It looks like Man. U's players want to headbutt the referee.
Waiting for the moment when referees carry around 2 cans: 1 paint and the other confetti to calm down the agitated players. : )
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It looks like Man. U's players want to headbutt the referee.
Waiting for the moment when referees carry around 2 cans: 1 paint and the other confetti to calm down the agitated players. : )
Came in here to post "LAMELA YOU smurfED IT ALL UP, YOU CHOOSE NOW TO GO BACK TO BEING trout? :argh:" but instead came away with a profound sense of Primus related peace.
There will be no hat-trick for Alexis Sanchez today as he goes off to a standing ovation with what looks like a possible groin injury. Kieran Gibbs comes on for a 10-minute run around.
Meanwhile, Louis van Gaal also makes a changes, putting all his hopes of a miracle comeback in a James Wilson-shaped basket. The striker comes on for his first appearance of the season, replacing Juan Mata.
http://www.metalgearinformer.com/wp-...Boss-Grave.jpg
it was fun to dream.
also man I love the football thread so much. if you have the correct posts per page setting (30), just scroll down this page from the top but imagine viewing it through the eyes of a non football thread regular. they would be so utterly blagged.
you guys give me the tingles. :heart:
this also happened today btw
http://i.imgur.com/5FaH3Ti.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/PWN4pln.jpg
And that's Rogers sacked. Seems a bit harsh.
He was an outstanding technician who brought great character to the group.
We'll always have 2013/14, Brendan.
http://www.metalgearinformer.com/wp-...Boss-Grave.jpg
Now Old Manus please join me in a prayer: Not Garry Monk, please not Garry Monk, please not Garry Monk...
I hope and dream for Klopp, Ancelotti or, dare I even say it, Jose M? I would be okay with De Boer and I have a hunch it's going to be him.
What about Dick Advocaat? He'll be available soon.
I wonder how long it will be before Koeman gets tempted away from Southampton.
Dick wouldn't last five minutes. I really felt sorry for the poor old boy, he actually cried when Sunderland scored their first. I want to give him a hug.
My favourite Brendan Rodgers moment - the 2013/14 season in gif form: http://www.gfycat.com/VariableFrankJavalina
Thierry Henry xD https://vine.co/v/e2OFtXVuh2V
oh god i'm crying https://twitter.com/BBCSporf/status/...540584448?s=07
This news disappoints me in that I have lost one of my main avenues for mocking Liverpool. I trust they will now reappoint Kenny Dalglish so we can all continue as normal.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Manus
is a swansea fanQuote:
Originally Posted by Old Manus
is welshhas won more trophies as both a player and a manager separately than swansea city ever likely willQuote:
Originally Posted by Old Manus
is not welsh
sorry bud might want to stick to mocking wrexham or clyfydhyfyd or something
Terrible result in terms of score and performance. Those first 20 minutes are the worst I've seen since I started watching Utd on a regular basis...but that Henry reaction to Rogers being sacked made up for it all!
What was your final FF score, Psy?
139. Also you guys should thank us for taking all the media attention away from that result against Arsenal!
I am legitimately thankful for it. It won't be remembered as "The Day Arsenal Creamed Man Utd", but "The Day Henry Touched Carragher's leg".
Those first 20 minutes were absolutely flawless from Arsenal. I'm obviously disappointed but holy trout. Every pass, touch, shot was a 10/10. Fair play to them. charliepanayi, I'm right here homie.
Big Sam to save Liverpool!
I honestly think that is doing Arsenal a disservice. Yes, we were bad. Schweinsteiger was playing as a striker for some reason and we weren't fantastically organised but... that is as good a 20 minutes I have seen a PL team play. They just blew us away. If I was a neutral watching that I would be standing applauding.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crop
Attachment 65664Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
I think I was kind of like this yesterday during the first half.
Attachment 65665
Rather baffled how we can be so bad in one game and so much better in another on a repeated basis.
>implying the Welsh Cup isn't a real trophyQuote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
I probably worded it badly, I didn't mean due to our performance (although that was bad) but because I've never seen my team get dismantled like that.Quote:
Originally Posted by BubbaI honestly think that is doing Arsenal a disservice. Yes, we were bad. Schweinsteiger was playing as a striker for some reason and we weren't fantastically organised but... that is as good a 20 minutes I have seen a PL team play. They just blew us away. If I was a neutral watching that I would be standing applauding.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crop
That was the best 20 minutes I've seen from Arsenal that I can think of. They were solid for the rest of the game too. Even when it looked like we came back in the game a bit in the second half, it just felt like it was on their terms.
paul
paul
it rises from the darkness. it hungers. it comes.
NO IT BLOODY DOESN'T
"klopp"
What was that?
"Klopp"
Do you hear something?
"KLOPP"
Could it be?
"KLOPPPPPPP"
A German Giant may just be arriving to dunk on the competition!
http://www.joe.co.uk/sport/watch-jur...e-garden/18429
(Not sure it's him, of course)
Get it done. Now.
I have looked into this Jurgen Klopp fellow and the one thing I have deduced is that he is completely and utterly battrout insane. He is completely loop-de-loop, round-the-bend completely stark raving bonkers. If we convince him to join I don't know if it will guarantee success, trophies and that elusive title, but I can confidently say it's going to be fun.
FIFA getting purged loving every moment
Pfft, nothing much will change in the long run I bet. It's like expecting politics to ever get less dodgy.
Anything will be better than what there is now, let's face it. So it will get better even if they have the tiniest amount of increased transparency.
It is absolutely delicious. I didn't think it would get better than that prick Jack Warner getting nailed but old Blatter himself? Magnificent.
When I hear 'Klopp' I keep wanting to attach a 'Klip' and make it sound like a horse.
Oh gosh I actually attended that event. It was... okay? Fairly standard 'born again' affair. Seemed like a nice enough guy. The curry was great.Quote:
Originally Posted by DK
WHAT?!
Tell us about Linvoy.
I hope Prince Ali gets to be the next FIFA President anyway, he has that great theme song and all
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEryAoLfnAA
oh my god yes tell us!! did you touch his dreadlocks? I am envious.Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
also I've just thought that we have every variation of Daniel in this thread, Dan, Danny and Daniel, and we all support Manchester teams. Going to go ahead and assume that Donal is an Irish version also just because it suits my realization. Propose we rename The good Captain 'Paulo' to fit in with this theme.
Euro 2016 update (what do you mean, who cares)! The following teams have qualified so far:
Austria
Czech Republic
England
France
Iceland
Northern Ireland
Portugal
With Wales almost certain to qualify, Scotland will be the only home nation not there. Doh!
Klopp confirmed
Hopefully he can replicate at Liverpool his triumph of bringing Borussia Dortmund to the dizzy heights of (SPOILER)7th place
That'll be fine. Next year will be Our Year™
Can confirm, he's told me as much.Quote:
Originally Posted by DK
:lol: Scary fate. The EoFF meet-up will for everyone will be a head scratcher.Quote:
Originally Posted by Loony BoBCan confirm, he's told me as much.Quote:
Originally Posted by DK
Fantastic appointment by Liverpool, has to be said. Especially considering he can mentor potential footballing greats as Divock Origi & Joe Allen.
Ireland beating the world champions last night. Was hoarse this morning from Long's strike. Holy god.
Well I mean don't get me wrong Joe Allen has a wonderful beard but he's never going to be more than a 7/10 player at best!Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocket Edge
Anyway, obviously I am thrilled to have Klopp on board, that's a real coup for a club in our position. As we've seen on transfers over the years there are at least 10 clubs (if not more) with more pull than Liverpool in Europe and to have secured one of the most sought after managers in football is fantastic.
I'm not expecting us to suddenly storm to title after title though, but some progress towards being a Champions League club again in the next couple of years would be great. More importantly, it's just going to be fun. It's like swapping a Prius for a monster truck - neither is going to win you the race but you're going to have a hell of a lot more fun in the monster truck.
Since 2015 we've been bad. Yes, hur hur, Liverpool have been bad for 20 years #epicbantz. I mean, just, dire. Awful. No spark, no cohesion, nothing. 21 points from 18 games is relegation form. Then to top it all off, the manager will smugly insist we were outstanding and the players have shown great character. No, Brendan, I've just watched 90 minutes of utter sludge. I know we weren't outstanding, and our players look like they're either scared of their own shadows or simply can't be arsed. I don't think we'll be able to say that about a Klopp managed Liverpool team somehow. At the very least he'll knock the god awful 3-5-2 dirge on the head.
Really I just want to enjoy watching my team play again rather than having it on in the background while I do the ironing.
In all honesty I'm looking forward to seeing him at Liverpool. Partly because characters like that only improve ~*~the best league in the world~*~, and partly because if he fails, watching the Liverpudlians implode and/or burst into flames after the absolutely incredible amount of hype would be glorious.
You didn't get the best part of the hype. 35,000 people tracked his plane in from Germany.
Pretend like I'm not one of them, they'll never know. :shifty:
I was aware of that because a bloke in work (there are more Liverpool fans in Cardiff than Cardiff fans #Fact) was doing the same thing. I was trying to find a link to it along with the LivEcho guy weeing himself with excitement over it but it was hidden away in some live updates page somewhere.
Honestly, the hype is crazy but he could be the man for the job. I've loved watching his passion at Dortmund and if he brings that along with a good sense of humor, he'll be fine.
I expect a spike in stylish glasses and beards all over Anfield.
Like Paul said, him being here just makes Liverpool worth watching again and as a fan, that's all I really want. I trust him to be a little more honest and critical than Brendan usually was, especially post match.
The question is, what can he do with Rodger's spare parts? There are some good pieces but we have far too many players who seem to be the same, few of them really capable of being game-changers. That could be the first and hardest hurdle.
I think a Top 6 finish and a Cup Final run would be a good start.
Also, awesome show of support from Dortmund:
http://www.espnfc.us/blog/the-toe-po...bute-for-klopp
The fact that a former club is wishing him so well speaks volumes to the level of admiration and good will the man can bring with him to Liverpool.
All hail "The Normal One".
Cyprus still have a shot at the Euro 2016 playoffs. Not bad going.
Let's all take the time now to laugh at Scotland. You got your independence after all!
Even funnier considering the Scottish FA were one of the main parties who pushed for an expansion to 24 teams. And they still fail to make it!
Everyone in mae wlad fy nhadau is of course freaking out about Gareth Bale AFC qualifying for Euro 2016 and bringing glory after 57 years of hurt etc but I can't help feeling it is a bit of an empty victory. People either forget or are unaware that the only reason we have qualified is because of UEFA's daft decision to increase the participant nations to 24. I mean finishing second in the group is still a great achievement after the last 20 years of guff but it would normally mean we would advance to a playoff against stronger opposition who we would more than likely lose to. I don't know about you guys but I've watched pretty much every minute of Wales' qualifying games and to say we are blunt up front would be an understatement of immense proportions. Bale can only offer so many moments of magic to bring us the 1-0 win.
That said, I don't think even the most deluded Wales fan honestly thinks we have a chance of getting anywhere in the tournament, we're just going to enjoy the experience. I'm still going to try and get hold of tickets, and have been brushing up on my 'mange tout's and 'bonnet de douche's in anticipation :excited:
Here's some helpful tips. And clowns, I guess.Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Manus
Empty victory? For god's sake, you just made the European Championships, just enjoy it. The expansion to 24 teams has actually made the qualifiers interesting for once.
Plus Albania have just qualified, that will make Scotland feel even better.
I can understand Wales and Ireland laughing it up about Scotland falling short, but England have been knocked out of the Rugby World Cup at the group stage on their home turf while the rest of the home nations went through. Meanwhile, their national football team is the England national football team which I'm pretty sure most England fans concede is a joke in it's own right.
Haven't seen much on the news up here about Scotland missing out tbh. There's the clamour of "should he stay or should he go" for Strachan but the guys themselves are just shrugging and going "Oh well."
As for me, I keep looking at how NZ has to get through a South American team to get into WC 2018 and am preparing myself to say "Oh well." also. :(
England have won every single game in qualification (so far, they'll bugger it up tonight just to ruin my post!) which would only be the 6th time a team has ever done that. If that's a joke, where's the punchline? Whatever digs people want to aim at them for their record over the years, it's not a bad thing to be actually proud of the team when they do well and it's a good accomplishment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Loony BoB
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying England are some awful side. It's the entirety of England international football that is the joke, and the punchline will come again and again. If it's not the team, it's the coach. If it's not the coach, it's the media. And of course, if it's not the media, it's the fans. Either way, they will get hyped up to win, lose and there will be some kind of inquiry into why England are not the best team in the world.
Exactly! 10-wins-out-of-10 and there is no other country in Europe to do it. This obviously means we're going to walk the Euros in the summer. I mean, who else can compete with a 100% record? Bring on the fodder!Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
You're living in the past. Sure, you have the odd nutter here and there who think Ing-ur-lund will do it but they're dwindling. Since 2012, coinciding with the Roy Hodgson years I guess, there's been vastly reduced expectation on England and compared to The Golden Generation™ years when the whole nation was convinced they'd win between 1996 and 2010, peaking in 04 and 06. England fans have changed from Liverpool fans (THIS YEAR IS OUR YEAR) to Aston Villa fans (yeah we're kind of trout and we know it. oh well) in that time.
Obviously the bitter Scottish perceptions of England haven't changed so I can see why you might think that... ;)
2010 was definitely the moment where the narrative of 'England can do well this time, honest!' seemed to crumble. They had breezed qualifying, everyone saw Capello as a great antidote to McLaren's dismal reign, they had a relatively soft World Cup group, and then they were just so bad in the tournament (to the extent that nobody even complained that much about Lampard's over the line not given goal) it seemed to be the final straw. That sense of entitlement hasn't been there in 2012 and 2014, everyone's been too gloomy.
England tend to do well in qualifying anyway, the qualifying campaigns for the 1994 World Cup and Euro 2008 (where England failed) and Euro 2000 (England won three games, two of which were against Luxembourg and scraped through a playoff) tend to be the exceptions.
It might not happen today, it might not happen in the Euros, but it'll happen again when England show solid promise. They might have done well in qualifiers but from what I hear, the performances themselves haven't been terribly convincing. But we'll have to wait until the Euros before we can really know, I guess!
But c'mon. If it's not football, it's cricket. If it's not cricket, it's rugby. If it's not rugby, it's football. England demand an inquiry about not being the best! And if they are the best, they'll shout about it and then start an inquiry into how best to cut down their tall poppies.
Being a New Zealander, I can sympathise. :shobon: When NZ lost a rugby game it wasn't much different. Well, okay, we're #1 ranked in the world so it's always an upset, but still. I guess NZ losing in the cricket is probably closer to England with football.
It has baffled me seeing all the fallout from England getting knocked out of the WC at the first hurdle at the hands of based Wales. There were only 2 spots and one of them was always going to be Australia. They screwed up at home to Wales and that's why they went out. There we go, I've saved you guys the inquest.
Shame about Krum's injury. I saw it happen, he'll be out for a while.
I guess Newcastle's losing streak will continue.. or will it? Maybe the second keeper is better, who knows.
It's because the English Football Team are no longer entitled to win everything, the English Rugby Team are.Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Manus
Well come on, it has to be English something entitled to win. I'm personally hoping for Hot Dog eating next, we have to get someone to the world championships next year!
I know, Bulgaria just won't be the same without their star Seeker.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerith's Knight
So here's the current Euro 2016 qualifiers:
France
England
Czech Republic
Austria
Iceland
Northern Ireland
Wales
Portugal
Spain
Switzerland
Italy
Belgium
Romania
Albania
Germany
Poland
Russia
Slovakia
Croatia
Turkey
The remaining four places will be decided by the playoffs, which have the following teams:
Bosnia
Ukraine
Republic of Ireland
Slovenia
Hungary
Sweden
Norway
Denmark
Holland are out :D
Why the hell did I say Krum instead of Krul? I haven't read HP in years. xDQuote:
Originally Posted by BubbaI know, Bulgaria just won't be the same without their star Seeker.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerith's Knight
Beginning to think Brendan Rodgers has put a voodoo curse on Liverpool with all these injuries. smurf me look at the bench for today: Substitutes: Bogdan, Toure, Randall, Allen, Teixeira, Ibe, Sinclair.
Who even are any of these people? "Allen"? What the smurf is an "Allen"?!
I hear it's Gaelic for "Welsh Xavi"
ahahahaha Spurs playing Star Wars duel of the fates over the PA. It's only Liverpool v Spurs, come on.
Scousers are playing well by all accounts. High pressing game seems to be working. They're all workshy :bou::bou::bou::bou:s though and I reckon Spurs will bag a couple of late goals.
It was better than we've played 90% of the time this season and I enjoyed it, which is the first time I've done so in a while! Who knew that playing midfielder Emre Can in midfield would see him playing well? Madness. I still think we'll finish 6th or 7th though, especially with players being ruled out for the season left and right.
I desperately want a win at Goodison today. Sick of getting turned over by these bastards.
You've got to be pleased!
Speaking of please, it's just so satisfying to see Jamie smurfing Vardy continue to utterly wreck the Premier League and Leicester time and time again getting out of trouble. I don't know how the smurf it's happening but it's a lot of fun.
Crystal Palace vs. West Ham was pretty exciting until Gayle (figuratively) poked someone in the eye.
Although he would have done it literally if he'd have gotten away with it.
Dat Nathan Dyer assist doeQuote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
Euro 2016 playoff draw:
Ireland v Bosnia
Ukraine v Slovenia
Sweden v Denmark
Hungary v Norway
United's best performance under LVG. Smalling = best defender in Europe.
Who would have said a year ago that Leicester vs Crystal Palace this weekend looks to be a cracker?
Also :lol:
...Wow.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocket Edge
It's amazes me the utter lengths agents go to nowadays. Timely comes out with that after he scores a hat-trick. For a little more money you can have us back, we never wanted to leave!
I just hope Hodgson realises how good Smalling is and doesn't keep giving a starting spot to Cahill. Ander Herrera is also a beast.
Also yeah smurf Sterling's agent. It's done, you and he and indeed Liverpool got big fat sacks of cash and City got the best young English talent. Everyone won, shut up already.
In related but not entirely relevant off-pitch news:
Giggs and Neville work with squatters to make occupied hotel safe
These two have turned pleasingly humanitarian lately, this is a nice news story.
Ryan Giggs is all about spreading the love. Not even family gets in his way.
I just expected the Arsenal Everton game to turn into a brawl at the end. Dear lord, those players were agitated.
Big Andy has moved up from dicking Swansea to dicking Mourinho. He's in the big dicking leagues now.
I'm waiting for Mourinho to reveal the last few months have all been a performance art depiction of King Lear's descent into madness. It troubles me that we have no regulars in the football thread who are Chelsea fans so that we canmockbanter them.
I would like to point out at this juncture... that I am the only person who predicted Arsenal would win the league
I also predicted Liverpool would finish 12th.
:smug:
I'm slowly becoming a Crystal palace fan if they keep up their good show. Teams like Arsenal show off too much for me to truly enjoy it.
I would like to point out at this juncture that February aka Annual Arsenal Collapse Month and Liverpool Finally Stop Being trout When It's Too Late To Count Month hasn't happened yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bubba
Most bloody disappointing derby ever. I mean, sure, there was some great footwork. Fast and mostly accurate passes all around. Some decent duels, and not too rough a game.
But by god, will someone please shoot at the goal? It didn't help that Man. City was playing on the counter, but unable to actually keep the ball for more than 5 seconds.
All in all, I've seen far more exciting games. Reinforces for me that Man. City without Aguero has a poor scoring ability.
Amateur Poker League. New player at the table.
"Jurgen is it? Five Card Stud OK with you?"
"Nah, I prefer Draw"
Said the Manchester United fan, fresh from their decisive victories over Manchester City and CSKA Moscow this week.
If you want a collapse month for Arsenal, January could be a better choice this time if we haven't already started to skid by then - Liverpool away, and our regular as clockwork defeats at Stoke and to Chelsea.
Looking forward to the return of Moyes to the Premier League at some point. Maybe he and Sherwood could swap jobs.
Real Madrid are now on the hunt for Jamie Vardy. http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2015/10/...49_066444.html
I don't even care if it'll never ever happen, the very idea of it is simply beautiful.
Jamie Vardy is the new Grant Holt. Can't wait for the calls to put him in the Euro 2016 squad (I assume they've already started actually).
Christ, what's next? Rickie Lambert to Liverpool?
Well, Rooney is finished, Kane - hat trick against a weakened and already beaten team aside - hasn't really looked with it, Sturridge and Welbeck are made of biscuits and glass... still, at least Andy Carroll aka England's top goalscorer in Euro 2012 is back....Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
You are correct - this was up on BBC a few days before your post: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34606190Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
And there we are, Wenger gets his senior players injured just in time for the wintertime form collapse. I was worried for a minute there.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/...6649950218.jpg
"Sorry, you'll have to speak up. I can't hear you over the sound of making Man United my bitch."
2 rounds better than last year, and going out on penalties rather than a 4-0 drossing! That is improvement right there, £33 million worth of improvement!
Accentuate the positive!
The good news doesn't stop there, there's still four whole more years of talismanic captain Wayne Rooney's £338k a week contract left to go!
Actually don't mind Rooney when he's not leading the attack. As soon as he plays in midfield, everyone goes crazy about how he should be leading the attack because he scores a few goals from midfield. Put him in attack, no goals. May as well put him back into midfield and put Martial up front.
Don't think Rooney is as bad as people are saying he is, though. People love to exaggerate it. I wouldn't mind him being dropped for a game or two, but I wouldn't want him out permanently. He was crap in that game though. He's better when someone else is pulling the defence away from him. He's no good trying to hold up the ball and turn past a defender, let alone 2-3 defenders because he's the only striker up front.
Everyone goes crazy saying he should play up front because they're his mates (see the Neville brothers - especially disappointed in Gary as he used to not take any prisoners in his punditry) Rooney shouldn't play upfront because Martial is better. He shouldn't play as a No 10 because the criminally underused Ander Herrera is miles better, as is Juan Mata. He shouldn't play deeper in midfield because Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin and Carrick are all better. And Fellaini is probably better in all of those roles than Our Wayne too.
It's not even that Rooney is not as good as these players, he is actively damaging United. Against City, he completed nine passes in the first half, and gave the ball away seven times. No shots on target. No chances created. A passing accuracy of 55% (the lowest on the pitch). Lost possession 28 times (highest on the pitch). One touch in the opposition penalty area.
I don't understand why people are clamouring to say "No no, he's not finished!" There's no shame in the performance of players slowly decreasing as they get older. "But he's only 30 he's got 5 more years left!" It's not an exact science where players are fine up until, say, 33 and then as soon as they blow out the candles become beyond redemption. With Rooney you have to remember he was a very early physical developer, breaking onto the scene at 16 and he's played a lot more football than other players his age - that kind of thing really takes its toll. It's not surprising or shameful that he's peaked a couple of years before the traditional age of footballers. See Michael Owen and (Brazilian) Ronaldo for other examples of that.
Rooney's decline is not as drastic as some make it out to be in my opinion. We play a system where a CF without pace will do crap. Even the likes of Cole, Van Nistelrooy etc. would suffer badly. We create no chances for them. Like none. So what are you left with? Trying to beat a player, and Rooney doesn't have that anymore. Even Martial, who can dribble around 3 players no problem is still left with another wall of defenders to beat, so either he gets dispossessed or it's a blocked shot. Depay is a victim of our rigid tactics as well.
That's not to say Rooney has been awful this season, and he deserves much of the criticism he's been getting. People criticizing his wage and why he keeps getting game-time annoys me though. He still gives (what looks like) 100% on the pitch and getting his starting place stops with the manager. Change the system to a more attacking one LVG :cry:
I agree with Donal. If Rooney were, say, Young or Carrick or whatever and on their wages, nobody would have been losing their trout over him this season. But he's a striker and on huge wages, so people are happy to nametag him as a scapegoat for any problems we have.
Also, to nitpick, Schweinsteiger has not been better than Rooney this season. Arguably worse. He gets more touches because he's in midfield, but he doesn't impact the games. Worth noting that I love Schweinsteiger, I used to watch him play for Germany/Munich and always wished he'd join us. I have mixed feelings when he's picked as a starter because I've yet to see him do anything of note and on occasion he just doesn't play well. I'm still optimistic he'll get right though.
Likewise, I really hoped Wilson would prove himself worthy of a return to the first team but he sucked against Middlesborough. It wasn't until Rooney started dropping into midfield that we started playing really well.
Despite all that, Rooney wouldn't make my team on form at the moment. But I've always been of the camp of "Form is temporary, class is permanent" and hope that Rooney will come right. There will be a point where his form becomes too bad to play him but I don't think we're at that point just yet.
Personally, on form my first choice team would probably be...
- - - - - - - - - - Martial - - - - - - - - - -
- - - Young - - - Herrera - - - Mata - - -
- - - - Schneiderlin - - - Carrick - - - - -
Shaw (:() - Blind - Smalling - Darmian
- - - - - - - - - - De Gea - - - - - - - - - -
Valencia, Rooney and Depay as planned subs. Fellaini, Romero, Schweinsteiger and Jones for the other subs available for tactics/injuries.
Blind vs. Jones was the toughest call. And for Shaw, Rojo would naturally take his spot since he's injured.
I would really love to see this team play for science.
- - - - - - - Martial - - Rooney - - - - - - -
Young - - Herrera - Schneiderlin - - Mata
Shaw (:() - Blind - Smalling - Darmian
- - - - - - - - - - De Gea - - - - - - - - - -
Some might see playing with two up front as rather old-school, but with how many defenders swarm Rooney when he gets the ball, I would be interested in seeing a defence mark both Rooney and Martial simultaneously.
When you're the fifth highest paid footballer in the world, seemingly undroppable for club and country and being picked in every game you're available for and not even being substituted, yes, absolutely you deserve scrutiny. He's paid more than Aguero, Suarez, Neymar, Sanchez, Lewandowski, Muller... I could go on. He's not even been as effective as the likes of Mane, Pelle, Ighalo and Vardy. When you pay a player that much money you expect much better.
Also, class is permanent until you get old. That's why the likes of Scholes, Gerrard and Stanley Matthews aren't still tearing up the league.
I dare say Scholes probably could have kept going if he'd wanted to. :shobon:
And I'm not saying he's not worth scrutiny, I'm just saying he's not "useless" or "awful" or whatever. He's not up to the standard we expect of him, no, but that standard is considerably higher than what we set for most other players. Nobody has been vilifying Depay or Schweinsteiger but they haven't set the world alight recently.
I would place Schweinsteiger as one of our best performers this season for me. Thought he didn't do anything wrong but was ineffective at the start but now he's always looking for the ball to quicken things up. I really like that about him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Loony BoB
I didn't think Wilson looked fit against Boro, but maybe that's just me. On a good note Perreira looked great again and I really rate Lingard.Quote:
Likewise, I really hoped Wilson would prove himself worthy of a return to the first team but he sucked against Middlesborough. It wasn't until Rooney started dropping into midfield that we started playing really well.
Same here. I'm not gonna go down the route of 'he's past it' just yet until I see him in a different formation+tactics, and returning to some sort of form.Quote:
Despite all that, Rooney wouldn't make my team on form at the moment. But I've always been of the camp of "Form is temporary, class is permanent" and hope that Rooney will come right. There will be a point where his form becomes too bad to play him but I don't think we're at that point just yet.
Same team as me, and yeah Jones could deserve a call up. I thought Fellani played well against City & Boro, so he would be an early substitute. I'd like to see a 4-4-2 being given a whirl myself. Don't think it will happen though with how high up LVG has us playing in the pitch. Having 4 in midfield leading a high line would leave too many holes. Look at Arsenal.Quote:
Personally, on form my first choice team would probably be...
- - - - - - - - - - Martial - - - - - - - - - -
- - - Young - - - Herrera - - - Mata - - -
- - - - Schneiderlin - - - Carrick - - - - -
Shaw (:() - Blind - Smalling - Darmian
- - - - - - - - - - De Gea - - - - - - - - - -
What I'd love to see would be someone like Greizhman or whatever he's called coming to the club - a very pacy forward who knows where the goal is, and not someone like Higuian, Cavani, Ibrahimovic etc. who is more static which we definitely don't need. Move Martial to the left. Think we would do very well then.
It's certainly annoying as a United supporter, but what can you do though? He's trying your best. The book stops with the manager & he should have been dropped long ago. I would take Ighalo over Rooney at the moment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
Wow, at the end of Liverpool-Chelsea, it seemed anyone in red would get yellow for sneezing in the wrong direction. Yes, Chelsea was losing, but that's no reason to favor them.
Shove that up your arse you Portugese troutbag! If we're the ones that get him fired I will jizz over everything within a 20ft radius. Oh and I'm in love with a man named Philippe and I don't care who knows it.
Immensely glad I don't live in Warwickshire right now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
Looking at the possession though it's no more than Liverpool deserved. Really enjoying Chelsea's title defence :D
Yeah as soon as Chelsea got that first goal they shut up shop and parked the bus. That's from the 5th minute, at home. You get what you deserve when you pull trout like that.
Also Liverpool fans chanting "You're not special anymore, you're not special anymore! You're not special, you're not special, you're not special anymore!" and Mourinho looked smurfing furious at them. I was nearly in tears.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Congrats on the deserved victory, Paul.
Thank you, I thought I did my best out there.
I thought so too. The amount of times Chelsea flinched when they saw your face in the stands contributed heavily to the chances created.Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
Amateur Poker League. New player at the table.
"Louis is it? Five Card Stud OK with you?"
"Nah, I prefer Draw"
Doesn't sound like van Gaal. He lost the half-finals in the cup last time because he didn't want to end it in a draw and go to penalties.
Anyway, I think it's more that United has its defence finally shored up, but now it's coming short on offensive capibilities. Let's be honest here, Out of the four players in the front, only Herrera and Rooney were qualified to be there.
Rooney isn't qualified to be anywhere on a football pitch lately.
Impressed at Leicester being so high having conceded 19 goals.
Bafetimbi Gomis is reminding me more and more of Danny Graham by the day.
Is anyone else feeling sorry for Mourinho? I know, he's a dick when he wants to be but, I dunno. SSN were showing his 'special one' interview earlier and it was a bit humiliating when seeing him now.
Do I think he's the reason they're doing badly? No.
Do I feel sorry for him? No.
Do I think he's a dick? No.
It's just business.
Mourinho is a massive dick. I get that the siege mentality, someone-else-is-to-blame thing is just a tactic to make the story about him rather than how absolutely trousers his football team have been and it works fantastically. He does take it beyond just a distraction tactic at times though. Look at the absolutely shocking way he treated Eva Carneiro. And how many managers do you know have jabbed someone else in the eye on the pitch? The dude is a nasty piece of work. With that said, I find his antics entertaining - just as I did Suarez - so whatever. I've always felt football has needed pantomime villains so long may it continue.
Don't get me wrong, I think he does dickish things, but hell, we're all guilty of doing dickish things. Admittedly we're not famous and don't do it in the public eye like he does, but yeah. I don't think he's a saint by any stretch. He's an A-hole, but he's not 100% a dick.
What did we learn today kids? That's right, not to lose at home to terrible Greek sides in the Champions League. Maybe we can play Spurs in the Europa League quarter finals.
Arsenal have two modes so far this season seemingly: Excellent and Abject.
Arsenal have always seemed to fall under two extremes; they're a side that is difficult to predict. They're a bookies worst nightmare.Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
Olympiakos are a bit underrated. They have done well in the CL in the past. I seem to remember them giving us a good game in the knockout stages 2-3 years ago. I wouldn't call them a terrible Greek side.
I don't like it when English teams do badly in the CL. Arsenals defending was brutal. Even Man City I was happy to see win. Good for the EPL.
http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/firs...ments-and-hugs
"“The players have no choice – I see after the game they don’t want a hug, but that’s my special thing and I don’t know what happens to me in moments like this.
“I like people who give their all - and they gave their all in these games. They did really well and I cannot do so much during the game, then I give a little [hug], they start recovery directly after the game and maybe it helps!”
I want a Klopp hug.
What a novel concept, play players in their actual best position, stress defensive responsibilities, press hard, play hard and enjoy the game. It might just be a revolution!
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/footb...ue-Rubin-Kazan
Seriously, I love that this man is our manager.
Take care all.
Chelsea's season was funny but now it's just rather sad.
Nah, I'm just kidding, it's still funny.
Seeing big clubs do badly is always a riot. Sprinkle in some manager self-destructs for added enjoyment.Quote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
More Garry Monk MoTD/Tabloid trout-stirring. You get people like Jermaine Jenas saying trout like "Manager X? Yes he's definitely under pressure" then pretending to be surprised when it actually happens because he's been whipping people into a frenzy over it. The PL is very competitive this year. It's not like previous seasons where there have been at least 5-6 teams with 'obvious relegation fight' written all over them. We had a cracking start to the season and it's tailed off a bit because our main striker is a useless crybaby.
We were woeful against Arsenal, but the point against Tottenham and sending Tactics Tim to the job centre showed we are a very good side when it comes together. Bournemouth next week, and I watched them absolutely thrash Newcastle 0-1 on the weekend and you could see on their faces it was a big blow for them. If we can pick up the points there it can go in the bank for a tricky few games in November before a relatively straightforward Christmas period. Monk knows the club inside and out and has the respect of the captain and the squad so it would be immensely daft to give him the chop, though something deep inside me tells me that Huw Jenkins still has a hardon for a Mr. B Rodgers of recently displaced abode. Please God no.
David Moyes will be looking for a job soon...
In more football related news:
Football League to be rebranded 'EFL' as part of major rebranding
Here's the new logo:
http://i1.mirror.co.uk/incoming/arti...5/EFL-logo.jpg
I have to say, it doesn't inspire me with confidence. Looks like some energy company.
smurf me that is horrendous
>EFL
>why.jpg
Ah, but you see we are the ones with no taste:
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Guardian
18,000 football supporters can't be wrong... right?
A friend of mine who absolutely lives and breathes Shrewsbury Town is currently having a huge meltdown on Facebook over it. It would be funny if he wasn't 100% RIGHT IN EVERY WAY
Don't they do anti-Muslim marches in northern town centres?
What's wrong with the premier league? Fine name, if you ask me, as a foreigner. Sounds like the rebranding they did of the Dutch television network, from "Netherlands 1/2/3" to "Netherlands Public Broadcasting". Cost millions and all anybody thought was... but why?Quote:
Originally Posted by Formalhaut
The Premier League is staying the same, it's the Football League (the three divisions below it) that is changing to the...the...
No. I can't even type it.
I'm still not over the debacle that is calling the third tier League One.
If they must insist on naming the top two divisions then surely it's better to do the following...
Premier League
Championship
League 3
League 4
But then it's going to cause even more fuss when the Scottish League has to copy us.
The Scots should know their place.Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Manus
Going from quality of football their leagues should be re-branded as the following
League 16
League 17
League 18
League 19
Bit harsh on the Isle of Wight Saturday League Division Three that. Lower Hyde Galactica would easily tonk Inverness CT I reckon.
The table does not currently look anything like I expected it to at this point. Well, at least two clubs are in opposite positions than I would have predicted. xD
Actually enjoying a Liverpool victory. Thoroughly deserve to win by this score.
I like that Jamie Vardy is now the greatest player of all time.
Liverpool v City is the best fixture in the Premier League. I don't think I've seen a boring one over the last five years. You're guaranteed sumptuous attacking, shambolic defending and two teams that just charge into each other at 100mph. Very different from the low tempo possession football of Arsenal or the bus parking of Chelsea. Good fun.
Some of the moves for Liverpool today were just downright beautiful. The Brazilian boys really seem to be showing a great chemistry especially. If our strikers could ever stay healthy, I think our squad could challenge for Top 4. Lovren still scares me in defense though. Get well soon Sakho.
Also, all hail Leicester!
Take care all.
It's not just the fixture. Yesterday I was smurfing monged drinking with me pals and didn't remember the game was on. Today I was drinking with more of me other pals and met a guy who was a Liverpool fan, talking about the game (he told me the result) and it was just an exchange of mutual respect and enjoyment of the football played between Liverpool and City. No bulltrout, just good people enjoying good games. Everything about City/Pool is the best thing in the prem by far.
Um... every club is a multi-millionaire club.
Also, I expected it.See? Told you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
There's still time for Leicester to drop the illusions of grandeur and join us in the battle for 11th place.
Indeed, it's a top-of-the-table clash next weekend. Someone's dropping points and I hope it's Leicester.
tch, you knew what I meant Psy; the big four!Quote:
Originally Posted by PsychoticUm... every club is a multi-millionaire club.
Also, I expected it.See? Told you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
Maybe :)
With Leicester v United and Liverpool v Swansea coming up I have the chance to be the Undisputed Champion of the Football Thread... that or take a vast amount of mockery while I mysteriously disappear until, say, January. Double or nothing lads!
There hasn't been a Big Four™ for a while now - it's been replaced with the Big Zero, as they're all troute.
We'll see where they are after the next six games.Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Manus
Man Utd (H)
Swansea (A)
Chelsea (H)
Everton (A)
Liverpool (A)
Man City (H)
Their descent into mid-table will start with a battering at the hands of us next Saturday teatime.
Was watching the replays of the last week's batch, and I have to ask, what the hell is up with all the goals by the own team this week? Amateur hour.
Anyway, beautiful Liverpool match, I have to admit.
Also, technical question, is it offside when a player makes a shot on goal and someone picks it up, while he was behind the defenders during the shot itself?
When you say behind the defenders, is he goalside of them?
It probably means the guy would be offside, since you can't make a difference between a shot on goal and a pass to the goal.
Offside rules are sometimes a little iffy. Like if a defender shoots the ball against a forward and another one goalside of the defenders picks that up, it would be offside. Which is odd, since it is unintentional. But actually intercepting the ball from the keeper is fine.
worst game ever
Oh, here you are. I've prepared a brief statement.
>be me
>based garry monk
>mfw my meme game is as fire as a jimmy milner penalty.jpg
>ayy lmao
Not gonna lie, this pass made me ejaculate a little https://twitter.com/LiverpoolGifs/st...46873428353024
also Jurgen Klopp is my absolute favourite
I must say I do like the cut of Klopp's jib. Early days but he's had some big wins so far. They're great to watch too.
Swap you for Van Gaal?
Two wonderful passes grant Stokes a 2 goal lead vs Man. City. What a game, and barely 16 minutes in.
more like lol'd manus amirite
sod football, trout sport. england touring south africa over christmas anyone?
I'm measuring a distinct increase in varius chemical variants of sodium and potassium across the channel.
(SPOILER)I thought the dead sea was in Egypt, not in Manus' backyard.
Swansea are not very good.
Banter.
david moyes 6/4 favourite
please
please no
i've suffered enough
There's no chance of that, surely? He is very much the anti-Swansea. Well, anti-Swansea #3, I guess. Allardyce and Pulis being #1 and #2.
I was very pro-Monk but after Saturday's abject performance I am slightly more ambivalent. We need a striker other than the useless Bafe Gomis, because based Gilfy seems to have slipped into a waking coma, Montero is always injured and Andre Ayew can only carry the team so far. trout, we've always had this problem. The only actual proper goal scoring centre forward we've had at Swansea since (SPOILER)Lee Trundle was Wilf Bony last season. Beyond that it's been an endless stream of one-to-two season players ranging in ability from bang average (Danny Graham) to flat out troute (Danny Graham. And plebs like Craig Beattie).
The team seems to be having serious motivation problems (apart from Ash Wills the absolute madzer). On paper we're way better than what they're showing.
Looks like an outstanding character is coming home. Can Andre Ayew play in the seven and a half position?
Oh, for smurf's sake.
Attachment 65962
EDIT: Huw Jenkins is in London today apparently so any swinging of the axe is likely to be done tomorrow.
:tumble:
Thursday nights are going to be busy in this thread.
It was mostly painful because it was perhaps one of the best attacking performances we've seen from United in I-don't-know-how-long but we conceded three times which for us this season is a very big amount to concede. Time to return focus to the PL.
Correct!Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Manus
IT'S BRENDAN TIME!
Bit of a sad day all things considered. I'm struggling to comprehend a Swansea City without Garry Monk picturing in some capacity, be it on the pitch with the captain's armband or on the sidelines with a crappy gilet. The main reason I was reluctant to have him appointed manager was that it meant that he would be gone within a few years, rather than to do with doubts of his managerial ability. RIP Garry Monk 2004-2014, captain in all four divisions of English football.
Now then Mr. Jenkins let's nip in the bud any rumours of the return of a certain B Rodgers formerly of Merseyside - no matter how much better his suits are these days or how much weight he's lost - otherwise I will have no choice but to personally come to your office and trout in your morning PG Tips. Luckily we've only got it wrong once in the last six managerial appointments, and even then Paolo Sousa wasn't actually that bad.
Why are you suddenly opposed to B-Rod? I know you were an admirer of his when he was with the Swans and you thought he was much better than Dalglish at Liverpool. I mean, honestly, for all my jokes he wasn't that bad here, just that you can't talk like such a plonker when you're the manager of a club which is as widely loved, loathed and covered in the media as Liverpool is. Swansea isn't in the same spotlight.
I just think it's a step backwards. We've all moved on from Rodgers' tenure, it's a different club now with an entirely different squad. I don't want Joe Allen and Danny Graham back, I think we could do with something new. If we were to take back a previous manager I'd ask for Martinez, personally.
You can't go home again in football, usually. Has anyone ever had a successful second spell somewhere as a player or manager? I think it's rare.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/...28_306x423.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by Old Manus
*looks at list of possible second round opponents*
Yeah, we're screwed.
Ian Rush MBEQuote:
Originally Posted by charliepanayi
https://twitter.com/GarryMonk16/stat...14790008451074
Aww Garry don't do this to me, you're bringing a tear to this jaded fan's eye. Eternal Swans legend
http://imgur.com/gallery/kdp9S7r
No idea how old it is, don't even care, made me smile.
All right, everyone pile on Manus.
Bournemouth won against Man United? :lol:
...all right, everyone pile on Bubba.
Just a mention to Bournemouth, though. After a really shaky start to the season, with massive wins over Chelsea and Man United, they're now 14th, above Chelsea (hilariously!) and even if they do end up relegated, they can raise their head high.
Go Cherries! :D
Euro 2016 draw
GROUP A France, Switzerland, Romania, Albania
GROUP B England, Russia, Slovakia, Wales
GROUP C Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Northern Ireland
GROUP D Spain, Croatia, Czech Republic, Turkey
GROUP E Belgium, Italy, Sweden, Republic of Ireland
GROUP F Portugal, Austria, Hungary, Iceland
This season really is Bizarro Season in the PL. I'm enjoying the table despite us not being amazing, because of teams like Bournemouth and Leicester.
I like the idea of anyone being able to beat anyone. It makes every game exciting. I mean, look at the bundesliga, it's one or two good teams and the rest just falls behind. Not fun to watch.
Oh look, we're going to lose to Barcelona againzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Hopefully PSG will stuff Chelsea at least.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Loony BoB
So much this. It's why Scottish football is fairly dull, and why no-one watches the F1 expecting drama, excitement and reversals of fortune (at least, not this last season).Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerith's Knight
The Premier League is best when any team, with enough drive and co-operation, can beat a team whose have been given an arbitrarily higher price tag. I do think money has somewhat polluted the League somewhat, and so I'm glad that we have teams like Leicester and Bournemouth, ready to throw some surprises.
And I have to say, Leicester is holding up well. They drew comfortably against Man United, and they've now beaten Chelsea. They don't appear to be shrinking from the challenge of 'big teams'. Could they be Christmas No.1? The odds are in their favour.
the mere thought gives me a raging, uncontrollable erection.
big andy wipes out brock lesnar in 3 minutes, no question
Damn, there goes Mourinho.
I was expecting it at some point, but not before Christmas. Part of me kinda wanted him to stay on and see just how far they could sink, but Chelsea deserves better.
Though, it would be hilarious if the team started performing better, like immediately after he's left. :lol:
No, they don't.Quote:
Originally Posted by Formalhaut
I'm fairly neutral in most respects; it benefits everyone to have competitive teams competing against each other. I wouldn't wish the merciless capitulation of a team on anyone (though I have enjoyed them sink somewhat).Quote:
Originally Posted by PsychoticNo, they don't.Quote:
Originally Posted by Formalhaut
for the love of god let them throw all the money at guardiola, all this talk of him coming to City for next season and in no way, shape, or form do I want that ponce and his rubbish tiki-taka sideways passing on the edge of the box ruining my glorious team.