February Football: High Lines Stagger On

[Jimmy Floyd]

February is very much the transitional month in the football calendar. At the start of February, you probably still believe. At the end of the month, you will likely have given up for another year. This applies not only to Henry Winter's still-fruitless job search but also to the mindset of the supporter. As of now, there are still at least thirty English sides who can dream of significant silverware; by month's end, that will be down to about five. Let's round up the state of play across Europe's top five leagues.

The Prem is promising perhaps the most exciting denouement in its increasingly long history. Hapless Liverpool have swayed from victory to victory like a dazed boxer on the ropes, if the ropes were on a superyacht, and they were dazed because Ana de Armas had just parachuted onto deck wearing nothing but a Liverpool scarf and a smile. Giving chase, some of the giants of the game: Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Arsenal. Whose title aspirations will Michael Oliver corruptly dash next?

The Championship features several traditional northern heavyweights slugging it out, gravy everywhere as Leeds, Sheffield Utd, Burnley and Sunderland slug it out to see who will be relegated with 22 points playing nonsensical naive football next season.

More intrigue perhaps in League One, where OJ Simpson's Birmingham lead the way and well-run Wycombe look set for a return to the Championship behind them.

League Two sees Walsall shimmying towards glory while a host of teams queue up some way behind them. The National League appears to be a battle to the rhyming slang death between Barnet, Forest Green and York.

The FA Cup continues with the fourth round, while the League Cup is halfway through its semi-finals as it tries to avoid the prospect of having to play a Newcastle v Tottenham final in the large hadron collider.

Foreign Football will be on as well, with Napoli's grip slipping in Italy, the Madrid sides ahead in Spain, PSG a modest ten clear in the fuel strike trophy, and Bayern looking set to celebrate 100 years of Mein Kampf with another title, after having endured struggles of their own last season.

Rising above it all is of course the Conference League, which returns mid-month with its playoff round. With just three Cypriot clubs left in the competition, it really feels like anybody's title this year, with many sides relieved that they have avoided danger men Cercle Brugge should they progress to the last sixteen. No such luck for Shamrock Rovers, who will travel to Molde for Ireland's first realistic crack at the European large time since their Eurovision three-peat in the early nineties.

Enjoy your February soccer, everyone.

[John Arne]

'Mon the Alex.

[Magic]

Good write up Jim.

[randomlegend]

Looks like Rasfhord has managed to swallow his gargantuan ego and will be going on loan to Villa.

[niko_cee]

Any seagull celebrating from the Forest players yet?

I'm going down to the Amex for the cup game next week so I eagerly anticipate further calls for Hurzeler and, I shit you not, Tony Bloom, to be ousted.

[Danny]

'Mon the Alex.

Looks like they are going down the list of recent transfer outs and loaning them back in. FM Style.

[Magic]

Any seagull celebrating from the Forest players yet?

I'm going down to the Amex for the cup game next week so I eagerly anticipate further calls for Hurzeler and, I shit you not, Tony Bloom, to be ousted.

How's Rutter doing?

[niko_cee]

He's doing alright. Seems to be a bit like the team as a whole, sometimes very good, sometimes not so much.

Think he suffers a bit from sort of being a similar player to Joao Pedro.

[Manc]

Bloom and the data nerds being done by a big fat Greek.

[niko_cee]

Forest are very much a hard counter to the way Brighton play.

Jesus. Another one.

[Magic]

Lol. Ouch.

[niko_cee]

Bloom out!

[Gray Fox]

Ana de Armas had just parachuted onto deck wearing nothing but a Liverpool scarf and a smile.

Would happily forgo any potential title win for this to happen.


In more serious news, Notts Forest really took that loss to heart, huh?

[John Arne]

Checked checked. What on earth are Brighton playing at?

[niko_cee]

Andy Reid's comments on the live text pretty much sum up modern football.


There's a real arrogance to Brighton's performance.

When they went three goals down they continued to do the same things.

Just the way we play mate.

[niko_cee]

Whole game had the feel of that experience of Carseball where he just played all of the attackers. Starting 5 forwards and no midfielders. Mutilated.

[Gray Fox]

I think it's Jim that mentioned it, but its becoming obvious more and more. They are being conditioned to be robotic. Only the one plan will be worked on in training and that's the only thing they know to do.

Most obvious showing of it I've seen was Wolves v Liverpool early in the season. Liverpool leading by a single goal into the last 5-10 minutes. Instead of getting the ball forward and attacking properly, they knew only how to do the Goal Kick Gambit and then back to the keeper over and over until the game finished. Many Wolves fans infuriated.

[Danny]

1885444432348016988

@igor come sort your man out

[niko_cee]

Moyes-mania running wild.

[John Arne]

Great... Trent is having one of his bombscare games.

He's gonna last 15 minutes in Madrid.

[Magic]

Absolutely destroying Cardiff. :drool:

[Gray Fox]

Let us pray Phonics doesnt see this penalty award.

[Waffdon]

It’s that bad it should genuinely be looked into for corruption. I cannot fathom how they didn’t overrule it.

[Magic]

So he tripped over his own feet and VAR agreed? Lol.

[John Arne]

I'm pretty sure Lewis hits his leg, which when makes himself trip himself up. That said, the replays were all from about 1000 yards away.

[Gray Fox]

The old Jamie Vardy special.

Bournemouth a good side to watch. I dare say Robertson may be seeing his replacement on the other side of the pitch.

[Ben]

Always nice to see data nerds get pummelled by proper teams.

[phonics]

PGMOL are not fit for purpouse.

[Gray Fox]

This is not quite Man United game levels of bad for Trent, but it's really not far off.

[phonics]

Who cares he could score four own goals and they’d send enough Bournemouth players off to have the game abandoned.

[Shindig]

Bugger, bollocks, shite. :moop:

[John Arne]

The step up in defensive ability from Trent to Bradley is immense.

[Magic]

Absolutely destroying Cardiff. :drool:

Awesome. :drool:

[Ben]

If Wolves manage to get relegated considering the other three pathetic teams down there then the club should be folded.

[Gray Fox]

Very impressed with that Kerkez performance. Sign him up.

Professional performance today. Never really out of 2nd or 3rd gear and the only chances Bournemouth got were offside or from range.

[Gray Fox]

I will say though my stream was shite and I missed small chunks of the game. Sounds like Alisson did have to make a couple of great saves.

[Spoonsky]

You might have missed Kluivert missing a real sitter too. Game turned in that moment.

Also, I'll take Jedi the Scouse Yank over Kerkez any day.

[Waffdon]

Super Frank Lampard :cool:

[Dan]

Scott Parker is a disgrace. Burnley didn’t even try to win today.

[Ben]

Scored 36, conceded 9 in 30 games.

[Ben]

Another gaffe from VAR.

[wullie]

Super Frank Lampard :cool:

Our first win at Swansea for 75 years and we've gone from a defensive clown college to a clean sheet machine only 3pts off the playoffs. If he keeps this up I'm going to have to admit he's actually alright isn't he

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm firmly in the pro-Lampard camp as you all know, but I wouldn't have predicted 'clean sheet machine'.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Andy Reid's comments on the live text pretty much sum up modern football.



Just the way we play mate.

This time the thread title came in within hours, no improving on that.

[Yevrah]

I'm firmly in the pro-Lampard camp as you all know, but I wouldn't have predicted 'clean sheet machine'.

It's the easiest type of football to play and by a country mile at that (see Sir Gareth) and works particularly well if you're not expected to win/comfortably win.

[wullie]

I should add that we're not doing a Burnley and strangling the life out of everything, I'm still not sure what xG actually means but we've been up at the higher end of that pretend table all season but now we're turning xG into G as well.

Next game is Leeds who've had a nice warmup by scoring 7 today so I'm not expecting the streak to go much further

[Magic]

I should add that we're not doing a Burnley and strangling the life out of everything, I'm still not sure what xG actually means but we've been up at the higher end of that pretend table all season but now we're turning xG into G as well.

Next game is Leeds who've had a nice warmup by scoring 7 today so I'm not expecting the streak to go much further

Nailed on 1-0 for your mob.

[Yevrah]

It would be nice if Frank Lampard did something outside of his playing career that was more notable than calling James O' Brien.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-HZGIPsVVw

[mo]

Having gone from 24th in League Two to 14th, 6pts from being mathematically safe, it might be time to admit I was wrong about Ian Holloway's Swindon Town. Four games won in a row (first since 21/22) we've now got 'safely mid table' written all over us, instead of 'destined for the National League'. At least for this season.

[Luke Emia]

Who cares he could score four own goals and they’d send enough Bournemouth players off to have the game abandoned.

lol. I believe it’s all about mentality.

[Waffdon]

It would be nice if Frank Lampard did something outside of his playing career that was more notable than calling James O' Brien.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-HZGIPsVVw

Him getting top 4 with that Chelsea team in his first season was a terrific achievement. I have no idea why it gets overlooked. The team was a mess, no signings allowed and first season without Hazard

[Shindig]

The limitations did him some good. Did he get a window before he got the shove? I can't remember.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It gets overlooked because people want him to fail.

[Manc]

He will go right to the very top.

[John Arne]

Looks like they are going down the list of recent transfer outs and loaning them back in. FM Style.

Aye :) Lowery coming back in is massive. Proper promotion push now.

[John Arne]

Nothing to see here.

1885807959340413179

[niko_cee]

As Pat Nevin, famous Liverpool stool pigeon said on commentary, he clipped his heels, it was a penalty.

FSG thinking they're going to be able to moneyball their way through letting Salah leave and maybe selling Alisson is going to be funny/painful.

[SincereTheRebel]

Wolves first win of 2025. Seems like they always get a results vs Villa and Man City. If Cunha stays until the summer and fit, they just may stay up

[Gray Fox]

There was talk last night that he's close to agreeing a new 4 year deal at Wolves. I assume to insert a healthy release clause in there.

[SincereTheRebel]

Sounds like there is a release clause active in summer of 2025. I suspect it would be about 60m

[SincereTheRebel]

Spurs had a couple man reject them but Danso has agreed to sign with them and reject Wolves. Medical was booked with Wolves this morning.

Wolves still need a defender and a midfield player.

[Kikó]

Good luck to Saint Marcus. He needs this move to work.

[randomlegend]

https://i.imgur.com/Z9NXRVH.png

Jason Wilcox always looks like he's wearing someone else's head.

[Raoul Duke]

Glad Utd have signed Grogu. Looking forward to seeing the 3ft-tall green fella bewildering defenders by using telekinesis to cross it to Hojlund

[Luke Emia]

Isn’t Emery a famously hard taskmaster? No idea how Rashford fits in with that.

[Ben]

Leon Bailey has somehow survived him so far and he comes across as a proper chancer.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He's a decent replacement for Duran in terms of kicking the ball towards the goal.

[John Arne]

Brentford signing FM wonderkid Michael Kayode passed me by.

[Shindig]

There's talk of Lloyd Kelly going to Juventus and Galatasaray signing Trippier. I fucking hate FSR.

[Ben]

Boro have signed Iheanacho and Iling-Junior. They were not on my bingo card.

[Manc]

Valentin Barco has left Brighton for Strasbourg. Look forward to him lining up for West London Blue next season.

[John Arne]

Man Utd going down, with Mainoo playing number 9, would be pretty entertaining.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mateta is a hero. Proper mid 2000s vibes about him.

[Kikó]

Luckily for us we might just have enough to stay up. The complete lack of goal threat and physicality is depressing.

[SincereTheRebel]

Mateta is a hero. Proper mid 2000s vibes about him.

Got his shirt tucked in like he is prime R9.

[John Arne]

Fuck me, Havertz.

[Gray Fox]

At least my boy Darwin would have obliterated the goalkeeper/crowd member with that.

[Ben]

Yeah, meekly stroking it wide of the post is him in a nutshell.

[randomlegend]

Tel to United on loan looks to be on.

Presumably he's thinking he'll walk in and be the undisputed starter as the 9, which seems a fairly safe bet given we resorted to false Nainoo with Hojlund and Zirkzee both sitting on the bench

[Manc]

Odegaard built like a POW.

[randomlegend]

Tel to United on loan looks to be on.

Presumably he's thinking he'll walk in and be the undisputed starter as the 9, which seems a fairly safe bet given we resorted to false Nainoo with Hojlund and Zirkzee both sitting on the bench

Or not.

[Magic]

Remember when Peter Drury wasn't an insufferable cunt?

[niko_cee]

3 goals off 0.63 xG for Arsenal here. :cab:

[Shindig]

Finding their form just in time for the semi final. :uhoh:

[Gray Fox]

While this Arsenal team are not everyones cup of tea, a title challenge against them is a vastly superior prospect than the insufferable cunts in sky blue.

[SincereTheRebel]

Has trossard always been this good? I always thought he was some bit part player but every time ive seen him. He puts in a shift.

[Magic]

:harold:

[Luke Emia]

Why has The Balf Fraud gone out and spent another eleventy billion on defenders when it’s so obvious they don’t have any legs in midfield and that’s where they are getting killed?

[Magic]

Kalvin Phillips.

[niko_cee]

Turns out City aren't back.

[Luke Emia]

Nice to see a 31 year old male from London notching.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Who's the lowest who can realistically make the top 5 now, Villa? Can't see Fulham doing it. So 8 teams for 5 CL spots and then a reasonable likelihood of the others taking the remaining European places.

Forest looking pretty good for CL I think.

[niko_cee]

Forest's next 4 in the league are Fulham and Newcastle away followed by Arsenal and City at home. Their top 5 fate will probably be clear after those.

Forest v Chelsea on the final day of the season.

[Waffdon]

Taking 5 off of Arsenal makes Maresca’s tactics look even more hilarious last week.

Everyone around Chelsea losing this weekend. The last remaining spot for the CL feels like a shit off every single year

[niko_cee]

5-1 is another nail in the stats nerd coffin. They'd look at 'the data' from that game and wonder how it has happened.

Just a single game. You can't make judgments on such a small sample size.

[Luke Emia]

Arsenal were brilliant once City scored. Why don’t they play more front-footed like that every week? I know it’s over-simplifying it, but once they went for City’s throat they smashed them.

[niko_cee]

Why has The Balf Fraud gone out and spent another eleventy billion on defenders when it’s so obvious they don’t have any legs in midfield and that’s where they are getting killed?

They want some La Masia reject from Porto apparently.

Is Dani Olmo now just kicking his heels for the next 6 months?

[Ben]

5-1 is another nail in the stats nerd coffin. They'd look at 'the data' from that game and wonder how it has happened.

Just a single game. You can't make judgments on such a small sample size.

:drool:

You see so often about xG not corresponding to the real score. Like today Arsenal's first three was what, 0.69 xG? Yeah it was misplaced passes from City and deflections, but does the data ever consider that these morons play the same suicidal shit whatever the match situation? Brighton yesterday case in point, and great to see them gubbed. Same for Brentford today too.

Fair play to Arteta for being one of the first to realise you can just out-shit the nerds.

[phonics]

Phil Foden looked good today I thought.

[Luke Emia]

Is Ruben Amorim a hairy fraud? I think that is the new question to ask.

[niko_cee]

Well, he did initially not want to join until the summer, so maybe he's just trying to prove a point?

It does seem odd though. They're absolutely fucking terrible and the solution can't always be we just need a whole new squad of players, can it?

[Gray Fox]

He's in the same boat as matey boy at Manchester blue. The style he wants to play cannot be done by the current squad.

He obviously needs money to spend, but given there are PSR/FFP noises about United now(Goodbye Sir Marcus), it might not be that easy.

The obvious question is always why doesn't manager adapt to players they have, but the modern manager does not do this. It's just the way they play, mate.

[Dark Soldier]

Also tbf we've had countless managers go back to the 'preferred' 4321/4231 and they've been absolutely fucking hopeless playing that. I like Amorim, I feel for Amorim, but the club is a fucking mess all over.

[Shindig]

Squads feel smaller these days, as well. Or managers are less willing to rotate from game to game.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I told them to appoint Southgate or Moyes, did they listen. They need to stop trying to play well and just shut up shop.

[Spoonsky]

the solution can't always be we just need a whole new squad of players, can it?

As long as the players they bring in are consistently shit, yes it can.

[niko_cee]

Apologies if covered already, but it seems it wasn't just Brighton who got battered (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8xq90788j5o) on Saturday.

[niko_cee]

Brighton have signed this Tzimas kid who has been getting heralded on various parts of the internet for much of the month, not coming until next season though.

[Gray Fox]

Spurs having a £70m bid for Guehi rejected. City in for a Porto midfielder. Chelsea trying to throw everyone out the door. Where's Jim white when you need him?

[niko_cee]

The Curious Career of Joao Felix.

Along with Nkunku, Chukwumeka and Chilwell, that's what, a couple of hundred million right there? Keep churning.

[Waffdon]

Imagine throwing Champions League winner Ben Chilwell in with them. That performance in Porto would have been MOTM worthy if Kante wasn’t a freak

[Giggles]

How long are all West Hams forwards crocked for?

[niko_cee]

Why are Tottenham offering Palace £70m for one of their few remaining centre halves on transfer deadline day? Has Daniel Levy been whispering in Steve Parish's ear for weeks to no avail? I know it can be a bit vague who is responsible for this sort of thing, but if I was an owner, or someone charged with overseeing the operations of a club and a sporting director [or whoever is in charge of transfers] came to me with a list of deals on, or very proximate to the deadline I'd just sack them on the spot. Very little good ever seems to come from last minute hustling and yet nothing ever changes.

[niko_cee]

'It's only short term that I'm here' - Rashford

Sir Marcus and his people winning hearts and minds again. :face:

[Jimmy Floyd]

The bigger clubs that fuck up their recruitment (Spurs, Man U, Chelsea) haven't yet adjusted to the current world in which medium sized teams have absolutely no need to sell.

[Manc]

1886384629579501704

Looks like he's on meth.

[Yevrah]

I did wonder why it looked like he'd spent the weekend in one of those quiet French towns.

[Kikó]

His alleged addiction problems are being squashed with those pictures.

[Manc]

City casually spending £180m in January. Nothing to see here.

[niko_cee]

Ferguson off to the happy hammers.

Hope he does well but I'm not sure he will.

Also, what sort of mad world of deckchair shuffling are we living in where some guy who can't get a game for Newcastle is off to Juve in what will become a £20m deal? Came in for free 6 months ago.

[Giggles]

Ferguson off to the happy hammers.

Hope he does well but I'm not sure he will.

Also, what sort of mad world of deckchair shuffling are we living in where some guy who can't get a game for Newcastle is off to Juve in what will become a £20m deal?

It'll depend if he gets any time, he'll need it. If one of their established strikers comes back quickly he's doomed back to the 'hauled off after 57/brought on for the last 3' future that he had at Brighton.

The latter part is just burying money for agents isn't it?

[John Arne]

Rashford leaking more stuff to journos... He can't help himself, can he?



Marcus Rashford is extremely unlikely to play competitively for Manchester United again even if Ruben Amorim is no longer the head coach, with the relationship between the forward and his boyhood club near irreparable.

Rashford joined Aston Villa on loan on Sunday for the rest of the season and the 27-year-old is expected to depart again in the summer, permanently or on loan, even if Amorim is no longer there. The England international has a contract to 2028.

There remains an outside possibility that Rashford could play again for United in pre-season, should Amorim have departed

[Danny]

Tel to Spurs BACK ON.

[niko_cee]

It'll depend if he gets any time, he'll need it. If one of their established strikers comes back quickly he's doomed back to the 'hauled off after 57/brought on for the last 3' future that he had at Brighton.


Isn't Antonio basically dead? Can't see him coming back during the course of this loan and that German they have is shit. You'd imagine there must be some sort of implied game time guarantee, not least given Potter must still have pretty good contact with the Brighton mob.

[Giggles]

Isn't Antonio basically dead? Can't see him coming back during the course of this loan and that German they have is shit.

Isn't the Bowen lad the main one there?

[niko_cee]

Yeah, but he's better as one of the wide forwards and I think has only been playing through the middle due to the extreme lack of alternatives. Probably need to PM Bam for clarification though.

[Giggles]

Seems a good fit looking at the situation anyway, unless they sign someone else today. He really needs to shit or get off the pot now if he does get time.

Speaking loosely of Brighton, I see they got Cashin from Derby. There's not a huge likelihood he'll see any time is there?

[Bam]

Yeah, but he's better as one of the wide forwards and I think has only been playing through the middle due to the extreme lack of alternatives. Probably need to PM Bam for clarification though.

No need, I can confirm that you are correct.

Please with Ferguson, hopefully Potter can get him back on track as he looked a top talent a year or so ago.

[Giggles]

Was his best time at Brighton under Potter or was it in the early days of the guy after? Name escapes me but he ended up at Marseille - I know he really soured on Ferguson in his latter days but I think he was there a good while.

[niko_cee]

Di Zerbi and yes, under him I think. Potter gave him his debut though apparently.

[niko_cee]

So with Felix now going out of the door on loan to Milan did they literally only sign him in the summer to get Gallagher out of the door?

Can PURE PROFIT really just gloss over binning £45m on that deal? Did he sign one of those batshit 8 year contracts as well?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Gallagher was sold for £35 million, so £70 million in PSR logic, so we've made a cool £25 million.

PSR means that you have to breed and sell from the youth academy. It's a bit like being a cattle farmer. Instead of wellies you have chartered jets, and instead of a slaughterhouse you have Manchester United.

[Waffdon]

So with Felix now going out of the door on loan to Milan did they literally only sign him in the summer to get Gallagher out of the door?

Can PURE PROFIT really just gloss over binning £45m on that deal? Did he sign one of those batshit 8 year contracts as well?

Worst transfer window than that Conte second season shit show. Two of them on loan to an Italian side already and less said about Dewsbury Hall the better. Then you have Neto and Sancho who hate shooting at the goal.

[niko_cee]

PSR means that you have to breed and sell from the youth academy. It's a bit like being a cattle farmer. Instead of wellies you have chartered jets, and instead of a slaughterhouse you have Manchester United.

I thought this was one of the saddest things a modern manager has explicitly said when Amorim said as much recently. In tough times you have to rely on your youth academy. That used to mean playing the kids, now if means farming/selling them.

[Shindig]

Fully enjoying Henderson flipping his lid at the Dutch press. Denying his Ajax future is in doubt whilst also confirming Ajax are negotiating him to leave for Monaco. :D

Lloyd Kelly does indeed go to Juventus for £20m. From Bournemouth to Turin inside six months.

[Waffdon]

These Chelsea directors are hilarious. Loans loans loans. Disasi now going to Aston Villa on loan with no buy option. Just helping someone fighting for the same positions. Getting rid of multiple players and not replacing anyone is proper odd as well. Went from a good sized squad for playing a rotation side in Europe to now only having to play 1st team players in both

[Waffdon]

Spending a billion for Jackson and some Spanish 18 year old as your 2 strikers is some effort. Says a lot when he’s going to be brought on over Nkunku

[Magic]

Goodbye Blunderland. :drool:

[Waffdon]

This is getting worse and worse under Maresca. Based on his time at Leicester, it’ll only get worse from here. :sick:

3 shambolic managerial appointments in a row but you have to stick with him and pray he turns out somewhat decent

[Jimmy Floyd]

Steady on, it's only half time.

[Waffdon]

Steady on, it's only half time.

You’re not familiar with 2nd half performances under him

[Lofty]

Was that you trying to manifest an equaliser?

[Waffdon]

Kudus winner still to come

[Waffdon]

Spending a billion for Jackson and some Spanish 18 year old as your 2 strikers is some effort. Says a lot when he’s going to be brought on over Nkunku

Both Guiu and Jackson get injured. :lol:

[Jimmy Floyd]

You’re not familiar with 2nd half performances under him

O ye of little faith. We've got one of the world's top 8 bald managers, let him baste.

[Spikey M]

1886530099190665607?t=b5QYlLQabdxU4_gsssxT0Q&s=19

[John Arne]

Am I supposed to know who that is? Looks like Fati.

[AJ23]

Rashford will probably find more prostitutes in Brum than Manchester. Not sure it's a good move for him.

[Shindig]

More food banks > more photo opportunities.

[Waffdon]

1886803686136991778


Lord

[Pepe]

He should try creating better chances.

[niko_cee]

He should join a better team.

[Waffdon]

He’ll he sold within the next couple of years

[Jimmy Floyd]

Amazed they haven't tried already, you could get in five Ligue 2 midfielders with that profit.

[Kikó]

Sir Jim should spend all our remaining money on him next summer

[Pepe]

He’ll he sold within the next couple of years

Imagine the leisure centers you could build.

[niko_cee]

How many months of asylum seeker temporary accommodation?

[Magic]

Guantanamold Trafford.

[randomlegend]

Guantanamold Trafford.

Don't be ridiculous, Old Trafford is nowhere near as well maintained as Guantanamo.

[Raoul Duke]

Sir Jim should spend all our remaining money on him next summer

He's actually a (boyhood) Utd fan

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1886552913591591210

[Luke Emia]

I see Arteta is whining because he hasn’t been bought anymore 6 foot plus defenders to shoehorn into his team.

[randomlegend]

1886552913591591210

€10m loan fee + €60m to make it permanent and Tel can still veto it. So they could easily end up paying €10m for 4 months of him.

Levy got his pants thoroughly pulled down.

[niko_cee]

Is he even any good?

My spidey senses tell [sorry] me he probably isn't.

[randomlegend]

He's definitely highly rated and his numbers (which are distinct from STATS) were very good last season. But it's still a crazy deal.

[Lofty]

I see Arteta is whining because he hasn’t been bought anymore 6 foot plus defenders to shoehorn into his team.

To be fair he was clear in all his press during the window he wanted a striker. But Edu's departure seems to have fucked the ability to sign anyone whilst the interim is on trial.

[niko_cee]

Isn't the reality it's just quite hard to make a decent signing in the window?

I did lol a bit at this comment in the BBC livetext:


Arteta may have to get creative before Arsenal bolster in the summer but if he is able to win something this season, it would make the achievement even bigger.

Hard times.

[Shindig]

Aye, nobody's obliged to sell unless they're balancing the books.

[Ben]

Is that Martinelli injured again? The lad is made of tracing paper, softest shite in the game. If he's not hurt, he's rolling around acting hurt.

[niko_cee]

How shit must City be? Imagine getting mugged off by these.

[Shindig]

I'm in London on the weekend of the final. I may try to get tickets.

[phonics]

Me right now:

https://i.imgur.com/Med3Ebs.jpeg

[AJ23]

Spurs don't need more forward players, they need a defence.

Then again, you need to be quick, tall and strong like van de Ven to have any chance of dealing with Ange's tactics. Not too many of those types available on the cheap.

[John Arne]

Just saw that Man Citeh are expanding their stadium, which begs the question... why?

[AJ23]

Just saw that Man Citeh are expanding their stadium, which begs the question... why?

Because those are rookie figures for corruption. Gotta pump those numbers up.

[Lofty]

They use the Etihad as a gig venue don't they? Probably why.

[randomlegend]

On Rashford: 'Marcus is in Birmingham now with Unai (Emery) so you can takes these questions to Birmingham.'

Amorim is so done with the English press already :D

[niko_cee]

I'd completely missed this (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx2y1yxy7yno).

:lol:

[SincereTheRebel]

62m is the Cunha clause

[Gray Fox]

That seems fair. Assuming it's active as of the summer?

Having caught up on last nights game, both Arsenal and Liverpool should be asking Newcastle to name their price for Isak.

[Lofty]

Presumably both are waiting for Newcastle to not qualify for the Champions League to strengthen their hand.

[Luke Emia]

I can’t tell you how much it galls me that we spent all that money on Nunez in the same summer they got Isak.

[Gray Fox]

You'll love him after his hat-trick tonight.

[Shindig]

You still have Salah. That's like an Isak.

[niko_cee]

Conor Bradley isn't half good when it comes to cleaning people out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This Spurs keeper is a total calamity.

[Gray Fox]

He's tried to gift us several already.

[Waffdon]

Salah pen lol

[niko_cee]

He's in full Palmer mode this year, what's that now, 7 he's had this season? 8 apparently, and missed one, so not quite Palmer yet.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bradley is a big upgrade on Trent in terms of the fact that he'll play the position for the next decade and won't be a weirdo cunt.

PSR though, sell him to Villa.

[Gray Fox]

Now this should see Ange gone.

[Waffdon]

Salah had more penalties for Liverpool last year. He just missed a few

[Luke Emia]

Bradley is a big upgrade on Trent in terms of the fact that he'll play the position for the next decade and won't be a weirdo cunt.

PSR though, sell him to Villa.

It will hurt losing him. But, Bradley seems to be a lot more reliable defensively and I can get that you don’t want to make your right back your best paid player no matter how good he can be.

[AJ23]

Bradley is a big upgrade on Trent in terms of the fact that he'll play the position for the next decade and won't be a weirdo cunt.

PSR though, sell him to Villa.

When you say weirdo cunt, you mean trying to shag a pregnant woman I presume?

But good old 'Trent' will always be the Sky Sports hero, because he can play a pass like Beckham. Just needs to spit out of a car at a teen girl to wrap it up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I have no idea who he has or hasn't tried to shag, he just always comes across in the interviews and accounts I see as a deeply odd man with huge insecurities and a slightly malevolent ego.

[Spikey M]

€10m loan fee + €60m to make it permanent and Tel can still veto it. So they could easily end up paying €10m for 4 months of him.

Levy got his pants thoroughly pulled down.

Aparently he has already pre-signed a 6 year contract, it's up to Spurs if they want to activate it at the end of, or during, the loan.

[Magic]

I have no idea who he has or hasn't tried to shag, he just always comes across in the interviews and accounts I see as a deeply odd man with huge insecurities and a slightly malevolent ego.

I thought this post was about Gino Di Campo for a second. :D

[Shindig]

Carabao Final tickets this morning are upwards of £890. :D

[Pepe]

Is Taylor Swift playing?

[randomlegend]

Aparently he has already pre-signed a 6 year contract, it's up to Spurs if they want to activate it at the end of, or during, the loan.

Yeah I've since seen this claimed, but it doesn't make any sense given he rejected a permanent transfer literally a couple of days before after Bayern had accepted an offer from Tottenham. Who knows.

[Spikey M]

Yeah I've since seen this claimed, but it doesn't make any sense given he rejected a permanent transfer literally a couple of days before after Bayern had accepted an offer from Tottenham. Who knows.

Apparently BIG ANGE sold him on "the Project". If true, I can only imagine he's a better salesman than he is a manager, because he's somehow keeping the usually trigger happy Daniel Levy on board too.

Maybe he can get a job at Jimmy's gaff when he does finally get thrown to the wolves.

[randomlegend]

Apparently BIG ANGE sold him on "the Project". If true, I can only imagine he's a better salesman than he is a manager, because he's somehow keeping the usually trigger happy Daniel Levy on board too.

Maybe he can get a job at Jimmy's gaff when he does finally get thrown to the wolves.

But then why couldn't he do that before when they'd agreed a better deal with Bayern? Why did it take them to agree a more expensive loan with "option" before he would agree? Something doesn't add up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

PSR or some other form of financial chicanery.

[randomlegend]

PSR or some other form of financial chicanery.

What are you even on about.

[niko_cee]

As an answer to your question?

I dunno, if the agreed deal happens after June 30th, say it is slated for July 1, then it falls into a different PSR year, the loan fee gets paid this year and the rest then amortised [everyone's favourite football term] next/over the contract? There'll be some sort of angle.

Obviously the idea that there is flexibility on the part of one side of a deal but compulsion on the player seems a bit odd.

Assuming perfect knowledge of the before and after deal is probably not sensible. He kept his options open, the options didn't materialise so he went to Spurs?

Did Bayern ever pay them for Kane or is that still owing? Can throw that into the mix as well I guess.

[Spikey M]

Think the Kane deal was staggered over several millenia iirc

[randomlegend]

As an answer to your question?

I dunno, if the agreed deal happens after June 30th, say it is slated for July 1, then it falls into a different PSR year, the loan fee gets paid this year and the rest then amortised [everyone's favourite football term] next/over the contract? There'll be some sort of angle.

Obviously the idea that there is flexibility on the part of one side of a deal but compulsion on the player seems a bit odd.

Assuming perfect knowledge of the before and after deal is probably not sensible. He kept his options open, the options didn't materialise so he went to Spurs?

Did Bayern ever pay them for Kane or is that still owing? Can throw that into the mix as well I guess.

An answer which makes no sense. It was the PLAYER who refused the initial transfer after the clubs had agreed it (as has already been mentioned). You think Tel refused to go to Spurs to try and get the clubs to do a deal which was better for their PSR?

[Spikey M]

I mean, they've doubled his wages, which can't have hurt.

It could be as straight forward as Daniel Levy being unbearable to deal with.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Probably the deal was structured wrong for the player agent under the permanent transfer. It'll be to do with some hanger-on not getting their money in the right order, every football transfer is to do with that.

[randomlegend]

Yeah that's very possible.

Personally I still think he Tel a get-out where he can decide not to make it permanent. I don't think he can have signed a permanent contract because he's still under contract with Bayern in order to be on loan. When permanent transfers are agreed in advance the player doesn't actually sign their contract until it goes through, no?

[niko_cee]

City suing the Premier League again.

Now they are shit can we just expel them from existence? Would anyone be bothered?

[Gray Fox]

City suing the Premier League again.

Now they are shit can we just expel them from existence? Would anyone be bothered?

As a hypothetical, could the other 19 members of the league vote the remaining 1 out? I'm not saying it would ever happen or should, but could it?

[Ben]

Why is Shamorim playing inverted wing backs?

[Kikó]

He's a mong. Get Gareth in.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Both managers in this game have absolutely no clue. Just have a naked set of tactics (barely even that in Nistelrooy's case) and fuck who the players and how they're going to fit into it.

[niko_cee]

Is this left back they've just bought playing right back?

Ugarte fannying around with the ball in the lead up to the goal, top tier.

[Luke Emia]

I know there are mitigating circumstances. But, you’ve got to wonder if this carries on how much longer can he last? As much as the squad is shit after all they have spent there is no fucking way they should be this bad.

[niko_cee]

Love that bit of stat on commentary that most United fans in the ground haven't actually seen them win as they have left before the late winners in the two home games they have won under Binmanorim. :D

They should still win here and it would be good to see them be less shit, as odd as that maybe sounds. Can't go wrong with a bit of John Denver.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Watching them piss about at the back is so painful. Why didn't he just stay at Sporting?

[niko_cee]

His Sporting side was absolute wank as well bar a freak result against City.

[Shindig]

And they also had Gyorkeres putting up Jardel numbers.

[niko_cee]

Mainoo is awful isn't he? How has that happened? 'Mon the big haircut.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Leicester are equally as comically bad as United.

[Waffdon]

His Sporting side was absolute wank as well bar a freak result against City.

What was he supposed to do? He won them the league and was on to piss it this year too

[niko_cee]

:cool:

There he is.

[niko_cee]

What was he supposed to do? He won them the league and was on to piss it this year too

I don't think he should have done anything, but I do wonder at what point in the recruitment process he told the proper football men/the sirs that none of the existing squad were going to be able to function in his vision of football.

[Ben]

And they also had Gyorkeres putting up Jardel numbers.

Jardel what a geezer :cool:

[niko_cee]

They're all offside.

:D

Was never a freekick either.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Leicester looked incredibly unfit. Ndidi was turning like a class 3 destroyer before he went off.

United with one of the worst performances I've seen all season and still deserved to win.

[Gray Fox]

I know there are mitigating circumstances. But, you’ve got to wonder if this carries on how much longer can he last? As much as the squad is shit after all they have spent there is no fucking way they should be this bad.

The squad is shit but that's not Rubes fault.

You can't go all Chelsea on it or you get Chelsea results. You have to at least give him a chance to make his own squad.

Not being willing to adapt his tactics though is the fault of the modern manager. They don't know anything else.

[randomlegend]

The squad is shit but that's not Rubes fault.

You can't go all Chelsea on it or you get Chelsea results. You have to at least give him a chance to make his own squad.

Not being willing to adapt his tactics though is the fault of the modern manager. They don't know anything else.

There's something to be said for the fact that some of these players are still going to be in the team next season, so you may as well be using the rest of this season - which is a write-off anyway - as time for them to get used to it. Otherwise you're starting from scratch in the summer.

We were absolutely terrible though. God knows what we were thinking considering selling Garnacho. We must average about 2 goals a week conceded from cut-backs/balls from an opposing WIDE MAN across the box but I struggle to remember a time we have cleanly scored from such a position ourselves. About 10 times a game we get it wide in a relatively threatening position and it goes into the box directly to an opposing player. Whether it's a lack of quality in the delivery or a lack of the right movement in the box, I'm not sure. Both, I expect.

Refereeing was fucking abysmal as usual. About 8 of our players being clearly offside for Maguire's goal topping it off.

[phonics]

You can talk all the shit you want about management decisions but the clearest factor is this teams performances against good teams versus bad teams.

The whole squad is full of cancerous fucks that can only be bothered to do the work against someone they feel equal to in reputation. It's pathetic. If I was in charge I think I'd pay a good 15-20 of the squad to leave on a free and just start again. Absolutely shocking dressing room. The culture is fucked and the only way to fix it is by throwing everyone in the bin.

[Shindig]

Either that or you bring in a managerial powerhouse like Steve Bruce.

[AJ23]

The thing about Man United is they're not bringing in the right type of characters.

Sir Alex would bring in players who wanted to develop further, who had some fight in them. He might have got the odd one wrong but mainly he was on the ball.

Irwin, Schmeichel, Keane, Cantona, Stam, Vidic, Solskjaer, van Nistelrooy, Rio Ferdinand, Heinze, Rooney, Ronaldo, Carrick, Evra.

Plus the youth team who bounced off those types, because they all wanted to get better together.

I don't see much fight in the United team right now. Just an acceptance of we'll take our wages, and if we win, that's a bonus.

That attitude comes from the top, and Ferguson was running that club from the top at the time. Leading by example. A winner.

[Magic]

Kleberson. Djemba Djemba.

[Jimmy Floyd]

To be fair I'm not sure how many footballers of that type are out there anymore. All those played the game looking to take responsibility and initiative at least within the bounds of their position. Those qualities are not bred anymore in academies so much as the ability to run hard in the press and be tactically disciplined.

Are Szoboszlai, Gravenberch and Jota from the leading team any more like that list of Ferguson players? Maybe slightly but there's not a lot in it.

[Ben]

How did the linesman miss that many players being offside? :D

[niko_cee]

They've probably been told to throw some stinkers in to get everyone back in the VAR boat.

That or it highlights the impossibility, or if not impossibility inherent extreme risk, of applying VAR era defensive tactics to non VAR situations. Did teams hold the insane defensive line in the before times?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Orient have started quite well here pinging balls behind City which is the correct way to play against them. Could be a good game if they keep it up.

[niko_cee]

Deejay just do it! DEEJAY!

Leyton fucking Orient playing it out from the back. Dear god.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Keeper own goal. Sorry mate.

Such a bad goalkeeper, that guy.

[Gray Fox]

That's getting VAR'd to fuck if it's in the Barclays.

[John Arne]

Martin "How does he keep getting commentary gigs" Keown saying that giving the goal as a own goal was unfair on Donley.

[Waffdon]

Keeper own goal. Sorry mate.

Such a bad goalkeeper, that guy.

How on earth are you blaming the keeper :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Just got lobbed from 50 yards by a league one jobber?

[niko_cee]

Why is Dias just allowed to shove that guy over prior to the freekick being taken? Didn't really look like a six-of-one situation.

[Shindig]

Well, that's a pisser. Lucky.

[John Arne]

I've complained about this before, but it's more obvious in games like this. The referee taking up a position right in the middle of the pitch (used to be wider). Getting in the way constantly.

[niko_cee]

Good to see the ref not being conned by every City player going down as if pole axed under even the most marginal of contact.

I'm sure our good friend VAR would have probably had a word to say though.

[Shindig]

De Bruyne's the only one with a brain out there for City.