leffe186

Don’t think they really have a choice though. Semi-pro in a league where the top clubs are paying fortunes. In the lower divisions they’re up against similar sides in some respects but anyone decent will get snapped up and so they have to make a virtue of what they can do. The top level is way ahead of the fifth and sixth sides, let alone the lower divisions.

Been weird down here. We were getting hailed on in warm, bright sunshine an hour ago.

Quote from the ref in that game: ”To be honest, I didn't actually see any foul that night - but I knew there was one. My gut told me that something in the picture wasn't right, and I'd learned to trust that feeling over a 20-year career.” Classic European decision. “I didn’t actually see a foul but it felt like a foul”. I still haven’t forgiven the ref who gave Sevilla a penalty to equalize in 2007 when Robinson took the ball. He just fucking guessed. They do it all the fucking time.

Just re-watched the second half. What a fantastic performance. Particularly enjoyed watching Sa take about a minute over a drop kick knowing that extra minute meant Cov winning the game

You’ll go some to beat Bryan Gil up front, Kulisevski pretending to be Maddison and Ben Davies and Emerson Royal at CB

That last two minutes of possession before the weak finish from Palmer was absolutely brilliant. Would have been up there with the best goals I’ve ever seen from a Championship club.

The most sitter of sitters. Worth seeking out if you missed it

Tbf Swansea massively on top.

I think you’ve got a chance. Can’t see them playing a full strength team (they’re obviously without Ederson and De Bruyne anyway) and we got a 3-3 draw there with a comedy line-up.

Would take that tbh. ABA.

Yes and no. The Champions League is a very different kettle of fish from the Europa Conference. West Ham won every single game in the Conference last year - all the home and away legs, all the group matches - except one, drawing one leg of their Quarter-Final with Gent. It’s not remotely as competitive, there are just a lot of games. You saw the issues. You basically had to play your strongest possible team in every game in the CL. There are some Spurs fans (not many, but some) who are saying they would rather we miss out on the CL this season for that reason: they want a stronger squad before taking on the CL and the opportunity the Europa League affords to blood younger players and keep fringe players ticking over. Luck plays a significant part. Arsenal have had very few injuries so far despite so many games, while Man U had disastrous injuries even before the Group Stage started. Your draw for the CL was rough (but fun), Arsenal had PSV, Lens and Sevilla. Don’t get me wrong, it was a terrific achievement for West Ham. The more salient problem is that the competition from other PL sides is tough so the margin for error is small. That year West Ham got 7th there was a really big drop-off after the top five. That same points total the next year would have had them in 10th and out of Europe.

Jesus Christ. More than 30 years later.

Looking at how excited and proud Gordon is, does anyone know the story behind Ben White saying “no thanks”?

Nice one, thanks. I’d expect the Chelsea one to come down this year but will be interesting to see how the Liverpool one changes.

Where are your figures from? I don’t think that’s true.

It’s still really disconcerting when European refs add literally no time on.

Never a free kick that.

Tbf all those years of growth hormones probably helped Messi out too.

No, that's adrenochrome. Agendachrome would have to be a specific human, maybe one where the agenda overrides all else. Like say Hitler. Or Alex Jones. Or Gary Neville.

I’m just not sure the European Super League or whatever silly name they want to call it has much to do with this decision.

Dunno man, not sure Bournemouth or Crystal Palace will be up for the Super League breakaway. Don’t know enough about the deal or the reasons why these 10 clubs and not the other 10 have cropped up. Levy is definitely a bastard though. Not sure that makes him all that different from other Chairmen . Rest of the Board seem Ok.

Agendachrome who do you have to sacrifice to get that?

I'm genuinely sorry, it just blows my mind that I actually didn't know. I'm 50 and been a footy fan since the late 70s, essentially, and a pretty serious one. Feels like I should have known

This all made me think of something. I sort of knew the Fairs Cup format was weird and changed over time but never bothered to look up the details. You probably all knew this already but Today I learned that Newcastle actually finished 10th the year they qualified for the 1968/69 Fairs Cup. Man City won the league, and so qualified for the European Cup. In theory the next four would go into the Fairs Cup. However, Man U also qualified for the European Cup because they won it that year. Then Everton in 5th weren't allowed in because they came from the same city as Liverpool in 3rd. Then Spurs in 7th weren't allowed in because we were from the same city as Chelsea in 6th - likewise Arsenal in 9th. Then West Brom in 8th won the FA Cup so they went into the Cup Winners' Cup I knew it was a bit weird, but I didn't realize quite how silly it was . I just never bothered to look it up until now.

Glad that's clarified.