Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
The 2019-2020 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Agreed.
In a way, they are this season's Wolves, or Burnley; and because everyone is more focussed on the more obviously charismatic teams - or teams such as Leicester or Wolves who are no longer a surprise when playing well for a prolonged period of time - they have fallen under the radar of attention (which, in truth, is probably no bad thing).
Until this season they reminded me a little Bournemouth, first couple of season or so, they gave just about everyone a good run for their money. But they seem to be running out of gas near the bottom of the table this season.
I hope not; I like to see well organised, well-coached, and decent, disciplined teams - teams, note, that play as teams and not a collection of narcissistic, attention-seeking but gifted individuals - do well.
Actually, I like to see some qualities - old fashioned ones such as a sense of discipline, playing for the team rather for individual glory, loyalty, hard work, effort, all under a good coach who may lack the resources of wealthier or better equipped teams - to do well and be rewarded for this.
Ummm.
I meant that as in Bournemouth could give teams fits. I have no idea what their style is now as I've not seen them play at all this season. They were not an easy "W" the first few seasons in the Prem though.
The Pigs(blades) play attractive football imho. Or at least they did when they were in the Championship.
Wait there’s a second team in Sheffield? Is it like a feeder team for the top Sheffield side?
[automerge]1578755541[/automerge]
How many games for a red card? You’ll miss him.
Yes, we will miss him; it was a silly, reckless, irresponsible, potentially dangerous and entirely unnecessary challenge, though I doubt it was malicious - Mikel Arteta was impressively objective in his post match analysis.
Not sure how many games he will miss as a consequence; two or three at least, I would imagine.
And, as per usual, the defence fell asleep or went walkabout, or dozed, when Crystal Palace equalised.
However, one slight consolation is that Arsenal didn't "fold like a cheap suit after the Red card" (as one commentator remarked on Twitter, adding that this is what would have happened in the pre-Arteta days), for they chased for the three points until the end.
Well, here we are. December and now January, passing as trying months. Looking forward to seeing us bounce back.
Arteta is clearly making a huge difference...
Arteta is clearly making a huge difference...
Another day, another arsenal collapse. Arteta has a lovely head of hair, but he’s going to be pulling it out soon at this rate.
On the other hand Liverpool gave Gunners fans something to cheer about by beating Spurs. It was a hell of a match - Liverpool bossed most of it but could not find the second goal and you can make a good argument that Spurs deserved a draw for a battling, high energy performance. But they lacked a finisher....like, oh, Harry Kane?
Liverpool, for the first time, looked tired late in the match. This is a worry, with the derby against Man Utd coming up. Still, they ground out yet another win against quality opponents.
On the other hand Liverpool gave Gunners fans something to cheer about by beating Spurs. It was a hell of a match - Liverpool bossed most of it but could not find the second goal and you can make a good argument that Spurs deserved a draw for a battling, high energy performance. But they lacked a finisher....like, oh, Harry Kane?
Liverpool, for the first time, looked tired late in the match. This is a worry, with the derby against Man Utd coming up. Still, they ground out yet another win against quality opponents.
Last edited:
That’s how you win titles. Pick up three points when you don’t play great.
Wish Salah got the goal though. He was my captain this week.
Liverpool have mastered (for now) the art of winning matches - winning ugly, winning elegantly, and just grinding out wins, which is something you have to do if you hope to claim the Premiership title.
Spurs will miss Harry Kane; they are simply too dependent on him.
Moreover, while under Pochettino, to a certain extent, they managed to maximise their resources, and over-achieve, or deliver to their absolute potential, - their best run for half a century, if not more - they never fully addressed the fact that they lacked strength in depth, and thus, injures to key players will cost them dearly.
As for Arsenal, and Arteta, yes, there is much to do, which I am sure he realises. He will need at least two transfer windows to manage to mould the team into what - and where - he wants them to be.
That dopiness and doziness in defence is still an issue, - and not a new one - but today, instead of folding, and trooping off the pitch with those awful drooping heads, and slumped shoulders, after two catastrophic errors (falling asleep in defence which allowed Palace to equalise, and Aubameyang's silly, irresponsible and entirely unnecessary foul) Arsenal held their shape and continued to fight for the points, and could well have scored in the closing minutes.
So, not a collapse, but these perennial lapses of concentration in defence do, alas, remain a cause for considerable concern.
The only time in my life I wanted Spurs to win.
At this rate, we are going to have another 'Invincible' team winning the league...
At this rate, we are going to have another 'Invincible' team winning the league...
Just watched MOTD. Gutted that VAR ruined our comeback. Also feel sorry for our two keepers. Fabanski who’ll be out for a while again I’m sure. And Martin who gave away the goal with a terrible pass. Made a terrific save later, but the damage was done.
Anderson should have scored as well. He has moments of brilliance but then doesn’t quite deliver.
Anderson should have scored as well. He has moments of brilliance but then doesn’t quite deliver.
That will be good for Liverpool - team and city both, not least as the city has gone through a lot in recent decades - and good for the Premiership, (as yet another team will have won the title) and impressive in setting standards of excellence, standards that surpass those already set by Manchester City over the past two seasons.
A real six pointer at the bottom of the league today. Sadly the part of the table I’m having to keep an eye on.
Need City to beat Villa later as well.
Need City to beat Villa later as well.
Yes, Watford have been playing - and doing - very well over the last few games; at this rate, from having been well adrift at the foot to the table, rooted to the very bottom place, they look set to escape the immediate relegation zone, and, if they can sustain this form, may well survive the threat of relegation.
Indeed. But hopefully not at our expense! I think Norwich are pretty much the only one I’d say are going to go for sure.
In a way, I'd be sorry if Norwich are related, for they play an attractive brand of football.
Re Watford, this is pretty much what I would have said in early December; I thought that they were hopelessly adrift - needing three wins (I am one of those who examines and scrutinises the table closely most weeks, with the exact same fascination I bring to the observation, monitoring of, and supervision of elections) to even think to clear the bottom three, a task I thought next to impossible.
But, they look to have turned their form around and - over the past four games - have performed exceptionally well. The appointment of Nigel Pearson as manager - which I suspect may have a lot to do with this transformation - seems to have been an inspired one.
Nevertheless, the gulf in class between the Championship and the Premiership grows wider by the year, and, from what I have been able to see, the most challenging year for a newly promoted team is the very first year immediately after their promotion, as they have to learn to bridge the gulf in class between the two divisions very quickly, or a gap will open up between them and the rest of the table which becomes increasingly hard to bridge as the season wears on.
Very often, a team that has performed impressively in the Championship will find that many of their players are simply not quite up to the standard required for survival in the premiership (although, in fairness, unlike some of the egos and prima donnas and drama llamas employed by the top teams, motivation, passion an pride are rarely issues). Splurging rarely works, either, unless it has been done after a lot of thought and research and strategic and tactical intelligence as to what is needed, and what might work well, in the context of that particular team.
Until recently, the easiest points for newly promoted teams were in the first few games of the season, as established teams were a little rusty and usually took a few games to get into their stride, or integrate new players into their squad and team; the other time that freshly promoted teams tend to win matches is towards the end of the season, but that tends to be only if they risk relegation, or are close to the drop zone, for then, they are fighting for their lives, and will be motivated to play as best they can.
Last edited:
I hate to break it to you, @pachyderm, but there was a question about Sheffield United on the American game show Jeopardy! the other night, and the contestant got it correct. Small comfort that this was the "Jeopardy: Greatest of All Time" tournament featuring the three best players in the show's 30+ year modern run.
In more current football news, I was glad to see United squeak by Wolves in the FA Cup. They've been a serious bogie team the past few years, though contemporary arguments that Wolves currently have a better squad and a better manager than United — and that this result was a bit of a choke job by Wolves — are pretty jarring. They do have some very good players and Espirito Santo is clearly a better manager than OGS at the moment.
United went for it in this tie, which is going to leave them short at Anfield this weekend, even before the questions about Marcus Rashford's back are answered. Just like the recent Carabao Cup tie against City, hoping for the best but expecting the worst.
In more current football news, I was glad to see United squeak by Wolves in the FA Cup. They've been a serious bogie team the past few years, though contemporary arguments that Wolves currently have a better squad and a better manager than United — and that this result was a bit of a choke job by Wolves — are pretty jarring. They do have some very good players and Espirito Santo is clearly a better manager than OGS at the moment.
United went for it in this tie, which is going to leave them short at Anfield this weekend, even before the questions about Marcus Rashford's back are answered. Just like the recent Carabao Cup tie against City, hoping for the best but expecting the worst.
The match was at OT, but yes, I was surprised at Wolves' performance. They may be going through a little slump at the moment, perhaps Man Utd. caught them at the right time.
Liverpool fans will want to see a crushing rout, but Man Utd, even under OGS, rarely get hammered in terms of goals even when their performances are dire. I have to assume Klopp will go for it and the only outcome one can expect is a Liverpool win even if that seems to be tempting fate from my perspective. I am heavily conditioned from the Ferguson years...
The unfortunate reality is that Liverpool-Man Utd matches are usually boring affairs for the neutral.
Made a few changes to my fantasy team as I’m struggling.
Brought in
De Bruyne
Ings
Maddison.
Hoping they will score some much needed points for me.
We play Everton today. But the big game is Liverpool v Manchester Utd tomorrow. Don’t fancy the visitors chances. Especially as Rashford is out injured.
Brought in
De Bruyne
Ings
Maddison.
Hoping they will score some much needed points for me.
We play Everton today. But the big game is Liverpool v Manchester Utd tomorrow. Don’t fancy the visitors chances. Especially as Rashford is out injured.
A draw it is then. Not a terrible result against Everton. But we could really have done with three points.