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The Footie Thread

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I'll be interested in what Man Utd do tomorrow. The only good performance I think they've played this season was against Palace in the League Cup. What a coincidence that Rashford and Bruno were not playing....

I do like Ten Hag, and what him to have the time to improve the side. That isn't to say I'm not concerned, or that he is doing everything perfectly. There is quite a long list of things that I could express concern about. In the last game alone, Maguire and Evans have done pretty well this season, sure. But Varane was fit, surely he has to be one of the 2 at the back against City. Lindelof at left back was always going to be tragic, yet Reguilon was on the bench. Eriksen AND Bruno in midfield, neither of whom give you anything defensively, along with the irritating Rashford and ponderous McTominay. Mason Mount given the No.7, yet now struggling to get in the side. Surely he'd have given us more energy instead of Eriksen, at the least?

Going back to League Cup, it was at a time Hannibal had a few games. I really likes his work rate. In fact, he broke all sorts of record in terms of distance run for Man Utd, running further than any Utd player has done in 4 years (since they started collecting the records). I genuinely would have liked to see him play against City. I'd have liked Mount in there. I'd have liked Garnacho instead of Rashford, let Rashford play the impact role for once if necessary.
 
That's all fine and agreeable. My point is though, you're angry at the foul that was given (because it was against your team), when really you should be angry at all the fouls that aren't given.
I'd be angry every game. But, it isn't just because it was against Man Utd (my opinion anyway, sure I'm more emotionally invested in the decision against Utd). There have been plenty of other strange calls against other teams I've discussed. And I've already said I've no idea how the Maguire foul was not given, despite it being against my side if it was given.
 
Ballon D'or is a joke anyway. I guess they'll have to scrap it after Messi retires, otherwise they'd have to put 5 minutes thought into who wins.
Messi would win the Ballon D'or if he was injured for 12 months. ;) It's long been about who is the most popular player, not who has been the best over the 12 months. The best player in Argentina's World Cup win wasn't Messi, I think i remember it was Mac Allister :)
 
Messi would win the Ballon D'or if he was injured for 12 months. ;) It's long been about who is the most popular player, not who has been the best over the 12 months. The best player in Argentina's World Cup win wasn't Messi, I think i remember it was Mac Allister :)
Stretching it a bit :) .

Messi was brilliant, the whole team played through him, and he rarely gave the ball away. He was the heartbeat of that side. That being said, it was still only for 7 games and he now plays in MLS. If anybody was told "you can pick any player in the world to play for your team for one season (and whoever you pick is same cost regardless, and affordable)" I doubt many would go for Messi. Players like Mbappe, Haaland, Maguire or Bellingham will probably be the preferred options, thus surely they would be deemed better players in the world right now? P.S. I only put Maguire in there in case Southgate is reading this :)
 
Just outta interest

Onana is the highest rated keeper in the Ballon Dor. But he is not even in the top three keepers for the keepers award. 😳
 
Just outta interest

Onana is the highest rated keeper in the Ballon Dor. But he is not even in the top three keepers for the keepers award. 😳
Martinez was higher in the overall award.

Regardless, it is just nice to see that whatever list you look at, he is better than Allison :) . I didn't even see Allison on the GK list. Carragher will be upset, as he frequently calls him the best GK in world football.
 
Messi would win the Ballon D'or if he was injured for 12 months. ;) It's long been about who is the most popular player, not who has been the best over the 12 months. The best player in Argentina's World Cup win wasn't Messi, I think i remember it was Mac Allister :)
They had to give the golden boy one last Ballon D’Or.
 
I've come up with a new way to defend free kicks. The defending team brings all ten outfield players back and they link arms to form a line across the penalty spot. As long as they don't move, if the attacker runs into them it's a defensive free kick. And it's up to the keeper to catch anything between the penalty spot and the goal. No more wrestling and no risk of giving away a penalty.
 
Stretching it a bit :) .

Messi was brilliant, the whole team played through him, and he rarely gave the ball away. He was the heartbeat of that side. That being said, it was still only for 7 games and he now plays in MLS. If anybody was told "you can pick any player in the world to play for your team for one season (and whoever you pick is same cost regardless, and affordable)" I doubt many would go for Messi. Players like Mbappe, Haaland, Maguire or Bellingham will probably be the preferred options, thus surely they would be deemed better players in the world right now? P.S. I only put Maguire in there in case Southgate is reading this :)
Regardless, he already won the Golden Ball award for the best player at the World Cup. He shouldn't be winning the Ballon d'Or as well for the same thing. It's supposed to be awarded over a season. He's done nothing for the last ten months.
 
That's all fine and agreeable. My point is though, you're angry at the foul that was given (because it was against your team), when really you should be angry at all the fouls that aren't given.
Just suck it up.
 
Regardless, he already won the Golden Ball award for the best player at the World Cup. He shouldn't be winning the Ballon d'Or as well for the same thing. It's supposed to be awarded over a season. He's done nothing for the last ten months.
Agreed, hence how I finished my comment. My opening line was simply a counter to the specific comment about his contribution at the World Cup, which was very good for the 7 games (well, probably only 6 as they got embarrassed by Saudi Arabia).

Him winning the Ballon D'Or this season only makes sense if it was for the best player over the last 15-20 years. It doesn't make sense if you are saying it means he is the best player in the world in the last year. There are probably dozens of players, right now, that fans would rather have in their sides right now than Messi
 
I'll be interested in what Man Utd do tomorrow. The only good performance I think they've played this season was against Palace in the League Cup. What a coincidence that Rashford and Bruno were not playing....

I do like Ten Hag, and what him to have the time to improve the side. That isn't to say I'm not concerned, or that he is doing everything perfectly. There is quite a long list of things that I could express concern about. In the last game alone, Maguire and Evans have done pretty well this season, sure. But Varane was fit, surely he has to be one of the 2 at the back against City. Lindelof at left back was always going to be tragic, yet Reguilon was on the bench. Eriksen AND Bruno in midfield, neither of whom give you anything defensively, along with the irritating Rashford and ponderous McTominay. Mason Mount given the No.7, yet now struggling to get in the side. Surely he'd have given us more energy instead of Eriksen, at the least?

Going back to League Cup, it was at a time Hannibal had a few games. I really likes his work rate. In fact, he broke all sorts of record in terms of distance run for Man Utd, running further than any Utd player has done in 4 years (since they started collecting the records). I genuinely would have liked to see him play against City. I'd have liked Mount in there. I'd have liked Garnacho instead of Rashford, let Rashford play the impact role for once if necessary.

That was down entirely to Palace fielding a reserve side, nothing else. ETH will play a strong side as he's desperate for a result. With lots of big games coming up he should rotate heavily but won't. He'll then bemoan injuries again without considering his lack of rotation across four comps will be responsible for that....

Surely Sancho should be given a chance? Rumour has it ETH's inconsistent treatment of players is what's causing the unrest in the dressing room and why things are going sour.
 
Imagine winning, Premier League, Champion's league, Fa Cup, super Cup, Uefa player of the year, Premier League player of the season, Premier League golden boot, Premier League's highest ever goalscorer for a single season, Champion's League top scorer....

And ending up coming 2nd to a guy who played for PSG and Inter Miami... Because he won a world cup. Julien Alvarez did just that remember...he came 7th...
 
That was down entirely to Palace fielding a reserve side, nothing else. ETH will play a strong side as he's desperate for a result. With lots of big games coming up he should rotate heavily but won't. He'll then bemoan injuries again without considering his lack of rotation across four comps will be responsible for that....

Surely Sancho should be given a chance? Rumour has it ETH's inconsistent treatment of players is what's causing the unrest in the dressing room and why things are going sour.
Looks like he had rotated then.

And despite that, I think side is stronger with a bang out of form Bruno and Rashford.
 
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