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Interesting weekend - surely Arsenal can't screw it up now, thanks to Jordan going walkabout (twice) and an equally if not worse miss by Guehi. Although that wasn't all over MOTD, because a keeping error is always highlighted whereas spooning over an open goal from 6 yards just happens.
Not totally impossible given form that Man Utd could yet beat their noisy neighbours to second. And certainly above LOLiverpool, who dropped points to Spurs of all people!
Great win for Newcastle at a traditionally barren hunting ground. And with all their injuries, an oddity for these times - 8 English players in the starting line up (plus two Germans and a Swede)
Slot’s done for isn’t he? If you can’t beat this Spurs side, with all their injuries, at home, trying to secure a top four spot, surely something isn’t right. Ponderous and slow as usual, with the only option increasingly being to give the ball to a 17 year old kid, hoping something will happen. And predictable defensive lapses late on.
whereas spooning over an open goal from 6 yards just happens
They’d have quite a selection from Anfield this afternoon then. It’s fair to say nobody had their shooting boots on. Row Z seemed like the target for 90 minutes
Not totally impossible given form that Man Utd could yet beat their noisy neighbours to second
Easy, Tiger. Let’s not get too carried away just yet. Never underestimate our capacity to massively **** things up. 😂
I’m just enjoying watching us play some decent football and I’m particularly loving Sesko’s emergence as an Ole-esque supersub. Everyone looks like they’re actually enjoying being played in their proper position in a formation that makes sense in this league. Who’d have thunk it?
I’m just enjoying watching us play some decent football and I’m particularly loving Sesko’s emergence as an Ole-esque supersub. Everyone looks like they’re actually enjoying being played in their proper position in a formation that makes sense in this league. Who’d have thunk it?
So who do you think the club will get in to undo all Carrick's good work at the end of the season?
So who do you think the club will get in to undo all Carrick's good work at the end of the season?
Would be very surprised if Carrick doesn't get it. If not though, it sounds bonkers but I'm slightly worried Eddie Howe might be on Man U's shopping list. There's a steady drip of info coming out of the toon to suggest he's not entirely happy at the moment along with a tsunami of negativity and abuse from the keyboard warriors and loads of shit-stirring in the press.
He's still working wonders though. A ridiculous number of injuries to key players, three massively underperforming expensive signings, and yet we can still beat Man U and Chelsea and play Barcelona off the park. I honestly don't know how he holds it all together.
So who do you think the club will get in to undo all Carrick's good work at the end of the season?
I could see them doing something completely mental (its not like they've not got form for it) and appoint Gareth Southgate or someone
I've been thinking about Eddie for a while, I'm firmly in the stay camp and agree he's worked wonders in a season where we've played more games (and some fantastic games) and had injuries galore, and some of the keyboard warrior abuse has been disgraceful.
But, he won't be manager for ever and there does come a time where a decision has to be made and a future planned. I do wonder who will follow, and also who can follow what he has done both in the success brought but also the way he does it. And also Jason, who I think plays the perfect role and draws fire so Eddie can stay level.
Following Newcastle for nearly 50 years, we don't know what we really had till it's gone. Afterwards Eddie will be seen in the same light as Sir Bobby, so I hope when the time comes it's on his terms and not because we've gone downhill...which could be a reasonable accusation this year, looking like no trophy (yeah, as if, we've got another 50 odd years to wait now 😉 ) and no Euro football unless the rest of the season suddenly catches fire.
That sounds pessimistic, I am firmly in the camp of another season, with a proper preseason not derailed by an Isak saga, chance to work on the training pitch with his systems and fitting people into them (is BNW another Joelinton?), holding onto the key players and strengthening elsewhere, and let's see what can be done then.
But there will be a time after Eddie and we can't escape that for ever.
I’m just enjoying watching us play some decent football and I’m particularly loving Sesko’s emergence as an Ole-esque supersub. Everyone looks like they’re actually enjoying being played in their proper position in a formation that makes sense in this league. Who’d have thunk it?
So who do you think the club will get in to undo all Carrick's good work at the end of the season?
Carrick himself. It was written in the stars when they appointed him - do well until the end of the season, get given it full time on a 5 year contract, sacked by Christmas.
Might make dazh explode but Howe to Liverpool if/when Slot gets the sack? He’s very good friends with Richard Hughes. Jacob Murphy first signing to get Isak going 😀
City making it very easy for Pep to decide his future by shooting themselves in the foot with a blunderbuss.
Good little series on the iPlayer called Ultras about the Ultra scene in Scotland, from grass roots to the green brigade, benefits to banning orders.
I wonder if Liam Rosenior's days are numbered at Chelsea...
I wonder if Liam Rosenior's days are numbered at Chelsea...
Possibly/probably? It won’t make the slightest difference though. Blueco/Clearlake/Boehly/Egbhali and their ‘sporting directors’ obviously have a cunning plan, but it doesn’t include any sensible manifestation of the time-honoured way of running a football club to actually play football and possibly win things.
Your recruitment policy of buy cheap/sell high might work at the Dodgers Teddy-Boy, but this is a different game entirely, in more ways than one!
Enzo Fernandez being coy over his future as well after they were dumped out the CL.
Loads and loads of talk (even on the BBC!) about whether Chelseas 10m fine was too lenient given points deductions for teams in recent years for lower teams. Sets a bit of a precedent for when (if?) Man City eventually get done for their 115 breaches - a meaningless (for them) fine and carry on...
Yep, but as with all things that are ‘internally regulated’, and let’s not forget the Premier League is a product to make some people lots of money, the fines are a drop in the bucket for the rich clubs. They don’t want to spoil the ‘brand’ after all 😉
Special wave for Fernandez 👋
F-ing bonkers Barca-toon match. Half time and I’m already exhausted. At least we can focus on the league after this.
Barca look good though.
Spurs showed a bit of character at least, and are now two games unbeaten. Pretty chastening overall though for the greatest league in the world.
Definitely chastening for Newcastle last night. I don't think the final scoreline reflects that for 3/4 of the round they were very much in it, if not actually on top (I'm not going to say the better side because clearly they aren't better than Barca, they were just playing better than them)
But key lapses at key times - we love a late penalty, PSG last year, twice this year - and then the last quarter of the tie they got taken apart. It was interesting watching the highlights show and the pundits talking about what had been effective, going man-to-man against some of the best technical players in the world, but once the intensity drops off by even half a foot, never mind half a yard then Yamal and co will just play around with you.
Good to see Elanga starting to contribute, they need to now put this aside but give the fans something to cheer so it doesn't sit too heavy. I wonder who they're playing at the weekend?
Bloody ITV, thought I'd watch the cup final in IT X and it appears they forgot to include the sound.
That was a stroll for Citeh. Arsenal never turned up
the bigger result today is Spurs getting tonked at home by Forest who’ve now gone above them. They’re in a proper relegation scrap now.
At least the Arsenal fans can enjoy spurs capitulation
I couldn't give two f##ks about Spurs.
That's the first of our 4 wheels to come off. I've been getting a lot of stick from Arsenal fans saying that I don't think we will win a trophy. But when we're at the business end of a season, we fold like a pack of cards every time. It's so annoying that it's happening so late in the season this year. We were schooled by Citeh today, and that's what trophy winning teams do, they win when they have too.
Great performance from City. I was a bit worried about Ake starting but he was immense. This is a City team in transition with many young players so the future seems bright. Cheki's ball juggling was hilarious - he is going to be a megastar.
Arsenal showed an absolute paucity of ideas. I would be surprised if they do not win the league but they seem a dull side who would not have been able to challenge the peak Pep/Klopp teams of a few years ago.
I know Arsenal supporters must be disappointed with the performance, but it was shocking how their side of the stadium appeared to empty instantly rather than the team being applauded for reaching a final.
I know Arsenal supporters must be disappointed with the performance, but it was shocking how their side of the stadium appeared to empty instantly rather than the team being applauded for reaching a final.
Agreed. At least wait for the bloody match to finish!
I thought City looked amazing, clinically brilliant. Although as a Chelsea fan, after the match on Saturday, two tortoises kicking a tin foil ball would look good.
Did they have the presentation above the corporate seats or the Arsenal end? It looked like City lifted the trophy to an empty stadium.
We applauded the team for reaching the final .... at the end of the semi-final. The media might have been talking quadruple but no Arsenal fan was; if it has eluded the very best teams in history it was never a possibility for a team that hasn’t won a thing for a few years. I stayed until the final whistle but almost regretted it for the amount of time taken to get out of the stadium and down Wembley Way. Emotions...? a mix of anger at our level of performance and embarrassment at just how easily Guardiola out-thought Arteta with the high press and neutralising the midfield, where the absence of Odegard and Eze was most noticeable. A bad loss given the match was really the starting gun for the run-in but at least we have a break to try and forget about it.
Bloody ITV, thought I'd watch the cup final in IT X and it appears they forgot to include the sound.
Throw two of the worst atmospheres in UK football together doesn't create a good atmosphere!
Throw two of the worst atmospheres in UK football together doesn't create a good atmosphere!
Do you really need to post such negative and frankly untrue crap? The atmosphere at the final was excellent and your assumption of City's guilt in the 115 charges matter is premature.
I get that you do not like City but your sniping against them on here is tedious.
When have the losing sides fans stayed on to watch the opposition lift the trophy? It just doesn’t happen. What was mad was Arsenal fans leaving with ten minutes to go - given all the late goals nowadays.
In the least surprising news, Mo is leaving Liverpool… Maybe a season too late?
Yeah in hindsight, I guess but his form last year merited the new deal. His ‘numbers’ have fallen away dramatically this season, but more so his touch, passing, pace etc. But then so have many of his teammates.
On Salah: Liverpool at least got the best years out of him. One of the Premier League all time greats.
Surely nobody can begrudge him going making a fortune in Saudi for the end of his career? An absolutely world class player who’s been a joy to watch. One of the greats. And that’s coming from a United fan. If you say you wouldn’t have fancied having Salah, at his peak, on your team list, then you’re either lying or mad!
Plus it also opens up another problem for the scousers in how on earth do they replace him, so there’s that. 😃
Irreplaceable. Even his stats this season which are poor by his standards are comparable to Saka’s. I’d say Olise would be a good replacement, but there’s no way he’s leaving Bayern and going to Liverpool in their current state. Raphina? Likewise, he’s not swapping Barca for Liverpool.
Rumours this morning Isak has told his agents to sort out a move to Barcelona. If the idiot had stayed at Newcastle he'd have been allowed to go this year.
It's his right to ask for it, and he can withhold his labour to get it if he wants - I'm sure the Liverpool fans will agree.
Elsewhere, this made me chuckle
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/articles/c86e395jdlqo
your assumption of City's guilt in the 115 charges matter is premature.
Any requirement to 'do the right thing', and assume innocence till proven guilty, went out of the window at this point I'm afraid...
(And recently, the Chelsea 'punishment' has shown a guilty verdict will be meaningless anyway)
Looks like I'll be able to get a lot more riding in during this world cup.
Wales had enough to beat Bosnia last night but just couldn’t get it done.
This format for the final European places is far too complicated.
Why have people made football complicated.
Money