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Bloody hell! I’d put my usual bet on Fabhino getting carded then he takes himself out before he has chance. Should have had one anyway. The ref is having a shocker
Cracking first half though
I believe Jonathan Woodgate's nickname at Leeds was village.
Imagine getting that nickname at Leeds?
Do you remember his debut for Real? I couldn’t believe they’d signed him anyway, then the first thing he did on his debut was score an own goal after about 5 minutes then get sent off 😂
Surely any half decent defensive midfielder should be getting a yellow card most games or they're not doing their job properly
Exactly! That’s why I always bet on Fabinho getting carded
If you’re not ‘taking one for the team’ to stop a break on the counter then you’re not doing your job.
Fernandinho is the same at Citeh
The only person who was a safer bet was Hair’n’elbows when he played for us. Guaranteed a card every time he crossed the white line. We all thought he was laughably shit when Moyes signed him. How little we knew of the joys that awaited us. I’d love to have the big mad Belgium bastard, rattling challenges in, over the absolutely spineless dross that’s followed
De Bruyne?!! 😳
He’s a bit good isn’t he… I was dreaming of the play off game that bbc sport were talking about as possible given how close it is, but this game has taken goal difference away from Liverpool now I fear 😢
class! 🙂
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Yeah, good to see, back in the CL again, will be good to see what happens in the summer with hopefully a bit of money to spend, this seasons league was so important due to that CL place!
but this game has taken goal difference away from Liverpool now I fear
Imagine what it would be if Sterling could hit a cows arse with a banjo? Is there a league table for missed sitters? He’s got to be top!
@binners, just wait until next year, this is basically what Man Utd will be like under ten hag, honest 😂
Citeh have only bought Haaland because they know what’s coming 😂
Meanwhile, back in the real world… that was an absolute masterclass by De Bruyne. Unplayable
The scary thing is i think City will get another one or two class players in, just to keep that bench filled up nicely!
Think one of Pep’s best achievements is keeping the whole squad happy. I suppose it’s easier when you win and dominate most the time.
It's been a weird season, the horror start and the press rounding on Ange, the weird European results, injuries at the wrong time, to then how we finished, still a lot to do though, tons of deadwood in that team and some new signings needed!
Big tests coming up, I say give ange a pot of money see what he comes up with! 😆
And people question why city fans boo the champions league anthem, I don't think anyone but the most myopic Atletico fans thought that it was city who were out of control, well Atletico fans and uefa's disciplinary committee.
€14000?? How the bloody hell are cash strapped plucky upstarts, Manchester City going to afford that?!? 😀
€14000?? How the bloody hell are cash strapped plucky upstarts, Manchester City going to afford that?!? 😀
They might have to see if Haaland can delay his arrival at city for about an hour to make up for that fine 😂
Ah now…you’re making out like the human-rights abusing-petrochem-state-owned City have money to throw around. He’d have to delay his arrival by around 6 hours I reckon. Which could be inconvenient. And obviously it would just be UEFA being big bullies to a cash strapped plucky upstart club (who have never broken FFP rules either).
Cracking first half! God knows how it’s nil nil
3 on the bounce lost for Chelsea now. You absolutely love to see it.
6 in a row for Mason Mount apparently.
Started off well, but dozed off in the second half. Both sides looked knackered.
It wasn't a classic, recent Liverpool finals never have been
Have to admit, Tottenham are my team to hate just now, lucky penalty again today through VAR, not even sure it actually touched the arm, it never changed direction, which was going towards the corner flag! You can see why the smaller teams complain about VAR.
Kane must spent about 20 minutes a game moaning at the ref and trying to get players carded, which is probably slightly better than Son who spends about 20 minutes on the ground every game 😂
City doing it the hard way?! All those recent goals improving their goal difference might be the key!
2-2 now, after a very soft freekick given on the edge of the box
This is a belting game! Bowen has been absolutely brilliant! West aaaaaaam have looked pretty good all round, all season. City must have known they were in for a tough day at the office today
I’m watching this with a Scouser. I’m just reminding him that it’s the hope that kills you 😂
Well at least the last day could be interesting, if Liverpool get their win at Southampton, but i can't see Man City struggling last day at home against Villa, still it'll give Sky something to build up, if it comes down to the last day.
This is a belting game! Bowen has been absolutely brilliant! West aaaaaaam have looked pretty good all round, all season. City must have known they were in for a tough day at the office today
Yeah, it's good to see West Ham with some decent youngsters, but the negative to this is they'll struggle to keep them with the bigger spenders circling round.
Good to see Leicester getting back to form, Vardy back and has 3 in 2 games, it's been a crazy season for them, so many injuries to key players and other teams just doing well.
I’m watching this with a Scouser. I’m just reminding him that it’s the hope that kills you.
And with todays result giving them a sliver of hope, does Klop risk players in the remaining two league games that he would prefer to rest for the CL final.
I’m watching this with a Scouser. I’m just reminding him that it’s the hope that kills you
Tbf mate, considering Liverpool have won the fa cup and League cup, I don't think hope is even remotely an issue.
Even not winning the league won't be a blow
Everton 1-0 up but down to 10 men, how many of the remaining 60 minutes will Richarlison spend rolling about on the ground?
Richarlison is very easy to dislike, however the he should have been awarded a penalty for the pulling on the shirt, I think the VAR bottles it because the red card is then awarded.
MSP - he might not have an option with Van Dijk, Robertson and Salah going off. They’ve got a big squad and compared to last year have been lucky with injuries thus far. Surely they’ve got to go all out and put out their strongest 11 v Southampton. Make City win it on the last day.
Fair dues to Everton, they have a self-destructive streak. Two straight reds today.
The second was a peach. He’d only just come on. A horrible challenge. It was only ever going to be a straight red
Surely only beaten by Stevie G’s insane assault on Herrera when he was on the pitch for about 30 seconds! 😂
Even not winning the league won’t be a blow
If you win the CL, fair enough. But an FA Cup and League Cup are not at the same level as the other two trophies you're still in the mix for.
Well I fair enjoyed the womans cup final. Some fantastic play and cracking goals. All on free TV.
Didn't twig it was his last home game until watching MOTD just now. But Mark Noble, that's nominative determinism for you.
Double post
Mark Noble is the personification of what every manager and supporter wants in a captain.
Players? Depends on their attitude
Someone who’s very presence let’s it be known that anything less than 100% commitment is totally unacceptable
He’s why West Ham are where they are now and that’s a huge vacuum to leave
It’ll be interesting to see how they get on without him. Declan Rice looks like stepping up if he stays
Mark Noble is an absolute legend though. Any team Would kill for that calibre of leadership and commitment
With regards to nominative determinism I wander if Pogba in some language means lazy, work shy, scrounger.
What a mess Arsenal have made of getting fourth! In Spurs hands now……but…..peak Spurs would be to get beat by Norwich on the last day.
There’s some serious competition for who’s the Spursiest team in the league this season
Just stuck a few quid on Spurs losing to Norwich on Sunday at 12/1 as that would indeed be peak Spurs
Interesting stat on Monday Night Club on R5 last night (obviously, it's MNC!)
Klopp is only the second manager to achieve the sweep of the four big English targets - Big Cup, League, FA and Premiership after SAF. And it took him six years less. It took him four years to win his first though, surely a lesson to the other big clubs about stability and long term plans.....
I think Klopp and Liverpool were just the 'right fit' and their ethos seemed to work together. He did well enough early on to keep his job and from then on people could see he'd transformed the club and it was only a matter of time before trophies arrived. It's a lot lot harder when you come into a Wolves, Norwich etc as you can't get the players who'll do the right jobs... partly because of money, partly because of ability...
I think the Klopp thing only works at 3-4 PL clubs....
For me, it's managers like your Moyes at West Ham, your Newcastle and even until this season, Leeds, they've got as hard a job, but in a different way.
I'm thinking the Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs more. How many have they had in the last 5 years say? A quick wiki gallop, and admittedly some are caretakers or 'interim' but getting on for 20! They can't all be duffers!
Success takes time, but long lasting success takes even longer.
I hope Howe gets that chance at Newcastle, and they don't expect trophies next year. A high finish, pushing for Europe and solid foundations please!
Agree re Eddie Howe. He’s done a much better job than I expected although one of the rags had rumours they were after Mourinho 😐
Klopp - genius. Remember when he got ridiculed for getting the players to celebrate at the Kop getting a draw with, I think, West Brom. Worked out ok long term didn’t it?
I thought Moyes got a crappy end of the stick at Utd and he's gone on to do well at West Ham which highlighted that fact even more, plus the others who came into Utd showed it wasn't Moyes fault, but a bigger issue within the team/club.
I found it interesting that only 2 of Liverpools squad (maybe team, i dunno) on the weekend in the FA cup final were there when Klopp arrived. The rest have been brought in. I think that was Origi and Milner.
I'm backing Arsenal to be spursey and Spurs to also be spursey in the last round of games. The euro-millions is more predictable.
I hope Howe gets that chance at Newcastle, and they don’t expect trophies next year.
Watching his post-match interview last night it looks like thats the plan, steady improvement rather than splurging money on megastars and expecting to be competing for the title straight away. Sounds like the owners know the scale of the task in hand after years of Mike Ashleys ownership
An interesting stat they showed last night was that if you take the results from Christmas onwards Newcastle would presently be in fourth. Thats a serious improvement on where they were before, even considering how bloody awful a lot of the supposed 'big six' presently are
Terriers to Wembley for another Championship playoff final. A brilliant atmosphere.
Up The Town!
They'll have to follow financial fair play rules, so doubt they'll be throwing loads of money on huge signings, they need to build the club finances up first, the FFP rules are funny though, they were brought in to make things 'fair, but only really allow the big clubs to continue the way they are and hits the mid table or lower level clubs trying to move up, you just have to look at how Barcelona and others have avoided any fines or punishments, whilst still signing players, or what you see more of these days, big players being loaned for seasons, you're seeing players being more like leases than signings!
As for Arsenal, honestly they are just a mess, the way people were hailing Arteta was weird, he started badly, had a good spell, but when it came to the crunch, they folded, always have done, and you almost forget they spent £140 million in the summer, and already spent fortunes on the likes of Pepe (£70 million!), Partey (£50 million) and so on, they are well within the top 4 for net spending, but well outside it in terms of bottle and spirit.
As a Newcastle fan, it's easy to forget that we had something like one win (a streaky 1-0 at home to Burnley) in the first 18 games of the season. To have 46 points now is bonkers. Howe and his coaching staff have worked wonders. No doubt the signings have helped (Guimaraes in particular) but they've been unfashionable (Targett, Burn and Wood) rather bigger names like Dele Alli or Coutinho. However, the improvement has largely come about because Howe's coached and cajoled an existing underperforming squad into performing incredibly well particularly: Schar, Krafth, Joelinton, Willock and Fraser. I can't remember a Newcastle team defending so well AND operating a high press. The test will come when Eddie from Bournemouth has to manage better players with bigger egos but for now he's kept us up, unified the fanbase and put a smile on peoples' faces after 14 years of torpor and apathy. He's also slayed a few of his own demons following Bournemouth's relegation. Oh, and Mourinho can do one. Howe is the man to take us forward.
I found it interesting that only 2 of Liverpools squad (maybe team, i dunno) on the weekend in the FA cup final were there when Klopp arrived. The rest have been brought in. I think that was Origi and Milner.
It's 3 in the whole squad - Henderson, Milner and Origi. Quite a squad evolution in such a short time!
what about Firmino? he's been there a while
Wiki says he arrived July 2015 and Klopp arrived a few months later
No doubt the signings have helped (Guimaraes in particular) but they’ve been unfashionable (Targett, Burn and Wood) rather bigger names like Dele Alli or Coutinho.
And one of the marquee signings (Trippier) has been out for the last 3 months but was already making a difference for the time he was playing, in structure and organisation but also deadball situations.
I think Newcastle know what they need to do and how to do it, Financial Fair Play comes into it a lot, so they need to get up to playing in Europe, getting better deals, bringing more in so they can spend more. They'll have a phased approach, this phase is getting them into the top 6, so i can see Eddie Howe being at Newcastle for 3-5 years (at least) and getting them into that top 6.
They've made some good signings for what they need, Guimaraes is a star who is in an important position, the rest are pretty solid EPL players. I think they'll sign a keeper (Henderson?) and a defender in the summer to make them more solid, and then there'll be the marquee signing, could be anyone as there are so many on the go, Nunez would be a great one if they can get him, but i think it'll probably be another one as Nunez is going to attract a fair few CL clubs.
I think Infrastructure will be Newcastle's main focus for the next 18 months.
The ground needs a lot of work, it's falling apart in places and looks tired, and the training facilities are light years behind top clubs.
If we can push into the top half next year while making the club a more attractive place for top players to come to, that will set us up for the future much more than bringing in 2 'statement' signings
Last day then for the title. Some good subplots - Gerrard and Couthinho for Villa, Grealish v his old side. I think City will really go for it and try and get it done by half time - might Villa playing on Thursday be an issue? Or had Mahrez scored that pen v West Ham it would be done by now regardless.
Mahrez has missed several really important chances recently. He had a very good season until then
Forest vs Huddersfield for a place in the EPL, imagine Forest back in the top league for the first time this century!
Some job Steve Cooper has done! Love the play offs - always drama.
Newcastle played great football and Woolwich utterly imploded! As a spurs fan I could barely believe it 🤣🤣🤣
As for the last round of games, spurs have gone to the relegated bottom of the table, lost and let Woolwich past us before ( not many seasons back, losing to Newcastle when they had sisoko). We've also been 4th when a relatively easy home game against wet spam only to be upset (literally) by lasagne. Norwich? Nothing is certain!
I also agree regarding stability of managers, although when one is bad and we've had a few ..mo, avb...Nuno, there is no point prolonging. When we've had a good fit I've been frustrated by board tinkering, poch, jol, and by the fa and England job, Venables, hoddle... And redknapp in both camps! Personally, Conte is great but he won't stay unless levy funds his ambition, hope he does but... There's lots about spurs that enic have sorted out very very well, but like all fans I wish we'd spend more now and it felt criminal when we didn't back poch
Ooof.
Ah well.
So close... 😭
Germans are good at penalties.
Frankfurt will now be in Pot 1 for the UCL draw next season. They finished 11th in the Bundesliga. 😀
Did the Rangers fans behave themselves over there?
They were very naughty in Manchester when they lost to Zenit.
It's much much hotter in Seville, so maybe they all melted.
No, just the one penalty taker
No, just the one penalty taker
Those who live by the penalty..... 😂
Don’t post on this thread very often, but as an Everton fan, what an amazing game. This is why we love football.
Watching it in an Irish bar in Spain, one of those days/nights I’ll remember for a long time.
COYB!!
Last game of the season and Leeds need to get something at Brentford, mad to think that Burnley could actually stay up after the state they were in when they sacked Dyche!
Actually looking forward to Sunday now, I can watch the football and relax!
Hoping Burnley stay up, not sure why, supporting the underdog/small team I suppose.
Can’t see the title going anywhere else apart from City.