Poe - Comments

Heyman certainly isn't overrated - he can sell an entire feud by himself and he's not even fighting.

Lesnar and Reigns would have been so poorly hyped if it wasn't for him.

Monday 16th February 2015

About 2 weeks later they got in touch saying they’d like to hire me. Me. An amateur coach with no experience in professional football. I was incredibly excited and nervous but this was the step up I needed.

That brought my spell at River City Rovers to an end - a humble start but a good one. I’m a coaching badge better off, they’re $16,000 richer with a trophy in their cabinet and capable of challenging for the playoffs every year with the young lads we brought in this time round. Hopefully they’ll mature there and move on to professional football with either me at Louisville or somewhere else. That’d be nice. My record was 19-1-2, which is obviously superb. I foresee bigger challenges in the future, though.

Step Two - Louisville City FC

I brought Dan and Andy with me as I felt they deserved their shot too - and I might see if theres enough space in the wage budget to bring along Adam Hirst and Quavas Kirk - they’d be able to make the step up I’m sure of it. I’m being paid $500 a week, so I can quit my other job too. Superb. My life in football is finally underway.

Friday 20th February 2015

Recruitment drive is well underway - I poached Quavas Kirk and Adam Hirst from River City, Kirk goes straight into the starting XI whilst Hirst will have to settle for being a rotation player in his first year here. The standard is so much higher - Kirk, who was a 5* rated player is only rated 2.5* here. We have over $1m in the bank, and are projected to make a profit which is good. We have a 13,000 all seater stadium too, I’m unsure what attendances are like as this is their first year in competitive competition, having taken over from Orlando after their move to the MLS. Hopefully we’ll raise a fair amount through gate receipts. My phonecall with the chairman requesting a senior affiliate went a bit better this time - hopefully we’ll get linked with a side in the MLS and take advantage of their young players wanting development and we’ll be all too happy to have them here. In total over the pre-season period I signed 11 players whilst letting 12 go. All for free. Fax machine is in a strong position to be claiming employee of the month here in February.

A player called Guy Abend from Israel is my captain here, and he looks quality. Capable of playing everywhere across the midfield - I’m going to take advantage of his professional personality and good positional discipline and utilise him in the middle of my 4-5-1 in the CM(d) role. He can hold the midfield together whilst allowing my more creative players to move forwards. This year I am utilising a role that I used to resent on Football Manager - the ‘central winger’. Basically it’s a CM(a) being requested to run wide with the ball and dribble as much as possible. Hopefully he’ll cause damage.

Good news though, as I’m staying in Kentucky I can continue with the course towards my National A License, and Louisville City FC’s coffers won’t be negatively affected. Result.

River City Rovers must hate me. Although I did take them from bottom of the league with no players to having some of the best young talent in the development leagues within a year. Nasty people. Here our expectations in our first year are modest - we’re aiming for mid table but with 6 playoff spots available I know with our best effort and a bit of luck we’ll be able to sneak in. First game is against Wilmington Hammerheads and they’re favourites at home, so not the easiest of starts, especially as our star striker Matt Fondy has played over 11 hours of competitive football without scoring a goal.

Saturday 7th March 2015 - Wilmington Hammerheads vs Louisville City FC

My professional debut as a manager was a trip south-east towards North Carolina and the Legion Stadium, occupied by the Wilmington Hammerheads. As we’re new to the league we have the luxury of judging our opponents based on their previous league positions where they can do no such thing. Wilmington finished 4th last year, so they are one of the stronger sides in the division - and the bookmakers odds backed this fact up. They were willing to offer us odds of 11/2 to score an upset victory on my debut. The game itself was rather uneventful - I handed Michael Nwiloh and Quavas Kirk their debuts in the starting XI after they followed me from River City. Adam Hirst had to make do with a place on the bench, although with Matt Fondy’s well documented poor form, he may get a chance in the starting lineup sooner rather than later.

We were under the cosh from word go, Wilmington were running rings around us and passing with such pace and panache that we couldn’t keep up - however we were 0-0 at half time which I could only think was a positive. I dropped our midfield deeper and pushed our wingers up higher and instructed our defenders to get the ball out wide as fast as possible in an attempt to hit them on the break. This seemed to work and we came back into the game but couldn’t get the crucial goal. They dominated the first half, us the 2nd - so it was probably only fair that the game finished 0-0. Hopefully we’ll have more luck in front of goal in the games to come.

Yeah, he does.

Why would you want to sell Ronaldo if you got him?

Build your team around him instead?

12th November 2014

Management in this country can change at any time - Harrisburg City Islanders sacked their manager and the press were touting an unknown amateur coach called Joseph Pollard for the job. This is what I woke up to this morning. Who on earth are Harrisburg City Islanders? I researched throughout the morning - a professional team based in Pennsylvania. Interesting I thought - I e-mailed their chairman confirming I would be interested if they fancied it, and to call me if they wanted to progress any further.

Then the next day I see a piece in their clubs fanzine ‘laughing’ off my interest. What a confidence boost ey.

I get home to an e-mail asking me to attend an interview. Strange old day.

Tuesday 18th November 2014

Interview day. I have my suit on and my confident face on. Hopefully they’ll see past my relative inexperience. I may actually get paid to manage a football team!! How crazy is that?!

I was asked all sorts - there’s been whispers of disharmony between my players - which I can only presume is that they don't like winning as much as they are because with only 1 defeat in the league the previous year, I’m unsure that it’s affected me as much as everybody else does. They obviously addressed my relative inexperience, but hopefully they’ll see that I am in this business to stay and that I want to progress to the very highest level. Plus, I love ECW.

I was unsuccessful - they chose a manager better qualified with more experience - can’t really complain. They’ll regret it though. The board pulled me in for a meeting regardless though, and were unhappy with my loyalty. I said the board need to both support my ambition and the club’s stabiity which seemed to placate them a bit - I better keep my head down and stay here for at least the season. Doesn’t look like they're too happy.

In other news, Harrisburg City Islanders are trying to poach my starting right back. Why do they hate me? In the days after, other semi-pro teams offered contracts to other players in my squad. It’s good in a way as I want to see them move on and progress - but I really want to win the playoffs next year. Looks like Andy will be working overtime looking for players for us to replace these guys with.

Friday 23rd January 2015

I know there hasn’t been some updates for some time - but we’ve been incredibly busy ensuring the playing squad is up to scratch for the new season. I don't think we’re going to be able to build on our quarter final appearance last year as some of the players that left have not been replaced with those of similar quality because it simply isn’t there. We have got a few lads in who are incredibly keen to succeed though, and a few that definitely have a future in the MLS. We turned a profit of $16k last year, so hopefully that will help ease the boards concerns that I don’t want to be here much longer.

Kyle Kim is the pick of the bunch, a 16 year old defensive midfielder who will replace the outgoing Alec Sundly - he was one of my favourites last year, superb pass completion and tackle success rate. A real enforcer in the middle, Kyle has big boots to fill. There were some positives over the summer though, we managed to keep Quavas Kirk and Adam Hirst - along with our starting 2 centre backs so we should have a good base to move forward with. The actual division should be easy enough, but it’s the playoffs I want. I want the reputation boost and the prospects that brings.

However, with 35 days to the season beginning - a new team, Louisville City FC have been formed to take over Orlando’s spot in the USL and they’re looking for applicants for their manager. A professional football team in the same city - it’s going to a) negatively affect our already diabolical attendances and b) offer me a superb opportunity to make the jump into professional football. I applied.

I wasn’t laughed off this time, either. The interview went better, altough there was still murmorings of discontent in my dressing room which is making interviews harder than they should be. Hopefully this new club see past that.

Aye, hopefully they'll keep it the same in the next edition and he'll be more attainable.

Why do you need to buy coins anyway, stick Matt Jarvis and Sterling on either wing and they're quick enough to cause most sides problems without having to buy Robben/Ronaldo/Messi etc.

The best FIFA players in the world will end up with the best players - the way it should be.

Cheers lads!

-----------------------------------------------

Saturday 13th September 2014 - Kings Warriors vs River City Rovers

What has been established this season is that I am by far and away the best side in this division - but also that I have the lowest attendances. I guess there isn’t a fanbase willing to support a ‘soccer’ team in Kentucky, because the football we’re playing is entertaining, we’re winning games and it looks like it will continue for a while. Hopefully long term they realise what we’re doing here and eventually filter through. Other sides in this division regularly have attendances of 800+ while we struggle to reach 100.

However, as I mentioned they are paying for my coaching badge course for me so I am very grateful for this - I will immediately ask to progress to a National A License afterwards, as I do not want to be hanging around in amateur football for too long. I’ve landed on my feet here really, a good club with a good squad (that we pieced together from the footballing equivalent of the scrapheap) and a chairman that is all too willing to invest his money in my professional development.

The match went well, as it normally does. We weren't at our sparkling best but managed a 2-0 win nonetheless. Adam Hirst upfront has really excelled since he replaced Jabari Wells in the striking birth, he has 12 goals from 13 games and I expect interest from him at the end of the year for sure.

Quavas Kirk has been my main man on the right wing though, as expected. I said at the start of the year it was strange that he was willing to drop as low as he has done with him being an ex-professional but he has done and we are reaping the rewards. He has 13 goals and 12 assists in his 19 games so far, and is the only ever present apart from my goalkeeper in the first team. We have the last match against Carolina Dynamo - who I have recently learnt won this division in the 4 years before I arrived in Louisville. We then venture into the murky world of the playoff system, hopefully we’ll experience a bigger challenge there.

Sunday 28th September 2014

Results day from the final examination of my National B License - and I’ve continued my excellent debut year by acing it! Pete Laventis was the first to text me

“Guessing you’ll want the $792 for the A License too?”

I replied in hope rather than expectation but he said as a reward for the continued success I have brought the club throughout the season he will fund it. Result. Looks like I’m sticking about here for longer than the season I anticipated. I’ll contact Andy at the weekend and we’ll draw up a list of targets where I feel we could improve. To be honest, I think if we replace any outgoings, we’ll be alright for another year. Depending on how the playoffs go of course, I have no idea of the strengths of teams from other conferences - so it really is a mission into the unknown. Of out to celebrate with the team now though, we have a week and a half until our next game so time to let the squad have a good time!

Tuesday 16th October 2014

We got a bye into the second round of the playoffs by virtue of having the best record throughout every conference - which bodes well. We drew FC Tucson - so an away trip so the boiling hot desert of Arizona is upon us, hopefully our players won’t wilt in the heat.

Wednesday 17th October 2014 - FC Tucson vs River City Rovers

Nothing to worry about, despite the scoring hot match day temperature of 38 degrees celcius, Adam Hirst scored two quick fire goals which meant we could take our foot off the gas for the remainder of the first half. He added another just after half time which mean their late goal was nothing more than a consolation. Moving on, we drew possibly the best named team in America in the quarter finals - Springfield Demize. Couldn’t make it up. This really is uncharted territory - I have no idea how good/bad this team is, and by looking at their players compared to ours suggests they may give us good game. We’re through to neutral stadiums now though, so no away trip to the land of the Simpsons.

Tuesday 23rd October 2014 - Springfield Demize vs River City Rovers

Quarter final day, and nerves are getting the better of some of the players. They weren’t expecting this when they signed for an amateur team with no players at all at the start of the season, but here we are.

Game started well, we were playing our usual patient possession game but a moment of madness threw it all up in the air as Emilio Orozco, up until now has only missed 1 game through injury went into a mad, out of character 2 footed lunge on their centre forward. 10 men for 85 minutes. Great.

I switched to 4-4-1 but we were never able to get over the shock, going 2-0 down before half time. Quavas Kirk got one back but it was just a consolation, as a late free kick seen us go down 3-1. The run was over, we were brought back down to earth with a bang but we’ll go again - there’s enough quality in this squad to progress further than the quarter finals, as we didn’t completely collapse with 10 men. Let’s see what we can do over the summer, hopefully we can improve the squad and avoid any major outgoings.

It helps the shit players but thats it.

Majority of good teams I face I still beat.

Saturday 24th May 2014

Things are still going excellently in the league, we’ve played 9, won 7, drawn 1 and lost 1. We were humped by the Cincinnati Dutch Lions 3-0 last time, as they sprung a tactical surprise and played 3-5-2 - matching us in centre midfield where I like to build a lot of our play, whilst still providing cover down the wing with their defensive wingers. This time I played 4-3-3, pushed the wingers higher up into wide forward roles to really stretch their 3 man defence, meaning their defensive midfielders had to drop in to cover. We then took advantage of the gap in the middle of the park and this allowed us to play our game - we won easily by 2 goals to nil. They were lucky to get nil.

My man management skills have been coming under scrutiny - every player in this team is demanding first team football. I keep saying the XI we’re playing isn’t playing exactly badly but it won’t wash. Tell everyone to impress me in training and we’ll see what happens - that’s a good idea.

I definitely won’t be dropping any of the defence, that’s for sure - we’ve only conceded 4 goals all year and 3 of those were probably partly my fault. 3-0 seems a very popular scoreline and I’m more than happy for that to continue for the rest of the season. Hopefully we’ll stay clear of injuries as our squad is small. During the mid-season transfer window I’m going to need another meeting with Andy in order to identify a few targets to flesh out the squad. However I’m also aware whilst we’re in such superb form, there’s going to be people with their eyes on my players. As they’re on amateur contracts there’ll be no transfer fee involved and the players will be oh so happy to be earning money for something that they’re doing for absolutely nothing here.

As I’m winning every game though, I’m wondering how long I’m going to be around here - I know its amateur leagues but surely we’ll get noticed soon? Thing is while I’m down in the amateur leagues I haven’t got to worry about contracts, money or anything serious like that - I suppose it’d be quite a big punt by some professional guys to hire what basically is a P.E. teacher.

Thursday 31st July 2014

Seasons go incredibly slow here, there’s usually a 2 week gap in between fixtures which means we often cover a lot of time really fast but there’s no real progress on the field. Our players are amateurs too, so they have their day jobs - so no real benefit to their fitness. There’s a few USL clubs sniffing around Quavas Kirk so we may be set to lose one of our better talents - and I’m yet to see the announcement for the draft. Hopefully we’ll be able to keep the core of this squad together and push on next year. The league is just a formality at this stage, as our record stands at 12-1-1 - we should have it wrapped up pretty soonish. It, of course, being America; will put us into a playoff against the winners of the other regional development leagues, which will hopefully provide us with a bit of a sterner test than we’ve received so far.

Looking through the qualifications people have in higher divisions isn’t good reading for myself or my career progression - everybody is at least 2/3 coaching badges ahead of me at the minute - so I need to hope River City will pay for me to go through these, or find another club that will take me that will.

Andrew has been out at various soccer schools across the state in recent weeks though, hopefully he’ll pop back with some youngsters that are ready to make the step up to competitive football. Our squad is quite talented but very thin on the ground, add to that we’re likely to lose some players in the post-season if clubs higher in the pyramid are interested.

Backed the winner in the Kentucky Derby though, California Chrome at 5/2. Things are going well in my first year here in America. Surely this football management isn’t going to be a doddle all the time?

Saturday 8th March 2014 - River City Rovers vs West Virginia Chaos

Walking in this morning, I was asked several questions by the local newspaper about my first ever game. I could call it my first ever press conference I suppose - but I’d just gotten out of my Y Reg Ford Fiesta and I was running to catch the team bus to the ground, so it was more a rambling of incoherant sentences shouted forcefully at a young reporter.

The game started well, we took the lead on 11 minutes and doubled it 10 later and never really looked threatened. It finished 4-1. An absolutely remarkable result for a team that didn’t even exist 3 months prior. The opposition manager didn’t know what had hit him - the majority of teams in this division play 4-4-2, Andy tells me. Our midfield 3 was doubling up on their central midfielders and they weren’t allowed time on the ball - they couldn’t shift it to their forward men fast enough where they could have done us damage and we broke quickly down the wings 3 times and crossed to score. Remarkably simple stuff, but that’s all that’s going to be required at this level. We need to work to keep our playing squad fit and healthy, focussed on winning and playing the way we want them to play. This season should be a doddle. Or so I thought.

Saturday 15th March 2014 - River City Rovers vs Cincinnati Dutch Lions

“Reckon it’ll be same again this week, Andy?” - He said yes. “Every team I watched in pre-season from this division played 4-4-2 and didn’t look particularly high on quality, we should be okay”

I look at the teamsheet and instantly panic - I recognise a few names from watching the NASL which can’t bode well. They’re also playing 3-5-2. I started to panic a bit and so I should of. The physical fitness of their wingers and central midfield players totally showed us up - we were 2nd best in every department and ended up on the wrong side of a 3-0 hiding. Plenty work ahead, I thought. Our players trudged off and I didn’t give them the bollocking they probably deserved as I felt I deserved one too. Very lazy preparation after the walk in the park we encountered the week before. Make no mistake about it this division was going to be competitive.

A few things were going well though, pass completion for Alec Sundly, our midfield enforcer was the highest in the division - as was both his interceptions and tackle success rate. A real star performer winning the ball back regularly is a must in any successful team in my opinion - as every good team will want the lions share of possession in order to play the game at the pace they want to do. We have a fair amount of physicality in our ranks so I’m playing at a higher tempo than I usually would with a 4-5-1 system, but hopefully it will allow our players to impose themselves on their opponent and bully them into submission. The philosophy will evolve and become more advanced as the quality of players playing in it does - but for now, a simple formation with simple instructions is good enough for a simple league.

We just need to hang on to the players we have here and we could have a successful year. I know a few of the lads are keen to move into professional football, or even semi-professional - so hopefully this club can provide the springboard they need - whilst winning trophies in the amateur world.

Monday 28th April 2014

Few weeks into the season now - and we have a winning record. We’ve played every side in the division now so if we continue replicating this form we should win the title - it’s a big if though as some of the wins have been extremely scrappy. Our record currently stands at 4-1-1. Now that we’re a few weeks in, I’ve established quickly who our key players are going to be and the ones that I can afford to lose if push came to shove. Quavas Kirk on the right hand side is lightyears ahead anybody else in this division and it surely can’t be long until a better side comes in for him - the same with Stephen Evans in the box to box midfield role. Jabari Wells has 1 goal in 6 games which isn’t the best return - I thought he’d run riot with his exceptional physical attributes. Adam Hirst who is probably our brightest prospect at the club has taken his striking birth at the moment.

We truly are one of the smallest clubs in the division though - we had an attendance of 66 for a game not so long ago - I could probably have bought everybody a pint after the game and not be completely bankrupt. Judging on $4 a beer, the expense would be $264 - not particularly bad for an entire crowd. It won’t be happening, anyway. We have played in front of some decent sized crowds though - playing against Carolina Dynamo away there was over 1,400 fans turn out. “You only came to see the Rovers” I thought to myself. We’ve yet to break the 100 mark at home, so somehow I think the 66 beers I drank after the last home game may have affected my head.

Tactics wise it’s going well though, our wingers are supporting our forward very well - whilst the onrushing centre midfielder (hipsters call them the central winger) - is contributing very well. I’m using Vincenzo Bernado in that role and he’s contributed 2 goals and 3 assists in 6 games. There’s an extreme amount of vertical movement with our overlapping full backs, box to box midfielder and wingers. It requires an almost professional standard of fitness so I’m unsure if we’ll be able to keep up our superb form as the season rolls on. Time will tell.

Tuesday 29th April 2014

I phoned Pete Laventis - I wanted to discuss ways to make this club some extra income. We have $8,258 in the bank which is actually up $13,000 from when I arrived - but I like ensuring the financial future of clubs I’m at so I asked him to try and find us a club we could link up with higher up in the pyramid. We’re projected to make a further $9,000 of profit without this - so hopefully with the extra money we can work towards semi-professional status. Big aims but you have to start somewhere.

“Pete, I think I have a way of making some extra money for us” I said calmly as I walked into his office.
“My wife isn’t interested I’ve told you…”

That’s the end of that then, I’m not sure he fully understood what I was getting at but there you go - no senior affiliate and no prostitution.

Productive day.

Career Plans:

Manage in the USA to begin with. Build up coaching badges and profile enough to manage in Europe.
Manage both Ajax and PSV.
Manage both AC Milan and Inter Milan.
Win the European Cup with either Leeds or Nottingham Forest.
Manage Porto, Benfica and Sporting Lisbon.
Manage England in a World Cup.
Finish career by winning the title and European Cup with Newcastle.

Career Aims:

Never sign a player for over £15m
Develop the youth academy of every club I’m at - introducing a youth player into the first team every year.
Develop and maintain the 4-5-1 system throughout every club I’m at.
Increase the value of every club I’m at.
Increase the average attendance at every club I am at.

League Set up:

Obivously to complete my objectives I’ve had to load up the USA divisions (I’ve downloaded an expansion to allow me to work in the lower leagues so I can start off with a Sunday league rep), the Dutch, Italian, English and Portuguese leagues. I’ve also loaded up what I’ll call the ‘gateway leagues’ of Austria and Hungary. I’ve also loaded up Germany, because why not?

Step One - River City Rovers

Staff Set up - Well there’s literally 3 of us, me, my assistant Daniel Grimmer and Chief (only) scout - Andrew Kerr. We’re all young and not very good. Superb.

Monday 13th January 2014

To start this wonderful journey that I’ll hope will see me through until FM16 - I’ve rocked up in Louisville, Kentucky - the Christian Academy of Louisville to be exact; home of the River City Rovers. Or the Rovers for short, original. Hopefully I’ll be able to build up at least 2 coaching badges while I’m here in order to continue my professional development. No time like the present I thought to myself so I immediately called a meeting with Pete Laventis - my chairman, and asked him to fund the £480 it’s going to cost for my National B License. He accepted, so not only am I coaching an amateur team in the heart of the South Atlantic - I’m off to college to study towards a coaching badge. Superb.

Louisville is known for a few things - the home of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs racecourse and of course - the original home of Kentucky Fried Chicken. What a superb diet for my amateur players to dine out on every single night. Anyway time for some sleep - my job starts in earnest tomorrow and I want a full day to inspect the facilities and the playing staff before I get to work instilling my philosophy and preparing my scout for a small recruitment drive.

Tuesday 14th January 2014

Walking in on my first day as a amateur football coach I had a few things on my mind. What if they don’t understand my Geordie accent? How on earth have I got a stone in my shoe, I live 5 minutes away? I wonder how many players will be good enough?

Well my answer was quickly established. 1 player will be good enough, my assistant manager Daniel Grimmer tells me. “He’ll take all the freekicks, he’ll take all the penalties and hey I’ll tell you what Joe, he’ll be the captain as well”
I remember thinking Jesus Christ - this guy must be good. “Let’s meet the squad then, Dan”

What a silly fool I’d been. Squad? The reason this guy will do everything here is because he’s the only player we actually had on the books. What a superb start. The guy is fucking useless as well.

I took a stroll back into my office and sent an e-mail to Andrew Kerr - my Chief Scout. My only scout for a matter of fact.

Dear Mr. Kerr

Please find me a full squad. We’ll be playing 4-5-1 this year, so please find 6 centre midfielders, 3 strikers, 4 wingers, a full defence and goalkeeper. Don’t worry about the young lads, we’ll have to make do this year. I’ve just sent Two-Boys Gumede home and told him not to bother coming back, we won’t be wanting his services this year. He looked confused considering he’s the only player on the books here, but I figured a full fresh start would be better.

Yours faithfully,

Joseph Pollard

Let’s hope he pulls some rabbits out of hats for me here - any success this season will be down to him finding not just quality players but players willing to play for absolutely nothing in front of 200 people every week.

Friday 7th March 2014

Been a while since I’ve been able to update my diary - we’ve had a fair few players to talk to over the past few months. Trials, try-outs, friendly games the lot - we’ve got a squad now though. It may not be bursting with quality but it’ll do. Andy has put a hell of a lot of effort ensuring these players fit the way I want us to be playing and I thank him for that. We didn’t have a team of no hopers though, either. Quavas Kirk played with Beckham at Los Angeles a few years beforehand and he was lining up on our right wing for us. That was about it in terms of ex-professionals but we had a good mix of good ball playing types and pure physical prowess. Our striker, Jabari Willis was 6ft4 of pure American muscle. Fast, strong and brave - I remember thinking he’d play a huge part in any success I had here.

After my initial shock at the playing squad (or lack thereof) - I turned my attention to the facilities, we had very limited facilities here being an amateur club - but the local university was allowing us to use their sports complex so the ground was good and the players could have a hot shower afterwards. Good enough. We’d been working on the 4-5-1 formation extensively throughout pre-season, but now it was time to put it into practise. Tomorrow we have West Virginia in our first ever game of competitive football. It won’t be pretty but for a 24 year old head coach - I’ll never forget it for the rest of my life.

Just the majority of your players in the middle - two full backs staying back maybe? Then a player offering the short option and selecting short.

There is a market - just not for the best players all the time. People aren't going to have enough money to buy the best players all the time - that's just life.

Must have to log in on a console to get it, just logged in on the web app and got fuck all.

Liverpool turning into the new Man Utd of mystery injuries before England games

I'm not sure there is an exploit on the latest patch is there?

They're not playing for the sake of playing - they're playing because there's no one better. If Carrick gets injured (which is 'likely' as it's an England friendly) we don't have a defensive midfielder in the squad.

It's surely about time England and their fans/media recognise that a defensive midfielder is a position just as much as an attacking midfielder is.

We wouldn't go in to a set of games without a right back, so why is it okay we do it without a defensive midfielder?

Cabella and Perez work so well together.

We're battering Arsenal now

wtf.

Sissoko, Cabella and Janmaat are streets ahead of anyone else at this club.

I'm watching Arsenal play around with a football instead of that game, my friend.

Another from Arsenal and I can have a good night

They're about similar standard - Walcott a few years ago was tremendous.

Also, Sammy Ameobi has completed 3 out of 6 passes. In over half an hour of football.

Nothing player.

Remember when Shola said Williamson was good.

I backed Arsenal -2, Spurs and Southampton today.

£25 to £260.

Aye, I was thinking with the continued expansion of the MLS they'd add them in years in advance.

Never mind.

Barcelona should molest PSG if they continue to play as they are.

Didn't even need to buy anyone - just not sell 2 of our best players.

I recall Newcastle having a stonewall penalty turned down at your place when it was 0-0.

And Costa should have had around 3-4 red cards this season, if there was a conspiracy, he would have had them and more.

It's a ridiculous argument.