General Football Nonsense

[Letters]

Aguerrrrrr-doh!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55752139

[Mac76]

spuds want to sign Shinguard :haha:

https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-utd/transfer-talk/news/tottenham-want-to-sign-jesse-lingard-on-loan_431493.html

[Gooner23]

Fat Frank getting the sack today

[Mac76]

Fat Frank getting the sack today

given respective league positions, this means Arteta should have been sacked last month

[Letters]

given respective league positions, this means Arteta should have been sacked last month

I think he should have been tbh, but we seem to have turned the corner and I'm not back in the "let's see how he does over a full season" camp.

[Marc Overmars]

Fat Frank getting the sack today

Tuchel to be appointed. :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

I think he should have been tbh, but we seem to have turned the corner and I'm not back in the "let's see how he does over a full season" camp.

A few wins over trash teams does not mean we have turned the corner tbh.

Can’t compare Arteta to Lampard though, Chelsea have very different standards to us.

[Letters]

A few wins over trash teams does not mean we have turned the corner tbh.

Can’t compare Arteta to Lampard though, Chelsea have very different standards to us.

Before Christmas we weren't even beating trash teams though :shrug:
Results have got better and we beat Chelsea when everyone was jizzing over them.

[I am invisible]

It's the summer investment that's killed Frank - when you spend nearly a quarter of a billion you need to be delivering a title challenge.

[Globalgunner]

We still aren't beating trash teams. We bowed out of the FA cup with a whimper and are still barely in the top half mid season. Simple fact is its not likely to get any better under this manager. We always prefer to let things wither on the vine until the Crows come out to dine.....Then maybe we take action.

[Globalgunner]

Tuchel to be appointed. :lol:

If he screws up before end season he will be sacked too. Its the Chelsea way. It also works

[Mac76]

We still aren't beating trash teams. We bowed out of the FA cup with a whimper and are still barely in the top half mid season. Simple fact is its not likely to get any better under this manager. We always prefer to let things wither on the vine until the Crows come out to dine.....Then maybe we take action.

bit harsh on Saints plus as we know Arteta chucked the cup away by playing our Z team

[Letters]

We still aren't beating trash teams.

Arsenal 3 - Chelsea 1
Brighton 0 - Arsenal 1
West Brom 0 - Arsenal 4
Arsenal 2 - Newcastle 0 (aet)
Arsenal 0 - Palace 0
Arsenal 3 - Newcastle 0

5 wins and a draw before the Southampton game :shrug:

Arteta probably made a mistake at the weekend, we don't have the depth to make that many changes and get a result. If it doesn't pay off with a result tomorrow then it will definitely have been a mistake.
Our league position is because of our miserable pre-Christmas form which was indefensible and arguably Arteta should have been sacked for.
But things have been better since so I say give him till the end of the season. We don't have much to lose. We're clearly not going to go down, it's tight enough to suggest a European place isn't out of the question.
I'm not entirely convinced by Arteta but there have been a few promising signs of late so right now I don't see what harm it does to let this season play out.

[Letters]

If he screws up before end season he will be sacked too. Its the Chelsea way. It also works

Tell that to last season's FA Cup Final :cool:
Basically you're right, but it also works because they've been backed by a billionaire who has bought them success.

[I am invisible]

bit harsh on Saints plus as we know Arteta chucked the cup away by playing our Z team
Unfortunately that was our B team and 1/3 of our A team :(

[IBK]

Arsenal 3 - Chelsea 1
Brighton 0 - Arsenal 1
West Brom 0 - Arsenal 4
Arsenal 2 - Newcastle 0 (aet)
Arsenal 0 - Palace 0
Arsenal 3 - Newcastle 0

5 wins and a draw before the Southampton game :shrug:

Arteta probably made a mistake at the weekend, we don't have the depth to make that many changes and get a result. If it doesn't pay off with a result tomorrow then it will definitely have been a mistake.
Our league position is because of our miserable pre-Christmas form which was indefensible and arguably Arteta should have been sacked for.
But things have been better since so I say give him till the end of the season. We don't have much to lose. We're clearly not going to go down, it's tight enough to suggest a European place isn't out of the question.
I'm not entirely convinced by Arteta but there have been a few promising signs of late so right now I don't see what harm it does to let this season play out.

This :good:

[Letters]

https://newsthump.com/2021/01/25/next-chelsea-manager-to-be-offered-45-minute-rolling-contract/

:lol:

[Mac76]

even though i know exactly how Chelsea works regarding its managers, i'm still surprised - given Lampard's status with the club, plus being essentially a rookie manager i genuinely thought they'd give him longer

i guess failing to get a tune out of the new players, particularly Werner, must be the key to it but still they shouldn't have been surprised

[Mac76]

Man Ure :pal:

https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-utd/transfer-talk/news/man-utd-signed-lindelof-over-van-dijk_432131.html

[McNamara That Ghost...]

18 month contract for Tuchel. :haha:

Will he make it?

[Mac76]

sounds like Ramos wants to challenge Keane's position as 'biggest **** ever to play for Man Ure'...

https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-utd/transfer-talk/news/sergio-ramos-ready-to-quit-real-madrid-for-man-united_432920.html

[Mac76]

:haha:

https://twitter.com/makeyouchuckle/status/1355989887401525250

[Letters]

:haha:

I found this. He actually got up and finished. :lol: Bless


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDnA3jobv_0

[Mac76]

:haha:

I found this. He actually got up and finished. :lol: Bless


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDnA3jobv_0

"This video contains content from International Olympic Committee, who has blocked it from display on this website or application." :lol:

[Letters]

Oh bloody hell :doh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDnA3jobv_0

[Mac76]

Oh bloody hell :doh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDnA3jobv_0

Good for him tbf, i guess whatever time he got is still better than a DNF

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-55932505

A £200 fine. He's only on 80k a week, poor lad. He won't be doing that again.

[dazthegooner]

We should start a Gofundme page for him :good:

[Letters]

Also. I noticed in a few games recently that while the games are going on they're still broadcasting stuff on the big screens in the stadiums.
Why? Who is that for?!

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55941213

:lol:

What a farce!
Null and void, ftw!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Same for us and our tie with Benfica.

[GP]

They should give us a buy

[Mac76]

They should give us a buy

*bye

[GP]

*bye

Ok see ya

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56104371

Bournemouth apparently looking at Henry as their manager!

[Letters]

Spurs sign Pele!

https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/02/16/no-way-hes-unreal-tottenham-fans-react-as-surprise-signing-arrives-in-north-london/

:d

[Mac76]

Ok see ya

:tumbleweed:

:lol:

[Mac76]

Spurs sign Pele!

https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/02/16/no-way-hes-unreal-tottenham-fans-react-as-surprise-signing-arrives-in-north-london/

:d

Pele ... McDermott :haha:

[dazthegooner]

Ryan Shawcross has left Stoke and looks like he's going to sign for Inter Miami. Injury lawyers await.

[Letters]

Celtic :pal:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55130253

[Marc Overmars]

Messed up the chance of 10 in a row. :lol:

Unforgivable really for them.

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56236872

:popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Paying Messi the amount they have and fighting to keep him for another season, the money has to come from somewhere. :ninja:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arsenal legend Sanogo, on loan at Huddersfield...

Just missed a pel. :haha:

[Xhaka Can’t]

Arsenal legend Sanogo, on loan at Huddersfield...

Just missed a pel. :haha:

He probably passed it back towards midfield.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Miss his creativity.

Also, Bayern Munich 2-2 Dortmund, Haaland with two, Lewandowski with two, one a pelanty.

[Letters]

He probably passed it back towards midfield.

:lol:

He was not Wenger’s finest signing.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bayern Munich 4-2 Dortmund in the end, Goretzka and Lewandowski with the other one to complete his hat-trick.

[Letters]

Holy shit, Maradona was incredible


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX8hY_tsRrE

[Mac76]

It's funny how many times it doesn't lead to a goal though :lol:

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-56281664

lolz

[dazthegooner]

So doubling the clubs weekly wage bill by a fiver.

[dazthegooner]

A comment on Manure's new shirt deal. Thought it would have been with WH Smith to ensure they never run out of pens !

[Letters]

A comment on Manure's new shirt deal. Thought it would have been with WH Smith to ensure they never run out of pens !

:lol:

[dazthegooner]

Skysports to show the WSL season live from 21-22 another reason to subscribe to Skysports :sarcy:

[GP]

if the Bible has taught us nothing else, and it hasn't, it's that girls should stick to girl sports. Such as hot oil wrestling, foxy boxing and such and such.

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56573883

Seems like another step towards a European Super League.

[IBK]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56573883

Seems like another step towards a European Super League.

Arseblog's podcast this week was an interesting listen - discussing the issues faced by clubs with so many competitions potentially affecting their players - and concluding that the result is likely in the long term to be a super league that means clubs opting out of domestic comps and even leagues...

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56604703

Yeovil Town captain Lee Collins has died at the age of 32. :(

:rose:

[Mac76]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56604703

Yeovil Town captain Lee Collins has died at the age of 32. :(

:rose:

that's a shame - i lived in Somerset for a few years and used to go and watch them - still look out for the score, even got a scarf somewhere...

[Letters]

Honestly, these twats.

How detached from reality are these guys that they hire “social media companies” to Tweet for them :rolleyes:

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11679/12276910/phil-foden-manchester-city-midfielder-parts-ways-with-social-media-company-after-kylian-mbappe-post

[Mac76]

Honestly, these twats.

How detached from reality are these guys that they hire “social media companies” to Tweet for them :rolleyes:

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11679/12276910/phil-foden-manchester-city-midfielder-parts-ways-with-social-media-company-after-kylian-mbappe-post

Those's a whole bunch of parasites out there that take money from the gullible...

[Niall_Quinn]

Those's a whole bunch of parasites out there that take money from the gullible...

You don't say?

[Letters]

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/william-saliba-hit-one-month-23965556

GHELs :bow:

[GP]

Honestly, these twats.

How detached from reality are these guys that they hire “social media companies” to Tweet for them :rolleyes:

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11679/12276910/phil-foden-manchester-city-midfielder-parts-ways-with-social-media-company-after-kylian-mbappe-post

If I was in charge of a football club I'd insist that players handed control of their social media to the club or a PR firm.

Footballers are fucking stupid.

[Letters]

:lol:

[Letters]

GHWLs :bow:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-56864731

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-57009557

:lol:

[Mac76]

the new England badge - predictably, the Daily Maul and Daily Excess are saying it's the end of civilisation as we know it, but i quite like it tbh...

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fa-england-football-badge-inclusivity-b933745.html

[dazthegooner]

Chelsea women's Emma Hayes says winning is in the DNA of the club... (that and oil) https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/12298725/emma-hayes-chelsea-boss-says-winning-is-in-the-dna-of-the-club-after-historic-week-for-men-and-womens-teams

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57034862

The Invincibles :bow:

Although it helps when there’s only one other team.
55th league title :lol:
What a farce.

Edit: They got 102 points and won the title by 25 points :lol:

[GP]

NES leaves Wolves.

[dazthegooner]

Will probably end up at the Spuds

[Mac76]

hope not, he's a good manager

[Letters]

hope not, he's a good manager

He's no Poch ##

[GP]

hope not, he's a good manager

They've had better and won fuckall

[dazthegooner]

The spuds are just one of those teams that will never be cut out to win titles unless they get a multi Billionaire with cash to burn but Chelski and Man citey have already done that.

[Letters]

Depressing but fairly accurate assessment of the state of the game in England


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtWO1QySBdo

[Mac76]

He's no Poch ##

nice try but I'm not rising to it... :lol:

[Mac76]

They've had better and won fuckall

when Luiz took out Jimenez it really screwed their season tbf, so it's not all his fault

[Letters]

nice try but I'm not rising to it... :lol:

You’re no fun! :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Brentford are in the Prem! :bow:

[GP]

6 easy points next year.



For them haha lol jk

[Mac76]

6 easy points next year.



For them haha lol jk

totally true, they'll be another stoke / burnley

[GP]

Ancelotti to Real Madrid

Neverton :lol:

[GP]

Ancelotti to Real Madrid is confirmed.

[dazthegooner]

So in theory if we had have gone for Ancelotti over Arteta we would probably be looking at him now... :blink:

[Mac76]

So in theory if we had have gone for Ancelotti over Arteta we would probably be looking at him now... :blink:

depends, if Ancellotti had got us into the top 4 (which i think he would), maybe Real wouldn't have tempted him away although i doubt it somehow

[dazthegooner]

Well Tuchel has been handed a two year extension so out by Easter then? :shrug:

[Globalgunner]

Well Tuchel has been handed a two year extension so out by Easter then? :shrug:

If Tuchel effs up by Xmas he will be out on his ear no matter how long his contract.

[Marc Overmars]

UEFA have finally abolished the away goals rule, starting from next season.

Not that it will matter to us for a while…

[Letters]

I quite liked that rule. Probably doesn't matter that much but not sure why they changed it.

[Mac76]

exactly, it was designed to prevent a team that went 1-0 or 2-0 up away then parking the bus in the second leg

boring football :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57653279

Vieira becoming Palace manager. :o

[IBK]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57653279

Vieira becoming Palace manager. :o

He didn't exactly pull up any trees in France...

[Letters]

Benitez goes to Neverton :lol:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57660542

[Mac76]

Benitez goes to Neverton :lol:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57660542

"Merseyside Police are investigating a banner reading "We Know Where You Live - Don't Sign" aimed at Benitez - although it was actually left outside the wrong house."

scousers :haha:

[Globalgunner]

"Merseyside Police are investigating a banner reading "We Know Where You Live - Don't Sign" aimed at Benitez - although it was actually left outside the wrong house."

scousers :haha:

Cant even trust them to do a wrong thing, right

[Niall_Quinn]

Cant even trust them to do a wrong thing, right

There still would have been some hubcaps for the takes. Not everything is a total loss.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Copa America final, Argentina v Brazil is on currently:

Argentina : Martinez, Otamendi, Acuna, Montiel, Romero, de Paul, Paredes, Lo Celso, Messi, di Maria, Martinez.

Brazil: Ederson, Silva, Danilo, Marquinhos, Lodi, Casemiro, Fred, Everton, Paqueta, Richarlison, Neymar.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Argentina 1-0 Brazil, Di Maria! From a few minutes ago.

Offside though I thought.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Messi just dropped the Ashes.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

5 added minutes!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Argentina 1-0 Brazil, FT!!! Argentina win their first major trophy since 1993 and Messi wins one with them!!!

And it was in Brazil. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Neymar is crying. :haha:

[Letters]

Messi :bow:

Ronaldo :haha:

[GP]

Neymar is crying. :haha:

You love to see it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

You're not wrong.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

https://i.imgur.com/qa3vMYG.png

:haha:

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57954333

Ole’s still at the wheel!

[dazthegooner]

I suppose with all the money they've spent on players it had to be done.

[Mac76]

I suppose with all the money they've spent on players it had to be done.

the last time he signed a deal with them it was really quite funny how much the wheels came off for a while - let's hope it happens again :lol:

[Letters]

To be fair, he has done pretty well.
But I hope his record with trophies continues, obvs.

[dazthegooner]

John Terry to leave Villa to persue managerial career... :blink: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/12364487/john-terry-aston-villa-assistant-head-coach-leaves-club-after-three-years-on-dean-smiths-coaching-staff

[GP]

Sign him up!

Arteta :wave:

[dazthegooner]

So looks like Villa will accept the £100m from Citey thought it would be cheaper to sign Tom Daley :good:

[Mac76]

So looks like Villa will accept the £100m from Citey thought it would be cheaper to sign Tom Daley :good:

:lol:

[Gooner23]

Kane no shows for the Spuds training today :haha:

Hope its a really drawn out and bitter transfer saga.

[Mac76]

Kane no shows for the Spuds training today :haha:

Hope its a really drawn out and bitter transfer saga.

:pray:

[Letters]

Kane no shows for the Spuds training today :haha:

Hope its a really drawn out and bitter transfer saga.

:lol:

I saw a kid with a Kane top on in the park earlier.
I considered telling him he’s going to need to get a new one but thought better of it :d

[GP]

You just got Kane'd!

[Letters]

Look away now, NQ

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58079081

[Mac76]

Am surprised at that, with fans back there's going to be some trouble potentially, i thought they'd avoid it by saying it was just a one-season thing, but anyway, it flushes out the racists i suppose ;) :run:

[GP]

I find if you show a bit of kindness and compassion, the racists will flush themselves out.

[Niall_Quinn]

Look away now, NQ

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58079081

Take the fans' money then shit on the fans. Not in any way surprised. Well at least the cunts will continue to get booed. Half the league is filled with black players earning indecent amounts of money and giving very little back in return. If they want to fight injustice maybe they should stop robbing the fans blind.

[LDG]

Greedylish signed by Citeh £100m :sick:

[Mac76]

Greedylish signed by Citeh £100m :sick:

Pretty reasonable really, works out at about £0.1m per dive

[Mac76]

Also i see they made a condition that he had to get rid of that f*****g stupid hair style :lol:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57818660

[McNamara That Ghost...]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58323327

Punish corruption by giving it back to FIFA.

[dazthegooner]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58323327

Punish corruption by giving it back to FIFA.

So the 2030 world cup to be held in Afghanistan then?

[Letters]

So the 2030 world cup to be held in Afghanistan then?

:lol:

And the score from the final:

Taliban 1 - America didn't

[Letters]

GHELs :bow:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-58348288

[dazthegooner]

Well Oil be damned Man City and PSG drawn in the same champions league group :) https://www.skysports.com/football/live-blog/11095/12391074/champions-league-2021-22-group-stage-draw-live

[Letters]

Well Oil be damned
Nice work :d

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Ronaldo going to.... City? :wacko:

[Globalgunner]

There is one striker that Pep wont be able to bench in place of 8 midfielders at least........talk about throwing money at the problem

[GP]

We've had some duds but imagine signing a 37 year old on half a million a week.

[Globalgunner]

Pep dont care. 3 year contract for Ronnie maybe. Its never been his money. Clever accounting will keep it under the margin. If he is pocketing 1/2 a million , that means they are paying him about 800k I reckon

[Letters]

They’ll buy the CL or die trying.

[Mac76]

GHELs :bow:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-58348288

No wonder he's got that expression on his face...

[Mac76]

They’ll buy the CL or die trying.

Should be an interesting funeral

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58359561

:popcorn:

[GP]

Damn.

I wish we could sign a 37 year old on 500k a week

[Letters]

If it wins them the title :shrug:
(I doubt it will, but they weren't a million miles away last year)

[GP]

Not while they've got a PE teacher as a manager.

[Marc Overmars]

Messi goes to a farmers league while Ronaldo stays at the highest level. Says it all.

[Letters]

To be fair, Messi is 34. You wouldn't expect him to be at his peak. Ronaldo is a physical freak, no-one should be that good at his age.

[Letters]

The point is though...it's just another depressing sign of how far we've fallen. Utd and City are whispered about with players at this level, we don't even get a mention.

[GP]

Nor should we.

That much money for a player at that age is mental.

[Letters]

Isn’t everything in football mental now?
We just spent £120m in a summer, having furloughed our non playing staff last year to save money
:doh:

But it’s about the ambition, and the idea of being even linked with players at this level.

[GP]

I disagree. They only got him because they didn't want him to go to City.

I'm not interested in a billionaire pissing contest.

[Letters]

I'm not interested in a billionaire pissing contest.

Boy are you following the wrong sport.

[Mac76]

The point is though...it's just another depressing sign of how far we've fallen. Utd and City are whispered about with players at this level, we don't even get a mention.

yes i miss the days of Wenger saying -"well, errr we could look to buy Ronaldo you know, he could play for Arsenal..." and then we'd sign Chamakh

[Letters]

yes i miss the days of Wenger saying -"well, errr we could look to buy Ronaldo you know, he could play for Arsenal..." and then we'd sign Chamakh

:lol:

That’s a fair point.

[Ralpheroo72]

Time for Chamakh to come home

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58357046

:partytime:

[Letters]

GHELs :pal:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-58408990

[dazthegooner]

Sead Kolasinac has been forced off injured while playing for Bosnia after a bad tackle by France defender Jules Kounde, who was sent off. Are things looking up? :unsure:

[Letters]

England won 4-0 :partytime:

[dazthegooner]

Knighthoods all round :sarcy:

[Letters]

Poland just got Kaned!

1-0 England

[Letters]

Piss

1-1

[Mac76]

Piss


What position does he play?

[Letters]

:lol:

Only saw the last 25 minutes or so. Generally don't bother with qualifiers. We're going to qualify anyway.
I work with a load of Polish people though so would have been nice to have beaten them :d

[Mac76]

Moan Utd got done by young boys :haha:

[GP]

In the Wankdorf Stadium.

No, really.

[Letters]

You’ll win nothing with kids.
But you might with Young Boys.

[Marc Overmars]

It’s hilarious how absolutely shit Barca are now.

[Niall_Quinn]

It's hilarious how shit football is now.

[Letters]

It's hilarious how shit football is now.

Find a small team to follow. It’s more fun, like football used to be when I was a kid.
I’m going to see the mighty Enfield Town a bit.
The only problem is I don’t really care if they win or not. That’s the tricky bit, forming an actual emotional attachment to a team.

[Marc Overmars]

Wouldn’t bother with another team personally. If the emotional attachment isn’t there then I don’t see the point in following the sport because that’s where the highs and lows come from, which is what every fan lives for.

I love the club but fucking hell it’s hard to extract any joy from watching football right now. Maybe I’m just getting older and have real things and priorities to concern myself with now. I’m quite happy just watching a short highlights video on YouTube and getting my fix from that.

[Mac76]

Wouldn’t bother with another team personally. If the emotional attachment isn’t there then I don’t see the point in following the sport because that’s where the highs and lows come from, which is what every fan lives for.

I love the club but fucking hell it’s hard to extract any joy from watching football right now. Maybe I’m just getting older and have real things and priorities to concern myself with now. I’m quite happy just watching a short highlights video on YouTube and getting my fix from that.

i renewed my ST but that was when i thought we were selling Xhaka :pal:

not sure how often i will go but i renewed out of habit and do like being there to see the game in person and have a pint with mates after the game, but not really very excited about it now and have further to travel than i used to, so have been a no-show so far - i just hope we get better so i can sell the damn seat on ticket exchange :lol:

[Globalgunner]

Nothing is gonna change with Arteta in charge. We might escape relegation, but for that we need 3 teams consistently worse than us. Norwich, Watford....who else

[Letters]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-9995041/First-football-match-NO-heading-allowed-place-later-month.html

:rolleyes:

[dazthegooner]

Stopped reading the article when it said "Researchers".

[Mac76]

Stopped reading the article when it said "Researchers".

I stopped myself from clicking the link when i saw the source

[Niall_Quinn]

I stopped myself from clicking the link when i saw the source

Because you are immune to investigation and totally indoctrinated. Even the worst sources get the time right twice a day.

Or, short version, you are a moron.

[Niall_Quinn]

Stopped reading the article when it said "Researchers".

Can understand that. I was a "researcher" many times in the past. Just make up a bunch of shit, use big words to sell it, send it to the media and bingo - a nice slot in The Times. It really is very, very easy provided you are saying what they want to hear.

I got better though.

[IBK]

Wouldn’t bother with another team personally. If the emotional attachment isn’t there then I don’t see the point in following the sport because that’s where the highs and lows come from, which is what every fan lives for.

I love the club but fucking hell it’s hard to extract any joy from watching football right now. Maybe I’m just getting older and have real things and priorities to concern myself with now. I’m quite happy just watching a short highlights video on YouTube and getting my fix from that.

Serious question though....is what's happening to us (the apathy; disenchantment; general misery etc) the result of it sinking in that we are a big club gone to seed and left behind (see Liverpool's 30 year wait for a title after 1990)? I think what has happened is that we have lost the ability as fans to do what most EPL teams other than the new 'big 4' have had to do throughout the EPL era - and that is enjoy results on a match by match basis. Even if our club had not lost its way from the last 3 years of Wenger's reign, market forces and the rise of the oligarchs/state investors would have likely meant that we would not have won the league. Would our attitude as fans be substantively different if we had finished say 5th for the past 2 years (perfectly reasonable given our resources)?

Part of me thinks that we are beating ourselves up - and directing our bile at manager; executive, players, ownership - our of a simple sense of lost status rather than anything else. If we accepted that winning the league or even top 4 is not a given in the way it was in our most recent purple period under Wenger, would we be able to enjoy the 'nuts and bolts' of football - a win; a good performance; the development of players - a bit more without the angst?

[Marc Overmars]

That’s definitely played a part, knowing we’re also rans and seeing how uncompetitive we are. However I don’t really derive much enjoyment when do we win matches now, so I know with sincerity that I’ve fallen out of love with the game. Most of the time I couldn’t tell you when or who we’re playing next.

Maybe when I start taking my boy to games that enjoyment will return but for now I’m just happy watching from a far and being happy when we win and not really giving a shit if we don’t.

I don’t remember the last time I sat down to watch a full 90 mins of any club game. The Euros were a fun escape at least.

[Mac76]

Can understand that. I was a "researcher" many times in the past. Just make up a bunch of shit, use big words to sell it, send it to the media and bingo - a nice slot in The Times. It really is very, very easy provided you are saying what they want to hear.

I got better though.

The Times - right-wing media outlet with little regard for the truth - i think you're right were you were back then tbh

[Letters]

Football was the thing that dad and me did together, when he got too ill to go it did lose some of its shine.
Another factor is getting older, getting married, having a kid. Priorities change.
And us being a bit rubbish is definitely a factor.

But for a long time I've been depressed about the way football has gone in general. The billionaires coming in, the exponential rise in salaries and transfer fees to the point it all becomes meaningless. And that feeds into the change of the relationship between fan and club which has now become customer and business. The club don't care about us, they care about our money. I actually unfollowed Arsenal on FB recently because every sodding post (apart from after a humiliating defeat) was tagged with their merchandise. "Look who's back in training! (Oh, and would you like to buy a shirt? It's only £65)". Oh piss off!
I had an attachment to Arsenal the club, I have none to Arsenal to the business. Why would I?

And all this money causes another problem - predictability. That's the death of sport.
Leicester were a refreshing exception to the rule a few years back but the big money juggernauts have rolled in, sponsored by money men, and with the rise of the CL it's all become self sustaining. It's almost impressive how we've managed to become so rubbish despite our financial cloud.
But look at the table. We are 5 games in and the top 5 are:
Chelsea, Liverpool, Utd, Brighton and City.
Brighton clearly the outliers there but before the season started I could have told you that the other 4 would most likely make up the top 4, 5 games in and they're already there or thereabouts. Which is how it was last year. And it'll probably the same next year.
Yawn.

Obviously this isn't that new, there was the Arsenal/Utd duopoly for a while but if you go back far enough you'll see proper unpredictability.
Arsenal famously won the Double in 70/71, the previous season we finished 12th. The following season we finished 5th and Derby, who'd finished 9th in our Double year, were Champions. The more money there is in the game and the more unevenly it's distributed the more predictable things become. Dreams that "next year could be our year" are now all but dead for all but the fans of clubs of a few select teams whose fans know they'll be in the mix year on year.

Who cares which billionaire fuelled team beats which other one? Would my indifference be less if Arsenal were in the mix. I guess so, but I've had these concerns about football for a long time.

[Letters]

I know with sincerity that I’ve fallen out of love with the game.

The Euros were a fun escape at least.
Exactly. I don't think you've fallen out of love with the game, you've probably just fallen out of love with Arsenal and the Premier League.
I have too for the reasons I outlined above. But yes, the Euros were brilliant because it's a sport. You can't buy all the best players at international level.
Kinda why I'm going to a few local games. I don't really care if they win - maybe that will grow if I get more in to it - but it feels more fun again.

[Mac76]

Football was the thing that dad and me did together, when he got too ill to go it did lose some of its shine.
Another factor is getting older, getting married, having a kid. Priorities change.
And us being a bit rubbish is definitely a factor.

But for a long time I've been depressed about the way football has gone in general. The billionaires coming in, the exponential rise in salaries and transfer fees to the point it all becomes meaningless. And that feeds into the change of the relationship between fan and club which has now become customer and business. The club don't care about us, they care about our money. I actually unfollowed Arsenal on FB recently because every sodding post (apart from after a humiliating defeat) was tagged with their merchandise. "Look who's back in training! (Oh, and would you like to buy a shirt? It's only £65)". Oh piss off!
I had an attachment to Arsenal the club, I have none to Arsenal to the business. Why would I?

And all this money causes another problem - predictability. That's the death of sport.
Leicester were a refreshing exception to the rule a few years back but the big money juggernauts have rolled in, sponsored by money men, and with the rise of the CL it's all become self sustaining. It's almost impressive how we've managed to become so rubbish despite our financial cloud.
But look at the table. We are 5 games in and the top 5 are:
Chelsea, Liverpool, Utd, Brighton and City.
Brighton clearly the outliers there but before the season started I could have told you that the other 4 would most likely make up the top 4, 5 games in and they're already there or thereabouts. Which is how it was last year. And it'll probably the same next year.
Yawn.

Obviously this isn't that new, there was the Arsenal/Utd duopoly for a while but if you go back far enough you'll see proper unpredictability.
Arsenal famously won the Double in 70/71, the previous season we finished 12th. The following season we finished 5th and Derby, who'd finished 9th in our Double year, were Champions. The more money there is in the game and the more unevenly it's distributed the more predictable things become. Dreams that "next year could be our year" are now all but dead for all but the fans of clubs of a few select teams whose fans know they'll be in the mix year on year.

Who cares which billionaire fuelled team beats which other one? Would my indifference be less if Arsenal were in the mix. I guess so, but I've had these concerns about football for a long time.

obvs what you say is generally true but you do point out the exceptions to the rule without giving them enough recognition - Leicester winning the title proves a 'smaller' club can do it and Brighton's position, while no doubt temporary, shows any club can have an impact.

Also Arsenal shows that a 'big' club can also fail if mismanaged over a long period of time. Why are Liverpool now a guaranteed top 4 side? they've always had money and a 'big club' track record but it took sound financial management and the right manager to get them where they are now

it wasn't that long ago that Chelsea finished outside the European places and then went on to win the league

so football still throws up surprises and for me it''s seeing good players do their stuff on the pitch that keeps me interested - (which is why that new 'go easy' refereeing rule disturbs me - if bad tackles are going to be let off, it will disrupt being able to see those good players show their skills)

Go back as far as you like and the league winners were always predictable up to a point - look at Liverpool in the 70-s/80s for example

[Letters]

Go back as far as you like and the league winners were always predictable up to a point - look at Liverpool in the 70-s/80s for example
Football existed before the 70s, you know! :)
But even in the 70s, yes Liverpool won the title a few times but from 1970 to 1981 there were 7 different champions.
There have only been that many in the last 30 years of PL football. And that's including Blackburn and Leicester who I'd suggest were one offs.
You're basically right in a lot of what you say, but there's no doubt that the predictability has increased.
Right now I don't know which of last year's top 4 will win it, but I'd put my house on it being one of them. This early in a season I really shouldn't be so certain about this.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Xisco sacked by Watford. :blink:

They're 14th...what did they expect Watford would do this season?!

[Mac76]

Xisco sacked by Watford. :blink:

They're 14th...what did they expect Watford would do this season?!

Let's hope they get Allardyce :pal:

[The Wengerbabies]

Just found out Ronaldo is back at United

Football :lol:

:rose:

[Letters]

Wow. You have been busy banging.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Wow. You have been busy wanking.


Edited for accuracy

[Marc Overmars]

Barcodes finally taken over by some Saudi billionaire.

Probably another club we’ll fall behind soon enough.

[Globalgunner]

Not just some Billionaire but the journalist butchering into Shushi type of billionaire. Id hate to be a failing manager invited to the embassy to meet with the king for a discussion. Yikes!

[Mac76]

Not just some Billionaire but the journalist butchering into Shushi type of billionaire. Id hate to be a failing manager invited to the embassy to meet with the king for a discussion. Yikes!

makes me sick the way the Newcastle fans just said 'we don't care' when people pointed out what kind of person this guy is

makes me feel lucky we've only got US billonaires who know nothing about football

[Niall_Quinn]

Barcodes finally taken over by some Saudi billionaire.

Probably another club we’ll fall behind soon enough.

Looks like the PL vetting process worked a treat again. Next we'll have Xi Jinping or Tony Blair putting in their applications.

[Letters]

Newcastle have just announced their first new signing under their new regime:

Alan Sharia

:d

[Mac76]

Ha, very good :lol:

I tried looking up famous newcastle players for some more, but couldn't find any obvious puns there :getcoat:

[Letters]

:lol:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-ZzNiyaKgU

[Letters]

An outrageous allegation :sulk:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58870597


Unlike the players of course, who are just playing for the love of the game...

[Letters]

Proper football :bow:

https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/qblkyb/plymouth_argyle_3_0_bolton_broom_904_slightly_wet/

:lol:

[Mac76]

Proper football :bow:

https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/qblkyb/plymouth_argyle_3_0_bolton_broom_904_slightly_wet/

:lol:

totally - that goal celebration :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

Newcastle sack Bruce.

:faint:

[GP]

I am shocked.

[GP]

Wenger in?

[dazthegooner]

Think they might take a chance with Emma Hayes? No thought not :blink:

[Letters]

totally - that goal celebration :lol:

Yeah. Brilliant :lol:

[Letters]

Walter Smith :rose:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56381264

[Xhaka Can’t]

He’s with Pat now. :rose:

[Letters]

Koeman sacked

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58633405

[Mac76]

Koeman sacked

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58633405

i still am amazed he got that job in the first place

[Globalgunner]

i still am amazed he got that job in the first place

Exactly. His resume is shit, failures at Valencia and Everton. Basically got the job because he was once part of a great Barca team. Arteta doesnt even have that. Barca is the epitome of a catalogue of poor decisions over more than a decade. I doubt they will make the next choice well either. Xavi might fix it but he will have no funds to execute his plans.

Id Luv it if they came to poach Arteta

[dazthegooner]

Jeff Stelling to leave Sky at the end of the season https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12454959/jeff-stelling-soccer-saturday-presenter-to-leave-show-at-the-end-of-the-season

[Xhaka Can’t]

Oh.

[Letters]

Oh.

:gp:

:lol:

[dazthegooner]

Emery in Newcastle talks https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/12457826/unai-emery-newcastle-in-talks-with-villarreal-boss-to-succeed-steve-bruce-as-manager

[The Wengerbabies]

Jeff Stelling to leave Sky at the end of the season https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12454959/jeff-stelling-soccer-saturday-presenter-to-leave-show-at-the-end-of-the-season

Always like Jeff, not watched it in years though. I'm guessing he's too old, white and male.

[Mac76]

Emery in Newcastle talks https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/12457826/unai-emery-newcastle-in-talks-with-villarreal-boss-to-succeed-steve-bruce-as-manager

:pray:

[Mac76]

Always like Jeff, not watched it in years though. I'm guessing he's too old, white and male.

more like he's too well off to be arsed with it anymore

always liked that line "and they'll be dancing in the streets of Total Network Solutions tonight" :lol:

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-59133079

[Niall_Quinn]

Always like Jeff, not watched it in years though. I'm guessing he's too old, white and male.

Actually know a fair bit about the bloke, from direct testimony from a person who worked closely with him - managed him, in fact. Apparently he's pretty much the biggest arsehole in all of Sky, including the mega arsehole Murdochs. Pretty impressive. He won't be missed. Get Gray and the other geezer back. If they want to touch up a few women, so what? That's what they joined up for, in full knowledge. So coy now though. But it never stopped the pound notes tumbling into their bank accounts. I guess that's why they called them whores.

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59186010

Another one bites the dust!

[dazthegooner]

And to think he and Martinez tried to lure ESR :lol:

[Xhaka Can’t]

Actually know a fair bit about the bloke, from direct testimony from a person who worked closely with him - managed him, in fact. Apparently he's pretty much the biggest arsehole in all of Sky, including the mega arsehole Murdochs. Pretty impressive. He won't be missed. Get Gray and the other geezer back. If they want to touch up a few women, so what? That's what they joined up for, in full knowledge. So coy now though. But it never stopped the pound notes tumbling into their bank accounts. I guess that's why they called them whores.

He’s also short.

[Letters]

Nothing wrong with that :angry:

[dazthegooner]

Eddie Howe given the job to bring Newcastle back up :good: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/12459599/eddie-howe-newcastle-appoint-former-bournemouth-manager-as-replacement-for-steve-bruce

[Letters]

Ferdinand doesn't want Ole at the wheel :lol:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59219310

[Marc Overmars]

Gerrard appointed new Villa coach. :popcorn:

[Letters]

Interesting choice.
But I guess Arteta was too.

[Mac76]

Interesting choice.
But I guess Arteta was too.

Except that Gerrard has actually managed a football team before...

[Letters]

He has, but not in a proper league.
We’ll see, but he’s got a lot to prove

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ramsdale, Saka and Smith Rowe all start for England against San Marino.

[GP]

Ramsdale, Saka and Smith Rowe all start for England against San Marino.

The Arsenal boys are gonna make them look like amateurs.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The rest of the England team, of course, of course.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-1 Slabhead.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-2 OG. Saka assist. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-3 Kane pelanty.

[Letters]

It’s coming home!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-4 Kane with another. ESR assist. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ramsdale save. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Saka. :bow:

Another pelanty for England.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-5 Kane hat-trick.

"He is unstoppable" - Sam Matterface.

It's fucking San Marino mate.

[dazthegooner]

Well Kane is being lauded again <_<

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-6, Kane again.

What's the point in this? :lol:

[Letters]

This is why I couldn’t be arsed watching.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-7 Smith Rowe! :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-8 Tyrone Mines according to BBC live text. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Rossi sent off.

0-9 Bellingham. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Tammy for 0-9 actually.

0-10 Saka! :bow:

[Letters]

:haha:

[Marc Overmars]

10 :haha:

FFS.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Only four conceded in the second half. Improvement. :bow: