The 2019-2020 Football Thread

[Scepticalscribe]

A much needed win. Very pleased with the 3 goals, 3 points and moving out of the bottom three!

A very impressive and emphatic win from West Ham.

Well, Liveroool have lost two matches this season before today...and sometimes I really hate being right about the invincible season being a virtual impossibility. Liverpool looked worse than they did against West Ham in terms of energy levels, and Watford played to their strengths. Liverpool looked very tired, Lovren was mistake prone and they just couldn't get going collectively.

Oh well, hopefully this was just the worst day of Liverpool's best-ever season.

MLS action begins just in time...Columbus face New York FC tomorrow...will they lift my spirits or be the second team to break my heart this weekend?



That's a huge win. Sorry Liverprool couldn't do you a favor!

Liverpool lost only one game during all of last season, and - so far - have only lost one this season. They have gone 423 days without defeat in the Premiership - a stunning record and one to be proud of.

They are a superb team, and - as Klopp pointed out to the youngster who had written to him - will inevitably lose a game or two, as that is football.

I expect that they will still wrap up the Premiership title in a matter of weeks.

 

[Apple fanboy]

A very impressive and emphatic win from West Ham.



Liverpool lost only one game during all of last season, and - so far - have only lost one this season. They have gone 423 days without defeat in the Premiership - a stunning record and one to be proud of.

They are a superb team, and - as Klopp pointed out to the youngster who had written to him - will inevitably lose a game or two, as that is football.

I expect that they will still wrap up the Premiership title in a matter of weeks.

Had to watch our game on my mobile. Not ideal. But I couldn’t not watch. Watford played very well to.

 

[JamesMike]

The Watford fans must be over the moon! One of my Liverpool friends, who bought me a Man U jersey for Christmas one year, is mumbling to himself!

 

[circatee]

That moment when you realize that we, Arsenal, are still invincible.
Impressive run by Liverpool.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

That moment when you realize that we, Arsenal, are still invincible.
Impressive run by Liverpool.

I've been getting taunted by my Arsenal-supporting friend all day about it...Arsenal fully earned their "invincible" status in 2004 - though I'd put this Liverpool squad up against that Arsenal team any day of the week. But I'm not greedy, this is an amazing run.

 

[Apple fanboy]

That moment when you realize that we, Arsenal, are still invincible.
Impressive run by Liverpool.

Why are you out of Europe and 10th in the league then?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I've been getting taunted by my Arsenal-supporting friend all day about it...Arsenal fully earned their "invincible" status in 2004 - though I'd put this Liverpool squad up against that Arsenal team any day of the week. But I'm not greedy, this is an amazing run.

It is an amazing run, and, by season's end, the important thing that will be recalled is who won the Premiership, which is still Liverpool's to lose.

After all, at the end of the day (or season) success is measured in trophies, not records.

In the season, two years ago, when Manchester City won the title at a canter with an almost unprecedented 100 points, do bear in mind that they still lost two games over the course of the entire season.

Why are you out of Europe and 10th in the league then?

I think he is referring to historic triumphs that lie well in the past.

 

[circatee]

Ouch.

 

[pachyderm]

Wednesday lose.

Nashville loses as well...

COME ON CREW!

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Another contested/controversial VAR call in Man Utd's match - just about the correct call at the end of the day (but NOT a dead cert - "interfering with play" is a very subjective thing to decide), but it highlights the fact that VAR is not a technological "system" that generates more accurate calls but literally just shorthand for "an off-field ref looks at a slow-mo replay and makes a subjective call that overrules/supplements the on-field ref."

We need to get used to the idea that VAR calls are just as likely to be controversial and subjective as refereeing has always been, but now the decision is made over a longer period of time, remotely, with people squinting at multiple-angle slo-mo video. They will still make mistakes or baffling/controversial/subjective decisions at times, and will strain the (very old) laws of the game to apply to scenarios (literally) never envisaged by the people who wrote them. It has "fixed" nothing, but it has added an additional layer of complication and drama to the process of refereeing matches.

Is this good or bad? Can we actually say either way, apart from the emotional opinions generated when our team benefits from/is screwed by VAR?? One thing's for sure, the people who decided to implement VAR have their careers riding on it being here to stay - and so stay it will.

 

[Apple fanboy]

A big 3 points for Wolves in the race for the CL spot against Spurs. Ultimately Spurs are struggling without key players.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Another contested/controversial VAR call in Man Utd's match - just about the correct call at the end of the day (but NOT a dead cert - "interfering with play" is a very subjective thing to decide), but it highlights the fact that VAR is not a technological "system" that generates more accurate calls but literally just shorthand for "an off-field ref looks at a slow-mo replay and makes a subjective call that overrules/supplements the on-field ref."

We need to get used to the idea that VAR calls are just as likely to be controversial and subjective as refereeing has always been, but now the decision is made over a longer period of time, remotely, with people squinting at multiple-angle slo-mo video. They will still make mistakes or baffling/controversial/subjective decisions at times, and will strain the (very old) laws of the game to apply to scenarios (literally) never envisaged by the people who wrote them. It has "fixed" nothing, but it has added an additional layer of complication and drama to the process of refereeing matches.

Is this good or bad? Can we actually say either way, apart from the emotional opinions generated when our team benefits from/is screwed by VAR?? One thing's for sure, the people who decided to implement VAR have their careers riding on it being here to stay - and so stay it will.

The law of unintended consequences, but clubs will evolve and adapt and get used to it; already, VAR is seeing some positive outcomes - less by way of opportunistic diving, and what I suspect may well be less by way of sneaky opportunistic fouls, also.

A big 3 points for Wolves in the race for the CL spot against Spurs. Ultimately Spurs are struggling without key players.

Yes, I think that Pocchettino took Spurs about as far as they could have expected to go, further than they had gone in more than half a century - where they consistently performed exceptionally well with a very gifted and talented squad that ultimately lacked strength in depth, and where further necessary purchases were discouraged.

Now, lacking strength in depth, injures to key players have hurt the squad.

Terrific victory for Wolves, though.

 

[Apple fanboy]

The law of unintended consequences, but clubs will evolve and adapt and get used to it; already, VAR is seeing some positive outcomes - less by way of opportunistic diving, and what I suspect may well be less by way of sneaky opportunistic fouls, also.




Yes, I think that Pocchettino took Spurs about as far as they could have expected to go, further than they had gone in more than half a century - where they consistently performed exceptionally well with a very gifted and talented squad that ultimately lacked strength in depth, and where further necessary purchases were discouraged.

Now, lacking strength in depth, injures to key players have hurt the squad.

Terrific victory for Wolves, though.

Indeed. Wolves are running their club very well. CL football will certainly help the bank balance if they get there.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

COME ON CREW!

On a weekend where I could use some positive sporting news, Columbus start their MLS season with a 1-0 home win against NYCFC, aided by a 4th minute red card against a New York player. Club record singing Lucas Zelarayan - an Argentinian attacking midfielder drafted in to replace Federico Higuain - scored the only goal of the match. A positive start, though given the transfer activity Columbus have been involved in expectations will be raised this year.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Indeed. Wolves are running their club very well. CL football will certainly help the bank balance if they get there.

I think that it also signifies that last year's impressive performance was not an aberration.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Daniel Sturridge has terminated his contract at Turkish club Trabzopnspor.

His strike rate there was pretty good but he has, unsurprisingly, been blighted by injuries. There is talk of a move to MLS. He's just too injury prone at this point, but for one of the "bigger" MLS clubs he might be seen as worth the risk - especially if he can be fit into a system where he isn't asked to run too much.

EDIT: The termination was due to the FA winning their appeal to UEFA to increase the length of his ban for gambling, ruling him out of signing with a new club till June.

 

[Silencio]

I think that it also signifies that last year's impressive performance was not an aberration.

They kept their squad mostly intact and have continued to thrive. Might be tough to continue that trend as bigger clubs will surely be circling around Jimenez, Jota, and Neves this summer and it will be awfully tempting for them to cash in. They have been pretty astute at finding good talent, but people were saying the same thing about Southampton a few years ago and they've fallen on tough times as their reinvestments haven't paid off so well. They'll probably need CL qualification to keep the band together.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

They kept their squad mostly intact and have continued to thrive. Might be tough to continue that trend as bigger clubs will surely be circling around Jimenez, Jota, and Neves this summer and it will be awfully tempting for them to cash in. They have been pretty astute at finding good talent, but people were saying the same thing about Southampton a few years ago and they've fallen on tough times as their reinvestments haven't paid off so well. They'll probably need CL qualification to keep the band together.

Right. The question is, what do they want to become? A profitable talent mill like Ajax or Benfica, or a genuine contender for bigger things?

Also, the longer their success lasts, the more questions people will ask about their ownership model and Jorge Mendes' involvement with the club. Also, what is their long term plan? Is it sustainable?

 

[Apple fanboy]

Daniel Sturridge has terminated his contract at Turkish club Trabzopnspor.

His strike rate there was pretty good but he has, unsurprisingly, been blighted by injuries. There is talk of a move to MLS. He's just too injury prone at this point, but for one of the "bigger" MLS clubs he might be seen as worth the risk - especially if he can be fit into a system where he isn't asked to run too much.

Banned for a year though for gambling I read.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Banned for a year though for gambling I read.

UEFA have increased his ban on appeal, which led to to the contract termination.

However, that means he will be available this summer (June I think), and I imagine someone will pick him up. MLS still seems a very possible destination.

 

[Apple fanboy]

UEFA have increased his ban on appeal, which led to to the contract termination.

However, that means he will be available this summer (June I think), and I imagine someone will pick him up. MLS still seems a very possible destination.

Well I shouldn’t imagine playing in China has much appeal at the moment.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well I shouldn’t imagine playing in China has much appeal at the moment.

Yes, this is very true; you make a salient point.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Yes, this is very true; you make a salient point.

Actually I don’t think playing in China would ever have much appeal for many. Very different culture than Europe and the US.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Actually I don’t think playing in China would ever have much appeal for many. Very different culture than Europe and the US.

I doubt that many players travel there for the siren lure of the (ancient) Chinese culture; rather, money seems to be the attraction for the players who end up in China.

That, and the fact that their professional careers have largely drawn to a competitive close.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Ugh. I needn't elaborate further than that on Liverpool.

Actually I don’t think playing in China would ever have much appeal for many. Very different culture than Europe and the US.

Big paychecks for mediocre talent. "I'll double/triple your wages if you're willing to live in this very distant and unfamiliar place for three years" is an offer many players find difficult to refuse, especially when their careers are past their peak.

...then they move to MLS where the wages are lower than China but the standard of living/infrastructure is superior, the culture more cosmopolitan (especially in the larger cities), and the time zone less inconvenient. I wouldn't say MLS is a retirement league any more, but it is still a place that is attractive for some late-career European players. The difference is that the league is now also attracting more talented young players from central and South America and even from Europe.