Todays Games

[SalCity Biggie]

5 hours ago, Rival Son said:

I was working in Zante in Greece when they won the Euros in 2004. Never been to a party like it since. Thought I'd be safe being a Bolton fan abroad, until you find you're working for an Olympiacos fan and his mates and they loved Stellios probably just as much as we did 

[Chrisj]

Eoin Toal on NI bench tonight 

[gonzo]

2 hours ago, Marc505 said:

Watching that Arsenal 4-4 Tottenham game on Sky at moment, 18 years ago unbelievable. Its like watching a different sport to current PL, the game is flowing so quickly, ball has barely been out of play for the half an hour or so I've seen of it!

Can't believe 2008 is now retro.

I caught a bit of United v City when Rooney scored that bicey the other day.

Like you say it's s different sport.

End to end, mad challenges, wingers flying down the wing whipping balls in and no VAR in sight. 

 

[Johnnyrotten]

1 hour ago, gonzo said:

I caught a bit of United v City when Rooney scored that bicey the other day.

Like you say it's s different sport.

End to end, mad challenges, wingers flying down the wing whipping balls in and no VAR in sight. 

 

They must have been absolutely exhausted.  You mean the keeper didn't go down twice each half for a well earned drinks break?  No wonder they introduced 9 subs per team, nobody could last longer than an hour. 

[Marc505]

2 hours ago, gonzo said:

I caught a bit of United v City when Rooney scored that bicey the other day.

Like you say it's s different sport.

End to end, mad challenges, wingers flying down the wing whipping balls in and no VAR in sight. 

 

Just seemed to be more of a flow to the game in general.  

Everything takes ages to set up in a PL game now as well, every throw in, corner, free kick is taking minutes to set up.

Also, something a pundit said recently about all the players being absolute units at the moment in the PL. In the game I watched earlier they all look physically totally different!

Im still a bit rocked by how recent it looked and felt that 4-4 game actually, where has time gone. Other scores from that day were coming up at bottom of the screen, we were 0-0 at home to Everton, Portsmouth, Hull, Wigan, Blackburn, Stoke. Mad.

Edited November 17, 2025 by Marc505

[bolty58]

10 hours ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

Yep. This. Adding BOTH Irelands.

Much as I like Sheehan I do not want to see Wales in the WC finals.

I make an exception for NI. Other than that, bravo.

[DirtySanchez]

4 hours ago, Marc505 said:

 

Also, something a pundit said recently about all the players being absolute units at the moment in the PL. In the game I watched earlier they all look physically totally different!

One thing I noticed when we played Arsenal in the Caraboa cup last season was that even with their youngsters they not only had the physical side but the athleticism 

Gone are the days when a David Lee could run rings around prem defenders, if you beat one of these they will have caught you back up in a couple of seconds 

Though going back a bit, remember seeing Michael Ballack at an actual game and realising how big a unit he is

On the flip side I realised how small Shay Given is 

[gonzo]

5 hours ago, DirtySanchez said:

One thing I noticed when we played Arsenal in the Caraboa cup last season was that even with their youngsters they not only had the physical side but the athleticism 

Gone are the days when a David Lee could run rings around prem defenders, if you beat one of these they will have caught you back up in a couple of seconds 

Though going back a bit, remember seeing Michael Ballack at an actual game and realising how big a unit he is

On the flip side I realised how small Shay Given is 

My mate is a coach at Fleetwood and went to academy thing at Man City in the summer with a host of other elite clubs.

Said it was just rafts of black and mixed raced kids all built like 100m sprinters. Ripped and fit as butchers dogs.

They get the kid that fits the profile and the coaching comes after.

[Wanderlust]

With increased pace and physicality and a pressing game comes less time on the ball and more rushed passes and mistakes, which does affect the quality and fluency of the game, but with so much pressure on managers to win it’s unsurprising that they look to sign players who can shut down and stifle technical players - especially at clubs that can’t afford top technical players.

Personally I don’t like it, but it’s an entirely understandable trend. 
I suppose that youngsters coming into the game have to improve and adapt to get the better of out and out athletes so it should eventually drive standards up.

[Wullie]

Well, if you want athleticism, just watch the Harry Enfield football match sketch, proper blokes playing the beautiful game

[RONNIE PHILLIPS]

We had one of the earlier prototypes in Fab Muamba.

[Duck Egg]

5 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

With increased pace and physicality and a pressing game comes less time on the ball and more rushed passes and mistakes, which does affect the quality and fluency of the game, but with so much pressure on managers to win it’s unsurprising that they look to sign players who can shut down and stifle technical players - especially at clubs that can’t afford top technical players.

Personally I don’t like it, but it’s an entirely understandable trend. 
I suppose that youngsters coming into the game have to improve and adapt to get the better of out and out athletes so it should eventually drive standards up.

We used to produce athletes who could play a bit - Gerrard, Lampard etc and occasionally a footballer would come along like Gascoigne, Joe Cole etc who were comfortable on the ball and had skills like the 'continentals'.

England is producing far better technical players now than ever before. We'll still not win the world cup though.

[ianofcleveleys]

7 hours ago, gonzo said:

My mate is a coach at Fleetwood and went to academy thing at Man City in the summer with a host of other elite clubs.

Said it was just rafts of black and mixed raced kids all built like 100m sprinters. Ripped and fit as butchers dogs.

They get the kid that fits the profile and the coaching comes after.

A fair number of these kids who are in or trying to break into academy set ups are getting private speed / conditioning coaching, to give them a perceived physical edge over other lads. I know a couple of blokes who are delivering it over in Microsoft.

[Eddie]

Sheehan starts for Wales tonight.

Could do with a solid 60-65 mins, no injuries. Big game is on Saturday, Josh!

[freds dad]

Praying for 97th minute Denmark winner tonight.

[Eddie]

I’m guessing I’ll be in the minority here, and likely because I don’t have anywhere near the care for England that I do for Bolton (and it does sound like when your mum says “I like to see local clubs doing well” - which is completely the wrong answer)… but I’d quite like to see all the home nations at the World Cup.

Far more interesting than watching Macedonia or similar over there.

[London Wanderer]

49 minutes ago, freds dad said:

Praying for 97th minute Denmark winner tonight.

Nah fuck that

 Mon the Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

 Be great to see them make the WC. Even better if we get a chance to pump them 

[London Wanderer]

43 minutes ago, Eddie said:

I’m guessing I’ll be in the minority here, and likely because I don’t have anywhere near the care for England that I do for Bolton (and it does sound like when your mum says “I like to see local clubs doing well” - which is completely the wrong answer)… but I’d quite like to see all the home nations at the World Cup.

Far more interesting than watching Macedonia or similar over there.

I’m a nervous wreck supporting England come any major tournament. Turn into a kid again. 
 

But I’m just not interested in us cruising through the qualifiers. As great as it is to see us doing it.

 Enjoy watching the other local nations more. That Ireland game and finish against Hungary was unbelievable.

Buzzing for the Scotland game tonight 

[RUREADY2ROLL]

1 minute ago, London Wanderer said:

I’m a nervous wreck supporting England come any major tournament. Turn into a kid again. 
 

But I’m just not interested in us cruising through the qualifiers. As great as it is to see us doing it.

 Enjoy watching the other local nations more. That Ireland game and finish against Hungary was unbelievable.

Buzzing for the Scotland game tonight 

I won’t be watching the sweatiest; Sheehan on BBC3

[Dr Faustus]

49 minutes ago, Eddie said:

I’m guessing I’ll be in the minority here, and likely because I don’t have anywhere near the care for England that I do for Bolton (and it does sound like when your mum says “I like to see local clubs doing well” - which is completely the wrong answer)… but I’d quite like to see all the home nations at the World Cup.

Far more interesting than watching Macedonia or similar over there.

@Leyther_Matt likes this 😂

i remember 98 with fondness- I was certain SJM would score the first goal of the tournament… what could’ve been

[London Wanderer]

Flowers of Scotland 👌

Stunner

Everytime 

[Eddie]

Oh my word!

[Alf Hartigan]

Fucking hell what a goal

[Whitesince63]

3 minutes ago, London Wanderer said:

Flowers of Scotland 👌

Stunner

Everytime 

Yes and unlike ours their players sing it with pride, as do the Welsh whilst our stuck up, overpaid PL pansies can’t even mouth our anthem.

[ianofcleveleys]

Brilliant goal. McTominay very good at appearing in that area and scoring

Gannon-Doak giving Dorgu a hard time.