Topic: The football (soccer) thread

[Irons]

There was an argument raised by some Chelsea fans in the last few days that "if Abramovich has always been so bad news and dodgy, how in hell did the authorities/FA allow him to buy a Premier League club in the first place"? Which is a fair query to some extent, similar to how did we allow Russian oligarchs to have such power over London/UK government over the last few years.

Very nice story about Yarmolenko. The only Ukrainian currently playing in the French league (Danylo Ignatenko) signed for my club (Bordeaux) right at the end of the January window, with his family initially remaining in Ukraine. After the war kicked off, there were reports that our chairman (who salvaged the club from liquidation last summer) was pushing his contacts in Eastern Europe to bring the family back to Bordeaux asap. He managed to bring them to France during last week, just a couple of days before the player's birthday.

At least there was not a precedent, Olivier. The same could not be said of the Saudis who mass executed 81 poor souls on Saturday and are the new owners of Newcastle United.

Leaving aside issues of fit and proper owners how can it be right on competition terms that a state owns a Premier League club. As the co-owner of West Ham, David Gold once said "I own 140 sex shops (Ann Summers), Sheikh Mansour (owner of Manchester City) owns 140 oil wells." 

[Papy Oli]

114 minutes on the clock.

I assume Irons/Lol is in the West Ham crowd right now going berserk, shirtless, after Yarmolenko's goal.

Give us a wave, Irons !! 

[Papy Oli]

Forever blowiiiiing buuuubbles... 

*steady on, Lol !!*

[Irons]

Forever blowiiiiing buuuubbles... 

*steady on, Lol !!*

What a night! The tension and atmosphere could be cut with a knife. Arrived home 12.45 am exhausted, didn't sleep really and then watched a recording of the whole game, after which viewed the quarter/semi final draw live. Well Olivier, the next step on the cockney boys European tour is from your home country, Olmpique Lyonnais. I have my ticket already, home not away sadly. If by some freak of nature we get past Lyon, who is waiting in the wings? Barcelona! Little old West Ham walking out at the Nou Camp.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

What a night! The tension and atmosphere could be cut with a knife. Arrived home 12.45 am exhausted, didn't sleep really and then watched a recording of the whole game, after which viewed the quarter/semi final draw live. Well Olivier, the next step on the cockney boys European tour is from your home country, Olmpique Lyonnais. I have my ticket already, home not away sadly. If by some freak of nature we get past Lyon, who is waiting in the wings? Barcelona! Little old West Ham walking out at the Nou Camp.

Sounds like you had quite the night Irons! 

PD

[Papy Oli]

What a night! The tension and atmosphere could be cut with a knife. Arrived home 12.45 am exhausted, didn't sleep really and then watched a recording of the whole game, after which viewed the quarter/semi final draw live. Well Olivier, the next step on the cockney boys European tour is from your home country, Olmpique Lyonnais. I have my ticket already, home not away sadly. If by some freak of nature we get past Lyon, who is waiting in the wings? Barcelona! Little old West Ham walking out at the Nou Camp.

What a great draw for you guys. Please walk freely over Lyon, I won't mind, they are not in a great phase in the league at the moment. 

[Irons]

What a great draw for you guys. Please walk freely over Lyon, I won't mind, they are not in a great phase in the league at the moment. 

If it wasn't for a Frenchman we would be quite possibly out of the competition and not playing Lyon. With the score at 0 0 El Nasri, the Saville striker hit a shot from point blank range. How Areola saved it is beyond belief. A turning point deflating Saville and inspiring us. It has to be said, Alphonse Areola is one cool guy.