Premier League – Matchweek 1

I'm sure all on here will be shocked to learn that there will be some very naughty people who will resort to internet streaming services to watch their preferred team. Personally, I wouldn't waste the price of the electricity to watch those on offer above.

Similarly, I gave up listening to modern music on the radio when Tony Benn sank the Pirate Radio stations. I said I would never listen to the state-approved and run Radio 1, and never have. (It was pretty easy given the wall-to-wall garbage it pumped out and meant I never listened to their star broadcaster, Jimmy Savile.)

Personally been blind Charles to my shame, not literally blind thank God, only to the deception and disgusting things that go on by the powers that be.
Anybody know any decent streams, cannot remember one I've used last season.?
Medication...

Moises Caicedo doesn’t want to join Liverpool, saying it’s only Chelsea that he wants to join. 😂😂😂

Haaland scores within 3 minutes to open the season.

Shocker!

My enjoyment of the Man City game being ruined by that scumbag Carragher.

What a goal!

Ricky,

Bookmark this page and use the link in it because they change it now and then:

http://fslive1.chatango.com/

Dude scores two in a half and his manager gives him a "bollocking" coming off the pitch at half.

Pep, m'man, what did you see that pissed you off so much???

With a really top-class striker in your team you cannot go wrong.

With no striker in your team, you flounder like Everton did last season. It's nice to have an endless bank account.

That's some stat: Man City's current defenders collectively cost more than Burnley have spent in total in their 130-year history.

That second goal was instinctive. He didn't even look, just turned and hit it.

Watching a very interesting report on him on the BBC. Thought of as too small and thin / lightweight as a young player in Norway. How many times have I heard that on the side lines or in stadiums?

Players and human beings develop physically at different stages in life. Some sooner, some later. But the ability is always there. He is a machine who knows where the goal is.

The best instinctive striker in the Premier League since Rooney?

Danny #11.

Players and human beings develop physically at different stages in life.

True mate, but Haaland ain't human. Definitely not from our world. ;-)

Danny@11, this is surely where the innovators and the people with a bit more expertise and knowledge should be allowed to step in and take over?

If a kid has got tremendous ability but is maybe not the quickest, surely clubs should send him to an athletic coach?

If a talented kid is small and lightweight, then surely they should be sending him to a strength and conditioning coach?

Messi might be the greatest player in the world but someone at Barcelona definitely showed a bit of innovation and look how much the club was rewarded in return.

I'd love Everton to rip it up and start again, and start showing that little bit of innovation that would surely get much better results.

Maybe I'm wrong but nearly everything seems to stem from the same program and, although football is a team sport, I personally believe that every single talented individual will sometimes need something that little bit different to help them develop. Maybe it's just me being wrong, once again?

The Cyborg is back and his software has been updated. Beware the Cyborg.

Tony (13), Well you know better than me the coach who put a yard on Sterling and Foden’s speed, made a big difference to their game,most players can be improved physically, one two certainly need a good old fashioned kick up the arse to get them having a go.

Off to a good start at The Emirates... kick-off delayed till 1 pm.

Just Stop Oil?

No, Arsenal own-goal:

Arsenal changed to an online ticket only process for the season, 30mins later and we’re still stuck outside the stadium with queue not moving.

Phew! Everton are not the only gross incompetents!

Horrendous miss by Brendan Johnson.

What does online tickets only process actually imply?

Wait... the game was delayed due to ticketing issues??

Why would you go online only as well? I'm sure 90% of fans would buy online, but if someone wanted to do a paper ticket, what's the harm?

I don't get it...

Tony,

I'm guessing but I think you'd have to have a valid ticket downloaded into the wallet on your smartphone.

Although there should be no reason you can't buy the ticket online and print it out on paper with a barcode or QR code, for those who don't want to do the phone thang.

Brilliant piece of skill by Nketiah.

1-0 to The Arsenal.

No, wait... keeper beaten by the deflection. Jammy bastards.

What about those who don't want to do the online thing?

Er... much better one for number 2.

A brilliant strike by Saka. Goal of The Season.

Exactly the sort of finish our very own Idrissa Gana Gueye has in his head when he wellies the bloody ball miles off the goal, at least once in every bloody game.

I’m glad Everton are still giving out season ticket cards because I’m not made for this modern technology.

Soon everything will be online. It's the way they want it.

It seems to be the same with money, Paul, which is something that absolutely frightens the life out of me, for the future generations on a humanitarian level.

I paid £5, for the season, to have my season in my hand and use it to go through the turnstyle, no problems usually, last week I used the match ticket I was issued with and had no problem but I think there were huge hold ups on each gate with fans using their phone apps, I hope there is no problems today but there is a new ticket operator isn’t there and maybe it’s taking time to make the system streamlined.

(27), above post should read “ to have my season ticket in my hand”.
Sorry about that.

Paul, Tony,

If people would stop so willingly going along with it all...

(27), above post should read “ to have my season ticket in my hand”.
Sorry about that.

Paul -

Whenever anyone refers to any group with any degree of power as "they" I shudder a little bit.

That's the way "they" want it. Frightening.

Mr. Kenrick -

When are you opening the LF?

Put it in your pocket Dave, otherwise you will probably lose it.

It’s scary Will, it was costing me money, and also leading to arguments with other people doing the same job, mate. It actually took me back to the anguish I felt when I first read The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist, because the powers that be, know how easy it is to make the average working man - fuck the average working man, unfortunately, but I must apologize to Michael and get off these pages now, because Saturday should only be about the football!

Companies want to push the work and the costs onto the consumer wherever and whenever they can in order to maximise profits. It is up to us as a society to kick back wherever and whenever we can. The banks want a cashless society so as to reduce costs and clear themselves of the responsibility for fraud and the responsibility to pay for it, I read that 41 percent of those who have lost money in banking scams have yet to receive compensation from the banks and their regulators. Enough said. Pay by cash wherever and whenever you can!

Tony,

more people should be aware, or ought I say, be willing to acknowledge what is undeniably going on in front of their eyes.

As you say, for now, back to the football!

Graham,

what you say is true but that's merely part of what's happening, facilitation for the wider intent. The end goal is not pleasant.

Super goal for Forest. I hate that haggis-muncher McCoist but he's dead right about the centre-forward getting in front of his marker at the key moment.

Are you watching, Dominic??? Coz you're not at Goodison where you should be!

Ooooo… naughty by Martinez for the Barcodes.

No doubt the ref got that one wrong as well, Mr Gaynes? Shoulda beena red!!!

Absolute peach of a cross from a certain Anthony Gordon for Newcastle's first – talk about standing it up with a decent amount of backspin!

But the second Newcastle goal... the scorer Isak is obviously offside at the free-kick? Or is this another case of the rules changing half-way through the game???

Exquisite finish by Isak for the Toon 3rd.

Does exactly what our useless bunch cannot do: looks to see where the keeper is and uses his foot to guide the ball away from him but inside the extremely generous limits defined by the woodwork forming the frame of the goal.

Who said footballers were a bit thick? I know our lot must be…

Ah well…

Joint 16th is probably not bad for the 1st day of the new season!!

Compare the handball call given to Luton for their penalty at Brighton, with the almost identical elbow block by Tarkowski at Goodison yesterday…

What price consistency?

You are never going to get consistency, Michael, because these referees are very rarely made to be accountable.

Watching Brentford v Tottenham, they play like Everton but on steroids.

Ah, this is going to be offside, isn't it, of course it is.

And it is.

The Devil has started early...

How good are Reece James and Ben Chilwell (that's not a question!).

Chelsea are like one of those ceremonial “best of Europe” line ups. A whole team of complete strangers thrown together. They might nab a cup but I can't see all the new faces blending quickly enough to challenge in the league.

As for Liverpool, I am pleased to see they've failed to address their glaring weakness in central defense. They're the opposite of us as they seem to only sign forwards.

Chilwell playing a lot further forward than his usual left-back position.

Real issue for the shite is no holding midfielder. They look lost around the middle of the field (but Caicedo will surely take care of that!).

Van Dijk is a pale shadow of 3 years ago (do they still blame our keeper?) and the two "full-backs" would fit in nicely into that cream-suit team of Nancy Boys from yesteryear.

Although Chelsea are trying to hijack Caceido with their infinite transfer budget even while reporting themselves to the Premier League for financial irregularities.

Is Todd Boehly related to Moshiri by any chance?

Lots of close calls from the VARs today.

And we apparently get an apology for yesterday's decision on our disallowed goal.

Well, the apology is fine but how about why it wasn't looked at in the moment?

They must have been at the coffee machine.

Danny, Howard Webb is the new head of the PGMOL, so it will be interesting to hear, if anything, what he has to say about that ridiculous decision.

For fuck's sake, Stuart Attwell must have had his whistle in his mouth, waiting to give a free kick, while the ball was still in mid air, before Leno attempted his pathetic attempt at trying catch it.

I know it's the rule, but why can't the VAR intervene after a referee has blown his whistle? Also, what happened to letting play progress before making any decision? The VAR definitely would have awarded the goal.

Is right, Paul (T).

Richarlison getting torn apart by Spurs fans; rock bottom of the rating for today. I wish we had him.

I've got a horrible feeling that Goodison has a special place in the hearts of our elite referees. They all talk about how intimidating it is (Webb especially), but they all know that if they get a decision wrong to our disadvantage there will be no real repercussions.

As such, I suspect they see it as a badge of honour to give as many decisions against the crowd as they can, to show they aren't cowed by an intimidating atmosphere.

I'd love to know how the wrong decisions stack up compared with say Anfied and Old Trafford, where a bad decision there brings down merry hell on their heads after the game as well as during.

Totally, Rob. I was down the other end but could see that was a goal. A legitimate goal.

After what I watched today, it is beyond me how it wasn't looked at by the VAR. They would have given it and it's then a very different game, so the apology is as hollow as that shower airbrushing Heysel.

Sorry, I get emotional about this stuff.

By the way, and I won't finish the sentence. But watching today.

Tottenham big club?

I think you know the ending.

Kevin (54),

I think you have a good point: we are big enough to kick, but small enough that refs can ignore us.

I don't mind if the officials make a genuine call, but yesterday like a few other instances at Goodison in the recent past, the referee seemed determined to blow, before that phase of play had reached its conclusion.

If the official thought he saw foul play by Tarkowski, that's fine, but the fact that many of us in the ground saw no obvious offence, should have meant that the referee must have had some doubts as to his decision, and surely to ensure that the correct conclusion was drawn, a shout for VAR help could have been made.

Either use the VAR properly or get rid of it, its use is far too subjective and some officials will deliberately try to swerve its use, whilst others will rely on it too much.

The VAR should be able to stop the game if they deem an incorrect call has been made. At the minute, we have no idea when the VAR is definitely going to be consulted, or if it is going to be used at all. That's not good enough, and it makes a mockery of having the VAR at all.

Can't watch today's match but someone please let me know how long it takes Bruno to get booked for waving an imaginary card. It's kind of his trademark move.

Nothing yet but I would have Ait-Nouri as a left-back at £20M.

Charles (1). At age 14 I too was with you over the pirate radio shut down to be replaced by Jimmy Young, Pete Murray and “Fluff” Freeman ( the oldest champion of progressive rock). That said- yes no argument re Saville but there was another dodgy Twat who went under the radar and there’s good evidence he had a dark side to him. Professional LFC fan… a man who suddenly in 1977 dismissed all music that had gone before then and wanted to be the oldest/ trendy ex hippie in the land. X and has a Wetherspoons named after him in Moreton…….

Well, they looked quite down as they walked in from the coach but one could argue Wolves have had the better of this match. Cunha has impressed and barring injuries they look like a side that will play for each other.

Wolves look better than I expected. Neto, Cunha, Ait-Nouri, Kilman, Nunes, Gomes, Lemina all decent players.

But like us, they are useless in front of goal...but they should be safe from relegation

We ruined it for them Fran. Utd 1-0

It's official. VAR is rigged!!! Wolves robbed of a clear pen in 95 minutes. How wasn't that clear and obvious, is beyond me!

Man Utd v Wolves!! Another penalty denied and they say the game's not bent – ha!

I think the ref was instructed to review O'Neill's reaction by the VAR. Then the ref determined O'Neill deserved the yellow card. The VAR working as designed.

i agree Soren, at the very least you'd expect the referee to have a look at it on the monitor. Perhaps,Onana didn't intentionally catch the Wolves player; however, Tarkowski didn't intentionally make the Fulham keeper drop the ball last Saturday.

If a similar incident, involving Pickford, to that which occurred at Old Trafford tonight, had happened at Goodison, it would have been reviewed and a penalty awarded to the away team.

Correct Jack Convery, we knew that would never be given as a penalty at Old Trafford.

My other gripe is why did Sky not show the footage of the pitch invader – was it too scary? Why do they treat us like children?

I don't believe the rigged conspiracies generally, and I 100% don't believe everyone has it in for Everton, but that is an absolute disgrace.

Nevermind the VAR, how did the ref miss it? He's staring straight at it. If he gives it, then the VAR doesn't tell him he's wrong.

United's midfield getting a bit of stick, so it wouldn't surprise me if the reports about them being interested in Onana start to materialize after tonight.

That ref will give a penalty before the month of September, for something very similar, and how it hasn't been reviewed by the VAR is incredible. If it was reviewed, then this is even more incredible. Football is definitely not straight and the officials are getting away with murder on a regular basis.

A new season, with new rules, but it won't be long before the new rules are broken in favour of one of the bigger teams.

Corruption in football is not a conspiracy theory – it's been proven that several top dogs within the governing bodies have been taking backhanders for years, so the idea that refs make decisions to favour certain teams is pretty simple to grasp.

The continuous rule changes and interpretations along with the VAR are simply tools to assist the corruption. I have no idea why I'm still addicted to this sport when I'm fully aware of how despicable the whole thing is!

Most of us grew up in football sticker world as kids and believed that it was a sport and therefore fair and equitable.

But back in the real world, Attwell and Taylor did another job on us on Saturday, just as I predicted they would on Friday night. I truly would love to believe that football is not corrupt at our level, but I would be deluded.

A genuinely tragic day down at Bramley-Moore Dock today, my eldest is 26 years old too (Season Ticket Holder) so it really brings it home. Truly tragic.

Nobody, and I mean nobody, will ever convince me that Clattenburgh wasn't bent as an Arab's dagger.

Mark Clattenburg was bent!

Graham, why would they want Fulham to beat Everton?

Man Utd looking very shaky on defense and Wolves looking very fast on the break. I hope Dyche is making notes.

United scraped home but should have been beaten if Wolves hadn't screwed up a few really good chances.

One game in and I think Luton will be one of those to go back down but it's for sure Man City and the Gunners will rule the roost again.

Shane #76, I look at the history both those individuals have with Everton, or rather against Everton. I do not believe it was even a coincidence that they were both on our game at the weekend.

Maybe if we were in a better place as a club, I would not be as angry as I am right now about football matters (notwithstanding the devastating events today down at Bramley-Moore Dock) because, as things stand, we have very little safety margin.

Sorry, Shane, but I do not believe in coincidence, we really are not liked by all the powers that matter. It all boils down to that New Order album title for me sadly.

I watched just the last 5 minutes of tonight's so-called world-class Premier League football match. Just how the Man Utd keeper remained on the pitch, never mind not conceding a penalty kick, tells me all I need to know in that the game is still bent in every aspect of probity.

Fair enough Graham. I completely disagree.

We were two down to Palace in May 2022, relegation on the way as we had Arsenal away on the last day. We got it back to 2-2. At 2-2, Coleman and Zaha grappled for a ball. The ref gives us a free and Calvert-Lewin scores and we're safe.

How can that happen if the people in charge want us down? It's not like they had to do much the last two seasons to send us down. We were well fit to put ourselves in a position where a little push would've done it, but here we are.

Every club thinks they're discriminated against. We all think Liverpool are the authorities' favourites. Yet no penalty for a clear hand ball on Sunday. No “thick lines” drawn for Salah's offside. It's not real.

Tim Howard said that the call was right but maybe he is biased.

I really do believe the Premier League is corrupt and that match-fixing goes on.

How anyone with a pair of eyes could disallow our goal on Saturday and deny Wolves a penalty today are just two small examples among thousands every season of dodgy decisions.

Regarding the match, Wolves demonstrated the difference a couple of quality players make with Cunha and Nunes running the game.

Apparently once the ref blows the whistle, any resulting action doesn't count and the VAR can not get involved – what a fucking stupid rule, needs changing.

The referee made an error, but per usual nothing will be done.
Should be suspended for three games in my opinion.

Jay 82…

I thought that about our goal – however, Keane was offside so, even if it did go to the VAR, it would have been ruled out regardless.

Oliver,

As a former referee and a very poor low level player, I've always had it ingrained into me to play to the whistle. How can that be a stupid rule? Imagine the shoe was on the other foot and the ref blew for offside and as we do often see the petulant forward kicks it into the goal uncontested. If the VAR suddenly said “It wasn't offside, goal stands” people would go ballistic. It would be chaos.

Also in support of Shane's comment on perceived bias. Gary O'Neill said tonight he contacted Howard Webb after every game last season as he felt there was prejudice against Bournemouth. We know there have been examples of bribed refs down the decades. We know some refs hold grudges. But 90 percent of the time it's simply human error and every club feels equally hard done by – even Liverpool.

Duncan @72, Agree with every word.

In 1977 I saw referee Clive Thomas cheating Everton out of an FA Cup Semi-Final. He knew there was nothing wrong with Hamilton's goal but he did not want Everton to win that game. Had that player been wearing a red shirt, we would have lost 3-2.

7 years later, I saw us play at Wembley against the same team and referee Alan Robinson sees that Alan Hansen stops the ball on the line with his hand, no penalty and no red card. Had that happened at the other end, the red team gets a penalty and we are playing with 10 men.

Robinson like Thomas favoured the other team, both complete cheating bastards!!

Two bad decisions that were pivotal to the match results and say everything you need to know about the bias in football. One definite penalty denied in favour of Man Utd at Old Trafford, one perfectly good goal denied against Everton at Goodison.

That said, both Wolves and Everton had plenty of chances to make the game safe beforehand. Not just the Blues lacking a cutting edge!

I said on Danny's thread, “Goals win Games”, I looked at our goal several times last night, and froze the picture at the point when Leno drops the ball. Keane is just ahead of Leno, but appears to be in line, or even just behind the Fulham No 31.

Interestingly though, Leno's left leg is almost horizontal, almost at a right angle to the rest of his body and pointing towards the goal. Had the goal gone to VAR, even for the fact the ball may have touched Tarkowski, then it may well have shown Leno's left foot was playing Keane onside, as well as the Fulham No 31.

So, in my opinion, Keane was not offside, though I guess we will never know.

Kevin @84, if hearing the ex-ref say this wasn't so sad, it would be hilarious, and to think he's getting paid to utter this unadulterated shite.

What happened to the rule that it's not offside if the player hasn't intentionally touched the ball? I get lost sometimes because they seem to make it up as they go along. Either way, what a condescending fucker that Dermot Gallagher is.

I eventually watched it back, Rob. He wasn't offside and no one will convince me. Leno, despite otherwise having a fantastic game, dropped the ball (literally).

He climbed all over Tarkowski, who'd done no wrong other than stand his ground and stand still. It was a goal. If that legitimate goal is awarded, it's a different game and result.

Like you, I was at the match so I don't even know if the VAR looked at it at the time. I don't think they did. But they did issue an apology afterwards apparently.

Thanks for that. Yet another example of incompetency.

Anyway, as you say, we'll never know and it's not changing.

On to Villa.

Thank you, Soren, very much appreciated, sir.

Even if it's not 'they', as in, everybody, only takes one rotten apple in regards to the disdain Everton get treated by the officials. Closest explanation is the, "to show they're not scared or intimidated" one, imho.

It happens too many times at too many important moments to not be lack of fair play, something sinister, or blatant corruption. We can remember the one that went our way, compared to how many that didn't or don't.

Forever blue, in more ways than one.

Collina, sweet Lord, how has that not been properly critiqued by an independent power? Out of retirement, for one game! For his local team, then the decisions in the actual game... bent as fuck. Huge cost to Everton.

Watching the game last night proves the so-called elite clubs are protected. It also proves certain clubs get absolutely nothing.

Wolves, like Everton, were robbed by a terrible decision. The game is gone. The love for the game is slowly disappearing.

Tony #89…

I think you may be getting mixed up with the handball rule, whereby a player can unintentionally handle a ball, which leads to a team mate then scoring, with the goal standing, but a player who handles the ball, and scores, then the goal is disallowed.

I don't think this same ruling applies to offside, but I don't know? It's absolute nuts though. Officials just seem to make it up as they go along.

As much as I dislike Dermot Gallagher, at times he is right with this one.

When Leno drops the ball and it bounces off Tarkowski's thigh, Keane is behind both the keeper and the Fulham Number 13, with only one player between him and the goal.

Tony – the “unintentional” rule in offside applies to defending players. If an attacking player is offside when a ball is unintentionally played by a defender (ie, a deflection) then the opposition player is still offside.

However, if a defender intentionally plays the ball in a manner that is not influenced by the attacking player, then a new phase of play starts and the attacking player is not deemed to be offside.

I watched it too and thought the ball also hit Tarkowski's hand as it dropped. Could this be handball?

To complicate things, Tarkowski had already been pushed by a Fulham player towards Leno. Penalty?

Gallagher may well be correct in how he interprets the incident, by saying the referee arrived at the right decision, but for the wrong reasons. Isn't that the reason why VAR is disliked so much, and why it takes so much time to arrive at a decision, when it is used. The officials appear to be looking at ways to disallow a goal rather than give it, although it does seem to me at least, that certain clubs have less scrutiny applied than others, and the games are certainly officiated in very different ways too.

Another incident that annoyed me from last night was the United player (Wan-Bissaka) escaping a yellow card, when there was no earthly reason for the referee not to award one.

Jon Moss, head of Premier League referees, issues apology to Gary O'Neil, acknowledging that Wolves were denied a clear penalty in stoppage time during their Premier League loss to Manchester United

O'Neil said after the match he though Onana was trying to take Kalajdzic's head off, and then revealed he had received an immediately apology from Moss.

"Having just spoken to Jon Moss, fair enough he came straight out and said it was a blatant penalty and it should have been given," O'Neil said.

"I sometimes feel bad. I've spent a lot of my day with him trying to understand the new guidelines and how to not get myself booked which I've failed in, but fair play to Jon in coming out.

"He said it was clear and obvious and he can't believe the on-field referee didn't give it and he can't believe VAR didn't intervene. It's probably made me feel worse to be honest because once you know you're right you feel worse about leaving with nothing.

That's of no use to Wolves is it? I hadn't realised that one of Goodison's favourite officials was head of the current referees, well we'll get done even more than when Riley was there.

Barry (96),

Is Jon Moss the little fat ex-referee who never looked physically fit never mind being mentally capable to referee a Premier League game or even a Sunday League game?

Jesus, who picks these useless objects if it is!

Dave @98
Yes, the very guy.

The ref made a mistake and it cost us a goal. No amount of micro analysis will prove otherwise.

Last night, the ref and the VAR made a mistake by not awarding a penalty to Wolves. Mistakes happen, we are all human.

The explanations after the event are the things that wind me up. The excuses, ah but, from this angle, earning the free kick, being 'clever' not intentional etc etc. All can and will be twisted to suit the narrative at the time.

The game has long gone. The women's game is more honest than the men's.

I struggle watching my own team nevermind any others. We know before a ball is kicked this season that either Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd, Arsenal or Newcastle will win something. We know we will finish in the bottom half of the table.

Chelsea have spent near £1B in 9 months after a dodgy takeover and transfer ban. Man City, Newcastle and Arsenal are also spending fortunes but we can't buy anyone!

Our record signing of £45M was over 5 years ago, £50M is the amount rich clubs spend on potential squad players.

Sean #92] Spot on. And we will see it repeated every week throughout the season.
Those who keep asking for consistency will get it - in that those considered the 'Sky elite' will get the majority of decisions in their favour. With the smaller club getting "apologies" from Jon Moss, Howard Web et al.
We all know what the outcome would have been last night had the Wolves goalie taken out 2 x Man U players.

Just accidentally switched to BBC Scotland and caught the final few minutes of Glasgow Rangers in action against a Swiss side, the Glasgow side, won 3-2 on aggregate and will now face PSV in a play-off for a place in the Champions League, only mentioned it, due to the fact that Kieran Dowell was on the pitch for Rangers, I never understood why that lad didn't make the grade at Goodison, but good luck to him.

Will we be supercopa-ing today?

That looked drawn up on the whiteboard during the cool-down break. Perfect ball up the pitch deep in the middle created the break.

Sevilla 1-0 Man City

Not sure how much interest there is in this one, Dale, on a very pleasant summer's evening in the old country. So I think we can stick this on here.

Sevilla: classic wing cross header goal perfectly executed. This is where I always ask if such a perfectly executed strike can be prevented without illegally taking out the crosser or the striker?

That whole play was executed with aplomb. Mandilibar impresses me although Sevilla looked a bit flat last weekend.

Tremendous breakout by Sevilla, really shoulda scored a second.

Oh dear… Pep will not be happy with this.

That was quite a nice touch on that header for a young footballer. City 1-1 Sevilla

I see Newcastle are close to completing the signing of Lewis Hall an U21 Chelsea player for £28 million plus £5 million in add ons. The lad has only made 9 appearances in the first team. Also City have agreed to pay Arsenal £1 million for a 14 year old, the game has gone mad.