Soccer thread 2016/2017

[Shannow]

Hrrm Arsenal's season already over huh? 

Is United with Pogba now the team to beat in the PL?

Will Leicester even finish in the top half this season?

Etc etc, discuss.

[HaemishM]

Leicester will finish in the top half. Opening day fixtures are often blips on the radar.

Arsenal's season comes pre-finished.  Seriously, Wenger's refusal to buy for anything but "value" (except when he's panicked or there's another creative midfielder available for inflated prices) really hurts them. Liverpool has something of a similar problem, but I don't think anyone sits on money like Wenger does. I don't know if it's Kroenke and that raccoon mating with his skull refusing to sanction the big spending that's likely required or if it's just Wenger being stubborn, but there's no reason to go into the opening fixture with a 21-year old and a 20-year old as your only center back choices. Cheer up, though - at least you don't have Alberto Moreno at left back. 

United is certainly scary - they have such a huge combination of good to great players and Mourinho hasn't had time to piss half of them off yet. Biggest problem they are going to have to deal with is finding the best place to play Rooney (hint: it's off the bench), keeping the young stars in the making like Rashford happy and fit without damaging the egos of the Zlatans and keeping Mourinho from becoming his own worst enemy. Guardiola's Man City really are the team to beat, though. If anyone can get results out of the talent they have at City, it's him.

[WayAbvPar]

I forgot just how goddamned large Ibrahimovic is. It is insane that someone his size has the touch he does. I will have to see how Pogba fits in, but I am optimistic for the first time since SAF left.

And LOL at Mata being first on the score sheet under Mourinho.

[Tale]

When you're 13 and playing for Celtic's U-20s.

[HaemishM]

Team: What's the game plan coach?
Coach: Are you kidding me? Give it to Dembele.

[Shannow]

Holy fuck, Klinsmann has to be fired now right?

Right??

[HaemishM]

Holy fuck, Klinsmann has to be fired now right?

Right??

You would think but we've been wrong on that one for years. I'm not sure how much farther down rock bottom could be.

[Shannow]

He's gotta have dirt on the board of US soccer. That's the only reason. The whole 'He's German, he HAS to better' thing has got to have worn off by now.

What. A. Shit. Show.

Matt Besler at left back.

Also this fucking list

[WayAbvPar]

He's gotta have dirt on the board of US soccer. That's the only reason. The whole 'He's German, he HAS to better' thing has got to have worn off by now.

What. A. Shit. Show.

Matt Besler at left back.

Also this fucking list

That is incredible. I have been after his head for years, but holy shit, I didn't realize he was THAT bad.

[HaemishM]

Ding dong, that bitch is dead.

Well, that was only a year or two late.

[Shannow]

Yay.

[WayAbvPar]

Auf wiedersehen, dumbass.

[Shannow]

Maybe Gulati also needs to be held responsible for this debacle. He's the one who had the man crush on Klinsmann for years. Completely ignoring the Bayern failure. Philip Lahm had a few things to say about that. . Kinda sounds familiar. The feeling I always got was that Klinsmann didn't have a fucking plan to how to get the team to win on match day. Player choice, tactics and formations were all over the fucking place.

[lamaros]

https://twitter.com/sporf/status/807981314477527041

Still reading these forums Amar HM? 

[HaemishM]

Stats don't lie. A good holding midfielder can make all the difference in the EPL. Look at Leicester and N'Golo Kante. That motherfucker won them the championship last year. He's on Chelsea this year and look who is in first place.

[Shannow]

Stats don't lie. A good holding midfielder can make all the difference in the EPL. Look at Leicester and N'Golo Kante. That motherfucker won them the championship last year. He's on Chelsea this year and look who is in first place.

This. Fuck Kante for going to those fucks.

[Amarr HM]

https://twitter.com/sporf/status/807981314477527041

Still reading these forums Amar HM?  

Yes, I still think he'll struggle against stronger teams or where there's a congested midfield. That said he's playing really well at the moment and his impact on the team is unquestionable, so that far I'll admit my criticism was harsh, but even yesterday there was a lapse in the 80th odd minute which could have cost the win, luckily we recovered well. I'd have him in the team every week over Fellaini that's for sure, at least he can kick the ball.

[Amarr HM]

I present exhibit A. Carrick unable to do his thing when pressure is applied to the ball, he's no Paul Scholes.

[HaemishM]

I present exhibit A. Carrick unable to do his thing when pressure is applied to the ball, he's no Paul Scholes.

Exhibit B, Liverpool can't hold a 1 goal lead against any team with decent players. 

[Amarr HM]

Think it was a fair result, Carrick was poor in the first forty five but I still would have taken Pogba off, lost his head.

[HaemishM]

Pogba is clearly very inconsistent right now, and I think Mourinho is asking too much of him to expect him to do much defensively. Which is classic Mourinho actually. As for Liverpool, I can't understand why Klopp didn't use Sturridge, or why he keeps putting Lallana on the forward wing instead of coming from the deeper midfield position. Lalllana's best games have been when he's coming from deeper, and part of the problem he's had at Liverpool from the beginning was managers like Rodgers thinking he was winger/inside forward. Also, Winjaldum really needs to improve his finishing. Holy fuck.

[Amarr HM]

Absolutely agree about Lallana,  I remember when he was with Southampton his ability to drive into the box from deep positions and his late runs were exciting and also the reason Liverpool bought him, but then Rodgers decides to shunt him out wide and in advanced position where he has little or no impact. I think Klopp probably wanted to have a more defensive 3 in the middle away at Old Trafford, but you can see how ineffective Lallana is in this position.