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The 2015-2016 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
- Start date
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Yeah definitely looks like it will be only City who will move to the next round from the PL. That's bad for PL as it affects the coefficients of PL. It is entirely likely that we will see a 'race to the top3' to make the CL cut!
The Itailian sides also have difficult ties in both the UCL and EL.
I don't see them overtaking the English sides this season.
True, definitely not this season, but if the same trend continues, then I think in a few years (not sure, just a random timeline) we may very well be looking at only 3 English teams in the CL.
Man City have no excuses this time. Nor, I suppose, does Man Utd in the Europa League - Midtjylland is not a particularly tough opponent.
Nobody will criticize Arsenal for going down to Barca, as long as it's not a humiliating blowout.
I confess I know little of FC Augsburg - twietee, what's your impression of them?
Nobody will criticize Arsenal for going down to Barca, as long as it's not a humiliating blowout.
I confess I know little of FC Augsburg - twietee, what's your impression of them?
I remember reading an article about Midtjylland a few months ago: they are trying an "Moneyball" like approach of systematic statistical analysis of players and throw a huge amount of effort in training standard situations(free kicks corners). Watch out for those situations.
last year they were quite good, and proved good mental qualities to come back from being 1-2 goals behind.
Their squad is quite balanced but lack obviously big star players compared to the big squads
The stand out player is currently Raul Bobadilla, short but very energetic player who can be a constant threat for a defense. He always pushes towards the goal, is difficult to tackle, cuts inside and likes to go for long distance shots, just like Robben the player which usually gets fouled inside the penalty box.
They also have some more experience midfielders like Piotr Trochowski (former german national squad player: euro 2008, world cup 2010 squad... great free kicker but more kind of a james milner player) or Halil Altintop(Hamit Altintop's brother, not quite as good though, but more dangerous in the box) and as a backup keeper 38 year old Alexander Manninger which some Arsenal fans might remember
After today's game, I want to ask:
Do you genuinely think Leicester can win the title? Do you think Chelsea might get relegated? Why or why not?
Do you genuinely think Leicester can win the title? Do you think Chelsea might get relegated? Why or why not?
I remember reading an article about Midtjylland a few months ago: they are trying an "Moneyball" like approach of systematic statistical analysis of players and throw a huge amount of effort in training standard situations(free kicks corners). Watch out for those situations.
last year they were quite good, and proved good mental qualities to come back from being 1-2 goals behind.
Their squad is quite balanced but lack obviously big star players compared to the big squads
The stand out player is currently Raul Bobadilla, short but very energetic player who can be a constant threat for a defense. He always pushes towards the goal, is difficult to tackle, cuts inside and likes to go for long distance shots, just like Robben the player which usually gets fouled inside the penalty box.
They also have some more experience midfielders like Piotr Trochowski (former german national squad player: euro 2008, world cup 2010 squad... great free kicker but more kind of a james milner player) or Halil Altintop(Hamit Altintop's brother, not quite as good though, but more dangerous in the box) and as a backup keeper 38 year old Alexander Manninger which some Arsenal fans might remember
As far as their overall game goes, they don't play particularly fair, on Sunday one of their players played the ball with his hands to get it to his teammate, resulting in the winning goal in OT. The week before their 2nd goalie Hitz manipulated the penalty area before a penalty was taken. And those are just two instances of unfair play. Constant complaining from the team or the coach during/after the game are also part of their "strategy". Definitely a club the Bundesliga could do without, if it were up to me
No & no
I'd like Leicester to win the title, what neutral wouldn't want that fairytale? I just think as the season grinds on, the lack of depth in the squad might start to tell, and if Vardy gets injured...
As for Chelsea, there's an article on the BBC today which I haven't read talking about whether Chelsea are too good to go down. You'd certainly think so based on the fact they're the current reigning champions and it's not as if they've done a Southampton and sold all their best players, so why so poor? You have to lay that on the manager surely? Although clearly Mourinho doesn't think so:
Or, it could be that you're an egotistical ****** and your attitude is having a serious negative impact on your players and staff...
However, due to the amount of spending he can do in January, I expect he'll buy a few players and that'll stave off Championship football. Well, either that or before the January transfer window opens, Abramovich will decide enough is enough
Stable - but bottom tier. They have to avoid relegation at all cost so EL is nothing but a bonus to them. But they are somewhat solid as a team so you'll need a focused approach. That said, I don't think Liverpool should have too much difficulties if they play concentrated.
Arsenal - Barca : loving it.
On the Arsenal forum I inhabit, the consensus appears to be 1) no-one can remember another occasion on which they've been happy to be knocked off the top of the league, and 2) there's no downside to drawing Barcelona.
The first one clearly reflects upon the perceived title challenge of Leicester, and for them to still be in with a decent shout with three or four games to go will require them to remain more-or-less injury free for the entire season. A Leicester title would be more of a shock than Forest's in 1978, given the subsequent rise in financial disparity between clubs. Plus it's always fun to see Mourinho lose.
The second one is based on the premise that an Arsenal win is hugely unlikely and that we therefore have nothing to lose. Personally I'm not at all in agreement with this: there's one huge downside, which is the very real possibility of being hammered both home and away. Wenger inherited mental resilience in the form of the Graham back five, and has fortunate enough to be able to buy resilience early in his tenure - Vieira, Ljungberg, Petit et al - but I don't think he's ever been able to develop that quality in players or in the team as a whole. If Arsenal ship seven or eight goals over the course of the Barcelona tie then the wheels will come off our season. Yet again.
The first one clearly reflects upon the perceived title challenge of Leicester, and for them to still be in with a decent shout with three or four games to go will require them to remain more-or-less injury free for the entire season. A Leicester title would be more of a shock than Forest's in 1978, given the subsequent rise in financial disparity between clubs. Plus it's always fun to see Mourinho lose.
The second one is based on the premise that an Arsenal win is hugely unlikely and that we therefore have nothing to lose. Personally I'm not at all in agreement with this: there's one huge downside, which is the very real possibility of being hammered both home and away. Wenger inherited mental resilience in the form of the Graham back five, and has fortunate enough to be able to buy resilience early in his tenure - Vieira, Ljungberg, Petit et al - but I don't think he's ever been able to develop that quality in players or in the team as a whole. If Arsenal ship seven or eight goals over the course of the Barcelona tie then the wheels will come off our season. Yet again.
Augsberg sound like a German version of Stoke/West Brom...I hope Liverpool don't pick up any big injuries in that match.
Leicester probably won't win the title. Too many things can go wrong and stop them. But it is possible - especially if the traditional big teams continue to play well below the standard their squad value implies.
If Leicester pulled it off, it would be the greatest Premier League campaign ever. More exciting, in my book, than even the invincibles season for Arsenal. Even a top four finish would be a huge event. Not the most exciting football, mind you, but the most exciting narrative.
Leicester probably won't win the title. Too many things can go wrong and stop them. But it is possible - especially if the traditional big teams continue to play well below the standard their squad value implies.
If Leicester pulled it off, it would be the greatest Premier League campaign ever. More exciting, in my book, than even the invincibles season for Arsenal. Even a top four finish would be a huge event. Not the most exciting football, mind you, but the most exciting narrative.
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Remember when Blackburn won the Premier League? They did throw a lot of money at it as I recall, and it was obviously not sustainable. But still: Blackburn, of all clubs.
At this point I do hope Leicester can stay in the top 4. That would be quite an achievement. A key injury or two would really devastate them, though.
I bet you would - Leicester in almost certainly means Liverpool/Spurs out.
You can't count Palace, West Ham or even Watford out for a top four sport at the moment. Blackburn spent a lot of money - Leicester not so much, so I think them winning the league would trump Blackburn's title. I think squad depth is going to become a major factor from here on out, as it always does. Liverpool, despite their injury issues, are still a reasonably deep team - so I expect them to gain a few places before May. Leicester simply cannot afford to loose Mahrez or Vardy.
Man Utd will be fine as long as they continue to be the league's best defense. LVG's tactics are boring but given the uncertain nature of this league table you don't have to be spectacular to finish top four. Too many draws from Man Utd though - if any of the clubs below them go on a run they could be caught up quickly. Only 11 points separate Leicester and Liverpool, so it's still reasonably close.
Man City should be running away with this one but their squad is aging at a bad time. Arsenal should be taking advantage but they aren't quite there yet.
How many times have we said that over the past number of seasons?
In all honesty, this should be the season they ARE there, but injuries, and dropped points to West Brom and Norwich have cost them dear
Gotta be honest here: as an innocent bystander I wish Arsenal would pull it off. And Leicester being placed second.
Disappointed; I had hoped Abramovic would stick with Mou longer because they'd keep playing like crap. Now they might actually improve, though a top four finish is all but impossible.
True, but they've been close on a number of occasions. They clearly have a good enough team to win the title.
How many times have we said that over the past number of seasons?
In all honesty, this should be the season they ARE there, but injuries, and dropped points to West Brom and Norwich have cost them dear
True, but they've been close on a number of occasions. They clearly have a good enough team to win the title.