The Soccer thread

[layzie]

9 hours ago, Macca said:

These things happen

The Hammers will 100% be on the other side of a dodgy decision soon enough

It all evens itself out in the long run, layz

Mind you, re the footy, even though Sydney were the better team, 2 of those 50m penalties were super-dodgy!!

It definitely does even out, gee wiz though my blood was boiling watching it. I'd rather watch a dodgy offside VAR than that again!

[layzie]

Savage Chelsea at it again sacking Tuchel after their loss to Dinamo Zagreb this morning.

[layzie]

Possibly the worst performance from Liverpool in the Klopp era. Gomez way too casual for two of the goals, Van Dijk the same and TAA looks pretty disinterested. 

They all do really, like Melbourne we need to either be going helter skelter with the high press and closing down to win the ball back or it simply doesn’t work. I’m now afraid this could turn into a long season.

[Grapeviney]

Lol I watched Spurs lose to Sporting Lisbon in the CL the other morning and it was maddeningly similar to watching Melbourne.

Wasteful inside 50's, lack of forward connection, poor disposal around goal and and an inability to hit targets!!

Son has had a shocking start to the season and the incredible chemistry with Kane has disappeared, at least for the moment. 

Marcus Edwards (who's an ex-Tottenham academy player) almost scored one of the great all-time goals, Maradonna-esque.. at the 1.25 mark of the video below

 

Edit: haaland hit a nice one overnight against his old club, the guy’s going to kick 100 this year. 

Edited September 15 by Grapeviney

[layzie]

Does EPL still exist? Haha, that break felt like an eternity and don't forget the World Cup in a few months will mean another halt to the season! Very different year indeed.

North London Derby should be good viewing to get us back into things. 

[Macca]

And just like that Haaland scores another hat trick for City ... sure knows how to score

I reckon he's scored 11 goals in his last 5 Premier league games.  That's a decent strike rate!!

[roy11]

Sooner Haaland transfers to Spain the better!

[layzie]

8 minutes ago, roy11 said:

Sooner Haaland transfers to Spain the better!

Ah we wish! You know how long I hoped Aguero would miss the Spanish sunshine and leave earlier? 

Edited October 2 by layzie

[roy11]

1 hour ago, layzie said:

Ah we wish! You know how long I hoped Aguero would miss the Spanish sunshine and leave earlier? 

I would be very surprised if Haaland was at City for more than 4 years. Strikes me as a modern footballer who wants to sample all the leagues, he also loves Spain. Also this

It is claimed that at the end of 2024 – which would be at the end of his second year at Manchester City – clubs will be able to sign the Haaland for a sum of €200 million.

Then, at the end of his third year of contract – the summer of 2025 – a club will have the opportunity to sign the player for a sum of €175 million.

That being said, these figures cannot be activated by a club immediately.

Although they are not specified, the availability of these release clauses in Haaland's contract are linked to achieving minimum sporting objectives at Manchester City.

It is stated in the Marca report that once these objectives have been completed by Haaland during his time at the Etihad, then the player will then have the possibility of terminating his contract through either of the release clauses.

[roy11]

1 hour ago, layzie said:

Ah we wish! You know how long I hoped Aguero would miss the Spanish sunshine and leave earlier? 

If it wasn't for the WC break, Haaland would have had the Golden Boot secured by end of this calendar year.

Only took him 8 PL games to get 3 hat-tricks, next fastest is Owen (48 apps), RvN (59), Torres (64).

Obscene player.

[layzie]

6 hours ago, roy11 said:

If it wasn't for the WC break, Haaland would have had the Golden Boot secured by end of this calendar year.

Only took him 8 PL games to get 3 hat-tricks, next fastest is Owen (48 apps), RvN (59), Torres (64).

Obscene player.

DId you ever play Pro Evo on Playstation? He reminds me of the player you'd create with all attributes like shot power, finishing, speed, strength up to 99. 

[layzie]

Watching Liverpool is doing my head in. Defending is woeful, we close players down in slow motion. Feel like I'm watching 17/18 Liverpool.

Season still so early, it is going to be a very long summer. 

[roy11]

5 hours ago, layzie said:

Watching Liverpool is doing my head in. Defending is woeful, we close players down in slow motion. Feel like I'm watching 17/18 Liverpool.

Season still so early, it is going to be a very long summer. 

I still think you got your (English) summer transfers wrong.

If I was in charge of LFC, would have bought a cheaper forward and re-enforced the midfield. I am very critical of Henderson and he should not be a regular starter, let alone your captain.  

But it is what it is, Nunez will come good, but you're not getting the most out of Mo Salah, he should be the focal point of the attack. 

1 Point off the Title in 21/22 but looking miles off it this year, Arsenal will drop away eventually and Haaland will just keep scoring and the title will be won very early

 

[layzie]

51 minutes ago, roy11 said:

I still think you got your (English) summer transfers wrong.

If I was in charge of LFC, would have bought a cheaper forward and re-enforced the midfield. I am very critical of Henderson and he should not be a regular starter, let alone your captain.  

But it is what it is, Nunez will come good, but you're not getting the most out of Mo Salah, he should be the focal point of the attack. 

1 Point off the Title in 21/22 but looking miles off it this year, Arsenal will drop away eventually and Haaland will just keep scoring and the title will be won very early

 

Couldn't agree more. Nunez should start scoring but it looks like he was a panic buy.

I've loved Hendo for a long time and everything he's given but this season I've been really disappointed with some of the basic errors he's made so far. Just amazing how far it has fallen apart, almost like being pipped to the title and CL knocked the stuffing out of us. 

 

[roy11]

23 minutes ago, layzie said:

Couldn't agree more. Nunez should start scoring but it looks like he was a panic buy.

I've loved Hendo for a long time and everything he's given but this season I've been really disappointed with some of the basic errors he's made so far. Just amazing how far it has fallen apart, almost like being pipped to the title and CL knocked the stuffing out of us. 

 

Sort of a panic, United were sniffing about which made LFC act quicker. Either way happy with Antony, settled into PL life v quickly.

 

[layzie]

2 minutes ago, roy11 said:

Sort of a panic, United were sniffing about which made LFC act quicker. Either way happy with Antony, settled into PL life v quickly.

 

9-0 over Bornemouth just over a month ago, they now lead us on the table.

Good win for the Mancs this morning. 

[roy11]

Puts Salah central he scores a quickfire hat-trick..

*pretends to be shocked*

 

[layzie]

On 10/13/2022 at 3:28 PM, roy11 said:

Puts Salah central he scores a quickfire hat-trick..

*pretends to be shocked*

 

Hopefully getting some confidence back now. Really going to need him scoring. 

I'm with you though on Nunez cramping things a bit. His game bothered me this morning, he wants to be a focal point striker. Salah wide open on his own through the middle and he tried to go himself outside the area before he had his shot blocked. If he rolls it in to Salah at very least he's one on one with the keeper. It really irritated me. 

[roy11]

On 10/10/2022 at 2:51 PM, roy11 said:

If I was in charge of LFC, would have bought a cheaper forward and re-enforced the midfield. I am very critical of Henderson and he should not be a regular starter, let alone your captain.  

another yikes moment on the weekend, absolute criminal recruitment strategy and I should know United have spent the larger part of a decade not buying what they need and wasting $