A Beautiful Thread for the Beautiful Game

Rest in Peace, boss. I didn't know he was a legend for Hearts as well.

Ugh. What is it with so many footballers?

Update: Read up a bit more, and apparently his family and girlfriend think he's innocent. As of now, it is an allegation, so I'd withhold judgement, even if it is somewhat likely to be true (I don't know Adam Johnson, hence can't tell).

Also, there are some assholes who are announcing the alleged victim's name online. Real classy, maternal copulators.

edited 3rd Mar '15 6:33:12 PM by arcanephoenix

QPR 1 - 2 Arsenal.

QPR started well, pressing high and preventing Arsenal from building anything. QPR had a couple of shots wide of the goal, and throughout the game Ospina had to make some great saves. The same could be said of Green, as well - he must've had at least 5 fantastic saves. After the first 20 minutes of the first half Arsenal got going and started to really hoard possession and string together forward passes. Shots were few and far between, though, as QPR were willing to sit very deep and the Arsenal full-backs didn't quite manage the quality of crosses you'd need from them.

The second half was mostly Arsenal: controlling the game, intricate passing, great chances that end in wonderful saves; it was all there. It took a while, though, for Arsenal to break through, with Gibbs in a centre-forward position (he likes to get there these days) assisting a goal for Giroud from a very tight spot that didn't look like a likely goal until it was in. Sanchez then wasted a couple of opportunities before finally slotting in, from an impossible angle. I'm convinced that if Steam were to install their anti-cheat code in the Premier League Alexis would be caught for using Noclip or something - there's no way you can turn so many times in that space, or put the ball past so many defenders. He did it, though.

QPR got a consolation at about 80 minutes or so, and from then on they were really pushing for the equaliser, all out, of the last 15 including a 4-minute added time. The goal was scored by Austin, who had space to turn and aim because Gibbs and Koscielny obviously both expected to other to close in and block the shot. Neither moved, so it was actually fairly easy for Austin to score and make it a very exciting 15 minutes. Arsenal didn't look like they'd score again, but they did attack; they just couldn't find the final ball when QPR were fighting so ferociously to get the ball back and cause an upset that on another day they very well might have managed.

Arsenal saw it out and got the 3. This will be a very important result because of the way the other games in this round went: the bigger team won almost everywhere, with Chelsea, both Manchester teams, Spurs, and Liverpool all getting the 3 points. Arsenal needed to keep up, and they did. That's another away game out of the schedule: job done.

edited 4th Mar '15 2:03:48 PM by BestOf

Dave Mackay remembered in the Guardian. Sheer beauty.

A legend. Him lifting Billy Bremner up by the scruff of his shirt was an image he hated, but one that is deservedly iconic. Bremner was a dirty little bully and Mackay was a true gent - a bit like when the school bully gets his come-uppance.

edited 4th Mar '15 4:15:06 PM by Achaemenid

In the Premier League,

Newcastle United 0-1 Manchester United

Man United snatched the three points after a goal by Ashley Young right at the end. Hopefully the game was exciting, but, to be honest, it probably wasn't.

Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 Swansea City

Five goals, and none of them scored by Harry Kane. I'm a bit concerned, to be completely honest, but I'm hopeful that he'll be back in goalscoring form soon. After a 7' Chadli strike was cancelled by a goal from Ki Sung-Yeung to end the first half at 1-1, Spurs managed two goals, one each from Ryan Mason and Christian Eriksen, within five minutes before a goal at 89' from the ex-Spurs player Gylfi Sigurdsson made it a few tense minutes of extra time. Well, three points needed, and three points got. Now we need to take our game in hand against QPR (and ideally hammer them a bit to have a little more in the GD department).

I can tell you right now QPR, if they're on a good day, are very difficult to score against. I don't see anybody getting a really crushing scoreline (like 4-0 or more) from QPR, especially away. Green is on fire at the moment, and the midfield is very committed to defending.

QPR's players are also very good at being aware of the location of the referee and linesmen - they'll commit fouls all the time that get missed because they wait until they know someone's in front of the referee. Well, that's how it seemed to me, anyway. It's not even the referee's fault - it's just that QPR seem to have practiced this.

On a more positive note for QPR, their strikers are also very committed to pressing high, and the 4-4-2 they've set up is perfect for that. They switch sides very quickly when they see that they've got a runner going through on the opposite flank; and they do constantly have runners willing to break. Against Arsenal they were caught offside a number of times but that was because Arsenal's defenders were uncharacteristically good at synchronising their offside trap (by dashing forward, obviously).

Also, Austin is a freaking machine. He seems to need no space or time at all to turn and take an accurate shot, with power. I don't know how he does it. He does allow himself to be caught offside too often but other than that he doesn't really seem to have a weakness, as far as I can tell. Well, except maybe that he's playing for the wrong club - but then again, strikers do tend to shine when their club is entirely dependent on them, so maybe he needs that pressure.

If someone wants to really go for a very high scoreline against a side at the bottom of the league I can see why they'd do it but I wouldn't really recommend QPR as the target. Maybe Aston Villa or Burnley. QPR will punish you for any mistakes. On last night's performance I just can't understand how they can be at the bottom. Maybe that just shows that they're not always this focused. If they have an off day maybe they'll concede, but against Arsenal they looked like they've very drilled and disciplined and motivated to keep clean sheets.

Cartoon on the 2022 World Cup.

The king is dead, long live the King.

Rangers are now run by a tax cheat who was on the board of old Rangers when it lived beyond its means and went tits up, and who was described by a judge as a "glib and shameless liar". The club's supporters somehow seem to think this is a good thing.

Hell mend them.

Doesn't Rangers still owe ten million in loans to Mike Ashley? What's stopping him from just calling those loans in and asking "Where's my money". "Tha Peeple" may be celebrating a bit prematurely.

Meanwhile, League Cup final next weekend, hoping for Dundee United to pull through, Celtic has always had bad luck when it comes to the LC these past few years.

edited 6th Mar '15 6:41:54 PM by KoBB

As far as the People are concerned, this post on another forum basically sums up the situation:

Rangers can dig themselves out of this hole - can - but they'll need to spend tens of millions of pounds to get the Govan "faithful" back through the turnstiles. It's entirely possible King is another charlatan, or that he simply won't have enough cash to put Humpty-Dumpty back together.

As I said, hell mend them.

And... the match I expressed concern that Kane hasn't been scoring, from a header in the 34th minute, in the Premier League,

Queens Park Rangers 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur

I just hope we can hold on, or even perhaps hold the clean sheet (though that is extremely unlikely).

UPDATE: NOMAD?

edited 7th Mar '15 7:51:26 AM by arcanephoenix

Nominated advisor - a company to manage and regulate a company's activities on the Alternative Investment Market.

EDIT: Rangers fail to beat Cowdenbeath.

This is the team Hearts hammered 10-0 last weekend. Says it all.

edited 7th Mar '15 9:19:06 AM by Achaemenid

Because I failed to update it at the right time, in the Premier League,

Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs' favourite scoreline this season, in victory or defeat.

Also, Romeo Fernandes has officially moved to Atletico Paranaense on loan from Dempo, with an option to sign for a permanent move in December. Hopefully he'll be able to make an impact - that'll be awesome.

Also, it is intriguing that so much of discussion in this thread is about economics as well as football, especially when it comes to Hearts and Ra-Sevco and the bigger clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City.

edited 8th Mar '15 12:16:20 PM by arcanephoenix

In the Scottish Cup match between Celtic and Dundee United, massive controversy. Three red cards in total, one of them probably given to the wrong person, and one goal apiece.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31680308

No wonder the referees are sponsored by the company that made this advert:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q99KbjJyBAg

Agent Thomson doing his bit for the Famous again.

Seriously though, what a display. Not sure who suffered more. Utterly amateurish.

edited 9th Mar '15 6:32:10 AM by Achaemenid

Nah, it's more like the subject of this video:

I'm a broken record but I must say the man of the match from a Manchester United point of view in the first half of the FA Cup quarter-final would have to be the referee. Arsenal were denied a penalty, and Rojo and Fellaini are both very lucky not to have a yellow card each by now.

Wenger is sticking to his principles again, especially with trusting players who haven't had first-team football in the league. Giroud is on the bench, with Welbeck as the centre-forward instead. (He would've had a penalty from Rojo pulling him down in the penalty area if the FA had a half-decent standard of refereeing.) The most surprising selection from Wenger is Szczesny; just as Fabianski last season, the cup 'keeper gets to play even the biggest games, apparently regardless of performance. He's been Arsenal's weakest link so far.

Monreal scored the opener, a real Arsenal goal with a long and elaborate build-up ending in a surprising run from nowhere and a cool finish when the through pass enables it. United hit back almost instantly, with Di Maria again proving that his crosses are world-class. Rooney was never going to miss that header, especially against Arsenal.

1-1 is a fair reflection of the quality of play from both sides. Manchester United had a bit more possession than Arsenal, but both teams looked nervy and Arsenal's counter-attacks looked more dangerous than United's. Still, if this will be a draw or a United win by a one-goal margin the referee will be as much to blame (or thank, depending on who you support) as any of the players on the pitch. That penalty will definitely be a sore point for Arsenal fans if it's the deciding factor.

UPDATE: Monreal fouled Di Maria in the box just now; referee didn't see it. I guess that makes it even.

UPDATE: Fellaini finally gets a yellow card. I think that's the fourth free kick he's conceded in the second half alone...

UPDATE: Welbeck scores from a silly back-pass from Smalling to De Gea. The United 'keeper almost got to it - almost. Welbeck celebrated the goal - I must say I don't particularly like seeing that. You shouldn't celebrate against the club that made you.

UPDATE: Angel Di Maria sent off. Yellow for a dive, and a second yellow for touching the referee in the aftermath. Correct from the referee on both counts, if you ask me. United have made all their substitutions - the last one was Rojo off (very lucky to be on at all with the number and quality of his fouls up to then anyway) and Januzaj on. Arsenal were also a bit lucky for Bellerin to not get a second yellow at one point, and Wenger responded by substituting him for Chambers.

UPDATE: Januzaj also booked for diving. Correct again. Monreal did tug at him, but Januzal stayed up, ran a few steps forward to make sure he was deep in the box, and then fell even though he was easily past Monreal by then. He should've tried to score instead.

UPDATE: 5 minutes of added time. Some things never change at Old Traffort...

FULL TIME: Manchester United 1 - 2 Arsenal. Very exciting game, two good goals, lots of drama. Too many fouls, though, and a couple of poor calls from the referee but eventually fairly square between the teams. Arsenal were slightly better and deserved to win - not least because Arsenal didn't have players diving all the time, or surrounding the referee and tugging at his shirt.

Arsenal hadn't won at Old Traffort for about 8 years so this is a huge relief for me.

For me, man of the match: David De Gea. Absolutely fantastic saves from him. From Arsenal, maybe Monreal or Cazorla. I like a player who will attack and defend, and Arsenal's squad were committed to doing both throughout; and none more so than those two.

Finally: FA Cup draw: Bradford or Reading v Arsenal; Blackburn or Liverpool v Aston Villa. Good draw for Arsenal.

edited 9th Mar '15 2:51:00 PM by BestOf

Congratulations to Arsenal. I guess you and Liverpool are now the favourites to win the FA Cup. For purely selfish reasons, I hope it is Arsenal (Arsenal have a Champions League spot in a firmer grasp than Liverpool, and considering that Chelsea won the League Cup, that'll allow 6th placed Tottenham a Europa League spot). Still, Bradford have knocked out Chelsea, so there's that. I hope Wenger is prepared.

#LVGOut has begun trending. To be completely honest, I thought sacking Moyes was both inevitable and extremely stupid, as seen by his success with Real Sociedad.

United now face Tottenham at Old Trafford. A tough game for Spurs, considering the fact that, well, United, but I think Di Maria won't play because of the two yellows (didn't think he was the kind to get so pissed off as to actually touch the referee) and they could be low on confidence after losing to Arsenal at home for the first time in 8 years. Then again, they could be wanting to prove a point, too.

edited 9th Mar '15 7:19:56 PM by arcanephoenix

DAT GUY WELBZ.

Oliver's face was the perfect representation of U WOT M8? too. LOL

Yeah. Reminds me of the old "joke". "If the answer's "five minutes", what's the question? "How much extra time do the home teams get at Ibrox and Old Trafford."

In the Champions League,

Real Madrid 3-4 Schalke 04 (Real Madrid won 5-4 on aggregate)

FC Porto 4-0 FC Basel (Porto won 5-1 on aggregate)

Based on their performance, one could argue that Schalke was the team that deserved to qualify ahead of Real, and they in fact would have had it not been for the two-goal advantage from the Veltins Arena. It has been ages since Real has been beaten at the Bernabeu in the CL, and only one more Schalke goal would've put them through on away goals).

Porto, however, hammered Basel 4-0 to confirm their place in the QF after drawing 1-1 in Basel.

Next up, Chelsea against PSG at Stamford Bridge (Russian Money XI against Qatari Money XI :P) and Bayern Munich against Shakhtar Donetsk (where, if Schalke even get one goal, Bayern will need two) at the Allianz Arena. I'm calling it for Chelsea right now, as well as (of course) for Bayern, but I must say that Shakhtar have done surprisingly well against a side that has been on a rampage in the CL.

edited 10th Mar '15 7:30:17 PM by arcanephoenix

For those who want to see the Porto goals. All of them are worth seeing.

And now for something completely different:

http://metro.co.uk/2015/03/11/this-youth-football-coach-is-officially-the-worst-person-on-the-planet-5097774/?ito=v-a

Why isn't this front page news and splashed all over the headlines?

I really hope that fucker gets arrested.

Chelsea and PSG are going to extra-time (1-1, 2-2 on aggregate). PSG managed to score in spite of Ibrahimovic getting the red card in the first half.

Bayern wiped out Shakhtar Donetsk 7-0. Naturally, this result appeared since one of Shakhtar's defenders got the red card very early in the match, and due to the latter putting a high defensive line.

EDIT: Chelse 2-2 PSG at the moment, which means that PSG might just go through.

EDIT 2: And they go through!

edited 11th Mar '15 3:17:37 PM by Quag15

Ibrahimovic's red card seemed a really harsh call from the referee - normally that sort of thing's a yellow at most. Meanwhile, Chelsea's players - Costa and Willian chief among them - were getting away with foul after foul with nothing. Hazard was lucky not to get carded for simulation, as well. I bet Mourinho will still manage to summon that special je ne sais quoi he has and cite this as an example of the bias against his side, rather than in favour.

Chelsea looked uninspired all night, while PSG bravely fought on despite the disadvantage. Thoroughly deserved result for PSG, if you ask me.

I'm not a PSG fan but I was rooting for them because I was rooting against Chelsea. I must say I never expected PSG to manage even one goal tonight, but there you go.

The penalty conceded by Thiago Silva was absolutely ridiculous. Why would you stretch your arm directly upwards while you jump? There's no reason to do that, unless you want to concede a penalty from a handball (as happened here) or a foul on an opponent - one is bound to get hit in the face with your hand or arm if you stretch it up like that. Stupid, stupid, stupid. He did come through and score the deciding goal, though, so I'm sure no one at PSG will call him a failure for this (as they shouldn't).

EDIT: I missed most of the first half so I didn't see it, but apparently Chelsea could've had a penalty for a foul on Costa by Cavani, and Luiz could've also had a yellow for a foul on Costa. If that's true it'll make the overall refereeing of the game less biased in favour of Chelsea, obviously. Seems that the referee was just plain shit for both sides. I saw most of the game and it seemed really pro-Chelsea for most of it but summaries of the game on various sites consistently mention those incidents I missed - so obviously I had a wrong impression of the game.

edited 11th Mar '15 5:51:34 PM by BestOf