The 2018-2019 Football Thread

[Scepticalscribe]

I was going to say that Mourinho, even now, seems to be able to get a result in the big matches. Didn't happen against Juve though.

It's easy to slam Mourinho, and I think he deserves it, but the fact remains that this is only partially his fault. Man Utd have all the money they need to win trophies, but they've spent it terribly and built...what?....with it.

Meanwhile, Klopp faces a winnable but by no means easy match in the CL today. Injuries in the squad, Fabinho gets his second start.

They have spent it terribly, yes, but more telling is that Jose Mourinho seems unable to craft a credible and lasting team spirit out of this group of players; contrast that with the way Manchester United teams (which were a lot more than just collections of gifted individual) played under Alex Ferguson.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

They have spent it terribly, yes, but more telling is that Jose Mourinho seems unable to craft a credible and lasting team spirit out of this group of players; contrast that with the way Manchester United teams (which were a lot more than just collections of gifted individual) played under Alex Ferguson.

That is true, but at the same time you do not simply throw £100m at a manager every season and tell him to do something with it. Man City certainly haven't done that, even with Pep at the helm. Woodward has been involved in recruitment at Man Utd but his plan, such as it is, appears to be a farce.

Mou whined about not getting Harry Maguire, but, really, that is hardly the reason the team look out of ideas. If Mou gets sacked, Woodward has to go soon afterwards or nothing will change.

I'm actually surprised to see the numbers of Man Utd fans still backing Mourinho. His attitude is the polar opposite of Ferguson and the "Man Utd Way" of his era. As is his safety-first style of play. Are they doing it to spite the ownership/Woodward?

 

[Apple fanboy]

That is true, but at the same time you do not simply throw £100m at a manager every season and tell him to do something with it. Man City certainly haven't done that, even with Pep at the helm. Woodward has been involved in recruitment at Man Utd but his plan, such as it is, appears to be a farce.

Mou whined about not getting Harry Maguire, but, really, that is hardly the reason the team look out of ideas. If Mou gets sacked, Woodward has to go soon afterwards or nothing will change.

I'm actually surprised to see the numbers of Man Utd fans still backing Mourinho. His attitude is the polar opposite of Ferguson and the "Man Utd Way" of his era. As is his safety-first style of play. Are they doing it to spite the ownership/Woodward?

I think it’s the lack of a credible alternative that is keeping him employed.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I think it’s the lack of a credible alternative that is keeping him employed.

Oddly enough, I don't think that that is the issue; Mourinho will self-combust in bitterness and corrosive negativity at some stage - most likely this season, as it is his third - and, I think it inevitable that he will lose the dressing room at some stage.

And the fact that he felt obliged to deny that he may have had an interest in returning to Real Madrid (which suggests that some out of communication occurred) strikes me as interesting.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Oddly enough, I don't think that that is the issue; Mourinho will self-combust in bitterness and corrosive negativity at some stage - most likely this season, as it is his third - and, I think it inevitable that he will lose the dressing room at some stage.

And the fact that he felt obliged to deny that he may have had an interest in returning to Real Madrid (which suggests that some out of communication occurred) strikes me as interesting.

You don’t think he has lost the dressing room already? I certainly don’t see it as a harmonious place to be.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

You don’t think he has lost the dressing room already? I certainly don’t see it as a harmonious place to be.

Agree that it is not remotely harmonious, - and his relationship with certain individuals (whom he shameless attacks in public) leaves an awful lot to be desired - but I am not sure that it is, as yet, fully united (all puns intended) against him.

This is not to excuse the lack of professional passion evident in some of the players, (Pogba comes to mind), and I don't doubt that some of them will be delighted to see the back of him, but whether they are as disunited in the dressing room as they appear to be on the pitch, is a different story.

Certainly, I don't think that it has one anywhere nearly as toxic as it was in his last year in charge in Chelsea. But whether, that is because United aren't a team on or off the itch - i.e. everyone is still reacting as individuals - or whether it hasn't yet become completely toxic, I cannot say.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Man Utd have a lot of resources. I feel like a director of football with a vision could get the team back on track in a couple seasons, with the right manager. But for that to happen Woodward has to go, or be restricted to the business side of the operation.

EDIT:Liverpool with a big win over a limited Red Star side, 4-0 and it should have been 5 wth Mane missing a penalty. A game I think Klopp would certainly expected to win, but the challenge was to get the front men scoring again, which did happen. It's a tight group now with PSG and Napoli drawing. Liverpool will feel cautiously optimistic.

EDIT 2: That is, by the way, 50 goals in 65 matches for Salah in a Liverpool shirt. A reminder that, despite his recent slump, he has been a phenomenal goalscorer for the Reds. He now has 6 goals this season - he won't repeat last season's amazing record, but he's still on track for a perfectly satisfactory goal tally.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

The Liverpool-Cardiff match was not particularly exciting until Cardiff scored, and then Liverpool shifted gears and blew them away. Top of the league till Man City win again tomorrow.

Salah might not be scoring as often at the moment but he is helping create goals and playing very well in every other way. I thought Shaqiri was an absolute steal when Liverpool bought him for £13m and so it has proved. His touch and vision are world class, and he can slot straight into the front 3 without skipping a beat.

Fulham, wow. They are defending like a mid-level Championship team despite having moved up to the Premier League. They are in big trouble.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Th Liverpool-Cardiff match was not particularly exciting until Cardiff scored, and then Liverpool shifted gears and blew them away. Top of the league till Man City win again tomorrow.

Salah might not be scoring as often at the moment but he is helping create goals and playing very well in every other way. I thought Shaqiri was an absolute steal when Liverpool bought him for £13m and so it has proved. His touch and vision are world class, and he can slot straight into the front 3 without skipping a beat.

Fulham, wow. They are defending like a mid-level Championship team despite having moved up to the Premier League. They are in big trouble.

Great game by Liverpool, and yes, agree, it seems that Fulham are in serious trouble at this early stage.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Our game is later on. Really need to get back to winning ways.

Agree Fulham look to be in trouble. Sending off didn’t help. But they don’t have a big following or much money, so being in the PL is probably punching above their weight.

Liverpool continue to impress. Selling Salah for Hazard might have been a mistake!
Need an arnie hatrrick for my actual team and my fantasy one!

Come on you Irons.

 

[Apple fanboy]

A goal to the good at halftime. But a moment of madness from Noble means we are down to 10 men.
Arnie isn’t playing due to a virus. Not good, but at least it isn’t an injury.
[doublepost=1540663144][/doublepost]Vardy on. One way traffic at the moment. We will do well to hold on.
[doublepost=1540663696][/doublepost]Just reading that Glen Hoddle has been rushed to hospital.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

A goal to the good at halftime. But a moment of madness from Noble means we are down to 10 men.
Arnie isn’t playing due to a virus. Not good, but at least it isn’t an injury.
[doublepost=1540663144][/doublepost]Vardy on. One way traffic at the moment. We will do well to hold on.
[doublepost=1540663696][/doublepost]Just reading that Glen Hoddle has been rushed to hospital.

Yes, Glenn Hoddle fell "very seriously ill" earlier today, - his 61st birthday - which is awful.

Re West Ham, their captain's idiocy in receiving a red card possibly cost them three points; however, Leicester weren't going to go away empty-handed, and a draw is probably the fairest result.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Yes, Glenn Hoddle fell "very seriously ill" earlier today, - his 61st birthday - which is awful.

Re West Ham, their captain's idiocy in receiving a red card possibly cost them three points; however, Leicester weren't going to go away empty-handed, and a draw is probably the fairest result.

Agree. Interestingly enough if you look at the table now, we are one place but 5 points apart.
We’re at the top of the relegation battle I’d say. Yes it’s early days, and there are teams that will struggle much more than us, but 8 point from 10 games isn’t enough.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Agree. Interestingly enough if you look at the table now, we are one place but 5 points apart.
We’re at the top of the relegation battle I’d say. Yes it’s early days, and there are teams that will struggle much more than us, but 8 point from 10 games isn’t enough.

Yes, but looking at the table now, I cannot see West Ham being in a situation where there are not three teams who are worse than them by the end of the season.

As of now, neither Newcastle nor Huddersfield have actually won a single match, and Fulham's defence is woeful. Granted, urgency might transform that situation, but yes, West Ham are two wins away from bridging the gap between themselves and Leicester, the team that lie immediately above them in the table.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Yes, but looking at the table now, I cannot see West Ham being in a situation where there are not three teams who are worse than them by the end of the season.

As of now, neither Newcastle nor Huddersfield have actually won a single match, and Fulham's defence is woeful. Granted, urgency might transform that situation, but yes, West Ham are two wins away from bridging the gap between themselves and Leicester, the team that lie immediately above them in the table.

I never like gaps. If we win our next game we can stay where we are! Agree there are teams much worse off than us. However there are lots of twists and turns yet. I’d just rather a few more points in the bag already.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I never like gaps. If we win our next game we can stay where we are! Agree there are teams much worse off than us. However there are lots of twists and turns yet. I’d just rather a few more points in the bag already.

Gaps can be....ominous. I can imagine that you would prefer to find yourselves a few more points above those clubs flirting with the bottom five places - that points gap is unusually condensed.

How are the summer signings coming along?

 

[Apple fanboy]

Gaps can be....ominous. I can imagine that you would prefer to find yourselves a few more points above those clubs flirting with the bottom five places - that points gap is unusually condensed.

How are the summer signings coming along?

Well Diop played well today.
Anderson is also doing well. Creating lots of chances.
Yarmolenko is injured which is a shame. But I think they all need more time together.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Terrible news after our game. The Leicester City’s owner helicopter crashed shorty after take off near the stadium. Unclear how many were on board and if any survived.
Puts everything else in perspective.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Terrible news after our game. The Leicester City’s owner helicopter crashed shorty after take off near the stadium. Unclear how many were on board and if any survived.
Puts everything else in perspective.

Yes, it does, doesn't it? Although the late Bill Shankly might have disagreed with you.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Arsenal being stupid, and lacking bite and concentration and backbone in defence (not to mention ambition in attack).

Crystal Palace lead Arsenal by one goal to nil at half-time.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Arsenal being stupid, and lacking bite and concentration and backbone in defence (not to mention ambition in attack).

Crystal Palace lead Arsenal by one goal to nil at half-time.

Not now!

I feel like my fantasy team is the kiss of death. No Hazard today for Chelsea. Not looking like I should have swapped him for Salah.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Not now!

I feel like my fantasy team is the kiss of death. No Hazard today for Chelsea. Not looking like I should have swapped him for Salah.

Yes, the second half is a lot better, I must say.

In fact, this season, that hoary (and awful) old cliché - "it was a game of two halves" - has applied with especial force to Arsenal; many of their first half performances have been sub-standard, whereas they have usually managed to pull themselves to together, fight back, and retrieve or win games in the second half.

 

[Alphazoid]

Zaha bought it but its technically a pen. So Palace needed two be given to penalties to score. Still wont be surprised if they go down.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Zaha bought it but its technically a pen. So Palace needed to be given to penalties to score. Still wont be surprised if they go down.

Yes, Zaha was wonderfully cunning and exceptionally manipulative in how he engineered that second penalty; so, for Palace, two goals scored from two penalties, the second an opportunistic stumble against an outstretched leg.

Oddly enough, I won't be surprised if they stay up: I think that there will be three teams worse than them at season's end.

 

[Alphazoid]

Official News from LCFC confirms Khun Vichai has passed away along with every other occupant of the helicopter at the time of crash. Crazy.