[Football] Weekend Fixtures (Fri 22 - Mon 25 January)

[Waffdon]

MARTINEZ WATCH is surely due a roaring comeback. I was very much against it during his Wigan days, but I got well on board when people started getting carried away with his first Everton season, and if they finish in the bottom half again you could make a very good case for sacking him.

Should be sacked if they get beat by Man City in the cup

[Davgooner]

Everton have only won six league games this season. Jesus.

[Weaver]

I hadn't realised that Everton had only won 6 games in the league so far. EDIT: Dav :cool:

Too many touches from some of their players, and they didn't have any idea what to do when faced with ten men behind the ball.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I reckon this could be the game when we finally lose the grip over Arsenal and set in for a decade of bottom half/outside the top 6 finishes. Arsenal should win very comfortably and their odds are ridiculous.

[The Merse]

Fucking triple captain on Lukaku. :nono:

Coleman ought to have had them level between those chances. To think Guidolin ws a relatively agressive coach in Italy...

[Davgooner]

You can fuck off with that.

[The Merse]

I reckon this could be the game when we finally lose the grip over Arsenal and set in for a decade of bottom half/outside the top 6 finishes. Arsenal should win very comfortably and their odds are ridiculous.

On the other hand, I'm convinced we'll lose it.

I've just got used to that with Chelsea.

A return to the pre-Mourinho Chelsea days of us spanking you's would be welcome.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You can fuck off with that.

It's more a comment driven by my view of where we are than a jinx attempt. If you decide to be a load of weaklings again then all's well that ends well.

Reyes to grab a brace.

[Toby]

I have no idea what to expect today, but then even in the days of certain Mourinho victory I didn't exactly look at these games with supreme confidence. Arsenal thinking that Chelsea are out of form and there to be beaten might set things up perfectly for a comfortable counter-attacking win. But it might just be correct and see them roll out 4-0.

[Lewis]

Should be sacked if they get beat by Man City in the cup

Isn't the next leg at City? That might be a bit harsh.

You can see Everton persevering with him in order not to be seen as a 'sacking club' as well. They would go for him at Norwich if they did. No trendy foreign tacticians for Bill Kenwright. He wouldn't even know who to ring if he wanted one.

[Waffdon]

It's the only thing going for him in past two seasons now. Their squad is pretty fucking good

[Reg]

I wish Cazorla and Sanchez were playing. When they're on the pitch with Ozil Arsenal are much more fun to watch.

How's Fabregas been doing since Mikel has been beside Matic?

[SincereTheRebel]

Pardon me but walcott being captain today because of his 10 year club anniversary is an absolute disgrace

[Jimmy Floyd]

Pardon me but walcott being captain today because of his 10 year club anniversary is an absolute disgrace

It's very Arsenal. As is finding a reason to boo at least one of the opposition's players in every match.

[Lee]

Chelsea look shit, which is a shame as I want them to win.

[Reg]

The armband is no biggie. Mertesacker will do as he always does and it's just a nice gesture to Walcott.

[Lewis]

Ten years since he joined Arsenal. Jesus.

lol at that.

[Toby]

lol

[QE Harold Flair]

Fucking plodding cunt. I don't know why we still persist with him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Alan Smith is absolutely seething (again).

[Boydy]

Why did I bet on Arsenal. :moop:

[niko_cee]

:D

Just put him in my fantasy team this week. Sorry Arsenal.

[Serj]

Clear red, but Costa's agonized screams and rolling around. :D The man is such a clown.

[The Merse]

Fuck's sake. It was like that was happening in slow motion, you could just see it. All he needs to do is to make him check his run slightly as Koscielny is barreling in and Costa is not Walcott.

[John]

Mertesacker can be such a comprehensive shambles at times.

[simon]

:drool:

[hfswjyr]

The armband is no biggie. Mertesacker will do as he always does and it's just a nice gesture to Walcott.

Mertesacker knew!

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fucking lol at that outcry. It's like a WWE crowd over there.

[John]

:D

Giroud transfer request incoming.

[Lewis]

I might just re-watch that substitution all afternoon.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They should have taken off Walcott to piss on his 10 year anniversary thing.

[QE Harold Flair]

Alan Smith is absolutely seething (again).

Smith is too nice to seethe about anything.

[Reg]

I think that might be a good decision. They will probably score by breaking if anything so Walcott up front sounds sensible.

Well that didn't take long.

[SincereTheRebel]

Somehow, that sending off is captain walcott's fault

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Amazing defending.

[Lee]

This season is just a big practical joke at my expense, right? I'm going to wake up and we'll be 18th.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Every fucking time. All we need now is Drogba to somehow appear and add the second.

[Reg]

If Ozil is meant to be covering the left flank now that they're down to ten, he's already done a pretty crap job of it.

[John]

Willian is running this.

[Vim]

Why was Giroud taken off instead of Cambpell? Surely you keep your main striker in ...

[Max Power]

Chelsea doing an absolute job here. Mikel bestriding over the Emirates turf. Nailed on Fabregas goal at some point as well.

Top in February!!

[Magic]

Lukaku captain, Barkley and Giroud doing me proud. :drool:

[Reg]

Maybe they're going narrow 4311 with Ozil in the hole. It's stupidly easy for Chelsea to get up on Willian's flank at the moment.

[QE Harold Flair]

I think it was that last roll which swayed it.

[John]

Looking away from the tackle as he's going in is a serious blunder from Mertesacker.

[Foe]

Arsenals performance against Chelsea in the league really is horrible. Not won since 2011 from what I can tell.

[John]

Campbell will end up sent off for a stupid lunge here. Three or four times already he's been so late he's missed the man but he'll get his eye in at some point.

[Vim]

Arsenal are having to decline to cross despite having plenty of time because for some reason their only striker was taken off.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Probably Fabregas's best half hour for about 18 months.

Mikel :drool:

[John]

Arsenal are having to decline to cross despite having plenty of time because for some reason their only striker was taken off.

He was carrying a knock and probably wouldn't have lasted the full match anyway.

[Magic]

Leicester are winning the league, lads. Feel free to quote me on that.

[Toby]

I still have that feeling of dread that has been ever present through this season. Chelsea have chucked more comfortable leads recently, so even with the Arsenal factor I'm not exactly brimming with confidence.

[Vim]

He was carrying a knock and probably wouldn't have lasted the full match anyway.

Ah didn't know that. Still handicapping your team massively by taking the only tall player in your frontline off. :/

[Max Power]

Costa looks fitter than he did for most of 2015. Seems leaner and meaner.

Would be great for Chelsea to win heavily. Really dent Arsenal confidence

[John]

He's found his range.

[Toby]

Flamini not just sticking his head on that is one of many contenders for "most Arsenal thing ever" today.

[Reg]

Atmosphere has died. Hopefully Arsenal score quickly after half time as otherwise it's going to be a boring 1-0 with Chelsea running down the clock.

[The Merse]

Twice we get someone in a great position and it's fucking Flamini.

Flamini for fucks sake.

[John]

:D

This has been rather good fun. Ozil has been absolutely dreadful in possession.

[The Merse]

Costa looks fitter than he did for most of 2015. Seems leaner and meaner.

Would be great for Chelsea to win heavily. Really dent Arsenal confidence

You lot are taking the title seriously now then are you (not that you shouldn't be whatsoever)?

[Davgooner]

The red isn't a big deal to be honest. We've been total shit from minute one.

[QE Harold Flair]

We've played shit most of the season, actually. I've no idea how we're even challenging thus far.

[Max Power]

You lot are taking the title seriously now then are you (not that you shouldn't be whatsoever)?

Yeah until it becomes unattainable then why not?

Although realistically I'm looking at champions league qualification as the goal from now

[QE Harold Flair]

Arsenal are having to decline to cross despite having plenty of time because for some reason their only striker was taken off.

I can see why he did it. He was going to play Walcott and try and counter. Obviously had we been 1-0 down at the time he may have made a different decision.

[Lee]

I don't think we will win the league. I do now think we will make the top four. The win at Spurs did it for me. Our home fixtures are pleasant looking too. People talk about February looking tough, and they're right, but we're in such a position that it's almost a free hit of a month. I don't expect much from our next three but we have proven we can spoil as well as attack so I wouldn't be amazed by three of four points from Liverpool (H), Man City (A) and Arsenal (A).

It's a great position to be in. Winning the league is impossible but Leicester fans can hardly be upset with not doing so. It has been a brilliant season. Next target for me is beating the 8th place and 55 points achieved by O'Neill's team in 2000. Then beating the 65 points (equivalent with three points for a win) of the 1929 runner's up side.

[John]

That advert clearly isn't supposed to be as lol as it is, seeing as they're using the prospect of Arsenal tickets to promote themselves, but taken on its own the voiceover is fucking great.

"Get the chance to win Arsenal tickets with Vitality health and life insurance."
"No thanks."

[Davgooner]

We've played shit most of the season, actually. I've no idea how we're even challenging thus far.

We've certainly been 'getting by' with this current mob. Ramsey and Flamini as a central midfield pairing are fucking rank.

[Jeet]

Couldn't score vs a shit ManUtd under Moyes and same vs a shit Chelsea this season.

Man City dropped points this weekend, so knew we wouldn't win

[Jimmy Floyd]

lol at Souness thinking that isn't a sending off.

[QE Harold Flair]

That Costa roll x 4 and pained expression, where there was hardly any contact if any at all, should be a 10 game ban in retrospect.

OOhhh he's really getting to me!

[Jeet]

:D why is he looking at the lineo before tackling - no whilst tackling

[Magic]

I don't think we will win the league. I do now think we will make the top four. The win at Spurs did it for me. Our home fixtures are pleasant looking too. People talk about February looking tough, and they're right, but we're in such a position that it's almost a free hit of a month. I don't expect much from our next three but we have proven we can spoil as well as attack so I wouldn't be amazed by three of four points from Liverpool (H), Man City (A) and Arsenal (A).

It's a great position to be in. Winning the league is impossible but Leicester fans can hardly be upset with not doing so. It has been a brilliant season. Next target for me is beating the 8th place and 55 points achieved by O'Neill's team in 2000. Then beating the 65 points (equivalent with three points for a win) of the 1929 runner's up side.

Neg'ead.

[Toby]

OOhhh he's really getting to me!

It's at least the second time you've had a whinge about it so it certainly seems that way.

[Lee]

Neg'ead.

"Impossible" should read "is possible". My iPad has autocorrected the fucker. Apple don't believe.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Last game of the season is Chelsea v Leicester at Stamford Bridge. I'd like to think we'll do the decent thing and then they can basically get on the open topped bus still in their kit and have a national tour, like the Olympic flame, because that's how popular they will be with literally everyone. Ranieri knighted and given his own BBC cookery show.

[QE Harold Flair]

It's at least the second time you've had a whinge about it so it certainly seems that way.

I know, that's what I'm saying.

[QE Harold Flair]

Last game of the season is Chelsea v Leicester at Stamford Bridge. I'd like to think we'll do the decent thing and then they can basically get on the open topped bus still in their kit and have a national tour, like the Olympic flame, because that's how popular they will be with literally everyone. Ranieri knighted and given his own BBC cookery show.

Good idea. John Terry can join in, then.

[Spoonsky]

Big turning point in Arsenal's season this. Hard to see past them for the league if they turn it around and win, but it's hard to see them doing that at the moment.

[Toby]

Leicester would surely be the most universally popular champions ever. Do they even have any proper rivals?

[John]

Lol at Costa realising it was Gabriel beside him there and speeding up again just to wind him up.

He's such a transparent shitbag but it's great fun to watch.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Leicester would surely be the most universally popular champions ever. Do they even have any proper rivals?

Nottingham and Derby, no?

[Reg]

Why are they going short with corners? Arsenal have ten men and aren't the biggest.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We've been properly First Ruled there. Nailed on penalty. No wave of the arms, no card for simulation, just a pair of soiled y-fronts.

[Waffdon]

Lol at that not being a penalty.

[niko_cee]

Sanchez to burst his hamstring and end Arsenal's season.

[Lee]

Nottingham and Derby, no?

We aren't anything like as irrelevant to Forest and Derby as they'd tell you but they dislike one another far more than they do us. The other candidate is Coventry but we haven't played them for a bit. There was a stage not too long ago where younger fans of both clubs considered the other the main rival. Coventry is closer in distance than Nottingham or Derby, but them being in the West Midlands makes them less of a rival for me..

Forest, Derby, then Coventry. It changes for Leicester fans depending where you are in the county. For people brought up in the City it's mostly Forest. Where I live now it's Coventry because there are a lot of Coventry fans out this way.

[Sam]

Leicester would surely be the most universally popular champions ever. Do they even have any proper rivals?

Wouldn't say so, bit like Coventry in that no one in the midlands has any dislike for them. Would be the most liked champions for sure should it happen.

[Jimmy Floyd]

A week on from slaughtering Stoke fans, I see a few gooners were enjoying seeing a professional possibly injured on the park there.

[Lee]

Wouldn't say so, bit like Coventry in that no one in the midlands has any dislike for them. Would be the most liked champions for sure should it happen.

Many Forest, Derby and Coventry fans dislike us very much. They just pretend not to until they have to play us. It would be great to do somethig special this season because, since Clough, we've always been the poor relations in the East Midlands.

[Magic]

Sickening to think what a long term plan and solid/wise investment can do.

Synonym: Leicester City
Anatonym: Leeds United

[niko_cee]

Sven managed them for a while so calm down a bit eh?

[Sam]

Many Forest, Derby and Coventry fans dislike us very much. They just pretend not to until they have to play us. It would be great to do somethig special this season because, since Clough, we've always been the poor relations in the East Midlands.

Wouldn't class them as rivalries though which I assume is what Toby was asking? Viewed it the same as us playing Villa, yeah we share the same area and there's a bit of dislike but it's hardly a rivalry.

[The Merse]

A week on from slaughtering Stoke fans, I see a few gooners were enjoying seeing a professional possibly injured on the park there.

Always a few arses about at any ground, and in the heat of battle there's more excuse for sure. The difference is a calculated and concerted effort by an entire stadium to get on the back of someone off the back of a traumatic career threatening injury sustained as a youngster.

Big fucking difference.

[The Merse]

Sickening to think what a long term plan and solid/wise investment can do.

Synonym: Leicester City
Anatonym: Leeds United

I've felt for sometime that Leeds initial woes were a bit unfortunate on account of having come at a time when the money was pouring into the league but clubs were yet to understand how to use it responsibly and were looking desperately short term. That and the ITV Digital debacle of course.

[Lee]

Wouldn't class them as rivalries though which I assume is what Toby was asking? Viewed it the same as us playing Villa, yeah we share the same area and there's a bit of dislike but it's hardly a rivalry.

They're definitely rivalries, on all three counts. Not as big as Forest vs Derby (to use a local example), admittedly, but then they don't need to be. Probably different from your Villa example as we've all spent most of our histories, even in my time, being in the same leagues. Regularity of matches is a factor.

[Waffdon]

The fuck happened to Courtois?

[Vim]

Yeah Flamini backheel. lol

[Toby]

You'd think it was Chelsea with ten men if you'd just switched on for this past ten minutes.

[Vim]

Sanchez makes the difference.

[Lee]

There's no composure about Chelsea at all. I wanted the cunts to fuck Arsenal's goal difference.

[Luke Emia]

I've just switched on 2 minutes to go and still in the game but half the cunts have left.

[John]

What the fuck was that fall from Ivanovic about? Proper Steven Taylor stuff.

[Luke Emia]

Arsenal still bottling things is funny though. I'm genuinely starting to believe Leicester could win it.

[Lee]

What a fantastic weekend. Three points clear at the top heading into February. Absolutely mental.

[QE Harold Flair]

Sanchez made a massive difference. We keep him fit we still have a chance.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Henry is seething as well. Marvellous. It all went a bit Goodison in the last 20 minutes.

[simon]

:drool:

[Lewis]

That transfer deadline day advert is bad on so many levels.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Gaz Nev 1-0 down again (48 gone) for any schadenfreude fans.

[Giggles]

Leicester :drool:

Maybe the collective will of everyone can push them over the line.

[Reg]

Gaz Nev 1-0 down again (48 gone) for any schadenfreude fans.
They are so far behind Villarreal now it doesn't matter too much. Depends how highly the board/fans regard the Europa League I guess.

[Max Power]

They are so far behind Villarreal now it doesn't matter too much. Depends how highly the board/fans regard the Europa League I guess.

Only six points off the drop...

[Davgooner]

Meh, Chelsea made hard work of that. Oh for a chance in the box not to fall to Mathieu fucking Flamini.

We need to keep our heads though as they way this season's gone this is almost par for the course. Every chance Welbeck, Rosicky, Coquelin and Cazorla could be back come the next league game and we need them. We've done well for a couple of months without that mob and Sanchez, but like fuck are Flamini and Campbell leading us to the title.

Not sure why Elneny isn't getting a chance.

[Reg]

Only six points off the drop...
Ooh, hadn't spotted that. I think they can rely on enough draws to keep them up though.

I mean it matters for the fans if they finish 14th or whatever, as it won't be much fun. But they might as well stick by him as it's just going to get messier and messier the more they sack managers.

[Spoonsky]

I was watching the end of a Bundesliga game just now and I caught a glimpse of Papy Djilobodji playing for Werder Bremen. It was like seeing a unicorn.

[Toby]

That transfer deadline day advert is bad on so many levels.

I don't understand what they're going for. It's like they're finally admitting that it'll just be filled with unsubstantiated shit and that nothing interesting will actually happen.

[Jeet]

Won't be surprised if Spurs finish above us

[Giggles]

Won't be surprised if Spurs finish above us

Haven't they threatened that a few times and always lay down and died?

[Magic]

I've felt for sometime that Leeds initial woes were a bit unfortunate on account of having come at a time when the money was pouring into the league but clubs were yet to understand how to use it responsibly and were looking desperately short term. That and the ITV Digital debacle of course.

It made no sense short or long term. As a business plan it was utterly ridiculous.

We had several chances, our best in 2010/11 and instead of steadying up a shakey defence as we were scoring for fun we did fuck all and from 2nd at Christmas we finished 7th. That was our chance with our best players before Bates fucked us again.

Sell, make money, hope for youth, spend pennies on shite, constant management etc = 13th is our best finish since then.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Negredo with a beaut of a header to earn the Nevs a point. Negredo and his understudy Alcacer are so far ahead of all the other outfield players they have.

Zizou away at Betis shortly, Betis looked decent last week after sacking Pepe Mel and replacing him with some binman. A win gets Real Madrid to within two of Atletico, who binned some points with a 0-0 earlier.

[Reg]

Juve v Roma in a half hour. Potential to be one of those scrappy games but hopefully Spalletti will get Roma playing better football.

[Lee]

I'm going for the Betis-Madrid game, I haven't watched anything Spanish this week. I did my bit for Italy watching Empoli-Milan last night. Great game too.

[Smiffy]

Leicester's next three games will decide their fate for sure.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I reckon their next 15 will. And the 38 next season (46 if they are relegated).

[Davgooner]

I posted the same thing in October, and then again in December.

[John]

Every game since about November has been set to decide their fate.

[Lee]

Leicester's next three games will decide their fate for sure.

I think we'll beat you and lose the other two. That would still leave us in a very strong position to finish in the top four, given our remaining fixtures. Indeed losing the next three wouldn't kill us; we've only lost two so far.

We must surely have done enough now that people recognise that we are genuinely very good?Yesterday's performance would have been more than satisfying for any of the big clubs.

[Lee]

Cejudo has just scored a brilliant goal for Betis.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Now watch the referee get them back into it.

[Vim]

One of the most important games of the season, this.

[John]

We must surely have done enough now that people recognise that we are genuinely very good?Yesterday's performance would have been more than satisfying for any of the big clubs.

You only recognised that yourself about a fortnight ago.

[Shindig]

Nowt wrong with some cautious pessimism. We finished fifth under Pardew once.

[Toby]

You don't average 2 points a game over even 10+ games if you don't have something about you. There's still a feeling they'll start to fall away eventually but you'd have to be brave to bet against top four at this point.

[Reg]

Interesting move by Spalletti playing Nainggolan ahead of Pjanic.

Great collection of central midfielders, Vainqueur must be the weak link by far. Him v Pogba is one to watch. (Edit- or not. Opposite sides.)

Do you think you will win the league, Vim?

[Lee]

You only recognised that yourself about a fortnight ago.

Yeah but I always think the worst for Leicester. I think the only time I haven't is towards the end of us pissing the Championship a couple of years back. Something needs to be almost mathematically certain for me to believe it might happen.

[Mellberg]

Sorry for taking those two points off you, Lee. They'd have been worth more to you than the one is to us.

Are they three points clear now? The level of scenes if it happens will be unprecedented. Unfortunately still expect them to drop. It usually happens in March.

[Mellberg]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/jan/22/golden-goal-ken-mcnaught-for-aston-villa-v-barcelona-1983-super-cup

That's a cracking read about Villa beating Barcelona in the European Super Cup if anyone's interested. Nostalgia is all we have left.

[Vim]

Interesting move by Spalletti playing Nainggolan ahead of Pjanic.

Great collection of central midfielders, Vainqueur must be the weak link by far. Him v Pogba is one to watch. (Edit- or not. Opposite sides.)

Do you think you will win the league, Vim?

I don't know, we've clearly shown that we'll finish in front of Inter and Roma (knock on wood) but Napoli are way better than I thought they'd be. I thought they'd have dropped out of the title race already.

[Lewis]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/jan/22/golden-goal-ken-mcnaught-for-aston-villa-v-barcelona-1983-super-cup

That's a cracking read about Villa beating Barcelona in the European Super Cup if anyone's interested. Nostalgia is all we have left.

You're being a bit pessimistic. The land under Villa Park must be worth something.

[Giggles]

Setanta just showed a Matt Le Tissier feature during half time in the Roma game. What a fucking man.

He was so fat in that final game at The Dell though :D

[Disco]

There speaks a man who's never been to Villa Park.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This bin man is doing a proper job on Zidane. Pity he's about to be replaced by Juande Ramos.

[Jimmy Floyd]

And they equalise with about four men offside. Shock. Dubious penalty for the winner.

[Toby]

Nicely timed as always.

[Mellberg]

You're being a bit pessimistic. The land under Villa Park must be worth something.

We used to own some valuable land strangely enough. Then we sold it and bought Steve Sidwell or someone.

[Lee]

Fucking Juventus are going to end up pissing the league.

[Smiffy]

I think we'll beat you and lose the other two. That would still leave us in a very strong position to finish in the top four, given our remaining fixtures. Indeed losing the next three wouldn't kill us; we've only lost two so far.

We must surely have done enough now that people recognise that we are genuinely very good?Yesterday's performance would have been more than satisfying for any of the big clubs.

Given your performance against us the last time we faced that's quite a claim. We beat the top sides, remember. ;)

[Lee]

It's not really that much of a claim, you've just let four in against Norwich, have loads of injuries, and have two games to play between now and then while we have none.

We were definitely shit against you on Boxing Day but I can't see that a game more than a month ago will have any impact on one now. We'll see. I won't be putting money on or anything. :D

I was sorely tempted to bet a month's wages on your claim that Liverpool will make the top four though. Not a chance.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can only imagine what Super Claudio will do with two weeks off. Take the squad on an art trip to Florence, perhaps, or teach them how to make ice cream.

[Lee]

Nothing so exciting. He has given the players three days off and has gone to Italy himself.

[Smiffy]

It's not really that much of a claim, you've just let four in against Norwich, have loads of injuries, and have two games to play between now and then while we have none.

We were definitely shit against you on Boxing Day but I can't see that a game more than a month ago will have any impact on one now. We'll see. I won't be putting money on or anything. :D

I was sorely tempted to bet a month's wages on your claim that Liverpool will make the top four though. Not a chance.

£20 wager? You clearly missed the remark about us beating the top sides. We only lose to the shit like United, United or the other United.

[SincereTheRebel]

Wasnt aware man utd lost this weekend. Nemanja vidic it available on a free as inter milan have terminated his contract. Might as well resign him.

[Kikó]

Bobby Charlton is a on free as well.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bobby Charlton would win more headers.

[Lee]

£20 wager? You clearly missed the remark about us beating the top sides. We only lose to the shit like United, United or the other United.

£50 says Liverpool won't make the top four.

[Boydy]

What went wrong with Vidic? Wasn't he meant to have been amazing for a few seasons at United?

[John]

He was amazing. Then he got older and stopped being amazing.

Time did seem to catch up with him unusually early though. If he was African he'd almost certainly have been hauled in front of the dubious passport panel.

[Boydy]

He was amazing. Then he got older and stopped being amazing.

Time did seem to catch up with him unusually early though. If he was African he'd almost certainly have been hauled in front of the dubious passport panel.

Ah, that's why I was surprised about it as I didn't think he was that old when United got rid.

[Cord]

He had at least one serious knee injury in his thirties, and so went from naturally fairly slow to largely immobile. Still think it was his decision to go to Italy, rather than United getting rid.

[Yevrah]

MARTINEZ WATCH is surely due a roaring comeback. I was very much against it during his Wigan days, but I got well on board when people started getting carried away with his first Everton season, and if they finish in the bottom half again you could make a very good case for sacking him.

That he still can't organise a defence properly is a real problem and means there's only so far his teams can go.

[Kikó]

So the papers are going with the story that van Gaal has again offered to resign if required which Ed has graciously refused a fucking gain.

Lowest shots on target at home across the 92 clubs.

[Lee]

The Levante-Las Palmas game has come alive after a dull first half. A goal apiece this half before the 48th minute. 2-1 Levante.

[Ian]

Vidic also never won a header, lest we forget.

[ScousePig]

I think we'll beat you and lose the other two. That would still leave us in a very strong position to finish in the top four, given our remaining fixtures. Indeed losing the next three wouldn't kill us; we've only lost two so far.

We must surely have done enough now that people recognise that we are genuinely very good?Yesterday's performance would have been more than satisfying for any of the big clubs.

You need to do it for more than one season, and of course it depends on your definition. If you're saying very good in the sense of title challengers/top four candidates, then you'd need to do it consistently over a few seasons.. If you mean it in the sense of being a top half side, then yeah it's looking good. Though as much as I'm loving watching what you're doing, I can't help but think that if the season started again now, you'd be closer to the middle than the top.

Which is nothing to scoff at, of course.

[Toby]

Better to win the league once than be thereabouts for years on end. There's no question this Leicester side is genuinely good.

[Magic]

Any more meaningless cliches you want to chuck in there for good measure scouse?

[Lee]

You need to do it for more than one season, and of course it depends on your definition. If you're saying very good in the sense of title challengers/top four candidates, then you'd need to do it consistently over a few seasons.. If you mean it in the sense of being a top half side, then yeah it's looking good. Though as much as I'm loving watching what you're doing, I can't help but think that if the season started again now, you'd be closer to the middle than the top.

Which is nothing to scoff at, of course.

I meant a very good side this season. I'm not thinking any further ahead than that; this is likely once in a lifetime stuff for us. I reckon our form over the rest of the season will be much better than midtable form, but we'll see. It might only take that to finish in the top four from here anyway, none of the chasing pack seem too keen on doing anything.

[Kikó]

Leicester are a very good side after 23 games. You don't top the league for that long without having something about you.

[Max Power]

We're by far the greatest team the world has ever seen

[SvN]

...and it's Yeovil Town. Yeovil Town FC.

[Lewis]

Lowest shots on target at home across the 92 clubs.

Less negative people might look at that as not giving the ball away cheaply.

[ScousePig]

I meant a very good side this season. I'm not thinking any further ahead than that; this is likely once in a lifetime stuff for us. I reckon our form over the rest of the season will be much better than midtable form, but we'll see. It might only take that to finish in the top four from here anyway, none of the chasing pack seem too keen on doing anything.

I think the 'table doesn't lie' cliche is tosh myself, but not to the extent that a team that are three points clear going into February haven't been 'very good' that season. You're top and you deserve to be top. The season starting from now stuff I meant as in all teams had a clean slate and it was pre-season, not that your form will be that of a mid-table side for the rest of the season. Your momentum and respect (for want of a better word) will probably get a few extra points alone.

For the sake of the rest of the Premier League and teams in the football league, hell for humanity, I hope you make at least top four.

[ScousePig]

Any more meaningless cliches you want to chuck in there for good measure scouse?

Get back to me when you've learnt what a meaningless cliche is.

[John]

That's some top quality, organic, free range bullshit from Scouse upthread. Exemplary work.

Kris Boyd having a bit of a giggle at someone shouting 'Stubbs yer talking shite' last night has made my morning. Why BT Sport persist in getting Alan Stubbs on to cover our games I do not fucking know, but hopefully if that becomes a regular interruption they'll give it up. Not only is the bloke an absolute balloon, but he's got form for being a bitter twat towards us and is the manager of our main rivals this season.

[Magic]

Get back to me when you've learnt what a meaningless cliche is.

What about if the final whistle had went on the 77th minute against Villa away Leicester would have won.

Or WW2 began in 1943 Hitler the allies would have dominated the war.

Or if the earth began 6000 years ago then creationists would be right.

[John]

Turns out two Rangers fans were arrested last night for singing 'you can stick your fuckin cameras up your arse' at a couple of policemen who were filming them. Now, I find this hard to believe, but apparently they're being charged with a breach on the grounds that the song is homophobic. If that's true then just close the doors now because we're fucking done as a nation.

[Magic]

I have no problem with such scum being taken off our streets, to be honest.

[Disco]

It's a crap policeman who can't come up with a better excuse to arrest such obvious wankers.

[QE Harold Flair]

I have no problem with such scum being taken off our streets, to be honest.

You ought to have enough about you to see the wider implications than your hatred of Rangers.

[Kikó]

Ridiculous John but not surprising. Anything to bump their arrest rates.

[John]

It's a crap policeman who can't come up with a better excuse to arrest such obvious wankers.

That song originally turned up when the police first started filming fans, thanks to the 'review' process offered to them by the SNP a few years ago, where they just film everything and then actually try to pick out rulebreakers later.

It's come back recently since Oberfuhrer Sturgeon's mates are considering making facial recogniton software mandatory in top flight Scottish stadiums, so that anyone doing anything can be picked out and banned.

I know that FSF stuff was big for a while in England and that football fans are treated like insurgents all over the place, but it's particularly bad up here at the moment and will only get worse.

[Magic]

Yes but our hooligans aren't 'all about the club' (if any hooligans are).

[Jimmy Floyd]

What is the approved sport of the Scottish National Party?

The Highland Games is good stuff, but it seems too parochial for their one party state vision. Alex Salmond was a big golf fan, but now The Donald has ruined that for them. Fitbah is an example of Scotland going it alone and massively failing on every conceivable measure, so that's not good news.

What about professional computer games?

[Disco]

Deep Frying?

[John]

Tennis.

You still see the pathetic 'British when he wins, Scottish all the time' appearing on Facebook beside a little avatar with a circled '45' on it any time Murray plays, and the establishment are all passionate fans.

I reckon they actively want to kill football.

[Magic]

What is the approved sport of the Scottish National Party?

The Highland Games is good stuff, but it seems too parochial for their one party state vision. Alex Salmond was a big golf fan, but now The Donald has ruined that for them. Fitbah is an example of Scotland going it alone and massively failing on every conceivable measure, so that's not good news.

What about professional computer games?

Too technical. It'll be some form of gambling, no doubt.

[phonics]

Why are Scotland so crap a Rugby? All the rest of them small nations use them being better to laud it over the English and everyones naturally a fat cunt looking for a fight so you'd think 90% of Glasgow would fit right in.

[Magic]

Why are we so shit at football despite having produced some of the game's finest players?

[Toby]

Why are Scotland so crap a Rugby?

Nobody gives much of a shit about it, mostly. You get pockets all over the country where it's really popular, but those people are freaks.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Scotland cricket are the real dons. A bizarre assortment of people, from Porage Oats-esque hunk Calum MacLeod through to skinny ginger wisp Alasdair Evans via a collection of Asian misfits like Majid 'Magic' Haq, who has now been exiled for being a knobhead actually and promptly accused them of racism. They also had some druggy called Asim Butt who was said to have died in 2009, but various family members claim he faked his own death.

And they lost to Hong Kong this morning, so lol at them.

[ScousePig]

That's some top quality, organic, free range bullshit from Scouse upthread. Exemplary work.

I'll bump this when I'm proven correct.