tOfficial General Soccer Thread 2014-15

[Zapp Brannigan]

Couldn't find a thread for this season, but maybe the few fans of European football in this mug can sustain a thread.

Starting by blowing the lid off Arsene Wenger's anti-smoking campaign.

Arsene Wenger on the Monaco bench

[beal99]

My fucking Hammers for the last three games have scored, than decided to try to sit back and defend, three straight ties, fucking annoying

[Cym Jim]

Wonderful seeing Man U start sliding out of the Champions League spots. Was going to happen sooner or later - they've been awful even during that run they went on. Would be bloody hilarious if they fail to come fourth, and it could very well happen with Southampton, Arsenal, Spurs, Weat Ham and even Liverpool in contention for those last two spots. Have a feeling Van Gaal is going to shit his pants and drop another $100m before the deadline.

Half a billion squad, everyone fit, supposed world class manager, and not one shot on goal at home. Love it.

[Zapp Brannigan]

Very nice FA Cup weekend - the top three in the BPL go down, ManU pushed to a replay by a minnow, Spurs lose, and Arsenal advance.

Fifth round draw this afternoon.

[MiamiSpartan]

Wonderful seeing Man U start sliding out of the Champions League spots. Was going to happen sooner or later - they've been awful even during that run they went on. Would be bloody hilarious if they fail to come fourth, and it could very well happen with Southampton, Arsenal, Spurs, Weat Ham and even Liverpool in contention for those last two spots. Have a feeling Van Gaal is going to shit his pants and drop another $100m before the deadline.

Half a billion squad, everyone fit, supposed world class manager, and not one shot on goal at home. Love it.

Didn't see this thread a couple of weeks ago. Glad you have some hope again. I know you were down in the dumps when United was on a good run. You absolutely vanished from tRCMB thread, except to take an odd shot at the US here and there. But now you're emboldened again as soon as they lose.

Yup, United has been shitty since Christmas, though I disagree with you about the form before that. It was still a hodge-podge of a team put together every week due to the injury situation, but they were playing with belief and confidence. That's the big difference, confidence is hurting right now, which is odd as the team is just getting healthy again. But hey, at least we get to help out Cambridge United with giant pay day that will sustain that club for years due to the replay. Not saying we drew on purpose, but I do like to see the small clubs get those opportunities.

Who knows how the season will play out, but just wait until Adidas pays for Messi's transfer to the only Adidas team that can afford him, which isn't Barca's biggest rival. And then of course, add Bale to that to really tilt you, Jim.

[Zapp Brannigan]

FA Cup fifth round draw - matches weekend of February 14

Crystal Palace v Liverpool or Bolton
Arsenal v Middlesbrough
Aston Villa v Leicester City
West Bromwich United v West Ham United
Bradford v Sunderland or Fulham
Blackburn v Rochdale or Stoke
Derby v Reading
Preston or Sheffield United v Cambridge United or Manchester United

[Zapp Brannigan]

Happy Jim White day!

So far it looks pretty damn boring.

[MiamiSpartan]

Happy Jim White day!

So far it looks pretty damn boring.

Do they actually do the whole Jim White thing at the end of the January window, too? Is that just kind of manufactured? It doesn't seem like January, even on deadline day, is ever all that crazy.

[Zapp Brannigan]

Do they actually do the whole Jim White thing at the end of the January window, too? Is that just kind of manufactured? It doesn't seem like January, even on deadline day, is ever all that crazy.

To be honest, I don't bother watching so I really can't answer the question. However, a cursory search indicates that yes, Sky does do the Jim White thing in the January window as well.

[Zapp Brannigan]

And here are today's big signings from the Eurosport ticker:
-Chelsea confirm signing of Juan Cuadrado in £26.8m deal from Fiorentina
-Andre Schuerrle completes move from Chelsea to Wolfsburg
-Mohamed Salah goes to Fiorentina on loan for rest of season
-Wilfried Zaha confirms £3m permanent move from Manchester United to Crystal Palace
-Darren Fletcher ansd Carlton Cole arrive at West Bromwich Albion for late medicals
-Southampton sign Ryan Bertrand on a permanent deal and get Filip Djuricic on loan from Benfica
-Everton loan Aaron Lennon from Tottenham Hotspur for the rest of the season

Yawn

[Zapp Brannigan]

Uh-oh Hammers fans.

FIFA could kick West Ham out of the FA cup because they played Diafra Sakho on January 25th even though he was supposedly too crocked to play for Senegal in the African Cup of Nations.

Guardian article

[Zapp Brannigan]

Memes galore as Nicklas Bendtner nets hat-trick for Denmark

Against the US no less...

[Zapp Brannigan]

Arsenal are the most followed club on twitter in the USA. Suck it ManU fans.

Actually kind of a cool interactive map available here:

Guardian article with interactive map

[Cym Jim]

Arsenal are the most followed club on twitter in the USA. Suck it ManU fans.

Actually kind of a cool interactive map available here:

Guardian article with interactive map

Yet Stan Kroenke somehow allowed Spurs to be the MLS All Star game opponent in his own stadium? Shows how much he gives a shit.

[MiamiSpartan]

Arsenal are the most followed club on twitter in the USA. Suck it ManU fans.

Actually kind of a cool interactive map available here:

Guardian article with interactive map

I'm not sure that's a good thing.

[Zapp Brannigan]

Adam Johnson

Pedophile

[Cym Jim]

Adam Johnson

Pedophile

Hardly pedophilia, but good fodder for songs. When he was subbed on the other day the crowd were brutal. Good stuff.

[Zapp Brannigan]

These are some sweet trophies...

[Zapp Brannigan]

Arsenal repeat as FA Cup Champs.  Excited commentary about the "Big Fucking German" courtesy of German Eurosport.

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