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The 2012-2013 Football Thread

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@L.Blackadder: Do I contradict myself, when I substantially agree with you?? But Dortmund not being the favorite is the role they actually prefer > all games this CL season (compare group games and those against Malaga and Donezk). That's why I think it'll be more like a coin toss or bad luck / referee style.

Anyway, speaking of big clubs: did I mention that Hertha is almost definitely back in (first class) business?




Takao, not disagreeing either, but Gomez hasn't played for a rather long period and is one I reckon as s.o. who needs to have extra confidence.

Müller on the 10, I don't see it.

Will be interesting to see how DvBuyten deals with tiki-taka.

Yes, Dortmund hasn't have choices for front 4, but still they can be dangerous. Real plays a very strange season this year, but I agree, they will be very dangerous in this phase.
 
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takao said:
IMHO for the Barca Game Müller in the central position is the better choice even if Kroos weren't injured
Kroos with his excellent through passes, agility, long shots, corners, free kicks etc. is excellent against defensive teams sitting deep but against an offensive team Müllers qualities (pace, work rate, defensive discipline, running into space on the counter)

It could also very well happen that Mascherano has to play as a central defender in the Barca line up. He is perhaps one of the best tacklers in the game but he is a rather ill fit against a classical centre forward like Gomez or Pizarro, especially on the counter. And he has hardly good memories playing against Müller either...

both teams wing backs defensive abilties will also be put up to the test as well ... Alves is brilliant on the attack but him playing defensivly against Ribery ? i would put my money on a yellow card for him within 15 minutes ;)

for comedy relief i now present Bayern's back four from 2009 when they lost 4:0 to Barca: Oddo, Demichelis, Breno, Lell :rolleyes:



Dortmund simply lacks any good players on the bench: Julian Schieber as the striker back up 'option' can only be considered a joke
Sure in the centre midfield they can mix it up with Gündogan, Bender, Kehl & Sahin but offensive he has zero choice
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2009 those were the days :) I can't see Heynkes put Robben on Müller's position, unless he gets brainwashed and learns some defensive runs real fast ;). Maybe Schweinsteiger will be the 10 and Luiz Gustavo will take his place in defensive midfield? Or if he wanted to try something completely crazy, put Lahm on the defensive midfield position, Rafinha on the right backwing and Martinez in front of Lahm...
 
takao said:
It could also very well happen that Mascherano has to play as a central defender in the Barca line up. He is perhaps one of the best tacklers in the game but he is a rather ill fit against a classical centre forward like Gomez or Pizarro, especially on the counter. And he has hardly good memories playing against Müller either...
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Masch is out injured until almost the end of the season. Barca have Pique and he's almost the only recognized defender left playing. Puyol will probably mist most of the rest of the season as well. After picking up Alex Song from Arsenal they played him in defense a bit but it proved a disaster. But maybe now they will have to try that again.

The last thing I'd want in a Champions League Semifinal would be defenders from Arsenal. ;)
 
Olup - I reckon Robben changed his style significantly in comparison. Much more teamwork, less ego shooter = less goals, too. Müller or Robben on the right wing, I don't see a problem. But Müller, Robben or even Schweinsteiger playing 10, I can't imagine that. Schweinsteiger could do it, but he has to play 8. Martinez and Gustavo both is no option imho.

I'd keep Robben on the bench and probably put Pizzaro behind Gomez. He's not the fastest, but Kroos isn't either. :D


The Special One to watch the 5:0 half time lead by Dortmund? Wonder if he made any notes at all.
 
Jaffa Cake said:
Let's turn our attention away from the big clubs for a moment, and instead discuss Leeds United.

They've just announced the appointment of ex-Reading boss Brian McDermott as their new gaffer, which throws up a curious coincidence. Leeds' Rugby League team, the Rhinos, are also managed by a man named Brian McDermott. And not only are both men are now managing Leeds-based clubs, their respective squads both contain wingers by the name of Ryan Hall.
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0_o

Very weird indeed. Of course I want BMD to do well, but Leeds? Really? :eek:

He'll always be a Royal in my eyes.
 
twietee said:
Müller or Robben on the right wing, I don't see a problem. But Müller, Robben or even Schweinsteiger playing 10, I can't imagine that.
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you don't have to imagine it ;) ... it was Müller's regular position when he made it into the professional squad in 2009

he isn't a "number 10" playmaker, but he doesn't need to be one with Ribery and Robben on the wings and Schweinsteiger/ Martinez behind him.
He normally plays the central attacking-midfield position as deep lying striker who runs into free space, helps overloading the wings or pose a threat inside the box.
 
Reading are not very good but Liverpool were just plain sloppy today. Ugly game, Reading's keeper saved two points with some great saves towards the end of the game. Liverpool look like a team with nothing to play for, but they still created enough chances to win.

Watching Millwall - Wigan now.
 
Jaffa Cake said:
Unfortunately it seems that there are a number of Millwall types in attendance who aren't there to watch...
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My feed was in, ahem, Russian, so I didn't hear any talk of fighting and they didn't show anything.

But based on what I heard it sounded like Milwall fans were punching the snot out of each other. :rolleyes:

Nobody likes us, we don't care....
 
Football from the Netherlands.

Friday

VVV Venlo 0 vs PEC Zwolle 2
PEC won a very important match which sees them slowly start to move up the table. Fred Benson finally discovering some form, a goal each side of half time sealed it for PEC.

Saturday
Roda JC 3 vs Vitesse 3
Vitesse let this one slip, from being 3 up to a lucky draw. Up until now Vitesse were the team in form, but not this day.

ADO Den Haag 1 vs Twente 3
From the team that couldn't win Twente are starting to put a winning run together. This was a great win for them as ADO are hard to beat at home.


Sunday
Heerenveen 3 vs Willem II 2
Heerenveen are a team in form, and are now comfortably mid table.

AZ 6 vs FC Utrecht 0
AZ made up for the last weeks disappointments and gave Utrecht a pounding.

RKC Waalwijk 1 vs Feyenoord 1
This was a major test for Feyenoord and they failed.

PSV 2 vs Ajax 3
This win could be the deceive for the title race. PSV were always in second gear while Ajax looked to be coasting.

Ajax are now 5 points clear of Vitesse, and 6 points clear of PSV and Feyenoord.
 
Brilliant game between City and Chelsea. So Chelsea only have the Europa left and City get the FA Cup.
 
Happybunny said:
AZ 6 vs FC Utrecht 0
AZ made up for the last weeks disappointments and gave Utrecht a pounding.
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Utrecht aided in said pounding with this rather exquisite own goal from young van der Hoorn.

His technique when striking the ball is rather similar to mine when I play up front, even down to him falling over his own feet – mind, when I do it it never goes in the net. :D

Nine minute hat trick from Altidore in that match, so I hear.
 
Jaffa Cake said:
Utrecht aided in said pounding with this rather exquisite own goal from young van der Hoorn.

His technique when striking the ball is rather similar to mine when I play up front, even down to him falling over his own feet – mind, when I do it it never goes in the net. :D

Nine minute hat trick from Altidore in that match, so I hear.
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They do say that it never just rains, but it pours, well Utrecht got in a monsoon.:D

PEC are still on for a Fair Play place.:)
 
Montreal 1-1 Columbus

A good away draw for the Crew against top of the league Montreal. Montreal had a goal disallowed for a very close offside call, but Columbus created plenty of chances and I think it was a fair result. We are now 2-1-3 and third in the East.

Jaffa Cake said:
Nine minute hat trick from Altidore in that match, so I hear.
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That's what I like to hear. :)

Apparently one of the Newcastle fans punched a police horse. Crazy, ugly scenes and it wasn't even Di Canio's fault.
 
Stoke City v Manchester United - wind, dross, and a dodgy penalty. Are the officials racing to the bottom - Arsenal and Chelsea games?

Tuned into the Hibs v Falkirk semi-final around 71 minutes gone and 1-3 (0-3 at half-time). Hibs won 4-3 after extra time; can't decide whether the goals were good or the keeping at a low level.
 
Absolute civil war in Scottish football at the moment, it really is rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic. The SPL wanted to have a 12-12-18 league structure (currently 12-10-10-10) thus Rangers who have already secured promotion wouldn't be promoted next season.

Two clubs, St Mirren and Ross County voted against the plans for various reasons (note only SPL clubs got to vote on something affecting the entire league structure :confused:) much to the chagrin of Aberdeen chairman

Stewart Milne said:
St Mirren Football club have really got to go and pose themselves the question why they are prepared to put the rest of Scottish football in jeopardy just because of their own selfish interests?
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Eh, Mr Milne because that's exactly what you did a year ago when you vetoed similar plans that weren't in your own interest at that time?
 
The whole Scottish league reform debate is all rather sordid, and as usual the biggest losers seem to be the small clubs and the fans.

The 11-1 voting system appears to be pretty corrupt to me. All it takes is two craggy old farts to stymie any and all change, forever.
 
Good win for Everton on Saturday. A strong showing in the first half for the Fire which once again fall short. Should be a good match up today with Everton vs Arsenal, the blues NEED to win to help push for a CL/Europa spot.
 
2020mike said:
Good win for Everton on Saturday. A strong showing in the first half for the Fire which once again fall short. Should be a good match up today with Everton vs Arsenal, the blues NEED to win to help push for a CL/Europa spot.
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Columbus play the Fire next, I am hoping to get one over on our longtime rivals. An Oduro goal would certainly stir the pot.
 
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