The English Football Thread

[Vesper 27,342]

11 minutes ago, Vesper said:

Villa got robbed

it was not offside, it was a pen

that is why his arm was pushed forward

[Vesper 27,342]

they are so obsessed with offside that they miss the foul

[Jase 43,479]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/nov/30/newcastle-united-entire-squad-in-covid-19-self-isolation-after-significant-outbreak

COVID-19 outbreak at Newcastle. Entire squad in self-isolation. 

[Milan 17,835]

If you look at West Ham's schedule list since the day one, it is incredible to see where they are now, especially after losing the very first game to Newcastle  

[Tomo 21,681]

7 hours ago, Milan said:

If you look at West Ham's schedule list since the day one, it is incredible to see where they are now, especially after losing the very first game to Newcastle  

I know he's unfashionable and simply doesn't have the mentality to last at the top end but Moyes is a fantastic manager at that level of the league.

The only real blot on him at Everton/WHU is that he hasn't taken a big scalp away from home (law of averages alone mean he should have had a few by now).

[Vesper 27,342]

The Fiver 

Something of a fiasco at Parkhead

Scenes after Ross County’s win on Sunday. Photograph: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

Scott Murray

LENNON O NO There’ll be no Scottish League Cup for the Queen’s Celtic this season, a domestic trophy slipping from their grasp for the first time since 2016, and the way some folk are carrying on you’d think the club are, as a result, heading the way of Renton or Third Lanark. Sunday’s abject defeat to Ross County led to a mass tantrum outside Parkhead later that evening, culminating in Socratic dialogue with the local polis, and now several members of the fanbase have lost their sense of smell and everything tastes of nothing. It’s fair to say the protest wasn’t the brightest idea. The reason everyone’s lost the head isn’t really about the League Cup That Got Away at all: Celtic have also been dispatched from Europe in short order, they’re on their worst run of form since 1958, and worst of all Pope’s Newc O’Rangers have an 11-point lead at the top of the Premiership table. That’s jeopardised the dream of winning a 10th title in a row, which seems to be a big thing for the fans, though exactly why we’re not sure, given one of the signature achievements of the legendary Jock Stein would be superseded, and by definition diminished, by a collective featuring Shane Duffy and the 63-year-old Scott Brown. But each to their own. Anyway, the protest appears to have had the opposite of its intended effect. The assembled rabble were calling, between dry coughs and the sharing of droplets, for the dismissal of Neil Lennon. However while his sacking was reportedly in the pipeline, the folk in charge of the Parkhead biscuit tin took one look outside at the unfolding pandemic-infused huff and resolved not to “bow to yobs”, gifting Lennon a stay of execution. Something of a fiasco, then, although perhaps fans will come to consider this chain of events a blessing in disguise, given the two favourites to take over are Martin O’Neill, fresh from leading Nottingham Forest to ninth place in the Championship, and former Middlesbrough boss Wee Gordon Strachan. The Fiver accordingly advises everyone to calm down, not least because there’s a fair chance that lot across town will touch cloth again in the new year anyway. LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE Join Scott Murray from 8pm GMT for hot MBM coverage of Liverpool 2-1 Ajax, while Ben Fisher will be on hand for Porto 1-1 Manchester City. QUOTE OF THE DAY “My mother worked at a clothes and shoes shop close to our house. The boots I used were borrowed through her, somewhat in secret” – flying Ajax winger Antony tells Eryck Gomes how he owes his career to a pair of pilfered boots, among other things

FIVER LETTERS “Re: the greatest GOAT of all time and Marten Allen’s missive on his old captain’s For Your FYI (yesterday’s Fiver letters). I am constantly baffled by people asking you to ‘please RSVP’ to an invitation. OK sure, I’ll respond to your invitation, and I’ll add in a short summary on card in the shape of a round circle as to why I have the sad misfortune of having to attend or not. But I digress. This does remind me of that old joke about the ‘department of redundancy department’, although that sounds too much like most government departments” – Leon-Ben Lamprecht. “Re: JJ Zucal (yesterday’s Fiver letters). ‘I should have read The Fiver’ are six words I absolutely thought I would never read … 2020 just keeps on delivering” – Paul Arnold. “May I be the first of the 1,057 to point out that Marine have won seven games to get to the FA Cup third round, not just four as you suggest” – Alan Murphy (and 1,056 others). “I chanced upon this fascinating piece in Big Paper at the weekend on the five common logical fallacies used by conspiracy theorists (special pleading, fake authority, illusory correlations, false equivalence and thought-terminating cliches) and couldn’t help notice the similarity between them and what a certain Premier League manager says” – Noble Francis. 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 prize is … Leon-Ben Lamprecht, who wins a copy of The Got, Not Got Football Gift Book – Every Fan’s Catalogue of Desires, by Derek Hammond and Gary Silke (postage available to UK only, sorry – Fiver Postal Ed]. NEWS, BITS AND BOBS An outbreak of Covid-19 has forced Newcastle’s entire squad to self-isolate, meaning Friday’s match against Aston Villa will either be postponed or take place with a Magpies team consisting of the cast of Jossy’s Giants plus Ant & Dec, live I’m a Celebrity duties or not. It’s the Lilywhites v the Lilywhites after eighth-tier Marine landed Spurs in the FA Cup. “It’s an unbelievable draw,” whooped boss Neil Young. “We will plan as best we can. Usually with José [Mourinho]’s teams, he puts pretty strong sides out.” France’s Stéphanie Frappart will become the first female official to take charge of a men’s Big Cup game when Juventus host Dynamo Kyiv on Wednesday.

Ligue Un, done. Next up, men’s Big Cup. Photograph: Damien Meyer/AFP/Getty Images

Ole Gunnar Solskjær says Edinson Cavani’s head will be on their game with PSG and not stuck in the place it presumably was when he did that Instachat post. “The best players can put their problems or the other thoughts away for a while and then perform,” blabbed Solskjær. Frank Lampard’s Chelsea manager Frank Lampard reckons Wayne Rooney’s Derby should become Plain Old John Terry’s Derby. Phew. “I think it’s a great opportunity, if true,” cooed FLCMFL. “And [POJT] will be a hungry, ambitious manager.” Andy Robertson hates VAR. “A lot of people I have spoken to are not enjoying football as much as they once did,” sighed the Liverpool left-back. “It is important to remember the key values that made us fall in love with it.” And all hail the Moyesiah! West Ham are up to fifth in the Premier League after beating Aston Villa 2-1. STILL WANT MORE? Does Maradona’s greatness really have to stand in opposition to something else, asks Jonathan Liew, while Sid Lowe reckons Lionel Messi’s Newell’s shirt tribute to Diego was personal, pure and symbolic. Suzy Wrack picks her WSL team of the season so far. After a decade of decline, Ipswich have lost five of their past eight League One games and Nick Ames can hear alarm bells ringing. Po’ Ambitious Paul!

Tough times at Portman Road. Photograph: Richard Calver/MDI/REX/Shutterstock

Football needs to catch up and get its house in order over concussion, writes Sean Ingle. Oh, and if it’s your thing … you can follow Big Website on Big Social FaceSpace. And INSTACHAT, TOO! ‘MAKE WORK YOUR FAVOURITE, OK’

[Vesper 27,342]

David Squires on … Diego Maradona

Our cartoonist looks back at the life and times of the World Cup-winning Argentina legend in murals

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2020/dec/01/david-squires-on-diego-maradona-murals

[Vesper 27,342]

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer backs FA investigation into Edinson Cavani’s “negrito” post

https://theathletic.com/news/edinson-cavani-negrito-machester-united-latest/UXFeks0jQ067

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will support an FA investigation into Edinson Cavani’s ‘negrito’ Instagram post, Laurie Whitwell reports. Manchester United manager Solskjaer also revealed that Cavani was “deeply sorry” for the post and he would support education for players from different cultures who move to the UK. The FA issued guidelines at the beginning of the 2020-21 season with warnings about racist and discriminatory language. Offences on social media carry a minimum three-game ban.

What did Solskjaer say on Tuesday?

Solskjaer said: “We’ve communicated with Edinson and he’s really deeply sorry for the mistake he’s made, there was no malicious intent at all.

“It’s one of those unfortunate situations where he’s just come into the country and in Uruguay he’s been using a different affection to what we have so we'll support him and we support the FA.

“It’s important the FA have asked him to explain and it’s out there for everyone to see because we want to be in the fight against discrimination with everyone.”

When asked whether players who come from different cultures should be educated, Solskjaer replied: “I think so. I saw Gary (Neville) said something on maybe all players coming from different cultures should be educated and I’m sure Edinson has learnt the hard way.”

What happened?

On Sunday, Cavani came off the bench for United and scored a double as they came back from 2-0 down to beat Southampton 3-2.

After the game, he reposted an image from a fan to his story on Instagram, adding the caption “Gracias negrito”. The phrase loosely translates to “thanks little black boy”.

Cavani went on to delete the Instagram post and apologised for it on Monday.

The FA are now looking into the post.

What is the context for the phrase?

The term is not common in England, although it has clear racial connotations.

In South America, it is used affectionately.

What are the FA regulations around this?

The FA now has rules governing written communications.

As their rules state, the regulatory commissions are allowed to “apply a match-based sanction below the standard range where an offence is ‘in writing only or via any communication device’ and another specific mitigating factor is present.”

The minimum in that situation, if Cavani goes on to be charged and found guilty, is three games, compared to the standard minimum ban of six games for discrimination.

Is this likely to be resolved swiftly?

No. It isn’t likely to be a quick solution at all. United will have to respond to the FA.

Cavani could yet be charged, given a warning or face no action.

[Jase 43,479]

 

[Atomiswave 6,072]

That cunt Henderson said today that nobody is doing liverpool any favours.......I mean we all know you cunts are used to having it all your way but ffs get a grip you bare foot idiot.

[Vesper 27,342]

15 minutes ago, Jason said:

 

this is rot

No under 18s allowed to be signed *at all*

 

[Atomiswave 6,072]

Henderson nominated for Sports Personality of the Year...parody at its best.

[Jase 43,479]

JESUS CHRIST! Even Alisson is now injured with a muscle issue. What is Klopp even doing!?

[Special Juan 27,104]

8 minutes ago, Jason said:

JESUS CHRIST! Even Alisson is now injured with a muscle issue. What is Klopp even doing!?

Working players harder than his tongue the gob shite.

[NikkiCFC 7,591]

9 minutes ago, Jason said:

JESUS CHRIST! Even Alisson is now injured with a muscle issue. What is Klopp even doing!?

It's BT sport fault 

[killer1257 3,282]

JESUS CHRIST! Even Alisson is now injured with a muscle issue. What is Klopp even doing!?

Alisson is an injury prone player. Klopp can't change that.

Gesendet von meinem VOG-L29 mit Tapatalk

[Vesper 27,342]

1 hour ago, Atomiswave said:

Henderson nominated for Sports Personality of the Year...parody at its best.

Knob of the Year

[Vesper 27,342]

so if the 17 foreign players allowed drops to 13 we should be in good shape as multiple ones of our 17 are ones who need to go anyway

dumping Baba, Emerson, Alonso, Willy gets us to 13

and we still have to dump Kepa, and maybe Rudiger (surely he needs to go whilst we can still get a nice chunk of change for him) and for sure Jorginho

so that  gets us to 10

meaning 3 open slots

Malang Sarr would be one (if he doesn't go out on loan again, he looked great tonight versus Shitty and he can play LB too)

so two open slots

obviously no place for Bats, nor Miazga, nor Zappacosta, nor Danilo Pantic nor Kenedy nor van Ginkel  nor  Lucas Piazon 

also

by the start of the 2023-24 season (at the latest), Kante (probably), Thiago, Azpi and Giroud will be gone as well

so IF Sarr becomes a full time 1st team Chels player, and all the ones listed are gone

we have 6 open spaces down the road (2 or 3 years max) 5 if Kante stays

The one I do not know about is Havertz, as he is an U21

so he may count against us, in which case reduce by one the available numbers

summer 2023 (other than fucking Kepa) is also the latest any of these contracts are expiring