The Soccer thread

[layzie 33,805]

Is it coming home this time? 

[Macca 16,970]

On 11/07/2024 at 08:19, layzie said:

Is it coming home this time? 

Err ... not quite!

Anyway, the EPL kicks off Saturday morning 17th August at 5.00am (Man Utd vs Fulham) 

So can any team put a stop to Man City's dominance?

City have won the last 4 titles along with 6 of the last 7 EPL titles

[layzie 33,805]

13 hours ago, Macca said:

Err ... not quite!

Anyway, the EPL kicks off Saturday morning 17th August at 5.00am (Man Utd vs Fulham) 

So can any team put a stop to Man City's dominance?

City have won the last 4 titles along with 6 of the last 7 EPL titles

Could be one of the more bizarre seasons coming right up with all eyes on November (or thereabouts) for the Man City trial..

[Macca 16,970]

2 hours ago, layzie said:

Could be one of the more bizarre seasons coming right up with all eyes on November (or thereabouts) for the Man City trial..

Oh, oK

What might their penalties be?  If guilty?

I'm excited for the EPL season but without any real tribalism involved in terms of winning big

Like a number of the other clubs, West Ham don't really try and win the League or FA Cup and as for the league, anywhere 4th to 12 the is the goal for a club without a lot of spending power

So it's more about the way we play when you're up against a team like Man City who have 11 of the best 50 players in the world in their line-up

But I really look forward to the clashes between the big guns

A very different way of following a sport don't you think?

Edited August 6 by Macca

[layzie 33,805]

39 minutes ago, Macca said:

Oh, oK

What might their penalties be?  If guilty?

I'm excited for the EPL season but without any real tribalism involved in terms of winning big

Like a number of the other clubs, West Ham don't really try and win the League or FA Cup and as for the league, anywhere 4th to 12 the is the goal for a club without a lot of spending power

So it's more about the way we play when you're up against a team like Man City who have 11 of the best 50 players in the world in their line-up

But I really look forward to the clashes between the big guns

A very different way of following a sport don't you think?

The title race will still be very exciting, barring whatever happens I'd still expect City to be too strong. It will be very interesting to see if Arsenal can take the next step though. 

It is but thats a great thing. One thing is for sure, there will plenty of great football being played.

[roy11 3,853]

On 06/08/2024 at 14:33, layzie said:

The title race will still be very exciting, barring whatever happens I'd still expect City to be too strong. It will be very interesting to see if Arsenal can take the next step though. 

They're still missing a piece of the jigsaw in the final 1/3rd

[Macca 16,970]

1 hour ago, roy11 said:

They're still missing a piece of the jigsaw in the final 1/3rd

Reckon a lot will depend on Man City's FFP charges .... the hearing starts in early September and will last for 10 weeks

[Macca 16,970]

EPL kicks off in just under 5 hours

Man Utd vs Fulham (5.00am)

Match of the week is probably Chelsea vs Man City (1.30am Monday)

Not sure whether SEN are covering the EPL games this season but if you've got access to TalkSport radio, you should be able to get hold of the games

[Macca 16,970]

22 hours ago, Macca said:

Not sure whether SEN are covering the EPL games this season

SEN are covering most of the EPL games again this season

Download the app to access the games and SEN Fanatic looks to be the go-to audio outlet (via the app)

Edited August 17 by Macca

[Macca 16,970]

On 06/08/2024 at 14:33, layzie said:

The title race will still be very exciting, barring whatever happens I'd still expect City to be too strong. It will be very interesting to see if Arsenal can take the next step though. 

It is but thats a great thing. One thing is for sure, there will plenty of great football being played.

All the big guns (bar Chelsea) won their opening encounters with Tottenham engaged tomorrow morning @ Leicester (5.00am on SEN Fanatic) 

Liverpool too good for Ipswich whilst West Ham had their chances to get a point vs Villa

I see Jamie Vardy is lacing them up again for The Foxes (at the age of 37)  If he's still got that yard of pace, he could be a more than handy sub

[Macca 16,970]

Here's my top 10 for the EPL season 

Man City (too many quality players)

Arsenal (will push Man City again)

Liverpool (interesting watch post Klopp)

Aston Villa (underrated but keep performing)

Chelsea (very big squad, perhaps too big)

Man Utd (the dark horse)

Tottenham (away at the big clubs could be a challenge) 

Newcastle (will win a lot of home games)

Brighton (could finish higher if augurs well)

West Ham (a knockout hope)

Nearest the pin wins the prize* (if anyone else here cares to have a go at it)

 

 

*There's no prize

 

[Macca 16,970]

A new season, 2 games in and Haaland scores a hat trick! 

Some things never change

[Macca 16,970]

Haaland's 3rd goal is sublime but centimetre perfect 

[Macca 16,970]

The new Champions league format is a virtual Super league

Initially 36 teams and one big ladder (table)

4 groups of 9 teams where each team plays 8 preliminary games (4 home & 4 away but 8 different teams)

The top 8 teams after all the preliminary games all qualify for round of 16 games

Teams placed 9th to 24th play 2 leg home & away matches in order to qualify for the round of 16 matches (another 8 teams)

So in order to win the Champions league a team will need to play at least 15 matches and up to 17 matches

It's a league in itself

[Macca 16,970]

For those without cable SBS HD are broadcasting 2 World Cup qualifiers this weekend (live)

Friday 9.50am Argentina vs Chile

Saturday 10.50am Brazil vs Ecuador

These games are always played in front of full stadiums, full of atmosphere and lots of noise 

Argentina currently top the table (10 teams) but Brazil are surprisingly in 6th position

Although, to be fair, only 6 matches have been played out of the 18 to be played (each team)

[At Least I Saw a Flag 5,247]

Indonesia 0 - Socceroos 0.

Terrible performance, although not quite as bad as the loss to Bahrain.

 

[Macca 16,970]

8 part series (Podcast) from the BBC

Confessions of a Match Fixer

[Macca 16,970]

@roy11

Man Utd committee meeting in a few hours re the future of Eric ten Hag

Is he safe? 

[roy11 3,853]

19 hours ago, Macca said:

@roy11

Man Utd committee meeting in a few hours re the future of Eric ten Hag

Is he safe? 

Is Erik ten Haag the right guy? 

It's a bit of a knife-edge situation. Probably should have been let go at the end of last season but they got caught up in the delirium of cup final success. Also the new (portion) of ownership didn't want to rock the boat too much early. But imagine they've seen enough so far and he's far from safe

 

[Macca 16,970]

Socceroos vs China on 10HD right now

World Cup Qualifier (Must Win)

[At Least I Saw a Flag 5,247]

Socceroos had all the play, but conceded a soft goal at 20 minutes. Socceroos equalised just before half time.

Now half time ... 1-1.

 

[Macca 16,970]

22 minutes ago, At Least I Saw a Flag said:

Socceroos had all the play, but conceded a soft goal at 20 minutes. Socceroos equalised just before half time.

Now half time ... 1-1.

 

2-1 now after that scorcher!!!

Need more goals to increase our For & Against

[At Least I Saw a Flag 5,247]

Update ... 52 mins ... Goodwin ... cracking goal. 

Socceroos 2 - China 1

[Macca 16,970]

And 2 x WC qualifiers on tomorrow (live) on SBS

8.00am Venezuela vs Argentina

11.00am  Chile vs Brazil

A chance to watch 2 of the best teams in the World on FTA

[At Least I Saw a Flag 5,247]

Just now, Macca said:

And 2 x WC qualifiers on tomorrow (live) on SBS

8.00am Venezuela vs Argentina

11.00am  Chile vs Brazil

A chance to watch 2 of the best teams in the World on FTA

Thanks for the tip ...  cheers bro !