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The 2011-2012 Football Thread
- Thread starter Jaffa Cake
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Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
I can't wait to thump Toronto this week, we need to wash away the stain of that 6-2 loss to Seattle. As for Klinsmann, I'm not going to worry about results until we start playing competitive matches. These friendlies are just for fiddling with formations and tactices.
Spain won't need to win either game, right? Still, their second string is pretty darned good.
It seems like the fashion at the moment is to deploy a "lone striker" formation that uses a single dedicated striker but relies on two or three particularly athletic midfielders to do most of the work in the 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. If your midfield gets pinned back or sits too deep, you lose all of the advantages of those formations and end up with a defensive 4-5-1 or Levein's infamous 4-6-0.
(Actually, since the USA has so few decent strikers but a lot of midfielders I wonder if we could make a 4-6-0 work...)
He did want Miereles...he just wanted him less than Modric. 😉
By the way, those checkered Croatia shirts are headache-inducing, though distinctive.
Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
The gulf in class between the Manchester clubs and the rest of the league is simply shocking. Premier League = La Liga. Man City and Man U have a lock on first and second places. There is simply no way any other clubs will legitimately challenge for the title this season. Both teams could conceivably finish the season unbeaten.
Liverpool played fairly well today but Stoke are hard to beat and they got the rub of the green, while Liverpool failed to take their chances.
Liverpool played fairly well today but Stoke are hard to beat and they got the rub of the green, while Liverpool failed to take their chances.
andalusia
macrumors 68030
Yeah I'm just waiting for City to fall flat on their faces... 🙄 A bit cynical but I am enjoying the great spell they're having at the moment.
Meanwhile, the one true City won today and I was there. Standing. On a terrace.
Standing on terraces is ace. 🙂
Standing on terraces is ace. 🙂
iJohnHenry
macrumors P6
I have nothing but admiration for a true fan.
Spent many hours, standing behind the Greens or Greys, at old Maple Leaf Gardens, back when the hockey team was actually a winner. 😱
(Pre-1967, in case you are wondering.) 😉
Terraces aren't generally permitted in England's top two divisions – however, newly promoted clubs to the Championship have a few seasons grace to keep their terraces in use (assuming they don't get relegated in the meantime), hence we were able to enjoy the terracing at newly-promoted Peterborough's London Road this afternoon. I believe the club are actually installing seating there shortly though, meaning that we're one of the final away supports to be allowed to stand there.
As an aside, while waiting for my train home at Peterborough station I found myself stood on the platform next to the referee, Mr G. Eltringham (Tyne & Wear). Fortunately he'd had a good game so I wasn't tempted to comment on any poor decisions. 😀
As an aside, while waiting for my train home at Peterborough station I found myself stood on the platform next to the referee, Mr G. Eltringham (Tyne & Wear). Fortunately he'd had a good game so I wasn't tempted to comment on any poor decisions. 😀
Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
Sounds like a fine day out Jaffa...and you won! 😀
Columbus 2-4 Toronto. I have no words...we lost 6-4 to one of the best teams in MLS two weeks ago, then had a week off for the international break...after which we lose 2-4 at home against one of the worst teams in the league. 😡 10 goals conceded in two games by what was until quite recently the best defense in the league. This was a weekend to forget all around.
Columbus 2-4 Toronto. I have no words...we lost 6-4 to one of the best teams in MLS two weeks ago, then had a week off for the international break...after which we lose 2-4 at home against one of the worst teams in the league. 😡 10 goals conceded in two games by what was until quite recently the best defense in the league. This was a weekend to forget all around.
Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
Fair enough, but I'm sticking to my prediction. 😉 The only thing I can see that would slow Man U or City down would be a huge injury crisis, but both squads are deep so even that is unlikely.
Fizzoid
macrumors 68020
I said pretty much the same thing when I realised that by beating MK Dons and knocking them off top spot (normally a thing to be happy about, especially as we won 3-1) who we'd let go top 🙄
pachyderm
macrumors G5
we'll be there soon enough =)
got to see athletic play for the first time this season vs espanyol.... i was pretty let down. 🙁
Silencio
macrumors 68040
Somehow people forget that Chelsea has an incredibly soft early schedule last season. They were beating up on minnows; I knew it wouldn't last. United, at least, has at least flattened three teams that should finish in the upper half of the table. A tougher test awaits on Sunday...
Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
If your boys steamroll Chelsea, it should become obvious to all that it's a two-team league this season. Chelsea are not playing terribly but they do not look like champions. Not even close, given what Man City and Man U are doing to their opponents. I can easily see United putting 3-4 past them. West Brom kept the damage to two goals, and nowadays that's looking like a legendary defensive perfomance against Ferguson's team.
Manchester United's finishing is very good, their play isn't; too much losing the ball through bad passing, slack marking, poor headed clearances, the defence is often too casual when playing the ball around... Some high quality attacking, but the warning signs are there, better opponents will finish the chances Manchester United are giving teams. The patchy displays might have been down to the poor quality before them, tougher opposition may bring better performance.
Cheers,
OW
Cheers,
OW
JamesHP
macrumors 6502a
As a Manchester City fan and season ticket holder of 13 years I can't wait for the Champions League tomorrow night. This time 10 years ago we had just been beaten 4-0 by West Brom in Division 1, now we're about to face Bayern Munich, Napoli and Villarreal in the Champions League. What a transformation.
Fizzoid
macrumors 68020
Ten years ago we were preparing for a Division Three (as it was then) match against Macclesfield Town which we would go on to draw 0-0.
These days the Silkmen are still in that Division - albeit rebranded as League Two. We played them in the League Cup earlier this season, and lost 0-2 to our unfancied opponents. Now that's progress. 😎
These days the Silkmen are still in that Division - albeit rebranded as League Two. We played them in the League Cup earlier this season, and lost 0-2 to our unfancied opponents. Now that's progress. 😎
Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
Fizzoid said:
There is a certain juggernaut-like aspect to City. People laughed at how poor they played soon after the takeover, but you always knew that, given enough money, their resources would eventually begin to tell. Now they have the best squad in England.
Even if a team finds success in scoring against United, they still have to defend better. Scoring three is no good if you let in five, let alone eight. At the moment United's defense is getting a huge amount of protection from the attacking players in the form of obscene goal cushions.
takao
macrumors 68040
IMHO it's one of the more difficult groups... napoli is an incredibly uncomfortable opponent, villarreal perhaps Spains 3rd best team and after last years euro league season packed with euro experience, and bayern münchen has improved massively in their defensive play (6 league games, 16 goals and 1 conceded)
JamesHP
macrumors 6502a
Knew I'd get that. 😛
Still, three years since the takeover and the club's changed beyond recognition, both in terms of the players we have and just the state of the club in general. Apparently before the takeover we were just weeks from administration. It has to be said though, the club haven't hiked ticket prices yet which I can only commend them for; if anything the club cares for the fans more now than it has at any point in the past.
I must say though, if you'd told me back in 2001 that 10 years later we'd have won a trophy at Wembley and be the team the top table all wanted to avoid in the Champions League, I'd have laughed my arse off.
Oh I agree, it's a very difficult group. But you know what they say; if you want to be the best, you've got to beat the best. I'm confident we can get through to the knockout stages with the squad we have. In terms of Bayern's record we aren't far behind; 4 games, 15 goals scored and 3 conceded.
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Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
It's interesting to note how well Arteta and Nasri are playing at their respective clubs. People have criticised Arteta's purchase as a poor replacement for Nasri or Fabregas - but he's good and he clearly wants to be there, which is a key difference. Nasri came to life again as soon as he put on a Man City shirt.
Arsenal have played well, but the German side looks very good. If Arsenal can finish off this match it's great result.
EDIT: and literally as I type that Arsenal concede an equalizer...
Arsenal have played well, but the German side looks very good. If Arsenal can finish off this match it's great result.
EDIT: and literally as I type that Arsenal concede an equalizer...
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Kariya
macrumors 68000
I'm actually pretty happy considering the battering. We defended immensely in the second half. The entire back 4 put in a shift and so did Song and Arteta. The equalizer is just one of those where you put your hands up and clap. But it is clear as day we missed Wilshere and Ramsey and our midfield is still lacking in general.
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Maybe it was my expectation, but I thought they were poor; no great shakes in defence, gave the ball away, shoddy crossing, and forget all but one shot - that was okay.😀
Cheers,
OW
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