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The 2013-2014 Football Thread

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The last few matches have provided some important lessons for Rogers. He will need to learn from them if he wants his team to remain contenders and compete in the CL.

At the end of the day, Man City has a huge squad of more experienced players and has spent unbelievable amounts of money, making a mockery of FFP in the process. Liverpool have a small, inexperienced squad by comparison. The title wasn't even on the radar at the start of the season.

Champions league play is secured, mission accomplished.
 
Kariya said:
The starting XI should be good enough to get something from Sunderland at home on paper. Januzaj good going forward but can be caught out when tracking back which is why I'm guessing he went for Young.

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Giggs mentioned he was going to give everyone a game; Carrick and Evra burnt out from being overplayed in the last few seasons, Fletcher is unlikely to return to the level before illness took hold, Vidic's form has been up and down, Ferdinand past it, Young not good enough - see Lennon at Spurs, and Nani's confidence is at an all time low - injury and seeing players like Young staying on whilst he gets the hook.

Jaffa Cake; Europe is overrated. :eek:

Liverpool's Everton, 4-4. Watched the rest of the FA Youth Cup when Liverpool went 3-0 up; Chelsea won it in the last minutes 7-6 on aggregate, deflection taking the ball beyond the Fulham keeper - the Cottagers having hit the post and fluffed the rebound at 6-6. Turned back to the Crystal Palace game to find the score 3-1, Rodgers screwed up.

Squads; Liverpool weren't in Europe, big difference.

Cheers,
OW
 
"Liverpool weren't in Europe, big difference."

Indeed, 10-12 games if I remember right.

Cheers to Jaffa and Hull, but as stupid as it sounds, I'm rather glad Hertha didn't make it. Would've been different if they'd played for CL qualification but ultimately missed. Wish CoxOrange Mainz all the best, Cox. They'll need it (assuming some important players leave at the same time).
 
Lord Blackadder said:
The last few matches have provided some important lessons for Rogers. He will need to learn from them if he wants his team to remain contenders and compete in the CL.

At the end of the day, Man City has a huge squad of more experienced players and has spent unbelievable amounts of money, making a mockery of FFP in the process. Liverpool have a small, inexperienced squad by comparison. The title wasn't even on the radar at the start of the season.

Champions league play is secured, mission accomplished.
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oscillatewildly said:
Giggs mentioned he was going to give everyone a game; Carrick and Evra burnt out from being overplayed in the last few seasons, Fletcher is unlikely to return to the level before illness took hold, Vidic's form has been up and down, Ferdinand past it, Young not good enough - see Lennon at Spurs, and Nani's confidence is at an all time low - injury and seeing players like Young staying on whilst he gets the hook.

Jaffa Cake; Europe is overrated. :eek:

Liverpool's Everton, 4-4. Watched the rest of the FA Youth Cup when Liverpool went 3-0 up; Chelsea won it in the last minutes 7-6 on aggregate, deflection taking the ball beyond the Fulham keeper - the Cottagers having hit the post and fluffed the rebound at 6-6. Turned back to the Crystal Palace game to find the score 3-1, Rodgers screwed up.

Squads; Liverpool weren't in Europe, big difference.

Cheers,
OW
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twietee said:
"Liverpool weren't in Europe, big difference."

Indeed, 10-12 games if I remember right.

Cheers to Jaffa and Hull, but as stupid as it sounds, I'm rather glad Hertha didn't make it. Would've been different if they'd played for CL qualification but ultimately missed. Wish CoxOrange Mainz all the best, Cox. They'll need it (assuming some important players leave at the same time).
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Football in the Europa League or the Champions League can be a two edged weapon. You can fill your clubs bank account, but it means extra games and if squad is small you run the chance of burn out. Another aspect which is often over looked for smaller teams, the danger is if you have a good run in either league, your star player is seen by the bigger teams, which means he could be poached.
 
Rodgers needs to bring in around 6 bodies this summer, AND they all have to be above average, AND they all have to hit the ground running.

If they want to have half a chance in the CL, FA Cup, League Cup, and of course the EPL.

Because every team in the top 7 will be gunning for a top 4 finish next season and every team in the lower half will also strengthen to avoid dealing with a relegation scrap. Especially those that have escaped by the skin of their teeth.

Bottom line, the league is set to become even more intense. Plus Europe's finest that have failed this year (Barca, Bayern, PSG, Dortmund etc) will be on a mission too.

You need a squad or you'll wilt away.

As for the FFP or any other UEFA farce, its pretty much a joke at this point;

-City squad will be trimmed by 4 players and be fined £50m which is like a fiver to the Sheikh.
-Barca transfer ban suspended pending a final decision. Meanwhile David Luiz already on his way. Agger probably to follow.
-PSG? lets not talk about that one.
 
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Looks like i was wrong about Sunderland in my predictions. Norwich look set for the drop instead.

EDIT: ...And City do their job and notch up 100 goals in the process. Goal difference now +13. But could still lose the trophy to LFC (its football after all). However, City only need a point...
 
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Liverpool have had a great season, despite the disappointment of "losing" a title nobody knew they'd be competing for. They need a handful of players and Rogers will need to learn from his mistakes this season. He and the squad have both shown the potential to rise to the next level. Will they be able to do it?

Financial Fiar Play - we all knew it was probably a joke, and the latest round of "punishments" prove it. Man City and PSG are laughing - their financial doping has essentially been tolerated with a mere slap on the wrist.
 
France first country to buy a female coach for a professional men's second league team.
The coach did train the national female teams of Qatar and Iran and boy children (not Teens). Knowing Qatar and Iran in female football, this is like saying a village coach should train FC Köln or Kaiserslautern in the second Bundesliga. I don't know, how good the french second league is, though.

She will coach number 14 of the second league and a season goal for next season was given out: get into 1st league. <- this is having balls ;)
 
the german DFB has announced their "extended player squad" for the world cup today... needless to say some surprises on the list

Goal: Neuer, Weidenfeller, Zieler
Defense: Boateng, Durm, Großkreutz, Höwedes, Hummels, Jansen, Lahm, Mertesacker, Mustafi, Schmelzer
Midfield/Attack: Lars Bender, Draxler, Götze, Goretzka, Hahn, Khedira, Klose, Kroos, Meyer, Müller, Özil, Podolski, Reus, Schürrle, Schweinsteiger, Volland, Ginter

according to Löw: "central criterias will be fitness and form with a few exceptions" for the selection of the final 23

quite a few young players haven't played a single game for the national squad yet... looks like some "regulars" could be in danger of not making it to the world cup after all since pretty much all of those new additions are playing excellent the last months
 
Seeing as how Fuzzy's reminded me on twitter this evening, I'll bring it up here again...

Jaffa Cake said:
I promise you this now - if we make Wembley I'm making one of those cardboard foil covered cups to take. That's how much I'm up for this.
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A large sheet of foamboard was purchased this week, along with several metres worth of black and amber ribbon. It's happening, people. :D
 
takao said:
the german DFB has announced their "extended player squad" for the world cup today... needless to say some surprises on the list

Goal: Neuer, Weidenfeller, Zieler
Defense: Boateng, Durm, Großkreutz, Höwedes, Hummels, Jansen, Lahm, Mertesacker, Mustafi, Schmelzer
Midfield/Attack: Lars Bender, Draxler, Götze, Goretzka, Hahn, Khedira, Klose, Kroos, Meyer, Müller, Özil, Podolski, Reus, Schürrle, Schweinsteiger, Volland, Ginter

according to Löw: "central criterias will be fitness and form with a few exceptions" for the selection of the final 23

quite a few young players haven't played a single game for the national squad yet... looks like some "regulars" could be in danger of not making it to the world cup after all since pretty much all of those new additions are playing excellent the last months
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I heard Löw say "no place is guaranteed and we will take no one with us, that is theoretically (when asked about regulars) fit", near the Chile match, but I am surprised how many new players are there, finally.

I heard press guessing that Durm was maybe nominated to put pressure on Schmelzer. Other articles guessed that this even applies to more players and Löw will not really take one of the new players with him. I doubt the latter, though.

Interesting, how Kruse has lost appeal in Gladbach and in the national team, since he was so much seen as a replacement for Klose.
 
Cox Orange said:
I heard Löw say "no place is guaranteed and we will take no one with us, that is theoretically (when asked about regulars) fit", near the Chile match, but I am surprised how many new players are there, finally.

I heard press guessing that Durm was maybe nominated to put pressure on Schmelzer. Other articles guessed that this even applies to more players and Löw will not really take one of the new players with him. I doubt the latter, though.
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i think Schmelzer & Durm can be the long term left backs the german squad needs

Jansen is pretty much confirmed to stay at home ... i can't imagine a defender of the worst defense of the Bundesliga going to the world cup. i guess his nomination was simply political to have at least 1 HSV player in the list. Adler and Westermann have been left home, and rightly so.

Cox Orange said:
Interesting, how Kruse has lost appeal in Gladbach and in the national team, since he was so much seen as a replacement for Klose.
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Kruse isn't quite the same since the winter break ... last summer he was tearing through defenses easily without effort. Currently he seems to be completely out of form/in a slump

Volland is the way better choice: he is incredibly consistent & better mental strength. And compared to Kruse he is a much more physical player when pressured by defenders.

in general it looks like the german squad is really filled with some speedy counter attacking players: Reus, Schürrle, Özil, Volland,Hahn, Müller, Götze, Draxler
better not play with high defensive line against them
 
I quite like his selection although Löw was almost forced to his luck.

I can see Jansen joining the final crew if Schmelzer isn't considered fully fit and / or Durm too inexperienced. Hope not though. Would play Großkreutz probably left back with Bender/Boateng right back. Merte and Hummels CB.

Hope Khedira is fully up to the task, don't think so. Don't want to see a CM with Schweini and Kroos. Don't want to see Schweini at all actually. :D
 
I wonder, if Löw will take Großkreutz with them. Though he is a real team player and has mentality, I could imagine Löw thinks he is not precise enough with passes.
 
Cox Orange said:
I wonder, if Löw will take Großkreutz with them. Though he is a real team player and has mentality, I could imagine Löw thinks he is not precise enough with passes.
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I don't rate Löw very high, but would say chances of Großkreutz going to Brauil are nearly 100%. Played an outstanding season, is in form and the most versatile player by far.
 
twietee said:
I don't rate Löw very high, but would say chances of Großkreutz going to Brauil are nearly 100%. Played an outstanding season, is in form and the most versatile player by far.
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gotta agree there .... Grosskreutz so far has played left & right winger, left,right &central midfielder,left & right back and even had to put on the gloves when both keepers were injured with no substitution left ;)
All within the last _3 years_

this season he pretty much played right back because of squad injuries so he is a great choice for covering Lahm. Also he has a big fighting spirit and mind boggling stamina

2010 Löw gambled on some young less internationally less known players and it payed off so i suspect we will see 2-3 surprises in the squad
for some it might be too early though

my guesses for elimination:
Jansen(HSV .. enough said)
Mustafi (never played with the others before)
Draxler(currently not in his best form... hasn't quite arrived in the national squad)
Hahn (many other fast paced players already available, but he is great form though)
Meyer (not enough experience for the central playmaker position at the world cup)
Ginter or Khedira ... if Khedira get's fit the Ginther stays at home
Goretzka or Höwedes ... one is very young but versatile ... the other is a ok CB backup
 
takao said:
...Grosskreutz so far has played left & right winger, left,right &central midfielder,left & right back and even had to put on the gloves when both keepers were injured with no substitution left ;)
All within the last _3 years_

this season he pretty much played right back because of squad injuries so he is a great choice for covering Lahm. Also he has a big fighting spirit and mind boggling stamina
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I agree, totally and I know all that (even saw the Hoffenheim match, where he was in the box) and I like him very much! But, what I meant is, that he has a much simpler technique compared to others (maybe Boateng is at the same level of technique). I know, not everyone can be an artist, who can lift his body with his hand, swing his ears, turn around the own axis, and treat the ball with a feather... but with his technique he is one of those in the squad, that I guess has a 25% bigger chance of passing a ball where no one can do something with it or when he gets an assist and has to make the goal on his own, he is more likely to shoot besides the box than others.
I know that this comparing him by a very high standard.


side note: Mainz has a starter place for the Europe League. I fear this will be like trying to control a car driving with a gas pedal fixed to the floor.
Also, it seems Tuchel wants to quit (even not wants to coach another team).
 
So, it has been confirmed. Mainz's coach Thomas Tuchel quits fro personal reasons. This is a pitty given the fact, that they will have to start the euroleague with a new coach. But I hope they will find together in the Bundesliga before they have the first euroleague match.

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On WC 2014.

the supermarket Lidl in Germany has a betting gamble. You have to tip who will make it to the WC for the German's men team.

On top you get 500,-EUR for every goal (out of ten trys) you shoot in a meet and great with the goalkeeper.
But you don't meet Neuer, nor Weidenfeller, nor Zieler - you meet Nadine Angerer, women's national team keeper (world footballer).

While that will still be interesting to shoot penalties against her. It is a bit strange. Well, but Lidl is a discounter (do you have that word in English?) and of course Angerer is cheaper. :D
 
Cox Orange said:
So, it has been confirmed. Mainz's coach Thomas Tuchel quits fro personal reasons. This is a pitty given the fact, that they will have to start the euroleague with a new coach. But I hope they will find together in the Bundesliga before they have the first euroleague match.
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since some sources point out that this season 2 deals (going to bayer leverkusen/schalke) failed because Mainz didn't let him go i think there is some issue with the club leadership now ... he really wants to go move to a bigger club for CL games
 
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