Football 2020/2021

[Hugh Jass]

7 minutes ago, Gnomicide said:

The only reason Liverpool aren't streets ahead is poor defending.

The only reason Spurs aren't top is poor finishing.

The only reason Aresenal atop is they are shite.

The only reason I'm not a professional footballer is fitness, ability and age.

The only reason West Brom aren’t top is because 18 other teams haven’t had fatal plane crashes.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Gnomicide said:

The only reason Liverpool aren't streets ahead is poor defending.

The only reason Spurs aren't top is poor finishing.

The only reason Aresenal atop is they are shite.

The only reason I'm not a professional footballer is fitness, ability and age.

To be fair it does not really matter who is top at Christmas does it? How many times have Liverpool spunked their load too early?

City are nicely poised, just about to welcome Sergio back and I expect us to pick up the pace now.

[Gnomicide]

I still think City will win it.

[thetime]

46 minutes ago, eastynh said:

To be fair it does not really matter who is top at Christmas does it? How many times have Liverpool spunked their load too early?

City are nicely poised, just about to welcome Sergio back and I expect us to pick up the pace now.

Just a strange season.

On 1 hand you could be top by next weekend, then again you could be 9th or 10th. 

[Gnomicide]

First time in years Evertonians will actually wanted their own team to win against City.

[lost]

I think Carlo will put the reserves out. Don't blame him though, a 1 day break between games is ridiculous.

Gotta feel for Bolasie, a 2nd keeper on the bench is seen as more important than him.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, thetime said:

Just a strange season.

On 1 hand you could be top by next weekend, then again you could be 9th or 10th. 

You might be right in regards to 9th or 10th. City v Everton match is off due to 3 more players contacting covid. Expect the Chelsea match to be off as well.

 

[thetime]

30 minutes ago, eastynh said:

You might be right in regards to 9th or 10th. City v Everton match is off due to 3 more players contacting covid. Expect the Chelsea match to be off as well.

 

I know city need all the help they can for the semi, this is just taking the piss though. 

[lost]

6 minutes ago, thetime said:

I know city need all the help they can for the semi, this is just taking the piss though. 

Its probably more to do with safety and how many the 5 could of infected after the tests. Rumours Calvert Lewin was one of the ones rested for Everton so with Digne, Allan, James and Richarlison injured that's our best 5 this season out. If you add in possible changes during the transfer window I've no doubt city would of rather played us today.

Edited December 28, 2020 by lost

[thetime]

4 minutes ago, lost said:

Its probably more to do with safety and how many the 5 could of infected after the tests. Rumours Calvert Lewin was one of the ones rested for Everton so with Digne, Allan, James and Richarlison injured that's our best 5 this season out. If you add in possible changes during the transfer window I've no doubt city would of rather played us today.

I wasn't serious. 🤣

[lost]

16 minutes ago, thetime said:

I wasn't serious. 🤣

Can't see it being the last infact I wouldn't be surprised to see some sort of break in the season. Respiratory Illnesses always go haywire in this 6 week period.  

[Wooderson]

Nice little break there for City. Poor lambs.

[charlierc]

I'm aware as a Newcastle fan that our squad outbreak did not affect Crystal Palace, despite our covid outbreak being spotted a few days after that match at Selhurst Park. However, its still not ideal to know this, especially so soon after that outbreak and at the same time that a ton of League One games have been postponed due to squads having outbreaks.

Edited December 28, 2020 by charlierc

[lost]

Any truth in the rumour that Saint Maximin's long covid is actually him not being able to play as he's already been sold in the January transfer window?

My Newcastle supporting mate wouldn't shut up about it at the gym this morning.

[jyoung]

Liverpool are winning the league. No two ways about it. 

And what a team they are as well. How many other clubs could lose their key players, bring in the youngsters they have and still sit at the top of the table? 

"You're only a VVD injury away fromblah blah blah"... Well, he's a goner and they're still top.

Deserves some respect.

[Guest]

The more pertinent question should be why on earth is football still going on?

Most of the country is locked down at home. London has been shut down in an attempt to restrict the spread of the new variant getting a foothold in the north. It seems the City squad picked this up at a hotel in London, while playing Arsenal.

It just totally defeats the object. Football is not an essential service

[jyoung]

Their back four has been ravaged this season. If Mourinho, Pep, Frank were in their shoes they would be moaning til the cows came home. Klopps too busy sitting at the top of the tree. Bigger fish to fry.

[Guest]

Just now, jyoung said:

Their back four has been ravaged this season. If Mourinho, Pep, Frank were in their shoes they would be moaning til the cows came home. Klopps too busy sitting at the top of the tree. Bigger fish to fry.

City had more injuries than Liverpool, we did not moan. We had no centre halves and no strikers. Klopp has had more breakdowns than a 1980s Alfa Romeo.

The title is won in May, not at Christmas. Liverpool have previous for blowing it.

[thetime]

12 minutes ago, eastynh said:

The more pertinent question should be why on earth is football still going on?

 

Majority of sport is is carrying on, don't panic city should get top 6.

[charlierc]

1 hour ago, lost said:

Any truth in the rumour that Saint Maximin's long covid is actually him not being able to play as he's already been sold in the January transfer window?

My Newcastle supporting mate wouldn't shut up about it at the gym this morning.

Job to know. Wouldn't be a surprise. Equally wouldn't be a surprise to be told "Oh this is hysteria" by a manager who used the same line when he lost the fans at Sunderland and Aston Villa.

There is confusion about Saint-Maximin. He'd already missed the Palace game before our covid outbreak was made public due to an unspecified injury, though there was talk him and Bruce had fallen out around that time. If its true he's now relocated to France as part of his recovery, it doesn't help. Problem is that Newcastle are shit at communicating with fans and it often leads to an information vacuum that everyone just piles in on, and allows people to extrapolate their own meanings as to what really is going on inside St James' Park. 

51 minutes ago, eastynh said:

The more pertinent question should be why on earth is football still going on?

Most of the country is locked down at home. London has been shut down in an attempt to restrict the spread of the new variant getting a foothold in the north. It seems the City squad picked this up at a hotel in London, while playing Arsenal.

It just totally defeats the object. Football is not an essential service

We're getting closer to a point of potential suspension imo, but that's not quite the same as expecting the whole thing to stop. You do get the feeling they'll try and resist any attempts to suspend the programme again for as long as possible.

Edited December 28, 2020 by charlierc

[thetime]

Just now, charlierc said:

 

We're getting closer to a point of potential suspension imo, but you do get the feeling they'll try and resist any attempts to do so for as long as possible.

2 matches have been postponed this season due to covid.

[charlierc]

Just now, thetime said:

2 matches have been postponed this season due to covid.

Beyond the PL, League One seems to be postponing games every week at present (6 fell on Boxing Day and I'm not sure any of the teams affected with covid are playing the round of games tomorrow either), while the Championship, League 2 and the National League have also had postponements dotted here and there during the season. PL seems to have been relatively unaffected until the last month, though it is the case the EFL has a much weaker testing requirement.

The thing will carry on for as long as possible - which could well end up being 100% of the season currently outstanding - but all I'm saying is that I'm not ruling it out the idea it ends in another stop. Too early to predict the future.

[thetime]

City bribing the FA now. 

 

[lost]

Reading elsewhere it seems more to do with timings, why Everton were not consulted sooner and if some match day costs could of been avoided. Seems a fair question.

[eFestivals]

18 hours ago, eastynh said:

City are nicely poised, just about to welcome Sergio back and I expect us to pick up the pace now.

I remember you saying the same thing earlier in the season.

If City don't win the league this season they're much much shitter than you're believing.