Arsenal are a bit like a dog with no teeth aren't they. If they had a decent left winger instead of Martinelli/Trossard who are both a bit rubbish, someone to replace Saka when he's not there on the right and a decent forward they'd be pretty lethal.
Tonali gets better every game.
I've watched him closely in both the game last night and the Spurs game. He has this ability that in defensive transition - when we get a foot in, or a misplaced pass by the opposition, he seems to immediately be able to find 3 yards of space for someone to give the ball to him, and then is good enough technically to either keep it or find another player and then get another 3 yards to get it back. The 5 seconds after a turnover is crucial when opponents are on the press; just not giving it straight back to them immediately after is vital, let alone when the quick triangles open space up for a counter.
I'd imagine opposing coaches know this and tell their teams that when they turnover, to not let Tonali be an easy out for Newcastle, but doing it is way harder than telling someone to do it..
Huge signing it's turning out to be.
Agree jonv- a bit similar to Gravenberch I think inhis ability to receive the ball in tricky areas and get the team going forward.
None of the form sides seem to trying very hard in these kangaroo cup matches.
Only saw the second half but looked like Liverpool could have played all week without scoring.
Everton have sacked the gravel-gargler 3 hours before kick off. I wonder who the new owners will get in for this years now traditional relegation battle? Maureen is the name in the frame apparently
I totally vote for Mourinho. I would love to see him becoming the new Big Sam / Steve Bruce style relegation specialist. It suits his bitter personality these days.
Potter is a good choice at West Ham. Although given the rumours that they initially only offered him a 6 month contract suggests that he might have just as much fun with the board as all the rest...
Potter is a good choice at West Ham.
Yeah I was keen on him after Moyes left. We'll see if he can deal with the idiots in charge.
Dad's just come on, and son's been sent to warm up.
I totally vote for Mourinho. I would love to see him becoming the new Big Sam / Steve Bruce style relegation specialist. It suits his bitter personality these days.
Apparently it won't be Moaninho - he's still salty about the Freidkin Group who also own Roma.
Everton are in a relegation battle.
Who are they going to replace Dyce with?
The team isn't really under achieving, so who can come in and sort them out?
Pretty mean spirited by Darren Ferguson not to let Tyler Young come on to play against his Dad.
Was probably to avoid injury from his Dad getting one up on him.
Apparently Moyes for Everton - good to see the new owners are utterly clueless.
Pretty mean spirited by Darren Ferguson not to let Tyler Young come on to play against his Dad.
With 5 mins to go they're a goal from extra time, no way can he justify putting on an 18yo midfielder when he had strikers on the bench. The kid's made one appearance in the EFL Trophy, it's not like he was an unused regular.
Everton got a second after 90+8 but by then his subs were used up.
In his own words - it's not a charity. A cup run for Peterborough can be very lucrative and most lower division clubs need that money, not a twee headline that's only a quiz question in 3 days time.
Who are they going to replace Dyce with?
Barry White?
I want to see the expressions on the faces of the Liverpool fans who were calling for the sale of the club last year if Elon Musk ends up spending some pocket change on it.
I want to see the expressions on the faces of the Liverpool fans who were calling for the sale of the club last year if Elon Musk ends up spending some pocket change on it.
I'd like to be a fly on the wall for the "fit and proper" test!
I’d like to be a fly on the wall for the “fit and proper” test!
It's ok hopefully it'll be same board that allowed Reading to be bought by the only Russian oligarchy with no money. Followed by the only Chinese industrialist with no industry.
I don't think Moyes is a bad choice for Everton (other than going back for a second time rarely works out). But clubs who have moved Moyes on to play "the west ham way" with a more exciting manager or whatever fantasy they have about being an expansive attacking club while making boardroom level **** ups, have usually done worse without him.
I am not sure Dyce bore much responsibility for the state Everton is now in, but Moyes is a good choice to organise the playing side and avoid relegation and then see if they can climb up the table as they move to the new ground.
Big shout to Plymouth for causing a shock and beating Brentford.
Especially as they have only scored 4 goals away from home this season.
I'm a big fan of Brentfords style, but fair play to Plymouth, they worked hard.
The Tractor Boys host Bristol Rovers this afternoon. IIRC we've not been past the third round for 10 years. I anticipate the use of the phrase "concentrate on tbe league" will be used later.
I really don't understand some of the timings for these cup ties?
Why put them on at daft times and then not televise them?
Also, I know the "romance of the cup" but the Liverpool and City ties were only going one way. Why put them on TV?
But clubs who have moved Moyes on to play “the west ham way” with a more exciting manager or whatever fantasy they have about being an expansive attacking club while making boardroom level **** ups, have usually done worse without him.
Moyes had gone stale at West Ham, as anyone who had the misfortune of watching the second half of last season would testify. That the board predictably screwed up his replacement doesn't make the decision wrong.
Why put them on at daft times and then not televise them?
Are you sure they aren't, BBC iPlayer had a selection on Thurs & Fri; I didn't check for yesterday.
They televised 2 of the early kick offs yesterday.
Hull v Doncaster kick off at 12 today. Not on TV.
Is there a potential for trouble?
https://www.live-footballontv.com/live-fa-cup-football-on-tv.html
iPlayer and ITV streaming options
Hull v Doncaster kick off at 12 today. Not on TV.
Is there a potential for trouble?
Probably for the large Far Eastern broadcast audience.
Never realised there was such support for Hull v Doncaster in the far east.
For a small team getting the draw is one thing but I presume it helps the club financially too to be on TV
Spurs are making heavy weather of this!
For a club like Tamworth the TV broadcast rights will be a hefty payday. They were saying the money will be going to improving the facilities as the Spurs players got changed in a portacabin, which is a bit different than they’ll be used too.
Tamworth have looked really good. Spurs look completely toothless
God only knows what United team will turn up today? The one who drew at Anfield or the one that lost 3 nil to Bournemouth at home?
Hopefully be a good game as Arsenal could do with getting some momentum again. Expect a few corners down the throat of United’s reserve keeper!
Why aren't Arsenal wearing their home kit?
It's a charity kit against knife violence.
That Tamworth pitch looked odd, guessing it's plastic? That'll level things a bit.
We were just debating who was going to get sent off, Martinez or Bruno, so Dalot was quite surprising. That might not be the last red
Some traditional UTD/Arsenal handbags, good to see.
Damn it, I was prepping the roasties and missed all the excitement....
Cracking save! And another! I think we need to rethink who our number one keeper is
There’s no way that was a penalty anyway. Obviously lots of snipers in the crowd the way arsenal players keep going down
Same old Arsenal…
Thank god Havertz couldn’t hit a cows arse with a banjo! If only he was as good at finishing as he was at hurling himself at the floor?
We were just debating which Chelsea reject, inexplicably bought by another London club, had the worst day at the office today? Timo Werner or Kai Havertz?
Havertz missed a number of absolute sitters then had a crap penalty kick saved, but Werner couldn’t score against Tamworth and wouldn’t have done if he’d have stayed out there all day
Bit unfair to compare Timo against someone who scores goals.
But then only one of them got to be very publicly called a ‘cheating little shithouse’ by Harry Maguire. Hats off to the Sky cameras for zooming in on Slabhead just at the moment he came out with that (completely justified) gem 😀
Arsenal desperately need a good striker - but if Havertz costs £65million & Højlund cost £70+million, who can even afford a decent striker these days?
You could ask for a full refund under the trades descriptions act for either of them, surely?
With Højlund, he just looks like an expensive version of Weghorst we temporarily had previously. His first touch, in the 3 times a match he gets one, is absolutely awful! Havertz is great at getting himself in goal scoring positions, it’s just that his finishing is terrible once he gets there. He should have had 3 yesterday
Arsenal are a bit like a dog with no teeth aren’t they. If they had a decent left winger instead of Martinelli/Trossard who are both a bit rubbish, someone to replace Saka when he’s not there on the right and a decent forward they’d be pretty lethal.
Posted this 5 days ago and my opinion hasn't changed one bit although I did think Sterling had a decent game.
Højlund and Nunez at Liverpool are quite similar, they look like they do 98% great, they just can't score goals, Nunez especially I just keep thinking if he get a couple of goals it would start a flood, but it just never happened and it looks like they will cut their losses and run now.
Walker just proved the attitude that made me question his "captaincy" in the first place, teams going through the first proper tough patch they have experienced since he arrived, and the club capt5ain asks to leave half way through the season. if I was pep I wouldn't let him on the training pitch never mind the matchday squad.
Maybe he just wants to spend more time with his families? 😀
Walker just proved the attitude that made me question his “captaincy” in the first place, teams going through the first proper tough patch they have experienced since he arrived, and the club capt5ain asks to leave half way through the season. if I was pep I wouldn’t let him on the training pitch never mind the matchday squad.
Given his off the field shenanigans (& yes people should have a private life - but when in such a position of responsibility you should do things the right way) I'm surprised he wasn't stripped of it before now.
Guess he needs the extra cash to support them all & maybe add to his collection.
So if Amorim was getting asked relegation questions a few weeks ago will Ange too? West Ham, who’ve been mainly rubbish, are above them!
West Ham, who’ve been mainly rubbish, are above them!
Yep! I will say that Potter has got more out of them so far, despite all the injuries. I hope he's given time
teams going through the first proper tough patch they have experienced since he arrived, and the club capt5ain asks to leave half way through the season.
It's better that he goes halfway through a mediocre season when the team is no longer chasing a title. I suspect he's jumping just before the inevitable push anyway.
Are Newcastle in the title race now? They’re in great form, solid defensively, very big physical side in terms of set pieces, so like Arsenal really, but with a lethal striker. Tough game for Liverpool on Saturday, Brentford away, and they’ve begun to leak the first goal in games, as per under Klopp latterly. I can see it getting very tight if Arsenal can stay in touch for Saka’s return.
In the unlikely event that Ipswich and Southampton both win tonight, Ipswich will be one place and 4 points behind Man United.
I'd have gladly taken that at the start of the season, not quite as attractive now.
Are Newcastle in the title race now?
No. They are 1 or 2 injuries away from an average team.
Isak is in the form of his life but he is injury prone and there is no back up.
Lose 1 of the 3 midfielders and then the whole shape of the team changes.
Also, all winning streaks come into an end.
February will define our season, play Forest, City and Liverpool. As well as Arsenal in the League Cup.
Even if they won all the remaining 17 games, that would give them 89 points. Probably about the minimum required to win it.
That would be a winning run of 23 games. Not going to happen.
Are Newcastle in the title race now?
Ssshh! Just let us get on with it under the radar!
They are 1 or 2 injuries away from an average team.
Possibly harsh, but if those injuries were to Tonali, Isak or Gordon then yes we'll struggle.
Lose 1 of the 3 midfielders and then the whole shape of the team changes.
We'll be ok if Tonali and Guimaraes stay fit, and they're not very injury prone. Guimaraes isn't as critical as everyone thinks though, and Joelinton is just about replaceable.
Even if they won all the remaining 17 games, that would give them 89 points.
Think it's going to be a low scoring season. Liverpool and Arsenal don't look like they're going to run away with it. Liverpool might but I reckon the contract issues will start to cause problem towards the end of the season. Forest will probably struggle to maintain their current position. A month ago everyone was talking up Chelsea as potential league winners and look at them now, and there's still the ever present if unlikely threat from city. I reckon anyone from the top 6 could win the title but it's going to require quite a collapse from the scousers.
City just can't kill off games - I think they will make top 4 - but their form needs to improve.
They did have a replacement for Rhodri a couple of seasons ago - but Kalvin Phillips looks a shadow of the player he was at Leeds when they signed him.
Midweek premier league matches are rubbish...
I did predict this was going to happen. We’re the new Spurs, seeing as they seem to be the new Everton
At least my darling wife will be quids in
Well look on the bright side, it provides a right good giggle for the rest of us.
That Antony miss was pure genius!
Amad bailed him out, disappointingly!
Well, that was a turnaround. Amad is turning into a bit of a tight spot specialist
On 500 grand a week
That Antony miss was pure genius!
It was right in front of us.... Unbelievable.
The scoreline was very flattering... United were shit!
As we so very often are
Our £85 million donkey being surely the most ludicrously laughable signing in football history? He couldn’t hit the ground if he fell out of a plane
85 million quid! 85 MILLION?!!!
It was an exceptional goal line clearence. Really difficult to keep your composure and execute that skill in that situation.
9.5 year new deal for Haaland, no escape clause, could be a bit of a risk for both if things turn sour, or injuries increase. Not seen the pay yet, doubt it will be less than 300 grand a week plus performance bonusses.
I wonder how much more he was able to get with the recent slump, from city's point of view it shows they are still committed for the long term so sends an important message to other potential recruits that they won't be losing interest when(if) pep leaves in a couple of years.
So Citeh are now playing the same game as Chelsea to get around the financial fair play rules? Like you said, it’s a high risk strategy
They aren't buying a 200 million player, the FFP rules don't really count like that in giving a player a new deal, it is just his wages on the annual budget rather than spreading the purchase price over a long contract (which is a loophole I thought they had closed anyway).
I also wonder if this means they have an good idea that the 115 charges is going their way.