Stan

Ruptured achilles tendon apparently for Loftus-Cheek. Is that the same injury Hudson-Odoi got?

Kyrgios needs to get his own house in order before slagging off anyone else in the sport. He comes across as a spoilt little cunt really and Nadal was right when he said (a year or 2 ago?) that he [Kyrgios] doesn't and has never respected the sport or other players. Pot, kettle, black comes to mind when he says Verdasco is the 'most arrogant man' ever. Might want to take a look in the mirror, Nick, given you go on to say this '“Simply because, I’ve played him twice and like, I’m sorry, but if you can’t beat me, you’re not the greatest of all time.' Contradicts himself as well here talking about Djokovic (?) : “He’s an unbelievable player, he’s a champion of the sport; one of the greatest we’ll ever see. He probably will, honestly, I reckon he will get the grand slam count, I reckon he will overpass Federer. “(But) we’re talking about a guy who pulled out of the Australian Open one year because it was too hot. No matter how many grand slams he wins, he will never be the greatest for me.'

Yeah, around 10-15C degrees. So cold for you.

Firstly it's the dumbest decision to play a friendly with such a huge game coming up. Not even a local one either. Secondly, why take such a strong squad?! Even Hazard played ffs. The above says it all as well. If Loftus-Cheek is out for the final that's a huge miss and serious questions would need to be asked as to the logistics and reasoning of why a friendly was played. Surely it could have been cancelled and re-arranged?

If Dale Steyn plays then South Africa have a big chance of going far. He and Rabada as their fast bowling attack is scary. Not sure we're quite ahead of England, mind. Them being on home turf and having Rashid & Ali is a big advantage for them. Even Woakes and Stokes aren't too bad with the ball. May get hit for a few but they'll pick up important wickets no doubt.

Apparently would only be their 3rd highest chase in ODI cricket. It's brutal to watch.

Much prefer him to Nasser Hussain. Bumble is my favourite though . Met him once and he's a great laugh. I notice you've not mentioned the game right now though . Bairstow carrying his IPL form in to today's game. Roy is a superb one-day opener as well. Pakistan need 1 or 2 wickets right now within next few overs to make England sweat a bit. That drop from Shaheen (?) was absolutely woeful.

Pretty sure @Dan talked about him originally on here? Let's not act like Storts was the only one that mentioned him either (in fact where?).

Alfa Romeo sponsored Sauber and then just re-named the team from this season.

Thought there'd be that reaction

Just playing devil's advocate here, is the 'battered in the streets' one anything to do with their bus getting smashed on the way in to Anfield last season? I agree with all you say about the difference of fans and players doing it. Gotta be more respectful even if the title has just been won. Celebrate your own success, as opposed to towards another team's failure? As you say if it's fans you can put it down to a select bunch of twats being twats. Players is a different story especially if it's about Sean Cox. Very insensitive if so...

Yeah was gonna mention that. Pakistan could have had a huge score if more players stuck around with Imam-ul-Haq. He's made a mockery of the English bowlers today while other batsmen threw away their wickets. Sohail should be doing much better there with his experience. That's the kind of thing a newbie does.

That's not on if true. Very low of them if so. What's said in the video/chant? Also, didn't other European clubs have the Allez Allez Allez chant before Liverpool? A minor point considering the other stuff, I know.

@Azeem Lovely ton from Imam-ul-Haq. Only in 97 balls as well. Made today's innings look very easy and quite an accomplished century.

They really don't want to do well do they!?

Is Luca good enough?

Definitely. Rain is always gonna be a factor in any cricket game/tournament held here. English summers are always so unpredictable weather-wise as it's not always dry conditions and periods of weeks/months where there's no rain, like on the sub-continent. I'm hoping the games I'm going to have no rain at all! Great IPL final and the best way to cap off what I'd say has been one of the best IPL tournaments. Certainly the best over the last 4 or 5 years. So many games went to the final over and there were a couple of super-overs too. Surprising how good as it's been really as I thought it might tail off when some of the overseas players went back to their home countries to prepare for the World Cup. The final table (before knockouts) and the table before the penultimate game just goes to show how close it was. Think there was only one game called off due to rain (RCB vs KXI?). There really are some fantastic one-day players these days. I know the limited overs tournaments are given more attention these days so that probably plays a part in the improvement over the years of that format but it really does provide some real entertainment and excitement.

Don't worry lads. I think we're the sane ones on this topic in this thread

If it makes anyone feel better, Mendez-Laing has scored more goals at Old Trafford than Sanchez has this season. @Bluebird Hewitt

As well as seemingly being banned from football, Drinkwater's now been banned from driving for 20 months.

Fairly sure Sanchez got a hell of a lot of shit when he was playing more regularly. Work rate especially being the main thing he got criticised for and then in general just having no influence or impact on any games as you'd expect like he did for Arsenal. Pogba is just in the limelight more, plays every game, ambles around every game and attracts attention with the Instagram stuff, the shitty penalty run-ups, the hairstyles (not fussed about this one, personally), the choreographed celebrations. Not to mention the amount of money that was spent to bring him in. He's simply failed to deliver. Even if he is top goalscorer/top assist-maker. Is it good to an extent that he's got those? Yes. Has he arguably still under-performed? Yes. Is it unfair to point out he could still do better and focus on football as opposed to all the celebrity-esque lifestyle he appears to give more attention to? No. To say it's racist that he's got headlines about him is way off the mark. The real racist shit that goes on is all the bollocks Sterling has/had written about him by the Daily Mail and that was correctly called out in my opinion.

And Kane gets 'negative attention' for how he speaks by a lot of non-Spurs fans (which is childish and immature at best) but is that because he's white? Is it fuck. Ridiculous statement indeed.