The Football (Soccer) Thread

[Hugo]

Chelsea spent a fortune this summer but did not prioritise their biggest area of need - goalkeeping. They only just made the deal for that big lad from France.

They had such a porous defence last season and have already let in 6 goals in less than 3 games this.

Mendy has made a massive difference since signing for Chelsea. One goal conceded in the last seven games, six clean sheets.

Now they have their keeper situation rectified there's no reason to think they can't be involved in the title race.

[Enzedder]

Stop the count - declare the winners.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Well, the Premier League has kicked off with Arsenal away to Brentford.

Currently 1-0 to Brentford. Arsenal look like luke warm dogshite. Brentford should be a couple up by now.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Update: clearly this means Arsenal will score 3 in the second half to paper over the cracks.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Update: clearly this means Arsenal will score 3 in the second half to paper over the cracks.

Or maybe not. Brentford just gone two up. Arsenal have had their chances but not taken them. Carragher on sky waxing lyrical about how this is “an Arsenal performance. If you didn’t know what an Arsenal performance was then you do now.”.

[Slick]

Not really into footie these days but very excited about Ronaldo coming back to the EPL!

[ScarfaceClaw]

Arsenal getting pumped by Citeh. 3-0 at half time. Xhaka with a straight red card for a daft bollocks two footed lunge. Wasn’t a huge contact but he was never in control of it.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Bugger. Chelsea score. Eat a bag of dicks Chelsea.

[OomStruisbaai]

Big day for United.

[Slick]

Ronaldo

Bloody hell

Have so enjoyed all the bitter, salty pieces across the media about him being past it, how he’ll upset the team, he’s not quick enough these days etc etc.

2 goals on debut

[Kiwias]

Ronaldo

Bloody hell

Have so enjoyed all the bitter, salty pieces across the media about him being past it, how he’ll upset the team, he’s not quick enough these days etc etc.

2 goals on debut

His second goal shows he still has a decent turn of speed.

[OomStruisbaai]

Renaldo Is a legend.

[Hugo]

Neil Back's son is in the first team at Forest & by all accounts he is holding his own.

[Torquemada 1420]

Renaldo Is a legend.

He too.

[Uncle fester]

The women's soccer isn't a bad watch. Diving and faking injury conspicuously and pleasantly absent.

[SaintK]

US Ambassador taking sides

[Torquemada 1420]

The women's soccer isn't a bad watch. Diving and faking injury conspicuously and pleasantly absent.

Reffing is better too but maybe that's linked to your point above.

[Ymx]

Great goal celebration Eng 2-1

[GogLais]

Long time since I’ve seen Ms GL so excited.

[I like neeps]

Congratulations to the England woman's team. Really entertaining tournament and a credit to the sport. Exciting times for womens football.

[C69]

Hopefully a big boost for all female sport in the UK.

[Blackmac]

Have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the ladies football and absolutely delighted at the result, as is just about everyone I know.

[Slick]

Yup, terrific stuff from England, hugely inspiring for girls across the U.K. I would think, well done.

I have to say having watched a bit of the tournament, seen how much fun the crowd were having and having really enjoyed the day we had at the women’s rugby earlier this year that women’s sport is fast becoming something i want to go and watch. Very little of the cynicism and lack of sportsmanship you see across men’s sport and played and watched how sport should be

[Hugo]

Yup, terrific stuff from England, hugely inspiring for girls across the U.K. I would think, well done.

I have to say having watched a bit of the tournament, seen how much fun the crowd were having and having really enjoyed the day we had at the women’s rugby earlier this year that women’s sport is fast becoming something i want to go and watch. Very little of the cynicism and lack of sportsmanship you see across men’s sport and played and watched how sport should be

Fully agree. The same thoughts occurred to me when watching the England women's cricket team on Saturday which I really enjoyed.

[robmatic]

Have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the ladies football and absolutely delighted at the result, as is just about everyone I know.

A surprising number of my 'anyone but England' Scottish friends were pleased.

[JM2K6]

Yup, terrific stuff from England, hugely inspiring for girls across the U.K. I would think, well done.

I have to say having watched a bit of the tournament, seen how much fun the crowd were having and having really enjoyed the day we had at the women’s rugby earlier this year that women’s sport is fast becoming something i want to go and watch. Very little of the cynicism and lack of sportsmanship you see across men’s sport and played and watched how sport should be

Was quite amused / entertained by the cynicism on display in the final, tbh! Some excellent shithousery.

[I like neeps]

Yup, terrific stuff from England, hugely inspiring for girls across the U.K. I would think, well done.

I have to say having watched a bit of the tournament, seen how much fun the crowd were having and having really enjoyed the day we had at the women’s rugby earlier this year that women’s sport is fast becoming something i want to go and watch. Very little of the cynicism and lack of sportsmanship you see across men’s sport and played and watched how sport should be

Was quite amused / entertained by the cynicism on display in the final, tbh! Some excellent shithousery.

Agreed. I personally think football needs the niggle and mischief. It makes for a more entertaining spectacle so the final was great.

[Slick]

Yup, terrific stuff from England, hugely inspiring for girls across the U.K. I would think, well done.

I have to say having watched a bit of the tournament, seen how much fun the crowd were having and having really enjoyed the day we had at the women’s rugby earlier this year that women’s sport is fast becoming something i want to go and watch. Very little of the cynicism and lack of sportsmanship you see across men’s sport and played and watched how sport should be

Was quite amused / entertained by the cynicism on display in the final, tbh! Some excellent shithousery.

Yeah, as I was writing that I was thinking about the last 10 minutes when there was at least as much shithousery as the men’s game but didn’t want to sound bitter!

OK, in the rugby at least.

Generally the footie is a hell of a lot better though and very little screaming at the ref

[tc27]

So going my head above the parapet and say the whole 'its finally come home' theme is a bit of a reach. Winning the women's Euros is an achievement that stands in its own right but its not something that finally ends the ongoing narrative associated with the men's team.

[Slick]

So going my head above the parapet and say the whole 'its finally come home' theme is a bit of a reach. Winning the women's Euros is an achievement that stands in its own right but its not something that finally ends the ongoing narrative associated with the men's team.

Yeah, it's bollocks. Kind of demeans their own achievement a bit by seeming a little needy when they don't need to be

[JM2K6]

So going my head above the parapet and say the whole 'its finally come home' theme is a bit of a reach. Winning the women's Euros is an achievement that stands in its own right but its not something that finally ends the ongoing narrative associated with the men's team.

Yeah, it's bollocks. Kind of demeans their own achievement a bit by seeming a little needy when they don't need to be

Nah, you just need to put it into context. Every single one of those players is a massive fan of English football. Being part of the team that finally wins a major trophy genuinely feels like part of that whole journey to them (including the men's team) especially given their previous finals experiences. If they weren't playing, they'd be in the stands celebrating with just as much gusto. They care about football - men's, women's - and it's a great credit to them.

Are there plenty of people who won't see this as ending the hurt? Absolutely. But it is equivalent for these girls and I just can't see it as needy at all; it's a generation of players who've grown up with all the pressure and the agony of the men's failures who can't do anything about that but can for the women's game. It seems like a genuine response to me. Would also say the crowd seemed a-OK with singing the song! :-)

I don't think tc27 is wrong or anything, it's purely subjective (and it clearly won't end the narrative - it'll just put the pressure on the men's team to do the same / take heart from it), I just... don't think it's needy at all.

[JM2K6]

Yup, terrific stuff from England, hugely inspiring for girls across the U.K. I would think, well done.

I have to say having watched a bit of the tournament, seen how much fun the crowd were having and having really enjoyed the day we had at the women’s rugby earlier this year that women’s sport is fast becoming something i want to go and watch. Very little of the cynicism and lack of sportsmanship you see across men’s sport and played and watched how sport should be

Was quite amused / entertained by the cynicism on display in the final, tbh! Some excellent shithousery.

Yeah, as I was writing that I was thinking about the last 10 minutes when there was at least as much shithousery as the men’s game but didn’t want to sound bitter!

OK, in the rugby at least.

Generally the footie is a hell of a lot better though and very little screaming at the ref

Yeah, it is a much more pleasant watch. The last 7 minutes was superb, especially I was like "no don't try and play it out in the corner, it's way too early for that" which shows how much I know. It was genuinely enjoyable to watch if you were a fan of the team doing it.

There was plenty of German niggle and shithousery in regular time, it felt very "professional" and very quickly told me that the Germans were prepared to do anything to win, as is right and proper in a major final.

[petej]

Was quite amused / entertained by the cynicism on display in the final, tbh! Some excellent shithousery.

Yeah, as I was writing that I was thinking about the last 10 minutes when there was at least as much shithousery as the men’s game but didn’t want to sound bitter!

OK, in the rugby at least.

Generally the footie is a hell of a lot better though and very little screaming at the ref

Yeah, it is a much more pleasant watch. The last 7 minutes was superb, especially I was like "no don't try and play it out in the corner, it's way too early for that" which shows how much I know. It was genuinely enjoyable to watch if you were a fan of the team doing it.

There was plenty of German niggle and shithousery in regular time, it felt very "professional" and very quickly told me that the Germans were prepared to do anything to win, as is right and proper in a major final.

I was impressed with the England niggle and shit housery, you don't win tournaments without it. Both teams were pushing the limits. Difficult for the ref.

[dpedin]

Have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the ladies football and absolutely delighted at the result, as is just about everyone I know.

A surprising number of my 'anyone but England' Scottish friends were pleased.

As one of the ABE's I was willing England to win last night. They were the better team just but deserved it. I've really enjoyed the tournament and the style of football and haven't missed the diving, the rolling in fake pain, trying to get opposition players sent off, etc from the mens game. That's not to say they weren't committed and played hard but they're obviously made of sterner stuff than their mens team.The players are also a joy to listen to and have none of the PR comms training crap either - they tell it as it is and weren't afraid to get their messages across. Excellent stuff, loved it!

[Paddington Bear]

So going my head above the parapet and say the whole 'its finally come home' theme is a bit of a reach. Winning the women's Euros is an achievement that stands in its own right but its not something that finally ends the ongoing narrative associated with the men's team.

This. I'm delighted for them but it doesn't change the '56 years of hurt'. It's a different sport IMO.

[Slick]

So going my head above the parapet and say the whole 'its finally come home' theme is a bit of a reach. Winning the women's Euros is an achievement that stands in its own right but its not something that finally ends the ongoing narrative associated with the men's team.

Yeah, it's bollocks. Kind of demeans their own achievement a bit by seeming a little needy when they don't need to be

Nah, you just need to put it into context. Every single one of those players is a massive fan of English football. Being part of the team that finally wins a major trophy genuinely feels like part of that whole journey to them (including the men's team) especially given their previous finals experiences. If they weren't playing, they'd be in the stands celebrating with just as much gusto. They care about football - men's, women's - and it's a great credit to them.

Are there plenty of people who won't see this as ending the hurt? Absolutely. But it is equivalent for these girls and I just can't see it as needy at all; it's a generation of players who've grown up with all the pressure and the agony of the men's failures who can't do anything about that but can for the women's game. It seems like a genuine response to me. Would also say the crowd seemed a-OK with singing the song! :-)

I don't think tc27 is wrong or anything, it's purely subjective (and it clearly won't end the narrative - it'll just put the pressure on the men's team to do the same / take heart from it), I just... don't think it's needy at all.

I’d just prefer it if you had a few more years of hurt really

[C69]

I think that Chloe Kelly's Brandi Chatain moment will set her up for life.
Good on her I say, great to see a supreme example sporting joy on the pitch.

[JM2K6]

Yeah, it's bollocks. Kind of demeans their own achievement a bit by seeming a little needy when they don't need to be

Nah, you just need to put it into context. Every single one of those players is a massive fan of English football. Being part of the team that finally wins a major trophy genuinely feels like part of that whole journey to them (including the men's team) especially given their previous finals experiences. If they weren't playing, they'd be in the stands celebrating with just as much gusto. They care about football - men's, women's - and it's a great credit to them.

Are there plenty of people who won't see this as ending the hurt? Absolutely. But it is equivalent for these girls and I just can't see it as needy at all; it's a generation of players who've grown up with all the pressure and the agony of the men's failures who can't do anything about that but can for the women's game. It seems like a genuine response to me. Would also say the crowd seemed a-OK with singing the song! :-)

I don't think tc27 is wrong or anything, it's purely subjective (and it clearly won't end the narrative - it'll just put the pressure on the men's team to do the same / take heart from it), I just... don't think it's needy at all.

I’d just prefer it if you had a few more years of hurt really

The men won't let you down.

[Enzedder]

I think that Chloe Kelly's Brandi Chatain moment will set her up for life.
Good on her I say, great to see a supreme example sporting joy on the pitch.

Good result for a toe poke eh?

That result really surprised me - thought the comp was just to see who would lose to Germany, so well done the Poms.

[Enzedder]

Thinking that the World Cup down here next year will be a lot more popular as a result of this tournament as well.