Football: Pogba gets his MARCHing orders (March!)

[Baz]

No way, Arsenal aren’t likeable.

Sure I’d have taken Odegaard before Dom showed up, but (aside from Saka, although he needs a better manager to stop him from disappearing in games) the rest are chancers.

[Don]

Ah yes, the Norwegian Bergkamp with his elite xPerformativeActions is another that drags them down. It's not about ability as they are without doubt the third best club now but in terms of general likeability, they must be fighting for relegation.

[Lewis]

Teams become 'likeable' when they start winning more games than they previously won. Alex Ferguson never had a 'likeable' team, and then they stopped winning, but if at some point in the future they start to challenge then we will all be sat here pretending Bruno Fernandes is a top lad like when Chelsea fans forgot Didier Drogba was a shithouse.

[Lewis]

Actually that crap 2011 side was quite 'likeable', but that might have been because he never had a settled XI so you only saw a few faces every week.

[Kikó]

The Ole Team became likable for a bit until Pogba and Ronaldo.

[niko_cee]

Who wants to be likeable? Not that this Arsenal side are.

Good job Havertz wasn't sent off for diving. Is that "getting a decision when you need it"?

[SincereTheRebel]

Likeable :lol: All teams besides your own can go fuck themselves. Unless they are doing things a certain way like Athletic Bilbao.

[Baz]

Anyone who didn’t find Firmino likeable is just wrong.

Mac Allister’s close too.

[niko_cee]

Players can be, but whole teams need to be some sort of crazy total football super underdog to overcome the bonds of club fealty, which is a bit of paradox. Even Leicester, the ultimate underdog success story of modern times turned out to be intolerable arseholes. It's the nature of the game.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I will never like any team that plays in red. It's sad but it's just the way of things. Wrexham, hate them. Swindon, hate them. Barnsley, fuck off. Crawley, hope you all burn to death.

[Yevrah]

Likeable :lol: All teams besides your own can go fuck themselves. Unless they are doing things a certain way like Athletic Bilbao.

So that isn’t all teams apart from your own then.

[Don]

These are always as good as the sport gets and this may be the last game of such quality ever seen in the sport today, kids. Hopefully we run riot as otherwise it's difficult to enjoy these when you're in the midst of them. Soak it up.

[Lewis]

The Ole Team became likable for a bit until Pogba and Ronaldo.

I think he was a rare 'likeable' manager. The players were still mostly melts and/or frustratingly crap.

[Mike]

Nah, couldn’t stand ‘Ole’ after he started with that nonsense of not parking in the managers space before it was ‘the bosses’

[Lofty]

Who wants to be likeable? Not that this Arsenal side are.

Good job Havertz wasn't sent off for diving. Is that "getting a decision when you need it"?

I don't think that was a penalty or a dive, for some reason these things have to be binary now.

[Gray Fox]

That's the old classic case of if 'arry Kane does it, honest 'arry is just 'anticipating the contact' but if some nasty forrin' does it, DIVING BASTARD.

[SincereTheRebel]

So that isn’t all teams apart from your own then.

Thinking about it. You are right. Loyalty is out the window. Most of us cheat at our jobs, cheat on our wifes. Cheat on your football club.

[Yevrah]

Ole is definitely very likeable, a Sir Gareth without all of the political crap.

[Baz]

The only likeable thing about him is he lost lots of matches.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Spurs ripping through Villa here. By far the better side.

[Gray Fox]

Word is Konate is out for today and he might be playing Goe Jomez at LB over Robertson(he hasn't really looked right since he came back). Quansah fully into the deep end now.

It will be interesting to see how both teams play this should it be level going into the last 15 mins. I don't think it will be though. City are basically at full strength and we're down a body too many at the back.

I also reckon both Liverpool and Arsenal need Liverpool to win today for either to win the league. Looking at the remaining fixtures, City have Arsenal, Villa and Spurs which you could maybe see dropped points in, though the former two are at home which is big for them.
Liverpool have to go to Everton, United and Villa, with games against Spurs and Brighton at home.
Arsenal have to go to City, Spurs, Brighton and United, with Villa to play at home.

All three should go deep in Europe too, which could complicate things further with potential injuries.

[Jimmy Floyd]

McGinn with the kind of tackle where he clearly is that type of player and is trying to hurt the opponent. Good to see the referee on top of it.

[niko_cee]

Curious one for McGinn there. As his mate pointed out with that think about it gesture, what was he thinking? Good to see a ref have the conviction to properly punish basic thuggery.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah exactly. Loads of people on twitter saying it isn't a red. I think a lot of people have been conditioned to the idea that two-footed studs up jumpy leg breakers are the only tackles worthy of red. Completely out of control, forceful challenges are all red cards regardless of entry point. Becomes a very dangerous sport if they aren't.

[Gray Fox]

If he'd run over and pulled his shirt to pull him back or something like that it's one thing, but he's just gone in with the full intention of booting the other player as hard as he could.

[John Arne]

Brennan Johnson spent the whole game kicking the ball away after the whistle and standing over opposition freekicks... and for reasons unknown the ref just let him constantly get away with it. We don't need blue cards, we need refs just to use yellows when they are deserved.

[Waffdon]

City going with that Stones hybrid role bollocks once again. Nunez should have fun running into that back line.

[Clunge]

That was painful, but we deserved nothing.

[Baz]

Salah coming on after an hour is gonna be glorious.

[Ben]

Guardiola is a fucking idiot. Why doesn’t he just play the regular back four with Dias?

[Gray Fox]

Guardiola always does himself over away to us by trying to be a smartass. He always tries a thing he's not done before to try and catch us out and it just doesn't work.

Every single time. Something about Anfield just gets to him.

That said, I'm not sure our back line is keeping out the full compliment of Silva, De Bruyne, Foden, Haaland and Alvarez for very long.

[Don]

Kelleher and Bradley are due some stinkers which worries me but aside from that, let's go baby.

[Waffdon]

Guardiola is a fucking idiot. Why doesn’t he just play the regular back four with Dias?

I can understand Dias not playing tbf. He’s a pudding.

[Gray Fox]

City looking very sharp early. Kelleher will have to play well today.

[Waffdon]

What a corner that is

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was a really smart corner.

[Waffdon]

I see Neville still doesn’t understand that the blocking got the goal chopped off at Wembley because the guy doing it was offside lol

[Jimmy Floyd]

I see Neville still doesn’t understand that the blocking got the goal chopped off at Wembley because the guy doing it was offside lol

Heads absolutely gone on that one.

[Waffdon]

Watching Kyle Walker defend on the break is funny. Just sprints dead on at the ball without a care in the world at what space he leaves in behind

[Gray Fox]

A shame to let that one in. Considering the players we're without this has been great from us so far. Hopefully we can keep ourselves in it until Salah and Robertson come on.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've been thinking about this for the full 30 mins so far, and I think I've decided: this is the most PEDs ever seen on an English football pitch. City are worse, but Liverpool also jacked up to the teeth.

[Gray Fox]

I think you'll find the term is "asthma."

[John Arne]

Is it really that hard refs to stop teams time wasting? Just book a player, then they will stop.

#bitter

[Waffdon]

Julian Alvarez is the odd man out in this City team. No technical ability at all. Wouldn’t look out of place for Hull

[Jimmy Floyd]

Need him to do the relentless running on that side though. If you picked the best technical players in this era you'd finish about 9th.

[Gray Fox]

Julian Alvarez is the odd man out in this City team. No technical ability at all. Wouldn’t look out of place for Hull

If he takes him off, puts Foden in the middle and gets someone on at the back, they win this game by several.

[Don]

We've looked class here after we settled, initially they were ripping through us too easy but defence and midfield have been so sharp in possession. Just paying for having to carry the malnourished drug mule in attack again but hopefully we grab the equaliser before Doku comes on and rapes us in four different ways.

[Gray Fox]

Besides one corner that's a great first half. Ball just hasn't dropped for us in the box.

I suppose we'll see how long Salah has in him. Bring on the late Koumas goal.

[Baz]

Bradley is so good. Almost a shame we have Trent to come back.

[Gray Fox]

Bradley is so good. Almost a shame we have Trent to come back.

If only there was some other position he could play?

[Baz]

He won’t though

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ake and Ederson :lol:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Lucky he pulled out of that a touch at the last, or else he'd have been walking for the same reason as McGinn. Ridiculous decision-making.

This injury is feigned, by the way. If he isn't fit to face the penalty then an outfield player should have to go in goal while he receives treatment.

[Lofty]

Jim's bedside manner seeing Ederson off.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

His foot got stuck in the ground as he was making the challenge.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bert Trautmann would have saved the penalty and then headed in the winner, never mind this girly nonsense.

Arsenal are going to win the league.

[Luke Emia]

Silva’s head has gone…

[Jimmy Floyd]

Same thing has happened to City as happened to us in Wembley extra time, a hologram of Kenny Dalglish is about to float across the pitch and kiss each Liverpool player on the forehead.

[randomlegend]

Both teams look shite.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Luis Diaz needs putting down.

[Waffdon]

Let’s see if ‘pep’ changes anything here to win the game or just keep the massive gaps in his defence for no reason

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's so fucking bad.

[Waffdon]

Luis Diaz needs putting down.

And again :lol:

[Clunge]

and and and again.

[Gray Fox]

Taz is gonna be at Diazs' door later tonight.

[Waffdon]

Brings Kovacic rightly on but still has Stones in midfield. Fuck me

[Waffdon]

Kyle Walker don’t just smash the ball challenge

[John Arne]

Gapko drops far too deep, and leaves no one up front.

[Gray Fox]

Gapko drops far too deep, and leaves no one up front.

He's been in horrid form lately. Every attack that comes to him breaks down. Wont be scoring today.

[Waffdon]

Haaland absolutely anonymous again

[Giggles]

I'll guess at a 2-2 rather than the 5-0 man city win that this place reflects.

[Luke Emia]

Obviously it’s ok to kick someone in the chest in the area now.

[Gray Fox]

City owe Walker a lot after that. Bailed them out so much.

[John Arne]

Ok, what am I missing, because it looked to me as though Doku kicked MacAllister in the chest???

[Waffdon]

But he doesn’t.

City-Arsenal to draw in a few weeks and Liverpool to run away with it. Grim but better than Arsenal winning anything

[Don]

Diaz cost us 3 sitters in 15 mins there, the useless piece of shit. But he did a few pointless dribbles so all is forgiven.

Still, will be in our hands again after next week and players are back now so good position to be in. Endo and Mac are something else.

[John Arne]

Endo, Elliot, Kelleher and van Dijk have been immense this past month.

[Gray Fox]

I can't say enough how impressed I've been by Endo.

[Giggles]

Endo, Elliot, Kelleher and van Dijk have been immense this past month.

I like hearing that, even though he shouldn’t be starting for us.

[niko_cee]

Kelleher has been brilliant since becoming de facto first choice, I'd be surprised if Ireland had a better option than him but fair play if they do. Of course, this could just be a purple patch I guess.

Should have won at least one of the home draws against Arsenal, United and City. Probably two.

No wins for Pep at non-empty Anfield is that during the Klopp years? Some going. Definite Raging Bull you never got me down Ray vibe to the rivalry.

Edit - or was that League Cup game they won at Anfield? Anyway, I see Pep is on the seethe about it as he mentioned Liverpool not winning at the murder bowl in 8 years. In the league perhaps. Was definitely a Champions League knock-out win there, although I guess you could say that was a dead rubber. :p

[Shindig]

They can't all be Shay Given.

[Giggles]

Kelleher has been brilliant since becoming de facto first choice, I'd be surprised if Ireland had a better option than him but fair play if they do. Of course, this could just be a purple patch I guess.



Bazunu has always been better for us, though we have the usual outcry for Kelleher now because half of Ireland supports Liverpool.

[niko_cee]

Has he been better for Southampton this season, assuming he is still there? Was horrendous last season. Kelleher seems to be better when he is in for a run of games and he knows it. One off league cup appearances and whatnot used to see him being fairly useless.

[Gray Fox]

Kelleher was a real flappy hands mcgee at one point in January but he's come on leaps and bounds. He's obviously no Alisson, but he should be starting for someone next year.

[Giggles]

Has he been better for Southampton this season, assuming he is still there? Was horrendous last season. Kelleher seems to be better when he is in for a run of games and he knows it. One off league cup appearances and whatnot used to see him being fairly useless.
Yeah he's been excellent for Southampton this season. Still not 20, so I'd be expecting big things at this stage above any other player we have. Distribution is as good as Kelleher, who is arguably on a par with Alisson. Kelleher needs a move at this stage probably.

[Lewis]

Haaland absolutely anonymous again

Most over-rated player in the world. City have just turned us into the Dutch/Portuguese league where finishers with nothing else can score a goal a game. Sloth from The Goonies Franny Jeffers.

[Ben]

1767110797950419273

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Serie A is amazing.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1766898636347064589

"He kills him" :harold:

[Waffdon]

James, Fofana, Lavia, Badiashile, Chukwuemeka, Chilwell, Colwill, Nkunku, Gallagher and Ugochukwu all out tonight. What a tragic medical team

[niko_cee]

Thought I saw, and let out, Reece James the other day near the Amex. It probably wasn't him, but it was a fancy looking black SUV type thing and the number plate was something like R33C3 J, or however you would better approximate Reece J in car number plate language as that looks wrong.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Newcastle are going to stick their Colwill right up our Gallagher.

[Waffdon]

Chalobah, Disasi & Cucurella in the same defence. Could be some proper lols to be had

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bad teams trying to do a six man press / get out of one really is the worst spectacle going.

[Waffdon]

Jackson :drool:

Don

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's like having prime Romario.

[Ben]

Jackson is tremendous entertainment.

[Waffdon]

Sterling is such a horrible player to watch. Doesn’t track back and rarely does anything going forward.

Probably score a fluke now

[Waffdon]

So fucking tragic. Was always going to come when he’s got them dropping off and time wasting after 25 minutes.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This half has felt about three hours long. Two offensively bad teams.

[Waffdon]

Gallagher has been playing left wing most this half because Sterling doesn’t do anything

[niko_cee]

Ederson out of the Arsenal game.

:drool:

Although, as with all things City, they're lucky most of it is over the international break.

[Baz]

Drool all you want but Ortega’s probably the fourth best keeper in the league, annoyingly.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Man City are mongs for selling Cole Palmer.

[Waffdon]

Sterling not squaring it for an open goal yet again. Cunt

[Jimmy Floyd]

Great goal involvement by Cole Palmer. Just amazing how involved he was in that goal.

[Waffdon]

Jackson is so fucking good and I’ll hear no different.

[Luke Emia]

Man City are mongs for selling Cole Palmer.

They aren’t. He’s not top level you can see that from watching him. He’s a good player but he’s not top, top, top quality.

Howe is either getting the sack at the end of the season or invited to the embassy and chopped up into little pieces.

[Waffdon]

He’s got over 10 league goals in basically his first full season playing in a horrendous team lol

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They aren’t. He’s not top level you can see that from watching him. He’s a good player but he’s not top, top, top quality.

Howe is either getting the sack at the end of the season or invited to the embassy and chopped up into little pieces.

He's better than Julian Alvarez.

[Gray Fox]

City probably had little choice really. He's good enough to have been pushing for a place in the team. They've not long spunked £100m on Grealish, have Foden already and KDB is first name on the team sheet. Never mind Silva, Alvarez, Bobb and Doku vying for places.

He wasn't going to wait around when he can get a big pay bump and a start every week in that London. City get a decent fee for him and move on, wiping their tears with money Woody Harrelson style.

[Luke Emia]

As I said he’s a good player. But he’s not getting in that City team ahead of De Bruyne or Foden as he’s not at that level. Which means from City’s viewpoint £40 million of pure profit makes far more sense.

[Luke Emia]

He's better than Julian Alvarez.

But Alvarez doesn’t play off the right Foden does. Who he’s not better than.

[Waffdon]

I’ve seen this story before. Pochettino making 2 subs up to the 90th minute whilst the team is dead on their feet.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Wonderful management I thought. Just sheer coaching magic.

[Manc]

Cole Palmer looks like a Chernobyl victim

[Waffdon]

Must be his Caribbean genes. Not a Bonnie laddie

[Don]

Newcastle never stood a chance.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GIX7yG7W8AAjMzZ?format=png&name=900x900

[Jimmy Floyd]

Worth every penny.

[Don]

1767427634827342200

Fucking bring on the Euros and some more English football heritage :D

[Gray Fox]

Michael Edwards done today, Hughes shortly. Get Xabi Alonso sorted lads.

[niko_cee]

First thing on the agenda:


As such, one of the biggest factors in my decision is the commitment to acquire and oversee an additional club, growing this area of their organisation.

die plz

[Gray Fox]

Yeah it seems like they want to get into the multi-club model.

This is apparently why he chose to turn down United and Chelsea. They wanted him as more of a standard sporting director, whereas now he's fully running at least Liverpool, but soon to be one or more new clubs.

[niko_cee]

FIFA really needs to get on and ban the multi-club model.

Maybe they spy an opportunity to acquire Everton.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There needs to be a complete ban on player loans.

[Yevrah]

Didn't the two+ club thing used to be against the rules?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Time for a look at Article 5 (this is what football is all about):


To ensure the integrity of the UEFA club competitions (i.e. UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League), the following criteria apply:

No club participating in a UEFA club competition may, either directly or indirectly:

hold or deal in the securities or shares of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition;

be a member of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition;

be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition; or

have any power whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition.

No one may simultaneously be involved, either directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition.

No individual or legal entity may have control or influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition, such control or influence being defined in this context as:

holding a majority of the shareholders’ voting rights;

having the right to appoint or remove a majority of the members of the administrative, management or supervisory body of the club;

being a shareholder and alone controlling a majority of the shareholders’ voting rights pursuant to an agreement entered into with other shareholders of the club; or

being able to exercise by any means a decisive influence in the decision-making of the club.

5.02
If two or more clubs fail to meet the criteria aimed at ensuring the integrity of the competition, only one of them may be admitted to a UEFA club competition, in accordance with the following criteria (applicable in descending order):

the club which qualifies on sporting merit for the most prestigious UEFA club competition (i.e., in descending order: UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League or UEFA Europa Conference League);

the club which was ranked highest in the domestic championship giving access to the relevant UEFA club competition;

the club whose association is ranked highest in the access list (see Annex A).To ensure the integrity of the UEFA club competitions (i.e. UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League), the following criteria apply:

No club participating in a UEFA club competition may, either directly or indirectly:

hold or deal in the securities or shares of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition;

be a member of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition;

be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition; or

have any power whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of any other club participating in a UEFA club competition.

No one may simultaneously be involved, either directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition.

No individual or legal entity may have control or influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition, such control or influence being defined in this context as:

holding a majority of the shareholders’ voting rights;

having the right to appoint or remove a majority of the members of the administrative, management or supervisory body of the club;

being a shareholder and alone controlling a majority of the shareholders’ voting rights pursuant to an agreement entered into with other shareholders of the club; or

being able to exercise by any means a decisive influence in the decision-making of the club.

5.02
If two or more clubs fail to meet the criteria aimed at ensuring the integrity of the competition, only one of them may be admitted to a UEFA club competition, in accordance with the following criteria (applicable in descending order):

the club which qualifies on sporting merit for the most prestigious UEFA club competition (i.e., in descending order: UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League or UEFA Europa Conference League);

the club which was ranked highest in the domestic championship giving access to the relevant UEFA club competition;

the club whose association is ranked highest in the access list (see Annex A).

Not sure how this is going to work with, say, Girona qualifying for the CL next year.

[niko_cee]

They just worm their way out of it with separate management caveats/lies - like the Red Bull Group. Both Brighton and their Belgian subsidiary were in the Europa League this year, although maybe that's a minority shareholding situation.

[Yevrah]

I'm no legal expert (...you know the rest) but a quick skim read through those has me wondering whether any of it is actually enforceable, or enforceable beyond a robust legal challenge back? If UEFA couldn't dictate that football contracts worked differently to standard contracts of employment or bypass freedom of movement in the EU, can they actually stop owners owning more than one club? My gut says not.

[niko_cee]

I guess any challenge to the assertion that they can would be along the lines of how proportional it would be to enforce a strict/absolute ban, rather than satisfying themselves that the patsy directors/shareholders of the subservient group club, isn't it Pep's brother at Girona lol, are actually completely free to make their own decisions etc and not at all in the thrall of CFG/Red Bull/whoever.

[phonics]

IIRC ther'es an ironic twist that it's allowed because of EU competition law but if it was ever actually challenged it could be ruled out by EU competition law so UEFA decided they couldn't be bothered with the paper work and legal fees and let Red Bull and go skate free

[Jimmy Floyd]

What happens if Red Bull Leipzig and Red Bull Margate get drawn against each other, do we all just pretend the result isn't pre-determined?

[Spikey M]

1767427634827342200

Fucking bring on the Euros and some more English football heritage :D

:D

[-james-]

The latest moans from Scotland fans about Ryan Gauld's omission from the squad made me check his wikipedia. As if it's a full 10 (ten!) years since Waff was waxing lyrical about him on here.

[-james-]

In related news I've agreed to go to Munich for the opener with the in-laws. Getting the England/Scotland half and half top ready. :cool:

[Baz]

Everton fans running riot today. Rafa sacked from Celta Vigo and Anthony Gordon out for 7 months. Plus they don’t have to watch Everton for nearly three weeks.

[niko_cee]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68547181

:happycry:

They know what's coming.

Might have a flight myself as I know a Brighton fan who has one booked, which I doubt they are going to use.

[Giggles]

They should move it if the huns get there.

[Kikó]

In related news I've agreed to go to Munich for the opener with the in-laws. Getting the England/Scotland half and half top ready. :cool:

Maybe I'll see you there. 👏 Did you get a ticket in the ballot?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Liverpool v Rangers please. 10,000 religiously-motivated murders in a confined space would be a fitting way for Klopp to bow out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Actually, isn't the much more likely Liverpool v Roma a repeated hooligan event down the years? Surely they'll have to think about playing somewhere else if the red men get through.

[phonics]

Every domestic match I attend it seems like you're under 24/7 security and then every european home game the away end looks like the 80s

[niko_cee]

Actually, isn't the much more likely Liverpool v Roma a repeated hooligan event down the years? Surely they'll have to think about playing somewhere else if the red men get through.

Doesn't work like that, but yeah, it's going to be an invasion of unprecedented scale if it happens. Like hundreds of thousands.

[Giggles]

Best of luck to anyone looking for a hotel. The few that aren't turned into asylum centres will be about 3 grand a night.

[niko_cee]

I'll come and stay with you.

7 hours on foot from central Dublin IIRC.

[Giggles]

Wouldn't be far off it.

[phonics]

These Champions League refs are doing my nut in.

[-james-]

Maybe I'll see you there. �� Did you get a ticket in the ballot?

No tickets yet. Not too hopeful for the opener but will probably drive up to Cologne and try and get tickets for the Switzerland game. Give us a shout if you're in Munich. :cool:

[phonics]

Arsenal are terrified. Distance between the front and the back line is massive.

[phonics]

Lol the Arsenal ball boy getting shit for two balls on the pitch at once and it's a bunch of millionaires shouting at a kid with one leg.

[phonics]

Taz has a billion terrible opinions but I think Odegaard being mediocre is definitely his worst.

[Gray Fox]

This guy is the definition of getting a "European referee".

[niko_cee]

Could have done with him on Sunday if that's what passes for a high foot.

[Gray Fox]

If Taremi comes on here and scores the winner Phonics will never be safe from Taz.

[phonics]

Darren Fletcher has to be the worst commentator with constant jobs. I think he just said that 'Im not sure how you find out but I think Pepe has been booked in more than 50% of his matches'

[niko_cee]

Porto are absolute wank. Arsenal need to sort themselves out here.

[phonics]

I can't believe he missed that.

[Gray Fox]

Lads, it's Porto.

[niko_cee]

George Costanza on the sidelines.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Taremi to score the winner in extra time.

[Don]

The ET Mehdi dive to win the penalty is gonna hit different when I proceed to shit on phonics' face.

[phonics]

Not to test Taz' theory but isn't Marko Grujic some Brendan Rodgers era liverpool backup?

[Luke Emia]

Not to test Taz' theory but isn't Marko Grujic some Brendan Rodgers era liverpool backup?

First signing under Klopp.

[niko_cee]

Think he might have arrived later than that, but pretty much.

[niko_cee]

First signing under Klopp.

Michael Edwards stoking his chin as he heads the winner then.

[phonics]

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

I just died.

[niko_cee]

Arteta's said he wouldn't be opposed to making a substitution in that department if needed in the past hasn't he?

[CJay]

Reassuring the lack of bottle and composure Arsenal are displaying tonight. Getting taken to penalties against Porto is very poor.

[phonics]

Reassuring the lack of bottle and composure Arsenal are displaying tonight. Getting taken to penalties against Porto is very poor.

They've been better than Liverpool have against them?

[Don]

ADHD Mongo is 3 saves from 26

Costa is 10 from 37 :drool:

[Lofty]

Reassuring the lack of bottle and composure Arsenal are displaying tonight. Getting taken to penalties against Porto is very poor.

Porto have played a good pressing game but for some reason it is being overlooked that Wendell pocketing Saka is mainly the fact he's been allowed to kick the shit out of him and the ref and lino arent arsed.

[niko_cee]

They've been better than Liverpool have against them?

https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/h2h/50064/7889/

[Bernanke]

Pepe is a cunt, but this performance for 120 minutes at 41 is insane.

[Lofty]

https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/h2h/50064/7889/

I think he meant Porto played better against Arsenal than Liverpool did.

[niko_cee]

I think he meant Porto played better against Arsenal than Liverpool did.

I know what he meant, I was pointing out what a serious side do when they play Porto.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

"Saka doesn't miss"

He does when he's wearing an England shirt, Fletch.

[phonics]

GET FUCKED TAz

[Gray Fox]

Both lads who missed for Porto looked devoid of all confidence.

Great penalties from Arsenal, though the shuffling menace creeping into the penalty game is a pet peeve.

[niko_cee]

Top tier jinxing from Fletch.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

There was absolutely zero chance of Galeno scoring, he didn't look up for it at all.

[Don]

Good outcome, they'll be pumped against a proper CL side which will presumably come next round unless they fluke a Barca or some shit.

[niko_cee]

Porto's penalty stats wanker looking for new employment after telling most of them to go that way. Raya nearly saved all of the ones to his left, well, saved two, hand on one.

[phonics]

https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/h2h/50064/7889/

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

[phonics]

I might have broken my haaand. uhoh.

[niko_cee]

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

Doesn't this merely reflect the fact that Arsenal have been total shite for the majority of the xG era? Understat had it as 2.85 to 0.54, so the xRightScore. Seems odd to herald a 3-1 win as some sort of Damascene moment, but whatever.

[Don]

xPhonics.

[Shindig]

How do you break your hand punching air?

[niko_cee]

City v Arsenal would be a nice quarter final draw. :baz:

Although Arsenal v Bayern would also be quite funny, chance to exorcise some demons and screw H. Kane over all at once.

City obviously going to get the winner of PSV/Dortmund though.

[Don]

Atletico better not be in the mood for some fuckery tonight, Inter need to win CL this year.

[Kikó]

No tickets yet. Not too hopeful for the opener but will probably drive up to Cologne and try and get tickets for the Switzerland game. Give us a shout if you're in Munich. :cool:

Could be. The father in law has two tickets for the opener now so we will look on the resell for the rest.

[Kikó]

Reading this thread and I'm edging back towards wanting Liverpool winning the league over arsenal. Well done phonics

[Don]

1767711995615232289

This is why you can't have a group of mates chatting shit on primetime.

[Yevrah]

What's the context there?

[Kikó]

She's been shagging Thierry or something.

[Lewis]

Respect for trying to lmao his way through it instead of clamming up. Whenever him and Gary Neville have some back-and-forth it takes about two 'lol have you won the league?' replies before he explodes and starts asking about Salford finances, and who was it who tried making fun of him and had their domestic abuse thrown back at them? Banter Colossus lurking below the surface.

[Gray Fox]

If Luton throw this one away just send them down now.

[niko_cee]

After 28 games, Luton Town have scored more Premier League goals than Manchester United.

Luton Town's three goals this evening have taken their tally to 41 Premier League goals, while Manchester United have scored 39 goals so far this season.

:happycry:

[Giggles]

:happycry:

That is pretty lol in fairness. Scandalous from Utd.

[niko_cee]

Presumably they've conceded a lot more as well though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

If Luton throw this one away just send them down now.

RIP Luton.

[Don]

Inter looking very good there, obviously going to have tricky moments but tactically they lead the way in the sport because player wise they're not that special. Incredible coaching.

And this is part 2 of my earlier post :D...

1767882221912768589

[Jimmy Floyd]

Am I being thick or did Carragher basically call her a whore? He's lucky it's not 2020 or he'd have been insta-cancelled.

Magnificent from Keys as always.

[Gray Fox]

Extra time looming in Madrid.

[Don]

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/uefa-champions-league/elfmeterschiessen/pokalwettbewerb/CL

Remind me again, why were away goals abolished?

[Gray Fox]

That's an incredible shootout.

[niko_cee]

Inter are absolute toilet, and then you go and put the kiss of death on them so I'm not sure what you were expecting really.

[Waffdon]

Atletico knocking Arsenal out would be lovely. Simeone would have half of Arsenal Twitter on the phone to Samaritans

[Gray Fox]

Oblaks second save was silly. Laddo put it right in the corner and he still got it.

[Don]

Savic vs Grealish please :drool:

[Manc]

Alexis Sanchez & Davy Klaasen popping up like it's 2014.

[niko_cee]

Paris St-Germain are preparing an £80m bid for Manchester United's 26-year-old England forward Marcus Rashford and would be willing to pay him £500,000 a week. (Star)

PSG are interested in Liverpool's Colombia winger Luis Diaz, 27, as a replacement for 25-year-old France forward Kylian Mbappe who is set to join Real Madrid. (El Pais - in Spanish)

Have they lost their minds in Paris?

[SincereTheRebel]

Not included other players but the money they have probably lost on Neymar, Messi and Mbappe must be insane. It is yet to see what happenes with Mbappe but I suspect Mbappes brother, Ethan will be sold to Real Madrid for a silly fee, as part of the Mbappe deal to recoup some of those losses.

[Ian]

Have they lost their minds in Paris?

I'm sure Waff or Randrew will be along to bore you to death on the xV (expected veracity) of any sources pushing that story but if there's even an ounce of truth in it and United don't try to make that happen then they need their heads read.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can see that maybe Luis Diaz brings in viewers from a big South American market, but giving Marcus Rashford half a million pounds each Monday morning would be quite deranged.

[niko_cee]

Just a shame the South American market can't finish a one-one-one.

I quite like Diaz as a player, despite his inability to score, but replacing your top scoring best forward in the world with him seems like a questionable plan. Two not half as good goal shy forwards aren't going to fill that hole.

They've always had a hard-on for Rashford though, if you believe the media rumours, so presumably his people are good at putting that link out there.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He'd probably be good in League One. Run fast and kick the ball hard in a straight line should account for Nimes or whatever.

[Luke Emia]

Just a shame the South American market can't finish a one-one-one.

I quite like Diaz as a player, despite his inability to score, but replacing your top scoring best forward in the world with him seems like a questionable plan. Two not half as good goal shy forwards aren't going to fill that hole.

They've always had a hard-on for Rashford though, if you believe the media rumours, so presumably his people are good at putting that link out there.

I like Diaz but if you are being offered £100 million for him you take that all day long especially if you can get Salah to stay next season.

[Gray Fox]

Perhaps the children of Paris now need feeding?

[Kikó]

Have they lost their minds in Paris?

We shouldn't sell unless they pay €150m.

[niko_cee]

They'd be as well trying to sign Dominic Solanke.

[Giggles]

Sczmpdics IN. Though we've danced that dance before.

1768253245397357045

[Manc]

Ben White ruling himself out for England. I'm surprised more players don't tbh.

[niko_cee]

I'd like to take this opportunity to also rule myself out.

[SincereTheRebel]

Ben White ruling himself out for England. I'm surprised more players don't tbh.

Was it ever revealed why he left qatar and why he does not want to play?

[Gray Fox]

Sending the big guns out despite being 5-1 up from the first leg. I'm sure this wont result in any injuries whatsoever.

[niko_cee]

Presumably it will result in a few 'tweaks' which will keep them off international duty.

Although most of the ones picked probably just need the game time.

[niko_cee]

Everton fans running riot today. Rafa sacked from Celta Vigo and Anthony Gordon out for 7 months. Plus they don’t have to watch Everton for nearly three weeks.

I assume this never happened seeing as he's in the England squad.

Hadn't realised we had such sexy friendlies coming up.

[Don]

Szobo and Salah sure but the rest should not be getting serious mins here. Prague were not holding back on their challenges in first game either :sick:

[Gray Fox]

Can we sub the first teamers off already?

[Gray Fox]

This is comical.

[SincereTheRebel]

Stream without any madness popups?

[Baz]

Macca saying we could score 44 :D

[niko_cee]

What the fuck? Was a bit late and just finding a stream.

Oh, a goal.

[randomlegend]

I assume this never happened seeing as he's in the England squad.

Hadn't realised we had such sexy friendlies coming up.

Some Newcastle twitter ITKs made it up.

[niko_cee]

Good job coefficient points aren't handed out for goal difference.

[Gray Fox]

Get Jomez up top ASAP.

[niko_cee]

Of course he's rolling out the pinpoint 70 yard cross field passes. :cab:

[niko_cee]

Van Dijk coming on at 6-1. Zero fucks given.

[niko_cee]

Bundesliga coefficient hopes in the mud tonight.

[Adramelch]

Leverkusen losing their first game (and subsequently the tie) of the season to a 10-man Qarabag at home would be quite something.

[Gray Fox]

Never doubt Xabi Alonso.

[Waffdon]

Leverkusen losing their first game (and subsequently the tie) of the season to a 10-man Qarabag at home would be quite something.

They must be on 10+ stoppage time winners and levellers this season

[John Arne]

Following the news that 3 AFC's in a row are held in the middle east, and the next 5 (FIVE) Asian Champions League finals stages will be held in Saudi, we now see the next 2 U17 World Cups awarded to Qatar. The middle-east; A genuine hotbed of football.

[Giggles]

Today, I feel richer.

[Luke Emia]

I see Sir Henry has gone for Ben White today in The Times for refusing an England call up.

The guy looks and comes across like a bit of a dick but can you blame him for not wanting to spend the next two weeks sat around in a camp knowing he has no chance of playing in any important games.

[John Arne]

Yeah, I don't get the outrage. If someone doesn't wanna play - who cares. Nobody is obliged.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You're well shot of guys like that as the backups in a national squad, and much better off for having worse players who love being there.

[Luke Emia]

Not necessarily wrong but you have to make your squad players think they are part of it at tournaments as well that's part of being a manager at the top level. To be fair to White he sat through Euro 2020/21 without getting a minute and 2 weeks of the World Cup without looking like he was going to get a look in as well. What's the point of turning up if you seemingly have no chance of playing at all even in effective dead rubbers or at the end of games where it's already won?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Well exactly. Southgate himself was constantly the 4th centre back in the squad so should know.

[phonics]

It's weird how all these good managers say he's incredibly dedicated and giving 100% effort all the time but masterminds like Steve Holland think he's lazy.