[FOOTBALL] Weekend Fixtures - Fri 15 - Mon 18 January

[Reg]

15:00 unless stated.

Friday

Nice v Angers 19:30 BT Sport 2 (In Progress)
Brentford v Burnley 19:45 Sky Sports 1 (In Progress)
Dundee United v Celtic 19:45 BT Sport 1 (In Progress)

Saturday

Tottenham v Sunderland 12:45 BT Sport 1
Bournemouth v Norwich
Chelsea v Everton
Man City v Crystal Palace
Newcastle v West Ham
Southampton v West Brom
Aston Villa v Leicester 17:30 Sky Sports 1

Sheff Wed v Leeds 12:30 Sky Sports 1
Blackburn v Brighton
Bristol City v Middlesbrough
Derby v Birmingham
Huddersfield v Fulham
Hull v Charlton
Ipswich v Preston
MK Dons v Reading
Nottm Forest v Bolton
Rotherham v QPR
Wolves v Cardiff

Adelaide United v Central Coast Mariners 06:15 BT Sport 1
Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC 08:30 BT Sport 2
Perth Glory v Melbourne City 10:40 BT Sport 2
Torino v Frosinone (joins match in progress) 17:00 BT Sport 1
Celta Vigo v Levante 17:15 Sky Sports 5
Aberystwyth Town v Newtown AFC 17:15 S4C
Bordeaux v Lille Ligue 19:00 BT Sport 2
Villarreal v Real Betis 19:30 Sky Sports 5
Napoli v Sassuolo 19:45 BT Sport 1
Real Sociedad v Deportivo La Coruna 21:05 Sky Sports Red Button

Sunday

Liverpool v Man Utd 14:05 Sky Sports 1
Stoke v Arsenal 16:15 Sky Sports 1

Newcastle Jets v Wellington Phoenix 06:00 BT Sport 1
Valencia v Rayo Vallecano 11:00 Sky Sports 5
Genoa v Palermo 11:30 BT Sport 2
Ross County v Aberdeen 12:15 Sky Sports 3
Lorient v Monaco Ligue 13:00 BT Sport Europe
Udinese v Juventus 14:00 BT Sport 2
Roma v Verona 14:00 BT Sport
Falkirk v Hibernian 15:00 BT Sport 1
Real Madrid v Sporting Gijon 15:00 Sky Sports 3
Caen v Marseille Ligue 16:00 BT Sport 2
Las Palmas v Atletico Madrid 17:15 Sky Sports4
Getafe v Espanyol 17:15 Sky Sports Red Button
Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao 19:30 Sky Sports 4
AC Milan v Fiorentina 19:45 BT Sport 1
St Etienne v Lyon Ligue 20:00 BT Sport 2
Vitoria Guimaraes v FC Porto 20:30 BT Sport Europe

Monday

Man Utd U21 v Southampton U21 19:00 MUTV / MUTV HD
Newport County v Blackburn Rovers (FA Cup) 19:15 S4C
Liverpool U21 v Leeds United U21 19:30 LFCTV
Eibar v Granada La Liga 19:30 Sky Sports 2
Swansea City v Watford 20:00 Sky Sports 1

[Giggles]

Under 21?

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zGxwbhkDjZM/hqdefault.jpg

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Celtic need to pull the finger out and start scoring.

[Davgooner]

Could be a shit weekend, I reckon. Won't be boring though.

[Lee]

This is going to be a crackimg weekend of football and I can't wait to sit on my arse watching it. I'm even predicting a Leicester win.

I think Sunderland will do Spurs and Stoke will get something against Arsenal. Man City will beat Palace though. I reckon Bournemouth vs Norwich will be a good game as well.

Lauren is working so my schedule is this:

Spurs-Sunderland
Villa-Leicester
Napoli-Sassuolo

Liverpool-Man Utd
Stoke-Arsenal
Barcelona-Bilbao

:drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Eibar v Granada on Monday night is where it's at. Eibar are an awesome side.

Chelsea will lose and Arouna Koné will score. Might put the house on Lukaku getting injured in the warm up.

[Reg]

I'll be out for the Spurs one and maybe United too, but I'll hopefully see two or three this weekend. Oh, and it's Spalletti's first match back at Roma. I might record that along with United.

I've only seen Sassuolo once, but if Berardi's anything like his FM self how have they managed to keep hold of him?

---
Think we might finally win tomorrow v Blackburn. Hoping at least one of LuaLua and Baldock is fit to start.

[Lee]

Eibar v Granada on Monday night is where it's at. Eibar are an awesome side.

Chelsea will lose and Arouna Koné will score. Might put the house on Lukaku getting injured in the warm up.

I was going to go with the Premier League game. What am I missing with Eibar?

[Jimmy Floyd]

They're like Leicester writ large, but with no good players, still playing at Filbert Street, and only 6th as opposed to 2nd. Swansea v Watford will have the better individuals on display, that's for sure.

[Jeet]

This is about the time we fall apart get knocked out the CL and drop points in the league until March where we will have a great run = Glorious Failures

[Baz]

Missing the United game cos of work :moop:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sporting game is a bit good.

Tondela take the lead after one of their player dives in the box and gets the Sporting keeper sent off, Slimani scores early in the second, ref gave a penalty but the assistant (correctly) overturned it.

Sporting are launching everything at Tondela right now.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

2-1 to Sporting, what a game.

[Toby]

This is an immensely satisfying GIF, even with the weird slo-mo.

688132939259891712

[Sam]

Half price tickets at Molineux so it's a sell out, go figure. Everyone in at a lower price or a half empty ground at full.

[John Arne]

Half price tickets at Molineux so it's a sell out, go figure. Everyone in at a lower price or a half empty ground at full.

It's astonishing that Championship teams don't understand this very basic concept.

50% full crowd at full price =/= 100% full crowd at half price.... with a million more benefits.

[Sam]

It's baffling to be honest but what can you do, packed house with a good atmosphere helps a lot more then about 12,000 empty seats. Not to mention the extra ££ spent on food/drink. £12 for a ticket today. Wouldn't say keep it like that always but something around the £15 mark would see a vast improvement in attendances

[Lee]

Yes Sunderland. :cool:

EDIT: Fuck's sake.

[John Arne]

Cattermole on the line :D

This Pickford lad in goal has made some smart saves.

[Bob Sacamano]

Fucking typical implosion after a good first half :face:

[Lee]

Good side, Wednesday. It would be nice to see them up.

[Vim]

I've only seen Sassuolo once, but if Berardi's anything like his FM self how have they managed to keep hold of him?

I think that Juve have a buy-back deal (either written or gentleman's agreement) for him, so even if someone were to bid for Berardi then Juve would just take him then and loan him back to Sassuolo. It's in Juve's best interest to keep Berardi playing and shining in Sassuolo until they find a place for him in the first team.

In the last couple of days, two more youngsters have been bought by Juve and immediately sent to Sassuolo, they've basically become a partner club.

[John Arne]

That defending by Kirchoff :cab:

[John Arne]

That defending by Kirchoff :cab:

And now he's conceded a penalty.
Just an own goal and red card away from beating Woodgate.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Brighton currently outside the playoff places. That was quick.

[Samadini]

Shelvey is running riot.

[Lewis]

It's baffling to be honest but what can you do, packed house with a good atmosphere helps a lot more then about 12,000 empty seats. Not to mention the extra ££ spent on food/drink. £12 for a ticket today. Wouldn't say keep it like that always but something around the £15 mark would see a vast improvement in attendances

I've thought this watching the rugby. You would have thought some sort of dynamic pricing would keep attendances more stable, but there must be reasons why they haven't implemented it. They must have looked at it, surely? I should e-mail them really. I expect the sport is smalltime (or 'community-orientated') enough to actually care about responding, where as football would just lol you off as a crank.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If there are two kinds of supporter (die-hards and casuals), they want to fleece the die hards for as much as possible because they'll come anyway, and aren't prepared to risk the casuals not turning up despite the lower pricing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hiddink out.

[niko_cee]

Start the Rafacopter.

[Pleb]

What scenes :D

[Waffdon]

Mirallas is the best

[Lee]

So Mourinho hadn't lost it, just turns out the players are cunts after all?

[Smiffy]

I've been wondering why I don't find Chelsea so low in the league to be a bit of a giggle. It's just dawned on me as to why.

It's a nothing club. You replace Chelsea for Man United or Liverpool and you'd never be hearing the end of what has been a hugely poor campaign, no one really gives one about last seasons champions which is rather telling. :cool:

[Smiffy]

Everton on the other hand....we failed with Martinez Watch, no?

[Jimmy Floyd]

So Mourinho hadn't lost it, just turns out the players are cunts after all?

I for one am shocked and flabbergasted.

[Max Power]

No-ones really been talking about Chelsea's poor season you're right. Barely heard a word on it.

[Lee]

:cab:

Chelsea being so low has been a huge story.

EDIT: That's at Smiffy, I'm not thick.

[Max Power]

Derby blowing promotion AGAIN despite spending like £30m this season would be amusing.

[Lee]

I want them up it would be nice to have an East Midlands derby.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We're back to our best.

Martinez sides always give you the chance to score three or four.

[Pleb]

#HiddickIn

:sherlock:

[Samadini]

Shelvey is exactly what Newcastle have been missing.

[Lee]

That Mourinho bloke was fucking shit.

[QE Harold Flair]

I'm watching the Chelsea game and both goals came from shocking Everton defending.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm watching the Chelsea game and both goals came from shocking Everton defending.

Chris Kamara eat your heart out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We should scrub the goals off until Chelsea can score them against brilliant defending.

[QE Harold Flair]

We should scrub the goals off until Chelsea can score them against brilliant defending.

That's almost exactly what I'm saying.

[GS]

Swansea are doomed this year.

[John Arne]

What a cunt Costa is. He just rolled back onto the pitch to make sure he could delay the game whilst receiving treatment. Why don't the ref's book these petulant little cunts?

[John Arne]

Swansea are doomed this year.

Yup. Selling one of their best players was such a bizarre move, too.

[Smiffy]

What a cunt Costa is. He just rolled back onto the pitch to make sure he could delay the game whilst receiving treatment. Why don't the ref's book these petulant little cunts?

You'd love it if he was on your side doing the same thing. No issues with the cunt, football lacks Costa type players.

[Max Power]

Derby blowing promotion AGAIN despite spending like £30m this season would be amusing.

Jesus what an implosion. Absolute bottlers this mob.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Chelsea :harold:

[Pleb]

Relegation Watch is go?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Even the disappointing Everton defenders are rattling them past us now.

[Magic]

Who the fuck is Funes Mori?

[Smiffy]

Jesus what an implosion. Absolute bottlers this mob.

Give him time, Hiddink's only been there two minutes....

Oh wait...

[Magic]

He's on about Derby.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't know at what point somebody in the Chelsea management decides that actually different players need to be selected/recruited, but it clearly isn't going to be any time soon.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

98th minute? Oh fuck off.

[Lee]

Vital point in the relegation battle.

[John Arne]

What's the ref doing? 97th minute up and ball in midfield. Blow the fuck up.

And he's offside.

[QE Harold Flair]

Obviously offside. Gubbed my bet, the wankers.

[Magic]

:harold:

[John Arne]

24 goals so far in 6 games.

[QE Harold Flair]

That £4 was vital, too.

Some proper idiocy from Delefeou in the last 30 seconds there as well. If he'd just kept the ball or lumped it into the corner then the ref couldn't have let Chelsea get the equaliser.

[Samadini]

Some effort from Mitrovic. Probably the complete opposite of what Melling was on about with Gestede.

[Shindig]

Yeah, Norwich are fucking ponies, man. If we get owt against Watford I'll start to believe.

[Lee]

Tim Sherwood is going to break down crying if he is asked any more questions about his time at Villa.

[Max Power]

"I aint never felt this bad ever"

Should roll these twats over. Nervous though still.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Tim Sherwood is going to break down crying if he is asked any more questions about his time at Villa.

Apparently it's a 'football club' and he went in there.

[Lee]

Sherwood is utterly deluded, isn't he?

To the point where he might actually be ill.

[Lee]

Those passing/possession stats. :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

If his team talks are like this it's no surprise he runs out of steam after about 10 games, once everyone has realised he's talking shit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sherwood is utterly deluded, isn't he?

To the point where he might actually be ill.

http://i.imgur.com/eF5IrGb.png

Absolutely played them [Leicester] off the park he says.

[Lee]

He rates players on 'honesty' and being a 'good lad'. He's mental. I never watch the Saturday pre-match stuff. Is Redknapp always this terrible? His analysis of our team was to read the names of the players.

[Lee]

http://i.imgur.com/eF5IrGb.png

Absolutely played them [Leicester] off the park he says.

To be fair they battered us in the first half. We were better for all of the second and they went 2-0 up after scoring a cracking goal on the break.

[Lee]

Sherwood should be sacked on the spot for praising Schmeichel's kicking.

[Bob Sacamano]

That was the game that killed Nathan Dyer, right?

[Lee]

Nathan Dyer killed Nathan Dyer by being shit.

Pre-match nerves ahoy.

[five time]

Why is Dyer on loan there anyway? It's not like Swansea have better.

[Reg]

"A fairly neutral reaction to Albrighton back at Villa Park."

A few minutes later, a fan near pitch side microphone: "Fuck off, Albrighton!"

[Jimmy Floyd]

First time I've seen Leicester for a few weeks and they look noticeably different, less manic than before, solid if anything. Claudio :cool:

[leedsrevolution]

Leicester have been sublime this year. I think the win at Tottenham shows they're truly top 4 contenders. I have a tenner on em to win so no doubt they're fucked today.

[Lee]

We are more solid than we were. Aimless in attack so far today though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Kozak is dogshit.

[Reg]

Brighton currently outside the playoff places. That was quick.
Back in! Bobby with another winner. It's getting uncomfortably tight though.

Kozak looks out of practice to put it kindly.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I haven't played football for a good decade now, and even then I was shit, but I reckon I'm still better than Libor Kozak.

[Reg]

Villa seemed to have given up the inept playing out from the back and possession-goes-nowhere. Probably for the best, especially against Leicester.

[Lee]

This is a terrible match so far.

[Lee]

Great game is what I meant.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Absurdly clueless commentary from the Sky man there. I swear goal line technology breaks commentators everywhere.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I fucking love Okazaki.

What an attempt that was by Vardy though.

[Reg]

Unlucky keeps.

Look at Okazaki's smile, what a likeable chap.

[QE Harold Flair]

I think Steve Bould and Andy Lineghan regens run quicker than that big donkey Villa have up top.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Worst penalty of the season surely.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Why does Mahrez take penalties?

He's fucking awful at them.

[Lee]

Fuck's sake Mahrez's penalties are far too slow. No pace at all.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Penalties are like bowling in cricket, except the stumps are fucking huge. If you do it slowly and with no guile, it's not going to work.

[Reg]

Mahrez hadn't scored or assisted in his last four games, and now he's missed a penalty. Past it? :sherlock:

[Smiffy]

Tinkerman Tactics. He'll crack on again after the transfer window has closed.

[Lee]

We aren't looking great but this lot are poor. Anything but a win would be really disappointing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They do look very much on course for a derby against Walsall next season.

[Max Power]

Playing rubbish and still should be out of sight. Step on it second half and put them away.

Okazaki has been good though. Nice to see him finding some form.

[John]

Gedion Zelalem absolutely will not make it at Arsenal, or any side in the top two, maybe three tiers of English football. After a decent but unspectacular start he's turned into a complete plodder. His passes have no zip to them, he almost always sends the ball back to wherever it came from, and on the extremely rare occasions that he beats a man with a touch or whatever he immediately turns back to set himself up for another five yard pass.

Send the skinny twat back and let Harold wank over him on Eurosport.

[QE Harold Flair]

Gedion Zelalem absolutely will not make it at Arsenal, or any side in the top two, maybe three tiers of English football. After a decent but unspectacular start he's turned into a complete plodder. His passes have no zip to them, he almost always sends the ball back to wherever it came from, and on the extremely rare occasions that he beats a man with a touch or whatever he immediately turns back to set himself up for another five yard pass.

Send the skinny twat back and let Harold wank over him on Eurosport.

I haven't wanked over him for 2 years. He hasn't progressd at all, unfortunately.

[Smiffy]

I haven't wanked over him for 2 years. He hasn't progressd at all, unfortunately.

Hi.


Zelalem donned proceedings again today. He will be something special within 2 years.


Indonesia Dream Team and Vietnam last week, wasn't it? Grampus today.

Probably ready for the first team now given the quality of those three sides.


Hang on, was that sarcasm?

That's the same 'dream team' your lot laboured against. http://www.thedugout.net/community/images/smilies_final/lol.gif


Indeed. And you know why very little was said about it? Because it was a pointless match.

Arsenal v Vietnam, your man had so much time on the ball that at one point an Arsenal player was able to tie his bloody laces before recieving the pass. Or the part where he was surrounded by about five players. Who stood there.

If that's how you size up your youth then so be it. No wonder you have to cherry pick every fucker elses academy.


My point still stands. If you think a player is destined for greatness based on two or three games against inferior opposition like the teams Arsenal have beaten this far then you need pulling up on it.

I could look good when the opposition just stand there.


Calm down and relax yourself. I didn't threaten to rape your grandmother, you know. Just be prepared to bow down on your knees when I am proven correct again.



I'm not sure how that follows....


Inferior opposition or not, he looked better than most of the first team lot at 16. I recall saying similar things about Mr Wilshere a few years ago.

You wouldn't make a very good scout.


Fucking hell. Englands great hope. See also, Rooney, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Wilshere is just a good player, over hyped by default of being English and injured all the time.

Arsenal would be much better off if this young kid actually had mental strength as opposed to technical ability.


Well the merits of greatness can be argued but I think he's a bit better than you're average youth team player turns out. Which was my point.


Why should you be happy to see youngsters get given a chance in preseason? I'd much rather them feature in games of importance, you know, where they'll actually have a chance to improve and progress.

Also it's Arsenal. I swear Henry Lansbury was the next big thing at one point.

Ryo Miyaichi, Joel Campbell, Denilson, Carlos Vela, Kyle Bartley, Samuel Galindo, Fran Merida, Francis Coquelin, Ignasi Miquel....perhaps it's time for Harold to take Wengers job. Arsenal sign more youth and fail them than any other English club I reckon.

On a side note:


Yokohama against Man Utd kicking off in a sec.

De Gea; Fabio, Evra, Jones, Evans; Anderson, Cleverley; Lingard, Zaha, Januzaj; Van Persie.
Amos, Rafael, Giggs, Welbeck, Kagawa, Buttner, Young.

Man United's next great hope. The last one standing nearly. Ha!


Get on your knees, Bishop.

#smiffisrightagainmanc

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's hard to remember a worse team in possession than Aston Villa. Five minutes on the ball and oh, look, Aly Cissokho has it again.

[QE Harold Flair]

Smiffy, what date were those posts? (you obsessed freak)

Edit, just found out that the game vs the Indonesian Dream was July, 2013. So, what's your point?

[Jimmy Floyd]

God bless the Tinkerman. 15 years ago he would be taking off Gudjohnsen for Melchiot at this point for no apparent reason.

[Lee]

I'd be taking Mahrez off. Not sure about De Laet being chucked on but Ranieri has got everything else right this season so I'll go with it.

Huth is a dirty fucker. :D

[John]

I remember that argument, and I remember hoping neither of you would. Because Smiff, you're the only poster on the board more insufferable than Harold when you have something to gloat about. Taz completed the top three when he was still around, but since he went off in a sulk you two are streets ahead of everyone. That argument was a serious no-win situation for the board.

[Lee]

What's Drinkwater done there?

[Smiffy]

Smiffy, what date were those posts? (you obsessed freak)

Edit, just found out that the game vs the Indonesian Dream was July, 2013. So, what's your point?

The point oh selective one is that you haven't wanked over this particular kid for nearly 'two years', according to your honest olde self. You're six months off your prediction of him being 'something special' which ironically is two years.... The timeline suggests exactly what I said at the time. He had a good game against a select eleven, you got excited, blew your load and now I'm awaiting for you to get on your knees and except your failings.

(I'm only half serious precious)

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What an attempt that was.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You have to say Leicester have been fantastically passive in this match for what is clearly the better of the two sides. If it works though...

[Smiffy]

I remember that argument, and I remember hoping neither of you would. Because Smiff, you're the only poster on the board more insufferable than Harold when you have something to gloat about. Taz completed the top three when he was still around, but since he went off in a sulk you two are streets ahead of everyone. That argument was a serious no-win situation for the board.

:D It can all be solved by one fake moment of "Smiff was right! OMG's!".

Someone do me a solid!

[Smiffy]

You have to say Leicester have been fantastically passive in this match for what is clearly the better of the two sides. If it works though...

If.

I have a feeling they'll regret the penalty miss.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ulloa or Kozak.

Tough choice that.

[Lee]

You have to say Leicester have been fantastically passive in this match for what is clearly the better of the two sides. If it works though...

This is unusually passive of us. Probably the worst I've seen us play this season.

[Lee]

We've invited that.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I fear they brought that on themselves, no interest in attack at any stage since they scored really.

[Davgooner]

They deserve that the way this half has gone. Shame they'll throw it away in the next twenty minutes.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm not sure why the commentator is bleating on about the penalty, yeah it probably would have killed the game but they could have killed it by not sitting back the entire match.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Gestede, Kozak and Ulloa all on the pitch at once, it's like a donkey sanctuary.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

A cardboard cut out would offer more than Kozak.

[Max Power]

This has been like a league one game. Brutal

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Was Bacuna gesturing that he'd be willing to meet Vardy 'outside' there? :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Describing that effort as 'lifted over' by Kozak was very kind.

[Magic]

Der Untergang kommencshien.

[Reg]

Never going to score from there, give Ulloa a chance.

Talking of Brighton strikers, Zamora broke the club league goals record today on his 35th birthday. What a man.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Properly poor game, that. Should have been 0-0. Villa are doomed.

[Lee]

Well. Happy with a point in the context of a terrible performance but that was really poor. It's the first time this season I've been disappointed with any performance. Too negative. Never mind, next one.

Villa not being able to beat us the way we played tells me they're gone.

[QE Harold Flair]

The point oh selective one is that you haven't wanked over this particular kid for nearly 'two years', according to your honest olde self. You're six months off your prediction of him being 'something special' which ironically is two years.... The timeline suggests exactly what I said at the time. He had a good game against a select eleven, you got excited, blew your load and now I'm awaiting for you to get on your knees and except your failings.

(I'm only half serious precious)

Yes, and you do realise we are in 2016?

[Reg]

It's hard to remember a worse team in possession than Aston Villa. Five minutes on the ball and oh, look, Aly Cissokho has it again.
They look so unimaginative, but in reality it's probably because they've not been coached to do anything useful. There aren't any good patterns of play, it's like they're eleven players with pretty good technique who've never played together before.

Their goal came from a full back playing it quickly into a striker. That must have happened a rough total of one time.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What an interview this is.

[Mellberg]

So much bitterness :drool:

We might be going down, but we're very slowly starting to gain a bit of momentum and pride. Baggies away will be interesting. If we win, maybe it's on. Anything less and we're gone.

[Lee]

No bitterness from me mate. You deserved the point. It's just that we were genuinely poor and you still didn't create anything against us. I think you're gone. It might not be a bad thing in the long run either.

[Magic]

Can we rename him to Leemon.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Tonight I've sat through Villa/Leicester which was bad and Villarreal against Betis which has been even worse. Great weekend of football my arse.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The French league is an utter joke. PSG are 23 points clear in the lead, and Troyes are 12 points adrift at the bottom. All the other 18 teams between 2nd and 19th are separated by just 14 points, in what appears to be a completely random order.

[Raoul Duke]

I really don't know why Garde moved to Villa.

[Mellberg]

Am I alone in thinking it was a good game? Maybe it was the tension on my side. Lee, I think you and Max know you need to take it game by game. Definitely no bitterness from Leicester (it's everyone else who want you to do well). Think a draw was a fair result and hope you can somehow finish top. Would be incredile.

What the fuck have you done with Albrighton? Come on massively from the sheepish lad who played for the Villa.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You were willing but just absolutely awful (only Okore and Ayew have any right to play at this level). Leicester were more potent but didn't fancy it. Draw definitely fair.

[QE Harold Flair]

Ayew has definitely got something to him. He's just never been prolific.

[Charlie]

It's astonishing that Championship teams don't understand this very basic concept.

50% full crowd at full price =/= 100% full crowd at half price.... with a million more benefits.

Apart from it's not actually the case. The thing that keeps lower league fans away from football is the fact that they don't want to watch shits. It's less to do with the cost.

[Mellberg]

You were willing but just absolutely awful (only Okore and Ayew have any right to play at this level). Leicester were more potent but didn't fancy it. Draw definitely fair.

Veretout's a player too, but his passing and delivery were suspect yesterday. Other than that, yeah, Championship players everywhere.

Ayew's fantastic. Shame he'll be off in the summer. Wouldn't look out of place at the top of the league.

[John Arne]

Apart from it's not actually the case. The thing that keeps lower league fans away from football is the fact that they don't want to watch shits. It's less to do with the cost.

I disagree.

When I was in the UK last year, I went to watch Super Crewe and it was £24. The reason I didn't go back the next week wasn't the quality on show (I knew it was going to be shit). Instead I went to watch my local non-league team, which cost me £6.
When I was younger I had a junior season ticket at Crewe - as soon as I turned 16 I had to stop going because I couldn't afford it.

[mo]

I disagree.

When I was in the UK last year, I went to watch Super Crewe and it was £24. The reason I didn't go back the next week wasn't the quality on show (I knew it was going to be shit). Instead I went to watch my local non-league team, which cost me £6.
When I was younger I had a junior season ticket at Crewe - as soon as I turned 16 I had to stop going because I couldn't afford it.

Agree completely. Only games I go to at Swindon now are freebies from mates as the cost is astronomical, it has nothing to do with the quality of football. No one who properly supports a lower league club (none of this 'who's your Prem team?' nonsense) is going to stop going because the quality of football is crap.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Valencia 0-1 Rayo Vallecano (who last won on 7 November). Poor Garreh.

[Yevrah]

Well I'm absolutely staggered that it appears as though he doesn't know what he's doing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The first 20 minutes of this have actually been a bit embarrassing, the 19th placed giants have been strolling through them at will.

[Byron]

It's almost like he's not cut out for the job and has gotten it through a 'mate'

In other news to help protect our league position, I think I may be cheering on Liverpool. I feel dirty.

[Yevrah]

It's quite terrifying that had he not taken this job he probably would have been a strong favourite to replace Hodgson. :sick:

[Jimmy Floyd]

He still is the betting favourite.

7 Gary Neville
9 Alan Pardew
10 Mauricio Pochettino
10 Brendan Rodgers
12 Gareth Southgate
14 Eddie Howe
14 Jose Mourinho
20 Garry Monk
33 Sam Allardyce

[Smiffy]

It's quite terrifying that had he not taken this job he probably would have been a strong favourite to replace Hodgson. :sick:

Although it hasn't been a great start for him he might still come good. Let's not forget he's taken his first managerial job in a technically superior league in a foreign country where he doesn't yet speak the lingo.

In fact, other than Hodgson himself, is there a single English manager who's managed abroad that is still active? I can't think of a single one unless we're counting Tony Adams and the already tried and tested McClaren.

[Smiffy]

He still is the betting favourite.

7 Gary Neville
9 Alan Pardew
10 Mauricio Pochettino
10 Brendan Rodgers
12 Gareth Southgate
14 Eddie Howe
14 Jose Mourinho
20 Garry Monk
33 Sam Allardyce

Combined trophies won? 22. Thank God for Jose, eh.

[phonics]

Stuart Baxter is the current Hodgson regen.

[Lee]

Why did people assume he'd be shit? I thought he might do well. Has his badges, has always spoken well about what happens on the pitch, has good contacts. I don't get why people are relishing his bad start either. I want a young English coach abroad to do well, myself. Anyway, bad start but very early days.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If the team I'm watching at the moment is at all a reflection of his coaching then he's more likely to take them down than to 'come good'. The fans are negative as fuck too.

Rayo are tearing them to shreds.

[Kikó]

He hasn't won the league yet and he's been there 3 months. Sack him and burn his children.

[Yevrah]

Why did people assume he'd be shit? I thought he might do well. Has his badges, has always spoken well about what happens on the pitch, has good contacts. I don't get why people are relishing his bad start either. I want a young English coach abroad to do well, myself. Anyway, bad start but very early days.

Re: the speaking well about what happens on the pitch, I think that's massively overrated in terms of it translating to managerial ability.

[Lee]

Re: the speaking well about what happens on the pitch, I think that's massively overrated in terms of it translating to managerial ability.

Probably, although it isn't really measurable. Better to have somebody who can talk with some insight than somebody who doesn't have that insight. He obviously understands the game but there's more to management/coaching than that.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The biggest obstacle is surely the players wanting to play for him / being motivated by him. We know what professional footballers are like. They look completely lost and plodding about every time I see them.

[Yevrah]

Probably, although it isn't really measurable. Better to have somebody who can talk with some insight than somebody who doesn't have that insight. He obviously understands the game but there's more to management/coaching than that.

Yeah, of course. Probably the hardest thing is getting that message across.

Which reminds me:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/gary-neville-hands-out-ipads-7017732

What the fuck is the 'paid for himself' bit all about?

[Magic]

£20,000 on iPads? Lol. That's the sort of shit you might hear at Salford but at Valencia?

[Yevrah]

Well he obviously didn't pay for them himself.

[Lee]

Yeah, of course. Probably the hardest thing is getting that message across.

Which reminds me:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/gary-neville-hands-out-ipads-7017732

What the fuck is the 'paid for himself' bit all about?

See, that seems a good thing and speaks of him wanting to change the way the club operates (on the football side) completely. Although at a very different level it's what Nigel Pearson did at Leicester and we are benefitting now from him building up the sports science department at the club.

These things take time to come through though, even years. The issue Neville will have is that the Valencia fans are notoriously impatient. Which is a shame because on paper it's a great club at which to cut your teeth. Let's write this season off for the sake of argument. They're not expected to finish inside the top three, they have money, and they're an attractive proposition for players in terms of both location and prestige.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They're not getting top three any time soon and even if he sorts them out, they'll have to leapfrog properly run clubs like Sevilla and Villarreal to get fourth. It was a really difficult job to walk into.

[niko_cee]

You have to be a real managerial colossus to succeed at Balenthia.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What a fucking goal that is :D

Rayo goalkeeper having a fag 30 yards out and Negredo just drove it past him from 50 yards.

[niko_cee]

It's pretty much win or sack off the rest of the league season today, which wasn't a scenario that worked out too well in the same fixture last season.

If we can keep it down to three conceded from set pieces we might have a chance.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Manucho is wheeled off the bench, presumably as high level trolling, and 15 seconds later his team put Valencia back behind. Classic inept game, this.

[John Arne]

Jonathan Pearce really has turned into a fucking horrible commentator. Tries to make an issue out of every decision, and then after he has seen 6 replays, he critices the ref. Fucking cunt.

Oh, and this of course...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjIj_GlvLD4

[John Arne]

A perfectly good goal disallowed for Valencia... now they actually score. 2-2 Gary :)

[Vim]

"It's changed its mind". The cringe is real.

[John Arne]

Even with the co-commentator clearly explaining what's happened...

[Byron]

My favourite aspect is Pearce's silence when the co-commentator explains the details, as if he's awestruck and then he focuses on the controversy aspect despite there being no controversy.

[Gray Fox]

Lucas is in for Ibe. Same team otherwise.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Toure, Sakho, Moreno, Lucas, Henderson, Can, Milner, Lallana, Firmino.

Subs: Ward, Caulker, Smith, Allen, Teixeira, Ibe, Benteke.

Man United: De Gea, Young, Smalling, Blind, Darmian, Schneiderlin, Fellaini, Lingard, Herrera, Martial, Rooney.

Subs: Romero, Borthwick-Jackson, McNair, Varela, Pereira, Mata, Memphis.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fancy the scouse for this.

[Gray Fox]

Liverpool to play quite well but be massively let down by the goalkeeper.

[Manc]

Lucas, Henderson, Can and Milner. United don't deserve that respect.

[Lewis]

Not that it solves all of their problems, but swapping Fellaini/Herrera seems like such an obvious improvement.

[Reg]

Shutting the coach door when Fellaini was about to step on would be a bigger improvement.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I might see if I can get a PhD funded on the cultural implications of the scenes portrayed in betting adverts.

[Waffdon]

The fuck are players doing in the crowd when fans could have taken the tickets?

[Reg]

That happens every single match.

[Boydy]

Lallana should have lobbed the keeper there, not fucking headed it.

[Reg]

Hasn't he scored about one goal for you? 27 million...

Edit: 25 million, we'll let him off.

[Dquincy]

Not seen a Man U v Liverpool match with such poor players (or lack of star players) in a long time.

[Waffdon]

Not seen a Man U v Liverpool match with such poor players (or lack of star players) in a long time.

Seen it earlier in the season, m8

[Smiffy]

It is all rather drab and it's almost certain we'll lose to a mistake rather than a moment of quality.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Some of the decision making by both teams is absolute balls.

[Dquincy]

Seen it earlier in the season, m8
Mate?

[Kikó]

Two shite teams here. Battle for sixth.

[Lewis]

'Fellaini Walking Around' is a great YouTube video waiting to be made.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Someone tell Henderson to stop shooting.

[Smiffy]

Henderson is doing my tits in here. :moop:

Who are Man United missing Kiko? I'm being special I'm sure.

[Waffdon]

Firmino the best player by some distance.

[Max Power]

Henderson stepping into Gerrards shoes nicely with all these nonsense shots from distance

[Raoul Duke]

The spine of both teams is just flimsy horsewank.

I really liked the idea of Fellaini before he signed but it's just not working. Young at RB is just Valencia Mk II (and equally bobbins).

[Kikó]

Henderson is doing my tits in here. :moop:

Who are Man United missing Kiko? I'm being special I'm sure.

We have long term Shaw. Jones, Carrick and Schwein. Nothing game changing.

[Dquincy]

Both teams are so average. Each group of players love giving the ball away for fun.

[Dquincy]

Firmino the best player by some distance.

Really? :saywhat:

He wants about two extra touches every time he has the ball.

[Smiffy]

I'm pretty convinced a TTH XI could do both these sides.

[Waffdon]

Really? :saywhat:

He wants about two extra touches every time he has the ball.

He's about to score. 8.50 if ya fancy it

[Dquincy]

He's about to score. 8.50 if ya fancy it

I don't know what that means. :)

But if he could score, I would appreciate it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Firmino is good from deep, but up against the line he's lazy and goes down too easily. Classic South American, really.

[Reg]

I think Fellaini has been man marking Henderson. Naturally he lost him in the most important moment when Henderson was free in the box.

Crap match. United can't keep the ball and Liverpool's endless running isn't doing anything.

[Max Power]

Martial looks Uniteds best player by a street. Wasted on the left

[Dquincy]

I think Fellaini has been man marking Henderson. Naturally he lost him in the most important moment when Henderson was free in the box.

Crap match. United can't keep the ball and Liverpool's endless running isn't doing anything.

Would the introduction of Benteke excite you?

[Boydy]

Borthwick-Jackson runs weird. His upper body looks odd. Like his arms don't swing independently of his body so his whole upper body seems to sway with his arms.

[Boydy]

That's my hot take on the first half because it's been fucking boring otherwise.

[Kikó]

How the fuck has van Gaal still got a job?

[ScousePig]

Re: the speaking well about what happens on the pitch, I think that's massively overrated in terms of it translating to managerial ability.

How good a manager do you really have to be to be successful at international level though? Because I'm not convinced there's a great deal to it, relatively speaking. There's no day to day management, coaching/training, transfers and everything else that comes in the domestic game. It's just the same group of players turning up for a week every few months and you trying to get the best out of them.

[Ian]

Because they're gagging for a bit of Pep's cock, I assume.

[ScousePig]

The biggest obstacle is surely the players wanting to play for him / being motivated by him. We know what professional footballers are like. They look completely lost and plodding about every time I see them.

That's what I was thinking. If I were choosing a manager for international football I'd be looking towards someone who can motivate, and has plenty of respect. It seems to me to be a different animal to club management.

[Yevrah]

That's what I was thinking. If I were choosing a manager for international football I'd be looking towards someone who can motivate, and has plenty of respect. It seems to me to be a different animal to club management.

I'd agree, but I don't think Gary Neville's going to be much cop at that either.

[ScousePig]

I'd agree, but I don't think Gary Neville's going to be much cop at that either.

No, me neither.

[Ian]

Martial getting mobbed by a few players there and nobody really trying to give him a way out. Good work, dickheads.

[Dquincy]

Firmino is so fucking slow!

[Kikó]

Because they're gagging for a bit of Pep's cock, I assume.

I think the real truth is fergie and cronies don't want José and rather Giggs while Ed wants to get rid of the influence of the cunts of 92 and trying to keep José interested. Guardiola is gone so I don't think that game is happening.

[Waffdon]

Real Madrid are 3-0 up after 11 minutes. lol

[Waffdon]

Offt, Martial showing emotion on his face there. Oh my.

[Dquincy]

Real Madrid are 3-0 up after 11 minutes. lol

4-0 now. :D

[Reg]

http://starecat.com/content/wp-content/uploads/when-your-homie-says-some-dumb-shit-and-you-spend-10-years-confused.jpg

[Jimmy Floyd]

Liverpool really, really lacking composure in the final third.

[Smiffy]

It'll come back to haunt us for sure. I'm fully braced for the sucker punch to this pile of dross.

[Lewis]

I think the real truth is fergie and cronies don't want José and rather Giggs while Ed wants to get rid of the influence of the cunts of 92 and trying to keep José interested. Guardiola is gone so I don't think that game is happening.

Woodward being the only one running it properly is some turnaround. Surely not?

[Dquincy]

Bring on Benteke, me thinks.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Liverpool don't have a single player on the pitch (possibly in the squad) who's good at shooting. United for all their woes have Martial and even Rooney lingering.

[simon]

Both Utd and Liverpool would benefit from not having five touches each in the final third. The lack of quality on show here is quite something.

[Smiffy]

Liverpool don't have a single player on the pitch (possibly in the squad) who's good at shooting. United for all their woes have Martial and even Rooney lingering.

Liverpool shots on target - 3
Man United shots on target - 0

Valid point Floyd.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The stats thing I'm looking at has United 3 shots, 0 on target but that's because the ball's just not getting there. If it does...

[Reg]

One of those was Henderson passing it into de Gea's hands. And I'm guessing Jim meant more generally than 67 minutes of football.

[Smiffy]

One of those was Henderson passing it into de Gea's hands. And I'm guessing Jim meant more generally than 67 minutes of football.

Oh is Rooney good again now? My deluded mind thought he was woeful in 2015.

[niko_cee]

De Gea always has a blinder against Liverpool (relatively speaking).

[Jimmy Floyd]

This isn't the playground Smiffy, not everything is a personal attack on you, Liverpool FC's representative on earth.

[Reg]

Both those things are right, Smiff.

He wasn't bad at shooting anyway. It's just that on the day van Gaal was appointed he banned all actions that produce chances to shoot.

[Smiffy]

This isn't the playground Smiffy, not everything is a personal attack on you, Liverpool FC's representative on earth.

Why so serious.

[Lewis]

niko is probably their representative now that GS has got a boyfriend. Can he take the role forward?

[Smiffy]

Both those things are right, Smiff.

He wasn't bad at shooting anyway. It's just that on the day van Gaal was appointed he banned all actions that produce chances to shoot.

The day he was appointed was the day I thought we'd finally move ahead of the Manc cunts but like our historic perch, we go and fuck ourselves over.

Liverpool. Self harmers.

[Kikó]

This is absolutely awful. Fellaini again polluting my eyes with his shite. And yes, Rooney is still crap. No pace or guile.

[Dquincy]

How was that push on Lucas not a foul?

[Smiffy]

Standard.

What a joke.

[Lewis]

This is absolutely awful. Fellaini again polluting my eyes with his shite. And yes, Rooney is still crap. No pace or guile.

The deadly duo. :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

But if it does...

[randomlegend]

He's BACK.

[Waffdon]

SCENES in the away end. SHould have celebrated in front of the fans :(