Time to start a new season.
The Dutch league got going last week. England, France and Portugal kickoff this weekend.
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Time to start a new season.
The Dutch league got going last week. England, France and Portugal kickoff this weekend.
I know the consensus perception in the PL is that Man City and Liverpool will run away from the pack again but I'm not so sure -- both played at such a high level the last 18 months or so, including some luck, I just have a hard time believing we'll see something like 98-97 again. It's just a matter of whether they fall back enough for anyone else to get close. Might as well flip a coin on the next four, I have no idea what to expect.
On the other end of the projected table, hardly anyone seems to think Sheffield United will stay up, but almost everyone thinks Aston Villa will. Sensible given their signings but then Fulham splashed some cash last summer and we saw what happened... Brighton and Burnley seem to be the trendy picks for holdover teams to fall into the bottom three.
Everyone picked Brighton to go down last season, but they managed to stay up. I hope they can do well this season, but it's hard to say with a new manager. Besides that, I'll be watching Chelsea games even though I don't like them, just to see how Pulisic does.Quote:
Originally Posted by IslandRed
A little La Liga action here.
Barca gets its heart broken by Aritz Aduriz.
https://youtu.be/oGAHTsL-nHQ
And Toni Kroos finds the upper corner with a laser.
https://youtu.be/P6Yk5EHmO4U
Spoiler Alert: It’s gonna be a really long season, which will lead to Roman going crazy and buying replacement players by the truckload as soon as the transfer ban ends.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yachtzee
There's a 16-year-old Angolan kid named Eduardo Camavinga playing CM for Stade Rennais and he's kind of fantastic. Great first touch, passing range and speed of play. Got a feeling he's going to be a hot property in the coming years.
After a couple of league weeks, I'm thinking that the new goal kick rule (where the kick no longer has to leave the penalty area) is leading some teams to try to play out of the back who aren't really good enough to play out of the back. That'll work itself out over time, I guess.
It's going to increase the demand for defenders who are good on the ball.Quote:
Originally Posted by IslandRed
No other safe spot to really put my thoughts as an LFC supporter so might as well go here. I think Arsenal might embarrass Liverpool this weekend. The defensive line that Liverpool has been trying to hold has been problematic all through preseason and it's translated into the start of the year. They should have lost to Southampton with how they played but the win may have papered over the defensive issues that Auba, Lacazette, and Pepe are more likely to exploit.
I think it's a CL hangover issue, not a personnel issue, so it will get ironed out but I could see this weekend being a real problem.
Would be happy to be wrong!
As an Arsenal fan I’d love for you to be right but Arsenal hasn’t been impressive in either win.Quote:
Originally Posted by schmidty622
Pepe hasn’t started yet. Ozil hasn’t dressed yet. They’ve dominated possession against two weaker teams, but haven’t created a ton of chances. I think Arsenal has potential and the Ceballos signing looks like it might be a steal, but getting it right against Liverpool would be a pleasant surprise let’s say.
Officially, Ceballos is a loan. I like him. Hope he gets a chance to shine.Quote:
Originally Posted by BuckeyeRed27
Right good point. He was excellent last weekend, easily the best guy on the field.Quote:
Originally Posted by M2
Well, it's partially a personnel issue, at least until Adrian's rate of goal-gifting drops to under one per week. But otherwise I agree, the cohesion isn't totally there yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by schmidty622
Champions League draw looks favorable for most of the big clubs - https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49516472
Most interesting groups are
Group G: Zenit St Petersburg, Benfica, Lyon, RB Leipzig
Group H: Chelsea, Ajax, Valencia, Lille
Double post
Die Mannschaft lost to the Dutch in Hamburg in a Euro 2020 qualifier. Statement win in a big rivalry. Neuer gave up four goals. Northern Ireland leads the group with a match with the Germans in Belfast on Monday.
Germany must win. Meanwhile, France beats Albania, wait, Armenia, no it was Andorra 4-0. Who cares, France would beat anybody 4-0 right now.
Champions League off and rolling. Liverpool dropped its first game 2-0 at Napoli. Chelsea lost 1-0 at home to Valencia. Barcelona tied 0-0 at Dortmund. Ajax stomped on Lille 3-0.
Jesse Marsch comes away with a big 6-2 win with FC Salzburg over Genk. Big moment for an American manager in Europe.Quote:
Originally Posted by M2
The FIFPro World XI is out. Here's the team:
G- Alisson (1st time)
D- Marcelo (6th)
D- Virgil Van Dijk (1st)
D - Matthijs de Ligt (1st)
D- Sergio Ramos (10th)
M - Eden Hazard (2nd)
M - Frenkie de Jong (1st)
M - Luka Modric (5th)
F - Cristiano Ronaldo (13th)
F - Kylian Mbappe (2st)
F - Lionel Messi (13th)
Here is the goal of the year, winning the FIFA Puskas award. It is the only professional goal Daniel Zsori has scored ( he is only 18). It was also the 93rd minute game winner for the Debrecen-Ferencvaros match.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L3PZMPAFsEk
Just noticed Freiburg is tied at the top of the Bundesliga thanks to a road win at Bayern. I assume tomnutten is happy.
Andorra today won its first Euro qualifying game ever with a 1-0 victory over Moldova.
Pulisic is making the most of his start with Chelsea. Already has a hat trick.
Chelsea fans chanting "USA, USA!"
Looks like Freiburg beat Leipzig to keep pace with Bayern today.Quote:
Originally Posted by M2
Brighton moves closer to mid table with a win over Everton.
If Pulisic is going to own Burnley this hard, Blackburn surely will try to sign him in the future.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yachtzee
Right after they bring in Brad Friedel as manager.Quote:
Originally Posted by M2
I wouldn't wish that on anyone.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yachtzee
Leicester are at it again. They're in 2nd in the EPL after beating Arsenal 2-0 yesterday.
I don't think Brendan Rodgers gets enough credit. The man can flat coach.Quote:
Originally Posted by M2
I've watched them a few times now and they pass the eye test as well. Arsenal is not a great team, but Leicester out-classed them throughout the game from what I could tell. I can't see them competing with the big 2 this year, but they have to be the favorite for 3rd at this point.Quote:
Originally Posted by M2
Euro 2020 qualifying update: 17 of 20 “automatic qualifiers” are in. A few games left on Monday/Tuesday to determine last three. If Wales wins a home game they will get in. Finland qualified for the first time.
For some non-qualifiers there is a playoff for four remaining spots. This involves the new four leagues A-D which is new to me and something I am learning about as it occurs.
Teemu Pukki becoming one of the top strikers on the planet is maybe the coolest thing in sports.Quote:
Originally Posted by Betterread
He’s not even close. Had a good start to the season but has been really poor lately. He’s a fun story though.Quote:
Originally Posted by M2
From the start of the 2018-19 season, he's scored 46 goals, that includes 10 on the international stage while carrying Finland into its first Euro tournament. At the moment, he's got as many Premier League goals on the season as Harry Kane and Mo Salah, and he's doing that while playing for Norwich. Pukki doesn't have the luxury of playing for an elite club or national team, but his goal return is still outstanding. Norwich probably will cling to him in January in an attempt to avoid relegation, but a transfer to a higher profile club has got to be coming next summer. Pukki scores with almost no help around him.Quote:
Originally Posted by ScotlandRed
29 of those goals came in the English second division. He also hasn’t score a premier league goal in 2 months. He had a hot start to the season. He has done well for Finland but outside of Italy, that’s a weak group. He’s 29 and although he may get a move if Norwich continue to struggle, I doubt it would be to one of the top 8 teams.Quote:
Originally Posted by M2
My guess is he'd move to the continent, though Arsenal, ManU and Everton could use him. Wolves too. Scored again today against Greece, and practically all they do is play defense. Something happened to him during his time in Norway. He's an evolved animal from he was at Celtic (and he was good there).Quote:
Originally Posted by ScotlandRed
Those first 3 will be aiming a lot higher. Wolves have Jiminez and Jota who I think are better. They could use him as a 3rd option with Europa league fixtures and squad rotation needed.Quote:
Originally Posted by M2
I saw some of him at Celtic, 9 goals in 37 games is OK, but isn’t going to cut it there.
Wales qualifies with a win over Hungary. They also announced the four seeding pots. How does Ukraine get a first seed, while France is a second seed and Portugal is a third seed? This Euro tournament has a new format for qualifications and fewer neutral sites.
Someone please explain to me how Jose Mourinho is always the first one mentioned for openings at big clubs? Makes no sense to me at all.
FIFA rankings are weird. Belgium, Russia and Denmark are already in a group together before the official draw. Meanwhile, every wants to avoid France and Portugal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Betterread