They keep saying (don't they?) that "it is a game of two halves", a cliché, but sometimes, even clichés come complete with a grain of truth.
Anyway, West Ham are looking good at the moment.
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The 2023-2024 Football Thread
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Anyway, West Ham are looking good at the moment.
Premier league still as competitive as ever. Especially this season.
Sometimes it’s not that competitive. But this season it is interesting. Till Rodri comes back for Man City. 🤣
I do find it amazing how one player can affect the dynamic of the whole team. I remember seeing it happening with Liverpool regarding Ian Rush, Paul Gascogine at Spurs, Alan Shearer at Newcastle, Roy Keane at Man United, Matt Le Tisssier at Southampton and Steve Bull at Wolves. Naturally there are many other footballers but those are the ones that I remember the most that were affected when the player was out injured.
Yes, City have laboured in the absence of Rodri, just as Liverpool suffered when van Dijk was out injured, and Saliba's absence certainly hurt Arsenal last season, among others.
Note, it is not the absence of goal-scorers that seems to seriously hurt a team, but of players who play a key (and irreplaceable, role) elsewhere on the pitch.
Indeed. Although the calibre of player you bring in to replace them also makes a difference.
I think City are also missing KDB. They can get by without him or Rodri but not both.
But that is the problem:
When a key player of this sort is out injured, the calibre of the replacement - inevitably, by definition - will not and cannot meet the standard of the injured player.
Those players bring that intangible extra element to a team; it is more than even skill, or experience, or the precise nature of how they fit into the completed jigsaw, or mosaic, of a team.
They miss Rodri more.
This has been abundantly clear in every match that he has missed; that is where City - normally, a terrifyingly well-oiled footballing machine - have lost points.
Every time he has been injured or suspended, they have looked just that bit more vulnerable, and that is when teams have been able to claim some points against them, wither by drawing with them, or defeating them.
Agree about Gundogan; he was an excellent player, and I think that City do miss him, to some extent.
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As usual, Liverpool are made to suffer at Crystal place. There will be plenty of debate over the big calls although I think the refs got things more less right. Ayew’s second yellow was a clear foul but carding him was a bit harsh and it clearly turned the game. A ground-out win. With Matip now out for the season, Robertson not back yet, and Trent spending more time in midfield, Konate and Gomez are going to be asked to deliver performances weekly now.
Mo Salah scored his 150th league goal (and 200th in all competitions) for Liverpool today. He is ‘Pool’s 5th highest all-time goal scorer. An incredible player Who rightly ranks with some of the all-time greats.
Mo Salah scored his 150th league goal (and 200th in all competitions) for Liverpool today. He is ‘Pool’s 5th highest all-time goal scorer. An incredible player Who rightly ranks with some of the all-time greats.
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Well despite not liking the early kick off, you still got all three points which is what matters at the end of the day.
I’ll watch the highlights this evening.
I would never say it within Klopp’s hearing, but I actually like the early kickoffs. 7:30am means I can watch the game over a leisurely coffee and breakfast. American fans of the game have created their own unique culture around football for breakfast/brunch. By the time the 3pm games kick off I’m usually busy with other weekend chores and it’s hard to set aside the couch time to watch.
The last time I was in the UK I actually found it odd watching a Premier League match in a pub in the evening.
Being on Eastern time makes watching games interesting….European matches kick off between 7am and noon, Eastern conference MLS matches happen between 3-7pm or so, but the West Coast matches may kick off as late as 11pm. With Liga MX matches straddling those times. So when the league schedules overlap you can have matches essentially all day.
The last time I was in the UK I actually found it odd watching a Premier League match in a pub in the evening.
Being on Eastern time makes watching games interesting….European matches kick off between 7am and noon, Eastern conference MLS matches happen between 3-7pm or so, but the West Coast matches may kick off as late as 11pm. With Liga MX matches straddling those times. So when the league schedules overlap you can have matches essentially all day.
Agree that carding Ayew was harsh - and certainly changed the game, and definitely turned the game.
However, Liverpool claimed all three points, (on balance, I think a draw would have been a fair result), and, for now, are resting at the top of the table.
However, Liverpool claimed all three points, (on balance, I think a draw would have been a fair result), and, for now, are resting at the top of the table.
Currently 5-1 Frankfurt. Wow.
Meanwhile United are struggling against Bournemouth. Typical. Some decent to good play in the second half so far, but no final ball. When Bruno isn't on song, they have precious little creativity.
Edit: 0-3 FT. Rip it up and start again, United.
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Glad I turned that one on today…Frankfurt completely dominated Bayern. Not something you see every day. Stuttgart fans will be loving that.
Manchester United are......rather erratic.
However, a three nil victory to Bournemouth - at Old Trafford, no less - is an excellent result for them.
Indeed.
No, but he is not entirely at fault - not even mostly at fault - for the erratic and inconsistent and unbalanced performances that have been delivered by the team on a regular basis for a number of seasons.
And, I am not sure that replacing him would lead to an improvement in United's position or performances on the pitch.
That job has been something of a poisoned chalice since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Indeed, I am idly attempting to recall all of the names of those who have held this position since Sir Alex retired.
Agreed.
Arsenal could be huffing and puffing until Doomsday, and - despite all of their possession - unfortunately, alack and alas, they still wouldn't manage to find the back of the net.
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Villa are the surprise package this year. Makes things interesting at the top for the neutral.
In my opinion and view, the problem and issues at United go way beyond the manager and squarely at the door of the owners. A bit of history. It was Malcom Glazer, the father who bought the club and it is during his time whist in charge of the club that United was still successful with Alex Ferguson as manager. Malcom Glazer was in poor health and it was during this time towards what would be his last year on this earth that Ferguson decided to retire and who but should take over the reigns of the company? Malcom Glazers children. Whilst all the children was given part ownership of the club upon their fathers death it was Joe and Avram Glazer who took on the role of their father in running the club. But here is the thing, neither of them are as good businessmen as their father was (business experts have pointed this out numerous times in the past) and ever since the two inexperience sons took over the running of the club, the club has gone from bad to worse. Under the ownership of the father, Malcom Glazer, the club won numerous premier league titles but since his son's have been running the club, not one league title has been won.
People will say a lot of it is down to ETH poor transfer dealings. The club have given him millions and he has not spent it well. Well, here is the thing, the exact same thing happened many many times during Fergusons time as manager. He made some dreadful signings but eventually always came good in the end. Remember, when Ferguson was manager the club went 3 years without winning the league but did the club get rid of him of? no? because they still had faith that he could turn things around and in the 4th year what happened? the club won the league 3 years in a row. Now that is what I call having faith in the manager. Now look at the length of term of the managers since Malcom Glazers passing, the retirement of Alex Ferguson and the running of the club by the two sons, not one manager has lasted more than 3 years, the same number of years Ferguson went without winning the league but Ferguson was not fired, unlike all the managers after him.
Ferguson had his fair share of losing games against teams he shouldn't have therefore I cannot put much blame on ETH for losing games the team should not be losing. I was listening to a sports radio channel that was covering numerous games and the person who was watching the United game it was clear from what the person was saying that there are players in that team who are just not trying hard enough and if that is so just what exactly is ETH supposed to do? He makes sure they eat the right food so they are in tip top condition. He makes sure they train the right way so they are in tip top condition, the club has made sure they are paid very handsomely for the job they do but yet still that does not appear to be good enough for the players. ETH tells the players to play a certain way, a certain style, a certain tactic come game day and they don't do it. He wants to put underperforming players on the bench or to train with the reserves and he gets derided for it. I just cannot see what else the man can do, barring from resigning from the club.
People will say a lot of it is down to ETH poor transfer dealings. The club have given him millions and he has not spent it well. Well, here is the thing, the exact same thing happened many many times during Fergusons time as manager. He made some dreadful signings but eventually always came good in the end. Remember, when Ferguson was manager the club went 3 years without winning the league but did the club get rid of him of? no? because they still had faith that he could turn things around and in the 4th year what happened? the club won the league 3 years in a row. Now that is what I call having faith in the manager. Now look at the length of term of the managers since Malcom Glazers passing, the retirement of Alex Ferguson and the running of the club by the two sons, not one manager has lasted more than 3 years, the same number of years Ferguson went without winning the league but Ferguson was not fired, unlike all the managers after him.
Ferguson had his fair share of losing games against teams he shouldn't have therefore I cannot put much blame on ETH for losing games the team should not be losing. I was listening to a sports radio channel that was covering numerous games and the person who was watching the United game it was clear from what the person was saying that there are players in that team who are just not trying hard enough and if that is so just what exactly is ETH supposed to do? He makes sure they eat the right food so they are in tip top condition. He makes sure they train the right way so they are in tip top condition, the club has made sure they are paid very handsomely for the job they do but yet still that does not appear to be good enough for the players. ETH tells the players to play a certain way, a certain style, a certain tactic come game day and they don't do it. He wants to put underperforming players on the bench or to train with the reserves and he gets derided for it. I just cannot see what else the man can do, barring from resigning from the club.