August football: This was nearly called "Ballgust"

With the Lionesses having conclusively brought football home once and for all I was hoping we might not feel the need to have a load of dickheads continue to play it every week but alas, Manchester United elbowing their way back into my life is s crushing inevitability.

But still, there is plenty to look forward to if that's your sort of thing. Champions League qualifiers, the ongoing failure of United, Haaland on #fraudwatch, all that stuff.

And even more football to watch too now we're all die-hard womens football fans. What a time to be alive.

Going up to Preston-Hull on Sat which gets in the way of my enjoyment of the proper stuff but the break has had the desired effect, I'm fucking raring to go and it promises to be a top top season :drool:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/footb...p-taking-knee/

Quote:

---

It has been said that most of the league's skippers have agreed that the gesture has 'lost its gravitas' at a meeting last week. Though the news outlet has stated that it is not yet known how and when Premier League teams will show their support for the movement. But it is believed that the gesture will be performed during primetime TV matches and local derbies.

---

Unfortunate for it to lose its 'gravitas' only a few months before the World Cup in Qatar.

I for one am staggered that it didn’t stop racism, or and let’s be frank, actually achieve anything.

Props to Zaha for fucking it off almost immediately.

It's because they did not put enough resources into it. Had they taken two knees instead of one, racism would be no more.

Everyone join the TTH Fantasy Premier League league: https://fantasy.premierleague.com/le...to-join/8iql75

By the logic of the football's home lot, the next time a pundit says Arsenal have never won the Champions League they should immediately be corrected as the ladies apparently won it in 2007.

Obviously, that's not the same but here we are. Still think the increased kudos and hype they are getting will result in some average journeymen suddenly having a gender crisis (a convenient one where they never actually have their cock and balls off) so they can have a crack at the world cup.

Do they lump them together in other sports? I feel like not. Like if a stat is shown about Serena Williams it will be comparing her alongside the likes of Navratilova and other good-at-tennis women, rather than the drug cheaty men.

The BBC are just about the stage where the womens game is 'football' and the mens game is 'mens football'.

There's plenty of work still to do. I want 'Men' specified after every team name in every context. Port Vale Men. The FIFA Men's World Cup. The UEFA Men's Champions League. EFL Men's League One.

Ballon d'or pour les hommes

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Baz

Do they lump them together in other sports? I feel like not. Like if a stat is shown about Serena Williams it will be comparing her alongside the likes of Navratilova and other good-at-tennis women, rather than the drug cheaty men.

---

Someone asked Andy Murray how it felt to be the first person to win 2 gold medals in Olympic tennis and he responded "I think Venus and Serena have got about 5 each", but I appreciate that's slightly different given women probably should be included under the banner of "people".

I've heard a lot of people saying the women's World Cup/England team were "a lot better to watch than anything the men have served up recently", but having given the final a go once the United friendly finished the standard really is still pretty awful.

Women's football has become a handy vehicle for people who don't really like football, which probably won't serve 'the cause' all that well in the long run.

That isn't to denigrate what is an overwhelmingly positive thing, it's just what the fallout [for want of a better term] surrounding the whole thing feels like.

The whole 'the standard is much lower than the men's game' takes I find really strange. Of course the standard is lower than the men's game, for the same reasons that the men's 100m world record is 9.58 and the women's is 10.49. Doesn't make the women's race any less watchable.

It being used as a tedious weapon by one side of the culture war is quite grating, and is what caused me not to watch it. EDIT: in fact, by both sides.

Nah nobody cares about the womens 100m

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Of course the standard is lower than the men's game, for the same reasons that the men's 100m world record is 9.58 and the women's is 10.49. Doesn't make the women's race any less watchable.

---

That's not really the same. The women in their 100m are probably technically just as good as the men and the sport is just as developed, they are just slower because of biology.

Women's football is miles behind men's football for a whole myriad of reasons and I just didn't find it that entertaining to watch when it's so...bad. That doesn't mean I don't think other people can or should enjoy it; loads of people love watching lower league football for example.

As international tournaments go it was underwhelming. No upsets and very little drama. Even the winning goal was meh.

Female cycling is ok in that someone riding at 20 mph and someone riding at 24 mph look identical on TV.

How does the standard being lower not make it less watchable?

As long as the PASSION levels are the same amirite.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lewis

How does the standard being lower not make it less watchable?

---

Because football is a competition between two teams. If you only like to watch the best of the best, then what's the point.

I watch what interests me, which means either 1) backing a particular team; or 2) watching for the Quality/occasion (to cover otherwise crap games in the World Cup etc.). I might as well watch myself doing a crossbar challenge if I just want to watch 'sport'.

I mean, I stand on my balcony and watch the Sunday league in the park below. You get down to a certain standard where winning a throw-in is actually a disadvantage, because no one has a first touch good enough to keep the ball afterwards. I still find it fun to watch them go at it.

Then I absolutely turn my nose up at all the people currently obsessing over pre-season friendlies of the Big Clubs, so who knows what my logic is. Maybe it's the stakes for those involved.

Stakes and a decent, invested crowd more than make up for Quality, personally.

I enjoyed the Euros knockouts more than 95% of Premier League games I watched last year. Which is admittedly swayed at least a little by most of the ones I saw featuring Manchester United.

Streaking down Paisley Road West if Tony Bloom's blue and yellow army can get the job done against Rangers tonight.

Radio 5 just refereed to Dean Henderson as "England Mens' Goalkeeper" in the context of his lol comments about United, which seems wrong on a number of levels.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

Someone asked Andy Murray how it felt to be the first person to win 2 gold medals in Olympic tennis and he responded "I think Venus and Serena have got about 5 each", but I appreciate that's slightly different given women probably should be included under the banner of "people".

I've heard a lot of people saying the women's World Cup/England team were "a lot better to watch than anything the men have served up recently", but having given the final a go once the United friendly finished the standard really is still pretty awful.

---

There might be another one about the Olympics but the one I've seen is he gets asked about someone being the first player to do something and he corrects the reporter to say "male player".

https://youtu.be/wOH-dCrV_XA

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Boydy

There might be another one about the Olympics but the one I've seen is he gets asked about someone being the first player to do something and he corrects the reporter to say "male player".

https://youtu.be/wOH-dCrV_XA

---

https://youtu.be/lSgf31RpRTk
It is a different one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Radio 5 just refereed to Dean Henderson as "England Mens' Goalkeeper" in the context of his lol comments about United, which seems wrong on a number of levels.

---

Given the lines of what a woman and man actually are have never been more blurred, this is all bubbling up nicely to come to a glorious head.

And talking of bubbling up nicely, this Ten Hag stint could be absolutely lol tastic.

He's not going to suddenly win the league this season or anything, but I genuinely believe Ten Hag will do well. He could obviously do with something more out of this transfer window to help him out though.

My bar is pretty low for what I'd consider a successful season. Team playing like they've only just met will be a significant improvement to last season. Challenging the top four is probably the best we can do with that squad

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62404611

Long live the "dedicated No Room for Racism match rounds" :D

Southend have named a stand after Rose West.

That's fantastic. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

He's not going to suddenly win the league this season or anything, but I genuinely believe Ten Hag will do well. He could obviously do with something more out of this transfer window to help him out though.

---

They could get a lot better and still finish sixth again, so it should be interesting. I'm not worried about Arsenal, and Chelsea look poised for one of their MELTDOWN seasons, so fourth is doable.

If we finish 6th but there's a recognisable (and decent) style of play, and the dressing room hasn't imploded come the end of the season, I would be pretty happy to be honest.

Problem is would Ten Hag survive that sort of season?

Yes. If United can be accused of anything, it's keeping managers too long, not the opposite.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

If we finish 6th but there's a recognisable (and decent) style of play, and the dressing room hasn't imploded come the end of the season, I would be pretty happy to be honest.

---

That sounds about right, although I get the feeling that the club are at the point where they would back him over any Dressing Room implosion, so I think he gets two years at the very least.

I don't think settling on a manager is a bad thing. Arsenal took that plunge and it hasn't turned out that bad.

https://www.theguardian.com/football...P=share_btn_tw

The Everton one. :D

Brighton. :D

Squires is the best.

Anthony 'like a new signing' Martial out of the Brighton game injured.

Be great if AZ Alkmaar don’t twat us tonight so I can have some false hope for next week

What way is the EPL working around the World Cup? This is normal start time so are they cramming more games in either side of the break or playing longer into next summer?

Imagine a mix so starting a week earlier, and therell be 1 or 2 more midweek games you'd assume and then finishing a week later than normal.

That’s a great result for Pats.

A Congolese fucker with the 87th mim winner too, drink it in Hristo.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62428580

When's the last time they had a capacity crowd?

Levitt looks fantastic for Dundee here. Head and shoulders above the rest of the midfielders on the pitch. Always in the right place and so tidy and progressive on the ball.

Oh my fuckin god

What a goal

We will get batterer next week But cares. Dylan Levitt baybay

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CJay

Levitt looks fantastic for Dundee here. Head and shoulders above the rest of the midfielders on the pitch. Always in the right place and so tidy and progressive on the ball.

---

Who the fuck are Dundee

Apologies. Dun Utd?

Sky had to put that graphic up right before the corner.

View Tweet

There is a new peak of smalltime, and I can't see it being beaten for a while.

Sad bastards. They hadn’t made the final step to tiny time after all.

Did Martin Tyler just say "PL 31"?

Palace look good, Doucoure looks tidy once he gets the fitness and Ebiowei :drool: Andersen remains the best CB outside of Top 4.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Did Martin Tyler just say "PL 31"?

---

It’s not all he’s said :uhoh:

Lingard starts:

Henderson
Worrall Cook McKenna
Williams OBrien Colback toffollo
Johnson Surridge lingard

Why the team leak? No Awoniyi should make it an even more straightforward Newcastle win.

That Fulham 3 behind Mitro would do well in League 1.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

It’s not all he’s said :uhoh:

---

Seemed a fairly classic example of actually 'misspeaking' to me, but good luck making that case these days.

Has Klopp had even more work done? He looks fucking ridiculous.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Don

That Fulham 3 behind Mitro would do well in League 1.

---

I think the front 6 is alright tbh, it's just very funny how they're having yet another crack at it with that back 4.

25 minutes in and no shots on target? Klopp is done.

Looks a textbook fast start from brave newly promoted that end up losing 3-0.

3-1

Mitro :cool:

Fuck Liverpool.

"Trent" got abused.

Forgot how annoying dodgy streams are. Gonna end up paying for BT like a mug.

I see "Andreas" is still a massive cunt. Such an unlikeable person.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by John Arne

I see "Andreas" is still a massive cunt. Such an unlikeable person.

---

Shit footballer as well.

It seems like this Fulham approach has surprised Liverpool a bit. Not that I'm sure why. Diaz looking the only one who wants to try and score.

What tends to do teams in who play like this against us is when they get the lead, they start to sit back after 60 mins or so and it invites the wave of pressure on. I'd be quite surprised if Henderson comes out for the 2nd half.

It's really going to ramp up the "I dont want another midfielder" line should Fulham go on to win like this.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

It seems like this Fulham approach has surprised Liverpool a bit. Not that I'm sure why. Diaz looking the only one who wants to try and score.

What tends to do teams in who play like this against us is when they get the lead, they start to sit back after 60 mins or so and it invites the wave of pressure on. I'd be quite surprised if Henderson comes out for the 2nd half.

It's really going to ramp up the "I dont want another midfielder" line should Fulham go on to win like this.

---

I'm at work so can't watch, how are Fulham playing?

Sitting back and inviting pressure after getting a lead and doing well playing a certain way really is one of the most impossible to understand things in football. I assume the STATS must prove me wrong, but it always seems like you become more likely to concede than you would if you just kept doing what you were doing.

Nice and aggressive and in our faces. Especially on the midfield 3. We're getting no time on the ball at all, though Diaz could really have bagged a couple of goals already.

Their goal came from a back post cross. Trent trying to win a header against Mitrovic...

Add Palhinha to the growing list of midfield gems.

Thiago is so brittle.

He's so good but he's made of glass.

Get flashing the cash John Henry.

The Liverpool depth is absolutely horrendous. Imagine still bringing on James Milner.

Disgrace if they are allowed to them win any trophies. Crimes against humanity stuff

We have the best squad in world football :D

Hahahahahaahha

You actually believe that as well. Fuck me

Firmino is never starting again is he?

Jurgen Klopp is definitely addicted to cocaine. He had all the mannerisms and his jaw is always gurning

Nunez is an odd player. Looks so clumsy in open play but composure and off the ball are 20s.

STONEWALL, get fucked Van Dijk.

That awful Nunez 1st touch providing to be the perfect pass.

I'll never understand how or why refs continue to fall for those dives that Mitrovic did. The ref was 10 yards away.

Must be horrible when players dive constantly and gain penalties. :harold:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kikó

Must be horrible when players dive constantly and gain penalties. :harold:

---

He was in his own half, nowhere near the penalty area :/

Worst game I've seen from Henderson and Trent for some time. The insistence on hoofing it long diagonally to Salah every single time also infuriating.

He surely cannot deny the need for another midfielder now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by John Arne

I'll never understand how or why refs continue to fall for those dives that Mitrovic did. The ref was 10 yards away.

---

These tears are delicious. :drool:

Cracking performance. Play like that every game and we'll stay up no issue. Palhinha is mustard.

Glad it wasn’t me that though Henderson had a mare.

Surprised they made all those subs and he was still out there.

Everything he tried was overhit or brainless. He nearly redeemed himself at the death, but getting a goal in the 80th minute and then not having a notable chance after that is also a bit shit.

Captain, leader and legend and we still got the fucking muppets wanting him replaced with their latest FM wonderkid. We don't have any structural issues with our squad and we don't need any signings. We're fucking massive.

The solution is to put TAA right of the midfield three and sign a competent defender.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by John Arne

He was in his own half, nowhere near the penalty area :/

---

Respect the emoji.

Norwich's season not starting well.

I'm surprised Max Aarons is still there. I thought a few of the big boys were looking at him.

Ajax seem to have gone to shit with ETH leaving.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

It's really going to ramp up the "I dont want another midfielder" line

---

He's already off.

Thiago, Keita(Mystery illness), Jones and Oxlade already out injured and we're one game into the season.

The annoyance here is I could have seen Oxlade be sold and someone else being brought in, but it seems he's out til maybe November now.

Salisu :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

Ajax seem to have gone to shit with ETH leaving.

---

They have sold pretty much their entire team as well.

They can just make more of them. Do they still have a feeder club in Cape Town?

Beautiful finish by Wilson.

https://clip.dubz.co/v/v3070y

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kikó

They have sold pretty much their entire team as well.

---

They do that every year.

They really look like they’re struggling without him

How much are they losing by? Must be a lot.

Gateshead watch:

Drew 2-2 with Dagenham & Redbridge. Three points slip through our fingers due to a 95th minute equaliser. :moop:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

How much are they losing by? Must be a lot.

---

They were winning 3-1 last I looked

Poor geezers can't even indirectly make the baldie look competent.

Iwobi at CM with Gordon as a lone man. Rape incoming.

Chelsea just don’t beat Everton. Think they’ve lost their last 5 at Goodison. Doubt it changes

The commentator on this Dortmund game is comfortably the worst I’ve ever heard.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

Ajax seem to have gone to shit with ETH leaving.

---

https://i.imgur.com/JmjEJAp.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

They really look like they’re struggling without him

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Don

Poor geezers can't even indirectly make the baldie look competent.

Iwobi at CM with Gordon as a lone man. Rape incoming.

---

That Nunez goal is a cracking fluke.

Our game's been postponed tomorrow because the pitch hasn't passed checks after about 400 rugby 7s games were played in a few days for the Commonwealth Games and Wasps didn't bother with a planned relaying. I've seen us play on some awful surfaces over the years but having the pitch deemed unfit for purpose at the start of August is a new one on me.

He scored a shitty old man bicycle kick but get a load of this touch:

View Tweet

MLS defenders need to be a bit better.

View Tweet

Taunton off the mark in the NLS – ground out a 0-0 with Welling in our first ever NLS game.

I can't have a man sounding that white giving it the ¡Gol!

View Tweet

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shindig

I can't have a man sounding that white giving it the ¡Gol!

---

It's so fucking annoying.

Which version of FM was it where if you had a poacher set up to have passes to run onto played into him half the goals would be exactly that Bale goal? '11 or '13, maybe?

Happy members of Hernandez scoring me a billion goals that way, regardless.

Good start for Dalot.

Looking forward to seeing this midget centre-halve who is understudy to Otamendi for Argentina.

That should have been 1-0.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by John Arne

MLS defenders need to be a bit better.

---

View Tweet

:cool:

Only saw one replay, but McTominay looks a little lucky to stay on there.

Donned by Welbeck :moop:

Man Utd’s defence looks absolutely tragic :lol:

Eric Tenth Place. :harold:

Brighton look like Classic XI in this system. Solly March is Carlos Alberto.

Trossard is such a lovely player to watch

:face:

What a goal

The way Luke Shaw always tracks the wrong player, but still doesn't attempt to defend him, is sort of like his own little trademark move now.

Who would have thought that a midfield of McFred would continue to be completely incapable of controlling a game.

McTominay is so bad.

Hows the aerial dominance of the midget coming along? Great battler I've heard.

VAR has bottled that.

:cab:

Unwritten rule that you can’t get a penalty for them sort of challenges

Absolute stonewall.

Would have been a red card for that Argie mug as well.

McTominay's was a strong orange as well.

You’ll not see a more stone wall penalty all season.

Prime Trashford.

Geezer literally has no braincells, does he? Proper hit and hope merchant.

Dalot is MASSIVE.

VAR has money on United.

VAR on the take here. The handball wasn’t clear cut but switching camera angles just as it was hitting his arm then watching ten replays of Sanchez dive after it is a bit suspect.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ben

VAR on the take here. The handball wasn’t clear cut but switching camera angles just as it was hitting his arm then watching ten replays of Sanchez dive after it is a bit suspect.

---

Because at that point they were checking for an offside.

At least that's what it said in the corner.

If that had gone in directly off Dalot's arm would it have been disallowed?

Donny is back :cool:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

If that had gone in directly off Dalot's arm would it have been disallowed?

---

I seem to recall that being the rule, now you mention it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

If that had gone in directly off Dalot's arm would it have been disallowed?

---

I thought the rule forbade any contact with an arm in the lead up to a goal. I think it possibly wasn't far enough down the sleeve.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by -james-

I thought the rule forbade any contact with an arm in the lead up to a goal. I think it possibly wasn't far enough down the sleeve.

---

I’m sure they changed it. Middlesbrough’s goal at Old Trafford last season was something similar with Watmore handling it in the build up.

Why the fuck is Malacia marking Dunk there?

:drool:

Paul Tierney remains one of the worst refs going.

Should've got Potter in.

I can't do another season of McFred in midfield. Four seasons is enough. If we don't sign a midfielder (preferably 2) before the end of the window I'm just not going to watch this year.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FQvmZhwWUAcBshB.jpg

Feels like pure shit, just want Ole back

Penny for Varane's thoughts too. Goes from winning the CL fifty times in a row to being backup to Slabhead and his midget son

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

Why the fuck is Malacia marking Dunk there?

---

The aerial weakness of this Utd side is actually gonna be so lol to watch. At one point it was slabhead, midget and Ronaldo and 7 geezers who will actively avoid heading the ball (Mo Salah style).

Delighted I was only able to have today's game on the radio.

I'll never tire of watching how much of a downgrade Jesus to Haaland is for this side. You ain't outmuscling EPL CBs that often lad.

Congratulations on Mark Noble finally having a holiday.

Why is Grealish still starting?

Cus he cost £100m.

That was a class finish.

Taz predictions alive and well.

Haaland is absolute class.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Don

I'll never tire of watching how much of a downgrade Jesus to Haaland is for this side. You ain't outmuscling EPL CBs that often lad.

---

:D

He was odds on to score, only the truly massive can even have the audacity to make such claims let alone be proven bang on within 12 months :cool:

Any headers on target?

I missed most of the game but I don't think so.

Caicedo's involvement in both their goals :drool:

Fabian Schar made Garth Crook's Team of the Week:

Quote:

---

His first-half tackle on Jesse Lingard in the Newcastle box was enough to suggest the Swiss defender was in no mood to give the Nottingham Forest player one inch.

Schar's strike for Newcastle's opening goal was struck beautifully. This footballer can defend and play in equal measure. Precisely what Lingard is doing at Forest I am not entirely sure, but a one-year deal on a free transfer? What sort of commitment is that? Does Lingard think we are all stupid?

Take the deal and split if the team goes down - is that the plan? I'm not sure who looks more ridiculous. Lingard for signing or Forest for accepting the terms.

---

"So, yeah. Congratulations, Fabian ...."

I thought he had fucked off finally.

It's the classic Crooks flourish, pick someone in his team of the week as a cipher for writing about an unrelated topic that he actually wants to get off his chest.

Sarr sitting there tearing up the Champ with goals like that and Arnautovic is in the gossip talk.

I'm so glad I'm a massively lapsed Albion fan cus this is bleak.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by igor_balis

I'm so glad I'm a massively lapsed Albion fan cus this is bleak.

---

My Dads in the stadium and has a 2.5 hour drive back.

Thiago out for 6 weeks. :uhoh:

USG. :(



l

Quote:

---

Following a Premier League decision to ban Newcastle from wearing any of their three current kits at Brighton on Saturday, United confirm that they will sport their light blue warm-up ensemble at the Amex Stadium.

---

What actual bollocks.

Why are they banned from wearing any of their kits?

I'm assuming it's a kit clash. The Saudi kit (white with green trim) would've been a no-go but we should've got away with our navy blue third kit. Instead we're going with this:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.co...%20%284%29.jpg

Sounds like more bollocks from the kit illuminati. Bournemouth's home kit is another step towards fascist rule.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Sounds like more bollocks from the kit illuminati. Bournemouth's home kit is another step towards fascist rule.

---

Hard to believe Birminghams kit designers did not see this:

https://www.rllmukforum.com/uploads/...3bbd95c5a8.png

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shindig

What actual bollocks.

---

I think they could wear any of the three and the clash won't be noticeable enough. The away one is especially lol; you're not allowed to wear your blue kit, so instead you'll wear a different blue kit.

On the kit front I thought it was a bit odd [in the sense that an opportunity to wear an away kit is rarely missed] that both United and Brighton wore white shorts on Sunday.

It annoys me when alternative shirts feature the same colours as home kits though. Should be a 3-0 forfeit and an appointment at the Saudi embassy for the kit manager.

That United 3rd kit, are they just trying to one up how bad it is every season now?

Nah, last season's was worse and it's not even close.

Speaking of kits though...

https://twitter.com/Neeks_77/status/1556537199927107585

Dairy Milk. :drool:

Polo would be even better if he put the Toblerone collar on it.

Is anyone watching All or Nothing? That speech in EP1 was mental.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Oh my fuckin god

What a goal

We will get batterer next week But cares. Dylan Levitt baybay

---

You weren't wrong. This could be double figures.

Wafflolz

Dylan levitt baby

Dortmund crafting another Jokensliga wonderkid from the remains of a mixed race Man City winger.

Off to the Amex. I'm probably going to die on the way so god knows how they are going to play football in this heat.

That's a lovely finish from Ings.

Taz will be frothing when he sees Onana.

Digne is a plum.

Depends if Taz also loves BLM talent even if it wears an Everton shirt.

Everton look absolutely horrid.

Is there one team worse than them, never mind 3?

Nottingham forest, Everton and Bournemouth down?

I'd have Southampton sneak into the mix, although they'll probably wind up comfortable despite a couple of 8-0's.

Southampton at least have JWP to try and carry them going forward. If he gets injured they’re in trouble too.

https://clip.dubz.co/v/20zzp3

Tidy finish from Jesus.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

https://clip.dubz.co/v/20zzp3

Tidy finish from Jesus.

---

:henn0rz:

Looking forward to my first glimpse of the Man Utd lol fest this afternoon. :drool:

If it's McFred again I'm off food shopping.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shindig

I'd have Southampton sneak into the mix, although they'll probably wind up comfortable despite a couple of 8-0's.

---

We are probably the worst team in the league at the moment. 6 defeats in a row, our worst ever Premier league run.

View Tweet

Frediksen.

Is Varane just unfit or does Maguire have some dirt on Ten Haag too?

That third kit is revolting.

I don't get 'Bring On United'.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Andy

We are probably the worst team in the league at the moment. 6 defeats in a row, our worst ever Premier league run.

---

Might be turning it around today.

Carrying over defeats from a different season is such a useless stat.

View Tweet

QPR's keeper scoring a late equaliser :cool:

Here is your weekly Gateshead update:

A 2-2 draw against Barnet preserves their unbeaten record on their return to the National League.

Leeds gutting on a clinic in how to completely and collectively lose your heads as a team there. It was plain sailing until the 70 minute mark when everyone apparently decided, as a group, to forget how to play organised football. But I suppose we'll take four points from the first two games. I've still no really idea what to expect this season.

Bamford is finished, I know that. Not in the sense that I don't think he'll play again. I'm sure he will. But I just think he will ever be a reliable main attacking outlet again. We need to be outright replacing him with a new main man up top. Or just pass the torch completely to Gelhardt and let him crack on.

I'd like to pretend I'm looking forward to the game but I'm not.

Kit almost blends into the pitch.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

Taz will be frothing when he sees Onana.

Digne is a plum.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Don

Don't make me dig up your opinion on the signing.

Jesus, get a load of this Lille lad West Ham are signing. The likes of it hasn't been seen since Papa Boupa "The Wardrobe" Diop graced these shores and raped all that came within his vicinity. Scamacca and him added to Soucek, Zouma and Dawson; thoughts and prayers for any side defending their set-pieces deep.

---

Absolutely wiped the floor with Villas gammons apparently.

Didn't take long for the lols. :D

What. The. Fuck.

:face:

:D

Here we fucking go.

Oh and playing an out of form Bruno and Eriksen in the same team is madness.

Ronaldo's control there too. :drool:

Shoot on sight after that. Christ.

Bruno's shooting last week and that shot there has been shocking.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yevrah

Oh and playing an out of form Bruno and Eriksen in the same team is madness.

---

I'm hearing midfield 3 of them and Fred? The bald paedo is sensational.

#TenHagOut.

Oh my. :drool:

What the fuck even is that?

What are we doing?

Just sell every one of these fucking cunts.

Just switched it on to see that second goal. :lol:

To think Man Utd let Henderson go :D

This could be an AZ Alkmaar

Excellent.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by John Arne

To think Man Utd let Henderson go :D

---

He was shit.

Delighted for Eriksen in that second goal the sour pussed twat.

:face:

Relegate us.

This is an event of such beauty, I may need a little cry.

:roflol:

Can't believe that our 3'9 centre half got done at the back post there.

How do Brentford get the corner there when they handled it in the process of getting it? Should it not have been a free kick out instead of a corner? Or is just a case of VAR still being as waste of time?

Still though, lol.

I see Brighton out xG'd City today.

:face:

That said, it was mostly bad luck, save for Lallana's header, which was an absolute sitter.

What the fuck is Neville on about? Saying 5 foot 9 Martinez had no chance - the ball was knee height when he hit it, you stupid fuck.

Martinez looks like a lost little kid.

Frenkie will be licking his lips at joining this great football club.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SvN

What the fuck is Neville on about? Saying 5 foot 9 Martinez had no chance - the ball was knee height when he hit it, you stupid fuck.

---

Neville has chatted an extraordinary amount of shit today and it's not even half time yet.

De Jong snapping his SIM card right now.

I've just promoted the little cry to a massive wank.

Ahahahaha fuck me

Horrendous.

:harold:

That’s some beauty.

OK, so what's going on here then?

Can't remember if I posted this in the sad thread but when we got the news about my dad there was about 20 minutes where I'd got there, he was gone and I was waiting for my sister and mum in the room with him and I said "At least you won't have to watch United any more" and fuck me how prophetic that was.

I hope they stick ten past us just to see what happens.

Shaw looked like he had stitch trying to chase back.

This is just spineless. Nothing a manager can do with a bunch of players who either dont want to listen, run, or even try.

On holiday so not even able to watch this shit. Have had to tell the missus to stfu now as fivelive is on. Peak days these.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ian

Can't remember if I posted this in the sad thread but when we got the news about my dad there was about 20 minutes where I'd got there, he was gone and I was waiting for my sister and mum in the room with him and I said "At least you won't have to watch United any more" and fuck me how prophetic that was.

I hope they stick ten past us just to see what happens.

---

It know it’s sad and all but you really need to send that in to see will it get on the BBC live tracker.

I thought Christian Eriksen would be the game changer. I'm massively surprised

Aw, look at the fans with their Glazers out flag. How cute.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

It know it’s sad and all but you really need to send that in to see will it get on the BBC live tracker.

---

:D

This team against Liverpool next week...

It'll probably get called off due to fan protest.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

This team against Liverpool next week...

---

It'll be fine. We don't like to press or have any forwards that are any good or anything.

Why is Eriksen seemingly the deepest lying midfielder?

McTominay needed at half time imo.

Someone explain to me how this Utd defence hasn’t been nuked yet? How has nobody figured out that the likes of Shaw and Maguire aren’t good enough?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by -james-

McTominay needed at half time imo.

---

A bomb would be better.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 7om

Someone explain to me how this Utd defence hasn’t been nuked yet? How has nobody figured out that the likes of Shaw and Maguire aren’t good enough?

---

It's the keeper. He's basically given them the first two goals and then has zero presence on any set plays.

Ten Hag must've really made an impression.

Is that three straight defensive swaps?

Imagine a United player ever broke into a sprint.

Always good to see your shiny new £60m defensive dwarf hooked after 45 minutes.

Maybe United can take solace from the start Arsenal made to last season.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by phonics

Imagine a United player ever broke into a sprint.

---

I'm old enough to remember us having players who ran. In those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on ‘em. "Give me five bees for a quarter,’ you’d say."

Not a fan of them allowing a tactics board during a water break.

Man Utd :harold:

Apparently we had a legit goal chalked off but I'll still take a point from that match. Brighton created the bigger problems. And that training kit looks shit in action. May we never be forced to wear it again.

I went to shop at 2-0. It's terminal at this point. They need to sweep half the squad out and finish 11th, 9th, 6th over the subsequent years with a basis of kids who want to play; but they can't afford to, so it's just going to be doing what they perceive to be enough forever.

They can't afford it? I always figured United were a bit of a money machine. At least in the sense that attendances are always good and the merch always sells. Take the hit, make the purge.

On the terminal point I don't think I can ever recall a club full of players with morale this bad.

We're fucked. The big sponsor money isn't going to renew and attach themselves to a laughing stock. The stadium and training infrastrutture is all ancient and the club still owes half a billion. Fuck the owners, let's go down and end the club.

They were on the right track with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, even if he didn't work out particularly well. You buy people excelling at teams below your (perceived) level. But instead they're buying players that can't cut it at the level above them, then standing mystified as to why they've ended up with a team full of lazy cunts that can't be bothered anymore.

Which also begs the question what the Glazers expect at this point. They aren't stupid, which is why they have always done at least enough to keep the plates spinning, but they are painting themselves into a corner whereby the value of everything starts to tank. Realistically, if Chelsea went for two and a half billion, how are United - worse team, worse ground (or at least equally in need of an improved/new one), worse facilities - worth more than that? And that's before the debt comes into it.

The lap of honour undoes all the good work a bit.

Arnold basically said in that leaked video that the Glazers don't care. If sponsorship money reduces, it'll be the transfer budget that takes the hit, not their dividends.

Having said that, you'd think we are starting to get to the point where it's seriously damaging what they can wring out of the club.

Didn't he mean that they don't care about the fans hating them, rather than they don't care about the club itself (and their dividends)?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lewis

Didn't he mean that they don't care about the fans hating them, rather than they don't care about the club itself (and their dividends)?

---

He asked the fans not to try to sabotage sponsorship deals because it means he can't get a decent transfer budget together, but that the Glazers don't care about the protests.

There is something off about that bloke. He looks like someone who buys small clothes thinking he will lose weight but never does.

:lol:

The problem - still - seems to be the lack of a decent director of football. Murtough must be a retard.

There are (or at least were) good players who were attainable this window at reasonable prices. But there's just nobody with an overarching plan.

Ah well. I'm past caring about the results, which is very freeing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lewis

I went to shop at 2-0. It's terminal at this point. They need to sweep half the squad out and finish 11th, 9th, 6th over the subsequent years with a basis of kids who want to play; but they can't afford to, so it's just going to be doing what they perceive to be enough forever.

---

Yeah. I've already written off this year and I feel that's optimistic. Because....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yevrah

On the terminal point I don't think I can ever recall a club full of players with morale this bad.

---

There are some players who, ignore their salaries, are just beyond the point of no return as United players now. Maguire might go and do well at a less shambolic team but he doesn't have it in him to turn it around at United and he's not alone in that. We need to salt the fucking earth of this team, accept a few shit years and go build up a team that ten Hag can do something with. Whether he's the man I dunno but you can't be forever binning managers when the players are clearly needing to shoulder a large part of the blame.

Arteta took over 2.5 years ago. The only people still in the 25 man squad is Saka and Xhaka. We went through half a season with 16 players total last year because he bombed anyone out he didn’t trust. That’s what United need. It’s just been plaster over a plaster for near enough 7 years.

8 touches for Haaland. Honestly, how big am I?

And yet he still got a GOAL CONTRIBUTION.

I triple captained the trogolodyte it's my fault.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lofty

I triple captained the trogolodyte it's my fault.

---

Triple captaining in a non-double GW :harold:

Great job.

This is your annual reminder that nobody cares about Fantasy Football team outside of your thread. Stop it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shindig

Apparently we had a legit goal chalked off

---

Looked soft to me, but the ref blew and the game stopped so hard to call it a legit goal.

Yeah, it wasn't highlight worthy so I figured there'd be nowt in it. Same goes with the March/Joelinton slap fight.

4-0 defeats at Brentford and Brighton [also managing to lose to the latter again in the interim] in the space of what, 6 or 7 games, is a bit concerning for the Manchester United Football Club.

I said the same in the terrible transfer window Ole got handed a couple of years ago, but if I were Ten Hag and I didn't get major signings before the end of the transfer window, I'd quit. Set up to fail.

But he'll get loads of cash hanging about.

And then be tarnished with "failing" at United for however long. Despite what this forum seems I think, I firmly believe plenty of actually care about succeeding rather than just earning money whilst losing.

Watching motd and I didn't know Eriksen was brought in as starter for Man Utd in a deep role. I thought he would be backup for Fernanj?

Eriksen probably was brought in to be a challenge to Fernanj but the recruitment has been so poor that's the only option.

I'd love Ten Haag to walk but it wouldn't change anything.

What is a Fernanj?

Bruno

I think Eriksen would be fine as a deep lying central midfielder if he had a stronger number 6 alongside him. But playing him deep and isolated made no sense at all. Let him sit in the centre of the pitch and ping the ball around.

United need a goalkeeper and a defensive midfielder as a minimum this season. Then ideally two new starting full backs. Which means they'll probably sign a shiny new striker and winger if recent windows are anything to go by.

The problem is we also do actually need a new shiny striker and winger.

Our line-up containing only players who are actually good enough on current evidence is something like:

GK
RB
CB Varane
CB Martinez
LB
CM
CM Eriksen
AM Bruno Fernandes
RW Sancho
LW
CF I guess Ronaldo

And even then there's obviously question marks over Martinez's height, Ronaldo being immobile and Varane never being fit.

Martinez is a gift from the gods for proper footballing men.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

The problem is we also do actually need a new shiny striker and winger.

Our line-up containing only players who are actually good enough on current evidence is something like:

GK
RB
CB Varane
CB Martinez
LB
CM
CM Eriksen
AM Bruno Fernandes
RW Sancho
LW
CF I guess Ronaldo

And even then there's obviously question marks over Martinez's height, Ronaldo being immobile and Varane never being fit.

---

To add to this, expensive/ players in the squad who clearly don't appear good enough.

De Gea, AWB, Dalot, Maguire, Bailly, (Lindelof? Probably our best performing CB lmao), Jones (yes he's still there), ?Shaw, McTominay, Rashford, Martial. I'm sure I'm missing some.

So grim.

Eriksen and Fernandes in a midfield 3 regardless of who the other ‘DM’ is sounds absolutely horrendous

Everything about United sounds horrendous.

Having seen Joao Palhinha absolutely boss it in his first 2 games for us, I can't understand why a team like Utd weren't in for him. Especially for only £18m.

Henderson should get recalled, Greenwood should restart training. :uhoh:

He was really hyped last summer and United reportedly looked at him, but the Sporting fans reckoned he'd really fallen off this year and Ugarte was the one to go for.

Sounding like last season was the anomaly.

Genuinely if you just signed players who are good on FM from smaller teams I don't think you'd go far wrong.

Speaking of Greenwood, I was surprised to see they’ve assigned him his squad number again.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

The problem is we also do actually need a new shiny striker and winger.

Our line-up containing only players who are actually good enough on current evidence is something like:

GK
RB
CB Varane
CB Martinez
LB
CM
CM Eriksen
AM Bruno Fernandes
RW Sancho
LW
CF I guess Ronaldo

And even then there's obviously question marks over Martinez's height, Ronaldo being immobile and Varane never being fit.

---

Even the ones you've listed doesn't fill me with confidence. Fernandes has been so far off the pace for ages now and Sancho barely influences. I struggle to understand how Laird and Garner can't get look ins (we know the standard of Fred, Mctomminay, wan Bissaka, Shaw).

The team is in a very bad way.

£50m on his BFF midget and starting that midfield 3 and people trying to defend the paedo :D

Forest are apparently signing Auoar from Lyon to mark their 73rd signing of the window.

Aouar :drool:

They're going to go down in style.

Sort of Arab quality that their spine of shit brexit gammons and squadron of BLM acquisitions desperately needs. Could do a number on Southampton still.

The pull of the Premier League is properly mental.

i know I’m late but… United :lol:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by phonics

Forest are apparently signing Auoar from Lyon to mark their 73rd signing of the window.

---

Isn't he the fella everyone wanted last summer before discovering he spends more time injured than the founding members of the Brittle Bone Disease Foundation?

Why don't Forest have a shirt sponsor? I mean, I'm all for it as it makes the kit look swish, but it's surprising.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Why don't Forest have a shirt sponsor? I mean, I'm all for it as it makes the kit look swish, but it's surprising.

---

Last match the commentator said it's soon to change, so presume they've not found anyone to sponsor them yet, which is a bit smalltime, rather than them choosing to have a nice shirt. Last season they had BOXT.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Why don't Forest have a shirt sponsor? I mean, I'm all for it as it makes the kit look swish, but it's surprising.

---

Apparently they want £10m a season for a sponsor which no one is willing to pay right now.

https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/e...uffing-offers/

Only Sean Dyche 3:16 can save Man Utd now

Steve Bruce with assistant Mark Hughes.

He's a decent manager to be fair and probably what we need.

Forest living dangerously.

That's a stonewall pen.

This ref is useless, VAR holding his hand all day.

Henderson :cool:

Recall him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Don

Sort of Arab quality that their spine of shit brexit gammons and squadron of BLM acquisitions desperately needs. Could do a number on Southampton still.

---

What are you ever even saying?

Two days in a row the same token woman on Sky. Will they dare do a game without her at all this season?

View Tweet

Could always be worse for United.

Champions of being Small Time.

We still haven't had a decent set piece taker since Zola.

What a finish.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

We still haven't had a decent set piece taker since Zola.

---

Nobody has. Kicking the ball well is a lost art.

Spurs gonna Spurs.

Lads it's Tottenham

We've been alright, but they have been absolutely abysmal so far.

I did find it weird the amount of people that were wanking over Spurs signing a back up striker and a pensioner midfielder.

I didn't realise Forest were owned by some Greek mafia man.

Jorginho is shit.

Conte needs to be taken off touchlines, he clearly can't control himself.

Anthony Taylor is such a terrible referee. He doesn’t even get near the ball on Havertz 30 seconds before.

He nicked the ball, and it was about 5 years before the goal. The bigger issue was Jorginho fannying around in his own box.

Jorginho instantly subbed off because of his shitness.

Tuchel :cool:

What was Tuchel the big blouse at there? :D

Didn't realise exactly what Tuchel was rocking under that cap.

Just shave it off.

Reece James is just it. Doesn’t matter where he’s played he is the best on the pitch

Fair fucks to Sterling for that layoff, many a lesser man would have spaffed it wide instead of seeing James outside him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Conte needs to be taken off touchlines, he clearly can't control himself.

---

I love when this Jimmy comes out. With the Man Utd fans all broken and the Liverpool fans still trying to make everyone think they’ll lose every week you’re the only one who gets properly riled up in the blinkered way fans should be :drool:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

I love when this Jimmy comes out. With the Man Utd fans all broken and the Liverpool fans still trying to make everyone think they’ll lose every week you’re the only one who gets properly riled up in the blinkered way fans should be :drool:

---

Conte is the perfect man to bring it out. I'd have been loving it when he was our manager, of course.

That Spurs shape was :cab:

Kante is made of glass these days

I can’t help but find Tuchel a very likeable character.

Spurs are absolutely shocking. Is that Bentacur lad the same one that was everyone’s first buy on FM about 5 years ago?

Shocking from Chelsea.

That all came from Reece James needlessly ploughing into Kane down the flank a couple of minutes before. The thickest bloke in football. We should take him off at 85 minutes any time we're ahead.

:D

Conte and Tuchel :D

Lol.

This is quality :cool:

Fucking hell :D

Cuccurella really got his hair pulled at the end, didn't he? Just before the goal.

View Tweet

Tuchel needs to be taken off touchlines, he clearly can't control himself.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spoonsky

Fucking hell :D

Cuccurella really got his hair pulled at the end, didn't he? Just before the goal.

---

This was weird. Not a red card, but obviously a foul which should have been a free kick to Chelsea. Is it red card or nothing, as far as VAR is concerned?

What a powerplay. :D

Yeah, I don't think VAR can just give a foul like that. Play of the game anyways, Chelsea were rattled by it just before that last corner came in.

The level of hatred there was top quality. It's a welcome change from the Liverpool-City love-ins.

Souness is surely undergoing some equality retraining during the ads.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

Souness is surely undergoing some equality retraining during the ads.

---

There was a good two or three times he mentioned it being a man’s game I picked up on. No doubt he’ll disappear during the next break.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

There was a good two or three times he mentioned it being a man’s game I picked up on. No doubt he’ll disappear during the next break.

---

You can visibly see the presenters arsehole tighten every time he says it too.

Tuchel was quality there.

Graeme Souness is a fucking MAN. I bet he hasn't cooked his own tea in forty years. :cool:

He looks incredible for 70. That's that vegan diet for you. :dc:


(definitely not the plastic surgery)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lewis

Graeme Souness is a fucking MAN. I bet he hasn't cooked his own tea in forty years. :cool:

---

Only cus he's too thick to boil an egg.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by -james-

He looks incredible for 70. That's that vegan diet for you. :dc:


(definitely not the plastic surgery)

---

Sandbanks sunshine and never lifting a finger around the house.

My hot take this evening is that if you choose to have long hair, you leave yourself open to it being pulled in the penalty area.

And you look stupid.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lewis

Graeme Souness is a fucking MAN. I bet he hasn't cooked his own tea in forty years. :cool:

---

He drinks Gin and Whisky in a wine glass. Definitely not

My takeaway from today’s game is that Rajeev Sterling looks 70 years old in the face.

Taz's booking alias on Adultwork.

Indian version of Goodnight Sweetheart.

View Tweet

Chelsea want to be careful with their no more Anthony Taylor reffing our games line.

Apart from it being a completely unacceptable position to take [although an increasingly common modus operandi among clubs], they might also find themselves beset by even more useless fuckers like Paul Tierney if the policy was ever adopted.

It's a load of absolute paranoid horseshit. Taylor is one of the best.

Honestly the thing that turns me off modern football these days is the ridiculous siege mentality from clubs/supporters. Comes from society at large, I suppose. People are in these bubbles/echo chambers and they can't deal with it when anything goes against them.

I didn't watch the game, but weren't most of the issues VAR-related, rather than the ref, who lets be honest, can't see everything that happens on the pitch.

He was staring right at the hair pull thing tbf.

All the referees are just a bit shit.

Apparently hair pulling isn’t a foul unless deemed violent conduct. :cab:

That's what I tell the missus.

Could have done without the image of you getting pegged.

Both things could have been fouls, but were nothing to do with the goals, so just pointless bleating. On the Havertz fouls Chelsea had possession of the ball again before the goal ffs.

Havertz bleating about not getting a marginal call for a foul when he's missing sitters laid on a silver platter for him by Reece James. :happycry: Chelsea won't have much joy this season if he's their starting 'centre forward'.

Not signing Jesus was stupid. One of the only forwards who actually properly fits their style perfectly. Now Tuchel is trying to go back to old faithful with Aubameyang which will never work out well.

Havertz was fine, he was really good yesterday that one change aside. I don’t think he’ll ever be clinical but then who is at Chelsea.

Ruptured Achilles for Diego Carlos. Almost definitely done for the season.

Thoroughly enjoying the Bundesliga highlights show on Sky Sports. Mondays at 11pm. Did they have the rights to German football last season too?

Köln registering an xG of 4.6 (:cab:) in their first game against Schalke (who are now BACK!). Daniel Farke is in charge at Gladbach, following an invasion-disrupted 2 month stint in Krasnodar.

German fans wear their club colours really well. Every game looks fantastic.

Adults wearing football tops is a bit noncey

Every German game I've been to (all at Bayern, it must be said) has mainly featured double or triple denim with club badges sewn into it.

Germany, caught between East and West/North and South as ever, awkwardly tries to both enjoy the game itself but also turn it into a big gay organised chanting festival. Hence the denim and probably massive white trainers as well.

Maybe it's just the good weather has them out minus their denim.

Also, the politicking at PSG is hilarious: https://www.theguardian.com/football...appe-split-psg

We all know Neymar is nakedly self-indulgent and lazy, but Mbappe sounds like a conniving little rat.

Does Mbappe need to connive now? It's his club.

Neymar's been there five years? Jesus Christ, what a waste.

You, a hater, might call it a waste but he's the one with all those Coupe de Frances' to show for it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CJay

Thoroughly enjoying the Bundesliga highlights show on Sky Sports. Mondays at 11pm. Did they have the rights to German football last season too?

Köln registering an xG of 4.6 (:cab:) in their first game against Schalke (who are now BACK!). Daniel Farke is in charge at Gladbach, following an invasion-disrupted 2 month stint in Krasnodar.

German fans wear their club colours really well. Every game looks fantastic.

---

I think BT used to have the rights for it.

Sky had it last year, seemed quiet on the publicity front though, and a very limited/non-existent production.

They throw free games out to their youtube channel. Presumably to die. Sorry, 'the'.

Nat Phillips starting games in 2022.

However, Milner starts so the win is in the bag.

If I make it through this it’ll be the most EPL I’ve watched in a weekend in about five years.

So much better with an attack minded CM/CAM type in there already.

This is going to be an ungodly bumming.

That's a cracking counter attack.

7 games on the bounce conceding first.

Beautiful from Eze to begin with

To be fair, that pitch is looking a bit too green.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Beautiful from Eze to begin with

---

He's one of those players I could watch on player cam for long periods. There aren't many.

The referees really don’t blow the whistle for any fouls this season so far

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

He's one of those players I could watch on player cam for long periods. There aren't many.

---

Him and Olise both look like they could be very good. Was a bit worried about the former and that injury but seems alright based on tonight

I have no idea how this isn't about 5-1. Such a confusing game at times.

Harvey doing bits. Team also performing well, just a shame we're having to rely on these 2 favela cunts upfront for output, fuck me.

Darwin's ability to stretch the play is gonna be incredible with Thiago back though, not sure why the defender bother following the spastic.

:harold:

What a thick cunt he is.

Great sell from Andersen. :D

That's some finish.

Balls.

You fucking beauty. Forget Darwin this boy's our star.

You'll never walk alone eh.

That Nunes sending off is hilarious.

Greatest atmosphere in the world is absolutely PUMPING.

Zaha is a twat.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by phonics

Greatest atmosphere in the world is absolutely PUMPING.

---

It’s so tragic.

As is Olise still being on the bench and Eze being taken off.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

The referees really don’t blow the whistle for any fouls this season so far

---

In the Brighton game at the weekend I think I saw something I've not seen probably since playing in U13 football, which was the referee giving an obvious offside whilst the linesman dithered, his brain obviously malfunctioning as to whether this minor passage of play on the halfway line might actually lead directly to a goal.

Good to see Nunez is the right type of Uruguayan forward [although are they all just mental/idiots]?

As someone else said, not sure I thought Nat Phillips would be starting games this season, so that was an interesting thing. Gomez game time as well. Cupboard must be bare.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by phonics

Greatest atmosphere in the world is absolutely PUMPING.

---

The same atmosphere your manager specifically tried to plan against in training?

At least there's a chance of improvement in the next three games without that donkey up front.

Proper head scratcher that.

Moment of lunacy for Nunez aside, the performance was pretty much perfect. On another night there could have been 7 or 8 goals.

Has anybody done Mr Shaky Hands Man from Bonzai for Tuchel-Conte?

Title over, you don't catch Pep's City from 4 points behind with 36 games to go.

Love this. Proper man's game.

View Tweet

Andersen. :cool:

Yeah, that fall is something else. Would only have been better if he'd started twitching on the ground.

Should’ve just pulled his hair.

Expert winding up going on there. Love it.

Worst part for Nunez is that he's just given every centre back the blue print on what to do against him. First eligible game back is against Everton, so I doubt he'll be starting that.

Redemption.

He's not gonna do it again, Klopp and the boys won't allow it whereas your favela cunts like Suarez were too big to be told what to do. I'm just pissed that he's got a big-money move and opportunity to spearhead our attack off the back of physical attributes alone but we've fallen for it just because he's white and not the BLM variety.

Mehdi Taremi would have cost a third and been the perfect player but no, he's 30 and a hairy muslim with no tattoos so no, it doesn't make sense. Least it gives Jota a clean run at starting regularly this season.

Worse than the headbutts were the several shanked efforts and just general inability to hit the ball cleanly. Andy Carroll vibes.

I had never seen Darwin Núñez until yesterday and didn't really know anything about him, so had assumed from the name he was a Colombian/Ecuadorean black guy. Turns out he's actually an evolutionary step backwards in the footballing origi(n) of species.

Liverpool, of course, famous for their no hairy tattooless 30 year old muslim policies.

https://thenational-the-national-pro...MDNT7PRT5U.jpg

Please don't file the body-waxing POS in with us, his time will come just as it did with Salman.

Yeah, those matching pyjamas deserve a fatwa.

He looked like he had blond highlights last night, which all but confirms that it was his little cock in those pictures.

Decent game at Ibrox. Sangare looks a gem of a player.

RTE are showing Rangers. There’s another tick in the ‘I’ll go to jail before I ever pay a tv licence again’ column.

Up the Ra(ngers).

View Tweet

Oh dear.

Swansea conceding 2 goals in stoppage time to draw 2-2 is pretty lol also, then you see they were both OGs as well.

Ruud. :cool:

I feel genuinely sorry for him.

To be fair that's a bit unlucky really, unless he was in a terrible position to start with I suppose, I don't really know enough about goalkeeping.

Surely if you have any uncertainty from there you just punch it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mo

View Tweet

Oh dear.

Swansea conceding 2 goals in stoppage time to draw 2-2 is pretty lol also, then you see they were both OGs as well.

---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke6cn5lY1Ho

Two quality goals for Swansea and then...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spoonsky

Surely if you have any uncertainty from there you just punch it.

---

I can see the logic of holding it. Tipping it over the bar is the safest option but you don't want a 96th minute corner. So he went for the grab in the hopes of going to ground, wasting the last few seconds and seeing the game out.

Was wondering why Hearts weren’t playing Zurich in Zurich. Apparently the local council didn’t have much faith in Zurich and the stadium has been rented out for Ed Sheeran amongst other activities :lol:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62581660

Quote:

---

Chelsea's Marc Cucurella says he will never cut his long hair - even though it played a role in Tottenham's late equaliser at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

---

Apart from the overall lol nature of this story, can we just be clear that it played literally no "role in Tottenham's late equaliser at Stamford Bridge on Sunday".

Well there would have been no equaliser if it was given as a foul and that would have been game over init lad

Free kick would have been blocked and looped in comically, such is the nature of the infinite possibilities on offer if one decides to meddle with the time line.

This is nice.

View Tweet

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Free kick would have been blocked and looped in comically, such is the nature of the infinite possibilities on offer if one decides to meddle with the time line.

---

Leave Waff alone, he is absolutely, categorically, not a Chelsea fan.

Wait, Hector Bellerin is still an Arsenal player?

I'm all for people having second teams, especially in a different country, but isn't the unwritten rule that you don't pick a giant of the game? How old was Waffle when Roman rolled into London?

My Scottish team is Inverness Caley, so we both spend our spare time supporting a plastic mess that wear blue and can't expand their stadium for geographical reasons.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Manc

I'm all for people having second teams, especially in a different country, but isn't the unwritten rule that you don't pick a giant of the game? How old was Waffle when Roman rolled into London?

---

8 during the greatest summer of all. Fat Frank getting 2 at Bolton before KP with his blonde streaks in his hair donning Shane Warne all over the gaff

Mine have all gone by the wayside these days (Sampdoria, Tottenham, Stuttgart). I'm too old for more than one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

My Scottish team is Inverness Caley, so we both spend our spare time supporting a plastic mess that wear blue and can't expand their stadium for geographical reasons.

---

How has it taken this long to be flushed out. I thought your second team would’ve been Forres mechanics. Still, :(

I have your back. Inverness is a shit away day but Ross County is the best in Scotland. The Mallard :drool:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

8 during the greatest summer of all. Fat Frank getting 2 at Bolton before KP with his blonde streaks in his hair donning Shane Warne all over the gaff

---

Aye, 2005 was a great summer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Foe

How has it taken this long to be flushed out. I thought your second team would’ve been Forres mechanics. Still, :(

---

Could have been Mecchies, Buckie or even Elgin at a push if they weren't all basically pub teams, so Caley it is.

Anything past Inverness makes me remember truly ghastly childhood summer holidays being driven 4 hours up to Thurso and spending 8 hours at Dunrobin Castle, so no time for Ross County I'm afraid.

Apparently pulling hair is violent conduct after all. :happycry:

Take that Daniel Passarella.

Nunes and that Portuguese front 6 promise a lot :drool:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Don

Nunes and that Portuguese front 6 promise a lot :drool:

---

Its been going on for like 6 years now.

Extremely small time after a draw, but considering how much it's wound the fuck out of Bohemians fans it's beautiful. Duffer :cool:

View Tweet

What happened to Connor Coady? Went from being captain and never missing a game for Wolves to being allowed to leave on loan to a rival. Strange one, that.

Not Portuguese enough.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by John Arne

What happened to Connor Coady? Went from being captain and never missing a game for Wolves to being allowed to leave on loan to a rival. Strange one, that.

---

Can’t play in a back 4.

Leicester could be a bit knackered.

Arsenal could hit double figures here if they want.

That is a lovely finish.

I've had to mute this because of that fucking awful Saliba chant they've been singing all game.

Impressive from Dortmund to be 2-0 up at home in the 88th minute and still lose.

Arsenal are looking distressingly good this season.

Properly easy run of games coming up too. See how they do once Euro games start up and get an injury or two

Conor Gallagher in a midfield 2 is a brutal watch.

Fucking hell Mendy :D

Mendy :lol: :lol: :lol:

His first season masked over how average a goalkeeper he is

That was never a free kick leading to the goal there, but Chelsea now ON THE ROPES.

Lol fuck off Chelsea.

Chelsea get absolutely battered by some relegation side every single year. Nice to see them get it in early this year.

A proper lack of desire and heads have gone performance from Chelsea there.

End the season now.

A cracking result and performance, that. We bossed it. We've bought so well in the summer. Well, the just is still out on Kristensen. But Adams, Roca and (especially) Aaronson all look fantastic signings. We got some glimpses of what Sinisterra might offer once he gets more game time too. The sudden emergence of Rodrigo as a legitimate and actual goalscoring threat feels like a new signing too.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alex

A cracking result and performance, that. We bossed it. We've bought so well in the summer. Well, the just is still out on Kristensen. But Adams, Roca and (especially) Aaronson all look fantastic signings. We got some glimpses of what Sinisterra might offer once he gets more game time too. The sudden emergence of Rodrigo as a legitimate and actual goalscoring threat feels like a new signing too.

---

What was the consensus when Bielsa was sacked? You lot were getting battered each week but it seemed like he still had cult hero status.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 7om

What was the consensus when Bielsa was sacked? You lot were getting battered each week but it seemed like he still had cult hero status.

---

Yeah, you're not wrong. The overwhelming consensus when it happened (and I was very much in this camp myself) was that sacking him was an absolute outrage.

This is all going to plan. :moop:

That City defence looking a shambles here.

Such a beautiful finish, that.

Eddie Howe might actually be legitimately good lol

Referee really doesn't like Newcastle winning this.

It’s definitely a penalty. Absolutely wiped him out.

Liverpool will have won the league now. The same as City had won it last weekend. The biggest thing I fucking hate about it all now - are they all that hard up?

Arsenal’s winning it bruv

United are back when they beat Liverpool tomorrow.

Here is your Gateshead update. 3 draws from 4. Their first defeat coming yesterday. Things are tight at the bottom. Old boy Macauley Langstaff has scored 4 so far for Notts County and it's clear we really, really miss those goals.

Straight back down.

I do adore watching players like Saint-Maximin.
There really aren’t enough like him about any more.

No keeper alive is saving that.

Newcastle are winning the league now. What a hit son

This is wild. If Wilson stays fit, we're gonna be a problem.

I’ve just clocked your bench. Surely you’ll be trying to bring in another attacker at least. This starting XI is pretty tasty though, especially with the best B2B midfielder in world football in Joelinton

Eddie Howe is great

City are still going to win this aren't they...

The pace and power from Haaland is ridiculous.

Somebody to start in place of Almiron, who could also step in to cover Wilson, would be ideal, but I'm not that worried. I love Almiron and I'd be happy to see him given chance to develop. Same with Fraser. If we're gonna reach the top, I'd like as slow a process as possible. Supporting a 'big'/successful club never looked much fun to me, outside of actually winning trophies.

I couldn’t even play the through balls De Bruyne plays on FIFA. He’s just ridiculous

Ban Waff from the thread. :moop:

Go start replying to more YouTube videos creepy boi

Ref must have money on City.

Just once I'd like a ref to go 'yeah I've looked at it, and guess what, I was right' when asked to review one of their decisions.

I was about to ask if there has been a rule change to give reds for that as there were 2 reds in Scotland yesterday for the exact same challenge

I can see why he gave a red. It originally looked like he went flying through the air and hit him high up

Yeah the Lund storm one.

The guy Harry Wilson got a red for wales for similar, but he knew it was a free yellow and basically just booted the man.

It’s like an orange card, I wouldn’t mind them as a red if the players actually knew it was as it would stop all this tactic fouling stuff with no intention to play the ball.

Sociedad v Barca on itv4. Do they have rights for the season?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alex

A cracking result and performance, that. We bossed it. We've bought so well in the summer. Well, the just is still out on Kristensen. But Adams, Roca and (especially) Aaronson all look fantastic signings. We got some glimpses of what Sinisterra might offer once he gets more game time too. The sudden emergence of Rodrigo as a legitimate and actual goalscoring threat feels like a new signing too.

---

Not sure how you'll feel about this, but you've got an army of Soccer Yanks behind you this season.

Only just clocked Newcastle 3-3 City. What a result for our Arab brothers.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spoonsky

Not sure how you'll feel about this, but you've got an army of Soccer Yanks behind you this season.

---

I've noticed! It's nice, really. It makes match day Twitter a lot more entertaining too.

View Tweet

:D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Manc

Only just clocked Newcastle 3-3 City. What a result for our Arab brothers.

---

They absolutely deserved it as well. If ASM had someone to pass to up front they'd have won

Wilson is an elite striker. I pray Southgate doesn't manage to get a clue and call him up for WC.

Chelsea on the other hand relying on flake merchants to get goals continues to undo an otherwise very strong side.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Don

Wilson is an elite striker. I pray Southgate doesn't manage to get a clue and call him up for WC.

Chelsea on the other hand relying on flake merchants to get goals continues to undo an otherwise very strong side.

---

Yesterday wasn’t really anything to do with the forward line. They just got obliterated through the midfield. They need a proper ‘DM’ or at least someone that can play in a double pivot. No idea why they changed the 352 that played so well against Spurs. If they bring in Aubameyang and nobody in midfield they’ll not finish top 5.

Word on the street is Maguire is benched for tonight. Varane and the midget to start.

Wilson's finishing is genuinely world class and he's good enough at everything else to be a CL level striker. It's just those damn injuries.

Maybe I'm wrong then, but it looked like Newcastle should've scored about 6 off the chances Saint-Maximin was creating.

Haaland could easily have had a hat trick. 1.4 xG90 over his first three games, he's going to do Messi 2013 numbers.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

Word on the street is Maguire is benched for tonight. Varane and the midget to start.

---

Assuming it's not postponed.

#FuckTheGlazers.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

They absolutely deserved it as well. If ASM had someone to pass to up front they'd have won

---

Not quite what I was getting it.

Erling Haaland's face could turn a good man straight.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

Assuming it's not postponed.

#FuckTheGlazers.

---

On this point I expect an FSG protest to kick up again soon. Klopp was actually asked the right question this time in "Do you want a new midfielder, but just don't have the money?" and his response was basically yes. And so the net spend brigade are out again.

Vis a vis these protests going on ahead of tonight's North West Classic, I've seen a video going around of a banner that says 'We Want Our Club Back' with Jim Ratcliffe's face on it.

Howling with derision for these people.

"We back our club BACK to be owned by a different billionaire!"

What's the point of wanting the Glazers out any more? They've spent loads, haven't they?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Boydy

What's the point of wanting the Glazers out any more? They've spent loads, haven't they?

---

Because they refuse to cede control of footballing matters over to people who actually know about football.

They've also not invested in things like maintaining the infrastructure of the club. Old Trafford is bordering on falling to bits.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Vis a vis these protests going on ahead of tonight's North West Classic, I've seen a video going around of a banner that says 'We Want Our Club Back' with Jim Ratcliffe's face on it.

Howling with derision for these people.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alex

"We back our club BACK to be owned by a different billionaire!"

---

As opposed to what? I'm sure they'd leap at the chance for something like the German model but that's entirely unrealistic. All you can hope for is someone to take it over who actually gives a shit.

United fans just want their club to be the richest most dominant club in England like wot they've been used to [although not of late] and it just isn't happening. Even if they get the ideal billionaire the football landscape is so different now that they are unlikely to ever get to where they were [as is the case with all dominant teams]. Maybe they can sneak a title here or there, or maybe they're in for a prolonged period in the hinterland [like Liverpool, Inter etc]. The difficulty they have is what is their ideology? There's all the Busby Babes/Newton Heath/FCUM shite, but in reality their credo is being a corporate behemoth, which is a tricky thing to rally around.

All wrong.

I don't think the anti-Glazer sentiment has ever really gone away, to be fair.

Whatever the Glazers have 'spent' is matched by what they have stripped out of the club.

'The Glazers' must be, at worst, the second most successful owners in terms of trophies delivered under their ownership in United's history. BOOOOO!

United fans are no different to any other fans: they want to Win Everything Now, the most obvious short-term routes to which are either Sack The Manager, or Buy Expensive Players.

Roman Abramovich, a murderous oligarch with direct personal links to Putin, is the most popular recent owner with his own fans, because he provided a regular dopamine hit on all three counts. The least popular recent owner is Mike Ashley, who showed no interest in any of them. The Glazers aren't far behind him. As soon as Liverpool stop WEN, perhaps even for a couple of months, FSG will be next in the firing line thanks to their lack of BEP (STM comes later). The Saudis and the Emiratis? Come on in.

This is what football fandom is about in the twenty-first century, and is why Jim Ratcliffe iconography is far more honest than 'We Want Our Club Back'. They don't want it back, they just want it to Win Everything Now.

Quote:

---

INEOS is a global chemical company.
Our products touch every aspect of modern day life.

---

The Glazers were unpopular when they were Winning Everything Now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lewis

Whatever the Glazers have 'spent' is matched by what they have stripped out of the club.

---

It isn't, but perhaps a better way to look at it is that the club would have generated the funds that have been spent on players no matter who was in charge.

Watching Jim's increasing realisation that football fans are mostly entitled morons has been a joy, I must say.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lewis

The Glazers were unpopular when they were Winning Everything Now.

---

Fergie era is different because he basically guaranteed that. His supposed 'down years' like 2004-06 were nothing compared to basically any of the last ten.

Fabinho benched. Goe Jomez is in. Not a Naby Keita in sight.

EDIT: Liverpools bench is horrific.

Elanga and still that shambolic midfield from their past game, the rape is very much on. Could be the day Harvey lad arrives on the mainstream gammon media channels.

Holy fuck, both then midfield 3’s are disgustingly bad.

As much as I can't stand our Scouse friends, my love of a good shambles see's me offering my full support tonight. Maximum pain please lads, La. #YNWA #JFT~97

I too am on the lol train, with the roflcopter primed.

I want Liverpool to win 6-0. Just for the Roy Keane aftermath.

Any result would cause some tears id imagine. A Man Utd win would actually be quite lol

United loss will be all the Glazers fault and a Liverpool loss will see the FSG shit kick up again.

Win-win for the neutral.

Has there ever been a Dutchman that speaks worse English than ten Hag? Martin Jol comes to mind (god I loved his vibe).

This should such a walloping :drool:

"We want Glazers out" as they parade yet another £60m signing in front of the crowd.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Has there ever been a Dutchman that speaks worse English than ten Hag? Martin Jol comes to mind (god I loved his vibe).

---

Steve McClaren.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Has there ever been a Dutchman that speaks worse English than ten Hag? Martin Jol comes to mind (god I loved his vibe).

---

I thought exactly the same when watching his interview.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

"We want Glazers out" as they parade yet another £60m signing in front of the crowd.

---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO55BazkiZ4

Most posters on here must be purposefully thick when it comes to commenting on other clubs. You're all supposed to be intelligent.

Could they not do Neville at Old Trafford and Carragher at Anfield?

The gaps in Liverpool’s defence this season :drool:

Always comes down Alexander Arnold’s side as well

'Virgil' moves like a paddle steamer these days.

That’s sexy as fuck :drool:

That was absolute class.

How does the goalkeeper get sent for dinner with 3 men in front of him.

That was calm as fuck.

That was like Sterling for Liverpool back in the day when he dummies the whole defence.

Absolute lolz at ‘Trent’ again though.

What was van Dijk at there? Surely you make some attempt to close him down rather than just stand there with hiding your hands.

Neville :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

What was van Dijk at there? Surely you make some attempt to close him down rather than just stand there with hiding your hands.

---

He tries to defend based on his aura. It’s annoyingly works a lot as people seem to be shit scared of him.

Nice to see Rashford making an effort.

This United lineup feels a bit like when Arteta got rid of Aubameyang last season and started playing everything through Saka and Smith-Rowe.

Ronaldo should just be sacked. Never mind trying to sell him.

Rashford is on the BENCH if they sign another forward so he will be on one until they don't.

Who knew Mane was the player who held our defence together.

What on earth was Fernandes attempting there :D

He must have money on it being even at half time.

Lisandro Martinez is a beast.

I'm surprised Liverpool haven't been going nuts over the summer to pad their bench out. I don't see much on there to really turn a game.

What is van Dijk on today?

It's Harry Maguire in disguise.

Van Dijk and Trent have money on United today it seems. Now 14 games since Liverpool lead a game at half time. These powers of recovery will eventually run out.

I think the only saviour may be that this effort United are putting in surely will tell late in the game.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shindig

I'm surprised Liverpool haven't been going nuts over the summer to pad their bench out. I don't see much on there to really turn a game.

---

We're missing 8 first-teamers.

The Trent and VVD criticism is great lols.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

United fans just want their club to be the richest most dominant club in England like wot they've been used to [although not of late] and it just isn't happening. Even if they get the ideal billionaire the football landscape is so different now that they are unlikely to ever get to where they were [as is the case with all dominant teams]. Maybe they can sneak a title here or there, or maybe they're in for a prolonged period in the hinterland [like Liverpool, Inter etc]. The difficulty they have is what is their ideology? There's all the Busby Babes/Newton Heath/FCUM shite, but in reality their credo is being a corporate behemoth, which is a tricky thing to rally around.

---

Funny, I thought you actually knew something about football.

Decent enough half, Liverpool have grown into the game as the half went on. Dalot has been good and competitive with Diaz, Varane is a severe upgrade on Maguire, Rashford has looked alive. I think Eriksen holds the key to keeping the ball better and potentially bringing Sancho and Elanga more into the game.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

Van Dijk and Trent have money on United today it seems. Now 14 games since Liverpool lead a game at half time. These powers of recovery will eventually run out.

I think the only saviour may be that this effort United are putting in surely will tell late in the game.

---

They’ve already started to run out of puff.

Lol

That was also lovely.

Is Fabinho injured or what? This is so bad.

Am I missing something because Rashford looked offside on VAR?

Anthony Martial has Answered His Critics (me).

That was such an odd but good finish. Liverpool in the mud.

https://youtu.be/ToQ0n3itoII

Another nice goal. Rashford when he has no time or options once again being a much better finisher. Bring on the shot clock.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 7om

Am I missing something because Rashford looked offside on VAR?

---

Commentators on Sky thought it'd be off but then the line showed his foot was level with somebody's head I think? Which seems deeply lol but possibly how it's meant to actually work? I don't even pretend to know any more.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 7om

Am I missing something because Rashford looked offside on VAR?

---

I hate VAR and don't want offsides where centimetres are involved, so whatever, but it did look like the line they drew wasn't actually reflecting reality.

You know who Harvey Elliott reminds me of? Mason Mount. Going to be some player.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 7om

Am I missing something because Rashford looked offside on VAR?

---

Think the ‘lines’ are different. Probably played on by an armpit

Leaving Milner on instead of moving Henderson forward. :D

Bringing on a DM at 2-0 down. Outstanding.

Can't wait for Carvalho in the 85th minute.

"Bobby Clark" is such a FM regen name.

Son of Lee Clark. If you wanted to feel old.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ian

Another nice goal. Rashford when he has no time or options once again being a much better finisher. Bring on the shot clock.

---

Monday Night Football should do twenty minutes on this and have me on to discuss it.

We aren’t really in a position to complain about injuries when three of our injured players are Matip, Chamberlain and Keita. Add Thiago to that list too. It’d be hard to reel off the names of four more injury-prone players than those four

Firmino is done at this level. Can still come on and be near and tidy, but has no serious attacking contribution to make at the highest level.

Did Carragher just say “Martin Rashford”? :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ben

Did Carragher just say “Martin Rashford”? :D

---

“Martin, Rashford” I thought. Poor sentence structure at least.

Liverpool have jogged around the pitch all game. Man Utd have just wanted it more.

I don't know how anyone puts up with Bruno Fernandes. He isn't even that good a player.

Bruno Fernandes is a proper tit.

Bruno’s such a rat cunt. Mon the equalizer.

Really good from Carvalho there.

If Salah had decked him there and got sent off I wouldn't even have cared.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ben

Bruno Fernandes is a proper tit.

---

He really is. That was embarrassing.

Five substitutes is a disgrace.

That will be Varane out until the day before World Cup.

Malacia, whoever he is, has been class all game.

Alexander-Arnold has been horrendous tonight. He can’t complete a pass to save his life.

The ref directive not to book anyone ever is disastrous. Might as well be watching the dying minutes of Lanús 1-0 Banfield here for all the fucking around.

That was shit. This season is starting to have a 20-21 feel to it already.

That was excellent.

Get fucked, Liverpool.

That feels like United's best performance since that pre-lockdown win over City. What a run that must be.

A first league defeat of the calendar year in August is not a bad record. However this is quickly trending in the wrong direction. The absence of a ball playing midfielder besides Elliott is astounding.

If Fabinho was fit to start I want that nazi cunt waterboarded. I thought our favela cunts were annoying for being shit but Martinez and Bruno really peak it with that favela cuntery.

Liverpool were dreadful, I thought. I can't see them getting close to City this season. They'll be battling for top 4 based on the last few games.

It was nice to see the United players give a shit. Let's see if it continues.

We’re playing ‘end of an era’ football in my opinion. Klopp goes on sabbatical at the end of the season. Quote me on it.

Whatever Trent thinks he is, or is being told to do, it’s wrong. Looks more suspect defensively than ever, which is only fine if he can match that offensively.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Don

If Fabinho was fit to start I want that nazi cunt waterboarded. I thought our favela cunts were annoying for being shit but Martinez and Bruno really peak it with that favela cuntery.

---

How much did you lose?

Gammon gammon gammon.

Great win, best we've performed since Leeds opener of last season. Actually saw workrate and plans in set play positions. Long way to go but that was encouraging.

Liverpool look like a team at the end of their cycle tonight. Feel a few of those players need refreshing or challenged.

9 first teamers out and the heathens are back in their masses to criticise proven world class players. Suck me beautiful come xmas and beyond.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CJay

We’re playing ‘end of an era’ football in my opinion. Klopp goes on sabbatical at the end of the season. Quote me on it.

Whatever Trent thinks he is, or is being told to do, it’s wrong. Looks more suspect defensively than ever, which is only fine if he can match that offensively.

---

He seems to be following this new trend of moving inside like an inverted wing back when he goes forwards and it's sucking the width away from that right side and leaving it completely open for pretty much everything United had planned.

I love that ten Hag's accent is so heavy none of them noticed he swore until the producer presumably shrieked it in the presenter's ear.

Glazers IN.

Lol at Taz trying to use Oxlade Chamberlain being injured, which he has been for all but 6 months of his entire career as part of his injury stat.

When I was learning German at school, they had some silly German student bloke in for a bit to do 'conversation practice' with us, and instead of doing that he used to just talk to us (16 year olds) in his crap English and ended every sentence with '...and all that fucking shit, yeah!'. I've always had Klopp down as his dad/uncle, but maybe the Dutch do it as well. Keane's face was lol.

I definitely fill my french with swear words and slang as filler while I’m thinking of the correct form.

I had a Czech housemate who used to swear like that, so Germans and German affiliates.

Van Dijk providing some great memes tonight. He does look like he’s about to start belting out Wonderwall

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by phonics

Lol at Taz trying to use Oxlade Chamberlain being injured, which he has been for all but 6 months of his entire career as part of his injury stat.

---

Rebrand it as missing 6 players who would go straight into every XI outside of City. And 1 £100m spastic to boot.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

He seems to be following this new trend of moving inside like an inverted wing back when he goes forwards and it's sucking the width away from that right side and leaving it completely open for pretty much everything United had planned.

---

This is something that’s puzzled me for at least a year. You, I, and every other Liverpool fan I’ve spoken to can see pretty clearly that it’s detrimental for the the exact reasons you mentioned. Yet Klopp and co. seem happy to tolerate it, if they’re not actively encourage it. I just… don’t get it.

TAA is one of the best playmakers on the planet. He is not and never will be a defender.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Don

Rebrand it as missing 6 players who would go straight into every XI outside of City. And 1 £100m spastic to boot.

---

Name them. Because I’m reading Naby Keita who has been dogshit for his entire tenure and a sub goalkeeper and a sub left back as part of this 6.

Liverpool :lol:

Get fucked.

Livershit. lollerpool. @Magic what were the others?

Liverplop.

Underdeliverpool. That's one.

So bad tonight. So so bad.

Honestly, people accusing UTD fans of being ungrateful or whatever re: the glazers is one of the absolute worst dumdum takes I've ever read on this forum, and I include half of you putting Baz and a Brummy convict in charge of your pension funds.

It sort of reminds me of when people said stuff like "the problem with Newcastle fans is that they think they should be playing swashbuckling football and getting top 4 every season!!" when a series of shit managers were playing abject football week after week, or when non West Brom fans told me I should be grateful for the mighty Tony Pulis getting us 40 points by April every season with Chrissy Brunt at left back and 6'2'' centre backs in the other 9 outfield positions.

It's this bizarre black and white thinking which pollutes #discourse but I thought you lot wouldn't be retarded enough to fall for it. Wah wah I support a midtable side, what have utd fans got to complain about...err, dickheads asset stripping and mismanaging their club for 10 years lol? It's all relative, I'm a (n admittedly lapsed) west brom fan, and we're a shite midtable championship team at best, but I'm not gonna say it makes utd fans pathetic for somehow not wanting their club to be horribly run. It's a bit like when morons say "but what about starving kids in Africa?" when anyone expresses some kind of interest in a slightly less important news story.

Good game though, like.

Big man's out here telling us what discourse should look like.

2pts from 3 games :drool:

I even had to scroll down on the league table to find us.

I've just seen that Klopp thinks they should have won :harold:

I mean the pitch looked terribly dry.

I cant wait for the inevtiable sweeping reactions based on this game that don't apply at all.

#SomehowAboutWestBrom

The main reaction is Liverpool better hope the World Cup break makes this season an outlier because as it stands they are haemorraghing so many points they are ruling themselves out of contention, based on recent points totals needed to win the league.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spikey M

#SomehowAboutWestBrom

---

You can suck Lee Hughes' murderous ginger balls mate.

Igor 😎

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by igor_balis

Chrissy Brunt at left back and 6'2'' centre backs in the other 9 outfield positions.

---

The glory days. :drool:

It's an incredibly naive take imo.

Let's imagine some net spend king becomes owner of United. He implements a recognisable and working structure from top to bottom and invests in the facilities. United get back on track, but cannot or choose not to match the spending power of the Oil States and don't compete for a single honor over the next decade. The tears would be as tantalizing as they are today. THIS IS MANCHESTER UNITED. THIS IS WINNING.

What a lovely story.

For all the shit Van Dijk is getting for the goal last night Gomez was horrendous all night and does look finished at the top top level as a centre half.

The midfield is a massive problem at the minute but when you choose to go with a midfield seven that includes Keita, Thiago & Oxlade-Chamberlain what do you expect? The same issue happened last year where they were all out at the same time and that cost us 6/7 points at Christmas yet we haven't learnt from it again.

United were very good in their set up and what they did last night but unless Ronaldo is out of the door in the next week there is going to be the mother of all blow-ups if he isn't playing and I'm sure the leaks will start pretty quickly if Maguire and Shaw are not in the startling XI either even if all of those calls are correct.

I'm pretty sure he's going to offload Ronaldo and replace him with one or both of the Dutch players (quelle surprise). The Maguire to Chelsea rumour wouldn't surprise me but Varane is consistently injured so selling him might not be the best idea.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Luke Emia

For all the shit Van Dijk is getting for the goal last night Gomez was horrendous all night and does look finished at the top top level as a centre half.

---

I thought Gomez was OK. First time starting with Van Dijk in nearly two years and he was only just back from injury himself.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by phonics

I cant wait for the inevtiable sweeping reactions based on this game that don't apply at all.

---

It was absolutely prime Lars Sivertsen Take territory. 'I've been saying for weeks that there's a lot to like about this Man Utd side. Even in the 4-0 defeat to Brentford, you could see the way they...'

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

It was absolutely prime Lars Sivertsen Take territory. 'I've been saying for weeks that there's a lot to like about this Man Utd side. Even in the 4-0 defeat to Brentford, you could see the way they...'

---

These podcast journo's are the worst. I think it's Daniel Storey who is forever giving it "I thought that might happen", yet the bloke never says it before the event. Nobody can predict the future, but I can't stand those 'after-eventers' claiming to be some football sage.

Well, United have Southampton and Leicester up next. That'll probably wind up a couple of draws.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Manc

The solution is to put TAA right of the midfield three and sign a competent defender.

---

I'm struggling to understand what has changed there. He's always been a bit of a bombscare defensively, it's why Waistcoat has never given him a look in for England, but Liverpool have always gotten away with it. Teams managing to exploit this seems to be a pretty recent development. What changed?

Were Liverpool just too good for it to matter before?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kikó

I'm pretty sure he's going to offload Ronaldo and replace him with one or both of the Dutch players (quelle surprise). The Maguire to Chelsea rumour wouldn't surprise me but Varane is consistently injured so selling him might not be the best idea.

---

Lindelof is better than Maguire anyway, although if we did let Maguire go then fourth choice would be like...Phil Jones now Bailey is off.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spikey M

I'm struggling to understand what has changed there. He's always been a bit of a bombscare defensively, it's why Waistcoat has never given him a look in for England, but Liverpool have always gotten away with it. Teams managing to exploit this seems to be a pretty recent development. What changed?

Were Liverpool just too good for it to matter before?

---

The problem comes when Henderson doesn't play on the right of the midfield three as he does the shuttling and helps create an overload on the right-hand side but he also does a lot of the defensive donkey work for him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

Lindelof is better than Maguire anyway, although if we did let Maguire go then fourth choice would be like...Phil Jones now Bailey is off.

---

True, I'd forgotten about the shaking Swede. It's probably worth getting rid if he's going to be an arse (don't know if he would be). Shaw should be fucked off asap as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spikey M

Were Liverpool just too good for it to matter before?

---

Yes. I was going to post a long speel about intelligent pressing, the physicality of Konate and Salah's XG, but fuck that.

Wrong fred

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

Lindelof is better than Maguire anyway, although if we did let Maguire go then fourth choice would be like...Phil Jones now Bailey is off.

---

Ronaldo off to LAFC, surely....

Didnt we cover this before? Ronaldo and America dont mix. Cant think why :uhoh:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Danny

Didnt we cover this before? Ronaldo and America dont mix. Cant think why :uhoh:

---

I read after that all charges were dropped already.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lewis

Livershit. lollerpool. @Magic what were the others?

---

Livershit was my go to choice. Cess.

LiVARpool.

If I supported them I'd be going all in on good club, m.A.A.n city.

There's nothing worse than coming up with a good pun that you can't find any use for.

Warren Aspinall coating off Forest Green's vegan pies was top tier co-commentary.

Brighton's pies are [among] the best to be fair.

Rangers and Celtic both in the CL Group Stages for the first time in at least a decade I’d imagine. Hearts guaranteed group stages in one of the other two as well.

Maybe Gerrard is a fraud after all

Rangers. :cool:

I'd love to draw them. Would be the greatest love-in of all time.

Yaya Toure sounds like a bit of a retard doing this CL draw

Eff Say Leeverpool.

Nice to get Meelan, don't think we've played them since oh Dennis Wise, with five minutes to go, in the San Siro (2000).

He didn’t even bother trying to pronounce Eintracht.

I swear Liverpool play the same teams every year in the Group Stages

I think that Porto/Atletico/Leverkusen group has happened a few times before as well.

Porto/Atletico has definitely happened as well as Real Madrid and Shakhtar

Inter always get the ‘group of death’ :lol:

Decent draw for Celtic. They should win both home games against the two lesser sides

That Spurs group can't be real.

Porto get a Europa League group stage draw every year

How did Dortmund get allocated directly to Group G as if that was their only option, then have Bayer Leverkusen come out right after them? Surely Dortmund should have had their group drawn. Or am I missing something?

Anyway, delighted with that group for Liverpool. Hard to beat an all-British clash.

A bit of digging gives this answer

Quote:

---

"In addition, UEFA pairs together certain clubs from the same nation to ensure they don't play at the same time. As such, when any of the below teams are drawn into groups A-D, their paired team will automatically be assigned to groups E-H:

Real Madrid and Barcelona
Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig
Manchester City and Liverpool
AC Milan and Napoli
Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund
Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille
FC Porto and Benfica
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur
Juventus and Inter Milan
Atletico Madrid and Sevilla"

---

You really need to hand in that passport.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

I swear Liverpool play the same teams every year in the Group Stages

---

Aye, feels like Napoli happens all the time, although maybe more in the wafer cup. Had Ajax too recently. Spurs have lucked out with that group, although I suppose you could see it as a group where anyone could qualify. Good to see Barcelona getting another shithouse group.

Barcelonas is paid for, though they probably won’t pay it anyway.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

You really need to hand in that passport.

---

Celebrated Rangers winning last night too. 🥲

Actually just burn it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Aye, feels like Napoli happens all the time, although maybe more in the wafer cup. Had Ajax too recently. Spurs have lucked out with that group, although I suppose you could see it as a group where anyone could qualify. Good to see Barcelona getting another shithouse group.

---

It's the third time we've drawn Napoli in the CL group stage in the last 5 seasons.

Is this all getting done before the copa del mundo, or do they come back in January?

Group stage ends before Qataramania, I think.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

Actually just burn it.

---

It’s expired anyway so that would be a good enough use for it actually.

Enjoyed a good lol at Linfield tonight though. 1-0 up on 118 minutes, they squander a 4-on-1 with a tame shot straight at the keeper. The Latvians go straight up the pitch and a Linfield defender slices it in off his own bar, Linfield miss their first two penalties in the shootout and now they’re out. Absolutely awful. 😁

Just as things were finally looking up for Sunderland, we're seemingly about to lose our manager to Stoke City.

We beat them last week and their ground was as flat as a fart.

Has something happened in the background because that seems a weird move on his behalf?

He'll probably claim that he hasn't been 'backed' - this seems to be the issue that's been bubbling under for a little while. Whether that's a fair criticism of the club is debatable.

He's been on some sort of 12 month rolling contract here and rumours suggest he'll get paid a lot more at Stoke, and supposedly his family are settled in the north west so they're a better fit.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ScousePig

He'll probably claim that he hasn't been 'backed' - this seems to be the issue that's been bubbling under for a little while. Whether that's a fair criticism of the club is debatable.

He's been on some sort of 12 month rolling contract here and rumours suggest he'll get paid a lot more at Stoke, and supposedly his family are settled in the north west so they're a better fit.

---

He has been backed. We have the third biggest net spend in The Championship this season with more players due to come in. However, I don't think he had the control over transfers he wanted.

Neil leaving is due to three things:

- Money
- More control over transfers
- Family

It's sad that he's leaving (although I have one source - but it's only one out of dozens - saying that he's gone to Stoke to negotiate a contract and has actually turned them down) and we need to get the next managerial appointment correct. My instinct says that current favourite Sean Dyche is not a good fit for the job but he might be able to adapt according to circumstances and play a different type of football to what he did at Burnley.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dave.

He has been backed. We have the third biggest net spend in The Championship this season with more players due to come in. However, I don't think he had the control over transfers he wanted.

Neil leaving is due to three things:

- Money
- More control over transfers
- Family

It's sad that he's leaving (although I have one source - but it's only one out of dozens - saying that he's gone to Stoke to negotiate a contract and has actually turned them down) and we need to get the next managerial appointment correct. My instinct says that current favourite Sean Dyche is not a good fit for the job but he might be able to adapt according to circumstances and play a different type of football to what he did at Burnley.

---

Not having control over the transfers would be part of the backing.

I think Lee Johnson was a Speakmann choice, whereas Alex Neil wasn't. They're the antithesis of each other in terms of style, so I wouldn't be surprised to see us go after one of Ryan Lowe, Russell Martin, Liam Manning or Kieron McKenna. How many of those are realistic I don't really know.

I actually think Dyche might be more of a fit than people think. He's pragmatic like Alex Neil, and I've been reading a management book where he features a fair bit and I think he's more progressive and open to a 'model' like ours than people think.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ScousePig

Not having control over the transfers would be part of the backing.

I think Lee Johnson was a Speakmann choice, whereas Alex Neil wasn't. They're the antithesis of each other in terms of style, so I wouldn't be surprised to see us go after one of Ryan Lowe, Russell Martin, Liam Manning or Kieron McKenna. How many of those are realistic I don't really know.

I actually think Dyche might be more of a fit than people think. He's pragmatic like Alex Neil, and I've been reading a management book where he features a fair bit and I think he's more progressive and open to a 'model' like ours than people think.

---

Russell Martin has been mentioned as a replacement in some quarters and might be worth a small punt for the betting man.

You could be right about Dyche. I had a feeling he would be more pragmatic than portrayed in the mainstream media.

I know Sunderland are massive and all, but Dyche is probably better off hanging around for the Everton job which will no doubt become open fairly soon.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

I know Sunderland are massive and all, but Dyche is probably better off hanging around for the Everton job which will no doubt become open fairly soon.

---

We are MASSIVE. Get it right!:lol:

Dyche is the current favourite but if we can't stop Alex Neil from leaving then we are unlikely to attract Sean Dyche so I see us looking elsewhere.

I don't think Dyche is unrealistic on either end of the spectrum, but who knows.

There might be a bit of shitstorm tomorrow.

I can't see Dyche getting a top flight job (not sexy enough), so Sunderland isn't a bad opportunity.

I also don't know why he'd entertain the idea of managing this Everton.

Are Sunderland in the Championship now?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

Are Sunderland in the Championship now?

---

Yep.

Lol at that triple block.

Elanga is such a nothing player. Get Antony in.

Class goal.

I'm enjoying Ronaldo's put-on celebration whenever United score with him on the bench.

That Lavia bloke is lovely to watch. He’ll be off for £40m+ in a year or two unless City have a buy back

Have they played Rugby on this recently or something?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

Have they played Rugby on this recently or something?

---

Apparently the pitch has a "disease".

Urgh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVllZ6y0V3U

Firmino starting over the lively looking Carvalho is a surprise. Hoping we get the chance to put the latter on very early in the second half.

McTominay getting away with handling the ball 3 times was something else.

That Bournemouth team should be illegal. How the fuck did they finish 2nd last year.

And that Man City bench hasn’t half taken me by surprise. It’s literally just their academy team. I can’t even think of anyone missing from their starting XI either

Evan Ferguson :cool:

What a goal by Elliott.

Right thread this time.

Why are all the streams fucking shit this morning.

They’ve done a massive clamp down on PL streams.

Palace 2-0 up at City. They love it there

I don't have much trouble finding working streams on footybite. Sometimes you have to refresh a couple of times during a game or switch between two streams, but it's fine.

I've also got acestream downloaded and use this:

https://acestreamsearch.net/en/

to find a stream. It's a terrible search function though; you have to know which TV channel it's on and search the EXACT channel name or it doesn't find it. Did that for today's United game and it worked for the full match.

Trent smashing one in from 30 yards. The opposite side to his coin from last week.

Firmino doing monster numbers in FPL.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by phonics

Firmino doing monster numbers in FPL.

---

Salah captainers in the mud

Conor Gallagher really needs to move back to a counter attacking team. He is like a child when playing for a team that gets pressed in possession. And a bit din too.

Abramovich would have Tuchel sacked in a few weeks

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

Firmino starting over the lively looking Carvalho is a surprise. Hoping we get the chance to put the latter on very early in the second half.

---

Been a vintage performance from him so far, even before the goal.

First Anfield goal since 2020 :D

Stop, stop, they're already dead.

Do these results mean the league is not over already then?

Could and probably should have been 8-0 at half time. This is basically the Palace game, only Liverpool actually scored the first chance.

View Tweet

:cool:

Decent half that.

You’ve played 2 promoted teams and 2 mid table teams. It’s to be expected

It matters little admittedly, but how can that 6th Liverpool goal not be offside?

Leicester are a mess

And they score as I say that. Get your money on 2-3

Bournemouths plan to stop Salah worked to perfection.

Haaland is ridiculous. He's going to score about 40.

Bournemouth providing a strong case for a smaller league.

Vlahovic is pure class.

Another 3 points for the bluebirds :cool:

Leeds were absolute shit and their manager is a lunatic, must have been some effort by Chelsea to get mugged by them last week.

Brighton with Haaland would probably piss the league.

Mitrovic is such a don. Should have been a penalty if he didn’t score

The flying fuck is Gabriel doing there?

Odegaards sycg a pretty player to watch.

Proper footballer. Him and Haaland should have a lot of fun for Norway

It’s a pity they boycotted the World Cup.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by phonics

Odegaards sycg a pretty player to watch.

---

He's so fucking good. Oozes class and has so much influence over games.

Arteta couldn’t look like ‘Pep’ anymore if he tried. I suppose he has hair.

Nice to see the handball rules are just made up whenever the refs/VAR like. Shame as I think we deserved a draw on the whole.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thommo

Nice to see the handball rules are just made up whenever the refs/VAR like. Shame as I think we deserved a draw on the whole.

---

:happycry:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Arteta couldn’t look like ‘Pep’ anymore if he tried. I suppose he has hair.

---

'EtH' was rocking trackies and a polo shirt like Neil Warnock earlier. Proper manager.

Gateshead of the week: 1-0 loss to Wealdstone.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shindig

Gateshead of the week: 1-0 loss to Wealdstone.

---

Any budget for signings? Big struggle otherwise.

Not by the looks of things. Everyone that's came in has been on a freebie. The only departure that was for an actual fee seems to have been Macauley Langstaff. He and Scott leaving really leaves us with little up front.

Rob Elliot has joined but he's primarily in there as technical director rather than playing between the sticks.

Ben letting the board down with that post.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

He's so fucking good. Oozes class and has so much influence over games.

---

Taz said he is a fraud though :sorry:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lofty

Taz said he is a fraud though :sorry:

---

That was the clearest sign he was going to succeed.

Losing 7-0 twice in 3 weeks is impressive. 3-0 and 4-1 inbetween as well

Wtf is going on?

Too many Glaswegians on board. Get Fat Tony oot the club

Jesus Christ, what a volley that is from Saint-Maximin

I’m not looking forward to him against Trent.

Looks like he’s done his hamstring in so you’ll be saved.

That'd make it about a fair fight.

I'd love to know how that isn't a red card for Forest.

I won’t claim to know how it all works as it seems to change weekly, but isn’t it red for a ‘goalscoring opportunity’ only? The ball was going to sail over Kane by about a foot.

Dean Henderson's penalty stats are pretty ridiculous. 10 saves out of 18 faced.

Whilst all the bealing about Liverpool needing a midfielder is a bit tiresome, I saw them linked to Berge today which reminded me that he existed. That'd probably be a decent signing.

Oh my god look at Fat Ronaldo at the Valladolid game.

Ah, let him enjoy his retirement.

Barcelona’s team and squad depth as a whole looks genuinely brilliant. Quite a young team aside from Lewandowski and Busquets. FDJ/Gavi/Pedri all being in the same midfield should be illegal.

They're not in the same midfield. De Jong is sitting on the bench, the little cuck.

Yes, well done.

De Jong getting booed by the Barca fans, they are absolute cretins :D

Tony Mowbray heading for the Sunderland job.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shindig

Tony Mowbray heading for the Sunderland job.

---

If only they would show a bit more ambition...

View Tweet

Woah. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mo

If only they would show a bit more ambition...

View Tweet

---

Some of our fans are delusional.:lol:

I think Mowbray is a good appointment. He finished 8th in The Championship last season with Blackburn. He has a track record with developing younger players and has played decent football at his previous clubs. One of our greatest managers of all time was a geordie so I'm certainly not bothered about his past association with Middlesbrough.

I wrote this piece on Liam Manning earlier as I'd like to see him appointed (extremely boring if you're not a Sunderland fan), but it looks like Mowbray.


Liam Manning may not be our next head coach but I've written this for three reasons and I hope people find it useful:
1. He is currently leading in the new manager poll
2. Not many people seem to know too much about him
3. He was my first choice when we were last looking for a manager just a few month ago

Looking at Manning's experience first of all, and whilst it's true he hasn't managed in the Championship (like all the managers in the usual managerial merry-go-round), he has experience coaching at Manchester City, West Ham United and New York City, and he managed Belgian side Lommel SK before going to MK Dons. If people cast their minds back to May, we were generally delighted that Wycombe beat MK Dons in the playoffs and that we wouldn't have to face them in the final. When Manning moved to MK Dons, it was to continue the foundations laid by previous boss Russell Martin, in particular the playing style in which they had adopted.

This is mostly based off last season, but Manning has deployed the three at the back system we've become accustomed to under Alex Neil. He's shifted between a 3-4-2-1, 3-4-3 and 3-4-1-2 and it's interesting to note that when he took over from Russell Martin, he replaced a man who favoured playing 3-4-2-1 or 3-5-2, suggesting a good fit here. However, it should be noted that at his Belgian club Manning preferred the 4-2-3-1 system, and if you remember back to when Neil first arrived, that's what we expected to see from him. The game has moved on in the past few years and now a back three system is very much in vogue, but it's encouraging that Manning has experience with different shapes. It's a shame he doesn't seem to have deployed a 4-3-3 very much though, especially with the style of football his teams play.

Manning likes a goalkeeper who is good with his feet. Patterson is a promising goalkeeper who will improve in all areas as he gets more experience. At the moment, he's okay with his feet and will certainly try to play in the modern and progressive way by playing it short, but there's room for improvement as his decision making needs work and he can dally a little bit and ultimately get caught in possession.

His back three are generally comfortable on the ball. This is an area where we probably need work, as Batth is first choice yet is more of a stopper. Ballard definitely fits the bill as does Cirkin, even though he's slightly unorthodox at times as a wide centre back.

The double pivot employed in front of the back three are also good footballers, including our former player Ethan Robson. It's easy to see Dan Neil thriving under Manning, however he might think twice about Corry Evans despite him being one of our most important players. Evans is generally good on the ball largely due to his calm head and vast experience, but he's an aggressive ball winner first and foremost. It would be very interesting to see what Manning thinks of Matete as we all know he's raw and very busy, but prone to lapses in concentration particularly with his passing and positioning. Embleton is another option here but alongside Neil there's a lack of real bite which will see us suffer against teams who are strong in attacking midfield areas.

Wing backs are an important part of three at the back systems and Manning's are no different. Gooch is the obvious player who can benefit here and Clarke has been moulded into this role in recent months too, though he still looks a bit uncomfortable at times. I still think there's a chance Cirkin may be a better long term fit here but it's not broken at the moment so no need to fix anything.

The front three are rotated and this is an area we're short in. Options include Pritchard and Embleton in behind one of Stewart and Simms, or if Cirkin moved to wing back you could potentially have Clarke and Pritchard playing off one of the strikers. The obvious option at the moment when everyone is fit would be Pritchard playing behind Simms and Stewart, but it's an area we're lacking a couple of players in.

MK Dons build from the back and from deep. They invite the opposition into them and then spring into attack when their opponents have committed to a high press. It's high risk, high reward football. It's clear why we'd need good, confident footballers in deeper areas but also players further forward who can exploit the space that opens up. We've got technical players like Pritchard, Clarke and Stewart who can do this but we might be lacking a bit in terms of pace, especially if space opens up behind the opponents last line of defence.

There may be some heart stopping moments at the back. Imagine Patterson has the ball at his feet on the edge of the box. Ballard moves wide to the right slightly further up the pitch, Cirkin does the same on the left, and Batth drops in alongside Patterson further along the edge of the box. Our shape becomes a back four with the goalkeeper acting as an auxiliary centre back. Evans or Neil drops into his DM position and we end up with a 2-3 shape consisting of our back three, goalkeeper and one of our pivots. This five will outnumber opponents and allow us to pass it around them, and depending on the opposition press, free up either one or both wing backs, and/or the other central midfield pivot player. This is what allows us to beat the press and build up an attack (MK Dons had a lot of build up attacks last season). Clarke and Pritchard (for example) have already displayed what they're capable of when given extra time and space to work with this season, so it could really benefit them if it works.

The double pivot and front three will allow us to overload central areas, and if the opposition remain narrow to accommodate us, space will be left out wide and our wing backs may find themselves isolated with the opposition full backs.

If you're thinking that we've been effective with two big strikers so far this season, then fear not as MK Dons are happy to play the long ball when required. It makes sense when teams are trying to prevent the build up play from the back and committing men in not the press, as it's an easy option to bypass that high, aggressive pressure. In fact, I feel it's something we could really exploit. It may require one of Simms and Stewart to work the channels, but neither of them are afraid of doing this and we can utilise both players' height, strength and work rate.

In the 'positional attack' phase, MK Dons can naturally shift into a 3-2-5 shape, with the wing backs joining the three attackers and the double pivot holding their position, able to keep possession moving across the flanks or break up counter attacks if required. The shape allows the team to counter press and break up attacks quickly, but without pace in the back line can be vulnerable to balls over the top and runners. This is something we'd need to be wary of.

When trying to break down stubborn defences, Manning likes to exploit the half spaces. If you cast your mind back to QPR at home, this is exactly what Pritchard and Neil were tasked with doing. On paper they were central midfielders, but on the ball they both moved extremely wide and overloaded the half spaces and channels. This allowed Neil to see more of the ball than I've seen in other games and generally he used it really well. Overloading these areas can often see the wing back gain possession of the ball in space, able to put a cross in. Whilst crosses generally have a low conversion rate, it goes without saying that it's something we look to exploit with two big strikers. Even under Neil this season we've seen us constantly look to find Gooch who provides the most width out of anyone, and he has either driven wide or cut inside and delivered into the area.

Everything I read about Manning suggests he is progressive, modern and proactive, and from what I understand of Speakmann and his model for Sunderland, he is the kind of candidate I expect us to be having a very close look at.

Some possible shapes with everyone fit:

Patterson

Ballard Batth Cirkin

Gooch Neil Evans Clarke

Pritchard

Simms Stewart


Patterson

Ballard Batth Cirkin

Gooch Neil Evans Clarke

Embleton Pritchard

Stewart


Patterson

Ballard Batth Wright

Gooch Neil Evans Cirkin

Pritchard Stewart Clarke​

I thought Potter being linked to Villa was funny, but Sunderland?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

I thought Potter being linked to Villa was funny, but Sunderland?

---

He hasn't been linked with Sunderland. That was just one random guy saying we should go in for him on social media and it appears to have "broke" the Internet.

@ScousePig That's a cracking post. Remember we also have Patrick Roberts to fit in the team who played an important role last season. He could be useful if we revert to a back 4 (like you mentioned briefly in your post) and shift Gooch (or someone else) back to right back. Ballard is out for a while but O'Nien has been a surprisingly reasonable replacement.

Scott Parker sacked by Bournemouth. :D

Ah, that's harsh. Nobody gets sacked after conceding 9 in the Premier League these days. :uhoh:

Another kill for Klopp. Quite a lot of managers seem to get bunted after getting wrecked by Liverpool. Seems a fairly ridiculous decision.

I don't think the 9-0 has helped, but judging from the statement, it seems like he's been sacked due to off-pitch issues. Could even be down to his comments after the game where he completely threw the team under the bus.

If you are sacking a manager after 4 games (following a promotion) then you deserve to get relegated.

Three of those games being against some of the best teams in the league too. Madness.

On the one hand I agree with that, but on the other hand we are talking about Scott Parker. They've probably been desperate to fire him since he clinched promotion, but needed some form of excuse, no matter how weak to do so.

Agreed with Yev here. They knew what they were getting. A manager who would take them to the promised land, but put up absolutely no fight to stay there.

Dyche to do a reverse Howe?

RIP to those entertaining post-match interviews :(

Also, get your dirty hands off Manning please, Scouse.

I see Griezemann banged a winner within 2 mins of coming on yesterday. Is he seriously going to play outthe rest of the season as a 60th min sub in every game?

It would be tremendous if they continued doing that with him.

Sounds like he's fallen out with the owner, probably due to the owner not buying him loads of players if the timing is anything to go by.

Seems 9-0 is an unsurvivable scoreline to lose by.

Get big Dunc back home.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Seems 9-0 is an unsurvivable scoreline to lose by.

---

Ralphs done it twice and survived both.

Gus Poyet survived an 8-0 defeat to Southampton. Well, survived in the sense they didn't sack him until six months later. :D

Good hit that from Lavia.

Chelsea are shit.

Jorginho should be sent off for that, he's such a little shit.

They aren’t half. They look a bombscare in a back 4 and their midfield is a bit pathetic when Kovacic or Kante isn’t there. Daddy Boehly will need to drop a few more $$$ to turn this season into anything.

Resigning Azpilicueta up there with the worst pieces of business based on his outings

Jorginho needs to desperately go back to Italian snail football too. Anyone on this board could run past him without a care in the world

I think you might be overestimating my physical capabilities.

I have faith in you.

Quite fancy a red card in this Leeds game.

Tuchel couldn’t win a game against Chelsea women if they went ahead in the game. Absolutely horrendous. Aubameyang to save the day :lol:

View Tweet

View Tweet

:lol:

Isak has his work permit sorted for tonights game and will start. Complete unknown so he could do anything. Thankfully no Bruno or Saint-Maximim for Newcastle.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

Quite fancy a red card in this Leeds game.

---

I was surprised nobody walked. It was teetering right on the edge of going off for a good twenty minutes or so in the second half. To be honest, I would have been bang up for it. There's five or six Everton players I wouldn't have minded seeing get absolutely clattered last night.

I'm disappointed we didn't come back sufficiently to take all three points. Although apparently we already have as many points this season as we had by the end of October, or something, last season. So I can't complaint with the start overall. In the mean time I'll just have to take minor consolation in the fact that Fat Frank's bald spot appears to be worsening by the week.

That Newcastle team looks very bang average compared to the other week. No Saint Maximin against ‘Trent’ :(

Fkn Lascelles playing too

I'm on Man City/Forest. Another hat-trick for Haaland please.

He's too damn good.

I genuinely can't see a weakness in his game from what I've seen so far, or even anything that he isn't excellent at for a striker.

Might get the hattrick in the first half.

Henderson doing his best De Gea impression with that distribution.

He's on a goal every 43 minutes now. :cab:

He's going to score 50+ league goals this season.

He's not.

He's getting 60+.

40 minutes per goal now.

I guess teams will have to try and work something out to deal with him better as the season goes on, which may slow him down a bit, but fuck knows what that looks like.

Haaland is like one of those strikers on the older FM games who you could get to score 100 goals a season. It was Yaya Sanogo on one of the versions.

Absolute cheat code player.

I love watching this Arsenal team play. 18 months ago I skipped several matches or turned off after 40 minutes. What a turnaround.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yevrah

40 minutes per goal now.

I guess teams will have to try and work something out to deal with him better as the season goes on, which may slow him down a bit, but fuck knows what that looks like.

---

I thought he’d struggle to get in behind teams like he did in Germany but didn’t take into account De Bruyne supplying him. Todays goals have all just been tap ins. Proper poacher as well as an absolute freak of nature

He is very good, but aren't these just the chances Sterling was missing/other people were over-playing? Harry Kane would have got a billion goals for City.

Haaland half the price and much younger though.

And somehow uglier with a more annoying voice.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

Haaland is like one of those strikers on the older FM games who you could get to score 100 goals a season. It was Yaya Sanogo on one of the versions.

Absolute cheat code player.

---

Martin Palermo :drool:

Get fucked Liverpool.

Liverpool defence were all over the place.

Trent. It's beyond boring now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spikey M

And somehow uglier with a more annoying voice.

---

Definitely uglier. Nobody has a worse voice than Harry Kane though. Special stuff

Quite the tepid display until the goal went in. Why not show that drive before going behind?
Newcastle aren’t doing anything amazingly well but are organised. Klopp really needs to figure out how to play against 5 at the back because every one will be setting that up at Anfield watching how we’re playing.

Haaland show over so time to check out a bit of Isak. Very nice finish from him for the opener.

Ramsdale is so shit.

Emi Martinez trying to make Ramsdale feel good.

Such a shame he was offside as that was class from Isak.

Fuck off Pope.

Eddie Howe should knock Klopp out.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Boydy

Fuck off Pope.

---

Wahey about time.

Second half has been nothing short of disgraceful from Newcastle. No idea how that’s gone in at the end.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lewis

Wahey about time.

---

Was waiting for you to reply to that. :D

MBS in the mud. :drool:

Jurgie Time. :cool:

Good job Newcastle had so much cramp!

Bugger.

Liverpool look nearly as bad as Chelsea do based on the starts to the season. Slightly less tragic and have actual forward players but both midfields are grim and both look a mess defensively.

If they don’t bring anyone in tomorrow then that’s a bonus. Hopefully a repeat of 2 seasons ago for them

Was not expecting Fabio Carvalho to sound like that.

Dry those tears, Waff, your boys might still get a top 4 place if they sign a striker.

Hate to see those timewasting Saudi cunts suffer like that at the death at the hands of the hottest wonderkid in the league. Hate it.

A few Newcastle players went down for cramp but I’m not even sure the ball was ever kicked out for them so I’m not sure where the extra 2 minutes came from. Newcastle cost themselves anyway throwing all the players forward when they were knackered allowing Liverpool to lump it forward for a corner.

I have absolutely no idea how this season will go arise from City getting 100 points. Arsenal and Newcastle top 4.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Boydy

Jurgie Time. :cool:

---

Just seen "Kloppage time", which I thought was excellent.

Every Liverpool game should have seven minutes added time.

Waff :D That fucking rat in goal was down for more than a minute in stoppage time himself.

And was that Schar who threw the bottle at us? He was the one giving it the biggest after too. So so sweet.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

A few Newcastle players went down for cramp but I’m not even sure the ball was ever kicked out for them so I’m not sure where the extra 2 minutes came from. Newcastle cost themselves anyway throwing all the players forward when they were knackered allowing Liverpool to lump it forward for a corner.

I have absolutely no idea how this season will go arise from City getting 100 points. Arsenal and Newcastle top 4.

---

Pope had a fucking nap.

30 second power nap.

Isak looked class on debut. Hopefully he stays fit.

View Tweet

Offft. Bit tone deaf

:facepalm:

That lesbian seems proud of her foster kids.

Elliot definitely punches women about

And has the videos to prove it.

Nufc.com's take on last night ...

Quote:

---

By then though the black and whites had been a denied a second goal by a dubious VAR call that ruled Isak to be offside by an almost imperceptible margin.

---

Fuck off, lads. It wasn't that close. :D They did call our gamesmanship in the second half ridiculous, though.

Jose Enrique has to be the weirdest person on Twitter.

That feels like it would be a high bar.

Aston Villa saving Arsenal from their own demise by asking for too much money for Douglas Luiz :drool: