The English Football Thread

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Referee David Coote taken OFF VAR duty for Liverpool's clash against Leicester after fan backlash ahead of what would have been his first Reds game since Merseyside derby - when he allowed Jordan Pickford's lunge on Virgil van Dijk to go unpunished

 

You see the BS at work here, how many times have we been fucked hard thanks to VAR? Did they do this for us? Like fuck they did.

How was Taylor given a second Chelsea-Arsenal FA cup final? This league from top to bottom is horse shit.

[Vesper 29,228]

2 hours ago, Atomiswave said:

Referee David Coote taken OFF VAR duty for Liverpool's clash against Leicester after fan backlash ahead of what would have been his first Reds game since Merseyside derby - when he allowed Jordan Pickford's lunge on Virgil van Dijk to go unpunished

 

You see the BS at work here, how many times have we been fucked hard thanks to VAR? Did they do this for us? Like fuck they did.

How was Taylor given a second Chelsea-Arsenal FA cup final? This league from top to bottom is horse shit.

fuck yes!!!

outrageous shit here

[Vesper 29,228]

Pep Guardiola, Lionel Messi and a gruelling episode of Taskmaster

A somewhat unerring shot of Pep appearing to be grilled by his bejardiganed self. Photograph: Matt McNulty/Manchester City FC/Getty Images

Barry Glendenning  @bglendenning

ALL PART OF THE MASTERPLAN? While the news that Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year extension to his contract that should keep him in charge of Manchester City until the end of the 2022-23 season is undeniably important, it is one of those stories that didn’t come as much of a surprise. The Fiver knows better than anyone that when you’re handsomely remunerated for excellence in the line of football-related duty, working daily in an state-of-the-art environment that is lavishly tailored to your every need and employed by bosses who would happily break the bank to keep you on board, there’s no real need to play hardball when it comes to pledging two more years. And so it came to pass, as Pep was pictured beaming broadly with expensive pen poised over paper, looking for all the world like Donald Trump pretending to work in the Oval Office, except without the general air of confused ineptitude, upside-down pen and blank sheet of paper.

Pep Guardiola commits to Manchester City by signing new contract to 2023 Read more

“Ever since I arrived at Manchester City I have been made to feel so welcome in the club and in the city itself, by the players, the staff, the supporters, the people of Manchester and the chairman and owner,” parped Pep, having applied his John Hanc0ck to the new deal. “Since then we have achieved a great deal together, scored goals, won games and trophies and we are all very proud of that success.” Having thanked his employers for their faith in him, he added: “The challenge for us is to continue improving and evolving and I am very excited about helping Manchester City do that.” Quite whether Pep will be able to do that remains to be seen. While nobody can question his ability to put together a title-winning side, something he has achieved at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City, he has never before stayed in any managerial post long enough to try to build two. Like a big-name Manchester-based manager before him, he must build a team capable of knocking Liverpool off their perch, while also guiding City to that elusive first Big Cup triumph. Think of it as a particularly gruelling and humourless episode of Taskmaster, with the British football media looking on from their throne as they prepare to sit in sneering judgement. And of course, with Lionel Messi out of contract at Barcelona next summer, talk is already rife that Pep has got his ducks in a row in a bid to help convince the Argentinian to sign for City, after being linked with a move to Manchester last summer. “I’m tired of always being the problem for everything at the club,” sighed Leo on his return from international duty, in response to recent accusations from Antoine Griezmann’s former Mr 15% that he had treated the French striker deplorably. The chances of the world’s best player finally moving elsewhere look pretty high, and unless Barnsley turn his head with a better offer than the one they recently made Mario Balotelli, Manchester City looks as likely a destination as any. QUOTE OF THE DAY “I’m not coming back just to come back, I’m coming back to reconquer my position in world football” – Lyon superstar Ada Hegerberg gets her chat on with Suzy Wrack about her recovery from knee-knack and subsequent tibia-gah.

Yes, Ada. Photograph: Jeff Pachoud/AFP/Getty Images

RECOMMENDED LISTENING It’s only Football Weekly Extra.

FIVER LETTERS “When the team that I have supported since childhood wins, the joy factor of my weekend generally rises by about 10 or maybe 15%. However, when my team’s historical, or local rivals loose, I’m over effing moon. Is it time that I gave up football?” – Chris McHallem. “Given the non-ability-to-score misfortunes of Republic O’Ireland lately, may I suggest that the ‘O’ be replaced by a ‘0’?” – Gerry Rickard. “Can I be the first of 1,057 people to suggest that Karren Brady’s complaints about state money being used to the benefit of Premier League clubs (yesterday’s News, Bits and Bobs) would find a more sympathetic audience if she wasn’t vice-chairman of Taxpayers FC” – Ed Taylor (and no others). Send your letters to [email protected]. And you can always tweet The Fiver via @guardian_sport. Today’s winner of our letter o’the day is … Gerry Rickard, who wins a copy of Glove Story 2 – Another Book for Every Goalkeeper, Past and Present, by Rob Stokes [postage available to UK only, sorry – Fiver Postal Ed]. NEWS, BITS AND BOBS Rebekah Vardy has brought a libel action against Coleen Rooney only as a last resort to “vindicate her reputation”, the high court was told at a preliminary hearing of the high-profile dispute between the pair.

Rebekah Vardy arrives for a training session at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham earlier on Thursday as she prepares to take part in, er, Dancing On Ice 2021. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

They’re dancing on the streets of Blaenau Ffestiniog (socially distanced, of course) after Wales secured promotion to the top tier of the Nations League. “If you could bottle that feeling and see what you’ve seen in the changing rooms you’d make millions,” cheered caretaker manager Robert Page. It’s all change in the WSL after Spurs sacked managers Karen Hills and Juan Amoros, while West Ham parted company with boss Matt Beard. Fifa has announced measures that will lead to clubs facing fines and transfer bans if they discriminate against players during pregnancy. “There [are] too many questions for me about what maternity leave consists of,” warned Watford striker Helen Ward. “It’s a tough subject and one that needs a lot of work.” With Euro 2020/21/?? in mind, Olivier Giroud could look for a move from Chelsea in the January window. Pope’s Newc O’Rangers pair Jordan Jones and George Edmundson have been banned for seven games after breaking Covid-19 rules by attending a house party. Paul Tisdale is the new manager of Bristol Rovers. “His ambition and long-term goals mirror that of the club’s ongoing strategy, to build a Bristol Rovers DNA,” whooped chief suit Martyn Starnes. And if you weren’t feeling old enough already, Fabio Cannavaro’s son Andrea has signed for Lazio’s youth team. STILL WANT MORE? Barry Glendenning rigs up his chalkboard to peel through the chaos and select a Premier League team of the season thus far. Because: why not? Barney Ronay finds signs of life within England’s dead game with Iceland.

Big Phil Foden and the crew. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Erstwhile Barclays Premier League promotions man and shorts enthusiast Owen Coyle speaks to John Duerden about coronavirus, coaching in the Indian Super League and Robbie Fowler. Tom Sanderson reckons T1te is the best man for Brazil’s World Cup hopes. Oh, and if it’s your thing … you can follow Big Website on Big Social FaceSpace. And INSTACHAT, TOO! ALWAYS LOVE A SCORPION GOAL

[Jase 43,479]

 

[Jase 43,479]

 

[Vesper 29,228]

5 minutes ago, Jason said:

 

pack of cunts

[Atomiswave 6,072]

1 hour ago, Vesper said:

fuck yes!!!

outrageous shit here

What can I say mate, there is a good damn reason many say the likes of udt and pool are a protected breed. They would never do this for us the wretched cunts that they are.

[NikkiCFC 8,089]

5 hours ago, Atomiswave said:

Another huge investment coming his way shortly...Messi will arrive in Jan or summer at the latest.

Yeah, Messi next summer very possible. 

[Atomiswave 6,072]

9 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

Yeah, Messi next summer very possible. 

I'll say its a guarantee, he will get to play in epl, play under pep, get fat ass wages and the media along with FA will love it. And thats only the start, Pep will def spend shitload....

[Vesper 29,228]

Friday November 20 2020 Football Nerd

Why Aston Villa's fine start to the season has been built on stability   In a Premier League season bound to be affected by coronavirus-forced absences and multiple injuries, picking the same team on a regular basis could prove a significant advantage. So long as those players do run out of gas, of course. One team reaping the benefits of consistent selection is high-flying Aston Villa, who have made just three starting XI changes so far this season - the fewest of any team in the Premier League. The continuity Dean Smith's team are enjoying is in stark contrast to last season, when they struggled to integrate 12 summer signings who cost more than £120 million combined. Premier League clubs are faced with a fascinating dilemma. Do they rotate heavily in an effort to be fresher than their opponents or gamble on continuity in the hope a familiar team will prove more cohesive than those subjected to chopping and changing? There is a delicate balance to be struck, and I assess whether Aston Villa's stability can be maintained here.

[Magic Lamps 11,677]

19 hours ago, Atomiswave said:

I'll say its a guarantee, he will get to play in epl, play under pep, get fat ass wages and the media along with FA will love it. And thats only the start, Pep will def spend shitload....

the only good thing is that it will block one of their shitload of other wc players. they have more than enough attackers anyway. possibly can see him playing false 9 with Agüero gone. But IMO, starting late last season, Messi is clearly into decline. He has started to miss more and more chances that he used to score blindly before, his pace is gone. He will continue to score with freekicks and stuff but he will not be the dominant force he once was. Some PL defenders will maul him just for the sake of it and he has shown he doesnt like being hanled like that. This year or last, maybe an investment in him might still be worthwhile. but next summer when he is 24, I would not even want my club to be paying his wages. If Puli can stay injury free for a single season, I bet he would be on a higher level than 34 y.o. Messi. I would say thatm arguably, right now Salah, Mane are on a higher level than Messi anyway and soon enough we will be able to add quite a few more players to that list.

[Atomiswave 6,072]

2 hours ago, Magic Lamps said:

the only good thing is that it will block one of their shitload of other wc players. they have more than enough attackers anyway. possibly can see him playing false 9 with Agüero gone. But IMO, starting late last season, Messi is clearly into decline. He has started to miss more and more chances that he used to score blindly before, his pace is gone. He will continue to score with freekicks and stuff but he will not be the dominant force he once was. Some PL defenders will maul him just for the sake of it and he has shown he doesnt like being hanled like that. This year or last, maybe an investment in him might still be worthwhile. but next summer when he is 24, I would not even want my club to be paying his wages. If Puli can stay injury free for a single season, I bet he would be on a higher level than 34 y.o. Messi. I would say thatm arguably, right now Salah, Mane are on a higher level than Messi anyway and soon enough we will be able to add quite a few more players to that list.

Yup they do have shitload of good players and Messi will add to that for sure, but def not the Messi of yester years. Dont worry about him being mauled, the FA and refs will oblige everytime, they would protect him......this aint Chels and Hazard.

[Magic Lamps 11,677]

16 hours ago, Atomiswave said:

Yup they do have shitload of good players and Messi will add to that for sure, but def not the Messi of yester years. Dont worry about him being mauled, the FA and refs will oblige everytime, they would protect him......this aint Chels and Hazard.

Not so sure. If he would play for manure or pool sure. But for the Fa and the refs city are just as much the Enemy as we are. 
also, sure there will be cards but that only makes the defenders wanting to tackle him harder and cleaner every time so it is at least worth it. 

[Atomiswave 6,072]

2 hours ago, Magic Lamps said:

Not so sure. If he would play for manure or pool sure. But for the Fa and the refs city are just as much the Enemy as we are. 
also, sure there will be cards but that only makes the defenders wanting to tackle him harder and cleaner every time so it is at least worth it. 

No chance city are enemies to them as we are, we have a Russian owner, City have them Arab owners, big difference. Plus its Messi, the FA will see it as a huge plus for PL though as you said he is 34.

[Vesper 29,228]

2020-21 English Premier League

Aston Villa                          
Brighton & Hove Albion    

http://www.sportnews.to/sports/2020/premier-league-aston-villa-vs-brighton-hove-albion-s1/

https://www.totalsportek.com/aston-villa/

 

[Milan 17,881]

First kick of the ball and Barkley has done his hammy.  

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3 minutes ago, Milan said:

First kick of the ball and Barkley has done his hammy.  

damn, I know, hate to see him injured, he was playing to beast level

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nil 1 Welbeck