The Football Thread

[Kurt Cocaine]

On an upbeat note, City out of the CL. Delighted.

In fairness to City, they've surely set the record for the most expensively assembled squad ever to win the Carabao Cup.... 

[Pedrito]

The hype train was derailed last night. How does a team that loses their local league by 20 points suddenly become the favourites for the Champions League?

[MGZT]

Kevin de Bruyne wins Premier League player of the season.He won ahead of Sadio Maine,Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson of Liverpool.Danny Ings Southampton,Vardy Leicester and Nick Pope of Burnley.Well deserved he is pure class.

[Paul keohane]

Two Farmers league teams will meet in the final,the sheer arrogance of some football people in the UK is staggering.

[Pedrito]

The hype is ridiculous. I was well up for Liverpool winning last year and was great to see them win the CL. That said, the hype around them is ridiculous. They're a very good side but far from 'great'. Maybe they will get there in the next few years. They would need to win more titles though. City have been an excellent side but I'd wonder at the level of competition they have had in the PL. Highly overrated, so many poor, poor teams in the league. I think the league was a tonne more competitive back when Chelsea and Utd were battling it out for CL finals. You look at how strong the top 3 or 4 teams were in Spain up until recently also, there's no comparison. Great to see the Gernans and French shut them up.

[Trev]

Really enjoyed the round of matches, I'd love if they kept the knockouts to one leg ties in the future but there's no way UEFA would choose excitement over money

[Mower Liberation Front]

I thought Dundalk's chairman was putting in a strong bid for being the craziest chairman of the year award (Wanting to put out a team without a keeper, hiring a kid's summer camp coach as manager, etc), then Bury's chairman releases an official statement on the future of the club - which then takes a right turn into lunacy.

https://www.buryfc.co.uk/news/latest-statement-07-08-2020/august/club-update/

[Caomhaoin]

He's on the money about the BBC though, I'll give him that.

Some farce last night for Celtic, Lennon must have been on the nippy sweeties playing a team with zero strikers. He's getting it all ways today.

[astfgyl]

I dunno what all the fuss is about tbh. They would have ended up in the Europa League by January at best anyway

[Caomhaoin]

Maybe, but there is 30m bar at stake, and they've fucked it up for the third year in row. Celtic Park under the lights on European nights is very hard to beat too.

[Paul keohane]

I thought Dundalk's chairman was putting in a strong bid for being the craziest chairman of the year award (Wanting to put out a team without a keeper, hiring a kid's summer camp coach as manager, etc), then Bury's chairman releases an official statement on the future of the club - which then takes a right turn into lunacy.

https://www.buryfc.co.uk/news/latest-statement-07-08-2020/august/club-update/

Bonkers stuff!,once theres board interference in team selection things only go one way.

[Snare]

Delighted Doherty has moved to Spurs, the Irish link is a bonus.

nice boost for Bohs as well with £1.5m sterling (assuming the 10%) is included in the £15 fee reported).

[Caomhaoin]

Levy did great business there, final fee is less than 14 Sterling, no add ons.

Celtic back in business today. I wasn't pleased with the starting line up, he started without a striker again, but it came together in the second half to a degree. A couple of hard cases are needed in central defence, Ajer is a very talented boy but he's too wishy washy in the aerial duels. Cash in I say.

[Trev]

Could be one for the pet peeve thread, but the absolute joyless pricks that give out about teams celebrating too much, or not the right way

Most recent was the charity shield, I know its basically a fairly meaningless friendly, but beating a mostly full strength Liverpool who had an extra few weeks preparation is a good achievement, and adding more silverware is only going to help the confidence of a team starting a rebuild.

[Pedrito]

Definitely. 2 pieces of silverware in his first year is great for Arteta.

The Messi situation is going to be interesting. If he goes to City the prem league will be great next year. The idea that he would go to Juve with Ronaldo is mouthwatering but doubtful it will happen. Would love to see them play together though.