From the moment Antonio Valencia cut out the ball, his sole intention was to make Arsenal, and in particular Koscielny, pay for his error. The fact midfielder Paul Pogba was involved in the move and rolled the most inviting ball for Valencia to control and smash through Petr Cech's legs wasn't wasted on me either. I refuse to allow the Frenchman's dreadful fluorescent-styled Mohican haircut to influence my regard for his talents.
Ok Garth, you didnt even pick him in you TOTW, shut the fuck up abhout Pogbas hair (This was from Valencias pick as RB)
Crooks has followed the phrase high-maintenance Luiz with far-less-combustible Christiansen. Not how compound words work m7
By FootbalIFan Go To PostDont show AndresON777 that vid wooden
his two favorite things in one. donkeys and lolis.
By FootbalIFan Go To PostDont show AndresON777 that vid woodenDoes the madman still play assassin’s creed 3 lol
Also Crooks:
However, losing 5-1 is no fun, especially when Reds manager Jurgen Klopp is fist-pumping every goal and celebrating with his staff like it's the final of the Champions League. I understand the importance of winning, but this was Brighton. What I do take exception to is any managerbeing kept waiting to shake hands once a game has finished, while his opposite number finishes hugging and kissing his players and staff in celebration of their victory. I sense this was exactly what happened after the final whistle, and why Chris Hughton tore a strip off Klopp immediately after the game and quite rightly.
What is happening to the traditions of this great game? Has winning and money destroyed everything we hold dear? The convention is we shake hands immediately after a game because it brings closure to the occasion, and it starts with the managers. The game's conventions are bigger than any manager or player, and if either can't be bothered to perform the duty, I suggest they find another profession that can afford their bad manners.
By Shanks D Zoro Go To PostGarth Crooks is still a thing?Racist.
Was always the worst of the BBC bunch.
By Perfect Blue Go To PostAndreas Christensen is the best player in the PL.
By Kidjr Go To Postimagine spending over a quarter of a billion on players and it being ok with the top four.Is it really that bad that after 4 years of finishing 5th-6th and only once breaking into the top 4 that you feel it's better to set an easier expectation on the team for yourself, and focus on watching for improvements on the team instead.
Mourinho should target to win the EPL title. That's his job. For me though, the aforementioned is that's the target I set, and what I seek to see in the team.
Rog: I need to ask you this: did a Clattenburg refereed game have a personality, if so, what were its traits?
Clats: There's one game in particular, which was the "Battle of Stamford Bridge." It was Chelsea vs. Tottenham, if was the famous that year Leicester win the title, it was theater. I went in with a gameplan that I didn't want Tottenham Hotspur blaming Mark Clattenburg that they were gonna lose the title. It should've been 3 red cards to Tottenham; I allowed them to self-destruct so all the media, all the people in the world went, "Tottenham lost the title." If I sent 3 players off from Tottenham, what's the headlines? "Clattenburg lost Tottenham the title," and it was pure theater that Tottenham self-destructed against Chelsea and Leicester win the title.
Rog: In that game, were the Chelsea players not screaming bloody murder, they're like, "Clattenburg what are you doing we're getting massacred here!"
Clats: It was the first game where Diego Costa never got cautioned (laughs). It was so crazy when you look back at the game but, when Hazard scored to equalize to make it 2-2 I've never felt an atmosphere in a stadium before like that before, because of Chelsea had stopped one of the enemies winning the title.
Rog: In a way you scripted it.
Clats: …I helped the game, I certainly benefited the game by my style of refereeing. Some referees would have played by the book and Tottenham would have been down to 7 or 8 players and probably lost, and Tottenham would've been looking for an excuse but I didn't give them an excuse, because me gameplan was let them lose the title.
Rog: Listening to this, I was like, "Wow, Mark Clattenburg, even crazier than Diego Costa" (Clats laughs) that is saying something, but you've said, "I want games to be a spectacle," and hearing you talk about the Battle of Stamford Bridge, is that the referee's job or is it really down to the players?
Clats: I think we're all part of theater. That's why the Premier League is the best league in the world. Its assisted by the best players, the best referees, the best coaches, and we've all got a duty to make sure the game's enhanced. The English style of refereeing is different; I had to referee differently when I went into Europe than I did in the Premier League because none of the top players in Europe would accept some of the physical contact that went on in the Premier League - but that was the theater, that's what people loved. They love a tackle, they don't want it punished.
Rog: You pride yourself on man-management, its a phrase that comes up in conversation with you over and over, talking to the players rather than cautioning them, as you've said, you occasionally famously called them "mate" on the field. How do the players react to that? Do they really want to reciprocate and get on with the referee?
Clats: Gotta know the right time, that what's experience. Some young referees will try to speak to players too much and players sometimes don't want them to speak. I remember refereeing Ashley Cole. Speaking to Ashley Cole at the wrong time when he was going through things with his head (garbled) doing some tactics. But there were good times to speak to Ashley Cole, when he was calm and he was ready to get on with. Speaking to the player at the wrong time can have a bad effect.
so much horse shit in this, i dont know where to start
By W Go To Postso much horse shit in this, i dont know where to startoh I've seen this behavior once
They're absolutely going to sneak Trump into the country on like the 2nd January to avoid the protests.
Imagine spending a quarter of a billion and then another team in your league spends even more than that.
Woodward why didn't you buy us wing backs and another CM 😠
Clattenburg is really gassed on himself. Lol
Woodward why didn't you buy us wing backs and another CM 😠
Clattenburg is really gassed on himself. Lol
“It is the same thing if I compare his work with a national-team coach like Gareth Southgate.Marco going in. Love it.
"Go and see what he (Allardyce) was doing when he was 40 years old, or see what he was doing in his first seven seasons as a coach. Then look at what I am doing at the same age – or you can wait until I am 63 years old, and then we can compare what I have done.”
Bring me Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Flutter.
By Francis Go To PostMarco going in. Love it.YES, MARCO!
The Brexiteers would just say, "Silva is a dirty foreigner, coming over here and taking our jobs" PROPER FOOTBALL MEN
By Francis Go To PostLeonid Slutsky has resigned as Hull boss.Useless cunt getting exposed. Feels good.
Sviatoslav, rejoice!
By Oddinho Go To PostBy next week Utd are going to be closer in the tables to Liverpool than to City.
We already are
By Oddinho Go To PostBy next week Utd are going to be closer in the tables to Liverpool than to City.
Says a lot more about City than it does about Liverpool or United.
City has been looking at least a little more vulnerable at the back this past month, but considering how Arsenal has managed to get into some really good goalscoring positions despite us playing 3 in the back, well...
It's not like United can't win. Just that we need a near perfect game at least, and hope KdB and Silva has a shocker of a game.
It's not like United can't win. Just that we need a near perfect game at least, and hope KdB and Silva has a shocker of a game.
By Bungie Go To PostX is closer to Y than Z
But think of the implications.
By Diego! Go To PostAt least no one will say Spurs "bottled it" this seasonThat, buddy, is where you're wrong.
We just bottled top 6, rather than the title.
*chef kiss*
Think this 3-5-2 should be our away line up tbh, scored 7 goals in a week against good sides. Get Bailly in there instead and it looks nawty.
4-2-3-1 at home with Blind and one or two of Micky/Rash/Mata.
4-2-3-1 at home with Blind and one or two of Micky/Rash/Mata.
By JesalR Go To PostThat, buddy, is where you're wrong.
We just bottled top 6, rather than the title.
*chef kiss*
What a game.
5 days to Juve - Inter and I've yet to see a single interview with Gigi Simoni about that Iuliano on Ronaldo incident from 1998.
Someone should check if he's alright.
Also, rumors about Milan changing hands, apparently there are Arab investors looking to step in and possibly take over.
Time to dust off those scarfs.
Someone should check if he's alright.
Also, rumors about Milan changing hands, apparently there are Arab investors looking to step in and possibly take over.
Time to dust off those scarfs.
Apparently we signed a left winger from KV Mechelen, some lad called Bandé. Anyone ever heard of him?
Also, makes a lot of sense to strengthen our attack when things are turning to shit in the back.
Also, makes a lot of sense to strengthen our attack when things are turning to shit in the back.
Transfer news
Everton manager Sam Allardyce has made Watford striker Troy Deeney, 29, his top target in the January transfer window. (ESPN)
Meanwhile, Allardyce has stated his desire to keep Ross Barkley, 23, but hinted the midfielder could leave in the summer. (Liverpool Echo)
Manager Antonio Conte has told the Chelsea board to sort out new contracts for goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, 25, and attacking midfielder Eden Hazard, 26, before they go to the World Cup with Belgium. (Express)
Arsenal are keen to sign Sevilla midfielder Steven N'Zonzi, 28, with the former Blackburn and Stoke player having fallen out with boss Eduardo Berizzo. (AS, via Sun)
Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, 23, could return to Anderlecht in January as his frustration at the club continues. (Nieuws Blad, via Chronicle)
Everton, West Ham and Swansea are set to compete for the signing of Augsburg defender Daniel Opare, 27, in January. (Mail)
Arsenal and Tottenham are interested in signing Dani Ceballos. The 21-year-old midfielder is unhappy at Real Madrid. (Calciomercato)
Schalke and Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka, 22, will tell Manchester United, Arsenal and Barcelona his future plans by the end of January amid interest from all three clubs. (Goal)
Tottenham are preparing an offer for 20-year-old attacking midfielder Yusuf Yazici, who plays for Turkish side Trabzonspor. (Sporx - in Turkish)
Brazilian side Gremio have told Barcelona they will have to pay a 50m euro (£44m) release clause to sign midfielder Arthur, after the 21-year-old was pictured wearing the Catalan club's kit. (RAC1, via Mail)
Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud, 31, needs to play more if he is to make France's World Cup squad and could consider a loan move in January, according to the country's assistant manager. (Star)
Meanwhile…
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba could face an extended ban for sarcastically applauding after being sent off during Saturday's victory over Arsenal. (Telegraph)
Swansea City owners will back manager Paul Clement and give him money to spend in the January transfer window. (Wales Online)
Tempers boiled over in the Swansea City dressing room following their defeat by Stoke City on Saturday as the players were involved in a heated row. (Guardian)
Swansea City keeper Lukasz Fabianski believes the players are letting manager Paul Clement down and says: "It's difficult times for him [Clement] because he's trying his best but we as a team have to deliver." (Mirror)
England players will share a £5m bonus if they win the 2018 World Cup but will receive nothing if they fail to progress from the group. (Sun)
Manager Gareth Southgate will not be sacked even if England perform poorly at next year's tournament in Russia. (Guardian)
Leicester winger Demarai Gray says team-mate Marc Albrighton deserves an England call-up. (Express)
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin says there is no fear from the Goodison Park side going into Sunday's derby against Liverpool after back-to-back league wins. (Mirror)
Everton manager Sam Allardyce wants to bring in a sports psychologist to try to improve his side's form. (Times - subscription required)
Watford boss Marco Silva says Everton manager Sam Allardyce's comparison of their track records "does not make sense". (Telegraph)
Southampton striker Charlie Austin signed off the weekend with a Liam Gallagher-referencing tweet to celebrate scoring the equaliser in his side's 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.
Best of Sunday's gossip
Tottenham will sell England left-back Danny Rose, 27, to Manchester United in January, but only if they receive an offer of £45m. (Daily Star Sunday)
Liverpool are ready to launch a bid to reunite Jurgen Klopp with Borussia Dortmund's Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 28, as Daniel Sturridge, 28, looks to leave Anfield. (Sunday Express)
New Everton boss Sam Allardyce is planning a £25m move for 28-year-old Sevilla and France midfielder Steven N'Zonzi, who played under the 63-year-old at Blackburn. (Mail on Sunday)
Chelsea would rather let Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, 25, leave for free when his contract ends in summer 2019 than sell him to Real Madrid at the end of this season. (Sun on Sunday)
Manchester City have not given up on signing West Brom and Northern Ireland centre-back Jonny Evans, 29, despite having two bids rejected in the summer. (Sunday Express)
Tempers boiled over in the Swansea City dressing room following their defeat by Stoke City on Saturday as the players were involved in a heated row. (Guardian)
Britain concedes on Irish border, senior MEP says after Barnier meeting - Politics live
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2017/dec/04/theresa-may-heads-to-brussels-hoping-to-conclude-phase-one-of-brexit-talks-politics-live
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2017/dec/04/theresa-may-heads-to-brussels-hoping-to-conclude-phase-one-of-brexit-talks-politics-live
By Scum Go To PostLiverpool are ready to launch a bid to reunite Jurgen Klopp with Borussia Dortmund's Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 28, as Daniel Sturridge, 28, looks to leave Anfield. (Sunday Express)
Who needs defenders anyway
By Scum Go To PostManager Gareth Southgate will not be sacked even if England perform poorly at next year's tournament in Russia. (Guardian)
