The 2019-2020 Football Thread

[Scepticalscribe]

Tight it is. We have Chelsea next. The easy games just keep on coming!

I've been studying the table closely: Going on form, I'd say that Watford have a fairly good chance of staying up; it is not just that they are a point ahead of the cluster of three teams on 27 points, but that they have 10 draws, and 14 defeats (as opposed to the 18 defeats suffered by West Ham, Aston Villa and Bournemouth). One more victory would put them in a fairly strong position, and their record shows that they are hard enough to beat.

At this stage, I'd be astonished if Norwich survived; their stats are terrible.

Thus, - this week (and yes, there are a number of games remaining, and a victory or two could transform anyone's season), I would argue that two out of the three of Bournemouth, Villa and West Ham look to be in most danger.

Ahh I gotcha. We call it soccer. Over here football is like Greenbay packers and soccer is like Manchester United lol

Over here, soccer is football.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I've been studying the table closely: Going on form, I'd say that Watford have a fairly good chance of staying up; it is not just that they are a point ahead of the cluster of three teams on 27 points, but that they have 10 draws, and 14 defeats (as opposed to the 18 defeats suffered by West Ham, Aston Villa and Bournemouth). One more victory would put them in a fairly strong position, and their record shows that they are hard enough to beat.

At this stage, I'd be astonished if Norwich survived; their stats are terrible.

Thus, - this week (and yes, there are a number of games remaining, and a victory or two could transform anyone's season), I would argue that two out of the three of Bournemouth, Villa and West Ham look to be in most danger.

Sadly I agree with you. We are struggling to score. Out top striker is out injured. It doesn’t look good at all.

 

[pachyderm]

This thread is about Football. For American Football this is the thread you are after.

I'm pretty surprised this still happens.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

This happens reliably about once a year in this thread.

"Soccer" is not an Americanism, it's a very old term for the game - and actually for most of the history of the game it was in common use. Being an American, I use the term interchangeably with football. It's always going to be an issue in the US because of our application of the latter term to our version of rugby (Which was itself also previously referred to as "football" or "rugby football").

With all that being said, soccer is now just about the USA's third most popular sport, and continues to grow faster than the top two (basketball and gridiron football). Baseball's implosion during the COVID crisis will probably hasten that process further. The days of Americans shrugging their shoulders at the beautiful game are over.

Very tight at the bottom, as three teams - West Ham, Bournemouth and Aston Villa are all on 27 points, with West Ham ahead - barely - on goal difference. Watford are a point above that, again, at 28 points, whereas Norwich are six points (that is, two won games) adrift, on 21 points, which I very much doubt that they will be able to make up at this stage of the season, as they have only won five matches all season.

Elsewhere, at the other end of the table, Liverpool are leading Crystal Palace by four goals to nil, as the 90th minute approaches, so, I think that @Lord Blackadder can relax for the evening.

Yes, I did indeed relax. For some silly reason three points till coronation feels a lot better than six.

The relegation battle is just too close to call apart from Norwich. Brighton are probably safe unless they suffer a major slump, but the other contenders are all in the mix - each match is now a cup final etc etc.. It would make for a real piece of trivia if Watford went down after being (potentially) the only team to beat Liverpool in the league.

 

[pachyderm]

This happens reliably about once a year in this thread.

"Soccer" is not an Americanism, it's a very old term for the game - and actually for most of the history of the game it was in common use. Being an American, I use the term interchangeably with football. It's always going to be an issue in the US because of our application of the latter term to our version of rugby (Which was itself also previously referred to as "football" or "rugby football").
...

My understanding is it actually came from English folks shortening "association" football ...

 

[Lord Blackadder]

My understanding is it actually came from English folks shortening "association" football ...

I believe that's what the OED claims. Very plausible if not entirely conclusive. Back in the 19th century there were several football "codes" and they hadn't diverged as far as today. Imagine deciding which code to play before each match!

In the US, before the game fizzled out in the 1930s or so, both 'football' and 'soccer' would have been in common use, just as in the rest of the world at the time. By the time the game "rebooted" in the US with the NASL in the 1970s, gridiron football had been invented and grown into a popular sport, so "football" as a term was taken.

I do love reading about the history of the game...so many of the things we take for granted about football have a long and complex past.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

At last, a decent win against Southampton: Arsenal win by two goals to one.

Elsewhere, Burnley defeat Watford by a goal to nil, and Manchester City play Chelsea later this evening.

 

[Apple fanboy]

At last, a decent win against Southampton: Arsenal win by two goals to one.

Elsewhere, Burnley defeat Watford by a goal to nil, and Manchester City play Chelsea later this evening.

Finally! Enjoy your rare win. Glad Watford list. Keeps them in touch with us.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Finally! Enjoy your rare win. Glad Watford list. Keeps them in touch with us.

Rare enough since the re-start, yes, and an away win, too.

Perhaps a beer may be called for.

However, I was pleased to see that Holding and Bellerin were both playing today; better still, the defence was more disciplined and solid (and alert) - than has been usual lately, and best of all, it kept its shape, and kept Southampton at bay.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Rare enough since the re-start, yes, and an away win, too.

Perhaps a beer may be called for.

However, I was pleased to see that Holding and Bellerin were both playing today; better still, the defence was more disciplined and solid (and alert) - than has been usual lately, and best of all, it kept its shape, and kept Southampton at bay.

Enjoy your celebratory beer!

 

[Fred Zed]

Can’t believe Southampton rolled over for Arsenal.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Enjoy your celebratory beer!

My beer is going down rather well, thank you.

Meanwhile, at Chelsea, it is still Chelsea nil, Manchester City nil.

 

[Apple fanboy]

My beer is going down rather well, thank you.

Meanwhile, at Chelsea, it is still Chelsea nil, Manchester City nil.

It's Chelsea's next game I'm interested in!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

It's Chelsea's next game I'm interested in!

That, I can well understand.

But, Liverpool fans must be gnawing their knuckles; if results go their way - in other words, if Manchester City (who have pulled a goal back, so the score in the match against Chelsea now reads 1-1) fail to win, the title goes to Liverpool.

Wow.

Chelsea put away a penalty, so now, 2-1 to Chelsea.

Manchester City need to score two goals in the next er, five minutes, or the title is Liverpool's.

Warm congratulations,& felicitations, @Lord Blackadder: You must be very chuffed, deliriously delighted, and ecstatically happy.

 

[tranceking26]

Congratulations Liverpool fans. That's a long wait for a title, almost as long as I've been alive, but worth it I'm sure! ⚽

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Wow. Just, wow. I know I am simply a fan, and not even a Liverpudlian, but it really does feel special to be a witness to this. It will be a truly unique season for so many reasons - on and off the pitch; it's difficult to put it all succinctly into words.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Wow. Just, wow. I know I am simply a fan, and not even a Liverpudlian, but it really does feel special to be a witness to this. It will be a truly unique season for so many reasons - on and off the pitch; it's difficult to put it all succinctly into words.

Congratulations. I don’t think there was ever any doubt this season.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Congratulations. I don’t think there was ever any doubt this season.

I have mentioned before how I come from a sports town in the US that is characterized mostly by pain and chronic failure, so I think I picked up on a similar sense I felt from many Liverpool fans - even though I immediately realized after deciding to follow them that they were in fact a "big", once-dominant team. So I've grown up in a pessimistic headspace with regards to "my" sports teams and it was all too easy to apply that to Liverpool.

I don't think we'll ever see a dynasty like Ferg's United again - that was a unique confluence of factors - but I do hope this title won't be Liverpool's last for another 30 years.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Wow. Just, wow. I know I am simply a fan, and not even a Liverpudlian, but it really does feel special to be a witness to this. It will be a truly unique season for so many reasons - on and off the pitch; it's difficult to put it all succinctly into words.

Congratulations. Warmest congratulations.

This is not by any means a "fluke":

Look at the consistency of their performance: Two years ago, Liverpool reached the final, and were runners-up, in the Champons' League, a competition where many English clubs have struggled in recent years/decades.

Last year, they won the Champion's League,

And, not content last year with winning the CL, they were also second in the Premiership, chasing Manchester City to the wire, and losing - finally - by a point, on the last day, with a final points tally that would have won the Premier title in every previous year, with the single, sole, solitary exception of the year before that, when Manchester City themselves had amassed an improbably impressive tally to claim the title.

So, an exceptionally well deserved title.

A terrific team and an outstanding manager.

Bravo.
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Congratulations. I don’t think there was ever any doubt this season.

I have been saying all season that the title was Liverpool's to lose; the only question was not whether they would hold their nerve, (I still remember the subtle psychological warfare/nastiness waged successfully by Sir Alex against Kevin Keegan - whom I had always liked) but when they would be crowned.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I have been saying all season that the title was Liverpool's to lose; the only question was not whether they would hold their nerve, (I still remember the subtle psychological warfare/nastiness waged successfully by Sir Alex against Kevin Keegan - whom I had always liked) but when they would be crowned.

Klopp is not one to lose his nerve, and even before Liverpool won any silverware under him it was obvious that he had the right personality for the job. He came in as a very talented manager but seemed to grow in stature with the job. Big signings were made, big leaders emerged in the dressing room, and after the champions league campaign it was obvious that this was a team and club that had all the resources they needed to win a title. But even that is not good enough in this league, and it was never a sure thing even though, in the end, it was a dominant performance across the season.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Klopp is not one to lose his nerve, and even before Liverpool won any silverware under him it was obvious that he had the right personality for the job. He came in as a very talented manager but seemed to grow in stature with the job. Big signings were made, big leaders emerged in the dressing room, and after the champions league campaign it was obvious that this was a team and club that had all the resources they needed to win a title. But even that is not good enough in this league, and it was never a sure thing even though, in the end, it was a dominant performance across the season.

Actually, it was an increasingly dominant performance across three seasons.

And, note that I wrote that the question (to my mind) was not whether they would lose their nerve (I never thought this would happen, not now, not under Klopp, who is a formidable manager and an impressive human being, even though it was thought to have happened earlier, when Keegan, a fine human being, was manager) but when they would be crowned.

Actually, I have thought all season that the title was Liverpool's to lose, and they have done brilliantly, performed extremely well, and exceptionally consistently over the past two seasons.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I’m very happy this morning. The first time I went to Anfield as a child we were league champions and I wouldn’t have believed it would take another 30 years to win it again. Such a good feeling.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I’m very happy this morning. The first time I went to Anfield as a child we were league champions and I wouldn’t have believed it would take another 30 years to win it again. Such a good feeling.

Congrats, a superb achievement, and very well deserved; Liverpool have led from the front, and winning the Premiership with seven games to spare is a formidable and impressive achievement, and a testament to the incredibly high standards that Klopp has introduced and maintained.

For, this is an incredibly consistent expression of footballing excellence sustained over two full seasons.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

The title celebrations also somewhat overshadowed the fact that Liverpool were back to their best against Crystal Palace. With Salah and Robertson back in the side it was a full strength XI and we didn't see any rustiness this time as we did against Everton. Trent's free kicks were back to the expected level and the front three were all present and looking sharp. I hope the squad don't relax with the title now in hand, there is still football to be played and records to break. And next season, if the pandemic permits it, is not far off.

Also, Chelsea fans will be very pleased with their performance. I was thrilled to see the USA's Great Hope Pulisic score a lovely goal. For Man City, the weaknesses in defense continue to be a serious issue that must be resolved. Laporte looks very good but I think he needs a worthy partner if Man City are going to win silverware next season.

 

[Silencio]

It's going to be interesting for City next season. So much depends on whether the European ban holds up or not. Either way, they desperately need help in central defense: I don't think even Chris Smalling and Phil Jones would have contrived to mess up a clearance so badly as the one Chelsea gifted to Pulisic yesterday.

Liverpool will also need to manage refreshing their squad a bit, as they don't have a lot of younger players and I'm sure some of their attacking talent will look for new challenges and/or bigger paydays.

I'd feel a lot worse about Liverpool finally winning again if not for a) the utter inevitability of it, and b) United is finally moving in the right direction again. As long as the Los Angeles Dodgers' World Series drought continues, I'm okay.