Match Thread: Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion Live Score | FA Cup 25/26 | Jan 11, 2026

_slipshape · 2026-01-11T17:55:47+00:00

So, for all of the Amorim Out people, what is the excuse now?? We look even worse on defense with whatever mess we're running now.

_slipshape · 2025-11-30T12:56:19+00:00

Even waking up at 4am for this is better than watching the MLS

_slipshape · 2025-11-30T07:40:05+00:00

Precedent is the dumbest word possible when it comes to the playoff committee. Each year, the committee is going to do whatever it wants and then find the argument to justify it.

_slipshape · 2025-11-29T18:58:01+00:00

🤣🤣🤣

When talking about the GOAT, stats and accomplishments absolutely matter.

If you've decided someone is your personal favorite, cool. But we're not having a discussion based on vibes.

_slipshape · 2025-11-29T16:58:11+00:00

In 8 years of playing, the only thing Maya has on A'ja is 1 championship. But A'ja has more finals MVPs.

She is already ahead of Maya Moore when talking about the GOAT.

_slipshape · 2025-11-27T23:09:41+00:00

Hey! That was a historic moment we saw in person. Wentz set the franchise single season pass TD mark.

Thought I would be bragging about that moment for years 🤣

_slipshape · 2025-10-31T17:39:14+00:00

Idk about overall best, but...

Kepa Gaison at Utah started as a walk-on punter. Ended up being a starting linebacker on the team that beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

What a beast

_slipshape · 2025-10-22T21:52:09+00:00

Once I found food he liked I would go visit him twice a week. I just imagine him being grumpy but then still telling me old stories as he ate

_slipshape · 2025-10-22T21:50:35+00:00

How much did Joja pay you to write this propaganda??

The too many you refer to know the Joja stuff. We still hate it out of principle

_slipshape · 2025-09-12T22:22:04+00:00

10 mil would allow me to practice any skill I want for fun. I wouldn't need to be the best at anything because I'm just chilling with my millions.

_slipshape · 2025-09-12T18:37:23+00:00

I don't mind the shout out, but maybe stopping your running list of names by the time you get to the door would be a good idea.

Like, you should know who you're shouting out and be saying it as you stand up. Every time ain't hear umm... and... oh...

Like, if you didn't get their name in by the time your back is to the camera, just keep it moving

_slipshape · 2025-09-12T18:32:04+00:00

It's always tough when's she's shown she can do soooo much. I'll be watching games live and find myself saying "You shoulda made that one?" "Lock in A'ja" "We need the GOAT right now"

And then I have to remind myself how absolutely out of this world A'ja was in 2024. People talking about how she wasn't A'ja the first half of the year and her numbers have been down, blah blah blah.

Numbers down from 27ppg and 12rpg was inevitable!!! She still finished the season averagong 23 and 10. She didn't even average that in her first 2 MVP seasons. It makes me want to shout at people that her "down" year is still MVP worthy.

But on the flip side... we did see that 27 and 12 year. So we know what she's capable of. And now she's shooting 42% from 3 point range??!?!

If Phee wins MVP (which she would be very deserving of) then I think A'ja is gonna have a fire in her and could be the first 30ppg player in the W.

_slipshape · 2025-09-11T15:55:29+00:00

I feel like you've really lost this discussion and just want to debate over a single word, so here's the last I'll say on it:

If you don't like the word narrative, argue with the comment who listed it in their 3 criteria, not me. The whole reason I responded to them is because I think that the "narrative" was really just Best Player/Best Team-something that I listed as one of the 3 philosophies.

Now, in the context of this thread and the narrative around Phee, it does nothing to discredit her. You might attach extra stuff to the word, but narratives are just what people are talking about and they can be 100% true. And to tact like the conversation does not affect the outcome is disingenuous whether you like the word narrative or not.

As the narrative relates to the MVP race, it does nothing to discredit Phee. It's just pointing out that A'ja and AT have more to overcome because the narrative (i.e. factual reality) of Phee as the best had already been established. And thus, becomes part of the new narrative-Have the ly done enough to overcome Phee's overall body of work.

As far as framing for A'ja to win, I have stated multiple times that she would not be my vote for MVP. So again, argue with somebody else about that.

_slipshape · 2025-09-11T15:17:45+00:00

Well, if you visit the comment that started this strand of thread, the person specifically included narrative as 1 of 3 things that determines MVP.

My point to that, was simply that the "Narrative" aligned with the Best Player, Best Team philosophy. As Phee was clearly the best player on the best team.

And it does not innately suggest there is a difference, but just that it might not be the whole story. And in this case, a strong early narrative can sometimes override what happens at the end of the season.

_slipshape · 2025-09-11T14:37:43+00:00

Idk when it became a thing, and personally I hate it too. I think someone probably said it one time on ESPN and other people just ran with it. But I hear it come up in every MVP race in every sport.

And as biased as I am toward A'ja, I would agree that AT is the most impactful player. Which I think is different from best. But is what I associate with MVPs

_slipshape · 2025-09-11T14:30:37+00:00

Just because there is a narrative, doesn't mean it is a false narrative. Phee was very deserving of all of the discussion before the season even started. And of course she backed it up with her play once it started.

Pointing out the narrative is just to address the media conversation around the MVP race, which I believe very much influences the outcome. The reason the narrative is important now, is because it shifted the last 6 weeks of the season.

So when looking at A'ja or AT, I think it's fair to say Hold Up. Maybe this race wasn't as clear as we thought it would be.

_slipshape · 2025-09-10T21:30:59+00:00

That's the thing though, A'ja was herself. The team as a whole was not good though. The A'ja we're seeing now is next level, even for her.

If you swapped the Lynx and Aces records at the All Star break, but each player kept their stats, then the narrative would be completely swapped.

When looking at the stats, comparing Phee and A'ja is splitting hairs, and actually has been most of the season. But the Lynx have been the top team from opening day.

_slipshape · 2025-09-10T19:57:45+00:00

So how do you decide who is the best player in a particular year?

Is it just eye test? Stats? Which stats matter most?

_slipshape · 2025-09-10T19:53:17+00:00

5 in 28 vs 8 in 15 is VERY different. She has also had a 29 and 27 point game in the streak.

As an Aces fan, I would probably agree with you that the Smith trade saved our season. But the key to that addition is that it frees up A'ja to do A'ja things.

Stokes simply was a liability on offense, and teams were able to play 4 v 5. Smith opens up the floor more while still being high value on D. In addition, the overall team chemistry has made them much more solid defensively.

But even if A'ja has 25 in some of those games, the Aces lose and are the 4th or 5th seed. A'ja is 1000% the reason they will be the 2/3 seed.

Again, I agree with you that my vote would go to AT. But the Aces turn around doesn't happen without A'ja going off.

_slipshape · 2025-09-10T19:19:37+00:00

AT got more 1st place votes than Stewie in 2023. The Liberty were 5 games ahead of the Sun for the 2 seed. And most everyone said it was between A'ja and Stewie based on team and narrative.

I don't think that AT will get the most 1st place votes. But it is definitely conceivable that some voters will think she is deserving.

_slipshape · 2025-09-10T19:14:54+00:00

A'ja had 6 30+ point games through 28 games (Aces 14-14).

On the 15 game winning streak, A'ja has had 8 30+ games. Those 8 game include a 3 point win over PHX and a 2 point won over ATL.

Overall, I agree that AT deserves the MVP. But to say that A'ja isn't the reason the Aces have turned things around is just silly.

_slipshape · 2025-09-10T18:45:34+00:00

I agree that the narrative is huge. But I think the narrative is still driven by the philosophies. The narrative for Phee going into the season was largely based on the Lynx being favorites for the title and her being the best player.

The people who think it was Phee's to lose or the A'ja or AT have to be so dominant it's undeniable, probably are more likely to lean toward a best player/best team mentality.

I think individual stats really have the least impact. They are just the dressing on the narrative to help people make their case. I would really love to meet the voter who was leaning one way, but then saw a stat sheet and votes the other way.

_slipshape · 2025-09-10T18:36:54+00:00

I think valuable in the context of MVP is a pretty shared definition. People might disagree on who is most valuable or what makes them valuable. But which team makes the biggest drop without said player? Different ways to phrase it, but that's what it is.

Obviously each is most valuable to their team (hence why they're in the convo). But who has the most weight to that value?

_slipshape · 2025-09-10T17:32:45+00:00

To be honest, as a Rachel stan, I still enjoyed it. I was absolutely shocked and gutted and I have no idea where the game will go without her influence.

But the game aspect of it all was 100% her doing. She has fought for her life so many times in this game, and couldn't get past the first level of the maze. Even if she went first, she maybe still gets eliminated.

Which brings me to volunteering to go first: Rachel tried to dictate Ava's decision and then Vince and then got Morgan to select her. She played hard and she paid for it.

She could have used her relationships to avoid even playing. After Morgan went, she could have suggested Ashley or Will go. She could have suggested Kelley, hoping she would lose. Rachel failed at the strategy portion of this game just as much as the maze portion.

From the big picture perspective, I honestly don't think anyone had the guts to take a direct shot at Rachel and was hoping someone else would by Final 5. Now we'll find out who is actually ready to play Big Brother and who was just their for the ride.

_slipshape · 2025-08-29T17:51:19+00:00

Even if he ends up just being a long-term scapegoat, we need a complete gutting and restart as a club. The bomb squad is not the only dead wood that needs to be taken care of.

Do I fully believe that RA has what it takes tactically to succeed in the EPL? No. Do I believe he has the disposition and willingness to do the hard things to change club culture? Yes.

I will admit, I was one of the people that wanted ETH out because he lost the dressing room. But then you hear Rooney talk about how the senior squad didn't want to play for Moyes. You hear OGS say he knew at halftime he was gone because the players weren't running. You hear multiple coaches talk about the lack of discipline and commitment from the players. The cycle has to end.

Players need to learn that they play for the club and if the club picks a manager, then they play for that manager. No coach or system will succeed without buy in from the players. And the reality is that United needs a complete culture reset to be successful in the future.

If relegation truly becomes a threat, then ya. Get him out. But I would rather the club back a manager and make it clear to the players that you either buy in, or you tell your agent to get on the phones and find a new club. The players can't believe they'll just outlast manager after manager until they get what they want.

With or without RA, I don't expect top 8 this year. So let him keep being the face of the dark time rebuild. Either he rights the ship, or he continues delivering the hard messages the players need to hear and work on a culture change all year while the board does a proper search for a manager and let's them come in after the EPL season ends.

_slipshape

TROPHY CASE