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Football - 2023/24 Season

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Conversely, there are plenty of people who are enjoying the decline of Man Utd. I find it hilarious and given how horrible the fans were in the 90s/00s and up to Ferguson's departure, it's like karma


 
Posted : 04/10/2023 12:27 pm
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United are the gift that keeps giving. I keep anticipating and fearing their return to the top and feared it would happen under Jose, being a serial trophy winner and all; then it all looked good under Ole before it imploded; now there are signs of the same under ETH after a decent ish season last year. If it goes on much longer I may even feel sorry for them……


 
Posted : 04/10/2023 3:18 pm
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I totally get why everyone is loving this. I grew up as a United fan amongst scousers, in the 80's, where they just won everything and we were shite! so I savoured every second of their subsequent decades of mid-table obscurity.

I'd be laughing too instead of having my head in my hands watching what appears to be the worst United squad I've ever seen. They spend more money and it just keeps getting worse and worse. There was some hope at the end of last season (and we all know its the hope that kills you) but we've just gone backwards at a rate of knots. The club has just been totally rudderless for ten years+ now and its difficult to see any potential for improvement. Its a total ****ing shitshow!


 
Posted : 04/10/2023 3:33 pm
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I think we got found out, not for the first time this season, against Lens last night.

I've slipped my bet on for this year, to finish 5th and no trophy. We lack squad depth and enough top class players.


 
Posted : 04/10/2023 3:40 pm
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Are any of our resident Toon lot going to St James's tonight. I can imagine the atmosphere there is going to be absolutely off-the-chart bonkers!

Should be a blinding game!


 
Posted : 04/10/2023 4:52 pm
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Oh, how I wish! Tickets like rocking horse sh1t. Looks like an amazing tifo/flag display planned. We'll give them a game...


 
Posted : 04/10/2023 6:54 pm
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**** - 2-0 up and overrunning PSG in midfield!


 
Posted : 04/10/2023 9:47 pm
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PSG are unmanageable aren’t they? Too many egos, no discipline, no desire to stick to a plan, poor work rate. 3-0!!!!


 
Posted : 04/10/2023 10:14 pm
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Well done barcodes! Keep it up.

As you say binners is the hope that kills.  When you see the club you love go backwards year on year it hurts.   That's why I'm currently happy as a spurs fan as big ange has its going forward.  For the moment at least it feels positive!


 
Posted : 04/10/2023 10:24 pm
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my bum's doing 5p 10p already..... and there's 30 mins to go. I'll have bitten a hole in the seat of my jeans at this rate


 
Posted : 04/10/2023 10:27 pm
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As a neutral, I’ve really enjoyed watching that. Great result for the Toon!


 
Posted : 04/10/2023 10:57 pm
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Alverez is quickly becoming my favourite player, always puts a shift in and capable of some special moments.


 
Posted : 04/10/2023 11:01 pm
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Super result.   👌


 
Posted : 04/10/2023 11:21 pm
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So Pogba has his positive test confirmed. Excessive testosterone.

Looking at a 2 to 4 year ban.

Just the tip of the iceberg surely?


 
Posted : 07/10/2023 12:29 pm
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I feel sorry for him, he's such a nice humble chap


 
Posted : 07/10/2023 2:12 pm
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I’m quite concerned that taking performance enhancing drugs indicated an intention of moving at above walking pace. Maybe he had to film an advert?


 
Posted : 07/10/2023 4:17 pm
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Fergie time! McTominay just kept ETH in a job? 


 
Posted : 07/10/2023 5:59 pm
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OMG - Ipswich second in the championship, 8 points clear of Preston in third.

Can we change it to a sprint rather than a marathon please?


 
Posted : 07/10/2023 6:12 pm
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Looks like me betting on us losing had the desired effect 😂


 
Posted : 07/10/2023 6:17 pm
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@morecashthandash Indeed, always good to be the team behind you. I was away with some of my Suffolk mates last weekend and we were discussing how at some point teams might change their tactics against us and we've carried on playing how we did last year but so far so good


 
Posted : 07/10/2023 6:22 pm
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Wow, it's all kicking off this season now, a real battle for 10th place between ManU and Chelsea, both showing they can actually win games, and Spurs top of the league with a series of games that should have had us at least post once with the term 'spursy', there must have been 3 or 4 games in a row where you'd expect them to fold like a cheap suit, but they keep on getting results!


 
Posted : 07/10/2023 8:34 pm
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I didn’t just imagine that, did I? 

Scott McTomminay came on in the 87th minute and scored two? 😂

Anyway, as was just noted by @argee, the battle for 10th spot with Chelsea is well and truly on!  I think the net spend on both those squads is about the same as the GDP of France, yet they’re both shite!

At the business end of the table, Citeh v Arsenal should be an absolute belter later. The other matches this afternoon are pretty tasty too. 


 
Posted : 08/10/2023 11:03 am
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McTominay bringing his Scotland form! Looking forward to Arsenal City, Brighton v Liverpool is a nice appetiser too. 


 
Posted : 08/10/2023 12:54 pm
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Injuries are going to make a difference. No Rodri or De Bruyne for Citeh, no Saka or Martinelli for Arsenal, which kind of evens itself out, but it’s going to be interesting to see how both managers set up.


 
Posted : 08/10/2023 1:13 pm
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Bet Pep still won’t risk playing Kalvin Phillips! City’s squad is immense, they’ve coped just fine without de Bruyne for long periods before. Although Rodri is probably their most important player, likewise Saka for Arsenal? 


 
Posted : 08/10/2023 2:28 pm
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Philips seems like a really good guy, so I hope he can get some minutes and get back to what we saw from him at Leeds. But he looks unsure of himself at the moment and I don't think he is going to get many opportunities to prove himself if he doesn't start to show what he can do soon.

All the games today are quite interesting, and 3 draws so far is probably reflective of where those teams are in the table and the form they have shown so far, but still a surprise that nobody has been able to nick a win.


 
Posted : 08/10/2023 5:17 pm
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oh, I have just seen that Lewis and Kovacic are in ahead of Philips.


 
Posted : 08/10/2023 5:20 pm
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Kovacic Is a very lucky boy to still be on the pitch.

Maybe this is another game that Klopp will demand to be replayed? 😂

Kovacic coming back out for the second half? Think I’ll stick a few quid on him seeing red


 
Posted : 08/10/2023 6:26 pm
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1-0 to the Arsenal, blows the league race open, then again we all know it's about the run in and holding your bottle then, so we'll see what happens next year!


 
Posted : 08/10/2023 7:27 pm
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Hmm, disagree with 'blows it open'. As you suggest it's not about October and we all know City have the squad,  the temperament and the manager to come to peak form March to June....ie the bit of the season where things matter.   Woolwich are wiser and better then last season,  but my money is still on city. 


 
Posted : 08/10/2023 10:58 pm
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Yes, I agree but they have a tough-ish (maybe not for them) league run coming up. Brighton, Man U, Chelsea, Villa and Spurs are 5 out of their next 6 fixtures.  


 
Posted : 08/10/2023 11:02 pm
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Well playing us at the moment is 3 points in the bag and most likely a major boost to their goal difference. Chelsea will be the same.

Cant see anyone but Citeh. The only question is how many points clear they’ll be. I’ m betting it’s in double figures


 
Posted : 08/10/2023 11:26 pm
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Bit irrelevant as we all play every team home and away eventide l eventually.

Next 5

Tottenham:

- Fulham (H)

- Crystal Palace (A)

- Chelsea (H)

- Wolves (A)

- Aston Villa (H)

Woolwich:

- Chelsea (A)

- Sheff Utd (H)

- Newcastle (A)

- Burnley (H)

- Brentford (A)

City:

- Brighton (H)

- Man Utd (A)

- Bournemouth (A)

- Chelsea (A)

- Liverpool (H)

Liverpool:

- Everton (H)

- Nottm Forest (H)

- Luton (A)

- Brentford (H)

- Man City (A)


 
Posted : 09/10/2023 1:33 am
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If only it were that simple though - it’s more about form and momentum and usually when they’re flying City always seem to have Bournemouth or Fulham at home who they swat aside after 20 minutes. Haaland hasn’t scored for 3 games! About as close to a crisis as it’s gets for City. 

Yes, I’m clutching at straws 😀


 
Posted : 09/10/2023 8:34 am
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At least it makes things a bit more interesting. Haaland is definitely in a slump, by his standards, and he's starting to look a bit piqued by the whole thing. Possibly the first dry spell he's ever had, let's see how he responds. Pep is probably too scared to drop him for a couple of games in case he goes into a mental death spiral.


 
Posted : 09/10/2023 9:29 am
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Well I had my money on City putting 3 or 4 passed us, so I was pleasantly surprised.

I'm reading nothing into it at all, I still think we will finish outside the top 4. I'm sure Citeh will bounce back.


 
Posted : 09/10/2023 11:13 am
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City still packed full of exceptional talent, but probably not quite as packed full as last season; there is hope for a few of us - Spuds - completely unknown if they can keep up the form, keeping Maddison fit probably critical, The Gunners - big win yesterday but need a better striking presence, Liverpool - unlucky at Spuds last week and can have a strong claim if Klopp gets the midfield firing and defence tightens up.


 
Posted : 09/10/2023 12:22 pm
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As a spurs fan I can enjoy the moment, but I don't expect it to last.   The squad is very thin and we could struggle very very soon.   Bissouma out for a match or more now and several others already close due to yellow cards stacking up,  Manor Solomon tore his meniscus in training last week so out for 6 months I guess.  I'm hopeful bentacur will return soon and brennan johnson looks a good prospect but beyond that we are really getting to the bare bones.  My hope is we are still in contention for top 5 come January and manage to strengthen a little more.... but its a big ask.   We do have just 1 game a week though until January so that helps!


 
Posted : 09/10/2023 1:35 pm
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Liverpool really missing a defensive midfielder - Endo not trusted yet by Klopp. Gravenberch I think is more attacking and Mac Allister looks really poor there, again he needs to be further forward I think.


 
Posted : 09/10/2023 1:45 pm
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Mac Allister looks really poor there

He looks completely lost in that position. Seems an awful waste to have a player that good and play him out of position where he's clearly struggling


 
Posted : 09/10/2023 1:48 pm
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Mac Allister played his best for us in a similar role to which he's playing for Liverpool. He and Caicedo both played deeper in midfield. Even under Potter his best games for us were when Bissouma was out and he was being played further back. I think the difference is that he was always alongside someone in a midfield 2, whereas yesterday szoboszlai was pushed right on as Gross was dropping almost in to the centre of defence so once we got through their press we had so much space. It was a bit different 2nd half once Gravenberch came on.


 
Posted : 09/10/2023 2:14 pm
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Eden Hazard has hung up his boots

breaking the spuds hearts


 
Posted : 10/10/2023 7:15 pm
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Absolutely unplayable at times. I’m sure plenty of defenders still wake up screaming in the middle of the night at the thought of him running at you for 90 minutes


 
Posted : 10/10/2023 7:54 pm
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Yeah, great player. Superb balance and skill and two footed. His decline was rapid - injuries, only 32 though! 


 
Posted : 10/10/2023 11:08 pm
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Let’s credit him for not taking himself off to Saudi for the megabucks on offer for past-its.


 
Posted : 10/10/2023 11:14 pm
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