The 2015-2016 Football Thread

[Lord Blackadder]

So it was Barcelona not Pep that won the CL a few years ago.

I think that's harsh on Atletico - they are the real deal. Not always pretty to watch, but incredibly tough, mentally and physically.

I think both Bayern and PSG's Champions League campaigns were damaged by the lack of competition in their domestic leagues - it cost them just a little bit of sharpness, which you don't notice when they are hammering teams 7-0 in the league every week, but against teams like Atletico in Europe it can prove fatal.

 

[twietee]

I think that's harsh on Atletico - they are the real deal. Not always pretty to watch, but incredibly tough, mentally and physically.

I think both Bayern and PSG's Champions League campaigns were damaged by the lack of competition in their domestic leagues - it cost them just a little bit of sharpness, which you don't notice when they are hammering teams 7-0 in the league every week, but against teams like Atletico in Europe it can prove fatal.

That and Atleti probably have the most balanced squad / team (think about it. Barca hasn't got a decent bench, Real imo doesn't too, Bayern has but not regarding the defence).
Boateng was out for more than two months and it tells if they have to throw him in almost instantly after recovery in such a game. First leg Alaba had to take his spot hence bringin in Benatia on the left back who isn't up to the highset CL tasks (see last years match against Barca too). That had a great impact on how Bayern had to approach the first leg. Boateng and Alaba (+ Vidal who is all over the place but not where he is supposed to be) caused the one misstep yesterday and it cost them. Müller scores the pen and who knows what happens.

I find the constant Pep bashing ridiculous tbh.
[doublepost=1462352424][/doublepost]

Hard to say - some of the richest clubs are being very wasteful with their resources. Money doesn't buy success as easily as it used to. The transfer market is inflated to the extent that truly world-class players are worth almost limitless amounts of money, while good-but-not-quite-good-enough players are worth only slightly less than that. It's easy to spend a gigantic amount of money and end up with a fairly mediocre squad.

Over the long run, I still expect Manchester City and Chelsea to compete for titles. Man Utd may or may not return to that list of contenders in the short term. Arsenal will lose Wenger soon, so who knows what will happen. Liverpool have a hard climb to stay with those financial giants and Spurs.

You know that I'm not thinking that high of the English (top) clubs anyway - I think they heavily stagnate for quite some time now and this season is eventually the pinnacle of that development.

But I kind of disagree (or a better wording would be that I'm highly sceptical) that the league will be more balanced in the future. There is always a one in a million chance for a team like Leicester to win a once in a lifetime title (like Kaiserslautern did 1998 right after they came back from being relegated to the second league!) but I just don't see it. Will Mahrez even stay there for the very next season? What will Ranieri do if the prestigious clubs or delegates call (does Italy have Conte already replaced ?).. Money isn't everything so the little but succesfull clubs will always lose their best talents to more "attractive" clubs - we'd probably need some sort of European wide salary cup to change that - and I don't see that coming anytime soon. Not the least.

Btw. Hummels is heading to Bayern..

 

[pachyderm]

@Fizzoid - Were you able to go to the match ?

 

[Fizzoid]

No, been laid low due to illness, but it certainly made me feel better

 

[Alphazoid]

Why Pellegrini started Toure (and Kompany) i'll never know. Toure should hold him in high regard for the rest of his life for continuing to trust him. Even if misplaced.

Only Sterling looked interested in attacking, and Joe Hart in defending. DeBruyne poor, Aguero restrained. Pep has a lot of work to do.

Athleti to win the trophy for me. A hungrier, more determined team would have easily breached Madrid's defence tonight.

 

[pachyderm]

No, been laid low due to illness, but it certainly made me feel better

well dong. Get well bud!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Why Pellegrini started Toure (and Kompany) i'll never know. Toure should hold him in high regard for the rest of his life for continuing to trust him. Even if misplaced.

Only Sterling looked interested in attacking, and Joe Hart in defending. DeBruyne poor, Aguero restrained. Pep has a lot of work to do.

Athleti to win the trophy for me. A hungrier, more determined team would have easily breached Madrid's defence tonight.

But City have not been hungry all season. They haven't been hungry for anything; if anything, they have long struck me as a team where the term 'jaded palate' applies.

What does surprise me is the fact that the players - whatever about seriously contesting for the Premiership - seem to have been less than motivated for the Champions League; I would have thought that if loyalty to an outgoing manager is measured in indifference and small coin, and if pride and passion are not in their vocabulary, the surely, that the imminent arrival of a new manager might have supplied some sort of motivation for players who might wish to actually showcase their talents.

 

[Apple fanboy]

But City have not been hungry all season. They haven't been hungry for anything; if anything, they have long struck me as a team where the term 'jaded palate' applies.

What does surprise me is the fact that the players - whatever about seriously contesting for the Premiership - seem to have been less than motivated for the Champions League; I would have thought that if loyalty to an outgoing manager is measured in indifference and small coin, and if pride and passion are not in their vocabulary, the surely, that the imminent arrival of a new manager might have supplied some sort of motivation for players who might wish to actually showcase their talents.

Trouble is these days half of them are probably hoping to be sold when the new manager comes in because they think they will get a better deal elsewhere and a nice big signing on fee.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Trouble is these days half of them are probably hoping to be sold when the new manager comes in because they think they will get a better deal elsewhere and a nice big signing on fee.

Actually, I suspect that you may well be right.

But that, in a nutshell, does give one a sense of the difference between say Manchester City and hungry teams such as Leicester, Spurs and West Ham with their welcome D'Artagnan mindset (all for one and one for all) when they are motivated to play as a team.

Nevertheless, it would be nice to see overpaid individuals justify their wages, - and their reputation - and play with a bit of passion and pride.

Supporters will forgive a team that loses matches; they find it hard to forgive players - and teams - who just don't care enough about the outcome to bestir themselves.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Actually, I suspect that you may well be right.

But that, in a nutshell, does give one a sense of the difference between say Manchester City and hungry teams such as Leicester, Spurs and West Ham with their welcome D'Artagnan mindset (all for one and one for all) when they are motivated to play as a team.

Nevertheless, it would be nice to see overpaid individuals justify their wages, - and their reputation - and play with a bit of passion and pride.

Supporters will forgive a team that loses matches; they find it hard to forgive players - and teams - who just don't care enough about the outcome to bestir themselves.

How many big names are happy to sit on a bench at Chelsea or Man City rather than be hero worshipped at a smaller club like West Ham or Leicester.
Too many I'm afraid if the wages are right.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

How many big names are happy to sit on a bench at Chelsea or Man City rather than be hero worshipped at a smaller club like West Ham or Leicester.
Too many I'm afraid if the wages are right.

Agreed.

But then, if they look back on their careers, yes, they were a success (in a narrow sense) but rarely delivered on the promise of their abundant talent.

Above all, they won't be remembered.

I will wager that there are kids today, - small kids - who will remember this week, and next week, for the rest of their lives, and who will be able to name that Leicester team - and squad - forever. (I blush to mention that I have an embarrassing degree of almost complete recall of the Arsenal team of 1971…)

That Leicester team are now immortal, - they are legends - in Leicester, at least. Fading photographs will hang in pubs for at least half a century, grannies (Claudio Ranieri mentioned this) are sobbing with happiness, and kids are awestruck and given dreams that will last a lifetime.

In terms of career satisfaction, - and emotional dividends - this is what they - that team - will remember. Today, in the Guardian, I read a piece written by a Nottingham Forest player from the 1978 team (and this is what defined him in writing the piece, not his subsequent - and pretty successful - career).

 

[Apple fanboy]

Agreed.

But then, if they look back on their careers, yes, they were a success (in a narrow sense) but rarely delivered on the promise of their abundant talent.

Above all, they won't be remembered.

I will wager that there are kids today, - small kids - who will remember this week, and next week, for the rest of their lives, and who will be able to name that Leicester team - and squad - forever. (I blush to mention that I have an embarrassing degree of almost complete recall of the Arsenal team of 1971…)

That Leicester team are now immortal, - they are legends - in Leicester, at least. Fading photographs will hang in pubs for at least half a century, grannies (Claudio Ranieri mentioned this) are sobbing with happiness, and kids are awestruck and given dreams that will last a lifetime.

In terms of career satisfaction, - and emotional dividends - this is what they - that team - will remember. Today, in the Guardian, I read a piece written by a Nottingham Forest player from the 1978 team (and this is what defined him in writing the piece, not his subsequent - and pretty successful - career).

I can imagine the embarrassment of being an Arsenal fan!
Btw I can recall most of our 1980 FA cup winning side as well! I can picture Trevor Brooking's header pretty well to!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I can imagine the embarrassment of being an Arsenal fan!
Btw I can recall most of our 1980 FA cup winning side as well! I can picture Trevor Brooking's header pretty well to!

I have been fortunate enough to have been able to make a living from doing stuff that I really like, am pretty accomplished at, - and - at times - have been very well paid to do it. I can never imagine not caring - not being passionate about what I am doing.

The idea of being paid a salary of five figures - or, even six figures a week - a week, and not feeling sufficiently motivated to even scratch yourself - or give the slight impression that you care about outcomes - is something that is completely incomprehensible to me.

 

[617aircav]

Real will win this. Ronaldo can't be stopped.

 

[Alphazoid]

Real will win this. Ronaldo can't be stopped.

Not if he thinks its basket ball

 

[Fizzoid]

How many big names are happy to sit on a bench at Chelsea or Man City rather than be hero worshipped at a smaller club like West Ham or Leicester.
Too many I'm afraid if the wages are right.

Look at one of the ex Arsenal mercenaries Nasri, he didn't make the bench due to not even being named in the CL squad...

I have been fortunate enough to have been able to make a living from doing stuff that I really like, am pretty accomplished at, - and - at times - have been very well paid to do it. I can never imagine not caring - not being passionate about what I am doing.

The idea of being paid a salary of five figures - or, even six figures a week - a week, and not feeling sufficiently motivated to even scratch yourself - or give the slight impression that you care about outcomes - is something that is completely incomprehensible to me.

Was it 'Arry that coined the term "The iPod Generation"? I think that sums it up really

 

[mojolicious]

Look at one of the ex Arsenal mercenaries Nasri, he didn't make the bench due to not even being named in the CL squad...

In Nasri's defence (another phrase I didn't think I'd ever type) he'd been out since mid October, so it was a reasonable decision to omit him from the knock-out stage squad finalised at the start of February. As things panned out his first post-injury appearance was a 25 minute run-out against Bournemouth when City were 3-0 up; this took place four days before the first PSG QF match. He broke down again not long after. Nasri was atypically resilient for an Arsenal player, but seems to be slowly falling apart over the last couple of seasons.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Huth and Fellaini both banned for three matches after the "sex masochism" incident.

That ends Huth's season; Fellaini will be available to elbow more opponents in the face starting with the FA Cup final.

A very limp performance by City - they are perhaps improving in Europe, but only just - still not good enough given their resources. Kompany and Toure need to be replaced ASAP if they hope to push on. And now they really need to focus on a top four finish.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Huth and Fellaini both banned for three matches after the "sex masochism" incident.

That ends Huth's season; Fellaini will be available to elbow more opponents in the face starting with the FA Cup final.

A very limp performance by City - they are perhaps improving in Europe, but only just - still not good enough given their resources. Kompany and Toure need to be replaced ASAP if they hope to push on. And now they really need to focus on a top four finish.

While it is clear that Huth did indeed pull Felliani's hair, given that he is a serial offender (who has escaped lightly this season), and given that his elbow connected with Huth's windpipe - a nasty and potentially dangerous place to hit someone - I'm a little surprised that Fellaini didn't receive a longer ban.

Agree re City's very underwhelming performance.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Fellaini misses the West Ham match, that's the important thing!
Come on you Irons. Three wins and we could scrap a Champions leauge spot! Well if things implode in Manchester!

Here's an interesting fact.
Tell me at the start of the season we would finish 5 places behind Leicester, I'd have sworn we would have been relegated.
Tell me we would finish 5 places in front of Chelsea I'd have sworn we would have won the leauge!
As Jimmy Greaves would say, it's a funny old game!

 

[Ironduke]

Real will win this. Ronaldo can't be stopped.

na Bale will score the winner like last time

 

[Lord Blackadder]

A textbook European win tonight from Liverpool, who were very good, aided by a very cagey performance from Villareal. Their keeper, in particular, looked very dodgy. On to the final, then.

The most encouraging thing is the clean sheet; you need to keep it tight at the back to win knockout tournaments, and Liverpool have not really been able to do that often enough this season.

The only fly in the ointment was the clear foul in the box from Moreno; it should have been a penalty. He always has to have at least one moment of madness every match, it seems. Still, Liverpool were very much the better team tonight.

 

[oscillatewildly]

The match was the sort players should relish. Once it is clear the referee is letting the physical side slide, you get stuck in; not Villarreal - no fight, no balls, no final.

Some penalty decisions along the way and drug assistance , looks like Liverpool's; maybe Sevilla will be tougher because of the thought of the hat-trick.

Cheers,
OW

 

[twietee]

drug assistance

Something happened?

Not surprised they try to keep that front very quiet. I think it was last year that Klopp was totally convinced that football players "never, at no time, were doing doping systematically, and that the players would never ever think of such things themselves". He lost a lot of credibility for me.

It's ridiculous that you'd have to have 3 positively doped players from one team to get a match questioned - while only two tests are done.

And it's also a shame that you have found out players playing for weeks and weeks, scoring important goals too, until they finally decide to say: "Ehhrm, sorry to disturb you guys but we have a wee bit of a problem here.."

 

[Lord Blackadder]

drug assistance

It's a huge embarrassment for the club, and I'm sure Sakho is going to get a long ban. perhaps Leicester's title challenge has allowed the affair to fly under the radar so far, but look for big headlines when the ban is announced though.

There have been various incidents before (Rio Ferdinand, Jaap Stam, Edgar Davids - and in a slightly different vein Adrian Mutu and his cocaine habit), but what worries me most is the suspicion that doping is a much bigger problem in football than it seems, and that the sport is not equipped to handle it.