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The 2015-2016 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Shocking events. Just hope that everyone around Paris is well. It is no coincidence that such attacks took place during a major sporting event.
I've been traveling and haven't had the opportunity to post on the events in Paris; in truth, anything I could say would be totally inadequate apart from expressing wholehearted solidarity with all of the families and loved ones of the victims, and with the French people. Football is an escape from reality, but we are reminded all too often that it is only a temporary and fragile escape. With that being said, the best course of action is to get on with our lives and show we are not going to stop doing the things we enjoy in the face of these types of threats. So, on to football.
The USA v St. Vincent and the Grenadines match told us nothing about anything, except that the USA still starts slowly sometimes and is susceptible to early goals (albeit with an experimental squad). This was a chance to get some players cap tied and get a win under our belts. We're at a low point after our failures in the Gold Cup and playoff and need to rebuild confidence.
Looking forward to seeing whether the Irish can get the job done against Bosnia - who are, in my opinion, a superior opponent. But Ireland got a good away result and their future is in their hands. A win or a 0-0 will see them through. Bosnia have Dzeko though, so away goals could play a big role in the outcome.
EDIT: Huge 2-0 win for the Irish, with Walters getting both goals. It's been an up-and-down campaign for them but in the end they came up big in a couple important matches and are deservedly through.
The story got lost in the horrible recent events in Paris, but the Benzema scandal could turn out to be a very big deal if he gets convicted.
The USA v St. Vincent and the Grenadines match told us nothing about anything, except that the USA still starts slowly sometimes and is susceptible to early goals (albeit with an experimental squad). This was a chance to get some players cap tied and get a win under our belts. We're at a low point after our failures in the Gold Cup and playoff and need to rebuild confidence.
Looking forward to seeing whether the Irish can get the job done against Bosnia - who are, in my opinion, a superior opponent. But Ireland got a good away result and their future is in their hands. A win or a 0-0 will see them through. Bosnia have Dzeko though, so away goals could play a big role in the outcome.
EDIT: Huge 2-0 win for the Irish, with Walters getting both goals. It's been an up-and-down campaign for them but in the end they came up big in a couple important matches and are deservedly through.
The story got lost in the horrible recent events in Paris, but the Benzema scandal could turn out to be a very big deal if he gets convicted.
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What players do with their money - chemical replacing oil
Arsenal's Flamini invested in a company that researches a chemical that can replace oil and they made a major breakthough, they estimate the finding a value of 20Bil. EUR. Quite off-topic, but interesting to see what the players are doing with their money.
He said he had always been interested in environmental issues and so sat together with a friend and one night after some searching found a study which back then seemed merely like a fantasy and invested into it.
German source: http://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/i...rofi-macht-20-Milliarden-Euro-Entdeckung.html
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The rise to power of Bayern München in women's football (and media coverage)
I told you all at the end of last season, that Bayern's women for the first time after 35 years had won the 1st league (only one point ahead of the second club in the ranking). In the meantime Bayern has massively invested. Shortly after the WC they beat Lion and PSG (both prior CL finalists) with half a B-squad in a four club tournament in Zurich.
In the league so far they have won every match! being 7 points ahead of the second team. There is a field of some clubs close to each other (behind them) and a third small field of loosers. But it is noteworthy that the gaps between points of different clubs are not huge anymore, so that might be a good sign re development of women's football. What I also noticed is, players seem to debate more with the referee now and fall much more instead of just get up again quickly, to try to get the ball back, when faouled. Further degree of professionalisation? Matches have so far been boring (from what I saw).
The FC Bayern women have even an own commercial "Bayern -Die Frauen!" ("Bayern - THE women!"), with sponsor Allianz that is shown on Sport1. Sport1, who was never interested in women's football did buy the rights for the DFB cup with Bayern. (Usually the public television had the finale as special interest service). So sport1 was willing to give money for a minor event.
Also the main sports show on public television brought a summary of the 1/8th final (! 1/8th final) of the Women's DFB-cup Bayern vs Frankfurt, where Bayern won. Usually they would follow the cup and report about it when two teams have reached the last final. Times they are a changing... at least for Bayern.
There is at least someone who has stopped Bayern. FC Twente beat Bayern in CL via away rule, 2-3 weeks ago.
Also Bremen is new to the 1st women league and has the most expensive tickets, but is on 1 before the last rank. (Last is currently Kölln, also newcomer).
Arsenal's Flamini invested in a company that researches a chemical that can replace oil and they made a major breakthough, they estimate the finding a value of 20Bil. EUR. Quite off-topic, but interesting to see what the players are doing with their money.
He said he had always been interested in environmental issues and so sat together with a friend and one night after some searching found a study which back then seemed merely like a fantasy and invested into it.German source: http://www.welt.de/sport/fussball/i...rofi-macht-20-Milliarden-Euro-Entdeckung.html
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The rise to power of Bayern München in women's football (and media coverage)
I told you all at the end of last season, that Bayern's women for the first time after 35 years had won the 1st league (only one point ahead of the second club in the ranking). In the meantime Bayern has massively invested. Shortly after the WC they beat Lion and PSG (both prior CL finalists) with half a B-squad in a four club tournament in Zurich.
In the league so far they have won every match! being 7 points ahead of the second team. There is a field of some clubs close to each other (behind them) and a third small field of loosers. But it is noteworthy that the gaps between points of different clubs are not huge anymore, so that might be a good sign re development of women's football. What I also noticed is, players seem to debate more with the referee now and fall much more instead of just get up again quickly, to try to get the ball back, when faouled. Further degree of professionalisation? Matches have so far been boring (from what I saw).
The FC Bayern women have even an own commercial "Bayern -Die Frauen!" ("Bayern - THE women!"), with sponsor Allianz that is shown on Sport1. Sport1, who was never interested in women's football did buy the rights for the DFB cup with Bayern. (Usually the public television had the finale as special interest service). So sport1 was willing to give money for a minor event.
Also the main sports show on public television brought a summary of the 1/8th final (! 1/8th final) of the Women's DFB-cup Bayern vs Frankfurt, where Bayern won. Usually they would follow the cup and report about it when two teams have reached the last final. Times they are a changing... at least for Bayern.
There is at least someone who has stopped Bayern. FC Twente beat Bayern in CL via away rule, 2-3 weeks ago.
Also Bremen is new to the 1st women league and has the most expensive tickets, but is on 1 before the last rank. (Last is currently Kölln, also newcomer).
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Real Madrid's defense "folded like an ironing table" in an exciting 4:0 Clasico. Both keepers did amazing work, but Bravo was just on today.
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Leicester top of the table! Vardy with ten in a row!
Man Utd mounting a title challenge purely on the basis of an impenetrable defense, and the kind of late-game luck I suppose we've all come to expect from them over the last 25 years. They almost never concede more than one, and usually score one themselves. NOT fun or exciting, but quite effective. Grumbles from the stands receding??? We still hear the "attack attact etc" cries, but they are winning games.
Man City were a mess for the first half hour - Kompany is simply the key to Man City's fortunes. Somewhat reminiscent of Arsenal's spanking of Man Utd this season. Liverpool are still missing pieces, and the defending remains a work in progress, but this was good stuff from Klopp's men. More please.
Poor Cazorla. Unlike Terry, I actually feel for him.
Man Utd mounting a title challenge purely on the basis of an impenetrable defense, and the kind of late-game luck I suppose we've all come to expect from them over the last 25 years. They almost never concede more than one, and usually score one themselves. NOT fun or exciting, but quite effective. Grumbles from the stands receding??? We still hear the "attack attact etc" cries, but they are winning games.
Man City were a mess for the first half hour - Kompany is simply the key to Man City's fortunes. Somewhat reminiscent of Arsenal's spanking of Man Utd this season. Liverpool are still missing pieces, and the defending remains a work in progress, but this was good stuff from Klopp's men. More please.
Poor Cazorla. Unlike Terry, I actually feel for him.
Congrats to @Lord Blackadder s Crew for a huge win tonight! NYRB were kept on the back foot for the whole game.
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Columbus 2-0 New York (Eastern Conference Finals, Leg 1)
Thanks balamw! A big, big night out for Columbus with a convincing 1st leg win at home and, crucially, a clean sheet. Justin Meram scored the opener just 9 seconds into the game, and Kamara's tap-in courtesy of Mabwati's good work put Columbus into the driver's seat for the second leg in New Jersey.
Columbus have had a decent season, but they've really come alive in the playoffs. A win, draw or even a 1-goal loss in the away leg will now see Columbus through to the MLS Cup Final.
Thanks balamw! A big, big night out for Columbus with a convincing 1st leg win at home and, crucially, a clean sheet. Justin Meram scored the opener just 9 seconds into the game, and Kamara's tap-in courtesy of Mabwati's good work put Columbus into the driver's seat for the second leg in New Jersey.
Columbus have had a decent season, but they've really come alive in the playoffs. A win, draw or even a 1-goal loss in the away leg will now see Columbus through to the MLS Cup Final.
Yes! Awesome game! Was watching it in Barcelona in a small shop and had a really good time!
Bravo was superb! And that Iniesta goal... <3
Btw, I had the honour of being invited to a small ceremony last Friday where Johan Cruyff was part of as well. Think it was his very first public event after announcing having lung cancer (beat that b****!) some months ago. What a great dude!
Video has poor qualitiy - have yet to find that 4k feature of my 6s it seems..
Video has poor qualitiy - have yet to find that 4k feature of my 6s it seems..
Finally had a chance to watch a bit of El Clasico. Barca simply blew Madrid away.
I was struck by how much Real does NOT look like a Rafa Benitez team. In fact they look like the opposite of a Benitez team - heavily attack oriented but disorganized, lazy, schizophrenic, unable to defend, unbalanced with a pile of big-dollar stars and with no real structure to the squad. It could not be more obvious that Benitez put out a squad composed of the players Florentino Perez and the fans want to see rather than what he thinks would be the best squad to win the game. He'll take the fall for this, but in truth the blame for this loss lies elsewhere.
Ronaldo looks to be in a massive sulk. And for the fist time in what seems like forever, Barca got along in a big game just fine without Messi. Suarez and Neymar have really found a groove.
Breaking News: Platini and Blatter facing life bans from football...they still deserve jail time as far as I'm concerned, but this is a step in the right direction. These guys have got to go. The sooner the better.
I was struck by how much Real does NOT look like a Rafa Benitez team. In fact they look like the opposite of a Benitez team - heavily attack oriented but disorganized, lazy, schizophrenic, unable to defend, unbalanced with a pile of big-dollar stars and with no real structure to the squad. It could not be more obvious that Benitez put out a squad composed of the players Florentino Perez and the fans want to see rather than what he thinks would be the best squad to win the game. He'll take the fall for this, but in truth the blame for this loss lies elsewhere.
Ronaldo looks to be in a massive sulk. And for the fist time in what seems like forever, Barca got along in a big game just fine without Messi. Suarez and Neymar have really found a groove.
Breaking News: Platini and Blatter facing life bans from football...they still deserve jail time as far as I'm concerned, but this is a step in the right direction. These guys have got to go. The sooner the better.
It will all be for nought if they don't beat Olympiacos by the required margin. In fact, this win could make things worse, because if Arsenal finish third rather than fourth in the group they will be in the Europa League - and nobody wants that (unless you win it).