The Football Thread 2017-18

[Photek]

The Sunday Supplement is as vacuous as it is stupid.

Er...isn't vacuous a synonym for stupid?

Nope.

[DML]

Paulinho is a steal at 35m. Hes become a far, far better player now.

[Skippy]

Hi guys, just checking in to see how Photek's mental breakdown over Coutinho is brewing. Looks like it's coming along nicely!

[Photek]

Poor Skippy.

[Kanbei]

Paulinho is a steal at 35m. Hes become a far, far better player now.

After playing in China?

[DML]

Paulinho is a steal at 35m. Hes become a far, far better player now.

After playing in China?

Yep. I think he'll do really well. Hes been the best player out there by a mile, considering all the high profile signings that have gone out to Asia.

[Preezy]

Wonder if he took a wage cut to join Barca. Imagine that being a thing.

[Photek]

Wonder if he took a wage cut to join Barca. Imagine that being a thing.

He must have, still no idea if he's good but I'll take DML's word for it.

[Mafro]

Hi guys, just checking in to see how Photek's mental breakdown over Coutinho is brewing. Looks like it's coming along nicely!

[Blue Eyes]

twitter.com/BBCSport/status/897089653882441728

strawberry floating A, and boy do we need him.

[Peter Crisp]

Despite having a bit of a rocky start I predict West Ham will be challenging for a European place finish this season.
I think they'll finish 6th or 7th so not terrible.

[Photek]

West Ham are a weird side, one week they look amazing then the next it's the opposite. I don't watch them week in week out mind just going by results/highlights.

[darksideby182]

West Ham are a weird side, one week they look amazing then the next it's the opposite. I don't watch them week in week out mind just going by results/highlights.

Bit like Liverpool the last few years.

[Photek]

West Ham are a weird side, one week they look amazing then the next it's the opposite. I don't watch them week in week out mind just going by results/highlights.

Bit like Liverpool the last few years.

Well, kinda, but Liverpool tend to string bad results together, last January was crazy for bad results.

[shadow202]

West Ham are a weird side, one week they look amazing then the next it's the opposite. I don't watch them week in week out mind just going by results/highlights.

Bit like Liverpool the last few years.

Last about 10 years for us you mean.

[Mafro]

Ronaldo's got a five match ban after pushing the ref

[DML]

Wonder if he took a wage cut to join Barca. Imagine that being a thing.

He must have, still no idea if he's good but I'll take DML's word for it.

Well £35m in todays market is fairly reasonable for a high profile player, and theres no doubt he is one of those.

I imagine he probably did cut his wages as well.

[PES Fan]

West Ham are a weird side, one week they look amazing then the next it's the opposite. I don't watch them week in week out mind just going by results/highlights.

Their issue is buying old players and picking players like Noble on past reputation. Noble looks done at the top level. Zabaleta didn't really cover himself in glory yesterday. Then you got Fonte and Reid who are hardly young. Sakho doesn't want to be there and Carroll is always injured.

Talking about piss poor management, but Barcelona seem to be masters of it in the last few years. It all really started when they let Thiago go and kept Fabregas. Who they proceeded to sell the following season. Not replacing Alves properly. Not even going for players like Isco or Asensio. They relied on the brilliant of the front three. Resigning a player who couldn't get in the Everton team. The board really need to deliver with Coutinho and Dembele.

Just shows how things have changed. Back in 2013 you could say only Ronaldo and possible Ramos would get in the Barcelona team. Now besides Messi and Suarez the rest of the positions would be filled up of Madrid players.

[Hypes]

Ronaldo's got a five match ban after pushing the ref

Agreed. Di Canio got 11.

[Denster]

I didn't see the incident but if he has pushed the referee then surely it should be a punishment of that type.