Still in the playoff hunt as well at 7th.
Rotherham is having a great year in League 1.
Top of the table and looking like they may not lose again this season.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
The 2021-2022 Football Thread
- Thread starter Scepticalscribe
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Still in the playoff hunt as well at 7th.
Rotherham is having a great year in League 1.
Top of the table and looking like they may not lose again this season.
Apparently Lucas Digne and Rafa has had a falling out:
www.caughtoffside.com
I'm getting increasingly sure that Benitez just isn't a good fit for Everton.
I'm sure one of them are gone by January, and - even though Godfrey has been excellent as a substitute - Digne had been one of our top players the last couple of seasons...
Digne missing from Everton squad after row with Benitez
Everton full-back Lucas Digne has been left out of the last two match squads, but the reason for this is not down to an injury or suspension.
I'm getting increasingly sure that Benitez just isn't a good fit for Everton.
I'm sure one of them are gone by January, and - even though Godfrey has been excellent as a substitute - Digne had been one of our top players the last couple of seasons...
I feel a bit for Rafa. His best striker has been unavailable for most of the season. He will always be a Liverpool man for many of the Everton fans, so it was always going to be difficult for him.Apparently Lucas Digne and Rafa has had a falling out:
Digne missing from Everton squad after row with Benitez
Everton full-back Lucas Digne has been left out of the last two match squads, but the reason for this is not down to an injury or suspension.
I'm getting increasingly sure that Benitez just isn't a good fit for Everton.
I'm sure one of them are gone by January, and - even though Godfrey has been excellent as a substitute - Digne had been one of our top players the last couple of seasons...
But realistically what do they expect. Outside of the greedy six, the best hope any of the rest have is to be best if the rest or to break into the top six some years.
Meanwhile at UEFA today, they're making an utter mess of the Champions League draw for the knockout stages. Due to some mistakes by someone or other in the middle of the draw, they had to go back and redraw all the matchups again. United were initially paired with PSG (AGAIN), but now will face Atletico Madrid. Real Madrid initially got Benfica, but now will face PSG. What a shambles.
Liverpool had a great draw the first time around but the second is not too bad at all, happy 
What a mess! They threw the 'third party' handling the software under the bus, but the buck stops with UEFA. Poor Salzburg initially drew Liverpool and now have Bayern, so out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Liverpool now have the opportunity to break the other half of Milan's hearts, but it's a tough opponent.
I think Atleti is a worse draw for Man Utd than PSG was, Real have likely already put the league out of reach so Simeone knows his best chance at silverware is now in Europe. He will focus on this tie and Atleti are masters at sitting back, bogging the game down, clogging up space, fouling, wasting time, frustrating opponents till they make mistakes - Man Utd's nightmare scenario. Man City and Chelsea basically have byes to the next round, I can't see them failing to get past Sporting and Lille, respectively (though I'll chuckle heartily if either do fail).
UEFA have scrapped away goals, so it's now a simple aggregate score followed by extra time and PKs. I hate extra time but I'm fine with this change. The away goals rule comes from a different era and no longer serves its purpose. So really the calculus is simple now - draw your away matches, win your home matches, and you are through. It's like MLS!
Agree 100% that United didn't really get an upgrade in that second draw. PSG are a daunting prospect, but definitely beatable. This Atleti side isn't really one of their best, but the way Simeone likes to play will be challenging for a disjointed United attack to break down.
Now United has actually been hit for real with a Covid outbreak and shut down their first team operations at Carrington, and they have yet to travel to London for their scheduled match against Brentford.
Now United has actually been hit for real with a Covid outbreak and shut down their first team operations at Carrington, and they have yet to travel to London for their scheduled match against Brentford.
Last edited:
There are a record number of cases in the league right now. Things have never been worse, so I'm really not sure what happens next. The league and UK government do not seem inclined to implement any big changes or restrictions (the league is recommending clubs practice social distancing and mask usage), so for now I guess the 'cunning plan' is to just postpone matches and hope case numbers drop...
We will go into lockdown after Christmas for sure. They are just postponing it in my opinion because they do t want to be seen as the party who cancelled Christmas (again!). Personally I think that means back to football behind closed doors or limiting the number of fans.
Sadly, but rightly, I believe that closed staium games are the way to go for the short term. It's winter - there's an increase in numbers of Covid cases and Omicron has arrived.
It's the right thing to do, even if it's not as fun to watch.
The reality is what it is. But, of course, reality itself has become highly politicized. Earlier this summer I would have gone to a game and been reasonably comfortable. But right now I wouldn't.
At the moment I'm shocked Liverpool haven't seen players go down with COVID yet. But with every passing week it becomes more likely.
It's a shame about Aguero's forced retirement, one of the best strikers I've ever seen and most of us will remember the 'AgueroooOOOOO!' moment with some fondness, we didn't dread the Man City juggernaut and what it has done to the game yet at that point...
He can at least reflect back on a very successful career.
...but that's why we love Bielsa. He's the anti-Mourinho. He has won relatively little, all things considered, but is almost universally respected.
He can at least reflect back on a very successful career.
Very predictable though...Bielsa teams are quixotically willing to go toe-to-toe with the biggest clubs. Morally laudable and romantic, but a farce from a pragmatic perspective. They get hammered every time, however exciting it is.
...but that's why we love Bielsa. He's the anti-Mourinho. He has won relatively little, all things considered, but is almost universally respected.
Yup - Aguero will be sadly missed from the game. What a player!
Re Bielsa: I do wonder what he'd be able to achieve (if anything) with a squad like Chelsea's or Man City's.
Could he achieve great things? He certainly plays wonderful attacking football...but would a strong, expensive squad have the heart for it?
Congratulations @Scepticalscribe. A good win for Arsenal. Just why did it have to be the night before I meet up with my Arsenal supporting friend!
Thank you.
Given the result - and I did look in on this thread a short while ago - I preferred not to make any comment until you had shown up.
A very good result for Arsenal, West Ham are an excellent side these days; fortunately, Aubameyang's absence was not an issue (and I am pleased to see that - for now - he has been relieved of the captain's armband).
However, I would like to see this little habit of missing penalties (three in recent weeks, counting tonight's) addressed.
Enjoy yourself tomorrow.
Looks like a real dogfight for fourth place at the moment, though at the end of the day it’s going to be Man Utd.
Last edited:
I wouldn't see it as "captaincy" issues, more as an Aubameyang issue.
To my mind, the guy is old enough, experienced enough, and well paid enough, to know (an awful lot) better. Some of the senior players are less responsible (on and off the pitch) than should be the case.
But, a very good victory, and - while finishing a season above Spurs is not something that bothers me, - I do get a sense of improvement in the team and am very pleased to see how some of the promising younger players are (or apear to be) coming into their own.
To my mind, the guy is old enough, experienced enough, and well paid enough, to know (an awful lot) better. Some of the senior players are less responsible (on and off the pitch) than should be the case.
But, a very good victory, and - while finishing a season above Spurs is not something that bothers me, - I do get a sense of improvement in the team and am very pleased to see how some of the promising younger players are (or apear to be) coming into their own.
English football has an obsession with captains...in a sport where players are mollycoddled to death and drilled to exhaustion, solid leadership on the pitch during matches can certainly be an advantage, but I think the media/fan narratives about the importance of captains hugely inflate their value.
Club recruitment strategies, training regimens, and managers' people-management and tactics are all a million times more important than having a fan-favorite veteran player running around with his chest puffed out, shouting at people and looking fierce. 'BRAVE John Terry! Look at him frown and shout! that's leadership!!!' But fans and certain pundits absolutely lap that stuff up. If you come out unprepared or with a crap squad or bad tactics, no amount of shouting and frowning will fix it.
With all that being said, having your captain show poor discipline or a lack of professionalism is bad optics. But it's not the crisis some would have us believe.
Club recruitment strategies, training regimens, and managers' people-management and tactics are all a million times more important than having a fan-favorite veteran player running around with his chest puffed out, shouting at people and looking fierce. 'BRAVE John Terry! Look at him frown and shout! that's leadership!!!' But fans and certain pundits absolutely lap that stuff up. If you come out unprepared or with a crap squad or bad tactics, no amount of shouting and frowning will fix it.
With all that being said, having your captain show poor discipline or a lack of professionalism is bad optics. But it's not the crisis some would have us believe.
100% agree with all of this, but then my club's captain is Harry Maguire. :/
Agree completely, and very well said.
And again, agree completely.
Liverpool respond to Man City's big win over Leeds with a 3-1 over Newcastle that felt more nervous than it really was. Thiago made two bad errors early in the match, one resulting in Newcastle's goal from an admittedly excellent strike from Shelvey. If not for that this would have been a 3-0 or 4-0 I think.
Liverpool scored when they had to and played with patience on a day where Virgil, Fabinho, and Curtis Jones went down with COVID. Konate looked very good in defense, thus far it seems the decision to buy him was a wise one. On paper Liverpool have excellent depth at center back but with Nat Phillips likely moving on and Joe Gomez suffering from terrible luck with injuries, Konate is going to be a key player for the second half of the season. Also good to see Firmino and Keita back on the pitch and looking reasonably lively.
Newcastle never stopped working even at 3-1, but their chances were few and Saint-Maximin picked up an injury in the second half. They have brutal schedule this week, facing Man City in a couple days.
Trent was a difference maker once again, creating plenty of chances with his crosses and scoring a thunderous insurance goal. But of course Mo scored what was effectively the winner. No player is bigger than a club but Reds fans will not rest easily till he has signed a new contract.
Liverpool scored when they had to and played with patience on a day where Virgil, Fabinho, and Curtis Jones went down with COVID. Konate looked very good in defense, thus far it seems the decision to buy him was a wise one. On paper Liverpool have excellent depth at center back but with Nat Phillips likely moving on and Joe Gomez suffering from terrible luck with injuries, Konate is going to be a key player for the second half of the season. Also good to see Firmino and Keita back on the pitch and looking reasonably lively.
Newcastle never stopped working even at 3-1, but their chances were few and Saint-Maximin picked up an injury in the second half. They have brutal schedule this week, facing Man City in a couple days.
Trent was a difference maker once again, creating plenty of chances with his crosses and scoring a thunderous insurance goal. But of course Mo scored what was effectively the winner. No player is bigger than a club but Reds fans will not rest easily till he has signed a new contract.
Arsenal lead at Leeds by three goals to one.
Their attack has been excellent, but they have conceded an idiotic penalty, and - if I am completely honest - Granit Xhaka should have been dismissed for an earlier (disgraceful and potentially dangerous) challenge.
Actually, if I am entirely honest, that is one particular player I would like - heartily like - to see depart from our ranks.
Candidly, I am tired of his endlessly repeated history, especially the ill-judged fouls and insane red mists which descend - a character trait which is not now likely to change - of sometimes downright dangerous, and often reckless, and utterly irresponsible challenges, tackles, and yes, fouls.
Their attack has been excellent, but they have conceded an idiotic penalty, and - if I am completely honest - Granit Xhaka should have been dismissed for an earlier (disgraceful and potentially dangerous) challenge.
Actually, if I am entirely honest, that is one particular player I would like - heartily like - to see depart from our ranks.
Candidly, I am tired of his endlessly repeated history, especially the ill-judged fouls and insane red mists which descend - a character trait which is not now likely to change - of sometimes downright dangerous, and often reckless, and utterly irresponsible challenges, tackles, and yes, fouls.
Last edited:
Four-one now, to Arsenal.
A tidy enough, a decent and a welcome victory.
A tidy enough, a decent and a welcome victory.
Last edited:
Well given it’s the only match that was on today, I expect a lot of analysis on MOTD!
Leeds are in trouble. They are leaking goals far too easy. They need to beef up their defence.