I agree that the Aubamayang situation had become unrecoverable. The challenge going forward is to build a strong squad in the summer transfer market in direct competition with Spurs, Man Utd, Everton, West Ham, Leicester, Newcastle, etc.
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The 2021-2022 Football Thread
- Thread starter Scepticalscribe
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I'm pleased with the level of business our new owners managed this window. Would've liked another attacking player, beyond Wood, but it just didn't work out.
Now the real test for Eddie Howe and his men will be PL survival. It will be a tough ask, but I'm hopeful.
Now the real test for Eddie Howe and his men will be PL survival. It will be a tough ask, but I'm hopeful.
You'll be without Wood for a bit.
The All Whites got hit with Covid while they were preparing in the Middle East to play a friendly International.
They'll all be in isolation while those that have Covid are working their way through the virus.
Anyone watch the Old Firm Derby?
Great to see Celtic doing well again and with an amazing atmosphere at the ground, from what i could tell on the TV.
It's just such a shame that the Scottish Prem is so completely dominated by these two Glasgow clubs. I'd love to see some really long-term investment in Scottish football clubs to provide some competition to these two, but I just don't see it happening.
Also - the quality of the football was pretty good, but what could I compare it to? Against each other, it was high quality stuff at times, but neither club has a particularly storied history in Europe's elite. What does this say about the SPL? If anything.
Great to see Celtic doing well again and with an amazing atmosphere at the ground, from what i could tell on the TV.
It's just such a shame that the Scottish Prem is so completely dominated by these two Glasgow clubs. I'd love to see some really long-term investment in Scottish football clubs to provide some competition to these two, but I just don't see it happening.
Also - the quality of the football was pretty good, but what could I compare it to? Against each other, it was high quality stuff at times, but neither club has a particularly storied history in Europe's elite. What does this say about the SPL? If anything.
I saw the result. Great result.
One of Wednesday's players grew up a Celtic fan and he has been taking a ton of stick from our fans for shouting out his support on twitter. Our fans, and ownership, are by and large, absolute idiots.
The SPL is not really a 'league' as such; it is a sort of tank for the Old Firm to swim around in. The rest of the 'clubs' serve as fish food. It's a shame, but I don't see how it will ever change.
So, it's Salah v Mane for the AFCON final! I can't pick a side, I can only hope it's a clean match without injuries, preferably settled in regulation time with no tiring extra time and pens. 
Meanwhile, USA bounced back from their loss against Canada with a 3-0 win against a jaded, already-eliminated Honduras in very frigid conditions in St Paul. Qualification is still very much on, especially as Panama were beaten by Mexico.
Pulisic scored, that will hopefully boost the confidence Tuchel is doing his best to kill.
Meanwhile, USA bounced back from their loss against Canada with a 3-0 win against a jaded, already-eliminated Honduras in very frigid conditions in St Paul. Qualification is still very much on, especially as Panama were beaten by Mexico.
Pulisic scored, that will hopefully boost the confidence Tuchel is doing his best to kill.
Being a Saints fan and knowing just how good Mane was (at times) when he played at St Mary's, I am behind him. He also left us on good terms and seems a nice guy, despite his ability to frustrate on the pitch sometimes.So, it's Salah v Mane for the AFCON final! I can't pick a side, I can only hope it's a clean match without injuries, preferably settled in regulation time with no tiring extra time and pens.
Meanwhile, USA bounced back from their loss against Canada with a 3-0 win against a jaded, already-eliminated Honduras in very frigid conditions in St Paul. Qualification is still very much on, especially as Panama were beaten by Mexico.
Pulisic scored, that will hopefully boost the confidence Tuchel is doing his best to kill.
He's part of a special squad that Saints had at the time, with him, Tadic, Pelle, Schneiderlin, Alderweireld, Bertrand, Clyne, Davis, Wanyama, Yoshida, Lambert, Lallana, Fonte, etc. playing for Ronnie Koeman, so a lot of Saints fans have a soft spot for him and most of those players.
With that said, Salah is some kind of special, so either way, as a neutral I'll be pretty happy and hopefully entertained.
Athletic Bilbao, who knocked Barcelona out of the Copa Del Rey in the last 16, just did it again - beating Real Madrid 1-0 in the quarterfinal with an 89th minute goal.
They join Real Betis, Valencia and Rayo Vallecano in the final four. The Spanish cup is, for once, interesting.
Egypt have not really looked all that great (especially in the group stages) but they have proven to be very tough opponents n the knockout rounds in terms of not giving anything away and burying their penalties (Cameroon's penalty-taking in the semifinal shootout was abysmal). Carlos Queiroz was sent off during the semifinal so the Pharaohs will take the pitch for the final without their manager on the touchline.
Senegal have, I think, shown a little more flair here and there but I can't say who is more likely to win the final. It probably won't be a goalfest, though maybe if someone scores early it will turn into an open match. I'm hoping for a 3-3 draw with one perfect hat trick each from Salah and Mane, and then whatever happens in the shootout happens.
They join Real Betis, Valencia and Rayo Vallecano in the final four. The Spanish cup is, for once, interesting.
I don't have access to any of the matches, but judging from the highlights it's been an attritional tournament. Maybe not the most scintillating play but plenty of drama on the pitch.
Egypt have not really looked all that great (especially in the group stages) but they have proven to be very tough opponents n the knockout rounds in terms of not giving anything away and burying their penalties (Cameroon's penalty-taking in the semifinal shootout was abysmal). Carlos Queiroz was sent off during the semifinal so the Pharaohs will take the pitch for the final without their manager on the touchline.
Senegal have, I think, shown a little more flair here and there but I can't say who is more likely to win the final. It probably won't be a goalfest, though maybe if someone scores early it will turn into an open match. I'm hoping for a 3-3 draw with one perfect hat trick each from Salah and Mane, and then whatever happens in the shootout happens.
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Welp, that was completely inexcusable at OT.
Not that United should have ever let themselves be in a position where an inexplicably allowed, hand ball-aided goal could sink them in an FA Cup tie. You could say they were unlucky, but luck should never have played a factor. So many wasted chances, including a missed pen from Ronaldo, who gave his detractors an awful lot of ammunition today — and I honestly agree with those detractors. Bringing him back was, in the end, another misguided nostalgic move from a club who lives in the past.
Not that United should have ever let themselves be in a position where an inexplicably allowed, hand ball-aided goal could sink them in an FA Cup tie. You could say they were unlucky, but luck should never have played a factor. So many wasted chances, including a missed pen from Ronaldo, who gave his detractors an awful lot of ammunition today — and I honestly agree with those detractors. Bringing him back was, in the end, another misguided nostalgic move from a club who lives in the past.
I genuinely don't know what a handball is anymore. I can see how that call could fall within a ref's discretion of what constitutes deliberate contact (for what it's worth I think it's fairly clear that it was accidental contact) - but I thought that current guidance made intent less of a factor and was more focused on the outcome of the contact. And of course things vary by league/competition, so I dunno.
But of course that's not why Man Utd lost. Ronaldo's missed spot kick, unexploited territorial domination and of course the miss in that long shootout. I may be no Man Utd fan, but you have to feel for Elanga, it's like the Saka miss in the Euros all over again. It's one thing if Ronaldo or Maguire shank their pens and we chuckle over it, but this kid will be shattered.
I think this does indeed put the decision to bring Ronaldo back in the spotlight. The one thing he is still supposed to be able to do is finish.
Plymouth Argyle are leading Chelsea 1-0 after 35 minutes. Chelsea are laying siege to Plymouth's goal, and have already hit the post three times. Plymouth fans are really making a lot of noise at Stanford Bridge but you feel Chelsea are going to level soon (though I hope not).
EDIT: Ah, and of course as I type Azpilicueta scores with a backheel flick. Surely that ends Plymouth's hopes (and my interest in the match)?
Time to switch to Kidderminster-West Ham, where the Harriers are ahead in the 40th....
EDIT: Ah, and of course as I type Azpilicueta scores with a backheel flick. Surely that ends Plymouth's hopes (and my interest in the match)?
Time to switch to Kidderminster-West Ham, where the Harriers are ahead in the 40th....
Deservedly so. We look toothless without Antonio.
Well, you've equalized. Total heartbreak for Kidderminster but of course West Ham have no business losing this match, or frankly even drawing. Though to be fair to Kidderminster they have actually been the better team for much of the match. Should be a win for West Ham now I assume. They're more fit and have miles more talent.
And I will reiterate: extra time is a waste, these matches should go straight to a shootout.
Well we left it late in extra time as well. Cruel defeat for the Harries. They played very well. They made us work hard for the victory. Rice made the difference.
Two big anticlimaxes....Chelsea and West Ham spoiling what looked like big upsets today with late goals.
The only 'Magic of the Cup' I can see is the fact that people somehow still see it as relevant when top four Premier League clubs win 99.9 percent of the time, often when playing poorly with scratch squads and then throwing on big guns to snatch the result. If we had no extra time we could have seen two penalty shootouts, which substantially reduce the big clubs' (truly massive) advantage.
I'm no hypocrite, I want to see Liverpool win this competition. But in all honesty I would favor any rule changes that level the playing field a little bit more.
The only 'Magic of the Cup' I can see is the fact that people somehow still see it as relevant when top four Premier League clubs win 99.9 percent of the time, often when playing poorly with scratch squads and then throwing on big guns to snatch the result. If we had no extra time we could have seen two penalty shootouts, which substantially reduce the big clubs' (truly massive) advantage.
I'm no hypocrite, I want to see Liverpool win this competition. But in all honesty I would favor any rule changes that level the playing field a little bit more.
Sigh.
Sorry, @Apple fanboy: The football romantic in me wanted Kidderminster to win - and frankly, they deserved to, on that performance. Moreover, the manner of their (eventual) defeat was heart-breaking.
Would have loved to have seen Plymouth defeat Chelsea, too.
Agree completely.
To be fair, I'd rather see West Ham win the cup than Man City or Chelsea, but I'd MUCH rather see a team like Plymouth or Kidderminster knock out a Premier League team.
If they had been playing anyone other than West Ham, I’d agree with you. As it was, they have been robbed of a lucrative payday in the return leg.
Yes, if the big team is going to win you at least hope the smaller team gets a payday out of it.