Liverpool banter 10

14 Oct 2026 10:52:00
Hello all, I know this is unlikely to happen but I would love to see PL teams (especially those with limited squads) field weakened teams against the cheaters - the logic being that they believe any result against them will be nullified anyway.

It would highlight the depth of feeling against the cheaters. There is no way the PL would dare to punish those teams that did that.

14 Oct 2026 11:11:01
They would though, its almost match fixing what you suggest. Plus todays team in theory has nothing to do with the Team from 2009-2018 even though we all know they're probably still cheating their arses off to cook the books.

14 Oct 2026 11:41:48
Arne, we really can't say because the period post 2018 has not been investigated. And given the nonchalant arrogance of ManCheats management, I wouldn't be the least surprised if it is found to have continued since 2018.

{Ed001's Note - you can say because the finances showed the same income as when they were topping it up by over 100m. If they stopped cheating, their income would have dropped.}

14 Oct 2026 12:17:20
Now that is a very simple but most accurate assessment ED01. So obvious really!

14 Oct 2026 13:36:07
In by-gone years, teams were punished for playing what the PL called a 'weakened team' but as we've moved on with what's the point in having a squad? As long as they're in your 25.
They're no longer considered a 'weakened team.'.

14 Oct 2026 12:57:57
Ed, I saw somewhere that the income has dropped. Not saying it is true, though because there is no proof of that either. What do you think on this?

{Ed001's Note - the only time income dropped was during Covid and then nothing like 100m.}

14 Oct 2026 15:48:37
Very valid point Ed001. I hadn't thought of that. Do you think they will look at post 2018 or slide it under the rug along with announcement of penalties and punishments for the previous period?

{Ed001's Note - they are being pushed into looking at it, but so far they have failed to do so. I am not sure why, they should have started a separate investigation into each year following 2018 at the same time as the original one was started. Clearly they are reluctant to do so as they don't want people to know who riddled with corruption and cheating the game is, hence why they regularly have clubs report failed drugs tests as injuries. At one point a few years ago, it was revealed that there were over 20 players throughout the English pyramid serving drugs bans that were being reported as long term injuries.

I think they fear the collapse cycling initially had after Lance Armstrong was caught. Not in terms of the fans turning the TV off, but the sponsors that withdrew cost that sport huge amounts of money, I think they fear similar happening to the Prem.}

14 Oct 2026 16:06:29
My biggest fear is that they will allow politics to play a part in the scale of punishments that are handed out. The PL is dealing with a state, not just a team from an English city. The amount of humiliation and loss of face for that state would be colossal and they are acutely sensitive to that.

14 Oct 2026 16:20:58
In response to your reply, Ed001, do you think this is a bigger scandal than the Italian "Calciopoli"?

{Ed001's Note - yes, because it involves outright buying off officials such as Oliver, while Calciopoli just worked to get favourable officials appointed to the matches. This is also got to involve the entire ADUG group of clubs, which is worldwide, so much bigger than just the Premier League.}

14 Oct 2026 19:20:39
Some coutries didn't even do any steroid testing at all (Spain in 2016 did not conduct a single urine or steroid blood test all year) some countries have their testing license revoked multiple times after wada found their testing to to be inconsistent (Qatar, UAE and Saudi have all had this happen)

Even in the Premier League man city were twice fined for missing dope tests citing new protocols as the reason for missing it, ironically the exact same excuse pep used when some of his Barca players skipped drugs testing as well.

It's funny how the only league which made pep stick to the rules (bundesliga) is also the only place pep really struggle to dominate as expected and his team actually regressed. Interestingly pep repeatedly blamed his teams poor performances in Germany on the team doctor and insisted if he'd been allowed to bring his doctor from Barca (a dude who got pep banned for steroids as a player) then they would have won a lot more.

Doping is a far bigger issue than people realise and a lot of players get protected by their FA to protect the income of the league. This is why I find it funny that série a is labelled so negatively when it's the only league who publicly pursues and punishes cheaters repeatedly.

13 Oct 2026 20:52:38
Ed1 how do you see the future of the club and team panning out?

Do you reckon FSG will sell up next year or hold off to see what happens with City first for suing?

If the consortium take control do you think we will have a clear out and return to finding hidden gems / players iraolo wants and can improve instead of the unbalanced squad we have just now?

{Ed001's Note - if the consortium want it, then FSG will sell up. I have no idea how they will run the club though, I am not even sure who is involved fully. It will come down to who actually is in control.}

13 Oct 2026 23:46:56
I've heard QPR fans say really positive things about Amit Bhatia. It was a tricky time with a lot of competing interests at the board level, but he was seen as the only adult in that room by a lot of people passionate about QPR, so I do have reasonably high hopes for him. As Ed points out it will all come down to who is actually in charge.

I don't think anyone can say with real certainty what their recruitment strategy would be if they do take control as we've heard very little from them; understandable as I don't think the regulatory process has concluded yet. We might hear more when that is finalised.

13 Oct 2026 16:37:05
I expected Man Cheateh to get a lenient punishment because of the power of their lawyers and money.
Now there is a connection to the PM from the owners and house building projects in Manchester. (Where is that you may ask? Good question!)

I have had enough of these corrupt cheats. It has gone too far. The super soft yellow card on Gravenberch on Sunday made me very suspicious. It was from a referee actually from Manchester. Move along now nothing to see here.

If the FA do not exact a serious punishment, and I mean serious punishment on Man Cheaty. The Premier League is in a certain chance of disruption and loss of faith. Rival supporters all need to make their feelings known in no uncertain terms.

13 Oct 2026 17:56:18
I seen a stat yesterday 1 Scouse ref in prem and 3 manc, apparently the Scouse ref has reffed 0 lfc/efc games the manc refs have reffed 212 utd/city games.

13 Oct 2026 17:59:47
What Dya expect. Howard Webb runs it and he's the biggest Cheating Manc of all time.

13 Oct 2026 18:32:48
I dunno. I am forever suspicious of claims that a system has been rigged, probably because I found Trump's claims about his election defeat to be mad, bad, and dangerous.

I think Kavanagh just had a bad day at the office. I bet the last thing he wanted to do was send off an LFC player in that atmosphere: but he messed up by giving a really stupid first yellow for Grav, and then had his hands tied for the second (which did warrant a yellow).

13 Oct 2026 19:56:23
Many were skeptical when Klopp called out Coote. If you watch a lot of footy and you notice certain referees consistently 'make' dodgy decisions against your team, I think you need to trust what your observe.

13 Oct 2026 20:05:14
Kavanagh is bent as a nine pound note. As for Oliver, the fact he was given £20k by Man City's owners in plain sight should have been enough to end his career. Same as that other PoS Darren England. We knew Coote was crooked and we were proven right.

13 Oct 2026 20:45:47
@Monster, Mansour lives in the real world where they can exercise power and real influence to achieve what they want through financial power. Trump can't tell the difference between Greenland and Iceland.

14 Oct 2026 09:24:45
Refereeing corruption happened in Serie A with massive ramifications, it's currently being formally investigated in La Liga. The only reason we somehow think we're immune to it England is because the client journalists tell us it's just a mad conspiracy because that's what they're ordered to print in order to protect the Premier League "product". It's clear as day.

14 Oct 2026 13:06:34
Monster, remember what Klopp said after we won the League Cup vs Chelsea in 2024 and he did not shake hands with the ref at the time.

He was then asked why he didn't shake his hand and he said that "The ref was not at the level"? What ref was that? Chris Kavanaugh.

Also, we said Coote was bent and everyone laughed at us for being cray babies, like VV said. Are they laughing now? And I don't believe for a second that he is the only one. No way in hell

At the end of the day, we have to stop ignoring what your eyes and ears are seeing/hearing and essentially, we should stop ignoring what we are living in real time. There are 3/4 refs (Kavanaugh, Oliver, England and prolly, Tierney and Atwell) who have it in for Liverpool and there is way too much evidence to just ignore as just "another bad day at the office".

This stuff is real and Sunday esp. with how blatant the injustice was and with how huge the game was, i'm out of F's to give to the whole "just a bad day in the office" stuff.

14 Oct 2026 13:42:24
Not sure why trump features so regularly on a EPL transfer rumours page.
If you actually look at what went on over there and not just listen to the BBC like national anthem booing socialist shidiots, you might be in danger of using your own critical thinking and form a genuine opinion of your own.

Anyone who actually looks into that period of history would reasonably conclude that there was in fact cheating. Cheating that is still going on today and not just limited to over there either.

Besos out.

13 Oct 2026 15:35:06
After watching the city game and the terrible card issues, and subsequently listening to the explanations both for and against,
Apparently the feeling among refs is that the standard for a second yellow should be higher, as a sending off dramatically alters a game giving one side a large advantage.( it can even things up if it numerically helps the weaker tireder team)
Imo sin bin system would be fairer as it gives the offending team a chance to get back in the game.


Currently multiple yellows to a player benefits a different team in the future.
Seems to work in many other sports.
As a side note personally I'd sack the current crop of refs and replace them with Rugby refs as they seem to be able to read and implement the rules whilst commanding respect.

13 Oct 2026 16:36:31
There is nothing wrong with the card system the problem is the rules and or the application of the rules.

A red charge should be for repeat offences
Denying a goal scoring opportunity
Serious foul play / violent conduct.

It isn't hard, the problem is the threshold for getting bookings is too easy and the application of the law is too inconsistent.

13 Oct 2026 17:25:53
Roy Keane on Ryan Gravenberch's Red Card Against Manchester City;

"Listen, I'm sitting here absolutely flabbergasted by what I've just witnessed. We are talking about Liverpool versus Manchester City at Anfield. This isn't a pre-season kick-around, this isn't a mid-table dead-rubber—this is as big as it gets in world football. You've got millions watching around the globe, two top-class teams going toe-to-toe, and the entire match gets ruined because the officials want to be the main event.

Look at the match context! Ryan Gravenberch was having one of his absolute best games in a Liverpool shirt. He's driving through the midfield, he's testing Gianluigi Donnarumma with a cracking strike from range, and then literally seconds later, he makes a recovery challenge in the City half on Jérémy Doku. Was it a foul? Yeah, fine, give a free-kick. But to whip out a second yellow card in the 62nd minute for that? It is an absolute disgrace.

13 Oct 2026 17:50:30
Gravenberch red was an awful decision and it ruined the game. What's going under the radar is that's 2 games in a row they've had these decisions go their way and played 10 men after Fernades was sent off at old Trafford for that nothing event with Foden.

13 Oct 2026 17:59:09
Wasn't it Foden who got sent off, JK?

13 Oct 2026 18:12:56
Foreign referees at the end of this season must be tried, get rid of the Coward Webb poisonous "clicks" PGMOL for ever.

Sin Bins for red cards and the system what's in place for Rugby Union where five independent experts decide during the game, if it is a fair red card dismissal, or just a time out in a sin bin, the game may indeed be over, but at least he is not suspended for the next game. Coward Webb has not apologised on behalf of the ref, so he must agree with the referees overall performance, i. e. imaginary red cards etc

Roy Keane failed to mention football is in fact a "contact sport" i. e. Van de Ven tackle on Isak resulting in a broken leg, no card issued?
Roy Keane also failed to mention man United have played against ten men in their last two matches, one point from 6, which is par for them with Car wreck at the wheel? city got the rub of the green also in the mancheaty derby fernandez not interfering with play, when attempting a diving header?

YNWA Andoni

YNWA Andoni.

13 Oct 2026 18:14:25
JK experiencing the Mandela Effect.

13 Oct 2026 18:39:45
Surely not Rome that would go against the narrative.

And if City were reduced to 10 men why didn't they capitulate.

13 Oct 2026 19:08:48

It's them pesky cheating b******* at it again, JK.

13 Oct 2026 21:11:08
The sooner that they replace human refs with robots the better.
As long as they are all programmed the same, at least we will get consistent decisions.

14 Oct 2026 09:26:46
Until we have a serious conversation about the corruption within PGMOL we'll be sat here being nonplussed by decisions and arguing about interpretations of the rules every week until Dermot Gallagher grows his hair back.

14 Oct 2026 13:12:45
Mcgoveb, Roy Keane is literally all of us. or all of us who care about actual justice and fairness. The man said everything many of us were saying and seeing.

Anderson got MOTM. The guy was eating Grav's dust all game. Enzo went missing and Grav was the best player on the pitch by a mile. And suddenly, you give a yellow card for a challenge like that 70 yards from goal? It just looked so unfair that Grav got the second yellow because City were not in the game at all up until then.

It felt like the ref did that just to "even things out" which he should not be doing. It was awful and mad annoying and unjust.

13 Oct 2026 15:09:56
I think the game against Lask will be a signal of how well Iraola can manage the squad playing in multiple competitions.

He isn't experienced competing on all fronts including in the champions league, and it's not easy.

The game against Brentford next weekend is massive. With only two wins in the Premier League this season out of six, it's a must-win in my opinion, and they are a decent side in good form.

LASK should be beatable with a rotated team and previous seasons in the new format have shown us that finishing high up in the league phase is not necessarily a positive indicator for success in the CL (ie winning it) as you can qualify and go onto win it from much lower, like PSG did.

Against Atletico we put out essentially a full strength first 11 and got 3 points but we do not have the strength in depth to do that twice a week and be competitive this season — there are holes in this squad that we are all aware of.

This should be a great opportunity for the fringe players like Koumas, Nyoni, Frimpong, Tsimikas, Chiesa, etc to be getting minutes and allowing us to rest the key players.

I would perhaps consider playing Wirtz to try and get his confidence hope by hoping he had a strong performance.

But I would be resting the other key players to ensure we're ready for Brentford.

I don't think pushing pre Christmas to try and finish top of the CL league is worth the trade-off. And we should be able to beat LASK with the squad players.

13 Oct 2026 15:30:03
Would this really boost Wirtz confidence if he is playing with a B string players?

13 Oct 2026 15:46:02
No game is easy with no CFs and a second choice winger. Koumas is fourth choice and will hopefully get there but a long way away from what we need currently.

13 Oct 2026 15:46:54
I would bring in Gomez for Jaquet. Frimpong for big Ron. Nyoni for Macca and Rio for Barcola. Keep the rest the same. i'd play Wirtz to give him a chance to get some confidence with the view of taking him out against Brentford if Szobo is fit.

13 Oct 2026 16:30:51
Marma, Frimpong, Araujo/Jacquet (45 mins each), Gomez, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Nyoni, McConnell, Rio, Koumas, Barcola/Munoz (45 mins each).

Give Virg & Ali the night off.

13 Oct 2026 16:33:47
Chiesa isn't in the CL squad.

13 Oct 2026 18:40:00
Just play your best players and win the game. Forget rotating to lesser individuals. Play the best 11 available. We require momentum and need a dominant performance and victory to offset the City drubbing. And yes I do include Wirtz in there.

Even though he's been totally garbage so far, he will benefit from minutes on the pitch and so should we. Bring the squad players on if we're in command of the game and then only. My take.

{Ed025's Note - i expect Wirtz will excel against Lask SG, he is more suited to the European style of play which is slower and more methodical, this game could actually kickstart his season with a bit of luck mate..

13 Oct 2026 18:47:29
Andoni has previously said he will tone down significantly the training sessions at the AXA stadium to keep players fresh, similar to what was done yonks ago in the shankly era, when pre-season was basically all running/sprinting sessions, and match fitness was achieved by first friendly matches then the actual games for peak fitness.

It's all done (fitness) by science now, shanks just used to say to the players after a gruelling session, throw ye shirts on the table, then him and Sir Bob would pick them up and see how much sweat was on each of them, if you had minimal sweat on your shirt you would have to go round again, the hard way is always the best way to learn anything?

13 Oct 2026 19:38:22
For me

Alison
Frimpong
Gomez
Aurajo.
Kerkez
Gravenberch
Nyoni
Wirtz
Ngumoha
Koumas
Barcola.

13 Oct 2026 22:15:36
I'd probably go the same as that Red Jones now that I know Chiesa isn't in the squad and since Grav is suspended for the league anyway.

Id maybe go Marma just to not risk Ali getting one of his muscle injuries.

If Barcola and Wirtz can get off the mark against LASK it could be a boost for them.

13 Oct 2026
New image uploaded to the
Liverpool Player Sightings page entitled, Interesting article on the BBC about potential financial impact to clubs due to Citys cheating. Summary Table

Click picture for larger image

13 Oct 2026
New image uploaded to the
Liverpool Player Sightings page entitled,

Click picture for larger image

13 Oct 2026 15:13:13
Point being that Wirtz's off-the-ball movement is exceptional, best in the league at finding space to receive passes, but is really struggling to do anything with it. I think it's obvious that a lacking mentality and a poor relationship with the frontline are the cause. The latter of which should improve over time as they all get a feel for how each other plays, but it's also quite dependent on his ability to sort his head out. I feel like he's caught in a vicious circle, a lack of confidence impeding his ability to assert himself on the game and his teammates' in order to build that relationship, causing poor performances which, in turn, further reduce his confidence levels.

Hopefully Iraola can do something to improve the off-the-ball movement and link-up play across the frontline that I think Wirtz needs to help boost his confidence.

{Ed025's Note - i think you are being extremely generous to Wirtz there Chewy, its not as if he has only been here a few weeks or even months mate and i cant think of one part of his game that gives me hope he will succeed,i know there is definitely a confidence issue and i feel for him i must admit, but sometimes you just have to admit that you have bought a lemon, i have seen it before with players like Keita, Veron, Mudryk, Garnacho etc who came to the prem and were just not suited to the English game, he may come good of course and a lot of us will have egg on our faces...but it looks very unlikely at the moment..

13 Oct 2026 15:28:56
As Liverpool fans we've really been spoilt over the years with players who create and find space.

13 Oct 2026 18:01:50
Don't think I've been generous at all, his off-the-ball movement is the only thing I've complimented him on, he is exceptional at finding pockets of space, the statistics do show that, everything else is woeful though, his passing, his shooting (or lack thereof), his general decision making, it's all terrible, no doubt, but I think it's pretty obvious it all stems from his headspace; he just looks mentally weak to me. And he proves it when he plays for Germany; in more familiar surroundings with his fellow countrymen, players and staff he's known for years, he's full of confidence, and regularly puts on fantastic performances on national duty.

Add it all up and he just comes across like a homebird lacking in mental toughness. I think had he come to us at 25/6 years old after spending time abroad in La Liga or Serie A, we'd be looking at a more mentally mature footballer with a much improved ability to adapt.

13 Oct 2026 11:43:39
I think the issue with Wirtz is just the way the modern Premier League is. No matter what position you are on the pitch you need a certain level of aggression and pace to impose yourself, otherwise games will pass you by. KDB never lost his ability to play those passes, but once the pace went he wasn't the same player.

Wirtz is 5x the footballer of someone like Morgan Gibbs White for example. But Gibbs White is better equipped to be impactful in the league. You need to be able to put yourself about physically. Even the likes of Thiago learned how to do that.

13 Oct 2026 12:13:16
It's very difficult to solve the Wirtz puzzle at the moment. The squad construction is not ideal for any particular system, never mind the new coach's philosophy. The lad is in his own head at this point. Rival fans are on his back. The Bayern-influenced press back home are on his back. We are now on his back too.

We don't have the luxury of numbers in the forward or in midfield departments to have him simply sit out and settle his mind down right now either. Games are coming thick and fast. He'll just have to knuckle down and play through this period.

As Klopp used to say, the good thing about football is there is always the next game.

13 Oct 2026 13:18:24
Why are we twisting ourselves and trying to find solutions to something that is more up to him than up to us? Talented, skillful player, probably even world class? Yes. Did we pay world class money for his services? Yes. Has the team tried different things to play around him and suit his skills? More than likely, yes. It hasn't worked out to expectations and my feeling is that it probably won't. It's football.

I clearly remember his purchase being called "an opportunistic one", at the beginning. In a way that basically means "sod the fit and compatibility with the team and players that we already have, he should be good enough and make us win everything" That's on the people running the show at the time. The same people who threw money at Darwin Nunez to counter Haaland joining the ManCheats. And the same gents who have since thrown money at Frimpong, Isak and Barcola. They lucked out with Ekitike and Jacquet. Throwing club record amounts at players has never been the LFC way and it never will be.

Not trying to flog a dead horse and bring up the past. Just saying, these are the consequences.

13 Oct 2026 13:32:46
It's just not going right for wirtz. I think he's been pretty poor since he's signed however he hasn't had the correct players around him either. Apart from gakpo and munez who's raw. We have no real quality wingers. This was NOT addressed in the summer. Especially on the right.
Anyone can miss me with the barcola nonsense. He looks the exact player that I said I watched in France.

I repeated and repeated how average a player he is.
Andoni needs to majorly improve a £120 million "superstar". Absolute terrible recruitment by Hughes.
Centrally, Maccas running with bags of cement on his back. Doms an average central midfielder. He can score and has some useful attributes, he's not a good central midfielder.
Grav unpredictable. We've been screwed with recruitment.

13 Oct 2026 13:38:00
Wirtz's issue is not physical, it's purely mental, there's been countless players of similar stature who've managed to assimilate, Silva, Cazorla, Fabregas, Coutinho etc. Mascherano was only the same size as Wirtz and he was like a relentless pitbull. The 'physical excuse' needs to stop, he's not getting manhandled, he's literally the best in the league at finding space and receiving passes, the issue is what he does with the ball after that.

The kid needs to sort his head out, he has no confidence, it's plain to see.

13 Oct 2026 13:52:27
Chewy, I fully agree with all you have said. As much as the other posters on the thread made very good and valid points, Wirtz cannot be labelled as "lacking physicality" because he is a very hard worker, gets stuck in, wins tackles and has a decent amount of ball recoveries.

The issue with Wirtz right now is that he is playing scared offensively. He has become way too scared to even try the most basic of things because the world is on his back hence, confidence is below the floor.

And as much as he needs to take responsibility, grow a spine and get his act together, he needs help from the manager and his team mates too because if anyone thinks he should be the only one to solve all the other issues the team has, in addition to his own issues then, we might as well get rid now and move on.

13 Oct 2026 13:56:32
There's a decent thread on Twitter from Martin Rafelt providing some interesting analysis on the Wirtz issue.

13 Oct 2026 13:58:57
No one is expecting him to solve the team's issues. I just expect him to assist and score goals every now and then. Not much to ask.

13 Oct 2026 14:34:53
I agree Oli, but there's only so much 'help' you can get, and there's only so far it will take you. I think equal parts Wirtzs mentality and a lack of understanding in the relationship between him and the entire front line are to blame, but he's been brought in to essentially 'run' that front line by dictating our attacking play. If those around him aren't doing what he needs in order to provide opportunities, he needs to let them know, and on no uncertain terms, but again, that brings us back around to his mentality. If he hasn't got the stones or the confidence to assert himself on the game, including those around him, how can we expect the relationships to develop? Hence why I say it's all about his mentality, it's a vicious cycle he's caught in.

Of course the manager needs to ensure that each of the players are playing their part, and that they understand how it is they should be looking to link up in certain situations, I have thought for quite some time that our off-the-ball movement is severely lacking, but at the same time there's only so much instruction he can give, when those boots hit the grass Wirtz has to take the reins. I desperately want him to figure it out. Ironically, his own off-the-ball movement is absolutely next level, he is genuinely on a different wavelength in that regard. He is an exceptional natural talent, but sometimes that's just not enough.

13 Oct 2026 14:49:59
Oli I'm not sure he wins tackles mate. The sliding challenge from Anderson on Sunday was a prime example. Wirtz was favourite to win the ball but Anderson came in and Wirtz just dangled a leg at it and got wiped out.

That's his problem and Barcola is the same. You can't get away with half hearted tackles in the blood and thunder of the Premier League you'll get eaten alive.

Wirtz runs around a lot and presses quite well but he tackles like Harvey Elliott and that's a problem.

He needs to understand the league he's in and understand that us fans will cheer just as loud when he goes all in and wins a tackle as we will when he scores a goal. Plus if he does win a few tackles and is getting huge cheers from the crowd it gets the crowd and his confidence up.

At the moment his confidence is low so backing out of challenges and getting groans from the crowd is only making matters worse.

13 Oct 2026 16:37:29
I wouldn't use that full throated tackle from Anderson as a reference of Wirtz's willingness to stick a foot in.

13 Oct 2026 18:09:40
I agree Fly, I'm actually sick to the teeth of hearing fans criticise the most lightweight player on the pitch for not wanting to get injured by over committing to a tackle he was clearly never going to win, it's utterly moronic.

Wirtz actually wins an exceptional percentage of tackles for a player of his stature and position, he's about 87% success rate for this season I believe and was something like 95% for last season. His duels are in around 50% for both last season and this one, which is more than anyone should expect for somebody his size.

13 Oct 2026 20:08:48
Wirtz.

• Tackles: 9 total tackles attempted (44.4% won)
• Duels: 53 total duels with a 49.06% duel success rate
• Aerial Duels: 57.14% aerial duels won
• Interceptions: 1
• Clearances: 3.

13 Oct 2026 109:12:01
Wirtz was bad yes, but we lost because of 2 very soft Yellows on our best player that day. I still have hopes of a great season.

13 Oct 2026 10:33:46
I'm with you ASB. It's not great we capitulated after, but you can see the signs of improvement over last season, and that is all I am asking for this season. Yes there is lots to improve on, but there is plenty of time left in the season to improve.

Iraola himself will learn a lot this season too. It is his first ever season managing a big club and dealing with European football.

13 Oct 2026 10:54:20
Cheatys first goal came from a deflection which went straight to Haaland, great finish but lucky to receive it. Doku s goal was a cracker, third goal, if you look at who was involved, Anderson, Cherki, both midfielders and i'm sure Grav would have been in and around that so being a man down i think affected that. We shouldn't have folded like we did, but the first 60 mins, in my opinion, we were the better team.

Already down Isak, Gakpo, Dom, Bradley. then the red card. So i'm hopeful that we can improve and do something this season. Me and my son were in the upper Anny, great atmosphere until the last 20 mins, a lot of anger, but a lot of support for the team. Cheaty?? in my opinion they should have been suspended when found guilty, pending appeal. Hated their fans attitude, arrogant mancs. Should be ashamed of what their club has done.

13 Oct 2026 11:15:48
The ref was diabolical but the way which we folded wasn't a good sign. Think it shows the lack of leaders on the pitch which is going to take time to rebuild after Klopp.

13 Oct 2026 11:28:11
Agreed, take haaland, Anderson and doku out city's side and and us have all our big guns out and it's probably a different result.
Doesn't alter the fact we have too many big part players not good enough who've had enough time to come good, we all know who they are, its clearance time again and God only knows why gomez is still drawing a wage, he shouldn't be allowed to come on again as its a dead cert he will do his 20 mins then be on his arse, hands on knees looking for the physio, s and back on the treatment table which will still be warm from his last injury,
Let him loose for free if he can be persuaded to go, if fact pay him to go then a replacement can be brought in.


Unbelievable business behaviour over many years.
Rant over.

13 Oct 2026 11:30:50
I agree, guys. A lot of positives from the game despite the sheer outrage and frustrations after the game. Iraola coached a blinder of a game despite the circumstances and our big guns up topwith Szob in CAM missing.

Wirtz and Barcola were not at the party at all and Wirtz specifically really let me down as I thought he would going in all motivated in a big game with all to prove. Grav had that mentality and took his chance. Wirtz just didn't and that is worrying for me because he seems to have no confidence, to the point of not even being able to execute the basics of football.

Either way, proud of the boys and the manager and the fans at the ground who lost their voices cheering them on. On to LASK.

13 Oct 2026 11:33:31
One day they will look into the referees taking charge of City games post 2009 and the controversy will blow this financial doping out of the water. Genuinely of all the dubious decisions involving City, have any actually gone against them? Even in the one game where one did against United, they were quick to rectify that by giving City a goal that was so far offside Haaland was already getting a look at Altrincham's stadium.

13 Oct 2026 13:38:31
We lost because of corrupt referees and the leagues refusal to do anything about it.

13 Oct 2026 13:57:00
I agree if Liverpool had scored more goals than City they probably win that.

13 Oct 2026 14:43:14
JK, you're really going out on a limb today. Are you sure you want to take such risks?

13 Oct 2026 14:46:36
Don't forget Ekitike, Stevie, he will make a huge difference to our attack when he's fit.

13 Oct 2026 14:55:01
I've always thought refs are corrupt I just can't see how they're not with all of the money in the game these days.

That being said though this game actually supported the argument that refs aren't corrupt. Or at least that the Premier League isn't instructing refs to sway games towards one team or another.

The worst thing that could possibly happen for the Premier League is for Man Cheaty to go on and win it. I expected the ref to give them nothing but instead he literally couldn't wait to stack the odds in their favour.

I've said it before though, Chris Kavanagh was the worst possible appointment for this game. He just hasn't got the personality to deal with such a big game in such a hostile environment. The last thing you do in a game like that is start booking players for minor indiscretions early on. You give yourself nowhere to go.

It needed a strong character who could manage the game without dishing out stupid yellow cards. Chris Kavanagh was the absolute worst choice they could've made.