Football

Atleti vs Barca is a really good game tonight, if anyone is lost for something to do.

Congrats Rob-oto!

This

Good game last night. Decent and deserved win. Villa looked better than I had expected and would be a good outside bet to avoid relegation although they were rather agricultural and lacked finesse.

You're funny, Clive.

I was amused that Lambert, with all of his righteous indignation, didn't see fit to criticise Friend for a string of wrong decisions in the first half, including a very blatant handball by Villa.

It seems that Lambert's game plan is to claim penalties. After all, it worked against Arsenal.

As for the Ivanovich incident, there were numerous unpunished offences by Villa which could, quite easily, haven reduced the northerners to eight men.

I agree with Jose

I've lost track. Who's a troll on here again?

Wenger, I think

Looks like Villa really bossed it last

Chelsea-Villa Game Breakdown:

Possession: 63%-37%.
Shots: 16-7
Pass completion: 87%-68%
Chances created: 11-6
Goals: 2-1

Glad to see Maureen has matured whilst he's been away.

So Andy, are you one of the Arse fans who are unhappy with yesterday's freak win on the basis that if they had lost Wenger would have been out?

Classy supporters those bankers and lawyers.

...with their red or mustard trousers...

I think Wenger is past his sell by date and should leave. I've held this position for some time.

However, I also support the team so am pleased that they've negotiated a tricky tie to all but ensure their participation in the group stages of Big Cup.

Talk about your own fans Cliveo... ah my mistake you already are

Di Maria and Benzema to Arse? Not sure that's going to solve their problems up front - who are they going to cross to? Bendtner? Unless AW is looking to jump on the strikerless strikeforce bandwagon.

Benzema is a striker. A very good one at that.

I'm sure the rest of the prem must be terrified by Chelsea's formidable strike force - Own goal and Offside.

Probably more terrified of Ivanovic and Terry.

Nice to see Villa playing well, hope they can keep it up.

after saturday of course

I think Arsene is a breath of fresh air.

He is his own man and won't spunk cash on the first player he see's who can do 4 keepy ups.

They will do well this season I feel and, along with Spurs, have built their side the right way over a long period of time. They are not X Factor manufactured teams like some I could mention.

My forecast for the season:

Now Fergie has gone, refs won't be scared by Moyes' feeble impression of him and will start to give more away decisions - I expect to see way more penalties given against Utd and less Fergie time.

On the other hand, all the refs will want to get in with the cool kid and nothing will be given at Chelsea all season leaving Terry to freely play volleyball all he likes. "Oooh - Jose has never lost a game at Stamford Bridge - I'm not going to be the one who stops that."
Chelsea to be unbeaten at home this season.

what's happened to podolski? injured, out of favour?

I think Arsene is a breath of fresh air.

He is his own man and won't spunk cash on the first player he see's who can do 4 keepy ups.

They will do well this season I feel and, along with Spurs, have built their side the right way over a long period of time. They are not X Factor manufactured teams like some I could mention.

I lol'd

what's happened to podolski? injured, out of favour?

I suspect he's carrying a long term injury. He had to be nursed through the second half of last season. Don't think he's out of favour, he looked pissed off to be brought on in injury time against Villa, and last night the game, if not the tie, was over before he got on the pitch, so it's hard to say if his lack of sharpness and interest we're anything more than to be expected in the circumstances.

I think Arsene is a breath of fresh air.

He is his own man and won't spunk cash on the first player he see's who can do 4 keepy ups.

They will do well this season I feel and, along with Spurs, have built their side the right way over a long period of time. They are not X Factor manufactured teams like some I could mention.

I like your optimism. And to be fair, each transfer windows the Liverpool fans and Spuds come on here giving it large about how their big signings are pushing the team on while The Arse are standing still, and each year we finish above them. But while the first team is decent, the squad is threadbare. 2 games in we are already fielding a makeshift defence, and that's before we've met Stoke. 1 week to save our season.

you're aware that LFC have a transfer committee in place rather than a DoF, this had BR's input but not complete say

http://www.thisisanfield.com/2013/06/liverpool-fc-transfer-committee-explained/

Does Ayre, whose specialism is commercial dealing do as well in football negotiations? Time will tell. I know a lot of fans incorrectly have their knickers in a twist because of whom we didn't get but in truth the likes of Willian are currently beyond us, hence failing to put a financial offer to his then club. I think it was a bit of a smoke screen- especially when you hear the agent demanded a cool FIVE MILLION (bringing things to about £35M) which Spurs paid.

Is it really such a big deal if a player chooses a better, more ambitious team over another?

You've been doing really well, please don't go back to being dumb. Currently better? Yes. More ambitious? how can you prove that? You of all people should understand football is about cycles and this is simply Spurs' time. But you have no way of proving ambition. After all you're one of many here that call liverpool deluded. Delusion is the otherside of the ambition continuum.

That would be the worst piece of business since Kenny was back at Anfield

I'd say over-riding Comolli's suggestions which included Dimtri Payet, Moussa Sissoko, Blaise Matuidi, Pierre Aubameyang, Mario Gotze and Juan Mata amongst others - and ending up with Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll ranks up there.
Comolli's error was not standing up to KK (though going against the second coming@LFC would have been tough but looking at where he is now...)