September football sponsored by Lee Carsley

[Kikó]

Seeing as Ian is still dead, we have another festival of football lined up with the titans of Man United Vs the giants of Liverpool today in a game of football followed by the first international break with England's latest culture bin man Lee Carsley and a new campaign for Ronaldo and Portugal.

Saturday 14th September
So'ton 12:30 Man Utd
Brighton 15:00 Ipswich
C Palace 15:00 Leicester
Fulham 15:00 West Ham
Liverpool 15:00 N Forest
Man City 15:00 Brentford
A Villa 17:30 Everton
B'mouth 20:00 Chelsea

Sunday 15th September
Tottenham 14:00 Arsenal
Wolves 16:30 Newcastle

Saturday 21st September
West Ham 12:30 Chelsea
A Villa 15:00 Wolves
Fulham 15:00 Newcastle
Leicester 15:00 Everton
Liverpool 15:00 B'mouth
So'ton 15:00 lpswich
Tottenham 15:00 Brentford
CPalace 17:30 Man Utd

Sunday 22nd September
Brighton 14:00 NForest
Man City 16:30 Arsenal

Saturday 28th September
Newcastle 12:30 Man City
Arsenal 15:00 Leicester
Brentford 15:00 West Ham
Chelsea 15:00 Brighton
Everton 15:00 C Palace
N Forest 15:00 Fulham
Wolves 17:30 Liverpool

Sunday 29th September
Ipswich 14:00 A Villa
Man Utd 16:30 Tottenham

Monday 30th September
B'mouth 20:00 So'ton

[Luke Emia]

Just watching the start of this Spurs game. If they are this open all season because ‘it’s what we do mate’ they are going to get absolutely smashed several times this season.

Newcastle won’t be much better either.

[Gray Fox]

Good test of Slot Ball today.

Klopp very much had the measure of United until EtH arrived. After the big spanking, we didn't beat them once last year and they were dreadful. We were especially disappointing at Old Trafford, despite feeling like we had an xG of about 15.

A bit of stubbornness of the Klopp style went into that I think. Maybe a bit more of a measured approach today might yield better results.

[Danny]

Eze making it look easy.

[John Arne]

Alisson
TAA, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson
Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch
Salah, Jota, Diaz

As expected, really.

[Waffdon]

No matter how shite Chelsea are they just beat Crystal Palace.

Until the Leicester manager took over.

Relegation beckons.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Not sure there's anything more offensive than Nicolas Jackson of all people doing the Turkish shooter celebration. He makes an active Mt Etna look calm and collected.

[Waffdon]

Feels like Man Utd rarely lose to Liverpool here.

Wouldnt be shocked if they shit fest another result on the break

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

ffs.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:drool:

Glorious, I love VAR.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Another one that would never, ever have been disallowed pre-VAR. JUSTICE.

[Manc]

Zirkzee is what the kids would call clapped.

[Waffdon]

Casemiro :D

Where was the right hand side of the defence after Salah’s cross as well. My god

[Gray Fox]

They left the back post empty again.

[John Arne]

The wonky Nike ticks are pretty jarring. Looks shite.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Casemiro needs putting down.

[John Arne]

Lol.

[Gray Fox]

Won the transfer window though, right lads?

[John Arne]

Mainoo is so good, shame he's playing alongside Casemiro.

[Waffdon]

Man Utd will do well to finish top 8 again

[Shindig]

Good to see all that investment paying off.

[Manc]

Mainoo is so good, shame he's playing alongside Casemiro.

On the ball, yes. Absoutley tragic off it.

[Guybrush]

Fernandes at the whistle there. :D

[Luke Emia]

Going two up with United fans singing about the Sun being right was pretty poetic it has to be said.

[Dark Soldier]

One of the worst performances I've ever seen, this from Casemiro. That bit on the touchline where he just gave up as the ball was in play too.

[Gray Fox]

A fair few moves of ours have ended with just the pass being slightly off or a bad touch from the pass into the box. I can't remember a United chance other than the one through Virgils legs.

For a 3rd game in I'm very impressed so far.

[Spoonsky]

Nice to see Diaz back to his best. Where ya at Don

[randomlegend]

Casemiro hooked for a debutant.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That could well be the end of Casemiro.

[Spoonsky]

Also, brilliant duck from Szoboszlai for the first goal.

[John Arne]

De Ligt can't pass for shit. He also wants a couple of seconds too long on the ball. Mazroui looks decent enough.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Get this bald prick out.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mainoo turning into Casemiro there.

[Gray Fox]

Operation Old Trafford Exit.

[Giggles]

Get this bald prick out.

Joke of a club that they let a cup win save him in the first place.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lisandro's got money on -4.

[John Arne]

Onana's footwork :D

[Gray Fox]

Warra new contract for the lads.

[Lofty]

Eric Bin Bag

[Danny]

Rashford :face: if he isn’t running at the last defender when 1v1 what else is he offering.

[John Arne]

Endo for Gravenberch please.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

At least De Ligt has the right idea with these twats.

[phonics]

At least De Ligt has the right idea with these twats.

Getting off the pitch?

[Guybrush]

At least De Ligt has the right idea with these twats.

:cry:

[Gray Fox]

So shit that Dom is taking mercy on them.

[Gray Fox]

The easiest match we've ever had at OT.

[Baz]

Glorious.

Feels like Szob is still in 3rd gear but still sensational.

Wouldn’t actually mind Darwin starting next game, Jota played like Kane at the Euros.

[John Arne]

I think I'd prefer Elliot ahead Szoboszlai.

[Kikó]

I think it takes time for a manager to bed in and sell his ideas so of course Liverpool are going to have the edge with Slot.

[Luke Emia]

Glorious.

Feels like Szob is still in 3rd gear but still sensational.

Wouldn’t actually mind Darwin starting next game, Jota played like Kane at the Euros.

Nope I’m going to that game and I want to see goals.

[randomlegend]

Got the xG win.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

So we're the real winners today :cool:

[niko_cee]

Understat doesn't agree.

[niko_cee]

Also I see the Liverpool badge has changed "across digital and mobile platforms". No thanks.

[Luke Emia]

United winning the transfer window by signing what looks to me like the Dutch Harry Maguire is going to be something that comes back to bite them in the arse down the line as well.

He’s a good player but he’s got no pace and when you pair him with another defender with no pace(be that Martinez or Maguire) you are always going to have problems. No way Yoro plays every week even when he’s fit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The idea that some dumbfuck Americans can change the crest of Liverpool because it's a 'cleaner brand' should see the ambassador summoned to Downing Street, but no, apparently all this shit is a good idea because it means you can sign fucking awful players for tens of millions.

I turned on Man U / Liv earlier and lasted about 18 minutes. Just completely bored by it.

[phonics]

The idea that some dumbfuck Americans can change the crest of Liverpool because it's a 'cleaner brand' should see the ambassador summoned to Downing Street, but no, apparently all this shit is a good idea because it means you can sign fucking awful players for tens of millions.

Got to say there's a certain irony in a crest being disparaged for DISRESPECTING HISTORY that is far closer to what they had from 1950-1992.

https://i.imgur.com/2PkFZza.png

From a design standpoint it's much nicer as well. Thankfully from the Arsenal side, alot of the retro adidas stuff has embraced my favourite Arsenal crest as they can't use the 90s ones due to it featuring Latin so can't be copyrighted.

https://i.imgur.com/y4BaLX9.png

[Gray Fox]

My personal preference is just the Liver Bird with LFC below, so any from 2012-present, or 68-87 are good to me. However I can see why people are unhappy with the Hillsborough flame being removed, as well as the Shankly gate.

However it's a move towards as phonics states, a much more aesthetically pleasing design. It's a lot more marketable too and as such can be stuck onto any t-shirt/jacket/hat/pants you want to sell and doesnt look nearly as bad on there as the full crest did.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This is the problem the Weimar Republic faced. Confused brand messaging, too much going on. You just need a nice simple logo you can stick on an armband. Keep it simple.

[niko_cee]

Regardless of its historical merit I'm not a fan of the whole "LFC" thing, not least as a part of speech which has been heavily pushed for the last few years, in a similar way to the style guide mandate to say "the football club" but I guess that's probably again down to the fact that they can't IP protect "Liverpool".

[phonics]

Did you see lfc v rm in the ucl last week?

[Waffdon]

Estevão might be neymar levels of good

[Kikó]

United winning the transfer window by signing what looks to me like the Dutch Harry Maguire is going to be something that comes back to bite them in the arse down the line as well.

He’s a good player but he’s got no pace and when you pair him with another defender with no pace(be that Martinez or Maguire) you are always going to have problems. No way Yoro plays every week even when he’s fit.

He's had two games mate. Give him a chance to fail.

[Giggles]

I do find Slot impressive when I hear him, and they look impressive, but there's definitely a very too-early narrative brewing that Klopp was all the problems.

[John Arne]

Yeah, some fans getting a tad carried away. We'll still finish 2nd or 3rd, still missing a "proper 6". That said, a decent start all told.

[Giggles]

Yeah, some fans getting a tad carried away. We'll still finish 2nd or 3rd, still missing a "proper 6". That said, a decent start all told.

Sturridge and Carragher were leaning strong into it on the coverage yesterday too. Maybe they're right as it looks promising, but it's early days.

[Luke Emia]

I'm fully on that as well. You only need to look at how well Spurs started last season. When a new manager comes in there's still always some muscle memory from the old manager with certain things it's how the team does after that initial period which is always the difficult. But, he has made a decent start all be it we haven't played anyone decent yet.

[Gray Fox]

I'm interested to see how the approach goes against City and Arsenal.

Not getting carried away yet. Can't be turning into another it's just the way we play, mate.

[Waffdon]

If he isn’t top by the second round of international fixtures, he’s a bum.

[SvN]

Dreadful from United yesterday. ETH won't last until the new year.

1830534295074542048

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GWaiyPrWcAABb1e?format=jpg

:D

dots.

[niko_cee]

:D

All aligning for a Southgate appointment during the next international break.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fun little detail, they've just introduced maximum away fan ticket prices of 60 euros in the CL, 40 in the Europa and 20 (!) in the Conference League. Chelsea ownership are going to be absolutely fucking steaming.

[Waffdon]

Ocean Man off to Galatasaray on loan.

[Ben]

Fell flat on his face there.

[randomlegend]

Ten Hag's stubborn insistence that this suicideball tactic is the correct and only way we can play is quite bizarre. It's not at all how he played at Ajax. It seems to centre on the fact he doesn't have Frankie De Jong, without whom it is apparently impossible to play any other way but this.

Every single time we win possession, the instruction is clearly to just fly forwards as fast as possible (he alluded to this before when he said he thought we should be the fastest "transition" team in the world).

This means lots of risky passes (often necessarily played by players who are not cut out to play them, like Casemiro) played when the team is not in any shape to defend if the ball is given away. You'll see our fullbacks go extremely high as soon as we win the ball, for example, so if we give it away we are often outnumbered at the back, hence many of the easy cut-back or unmarked at the back post goals we concede.

It also means we very rarely have periods of sustained, calm possession which you need to control a game.

Were this tactic successful in an attacking sense - i.e. we were scoring a lot, but losing by conceding even more - you might be able to understand the logic in persisting as over time it may get better or individually better players may be able to pull it off. But that's not remotely the case, we score fuck all.

The players aren't shit. Our first 11 at the very least is a very good team; too many questions mark players to probably mount a serious title challenge, but we should be competing for 3rd, 4th, maybe even 2nd.

I admit I really thought Ten Hag might be "the guy", particularly with a proper footballing structure above him now INEOS are in charge. People can lol about it, but it makes a huge difference. You only need to look at how our transfer business was conducted this summer compared to previously to see a huge difference. But it increasingly looks like he needs to go. The issue - at it was over the summer and why they ultimately stuck with him - is who next?

[Lofty]

Big Jim sez it's the working from home wot done it.

[Manc]

Competing for 2nd? Delusional.

[niko_cee]

United need a Klopp type figure to turn it around.

Un/fortunately they're not ten-a-penny.

Think it's optimistic to say that United have a squad that should be looking at competing for second. They're miles behind Liverpool and Arsenal. A scrap for the 4th place trophy at best. Ten Hag has dug too big a hole to get out of now. As you say, two years on and the football is inexplicable.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't think modern football has the conditions for another Klopp to arise. Klopp did his early work at Mainz where he could bend everyone to his will. The Mainzes of today will have all have their own tinpot INEOS directors thinking they know best and getting some frat boy in to do the data and treating the coach as a disposable short-term appointments. There's no breathing room for big time coaches to develop anymore. If there is it might be further and further afield in leagues where there's less money to be won, maybe Scandinavia should be looked at for example.

Pep is a bit different but I find it very hard to divorce Pep from the fact that he has never had anything but the absolutely dominant squad in terms of wages and talent.

[Waffdon]

Competing for 2nd? Delusional.

Might be the worst take in TTH history. That Man Utd team is just bang average. Knocking about with a spine of Onana, De Ligt/Martinez, Casemiro/Mainoo and Hojlund :lol:

[Pepe]

Fun little detail, they've just introduced maximum away fan ticket prices of 60 euros in the CL, 40 in the Europa and 20 (!) in the Conference League.

Are they mandated to allot a minimum number of away tickets?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Has to be 5% of capacity.

[Pepe]

5% is not too bad. Having equal pricing in all countries is an interesting choice.

[Spoonsky]

Got to say there's a certain irony in a crest being disparaged for DISRESPECTING HISTORY that is far closer to what they had from 1950-1992.

https://i.imgur.com/2PkFZza.png

From a design standpoint it's much nicer as well. Thankfully from the Arsenal side, alot of the retro adidas stuff has embraced my favourite Arsenal crest as they can't use the 90s ones due to it featuring Latin so can't be copyrighted.

https://i.imgur.com/y4BaLX9.png

Get 1950-1955 back in imo.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The original one imo. A red devil of all things, and also what appears to be a merman.

[phonics]

Fun little detail, they've just introduced maximum away fan ticket prices of 60 euros in the CL, 40 in the Europa and 20 (!) in the Conference League. Chelsea ownership are going to be absolutely fucking steaming.

As a mate of mine who goes to these European aways said, great, can they do something about a hotel in Zagreb that was 40 euros a night the day before the draw becoming 300 a night or the Easyjet flight there quadrupling in price?

[niko_cee]

The original one imo. A red devil of all things, and also what appears to be a merman.

Yeah, bring back Poseidon and the Merman!

What looks like a latin motto and all. They really threw the kitchen sink at it.

[Baz]

Yeah, bring back Poseidon and the Merman!

What looks like a latin motto and all. They really threw the kitchen sink at it.
It also includes the Latin phrase, Deus Nobis Haec Otia Fecit, the motto of Liverpool, and commonly translated means, ‘God hath granted us this ease’.

[Shindig]

I quite like our current one. Didn't realise we switched to it so recently. As for Gateshead, the Angel of the North one is shite. Much prefer the older one that features an actual gate.

[phonics]

1830668596093296778

Top stuff.

[Gray Fox]

The players aren't shit. Our first 11 at the very least is a very good team; too many questions mark players to probably mount a serious title challenge, but we should be competing for 3rd, 4th, maybe even 2nd.


Looking at this completely objectively and without bringing my club bias in, this just isnt true. If I look at the league table I can see mini groups forming. City clearly are the best team in the league followed by Arsenal and Liverpool. I'd say the latter two here are quite close, but Arsenal edge it.

United are nowhere near in the quality department of any of these teams. In a Best Mixed XI type scenario between any of those teams and United, there is only 1 player even getting a mention of getting in any and there is a better version of him at all 3 clubs.

Then there is the group of Villa, Spurs, Chelsea and Newcastle. Brighton might get involved here yet but that remains to be seen. Of this group there is a much better argument of United players getting in their teams, but even so, it's not wholesale. You would be/are in around the tail end of this group right now.

There is a real struggle with the acceptance of this at United. I know how it is. Liverpool went through this at least once in my lifetime and it's shite. But the sooner it is accepted that you are not the massive United of the Ferguson years any more and start to act and plan accordingly, the sooner you get back to the right end of the table.

Now there has been some slight improvement in buying the manager players he's actually asked for, over this summer. The problem is that manager is not up to task and needs moving on.

[randomlegend]

Now there has been some slight improvement in buying the manager players he's actually asked for, over this summer. The problem is that manager is not up to task and needs moving on.

That's not what happened in the summer and basically the opposite of why it was better.

Going back and forth over how good players are is a waste of time, but this is just wrong.

[Pleb]

I guess the real test is Haaland and Pep's lot PLEB ROLLING all of us to another TITLE

[Yevrah]

I've seen exactly 0 minutes of Premier League ACTION so far this season, but my observations based solely on some noise are:

Slot may well turn out to be a very good Liverpool manager, but it's ridiculous to be proclaiming this after only three matches. He has had very little time to put his stamp on things and for that stamp (be it ultimately good or bad) to be seen on the pitch.
Man Utd are miles away from being as good as Liverpool, Arsenal or Man City. Top 4 (or 5 if that gets CL football) would be a very good season for them. The HOPE this season appears to be based on something that would underpin a "top 100 administrators in football" list and little else.
Man City continue to make the Premier League, as a spectacle at the top of it, very boring indeed.
Lol at Newcastle for being this fucking boring while being literally bankrolled by oil.
And lol at Chelsea, because it is all lol, but at least they're trying something different and therefore vaguely interesting.

[Kikó]

Uniteds team plays very much below the quality that is there and with a different structure/atmosphere, probably would be higher and more entertaining. As it is, they're not. There's loads of pressure and a lot to prove. We don't have enough goals to be a top 4 team and be lucky to be top 8.

[Shindig]

Lol at Newcastle for being this fucking boring while being literally bankrolled by oil.

Says the man who's club can't afford to patch up the stadium roof despite being the biggest brand in the league. We'd spend the oil money in a heartbeat if the league would let us. And it's not been boring. We beat both Manchester clubs last season, thumped PSG, put 13 past Sheffield United, had to play Karius again (YAY!) and almost made Europe.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Does Yev own a club? I didn't have him down as a modern day Peter Stringfellow, but people surprise you.

[SvN]

Shindig has had a mare, there.

[niko_cee]

:D

Yeah, have that Delia!

[Yevrah]

I'm a Norwich fan if anything, but I'd be hard pushed to claim I actually care, which is much the same across nearly all club football these days. It's just a bit dull, probably because I've seen everything by this point and the oversaturation is off the scale.

[Baz]

United are nowhere near in the quality department of any of these teams. In a Best Mixed XI type scenario between any of those teams and United, there is only 1 player even getting a mention of getting in any and there is a better version of him at all 3 clubs. Which one? :scratch:

[Gray Fox]

Which one? :scratch:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GWZy04EX0AEiXf9?format=jpg&name=medium

[randomlegend]

The only player better than Fernandes in his position in the league is De Bruyne.

[niko_cee]

What's his position?

Don't think he'd get in any of the top 3 teams.

[randomlegend]

He would. That is what I mean about (some) of our players being underrated because they are tarred by the state the club has been in and the poor management. There is obviously absolute dross like Antony, but Fernandes would start for every team in the league and would tear shit up.

[Serj]

I hate to admit it because he's such a whiney little prick (Fernandes, not RL), but RL is right. He's a pretty fantastic player and I'm not even sure his nearest equivalent at Liverpool - Szoboszlai - has him beat in terms of work rate. I feel Fernandes would actually do quite well in a high-pressing team.

[Waffdon]

Fernandes would improve Liverpool massively in that midfield 3. He’d start for Man City as well.

Wouldn’t get ahead of Palmer though :cool:

[Shindig]

Aye, Fernandes is canny. United’s a weird case because they seem well up for cup ties but can’t keep it going for a league campaign.

[niko_cee]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ckg54xkqnzlo

:happycry:

No chance these idiots are going to be able to overcome City and Lord [Baron!] Pannick.

Right thread this time.

[Spikey M]

I have no idea what's going on with any of this, nor do I have any inclination to find out, but in true conspiracy theorist style, I've decided that this is all just a ruse to allow Man City to wriggle out of their charges. The outrage is all part of the act.


https://i.ibb.co/mqtXfqt/e441c2b68ca7fa37670da414c28f3899.jpg

[niko_cee]

Who/what is that?

In other City news, I see despite the painstaking effort to work the league cup around the European fixture list, which was in no way to ensure those sides got easier draws, that it still hasn't worked and City are going to have to play at home on the same night as United host a European game, due to them being sandwiched by the classic broadcaster Super Sunday game one week, Saturday lunchtime game the next gambit.

[Spikey M]

Who/what is that?



Assuming you don't mean Le Tiss, he's some whopper that used to(?) go around college campuses. He'd make statements like "Women don't have penises. Change my mind" to ragebait the blue hairs, then he'd troll them and ask "y u mad tho". You know the type.


https://youtu.be/H6dv6G1FWxk?si=4DY3flqxGteiKTRz

[Pepe]

Looking forward to the episode featuring Magic.

[John Arne]

Hold on, so the Premier League to tried levy a punishment on a team not in the Premier League... amazing.

[niko_cee]

Isn't it something daft like they moved their account reporting date to after they handed in their Premier League share, and so those accounts, which cover when they were in the Premier League don't count or something equally farcical? Sounds like the rules have been written by absolute mongs which would be pretty on brand.

[randomlegend]

Hold on, so the Premier League to tried levy a punishment on a team not in the Premier League... amazing.

Yes, but for transgressions which happened when they were a Premier League club (AFAIK).

I don't think getting relegated should automatically absolve a club.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah, sounds like Leicester were absolutely bang to rights but the PL didn't write their rules well enough to get them.

Leicester fans online of course jubilant which means I hope they go down and never return.

[John Arne]

Yes, but for transgressions which happened when they were a Premier League club (AFAIK).

I don't think getting relegated should automatically absolve a club.

Agreed. The Premier League have seriously fucked up the rules for this ruling to have judged.

[niko_cee]

Waff's obviously got himself some Ballon D'Or nominating rights.

[Ben]

Gibbs-White already in the media planting the seeds for Carsley to be the permanent manager. It was so obvious that this was the plan from the start, I don’t know why they even bothered feigning interest in Guardiola and Pochettino.

[niko_cee]

It's totally fine as long as 'Carseball' isn't the same deathball shite.

I also see neither Messi nor Ronaldo are nominated for the golden ball. Something's gone wrong there, surely? Have the bribes from the MessRon Industrial Complex not gone out sufficiently promptly to the CONCACAF and AFCON regions?

[Luke Emia]

Yeah, sounds like Leicester were absolutely bang to rights but the PL didn't write their rules well enough to get them.

Leicester fans online of course jubilant which means I hope they go down and never return.

All this could be avoided if the PL, FA and Football League could get their heads together and come up with rules which just cover professional football in England.

Also if Leicester have found this loophole in the laws you hate to think what the City lawyers have found.

[Yevrah]

On Carsley, I suspect where the FA have got to is either go with a 2nd rate foreigner (actual, as opposed to Irish) as no one else wants the job or one of the thoroughly uninspiring English candidates. At which point Carsley is probably an equally bad bet.

[Yevrah]

And I'm sort of ok with it, but any sign of 'not football' should be met with immediate repercussions involving conetract termination.

[Giggles]

Weren't his U21 teams pretty decent on the eye? Understandbly managing the England U21's is like shooting fish in a barrel so you can afford to play whatever way you want, but you'd think some principles would carry through.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, but playing attacking football is a lot easier at age group level, and you also aren't mandated to pick certain players regardless of whether they are ruinous to your proposed style of play or not.

[Waffdon]

Waff's obviously got himself some Ballon D'Or nominating rights.

He’s had a better season than 90% of the bums on that list, not sure what’s so surprising.

[niko_cee]

I would agree the list is a bit long. Might as well have Dom Solanke on there.

[Spikey M]

Nominated for the Ballon D'or and left out of Chelsea's UEFA Conference League squad within 24 hours.

[Giggles]

Chilwell is unlikely to play for Chelsea again this season despite the club's participation in the Premier League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup, Conference League and expanded Club World Cup in June 2025.

Just how fucking expanded is it?

[niko_cee]

It's something mad like 32 teams. It's basically the size of an old world cup.

[Giggles]

Even after looking up the world club tournament Wikipedia, and then going to that champions league final, I still have absolutely no recollection of Chelsea winning that one.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The fact that Chelsea are in it should indicate just how expanded it is.

[Gray Fox]

Are Spurs in it? Because that automatically invalidates any club world cup.

[niko_cee]

Isn't it just the last 4 winners of each of the European competitions?

Apparently not.

Not that I'm complaining, but how have Liverpool not qualified for it? Haven't they been pretty near the top of the UEFA rankins for ages?

[Lofty]

It's got Saudi backing now so it will probably end up like all other sports where teams are more interested in desert ball than UEFA trophies.

[Manc]

It won't be long before we all switch off. I haven't watched any football outside of the Utd vs. Liverpool game, which as a contest was dogshit

[Waffdon]

Nominated for the Ballon D'or and left out of Chelsea's UEFA Conference League squad within 24 hours.

Him not being picked might be the first sensible thing the club have done since buying him

[niko_cee]

It won't be long before we all switch off. I haven't watched any football outside of the Utd vs. Liverpool game, which as a contest was dogshit

Wishful thinking. There's no escape.

[Magic]

Lol Steve Clarke still the manager...

[Luke Emia]

I found out today they have expanded the Nations League. Now surely no one was asking for that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1831602984356085799

Currently 0-0 at HT.

[SvN]

They've just gone 1 up

[Adramelch]

Isn't it just the last 4 winners of each of the European competitions?

Apparently not.

Not that I'm complaining, but how have Liverpool not qualified for it? Haven't they been pretty near the top of the UEFA rankins for ages?

There's a limit on two teams per country. And that's how Salzburg of all teams get a spot.

[niko_cee]

What happens if three teams from the same country win the champions league within the qualification period? Does one just get told lol no sorry mate? England pretty close with Liverpool winning it just before, presumably.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What happens if three teams from the same country win the champions league within the qualification period? Does one just get told lol no sorry mate? England pretty close with Liverpool winning it just before, presumably.

They'd be let in.

The two limit only takes into account qualifying via non-champions.

Had Arsenal won last year they'd have got in and Salzburg (lol) would have missed out.

[Waffdon]

How is Grant Hanley STILL starting international football. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Danny]

They've just gone 1 up

They did it :cool:

Can’t wait to manage them on FM 25….oh.

[Dan]

All the San Marino fans can now start going to Liechtenstein games instead :cool:

[John Arne]

Bahrain beat Australia 1-0 in World Cup Qualifying :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Lol at China.

[John Arne]

Meanwhile, shit Vietnam keeper managed to completely miss the fucking ball and concede this beaut of an own goal.

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[niko_cee]

"unlucky"

Where was the tip?

[Shindig]

Playing that with your feet is ... bold.

[Adramelch]

It's not as if he narrowly missed it either (as you would typically see in similar cases where the ball bounces right before the kick). He was miles off.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1831938840308936971

:cool:

[niko_cee]

:rasta:

Whagwan.

He'd better be working on the accent/patois for some epic press conferences.

[Waffdon]

Clearlake and Todd Boehly both trying to buy each other out after disagreements. :lol:

[Giggles]

I nearly hope he scores the winner tomorrow and licks the box out of the 3 lions. Soccer is that bland now that a good bit of shothousery is needed.

1832108686342574376

[phonics]

Got to say there's a certain irony in Arteta signing players in positions that we were already strong in because 'we cannot have the luck we had last year with those players playing that many games' and then both signings plus Timber who did his ACL in his first game last year all getting injured immediately.

[Giggles]

That Italian goal :cool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1832185239097241617

Yeah that's class.

[Shindig]

Tonali assist. :cool:

[Lofty]

Lee Carsley saying he isn't going to sing the national anthem, basically ruled himself out of the running for a permanent job then :D

[Lewis]

Surely he doesn't need to pretend to be Irish anymore.

[Giggles]

The papers are going to town on him. Did all the previous managers do it?

I can't see Halgrímsson belting out ours.

[John Arne]

Why even say it? He knows what the media are like, he knows what some fans are like. Is this another example of a footballer/manager just being a bit thick?

Just reply 'yes, probably' and move on with your life.

[Manc]

1832185239097241617

Yeah that's class.

Mama mia.

[Shindig]

Ronaldo scored his 900th goal against Croatia. The day he retires is probably the day he ends himself.

[Manc]

He'll be desperate to reach 1000.

[Shindig]

I thought he was running out of steam in Saudi but apparently he scored 44 last season. Probably gets to 1000 at 41.

[randomlegend]

Rooney scoring the best free kick seen at Old Trafford in about 5 years.

[Shindig]

Here is your Gateshead minute. 2-0 win over Barnet. One point clear at the top.

[Manc]

Had to be Rice.

[wullie]

He should have given it the Adebayor for a laugh instead of the apology nonsense.

[Giggles]

Couldn't be anyone else. Not watching, but I hope he gave it loads because he must be getting dogs.

[Manc]

Now Grealish.

[randomlegend]

Southgate :happycry:

[Baz]

I was a laughing stock this morning in my betting group chat for taking 23/1 on Rice top scorer (it was a free £2 bet) but now being hailed as a hero.

[Manc]

Tony Cascarino to come off the bench and grab a consolation.

[Giggles]

Just need Carsley to nod one in to complete the job now.

[Yevrah]

The revisionism of Southgate’s reign now by the media and players after all the gaslighting at the time is quite jarring.

Still, he’s gone and hopefully we never see the particular brand of shite he presided over again.

[John Arne]

A little bored so I just checked how many of Irelands squad were born in England.. 6. I think I was expecting more. Plus 1 in Nigeria.

[Pen]

We were absolute toilet against Greece last night. I like the new way of play that was trying to be implemented, but fuck me we're still far from actually being able to do it right. Both of our holding midfielders out for Tuesday too, so while I wasn't expecting much to begin with, I'm now expecting a proper fisting from Lee Carsley's total football ambassadors.

Us and Ireland definitely playing out who goes to the C league next 'season'.

[Shindig]

The games Carsley's going to be judged by are 18 months away.

[Yevrah]

The games Carsley's going to be judged by are 18 months away.

Of course and my suspicion would be that he’ll bottle it and revert to terror ball when those games come.

[Luke Emia]

That first half is the most entertained I have been by an England team in a very long time. I didn't watch the second half though.

What's with Rice doing a non-celebration as well? I know he played for them but fuck me.

[niko_cee]

He's a modern footballer, aka a scared to offend personality vacuum.

At least Grealish isn't the same, hence why he gets shunned at THE HIGHEST LEVEL I guess.

I had the reverse experience of you and only saw the game after we were two up, and it was awful. Modern possession football is crushingly awful, but ridiculously effective. That being the first time 'Trent' has started at rightback for England in 4 years is absolutely mad. Instantly made the first goal as well, who'd have thunk it, even if it was against the blighted celtic periphery. Was it the demise of the foreigners rule that completely wrecked the rest of British Isles football?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1832504902284644534

The beautiful game.

[Danny]

A little bored so I just checked how many of Irelands squad were born in England.. 6. I think I was expecting more. Plus 1 in Nigeria.

It would be 8 if it wasn’t for those snakes :panda:

[Giggles]

Which one was born in Nigeria?

[Giggles]

He's a modern footballer, aka a scared to offend personality vacuum.

At least Grealish isn't the same, hence why he gets shunned at THE HIGHEST LEVEL I guess.

I had the reverse experience of you and only saw the game after we were two up, and it was awful. Modern possession football is crushingly awful, but ridiculously effective. That being the first time 'Trent' has started at rightback for England in 4 years is absolutely mad. Instantly made the first goal as well, who'd have thunk it, even if it was against the blighted celtic periphery. Was it the demise of the foreigners rule that completely wrecked the rest of British Isles football?

The FAI thought that farming out all their player development to the UK was going to last forever, and we're now light years behind because of decades of neglect.

[SincereTheRebel]

One of the black lads

[Jimmy Floyd]

Which one was born in Nigeria?

Seamus Coleman, I couldn't believe it either.

[Danny]

Which one was born in Nigeria?

Wiki reckons Ogbene

[Giggles]

One of the black lads

I figured they were all children born here of Nigerians that came here, hence the passport.

[Magic]

Probably just a 23&Me test result.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Rice's non-celebration was a disgrace, he shouldn't be allowed back into the country. Play for Ireland if you respect them so much.

[Baz]

The revisionism of Southgate’s reign now by the media and players after all the gaslighting at the time is quite jarring.

Still, he’s gone and hopefully we never see the particular brand of shite he presided over again.I think the opposite - bumming Carsley for beating one of the worst teams in Europe is jarring.

Sure, Southgate's England were absolute cancer to watch, but the man got them to back to back EURO finals and a World Cup semi. One 2-0 win against fucking Ireland in his absence and everyone's trashing him worse than ever. Ireland ffs.

[Giggles]

Watching it back we were diabolical even by the usual low standards too. I don't think I can remember any performance as bad as that first half.

[Baz]

The replies to this are good:

1832155692696006939

[Waffdon]

McTominay really suits international football. I’m not sure club football these days does though. Hopefully conte has a plan for him

[Magic]

4 year contract for Clarke please.

[Magic]

Lol. Is there really not a better alternative to butter fingers?

[Magic]

Angus Toy Gunn or Angus Gatling Gunn. Which is it. Unreal.

Edit: Toy.

[Baz]

Ronaldo :cool:

[Giggles]

Turns out Halgrímsson is doing the sum total of fuck all for his 600k salary. What an association.

[John Arne]

Indonesia 0-0 Australia :drool:

Also, Morgan Rogers is a beast. Quicker we can get him replacing Kane, the better.

[John Arne]

I've never quite realised just how bizarre looking some players are.

Nicholas Jackson my fave so far.


https://youtu.be/7wmAtyDCru0?si=MnTSrTVUo69xjTkw

[niko_cee]

Other than being similarly dwarfish I'm not sure Angel Gomes is going to be England's answer to Ngolo Kanté, but one can hope.

[-james-]

Other than being similarly dwarfish I'm not sure Angel Gomes is going to be England's answer to Ngolo Kanté, but one can hope.

He looks like more of a Modric than a Kante to me.

England are winning the next five world cups based on this 8 minutes against Finland.

[-james-]

Rico Gomes Trent ball :swing:

[Baz]

Has to be better than Mainoo, surely?

[-james-]

Mainoo was never ready and probably shouldn't get called up again for a while.

[Manc]

Trent has been dogshit in both games.

[Manc]

Likewise Kane. He'll probably never have a good game for England ever again.

[Dquincy]

Trent has been dogshit in both games.

Wasn't he pinging worldies across the pitch against Eire? Bit harsh.

[niko_cee]

He seems to have a lot more freedom to give the ball away trying to play forward passes.

I make no judgment about Gomes as a player, but as someone brought in to 'free up' Declan Rice really no thanks.

Is this Matterface on comms and has he really never heard of Antti Niemi?

[Giggles]

Was just about to say this was an infinitely better performance by us than either outing against Greece last campaign, and like clockwork there's the soft goal.

[Giggles]

That said, "infinitely better performance" still doesn't mean that you could see a home goal coming if they played for another week.

[-james-]

top stuff from Manc

[niko_cee]

Forgot I'm watching this on a 20 minute delay.

[niko_cee]

Literally all of England's good attacking play in the last two games has come through Alexander-Arnold.

8 fucking years of Southgate.

[Manc]

BLMs off the bench offering nothing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

When will England field their first entirely black team? It can't be far away. France must already have done.

[Raoul Duke]

Probably not too far away from a full XI with double-barrelled surnames either

[Baz]

When will England field their first entirely black team? It can't be far away. France must already have done.Goalkeeper will be the last.

[Shindig]

Outside of David James, I can't think of another black English keeper.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Outside of David James, I can't think of another black English keeper.

He's the only one who has represented England.

Arthur Okonkwo at Wrexham is the only one I can think of right now.

[Gray Fox]

Literally all of England's good attacking play in the last two games has come through Alexander-Arnold.

8 fucking years of Southgate.

I still maintain he is the best player in the world that plays right back, but not necessarily the best right back in the world.

[niko_cee]

Sounds like the international break has gone well for Arsenal.

Season in ruins.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't know how anyone is fit at this point tbh. Maybe that was Chelsea's plan all along, just outlast the opposition by having more players on the books. Premier League 24/25 as the Battle of Kursk.

[Shindig]

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

You tell 'em.

[niko_cee]

:D

Quality..

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm with him. The smugness of the modern fan is horrendous.

[SvN]

He's the only one who has represented England.

Arthur Okonkwo at Wrexham is the only one I can think of right now.

Shaka Hislop sort of counts. He was born in England, played for the U-21s and was called up to a senior squad but didn't play - befpre he switched to T&T

[Magic]

I'm with him. The smugness of the modern fan is horrendous.

Maybe he should be working in an office instead of the spotlight then.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If you go on the Under 17 team profiles on the FA website (which is a year old) there are 6 white players in the squad (including all 3 goalkeepers and Archie Gray) and 15 black players, and of those 15 black players:

9 are from London
3 are from Manchester
3 are from Birmingham

Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City absolutely dominate too, having produced 13 of the 21. What is the rest of the country doing? Have they stopped producing footballers?

[niko_cee]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c0494zkxprpo

Fourth kit?

[Waffdon]

If you go on the Under 17 team profiles on the FA website (which is a year old) there are 6 white players in the squad (including all 3 goalkeepers and Archie Gray) and 15 black players, and of those 15 black players:

9 are from London
3 are from Manchester
3 are from Birmingham

Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City absolutely dominate too, having produced 13 of the 21. What is the rest of the country doing? Have they stopped producing footballers?

Chelsea and Man City dominate all levels of youth football (and woman’s really). It will slightly change over the years with the Brexit rules

[Giggles]

Someone has a bit of explaining to do.


1834262484108169675

[Pepe]

Should have gone for 'DeBlak' or something and have everyone second guessing whether that's his real name.

[randomlegend]

Chelsea and Man City dominate all levels of youth football (and woman’s really). It will slightly change over the years with the Brexit rules

United have the best u18s team, akshually

[Jimmy Floyd]

Current England U19 squad has 6 from Chelsea, 4 from Arsenal, 5 from other London clubs and just two from Man U, one of whom is a keeper on loan at Chester. It's a complete walkover. I'm thinking that south London black community has some kind of turbocharge on it for producing footballers in the same way that the Paris banlieues seem to.

[Manc]

Cage football is your answer.

[Waffdon]

United have the best u18s team, akshually

Harry Amass should sort your left back issues for years

[Manc]

Hamas to his friends.

[John Arne]

Nicolas Jackson has signed an extension to his contract, the now 9yr contract, will keep him at Chelsea until 2033.

Sighs of relief around Stamford Bridge, I'm sure.... could've lost him for nothing in 2031.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I imagine football will look very different by the time these contracts are up. Think there's a reasonable chance Chelsea will have left the UK and base themselves in the US.