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The 2022-2023 Football Thread

HandsomeDanNZ said:
Man U all over Forest in the Cup game this morning/evening.
Will be interesting to see if all the pressure eventually pays off.
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Eventually it did, but they had to change their front line in the second half to make it pay off.

Interesting seeing Sancho playing at the 10. I know he played there at Dortmund sometimes, but it feels like his best bet at getting some playing time in this current United squad when Bruno needs a breather. We'll see if it works out, or if they even stick with it, but loved seeing the smile on his face and the little encouragement from ETH before he came on.
 
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All the charges against Mason Greenwood were dropped today. What a conundrum this poses for United. In the press statement from the Greater Manchester Police, they state that some new facts came to light that influenced their decision. These new facts would have to be extremely compelling to change my longstanding opinion that he should never wear the United shirt again.

I'd like to see United give him the Trevor Bauer treatment, even though the specific of the two cases and the bylaws of Major League Baseball and the FA/PL are different. Legally, contractually, and morally, this is a real minefield.
 
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Silencio said:
All the charges against Mason Greenwood were dropped today. What a conundrum this poses for United. In the press statement from the Greater Manchester Police, they state that some new facts came to light that influenced their decision. These new facts would have to be extremely compelling to change my longstanding opinion that he should never wear the United shirt again.

I'd like to see United give him the Trevor Bauer treatment, even though the specific of the two cases and the bylaws of Major League Baseball and the FA/PL are different. Legally, contractually, and morally, this is a real minefield.
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Whilst the charges have been dropped, the allegations are still there and that will be a major headache for Man United because whilst he would be considered a free man, he will still have the tag of 'alleged rapist' hanging over his head. If the club keep him as a player, opposition fans will rip him to shreds in the stands whilst sexual abuse and domestic abuse charities will be hounding the club to get rid of him and using social media to persistently shame the club that are allowing an 'alleged rapist and alleged physical abuser' to play for the club.

the man has shown he's got footballing talent but oh man this now a sticky situation for United.
 
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Silencio said:
All the charges against Mason Greenwood were dropped today. What a conundrum this poses for United. In the press statement from the Greater Manchester Police, they state that some new facts came to light that influenced their decision. These new facts would have to be extremely compelling to change my longstanding opinion that he should never wear the United shirt again.

I'd like to see United give him the Trevor Bauer treatment, even though the specific of the two cases and the bylaws of Major League Baseball and the FA/PL are different. Legally, contractually, and morally, this is a real minefield.
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Everybody knows he will never get his life back and that is truly regrettable.
 
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timber said:
Everybody knows he will never get his life back and that is truly regrettable.
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There's still not enough information available for me to judge whether it's regrettable or not. Both the club and Greenwood released safe, PR-speak statements today, but there's a lot that needs to be determined before this can be resolved one way or the other. I think this may drag out a while.

mrsmith1 said:
I was at the game, I’m a Forest supporter. Considering all the players we had missing, I thought we did really well. Utd had to throw on the big guns to finish us off.
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I hope you guys manage to stay up. Steve Cooper did a great job last season earning promotion, and he's done well this season managing a huge amount of turnover in the squad.
 
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Mason Greenwood's situation is such a minefield.
As has already been said - there'll be a lot of people that will still see him as a rapist/sexual predator, even if he is not guilty (which is different to innocent).

I think the issue is that the dropping of the charges still hasn't been stated in such a way that says he was never guilty of the crimes he was charged for...simply that there's new evidence/testimony, withdrawn witnesses and insufficient evidence to make a solid case against him stick.
That says to me that the police don't think he's innocent - just not likely to be found guilty.

What do the club do? What does he do? What if he truly is innocent and his whole life has been ruined as a result? What if he's not and he should be rotting in jail?
So many unknowns. I feel for everyone involved - including the club.
 
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mrsmith1 said:
I was at the game, I’m a Forest supporter. Considering all the players we had missing, I thought we did really well. Utd had to throw on the big guns to finish us off.
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That first half was a true battler's half. Despite all the pressure and everything thrown in their path (i.e. missing players, lack of depth etc), Forest di really well. It really did take the "big guns" coming on to make that breakthrough.

I wonder how Forest will do with all the new recruits, once everyone is brought in/brought back/rehabilitated from injuries etc.
 
mrsmith1 said:
I was at the game, I’m a Forest supporter. Considering all the players we had missing, I thought we did really well. Utd had to throw on the big guns to finish us off.
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yay! It's nice to see someone else who doesn't root for one of the big 4 ! ...or 5... or 6...

gb-e@shw6.gif
 
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HandsomeDanNZ said:
Mason Greenwood's situation is such a minefield.
As has already been said - there'll be a lot of people that will still see him as a rapist/sexual predator, even if he is not guilty (which is different to innocent).

I think the issue is that the dropping of the charges still hasn't been stated in such a way that says he was never guilty of the crimes he was charged for...simply that there's new evidence/testimony, withdrawn witnesses and insufficient evidence to make a solid case against him stick.
That says to me that the police don't think he's innocent - just not likely to be found guilty.

What do the club do? What does he do? What if he truly is innocent and his whole life has been ruined as a result? What if he's not and he should be rotting in jail?
So many unknowns. I feel for everyone involved - including the club.
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the CPS dropping the case is the next worse thing that could have happened to Greenwood (being found guilty and imprisoned being the worst) because whilst it means he is a free man, it does not mean he is an innocent man and that is a huge huge difference. He, not his agent or anyone that supports him and say he is a free and innocent man because other will rightly bite back and say 'no, he is not innocent because his innocence was not put to the test'. Now that he is a free man, no matter where he goes and what he does, the images of his partners beat up face and body and the text messages he sent will always follow him and be an anchor round his legs that he will never be able to shake off because remember, those images and texts went worldwide and the court of public opinion will now be the ones who will judge him and do so for the rest of his life.

If Greenwood want's to be able to get back to living his life he needs to find a way to get into court and clear his name because if he doesn't there is always going to be somebody who will highlight to others with either social media posts or protests banners with words such as 'You've hired a rapist', or 'boycott this <enter name> because they hired a rapist'. It has happened to other footballers and it will happen to Greenwood.

As much talent as the man has, it would be a disaster if United tried to keep him. What will be interesting to see is if United use the issue of allegations as a way to end his contract because remember whilst the charges have been dropped, it does not mean he is innocent and thus the allegations against him still stick therefore depending on how his contract is written, it could be a way for United to sack him.
 
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laptech said:
the CPS dropping the case is the next worse thing that could have happened to Greenwood (being found guilty and imprisoned being the worst) because whilst it means he is a free man, it does not mean he is an innocent man and that is a huge huge difference. He, not his agent or anyone that supports him and say he is a free and innocent man because other will rightly bite back and say 'no, he is not innocent because his innocence was not put to the test'. Now that he is a free man, no matter where he goes and what he does, the images of his partners beat up face and body and the text messages he sent will always follow him and be an anchor round his legs that he will never be able to shake off because remember, those images and texts went worldwide and the court of public opinion will now be the ones who will judge him and do so for the rest of his life.

If Greenwood want's to be able to get back to living his life he needs to find a way to get into court and clear his name because if he doesn't there is always going to be somebody who will highlight to others with either social media posts or protests banners with words such as 'You've hired a rapist', or 'boycott this <enter name> because they hired a rapist'. It has happened to other footballers and it will happen to Greenwood.

As much talent as the man has, it would be a disaster if United tried to keep him. What will be interesting to see is if United use the issue of allegations as a way to end his contract because remember whilst the charges have been dropped, it does not mean he is innocent and thus the allegations against him still stick therefore depending on how his contract is written, it could be a way for United to sack him.
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He probably has to leave the country for a bit anyway. The immediate reaction has been guilty guilty guilty. I don't think ny professional club will touch him with a bargepole either.

In other news, Chelsea have spent £545.6m the last two windows eel add-ons. Yet still don't have a recognised striker. Haaland has scored more goals than the entire squad combined.

Managers keeping mum but hinting at the ludicrousness of it all.
 
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daneoni said:
Everton miraculously remember how to play football again, and Arsenal subpar. Advantage City.
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Not really. Still have a five point cushion.
Everton have done themselves a huge favour in signing Dyche. Yes a new manager bounce is not uncommon, but I think he’ll do more than just that.
 
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daneoni said:
Everton miraculously remember how to play football again, and Arsenal subpar. Advantage City.
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Apple fanboy said:
Not really. Still have a five point cushion.
Everton have done themselves a huge favour in signing Dyche. Yes a new manager bounce is not uncommon, but I think he’ll do more than just that.
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Arsenal with a mediocre - or, frankly, sub-par, performance, or a new manager bounce for Everton?

A bit of both, from what I can see.

Actually, I think that Dyche is an excellent managerial appointment; the challenge for Everton will be to give him time and support and not subject him to the crazy carousel that has been Everton's way of dealing with managers over the past few years.

We were not going to be able to sustain that level of performance for the entire season, - moreover, our winter shopping didn't go quite as planned - and I suspect that today was one of those days when we missed the presence of Gabriel Jesus.
 
Didn't really see Everton winning today, but it does go to show how a couple of weeks focusing on defensive structure can do wonders.

Don't think they're gonna win anything with the current owners, but I hope Dyche can get them up near (or even onto) the upper half of the table over the next 4 months.

Still, there's a long way to go, Everton are still deep in the mire; and since Man City seems to drop the occasional point here and there this season, there could still be a very happy ending for Arsenal.
 
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Not saying Arsenal still won't win the EPL, it's still in their hands but giving City any belief is always a dangerous game to play. 5pts is nothing with 18 games to go.

Also think Arteta needs to find a way to get his wingers still being effective even if doubled up on. Everton basically replicated what Newcastle did and its the established blueprint.

Granted Arsenal were poor as aforementioned

Everton will probably put in one or two more performances like that and then return to base level. And it will be enough to stay up. They did a similar thing under Lampard post-Benitez.

But maybe Dyche will break the duck.
 
Dyche will make Everton harder to beat for sure. I'm glad United got their visit to Goodison Park out of the way already.

Palace hanging close with United... ooooh, nevermind — wonderful team goal by United, cashed in by Rashford

[EDIT: Oh, Casemiro. So, so stupid. Foolish red made this one a nailbiter.]

[EDIT2: Wolves up 3-0 on Liverpool!? Daaaaang.]
 
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Well they don't have VVD, and no midfield reinforcements in Jan. At this point, it's pretty much unsurprising.
 
pachyderm said:
Yes sir I am aware you are also in the minority... 🙂

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Well the way Liverpool are going, they might not have any glory hunting fans soon either!

Always nice to see two of the greedy six lose. But the position West Ham are in I could have done with Arsenal and Liverpool getting better results against the other relegation candidates.

Not a good start against Newcastle either. Already a goal down.
 
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