October Football: Derbies 'n' stuff

Derbies! All of 'em. Well, some of them.

North London Derby today, Manchester Derby tomorrow (uh oh), Derby County are away at Cambridge, Palace / Chelsea is a sort of derby I guess?

All that plus a schedule this month which is so busy with league and European football it may as well have been designed to make sure the players will all be absolutely knackered before they even get to the World Cup.

On top of which we've presumably got more meaningless anti-Qatar non-protests being revealed to look forward to. Hooray!

It's been so long that I've forgotten if we're any good any more. Would expect city to win tomorrow with the goblin scoring two.

Think City might score about 6 tomorrow. The child in defence is going to be absolutely flattened..

Maguire against Haaland. :happycry:

Maguire is out.

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Originally Posted by Waffdon

Think City might score about 6 tomorrow. The child in defence is going to be absolutely flattened..

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Yeah Martinez has got a lot better since those grim first two games but they really need to keep Varane on Haaland as much as possible. Not that that fills me with confidence either but Haaland is about three times Martinez's height.

The Australia Cup Final is on atm and the Sydney United Croatian fan base booed and chanted during the Welcome to Country and sang chants over the anthem. lol

http://www.hesgoal.com/news/Sydney%2...Macarthur.html

Dwight Yorke is the Manager for the A League side Macarthur FC.

Would they not think of fucking back to Croatia at that stage then?

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Originally Posted by Waffdon

Think City might score about 6 tomorrow. The child in defence is going to be absolutely flattened..

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Martinez donned Haaland when Ajax played Dortmund.

He's raped the keeper there.

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Originally Posted by randomlegend

Martinez donned Haaland when Ajax played Dortmund.

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He really didn’t. Haaland just couldn’t finish, he had 3 really good chances in that match all with him rag dolling Martinez or Timber.

As soon as Gabril fouled Richarlison you knew it was a penalty just from the way he was guiltily staring at the ref.

But the little gremlin had a greater aerial duel win % than VVD :happycry:

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Originally Posted by Waffdon

He really didn’t. Haaland just couldn’t finish, he had 3 really good chances in that match all with him rag dolling Martinez or Timber.

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Donned.

That was a quality half. Can't see how Chelsea are getting top 4.

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Originally Posted by don

that was a quality half. Can't see how liverpool are getting top 4.

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ftfy

Yeah, Spurs should just about do enough to stay in top four. Chelsea should really aim to avoid EL/ECL and concentrate on completing their squad overhaul. They’re still about 5/6 players away from challenging for anything. Reckon Zaha might have a field day against Chelsea today with Silva in a back four

Lloris is so shit.

Absolutely dominated that.

Brighton timewasting in the 9th minute. Great.

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Originally Posted by John Arne

Brighton timewasting in the 9th minute. Great.

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Give over :D

They should be 3-0 up.

Trent. :lol:

:lol:

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Originally Posted by randomlegend

Give over :D

They should be 3-0 up.

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They should be, thank fuck for Alisson. That doesn't change that their keeper is timewasting already, which is annoying, but fine.

Calvin Ramsey is gonna need to be good. And fit. Soon.

Can we get Neco Williams back, please.

We’re being torn apart here.

This Liverpool team is done, and they won't spend enough or well enough to build another good one.

Klopp will be in Madrid by next July.

Serious bad patch of form for Fabinho, Trent and Henderson all at once leads to this.

Hopefully the goal is a kick up the ass.

That’s really well taken by Salah and Firmino.

We’ve actually looked okay going forward except for some indecisive finishing.

That goal from Almiron is absurd.

Is Cucurella injured or has Potter bowled in and left him out entirely?

Reporters saying he’s in hospital with a throat illness. ( oi oi)

We will see how good a coach Potter is by how long it takes for him to realise you can’t play Jorginho/Silva in the same side in a back four

He's pretty stubborn so if he thinks it's a good idea you can look forward to seeing a lot more of it.

They've just shown a breakdown of Trents first half on my stream. He wants hooking at HT.

There is a clip of Jurgen 'Jurgen Klopp' Klopp doing the rounds where he defends 'Trent' because he stands where he tells him and it benefits the team in other ways. We know that. Isn't the problem his ambling back and daydreaming when he is caught in attacking positions rather than being there for the press?

Baiting Liverpool into winning and helping United get top 4 :cool:

I've played this blindingly.

As if they ever weren’t going to :yawn:

RL doing a taz.

How bad does Alexander-Arnold have to be before Ramsay gets a game?

Mason Mount is properly awful.

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Originally Posted by Baz

How bad does Alexander-Arnold have to be before Ramsay gets a game?

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He only started training for the first time since July, this week. I reckon he’s a week or two away from any minutes.

Trossard :cool:

This Chelsea team isn't a team, it's just some players they have signed for random or unconnected reasons.

Someone needs to find Alexander-Arnold a new position because he is absolutely hilarious as a defender.

Some winner after a round of dadaist improvised comedy substitutions from Coach Potter.

That might be the title gone but by christ we're gonna steamroller the CL once the momentum gets going.

And they were saying Bobby is finished :D

Roberto De Zerbi looks like an Italian from fifteen years ago.

All this Trent bashing is giving Virgin Van Dyke a free ride. He's been dogshit as well.

Sydney Croatia fans chanting "Za Dom, Spremni". :cab:

Probably a good idea that all the ethnic Clubs have been banned from the A League.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qey1B4fTfeg



Pretty brutal response to "Welcome to County".

https://www.theroar.com.au/soccer/vi...PI_U1GyNBaJO5Y

127 dead after riots broke out between fans of Arema and Persabaya.

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There's some much more grim videos doing the rounds.

Looks mental, surely there is conventional wisdom about police not using dispersal measures on crowds in tight spaces.

I think United could win today, they are a bit of a shithouse side like that this season. Beat an admittedly lol Liverpool at the time against the odds, beat Arsenal despite Arsenal being the better team and wouldn't be surprised if they at least avoid defeat today. Then all their fans can publicly mastubate about how they are back until they drop points away at Omonia and Everton.

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Originally Posted by Lofty

I think United could win today

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:roflol:

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Originally Posted by Queenslander

Sydney Croatia fans chanting "Za Dom, Spremni". :cab:

Probably a good idea that all the ethnic Clubs have been banned from the A League.





Pretty brutal response to "Welcome to County".

https://www.theroar.com.au/sones-as-...PI_U1GyNBaJO5Y

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I like how the reaction has deemed Nazi salutes/mental chants and booing 'Welcome to Country' to be roughly equivalent.

Now that Lampard has finally learnt how to set up a defence, he’s looking like a properly decent manager. Gerrard in his shadow again.

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Originally Posted by Baz

:roflol:

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Entirely depends how United set up. If they stick to Counter attacking they could shithouse a win the same was Spurs do pretty much every time they play them.

It remains to be seen if Haaland has changed that though.

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Originally Posted by Lewis

I like how the reaction has deemed Nazi salutes/mental chants and booing 'Welcome to Country' to be roughly equivalent.

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Yep it's into the culture war now. For some reason the MSM won't talk about the ultra nationalist Croatian Club that have been at it since 1958. Every capital city has a Croatian equivalent with the club houses full of banter items.

Up to 174 dead in that crush now. I suspect it'll get a lot worse yet.

There'll be Liverpool scarfs hanging from every statue in town by Tea time.

We need some shirts printing. Y.N.W.A

This Manchester Derby should be quite fun. Neither team have went for a midfield by the looks of it. McTominay the sole player on the pitch with any defensive awareness - and how much does he really have?

Man Utd could score a few on the break but think they’ll be too open. De Bruyne should have a field day.

Enjoying the BBC persisting with "dos Santos" in the line-ups, a name which nobody is referring to Antony by.

Akanji + Ake centre back pairing would have me a bit worried if I was a City fan, but the rest of their team (and depth) really is absurd.

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Originally Posted by Ian

Enjoying the BBC persisting with "dos Santos" in the line-ups, a name which nobody is referring to Antony by.

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They had Liverpool's Carvalho down as Freitas Gouveia yesterday as well.

The biggest issue is definitely no Rodri. Ake has been good and looked better than Dias this season. Fuck knows about Akanji, loves a cock up. I was expecting a much worse team based on Gary Neville's reaction. Really don't understand why Casemiro is still being benched.

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Originally Posted by Waffdon

The biggest issue is definitely no Rodri. Ake has been good and looked better than Dias this season. Fuck knows about Akanji, loves a cock up. I was expecting a much worse team based on Gary Neville's reaction. Really don't understand why Casemiro is still being benched.

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I can't believe I'm saying this, but McTominay has genuinely earned his place recently.

Well this is frantic so far. If Dalot doesn't get sent off after getting himself booked 2 minutes in it'll be a miracle.

What's the go to streaming website? Reddit Soccer are all shit for me

This is going to be a big old rape.

This is going to be a long day.

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Originally Posted by Waffdon

What's the go to streaming website? Reddit Soccer are all shit for me

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The most success I have nowadays has been downloading Acestream and then using this:

https://acestreamsearch.net/en/

To search for the channel.

Ta.

Playing McTominay against a high press on his own is hilarious

Varane is such a sicknote these days.

Haaland is too much of a beast.

Now this is the United I know.

Thats just disgusting from KDB.

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Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

Haaland is too much of a beast.

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Yep...

De Bruyne into Haaland is a cheat code.

Haaland breaks every record going if he wasn't a bit prone to an injury

:D

That 3rd goal only just went over the midgets head for the cross.

I'll be totally honest, I'm not fully enjoying this.

A proper fisting.

Haaland is the best player ever to play in this country (I don't think we ever got peak Ronaldo).

Ah well, good job I get my money back as a free bet.

Haaland looks like a worm

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Originally Posted by randomlegend

This is going to be a big old rape.

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When is Martinez going to start donning Sloth?

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Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Haaland is the best player ever to play in this country (I don't think we ever got peak Ronaldo).

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He really is (in my football watching lifetime at any rate). Genuinely think we're looking at one of the best of all time here and he seemingly has all the mental attributes to make that happen too.

It's a bit like watching a Chinese game in 2018 when you had Oscar or someone show up and operate on a different level. It's quite odd seeing it happen in a Manchester derby.

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Originally Posted by Yevrah

He really is (in my football watching lifetime at any rate). Genuinely think we're looking at one of the best of all time here and he seemingly has all the mental attributes to make that happen too.

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It's a shame for us English fans that he'll fuck off to Madrid in a couple of years.

https://media.tenor.com/Pwov9LMUj1kA...avid-brent.gif

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Originally Posted by Ben

It's a shame for us English fans that he'll fuck off to Madrid in a couple of years.

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I was wondering a year or two ago whether that would stop happening now that we have the Super League but they really have nailed the changing of the guard. Maybe if City finally start winning Champions Leagues.

Don't understand why we weren't trying to keep the ball a bit more like this in the first half, rather than instantly trying to counter and giving the ball back to City every time.

Still would have lost but you've got no chance of staying in the game if you're just gifting City possession constantly.

In fairness, quick counter attacks have been pretty much the only way to beat them for a few seasons now. It appears them finally having (and playing) a competent striker has put an end to that.

They could go undefeated all season if he keeps this up.

Here we go. 4-4 is on!

Lovely hit.

Tony :drool:

Haaland gets a nice Winter Break as well which probably means he isn't going to fall victim of the Pep Roulette

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Originally Posted by Spikey M

In fairness, quick counter attacks have been pretty much the only way to beat them for a few seasons now. It appears them finally having (and playing) a competent striker has put an end to that.

They could go undefeated all season if he keeps this up.

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Absolutely, but there has to be some sort of measure to it. Just launching it forward on the third touch of the ball every time you get possession is never going to work.

This United team has good players, despite all the (deserved) lolling. They can actually pass the ball about a bit, as they are showing.

5-5?

Haaland is bonkers.

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Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

Haaland is bonkers.

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If a player was scoring this many in FM everyone would be saying they needed nerfs or the match engine was broken. He's inhuman.

That defending :lol:

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Tony :cool:

I know how delusional it sounds, but I honestly think if we'd tried to play football in the first half rather than desperation counter-attacking we could've given them a game. Oh well.

If you weren't 4-0 down they probably wouldn't have let you play the way you have been this half to be fair.

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Originally Posted by Spikey M

If you weren't 4-0 down they probably wouldn't have let you play the way you have been this half to be fair.

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No, and I still think we'd have lost, but I think it would've been better. You can't beat them by just giving them the ball endlessly.

Just stumbled upon this.

Can you imagine a greater clusterfuck?

Why not get Turkey and Syria involved for the full Ottoman reunion.

Like everything else they’ll just buy it and it’ll happen.

Was Fernandes and Eriksen a tactical error in a game like that? They'd have been better off going with Casemiro and McTominay Shirley? I mean fuck if it was me on FM I'd have prob gone Casemiro with McFred and just tried to shithouse them as much as possible and maybe grab one on the break .

Bruno Lage sacked at Wolves. Who comes in next?

Mick McCarthy.

Has the Casemiro lad played at all yet?

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Originally Posted by igor_balis

Was Fernandes and Eriksen a tactical error in a game like that? They'd have been better off going with Casemiro and McTominay Shirley? I mean fuck if it was me on FM I'd have prob gone Casemiro with McFred and just tried to shithouse them as much as possible and maybe grab one on the break .

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I'd have played Casemiro + Fred with one of Bruno or Eriksen.

As an aside, it's incredible how Southgate manages to make Foden look shit.

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Originally Posted by randomlegend

As an aside, it's incredible how Southgate manages to make Foden look shit.

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Aye, it’s incredible how much of a free pass he gets on how he has handled Sancho, Foden and TAA(regardless of his poor start to this season) since they got into the squad.

He’s got three very good young players there who would walk into most teams in the world and he gets fuck all out of them.

It genuinely irritates me how wank he is.

A team like:
Pope
James
Stones
Tomori
Chilwell
Rice
Bellingham
Foden
Madison
Grealish/Sancho
Kane

is full of quality players who've performed at absolute top club level. They should be playing great football and dicking on most international sides then going out against the very best ones and playing as equals. I mean that would be a genuinely good Champions League team, never mind international football.

Instead we're served up some 6-3-1 formation shitefest and look like we're happy to nick a point or a 1-0 against the likes of Hungary.

I think my Foden scepticism comes solely from watching him for England.

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Originally Posted by randomlegend

It genuinely irritates me how wank he is.

A team like:
Pope
James
Stones
Tomori
Chilwell
Rice
Bellingham
Foden
Madison
Grealish/Sancho
Kane

is full of quality players who've performed at absolute top club level. They should be playing great football and dicking on most international sides then going out against the very best ones and playing as equals. I mean that would be a genuinely good Champions League team, never mind international football.

Instead we're served up some 6-3-1 formation shitefest and look like we're happy to nick a point or a 1-0 against the likes of Hungary.

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Isn't that more or less exactly the side that played against Germany except you've swapped Maddison for Maguire and changed a couple of defenders?

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Originally Posted by -james-

Isn't that more or less exactly the side that played against Germany except you've swapped Maddison for Maguire and changed a couple of defenders?

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More or less the same side other than swapping a centre back for an attacking midfielder and so being a totally different and much more attacking formation, yeah :cab:

The biggest issue with Southgate is not that he picks the wrong players (although he does do that too), it's that he has the best set of attacking/creative players that England have had in our lifetime at his disposal and he sets up to play the worst brand of football I've ever seen. He is totally incapable tactically of giving the incredible talent in the squad the opportunity to actually shine.

Just clocked Liverpool’s next two games are Arsenal and Man City. Class, hopefully the run continues.

He's a pragmatist and while we do have the best array of attacking players in our lifetime, that isn't the case further back, so his style is set up to compensate. If you put someone else in charge (not sure who) you could turn them into a madcap attacking side but that's so much harder to coach when you don't have any time with the players.

The Sven era saw the best all round talent we've had I think, we really should have won Euro 2004.

It's definitely. It annoying. When it was getting us to a final, "system over players" was an annoying but understandable evil, but we've been both boring AND shit ever since.

They should get Pochettino in.

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Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

He's a pragmatist and while we do have the best array of attacking players in our lifetime, that isn't the case further back, so his style is set up to compensate. If you put someone else in charge (not sure who) you could turn them into a madcap attacking side but that's so much harder to coach when you don't have any time with the players.

The Sven era saw the best all round talent we've had I think, we really should have won Euro 2004.

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The players further back aren't even bad. In fact the vast majority are very good. Bellingham is absolutely brilliant, Rice is extremely solid as a defensive midfielder, Reece James is quality, Stones manages to play 25+ games a season for one of the best sides on the planet, Tomori is very good (under-rated because he's in Italy). I don't particularly rate Chilwell or Shaw and all the keepers are below the top bracket, but you almost never have 11 world class players in an international team.

Given the talent available the way we play is criminal.

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Originally Posted by randomlegend

More or less the same side other than swapping a centre back for an attacking midfielder and so being a totally different and much more attacking formation, yeah :cab:

The biggest issue with Southgate is not that he picks the wrong players (although he does do that too), it's that he has the best set of attacking/creative players that England have had in our lifetime at his disposal and he sets up to play the worst brand of football I've ever seen. He is totally incapable tactically of giving the incredible talent in the squad the opportunity to actually shine.

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You mentioned your line-up would be a good Champions League team on paper, well so was the one on Monday. I'm just not sure how you expect a team that meet up for about six weeks a year to achieve that sort of level on the pitch.

Being shit and being defensively minded aren't the same thing. I, too, would enjoy it if England played like Potter's Brighton, but I think what he does is a pretty safe bet for getting to the latter stages of a tournament.

I've been enjoying watching Scotland fans scream Clarke out at the same time as the Southgate out movement. What do the French think of Deschamps? Are there any popular international managers?

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Originally Posted by randomlegend

They should be playing great football.

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Great football doesn't exist at international level. It's a game of moments and individual brilliance.

Scotland are better than they've been for ages, their fans must be morons.

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Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Scotland are better than they've been for ages, their fans must be morons.

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@randomlegend

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Originally Posted by -james-

You mentioned your line-up would be a good Champions League team on paper, well so was the one on Monday. I'm just not sure how you expect a team that meet up for about six weeks a year to achieve that sort of level on the pitch.

Being shit and being defensively minded aren't the same thing. I, too, would enjoy it if England played like Potter's Brighton, but I think what he does is a pretty safe bet for getting to the latter stages of a tournament.

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Playing six primarily defensive players, as England did against Germany, lessens the potential of the team. Sterling, Maguire and Dier are also all pretty wank.

It's not about "good" or "shit", it's about setting up in a way that gets the most out of the players you have available. Southgate does not do that.

I don't think adding James Maddison into the side is going to have the transformative effect that you think. France won the World Cup with Blaise Matuidi at left wing ffs.

Raheem Sterling is clearly not "wank".

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Originally Posted by -james-

I've been enjoying watching Scotland fans scream Clarke out at the same time as the Southgate out movement. What do the French think of Deschamps? Are there any popular international managers?

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Clark has definitely had his ups and downs. At least he seems to learn from his mistakes somewhat though. And finally went back to a 4 and not a 5.

Still needs to prove himself in big matches. Tends to shit himself and shut up shop.

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Originally Posted by -james-

I don't think adding James Maddison into the side is going to have the transformative effect that you think. France won the World Cup with Blaise Matuidi at left wing ffs.

Raheem Sterling is clearly not "wank".

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Matuidi was a great player for a few years and was much needed to help Kante covering for Pogba.

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Originally Posted by -james-

I don't think adding James Maddison into the side is going to have the transformative effect that you think. France won the World Cup with Blaise Matuidi at left wing ffs.

Raheem Sterling is clearly not "wank".

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It's not about James Madison, it's about not playing 6 defenders and not setting up with no attacking intent whatsoever.

I'm normally on James' side in these not at all tedious debates but he's being deliberately thick here.

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He could have been standing up front next to Kane as well. Waiting for a pass from Raheem Stirling, that will never come.

Ivan Drago, a man known for winning.

If there's anything that sums up international football, it's that Norway with Haaland, Odegaard and a pretty solid support cast got nowhere near the World Cup. However, in 1994, Norway reached 3rd in the FIFA rankings while playing 'Drilloball', a form of book-based kick and rush which emphasised hoofing it as quickly as possible, and in the air, to Jostein Flo or another of their innovative wide target men. This ultra-direct approach was grounded in the philosophy that the best way to play football was to get it from back to front as quickly, and with as few touches, as possible. Pity their midfield generals of the era such as Roar Strand (who I always just picture as a Viking warrior in full helmet and garb) and Erik Mykland, the only bearded player at World Cup 1998 - how times change - who spent their working lives as bypassed men.

So yeah, Southgate knows.

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Originally Posted by -james-

Are there any popular international managers?

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Carlos Queiroz.

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Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

If there's anything that sums up international football, it's that Norway with Haaland, Odegaard and a pretty solid support cast got nowhere near the World Cup. However, in 1994, Norway reached 3rd in the FIFA rankings while playing 'Drilloball', a form of book-based kick and rush which emphasised hoofing it as quickly as possible, and in the air, to Jostein Flo or another of their innovative wide target men. This ultra-direct approach was grounded in the philosophy that the best way to play football was to get it from back to front as quickly, and with as few touches, as possible. Pity their midfield generals of the era such as Roar Strand (who I always just picture as a Viking warrior in full helmet and garb) and Erik Mykland, the only bearded player at World Cup 1998 - how times change - who spent their working lives as bypassed men.

So yeah, Southgate knows.

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Our game against them in USA 94 was a crime against the sport.

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Originally Posted by Shindig

Ivan Drago, a man known for winning.

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He just made Ten Hag look like Apollo Creed.

Brentford did the same months ago.

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Originally Posted by Baz

Carlos Queiroz.

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There are still a minority portion who want us to play expansive football and hold the fact he has never won a tournament or progressed in WC for us against him. Bless their special selves.

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Just add him to the conveyor belt of future world class full backs born in Scotland. The worlds best at something :cool:

If Bale can carry Wales, Haaland should be able to carry Norway.

Steve Cook is laughably out of his depth at this level.

This MNF breakdown of the goals with Maddison has been quite excellent. Nice to hear a player talk about the thinking behind what they do.

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Absolutely no shame.

The World Cup bidding process might be one of my favourite things in football, or at least right up there with Afcon refereeing.

Rebekah Vardy ordered to pay all of Colleen Rooney's court costs: £1.5m :D

Outstanding.

The Bayern home kit is very pleasing on the eye.

Wonder if Poonez can nick one against a third world club.

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Originally Posted by randomlegend

Wonder if Poonez can nick one against a third world club.

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Doubt it.

Also, have you added a fucking signature?

I've been led to believe it's the HEIGHT of comedy

People who think transfer rumours are about transfer rumours know nothing about transfer rumours.

Why can I see signatures on mobile when I can’t even see post numbers?

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Originally Posted by Giggles

Why can I see signatures on mobile when I can’t even see post numbers?

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Still can't see polls either.

Romano should be censored from the board.

Napoli absolutely flying at the moment.

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Originally Posted by Boydy

Doubt it.

Also, have you added a fucking signature?

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Not anymore. The spacing on the posts was annoying me.

Atleti in the mud :drool:

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Originally Posted by niko_cee

Napoli absolutely flying at the moment.

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Yes this Georgian fella looks amazing.

Darwin, unfortunately, seems to be absolutely useless.

Giacomo Raspadori is my favourite in-form Napoli forward. Proper early 90s F1 backmarker name.

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Originally Posted by phonics

Not anymore. The spacing on the posts was annoying me.

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Thank you.

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Originally Posted by CJay

Yes this Georgian fella looks amazing.

Darwin, unfortunately, seems to be absolutely useless.

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r/benfica 1 - 0 TTH

Barcelona going out in the group stage again would be exquisite.

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Originally Posted by -james-

Barcelona going out in the group stage again would be exquisite.

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The VAR decision disallowing their goal was shocking. And then a similar handball somehow not giving them a penalty.

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Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Giacomo Raspadori is my favourite in-form Napoli forward. Proper early 90s F1 backmarker name.

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Definitely a future capocannoniere (what a beautiful word).

Also, Milner hitting 300 appearances for Liverpool - way more than for any other club he played for - really surprised me.

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Originally Posted by CJay

Also, Milner hitting 300 appearances for Liverpool - way more than for any other club he played for - really surprised me.

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And hopefully his last. Great servant to the club, but become a coach or something. One year too many for Liverpool.

James Milner as a pundit is something I probably need to hear once.

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Originally Posted by CJay

The VAR decision disallowing their goal was shocking. And then a similar handball somehow not giving them a penalty.

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Just watched the highlights and it was quite ridiculous. I'd argue Dumfries' handball is considerably worse. What I also don't get is how he's called to watch the replay on Barcelona's goal yet he's not for that penalty check?

Haaland starts. :cool:

Mount’s start to this game. :D

Another player continually picked for energy

I’m not really surprised Chelsea are dominating from these corners. Koulibaly/Fofana/Loftus Cheek are all massive and that’s not taking into account Silva always winning headers.

Haaland has now scored as many Champions League goals as Suarez. He's 22.

Milan look awful.

Leao might break the Chelsea attacker curse. You have to be some player to get by Reece James more than once.

There’s not a more well rounded player in football than Reece James.

There's not a more sucked off player in football than Reece James.

He tastes so good

I think I’d rather have Macaulay Langstaff than Darwin Nunez.

16 goals in 12. :cool:

I reckon a few months of full time training and I could score more goals for Liverpool than Darwin Nunez. I also said the same about Andy Carroll circa 2012.

I think Liverpool's professional scouts know a bit more than you lot.

His movement looked ok last night tbf. At least he can be a big brute to put on the end of crosses. His technique on the ground seems very suspect however.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by randomlegend

I think Liverpool's professional scouts know a bit more than you lot.

---

But not as much as r/Benfice.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

But not as much as r/Benfice.

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:thbup:

It’s wild how for the last 20 years or so that Premier League teams have had the number of Serie A teams outside of Napoli and Atalanta who don’t play like Serie A teams.

The only time I can remember one of the traditional lot winning was AC beating Arsenal and that’s only because we gave them a 4 goal advantage and it still ended 4-3 on aggregate.

In general they play too ponderously and at a slow tempo. That is what Napoli and Atalanta have been really good at, attacking at speed. The Italian side that won Euro 2020, too.

The traditional powers are always fixated on 35 year old grizzled centre backs as the starting point of their football.

340 mins, 2 goals, 1 trophy, 0 fucks given. Imagine thinking stat-padding 2 a game against bum-sides is more impressive.

He looks a decent agent of chaos. People forget Mane had the touch of a donkey and dogshit finishing fairly regularly alongside the sublime and this twat seems to be the same minus the likeability.

That's some revisionism if I've ever seen it.

This is a good headline but the story should actually be more about how James' obvious talents are also largely wasted when playing for GarethSouthgateBadger's England.

Our third choice striker banging against Utd on the eve of news that our starting striker may be injured for the England game :happycry:

Malacia is laughable, not even a solid defender to go with his zero attacking output.

We're so good :cool:

Ronaldo :D

Great assist from Ron. He's like a Portuguese Dalot

EDIT: Lindelof making some goat herder look like Pele's regen, of course

Fabio Vieira is tidy.

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I would genuinely like to know how he plans to 'highlight' these things during routine commentary duties.

'And it's LIVE!'
'Not many gays in... Just saying.'

Is Martin Tyler allowed to do 'And it's LIVE!' for another broadcaster?

"He's battered that one like a migrant worker"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2Fsp1udDKg

Gabriel Jesus, quite good.

Pellegrini beating José on his own turf. :cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lewis

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I would genuinely like to know how he plans to 'highlight' these things during routine commentary duties.

'And it's LIVE!'
'Not many gays in... Just saying.'

---

I was just reading about some 'World Cup Cruise' which will no longer be going to the world cup because the Qataris have closed the ports during the world cup or somesuch, and only people with tickets are going to be allowed into the country. It's going to be such a colossal clusterfuck that widespread boycotting of it should really be considered.

I hope someone (other than Jimmy Jump) has prepared a proper barnstomer of an in-stadium protest.

Gary Neville's stance on this is genuinely ridiculous. He was even talking about how he regrets championing what was going on at Man City not so long ago, so fuck knows how he's squaring this one in his utterly confused mind.

‘If Becks can get paid 150 million quid in going to earn mine’

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yevrah

Gary Neville's stance on this is genuinely ridiculous. He was even talking about how he regrets championing what was going on at Man City not so long ago, so fuck knows how he's squaring this one in his utterly confused mind.

---

It'll be funny if he actually does go off on one against the regime and gets himself arrested.

You joke but I think that (the Beckham thing) genuinely might be it. The Class of 92 seem to be one in, all in on most things. Which might be a problem if Giggsy ends up in jail.

What's with Everton v United being at 7pm on Sunday this weekend?

Guessing it's because it should have been a Saturday lunchtime job and Man Utd were in Cyprus last night.

Quote:

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Erik ten Hag's side will face Everton at the aforementioned time this weekend following a logistical issue that means it will have to take place outside the normal kick-off times reserved for Sundays. The game was originally chosen by BT Sport as their Saturday lunchtime match but as United are in Europa League action on Thursday they cannot play until Sunday at the earliest.

---

The Manchester 'United' club must be on TV at all costs.

The police have caused Man Utd issues for in two weeks time as well. Slashed 500 of their tickets for some reason and took until now to fully confirm when the game was actually being played.

I assumed Europa League teams playing on thursday nights would've been factored in much earlier in the scheduling so they'd just have been on sunday at a normal time or monday night.

Sassuolo v Inter followed by Juve v Milan is a lovely double header.

In 1997.

:D

I watched this recently and properly enjoyed it.

https://youtu.be/EvoN7GYnIUg

Nearly half time and Haaland hasn't scored. Fraud?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by John Arne

I watched this recently and properly enjoyed it.

https://youtu.be/EvoN7GYnIUg

---

I had a DVD of this tournament which I watched a good number of times. So many brilliant goals and moments.

Bodgers going this weekend?

Dortmund v Bayern live on Youtube about to kick off. Should be a goal fest.

This Spurs kit must be up there as one of the worst ever. Looks like a bad goalkeeper training top.

I did wonder what was up with us scoring 5 today. Brentford were abysmal.

Dodgy keeper for Dortmund. Shouldn’t have let either in so far.

Thiago injured again it seems and now Arthur Melo has done something in training which needs surgery to fix. Out for 4 months.

That'll be James Milner back in the starting lineup then.

I know it’s October but how the fuck have Bournemouth managed to get into 8th :lol:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gray Fox

Thiago injured again it seems and now Arthur Melo has done something in training which needs surgery to fix. Out for 4 months.

That'll be James Milner back in the starting lineup then.

---

So what are we looking at, Henderson + Milner + Fabinho midfield?

I actually think he's going to be forced into 4-4-2 out of necessity. The three you mention are the only natural C(d)M types we have fit. Harvey can play there but I'm not sure as a two.

If you ever did want to try Trent as a midfielder now would likely be the time.

All I'm seeing on twitter is that he's fit, you fucking dangerous bastard.

I'd love to be wrong, but he's not been in training.

Meanwhile I'm watching Nunes run through Chelsea's entire side and slice them open with a superb final ball. Sickening.

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There is a lot of the season to go, but it's hard to see something out-cringing that.

And you know those images will come back to haunt us.

Euro 2024 Qualifying draw is at 11am. Scotland seeded and in pot 2 and have the potential of a ridiculously easy group. Think top 2 go through as well so no excuses.

In before they get Slovakia and Turkey from pot 4/5 over your Malta’s, Luxembourg’s etc

Luxembourg aren't that bad these days. Progress Niederkorn episode II.

I've still got memories of them struggling against the Faroes so I'm not sure what Scotland does with an easy group.

Yeah me neither m8

Scotland are at their best as underdogs. When I think of Scotland I think of them grinding to a 0-0 draw with Georgia or Lithuania because they can't cope with being favourites.

We’re not qualifying anyway, so just none of the British teams and it’s all good thanks.

Fucking hell this sounds like some rigmarole.

How have we ended up in Pot 2? We're 5th in the FIFA rankings, you bastards.

Just came in to say the ramifications of our shit Nations League could create a bit of a chuff.

We've drawn Italy, and if we get a good Pot 3 team, it's going to be back to mid-90's England qualification struggles :drool.

Ouch.

Jesus, what a horrendous start. Group of 5 rather than 6 and Spain/Norway so far. Class.

These seedings are all over the shop. Makes qualifying more exciting I suppose.

Do top two qualify even in the 5 man group?

Yes, the groups of 5 just get rid of the comedy microstates from the bottom.

Poland are a top seeded team but England and France aren't? Makes sense.

Hold on, Spain stilling refusing to play Gibraltor :D

Proper small time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by John Arne

Hold on, Spain stilling refusing to play Gibraltor :D

Proper small time.

---

There was a pile of ties like that shown at the start that couldn’t happen.

Could easily see England not getting out of the group.

Can’t even get Gibraltar. Fuck sake.

Spain
Scotland
Norway
Georgia
Cyprus

Quite a fun group to be fair. Haven’t played Spain in ages and only Georgia we’ve played recently in a group. Should be able to win 4/5 at home and win the away games to the bottom two sides (I hope). Just depends on Haaland raping us and Spain if he fancies it

Quote:

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Originally Posted by randomlegend

Could easily see England not getting out of the group.

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Isn't it basically impossible not to quality or has our star turn in the nations league potentially blocked that off as an escape route?

What was the reason Andorra couldn't be drawn in Group H?

https://gyazo.com/606e116e326a0011ad7e0d1a86e976b1.jpeg

4/5? Are you planning to play yourselves at home?

Wait, what, it's the Euros. There's no home and away right?

I smell 7 points after a plucky home draw against Greece.

Ronaldo clearly going to carry on for a few more years looking at Portugal's group.

We can't stay away from Italy, it seems.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by John Arne

What was the reason Andorra couldn't be drawn in Group H?

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I have just looked this up, and the genuine reason is that it's deemed too far for Kazakhstan to travel.

:D

Really?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

I have just looked this up, and the genuine reason is that it's deemed too far for Kazakhstan to travel.

---

Both Liechtenstein and San Marino are probably only 200 miles closer :D Every little counts.

Yep. Kazakhstan can only be drawn with one of Andorra, England, France, Gibraltar, Iceland, Malta, Northern Ireland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Wales, and they already had Northern Ireland.

Why on earth are they in the European qualifying realm anyway? Or are they basically too far from everywhere?

Given that the top 2 go through to the finals, England should be fine.

Does third get you a play-off against a [presumably] god-awful side as well? Ukraine are shit though so England should be coasting second as a minimum [they'll win it].

Quote:

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Originally Posted by niko_cee

Why on earth are they in the European qualifying realm anyway?

---

A small part of it is geographically in Europe, allegedly.

On the same idea, I've been wondering if Russia will end up defecting to Asian football. I can't see them being involved in UEFA stuff for the foreseeable.

All the problem sides being thrown into Group G.

When you look at some of those other groups, how the hell have both the finalists of the last Euros ended up in the same one?

Have Casillas and Puyol's twitter been hacked because they're coming out of the closet :uhoh:

both hacked - 1/4

casillas hacked/puyol trying to be funny - 6/1

casillas genuine/puyol trying to be funny - 8/1

both genuine - 20/1

I’m presuming so as it comes across if they’re marrying each other lol

Aaronson's run deserved a goal. Shame he himself didn't get it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by -james-

both hacked - 1/4

casillas hacked/puyol trying to be funny - 6/1

casillas genuine/puyol trying to be funny - 8/1

both genuine - 20/1

---

It reads like Casillas being gay and Puyol having his supportive reply slightly mistranslated. Either way where is Baz?

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Or the somehow most stupid option. :cab:

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Continuing from the September thread.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Danny

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Continuing from the September thread.

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Amazingly if you watch this without sound and then again with it, you completely change who you think is in the wrong.

News of Thiagos demise greatly exaggerated. Looks like he just got a rest in training.

Don't worry, he's still got the warm-up to navigate yet.

I didn't see any of the Rangers game, what is this line-up from Liverpool? 4-2-4?

That’s a lovely goal from Palace. They need to just continue with this front 3 with Eze in the midfield. They’ll win more games than lose.

Jordan Henderson going to have to cover for Thiago, Alexander Arnold and the front four. Poor bastard. Martinelli should have fun on the counter.

If it plays the same as it did against Rangers, Trent didn't go too far forwards. However he's shit enough at defending that it shouldn't matter.

Don'tbog yourself down with silly tactical formations and numbers, just enjoy the fucking vibes of starting all 4 attackers. Bobby should have started ahead of Diogo but fuck it, these fucking hyped up little pricks are in for a wake-up call.

Can you not just back Arsenal or something?

That's a 5-0 to Arsenal tee'd up if ever I've seen it.

Also, what's the deal with this? Didn't a similar thing happen in another game recently [maybe a womens game]?

Yep, that was a women's Champions League game where Ajax brought out smaller goals.

I'm going to go for 2 clear cut chances missed by Nunez today. I'm feeling generous.

How many headed shots on target though?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by niko_cee

Can you not just back Arsenal or something?

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Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

That's a 5-0 to Arsenal tee'd up if ever I've seen it.

---

Lads, take it to the betting thread where you can each swivel on my girthy member in turns.

I like how these pundits paint Darwin out as some hot-head. Geezer looks like the biggest melt going.

Good to see VAR and the officials still cocking everything up. Funny how it's always the smaller club that seems to get fucked over - all 3 goals today for West Ham (the last 2 especially) should not have stood. Utterly infuriating and it could be so costly for Fulham when it gets down to the end of the season.

Thanks Taz.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gray Fox

However he's shit enough at defending that it shouldn't matter.

---

Ding.

Are we really doing the 'balls kicked at you from half a yard away' are penalties thing again?

The high risk/reward stuff would be great if we didn't chuck the opposition a goals head start in every single game.

A decently hit shot on target by Darwin Nunez. :shocked:

He should have crossed it from there though.

Edit: i thought we had a shocked smiley?

Goal comes from Ramsdale being a mong and deciding to think he’s a footballer and smashing it out of play when he had an easy first time pass.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Feo8dLJW...jpg&name=large

Think that one was aimed at Fox and Boydy but what a moment. Mad to think we're getting the same tap-ins for a tenth of the weekly cost of the whale hunting maggot.

... right on cue.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boydy

A decently hit shot on target by Darwin Nunez. :shocked:

He should have crossed it from there though.

Edit: i thought we had a shocked smiley?

---

:eek:

That one?

You can see the trouble Arsenal have had with the 4-2-4, however once they get a few passes through the midfield they're right on goal.

Trent continues to be clueless defensively.

It was such a shit goal to concede just then.

The way Trent runs at the ball is amazing. :D

The media/public fixation on Trent is weird. There are loads of attacking full backs who can't defend. Why the obsession?

My stream has crashed for both Liverpool goals :face:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

The media/public fixation on Trent is weird. There are loads of attacking full backs who can't defend. Why the obsession?

---

It’s because the assists have dried up of late. Usually the offensive output more than covers for the defensive lapses.

RIP Jesus.

Seemed such a light contact too.

Liverpool need Fabinho on sharpish I think.

Jesus has been RESURRECTED.

Absolute joke of a decision hands Arsenal a penalty. Jesus taken out by a stiff breeze in the box.

Liverpool shocking in all parts defensively.

Liverpool gonna be 9 points off 4th this time next week with their game in hand away to Chelsea. Lolz

Yeah Liverpool are in the fight for the top 4 this season. They're not getting near winning the league without an unbeaten run and everyone else going to shit.

Not an ideal year to need January signings, but they're going to have to or top 4 may not even happen.

Arsenal being the real thing is a fair surprise.

Geezer planted his foot then went down like a sack of shit. Hopefully one of our white guys racially abused one of them.

Tactics aside, we just feel mentally weak this year. Finding ways to throw away points each game.

To be fair they were saved on a handball for a penalty that, while I agree with not being a pen, is one under VAR bullshit. Then were given one for Jesus falling over.

This transitional period needs to be over before CL KOs start. Might be time for 3 at the back with Ibou returning and Klopp's willingness to play 2 in midfield.

Casemiro is rubbish.

Antony is great. He's like Martial and Rashford combined, in both the good sense and the shit sense.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gray Fox

To be fair they were saved on a handball for a penalty that, while I agree with not being a pen, is one under VAR bullshit. Then were given one for Jesus falling over.

---

Lol.

700 Ronaldo.

Took him long enough.

Why exactly was that goal disallowed?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yevrah

Why exactly was that goal disallowed?

---

Handball.

Everton are sending Frank Lampard bald.

I can't be bothered to watch football at the moment, so can someone confirm that Gary Neville says 'Antoneh' in the way I would expect?

Not sure. While Gary Neville will happily whore himself to the Qatari state broadcaster he does not yet feel it's appropriate to work for BT Sport.

Henderson been reported to the authorities for saying racist shit to Gabriel. Liverpool getting the shirts printed as we speak.

I do not believe for one second that Gabriel can understand a word Jordan Henderson says.

Alright Jordan.

United were good tonight mostly. I like Antony, he could be the new Nani. Casimero started shit but grew into the game, needs minutes. Rashford is actually looking sharper than pre injury season and if Martial can stay fit, he'll score 10 this season.

Happy for Ronaldo as well. Best he's played.

Everton are a very sloppy team though with some junk in the starting line up

It's going round social media with silly music over it, but Drury's commentary riff for the Saka penalty/celebration some of the most lyrical stuff I've ever heard over sport. The man is a genius with words.

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Poor bastard

Christ. I’m sure he was playing as recently as their game against us.

Cracking player but better this way than he drops dead on the pitch.

Yeah, that's shit.

The Fauxvid vaccine strikes again.

David Cotterill will be tweeting about it soon enough no doubt, the massive nonce.

I was driving through Sutton yesterday (someone has to) and the high street was basically being held up by vaccine protestors. All men, all aged 50+. What on earth have they been imbibing?

Going back to Mwepu, I'm sure these things seem to be way more common in African players, or those of African origin.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spikey M

The Fauxvid vaccine strikes again.

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Even the most ardent anti-vaxers will do well to blame a hereditary condition on the vaccine.

Then again they probably don't know what hereditary means which puts them at an advantage.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by randomlegend

Even the most ardent anti-vaxers will do well to blame a hereditary condition on the vaccine.

Then again they probably don't know what hereditary means which puts them at an advantage.

---

It's obviously just a cover up. Wake up sheeple.

I miss Covid. Simpler times.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

I was driving through Sutton yesterday (someone has to) and the high street was basically being held up by vaccine protestors. All men, all aged 50+. What on earth have they been imbibing?

Going back to Mwepu, I'm sure these things seem to be way more common in African players, or those of African origin.

---

Leaded petrol fumes and bovine spongiform.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

I was driving through Sutton yesterday (someone has to) and the high street was basically being held up by vaccine protestors. All men, all aged 50+. What on earth have they been imbibing?

Going back to Mwepu, I'm sure these things seem to be way more common in African players, or those of African origin.

---

You have to be impressed by their staying power if nothing else. Managing to still care is impressive.

Gerrard gets sacked if they lose this surely?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lofty

Gerrard gets sacked if they lose this surely?

---

Probably and hopefully that does his hopes of ever taking us over in as well.

Exact same tackle on Konsa there as Thiago did on Jesus. If anything this one was worse. Nothing given and VAR not interested. Brilliant.

This ref is a twat I have backed the sending off because this game is fiesty, someone literally starts a fight off the ball in front of the ref, no card :moop:

Also Luis Diaz out til December. Preston away next year is going to be a hoot.

What an awful game of football that was.

5 of the 6 relegation slots in the top two tiers filled by midlands clubs. Come friendly bombs.

Keane is quite fun on a panel of like 4 people just chatting shite and being a grump, he can sorta cut through the overly serious punditry with his GOOD CHARACTERS shit, but he was properly out of his depth on MNF. Actively brought down the quality of the show, carra doing his tactical analysis shit and the host desperately trying to get Roy involved, and him awkwardly being all Uhhh yeah good player good mentality. Quite embarrassing really.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61425471

A few years ago I looked into becoming a football ref, to try and keep fit during winter, but upon even slight amounts of research I immediately thought no, fuck that. Such a bad, bad sport.

Mbappe wanting out is hilarious. Dude you signed a 5 year billion pound deal last week. They wanted 130 million when you had 6 months on your deal. You’re stuck there.

Aye, but seeing as he's pretty much the boss there I guess he's clear to sanction his own exit.

I don't really know what general mentality these people have to even entertain the idea of becoming a ref. If you love the game you play it and if you're carrying a disability or gross obesity on top of that love you watch it. What's driving these people to get involved with reffing? There may be some dodgy need for attention/power in which case they deserve all abuse and violence.

It's a chance to be involved in the game / watch the game up close without having to be talented at it.

And the game would not exist without them.

You can't watch a game running the line let alone as a fucking ref. As I said, if you enjoy the game you play or watch. There must be a very particular mindset behind this much like how goalies are often a little unhinged.

It's about £50 per game, right? That sounds okay until the continued isolation and abuse every weekend wears them down emotionally.

The refs in Germany so far are treated with a far higher level of respect than the UK so far. Similarly shit at times but we're not seeing people kicking off with a bad decision.

It's like being a coach, groundsman, club manager/admin person, or any other person who is involved in the game aside from playing it.

The really good ones will know that their job is to make the game as good as possible for the players. Obviously there will be plenty of shit ones too but you still need them.

Maybe if Germans had a bit less respect for officials...

Arf

That Rodri goal being disallowed is amazing. Fuckin hell

Celtic fluffing thier lines again. The Brighton of Europe.

Shakhtar Donetsk are now 10 Ukrainians and Lacina Traoré. Absolutely all over that vibe.

No Brazilians?

They sold or loaned them all out.

Reece James injured? Love it.

Such a shame Madrid got a late equaliser.

Rudiger got completely clattered by the keeper.

Seems like #PotterBall works with better players. Looks to have broken the #9 curse too. Isn’t fully Winter yet though so the inevitable Chelsea collapse is still to come unless the World Cup saves it.

Potter leaves after the World Cup to take on the England job. There's your crisis.

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This Georgian lad at Napoli looks the business.

Club Brugge choke-stomping that group has to be one of the all time great CL performances, all under the watchful coaching eye of former Stoke and West Brom shit clogger Carl Hoefkens.

Some jobbers are going to make the QFs this season. Brugge, Sporting, Salzburg and Leverkusen/Porto all look like they’ll go through. Couple of them in 1st as well. Just need Spurs to Spurs and let Frankfurt pip them into 2nd

Brugge through after 4 games :cool:

Spurs :harold:

Oh look. Conceding first. Imagine my shock.

Van Dijk is an absolute liability at the minute. He won't go and press the fucking ball every time we concede it's because he's fucking standing off people.

Is there a Klopp out thread on RAWK yet?

Must be about 5 games away from 'The fanbase are divided on the German's future'.

Klopp IN!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Is there a Klopp out thread on RAWK yet?

Must be about 5 games away from 'The fanbase are divided on the German's future'.

---

I'm not this is on the board not refreshing the squad when they should have done. There's stuff he could be doing better but if they were to even contemplate sacking him this season or even next season they should be chased out of fucking town.

The Nunez signing is a prime example I assumed when we signed him we would also be getting a midfielder, especially with the money that came in during the summer. But, as per usual they won't put any extra money in that what comes in during the transfer window.

Obviously they shouldn't sack him, even if he takes them down to the Conference South and starts fielding the local bin crew as a midfield three. I'm just fascinated by fanbase dynamics in the modern age.

Turn the left, turn to the right, ooooh Fashion will end up in the PL, hopefully somewhere better than Southampton.

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:drool:

Lovely finish.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Luke Emia

I'm not this is on the board not refreshing the squad when they should have done. There's stuff he could be doing better but if they were to even contemplate sacking him this season or even next season they should be chased out of fucking town.

The Nunez signing is a prime example I assumed when we signed him we would also be getting a midfielder, especially with the money that came in during the summer. But, as per usual they won't put any extra money in that what comes in during the transfer window.

---

I’m not quite ready to throw them under the bus yet. They came into a club just over 10 years ago that was a horrific mess, relatively clueless about football themselves.

In that time they’ve sorted all of the debt out to the point where I think we’re debt free or very close to it. The club is now self sustaining too. They’ve built a new state of the art training complex and are upgrading the stadium to near 60k seats with the money the club has made in that time.

They’re trying to abide by a set of rules that are a bit pointless and had the blue side of Manchester not been run the exact other way around, Liverpool would have swept up domestically in the last 4/5 years.

What they do next will be interesting. I had no doubt they would not cave on that Salah contract, but is this a sign that they’re now more willing to open the wallet a bit more?
Next summer will tell. Liverpool will need at least 2 new first team level midfielders and more on top. Those do not come cheap and I don’t see any big name players moving on either. They either accept this regression back into a top 4 fight or they spend spend spend.

Barcelona out if things stay as they are :drool:

McGregor is so bad.

Even if they equalize there's as good as out really. Inter have Plzen at home next.

Salah's finishing has been pretty on point in this game.

Got a point to prove after being hooked in the Araenal game.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Adramelch

Even if they equalize there's as good as out really. Inter have Plzen at home next.

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Equalised right as you said that...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

Equalised right as you said that...

---

Surely they won't get a winner.

Gosens :rave:

3-2 Inter.

Nothing is more VAR than delaying the game for a red card check, for something that clearly wasn't a red card and correctly given as such by the ref, at 91 minutes with the score reading 1-7.

That Inter goal was beautifully created by Lautaro Martinez. The pass was top quality.

Shit, Lewandowski fucking us.

You used to be a King, Robert :(

Why didn't he fucking square it there? Useless shit.

Lads I reckon Bobby and Mo are finished.

You fucking dirty mongs :harold:

Maybe you can stick 7 past your under 12s or women's team next.

Lol, your shift in here doesn't begin for another 24 hours, go sleep.

It was mere months ago Rangers were European finalists.

Rio celebrating their first more than Ally is what we live for.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Don

Lads I reckon Bobby and Mo are finished.

You fucking dirty mongs :harold:

---

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FEppTjoX0AYAEJZ.jpg

Sorry lad but you too have to wait till at least team news time before making an entry into here.

So fucking close to quitting my job, telling my missus to shut the fuck up, and jetting over to Qatar for 4 weeks.

Why don't you punch yourself in the face, just to complete the cycle of questionable decision-making.

:cool2:

The girls :cool:

I've fuck all interest in womens soccer normally but a combination of sad Scottish people and up the ra has me coming around.

The up the ra thing was great, as it provoked both sides into having massive cries on twitter: first the English, and then the rabid Irish crying about the fact that the English were crying.

The Sky reporter asking if they needed to be educated on history was ironically brilliant, it's been the biggest source of amusement here. The English being the most uneducated nation of history in existance.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Giggles

The girls :cool:

I've fuck all interest in womens soccer normally but a combination of sad Scottish people and up the ra has me coming around.

---

I’m not sure many Scottish people would have been upset other than the Orange brigade in Glasgow.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

The Sky reporter asking if they needed to be educated on history was ironically brilliant, it's been the biggest source of amusement here. The English being the most uneducated nation of history in existance.

---

Have you never met an American?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

I’m not sure many Scottish people would have been upset other than the Orange brigade in Glasgow.

---

Nobody was. The English have tried to make the world upset, but that covers the huns anyway.

So lacking in awareness they don't even know which ra is which. Though I'd not have a problem with either era personally; both very much required.

Say what you will about the IRA, but they weren't cringe. Modern [pretend] IRA-sympathisers are.

Depends which IRA. The song they were singing were the ones who brought our freedom from a country that tried to kill us off back in the early 20th century. The latter one, in the early days, were needed to end apartheid conditions but definitely became less popular as they became a drug dealing organised crime outfit like all the NI paramilitary groups have in modern times.

I am definitely glad to see the former are as popular as ever here judging by the past few days. As they should be.

They were debating who would finish higher, us or Utd, at the start of this week :D

McTominay :cool:

What a fucking don, we are MASSIVE.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

Depends which IRA. The song they were singing were the ones who brought our freedom from a country that tried to kill us off back in the early 20th century. The latter one, in the early days, were needed to end apartheid conditions but definitely became less popular as they became a drug dealing organised crime outfit like all the NI paramilitary groups have in modern times.

I am definitely glad to see the former are as popular as ever here judging by the past few days. As they should be.

---

Every single woman in that video, and ninety per cent of the people wahey-ing them, would say that some freshie off the boat is every bit as Irish as you. Cringe. FACT.

By freshie what do you mean? I’m not getting that bit.

An immigrant that has been there for five minutes. The New Irish.

Do you mean in general like Slavs and Africans, or English people with Irish family that play for the soccer teams?

If it’s the former then I can’t see what exactly you’re getting at with the initial reply apart from the fact the English generally hate foreigners. I definitely can’t see what us celebrating our freedom has to do with a Nigerian living in Cork.

What set you off this time Giggles?

Do pro-IRA songs count as sectarian? I guess they probably get lumped in with them even if they aren't really in the true sense of the word.

I understand the need to try and get away from sectarian violence and that songs like The Sash obviously don't help in that regard, but, at the same time, quite a lot of folk songs are rooted in some sort of rebel cause [or whatever], so maybe we need to try and find some other way to move beyond the sectarian divides than simple censorship. Having these things as being 'unacceptable' doesn't really seem to have worked, and in many cases seems to make things worse as people want to "stick it to the man" as it were by continuing to sing them.

I was in a pub full of Rangers fans for the final earlier in the year and all the old classics were flowing, sung by young and old, Scotch and non-Scotch, and it made me think that my dad [born and bred Rangers fan but basically left/gave up on them many years ago in part due to all the sectarian shit] would have been despairing that this continues to be the norm in 2022.

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They're wearing this in El Clasico :facepalm:

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I thought this was quite a wholesome interview which may bring some light into your dark and withered hearts.

Although it does somewhat sound like he voodood their first choice keeper.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spikey M

What set you off this time Giggles?

---

Some sanctimonious twat on Sky Sports News.

Reece James a doubt for the World Cup. :uhoh:

Moment of silence for Waff.

That’s Chelsea’s season over if he’s out for months. Same as last year, pumped an Italian team in Europe and then lost their wing backs for months and went to shit. Chillwell still hasn’t fully recovered.

How are England going to go from having a plethora of high-performing wing backs just a year ago to now going to a World Cup with a dream team combination of Ben White and Luke Shaw? Shambles.

Is Trippier injured as well?

Not that it makes much difference. Plugging in as many useless centre-halves as possible is probably the best way ahead with Southgate in charge.

Trippier's going. Who else will take free kicks and corners? Ward-Prowse can't take them as an unused substitute.

Big Tony Bloom in the away end tonight as per. :cool:

Games don’t get much more dire than this.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by niko_cee

Big Tony Bloom in the away end tonight as per. :cool:

---

Presumably reluctant to give his old mate Benham executive box money. Love it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Giggles

Some sanctimonious twat on Sky Sports News.

---

You just described everyone on their payroll.

However, the alternative - BT Sport - risks exposure to Michael Owen, so we let Sky off. Spitting at children and all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Big Tony Bloom in the away end tonight as per. :cool:

---

He entered a poker tournament for the first time in ages the other week (a $25,000 Pot Limit Omaha event) and he won it against some of the best poker players in the world. Legend.:hail:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by -james-

Presumably reluctant to give his old mate Benham executive box money. Love it.

---

Yeah, he never goes in the executive box there.

Difference between Ivan Toney and Danny Welbeck. :(

It is a shame Liverpool did not buy Toney.

They should repurpose VAR to send Canos off in that sort of situation. Would have a far greater beneficial impact on the game than its current usage.

I wonder who will sign Kante in the summer. I presume he will go to PSG but he’s probably past it now. Out for another 3 months with a hamstring injury after being out for 6 weeks with a hamstring injury. He’s a proper crock now.

Turns out doing the running of multiple men wears through the hamstrings at an accelerated rate.

Can confirm. I've been battling with hamstring tendonitis for over 8 months now after decades of relentless running far superior to peers. Looks like there's finally light at the end of the tunnel though so there's hope for him if he looks after himself as well as I.

Getting rushed back for International duty properly fucked him multiple times. Maybe a year out will do him good. Best player on the planet when he’s on his game so probably worth signing him on the off chance he sorts his shit out.

England going into the World Cup with no established back up/alternative to Harry Kane is pretty fucking tragic. What has Southgate been doing?

Yeah, should have signed one from France or Norway.

Ronaldo was available.

Back in the days of two strikers, we didn't have great back-up either. Even though you'd think Ian Wright and Andy Cole could do a job. Still better than the Rooney years.

At least we can look forward to Ivan Toney missing the first penalty in his career at some point.

I see Brighton won on the xG again last night.

:face:

Another sign that xG is bollocks.

Only insofar as the shot count of 18 to 8 or the throw in count of 20 to 13 is bollocks.

I remember when they were saying that when Potter's job was under fire :*)

Greenwood arrested again for breaching his bail and attempting to contact his victim.

That filthy whore reconnected on IG with him like a day or 2 ago.

Nothing ever happened with Gylfi Sigurdsson, did it?

Awaiting trial I believe.

Nah, he almost made a move to Turkey in the summer. He wouldn't be in line for that if he was awaiting trial.

Greenwood finally charged.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-63272019

Hopefully he goes down for a long time and we can finally release him from his contract.

Do Bournemouth have a manager? They seem to be doing quietly alright since getting walloped by Liverpool.

Nope, still Gary O'Neil as a caretaker.

He hasn't lost a match yet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gray Fox

Greenwood finally charged.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-63272019

---

I know these people like to plead underfunding, but how can it take ten months to charge somebody for things on tape?

Son is such a snide little cunt. A bit like Kane is. Dives every week and nothing is said about him.

That penalty wants reversing and Kane booking. Shocking.

Yep. Just standard practice from Hazza Kane

Sounds like Liverpools back line against City tomorrow is going to be Robertson, Van Dijk, Gomez and Milner.

I hope you all captained Haaland.

You'd worry if we were up against a proper footballer like Jesus.

What a game and what a day of football tomorrow though. El Classico and Ligue 1 action alongsise some Turkishaction if you need B2B marathon.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63273316

Reece James out of the World Cup according to the Beeb.

Waffs poster will be a different kind of soggy tonight.

:D

He’s not meeting surgery so I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s rushed back for the latter stages of the World Cup. Hopefully not though, him not being there weakens England so can’t complain too much.

VARs not working in the Arsenal match so the games come to a halt. God forbid they just play a game of football.

Mings :lol:

So fucking shit.

I can’t believe Mings is still playing every week for Aston Villa. He’s either amazing when not on tv or has pictures of certain folk. Abysmal every time I watch him.

End of days stuff this from Villa.

Gerrard was the better player, Lampard's the better manager.

Chelsea have been absolutely abysmal. Playing Sterling to try and replace James was never going to work. Kepa continuing to be unreal as he has been for a while now.

Is Mendy injured or has he failed the Potterball eyeball test?

Not sure why the Arsenal game is off because VAR isn't working, it didn't seem to be working last week and they merrily played on. :henn0rz:

Do they really need a line that badly? Just get Sky/BT's feed on the monitors.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by niko_cee

Is Mendy injured or has he failed the Potterball eyeball test?

Not sure why the Arsenal game is off because VAR isn't working, it didn't seem to be working last week and they merrily played on. :henn0rz:

---

He was injured when he took over but I think Kepa would have been 1st choice anyway. Mendy has been dreadful for nearly a year now

How Joelinton didn't score when he hit bar and post fuck knows

Arsenal have barely put a pass together and we’re lucky Leeds aren’t very good.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dark Soldier

How Joelinton didn't score when he hit bar and post fuck knows

---

That's what makes me him weirdly compelling to watch. It goes beyond luck at times.

And the assist comes from a Leeds player.

Saka's having one hell of a season.

What on earth is this by, Rodrigo?

https://gyazo.com/b6bdae5a8ef023a29fb925e70d20d64d.gif

STONEWALL pen.

If Martinez doesn't jump across that's an easy save for him.

Martinez just let that one in.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

Sounds like Liverpools back line against City tomorrow is going to be Robertson, Van Dijk, Gomez and Milner.

---

Confirmed.

Hopefully Milner crunches Haaland first chance he gets or it could get very ugly.

Nunez benched is a bit gay but goal count gonna be wild this game.

Absolute joke of a disallowed goal there.

Norway have Denmark'd their way into the World Cup according to this commentator. Martin Odegaard is looking forward to the challenge apparently.

ffs Fred.

The kids are not getting fed tonight.

More goal size shenanigans in the championship today I see. What's going on?

Amazingly awful performance from Arsenal. If Leeds don’t score their second penalty of the day then they’re cursed by the gods.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by phonics

Amazingly awful performance from Arsenal. If Leeds don’t score their second penalty of the day then they’re cursed by the gods.

---

Lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

More goal size shenanigans in the championship today I see. What's going on?

---

CONSPIRACY: They lower them for the women's games and then forget to change them back? Or do they tweak sizes for U-18 games or something?

Fuck me, someone needs to hurry up and humble Arteta. Him winning the league might be worse than Liverpool.

The happiness of either set of fans is abhorrent.

I don't think that Ronaldo goal was controversial in the slightest. The ref had his arm up and hadn't even whistled. Play hadn't resumed.

We struggle with 1 simple thing, quick vertical breaks. These cunts have been so slow and lacking in potency in possession, all they got is aiming for the head of that useless Nordic fisherman. And once again, compare Jesus' pressing and work-rate to him.

Been relatively alright but there's mass panic whenever De Bruyne, Foden or Haaland get the ball near the box.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Don

We struggle with 1 simple thing, quick vertical breaks. These cunts have been so slow and lacking in potency in possession, all they got is aiming for the head of that useless Nordic fisherman. And once again, compare Jesus' pressing and work-rate to him.

---

Can't wait for him to score 4 in the second half now.

Almost evens to score in 2nd half so also be simultaneously ready to slap your arse on webcam for me if he doesn't.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shindig

I don't think that Ronaldo goal was controversial in the slightest. The ref had his arm up and hadn't even whistled. Play hadn't resumed.

---

Yeah, but iF hArRy KaNe HaD sCoReD iT!!!!

Very true, Spikey.

That’s some save from Ederson but shocking from Salah not to just square it

VAR bailing out Liverpool.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Very true, Spikey.

That’s some save from Ederson but shocking from Salah not to just square it

---

That's exactly why Mane fell out with him for a time.

Reece James doesn’t get bodied there. In a league of his own.

:jayjay:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Reece James doesn’t get bodied there. In a league of his own.

---

It's alright mate. He'll be back soon.

What a fucking game this has been.

Numez, you stupid cunt.

Wants fining for that. Shocker.

I still think Liverpool struggle to finish top four. They’ll go back to looking like a mess at the back as soon as they need to play higher up the pitch again. Only hope would be for Spurs to collapse but Conte will shit them over the line.

Is Haaland a fraud?

Lolololol.

7 year curse, lads. Mo ain't the same since his contract. Bobby is finished. Midfield lacks legs. No youth. Robbo isn't the greatest LB known to man. Klopp isn't tactically flexible. Haaland is class. I don't have a massive girthy one you all want to suck on.

We are/I am/my dick is massive.

lol, fuck off City. Shame they have zero actual competition for the league this season unless Potter can seriously get things going at Chelsea [zero chance either of the north London teams last the course].

Mo :wub:

Joe :wub:

Brilliant game.

Congrats on winning the league to the Scouse

Joe Gomez ragdolling any midget that came into his path. If he wasn't thicker than a plank of wood he'd be England's best centre half.

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Never mind all that shite.

SHELS ARE GOING TO THE CUP FINAL.

Enjoyable second half. Salah is a really good forward.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Don

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How is Michael Johnson getting on?

This Georgian fella at Napoli is quite something.

I only caught parts of the game but it felt like he could have walked off with 5 assists.

They've found a new Temuri Ketsbaia?

Guardiola seething. :drool:

That Ronaldo effort must have ended any debates about him being one of the greatest. Retire, old man :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kikó

The refs in Germany so far are treated with a far higher level of respect than the UK so far. Similarly shit at times but we're not seeing people kicking off with a bad decision.

---

https://m.dw.com/en/death-threats-an...ees/a-63449327

Well timed article. Twitter at fault again for ruining the number of available and future referees.

Just learned that Raí, of PSG (and World Cup winning) fame, is the younger brother of Sócrates. It strikes me as odd that I didn't know that, being two footballers of quite high renown.

Jota to miss the World Cup. Liverpool to miss top four.

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*Comes in at half time and reads BBC headline*

Brighton on top against Forest

:clap:

*checks score*

:moop:

My Dad's driven 90 minutes to go watch West Brom lose 2-0 to Bristol City.

That’s standard for an away game in Scotland never mind England.

I spent about 90 minutes on trains to the hawthorns to watch us lose every other week the last time I had a season ticket.

Blackburn top of the league with 7 defeats and Coventry bottom with 5 defeats made me laugh. (I know Coventry haven’t played nearly as many games, but still, what a league)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by phonics

My Dad's driven 90 minutes to go watch West Brom lose 2-0 to Bristol City.

---

Get Steve Bruce back.

That Championship table is a bit daft. Would be funny if Rotherham or somebody ended up getting promoted by accident.

All about no draws in modern league football.

I didn't think to look last night, but with these weird kick off times are these amazon games?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

I didn't think to look last night, but with these weird kick off times are these amazon games?

---

Yep.

Tim Sherwood has just claimed that he would take Connor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus Cheek in the England squad and he'd have one of them starting every game...

Whisper it boys but Darwin is gonna tear shit up differently. The signs were there with the cunt having the highest xG90 in the league in a stuttering Liverpool side but my God it hasn't taken long for him to settle.

Quality finish from Almiron.

Why is Arsenal and Man City postponed?

Fair fucks to Howe for transforming Joelinton and Almiron into serviceable top half players.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

Why is Arsenal and Man City postponed?

---

Because the queen died.

(Arsenal's Europa League match against PSV had to be postponed and this midweek was the only place they could put it)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

Why is Arsenal and Man City postponed?

---

Arsenal have to play in Europe tomorrow as the group stage of whatever it is they are in needs to be done before the World Cup and there are no other available midweeks.

Shocking penalty from Bowen.

Is Prime being shite for anyone else tonight? First half stopped and buffered nearly as much as dodgy streams for me.

Second half seems to be dropping in quality at the minute. Currently got about two pixels per player.

Not stopping/buffering but quality seems down yeah.

Been flawless for me.

Likewise. The picture is phenomenal. Unconvinced by Shearer on co-commentary however.

Chelsea are still proper rubbish. No idea how they’ve not conceded in the last two games. Staying with 3 atb and not just going to a 4 doesn’t really make much sense.

Swapped over for the end of the Bournemouth game (my fantasy team needs Solanke goals), and the camera angle is just so bad. Like being in the third row.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

Quality finish from Almiron.

---

Bloody hell. My vice captain paid off.

Fred meant that.

Filthy luck with that deflection but well-deserved lead.

If we had a proper striker we'd be about 5-0 up.

That's the worst shot I've ever seen deflected in.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by -james-

Fair fucks to Howe for transforming Joelinton and Almiron into serviceable top half players.

---

And the rest, you madman.

16 shots to Everton's 1. :harold:

Bruno finally does something.

Quality finish.

From the live text:

Quote:

---

Posted at 21:5521:55
SUBSTITUTIONS
Man Utd 2-0 Tottenham

A quadruple change for Spurs, the only quadruple they'll ever see.

---

:D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lewis

Casemiro is rubbish.

---

False.

Ronaldo storming down the tunnel before the full time whistle :harold:

Well that was very pleasing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

Ronaldo storming down the tunnel before the full time whistle :harold:

---

I hope we drop him forever and then release him when there's a week left on his contract, the shit egomaniac.

I'll keep pretending to myself that we can find someone to take him off our hands in January.

He must have lowered his expectations a bit since the summer surely. Is he going to stay unemployed after the summer unless Bayern or equivalent want him?

Spurs missing out on top four would be glorious.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by randomlegend

I'll keep pretending to myself that we can find someone to take him off our hands in January.

---

Nah man, I'm hoping we actually get to release him or at least let the contract run out.

Spurs are so hilariously bad and the media’s obsession with pushing them as having a serious plan is so fucking weird. We dominated them for 85 minutes and a large majority of punditry described Arsenals 3-1 win as lucky was bizarre.

Last season we didn't see 18 points til February. :|

Makes you think.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Manc

Makes you think.

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What 150 million quid not including wages can do for a team?

There's ownership groups that would call you xenophobic for comments like that.

United were very good yesterday. Playing with pace is something we haven't managed for a long time.

Spurs didn't really have a plan b when Kane and Son were pocketed. Poor from Conte.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by phonics

Spurs are so hilariously bad and the media’s obsession with pushing them as having a serious plan is so fucking weird. We dominated them for 85 minutes and a large majority of punditry described Arsenals 3-1 win as lucky was bizarre.

---

Like West Ham, they have a massive amount of fans in the media, which I suppose is because there are a disproportionate number of east London/Essex cheeky chappies in the press.

Beat Sheffield United last night with a late penalty which was really our only shot on target. We're not bottom of the league, say we're not bottom of the league

Basically every fan thinks the media hate their own team but love their rivals. The same way that both left and right think the BBC are of the opposite wing.

The reality, with both Sky and BT is that it’s a load of deeply boring people trying desperately to sit on the fence and not offend anybody, whilst actually managing to offend everyone.

"It's one rule for Carlisle United, and one rule for the rest"

When I'm bored I sometimes type into Google '*random lower league club* fans forum' and have a browse. Some absolutely wonderful reading to be had. Burton Albion fans apoplectic with fury about JFH keeping his job over the summer (he was eventually sacked in September) was a highlight. We are Burton Albion and we deserve better. Better than solid mid-table League One finishes? No, you don't deserve better than that, sorry.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kikó

United were very good yesterday. Playing with pace is something we haven't managed for a long time.

Spurs didn't really have a plan b when Kane and Son were pocketed. Poor from Conte.

---

United are absolute kryptonite for Spurs and have been for a while [didn't they bunt them heavily even in the darkest of dark Ole days?]. I didn't any of the game yesterday, but if Spurs can't sit deep and punt it over the top for Son then they have no plan against better teams.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

When I'm bored I sometimes type into Google '*random lower league club* fans forum' and have a browse. Some absolutely wonderful reading to be had. Burton Albion fans apoplectic with fury about JFH keeping his job over the summer (he was eventually sacked in September) was a highlight. We are Burton Albion and we deserve better. Better than solid mid-table League One finishes? No, you don't deserve better than that, sorry.

---

So much dick measuring over size of clubs, attendances etc. It's dark days when the best some Swindon fans have to offer after a home defeat to Northampton, is 'lol Oxford may be a division above and were consistently top half last season while we've had a cancer eat away at us for the last 5 years but their poxy 3 sided stadium only attracts 6k fans'.

Definite change in set up from Klopp last night again. The full backs have been a lot more reserved and are not bombing on as much. As for Nunez his touch is awful but he works hard and gets in decent positions he's never going to be a Haaland but he should score a decent amount of goals.

It can't be good for him that he looks like Andy Carroll and plays like him a little.

He's looked absolute dog shit every time I've seen him play.

Edit: or, as above, like Andy Carroll.

He's looked better in the last two games. Not a world-beater or anything but the improvement is encouraging.

He's erratic and lacking composure in decision-making just as Mane was. He's also as physically monstrous as Mane was and his xG90 points to a player who is individually responsible for creating the chances he gets. All doubts and fears can be put to bed kids.

Nothing like Andy Carroll he was a useless lazy lump of shit. Technique wise he is more of a Lukaku I think.

I like the fact that he can stretch the play but at the same time you can go a bit more direct with him to mix it up. I don’t like his horrendous touch and he definitely seems like a striker that if he has time to think about his finishing he struggles. Small sample but his goals per 90 passes the eye test at the minute the issue for him is the comparisons with Haaland when he clearly isn’t in his league.

Taking about per 90 stats when he's played barely over 3 games worth of minutes is a bit lol.

He's your Maguire. Embrace it.

The xG90 is a bit warped considering he's played a fair few minutes as a sub against TIRED LEGS, but I do think he'll be good. I love watching him, the big idiot. He wouldn't be the first Klopp signing to look like a bit of a turd for the first few months.

He's regularly popping off volleys and wild efforts from acute angles that indicate his technique is actually elite, it's simply a minor matter of consistency.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

When I'm bored I sometimes type into Google '*random lower league club* fans forum' and have a browse. Some absolutely wonderful reading to be had. Burton Albion fans apoplectic with fury about JFH keeping his job over the summer (he was eventually sacked in September) was a highlight. We are Burton Albion and we deserve better. Better than solid mid-table League One finishes? No, you don't deserve better than that, sorry.

---

About 10 years ago when I did a lot of football betting I'd regularly read lower league forums to get team news, insights from match goers, etc. It was brilliant - there would always be a thread titled something along the lines of "The EFL/media/referee's agenda against the club"

I've said it before, but my dad's mate would ask us who the ref was every single game, and regardless of who we said he'd say something along the lines of "FUCK SAKE HE FUCKING HATES THE ALBION". I genuinely don't think Steve Tanner does hate us, mate.

The news that Keith Stroud would be in charge yesterday caused a lot of people to start moaning about our bad luck because he hates us, last night proved he bloody loves getting the cards out but 18 points out of the 24 available in games he's overseen doesn't suggest much of a vendetta.

Nunez, as with Liverpool being finished, as with Man City having the league won already, as with Spurs mounting a challenge, as with Haaland scoring 70 goals this season, and as with every fucking thing else these days - everything is based solely on the last 10 minutes people have seen. All the media all the time just shrinks brains.

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:drool:

Baldy has shown who's boss. Cheerio Cristiano.

Is his contract up at the end of the season?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63330066

Wolves' hunt for a new manager continues after QPR boss Michael Beale turned down an approach from the club.

Beale was the first choice to replace Bruno Lage, who was sacked on 2 October, after Julen Lopetegui also said no to the job.

Wolves made their approach on Thursday morning, mindful QPR had a game in the Championship on Wednesday.

It had been thought the process would be smooth, but the 42-year-old has told QPR he wants to stay at Loftus Road.

Rejected by the QPR manager :harold:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Is his contract up at the end of the season?

---

Yes. Think we have the option on the club side to extend for another year but that's obviously not going to be taken up.

Would love to see Ronny at Man City, absolutely tearing shit up Haaland style with sitters upon sitters.

He'd be bitching that Haaland is scoring more than him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63330066

Wolves' hunt for a new manager continues after QPR boss Michael Beale turned down an approach from the club.

Beale was the first choice to replace Bruno Lage, who was sacked on 2 October, after Julen Lopetegui also said no to the job.

Wolves made their approach on Thursday morning, mindful QPR had a game in the Championship on Wednesday.

It had been thought the process would be smooth, but the 42-year-old has told QPR he wants to stay at Loftus Road.

Rejected by the QPR manager :harold:

---

He’s meant to be pretty shit hot. Huge reason Gerrard done well at Rangers.

Absolute disgrace if this is a red for Luiz.

Unreal, as is the zealousy of the commentators. Did he even move his head? Just looked like Mitrovic ran into him. Not for me Clive.

Quality acting from Mitro.

That's never a pen.

"We want Gerrard out" chants :eyemouth:

:drool:

We've had some luck here, but we've also been miles better. Should have scored 3 or 4 in the first half alone.

Good grief we're awful.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

That's never a pen.

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Well, apparently it is, most of the time.

Can't really complain about those when they go against you nowadays, even though 'the rule' is manifestly absurd.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Magic

Good grief we're awful.

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Horrendous mate. This is just nothing football.

Gerrard's last few hours working in football. Glorious. Lampard the final victor.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Gerrard's last few hours working in football. Glorious. Lampard the final victor.

---

Thank fuck this does for him ever taking over from Klopp.

Quality finish by Mings.

That statement from Ronaldo :face:

Gerrard just described himself as a fighter not a quitter.

:uhoh:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Danny

That statement from Ronaldo :face:

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Look, sometimes when you're an egomaniacal sex pest it's just difficult to sit and watch your team having the best game.of the season.

Give the man a break Danny.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Gerrard just described himself as a fighter not a quitter.

:uhoh:

---

Anyone got another lettuce?

They put together a couple of wins and everyone really started believing Ted Lasso could maintain Bielsa's miracles.

Never mind, Gerrard SACKED already.

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Tier 1!

Official club sources are usually designated tier 0 but it's nice to see you trying to get involved.

'Head Coach' like they're some rinky-dink Dutch side. He's better off without them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by randomlegend

Official club sources are usually designated tier 0 but it's nice to see you trying to get involved.

---

This is your worst post.

:D

Harsh.

Marsch and the club are openly talking about him having the backing of the board now. Which is usually a sure fire sign if any that you will be on your way out imminently. I imagine a loss against Fulham (or maybe even a draw) at the weekend might well do it.

And, the thing is, at the beginning of the season you would have marked Fulham down as one of the more "winnable" fixtures too. The reality of the situation now is that they're in the top half and have got a striker very capable of putting the ball in the back of the net, we have racked up two points from the last possible twenty one and display an almost complete inability to create any serious attacking threat.

Bad times.

Stevie G won’t be out of work too long at least.

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Brendan Rodgers must be keeping an eye on it, too.

It doesn't pay very well. Michael O'Neill was getting more money when he went to Stoke. I doubt either would be interested.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by igor_balis

I've said it before, but my dad's mate would ask us who the ref was every single game, and regardless of who we said he'd say something along the lines of "FUCK SAKE HE FUCKING HATES THE ALBION". I genuinely don't think Steve Tanner does hate us, mate.

---

The Sunderland board is amazing. When we were in the Premier League, all the refs would cave in to the big sides so we never got any decisions. The refs in League One were determined to show they wouldn't be intimidated by the big crowds, so we didn't get any decision. But it'd be much better in the Championship...until we got there, then we were desperate for Premier League refs as the Championship ones were so bad/biased/corrupt...so we had Craig Pawson for the Blackburn game on Tuesday.

Let's just say it didn't go too well.

https://www.readytogo.net/smb/thread...night.1591805/

The most recent example. This thread was started before Tuesday's game.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wullie

The news that Keith Stroud would be in charge yesterday caused a lot of people to start moaning about our bad luck because he hates us, last night proved he bloody loves getting the cards out but 18 points out of the 24 available in games he's overseen doesn't suggest much of a vendetta.

---

We had Stroud last week. Didn't go great.

https://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/referee.1591607/

On the Swindon board someone actually decided to set up a dedicated thread every post-match to rate the referee's performance. Funnily enough, most turn out to be decent, 7/10 performances. Just the bad ones stick out so much more.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mo

On the Swindon board someone actually decided to set up a dedicated thread every post-match to rate the referee's performance. Funnily enough, most turn out to be decent, 7/10 performances. Just the bad ones stick out so much more.

---

I write match reports on the Sunderland board, with just a (deliberate) brief comment about the ref. Quite often people just want to have a moan about the man in black.

https://www.readytogo.net/smb/thread...ic-fc.1591620/

https://www.readytogo.net/smb/thread...h-end.1590657/

The most recent two, for example.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ScousePig

I write match reports on the Sunderland board, with just a (deliberate) brief comment about the ref. Quite often people just want to have a moan about the man in black.

https://www.readytogo.net/smb/thread...ic-fc.1591620/

https://www.readytogo.net/smb/thread...h-end.1590657/

The most recent two, for example.

---

The only noticeably bad refereeing/officiating performance was in our last match against Blackburn where we were denied a blatant penalty and Blackburn's second goal was clearly offside.

The rest have been okay.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dave.

The only noticeably bad refereeing/officiating performance was in our last match against Blackburn where we were denied a blatant penalty and Blackburn's second goal was clearly offside.

The rest have been okay.

---

Funnily enough that was the Premier League ref. Some have suggested the officials' reliance on VAR as a back up have meant they are now more likely to not give these tight decisions, which may have some legs.

You say blatant penalty, but it wasn't in real time. And the offside was tight.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ScousePig

Funnily enough that was the Premier League ref. Some have suggested the officials' reliance on VAR as a back up have meant they are now more likely to not give these tight decisions, which may have some legs.

You say blatant penalty, but it wasn't in real time. And the offside was tight.

---

Blatant penalty for me. Blackburn player was nowhere near the ball.

The offside was one of them that is tight but still obvious and a decision that should be got right 90% of the time, VAR or no VAR.

This Ronaldo stuff could kinda ruin his legacy. Refused to come on against Spurs? :wtf:

FM23 done him dirty too:

https://i.imgur.com/fjQZDoY.png

Thiago out with an ear infection. Wonderful stuff...

Nunez also added to the pile. Quite a youthful lineup with very little attacking offerings from the bench. Recipe for disaster.

Do we still have Arthur? Has he played a second for us yet?

He's injured.

And shit, I would imagine.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by John Arne

Do we still have Arthur? Has he played a second for us yet?

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Injured and out for 3-4 months.

Mo vs Neco :harold:

That's a Williams to Awoniyi goal in the bag then.

Van Dijk :D

Too slow and ploddy in the first half. Still should be ahead, but I'd be having Trent on sooner rather than later.

Curtis Jones doing okay for a guy playing his first game of the season, but still has his annoying trait of holding the ball a second too long.

Awoniyi :rave:

Absolutely outstanding. Well done Goe Jomez.

Milner stopping it from being 2.

Neco Williams desperately trying to get Liverpool back into this.

Are the board the type to shit bricks over missing Europe?

They've just been promoted, they'll take a season of survival before European aims next season, you silly fuck.

Liverpool would be nearer the relegation zone without Allison. Absolute carry job with these mongs in front of him.

Paul Tierney taking over from Neco Williams

2nd choice RB
4th choice CB
4th choice midfielder
4th choice forward

Here come the 7th season curse wankers :happycry:

Dean Henderson :cool:

Forest set piece coach should probably be getting a talking to after this.

A game every 3 days with an ever thinning squad is beginning to tell. They looked unable to lift it. Fuck knows what Forest were playing at from set pieces though.

Joe Gomez needs taking out back and shooting. Brain dead idiocy caused the goal and much panic after.

I also think Henderson played about 1 forward pass after coming on. What's the point? Surely also the youth striker was worth the dice roll over a couldn't fucking run Oxlade Chamberlain.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Don

Mo vs Neco :harold:

---

:harold:

Oxlade-Chamberlain touched the ball once during his fifteen minutes on the pitch.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ben

:harold:

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https://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/searc...searchid=91624

:harold:

Liverpool's one way ticket back to irrelevance is an enjoyable watch.

:happycry:

I see Douglas Luiz has had that red card revoked from the other day. One has to wonder how on earth that can happen in the age of VAR.

Also both penalty incidents at Man City today. The first one was a stone waller and VAR knocked it back and the second one was given after they went back to it but there was already a stoppage in play in between. Shambles.

Curtis Jones is a terrible footballer. He plays like he’s some Iniesta-type, but he constantly gets caught on the ball, not necessarily losing possession but just generally slowing the game down. He also offers nothing either physically or in an attacking sense.

Man Utd should batter this Chelsea side. Just a Silva sore back in his old age away from having Chalobah as their only centre half. What a grim thought.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CJay

Curtis Jones is a terrible footballer. He plays like he’s some Iniesta-type, but he constantly gets caught on the ball, not necessarily losing possession but just generally slowing the game down. He also offers nothing either physically or in an attacking sense.

---

Yeah, it’s not like he’s super young either. He’s 23 or 24 is he not?

Should be warming the bench at someone like Fulham.

He's 21. He'll show very brief flashes of it, but it's mostly when he doesn't have time to think.

I think personally he needed the season on loan somewhere last year or the one before. It did wonders for Harvey Elliott.

Chelsea getting battered for the 3rd game in a row in the 1st half insisting with a midfield 2. They’ve been absolutely rotten. January can’t come soon enough

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

He's 21. He'll show very brief flashes of it, but it's mostly when he doesn't have time to think.

I think personally he needed the season on loan somewhere last year or the one before. It did wonders for Harvey Elliott.

---

My post is 2 years early then, apologies.

This Chelsea game is just brutal to watch. Should’ve backed 0-0.

It's really amazing what a bit of coaching can do.

Sterling literally can’t kick a ball properly

Varane clearly feels his World Cup is over if not more.

The way he fell forwards that could be anything from his knee to his hammy.

Jorginho is missing this.

Edit: Was expecting one of his rolls down the middle :moop:

Dumb defending. Bad subs from Erik.

Casemiro is a hero.

Two dreadful teams. Cannot believe the bald fraud got away with that after making them substitutes. Arsenal are pissing the league.

5 points off 4th with this injury list. Levels.

That this awful Chelsea team are within 6 points of us does make me worried. I have to admit.

For everyone but Arsenal this seems to be about limping over the temporary finish line of the world cup and hoping for a reset after.

Oh we are very much limping to the World Cup now. Haven’t looked good since pre international break. Only hope is that Tite likes Richarlison and co more than our guys. Every right back in England getting injured so Ben White has to go doesn’t make for good reading either.

I swear we had that exact game against Man U a few months back. I was in the pub and called the equaliser early thanks to our usual headless chicken leg-swinging game management, to general scorn, and then what happens. Getting to the stage in life where it genuinely ain't my first rodeo.

Every game seems to finish 1-1 between the two sides. I don’t think Chelsea have beaten Man Utd in the league since Morata done his only good thing in a Chelsea shirt

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FfsDbyNW...jpg&name=large

Tell your kids there was a solid period of months where a significant minority of people thought this was a superior player to TAA.

It shouldn’t even be a comparison, let’s be honest. Reece James carries a whole club from right back, Liverpool improve without ‘TAA’.

Southampton look absolutely terrible.

Aston Villa 3-0 up after Gerrard is punted :lol:

Villa need to hope they don't fall for one of the classic blunders and stick with the temp guy after this.

Alan Smith has got to be the most biased commentator going. Like listening to FanZone when he's on Arsenal games.

Another great performance and up to 7th. It feels weird to actually be performing adequately in the Premier League. Andreas Pereira once again brilliant, his dead ball ability is worth so many goals when you have Silva and his team drawing up the set pieces.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ben

Alan Smith has got to be the most biased commentator going. Like listening to FanZone when he's on Arsenal games.

---

Really? I always find him quite negative about Arsenal unless he has been bandwagoning this season.

Lolris.

Wilson stops, good goal for me.

Almiron has been brilliant lately.

I love Miguel Almiron with all my heart.

Imagine buying Jack Grealish when you could have had Almiron.

VAR is so shit. It might be one of the worst things conceived in all of human history.

Apparently the Championship managers are all desperate for it to be introduced there. Not sure why, that's another post-match excuse gone.

Spurs and Arsenal's lack of depth is noticeable compared to Chelsea.

Yeah, as far as I can see Spurs haven’t even had any injuries of note and they’ve already peaked. Between Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool for the other two spots. Might depend on the January window.

I don't think I've ever seen a Newcastle side with a defence this well organised.

You've also never seen a Newcastle side with a player as individually talented and influential as Bruno G.

Roma-Napoli time. Jose will no doubt be seeking to capitalise on Ndombele having to start.

Osimhen is a freak.

Fantastic NARRATIVE scenes on the last day of the Argentine Primera.

Boca trailed Racing by a point going in, each playing the other's fiercest rivals. Racing get a penalty at 1-1 in the final minute which would have won it for them, they miss, River go up the other end and score, giving the title to Boca.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63297825

He had to start somewhere, I guess.

:cool:

He should pull a Bryan Robson and declare himself fit to play.

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

One of football's great nightmare fuel images. What were people thinking in the 90s?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shindig

He should pull a Bryan Robson and declare himself fit to play.

---

You say that but he would instantly be our best midfielder.

:D

Why doesn't he have any shoes/boots on?

See also:

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http://d3nfwcxd527z59.cloudfront.net...avid-Pleat.jpg

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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DBEmfKGXcAAfqK9.jpg

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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C2oUBCkW...g&name=900x900

I bet they've just re-laid the pitch. Actually, it's looking a bit rough. :D

Brian Deane :lol:

Emery to take over at Villa.

Good ebening.

Such a bad appointment. The guy only works in the Spanish language. Might need a double translator to get his instructions into Brummie.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Such a bad appointment. The guy only works in the Spanish language. Might need a double translator to get his instructions into Brummie.

---

They have a grand total of 1 Brummie in the first team squad as far as I can see.

Sorry I forgot it was the football thread, I withdraw my light-hearted comment and promise to prioritise accuracy in future.

Don't shit yourself, petal.

https://www.theguardian.com/football...ading-memories

Sensational.

Dortmund have the tactics bang on so far. Causing city loads of problems in midfield. Moukoko should have them 1 or 2 up already.

Why is Haaland off at half time? Are they already through or something?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

Why is Haaland off at half time? Are they already through or something?

---

Yep.

No idea why they started him.

Juventus getting stomped.

Absolutely clear dive with no contact from Mahrez and it isn't even checked. At least he fucked it.

Mudryk is some talent.

Shocking bad penalty.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Manc

Mudryk is some talent.

---

That really was class.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Manc

Mudryk is some talent.

---

He looks like what The Saint thinks he looks like.

Legitimate contender for the worst miss of all time for Waxtap there.

Watching PSG against bums is great fun. Almost as good as watching them be brought to tears by competent sides.

Some classic ex-Chelsea black as coal English fuck has come on for Juve and looked class.

Shakey into Europa League. Russian presence in UEFA competition baby :cool:

Former Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards looks like he's off to Man Utd. Bit of a fall from grace, lad.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by John Arne

Former Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards looks like he's off to Man Utd. Bit of a fall from grace, lad.

---

According to who? Last I saw on that was Melissa Reddy saying it was bullshit.

Tier 1 sources.

The internet. No idea if it's true.

I respect the recent Irish hustle just as much as any man, in fact I wanked off to an image of QPR's Sinclair Armstrong just last night knowing how the lad is going to tear up English football/vaginas for the next 2 decades but seeing "Trent Toure Kone-Doherty" as one of the goalscorers for Liverpool youth today is special. His dad is really taking Project Mbappe to the next natural step.

Time to activate the 5th financial lever?

Our midfield is being hopelessly outclassed so far. No protection for the defence, no quality on the ball, no attacking threat. The perfect combination.

That is quality from Marcus Edwards.

Marcus Edwards a left-field pick for the World Cup?

Xabi Alonso being a Leverkusen manager. Never saw it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CJay

Our midfield is being hopelessly outclassed so far. No protection for the defence, no quality on the ball, no attacking threat. The perfect combination.

---

This should have been the 4-3-3 with Harvey in midfield and Carvalho left but he can’t really be dropping Firmino right now.

Don must be conflicted watching Brobbey.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

This should have been the 4-3-3 with Harvey in midfield and Carvalho left but he can’t really be dropping Firmino right now.

---

Henderson and Fabinho are the big problem. Henderson is done at the top level and Fabinho seems to be going through his occasional phases where he can’t do anything right.

Joe Gomez is such a liability as well.

Darwin Nunez... I can't.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

Darwin Nunez... I can't.

---

Unbelievable miss :D

Brainless.

:lol:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63401193

I don't know what else he could've said, really. Short of going, "Look, don't do anything stupid that could get you locked up." that seems an okay response.

We should really work on a £100m bid for Bassey. £120m + Gomez would be the dream obvs.

View Tweet

I still dont know how.

Think of the xG :cool:

Ignore previous posting. This lad's the best there's ever been.

Too right, fucking world class header and from his own work too. Absolute monster.

Classic Klopp-era group stage game, tbf.

Clean sheet away to this Ajax is no mean feat. Especially with Gomez starting. Trent looking supreme, front 3 doing front 3 things. All so predictable :drool:

Having only just come in to see the score this thread does seem to have followed the classic Giggles narrative arc. Liverpool so so shit, oh, what's the score, 3-0 away in Europe . . .

:nodd: like clockwork.

Crazy ending in Madrid. Penalty given to Atletico after the full time whistle. Carrasco misses and the rebound is headed against the bar and then the second rebound hits Carrasco on the line and goes over the bar.

BT Goals Show is top, top programming.

Another utterly ludicrous VAR decision, this time in the Spurs game.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yevrah

Another utterly ludicrous VAR decision, this time in the Spurs game.

---

Yep - considering how VAR in the champions league generally seems less interventionist I don’t know how they’ve come to a definitive conclusion on that one.

I don't even understand how it was offside. Even if Kane was marginally past the defender, the ball is travelling backwards/sideways until the defender touches it.

Not seen it but wasn't there one last season [or in the earlier VAR times] when Wolves got done for a weird one at a corner where the ball was played back or something, but someone ran from an offside position and touched it and it turned out that the ball going backwards wasn't actually part of the rule? Being behind the ball is a get out, but being in an offside position when the ball is played holds regardless of the direction of the ball?

Surely not? I can remember a fair few goals where 2 attackers broke the offside trap and one has cut the ball back for the other with no defender in sight.

The other attacker would have been behind the ball when it was played, which is not offside.

It's actually quite hard to be ahead of the ball, have it be played backwards and end up getting it.

Yeah this is a very weird case, but by the book if the defender touch is judged as a deflection and not a new play, then it is actually offside.

Ball direction has nothing to do with it, only if the receiver is ahead or behind it when played.

Think that last bit should read 'in an offside position' rather than ahead/behind [I made the same mistake] but yeah, direction ball is played not an issue.

Quote:

---

A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched* by a team-mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play

---

What on earth is going on here? Was this the actual image they put on TV?

https://gyazo.com/937c489a01764b14886720f4a7421071.jpeg

So from what I gather the blue line is the ball and the argument is that the defender did not intentionally play the ball and it was a deflection, therefore it goes back to when Emerson plays it as if it was a pass. Kane is then adjudged to be offside based on his knee/shoulder being the red line.

The confusion is that the ball initially travels backwards, which as we've found out, in this case did not matter.

2 Chonburi players have been suspended after a slight issue.

They got pissed out their face, drove home, crashed and killed someone and injured another.

I don't understand the Kane drama. He is offside. :cab:

Surely the drama is the denial [rightly or wrongly] of a last minute match winning goal after 10 minutes of review, literally destroying the game as an entertaining spectacle.

Quite. VAR doesn’t exist, that goal is given and not a single complaint is made.

I thought we’d come to terms with VAR being the worst thing to happen in football since Hillsborough. My mistake.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Surely the drama is the denial [rightly or wrongly] of a last minute match winning goal after 10 minutes of review, literally destroying the game as an entertaining spectacle.

---

Just watched the Atletico incident and one of the youtube comments was 'this is why we love the game'. VAR is a disease. Give me crappy league two refs any day.

The point I keep coming back to is that, if you have to get the lines out, just give the goal.

I want to agree but once you start involving technology, you have to be 100% correct with things that aren't subjective and according to the law you're offside whether it's an inch or a mile. They fucked the game by extending it beyond goal line decisions and there's no going back. Game is gone.

It's Spurs, fuck them.

It's really not that bad. People that complain are probably just used to having decisions go their way or had no stake to begin with. Working towards a fair system is worthwhile.

It's just an incredibly niche offside because it looked like a cutback, but wasn't. That said, fairness that comes at the expense of 5 minutes reviewing freezeframes from different angles and more lines than a Westminster toiletseat is a step to far.

Having the ref go over to the sidelines to review his decision with the aid of a few replays would be fine.

I also don't understand why all we get is the lowest resolution image you're likely to find. That in itself created a lot more drama.

Garnacho starting :drool:

How is cronaldo starting for Utd this evening? I thought he fucked off? That’s all anyone needs to know about the manager and his standing right there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

How is cronaldo starting for Utd this evening? I thought he fucked off?

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He got kicked out of the squad for a bit as punishment for stropping off the other week. He's now served his punishment.

It's not ideal that he's back in the team but with Martial perpetually injured, we literally only have Rashford (who isn't convincingly a centre forward) and Ronaldo for that spot.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

He got kicked out of the squad for a bit as punishment for stropping off the other week. He's now served his punishment.

It's not ideal that he's back in the team but with Martial perpetually injured, we literally only have Rashford (who isn't convincingly a centre forward) and Ronaldo for that spot.

---

If the manager was supported then he should be with the kids til he’s gone. Big call by the owners to undermine the sporting side.

Might as well get the stroppy cunt to do something for his half million a week.

I’d get some youngster in the reserves to break his leg.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

If the manager was supported then he should be with the kids til he’s gone. Big call by the owners to undermine the sporting side.

---

Nah, it's all been very clearly Ten Hag's decisions.

Pablo Mari has been stabbed in Italy.

Antony doing his spin then passing it directly off the pitch :drool:

I love him so much.

United's best player since Nani.

Literally all Ronaldo cares about is getting his goal. He's unbearable.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

Literally all Ronaldo cares about is getting his goal. He's unbearable.

---

He's got to keep Mahow in posts.

Why is Rashford so skinny? Get some school dinners down him.

Dunno but he's starting to look vaguely like a football player again so let's leave him to whatever he's doing.

We are starting to look like a half decent team, but I miss having a player like young Rooney in games like that who'd just destroy them on his own.

Tony Martial.

View Tweet

Gahahahaha. Take note of the score and minute. £82m.

Worth every fucking penny.

Imagine how much he'd have cost if he came with a brain and a right foot?

Imagine making such a big deal over nothing in a nothing game. (Not Ben)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kikó

Imagine making such a big deal over nothing in a nothing game. (Not Ben)

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Got to have the drama. The way it was set up there I was expecting him to have pissed a little two yard pass out of play, the actual pass wasn't far from coming off and was a lot more difficult than it looked. He still looks like a tit for doing it though but it's not that bad.

Plus he must've been dizzy.

Has Antony been any good? I suppose the one positive thing that comes from the constant noise of the Ronaldo show is that there isn't much media scrutiny of anyone else.

He looks to be very talented but still raw in my opinion. Lovely left foot but refer to my previous post for downsides. I think any other club would have topped out at £50m in the bidding.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

I do not believe for one second that Gabriel can understand a word Jordan Henderson says.

---

This was actually incredibly accurate.

Paul’s Choles et al just sound a bit sad. Joga bonito baby :drool:

That was a lovely free kick.

Musiala choosing the Germans over us is going to hurt for the next 10 years or so. Such a great player.

Kaoru Mitoma is an absolute baller.

Should have been at this game but have to get a flight home this evening. :moop:

Refs in Germany just as bad as here. Ref is 5 yards away, didn't give it - it then took VAR about 2 mins...

https://gyazo.com/5810ba43810c202ba4f7726e9c520e8c.gif

Potter continuing to go with a back 3 is absolutely hilarious. 4 games in a row they’ve been battered from the get go in the league and todays the first time someone has actually put their chances away.

Two seasons running Reece James (something about Reece James) has got injured in October and the performances goes to shit

Agent Potter. :cool:

Chelsea :harold:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by -james-

Agent Potter. :cool:

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Playing Raheem Sterling as a wing back continually whilst being molested instead of just going with a back 4 would make you assume so. Sterling is genuinely a horrific footballer. Lived off scoring a tap in at the back post for years.

Bollocks he’s horrific. He’s no wing back though.

Almiron is in tremendous form.

Diego Costa dropping headbutts on gingers and he sees a red card. Didn't take long.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Giggles

Bollocks he’s horrific. He’s no wing back though.

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Yep totally this. He's a very good player.

The Frankfurt Dortmund game has been electric so far.

It's getting surreal for us. :D I know the money's been a big help but some of the guys that are starring (Almiron, Murphy, Joelinton) were looking pretty ordinary in seasons past. I'm just enjoying the ride.

The Bayern fans were all walking through the tube with faces like slapped arses, so I checked the score. They won 6-2. What a life it must be supporting them.

I'm a Spurs fan, great win today.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shindig

It's getting surreal for us. :D I know the money's been a big help but some of the guys that are starring (Almiron, Murphy, Joelinton) were looking pretty ordinary in seasons past. I'm just enjoying the ride.

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It's a real fairytale story.

In fairness it hasn’t been a massive splurge or anything mad like that, even with the money. Howe has done a great job.

Look at our team ffs, double-figures is definitely on from the clips of Leeds' defending I've seen recently.

Great vision from Gomez to see that.

Newcastle massively ahead of schedule it seems and look a proper team now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ben

Great vision from Gomez to see that.

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Goe Jomez in full force yet again.

Nunez :lol:

The Andy Carroll comparisons were too harsh on the Englishman.

Lost at home to Blackpool today as the entire squad have the massive squits, and Tuesday's home game at Blackburn is currently being played fuck knows where because the company that owns the stadium goes into administration on Monday and it could all be boarded up and emptied unless a buyer is ready to pounce. Another very normal week.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Giggles

In fairness it hasn’t been a massive splurge or anything mad like that, even with the money. Howe has done a great job.

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I think he's a good manager but still, fuck the Saudis.

I'll be very surprised if Jomez and Fabinho come back out for the 2nd half.

Fabinho especially feels like I'm watching that bit in Space Jam when the players talents have been taken away by the aliens.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kikó

I think he's a good manager but still, fuck the Saudis.

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Really torn between wanting to see Eddie Howe do well and "fuck the Saudis".

Turned this on at half time don’t think I’ve seen us put five passes together in a move yet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shindig

It's getting surreal for us. :D I know the money's been a big help but some of the guys that are starring (Almiron, Murphy, Joelinton) were looking pretty ordinary in seasons past. I'm just enjoying the ride.

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At least you're not sucking off Bruce anymore.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Don

Look at our team ffs, double-figures is definitely on from the clips of Leeds' defending I've seen recently.

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He did this on purpose to fuck over those of us who went for Liverpool in the Last Man Standing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Offshore Toon

At least you're not sucking off Bruce anymore.

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Aye. I thought it was a sideways step when he went but I cannot argue with the best defence in the league.

Any ability Bamford has has now long gone.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boydy

Really torn between wanting to see Eddie Howe do well and "fuck the Saudis".

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Oooh, tough one that. Newcastle really deserve it as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shindig

Aye. I thought it was a sideways step when he went but I cannot argue with the best defence in the league.

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It's alright, you're forgiven.

The board's Bruce saga made it abundantly clear that I'm the only authority on here when it comes to Newcastle United, so that's one positive out of it.

Liverpool :lol:

Bamford's shocking first touch helping Leeds there.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Don

Look at our team ffs, double-figures is definitely on from the clips of Leeds' defending I've seen recently.

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:lol:

:lol:

VVD moving like QPR era Rio Ferdinand

Brutal. Have to keep sight of the key things tho, the nazi will behead Gomez and Darwin's xG :drool: Top 4 and CL win still fine.

VVD record is finally over. Thank fuck for that.

Please tell me he’s still doing the hands behind the back thing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Giggles

Please tell me he’s still doing the hands behind the back thing.

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He’s not made a challenge since the end of last season. I’m 100% convinced he’s scared of getting injured before the World Cup.

Klopp won't be manager at the start of next season. The parallels between this and his last season with Dortmund are striking. His style doesn't have longevity.

Didn't he nearly get Dortmund relegated? Give him time.

Indeed. If anyone deserves time, it's Klopp.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SvN

Klopp won't be manager at the start of next season. The parallels between this and his last season with Dortmund are striking. His style doesn't have longevity.

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It’s not that, the team hasn’t been refreshed enough over the last 3 or 4 years and it’s starting to tell. The midfield needs major work and isn’t working correctly the problem with Klopp teams is that if one part isn’t 100% on it they look terrible and at the minute the midfield just isn’t functioning correctly. Then couple that with the fact that Joe Gomez is seemingly doing his best to give every team we play at the minute a one goal start and we have problems.

Liverpool relied on their midfield out running everybody (which also covered the defence) and their front three all being exceptional. Their midfield is either old or not inclined to run itself to death, and they don't have three world class forwards anymore. It's not his style as such.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spikey M

Didn't he nearly get Dortmund relegated? Give him time.

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Nearly got Dortmund relegated by finishing 7th.

And on Klopp I think if they sacked him without backing him properly and giving him the time to change the team there would be absolute uproar. If we finished outside the top four this season and were crap next season as well I’d still let him start the following season.

He’s the best manager the club have had in my lifetime and as soon as he is gone I can guarantee we will be back to where we were for the previous 20 years.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SvN

Klopp won't be manager at the start of next season. The parallels between this and his last season with Dortmund are striking. His style doesn't have longevity.

---

Their recruitment is the problem. Well, by that I mean they've regressed to the mean in terms of hit rate and don't spend enough to get away with it. A massively high proportion of their big signings in the transition period when Klopp came in paid off big time. They are now in a position where they need to rebuild and they are spaffing 100m up the wall on dross like Nunez whilst filling their midfield squad chasm with fucking Arthur on loan.

You can get away with some duffers if you spend like Barcelona, but they don't (and seemingly won't).

I genuinely think they will fade to perennial 4th/5th for the foreseeable future.

Don't they have one of the oldest squads in the league now? Pretty sure I heard some commentator say that the other week.

It's shit to watch at the minute but Klopp should probably still have the job for as long as he wants. And the backing to refresh/strengthen the squad where it's needed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by phonics

Nearly got Dortmund relegated by finishing 7th.

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I was going to explain that "I was nodding to them being near the bottom of the league mid-season and that I wasn't being entirely serious", but instead I'll just cut to the chase and ask if you're OK? Because you appear to have rewound 9 months to the Switzerland Phonics that constantly didn't know what was going on.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by randomlegend

Their recruitment is the problem. Well, by that I mean they've regressed to the mean in terms of hit rate and don't spend enough to get away with it. A massively high proportion of their big signings in the transition period when Klopp came in paid off big time. They are now in a position where they need to rebuild and they are spaffing 100m up the wall on dross like Nunez whilst filling their midfield squad chasm with fucking Arthur on loan.

You can get away with some duffers if you spend like Barcelona, but they don't (and seemingly won't).

I genuinely think they will fade to perennial 4th/5th for the foreseeable future.

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This is it. Regardless of taking the piss out of net spend look at Liverpools since he took over and it will tell you the job he has done. He hasn’t ever been allowed to splurge apart from Van Dijk, Fabinho and Allison and that was only because Barca overpaid for Coutinho.

Even in 2019/20 the back up strikers were Origi and Shaqiri and beyond that there wasn’t much. We just got lucky with injuries that season which meant they weren’t needed as much.

To be fair to Leeds, Meslier was class tonight.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Luke Emia

This is it. Regardless of taking the piss out of net spend look at Liverpools since he took over and it will tell you the job he has done. He hasn’t ever been allowed to splurge apart from Van Dijk, Fabinho and Allison and that was only because Barca overpaid for Coutinho.

Even in 2019/20 the back up strikers were Origi and Shaqiri and beyond that there wasn’t much. We just got lucky with injuries that season which meant they weren’t needed as much.

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Hasn't been allowed to splurge? He just spent £100m on the Uruguayan Andy Carroll.

A few factors are coming together at once here. Injuries for one, have forced some players into the team that have no right to be there. I'm looking at you Goe Jomez. What also doesn't help is when he has the game of him life against Man City, then a mere week or two later he's full on bombscare. It has also forced some players to play every single minute/game, when they really need dropping due to form or fitness(Van Dijk, Fabinho, Trent, Henderson etc).

A lot of players are hitting their bad patch at the same time too.

Add in a newly purchased forward who at best can be considered a "raw talent" right now. He's not adapting in the best way, but they've spunked £60-80m on him depending on who you believe, so he must play.
A new system was created to get something good out of both him and Salah at the same time, but immediately Diaz and Jota are injured, so now there is no player other than Carvalho who can play from the left. This system now is quite off balance, as was seen tonight.

The owners have been somewhat frugal since they came in too. They've done fantastic work off the pitch. Half a new stadium, new training ground, massively increased sponsorships and the genius Nike deal. This is where all of the money Liverpool have earned in prizes/Europe participation and TV money has gone. It means it was done without taking out a big fuck off loan once or twice.
However, this has left them in a firm sell to buy mode for most of their seasons here, with a couple of slight exceptions. They also seem to have this idea that they can pre-plan transfers windows in advance. For example Luis Diaz was planned to be bought in the summer window just gone, the previous summer. Spurs made a move for him and suddenly the money is there to do it in January after all.
This is going to have to change and more risk is going to have to come into it. I believe the same idea was thought of Bellingham, but is he fuck coming to us now.

There is also evidently some burn out from being so close but so far from perfection last year. Both physical and mental.

What I will say though is it's been a long long time since I saw the ball just being hopelessly hoofed into the box at the end of a game to try and get something.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boydy

Don't they have one of the oldest squads in the league now? Pretty sure I heard some commentator say that the other week.

It's shit to watch at the minute but Klopp should probably still have the job for as long as he wants. And the backing to refresh/strengthen the squad where it's needed.

---

Only Fulham (Tim Ream really helping here) and West Ham have older squads. Spurs and Newcastle are tied with Liverpool.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SvN

Hasn't been allowed to splurge? He just spent £100m on the Uruguayan Andy Carroll.

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But then look at who left in the summer and the incoming fees also we only bought one player in 2021 and no one in 2019. The fees roughly balance out every year on spending versus incomings without even taking into account the savings on wages this summer from Mane, Minamino and Origi going. The owners have never and will never do what United have done in the last few years and unless every transfer comes off(which they haven’t in the past couple of years) this is where you end up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boydy

To be fair to Leeds, Meslier was class tonight.

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He's our most valuable asset by far.

I went into that just hoping we didn't lose by more than three or four, so obviously am delighted with the outcome. Hopefully we rally from here.

The gambling markets still have Liverpool as the second best team in the league (slightly ahead of Arsenal and miles behind City) and they're rarely wrong. It has been a very sudden drop off which is the sort of thing they can fail to capture so we'll see.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by -james-

The gambling markets still have Liverpool as the second best team in the league (slightly ahead of Arsenal and miles behind City) and they're rarely wrong. It has been a very sudden drop off which is the sort of thing they can fail to capture so we'll see.

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I wouldn't be so sure, the big hitters of the football analysis community in this thread seem to have lost confidence in us. Just as they did after every poor result this season :happycry:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Don

I wouldn't be so sure, the big hitters of the football analysis community in this thread seem to have lost confidence in us. Just as they did after every poor result this season :happycry:

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Yeah and you're 9th.

Tell the bookies, lad.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SvN

Klopp won't be manager at the start of next season. The parallels between this and his last season with Dortmund are striking. His style doesn't have longevity.

---

7 years is pretty long in football terms.

They're still creating plenty but it's telling just how poor that defence is dealing with pressure. Going back to the keeper isn't always going to work but that's Gomez's first idea. And Alisson looks like he's called for it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

Only Fulham (Tim Ream really helping here) and West Ham have older squads. Spurs and Newcastle are tied with Liverpool.

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Don't forget the best winger in SW6, Willian. Rolling back the years despite upping our average age.

Liverpool also seem to be walking into superkeeper efforts quite a lot this season, added to their own profligacy and continual defensive rickets it's a bit of a heady combination. The intensity of the schedule hasn't helped, but that seems to be affecting most teams [who at the moment look like the walking dead] so I reckon there is quite a bit in struggling against teams who have had the 'full week' to prepare etc. Other than City everyone just has to get to the World Cup [also agree that maybe players are protecting themselves with this on the horizon] and see where they can go in the new year. This season was always going to be a complete mess.

Do Forest not have a sponsor this year?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by phonics

Do Forest not have a sponsor this year?

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They don't.

The owner was holding out for £10m a season for a sponsor.

Good to see him hold true to the Greek stereotype of financial savvy.

“If I’m not getting £10m, I’ll go without.”

Makes the kit look great though.

Now to just float the team out into the Adriatic and sink it for the insurance monies . . .

This West Ham kit is honking. They look like a bottom half Spanish team.

Rashford :cool:

That defending from Kehrer is hilarious. Completely oblivious to the fact someone could be behind him

Who’s that on the panel and why won’t he take his hat off.

It's Louis Saha trying his best to look like his namesake involved in the Mendy trial.

Roy Keane.

I’m working so it’s not had my full attention but this is the most boring game of all time right?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by phonics

I’m working so it’s not had my full attention but this is the most boring game of all time right?

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Yeah, it's been so bad that it makes a salty potato seem interesting.

This has the feels of the Leicester title winning season. Not very many teams looking great at all whilst Leicester keep plucking away. Replace Leicester with The Arsenal. Title winners confirmed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by phonics

I’m working so it’s not had my full attention but this is the most boring game of all time right?

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Newcastle rocking up to OT a few week back and time wasting from the start was worse

Man City are winning it by 12+ surely.

Utd are so shit, some of you soft shites come out and make some claims about finishing ahead of us so I can lol my erection away in the coming months.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Offshore Toon

Yeah, it's been so bad that it makes a salty potato seem interesting.

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Thought this was a Roy Keane reference until I opened the other thread.