The Footie Thread

[Swango1980]

The confusion of the CL:

Newcastle lie 12th in the PL. They comfortably beat PSG in qualifying, who are top of Ligue 1 and spanked Chelsea last night. They were within seconds of a well deserved win over Barcelona, currently top of La Liga, 4 points clear of Real Madrid who spanked Man City last night .

I'm not sure I'm any wiser about who is the best out there. Perhaps Bayern should win this year and we can all just sit back and agree on them being the best team

Football is "confusing" in general. Wolves beat Liverpool and Villa, and draw with Arsenal in PL. Macclesfield beat Palace in the FA Cup.

Man City seem to be a bit hit and miss. One game they can be amazing, then they take a big dip. They started well against Madrid, then conceded some quick fire brilliant goals, and just seemed stunned after that. Chelsea are just Chelsea, whether they win 5-2 or lose 5-2, neither result is a surprise. That being said, I didn't watch the game, but many have said that is a game they could easily have got a result, but everything just went perfect for PSG in front of goal.

But I'm with you on last point, I suspect Bayern are the best team in Europe. They seem to be a team that doesn't get too emotional in big games, which can work either way. They just seem calm and collected, and go about their business very effeciently (now that I said that, they'll probably lose at home to Atalanta 6-0)

 

[Arthur Wedge]

The confusion of the CL:

Newcastle lie 12th in the PL. They comfortably beat PSG in qualifying, who are top of Ligue 1 and spanked Chelsea last night. They were within seconds of a well deserved win over Barcelona, currently top of La Liga, 4 points clear of Real Madrid who spanked Man City last night .

I'm not sure I'm any wiser about who is the best out there. Perhaps Bayern should win this year and we can all just sit back and agree on them being the best team

Standard CL and KO football

Some teams like Real Madrid always seem to step in the CL

It’s also a little bit easier to get into the KO these days

Man City - that was your normal head scratching choices from Pep with his selection

Chelsea - PSG are still one of the best in Europe

Spurs - well they are poor

The other 3 games are close

Edit - but Bayern do appear to be the stand out but they do every year until the KO they get beaten

 

[Swango1980]

I think it goes to show the whilst the EPL might not be the best league that it's been hyped up to be it's easily the most competitive. PSG, Barca, Real and Bayern probably have no more than 6-8 really competitive games a season, the rest are against sides they'd expect to beat 99 times out of 100. In the EPL the depth is considerably stronger and there aren't really any proper whipping teams bar Spurs. If you dropped Newcastle into the German league they'd probably be 2/3rd at worst most seasons. If you stuck Bayern (for example) into the EPL they'd find life a lot tougher IMO.

I never get that argument too much, and sometimes wonder does is stem simply from the fact that we watch the PL every week, and have seen lower table sides get results against top sides from time to time? OK, Bayern are well beyond everyone in their league, but possibly also better than all European sides. Barcelona and Real Madrid have lost a similar amount of games as City and Arsenal have.

I know a few of the top English sides have done well in European Competitions in recent years, but so have the best Spanish and German sides. I used to always think that other European nations, like Spain, did much better in the Europa League than English sides, which indicated more depth in their league possible.

If you asked a Spanish fan of La Liga about the PL, they may well say the same thing. They may think the likes of Sunderland, Fulham, Bournemouth, Brentford, etc would struggle in La Liga (they may never have heard of those sides).

 

[Orikoru]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2031838789916565591

That was Le Tissier-esque. Saw all three goals online last night and they were all class to be fair. One of the better hat-tricks I've ever seen.

 

[Aztecs27]

Ha ha. A Barcelona fan with limited English turned up at St James Park to watch the game with a valid ticket. His only problem, his sat nav took him to St James Park Exeter. Good job they were at home yesterday. Staff sorted him a ticket so at least he got to see a game.

In fairness - they do one of the best steak pasties I've ever had at a football ground. And the Bovril is reasonably priced.

 

[Billysboots]

In fairness - they do one of the best steak pasties I've ever had at a football ground. And the Bovril is reasonably priced.

Don’t ever go to Port Vale on a wet Wednesday.

I went there many moons ago with a mate who was a Sheffield United fan. Worst game of football and my half time pie was fresh air and gravy. No meat to be seen.

 

[Swango1980]

I was half expecting Spurs to have sacked Tudor by this point today. Perhaps they are waiting for the Liverpool this weekend, to avoid bringing a new manager into a game they will almost certainly lose. Then bring in a new manager after that. Let them get settled, no pressure against Atletico to win, but get a chance to see some players and embed some early ideas. And then try and go all guns blazing against Forest the following Sunday.

 

[Orikoru]

I was half expecting Spurs to have sacked Tudor by this point today. Perhaps they are waiting for the Liverpool this weekend, to avoid bringing a new manager into a game they will almost certainly lose. Then bring in a new manager after that. Let them get settled, no pressure against Atletico to win, but get a chance to see some players and embed some early ideas. And then try and go all guns blazing against Forest the following Sunday.

I read they might sack him after Forest if he hasn't got a result by then, because there's a long break after that. But that would be too late, since the Forest game is the must winniest of all must win games.

 

[Billysboots]

I read they might sack him after Forest if he hasn't got a result by then, because there's a long break after that. But that would be too late, since the Forest game is the must winniest of all must win games.

I don’t think they can afford to wait.

There is absolutely no evidence that Tudor has had any positive impact whatsoever, with many observers suggesting he has actually made things worse. If Spurs lose the next two league games I think their fate is pretty much sealed.

If his demeanour around his playing staff is anything like his public persona then I don’t see how he can inspire a squad absolutely bereft of confidence. He just comes across as a really disagreeable man.

 

[Orikoru]

I don’t think they can afford to wait.

There is absolutely no evidence that Tudor has had any positive impact whatsoever, with many observers suggesting he has actually made things worse. If Spurs lose the next two league games I think their fate is pretty much sealed.

If his demeanour around his playing staff is anything like his public persona then I don’t see how he can inspire a squad absolutely bereft of confidence. He just comes across as a really disagreeable man.

Yeah. Best case is we get royally battered by Liverpool which encourages the board to pull the trigger before the Forest game. God knows who you bring in though.

 

[clubchamp98]

I was half expecting Spurs to have sacked Tudor by this point today. Perhaps they are waiting for the Liverpool this weekend, to avoid bringing a new manager into a game they will almost certainly lose. Then bring in a new manager after that. Let them get settled, no pressure against Atletico to win, but get a chance to see some players and embed some early ideas. And then try and go all guns blazing against Forest the following Sunday.

Did you watch Liverpool on Tuesday?
I’d say it will be a close match.

 

[HampshireHog]

Did you watch Liverpool on Tuesday?
I’d say it will be a close match.

If you lost to Spurs & Wolves back to back in the league, Slot would have to go?

 

[4LEX]

I never get that argument too much, and sometimes wonder does is stem simply from the fact that we watch the PL every week, and have seen lower table sides get results against top sides from time to time? OK, Bayern are well beyond everyone in their league, but possibly also better than all European sides. Barcelona and Real Madrid have lost a similar amount of games as City and Arsenal have.

I know a few of the top English sides have done well in European Competitions in recent years, but so have the best Spanish and German sides. I used to always think that other European nations, like Spain, did much better in the Europa League than English sides, which indicated more depth in their league possible.

If you asked a Spanish fan of La Liga about the PL, they may well say the same thing. They may think the likes of Sunderland, Fulham, Bournemouth, Brentford, etc would struggle in La Liga (they may never have heard of those sides).

People are too quick to judge it on one off games. Bayern got destroyed at Arsenal not 6 months ago!

Real have been poor all season, last night was their best performance of the season. Barca aren't all that either. Bayern got well beat at Arsenal and were playing a team on the way down last night.

Chelsea were switched off towards the end but PSG are a cut above them at the moment.

I think only Chelsea are done. Newcastle will cause big problems on the break with Barca's high line and City can turn that around. Liverpool and Arsenal will both go through.

 

[4LEX]

PS - just realised I didn't even mention Spurs which says it all

 

[Junior]

This ref in the Forest game

 

[Swango1980]

People are too quick to judge it on one off games. Bayern got destroyed at Arsenal not 6 months ago!

Real have been poor all season, last night was their best performance of the season. Barca aren't all that either. Bayern got well beat at Arsenal and were playing a team on the way down last night.

Chelsea were switched off towards the end but PSG are a cut above them at the moment.

I think only Chelsea are done. Newcastle will cause big problems on the break with Barca's high line and City can turn that around. Liverpool and Arsenal will both go through.

Yes, those big teams have all had their dodgy moments. As have most of the best English clubs.

I think Spain will always have quality players in their league. A couple of huge clubs. Nice weather. More familiar culture for top Latin Americans.

But, I suppose style of football might always be different, generally? If weather is usually hot in Spain, it is physically more difficult to play high octane football. In England, I guess high octane football is preferred just to keep yourself warm .

 

[4LEX]

Yes, those big teams have all had their dodgy moments. As have most of the best English clubs.

I think Spain will always have quality players in their league. A couple of huge clubs. Nice weather. More familiar culture for top Latin Americans.

But, I suppose style of football might always be different, generally? If weather is usually hot in Spain, it is physically more difficult to play high octane football. In England, I guess high octane football is preferred just to keep yourself warm .

I think Spain has an advantage because Barcelona and Real are by far the two biggest clubs in the world. They will always be up there and have 18 CL's between them? I think that's more than all the PL sides combined!

The PL is the best league overall but I do think it seems to be in a bit of a lull. That said, Spurs are in a relegation battle and got to the knock outs. Let's see what happens next week. Reckon at least 3 English sides go through....

 

[Tashyboy]

Don’t ever go to Port Vale on a wet Wednesday.

I went there many moons ago with a mate who was a Sheffield United fan. Worst game of football and my half time pie was fresh air and gravy. No meat to be seen.

Port Vale pitch is mint. I once played American football on it.