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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (4 Viewers)

BMav... this was all I got, sorry- no starwars action.

View of field and game action. we were the closest box to midfield.

Sunil and nycfc pres. woman in nycfc shirt is the alum who got the box for us... and also is an original nycfc fanclub member, but thought the third-rail (group) was too testosteroney... didn't feel safe as a woman. wrote to the organization about starting a women's only club- and they were all over it (which is maybe how the pres of the team ended up in the suite that night).

View back around the other boxes.

btw- the third rail was singing, drumming non-stop for 90+ minutes- and in the section of seats I've preferred for games behind the north goal.

 
:devil:

Well now... Rooney and Fro start on the bench, which made United more dynamic, quicker and balanced. Less giveaways, faster on the counter, less fouls in dangerous positions...

Mata was masterful, Pogba got involved and looked better, Herrera was great, even Zlatan looked mobile and happy and like he could score if he wanted too.  Please let this be the first of many.  So dynamic, so quick in movement (ball and people), so much more fun to watch without the plodding of those two.  And of course everyone points to Rooney but to me the Fro being out was just as important.  Yes 3 of the goals were corners, but who normally takes them?  Rooney.  And would he have seen the Mata play even with Herrera yelling? Prob not. 

Yes Leicester looked poor after the first goal.  They looked fine to start although  Vardy and Mahrez were nonexistent in the first half.  They fell asleep on the corners but Mata's goal was fantastic.  He has to play the 10 spot.  

Its going to be a battle for the top 4, esp if City keeps winning.  Tottenham, United, Arsenal, Liverpool all look good right now.

 
Wondering if City will struggle without De Bruyne for these next few weeks.  He's been the best player in the league so far. 

Kind of weird weekend with multiple "statement" games that we can read too much into.  (United, Arsenal, and Liverpool). 

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
Wondering if City will struggle without De Bruyne for these next few weeks.  He's been the best player in the league so far. 

Kind of weird weekend with multiple "statement" games that we can read too much into.  (United, Arsenal, and Liverpool). 
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I think losing De Bryune last season cost them the title (or a shot at it).  They struggled and were inconsistent without him. May depend on Sterling's form and who slots into KDB's spot (obviously).

 
B Maverick said:
:devil:

Well now... Rooney and Fro start on the bench, which made United more dynamic, quicker and balanced. Less giveaways, faster on the counter, less fouls in dangerous positions...

Mata was masterful, Pogba got involved and looked better, Herrera was great, even Zlatan looked mobile and happy and like he could score if he wanted too.  Please let this be the first of many.  So dynamic, so quick in movement (ball and people), so much more fun to watch without the plodding of those two.  And of course everyone points to Rooney but to me the Fro being out was just as important.  Yes 3 of the goals were corners, but who normally takes them?  Rooney.  And would he have seen the Mata play even with Herrera yelling? Prob not. 

Yes Leicester looked poor after the first goal.  They looked fine to start although  Vardy and Mahrez were nonexistent in the first half.  They fell asleep on the corners but Mata's goal was fantastic.  He has to play the 10 spot.  

Its going to be a battle for the top 4, esp if City keeps winning.  Tottenham, United, Arsenal, Liverpool all look good right now.
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yeah- Mata just makes them so much more fluid, and I totally agree with him there, the other key figures started to look better too. Pogba, as a box-to-box guy, seems like more of an individual box to box guy and not a guy that's going to help his team with the telling pass... but one of these games one of those 25+ yard drives is going to miss the post and go in. 

and LC didn't honestly seem any better or worse than last year. same game plan- all guys back in their own half defensively, invite crosses and shots, defend desperately throwing bodies in front of balls, and then lightening counter-  that worked miraculously (impossibly) last season, but hasn't so far this year. 

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
Wondering if City will struggle without De Bruyne for these next few weeks.  He's been the best player in the league so far. 

Kind of weird weekend with multiple "statement" games that we can read too much into.  (United, Arsenal, and Liverpool). 
Click to expand...
I didn't see that he's out- player of the year, so far IMO.

 
El Floppo said:
yeah- Mata just makes them so much more fluid, and I totally agree with him there, the other key figures started to look better too. Pogba, as a box-to-box guy, seems like more of an individual box to box guy and not a guy that's going to help his team with the telling pass... but one of these games one of those 25+ yard drives is going to miss the post and go in. 

and LC didn't honestly seem any better or worse than last year. same game plan- all guys back in their own half defensively, invite crosses and shots, defend desperately throwing bodies in front of balls, and then lightening counter-  that worked miraculously (impossibly) last season, but hasn't so far this year. 
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Agree on Pogba.  But with Herrera and Mata around him (or Carrick at times) he doesnt need to hit that pass.  He can hit the outside shot to keep teams honest and help open the defense, he can control the center of the park and get the break going....  The little chip to Zlatan was fantastic and Zlatan hit it well just a bit over.

 
Maybe Leicester didn't look too much different in open play, but a team that prides itself on defensive organization can't give up three set piece goals.  Like everyone else, I enjoyed Rashford's "straight from the training ground" goal, but the defending there was criminal. 

I think neither Huth nor Morgan have been nearly as good as last year.  I'm worried about Morgan in particular, because I think he looked like crap for Jamaica in the Copa and in the qualifiers. Like he maybe enjoyed the success too much. 

 
B Maverick said:
Agree on Pogba.  But with Herrera and Mata around him (or Carrick at times) he doesnt need to hit that pass.  He can hit the outside shot to keep teams honest and help open the defense, he can control the center of the park and get the break going....  The little chip to Zlatan was fantastic and Zlatan hit it well just a bit over.
Click to expand...
Pogba was great again against Leicester.  I think his skill set is a bit hard to explain. He doesn't sit back and control from deep.  And he's not always the guy to play the final ball. But he's a great dual threat transition midfielder in that he has very good passing range, but is also excellent at "carrying" the ball on the dribble 30 or 40 yards.  He's as good as anyone I've seen since Zidane at receiving non-ideal balls (passes where he's not really an "open" option, per se) and nevertheless making the turn and either galloping past the line of midfielders or switching play.  When you consider that he'll do that and probably still chip in 7 to 10 goals and 7 to 10 assists, that's a great return from an 8. 

I also love Rashford.  It cracks me up that Man U paid the highest amount ever for a teenager and ended up having a better teenager in their academy all along.  Not that Martial is bad.  He's pretty good.  But Rashford looks to be special.  The Thierry Henry comparisons feel very apt. 

 
I suppose I'll talk a bit about Arsenal.  In truth, I'm catching bits and pieces of games now that my kid has decided that a television program without Elmo is an affront to humanity.  But I saw a good chunk of the Chelsea game. 

The Good: 

"Kostafi" is looking to be a nice solid CB pairing.  Enjoyed them beating up on Costa.

Coquelin's injury:  I think Coq has played well, but something seems to be preventing Wenger from playing Xhaka all the time when Xhaka has done nothing but play terrific all season.  I think that Xhaka is great at finding Ozil quickly and finding Ozil in transition is always a very, very good thing.

The Maybe Good --

Maybe this Alexis at striker thing will stick?  This will be the third straight year that Arsene's tried to make fetch happen in this regard.  I like Alexis' movement.  But in the past, I'm not sure we've had guys who could capitalize into the empty spaces.  Theo is having his annual "maybe the light has gone on" moment right now, but if he can consistently capitalize on Alexis moving the CBs around, that's good for Arsenal.

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
Pogba was great again against Leicester.  I think his skill set is a bit hard to explain. He doesn't sit back and control from deep.  And he's not always the guy to play the final ball. But he's a great dual threat transition midfielder in that he has very good passing range, but is also excellent at "carrying" the ball on the dribble 30 or 40 yards.  He's as good as anyone I've seen since Zidane at receiving non-ideal balls (passes where he's not really an "open" option, per se) and nevertheless making the turn and either galloping past the line of midfielders or switching play.  When you consider that he'll do that and probably still chip in 7 to 10 goals and 7 to 10 assists, that's a great return from an 8. 

I also love Rashford.  It cracks me up that Man U paid the highest amount ever for a teenager and ended up having a better teenager in their academy all along.  Not that Martial is bad.  He's pretty good.  But Rashford looks to be special.  The Thierry Henry comparisons feel very apt. 
Click to expand...
yeah- pogba's tough to categorize... but I agree with what you desribed there. great at turning, great at those galloping runs, and great at unleashing some fantastic strikes from range- that will help keep Ds honest and not so deep (and will start going in). so far- he's also been a absolute workhorse just getting both ways and being around the ball, even if it isn't always about linking players and plays up, it's helping the MU team shape by just presenting that extra number.

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
Maybe Leicester didn't look too much different in open play, but a team that prides itself on defensive organization can't give up three set piece goals.  Like everyone else, I enjoyed Rashford's "straight from the training ground" goal, but the defending there was criminal. 

I think neither Huth nor Morgan have been nearly as good as last year.  I'm worried about Morgan in particular, because I think he looked like crap for Jamaica in the Copa and in the qualifiers. Like he maybe enjoyed the success too much. 
Click to expand...
can't disagree- but like I said post and pre season... I think it was miraculous that Huth and Morgan and the rest of the team were able to hold teams as well as they did last season. felt like they were always in the right space to win the header (while both are good- from what I've seen of especially Huth previously, not exactly an all-timer) or tackle and the outside backs and Kante were always there to assist. 

feels like all those plays where they'd somehow get a guy there to win or block the ball are falling short and the same shots are just going in. :shrug:  

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
I also love Rashford.  It cracks me up that Man U paid the highest amount ever for a teenager and ended up having a better teenager in their academy all along.  Not that Martial is bad.  He's pretty good.  But Rashford looks to be special.  The Thierry Henry comparisons feel very apt. 
Click to expand...
If Martial can find his form again (and I think he will), he and Rashford running off Zlatan and Mata will be even better to watch.  And it really sets up nicely for when Zlatan is done or needs a break to be able to put Rashford up top and Martial back on the left.  And when Mkhy gets going.... Jose may have some good problems to have with who to play in attack each week.  May mean the end of Memphis, Young (whos been a decent squad player) and maybe even Lingard.

 
all this talk about Rashford- but nobody's making the argument that he should sit and get eased into things because he's only 18. I guess that's just an american problem.

 
So the other day I asked the 7yr old what he wanted for his bday and he quickly said a Juventus Zaza kit.  I asked why and he said "I love his left foot".  I know nothing about this dude other than it's fun to say his name... @Kafka or others - tell me about this cat.

Edit: it's pretty humbling when my 7yr old knows more than I do already.   :unsure:

 
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At this point the most dangerous teams look like this:

1. Man City - look a step above everyone

2. Liverpool/Arsenal tie:  Both offenses playing lights out. Arsenal a bit better defensively, Liverpool a bit better offensively

4. ManU - Very up-and-down, but you get the feeling that if it all clicks, they could be at Man City's level.

5. Tottenham - Very sound defensively, but not at the level of the above four offensively.  I think once they start playing the top teams, they'll start dropping points...beginning this weekend.

6. Chelsea - How quickly they've fallen from a title contender to a top four outsider.  I suppose that can happen to anyone when they get 1 point from 3 games.  They don't look very good defensively, and aside from Costa, they honestly aren't all that potent offensively.  Not a good combination.

My opinion is that the team that wins this thing is the team that avoids "falling asleep" for 3-4 games in a row.  ManU fell apart for 2 games and Chelsea for 3, and just like that they are both out of top 4.  As was posted above, it will be interesting to see City play without KDB.  The international break comes soon though, which is fortunate timing.

 
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Ned said:
So the other day I asked the 7yr old what he wanted for his bday and he quickly said a Juventus Zaza kit.  I asked why and he said "I love his left foot".  I know nothing about this dude other than it's fun to say his name... @Kafka or others - tell me about this cat.

Edit: it's pretty humbling when my 7yr old knows more than I do already.   :unsure:
Click to expand...
Well, he plays for West Ham now, so there's that...

...and he's the first ever Sassuolo player to be capped for the Italian NT, was bought by Juve, & then moved to West Ham....

 
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There's two ways to look at Liverpool.  On one hand, the Burnley result was almost certainly a fluke and Liverpool could easily conceivably be only 2 pts behind City.  On the other hand, 9 goals conceded in 6 games is pretty significantly more than any other contender has conceded (depending on how you feel about Chelsea, who's defense has been a disaster). 

Liverpool is undoubtedly a great watch.  I think Coutinho takes too many long shots, but you invariably get a few of those bombs a year, which is always fun.  They're scoring tons of goals even without one striker really catching fire.  And I get a season of dogging Gian for not taking Milner in the fantasy league now that he's a left back who is going to score like 8-10 goals on penalties alone.  Good times. 

 
Kafka said:
Well, he plays for West Ham now, so there's that...

...and he's the first ever Sassuolo player to be capped for the Italian NT, was bought by Juve, & then moved to West Ham....
Click to expand...
He didn't care about West Ham; insisting on the Juventus kit.

Zaza's not a ######## or anything, right?

 
Ned said:
So the other day I asked the 7yr old what he wanted for his bday and he quickly said a Juventus Zaza kit.  I asked why and he said "I love his left foot".  I know nothing about this dude other than it's fun to say his name... @Kafka or others - tell me about this cat.

Edit: it's pretty humbling when my 7yr old knows more than I do already.   :unsure:
Click to expand...
google "Zaza Penalty"

Then do the responsible thing, and get your kid something else for his birthday.

 
Ned said:
He didn't care about West Ham; insisting on the Juventus kit.

Zaza's not a ######## or anything, right?
Click to expand...
No, absolutely not.  He's actually a "stand up" guy/striker, literally & figuratively.  Just don't let your son, EVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, see a replay of the Euro '16 Ita-Ger penalty shootout!

 
shader said:
At this point the most dangerous teams look like this:

1. Man City - look a step above everyone

2. Liverpool/Arsenal tie:  Both offenses playing lights out. Arsenal a bit better defensively, Liverpool a bit better offensively

4. ManU - Very up-and-down, but you get the feeling that if it all clicks, they could be at Man City's level.

5. Tottenham - Very sound defensively, but not at the level of the above four offensively.  I think once they start playing the top teams, they'll start dropping points...beginning this weekend.

6. Chelsea - How quickly they've fallen from a title contender to a top four outsider.  I suppose that can happen to anyone when they get 1 point from 3 games.  They don't look very good defensively, and aside from Costa, they honestly aren't all that potent offensively.  Not a good combination.

My opinion is that the team that wins this thing is the team that avoids "falling asleep" for 3-4 games in a row.  ManU fell apart for 2 games and Chelsea for 3, and just like that they are both out of top 4.  As was posted above, it will be interesting to see City play without KDB.  The international break comes soon though, which is fortunate timing.
Click to expand...
my link

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
There's two ways to look at Liverpool.  On one hand, the Burnley result was almost certainly a fluke and Liverpool could easily conceivably be only 2 pts behind City.  On the other hand, 9 goals conceded in 6 games is pretty significantly more than any other contender has conceded (depending on how you feel about Chelsea, who's defense has been a disaster). 

Liverpool is undoubtedly a great watch.  I think Coutinho takes too many long shots, but you invariably get a few of those bombs a year, which is always fun.  They're scoring tons of goals even without one striker really catching fire.  And I get a season of dogging Gian for not taking Milner in the fantasy league now that he's a left back who is going to score like 8-10 goals on penalties alone.  Good times. 
Click to expand...
I did take him ;)

 
Ned said:
So the other day I asked the 7yr old what he wanted for his bday and he quickly said a Juventus Zaza kit.  I asked why and he said "I love his left foot".  I know nothing about this dude other than it's fun to say his name... @Kafka or others - tell me about this cat.

Edit: it's pretty humbling when my 7yr old knows more than I do already.   :unsure:
Click to expand...
The first thing you need to know is he plays for the Hammers.

 
shader said:
At this point the most dangerous teams look like this:

1. Man City - look a step above everyone

2. Liverpool/Arsenal tie:  Both offenses playing lights out. Arsenal a bit better defensively, Liverpool a bit better offensively

4. ManU - Very up-and-down, but you get the feeling that if it all clicks, they could be at Man City's level.

5. Tottenham - Very sound defensively, but not at the level of the above four offensively.  I think once they start playing the top teams, they'll start dropping points...beginning this weekend.

6. Chelsea - How quickly they've fallen from a title contender to a top four outsider.  I suppose that can happen to anyone when they get 1 point from 3 games.  They don't look very good defensively, and aside from Costa, they honestly aren't all that potent offensively.  Not a good combination.

My opinion is that the team that wins this thing is the team that avoids "falling asleep" for 3-4 games in a row.  ManU fell apart for 2 games and Chelsea for 3, and just like that they are both out of top 4.  As was posted above, it will be interesting to see City play without KDB.  The international break comes soon though, which is fortunate timing.
Click to expand...
the season is only 6 games in :lmao:

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
There's two ways to look at Liverpool.  On one hand, the Burnley result was almost certainly a fluke and Liverpool could easily conceivably be only 2 pts behind City.  On the other hand, 9 goals conceded in 6 games is pretty significantly more than any other contender has conceded (depending on how you feel about Chelsea, who's defense has been a disaster). 

Liverpool is undoubtedly a great watch.  I think Coutinho takes too many long shots, but you invariably get a few of those bombs a year, which is always fun.  They're scoring tons of goals even without one striker really catching fire.  And I get a season of dogging Gian for not taking Milner in the fantasy league now that he's a left back who is going to score like 8-10 goals on penalties alone.  Good times. 
Click to expand...
There's no way to sugarcoat it, 9 goals in 6 games isn't good.

I will say that now we've got Matip playing, and since he's started, we have conceded 1 goal per game.  So, 4 in 4 games.  Still not an elite defense, but things seem a lot better now.

Also, Karius just came in for Mignolet, which can only be a good thing.

I totally agree with you on Coutinho.  That Burnley game, he caught all kinds of flack from fans.  But I think that any LIV fan could tell you that the last few games, he seems to have stopped doing that as much.  He's become an actual part of the offense, as opposed to just a long shooter and a set-piece scorer.  He looks deadly ATM.

 
Sinn Fein said:
Big Sam subject of undercover reporters' sting operation

Nothing earth shattering here, but I am sure they will make the most of it in England.

Sam Allardyce used his position as England manager to negotiate a £400,000 deal and offered advice to businessmen on how to “get around” FA rules on player transfers, The Telegraph can disclose.
Click to expand...
Really doesn't seem to be much in this, but rumors starting to circulate that he has been summoned to meet with the FA and could be sacked today.

 
The sad thing about the state of the FA and this Allardyce controversy is that the actual team is becoming quite talented.  When you look at how Pep has revitalized Sterling, the emergence of Rashford, you see a team that could really make some noise at the WC.  

 
Football for sale | What the Telegraph investigation will reveal

The Telegraph began investigating corruption in English football last year after receiving information that specific managers, officials and agents were taking or receiving cash payments to secure player transfers. Over the coming days the Telegraph will detail how:
  • The assistant manager of a high-profile football club accepted a £5,000 cash “bung”
  • Ten managers were named by players’ agents as taking bribes to fix player transfers
  • Two well-known managers discussed becoming ambassadors for the same fictitious firm as Sam Allardyce
  • Another high-profile manager admitted his players broke FA rules by betting on their own games but he failed to report it
  • A senior figure at a Premier League club helped undercover reporters to formulate a plan to bribe managers
 
shader said:
The sad thing about the state of the FA and this Allardyce controversy is that the actual team is becoming quite talented.  When you look at how Pep has revitalized Sterling, the emergence of Rashford, you see a team that could really make some noise at the WC.  
Click to expand...
uh... what?

 
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