Checko

Also can we please sign Schlotterbeck. No idea if he's any good but such a fun name to say.

The fact their guy isn't focused fills me with confidence. They'll probably batter us now

Wasn't expecting that line-up! Newcastle United fan Lewis Hall LB and Tino on the right wing I'm guessing. Maybe focusing on defensive solidity and then bring on the speedsters when people start tiring. Big for Newcatle United fan Lewis Hall to be getting a start here as well. Hope he smashes it.

Pretty sure Italian ultras being able to knife foreign football fans is on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Yeah the classic 'we're not expecting him back 'til after the international break. Oh he's back. How... unexpected.'

Could be a business opportunity there. 'BonesJones vasectomy clinic. Never miss a match again.'

Anyone else feel that bloke might not make it to the game?

In British English we'd say 'are', think in American English they'd use 'is'. In Americanese seems you refer to a sports team with 'is' if you're referring to the city [one thing], but when their names include plural thingys [not sure what the word is here] (eg the patriots/cowboys/yankees), it's plural. Eg: republican English: Dallas is a good fooball team. The Cowboys are a good football team. Arsenal is a right bunch of whingeing bastards. The Gunners are a right bunch of whingeing bastards. Whereas in royalist English using is/are seems to depend on whether it's seen more as a group of individuals making up something (eg a football team - plural) or one entity (eg a department - singlular), so we'd say: Arsenal are a right bunch of whingeing bastards. The FA's disciplinary committee is satisfied that Arsenal are a right bunch of whingeing bastards. See for some bbc examples: https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv358.shtml As ESPN is American 'Chelsea is' would probably be their editorial style. Americans can correct me if I'm wrong here. Ultimately though I don't think it really matters, no-one's going to confuse your meaning so I would say just put what feels natural, and be thankful for the opportunities it gives to have arguments over the internet about it. Also, don't do what the Americans do because that would obviously be wrong.

Think the point is that it should read: 'Is Chelsea better than wot we think?'

Yeah, then the camera pans away and he walks off fist bumping Arteta.

I don't like him. His surname's too hard to spell.

Man's a fucking philosopher as well. Legend.

The ball did clearly cross the line, Joelinton fouled, and then Gordon was offside. The tears fall down, I’m soaking through. I’m a toddler, inside a grown man’s suit. My crocodile tears, are crying too. For they know how embarrased I am for you. Crocodile tears, crocodile tears. Crocodile tears, crocodile tears.

I think like the Maguire offside decision looks right to me, he's commits an offside offence by: "(...) preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision or challenging an opponent for the ball or clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent or making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball *The first point of contact of the 'play' or 'touch' of the ball should be used" Looks to me like you could pick any of them! He's certainly attempting to play the ball, gets very close to it and impacting the opponent, probably stops the Fulham defender from being able to get to it - looks like the defender can't get his leg round to play the ball cause Maguire's physically in the way. Plus his enormous head is obviously going to be obstructing the defender's line of vision.

Think the forearm to the head was a straight red personally. A deliberate strike to the head with the arm that uses more than 'negligable force' is a red for violent conduct. The barge in the back was a yellow for me. Both completely unnecessary. Not 100% sure the hand-off is even a foul tbh. Don't think it's a booking at any rate, but you can't say he didn't deserve one overall. At worst I'd say it's careless, see below: [Pushing is only a foul if it's "careless, reckless or uses excessive force": "Careless is when a player shows a lack of attention or consideration when making a challenge or acts without precaution. No disciplinary sanction is needed Reckless is when a player acts with disregard to the danger to, or consequences for, an opponent and must be cautioned Using excessive force is when a player exceeds the necessary use of force and endangers the safety of an opponent and must be sent off" - FA Laws]

By playing well for a few games Jamal Lascelles has shown himself to be one of the best centre backs in English football, and therefore the world. There you go.

Sod the mackems. From google maps Westgate Juniors Football Club seems to be the closest to us. We need to take those fuckers down.

Yeah I think it was a red card personally as well .

70's footballer haircut Leighton Baines was quality. Lost some of his power when he went for the shorter trim.

Fuck the haters. Justice for Arteta!

True. No-one mentions the Wolves ones much.

I guess it's the hysteria around the reaction that makes the story really. 'Sportsman takes defeat with good grace' isn't a very interesting news story. 'Sportsman taken defeat by whining like a teenager on a Monster energy drink comedown' is good copy.

Reckless has a specific meaning in the rules and is a yellow card offence: "Reckless is when a player acts with disregard to the danger to, or consequences for, an opponent and must be cautioned" For a red card it would be: "SERIOUS FOUL PLAY A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play. Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play." "Using excessive force is when a player exceeds the necessary use of force and endangers the safety of an opponent and must be sent off"

Fair enough - probably wouldn't matter tbh. Ireland were rather fond of Jackie Charlton after all.

Just seen Krul's benchwarming for Luton these days. Say it ain't so.