Football - 2023/24 ...
 

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Football - 2023/24 Season

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Wow. Some game. The shirt off yellow card rule is just silly.


 
Posted : 17/03/2024 6:09 pm
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binners, oh ye of little faith 😂

@argee - I wasn’t that optimistic but I did still stick a few quid on us winning at 4/1 😃

That was a completely mad game! It’s a good few years since we’ve had a United Liverpool ding ding like that! What position did Bruno end up playing? I lost track


 
Posted : 17/03/2024 6:13 pm
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Well, bloody hell. Picked the wrong half of football to pop out for.


 
Posted : 17/03/2024 6:18 pm
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I just saw Liverpool being wasteful and think the subs were wrong, Nunez was having a real off day, and Salah is just a danger for countering, think they just messed about too much as they’ve done a few times this year and away to united isn’t the time for that.


 
Posted : 17/03/2024 6:20 pm
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I feel sorry for Amad. The first yelllow was a joke. Liverpool player for the free kick threw the ball forward 5 yards & kicked it into him.


 
Posted : 17/03/2024 6:30 pm
binners and binners reacted
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Sorry, I was busy eating my words. Looks like Rashford, given enough time, can hit a horse's behind with a large banjo.


 
Posted : 17/03/2024 6:49 pm
binners and binners reacted
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Was nice to see Man U beat an injury ravaged Liverpool 2nd team 😉

Looks good for an all Manchester final - but knowing how good my predictions are I look forward to Coventry repeating their 1987 success.


 
Posted : 18/03/2024 9:03 am
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It would be pretty typical of the present United to beat Liverpool then lose to Coventry


 
Posted : 18/03/2024 9:05 am
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That was a completely mad game! It’s a good few years since we’ve had a United Liverpool ding ding like that! What position did Bruno end up playing? I lost track

I had to go out at 90 minutes, so missed the ET, Bruno was a lucky boy to still be around after his petulance and that foul on the Liverpool midfielder, who's name i can't spell 🤣, i just thought Liverpool looked a bit out of ideas, so ManU had a chance at home, the substitutions were a bit weird as well, Salah was probably the only one of the front three doing stuff, and Robertson looked less than impressed being replaced by a right back!


 
Posted : 18/03/2024 10:47 am
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I was lucky enough to have a ticket to yesterday's match at OT. Never experienced an atmosphere like it.


 
Posted : 18/03/2024 12:34 pm
 dazh
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So another club f***** by PSR. What's the point of actually playing the football? They might as well just run all the accounts through an algorithm and announce who the winners are. 🙄


 
Posted : 18/03/2024 3:12 pm
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It's all a bit weird, FFP is great if all are equal, but it's not, what it does now is allow the big teams to stay big, and the small teams to have to really think about how they function more, the gap between the EPL and the EFL is getting bigger, and this whole PSR is going to keep increasing that, even if just due to the differing amounts per season in each, Forest are being done over as they spent 2 years in the EFL on reduced levels, if they'd been EPL for those two years they'd have made the limit easily, yet they came up, were not in any horrific debt, it's mental.

I understand why it was brought in, but it's just not going to work in this day and age with the EPL, they should focus on their fit and proper assessments more, that's screwed clubs up more than financial spreadsheets!


 
Posted : 18/03/2024 3:43 pm
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I shall look forward to hearing the Florist fans whining tomorrow, ignoring the grief they gave Derby fans not that long ago.


 
Posted : 18/03/2024 5:11 pm
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Could someone explain how these sanctions work? Forest could lose something like £100m in 3 years,a nd not get into bother, but they went over that as a proportion. OK, got that. What about the big clubs? Surely the massive investment in Newcastle will brerach the rules? What about Man City, who have been spending £100’s of millions for the past 5+ years, surely they are losing money too?


 
Posted : 18/03/2024 6:53 pm
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Man City are under investigation over 115 charges going back over a decade.

https://jobsinfootball.com/blog/manchester-city-ffp/

Newcastle despite their nation state owners (yeh yeh, this isn't specifically about their morals, just their cash) have about another season or so to balance the books but if they don't turn the season around (or maybe at this stage even if they do) are looking to be likely to need to offload a lot of squad players, or maybe a big name or two. They could just get a massive cash injection from the owner and buy success but if the outlay and wage bill and whatever isn't matched by income then they fall foul of FFP (or PSR as it is in the Premier League - Profit and Sustainability)

So how do you increase your revenue to match the increased spending?

By having the biggest grounds with the most ticket sales, the most shirt sales, the benefits of being in the Champions League, the biggest sponsorship deals (NB - you can't get your owner to sponsor the shirt for above the going whack - that would be unfair!)

So finally, only those that are already the biggest can afford to buy and pay the best players that ensure they remain the biggest which allows them to buy and pay the best players that ensure they remain the biggest which allows them to buy and pay the best players that ensure they remain the biggest which allows them to buy and pay the best players that ensure they remain the biggest which allows them to buy and pay the best players that ensure they remain the biggest and....... shall I go on?


 
Posted : 18/03/2024 8:12 pm
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Further important reading

https://www.sportseconomics.org/sports-economics/-determinants-of-premier-league-points


 
Posted : 18/03/2024 8:16 pm
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Could someone explain how these sanctions work? Forest could lose something like £100m in 3 years,a nd not get into bother, but they went over that as a proportion. OK, got that. What about the big clubs? Surely the massive investment in Newcastle will brerach the rules? What about Man City, who have been spending £100’s of millions for the past 5+ years, surely they are losing money too?

Forest spent 2 years in the EFL then 1 in the EPL, so the max loss per year is £13 million in the EFL and £35 million in the EPL, or £61 million total over that 3 year period. They were only over the limit as the sale of Johnson was in the following month to the end of period.

Newcastle have been in the EPL for the 3 seasons, so have a £105 million limit, but as they have less sponsorship and so on, they have a smaller turnover than the big clubs, so they need to increase their turnover to grow the team.

PSR just seems to stop what has happened before to Man City and Chelsea, getting to spend big without limits after being taken over and joining the big teams, clubs promoted have the worry that if they spend big to stay in now, they could get relegated and have to have a firesale, effectively limiting their income as clubs know they're selling, so lowballing them, with the way it's set out, i think we might see a few yo-yo clubs being relegated and promoted year after year.


 
Posted : 18/03/2024 8:26 pm
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At the end of that complately mad game on Sunday, I couldn't keep tabs on what position everyone was meant to be playing. This was the actual United line-up for the last half of extra time. Absolutely bonkers! Clearly the new TH philosophy... chaos theory!

433518125_271166729409640_367474619750816871_n


 
Posted : 19/03/2024 10:42 am
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It was ding dong wasn’t it? Maguire up front harks back to Fellaini getting played there, and hoofing the ball in his general direction, elbows and hair everywhere.

No wonder Klopp was so narky afterwards, Liverpool seemed in complete control in the second half and butchered three or four counter attacks where they should have put the game to bed.


 
Posted : 19/03/2024 11:23 am
 dazh
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The PL is fast becoming a pointless competition due to PSR. There is an impregnable top six mini league which will only get stronger and less competitive. There are a group of clubs in the middle with not a lot to play for but who could challenge the top six if only they were allowed to invest. And then there's a perpetual relegation mini-league which looks like it's going to be decided by lawyers and accountants rather than the football. I don't disagree with protecting clubs from bankruptcy or limiting the ability of richer clubs to inflate transfer fees and player wages, but it needs to be a level playing field, and right now it's the opposite of that. Maybe this is the masterplan to eventually get to a european super league with club franchises who can base themselves wherever they want like the NFL?


 
Posted : 19/03/2024 12:04 pm
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Southgate to Man U


 
Posted : 20/03/2024 10:49 pm
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As England manager he's been successful but also dogged by his loyalty to some players who are clearly not performing at the required level like Henderson recently. His handling of Foden and preference for Mount is another example.

Going to ManYoo makes no sense for either party


 
Posted : 20/03/2024 11:10 pm
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If he comes anywhere near Old Trafford, I’m done!


 
Posted : 20/03/2024 11:14 pm
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That’s surely nonsense, I thought Ratcliffe knew his stuff? Maguire will be playing into his 40s and they’ll sign Henderson…..

Disagree the top 6 is a closed shop dazh. Newcastle last season, Villa this. Spurs too - were mid table last season. Chelsea were perennially in the top 4 until last year. Agree the financial rules need sorting out, particularly the parachute payments to relegated clubs which seems to have resulted in a mini league between the top of the championship and the PL.

International break this weekend 😞


 
Posted : 21/03/2024 10:01 am
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So then.... Euro play-offs.  Who are the favourites to qualify?

These games can be quite unpredictable but I'm guessing Poland, Bosnia, Greece.


 
Posted : 21/03/2024 10:15 am
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As its internationals, which seem to come around far too often, like the common cold, can we just take a moment to fully appreciate the Harry Kane statue? A masterpiece commissioned by Waltham Forest Council  but inexplicably  kept in storage for years...

Screenshot 2024-03-21 at 10.17.31


 
Posted : 21/03/2024 10:18 am
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My boy reckons it’s a Harry Kane Easter egg.
What’s with the ripples in his shirt??
Are they trying to say he’s spent some time on the bench?
Absolutely terrible, explains why he’s been kept in storage.


 
Posted : 21/03/2024 10:53 am
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Is he taking a dump? Are the Daily Mail aware of this use of public funds?!


 
Posted : 21/03/2024 11:15 am
 dazh
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Disagree the top 6 is a closed shop dazh. Newcastle last season, Villa this.

I'm talking about clubs like Newcastle and Villa (and West Ham, Brighton et al) being able to consistently break into the top 6. Newcastle have proved this year it's not possible, I'm sure Villa will struggle too next year. Chelsea will be back once they get over their Potter hangover. I mean look at Man U. Absolute shite the last two years but still up there, and able to spend 83M and pay 300k per week to bench warmers.


 
Posted : 21/03/2024 11:51 am
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Newcastle have proved this year it’s not possible

Must be a nightmare struggling along on a shoestring budget as those skint petrobillionaires try and find the money to fund the smallest of wage bills? 😉


 
Posted : 21/03/2024 11:59 am
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Potter hangover

I don't think Potter is cause of their issues. It's a basket case of a club and has been for many years.


 
Posted : 21/03/2024 12:02 pm
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You have to take your hat of to Todd Boehly. It takes some leep of logic to look at the Old Trafford transfer policy over the last decade and say 'that looks like the way to go. THROW MONEY AT IT!'

I see its working as well for them as it has done for us


 
Posted : 21/03/2024 12:11 pm
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I wouldn't say Newcastle have proved it isn't possible. They have been a little unlucky that they've had injuries to key players throughout the season. They also spent around £150m in the summer on 3 players who for one reason or another have hardly played, so it's not like they haven't spent. I wouldn't be surprised that come the summer they will get some very tempting bids for a load of squad players from clubs in the Saudi league, which should help nicely to give them the money to sign a few more..


 
Posted : 21/03/2024 12:12 pm
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Juries out on Newcastle - it's been a horrific season for injuries, Tonali's suspension, even the draws they've had - after all PSG, Dortmund and AC and then still nearly got into the next phase (and the further you go, the more money you get).

They've had the cost of Tonali's transfer and presumably some of his wages (IDK if they can pay him less, a 'retainer' while he's not available) and none of the benefits on the field. And while they overperformed last year to make 4th, that's also why the PSR works over three years and the investments made last year and in close season, not being met back from as much CL revenue and the like, puts them in the position where they may have to sell to balance in the summer.

Making it once isn't really breaking into the top 6. You have to stay there, very quickly the sand falls out from under your feet if you don't.

Must be a nightmare struggling along on a shoestring budget as those skint petrobillionaires try and find the money to fund the smallest of wage bills?

which is exactly what they aren't allowed to do. Hence why some creative sponsorship deals and

some very tempting bids for a load of squad players from clubs in the Saudi league

is probably on the horizon


 
Posted : 21/03/2024 12:22 pm
 dazh
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is probably on the horizon

Looking forward to Al-Halil buying Matt Richie for 100M 😀

If I was Yasir Al-Rumayyan I'd lodge an order for 10 million special edition replica shirts, then get everyone in Saudi to 'buy' one for a hundred dollars or so. Problem solved.


 
Posted : 21/03/2024 12:33 pm
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binners has been on 5 live again!


 
Posted : 21/03/2024 1:52 pm
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Thats brilliant!!! 😀


 
Posted : 21/03/2024 2:08 pm
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Back to PSR, looks like Leicester being dragged back into this by the Premier League after already being looked at by the EFL?

What a mess, especially a club looking like they’ll gain promotion and this saga won’t be resolved in time to have an effect on this season.

RM.


 
Posted : 22/03/2024 8:28 am
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Amazing that Leicester are in that mess after managing to sell Maguire, Fofana, Chilwell, Maddison and Barnes over the last few years for over £300m. I guess allowing Tielemans, Soyunchu, Perez etc to run down their contracts and leave for free hasn't helped, but they must've been spending a fair old chunk on wages.


 
Posted : 22/03/2024 8:41 am
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Despite not playing that well, Wales beat Finland 4-1 last night to set up a winner takes all game against Poland next week. Will be an uncomfortable watch I suspect (watching Wales is rarely an easy watch) as they are ranked 29th and 30th respectively…hopefully Lewandowski and co have an off day!


 
Posted : 22/03/2024 8:45 am
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“Amazing that Leicester are in that mess after managing to sell Maguire, Fofana, Chilwell, Maddison and Barnes over the last few years for over £300m”

They spent around £100m on a new training ground on a greenfield site, 10 miles away. The old ground on a prime site in a suburb could not be sold (well, it could be sold, but the Council wouldnt allow building on the land, so it isnt worth much, it is now the base for the Ladies side.), they couldnt offset the cost of building the new one by selling the old one, hence they have to account for a £100m one off cost, and relegation in the same accounting period.


 
Posted : 22/03/2024 10:45 am
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Bit of a mental finish there, ManU under the cosh and looking like the nicked it with a goal in the 95th minute, only for Brentford to equalise a minute or two later!


 
Posted : 30/03/2024 10:02 pm
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Been a travesty had they won. Hardly seen a game this season where they’ve been the better side!


 
Posted : 30/03/2024 10:04 pm
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Genuinely not sure why ETH still has a job the only games they seem to well in is against opponents who dominant so they can play on the counter attack.


 
Posted : 30/03/2024 10:20 pm
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Yeah, said it many times, i don't think he's the right fit, ManU have a great squad of players, they brought on over £200 million worth of signings yesterday, but still looked like they weren't going to boss Brentford, even the goal had about 2 or 3 lucky breaks before ending up with Fernandes who passed it to Mount, the goal Brentford scored was just a complete nightmare for ManU, half of them were already down the tunnel by the looks of it!

It's a real puzzle to me how they just keep misfiring, hence why i think the manager has to take the brunt of it, they have so much talent in that team, but most of the time it's down to individual brilliance when they do well, rather than the collective.

On Brentford though, Toney is looking good these days, he has that real feel of a forward who would be great at a big club, his footballing brain makes him stand out from the rest of them just now, i wonder where he'll end up next season, probably still be in London is my guess.


 
Posted : 31/03/2024 7:30 am
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I'd love to see him back at Newcastle


 
Posted : 31/03/2024 8:31 am
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We were absolutely awful, once again. We could easily have been 3 nil down by the time we scored and we certainly didn’t deserve 3 points. We didn’t really deserve a point. The problem is that such a woeful performance was absolutely expected. It’s just par for the course.

Its not even much of a consolation that we’re not quite as rubbish as Chelsea, who were lucky to get a draw at home against a ten man Burnley. Both clubs are an absolute shambles. Both have spent insane amounts of money on mediocre players who just can’t seem to play as a team and have managers who seem clueless as how to stop the rot


 
Posted : 31/03/2024 9:03 am
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As a consolation, we’re out for afternoon drinks as Mrs Binners stuck a tenner on Burnley to get a draw at Stamford Bridge 😃


 
Posted : 31/03/2024 1:32 pm
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Chelsea are just a weird club, buying and selling players like they have to hit targets, all it's done is mess up the timing to build a team, again they have a lot of great players, right manager comes in, they could do well, but the FFP is going to start biting them i think.

ManU just have such a good squad it just seems harder to have them play this way than playing with a bit of flair and strength, i don't think anyone can understand why they allow so many shots at goal every game, they have decent defenders, they have the midfielders, attacking they have the wingers and forwards, it just doesn't make sense how they play.


 
Posted : 31/03/2024 2:02 pm
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I don’t think anyone in the United squad knows what style of football they’re meant to be playing from one week to the next. It’s certainly a mystery to me 🤷‍♂️

This Brighton Liverpool game is lively and could  go either way. Should be a cracking second half


 
Posted : 31/03/2024 2:57 pm
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Well that was turgid at best, almost fell asleep during the first half 😂


 
Posted : 31/03/2024 6:26 pm
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Sort of outcome both teams would have happy with at midday but neither will celebrate after the outcome at Liverpool, who will nick it I think


 
Posted : 31/03/2024 7:03 pm
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Sorry, that was my fault. I uttered the cursed words ‘well this certainly won’t be nil nil’ shortly before kick off. I immediately countered ‘oh god, I’ve cursed it now, haven’t I?’ But the damage was already done

That was really dull

Advantage Liverpool.

We’ve got the scousers at OT next week and if we play like we did against Brentford yesterday then they could well improve on last seasons utter humiliation. I don’t know if I can watch it


 
Posted : 31/03/2024 7:22 pm
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Oh I’m sure they’ll raise their game, as per the FA cup.


 
Posted : 31/03/2024 10:23 pm
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Well, another nail-biting day in the Championship madness....


 
Posted : 01/04/2024 8:04 am
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Just watched the City Arsenal game. Man of the match should have gone to the MOTD editer who managed to eek out 20 minutes of this.


 
Posted : 01/04/2024 10:20 am
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The run in is very tight! Arguably Liverpool’s harder games are away, City have what looks like the harder teams at home. Arsenal have an extra home game.

Leicester seem to be doing their best to stay in the Championship. I thought they had it sewn up a few months ago.


 
Posted : 01/04/2024 10:32 am
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As a Suffolk born lifelong Ipswich fan it pains me to say this but "Come on Norwich!"


 
Posted : 01/04/2024 1:45 pm
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That's not aged well...


 
Posted : 01/04/2024 2:01 pm
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/68704147

He even manages to hit the first person to get hit with the ball twice.


 
Posted : 01/04/2024 2:22 pm
dander, leegee, leegee and 1 people reacted
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As a Suffolk born lifelong Ipswich fan it pains me to say this but “Come on Norwich!”

As a life long Norwich fan still wanted to beat Leicester but IF we had to lose a game this season that was probably the one!

Of course, that’s all provided we beat you Saturday and still make the playoffs!

Although I have to say you have had a fantastic season so credit where it’s due!


 
Posted : 01/04/2024 2:45 pm
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As a life long Norwich fan

Does this belong on the "They walk among us" thread?


 
Posted : 01/04/2024 3:00 pm
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Can you walk with webbed feet?


 
Posted : 01/04/2024 5:10 pm
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High six the Ipswich fan!


 
Posted : 01/04/2024 5:14 pm
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What a game!!


 
Posted : 01/04/2024 7:35 pm
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High Six Indeed!


 
Posted : 01/04/2024 8:28 pm
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a bit close to the bone!

perhaps moving it to one of the lapels with a death heads on the other.


 
Posted : 01/04/2024 9:14 pm
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a bit close to the bone!

My initial reaction was that it was a very misjudged April Fool.


 
Posted : 01/04/2024 9:33 pm
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Football !!! ………


 
Posted : 04/04/2024 10:21 pm
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did not expect that ! the dorky looking kid can play a bit!


 
Posted : 04/04/2024 10:23 pm
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That was shambolic from United in injury time! What were they doing all charging forward, lucky to get away with the counter attack and then left Palmer on his own from the corner. Good entertainment though 😀


 
Posted : 04/04/2024 10:24 pm
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Good entertainment though

Ready for a juicy stat?

Since 2015-16 in the Premier League, there have only been two matches with 47 or more shots - and they are Chelsea's last two games.

There were 51 shots on Saturday in the game with Burnley and 47 today.


 
Posted : 04/04/2024 10:32 pm
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Fergie time indeed 🤣


 
Posted : 04/04/2024 10:37 pm
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Goals per game on average has been going up, I think this season is the highest for decades. Great stuff.


 
Posted : 04/04/2024 10:42 pm
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Turns out chanting 'City Reject' at Cole Palmer is not a good idea. 🙂


 
Posted : 04/04/2024 10:42 pm
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16 goals this season 2 behind Haaland  some reject! 😕


 
Posted : 04/04/2024 10:53 pm
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Man City and Arsenal have a complete borefest because they could defend and their players came back and stifled and pressed, now you see ManU and Chelsea showing the complete opposite, just completely forget about defensive stuff, slack passing, pressings for muppets and so on, and it's a great game 😀


 
Posted : 04/04/2024 11:01 pm
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I’m glad City let him go! In hindsight a daft decision but Pep has always let players go when they’ve asked. Although the signing of Doku probably made up Palmers mind for him.


 
Posted : 04/04/2024 11:03 pm
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#midtableobscurity


 
Posted : 05/04/2024 12:37 am
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I'd rather have Palmer than Doku.


 
Posted : 05/04/2024 1:08 am
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