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The 2023-2024 Football Thread
- Thread starter Scepticalscribe
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Well, I love to see Chelsea - insanely expensively assembled, as they are, and cynical footballers, as well - suffer, while one cannot but cheer Liverpool (struggling with injuries, and with Klopp in his final season) who also give a chance (not that they had much choice today) to their own homegrown youngsters.
Liverpool played as a team, passionate, driven and motivated.
Columbus have gotten their MLS title-defense season off to a winning start with a 1-0 against Atlanta. I' m already tired of Messi at Miami, and as much as I loved Suarez in a Liverpool shirt, in a Miami shirt I wouldn't be bothered if he bit someone again and got kicked out of the league. 🤣
I still think Apple is ruining the league with their one-size-fits-all commentary and coverage approach. And I'm not paying what they're asking for access to the matches.
I hope I can get to a few games this season, it's been a couple years now.
Liverpool and Chelsea have had plenty of different manager and players over the last 15 years, but I feel like big games between these sides have always been remarkably similar...tight, tense, even boring at times even though the football being played is generally of a high level.
Given the number of injuries Liverpool started the game with, this was a really good win against a talented Chelsea team who have lately been in good form.
Virgil van Dijk is a superstar player. Defenders never get the same level of recognition as attackers, but there is no better defender on the planet right now. He has no real weaknesses as a player and is also one who steps up on the big occasions. In future years we will look back and see him as the standout player of the Klopp era.
I still think Apple is ruining the league with their one-size-fits-all commentary and coverage approach. And I'm not paying what they're asking for access to the matches.
I hope I can get to a few games this season, it's been a couple years now.
Liverpool and Chelsea have had plenty of different manager and players over the last 15 years, but I feel like big games between these sides have always been remarkably similar...tight, tense, even boring at times even though the football being played is generally of a high level.
Given the number of injuries Liverpool started the game with, this was a really good win against a talented Chelsea team who have lately been in good form.
Virgil van Dijk is a superstar player. Defenders never get the same level of recognition as attackers, but there is no better defender on the planet right now. He has no real weaknesses as a player and is also one who steps up on the big occasions. In future years we will look back and see him as the standout player of the Klopp era.
An excellent win.
Actually, I would argue that Virgil van Dijk was possibly the most important signing that Klopp has made during his tenure as manager.
And, whenever he has been injured, and thus, unavailable, they have struggled to maintain (and sustain) their position at the very top of the football world.
That would be an interesting stat. Games VVD has missed win % verses games Mo Salah has missed win %.
Yes, it would.
However, the attention (and emphasis) most commentators place on forwards, and the (relative) lack of attention paid to the importance of the role of key defenders, means that - to my mind - sometimes, the commentators can overlook - or miss - important stuff.
I have long thought that one of the main reasons that Liverpool were unable to retain their Premier League trophy was down to van Dijk's appalling injury for much of that season.
Likewise, last season, to my mind, Saliba's injury hurt Arsenal's challenge far more than the earlier loss of Gabriel Jesus to injury.
Funny enough i think Gabriel has been the better defender this season for Arsenal. Obviously Saliba still good but Gabriel has reach new levels this season.
In the matches i've seen him play anyway. Crazy that there was talk of him possibly leaving last summer.
In the matches i've seen him play anyway. Crazy that there was talk of him possibly leaving last summer.
Pochettino has a monumental job ahead of him. Not sure how he'll get a tune out of this players for the rest of the season.
Chelsea have now lost 6 back to back finals. The last 3 to Liverpool.
All in the context of £1bn spent on players
Excuses? there simply cant be any.
Looking like a blessing in disguise missing out on Mudryk and Caicedo...although maybe Arteta would've gotten more out of them.
Chelsea have now lost 6 back to back finals. The last 3 to Liverpool.
All in the context of £1bn spent on players
Excuses? there simply cant be any.
Looking like a blessing in disguise missing out on Mudryk and Caicedo...although maybe Arteta would've gotten more out of them.
When I complain about the state of Man United, I can at least take solace in the fact that Chelsea is actually in worse shape, wasted more money, cycled through more managers, and has been even more cluelessly run for some years now.
Absolutely.
Indeed.
Gosh.
An astonishing amount of money.
Agreed.
Yes, that (unkind but relieved) thought crossed my mind, too.
Not so sure about that.
Gabriel has been excellent this season, (he was very good, last season, as well), and I would have been horrified had he been encouraged to leave last summer.
There have been a number of pieces written on this, and it's no contest - Liverpool suffer much more without van Dijk than without Salah. There is no question that Salah is a really important player for Liverpool. But van Dijk is unquestionably the single most important player on the team.
I don't have the most recent numbers to hand but I recall seeing some stats last season that showed that Liverpool have a ~80% win record when both van Dijk and Alisson are on the pitch. That's an almost incredible figure.
Under Abramovich the club operated on a weird model of big spending and constant turnover but they did get results. It was a very opaque, autocratic system and also one born in the pre-FFP era. The current model seems less autocratic but also lacking in any direction or focus. They are just spraying money everywhere without a plan. It's almost unbelievable they are actually operating like that. Both Man Utd and Chelsea demonstrate that with enough money you can remain a Premier League side and even occasionally win something no matter how badly run you are.
As long as the money is there, it's like playing a video game with an infinite lives cheat code. Continual failure is no fun for the fans, but there is no danger of winding up like with Derby County.
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There really is only one question mark for relegation. The other two are decided for me.
I would like to see Luton survive.
Sheffield United and Burnley are pretty certain candidates for relegation.
To my mind, the only question really remaining is which team will take the third relegation slot; as with many others here, I sincerely hope that Luton avoid the drop, and manage to retain their place in the Premier League.
To my mind, the only question really remaining is which team will take the third relegation slot; as with many others here, I sincerely hope that Luton avoid the drop, and manage to retain their place in the Premier League.
2 early goals from Bowen and we lead 2-1 at half time. Another would really help settle my nerves.
They certainly have! Hope we can use this as a confidence boost for our next few games.
I have just checked the table; hm; 15 defeats this season is a little ominous.
Personally, I would be sorry to see Brentford relegated.
However, they just have to ensure that three teams lie beneath them when the season ends, in order to guarantee a position of safety.
West Ham did well; however, I think that the return of Paquetá made a significant difference to their game.
Exactly my thoughts. Sadly in the summer he’ll be off to City according to the papers.