Everything Soccer

[NorthDakota]

Well, here we go. Bayern vs. Atletico. Time for Pep to prove me wrong and not overthink this. My heart says 3-1 Bayern. My skeptic head says 2-1 Bayern....out on away goal rule.

 

[GowerND11]

Well, here we go. Bayern vs. Atletico. Time for Pep to prove me wrong and not overthink this. My heart says 3-1 Bayern. My skeptic head says 2-1 Bayern....out on away goal rule.

I have been following soccer since the 2010 World Cup. Really started getting into club soccer the following year, and I still can't decide what to make of the away goal rule... What do others think of it?

 

[Emcee77]

It makes for exciting viewing, but I don't think it's really a fair way to decide games.

There really is no fair way, in soccer. The only way that is truly fair that I can think is to just play sudden-death overtime periods until someone scores, but I don't think that will ever happen because the risk of injury is too high. Or at least that's the perception.

 

[NorthDakota]

I have been following soccer since the 2010 World Cup. Really started getting into club soccer the following year, and I still can't decide what to make of the away goal rule... What do others think of it?

It's dumb. I believe I read the intention of it was that back in the good old days many many moons ago, teams in Europe would basically go on the road and park the bus. This gave them an incentive to come out and play.

I don't think its a good method anymore but I'm sure it served it's purpose.

 

[GowerND11]

It's dumb. I believe I read the intention of it was that back in the good old days many many moons ago, teams in Europe would basically go on the road and park the bus. This gave them an incentive to come out and play.

I don't think its a good method anymore but I'm sure it served it's purpose.

I have heard one of the reasons being park the bus. But I also heard some commentator, I wish I could remember who, that said many teams are now parking the bus at home now. It's just flipped the script.

 

[ACamp1900]

It really sucks when an away goal decides things but it's also my understanding that not every league has the same style or size pitches... and the atmosphere in different countries is quite different... so there is that to consider... and yeah, it also bring about incentive for attacking play (Damned Italians ).

I'm not the biggest fan of it but I also don't really see any better method... free kicks? A third game at a neutral site? Just add more and more time until someone scores a golden goal?? None of those seem either better, or realistic.

 

[NorthDakota]

GOAL!! XABI!

 

[NorthDakota]

Now Bayern are in trouble. Need to score twice more...Atletico goal by Griezmann.

Sticking with my previous sad prediction of 2-1 in favor of Bayern (2-2 Atletico).

 

[NorthDakota]

Bayern 2
Atletico 1

15 minutes or so left.

 

[GowerND11]

It really sucks when an away goal decides things but it's also my understanding that not every league has the same style or size pitches... and the atmosphere in different countries is quite different... so there is that to consider... and yeah, it also bring about incentive for attacking play (Damned Italians ).

I'm not the biggest fan of it but I also don't really see any better method... free kicks? A third game at a neutral site? Just add more and more time until someone scores a golden goal?? None of those seem either better, or realistic.

A third game would make most sense in our American minds, but with how many games these teams play all season long adding another game for cup ties just really puts a strain on the players.

 

[ACamp1900]

A third game would make most sense in our American minds, but with how many games these teams play all season long adding another game for cup ties just really puts a strain on the players.

And where would you play it??

 

[NorthDakota]

Sad Bayern lost. Beyond excited to get Pep out of Munich. Honest to goodness believe that if Jupp had stayed, Bayern would have won at least one or two more Champions Leagues in these three seasons of Pep.

 

[GowerND11]

And where would you play it??

Like you said neutral? It would be such a headache that it wouldn't be the answer. I just know we here in the States like having a clear cut winner of a "series." I don't see how it could be remedied other than like you said, normal extra time and then PKs or Golden Goal.

 

[notredomer23]

All Madrid final. No doubt that La Liga is the best league in the world at least at the top few teams. Realistic chance that the Europa League final is also Spanish teams as well.

 

[Emcee77]

All Madrid final. No doubt that La Liga is the best league in the world at least at the top few teams. Realistic chance that the Europa League final is also Spanish teams as well.

It's almost bizarre how dominant Spanish teams have been in European competition. According to this ESPN FC article, they've won 45 of their last 48 knockout ties against teams from other countries. That's insane.

 

[NorthDakota]

It's almost bizarre how dominant Spanish teams have been in European competition. According to this ESPN FC article, they've won 45 of their last 48 knockout ties against teams from other countries. That's insane.

Atletico is built for knockout football.
Real/Barca are just better than pretty much everyone.

The really crazy thing to me is how well the other teams do in the Europa League.

 

[Emcee77]

Atletico is built for knockout football.
Real/Barca are just better than pretty much everyone.

The really crazy thing to me is how well the other teams do in the Europa League.

Right. I think I remember reading at some point in February or March or so that all 7 Spanish teams that started the season in European competition, either Champs League or Europa, were still alive in one competition or the other. Amazing.

And just off the top of my mind, two of them only lost because they played other Spanish teams, right?

 

[NorthDakota]

Right. I think I remember reading at some point in February or March or so that all 7 Spanish teams that started the season in European competition, either Champs League or Europa, were still alive in one competition or the other. Amazing.

And just off the top of my mind, two of them only lost because they played other Spanish teams, right?

I believe thats the case.

 

[NorthDakota]

Liverpool is playing a very attacking lineup today.

Firmino - Sturridge - Coutinho
Lallana - Can - Milner
Moreno - Lovren - Toure - Clyne

Can also view it as a 4-4-1-1 or 4-2-3-1.

 

[notredomer23]

Happy for Pool. Get that spot in the Champions League.

 

[Irish YJ]

Sad Bayern lost. Beyond excited to get Pep out of Munich. Honest to goodness believe that if Jupp had stayed, Bayern would have won at least one or two more Champions Leagues in these three seasons of Pep.

#GuardiolaSucks

 

[NorthDakota]

#GuardiolaSucks

Can't wait for Pool to win like 4-0 against city next year because he tries some ridiculous tactics.

 

[Irish YJ]

Can't wait for Pool to win like 4-0 against city next year because he tries some ridiculous tactics.

yup
i'm looking forward to Ancelotti.

 

[dublinirish]

Happy for Pool. Get that spot in the Champions League.

Stadium in Basel for the final is 35k capacity. Liverpool could probably get 90-100k in alone. Bad move by UEFA

 

[Emcee77]

Happy for Pool. Get that spot in the Champions League.

What a win. When Liverpool are at their best, they just suffocate teams with their pressure. So much for Spanish dominance ...

... at least until 2 weeks from now. Sevilla is in the Copa Del Rey final too. Tough team and it will be a tough game for LFC.

 

[NorthDakota]

What a win. When Liverpool are at their best, they just suffocate teams with their pressure. So much for Spanish dominance ...

... at least until 2 weeks from now. Sevilla is in the Copa Del Rey final too. Tough team and it will be a tough game for LFC.

Yep. It's crazy. After a Klopp preseason and transfer window, I think we will start to see more consistent performances as well....think Dortmund but with Premier League money. This will be real fun.

 

[dublinirish]

the big challenge for liverpool now is holding onto coutinho, if barca are interested he could go the same way as suarez

 

[NorthDakota]

the big challenge for liverpool now is holding onto coutinho, if barca are interested he could go the same way as suarez

I wouldn't even be mad. As long as they pay more for him than what Gotze(maybe im dreaming?) would cost to replace him.

 

[Emcee77]

the big challenge for liverpool now is holding onto coutinho, if barca are interested he could go the same way as suarez

It's funny, I used to think the same thing, but Coutinho was kind of a non-factor last night. He's not really built for gegenpressing the way Firmino and Lallana are. Don't get me wrong, he's a great, great player, but it's kind of like Sterling for me at this point: if LFC can get an outrageous price that's more than he's worth, I'd consider letting him go.

Is that heresy? Might be heresy. He has scored some huge goals for LFC this year. I would have to think hard about it.

 

[ACamp1900]

I wouldn't even be mad. As long as they pay more for him than what Gotze(maybe im dreaming?) would cost to replace him.

He's been wasting at Die Rotten...