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The 2020-2021 Football Thread

3-0 down to Leipzig. United simply didn't show up. Inexcusable.

[Edit: the two goals United clawed back made it all the more unbearable, as the third goal United conceded to Justin Kluivert was utterly shambolic between Maguire and De Gea, but that ended up costing them a spot in the knockouts.]

Could get very interesting again if they lose the derby at the weekend.
 
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Silencio said:
3-0 down to Leipzig. United simply didn't show up. Inexcusable.

[Edit: the two goals United clawed back made it all the more unbearable, as the third goal United conceded to Justin Kluivert was utterly shambolic between Maguire and De Gea, but that ended up costing them a spot in the knockouts.]

Could get very interesting again if they lose the derby at the weekend.
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I think that the curiously persistent lack of consistency must be both frustrating and infuriating for supporters of Manchester United.
 
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Leipzeig looked good against Bayern on the weekend, though they are a little ropey in defense. By scoring first they forced Man Utd come out after them, which is not where the OGS version of Man Utd like to be.

Unpleasant scenes in Paris as the match was temporarily suspended after an alleged racist incident involving the fourth official. They will finish tomorrow.

Barca, who can't pay their players at the moment, remain in bad form and slumped to a limp defeat to Juve though they progress from the group stage. This was billed as another Messi v Ronaldo clash but it was nothing of the sort...they are both past their best in terms of fitness and motivation. Both need to move, but nobody can afford either of them.
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
Leipzeig looked good against Bayern on the weekend, though they are a little ropey in defense. By scoring first they forced Man Utd come out after them, which is not where the OGS version of Man Utd like to be.

Unpleasant scenes in Paris as the match was temporarily suspended after an alleged racist incident involving the fourth official. They will finish tomorrow.

Barca, who can't pay their players at the moment, remain in bad form and slumped to a limp defeat to Juve though they progress from the group stage. This was billed as another Messi v Ronaldo clash but it was nothing of the sort...they are both past their best in terms of fitness and motivation. Both need to move, but nobody can afford either of them.
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I read about the allegations. If true that official needs a lifetime ban.
 
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I have been struck by the number of articles that have appeared over the past week in the Guardian that have been questioning Mikel Arteta's methods, vision, creativity, and experience, along with those of his team.

The articles agree that he he not - yet - in trouble, but the fact that such sentences even need to be written does suggest that the topic is under discussion and exploration.

One is a journalist churning (or crafting) copy that may be interesting to read, and might prove thought-provoking; two or three or four suggest that this topic is gaining traction as something that is being spoken of.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
I have been struck by the number of articles that have appeared over the past week in the Guardian that have been questioning Mikel Arteta's methods, vision, creativity, and experience, along with those of his team.

The articles agree that he he not - yet - in trouble, but the fact that such sentences even need to be written does suggest that the topic is under discussion and exploration.

One is a journalist churning (or crafting) copy that may be interesting to read, and might prove thought-provoking; two or three or four suggest that this topic is gaining traction as something that is being spoken of.
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His days are numbered. I think they will already be sounding out replacements.
Mid table with an eye on the teams below is not a fun place to be.
 
Apple fanboy said:
His days are numbered. I think they will already be sounding out replacements.
Mid table with an eye on the teams below is not a fun place to be.
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Not necessarily; seeking to remove the manager before getting rid of those serried ranks of underperforming players who are very expensive deadwood, strikes me as a little premature.
 
Liverpool draw their dead rubber against Midjtylland 1-1 after the obligatory VAR handball call disallowed a Minamino goal in stoppage time. Not much else to day about the match, Liverpool's B team did fine against limited opponents; Kostas Tskimikas picked up an injury though it may not be serious.

Scepticalscribe said:
I have been struck by the number of articles that have appeared over the past week in the Guardian that have been questioning Mikel Arteta's methods, vision, creativity, and experience, along with those of his team.

The articles agree that he he not - yet - in trouble, but the fact that such sentences even need to be written does suggest that the topic is under discussion and exploration.

One is a journalist churning (or crafting) copy that may be interesting to read, and might prove thought-provoking; two or three or four suggest that this topic is gaining traction as something that is being spoken of.
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From the start I have been skeptical of the whole concept of appointing a stalwart former player as a (young) manager. While I wish them well, I have been suspicious of the wisdom of appointing OGS, Lampard, and Arteta as managers to such big clubs with high expectations and big egos. Typically the Manchester United, Chelsea, or Arsenal job would be a gig reserved for highly experienced managers at the peaks of their careers. Those three men, at the time of their appointments, had collectively very little track record in elite management. If not for their associations with their clubs as former players they would not have even been considered.

It's not rational.

They might turn out to be good managers eventually, but their real potential had little to do with their appointments to such high-profile clubs.
 
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The perfect storm in North London?

With a packed stadium of 60,000 fans he may not have got away with the current tactics. Defensive, one might say boring as a long life Spurs fan, but we are in COVID-19 territory. Top of the league. No one has conceded less goals and few have scored more thanks to the counter attack force of Kane and Son.

I was born in 1960 the last time Spurs won the league, could it be I will see it this year???

The tactics are intriguing. Past seasons have been all about the press. Not Spurs these days, sit back soak up the pressure with a well organised defence and counter attack. Could that really work in the modern game?
 
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SteveManila1960 said:
The perfect storm in North London?

With a packed stadium of 60,000 fans he may not have got away with the current tactics. Defensive, one might say boring as a long life Spurs fan, but we are in COVID-19 territory. Top of the league. No one has conceded less goals and few have scored more thanks to the counter attack force of Kane and Son.

I was born in 1960 the last time Spurs won the league, could it be I will see it this year???

The tactics are intriguing. Past seasons have been all about the press. Not Spurs these days, sit back soak up the pressure with a well organised defence and counter attack. Could that really work in the modern game?
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I HOPE SO!!
 
Lord Blackadder said:
Liverpool draw their dead rubber against Midjtylland 1-1 after the obligatory VAR handball call disallowed a Minamino goal in stoppage time. Not much else to day about the match, Liverpool's B team did fine against limited opponents; Kostas Tskimikas picked up an injury though it may not be serious.


From the start I have been skeptical of the whole concept of appointing a stalwart former player as a (young) manager. While I wish them well, I have been suspicious of the wisdom of appointing OGS, Lampard, and Arteta as managers to such big clubs with high expectations and big egos. Typically the Manchester United, Chelsea, or Arsenal job would be a gig reserved for highly experienced managers at the peaks of their careers. Those three men, at the time of their appointments, had collectively very little track record in elite management. If not for their associations with their clubs as former players they would not have even been considered.

It's not rational.

They might turn out to be good managers eventually, but their real potential had little to do with their appointments to such high-profile clubs.
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Agreed.

I suspect that Kenny Dalglish was the exception that proved the rule.
 
Two of the Crew's best players (Darlington Nagbe and Pedro Santos) have tested positive for COVID just over a day before tomorrow's evening's MLS Cup final match against Seattle. With the heart ripped out of our midfield, I think it's pretty much over before a ball is even kicked.

It's going to be about 20F out at game time, and I'll be watching the match outside, socially distanced, with a friend in his backyard. Lots of warm layers and a flask of whiskey in hand. I'll probably be wanting more whiskey by the end.
 
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Scepticalscribe said:
Excitement or stress?

My mother - bless her - used to get (serious and explosive) nose bleeds.

Anyway, congrats on West Ham's (deserved) victory.
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It’s an expression to do with altitude. It’s something people say if your team is higher in the league than it normally is.
Don’t think I’ve ever had a real one!
 
Apple fanboy said:
Enjoy the match @JamesMike. Can’t believe I’m saying this but hoping for a draw to keep you both behind us!
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That was the least impressive, least interesting Manchester derby I have seen in a very long time. It's being seen by some as a "good" result for Man Utd, but that's true only if you consider the status quo at Man Utd "good."

It seemed like most of the players were working reasonably hard, but there wasn't much sparkle in either team. David de Gea does not command his area well, but remains an excellent shot-stopper - today that was enough to preserve the draw.

The top half of the table remains pretty tight, though the order is a little unusual.
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
That was the least impressive, least interesting Manchester derby I have seen in a very long time. It's being seen by some as a "good" result for Man Utd, but that's true only if you consider the status quo at Man Utd "good."

It seemed like most of the players were working reasonably hard, but there wasn't much sparkle in either team. David de Gea does not command his area well, but remains an excellent shot-stopper - today that was enough to preserve the draw.

The top half of the table remains pretty tight, though the order is a little unusual.
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What about THE CREW!!!??!!???
 
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