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United States10358 Posts
On November 25 2025 04:39 Liquid`Drone wrote:
Yeah catching up to Arsenal might prove tricky even if they turn things around but if they turn things around then CL is obviously still on the table.
But they do need to turn things around. If they maintain the 'past 7 games'-form the rest of the season, they'll end up around the relegation spot.
Also to be fair - those 7 matches have been against teams placed 2,3,4 and 5. Only the 0-3 vs Nottingham was a dreadful result, in isolation. Also also if you told me after 5 games that United would be ahead of Liverpool 7 games later then I would've said that you are certifiably insane, so who knows how it'll be 7 games from now. It's not like their players are suddenly bad football players, stuff can turn around. I'm not really faulting supporters (or even owners) if they're starting to think Slot has to go but panicky replacements definitely don't have a particularly strong track record.
We are not catching Arsenal lol. They look incredible this season and props to them for it.
Our hope is finishing top 4 or going all in for UCL at this point. We need to do a miracle turnaround. We've had a tough start to the season with our strength of schedule being pretty strong but we should be much better than we are right now. Slot's system needs to change.
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Arsenal is really great this year, they are not that flashy fancy but doesnt matter to me tbh. The defending is really strong.
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On November 26 2025 03:39 gTank wrote:
Arsenal is really great this year, they are not that flashy fancy but doesnt matter to me tbh. The defending is really strong.
I love watching great defenders, I used to be a defender in my youth and there's nothing more satisfying to me than watching a proper solid defensive performance, and Arsenal are up there with the best, both individually and as a team. Seems like Gabriel has been doing it forever and he's been so consistent for his entire career.
There's lots of good looking matches tonight, but surely the one to watch is Chelsea vs Barcelona, right?
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Northern Ireland26512 Posts
How is Ronaldo’s ban cut back to one match? A complete fucking joke
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Yeah looking forward to that game and Arsenal vs Bayern tomorrow.
€: What did he do for the red card in the first place?
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Northern Ireland26512 Posts
On November 26 2025 04:09 gTank wrote:
Yeah looking forward to that game and Arsenal vs Bayern tomorrow.
€: What did he do for the red card in the first place?
Elbowed an Irish player and sent off for violent conduct, which = 3 game ban by the letter of the law.
Doesn’t count though because FIFA is a fucking joke, you had Ronaldo and Gianni all gargling Trump’s balls last week.
I don’t vindictively want Ronaldo atypically punished, he shouldn’t get a completely arbitrary pass, it’s a complete farce.
To my knowledge there’s nobody else who’s provisionally suspended for the starting phases of the World Cup who’s had a ban reduced. There are some who’ve had a ban overturned because they didn’t do the thing and won appeals. Which isn’t in dispute with Ronaldo.
It’s a fucking joke. The sooner he retires the better. Sick of his fanboys, sick of him being indulged. Just sick of him all round tbh
Ironically Roberto Martinez was probably thrilled with the news he was banned, he could finally play the team he’d like without having to worry about the Ronaldo spectre. Now he’s back, with all his baggage and ego.
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Ronaldo and Messi getting way too much leeway because of their names it seems, but thats nothing new I guess.
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Northern Ireland26512 Posts
On November 26 2025 04:35 gTank wrote:
Ronaldo and Messi getting way too much leeway because of their names it seems, but thats nothing new I guess.
I can’t really think of anything comparable with Messi, although if I’ve forgotten, correct me
Ronaldo got a stock ban, as per the rules. There’s no dispute he did what he did.
He just had it cut for nonsense reasons. Utter bollocks. Utter, utter bollocks.
It’s a fucking joke. It’s a disgrace. Nobody else is having bans cut so they can make the World Cup group stages.
There’s a fucking million examples of bans being a ‘pity’ for the competition that are upheld nonetheless because they’re the rules.
But it’s Ronaldo so let’s bend the rules. It’s a joke. It’s an utter farce.
It’s everything wrong with Gianni Infantino’s reign in a nutshell.
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Northern Ireland26512 Posts
It says a lot about FIFA that in various podcasts I follow they all said ‘how are FIFA going to get that ban reduced and package that?’ and the idea that he’d actually be absent for the group stage wasn’t even a realistic possibility they entertained
Because of course it t wasn’t
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Norway28784 Posts
and the least happy about it should be the portuguese, no? They scored 11 goals in 7 matches with him and 9 goals in 1 match without. (yes yes it was the easiest match but still - Ronaldo being banned would've made the whole 'well we're better without him but we have to play him cuz he's Ronaldo' problem go away.)
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Didnt Messi publically flame a ref and got nothing for it? Against netherlands IIRC, also not getting another yellow for fouls plus there was something minor with the goal he shot in the finals.
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On November 26 2025 04:54 WombaT wrote:
It says a lot about FIFA that in various podcasts I follow they all said ‘how are FIFA going to get that ban reduced and package that?’ and the idea that he’d actually be absent for the group stage wasn’t even a realistic possibility they entertained
Because of course it t wasn’t
This is FIFA all over, always has been.
Everyone knows they are corrupt, the world's headlines could predict their corruption, but then they just do what everyone expects right in front of everyone's faces and don't say a word about it to defend themselves.
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Northern Ireland26512 Posts
On November 26 2025 05:31 gTank wrote:
Didnt Messi publically flame a ref and got nothing for it? Against netherlands IIRC, also not getting another yellow for fouls plus there was something minor with the goal he shot in the finals.
There’s a difference. If a ref misses something or doesn’t punish you in a game, you can skate.
Ronaldo did not, and they commuted his sentence. And we all fucking know why, it’s a joke. It’s an appalling affront to sporting integrity.
It’s a complete fucking farce, and I’m sick of it. It’s genuinely nauseatingly, obvious corruption at this stage.
Hey remember Gazza’s tears when he picked up a yellow? Let’s reverse it because Gazza’s fucking box office. M
Roy Keane delivering one of thegreat solo European performances in Turin in 1999 but picked up a suspension for the final? Nah I mean it’s a shame if he misses out on the final. Let him in!
It’s sickening, snivelling bollocks. For a 40 year old has-been. It’s pathetic. There are players provisionally suspended for the World Cup as is who haven’t had bans reduced.
There’s almost certainly going to be someone who picks up a red card in the Euro playoffs. And quite possibly for violent conduct, which is what swaps it from a 1 to a 3 game ban. If that happens are they getting a pass? Calling it now, they won’t.
The only saving grace is that Ronaldo is fucking ancient in footballing terms, so it’s not going to matter. Indeed I think it probably makes Portugal worse.
But if Ronaldo was 30, and at the peak of his powers? It’s incredibly unsporting to just bend the rules because he’s a big draw.
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Northern Ireland26512 Posts
On November 26 2025 05:58 Jockmcplop wrote:Show nested quote +On November 26 2025 04:54 WombaT wrote:
It says a lot about FIFA that in various podcasts I follow they all said ‘how are FIFA going to get that ban reduced and package that?’ and the idea that he’d actually be absent for the group stage wasn’t even a realistic possibility they entertained
Because of course it t wasn’t This is FIFA all over, always has been. Everyone knows they are corrupt, the world's headlines could predict their corruption, but then they just do what everyone expects right in front of everyone's faces and don't say a word about it to defend themselves.
They were corrupt, but at least it was mostly confined to World Cup venue choices
Now it seems more all-encompassing, and way more blatant
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WOW that second Chelsea goal.
This kid is amazing. Quick feet and a badass finish.
Could've gone down and won a penalty but is too confident.
Love it.
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Northern Ireland26512 Posts
On November 26 2025 06:15 Jockmcplop wrote:
WOW that second Chelsea goal.
This kid is amazing. Quick feet and a badass finish.
Could've gone down and won a penalty but is too confident.
Love it.
Estevao is the real bloody deal, quality player.
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On November 26 2025 06:28 WombaT wrote:Show nested quote +On November 26 2025 06:15 Jockmcplop wrote:
WOW that second Chelsea goal.
This kid is amazing. Quick feet and a badass finish.
Could've gone down and won a penalty but is too confident.
Love it. Estevao is the real bloody deal, quality player.
Yep.
All that needs testing is his consistency over a full season or two.
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On November 26 2025 06:02 WombaT wrote:Show nested quote +On November 26 2025 05:31 gTank wrote:
Didnt Messi publically flame a ref and got nothing for it? Against netherlands IIRC, also not getting another yellow for fouls plus there was something minor with the goal he shot in the finals. There’s a difference. If a ref misses something or doesn’t punish you in a game, you can skate. Ronaldo did not, and they commuted his sentence. And we all fucking know why, it’s a joke. It’s an appalling affront to sporting integrity. It’s a complete fucking farce, and I’m sick of it. It’s genuinely nauseatingly, obvious corruption at this stage. Hey remember Gazza’s tears when he picked up a yellow? Let’s reverse it because Gazza’s fucking box office. M Roy Keane delivering one of the great solo European performances in Turin in 1999 but picked up a suspension for the final? Nah I mean it’s a shame if he misses out on the final. Let him in! It’s sickening, snivelling bollocks. For a 40 year old has-been. It’s pathetic. There are players provisionally suspended for the World Cup as is who haven’t had bans reduced. There’s almost certainly going to be someone who picks up a red card in the Euro playoffs. And quite possibly for violent conduct, which is what swaps it from a 1 to a 3 game ban. If that happens are they getting a pass? Calling it now, they won’t. The only saving grace is that Ronaldo is fucking ancient in footballing terms, so it’s not going to matter. Indeed I think it probably makes Portugal worse. But if Ronaldo was 30, and at the peak of his powers? It’s incredibly unsporting to just bend the rules because he’s a big draw.
in principle i agree on everything. but at the end of the day i want to see ronaldo and messi play for as long as i can, even if theyre not at their peak anymore. so do i care that a ban from qualifying matches was suspended to allow him to play in the main event from day 1? nope. other than fifa losing a leg to stand on for inconsistent enforcement of the rules, the suspension is pretty harmless as far as competition integrity goes imo. id rather he be available from day 1 purely for the entertainment factor.
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The Portugal is worse with ronaldo trope is just blind ronaldo hate. I am not saying he makes them better but his job is to score goals which he keeps doing better than almost anyone else on the planet...
Football is a low scoring sport. Nothing more difficult than to score goals
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On November 26 2025 12:02 sharkie wrote:
The Portugal is worse with ronaldo trope is also just ronaldo hate. I am not saying he makes them better but his job is to score goals which he keeps doing better than almost anyone else on the planet...
Football is a low scoring sport. Nothing more difficult than to score goals
Portugal seemed pretty good at it in the match without Ronaldo.
Ronaldo has no legs. I remember a showmatch at some.point in the early 2000s where Maradona scored a beautiful goal. He was handed the ball around 5 meters from the box, controlled it masterfully and curved it past everybody and into the net.
It was a great goal. But Maradona didn't move more than about 100 meters all that game. That's fine for a showmatch. It isn't in a world cup.
Ronaldo can obviously score goals. He'd probably be a decent pinch hitter for Portugal to bring on in the 85th minute when the defenders are tired and they need a goal. He makes Portugal worse when he starts every match.
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EPT
