KingsX

Well, that's 89% of FT either pissed off or massively disappointed. So pretty much the same as a typical post match thread.

Well saved Ortega. Backup keeper has to be one of the easiest, most overpaid jobs going. But one who saves the title for his club earns his year's pay in a minute.

Oh, I get the point. You want to be excited and entertained. What you don’t get is that a manager’s plan of attack may depend on the situation and stakes. League football: take risks to favor the attack -- you might win and if it costs you, you live again, it’s a long old season. Playoff/tournament football: take risks to favor the attack -- you might win but if it costs you, you are out before the second leg/knockouts. Easy for me to understand why so many managers favor caution in 50-50 playoff ties like these.

I agree with all of this, yet it may be beside the point. The playoffs are a compressed version of tournament football. You have to get out of your (two team) group, then you can leave it all out there in the final. You simply cannot take a big risk of leaving yourself exposed in this round. Especially with a hundred million pounds at stake, as you point out. The excitement has to come from the emotional intensity and the stakes involved, because you wont get hell-for-leather entertaining football. And yes, Southgate is a tournament manager who would suck to have at your club. But that's his job.

Looks like @Golden Fox isn't going to start a baseball thread this year, so here goes. Despite having to replace the irreplaceable Tito Francona, my Guardians are off to a good start. I doubt they have the depth to make the playoffs; but they'll be fun to watch, and there's plenty of affordable seats at our ballpark. As a topic to discuss, I'll start with this. The vast disparity in player payrolls, fully as bad as in the Premier League. RANK TEAM TOTAL PAYROLL 1 Mets $308,302,508 2 Yankees $307,632,786 3 Astros $248,888,899 4 Phillies $243,915,195 5 Rangers $230,997,481 6 Braves $229,988,101 7 Dodgers $228,562,807 8 Blue Jays $226,390,056 9 Cubs $226,362,643 10 Giants $197,837,901 11 Red Sox $183,054,013 12 Cardinals $174,886,396 13 Angels $170,883,557 14 Diamondbacks $168,960,961 15 Padres $161,278,967 16 Rockies $143,900,890 17 Mariners $141,463,163 18 White Sox $134,888,772 19 Twins $129,010,047 20 Royals $116,563,116 21 Nationals $109,667,909 22 Brewers $106,716,568 23 Tigers $106,420,763 24 Orioles $101,733,977 25 Reds $101,687,437 26 Guardians $100,541,698 27 Rays $100,070,323 28 Marlins $97,849,542 29 Pirates $83,280,382 30 Athletics $63,291,498

Better than Ten Hag have tried and failed to motivate the endless parade of overpaid mercenaries at United.

Careers are so short and transfers so frequent, it's amazing we had a decade each from Kingy, Albrighton and Vardy. Just as amazing that they were men of value not just as footballers. * Whether or not we embrace the changing of the guard, we have no choice but to accept it. There will never be another age quite so golden, with heroes so legendary and loyal. The stuff of myth in a world that has passed far beyond myth. But -- if we insist on holding the future to that standard, we will miss a lot of joy and fail to appreciate some good and hopefully great players.

I like the look of it. Team building. Exercise. Low risk. We've finally learned from past mistakes.

They are celebrating SHU taking the lead over Forest

Enzo's Mrs looks none the worse for having popped four kids out one after the other

Vards and Sharkey lifting the trophy in beautiful sunshine and ... angry, bitter peeps on here going off on their usual rants. Bloody hell. Hope the 99% of you are enjoying it as much as me.

Might be for the best to go into the summer with a realistic view of where we're at. And anyhow ... CHAMPIONS!!

Never seen people at a funeral looking as depressed as the crowd at Elland Road. Not a one of them thinks they're going up through the playoffs.

It was Rooney done it, not us!

IPSWICH LEAD

GOAT only knows

If City is the Club of his heart ... he's the player of my heart ... a lot of our hearts.

Let's hope not!

@Finnegan

My original connection to the club! Hope he can stay in the game if that is his choice. He has so much to offer!

I believe you're right. Had better get some injury clauses and/or incentives written into his contract.

TOP TEN REASONS WHY LEEDS FANS ALWAYS ACTUALLY WANTED THE PLAYOFFS - It’s only football, there are more important things in life you know - You can get that ₤100 million through the playoffs too - We may as well and try and enjoy it - Totally agree, although I'm refusing to watch - I enjoy the stress - We always play well in the away leg - The forum will not have to go into hibernation - At the beginning of the season, the playoffs were my hopeful target - Weekends without football are not the same - There's no mythology to be made finishing second ( sincere thanks to the MOT posters who wrote all of those )