January Football: it's just the way we play, mate

[igor_balis]

Maybe it's my little Englander narrow-mindedness or a pathological aversion to big dominant teams in sports, but I genuinely don't see the appeal of moving to Real Madrid over Liverpool. Just feels like they're so massive that they'd win everything without you anyway, so it makes you a small fish in a big pond, versus being a talisman and legend for a club like Liverpool.

It's pathetic of me, I know, but I saw some sky sports thing where they asked TAA what he'd rather out of three things, two were related to winning trophies that I can't exactly remember and the other one was winning the balloon door and he went with the latter and I thought what a retard.

[Gray Fox]

Just feels like they're so massive that they'd win everything without you anyway, so it makes you a small fish in a big pond, versus being a talisman and legend for a club like Liverpool.

I remember Klopp telling Phil Coutinho this exact thing when he suddenly got back problems amid Barcelona interest. They all still leave anyway.

I still don't think that he's made his mind up either way yet either. I'd prefer him to stay obviously, but Liverpool have lost many big players in my lifetime and we're still fine.

I still don't get the logic of the Director of Football or whatever his title is, in this. Surely you at some point should have been hashing out a deal with the agent(s) rather than this apparent offer, then radio silence for a while approach.

[Spoonsky]

To agree with Giggles for once, I wish everyone would just shut the fuck up about it until May. We’re having an amazing season, why let the joy-killing contractual side of the game put any kind of damper on it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There's a definite black-white divide when it comes to attitudes to the Ballon d'Or. There, I've said it and if that makes me Joseph Goebbels then poison all seven of my children.

[igor_balis]

There's a definite black-white divide when it comes to attitudes to the Ballon d'Or. There, I've said it and if that makes me Joseph Goebbels then poison all seven of my children.

It's a fairly tenous connection, but it does sort of remind me of a conversation I was having with my mate the other night (the kind of excellent safe space conversations you can have with really long standing friends where usual rules of politeness don't really apply) where I said my favourite white privilege type thing is the way that straight white English men's place in the hierarchy allows people like my mate and me to be secure enough to be really self-deprecating and roll our eyes at usual markers of status and acceptance. At the time I was using it to make a waffly, barely coherent rant about how fucking annoying Indian cricket fans are with their massive insecure idolatry of your Kohlis and Tendulkars, while, for example, one of the greatest English footballers of all time Wayne Rooney constantly gets lolled at by us for being a stupid granny shagging Scouser.

I feel like meaningless trinkets like the balloon d'Or (and e.g. the wealth and opulence of rap music) that represent status are more laughable when your socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic background means you don't really need to care about that stuff? I dunno probably just talking bollocks

[igor_balis]

It comes from a similar psychological space that makes YouTube videos where young black men react positively to stuff like Rush music videos and old Monty Python clips incredibly popular with loser boomer crackers.

[Lewis]

It's probably a more simple combination of more money (especially indirectly when his Instagram followers double) and getting out of the Liverpool fishbowl. I know Madrid have their own newspapers and that, but the right-back won't be getting bummed in the street. I bet he can't even leave the house wherever he lives now.

[Lewis]

Whatever happens, it will be a shame to lose the weekly episode of Jamie Carragher explaining the Liverpool fan's perspective to a fellow pundit who thinks he is making an objective point about the merits of Real Madrid and disagreeing with him.

[Waffdon]

Imagine thinking anyone would stay at Liverpool if given the chance to sign for Real Madrid lmao

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's a fairly tenous connection, but it does sort of remind me of a conversation I was having with my mate the other night (the kind of excellent safe space conversations you can have with really long standing friends where usual rules of politeness don't really apply) where I said my favourite white privilege type thing is the way that straight white English men's place in the hierarchy allows people like my mate and me to be secure enough to be really self-deprecating and roll our eyes at usual markers of status and acceptance. At the time I was using it to make a waffly, barely coherent rant about how fucking annoying Indian cricket fans are with their massive insecure idolatry of your Kohlis and Tendulkars, while, for example, one of the greatest English footballers of all time Wayne Rooney constantly gets lolled at by us for being a stupid granny shagging Scouser.

I feel like meaningless trinkets like the balloon d'Or (and e.g. the wealth and opulence of rap music) that represent status are more laughable when your socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic background means you don't really need to care about that stuff? I dunno probably just talking bollocks

With Indians I think it's just because their culture is a completely irony-free zone, whereas ours is basically 100% irony. Rap is a good demonstrator because it boils down to a man speaking his individual truth onto tape in opposition to other men (let's call them 'the doubters'). That I think comes from the same specific place as Vinicius bawling his eyes out over being beaten to the balloon by a holding midfielder, and is, like you say, a place that whites don't or cannot access. Whether it's privilege or just culture, I don't know.

[John Arne]

I'll tell you what needs sorting out. After kick off, defenders intentionally blocking attackers from closing down. Zero attempt to play any ball. Instant yellow.

[John Arne]

Spurs have 3 or 4 genuinely crap players. Spence, Werner, Dragusin are pants. This Bergvall fella looks like he'll give the ball away another 20 times.

[Shindig]

I really like Solanke. He should be in England's setup regularly.

[Lofty]

I think most players think a move to Madrid or Barcelona is just gilding the CV for extra money, some easy trophies playing against vastly inferior players, and relaxing in the sun every day with their pipe in someone's mouth.

As opposed to getting called a binman because some mid table cloggers with more money than a lot of top european clubs just turned you over in the freezing rain.

[niko_cee]

The more I read about this whole Barcelona business the more mind bogglingly lol it seems. Olmo is apparently now owed the full value of his contract and is also able to walk away if he wants, even if he's not going to do that, how do you write a contract like that? How, in a system so completely set up for the top two clubs to dominate at everyone else's expense, do you fuck things up as badly as they seem to have?

[Waffdon]

Maresca taking 80 mins to make a change again and shock Chelsea concede a goal. He’s absolutely fucking at it this past month

[niko_cee]

Bald fraud alert.

Chelsea seem to have gone full Spurs style reverse ferret since being annointed genuine title challengers whenever that was.

Not as bad as actual Spurs though.

[niko_cee]

Also good to see this new guy has made Southampton worse.

[Waffdon]

Bald fraud alert.

Chelsea seem to have gone full Spurs style reverse ferret since being annointed genuine title challengers whenever that was.

Not as bad as actual Spurs though.

It all started when Chelsea beat Brentford at home but players were running on fumes at 2-0. He refuses to change anyone other than a striker and Brentford score and Chelsea hang on. Ever since then the same pattern has followed throughout (other than Ipswich but that was a freak result in the sense they get a ridiculous penalty, Chelsea get goal chopped off and hit the woodwork a few times)

A much needed break from the PL. Were never title challengers but would be pretty pathetic if he cannot get top 4.

[Waffdon]

2 points in the festive run in and you couldn’t really handpick easier teams to face. Bald cunt

[wullie]

Beating Norwich 1-0 as four minutes are added on, managed to lose. Everything's turned to complete shit since that Wolves cup game.

[Ben]

The black kit is nice but Arsenal not playing in red here is ridiculous.

[niko_cee]

A much needed break from the PL. Were never title challengers but would be pretty pathetic if he cannot get top 4.

They've done well to drag themselves back into the 4th place shit off but it's still probably going to take some effort to miss out on the top 4.

Isn't it a bit worrying the premier league team is running on fumes seeing as the B team has fulfilled pretty much every other footballing obligation?

They need to sort the goalkeeper and defence really. And try to shake Jackson out of banter mode.

[Gray Fox]

The black kit is nice but Arsenal not playing in red here is ridiculous.

It's a sign of my age probably that this is making me irrationally annoyed.

Who is this YUTE that just scored for Arsenal? Looks talented.

[niko_cee]

He's been quality for England age groups for ages.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We were fine until he started needing the first choice team twice a week. That doesn't really bode well for taking the cup and/or conference league seriously in the second half of the season.

[Waffdon]

They've done well to drag themselves back into the 4th place shit off but it's still probably going to take some effort to miss out on the top 4.

Isn't it a bit worrying the premier league team is running on fumes seeing as the B team has fulfilled pretty much every other footballing obligation?

They need to sort the goalkeeper and defence really. And try to shake Jackson out of banter mode.

There’s no midfielders. Lavia is a crock and only other person is Dewsbury Hall who is out (and shite). Needs to recall Andrey Santos from France asap

[phonics]

An absolutely absurd penalty. Always great to see one that will never ever be given again.

[Luke Emia]

An absolutely absurd penalty. Always great to see one that will never ever be given again.

It’s ok to headbutt people in the area now is it as long as you are going for the ball?

[phonics]

A headbutt is a red card and the player wasn’t even booked.

[Luke Emia]

A headbutt is a red card and the player wasn’t even booked.

He didn’t mean it but he still caught him with his head doesn’t mean it’s not a foul. It’s a strange one to see. Same as if you go to tackle someone and miss the ball though but catch them. It’s a penalty, if anything he’s stupid going for it when Pedro was going away from goal.

[Ben]

Martinelli is the biggest fanny in football.

[Gray Fox]

It's just not a penalty is it. Not all contact in the box has to be.

Minteh also should be shot for not squaring that for a tap in.

[phonics]

All I said is you'll never see it given again. I didn't say there wasn't contact.

[phonics]

Just seen the clip of Gordon not getting a penalty for exactly the same thing just today alone. Top stuff. We weren't good but it's so frsutrating to see shit week in week out where you know they're just making it up on the fly.

[Spoonsky]

The Gordon one was a clear penalty too. Newcastle the true victims here.

[niko_cee]

Arsenal rolling in with another sub 1 xG performance, only have themselves and their dreadful manager to blame.

[niko_cee]

Also good to read they were up to their stupid time wasting at every set piece tricks again, I don't think any side has riled me as much as Arsenal in the flesh with their stupid huddles at the corner flag after every goal (this was in the 4-3/4-2 game a few years ago) and their continual time wasting shithousery.

[Dquincy]

There's a definite black-white divide when it comes to attitudes to the Ballon d'Or. There, I've said it and if that makes me Joseph Goebbels then poison all seven of my children.

Pretty sure his wife did the poisoning.

[Lofty]

Arsenal rolling in with another sub 1 xG performance, only have themselves and their dreadful manager to blame.

Yes not the entire right side first choice being out with bust hamstrings, and top goalscorer out with the lurgy. Probably the game it made most sense to rotate for on paper but a mistake on grass. As always the depth beyond the core group is teenagers and hasbeens.

[Bam]

I'll tell you what needs sorting out. After kick off, defenders intentionally blocking attackers from closing down. Zero attempt to play any ball. Instant yellow.

Agreed. Could we also ban Emi Aluko or whatever its name is, from ever appearing on tv again.

[Gray Fox]

Is she the one that said Mings was vital to Villa last year, despite him missing pretty much the entire season injured?

[Luke Emia]

It doesn’t help that Arsenal have players out injured and that neither of their best two attackers started tonight. But, the complete lack of intent to attack in anyway after they went one up is what cost them the game. Brighton were there for the taking in the first half and Arsenal seemed to be content to waste time from the second they scored.

That’s what is going to cost them this season, how many points have they thrown away from winning positions? probably as many as they are behind Liverpool and it’s always the same routine go a goal up and then start wasting time rather than trying to score a second to kill the game.

[Luke Emia]

Agreed. Could we also ban Emi Aluko or whatever its name is, from ever appearing on tv again.

Hang on it’s Joey Barton…

I do agree she’s shite though even as a woke lefty liberal.

[Bam]

Is she the one that said Mings was vital to Villa last year, despite him missing pretty much the entire season injured?

[Lofty]

Arsenal waste time when they aren't winning aswell for the record, there must be some stat about it leading to more chances than taking set pieces in normal time as it's been happening for ages. But they don't necessarily go one up and waste time to see out a 1-0, trust me they still fuck about taking throw ins if they're losing.

[John Arne]

That Brighton penalty is one of the most obvious pens I've seen in a while. Surprised to see some contention around it.

[Manc]

Another Liverpool game postponed.

[niko_cee]

Sad times if true. Was looking forward to the old half pitch snow clearance.

[John Arne]

Is the UK getting soft or is their a genuine safety issue for fans?