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⚽ Soccer Match-day Thread (5 Viewers)

All those solo runs are the same though -- where the runner repeatedly takes advantage of defenders getting there a half-step late and touches it behind them.  Always feel like those are more terrible defense than anything.  Maradonna's, Clint Mathis's, this one -- all the exact same thing IMO.  Not saying there's not skill involved, but I don't think those are in the same ballpark as Suarez's (except in rarity).
Bottom line, both of them are equally good at chewing up the defense.

 
All those solo runs are the same though -- where the runner repeatedly takes advantage of defenders getting there a half-step late and touches it behind them.  Always feel like those are more terrible defense than anything.  Maradonna's, Clint Mathis's, this one -- all the exact same thing IMO.  Not saying there's not skill involved, but I don't think those are in the same ballpark as Suarez's (except in rarity).
I kinda get what you're saying, but that's Crazy talk. Maradonna's goal vs England in the WC was insane...especially the move at midfield to turn and beat two England defenders- lots of replays don't adequately show that. And Messi's goal for Barca ...you know the one...is equally breathtaking, even though not in a WC game.

Looking forward to seeing Sons, even though it'll be hard to beat that Suarez goal...some guys throw a backheel in because that's the only iption- and sometimes they get a good bounce...Suarez really clearly is looking to drive it down so it pops up over the GK- just amazing on its own, but even a little bump in amazingness for the buildup.

 
And Messi's goal for Barca ...you know the one...is equally breathtaking, even though not in a WC game.
I'm not talking about things like that one.  That was freaking amazing.

I'm talking about the goals where a guy with the ball runs 70 yards straight to goal doing nothing more than pushing the ball in front of him and no defender cuts him off. 

And yeah on Diego's.  Probably doesn't belong in that category based on his initial(?) turn.

 
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I'm not talking about things like that one.  That was freaking amazing.

I'm talking about the goals where a guy with the ball runs 70 yards straight to goal doing nothing more than pushing the ball in front of him and no defender cuts him off. 

And yeah on Diego's.  Probably doesn't belong in that category based on his initial(?) turn.
Just saw Sons goal... great goal, especially starting at his own 18, but I'm with you 110% .

 
You don't see a lot of those because of "tactical fouls".  But Son ran through most of the team to score that and everyone close pulled up not to foul him.  Looked a lot like Giggs' 99 fa cup run vs Arsenal.  Both very impressive.  

 
If Manchester City lose at Arsenal tomorrow (not THAT crazy), then the difference in points between 1st place Liverpool and 3rd place City will be the same as the difference in points between 3rd place City and 18th place Aston Villa (15 points difference).

 
After CP got subbed out I FFed to live... Chelsea in free fall.
Mount isn't good enough to play CAM for Chelsea against a team that sits back.  There was zero linkup between midfield and attack for them today and when changes needed to be made Lampard inexplicably brought on another midfielder and moved Mount over to wing and they lost ALL creativity.  No idea what he was thinking.

 
Mount isn't good enough to play CAM for Chelsea against a team that sits back.  There was zero linkup between midfield and attack for them today and when changes needed to be made Lampard inexplicably brought on another midfielder and moved Mount over to wing and they lost ALL creativity.  No idea what he was thinking.
Yeah... I questioned mounts ability to be "that" guy at the level Chelsea want to be ... He flashes is it, but he and CP were really on different plots today and couldn't link at all.

 
Exciting second half at the Mestalla with Real Madrid getting the draw with a goal on the last play. Courtois with a saved header and it looks like he may have gotten the assist. 

Barca and Real are level going into the Clasico this week.

 
Don't forget Salah. Who replaced him?
Hindsight is pretty easy, but Salah was 21-22 when he was at Chelsea and sitting behind Hazard, Willian, and Oscar.  It's odd that Schurrle and Ramires were getting more minutes than him sure, but who knows how he was training at the time.

 
Hindsight is pretty easy, but Salah was 21-22 when he was at Chelsea and sitting behind Hazard, Willian, and Oscar.  It's odd that Schurrle and Ramires were getting more minutes than him sure, but who knows how he was training at the time.
Kdb was the same age and there essentially at the same time sitting behind essentially the same players...including shirley.

I remember liking both, but they were nowhere near the players they are now...and yeah, even with the flashes had no way of knowing how dominant they'd both be. I don't remember either seeing more than occasional time- did one of them feature more than the other?

And yet CP features at essentially the same age (different level of Chelsea squad, granted)

 
DeBruyne demanded a transfer due to it being a World Cup year and the club complied. Mourinho’s failure was not finding a way to keep him happy as a reserve.  Apparently, the two never spoke.  My recollection is he was behind Oscar and Ramires. Lampard was also on that team. 

Chelsea sold Debruyne and Mata in the same winter transfer window in which they bought Salah from Basel, but I don’t think those transfers had anything to do with each other.

Salah played against Chelsea in the champions league for Basel and looked fantastic. He showed some flashes of brilliance but never quite caught on at CFC. He was behind Hazard, Willian, Schürrle and probably one or two more.  They loaned him to Roma and then made the loan a permanent transfer after a year or so.  

 
As expected United struggle when they dominate possession. They need a creative 10 badly.  Whether that's Pogba or buying someone, they need it now.  Lingard is worthless on the pitch (his homegrown & english status helps in other areas  :lmao: ).  Perreria isn't any better and Mata is slowing down a bit.  

I was curious to see your reactions to the Everton goal but I am guessing not many watched.  High ball, forearm across De Gea's face leads to a missed punch and an own goal by Lindelof.  Should De Gea have done better?  sure.  But touching a keeper is constantly called a foul and yet this one isn't?  I do agree keepers get too much protection and 50/50 balls or when a keeper come out over someone shouldn't necessarily be a foul, but a forearm that turns the keepers head is "normal contact"?

Just wondering your opinions....

In any case they are back in 6th (damn tottenham's 90th min goal when Jose should be parking the bus).  Watford, Newcastle, Burnley up next which may be bad if Pogba isnt fit and playing the 10...  

 
Kdb was the same age and there essentially at the same time sitting behind essentially the same players...including shirley.

I remember liking both, but they were nowhere near the players they are now...and yeah, even with the flashes had no way of knowing how dominant they'd both be. I don't remember either seeing more than occasional time- did one of them feature more than the other?

And yet CP features at essentially the same age (different level of Chelsea squad, granted)
CP is actually a great contrast.  Look at his first few games at Chelsea.  Moments of brilliance, but mostly sub par play.  Imagine if Chelsea had the type of players they did back in those days...  I doubt CP would've ever gotten more than sub minutes and Cup games had he been in Salah's position, especially after that start.  Instead, due to their lack of options, Chelsea was forced to given CP heavy minutes again and he took that chance and ran with it.  Now he might never get to Salah's level, but because of the circumstances Chelsea is going to give him every chance to come good now.

 
encaitar said:
CP is actually a great contrast.  Look at his first few games at Chelsea.  Moments of brilliance, but mostly sub par play.  Imagine if Chelsea had the type of players they did back in those days...  I doubt CP would've ever gotten more than sub minutes and Cup games had he been in Salah's position, especially after that start.  Instead, due to their lack of options, Chelsea was forced to given CP heavy minutes again and he took that chance and ran with it.  Now he might never get to Salah's level, but because of the circumstances Chelsea is going to give him every chance to come good now.
And tbh... I remember watching Salah back then and thinking equal part exciting brilliance and equal part just not in the game- which is less than where I am with CP (although as you say, he's getting more minutes to work with...but also lesser supporting cast). These kind of performances give me hope that CP can get to Salah levels...to me it's about him finishing all those chances he creates, the way Salah has been. And I truly believe he can get there.

 
De Gea with one of the worst howlers you’ll ever see an EPL keeper commit.  My god.

And it’s unforgivable how Ole has the team prepared for these games.  

 
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De Gea with one of the worst howlers you’ll ever see an EPL keeper commit.  My god.

And it’s unforgivable how Ole has the team prepared for these games.  
United only seem to win when they sit back and hit teams on the counter.  When they are the team that has to break down a team that’s parking the bus, they struggle for creativity. Pogba could be the key to unlocking that, but Ole is just a terrible coach, let’s be honest.

 
United only seem to win when they sit back and hit teams on the counter.  When they are the team that has to break down a team that’s parking the bus, they struggle for creativity. Pogba could be the key to unlocking that, but Ole is just a terrible coach, let’s be honest.
Counter or not they obviously play at a different level and pace in big games vs. the others.  It’s unacceptable.

 
Wins against City, Totts, Chelsea, Leicester and draws against Arsenal and Pool but yet you sit in 8th.  I’m not sure how that’s possible.

 
Robbie Earle faulting Lampard for not taking the team off the pitch.  
He has a point.  I know it'd be a tough call to pull your team when you're up 2-0, but unless the FA steps harder on teams with infractions, then something big needs to happen to stop that ####.  It'd be a brave move, but it'd be a huge show of support for the players if anyone DID go that far.

 
You can't pull your team off the pitch for racist fans.   That's just going to make the situation worse.  If a racist knew all he had to do is act racist and the team would leave the pitch, they'd be doing that even more.

I don't really know what the solution is.  But I think there's a big focus on it now, which is positive.  I think people need to step back, stop getting so emotional, stop going OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING IN 2019 and start taking action against those who do it.

Eliminate their ability to come to sporting events.  Perhaps you have to show your ID to get into a game and that ID gets checked off a list.  Use technology and banish people from ever being able to go to any soccer game in England.  That's the best thing that can be done.  But racism has existed and will continue to exist, unfortunately.  I don't get the sudden shock from the media over this happening.  It's not as if this is something new.  Tears and social media outrage isn't going to do a thing to change the minds of these sick people.

 
Lamps pulled the strings brilliantly today...shape was perfect, mount and Kante brilliant, willian especially so. Really happy to see Kante used the way he should be...roaming in middle cleaning things up. Tons of room for blue shirts on the ball. Spurs and tso had no apparent answers.

But no CP, even as a sub. That chels played so well without him...not great.

 
Lamps pulled the strings brilliantly today...shape was perfect, mount and Kante brilliant, willian especially so. Really happy to see Kante used the way he should be...roaming in middle cleaning things up. Tons of room for blue shirts on the ball. Spurs and tso had no apparent answers.

But no CP, even as a sub. That chels played so well without him...not great.
Yeah, but Mason Mount had a good dozen opportunities to make a great offensive play and didn't accomplish it once.  Now, his pressing was amazing, but he was awful with his decision making.  I think Chelsea could've scored 4-5 with a creative player(CP) playing that position instead of Mount.  I do think that any critical assessment of that game would let someone see that outside of a master class by Willian, Chelsea' attackers weren't very dangerous.

Also, I expect CP would've been a sub, but small injuries/cramps forced Frank's hand on the subs.

I do think we'll see Chelsea play 3-4-3 more going forward after that game.

 
I'm just wrapping the game up.

Thought there were a couple of clear yellows not given in the first half, two to spurs, one for mount. Rudiger with the histrionics, but wtf was Son thinking. Clear red for me...not just kicking out, but contacting the opposing player And at a moment when spurs slowly seemed to exerting some influence.

And shameful behavior from typically laconic spurs fans. Will be interesting to see what the fa does here.

 
Yeah, but Mason Mount had a good dozen opportunities to make a great offensive play and didn't accomplish it once.  Now, his pressing was amazing, but he was awful with his decision making.  I think Chelsea could've scored 4-5 with a creative player(CP) playing that position instead of Mount.  I do think that any critical assessment of that game would let someone see that outside of a master class by Willian, Chelsea' attackers weren't very dangerous.

Also, I expect CP would've been a sub, but small injuries/cramps forced Frank's hand on the subs.

I do think we'll see Chelsea play 3-4-3 more going forward after that game.
I think Pulisic would likely come in if they needed a goal.  He doesn’t seem like the guy you use to kill a game. Up by 2 and then up a man after 62 minutes was honestly a shocking situation to be in for this team. I’m happy he got a good rest.  I think he’ll play Thursday.

Thursday is Boxing Day, time to finally get a look at the table.  

 
Your weekly reminder that Jessie Lingard is worthless.  Should have been 1-0 United long before De Gea's howler and the PK.  United were sloppy but mostly in control.  And I believe if De Gea doesn't let that in, the PK doesn't happen and the game is a different story.  Would they have won?  Don't know.  But 1-0 or 0-0 gives more hope then 0-2.

United's lack of a true 10 that can create, open a defense, and is a scoring threat is the biggest issue.  Pogba showed more in 30 mins then Lingard, Pereira and Mata have shown in 3 months combined.  If Pogba can play the 10 and actually be good Pogba, United can start winning games vs lower table teams.  IF Ole keeps running out Lingard & Pereira with Pogba back and Fred/McT showing a good partnership then I will agree he is not suited for the manager spot. But now he is cleaning up a mess left by the board & Jose/LVG/Moyes.  He has the same points in a year as Klopp did his first at Liverpool.  The board needs to back him in Jan and the summer.  If they don't, you can't expect the results to improve.

Sell: Matic, Young, Jones

Bench: Lingard, Pereira (Lingard has value as an English & academy player, plus they could play Cup games)

Buy: Midfielders.  May also need a left back and another attacker although Greenwood looks legit.  

 

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