Beren

Inexorable feel to it now.

The injury design wasn't intentional, but tethering the much nipper Salah to him with his arm is definitely textbook smart sneaky defending.

Wijnaldum utterly bitched out of that tackle on Cronaldo.

http://rs415.pbsrc.com/albums/pp236/Julio_Benoit/Benoit/gifs/ChrisBenoit_KurtAngle.gif~c200

Wonder if that's Salah's World Cup gone too.

It is a terrible shame for the contest tbf.

Admirable technique tbf. Setting up for a crossface chickenwing. Holy shit has he knocked him out of the match?! He's the Ric Flair of football, what do you think? I'm actually fucking gutted.

Admirable technique tbf. Setting up for a crossface chickenwing. Holy shit has he knocked him out of the match?! He's the Ric Flair of football, what do you think?

Admirable technique tbf. Setting up for a crossface chickenwing.

Like a reverse armdrag takedown.

Liverpool playing a bit within themselves going forward. Noitceabley scared of a counter attack.

Put my pre-game £25 bet on Liverpool to win it. Reckon they'll only lose if they score early and try to sit on a lead, or inexperience (a young lad choking on the big stage or getting sent off) does them in. Daft bet builder on Salah, Firmino to score, Liverpool to win and Wijnaldum to be booked. Not sure about the in-play bet.

Found my Ameobi top kicking about in the back of my cupboard yesterday. His name and number are still flawless on the back but the front now reads "No the Rock".

:lol: right-o

I'd hate to play against Hazard.

Hand to ball. 100% a penalty. He has 0.5 secs to react to it. But he does react and he reacts by moving his arm towards the ball. No he doesn't. Anyone other than Young I'd agree with neesy

Sanchez looks a shadow of the player he was at Arsenal.

I know. I can barely remember a mistake he's made. Not even English and I'm rattled. It's crazy. We go from losing every single game to prolonged top half form entirely based on his presence. For a 22 year old he's ridiculously influential yet he barely even had any hype from the press in the same way Shelvey has a bit lately. his omission is far worse than Shelvey's especially given the paucity of talent at the position. Harsh on Lascelles but hopefully means he can stay another year so we can hit that sweet, sweet zenith of eighth. Well, Lascelles doesn't really offer anything different to the CBs that are going (except perhaps being more vocal and obviously being fucking mint), Shelvey on the other hand offers something no one else in the squad can, which makes his omission much worse IMO. Having the option to bring Shelvey on to spray passes out to the fullbacks (as we haven't got any bloody wingers, I assume the fullbacks will be very high up the pitch) and balls behind to Vardy sounds like a much better plan B than chucking Fabian bloody Delph on and hope he can do something. Fair point. I do think he is better than the other CB options, and poses more of a goal threat and had outstanding leadership for a kid. Shelvey would only ever be brought on for the last 7 minutes of the game when England went into desperation mode, where Shelvey's range passing would be easier to mop up (i.e. against defences sitting deep).

Kenedy's first goal is probably the best, but I love the breakaway vs Southampton. Not a move I'm used to seeing Newcastle finish with such sangfroid. Seen it four times, and still think they'll mess up the final ball each time.

I know. I can barely remember a mistake he's made. Not even English and I'm rattled. It's crazy. We go from losing every single game to prolonged top half form entirely based on his presence. For a 22 year old he's ridiculously influential yet he barely even had any hype from the press in the same way Shelvey has a bit lately. his omission is far worse than Shelvey's especially given the paucity of talent at the position. Harsh on Lascelles but hopefully means he can stay another year so we can hit that sweet, sweet zenith of eighth.

Fantastic Could have a panel on the best underrated line from Shawshank "They run this place like a fucking prison football club!"

Good thread. I agree with the article. It's difficult to disassociate the present day from the format we grew up with, where - in theory - any team could break into the upper echelons of the league and do something special. On the surface nothing has changed. Examining the league with fresh eyes, I'm astounded at just how many of the 380 Premier League games a season I find to be utterly meaningless. 7th to 17th is limbo.

Lingard, trying to play for his place for England you'd think? Newcastle are very much on holiday.