2023/24 Premier League & General Football Discussion

[MUSC4EVER]

FA Cup Quarter Final Draw.

Wolves v Coventry
Man United v Liverpool
Chelsea v Leicester
Man City v Newcastle

Ties will be played across the weekend of Saturday 16th March.

Dramatic finishes to some of the ties this week, starting tonight with Man United's late winner at Nottingham Forest thanks to a Casemiro header in the 89th minute to seal a big 1-0 win, it sets up a home tie against Liverpool as they beat Southampton 3-0 with two youngsters getting the goals, a memorable night for Lewis Koumas and Jayden Danns. Chelsea needed a late winner from Gallagher to progress as they beat Leeds 3-2 in a great game.

Last night saw Newcastle needing penalties to beat Blackburn and Leicester beat Bournemouth in extra time, Haaland scored five and De Bruyne got four assists as Man City thumped Luton 6-2.

 

[Omnis]

Well, this was entertaining:



MLS defenses and midfields just can't run. Totally different game without the ridiculous athletes at every position on european sides.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

There was a big error from referee Paul Tierney at the end of the Forest-Liverpool game yesterday which led to the winning goal for Liverpool, Tierney stopped play for a potential head injury to Konate which came from a Forest corner, he stopped play when Forest's Hudson-Odoi was attempting to cross the ball back into the box, once Konate was fine play should have restarted with Hudson-Odoi and a drop ball but instead it was given to Liverpool keeper Kelleher who didn't give the ball back and started a Liverpool attack which did eventually led them to score in the 99th minute! It led to mayhem at full time with Forest understandably upset and member of their coaching team got a red card, the Forest owner was also seen on the pitch.

 

[daan]

MLS defenses and midfields just can't run.

And the combined age of the 2 strikers is 73!

 

[Alfred1]

It is looking very likely that the race to win the premier league title will go right down to the wire this season. A very important game between Liverpool vs Manchester City in this race is coming up this Sunday. Really looking forward to this one.

 

[Famine]

When we sacked Xisco, we were three points away from the next-lowest team and seven points away (and a goal difference of 13, so eight points) from being out of the relegation zone after ten games. With a game's deficit.

It wasn't just our worst start to a season in our own history, it was the worst ever start to a second tier season in the entire history of there being a second tier.

We're still in the relegation zone, but 33 points from Rohl's 25 games - with a squad he almost entirely inherited after Xisco had a summer to shape it - the current third-best form in the league (and nearly playoff form in those 25), tied on points with three other teams (two of which do have a game in hand, but goal difference is down to 7-11 worse and we've had two 4-0 defeats in that), and within a win of seven other teams with ten left is nuts.

The whole Championship is nuts; the biggest gap between positions in the bottom half of the league (except Rotherham, who are hosed) is two points, and up to 10th it's three points (then six up to 9th). Even Sunderland, in 10th but with the worst form in the league, aren't out of trouble yet - though I think it's the bottom eight (Boro will turn it round and Swansea pick up enough wins) to take the two places.

We've got L**ds next (the second best form!) and Ipswich (the best form) in three games' time which I don't think will go well, but in our other last eight we play QPR, Stoke, Boro, and Sunderland. Five wins from ten should be safety, three could be enough but it'll be tight - 50 rarely goes down, 52 almost never, and 54 only once. Reading survived three seasons ago on 41 (then got relegated on 44 the next year)...

 

[MUSC4EVER]

FA Cup semi final draw.

Coventry v Man United
Man City v Chelsea

Its been an extraordinary weekend of Cup football, starting with Coventry's amazing late show to knock out Wolves, goals from Simms and Wright in the 97th and 99th minute! Chelsea and Leicester was a great cup tie with Chelsea taking a 2-0 lead at half time but Leicester drew level in the second half before goals from Chukwuemeka and Madueke saw Chelsea though, City had a comfortable 2-0 over Newcastle, United v Liverpool was incredible! United won 4-3 in extra time with Amad Diallo scoring the winner in the 119th minute and then got sent off! Liverpool took a 2-1 lead at half time before Antony equalised out of nowhere to take it to ET, Elliot made it 2-3 before Rashford and then Diallo got United through.

There is an international break now with Euro playoffs, world cup qualifiers and friendlies taking place.

 

[Dave A]

There is an international break now with Euro playoffs, world cup qualifiers and friendlies taking place.

Good news is Martinez should be back from injury by the end of the International break. Casemiro should be back as well.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Nottingham Forest have been deducted four points by the Premier League for breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules, it drops them into the relegation zone and means Luton climb out of it, Forest are now one point off Luton.

This is pretty contentious because Forest got a lesser point deduction than Everton but maybe its different charges, and Forest's was over a two year period as they were in the Championship for the other year.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Forest were also double the amount over compared to Everton and still got less points.

Plus it's 114 less breaches than Man City.

 

[Saidur_Ali]

United v Liverpool was incredible! United won 4-3 in extra time with Amad Diallo scoring the winner in the 119th minute and then got sent off! Liverpool took a 2-1 lead at half time before Antony equalised out of nowhere to take it to ET, Elliot made it 2-3 before Rashford and then Diallo got United through.

What Amad game that was, felt like a final. After that Antony goal, a lot of the United players energy bars seemed to glitch and revive back to full life!

 

[Jimlaad43]

The hypocrisy and seemingly random levels of points deductions is a joke

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Just an update on the internationals.

Massive night for Wales tomorrow night as they have a Euro playoff final at home to Poland, the winner will qualify for this summers tournament in Germany, Wales reached the final with a 4-1 win over Finland on Thursday with Poland beating Estonia 5-1. Its will be tough for Wales as Poland are a step up from Finland but we have home advantage and the atmosphere in Cardiff was incredible on Thursday so here hoping!

There other two playoff finals are Ukraine v Iceland and Georgia v Greece.

Hasn't been a great break for England thus far. with the new shirt controversy, poor performance against Brazil losing 1-0 and the injuries. Kane, Saka, Henderson, Palmer, Maguire, Walker and Johnstone all out ahead of the Belgium friendly tomorrow night, it does give some of the other players an opportunity though.

 

[TheCracker]

So what’s going on with the England vs Belgium kits? England who usually play white shirt with blue shorts with an away kit of red shirt are playing at home in, what appears to be under floodlights, slate grey shirt and shorts with gold highlights… Belgium who usually play in red shirt and shorts with an away shirt of black, are wearing a sky blue shirt with brown shorts. What the hell?

 

[Jimlaad43]

So what’s going on with the England vs Belgium kits? England who usually play white shirt with blue shorts with an away kit of red shirt are playing at home in, what appears to be under floodlights, slate grey shirt and shorts with gold highlights… Belgium who usually play in red shirt and shorts with an away shirt of black, are wearing a sky blue shirt with brown shorts. What the hell?

Belgium's kit is a reference to TinTin, a famous Belgian character.

England's away kit should always be Red, why they keep trying to push blue and black as the away colours I will never know...

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Wales!

 

[Omnis]

Belgium's kit is a reference to TinTin, a famous Belgian character.
View attachment 1340573

England's away kit should always be Red, why they keep trying to push blue and black as the away colours I will never know...

Absolutely LOVED Belgium's kit. It's one of the most thoughtful and refreshing uniforms of the past several years. When I saw the jersey alone I thought it was a reference to their cycling jerseys, but then saw the brown pants and had an Aha! moment. Tintin is a classic.

Speaking of uniforms, did you guys see that the German National Team separated from Adidas in favor of Nike?

 

[TheCracker]

Belgium's kit is a reference to TinTin, a famous Belgian character.

Just after i posted that the TV commentator explained the same

Still, i tuned in to watch Belgium vs England, but thought i'd found Man Ham United vs Burnley (away).

 

[Famine]

I know it's only half time and there's still seven more games to come but:

First time out of the bottom three this season... ONE point from the first 11 games. ONE.

heavy breathing

 

[Alfred1]

Another BIG GAME is coming this weekend as Manchester City hosts Arsenal in a very vital game in the title race.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Unbelievable game between Newcastle and West Ham at lunchtime. 4-3 to Newcastle it finished, Newcastle went ahead, West Ham tool a 3-1 advantage before Newcastle came back to win 4-3. Plus a late red card for Gordon.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

City-Arsenal just played out a 0-0 draw, it was pretty awful to watch with only three shots on target in total and neither keeper having a good save to make.

It does mean Liverpool are new leaders at the top of the table, they beat Brighton 2-1 but had to comeback to win as Welbeck scored in the second minute, goals from Diaz and Salah got Liverpool the win.

PL Top Three.
1.Liverpool 29 67pts +40 GD
2.Arsenal 29 65pts +46 GD
3.Man City 29 64pts +35 GD

 

[Omnis]

I had my family watch City v Arsenal for Easter.

Now they all hate me.

 

[Alfred1]

City-Arsenal just played out a 0-0 draw, it was pretty awful to watch with only three shots on target in total and neither keeper having a good save to make.

It does mean Liverpool are new leaders at the top of the table, they beat Brighton 2-1 but had to comeback to win as Welbeck scored in the second minute, goals from Diaz and Salah got Liverpool the win.

PL Top Three.
1.Liverpool 29 67pts +40 GD
2.Arsenal 29 65pts +46 GD
3.Man City 29 64pts +35 GD

Excellent day for Liverpool. It wasn't looking good for them when Brighton took that early lead but after that everything went great for the Reds.

 

[MagpieRacer]

I had my family watch City v Arsenal for Easter.

Now they all hate me.

Redeem yourself with a rerun of Newcastle V West Ham.

 

[Famine]

The latest winner scored in Premier League history, timed at 100 minutes 39 seconds, stunned United, who led through nine minutes of injury time, and sent Stamford Bridge into delirium.

United were ahead with 99 minutes 17 seconds on the clock, the latest a side has ever led in a Premier League match they have gone on to lose.

«snort»

Two records in one night. Long may the ETH reign last.

 

[Omnis]

That was the most Chelsea and the most Man U game of the season.

 

[AEKara38]

Chelsea had added Fergie time.

 

[sirjim73]

Chelsea had added Fergie time.

I'm calling it Pochie time...
Needed it too, thanks to the usual Caicedo instigated collapse... 🙄

 

[Famine]

This is going to be a nuts run-in:

Today alone we beat QPR (away!), Huddersfield beat Millwall, Plymouth beat Rotherham (to relegate them), Stoke and Blackburn drew, Swansea lost to Boro.

50-54pt is usually safety in this league. I think that this year 48pt will be safe, but with our goal difference we'll need 49 - two wins and a draw in the last five. Swansea probably safe, and have enough in the tank to get 52+ in the last five. Blackburn and Stoke are very inconsistent but score plenty and should be okay. QPR and Millwall almost as bad in attack as we are, but our GD is masking the fact that a third of it came from three crap games and all but 4 of the remainder from the 11 games under Xisco (as did one eighth of our goals); we're not as terrible in defence as we look.

Really it's any two from Plymouth (who've collapsed) and down...