So cynical mate... it is there in black and white...spirit of the game is about pride in yourself and the game, whatever your job...player, manager/coach, referee.. should have pride in yourself and your profession...as I said Ref's "only need to grow some gonads", and stop letting players dictate to them... No one plays the game with more passion and spirit than our own Marcello Bielsa... they should all learn from him... Finest example of the spirit of the game ... Bielsa ordering his team to allow Villians to score an unopposed goal, because we did not stop play when one of their players down and injured... Speaks for itself matemothbanquet wrote: ↑Mon Nov 02, 2020 2:08 pm The same spirit of the game that sent the vultures after our Bielsa during S****gate? Seems to be a vague notion that changes meaning as and when it needs to. When something is as ill-defined as 'spirit' - a word that literally means something formless and non-physical - it's a free pass to interpret any which way. This removes accountability and ensures that there's always an argument to punish or exonerate without any tangible consistency.
Maybe it used to be the case where refs and, to an extent, we could be relied on to know right from wrong but those days are long over. And, even if they weren't, people still have a spectrum of definitions and limits.
Much better to say that if you're rolling around like your leg's broken and the physios find nothing wrong with you then you're in the book.
Premiership 2020/21
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- Smudge3920
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Re: Premiership 2020/21
FEAR NAUGHT
- mothbanquet
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Re: Premiership 2020/21
The real world has made me cynical pal, and you just gave the perfect example. Bielsa's a man of honour and an example to all, but fools will always deride him because he sullied that precious 'spirit of the game'. It's either a set of noble values to aspire to or a club with which to righteously beat down those who offend those values. Ambiguity in black and white is still ambiguity - just written down.Smudge3920 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 02, 2020 2:22 pm So cynical mate... it is there in black and white...spirit of the game is about pride in yourself and the game, whatever your job...player, manager/coach, referee.. should have pride in yourself and profession...as I said Ref's "only need to grow some gondas", and stop letting players dictate to them... No one plays the game with the passion and spirit than our own Marcello Bielsa... they should all learn from him... Finest example of the spirit of the game ... Bielsa ordering his team to allow Villians to score an unopposed goal, because we did not stop play when one of their players down and injured... Speaks for itself mate
But enough philosophy for the insane, I think we can both agree that divers can rot in hell.

- Smudge3920
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Re: Premiership 2020/21
mothbanquet wrote: ↑Mon Nov 02, 2020 2:27 pm The real world has made me cynical pal, and you just gave the perfect example. Bielsa's a man of honour and an example to all, but fools will always deride him because he sullied that precious 'spirit of the game'. It's either a set of noble values to aspire to or a club with which to righteously beat down those who offend those values. Ambiguity in black and white is still ambiguity - just written down.
But enough philosophy for the insane, I think we can both agree that divers can rot in hell.![]()

FEAR NAUGHT
Re: Premiership 2020/21
Looking on the bright side.
10 points from 7 games would give us over 50 points for the season on ppg.
Its more points than Manure, Sheffield United, Wolves, Everton, Brighton, Southampton, Norwich, Newcastle and Villa all had at this stage last season ( we'd be 9th).
We've only lost points to two teams who we knew directly counter our style with theres, Wolves and Leicester. They finished 5th and 7th last season and are years ahead in there development. Even then we had our chances in both games.
And the league Champions who needed 2 pens (one very dodgy) to beat us with a full strength side vs us.
We drew with Man City and should have won (Ederson made 3 1v1 saves) whereas Meslier had no major saves to make, most of Cities shots were from range.
And finally we still havent had a full strength squad yet to choose from.
So all in all its not to bad.
Fine margins didnt go our way yesterday but any newly promoted side that has 10 points by now is doing well.
10 points from 7 games would give us over 50 points for the season on ppg.
Its more points than Manure, Sheffield United, Wolves, Everton, Brighton, Southampton, Norwich, Newcastle and Villa all had at this stage last season ( we'd be 9th).
We've only lost points to two teams who we knew directly counter our style with theres, Wolves and Leicester. They finished 5th and 7th last season and are years ahead in there development. Even then we had our chances in both games.
And the league Champions who needed 2 pens (one very dodgy) to beat us with a full strength side vs us.
We drew with Man City and should have won (Ederson made 3 1v1 saves) whereas Meslier had no major saves to make, most of Cities shots were from range.
And finally we still havent had a full strength squad yet to choose from.
So all in all its not to bad.
Fine margins didnt go our way yesterday but any newly promoted side that has 10 points by now is doing well.
- Smudge3920
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Re: Premiership 2020/21 - Crisis at Liverpool
Serious problems for Liverpool with the news of Mo Salah testing positive with Covid 19
Injuries/Covid
Salah
Van Dijk
Gomez (international injury)
Alexander-Arnold
Robertson (international injury)
Fabinho
Thiago
Oxlade-Chamberlain
Tsimikas
Injuries/Covid
Salah
Van Dijk
Gomez (international injury)
Alexander-Arnold
Robertson (international injury)
Fabinho
Thiago
Oxlade-Chamberlain
Tsimikas
- Muppet the Cat
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Re: Premiership 2020/21 - Crisis at Liverpool
I wouldn’t feel too sorry for them 64, as they’ve no doubt got tens of millions of pounds worth of talent on the bench and/or in the reserves waiting to come in
Re: Premiership 2020/21 - Crisis at Liverpool
They have a far deeper squad than we have, you only have to look at the championship line-up we put out v Palace & LeicesterMuppet the Cat wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 4:28 pm I wouldn’t feel too sorry for them 64, as they’ve no doubt got tens of millions of pounds worth of talent on the bench and/or in the reserves waiting to come in![]()
Also the scousers are still winning with their injury-hit squad plus the transfer window is only six weeks away which they'll no doubt delve into especially for a CB
Re: Premiership 2020/21
Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac has tested positive for Covid-19 while on international duty, the Bosnia-Herzegovina Football Federation has announced & will miss the Leeds game
- Smudge3920
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Re: Premiership 2020/21 - Arsenal defender tested positive for Covid
Have to concur CJay... he definately is a good player, but well pointed out his weaknesses, particularly his weeble act, hard to think of another player who falls down so easily...total embarressment in an England shirt , dont care what he does in a Villian shirt.Cjay wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 9:34 pm https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/news/ca ... ailsignout
Definitely got a point.
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Re: Premiership 2020/21 - Arsenal defender tested positive for Covid
Agree Smudge he is good and added an end product which he definitely lacked.Smudge3920 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 10:10 pm Have to concur CJay... he definately is a good player, but well pointed out his weaknesses, particularly his weeble act, hard to think of another player who falls down so easily...total embarressment in an England shirt , dont care what he does in a Villian shirt.
But Parker is right, he does take to many touches, he does go down to easily and he is overhyped.
The overhype isnt entirely his fault, Villa fans will do it, he is their player and local lad, fair enough.
The media love to overhype English players.
Barkley was another.
Jack Wilshere
Phil Jones
Andros Townsend
Danny Welbeck.
All decent players but were never worthy of the hype they got over the years.
Re: Premiership 2020/21 - Arsenal defender tested positive for Covid
Indeed they do CjayCjay wrote: ↑Sat Nov 21, 2020 3:33 pm Agree Smudge he is good and added an end product which he definitely lacked.
But Parker is right, he does take to many touches, he does go down to easily and he is overhyped.
The overhype isnt entirely his fault, Villa fans will do it, he is their player and local lad, fair enough.
The media love to overhype English players.
Barkley was another.
Jack Wilshere
Phil Jones
Andros Townsend
Danny Welbeck.
All decent players but were never worthy of the hype they got over the years.
Does Grealish have a right leg

Players that rarely win anything in their careers
Re: Premiership 2020/21
Fulham drop back into the bottom 3 after Burnley's victory v Palace
Re: Premiership 2020/21
Zaha has caught Covid 19
Re: Premiership 2020/21
Good Old Klopp has the Liverpool victim mentality down to a fine art
Fair play to the broadcaster for standing up to him.
Gets really good at about 3min 30secs in.
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Re: Premiership 2020/21
Villa on the verge of taking advantage of the tv situation in France by signing Marseille midfielder Morgan Sanson for half the price he was valued at last year.