Marka Ragnos

I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many bald men who shave all their hair off today. I hope they’re wearing some sun protection. Have aliens taken over Bournemouth?

This is just unbelievable. These fuggers.

The thing about Bournemouth is that although they are incredibly energetic, they use their energy economically. They’re not really just running around everywhere. They make a lot of short runs.

Goes without saying goes without saying.

Sheesh. Bournemouth are so incredibly good on the ball. They’re playing like Barcelona in their prime — without the finishing.

The referee is cracking me up. I don’t know about his skills, but his attitude is hysterical. He has a look at his face like the whole thing is just a big joke to him, but if you think about it, that’s basically what it is.

Here comes the United goal.

Rashford has got to be the most overrated player in English football. Full stop.

Bournemouth is playing with such flair. At times, they remind me of Brazilians.

Not Buendia?

Just a total thrill to see Villa hosting Lille Olympique Sporting Club. Still hardly care about the score, as I'm still basking in the Gaulish glow. Can't wait to see us bring it to them in France. It seems almost inevitable that it's going to go to extra time and pens in France. And we'll win.

No matter what happens today, I just want to say that it is so incredibly thrilling to see a club like Lille at Villa Park, and to hear their supporters sing. It’s been a dream for so long to have this kind of match with a top European club that has so much history and fervor behind it, and no matter the outcome, nothing is going to take that gift away from me today. But let’s win this thing.

I guess it’s an acquired taste, but I had my first experience listening to Ray Hudson as co-commentator on the PSG versus Barcelona champions league tie. I don’t think I’ve ever heard any noise so annoying. How do people stand that? What’s the matter with him?

I worry about our squad being so depleted and what that means. Everyone knows we're running on fumes. Just need to push the jalopy over the finish line this year, even if we're carrying the transmission and wheels in a rucksack.

The story lede is what irritates me. It implies that non-CL leagues aren't really Europe. It thereby denigrates (in the usual ManU entitled way) all the clubs playing Europa and Europa Conference football.

This time it's a United supporter alleging "corruption" (I take this to mean some kind of deliberate pro-City conspiracy behind the scenes) based on corner kick nonsense.

Some of the "corruption" seems to be in plain view.

Football conspiracy agnosticism?

Some Monday morning comedy ...

So I don't mind starting: I believe match officials in the UK strive to keep the game fair. I don't think -- apart from the rarest cases - anyone pays anyone off to win games, etc. or that certain clubs suborn match officials to make things go their way. I do think that referees are human beings, and they get intimidated by the big clubs. Cowardice and incompetence can look like corruption.

I've been a little struck sometimes at how fluently some people on VT sometimes refer to what seem to me fairly far-fetched beliefs about "shady dealings" in football. I don't want to sound judgy or harsh because it genuinely surprises me. I've seen people post about refs taking payments or certain clubs getting favoured status as glibly as if talking about tomorrow's weather. Maybe sometimes people are joking, but clearly, sometimes, they're not. They believe this stuff. And who am I to judge? Another is the idea that match officials have formed a wide, Premier League-wide conspiracy to favour certain clubs. I absolutely don't believe that, personally, and it truly surprises me that anyone would, but again, wow. This is remarkable. I also think people develop these conspiracy theories based on some grains of truth -- and at the very least, there is mistrust about the game and its integrity. I thought it would be nice to have a place to talk about and debate and wonder at and poke around the edge of current conspiracy theories specific to football in a safe, non-judgmental forum. Perhaps such discussion would help shed light on the facts, or separate fact from fiction, enumerate current conspiracy theories, and lay out the history of such thinking.

Furore is growing. Won't help Forest now, esp. if they get relegated. Nuno doesn't strike me as a particularly reckless accuser, either.

Nope.

Even if it doesn't rise to the level of criminal conduct, it seems obviously against the laws of the game, which naturally have a lower standard. The force was not "negligible," no way.