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The 2013-2014 Football Thread
- Thread starter Jaffa Cake
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twietee
macrumors 603
Cheers, Jaffa! Great game so far.
But am I crazy in thinking that a team with a new manager (Pellegrini's first time in England? not sure, but think it is) and some new players does need some time to settle? Regardless the spendings. I mean, I'm not impressed by neither United, Chelsea, City and Bayern thus far.
Also not sure if smaller teams these times are less competitive than, say, one or two decades ago - not over a whole season of course, but still be able to deal with a unsteady squad of individuals collectively on a good day.
Long speech, little sense, please move along, hope Hertha (and Hull City AFC) can prove my point today against Volkswagen Wolfsburg, though.
But am I crazy in thinking that a team with a new manager (Pellegrini's first time in England? not sure, but think it is) and some new players does need some time to settle? Regardless the spendings. I mean, I'm not impressed by neither United, Chelsea, City and Bayern thus far.
Also not sure if smaller teams these times are less competitive than, say, one or two decades ago - not over a whole season of course, but still be able to deal with a unsteady squad of individuals collectively on a good day.
Long speech, little sense, please move along, hope Hertha (and Hull City AFC) can prove my point today against Volkswagen Wolfsburg, though.
daneoni
macrumors G5
A man in a dodgy Chinese knock off City shirt has just walked into the pub. This is all his fault.
twietee
macrumors 603
Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
So, is this a case of Man City doing what champions do and grinding out a result despite playing badly? I guess you might say that, but Hull City looked excellent. A little more deadliness in front of the net and Man City would surely have been humbled. Man City looked good going forward but Hull's defense kept them out most of the game pretty effectively. City's defense looked awful (England's Joleon Lescott is not having a great start to the season). Toure's free kick was perfectly placed and thus unstoppable.
If your boys keep playing like that Jaffa, you'll be taking a few big scalps in this campaign. I wish that Koren shot went in earlier. So close!!! 😱
Man City have so much individual quality that even when their team performance is useless someone might still pop up and score a purely individual goal. That's what happened today.
If your boys keep playing like that Jaffa, you'll be taking a few big scalps in this campaign. I wish that Koren shot went in earlier. So close!!! 😱
Man City have so much individual quality that even when their team performance is useless someone might still pop up and score a purely individual goal. That's what happened today.
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Joke of a ref for the Cardiff City v Everton game; cards for good tackles whilst ignoring fouls - including one on Baines in the City box. Kim looked decent, Bellamy - elbows - and Fellaini - arm and pushing - escaped reds. Everton are weak up front.
Enjoyed the early game up to a point. 🙂 Again, the value of a finisher.
Cheers,
OW
Enjoyed the early game up to a point. 🙂 Again, the value of a finisher.
Cheers,
OW
cambookpro
macrumors 604
Watched Hull vs Man City on this new-fangled BT Sport channel, have to say you gave it a good go Jaffa and I thought in the first half you could have been leading.
I was all pro-Hull City until the free kick in the 90th minute. I remembered Toure's against Newcastle and he's my captain this week in my fantasy team, so y'know... 😎
I was all pro-Hull City until the free kick in the 90th minute. I remembered Toure's against Newcastle and he's my captain this week in my fantasy team, so y'know... 😎
pachyderm
macrumors G5
Tilpots
macrumors 601
Love the way Liverpool is playing so physical today. They are challenging MU on every loose ball and getting right in their face on defense. So far, it's really worked well for them. RVP looks frustrated and is clearly off his game. Hope the Reds keep up the intensity in the second half.
daneoni
macrumors G5
United, for the love of all things sacred STOP STARTING GIGGS. The man is 39 yrs old and your midfield is already dire. Ironic that their best CAM is Rooney. His loss means they have been average today.
Also, why are you again not playing Zaha and Kagawa? Ashley Young is not good enough for United...neither is Cleverley IMHO.
Actually please continue as you were and then finish 3rd at the end of the season.
Also, why are you again not playing Zaha and Kagawa? Ashley Young is not good enough for United...neither is Cleverley IMHO.
Actually please continue as you were and then finish 3rd at the end of the season.
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twietee
macrumors 603
swiftaw
macrumors 603
Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
Huge win for Liverpool from a morale-building standpoint.
All three wins for Liverpool this season have been identical copies - the club fly out of the gate, Sturridge scores early, their attacks peter out towards the end of the first half and then they cling on for the second half. I think they are going to have to improve over that if they want to keep winning.
I thought it was a very sloppy match. Good goalkeeping on both sides, Mignolet definitely the busier of the two. United had so much possession in the second half, Liverpool barely mounted any attacks at all. Liverpool's defense stepped up today, Skrtel made a case for himself after falling out of the squad last season. Nani came on and did very little apart from the one shot (straight at Mignolet).
Where was Kagawa? It's a total mystery.
Coutinho was quiet again - this seems to happen to him in big games. Aspas is still conspicuous only when he fouls people. Man Utd broke up Liverpool's attacks too easily. Lots of yellows in the first half but the players kept their cool and I thought the ref let a few things slide to reduce the chances a red card would have to come out.
Major worries for Roy Hodgson after this one though - he might have just lost four England players. I'm hoping Johnson didn't pull a muscle.
All three wins for Liverpool this season have been identical copies - the club fly out of the gate, Sturridge scores early, their attacks peter out towards the end of the first half and then they cling on for the second half. I think they are going to have to improve over that if they want to keep winning.
I thought it was a very sloppy match. Good goalkeeping on both sides, Mignolet definitely the busier of the two. United had so much possession in the second half, Liverpool barely mounted any attacks at all. Liverpool's defense stepped up today, Skrtel made a case for himself after falling out of the squad last season. Nani came on and did very little apart from the one shot (straight at Mignolet).
Where was Kagawa? It's a total mystery.
Coutinho was quiet again - this seems to happen to him in big games. Aspas is still conspicuous only when he fouls people. Man Utd broke up Liverpool's attacks too easily. Lots of yellows in the first half but the players kept their cool and I thought the ref let a few things slide to reduce the chances a red card would have to come out.
Major worries for Roy Hodgson after this one though - he might have just lost four England players. I'm hoping Johnson didn't pull a muscle.
swiftaw
macrumors 603
I think what you are seeing is just how good Fergie was. In the last couple of seasons, I have often thought that Man United had the weakest team of the 'big clubs' but somehow they still won the title.
Their midfield is particularly worrying. Today their starting midfield was Giggs, Carrick, Cleverly, and Young. Compare that to Chelsea's Hazard, Oscar, Mata trio and it's no comparison.
What is the deal with Kagawa? I haven't heard that he is injured, so why isn't he in the squad, especially with no Rooney, it would seem that a player like Kagawa would have been an ideal replacement.
On the Liverpool side, I've been really impressed with Henderson so far this season.
Their midfield is particularly worrying. Today their starting midfield was Giggs, Carrick, Cleverly, and Young. Compare that to Chelsea's Hazard, Oscar, Mata trio and it's no comparison.
What is the deal with Kagawa? I haven't heard that he is injured, so why isn't he in the squad, especially with no Rooney, it would seem that a player like Kagawa would have been an ideal replacement.
On the Liverpool side, I've been really impressed with Henderson so far this season.
Well Hull City might have been beaten 🙁
But PEC Zwolle is still top of the Eredivisie tonight.🙂
PEC remain top of the Eredivisie.
Despite a 1 all draw with FC Utrecht, their nearest challenger PSV could do no better than a goalless draw. What made this worse for PSV was it was on their 100 year anniversery and at home, there was going to be a major party all famous old players and trainers had been invited. SC Cambuur didn't play to script and refused lay down and roll over, hence very long faces in Einhoven.😀
This news just in.
PEC Zwolle let Youness Mokhtar go, he has just signed a 4 year contract with FC Twente. Last season he was one of the better players in the PEC Attack.
But PEC Zwolle is still top of the Eredivisie tonight.🙂
PEC remain top of the Eredivisie.
Despite a 1 all draw with FC Utrecht, their nearest challenger PSV could do no better than a goalless draw. What made this worse for PSV was it was on their 100 year anniversery and at home, there was going to be a major party all famous old players and trainers had been invited. SC Cambuur didn't play to script and refused lay down and roll over, hence very long faces in Einhoven.😀
This news just in.
PEC Zwolle let Youness Mokhtar go, he has just signed a 4 year contract with FC Twente. Last season he was one of the better players in the PEC Attack.
pivo6
Suspended
daneoni
macrumors G5
Yeah i just heard. Phew.
Happy to have Flamini back in. Slotted in nicely and gave us something different.
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Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
Big result for Arsenal. Tottenham look to have a clearly superior side on paper but (for once perhaps 😱), Arsenal were the better 'team'. I should have made Giroud my fantasy captain. 😡
One thing that applies to both of the big matches from today: The transfer window is not yet closed and some signings are definitely going to happen. Man Utd are still chasing several players and Liverpool have as many as three more players coming in tomorrow (Moses, Sahko and Tiago Ilori), perhaps more. Likewise Spurs and (surely?) Arsenal will be bringing in more players. it will take time for these to bed in.
Bottom line: today's games were big for the teams involved but they don't really say much about what all four teams will look like in a couple months. Things may change drastically.
As for Liverpool and Man Utd, even without counting the signings the next match may feature Suarez and Rooney, which should by itself change the the way the match plays out.
oscillatewildly: Moyes' team selection may have left something to be desired, but losing Rooney was simply rotten luck, and given the way Rooney played against Chelsea you have to think he would have made a difference today.
One thing that applies to both of the big matches from today: The transfer window is not yet closed and some signings are definitely going to happen. Man Utd are still chasing several players and Liverpool have as many as three more players coming in tomorrow (Moses, Sahko and Tiago Ilori), perhaps more. Likewise Spurs and (surely?) Arsenal will be bringing in more players. it will take time for these to bed in.
Bottom line: today's games were big for the teams involved but they don't really say much about what all four teams will look like in a couple months. Things may change drastically.
As for Liverpool and Man Utd, even without counting the signings the next match may feature Suarez and Rooney, which should by itself change the the way the match plays out.
oscillatewildly: Moyes' team selection may have left something to be desired, but losing Rooney was simply rotten luck, and given the way Rooney played against Chelsea you have to think he would have made a difference today.
Spurs should have dominated in the middle. Nearly everyone looked off. Only Lloris, Sandro, and Defoe bothered showing up. Lamela looked good for his brief appearance.
Dembele should have been taken off at HT for Holtby.
At least Sandro and Kaboul are back. Shame about Capoue 🙁
Hopefully against Norwich we line up
Lloris
Walker Kaboul Vertonghen New LB
Sandro Holtby Paulinho
Lamela Soldado Chadli
Dembele should have been taken off at HT for Holtby.
At least Sandro and Kaboul are back. Shame about Capoue 🙁
Hopefully against Norwich we line up
Lloris
Walker Kaboul Vertonghen New LB
Sandro Holtby Paulinho
Lamela Soldado Chadli
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