The 2023-2024 Football Thread

[Apple fanboy]

Yes, I have just read reports confirming this purchase.

Very interesting.

Apparently, £300 million is already ear-marked, ring-fenced, for "infrastructure" - repairs at Old Trafford are overdue and will be very welcome, no doubt.

Moreover, I would expect to see significant personnel changes among the senior staff who actually run Manchester United, which may, or may not, include the manager, ETH.

ETH is on borrowed time for sure. But there is a lot that needs fixing at United and I’m not just talking about Old Trafford!

Money doesn’t guarantee success. Just ask Chelsea. Languishing in mid table after being beaten by Wolves. Despite spending a billion pounds, they are still behind a lot of clubs.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

ETH is on borrowed time for sure. But there is a lot that needs fixing at United and I’m not just talking about Old Trafford!

Money doesn’t guarantee success. Just ask Chelsea. Languishing in mid table after being beaten by Wolves. Despite spending a billion pounds, they are still behind a lot of clubs.

Oh, agreed, there is an awful lot that needs fixing at Old Trafford, - and not just the stadium - but the state of the stadium is a disgrace to a club of such wealth and with such a storied history.

Not only is it an utter disgrace, that leaking roof means that it is also an embarrassing (but depressingly apt) metaphor for their current form and state.

Now, while ETH is on borrowed time, the current problems at United go far deeper than him.

And yes, agree re Chelsea.

Their situation is almost like a weird (but hilarious) morality play, and it is telling that someone as talented as Mauricio Pochettino hasn't yet been able to do much with them.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Oh, agreed, there is an awful lot that needs fixing at Old Trafford, - and not just the stadium - but the state of the stadium is a disgrace to a club of such wealth and with such a storied history.

Not only is it an utter disgrace, that leaking roof means that it is also an embarrassing (but depressingly apt) metaphor for their current form and state.

Now, while ETH is on borrowed time, the current problems at United go far deeper than him.

And yes, agree re Chelsea.

Their situation is almost like a weird (but hilarious) morality play, and it is telling that someone as talented as Mauricio Pochettino hasn't yet been able to do much with them.

Another club with more problems than is apparent from the outside.
But as someone who supports anyone against the greedy six, I find it quite humorous to see these two giants struggling. They deserve everything they get. Not the fans of course. But the greedy suits making a fortune from them.

 

[popup]

As a non-english LFC supporter I think EPL s.cks. How VAR did not see Odegaard's handball? Too many VAR "errors" against LFC. These are not errors. This is match fixing by the officilias and the FA in the upper levels. So this season I do not watch EPL matches and maybe I never will again.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

As a non-english LFC supporter I think EPL s.cks. How VAR did not see Odegaard's handball? Too many VAR "errors" against LFC. These are not errors. This is match fixing by the officilias and the FA in the upper levels. So this season I do not watch EPL matches and maybe I never will again.

The handball rule is a bit of a mess…the way the ‘natural position’ concept is interpreted is often absurd. But VAR did see this incident and the contact was ruled accidental. The rulings can be infuriating but this is was not match fixing.

 

[daneoni]

As a non-english LFC supporter I think EPL s.cks. How VAR did not see Odegaard's handball? Too many VAR "errors" against LFC. These are not errors. This is match fixing by the officilias and the FA in the upper levels. So this season I do not watch EPL matches and maybe I never will again.

Well the argument was that he was slipping and tried to catch his fall which is technically valid. Since there hasn't been an apology from PGMOL, that suggests they're happy with the decision. I think he was lucky though.

But depends which part of the coin you stand on.

Arsenal fans will argue Havertz should have had a penalty.

Liverpool fans will argue Saka should've had seen a red card etc etc

Meanwhile Newcastle in free fall. Have teams worked out Eddie Howe's tactics i wonder. Sure they have injuries but 5th away defeat incoming.

Also, have Utd missed a trick with Elanga. Certainly looking a better player than Antony.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Liverpool are back at the top of the Premier League table this evening, having defeated Burnley by two goals to nil, and, better still, achieving this while playing away from home, at Turf Moor.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Liverpool are back at the top of the Premier League table this evening, having defeated Burnley by two goals to nil, and, better still, achieving this while playing away from home, at Turf Moor.

Hopefully they stay there as we play you tomorrow!

Good wins for Luton and Forest. Making the relegation battle interesting.
Burnley and Sheffield look to be cast adrift somewhat.
Especially as Luton and Everton have a game in hand.

 

[popup]

"This is really becoming a joke. The decisions are beyond disgusting."

"Klopp isn't allowed to say it but these officials smell like last weeks fish."

"VAR screen starts the replay from the point where Salah is in an offside position and not from the point where is is pushed there, not the first time they have done this. "

"No foul from Nunez, terrible decision. Elliot unlucky too, Mo gets a nudge into the goalies eyeline. "

"...whilst replays showed Burnley defender Jordan Beyer had pushed Salah with both hands into his offside position."

"All referees of the premier league are CORRUPT. This include FA, FIFA and PGMOL. Howard Webb is lying through his teeth every time to have an explenation of some sort sucked from his thumb. Why do all the same so called "MISTAKES" happen again and again every single game and some times with the same referees and var officials??? Teams and fans should stand up against this as it happens to all teams and not to specific ones. Somehow it seems BIG MONEY payments under the table made!!!???? "

 

[daneoni]

Good to see a black ref in an EPL match. And he actually had a good game.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Hopefully they stay there as we play you tomorrow!

Obviously, my perspective will differ somewhat....

Good wins for Luton and Forest. Making the relegation battle interesting.

Very good for Luton, the second in a row for them.

Re Everton, I expected them to make relatively short work of their ten point deficit.

Burnley and Sheffield look to be cast adrift somewhat.

A decent spell comprising of a win or two could still restore their fortunes; they are not so badly adrift.....yet.

Especially as Luton and Everton have a game in hand.

Well, yes.

There is that, though games in hand tend to count for more late in the season when the pressure intensifies.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Good to see a black ref in an EPL match. And he actually had a good game.

Excellent.

Terrific news.

And earlier in the week, a few days ago, I was delighted to see that the first woman to referee a Premier League game, Rebecca Welch, also had a good game, when she refereed the match between Fulham and Burnley.

 

[pachyderm]

Excellent.

Great news.

And earlier in the week, a few days ago, I was delighted to see that the first woman to referee a Premier League game, Rebecca Welch, also had a good game, when she refereed the match between Fulham and Burnley.

Cool.

My son's high school coach was a woman. She is now a full time ref as well. She actually did some of the Woman's WC this past year. Very proud of her.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Villa currently beating United at Old Trafford by 2 goals to 0.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Villa currently beating United at Old Trafford by 2 goals to 0.

And still two nil to Villa at half time.

 

[Apple fanboy]

And still two nil to Villa at half time.

1-2 now. Game on.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

1-2 now. Game on.

This should be interesting.

 

[Apple fanboy]

This should be interesting.

2-2.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

2-2.

Yes, just noticed that Manchester United have now drawn level with Villa, with two goals apiece, both United goals scored by Garnacho.

Game very much on, indeed.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Yes, just noticed that Manchester United have now drawn level with Villa, with two goals apiece, both United goals scored by Garnacho.

Game very much on, indeed.

And on my TV live for a change (as is tomorrows game).

 

[Scepticalscribe]

And United have now taken the lead.

3-2.

Wow.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Rasmus Hojlund (this was his first Premier League goal), was the goal-scorer.

Gosh.

I wasn't expecting this sort of comeback from Manchester United.

 

[daneoni]

Guess we now know why Villa won't win the title 👀

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Guess we now know why Villa won't win the title 👀

Not sure exactly what you mean.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Mind you, the Manchester United that showed up for the second half were a dramatically different from the feeble team of the first forty five minutes.