[FOOTBALL] Weekend Football 4 - 7 December (Sandman Special - Newcastle v Liverpool)

[P_3]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/56/Newcastle_United_Logo.svg/238px-Newcastle_United_Logo.svg.png http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11117/111174760/4698394-3305792921-vs.pn.pnghttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/0c/Liverpool_FC.svg/177px-Liverpool_FC.svg.png

I might be a bit biased but this game promises to be the best of the week, so here we are. Liverpool are jubilant off the back of a 6-1 victory over Southampton on Wednesday, whilst Newcastle are once again stuck on the edge of the precipice of relegation. All things point towards a resounding victory for the Reds, but Newcastle can't be underestimated, not at home surely. We are going to look at exact number of goals for our bets this week. None of this over and under stuff. Odds taken from bet365. Best of luck.

15:00 kick-off time unless stated otherwise.

Friday 4th
http://i.imgur.com/L7UOmTK.png Championship:
Ipswich v Middlesbrough - Sky Sports 1, 19.45

http://i.imgur.com/8v1PFWx.gif German Bundesliga:
Schalke v Hannover 96 - BT Sport 2, 19:30

http://i.imgur.com/ND7cEHI.gif Italian Serie A:
Lazio v Juventus - BT Sport Europe, 19:45

http://i.imgur.com/gbb3XrE.gif French Ligue 1:
Nice v Paris St G - BT Sport ESPN, 19:30

http://i.imgur.com/ybH1O1q.gif Dutch Eredivisie:
AZ Alkmaar v ADO Den Haag - 19:00

Saturday 5th
http://i.imgur.com/L7UOmTK.png Premier League:
Stoke v Man City - BT Sport 1, 12:45
Arsenal v Sunderland
Man Utd v West Ham
Southampton v Aston Villa
Swansea v Leicester
Watford v Norwich
West Brom v Tottenham
Chelsea v Bournemouth - Sky Sports 1, 17:30

http://i.imgur.com/L7UOmTK.png Championship:
Birmingham v Huddersfield
Bolton v Cardiff
Brentford v MK Dons
Brighton v Charlton
Bristol City v Blackburn
Burnley v Preston
Leeds v Hull
Nottm Forest v Fulham
Rotherham v Wolves

http://i.imgur.com/endgoGX.png Scottish Premiership:
Dundee v Aberdeen - Sky Sports 1, 12:30
Celtic v Hamilton
Hearts v Inverness CT
Kilmarnock v Dundee Utd
Partick Thistle v Motherwell
Ross County v St Johnstone

http://i.imgur.com/WveiEiv.gif Spanish La Liga:
Real Madrid v Getafe
Granada CF v Atl Madrid - Sky Sports 2, 17:15
Valencia v Barcelona - Sky Sports 2, 19:30
Deportivo de La Coruña v Sevilla - Sky Sports Red Button, 21:00
Real Betis v Celta de Vigo - Sky Sports Red Button, 21:05

http://i.imgur.com/8v1PFWx.gif German Bundesliga:
1. FC Köln v FC Augsburg - 14:30
B M'gladbach v Bayern Mun - 14:30
FC Ingolstadt 04 v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - 14:30
Hamburger SV v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - 14:30
Hertha BSC v Bayer Levkn - 14:30
VfL Wolfsburg v Bor Dortmd - Bt Sport Europe, 17:30

http://i.imgur.com/ND7cEHI.gif Italian Serie A:
Torino v Roma - 14:00
Inter Milan v Genoa - BT Sport Europe, 19:45

http://i.imgur.com/gbb3XrE.gif French Ligue 1:
Lyon v Angers - 16:00
Bastia v Monaco - BT Sport Extra 4, 19:00
Caen v Lille - 19:00
GFC Ajaccio v Nantes - 19:00
Reims v Troyes - 19:00
Toulouse v Lorient - 19:00

http://i.imgur.com/ybH1O1q.gif Dutch Eredivisie:
Excelsior v FC Twente - 17:30
De Graafschap v FC Utrecht - 18:45
Vitesse v PSV Eindhoven - Sky Sports Red Button, 18:45
Ajax v sc Heerenveen - 19:45

Sunday 6th
http://i.imgur.com/L7UOmTK.png Premier League:
Newcastle v Liverpool - Sky Sports 1, 16:00

http://i.imgur.com/L7UOmTK.png Championship:
Sheff Wed v Derby - Sky Sports 1, 13:15

http://i.imgur.com/WveiEiv.gif Spanish La Liga:
Real Sociedad v Eibar - Sky Sports Red Button, 11:00
Villarreal v Rayo Vallecano - Sky Sports 3
Sporting de Gijón v Las Palmas - Sky Sports 3, 17:15
Ath Bilbao v Málaga - Sky Sports 3, 19:30

http://i.imgur.com/8v1PFWx.gif German Bundesliga:
VfB Stuttgart v SV Werder Bremen - BT Sport Europe, 14:30
Eintracht Frankfurt v SV Darmstadt 98 - BT Sport Europe, 16:30

http://i.imgur.com/ND7cEHI.gif Italian Serie A:
Bologna v Napoli - BT Sport Europe, 11:30
Atalanta v Palermo - 14:00
Fiorentina v Udinese - BT Sport ESPN, 14:00
Frosinone v Chievo - 14:00
Verona v Empoli - 14:00
Sampdoria v Sassuolo - BT Sport 1, 17:00
Carpi v Milan - BT Sport Europe, 19:45

http://i.imgur.com/gbb3XrE.gif French Ligue 1:
Marseille v Montpellier - BT Sport Extra 3, 13:00
Bordeaux v Guingamp - BT Sport Extra 2, 16:00
St Etienne v Rennes - Bt Sport Extra 2, 20:00

http://i.imgur.com/ybH1O1q.gif Dutch Eredivisie:
Willem II v SC Cambuur Leeuwarden - 11:30
Feyenoord v Heracles Almelo - Sky Sports Red Button, 13:30
N.E.C. v PEC Zwolle - 13:30
Roda JC Kerkrade v FC Groningen - 15:45

Monday 7th
http://i.imgur.com/L7UOmTK.png Premier League:
Everton v Crystal Palace - Sky Sports 1, 20:00

http://i.imgur.com/WveiEiv.gif Spanish La Liga:
Espanyol v Levante - Sky Sports 4, 19:30

[Manc]

Gladbach v Bayern followed by Wolfsburg v Dortmund should make for an entertaining Saturday afternoon.

[Reg]

A win would do very nicely tomorrow as we've got 2nd and 3rd in our next 4 games.

Valencia-Barca is the pick I reckon. Saturday's PL bunch looks pretty rotten.

Great job on these threads, P_3.

[Spoonsky]

I am loving these Sunday Liverpool games.

[Lewis]

I've just seen about Madrid being booted out of the FA-o Cuppo. How does a proper club manage to fuck that up? :harold:

[Mellberg]

Another must win. Another loss.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35006347

Wayne Rooney will miss Manchester United's home game against West Ham on Saturday and their key Champions League tie at Wolfsburg with an ankle injury.

:drool:

What scenes.

[phonics]

I've just seen about Madrid being booted out of the FA-o Cuppo. How does a proper club manage to fuck that up? :harold:

The Cadiz fans chanting 'Rafa, check your twitter' about 20 minutes into the game is absolutely belting.

[Kikó]

Rooney being injured is great news. Hopefully he can miss enough and the lads with a touch, pace and movement can prove a point.

[Byron]

No Sakho, Payet or Valencia means we could be in for a bit of a bumming.

Hopefully Big Slav goes with Carroll up front with Zarate and Lanzini behind and then defenders everywhere else. Maybe we can drag O'Brien out of whatever closet he's been locked in.

[niko_cee]

I see Arsene has tried to one up Fergie in the "could have killed him" stakes.

[Lewis]

Rooney being injured is great news. Hopefully he can miss enough and the lads with a touch, pace and movement can prove a point.

Provided their point is that touch and movement is even better for keeping possession they should do just that.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Toby]

Another must win. Another loss.

But enough about Chelsea.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There are no must wins in lower mid table. I'll take a solid point.

[Reg]

Lovely assist by Shaqiri.

Should Man City not have a better backup centre back than Demichelis?

[Reg]

That's so poor. Otamendi probably at fault more for the first but that second goal just then was schoolboy defending from Demichelis. Standing still ball watching.

[Lee]

I know if it stays like this the talk will be about Man City being shit but Hughes has turned Stoke into a really good side.

[phonics]

Being 2-0 down to Stoke within 20 minutes puts jeets whining about us conceding a shit goal at Norwich into perspective, I hope.

[Dquincy]

If City do lose this, it really does reinforce how open this title challenge is.

Com'on Liverpool...

[Lee]

It just means Man Utd will shit their way to the title.

[Reg]

I know if it stays like this the talk will be about Man City being shit but Hughes has turned Stoke into a really good side.
They do look really good nowadays. They seem to have retained their traditional Stoke solidity but with much more talented attacking players.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Back in Leicester's hands.

[Lee]

Back in Leicester's hands.

Don't be ruining my traditional early Saturday pessimism with this sort of shit. Hopes down, Lee, Hopes down.

[Dquincy]

Do't be ruining my traditional early Saturday pessimism with this sort of shit. Hopes down, Lee, Hopes down.

Title's in the bag for Leicester.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Do't be ruining my traditional early Saturday pessimism with this sort of shit. Hopes down, Lee, Hopes down.

Surely the least the fans deserve is a top four finish.*

*Your fans will actually be saying this for real this time next year, with the team in a solid 8th place, if you somehow do get a top four finish this year.

[Dquincy]

Surely the least the fans deserve is a top four finish.*

*Your fans will actually be saying this for real this time next year, with the team in a solid 8th place, if you somehow do get a top four finish this year.

I agree.*

*I don't agree.

[Reg]

Do't be ruining my traditional early Saturday pessimism with this sort of shit. Hopes down, Lee, Hopes down.
When will you allow yourself to dream?

Our fans are cautiously optimistic, careful not to be broken if it all falls apart. I've got February in my head - if we're around the top then, I'll be doing a daily jig when I wake up.

[Lee]

Surely the least the fans deserve is a top four finish.*

*Your fans will actually be saying this for real this time next year, with the team in a solid 8th place, if you somehow do get a top four finish this year.

I'm sure some twats would. Not me though. And top four definitely won't happen. I can't tell you how delighted I'd be if we got a Europa League spot.

[Lee]

When will you allow yourself to dream?

Our fans are cautiously optimistic, careful not to be broken if it all falls apart. I've got February in my head - if we're around the top then, I'll be doing a daily jig when I wake up.


I dunno. It isn't just caution to stop myself being disappointed. It's just that Leicester City won't finish in the top four. Or even close to it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

4th is actually a misnomer these days as you'd have to beat someone like Valencia or Leverkusen with a low seeding in the qualifiers. A proper surprise team needs to come 3rd to convert.

[Lee]

I'd be spunking all over the shop if we got to play Leverkusen or Valencia in a competitive game. You're dealing with a completely different level of history and expectation.

[Max Power]

I'd be over the moon with Europa League. 7th is doable but we'd need some big boys to bag the cups.

Have a bad feeling about today though. Think Swansea will turn it around.

By the way, what the fuck was that Henry Winter/Times advert all about? Is it a joke?

[Reg]

A Man City player hacking out in frustration at the flair of Stoke.

Mark Hughes is partying inside.

[Lee]

I'd be over the moon with Europa League. 7th is doable but we'd need some big boys to bag the cups.

Have a bad feeling about today though. Think Swansea will turn it around.

By the way, what the fuck was that Henry Winter/Times advert all about? Is it a joke?

I don't think I've seen an advert for a football writer before. Bizarre.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Pellegrini is so one dimensional.

2-0 down and makes like for like substitutions.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If Sir Henry Winter doesn't command TV advertising space, who does?

[Giggles]

That's me done with the premier league from this point forward. Final.

[Reg]

Pellegrini is so one dimensional.

2-0 down and makes like for like substitutions.
He brought on another striker.

And now Navas is on as well, a proper winger instead of their other "wingers".

[Boydy]

That's me done with the premier league from this point forward. Final.

Why?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He brought on another striker.

And now Navas is on as well, a proper winger instead of their other "wingers".

Ihenacho came on for Bony.

[Giggles]

Why?

Because all these useless cunts are tripping over themselves to hand those scouse scumbags a title. I'm getting out before it happens.

[Reg]

Ihenacho came on for Bony.
Yeah but Sterling is playing up front with him isn't he?

Seems very close to him anyway.

Edit- left wing now they're down to 10 men.

[niko_cee]

:D

Such glorious pessimism.

City really are garbage. Still no identity, just a bunch of expensive players. Pellegrini should be sacked.

They'll probably win from here, somehow, although they should be about 5-0 down.

[Boydy]

Because all these useless cunts are tripping over themselves to hand those scouse scumbags a title. I'm getting out before it happens.

:D

I thought so.

[Max Power]

If Sir Henry Winter doesn't command TV advertising space, who does?
Hey I love and respect Our 'Enry as much as anyone but the whole ad was very odd

[Manc]

Liverpool's next five.

Newcastle
West Brom
Watford
Leicester
Sunderland

Top at Christmas.

[phonics]

FSI is down and now I'm lost on where to watch the Arsenal game. This is Wiziwig all over again.

[niko_cee]

Wheels coming off for Brighton.

:moop:

[randomlegend]

FSI is down and now I'm lost on where to watch the Arsenal game. This is Wiziwig all over again.

Ronaldo7 for streams.

[Lee]

Fucking hell. A goal off Mahrez's arse and another offside. What on Earth is happening?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fucking hell. A goal off Mahrez's arse and another offside. What an Earth is happening?

You're winning the league.

[niko_cee]

Mourinho going to park the bus there next week will be a bit good.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yesterday he was going through the December fixtures in his presser and said something like 'We have to face two big sides, Man Utd and Leicester'.

[leedsrevolution]

I feel a bit sorry for Wood and Dallas because they are clearly decent players. I know Wood can be fucking shit at times but both of them would get in most Championship clubs.

[leedsrevolution]

I was meant to post that on a Leeds forum I go on, oops.

[randomlegend]

Think Schweinsteiger is lucky not to be off there.

[Lee]

The league table at half time is a thing of beauty.

[phonics]

Keep earning ourselves the points and then chucking them for the lols.

[Andy]

I am getting fed up with tedious long ball shit now, especially against Villa. I didn't mind last season where we defended first and at least tried to keep the ball and make things happen. This season is just a joke.

[Max Power]

Should be five or six up here.

[Dquincy]

Should be five or six up here.

Who should?

[Lewis]

Come back, Rooney. Fucking hell.

[simon]

When can I seriously start to proclaim Chelsea back in the title race? Can I do it if we beat Bournemouth later? 11 points behind a City side that have no consistency and with over half of the season to go? :eyemouth:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Bayern losing 3-1 today :cab:

[Lewis]

I appreciate he's out of position, but I can't help thinking that somebody as good as Mata should still be far less anonymous.

[phonics]

So who does Mahrez get a hayooge transfer to and get massively found out at?

[Lee]

Mahrez would be a great for Arsenal. As would Kante.

[Reg]

I appreciate he's out of position, but I can't help thinking that somebody as good as Mata should still be far less anonymous.
Not watching this game but I think he's been as good as pretty much anyone else this season. None of them are going to really run a game in van Gaal's system, because they're not allowed to do much.

The only type of player who would properly stand out is someone like Neymar, who van Gaal would presumably let do outlandish things like dribble and face towards the opposition's goal.

[randomlegend]

Despite failing to score, we've played some pretty decent football today so far.

[phonics]

I know Calum Chambers is positionally flexible but I think right wing might be a bit much for him :D

[Danny]

Despite failing to score, we've played some pretty decent football today so far.

100 times better with Fellaini out of there and deeper.

[phonics]

673179887243542528

I would have came if he'd got round him too.

[phonics]

Chambers with the step-over and shooting :D

There's about 6 fullbacks on the pitch and none of them are defending.

[Dquincy]

Good point for Man Utd.

[Lee]

Brighton. :cool:

Really hope they go up.

Anyway. Top in December. Jesus.

[Max Power]

22 points clear of the drop before Bournemouth play later :nodd:

[Max Power]

Who should?

The league leaders mate. We missed a hatful, Vardy not quite on it today.

[niko_cee]

When can I seriously start to proclaim Chelsea back in the title race? Can I do it if we beat Bournemouth later? 11 points behind a City side that have no consistency and with over half of the season to go? :eyemouth:

You can declare them back in it until they get bummed by Claudio's travelling circus next week.

[Reg]

3 strikers scored to come back from 2-0 down. Bloody hell. Annoyed I missed it but couldn't go today.

[Kikó]

Fuck off van Gaal you fucking cunt.

[phonics]

673186637795454976

Thanks Michael.

[Ian]

Well, he's not wrong.

[Yevrah]

Leicester being two points clear at the top after 15 games is absolutely remarkable.

[Lee]

How the fuck are Manchester United having 63% of the ball with 21 attempts on goal and yet have oniy a single shot on target. At Old Trafford. They are so dull.

[niko_cee]

Whilst they are putatively doing better than they were under Moyes, I think this United side is more amusing from an anti perspective.

[Lewis]

It was more a case of shit finishing this week, unlike last week when they only created one chance. Unfortunately West Ham hit the post a couple of times, so 'LvG' will probably consider them to have been too attacking.

[Dquincy]

Fuck off van Gaal you fucking cunt.

:harold:

[Toby]

Didn't realise Courtois was going to be back for this. I don't think Begovic did much wrong, so if Chelsea happen to put a run together now it'll be amusing to see people put it down to him.

[Lee]

Fucking hell I hope Chelsea defend like this next week.

[Toby]

There's no question that they will, it's been like this all season.

[Dquincy]

Bournemouth bossing this. lols.

[Lee]

Bournemouth bossing this. lols.

Bournemouth do this a lot though. Always make chances but they don't take them and they can't defence.

[Dquincy]

Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Baran swings in a nice cross.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can tell that if Bournemouth take the lead, Niall Quinn is going to be heard shouting YES! You beauty! or similar in the background.

[niko_cee]

Proper relegation 6 pointer this.

[Lee]

I can tell that if Bournemouth take the lead, Niall Quinn is going to be heard shouting YES! You beauty! or similar in the background.

He clearly wants them to win but he's so patronising towards them. If they complete a pass it's all "bless their cotton socks". He's a really shit co-commentator. Thick as pigshit.

[Danny]

Fucking hell :D

[Max Power]

King Claudio putting the final nail in the coffin next week is too perfect to happen isn't it?

[Jimmy Floyd]

This is the first time I've watched us for a few weeks and it's the same problem, no creativity, no joy, just a load of people who seem never to have met before checking inside for 90 minutes.

Berty T will save our season though.

[Lee]

When's the last time there was a title defence this bad? This is worse so far than Blackburn in 95/96 and Man Utd in 13/14. Leeds in 92/93?

[Yevrah]

Leeds didn't win away in 92/93 did they?

[Davgooner]

Haha. What a day.

[Lee]

I don't think they did and I think they finished 17th in a 22 team league.
Yevrah

[Kikó]

Rooney apparently suspended for a week for having booze in his system. The fat useless scouse cunt.

[Danny]

Despite finishing first the previous season, Leeds suffered something of a reversal this season: they were eliminated from the Champions League by Rangers and finished in 17th place in the Premier League. Although their home form was amongst the best in the Premier League – they lost only once at home, admittedly in a 4–1 thrashing by a Nottingham Forest side that finished the season last, and managed to put 5 goals past both Blackburn and Tottenham, both of whom finished in the top eight – a failure to win away from home all season cost Leeds dearly. As the season drew to a close Leeds were in danger of being only the second team to relegated a season after winning the league title, but managed to secure safety with a few matches to spare, although they did finish only two points away from relegation.

From Wiki

[Yevrah]

I was at one of them.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19LKk7nwGg0

Delia would have loved that.

[Kikó]

FC United beat Parmers boys today. How Stockport County have fallen.

[Davgooner]

Lukic. :D

[Reg]

Possibility of United recalling Wilson then?

This Valencia game has started quite nicely. Neymar should have scored but instead put it about twenty yards over the bar from inside the area.

[Toby]

Are those who said otherwise beginning to think Mourinho might have gone past the point of no return now?

[Kikó]

Zero chance of United calling him back.

[Lee]

Lukic. :D

"John Lukic is now a freelance goalkeeping coach and tours the country as an after dinner speaker."

How much business can he be getting, really?

[Toby]

When's the last time there was a title defence this bad? This is worse so far than Blackburn in 95/96 and Man Utd in 13/14. Leeds in 92/93?

Chelsea have done this before, albeit in the 50s. Ted Drake's side went from champions to sixteenth place.

[Boom-Boom]

Are those who said otherwise beginning to think Mourinho might have gone past the point of no return now?

Porto & Kiev wins on Wednesday would surely spell the end for Jose.

[Jimmy Floyd]

All we have to do is lose on Wednesday, win the Europa League and boom, we're back in the big time.

In fact I'd say defeat on Wednesday is our only chance of keeping Champions League qualification alive.

[Andy]

We can't beat Aston fucking Villa at home and still it's no way near the worst home performance of the weekend. Lol.

[Byron]

When can I seriously start to proclaim Chelsea back in the title race? Can I do it if we beat Bournemouth later? 11 points behind a City side that have no consistency and with over half of the season to go? :eyemouth:

Probably not just yet mate.

Anyway, it's not often we have less of the ball, at Old Trafford and I come away thinking we should have won that. Oh well, good point to get.

[phonics]

Wengers interview today, "We have to keep playing our game and hope Leicester drop some points over the next few games." Its a mad season.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Could Abramovich in theory buy Leicester City and sell Chelsea, have the clubs' names changed and the stadium ownership and players transferred? Because at the moment that seems the best way of getting us back to the top of the league.

[Reg]

Or give each referee in their remaining games a couple million quid.

[Spoonsky]

Oof, what a day of results. Perfect day for Arsenal (and Leicester) I reckon.

This really is a mad season. I remember 2013-14 seemed pretty crazy at the time with Moyes and Liverpool and all but this blows it out of the water.

[Raoul Duke]

Stoke :drool:

Shaqiri :drool:

[ScousePig]

FC United beat Parmers boys today. How Stockport County have fallen.

Tom captained them for the first time and scored the winner.

Good times.

[phonics]

This is what I'm talking about with Mahrez being found out if he moved. There is absolutely no way a top team gets to play 3 forwards and still get repeated attacks where the opposition only have 2 at the back. It's just doesn't happen.

edit: Not saying he's not quite good but I did lol at the 30-40 million quid stuff.

[Max Power]

Guess he'll have to stay at little old Leicester then. Shame.

Danny Murphy bigging up my man Kanté. Great player :cool:

[elth]

I know the results are better, but frankly I'd rather watch replays of Moyes' United than the turgid shite van Gaal's putting out there right now. At least under Moyes United would have conceded and spent 40 minutes or so throwing everything at the opposing team. Probably futilely, of course, but it'd still be better than tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-full time whistle.

[Spoonsky]

I really do hope that Mourinho stays. It's become tremendously fun to watch.

[Baz]

The commentator calling Shaqiri "the little Swiss." :cab: Sure he's short but he's built like a chode.

Also, Liverpool must win by 11 tomorrow to go 5th. I can honestly see it happening.

[Lewis]

'LvG' sez: 'The question is would Luis Suarez or Sergio Aguero score if they were here? That is a question mark. You never know. I think they would, though'.

Oh well. Good to know.

[Toby]

It's amusing how much Arnautovic wants to be Ibrahimovic.

[phonics]

'LvG' sez: 'The question is would Luis Suarez or Sergio Aguero score if they were here? That is a question mark. You never know. I think they would, though'.

Oh well. Good to know.

Still not his team, mate. Needs at least another 400 million.

[Lewis]

For all that, you still need a WORLD CLASS player or two to win things. How much have City spent only to be shit when Aguero/Silva are out? Chelsea are bollocks without their stand-out players performing; Madrid are toilet when Ronaldo isn't on it (and they still have some pretty handy back-ups); and Arsenal would fall to bits if 'Alexis' missed a few months. It's not a particularly bold statement.

[Baz]

Like if Sturridge was ever injured. :henn0rz:

[CJay]

Hazard is now 25 games without a goal for Chelsea. :serious:

[phonics]

For all that, you still need a WORLD CLASS player or two to win things. How much have City spent only to be shit when Aguero/Silva are out? Chelsea are bollocks without their stand-out players performing; Madrid are toilet when Ronaldo isn't on it (and they still have some pretty handy back-ups); and Arsenal would fall to bits if 'Alexis' missed a few months. It's not a particularly bold statement.

Almost like he spent 60 million quid on one and then sent him on his way.

[Lewis]

He wanted out. What can you do?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Almost like he spent 60 million quid on one and then sent him on his way.

He was not one.

[elth]

van Gaal should probably let Ranieri know that none of the goals Leicester have scored this season count because they don't have any world class players.

[niko_cee]

We probably owe Newcastle a good shoeing, but everyone is getting so giddy it'll probably end up with some feckless goit nabbing the points for them. Didn't the SAS vintage get held by a 10 man team with Paul Dummett scoring?

[Samadini]

Stoke were fucking brilliant. For fucks sake.

Going to be an absolute horror show today. With Bournemouth now capable of winning, it's looking grim as fuck. Villa in a couple of weeks, a game I'm sure neither team particularly wants to play right now. Hopefully it's a bit chilly and we can pull a Middlesbrough.

[Davgooner]

If you do them in the expected way, then the localised seethe will be top drawer.

[Baz]

What's the weather like in Newcastle?

Hopefully mild, dry and free of any wind, unlike the rest of the country.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Giggles]

Are Napoli decent these days? I don't recognise many of the players here but they look good.

EDIT: And as I hit submit Destro puts them 1-0 down :D

[GS]

We'll get thumped 3-1, or something equally stupid today. It was ever thus.

[Samadini]

Liverpool fans are a bunch of pussies, fair play.

[Giggles]

Are Napoli decent these days? I don't recognise many of the players here but they look good.

EDIT: And as I hit submit Destro puts them 1-0 down :D

They're shit. Callejon's effort is enough to make Matt Le Tissier look like a worker.

[Baz]

Liverpool fans are a bunch of pussies, fair play.Not here. I stand to win a grand if we win by at least six.

Sorry, when we win by six.

[Lee]

Napoli have been great this season. Surprised to see them getting done by Bologna, although the latter have improved under Donadoni. Either Inter will shit their way to the title or (more likely) Juventus are going to recover enough to win it. Shame on both counts. Napoli will qualify for the Champion's League though and it will be between them, Dortmund and Spurs for the Europa.

[Giggles]

Napoli have been great this season. Surprised to see them getting done by Bologna, although the latter have improved under Donadoni. Either Inter will shit their way to the title or (more likely) Juventus are going to recover enough to win it. Shame on both counts. Napoli will qualify for the Champion's League though and it will be between them, Dortmund and Spurs for the Europa.

They've been playing well since going 2-0 down in this, really should have at least one goal.

[Reg]

Roma need to get out of this run (their last four games: smashed by Barcelona, lost to Atalanta and 2 draws) but they've got an important Champions League match and then Napoli away.

I thought this would definitely be their year after such good signings and Juventus starting so badly.

[Giggles]

3-0 now, and Mounir has just had one one of the worst misses I've seen in a long while for Bologna too.

[Giggles]

Some finish this.

[Lee]

I'd love to see Higuain in England, I think he'd do very well.

[Waffdon]

PereZ should be starting every game for Newcastle.

[Weaver]

Elliot; Janmaat, Coloccini, Mbemba, Dummett; Sissoko, Anita, Colback, Wijnaldum; De Jong; Cissé.

Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Skrtel, Moreno; Lucas, Milner, Allen; Ibe, Firmino, Benteke.

[Boydy]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CVjSTOaWUAAwAvV.jpg:large

Where's Coutinho?

EDIT: He's injured. I didn't know. What's wrong with him?

Can's suspended too. Shame. I think he's great.

[CJay]

He tweaked his hamstring against City, iirc.

[Giggles]

Fiorentina look really good going forward, though I take it from the build up that Udinese are pretty poor.

[Manc]

Ibe and Allen both deserve starts. Firmino to run riot.

[John Arne]

I'm not sure Firmino and Benteke can work together. Firmino looks for clever runs, one-two's and flicks, whereas Benteke is as thick as shit and just brutes his way through.

Here's hoping I'm wrong.

[GS]

We should just have played the same team as against Southampton, excepting suspensions.

[Reg]

Isn't Benteke pretty smart with build up play?

Would have thought someone like Firmino who can come inside and play off him would work well.

[Manc]

Does anyone have a stream, preferably sopcast?

[John Arne]

Acestream sky sports 1.

[Waffdon]

The Liverpool team is full of some utter tripe.

[Luke Emia]

I'm not sure Benteke works at all in this system. As if by magic how the fuck has he not scored there?

[Max Power]

Get Sturridge on now Klopp you nonce.

[Boydy]

Benteke just doesn't fucking move off the ball.

[CJay]

To be fair, all we're doing is lumping it forward to him.

[Baz]

Hardly a bad start but I hope it dramatically improves over the next hour.

[Manc]

Dire. Liverpool are missing Can's energy in the middle. Get the skipper on.

[phonics]

I've just seen Mourinho's quotes about Bournemouths gamesmanship and time wasting.

This season is the best.

[Boydy]

What the fuck is this

[Danny]

And here I thought my 0-0 actually had a chance

[John Arne]

Fair play, Newcastle probably deserved that.

[CJay]

:face:

[Boydy]

I don't know why both Firmino amd Benteke came off and the formation stayed the same when they were having trouble breaking Newcastle down.

[John Arne]

Moreno was onside by a mile then.

[Boydy]

That offside was a fucking pisstake.

[Waffdon]

Was clearly a cross from Moreno.

Tyler is seething.

[Manc]

What utter fucking tripe.

[Reg]

Famous win in mid table clash!

[Max Power]

If we're still top after Boxing Day then IT'S ON!

(not really)

[Waffdon]

Lovely finish. :drool:

[Lee]

All this talk about our easy run of fixtures so far, yet the big clubs can't do as well as we have against them. We'll likely not be top after our upcoming run of games but I'm seeing nothing for us to be frightened of.

[Smiffy]

.....

[Jimmy Floyd]

Does that mean Steve McClaren now inherits the title of greatest manager of all time? Is it passed around like boxing belts?

[Reg]

I thought you weren't going to finish top four, now there's nothing to be frightened of?

[Lee]

I thought you weren't going to finish top four, now there's nothing to be frightened of?

We're not. Over the course of the season the clubs with more resources will overtake us. But on a game by game basis, looking ahead to our difficult looking run of games, there isn't a side we can't beat on the day.

[Max Power]

We're gonna win the league you mugs

[Reg]

Fair enough.

That was a pretty crap match until about 60 minutes. Great second goal.

[Samadini]

:drool:

[John Arne]

Why does McLaren keep mentioning his "young team" - is the Newcastle team not pretty average age?

[Jimmy Floyd]

He isn't allowed to sign anyone over a certain age I think, so it must be definition be pretty young.

[Vim]

Inter vs Juve for the title then. Inter scares me because the best defences make successful teams in Italy, and they've conceded only 9 in 15.

[Spoonsky]

Ffs. That almost seemed inevitable after the comments on here.

Moreno has really come good recently, he was our best player today (not saying much) and that was a brilliant finish when he was nutted by the linesman.

[Waffdon]

He didn't mean it.

[Andy]

For all that, you still need a WORLD CLASS player or two to win things. How much have City spent only to be shit when Aguero/Silva are out? Chelsea are bollocks without their stand-out players performing; Madrid are toilet when Ronaldo isn't on it (and they still have some pretty handy back-ups); and Arsenal would fall to bits if 'Alexis' missed a few months. It's not a particularly bold statement.

You've got Mata who cost 43m and has been the leagues player of the season twice and Martial who cost a ridiculous amount.

Can't keep chucking money at a problem hoping it will get fixed. The players are there to play a better brand of football.

[Giggles]

Been some Serie A fest in Setanta today. Sampdoria are so so shit though :face:

[Jimmy Floyd]

The top English clubs can't get their hands on the 10 or so best in the world (probably because we aren't as bent as the countries they play in for things like tax) and the mid-table clubs are rapidly catching up in terms of what they're able to spend on the next level of player. The result is that if someone like a certain club that plays in blue gets it wrong in a particular season, they get massively found out. United have held it together with the defence - Smalling now the best in the country by an enormous margin for me - but without that a very similar thing would be happening to them. Rooney is no longer good enough to feature in a top four side, Martial is a teenager, Mata has been becalmed... who else do they have with any penetration?

[Spoonsky]

Yeah. I've said to friends before that the Premier League is not the best league in terms of absolute quality, but it is the best league in terms of parity and that makes it the best one to watch. It's gotten much more true in past handful of seasons I think. English clubs are getting embarrassed in the Champions League, but I reckon the 10th-best English club would beat the 10th-best German or Spanish club.

[GS]

We'll get thumped 3-1, or something equally stupid today. It was ever thus.

Two goal margin. It was so obvious that we weren't going to win after the HYPE.

[Toby]

Well... at least you predicted your team would lose. :harold:

[GS]

I find it difficult to get too worked up by it these days, but please continue trying to provoke a reaction.

[Toby]

The only reaction I'm trying to provoke is the laughter of others, I couldn't care less what you make of it. It's just amusing that the team you support just lost but you were still straight in to here to say, "at least I was right".

[GS]

Given the story beforehand was the HYPE and talk of our latest TITLE CHARGE, I thought it inevitable that we were going to lose.

There's no searing or insightful commentary one can offer on the game. We were dire and team selection didn't seem great, but we are where we are.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Does Klopp deserve more time?

[Spoonsky]

FYI the MLS Cup final is about to start on "Sky Go", starring... Liam Ridgewell! In all seriousness it's between Portland and Columbus and I expect it to be a really good game, they're both entertaining and attack-oriented teams. It'll better than last year's final for sure.

[Giggles]

FYI the MLS Cup final is about to start on "Sky Go", starring... Liam Ridgewell! In all seriousness it's between Portland and Columbus and I expect it to be a really good game, they're both entertaining and attack-oriented teams. It'll better than last year's final for sure.

Is that like the final of the league or a different competition?

[ScousePig]

Yeah. I've said to friends before that the Premier League is not the best league in terms of absolute quality, but it is the best league in terms of parity and that makes it the best one to watch. It's gotten much more true in past handful of seasons I think. English clubs are getting embarrassed in the Champions League, but I reckon the 10th-best English club would beat the 10th-best German or Spanish club.

If this 'parity' makes it so good to watch, why is the end result i.e. the final league table always so boringly predictable?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Because only a few can afford that one better player (Aguero, previously Rooney/Ronaldo, Lampard/Drogba...) which lifts them a fistful of points above the others over a 38 game season. Spurs for example have only yet come 4th when Bale has been on fire. Liverpool nearly won the league when Suarez went mental. Etc. 7th to 20th is pretty fluid.

Blackburn won it with Shearer and ten jobbers, ish.

[Reg]

7th to 20th is also the best 7th to 20th in the world, in terms of quality, I think nearly all of us would agree.

What about our top 7? I'd rank it behind Spain but comfortably above everyone else.

[Spoonsky]

This final is insane.

https://twitter.com/Ben_Jata/status/673628643004911616

[ScousePig]

Because only a few can afford that one better player (Aguero, previously Rooney/Ronaldo, Lampard/Drogba...) which lifts them a fistful of points above the others over a 38 game season. Spurs for example have only yet come 4th when Bale has been on fire. Liverpool nearly won the league when Suarez went mental. Etc. 7th to 20th is pretty fluid.

Blackburn won it with Shearer and ten jobbers, ish.

As you say though you've got it wrong this season and have been found out, but you'll still finish top six.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I dunno. We're quite a long way back at the moment and showing few if any signs of improvement. But note Leicester being top as late as December, Palace regularly doing people over, and so on. These are not sleeping giants like Liverpool or whatever, these are smallish clubs at the top level that have been well run of late, got their slice of the ever-expanding pie and are reaping the rewards. Sunderland strike me perhaps in the bottom three least well run clubs in the league, along with Newcastle and possibly Villa, so it'll be difficult for them, as well as Bournemouth who are just on a different level of small.

Do you get Augsburg and Celta Vigo doing anything in those countries for more than five minutes? If anything it's worse there.

[GS]

There was a spell in Spain at the turn of the Millennium where Deportivo and Valencia (x2) won the league, and Real Sociedad nearly did in 2003. Montpellier won the French league a few years back too.

[ScousePig]

I don't think you could argue over those three as being the worst run clubs.

[Reg]

Do you get Augsburg and Celta Vigo doing anything in those countries for more than five minutes? If anything it's worse there.
I think Germany is the most open league (although haven't seen any stats). It's Bayern then everyone else.

[Lewis]

If 'Lewis' Law' wasn't already a cinematic term, I would apply it to middling teams developing a 'Good Side' and then going bankrupt not long afterwards.

[Mellberg]

I had a tenner with a Leicester fan at the start of the season that we'd finish above them. Here we are in December and Leicester are top, whilst Villa are six points adrift of fucking 19th.

I've played a blinder there.

[Jeet]

Santi may be ruled out for the whole season as he requires surgery or more likely our medical staff had a look at him and made it worse.

[Reg]

This is what I'm talking about with Mahrez being found out if he moved. There is absolutely no way a top team gets to play 3 forwards and still get repeated attacks where the opposition only have 2 at the back. It's just doesn't happen.

edit: Not saying he's not quite good but I did lol at the 30-40 million quid stuff.
Yep, very fair point. The amount of times Swansea were short at the back looked ridiculous.

I think big clubs will be watching him but will wait until the summer until maybe going for him. It seems much more likely that he'll end up somewhere like Southampton than one of the super clubs.

[Max Power]

Yeah we'll sell him to Southampton I reckon. Might as well cash in next month in fact.

[Lee]

Why on Earth would we sell any of our players to any club no bigger than us and which doesn't have any more money than us?

None of our players will go in January anyway. Mahrez will be off in the summer, possibly Vardy (although I'm not convinced he'll end up being that wanted) and Kante.

[Max Power]

And if Mahrez goes (which isn't nailed on), it will be for massive money. Why would we sell for less? We don't need to. Everton and West Brom didn't in the summer with Berahino and Stones.

[Reg]

Southampton are richer than you.

You both sound a little defensive, I'm not insulting your club.

[Max Power]

Maybe. But we are rich. And we would be without the gigantic stack of TV money we're gonna bag.

Then again, the danger is Riyad's head wil get turned when Saints come knocking. Vardy off to Stoke as well maybe.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've heard Mahrez wears a certain type of hair gel that makes him run 10mph faster in the seaside air.

[Reg]

Then again, the danger is Riyad's head wil get turned when Saints come knocking. Vardy off to Stoke as well maybe.
Obviously if you finish top four and Southampton are lying in 9th or something, then he's not going to go.

But I don't think it's an outlandish statement to say Southampton are more likely to finish in the top 7 consistently. So if both clubs finish in similar positions, I wouldn't be surprised at all if he goes there or to another similar club.

Spurs would have been a better example in truth.

[Lee]

Southampton are richer than you.

You both sound a little defensive, I'm not insulting your club.

Not defensive, it's just that Southampton wouldn't represent any progression in terms of prestige and I'd be very surprised if they could pay more than us.

I'm not sure that they are likely to finish consistently above us either. Two very similar sized clubs, both have plenty of money and are well run.

[Smiffy]

.....

[phonics]

Its a bit lol when Leicester fans are getting annoyed after you say Riyad Mahrez probably isnt worth as much as Alexis Sanchez.

[Jeet]

I almost forgot Kramaric was at Leicester

[Byron]

It's not about the two players being equal. If Leicester feel he's worth £40m then that's what he's worth.

All relative innit.

[Lee]

Its a bit lol when Leicester fans are getting annoyed after you say Riyad Mahrez probably isnt worth as much as Alexis Sanchez.

Are we? I haven't seen such a statement. He'll be worth whatever the market says he's worth which I suspect will be upwards of £30m.

We have no reason to sell just yet. I can't see him being here beyond the summer though and that's fine; it's the natural order of things.

Mahrez will go on to be a very good player at one of the big clubs, I'm certain of that. As will Kante - a player Arsenal could really do with, incidentally. Drinkwater could cut it with a Spurs or Liverpool quite easily. Vardy would struggle elsewhere, I think.

[Lewis]

I think you would need another season of Leicester being good and Mahrez being one of their better players before somebody spaffs thirty-million quid on him. Tottenham might not want to wait, but the BIG BOYS will.

[ScousePig]

I've always liked/rated Mahrez (unlike Vardy) but aye, steady on a bit. This time last year Leicester were lolling their way back to the Championship and they weren't exactly shining beacons standing out. There's a Leicester fan boring the Sunderland board who is adamant Mahrez is worth £40m plus, would get in any side in the world and is banging on about Champions League qualification and a title push within a couple of seasons. We've seen it all before (fans included); it doesn't happen (much as I/we'd love it to). Vardy's perfect for Leicester; they've no need to sell and certain factors mean he's probably not all that attractive a proposition to the big clubs anyway.

Kante I've no idea on, but he looks a find. Maybe a similar calibre to M'Vila for us, who will probably be at a 'top' club next season.

[niko_cee]

£100m for Michu Mk II and III.

£700m for Kane.

All great value.

[Lee]

I've always liked/rated Mahrez (unlike Vardy) but aye, steady on a bit. This time last year Leicester were lolling their way back to the Championship and they weren't exactly shining beacons standing out. There's a Leicester fan boring the Sunderland board who is adamant Mahrez is worth £40m plus, would get in any side in the world and is banging on about Champions League qualification and a title push within a couple of seasons. We've seen it all before (fans included); it doesn't happen (much as I/we'd love it to). Vardy's perfect for Leicester; they've no need to sell and certain factors mean he's probably not all that attractive a proposition to the big clubs anyway.

Kante I've no idea on, but he looks a find. Maybe a similar calibre to M'Vila for us, who will probably be at a 'top' club next season.

I don't think he's "worth" £30m now but I wouldn't be surprised to see somebody bid that much, especially given the new money about to kick in. He has always had potential but he has developed at some pace and it won't be more than a couple of years before he is good enough to play Champion's League football; and let's be honest, it won't be at Leicester City.

If no club wants to pay a daft amount we won't feel the need to sell unless he has a massive sulk. Which is great as we'll get to keep him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Leicester are irrelevant though, his agent will instruct him where to go. If I'd put a tenner on Mahrez a few years back my finger would be heading straight to the 'cash out' button about now.

[Benny]

I think I actually need to see a few Leicester games, rather than MOTD highlights, before I begin to believe he could be worth anything near £30m.

[Lee]

Spurs away in the cup. Boring draw, wanted a home match against a side from another league.

[niko_cee]

At least you can focus on the title challenge.

Brighton suffered a similarly shit draw. So close to getting (the right) City as well.

[Benny]

Leicester, meh.

[Lee]

I hate getting a side from the same division. Forest or Derby would have been lovely. I quite like beating Peterborough too.

[Lewis]

Leicester vs Peterborough, with the replay in Raqqa.

[Waffdon]

Spurs away in the cup. Boring draw, wanted a home match against a side from another league.

Drawing a lower league team at home sounds horrific.

I wish there were odds on a Lukaku goal set up by Deulofeu

[Lee]

Drawing a lower league team at home sounds horrific.

I wish there were odds on a Lukaku goal set up by Deulofeu

It's only because I want to see us play somebody different. I go on my own so aways are shit for me.