The Footie Thread

[Tashyboy]

Think it’s a bit premature to say the leagues won

In years gone past, I have seen both Arsenal and Liverpool blow it. I cannot see it happening this season. An interesting stat mentioned today. Of Liverpools remaining 11 games. 7 are at home. Ave a feeling Liverpool will be winning the title at home.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Didn’t realise that there wasn’t a single yellow card in the game

Not sure how often that happens

 

[Billysboots]

In years gone past, I have seen both Arsenal and Liverpool blow it. I cannot see it happening this season. An interesting stat mentioned today. Of Liverpools remaining 11 games. 7 are at home. Ave a feeling Liverpool will be winning the title at home.

Even if Liverpool have a stumble, there would still be a need for one of those clubs chasing to have an almost flawless run in for the title not to end up at Anfield.

And that won’t happen given the inconsistency of those in the chasing pack.

Title is done and dusted.

 

[Pin-seeker]

Even if Liverpool have a stumble, there would still be a need for one of those clubs chasing to have an almost flawless run in for the title not to end up at Anfield.

And that won’t happen given the inconsistency of those in the chasing pack.

Title is done and dusted.

Paddy power already paid out on Liverpool winning the title.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Even if Liverpool have a stumble, there would still be a need for one of those clubs chasing to have an almost flawless run in for the title not to end up at Anfield.

And that won’t happen given the inconsistency of those in the chasing pack.

Title is done and dusted.

We have 7 of the remaining 11 games at home

The Newcastle game this week may well be seen as the hardest game in the league left before we play Arsenal at home

what helps is the teams chasing not having the levels needed

Arsenal went on a big unbeaten run and managed to get the gap from 7 until 8

8 more wins needed

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Rumours are Pogba is in town and Utd are considering a short term contract till the end of the season once his doping ban is over …. Pogba feels he “owes Utd and the fans”, of course he does, he’s 31 and hasn’t played a game since 2023.

IMO would be yet another awful decision by ratcliffe and UTD. Anyone convince me otherwise ?

I’ve also heard the rumours, which suggest a pay-as-you-play deal, so not salaried as such.

I suppose it depends how desperate things are on the playing side. If United end up in a relegation scrap in the admittedly unlikely event one of the bottom three put a run together, can Amorim rely on the bench he had at Spurs last week? The answer to that is probably not.

So I suppose taking on a player currently a free agent on a limited pay-as-you-play deal is one option. Personally I hope it doesn’t happen because it’s a backwards step. But if a short term backwards step is what is needed to secure a better long term future then I’m not wholly opposed to it.

Pogba ?! Surely not

Reckon you can count on one hand how many okish games he had for United

He does/did well in a left sided midfield role when he has someone who can sit

But why on earth would United take him back even on some restricted deal

 

[Bazz]

Didn’t realise that there wasn’t a single yellow card in the game

Not sure how often that happens

Every time I bet on loads of cards.

 

[Tashyboy]

Even if Liverpool have a stumble, there would still be a need for one of those clubs chasing to have an almost flawless run in for the title not to end up at Anfield.

And that won’t happen given the inconsistency of those in the chasing pack.

Title is done and dusted.

Don’t get me wrong, i thought Liverpool were solid at the back defending what they had to defend, but Citys attack was rammel. Don’t get me started on corners
The only downside of the Liverpool back four was TAA. He had an afternoon to forget with Doku running at him.
Unfortunately from Citys perspective, KDB, Stones, Grealish, Gunoghan, Kovacic, possibly Silva.Theres games are now numbered at City.

 

[Tashyboy]

Interesting read here. Lots of stats but the overall theme is interesting.

Man City: Why Pep Guardiola's tactics stopped working amid rise of rapid football

BBC Sport analyses why Pep Guardiola's possession-focused tactics have stopped working amid the rise in rapid, direct football.

www.bbc.co.uk

I read that the other day and this sentence hits the nail on the head

Quote.
An ageing and injury-hit squad are making uncharacteristic mistakes.

The solution is to bring in younger players with energy and getting rid of players who helped to create a legacy. If I think back to Sane and Stirling they were massive in terms of speed. We then reverted to Silva and Mahrez on the wings. They never had the pace but retained the ball. Mahrez for me was massively underrated, he would have created chances in the box yesterday.
Pep like all long term managers have done in the past is having to rebuild.

 

[Bdill93]

We have 7 of the remaining 11 games at home

The Newcastle game this week may well be seen as the hardest game in the league left before we play Arsenal at home

what helps is the teams chasing not having the levels needed

Arsenal went on a big unbeaten run and managed to get the gap from 7 until 8

8 more wins needed

You've only lost one all season, I think its a matter of time now!

Also gives you a good chance for a run at the CL this year having the league semi-wrapped up.

Cant switch off yet but great opportunity to win multiple trophies this year.

 

[Slime]

You've only lost one all season, I think its a matter of time now!

Also gives you a good chance for a run at the CL this year having the league semi-wrapped up.

Can't switch off yet but great opportunity to win multiple trophies this year.

I think they can, nobody else seems to want it!

 

[jim8flog]

 

[Arthur Wedge]

You've only lost one all season, I think its a matter of time now!

Also gives you a good chance for a run at the CL this year having the league semi-wrapped up.

Cant switch off yet but great opportunity to win multiple trophies this year.

Until it’s mathematically possible then it’s still fingers crossed

PSG is a tough draw

Get something out of the game this week and then it becomes easier

If we can get to the Arsenal game at home with it done that would be great

Just the title matters this year - CL or Lge Cup would be a bonus

But getting to 20 will produce a big silence

Did enjoy Troy Deeneys team of the week - he makes Crooks seem knowledgeable

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Don’t get me wrong, i thought Liverpool were solid at the back defending what they had to defend, but Citys attack was rammel. Don’t get me started on corners
The only downside of the Liverpool back four was TAA. He had an afternoon to forget with Doku running at him.
Unfortunately from Citys perspective, KDB, Stones, Grealish, Gunoghan, Kovacic, possibly Silva.Theres games are now numbered at City.

What was it that Doku produced in the game ? He was forced on the outside all game because he couldn’t cross his t’s

Looking like the next Adama Traore - Lola of style and very little substance

The likes of Grealish , Stones , Kovacic and Silva should be in their prime right now - either 29 or just turned 30

Seemed very strange that City needed someone to unlock the door and both Grealish and Silva two players that have caused issues didn’t come on for Doku and Savinho who were both pretty toothless

 

[Swango1980]

I can't see how Liverpool can't win the title now. The odds are higher that I sign a contract with Man Utd next year, as a 44 year old striker with dodgy knees and a poor goal return in this season's Lincoln over 35's 8 aside league.

Liverpool haven't looked incredible a lot of the time, but they keep getting the results. Arsenal are technically their only challengers, and they look so much more shaky and are 8 points behind (IF they win their game in hand). I sometimes wonder if there is an arrogance with Arsenal in not getting a striker? I know it is slim pickings, but this isn't an issue that has suddenly faced Arsenal. They have known for a long time they need a striker. So, I wonder if their approach to it is "we will wait for the perfect striker to land on our doorstep for a fee we are willing to pay, but until then we are good enough to win the title without one". Last season they were so lucky, as they had few key injuries. This year, different story.

I could see Liverpool dropping more than 8 points, especially if Salah got injured or lost a bit of form. But, they'd have to lose more than double that I reckon, as Arsenal look like they will drop much more than 8 points at the moment.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I can't see how Liverpool can't win the title now. The odds are higher that I sign a contract with Man Utd next year, as a 44 year old striker with dodgy knees and a poor goal return in this season's Lincoln over 35's 8 aside league.

Liverpool haven't looked incredible a lot of the time, but they keep getting the results. Arsenal are technically their only challengers, and they look so much more shaky and are 8 points behind (IF they win their game in hand). I sometimes wonder if there is an arrogance with Arsenal in not getting a striker? I know it is slim pickings, but this isn't an issue that has suddenly faced Arsenal. They have known for a long time they need a striker. So, I wonder if their approach to it is "we will wait for the perfect striker to land on our doorstep for a fee we are willing to pay, but until then we are good enough to win the title without one". Last season they were so lucky, as they had few key injuries. This year, different story.

I could see Liverpool dropping more than 8 points, especially if Salah got injured or lost a bit of form. But, they'd have to lose more than double that I reckon, as Arsenal look like they will drop much more than 8 points at the moment.

It was the same in Wenger's later years. 'No, we don't need a dominating CH or a ball winning midfielder. We will keep buying lightweight, ball players in the middle'. A psychologist would look and raise their eyes, it's as though they are afraid of actually winning and so leave an escape route. Arsenal need a striker, go buy one. They should have done last summer, they absolutely need one this summer. They are out there, they just need to look beyond the obvious, or pay what the obvious costs. How much do they want to win the league? (Arsenal rant over, phew )

 

[Arthur Wedge]

It was the same in Wenger's later years. 'No, we don't need a dominating CH or a ball winning midfielder. We will keep buying lightweight, ball players in the middle'. A psychologist would look and raise their eyes, it's as though they are afraid of actually winning and so leave an escape route. Arsenal need a striker, go buy one. They should have done last summer, they absolutely need one this summer. They are out there, they just need to look beyond the obvious, or pay what the obvious costs. How much do they want to win the league? (Arsenal rant over, phew )

Right now the talk is they are looking to tie up Zubamendi - another midfielder

There are a lot of very good strikers around they could grab and improves them massively

 

[Aztecs27]

Had time to digest yesterday.

Those 11 minutes of capitulation were less than ideal, let's just say that two of Newcastle's goals took weird deflections which took them away from Sels, and Murillo's shirt was nearly pulled off his back, which may have resulted in his header near the end being on target (or a penalty), but...you make your own luck. Defending for their first was absolutely abysmal and the penalty was a penalty, but we weren't awarded one vs Wolves for exactly the same type of incident, so the inconsistencies (again) are frustrating.

I think (hope) Nuno's realised that when route 1 isn't working (counter attack with speed), that we do have the personnel to be able to play with a bit more possession and cause teams trouble. Was a positive to see us react and try and get something from the game but we left it too late. We'd have been nowhere near a result in the previous 2 seasons.

4 away losses on the bounce is a bit worrying, but still 12 games to play, and our run in is easier (on paper) once the next two games against City and Arsenal are out of the way...and still in the top 3 (for now). Top 4 still very much achievable. No reason to panic....yet.

 

[Orikoru]

I read that the other day and this sentence hits the nail on the head

Quote.
An ageing and injury-hit squad are making uncharacteristic mistakes.

The solution is to bring in younger players with energy and getting rid of players who helped to create a legacy. If I think back to Sane and Stirling they were massive in terms of speed. We then reverted to Silva and Mahrez on the wings. They never had the pace but retained the ball. Mahrez for me was massively underrated, he would have created chances in the box yesterday.
Pep like all long term managers have done in the past is having to rebuild.

I think to call them 'ageing' is overstating it a bit. Walker was ageing, and he's been moved on already. The key defenders are 28-31 which is meant to prime age for defenders. Similarly Ederson is only 32 - that's no age for a goalie. From the midfield - KDB looks past it, and fair enough, it's impossible to replace a player of that standard. But Gundogan was surely only brought back to warm the bench anyway. B.Silva is 31 and the others are all younger. It's not like the core of the starting line-up are all 33-34 is it?

As for injury-hit - there's one big and obvious hole with Rodri missing but that's it really?

Doku and Savinho are the latest wingers to come in, but are they good enough? Will they get to the level Mahrez was at? I'm not sure.

 

[Deleted member 35927]

Can't see anyone other than Liverpool winning the prem for sure.
Did Salah sign any new deals or is it off to the Saudi league for a massive pay day to see out his career?