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I feel like this should have been expected, really. After years and years of abuse, Steve was always going to eventually find a way to get his revenge, wasn't he?Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/multim...c7518/1024.jpg
Did Liverpool fall for the Van Dijk meme?
To be fair I don't think the reanimated corpse of Bobby Moore would look like a good defender with Mignolet behind him and Moreno to his left.
Swansea in full on Sunderland mode.
CARLOS HAD A DREAM
It seems crazy to me that Arsenal are adding yet another striker to their squad and at the same time, might be falling out of touching distance of the Top 4. Maybe their play is to do the same as United and win the Europa to get back into the Champions league?
Don't love that Liverpool seem to have gone quiet on deadline day as I still think our squad looks thin. Still, it seems like much of the top 4 are moving slow today.
Take care all.
I didn't watch the game last night. Thank smurf.
Just realized that PEA is cup-tied so he can't even help Arsenal in the Europa league. This reeks of buying a used sports car, getting it waxed and polished and then forgetting to check if it has a sound engine. Looks nice but you can't use it properly. Same insanity as the Coutinho move.
Also, is it me or is literally every team below 9th still possible to get relegated? The gulf between the top and bottom has never seemed bigger to me.
Take care all.
Revoltingly bad refereeing. Like, it's part of the game and you win some, you lose some, so I don't normally complain, but I'm making an exception because that was absolutely sickening. Two penalties in five minutes, both dives and obvious smurfing dives. You have to be as stupid as Harry Kane looks if you think either one was anywhere near a penalty. If those diving :bou::bou::bou::bou:s pip us to a CL spot I am going to be sore as hell about it.
The most revolting part about all this is I've actually come to enjoy watching Liverpool games now. It's just 100% banterball.
The second one especially is insane when you look at this angle:
https://twitter.com/TaylorTwellman/s...453121/photo/1
VVD is clearly pulling his leg BACK and avoiding direct contact and Lamela is already falling down as if he took a knife right into his calf. Plus Lamela is making no play for the ball but just throwing himself into the leg.
After the ref sees it first hand and clearly waves play on, then he somehow gets talked into it by the assistant official, just bananas.
Also, two amazing goals in this game. That Wanyama strike, especially in replay, where you can see the swerve on it, was just beautiful. And Salah did what might be the best Leo Messi impression this season with that run.
I actually am becoming more convinced that Chelsea might be the one on the outside looking in at the Top 4. That team, especially Conte, just don't look right to me. They might win tomorrow but long term, they look like a team that just aren't as together.
Take care all.
You'd almost think they were planning ahead rather than just for this season. ;) Honestly, league > cups, and if they want to even see CL action next season then they need to make these kind of moves to improve their squad now. I think it was a good move. I dunno about the Coutinho move, I think that's more to appease fans and ensure that the current president resides during the next election after they sold Neymar.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Captain
Dunno, PEA is turning 29 this summer. At least Barca will get a good 5 years out of Coutinho unless they Fabregas him. With that said I still think the fee is madness. He is the second most expensive player of all time but would he get into a world XI or even a Premier League XI? He's still an incredible footballer though and this isn't a "never fancied her anyway" line, I promise!
...but Firmino was always our best Brazilian.
When you sign a 29 year old you're looking for an immediate impact, and I think arsenal still think they can get CL through the top 4, and why not? Chelsea don't have that third place secured at all, and Arsenal probably did the best bit of business in January out of the four fighting for those spots. The Europa is a good fallback, but their priority will be the league.
Hi guys I am trying to like your "English" "football" since there is never any Allsvenksan broadcast available. I do not have a favorite team yet, only a least favorite one (Chelsea).
Please make your pitches to me on behalf of each team, thanks. Don't bother with any team with "Manchester" in the name.
Really not looking good for Conte now. Is it me or do Chelsea teams always suffer such weird hangovers in form season to season? They are world beaters and then the same collection of players look like someone took their FIFA settings and reduced them by half.
I don't buy Arsenal as real threats to break into the top 4 still. Their squad still makes little sense to me. All season long they've been calling out for real steel in the midfield so in response... they break the bank on another striker, after doing that over the summer? Wenger is searching for one more Henry to help ride off into the sunset with but I don't see it here.
Take care all.
Depends what you enjoy watching. As a Seahawks fan, you value a good team that has won in the past but they make some insane calls (run the ball with Lynch!!!!) and may be on the edge of decline. That basically describes Arsenal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spuuky
If you do not want to root for a Manchester team, and good for you, then I'd recommend Liverpool as they have a truly insanely fun to watch squad with a swaggering head coach who only believes in attacking at all costs. Rooting for them will always be fun but you'll definitely develop a heart condition since they are allergic to holding onto leads. Plus, they have a recent habit of losing their best players eventually to Spain.
If you want an inferiority complex, try either Spurs or Everton, who are always playing second fiddle to their "bigger" brothers clubs in their cities. Spurs have more talent but Everton have a manager who can help in placing bets.
Beyond that, root for Huddersfield if you want to make a friend of Patrick Stewart but they may not last beyond this season.
Otherwise, pick any team and just immerse yourself in their history and go from there.
Take care all.
Too good to go down
On the one hand the banter would be most righteous should you go down, but on the other that'll be the end of the Swansea Football Thread Banter Era. Do I sacrifice long term enjoyment for one short term snarkfest? I don't know. I just don't know.Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Manus
Hmm, Liverpool is a tough one to decide on.
Good: Salah is cool, attacking is pretty cool, red is a nice color, Dele Alli not on their team
Bad: Feels like one of the "big boys," pretty sure Psychotic likes them
Yeah, support Everton instead.
Everton, as far as I can tell -
Cons: Wayne Rooney, way too many English national team types in general, ugly blue kits
Pros: A player named "Jonjoe Kenny"
If you don't want any of the big boys (or Everton), then I'd personally suggest Burnley or Leicester.
Leicester are probably out because of the blue thing too.
How about West Bromwich Albion? They have a more aesthetically pleasing navy and Salomon Rondon is a lovely man.
Was that... was that a Champions League quality attack and a Champions League quality defence? Top scorers in this season's tournament with two 7-0's and a 5-0. Emphasis on the 0's!
Don't let the scoreline fool you either, while it is definitely deserved Liverpool did not go into full throttle berserker mode. It was cool, calm and collected. They were happy to have possession while Porto sat back and chased shadows, and then quickly grabbed it back whenever Porto did through some insane pressing. They only attacked when opportunities presented themselves and were clinical when they did. It was really, really smurfing good, and it wasn't at all Liverpoolish.
Though I am getting way ahead of myself, I relish the thought of possibly playing Barcelona later on in this tournament and having Coutinho see what he left behind. Even better, he'd have to watch from the bench since he's cup-tied (I'm still so confused about why he forced the move when he did).
Robertson especially has been such a great addition. He gets forward as much as Moreno did but can actually put in a real good cross and tracks back to defend without lunging in all the time. If the defense especially can play this solid, the club's future is extremely bright.
Where will Naby Keita fit into all of this, I wonder? In my dreams, Can re-signs and then we play a midfield three of Can, Keita and a rotation of Gigi/Lallana/Hendo/Milner with the Ox spelling the big boys upfront.
Take care all.
That's like saying Sergio Aguero would be looking back at Athletico Madrid and seeing what he left behind. With all due respect to Liverpool, Barcelona are flying as high in their league as Manchester City are in ours. I'm sure Suarez isn't exactly missing his Liverpool life either. xD Hell, as much as it pains me, I doubt Ronaldo misses Manchester United to the point that he has any regrets about leaving us.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Captain
From the stands, if he's cup tied. ;)Quote:
Even better, he'd have to watch from the bench since he's cup-tied (I'm still so confused about why he forced the move when he did).
I'm really not sure why some people are so caught up with the cup tied thing, these players are moving for more than half a season. Players move when cup tied all the time, it's really nothing new. We got Vidic and Evra mid-season. I can't remember if they were cup tied but it wouldn't have mattered - they were both rubbish their first half season. After that? Legends. You pick the club for the future season, not the first one, unless you're 33 or something.
Liverpool are doing excellent things right now and I'm envious of their attacking nature, but Liverpool aren't on Barcelona's level right now.
It made sense for all parties. Liverpool wanted Coutinho to stay 'til the end of the season and apparently played the cup-tied card with him, but Barca basically said it was now or never and so put pressure on him to agitate for a move then. I guess from Coutinho's point of view you have the World Cup coming up this summer and you have no idea who the next shiny thing (in other words the next James and Kroos!) that the big Spanish clubs will want to sign up will be.
From Barca's point of view they lost a hell of a lot of face with the Neymar debacle and so Dembele and Coutinho are statement signings to prove they still have it.
And for LFC, the choice to keep or sell was apparently given to Klopp and as you saw with him at Dortmund, he'd rather have committed players. Coutinho never really fitted into Klopp's preferred system from a positional sense, but he was such a world class game changer that the square peg had to be crammed in there somehow. Without him you see games like Man City and Porto where Liverpool are playing more efficiently with more hard workers in midfield. Klopp has also been experimenting with new formations with Coutinho gone too, we'll now regularly switch to three at the back if we're holding onto a lead. That's not to say he's not a loss - after all, he was worth disrupting the system for - but losing Firmino would be twice as bad as losing Coutinho.
I would agree Bobby Firmino is much more vital to what we're doing in attack. Coutinho was the wild card that could be used to unlock teams that parked the bus against us when our speed was somewhat neutralized.
I read a very interesting theory about why Champions League is better suited for our game than even the EPL: Essentially it boils down to the mindset of teams. In the CL, you have mostly top tier and league winners involved, teams that play their own attacking style and aren't used to grinding out draws to avoid being relegated. They are used to scoring goals and thus, play wide open and attacking at us, which as everyone knows, is exactly what Liverpool want. In the EPL though, you have teams that are happy to scrap for draws and play 10 men behind the ball if it means getting that vital point to stay in the league. Just food for thought.
As to the cup-tied aspect, I take this view on things: nothing in life is guaranteed. Yes of course Barcelona is the bigger club but really, that can all change if there are long term injuries or contract/personality disputes that crop up. Really the team is built around Messi. If he were to ever leave, I would be curious if Coutinho really wanted to stay there. Thus, let's say Coutinho gets a long term injury, what if he doesn't get to play in Champions League for YEARS now or even the World Cup? I think you need to grab every chance to play NOW, not think about next year.
Sure, teams can bluster about "moving on" but Barcelona have the same ego every other team has and they'd come back again and again simply because a team or player dared to stare them down. They wouldn't want to lose their status as the team players ALWAYS go to.
The James Rodriguez misfire at Real is a sign that not all good things happen just because you go to the biggest club. He could never break into the team and eventually had to leave, granted to another giant, to really make his mark. Pogba right now looks miserable playing at Man United too, though that can come a lot down to the system Jose plays as well.
What has always rubbed me the wrong way with soccer is that the contracts are essentially dust. Players sign 5 year deals and are itching for a move away 6 months later. It happens all the time but is a very unique thing to this sport. In most other sports, it's only when a player is at approaching the end of their deal do they really become a big trade piece. Otherwise, they are seen as a building block for the team, not as the next potential big sale.
Take care all.
By that argument, surely nobody should ever attempt to join a better team, ever? You can live your life thinking "oh but it might go wrong" and become one of history's what-ifs, or you can take the leap. Sorry Cap, I usually really like your viewpoints and thoughts on these things but on this one I just can't get my head around your way of thinking. xD If a footballer would prefer to play elsewhere, it's completely right for him to chase that dream. Football is their business, not their hobby. The odds of a footballer suffering some kind of career ending injury are massively slim.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Captain
Like it or not, Barcelona is a natural step up for Coutinho's career. Now he's probably earning more, playing with better players and has a massively increased chance of actually winning things. There is no downside I can think of for him. I dare say career ending injuries are more likely to occur in the PL than La Liga, anyway!
I'm all for players being able to move, but I am also for them honoring their contracts. Otherwise, what's the point of having them at all?
We already are on the hairy edge of having literally 5 or 6 teams just buy up all the talent in the world, which as anyone that's an NBA fan can tell you, makes for a very dull championship.
Either just have every player be a free agent after every season and negotiate one year deals or at the very least, make it against the rules for a player who just signed a new contract to leave in the winter window.
Take care all.
It's the system we have at present - and the selling clubs have every right to say "no, we won't sell you" like Leicester did. It's just a case of having a player who doesn't want to be there vs. having a crapload of money. No club wants to release a player on a free - the assumption is always that they'll either extend the contract or they'll sell them with 1-2 years left on the contract. This is just the way of things right now, whether we like it or not. But yeah, if a club wants to force a player to stay they have that right. Few exercise that right though.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Captain
I agree that having 5-6 clubs buy the lot isn't great. Not sure if that suggested system is any better. Tough to say.Quote:
We already are on the hairy edge of having literally 5 or 6 teams just buy up all the talent in the world, which as anyone that's an NBA fan can tell you, makes for a very dull championship.
Either just have every player be a free agent after every season and negotiate one year deals or at the very least, make it against the rules for a player who just signed a new contract to leave in the winter window.
Take care all.
I think I'd be pretty happy with a system where you are only allowed to move in the mid-season windows if it's to a club that has the opposite season schedule (ie, break in mid-year vs. break in end/start of year). But then again, I think it helps keep the league competitive as if a club is way ahead, the other teams can strengthen. Hard to really say what's the best way. I guess no matter what we go for, there's always gonna be something screwy.
Sevilla tactics seem to be to tun into our players shoulder first and jam their legs into the backs of our player's legs. No yellows yet though - I thought the PL was supposed to be the dirty hard tackling league!?
Still got their comical drops to the ground when the likes of Mata of all people touch them :lol:
Well, you can't say I didn't warn you they'd do this. smurf Sevilla.Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
I still really dislike Sevilla but I can't really sympathise with United given that's the exact same thing they just did to us. I wish we'd be more streetwise and play like Sevilla and Saturday's United sometimes though. Early prediction: We get Sevilla in the next round, don't learn from our mistakes and lose.
I still don't understand why they signed Sanchez other than to say a massive smurf you to City - and I don't know why City wanted him either for that matter - but, uh, Torres 2.0 anyone? Does he even deserve to be in the team ahead of one of Lingard, Rashford and Martial?
Well well remember this time last week when everyone was talking about 5 English teams in the last 8 and a return to PL domination? :shobon::shobon:
I'm feeling pretty smug at work because I said only Liverpool and City would qualify despite other football liking colleagues saying all 5 would make it. Yes, I am that one annoying bloke. ...as if you all didn't already know that.
Personal opinion: We shouldn't have signed him, he unbalanced the team. Yes, he is probably better than perhaps all three of the other mentioned players on his day, but he hasn't had his day once since we signed him. I'm honestly at the point that I just wouldn't mourn Mourinho going at this stage, not because of the signings but because he can't get our team to attack in any effective way. The players don't look like they care. You could say that's on them, and it is to some extent, but honestly the players we have... they have all proven themselves capable and highly effective. It seems the manager simply doesn't know how to piece them together.Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
Why don't United ever press anymore? Why no one-two passes?
Okay so on the one hand I'd have preferred to play an actual foreign team but on the other, Liverpool v City is the best fixture in the Premier League and has been for the past five years. Champions League tie under the floodlights, away goals and everything to play for? Strap yourselves in, you're going to see something insane. Either 6-0 to City on aggregate or 6-5 on aggregate to Liverpool.
Bloody hell Mo Salah is broken. It's honestly like watching Messi (watch his first or third goals) as he tricks and hoodwinks defenders. It's insane.
...and he's going to be playing in Spain next year isn't he :(
D...did Liverpool just park the bus? (After literally and figuratively smashing up City's)
Crap, now City are going to take it out on us. :(
I don't think I've ever gone from that despondent to that elated in 45 minutes before.
First half: Yeah that's it City, get it all out of your systems before Tuesday.Quote:
Originally Posted by Loony BoB
Second half: no no no no no don't make them angrier oh god
All this means is the City Premier League Champions 2018 Showdown moves to the home game vs Swansea :roll2
hey
hey coutinho
smurfing lol
That aside, Roma bloody hell well done.
Now if only Juventas can do the same to Real Madrid.
smurf SO CLOSE
Gutted for Buffon especially.
Didn't see the game. Was it a penalty?
Yeah tbf it was.
He'd have to say something pretty smurfing bad to deserve a red for dissent with the game on the line though (and maybe he did). Although he wasn't saving that PK either way.
Given what he's said in public about the referee after the match, I wouldn't be surprised if he absolutely said something genuinely horrible to warrant his red.
Would love Spurs to beat City today just to postpone their celebrations even further.
Liverpool have a genuine chance of winning European Cup no. 6 after that draw. Actually, the way they played against City over two legs they have a genuine shout whoever they drew.
It’s always an interesting conversation when you discuss how you feel about other English teams in Europe... and I can’t believe I’m saying this but... (SPOILER)I hope Liverpool get torn apart by Roma in both legs :D
andy carroll
might have just saved our season
(this would have been an edit but that doesn't seem to work on mobile)
Right as Raheem Sterling equals Nathan Dyer's PL winners medals haul. What a time to be alive.Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Manus
#ThankYouArsene
Imagine if they appoint Moyes.
I can vouch for Moyes.
He'll do an amazing job... speaking as a Utd fan.
Why the smurf did you go and do that I could've actually enjoyed a Champions League game for once now they're going to Barca us.
Don’t panic, Psy. You will perform admirably in Rome and get to the final.
You will still lose though.
Happy anniversary
Attachment 75206
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43960000
The ULTIMATE battle of Football Thread Good vs Football Thread Evil!
As a lifelong, diehard Liverpool fan I'm proud of my boys and hope they demolish Real Madrid.
You can't say I didn't warn you all.Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
This final will be the moment when everyone realises that Ronaldo is a better player than Messi as Madrid confirm their fourth European title in five years.
This can't be ruined by Liverpool. IT JUST CAN'T.
Or it's finally the end of the Messi/Ronaldo era as Salah takes the Ballon D'Or. I suspect he'd also need to get Egypt to the Quarters to seal the deal. ...there is no way we're holding onto him if that happens though :(
There is no way you’re holding onto him regardless. Though he does have the air of a Henrik Larrsen about him so he may be loyal. He’s definitely the best player in the EPL this season by quite a long way.Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
... after Phil Jones, of course
That feel when you can't concentrate in work because the biggest game since 2011 is tonight
hope you smash them, would rather Swansea stay up than SouthamptonQuote:
Originally Posted by Old Manus
That feel when you can't concentrate in work because the biggest game since yesterday is tonight
Rooting for Huddersfield for selfish reasons
sorry kid nothing personnel
Tonight was all your fault.Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
If teams had the power to win when I wanted them to then your lot would be in the Pritt Stick Eastern Counties Third Division by now.
Good things that happened this season:
Spurs win nothing
Stoke get relegated
Everything else can bog off...
Another season in the books (almost).
I was wildly wrong in thinking City wouldn't gel or run away with the league, to historic proportions. Though I did get Arsenal really having a down season right and in the end, Chelsea look like they're gonna Chelsea again. Who's the next manager there? Maybe... WENGER?! But seriously.
I won't say too much more about Liverpool's season until that one last match is played but I have to say, we might have two of the best signings in recent memory in Salah and Robertson.
Thank Salah we have a World Cup, waiting for the next EPL season would have been tough otherwise.
Take care all.
So it’s the big game tomorrow night. What do we all think? Plenty of attacking talent on display and question marks around both defences. It’ll be intriguing to see the line-ups. Surely the footballing Gods will ensure the greatest player of all time will have a stormer and finally put Messi in his shadow.
I’m going 3-1 Villa with a John Terry hat trick.
I feel rather bad for Karius :(
Poor Karius, in tears and apologising to the crowd. How do you come back from that? My heart breaks for the man.
My heart also breaks for Salah. If he is out of the World Cup after working so hard to put his country there... ugh. Just really sad.
The lads did well and it wasn't one sided at all, just bested by those errors and a moment of magic. Lovren was a smurfing beast. The whole back four were really.
I think I would prefer a dodgy penalty or an offside goal to losing like that.
Sergio Ramos continues to not deserve to play soccer.
I don’t Karius will ever recover from this. Literally the biggest game in the planet outside of the World Cup Final... He is the Liverpool keeper on merit, he made a great save to the Ronaldo (offside) header. But trout... both those goals were just embarrassing. Possibly even overshadowing the Bale overhead kick. The game will be remembered for both.
I felt far sorrier for Salah though. No way did he deserve that.
As much as I don't want to blame losing Salah on us ultimately losing the game, it was clear that him going off injured rattled the whole team. For the first 30 minutes until that point, we were playing our game and Madrid looked a little stale. However, by the second half, it was clear they'd gotten their sea legs and that Bale goal especially was a title worthy strike.
Harsh as it is, I think we do bring in another keeper this transfer window, especially since I think Migs is all but buried and wants out too. Maybe Karius builds from here but it is really tough to see at this point. I give him full credit for standing up after the match and being accountable for what happened. I've seen bigger and better players go into hiding when things go against them and for that, he will always have the support of the club, though he might not have his spot come next year.
Somehow, it sounds like Salah might end up being ready to play in this World Cup. I'd frankly say he should try and gear up for the second round of fixtures since it will be tough sledding against Uruguay whether he's there or not and the other two matches are really where they need to pick up maximum points if they want to advance.
A fun season that ended sourly, but at least there's more soccer to be played. Plus, that video of Klopp singing with fans at 6am made me smile again.
Take care all.
So it's just come out that Karius had a concussion which was caused two minutes before the first mistake by an elbow to the skull from, yep, you guessed it, Sergio Ramos.
Did it last all season?
Karius has actually been decent this season so no. Mignolet on the other hand...
More Sergio Ramos dirty playing! Only adds fuel to my karma pick in the world cup!
Take care all.
Well it’s a shame if it’s true. Judging by the goals I can definitely believe that. It’s pretty sad for the guy. I almost feel guilty for laughing now.
Almost...
2018-19 English Football Season Thread
I'll leave this thread open a bit longer (and forge to close it forever) so Manus can put out his end of season awards. Or did he do that already? Pretty sure he didn't.
Your boy completely forgot in the wake of the World Cup Hype and the Swansea Getting Relegated Banter. It'll be on its way soon, like Southern Rail.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
include these two quotes and no other predictions from me especially not ones about arsenal or newcastle thanks in advanceQuote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
Better late than never...
OFFICIAL EOFF FOOTBALL THREAD SEASON 2017-18 AWARDS SPONSORED BY #ITSCOMINGHOME AND LACK OF THREAD BANTER EVER SINCE MOYES LEFT UNITED
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Originally Posted by Is this a correct prediction? Is it an incorrect one? I don't think anyone knows (Psychotic, 2 Aug)
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Originally Posted by Post that says the most about a football thread regular (Psychotic, 3 Aug)
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Originally Posted by Liverpool did manage it in the end to be fair (The Captain, 8 Aug)
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Originally Posted by Club with the worst journalists (Psychotic, 9 Aug)
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Originally Posted by Premonition (Old Manus, 13 Aug)
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Originally Posted by Highest quality bait (Psychotic, 27 Sep)
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Originally Posted by ;_; (Old Manus, 9 Oct)
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Originally Posted by Shoddiest Sven Goran Eriksson impersonation (Crop, 14 Oct)
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Originally Posted by Well yeah actually (Rocket Edge, 7 Nov)
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Originally Posted by :erm: (The Captain, 16 Jan)
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Originally Posted by Soothsayer (almost) Award (The Captain, 16 Jan)
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Originally Posted by More Correct Than You Thought (Psychotic, 30 Jan and the one point in the season where Swansea looked like they might stay up)
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Originally Posted by Russielloyd reborn as a scouser (Spuuky, 3 May)
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Originally Posted by image of the season
Tbf the LFC journos were right, we didn't sell him that window.
Conte to Real Madrid would've been delightful. Though not nearly as delightful as Wenger going there.
Is conte STILL somehow the Chelsea manager?Quote:
Originally Posted by Psychotic
Take care all.