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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (3 Viewers)

Jaysus said:
And just like that the League 2 team is winning 1-0.... 

MOT
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If Wimbledon wins the replay vs. Sutton, they'll host Leeds in the 4th round.  This harkens back to one of the greatest matches in Dons history, when non-league Wimbledon took the defending D1 champs and eventual European Cup finalists to a 1975 FA Cup 4th round replay.

#romanceofthecup

 
Oh Gianni:

Infantino has also suggested that penalty shootouts be brought in to settle the results of all drawn games, thereby minimising the risk of teams colluding in their final group games to eliminate others from the tournament.
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TEH MATH SI DARH

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
I never know how I feel about those extreme knucklers.  I get that its a legitimate technique, but it just feels when you hit to knuckle like that you're just praying it ends up on frame.  It doesn't feel so much like the result matches the intent, if you know what I mean. 
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I believe a knuckler is when you hit it hard and flat (without spin).  That creates the wobble and inconsistency.  This just looks like fantastic technique.  He doesn't hit it square.  The spin to bend it out is there from the original kick.

 
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Hating the 48 team proposal.  But like anything else, it's all about the cash

At least we'll never miss the finals again (after this cycle) 

 
@Sinn Fein 

A little late, but I wanted to mention that I was super impressed with Dembele and Wanyama vs Chelsea.  They owned the midfield, when it was Matic and Kante that were the supposed best duo in the prem.  

I think Tottenham is a real dark horse to win the EPL this season.  Their offense has come to life, but it hasn't seemed to come at the expense of their defensive structure.  Massive props to them. I may have said it a few days ago, I can't remember...but I see Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United as 3 locks for the top 4. The other 3 teams might be fighting it out for 1 spot. 

 
What is wrong with Barcelona?  I saw some "experts" on twitter talking about how the front 3 of Messi, Suarez, Neymar, while explosive....is kind of hurting their defensive shape.

I have to admit, I've only watched them in the CL and against Real Madrid.  Anyone here following them closely?  

They are 5 points behind Real Madrid and have PSG in round one of the Champions League....If PSG pulls the upset, it would be a pretty bad season for this club.  Seems inexcusable when you have 3 players at the level that those 3 are.  

 
shader said:
What is wrong with Barcelona?  I saw some "experts" on twitter talking about how the front 3 of Messi, Suarez, Neymar, while explosive....is kind of hurting their defensive shape.

I have to admit, I've only watched them in the CL and against Real Madrid.  Anyone here following them closely?  

They are 5 points behind Real Madrid and have PSG in round one of the Champions League....If PSG pulls the upset, it would be a pretty bad season for this club.  Seems inexcusable when you have 3 players at the level that those 3 are.  
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Heard some talk about this on the radio this morning.  Without a true replacement for Xavi and Iniesta in the mf (I think those two were who they named) they dont have anyone running the game.  Messi is gonna Messi no matter what.  But you can mark Neymar out of the game and work to marginalize Suarez to minimize their impact..  

Havent watched enough to know but this is what they were discussed.

 
I think Barca really, really miss Dani Alves.  He was a popular whipping boy for a long time, but he was the best offensive fullback in world football for nearly a decade.  He provided elite service that let the entire offensive trident make runs at once. 

Barca also have a lot of guys on the team, who for whatever reason, haven't been contributors.  Mathieu, Digne, Aleix Vidal, Turan (who was good while Neymar was out but who isnt' going to get to play a lot of minutes as a forward and doesn't contribute as a MF), Denis Suarez.  . 

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
I guess I'll have to see the team when it's announced.  Seems to me that Kante and Alderweireld were at least deserving of consideration. Sergio Ramos makes this team every year, and he's an excellent player, but I'm not sure he's the best CB in the world.  I imagine Bonucci is the second CB.  Odds are that the entire team is going to come from Barca, Real, Bayern and Juve so I'm not sure its a huge indictment on the Prem. 
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What about the team that lost in the CL Final?  No one there any good I guess.

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
I think Barca really, really miss Dani Alves.  He was a popular whipping boy for a long time, but he was the best offensive fullback in world football for nearly a decade.  He provided elite service that let the entire offensive trident make runs at once. 

Barca also have a lot of guys on the team, who for whatever reason, haven't been contributors.  Mathieu, Digne, Aleix Vidal, Turan (who was good while Neymar was out but who isnt' going to get to play a lot of minutes as a forward and doesn't contribute as a MF), Denis Suarez.  . 
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Without Alves on the right you are left with Messi drifting to the middle to collect the ball.  Results in a very weird shape with not enough space for Suarez/Messi to both operate.

Rakitic also has taken a step back this year.  

Need to add a RB during Jan, but hearing little rumors of it.  Sergi can look good playing it in spots where Barcelona is dominant that he pushes up to the midfield, but too slow in the back.  

Add Paco Alacer to your list of players who haven't done much

 
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The Z Machine said:
What about the team that lost in the CL Final?  No one there any good I guess.
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IMO, Oblak had at least as good a case as Neuer.  I probably would have picked Bonucci but if we're going on reputations anyway, I think it's hard to argue that Pique has been better than Godin in the past few years..

In some ways it's tough.  Griezmann is great, but if he's on, one of Messi, Ronaldo, or Suarez is off.   The midfield strikes me as at least defensible.  Iniesta is still arguably the best #10 in the worldand Kroos and Modric are two of the best more withdrawn CMs.  You could probably quibble and say that the Best XI should pick one of Kroos or Modric, but unless you pick a true DM (and I'd pick Kante), I'm not sure who I'd choose.

 
B Maverick said:
Heard some talk about this on the radio this morning.  Without a true replacement for Xavi and Iniesta in the mf (I think those two were who they named) they dont have anyone running the game.  Messi is gonna Messi no matter what.  But you can mark Neymar out of the game and work to marginalize Suarez to minimize their impact..  

Havent watched enough to know but this is what they were discussed.
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The radio?  What radio station are you listening to?  I need in.

 
@Eephus...That grandest continental tournament of them all is almost upon us.  Africa Cup of Nations starts this weekend.  The fact that said Cup is shown on Bein in glorious "low-def" somehow actually adds to its allure for me.  Two years ago I had Ivory Coast & Gervinho to support; this year it can only be Salah! and "The Pharaohs".  Who do you favor to win (aside from those Super Eagles)?

 
Kafka said:
@Eephus...That grandest continental tournament of them all is almost upon us.  Africa Cup of Nations starts this weekend.  The fact that said Cup is shown on Bein in glorious "low-def" somehow actually adds to its allure for me.  Two years ago I had Ivory Coast & Gervinho to support; this year it can only be Salah! and "The Pharaohs".  Who do you favor to win (aside from those Super Eagles)?
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The Super Eagles got jobbed in the qualifying groups when Chad withdrew.  All members of their group played two fewer games than the rest of the groups which made it impossible to be placed among the highest ranked runners up on points.

It's always a wide open tournament.   Senegal seems particularly loaded with talent this time but it's not unprecedented to see European based stars flounder in this tournament.

Hopefully the stadiums will all get finished in time and the fans and players stay safe.

 
Eephus said:
The Super Eagles got jobbed in the qualifying groups when Chad withdrew.  All members of their group played two fewer games than the rest of the groups which made it impossible to be placed among the highest ranked runners up on points.

It's always a wide open tournament.   Senegal seems particularly loaded with talent this time but it's not unprecedented to see European based stars flounder in this tournament.

Hopefully the stadiums will all get finished in time and the fans and players stay safe.
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Those damn hanging chad(s) strike again...

 
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I hope the expansion of the World Cup doesn't diminish the Continental tournaments.  The 48 team WC could have as many as nine African nations participating, up from five in 2014. 

On the one hand, it gives some of the sides competing next week in Gabon a better shot at the biggest stage (and more money in the fur lined pockets of African FA bureaucrats).  But it could push the AFCON down a peg in importance on the always crowded fixtures list if countries view WC qualification as a greater goal than success within the continent.

 
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The Caribbean Football Union, who represent 31 of CONCACAF's 41 national associations, are considering breaking away and forming a seventh FIFA confederation.

They see this as a way of improving their TV revenues, which have been squeezed by three successive CONCACAF presidents from Caribbean countries facing numerous corruption charges that include allegedly helping themselves to the region's TV rights money.

 
NewlyRetired said:
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The Caribbean Football Union, who represent 31 of CONCACAF's 41 national associations, are considering breaking away and forming a seventh FIFA confederation.

They see this as a way of improving their TV revenues, which have been squeezed by three successive CONCACAF presidents from Caribbean countries facing numerous corruption charges that include allegedly helping themselves to the region's TV rights money.
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so all of the island nations, leaving mainland central and north america?

I wouldn't mind that for them. 

 
chachi-news. I buy that until they offer schalke $120mil for him on 900k/week.

Hernandez, under contract until 2018, was asked whether he could see himself moving to a Chinese Super League club and said: "MLS is more attractive for me. But you never know what will happen in three, four or five years. Never say never."

 
NewlyRetired said:
========================================

The Caribbean Football Union, who represent 31 of CONCACAF's 41 national associations, are considering breaking away and forming a seventh FIFA confederation.

They see this as a way of improving their TV revenues, which have been squeezed by three successive CONCACAF presidents from Caribbean countries facing numerous corruption charges that include allegedly helping themselves to the region's TV rights money.
 
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How is Jack Warner going to make money off of that?

 
El Floppo said:
so all of the island nations, leaving mainland central and north america?

I wouldn't mind that for them. 
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I am sure this must all be related to the new 48 team WC and the hopes for the Carrib to grab 3-4 spots, which would be awful.

But if they do separate, I would like the remaining 10 CONCACAF teams (Canada, US, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, Guat, El Salvador, Belize, and Nicaragua) to join the 10 CONMEBOL teams and form a new 20 country region.

 
El Floppo said:
chachi-news. I buy that until they offer schalke $120mil for him on 900k/week.

Hernandez, under contract until 2018, was asked whether he could see himself moving to a Chinese Super League club and said: "MLS is more attractive for me. But you never know what will happen in three, four or five years. Never say never."
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That would be an unorthodox move as Chicharito plays for Leverkeusen.

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
IMO, Oblak had at least as good a case as Neuer.  I probably would have picked Bonucci but if we're going on reputations anyway, I think it's hard to argue that Pique has been better than Godin in the past few years..

In some ways it's tough.  Griezmann is great, but if he's on, one of Messi, Ronaldo, or Suarez is off.   The midfield strikes me as at least defensible.  Iniesta is still arguably the best #10 in the worldand Kroos and Modric are two of the best more withdrawn CMs.  You could probably quibble and say that the Best XI should pick one of Kroos or Modric, but unless you pick a true DM (and I'd pick Kante), I'm not sure who I'd choose.
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Godín over Piqué any day of the week (unless they are bringing their wives). And Kante over Kroos is also easy IMO.

Oblak didn't do as well to start this season, so maybe that's why he didn't get the nod.

 
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