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Football Thread 2016/17 |OT| Mou Money Mo Pogba

Syder

Member
Absolutely fucking devestated.
Sorry, mate.

I know play-off heartbreak. I was there in 2004 when we finished 3rd and lost in the final in Cardiff, 1-0 to Palace.

I was there the next year when when we went up despite finishing 6th though so who knows what might happen next year for you though.
 

Bumhead

Banned
Sorry, mate.

I know play-off heartbreak. I was there in 2004 when we finished 3rd and lost in the final in Cardiff, 1-0 to Palace.

I was there the next year when when we went up despite finishing 6th though so who knows what might happen next year for you though.

Aye. Don't forget this follows on from Wembley heartbreak last year.

Just got to keep going. The Championship is a brutal, relentless division. In many ways I'm a firm believer that my experience as a match going supporter would probably be way worse in the Prem than it is in the Championship, but it's still heartbreaking when you miss the chances to do it.

I think the Premier League needs some of the big clubs sat in the Championship to start coming back. I have no issue with Huddersfield going up, fair play to them and I hope they do it, but I think Wednesday would offer vastly more to the division than fucking Reading will.. as would Leeds, Forest, Derby, Villa, Wolves and Norwich. I think the Premiership needs to see some of those sides start making their way back.
 

Jarnet87

Member
If you took off the badge and names on the back of the shirt and had a neutral watch United the past two games they would think it was a side already relegated based on the play. Ajax beating United is an upset to everyone but United fans who have had to sit through this dross the past few weeks. Maybe this is some masterful plan from Mou to lure Ajax into a trap.
 

Kyoufu

Member
At least the championship is wide open next season as I don't see Sunderland, Boro or Hull running away with it. It'll probably be the most competitive season yet in that division.
 

Elchele

Member
Lovely

According to sportbild gnabry will go to hoffenheim.
With heinrichs extending his contract I would love to know what rummenigge is smoking and why we can't buy some young german talents

we are signing Sánchez and Kimmich will play as RB. It only remains to see if we are getting another DM aside from Rudy.

Young german talents won't come because they don't want their career ruined
 

Syder

Member
I think the Premier League needs some of the big clubs sat in the Championship to start coming back. I have no issue with Huddersfield going up, fair play to them and I hope they do it, but I think Wednesday would offer vastly more to the division than fucking Reading will.. as would Leeds, Forest, Derby, Villa, Wolves and Norwich. I think the Premiership needs to see some of those sides start making their way back.
I'd love to see Premier League games at Hillsborough again, to be honest. That's one away day I haven't done yet.
 

DBT85

Member
If you took off the badge and names on the back of the shirt and had a neutral watch United the past two games they would think it was a side already relegated based on the play. Ajax beating United is an upset to everyone but United fans who have had to sit through this dross the past few weeks. Maybe this is some masterful plan from Mou to lure Ajax into a trap.

Its been abundantly clear he's given up on the PL, he's even publicly said it so its hardly a surprise to see the performances to match.

Literally all he cares about now is the Europa, if anything it makes not winning the game an even bigger upset as he's gone out of his way to make extra preparations for it.

I hope we win it, I don't even care if its a shite performance at this point. Not having to play Europa next year would be a great start to the campaign.
 

Jarnet87

Member
Its been abundantly clear he's given up on the PL, he's even publicly said it so its hardly a surprise to see the performances to match.

Literally all he cares about now is the Europa, if anything it makes not winning the game an even bigger upset as he's gone out of his way to make extra preparations for it.

I hope we win it, I don't even care if its a shite performance at this point. Not having to play Europa next year would be a great start to the campaign.

If were stuck in Europa next year, it along with the other cup competitions must be treated as nothing more then games to rest the starters. He will have 38 league games to save his job because he's not making it to year 3 if were seeing Deja Vu in April/May next season.
 

DBT85

Member
If were stuck in Europa next year, it along with the other cup competitions must be treated as nothing more then games to rest the starters. He will have 38 league games to save his job because he's not making it to year 3 if were seeing Deja Vu in April/May next season.

I agree, but I don't think there's that much extra needed to have done much better.

As I've said in this thread several times, a goal in 2 or 3 of the games we drew and our season looks different.

If he can't solve our problem putting the ball in the net then we'll end up just the same.

The other issue is our mentality in games with the top 6. He will have to do better, but he'll have a full season under his belt and experience with the players to clean house and bring in whatever he wants.
 

Zasa

Member
Would it actually be an upset?
A team that has one of the most expensive/best managers ever, the most expensive player ever (& De Gea who'll more than likely be the most expensive GK ever when/if sold), Ibra (well, not now at least since he's out), & a player who was Bundesliga player of the year last season with jaw dropping numbers.

Vs an extremely young side, with mainly home grown players & probably 1/10th of the budget Man U has. Yes, it would be one huge ass upset.

Unless you're talking performance wise without the context & implying that Ajax has been a better team this year collectively...could make a case for that I guess. Certainly offensively at least.
 

ElyrionX

Member
Its been abundantly clear he's given up on the PL, he's even publicly said it so its hardly a surprise to see the performances to match.

Literally all he cares about now is the Europa, if anything it makes not winning the game an even bigger upset as he's gone out of his way to make extra preparations for it.

I hope we win it, I don't even care if its a shite performance at this point. Not having to play Europa next year would be a great start to the campaign.

I don't think giving up on these games is a healthy mentality to have and is not in line with the spirit of the club.
 

DBT85

Member
I don't think giving up on these games is a healthy mentality to have and is not in line with the spirit of the club.

I don't think its healthy either, but the mentality of the club is winning things and playing CL football. Winning Europa not only gets another trophy in the cabinet and gives a bunch of players their first for the club, but it gets us out of Europa for next year.

I think he could have done a bit more to get the players geed up for the last 3 games but if he wins the final his decisions will have been justified.

He's only put more pressure on himself and the palyers by giving up on the league because now they have to win the final.
 

Blablurn

Member
DAFueJNV0AAq1K2.jpg:large


DAFu2hBV0AAHAvT.jpg:large
 

Rush_Khan

Member
Do any Arsenal fans know anything about the status of Mathieu Debuchy? Apparently he is still an Arsenal player? Why doesn't he ever play?
 
Do any Arsenal fans know anything about the status of Mathieu Debuchy? Apparently he is still an Arsenal player? Why doesn't he ever play?
Started his Arsenal career really well, got injured a few times, lost his place to Bellerin and then when given a chance played awfully. Went on loan to Bordeaux but couldn't get into the team, nobody wanted him last summer. Not the same player he used to be, he'll probably leave on a free transfer this summer.
 

ElyrionX

Member
I don't think its healthy either, but the mentality of the club is winning things and playing CL football. Winning Europa not only gets another trophy in the cabinet and gives a bunch of players their first for the club, but it gets us out of Europa for next year.

I think he could have done a bit more to get the players geed up for the last 3 games but if he wins the final his decisions will have been justified.

He's only put more pressure on himself and the palyers by giving up on the league because now they have to win the final.

The more I think about if, the more I think what a failure this season has been. The EPL should matter to us more than anything else and we enter the final game of the season firmly in sixth. It's a damning performance. LVG managed better in both his seasons in charge with arguably a worse squad.
 
One of the biggest derbies in Sweden has been postponed due to match-fixing. AIK vs Gothenburg. Breaking news here in Sweden and I think the first time something like that has happened.
 

Guileless

Temp Banned for Remedial Purposes
Jose also complained about having to play on Sunday before the cup final, asked Allardyce to go easy on them, and said "wait until you see my team on Sunday." Zero fucks given.
 

TimmmV

Member
I think the Premier League needs some of the big clubs sat in the Championship to start coming back. I have no issue with Huddersfield going up, fair play to them and I hope they do it, but I think Wednesday would offer vastly more to the division than fucking Reading will.. as would Leeds, Forest, Derby, Villa, Wolves and Norwich. I think the Premiership needs to see some of those sides start making their way back.

Not to take from the rest of your point, because its fair, but Villa were stinking the place up for a couple of seasons before they went down last time. Not sure what they would add coming back up again

Its been abundantly clear he's given up on the PL, he's even publicly said it so its hardly a surprise to see the performances to match.

Literally all he cares about now is the Europa, if anything it makes not winning the game an even bigger upset as he's gone out of his way to make extra preparations for it.

Mourinho's statements where he makes it clear hes not trying for the league because of the EL really piss me off, as if that should let him off the hook for the first 75% of the season when they have been pretty mediocre.

People were laying into Klopp for finishing 8th last season, when they spend the last part of the season solely focusing on the Europa League, so I don't see why Mourinho should be spared that criticism too. Especially after the money they spent in the summer, and the expectations people had of winning the league
 
One of the biggest derbies in Sweden has been postponed due to match-fixing. AIK vs Gothenburg. Breaking news here in Sweden and I think the first time something like that has happened.

Pretty shitty of Gothenburgs director of football to tell the media about which AIK player had been contacted by matchfixers.
 

Syder

Member
FA approves bans for diving next season

Players who dive in English football will face bans from next season under new Football Association regulations.

Under the new rules, passed by the governing body at its annual general meeting on Thursday, a panel will review footage each Monday looking for cases of simulation.

Any player unanimously found guilty of diving would be given a suspension.

The FA also announced it has passed reforms it proposed in March, following criticism over the way it is run.
This is awesome.
 

DBT85

Member
The more I think about if, the more I think what a failure this season has been. The EPL should matter to us more than anything else and we enter the final game of the season firmly in sixth. It's a damning performance. LVG managed better in both his seasons in charge with arguably a worse squad.

The EPL did matter until he knew it didn't make sense. We needed more wins from those draws, but I've not seen anything until the last few weeks to suggest that the EPL didn't matter. Would you like LVG back? I sure as shit wouldn't.

Mourinho's statements where he makes it clear hes not trying for the league because of the EL really piss me off, as if that should let him off the hook for the first 75% of the season when they have been pretty mediocre.

People were laying into Klopp for finishing 8th last season, when they spend the last part of the season solely focusing on the Europa League, so I don't see why Mourinho should be spared that criticism too. Especially after the money they spent in the summer, and the expectations people had of winning the league

Not sure he's asking to be let off for them not being good enough the whole year. Klopp ended last year with nothing to show for it. No European football and no trophies. Mou has already won the League cup (a trophy nobody cares about unless they win it tbh) and in so doing got at least some European football regardless of the final position.

I thought we'd finish higher in the league this year and I'd like for us to have played better in some of the top 6 games. But a small rise in our shite conversion ratio and we're probably 3rd and suddenly the world isn't ending.

Clearly still work to do, but I'll take 6th, 2 trophies and CL football for next season.

As I've said, he has to win the Europa now that he's been bleating about it and resting players for 2 weeks. If he fails to win it he'll be roasted.



About fucking time. Though they will only be looking at incidents where a penalty was won, a red card was shown, or a yellow card was given and that player ends up being sent off becuase of two yellows. It's better than nothing. Though it does concern me a little that the refs will just give more pens and let it be decided afterwards by which point its too late.

Hopefully this might cut out some of the leg dangling antics too.
 

Jarnet87

Member
Mou is going to play a bunch of kids on Sunday so I will give the game a watch. It's also going to be funny to see Rooney looking like he is in slow motion with a bunch of 18-19 year olds running circles around him lol.

Edit: looks like Rooney won't even play at Old Trafford this weekend. Sad way to go not even getting to play in his last competitive home game for the club.
 

DBT85

Member
Mou is going to play a bunch of kids on Sunday so I will give the game a watch. It's also going to be funny to see Rooney looking like he is in slow motion with a bunch of 18-19 year olds running circles around him lol.

Edit: looks like Rooney won't even play at Old Trafford this weekend. Sad way to go not even getting to play in his last competitive home game for the club.

Weird that he wouldn't be on the bench at least. The game matters for literally nothing as far as the table goes, so having him on the bench doesn't hurt.

Will be watching anyway just to see some of the kids play.
 

Syder

Member
Usmanov makes £1bn Arsenal takeover bid

Uzbek-born Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has made a £1bn bid to wrest control of Arsenal from majority shareholder Stan Kroenke.

But with Kroenke showing no interest, the bid has in effect been rejected, though Usmanov is yet to receive written confirmation of that.

The Financial Times reported Usmanov made the offer last month, and that Kroenke has yet to formally respond.

Metal magnate Usmanov owns 30% of Arsenal's shares.

He is, though, not part of the board or decision-making at the club.

Usmanov said in April that Kroenke must "bear huge responsibility" for the club's failures on the pitch.

Arsenal need other teams to slip up in Sunday's final round of matches to avoid missing out on Champions League qualification for the first time in 21 years.

Arsene Wenger, who has been manager since 1996, has been the target of protests from some of the club's fans.

The Frenchman's future at the club will be decided at a board meeting after Arsenal meet Chelsea in 27 May's FA Cup final.
 

slider

Member
Usmanov has made noises about this for years. Kroenke has never bitten though. Wonder if missing the top four, as seems likely, will change his mind.

Kroenke, you frikkin goober, people care about their clubs. Leave the franchise shit to one side!
 

Pachimari

Member
I'm actually quite nervous about our match against Malaga on Sunday, since they're in good form and plays some good football, and it's on their turf.

That said, so are we, and Cristiano is in a scoring mood having scored 13 times in the last 8 matches.

And something for the history books, we've needed one point to win the league three times before, succeeding twice. Back in 1932 we drew 2-2 against Barcelona on Las Corts and won it, leaving Athletic Bilbao for second place. In 1965 we beat Sevilla 0-1 thanks to a goal by Puskas; Atletico Madrid ended up in second. And the last time was in 1983 when we lost 1-0 against Valencia, Athletic Bilbao ended up winning the league.
 
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