JRC

The sycophancy - the BBC Sport website (ie McNulty) - towards City was obnoxious. Even without the huge black cloud over the whole EPL - this season in particular, but also all the previous ones - the desire to big up their 'masterclass' in the face of adversity etc is sickening. I'm maybe in denial in believing that its not about how things panned out last summer, but Guehi resally got on my t*** at the weekend. With Kavanagh's help he managed to give the impression (and get the decisions) that Koumas - Koumas! - bullied and fouled him all over the place, yet received virtually no sanction himself until late on. But what did it for me was at the end. As the players ran to their fans - sickening enoough, the no-shame t***s - he knelt down in the middle of the pitch raising his arms to his God; He went there with the charges in full flow, and now - let us not forget - they have been found guilty, appeal notwithstanding; not innocent until proved guilty (if that even applies in this kind of case) - Guilty. And there he is lifting his arms up in thanks to his God. That's vile, not sure if more vile for theists or atheists like me (without even getting into his God-inspired Homophobia).

Not how soon, how long that matters. Is this a thing? We've been told for years that experience is key for Central Defenders, but our 2 recent youngsters (one admittedly for only a few minutes - but they were a great few minutes), the apparent, to me, production line out of the South Coast to top clubs after a year, even Yoro who we wanted; all seem to display a composed, considered style, as opposed to even Konate, for example. Van Dijk as the new archetype?

I have to say I haven't noticed how good Jaquet is - in a good way. Just relaxed that we seem to be sorted, no alarms or issues. Nothing to see here. Which is pretty impressive given his age.

Can't be doing with Koumas. I'm absolutely exhausted watching him. I was genuinely worried he would need emergency oxygen during the second half. Can see why Iraola rates him, his Bournemouth lads could be that irritating to play against.

SO - what have they apologised to Utd for? Not having a review? Did they go on to say what they felt the outcome of that review should have been? I haven't seen what the guidelines now say is meant by impact - sorry, cba looking, happy to be opinionated in ignorance - but that phrase 'likely impact of his position' is worse than useless. They have gone a long way with Offside towards the offside player actually having to touch the ball to be called offside, but no doubt that is caveated. By the same token, I don't believe having the defenders think something different might happen than does happen, because of a player in an offside position doing something, is necessarily what they now mean by it. Unless he blocks the GK view of the shot or impedes the defender, is moving towards the ball a reason now?

Impacts on an opponent is pretty vague. With goalkeepers it is usually about line of sight, for defenders it's having to change position or do something different with the ball Just he needs to keep an eye on him or he's got to consider a shot doesn't always fit it.iirc we had a similar one at Palace a few seasons back where they tried to argue the Palace player had to choose between marking an off side player or Salah (scored, not offside) but that didn't meet the standard. Fernandes was a distraction or an alternative point of attention, but not convinced that is enough, but it must have been close. Hilarious it happened to them, fuming if it was us

So far, we've bettered our results from the League winning season, without recourse to the post-Spurs results even

*cough* Fabinho *cough* Mind you, I'm sure we are all amazed to see him in the Brazil team this summer, although it wasn't clear his legs had recovered

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Liked the point from the Manager that playing with Virgil is a Masterclass every game. Accepts that it is a learning process for him (and Leoni) and also sets Virgil up for a legacy-enhancing (if that's possible) handover season.

The running joke about him only still being picked by Slot because he was Dutch may have a grain of truth, more in that maybe Cody liked Slot, and felt he looked after him, so with him going plus his other trauma(s) - and maybe getting dogs abuse on social media from fans - meant he felt a break from the club was for the best for him. Good to see him in such good form.

Good to see the Sky goal highlights found a few seconds to question the Ref letting them 'get away with one there'.... Oh sorry, that was Jacquet's 'second yellow' they thought egregious, the penalty obviously paled vs that.

I don't necessarily disagree, and that is generally the accepted wisdom, but it's also quite an extreme position to infer (although easily done given the extent of mistrust in the administration of the club) that the collective experience and assessment of those responsible - Manager, Coaches, Doctors, Sports Scientists, DoF and his team etc., with daily observation, sophisticated analytics and dedicated medical management - has reached this decision about Bradley as some sort coin toss, penny pinching guess or gamble. (Although to contradict myself, I've recently posted on The Swanny about reading books about Truss's premiership - collective experience, renowned expertise and access to detailed analysis didn't stop them f***ing up spectacularly, so maybe the team at Kirkby et al have just got it badly, badly wrong)