The 2013-2014 Football Thread

[oscillatewildly]

Dowd and the Renties . Think Vidic is yellow and Rafael is red, but the jump challenge on Cahill only happens because of the sending off. Luiz stays on.

+1 daneoni:

Some good play and add Rooney and RVP. Manchester United paid for their errors, Chelsea got away with theirs. Not convinced by the defences of the top four; the chances are there but the rest seem to lack that last bit of quality required to take advantage - don't have the players to begin with or they are injured.

Cheers,
OW

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Vidic could have gone either way but I would have said yellow.

It's amazing what Luiz consistently gets away with. He's a sly son of a gun.

Some good play and add Rooney and RVP. Manchester United paid for their errors, Chelsea got away with theirs. Not convinced by the defences of the top four; the chances are there but the rest seem to lack that last bit of quality required to take advantage - don't have the players to begin with or they are injured.

Not sure if the numbers back it up, but for me Arsenal are actually the most defensively sound outfit in the top 8. Everyone else is vulnerable to a greater or lesser extent at the back. Chelsea and Man City's depth are going to become increasingly important now though, they are less reliant on their forwards than any of the top teams apart from perhaps Spurs and Everton - and they aren't really direct competitors anyway.

 

[oscillatewildly]

The Arsenal defence had some dodgy moments v Fulham - the Cottagers lacking composure - and their level of performance seems to have dipped a bit in the last few games. Best of a not great lot.

Cheers,
OW

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Interested to see what Liverpool team Rogers puts out this weekend. I think the Aston Villa match was all about the weird formation plus an off-day for many players. I expect this weekend to be improved. But where will he play Gerrard? Not as a sweeper again, I hope. Also, still waiting on info re: Lucas' injury.

Frank Ribery - still whining about not winning the Ballon D'Or just as he goes on trial for allegedly using the services of an underage prostitute...

 

[pachyderm]

8bit football does GOOCH in a SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY kit!

 

[Kariya]

Frank Ribery - still whining about not winning the Ballon D'Or just as he goes on trial for allegedly using the services of an underage prostitute...

Never seen such a cry baby in the football world.

Its like he's going through the various stages of grieving.
First he claims he doesn't care about the award and isn't hurt (Denial)
Now its 'Ronaldo doesn't deserve it, its all politics!' (Anger),
And...'i deserve it, i won the treble, that should count more' (Bargaining).

Monsieur Ribery, in case you haven't gotten it through your head...

 

[pivo6]

Image

8bit football does GOOCH in a SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY kit!

The last time Gooch was any good was when 8 bit graphics were still being used.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Never seen such a cry baby in the football world.

I used to think Ronaldo was a huge whiner...but Ribery makes Ronaldo look like Eusebio (RIP) by comparison. Ribery may have been the best player for Bayern, but in terms of individual performances Ronaldo was the best player of 2013. He dragged Portugal to the World Cup singlehandedly.

The last time Gooch was any good was when 8 bit graphics were still being used.

Ouch! He's dropped way off his best, it's true, which is a huge shame because he was very good once, and he's still only 31. I continue to wonder what could have been had he not picked up that horrible knee injury in 2009. He might still be turning out for Milan.

 

[Fizzoid]

It looks more like Reda Johnson

Edit: And who says larger squads are the key to success?

 

[pivo6]

......
Ouch! He's dropped way off his best, it's true, which is a huge shame because he was very good once, and he's still only 31. I continue to wonder what could have been had he not picked up that horrible knee injury in 2009. He might still be turning out for Milan.

He should have never went to Milan. He was never going to play more than a few games a season with their squad.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

EDIT: Lucas will be out 6-8 weeks with an MCL injury. Bad news for Liverpool, though it could have been worse (like a torn ACL). He won't be available again till some time in March.

He should have never went to Milan. He was never going to play more than a few games a season with their squad.

Probably true, and Klinsmann (if he had been around then) would surely rather have him tearing it up at Standard Liege than riding the bench at Milan. But his big injury happened on USA duty and it was that injury that seems to have derailed his career since.

 

[daneoni]

Apparently United have moved for Mata. Could be a huge signing for them if they manage it. I also think Chelsea will come to regret it if they let him go.

EDIT: Deal looks to be a formality at this point

Wenger has called it out for what it really is. A tactical move by Mourinho. He's gotten 4 pts off them. So whats left is to strengthen them so they can make things difficult for your rivals.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I'm not sure Chelsea will regret selling him - or at least Mourihno won't. Mou doesn't want him, he's not enough of a physical hustler for Chelsea apparently. He adds to the depth chart, to be sure, but the current situation is unsustainable since he wants more playing time.

But United could certainly do with him. Come to think of it, Liverpool could use him...I doubt FSG would spend over 40m on any player right now though.

EDIT: Looks like United are set to go through for an all-Manchester League Cup final. This will be City's chance to really pile it on poor old Moyes.

 

[daneoni]

Nope. Penalties here we come.

EDIT: What. A. Match! Well done Sunderland.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

I think we all know where Vito Mannone learnt that sort of aceness.

 

[daneoni]

Meanwhile...

Ben Smith, BBC Sport
MATA ON THE MOVE
"Juan Mata is set to undergo a medical with Manchester United on Thursday ahead of his proposed £37m move from Chelsea.

"The Spaniard said goodbye to team-mates and staff at Chelsea's Cobham training ground on Wednesday and is not expected to return to the club.

"Mata is expected to sign a four-and-a-half year deal at Old Trafford.

"United continue to deny having made a bid for Mata, but it is understood they have made an offer through intermediaries working on the deal."

Always rated him more than Fabianski at Arsenal, but Wenger let him go.

I think we all know where Vito Mannone learnt that sort of aceness.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Nope. Penalties here we come.

EDIT: What. A. Match! Well done Sunderland.

I stand corrected! What a very English penalty shootout, despite the nationalities of the players involved.

I think we all know where Vito Mannone learnt that sort of aceness.

Back when Mannone played for Arsenal, I remember him getting hammered in a big Europa League loss in Cyrpus or something...then again, he did well for Hull City.

That's probably the only redeeming feature of penalty shootouts actually - the small chance that a keeper will come up big and win the game singlehandedly.

Sunderland have earned the right to get pulverized by City in the final (though I'll be hoping they pull a Wigan and win it).

 

[daneoni]

Seems Liverpool will miss out on yet another player who is headed for Chelsea instead. Salah.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Unfortunately for Liverpool, Chelsea can outbid them every time. They can only sign players Chelsea aren't interested in or are unaware of.

Mata is excellent, but overpriced at 40m+. Then again, United will consider him a bargain if he buys them a 4th place finish.

 

[oscillatewildly]

That penalty shoot-out; cue Comic Book Guy.

Manchester United have been a mix of Arsenal and Spurs teams of the last few seasons; daft defensive errors and dropping deeper with a 1-0 lead - lose confidence. Despite Johnson's dive in the first leg, Moyes is right to say they didn't deserve to got through; played well in parts, but too few, and blew the chances they had. On the plus side; a bit of comedy at the end and they avoid a thumping in the final.

I expect the Mata deal to fall through at the last minute because Wenger won't sanction it.

Lord Blackadder,

Read about Liverpool looking to recruit someone to fill in for Lucas; true or not, I doubt Rodgers will make the Gerrard mistake again. Could be time to bench the captain and use him late on if the passing and set pieces aren't up to scratch.

Cheers,
OW

 

[Lord Blackadder]

On the plus side; a bit of comedy at the end and they avoid a thumping in the final.

A tough choice. If I were United fan I'd rather get thumped by City in the final than be out now - at least it means you made the final - but City are imperious right now, it would not be much fun. Nobody is having any joy against them (till the Champions League returns - it will be satisfying to see them brought down to earth again).

Read about Liverpool looking to recruit someone to fill in for Lucas; true or not, I doubt Rodgers will make the Gerrard mistake again. Could be time to bench the captain and use him late on if the passing and set pieces aren't up to scratch.

Rogers can't afford to play Gerrard as a sweeper again. He's clearly proved it doesn't work. The experiment cost the club two points and should have cost three. Gerrard should be used as a super-sub from now on, or perhaps a starter in less important matches against inferior opposition. His dead ball skills will be useful for years to come if he accepts this minor role. He's a legend for Liverpool but he is mortal and age has finally caught up with him.

It's also worth pointing out that Gerrard is a player who 1) cannot be replaced and 2) should't be replaced. He's too tactically indisciplined and too disruptive to any system that isn't built completely around him. And at his age, that is no longer prudent.

I think Liverpool certainly need another Lucas/Mascherano-type player as cover, pretty much all the rest of our midfield is more attack-minded. He's the type of player you might not notice when he's doing his job, but you sure miss him when he isn't there - especially given the rabble we put out for a defensive unit.

 

[twietee]

I'd like to see the odds re Barca v City. Not sure why everybody assumes they get booted big time. More like 50/50 in my book. Arsenal on the other hand...

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Johnson is out "indefinitely" for Liverpool. Arguably our most consistent performer in defense this season as well. The injuries are starting to mount and that fourth place finish is looking increasingly tough. Spurs have more depth. United will be picking up a marquee midfielder. Everton's campaign is still looking good. I don;t want to see a knee-jerk buy in January, but Rogers is going to find it increasingly hard to put out a competitive team, especially at the back.

I'd like to see the odds re Barca v City. Not sure why everybody assumes they get booted big time. More like 50/50 in my book. Arsenal on the other hand...

True. But that's worse odds by far than Man City will face in the league.

 

[daneoni]

I'd like to see the odds re Barca v City. Not sure why everybody assumes they get booted big time. More like 50/50 in my book. Arsenal on the other hand...

Barcelona is not the Barcelona of old. If you play well you have a chance.

Also 3 English teams have already beaten Bayern over the last 3 seasons. Formidable yes, invincible no.

Unfortunately for Liverpool, Chelsea can outbid them every time. They can only sign players Chelsea aren't interested in or are unaware of.

Mata is excellent, but overpriced at 40m+. Then again, United will consider him a bargain if he buys them a 4th place finish.

Me thinks John Henry is like Wenger, slaps a valuation on a player and won't budge. Sure £11m shouldn't be too much for LFC. But i guess Chelsea offered more in wages (40k a week i hear)

 

[twietee]

Barcelona is not the Barcelona of old. If you play well you have a chance.

Also 3 English teams have already beaten Bayern over the last 3 seasons.

That's what I'm saying. City is my underdog bet for a CL victory this time. And underdog only because of their defence and keeper.

You know I dislike Bayern like the next guy, but I'm convinced that Arsenal doesn't stand a chance this time. In both legs. But I'd think an early demise for Arsenal and City/Chelsea going much further works in Arsenals favor regarding the PL - will be a photofinish still.