May: Only a month (and a bit) until GOOD football!

A day late and not one single moany bastard @ing me about it. Good work, folks.

Only a month and a half now until the European championships which is excellent news, just have to endure a few weeks of City grinding toward another inevitable triumph (I suppose I want Arsenal to beat them to it now, but only just) and seeing which of the bad guys (or Dortmund, but that won't be happening) wins the Champions League and then it'll be time for Waistcoat and the boys to treat us to another glorious summer. Probably. Hooray!

And finally, for Spikey: https://www.theguardian.com/football...in-justin-rees

@Ian you're fucking late.

He said, belatedly.

Leave ing alone you silly cunt

Is it me or did April go on forever?

It really did.

Very glad for the football season to now be over. We can get on with the more important business of the transfer window. Then nothing until August. Bliss.

In other news the VAR audio of the 3rd Forest penalty claim against Everton has seemingly been 'glossed over' by your major broadcasters.

It's comically bad too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ian

He said, belatedly.

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Which is why I'm not in charge of making these threads. I'm bad with the calendar, I thought it was November.

The summer window looms ever closer. :drool:

I can’t believe the last game between Chelsea and spurs at Stamford Bridge was hair gate and Tuchel/Conte trying to one up each other. Feels about 3 seasons ago.

Tuchel hasn't been Chelsea boss for at least 5 years.

I would like it if Harry Kane won the Champions' League, but doing so would probably get Thomas Tuchel the United job so it's a tough one. If PSG don't win it this year then they probably never will.

Fa cup final month 😍

Moving to Gaza.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lewis

I would like it if Harry Kane won the Champions' League, but doing so would probably get Thomas Tuchel the United job so it's a tough one. If PSG don't win it this year then they probably never will.

---

The only pleasure that could be derived out of PSG winning a Champions League would be if they do it next year without Mbappe.

And that's a very small straw to grasp at.

I'm assuming if we do get a PSG v Madrid final, our old matey Florentino will accidentally let it slip the week of the final that Mbappe is joining Madrid.

Roony Bardghji has obliterated his knee and is out for up to a year.

Why are we doing injury updates on a Copenhagen midfielder?

Because he was about to not be a Copenhagen midfielder.

If spurs can’t score at least 2 goals tonight they have genuine issues. I’ll be disappointed if there’s not at least 6 goals in this game.

Chelsea with a bench of under 18s. Looking forward to Pochettino refusing to bring anyone on other than Casadei in 88th minute

God you're such a crybaby.

So worked up over a club he barely knew existed 3 years ago.

Here come Jesse & Festus.

Fuck up

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Waffdon

Here come Jesse & Festus.

Fuck up

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:D

9 days until Gateshead go to Wembley. We face Solihull Moors in the FA Trophy final. They've also found their way to play-off final which sure is a lot easier when you get a bye for some Gateshead Council/EFL bullshit.

It should've been us. :(

Some start by Olympiacos there.

English football in ruins, and Villa in the Champions League next year is hardly going to help on that front.

Important goal for them that. Olympiacos not quite the best at handling pressure, so the second half should be good.

Chelsea players look shattered.

This referee just blows up for a foul for anything and everything

Is Gilchrist playing as a shop window? We're basically taking kids out of the academy and fattening them up for the veal market.

The best of Jackson's four goals against Spurs this season.

Jackson :cool:

It was actually a really good finish, even if it's an open net. I'd argue most players send that over the bar.

Neville is right about him. The thing with footballers is that if you're shit, you can make up for it by giving absolutely all of yourself to the cause, and that's what Jackson does. Contrast, I dunno, Mudryk who looks like a lost little boy.

United 6th, Chelsea 7th will be enough for Conference League right? I want to see us lose to Grindavik in September.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Neville is right about him. The thing with footballers is that if you're shit, you can make up for it by giving absolutely all of yourself to the cause, and that's what Jackson does. Contrast, I dunno, Mudryk who looks like a lost little boy.

---

That’s what bought Nunez so much time is the one thing you can say about him is he chases stuff down and is a hard worker. If you are a team at the top of the table and he’s your 5th choice striker you fucking love him. But, you don’t want him starting every week.

Jackson has a lot of very good qualities but he is always going to miss a lot of chances. I always think he looks better against the better teams and he seems to struggle against the teams who sit in.

As for Mudryk again he has seemed a bit better when I have seen him in recent weeks. But, the bar is so low and he’s never a £60 million odd player. I’d be more concerned by Caicedo and Fernandez though, both look ok but for the money paid for them as a midfield duo they really need to be taking the game by the scruff of the neck and they just don’t.

Really poor from the keeper there for Villa's second, but it was always coming.

Caicedo has good and bad games but at least seems to care. Fernandez disappears in games and generally gives the air of being a thick Argie who now wishes he hadn't signed that 500 year contract.

And yeah, if Nunez was up front for an 8th place team and had 11 goals he would just be a fun fans' favourite like Jackson is. ELITE expectations are the death of fun, or at least the fun of what an imperfect footballer can sometimes achieve for your club.

What odds are being offered for Spurs finishing 7th?

10 senior players available. Doesn’t matter. Spurs :lol:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

United 6th, Chelsea 7th will be enough for Conference League right? I want to see us lose to Grindavik in September.

---

Think 7th gets EL if Man Utd finish 6th and win the cup. 7th won’t get anything if they win cup and finish 8th.

I think

Sky commentator at the end: 'Cole Palmer did get a goal involvement, but his storied run at Stamford Bridge comes to an end'. I fucking give up, get me the pipe and slippers.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Caicedo has good and bad games but at least seems to care. Fernandez disappears in games and generally gives the air of being a thick Argie who now wishes he hadn't signed that 500 year contract.

And yeah, if Nunez was up front for an 8th place team and had 11 goals he would just be a fun fans' favourite like Jackson is. ELITE expectations are the death of fun, or at least the fun of what an imperfect footballer can sometimes achieve for your club.

---

Caicedo is quality and actually looks proper next to Gallagher.

Fernandez been playing injured since December so I’m not too worried about him.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Waffdon

Think 7th gets EL if Man Utd finish 6th and win the cup. 7th won’t get anything if they win cup and finish 8th.

I think

---

Don't think so. I think England has 2 EL spots.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Think 7th gets EL if Man Utd finish 6th and win the cup. 7th won’t get anything if they win cup and finish 8th.

I think

---

MU 6th get the Europa place whether or not they win the cup, and Conference League passes to 7th?

What about if Villa win the Conference League, does that change anything?

Wouldn't think so.

Villa in the fucking mud.

Who’s allowed these two kits to play against each other tonight. I’m not colour blind or anything but they look fucking terrible on the tv.

Also all this talk about a 5th Champions League place and England meffing it up so badly is really something.

Also looks to be an if that is increasing in size.

Shit, I was thinking 5th was still getting champions league. Ooops. Poor Spurs, everyone and their mother had top 5 getting it guaranteed. They got fucked over in 2012 when they finally finished 4th but Chelsea stole their place.

What really did for our 5th spot was not so much what's been happening recently, but the horrendous performance of Newcastle and Man U much earlier in the season, if you get all the CL bonus points for making last 16 you can fudge it from there.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...s/cy63y218gqzo

Look at those dates. Betting on Toon AFTER the ban hit. What a thick cunt. :D I'm aware he's an addict but ... c'mon.

On that basis you’d have to be concerned about Villa getting through to the last 16 next season as well and Liverpool with the unknown as well, could fuck it for another season.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shindig

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...s/cy63y218gqzo

Look at those dates. Betting on Toon AFTER the ban hit. What a thick cunt. :D I'm aware he's an addict but ... c'mon.

---

Using the classic "No speak English" for that last paragraph too.

Depends on how the coefficients will work with the new format. If that "bump" stays with making it out of the group stage, then they'll probably make it fairly easily.

One big point for the new format is that there's no more dropping down into the competition below, once qualifying is done.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gray Fox

One big point for the new format is that there's no more dropping down into the competition below, once qualifying is done.

---

Yeah but at the same time the teams that would traditionally drop down into the competition below will now make it to the next round.

Referee was so poor in that passage, allowing Olympiakos to delay the kick as much as they pleased. Really weak game management.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Adramelch

Yeah but at the same time the teams that would traditionally drop down into the competition below will now make it to the next round.

---

True, but the Sevilla approach to it wont be possible any more.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Referee was so poor in that passage, allowing Olympiakos to delay the kick as much as they pleased. Really weak game management.

---

I like that he's been very assertive with his calls, but yeah he's been letting players get away with stuff like that all game.

He's good at gesticulating forcefully, I'll give him that. They love that sort of thing in the Italian system so maybe not his fault. However there are times for doing that and times to just calmly tell dickheads to get on with it.

Olympiakos-Fiorentina final feels like it might need an alternative style of officiating...

Good day to be an Olympiakos fan that was today. They also dropped 34 points on Barcelona in a must win basketball game earlier.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

MU 6th get the Europa place whether or not they win the cup, and Conference League passes to 7th?

What about if Villa win the Conference League, does that change anything?

---

For future reference:

"Under the new post-2024 club competition format, if the Europa Conference League winners qualify directly for the league phase of the UEFA Champions League or Europa League via domestic competitions, then the club with the best individual coefficient of all the teams in Europa League qualifying (champions path and main path) goes directly through to the league phase."

City haven’t even scored against Spurs since they moved stadiums and now this Aussie joker is going to incompetence us out of a title ffs.

Literally beat them earlier this season at the ground

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

United 6th, Chelsea 7th will be enough for Conference League right? I want to see us lose to Grindavik in September.

---

I'm assuming you mean Newcastle United. We're finishing 9th.

Ipswich :cool:

What an absolutely dire play-off situation that is though. Go Southampton I guess?

The older Portsmouth fans at work hope Southampton stay down so the lol one-sided seethe derbies come back, and the younger ones hope they get promoted so they don't have to lose both of them.

We’re definitely mostly rooting for them to fail, but also expecting that they’ll smash us next year. Hopefully nobody punches a horse next time at least.

We’re rooting for Norwich to go up in the hope that means they let us have Abu Kamara back. Also, Conor Chaplin in the PL next year :cool:

Alright, just three games away from some kind of Europe.

That’s nearly as bad as Havertz dive getting a penalty. Gvardiol is the one who kicks Ait Nouri

Not Man City getting a dubious penalty call when another team threatens their title.

Arsenal got one this afternoon and a goal disallowed for Bournemouth because yolo. Swings and roundabouts

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I'm glad we're finally seeing Lewis Hall in the latter stages of the season. He looks pretty solid.

I can't quite pick a winner between Spurs and Liverpool. They're both rotten at the minute but it'll probably come down to Liverpool taking more of their chances.

This Brighton/Villa game might be the worst Premier League game I've seen this year. Villa seem completely disjointed while Brighton show a bit more of a game plan, but have no threat in attack bar maybe Adingra. Pedestrian pace, so, so many bad passes and slip-ups as well on either side.

As I type that Brighton finally create a one-on-one chance, only took almost 49 minutes. I need Watkins goals for my fantasy football team, but I'm not sure if that's argument enough for watching the second half.

I’m going to be sad when Chelsea sign Oshimen and Jackson is more of a bit part player. What a guy. Shite at finishing and equally bad composure but everything else is a delight

Not sure that really should be a penalty for Brighton, but at least something is happening.

That spurs keeper hasn’t half turned out to be a bombscare

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Waffdon

That spurs keeper hasn’t half turned out to be a bombscare

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He was like that in his first couple of games then turned into a beast. Reverted back to type now.

Just the way we play mate.

When can we start Ange-watch?

Depends how they start next season.

I think he's done okay. Not exactly the greatest talent pool at Spurs and he's trying to get a tune out of it. Had you offered them 5th at the seasons start I think most Spurs fans would have been okay.

He's got to kick it on next year and have some kind of plan B.

They were consensus 7th/8th along with Villa pre season.

Completely switched off here. Wouldn't surprise me to see this end 4-4.

Good grief. The xG on that must have been about 0.99.

For someone who is a bit of a unit, van der Men is proper rapid.

I think he might be done, mate.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by John Arne

For someone who is a bit of a unit, van der Men is proper rapid.

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Looks like someones been hacking at his arms too.

Good to see Bajcetic back.

Bromley beat Solihull Moors to move into the EFL. Gateshead battered Bromley 4-0 on the final day so I'm just going to correctly assume Gateshead would've definitely went up. :moop:

Oh, Pochettino's magic, he wears a magic hat
He saw a top-eight finish, he said 'I'm having that!'

Battle for 6th is well and truly on!

The only prayer I had was Spurs giving City a game and they seem to have taken that as a challenge to be as dogshit as possible.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Adramelch

Battle for 6th is well and truly on!

---

Especially when United draw with Palace tomorrow

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:lol:

Apparently Darwin Nunez has removed all mention of Liverpool from his social media. CYA DUMMY.

Gonna get my kids the new kit with Wood 9 on the back. Lesssgoooo

That's a very NFL thing to do.

Strange to do that with the new manager not even in the door, assuming that's what it is.

Evans-Casemiro partnership tonight should provide the lols.

Ipswich captain Morsy with a Palestinian flag and direct mention in interviews, Mon the Tractor Boys :cool:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

That's a very NFL thing to do.

Strange to do that with the new manager not even in the door, assuming that's what it is.

---

Maybe he's become a genuine fan of Liverpool and doesn't want to see them suffer when he watches Match of the Day and sees their donkey striker being detrimental to their gameplay. What a selfless man. Respect.

It aggrieves me because he has everything you'd want, but the decision making is so poor. It's almost like he gets tunnel vision to what the first thing he decides to do is.

First half of the season we got some good improvement, but since February-ish he's regressed to what he was last year.

I've still not seen much other than THE DATA with how Slot plays, but it suggests the playstyle will suit him less. No idea if Slot is sending over buy/sell targets(you'd imagine so) yet, but I can't see why else he'd delete everything.

I read Slot wants to buy THE NEXT RONALDINHO from Palmeiras, I think it was.

I'm on board.

Currently watching the The Old Firm Derby. Bunch of Babes though. Currently 0-0 on some artificial pitch.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...s/cxwv9w7g12do

REFCAM is coming.

The creditors will also soon be coming for Everton.

Put cams on the creditors as they storm the doors too.

Put it up on Call The Bailiffs: Time To Pay Up.

Aye, 777 falling through has kinda of ended them. Always a good sign when the new investors have a fraud case hanging over them. Also, pour one out for Moyes. Gets West Ham a European trophy and some steady league finishes only to get replaced.

Can't pay? We'll take the stadium away.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shindig

Aye, 777 falling through has kinda of ended them. Always a good sign when the new investors have a fraud case hanging over them. Also, pour one out for Moyes. Gets West Ham a European trophy and some steady league finishes only to get replaced.

---

Hopefully they do a Birmingham.

My customary visit to the relevant fans' forum sees the West Ham faithful writhing with scepticism about appointing J-Lop, amid weary complaints about 'the people who run this club'. That they want Moyes gone is a given, but they find Lopetegui to be an underwhelming choice.

I've come to the conclusion that what fans really want is a manager they've never heard of, while for ownership they will settle for nothing less than free-flowing petro-state billions, even though there are only about 3 petro-states and they all have clubs already.

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He's about to finally do it, he's gonna dismantle the system riddled with glaring flaws, where privilege often trumps genuine talent. What a man.

You could still don Mark Randall after all these years.

Team sheet written on the pack of cigarettes wins again.

Only works with strikers, where there's a goal tally which can't be ignored. Defenders and midfielders will still be plying their trade 3 divisions too high for generations to come.

Sounds like an CM/FM save in the making.

And it's a friendly. People seem to be taking international friendlies way too seriously, for no apparent reason.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Only works with strikers, where there's a goal tally which can't be ignored. Defenders and midfielders will still be plying their trade 3 divisions too high for generations to come.

---

Roy Krishna would have been called up for Brazil during THAT year.

Get a load of that Man Utd bench. What a club :D

Just few posts above you were praising Bielsa for the same thing. Habeeb Ogunneye and Ethan Wheatley will make you look like a fool. Bet you they both have been on fire in Sunday league.

That really is special.

Bruno Fernandes missing a game through injury for the first time in his club career. Mental stat.

Physically anyway.

Get Olise signed up Arne.

I'm all for blaming coaching, but that was just players being shit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pen

Just few posts above you were praising Bielsa for the same thing. Habeeb Ogunneye and Ethan Wheatley will make you look like a fool. Bet you they both have been on fire in Sunday league.

---

Brother, a genius student of the game giving an unprecedented opportunity to a player is not the same as your bald wanker writing down Hamas on the teamsheet to try and get some goodwill.

This is gonna be a fun 90 :D

Palace looking like it's a kickabout here.

They've been really good the last few weeks.

Crazy what a decent manager can do.

Their midfield will be very fucking good assuming Doucoure doesn’t come back a crock. Wharton has been a quality signing

What a fucking goal song.

Suck MATITTIES.

This will be about 5-0 but as RL says, if Utd can beat City, this won't be a bad season.

Ten Haag just needs more time.

Palace is the best club in the league. If I could choose again I'd support them. Stupid old man.

What a team this is. :drool:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Don

Brother, a genius student of the game giving an unprecedented opportunity to a player is not the same as your bald wanker writing down Hamas on the teamsheet to try and get some goodwill.

This is gonna be a fun 90 :D

---

If he was Argentinian and called Eric el dios Hague you' love him and/or he'd be wanted by Mossad by some old stuff.

Only four more games of this to go😍

Munoz plays like he’s under inhaler-era Klopp :drool:

Someone on the beeb commentary thing suggested Moyes to Man Utd. Not a bad suggestion tbf.

On the plus side, Mr Mop is currently well into his work and a sparkling floor is forecast at Carrington in time for the week beginning 20 May, or 'Week 8' in financial year terms.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

On the plus side, Mr Mop is currently well into his work and a sparkling floor is forecast at Carrington in time for the week beginning 20 May, or 'Week 8' in financial year terms.

---

:D

What a gent Casemiro is, being so offside that VAR don't even need to sit going "But does he have offside vibes?"

It's amazing how shit Casemiro has turned this year.

Why wait until the end of the match? Drag him out of the dugout and into custody.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

It's amazing how shit Casemiro has turned this year.

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Not like Madrid to sell you a pup.

What the fuck was Onana doing for that goal?

Amrabat should have gone there, classic north African lost your head tackle.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Luke Emia

Not like Madrid to sell you a pup.

What the fuck was Onana doing for that goal?

---

He was great last year though.

They really went to Croydon and tried to play undisciplined cage football with Wharton and those two animals.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

He was great last year though.

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He was good for 4/5 months but he dropped off at the end of the season. 1 decent year for what 300k a week and £65 million transfer fee. Coupled with the Varane transfer they have really seen you coming in the last few years.

This game has ended Casemiro.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Luke Emia

He was good for 4/5 months but he dropped off at the end of the season. 1 decent year for what 300k a week and £65 million transfer fee. Coupled with the Varane transfer they have really seen you coming in the last few years.

---

Money well spent...

That’s a cunts trick as well from Ten Hag chucking a youngster on for his second game with 10 minutes to go and you are 4 down.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Luke Emia

That’s a cunts trick as well from Ten Hag chucking a youngster on for his second game with 10 minutes to go and you are 4 down.

---

There's no one else on the bench.

Heaton, Bayindir (both keepers) and Amrabat are the only ones over 21.

Leave Hoijlund on the pitch for 10 minutes then. You are playing one game a week and have been for a while it’s not as if he’s load managing his forwards.

I’m not sure there’s been anything in this game as a positive for United. They’ve been crap this season but usually at least garnacho looks good or something. The whole thing has been soulless tonight.

Palace aren’t exactly world beaters. Olise and eze are great, Anderson is a good cb the rest are middling prem players.

Understat have United down in 15th.

There has never been a better Sir Henry Winter than this latest iteration, issuing video statements from his war room as if he's leading the Free French. He was wasted at the Times.

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I always pictured him as older and more weathered looking.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Manc

Understat have United down in 15th.

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Dunno what this is but that is definitely our level. Other than villa, Everton and Chelsea, every single team has outplayed us this season.

West Ham parting company with Moyes is both incredibly harsh and probably stupid. Given he's a Proper Football Man I'm surprised more hasn't been made of it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kikó

Dunno what this is but that is definitely our level. Other than villa, Everton and Chelsea, every single team has outplayed us this season.

---

It's an xPTS point model driven by xG & xGA. West Ham well on their way to relegation judging by the underlying numbers.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yevrah

West Ham parting company with Moyes is both incredibly harsh and probably stupid. Given he's a Proper Football Man I'm surprised more hasn't been made of it.

---

He's coming home.

Harvey Elliot has not got an england cap yet. He isnt going to the euros?

He called Kane a mong and generally affects games too much to be in with a chance of getting into a Gareth squad.

Trent, Gomez and Jones should follow suit.

Not a chance England are winning the Euros btw. We've got so many players in form that it will be almost impossible for Gareth to get away with choosing a functional/winning team.

Aye, it'll be hell picking that midfield and front three.

I thought Bolton were playing the USSR for a second there.

Obviously still a lot of time for things to change, but so far PSG have played about 10 minutes of good football in 3 halves.

Oh dear Zaire-Emery.

PSG :harold:

Get fucked wankers.

Germany running riot in Europe and yet I barely rate any of them. Football is odd

Not sure taking your out ball off for another slow plodder of a player is smart but we’ll see

A Dortmund v Kane final would be some clash of the bottlers.

Players like Fabian Ruiz are utterly pointless and should be phased out of football

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

A Dortmund v Kane final would be some clash of the bottlers.

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Domestic finals are shite, come on PSG.

Real Madrid will beat Bayern anyway.

And if they don't, it's not like the last PSG-Bayern final was much of a spectacle.

I beg Dortmund to stick someone with a bit of pace up front and finish this off

If PSG do finally score and not smash the woodwork I think they get another

Madrid will destroy Dortmund. 30 shots against? Bloody hell.

About 20 of those have been in front of about 5 defenders though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Adramelch

About 20 of those have been in front of about 5 defenders though.

---

Good enough for a clinical side to finish though.

Dortmund :cool:

PSG did absolutely nothing before Dortmund scored. Dortmund willingly invited that pressure. I'm not saying Dortmund will do much in the final, it's just that this game is not indicative.

Yeah, Dortmund are getting beat either way. Madrid batter them or Munich shit fest it past them

That was a mad final 30, Lee's introduction kicked it off, class act.

Sancho getting a CL medal for not apologising to Egghead :D

Is this one at Wembley too? Funny how that can work out.

Bellingham vs. Dortmund in the final is the story that needs to be

Ian Maatsen playing in a Champions League final only two years after being under Mark Robins' wing should be a lesson to all young players this transfer window.

Big fan of this.

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4 players in Vietnam arrested for being smackheads.

What law is that?

No to drugs! Yes to noncing!

Yeah who's ever heard of laws against drug use?

Its about time we had a smackhead league. I want all the atheltes on drugs. Push the limit, to see what is actually possible.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SincereTheRebel

Its about time we had a smackhead league. I want all the atheltes on drugs. Push the limit, to see what is actually possible.

---

https://enhanced.org/

I want a smack head league as well with each player at different parts of their high. Actually that's just watching trainspotting.

Supposedly Tuchel to United is a done deal.

No it isn't.

Romano hasn’t given it the green light yet.

It feels like Valverde hasn't successfully completed a single forward pass so far this game.

Rio Ferdinand chiming in like some sort of special guest commentator should see TNT folded.

Vinicius Junior looks mustard today.

Musiala on the other hand has been completely invisible.

Fonzie :cool:

What a hit.

Tommy T’s record against Madrid away is pretty decent if they hold on

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Tommy T’s record against Madrid away is pretty decent if they hold on

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Nice jinx, lad.

Kimmich :lol:

That's horseshit and it should be allowed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

Kimmich :lol:

That's horseshit and it should be allowed.

---

Are you drunk :D

Couldn’t find a clearer foul this week if you tried

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Are you drunk :D

---

Sure his hands go to his face but the overreaction dive should be punished.

Fuck Kimmich.

You can’t be serious

It's a foul and it should be chalked off by the letter of the law but the dive to the floor is criminal.

I think the slow motion replays are screwing with you.

Kim as a left-back should be interesting.

Madrid having a fit every time a decision goes against them is bringing a tear to the eye.

Interesting subs from Tuchel. They're toast if Madrid grab a goal now.

Aye, pulling Kane off feels like a problem if it gets to penalties.

Neuer :lol:

Oh fucking dear.

Yep they've fucked it.

Wits the goalie daeing tam

Wor Joselu. :cool:

Imagine him winning a Champions League. I can't be mad at that.

Might not make it to Extra Time.

Bayern are hanging on.

That Bayern front 4 right now :D

Surely they bring Tel on.

I think he's on.

RIP Bayern.

Looked on to me

:drool:

Tuchel does it again.

Bayern choking a lead late on in the CL...

Couldn’t happened to a better club :lol:

Madrid are hilarious

Steve McManaman is AIDS fucking hell.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lewis

Steve McManaman is AIDS fucking hell.

---

I've fired up the old SuperSport stream because I can't cope with him and 'Fletch' for 90+ minutes.

Harry Kane turning up in Germany and Leverkusen winning the league and Dortmund the CL would be primo.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lewis

Steve McManaman is AIDS fucking hell.

---

He is horrendous to listen to, on top of being absolutely clueless most of the time.

Muller hasn’t been up to this level in years. Could have won the game for them if he didn’t play the worst pass I’ve ever seen on that break at 1-0

Dier and De Ligt are weirdly similar looking. Must be the most cube-headed centre back partnership of all time.

I’m not sure he was actually offside there. Linesman was Affy keen

I don't know how managers put up with moments like Tuchel is having to now. Standing on the side lines as your team piss away their chance to go to the Champions League final in time added on, knowing that realistically there's nothing you can do. It must be absolutely unbearable.

He's obviously not blameless for what's happened, but still.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by randomlegend

I don't know how managers put up with moments like Tuchel is having to now. Standing on the side lines as your team piss away their chance to go to the Champions League final in time added on, knowing that realistically there's nothing you can do. It must be absolutely unbearable.

He's obviously not blameless for what's happened, but still.

---

He's a cunt so who cares.

Linesman on the take.

Ref completely lost the game there.

C’mon “BVB” I guess.

Eric Dier was oddly brilliant tonight. Get him on the plane.

Steve Mcmanaman needs to jump out a window. His voice pisses me off.

Isak, Saliba, Haaland & Foden all being nominated for young player of the season is utterly odd behaviour

What is the critera for it. Being under 24? Foden has near 200 premier league appearances, six full seasons and scored at least five league goals each season for the past five seasons ffs. Man is a certified veteran.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SincereTheRebel

What is the critera for it. Being under 24? Foden has near 200 premier league appearances, six full seasons and scored at least five league goals each season for the past five seasons ffs. Man is a certified veteran.

---

And a father of 2 ffs

Isak has been in FIFA since 2017 and is 25 in the summer :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Isak, Saliba, Haaland & Foden all being nominated for young player of the season is utterly odd behaviour

---

It really is.

View Tweet

It should be anyone aged under 26, but to be eligible for the award you have to travel to all the games by train and use your young person's railcard to pay the fare.

21 and under before the start of the season and if youve won it before, you can't win it again.

Looking at whoscored.com, there are only four players who

*are under the age of 21
*featured in more than 20 games
*60 minutes per game

I thought there would have been way more than that.

Muscle injuries galore for the kiddos these days.

It should be more like 'rookie', and define it as their first season starting twenty or more games. It was daft enough when Ronaldo won it. I think Virgil van Dijk or Philf Oden should win the senior award, so I suppose he wins that as well.

Is there a palatable non-yank word for rookie? 'New professional of the year'.

Newcomer?

Could include sophomores too.

Rodri should be winning OLD player of the year.

I was hoping Harvey Elliott could be in with a shout for young player but maybe not.

Needs a few more years to get on the list, but yeah, it should be for players like him.

Didn't Bale win both at one point which sort of started the whole thing being a farce.

I thought the nordy lad at Liverpool was the best thing since sliced bread. Or has he not played enough?

He's probably played about 10 games.

Assuming he means Doak there? Yeah he got about 5 games in and then has Thiago'd himself off to the physio table for the rest of the year.

Conor Bradley?

Of course. Yeah same difference really. Might make the final game or two back, might not.

I see Sir Jim is anti-WFH. Bad news for Lisandro Martinez.

Aye, one the Liverpool contingent should be up there. Harvey Elliott's had two full seasons under his belt and looks very much established. Cole Palmer's definitely had a breakthrough year. Then you're making the numbers up with the likes of Miley, Bradley and so on.

He likes his trams full and his sinks empty, any news on the soccer?

I bet he turned pale when he found out there wasn't a dedicated tea lady.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SincereTheRebel

Looking at whoscored.com, there are only four players who

*are under the age of 21
*featured in more than 20 games
*60 minutes per game

I thought there would have been way more than that.

---

Garnacho, Mainoo, Odobert, Kerkez qualify only.

Is that starts? Wiki thinks Elliott has featured in 32 league games this season.

60 minutes per game, sounds like starts. Cant see players getting subbed on after 30 minutes all too often.

Not sure how accurate whoscored.com is but it seems legit.

https://www.transfermarkt.us/harvey-...s=&trainer_id=

Squad: 36, Starting eleven: 9, Substituted in: 23, On the bench: 4, Suspended: 0, Injured: 0

Elliots numbers.

Edit. I just totally misread that, as you were.

That 5th CL spot sure was in the bag.

That was almost too easy.

Surely everyone outside of Rome, Atalanta and Marseille are wanting Leverkusen to do an invincible season? What a feat!

You've cursed them there Baz.

:D

I was going to say kiss of death there.

Maybe not.

They’ll probably draw now as Roma need to throw everyone forward now

The fifth kraut spot going to Dortmund as things stand, which you'd have to say is somewhat more merited than Spurs.

Leverkusen are playing as if they actually need a goal, to go through. They want tl stay undefeated :lol:

This is crazy

Absolutely outrageous this team. Bonkers.

Every single time :D

They were not trying to waste time at all there. Took every single free kick as if they were about to be relegated

Absolutely brilliant

Imagine being so cursed you never lose again. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

The fifth kraut spot going to Dortmund as things stand, which you'd have to say is somewhat more merited than Spurs.

---

I was thinking about this earlier what happens if Dortmund win it? Do the Germans get a 6th spot?

They would if Dortmund weren't finishing in the top 5, I think.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68985701

Who's this going to be then? The list must be pretty short for people who could have conceivably sexually abused a 15 year old in the UK in the 90s if they are still working as the article seems to suggest. Perhaps someone soon to be unemployed?

It's David Sullivan, no?

Boss rather than manager implies that it could be an owner was my thoughts.

At first I thought it was someone in the premier league, as in the organisation, but the way it's written made me think manager but I guess it could be an owner. Not sure how you 'remain in position ' as an owner.

Julian Ward back as well FSG really getting the band back together.

'Mon the Alex!

Looking at United's fixtures I'm slightly fearful I'm going to be denied the chance to tell Erik he's getting sacked in the morning in person next Sunday.

Reece James is back :wub:

Wouldn’t have bothered bringing him back until next season but at least he finally had surgery so might not be a crock. (Definitely getting injured in the last 3 games or with England if he gets picked up)

He's bound to get called up and then have his hamstring explode.

What was his reason for not getting surgery the first ten times this happened?

Couldn’t tell you.

Hamstring probably sorted now. We move onto the knee next.

Because despite what fans like to believe, surgery is not a magic fix for these injuries and very much has pros and cons. Very possible to end up worse off than you started.

Worse than his injury record? Makes Abou Diaby look like Gareth Barry :D

Brighton. :moop: I never expect much when we play them.

More like Ange Postehasntgotaclu. Amirite?

With Burnley needing a win and nothing but a win from this match, a Tottenham goal was always coming.

How has Aina got away with that? Constantly pushing him right in front of the ref, and then just throws him to the floor.

He’s no Adam Wharton, of course, but I love that Danilo who plays for Forest.

Solihull leading Gateshead due to a penalty in extra time. Devastating. EDIT: 2-2!

Reece James is life

Gateshead have won a thing! 5-4 on penalties.

Awonyi 3-3 all over this

I think Chelsea's taking 6th. They're showing form at the right time.

Somewhat easier fixtures as well.

Poch silencing his critics?

Jackson 17 goals having missed a month due to AFCON. Signing of the summer. A bargain. My. Hero

Just a shame Taz isn't here whilst his boys take one hell of a beating from the fighting pride of West Sussex.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shindig

Gateshead have won a thing! 5-4 on penalties.

---

That's two Wembley shootout defeats in the space of a week for Solihull, add in the Champ playoff last year and the FA Cup semi and I'm starting to think I'm a curse on local teams.

I think it just went to form. Our record against them is equal Stevens. They will continue to be a pain in the arse for years to come.

Equal Stevens?

Wrong thread, pretty sure he's an NFL draftee.

It's a Partridge reference but I prefer it over the actual idiom.

Lesser known relative of the singer Shiverin' Stevens

We are not equals pequels, Jeremy.

We look awful but then again so do Norwich.

12:30 kick offs really do need punting. This has been dire.

It's one of the most boring games I've ever seen.

It was reported in May 2008 that van Hooijdonk had been a victim of fraud and had lost £2,000,000 to a scam, which involved him investing in a Chinese textile company that did not exist.

Lol.

That van Hooijdonk is Pierres lad, but is also 24, is another shot right in the old age.

That United line up is honking but somehow I bet he's decided to plug that midfield hole with cloggers and it flummoxes Arsenal some how. If they can't beat these useless cunts they were never in a title race.

Doubtful.

Playing four center backs and two defensive midfielders is going to the be the way forward for years to come isnt it? It needs to piss off.

1 ageing CB, 1 over the hill CDM and 2 wank full backs > *

:face:

Did I see that ad correctly? Are one of United sponsors called The Doo Doo Group?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by phonics

Did I see that ad correctly? Are one of United sponsors called The Doo Doo Group?

---

It's just Doo Group sadly.

Casemiro :lol:

He's so dogshit.

That’s genuinely hilarious from Casemiro. Just a wee jog will do

Just doesn't give a fuck does he.

End this season already.

The penalty shootout from the FA Trophy final. A lot of nervy ones in there. :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEx9Zm7t0OA

That’s a penalty. He just kicks Diallo. Mike Dean is a long, pass it on

Shindigs posting today is like when John Arne thinks someones interested in some Vietnamese cup final.

Watching Garnacho just shoot into defenders legs must get pretty boring for fans who watch him every game

Partey being both a rapist and crap footballer makes for absolutely rancid watching.

Saliba is an absolute cheat code.

Arsenal’s corner kicks are just the FM near post corner strat spam at this point

Triple substitution in the 88th minute hoping to turn the game.

There have been 3 dire games of football on today.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Watching Garnacho just shoot into defenders legs must get pretty boring for fans who watch him every game

---

Piss and wind.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

There have been 3 dire games of football on today.

---

This one was always going to be dire.

My god he’s awful to watch

Easy for arsenal. Never really threatened.

Jesus, it looks like this is the first time it's rained in decades at Old Trafford.

Absolutely hammering it down.

Watching Spurs fans cheers Man City goals will be a hilarious sight on Tuesday.

They're bigging this up but Spurs have zero motivation to win, no?

They’ve got nothing to play for. Huge fan of them doing the end of season walk round the pitch yesterday rather than Tuesday. We’ll be seeing Bundesliga high lines

Even if they had the most amount of motivation imaginable nothing stops the City meatgrinder at this time of year.

The only hope is if Ange decides it's on the beach enough to change tactics.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

Jesus, it looks like this is the first time it's rained in decades at Old Trafford.

Absolutely hammering it down.

---

Same all over Manc, mate. Thunder and lightning here.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

They're bigging this up but Spurs have zero motivation to win, no?

---

Given how spent Villa have looked as of late, they have some low, but non-negligible, chance of making top 4 still.

Okay, let's hammer this out:

The Nothing to Play for Race (4th)

Spurs v Man City
Sheffield United v Spurs

Aston Villa v Liverpool
Crystal Palace v Aston Villa

Spurs are four points behind Villa. It's a big ask from Spurs' side but Villa could come away from both those games pointless.

Knowing Spurs, they beat Man City 5-4 then lose 2-0 to Sheffield United.

They've already overachieved by not choking against Burnley if we're being honest.

Getting gobbed off by the people that give you hundreds of millions of pounds a year is top stuff

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That's going to take a lot of mopping.

A few rolls of duct tape will fix it.

What was the manager wearing? I wonder how mongy his home life is.

5-0 today and now 3 games to go for Leverkusen. Augsburg, Kaiserslautern from B.2 in the cup and then Atalanta.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

5-0 today and now 3 games to go for Leverkusen. Augsburg, Kaiserslautern from B.2 in the cup and then Atalanta.

---

He's not going to manage you, you can stop pretending to care about the Bundesliga now.

It's certainly no Eredivisie is it? Anyone who wins that must be like, the best manager in the world.

Its so hard that the only winners go bald trying.

I would love it is they muffed their cup finals.

Smart goalkeeping

Great defending on show so far in this game. Could be a fair few goals. Alexander Arnold finally got back to help Quansah and still didn’t bother doubling up

I know the 4th place shit-off has become a bit of an annual tradition but things have been taken to the next level this season.

Waste of a good win and loads of good fortune here in a nothing game.

Nunez wasting a piece of composure when he’s offside sums him up perfectly as a player.

That’s one of the spawniest goals I have ever seen.

Fucking twats Livperpool you're useless.

This is more like it.

Last thing you want is Spurs 'wanting' to win Phonics, they're more likely to accidentally do so if demob happy than if they have something to play for.

In classic sickener form though they'll lose having beaten City so many times over the last few years when it wasn't required or helpful.

Both defences have been tragic all evening. Wouldn’t be surprised if there’s another goal for both teams here

We fucking love a Colombian centre forward.

If I were FSG I'd sack Klopp now, just to see what would happen.

Hungry like the wolf.

Don’t you start. Sky Sports men spaffing over all the Duran Duran puns.

I can't believe we've come undone at Villa park.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Baz

Don’t you start. Sky Sports men spaffing over all the Duran Duran puns.

---

How did Rio cope with it all?

Quote:

---

Tottenham have won their past four Premier League home games against Manchester City without conceding a goal.

Under Pep Guardiola, City have lost more Premier League games against Spurs than against any other opponent (six).

---

Best of luck Arsenal fans, this is where hope usually goes to die. That Kompany goal against Leicester would still haunt my dreams if I really cared.

I don't want to give them any compliments but the Spurs stadium is 800% better than the Emirates.

Ange wouldn’t dare this patter if he was still a Celtic manager. I really hope the spurs fans start celebrating assuming city score

If you absolutely nail someone who is offside [not 'violent conduct' style] but play has carried on are you immune from being sent off? Could be an interesting Allardici interpretation of the maddening play-on VAR rule.

Watching Kyle Walker try and play football is an eye sore

Yeah, I'm a big fan of the just don't bother picking him up Angeball strategy. It'll probably backfire in the end. Can't beat that pace though, and, at the end of the day, it's the running that everyone comes to see.

Good start this.

It’s insane how fast Kyle Walker is.

Is it just between City and Arsenal now?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

Is it just between City and Arsenal now?

---

Yes. Liverpool miles behind in the end.

A draw is the best outcome for neutrals to have a rip roaring last day right? Watching City try to score 4 more than Arsenal?

Yes, Arsenal throwing away the title by not managing to beat Everton would be the top banter prospect.

Spurs just on the edge of trying without going too far. But, could backfire and they end up with the draw which would be even worse for them.

I feel like we've had joy against them on the counter. Man Utd fans can get their hopes up for tomorrow. Isak and Wilson doubtful. :uhoh:

Another game of Haaland just standing still all game. Doesn’t press or make runs in behind

That one Spurs fan sat in top of the mic for the NBC feed :D

“Get up you tosser” cracked me up

De Bruyne looks spent. Pep will have to send him off to the Saudi mince factory in the summer.

Dragusin :cool:

I know it wouldn't have counted but what a header save.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Luke Emia

De Bruyne looks spent. Pep will have to send him off to the Saudi mince factory in the summer.

---

He does look like he can barely break a stride. Get doku on and actually put someone will to take a man on out wide

Neighbours are going to be convinced I'm a Spurs fan.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by phonics

Neighbours are going to be convinced I'm a Spurs fan.

---

It would be the most Spurs thing in the world for them to draw. Basically hand the title to Arsenal and also ensure they can’t qualify for the Champions League.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Luke Emia

It would be the most Spurs thing in the world for them to draw. Basically hand the title to Arsenal and also ensure they can’t qualify for the Champions League.

---

Moyes will roll out the belly rub and Dyche will make it his lifes work for them not to concede. I'm going to be a mess for a week if so.

The amount of mental health propaganda in this ad break is unreal.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yevrah

The amount of mental health propaganda in this ad break is unreal.

---

I need it and more.

If that had gone in Arsenal fans would be well within their rights to march over there and raze the cheese room to the ground.

On Haaland as well, I know Keane was being over the top for effect the other week calling him a League Two player. But, his link up play is non-existent and yes he will bum so many goals in against the dross but he does seem to make them worse against the best teams.

Watch him score 6 in this second half now.

Lol.

Damn.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yevrah

The amount of mental health propaganda in this ad break is unreal.

---

It's Mental Health Awareness week. I only know this because work has roped most of the workforce into a charity walk to Paris*

*As in cover the distance between London to Paris rather than actually going to Paris. :(

Maybe De Bruyne still hasn't something.

Piss poor shit. No wonder the only people support them hate themselves.

Was the 'keeper trying not to touch that?

Much better from spurs. More banter moments please

Bentancur SEETHING :lol:

:lol:

What a pillock.

Clearly had a lot of money on Arsenal to win the league.

Physios couldn’t be arsed coming on the pitch there could they

RIP Ederson.

Tasty.

God I hate City so much.

Looks like he took a knee right to the face.

How is he not being forced off?

Surely that's a concussion.

Definitely no risk of concussion here.

:happycry:

Son fucking over Arsenal.

:face:

City look so fucking bad.

91 points (assuming they win out) seems a lot lower than usual

Begging for Bernardo Silva to pass the ball forward

Guardiola always with a spit on the go. Filthy fucker.

98 mins plus for a Spurs goal if they realistically want to hold onto it.

Well that sucks.

Whelp. West Ham's the last bet.

Never not going to be given, so soft though.

All in on the disciplinary commission.

You just don't beat these cunts in the title run in.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Never not going to be given, so soft though.

All in on the disciplinary commission.

---

On what planet would that not be a penalty

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

You just don't beat these cunts in the title run in.

---

They were there for the taking when Arsenal played them at the Etihad but he didn’t go for it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

On what planet would that not be a penalty

---

More soft to give it away, just lazy and so obvious as to what he was doing.

And that is the title done, no chance we will get anything on Sunday.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

On what planet would that not be a penalty

---

Guernsey.

I'd never give City a penalty for anything and I don't think I'd be far off the right/wrong ratio of Premier League referees.

Saka definitely started limping when that second City goal went in

It's like reading an AI interpretation of Twitter if the I stood for gIant fucking retard.

Imagine if it had been 0-0 when that penalty happened. Ref would be being hunted by Arsenal TV today.

Wolves putting forward a vote to scrap VAR is very funny, god I hope it wins although surely it'll lose 19-1.

Will be great when a club gets shafted by it next year and the manager gets asked "your club voted for VAR, yes?"

It’s just shite referees at the end of the day but they’ve had years now to implement changes and it’s as bad as ever. The Villa/Liverpool game was mental. Every goal being checked and then further delays checking goals that were clearly offside

In the 'we need video technology' era, which I'm going to say spanned about 2000 until whenever it came in, were referees seen as being any worse than they are now? I don't think they were.

The 'objective unfairness' of decision making has just been transferred from the purely ref's decision to the decision the VAR has to make as to whether it is a big enough fuck up to warrant intervention.

The game would be much better without it, but there's no going back.

Casemiro at CB again? :D

The rules are so dumb. Chelsea get given a penalty which never was and should have been a corner but Brighton get the ball back in keepers hands

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lofty

Casemiro at CB again? :D

---

And every single time he's done it, Casemiro has had to be dragged off for being too shit.

Willy Kambwala is fit again, just give him minutes. Failing that some mook off the street.

Palmer even scoring ridiculous headers now :drool:

My fasvourite bit is that Hojlund has been benched because 'theyre managing his minutes'

Mate its the 37th game of the season.

VAR at it again. No idea how Lamptey has gotten away with that

Not seen it but it's probably one of those 'unfortunate but unavoidable comings together' or whatever is the bullshit line that started getting rolled out around Christmas for things that were red cards earlier in the season.

Mainoo genuinely thought he was offside for a minute.

How is he that open?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

Mainoo genuinely thought he was offside for a minute.

How is he that open?

---

Trippier fully trolling.

Casemiro actually doing good things today.

How strtange.

We've been pretty iffy lately. I think we're missing out.

Jackson having one of them meme worthy games so far with his end product

No idea how it’s not 2 or 3 nil. Brighton dagger all over this

Amad :cool:

What a lovely hit.

Nkunku. :drool:

6 months of him and James injury free would be lovely

So would an end to the Israel-Palestine conflict and free blueberries for all new mothers.

Not sure what the best result is for us in the other game, probably the barcodes losing I guess.

Man Utd win as Chelsea guarantee 6th with a draw.

Getting 5th ahead of spurs anyway

If we get 5th ahead of Spurs surely it's official curtains for the latter. They can move an NFL franchise into the stadium, and Ossie Ardiles can have a debenture at West Ham.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Nkunku. :drool:

6 months of him and James injury free would be lovely

---

James sent off. :D

Rasmus Hojlund is back baby.

Ivan Toney's going to ruin us on Sunday.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shindig

Ivan Toney's going to ruin us on Sunday.

---

Not unless he's bet on you guys to win.

We only need to win this 26-1 to go above Newcastle.

Best performance in ages.

Welbeck scores against Chelsea every single season. Can’t buy a clean sheet away from home

We're not winning this are we? lol

Cracking finish.

Perfect end to the season would be Spurs losing on Sunday and Man Utd winning the cup meaning they’ve gone from the guaranteed CL place in 5th (until Europe happened, lol) to the conference league

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

James sent off. :D

---

At least he now can't get injured in the last game of the season.

Quote:

---

On-field referee Michael Salisbury, who has not had a good game, missed it originally but was then told to check it on a pitchside monitor. He does and James is off and that's his club season over with.

---

:happycry:

Does violent conduct get him a few games next season as well?

He’s banned for the first 3 games next season :lol:

Got sent off already this season so gets an extra game. At least Malo Gusto is the second coming of Zambrotta

Watching the post match coverage on BeIn Sports and Jason MacAteer is absolutely stealing a living as a pundit.

Referenced Ronaldo causing issues earlier this season and ETH being backed by being able to sign Antony this summer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

He’s banned for the first 3 games next season :lol:

Got sent off already this season so gets an extra game. At least Malo Gusto is the second coming of Zambrotta

---

Pretty clever really, can burn his ban at a time he's going to be injured anyway.

Classic Beckham.

Chelsea subbed out more than half of their team during yesterday's game. 5, and in this case 6, subs seems too many.

The best change football could make would be to get rid of subs completely, or restrict it to 1 or 2 to cover injuries. Would even the playing field massively as the best players would spread across more clubs to get their playing time.

Why it's all moving the other way is completely beyond me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by John Arne

Chelsea subbed out more than half of their team during yesterday's game. 5, and in this case 6, subs seems too many.

---

Meant to be 5 but both teams can make 6 if someone is deemed to have a concussion. Though if you use a concussion sub the player automatically isn’t allow to play for a week

If he does well for the next few months maybe he'll get the international job.

View Tweet

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

The best change football could make would be to get rid of subs completely, or restrict it to 1 or 2 to cover injuries. Would even the playing field massively as the best players would spread across more clubs to get their playing time.

Why it's all moving the other way is completely beyond me.

---

Player welfare.

*Player welfare assuming a massive squad and a high pressing, hard-running style.

I suppose no subs would massively incentivise PEDs, even though they are already heavily used.

Fractured eye socket for Ederson. A good job then that they didn't listen to him and took him off.

What a start.

Josh Sargent has been wank every time I've seen him play (not much mind).

He isn't a Premier League striker.

Ashley Barnes is a weapons grade cunt.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

Josh Sargent has been wank every time I've seen him play (not much mind).

He isn't a Premier League striker.

---

Norwich aren't(and wont be) a Premier League team.

Game over.

:drool:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

Josh Sargent has been wank every time I've seen him play (not much mind).

He isn't a Premier League striker.

---

He’s ok for the Championship but never good enough for the Premier League. They should flog him to whoever would take him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Magic

Ashley Barnes is a weapons grade cunt.

---

Head well and truly gone.

My Dad is desperate to lose tomorrows playoff game 1-0 because "We'll be shit in the premier league and this gives us the maximum time to prepare for next year"

Dare to dream eh.

I'm sure Luton fans had a blast this year, to be honest. More fans should think about it that way. And the parachute payments make you more likely to boing back. Probably.

TBF There's a bit of a difference between Luton who went from the top to non league and back to West Broms 'we were so good at yo-yoing it got us bought out by a Chinese Fraudster'

Yeah, you're probably right on that one. I would offer Forest as an example of the good that could happen but they also managed it by overspending a bit.

I honestly couldn't care less if albion win tomorrow, I doubt I'll even bother watching it. To think of the time I'd spend trying to figure out which of the various west midlands radio stations would be doing commentary on whichever random championship game we had that Saturday a short ten years or so ago. I happily got a train to fucking Wigan to watch a fairly meaningless 0-1 loss when I was at uni. Bit sad, really.

I don't think I could tell you more than about 3 players now. Is Matty Phillips still there?

I think the reality is that my dad's stroke rendering him unable to attend games, and generally not seeing as much of him to even discuss the team, especially when I was in scotland and norwich, made me realise it was less a love of the football club, more a kinda father-son bonding thing. That combined with Pulisball. If people ask who I support I say I'm a lapsed west brom fan these days : (

I know Phonics doesn't like news from outside of the EPL, but here we go.

Three A-League players arrested for "yellow card manipulation". Same ol' Aussies, they can't help it :D

Coincidentally, the arrests come 1 day after the AFC voted to remove term limits, generally accepted as one of the most robust good governance mechanisms.

I knew Matip would be leaving, but a shame for how he had to go out. What a free transfer though.

Hefty amount coming off the wage bill with those two you would imagine and I can't think that Slot and his staff will get paid anything near a comparable amount to Klopp. Wonder how much of that will be invested in new players in the summer? Especially if Salah was also to leave.

A number 9 has to be the priority, and then a centreback as cover for the aging van Dijk and perma-cropped Konate. I've no idea who, though. Gyokeres and Gimenez (whooooooo) seem to be the most linked right now. Not sure about signing another striker from Portugal...

Chris Wood

201 appearances in 8 years is a bit sad times for Matip.

Konaté's not tracking a whole lot better at 90 games in 3 seasons.

What does Slot play? The same sort of 4-3-3 or might we see a move towards the double pivot or whatever you call two more 'defensive' midfielders and a more No.10 type ahead of them?

He plays football that will see you back in 8th place where you belong.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Waffdon

He plays football that will see you back in 8th place where you belong.

---

Brilliant. I think it's probably worth noting that without a Russian billionaire laundering money through the club Chelsea were at best an upper mid-table team for the vast majority of their existence. So seems strange to say that the second most successful team in the league would be back in their place if they fell back to 8th.

Defence will be the priority I imagine. Goalscoring hasn't been a problem to the point where this is actually the 2nd highest goal total Liverpool have ever got in a season(surprised me too). Even when you compare to Arsenal who seemed to have bent almost everyone over since January, they're only at 5 more.

I think the problem is two-fold. Firstly the two CBs are being asked to do far too much without having an actual DM in front of them. Endo and Mac have covered it well, but it has showed up late in the season.
Then the next problem is the CB partner to Virgil is permanently unfit. Matip or Konate when fully fit are incredible. When they're half-baked you can see the games where they've just been a liability. Or just not there at all. Quansah has done very well considering his complete lack of experience before this season.
This leads to Virgil never being able to be rested because he always gets forced into playing. Then as the season goes on he too gets knackered and plays worse. He was imperious before Christmas then fell off towards the end of the season.

You also have to decide now if Trent is a RB or a CM. Interestingly to this tune the first player I've seen linked to us is one of his Feyenoord boys in Geertruida coming over with him.

As for outs I reckon we're in for a Salah saga again. I think the time is right for him to move on now, but we'll likely see Saudis lowballing us while promising him the world. It makes little difference to them if he signs to the Saudi league this year or next, so I think they'll choose the option where they don't pay us anything. Kelleher will surely want a starting gig somewhere and I suspect Sunday will be the last time we see Goe Jomez in a Liverpool shirt. I'm fully expecting the award of a penalty and him to be put on it, only to blast it into the kop.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Luke Emia

Brilliant. I think it's probably worth noting that without a Russian billionaire laundering money through the club Chelsea were at best an upper mid-table team for the vast majority of their existence. So seems strange to say that the second most successful team in the league would be back in their place if they fell back to 8th.

---

:drool:

Happy Friday brother

Have Liverpool ever been 'back in 8th place' for any sustained period? Their mean would be way higher surely.

Got to learn not to bite on that sort of stuff.

They were pretty wank for much of the post-Benitez era until Klopp came along. Also pretty rubbish in the early 90s. Not sure they would have back-to-back 8th'd since they weren't in the top division though.

Interestingly looking up Liverpool's historic league finishes, if they avoid defeat on Sunday this will be the only time they have finished in the 80s in terms of points under Klopp. 3 90+ totals and the rest in the 60s/70s. All or nothing.

I see the bald dutch manager population is confirmed to at least stay at present levels next season.

I would very much like Slot to avoid taking on Minteh. He had a lovely loan spell from us and scored 11 for Feyenoord. God knows where he'd fit into our midfield, though. Actually, he'd probably usurp Almiron. Assuming he isn't one of those deceitful legends who can only turn it on in the Netherlands. We've been stung by that phenomenon too many times.

Great to see man of the people Rishi Sunak at the game. In a hoodie no less.

With Sunak I've always got the impression he is probably a genuine Saints fan, but is so clumsy and awkward that he comes off as a fake one anyway.

If he were a real Saints fan we'd have had Lord Le Tissier as some sort of Truth Tsar by now.

Two boring play-off semi-finals seems unusual. You normally get at least one cracker.

The final normally is at least.

Have West Ham anything to play for tomorrow or is this final day a dead duck altogether?

I think your best hope on that is if there was some clause in the Declan Rice deal where they get another £10 million if Arsenal win the title.

Just remembered they've pushed Moyes too, so they'll surely be on the beach.

Hopefully West Ham troll Arsenal by going a goal or two up like Villa did the other year

Declan Rice is a huge e-defeat on my part. If I'm going to celebrate my (countless) e-victories I must also be magnanimous in my e-defeats.

Dunno if he would have been a better shout for player of the year but Foden cleaning up the personal awards feels very meh. Probably should be Saliba but it's very hard for defenders to ever get any sort of individual recognition.

COLD Palmer winning feels right. Foden does not. Saliba, Rice and Watkins all more deserving imo.

Foden has been quality but Palmer should obviously have won both but is what it is. Nobody has been better than him. Didn’t even get European football to stat pad his stats either

A million penalties helps I guess.

It's unusual for the player of the year award to go somewhere other than a player for a title contending club although there must be a certain paradox to them presumably both being up for both awards and winning one each.

I think even he was embarrassed when the writers gave their award to Scott Parker.

Giggs winning it after playing about 15 games was peak embarrassment, even if it was some sort of proxy lifetime achievement award. Ginola getting it on the back of a good goal against Barnsley also notable.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

A million penalties helps I guess.

---

Famously don’t count towards goals. The fact he’s 9/9 is impressive as fuck. Majority in massive games too. Still has 18 goals in domestic football without them.

3 goals in the first 7 minutes of Hoffenheim-Bayern Munich (1-2). Kane still injured.

In a massively tinpot move Arsenal have decided to award the club goal of the month award to Jurrien Timber, who scored against Blackburn Under 23s :D

Forgot they had him. Should be tasty next season.

Completely forgot he existed too. Did he get a chance at all when he was signed or was it an injury or something?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

Completely forgot he existed too. Did he get a chance at all when he was signed or was it an injury or something?

---

Blew his knee out in I think his debut.

Where's DeZerbi going? Bayern?

De Zerbi out of Brighton confirmed. Bayern? Juventus?

He walks into the United dugout at the end of Sunday's game in a real power move.

:D

Seems a bit un-Bloom-like to let him walk away for nothing so maybe something has already been lined up. He's been linked with everyone over the past few months. Think somewhere in Italy is the most likely.

Let's collectively lol at Bayern for not even finishing 2nd (even if it doesn't mean anything).

It's not like Harry Kane to finish 3rd in a two horse race.

One horse race.

In fairness to Harry's decision, it just ended the same way he would've done at Spurs. Except now he's paid more money.

https://fantasy.efl.com/

Oxford winning the play offs is just the icing on the cake I needed for my season; Swindon's lowest finish since the end of regional leagues (1958?), owners confirmed shysters, 1,300 season tickets sold ahead of the new season (allegedly), waiting to be the next Reading and seemingly inevitable relegation from the football league next season. Fucking hate football.

View Tweet

That's really impressive, to be honest. :D

Bar Luton somehow winning about 20-0 and Man City somehow not winning (shudder), is there anything remotely interesting on the cards today?

Correct. Newcastle Chelsea and Spurs need to sort out the europa and conference places but they are separated by three point.

Aye, that's the only thing still in play. Newcastle have the goal difference, Chelsea have the points (and form) and United have ... erm .... the plan. Okay, Plan B in the sense they could qualify by winning the FA Cup.

We need a point against Bournemouth to secure UEFA Europa League football. Proper squeaky bum time.

After all that's gone on with the amazingly small time events of the City game, Spurs need to lose and finish below Chelsea to not even get Europa. Ange needs to walk away from them too because he deserves better.

We've sent the lasagne to the wrong hotel. West Ham have a bug going round.

Why have Sky not got the Arsenal game? I know there's a 1% chance City fuck this up but if they do, wut?

Because Klopps final game is more important than Arsenal.

Oh, it's on TNT.

No wonder Sky weren't bigging the last day up.

Not even 2 minutes, lol.

That's the way, do away with any small chance of drama nice and early.

That pisses me off for two reasons. I mean, I thought it'd take longer than 90 seconds for this to be done today and secondly, Foden is so fucking good and it makes me physically sick to think how he's going to be used in June.

Fun while it lasted.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yevrah

That pisses me off for two reasons. I mean, I thought it'd take longer than 90 seconds for this to be done today and secondly, Foden is so fucking good and it makes me physically sick to think how he's going to be used in June.

---

He's been incredible this season, which makes me wonder why people thought he wasn't (as) deserving of the award.

Caicedo from his own half :drool:

Chelsea underpaid for him

What was the keeper doing there?

Edit: Actually fair play, he couldn't do much else.

Arsenal were never in this race anyway. Even Liverpool were more in it.

Nice of VAR to intervene and send off a player for a bad challenge when there’s absolutely fuck all on the game.

Arsenal just making sure there is no jeopardy for City.

Edit… Hang on.

What with the Fury prediction last night as well I’m looking like Taz at the minute.

That was special from Kudus.

We need to bring back the death penalty just for Southgate if he doesn’t fully unleash the potential of Foden and Bellingham this summer.

You've not spelled Henderson or Phillips right there.

Palace have been stupidly good for the last couple of months.

United are BACK

Hey, more goals than the entertainers (tm).

Hojlund :cool:

Odds on some arsenal players crying at full time?

City should lose the title for this.

Even the City players are tired of their plastic fans.

Police should start cracking skulls.

City fans running on the pitch. Lads, it’s not your first time

Some of those fan made posters :harold:

You're not 12 years old.

It's so embarrassing for fat grown men to be charging out there. I'll happily volunteer for the job of identifying them all from CCTV footage and ensuring they never attend live sport again.

I don't know whether it's an indictment on here or on the EPL but this thread has been pitiful today for a final round of the season.

The only juice you get on here is for Man U and Liverpool, and they were both in dead games.

There was nothing to play for today.

Title was basically done (Man City weren't fucking up) and so was the relegation battle.

The pitch invasions when they have to Rangers their way back to the Premiership will presumably a bit smaller.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lewis

The pitch invasions when they have to Rangers their way back to the Premiership will presumably a bit smaller.

---

Oil talks, not a hope it'll happen.

View Tweet

What a life.

Well, time for a long earned rest and ... nevermind, our pre-season starts in Melbourne on Wednesday. :moop:

Foden now with more PL medals than Terry and Rooney. It's just so wrong.

God, what a dreadful game today.

I see the xG had Brighton winning. :happycry:

How Joao Pedro didn't score in the first half is anyone's guess. He's bookended the season with inexplicable misses from 6 yards, and thrown a fair few in in between as well. For such a good penalty taker he doesn't half lack composure at times.

United were genuinely one of the worst teams I've seen at the Amex for a while [comfortably the worst this season] until they brought Hojlund on. Was quite looking forward to seeing Mainoo in the flesh but I think he was just rendered useless by being fielded alongside McSauce and that bald Algerian gombine. Not sure Steele made a save in the match, whereas Onana made a few decent ones which ends up being the difference in the premier league. United were much the better side after about 60 minutes although should have been 2 or 3 down by then.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Waffdon

He plays football that will see you back in 8th place where you belong.

---

I was thinking today that plays 'progressive' football and has an affinity for bringing through/working with young players is the sort of managerial M.O. Brighton should be looking for, not sure about a club with likely loftier ambitions. Brighton's next appointment is going to be an important decision. Hopefully the malaise of the last few months is down to things not being 100% right with De Zerbi as the rumours having been going on for ages, but if they continue as they have since February they could easily find themselves treading the Southampton path.

My other interesting thought apropos of nothing was I wondered if Jurgen was leaving due to him coming up for 10 years in England and/or the Labour threat to non-doms. Obviously somewhat facetious, but I assume most non-British folk in the football industry are non-doms if they have tax advice, which presumably they get.

I couldn't see any big sporting stars going to Rwanda.

I wonder if Potter coming back would be a good fit. Are there enough of his old boys in the squad that it would be an easy transition?

I don't think Bloom is the type to forgive and forget and I'm not sure he liked the way Potter left.

Getting Frank to stick it to Matthew Benham more the sort of thing I could see him doing, although in all likelihood it'll be some leftfield person no one has really heard of. Maybe the Southampton guy if they lose to Leeds.

Just realsing now what an all round dreadful weekend of sport this has been.

Did England manage to lose at any sort of rugby or cricket that might have escaped my attention? At least Crawley put John Arne's paedo-enabling mob to the sword. :cool:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

I don't think Bloom is the type to forgive and forget and I'm not sure he liked the way Potter left.

Getting Frank to stick it to Matthew Benham more the sort of thing I could see him doing, although in all likelihood it'll be some leftfield person no one has really heard of. Maybe the Southampton guy if they lose to Leeds.

---

Think they’re after McKenna

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Waffdon

Think they’re after McKenna

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Yeah, I'd seen that, but you'd think he'd want to have a crack at the top league with Ipswich having been promoted.

Had kept tabs on Lyon most of the season because of O'Brien. They had a fair turnaround to end up in the Europa after that start.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

My other interesting thought apropos of nothing was I wondered if Jurgen was leaving due to him coming up for 10 years in England and/or the Labour threat to non-doms. Obviously somewhat facetious, but I assume most non-British folk in the football industry are non-doms if they have tax advice, which presumably they get.

---

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...s/czvvl5vr22vo

:sherlock:

Yeah, they're all nailed on bastards.

Bet Pep has a string of shell companies in the gulf coining in billions for image rights or 1 day a year consultancy gigs.

Us being in for the Ipswich manager is proper clown show stuff.

They want a yes man when it comes to transfers if you believe all the briefs yesterday. Which makes no sense as to why you’d sack Tuchel in the first place as he’s not interested in any of that.

I don’t like Pochettino but I’m not sure you can sack him when all the players are coming out in support of him

Because they're so good at transfers, fuck me.

Literally the one good thing to come out of this season on the institutional level was that by the end, Pochettino had managed to make a coherent football team out of the absolute mess that they presented him with in September.

So is this the continuation of them trying to run it like a baseball team?

Wouldn't getting McKenna, and presumably his 'staff', just be rehashing the events of appointing Potter?

I also think that him walking out on Ipswich, even if it's for a plum once in a lifetime/retirement job, shows the kind of vaulting ambition I'm deeply sceptical of and think should be avoided at all costs.

Poch has finally got Chelsea looking like a proper side, it would be insanity to fire him now.

Yeah Pochettino made a lot of mistakes last season but they finally looked a bit better towards the end of the season and if they can add the right 2 or 3 players in the summer they have something to build on. Cue them spending £300 million on a load of 18 year olds again.

He's even got Waff coming around to like him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Wouldn't getting McKenna, and presumably his 'staff', just be rehashing the events of appointing Potter?

---

It would but that's what they want to have, they only fired Potter because they got bullied into it. They want the executives to make all the decisions and a 'weak' coach charged with putting cones out and putting red and blue dots on whiteboards. This is of course a terrible model for football but if you give people money and convince them they are clever, they will run things like this.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Because they're so good at transfers, fuck me.

Literally the one good thing to come out of this season on the institutional level was that by the end, Pochettino had managed to make a coherent football team out of the absolute mess that they presented him with in September.

---

Signings for the first team were quality last summer.

The extras on young players for the future not so much. Already signing a 17 year old Brazilian for £30m plus the same in add ons :D

Seems like buying anyone from Palmeiras is worth a gamble.

Endrick, Estevao, Guilherme all there at the moment and all look shit hot.

If FM turns out to be correct, then yeah maybe.

I have high hopes of Kendry Paez and he only cost pennies. Already a regular for Ecuador at 16/17 ffs

So Endrick is off to Madrid, Estevao is Chelsea bound. Has anyone picked up the third lad yet? I'll just pencil in Barcelona if not.

Liverpool were linked with him, iirc.

Yeah it was that that alerted me to him being THE NEXT RONALDINHO. I’ve not been watching Gazette Brasilia on ITV5.

You need to start pretending you are now.

In that case he's the best player there ever was. Since Ben Doak at least.

Someone fill me in on Ben White not being available for England? I've probably been told before but it can't be the Vardy thing where he was low enough down the order not to bother.

Probably needs a good 2 month break from football to sort his tatts and tan before the new season.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shindig

Someone fill me in on Ben White not being available for England? I've probably been told before but it can't be the Vardy thing where he was low enough down the order not to bother.

---

Apparently he fell out with the assistant, Steve Holland, when he was last in the squad.

Holland said that White wasn't interested in football or something and they had a bust up. Ben White has made himself UNAVAILABLE since then.

Pochettino left. Mutual consent.

If they appoint De Zerbi I’m switching allegiance to Fulham

What if it was David Moyes?

Anyone but De Zerbi

Yes Steve Holland chewed White out in front of the squad saying he doesn't like football and he'll never be good enough because of it etc so White said see ya.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Baz

Yeah it was that that alerted me to him being THE NEXT RONALDINHO. I’ve not been watching Gazette Brasilia on ITV5.

---

He's no Chris Wood though.

That seems fair. I wouldn't want a month of someone questioning my ability to do the job. It's not like Ben White's sulking it at club level.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Pochettino left. Mutual consent.

If they appoint De Zerbi I’m switching allegiance to Fulham

---

:D

Mental.

Was just saying to the Brighton ST chap I go with this afternoon that maybe they were holding out to get him.

If you believe the reports someone has already paid for De Zerbi. I’m hoping the secrecy is because Man Utd still have a game to play and he’s joining them.

Give it Klopp ‘til end of season

U17s absolutely ruining France at the moment. Some Arsenal kid just scored a belter.

Throwing money at Brighton? Couldnt be Chelsea :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by niko_cee

U17s absolutely ruining France at the moment. Some Arsenal kid just scored a belter.

---

That's the kid who played at 15 to break a record and never got near the team again.

Potchettino to Bayern?

Why would you not want De Zerbi, Waff?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Anyone but De Zerbi

---

McKenna it is then.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by -james-

Why would you not want De Zerbi, Waff?

---

He looks like too much like the bouncer that wouldn't let a coke'd up Waff into a shit dundee nightclub because his shoes were shit.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shindig

Potchettino to Bayern?

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...s/c844l5zp8nvo

Kompany apparently is one of the favourites now, lol.

Bookies have it between him and Small Pockets.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by phonics

He looks like too much like the bouncer that wouldn't let a coke'd up Waff into a shit dundee nightclub because his shoes were shit.

---

:lol:

So good

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by -james-

Why would you not want De Zerbi, Waff?

---

He has spikey hair at 50 years old

I'm so sick of this fucking guy popping up in my feed.

https://i.imgur.com/Wnm3Zso.png

https://i.imgur.com/1TTwnDB.png

Fucking stupid decision but was clearly on the cards for weeks.

It almost escaped my mind that the Europa League final is today. It just feels so weird that it takes place before the Conference League one, and before the season in two of the big leagues (Italy and Spain) is over.

And that it's on a weekday.

Well Friday would have been acceptable.

Bring back the CL final on a Wednesday. Everything should stay exactly how it was in 1998.

European cup finals should be on a Wednesday.

I'm still not really sure about the whole move away from 7.45 kick offs either.

A 3 way fight for the Chelsea job if you look at the betting odds. De Zerbi, Mckenna & the Leicester manager. My god.

"The Leicester Manager" :harold:

The Leicester manager is fraud of fraud hall.

Absolutely no idea why we didn't keep Pochettino if those are the options. Maybe they just absolutely refuse to give the coach any decision-making ability over the squad.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Baz

"The Leicester Manager" :harold:

---

Didn’t think everyone would know him by his name lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

The Leicester manager is fraud of fraud hall.

Absolutely no idea why we didn't keep Pochettino if those are the options. Maybe they just absolutely refuse to give the coach any decision-making ability over the squad.

---

I think it’s exactly that. They’re getting no say on things. Him leaving confirms Gallagher is gone

Maresca hasn’t shown any indication of being an empty tracksuit/yes-man in his season with us.

Unless Chelsea brains trust feel that because he has been so overly promoted he won’t question club decisions?

Maraca/Fabregas dream team it is.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Max Power

Maresca hasn’t shown any indication of being an empty tracksuit/yes-man in his season with us.

Unless Chelsea brains trust feel that because he has been so overly promoted he won’t question club decisions?

---

I imagine they just think 'Worked with Pep so must be great'.

Absolutely mental, I get it if you are sacking him and bringing in Tuchel or Klopp has had a change of heart and wants to manage another team in England. But, none of those are going to be an upgrade on Pochettino.

McKenna could well be an excellent manager but he would get lolled out of the building just like Potter.

Probably needed to be Atalanta that scored first. Completely switched off at the far post though

That was a lovely goal in its simplicity.

Phonics is going to be very annoyed at all of this watching teams from other countries. They wont manage you, you know.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

Phonics is going to be very annoyed at all of this watching teams from other countries. They wont manage you, you know.

---

Might as well do my Serie A team of the season then.

GK - Di Gregorio, Monza
RB - Di Lorenzo, Napoli
CB - Bastoni, Inter
CB - Bremer, Juventus
LB - DiMarco, Inter
CM - Calhanoglu, Inter
CM - Ferguson, Bologna
CM - Barella, Inter
RW - Orsolini, Bologna
LW - Kvaratskhelia, Napoli
ST - Martinez, Inter

Second team:
GK - Sommer, Inter
RB - Bellanova, Torino
CB - Calafiori, Bologna
CB - Buongiorno, Torino
LB - Hernandez, Milan
CM - Rabiot, Juventus
CM - Koopmeiners, Atalanta
RW - Pulisic, Milan
AM - Dybala, Roma
LW - Leao, Milan
ST - Zirkzee, Bologna

Honourable Mentions:
GK - Svilar, Roma
DEF - Mancini, Roma
MID - Ederson, Atalanta
ST - Giroud, Milan

Lookman :cool: Think he scored a fairly similar one recently.

Atalanta are up there with Fiorentina as the chief bottlers in Italy, so this is very much not over, even without Leverkusen’s guaranteed goal after 85mins

That's filth.

Nice of Leverkusen to give the neutrals what we want - all primed for a 90+1 and 90+6 bit of excitement now.

Imagine having Ademola Lookman ruining your season for the ages, aided and abetted by Davide Zappacosta.

Yeah, they probably need a couple more to make this safe.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dan

Might as well do my Serie A team of the season then.

GK - Di Gregorio, Monza
RB - Di Lorenzo, Napoli
CB - Bastoni, Inter
CB - Bremer, Juventus
LB - DiMarco, Inter
CM - Calhanoglu, Inter
CM - Ferguson, Bologna
CM - Barella, Inter
RW - Orsolini, Bologna
LW - Kvaratskhelia, Napoli
ST - Martinez, Inter

Second team:
GK - Sommer, Inter
RB - Bellanova, Torino
CB - Calafiori, Bologna
CB - Buongiorno, Torino
LB - Hernandez, Milan
CM - Rabiot, Juventus
CM - Koopmeiners, Atalanta
RW - Pulisic, Milan
AM - Dybala, Roma
LW - Leao, Milan
ST - Zirkzee, Bologna

Honourable Mentions:
GK - Svilar, Roma
DEF - Mancini, Roma
MID - Ederson, Atalanta
ST - Giroud, Milan

---

What's gone on in Naples then? Not often your defending champions finish 41 points off the pace.

Didn't their media team racially abuse Osimhen?

This TNT commentator has said Atalanta about three times and La Dea about twenty. You know how to use wikipedia, good on you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

What's gone on in Naples then? Not often your defending champions finish 41 points off the pace.

---

Losing Spaletti & replacing him with a guy who openly admitted he hadn’t watched them in his first press conference probably wasn’t a great start. Not often a defending champ goes through three managers in a season, but despite talk of Conte it looks like they’re probably taking Vincenzo Italiano off Fiorentina.

Their chairman seems like he probably doesn’t help things a lot of the time either, and that Osimhen post is also definitely not ideal.

Asking Lozano to take a pay cut to stay with them was also amateur stuff.

That could be enough.

What a goal. Some stunning finishes from him

This is peak Atalanta :drool:

Dude has had a quality performance.

Cool as you like.

Apparently you can take the Everton out of the boy.

Better get Patrik Schick ready fast.

Timed that well.

Kompany to Bayern is done apparently. :cab:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by -james-

Kompany to Bayern is done apparently. :cab:

---

Absolutely nuts.

They've gone full retard.

I kinda hope he does well for them. Such a mad appointment but you only get one shot at a job like that.

Koopmeiners is some plur.

Some really good players in this Atalanta team. They seem a bit of a moneyball side.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by -james-

Kompany to Bayern is done apparently. :cab:

---

Craig Bellamy coaching at Bayern :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Foe

Some really good players in this Atalanta team. They seem a bit of a moneyball side.

---

A lot of them were considered failures at their previous clubs, which says a lot about Gasperini really.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Foe

Some really good players in this Atalanta team. They seem a bit of a moneyball side.

---

They’re the example for every team stuck in midtable. They’ve rebuilt the side multiple times with academy players & smart shopping in the bargain bin & they’ll probably do it again this summer.

The executives at various clubs seem to have lost their minds recently. Maybe it's a classic case of already rich people thinking they're smarter than they actually are.

I always like watching the guy who hands out the medals blindly reaching backwards so his lackey can put the medal in his hand.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Imagine having Ademola Lookman ruining your season for the ages, aided and abetted by Davide Zappacosta.

---

I was just about to post the bit of the BBC report referring to him as 'former Charlton Athletic winger'. This is how Italians must have lolled at us taking their has-beens thirty years ago.

Hansi Flick at Barca?

Does that mean Xavi quit, was persuaded stay, and then sacked? Lol.

Pretty much. He called the board shite (they are) so they booted him.

Can’t see Flick being any kind of success there.

Sounds like Paqueta will be getting charged for deliberately trying to get a yellow card on four different occasions. He’s lucky the police aren’t involved

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Sounds like Paqueta will be getting charged for deliberately trying to get a yellow card on four different occasions. He’s lucky the police aren’t involved

---

When he returned from a spell on the side-lines when he was first charged it took about 5 games until bookies started giving odds for him to be carded again. Odds were always wank too sadly.

The bets are traced back to ‘Paqueta Island’ apparently.

Wut. :D

Thiago Motta officially leaving Bologna & expected to be the new Juventus manager, or as it's being reported locally:

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

Looking more and more likely Ten Hag will be out after the FA cup regardless of result.

McKenna, Frank, Tuchel, and Pochettino the names on the list.

Distinct lack of ex-Pompey trialists on that list.

Italy having 9 teams in Europe next season and Napoli finishing 10th would be hilarious. What a fall off

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

Looking more and more likely Ten Hag will be out after the FA cup regardless of result.

McKenna, Frank, Tuchel, and Pochettino the names on the list.

---

What a shit list that is. Might as well go with McKenna because why not try something wacky.

Wazza's looking to restore his reputation as a manager.

This Paqueta betting thing is gonna get messy. How do you prove that a player intentionally got booked? Even if they have evidence of his brother or mate placing bets on it happening, I don't see how you can actually ban the player... unless he has placed bets himself. Does the FA take it on balance of probabilities... which would then presumably be overturned by CAS.

Tuchel aside, that United list makes Arne Slot look like an inspiring appointment.

What's with the hard-on for McKenna all of a sudden? He's done a good job at Ipswich sure but surely you want to see what he can do in the Premier League before you appoint him either at Ipswich or some cannon fodder mid-table team.

Like anything, you follow the money. They wouldn't charge Paqueta unless they had reason to believe his involvement.

Newcastle (and Spurs') post-season Melbourne match was probably the least competitive thing I've seen. Maddison opened the scoring after Pope just booted the ball at him in the box. Maddison handled it but the appeals were half-arsed. Isak scored at the end of the first half with our first proper attack. It was a tap in. He didn't celebrate. Level after 90 minutes, it went to penalties. Ange seemed very confused about that. Our five takers were all bairns. Garang Kuol was contractually obliged to play his Newcastle debut and stuck his penalty away. Bryan Gil had his saved so we won 5-4.

We're currently trailing an A-League All Stars team 2-0. Post-season games are shit.

One bookie had a ridiculous amount of large bets on Paqueta bookings out of nowhere didn't they? Mad that Tonali and Toney have been arse raped for betting on games but Paqueta has allegedly been directly influencing them for betting purposes and yet played all season.

He is going to be banned for 10+ years so I’m sure Toney/Tonali won’t be complaining too much

That'll be another bullet City have somehow dodged in the transfer market

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shindig

We're currently trailing an A-League All Stars team 2-0. Post-season games are shit.

---

8-0. Howe out.

:D

Such an inexplicable thing for a club to do even without the idea of pumping some round the world travel into a bunch of players who are off to the Euros/Copa America.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cp...ccad19c063.jpg

Fucking hell, look at him. Look at Jeff Wode.

I genuinely initially thought that was one of those photos people create of Fat Frank. :D

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

Mourinho has been backed from 40s to 2s. Being him home :drool:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by John Arne

Does that mean Xavi quit, was persuaded stay, and then sacked? Lol.

---

If there's a way of doing something in the worst possible way financially, Barcelona will find that way.

Staggering that Rooney is still in his 30s and was a professional footballer a mere three years ago. Some effort to get like that.

ETH has been sacked.... he'll leave after the final :D

(according to well placed sources).

The hair transplant is so fucking bad. Just be bald you pathetic coward.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by John Arne

ETH has been sacked.... he'll leave after the final :D

(according to well placed sources).

---

Whos running with that?

I love it when players retire and just let themselves get fat, it's your David Beckhams approaching 50 with a 28 inch waist that aren't to be trusted. Rooney's now of the age where he can surely accept the hair now though

Did United literally do this with their last Dutchie as well?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Danny

Whos running with that?

---

Grauniad.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

If there's a way of doing something in the worst possible way financially, Barcelona will find that way.

---

Incredible that Lewandowski is getting a 20% pay rise next year. He was already on €500k per week and finally showing big signs of slowing down.

If true, piss poor that it has leaked.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by John Arne

Grauniad.

---

Looks like Steinberg. Not really good for United (anyone? maybe Chelsea) so probably bollocks.

Steinberg is a waffler, he's just hedging.

Tier 3 I think 🤔🤔🤔

It's been a dreadful season but it's no way to sack someone.

Not like United have form for sacking someone even if they've just won a trophy :eyemouth:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wullie

I love it when players retire and just let themselves get fat, it's your David Beckhams approaching 50 with a 28 inch waist that aren't to be trusted. Rooney's now of the age where he can surely accept the hair now though

---

I saw a picture of Steve Clarke the other day. Absolute bifter now

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

:D

Such an inexplicable thing for a club to do even without the idea of pumping some round the world travel into a bunch of players who are off to the Euros/Copa America.

---

Aye, Isak looked embarrassed to score his equaliser against Spurs. We didn't celebrate the penalty shootout - nobody seemed to know they were having one. As for the thumping, Howe kept the kids on the pitch. There was no heart in any of this. Even the stadium was near empty.

EDIT: I didn't catch the Ashworth/Berrada emails stuff. I get that people talk all the time but it's funny that Ashcroft has blown his cover whilst also being in contact with a bloke who is, like himself, on gardening leave.

Quote:

---

However, Ashworth sent a blind copy to his own Newcastle email address, clumsily disclosing to the club the covert negotiations with Berrada. Man United, at this point, had not informed Newcastle of their interest in Ashworth.

Berrada does not officially start at Old Trafford until July 13 and he had been on gardening leave from Man City for less than a month when engaging with Ashworth, potentially breaching the terms of his contract

---

Man Utd fighting it out for McKenna and Olise. Should be a fun summer ahead

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

He is going to be banned for 10+ years so I’m sure Toney/Tonali won’t be complaining too much

---

Noises out of West Ham seem to think he's done for good if found guilty. Assuming FIFA then get involved it could be career done. If I were him I'd be getting on a plane out of the country immediately following the guilty verdict.

Why is his Paqueta betting much worse than others?

Presumably because it's him influencing the betting, which is essentially match-fixing, rather than just having a flutter. When Ivan Toney got busted they seemed to go to great lengths to emphasise that he hadn't bet on anything to do with himself.

Yeah putting a grand on an 8 team acca when you're a multi millionaire pro footballer is just mong behaviour.

Directly doing something to influence the betting markets is criminal.

Wasn't a lot of Toney and Tonali betting them actually just betting on their own team to win? Which they can't influence by fixing anything.

The most recent case I can think of for this had a guy in the lower leagues banned for 10 years for fixing 1 yellow card. So he's fucked. Two of the alleged yellows look so blatant for it as well.

Tonali was betting on Newcastle long after he'd been charged by the Italians. What Paqueta's doing is spot fixing.

They don't normally have the FA Cup and Scottish Cup finals on at the same time, do they?

#mufc: Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Dalot, Mainoo, Amrabat, Garnacho, Rashford, McTominay, Fernandes

A billion pound net spend to still be starting McTominay and Amrabat in a cup final is a war crime.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by -james-

They don't normally have the FA Cup and Scottish Cup finals on at the same time, do they?

---

I can't remember the last time a 3pm kick-off for the final happened.

I think the only action we can take to Pacqueta is by voiding all of West Ham’s results for the past two years. I think that would put some legitimacy back into the game.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

A billion pound net spend to still be starting McTominay and Amrabat in a cup final is a war crime.

---

We're going to smash it.

I’m going to a pub with people that charges absolutely absurd prices so I can’t wait for City to smash a goal in within 80 seconds of my order to make it an exciting contest.

Egghead setting the club on fire on his way out with that team selection.

And blaming the fans in the pre-match interview.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ben

Egghead setting the club on fire on his way out with that team selection.

---

Why?

Got the Scottish Cup on, can't stand that cunt Matterface.

Saw Rooney is the new Plymouth boss. Kept looking for the punchline as it seems bizarre. True though apparently.

He looks a physical wreck too.

:lol:

What was that?

Mongviol.

Well, that's a lovely mess. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

What was that?

Mongviol.

---

All on the keeper that one.

We are going to lose still but fucking lol at that

This is so funny.

United are the only team in this at the minute.

Mainooooooooooooooooooooooooo

What a goal that is. Bruno :drool:

Mainoo is a fucking hero.

Bruno with eyes in the back of his head.

We're fucking back lads.

United having a better season than Arsenal after all that's gone on would be lol.

Unbelievable half. Baldy has nailed the game plan.

The best centre-back partnership in the league is BACK.

Look forward to seeing them play next season.

This result would take Europe away from Newcastle would it not?

Aye but this is genuinely funny. United could win this by a couple more.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kikó

Why?

---

Fuck knows. This is hilarious.

Why are people saying Doku is good. He makes Pepe look like a quality purchase.

Conference league should be fun. First team to win all the major European competitions?

Coventry could've beaten this City side. They've been toothless.

City must have been on the piss since they won't the league.

It's not a particularly new thought but I'm not sure how the Haaland penalty shot is 'Great Strength from Mainoo' and then what Akanji did is 'Great Forward Play by Hojlund' just because one happened at a corner. I realise the irony in an Arsenal fan complaining about rules being different at corners.

Too little, too late.

:harold:

Onana :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shindig

Too little, too late.

---

Wait for the 9 added minutes.

How are you letting Doku do the only thing he ever does and get a shot away? Then Onana :face:

Fantastic. Can't be sacking baldy now come on lads.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

If we somehow end up scamming City in the final and so winning more than Liverpool (FA cup > League cup) in Klopp's last season it'll be fucking hilarious.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Don

:lol:

---

:swing:

Enjoy the Thursday nights, lads. It's a proper pain in the arse.

Major trophy won. Better season than Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle, Chelsea.

YANITED YANITED.

Thursdays off. :cool: / :moop:

They cant weasel out of that Rodri not losing record anymore either.

It's all just a little bit of history repeating.

Varane coming out of retirement to win another major honour.

FUCKING HELL. KOBIE FUCKING MAINOO.

dots

Ten Hag setting in a winning mentality to this lot. You can't sack him now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

:swing:

---

De-railing Liverpool's season was trophy enough, and then they go and win an actual one. I'm just happy for Jonny Evans.

Lol at Fernandes pretending he cares.

Lol at city

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

Lol at Fernandes pretending he cares.

---

:cab:

Mainoo is mustard like.

Get fucked City.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lewis

De-railing Liverpool's season was trophy enough, and then they go and win an actual one. I'm just happy for Jonny Evans.

---

I actually had to double take. I can't believe he's still playing.

You could arguably call him our player of the season

Mad to think that would have been Coventry winning it if it wasn't for var.

Nice to know Malacia isnt dead.

73% possession for 4 shots on target. :drool:

Get fucked,, Pep.

I only just realised Taz got banned and hasn't come back after it expired.

He's such a tragic, flouncing little gimp :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

I only just realised Taz got banned and hasn't come back after it expired.

He's such a tragic, flouncing little gimp :D

---

Joke he, or anyone else, was banned at all.

He posted a picture of dead children.

I forgot you're on a power trip with these things.

It's a public forum. You've got to draw the line somewhere.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

I forgot you're on a power trip with these things.

---

I didn't see the post.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shindig

It's a public forum. You've got to draw the line somewhere.

---

So what about Harold then? Fucking place dead and this fanny running around on a crusade.

I didn't ban Taz.

If those dead children were working from home he'd understand

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by igor_balis

If those dead children were working from home he'd understand

---

You've had the breakdown, time to let it go now. The adults weren't even talking about that.

It was a joke grandad

Sounds like Kiko banned Taz. Its all his fault.

What a season from Leverkusen too. Just capped off the double.

Ban them Keeks.

I banned Taz.

Hopefully someone from United came out and said City lacked the mental fortitude to get the win in such a high pressure game.

Going to make the Sirs look daft when they sack Erik as even though they've been biblically shit under his management for the most part, they have also, somehow, won 2 trophies which is a clear overachievement.

Not sure it qualifies as a better season than top 4 in the modern game given the accountants but the game is about winning stuff.

Genuinely don't think the decision has yet been made on the manager. I wouldn't be shocked to see Ten Hag stay and I also still think he can succeed.

Just needs someone competent to tell him no when he wants the club to drop 100m on Antony.

It’s gonna be De Zerbi. Fuck sake.

Goals galore at both ends again it is

This is another awful final performance.

Falling apart again :drool:

I think we'd fallen apart long before now. But that's it for the next few seasons now. Mid table mediocrity.

The best decision Leeds can make in the summer is to get rid of thier Welsh contingent. Not a single brain cell between them.

I'm sure Gray was the youth Liverpool were taking a good look at last year. I reckon a buy and loan back for a year wouldn't be a bad deal there. Our homegrown contingent needs a boost at the least.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Manc

The best decision Leeds can make in the summer is to get rid of thier Welsh contingent. Not a single brain cell between them.

---

They were solid before that fucking international calamity.

Pep arranging to quit a couple months before the 115 charges come in seems incredibly innocent.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

I'm sure Gray was the youth Liverpool were taking a good look at last year. I reckon a buy and loan back for a year wouldn't be a bad deal there. Our homegrown contingent needs a boost at the least.

---

He’s outrageously good on FM.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

It’s gonna be De Zerbi. Fuck sake.

Goals galore at both ends again it is

---

View Tweet

Or not.

Maresca isn’t even the cheap option as he costs near enough £10m. :sick:

Sounds like Ten Haag didn't save himself with the cup win.

All the journalists who are good for United are still saying no decision is yet made.

Seems they plan to sit down and give proper consideration to all their options, including keeping Ten Hag.

Believe there's a group board meeting scheduled for 3 August, a memorandum will be circulated to shareholders shortly thereafter.

"The Leicester Manager" has seemingly won the poisoned chalice.

At least it’s not De Zerbi.

:|

I mean bald managers won the league and both cups so it's clearly the way to go.

I know Klopp's been gone a few days but it's a bit harsh to call him bald.

I might have defaulted to City winning the League Cup, that's how much value I give to it I guess.

He’d definitely be bald and toothless if the Turks didn’t intervene.

McKenna staying at Ipswich and signing a new deal.

He wears those caps for a reason.

Who would have thought we'd be rejected by a current Ipswich manager.

This time next year he could be managing Bayern.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

Who would have thought we'd be rejected by a current Ipswich manager.

---

Only wanted Chels. Fair play to the bloke.

(Think he rejected Brighton, not sure Man Utd were ever after him).

Potter back to Brighton to relegate them. Beautiful

Maybe you'll get him next year after a year's megaleague experience and for this year either keep baldie, or sign some comedy stopgap. Southgate.

As for Maresca, he is literally a pound shop Pep isn't he? He even dresses up and grooms like him.

Leicester would be a decent job if he does go.

Pretty sure a pot plant could have got Leicester promoted so you can definitely see the data driven process thinking at work

The fact that all their reputed 'shortlists' seemed exclusively to contain coaches from the bottom half of the Prem and top half of the Championship signals that they probably fancy doing it on the cheap. Got to save the proper money for the 'front office'.

It’s not the cheap option though. He’s costing £10m and whatever his back room staff cost.

Worst part it means Sanchez will be back in goal

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

The fact that all their reputed 'shortlists' seemed exclusively to contain coaches from the bottom half of the Prem and top half of the Championship signals that they probably fancy doing it on the cheap. Got to save the proper money for the 'front office'.

---

Probably easier to convince a bin man to shut up and concentrate on the important part, making the 'xGA Minus Penalties' graph go up.

Players with at least 10 goals and assists across the major leagues

22G - 11A - Cole Palmer
19G - 13A - Ollie Watkins
18G - 10A - Mohamed Salah
17G - 10A - Son
11G - 11G - Florian Wirtz
11G - 10A - Antony Gordon
10G - 13A - Alex Grimaldo

Does this mean the prem really is, a farmers league?

One of those things is not like the others.

View Tweet

View Tweet

Five year deal, absolutely deranged :D

Sacked within 12 months.

De Zerbi would have made more sense seeing as he's already worked with half their squad and would have cost nothing.

He's bald
He's ...
He took the Foxes top
Maresca, Maresca

Every time I looked last season Leicester fans wanted rid so if they've got a big fee for him they'll be delighted.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Sacked within 12 months.

De Zerbi would have made more sense seeing as he's already worked with half their squad and would have cost nothing.

---

And has been the actual manager of a club for more than 7 hours.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Sacked within 12 months.

De Zerbi would have made more sense seeing as he's already worked with half their squad and would have cost nothing.

---

Just Colwill and Caicedo I’m sure. Don’t think he had cucurella unless it was for a small period. I’m glad it’s not him anyway. Fuckkkk that.

Mon the Leicester manager

Leicester were worse than they should have been this season. Proper clown shit from Chelsea.

They sure do love paying compensation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by -james-

Leicester were worse than they should have been this season. Proper clown shit from Chelsea.

---

XG kings. You should love him.

Sounds like Sir Jim is having another old man shouts at cloud kind of a day.

I wonder if he is getting the same PR advice as Mike Ashley used to get.

I think he's probably old school and it is just showing. Mike Ashley unsurprisingly also has a very strict work from office only policy.

This is a strangely interesting read. A guy recently started posting summaries of the 115 charges and just providing decent analysis of everything. That's it.

Then suddenly Nick Harris, who has also been on the case for 10yrs, gets his nose out of joint big time, and comes across as a massive bellend in the exchange.

Lads, you're on the same side.

View Tweet

Not confident about this one as a Fiorentina follower. They're a very functional team but I'm not sure there are a lot of reliable goalscorers, so outside of a Biraghi set piece there might be a lot of pressure on Nico to put in a big game.

Good game so far.

Where that Atalanta performance against Leverkusen was the sort of showing that they only produce around once per month, this Fiorentina performance so far is exactly what they're like most of the time. If anyone in the team could score they'd a legit Europa League calibre team, but Conference League is definitely more their level at the moment.

That finish by Bonaventura was especially telling. It's not like he should have definitely scored, but he barely troubled the keeper.

I love how unphysical and unpowerful these teams are. Very tidy, slick and creative. Fuck the EPL.

Yes, it’s also great not having goal kicks played backwards.

Not sure letting a guy who had to be helped off the pitch after a clash of heads carry on playing is following concussion protocols, but okay.

Yeah I was about to post the same thing. That looks dodgy as fuck.

The greek commentator just said something like "140 out of the 410 goals of the competition have been scored between the 46th and 75th minutes of the games". So basically 1/3rd of the goals have been scored during this 1/3rd of the games. Insightful.

Newcastle released Karius, Dummett, Ritchie, Hendrick and Watts today. That last one has 'late-career Gateshead move' written all over him. Paul Dummett needs a glittering testimonial against an all star XI.

That's two very clear yellow cards so far for Dodo but none given.

Not even remotely surprising that this has gone to extra time, it was just a question of whether it would be 0-0 or 1-1

Olympiakos looking the more likely & the more deserving to win it before penalties. Fiorentina are generally solid in the middle of defence, and both Milenkovic & LMQ have played well, along with Terracciano in goal. Ikone feels like the player most likely to pull something out the bag for Fiorentina - he's a typical inconsistent dribbly boy, but it's only really him & Nico that could just create a goal from nothing.

As has been mentioned on the broadcast, Fiorentina have been absolutely godawful at penalties this season, so you'd have to imagine they'll be trying to get it done in the final 15mins.

I thought the game was fairly even for the 90, but Olympiakos definitely looked the better of the two in extra time. Helps that they've had 10 days or so to rest I guess.

The defenders on both sides have been stellar.

I've thought Fiorentina looked the better side lol.

On that second half they've been much better.

Yeah, that was pretty much the exact script I would've put down before the game. I said 2-1aet in the hope we'd get some more action, but sadly we got the scrappier version of the same game.

El Kaabi should just take the trophy home at this point. 11 goals in 9 knockout games is bonkers.

That was needlessly long, fucking hell. Would have been ultra harsh to rule that out.

Its happening again, its happening again, Florentina, its happening again.

Congratulations Adramelch.

Huh, I always thought it was Adam.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

He's bald
He's ...
He took the Foxes top
Maresca, Maresca

---

It's amazing the stuff that sticks with you, considering I prob only saw him play about ten times about 25 years ago, but I know for a fact that the Albion went with the more route one
EN ZO MA RE SCA
clap clap clap clap clap
EN ZO MA RE SCA
clap clap clap clap clap

#igormakeseverythingaboutblairerawestbrom

Time is probably right for Italiano to go make the move he's been angling for. The Fiorentina team needs a pretty decent overhaul as there just isn't much quality in the team as it stands - it's a bunch of solid veterans who will work hard & do what they're told, plus Nico, who's a really talented player but he's not exactly an elite player either.

Striker is obviously the huge priority - as someone who owns an Arthur Cabral shirt I can't help but feel he was the sort of striker that might've been more useful tonight. I'd imagine they'll look at someone from the bottom half of Serie A again like they did with N'Zola last year - someone like Andrea Pinamonti from relegated Sassuolo seems like their kind of thing - but maybe that would change with a new manager. There has been talk of Alberto Gilardino from Genoa taking the job if Italiano leaves, so if he brought Albert Gudmundsson with him that would be nice.

Nico will probably go, so a replacement there will be needed, and Kouame might leave as he's out of contract, but Ikone & Sottil are decent enough to start if they don't bring in someone established. Bonaventura & Castrovilli are both out of contract in the summer, and while they're capable it might be smarter to move on & try to refresh the midfield a bit. Not sure if we'll have Arthur or Amrabat next year, but I'd really like a bit more dynamism in the midfield. I'd be interested in someone like Mathias Soule on loan from Juve next season as he was excellent for Frosinone despite them going down.

I'm totally fine with Dodo, Kayode, Biraghi & Parisi at fullback, although I'd imagine people will be sniffing around Kayode in the window. Milenkovic, Martinez Quarta & Luca Ranieri are all pretty steady defenders, but if a new manager comes in who wants to play more progressive stuff I'm not sure any of them are anything more than adequate on the ball. Terracciano is a solid enough keeper, and they have a couple of promising kids who will hopefully be the long term answer, so no worries there, but the owner is richer than anyone else is the league (until Como show up & blow everyone else away, anyway) & has just forked out for state of the art training facilities, so there's got to be some expectation of progress in the next few years, which seems unlikely with things as they stand.

Doesn't matter how many times it comes up, a Serie A manager called Italiano always gets a chuckle. Like if PES was real life.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

So Endrick is off to Madrid, Estevao is Chelsea bound. Has anyone picked up the third lad yet? I'll just pencil in Barcelona if not.

---

Brentford apparently

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by phonics

Doesn't matter how many times it comes up, a Serie A manager called Italiano always gets a chuckle. Like if PES was real life.

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Even though he played for the Italian national team I still refuse to believe Kevin Lasagna is a real person.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...s/c04484jemk0o

Quote:

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"My mentality is that I never haven't ever worked for a top club in my head," Kompany said.

"A top club is the environment you create. It's the mentality you have towards your job in good and bad times, that's what defines working at the top level."

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I'm sure this'll save him if they don't win a thing.

"But guys, isn't the real league title the top mentality we displayed along the way? "

A truly bizarre appointment.

It's the Xabi Alonso effect. We'll see a couple more before they inevitably start massively failing.

Isn't it just anyone associated with 'Pep' getting jobs like how Sir Alex Ferguson connections used to? Bayern is a bit of a stretch admittedly.

I mean he gets more of a bye than another relegated manager because they'll see him as a relatively glamourous name and He Knows How To Win At The Top Level because he was a big name player. Couple that with some of the big name clubs who need a manager losing their mind because they can't figure out who the next crop of elite managers is going to be and you've got Bayern hiring Kompany, Chelsea getting a bloke who came second in a Pep lookalike contest and United/whoever else supposedly sniffing about McKenna because he's had a good year in the Championship.

Not to mention the Barca / Xavi stuff.

He also made the Belgian Cup final once with Anderlecht, and you can't quite overlook such levels of success.

I'd never think a whole pile of most professional or high level sports people as a fan type, but I love this man.

https://pca.st/0s38pc0m

https://www.fantacalcio.it/news/calc...i-punti-461611

Napoli's 2024 Serie A season was the worst performance ever by a reigning champion: 10th place, 53 points in 38 games. They did worse than Torino's 49/50 season (but the whole Torino squad had died the previous summer and had to be replaced)

That's an amazing 'stat' :lol:

RIP Torino.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...s/c2jjmn7ex4vo

lol.

Quote:

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Some said: 'what’s the point? Yes I’m a millionaire but I don’t even have time to spend the money'.

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:happycry:

They must be some of the most time rich people on earth. What do they work, 2-3 hours most days?

It's also only the top few hundred players, the ones really paid the huge bucks, who play that many games. Most professional footballers play 30-40 a year tops.

Mourinho in at Fenerbache. Quite the career trajectory.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

They must be some of the most time rich people on earth. What do they work, 2-3 hours most days?

It's also only the top few hundred players, the ones really paid the huge bucks, who play that many games. Most professional footballers play 30-40 a year tops.

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Surely they're doing more than 3hrs a day?

In my head the big teams are doing 2-3hrs just on the pitch every day, as well as gym work, recovery work, film study/meetings, and then some will be working with private coaches on the side & the big names will probably have some regular media/community commitments as well.

What's the craic for the Euro's?

One mega thread seems the best option, or just stick it all in the monthly's? The days of separate group threads are surely long gone....

Let Ian decide.

Stick a plug for this euros competition in the OP, would you? :baz:

Surely Group Stages, followed by Knockout Stages, followed by THE FINAL.

Is this Will Still a bit of a fraud then? Seems Reims' form went to shit after he did the stupid High Performance podcast and he left a month ago, now the only club he's been linked with is Sunderland.

I'm thinking of starting the Low Performance Podcast in order to boost the careers of unpretentious sportspeople.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by John Arne

What's the craic for the Euro's? .

One mega thread seems the best option, or just stick it all in the monthly's? The days of separate group threads are surely long gone....

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Recent years we've settled on one for the group stage and one for the knockouts I think

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Baz

Let Ian decide.

Stick a plug for this euros competition in the OP, would you? :baz:

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Just remind me when I inevitably forget and I'll edit it in.

One thread should be enough.

All TOP players should strike and the teams should bring back retired players to play in their place. 90s revival. :drool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pepe

One thread should be enough.

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It should, but if some of these weirdos had their way it'd be all sorts.

Frankly the normal monthly football thread would probably cover it these days.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ian

Frankly the normal monthly football thread would probably cover it these days.

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The Euros stuff would be lost among the massive excitement for Man Utd and Chelsea playing each other and Wrexham in pre-season friendlies, best have its own thread to give the tournament a chance.

We need a thread for each group, obviously.

For each match.

Do a thread with a poll for how many threads we want for the tournament.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pepe

For each match.

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Each half of every match.

With an accompanying thread for discussion of xG during said half.

Maybe a VAR one as well.

There's more chat in this thread about how many threads we want than what we'll actually get during the tournament.

Where is the pre-thread about the pre-squads? Who is in and who is staying at home?

One thread, outside of the monthly's. I wanted to reread our reactions to Erikson's drama, took my ages to find as it's lost inside a monthly.
#BareFacts

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ben

There's more chat in this thread about how many threads we want than what we'll actually get during the tournament.

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Last couple of tournaments I'd done a poll but fuck it. People can like it or do the threads themselves. Which they won't, so lumping it it is. :nodd:

Don’t even give it even give it a special title. June football thread followed by July football thread.

I mean if it was up to me we'd just have one forever called The Football Thread but people aren't ready for that sort of thinking / wet their pants trying to use the search function.

The monthly threads are good, a forever one would be very much David Mitchell football football all the football territory.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by John Arne

One thread, outside of the monthly's. I wanted to reread our reactions to Erikson's drama, took my ages to find as it's lost inside a monthly.
#BareFacts

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Didnt know people actuall go backwards and read past stuff. Similar to all those pictures the world seems to take. Nobody goes back to look at those moments.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ian

I mean if it was up to me we'd just have one forever called The Football Thread but people aren't ready for that sort of thinking / wet their pants trying to use the search function.

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You're a monster.

That would be the correct way. There’s tumbleweed most EPL game weeks anyway.

Tournament thread - Deutschland 24.

The real question is where on earth is the TRANSFER THREAD so we can all start lolling at the sensible football people now in charge at United who are going to try to buy that [quite possibly useless for a proper team] Branthwaite kid for half of what Everton want for him. It'll be the summer of Sancho all over again. Them being linked with Chalobah as well, no lessons learnt from Mount.

Slacking