NPR

sturginho wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2020 12:09 pm

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Mon Jul 20, 2020 3:11 pm The Bundesliga child snatchers strike again as 17 year old Jude Bellingham is enticed from the glamour of Birmingham City to the bright lights of Borussia Dortmund.

Fee could reach £30m depending on what he gets up to during his time there.

??

Humorous (?) reference to the recent practice of Bundesliga teams in picking up several promising young English players and forcing them to improve as footballers on pain of being exposed to a different culture.

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2020 1:44 pm

sturginho wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2020 12:09 pm

Hal Jordan wrote: ↑Mon Jul 20, 2020 3:11 pm The Bundesliga child snatchers strike again as 17 year old Jude Bellingham is enticed from the glamour of Birmingham City to the bright lights of Borussia Dortmund.

Fee could reach £30m depending on what he gets up to during his time there.

??

Humorous (?) reference to the recent practice of Bundesliga teams in picking up several promising young English players and forcing them to improve as footballers on pain of being exposed to a different culture.

Ok, wasn't sure if it was intended as tongue in cheek or a serious comment

Massive result for Villa

I am a collector of sports programmes and memorabilia and I just came into possession of an interesting programme. It is the 1968/69 meeting between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. This match was played on March 15th 1969 when Manchester United were reigning European champions and was just a few months before Sir Matt Busby stepped down as Manchester United manager after a 24 year tenure from 1945-1969. Chelsea won 3-2 but it was not the last time he would manage United at Stamford Bridge. After he replaced Wilf McGuinness in December of 1970 he earned his first win of that brief caretaker tenure versus Chelsea in early 1971.

Of note - John Dempsey (who played centre half for Chelsea that day) earned the distinction of being the first Irish international to be sent off later that year, in a world cup qualification match in Hungary.

So tonight is most probably the 2 most important games for Chelsea and United this season. Will be interesting to watch. I think if both win, there is a big chance both will end in the Top 4, If either of them lose,, the last game of the season is going to be absolute torture to watch for that set of fans

Tonight might be torture for Leicester fans though. The groups of fans of these clubs will most probably have the same feeling as those fans supporting clubs that are fighting to avoid relegation.

Chelsea are still struggling to find any sort of defensive solidity so there's every chance it'll go wrong for them.

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2020 12:17 pm Chelsea are still struggling to find any sort of defensive solidity so there's every chance it'll go wrong for them.

It is the same for United, looking great on attack but very nervous in defense. On paper United should have no problem getting Top 4 from here on i think, but as the last few games showed, their nervousness in defense can be their undoing as well.

So, I think the permutations are that Chelsea need a point from their last two games to qualify for CL.

Man U will qualify with a win or draw v Leicester City.

Leicester need a draw and Chelsea to lose both remaining games or a win.

Might be wrong.

Hugo wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2020 6:59 pm So, I think the permutations are that Chelsea need a point from their last two games to qualify for CL.

Man U will qualify with a win or draw v Leicester City.

Leicester need a draw and Chelsea to lose both remaining games or a win.

Might be wrong.

Sounds about right.

Have a horrible feeling Leicester will win on Sunday. They have a weeks rest while United are in poor form and knackered.

I can only assume Lampard figured that Chelsea were always going to lose here, otherwise I have no idea why he kept Pulisic on the bench.

New guy wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2020 7:12 pm

Hugo wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2020 6:59 pm So, I think the permutations are that Chelsea need a point from their last two games to qualify for CL.

Man U will qualify with a win or draw v Leicester City.

Leicester need a draw and Chelsea to lose both remaining games or a win.

Might be wrong.

Sounds about right.

Have a horrible feeling Leicester will win on Sunday. They have a weeks rest while United are in poor form and knackered.

We can only hope.

I wonder if Bales worth a punt for one of the PL sides.

He's got Madrid over a barrell right now so you could probably get him on a very reasonable loan deal. I'd be tempted actually.

Just reading up on how this Newcastle takeover bid was thwarted. Fans have sent a petition to the PL asking for transparency on how the decision was arrived at. Looks like the Premier league opposed it because they say the Saudis have not enforced piracy laws in their country. Apparently Liverpool and Tottenham were also in opposition.

I read an article that tried to play up the human rights angle but that can't have been a big factor. The UK and SA are big trading partners, UK sells arms to the Saudis and considers them its biggest ally in the middle East.

Reuben brothers who were part of this bid are still engaged and want to purchase the club.

I missed the FA Cup Final - I hear Arsenal were good value for the win, Chelsea's defence was chaotic again, but Chelsea also suffered a lot of injuries. Pulisic, Azpi, and Pedro all out... yikes.

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 04, 2020 3:01 pm I missed the FA Cup Final - I hear Arsenal were good value for the win, Chelsea's defence was chaotic again, but Chelsea also suffered a lot of injuries. Pulisic, Azpi, and Pedro all out... yikes.

And a really shit red card decision.

I haven't really kept up with football for the last while but isn't VAR meant to stop decisions like that? Or was there no VAR in the final?

New guy wrote: ↑Thu Jul 23, 2020 7:06 pm I wonder if Bales worth a punt for one of the PL sides.

He's got Madrid over a barrell right now so you could probably get him on a very reasonable loan deal. I'd be tempted actually.

Have you got sunny weather and good golf courses around you?

New guy wrote: ↑Thu Jul 23, 2020 7:06 pm I wonder if Bales worth a punt for one of the PL sides.

He's got Madrid over a barrell right now so you could probably get him on a very reasonable loan deal. I'd be tempted actually.

Have you got sunny weather and good golf courses around you?

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Aug 04, 2020 3:13 pm

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 04, 2020 3:01 pm I missed the FA Cup Final - I hear Arsenal were good value for the win, Chelsea's defence was chaotic again, but Chelsea also suffered a lot of injuries. Pulisic, Azpi, and Pedro all out... yikes.

And a really shit red card decision.

I haven't really kept up with football for the last while but isn't VAR meant to stop decisions like that? Or was there no VAR in the final?

VAR can't intervene in a yellow decision. Besides Chelsea could have got a red before, the penalty was debatably a red not a yellow and Kovacic could have picked up a 2nd yellow for an earlier kick after his first yellow. Besides Arsenal were 2-1 up already and Chelsea didn't get one shot on target in the second half. Chelsea were unlucky with in game injuries however.

Enzedder wrote: ↑Wed Aug 05, 2020 6:41 pm

New guy wrote: ↑Thu Jul 23, 2020 7:06 pm I wonder if Bales worth a punt for one of the PL sides.

He's got Madrid over a barrell right now so you could probably get him on a very reasonable loan deal. I'd be tempted actually.

Have you got sunny weather and good golf courses around you?

Bale needs to head to the US now. He would be no good in the premiership after sitting out so long and I am sure the golf will keep him busy there. Can't see China working due to lack of Golf.

Willian signs with Arsenal.

He had a good if not great Chelsea career, a player who on his good days was very good but never had the consistency over the course of a season to back it up. Scored an underwhelming number of goals if I'm being honest, did not crack double figures in league goals at any point of his time at SB.

Galtsdrift wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 8:18 am

Enzedder wrote: ↑Wed Aug 05, 2020 6:41 pm

New guy wrote: ↑Thu Jul 23, 2020 7:06 pm I wonder if Bales worth a punt for one of the PL sides.

He's got Madrid over a barrell right now so you could probably get him on a very reasonable loan deal. I'd be tempted actually.

Have you got sunny weather and good golf courses around you?

Bale needs to head to the US now. He would be no good in the premiership after sitting out so long and I am sure the golf will keep him busy there. Can't see China working due to lack of Golf.

I thought you were a blow-in from the wendyball site? You clearly know nothing about football.. is that why you came here?

Hugo wrote: ↑Fri Aug 14, 2020 2:54 pm Willian signs with Arsenal.

He had a good if not great Chelsea career, a player who on his good days was very good but never had the consistency over the course of a season to back it up. Scored an underwhelming number of goals if I'm being honest, did not crack double figures in league goals at any point of his time at SB.

Lots of reports saying that Arteta thinks he can do a better job at Arsenal. William did just have his best ever season for Chelsea and given he was top 8 players for chances created help resolve one of Arsenals issues since Wenger left and Ozil stopped giving a fuck.

Now Arsenal should be going for a CB, DM and AM to get a much more competitive team.

He's a winger who at times was Chelsea's best performing player for long stretches. A goal every 5 games is not bad going for a winger tbf, and he's scored into double figures of all comps for 4 of the last 5 seasons.

He's 32 though and Arsenal giving him a 3 year deal for £220k a week or whatever is bonkers

He's been excellent for Chelsea, but while the stats show he's had a good season, he's been utterly infuriating at times and has wasted so much possession and given the ball away a huge amount in the last 18 months. It was the right time for him to go.

bayern look so good this year, must be CL favorites at this point

The fucking state of Barca’s defence

And again

The amount of fannying around they do with the ball in defensive positions then lose possession is incredible. Just hoof it up the fucking pitch ffs

Bayern is making Barcelona look like a Pub team at the moment. You almost expect them to score everytime they get forward. I think this must be worrying for City too, City's defense did not look to hot a lot of times this season. The Bayern attack looked fantastic all season long.

Achtung agent Ter Stegen.. return to base.

davies is a beast

jesus fkn christ

Crowd noise is a little incongruous

Anyone else concerned about Lineker?
He seems less of a gobshite and a bit slower. Or is he just getting old?

What a hammering. I'm impressed with the energy and pressing of the Bayern front line. From the first minute they were chasing the ball, putting Barca under all kinds of pressure, chasing every lose ball, and the racing to get into place for any ball coming in. Barca was never allowed to settle or play out from the back in space. Completely nullified Barca playing from the back.

Yeah but how fucking stupid are Barcelona to keep doing it? Ter Stegen was utterly, utterly appalling. And to think it should've been worse - Suarez got off scot free for stamping on Thiago's foot and should've been sent off before he scored.

What is it with Barcelona and getting utterly humiliated in Europe? It's very strange. Never seen such a great and successful team have so many instances of just getting totally, totally battered.

8 - 2 Brute.

I’ve a lot of friends from Barcelona that are furious with the manager. Its hard to know how much is down to him or just the end of their golden generation. I don’t watch them enough to have a proper opinion.
The whole demeanour of the players was pretty disgraceful. Vidal and Alba acting the cunt. Suarez just being Suarez, ie. a massive bellend. Messi looking like he couldn’t be arsed being there. Pique and the other centre half looking clueless. Ter Stegan thinking he’s Ruud Gullit playing it out from the back, when he couldn’t hit a barn door with a pass.
The team looked toxic. Losing Messi seemed ludicrous not so long ago but maybe changing the old guard and backing La Masia as they did in the early 00’s might be the right thing for the club.

Arsenal fire their head of football Raul Sanllehi, rumors are £10 million from the Pepe deal vanished. Also discussion he was the man who wanted Emery to continue and froze Ozil out.

Jim Lahey wrote: ↑Sat Aug 15, 2020 8:46 am Losing Messi seemed ludicrous not so long ago but maybe changing the old guard and backing La Masia as they did in the early 00’s might be the right thing for the club.

So this Messi leaving Barcelona stuff is actually serious? I saw a couple of articles on that this past week but didn't bother opening them because I assumed it was paper talk, ie bullshit.

I must admit I would love to see him in the Premier league, that would be awesome.

so a franco-german double semifinal, who would've seen that coming

i laughed so hard at city tonight