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Weekend Football Thread - The Ball That Got Away
Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham all do roughly as expected in the Wafer Europa Cup. Liverpool's game was fun. I watched it at walkabout with my Liverpool supporting mate Coombesy. Apparently Suso is very highly rated, but I'm sure Pacheco was four years ago. Suso did look very good at times however, as did Shelvey when he came on. Watched a bit of the Tottenham game at the gym and then at home - harshly had a couple goals disallowed but i think 0-0 was about fair.
This weekend:
Liverpool host United in a game in which the press seem desperate for something to 'kick off'. Hopefully it won't. I can see Liverpool winning, probably with Borini taking Kuyt's place and scoring a couple.
Man City are at home to Arsenal. I think this could be Man City's first league home defeat in about 23 years.
Elsewhere, Swansea vs Everton is on the tele and Chelsea host Stoke.
Pick of the lower leagues is people's champs Crewe hosting Leyton Orient.
Heskey's gone to Australia.
It's nearly 11! wo.
Apparently Ballack is off to Australia too.
Stoke can do what they want and I'm no-one to judge them but fuck me do I resent paying to watch them.
you could win the european cup playing like that
Not this again
When did you take the executive decision to deprive mildly-popular music forum Drowned In Sound of a Friday foothball thread?
Think about Parsefone's wellbeing, mate, ffs.
<added to spreadsheet>
wouldn't even mind but he's terrible at it
slops friday news over a few half-arsed saturday predictions, forgets most of what even happened/is going to happen. Not even a guileless attempt to troll quakers, it's pathetic.
do it yourself then you ungrateful milkshake
i have to do my posts in a one minute window, there's no time for elaboration.
I'm predicting 8 or 9 changes to our 11 from last night
but that we'll still be fairly lacklustre this weekend.
We've got a bit of a fixture pile up and are fairly injury hit at the moment so getting away with a solid point should be ok. Norwich haven't been great though so we could mug them.
Everton(a) Monday, Europa(a) Thursday, Norwich(h) Sunday, Man Utd(a) Wednesday
not ideal
I kinda wish I was going because of this^
also we have played really well since the horror-show opening day, we just seem to forget that winning games means 3 points.
soapy old bean
You're getting more defensive than KiK or - yeah I'm just going to say it - DanielKelly. 90% of your recent posts involve some bants-swerving about how Newcassel are about to have their pants pulled down in front of the nation.
This is what sudden football success does to a man
success in this case being a relative word
we were a crisis hit relegated side a couple of years back
so reclaiming our place in europe after five or so seasons away is a step in the right direction
Indeed
To some extent Premier League success will always be relative though. I think Newcastle finishing 5th was, relatively, a better achievement than Man City winning the title.
you're going to have to reel a lot harder than that.
That's a pity
I was quite literally going to need a bigger boat
^ obsessed
http://tinyurl.com/cghthax
http://tinyurl.com/935rzhm
I know what it's going to be
Yet I still click on it every fucking time
Not sure about City - Arsenal
Both teams will be tired, and I think it's fair to say that Arsenal haven't really been tested yet. Also not sure how much beef there will be between them compared to previous seasons, which could work in City's favour. Maybe. Idk.
I'm going to stick my neck out and randomly predict 2-2.
If we an get to the end of the match without Suarez or anyone else doing something shameful
Then I'll see it as a victory.
it'll be something of a victory if you even make it to the kick off
Baby steps
No Wisdom helps Liverpool beat Young Boys, Jordan?
You've changed and I resent it. Not sure it's been mentioned but Henderson was superb yesterday, he looks so much more comfortable playing in Rodgers' system.
did you notice yesterday that it took ages to get a ball to someone taking a corner?
happened in the United game too. vweird!
Exactly this.
I just hope we have a bit of a run in the cups because barring a couple of injuries, I just can't see him breaking into the first 11.
I'd start him on the right instead of Borini any day
Works as hard and creates more.
Can anyone account for Terry's whereabouts?
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/premierleague/story/chelsea-condemns-racist-abuse-of-john-obi-mikel-on-twitter-uefa-champions-league-juventus-mistake-092012
But beyond bants :'( obvs
Fucking cunts
Going to White Hart Lane on Sunday
Excited, one of my favourite grounds, and I missed the game last season as I was in hospital so it feels like making up for it
With Heskey out of the picture they're going to have to find a new boogeyman
to spook forums everywhere on transfer deadline day
Why, has Carlton Cole gone too?
John Carew is currently unemployed
Young Boys get Rodgered.
I remember when people used to laugh at Jonjo Shelvey. I'm glad that championing a young player who looks a bit crap at first is finally paying dividends.
He should start against Trad Bricks.
Robbie Fowler said this morning that he wants Evra and Suarez to lay flowers at the Kop and the United end. To me that sounds like chucking a vat of petrol on a memorial candle. Needlessly muddling two huge events with one ugly, inconsequential one.
Although I think we're going to win, it's a shame this game is so early in the season because it means very little. I always want Liverpool United to carry a bit more importance than it already does. Which is why it's always so good when we meet in the cups.
I fancy Suarez to bag and Gerrard to net a pen in a 2-1 win.
I think to anyone with a brain that sounds like a horrible, horrible idea
Needless to say Ollie Holt is on board
that man is wedged into my centipede.
Fowler's idea made my arsehole tighten up so much I couldn't breathe
:D
I think they should make out on the centre spot
*swap sides and to made to really try hard
ahem
*swap sides and be made to try really hard
They're both there just macking out to a minute's applause
Suarez makes the move and thrusts his hand down Evra's shorts. He grapples around unable to make a grasp on Patty's manhood as he's shrunk under the pressure of the crowd. Suarez licks Evra's ear and whispers "negrito negrito come out to pl-ay!* and all hell breaks loose
Charles Green's really warming to life in Scottish football.
His most recent statement says that he knows that not all clubs who voted against allowing Rangers to enter the SPL actually wanted to vote that way. His statement contains the following sentence: "I know - because I could see glints in eyes - which ones were happy and which ones were not".
I like the guy.
Sheff Wed away on saturday
it'll be about 3-2
hopefully
we can't defend
from the evidence of this week you can't either.
There will be goals.
Not a fan of the Weekend Football Thread starting on a Friday
The Friday Football Thread has been home of some wonderful memories, like the day Newcastle appointed Joe Kinnear
well now the threads are halved in size i think it makes sense
might even start a weekly one on monday!
My hard-on for a CM pairing of Sandro and Dembele is incredible.
Throbbing.
They're not going to touch the ball on Sunday
Faurlin and The Pirate are going to play a 90 minute game of piggy in the middle with them.
I found it amazing reading the BBC text feed last night
'OMG Dempsey and Dembele are having a great game together and link up so well. Great management'
Yup, well done Spurs fans, you've just bought half of the Fulham midfield. Maybe Murphy will sign too?
won't parker be back in the team when fit?
--Huddlestone--Parker
Sigurdsson-Dempsey-Dembele
-----------Defoe
the workrate! BAH GAWD!
Hope not seeing as Sandro is a fucking hero
but it wouldn't be a surprise. Huddlestone certainly won't be starting many PL matches unless there are a few injuries. Stick Lennon and Bale in that formation and you're almost there. 3/10.
Bale LB
Switch Dembele and Dempsey
Lennon's been our best player so far this season, after Defoe. No chance of him getting dropped any time soon. Sigurdsson has been useless. Would like to see Huddlestone and Sandro starting together in the middle, but idk... A reprieve for Hudd isn't looking especially likely right now, although it is looking more likely than a month or so ago. Sandro and Parker, maybe.
so brave
great hair
Also some cracking racism form the Lazio fans last night
with Platini in attendence...that several thousand euro fine will hit them HARD.
Stephen Warnock signing done and dusted then
is he good? Actually it doesn't matter, he woudl walk into our team at the minute.
In kit news that will undoubtedly be boring to most
here's Celtic's new 125th anniversary 3rd strip (which is quite nice indeed): http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/?l=shop,pdp,ctr-inline/cid-1/pid-647182
If it wasn't for the faded 'TENNENT'S' under the cross
that would be sublime.
good goal last night btw mate
Yeah, you'd think they could have struck a deal for them to stay off it
seeing as it's obviously a special edition strip that probably won't even be worn much.
Still, you can buy the home strip without the Tennents logo on it, so maybe they'll do the same with this.
Chris Kiwomya's son has died :(
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19667688
:(
Hello, this one seems to have slipped by...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19667219
It does seem a peculiar thing to say.
A team should be aiming to win in pretty much all circumstances anyway; they shouldn't need some monetary incentive to motivate them.
He's clearly talking about those end of the season matches
where teams roll over for the big boys because it doesn't matter anymore. That's almost as low as paying them to try tbh.
Do they though?
There's usually still a few teams fighting for relegation, others with an outside chance of getting into Europe, etc.
I should add that I do realise that there is a monetary incentive
in any footballing competition in that there's prize money involved, but that's not really the same thing.
you know when you agree to work a specific shift over the weekend so that you can watch your game at home/pub and then work once you've finished
only to later find out you've got the wrong time for your game, and it turns out you're working during the match after all?
I fucking hate that.
I misread the fixture list
And have booked to go away for a few days when we have a midweek home game :/
i got confused between our city and chelsea games
thought sunday's was on at 12:45 when it's on at 4
:((
Bit of an amateur mistake
given that 12.45 Sunday kick offs don't really exist
SHUT UP
:D
Such a shame you won't be able to watch Arsenal become genuine title challengers
:(((
already got that subthread bookmarked for when june comes around, pal
http://tinyurl.com/94ekm5r
or May, whatever
as if i know dates
:)
Close enough.
I'm well pissed of Arsenal-Chelsea is a Saturday 12.45 kick off a-fucking-gain. A shit kick-off generally and one that can potentially ruin your entire weekend.
Does Maccy D's not let you have a radio in the kitchen?
im going to the Toon game on sunday
I get in for free as I'm accompanying my disabled nephew.
can we cancel all this weekends matches
and just show more of Being Liverpool instead?
AND YOU ALL SCOFFED WHEN I SAID MIDDLESBROUGH WOULD WIN THE LEAGUE
Don't know if they'll win it but they'll be there or thereabouts
I do want them to win it though.
Reading the BBC gossip page
I've just learnt that Sergio Ramos is only 26 years old.
Really not confident about
City's chances against Arsenal. We seem to be playing in some sort of stupor at the moment. Mancini needs to find some way to snap the players out of it and get closer to the way we were playing at the start of last season.
According to the Grauniad City should be worried because Arsenal are the in form team
(City P4, W2, D2 whereas Arsenal P4, W2, D2. City don't stand a chance)
newcastle/norwich is showing as postponed on BBC
is it rly?
Moved to tomorrow
because they played in Europe midweek, I believe.
it's tomorrow
we're playing a lot of games these couple of weeks
Yeah
Until tomorrow.
Tough FF week
Had too many 4 point hits this season backfire so just sticking a patched up side out and saving my transfer for next week.
A forward line of Torres Tevez and Petric sounded good a month back...
Ferguson seems to be constantly out of breath
He has to breathe in deeply after every sentence
Oscar, Hazard and Mata all starting for Chelsea
Omgoodness.
Steven Fletcher scores AGAIN.
Good lad.
Telegraph article on Cazorla (dis better not fuck this up)
In the dying moments, Atletico were awarded a penalty that would have kept them in the division. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink stepped up, and missed. Seconds later, Atletico were relegated.
The 15-year-old Cazorla was not playing. Instead, he was a ball-boy transfixed by the gravity of the moment. “It dawned on me that that even famous players like Hasselbaink can have off-days,” he remembered later.
“It affected me and opened my eyes to the emotion of the game. Now, when I’m playing, I take time to look at the faces of the ball boys, because maybe one day one of them can be the next Santi Cazorla.”
I think i love him
MOTD won't be essential tonight based on the games so far.
Pretty turgid bar the goal Villa just bagged.
Oh Villa
:'D
Stoke are fucking hopeless sometimes
they play a few good passes, get behind chelsea on the counter, then just completely give up on it and hoof it pointlessly to crouch. Surely, SURELY their percentages game wouldn't be particularly ruined if pulis coached them to have just a little bit of composure in the middle and final thirds when they've got the opposing team on the back foot.
fuuuuuuucking hell
imagine supporting stoke. I think i'd turn to crack in my despair. It's painful enough even wanting them to win one game.
that mark davies goal
good goal
Much better from Southampton there.
Thought they were a little unfortunate to be on the receiving end of some of their earlier results, so it's nice to see them get the win.
branislav was a cunt that match
He was.
I can't say i mind when it's Glenn Whelan and John Walters he's being a cunt too though.
http://drownedinsound.com/community/boards/social/4415391#r7019062
also rotherham are 11 points off the top already hahaha https://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/rotherham
Not bad from Chelsea.
The Hazard-Oscar-Mata combination needs some time to work, and I think it would be better suited against a team that isn't Stoke. Oscar particularly was excellent. Can see him replacing Lampard when he decided enough is enough- got in goal-scoring positions regularly and has a brilliant first touch.
Glad Mata was able to get an assist too. A lot of the attention has been off him since Hazard arrived, but he's still class. Other than that, Stoke defended well. They're bloody frustrating to watch though. They kick the shit out of you for the first half hour so you back off, then they just sit back and occasionally get chances by hoofing it up to Crouch. Unlucky not to get a point, probably.
Torres is still hopeless.
If Kevin Nolan does that chicken dance thing on motd tonight
I will throw the telly out the window.
Oh, he did it alright
Was a relatively perfunctory one rather than a grade 1 fox in the henhouse flap-o-rama, so maybe just...pour some tea over your telly or something
TVWTO?
good day.
decent result for leeds. hoping to go to bolton away in a couple of weeks, and bristol before that. would happily take 3 points from those two games.
cech and cole in my fantasy team saved today being crap in that regard. annoyed i spent 4 points getting rid of fellaini though.
bets wise, picked some good results with decent odds - tranmere, leeds, bradford, west ham draw etc. Annoyingly had them in different accumulators. one wycombe goal off £70 from £2.
lets hope tomorrow is not too depressing.
no idea what to do for 4 hours til barca now
That utterly pointless Wigan goal cost me 2 clean sheets and bonus points
Shitty club...
More importantly though
Southend won. 1 down with 20 to go, 2 SUFC legends come on after being out for months and win us the game. The stuff dreams are made of.
Great double from Villa and Birmingham
:D
checked the score about half an hour ago, it was 0-0
this is utterly mental. the kind of insane result leeds had last season every so often, out of nowhere
chris dagnall starting up front for barnsley and they've scored 5
wtfffff
Good lord I hate paying to watch Stoke
How did Oscar, Mata and Hazard line up?
in midfield.
Mmhmm...
Mostly in a three behind Torres
Oscar in the middle, Mata and Hazard either side but switching positions. Some nice little flicks and passes but none of them really hit their stride today.
Just seen Pulis's comments
lol
another atrocious performance
kieran lee, barkley and antonio were the only three to bother turning up it seems.
jay bothroyd had an absolute nightmare today and looked somewhat disinterested - didn't agree with the booing he got when he got taken off or the abuse he got on twitter after the game though, that won't do his knocked confidence any good.
for a player of martin taylor's ability and experience he should not be making the ridiculous error like he did for the bolton second.
as for bolton - they should be up there at the end of the season for sure. eagles, spearing, mark davies and knight were all very good in particular.
great time to be an Everton fan, huh
we honestly could get forth place
*fourth
you won't
but fifth could be a distinct possibility.
A hugely frustrating performance
from Chelsea. There was no way that either team was going to score until finally Cole bobbled one in from an inch.
I wouldn't wish injury on any player, but I wouldn't mind Torres getting a really bad cold for the next eight months or so. Anything to keep him from using up our allocation of eleven players.
Torres wasn't that bad, was he?
I thought that today was promising in a lot of ways. Just thought that there was no need to have such a show of creativity (LOOOOOOOL, etc!1!1!1!1!) for Stoke.
First time that I've seen Oscar play, today. I couldn't get over his speed and confidence. He didn't panic once.
Torres did what he always does.
He plays better the further away that he is from the penalty area. But he still does this thing where, when a ball is passed to him, there is a moment when he stops as though he has never ever seen one before. The people around me have started calling him 'Timelag Torres', because there is always that ...beat... before he tries to do something. And in that beat, most opportunity is lost.
fair point.
Should have tucked away that chance he had today.
It would have been a good goal though - if he'd have tiddly-winked it over the keepers leg.
Is Ivanovic playing up front for Chelsea these days?
Seemed to be from that MOTD?
Lawrenson and Redknapp...
Lawrenson's wearing his best pyjamas too. Could be a rough one tonight.
Cheeky handball from Fellaini
Anichebe looked unplayable there
Harsh, Clive.
He scored midweek and Jelavic was unavailable due to injury.
He's not that bad a player and is in the side on merit, i feel.
two late barca goals
brilliant one from xavi in particular. 5 out of 5.
motson is so shit
mata looks like that mexican wolfman
whenever i think of motson
i think of this absolute gem
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9TWUUW4dFQ
Where was the striker for that Chelsea goal?
Had Torres gone off or is he scared of the box? That's exactly the sort of position he'll need to get in if he wants to score. Shearer would be telling him if he was on.
haha
the double tackle on the ref.
Waving the red while he's on the floor
Lee Probert is ok by me.
here comes fucking Kevin Nolan again
why why why
Nolan has made a career out of that spin shot
Is there noone in the football world Redknapp won't intimate he knows on an often-leave-my-kids-with level
As long as Southampton play a team with an attack as moribund as Villa's every week they'll be fine
Crystal Palace
Were absolutely magnificent today. We dominated from the start but went two nil down with two defence howlers, the main culprit Ramage went of shortly after, then we started to dominate again and came back and won 3-2. So many great performances but Bolasie who we signed from Bristol City was fantastic. After losing our first 3 we now look unstoppable with 10 points from 12.
Loving the Football League Show's work today
'And its delirium among the Bolton fans behind that goal' - shot of empty stand.
Manish: 'Mark Davies is part of a very talented midfield at Bolton, isn't he?'
Leroy: 'Yes...but they've signed Jay Spearing'
I keep repeating myself but
Paul Robinson is a shocking goalkeeper.
https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/spurs/News/xtra-all-time-pl-team-result-09072012.page
*sigh*
that's one of those 'robbie williams voted greatest artist of all time' type polls
can nobody remember anyone who isn't a striker
True
No Ginola, no Anderton, no Lee Young-Pyo... Robinson is genuinely highly regarded by Spurs fans though. Couldn't tell you why.
Scott Parker already in Spurs' greatest XI of the PL era?
That's a bit weird
football fans in incredibly short memory shocker
Who, you?
The other options: David Howells, Allan Nielsen, Steffen Freund, Gus Poyet, Michael Carrick, Jermaine Jenas, Tom Huddlestone and Wilson Palacios. Travesty that Parker got in ahead of any of those, isn't it. Absolute travesty.
I see what you're saying
One mediocre character has been picked out of a bunch of mediocre characters on account of him being mediocre more recently
Yup, our player of the season last year
when we achieved a 4th-placed Premier League finish for only the second time. Shockingly mediocre.
Honestly, this isn't even fun for me
Please just stop.
;-D
I'd avoid the internet when you come in steaming, friend.
I'm cringing, that's all
Wondering why you even bother attempting to contribute to discussions you clearly know nothing about. Could you not just Google? Have a quick look to see what his form was like or who we was up against? Was there not even an element of doubt in your mind? Were you that confident in your evidently erroneous opinion? It's like watching a man run over himself with a parked car, honestly. My problem though, not yours - keep trying to join in, and I'll try harder to patronisingly validate your efforts.
You're right Zapsta
I really should have gone and done the research on Tottenham Hotspur's midfield in the modern era, maybe sat and read some of those interminable blogs you keep posting, then I could have entered into an intelligent and level-headed debate with you over the relative merits of Sir Scottward of Parhahahahahahahahaha you complete fucking spod. Go and write 10,000 words about you crying over my ignorance and boorishness, have it on my desk by Monday so I can laugh at you some more.
If you wanted to say something about it, sure
I don't get why anyone would want to talk on a subject they know nothing about. You weren't even saying inflammatory stuff, you were just saying uninformed stuff. And then you tried to turn it into 'trolling', I guess? But sure, take those points if you want them. I just want to talk about football, to be honest.
vintage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnqqBxembB8
Wow
This really escalated fast
football fans in incredibly short memory shocker
SEAN
you have to ask why Chelsea feel the need to dive around all day at home against such poor opposition.
very disappointing, Clive.
Nolan had more bicycle kicks than Sunderland had shots
what a guy
hahahahahahahahahah
Aston Villa
PULIS!
Has there ever been a more vomit-inducing steaming pile of rancid cow dung? Has anybody involved in sport ever been so inhuman, immoral, dishonest and creepy?
He ejaculated a hideous view that some players should get a reputation for diving, so that when they are hacked down by the Stoke thugs, then the thugs get away with it. And BBC's Mark Chapman kissed Pulis' backside on Final Score. Why are 5live and BBC Sport so enamoured with this moron?
He is worse than excrement because at least a dog turd will nourish the soil. Pulis and Shawcross are the epitome of Shelley's Dr. Frankenstein and his monster.
AND!
The most prolific diver in the Premier League is Stoke's Ryan Shotton who falls over half way between the penalty area and the touch-line to acquire a free kick that resembles a short corner. He does this constantly.
Jermaine Pennant must be up there
*down there
I don't understand why a man who actively encourages his team to cheat
can have such a burning sense of injustice.
*how, not why
That's what happens when you finish a post 15 minutes after you start it
Pulis was doing the time honoured thing
of getting round questions about why his team lost by putting attention elsewhere. However, because of the way that Stoke play, when he does this, the reaction is "hypocrite" rather than agreeing with him.
That said, some of the diving against Stoke (and Juventus) was rather alarming.
http://ballsdot.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/JayTunnel11.gif
:D
naughty, naughty tackle from Luiz, eh
defo deserves a retrospective ban, or some shit.
Cracking performance by Boro on Friday night
Fully deserved the 3 points.
McEachran seems to be improving every game and it's nice to have Thomson fit for more than 2 games. A man of Carayol's size shouldn't be able to move that quick with a football.
I'm seeing a good points return in the next few weeks if they maintain that standard and don't make any ridiculous defensive decisions (Justin Hoyte).
Regular updates on McEachran, please
Update 1
Every boro supporter is in love with him
For good reason though?
Every Chelsea supporter is in love with him and convinced that he's the love-child of Andres Iniesta and golden era Frank Lampard, but they've not yet had much reason to really think that ...
Absolutely
He seems to be involved in everything and gets himself around the pitch all game long. They only thing he doesn't seem to be able to do is score. But he is still getting himself in the right places
Cisse and Tiote could be back for Newcastle today
I hope Hughton gets a great response from the Toon fans today, I think there's still a lot of respect for what he did after we were relegated.
If this had been away I'd be predicting a loss but despite our mini-injury crisis and poor performances so far this season I reckon we should get through this afternoon ok.
FAO: regular Money League watchers/betters...
Is there a reason Arsenal are as big as 4/1 today?
I can't ignore value like that.
#LUMPINGON
<added to spreadsheet>
because city havent lost at home ever.
The draw seems more appealing.
Lovely message from a United fan left at the Hillsborough Memorial
http://tinyurl.com/9yyunw5
Reina, Kelly, Agger, Skrtel, Johnson, Allen, Gerrard, Shelvey, Borini, Sterling, Suarez.
v
Lindegaard, Rafa, Rio, Evans, Evra, Carrick, Giggs, Kagawa, Valencia, RvP, Nani
two attacking line-ups. with the exception of Giggs ours is reasonable.
Why's Vidic out?
injured i presume
Nemanja Vidic has been sent off three times in this fixture - more than any other player in any Premier League fixture.
:D
Maybe it's for the best...
well he isn't on the bench
so i presume it is an injury. i remember those torres years though.
to be fair vidic hasn't looked his usual self since coming back from injury. he'll hopefully be back for next weekend. god knows who'll be in defence on weds.
Wasn't assuming that was the reason haha
Just didn't realise he held that honor.
He certainly hasn't been back to his best, but hopefully that will come with more games.
Giggs :(
had a bad feeling he'd bring him back today. Where's Cleverley?
on the bench
so giggs is just preferred. not sure why.
Nice gesture there, with the roses.
And the 2 managers being interviewed before the game - good work.
haha nani is so, so bad
Well... were there any antics at handshake time?
jonjo shelvey's an actual alien isn't he
mocking someone with alopecia
bit low
i didn't know he had that
i was saying it affectionately anyway. sorry. delete me
denying all knowledge of an alopecia sufferer's alopecia
after mocking them about their alopecia? bit low, bit low.
United have been awful
Maybe the worst I've seen them play in years.
Cue a goal. NO WAIT, A VGUELY UNJUST SENDING OFF.
I fucking HATE United.
like fuck is that a red
should have been booked for that first tackle anyway tbh
Maybe a slightly unfortunate red
I'm relieved though, as we've been dominated so far.
the sending-off appears to have made absolutely no difference
absolutely fucking wank performance this.
Imagine we'll lose
Rudderless & complacent second half, complimented by a cheeky tap in by Suarez.
Very harsh red card.
His feet are split as far apart as they can be and the challenge isn't particularly high. Thrown himself into it in some speed but not sure it warrants a red- yellow would have done.
Shelvey having a go at Ferdinand and Ferguson
:DDD
Horror tackle. Definite red for me Gary.
i reckon that's a red
straight in front of the ref, going in with both feet off the ground and studs connecting on the leg at pace. its not a 100% red card, but its easy to see why the ref gave it. shelvey's had it on him all game too, very lucky to avoid punishment for an earlier foul and then telling the ref to 'fuck off'. quite enjoyed him shouting at Ferguson on the way off.
with how badly Giggs and Nani have been playing its only fair they lose a player. absolute fucking Milhouse.
-
Are we saying that 'Milhouse' is slang for shit?!
I'm not having that.
i regretted it when i posted it, to be honest.
I'd say Evans was actually two footed
Whereas Shelveys was higher and faster but he nicked the ball. Easy to say he got it wrong but we've got slow motion replays and at full speed it did look bad.
Main difference? Evans stayed down on the floor, Shelvey got up and accused him of faking.
Kinda.
Shelvey's deserved a red, but had he been a more mature player, I suspect that he'd have let Evans follow through with his challenge - I think you'd have seen Evans being sent off in that case.
i'd say the main difference is evans got the ball with one foot and no-one with the other
Same old, same old for Liverpool again.
Hnnngh. Dominate the match, create numerous chances, stick none of them away and then one moment of craziness threatens the whole game.
nani wants fucking shot
LOL
John Joe Shelvey has had a bit of a tantrum after being sent off and is now being escorted down the tunnel by stewards. http://pic.twitter.com/uZO9hPRo
Not a Liverpool or Gerrard fan, God knows
but that was a lovely goal
And the equaliser wasn't too bad either
Lovely stuff
totally deserved
will Utd ever show up at Anfield again? Our midfield is beyond a joke.
you'll still win 2-1, easy.
:D
where the fuck did that come from
Same place all those other goals have come from over the past 18 or so years...
STRIKER!
Giggs has been awful
Giggs is dreadful.
Only really noticed it during the Olympics, but it amazes me that he's starting in a game like this. He was a brilliant player, and then a decent, useful player. Now ...
I think Fergie worries we'll be directionless without Scholes or Giggs in the big games
and without Rooney or Vidic in the team either, he's probably right.
He's been a crock of shit for couple of years now though, andhe has doesn't have the influence on our play that Scholes still does.
Bale starts at left-back :))))))))))))
red that wasn't a red
penalty that wasn't a penalty
fucking hate united so much
I'm really not an ABU sort
but the penalty looked a strange call to me. Didn't see the replay- did Johnson pull Valencia down?
Just clattered into the back of him, I think
Valencia felt contact and went down, probably because he realised he'd taken way, way too long over the opportunity.
If you were to come up with a game
that summed up how both of these teams have played over the past 15 years or so, then this would be it.
Utterly ridiculous.
I don't know how you can watch this game as a Liverpool fan and not be furious
I couldn't give a shit about either side and am fuming.
Why are pundits on text feeds and telly so different
The BBC text feed is sensible, accurate and on the money. Sky are making out that that was a penalty is some way. It's like people are trained to talk bullshit the moment they'll be on telly.
If anyone says after ths game ends
'Sign of a great team when you play badly and still win', I'll kill someone
FFS
Not necessarily a great team
but a team that tends to win things ...
Feel a bit bad for Liverpool.
The two big decisions were at the harsher end of things and they were definitely the better side for most of the game. But when you can't score, you do leave yourself open to getting fucked.
Most?
85 minutes is a little more than /most/.
Yeah, I think 'most' adequately covers that.
i'm really not sure about this footballing lark anymore
i don't really disagree with the three key decisions (valencia's movement invited the foul for the penalty, but it's still a foul) but it's just so fucking negative. urgh. urgh. urgh.
Didn't deserve to win playing like that
Simple as.
The penalty and the red card honestly could have gone either way, and I've seen softer. Undeserved, but not unjust imo.
I'm a bit tired of 20 minutes or post match analysis of was it or wasn't it type decisions
Like now, they're showing a super slo mo and even two ex footballers can't make a call. For me it's not a penalty. Johnson brushed his foot but the way Valencia fell was as if he'd hit the left leg.
I dunno, just sick of games being discussed because of a grey area debate week in week out. Hopefully the next game actually has some football in it.
i loved that bit from redknapp
where he got his microscope out and went to super slow-mo to prove that suarez' reputation was going before him, maybe because that sort of stuff is literally impossible to see in real time?
glen johnson is the diviest footballer in the world.
LOL at your last sentence
NO BANTS
TOO IMPORTANT
Got BBC radio Newcastle on.
John Anderson sounds exactly like Father Damo Lennon.
How United are leaving Anfield with 3pts I don't know.
Dreadful performance from several of our lot. I thought Rio was outstanding but bar his display and rafa's finish not much to take from that game. I can just about justify the red card looked like studs to the knee even at full speed... reckless and dangerous. Not so sure about the penalty. Minimal contact, very very soft.
Just glad that we've got this game out of the way.
you really don't know?
i think everyone else does
i suppose it's simple... 2 goals will always beat 1.
evans has looked really good since coming back too
carrick was best of a bad bunch in the front six... dunno, that was a horrible performance. i love the idea upthread that that wasn't a red card. also that this performance exemplified how united and liverpool have played for 15 years! silly shit.
LOL at your last sentence
what you wrote is the silliest thing i have ever seen written about football
and i've read oliver holt's column more than a couple of times
aye... carrick had an assured game, though obviously helped by the sending off and evans was solid.
very frustrated with some of the passing. left so many passes to feet short.
it's as if the Ronaldo years never happened and a big decision has never gone against United.
Raheem Sterling was good today. More in the first half than the second.
Yeah started well
Gave the ball away five times in a row second half though and with ten men and Rodgers as manager, he was always gonna get taken off with a bit to go.
well that was thoroughly depressing
city shouldnt score less than 3 against this arsenal side
have you even watched either team so far this season?
Glad to see a City fan with some confidence in their team..
Ffs why give pen take to out of form striker?
3-0 sure give him a confidence booster but that was stupid and it'll come back to bite us
And so the bleating begins
RAWK meltdown is currently hilarious as expected.
help a brother out with a stream?
firstrowsports.eu
ctrl + f arse
lovely, thanks
I didn't have a good view of the sending off or the penalty from where I was sitting
Can someone concisely confirm that both decisions were correct? After I get closure I can happily give up football and become one of those people who gets really excited about the 6 nations or something.
Both justifiable, neither clear-cut
I've seen both given before.
I've seen players sent off for the challenge Evans made too.
I've seen penalties given for a few of the claims made by Liverpool.
such a shit first touch from gervinho
'Such a gentle giant is Per Mertesacker
Can't see him being involved in any dark arts'.
Fuck me, and I thought the Adam Sandler line would be this games' commentating low...
Per puts on his robe and wizard hat
Arsenal have clearly been the better team here so far..
but we can't afford to keep missing chances. I expect us to tire again in the second half like we did against Montpellier so City will probably finish stronger.
We're apparently getting outplayed by QPR
I'm fucking fed up of illegal streams
we've played well, just annoying that gervinho has almost as shit a touch as walcott. In fact even walcott might have scored that.
i also don't have a clue what our formation is
although this isn't helped by said shit illegal streams
a bit shanbolic from newcastle there
still three points
terrible pen, some niggling fouls 6/10
diaby's having one of those games where he's kinda infuriating
For Liverpool fans:
Sigurdsson has been subbed off for the 4th time in 5 matches. He didn't start the 5th. So yeah, don't worry too much about that one.
1-1
Faurlin OG. We'd better fucking win this.
2-1
Defoe, obvs.
gervinho off for aoc pls
no, that's silly
off for giroud
lol
Has he had a shot on target yet this season?
better than any of your strikers, pal
Don't
There are enough Spurs fans who think that without an Arsenal one joining in.
haha
Africa Cup of Nations is a few months off, pal
julio cesar's superman
*
IS SUPERMAN
Wenger's full-length puffa jacket makes me laugh a lot
When will Hart keep a clean sheet?
I'm certainly keeping tabs.
vertonghen's playing really well
has he been this good all season?
It's his third league start
He was shaky against Norwich, but he looked against Reading. Maybe he's found his level.
*looked good against Reading
;-D
:)
a point is the best you can realistically hope for at the etihad, but tbf it couldve gone either way. Still undefeated and everything as well. Reckon we'll take chelsea next week.
also jenkinson was pretty great that game
happy for him
I thought both Ramsey and Jenkinson were excellent today.
Maybe some of our fan base will be more patient with young players in the future after performances like this. If our forwards were a bit sharper ( both Podolski and Gervinho) we could have taken all 3 points. We've managed a win and a draw in 2 tough away games. Hopefully beat the Chelsea next saturday and we will be in a good position. Won't know until after 10 league games or so whether we are in a position to challenge as AW has already said.
tbf i'd sort of written of ramsey last season
he was utter shite, at times. Been really promising this season though, which i think has something to do with the fact that there's a lot less pressure on him to do well. It's mental how many good midfielders we have actually, in hindsight it would've been a mistake had wenger replaced song because coquelin and frimpong wouldn't get the look in they deserve.
It was always stupid how people wrote jenkinson off as a 19 year old with very little experience. I'm sort of baffled how they managed who can play like that against city from non-league football.
Yeah Jenkinson's rapid progress has surprised me as well...
shows there is no one better than Wenger for spotting talent, developing talent and getting the best out of a player. I've always been a fan of Ramsey but I could see why fans got frustrated with him last season. It can take time to recover from such a serious injury tho. Hopefully both him and Diaby can get a good run in the first team now and continue to improve.
I really hope we get better soon
Get better soon please, Spurs. Thanks.
haven't really seen any of the games properly
what's wrong atm?
I didn't see today
I just know we were outplayed by QPR, at home, for an hour, and that anything less than 7 points from games against QPR, Reading and Norwich would have been unacceptable. We're just about par for points, I'd say, but barely. Looking at the table, we're one behind City and Arsenal, which is fine, but they've played each other, Liverpool and Stoke away. Arsenal also seem to be getting better - we don't.
Arsenal being a bit shit has just cost me over £500.
£5 4-team accy (United, Spurs, Newcastle, Arsenal) would've paid out £183.15
£25 United/Arsenal double would've paid £324.00
Good job you don't support City anymore
or this would be a really shit afternoon.
Why, mate?
Only kidding mate
But you always admitted it was pretty stressful for you. More dropped points, a undeserved win for United, and one goal away from a winning a cheeky monkey would've had you in NeedlesslyDefensive mode last year.
Neither here nor there now days, but obviously not going to deny it's a shame you didn't get the cash.
I had United, Newcastle and Spurs - Thought spurs were going to gub me
An Arsenal win was never very likely. But that's betting.
I had United 2-1, Newcastle, City and Spurs
Fucking had it with betting
THE NEW INVINCIBLES MARCH ON!!!!1
Basically went as expected
and given they are the form team and we're just staggering from one game to the next currently I guess we should be happy to get away with a draw. Fuck me do we look poor right now, though. No shape or rhythm, half the players look like they're playing in a trance. Scott Sinclair is so out of place it's actually painful to watch, Javi Garcia was in the stadium apparently, couldn't confirm it myself though. All concentration seems to go out of the window in the last half hour of every game- again and again we gave the ball back to Arsenal, sat back and let them get on with it despite the fact their own ball retention wasn't exactly sensational.
Cazorla is one hell of a player. More like Plodolski amirite.
Blimey.
I'll bow to your judgement as i didn't see the game, but the other City fans i've been unable to avoid have all singled Sinclair out as being one of a few who played well. They made it sound like he was very unlucky to be replaced.
You sure you haven't been at the prozac again, sister?
<added to spreadsheet>
I don't think I phrased that well
I think he actually played reasonably, he just clearly isn't of the ability we need. He was slightly unlucky to get subbed but he needed to be really to swap back to a formation we were clearly more comfortable in.
...
Gonna be pretty annoyed when Gervinho scored against us next week
So what happened after the early game then?
Media and managers saying it was exemplary but 606 (admittedly not always thehome of entirely sane football fans) had a fan from both sides in tears saying the behaviour of the United fans post game was sickening and worse than ever. Any idea what went down?
reports the 'its never your fault' chants started again after the game
didn't hear them during however.
Friends report lots of aeroplane signs going down, met with 'always the victim' chants
Not sure otherwise.
Just read the report on the BBC and it seems to corroborate:
The occasion was marred slightly after the final whistle when a couple of home supporters ran across from the main stand to the visiting contingent - held behind on police orders - and started making aeroplane signals in a clear reference to the Munich air disaster in 1958 when eight United players were among 21 people who lost their lives.
The provocation was met with chants of "Always the victims" and "Murderers" from the travelling fans in relation to the Hillsborough and Heysel stadium disasters that Liverpool were involved with in the 1980s.
NeedlesslyStatingTheFacts.
one fan was ejected for munich chants
i'm not sure if 'lots' is the word to use, but i'm sure it came from both sides.
Bit bored of this "them singing justifies us doing so" stuff, tbh.
I watched the pre-match stuff on BBC News. Credit to both clubs for trying very hard all week to avoid ugly scenes, and credit to both sets of supporters for respecting eachother during the game.
The couple of Liverpool fans who couldn't behave themselves have let their club down, but i'm not sure that justifies a couple of thousand people singing songs about "murderers".
If United supporters had to let themselves down, mind, probably best it was done like this - after the game, when the families particularly had left, and the cameras were off, but i just find it a bit sad that people haven't taken this opportunity to let sleeping dogs lie.
<added to spreadsheet>
Didn't say it justified it mate, I don't agree with that at all
Just stating what happened.
Pretty cheap dig at United fans, the majority of whom deplore this kind of behaviour from either side.
There's some suggestion that the United fans sang "Where's your famous Munich song?"
Only heard "where's your famous atmosphere?" myself, and we get that one every week so I wasn't too fussed.
Wow, Spurs were bad today.
I mean really bad.
Do you think the Dembele and Sandro partnership is working?
I know some people are very excited about it, but... well... we were outplayed by QPR. I personally don't think Dembele is a central midfielder, and his presence in the team apparently forced Sandro into a very defensive role, which meant we didn't get his pressing higher up. And Sigurdsson was useless again. This is what I've gleaned from Twitter/match reports. Most likely team for Old Trafford seems to be the one we switched to when Sigurdsson went off, but I think bringing Huddlestone in from the start would be such a no-brainer. Let him collect the ball from the defence, free Sandro to hassle and harry all over, let Dembele worry about influencing the play around the edge of the area.
And I don't want to blame AVB too much
because I really think Levy let him down in the transfer market, but I guess there's nothing to say we'd be doing any better if he'd got Moutinho. Huddlestone has to be the obvious alternative though - let Dembele do what he was signed to do.
Well, i was on holiday for the West Brom & Norwich games
but, from what i've seen of Dembele/Sandro, I think it's potentially very good. Against Reading & Lazio i thought they looked fantastic. Maybe today was just an off day - we gave the ball away so cheaply all over the pitch.
As for Sigurdsson, I think he's going to be a bit of a flop, sadly. I'm not Huddlestone's biggest fan but i'd agree that giving him a run in the side would be worth a bash. Dempsey was garbage operating on the left in the first half, but would probably be more effective in Sigurdsson's role for the near future.
In better news, once Bale moved up to the left wing he had a good 2nd half. Vertonghen continues to look like an absolute beast, even excelling at left back today.
I do worry for AVB though. There are some very unhappy fans at WHL at the moment and they don't seem prepared to give him much time to get things right (nothing new there obv).
See, I disagree about Dembele
I think some people are seeing what they want to see with him. He started very well against Reading but faded, and I don't think he ever really got going against Lazio. He makes the odd run through the middle, and it looks great, but midfield is about consistency and keeping things ticking over, and I don't think he does that.
how are tranmere top of league 1?
ronnie moore's a genius
he should never have been sacked the last time round
got some good players in there as well. wallace and palmer in the midfield are both very talented especially and andy robinson is a dependable player for that division too.
Are there any clubs whose fans aren't having a right cry on so far this season?
hiya
Fucking hell
You've had quite the attitude since Newcastle made it a whole year without having a comedy Mike Ashley based crisis. I know there's an empty bantless chasm in the middle of the football threads these days, but I don't think a Newcastle fan's the person to fill it.
Anyone's welcome to head the obligatory "fill your mum's chasm" joke into the empty net by the way.
bit defensive
Everton!
I like Everton, and they've started really well, but c'mon guys - you're not gonna finish in the top 4.
(Insert ridiculous statement like 'I'll move to Merseyside if they do!' for someone to bookmark here)
omg
You're all gonna be unbearable for a while
Amazing
I was actually about to type "what's John Terry done now?", but I gave BBC Sport a quick look first.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/9247808/John-Terry-I-will-never-turn-my-back-on-England.html
I wonder what could have changed...
Probably watched Jagielka play and realised he wasn't needed any more
So he's been advised on the likely outcome of the hearing
and opted to jump before he's pushed?
I sincerely doubt that
They've just updated the BBC report
He said his FA personal hearing on Monday makes his position "untenable".
It'll either be that, or that he's resigning in protest of the charge, will it not?
I doubt John Terry has had a personality transplant.
He's never been the sort to jump before and he's had plenty of chances.
But he has jumped
He's retired. I don't understand what you're suggesting has happened.
I'm suggesting that no-one really knows what's happened yet.
I'm really confident that I'm correct in saying that. REALLY confident.
Enjoy watching Jagielka, everyone!
so john terry has retired from england internationals
kinda unexpected
JT
Brave JT. England's lion. We are doomed.
well as long as brave scotty parker is with us
we will win in brazil
I admire your optimism
But brave Scotty Parker borrowed his bravery from JT. I'm going to watch slow motion videos of JT defending with some sad music on and cry myself to sleep.
I really enjoyed watching Arsenal today
Not because Santi Cazorla is an absolute joy to watch. Not because players like Ramsey, Gervinho and Gibbs played so much better than at any point last season. Well yes, definitely those things. But the main thing is, we didn't look like conceding a goal every time we didn't have the ball. Even with Bert from Sesame Street in goal.
Mertesacker and Koscielny were imperious today. Who the fuck does Wenger leave out of the team when Vermaelen has stopped puking? You can't stick Koscielny back on the bench after a performance like that. And Mertesacker has been a rock in every game so far. And I'm no longer talking about his lack of mobility when I say that - the guy is like a brick wall. A brick wall with great positioning. But Vermaelen is our captain so he has to play. It's a tough one, but a good one. Three centre backs at the top of their game. Maybe when we play Stoke we can play five at the back and just sit watching each other.
Jenkinson and Gibbs have been revelatory too, especially in this game. Look steady in defence and dangerous in attack. I apologise for lambasting Wenger for not signing any extra full backs - obviously he saw how well these guys were progressing in pre-season.
Giroud and Podolski still remain a minor worry. But I think once Giroud bangs a couple of goals in against someone crap he'll start performing. He's an absolute beast. Podolski didn't have a great game today but he'll be ok too. I think Van Persie had fully committed to the cause and was playing today we would have won, and even more people would be talking about us being genuine title contenders. The fact that some are doing this even without him and with two strikers that haven't settled yet ... well I think it's a bit premature but it is certainly exciting.
I really hope we somehow manage to finish above Man Utd. Just so I can get a T-Shirt made of that first rate troll face Van Persie made against Tim Krul last season, with the mouth turned upside down.
podolski a worry?!
what matches have you been watching??
Arsenal FC matches
I'm not sure he is gonna score loads of goals, or create loads of goals. And if Giroud doesn't start scoring, then we're gonna need him to do the former, and Giroud does make the striker position his own, then Podolski will still need to contribute with the latter.
He's certainly looked a threat of some kind and worked hard in every game so far though. What would everyone say would be a good goal return for him this season? 12?? 15?? 20??
I'm not bothered about keeping count of his goalscoring
he's been an absolutely key part of our performances so far. As i said in that other thread, our second best player after cazorla
besides, 3 in 6 for a left winger pretty good by any standard
I don't agree
I think our defence and midfield have been a key part of our performances so far. I think if Podolski hadn't been involved so far we'd still have 9 points and a win in Europe.
Podolski wasn't great today..
but overall he's been considering it usually takes time to adapt to a new league. His work rate and passing have been very good and he seems to be a clinical finisher especially on his left foot. Shame his big goalscoring opportunity fell on his right foot today.
He also seems to be devloping a good understanding with both Cazorla and Gibbs.
Podolski is a top, top player.
I like how in a big long post talking about how exciting Arsenal have been so far
The only responses have been to pull me up on calling Podolski and Giroud a "minor worry" which I actually resolved by saying I think both will do well this season.
Good work, gooners.
Needlesslydefensive this'd this.
Gervinho was terrible in that match, worst he has played all season.
Probably still better than at any point last season so I'll give you that.
Even the biggest JT hater couldn't see him retiring as a complete positive.
Though he's not the defender he was, hasn't really been that consistant for Chelsea for a couple of seasons now, and although Lescott, Cahill, and to a lesser extent Jagielka have all done alright, there's no doubting that an England defence featuring JT + 1 other is tighter than any combination of the rest.
A positive generally, though. Hopefully some of the other old guard will follow suit - Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney, Cole - though the latter's improved again after going off the ball for a year or two at club level and has arguably been England's most consistant player over the last five years.
Tbh, I'm kinda pleased he's retired.
He's getting on and not in great shape so it's good from a club perspective. And while I think he should be in the England team in merit, not being involved might make international games a little less toxic and unpleasant.
The media reaction if Rooney retired at 26
oh boy.
It'd be best for all parties, wouldn't it?
In fact, talking purely as an England fan here, he's probably the one of the above names mentioned who i'd rather retired. Lampard, Cole, Gerrard, etc, at least contribute something.
From your point of view, i can't see how it wouldn't be a positive. Given his style, he's going to pick up more and more injuries.
Couldn't really care less if he plays for England tbh
doubt he'll ever perform consistently well for them again.
Doesn't mean he wouldn't face a serious 'JUDAS' backlash from the rags if he turned his back on the England team.
guy's going to break down by 30
so it seems a moot point really
Bring back Wayne Bridge
RIP John Terry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoOhnrjdYOc
haha ljungberg
not a natural pundit, is he
pretty much eye candy
look at those cheekbones
i like freddie ljungberg's accent
wish colin murray would stop toadying all his guest pundits so much though
Colin Murray is odious
On radio he just whines on about footballers' sex lives, presumably whilst yanking on his little member.
that through ball by faurlin for the goal was neat
he's got good cheekbones too
oh that's who the box face nurses off doctor who reminded me of
gab obertan is a handsome man
Freddie :D
...
'...Lauren would kick the shit out of them'
:D
Did Freddie Ljungberg just say that
Yeah, and then Colin Murray said
You say nothing all night, and then you say that.
:D
annoyed i stopped watching now
Doesn't even have to apologise either cos of the time
They should always swear
^ this
who gives a shit? your man apologising like he'd done a Pardew.
:'''D
wheres the monday thread then