Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Doesn't even matter to be fair. We have Joselu, that's 4 Lukaku's :D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Shambolic defending by Lindelof.:D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

It's shambolic everytime we come forward. Yes you read that right, come forward :erm:

We'll pay for not being 2-0 up though eventually.

I think they've been caught out, expecting to nullify the counter attack we've deployed all season, they're still bemused now by how quick we come forward and get back asap. Can't hold on forever though, but it was nice to be ahead I guess until the goal comes.

There it is of course. At least the United fans have turned up now. :|

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

No BT here at wedding in Stafford, keeping up via BBC web site. 😎

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

So the drinks are all on you Jim.:D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Well my Toon supporting nephew had a smile on his face for a few minutes.😂

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

l gather he has disappeared somewhere a bit quieter now.:)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Was expected though, what wasn't expected was how poor United were until they actually scored.

I mean we've got 3 clear cut chances in that half and took 1 of them. City might be 3-0 up from that, Arsenal may be a few ahead. We're really bad at scoring goals :D and somehow we've put one away.

Combine that with the amount of chances missed before the leveller and I can see an absolute trouncing by City and them literally just wandering off from the league.

Lost 4-1 and I'm still cacking it to play City.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Julian probably felt like that yesterday.:waving::D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Encouraging signs from that game Den.
Hopefully we get Lallana back soon and things could really start looking up. :)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Moyes out.

Seriously though, Watford are playing some great football.

2-0, was coming. West Ham fans now turn their attention towards the players and the board.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Well it was a few days off but it turns out the Asian media were actually pretty close. Amanda Staveley did indeed launch the £300m takeover of Newcastle last week.

https://news.sky.com/story/staveley-...e-bid-11136293

Timeframe? Could be completed as early as the weekend or as late as the New Year.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

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PCP Partners headed by Amanda Staveley has tabled a formal takeover bid for Newcastle United Football Club in the region of £300m and they hope to get exclusivity on talks this week

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

That last bit generally means they wish to be the only party remaining to takeover the club and is a general sign they're going ahead with a takeover, as if the bid didn't confirm that, but it's just an assurance thing. Only the Staveley talks have been made public but obviously we're aware of 3 other parties, Chinese, Middle-Eastern and an unknown group. Nothing was disclosed about how far they got besides the NDA. It seems like a foregone conclusion that Staveley and PCP won the race though. Of all the groups, I've only seen the Chinese group as the other serious party, they were however worried about not being able to invest with current Chinese rulings stopping that.

But hey, SportsDirect@Sunderland incoming! Jokes aside it wouldn't even be a bad move for Sunderland right now, he might well clear the debt and make the club float. But realistically I don't think he'll be after another club except Rangers? Even being a geordie I can tell what's going on at Sunderland is a joke. How they've been allowed to get into this position is a disgrace and the same applies with Villa, the latter are absolutely knackered if they don't get promoted.

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Another shocking decision this season then, just to add to the 30 page list :D Shawcross clatters him and thats a penalty all day, it's not even a hard decision.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

And yet another appalling decision in the Chelsea game , not even a foul yet red card and penalty. Shocking

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Terrible decision following on from last nights dreadful decision.:td:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

I've missed it, gonna look through last night's clips now. In the meantime, I'm sure Den saw this but: https://streamable.com/o0v1v :erm:

It's just embarrassing.

All in all though I'm trying not to exaggerate but we're just literally watching the standard of refereeing fall away with hilariously bad decisions in games combined with some people actually agreeing. I.E Kyle Walkers phantom elbow against Everton was it? People are still convinced he's done him with his elbow despite the fact Walker's elbow goes absolutely nowhere near the lads face, nor does it even touch any other part of his body. Walker was sent off for a shoulder charge ultimately.

Juve's penalty the other night was hilariously bad. The commentator literally saying, there's Juve's mandatory penalty didn't help, they're not exactly a team notorious for spot fixing or anything...:erm:

Shawcross at the weekend with a quite remarkable attempt to win the ball in the box, completely misses it, wipes the player out, goal kick :dunce:

Kompany flattens Vardy when he's clean through on goal, Yellow card.

Just watched the Chelsea one, can see why the ref gives it, he doesn't get the luxury we do so it's not as obvious. On a quick run it looks like your typical 'he's pulled him down' but in fairness Willian gets ahead and the bloke has nowhere to go after the battle, he doesn't even clatter into the back him that hard and Willian is always going down from it, it's a really soft one but the worst end of the decision is to then be sent off for it. I mean Chelsea should win obviously but it killed the game off anyway in 19 minutes.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

l have given up on the deplorable standard of decent refereeing now as every game l watch some of the decisions are utterly laughable as so many decisions are inconsistent with the same similar type of thing that happens in many other games.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

There was hope that VAR technology would help but because that is being interpreted by humans it appears that mistakes are still being made.:(

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

The Moyes era has well and truly started.:D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Very laboured performance from the Reds today at OT, credit to Brighton for playing well but to many place having an off day TBH. :(

First we have the Harry Kane team, now the Mo Salah team.;)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Yes it has and you can already see the difference in terms of fitness and bottle

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Lets hope he does keep them up TD but we shall see.

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And we have a defence and goalie that would struggle to put in a game in a Sunday league game.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

That dive from Fernandinho deserved a straight red, it was that bad. :mad:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Indeed but alas the refereeing is just as bad as ever.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Very prevalent tonight l gather TD.;)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

They did have a shot after 51 minutes, wonderful goal from Rooney.:D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

May as well just give all matches to so called big clubs when they are allowed to score way after time :rolleyes:

Five minutes was a joke in the first place then the dirty manc gits score in the 97th minute

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

There is still life in the old boy yet Jim it seems.:)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

It was, first half was a disaster but was much better in the second, was never a four nil match, had the penalty gone in it could've been very different

Was that the penalty save or hitting the bar

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

No, just before they hit the bar they had a long range shot that Pickford held. It looks like Pickford had seen the graphic of his penalties, all three towards the bottom left corner, great save and as you say a match turner.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Do you think the 'Fat Spanish waiter' will instruct Dwight Gayle to deliberately miss the next time he has an open goal in the first five minutes at 0-0.:D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Well you can always teleport Lukaku over as maybe he can do a better job.;)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Man Utd starting like a house on fire at the Emirates.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Started yes, since then Arsenal have battered them, how on earth they haven’t scored yet I do not know. :shocked:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Well your wish has come true Jim.:)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Pogba misses the City game, plonker.:rolleyes:

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Well it wasn’t exactly The Alamo, or indeed a smash and grab, scoring three goals at the Emirates is no mean feat, the stupidity of Pogba takes the shine off a little though.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Well being the second team in your fair city is nothing to be sniffed at Jim even if you lose five nil against the best team in the land in the Manchester derby.;)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

I think you are mistaking our defence and keeper with yours Den. :p:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

l know how bad our predicament is Jim but being the second club in a big city to your bigger city rivals is a something you must be very proud of.:p:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Proud of all teams from this area Den, forgot to ask how Liverpool did at the Emirates this season? :p:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Being of increasingly poor memory l cannot remember.;)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

I can give you a clue if you like.:D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

City are guilty of not paying West Ham enough respect here, they've been so lazy throughout this game. Aguero and De Bruyne have been invisible. Don't take anything away from West Ham though, they've packed the back well.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Please do Jim as while you are working on that may one remind you of this glorious extravaganza just to whet your appetite for this coming Super Sunday.:p::D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8xD9FrpjPU

---------- Post added at 17:44 ---------- Previous post was at 17:39 ----------

Yes they have been slapdash that is for sure apart from these last few minutes which should cheer Jim up no end.:D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Speaking of De Bruyne, he wakes up, and it's 2-1. Harsh on West Ham

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

West Ham could have done with someone to hold the ball up as a outlet these last 30 minutes.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Comfortable in the end, Moscow goal looked a mile offside but apparently Daly Blind slid off the pitch without the refs permission so was deemed to still be in play. Good to see Luke Shaw get a full 90 minutes, possibly at fault for allowing the pass that led to the goal but otherwise sound, did tire badly at the end though.

Lose your group and maybe get Barca or PSG, win it and you could end up with Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Juve....Hobsons choice for sure.:)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Not really what l call a proper draw IMO when you know who you are going to play in the knockout stages.:(:td:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

There's still the doomsday scenario where we could end up in the Europa :shocked:
Hope we treat this one like a must win, mind with our current defence we're hardly going to play for a draw :D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

???????????

Best defensive record in Premiership, Jones back soon with Bailly to follow. Lindelof starting to put it together at last, Rojo a good backup. Forgot to mention the keeper. ;)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

I shouldn't mix work and jumping in on threads, I was talking about L'pool game tonight. :)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

I think Liverpool will breeze through tonight.

I need to read back as well, perhaps we could have a little sticker to show our allegiance. :)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Good grief you better sit down Jim as l think you are having a fumy turn again.;):D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Hope you're right, but after the 2nd half collapse at Sevilla I'll save counting the chickens until after the game ;)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

What surprised me is not how many of the English teams have gone through, it’s the failure of the likes of Dortmund, Monaco, Athletico Madrid etc. I thought that Benfica was the main threat in Uniteds group and they where dreadful.

3-0 in under 20 minutes, even Liverpool can’t blow this one.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Some of these teams have lost important players so perhaps that is the reason for their demise.

---------- Post added at 20:13 ---------- Previous post was at 20:12 ----------

Did you not say that last time.;)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Never a doubt in my mind :erm:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Strange how I have more faith in them than you both have.:monkey:

---------- Post added at 21:19 ---------- Previous post was at 21:06 ----------

Do you think six will be enough?:D

---------- Post added at 21:50 ---------- Previous post was at 21:19 ----------

Well the whistle has gone now, still worried? :D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

For that watch defence and goalkeeper and you won't go far wrong.

---------- Post added at 05:03 ---------- Previous post was at 05:01 ----------

Well the heartrate has settled down now Jim.:)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

It's probably easier to have an objective opinion when you don't care what the result is :D
I did think we'd win (although not like that), but the Seville match had reawoken those nagging doubts.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Thought the Toon where a little unlucky tonight, good end to end game all the same. They just kept giving the ball away far too often.

Great result for the boy David at the Hammers. :cool:

Will have to make an early start tomorrow afternoon. A few inches of snow already and plenty more forecast overnight. Add that to two sets of fans and all the Christmas shoppers equals a recipe for chaos. :(

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Don't believe it's unlucky. It's just the way we're set up combined with absolutely no desire from Benitez to change a thing. His substitutions and the timing of them are beyond just questionable now. He changed the formation after winning 4 in a row and now hasn't won in something like 6. Why would you change a winning formation and set up in the first place, then be so stubborn you refuse to change it back.

Hate to be THAT guy but it's these sort of baffling decisions and his truly awful rotation policy that has landed him the boot at a handful of his other jobs.

With it now becoming clear that Staveley and Ashley are pretty close to a deal I believe Benitez will get backed but I can see him being used as a stepping stone for the new owners to throw money at a bigger manager down the line. I think it's fair to say many managers would've been sacked at this point.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Not sure about the neutrals but I for one fed up seeing and hearing all the hype and drivel surrounding today’s Utd v City game, getting boring now.

On another note Man Uniteds FA Cup game against Derby will not be televised, apparently the first time in 58 years that a United FA Cup game will not be on TV.

So given it’s not on telly, when do they arrange to play it, at 8.00pm on a bloody Friday night.:mad:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Arsenal having their wonderful start as usual.:D

---------- Post added at 12:55 ---------- Previous post was at 12:03 ----------

You see a little bit more patience and he would have took you to the promised land.;)

---------- Post added at 12:56 ---------- Previous post was at 12:55 ----------

Have you arrived though at your destination?.

---------- Post added at 12:57 ---------- Previous post was at 12:56 ----------

As usual OTT hyperbole from Sky and others as usual.:td:

---------- Post added at 13:03 ---------- Previous post was at 12:57 ----------

A lot of supporters are getting fed up with games being put at very awkward times as the football clubs and the TV companies now seem to have carte blanche to put it on whenever they want and balls to anybody else seems to be their attitude when they are questioned about these difficult kick off times for football supporters..

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Just had a hearty breakfast.:cool:

Under ten minutes walk from home to the tram station, approx. 50 minutes on the tram and a fifteen minute walk at the other end to the ground. I will be setting off around 2.15 to allow for any holdups etc. ;)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Good grief you would think they were the best football experts in the world on Sky Sports.:td::(

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Well that was hilarious at the Theatre of bad dreams.:D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

City aren't going to lose this season are they...

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

The champions already and even Jim the great optimist would agree with that.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Wifi down on tram home.

Two scruffy goals from City, can't comment on the possible penalty/diving as I am at the opposite end but it didn't look like much of a dive from Herrera TBH.

Ref Oliver had his usual erratic game but having said all that it was a fully deserved result, second best all over the park for most of the game.

Lukaka is lethal in his own box, nearly scored an own goal against the Gooners last week.

Best laugh of the day was in the concourse well before kick off, packed out, Merseyside derby on the screen, the cheer when Everton won a penalty and the raucous chants of ROONEY, ROONEY as he stepped up to take it.:D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

l said he would have his use somehow Jim ;) whilst he again fails to hit the net at the other end against those big teams yet again so perhaps is now the time for you to wheel out that lovely pink swallow of yours.;):D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

He actually has a decent record against City TBH, scored a couple of times recently for Everton against them.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Champions League draw.

Juventus v Tottenham
Basel v Manchester City
Porto v Liverpool
Sevilla v Manchester United
Real Madrid v Paris St-Germain
Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma
Chelsea v Barcelona
Bayern Munich v Besiktas

https://www.theguardian.com/football...t-16-draw-live

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

RM V PSG...:D

Not a bad draw for City, United and Liverpool,

Chelsea and Spurs both difficult.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Yes a reasonable draw for our teams and a difficult draw for the London teams.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

There are really no easy teams at this stage, having the second leg at home is the only real advantage of winning the group TBH.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Newcastle close to takeover as Amanda Staveley increases offer to Mike Ashley

http://www.skysports.com/football/ne...to-mike-ashley

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Still wondering which groups are spearheading her deal, on the official hand it's her usual backers at FCP. There was a horrible rumour though that she's in fact being pushed solely by Qatari funding. Which would leave them with both PSG and Newcastle under their control. :erm:

Here's hoping it's the former given what we just seen unfold at PSG in the summer.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Was pleasantly surprised to see Watford take that tumble last night . . .





. . eventually stopped chuckling at about 10:30 today :D



In 2020 we trust ;)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Well that was even worse than Sunday. Only good points, solid performances from Luke Shaw and Scot McTominay.

Remind me again, why did Saints sack Puel.:rolleyes:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Because the people who made that decision have not got much knowhow of knowing what a decent manager is although it will be interesting to hear the thoughts of Julian as he is a very knowledgeable fan of them..

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Ndidi becomes the first player of the season to be sent off for diving (second bookable offence)

Its so blatant too. Bare in mind that if he'd won the penalty, the FA would've taken retrospective action and banned him anyway.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Disgraceful assault by cahill on Cedric why he didn't get a straight red ill never know.
complete *******

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

The referee doing the Man City vs Spurs game must be one of the worse referees l have ever seen as he should have sent off 3 players IMO.:(:td:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

I think that nice chap Michael Oliver did a wonderful job of refereeing today :nworthy: :devsmoke:

Deeney will have a quiet Crimbo & New Year :D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Manuel Lanzini of West Ham becomes the second player to be banned for diving after a match. He's been handed a 2 game ban.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42417298

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

About time too.:tu:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Well that was almost a dive from Gray there. A very soft penalty for sure.

A classic at the Emirates, only one shot on target the whole game.:(

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Sadly they are handed out willy nilly nowadays like confetti.:(

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Swansea City Football Club have sacked head coach Paul Clement.

http://www.skysports.com/football/ne...ked-by-swansea

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Nice to see that giant killing is still alive and well as David slane Goliath last night.:D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Very nice result for football, sadly it will make no discernible difference to those in the higher echelons who make their money by turning the 'beautiful game' into a fiasco.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Missed the game, out all night, sounded like a good performance from the ex Latics managers team. And the winning goal scored by a former Oldham player as well. TBH when I watched Korey Smith at Boundary Park he was a cut above most of the others on the pitch.

Just have to concentrate on the league now. :D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Well as much chance of winning that as of those pink swallow's flying by.;):D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Just looking at the Boxing Day results from Division One in 1963.:D

Attachment 27176

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Are you sure? Or am I missing something?

Linky 1
Linky 2
Linky 3

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Paddy Power logo/watermark, bottom right, it's a satire image.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

:tu::)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Well Jose is spitting mad at some of the childish decisions of some of his players after last nights fiasco.:D