Best defender injured
Best holding midfielder injured
Best two forwards injured
We don't have quality in depth, so I'm struggling to see where the quality to win upcoming games will come from.
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The 2015-2016 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
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Best defender injured
Best holding midfielder injured
Best two forwards injured
We don't have quality in depth, so I'm struggling to see where the quality to win upcoming games will come from.
Man City are heavily dependent on Aguero, Silva, Hart, and (especially) Kompany - and all of them have been injured at some point recently. Toure has been sulky and less than convincing of late as well. They are still the favorites, but just barely.
Man Utd have a few significant defensive injuries and Martial has gone off the boil a bit, while Rooney and Depay continue to be off-form. They continue to be very hard to beat, but are also drawing too many matches. Every successive draw continues to erode the supporters' tolerance for LVG's playing style.
Chelsea are surely out of the top four picture now, and for all their heroics I can't see Leicester staying up there come May. Liverpool and Spurs are in good form at the moment but have lots of work to do to make a convincing case for a top four finish.
So despite the injuries, I don't see Arsenal's position as being as terrible as some say. None of their rivals are head and shoulders better off than they are.
Each team's fortunes in Europe will be a factor as well. If Arsenal drop out of Europe entirely, that could be worth a place in the league table...
Man Utd have a few significant defensive injuries and Martial has gone off the boil a bit, while Rooney and Depay continue to be off-form. They continue to be very hard to beat, but are also drawing too many matches. Every successive draw continues to erode the supporters' tolerance for LVG's playing style.
Chelsea are surely out of the top four picture now, and for all their heroics I can't see Leicester staying up there come May. Liverpool and Spurs are in good form at the moment but have lots of work to do to make a convincing case for a top four finish.
So despite the injuries, I don't see Arsenal's position as being as terrible as some say. None of their rivals are head and shoulders better off than they are.
Each team's fortunes in Europe will be a factor as well. If Arsenal drop out of Europe entirely, that could be worth a place in the league table...
New York 1-0 Columbus (Columbus win 2-1 on aggregate)
Columbus are going to the final!!!!!
...which will be hosted in Columbus (due to Columbus having a better record than Portland, our opponents in the final!
It was a real nailbiter (a NY equalizer coming off the post in the dying moments), but holding NY to just one goal over 200 minutes of play was a big achievement, given NY's scoring record. Greg Berhalter won the tactics battle: coming out strong in the first half and trying to seal it, but when that failed to yield a goal sitting back and playing long balls behind the NY press.
Can't wait for next Sunday.
Columbus are going to the final!!!!!
...which will be hosted in Columbus (due to Columbus having a better record than Portland, our opponents in the final!
It was a real nailbiter (a NY equalizer coming off the post in the dying moments), but holding NY to just one goal over 200 minutes of play was a big achievement, given NY's scoring record. Greg Berhalter won the tactics battle: coming out strong in the first half and trying to seal it, but when that failed to yield a goal sitting back and playing long balls behind the NY press.
Can't wait for next Sunday.
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I don't know...Loosing 2-1 to West Brom and a 1-1 draw with Norwich seems like 5 points lost.
With Walcott in a good run of form before being injured, as well as the other significant losses, you'd have expected Arsenal to have picked up maximum points from both those games. That would have put them 3 points clear.
I know Arsenal usually implode, but they may have a valid excuse this time
5 points lost is about right for a normal season - this season is far from that. Unless someone (City?) can get their act together and go on a run, I don't think anyone can be ruled out of a top 4 spot among the usual suspects (perhaps Chelsea could be ruled out)
The problem with Arsenal is injuries - I don't know if Alexis is out for any length of time but he will be missed. Wonder how close to recover players like Welbeck and Walcott are - I don't even remember watching them play this season (ok, slight bit of exaggeration here). Their squad depth (its lack thereof) will hurt Arsenal and we all know how stubborn Wenger is when it comes to buying players in January.
If United can get someone useful upfront (unlikely) and get the midfielders back (Carrick has pretty much lost his legs) and drop Rooney (seriously, he's useless these days) then they might be able to challenge City (who themselves are only now getting Silva back) - else it's City's title to lose.
The problem with Arsenal is injuries - I don't know if Alexis is out for any length of time but he will be missed. Wonder how close to recover players like Welbeck and Walcott are - I don't even remember watching them play this season (ok, slight bit of exaggeration here). Their squad depth (its lack thereof) will hurt Arsenal and we all know how stubborn Wenger is when it comes to buying players in January.
If United can get someone useful upfront (unlikely) and get the midfielders back (Carrick has pretty much lost his legs) and drop Rooney (seriously, he's useless these days) then they might be able to challenge City (who themselves are only now getting Silva back) - else it's City's title to lose.
The most jarring thing about Rooney is how fantastically expensive he is. Man Utd have massive resources, but I have to wonder if the cost/benefit analysis is beginning to tilt against Rooney this season. With that being said, I can't see them selling him in the foreseeable future.
Phil apparently has not yet earned the necessary coaching qualifications to manage a team in Spain, but Gary has. This should be well worth watching, especially since Valencia still has a chance to advance to the knockout stage of the CL.
Sad news for Venezuela, but they're never really much of a threat to qualify for the World Cup out of CONMEBOL. They're already rock bottom of the table with 0 points out of their first 4 matches.
Sad news for Venezuela, but they're never really much of a threat to qualify for the World Cup out of CONMEBOL. They're already rock bottom of the table with 0 points out of their first 4 matches.
Given the widespread corruption in football administration worldwide, I am inclined to believe the Venezuelan players more than the suits. I hope, if that is the case, the player strike brings about some changes.
I feel like Man Utd fans have talked up Gary Neville and Giggsy as potential top managerial material for some time now. It will be interesting to see what happens when the rubber hits the road. I have to give Gary Neville credit for going to Spain (even if it's a largely opportunistic gig), since few English manager seem interested in managing outside their own country.
I feel like Man Utd fans have talked up Gary Neville and Giggsy as potential top managerial material for some time now. It will be interesting to see what happens when the rubber hits the road. I have to give Gary Neville credit for going to Spain (even if it's a largely opportunistic gig), since few English manager seem interested in managing outside their own country.
Klopp has only lost one match, and the football is exciting - with big results against Chelsea and Man City, and now this romp against Southampton. But the fans, media and suits are impatient and have short memories. Liverpool is still in the honeymoon period with Klopp, but make no mistake, this euphoria is still based on results first and foremost.
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Oh, I'm excited (but more excited about Columbus this weekend!!). You can tell that Klopp really throws himself into his work and his attitude has spread to the entire squad. They are running their legs off for him right now. Can he sustain it long term (as in years)? I guess that is a less important question than whether he can achieve a top four finish and grab a cup or the Europa League.
Speaking of the Europa league, it looks like there will be some big teams entering the competition at the close of the Champions League Group Stage.
Speaking of the Europa league, it looks like there will be some big teams entering the competition at the close of the Champions League Group Stage.
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