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The 2022-2023 Football Thread
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Ronaldo has always been devoted to Ronaldo first. But vanity is a dangerous thing for a 37-year old player to have at this level, even one as talented as he is. His fundamental selfishness is truly exposed for what it is here.
Someone will. The money alone will help. Heck I’m available for triple what I get paid now.
Agreed.
Initially, when I read the story - the early accounts of the match - I had assumed that the petulant tantrum was because Ronaldo hadn't been summoned from the subs bench to play.
Then, it became clear that he had refused to come on as a sub.
Agree that ETH has handled the situation exceptionally well.
And, agree, too, with your conclusion.
Agreed.
Absolutely.
And to expect this simply demonstrates the degree of your attitude of entitlement.
Not only that, it is extraordinarily petulant, immature - the guy is 37, for Heaven's sake, old enough to know far better, but it is clear that his extraordinary talent has meant that he has been outrageously indulged for almost all of his professional career - and utterly unprofessional.
To my mind, this goes well beyond vanity into a bottomless narcissism.
It is not just that Ronaldo is entitled and vain, immature and disgracefully unprofessional (though he is all of that), and it is not just that he is aging, although in terrific shape - for, even if Ronaldo was 27, ten years younger than he is, as talented as ever, but bursting with the entitled attitudes he currently holds, he would still be out of place in the modern game; rather, it is that the game - the way it is conceived and played at the elite level - has been fundamentally transformed by managers such as Klopp, Guardiola, ETH, with an emphasis on not just pressing and possession, but on the team operating as a seamless unit, with players capable of playing several roles in the course of a game, and switching from one to the other seamlessly and flawlessly as the needs of the game require them them to do.
This means that there is an emphasis on the team working well as a team, and not as a vehicle to service a couple of star players. The team - and how it functions as a unit - matters more than the individual player, any individual player, irrespective of how gifted or talented he (or she) may be.
Thus, nowadays, there is no place for the old style "galacticos", whereby a team was built around - and expected to service - the outrageous talent of an individual player.
The football world has changed, changed utterly, been utterly transformed in the past decade, and all the entitled rage and petulant tantrums in the world from Ronaldo (outrageously talented and garlanded though he is) simply blind him to the fact that there is not really a place for him - in the way he has been used to - in this world without a willingness to change on his part. And that is not likely to happen.
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I could say the same thing about Liverpool today as I had about West Ham during the week - lost a narrow match after failing to capitalize on their few chances.
It’s hard to get exited right now as we’re in a campaign for top four and nothing more than that. Doesn’t exactly get the blood flowing. But of course losing football matches is not going to get us there either.
It’s hard to get exited right now as we’re in a campaign for top four and nothing more than that. Doesn’t exactly get the blood flowing. But of course losing football matches is not going to get us there either.
Kudos to Forest and Steve Cooper. We'll see if they can keep it up and build a sustainable team out of all those spare parts, but things are looking more encouraging for them.
I think City, Arsenal and Chelsea are all going to get a slot. Your competing with Spurs and Utd.
Personally any of the greedy six that fail to get into the CL gets a thumbs up from me, but if the other club is Newcastle then that’s not any better.
Losing to the bottom club is never easy, but as you say you were lucky not to lose or at least draw in the week.
It feels like an overall missed opportunity for CR7. He could've established himself as a popular support figure for the club/team during its transition and give the fans something to cheer about when he was on the pitch by scoring or creating for teammates.
Instead he's become a toxic and distracting presence. And it seems the same thing happened in Juventus and Madrid.
I also hear its the same at PSG as well with Messi and co
Both players are great and all but they've been disappointing as leaders in their dressing rooms.
Benzema winning the Dor was maybe a trigger for the latest strop?
Re-Liverpool; dunno really. I guess its just one of those seasons for them. Tbf they have a host of injuries that would affect any team.
Instead he's become a toxic and distracting presence. And it seems the same thing happened in Juventus and Madrid.
I also hear its the same at PSG as well with Messi and co
Both players are great and all but they've been disappointing as leaders in their dressing rooms.
Benzema winning the Dor was maybe a trigger for the latest strop?
Re-Liverpool; dunno really. I guess its just one of those seasons for them. Tbf they have a host of injuries that would affect any team.
Still, no Diaz, Jota, Keita, Arthur, Konate, Thiago and Matip is a sizeable hit
Martinez, Casemiro have made Utd harder to beat. Once ETH gets a decent striker i think Utd will be pretty much set.
They are still going backwards under him though. He is not solely to blame, the owner is too involved in decisions he is not competent to make, but this was supposed to be an era where Everton pushed on a bit. A great deal of money has been spent and yet they are further behind in the league than ever.
Southampton’s equalizer was a really nicely worked move. And Arsenal seemed to run out of ideas a bit after that.
Ah, but we have a game in hand.
There were a lot of niggly fouls, and Southampton certainly rode the line at times.
But officials have been instructed to allow more physical contact this season and I thought Arsenal players responded to Southampton’s fouling by throwing themselves to the ground too often, which didn’t play well with the ref. Though the most flagrant dive of the match goes to Walcott, who was booked for it.
Arsenal had chances to win that match though, in spite of all of that. Depth is a problem for Arsenal; they could be good for 3rd or 4th if they maintain good form but I don’t think they can finish higher without a bigger squad.
So do we thankfully! Better win it as well!Southampton’s equalizer was a really nicely worked move. And Arsenal seemed to run out of ideas a bit after that.
Ah, but we have a game in hand.
Arsenal looked tired. Thursdays starting to take its toll perhaps. Watching Soton was dreary to watch. Only played for set pieces and aggressive fouling.
Villa meanwhile miraculously remember how to play football. Wolves might go down.
Jesse March looks to be on borrowed time.
Villa meanwhile miraculously remember how to play football. Wolves might go down.
Jesse March looks to be on borrowed time.
Agreed.
Yes, Arsenal are beginning to look tired - we lack strength in depth - and those Thursday games are a bit of a trial.
And we didn't take our chances.
In truth, I'd have preferred if Arsenal hadn't qualified for the second tier European competition; it is exhausting and demanding of time, players, and resources, and, unless you manage to win the actual trophy, (which grants you a CL spot), it really isn't worth an awful lot.
In any case, Arsenal were never going to get through an entire season unscathed; to be still top of the table - almost a third of the way through the season having led almost since the start is no mean achievement.
The European League we are in is even worse. It ruined our PL run in last season playing Thursday's. I'd hoped we would just play the kids in this years ELC.