great match!
Mendy was spectacular and Van Dyk was his solid self.
there are 17-18 matches left so the title is still up for gtrabs
who set Citeh count be hit with the injury-virus bug?
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The 2021-2022 Football Thread
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Mendy was spectacular and Van Dyk was his solid self.
there are 17-18 matches left so the title is still up for gtrabs
who set Citeh count be hit with the injury-virus bug?
City are currently sitting not just at the top of the table, but comfortably, very comfortably, at the top of the table.
Currently, they lead the Premier League, by ten points, and have won 17 games (out of 21) to date: By way of contrast, Liverpool and Chelsea have both only managed to register 12 victories each: At this stage of the season, that is a considerable gap to hope to bridge.
To overhaul City, catch up with them, or dream of over-taking them, not only must their competitors play very well, and do so consistently, but, simultaneously, City must also play poorly, or drop points. For, if City keep to their current standard until the end of the season, to put it plainly, they will have won the title.
Now, this (competing credibly with City) is not impossible, but it is less likely the longer the season continues.
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Actually, the race for fourth place seems to be shaping up to be something of a genuine competition.
I hope so! But I really see it between you, Spurs and Man Utd.
It’s Man City’s title to lose now. The lack of second half goals is, I think, the result of fatigue and enforced rotation.
Good to see Pulisic score but it makes me ill to see him in a Chelsea shirt.
It would take a massive collapse for City to lose it now. Not impossible (remember Newcastle’s 12 point lead all those years ago!), but highly unlikely.
I need to rinse my eyes with bleach after watching that United - Wolves match.
These United players are not suited to the 4-2-2-2, but they largely looked like they haven't been properly coached in years and most of them didn't look like they could be bothered to make an effort. I mean, Phil Jones played a match for the first time in ten years and he put in easily the best performance in the team, and yet his poor clearance led to Wolves' winner.
This is definitely not a top 4 team.
These United players are not suited to the 4-2-2-2, but they largely looked like they haven't been properly coached in years and most of them didn't look like they could be bothered to make an effort. I mean, Phil Jones played a match for the first time in ten years and he put in easily the best performance in the team, and yet his poor clearance led to Wolves' winner.
This is definitely not a top 4 team.
It's my fault - I recently opined that one never beats Man Utd 1-0.
The league isn't lost yet for 'Pool, and the top four race could be tight, but in all probability Man City have hoovered up yet another domestic title and that takes some of the intrigue out of the season.
After tonight’s match I think you’d take me in a Utd jersey!
So transfer madness has begun! I start each window with the same prayer. Keep Rice, buy Lingard! Will my prayers be answered?
Lingard was a great fit at West Ham, but I don't see United wanting to strengthen a legitimate Top 4 rival this window. You can always get sign him on a free this summer.
Trippier to Newcastle a done deal, £12 million fee. Atletico really wanted United to give them £30+ million for him this summer? Everyone thinks United's transfer team are suckers, and there is plenty of proof over the years that they are / were.
I really like this signing for Newcastle. £12m for a player of Trippier's quality is a shocking (in a good way) turn for the manner in which the club does business! We need a lot more work in the window, but this is a great start.
Probably a long shot, but if Gerrard (which is rumoured to be an important factor in Coutinho's decision) cannot get him "back to his old self", then I don't see who can.
The Coutinho loan is very interesting - I have no idea how it will pan out. Phil had a few truly excellent seasons at 'Pool and was a key member of the team that nearly won the league. Players of his ability don't become crap overnight, but he moved to a Barca club about to implode and massive expectations were placed on him to be an ersatz Neymar.
At his best Coutinho is world class, and obviously this is all about Gerrard's presence at Villa. I truly hope Phil rediscovers his form there.
At his best Coutinho is world class, and obviously this is all about Gerrard's presence at Villa. I truly hope Phil rediscovers his form there.
Ah the magic of the FA cup. Just watched the highlights of Cambridge Utd knocking out Newcastle at St James’s park. They deserved their win. Their keeper made some good saves. Hope they get a good draw for the fourth round.
Now a club very local to me Kidderminster Harriers, knock out Reading. Good result for them. Hoping they also get a good draw.
Just happened to tune in to Sunderland v Wycombe this morning...a great 3-3 draw with two goals in extra time.
For Cambridge, a classic 'fairytale' match, and I forgot Wes Hoolahan was still playing football!
I watched the match. Newcastle created a bunch of chances , especially early on, but didn't finish them / couldn't stay onside. Cambridge had one real chance the whole match and they buried it, and their keeper made a handful of excellent saves. Newcastle might theoretically be the richest club on the planet now, but they aren't bullying anyone just yet. It'll take more than a billion pounds of transfers to get there.
For Cambridge, a classic 'fairytale' match, and I forgot Wes Hoolahan was still playing football!
Actually, as a closeted football romantic, I love the "giant-killing" fairy tale potential and the possibility of same in FA Cup runs; it is the kind of thing that fires (footballing) imaginations in children (indeed, not just in children) and keeps dreams alive in adults.
Speaking of giant-killings, Liverpool are now down 1-0 at Anfield to Shrewsbury...Shrewsbury are already beginning to time-waste in the 29th minute. ?
Every opposition manager knows what it takes to beat Liverpool from a broad tactical perspective: either exploit 'Pool's high line with balls over the top, or attack Liverpool on the wings when the wingbacks have gone walkabout upfield. The challenge there is not in tactics but execution.
Shrewsbury knew this and did a good job exploiting both of Liverpool's weaknesses, especially in the first half. Udoh was a real menace playing off the shoulders of the Liverpool center backs and looking for those long passes over the top. Ogbeta on Shrewsbury's left scythed repeatedly through Liverpool's young right flank of Bradley, Dixon-Bonner, and Gordon, who just couldn't cope with the demands of pushing forward but also defending. He put in two great crosses early and one yielded a textbook goal. Konate probably could have done better defending the cross.
But that youthful Liverpool right side also produced a nice goal, with Gordon finishing very well after a Bradley cross. 'Pool had their noses in front after a late first half PK but were laboring till Firmino got subbed in and injected some cheeky magic and iced it with a back-heeled goal in the second half. Classic Klopp Liverpool - they can be got at but they will usually hurt you more than you hurt them. Fabinho roofed a fourth at the death.
The scoreline makes the match look a lot more one-sided than it was though. Most of the match was Shrewsbury defending but looking fairly comfortable doing so, and patiently waiting for an opportunity. Liverpool were the better side but not by miles. They never really got behind Shrewsbury's defense, instead trying to shoot through them and break through on set plays. Minamino's cameo was anonymous and Konate had a bit of a lumbering performance, a few wayward touches.
Shrewsbury conceded a dumb penalty and had a goal chalked off for a tight but clear offside. Had those incidents gone differently it could have been a hairier ride for Liverpool.
Shrewsbury knew this and did a good job exploiting both of Liverpool's weaknesses, especially in the first half. Udoh was a real menace playing off the shoulders of the Liverpool center backs and looking for those long passes over the top. Ogbeta on Shrewsbury's left scythed repeatedly through Liverpool's young right flank of Bradley, Dixon-Bonner, and Gordon, who just couldn't cope with the demands of pushing forward but also defending. He put in two great crosses early and one yielded a textbook goal. Konate probably could have done better defending the cross.
But that youthful Liverpool right side also produced a nice goal, with Gordon finishing very well after a Bradley cross. 'Pool had their noses in front after a late first half PK but were laboring till Firmino got subbed in and injected some cheeky magic and iced it with a back-heeled goal in the second half. Classic Klopp Liverpool - they can be got at but they will usually hurt you more than you hurt them. Fabinho roofed a fourth at the death.
The scoreline makes the match look a lot more one-sided than it was though. Most of the match was Shrewsbury defending but looking fairly comfortable doing so, and patiently waiting for an opportunity. Liverpool were the better side but not by miles. They never really got behind Shrewsbury's defense, instead trying to shoot through them and break through on set plays. Minamino's cameo was anonymous and Konate had a bit of a lumbering performance, a few wayward touches.
Shrewsbury conceded a dumb penalty and had a goal chalked off for a tight but clear offside. Had those incidents gone differently it could have been a hairier ride for Liverpool.