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The 2015-2016 Football Thread

The old defensive woes and bad finishing cost Liverpool three points from a game they should have won. I have zero confidence that Benteke can score a goal from open play - a characteristic I think the big man and I both share.

Skrtel's introduction may have upset the balance at the back a bit. Despite the closeness in points I still don't feel that fourth place is a realistic goal so I'm annoyed more about the sloppy performance than the result. Neither Liverpool nor Southampton are going anywhere in the league this season.

At least the Tyne-Wear derby went exactly the way I'd hoped.
 
Lord Blackadder said:
The old defensive woes and bad finishing cost Liverpool three points from a game they should have won. I have zero confidence that Benteke can score a goal from open play - a characteristic I think the big man and I both share.

Skrtel's introduction may have upset the balance at the back a bit. Despite the closeness in points I still don't feel that fourth place is a realistic goal so I'm annoyed more about the sloppy performance than the result. Neither Liverpool nor Southampton are going anywhere in the league this season.

At least the Tyne-Wear derby went exactly the way I'd hoped.
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Yes, I was about to remark that you managed to obtain your desired outcome in the Tyne-and-Wear derby. Both teams still mired, rooted to the bottom of the table. Blood sport, but a deserved outcome, too.

Now, speaking personally, for a whole variety of reasons, I would rather like to see a draw occur in Manchester, as well.
 
Next season will be very interesting in England. Chelsea, United, City will spend to rebound. Arsenal have a decision to make: do they ever want to win the leagues again? New champions Spurs will also spend.
 
Rashford saves the day yet again. Man City just don't care.

I really hope West Ham can grab 4th position. That way we'll see an intense 4-way battle next season as Pep and Mou reprise their bitter personal feud from Spain, while Klopp tries to muscle Liverpool into the Champions League and Abramovich and Conte splurge on another gaggle of expensive mercenaries.

If we are lucky we may see around six reasonably evenly-matched teams struggling for the top four. And who knows? Maybe Spurs, Leicester and West Ham will manage to repeat some of this season's heroics.
 
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617aircav said:
Next season will be very interesting in England. Chelsea, United, City will spend to rebound. Arsenal have a decision to make: do they ever want to win the leagues again? New champions Spurs will also spend.
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Problem is there's a scarcity in the market for top talent. And most teams in the EPL have money now. So having money doesn't mean you'll get good players. Unless you play your cards like Leicester have done.

I also don't see Spurs winning the league like people seem to think. They have the tougher run of fixtures in the business end of the season where a lot of teams are playing for Europe or pride or to avoid relegation.

Lastly, Wenger isn't going anywhere yet. The board won't fire him because he makes them money and the man is stubborn . Fans can moan all they want but they should prepare for reality.

PS- Leicester will be a one-season wonder. Their squad will likely be gutted and/or teams will know how to play them from early on next season.

Still want them to win the league though
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
Mourinho has reportedly signed a pre-contract agreement to be the next Man Utd Manager.

In just a few short years the club have gone from stability under Ferguson to rushing into the arms of Mourinho - a man who will bring trophies but also a great deal of turmoil and he won't hang around too long either.
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I hope it is not true! Glad we won today, the young man Marcus Rashford is looking goodl
 
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Alphazoid said:
Problem is there's a scarcity in the market for top talent. And most teams in the EPL have money now. So having money doesn't mean you'll get good players. Unless you play your cards like Leicester have done.
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This is something I've been pondering lately. The number of uber-rich clubs in Europe has probably doubled in the last 10 years - but the global footballing talent pool has remained stable. More clubs are competing for the same group of elite players. In the short term, it probably means that wealthy clubs will pay increasingly more ridiculous sums of money for prospects, good-but-not-great players coming off a career year, and fading has-been stars (Falcao and Pato).

Maybe in the (very) long term the growth of football in places like the United States, China and India will deepen the talent pool of elite players. But for now it's going to become increasingly difficult to assemble a team of galacticos.

Further down the table, it means that the price of a solid, average meat-and-potatoes Premier-League-quality squad player is also going to go up substantially.
 
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Alphazoid said:
Neymar is a kid. His dad is likely the real culprit.
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Barcelona is also a guilty party - Neymar's transfer has always been surrounded by a shroud of secrecy and misinformation. How much money was actually paid for him? And to whom? It's all very dodgy and stinks of greed and mismanagement.

Neymar himself shares some of the blame, but he is, as you say, a kid and is obviously surrounded by people who hold a strong influence over him.
 
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Just read about it. Love this man and really glad I could meet him last autumn in Barcelona - where he was as sharp and witty as usual. Extremely dedicated man who will be sorely missed. I hope his JC Foundation will flourish even further - they make a difference for a lot of people!
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
Johan Cruyf has died of lung cancer aged 68.

One of the all-time great footballers - a world-class talent in his day, sometimes controversial and outspoken but also innovative, dedicated, and involved in the game to the very end of his life.
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twietee said:
Just read about it. Love this man and really glad I could meet him last autumn in Barcelona - where he was as sharp and witty as usual. Extremely dedicated man who will be sorely missed. I hope his JC Foundation will flourish even further - they make a difference for a lot of people!
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I have just been reading about this, and read it with real regret.

Wow - @twietee, how wonderful that you could meet with Johan Cruyff. What an honour and privilege, and lovely memory to have.

There are not many whom I would class as a genuine legend - this is an over-used word in the footballing vocabulary of superlatives, but I would class him as a genuine footballing legend, - both as player and as coach, a fearless, ferociously intelligent, articulate imaginative man, and what a superb role model.

Elsewhere, Adam Johnson has been sentenced to a richly deserved six year prison sentence. The judge was scathing in his summing up.

Two footballing stories which bookend the day, and should provide some food for thought.
 
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Horrible, horrible loss for USA against Guatemala. I have been a big Klinsmann fan but if he fails to qualify for the WC he's toast. The rematch next week in Columbus could prove decisive.

On the hand, England is swelled with pride after a fairly spectacular comeback win against the world cup-winning Germans. Is this merely another false dawn for an over-hyped England squad that will fail when the friendlies become real tournament matches, or are we seeing the first glimmer of a real contender?
 
Lord Blackadder said:
Is this merely another false dawn for an over-hyped England squad that will fail when the friendlies become real tournament matches, or are we seeing the first glimmer of a real contender?
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The former, obviously. If we win our group, which we should do, we should prove too good for whoever finishes third in Group D (realistically any one of Czech Rep, Croatia, and Turkey). But beyond that we're up against big boys and the only possible outcomes are a) tame defeat over ninety minutes and b) playing like gods and losing on penalties.

Three beautifully taken goals tonight, though.
 
Lord Blackadder said:
...

On the hand, England is swelled with pride after a fairly spectacular comeback win against the world cup-winning Germans. Is this merely another false dawn for an over-hyped England squad that will fail when the friendlies become real tournament matches, or are we seeing the first glimmer of a real contender?
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The defence was rubbish and Lallana didn't do Clyne any favours; like Lamela/Gerrard when played wide - can't resist the centre.

Looked like England were okay re keepers, then performances dropped, and now injury is having a go. Maybe Roy will solve the Rooney question by playing him in goal.

Cheers,
OW
 
oscillatewildly said:
The defence was rubbish and Lallana didn't do Clyne any favours; like Lamela/Gerrard when played wide - can't resist the centre.
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Clyne had a great performance, he has been improving over the course of the season (not that he wasn't decent for Southampton to begin with). Lallana can hold the ball up pretty well and pick a pass, but he also has a penchant for meandering dribbles that leave him out of position in the event of a turnover.

Gary Cahill and Smalling looked a little hesitant in the middle. Rose is showing huge potential.

oscillatewildly said:
Looked like England were okay re keepers, then performances dropped, and now injury is having a go. Maybe Roy will solve the Rooney question by playing him in goal.
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I'm no master tactician, but this England side looks as good as any I've seen in years and I don't see where Rooney would fit in it without upsetting the apple cart. Wayne isn't suited to a pressing system. He should certainly be in the squad, and Roy may go on endlessly about how he is captain, but does anyone think at this point that he should be a starter? With Kane and Vardy, England have two younger and more energetic strikers who can run at defenders (at least Kane can) and finish well, supported ably by Dele Alli. Not to mention that Rashford is showing great potential and Sturridge, on the rare occasion that he is fit, is capable of world-class forward play.

Rooney built his reputation partially by running at defenders himself, but he no longer has that turn of pace.
 
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