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Posted by: Rooney 9th August 2020, 06:06 PM

Fixtures have got to be out this week surely.. time for a new thread!

Posted by: Dobbo 10th August 2020, 10:48 AM

With such little preparation for the new season I'm wondering how that pan out in the early games. Maybe the quality of football will be better as players will be more match ready.

I'm sure Houdini will do the official season preds thread but I'm expecting Chelsea to put up a challenge at the top with their new signings!

Posted by: Rooney 10th August 2020, 11:48 AM

The early games will be strange, but I can't see much difference only that newer signings will probably have less time to gel.

I honestly can't see Chelsea being anywhere near to putting up a challenge, they do not have the defense. Werner will be great, but scoring goals wasn't their problem too often and the loss of Willian and Pedro is a lot of experience to lose in the same window. Willian especially is underrated, can't say Ziyech is a better player than him. Man Utd have a better shot.

Posted by: Mack. 10th August 2020, 03:45 PM

Thanks for starting this new thread, Rooney.


Odds: (Coral)

Man City EvensF
Liverpool 11/8
Man Utd 8/1
Chelsea 12/1
Arsenal 66/1
Tottenham 66/1
Leicester 100/1
Leeds 200/1
Wolves 200/1
Everton 250/1
Newcastle 250/1
West Ham 500/1
Aston Villa 750/1
Brighton 1000/1
Burnley 1000/1
Crystal Palace 1000/1
Fulham 1000/1
Sheff Utd 1000/1
Southampton1000/1
West Brom 1000/1

Posted by: Houdini 19th August 2020, 03:06 PM

New fixtures are out tomorrow at 9 AM BST.

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 20th August 2020, 08:59 PM

Pretty high odds for Leeds! Very interested to see which way it goes for us this season.

Posted by: Suedehead2 20th August 2020, 09:14 PM

Nice gentle start for them at Anfield

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 20th August 2020, 09:45 PM

Indeed Hoping they can cause some upsets in their first run of games!

Posted by: Houdini 20th August 2020, 10:34 PM

Leeds will do well I think, they won The Championship quite comfortably and teams who do that normally don't get relegated straightaway. Fulham look the most in trouble out of the newly promoted teams.

Man United got a mixed set of opening fixtures with Burnley, Crystal Palace and Brighton as the first 3 matches but then our October doesn't look so good with matches against Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal included. For Arsenal themselves October is even worse for them as they've got both Manchester clubs, Sheffield United and Leicester.

Posted by: Mack. 20th August 2020, 10:37 PM

Premier League, club by club fixtures:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53839353

Posted by: Mack. 20th August 2020, 10:39 PM

Opening Fixtures

Crystal Palace v Southampton (12 Sep)
Fulham v Arsenal (12 Sep)
Liverpool v Leeds United (12 Sep)
Tottenham Hotspur v Everton (12 Sep)
West Bromwich Albion v Leicester City (12 Sep)
West Ham United v Newcastle United (12 Sep)
Brighton v Chelsea (14 Sep)
Sheffield United v Wolves (14 Sep)
Burnley v Manchester United (TBC)
Manchester City v Aston Villa (TBC

Posted by: Rooney 21st August 2020, 09:06 AM

West Ham's opening set of fixtures is absolutely brutal on paper, if they don't beat Newcastle on their first game they could potentially be well adrift.

I think Leeds will do well and their fans seem fairly confident. The big thing for me is the fact they don't have a goalscorer, if they go in to the season with Bamford as their number 1 striker, I can't see him getting 8-10 goals. They won't get as many good chances as they did in the Championship and time and time again, if you don't have someone that can get you goals you'll struggle.

Posted by: Mack. 22nd August 2020, 10:28 AM

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire is due to appear in court on Saturday after being arrested following an incident on the island of Mykonos.

The England defender, 27, is on holiday in Greece.

The Syros prosecutor's office said on Friday that "three foreigners" had been arrested after an alleged altercation with police officers in Mykonos on Thursday.

Maguire's lawyer Konstantinos Darivas said he denies the allegations.

Darivas added that he was "fully convinced he will be released without any charges" on Saturday.

Posted by: Steve201 22nd August 2020, 12:34 PM

Weird they don't clarify what happened!

Posted by: Mack. 22nd August 2020, 04:38 PM

Arsenal assistant coach Freddie Ljungberg is leaving the club to "pursue new opportunities".

Posted by: Suedehead2 25th August 2020, 01:48 PM

The Premier League clubs will vote next week on a proposal to end the season early if a further outbreak causes a suspension of matches with at least 50% of fixtures played.

Posted by: Dobbo 25th August 2020, 03:09 PM

Certainly those with more favourable home ties in the first half of the season will be keen for that.

Posted by: Mack. 25th August 2020, 05:50 PM

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has been given a suspended sentence of 21 months and 10 days in prison after his trial on the Greek island of Syros.

The England defender, 27, was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery, violence against public employees and insult after arrest on Mykonos.

Maguire said after Tuesday's verdict that he had instructed his legal team "with immediate effect to inform the courts we will be appealing".

"I remain strong and confident regarding our innocence in this matter - if anything myself, family and friends are the victims," he added.

The sentence is suspended for three years because it is a first offence and the charges were misdemeanours.

Posted by: Houdini 26th August 2020, 04:22 PM

Fans are going to be allowed into the Amex stadium to watch Brighton's friendly match against Chelsea on Saturday. Brighton have said that a total of 2,500 tickets will be made available to season ticket holders and members. It's looking very possible that fans will gradually be able to attend matches during the 2020/21 season but I don't think it will be at full capacity at any stage of the season unless Covid has been wiped out completely. There was also a report that fans will be allowed to watch the UEFA Super Cup match between Bayern Munich & Sevilla inside the stadium but at a reduced capacity.

Posted by: Dobbo 26th August 2020, 04:23 PM

If it already wasn't absurdly difficult enough to get PL match tickets for non-season ticket holders, reduced capacities will change literally nothing for everyone else. Which is fair, the loyalists deserve first dibs.

Posted by: Houdini 26th August 2020, 04:33 PM

It's for that same reason that I cancelled my Manchester United membership for the new season, there's going to be no chance for people who are not season ticket holders to get anything. It was the same situation trying to get tickets for away matches pre-corona as it was limited to season ticket holders only.

Posted by: Rooney 27th August 2020, 10:47 PM

Harry "I am innocent" Maguire with his Prince Andrew moment. There are so many plot holes in the story it is utterly laughable.

Posted by: Mack. 27th August 2020, 11:30 PM

30 times he said 'um' in a 5 minute interview.

Posted by: Rooney 27th August 2020, 11:38 PM

I feel a bit sorry for him as I honestly have no idea what's happened, but there are so many holes and flaws in the story. The refusual to have his sister have a toxicology report and the bar bill just makes me think question. Also apparently the police tried to end his football career, but the daft muppet wears shorts and his legs look fine The interview is clearly a PR stunt to change the narrative, but he just does not look very convincing with the story. This is going to rumble on and on for weeks.

Posted by: Steve201 28th August 2020, 06:54 PM

Did he not say the police threatened him with that rather than actually physically assaulting him?

Posted by: Mack. 28th August 2020, 09:55 PM

Posted by: Houdini 29th August 2020, 05:57 PM

Arsenal win the first piece of silverware for the new season by winning the community shield. Lots of their fans are already saying that they are going to win the league this season 😂

Posted by: Rooney 29th August 2020, 07:04 PM

They are absolutely shite, there new style of play is basically like Stoke City on acid. They played 11 men behind the ball for pretty much the entire 2nd half. That style of play will get you points against the big teams if they take their chances but against the other teams that like to do nothing they will get found out. Take Aubameyang out of the team and they're mid-table at best.

Meanwhile for Liverpool, we were really sloppy again. Looked much better as time went on, but it's just a pre-season friendly when you don't win Can totally see why we want Thiago.

Posted by: Steve201 29th August 2020, 09:43 PM

I worry for our defence this season, have been poor since the restart.

Arsenal are a lot better than they were due to Arteta he has taught them to win dirty and waste time, I noticed this after the restart too, they needed that.

Posted by: Mack. 8th September 2020, 06:21 PM

All 28 Premier League fixtures in September will be televised live, with Leicester City's home match against Burnley to be broadcast on the BBC.

Sky Sports and BT Sport had already selected 17 games across the first three rounds of matches in the new season, which starts on Saturday.

Of the remaining 11, Sky will show six, BT Sport three, and the BBC and Amazon Prime will broadcast one each.

Leicester and Burnley will meet on 20 September with kick-off at 19:00 BST.

Posted by: Suedehead2 8th September 2020, 07:37 PM

I didn't see any mention of whether any of Sky's games will be free-to-air.

Posted by: Mack. 8th September 2020, 10:11 PM

No me neither, no mention of matches on Pick TV.

Posted by: Mack. 11th September 2020, 11:03 AM

Leeds United have confirmed that Marcelo Bielsa has signed a new one-year deal with the club to remain as head coach for the 2020/21 season.

Posted by: Houdini 11th September 2020, 05:36 PM

Chris Waddle is currently trending high on twitter because he was the only pundit out of 24 BBC TV and radio pundits to predict Man United to win the league. If only he would be proved right!

It feels like it's going to be a lose-lose situation whoever does win it because I can't imagine us winning it and it would just end up being one of our rivals again.

Posted by: Steve201 11th September 2020, 08:35 PM

I don’t think you’d will be that far off this year but certain players have to stay fit!

Posted by: Rooney 11th September 2020, 09:51 PM

Liverpool won't get 99 points again this year and will drop off to high 80s/90. The question is will anyone be able to match them? For all the nonsense that Liverpool haven't strenghtened, Man City have bought another left back and a wide forward who is not as good as Sane and Man Utd have bought an attacking midfielder. Now if Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd sign Thiago, Koulibally and Sancho respectively it becomes a slightly different convo.. although not convinced Man Utd are anywhere near good enough yet.

Posted by: Mack. 11th September 2020, 11:41 PM

Interesting fact... Newcastle United have the biggest gap between home points and away points of all clubs in Premier League history (all seasons combined).

Posted by: Mack. 11th September 2020, 11:47 PM

Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Nuno Espirito Santo is close to agreeing a new contract.

Nuno has one year left on his existing deal but club bosses are keen for the 46-year-old to extend his stay.

Posted by: Mack. 12th September 2020, 09:11 AM

Who do you think will get sacked first?

Posted by: Mack. 12th September 2020, 12:03 PM

Posted by: Mack. 12th September 2020, 09:44 PM

Well that was some game between Liverpool and Leeds United there.

Posted by: Rooney 12th September 2020, 09:56 PM

Great opening game for Leeds and Liverpool! Leeds were really good and took advantage of an out of sync Liverpool backline. The only problem is, like Norwich early last season, that performance will gain a lot of attraction and expectation from the media/pundits. They were absolutely gassed by 75 minutes. If you score 3 goals away at Anfield, you've got to be winning the game!

Just can't wait for some crowds to be allowed back in.. all those montages with crowds at the games just makes you feel sad that we can't experience this.

Posted by: Mack. 12th September 2020, 10:01 PM

Could be again another long season for Fulham with their leaky defence.

Posted by: Mack. 12th September 2020, 10:13 PM

Posted by: Rooney 12th September 2020, 10:22 PM

West Ham were terrible tonight. Could easily be in a situation with 0 points from their opening 1/4 of games.

Posted by: Mack. 12th September 2020, 10:33 PM

Another start to the season and another defeat why can't Saints start a season strongly?

Posted by: Steve201 12th September 2020, 10:47 PM

Not happy with Liverpool’s defence don’t think we will win the league if we continue to play like that at the back.

I would start Matip ahead of Gomez, Gomez is a good athlete but Matip is a better defender for me and is more of a threat from set pieces.

Posted by: Rooney 12th September 2020, 11:39 PM

I doubt we will continue to play like that. Klopp didn't seem too worried about it. The players are out of sync in defence and we haven't had our first choice back 4 available all pre-season. We played exactly the same against Norwich last season too, only we gave away better chances and Norwich could not score. We certainly need a 4th choice CB or Thiago though, otherwise we are very, very light for defensive cover.

Posted by: Houdini 12th September 2020, 11:55 PM

I feel the same as well regarding crowds in the stadiums but a lot of people are still not taking Corona seriously even after all these months so it could be months at least until that happens.

I only saw highlights of today's games but Leeds should count themselves unlucky that they lost after equalising 3 times and conceding 2 penalties.

It probably sounds harsh but Fulham look doomed already and they haven't really added properly to their Championship squad from last season, I wouldn't be surprised if they have a lower points total than Norwich's from last season. Scott Parker saying on the first day that they're going to lose more than they win can't be good for player confidence and morale either.

Posted by: Steve201 13th September 2020, 09:52 AM

I think Fulham know where they are with these players and strange as it may sound can afford to be relegated a bit like Burnley!

Posted by: Dobbo 13th September 2020, 10:45 AM

Leaving their top scorer and biggest goal threat on the bench made a lot of sense didn't it. Long season for Fulham methinks.

Haven't seen any of the game but that looked a belter between Pool & Leeds. Agreed on the lack of fans but from what I imagine when they are allowed back in to stadiums they'll be at reduced capacity and won't even be able to sing/chant/shout so will be f*** all atmosphere anyway. It'll be a league full of Etihads.

Posted by: Steve201 13th September 2020, 11:15 AM

Haha true!

What’s the crack with not being allowed to sing?

Posted by: Suedehead2 13th September 2020, 12:19 PM

Singing tends to lead to a lot of saliva being spat out. The louder the singing / chanting, the more saliva will be expelled. That's why restaurants are not allowed to play loud music as it would lead to people speaking more loudly.

Posted by: Mack. 13th September 2020, 09:49 PM

Not the best start for West Brom there against Leicester City who win their first opening match since 2015.

Posted by: Mack. 13th September 2020, 10:12 PM

Great performance from Everton and a deserved win. As for Spurs...

Posted by: Dobbo 14th September 2020, 03:50 AM

And we all know what happened that season!

Posted by: Steve201 14th September 2020, 08:37 AM

I’m not a singing man at footy matches anyway just sit and take it all in

Posted by: Steve201 15th September 2020, 07:17 AM

The Chelsea Brighton game was excellent last night - Reece James scores an absolute screamer and Kepa put more pressure on himself with another howler.

Strange game though as Brighton played some excellent football but couldn’t finish all the possession they had with a goal.

Posted by: Rooney 15th September 2020, 09:27 AM

Brighton caused Chelsea all sorts of problems. Lamperty carried on his fine form. I thought they were really unlucky actually, Chelsea's extra quality just shined through, which is what tends to happen when you face the bigger teams.

Had to laugh at Lampard's comments after the game.. surely they HAVE to title challenge. You don't spend £200m to finish 4th again. Anyway, the defence still looks pretty dodgy under Kepa. Werner is nailed on to score against Liverpool next week,

Posted by: Steve201 15th September 2020, 12:01 PM

Yeh he’s lightening quick isn’t he!

We have Chelsea this weekend and Arsenal the following week?

Posted by: Mack. 18th September 2020, 02:07 PM

Premier league are still pushing for October 1st return

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12074460/premier-league-clubs-urge-government-to-stick-to-october-1-for-fans-return

Posted by: Mack. 19th September 2020, 03:17 PM

Another long second half for Fulham beckoning.

Posted by: Mack. 19th September 2020, 03:27 PM

Fulham couldn't could they?

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 19th September 2020, 05:07 PM

Leeds seem to be enjoying the 4-3 scorelines!

Posted by: Steve201 19th September 2020, 06:51 PM

Did Liam Cooper start today for them?

Posted by: Mack. 19th September 2020, 09:45 PM

We'll see how Everton do against the Top 6 after their start to the season.

Posted by: Mack. 19th September 2020, 09:53 PM

An opening day defeat for Man United, not helped by yet more indecisive goalkeeping from David de Gea at times. The one bright spot was a debut goal from Donny van der Beek,

Posted by: Mack. 19th September 2020, 10:06 PM

Yes, Liam Cooper did start for Leeds United today.

Posted by: Rooney 19th September 2020, 11:08 PM

I think Man Utd were very under cooked today, so hard to read too much in to it. While Sancho would be a great signing, that whole team needs gutting really aside from 3-4 players. Just way too many players who are not good enough it seemingly don’t play good enough together. I don’t know why Smalling has been frozen out? When I saw Fosu-Mensa and James starting, I knew Palace were in with a shot.

I am enjoying the meltdowns though after one game! But it does show that unless Man Utd get 13 penalties again, they will have games like this every now and again.

Posted by: Houdini 19th September 2020, 11:59 PM

Meltdowns will come for every team at some stage of the season. No one is going to have a flawless season. It could even come sooner rather than later for some.

Crystal Palace deserved to win but the penalty was a joke and the referee was fully to blame for it.

Posted by: Dobbo 20th September 2020, 05:11 AM

Yeah we're still shit, what else is new?

Posted by: Mack. 20th September 2020, 09:02 AM

Two out of two then for Arsenal after beating West Ham 2-1.

Posted by: RabbitFurCoat 20th September 2020, 09:35 AM

Whilst the awarding of Palace's penalty and its retake were unlikely to have been given last season, and the penalty decision not likely to be seen as one by fans, they are ultimately the correct decisions and the Premier League has had to fall in line with FIFA rules on penalties. This is a good article highlighting the changes to the rules for this season: https://www.espn.co.uk/football/english-premier-league/story/4176070/var-is-back-in-the-premier-league!-how-its-changed-for-2020-21

Posted by: Steve201 20th September 2020, 10:32 AM

https://twitter.com/senneh90/status/1307406607203143683?s=12

Posted by: Rooney 20th September 2020, 07:34 PM

I still can't believe that guy is going.

Anyway Chelsea got absolutely schooled today, that performance right there is why Lampard won't win the title for Chelsea. They have way too many good players to bed in, especially when you suspect Chilwell, Silva and Mendy will come straight in to the team. 5 new starters at once is mental when you add in Werner and one of Havertz/Ziych playing too.

Posted by: Steve201 20th September 2020, 07:38 PM

Liverpool looked a well oiled machine today as opposed to Chelsea but they started in a strangely tactical way and wanted us to come and break them down maybe due to what happened 60 days ago at Anfield. So basically once the sending off happened it was easier for us but if that didn’t happen it would have been interesting to see the game.

Posted by: Mack. 20th September 2020, 09:51 PM

Early season negative mindset has striked again for Saints.

Posted by: Mack. 20th September 2020, 09:58 PM

That terrible mistake from Kepa will haunt him for a long time.

Posted by: Mack. 20th September 2020, 10:34 PM

Decent match tonight on the BBC with Leicester City v Burnley.

Posted by: Steve201 21st September 2020, 09:27 PM

City were awesome in the first half tonight - if Wolves new player Podance had some quality he could have had a brace! As with these types of teams just are clinical enough when on top.

Posted by: Dobbo 22nd September 2020, 06:59 AM

What I don't understand with that Palace penalty retake, what would have happened had Ayew scored his pen despite De Gea being off the line? Would he have to retake (or shift the buck to his mate Wilfried) it then? Or does the rule only apply if the keeper saves it (and has theoretically gained a slight advantage).

What about if Ayew missed the goal completely? I feel they rushed over this incident without any further explanation which opens it up for much more debate should something similar occur later in the season.

Posted by: RabbitFurCoat 22nd September 2020, 07:06 AM

Offence's on penalties are only penalised if the person making it gains an advantage. Coming off the line is the same as encroachment, if someone is 2 metres inside the penalty area, it's only penalised if it's saved and that player gets to the ball first. If a penalty is scored it doesn't matter if 0 or 10 other players are in the area.

Posted by: Dobbo 22nd September 2020, 09:04 AM

I'm not sure that's correct as I've seen incidents where a penalty is retaken where other players have encroached but not actually touched the ball on the rebound. Unless I've misunderstood your comment.

Posted by: Steve201 22nd September 2020, 12:59 PM

Tbf I have seen it being retaken when the attacker has scored but your right the rules do imo make it very hard for the keeper to save the ball these days,

It’s annoying though because it’s taken away from a great Palace performance where they fully deserved the three points

Posted by: Dobbo 22nd September 2020, 01:03 PM

Not sure on that, I don't think anyone thinks we deserved even a point in that match. They still scored another even if the pen was missed and we possessed zero threat.

Palace at home is always a bogey fixture for us for whatever reason, kinda like Brighton away. Hmmm... wonder what our next fixture is.

Posted by: RabbitFurCoat 22nd September 2020, 09:02 PM

This is apparently correct though surely barely ever applied? There's encroachment on a significant percentage of penalties but I can't really recall anything being penalised unless they're the ones advantaging from the rebound, either attacking or defending.

Apparently a keeper can be penalised coming off the line if it misses the target if the kicker is "clearly impacted", I'm not sure how you could ever practically judge that though.

https://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/lawsandrules/laws/football-11-11/law-14---the-penalty-kick

Posted by: Rooney 26th September 2020, 07:21 PM

Both Chelsea and Man Utd looking bang average to terrible. Some bizzarre choices by Lampard, honestly can't see him lasting long

Posted by: Houdini 26th September 2020, 08:01 PM

It's only the 2nd game of the season so not much can be read into so far. Everton have been better than every other team in the league so far but it might not count for much when all 38 of their matches have been played. I haven't seen anything from the United match yet but I'm just glad that we won. The way some people were going on last week you would think that the season is a one-off match.

So many goals scored again this weekend, I wonder if it's because of not having fans in the stadium? Maybe the players are feeling less pressure now.

Posted by: Rooney 26th September 2020, 08:28 PM

I would do yourself a favour and avoid the Man Utd match.. you were awful for the second week in a row. Brighton absolutely dominated the match. I can read in to the game that Man Utd are still miles off a title challenge despite all the money spent. Solksjaer is absolutely clueless Everton do this every single year too, they start well and faulter.

Posted by: Steve201 26th September 2020, 09:43 PM

Brighton might have dominated but just like against Chelsea they got 0 points so ims he’s united will be happy enough!

Posted by: Mack. 26th September 2020, 09:49 PM

Brighton were unlucky. We were very poor today, very fortunate win. Only bright spark was Rashford.

Posted by: Mack. 26th September 2020, 09:56 PM

Thiago Silva wtf were you doing for the second goal,

Posted by: Mack. 26th September 2020, 10:05 PM

West Brom probably will be looking at those two points missed as possibly a pivotal point in their season. They should have got three points against a lacklustre Chelsea defence. It would be a demolition job in the Champions League if Bayern Munich got them in the group stages of the Champions League.

Posted by: Mack. 26th September 2020, 10:22 PM

Not sure if it's a shocking decision or just a shocking rule but that was never a penalty for Everton.

Posted by: Mack. 26th September 2020, 10:31 PM

Southampton, first win at Turf Moor since the 1970's , Mick Channon getting the winner.

Posted by: Rooney 26th September 2020, 11:49 PM

Frank Lampard claims it was "2 points lost" for Chelsea though.. despite needing a kast minute equaliser and spending an absolute fortune. There is no way he lasts the season.

Posted by: Houdini 27th September 2020, 12:23 AM

I saw the highlights, Brighton had a lot of good chances but still lost so it doesn't really make a difference today. A lot of opposition fans were mad today calling United "Penchester United". The same fans who were letting off fireworks because we lost our first match. If we're rilling up those fans when we win then it's a sign that we're at least doing something right.

It was also good to see Crystal Palace get instant karma for the penalty that wasn't a deliberate handball in the first place.

Posted by: Dobbo 27th September 2020, 08:19 AM

Exactly, plus the penalty Palace conceded yesterday was no different at all to the one we conceded against them last season so swings & roundabouts. The handball rule is so confusing though. It's no longer just deliberate handball that can be penalised but at the other end accidental handball (in the case of Havertz) doesn't now rule out the goal. Pretty silly stuff.

Yes Brighton were very unlucky yesterday and I don't think we'll ever see a team hit the woodwork 5 times in a match again but a miss is a a good a mile.

Chelsea stuttering is interesting to see. They've almost bought almost a brand new starting XI but their youth graduates bailed them out yesterday!

Posted by: RabbitFurCoat 27th September 2020, 08:30 AM

Handball seems to have gone from being harsher to the attacker last season to the defender this season. Some of the changes make sense. The Havertz one makes sense, three separate players touched the ball between him and Abraham, therefore it hasn't had a direct influence on the goal.

I've really enjoyed watching Brighton play this season. I think they've generally been underrated and it's great to see them playing so well, hopefully they will be less 'unlucky' than they have been against Chelsea and United going forwards.

Posted by: Dobbo 27th September 2020, 08:45 AM

Well at least this way there'll be just as much discontent within the football community but with MORE goals scored (as seems to be the case so far this season). Agreed that Havertz one should stand as it should have last season too!

Posted by: Steve201 27th September 2020, 08:47 AM

I don’t know why United fans are going on about ‘Instant Karma’ and the likes about Palace. You’d think it was their personal fault that United lost their first match because of a retaken penalty. It wasn’t you lost because you were piss poor overall against them and they thoroughly deserved their Win last week. That’s what I meant when I complained about the penalty incident taking away from their great win because united fans will act like it was the reason they lost.

Posted by: Suedehead2 27th September 2020, 09:23 AM

Hitting the woodwork five times in a match should be rewarded with a goal

Does anyone know when "the woodwork" was last actually made of wood?

Posted by: Steve201 27th September 2020, 02:57 PM

Another joke of a handball penalty in the spurs Newcastle game - something has to give.

Posted by: RabbitFurCoat 27th September 2020, 03:12 PM

I can't see why anything would change just because the Premier League has been forced to adopt the same handball laws as everyone else - "we just want consistency!" This has been handball in most places for the last couple of years causing the same farce and it hasn't changed.

They can't make changes mid-season anyway, going to become so bored of people discussing it over the course of the season.

Posted by: Steve201 27th September 2020, 03:58 PM

It doesn’t make it right though. Defenders literally have to jump with their hands behind their backs now - FIFA rules just seem to take all physicality out of the sport - its a contact sport at the end of the day, nowadays it’s like basket ball ffs

Posted by: Houdini 27th September 2020, 05:36 PM

Leicester have beaten Manchester City 5-2 at the Etihad! Can't believe this, Jamie Vardy scored a hatrick in the week that I just took him out of my fantasy team

Posted by: Steve201 27th September 2020, 05:53 PM

I said at the start of the season it’s all up for grabs again this year - same problems for city and they haven’t been resolved since last year, def need Diaz in from Benfica - once you get through the press they are so naive defensively and what a goal by Vardy for his second and Maddison’s was a cracker too!

Posted by: Rooney 27th September 2020, 05:57 PM

I mean for all their billions spent, they brought on a 17 year old striker to change the game - madness. It was brainfart defending for the most part, I thought Leicester were really good. On Monday night everyone was saying how amazing City were and not people are like "they're awful". In reality I think they are somewhere in the middle, capable of brilliance at times, but they are very, very susepticable. Once they go behind and lose control of the game they seem to lose their heads.

Posted by: Wall 27th September 2020, 06:15 PM

Rodgers is doing brilliant at Leicester, I expect they might struggle once Europa League begins

Posted by: Steve201 27th September 2020, 08:02 PM

David Jones said on Sky that if buy Diaz that Pep will have spent 400m on defenders.

Yeh as you say they aren’t terrible of course, they will still get 80+ points imo but it’s game on for some other sides including Liverpool again. Arsenal will be an interesting watch as well as they seem a different proposition under Arteta which makes tomorrow’s game very interesting.

It was funny in the first 40mins Leicester went behind and didn’t attack and let City have the ball totally and there only looked one winner and G Nev was complaining about Vardy being a midfielder marking Rodri but that was the game plan and once Leicester got through the midfield press they created absolute chaos from the 40th min onwards. All of a sudden G Nev changed his analysis.

Did you see Vardys second? Unreal flick!

Posted by: Rooney 27th September 2020, 08:16 PM

I think as a lot of us have pointed out, Man Utd, Man City and Wolves have had no pre-season. They are under-cooked to start with. Chelsea have had less of a pre-season too, but they're showing why you can sign all the players you want who are good on paper, but embedding them in to a team takes time. It's even harder with a small pre-season. Liverpool were always going to be there or thereabouts. They have the best XI in the league and you'd probably say right now, their squad probably edges City

Posted by: Mack. 27th September 2020, 09:43 PM

First time ever that a Pep Guardiola side has conceded 5 goals...

Posted by: Mack. 27th September 2020, 10:03 PM

Second season syndrome potentially for Sheffield United??

Posted by: Steve201 27th September 2020, 10:10 PM

Possibly I would worry about them when they buy people like Jack Robinson. It’s hard with Egan injured and now O’Connell our for the season!

Posted by: Mack. 27th September 2020, 10:17 PM

That may have been one of the worst performances I've seen since Wolves since they got promoted back to the Premier League.

Posted by: Steve201 27th September 2020, 10:25 PM

Yeh it seemed to come out of nowhere as they were excellent in the second half on Monday night

Posted by: Mack. 27th September 2020, 10:31 PM

VAR madness striking again in the Tottenham v Newcastle match. Harsh penalty.

Posted by: Steve201 27th September 2020, 10:39 PM

It simply wasn’t a pen disgraceful handball rule, Jose was hilarious though

Posted by: Dobbo 28th September 2020, 09:49 AM

This season is absolutely nuts so far and I'm all for it

That's about 7 matches already with 7 goals!

Posted by: Steve201 28th September 2020, 08:57 PM

Huge early win for Liverpool there - Arsenal are an excellent sure now imo

Posted by: Rooney 28th September 2020, 10:03 PM

They are defensively compact and hold good shape. I mean, we utterly dominated Arsenal and could easily have scored 3-4 more goals. Aubameyang was kept quiet all game.

Posted by: Steve201 28th September 2020, 10:20 PM

Yeh he didn’t get a run at Gomez until the 93rd minute but yeh we dominated but the game was in the balance until the 85th min

Posted by: Houdini 2nd October 2020, 09:27 PM

Sadio Mane has got Rona! He played on Monday against Arsenal and is now self isolating. Hopefully he'll make a speedy recovery and no one else would have gotten it at Liverpool or Arsenal.

Posted by: Mack. 3rd October 2020, 10:09 PM

Another sloppy performance from Jordan Pickford for Everton.

Posted by: Steve201 3rd October 2020, 10:12 PM

They are flying though even as a Liverpool fan it’s nice to see them doing alright

Posted by: Mack. 3rd October 2020, 10:15 PM

Leeds United they did give a very good account of themselves against Man City.

Posted by: Mack. 3rd October 2020, 10:20 PM

The new £65m defender made a real impact didn't he

Posted by: Mack. 3rd October 2020, 10:22 PM

Posted by: Steve201 4th October 2020, 01:51 AM

The second half was a great watch

Posted by: Mack. 4th October 2020, 04:15 PM

Ole the first Man United manager to concede four goals in a first half in a Premier League match.

Posted by: Rooney 4th October 2020, 04:29 PM

Lamela should have been sent off. Apart from that, Man Utd have been absolutely diabolical. Reckon they need to go and spend £300m on a load of players they don't actually need

Posted by: Houdini 4th October 2020, 04:55 PM

It's gonna be a long 2 weeks....

Posted by: Quarantilas 4th October 2020, 05:00 PM

I give in. Thank god I cancelled my season ticket.


I mean I did it because I emigrated and therefore moved away from Manchester but dear god I would have walked out of the stadium for the *first time* if I’d had to watch this.


Luckily being a Gladbach fan comes with no expectations so it’s just so much easier on the heart 😂

Posted by: Rooney 4th October 2020, 05:54 PM

Long season you mean Maguire with possibly the worst possible piece of individual defending I've ever seen anywhere.

Posted by: Mack. 4th October 2020, 06:55 PM

Wtf is happening today?

Posted by: Wall 4th October 2020, 06:59 PM

Took Watkins out my fantasy team, le cry

Posted by: Dobbo 4th October 2020, 07:29 PM

This season is making no sense at all, I love it. Let them play behind closed doors forever

Re United I had been fearing a result like that for a while, it had been overdue. Same old problems isn't it but I think everyone can agree we'll never be fighting for titles ever again until Woodward is out of the club. So many years to rebuild now and it's nothing but backward steps.

P.S. Lamela should receive a life ban for that performance

Posted by: Steve201 4th October 2020, 07:53 PM

No one on bj will be watch in motd tonight 😂

Posted by: Suedehead2 4th October 2020, 07:57 PM

Who'd have thought that Man U v Tottenham wouldn't be the first match on MOTD2?

Posted by: Dobbo 4th October 2020, 07:57 PM

That's very kind of Liverpool to deflect all the attention away from us today

Posted by: Houdini 4th October 2020, 08:03 PM

Liverpool defenders: You see what Man United did today yeah? let's do that but do it better!

Posted by: King Rollo 4th October 2020, 08:04 PM

I'm looking forward to watching these two drubbings on MOTD tonight. I've been watching the cricket T20 finals day so I've only seen a few bits.

Posted by: Rooney 4th October 2020, 08:31 PM

I don't know, we were bad but it was more the high line than anything before Gomez lost his head.

Dear God was that absolutely awful. We were terrible all over the pitch bar Salah. Utterly embarrassing, out-fought all over the pitch. We absolutely stunk the place out tonight. That said, I' hoping we've used all our bad luck out for the next few games. Three deflected shots all in goals and a penalty not given to us which was absolutely stonewaller. But who knows, crazy season so far.

Posted by: Quarantilas 4th October 2020, 08:35 PM

Lamela has always been a dirty cheating prick so honestly not surprised with the depths he sank to today.


And yeah, someone on twitter said it best, whenever we get CL we go stingy in the market and we spend big when we don't get CL. You can tell that the hierarchy is content to just count the CL money and pass it on to our owners with no attempt to put up a proper fight to return the league title to United.


Am just done. Failure is endemic at all levels of the club.


Ole deserves some critique, like why did we continue a high press for so long & why is Maguire still wearing a united shirt, but the reality is that its irrelevant who our manager is as long as we have such a rotten structure in place at the club from the owners right down through the board. Money matters more than football

Posted by: Quarantilas 4th October 2020, 08:37 PM

High line seems to have been both teams undoings tonight!

Posted by: Suedehead2 4th October 2020, 09:06 PM

Liverpool are now facing a government fine for letting in more than six.

Posted by: Steve201 4th October 2020, 09:10 PM

You should just start supporting Hertha Quar!

The one Sunday I am painting the bedroom and I miss that, not a bad choice.

Big period now for liverpool that felt like the Norwich City games last season - will Liverpool players stand up and show why they are champions or are problems more endemic, time will tell.

Posted by: Mack. 4th October 2020, 09:35 PM

I'll be watching it.

Posted by: Mack. 4th October 2020, 09:35 PM

The most extraordinary result in Premier League history??

Posted by: Quarantilas 4th October 2020, 09:41 PM

I've been to a couple of Hertha games! Need to go see Union play before I decide my allegiances. Heard locally that the atmosphere at Stadion An der Alten Försterei is incredible, and with mostly terracing and only 22k capacity it is defo something a bit more old school that I am looking forward to experiencing next year when we go back to full capacity grounds again.

Posted by: Rooney 4th October 2020, 09:47 PM

It's games like this where we need Thiago to play through the press. I've just watched all the goals again and they are all horrific defending caused throughout the team. That 3rd goal was a proper killer for us as before that we created heeps of chances.

Posted by: Mack. 4th October 2020, 09:54 PM

I'm stunned. A freak result for Liverpool. Villa exploited Liverpool's high line.

Posted by: Mack. 4th October 2020, 10:15 PM

Man United were utter shambles today. I don't see what they are doing in the CL and no dip in the market. Spending big like Silas said will be for when United aren't in the Champions League.

Posted by: Mart!n 4th October 2020, 10:21 PM

I couldn't believe what Aston Villa did today, I thought I was dreaming, even Manchester Utd had a bad weekend.

Everton seem to be on a good run at the moment, surely their luck will falter at some point.

Posted by: Steve201 4th October 2020, 10:24 PM

So am I tbf as I missed super Sunday

Posted by: Steve201 4th October 2020, 10:25 PM

Went to a Hertha game a few years ago on a stag and it was enjoyable - the Olympic stadium is both magnificent and eerie with the reminders to the 1936 olympics. But yeh Union might be the hipsters choice!

Posted by: Steve201 4th October 2020, 10:25 PM

Anyone know who will win the league this year??

Posted by: Mack. 4th October 2020, 10:29 PM

I genuinely don't know now.

Posted by: Houdini 4th October 2020, 10:46 PM

Nobody knows but I hope we will have several teams at the higher end of the table all performing similarly but not at the detriment of the rest of the teams lower down the table. If we see a team win the league with no more than 80-86 points or 27 wins then that will be a positive sign.

Posted by: Quarantilas 4th October 2020, 10:50 PM

Its an incredible ground, I agree. Atmosphere can be a bit lacking at times because it is so big and it barely ever sells out. Ironically, the highest demand for tickets they've basically ever had was for the first proper Bundesliga Berlin derby and Covid killed it off and put it behind closed doors. Defo looking forward to that next year as i think Union and Hertha should stay up


I still think its within Liverpools grasp. more of a contest would be nice, but I don't see anyone else with assembled quality to take the trophy this year. City are weak at the back, Chelsea will take time to bed in and are weak at the back, Spurs have somehow got a team full of players with more arrogance (all of which is wholly unwarranted) than f***ing Mourinho, Arsenal are gonna be lucky to be in Europe and United are LOL.

Posted by: Steve201 5th October 2020, 07:36 AM

I think Arsenal will be top 4!

Posted by: Suedehead2 5th October 2020, 08:16 AM

I've been to a few Hertha games so they became my German team by default.

Posted by: Rooney 5th October 2020, 08:27 AM

Liverpool are still by far and away the best team, you don't become a bad team overnight. Let's not forget we were missing Mane, Henderson, Allison and possibly Thiago. And who knows what disruption happened in the build-up with the covid outbreak. Now, if Everton turn us over in 2 weeks then I will re-assess my opinion. I'm pretty sure Man Utd under Fergie had their own terrible results and still won the title.

And it's only 4 games in to the season!

Posted by: Dobbo 5th October 2020, 09:52 AM

The last time we lost 6-1 in a season we ended up missing out on the title by a last minute goal so...

It is completely up the air right now. All the 'big teams' have lost now and we're only 4 games in. International break now with more chances of outbreaks and depleted squads, empty stadiums playing a part for sure it's a completely unique situation thus rendering any predictions near impossible.

Must say Spurs look the part though. Lets not forget they should have demolished Newcastle as well along with their 2 mega away wins (very un-Mourinho style) and all this whilst fighting in 3 comps playing 3 games each week. And that's before Bale has returned!

Posted by: Steve201 5th October 2020, 10:13 AM

Yeh its very open so looking good for an exciting season as Houdini said.

Jose has a point to prove.....

Posted by: Rooney 5th October 2020, 11:40 AM

The games will catch Spurs out later in the season. Let's not forget how bad they were 2-3 weeks ago either!

Crazy start to the season.

Posted by: Steve201 5th October 2020, 04:06 PM

I just cant wait to get the crowds back in!

Posted by: Houdini 17th October 2020, 01:34 PM

Wow after seeing that I would be so annoyed if I was a Liverpool fan! They got cheated out of the win today.

Posted by: Rooney 17th October 2020, 02:01 PM

Can finally put those LiVARpool jokes to bed.

The fact Virgil was offside for pointing at the ball was bad enough. Then for that decision to go against us in the end - I hate to be a sore loser, but how in the hell is that offside? Unless players can score with their hands? Absolutely disgraceful. Apparently the possible red card was not even checked for Pickford as they were so worried about getting the offside correct.

Posted by: HeadlessJockey 17th October 2020, 09:38 PM

Pickford's move should have been red. These decisions about a inch from offside from VAR is again VAR madness.

Posted by: Rooney 17th October 2020, 10:02 PM

I'm still not over it all to be honest. I can take losing a game, but this is more than that. That was not football. I like VAR but you cannot use the technology like that, its an absolute joke. A 2-2 draw feels like a defeat, probably compounded by VVD and Thiago suffering injuries. I'm all for a bit of football banter but how can Man Utd get a penalty for THAT - yet it can't even tell us whether Mane's eyelash is offside. I cannot see David Coote coming anywhere near referring our games for the rest of the year.

Posted by: HeadlessJockey 17th October 2020, 10:11 PM

Chelsea defence still very leaky as was the case against Southampton.

Posted by: Steve201 17th October 2020, 10:43 PM

I’m more annoyed about Prickford staying on the pitch after that f***ing horrible challenge

Posted by: Suedehead2 18th October 2020, 08:17 AM

The Pickford challenge was awful and should have been a red card. However, it was offside so it wasn't a penalty. That said, if there had been no VAR and a penalty had been awarded because the offside was missed, I wouldn't have had a lot of sympathy with Everton. In the past, I've felt the same when a reckless challenger perfectly timed to be just outside the box has resulted in a penalty.

As for the late offside, it looks to me as if the sleeve of his shirt was offside. Technically, the top of the shirt is no longer handball so he could have scored with it. OTOH, he could only have done that if the top of his arm was also offside. As it wasn't as far as I can see, the decision was ridiculous. Furthermore, as I've said before, we can't be sure that the picture was frozen at the right moment. This sort of nonsense is what happens when you introduce technology to try and ensure that every offside decision is 100% correct to the letter of the law.

Posted by: Pting Rollo 18th October 2020, 06:58 PM

That was quite a comeback by West Ham to come from 3-0 down with eight minutes to go. The equalizing goal from Lanzini in the last minute of injury time flew in from about 25 yards out.

Posted by: Houdini 18th October 2020, 07:30 PM

This is why Tottenham don't win trophies, they get one major result and then start getting complacent and then they Spurs it up. Mourinho was saying that they could challenge for the title before today but if they carry on like this there's no way that will happen.

Posted by: Rooney 18th October 2020, 07:33 PM

This season is crazy though as there won't be the pressure from the fans. Hence why I think we are seeing so many crazy results as players are more confident without the crowds. You could be winning the league this year with 80-85 points.

Posted by: Houdini 18th October 2020, 08:21 PM

It could also be not having much of a pre-season that is contributing to things as well, I think this is showing how much a lot of players rely on the fans in the stadium to fully motivate themselves when really they should know in the back of their heads that millions of people all over the world are watching them and will judge them based on performance and results. I do hope this pattern of results can continue though. Aston Villa are now the only team that have won all of their matches so far

Posted by: HeadlessJockey 18th October 2020, 09:42 PM

And still we haven't had a 0-0 draw.

Posted by: HeadlessJockey 18th October 2020, 09:54 PM

West Ham are the first team in Premier League history to avoid defeat in a game having trailed by 3+ goals as late as the 81st minute.

Posted by: HeadlessJockey 18th October 2020, 09:59 PM

Did Mark Scott from Match of the Day 2 really ask Dean Smith a title challenge for Aston Villa??

Posted by: HeadlessJockey 18th October 2020, 10:21 PM

That probably was a six-pointer between two relegation threatened sides between Sheffield United and Fulham.

Posted by: HeadlessJockey 18th October 2020, 10:35 PM

Posted by: Steve201 19th October 2020, 08:01 AM

That was some strike by Lanzini yesterday for the equaliser

Posted by: Steve201 19th October 2020, 06:50 PM

Yeh it’s likely to be considering City and Liverpool have already lost 5 points so to be on 99 points they can only drop 10 more

Posted by: HeadlessJockey 21st October 2020, 05:44 PM

Petr Cech has been named in Chelsea's Premier League squad - despite having retired from playing at the end of the 2018-19 season.

The 38-year-old, who is the club's technical and performance adviser, was added as "emergency cover".

Posted by: Steve201 24th October 2020, 11:48 AM

Another reminder lastnyt that Patrick Bamford is still eligible to play for Ireland

Posted by: Rooney 24th October 2020, 12:21 PM

He is not as bad as people make out him to be, but imo he is one of these players that plays much better without the crowd. Of which we are seeing lots..

Posted by: Dobbo 24th October 2020, 12:27 PM

He was horrendous when last in the prem with Boro, couldn't even get into the team but fair play he's on fire now. Definitely this season's Danny Ings. Used to be shite now he's alright as the chant goes.

Meanwhile I thought West Ham was supposed to have a tough opening set of fixtures?

Posted by: Steve201 24th October 2020, 01:13 PM

I’ve thought Ings was an excellent finisher since his Burnley days for me.

Posted by: HeadlessJockey 24th October 2020, 09:42 PM

Sheffield United put a shift in and made it tough for Liverpool.

Posted by: HeadlessJockey 24th October 2020, 09:46 PM

As said by Scott Parker in his MOTD interview.

Posted by: HeadlessJockey 24th October 2020, 10:04 PM

The strange happenings continue with West Ham's start to the season with their 'tough' set of fixtures. Good point for them against Man City.

Posted by: Rooney 24th October 2020, 10:12 PM

They were big and physical but never in doubt, even with a shocking VAR decision in their favour. So many bad referees in this league.

Posted by: HeadlessJockey 24th October 2020, 10:13 PM

The standard of refereeing has been poor so far this season.

Posted by: HeadlessJockey 24th October 2020, 10:16 PM

Anyone watched the Man United v Chelsea match the whole way through??

Posted by: Steve201 24th October 2020, 10:17 PM

I’m a big fan of Wilder ever since his Northampton days, hope they stay up this year again!

Good win for the reds with Chelsea United and City dropping 6 points between them.

Posted by: Houdini 24th October 2020, 10:59 PM

Yeah I watched it, it wasn't the most entertaining of games but good defensive displays from both teams and Cavani looked lively once he came on.


West Ham have really done well so far, especially since David Moyes caught Corona which is strange. I thought they would be bottom of the table by now and that Moyes would be the first to get sacked but it looks like he might not get sacked at all this season.

Posted by: Rooney 24th October 2020, 11:43 PM

The Man Utd-Chelsea game was strange. It was like your classic, Mourinho vs LVG or Benitez vs Mourinho type of game where neither team wanted to lose so set up defensively. Chelsea's problem is while they look a bit more stable in defence now, they are pretty toothless in attack. They look really unbalanced as a team, but they will porbbaly find the balance over the season. Meanwhile Ole just looks a bit lost. I thought they were OK today (although they should have given away a penalty for Maguire's choke). But I find the Van de Beek situation totally bizzarre.

These games after the Champions League/European fixtures are going to be mad this season as it's clear the teams are only playing at 75-80% after the European fixtures.

I'm not surprised West Ham are doing OK- they actually have a really good spine to their team and while Moyes isn't a flashy manager, he's clearly not a bad manager. I did think they would struggle in this first quarter and then be playing catch-up, but they have done fantastically well. It's a race between Parker/Billic as to who will be getting sacked first.

Posted by: Steve201 25th October 2020, 10:22 AM

What about Dyche?

Posted by: RabbitFurCoat 25th October 2020, 10:25 AM

There's no way Burnley will sack Dyche any time soon, but it is possible he might leave. I don't think Parker has long really, Fulham v WBA next week looking like a really big game.

Posted by: Steve201 25th October 2020, 01:26 PM

Hard to know what to do at Fulham as Parker stabilised them when they got relegated so maybe they have balanced the books after the summer splurge 2 years ago and happy with Parker even if he does bring them back down. But getting beat every week could push him out anyway

Posted by: Dobbo 26th October 2020, 09:46 AM

Only took 6 games for every team to have registered a defeat, love that about the league this season. Its back to the 15/16 season where anyone can beat anyone. How can it possibly be explained Villa beating the champions 7-2 then getting spanked 3-0 by a promoted side in their very next home game. Absolute madness.

City particularly looking average as hell so far. I expect the usual cream will have risen to the top in a month's time but we'll see. Very glad Everton fans were brought back down to earth yesterday.

Posted by: Rooney 26th October 2020, 10:31 AM

I think most Championship watchers would tell you that while Fulham conceded less goals last season, they were still bang average. I like some of their players but there just isn't enough quality there. It was always going to be tough after getting promoted and so little time to prepare.. RFC called it earlier, that West Brom vs Fulham game is massive next week. Genuinely think if someone gets beat there the losing manager gets the boot.



It really does seem that this year 85 points will get you the league. City should probably have beaten West Ham, but like Liverpool they've got bad injuries now and don't have a striker for who knows how long. I still think on the evidence of everything that I have seen so far, City and Liverpool will begin to breakaway, both have a good set of fixtures coming up after the international break.

Everton had no chance, they had spanked some of the worst teams in the league and should be on two defeats in a row. Hopefully this starts their relegation form now

Posted by: RabbitFurCoat 26th October 2020, 04:11 PM

I think it's a massive shame Brentford fell apart at the end, I'm confident they'd be making a far better fist of it than WBA and Fulham have in the opening games. It's often an underrated job to prevent a team that were so bad going into complete freefall and Parker did a good job last year, but reminded me much of Darren Moore the year before, you always felt they had the potential to be a lot better than they were given the players they had, a lot of stars that underperformed overall last season. Fulham's season got better when they put Rodak in goal and then signed Hector in January, and they were both amongst their top performers. It felt odd that signing a new GK was the first thing they did and Hector almost moved back to the Championship after three games whilst Tim Ream STILL starts in that defence!

Posted by: Steve201 26th October 2020, 08:19 PM

Agreed would love the Brentford team to stay together they only have the M left!

Posted by: Steve201 27th October 2020, 01:15 PM

Anyone else watch the Monday Night Football lastnyt and the debates between Carra and G Nev, some great debates!

Posted by: MichaelMyers 31st October 2020, 11:39 PM

Chris Wilder is on the longest winless run of his managerial career.

Sheffield United are without a win in their last 11 games in all competitions.

Posted by: MichaelMyers 31st October 2020, 11:51 PM

The Premier League and other elite sport can continue behind closed doors.

Posted by: Houdini 31st October 2020, 11:57 PM

It feels like normality is being restored now and we're not seeing crazy scorelines like earlier in the season. Teams that are expected to win matches have been in the past 2 weeks.

Posted by: Rooney 1st November 2020, 11:08 AM

I think it was a case of teams being a different levels mentally and physically with not having a pre-season. I also think that teams are starting to conserve energy in matches too, especially with 3 subs. Very happy with Liverpool, not playing brilliantly, but we weren't at this time of the season last year also. Hopefully after the international break we will be near enough back to full strength minus Virgil.

Posted by: Mack. 1st November 2020, 10:56 PM

Quite some game between Aston Villa and Southampton. Southampton surviving a scare at the end there.

Posted by: Mack. 1st November 2020, 11:26 PM

You do need to do it in the Premier League as well as the Champions League, Ole. Another abject performance from Man United in the league.

Posted by: Rooney 2nd November 2020, 12:44 AM

Arsenal played really well, but there is something seriously wrong with Ole. He has not got a clue, whenever they come unstuck he just looks baffled on the touchline. They have some ok fixtures coming up and if they win their game in hand they are not doing that terrible, but to lose your first 3 home games of the season is absolutely atrocious.

Posted by: Steve201 2nd November 2020, 01:17 PM

He started for a draw again with mctominey and Fred which says it all. He will get them to the top 4 again and you never know in the champions league anyone can win especially if they are made to play on the break which they love.

Posted by: Steve201 7th November 2020, 08:07 PM

Zeyiech was excellent for Chelsea there tonight

Posted by: Mack. 7th November 2020, 11:29 PM

That Bamford disallowed goal blimey, that was a joke.

Posted by: Mack. 7th November 2020, 11:37 PM

An interesting interview from Ole after the match between Everton and Man United. He was rattled there.

Posted by: Mack. 7th November 2020, 11:39 PM

I thought more than anything it was a strange thing to bring up straight after a good important win to be honest regarding the gap in fixtures.

Posted by: Steve201 7th November 2020, 11:51 PM

It is ridiculous that your away in Europe on the Wednesday in turkey of all places and then first up on Saturday in the league

Posted by: Steve201 7th November 2020, 11:52 PM

Two lovely finishes by him, Kenny should call him up before England play him vs Malta and he never plays for them again

Posted by: Mack. 7th November 2020, 11:53 PM

Sheffield United will need to get some results soon.

Posted by: Mack. 8th November 2020, 12:01 AM

That must be the worst penalty of the season from Lookman what was that? A failed Paneka.

Posted by: Rooney 8th November 2020, 12:41 AM

Yeah I totally agree with this. That was a good 3 points from Man Utd today too, Ole is just like one of those annoying spots that refuses to go away

Posted by: Dobbo 8th November 2020, 10:18 AM

Believe me it's bloody annoying. I barely even celebrated yesterday's result (ok I cheered when Cavani got off the mark) because it means absolutely nothing when we go and bottle it at home to West Brom next weekend.

Posted by: Houdini 8th November 2020, 03:02 PM

Ole was right about the kick off time but gladly it didn't stop us from winning, we need to improve our home form as we still haven't won any home matches in the league so far. Our away form has been perfect though so we should keep that up.

I couldn't help but laugh out loud when I saw this penalty, it's one of those things that makes a player look so stupid if it doesn't come off properly and to do it with the last kick of the game must have been extra embarrassing for Lookman.

Posted by: Suedehead2 8th November 2020, 03:56 PM

Another utterly bonkers offside decision.



OTOH, at least he couldn't be accused of whingeing after a defeat.

Posted by: Steve201 8th November 2020, 07:00 PM

Il take that point at the etihad

Posted by: Rooney 8th November 2020, 07:52 PM

Same here, we have a horrible record there recently. Pleasing we have 2 of our 3 most difficult away games out of the way where we always seem to drop points in recent likes (Etihad, Goodison and Old Trafford) and we are there or thereabouts at the top. The first half was mesmerising, but in the second both teams looked gassed and we both settled for a point. Still think the winner of the league will be either City or Liverpool.

Posted by: Mack. 8th November 2020, 10:57 PM

Aston Villa are the third side in Premier League history to win each of their first three away games in a season without conceding a goal, after Chelsea in 2005-06 and Manchester City in 2015-16.

Posted by: Mack. 8th November 2020, 11:17 PM

Another penalty rewarded for Leicester City, the eighth this season.

Posted by: Mack. 8th November 2020, 11:27 PM

The Gomez one was technically a handball but giving a penalty just seems too harsh a punishment for things like that!

Posted by: Houdini 9th November 2020, 12:06 AM

Before the season started I thought Aston Villa would get relegated but they have started this season well and have beaten some of the best teams in the league. Now it's hard to imagine that their form will become so bad that they would end up getting relegated. As for Arsenal it's just how they've typically been for the last 15 or so years, people talk about Arteta as if he's got a magic wand that will transform Arsenal into the side that they were in the late 90's and early 00's. One win away at a rival club and suddenly Arsenal are back, it's always going to be a short matter of time until they had this kind of result.

Posted by: Dobbo 9th November 2020, 12:52 AM

No wonder they're top of the table. Gonna sail pass our penalty record from last season at this rate!

Posted by: Rooney 9th November 2020, 09:29 AM

The same people who thought Everton would win the league 3 weeks ago are now saying Spurs and Leicester have a chance If Spurs are up there within a few points by Christmas I'll agree with their run in the next 7 City, Chelsea, Palace, Arsenal, Liverpool, Leicester, Wolves..

Posted by: Dobbo 9th November 2020, 09:35 AM

People just LOVE to push any narrative don't they? Nonsense to predict anything after 8 games let alone the league title

(Other than Fulham going down, that's about as nailed on as it possibly gets in football)

Posted by: Rooney 9th November 2020, 10:27 AM

It's ridiculous. People forget Leicester and Spurs are in the Europa League too and are playing their B-team in the midweek games mostly. Leicester were right up there last Christmas too. They will challenge for the Top 4 - absolutely, but winning the league? They've got to hope that City and Liverpool have a LOT more off days.

Posted by: Houdini 9th November 2020, 12:48 PM

Tottenham wont win anything this season let alone the league, the media are still hyped over that 6-1 win against us that would only happen once out of a thousand times. As for Leicester I don't even think they'll make it into the top 4.

Posted by: Mack. 19th November 2020, 12:49 PM

Pep Guardiola has signed a new two-year deal that will see him remain as Manchester City manager until the summer of 2023.

Posted by: Dobbo 19th November 2020, 03:55 PM

I'm surprised at that.

Still think he'll be sacked if they don't win the PL or CL this season.

Posted by: Rooney 20th November 2020, 01:05 AM

Awaiting Messi signing for 2 years in Summer 2021..

He's obviously been promised something for him not to be moving on.

Posted by: Steve201 21st November 2020, 07:39 PM

Great win for Spurs there - Jose masterclass

Posted by: Mack. 21st November 2020, 10:44 PM

Man City's lowest points total after 9 games since the beginning of the Mansour era.

Posted by: Rooney 21st November 2020, 11:01 PM

I still don't buy the Spurs title talk. The same way that people were talking up Villa/Everton 3-4 weeks ago - there is no way they can sustain the performance playing in Europa League too. I'm glad they beat City today, City have a really good run of fixtures coming up and it stops them from putting together a better run

Posted by: Mack. 21st November 2020, 11:06 PM

Werner's missed quite a few since he came to Chelsea.

Posted by: Mack. 21st November 2020, 11:15 PM

Much needed win for Brighton over Aston Villa. Certainty not 'title contender' form which was being considered a few weeks ago about Villa.

Can't see Tottenham maintaining a title challenge throughout the season.

Posted by: Dobbo 21st November 2020, 11:35 PM

Let's be fair you can't really make a case for any team to be favourites this year at the moment, which is the beauty of it all.

Posted by: Rooney 22nd November 2020, 12:24 AM

We can start calling Man Utd, Varchester Utd though now

Posted by: Steve201 22nd November 2020, 02:04 AM

No surprise who the ref was

Posted by: Mack. 22nd November 2020, 12:44 PM

Well it is certainly some game between Fulham and Everton in the live lunchtime BBC game.

Posted by: Mack. 22nd November 2020, 01:26 PM

That penalty from Cavaliero was even worse than Lookman's penalty.

Posted by: Mack. 22nd November 2020, 01:29 PM

Two minutes later, Loftus-Cheek pulls one back to make it 3-2 now.

Posted by: Houdini 22nd November 2020, 01:47 PM

The penalty award was harsh as the West Brom player was looking away from the ball when it hit his hand but I have no sympathy for the penalty having to get retaken as the same thing happened to David De Gea against Crystal Palace so that is just too bad for West Brom.

Posted by: Steve201 22nd November 2020, 03:42 PM

Tavanier did exactly the same for Middlesborough yday and he scored so it was disallowed!

Posted by: Steve201 22nd November 2020, 03:42 PM

Think I was more annoyed by the West Brom one that wasn’t given

Posted by: Houdini 22nd November 2020, 04:18 PM

It looks like Sheffield United are the team that are struggling most with not having fans in the stadium as they were on good form up until the season got suspended last season and from the restart onwards they've been dreadful. They still only have 1 point so far this season after losing to West Ham today.

Posted by: Rooney 22nd November 2020, 05:16 PM

It rightly should have been re-taken. But there was a foul in the build up and West Brom's penalty should have stood too VAR is just sucking the life out of football. E.g. I genuinely have no idea how Calvert-Lewin's goal stood today yet Mane's was offside? It's ridiculous.

Posted by: Steve201 22nd November 2020, 08:20 PM

Here here!

Posted by: Rooney 23rd November 2020, 11:46 AM

How good is Jota btw?! I knew he was going to be a great player, but I did not expect him to fit in so seamlessly. He is like a Suarez lite from the 2011-2012 season only more clinical!

Only concern is yet another injury for Liverpool. That is going to be the breaking point for us this year. I do wonder if the bigger managers start piling the pressure on we might see a few changes.. we can hope.

Posted by: Dobbo 23rd November 2020, 11:49 AM

Yeah I'll have to take back my previous comment on Jota, rather than looking like a rip-off he's turning into a bargain. Never looked anything more than average at Wolves so gotta hand it to Jurgen for turning another mediocre player into a world-beater.

Posted by: Steve201 23rd November 2020, 11:38 PM

It always looks so expensive but when they are banging in the goals seems cheap. I always thought he looked decent at Wolves but maybe excelling in a higher level team in a way. But like Mane, always thought decent player at Southampton but never thought he was THIS good!

Posted by: Houdini 28th November 2020, 04:48 PM

You can always count on Manchester City to beat Burnley 5-0 at home.

Posted by: Rooney 28th November 2020, 04:55 PM

Or seemingly VAR being absolutely ridiculous

The application of VAR has sucked all the fun out of football. Brighton played well today, Liverpool gave the performance of Champions by grinding the result out yet the people that use VAR decide to apply forensic data analysis every time someone opens their mouth. Salah against Villa had exactly the same thing happen to him, no penalty. Soft as anything. Then to cap all matters off they now decide to draw the lines from the foot rather than the armpit.

Posted by: Suedehead2 28th November 2020, 06:23 PM

I've only seen brief highlights so far. Yes, the VAR decisions went Brighton's way today but that just helps to make up for earlier matches where the opposite happened. Offside decisions continue to be the worst aspect of VAR. The intention of the law is to avoid goal-hanging and generally stopping attackers gaining an advantage by being ahead of the last defender. There was never any expectation that it would be possible (assuming they stop the video at the right time) to judge whether a player had strayed a few millimetres offside.

Posted by: Rooney 28th November 2020, 07:42 PM

Brighton played really well, especially in the first half. But the VAR for the penalty was a complete joke, that is not a clear and obvious error. Really frustrating as we have had next to no luck this season and a whole load of bad luck. At this point if we are still there or thereabouts within 4-5 points by January it will be a miracle. I'll be getting my boots on to play for Liverpool at this rate.

Posted by: Houdini 28th November 2020, 07:56 PM

Jürgen Klopp was firing shots at Chris Wilder calling him selfish for some reason, I don't know the full situation there. The 12:30 kick offs are really getting to him as well, I do sympathize with him a little bit but at the same time when you are the defending champions you have to deal with whatever situation is put in front of you.

Posted by: Suedehead2 28th November 2020, 08:06 PM

There’s also a big difference between a home game on the Wednesday before a Saturday lunchtime kick-off and a game in Turkey as Man U had a few weeks ago. Besides, even if non-league football resumes in the middle of next month, their pla- who also have full-time jobs in many cases - are likely to be playing two matches in most weeks until May.

Posted by: Rooney 28th November 2020, 11:26 PM

It's because in Wilder's press conference yesterday he said Liverpool were being selfish asking for 5 subs and that nobody cared about Sheffield Utd not having fans back in the ground, completely oblivious to the point this was a Government decision and not a Premier League shareholders.

Klopp got baited by him the interviewer but he also has a point - Liverpool and Man Utd got slated by many people for a power grab, yet the reason why all the clubs get a huge slice of the money is because of these two clubs. Yes BT have a contract, but they also have a choice - they've picked Liverpool three times for the 12.30pm games, twice after CL games or international breaks iirc if not every time. And why do they pick Liverpool and Man Utd? Cos they get the viewing figures that allows them to pick up games.

There is obviously a bigger part as we have lost many players to muscle injuries and had Richarlison take out Thiago and Pickford do Virgil in. With the exception of Wijnaldum, every first team player has been injured or had covid at some point this season.. and the season has barley gone 10 weeks.

Posted by: Steve201 29th November 2020, 12:10 AM

I think there should only be three subs myself as it clearly helps the bigger sides having 5 and they have a big enough advantage with the money and resources.

The penalty was ridiculous - I repeat NOT EVERY TOUCH IN THE BOX IS A PENALTY

Posted by: Rooney 29th November 2020, 12:40 AM

3 subs or 5 subs.. it's clearly not helping Sheffield Utd

Posted by: Steve201 29th November 2020, 01:21 AM

Well that’s true 😅

Hope they stay up as tbf Wilder has done a Sterling job there overall!

Posted by: Houdini 30th November 2020, 01:58 AM

These two videos had me crying with laughter , I can't imagine what their reactions will be like if they lose to Tottenham next week

Posted by: Dobbo 30th November 2020, 09:40 AM

Reminds me of my old local

If they battered by Spurs next week Arteta will be gone. As if Poch would go there too...

Super impressed with another away victory for United. Actually feel hopeful when we're behind these days we can still get something from the match. Cavani hitting the round running is great to see. We need a proper centre-forward like him.

Posted by: Rooney 30th November 2020, 10:23 AM

Arsenal are id disarray. Aubameyang's form has fallen off a cliff since he signed that contract..

Although it looks like Cavani is going to be banned for 3 games for his Instagram post.. coincidentally for the same thing Suarez said to Evra!

Posted by: Dobbo 30th November 2020, 10:26 AM

Yeah that's a massive shame as clearly it was in a similiar vein to Bernardo's Silva post last season with no malice intended but they'll have to be consistent in punishment...

Posted by: Steve201 30th November 2020, 10:36 AM

Hahaha I do think Artetas done a good job but still needs a bit of luck. The north London derby next week should be good!

When do Liverpool play united? That’s bound to be soon??

Posted by: Steve201 30th November 2020, 10:38 AM

What was the post?

Posted by: Rooney 30th November 2020, 11:01 AM

We play January. Can't remember the exact date and it could be a midweek game!



He just said something like "Congratulations negrito" which is a cultural phrase and harmless but he is going to get a 3 game ban.

Posted by: Mack. 30th November 2020, 02:37 PM

Wolves striker Raul Jimenez has had surgery on a fractured skull suffered in a clash of heads during his side's Premier League win at Arsenal.


Sunday's match at Emirates Stadium was in its early stages when Jimenez and Gunners defender David Luiz accidently collided at an Arsenal corner.

He was given oxygen on the pitch before being taken to hospital.

"Raul is comfortable following an operation last night," Wolves said in a statement.

"He has since seen his partner Daniela and is now resting. He will remain under observation for a few days while he begins his recovery.

"The club would like to thank the medical staff at Arsenal, the NHS paramedics, hospital staff and surgeons who, through their skill and early response, were of such help."

Posted by: Rooney 30th November 2020, 03:30 PM

Glad to hear Jimenez is OK, I do wonder if we will see him play again this season, or ever infact. I guess it depends how bad the fracture is, but the same injurt effectively ended Ryan Mason's career and Petr Cech was never quite the same after his fractured skull. But just really happy to hear he is ok as I genuinely thought he might have died.

Posted by: Dobbo 30th November 2020, 04:13 PM

And the absolute madness that Luiz was allowed to play on with blood still streaming from his head...

Posted by: Steve201 30th November 2020, 10:50 PM

Here here glad he’s ok. First thing I thought of was Mason as well. Always seems when I pick someone as top scorer something bad happens. Probably a silly choice in hindsight considering the way Wolves play.

Monday Night Football with Carra and G Nev is the best analysis of the weekends action!

Posted by: Mack'sXmasSack 5th December 2020, 10:49 PM

Very bad miss from Werner from a yard out.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 6th December 2020, 01:49 AM

Yeh the ball must have been spinning or something!

United for the league then?

Posted by: Rooney 6th December 2020, 01:06 PM

I still feel United are way too inconsistent. It's worrying that they won from behind today, but feel they are too reliant on Fernandes. It's going to be close at the top again, Chelsea look good, City are hitting form, but we're only what 11 games in? Let's see where we are at in 27 weeks. It's a bit like Chelsea, they've beaten a good Leeds team today but everytime they have played someone else in the top half this season they have dropped points. Liverpool are still the team to beat imo, but our injuries have really done us over. We're also due a whole load of luck too, so let's hope that comes our way soon.

84-85 points probably gets you the league this year, which I think most of the Top 6 are capable of doing.

Posted by: Mack'sXmasSack 6th December 2020, 04:26 PM

Don't look good for Sheffield United atm after last season's high

Posted by: Houdini 6th December 2020, 05:29 PM

No I don't think we will win the league, as Rooney said we are too inconsistent to win it. If only our home form was as good as our away form! It's remarkable that in all of the away matches we've conceded the first goal and go on to win each time.


No surprise to see Tottenham leading Arsenal at half time and it's good to have fans back in the stadium even if it's nowhere near full capacity.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 6th December 2020, 10:08 PM

Yeh they were punching well above their weight last year and the defence was taken apart from injuries.

Posted by: Rooney 6th December 2020, 11:42 PM

Surely Spurs are going to get found out at some point? Son and Kane have scored 80% of their goals in the league, there is no way that is sustainable or all of Son's shots go in. If Man Utd and Man City win their games in hand it is looking very cosy at the top!

Posted by: Christmasteve201 7th December 2020, 10:56 PM

They will have to beat teams that’ll sit back against them.

It would set football back 15 years if Jose wins another title.

Posted by: Rooney 8th December 2020, 01:14 AM

They are going to get found out. I just cannot see it sustaining. It will be interesting to see how Liverpool try and play. This is one of those games which I desperately wish Thiago would be fit for.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 8th December 2020, 08:31 AM

He was on watching brief on Sunday there.

Yeh we play them next Wednesday at anfield - fell it’ll be a perfect Jose game though away from home and we will niavely come on and leave the space they need to exploit our defence. I’d take a draw right now

Posted by: Rooney 8th December 2020, 09:32 AM

I think we are different though to Arsenal and not nearly as naive. We play the tactic where we play the ball around in midfield trying to set traps and then hit the long ball to Salah or Mane if they have made the run. The way Jose sets his team up means they leave space out side too, which is where we are strong as have wide full-backs who can put balls in the box. They will be dangerous on the counter, but we're far more dangerous in attack. City were really unlucky against them for example.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 8th December 2020, 09:00 PM

Hope so, could be a big game!

I always think of April 2014 when home to a Jose team, probably has a chess board out as we speak planning!

Posted by: Rooney 9th December 2020, 01:03 AM

That game was a very different context though and Jose got in the players' heads. Gerrard turned in a one man supershow just hitting everything in the hope a wordlie went in. Plus we are a much better side now. It is a big game but its not going to be a title decider. If Spurs take points the pressure on them becomes huge as the narrative switches to them being contenders.

Posted by: Mack'sXmasSack 9th December 2020, 08:33 PM

Newcastle's Premier League game against West Bromwich Albion is expected to go ahead on Saturday as the United squad recovers from a coronavirus outbreak.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 9th December 2020, 10:31 PM

Oh I know but you can’t help be fearful but I’ve already come to the realisation in my head we won’t win it again this year due to our bad luck so far

Posted by: Rooney 9th December 2020, 10:52 PM

Or can look at it a different way and think we have used up most of our bad luck and are still top of the table and have Thiago to come back! As well as hopefully a centre back in the January window..

Posted by: Christmasteve201 10th December 2020, 11:59 PM

We’ve been linked with Garay on a free transfer!

Yeh true let’s hope so. Think we have done well considering so far. Hope Thiago can get a run of games together!

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 12th December 2020, 01:19 PM

Another not-great result for Leeds unfortunately! Really need to work on the defence methinks.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 12th December 2020, 09:04 PM

That Manchester derby was a snooze fest!

Posted by: Mack'sXmasSack 12th December 2020, 10:41 PM

Havertz the German Pepe?

Posted by: Mack'sXmasSack 12th December 2020, 11:00 PM

11 yellows and 2 red cards in the Wolves v Aston Villa match.

Posted by: Mack'sXmasSack 12th December 2020, 11:16 PM

Another drab 'big heavyweight' game involving Man City. 4 shots on targeted throughout the whole match. Man United they're certainly an enigma.

Posted by: Mack'sXmasSack 12th December 2020, 11:19 PM

Miguel Almiron's opener after 20 seconds was Newcastle's second fastest Premier League goal after Alan Shearer netted 10 seconds into a game against Manchester City in January 2003.

Posted by: Mack'sXmasSack 12th December 2020, 11:38 PM

And also on set pieces.

Posted by: Rooney 13th December 2020, 12:54 AM

Havertz looks completely lost in the Premier League. It could be covid is still affecting him, but he looks totally lost right now. Chelsea were well beat today, it does seem they probably need Pulisic/Ziyech to nit everything together as they were well beat today.

And don't even get me started on the Manchester Derby. That absolute shite affair had nothing to do with fans not been there. It was a case of Man Utd trying to play on the counter attack at home and Man City tightening up at the back this season and not piling as many players forward. Sure, fans might have helped the game become a little more open and encourage some of the players to take a risk or two, but that was horrific viewing.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 13th December 2020, 02:23 AM

Boring Manchester derby akright

Posted by: Houdini 13th December 2020, 09:20 PM

Weird set of results this weekend as none of the traditional top clubs won. No one wants to win the league it seems which is good from a netural point of view, both Manchester clubs continue to be inconsistent, Arsenal are in a relegation dog fight. The only thing that seemed normal was Sheffield United handing over another 3 points as a Christmas gift.

Posted by: Mack'sXmasSack 13th December 2020, 10:59 PM

The worst Premier League start ever after 12 games for Sheffield United.

Posted by: LeGrinch 13th December 2020, 11:00 PM

I think they’ll be worse off if they bother sacking Wilder

Posted by: Mack'sXmasSack 13th December 2020, 11:03 PM

Well done Leicester, as least one top team avoided slipping up this weekend.

Posted by: Mack'sXmasSack 13th December 2020, 11:16 PM

Arteta he looks his job could be on the line. I may be talking out my backside here. This is a very poor Arsenal team I've seen in the Premier League at the moment. Xhaka what was he doing? Crazy to do that and get sent off.

Posted by: LeGrinch 13th December 2020, 11:17 PM

Apparently Arsenal holding emergency meetings, I’m not sure how long artera will remain at the squad but Im not sure how long he’s going to get!

Apparently arteta is having issues with Luiz too and they don’t speak to each other anymore! He’s completely lost the dressing room right now and I can’t see him getting it back especially with ozil situation and the amount of leaks coming out!

Apparently Rodgers is top fo arsenals wish list but I still think he would be stupid to leave Leicester for Arsenal!

Posted by: Mack'sXmasSack 13th December 2020, 11:24 PM

A stat for you all.

Fulham are the first newly promoted club to avoid defeat in a Premier League game against Liverpool since Newcastle United in October 2017 (also a 1-1 draw), ending the Reds' 18-game winning run against such sides in the league.

Posted by: Mack'sXmasSack 13th December 2020, 11:52 PM

Missed opportunity for Tottenham there after dropping two points against Palace.

Posted by: Dobby Helms 14th December 2020, 10:14 AM

And Fulham should have won that match yesterday!

Very much enjoying the fact that every team is dropping points and showing inconsistency. We've not had a season like this since Leicester won the league so hopefully more of that to come and we get an open race going down to the wire.

So bizarre our home vs away form. We've only scored 2 league goals at Old Trafford all season I think! But I'll completely take the point from the derby as boring to watch as it was. Don't think I've ever seen City look so blunt & toothless ever under Pep.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 14th December 2020, 10:07 PM

Sheff United would be idiots to sack Wilder, they were bottom half of league one when he came to the club 4 years ago, he’s done a tremendous job!

Posted by: Dobby Helms 15th December 2020, 10:57 AM

But they're in danger of becoming the worst PL team of all time, even worse than Derby 07-08!

So you just know they're bound to beat us with our 100% away record on Thursday...

Posted by: Christmasteve201 15th December 2020, 08:27 PM

Haha I’d eat my hat if they did, you’s are doing very well in the league don’t forget. They may go down but so did Burnley and Dyche brought them up stronger.

Posted by: Houdini 16th December 2020, 12:50 AM

Is it too early to say that Manchester City wont win the league this season , they don't look like a team that will eventually lift the Premier League trophy at the end of the season.


Edit: reports are saying that Slaven Bilic will be sacked as West Brom manager very soon despite their draw against Manchester City tonight.

Posted by: Dobby Helms 16th December 2020, 09:09 AM

I was just thinking how the hell are we nearly at Christmas and there hasn't been a single managerial sacking yet. That must be a first (even factoring in the later than usual start to the season).

City have just an ageing washed up squad now for the most part. KDB is their only genuine class player other than aguero who they're badly missing. They spent all that money on Torres and yet he's fourth in queue for starting on the wing.

Posted by: Dobby Helms 16th December 2020, 01:00 PM

Bilic now gone. Allardyce to be wheeled back out of the storage cupboard then...

Posted by: LeGrinch 16th December 2020, 01:31 PM

How can you sack a manager following a draw against Man City

Posted by: Mack'sXmasSack 16th December 2020, 10:59 PM

And as expected Big Sam Allarydce announced as the new West Brom manager.

Posted by: LeGrinch 16th December 2020, 11:25 PM

Hope they go down.

They didn’t back him financially and sold players without the manager knowing

Posted by: Christmasteve201 17th December 2020, 12:40 AM

Sam was saying on the efl highlights last week he would like to get back in the game

Posted by: Houdini 18th December 2020, 12:06 AM

It would be have been embarrassing if we didn't beat Sheffield United tonight so I'm quite relived that we did after getting off to a shaky start. Sheffield United are 9 points adrift from safety now and have played one game more than 17th placed Burnley. If they play like how they did in the first 20 minutes tonight then they could have enough to survive relegation, their next match against Brighton is a must win though.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 18th December 2020, 12:28 AM

United for the league imo!

Posted by: Rooney 18th December 2020, 01:29 AM

They are still miles behind. They've played all the big teams at home so far and all their away games have been against dross for the majority. They are tactically absolutely awful but they have lots of individual brilliance which is what helps them. It is a bit like Chelsea, their form was false dawn as they haven't actually beaten a decent side yet. Man Utd is a little different.

Anyway the Christmas period is interesting, Liverpool have a good set of fixtures on paper. I think if we string 4-5 wins together in a row we will be incredibly difficult to catch up, injuries dependent of course. We need to sort our terrible away form out too, so Palace will be a huge test.

Posted by: Dobby Helms 18th December 2020, 09:17 AM

We've still beaten Everton & Southampton away who are right up there this season. I'm well aware that going behind in every game isn't sustainable but we're scoring at least 2 goals in every away game so the performances and quality are there. There's such a media agenda against United and a witch hunt against Ole like we're having the worst season of all time but the table doesn't lie.

Leeds is gonna be a ride this Sunday that's for sure...

Posted by: Prince of Pete 19th December 2020, 10:54 PM

Poor Crystal Palace, so much for a potential end to their Liverpool loss streak.

Posted by: Mack'sXmasSack 19th December 2020, 11:29 PM

Posted by: Christmasteve201 20th December 2020, 01:42 AM

I don’t think there’s a witch hunt against him he just has to prove he’s up to it. With the players united have they should be challenging!

Posted by: Christmasteve201 20th December 2020, 01:43 AM

Well the first test passed with flying colours then

Posted by: Rooney 20th December 2020, 12:59 PM

It was a massive result. Like I've said before if we breakaway I think we will be very hard to catch. I still think City are the biggest danger. We have a full week off now, whereas the majority of our rivals have League Cup times midweek. And not forgetting Spurs and Man Utd have the Europa League too. The only thing that would worry me is if Henderson is out for a significant amount of time, he runs our midfield and all our shite performances have mainly come when he has not played over the past 12 months.

Posted by: LeGrinch 20th December 2020, 01:13 PM

It’s a must point game for Sheffield United, they can’t afford to let Brighton go any further ahead. If they lose this then I think Widler is a gone man!

Posted by: Christmasteve201 20th December 2020, 05:36 PM

Yeh think united are our main challengers now though!

Posted by: Rooney 20th December 2020, 06:52 PM

United will be nowhere. They are playing every 4 days now until February and everything goes through Fernandes. If you take him out the team they struggle massively. Good win today of course, they played well in patches. Ole will be labelled a tactical genuis which is great to see as it just keeps him in the job longer. It won't be too long they get beat by Villa and drop points to Arsenal. It's a continuing hampster wheel. City are still the team I fear as they are capable of going on a good run, but they just cannot score goals for whatever reason.

Posted by: Houdini 20th December 2020, 07:31 PM

I don't think we will win the league ultimately but you would have to put us as contenders now as it stands, if our home form was as good as our away form then we would be running away with the league at the moment. It was a great win today against our old rivals but I'm not getting carried away, I just hope we can keep this winning run going.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 20th December 2020, 08:31 PM

They are def contenders! And rightly so with the investment and talent in the team.

City seem to be trying to change their style of play so they are more stingy in defence and win more!

Posted by: LeGrinch 20th December 2020, 08:49 PM

VAR is an absolute joke right now

Posted by: Christmasteve201 20th December 2020, 09:29 PM

What happened now?

Posted by: Mack'sXmasSack 20th December 2020, 11:03 PM

The Maddison call?

Posted by: Dobby Helms 21st December 2020, 09:40 AM

The Wilson penalty attracted a lot of criticism but again, that's nothing to do with VAR.

In the pre-VAR world that would have been given without a second thought and everyone would be crying for VAR. Now we've got it and the referees are completely blind.

Posted by: Dobby Helms 21st December 2020, 09:43 AM

The Leeds game was an absolute thriller! We trebled our goals at home tally in one single match

For all the plaudits Leeds & Bielsa are getting (justified to a certain extent) they're gonna get many more hammerings if they defend like that. Is the manager all that? Everyone knows the way to play us is park the bus but this guy only plays one style of football. He's popular because it's great to watch but it's no different to all the criticism Mourinho gets for being the opposite. They'll easily stay up as they've got a 5-2 in them like the game prior but going forward that won't be sustainable in the nitty-gritty stages of the season.

Posted by: Rooney 21st December 2020, 12:00 PM

Leeds are great but man for man marking and system means you need to win your individual battles 90% of the time. At the end of the day, most of this Leeds team are Championship players. Clearly his methods work really well as he has had good success but he probably lacks the pragmatism that modern management requires. Hate to say it as always, but Klopp changed from his counter pressing 24/7 to a more targeted and controlled press to conserve energy for the season around 2018. Noticeably this is when we became a much more complete side, everyone remembers the amazing and terrible performances, but you don’t remember the bang average ones - and there were plenty of them last season for example.

Posted by: Houdini 21st December 2020, 02:12 PM

Priceless quote from Mikel Arteta

Posted by: Houdini 21st December 2020, 02:19 PM

On the subject of Marcelo Bielsa I find it weird how he always crouches down while he's on the touchline and looks as if he's not looking at what is happening on the pitch. He normally has a hot drink in his hand as well which is very unusual.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 21st December 2020, 04:48 PM

I think he has a back problem hence the famous stool they set out for him!

Posted by: RabbitFurCoat 21st December 2020, 04:52 PM

Leeds play in one way and he's not going to make changes based on the opposition. They will finish 10th-15th regardless which should be classed as a success, might as well have some fun getting there than play like Newcastle.

I also don't think the style will wear them out, given the majority of that squad have been used to playing like that over a 46 game season.

Posted by: Rooney 21st December 2020, 04:57 PM

He's lost the plot. You say that sort of stuff in-house, not to the media. You can tell he's feeling the pressure big time.

Posted by: Mack'sXmasSack 26th December 2020, 11:11 PM

Chelsea fans will they accept that it could be 220 million well wasted?

Posted by: Mack'sXmasSack 26th December 2020, 11:28 PM

If you'd offered me a draw away to a strong and in form Leicester side, in a 12.30 kickoff on Boxing Day when they had a whole week's rest and we played on Thursday, I'd have taken it.

Posted by: Rooney 27th December 2020, 02:17 AM

Havertz and Werner are great players but Lampard can't get the best out of them. Werner has played every game in every position and he played James and Chilwell tonight - neither looked fit, so that just seems totally odd. Mendy was also shocking and lost his head completely.

When they were on their good run they beat all the bottom teams, now it looks like they're getting beat by the bottom teams!

Posted by: Prince of Pete 28th December 2020, 07:03 PM

I feel like Leeds were lucky to get that win against Burnley, lucky to get a few decisions go their way.

Also good to see West Brom scrape a point against Liverpool despite all the odds being against them.

Posted by: Rooney 28th December 2020, 08:51 PM

West Brom deserved their point against Liverpool, we were awful. Horrendous game management from us, we should have just accepted it wasn't our day and shut up shop. The only way West Brom ever got the ball was from us giving it away to them. Only annoying thing is it feeds in to the Big Sam cult. Hope this is the year he finally goes down.

Posted by: Quarantilas 28th December 2020, 11:35 PM

Don’t usually watch pool but my dads a fan so it was on the other day and the whole second half it looked more like when would West Brom score rather than if. Quite lucky they fluffed the 1v1 or it could have been 2-1!

I find it lightly amusing that only Everton and Liverpool can have fans right now but in that second half vs West Brom there were times you’d think it was just the 22 players and the ref! Could literally hear a pin drop

Posted by: Rooney 28th December 2020, 11:39 PM

They grew in to game when Matip went off as you would expect. But nothing was coming off for any of the players and sometimes you just have to manage the game and shut up shop. I also don't believe we played with the full intensity and tried to conserve energy. Anyway, those results will happen a few times more to us this season, but it will happen to everyone else too.

City were on a good run of form and creeping up but their game at the weekend will get postponed and I genuinely don't know when they will be able to fit the games in, especially if they beat Utd in the League Cup.

Posted by: Quarantilas 29th December 2020, 12:39 AM

Still up in the air if they will play us in the league cup yet or if they will need to be given the same treatment as the League 2 team Spurs got a free pass off. Was it Leyton Orient? If I was their lawyer I’d be watching like a hawk

Posted by: Mack'sXmasSack 29th December 2020, 12:48 AM

Yes that was Leyton Orient.

Posted by: Houdini 29th December 2020, 08:02 PM

Sheffield United are now 11 points off safety now. This is really getting out of hand!

Posted by: MvG501 29th December 2020, 08:52 PM

Could Sheffield United break Derby's record?

Posted by: LeGrinch 29th December 2020, 09:05 PM

Wilder is probably gonna go but he deserves so much better I can’t believe the fall from grace they’ve had this season. Mcburnie was the biggest waste of money though

Posted by: MvG501 29th December 2020, 09:33 PM

Posted by: Christmasteve201 29th December 2020, 10:08 PM

United are gonna win the league aren’t they....

Posted by: Houdini 29th December 2020, 10:22 PM

I certainly hope so! Wolves got what they deserved tonight, they played for a draw and were trying to waste time from about the 73rd minute of the match and once Rashford scored they suddenly played with some urgency but the time wasting that they did backfired on them and time ran out for them. Before Rashford scored it really looked like it was going to be goalless from even before half time. If we had won on Saturday we could have been level at the top of the table now.

Posted by: Quarantilas 29th December 2020, 10:31 PM

Cheers Mack!


Nah, we can't break down a bus parking to save ourselves. If more teams came to old trafford and played like Leeds then aye nae bother we'd be in with a chance, but they don't. They put 10 players in their 6 yard box and stick a striker on the halfway line and we can't deal with that yet and won't win the league until we do.

Posted by: MvG501 29th December 2020, 10:35 PM

Sawyers own goal, oh dear

Posted by: Christmasteve201 29th December 2020, 10:48 PM

Yeh but they are starting to beat poor teams that do that at home now and will rely on the bigger sides trying to beat them like Liverpool and city!

They also have the best front 6 in the league with the attacking talent.

Always laugh at my mates who are very cautious and are trying to create the old underdog myth as if they aren’t one of the richest clubs in the world and should be challenging EVERY season.

Posted by: Rooney 29th December 2020, 11:47 PM

Not a chance. They are doing well right now but they would have to be seriously flukey to finish above both Liverpool/City. They created nothing at all throughout the game and got a lucky deflection. At least when Liverpool were grinding out results last season we created real chances. Sure there could be a Leicester like season. At some point you would expect something will massively go against Man Utd though, but you do need luck to win the league too.

The problem is if you start being talked as contenders then it's how you cope with the pressure. It does look like the league will be really tight this season and everyone seems capable of dropping mad points.

I'd also argue that if there is a circuit breaker in the Premier League, there's only one club that it probably benefits massively and that's Liverpool.

Posted by: Dobby Helms 30th December 2020, 09:10 AM

I don't think we'll win the league but just factor in the progress. We finished THIRTY-THREE points behind Liverpool last season. This season was simply about closing the gap and so far so good in that regard.

Yesterday's match was a tough watch though and reminiscent of our problems with breaking teams down. However as long as Bruno is on the pitch we always have a chance. That pass to Rash was out of this world. I also have to laugh at people always bemoaning the Alladryce's & Mourinho's for parking the bus yet when a "cooler" manager like Nuno does it he's immune from criticism. Should have had a penalty for Coady handball too.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 30th December 2020, 01:07 PM

All teams were at least 20 points behind us last year so its hard to compare as all teams then change the next season. Think United have the players(and had the players many season before between 2013-20) especially the front 6.

Thing is I can see yous benefiting from playing at anfield in 2 weeks and can see us also dropping points tonight. We seem to be running on empty at the moment.

Posted by: Dobby Helms 30th December 2020, 01:52 PM

Our front 6 on paper is good but really it's only Bruno & Rash who can be counted on to be consistent in the vein of Pool's front 3. Martial has 1 league goal this season which is shocking.

Still a lot of questions marks over our defence too although Maguire has looked back to his best recently & Bailly has stepped in well for Lindelof.

We'll see about the big match at Anfield but hopefully we'll put up a better fight than the game last season!

Posted by: Christmasteve201 30th December 2020, 03:12 PM

I think Greenwoods the best finisher at the club, so much potential.

Posted by: Dobby Helms 30th December 2020, 03:45 PM

Spurs vs Fulham the latest Covid fixture casualty.

Seems inevitable that they're gonna have to have this circuit breaker but that'll mean the season simply won't be able to be finished. It's started late as it is and they ain't gonna be moving Euros again so... bye bye FA Cup?

Posted by: Rooney 30th December 2020, 04:04 PM

The game at Anfield will no barring on the title, it's not like the City vs Liverpool game last season at Anfield. Both teams will drop points. The game changer will be the game at Old Trafford which is really late this season.




They were stupid for allowing the League Cup. Now 5 subs will probably come back (it has to) as well, which just makes you think all these smaller clubs have absolutely no foresight and deserve to get relegated. 38 games will be played. I don't see how they fit a circuit breaker in without scrapping the FA Cup or asking UEFA to play some games on European nights.

Posted by: Dobby Helms 30th December 2020, 04:13 PM

Guess they could scrap cup replays and make European games one-leg only.

Another issue if they have a 2-week breaker what message is it gonna send when football can resume afterwards but everything else can't? They could have feasibly played earlier during the first lockdown with all the current protocols in place but it still took 3 months to return.

Strange that I've not heard anything about other leagues in Europe under threat of being suspended but the first time round they all stopped before the PL?

Posted by: Rooney 30th December 2020, 04:21 PM

They won't though as the problem is currently confined to England and not Europe, so from UEFA's perspective it makes no sense. And we also don't know how bad the outbreaks are. During the first lockdown, part of the problem was certain teams (West Ham, Brighton, Watford amongst a few others) did not want to play.. hence why it dragged on. The clubs stand to lose more if the contracts are not fulfilled this time around especially when most clubs went crazy in the transfer window.

I'm not sure we can have a circuit breaker anyway. I suspect Big Sam wants one as it gives him 2 weeks to use the transfer market and drill his methods in.. think we could possibly push the season back one week but obviously that hampers the Euros too..

Posted by: Christmasteve201 30th December 2020, 10:40 PM

Looks as though I’m bang on so far!

Posted by: Suedehead2 30th December 2020, 11:13 PM

Mourinho gets criticised for his "park the bus" tactics because he manages clubs with ambitions of winning trophies. It's rather different (although just as boring) when managers do it at clubs whose main aim is not to be relegated.

Posted by: Rooney 30th December 2020, 11:19 PM

The game was very similar to Man Utd-Wolves yesterday, except Man Utd got the luck in the last minute. We had plenty of chances, just terrible finishing. It was 100x better than the West Brom match, so no panic stations here. These games were built for Thiago, he did more in 10 minutes than the entire team did vs West Brom & Newcastle. There will be more games like this throughout the season for us, as we massively miss Virgil in these games - we are too slow to start attacks/transition in defence.

Gonna be a long old season

Posted by: MvG501 30th December 2020, 11:36 PM

Posted by: Dobby Helms 31st December 2020, 09:32 AM

Get your point but Wolves have finished 7th in both of their seasons since promotion so I don't think (or at least it certainly shouldn't be) their target is just to survive!

They have a very good recent record against us too so I was surprised they were so defensive. They definitely need a striker in January though, they should go for Costa.

Posted by: Flatcap 31st December 2020, 10:00 AM

Looking at the possible circuit break they are talking about, surely a bit of sense is required? It is a contact sport, but surely some of it can be avoided. The post goal celebrations and giving each other high fives before kick off are very risky given the COVID situation, plus the managers shaking hands before and after the match.

Posted by: Dobby Helms 31st December 2020, 10:17 AM

Why is it risky when all the players and managers have been tested negative before any match?

The rise in cases is probably down to boneheads like Kyle Walker driving up and down the country again.

Posted by: MvG501 31st December 2020, 10:26 AM

American investment group ALK Capital has completed its takeover of Burnley, buying an 84% stake in the Premier League club.

ALK managing director Alan Pace has replaced Mike Garlick as chairman.

However, Garlick - who sold his near 50% stake in the club - and fellow former shareholder John Banaszkiewicz will remain at Turf Moor as directors.

"This marks a new era for Burnley as we become stewards of this historic football club," said Pace.

The United States-based businessman said his aim was to "build on the impressive work" that Garlick and manager Sean Dyche have done to make Burnley a "financially stable, established Premier League club that is a cornerstone of the local community".

Posted by: Christmasteve201 2nd January 2021, 04:11 PM

Eze with one of the goals of the season vs Sheff United there

Posted by: MvG501 2nd January 2021, 10:59 PM

Sorry I've been busy,

The Impossible Job for Big Sam with getting West Brom to survive this season.

Posted by: MvG501 2nd January 2021, 11:03 PM

That was quite an entertaining match between Brighton and Wolves there, I think overall a draw was the best result sorry Suedehead2 and Sarah.

Posted by: MvG501 2nd January 2021, 11:14 PM

Another unwanted record for Sheffield United they have now set the record for the longest winless start to a Premier League campaign.

Posted by: MvG501 2nd January 2021, 11:24 PM

At least punish these players who have flouted coronavirus rules by attending parties over Christmas and New Year. Heard at least 7 players have done this.

Posted by: MvG501 2nd January 2021, 11:38 PM

Chelsea v Man City in doubt after another positive test ?

https://mobile.twitter.com/City_Xtra/status/1345499242924793856

Posted by: Flatcap 3rd January 2021, 02:33 PM

Dealt with internally. Think a dose of reality might shock these players into behaving themselves. Seem to be quite a few in the Coronavirus Hall of Shame from what I have read over the past 9/10 months of restrictions.

Posted by: Suedehead2 3rd January 2021, 02:37 PM

At least coming back from two goals down shows some fighting spirit.

Posted by: Dobby Helms 4th January 2021, 10:37 AM

Everyone just wants to see if they "better" Derby's infamous tally of 11 points now.

I think they'll run it close personally but it's not like they're being smashed 5-0 every week like the Rams. Think one lucky win could turn the tide a little bit.

Problem is they have absolutely no one who can score so they'd need a grindy 1-0 with a goal from a corner for that win to come. Losing Henderson was massive too, he kept them in so many games last season and Ramsdale is miles behind in terms of quality.

Posted by: Houdini 4th January 2021, 10:28 PM

#21 is coming!


On a serious note the league is looking even more wide open now, all it takes is about 2 wins and you'll be near the top of the table.

Posted by: Suedehead2 4th January 2021, 10:48 PM

For a side with just two points, their goal difference isn’t too bad. They are losing matched by an average margin of just under 1.5 goals.

Posted by: Rooney 4th January 2021, 11:22 PM

It's wide open. We won't win the league without signing a CB. If Matip could stay fit, I'd say we would be odds on favourites still but not having actual CBs that can play how we are trained to play is killing out style and tempo. We clearly are in a bad bit of form, but we have another couple of gears to go to yet. I suspect our form will come back as quickly as it went away. Gonna be a long old season that's for sure.

I get wild and mad about referee conspiracys but fuk me, the standatd of officiating in this league is beyond diabolical. Liverpool can't get a penalty unless they get shot these days, whereas other teams get penalties when someone blows on them.

Posted by: StefanMcGranne 5th January 2021, 12:03 AM

Your slowly changing your view on the title run in now Rooney ��

Your right about the ref though ffs seemed to be fine to manhandle Salah and Mane all night there and no frees given!!

Posted by: Rooney 5th January 2021, 12:38 AM

Utd won't win the league, City are much more of a threat. Utd are literally at the peak of their game right now and have had just about every luck in the sun. We can't buy a penalty right now despite having at least 2 real shouts for them over the past 2 games. I'm ok with Pogba getting the penalty he did the other night, but Mane was bearhugged by the goalkeeper in the Newcastle game and the tackle today on him was far more of a penalty than the one Pogba got against Villa. Likewise a handball is deemed not a penalty even though it stops a shot on target. The standard and consistency applied across the league is absolutely shocking.

The difference is this year no team is going to run away with the league and every 2-3 yweeks journos are writing hyberbole. A few weeks ago people were talking about Arsenal getting relegated and Arteta getting the sack. Now they're talking about them leading a Europe charge! See the same with Everton.

Probaby does us some good to take the pressure off and not be top for a little bit and try and go under the radar slightly ala City.

Posted by: Dobby Helms 5th January 2021, 09:48 AM

OK but then it's evening out from last season when every decision went your way

How big is the Anfield game now then. To actually have the chance of going into that game top of the league is bonkers.

But that's no reason to get too carried away. I remember when Everton won the league in September, then Spurs won it in November. City's next run of games is about as good as it possibly gets too.

Posted by: Rooney 5th January 2021, 11:01 AM

Only one decision went out way last year which had a major impact, that was the City game at Anfield. Despite all the VAR bollocks from fans, it rarely worked in our favour for penalties.

Ole will come to Anfield to get a point, if we have Matip available to play 90 minutes I am confident we will win. If we don't then it's anyone's guess. No-one should be getting giddy unless one team breaks away and stringd 7+ wins together (which City could plausibly do) everyone will have a shot if there are 8-9 games left to go and only 4-5 points difference.

Posted by: StefanMcGranne 5th January 2021, 01:32 PM

Yeh exactly, there always has to be a narrative!

Posted by: StefanMcGranne 5th January 2021, 01:36 PM

Why would yous not be top of the league? With the money and resources available United should be challenging EVERY season. I’m sick of this narrative that united are the underdogs challenging the big boys. They are one of the richest and biggest clubs in the world!

Posted by: Rooney 5th January 2021, 01:48 PM

The media are desperate for Man Utd to be challenging and near the top, it's almost parallels of 2008/2009 when Liverpool were challenging and the media were desperate for us to challenge. Just like the Man Utd/Liverpool game is going to be hyped up to high heavens, but unlike the Liverpool/City games of the past couple of seasons, this game does not feel definitive. It's bigger for Man Utd than Liverpool - even if Liverpool lost I could still see us coming back even though there would be a mini meltdown from our fan base, whereas you'd say if Man Utd lost it, probably, in all likelihood it derails a proper title charge and throws the advantage back to Liverpool/City.

It's the hope that kills you, I only hope there is a title challenge like 2008/2009 and some no mark for Liverpool scores a goal or two and is never heard of again

Posted by: Dobby Helms 5th January 2021, 02:38 PM

Because we finished 33 points behind you last season. That's an insane bridge to gap and our summer transfer business was widely derided before a ball was even kicked. Of course we're the underdogs right now when we haven't won, heck even come close to challenging for the title since 2013.

Yes we've spent money but so has City, so has Chelsea, so has Liverpool etc. They can't all win the title. It's not the 90s anymore where only us & Arsenal have a chance. And we can all agree a lot of the money we've spent has been pissed down the drain with some of the rubbish we've signed in the last 6 years.

Would agree with Rooney's comment it's certainly a much bigger match for us with definite parallels of 08/09!

Posted by: Rooney 5th January 2021, 06:16 PM

Challenging for the title means being there in March though, that's the big thing. They key will be to get to 85 points, I think that probably wins the league this year. I think over the last 2-3 seasons City and Liverpool were 100 points average (or there or thereabouts).. that is absolutely unseen. As a Liverpool fan I've been spoiled and it's why I haven't hit the panic buttons yet. We've been unlucky that things haven't come off and we've been hugely unlucky with injuries.

Posted by: Houdini 5th January 2021, 07:24 PM

Our squad is not even the best or 2nd best in the league so for that reason alone we would not be expected to be top of the league. As Dobbo said we haven't challenged for the title since Sir Alex left, we finished 2nd in 2017/18 but it was a one horse title race that season with Manchester City being about 13 points ahead before Christmas. Ole is not anywhere as good of a manager as Klopp or Guardiola either and has much less experience than them. Liverpool will still be the most likely team to win it at the moment but United fans are just appreciating where we are at the moment and having fun with the whole thing.

Posted by: StefanMcGranne 5th January 2021, 10:29 PM

Again all these are decisions united have made to bring Ole in and the players in the squad. But yous def have spent loads and have a lot of world class players albeit they haven’t won the league which dominates the narrative in the media!

Posted by: Iceman501 15th January 2021, 12:21 AM

As entertainment as having a splinter taken off your foot between Arsenal v Crystal Palace tonight.

Posted by: Houdini 17th January 2021, 07:28 PM

I'll take a point from that match. Both defences played very well and Alison was superb for Liverpool, we didn't really attack them at all in the first half but we were a bit better offensively in the 2nd, if only Pogba had scored from close range towards the end of the match! A draw is definitely a worse result for Liverpool than it is for us but this will suit Manchester City better than anyone. We keep our unbeaten away record in the league and stay top of the table, let's hope for all our sakes and for the good of football that we'll be there when all teams have played 38 games!

Posted by: Rooney 17th January 2021, 08:11 PM

First half Thiago ran the game, Utd couldn't get the ball. We were so wasteful and should have put you to the sword but it is just not clicking for us right now. Too many miss placed passes and we are clearly worried that one long ball over the top could result in a goal without Gomez/Virgil playing. Thought Utd missed a massive occassion not to go for us. City will go on a run now and I'd say only a full-firing Liverpool would be able to keep pace with them, but ever since the Brighton VAR debacles we've just not looked right. I personally don't think a point suits either team if they want to win the league.

Bruno Fernandes was pretty ineffective. Don't think I have ever seen him play above average in a big game

Posted by: Houdini 17th January 2021, 10:24 PM

Yeah it's in City's hands now, they've got a game in hand and a nice looking list of fixtures coming up though they don't feel like the same side that they were 2-3 years ago. City Vs Liverpool on 6th/7th February at Anfield will be a very interesting game, especially as City have a very poor record at Anfield.


Fernandes didn't play well today and he had too many misplaced passes, Rashford as well had an off day and got caught offside several times.

Posted by: steve201 17th January 2021, 11:08 PM

Hendo and Fabinho were excellent in defence and considering how unlucky we have been this season with nearly everything I think we did fine today. It was united for the taking today and once again they failed when the big change came under Ole.

If city have a chance of beating united to the title and we are out of it then go on city on the 6th feb Houdini 😜

Posted by: Rooney 17th January 2021, 11:44 PM

It's impossible to keep up 95+ points which is what Liverpool and City did. We've tried to re-invent ourselves but the injuries this year have crippled us. This season is just bonkers, 4 weeks ago it was Liverpool's title to lose and we banged 7 goals past Palace and now everyone is saying Salah/Mane are awful. It is just a complete anomoly of a season. Man Utd just aren't agressive or dominant enough to win the league, you've got to beat your rivals at some stage (which they haven't). City have a good run of fixtures now and are on a winning streak, it's going to be really hard for them to fall out of it.

Posted by: Dobbo. 18th January 2021, 10:06 AM

Engaging match if not particularly thrilling. Pool had most of the ball and we did well to hang on till half time but we had the better chances in the second half. We'd scored late winners against Wolves & Burnley recently so that Pogba chance was definitely a missed opportunity but happy with the point there.

Last season we had a brilliant record against the top 6 & flopped against everyone else, this season it's the other way around, quite peculiar.

Not getting the City hype train quite yet as they've had some awful games this season too and yes they're on a good run but they've had about as easy a run of fixtures as you could possibly ask for aside from Chelsea away. Also cringing a bit at this John Stones love in, he got lucky to get back into the team through other injuries and Dias has made him look 10x better. As if people are now saying he should be going to Euros, jog on.

Posted by: Rooney 18th January 2021, 11:00 AM

It's strange as while Pogba had arguably the best chance, the XG favours Liverpool. Firmino especially was terrible with his shooting and should have done so much better and made the keeper work.

The reason City are doing well now is not down to Dias, it's the tactical tweak they have made and it's probably what Liverpool need to do too. Pep realised that Rodri was not Fernandinho (and probably not one else is) so this season the full back, usually Cancelo tucks in to become more a CM so they are less vulnerable to counter attacks and the CBs are less exposed 1v1. Stones is much better like this.

It's just like Liverpool to some degree, a large part of why we are struggling us we cannot play such an aggressive high line as we don't have Virgil/Gomez who have recovery pace. It's why longer term we might not win the league this year but I am not too worried, we still have the best team.

Posted by: RabbitFurCoat 18th January 2021, 12:05 PM

City's defensive numbers have been exceptional this season, and they're now in a run of games where they're playing all the teams towards the bottom with only Villa in there, entirely probable they're top before playing Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal consecutively. I'd defo be taking a fit and confident Stones for England over some of the centre halves that Southgate has picked regularly - Dier, Keane, Coady

Posted by: Rooney 18th January 2021, 12:16 PM

They will be top by the time they play us and Pep would be happy with the draw if they're 6-8 points ahead. Like us City went through a bad patch earlier in the season, Liverpool's defensive numbers are not that bad either but we have adjusted our shape which means we are not as threataning attacking wise. They're on a 5 game winning streak but I also suspect they will drop points during this run, but clearly if they get to 10+ wins in a row nobody is gonna be stopping them as not sure Liverpool have the consistency this season.

Posted by: steve201 18th January 2021, 03:46 PM

We do lose a lot with fab and Hendo in the defence unfort!

Think City are heavily reliant on De Bruyne in terms of goals and assists and he’s so central to their attacks!

Posted by: Rooney 18th January 2021, 03:57 PM

We lose so much. City have been unfortunate they have had Aguero out too. Injuries happen though, it wasn't too long about that KDB missed basically an entire season.

Posted by: Iceman501 19th January 2021, 11:14 PM

Leicester very interesting. They are 1 point down on last season and top of the league.

Posted by: Iceman501 19th January 2021, 11:15 PM

Robert Snodgrass' omission from the West Brom squad beaten at West Ham on Tuesday is being investigated by the Premier League.

The former Scotland midfielder, 33, joined Albion from the Hammers on 8 January for an undisclosed fee, making his debut in Saturday's win at Wolves.

But he missed the West Ham game because of "an agreement between the clubs", West Brom boss Sam Allardyce said.

The Premier League will examine whether competition rules have been broken.

Under normal circumstances, Snodgrass would have been eligible to play against West Ham, as his transfer was permanent.

It is only with loan deals that such restrictions apply in the Premier League - in those circumstances, a player cannot face their parent club.

Posted by: Dobbo. 20th January 2021, 09:24 AM

Taxi for Frank now surely? They're gonna finished below 'relegation candidates' Arsenal at this rate.

To spend £200M in the Summer and be where they are is criminal. I think Werner will come good as soon as he's actually played in the right position and not shafted onto the wing but Havertz is a total flop.

Posted by: Rooney 20th January 2021, 09:55 AM

I can't see how he lasts much longer, but a few teams have been in bad form this season and managed to pick themselves back up.

But to spend that much money and still look hopeless is disasterous. Werner looks absolutely terrible, I thought he would be top scorer! To be fair his best position for Leipzig was on the left wing, but he was played more narrow so almost an inverted striker I guess.

Posted by: Iceman501 20th January 2021, 11:45 PM

Decent 3 points for Man United. Showed a bit of fight and character although the ending was, as usual, too close for comfort.

Posted by: Iceman501 20th January 2021, 11:53 PM

Dean Smith after the game:

Posted by: Rooney 21st January 2021, 09:57 AM

It was a good win for them, Fulham offered pretty much nothing and they did shut the counter attack down pretty well. Unfortunately for Man Utd this is them in 5th gear, I don't think they have enough ceiling yet and City are probably going to steamroll to the title now.

City's VAR decision was an absolute joke. I don't get the point of VAR if they don't use it. I understand how the referees will judge it, but that rule needs binning. Just like letting a passage of play run even though it's clear as day someone is offside (and even then this is not consistently done)

Posted by: Dobbo. 21st January 2021, 10:38 AM

Still not convinced by City yet. Since the Manchester derby they've played West Brom, Newcastle, Brighton, Palace & Villa all at home and their next 3 games are West Brom (again), Sheffield & Burney. About as easy a run as you could want. Only impressive win in between was Chelsea away but they definitely played them at the right time.

Their February fixtures will give a better indication of their credentials. Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal & United in the space of 5 games. KDB might be injured now as well.

Agreed on that offside decision yesterday. How on earth that wasn't given I've no idea.

Posted by: Rooney 21st January 2021, 11:24 AM

They've only conceded 4 goals since Liverpool. By the time they play us if they are more than 6 points ahead, the title is wrapped up. They could plausibly be on a 8-9 win streak and I don't think any team can match that this season. United can't take points off their rivals this season either, that might have been enough in the Fergie years but not in this season. Plus I still think City have an extra gear to go if they really need to, the only other team playing at half a pace is Liverpool but unless we hit a patch of a form (starting with 3+ wins on the trot) we will just focus on the CL and play for Top 4.

Posted by: steve201 21st January 2021, 08:30 PM

How can you say the titles over with united three points clear 😂 City are a different proposition with de Bruyne in without him anything can happen!

Posted by: Rooney 21st January 2021, 10:29 PM

Because something is not quite right with us as shown tonight. I think some is down to the players but something is clearly not quite right with us. We play games at a snail pace these days and seemingly cannot buy a goal right now, as evidenced by Origi missing a one on one! We used to blitz teams and now we look absolutely toothless. I'm not going to stick the knife in as we have been spoilt so badly over the past 2-3 years but we do not have the consistency in us to win the league.

Posted by: steve201 21st January 2021, 10:39 PM

No we haven’t played well since the start of last year (2020). I knew we wouldn’t win it from near the start of the season. But my point above was in relation to ruling United and Leicester out at this stage.

Love how the twitteratti all try and create a narrative about everything - Trent the best thing since sliced bread last year now he’s burned out. You can’t win the league EVERY year and Liverpool have been at their peak since 2018 now! Least we got one in last year, keeps me happy for life.

Fair play to Burnley, well deserved tbh!

Posted by: Rooney 21st January 2021, 10:48 PM

City are still playing in 3rd or 4th gear, I think they can go up a level if they need to.

Trent's had a few bad games, although I actually thought he was quite good today but, he lost his head after the goal and his defending at times was sketchy. It really is like we play games like they are actually training ground games at times. We have had zero luck this year, really does feel like we sold our soul to win the league and now Lady Luck has absolutely decimated this season at multiple points.

Posted by: Houdini 21st January 2021, 10:50 PM

Liverpool's unbeaten home record had to come to an end at some point but I would never have expected Burnley to be the ones to end it. It makes the draw on Sunday feel more like a wasted opportunity now than it did on Sunday although I would still say it was a decent result. The table is still so close so Liverpool can't be ruled out and lets not forget that Manchester City drew with West Brom not too long ago. The contrast between this time last year and now in terms of the Premier League is very refreshing though!

Posted by: Rooney 21st January 2021, 11:14 PM

It was always going to end during 2020/2021 with no crowds. Anfield gives that extra edge for us and even in our play our players have lost the adrenaline they used to have, we pull out of 50/50 tackles these days. I am just glad that it wasn't a rival that took the record, that gives me some comfort. We have no chance of the title, something is clearly not right with us, to play at the very top of football for 3 seasons looks like it's impossible, City couldn't do it last season and neither can we. I can totally see why we are being linked with Bissouma from Brighton for next season.

Posted by: steve201 22nd January 2021, 08:48 AM

A lot of my mates have said they are shocked it was Burnley that took the record I for one knew it would be a team like Burnley or Palace as you always play a bit better against a top 6 side.

Posted by: Suedehead2 22nd January 2021, 09:32 AM

It6's not particularly unusual for a team to lose a long unbeaten record to an unlikely opponent. Don't forget Liverpool's first defeat last season was at Watford. Back in the old First Division days, Brighton were the team to beat Nottingham Forest's 42-match unbeaten run (a record at the time).

Posted by: Dobbo. 22nd January 2021, 09:45 AM

Unthinkable what's happened to Pool this season of late, they used all their goals up in the Palace match!

I think it mainly has to be burnout. You can't keep up Klopp's insane energy levels with pretty much the exact same starting XI for season after season, legs are gone. Will be interesting to see if he can turn it around because this similar scenario played out at Dortmund and we all know what happened there...

Posted by: Rooney 22nd January 2021, 10:36 AM

I think there are a few issues but burnout isn't one of them. There is obviously some confidence and mental fatigue and lack of crowds has had an adverse effect on our adrenaline levels. Yes, I know it affects everyone but it's also no surprise that some teams (Everton, West Ham, Man Utd) are playing much better without fans there. But that's only a minor part. The main part is the CB issue, we are toothless in attack because we can't press because we no longer have Gomez/Virgil in defence and thus we play 15 yards deeper. Our whole style of play is built around transition, pressing at key moments but we can barely do that because we are not high enough.

The media and people forget that we had the farcical Everton game and injuries/covid to every single player. The problem is this isn't an issue we can just turn around overnight. If we signed a CB in Jan 1st I'd say we were title challengers, but failure to sign a CB is criminal by our owners. You can't plan for 2 long term knee injuries and Klopp clearly doesn't trust Williams/Phillips and neither do I, because one is nowhere near ready and the second is a Championship player.

Posted by: steve201 22nd January 2021, 01:45 PM

I just think of Rhys Williams being outpaced earlier in the month at anfield, think it was against West Brom?

Posted by: Dobbo. 22nd January 2021, 05:07 PM

KDB ruled out for 6 weeks, that's huge as that includes all of City's tough February games which I alluded to earlier.

I know they managed without him for the 17/18 season but without him OR Aguero I think(/hope) City will struggle. Also as soon as they play a top calibre team Stones is gonna be found out, like he always is.

Posted by: Rooney 22nd January 2021, 05:37 PM

Yeah West Brom and against Louie Barry too at Villa U23s. Which is expected as he is a 19 year old CB who played National League North last season. if we play a high line we can be done by a simple ball over the top, teams would try that aginst us, but Gomez and Virgil are two of the fastest players in the league so there was little point.

City won't be found out defensively Dobbo, at least not with Stones. The way they play currently means that are no suspect to 1 on 1 situations and overexposed. It might mean they struggle to break teams down more though. Man Utd are going to luck out at some point this season surely.

Posted by: Houdini 25th January 2021, 11:25 AM

Chelsea are set to sack Frank Lampard according to media reports. Normally when these kind of stories break it always actually happens.

Posted by: Iceman501 25th January 2021, 11:43 AM

Confirmed that Chelsea have sacked Frank Lampard as head coach.

Posted by: Rooney 25th January 2021, 11:49 AM

Tuchel coming in apparently, I guess they are worried about not getting Top 4 and Havertz/Werner not settling properly. The Mason Mount jokes are gold right now.

At least this also takes the heat off of Liverpool for a few days in the press too.. good timing!

Posted by: Dobbo. 25th January 2021, 01:01 PM

One of the least surprising sackings in recent years. Too big a job too early in his managerial career. Brought in to appease the fans & steady the ship following the transfer ban but has been found out completely this season and doesn't have the can't spend no money excuse to fall back on.

Posted by: steve201 25th January 2021, 01:06 PM

Strange choice if they were going to sack him after less than two seasons!

Posted by: TalkAboutWall 25th January 2021, 01:07 PM

i think the man city game was probably the game that got him sacked - they demolished chelsea with a weak team

Posted by: Dobbo. 25th January 2021, 03:26 PM

Think it was the Leicester one that really did him as they looked liked a relegation team in that game never mind competing for the title.

But as we know Chelsea managers are only ever 3 or 4 bad results away from the sack. Give it 2 seasons and we'll be having this exact convo about Tuchel.

Posted by: Rooney 25th January 2021, 04:32 PM

Tuchel is destined to fail, he did the absolute bare minimum that would be expected at both Dortmund and PSG. But again, he will know what he is getting himself in for and will be well compensated and will get another job at some point.

Posted by: Iceman501 26th January 2021, 07:03 PM

As expected

Chelsea have appointed former Paris St-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel as their new manager on an 18-month contract with an option to extend it.

Posted by: TalkAboutWall 26th January 2021, 07:06 PM

wonder where lampard will end up next ?

Posted by: Rooney 26th January 2021, 07:39 PM

Celtic!

Posted by: Iceman501 26th January 2021, 11:32 PM

Good Arsenal team effort against a high quality Southampton team.

Posted by: Iceman501 26th January 2021, 11:33 PM

Euro 2020 BBC/ITV Pundit

Posted by: Iceman501 26th January 2021, 11:47 PM

Newcastle creeping closer and closer to a relegation battle.

Posted by: Iceman501 27th January 2021, 01:00 PM

Who in your view is the Premier League's Manager of the Season so far?

Posted by: Dobbo. 27th January 2021, 01:05 PM

That Norwegian PE teacher is doing quite a decent job.

Posted by: Rooney 27th January 2021, 01:11 PM

I'd say Rodgers personally. I think he has been the best tactically, although a bit like Pep he can really overthink it sometimes!

Posted by: Iceman501 27th January 2021, 01:17 PM

For me, it would be Rodgers as well.

Posted by: Houdini 27th January 2021, 01:20 PM

David Moyes. West Ham were one of the relegation favourites pre-season but they're battling it out for Champions League football as things stand!

Posted by: Iceman501 27th January 2021, 01:24 PM

Yes, West Ham they have certainly been a surprise so far this season.

Posted by: Dobbo. 27th January 2021, 01:35 PM

Let's see if Leicester actually get top 4 this season or if it's another Rodger's bottlejob.

West Ham right NOW are looking good but if the teams below them win (or even draw) their games in hand they'll be down to 7th and once Chelsea/Arsenal inevitably pick up they'll be down to 9th which is about where they should be aiming for.

Dean Smith deserves a shout. Labelled as a Championship-standard manager all last season he's not just got Villa playing great football but the signings have been spot on as well. All this whilst having the worst covid outbreak & most games postponed of all the clubs.

Posted by: steve201 27th January 2021, 01:53 PM

Yeh Moyes/Rodgers/Smith for me!

How can you accuse Rodgers of a bottler job again Dobbo? Leicester hardly have the same spending power as some teams around them including Man U!

Posted by: Iceman501 27th January 2021, 02:06 PM

There's a chance that Leicester could once again come short like last season.

Posted by: Rooney 27th January 2021, 02:12 PM

You can say that about any team, we're only just over halfway through the season and half the teams in the leagues have hit good and bad form. This season is absolute madness, a complete anomaly.

Posted by: Iceman501 27th January 2021, 02:19 PM

That's perfectly true, Rooney. It has a mad season, anything can happen in this league. Well done to Flatcap who is top of our Prediction Competition.

Posted by: Dobbo. 27th January 2021, 04:05 PM

Missing top 4 last year was a huge bottlejob, they were about 12 points ahead of us at Christmas. And I won't mention 2014

He's doing a great job this season that's true though. Leicester have a knack of finding absolute gems for cut-price prices, look at Fofana this season.

Posted by: TalkAboutWall 27th January 2021, 04:07 PM

it was disappointing to miss but they still over exceeded expectations and i think they have a chance of going far in the europa league

Posted by: steve201 27th January 2021, 06:25 PM

True but my main point is based on the clubs expectations they are well below what United have for example. So bottling it for united to be top 4 last year was really them over performing and united under performing imo. It was just the levelling out of results over the course of a season. You could even argue to same for Liverpool in 2014, we came from 7th in 2013 and ended up 2nd in the seasons before that there had never been a big jump from that point to the verge of the title but of course Liverpool have different expectations so we’re underperforming since Rafa left overall.

Posted by: Houdini 27th January 2021, 10:19 PM

Of course we had to go on and lose to bottom of the table Sheffield United! We looked lethargic throughout the match and played with no urgency, the media will have a field day with this no doubt. Hopefully we'll put this behind us and beat Arsenal on the weekend.

Posted by: Rooney 27th January 2021, 10:24 PM

Sheffield United were really good. It will be interesting to see how Utd respond, usually after a good run of form the wheels come off for a good little while. I still testament that if Bruno has an off day, Utd really struggle. It's alright though as Utd have already won the league according to everything I've read over the last 2 weeks!

Posted by: Doctor Blind 27th January 2021, 10:29 PM

What is UP with Man Utd's home form in 2020/21 !!

Posted by: Houdini 27th January 2021, 10:32 PM

All I've heard for the past few weeks is how Man City have already won the league, even when they were in 9th place their name was engraved on the trophy!

Posted by: steve201 27th January 2021, 10:33 PM

Wow always nice to see DB join us in the sport forum!

Yes United bottling it again @Dobbo 😜

Posted by: Iceman501 27th January 2021, 11:03 PM

Nice to see you posting on the Sports forum, Doctor Blind.

Instead of Rodgers doing the bottling, Man United does it for us.

Posted by: Iceman501 27th January 2021, 11:19 PM

Cracking scrap for the neutral.

Massive 3 pointer and confidence boost for Burnley.

Posted by: Dobbo. 28th January 2021, 09:55 AM

Ha I have no retort for that

Tbf we were due a loss. As previously mentioned having to win from behind in every single game is simply unsustainable and eventually it wouldn't happen. Although when we got it back to 1-1 there was only one team in it, yet we had to go and concede a laughably bad goal through some horrendous defending (JUST CLEAR THE DAMN BALL!)

The VAR decisions were questionable, how one earth you can chalk off a goal for a foul on Ramsdale yet ignore Sharp's push on De Gea I've no idea. That said we can't be leaning on that excuse, we should have wiped the floor with this team. Rashford in particular was absolutely garbage but he gets a free ride in the press due to his humanitarian heroics.

Everyone can lose a game but how we bounce back will be very interesting. I always feel with United after a great run as soon as that first defeat comes the wheels properly fall off and I haven't changed my mind on that front. If we lose at Arsenal we're 1 billion percent out of the title race. However I'm cautiously optimistic given our unbelievable away record.

Posted by: Quarantilas 28th January 2021, 10:03 AM

Of all the Teams it was gonna be SU. It is extremely Man United of us to Man United in this way

Posted by: steve201 28th January 2021, 11:17 AM

Don’t worry it was quite Spursey, so much so that they will likely beat us later lol!

Posted by: Rooney 28th January 2021, 01:07 PM

It doesn't really matter we're well out of the title race now unless we match City's next 3 results, which is going to be a tall ask. That said in a complete reverse of Man Utd's form, we've played so much better against the big teams. United missing having 2 good CBs yesterday, so I can see why they are in the market for one. Tuanzebe was a massive hole and drop off in quality. It's any wonder why Liverpool have struggled so much- yes it's ok when you're on the front foot but these plays are also susceptible to making basic errors which cost you at this level.

Posted by: RabbitFurCoat 28th January 2021, 01:59 PM

I'm delighted Sheffield United got such a win, they have been very unlucky this season and nowhere near as bad as their results have suggested - they're certainly loads better than West Brom and most games are tight - but their big recruitment has been quite poor, far from convinced Ramsdale is close to being a PL level keeper. Getting a win like that with so many injuries too, Jagielka at the back, 6th/7th choice CB at wing back!

Posted by: Rooney 28th January 2021, 02:32 PM

Agreed totally, I backed them at 11/1 yesterday - Sheffield Utd haven't been THAT bad, Utd's home form is patchy and were coming off the back of a high intensity game at the weekend. I did feel at 1-1 there was only going to be one winner though! Totally agree about Ramsdale- I think he's terrible. He made one big mistake in the 1st half yesterday where he went out to reach the ball and got lucky.

Posted by: steve201 28th January 2021, 06:02 PM

Yeh me to but would be nice to see us slot into second spot in the long run.

Why was Lindeloff on the bench? Felt United were trying to rest some players.

Posted by: steve201 28th January 2021, 06:05 PM

Yeh and the fact he left Bournemouth so quickly too when they gave him a chance, he’s def a step down from Hendo!

Posted by: Rooney 28th January 2021, 06:14 PM

We don't have any CBs and that's ultimately going to cost us. Liverpool and City are still by far the best teams, but without a CB (seeing as the rumours going round are that Fabinho is now injured) signing we have a humongous hole in terms of quality.

Posted by: Houdini 28th January 2021, 09:36 PM

Now I know why the phrase "Dr Tottenham" was trending on Twitter last week. Can't score a goal or win in the league in 2021? no problem, Dr Tottenham will see you now.

Posted by: Rooney 28th January 2021, 10:08 PM

Haha Spurs just got the brunt of it tonight, we weren't going to be bad forever in front of goal.

Now sign a CB as we no longer have any!!!

Posted by: steve201 28th January 2021, 11:48 PM

Matip out for months with ankle ligament damage.

Posted by: Rooney 29th January 2021, 02:56 PM

On a different note, surely Bale should be going down as one of the worst signings in the summer. The guy is completely finished at the top level, unless you count scoring against Marine as a success. It's a bit like when Rooney re-signed for Everton, you're not signing the Rooney of 2008 or the Bale of 2013.

Posted by: Dobbo. 29th January 2021, 03:36 PM

He didn't even score against Marine to exacerbate your point even further!

Definitely agreed though, if not the worst signing then absolutely the most pointless. He had more chance of playing under Zidane at Madrid this season Not sure if it's completely down to fitness or general attitude. Mourinho hates "lazy" players though hence why Alli has been shafted into the wilderness.

At least Rooney mark 2 at Everton was starting every match and scoring the odd goal, even got a hat-trick against West Ham that season.

Posted by: steve201 29th January 2021, 06:59 PM

Think Bale was just for the fans pretty expensive though.

Posted by: Rooney 30th January 2021, 07:59 PM

The best part of the United-Arsenal game was Neville trying to convince himself that he didn't believe United would win the league last week

Posted by: steve201 30th January 2021, 11:12 PM

Yeh hate the way it’s always Neville and Carra commentating on their own teams, wonder if Smith had any chance of starting.

He always can’t hide his anguish if united aren’t playing well

Posted by: Rooney 31st January 2021, 01:36 AM

On a side note, this is why the standard of referring is crap

https://streamable.com/x8sezp

So this is not a penalty for Southampton, but they can chalk off the Firmino goal against Tottenham for example. I get somethings go for you and against you, but clearly the referees have absolutely no clue what they are doing.

Posted by: Houdini 31st January 2021, 03:03 AM

3 points looks like a truly unassailable lead at the top of the table with only 17/18 matches left of the season.

Posted by: Rooney 31st January 2021, 11:04 AM

The only team that can go toe to toe with them is Liverpool when City are in this type of form and we currently don't have any of our 4 first choice CBs available. I actually think they are due a defeat shortly, but City will walk this title if they avoid defeat at Anfield next weekend.

Posted by: steve201 31st January 2021, 06:37 PM

Great win from Liverpool today, Salahs 2 finishes were lovely!