leffe186

Actually came in here to post this. Why is it that Arteta can do what he likes on the touch line - and I use that word advisedly - without sanction? Also, what is it about him that is so irritating?

Yeah - this isn’t the best article but it was the first I Googled: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/premier-league-clubs-agree-changes-9231473.amp I hated the away fans’ position at St James’ Park since we got moved to the rafters.

Yeah, thought both him and Gusto should have had a yellow and a strong word.

I was thinking that him getting a red and Nketiah getting a yellow was a bit rich. Chelsea had a ton of chances today, even with ten men. Don't think this run will last.

Oh right, had no idea, wondered if it was Brie Larson because she’s said some nonsense. I couldn’t find anything about Viola Davis saying that. I did find a couple of things about people wanting to boycott Woman King because of perceived historical inaccuracies and the way it addresses slavery. Very different. I also hadn’t heard of any of this before you brought it up. So…honestly it feels like a straw man. Of course you can either watch or film or not watch a film, whatever. Why do you think people will think you’re a misogynist or racist if you don’t? But this is irrelevant. The point is that you are saying that the problem is “the whole diversity thing”, which “nobody really wants to talk about”. “The woke movement” really could mean a fucking ton of different things, which is precisely the point of people using it to foment anger and resentment. In this case it sounds like you just mean having women presenters in football shows, which I guess has only been a thing for a few years. Sure, like I said, I’m sure there are some misogynists who just turn off because it’s a woman. But as I also said - and so did the BBC - the main thing is that people just watch/follow football differently. I think it’s perfectly fine to have women presenters. This guy who tweeted pretending women are the reason for the demise of Football Focus clearly doesn’t. The Mail gets to rail against diversity and the BBC at the same time - killing two birds with one stone. That’s all.

See you on the other side. COYFS. Fuck this.

I mean, I grew up with it here, from the late 70s. Choosing my words carefully…I think you’re wrong. For a lot of reasons - but firstly, it’s very much not just about what happens in the ground, and even on the day. We all live together, intermingled, from day one. My school was 35% Spurs, 35% Arsenal, 25% glory-hunting cunts (Liverpool) and 5% other. At the time probably more Spurs but over time it probably changed. I don’t know where you grew up but if it was in or around Newcastle I’m guessing it wasn’t quite the same. That leads to two things. One, we each have a little bit more understanding of the other. We basically live the same lives, families are mixed etc. But also two - it’s every fucking day. At school, at work, at play etc etc. Familiarity truly does breed contempt. When I was a kid it was truly, truly nasty - in the ground, around the ground, everywhere. We’ve all seen a lot of people priced out of the game since Hillsborough…but we’re all still here. Just not necessarily sitting in a plastic seat singing “Guantanamera”. It’s nasty and spicy. And the closer we are in standard the nastier and spicier it will get. You just might not see it on the Sky cameras.

For the record, I’d forgotten how much the NLD day sucks when you’re down here. At least when it’s in South London, sorry, at the Emirates (somebody mention sportswashing?) we’ve got no expectations. As Darren Bent et al say, a combined XI would be all Arsenal players so we’ve got no chance. It’s just pain until it’s over. Of course, under Ange we’ll go for it…which will make things so much worse in a practical sense because (a) it will be incredibly stressful and open and (b) Arsenal will probably do what they just did to the open and going for it PSV Eindhoven. Genuinely hate this. But I also know that he hasn’t even managed 10 competitive or uncompetitive games for us yet. If we manage to get something it will be absolutely blindingly hilarious. Arteta has had, what, eight transfer windows and an absolute ton of money to make this squad and team. Ange has had one transfer window. I would bite all your appendages off for a draw.

If the country is the UK then naah, Celtic-Rangers. In terms of deep-seated local intertwined enmity in England - maybe. Birmingham-Villa is pretty nasty but Villa have so often been literally in a different league. Bristol Rovers-City used to be a bit tasty IIRC, but again, at a lower level. Everton-Liverpool never seemed to have quite the same edge. Newcastle-Sunderland has the edge but the communities are less intertwined and they’re often at different levels. Likewise Millwall-Chelsea. Feel like I’m forgetting someone. Sheffield derby is fun. Feels like the South Yorkshire Police don’t know who to beat up, unlike when anybody else came to town.

Dunno mate. The way we watch and follow football - and all media - has changed so massively over the last 5 years (let alone the last 20) that to pin this on racism and misogyny seems misguided. The tweet says that the BBC does that, but the article he references states the BBC actually says the fall in viewership is in line with general trends in viewing. The Mail implies it, and that guy just makes it up, unless he has info from somewhere else. Which is part of the problem. You remember an actress saying this. Which actress and which movie? Did you watch it? Are you a racist misogynist? It’s all fluff. This “whole woke movement”. Do you mean the Civil Rights movement? Or #metoo? Or legalising homosexuality? Or BLM? Sure, some people will have turned off because a woman - a black woman at that - is presenting Football Focus. I’m guessing that number is massively dwarfed by the people who’ve turned off because they’re not actually watching BBC at that time. They’re going to one of those new-fangled early kick-offs, or streaming games at home, or watching one of the millions of channels with some kind of football on, or listening to one of the millions of podcasts, or writing nonsense like me on one of the hundreds of fan sites. I happened to be in a rental car last Saturday (we haven’t bought one yet) and put the radio on to hear the end of the games and suddenly the Sports Report theme came on. I genuinely had a little tear in my eye. Hadn’t heard that for probably 20 years. We’d usually hear it on a transistor radio clutched to my Dad’s ear walking back from the game. There’s every chance that - even though I’m back in the UK - I won’t hear it again for years too. Things have changed.

It’s painfully apparent. Rodriguez flatters to deceive I think. That American/Canadian/Nigerian kid whose name escapes me is very direct, but without him they seem toothless.

Keep forgetting Mount is there tbh. Is Casemiro a good possession footballer? Genuine question. Great at patrolling in front of the defense but never seemed particularly creative. Fernandes is technically strong and I’d have though he was ideal, but I think Eriksen’s not quite got the motor any more. What a fucking great finish.

Liked the look of Brownhill against us and it does seem like there’s something about him.

It was weird. Like he did his usual trick of drifting into a clever position to draw players out, but there was nobody either marking him closely or staying in the space he’d vacated. Lovely pass, but such an easy goal.

It’s how he wants them to play. Only last year they were doing it against Championship teams. This year you have a few of the same players are trying to do it against Premier League sides. Not sure it will work.

Lovely ball for their fourth, but fuck me the opposing defenders are useless.

Kane now 7 in 5 in the Bundesliga

One of the replies suggests naming it “Welcome to Rectum”

Sorry was off out of the thread . Loved that Mabbutt goal - imprinted on my brain. This was better. Further out and at a more awkward angle. Amazing header.

Anyone else clock that Ajax blonde in the crowd?

Oof, nearly an absolute screamer for Ajax.

Yeah, the Ajax game is a bit like watching a kids’ game. They get the ball and all charge forward, then Marseille get the ball and all charge forward. Repeat. It’s great

…and now 3-3. The game is so open.

Switched over to Ajax. Fascinating match - so end-to-end.

That clash of heads in the Brighton game makes me wonder. The defender was well ahead of the Brighton guy and headed the ball clear cleanly. Then the Brighton guy essentially nutted him. If the defender was kicking the ball clear and the Brighton player got there late with his foot and wiped him out you could well see a red card and certainly a yellow. Because it was with his head it just seems to be waved on.