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The 2019-2020 Football Thread

Lord Blackadder said:
EDIT: Norwich will be beaten today, but I hope Pukki grabs another goal.



He isn't as good as Alisson, but he's good enough most of the time. I'd worry about him the most for the matches against Man City and the latter stages of the Champions League.



It could have been tighter, true - though Liverpool could also have had a penalty.
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I think you can’t underestimate the confidence a back four get from a safe pair of hands behind them.
Agree on the Pukki goal. But hoping for a Captain Aguero hat trick (all assisted by Vice captain Stirling!).
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Scepticalscribe said:
Agree that the Europa Cup will do Wolves no favours, it is an exhausting schedule.

And I suspect that - precisely because of Eden Hazard's departure plus the transfer ban, that there is a lot less pressure - and rescued expectations - on Chelsea than there has been in other, recent, seasons. Paradoxically, that may be of considerable assistance to them this season.
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Agree.
 
Mind you, Wolves have pulled two back against Chelsea.

The trials and tribulations of the Europa Cup notwithstanding, they are a pretty good team.

Would love to see Norwich do well today, but that, I fear, is a case of undue optimism.
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Apple fanboy said:
I think you can’t underestimate the confidence a back four get from a safe pair of hands behind them.
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Yes, but it is the job of the defence to ensure that the goal-keeper doesn't have to prove that he is a safe pair of hands too often.

Too many defences leave the goal-keeper with too much work to do.

Agree that Alisson is better than Adrian, - who himself is perfectly talented - but that defence also needs to step up to the challenge and show their mettle when under attack.
 
Norwich looked really dangerous against Liverpool, but my goodness I would never have predicted they'd beat Man City - and convincingly too. They had to hold on at the end, but this was no smash and grab, and Pukki bagged another goal today as well.

They could be set for a heck of a season if they keep playing like this.

As for Man City, they do have some significant injuries but the fact is they just didn't play well today. You can never expect to win matches when you leak three goals. Stones in particular will get a lot of criticism, along with Otamendi.
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
Norwich looked really dangerous against Liverpool, but my goodness I would never have predicted they'd beat Man City - and convincingly too. They had to hold on at the end, but this was no smash and grab, and Pukki bagged another goal today as well.

They could be set for a heck of a season if they keep playing like this.

As for Man City, they do have some significant injuries but the fact is they just didn't play well today.
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They are last years Wolves. Very good result. Especially for Liverpool.
If we win on Monday we go level with Man City.
 
JamesMike said:
Kudos to Norwich on their win. Upsets like this keep things interesting.
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They do, and they also serve as a very welcome reminder that not everything in football (soccer) can be solved - or addressed - by access to vast resources (in terms of money, players, coaches, infrastructure) or micromanaging every aspect of a player's life.

The unpredictability of soccer - and giant-killing results - has always been (to me, at least) one of the attractions of football.

I love that not every margin can be calculated nor every contingency covered. I love that gifted (and obscenely well paid) players can have a catastrophic off day, and be exposed for the human sportsman that they are. And I love that smaller clubs can sometimes bloody the nose of giants, and restore a bit of hope and laughter and romance to the game.
 
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Atlanta 1-3 Columbus.

The Crew bag an excellent away win against a flaccid Atlanta. Highly satisfying. It's always a good day when more than one of the teams you follow win on the same day.
 
Have I ever remarked upon how much homicide is on occasionally my mind whenever I contemplate the ludicrous and incompetent and error-strewn embarrassment that is Arsenal's defence?
 
Apple fanboy said:
Once or twice.
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Well, suffice to say that you may consider this sentiment expressed yet again.

Okay: Holding is still out injured, and Lacazette suffered an ankle injury necessitating his withdrawal for a few weeks.

Leno is excellent, but that - words fail me - defence should protect him better.

Still, a draw is a draw.

Better than a defeat.

And Watford played extremely well.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
Well, suffice to say that you may consider this sentiment expressed yet again.

Okay: Holding is still out injured, and Lacazette suffered an ankle injury necessitating his withdrawal for a few weeks.

Leno is excellent, but that - words fail me - defence should protect him better.

Still, a draw is a draw.

Better than a defeat.

And Watford played extremely well.
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Indeed. The days of Arsenal having the meanest defence in the league are such a distant memory, that there are people posting on here that won’t even remember it!
 
Apple fanboy said:
Indeed. The days of Arsenal having the meanest defence in the league are such a distant memory, that there are people posting on here that won’t even remember it!
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Well, at least we have good forwards, and a good goalie.

But, yes; there are people posting on these threads who will not remember that once upon a not too distant time, Arsenal used to be a by-word for a parsimonious and very tight defence.

Happy memories.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
Well, at least we have good forwards, and a good goalie.

But, yes; there are people posting on these threads who will not remember that once upon a not too distant time, Arsenal used to be a by-word for a parsimonious and very tight defence.

Happy memories.
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That first Watford goal was probably the worst mistake I’ve seen. Shocking clearance from Arsenal. What were they thinking?
 
What a reverse of the game versus Tottenham last week.
We were sloppy, to say the least. And, this was without Mustafi. Ugh, the pain.

Now, Ozil, I have so much to say about him. Alas, less is more. So...
 
Oddly enough, one of the things I miss the most from being home (London, well, Hackney to be exact), is reading the back pages on Monday, while taking the tube to work.

Tomorrow's papers will be covered with our (Arsenal) failures. Awful, just awful...
 
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