Football – 2023/24 Season

Henderson really doesn’t know when to stop digging, does he? Apparently it’s nothing to do with the money. He’s going to bring down the Saudi Regime from the inside

Righto Jordan

Pogba busted for Testosterone

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66780283

If he’s banned for two years, would anyone notice?

I was assuming it would have been a recreational style drug, the way he strolled about at Old Trafford.

Valium?

I think they must put it in the water at OT, the way everyone kicks back once they get there

If Pogba is on it, then there will be loads more.

Perhaps Jordan Henderson would like to donate his pay rise to a Yemeni charity

If Pogba is on it, then there will be loads more.

I am not seeing your logic here, not that I think football is PED clean, but I don’t see Pogba getting busted as a yardstick for the sport. It is not a revelation that moves the needle one way or the other.

There’s a “friendly” match at Hampden tonight.
Who’s got most to lose? Scotland have been on a great run they don’t want any injuries etc. Does the same apply for England?
I think it’s a match both team’s could have done without. Also once the songs start and there’s a couple of collisions how friendly can a Scotland v England match really be.

Perhaps Jordan Henderson would like to donate his pay rise to a Yemeni charity

In 2021 alone Henderson donated approx £4m to charity.

He has also been given an MBE for his efforts/work for charity and the ammounts he’s helped raise.

I think England have most to lose. English media and a section of their fans will see them as favourites so if they lose it will put more pressure on Southgate. I think most Scotland fans are actually more interested in seeing us finish qualification strongly. I’d take finishing top of the group over beating England. Anyway I think our confidence is high enough that as long as we don’t lose badly I don’t think it’ll do us any harm. On a personal note I’d like to see Lewis Ferguson get a run out tonight.

I’m not sure if/where the game is being broadcasted tonight but I I will be at work trying to avoid the score updates etc. Yes it would be good to see Lewis Ferguson get some time on the pitch. My main concern is to avoid any longer term injuries to the established players.

Southgate showing his tactical conservatism again.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66781875

Doesn’t seem to realise that braking into a midfield of KDB, Rodri, and Gundagon over the past few years would be almost impossible for anybody. Foden has been effectively played out of position because he is still so good that he can perform in many positions. Of course it doesn’t seem to bother Southgate quite so much that Philips got even less time in the city midfield, or for that matter that Maquire has been unable to break into the united defence.

At some point at the pointy ends of tournaments you need to win, IMO in order to unlock other teams establishing Bellingham, Rice and Foden has got to be the way forward.

I suspect Southgate has been asked not to return top first team players in a plaster cast due to playing in a pointless friendly.

At some point at the pointy ends of tournaments you need to win, IMO in order to unlock other teams establishing Bellingham, Rice and Foden has got to be the way forward.

Not entirely sure why Foden didn’t start – especially when Henderson has gone to play in the retirement fund league.

Given that the players are a lot of young men with time and money I would expect some to use recreational drugs.  Given the money and hence pressure to succeed, recover from injury, recover from having played 25 games in 15 weeks,  one last night and the next tomorrow,  and the advantage a bit more speed or stamina or strength gives,  I expect performance drugs are in use.  The very small number of positive tests across the prem says to me they aren’t looking.

I’m then left thinking,  what did pogba do to get caught!?

Let Henderson dig,  it keeps the issue in the media.  Whether that’s his intention I don’t know,  i suspect the large salary is his prime motivation.  However he has been a good advocate in the past and his being there, while ‘digging’ does make people think about the issue.  The discussion is good and I’m not sure it would be as intense if he weren’t there.  So is his presence a good thing,  at least partially,  although probably unintended.

The very small number of positive tests across the prem says to me they aren’t looking.

Isn’t the prem under the UK anti doping testing regime now, or do they still get preferential treatment compared to other sports. There used to be a problem, where they got advance notice of testing rather than random testing, not sure if that still is the case. I suspect perhaps the bigger problem with football at the highest level, is the money involved probably allows you (whether as a club or individual) to stay a step or 2 ahead of the testing agency.

I know it is a bit late but what is Gareth Southgate actual job? He mainly picks the same team to keep things consistent which I get, but what I dont get is persisting with players who rarely play for their club teams, who cant be match fit. What is he actually doing?

To be fair, he has done better than a multitude of previous managers, he seems to have got the team to support each other and bond better than anyone since Bobby Robson, but tactically he is way behind what is required to win a major tournament. The last few tournaments England have had easier paths to the semi’s and finals, I wonder if he would have survived if that had been different.

It has been said a few times, he is a better person than he is a manager, I couldn’t imagine anyone dealing with issues like “taking the knee” and the political racist flak that attracted better than he did. So I would like him to succeed, but I do think he needs to be a bit more courage in the way England play foir that to happen.

what I dont get is persisting with players who rarely play for their club teams

Particularly when he has many options available who are on form and playing every week

I’d comment further if I’d actually watched them, play but life’s too short for that

Steve Clarke has gotten excellent performances out of two players who have not been playing regularly for their clubs. Almost like some premier League managers are over rated and don’t know what they’re doing.

It is true that Gareth Southgate is a fine human being. think he just needs to rotate some players and take a few more risks.

I’m not sure if/where the game is being broadcasted tonight but I I will be at work trying to avoid the score updates etc.

Think its Channel 4, for some reason.

Because they have the rights for England matches.

I can’t imagine there was a massive bidding war for the rights to broadcast Engerland friendlies 😂

I won’t be wasting my time watching it, obviously, but I’ve stuck a few quid on a 1-1

Caught the beginning in the car – England fans booing the minute to remember Craig Brown. **** ignorant morons.

Harry **** Maquire, comes on at half time, slows the game down, makes England worse then scores an own goal.

Hilarious 😆

Harry **** Maquire, comes on at half time, slows the game down, makes England worse then scores an own goal.

What an introduction, he is our best chance of getting something out of this!

Genuine megalolz at those last two posts.

Slow pace, backwards passing and own goals. He’s having a mare and not being helped by Southgate who keeps putting him on the pitch. There’s got to be a better alternative?

Lewis Dunk looked good last night, assured in defending, didn’t dawdle on the ball just moved it on, and made a few decent passes that cut out the press. John Stones should be back soon, Levi Colwill, Fikayo Tomori, Marc Guehi are all better options than Maquire.

Maquire should have gone to West Ham to try and recapture some form, and then maybe he could have been considered an option

I’m sure any interest that West Ham or anyone else had in him is now long gone

He’ll sit on the bench on 200 grand a week while Ten Hag puts the kit man on before starting him

Careful now Binners – Southgate has called anyone who criticises him as bullies!

i do feel a little sorry for him – even 200k a week does not protect you for the pile on he must be going through.

Serious question… Can anyone actually remember any other footballer who is so catastrophically awful that when they come on to the pitch, all the opposition fans cheer?

When Ten Hag was forced to bring him on against Arsenal, as there really were no other alternatives, the crowd response reminded me of the ‘welease Weginald’ scene in the Life of Brian. I believe the Scottish fans were the same last night

Surely that’s a new low for anyone? Especially when you immediately provide a moment of inept hilarity to justify the laughter

It’s a bit rich for Southgate to complain about the grief Maguire gets when he’s picked a player so Rusty, completely out of form and totally undeserving of the place. By doing that, he’s put him right in the firing line, with results everyone else saw coming a mile off. Turning the ball past his own keeper has become his personal calling card. That and weirdly tackling his own players

 That and weirdly tackling his own players

I don’t think if it was highlighted in the commentary, and I didn’t listen to the later analysis, but when Ukraine scored against England, he was busy running into the back of Marc Guehi.

Oh, that’s nothing

This is one of his best. He ****ed up big time with an aimless back pass (standard) then in the process of trying to redeem it, hauls down Luke Shaw to the floor who would comfortably have it covered, allowing Spurs to score

Shaw appeals for an obvious foul as he assumed it was a spurs player who dragged him to the floor, but no, it was his own captain/clueless idiot.

It must grate with him even more that TH plays him out of position rather than start Maguire who can’t even compete for his central defensive place against effectively a left winger

Believe me, you get used to this shit. He does it all the time. He’s worse than useless. He’s an absolute ****ing liability.

The worst, most ludicrous signing in the premier league. He wouldn’t make it in to most pub sides