resulting in a Botman o.g. both times.

[Don]

If Jurgen manages to get another tune out of that useless favela rat and cover up for the likes of Kelleher but this time against Chelsea at Wembley rather than Luton at home, it may be his crowning glory. Fucking hell, it's basically all on those CBs, Mac and Gakpo.

[Waffdon]

Playing a weakened team might not really matter when Chelsea have struggled against Bournemouth (when they were shit), wolves (twice), West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Brentford to name a few

[Guybrush]

I have heard there is a sizeable contingent going down ticketless too, Wembley security as shambolic as it is.

Loads of reports that the digital tickets haven't been sorted properly and they're having to print paper tickets at the ticket office.

[niko_cee]

Does the Liverpool ticket office remain one of the most corrupt operations on the planet?

[Waffdon]

I’ll just take a goal this time round. No goals in the last 4 cup finals at Wembley :sick:

[SincereTheRebel]

Where do you watch streams these days via web?

[Waffdon]

Reddit soccer streams and try each link until you have one that works

[Waffdon]

That Liverpool team is so average outside of the defence. This is gonna be worse than losing to Leicester in a cup final

[Gray Fox]

I think we might be depleted enough for Chelsea to actually win this. Save for a midfielder lashing one in from 30 yards. Or Goe Jomez.

[niko_cee]

That bench is something else.

Ellen White can only see [that] Liverpool team as favourites as well.

Doomed.

[Lewis]

Proper annoying listening to Liverpool fans still catastrophising whenever two people aren't playing like it's 2014. They have long established that peak-United thing where as long as half the first team are playing you can surround them with plebs and they still get the job done anyway, and they are against a crap Chelsea team.

Shut up.

[Spoonsky]

Are you Giggles in disguise

Conor Bradley hattrick incoming.

[Gray Fox]

Yeah it's just Nunez out. Oh and Salah. And Szoboszlai. Oh yeah Alisson too. I suppose Trent would only get in every team in the country too. Jota I suppose would start every game too. Oh and Curtis Jones has only been playing every match I suppose.

Just the two though.

[Lewis]

How many of the Chelsea XI out today would get into the severely depleted Liverpool one? Three?

[Don]

Five.

[Gray Fox]

For me, Colwill could get there but Konate is still a colossus when fully fit. Enzo and Gallagher would fit in well with current Liverpool. If I'm honest I'm not sure exactly what position Cole Palmer plays but likely him over Elliott. I'd also have Jackson for full bantz.

So 4 for me.

[Spoonsky]

I think it's more that it's funny to be playing a cup final without a single attacking option on the bench (apologies to Jayden Danns). Though I guess from the perspective of a club that gets taken apart by Alex Iwobi, this Liverpool complaining or worrying about anything feels like a privilege.

[Lewis]

When United were good I don't remember any of us worrying about this stuff. As long as Wayne Rooney and half of the regular defence were playing it was fine and everyone was getting it.

[Waffdon]

If Van Dijk or Konate was out I’d be more confident but them being in keeps them solid.

Probably an early sending off from Caicedo going all De Jong

[Jimmy Floyd]

The scouse mindset isn't comfortable with being top dogs. They have to write an alternative version to keep themselves under someone's yoke, even if that someone is injury luck.

[Gray Fox]

That mindset is also a part of what makes Anfield and Goodison atmospheres what they are. However since '95 the blue side have had nothing but false hope and despair so theirs turned toxic.

[Don]

Look at us booing that disgusting gammon anthem. Jimmy's fuming.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Par for the course, it's a city of self-indulgent fifth columnists and always has been.

[niko_cee]

Amid all the ridiculously premature talk of winning 4 trophies, it should be noted that the most Klopp way to go out would be with a series of inexplicable final defeats.

[Waffdon]

Absolutely horrendous start. They look scared as fuck.

[Jimmy Floyd]

A lot of them are not quite mentally there in this first period. Colwill made a couple of huge nervy errors in the first five minutes which set the tone a bit. Hopefully grow into it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

How did Kelleher save that.

[Gray Fox]

Didn't think he had that in him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Because Palmer hit it straight into his body. Allergic to scoring sitters.

[Gray Fox]

Throw another one on the pile.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They might have to start using lads off the street soon.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I think he's on.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

No matter what VAR says that looks onside to me.

[Waffdon]

Another cup final getting goals chopped off because of your arm. Great

[Gray Fox]

I'll keep saying it, but why are we ruling out goals for things that tight?

[Ben]

This t-shirt line thing is absolute bobbins.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'll keep saying it, but why are we ruling out goals for things that tight?

Lino called it on field so can't knock the decision, I thought it looked off.

Conor Bradley really excellent for Liverpool, 50% quicker than everyone to everything. Also a recipe for getting kicked a lot in his career.

[Waffdon]

Terrible start and end to the half. Players are nervous wrecks and Liverpool are all over you regardless of personnel.

Palmer has been annoying as fuck.

[Manc]

Malo Gusto with one of the all time great final appearances. If Poch has any bottle he'd pull both him & Caicedo at the half.

[Gray Fox]

Just nothing really in behind to threaten. I can't believe this isn't 2-2 at the break.

Diaz needs to stop slowing the game down when he gets the ball. Palmer also guilty of this for Chelsea. It was good before the Gravenberch injury but we started going way overboard on the press and that saw Chelsea in behind a few times. No idea what we do from the bench. Can't help but feel Jayden Danns is getting a run out at some point.

Chelseas best strategy might be to take this to ET. We'll have to have kids on by then.

[Don]

Can we just score so I can watch Gomez body the lesbian and these cunts generally lose their heads pls. Grav injury not great too ffs.


No matter what VAR says that looks onside to me.

Cheers bro.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Pretty certain one of Chilwell/Bradley is going to double that yellow.

Our midfield is absolute tripe isn't it. Gallagher the most effective of the three and cost about £100 million less.

[Ben]

Palmer has been annoying as fuck.

He must be so frustrating. Clearly has bags of talent but is devoid of any anticipation or passion. Misses sitters for fun as well.

[Gray Fox]

Caicedo has that look of a player that is trying to do something at all times to live up to the fee. Sometimes it pays off. Sometimes you clatter into everyone in a game.

[Luke Emia]

Caicedo has that look of a player that is trying to do something at all times to live up to the fee. Sometimes it pays off. Sometimes you clatter into everyone in a game.

How he’s not picked up a booking in that first half is staggering.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He must be so frustrating. Clearly has bags of talent but is devoid of any anticipation or passion. Misses sitters for fun as well.

His slapped arse face and body language doesn't help him, but he's a wonderful player.

His interviews are weird though. Talks with those open vowel sounds as if he's grown up exclusively around black people. Goah instead of go, pleah instead of play.

[niko_cee]

As long as Wayne Rooney and half of the regular defence were playing it was fine and everyone was getting it.

What was it like when it was Nani and half the regular defence?

[Waffdon]

Pochettino, mate. Change it up for fuck sake

[Waffdon]

Useless bastards. Just keep giving them free kicks around the box. Nae bather.

[Waffdon]

Leaving Van Dijk free every set piece was never going to end well

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mike Dean light years ahead. Shut up Carragher.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

VAR :cool:

[Gray Fox]

Give Chelsea the trophy now.

[Manc]

Ridiculous.

[Ben]

Carragher seething. :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Was one of those ever given offside in the history of football before VAR?

[Gray Fox]

This is where the game changes. Chelsea just have more on the bench.

[Waffdon]

Carragher repeatedly saying it’s not a foul and stuff about keepers being impeded is all a bit pointless because it wasn’t given as a foul

[Jimmy Floyd]

Carragher repeatedly saying it’s not a foul and stuff about keepers being impeded is all a bit pointless because it wasn’t given as a foul

He's lost his head (not for the first time). The argument against that decision is spiritual, not technical.

[niko_cee]

Was one of those ever given offside in the history of football before VAR?

It's interesting that VAR seems to be taking us back to a pre-1994 interpretation of the offside rule in some regards.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Disasi with a Darwin Nunez impression.

[Don]

Hopefully the Chelsea winner comes in ET so we can get some serious Koumas mins in.

[Gray Fox]

This is just a meme now.

[Jimmy Floyd]

'Bobby Clark' only has two possible life stories: killed at the Somme, or scoring the winner in this game.

[Don]

Bobby Clark would be smoking spice round some Spar under any other footballing setup and he's now getting Wembley minutes

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

As if Joe Gomez actually thought he could score.

[Gray Fox]

We're out on our feet here.

[Pleb]

Salah must be glad he's missing this shitfest.

[Ben]

This is dreadful all round.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Gallagher reverting back to type.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He couldn't hit a barn door with a banjo, this fella.

[Lewis]

'THIS IS CONOR GALLAGHER' before he did that made me lol.

[Gray Fox]

They're inventing ways to not score every time.

How?

[Waffdon]

The lack of composure every fucking time

[Don]

Those subs are incredible management. If we win the title, look back on this :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can't believe Gallagher took a touch. Why? Just sweep it in the net, you're a professional footballer.

Anyway, here comes the Ukrainian counter-offensive.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

How did they not score?

[Waffdon]

Chelsea are cursed at Wembley

[Jimmy Floyd]

How did they not score?

Same reason we haven't been scoring all season, we can't finish. That's why Taz keeps saying we're 20 points better than we are, or whatever.

[Gray Fox]

Those changes were needed, but you can't half see the difference ahead of Endo. I feel Konate will take one for the team in ET and get himself sent off.

Just try and play for a set piece I guess.

[Waffdon]

Not winning this in extra time against a bunch of kids in midfield and attack would be worse than if Chelsea didn’t score them late goals away to spurs

[Baz]

Diabolical

Didn’t think Kelleher had a MoM in him but here we are

[Waffdon]

Swap the managers round and it ends 3-0 Chelsea

[Waffdon]

Diabolical

Didn’t think Kelleher had a MoM in him but here we are

Same as his last final

[Jimmy Floyd]

Nkunku's scuffed left footer is the worst of the lot. Why is he even on the pitch if he can't connect with one from eight yards out under no challenge?

[Lewis]

Is Daniel Sturridge a ploy to stop people complaining about token female pundits?

[Waffdon]

Look at the state of these cunts. On the back foot against these lot. My god

[Gray Fox]

He also needs the money to pay that man for his dog.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Look at the state of these cunts. On the back foot against these lot. My god

Midfield pair to blame, total non-entities.

[Manc]

Chelsea sitting deep. :happycry:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Small Pockets wants penalties. He thinks all the youngsters will miss.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Pass me the sick bag.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Nkunku looks shit.

[Waffdon]

Chelsea keeper is a monster at penalties so watch him turn to shit ala Kepa

[Gray Fox]

Yeah I don't fancy the penalties this time. Kelleher not great at them and we've several kids on.

[Ben]

Liverpool will 100% win if it goes to penalties. Pochettino's karma for being a complete fanny in this extra time.

[Waffdon]

Madueke and Mudryk when you’re chasing a goal. Yeah.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Liverpool will 100% win if it goes to penalties. Pochettino's karma for being a complete fanny in this extra time.

You can see here why he's won fuck all. A deep natural caution that overpowers all. Kind of like Southgate with better steaks.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why is Chilwell going off clapping the crowd in 'running down the clock' mode? That's incredible if Poch has ordered that.

[Luke Emia]

Even if they win this. The performance is one of the great bottle job final performances.

Playing for the best of an hour against half a team of kids and they have had the whole week off to prepare as well. Absolutely terrible.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

At this rate they wont even be able to score penalties.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's very similar to what happened in the famous Spurs game against nine men, there is no one on the pitch with any kind of football brain or leadership skills or ability to think and adapt to situations on their feet, so you're completely reliant on someone randomly scoring a good goal. Team of relatively talented automatons.

On the Liverpool side, yes it's a load of kids but van Dijk is there to talk them all through it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

lol at Chelsea.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Small Pockets has fucked this hard.

[Waffdon]

Pochettino cannot last. You can’t get away with losing to this Liverpool team

Fucking embarrassing

[Manc]

Rule that one out. :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

There was a very deep cowardice in that extra time performance. Posted about it already but Chilwell delaying his walk off was a telltale sign. It's not 2005, you can't approach top level football like that.

[Waffdon]

Klopp is incredible. Having the bottle to bring on them academy players. Pochettino is a coward and a serial loser

[Waffdon]

This Chelsea season could become proper grim now. Leeds will knock them out the cup on Wednesday and a hard run of PL games. Could finish about 14th

[Gray Fox]

One kiss is all it takes...

[Lewis]

Told you they would be fine. lol at Chelsea.

[niko_cee]

:drool:

No right to win that.

So, so bad from Smallpockets and co.

Are Chelsea even that far off 'full strength', whatever that means for them?

[Mike]

Easy that. One down…

[Lewis]

Peter Drury is so shit fucking hell.

[Baz]

Never in doubt. What an era. :drool:

[Don]

That's massive. Secure the quad, announce the u-turn/terminal cancer. Game complete.

[Waffdon]

Hire a Spurs manager, you should expect Spurs performance. Just an absolute loser.

Head has gone

[Jimmy Floyd]

Imagine that will ultimately cost Pochettino his job. Biggest game we will have this season and he's personally fucked it in quite an obvious way, it kind of wipes out all the solid work getting decent draws in the league and getting to the final. He also hasn't found any solution to the permanent inability to finish easy chances.

Only consolation is that scouse happiness is set to dip in the coming years.

[Gray Fox]

You can lose games at any time for sure, but the measure of this man was to back off a team of half teenagers and shattered stars with his billionty pound team.

The manner of it should see him gone.

[John Arne]

That was decent. Kelleher, van Dijk, Diaz and Endo superb. Young lads amazing. Gapko pretty crap.

Chelsea senior players embarrassing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Chelsea senior players embarrassing.

We don't have any senior players. Chilwell maybe.

[-james-]

The shots of Poch at the end of the match were funny. He knows he's toast

[Jimmy Floyd]

The shots of Poch at the end of the match were funny. He knows he's toast

This is the weird thing. Why doesn't he just go for the kill in extra time? Worst case scenario is you get picked off on the break and lose 1-0, which is also the worst case scenario whatever approach he takes, so why not try to win the trophy?

BRB, off to re-enact Goose Green.

[Waffdon]

You can see the difference in the two managers based off the subs and then bench picked. Pochettino picks three goalkeepers in every squad because he can’t have more than two academy players on there. Every single restart Chelsea were on the back foot.

The players aren’t great and the building of the squad is hilarious but a good manager does so mich more

[Jimmy Floyd]

You can see the difference in the two managers based off the subs and then bench picked. Pochettino picks three goalkeepers in every squad because he can’t have more than two academy players on there. Every single restart Chelsea were on the back foot.

The players aren’t great and the building of the squad is hilarious but a good manager does so mich more

If you're going to be fair to MP, Klopp has had the opportunity to build up the system, the setup and that stature over a very long period of time, such that when he throws some kids on they think they are playing for God. Pochettino hasn't had that opportunity. What he does have however is six months + to work with highly talented players and instill a rhythm into them and empower people on the pitch so that they can play with confidence. Today they played shit-scared throughout.

[niko_cee]

Hopefully the leaving announcement is the ultimate mind game.

[Waffdon]

He’s winning the quad.

:sick:

Need a new sport.

[Ben]

Wins it all then gives it the big Wolf of Wall Street “I’m not fucking leaving” after the CL final.

[niko_cee]

Late wild card into the CL semis yes please.

The punditry/commentary about being the next manager is proper loser stuff. If anyone is not taking the job because they are worried they won't live up to the guy before then, well, they wouldn't be getting offered it in the first place. Paisley followed Shankly, under duress perhaps, but any coach worth their salt has to have enough belief in themselves to take on anything, even if they are shit at it. Interesting measure of Alonso if he's offered both.

[Waffdon]

1761824975328055770


:lol:

[Gray Fox]

He's also just said Chelsea had injuries just as bad.

Stop him getting on the coach out.

[Waffdon]

And he said he was proud and that it’s a young team that can’t be compared to Liverpool. Mongo

[niko_cee]

The stat about the average age being lower even with all Liverpool's kids on is interesting. What it tells you is you don't spend a billion quid on young players.

[Giggles]

Kelleher looks like a 16 year old standing beside van Dijk.

[Waffdon]

The stat about the average age being lower even with all Liverpool's kids on is interesting. What it tells you is you don't spend a billion quid on young players.

Think it was 23.5 to start the game. Only Chilwell and Sterling over 25. Probably even younger when it ended since both them went off.

But it’s not an excuse. Liverpool team to end the game was bottom end championship standard from the midfield onwards

[Dark Soldier]

One step closer to the B tier Quad. Klopp o sensational.

[Jimmy Floyd]

1761824975328055770


:lol:

Yeah I'm afraid that's just straight gutless cowardice.

I wouldn't mind if it was just us being shit or a tactical blunder, but there's no excuse for that thinking.

[niko_cee]

Is the logical conclusion of that disallowed Van Dijk header that defensive players just need to run into the obviously offside players who always loiter at every set piece and no goal therefrom will ever be given?

I hate the whole thing of players staying in and becoming onside in the second phase so I'd be all for it as an interpretation.

[Don]

Only so much as if it wasn't called the game could look like NFL with all the blocking you could do. Endo had eyes on him, it was the correct call.

[phonics]

If you look at Arsenals set pieces they are definitely going to have to do something about the current state of them.

We’re basically running a basketball pick n’ roll system but because there’s no equivalent to a an offensive foul then you’re kind of fucked.

(For those that don’t watch basketball, basically to obstruct a player from running past them a player must have both feet planted and the body still before the player they’re obstructing initiates contact. you’re basically trading the advantage of the obstruction for your inability to react as quickly after)

[Spoonsky]

One of my all-time favorite Liverpool matches that. Easy to be joyless and blame Chelsea for being cowardly or shit, which they were, but fuck me it all happened perfectly. Van Dijk deserved the moment too, what a header. Not the same scale but reminded me of the Drogba and Ramos headers from CL finals.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Here's a fun fact while the scousers soil their pants with emotion (Carragher is still living in my head, awful to listen to if you're rooting against Liverpool). Chelsea had the younger team out both at the start and finish of the game.

[niko_cee]

Can't win anything with kids.

[Dark Soldier]

The absolute mania around Liverpool and this cup is fucking madness. Its the fucking League Cup. Its like they've won a Sextuple. Weird, weird club.

[Baz]

Everyone needs to calm down. It’s the league cup lads. Sick of seeing videos reposted on instagram like the quad is complete.

We’ve got the FA Cup, europa [soz niko, got carreid away] League and the actual league to win, so can we stop creaming our knickers about the mickey mouse trophy now.

[Baz]

Oh, timely. :D

[niko_cee]

Why do people keep saying Liverpool are going to win the Champions League?

[Waffdon]

Leverkusen Liverpool final in the EL to decide the coefficient. BT/TNT/DISCOVERY will have a field day

[Baz]

delulu

[phonics]

Liverpool won the final and Carragher is somehow about Arsenal seething. Rent free.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why do people keep saying Liverpool are going to win the Champions League?

A little known fact about English fans is that no one follows or gives a shit about European competitions until maybe the semi-finals. If you asked me this morning for an immediate answer without thinking about it, I would have told you they were in it.

[John Arne]

The anglo-italian is the want we really want.

[Gray Fox]

Europa League final is in Dublin isn't it? If they can get there it'll be like a home game.

Another two left in a walking boot again yesterday. Gravenberch sounds like he has ligament damage so that's weeks to months. Endo was in one too but no one has said why.
If this goes much further we may have to sacrifice the Europa just to let the few first teamers left rest.

[Gray Fox]

Also, Alphonso Davies is joining Real Madrid. Either in 2024 or 25.

[Giggles]

Europa League final is in Dublin isn't it? If they can get there it'll be like a home game.

Another two left in a walking boot again yesterday. Gravenberch sounds like he has ligament damage so that's weeks to months. Endo was in one too but no one has said why.
If this goes much further we may have to sacrifice the Europa just to let the few first teamers left rest.

Do the let actual fans in to those games?

[niko_cee]

Only so much as if it wasn't called the game could look like NFL with all the blocking you could do. Endo had eyes on him, it was the correct call.

Keith Hackett disagrees, although I'm not sure he's really understood the point that there might be a difference between blocking and blocking from an offside position.

He also thinks Caicedo should have been sent off so maybe he just had Liverpool to win in normal time and is seething.

This led me down the interesting 'fans against VAR' rabbithole on twitter and their vendetta against 'posh boy' David Elleray.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's essentially the same as a normal offside call in that it was a question of whether Endo had been active in that phase, refs decided that he had because he blocked a player who was heading towards where the ball ended up. If the ball had gone near post and been headed in by someone else I'm guessing it would have been OK.

[Don]

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Good wholesome internet lols (see comments also).

[phonics]

Everton got 4 points back.

[randomlegend]

1761843007567852005

Good wholesome internet lols (see comments also).

What number are you?

[Manc]

:D

[Don]

Don't bloody encourage that disgraceful level of banter.

[Spikey M]

Who let Spergling Haaland play in that?

[Baz]

Dani Alves going jail for 4.5 years for being a dirty raper

[Danny]

1762083123569827881

Hes a bellend but thats pretty funny.

[Don]

:lol:

[Giggles]

:D nailed it to be fair.

[Spikey M]

:D give the lad whatever job he was passed over for.

[Ben]

Incredible how much better West Ham are as soon as Paqueta is back. Surely he won’t be still there beyond the summer.

[niko_cee]

Depends how much gambling he's been doing.

[phonics]

I've just seen a video of Rio Ferdinand saying 'If Erik Ten Hag gets poached by Bayern Munich and United wanted Arteta he'd quit tomorrow'. As if we didn't need to do more research into how heading a ball affects the brain.

[Baz]

Bowen :cool:

[thommo]

That was a really impressive win at Old Trafford this weekend. Pretty much dominated the entire game, bar that 5 minute period around the United goal. Even with us missing Palhinha, Willian and Jimenez, Silva had us playing with a clear plan and identity, and we cut through United at will.

Obviously United aren't the force they once were, especially under ten Hag who seems like the biggest chancer of all time. But so often we've outperformed them in the past 2 seasons only to lose the game in the last minute or through complete meltdown, so for us to be the team scoring the 97th minute winner was particularly sweet.

[niko_cee]

I see Grealish is next in line for the icy cold shoulder of Pep. I hadn't really noticed he's not featured much this year until the beeb pointed it out (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68408092). He doesn't half fall out with/lose faith in/call fat a lot of very expensive players, a policy which would be absolutely ruinous anywhere else.

Elsewhere it was good seeing Maidstone living the non-league FA Cup dream of getting pumped by Coventry having singularly failed to get a 'glamour tie' in three attempts, apologies to stalwarts of the Ricoh, sorry, Coventry Building Society Arena or Portman Road.

Why on earth was that on last night? Surely it would have made more sense to have the midweek round on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday. I'm sure Liverpool and Chelsea would have been more than happy to play on Thursday night.

[Shindig]

All this talk about managerial change-ups had me realising there's probably another candidate to look out for.

Gareth Southgate looks Bayern bound. No sources or owt, just pure intuition. Or he winds up swapping with wor Eddie. :uhoh:

[Lewis]

Has anybody had success at Bayern with a Tactics Truck approach to life? Giovanni Trapattoni worked himself into a MELTDOWN; Otto Rehhagel lasted about five minutes; Jupp Heynckes had several goes and relaxed a bit more each time. 'LvG' did for a bit before he annoyed everyone, but even 'Pep' never won what he was brought in to win. I think their entire structure suits a binman approach, with all the waxworks just buying whoever emerges at rival sides; but that will only ever work if Germany is producing decent players, which they haven't been recently, so here we are.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Gareth Southgate's next job is an intriguing one. He's too young to retire, but also too shit to take a big club job that he would fail in and ruin his reputation. Also has to be in an Anglophone culture where his 'spoke classily' centrist dad vibe is recognised as what it is, and not translated into a load of nothingy bullshit.

That leaves him with a choice of Crystal Palace, 'USMNT', or the 'Socceroos'.

[Shindig]

I wonder if he does a McClaren and goes to Holland?

[phonics]

Gareth Southgate's next job is an intriguing one. He's too young to retire, but also too shit to take a big club job that he would fail in and ruin his reputation. Also has to be in an Anglophone culture where his 'spoke classily' centrist dad vibe is recognised as what it is, and not translated into a load of nothingy bullshit.

That leaves him with a choice of Crystal Palace, 'USMNT', or the 'Socceroos'.

I could see him turning up for some West African Nation. Leading Senegal to a quarter final exit and retiring after he sees the front page headlined 'Black Stars Lose, Waistcoat must die'

[Shindig]

Eurgh. We're really sluggish out there. Upset ahoy.

[wullie]

Kyle McFadzean on prime time BBC1 where he belongs.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Szmodics :cool:

Would love an upset here, they've deserved it.

[Shindig]

Aye, the subs gave us a kick up the arse but I'm not sure we can go again.

[Shindig]

You can tell Barnes has forgotten how to kick a ball. :moop:

[Manc]

Both teams pushing for the winner in ET. As it should be.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Szmodics is a tit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Why was Harvey Barnes taking one? He was always going to miss.

[Manc]

Brett Emerton to slot home the winner.

[Don]

How are you not staying in the middle for a big ego flair player like Bruno?

[Shindig]

Thank fuck that's over. :D

[Lofty]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68380445

Obviously the abuse for being black and being a woman is abhorrent but the article glosses over the fact she says some really stupid things and pundits get hammered for saying stupid things regardless.

Like Rio's recent brainfarts or Carragher crying about celebrations.

[Giggles]

Not like they've had long enough to find someone permanent.


1762819373327139207

[Manc]

Nkunku sidelined for another month. The operation in full flow.

[Don]

Arguable as to whether he ever began but he's definitely finished.

[niko_cee]

Nkunku, Lavia and Ugochukwu, £133m spent, 621 league minutes played.

Amazing.

Particular respect to Lavia who's coming in at nearly £2m a minute.

[Waffdon]

You’re forgetting Wesley Fofana as well :D

Well he’s from the year before but he can’t have played many minutes.

Nkunku has been perma injured since signing a pre contract before the World Cup. Proper jinx

[Manc]

Farke keeping Poch in a job by throwing the tie. Kamara, Gnonto & Summerville all on the bench.