Festive Fixtures (26/27/29/30 Dec & 1st Jan).

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Thursday, 26th December 2024
Manchester City v Everton, 12:30
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace, 15:00
Chelsea v Fulham, 15:00
Newcastle United v Aston Villa, 15:00
Nottingham Forest v Tottenham Hotspur, 15:00
Southampton v West Ham United, 15:00
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United, 17:30
Liverpool v Leicester City, 20:00

Friday, 27th December 2024
Brighton & Hove Albion v Brentford, 19:30
Arsenal v Ipswich Town, 20:15

Sunday, 29th December 2024
Leicester City v Manchester City, 14:30 https://i.imgur.com/htwHZ0c.jpg
Crystal Palace v Southampton, 15:00
Everton v Nottingham Forest, 15:00
Fulham v Bournemouth, 15:00
Tottenham Hotspur v Wolverhampton Wanderers, 15:00
West Ham United v Liverpool, 17:15 https://i.imgur.com/htwHZ0c.jpg

Monday, 30th December 2024
Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion, 19:45
Ipswich Town v Chelsea, 19:45
Manchester United v Newcastle United, 20:00 https://i.imgur.com/htwHZ0c.jpg

Wednesday, 1st January 2025
Brentford v Arsenal, 17:30 https://i.imgur.com/tM2pRxb.png

-----

All the matches today and tomorrow are on Prime Video.

[Mac76]

Aren't we playing on the 27th? :shrug:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Yes, yes we are. :lol:

Realised before I saw the reply but all the same, oops.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Hopefully wins for Everton, Fulham, Forest, Leicester and Wolves Today

Hopefully wins for Leicester, Wolves, Ipswich, West Ham and Newcastle - Sunday and Monday

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Manchester City: Ortega, Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Bernardo, Savinho, Foden, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Carson, Brits, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Simpson-Pusey, Mubama, Alleyne, O'Reilly, McAtee.

Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Mangala, Gueye, Doucoure, Harrison, Ndiaye, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Armstrong, Broja, Betto, Keane, Lindstrom, Joao Virginia, O'Brien, Patterson, Chermitti

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Gvardiol heads on to the post!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Man City 1-0 Everton, Bernardo Silva.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Man City 1-1 Everton, Ndiaye!

What a goal.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pelanty to Citeh.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Haaland has it saved!

:haha:

Stay humble eh

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Branthwaite looks fucked.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Or not.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Pusey coming on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Man City 1-1 Everton, FT. :lol:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

That 4 on 2 at the end for Everton :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Broja held on to it too long, chose the wrong option, Harrison held on to it too long, chose the wrong option.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I have Chelsea v Fulham on for now but don't know if I'll stay there.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

I've got Soccer Saturday Every Game Every Goal which is showing the Chelsea game atm anyway.


Newcastle 1 up already. Gordon. :wacko:

[dostoy]

You're bound to win Newcastle fans as its so late in the game.

There are only 95 minutes to go.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I think Tim Sherwood has found his way on to that too so fuck that.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Chelsea 1-0 Fulham, Palmer.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Some run from Iwobi.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Forest 1-0 Spuds, Elanga.

:haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Duran sent off for Villa!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Leno saves from Cucurella!

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

I think Tim Sherwood has found his way on to that too so fuck that.

Yeah fair to say it has gone on mute.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

What a tackle from Bassey on Palmer.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Yeah fair to say it has gone on mute.

Reasonable.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Great save from Leno.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fulham not taking their chances. :doh:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Newcastle 2-0 Villa, Isak.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Southampton 0-1 West Ham, Bowen.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Chelsea 1-1 Fulham, Wilson!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Embarrassing from Neto.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Newcastle 3-0 Villa, Guimaraes.

Emery. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Great save from Leno.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Chelsea 1-2 Fulham, MUNIZ!!!

[HCZ_Reborn]

Forest third tonight as things stand

Whilst I disagree with Mac that they could be title contenders (although in fairness to him I don’t think he definitely believes they will be, I think he just floated the possibility that it’s not beyond the realms of possibility in a Leicester city type scenario)

I think they are definitely contenders to make the Champions League

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Leno with another save. :bow:

Proper Gooner.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Chelsea 1-2 Fulham, FT!

:haha:

[Letters]

Chelsea :haha:
Spurs :haha:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Chelsea :haha:
Spurs :haha:

That’s not very nice, kind or festive

You forgot about Man City :haha:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Although the Chelsea result is more gratifying

[Letters]

That’s not very nice, kind or festive

You forgot about Man City :haha:

:lol:

So I did. Although honestly they’re almost in the “stop stop, he’s already dead” zone now.

[HCZ_Reborn]

:lol:

So I did. Although honestly they’re almost in the “stop stop, he’s already dead” zone now.

So are Spurs :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wolves: Sa, Doherty, Bueno, Toti Gomes, Semedo, Andre, Joao Gomes, Ait-Nouri, Guedes, Cunha, Larsen.
Subs: Johnstone, Hwang, Dawson, Rodrigo, Doyle, Forbs, Bellegarde, Meupiyou, Lima.

Man Utd: Onana, Yoro, Maguire, Martinez, Mazraoui, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot, Amad, Bruno Fernandes, Hojlund.
Subs: Bayindir, De Ligt, Zirkzee, Eriksen, Garnacho, Casemiro, Antony, Evans, Collyer.

-------

More Man Utd comedy show please. :pray:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fernandes booked.

Another red coming up.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Great save from Sa off Dalot.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Robert Plant. :bow:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Robert Plant in the crowd

Hopefully Wolves can bring it on home, and make it a celebration day for their fans

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fernandes sent off!

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Fernandes booked.

Another red coming up.

:bow:

:haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wolves 1-0 Man Utd, Cunha!
Another one from a corner. Directly. :haha:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Fernandes booked.

Another red coming up.

Your middle name Cassandra? :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Your middle name Cassandra? :lol:

He makes it easy being such a liability.

[HCZ_Reborn]

2-0 Hwang

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wolves 2-0 Man Utd, Hwang! :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wolves 2-0 Man Utd, FT!

:haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones, Salah, Gakpo, Nunez.
Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Diaz, Szoboszlai, Chiesa, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, Quansah.

Leicester: Stolarczyk, Justin, Coady, Vestergaard, Kristiansen, Soumare, Winks, El Khannouss, Ayew, Mavididi, Daka.
Subs: Iversen, Okoli, De Cordova-Reid, Choudhury, Skipp, Edouard, Thomas, Alves, Buonanotte.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Let's fogging go guys!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Liverpool 0-1 Leicester, Ayew! :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

That fog looks so dense.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Liverpool doing the Arsenal set-piece routine!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

The fog is getting worse.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

How has that not gone in? :lol:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Could be one of those games .

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Salah hits the bar!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-1 Gakpo.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

:lol:

This is getting silly.



Oh. Yay. I like Gakpo. He's about 228 times better when he on the left. Shame for him Diaz is as well.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

1-1 HT.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-1 Jones.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Daka. :haha:

That's awful.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Don’t rate Gakpo at all, he might score the odd decent goal but a lot of the time he’s anonymous. I think Diaz is a much better player (although sometimes he also has the headless chicken about him) but technically he’s just far superior in my view

It was nice to think Leicester might get something, but if Liverpool can’t beat them at home they might as well pack up and go home

[McNamara That Ghost...]

3-1 Salah.

[Letters]

Oh well. This was maybe a Christmas miracle too far.
Overall an excellent set of results today though.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

3-1 FT.

[HCZ_Reborn]

The three promoted clubs are all in the bottom three, on current form I can’t see past them all going straight back down

I actually hope I’m wrong about this, because I don’t think it’s good for the game to have 17 clubs stratified at the top of English football and for three of the remaining clubs to be yo-yo teams like Burnley

But unfortunately it’s clear the spending power of the clubs above them is higher

[Mac76]

Don’t rate Gakpo at all

Yes, just stick to your foolish prejudices and we'll just carry on looking at the player as he is, just as we did with Rice amd many other players amd also clubs (e.g. Liverpool) you've foolishly written off

[Mac76]

The three promoted clubs are all in the bottom three, on current form I can’t see past them all going straight back down

I actually hope I’m wrong about this, because I don’t think it’s good for the game to have 17 clubs stratified at the top of English football and for three of the remaining clubs to be yo-yo teams like Burnley

But unfortunately it’s clear the spending power of the clubs above them is higher

I think it's also partly down to what is a seemingly growing trend among promoted clubs' managers to think they can mix it with PL clubs and go toe-to-toe, play out from the back etc

Much as I hate the negativity and pro-violence approach of cunts like Dyke, I'd forgive a bit of parking the bus etc from promoted teams under the circumstances

[HCZ_Reborn]

Yes, just stick to your foolish prejudices and we'll just carry on looking at the player as he is, just as we did with Rice amd many other players amd also clubs (e.g. Liverpool) you've foolishly written off

Prejudiced means having a pre-conceived idea of something that isn’t based on experience

Rice I didn’t want us to sign because he’s not technically good (he isn’t), isn’t a great passer of the ball (he isn’t) and doesn’t have great acceleration (he doesn’t). This is the reason I get frustrated why he’s played at 8. He’s fantastic at 6 where he has a great ability to sense danger and read the game to put out fires. But he’s also I maintain part of the reason why our attacking play is often too slow in a way it wasn’t when we had Partey and that Swiss halfwit at no 8


Gakpo as I say gets you goals, but what I noticed when he was at PSV and for Netherlands is that he’s often anonymous in games and still can’t hold his runs enough to stay onside a lot of the time. Bit like Marc Overmars for me in the sense that if he’s not scoring goals, his overall contribution on the pitch is negligible.

I know that you find it hard to discern between what you think and what is fact which then brings you into bother when other people have opinions.


But if you are to interact with people other than figments of your imagination, you have to understand that people might think differently from you


As for Liverpool, I have already conceded that I underestimated that Salah would prove to be as influential as he has been. I thought he was on the wane, but clearly not.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I think it's also partly down to what is a seemingly growing trend among promoted clubs' managers to think they can mix it with PL clubs and go toe-to-toe, play out from the back etc

Much as I hate the negativity and pro-violence approach of cunts like Dyke, I'd forgive a bit of parking the bus etc from promoted teams under the circumstances

I think this has a negligible effect. I don’t think these clubs are having problems due to tactical naivety, they are having problems because the players aren’t at the same level as the other 17 clubs. As I tried to explain to you with Man United, it may well be that Amorim is a better coach than Ten Haag but if he’s still dealing with the same players it won’t change much.

[Marc Overmars]

Hard to see where Liverpool are going to lose the games we need them to at the moment. I suspect they will have a very unassailable looking lead over us and Chelsea after the new year games.

Spurs. :haha:

Lost half their games which is shocking. I reckon Ange will probably be sacked should they lose the Cup semi to Liverpool.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Hard to see where Liverpool are going to lose the games we need them to at the moment. I suspect they will have a very unassailable looking lead over us and Chelsea after the new year games.

Spurs. :haha:

Lost half their games which is shocking. I reckon Ange will probably be sacked should they lose the Cup semi to Liverpool.

At the moment sure

But in new year they’ve got far harder fixtures to play away from home

Although Liverpool were only five points ahead at the same period, we saw them crack in the second half last season

Where I’m pessimistic is of our ability to take advantage. They dropped points in December as I thought they would, but we contrived to do so as well. That’s unforgivable in my opinion, knowing they had us and Chelsea breathing down their necks would have put more pressure on a team which hasn’t in my view been seriously tested.


It’s frustrated the hell out of me, being behind City was annoying enough, but we are better than Liverpool squad wise even with Salah in god mode. We’ve been unlucky with injuries for sure, but this is on Arteta. Sadly I think the owners will be delighted with another 2nd place, as it meets their objectives

[Mac76]

.

I know that you find it hard to discern between what you think and what is fact which then brings you into bother when other people have opinions.


But if you are to interact with people other than figments of your imagination, you have to understand that people might think differently from you



I think most people would say that describes you rather than me.

Oh and of course Rice can pass the ball, to say otherwise is palpably ludicrous

[HCZ_Reborn]

I think most people would say that describes you rather than me.

Oh and of course Rice can pass the ball, to say otherwise is palpably ludicrous

Says the person who thinks “everyone I know thinks the same” lends authority to his argument

True your worse with it with political view points than football, but I think someone who (I can only assume seriously) claimed that because they went to games they could tell that Xhaka was a teacher’s pet. Probably should be a little bit more cautious when pointing the finger at others…but you do you.

Also it would help you no end if you actually responded to things I said, I said Rice wasn’t a great passer of the ball (he isn’t) not that he can’t pass the ball…but in terms of distribution he is behind both Jorginho and Partey by some way.

[Mac76]

Christmas cheer and goodwill :bow:

:lol:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Christmas cheer and goodwill :bow:

:lol:

Goodwill to all men

Only problem is you don’t really count :)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Leicester: Stolarczyk, Justin, Vestergaard, Coady, Kristiansen, Winks, Soumare, Mavididi, Buonanotte, El Khannouss, Vardy.
Subs: Okoli, Thomas, Choudhury, Skipp, Alves, Wilson-Brown, De Cordova-Reid, Daka, Iversen.

Manchester City: Ortega, Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Savinho, Foden, Haaland
Subs: Walker, Grealish, Doku, Gundogan, Simpson-Pusey, Mubama, O'Reilly, McAtee, Carson

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Save off Haaland.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Diop, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson, Lukic, Pereira, Wilson, Jimenez, Iwobi.
Subs: Benda, Cuenca, Sessegnon, Cairney, King, Smith Rowe, Traore, Muniz, Vinicius.

Bournemouth: Kepa, Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Kerkez, Cook, Brooks, Christie, Hill, Semenyo, Billing, Evanilson.
Subs: Travers, Dennis, Dango, Unal, Aarons, Winterburn, Kinsey, Harris, Rees-Dottin.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Crystal Palace: Henderson, Munoz, Richards, Chalobah, Lacroix, Mitchell, Hughes, Lerma, Eze, Sarr, Mateta
Subs: Turner, Nketiah, Schlupp, Clyne, Kamada, Doucoure, Riad, Devenny, Kporha

Southampton: Ramsdale, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Fernandes, Bree, Dibling, Aribo, Armstrong, Onuachu
Subs: McCarthy, Manning, Lallana, Sugawara, Archer, Sulemana, Taylor, Ugochukwu, Bella-Kotchap

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Spuds: Forster, Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Udogie, Bentancur, Bissouma, Kulusevski, Johnson, Solanke, Son.
Subs: Austin, Dorrington, Reguilon, Sarr, Bergvall, Maddison, Olusesi, Werner, Lankshear.

Wolves: Sa, Semedo, Doherty, Dawson, Bueno, Ait-Nouri, Gomes, Andre, Bellegarde, Hwang, Cunha
Subs: Johnstone, Meupiyou, Lima, Doyle, R.Gomes, Forbs, Guedes, Larsen, Pond

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Leicester 0-1 Man City, Savinho

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Everton: Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gana, Mangala, Doucoure; Harrison, Broja, Ndiaye
Subs: Virginia, Patterson, Keane, Calvert-Lewin, Beto, O'Brien, Chermiti, Lindstrom, Armstrong

Nottingham Forest: Sels; Sosa, Morato, Milenkovic; Aina, Anderson, Dominguez, Williams; Gibbs-White, Elanga, Wood
Subs: Miguel, Awoniyi, Toffolo, Da Silva Moreira, Ward-Prowse, Jota, Boly, Abbott

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Dive from De Bruyne

[HCZ_Reborn]

Hwang puts Wolves in front at Spurs

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Leicester hit the post!

Also, Haaland's miss a few minutes ago. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Spuds. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Old Man Vardy has been so poor, clearly trying to get advantages running in behind.

Too old now though so creeping in to offside positions, obviously before he never had to worry so much about it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Spuds 1-1 Wolves, Bentancur.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Dibling puts Southampton in front at Palace. Their first goal in ages

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Palace 0-1 Southampton, Dibling!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Everton 0-1 Forest, Wood!

[HCZ_Reborn]

Forest play Liverpool on the 14th Jan, let’s hope they can keep that form going till then

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Palace 1-1 Southampton but VAR checking.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Goal given. Chalobah with it.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Jiminez puts Fulham in front against Bournemouth. Massively against the run of play

[HCZ_Reborn]

Spurs pel

[HCZ_Reborn]

Saved by Sa! :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Son. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

2-1 Spuds, Johnson.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Vardy. :lol:

Great clearance.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Walker coming on. :lol:

Maybe Leicester will win after all.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-2 Citeh, Haaland.

[HCZ_Reborn]

0-2 Citeh, Haaland.

Oh well, fun couldn’t last forever

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Palace 2-1 Southampton, Eze.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fulham 1-1 Bournemouth, Evanilson.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Forest get a second at Everton. Something inevitable about that

Gibbs-White

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fulham 2-1 Bournemouth, Wilson!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Spuds 2-2 Wolves, Larsen! :lol:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Spuds 2-2 Wolves, Larsen! :lol:

Lolz

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Spuds are a mental team.

41 goals by the halfway point yet they're in 11th. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fulham 2-2 Bournemouth, Ouatara!

[HCZ_Reborn]

Another Desmond

Bournemouth equalise again at Fulham

Outarra

[McNamara That Ghost...]

West Ham: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez; Bowen, Soler, Coufal, Kudus; Paqueta
Subs: Foderingham, Cresswell, Summerville, Fullkrug, Guilherme, Ings, Todibo, Irving, Scarles.

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Gakpo; Diaz
Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Nunez, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, McConnell, Danns, Quansah

[Letters]

Lolz

:gp:

:lol: Oh Spurs, you hilarious mess.

Come on, you Irons!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Paqueta has to do better there.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Great save from Areola off Salah!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

West Ham had that one chance and been battered since. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Areola saves from Diaz.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-1 Diaz.

That was so poor from Kudus.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Gomez's hamstring has gone.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Quansah on for him.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kudus smacks the post!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-2 Gakpo.

Brilliant from Salah.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

The fuck was that from Salah? :lol:

[Letters]

Sigh!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-3 Salah

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

3-0, away, by halftime.....while we were glad to defend a 1-0 lead at home to the mighty Ipswich Town.......

[HCZ_Reborn]

Would be nice if just one team would stop being pathetic against this Liverpool side

Don’t get me wrong we are authors of our own problems, but why is it that all these teams play like they are playing a cup final against us and play like they are on their holidays against this lot

Yes I get Salah is in god mode. But this is no Man City at its peak, it’s not even Liverpool at its peak ffs

[HCZ_Reborn]

3-0, away, by halftime.....while we were glad to defend a 1-0 lead at home to the mighty Ipswich Town.......

Well we had a three goal lead against this lot at half time as well

[Letters]

Well we had a three goal lead against this lot at half time as well


why is it that all these teams play like they are playing a cup final against us and play like they are on their holidays against this lot



:blink:

[Marc Overmars]

Salah is different class.

On course for one of the best individual PL seasons ever.

[HCZ_Reborn]

:blink:

It’s fair to say I’m not just talking about this particular fixture but the whole season.

For example Ipswich as ponderous as we were played like this was their last chance to avoid relegation…although you’d think they’d have been braver going forward

[HCZ_Reborn]

Salah is different class.

On course for one of the best individual PL seasons ever.

Yep, as I repeatedly have stated without him this Liverpool team would be nowhere near


Let’s hope the rumours about Real Madrid are real…although it will be too late by then of course. If Liverpool win the title I don’t expect them to defend it, it will be between Chelsea and Man City (depending on what points if any they get docked)

[HCZ_Reborn]

Even Skysports who have been fapping themselves dry over Liverpool, don’t really understand why Salah is getting the space that he’s getting

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-4 AA. :lol:

No pressure on the ball.

[Letters]

It’s fair to say I’m not just talking about this particular fixture but the whole season.

So they're being lucky.
Sides aren't trying against them as hard as they are against us.
And they're cheating by having a player in ridiculous form.

Gotcha :blink:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kudus heads on to the bar.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Salah has lost it. :rose:

[HCZ_Reborn]

So they're being lucky.
Sides aren't trying against them as hard as they are against us.
And they're cheating by having a player in ridiculous form.

Gotcha :blink:

You’re rather putting words in my mouth especially with the last bit. I’m simply saying this is an ok to good team with one player having the form of his career


I said this team would drop points and it did, and we failed to capitalise. If the gap was five points as it should have been going into the new year I would have been confident of overturning them. Now I have to watch whilst this side takes what should have been our title because of an ultra conservative coach.


And on top of that, you for some reason best only known to yourself seem to be unhappy because I won’t give this team I don’t rate their due credit. Well I’ve already stated I did not expect a 32 year old Salah to be performing at this level, but more importantly and more relevant I did not expect we would win only five games from 11

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-5 Jota. Brilliant from Salah again.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-5 FT.

West Ham. :lol:

[Letters]

And on top of that, you for some reason best only known to yourself seem to be unhappy because I won’t give this team I don’t rate their due credit.
Your claims that they're being lucky are increasingly ridiculous and now you're saying that teams aren't trying as hard enough against them.
Behave.
The fact is they're just better up front than us, they're better going forward and open up teams in a way we struggle to, we're too ponderous.
Ipswich was a good example, the goal should have opened things up and we should have hammered them but we just aren't direct enough.
Yes, we've dropped points we shouldn't have - you could say that any season, elsewhere you've noted that the first half of last season we weren't that great. We're only actually 4 points off where we were at this stage last season.

There's a long way to go and Salah could get injured or dip in form - they're not a one man team but obviously if you have a player in the form he's in, like back in the day we had with Henry, then it's going to be a big advantage.

TL;DR - are they at the level they were under Klopp at their peak under him? No, they're not. But I wouldn't normalise having to get close to 100 points to win the title, they have a points total which would see them top in most seasons at this stage, this isn't just them taking advantage of other teams dropping off. Will they sustain it and if they don't will it be us who takes advantage if they don't? I hope not, but half way through the season this isn't just a purple patch, and with Saka out for a while it's hard to see us sustaining a challenge if they keep going like this.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Again, if you can’t tell the difference between saying a team has been lucky (and they absolutely have) and saying it’s all down to luck there’s no point having this discussion

No team, not West Ham not any other team we’ve played has given us the freedom of the pitch Liverpool had today. As I’ve said even Skysports who have been creaming themselves over Liverpool frequently throughout the game spoke about how West Ham were simply not putting any pressure on the ball against Liverpool


So yeah I think it is incredibly fortunate that they’ve played in the last three games a spurs side who haven’t won at home in almost two months in the league and a West Ham side who have decided they are going to get their coach sacked


Both sides full of injuries to defenders as well


As you said you can only beat who you have in front of you, but when a potential wobble was approaching…..they managed to play obliging teams. If that was us, I’d call it luck


So just behave will you. You don’t even fucking watch the games, so stop the lectures

[HCZ_Reborn]

And sorry to repeat myself but yes they are absolutely a one man team. Take away Salah and there’s not a single player in their attack who is better than ours, or wouldn’t be massively profiting from getting goals he’s laid on for them.

As for the rest of that team inferior to us to a man

[Letters]

And sorry to repeat myself but yes they are absolutely a one man team.
Even if that's true, it's irrelevant. They do have that man and if he is a large part of dragging them to a title then fair play.
I don't claim you said it was all down to luck, but half way through a season the role of luck surely cannot be playing that big a part in where they are.
And you seem to have a thesis that they're taking advantage of others having bad seasons - your "Leicester hypothesis". But they'd be fairly well clear of us last season too. Elsewhere you have reminded us that Arsenal aren't actually that far off where they were at this stage last season - which is true. So it isn't us falling off a cliff, Liverpool have just been doing better. The only side to really fall off a cliff compared to last season is City. It's frustrating that it's looking like it won't be us who capitalise - I'd say it's a sackable offence for Arteta - but Liverpool aren't just taking advantage of everyone else simultaneously having a poor season.

I don't need to watch their games to know that their record in all competitions this season isn't luck or everyone else being rubbish of teams not trying against them.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Yes I make the comparison to where we were last season to say that we were doing shit then as well. And whilst I think having a second half to the season like last season would probably see us win the title, I’m not inclined to bet the house on it happening

They’d be five points clear of us (which is the same as what they’d be if we hadn’t drawn with Fulham and Everton)

I really don’t know why you object to me pointing out that they’ve been fortunate, fortunate that city have collapsed, fortunate that we’ve won 5 from the last 11 league games, fortunate that Salah is showing form that he hasn’t consistently shown in about three years.

The only real bad fortune they’ve had this season was the harsh sending off of Robertson against Fulham and they dropped points.

I’m really struggling to see what your objection is. If we were nine points clear and we’d gone to Anfield in October and they were without Konate or Van Dijk, lost another two defenders to injury during the game and they were denied a stonewall penalty I’d say we got lucky.


If we played City at a time where they were going through the worst form they’ve been in since the Emiratis bought the club and won, I’d say we got lucky


If we played Spurs when their first choice keeper and entire back line were out through injury and we mopped the floor with them (despite conceding three goals) I’d say we got lucky


Yes they have to be able to take advantage of favourable circumstances but to deny their existence is something im not prepared to do.


They’ve been better than us because we’ve been shit. You call it a sacking offence, I call fucking up the best chance we’ve had to win the title in years and likely won’t get again for a number of years a gelding offence.

[Letters]

Yes I make the comparison to where we were last season to say that we were doing shit then as well.
We were top :lol:
Yes, we dropped silly points. Every team does that in every season.


And whilst I think having a second half to the season like last season would probably see us win the title, I’m not inclined to bet the house on it happening
Agreed. Saka is a big blow and just generally it doesn't feel like we're firing this year and I can't see any signs of us getting going

[HCZ_Reborn]

We were top :lol:
Yes, we dropped silly points. Every team does that in every season.


Agreed. Saka is a big blow and just generally it doesn't feel like we're firing this year and I can't see any signs of us getting going

We weren’t firing last year at the same time either. The point is more the run we went on was extraordinary

If I’m totally honest I can see the benefits of Saka being out for a while it might finally break us of the dependence on playing all our attacks down one side. I think he’s strong enough mentally as a player to come back even stronger (I think he’s already shown great mental strength to deal with the penalty miss at Euro 2020 and the dickhead opposition fans giving us abuse for that)

[WMUG]

At what point do we start having to worry about Forest?

[Letters]

At what point do we start having to worry about Forest?

At no point. I mean...they're not going to win the league. If they do finish above us then all that means is we won't have even finished 2nd. And honestly, if we're not winning the title I couldn't care less where we finish.

[Mac76]

At no point. I mean...they're not going to win the league.

Are you sure you're not drifting into HCZ territory here? Given our dubious form, who's to say Forest won't be the ones to capitalise if Liverpool stumble?

[HCZ_Reborn]

Are you sure you're not drifting into HCZ territory here? Given our dubious form, who's to say Forest won't be the ones to capitalise if Liverpool stumble?

Our dubious form where we’ve scored more goals than Forest, conceded fewer and are only behind them because we’ve played one game fewer? That and we beat them quite handsomely in November

Forest are on an excellent run of five wins on the bounce which no team (including Liverpool) has achieved but all things in perspective

[Letters]

Are you sure you're not drifting into HCZ territory here? Given our dubious form, who's to say Forest won't be the ones to capitalise if Liverpool stumble?

My reasoning is Leicester’s achievement, while remarkable, was done in a season when all the usual suspects were misfiring or rebuilding. They won the league with 81 points and we were second with 71. That isn’t the situation now. Liverpool are doing what they’re doing, Chelsea and us are clinging to their coattails. As well as Forest are doing it just seems vanishingly unlikely that Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea and Arsenal will all drop off and Forest will nip in.

[HCZ_Reborn]

That and Leicester weren’t seven points behind the league leaders having played a game more at the half way point

I think they are definitely champions league position contenders (although it’s a bit of a curse for teams like that, like it’s been for Villa)

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

At no point. I mean...they're not going to win the league. If they do finish above us then all that means is we won't have even finished 2nd. And honestly, if we're not winning the title I couldn't care less where we finish.

:gp: I hope come May, no one tries to rewrite our season by saying we are making progress, if we don't win the title this season, we have gone backwards.

EDIT: In fact, with the benefit of hind sight, I think we started going backwards last season, when we had a fully fit squad and still only achieved what we did the season before , especially when cracks had already started appearing in the Citeh machine.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Our dubious form where we’ve scored more goals than Forest, conceded fewer and are only behind them because we’ve played one game fewer? That and we beat them quite handsomely in November

Forest are on an excellent run of five wins on the bounce which no team (including Liverpool) has achieved but all things in perspective

Didn't we beat Leicester (I think twice) in the season you love to mention? How many magical trophies did that earn us?

[HCZ_Reborn]

Didn't we beat Leicester (I think twice) in the season you love to mention? How many magical trophies did that earn us?

More making the point that calling our form dubious is somewhat relative

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

More making the point that calling our form dubious is somewhat relative

Calling our form dubious is a kind understatement, I don't care what the stats say......and Forest, Chelsea and even Liverpool doing so well just re-emphasises that.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Calling our form dubious is a kind understatement, I don't care what the stats say......and Forest, Chelsea and even Liverpool doing so well just re-emphasises that.

But it’s also relative as I say. Win on Wednesday and we go back above Forest and Chelsea. I get why people are feeling negative and angry I feel the same, but to suggest Forest might have a better chance of competing for the title than us is quite the suggestion.

[Letters]

Spurs :lol:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEK8TYbocka/?igsh=eGcya2s1OWsxMjF6

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ipswich: Walton, Burns, Oshea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis, Morsy, Cajuste, Hutchinson, Broadhead, Delap.
Subs: Muric, Johnson, Townsend, Phillips, Taylor, Chaplin, Szmodics, J. Clarke, Al-Hamadi

Chelsea: Jorgensen, Disasi, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Madueke, Palmer, Joao Felix, Nkunku
Subs: Sanchez, Acheampong, Gusto, James, Veiga, Neto, Sancho, Guiu, Jackson

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Aston Villa: Martinez, Konsa, Carlos, Pau, Digne, McGinn, Tielemans, Kamara, Bailey, Rogers, Watkins.
Subs: Olsen, Mings, Nedeljkovic, Maatsen, Barkley, Ramsey, Onana, Buendia, Philogene.

Brighton: Verbruggen, Lamptey, Igor, Dunk, Gruda, Pedro, Enciso, Adingra, Baleba, Ayari, Van Hecke.
Subs: Steele, March, Rutter, Moder, Minteh, Mitoma, O'Riley, Veltman, McConville.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Manchester Utd: Onana, De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez, Mazraoui, Casemiro, Eriksen, Dalot, Amad, Hojlund, Zirkzee.
Subs: Bayindir, Kukonki, Malacia, Yoro, Collyer, Mainoo, Antony, Garnacho, Rashford.

Newcastle Utd: Dubravka, Trippier, Hall, Burn, Schar, Tonali, Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes, Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
Subs: Odysseas, Barnes, Osula, Livramento, Almiron, Kelly, Willock, Longstaff, Miley.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Ipswich lead against Chelsea thanks to a Delap Pel

We will see if they can win at home after taking the lead at the fifth time of asking

Also Brighton are in front at Villa Park through Adingra

[HCZ_Reborn]

And Isaak puts Newcastle ahead at United

Crikey, they could get actually relegated the way they are going

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-2 Joelinton. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Tonali hit the post a few minutes ago, not sure how.

Zirkzee cheered off being subbed for Mainoo.

Man Utd have been absolutely pummeled here.

Also, Villa 1-1 Brighton, Watkins pelanty.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Casemiro. :haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Casemiro. :haha:

What a clown.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Man Utd 0-2 Newcastle, HT.

Abysmal team. Can't control midfield, can't pass, can't score, can't defend.

Surefire relegation candidates with a concoction like that.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Villa 2-1 Brighton, Rogers.

Ipswich 2-0 Chelsea, Hutchinson. That is funny. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Trippier off injured, Livramento on.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

How haven't Man Utd scored? :lol:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Lamptey equalises for Brighton

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Villa 2-2 Brighton, Lamptey!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wow I was way behind on that one.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ipswich 2-0 Chelsea, FT!

:haha:

Maresca collapse phase of the season, like with Leicester?

[HCZ_Reborn]

FT Ipswich 2-0 Chelsea

Certainly puts our narrow win over them into some perspective, congrats Tractor Boys

[Mac76]

Hilarious Chelsea result, Villa being held too and Man Ure losing again :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Man Utd 0-2 Newcastle, FT.

:haha:

Hopeless.

Villa 2-2 Brighton, FT also.

Anfield next for Man Utd. :bow:

[HCZ_Reborn]

I find the Chelsea result invigorating, like things feels right with the world when that piece of shit scumbag club gets put in its place.

I also as I said the other day have a fondness for Ipswich, so I’m glad they finally managed to win at home as a bonus

[Marc Overmars]

United have to be the worst team ever assembled pound for pound. Pretty much no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

[Niall_Quinn]

United have to be the worst team ever assembled pound for pound. Pretty much no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

Same for every team in world football. Not a single good team out there. Just some are a lot worse than others.

[Niall_Quinn]

I find the Chelsea result invigorating, like things feels right with the world when that piece of shit scumbag club gets put in its place.

I also as I said the other day have a fondness for Ipswich, so I’m glad they finally managed to win at home as a bonus

These so-called players are a disgrace. Chelsea - billionaires, big bucks wages, all the mod-cons, chauffeur driven lifestyles, and they get turned over by Ipswich? Good for Ipswich, they still know what the game is about, for their sake I hope they never have any success.

[HCZ_Reborn]

United have to be the worst team ever assembled pound for pound. Pretty much no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

That and I think this Ruben Amorim is out of his depth. I rarely agree with Gary Neville but what kind of cretin plays Eriksen and Casemiro together in midfield. Granted it’s easy to be wise after the event, especially as an armchair pundit who would be a disgracefully poor coach. But fuck me how easy was it for Newcastle to play long balls against United and use their runners against them.

You can maybe get away with that in Portuguese football but not in the premier league. Don’t get me wrong, this United side is disgraceful given the money spent on it. I feel almost bad for their young attacking players because of the pressure on them to perform when they have no one more senior at the club that they can learn from who would act like a mentor and a leader….its hard to tell how good they are or not, but you can tell they have fuck all confidence.


But Amorim…I didn’t think it was possible but he’s proving worse than Ten Haag.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

I find the Chelsea result invigorating, like things feels right with the world when that piece of shit scumbag club gets put in its place.

I also as I said the other day have a fondness for Ipswich, so I’m glad they finally managed to win at home as a bonus

:lol:

It really does give me a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

Sent from my M2101K6G using Tapatalk

[Marc Overmars]

Just seen United are at Anfield next. :lol:

7-0 part 2 coming up?

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Just seen United are at Anfield next. :lol:

7-0 part 2 coming up?:pray:

Or a hideous 0-0. They derailed our season last time out and it wouldn't surprise me if it happened again. they certainly aren't going to play Casemiro and Eriksen on their own again.

Still, they're absolutely shite. It should be an easy win. :sick:

[Letters]

:pray:

Or a hideous 0-0. They derailed our season last time out and it wouldn't surprise me if it happened again. they certainly aren't going to play Casemiro and Eriksen on their own again.

Still, they're absolutely shite. It should be an easy win. :sick:

It would surprise me if they do is any favours, if anything they’re shitter than last year.
But I live in hope

[Marc Overmars]

Real Madrid have made an approach for Trent. Can definitely see this happening but probably not in Jan.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Real Madrid have made an approach for Trent. Can definitely see this happening but probably not in Jan.

Yeah, he's gone. :rose:

Oh well.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Well it won’t be a massive loss if he does go, guy can’t defend for shit and you might as well sell him now whilst he still has his pace