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The 2020-2021 Football Thread
- Thread starter Scepticalscribe
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You do mean tonight by the way? It’s nearly over and Chelsea are ahead.
Delighted to see Brentford promoted and I hope that they do well next season in the Premiership.
In the CL (Champions League) final Chelsea defeat Manchester City by a goal to nil.
Today was a good day. Brentford's wait to rejoin the top flight is over, while City's wait for a European Cup goes on.
Pep Guardiola totally outfoxed himself tonight with his starting XI, but Chelsea were very disciplined and got the finish they needed. Thomas Tuchel got it all right, and deserve all plaudits for doing an outstanding job since taking over at Chelsea. The way Chelsea goes through managers so quickly, and the way Tuchel has burned bridges at previous jobs, we'll have to see how long it lasts.
Pep Guardiola totally outfoxed himself tonight with his starting XI, but Chelsea were very disciplined and got the finish they needed. Thomas Tuchel got it all right, and deserve all plaudits for doing an outstanding job since taking over at Chelsea. The way Chelsea goes through managers so quickly, and the way Tuchel has burned bridges at previous jobs, we'll have to see how long it lasts.
Man City failing to win the CL again is completely hilarious. Chelsea won it in classic Chelsea style, with an expensive, short-termist troubleshooter manager hired mid season who will be sacked within the next 14 months.
LOL!! Yes I did, I blame it on my new Magic Keyboard! Congratulations to Chelsea.
Truth is I have no love for Chelsea or Man City, so didn’t really care who won.
I wouldn’t say I wanted Chelsea to win, but Man City losing is a more amusing narrative. Pep really has a track record of overthinking finals. Had he just put out the same side he has in the league in recent weeks they would almost certainly have won.
Wellington Phoenix's A-League playoff hopes were put in doubt last night after a fiery clash with Perth Glory in the "Distance Derby" at Eden Park, Auckland. Ended in a 2-2 draw. A win was needed by both sides for a clear path forward into the finals series.
I was there, with 22 thousand others to cheer on the Nix.
Unfortunately, despite having a penalty saved and many, many chances missed, it really came down to poor officiating again, as it so often does in the A-League.
Examples:
It's not just the A-League, but they seem to be amongst the worst culprits in world football right now. I'm thinking that the way in which refs are treated in the game today makes it harder to recruit good refs, therefore leaving us with what we have - a lot of mediocre referees at the top level, being paid to do a poor job, because there simply isn't anyone better to take their place.
I'm a level 2 NZF referee and gave up officiating, based on the level of abuse received in local club games - I can understand why nobody wants to ref at a higher level, if I am honest.
I was there, with 22 thousand others to cheer on the Nix.
Unfortunately, despite having a penalty saved and many, many chances missed, it really came down to poor officiating again, as it so often does in the A-League.
Examples:
- Striker through on goal, attacker slides in, misses the player and the ball, so grabs his legs...awarded a free kick and no card.
- Goalkeeper has a heated exchange in the goal, punches an attacker in the head. Play on.
- Three (yes, that's three) clear handballs in the penalty area, no penalty awarded.
It's not just the A-League, but they seem to be amongst the worst culprits in world football right now. I'm thinking that the way in which refs are treated in the game today makes it harder to recruit good refs, therefore leaving us with what we have - a lot of mediocre referees at the top level, being paid to do a poor job, because there simply isn't anyone better to take their place.
I'm a level 2 NZF referee and gave up officiating, based on the level of abuse received in local club games - I can understand why nobody wants to ref at a higher level, if I am honest.
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Not a fan of either team, but I wanted Manchester City to win and Chelsea to not get top 4.
I predicted Manchester City to win (don’t ask me to pick the lottery numbers). I was surprised how well Chelsea were set up, even tho Manchester City had more of the ball they just could not do anything with it.
This IMO was Manchester City’s best chance to win the champions league, I don’t see them getting another chance tbh
Man City will keep having chances as long as they keep spending money at this rate...
Will Financial Fair Play rules allow them to continue to spend this kind of money, though?
But look at PSG money doesn’t always help win titles
Man City Money + Pep = pretty solid results usually
I hope you're correct though.
I think it’s quite an ageing team. Really depends on who they can bring in. With Augero going they are weaker. Same as when Kompany left. But you can say the same for any of the greedy six. Just depends on who they can bring in. The best 11 players don’t always make the best team. Some players are happy with squad rotation. Others it affects their form.
That’s what I like about football. Anyone can beat anyone else on their day. Makes it interesting. Anything other than last season where one team has already one the PL by Christmas. Nobody likes that.
In the CL final, to be honest, I would have been happy to see both teams defeated, but, obviously, this was not an option and nor was it about to happen.
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Stunned to read this morning that Barcelona have signed Aguero for 2 years (he's 32).
There's no denying he's a quality player and very Barcelona-esque, but he's older by football standards and a two year deal seems a lot for someone his age in a club that is looking to rebuild and reset.
There's no denying he's a quality player and very Barcelona-esque, but he's older by football standards and a two year deal seems a lot for someone his age in a club that is looking to rebuild and reset.
Yes but it’s a free transfer, so it’s only wages to pick up. I think he’s still a good investment.
Agree with @Apple fanboy on this.
If motivated, older (and experienced) players can be an excellent buy.
Seems quite likely Man City will hunt Harry Kane as one of their additions and that will make them even more formidable. I don't see him staying at Spurs even if the madness of the return of Poch actually happens.
AAhhhhh Wednesday...
www.thestar.co.uk
Exclusive: Sheffield Wednesday players considering walking away over ongoing wages issues
The unpaid wages situation could reach new levels of anguish at Sheffield Wednesday as The Star understands a number of players are considering handing in their notice.
After City got their previous FFP punishment overturned on appeal, you have to say that the FFP rules are completely toothless and no deterrent whatsoever.
Barca and Real are reduced to signing new players on frees. I mean, Agüera for Barca and Alaba for Real are not exactly chopped liver, but they don't have the money to play with right now.
Barca also got Eric Garcia from City on a free, and are likely to close cut-rate deals on a couple of others who let their contracts run down.
Meanwhile, all sorts of drama today as Gareth Southgate is set to announce his final squad for Euro 2020. Mason Greenwood won't be going as he has removed his name from consideration. He'd have been a good player to bring off the bench if chasing a goal, but better for him physically and mentally to spend the time recovering. I wish Marcus Rashford would do the same and get the shoulder surgery already, as I can't see him playing a big role at this tournament.
The real drama is at right back. Will TAA be selected or not? He finished the season pretty strong, and at his best he is a far more compelling player than, say, Kieran Trippier.
[EDIT] The squad has been announced. TAA is in. So are three other onstensble right backs in Trippier, Walker, and Reece James.
The other big surprises are Jude Bellingham and Bukaya Saka, both of whom I am pleased to see there.
Central defense and CDM will be sweating the fitness of Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson. Declan Rice will be asked to carry a heavy load — I've never been convinced by Calvin Phillips.
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The three biggest surprises for me are the omissions of JWP, Ollie Watkins and Jesse Lingard.
JWP became the first player in history to play every minute of two consecutive Premier League seasons, while he was also captain of Saints, regularly lauded as the best set-piece taker on the planet and has clearly upped his work rate over the last couple of years.
Watkins is the future. He's a predatory striker and has been excellent for Villa. He should be in the squad.
Lingard: He's been outstanding for the Hammers in his spell there. He definitely should have been in the squad.
Then we have the ones that shouldn't be there: The injured, the old, the out of form and the "he's a name, so I am putting him in there" players.
I don't think England will make it past the quarter finals. I am a huge England fan, but I think this squad is all kinds of wrong and this could and should be the end for Southgate if they fail to advance past the QF stage.