Weekend Fixtures, featuring THE MIGHTY BLADES starring in THE SHEFFIELD DERBY

So it's upon us, the 2nd Steel City Derby of the 17/18 season, and of course live on TV. Somewhat more anticipated than the trip to Ipswich last week, but that did give us chance to rest a few a players - and still won :) A Number of new faces introduced 'this' week so it'll interesting to see how they feature...

Although our results haven't been great of late, the performances - on the whole - have remained good. As far as I'm aware that's not the same for our local rivals, but their new manager may change that. Still, he's only had a short time to work with the squad, and it could just as easily be a bunch of confused players as much as it could be a master plan

There are some other games this weekend, but honestly who gives a shit?

:cool:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/...derby-titanic/

IT'S LIKE A PRESSURE COOKER IN HERE

THE MIGHTY BLADES

At least post the games so I know what’s on telly. :moop:

I hope Wednesday win.

Somebody get this young rapscallion out of here.

Friday
Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich (19:30 BT)
Sheffield United v Sheffield (19:45 Sky)

Saturday (15:00 unless stated)
Chelsea v Leicester
Crystal Palace v Burnley
Huddersfield v West Ham
Newcastle v Swansea
Watford v Southampton
West Brom v Brighton
Tottenham v Everton (17:30 BT)

Cardiff City v Sunderland (12:30 Sky Sports)
Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa (17:30 Sky)

Sunday
Bournemouth v Arsenal (13:30 Sky)
Liverpool v Manchester City (16:00 Sky)

Monday
Manchester Utd v Stoke (20:00 Sky)

http://www.live-footballontv.com for others including some on FreeSports and Sky Sports Mix.

Shambles of a thread.

Good work, Reg.

I hate when there's no 13.30 game on Saturdays.

Is Cardiff vs Sunderland on TV as some sort of home coming for Chris Coleman?

I have a feeling we will make Watford look far better than they actually are on Saturday.

Liverlol and Citeh will probably be a garbage one-nil Citeh win with Pep giving it one.

I had a dream it was 3-2 to City at half time and Liverpool had suffered some type of lasagna-gate style crisis so had half the youth team playing.

:yn: ebola.

As if they'd get 2.

I only tuned in in the dream at 3-1 and they nicked one just before half-time.

What were the formations?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Andy

Is Cardiff vs Sunderland on TV as some sort of home coming for Chris Coleman?

I have a feeling we will make Watford look far better than they actually are on Saturday.

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I didn't even know it was on until a couple of hours ago. We've just sold our only senior striker to Wigan, so should be exciting.

I've watched this Bayern side about 15 times this season and I really don't think they're good at all. Still totally reliant on Ribery and Robben and the tendency of sides like Leverkusen today completely neglecting to occupy wide spaces. Besiktas will cause them problems next month.

Kai Havertz for Leverkusen looks a hell of a player. Decision making is brilliant for his age.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Reg

What were the formations?

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Fuck off reg.

I've foolishly let myself believe that Liverpool can win this, can't wait.

Swansea and Brighton in quick succession. We really, really need to take points of them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kikó

Fuck off reg.

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:D I was joking, you melon.

A frustrating evening for THE MIGHTY BLADES. I was annoyed.

We seem to be developing Arsenal syndrome, fannying around with it a lot and looking nice while doing so, but not really making it count.

Google is saying the African Nations is starting tomorrow. Did they not move that?

Shithole Nations.

'Steel City Derby' sounds about the worst thing I can think of.

United against a Leslie-less Stoke will be interesting. I wonder if they will stop being spineless.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Giggles

Google is saying the African Nations is starting tomorrow. Did they not move that?

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I had thought so too. Seems Egypt and Senegal didn't qualify anyway so Mane and Salah won't be there so I'm not arsed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42674810

'See how chocolate melts in the sun'.

Fucking hell.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boydy

I had thought so too. Seems Egypt and Senegal didn't qualify anyway so Mane and Salah won't be there so I'm not arsed.

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It's the one where the squads are made up of players in the nation's leagues. The lesser one to promote domestic products.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

It's the one where the squads are made up of players in the nation's leagues. The lesser one to promote domestic products.

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Oh. Didn't even know there was such a thing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boydy

Oh. Didn't even know there was such a thing.

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Hasn't been going on for that long and doesn't get any press really.

Doctor Congo are usually the best at it but they lost in qualification to non-doctorate Congo.

Worrying times for Brighton.

Getting sucked right into things and haven't picked up enough points from games they should have. February is going to be a huge month. With a fairly brutal end to the season they are going to need to be safe by April. Really need to invest in a goalscorer.

Izzy Brown out for the season so we're shorter in attacking depth too. The four games after Chelsea are big.

dreadful weekend. Spewing my ringer too.

Flores has knocked them back :drool:

Who has knocked who back?

Quique Sanches Flores has said he's happy wherever he is (and not going to Stoke).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bam

Who has knocked who back?

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The Espanyol manager who used to manage Watford has turned down Stoke, which means Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane will likely take it now.

Why would that make Giggles get all :drool: about? :confused:

:edit: Ah I see.

Moyes has turned Arnautovic into a bit of a don.

Really top top work from Conte to fall out with Costa.

Can't be long until Binmandine Bindane gets the chop.

David Moyes. :cool:

Aye, he's finally got a job under him. Good man. I'm happy enough with a point today, considering we could've lost it.

Why have Everton not bought a left back yet? Holy shit. Martina isn’t League One standard.

Quote:

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Ferguson was asked by BBC Radio Sheffield how he would like the Football Association to address the issue and the 45-year-old responded by saying: “The referees are part-time and the standard is appalling, their fitness levels are a disgrace, I’ve had enough of it.
“What can I do? Shoot them, it would be a good idea.”


The former Peterborough and Preston boss moved to resolve the matter on Sunday as he apologised for his remarks.


He said: “When asked after the game what I personally could do to see to raise standards, I said: ‘What can I do? Shoot them?’


“Although clear to everyone in the room that my comment was a tongue-in-cheek response, it is worth clarifying my comments were borne out of frustration and I absolutely do not advocate violence against officials.


“I am sorry for that comment and regret the wording, but as was clear from my post-match comments I felt the referee got some decisions wrong at key moments in the game.

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lol

I'm in Spain atm and they are properly going after the baldy Frenchman. Just trying to liven up a dull season I think.

No Ozil or Sanchez for Arsenal.

They look a desperately average side on paper.

Apparently van Dijk's out today.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by niko_cee

No Ozil or Sanchez for Arsenal.

They look a desperately average side on paper.

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besides mustafi and kosc, the rest of them are not good at all. Including lacazette

lol at 'Carra' shitting on that Jack Wilshere is BACK segment by pointing out that he's had about a month of form.

:lol:

:harold:

Dav was right.

No 'Virgil' and Karius in goal? Worrying.

3-1 City.

How is City's record so bad at Anfield?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by niko_cee

No 'Virgil' and Karius in goal? Worrying.

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You mad? Karius is like Schmeichel to Mignolet’s Barthez.

Biggest talking point after the game will be how much Salah’s annihilated Delph. :harold:

I think Liverpool will win (unless some tit gets a red card).

Jesus.

The most overrated 'keeper in the world should have had that.

Danilo on for Delph. That’s Salah laughing. May as well be against 10 men, cos Danilo is all about crossing and nothing about tackling.

Just saw the Arsenal result from earlier. :lol:

Everytime De Bruyne gets the ball I fear the worst. Even just the flashes so far, he's brilliant.

I didn't rate the guy when he was around but surely the guy who's kept clean sheets for Juve would be slightly better.

Everyone might as well shoot from distance in this goalkeeping mong-off.

If things like that don't convince Klopp in the need to spend on a keeper, I don't know what will.

Never has the 'better player out of the team' mantra applied more than to these Liverpool goalkeepers. Both must surely be sold this month.

Goalkeeper is essential. We've got two proper bargains in Sarah and Robertson though.

I don't think we'll miss Countinho a massive deal. Shame the Suarez rumours weren't true though. He'd rape the league still.

Yeah I’m all aboard the Alisson train now.

I’m Karius’ biggest fanboi but that was terrible.

Big Al is a great keeper. Trust me I've got Roma sources.

:drool:

I fucking love Robbie. What a legend.

Edit: Stones. :sick:

Fuck me. :D

Keeping horror show all round.

This is beautiful right now.

Boss this.

:lol:

Oh my LORD. SHOCKING.

Weekly Andy Robertson :cool:

What a guy

It's always nice when a Guardiola "defence" gets it's arse felt.

What a time to be alive.

Presumably Liverpool's problem is against teams that don't play possession football and attack?

Look at him go :drool:

Fell asleep and missed the lols :(

Credit to Robertson, he's been really good defensively today.

Liverpool have been magnificent. Buy a keeper and they're title challengers.

Next year is their year.

Fuck off city. Fuck off Liverpool.

Just watched the goals and all Liverpool's were amazing to be honest. Even Salah's was a good finish.

Fucking hell.

Here we go. :D

Oo err.

Karius howler plz.

Tyler was fucking CHOKING to scream Agueroooooooo then. Dirty bastard.

Only Liverpool could threaten to bottle that.

That was beautiful.

Though I'm still not sure Karius offers anything other than giving us the full 11 players on the pitch.

Fantastic game that. Liverpool were excellent, that's the best I've seen anyone play this season.

Have you not watched any of city's games this season?

Can was great today, Liverpool looked much worse defensively after he went off.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kikó

Have you not watched any of city's games this season?

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Yes, and no team has managed to do what Liverpool did.

Michael Cox's twitter is always a laugh after these games.

He's tweeted about 50 times and is having silly arguments with about six different people at once. It's really quite similar to peak Harold on here.

Mega.

Although it is absurd that we need to score 4 to hope to see out a game against anyone half decent. What on earth was Lovren doing for that third goal? Karius is just useless. Come back in 5 years.

Have you seen highlights from yesterday's game yet, @niko_cee? I can't believe we're the worst team defending set pieces - 16 goals conceded. I was going through the remaining fixtures and being generous I see us getting 13 more points, which would see us finish on 36. Oo-er.

I saw the goals. Horror show. I am also at a loss as to what has happened with the set pieces, it's both ends of the pitch as well.

Like I said, February is going to be massive. I can see things getting very tight down there and I reckon it might take a few more points than in recent seasons to stay up. It's a worry.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Serj

Can was great today, Liverpool looked much worse defensively after he went off.

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Klopps Just said he was ill. Almost didn’t feature at all.

Emre Can is going to be a massive miss when he goes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dino

Michael Cox's twitter is always a laugh after these games.

He's tweeted about 50 times and is having silly arguments with about six different people at once. It's really quite similar to peak Harold on here.

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For someone who makes very salient points on podcasts and generally writes from interesting perspectives in his articles, he’s an incredibly childish person who seemingly can’t take any criticism or counter arguments. His twitter replies are bizarre.

I don't know who Michael Cox is, but anyone sat in 2018 wondering whether John Stones' strengths compensate for not being able to defend should hand in his Football Expert badge.

Yes Liverpool yes. :cool:

Last five minutes almost killed me, and it would have been the most predictable thing of all time if we conceded off that free-kick, but before that it was a great game. The midfield was fantastic. I don't rate Can that highly but he was awesome today.

Giggs as Wales manager, then. That'll go well I imagine.

I don't think I've ever been more certain about someone making a bad manager than Giggs.

I'm watching Rio Ferdinand (who is normally a good pundit) reluctantly conceding that Theo Walcott hasn't fulfilled his potential, and Glenn Hoddle (who isn't) wondering whether coaches have let him down. Am I remembering things wrong, or was he never actually HYPED all that much? Decent young player, yes, and obviously very fast; but I don't recall him getting the same sort of wanking that even somebody like Raheem Sterling was getting, let alone the future great talk that Wayne Rooney used to get.

Remember when he went to England setup at like 16. He was hyped as fuck.

I remember him being pretty hyped, yeah.

He was at sixteen (if only because who plays first team at sixteen), but I seem to remember it having calmed right down within a couple of years. They were making out as though people other than Harold were still expecting big things when he was twenty.

John O'Shea-esque that.

Around the time of his hat trick against Croatia under Mister Capello he looked like he might make a go of it.

Was always about explosive pace and average to good in other areaa though.

Ex-pro style pundits love players with pace because pace is something that can be delineated. They're never very good at describing what it is that makes intelligent footballers good, because it's all so instinctive.

He scored some quality goals (goal?) for Southampton and was a pretty big deal back when he first moved to Arsenal, but yeah, take the point on him being pretty much piss and wind after that point.

Scored a screamer against Leeds in his first start then scored in the next two games.

I still think.he left Southampton far too early, a couple of years in the Championship is far better for a player than reserve football in the Premier League.

I see 'Oxlade-Chamberlain is the new Gerrard' stories popping up. Ah, I remember those false dawns well.

He's not, but he's going be a damn sight better playing central midfield than on the wing or at fullback.

TBH I was quite happy for him yesterday. Shame what happened really.

Paul Lambert is the new Stoke manager.

I laughed when Mark Hughes said: 'Who else is going to do the job?' but maybe he was right.

The replies from Stoke fans to the announcement is gold: https://twitter.com/stokecity/status/952864521521123328

Jesus Christ. Hard to see how they won't be relegated either this season or next.

I thought you had to be joking. But yeah, not nice knowing you, Stoke.

Giggs as our new manager is bollocks. What a shit move.

If I was even half decent I would state publicly that I'm not playing friendlies under his management.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Smiffy

Giggs as our new manager is bollocks. What a shit move.

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Do you want Lambert?

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

The state of the compression on Uniteds social media these days :nono:

lol 'Alexis' not even on the bench. Already getting the Mourinho cold shoulder.

Data is expensive in Africa

LVG has apparently said he rejected the Belgium job so that Man Utd would have to keep paying him. He wanted 'revenge'. :D

What a pleb.

Stephen Ireland getting a run out :D

Tony V is such a don.

Valencia using his left foot :|

Woof.

I had no idea that Valencia even knew how to use his left foot.

The 'keeper looked surprised as well.

Commentator reckons the full back ballsed up by not showing Valencia down the line. Nine times out of ten showing him onto his left is the correct thing to do, you can't legislate for the most one footed player this side of Arjen Robben walloping one in off his mahow foot.

There was that time many years ago back when Valencia was a winger that he had a long injury and came back looking like the Hulk. This time he's come back with a left foot. The man works hard.

Kirk Broadfoot made his career.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Weaver

Stephen Ireland getting a run out :D

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I thought he retired.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Reg

There was that time many years ago back when Valencia was a winger that he had a long injury and came back looking like the Hulk. This time he's come back with a left foot. The man works hard.

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I think my favourite Tony V was the version that spent all game crossing it at Rooney's melon and making him score loads of headers, but this new update with the |wondergoal| patch installed is pretty nifty.

Whats with the sudden little Lukaku tekkers :cab:

This is shit. Matic and Pogba as a two is wank.

Why have all teams stopped playing with a proper holding midfielder these days?

Fuck off reg.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by John

Kirk Broadfoot made his career.

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I remember we had Clubfoot in our sights for a while. :sick:

That was fucking lovely.

It should be Paulp Ogba in a one and an extra centre-back.

What a goal that is. Martial smiling has unsettled me though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kikó

Fuck off reg.

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What a strange little hobby you've developed.

Lukaku's first touch is comically bad.

You're my tactics man. :D @Reg

Nice finish. If Stoke were any good they'd be level.

Lukaku :lol:

Whatever chant that was from the Stoke fans it sounded properly eastern European.

View Tweet

Stunning control.

Stoke deserve to be relegated for this kit alone.

Has Zouma always been this bad or is it Hughes' tutelage that has done this to him?

Thought that was just a deliberate move to put the defender off. He got a shot off and all!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by niko_cee

Stoke deserve to be relegated for this kit alone.

Has Zouma always been this bad or is it Hughes' tutelage that has done this to him?

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Was good before his injury. Now he's like a horse that's fallen at the Canal Turn and needs to be humanely destroyed.

He's been alright today. Messi Lingard has been shit though. Flavour-of-the-month fraud. Get him sold.

EDIT: Lukaku that is.

Maybe they can trade him for Sanchez.

Arsenal is a great place for 25-year-old English talents who are just that one season away from realising their actual potential, so it makes sense for everyone.

That was good. He should get wound up more often, the big soft twat.

It's strange when Lukaku actually does something good.

I was just writing a post about how inept Lukaku had been as that goal went in. :moop:

If it had been 0-0, that would have been straight at the 'keeper

Lukakus effort was alright considering Martial basically passed it hard into his stomach, but once the ball hit him about 3 stoker defenders also seemed to avoid him as if he had ebola.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mazuuurk

Lukakus effort was alright considering Martial basically passed it hard into his stomach, but once the ball hit him about 3 stoker defenders also seemed to avoid him as if he had ebola.

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Racist scumbag.

I noticed that. The one who tracked Mata's run rather than just booting the ball away was ridiculous.

Pogba is so much better than anyone else on the pitch it's not funny.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

Racist scumbag.

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you what? if anyone is racist it's those stoke defenders.

Stoke can easily get out of the relegation zone if Lambert can be arsed to do so.

I expect lolz if I'm quite honest. Easy 3-0 win for us.

Lambert is shit. They're going down.

Pogba was glorious tonight. Lukaku was very good as well, despite the usual moaning in here.

This Mourinho-Conte feud should be a Wrestlemania main event match.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by randomlegend

Pogba was glorious tonight. Lukaku was very good as well, despite the usual moaning in here.

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Yeah I thought so. Several nice flicks and passes. His touch has got much better since the start of the season, and he's linking with the others much more.

I'm on the Pogba train this season. He's gone up a level. But I'm holding off calling him one of the best until he does it against the top six / the best European sides.

Some of the defending was a bit bomb-scare however, if Stephen Ireland wasn't a retard he'd have bagged a couple.

On the subject of Stephen Ireland, he really is a strange creature. There's nothing obvious which is exceptionally weird about his appearance, and yet he barely looks human.

It's called being bald mate.

Utterly boring game.

There's been some quality caretaker managing going on this season. First you had the blimp disaster at Goodison, then you have this Stoke chap dredging Stephen Ireland out of somewhere for his first start in nigh on three years. What on earth was he thinking?

Doing something different I'd imagine. It's not like it's been working up to now.

"Fuck it. I'm only here once. Do we still have Bojan?!"

Getting hold of Lukaku's voodoo correspondent and having a doll made would be trying something different too, and every bit as likely to work as putting Stephen Ireland at the centre of your attack.

I thought Stephen Ireland did well. If he had his shooting boots on then he would have bagged.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42688079

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2pUgYUaFhs

lol.