Let me say from the off that I’m sure most of you know I’ve never really believed in conspiracies and corruption in the game to much of an extent, but after last week’s debacle, I’m rapidly changing my mind.
Hence I have no doubt in my mind that we won’t get a result tonight and the absolute truth is that I don’t even know if I’m bothered. A big part of me is saying that I don’t really want to win a competition that seems as though it’s full of bent referees and bent owners too.
The trouble is, I’m now worried that corruption has also spread as high as the Champion’s league, particularly after the game between Real and Bayern. Now correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m sure I saw the VAR twice and all it showed was a white shaded area with a player’s silhouette compared to the line. Yet it didn’t show the defender that it was supposed to be comparing to, hence it could have been anywhere on the pitch.
What on earth is that supposed to prove and how is it transparent?
And it all makes me think, now the doubt is in my mind, that it was just further confirmation that the game is now corrupt at the very highest level.
I said a few weeks back that football is now seemingly all about entertainment and what draws the crowds, as opposed to being a genuine sport played on any sort of playing field, let alone a level one and I now think we’re just seeing more evidence of it as time goes on.
My meaningless rant over and onto squad news.
The only real news is that Martinez is back in the squad, but it’s not at all certain that he will prove fit. I sincerely hope he is, as while I don’t particularly blame him for last week, I don’t believe the defence has much faith in Olsen and nor do I.
Coincidently, I was talking about him to an Everton fan and guess what? Olsen played for them too and he was also rubbish there.
As for Olympiacos, I’ve looked for team news on their part and can’t find any.
What to think then?
Well, I think everything is conspiring against us and I just don’t see a win, let alone us doing enough to win the tie.
The only saving grace is that we dominated possession and chances last time out, but I’m on a bit of a roll here, having very little faith in us in the first leg and giving a major hint of my thoughts in the Brighton preview, even if I didn’t outright say I thought we’d lose.
Ah, go on, I’ll make a prediction here, as I’m really not bothered about jinxing us either way for this game.
I think we might scrape a draw, but I think it’s more likely to be a loss, 1-2.
UTV!
Am I seeing things. Cash doesn’t seem to find the pace of a ball today twice miss timed centre and please take Daisy Diarby off he’s crap .
It’s cruel to be critical I suppose after the amount of games played and the amount of injuries we have.
Unai please take off as many as possible at half time so we might have eleven players fit enough for final two league games. We might need a point minimum to get 4th. Plus this game is already over!
Pragmatic, Holte. But can you imagine that conversation in the dressing room? Not gonna happen, rightly or wrongly.
I would hook Cash. Every time the ball goes forward to him he stops and plays it backwards. Need someone prepared to go past the first man. Kesler Hayden is much more positive. Give him a go
Just saw a re-run of the goal and it showed McGinn sprinting back, while Digne walked.
I forgot. The Evertonian asked what I thought about him too and I said he was okay.
The Blue said he was a useless defender, but a great crosser for them. He got that spot on.
What’s happened to Moreno?
Good shout Holte , I think he will given time , Uni looks as if he’s given up on the fact we will win this. I’ll say this ball control and football has come from Villa but the gods favour them more than us .
.
Olise and El Kaabi summer signings?
Badger that’s a fact Digne did walk back and left it to others.
But why did he walk back? Don’t tell me it’s because he’s a lazy barsteward suddenly after everything he’s done this year?? I’m not defending the indefensible, but as i keep saying, it doesn’t make sense.
I get the feeling there is an absolute 1000% block on leaks from VP, on pain of death.
I’m not seeing what you’re getting at mate???
The past few games have exposed the lack of squad depth. Digne as many have, have run their bollocks off. Our passing has been well wayward recently, and when u compare this to other performances it doesn’t add up. Plain and simple, were just effing knackered. Nothing more complicated than that.
I don’t even think well win either of our final 2 games but Citeh will ‘do’ Spuds.
End of the day, the points we’ve earned are there over a long sustained campaign and therefore we deserve 4th place, failing an immense screw up by Citeh.
2-0. Well done The Greeks. Respect.
A semi final European place and 4th in the league. Would you have taken that at the start of the season? Hmmm………😁
Making excuses there, we’ve been bereft of any attacking idea or potency, to predictable and f*”k about playing the ball around at the back.
Olympiacos have played the qualifying games in the Europa cup before the conference and they all look has fit as butcher’s dogs so I ain’t buying that knackered excuse for one minute.
We were simply f**king awful.
Very harsh, RSS.
Eh?
Did you see that on Watkins? Wanking ref .
Yep.
One thing we’ve learned this year, European referees play a totally different game to that of the EPL. That’s an important lesson for when players are on the ground claiming a foul whether deserved or not.
Just noting Emi is not his usual mobile self either. Far from it.
Anyway, it’ll all be good experience for when we win the Champions League next year!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Luiz couldn’t pass wind today
He did actually and it bloody well stank!!!!
Unai really doesn’t like Duran, I guess…
Never mind. Duran on. Not before time.
Cash loses it again. 😩
They relly are defending well.
Brilliant pass from Digne. Nothing is running for us. Nothing.
Well done ref. Fair play. 👏
Not watching as out on the piss – actually having a great time.
It’s abundantly clear that we’ve reached the limit of our ability – squad wise and energy wise. We’re knackered and gone. That’s not a criticism just an objective view.
I said we wouldn’t win another game and I stand by that.
4th now depends on ManC beating Spurs.
It’s been a great season but even Emery can’t continue to defy the footballing gods!
UTV
Correct, Hitch. Have one for me. 👍
Had several BFR 🙂
Good comment Hitch but put in layman’s terms – we were f**king shite.
That’s not what I said RSS and you know that
I’m not buying into this knackered business, we’ve been bubbled or rather Unai’s been bubbled.
Next season’s going to be very interesting.
Have a good evening, chaps.
This has been utterly painful from start to finish.
Nothing has gone our way , we look toothless to put it bluntly.
We’re completely knackered whatever the ‘clever’ idiots suggest otherwise – that’s mainly stupid West Spam fans!
We now have two games to try and fashion a win or hope Spuds lose one to get 4th. Then we can wave two fingers at the West Ham idiots!
Whatever – the reality is that Emery has managed us into 4th and a European semi- final with a small and injury ravaged squad without once offering an excuse.
I, for one, am proud of what we’ve achieved and am 100% behind Emery and our owners.
UTMV.
100% with tou Hitch.
Agree completely.
Before I piss off, that offside is identical to McGinn at Brighton. Luck’s out.
El Kaabi has figured out our high line. 5 out of the 6 goals scored against us.
My biggest concern is that top teams will pick us off going forward. Sometimes it’s best to have an alternative style of play to keep the opposition guessing.