The 2023-2024 Football Thread

[daneoni]

Zero sympathy for Chelsea. Whoever scouted Jackson should resing and refund his/her salary

I can understand why Palmer doesn't respect his attacking team mates. They're terrible.

Out of the recent 13 trips to Wembley, Chelsea have lost 10. All in the context of £1bn spent.
Yet they look like they need another 4 players minimum

I genuinely don't see how Poch can turn this around.

Meanwhile KDB proves the difference again, despite being fatigued from the UCL. Puts a shift in, and in the end, made the difference.

 

[Lioness~]

Chelsea was successful to tear Barça's passing-game apart. Was a boring game to watch though.
But Chelsea’s tactic was good. Not often Barça looses.
Then I missed the 1st half of Lyon-Paris, but I didn’t miss the height of the game. Wow, 3-0 to Lyon in 2nd half, and a good win for them.

 

[daneoni]

View attachment 2370310

Chelsea was successful to tear Barça's passing-game apart. Was a boring game to watch though.
But Chelsea’s tactic was good. Not often Barça looses.
Then I missed the 1st half of Lyon-Paris, but I didn’t miss the height of the game. Wow, 3-0 to Lyon in 2nd half, and a good win for them.

With that result, Chelsea probably go through. Would be surprised if they lose at home. Meanwhile PSG can still claw it back.

 

[Lioness~]

With that result, Chelsea probably go through. Would be surprised if they lose at home. Meanwhile PSG can still claw it back.

I doubt it, I think Barça will beat them back, and with a bigger win on their ground.
Bonmati was even funny in an interview afterwards, and not worried at all.

I think Lyon will take a bigger win next turn. They were really great from what I saw.
But what do we know, we can speculate all we want, but know nothing until after next round ☺️

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Zero sympathy for Chelsea. Whoever scouted Jackson should resing and refund his/her salary

I can understand why Palmer doesn't respect his attacking team mates. They're terrible.

Out of the recent 13 trips to Wembley, Chelsea have lost 10. All in the context of £1bn spent.
Yet they look like they need another 4 players minimum

I genuinely don't see how Poch can turn this around.

Meanwhile KDB proves the difference again, despite being fatigued from the UCL. Puts a shift in, and in the end, made the difference.

Agreed, zero sympathy for Chelsea, but, to be perfectly honest, today's game was one of those rare matches where I devoutly wished that it was possible for both sides to lose.

Elsewhere, Arsenal defeated Wolves to return (for now, at least) to the top of the table.

 

[pachyderm]

View attachment 2370310

Chelsea was successful to tear Barça's passing-game apart. Was a boring game to watch though.
But Chelsea’s tactic was good. Not often Barça looses.
Then I missed the 1st half of Lyon-Paris, but I didn’t miss the height of the game. Wow, 3-0 to Lyon in 2nd half, and a good win for them.

Is it a stretch to say both results were unexpected?

 

[Lioness~]

Is it a stretch to say both results were unexpected?

Not that Lyon won, not at all.
But that Barça lost, absolutely. They haven’t lost a game in a while (edited).
Just a 'gift' to the resigning coach at Chelsea - from Barça 😉
Chelsea was just successful in damaging Barças game. They didn’t had much good play of their own overall, without Kerr, from what I saw. Just some luck, and that seldom strikes twice in a row.

Chelseas next coach is btw Lyons Bompastor.
Still think Barça and Lyon are the finalists. If Lyon plays as good as in 2nd half of their last game, it will be a great match to watch.

 

[pachyderm]

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ppphhhhhheeeewwwww....

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well, in the semi-final of the FA Cup, Coventry came back from 3-0 down, against Manchester United, to equalise, leaving the two drawn at 3-3 by the 95th minute.

They are now into extra time.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Half time in extra time with the teams - Coventry and Manchester United - still tied at three goals apiece.

 

[daneoni]

If ETH survives this summer i'll be genuinely amazed.

Saying that, some of the referring this weekend has been diabolical.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

With the score at the end of extra time still at three goals apiece, we now advance to a penalty shoot-out.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

If ETH survives this summer i'll be genuinely amazed.

Saying that, some of the referring this weekend has been diabolical.

The malaise at Manchester United is far deeper than can be laid at the feet of ETH.

To my mind, they are not a team but a collection of individuals, some of whom are very talented, others a lot less so.

 

[Silencio]

United's squad for this match was incredibly patchwork due to injuries — you'll have noticed Casemiro drafted in to central defense, as a hobbled Maguire was the only United central defender fit enough to play. Regardless, if they get a 3-0 lead against a Championship side, not holding on to it — and only failing to completely blow it at the end of added time due to a razor thin offside call — is simply unacceptable.

I'm glad United are making progress filling in the footballing structure: they have some massive calls to make over a new manager and a huge chunk of the squad this summer.

In other news, Forest got really jobbed by VAR against Everton. I think they are fully justified complaining about PGMOL as they did today.

 

[Don Quixote]

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ppphhhhhheeeewwwww....

phew.

 

[HandsomeDanNZ]

I see the VAR express is in full effect in the Prem and Cup games, while the lack thereof is blatantly clear in the Championship.
The mere micrometres that were used to disallow Coventry's goal in The FA cup was nothing compared to the several hundred kilometres between the last defender and young Mr Gnonto for Leeds as he scored this morning's third(?) goal for Leeds in what was a quite important game for the league's top four teams.
To be honest, it was refreshing to see the Middlesborough players largely accept the goal, as that's what you get without VAR - a game that has occasional injustices but generally, a lot less contention.
Great game to watch and so nice to see players accept the officials' calls no matter what - The Premiership really can be a cess pit.

 

[Lioness~]

Please, can you write out in letters what teams you're posting about.
To make it more interesting for us who maybe not follow the teams that you do more closely.

 

[Don Quixote]

Please, can you write out in letters what teams you're posting about.
To make it more interesting for us who maybe not follow the teams that you do more closely.

If you're referring to @HandsomeDanNZ I believe he was talking about the Virtual Assistant Referee...

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I see the VAR express is in full effect in the Prem and Cup games, while the lack thereof is blatantly clear in the Championship.

I think that there is more to it than this.

....
To be honest, it was refreshing to see the Middlesborough players largely accept the goal, as that's what you get without VAR - a game that has occasional injustices but generally, a lot less contention.

Yes, it was (and is) refreshing to see players accept a goal (scored by their opponents) without complaint, but, to be quite candid, I very much doubt that VAR - or, the lack of it - is the issue here.

In other words, with or without VAR, I would argue that the management of some Premier League teams (especially a number of the wealthier and more entitled clubs) have encouraged their players to challenge the authority of match officials, challenge their decisions and rulings, and dispute any perceived advantage awarded to their opponents (goals, free kicks, cards of any colour).

To my mind, unfortunately, this is the culture that has been allowed to take hold in the Premier League, and this has come about because the stakes are so high - and the potential profits and rewards for success are so great.

Great game to watch and so nice to see players accept the officials' calls no matter what - The Premiership really can be a cess pit.

Agreed.

 

[Lioness~]

If you're referring to @HandsomeDanNZ I believe he was talking about the Virtual Assistant Referee...

No, I'm talking about the club-pics that are posted.
I did google it once, but that isn't something I am willing to do all the time.

Otherwise, maybe it is better to leave this thread to fans of the english male leauge.

 

[Don Quixote]

No, I'm talking about the club-pics that are posted.
I did google it once, but that isn't something I am willing to do all the time.

Otherwise, maybe it is better to leave this thread to fans of the english male leauge.

My bad.

 

[daneoni]

No, I'm talking about the club-pics that are posted.
I did google it once, but that isn't something I am willing to do all the time.

Otherwise, maybe it is better to leave this thread to fans of the english male leauge.

Fair point

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ppphhhhhheeeewwwww....

Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday

 

[Alphazoid]

Wasn't expecting it to be this straightforward. Chelsea really are in a state.

Were dangerous in the first half and should score. Our 3rd shouldn't count...but then Jackson shouldn't be on the pitch either so meh.

In any case, 3pts, clean sheet, and Kai Havertz scores again!

David Raya gets the Golden Glove. Albeit most of the work is from the 3 in front of him. Saying that, he got us into the UCL Quater final so fair play to him.

Hopefully we can get past Spurs unscathed too on Sun.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Wow.

Just wow.

A happy Gunner here tonight.

 

[daneoni]

There probably should be more shout for a Partey/Odegaard/Rice midfield after that performance.