General Football 23/24

[Deano]

They are more likely to get relegated from the championship that they are to get promoted from it. They're squad value is about bottom four and I don't think they bought well, even for that level.

I agree, they have tho bought expereince, if there legs stand the a year in the championship that another matter. They still have some legacy costs which will hinder them on a financial front, thats maybe why its been a small spend so far.

[Slinky Skills]

Christ. I never knew Conor Coady had signed for Wrexham.

Coady enjoying 'something good' at Wrexham after tough times - https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/a...s/cly65j24xyno

[SB]

Yeah happy for him too.

[Yozza]

WTF....



FA to investigate Marinakis banner at Palace match

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5y0zg3n4x8o

The Football Association is investigating a banner unfurled by Crystal Palace fans that depicted Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis holding a gun to midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White's head.

Forest are hugely disappointed that supporters were permitted to bring the banner into Selhurst Park, according to well-placed sources.

Crystal Palace have been approached for comment by the BBC.

Palace and Forest played out a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park on Sunday but the clash was overshadowed by the banner which, in addition to the portrayal of Marinakis pointing a gun towards Gibbs-White, read: "Mr Marinakis is not involved in blackmail, match-fixing, drug trafficking or corruption!"

Marinakis has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to such allegations.

The FA is probing the banner and will decide whether Palace face punishment.

There are strict rules regarding messaging contained in such banners regarding foul language and defamatory, political and offensive slogans.

The banner will serve to heighten tensions between the two clubs following a controversial summer that saw Palace relegated into the Europa Conference League with Forest taking their place in the Europa League after the London club contravened Uefa's multi-club ownership rules.

Last month, Palace chairman Steve Parish said the decision to remove Crystal Palace from the Europa League was "the biggest injustice in the history of football".

However, there is now major frustration at the City Ground that more was not done to prevent the banner from being displayed.

The banner is viewed at Forest as being inflammatory and xenophobic. They are privately questioning why Palace and the club's ownership group consisting of Woody Johnson, Parish, Josh Harris and David Blitzer have not publicly criticised the banner.

Gibbs-White came close to leaving Forest for Tottenham earlier this summer after the London club appeared to trigger the England international's £60m release clause.

But the midfielder ended up staying at the City Ground, signing a new deal,, external and speaking about his decision to stay in an interview alongside Marinakis.

[peterbread]

Kairat Almaty has qualified for the 2025/26 Champions League after knocking out Celtic.

A team from Kazakhstan and ranked 311th in the UEFA coefficient rankings.

The Scottish champions made the 3,500-mile journey to Kazakhstan on Sunday ahead of Tuesday's play-off second leg.

What’s that just over 6 hours by plane. No one wants that away game. Imagine an early kickoff after that away trip

Are early kickoffs after champions league games allowed or did they change that?

[spud_gun]

Watched the Celtic game this afternoon/evening

Genuinely some of the worst football I've had to misfortune to clap eyes on

The reaction from the Celtic fan base is predictably hilarious. Sack the players, sack the manager and of course sack the board

I'm sure they can take some comfort knowing they'll more than likely be league champions come Sunday.

[Deano]

Hubris Celtic, Hubris Brendog

[RedReet]

Kairat Almaty has qualified for the 2025/26 Champions League after knocking out Celtic.

A team from Kazakhstan and ranked 311th in the UEFA coefficient rankings.

The Scottish champions made the 3,500-mile journey to Kazakhstan on Sunday ahead of Tuesday's play-off second leg.

What’s that just over 6 hours by plane. No one wants that away game. Imagine an early kickoff after that away trip

Are early kickoffs after champions league games allowed or did they change that?

Can't play early KO on Sat after Wed game and likewise can't Play Tue after a Sun game. All because of some whinging German ****er apparently.

But have to admit, when I seen result, I thought we are a cert to draw them.

[ChesterDave]

I hope we do. Its a freebie. Just because Celtic are crap and lost lets not pretend they are a threat.

[RedReet]

I hope we do. Its a freebie. Just because Celtic are crap and lost lets not pretend they are a threat.

We'll easily beat most teams in CL, don't need a 12 hour round trip to interrupt league form.

[Buzzo]

Watching highlights from yesterday’s footy - a lot of matches had key incidents around VAR. Be they pens given not given scored not scored and for incidents that pre VAR I don’t think would even be talked about… Games are literally being decided by the guidelines set by VAR - the one on blocking in the box and pens being given is also a disaster - watch Arsenal benefit heavily from it.

[Kenneth]

It's changing the game and the narratives around the game. Every bit of incompetence is bias because it must have been deliberate, every minor incident is now potentially a game changer, because it's possible that VAR could have looked in slow motion and made a petty call. Everyone is more angry and feel hard done by, trust in officials is at an all time low, and the game no more fun because of it.

[peterbread]

Yeah a lot of fun has gone. Celebrating a goal isn’t the same anymore because some little incident can be reviewed. And it’s the big 6 who get all the calls which is crap, everyone gets done by it which is why it’s incompetence.

You also have sky who love all this, they make everything over the top and focus on these things more.

[RedReet]

Scud alert:

I often hear about how great a signing Marmoush has been for City, but I'm not sure it's justified. He's had a few standout performances, but he's also had so many games when he's been completely anonymous. He's only scored in 5 separate PL games since he joined. Compare that to Gakpo, who I think I read has scored in 11 of his last 12 at Anfield.

Even Ekitike will probably overtake him soon too. Even if he scores a hat trick today, I wouldn't do a swap for the ex Frankfurt strikers.

[RedReet]

FFS assist