April Football: Just 71 Days to the Club World Cup

Eight teams remain in the various European competitions; one team remains in the Premier League title race, but many more will vie for fourth place glory, fifth place triumph, sixth place nirvana and the eternal fame that will come with top seven status.

Relegation is sorted. Southampton, Ipswich and another team that escapes me are soon to fuck off and die until the year after.

Promotion? Sheffield United look to be soaring back. Faltering Leeds take on spluttering Burnley to join them.

In the FA Cup, Nottingham Forest take on Manchester City for a place in the final, while Aston Villa do the same against Crystal Palace.

Other footballs will no doubt be kicked worldwide. Of particular note, Spain has a decent title race going, as does Italy, though in Wales it looks as though The New Saints may have seen off Penybont.

Semi-automated offsides are coming to the Premier League, you can imagine my excitement at the idea of a laser ruling on where people are standing on some grass. Perhaps this is the boon that football needs.

Discuss your April soccer action here.

£10 that Al-Nassr replace Club Leon in the Club World Cup.

What's going on with Leon?

I believe they got kicked out for multi club ownership

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/apr/04/club-leon-pachuca-get-hearing-date-in-appeal-over-club-world-cup-ouster

I see. Yes that's been a thing in Mexico for a long time.

Are the proper clubs going to take the Club World Cup seriously now or is it still Mickey Mouse?

They've thrown so much prize money at it, the bean countries want them to take it seriously.

It'll be interesting to see how clubs view the competition if the money in it stays as is, or increases.

Every club will absolutely take it seriously. It’s free money by just being there never mind winning a few games

Just like the horse racing and golf over there, you can call it mickey mouse but mickey's gold plated.

Fuck all that.

Have you seen the state of the National League South particularly the TITLE RACE?

Four horse race :cool:

At least the FIFA Club Cup has a proper format now. The chance for smaller clubs to upset the apple cart is ... at least more likely than those times where the European sides get byes.

View Tweet

It's just the way we're shit mate.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lofty

Just like the horse racing and golf over there, you can call it mickey mouse but mickey's gold plated.

---

It’s a far bigger upgrade than the usual Club World Cup.

It’s so Spurs that the only silverware they won in 25 years was also the 3rd worst season they had in that time. Even when they win they’re a joke.

I was trying to find arsenals ppg and ended up on transfermarkt. The year George Graham won the title with Arsenal they scored 74 goals and conceded 18 :D

He just doesn't see how that was clear and obvious, mate.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

It’s a far bigger upgrade than the usual Club World Cup.

---

Quite. It will be quite the advantage to the clubs that can get into it every year.

Will it though? Financial muscle is not what it once was, and those serial attendees are fine extorting money out of their own leagues generally.

Will be equally interesting to see if Pep and whoever is in charge of Chelsea next February are crying into their cornflakes about not having had a pre-season and player burnout.

Part of me thinks we should go to a baseball-style schedule with 3-4 league games a week every week. Either the game slows down and becomes much more skill-based as a result, and/or you have to utilise your squad far more and actually play all those stockpiled players (obviously we're regulating for a maximum squad size).

More like baseball.

Not something that should ever be said of any sport. Even lawn bowls.

More like baseball is pretty much the journey of every sport over the last 10 years, except of course baseball, which is becoming more like cricket.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Will it though? Financial muscle is not what it once was, and those serial attendees are fine extorting money out of their own leagues generally.

Will be equally interesting to see if Pep and whoever is in charge of Chelsea next February are crying into their cornflakes about not having had a pre-season and player burnout.

---

Well the idea is spending is based on earnings right? If this competition pays you in another £60m for basically just turn up then that's another good player you can buy without having to sell.

It's another player you can buy.

Whether they are good or not, well, ask Todd Boehly.

Are they tethering to turnover or the turnover of the lowest club turnover in the league in the new system? Presumably the former, but I'm not sure money is as all powerful as it has been.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

Part of me thinks we should go to a baseball-style schedule with 3-4 league games a week every week. Either the game slows down and becomes much more skill-based as a result, and/or you have to utilise your squad far more and actually play all those stockpiled players (obviously we're regulating for a maximum squad size).

---

162 games per season in the MLB. Imagine the money football teams could make.

The mass deaths from all those pies and pints [never mind all the tension] would make covid look like a mild cold.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

It's another player you can buy.

Whether they are good or not, well, ask Todd Boehly.

Are they tethering to turnover or the turnover of the lowest club turnover in the league in the new system? Presumably the former, but I'm not sure money is as all powerful as it has been.

---

Newcastle as an example has almost a bottomless pit at its disposal, but can't use it unless they start cracking that top 4(5), right? Or are things drastically changing there?

Man Utd v Norwich for the 9th time that season, both teams with 3rd choice XIs out, attendance 98,000. Unsinkable.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

Newcastle as an example has almost a bottomless pit at its disposal, but can't use it unless they start cracking that top 4(5), right? Or are things drastically changing there?

---

My point is more that as you dilute the pool of who has unlimited resources, the power of those resources diminish significantly.

Abramovich Chelsea could bowl in and paint the town red [blue?], it took City much longer, and a conspiracy of ineptitude from United and Chelsea [their major financial rivals] was needed to usher in their dominant era, now if you add Newcastle into the mix you have at least 4 mega money clubs, I still include United in this, with two probably better football teams at the moment in Liverpool and Arsenal not far off, albeit with lesser resources, and then there are the rest of the league who have more money than all but the elite of Europe. The Premier League is too competitive financially for financial muscle to be as powerful as it once was. So this arrangement will do very nicely for Real and Bayern and all of the other dominant teams who have to worry less about their domestic standing, but whilst it will aid City and Chelsea, it is by no means a magic bullet.

As to the actual financial rules, no one has any idea about them, do they? The premier league can't do APTs, I was reading the other day that UEFA may take a much dimmer view of the Chelsea BlueCo sales of the hotels and the women's team.

Everyone has enough money now that it's much more important what you spend the money on. Liverpool are the only club that have consistently understood recruitment over the last decade or so. Everyone else has spent far too much money on players who are much too far away from being the finished article.

It won't make any difference to get £50 million extra from the Infantino Shield. It'll still be of maximum efficiency for Newcastle to sell Lewis Miley whether they have fifty quid in the bank or fifty billion.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

Newcastle as an example has almost a bottomless pit at its disposal, but can't use it unless they start cracking that top 4(5), right? Or are things drastically changing there?

---

From our financial report in March:

Quote:

---

"Newcastle United increased its latest reported revenue to £320.3million (from £250.3million in 2022/23), reflecting 90% and 32% increases in commercial and matchday revenues respectively."

---

So, number go up. It also mentions the player sales which (I believe) do not include Minteh and Anderson's sales. They were concluded on 1st July 2024 which will be covered in next year's report. God knows how much the cup win brought in but maybe the mad scenes on TV gave us some visibility. Plus having the women's side play the occasional game at St. James gets some extra matchday revenue. Again, that's probably small potatoes.

I think the really big clubs make their bread from being a global brand. We're not there yet. We might never get there without regular European football.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...s/cvgpx32emreo

:happycry:

Suspended one match ban? How long for? Arsenal need to find a way for them to violate the rules of decent conduct again [donning a Real Madrid shirt obviously qualifies as this off that bat].

That's a proper Rwanda '94 picture.

That or he's just finished a slap-up dinner with Barbecue Cherizier.

Suspended for a year, so if Mbappé violates the rules of decency in next year's group stage clash with Forest he'll have to serve a one match suspension in the subsequent trip to FC Zurich.

This Iroegbunam fella has the worst touch for an BPLEPL player I've seen for some time.

This recent trend of the hand over the mouth while talking to your opponent is a bug bear of mine.

We are on the cusp of the most awesome bottle job.

I was told the other day that 12 of the matchday squad for Everton from the Liverpool game are out of contract in the summer and that's without the almost inevitable Branthwaite saga.

They look bad enough already.

Looking at transfermarkt its not that bad.

https://www.transfermarkt.us/fc-ever...ende/verein/29

On first viewing I thought Skelly had a handful of his shirt. Holy fuck thats a joke.

United u18s are something else. Just beaten Leeds 13-1.

More good work from the ‘Mentality Midgets’. 11 points to go.

Absolute shitshow from Darren England there.

Blowing FT then deciding it was a free kick is AFCON level reffing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Magic

We are on the cusp of the most awesome bottle job.

---

What is going on?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ben

What is going on?

---

Well, it all started with the "we'll beat Reading's record" mentality after the Blunts and Blunderland victories.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Luke Emia

More good work from the ‘Mentality Midgets’. 11 points to go.

---

To be fair to them, Arsenal didn't do anything wrong today. Were winning and then Everton were given a penalty for I still have no idea what.

Palace had 3 points from the first 6, and then on for 40 from the next 24. They'd be right in the CL shakeup if not for that start.

Phonics rage intensifies.

Quote:

---

Carl Magnay has called on Gateshead to bring some clarity to the club’s situation as speculation over a proposed takeover by a consortium led by former Everton and Sunderland striker Victor Anichebe continues.

---

Hmmm ....

Maresca playing a second string team in the league :sick:

That is a bit of a puzzle. Magnificent though the slaying of Legia Warsaw and consequent Conference League glory would be, I'm not sure it would be better than 4th/5th. Maybe Trendline Todd or Baghdad Bob have told him he's fired and he doesn't care about next season.

Caicedo carry job will be needed again.

Cannot comprehend how gusto and sancho are two of the players to survive.

He’s playing Reece James left back again. Anywhere but a right back. He has to be an undercover agent

This Nkunku performance :|

If he survives the half, it will be tragic

It's a shame Arsenal couldn't pip the victims. Useless cunts.

Liverpool look awful, it's like teams have figured out how to play their system. Mistakes at the back and very little creativity going forwards. The latter is more worrying, teams seem to be able to break up our play and isolate Salah relatively easily.

Our game against Burnley was a bit mad*. Best defence in the world couldn't hold out five minutes against the mighty Haji Wright and a pair of officials who ignored that he was about three yards offside, then to balance it up they gave every other decision to Burnley for the rest of the game.

30 seconds into the second half Liam Kitching and Brad Collins both dithered over a simple ball to gift them a winner which meant 45 minutes of relentless timewasting to the point that wor Frank got a red card after full time for giving the referee what seemed a very mild earful.


*incredibly shit and frustrating

Some tactical shifts towards us have happened but the arsenal result yesterday has put us firmly on the beach.

The league was done about a month ago anyway.

I was listening to the new 'Libero' podcast yesterday (which I really like btw, familiar lineups of journos wibble on freeform about the bigger picture in a Sunday Supplement type format but not as restricted), and someone on there was arguing that Liverpool's supremacy, as well as from the obvious sources, has been shaped by Slot being the only manager to understand that you can't operate at 100% the whole time or everyone will get injured, and there have to be down games or periods of games where less energy is expended. I haven't watched loads of Liverpool but it sounded fairly spot on to me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

I was listening to the new 'Libero' podcast yesterday (which I really like btw, familiar lineups of journos wibble on freeform about the bigger picture in a Sunday Supplement type format but not as restricted), and someone on there was arguing that Liverpool's supremacy, as well as from the obvious sources, has been shaped by Slot being the only manager to understand that you can't operate at 100% the whole time or everyone will get injured, and there have to be down games or periods of games where less energy is expended. I haven't watched loads of Liverpool but it sounded fairly spot on to me.

---

There is something in this. The Arsenal injury list for example is not pure bad luck. There is bad preparation and minute management in there too.


Also, Bradley immediately making us look better going forwards.

3 goals in the last 8 away games in the league. The most boring and negative manager in the league. If you want to improve your defence, request a home game against Enzo Maresca.

Respect the point.

Title race blown wide open.

:D

Harvey Elliott providing more good play in about 15 minutes than Salah in 90. I dont know what he has to do.

Is this the least consequential Manchstuhderbeh this century? Maybe they should add a bet to make it interesting, like, I dunno, Gary Neville's life.

Clumsy from Dias.

Someone explain Dorgu to me. He looks like he has no clue what he’s doing.

You don't seem to need any explanation.

This game is abysmal.

The Gary Neville Podcast is going to have to go some to make any content out of this game.

City are absolutely honking, we were by far the better team and we're awful.

I haven't watched too much football this season but that's easily the worst match I've seen thus far.

The league is properly petering out. Seven games still to drag ourselves through, or you lot can anyway, I'm off to the cricket season in a couple of weekends.

Classic game of Barclays.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

The league is properly petering out. Seven games still to drag ourselves through, or you lot can anyway, I'm off to the cricket season in a couple of weekends.

---

From a neutral perspective, I think it might be the worst season I can recall.

Get watching the Championship, every position is up for grabs still apart from Sunderland seemingly having fourth sewn up since Christmas.

Blue Co have accidentally created a monster with Strasbourg. An even younger team than Chelsea and after a shaky start they’re 1 point off 2nd in Ligue 1. They’ll have to step down/do more dodgy dealings IF both make CL

I can't be all gloomy about a season where the big hitters are coming to the end of the road. You just know someone's going to breach FSR for a title push next season. The points deduction is 2026/7's problem.

I suspect the City verdicts will blow everything to pieces anyway - either they get off and the Premier League and its various rules will have lost all credibility, or they get punished to moderate severity or worse and I imagine they will either just ignore the verdicts or try to leave the league, or something equally middle fingery.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

I suspect the City verdicts will blow everything to pieces anyway - either they get off and the Premier League and its various rules will have lost all credibility, or they get punished to moderate severity or worse and I imagine they will either just ignore the verdicts or try to leave the league, or something equally middle fingery.

---

Probably needs it at this stage.

How many will Newcastle score tonight?

This season we've got 2 of the top 4 or 5 most incompetent Premier League teams we've ever had.

What's the old saying? The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

At least the previous iterations of shite would recognise that fact and play accordingly, mustering 30 odd points in the process of going down. This bottom three would only just scrape 10th if you added all their points together.

Basically Kompany playing expansive relegation football and getting the Bayern job has broke all their brains, look at Dyche crying.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ben

This season we've got 2 of the top 4 or 5 most incompetent Premier League teams we've ever had.

What's the old saying? The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

At least the previous iterations of shite would recognise that fact and play accordingly, mustering 30 odd points in the process of going down. This bottom three would only just scrape 10th if you added all their points together.

---

I remember it well. The live relegation battle on sky sports news. All trying to get 35 points. What have we become.

As if things weren't desperate enough for this season, the BBC have this morning posted a percentage breakdown of where each manager likes to stand in the technical area during games.

Just do a gentlemans agreement to end it now and all go home happy.

Really? Like a technical area heat map? Fascinating stuff :D

Data has gone crazy. There's literally no point to that article.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by John Arne

Really? Like a technical area heat map? Fascinating stuff :D

---

View Tweet

THE DATA, gone mad.

Kill me now.

New managers will have to optimize their standing routines if they want a shot at a big job.

This is possibly the best bit of being in a Champions League knock out glamour tie, the build up on a beautiful day, before the crushing inevitability lands.

This seemingly never-ending Jude Bellingham puff piece has left a small amount of vomit in my mouth.

How was that 'penalty' checked for so long?

Shame that chance fell to Partey. Tabloid headlines as yet unrealised (Partey Time, not something rapey).

Can Liverpool emergency loan Arsenal Nunez? It's painful watching Merino carthorsing around for them. The ref in this has definitely got dodgy decision in favour of Madrid written all over him.

Saka is tragic anytime I see him.

The guy who has served up the best two chances Arsenal have had cooking their fullback on his first start in months?

Yeah him.

Saka is great.

Good to see Kompany's mob losing. I assume it was his idea for them to wear beige at home

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Can Liverpool emergency loan Arsenal Nunez? It's painful watching Merino carthorsing around for them. The ref in this has definitely got dodgy decision in favour of Madrid written all over him.

---

You want to see us win the league as quick as possible as well? A lot of things Arsenal need that useless fuck is not it.

Timber dropping the shoulder there to open up the back pass, rather than take the ball forward sums modern football up.

Saka looks rusty / not match fit but is still Arsenal's biggest threat.

This game is arse, but it's setting things up nicely for the second leg.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Luke Emia

You want to see us win the league as quick as possible as well? A lot of things Arsenal need that useless fuck is not it.

---

:yawn:

Arsenal winning the CL is one of the things I’m not sure I’d recover from

Ok, that was luverly.

Choke 'em out lads.

1-0, 0-0.

Ok, this is obscene.

Lordy.

You could see the confidence he had from having scored the first.

Fully deserved.

Jesus fuck Declan.

Why always me eh Jude?

For fuck sake

I think he should have saved the first one.

:lol:

Amazing.

3 of the classiest goals in a single second half you could ever wish to see.

Thought VAR was going to chop that one off.

Good potential for some epic toys out of the pram from Madrid.

Very few things more satisfying than seeing Real Madrid get trolleyed.

Well, that was delightful, particularly against that incredibly precious bunch.

I think Rice has done himself in. Will sum up the season.

Is that the biggest win by an English team against them? I'm struggling to recall another? Man City maybe, but beyond that?

Liverpool did them 5-0 (1-0, 4-0) on aggregate back in the halcyon days of Alvaro Arbeloa.

We've won despite 2 perfect disallowed goals and also Burnley drew and Blunts lost at home lol. Hope after all.

I mentioned that this Arsenal guise play exactly the right way to win the UCL and it seems it is coming to pass.

Would be good to see them win it. Their European record is quite the oddity in comparison to the rest of their trophy cabinet.

Get a grip. Them never winning a European title is hilarious and will hopefully never change

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Arsenal winning the CL is one of the things I’m not sure I’d recover from

---

Imagine being this level of Dundee.

Just seen those free kicks. Damn.

That's the 5th Champions League spot wrapped up for the Premier League.

The balloon of gold lobbying lawyers will have a hard job now.

All about the club world cup mate, and failing that, the equivalent of the vanorama wherever why flog him to in the summer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Magic

Just seen those free kicks. Damn.

---

Hell of a game to be fair. Which was unexpected.

Twitter I know but :lol:

View Tweet

What game tonight lads?

Gotta be PSG vs Villa.

The other game seems a bit of a foregone conclusion

Apparently Salah and VVD have both agreed to two year deals.

He might as well stay there until he breaks Rush's record. He's only <checks notes> 96 goals away. He might hit that before he's 40.

I expect it will be made clear in statements or some such that these will be their final deals and they'll be leaving at the end of them.

I reckon the formal Trent announcement will come just before this so the good news softens the blow.

Good 15 minutes of shithousing from Villa. One sixth of the way there.

This is a hard watch. I could watch Martinez's shithousery all night though :D.

:cool:

PSG are a bit build up for show scoring for dough, to borrow the parlance of another sport

Prince William. :drool:

That was utterly sublime. McGinn interception, Rashford perfect through ball for Tielemans, inch-perfect cross, lofted finish from the angle by Rogers. World class.

Take it back.

He nearly did that against Liverpool.

Tbf, that was utterly class by Doue too. Can't do much about that.

Looked like he totally shanked it / cut across it on the replay. Blame the ball.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Manc

On the subject of Virg and Mo. Their performances last night were quite alarming; I'm wondering if the contract extensions were completed during the international break.

---

https://www.skysports.com/football/v...er-arnold-move

Nailed it.

Disasi. :lol:

That was a costly yellow cash picked up.

PSG are a lovely team to watch. They'd walk the Premier League.

It doesn't work like that, they wouldn't. As wouldn't Bayern, or Inter or whoever else.

Is Rashford getting picked ahead of Watkins? He's been awful.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ben

PSG are a lovely team to watch. They'd walk the Premier League.

---

They are the best team Liverpool have played by a mile. I was listening to a podcast today and saying Arsenal could beat PSG easily pointing out they beat them well earlier in the season. Conveniently forgetting that they have signed one of the best wingers in the world since then and have improved massively since the end of last year.

Bit of a killer that goal.

Suckerpunch. 3-1 is going to be tough to overturn.

I actually don't think that result is the end of the world for Villa because Emery loves to sit on a slim lead forever in these cups so at least now they will have to go for it at Villa Park.

I think Emery of all people is absolutely not the person to diss in European knock out games lol

Hardly dissing him, he got knocked out by United trying the same thing a few years ago and when he did get to a final with Arsenal it was a drybumming. Sitting on a 1 goal lead over 2 legs is a dangerous game, I don't think if Villa won 1-0 tonight they would have been able to sit in for a goalless draw next week but that is absolutely what he would have aimed for.

Just seen the lineups from last night. Did Emery overthink it and just try too hard to be different? Dropping Watkins and Asensio (and Onana to a lesser extent) seems like a bonkers decision.

Dropping Asensio did seem odd to me. But if they don't concede that injury time goal then 2-1 down going into the home leg isn't a horrendous situation to be in.

Maresca benched half his team at the weekend to keep them all still on the bench aside from Palmer in this game. The bloke is insane

This cup run is powered by Waff's seethe.

Onana proving Matic right.

He's absolutely toilet. He needs releasing on a free.

Leny Yoro :cool:

Lovely header.

Good to see that Lacazette is still wank.

Maybe I'm wrong but it genuinely feels like it's been months since we scored just a normal, well-worked, open play goal.

Garnacho is a fucking twat.

That rabona pass from Fernandes was obscene.

He loves this competition.

Fucking Onana man :D

I can't with him any more.

Mentality midgets.

View Tweet

:lol:

Salah has extended. Decent.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by John Arne

Salah stays, Trent and v.Dijk leave would be my guess.

---

2 down, 1 to go, although it sounds like van Dijk is also going to sign on shortly.

I am told Virgil has signed and they're currently getting the photos/announcement ready.

If any 2 of Newcastle, Chelsea or Villa have a strong run in, City could be fucked.

Villa still have to play Man City and Newcastle but I think how well they do is determined by the PSG game. Newcastle in theory have the hardest schedule left to be played since they’re away to Brighton, Villa and Arsenal as well as playing Palace and Chelsea. Think city and Newcastle trip themselves over the line. Chelsea need to win at least one away game and I can’t see that happening (unless Forest are guaranteed 3rd/4th by last game of season)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

If any 2 of Newcastle, Chelsea or Villa have a strong run in, City could be fucked.

---

Good job kopite

Might be a moot point at this rate.

Yeah, our run in is sketchy. Everyone bar Ipswich could be a potential slip. But then again, our results sheet is littered with unexpected wins and terrible, terrible defeats.

Blunts bottling it is tremendous. :drool:

This Kevin fella seems alright.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Magic

Blunts bottling it is tremendous. :drool:

---

:harold:

Hide the sandwiches.

At this rate, someone could snatch 2nd.

Of little consequence, other than the all important prize money.

Another game where Arsenal racked up sub 1 xG. They desperately need to win the European Cup and then buy an attacker.

I see the beeb have fifth place locked in, where does that leave the rest of the places - 6th theoretically wafer and then 7th conference, which could slip to 9th if the FA Cup winners finish higher in the league than that? Would like to see Brighton back in Europe.

I think that's the gist of it. I believe we can get a 6th CL spot if Man Utd win the Europa League. 7 if Villa win the Champions League and miss out on a top 5 finish.

Arsenal have bigger fish to fry now. They did look like a team that had given a lot into a game in midweek.

They should just use the league games to ease Saka back to fully fit for the CL. He could make that difference to them winning it or not.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

This Kevin fella seems alright.

---

What on earth was the wall / goalkeeper effort up to with that freekick?

View Tweet

These trends are usually a bit shit but this one cracked me up.

My cricket club are doing it in a “guess the cricketer” thing on Instagram. I branded it pathetic but it came across a bit old man yelling at clouds.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...s/c77nvz7r0vmo

Onana DROPPED.

It's all adding up to a shock United win. Unless Tindall turns out to be a secret genius.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...s/c77nvz7r0vmo

Onana DROPPED.

---

It works. The impact a shite, untrustworthy goalkeeper has on the whole team is fucking wild. More so than any other player. Because what's the point in working really hard knowing it's going to get chucked away by something totally stupid.

We've been much better since dropping Smeslier.

Edit: p.s hope it doesn't work for you.

Bayindir is wank so it wont work for us.

Out of the squad altogether is quite the jump.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

Bayindir is wank so it wont work for us.

---

Darlow doesn't exactly inspire confidence either but he doesn't do insane shit or make totally idiotic mistakes and that alone makes a massive difference.

Edit: apart from once yesterday but he got away with it.

Onana is an egomaniac. Just look at his Cameroonian exploits.

The links to Zion Suzuki are quite bizarre, given that he is very Onana-like with somewhat regular gaffs.

Rumours Thomas 'Tom 'Heaton is starting today as well.

Our almighty surge into the playoff positions coincided with Brad Collins being dropped after being responsible for all of Portsmouth's goals in a 4-1 defeat, then proper goalkeeper Oliver Dovin came in and we were a lot more settled. He's fucked his ACL so Collins came back in and this happened in his first game back

View Tweet

Keepers. They're an absurd breed.

Why are they like this? Like the Labour party. All that have to do is not to do insane, stupid shit and yet...

This is all set for a terrible game of Barclays with nothing at stake.

Robertson dumped to the bench and Nunez jettisoned from the entire squad in favour of a 3rd goalkeeper on the bench.

The 'Darwin' experiment is clearly very much over. I'm sure that'll make the Saudis gag to pay over the odds for the big lummox.

Could've swore I just saw Ward-Prowse intentionally grab the ball with both hands and not get booked.

He's ruined that left back 2 or 3 times in the last few minutes and that was glorious.

I can hear the furious typing of Waff from here.

Can we get Endo on the pitch pronto, please.

This has been so very bad.

West Ham should be furious that McAllister got away with that foul.

Now why have they had to wait to concede to actually have a go? Baffling.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by John Arne

West Ham should be furious that McAllister got away with that foul.

---

Absolutely. VAR should be able to go and chalk that off, but here we are.

Gateshead appear to have sorted out their form a little. Two wins on the bounce have given them a six point buffer in the play-off race. 4 games to go.

Straight red for Mbappe, and very well deserved, too.

View Tweet

Four prem league wins in a row for Wolves. First time ever.

Man united finishing 17th and qualifying for the CL :drool:

Didnt think Garnacho had an intelligent side footed finish in his locker.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Giggles

Out of the squad altogether is quite the jump.

---

To be fair I think it's almost more embarrassing for a dropped keeper to have to sit on the bench, probably better for all concerned that he's kept totally out of the limelight , rather than constantly having the camera pointed at him, the poor useless bastard.

Loooool. Must be the coaching.

Anthony Gordon looking like your Nan.

He's got Baz's problem of having a mop of hair far too big for his head.

He looks a bit like Mae Martin.

Newcastle getting top 5 this season could be the springboard they need to become a permanent fixture of the top 4/5, rather than relying on a bad season from one or several of the above.

The likes of your Isak, Tonali and Livramento would likely be top targets for some of the big boys if they dont. I can't see any moving if they do, unless a Barcelona/Madrid come in.

Are Forrest gonna bottle it?

Their GD is going to work against them I reckon. It's that tight, it could come down to an extra goal here or there in a win/loss.

The Run Ins

Forest
Spurs (a)
Brentford (h)
Palace (a)
Leicester (h)
West Ham (a)
Chelsea (h)

Newcastle
Palace (h)
Villa (a)
Ipswich (h)
Brighton (a)
Chelsea (h)
Arsenal (a)
Everton (h)

Massive City
Everton (a)
Villa (h)
Wolves (h)
Southampton (a)
Bournemouth (h)
Fulham (a)

Aston Villa
Newcastle (h)
Man City (a)
Fulham (h)
Bournemouth (a)
Spurs (h)
Man Utd (a)

Chelsea
Fulham (a)
Everton (h)
Liverpool (h)
Newcastle (a)
Man Utd (h)
Forest (a)

Everyone's going to drop points in that lot.

Newcastle and Man City absolutely piss it now

It was the battle of the potential Liverpool LB signings tonight. Not the greatest game but I feel like Kerkez is an absolute shoe-in. Robinson has been better but age and price are likely both higher for him.

If I was FSG and I'd surrendered to Michael Edwards whims to the point I'd promised to buy him another football club to keep him busy because I thought he was a data driven scout and he came to me with two left backs in in the same league that were also owned by billionaires. I think I'd be hovering over the mutual termination button.

Michael Edwards hasn't been in charge of transfers for several years at this point. He's off supposedly eyeing up Malaga if you believe the latest twitter talk.

Richard Hughes is the guy in charge of signings these days.

For a holiday, or to work for the club currently placed 17th in the segunda?

Probably holiday first, then to buy said club.

That's probably that for this tie then.

I can't believe we battered PSG last season. Almost did the double over them. Villa are just nowhere near them. I might have to revoke Luis Enrique's binman status.

Can't get the match anywhere, fuck Prime.

This Adeyemi has a big feel of a Theo Walcott.

Surely not.

That save was banging.

Villa to win it all?

I would rather win 3-2 and go out like this than on penalties to that fat wop.

Donnarumma keeping PSG in this. We're rampant. My heart is going mental.

Another two massive chances.

Gotta be an all-time HT team talk from Emery.

Fuufufukcfkkfkfkckkk.

What a block that was.

So unlucky to have that blocked. Best volley he'll ever hit.

Would have been an all timer that one.

Tiote vs Arsenal vibes that Maatsen shot. GAH. So close.

Imagine if Arsenal stuff this. The 'Mentality Midgets' lols would echo through eternity.

If Arsenal do not go through tonight Arteta should be sacked tomorrow.

I think they're fine though.

Newcastle turning up the heat in the Top 5 race. :cool:

This Saka lad looks decent. Can't believe Arsenal haven't played him more this season.

Hahahaha yasss.

Proper mong.

Get fucked Madrid.

He's going to miss.

Madrid's complex is something else. The way they carry on is nothing short of pathetic.

Gahahahahahahahahahaha.

Oh my fucking lord. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

This Saka lad looks decent. Can't believe Arsenal haven't played him more this season.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

Get fucked Madrid.

---

Sorry lads.

That was lol though.

Saka - Mentality Midget.

Ngl kinda want Madrid to win now for super salty lols.

That was never a penalty and lmao.

If Arsenal lose this now. :D

That's a war crime of a penalty.

That's even worse.

lol, that's never a penalty.

Plz plz plz score a Panenka.

Unreal dive :D

VAR dead or asleep?

This is weird. It cant be English refs.

Lol. Boo.

How did that take 5 minutes?

Barclays VAR.

Ref is gagging to give everything. Watch this Madrid diving get turned up to 11.

That was farcical.

I reckon Arsenal lose this due to comical pens but sneak through.

Real are looking piss poor.

Madrid look like a high class version of Ole Gunnar Binman United.

Why is Mbappe sitting deep whipping cross after cross.

I'd like to think this is a ploy to keep Eddie Howe in hospital with a heart attack.

Ref clearly is on the overs.

They're going to simp 5th if they get to the final and bottle that too.

Awww, I thought this was Harry Kane's year. :(

Whilst clearly a decent team, Madrid aren't what they used to be are they. Lacking that aura of making a team shit their pants.

Also amusing seeing Bellingham getting frustrated.

Playing long balls and crossing on sight is a very odd gameplan for Madrid against this Arsenal team.

Here comes the bottle job.

Please

lol.

:lol: Was coming on here to say that was a lovely Arsenal goal, and then they go do that.

lol at this crybaby thinking he deserves the golden ball.

Emphatic :cool:

Did they get the little white hankies out?

Good riddance. Hope their domestic season falls apart too.

Eze's penalty miss is quite amazing. All that time to think of something else and his brain just melts. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

Emphatic :cool:

---

:sick:

I think that's a really strong semi-final line-up. I can't pick a winner.

PSG for me Clive.

Got a sneaky Inter feeling.

Ancelotti had Everton at the top of the table in lockdown. Now he's lost so badly to Arsenal in the QF of a Champions League final.

Great manager, but that must be devastating to him.

Also, it's clear to see the top 3 will be Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle on current form.

4th and 5th is up for grabs. City, Forest, Villa and Chelsea.

I wonder if Carlo will continue on after this season. Great result for Arteta though, he could set himself up to take over at Real.

Surely not as a former Barca boy.

He wouldn't last two minutes there. Can you imagine all the prima donnas listening to Arteta's manlet sidekick trying to tell them how to line up at corners so they can overcome Alaves 1-0?

Yeah, actually would struggle to see him fit there. The only other place I can imagine him is at city.

Big Virg all signed up.

Hasn't his aura left the building?

He's still fairly irreplaceable even if he's on the downhill slope.

Still first name on the team sheet and deservingly so. Has more of a mistake in him now than when he first arrived but is still impossible to replace right now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

He's still fairly irreplaceable even if he's on the downhill slope.

---

Dean Huijsen.

He can replace Konate who'll be off for nothing next year.

Liverpool probably need another centre half.

View Tweet

3-0 up and at home to some absolute diddies and you play this team. Academy players all around the club should refuse to sign any contract. What a disgrace

He’s genuinely made Reece James 3rd choice right back and 3rd choice option in CM. Starts both conference league games and will not play a minute in the PL games.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

He can replace Konate who'll be off for nothing next year.

Liverpool probably need another centre half.

---

Yeah I don't think Liverpool fans have realised just how lucky they are he can play every minute of every game. Joe Gomez is alright for a short run, but beyond that, Quansah? I think whoever pays £20-40m for him this summer might regret that decision.

After Trent, I've got Quansah, Endo, Nunez, Diaz and Tsimikas as nailed on leavers.

To me that would leave us needing a starting LB(Kerkez seems a shoe in), another first team CB. A RB, though if we want a backup to Bradley or a starter to replace him is unclear. Bajcetic should cover Endo going out. Potentially a forward type winger. And lastly an actual centre forward.

Assuming they buy in first teamers in all of those positions, it could be quite the expensive summer. I note that in VVDs contract promo, he has been told by the club it will be a BIG summer. Maybe they're putting hands in pockets.

We're winning the bastard cup.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

Maybe I'm wrong but it genuinely feels like it's been months since we scored just a normal, well-worked, open play goal.

---

They were go.

It's likely been gone over to death already, but would United/Spurs(lol) winning this add a 6th CL place for England or would 5th place be in the mud?

There would be 6 teams in the CL.

Man Utd shithousing their way to this trophy and qualifying for the Champions League would be genuinely hilarious.

That would have been incredible had it gone in.

Fuck, that would've been goal of the decade.

Okay, straw pole (lol, I meant poll) time: What would be the funnier outcome? United or Spurs in the Champions League?

The caveat we need to know for that is, does Ange keep his job if he wins this?

If so, Spurs.

Are the semis for this already drawn? United v Spurs final would be hilarious. Haven't Spurs pants-downed them twice this season? Nailed on bottle job, or could Spurs AND Newcastle both win a trophy in the same season?

Tebas will lose his mind if The Premier League has six entrants into the Champions League. Make it so. [/Picard]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Are the semis for this already drawn? United v Spurs final would be hilarious. Haven't Spurs pants-downed them twice this season? Nailed on bottle job, or could Spurs AND Newcastle both win a trophy in the same season?

---

Yes and that final is ON.

That's a Faustian gamble I'd watch play out. Lifetime Spurs manager.

Yoro with a cracking Phil Jones impersonation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

Yeah I don't think Liverpool fans have realised just how lucky they are he can play every minute of every game. Joe Gomez is alright for a short run, but beyond that, Quansah? I think whoever pays £20-40m for him this summer might regret that decision.

After Trent, I've got Quansah, Endo, Nunez, Diaz and Tsimikas as nailed on leavers.

To me that would leave us needing a starting LB(Kerkez seems a shoe in), another first team CB. A RB, though if we want a backup to Bradley or a starter to replace him is unclear. Bajcetic should cover Endo going out. Potentially a forward type winger. And lastly an actual centre forward.

Assuming they buy in first teamers in all of those positions, it could be quite the expensive summer. I note that in VVDs contract promo, he has been told by the club it will be a BIG summer. Maybe they're putting hands in pockets.

---

Not sure on Endo and Diaz leaving. Think they'll stay. Would love to see Nunez move on.

And whilst it's good news re VVD and Salah, replacements are still needed for them on the short term due to their age.

Re Bajcetic, is he any good, and where is he?

We've been so shit the last 10-15 minutes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dquincy

Not sure on Endo and Diaz leaving. Think they'll stay. Would love to see Nunez move on.

And whilst it's good news re VVD and Salah, replacements are still needed for them on the short term due to their age.

Re Bajcetic, is he any good, and where is he?

---

I think this is a 2 year cushion to find the right players to replace. I could even see VVD staying longer to transition into a coach.

As for Bajcetic, I've no idea. He originally went to Salzburg to play with Pep. But it caused a revolt that he kept picking his Liverpool boys and he got sacked when results didnt go his way. So they cut that loan short and he's at Las Palmas.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

We've been so shit the last 10-15 minutes.

---

Replace "minutes" with "years",

Oh dear, oh dear.

:D

Hahahahahahaaaaaa.

Never wanted the trophy anyway, concentrating on the league.

Time to predict the tabloid headlines. I'm going with Lyon-gone.

Which member(s) of the ground, canteen or stadium staff are getting laid off to cover this then?

You stupid fat fuck.

The first time Chelsea have ever lost at home in Europe outside of the Champions League. Enzo Maresca.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

Yes and that final is ON.

---

:harold:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bam

:harold:

---

I meant in terms of the draw.

Oh hello.

That should have been another pen.

:drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:

That's such a class finish.

This has been very entertaining to the neutral.

What's happening lol.

Holy fucking shit.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bam

:harold:

---

:harold:

Lay offs avoided for another week.

This is madness.

French surrender. :D

What's happening at Lazio as well, Jesus Christ.

Vive la France

Absolute cinema.

Maguire genuinely looks far more competent as a centre forward than the other actual forwards they have.

Football, bloody hell.

Bring it Chelsea.

That united game was quality, I love when it's just total chaos like that.

Last night was ridiculous. I did not see any hope at 4-2. Football, what a game.

Mad from United because that first 20 minutes or so of extra-time then it was almost as if a switch flicked in their head realised Lyon only had ten men and weren’t very good and just went for their throat.

Oh and Ferdinand is insufferable as a commentator.

lol at the reports that loads of people left at 4-2 to Lyon.

:face:

I also rather assumed United were going to play the odd named Scandis due to them being the last 2 games listed [I thought they were listed in 'bracket' order] but I see that isn't the case.

Final at the San Mames as well. Yikes. Probably better to try and get Bilbao out of the way over two legs I guess.

Very funny that Bodo and/or Glimt beat Lazio on penalties.

Spurs v United final would be hilarious. Sorry, Tottenham v United. I'm fighting The Man.

Pompey & Norwich doing their best to match the United/Lyon game this afternoon. Think that pretty much does the job, but could be confirmed on Monday.

Watford had two lads sent off today & they’ll hopefully be on holiday now, so fingers crossed we can get it done & relax for the final two games.

Gateshead's play-off hopes took another dent after a routine 3-1 loss to York. 3 points ahead of the rest with 4 games left. Monday sees them travel to Hartlepool.

Also, Burnley's hopes of being the best defence in English history is gone. On the cusp of going up but I sense the Premier League might make that lot look ordinary.

Ordinary? They're the worst football team I've ever seen. Absolute garbage. Torture ball.

Took my youngers to the Stoke game today. Highlight of the game being the Wednesday keeper routinely catching a long throw, before hammering it into the arse of a Stoke player trying to play a quick kick up and the ball falling back into his own net.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

Took my youngers to the Stoke game today. Highlight of the game being the Wednesday keeper routinely catching a long throw, before hammering it into the arse of a Stoke player trying to play a quick kick up and the ball falling back into his own net.

---

:D

https://streamin.me/v/0fb73c33

Glad to see long throws back in vogue at the 365. Football eritage.

The lad was struggling to get it into the box most times. They did however take several short corners and I couldn't believe my eyes.

The keeper had a right whinge at the ref after he did it, but even if the Stoke lad doesn't jump he's hitting him square in the back with it. No sympathy from me.

Please tell me the Newcastle badge isn't genuine.

The weird all-black one? I don't like it.

Well that certainly livens up the top 5 fight.

Yep. This was the match I feared the most but we've got Ipswich next.

Phwoaarrrrr.

It's also took us out of the title race. Gosh darn you, Villains.

Man City, Newcastle and Villa it is.

I’m not even sure maresca is going to get near Pochettino’s points total and that tit conceded 2+ goals a game on average and had a genuine injury crisis 90% of the season

I'm green with envy over your Conference League run. Seriously, I'd love us to be in that. A European trophy we could actually win.

It’s a shame he’ll lose the final as would have been quite nice to be the only team to hold every possible trophy and complete the set

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shindig

I'm green with envy over your Conference League run. Seriously, I'd love us to be in that. A European trophy we could actually win.

---

I reckon Newcastle would have a good shot at the Europa League, should they miss the top 5.

Nice to see Potter continue to prove how utterly useless he is as a manager

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Nice to see Potter continue to prove how utterly useless he is as a manager

---

Could never understand why West Ham fans gave Moyes such a hard time. Mental really. He delivered them their first European trophy since 1965 but it still wasn't enough.

You get what you deserve when you think the grass is greener.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gray Fox

I reckon Newcastle would have a good shot at the Europa League, should they miss the top 5.

---

Especially in it's current format without the drop downs. The corpse of Eddie Howe should be winning it.

It would be better not to win the Conference League so we can get back into it next season.

Chelsea will be fine, especially if they end up playing Fiorentina, who are destined to complete a hat trick of European final defeats.

This Chelsea side are completely broken. Manager has lost the dressing room and the only surprise is that it took this long

Some stretch calling that mess a dressing room. More of a waiting room.

Think it'd be about 6-0 if Saka could hit the target.

If 8th is going to be enough to get you some kind of European football, Brighton have picked a bad time to shit the bed.

Only side in the league not to win away from home in 2025. Looking like another without a goal. He genuinely should never get another job in management

It’s funny because you can pinpoint when it all went to shit. He started playing palmer down the left channel in December and he’s scored once since then and looked very ordinary. It would be like moving Salah to the left and telling him to create

At least you've got a nice easy run in.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Only side in the league not to win away from home in 2025. Looking like another without a goal. He genuinely should never get another job in management

---

He is, as we all said at the time, just another shit Guardiola clone. Complete one trick pony, and that trick is having a fresh squad in September. We should hire the guy in the other dugout.

And for all that we're still 16 points ahead of the Manchester United club and 17 of Haringey Totspurs.

Wolves who were absolutely going down quite a bit in to the season. Crazy.

4 more years for Maresca.

Why only 4? Let's make it 8. Genius manager.

That’s a ridiculous goal from start to finish

Forest suddenly outside of the top 5. How's your bottle lads?

Utterly pointless game of Barclays coming up from Leicester. Hopefully there's a few goals to look at.

Man Red is now level on points with Merseyside Blue.

Cobham saving another Chelsea manager. Be sold in the summer

Think that probably wraps up top seven, which will in turn force them to sign more shite players from Ligue 2 and Brazil in the summer to replace the homegrown ones they'll sell.

Checking the table and Wolves, Everton, Man Utd and Spurs all with 38 points with 33 games gone is a brilliant.

Slapping Man Red up quick. One of my friends has a shared season ticket with Man Utd. First time he has held one. Out of all the homes games he has been too, i have been keeping track. He has seen them win four times including cup games

It's must be annoying as a Wolves fan to see them get their act together way too late in a season.

They only beat another relegation rival.

On second thought, their last five wins have been the teams around them. What a rotten league. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shindig

It's must be annoying as a Wolves fan to see them get their act together way too late in a season.

---

I thought this would be relegation for them and if it wasnt for the promoted teams being so bad, it could have been different. Those two January signings in Munetsi and Agbadou have been great. The form they are in, is based on teams in the bottom half. But still...

Cunha and Strand Larsen have goals in them. Sometimes.

It had to be him.

Thats a very passionate celebration too.

For anyone who likes stats. A sky sports piece on how bad Man Utd's season has been this year under Amorin. The question, is he turning an oil tanker or is he actually making them worse?

https://www.skysports.com/share/13352668

:drool:

Now let's see how the worst game in the world pans out at dinner time.

Stoke are bobbins. This could be a massacre.

Lol. Scored 2 more since that post.

Spikey, start getting your hopes up. Gateshead are 2-1 down at Hartlepool.

Anyone watching the turdball derby? No?

That's us up as it stands. :happycry:

We lost 3-1 at Plymouth, but thankfully both Middlesbrough and Bristol decided to join us by also losing so nobody gained ground. When we've been that shit and still somehow got away with it, could be our year.

Can the Premier League do some kind of vote to stop these two coming up? Give us a Bristol v Coventry play off final please.

Having Leeds, Burnley and Sheffield United all come straight back up, to likely all go straight back down again, should raise some huge questions that the authorities will need to address rather quickly. The disparity is ridiculous and only getting bigger.

They'll answer it by having a breakaway 18 team league and play the opening round in Dallas.

I'm not sure we'll necessarily see a more feckless promoted trio than we've had this season.

At least 1 to stay up next season.

Whilst likely an uphill struggle, an 'ideology' like Burnley's is more likely to succeed than the just the way we play mate shite that we've had this year.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ben

Having Leeds, Burnley and Sheffield United all come straight back up, to likely all go straight back down again, should raise some huge questions that the authorities will need to address rather quickly. The disparity is ridiculous and only getting bigger.

---

In fairness I'm not sure we will and I'm sure Churnley could shit out enough 0-0 draws to just stay up. Whoever else comes up though, Jesus. Will be worse than Southampton.

I think two of the sides were just playing for the parachute payments this season. Leicester were just massive disappointments.

Getting tasty at Turf Moor.

Not sure if the deflection's made Vicario look a bit of a mug there or if he really should have saved it. I think the latter maybe.

Another fluke helping out Forest. They’ve been ridiculously lucky all season. XG have them in 14th ffs

To think, Ange was giving it the big 'un after they won their Europa tie.

If [when] Chelsea win the Conference League, does the league get another European place?

Only if they miss out on a Europa League spot.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

If [when] Chelsea win the Conference League, does the league get another European place?

---

https://t.co/83awhMEHYH

Confusing.

Didn't realise winning the league cup dumped you into the conference.

All aboard Chelsea 8th by the looks of it.

If Leeds had beaten Southampton in the play-off final last season, Spurs and United could legitimately be in a relegation battle.

They will be next year. :)

Someone's set the 'VAR hub' at Stockley Park on fire. :drool:

This Tottenham side is laughably bad.

@Magic, thank fuck that is out of the way. I couldn't have done with another week of fixating on it.

It's weird, the last time it happened it was just complete adulation. This time, as much as I'm aware it makes me sound like a completely entitled tosser, it's more just a sort of relief that they have managed to successfully achieve the minimum I expected of them.

It will be interesting to see what happens in the summer. Despite being, on our day, comfortably the best team in that division (I think) there is a shit load of work to do on that squad to make it Premier League worthy I think.

Bamford will be rubbing his hands together, back on that 70 grand a week (or whatever the fuck we gave him) Premier League money for the last year of his contract. Who knows, maybe he will lead the line, we'll qualify for Europe and he'll fire England to World Cup glory the following summer.

I think double relegation, -25, Krasner Co, Bates, Cellini, Radz, Steve Evans, Steve Hockaday, Eunan O Kane, fuck it's too late but I could take PARAGRAPHS on why last time will never be beaten in terms of joy.

Dave Hockaday. Paul Heckaday.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Another fluke helping out Forest. They’ve been ridiculously lucky all season. XG have them in 14th ffs

---

You make your own luck by being hard to beat. Something Spurs could learn a lesson from.

But just remember, with Sky Sports and Fifa kids it's all about xG. Spurs win that cup, at least.

For the others at the top, it's about the aG (actual games won).

Love this, has layers. IYKYK

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHs4g...M1YnlsaWVzM3Nv

Checking out that leeds team, I can see that Gnonto is still playing for them. Didnt he cry when they got relegated but they managed to keep hold of him.

Cunha to United is looking pretty ON.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SincereTheRebel

Checking out that leeds team, I can see that Gnonto is still playing for them. Didnt he cry when they got relegated but they managed to keep hold of him.

---

Yeah, he's nowhere near the supposed £30m that was offered for him. He's a good player but incredibly inconsistent and shite at decision making.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

Cunha to United is looking pretty ON.

---

The thing about that BBC puff piece that struck me was it suggested he would play as one of the two tens or whatever they are, which is all well and good but don't United also need a striker [$$$$] apparently a goalkeeper and probably a midfielder? That could be costly on top of £60m for Cunha.

I wonder if his madman reputation, or his character generally if it is known, will deter the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, who you would think he could do a job for and who should both be in the market for a centre forward.

I see Nunez has been banished for clause related reasons, in addition to being shit related reasons. lol

He'll play as the left 10 as he has for Wolves in the same formation.

We're reportedly going to also trigger Delap's release clause. Because dumping the responsibility of being our only useful striker on a young player making the step up has worked so well before.

Liam Delolp

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ben

Having Leeds, Burnley and Sheffield United all come straight back up, to likely all go straight back down again, should raise some huge questions that the authorities will need to address rather quickly. The disparity is ridiculous and only getting bigger.

---

In the last 5 years, 15 teams have been promoted from the Championship, of which 8 went back down the following year.

That's not a terrible return at all. Especially when you look at the likes of Forest and Bournemouth.

I've only been dipping in and out of this, but Villa's playing out from the back has been horrific.

View Tweet

Maguire and Saka. :D

City have scored a lot of late goals this season to gain points which makes it all a bit mental that they’ve only just got past the 60 point barrier.

Aston Villa have single handedly made the top 5 more open with their wins over Forest and Newcastle but that could be the dagger for them as their GD is so bad compared to everyone else

Have you run that through AI?

:D

Rumbled

View Tweet

Game's gone.

Obsession with stats is why no player has got any football intelligence anymore. Just the ethos burned into them and they freeze when something doesn't go as expected.

Imagine Okocha not knowing what to do with the ball because the opposition had decided to abandon the high press on him.

This is why I adore Marc Marquez. In such a data driven world he's so unique and good that his data is essentially useless and doesn't make sense to anyone.

Please football be like this. Make it not make sense.

I mean we just had 20 years of Messi and Ronaldo "not making sense", no?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by randomlegend

I mean we just had 20 years of Messi and Ronaldo "not making sense", no?

---

I said football not aliens. These guys are generational exceptions to the rule which absolutely sucks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Magic

I said football not aliens. These guys are generational exceptions to the rule which absolutely sucks.

---

Perhaps I'm completely getting the wrong end of the stick here, but I had no idea who Marc Marquez is so I googled and he appears to be a MotoGP rider who is smashing everyone.

Is he not basically to MotoGP what Messi and Ronaldo were to football for the last 20 years?

Yes, that's the right end of the stick.

What I'm saying is DATA is dictating behavior not just of individuals but teams, against intuition, feel etc. And the only way to go against it is to be a once in a generation monster.

That's not right.

What we're missing out on in this era is precisely the Jay Jay Okocha type people who are not the best player in history, and also not in any way optimised footballers, but bring huge joy to everyone.

I can barely think of a single example from the current game. That lad at Newcastle was one (Saint-Maximin) and he got binned off rapidly and is now stinking out Turkey or Saudi Arabia or something, probably within a 'system'.

Eze is probably the highest profile I can think of that has not been forced into playing The System.

Eden Hazard :cool:

Cole Palmer has shown signs of being one and his dip in form since Christmas is basically a result of a systems manager wanting him to operate within a system.

Maybe PSG can flip the script if they win the Champions League, although more likely we'll be treated to an Arsenal Inter deathfest final.

Adama before ham strings of ham collapsed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...s/cgm843zwj08o

Surely this will be entertaining.

Are Brazil the biggest victims of the systemball era? They appear to have completely lost that thing that made them so unique / good. Imagine remaking the airport ad now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Are Brazil the biggest victims of the systemball era? They appear to have completely lost that thing that made them so unique / good. Imagine remaking the airport ad now.

---

It'd be 45 minutes of the most efficient way through baggage checks backed up by real-time graphs.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd

What we're missing out on in this era is precisely the Jay Jay Okocha type people who are not the best player in history, and also not in any way optimised footballers, but bring huge joy to everyone.

I can barely think of a single example from the current game. That lad at Newcastle was one (Saint-Maximin) and he got binned off rapidly and is now stinking out Turkey or Saudi Arabia or something, probably within a 'system'.

---

The most hilariously ironic thing is he did it under the guise of the original terrorball king.

That is why Cuauhtemoc Blanco will always be my GOAT. He moved everywhere on the front in a true 'free role,' spraying through balls every ten seconds. Was so good to watch in a way that Haaland or whoever the modern striker is running fast and pressing all day just isn't.

Nowadays he would be told that his through balls only have a 12.1674% success rate and therefore should pass it back to the keeper instead.

Blanco's xG was terrible. Bad bad player.

I think there's definitely a bit of rose tinted revisionism going on, which I fully support.

Football is probably 'objectively' better / more exciting / whatever now than it has ever been, but all that tells you is that objective methods aren't necessarily applicable to fan experience in the same way they are to analytics or whatever it is that drives the modern game.

Zidane always trikes me as the man standing against the modern understanding of football. I bet his 'stats' were shite.

Better? Probably, yes.

More exciting? Fuck, no.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ben

Better? Probably, yes.

More exciting? Fuck, no.

---

Whilst I agree, you also have to admit that things like Champions League knock out games have become much more likely to be belters than they used to be. Two 5-4s or whatever it was last week, for example.

I think a lot of it, in the league in particular, is a manifestation of what OG stats wankers the Reason England Lose book people said in that people think they want an even playing field but really they crave a rigid hierarchy - a world where everyone beats Man United has lost all meaning for an entire generation of fans.

Definitely rose tinted glasses for me. The late nineties early 2000s Mexican league was mainly terrible games of people barely moving and failing to string three passes together. Yet in that sea of shite, there was a uniqueness to certain players/teams that felt special.

The Champions League knockouts are the best of the best teams, where you're most likely to get a stat buster. Cristiano Ronaldo for instance makes xG look stupid. He scored far more goals than the computer said he should.

Week-to-week Premier League is utterly dull. Goals don't necessarily correlate to excitement. Brentford and Brighton are two teams that leap to my mind when I think of what is making football robotic. Yes, they score goals, but you can see goals at any level. On the other hand you've got Nottingham Forest, who people say are long ball, but they aren't, they just don't commit to every trope that has been born out of data. xG saying they should be bottom half says more about xG as a concept than it does Forest.

I've been watching Brighton for nigh on 20 years now and can assure you that whilst they are now frustrating to watch from time to time, they are considerably better both in terms of results and entertainment provided than they have ever been, which is what makes their hysterical fans chanting that the manager doesn't know what he is doing and that Bloom needs to go all the more lolworthy.

It's much like say Formula 1 in that the cars now are undoubtedly 'better' than the ones in the 90s, but it's worse to watch them race. The interests of business and the interests of fans stand at complete opposites when it comes to sport.

Fans want flawed geniuses, business wants reliable and predictable revenue-generating machines.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ben

The Champions League knockouts are the best of the best teams, where you're most likely to get a stat buster. Cristiano Ronaldo for instance makes xG look stupid. He scored far more goals than the computer said he should.

Week-to-week Premier League is utterly dull. Goals don't necessarily correlate to excitement. Brentford and Brighton are two teams that leap to my mind when I think of what is making football robotic. Yes, they score goals, but you can see goals at any level. On the other hand you've got Nottingham Forest, who people say are long ball, but they aren't, they just don't commit to every trope that has been born out of data. xG saying they should be bottom half says more about xG as a concept than it does Forest.

---

This in an absolute nutshell. In fact aren't the CL games the most exciting they've ever been?

I don't think I've ever seen a keeper crash into the outside of the their net attempting a save.

:D

View Tweet

:D

That's really tickled me :D

Wimmin

The best bit about the last one [aside from obvious match fixing] is that the forward completely shanks it and almost misses.

Unbelievably if you go into the thread there are even more absurd ones.

Real Madrid have gone full tin foil hat ahead of the Copa del Rey final.

They don't like the referee chosen for it and wanted him removed. Yesterday on their official TV channel they showed a video package of all mistakes made by said referee in his career.
Today they're demanding he and the VAR is changed for the final or they wont play it.

Call their bluff please. Football would be better without them.

I swear until relatively recently Madrid had a bit of class about them but over the last few years they've turned into properly pathetic cunts. Am I right, and if so, what's been the catalyst for it?

Uncle Flo.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yevrah

I swear until relatively recently Madrid had a bit of class about them but over the last few years they've turned into properly pathetic cunts. Am I right, and if so, what's been the catalyst for it?

---

They discussed this exact point this week on 'Libero' podcast and the answer they came up with was Mourinho.

Real Madrid never had any class about them. They were just thankfully irrelevant for 15 years around the formative years for football.

They are, and always have been, the absolute worst of everything.

There's hardly any mavericks anymore. It's what I used to enjoy about football in the past. Cantona. Baggio. Le Tissier. Gazza. Zola. Maradona. Going further back, George Best, Stan Bowles, Rodney Marsh.

Now it's all data driven and ironically enough everything is more rigid based on that. Overanalysed nonsense. Tika-taka and playing out from the back. If you don't play that way, you get criticised. Even though you lose playing that way like Southampton, who don't have the players to carry it out.

I look at football from 20 years ago and it's unrecognisable to what today's football is. That's why I'm happy with what Forest are doing which is being brave and going against the grain.

Sticking 2 fingers up to the establishment and finding a different way to win.

Al Hilal just beat Gwangju 7-0 in the Champions League quarter final :face:

Sounds like Gwangju need to start playing out from the back.

You jest but I have seen local Sunday league teams doing it as I walk my dog, it is a disease.

I watch a lot of quite poor Sunday League stuff from my balcony, and in these parts at least there is still no answer to the long straight ball. Each team usually has one bloke in the middle who looks like he has played a bit and can knock it about even on the crapper iterations of the pitch, but if you just twat it over his head and have a bent linesman at that end of the pitch then you have nothing to worry about. They probably should have tried that against Xavi, come to think of it.

You guessed it, Maresca refuses to play Reece James yet again and instead opts to play his best midfielder there. I hate this guy

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

instead opts to play his best midfielder there

---

Bet he's delighted his superstar advisers got him that 8 year deal on comparatively shit wages.

Boyhood club init.

Lavia is just a stupidly good player. Shame that like Fofana and James he’s made of cardboard.

Pickford makes a couple of unreal saves a game.

Anything other than a Hull win at the bottom of the Championship today sets the final day up for some top notch drama.

It does look like Coventry may have fucked it though.

Brad Collins does it again. The only surprise is that he had a good 90 minutes first.

Wasn't expecting Ipswich to be this difficult a fixture. :moop:

Konsa outrageously lucky to get away with that. Never a foul.

"STICK TO THE PLAN!" bellowing out of one of the Palace lads :D Ten Hag has ruined that phrase for me.

Had a post all cued up about five minutes ago saying how I'd never really thought of Mateta as much more than a lunk, but he's much better than that.

Subconscious jinx.

Still prefer that to Eze's daft effort against us.

That might actually be game. Villa look shook.

We've been shite. Way too careless all game.

Gateshead lost another game today, Spikey's lads are in a play-off spot.

Graham potter :chortle:

Somebody fetch the white handkerchiefs.

:drool:

Rudiger facing a lengthy ban for throwing an ice cube at the ref. :lol:

Vasquez and Bellingham also sent off for being dickheads. They're such an entitled bunch of cunts. Being there is going to ruin Bellingham as a player unless he can somehow reign in his inner twat. You can already see it has changed the way he plays / acts for England.

It looks like Bellingham spat at the ref, which if he did, deserves a minimum 5 game ban. The dirty cunt.

Why did they move today's FA Cup semi-final ahead 45 minutes so that it coincides precisely with Liverpool against Spurs?

Because nobody needs to watch Liverpool make Ange cry.

That flick by Evanilson was brilliant.

Getting sent off for slipping is amazing

Thought he was offside live. Which would be pretty apt for Hojlund.

The Streak is dead :cool:

"I don't think any body should criticise City for not selling out their allocation"

:harold:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Getting sent off for slipping is amazing

---

Has everyone had a collective head loss? It's a straight red.

That's not supposed to happen.

Why is Diaz even marking him? Reminiscent of Mac Allister vs Burn against Newcastle.

What a bargain this lad is.

Forest look like they haven't turned up yet.

Nice goal, shame about the t-shirt.

I know that we know this, but Spurs are honking.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry

"I don't think any body should criticise City for not selling out their allocation"

:harold:

---

He’s not wrong. Semi finals should not be held at Wembley. City have been there about 30 times in the last 15 years

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kikó

Has everyone had a collective head loss? It's a straight red.

---

Is this Lewis or Kiko

Red army!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

He’s not wrong. Semi finals should not be held at Wembley. City have been there about 30 times in the last 15 years

---

I agree. Slap it in a neutral league ground like the good old days.

Surely they've paid Wembley off by now, wasn't that the original excuse?

It's obviously not the same state of affairs, but the trying to get Salah a goal thing is reminiscent of the dying days of Fernando Torres.

Hopefully the start of Forest’s downfall now. Disgusting anti football brigade

Cut to the sporting director in the crowd, I mean, I'm sure he does a good job and all but surely his input into this has been absolutely minimal? Was he even part of the appointment of Slot? I assumed it was just for a bit of decolletage.

The tits on the woman behind Richard Hughes. Stupendous.

You can't play football like this Spurs.

Bodo and/or Glimt are 10/1 to defeat this mob on Thursday.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Cut to the sporting director in the crowd, I mean, I'm sure he does a good job and all but surely his input into this has been absolutely minimal? Was he even part of the appointment of Slot? I assumed it was just for a bit of decolletage.

---

He appointed Slot, signed Chiesa and renewed the two deals recently.

Nothing other than that.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

Hopefully the start of Forest’s downfall now. Disgusting anti football brigade

---

Buying Anderson back when they need to balance PSR. :drool:

That Salah selfie happened to have been a Google Pixel... official sponsor of Liverpool Football Club :sherlock:

How have Spurts got a positive goal difference?

Hold on... no trophy today? Is that normal?

You get the trophy on your final home game of the season, or if you win it after, whichever away game you have.

Really? Surely it should have been on a helicopter? When are they going to get it? Please say at Stamford Bridge or at home to Arsenal. Bleh.

Palace at home last day.

Oh Darwin. :face:

He'll be mega wherever he goes [unless it's Saudi which I guess it probably will be]. Liverpool / having to pass the ball to Salah has broken him.

That'll do. Alisson, Mac Allister, Gravenberch and Salah immense all season.

One kiss is all it takes.

Federico Chiesa, Premier League winner.

They should never have done away with the rule you had to play however many games it was.

Didn't Arsenal have to hurriedly sub on Tony Adams at the end of games in the early 00's for a medal?

33 Premier League minutes is a bit sad. I like him but I don't know how he can break into this side.

Get Klopp back for the final home game and have him present the medals. Someone cutting giant onions.

Chiesa only needs one more appearance.

Walking down to Anfield now. Champions!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kikó

Has everyone had a collective head loss? It's a straight red.

---

This is just wrong.

Not at all dangerous. The slip isn't completely exculpatory, but the pace it all happens at and the nature of the contact makes it not at all dangerous. Maybe if the high foot makes contact [probably not] or moreso if the left one goes into a standing foot, which it didn't, but it can be a difficult situation if you start making outcome based decisions, I guess. Harsh one to be upgrading when Tarkowski style challenges have been waved through.

I guess the answer is yes. Collective head loss.

Freeze frame folly.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kikó

I guess the answer is yes. Collective head loss.

---

No way you'd be saying this if it wasn't against your beloved United.

The Adams one was more borderline.

It's a blatant red.

Some ruined childhoods really coming out here.

Standard borderline red for me Clive. If it had been given as a red no way was it getting overturned, I personally thought it was a red when I saw it as slipping is no defence as we have been told on numerous occasions but you will see worse challenges go unpunished through a season and plenty of challenges which aren't as bad get given as reds too.

All we can really hope for is that this decision doesn't make too much difference in the chase for 13th, as this positive result has enabled Manchester Red to to gain a slight advantage on their nearest rivals.

You're a moron if you can't see what the decision should have been (I've not seen it, so I'm excused).

I can understand the argument he slipped and there's no intent but unfortunately he nearly took his knee and ankle out. I don't really see why it's so controversial.

I also didn't really see any issue with the first tackle. It's a proper football tackle.

Far more likely to do damage to someone going in with that level of force than at zero miles an hour and 'nearly' taking out various body parts.

Just felt a bit like the ones we were getting around the Jones one last season, where if you could pause the image in a bad way you were getting done [and you can freeze that one to make it look like he's about to kill him], but I thought things had moved on from that, particularly with the elusive 'high bar'.

Quote:

---

“Reckless” means that the player has acted with complete disregard to the
danger to, or consequences for, his opponent.
• A player who plays in a reckless manner must be cautioned
“Using excessive force” means that the player has far exceeded the necessary
use of force and is in danger of injuring his opponent.
• A player who uses excessive force must be sent off

---

Reckless for me and I don't think it meets the serious foul play add-on as that also requires "excessive force and endangering the safety of an opponent"

Someone put a video up so I can make the final decision and put this to bed.

Dunno how to link to the clip, but the MotD2 discussion of it is in here.

View Tweet

Yellow at worst

Man tackled him using his batty crease

VAR intervention is completely unnecessary.

You could argue it either way. Probably looks much worse in slow motion / freeze frame than it actually was.

Looked much worse at full speed actually

Somewhat inspired by a curiosity as to how City and Liverpool compare over the last 7 seasons [599 v 588] I came across this site.

I've no idea how accurate it is. Liverpool just 8 points back from United on the all time table, although seem to have more wins, more draws and fewer losses from fewer games played, so I guess the two points for a win era may be having an impact there. Comfortably in front on the all time top-division table. They define this century as having started on 1/1/2001, is that normal? Did we all get the millennium wrong?

Did we have a predictions thread? We be amusing to see how wrong we all were.

Yes everyone did get the millennium wrong.

Yeah, I found that out yesterday. Consider that the first year of history counts as 01/01/01. It makes 100% sense and I feel stupider for knowing.

First year of history might be a bit strong, but I assume there was no year 0 and we went from 1BC to 1AD. Feels like some sort of clerical error.

I see if you want to make a similar sort of error in your own life you can buy a £150 Liverpool CHAMPIONS! replica kit. Crazy.

We got the millennium right. We read left to right and the left number changed on 1 Jan 2000. Who cares if there was a year 0 or not.

If there was no Jan 1st '0 - 31st Dec '0, then 1/1/2000 would have been 1,999 years, no?

Hmmm ... that Liverpool replica kit or £150 for tickets to our pre-season Japan games ....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by John Arne

If there was no Jan 1st '0 - 31st Dec '0, then 1/1/2000 would have been 1,999 years, no?

---

Close enough.

God, this brings back memories of all the dribblesome bores at the time who would continually point out that we had the year wrong.

Y2K :drool:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

I see if you want to make a similar sort of error in your own life you can buy a £150 Liverpool CHAMPIONS! replica kit. Crazy.

---

Luckily my mate in China can get me one for a tenth of the price.

Yeah £12 on DHGate, went up yesterday.

Also turns out I was a smart lad and booked up all of the bank holidays, so I have the parade off. It is in half term though, so trying to wrangle it kid free is the next issue.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yevrah

God, this brings back memories of all the dribblesome bores at the time who would continually point out that we had the year wrong.

---

My father would tell anyone that would listen that the whole 'when does it really start' discussion was manufactured by big tourism so that they could sell you new millennium cruises two years in a row.

Mathematical pedantry aside, it makes more sense to celebrate in 2000.

I broke my IPTV so will miss the game tonight. Fucking cunt.

What kind of savage doesn't have Amazon Prime in this day and age?

<puts hand up>

Watching footy is low on my priorities, to be honest. Free to air stuff or youtube is enough for me. And I barely use Amazon for purchases.

Just create an Amazon account and use the trial and cancel after the match

They show football in Amazon? Didn't know that.

I know it’s midweek, but it’s 15 minutes before kick off on their biggest game of the season and there’s no cunt in the ground.

I hate Trossard upfront. Never works. Would have preferred Timber on the left and Skelly in midfield.

A minute's silence for the Pope. Game's gone.

bet UEFA were pumped that Rangers got knocked out last round.

That’s not fun.

That was the sort of deceptively good goal that English teams used to concede twenty-five years ago.

How has their best player got 5 yards of space there.

Mentality Midgets.

In all seriousness though and I say it every time I see him but what fucking player Kvaratskehlia is.

As for Arsenal a lot of people have been harping back to beating them earlier in the season but he makes a massive difference to them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Luke Emia

In all seriousness though and I say it every time I see him but what fucking player Kvaratskehlia is.

As for Arsenal a lot of people have been harping back to beating them earlier in the season but he makes a massive difference to them.

---

We’ve been crying out for a left winger and seeing the transfer fee and the dad being the agent I can only presume a mighty bung got the deal over the line.

Superb save, not sure how the follow up has stayed out.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Superb save, not sure how the follow up has stayed out.

---

Was offside.

These guys are better than us. Not even sure what they can do to switch it up either.

Arsenal are always such a bunch of cheating, detestable cunts.

Going down screaming and grabbing his knee there :D

That Saka foul is a disgrace.

Martinellis finishing. Similarly disgraceful.

Martinelli is so overrated. He must score there.

I’m not sure what the thought is from the outside vis a vis ratedness. Imo he’s a better version of Adama Traore.

This is what football is all about. Agonizing waits. Looked off to me.

Is it a shite game lads. Please.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

This is what football is all about. Agonizing waits. Looked off to me.

---

Not sure what the delay was. He always looked off and that automated shot had him a good half yard

Would have been the most Arsenal goal ever, the disgusting bastards

When step 1 is to be massively offside you’d think step 2 would be to make sure you’re onside.

That’s a stunning save. He’s decided he’s not going to be an absolute mong the last couple games it seems

It’s not that great a save. Have we considered maybe aiming above the floor?

Mikel Merino has an extraordinarily long neck.

Martinelli, in addition to being shite, is such a fanny. Completely bottled that interception on Doué that he was huge favourite to win. Arteta needs to get him off.

At first I thought it was standard Wafflez hyperbole, but this Doué lad is pretty special.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ben

Martinelli, in addition to being shite, is such a fanny. Completely bottled that interception on Doué that he was huge favourite to win. Arteta needs to get him off.

---

Sadly think he got Oxlade Chamberlained on that front. Did his knee in a 50/50 and was out for 4 months and first game back was out for 6 more off another 50/50.

Barcola still an absolute fanny in front of goal then

Modern football can be so dull.

Proper dogshit performance from Arsenal this. Really disappointing.

wtf was that finish :D

More diving from Arsenal, straight after one of their players is bitching on the floor for the ref rightly playing their advantage. Insufferable.

:cool:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bernanke

Modern football can be so dull.

---

Praise be.

Arsenal players endlessly trying to gee up the crowd, whilst simultaneously doing nothing to gee them up.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ben

Martinelli is so overrated. He must score there.

---

Never seen anyone rate him to be honest, most Arsenal discourse on him is about replacing him.

Exceptionally lucky to still be 1-0, could have been 3 or 4. Going to have to properly turn up in Paris though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lofty

Never seen anyone rate him to be honest, most Arsenal discourse on him is about replacing him.

---

That's good to know. I just assumed he was rated in some circles due to TV commentators endlessly bigging him up. Last night was particularly egregious given he was so shite and Nwaneri was sat on the bench.

Yes the general feeling amongst fans I've seen is he's probably past the window of 'might come good consistently' and we need to cut our losses. Trossard probably go in the summer too, he is either spectacular or wank, no inbetween. In FM terms they either play a 9 or a 5, I'd rather have someone there just putting a solid 7 every game.

That whole wing has been an issue for a while, if it isn't consistency it's injuries. The subs were annoying last night, I appreciate the bench wasn't great but still. I also think if they don't sign at least one star up front this summer Saliba will be off.

Would they consider Jamie Vardy?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shindig

Would they consider Jamie Vardy?

---

I presume he's already got a Wrexham shirt.

I guess it wasn't a red card for Evanilson after all.

I don't think he deserved a three match ban but it was a red.

Another VAR intervention shown up as incorrect. I’m surprised they didn’t uphold it just to prop up their stats.

After all, Kiko had told us it was a nailed on red, so there couldn’t have been a whole lot of outrage had it not been overturned.

Marinakis is out of Forest. I wonder what crime he's going to prison for?

EDIT: By the sounds of it, he's just fiddling things so Olympiacos and Forest can play in the Champions League.

This is some end of days shit.

First time I hear the term 'tifo' and hopefully the last.

The absolute best thing about football in this country is the lack of 'ultras' culture. We're well ahead of the continent, not behind. No surprise that it's Arsenal fans who think otherwise.

Ultras are self-obsessed benders who think it's about them rather than the players, women or youngsters.

Even at our hooligan worst, it never ventured into arts and crafts. I don't mind Newcastle doing it but that's mainly because the Gallowgate flags lot tend to have their act together.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

This is some end of days shit.

---

That is so shit :D

What a start. :drool:

Fuck that was based.

There've been three dives in 7 minutes from Barcelona. Reverting to form.

Inter :cool:

Those are two quite good goals.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dan

Inter :cool:

Those are two quite good goals.

---

Make that three quite good goals.

What a game this has been.

A PSG Barcelona final could give us record amount of goals in a final (no idea what the record is)

Rio Ferdinand is a terrible terrible commentator. It was bad enough when he was a pundit in the studio but now you have to listen to his absolute drivel during the whole match as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Luke Emia

Rio Ferdinand is a terrible terrible commentator. It was bad enough when he was a pundit in the studio but now you have to listen to his absolute drivel during the whole match as well.

---

I don't get him. He offers absolutely no insight at all, despite all his experience. It's like listening to an annoying cunt in the pub make comments like "unreal bruv" or something. Prick.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Waffdon

A PSG Barcelona final could give us record amount of goals in a final (no idea what the record is)

---

Didn't Eintracht Frankfurt get done for 7 by somebody in a 7-3 or something?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by niko_cee

Didn't Eintracht Frankfurt get done for 7 by somebody in a 7-3 or something?

---

Nothing counts before 1992.

Big Denzel :cool:

What a fucking game this is.

What a fucking hit that is.

If you’re not watching this & don’t at least go back to watch the highlights you’ve missed out.

We had 15mins at the start of the second half where it was normal, but the rest has just been full on entertainment.

I think he's on.

Barcelona are horrid defensively.

That is ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. Should be a goal.

This game has been a bit like rugby, in the sense that it's not about traditional tactics but more about line speed and breaking the lines.

Yamal at times feels like he's playing a different game than every one else on the pitch.

I dislike Rio Ferdinand so much. Just such a stupid and superficial man.

I forgot Barcelona had that gay little song.

I hope Jamal's career has a long tail on it.

Barcelona can't be taken seriously. Ferran Torres, Eric Garcia, Wojech Szczesny, a couple of schoolchildren, and a high line that would make Ange wince.