Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

The 2020-2021 Football Thread

Lord Blackadder said:
Der Klassiker was another match we are supposed to think was a titanic clash but Bayern won handily again so yawn. Haaland did strike twice though....he'll be in Bayern colors soon enough. :rolleyes:

Hot take: the Bundesliga would unquestionably be the best league model on the planet - if it weren't for Bayern's tedious and total dominance.
Click to expand...
I think part of the issue with the Bundesliga is that Germans (to most non-Germans) are very foreign. The language, the culture, the customs...people can relate to the English and the Scottish and even to some degree to the Spanish and Portuguese, but not really the Germans. I have a bunch of German friends and I have to say...some of the things they do/say/find funny or interesting are really weird to me.
 
Lord Blackadder said:
Der Klassiker was another match we are supposed to think was a titanic clash but Bayern won handily again so yawn. Haaland did strike twice though....he'll be in Bayern colors soon enough. :rolleyes:

Hot take: the Bundesliga would unquestionably be the best league model on the planet - if it weren't for Bayern's tedious and total dominance.
Click to expand...
I love watching German footy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lord Blackadder
Apple fanboy said:
Swapped out Fernandez for KDB in my FF. but City play twice this week. But you never know.
Click to expand...

At least KDB has another shot at it this match week, after McTominey and Fred marked him straight out of the Manchester Derby.

The early penalty certainly set the tone for the rest of the match, letting United sit back and soak up the pressure which they did very well this time out. The current United side matches up well with City defensively: Shaw did a job on Mahrez and Aaron Wan-Bissaka lives rent free in Raheem Sterling's head. If only United could break down and beat the lower tier sides who sit back and park the bus, but they do need more quality in the squad to be true title contenders. Still, have to be pleased with the overall progress they've made this season.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Scepticalscribe
Silencio said:
United...
Click to expand...


Silencio said:
. Still, have to be pleased with the overall progress they've made this season.
Click to expand...
Yeah I think to be honest, with the way the season started and all the howls of derision at OGS's management, United have done exceptionally well this season.
As a prolific anti-ManU campaigner, I would have loved to see them struggle all season; but they really have found their groove and with a stronger squad could be the real deal for a few years to come.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JamesMike and Scepticalscribe
Silencio said:
At least KDB has another shot at it this match week, after McTominey and Fred marked him straight out of the Manchester Derby.

The early penalty certainly set the tone for the rest of the match, letting United sit back and soak up the pressure which they did very well this time out. The current United side matches up well with City defensively: Shaw did a job on Mahrez and Aaron Wan-Bissaka lives rent free in Raheem Sterling's head. If only United could break down and beat the lower tier sides who sit back and park the bus, but they do need more quality in the squad to be true title contenders. Still, have to be pleased with the overall progress they've made this season.
Click to expand...
I'm sure it's largely down to my own bias, but I remain very surprised at how well they are doing. I believed, and still believe, that OGS is in a position that exceeds his capabilities and as recently as the beginning of this season the squad looked like a mishmash of expensive under-performers mixed with overrated journeymen plus Bruno Fernandes. But the club continue to make me eat my words, which is excruciating especially given Liverpool's demoralizing and catastrophic loss of form.

My last post half-seriously suggested Haaland would be in Bayern colors soon, but I think he's just as likely to end up in Manchester, which would be a great singing for either club and truly disheartening for the rest of us.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HandsomeDanNZ, Silencio and Scepticalscribe
Lord Blackadder said:
I'm sure it's largely down to my own bias, but I remain very surprised at how well they are doing. I believed, and still believe, that OGS is in a position that exceeds his capabilities and as recently as the beginning of this season the squad looked like a mishmash of expensive under-performers mixed with overrated journeymen plus Bruno Fernandes. But the club continue to make me eat my words, which is excruciating especially given Liverpool's demoralizing and catastrophic loss of form.

My last post half-seriously suggested Haaland would be in Bayern colors soon, but I think he's just as likely to end up in Manchester, which would be a great singing for either club and truly disheartening for the rest of us.
Click to expand...
Not a Utd fan, but I’m pleased for OGS as he comes across as a likeable guy.
Although if talking of managers of the season (and yes I am biased!), it’s got to be David Moyes. Only Man City have scored more points in 2021 than us.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HandsomeDanNZ and Scepticalscribe
Apple fanboy said:
Not a Utd fan, but I’m pleased for OGS as he comes across as a likeable guy.
Although if talking of managers of the season (and yes I am biased!), it’s got to be David Moyes. Only Man City have scored more points in 2021 than us.
Click to expand...
You certainly can't fault OGS on personality, and his generally affable nature serves him well.

Moyes has had an excellent season, no question there. There's a long way to go but West Ham are squarely in the top four race and a European campaign is looking very likely next season.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HandsomeDanNZ and Scepticalscribe
Lord Blackadder said:
You certainly can't fault OGS on personality, and his generally affable nature serves him well.

Moyes has had an excellent season, no question there. There's a long way to go but West Ham are squarely in the top four race and a European campaign is looking very likely next season.
Click to expand...
If I’m honest I see the 4th spot going to Chelsea. But I’d have settled for 5th at the start of the season.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HandsomeDanNZ and Scepticalscribe
I agree that United are actually overachieving at least a little bit. As a fan I see the flaws in the squad and in Ole's tactical acumen more clearly, but he's done a fantastic job at man management and building back the culture of self-belief throughout the club that broke down after Sir Alex retired. The result against City is kind of glossing over the lack of available depth at the moment, though AC Milan has a long list of absentees for Thursday's UEL tie, as well. We can't all have squads as stacked as City and Chelsea.

Unfortunately, I have a hard time seeing the Glazers backing him enough in the summer sufficiently to put them over the top to truly compete for the PL or UCL. They did at last appoint a dedicated Football Director, so I guess we'll see what that means for transfers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Scepticalscribe and Lord Blackadder
Silencio said:
I agree that United are actually overachieving at least a little bit. As a fan I see the flaws in the squad and in Ole's tactical acumen more clearly, but he's done a fantastic job at man management and building back the culture of self-belief throughout the club that broke down after Sir Alex retired. The result against City is kind of glossing over the lack of available depth at the moment, though AC Milan has a long list of absentees for Thursday's UEL tie, as well. We can't all have squads as stacked as City and Chelsea.

Unfortunately, I have a hard time seeing the Glazers backing him enough in the summer sufficiently to put them over the top to truly compete for the PL or UCL. They did at last appoint a dedicated Football Director, so I guess we'll see what that means for transfers.
Click to expand...
Man Utd are overachieving just when several other clubs are badly underachieving all at once. Which is probably why their rise feels so meteoric to me. But it also might mean their form is not sustainable as everyone else regresses towards the mean (either up or down as the case may be). I have to believe Liverpool will shake off this slump at some point. Chelsea are already improving post-Frank. Spurs and Arsenal are harder to predict, there is more potential for them to get mired in the longer term but at this point it's still a fair assumption that they will not remain where they are.

Man Utd needed a director of football, so that is undoubtedly a good long-term structural decision. But it might not provide much benefit in the short term depending on funding (as you mentioned) and the performance of the person in the job.
 
Lord Blackadder said:
Man Utd are overachieving just when several other clubs are badly underachieving all at once. Which is probably why their rise feels so meteoric to me. But it also might mean their form is not sustainable as everyone else regresses towards the mean (either up or down as the case may be). I have to believe Liverpool will shake off this slump at some point. Chelsea are already improving post-Frank. Spurs and Arsenal are harder to predict, there is more potential for them to get mired in the longer term but at this point it's still a fair assumption that they will not remain where they are.

Man Utd needed a director of football, so that is undoubtedly a good long-term structural decision. But it might not provide much benefit in the short term depending on funding (as you mentioned) and the performance of the person in the job.
Click to expand...

Once van Dijk is able (and passed fit) to return, I think you will see a marked improvement in Liverpool's performance and results.

Elsewhere, Tuchel is an excellent manager, and I expect that Chelsea will do very well with him, and, while I agree with the remarks already made re OGS's limitations as manager, (many of which are due to inexperience/lack of confidence at that level), I must say that I like the man, his affable personality, his genuine palpable decency, and applaud his superb man-management skills.
 
Apple fanboy said:
Man City demolished Southampton 5-2. Good for my FF!
Click to expand...
With 6 changes to the starting 11 and yet more injuries, I expected worse.
All in all, we had the ball in the back of the net 4 times against a very strong Man City side. 2 counted. Keeps the goal difference a little less lopsided.
Ralph is now publicly calling out the board and saying they need to spend to improve - deepen the squad or fight a relegation battle every season.
I agree...it's been too long that we have relied on the academy boys to scrape us through.

Overall, I can't see this defeat having too much of an effect on our season - this one was expected...and to be honest (as I said in the outset) I expected worse.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lord Blackadder
In terms of overall squad quality and depth (assuming full health), City and Liverpool are the clear #1 and #2. You can make a good case for either United or Chelsea as #3, but I think Chelsea is a deeper squad, so they get my #3 and United #4. Spurs and Leicester would follow.

So using this metric, and given Liverpool's horrible injury problems, United is probably achieving at par or slightly above. Chelsea massively underachieved under Lampard, but Tuchel is getting a lot more out of a deep and talented squad. Leicester is overachieving, though they too have to deal with some key injuries at the moment. West Ham and Villa are definitely overachieving, though I always thought their talent was underrated and last season it felt inexplicable that they were both in relegation trouble. You could say that Wolves have really underachieved, but selling Jota and losing Jimenez to such a serious injury really knocked them down a few levels.

Feels weird not to mention Arsenal. They remind me of United from a few years back — some nice pieces, but lots of deadwood and young prospects who aren't ready yet. If they're patient and stick to their plan, I think they'll be okay.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Scepticalscribe and Lord Blackadder
Silencio said:
In terms of overall squad quality and depth (assuming full health), City and Liverpool are the clear #1 and #2. You can make a good case for either United or Chelsea as #3, but I think Chelsea is a deeper squad, so they get my #3 and United #4. Spurs and Leicester would follow.

So using this metric, and given Liverpool's horrible injury problems, United is probably achieving at par or slightly above. Chelsea massively underachieved under Lampard, but Tuchel is getting a lot more out of a deep and talented squad. Leicester is overachieving, though they too have to deal with some key injuries at the moment. West Ham and Villa are definitely overachieving, though I always thought their talent was underrated and last season it felt inexplicable that they were both in relegation trouble. You could say that Wolves have really underachieved, but selling Jota and losing Jimenez to such a serious injury really knocked them down a few levels.

Feels weird not to mention Arsenal. They remind me of United from a few years back — some nice pieces, but lots of deadwood and young prospects who aren't ready yet. If they're patient and stick to their plan, I think they'll be okay.
Click to expand...
You forgot Everton in your fair write up. Having a good year also.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Silencio
Apple fanboy said:
You forgot Everton in your fair write up. Having a good year also.
Click to expand...
Overall yes, though maybe they are slightly underachieving given that Ancelotti and the new signings have raised expectations somewhat.

Good results for Spurs and Arsenal in the Europa League. Man Utd let in a late equalizer against Milan but their next match is away with the aggregate at 1-1...they can camp out and frustrate Milan and hit them on the break. Maybe Milan are favorites but not by much I should think. The worst news for OGS (and the good news for AFB) is that the injury list is growing somewhat ahead of the match with West Ham.

'Pool won a football match the other day too. Fancy that.
 
I'd say Everton is slightly overachieving. They're a good team, but the top 10 is very crowded. I'm pretty sure I mentioned that going in to the season that 3rd though 10th place would be pretty tight, but it turned out that 2nd through 10th is more accurate due to Liverpool's injury woes.

Speaking of injury woes: United's squad is severely depleted with an in-form West Ham coming to town. You might even get to see Joe Hugill up front for the home side.
 
Silencio said:
I'd say Everton is slightly overachieving. They're a good team, but the top 10 is very crowded. I'm pretty sure I mentioned that going in to the season that 3rd though 10th place would be pretty tight, but it turned out that 2nd through 10th is more accurate due to Liverpool's injury woes.

Speaking of injury woes: United's squad is severely depleted with an in-form West Ham coming to town. You might even get to see Joe Hugill up front for the home side.
Click to expand...
I have everything crossed. But Lingard not playing will hurt us. He’s been a great loan. I hope he stays.
 
Hoping Leeds can find one of those performances today even though I dropped Bamford in my FF team. Really need Chelsea, Everton and Spurs to drop points this weekend. Can't see Everton losing but the North London derby could through a curve ball in the race for 4th. Of course all academic if we lose against Utd. Hope we can do it.
 
Silencio said:
I'd say Everton is slightly overachieving. They're a good team, but the top 10 is very crowded. I'm pretty sure I mentioned that going in to the season that 3rd though 10th place would be pretty tight, but it turned out that 2nd through 10th is more accurate due to Liverpool's injury woes.
Click to expand...
That's true, though, as I said, I think expectations among some are raised, and there has been plenty of talk of bigger ambition. But they are hovering just above their typical average league finishing position right now, so if they finish 6th it will be a good season by that metric at least.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Silencio and pachyderm
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back