PunkStep

Apparently they are only looking for a minority investment, so it doesn't look like it'll be a takeover. Of course, who knows- as Big Dave would say 'plans change'. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before Qatar try to buy up more clubs, although UEFA rules prevent teams under the same ownership from playing each other right? That'd throw a real spanner in the works. I suppose they could try and be creative like the Saudi did with PIF. I only found out today from that same thread that QSI already own 23% of Braga.

Maybe this will end up as just a special relationship between PSG and Spurs, like the mutually beneficial one Spurs and Real had that time. Levy was really mugged off there, wasn't he. 

1 hour ago, Tommy! said:

Graphical it's a sweat spot for me, going back to the 8 bit systems is noticeably basic, the early days of the following gen and early polygon 3d looks rough as hell with modern eyes but the Snes and mega drive seems like the peak of 2D style.

I was going to try and say something along these lines but couldn't explain it as well as you did. Absolutely spot on there. That's why apart from the odd game (sadly I would say Mario Kart is one of them), the games don't look dated. That's what makes this system so special and replayable for me. 

Yes, yes I am! I always bloody do. 

Although I did later get a Super Game Boy adapter for the SNES just so I can play Link's Awakening on the telly.

I really enjoyed Book of Boba Fett too. It picked up a lot when Big Match Mando rocked up, but it was still good from start to finish. Good old Star Wars caper.

Obi Wan Kenobi on the other hand, yeah. That was hugely underwhelming. 

Andor was fucking superb.

Probably the best Xmas present I've ever had. 

My folks didn't have much money and I knew that, so all I asked for was Sonic 2 for the Master System. That's all I wanted, I'd watch the demos of it in Woolworths endlessly. The Master System version was shit as well! I didn't care. 

What a surprise when instead on Christmas Day I opened up a SNES, with Street Fighter II. Overjoyed was a massive understatement! I played that game to death until my birthday 4 months later, when I got Sim City.

Over the years, other favourites of mine included Super Mario World (discovering and completing all levels was my mission), Mario Kart, NBA Jam, Theme Park, Mario All-stars and one of the greatest games of all-time- Link's Awakening. 

I have more fond memories of the SNES than any other console. I got the mini SNES for Christmas a few years ago and have also played some of the games on the Switch through Nintendo online membership. I think it's one console where so many of the games are timeless regardless of the graphics, such as Super Mario World and Link's Awakening.

He's highly rated, one of the brightest prospects we have. Before we shifted Ben White to RB, some fans wanted him promoted to the first team to provide cover for Tomiyasu. He's been on loan at Rotherham so far this season and has played quite a lot of football, so great experience for him. 

1 hour ago, gmoney said:

Maybe he needs some eggboxes? I didn't get him anything in the end.

At least he had a thread dedicated to him on the most popular (only?) 'wrestling' forum in the UK.

1 hour ago, Fatty Facesitter said:

Terrible news about Luca Vialli. A great footballer in his day and always seemed like such a gentleman. First person I remember taking on a player-manager role. 

Glenn Hoddle was the first I knew of (Chelsea had a habit of employing them for a bit it seemed).

RIP, brilliant footballer and part of that magnificent Sampdoria side during the 90s. Seemed like a nice guy too.

27 minutes ago, SuperBacon said:

Yeah?

Yeah. Marea (We've Lost Dancing), Billie, Baxter, Lights Out, Jungle, Turn On The Lights Again...

@CleetusVanDammeMerry belated Christmas 

Plus it's a colab with Fred Again, who has been churning out cracker after cracker for the past 2 years

On 1/4/2023 at 5:21 PM, Factotum said:

Agreed but unfortunately the market has been inflated by clubs spending massive on young talent recently. Anthony for 90 odd million being an utterly ridiculous deal.

Ha, Shakhtar are literally using the Antony deal as an excuse for their valuation! As reported by the tap-in merchant himself. 

'And fuck you too Steve Justice for criticising my film!'

Newcastle more reminiscent of Burnley I would say based on last night, which as King Mal says may well be down to the fixture, but looking at the players the squad is definitely built with a similar style in mind. It's working wonders for them and it shows how good Howe given the style is such a contrast to his old Bournemouth side.

3 hours ago, Factotum said:

Arsenal need to get two attacking players in

I see that all of a sudden Chelsea (not content with spending £400m on a shit tonne of players) are taking an interest in our number 1 target- Mudryk. Shakhtar were holding out for a really silly sum, but with silly FC entering the race they know they can get that sort of fee from them. So that's that then, unless we decide to head-to-head with silly bollocks Boehly and pay well over the odds. The Pepe deal is still a bit fresh in our minds.

8 minutes ago, SuperBacon said:

It's already the Armando Jose Armando stadium, so can't see it happening

I wasn't being serious, as if Argentina are going to name a stadium after a Brazilian! Anyway if Pele were to have a stadium named after him in every country, then Maradona should have two named after him.

The Santos stadium makes perfect sense, surprised it isn't already named after him. It really wouldn't surprise me either if some of the smaller CAF or Caribbean nations rename one of their stadiums after Pele just to curry favour with that bent prick at FIFA.

The most famous footballer of all time passes away and this prick decides to make it about himself with this ridiculous notion:

Imagine La Bombanera renamed as the Pele Stadium.

5 minutes ago, ElBigFella said:

but doesn't seem to have a clue how to adapt to a system that works for the players he has.

He did that at Brighton to be fair. Chris Hughton was flirting with relegation playing a very route-one style and Potter came in and completely changed the system. 

I think what hasn't helped him is inheriting an unbalanced squad. For many reasons (the uncertainty surrounding the sale, those running the club day-to-day leaving and Boehly seemingly doing everything himself) their approach to building the squad was a bit slap dash in the summer. I don't think Tuchel was happy with the business they did. Potter will need to build his own squad, and will need time to do that and a sporting director to support him in the market. No idea yet if Boehly is going to do that or whether he will be another Ambramovich with little patience. 

The two kids in the second half were Liverpool fans but were still less biased than some of the shite we have to put up with. If I was their age and watching my team lose, I'd probably end up crying and starting shouting that Brentford were fuckers, or something.

I really, really like Thomas Frank. Hope he doesn't do something silly like Potter.

Thanks for the heads up, me and my son are watching, it's so wholesome. 

Give me this over 90% of the professionals any day of the week. Especially that miserable bastard Danny Murphy. 

Todd Edwards is superb. Incredible that recently, 18-20 years after his chopped-up garage tunes were filling the dancefloors, that he had perhaps his biggest hit (The Chant). 

1 hour ago, Mr_Danger said:

Chelsea are on course to spend £500m by the end of this season if they get Fernandez. Weren’t they £1.5bn in the shit when it was revealed to the shock and awe of nobody that Roman was keeping them afloat? 

Madness isn't it. There's spending money, then there's spending ridiculous amounts of money and somehow getting worse. But according to Twitter, 'Boehly is cooking'. He's cooking a big shit pie though from what I can see. 

We're all just here waiting for @Thunderplexto chip in, aren't we?

For me it was Kylie Minogue. I was probably 6 at the time, but had her posters all over my wall and a little Kylie pillow.

8 minutes ago, Lorne Malvo said:

Rachel Stevens from S Club 7

...and this was my teenage crush. My fucking lord, she was so gorgeous. Definitely somebody that would age incredibly well too, if at all. 

31 minutes ago, SuperBacon said:

Bring Dad back

He won't be able to work wonders with this lot, even if he goes back into 'full-back whisperer' mode and turns Djed Spence and Sessegnon into top drawer full backs. But they wouldn't be as dull and lifeless to watch as they have been since he left.

This squad, in terms of personnel, is a Conte squad. Loads of wings backs, too many centre halves (only one of which is quality enough to play in a back 4 at the top level) and very few midfielders. Therefore Levy will have to allow an overhaul for somebody to assemble a top side that plays with a back 4, and I think we know what the odds are of him letting that happen.

I remember when Tiger Rick bemoaned me years ago when I said Spurs needed to invest in more quality after they finished 2nd if they wanted to take the next step. His argument was that their first XI was good enough (fair point) and as they were young would improve further (not a given, as we've seen). However, squads win league titles- not teams. Levy had many chances to propel them to that next level by backing Poch in the market, but he still insisted on running the club as though they were still on the outside peering in, rather than a bona fide Champions League and PL top 4 club.

This is the kind of situation where you start to see Conte go all 'Va fa Napoli' on the board, isn't it? He's going to want to be backed this month to improve the squad and if he isn't, well we know what he's like.

Bloodsport on DVD.