If there was ever a case of the rules v common sense, Celtic's Dubai trip is a perfect example. 13 first team players now in isolation.
What a mess.
I think that can be filed in the same section as the pointless internationals that were played.
It appears that at no point did anyone stop and say “actually.... does anyone think that in the middle of a global pandemic, this might not be such a great idea?”
A good weekends footy. Crawly putting Leeds out being the highlight
It was a shocking display but it's the best thing for us – our squad isn't big enough to challenge for cups too and we just need to navigate this season safely without any needless injuries and still be in the Premier League next season. Clearly Bielsa thought the same given the team selection – and Philips wouldn't have been playing but for being suspended for the next match already.
@Binners I guess you loved Keane's assault on Haaland then and also Buchan ending Colin Bell's career?
In what way was it a "take one for the team" challenge? - United were being outplayed and Fatty's actions had no effect on the course of the game. Shocking that he did not get booked for it and that Martial did not get booked for blatant diving. I was just amazed that a penalty was not given - thank you Herr Klopp.
It's about time that Shaw had a few decent games - he has been stealing a living since he signed in 2014.
Anyway well done to Sheffield United for their first league win.
Hi 😃
https://twitter.com/skysportspl/status/1349122597309583360?s=21
It’s going to be an absolute humdinger at Anfield on Sunday
Booked the victory parade already?
It’s going to be an absolute humdinger at Anfield on Sunday
Yeah hopefully we'll get to see several well taken penalties, after some exciting VAR controversy.
Fair point. LiVARpool do tend to get a disproportionate amount at Anfield
We’ll see Mo Salah at his best, playing to his strengths
Shows what a bit of confidence and a settled side does! Ole was useless 6 weeks ago, now he’s the messiah.
Mo has nothing on the master - I think literally the worst dive I've ever seen.
https://wittyfutty.com/2020/09/video-bruno-fernandes-comically-feigns-an-injury-vs-crystal-palace/
I don’t think he can even begin to match Mo, week in week out, as soon as anyone so much as breathes in his general direction
Man U top, the 2020’s just doesn’t stop giving.
Shows what a bit of confidence and a settled side does! Ole was useless 6 weeks ago, now he’s the messiah.
The insanity of football management - and punditry, both professional and amateur
What's the Man Utd equivalent of the 'It Really Could be Our Year...' Liverpool meme that Binners always posts about this point in the season?
Ole was useless 6 weeks ago, now he’s the messiah.
Thats the media for you. Any manager is just 3 defeats away from being 'in Crisis'. I think it's Klippity's turn at the moment, isn't it?
The #OleOut crowd were always a very vocal minority and I suspect younger fans who aren't old enough to remember the pre-fergie era when we were shit and Liverpool just won everything, every season.
With Ole all the United fans I know were, like me, happy with the direction of travel and the fact that we are (give or take the odd absolutely shambolic defensive performance) playing some good attacking football. Especially after the spirit-crushing, bus-parking anti-football tedium of Maureen.
Did any of us expect to be sat at the top of the table in January? What do you think? Not a chance! And anyone tells you they did is either a liar or completely delusional. We're the new Arsenal... top 4 will do. I think the fact that there was no realistic expectation to be competing with Liverpool or Citeh for the title this season has probably been really helpful to Ole. Will we be there or therabouts at the end? Who knows? The whole top half of the table is bonkers this season
What’s the Man Utd equivalent of the ‘It Really Could be Our Year…’ Liverpool meme that Binners always posts about this point in the season?
Good question. I thought there would be hundreds by this morning. Sort yourself out, scousers. The reaction I had from my scouse mate last night was a text that said "remember: its the hope that kills you, mate. We had it for 30 years" 😀
United actually have a pretty deep squad and very few injuries - it does smack a bit of the season when Leicester won it with none of the ‘big’ clubs able to get their act together. I think they could easily finish above Liverpool although City should win it.
The FA Cup game adds a bit to the league outcome I think - if one side wins both games comprehensively it will be pretty demoralising for the other.
Chelski really are shit!
They don’t deserve to be beating Fulham, who’ve been down to ten men since before half time.
It’ll be interesting to see how long Lampard lasts under an owner so famously trigger-happy if there’s no improvement in this. It’s dire!
Leicester Southampton should be a blinder.
Looking forward to us and the scousers tomorrow. Mark Hughes was on Five Live this morning talking about United v Liverpool games
“We’d kick lumps out of each other for 20 minutes, then the ref would get the captains together and say ‘ok, you’ve had you’re fun, can we have a game of football now please?’
😂
Old skool Binners. Yeah Lampard needs to figure out his best side pronto. Really surprised at Werner struggling, I thought he’d be top quality in the Premier League. I think they have too many players of similar quality, if anything.
Team news is interesting - Henderson centre half and Shaquiri in midfield. Klopp going for it! Conservative from United - really thought he’d play Cavani against two midfielders at centre half. Also surprised Bailly doesn’t keep his place.
A definite contender for goal of the season there from Ndombele. What a finish
Good team news from Anfield. Matip isn’t in the squad, so they’re having to play one of the barstools out of the Jimmy Tarbuck players wives lounge, with a smiley face balloon sellotaped to it, as a central defender 😃
Does Pickford get a medal if Liverpool don't win the title. Not only the impact of not having the best centre half in the game currently, but having to play other players out of position as cover.
SF - I’m not sure I’d describe a starting line up of Tony Marshall, Rashford, Fernandez and Pogba as a front four as ‘conservative’
Should be a blinder, this
Bit simplistic jonv. Why did Klopp play Jota in the dead rubber champions league group game - injured. He was putting genuine pressure on the front 3 which is more than Origi will ever do. Gomez too was injured on international duty with no one near him and Matip is always injured.
I meant the Fred / McTominay shield as per all Man U’s big games.
Should be a blinder, this
Thanks, Binners.
Apologies for this kiss of death there
Still 3 points clear though 😃
Disappointing lack of penalties/VAR drama.
Salah forgot to put his Speedos on?
It was indeed. Couldn't have been better for them. The form they're on at the moment too, they've got to be clear favourites for the title
Every time John Stones is mentioned it makes me laugh at this
https://twitter.com/TotalStoneRoses/status/764449388915728384?s=20
they’ve got to be clear favourites for the title
looking good at the moment, but this season, lose a couple of players to covid for a while, an injury or 2 and when the fixtures are coming thick and fast things can change quickly. There are still some twists and turns to this season IMO.
Leicester are quietly sneaking up on the inside, can't remember if they are still in the FA cup, I wonder if they might sacrifice Europe and go for the league. The team with least games to play could have a massive advantage.
Guardiola always wants to win everything, and while it has brought us a lot of trophies, IMO he plays senior players in too many matches they don't need to be involved in, I think it has been a contributing factor in losing out in the champions league. When we get to the final stages we keep playing at the same level (which is not exactly bad) but the teams that win are raising their games and peaking at the end of the season. This year especially I fear a drop off towards the end of the season.
He tinkers too much in the big games too. Impressed with how solid they look now - Laporte can’t get a game!
Commentator on the radio made me chuckle making the same point adding that City had spent £400 million to get their defence sorted....more than some countries spend on defence.
All part of the fun Nick. The Premier League is about as far detached from reality as you can get, and all the better for it.
Amazed Liverpool haven’t signed a centre half yet, given the transfer window is open - unless Gomez is due back soon?
Surprising lack of talk about asterisks, weak leagues, and cancelling seasons now eh. Funny that.
Amazed Liverpool haven’t signed a centre half yet, given the transfer window is open – unless Gomez is due back soon?
They seem to be saying they can't afford much because of Covid reducing income but then I think they said that before they signed Jota and Thiago.
I guess defensively they have actually done well since the Villa game - but Fabinho and Henderson at the back and maybe the full backs not as advanced might be affecting them going forwards?
Surprising lack of talk about asterisks, weak leagues, and cancelling seasons now eh. Funny that.
Oh, there would be if you were top, wouldn’t there? Because we all know how hard done by Liverpool are, don’t we?
It’s all just, like, SOOOOOOO NOT FAIR! 😂
Nothing to do with Liverpool being hard done by just that Man City and Man U fans (in particular) are a bunch of hypocritical ****s. As you've just proved once again.
When Liverpool were top I was saying the league this year is a load of shite, I'm still saying it now. If you get excited about Bruno Fernandes spending literally his entire Man United career rolling around on the floor then banging in shady penalties in an empty stadium covered up by fake crowd noise then good luck to you.
Aaaaaaaah.... so it’s not just us now? It’s Citeh that are part of the anti-Liverpool conspiracy as well?
I know that Fergie, despite officially being retired, still briefs all the refs at the start of the season, but are you suggesting he now takes Pep into the meeting with him too?
Makes you think...
No conspiracy just a sport that now centres around penalties/VAR and is utterly tedious. Man Utd are admittedly the best at this new penalty-ball sport.
I think that most footy fans would be happy to see the back of VAR, but it’s a bit of a push to call this season tedious. There’s been some absolutely bonkers matches this season and some quality football played.
Did you see Ndombele’s goal yesterday?
And it’s a proper title race this season. There’s nothing separating the top half of the table.
People got all giddy because of some freak results but honestly the whole thing just leaves me cold, even before Man U fans got wildly over-excited about a temporary league position ;).
I could understand finishing a season that was most of the way through but starting a new one and carrying it on through 'lockdown' seems insane to me, especially continuing all competitions including CL, EL and internationals. The combination of lack of crowds and VAR/constant penalties, players out with Covid, excessive injuries, defenders holding arms behind backs - it's just all a bit farcical really. When they started bringing crowds back it started to seem semi-hopeful but when is that likely to happen again this season?
Did you see Ndombele’s goal yesterday?
Yup, meh. Quite impressive but also quite flukey IMO.
I think it might be best if you stopped watching football. You don’t seem to be getting much out of it