Dieter's Heeder

As you say it's completely the case of each to their own, so as much as I struggle to understand why people enjoy them so much I respect that a section of football supporters do. Cyril's post which I've quoted below has touched on my feelings, I know it's an aside from Pyro, but the bigger point I was going to make was that imo football has became too focused on competition between supporters and away from the actual game itself. What I mean by that is, probably since the rise of social media, it seems to be more and more competitive as to who can put on the best display or demonstrate the best "limbs" etc etc. The more photos and videos the better. At some grounds we have ultra sections with a couple of guys who don't even turn round to see the game, stand with their back to it and conduct the crowd with a megaphone or a drum. It's ridiculous imo. You mention the European atmospheres and they are what they are. Great to experience for an occasion but in all honesty I wouldn't want that to become the norm over here. I really enjoy the traditional type of support which Scottish fans (and indeed those in the rest of the UK) can be associated with. Atmospheres improve or deflate by the occasion, the opponent and the performance on the pitch. I watch some German football on the telly and a team can be 3-0 down and still letting off a huge dirge from their section, that's not for me. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion but I'd much rather see us embrace what we do than change into something which represents a whole different culture. Back to Pyro in particular, I don't think I've ever been at a game where I've thought the actual Pyro has done a single thing to the atmosphere other than kill it by delaying kick offs or piss me off because you can hardly see the game for smoke.

Aside from all the safety aspect, this is the part I completely disagree with. I don't think they enhance atmosphere at all, infact I'd be interested to know why people think that they do? Huge fire displays are fine at a bonfire night event and folk who enjoy watching fire and smoke can do so. At a football match, nah.

It was really really pish. Mainly because Arsenal for some bizarre reason decided to set up so so defensive, and Man City are miles off their best this season and unable to break them down when they do that. Seriously, I don't get it from Arsenal at all. Both teams had to win that game, Liverpool won't drop many points at all between now and end of season, they'll win all their homes.

Watching the Brentford v Man U game, no idea how it's still 0-0. 75 minutes gone and Brentford have completely murdered them. There is absolutely no coherent style on display from the away side at all, no idea what their game plan is or what they're trying to do.

& Switzerland. Young Boys are/were a champions league group stage outfit who play on artificial. I think all the arguments on here in favour of artificial are fair. They play better than many of the Scottish mudheaps December - April, injury argument is a complete myth and of course they piss off the old firm and other fans which is always a bonus. That being said, I'd still prefer a return to a decent grass surface. Separate point - having watched Airdrie and Raith a few times, and indeed Young Boys this season in the UCL, their pitches appear notably "greener" than ours. Is that just my perception? If not, is it purely related to how long it's been laid or are they of better quality or what? They just look a bit easier on the eye is all. Ours was the same shade of green for about a month.

Not really a case of a mistake. They'd happily have kept hold of him but he made the call that he wanted to play every week and given a key role in the team. With the other players at the club, he's not good enough for that. His loss will be Oscar Bobb's gain, in time.

A step for a hint as to the clubs who are fighting against an independent regulator. Why? I am guessing that pre Ratcliffe, United's name would have been part of this list also. His comments on City's charges and the fact they don't appear on this is an interesting development.

I genuinely think this is one of the most bizarrely unfair, but seemingly fairly common, opinion on the guy. If I had to compile a list of wingers/forward players we've had over the years who - pound for pound - aren't afraid to get stuck in, Murray would be fairly high up the list. Faults he has, commitment imo is definitely not one of them.

A bizarre decision, made all the more bizarre that it took another while before Shinnie got his booking despite doing his best to referee the game (again) from the get go. Wee prick was never out Beaton's ear, but he gets away with it.

Some fixtures always entertain and that's one of them. City poor(ish) in the first half and diabolical in the second. Liverpool poor(ish) in the first but excellent in the second. Of course it goes without saying that whoever ends up with the most points deserves to win the league but right now, having watched a fair bit of all three sides fighting for the title I feel that Arsenal and Liverpool are playing much more exciting stuff and more likely to put teams to the sword. City stuttering their way through to an extent. Can't put my finger on it, but the other 2 sides remind me of a City side of 3 or 4 years ago. I know City have changed the way they play for various reasons, Haaland being one, but they look far too lackadaisical at times and the intensity a fair bit off. Keep waiting for them to turn it on but rarely seen them do so in comparison to recent seasons. Walker, Stones excellent. Alvarez shouldn't be near a starting XI right now. Dias brilliant for Liverpool. Kovacic and Doku made a difference, thought Kovacic should have started personally.

Clubs are still folding and running with absurd debts. The problem with the whole concept of ffp is that it's not debt related so clubs with huge debts or huge at least in relevance to their level can and do still pass. Back in 2014 or whenever it was that City were first accused of breaching FFP, they had no debt whatsoever at the time.

Agree with the second part but the first not so much, just the same as the PL in that respect. The rules were to benefit Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern amongst others to detriment of City, PSG and potentially others. Continuous el classico finals or semi finals would have been a great result for UEFA at the offset.

Fair play Jürgen, I agree.

He came in and decided that Joe Hart wasn't it from the off. Bravo could play the way he wanted but came with chocolate wrists and it's been Ederson ever since. Walker arriving 7 years ago as well. Stones was one of his first signings and he's now one of the best players in the world. Guardiola also arrived at a time when the defence was at quite an age, so players moving on and having to be replaced was always going to be a thing. I'm not sure it's nearly the same!

But then again they just signed Jonny Evans in the summer didn't they? So why bother if they don't think he's good enough to deputise when needed? We also have to remember that for all United were missing their only out and out striker, City played a full season without one two years ago and managed to win the league. For me those on the pitch - Rashford, Garnacho, Fernandes are just miles off the quality required. Every week I hear that Mainoo is the next big thing in Midfield and last season Casemiro was claimed to be one of the best in the world but they were completely played off the pitch. I get that the defence in particular was makeshift but if I were a United fan I'd be far more concerned about their attacking presence and total s**tebag approach to the game.

Man U so so bad today. Played like a league 1 club on their big day out. Insane ↓↓

A thread by the excellent Kieran Maguire if anyone is interested. Just information based off what we already know.

Red and penalty, sadly.

Apart from every single level I totally agree. My specs are very blue tinted but I can still see that's a clear foul.

Definite foul and it continues into the box so a penalty. Poor from Mayo for the second game running and from Dennis.

File this under "no s**t Sherlock!"

Have you heard him and Borson on a podcast together this week? And seen Harris's post podcast twitter meltdown after being put in his place so many times? Link here I genuinely, and I mean genuinely, think there's mental health concerns for the guy. His ramblings are always late at night and child like. He went on the podcast with Borson of his own accord but has chosen to spit the dummy out afterwards and manipulate his words for the attention of his own Twitter audience. To the extent he's making undeniably libellous claims about the person he engaged civilly with during a podcast only this week. A strange man who's became completely consumed with Man City.

Still can't get my head around whoever the Rangers player was who pulled Polworth back not being sent off. He played on and it ended up a 50/50 with Butland so it stands to reason he'd have been clean through in possession of the ball had he not been blatantly pulled back. Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous officiating from the referee and VAR team.

Me because the other side were f**king Rangers, and on Saturday it's Dundee. Give yourself a shake.

Thanks folks.