Everything Soccer

[Rogue219]

I think they will make top 4. And it will be glorious to see what Klopp can bring in. Kolasinic is a legit possibility, he knows what Kopp is all about, and played with Matip. Schalke has loads of fun players.

I'm having a hard time seeing them make it now. United has a match in hand. Too many teams to leapfrog. If Henderson and Lovren are both out, things won't get any better.

I can't understand how Lucas is their best option after Matip over Klavan and Gomez. The Sakho fallout with Klopp was really bizarre too.

 

[NorthDakota]

I'm having a hard time seeing them make it now. United has a match in hand. Too many teams to leapfrog. If Henderson and Lovren are both out, things won't get any better.

I can't understand how Lucas is their best option after Matip over Klavan and Gomez. The Sakho fallout with Klopp was really bizarre too.

I'm not worried about United really right now. PLENTY of games left. I could see Pool finishing between 2-5.

 

[Rogue219]

van Dijk is a very good CB fit in the PL. Before getting Mustafi I was hoping Arsenal would take a look at him. He'd be a good replacement for Mertesecker, but he sees too much playing time with Southampton to want to be relegated to 3rd/4th choice with Arsenal.

Arsenal should start with a new manager. Chelsea, United, City and Liverpool have all addressed this in the last year. I know a lot of clubs would kill for FA Cups and finishing fourth, but those wheels have been spinning in place for a long time now with Arsenal.

Imagine what someone like Diego Simeone could do there. Talk about culture shock. Bloke speaks very little English, though.

 

[ACamp1900]

Man, if only Celtic could have hung on to big Virgil just one more year or so, Brendan would love to have him no doubt.

 

[nlroma1o]

I'm having a hard time seeing them make it now. United has a match in hand. Too many teams to leapfrog. If Henderson and Lovren are both out, things won't get any better.

I can't understand how Lucas is their best option after Matip over Klavan and Gomez. The Sakho fallout with Klopp was really bizarre too.

It's certainly possible for LP to finish top 4. The gap is so close between position 2 and 6. I could see Arsenal falling out and theres always a chance of Spurs shittin the bed and dropping out.

 

[GowerND11]

Arsenal should start with a new manager. Chelsea, United, City and Liverpool have all addressed this in the last year. I know a lot of clubs would kill for FA Cups and finishing fourth, but those wheels have been spinning in place for a long time now with Arsenal.

Imagine what someone like Diego Simeone could do there. Talk about culture shock. Bloke speaks very little English, though.

I can agree with this. I also feel like many clubs have used the uncertainty of Wenger every year as a sales pitch (since this is a college football forum... neg recruiting) to lure players away from even signing with Arsenal in the first place. Of course, the tight pocketbooks haven't helped either.

The fact that there is very serious risk of losing BOTH Alexis and Ozil, something needs to be done to keep both, or at the very least one.

 

[Rogue219]

Man, if only Celtic could have hung on to big Virgil just one more year or so, Brendan would love to have him no doubt.

Brendan took a pass on him when he was at Liverpool, so maybe not.

 

[Rogue219]

It's certainly possible for LP to finish top 4. The gap is so close between position 2 and 6. I could see Arsenal falling out and theres always a chance of Spurs shittin the bed and dropping out.

It's possible, but I'm not going to put any wages on it. They've won two of their last 12 and have been spinning down since they beat City on New Year's Eve.

Everton could catch them at this rate.

 

[Rogue219]

I can agree with this. I also feel like many clubs have used the uncertainty of Wenger every year as a sales pitch (since this is a college football forum... neg recruiting) to lure players away from even signing with Arsenal in the first place. Of course, the tight pocketbooks haven't helped either.

The fact that there is very serious risk of losing BOTH Alexis and Ozil, something needs to be done to keep both, or at the very least one.

Alexis has carried them since he got there. Ozil is good when he gives a crap. There is a culture there that needs to be torn down and built back up again. That starts with Wenger being gone. They have plenty of money.

If they tap Allegri from Juve, that would be huge.

 

[Emcee77]

Right now, trying to look at it impartially, I'd guess that the top 6 in the EPL will go as follows:
1) Chelsea
2) Man City
3) Spurs
4) Man U
----
5) Arsenal
6) Liverpool

But as roma said, the gap is still pretty close between positions 2 through 6 and anything could happen with any the clubs in those spots. Spurs have a history of sh*tting the bed (although they looked damn good this weekend against Stoke). Man City is looking good right now, but their defending is weak and it's hard to know how consistent they will be. Arsenal have shown signs of their traditional inconsistency, but they could always turn it on and pass either of Spurs or City. Man U is actually the one I feel most confident will finish top 4 ... that Mourinho personality is starting to come out in the team.

Liverpool are just impossible to figure out. When they are at their best they are absolutely unplayable. I can think of at least three opposing managers who have said publically at some point this year that Liverpool is the best team in the league ... Mazzari, Pulis, the now-deposed Mike Phelan ... there may have been another. They showed it again against Spurs. But apart from that, they have been absolutely abject in 2017. I thought it was fixture congestion combined with the demands of Klopp's style of play/training methods, but what's the excuse for Leicester? Very worrying for me as a Liverpool fan. It may be just that we ran into a proud team on their day, but still, this dip in form is absolutely maddening for a team that was top of the table not so long ago.

 

[NorthDakota]

It's possible, but I'm not going to put any wages on it. They've won two of their last 12 and have been spinning down since they beat City on New Year's Eve.

Everton could catch them at this rate.

In defense of Pool, they were missing Mané for a good chunk of time, were getting Coutinho back, and had some youth getting minutes in cup games.

I don't think they will win every game from here on out, but I expect them to play well the next few months. Really need to figure out how to play teams who won't open up though.

 

[Rogue219]

1) Chelsea
2) Man City
3) Spurs
4) Man U
----
5) Arsenal
6) Liverpool

This looks solid. I'd even say Everton 6th and Liverpool 7th.

 

[GowerND11]

Alexis has carried them since he got there. Ozil is good when he gives a crap. There is a culture there that needs to be torn down and built back up again. That starts with Wenger being gone. They have plenty of money.

If they tap Allegri from Juve, that would be huge.

The culture is a major problem. I know I'm biased, but the foundation is there for them to be the best team in the PL, yet there isn't that mentality of domination. They don't go out looking to win 4-0, they look to win 1-0 or 2-1. It's "good enough." I have seen so many similarities between Arsenal and ND the last 6 years it's frustrating. (I've only started watching soccer in college)

 

[NorthDakota]

The culture is a major problem. I know I'm biased, but the foundation is there for them to be the best team in the PL, yet there isn't that mentality of domination. They don't go out looking to win 4-0, they look to win 1-0 or 2-1. It's "good enough." I have seen so many similarities between Arsenal and ND the last 6 years it's frustrating. (I've only started watching soccer in college)

....watch Pool year after year and you'll swear they are from northern Indiana.

 

[Rogue219]

The culture is a major problem. I know I'm biased, but the foundation is there for them to be the best team in the PL, yet there isn't that mentality of domination. They don't go out looking to win 4-0, they look to win 1-0 or 2-1. It's "good enough." I have seen so many similarities between Arsenal and ND the last 6 years it's frustrating. (I've only started watching soccer in college)

They should have bought a proper striker YEARS ago. Giroud will score a filthy highlight goal against Palace but disappear when they play a big match.

I don't know they're as set on paper as people think. They have players who care more about the nightlife in London and getting spray on tans.

 

[Rogue219]

....watch Pool year after year and you'll swear they are from northern Indiana.

Amen.

 

[GowerND11]

They should have bought a proper striker YEARS ago. Giroud will score a filthy highlight goal against Palace but disappear when they play a big match.

I don't know they're as set on paper as people think. They have players who care more about the nightlife in London and getting spray on tans.

First part I agree with, though he has poached a few big goals this season as a supersub. That is what Giroud should be now as a 30 year old on this squad. Alexis, Ozil, and Walcott all are good enough, two of them even great (When Ozil wants to). Kos, Mustafi, and Bellerin are solid at the back, need an upgrade at LB with Nacho getting older. Cech is still a great PL goalie, but he's not worth the points he used to be.


What is frustrating is the amount of supposed talent, yet lack of output in the midfield. Ramsey, Santi, Xhaka, Ozil, Ox, Elneny, Coq, and company should be doing better than they do. That is a spot I'd really like to see some improvement along with striker. I also personally think Elneny needs to play more over Coq.


Pieces are there, Campbell shouldn't have been loaned out, and a management change is needed.

 

[Rogue219]

First part I agree with, though he has poached a few big goals this season as a supersub. That is what Giroud should be now as a 30 year old on this squad. Alexis, Ozil, and Walcott all are good enough, two of them even great (When Ozil wants to). Kos, Mustafi, and Bellerin are solid at the back, need an upgrade at LB with Nacho getting older. Cech is still a great PL goalie, but he's not worth the points he used to be.


What is frustrating is the amount of supposed talent, yet lack of output in the midfield. Ramsey, Santi, Xhaka, Ozil, Ox, Elneny, Coq, and company should be doing better than they do. That is a spot I'd really like to see some improvement along with striker. I also personally think Elneny needs to play more over Coq.


Pieces are there, Campbell shouldn't have been loaned out, and a management change is needed.

They're soft and it starts with Wenger.

Alexis is very good, and Ozil is good when he tries, but when Barca and Real let you go there is a reason why.

Alexis wanted to play in London instead of Liverpool. Now he doesn't like living in London. Too many of these guys care more about other things besides football. Arsenal has a roster chalk full of these kind of guys.

 

[NorthDakota]

when Barca and Real let you go there is a reason why.

Yeah....we will agree to disagree on this.

 

[Emcee77]

Ha, yeah, Rogue you have mostly been dead on in this thread, but going after Alexis? The dude dies a little with every dropped point. Arsenal needs 10 more guys like that and they will be all set.

 

[ACamp1900]

Ha, yeah, Rogue you have mostly been dead on in this thread, but going after Alexis? The dude dies a little with every dropped point. Arsenal needs 10 more guys like that and they will be all set.

He was also wrong about Man U not winning The World Series this year.......................

 

[nlroma1o]

Very suspect calls in the Coppa Italia match today between Juve e Napoli.

 

[ACamp1900]

Very suspect calls in the Coppa Italia match today between Juve e Napoli.

Forgive me if this was covered already but how do you watch your matches??

 

[nlroma1o]

Forgive me if this was covered already but how do you watch your matches??

Random illegal livestreams I find on Youtube. Or links I find through youtube. The future is here.

 

[Rogue219]

Ha, yeah, Rogue you have mostly been dead on in this thread, but going after Alexis? The dude dies a little with every dropped point. Arsenal needs 10 more guys like that and they will be all set.

How'd I go after him? He's carried them since he got there. That is a truth. What is also truth is He based his transfer destination on nightlife, and typically, Barca and Real are destinations rather than places you leave. He became a luxury when Suarez and Neymar arrived. Would it surprise anyone if he left this summer?

For as good as he is, he has gone absent for long periods of time in big matches. Overall? He's likely sore from carrying those guys. I feel for him.

Ozil is hot and cold. He's either brilliant or not interested. Not impressed.

Allegri goes there, they're in for a rude awakening. The lot of them.

 

[Rogue219]

Also, massive comeback by Newcastle today. Howay The Lads!

 

[notredomer23]

Also, massive comeback by Newcastle today. Howay The Lads!

I will enjoy watching Yedlin and Newcastle back in the Prem. Was a real failure with all the talent they had last year to be relegated. Should have been mid table at worst. Interested to see how they finish in the Chanpionship

 

[ACamp1900]

Magpies coming back up would draw me back to the EPL... a bit... I'd watch their games at least...

 

[nlroma1o]

Luis Enrique confirmed he will not be at Barca after this current season concludes.

 

[notredomer23]

MLS kicks off tonight with Minnesota vs Portland. I don't think Minnesota will be as bad as the experts think. For a DP-less squad, they actually have some really solid players. They will struggle at the beginning, but if they sign a DP or 2 this summer, I can see them sneaking into the playoffs