Ultimate Football/Soccer Thread 2015-2016 + Euro 2016 Finals

[The Blaatschapen]

Since it is 50 years ago this year:

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/ ... microscope

I'm not sure I would take Sky Sports for anything official

I'm not sure I would take Opta for anything official, but I thought this was a fun thing

[Liventia]

I'm not sure I would take Sky Sports for anything official

I'm not sure I would take Opta for anything official, but I thought this was a fun thing

I'd take Opta stats as fairly foolproof; the issue I have with that is more basically they've used EA FIFA to decide the goal's gone in.

[Val Halla]

Exeter City managed to score directly from a corner

[Liventia]

FA Cup fourth round draw (matches to be played weekend of 30th January) —

2 WEST BROMWICH ALBION or Bristol City v 8 Peterborough United
22 Eastleigh or Bolton Wanderers v 27 Leeds United
10 ARSENAL v 30 Burnley
4 Derby County v 19 MANCHESTER UNITED
29 Huddersfield Town or Reading v 17 Walsall
5 Exeter City or LIVERPOOL v 3 WEST HAM UNITED
14 Wycombe Wanderers or ASTON VILLA v 31 MANCHESTER CITY
28 Shrewsbury Town v 15 Sheffield Wednesday
23 Nottingham Forest v 1 WATFORD
24 Carlisle United or Yeovil Town v 20 EVERTON
21 CRYSTAL PALACE v 26 STOKE CITY
16 Oxford United v 11 Newport County or Blackburn Rovers
12 Ipswich Town or Portsmouth v 13 AFC BOURNEMOUTH
7 Colchester United v 6 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR or LEICESTER CITY
18 Bury or Bradford City v 32 Hull City
9 Northampton Town or Milton Keynes Dons v 25 CHELSEA

[Stellonia]

FA Cup fourth round draw (matches to be played weekend of 30th January) —

2 WEST BROMWICH ALBION or Bristol City v 8 Peterborough United
22 Eastleigh or Bolton Wanderers v 27 Leeds United
10 ARSENAL v 30 Burnley
4 Derby County v 19 MANCHESTER UNITED
29 Huddersfield Town or Reading v 17 Walsall
5 Exeter City or LIVERPOOL v 3 WEST HAM UNITED
14 Wycombe Wanderers or ASTON VILLA v 31 MANCHESTER CITY
30 Shrewsbury Town v 15 Sheffield Wednesday
23 Nottingham Forest v 1 WATFORD
24 Carlisle United or Yeovil Town v 20 EVERTON
21 CRYSTAL PALACE v 26 STOKE CITY
16 Oxford United v 11 Newport County or Blackburn Rovers
12 Ipswich Town or Portsmouth v 13 AFC BOURNEMOUTH
7 Colchester United v 6 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR or LEICESTER CITY
18 Bury or Bradford City v 32 Hull City
9 Northampton Town or Milton Keynes Dons v 25 CHELSEA

I've never understood the necessity of replays; I'm certain the FA is aware of the existence of extra time and penalties. Besides, can't the draw be held after all the replay fixtures have been played?

[Liventia]

FA Cup fourth round draw (matches to be played weekend of 30th January) —

2 WEST BROMWICH ALBION or Bristol City v 8 Peterborough United
22 Eastleigh or Bolton Wanderers v 27 Leeds United
10 ARSENAL v 30 Burnley
4 Derby County v 19 MANCHESTER UNITED
29 Huddersfield Town or Reading v 17 Walsall
5 Exeter City or LIVERPOOL v 3 WEST HAM UNITED
14 Wycombe Wanderers or ASTON VILLA v 31 MANCHESTER CITY
28 Shrewsbury Town v 15 Sheffield Wednesday
23 Nottingham Forest v 1 WATFORD
24 Carlisle United or Yeovil Town v 20 EVERTON
21 CRYSTAL PALACE v 26 STOKE CITY
16 Oxford United v 11 Newport County or Blackburn Rovers
12 Ipswich Town or Portsmouth v 13 AFC BOURNEMOUTH
7 Colchester United v 6 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR or LEICESTER CITY
18 Bury or Bradford City v 32 Hull City
9 Northampton Town or Milton Keynes Dons v 25 CHELSEA

I've never understood the necessity of replays; I'm certain the FA is aware of the existence of extra time and penalties. Besides, can't the draw be held after all the replay fixtures have been played?

Replays are a quaint anachronism yes, but no; the draw couldn't wait — Newport v Blackburn was a postponed fixture, and if that third round game requires a replay the replay will likely end up being played on the same weekend as the rest of the fourth round fixtures were scheduled fro.

[Val Halla]

Are Celtic fans really that bad?

[Liventia]

Are Celtic fans really that bad?

Sections are, but no worse than at Rangers in terms of flares, sectarian chanting etc.

[Val Halla]

Are Celtic fans really that bad?

Sections are, but no worse than at Rangers in terms of flares, sectarian chanting etc.

I don't understand it. I mean, don't you want to give your team a good image? It's like how fans vandalised our football stadium after we lost in the playoff final. It's daft

[Uitbregen]

What ever happened to James Rodriguez? Was all the rage when he went to Real after the World Cup but has now disappeared off the face of the Earth. I've seen he's playing today, but you never hear anything about him. Strange for someone so talented and with such a big transfer fee.

[Eastfield Lodge]

What ever happened to James Rodriguez? Was all the rage when he went to Real after the World Cup but has now disappeared off the face of the Earth. I've seen he's playing today, but you never hear anything about him. Strange for someone so talented and with such a big transfer fee.

He does start a lot I think, it's just that he doesn't play as far forward as he did in the World Cup.

[The Matthew Islands]

Liverpool are the worst everything. Always complaining about how everything is shit (including Liverpool) but are always willing to bring about how 30 years ago they were decent, but can't take the craic when they lose.

[Osarius]

Strange for someone so talented and with such a big transfer fee.

Not really. That's a classic Real Madrid transfer move.

*sees player of the moment in action; is good*
"sign him up."
"but senor, we don't need anoth-"
"I said sign. him. up."

[Uitbregen]

Strange for someone so talented and with such a big transfer fee.

Not really. That's a classic Real Madrid transfer move.

*sees player of the moment in action; is good*
"sign him up."
"but senor, we don't need anoth-"
"I said sign. him. up."

Basically me on Football Manager.

[Val Halla]

Strange for someone so talented and with such a big transfer fee.

Not really. That's a classic Real Madrid transfer move.

*sees player of the moment in action; is good*
"sign him up."
"but senor, we don't need anoth-"
"I said sign. him. up."

Good job they can't make transfers then

[Osarius]

Not really. That's a classic Real Madrid transfer move.

*sees player of the moment in action; is good*
"sign him up."
"but senor, we don't need anoth-"
"I said sign. him. up."

Good job they can't make transfers then

Again, not really. Probably.

Just means they'll pay silly money for someone in the next couple of weeks. Or they'll appeal and get the suspension altered, and break the transfer record in summer instead. Spend stupid amounts of money on players you don't need; it's the Real Madrid way.

[Evil Lord Sauron]

I've never understood the necessity of replays; I'm certain the FA is aware of the existence of extra time and penalties. Besides, can't the draw be held after all the replay fixtures have been played?

Replays are a quaint anachronism yes, but no; the draw couldn't wait — Newport v Blackburn was a postponed fixture, and if that third round game requires a replay the replay will likely end up being played on the same weekend as the rest of the fourth round fixtures were scheduled fro.

I love replays. It gives the smaller teams a chance to earn some much needed cash and exposure and something they can actually realistically aim for. It adds to the charm of the FA cup. I do believe there should be an option for both teams to agree not to have a replay if both teams are in the same league.

The FA cup is the highlight of the season for teams lower than the premiership and removing the replay would really harm the prestige of the cup.

[Liventia]

Leyton Orient have appointed former Bolton, Newcastle and West Ham midfielder Kevin Nolan as their new player-manager. Becomes the Football League's second-youngest serving manager (Gary Caldwell at Wigan) and only the second serving player-manager in the English professional game (Gareth Ainsworth at Wycombe).

[Yttribia]

Honestly, Dele Alli's goal was the greatest goal I have ever seen all season. Still baffled by how amazing the shot was.

[Uitbregen]

Weakest tackle ever for a red card. Last man though, so probably deserved for Mertesacker.

Cue Arsenal fans saying Wenger should be sacked.

[Stellonia]

The linesman in the Deportivo-Valencia fixture was atrocious.

Weakest tackle ever for a red card. Last man though, so probably deserved for Mertesacker.

Obviously, you haven't seen many red card challenges.

[Liventia]

Cue Arsenal fans saying Wenger should be sacked.

Piers Morgan way ahead of you.

[Uitbregen]

The linesman in the Deportivo-Valencia fixture was atrocious.

Weakest tackle ever for a red card. Last man though, so probably deserved for Mertesacker.

Obviously, you haven't seen many red card challenges.

?

Was merely commenting that it wasn't a studs-up ankle-snapper, but rather a poorly timed sliding challenge which didn't make a lot of physical contact with Costa.

[Auremena]

When are Spurs going to sign a goddamn backup forward? Even a loanee will do at this point omfg. Instead we're linked again with Bartra and a bunch of other central defenders. Wimmer will do as a fill in for Vert till he's back, Fazio can sit the bench, and if one of them goes down there's always CCV to provide cover. N'jie and Sonny are wingers, the former of which is injured. Berahino is a lost cause and frankly, a waste of money. Hell, I'd take a damn Rickie Lambert type on loan, if not just to play in cup matches to give Kane some rest.

[Kalifati Arab shqiptar]

Stuttgart vs Hamburg was an amazing game.