Wow. A 95th minute equaliser from super sub Joe Willock hands Newcastle United a huge point at Anfield – just moments after VAR denied Callum Wilson in extra time!
We thought we’d grabbed a point with a couple of minutes to play when Wilson bundled home, however the video assistant chalked it off for a ‘handball’.
A bitter blow and tough one to swallow, highlighting the pathetic nature of these new rules, but it mattered not moments later when Willock latched onto a loose ball and smashed home with just seconds on the clock.
Mo Salah scored just three minutes into the game and Liverpool had a host of huge chances, however we never gave up, had opportunities of our own in both halves and ended up fully deserving our point in the end.
The result takes us NINE clear of third bottom Fulham and up to 36 points ahead of next Sunday’s clash with Arsenal, with this a bonus point for Bruce in our game in hand on Scott Parker’s side.
Bruce went with an unchanged line up. Some might say rightly so to reward the team that beat West Ham 3-2 last weekend, however it felt like we missed a trick leaving both Callum Wilson and Joe Willock on the bench – two players capable of hurting a Liverpool team that had lost SIX of their last seven Premier League home games.
As for the hosts, Klopp went with his awesome foursome for only the third time this season, handing starts to Salah, Mane, Firminio AND Jota.
The game kicked off and it only took three minutes for one of the above to find the net.
After Mane was given too much time to hang in a cross, his high ball into the box wasn’t dealt with and Mo Salah beat Ritchie to the bounce, took a brilliant touch inside and lashed the ball past Dubravka. 1-0 Liverpool and a disastrous start, giving ourselves a mountain to climb.
We were sitting too deep in the early stages, offering so little on the break when we turned over the ball. It was immediately clear we were relying on Saint-Maximin to do everything on the counter, with him often having so few options ahead of him when he got the chance to drive forward.
He showed his destructive dribbling by bursting through the Liverpool midfield and drawing Kabak into a cynical foul that got him in the book, but that was our only real moment of note until our biggest chance of the first half arrived.
Sean Longstaff made a bursting run in behind and was picked out perfectly by Shelvey. He was well on side and only had Alisson to beat, but never looked confident, took too long to get the ball under control and saw his tame shot blocked by the big Brazilian in the end.
Two half chances then fell to Jota – one being blazed over and the other deflected into the arms of Dubrakva.
We were growing into the game after a slow start and beginning to impose ourselves on the game a little more in the final third. Saint-Maximin looked at it, Murphy was dangerous whenever he got down the line and Almiron’s energy on the break was threatening to cause problems.
Minutes later and we looked set to get in behind again after some good work from Saint-Maximin, only for Almiron and Joelinton to get in each others way to spoil what looked like a very promising break at one stage.
On the subject of ****-ups, Clark then did his best to gift Liverpool a second when a scuffed pass across was easily intercepted. The ball then fell to Jota, but the former Wolves star bobbled a shot wide.
30 minutes in and it was hard to believe there’d been only one goal. We’d spurned chances of our own and grown into the game, however we looked an accident waiting to happen at the back, with Clark sloppy and Fernandez walking a tightrope after an early yellow card.
Another explosive run from ASM arrived and we were a pass away from getting Sean Longstaff in behind again. Frustratingly, Joelinton got the ball caught under his feet and the chance was gone. Big Jo had been much improved in our last two home games, but he was letting us down in this one.
Two more huge chances then arrived for the home side. First Salah was clean through and saw a shot blocked by Dubravka after taking a poor touch, then the Egyptian – who was being given FAR too much space – put it on a plate for Mane. He looked all set to make it 2-0 but he too was smothered by the Dubravka after failing to get his shot away.
Thiago was being given too much space to pull the strings, we never got close enough to Salah and the entire front four were creating chances at will. We had opportunities of our own and were regularly hurting them when Saint-Maximin got on the ball, but were fortunate to go in at the break just 1-0 down in the end.
A game so wide open was crying out for one man – Callum Wilson. His pace, presence and quality in the final third could get us back into this.
Sadly, it took 15 minutes of the second half to see him introduced, with this coming after Joelinton hit a big chance straight at Alisson after doing so well to burst past Kabak and Fabinho.
Wilson’s introduction was followed by Willock soon after. The Arsenal loanee replaced Ciaran Clark – an ‘interesting’ move considering it saw Jonjo Shelvey slot in at centre-back!
With Wilson, ASM, Willock and Almiron now all on the pitch there was no reason why we couldn’t get back into the game. That said, Klopp’s move to bring on Milner at Jota’s expense helped shore up a previously open Liverpool midfield, making it tougher for us to get Saint-Maximin running at their defence.
15 minutes on the clock and we did our best (once again) to gift Liverpool a second, this time via a careless Sean Longstaff pass that ended in Salah smashing into the side netting.
Almiron pulled up with cramp and Gayle came on. Time was running out, but we were pushing for an equaliser and thought we’d got it in extra time.
Wilson broke clear, bundled the ball past Alisson and tapped in on the line. A huge goal that all but sealed our survival, until VAR ruled it out for an accidental handball…for this.
A complete joke that showed up the flaws in VAR, but justice was done seconds later.
Willock arrived in the box as he does so well, latched onto a Gayle knockdown and his deflected shot flew past Alisson to hand us a late point!
Absolute scenes at Anfield and huge celebrations between the players and Steve Bruce!
Next up, Arsenal at St James’ Park a week tomorrow.
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I didnt know you could copy links until I saw Kimtoon’s kitten.
This is for DT, now Gilly Toon. A picture of my current ongoing tour of the US. Oregon Coast.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/WnW0A2pxj8UiKcgCaqkhRjFN-PnIOOKZUeK5pOT4z3JsPFw9FocW7W13IILzbkYmvJfpBMrFq0QAhCW3tCZD_2kOw-ngxtnu3rhRxZdjBQH9ymg3TFiff7X6x3xxdyaY2_6iDk13FlBiYcKjTsWqE76-qpDrKMRR48oHWYiFx5yu_6qkYYYNmD9mgAFVPLFMzVlAjUsCdzRJkHUOtnLKfDYw4yhtWdLwNJ45pZztOxLr94NXZBV24LwLDpYH1n2uOfqdVHbrrX6ePctS9X_52aVrC1FGAwBNjE2YblPZcO0hMJ3mhFkPh1WWjMs-M5nbqltM93B_o39Mfu3Ewjm-KTE_bYC_YhVgs-A-F9vEzotmCULQAV4S8Ncek-u01Gz3mqyzT4Nfl7FlI0cNmDLkMZcctzy-BOnxrP6KP7b9HPYEt7n8cOEQOIvqBq4h3JudrSbmc3UG57KT8a5qjQXW0VQgvxKFrIfASeD2NSPsV5OmTaPG34mykStCQCNQmR0ydbMO8BB6Y-htEGARb601UVEAO9RFPCdwllFq2UWd7eSW0vLy3YXNHgJybYVXnKXHyi3vV3H1p_hPvdqf_X3FS4jFgkUgJB3esC464sxC5Yh_f3WsJ2nrY-Qwhe_TRUjQCEHaJDWqFS2dU9Zm0TyAZt57fvjDavRidc01zpi-dfhScXluC5BGCV_ZVCiR3YFr_B-l8XS_RUGVKqZYrxlVDwFi=w878-h658-no?authuser=0
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Gilly Toon: I have also never seen anything like this. I slipped on my **** walking up ice to get this picture:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/6VQkcJX5noXsdTusCzhccjl0_8B0mMja_w5r-BT8h5M194sjPS8WGTSC8ceBh8QemLT_zQ9XYEovshLNG8rFTK9tIHVlaimN3ADJj68nE5XwZklOl5U_qIR7KawLg-CGmQgq_IBicAEBe0lXoA47XN7F-twI4XX22GAIEAnTrM5r_pSJ1YqYAvkwbVkq4-2tdJXRJGDGGrOPkUIO8qvHSwl2bvnaJ01iphOS9Qo4aTA45rS4Dvd4a-3sEtbRCFNjnDM3ayWCASJjeM-1vtbgO6jeGYvWBg5CSKN-Y1fiNJ_1oObtppv-Ik2-gqQcCZB6JTZEFRuX6ZTgyh3-oPW0SYMJV-uCFo1F7BPhXESajvgMyUFoPwf2tjCgM5dCD2eSbu6Um8UodWKnzZcCSrUfLQdYXFlKS9DHGPvlS0bHfO_ePFoXsKncFo0jZPN54XsD4-WGP_WPTSMtqog5wEmXE-zTNCjtWi32-oW1gpMYT2dt8a4eFPRM1OlzbU1XyaT2zBWs5ZipNLTddUMeHD_FFqqBep7wyL_kvrNVIz-T1-5b6iB2flIvxBBLzVUpwWVWMhNTOg3EGJswoSjSKLN_oTy00BhumFCq3xh6-K4XAOUvMDR7cpoKoqo07e1Snfw9EwKx_qwYEuwdgjGz0zIVMGl4vrr9EesM2nGNQH6Lvx6SP8ycCEFmtWlfImWMZFEDhZbM1EQ4OJVBadCX80eUERxL=w406-h248-no?authuser=0
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric Sykes
April 27, 2021 at 15:54
Looks like a cute cat Kimtoon.
Sure is, her Father is a Maine ****, so she is part pedigree .
kimtoon(Quote)
Watching Real Madrid and Chelsea. You can see why they wanted the ESL and the billions coz their players are getting old and they are in debt. Their ground/stadium is a sh!thole and they are spending 500 mil euros to fix it up. I have said a few times on here that I went to a game there 3 years ago. What a concrete mess of a dump their ground is!!! It was probably half full of foreign fans like myself. There was no atmosphere and they had to have a singing section. The away fans from Sicily made a lot more noise!!!! The home fans booed Ronaldo FFS.
#WorstFansInTheWorld
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sorry, wasnt Sicily. Was within La Liga – Canary Islands.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Liverpool to have fan meetings after ESL fiasco. Have you ever listened to any of the Red Bindippers? They all think they are funny when they are a cross between Tarby and Kenny Lynch. Boring as fck. They come into the pub I watch the match at and think they own the place.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/apr/27/liverpool-open-discussions-with-fans-after-european-super-league-backlash-spirit-of-shankly
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – the Liverpool fans have to be careful not to listen to the likes of Carra – same with Chelsea & City fans too imo.
Don’t get me wrong, the 6 clubs all jumped for money – but I think Utd, Arsenal & Spurs owners can be accused of only being driven by money – I don’t think their owners give a **** about fans and the heritage of the clubs.
I don’t think that about the Lpool, Chelsea or City’s owners. City’s owners certainly don’t NEED the money the way the other clubs do & they have put a lot of money into Manchester, not just MCFC.
The Liverpool owners have done things the right way, right up to this point. They involve the former greats, they get the best manager & back him. They grown the club commercially & get the best possible people in. But above everything you can see they are guided by the likes of Dalgliesh who know the club & know football – they got this call massively wrong. But is that enough for the fans to turn on them & run them out like Carra suggests – seems harsh to me.
Same with Chelsea – do they discard everything Roman has done for their club & the success he’s brought for this mistake?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I have to give Bruce some credit, I do think this 3-4-1-2 formation hes playing give a good balance between defence and attack – it’s only taken all season to find it & he needs to dial it in better. But to be fair to him the injuries haven’t helped with that either really.
Anyway, it got me thinking. If we go into next season with that formation, which players stay in it & which players need replacing?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Bruce is totally right that having your best players available makes a difference. But that is so blindingly obvious that it comes across as an excuse. Not starting a donkey every game would make a difference as well. Hopefully, that begins against Arsenal.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I wish Rio Ferdinand would just f-off. Him and his Pals Sutton and Savage. What they think of as banter is just total shyte. I listened to a 606 podcast the other day with Sutton and Savage. 1st and last time. I couldnt make it through to the end it was so inane. Savage had his mother on. Someone should tell him that has been done to death. A late night comic over here, David Letterman, was doing that over here 25 years ago and there have been many since. BTW, Jonathan Ross stole Letterman’s schtick about 35 years ago. There is also a late night German comic, Harold something, who stole it, even his mannerisms.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Somebody must like this “banter” otherwise it wouldnt be on. They need ratings so somebody must like it!!! It is the same with the commentators. Ever since the internet became a thing they have been telling us useless facts. Nonstop with some of them like Martin Tyler or Arlo White in the US. It usually goes something like this:
“This is the 204th Mesrseyseide Derby with the first contested in 1897 with Dixie Cambell scoring the winning goal for Everton. Iterestingly enough his grandson went on to play for Liverpool under the great Bill Shankley who won his fair share of Merseyside Derbies. Isnt that right Lee? Oh, and there is an actual football match going on so why dont I stop this shyte from 120 years ago”.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric a few weeks back I listened to a 5 live commentary on a Toon game. It was Jonathon Pearce and Sutton, They did my head in with their Banter (admittedly very informed and interesting) but FFS there was only about 5 minutes actual commentary, Disgraceful!
georgio(Quote)
They interrupted themselves once to say “Oh that’s a goal!”
georgio(Quote)
Despite BRUCE THE EXCUSE I think we will beat Arsenal. They have a **** defense and no fit strikers.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
the old day comments were about the play poor blind people must be fed up with the **** the guys come up with now
icedog(Quote)
Seems Giggs allegedly head butted his ex-girlfriend. He was supposedly up for the Hall of Fame with Shearer and dropped at the last minute. Doesnt sound like all that yoga had any calming influence on him. That’s what he credited with extending his career.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The next 6 hall of fame players will be through a fan vote. It will be full of Mancs and Red Bindippers then wont it. Most are probably justified anyway, but still. Will David Silva or Aguero get in ahead of like say Scholes? I dont really care, just talking about the process which will obviously favour 2 clubs.
Ferdinand is on the short list. He should be excluded for the shyte he talks now. Doubt Savage will make the list. Or the most overrated player in (his own mind) the history of football – Jermaine Jenas.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Do you know Jenas has 21 England caps? HOW!!!! I saw him play for England in a friendly in Chicago and he was the worst player on the pitch by a mile. I think England played MLS “allstars” so you know there were a few Yank cloggers but Jenas was still worse.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
OK. Watched a few of the CL games and there are no English Refs. I wonder why? Because they are shyte? There must be some sort of co-efficient/algorithm to select them. Or maybe they do it by age and weight which would rule out Mike Dean and Jon (fatty) Moss.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
havent read any comments on Eds for a few weeks but decided to risk it today. The bickering goes on. I dont know what they get out of it, but there is very little talk about football. The names change (some have been banned I think) but the backstabbing and general arseholery goes on. Will have to get back to my hiatus from there.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
@rseholery
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Will we see Aubamayang on Sunday? He had maleria. I have heard that it is a very long recovery. And Lacazette looked like he did his hamstring a couple of weeks ago. Might be too soon for him as well. That means they have no attack. Their kids like Saka and Smith Rowe are good but they are still kids.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Just so you know how crazy the gun laws are in the USA are. Think about this. Since January 1, 2021 there have been 160 cases of shootings with at least 4 dead. It really doesnt make any sense as some have been at Fed Ex Offices and Bowling Alleys. It is not even gang violence as they tend to be random and only 1 or 2 people. It is mainly people losing it and just happening to have a gun.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Will Arsenal even put out their strongest team against us with their 2 midweek games against Vallereal. They are Thursday games as well which the teams seem to hate. I just cannot see them starting Lacazette and Aubamayang against us.
Then there are Spurs. They are supposedly after Erik Ten Haag. Tell me exactly why a top manager would go to them when they will be chasing 6th next year and were just humiliated by City in the League Cup? They also took out a $150 million Covid loan from the Govt and have that to repay along with the stadium debt. Even if they sell Harry Kane there wont be much for transfers.
I cannot see Kane being a happy camper if there is no investment. He has already said he wants trophies. He’s going to run up against Levy setting a stupid price tag which will make him unhappy if he stays. In this financial climate, who can afford him? Probably only the Manchesters. Covid has laid bare the money issues at most of Europe’s elite so not even Real Madrid could afford Kane. He’s 28 in 2 months.
So why would Ten Haag go to Spurs? He can probably have the Arsenal job soon who dont have as many problems. I reckon this mught be Klopp’s last year at Liverpool as well. He seems totally frazzled in interviews now, talking a million miles an hour.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I know everybody must be sick of takeover talk but why is this arbitration taking so long? Supposedly, they havent started yet. And what will they be looking at? The main question seems to be whether the PIF is separate from Bin Salmon. The UK Govt looked at this and said it was (not sure if they came to the correct conclusion, but there you have it, they said it was separate).
Then there is the collusion between Spurs and Liverpool and Masters and Hoffman. Can they look at that? Can they issue censures against these 2 crooks who we also know had a dosier about project big picture given to them by the “Big 6” and kept it away from the 14 clubs not involved.
What is taking so long!!! The killer of George Floyd has been tried and convicted FFS in the time this arbitration has been going on.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It seems The Pledge is dying. Currently at 63,514. That’s only a few thousand new money in the last week. I think the money comes in direct debits so it will go up automatically but that will not be new pledges. It will take a long time to get to 3.5 million with 60k a month. I am not happy or anything, I just thought it wasnt thought out in the first place and 1% of the club is nowt, even if the owners would sell that small a share.
There is more chance of fan representation on the board after this Govt review of the PL.
It also seems to have died down a bit about the ESL. All this talk of points deductions and fines seems to have been just that, talk. We all knew that the “Big 6” have too much power for the PL to meaningfully punish and we know Masters and Hoffman were in their pockets. They will be a bit miffed about them going behind their backs and there will be a token gesture like excluding some Directors from PL meetings. However, I think this will be for individuals only and the clubs will just nominate someone else. Maybe at most there would be a 1 year club ban but it is not feasable for the PL to operate without the say of the 6 clubs.
Too much punishment and you may cause the 6 to look for other ways to get a ESL started so the PLs hands are tied on this one.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Big 6 execs have already resigned from the PL. I checked The Guardian website and there are no new articles on ESL for a couple of days. Daily Mail has quotes from an interview with Richard Scudamore by Gary Neville and that’s it. It is buried as about the 15th story. I think GNev will run with this a bit longer as he was so strident when the news broke. However, I think he will be walking a lonely path and this will just fade into the background until the PL change the rules. Then it will be a 2 day story, until the Dirty Dozen come back with some new dirty tricks and a lot of lawyers.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Aubamayang on bench for Arsenal. Lacazette and Tierney not in the squad. This might mean they are all more likely to play against us, but they wont be fit. If we cannot beat this Arsenal team we will never beat any Arsenal team… EVER.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Chronic are saying arbitration will start in the summer. What are they playing at? Wasnt this referred months ago? They challenged the Chairman at least 3 months ago.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am listening to Arsenal Fan TV and they are hating the game tonight. I am recording it in Spanish as Man U are on at the same time and this seems a better game. Admittedly they have been hating on Arsenal all season but it sounds like they are having another stinker.
Now 2-0 to Villareal.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am by myself on here. May as well talk Arsenal. They are playing a false 9. They should ask us about that, false 10s and split strikers to see how that works unless you are Man City.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – excellent result the Arsenal game for us tonight. They play the second leg after us & if they are 2 down it may well be that Arteta rests his big players to focus on that game.
He getting nowt from the league this season & Europa is the only chance, not just of silverware but to get into the CL next season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
2-1 is even better as they will think they can win it in the 2nd leg. Hopefully Arsenal can hang on. I have listened to the whole thing on AFTV and they have turned on Arteta and most of the team. They were playing without a striker. Who does Arteta think he is? Bruce?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Man U 6-2.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I dont see Aubamayang starting against us. They have to save him for Villareal and he had malaria. There is no way he is fit after 3 days rest. If he does start by some miracle he will be knackered on 60 mins.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Getting worried now because Lawro has predicted a 2-1 win for us and that was mine earlier in the week. Pundits and even some NUFC fans like Wraith are getting carried away a bit with the results saying we are on a good run of FORM. Not really, we are on a good run of LUCK. Liverpool could easily have got a hatful and Burnley outplayed us. We need the performances to match the results but failing that I will just take the points.
Now onto the teams. With all the Arsenal injuries we actually have a better front 3. Wilson is bloody fast and he does some defensive work as well. If he starts with St Max and Miggy we can worry the likes of Chambers and Holding. They are pretty **** and they have Xhaka playing left back and he must be as slow as Shelvey.
Then you have Leno. I dont rate him at all. He should have stopped that 1st Villareal goal and dived over it to make it look like he was making the effort in true Joe Hart style.
I worry about Willian because he always seems to have a good game against us but he is really off form.
If not now, then never!!!! This Arsenal team are there for the taking.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Seriously, this must be the worst defense in the top half and they are 10th so they are JUST in the top half. If not now, then when?!!?
Leno
Chambers Holding Mari Xhaka
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The result always changes the way a game is viewed. Would we still be happy if not for the 95th minute equaliser. We were outplayed for 80 minutes and Liverpool had 22 shots. Not trying to be a downer but there are so many looking at was a pretty dire performance with rose tinted spectacles.
You can praise Bruce for getting some points, but the performances are largely the same. I can also agree with him when he states the bleeding obvious that we will be better with our better players playing.
I am never getting on the Bruce bandwagon and the pundits, journos and even some fans bigging him up still grates with me. He will relegate us if there is not a takeover.
#BruceOut
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – agreed. There is a lot more hinging on that 2nd leg than the 3 points against us – not least Artetas job I’d imagine.
For what it’s worth I hope they do turn it round and make the final against Man Utd.
But I think he should rest all his best players against us just to make sure ???
Sharpy17(Quote)
I like the formation that Bruce has stumbled across with the 3-4-1-2, though I don’t think we’ve seen it at it’s most effective due to injuries.
I like Murphy & Ritchie as the wingbacks, but I liked Willems at LWB more than Ritchie if I’m honest. If we could add him in the summer I’d be happy. Murphy is making that RWB position his own & I’d be happy to keep him in there with Manq as back up.
CB – When fit my 3 would be Schar, Lascelles and Dummett. I think we need to start replacing a few coz quite a few are 30 or older, so I’d probably sell Lejuene if we can and replace him. Clark & Fernandez still do a decent job imo & we will have Kelland Watt coming back so he could be developed hopefully.
CMF – is the big one for me. Hayden is decent imo but he’s a break the play up midfielder rather than a box to box. He’s probably the only one I’d keep. I don’t think Shelvey, Hendrick or the Longstaff boys are good enough. Burnley were happy to let Hendrick go & he’s not proven them wrong with us at all. Matty is getting nowhere near the first team & Sean has yet to stand out and show any real form. I’ve really liked Willock since he’s came in & would love to get him for next season – whether that be a further loan with option to buy or buy now if we can get a deal, but get him. I think we would still need one more though – so we’d have to move 2 of our existing midfielders I reckon.
ACM – Almiron showed in a few games around Christmas/New Year that he can really affect the game from that position & with a strengthened midfield probably could again. But I think we need cover/competition for that position too – maybe ASM moved back into that position.
CF – as in need of improvement as the CM imo. Wilson stays obviously, but Carroll, Gayle and Joelinton. Carroll & Gayle can go for me & I’d send Joe out on loan (but they won’t for the money they’ve spent on him). Josh King is supposedly available in the summer – I’d take him over Carroll or Gayle.
The main change for me though would obviously be the manager.
Sharpy17(Quote)
dont know if this is **** or not but storey going round that Marsters is going to resign tomorrow ❓ ❓
icedog(Quote)
Hope so mate. But to be fair to him, I think he’s just a face, I don’t think he makes up the criteria for fit & proper & I dare he was only one of a few that were persuaded by the other clubs at the top to elbow our takeover – but he’s the main one so it can only be a good thing.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I must admit I do not understand social media, or rather the policing of it. This boycott seems mainly about race but also a little bit about abuse in general. What I dont get is these idiots going on twitter issuing death threats to, say, a player who gave away a penalty. There must be algorithms at Twitter and Facebook to identify these people. If they are stupid enough to post such rubbish in the first place they are probably stupid enough to have their name and address in their profiles.
Conspiracy groups like QAnon and hate groups like the Proud Boys had to go to the equivalent of the Internet Underground over here after the failed insurrection on Jan 6. They migrated to fringe internet sites because the social media companies targeted them. In their case this might be a bad thing because at least they could be tracked on facebook. But in the case of individual racists, who are pretty much not a threat to society in general, I dont know how twitter and facebook cannot track them down and pass on their names to the authorities.
It is all a bit Big Brother so I am not so sure what I believe on this apart from it is easy to be against the racists and crazies issuing death threats so that should be a no brainer.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Bruce is pleased and delighted for Willock. Does he only know 2 words? He seemed to imply in his press conference that he had Willock pencilled in to start on Sunday. Did he really not know he couldnt play against his parent club?
Ten Haag would be mad to take the Spurs job as is now rumoured.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ten Haag came to his senses and signed a new Ajax deal. I think Spurs will be a mess this summer with all of the Kane speculation. They are fcked with this one either way. If he stays he will be unhappy, if he goes the fans will be unhappy. Levy will also price him out of reach of everybody but Man U which will p!ss him off. They also have an aging squad with few youngsters coming through and I think Lloris is vastly overrated.
They can have Bruce though since their ex-players all tell us how great he is doing. *cough, Jenas. Was Sherwood on the Bruce bandwagon as well, I think he was.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Stuart: 54% of the US population have been vaccinated. I think it has hit critical mass now and things will fully open up soon. This is almost at 100% of those who want it as about 30% have said they will not get a vaccine. I have no idea what their thinking is.
I think the Chicago area has about 8 million people and there are hardly any cases now. Going to Maine in a week and they just removed the mask mandate for outdoors. So it looks like things are finally getting back to normal after, what, 14 months? I think they shut down the PL late March of last year.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ed Woodward attended a fans forum after the ESL news broke. He didnt really have to, he is leaving anyway. Contrast that with MIA Lee Charnley.
And Jack Grealish is still a bit away from a comeback from a shin injury. Hopefully he will be ready for the Euros. But I have some advice for him. Cut back on the running into people on purpose to buy fouls. If you watch him it is his shins that get the most whacks. So, stop it jack.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am going to flog this dead horse. Was reading Eds and some saying we have played well recently. Did they watch the games? We got lucky. I will say that we did not give up so that is a positive. I am looking for not just a positive result against Arsenal but a positive performance. It has been like having lit matches put under your fingernails for much of this season and I want to end on a high note. I want wins against Arsenal, Sheffield and Fulham. That’s the least Bruce can do after so much dire football.
Bruce has been remarkably consistent throughout his PL career with a win rate of around 30%. We are in for this again next year lads and lasses. Let’s just hope the football is a bit better. If it is like it has been for most of his tenure, the fans will slaughter him. I think most will remember and a few positive results will not sway/confuse/hide what really went on this year for most of us.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The team for Arsenal is a no brainer unless Bruce plays Donkey. We know he will play Shelvey so we just have to accept that. Move Dummett to the middle. So:
Dubravka
Murphy Fernandez Dummett Clark Ritchie
Longstaff Shelvey
Miggy Wilson St Max
And I will repeat that Arsenal have the worst defense in the top half:
Leno
Chambers Holding Mari Xhaka
Honestly, I would pick our defense over that. I would also take Brighton’s and Burnley’s.
There might be some changes saving them for Vallareal but since Arteta played that defense in the 1st leg you have to think that is what he sees as his best. In midfield, Partey is completely overrated as well.
Eric Sykes(Quote)