Everything Soccer

[Cackalacky]

Liverpool looked bad against West Brom in the FA Cup. Easily the worst they've looked at home all season. Moreno, Matip and Can did not look in form.

City looked very good, though it was Cardiff. That loss at Anfield was a blip on the radar for now.

Thomas Lemar has been left out of Monaco's team the last two matches. He's not injured. Liverpool? Arsenal?

Klopp says they're not doing anything until summer. With Sturridge set to depart for West Brom on loan, they're going to be that much thinner.

Our backup strikers have not scored a league goal in over two years.

I could not care less if Can goes or stays. I really dont think he does anything great or consistent, but he should not be captain anymore.

I am really shocked that no one has been brought in and they are shipping out people at the same time. Two back to back piss poor losses are damning.

We had better win today and convincingly.

 

[Cackalacky]

In the Bosnia-Herzgovina game, I saw what MIGHT promise to be two good centerbacks, and two keepers who showed some potential. The guy who played defensive mid-field might be the Bradley replacement ultimately, but not yet. (This guy apparently has leadership qualities and wore the Armband.)

I didn't see much else. A little from Jordan Morris. Pretty much zero offense.

Did anyone else see much which warranted some optimism?

Not really. They are in the process of identifying people now since the last two coaches have refused to bring in young guys effectively. Prepare yourself for a year or two of growing pains as the young guys adapt to full team status.

 

[NDty9]

City bought Aymeric Laporte from Bilbao for $57M and there are rumors they've bid for Mahrez to test Leicester.

Madness.

To me this is an ABSURD amount to spend on a Defender.... and him in general!


On a diff note, i realllllly hope Aubamayang doesnt sign with Arsenal. Still reserving hope that he comes to Milan and saves us!

 

[notredomer23]

To me this is an ABSURD amount to spend on a Defender.... and him in general!


On a diff note, i realllllly hope Aubamayang doesnt sign with Arsenal. Still reserving hope that he comes to Milan and saves us!

I agree it's an absurd amount for a defender but why him in general? He's already a top 10 CB in the world and has enough promise to be as good as Boateng or Silva.

 

[NDty9]

I agree it's an absurd amount for a defender but why him in general? He's already a top 10 CB in the world and has enough promise to be as good as Boateng or Silva.

I guess for me, when it comes to THAT KIND OF MONEY, promise isn't good enough. Maybe i'm more so just in shock with the amount of money that is being spent on some of these defenders lately

I mean you have:

2014: Mangala 42M Euro
2015: Otamendi 40M Euro
2016: Stones 48M Euro
2017: Walker 50M Euro
2017: Danillo: 52M Euro
2018: Laporte: 58M Euro

Total = 317M Euro


OH , AND THATS JUST MAN CITY!

 

[NorthDakota]

I agree it's an absurd amount for a defender but why him in general? He's already a top 10 CB in the world and has enough promise to be as good as Boateng or Silva.

I like to buy him on Fifa and think he's awesome but top ten? He hasn't gotten to play any international football. Zero. Zilch. Zip.

 

[Emcee77]

City bought Aymeric Laporte from Bilbao for $57M and there are rumors they've bid for Mahrez to test Leicester.

Madness.

Utter madness. City are such a juggernaut. Both signings are/would be great pickups at positions of need. They've needed another top, Pep-style CB all season, and they could use another winger in the team, with Sane hurt.

Our backup strikers have not scored a league goal in over two years.

I could not care less if Can goes or stays. I really dont think he does anything great or consistent, but he should not be captain anymore.

I am really shocked that no one has been brought in and they are shipping out people at the same time. Two back to back piss poor losses are damning.

We had better win today and convincingly.

Liverpool's loss to West Brom was really worrying, much more worrying than the Swansea loss, imo. WBA played the way LFC wants teams to play, wide open and expansive, and LFC still dug a hole for themselves with shockingly bad defending. CBs looked nervous and unorganized, and center midfielders and the fullbacks were unable to stay compact to help them out.

Moreno was the old Moreno, poor in defense. Trent is great going forward but green as a defender.

The center midfield ... just so disappointing on Saturday. I don't understand how the same three players can completely dominate midfield against the best team in the league, and then less than two weeks later, look completely lost against the second-bottom team. Abysmal.

The defending just has to improve. Totally unacceptable display on Saturday.

 

[Emcee77]

City bought Aymeric Laporte from Bilbao for $57M and there are rumors they've bid for Mahrez to test Leicester.

Madness.

Utter madness. City are such a juggernaut. Both signings are/would be great pickups at positions of need. They've needed another top, Pep-style CB all season, and they could use another winger in the team, with Sane hurt.

Our backup strikers have not scored a league goal in over two years.

I could not care less if Can goes or stays. I really dont think he does anything great or consistent, but he should not be captain anymore.

I am really shocked that no one has been brought in and they are shipping out people at the same time. Two back to back piss poor losses are damning.

We had better win today and convincingly.

Liverpool's loss to West Brom was really worrying, much more worrying than the Swansea loss, imo. WBA played the way LFC wants teams to play, wide open and expansive, and LFC still dug a hole for themselves with shockingly bad defending. CBs looked nervous and unorganized, and center midfielders and the fullbacks were unable to stay compact to help them out.

Moreno was the old Moreno, poor in defense. Trent is great going forward but green as a defender.

The center midfield ... just so disappointing on Saturday. I don't understand how the same three players can completely dominate midfield against the best team in the league, and then less than two weeks later, look completely lost against the second-bottom team. Abysmal.

The defending just has to improve, at all positions (the forwards, other than Bobby, were also not good). Totally unacceptable display on Saturday.

 

[fightingirish26]

I guess for me, when it comes to THAT KIND OF MONEY, promise isn't good enough. Maybe i'm more so just in shock with the amount of money that is being spent on some of these defenders lately

I mean you have:

2014: Mangala 42M Euro
2015: Otamendi 40M Euro
2016: Stones 48M Euro
2017: Walker 50M Euro
2017: Danillo: 52M Euro
2018: Laporte: 58M Euro

Total = 317M Euro


OH , AND THATS JUST MAN CITY!

And since 2014, City let go of
Kolarov
Clichy
Zabaleta
Sagna
Demichelis
Lescott
Nastasic
Richards

City have been a profitable club for 3 seasons running now, who wouldn't spend that money to upgrade the defense?

Oh, and you left out Mendy - 58M EURO

 

[Emcee77]

And since 2014, City let go of
Kolarov
Clichy
Zabaleta
Sagna
Demichelis
Lescott
Nastasic
Richards

City have been a profitable club for 3 seasons running now, who wouldn't spend that money to upgrade the defense?

Oh, and you left out Mendy - 58M EURO

I genuinely don't get how they are doing that. The spending is jaw-dropping.

 

[Rogue219]

Our backup strikers have not scored a league goal in over two years.

I could not care less if Can goes or stays. I really dont think he does anything great or consistent, but he should not be captain anymore.

I am really shocked that no one has been brought in and they are shipping out people at the same time. Two back to back piss poor losses are damning.

We had better win today and convincingly.

I can understand the angst of the PSG Out crowd. It doesn't make sense that they're standing pat while letting their best player leave in January. With Champions League football to offer at that.

 

[Rogue219]

Financial Fair Play rules have to be a joke. City and PSG are proof of that.

 

[ACamp1900]

I can understand the angst of the PSG Out crowd. It doesn't make sense that they're standing pat while letting their best player leave in January. With Champions League football to offer at that.

I have been out of the loop... who left PSG??

 

[Emcee77]

I think Rogue meant FSG? As in Fenway Sports Group, which owns Liverpool and has let Liverpool's best player go to Barca without bringing in a replacement.

Liverpool have most of the pieces they need, but they just don't have the spark at the moment. Lallana is hurt and I'm never been convinced of Oxinho's creativity (though he is a great Klopp-style athlete). Klopp had to find a creative midfielder or winger to bring in this window, and it doesn't look like it is going to happen. Disappointing.

 

[ACamp1900]

I think Rogue meant FSG? As in Fenway Sports Group, which owns Liverpool and has let Liverpool's best player go to Barca without bringing in a replacement.

Ah, makes sense... thanks.

 

[Emcee77]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Emre Can and Emre does! What a sweet strike! &#55357;&#56628; <a href="https://t.co/DedewB8yME">pic.twitter.com/DedewB8yME</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/958436663025430533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He finally got one of these to go. Emre Can rarely even gets close to hitting the target with his efforts from distance.

 

[ACamp1900]

I should like Liverpool... the history, the fact they aren't the top of the heap now (not a fan of jumping right on the current winners), popular with Americans in general... I find something about their base annoying though, the 'justice' movement is a bit much imo and the fact that they are owned by the same douchers that own the red sux kind of seal it for me. I can just never find myself embracing them.

 

[GowerND11]

Of course Arsenal give up 3 to Swansea last night, but manage to extend Ozil and sign Aubameyang.

COYG...

 

[Emcee77]

Of course Arsenal give up 3 to Swansea last night, but manage to extend Ozil and sign Aubameyang.

COYG...

Arsenal have huge problems at the back right now, but that attack ... Ozil and Mkhitaryan behind Aubameyang?? Yes please.

 

[GowerND11]

Arsenal have huge problems at the back right now, but that attack ... Ozil and Mkhitaryan behind Aubameyang?? Yes please.

It's absolutely pathetic. It went from being a decent back with arguably one of the best CBs in England (Kos) to, Swansea scores 3 goals...

 

[fightingirish26]

I admittedly haven't watched Auba more than maybe 6 or 7 times..am I missing something? He is obviously very fast and he's not a bad player, but I don't really see the type of quality that is needed to bring Arsenal up to speed with the rest of the big 6.

 

[GowerND11]

I admittedly haven't watched Auba more than maybe 6 or 7 times..am I missing something? He is obviously very fast and he's not a bad player, but I don't really see the type of quality that is needed to bring Arsenal up to speed with the rest of the big 6.

He's a very good signing, and I think he is an upgrade over Giroud. Plus having an attack of him, Ozil, Mkhitaryan, and Lacazette... That's dangerous. Throw in Iwobi, Welbeck, Ramsey, and Wilshire Arsenal should put the ball in the net a lot.

However, The back 3, or 4, or 5 whatever it may be is just shambles right now. That needs to be fixed, and we need a GK to replace Cech (Hence why getting rid of Szczęsny makes no sense).

 

[IHateMarkMay]

11 seconds in... really?

Then an own goal halfway through the first half?

UGGHHHHHH

 

[NDinL.A.]

He's a very good signing, and I think he is an upgrade over Giroud. Plus having an attack of him, Ozil, Mkhitaryan, and Lacazette... That's dangerous. Throw in Iwobi, Welbeck, Ramsey, and Wilshire Arsenal should put the ball in the net a lot.

However, The back 3, or 4, or 5 whatever it may be is just shambles right now. That needs to be fixed, and we need a GK to replace Cech (Hence why getting rid of Szczęsny makes no sense).

As long as Wenger is in charge, Arsenal will still be between 3-6 in the table. Every single one of my Arsenal fans want him out, yesterday.

I love Auba but I personally don’t think he fits Wenger’s system at all. Much more of a Klopp player. And I don’t see Wenger adjusting his system to his players any time soon, so IMO this won’t work out on the field until Wenger is out. Wouldn’t mind being wrong because Auba is fun as hell when he’s in the right system and his mind is right.

 

[GowerND11]

As long as Wenger is in charge, Arsenal will still be between 3-6 in the table. Every single one of my Arsenal fans want him out, yesterday.

I love Auba but I personally don’t think he fits Wenger’s system at all. Much more of a Klopp player. And I don’t see Wenger adjusting his system to his players any time soon, so IMO this won’t work out on the field until Wenger is out. Wouldn’t mind being wrong because Auba is fun as hell when he’s in the right system and his mind is right.

It'll be interesting to see how the attack plays under Wenger. I love what Wenger has done for the club. He is a hallmark. However, it's time. He needs to get out, and Arsenal need to rebuild. There's some talent to build around, and with a fresh manager, Arsenal could be fun to watch.

 

[NDty9]

And since 2014, City let go of
Kolarov
Clichy
Zabaleta
Sagna
Demichelis
Lescott
Nastasic
Richards

City have been a profitable club for 3 seasons running now, who wouldn't spend that money to upgrade the defense?

Oh, and you left out Mendy - 58M EURO

Ahhhh yes haha, Mendy as well.....

Can we just talk about FFP "FIFA Fair Play" for a minute??? WHAT A JOKE THIS IS !!! (Unless im missing something???)

There are literally about 8-10 teams in the WORLD, that can ever become GREAT for more than a single lucky year (Liecester City). The only teams who are allowed to bring in big names are the teams who make money. Rich get Richer and Poor STAY poor. How is this "Fair Play" ???

 

[GowerND11]

Ahhhh yes haha, Mendy as well.....

Can we just talk about FFP "FIFA Fair Play" for a minute??? WHAT A JOKE THIS IS !!! (Unless im missing something???)

There are literally about 8-10 teams in the WORLD, that can ever become GREAT for more than a single lucky year (Liecester City). The only teams who are allowed to bring in big names are the teams who make money. Rich get Richer and Poor STAY poor. How is this "Fair Play" ???

From what I understand FFP was supposed to cure two things right?

1, not let a small club just explode on scene, spend an astronomical amount to become good and then ruin themselves because they are so far in debt.

2, not allow the big clubs to buy all the players they want because at some point their wages and transfer bills have to be more than the club is bringing in anyway. Unfortunately, they just sell off guys to each other to finance the next massive transfer, plus these clubs bring in so much revenue it really isn't hurting them anyway.


Someone tell me if I'm wrong, I probably am.

 

[NDty9]

From what I understand FFP was supposed to cure two things right?

1, not let a small club just explode on scene, spend an astronomical amount to become good and then ruin themselves because they are so far in debt.

2, not allow the big clubs to buy all the players they want because at some point their wages and transfer bills have to be more than the club is bringing in anyway. Unfortunately, they just sell off guys to each other to finance the next massive transfer, plus these clubs bring in so much revenue it really isn't hurting them anyway.


Someone tell me if I'm wrong, I probably am.

As far as I know, you are correct with those two points. HOWEVER, it would seem that only the first point is actually working. FFP has NOT stopped the big clubs from buying anyone they want. In some cases they dont even need to sell a big player off to gain another big player. I mean look at MAN UNITED!!! Getting rid of Mhykiterian to get Alexis????? quite the upgrade (eventho I like Mhykiterian's game a lot)

 

[GowerND11]

As far as I know, you are correct with those two points. HOWEVER, it would seem that only the first point is actually working. FFP has NOT stopped the big clubs from buying anyone they want. In some cases they dont even need to sell a big player off to gain another big player. I mean look at MAN UNITED!!! Getting rid of Mhykiterian to get Alexis????? quite the upgrade (eventho I like Mhykiterian's game a lot)

I think that example doesn't really hold, because they still lost a wage to gain a wage. Plus it was a straight swap (though I assume there was/will be money being transferred as part of the deal). Still your point stands.

What PSG did to get Neymar? No way that should have been allowed.

 

[ACamp1900]

I know this, since FFP has been a thing the number of teams that can truly compete for major titles in Europe has been shrinking and becoming more exclusive. It was sold as having the exact opposite effect.