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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Originally Posted by
ScotlandRed
He’s their best player. Abraham will be second choice and mostly play off the bench. A front 3 of Pulisic Werner and Havertz could be possible but Lampard loves Mount. Mount can play in the midfield 3 though.
ScotlandRed this has nothing to do with what you posted above but wanted to know if you're Celtic/Rangers guy at all one way or the other. I've been watching the Old Firm for a few years now and always find it supremely entertaining. Today I saw that Morelos got sold to Lille and I'm a tad bit sad to see him go. He seemed to always be good for a Gordie Howe Ha trick - A goal, An Assist, and a fight (or in his case a red). Anyway just wondering how the news was taken and what the thought is about how to replace him?
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Originally Posted by
Betterread
Whoops. He always said Real Madrid was his favorite club. Then Rakitic or Vidal are out. Their midfield underwhelmed this year.
Rakitic is my guess. Though I don't get that move. Seems like they ought to be spending their money on defense. Like, whole new back line.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Originally Posted by
M2
Depends on their formation. They've been in a 4-2-3-1, but could go 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 with Abraham and Werner. Not sure if those two won't be a bit redundant. Havertz seems versatile enough to fit into any of those formations. Got Willian, Mason Mount, Jorginho, N'golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Ross Barkley in the midfield too. I suspect you're right that Pulisic will be a supporting player. His next stop might be where he gets to play a starring role.
If Pulisic is fit going into next season, there's a 0% chance that he sits regularly to start. The only reason he sat v. Liverpool is because he was carrying a slight knock (plus a crapload of minutes on his legs in a short run) and Lampard judged, correctly, that their better chance was to get a point off Wolves.
My guess is that Chelsea will play with some versatility in how they deploy Timo Werner -- I think you'll some matches where plays centrally as a sole-striker and some other matches where he plays two striker up top alongside Tammy or Giroud. In sole-striker situations, I think Pulisic is always in the team news. On two-striker situations, I think he rotates starts with Hudson-Odoi.
Either way, I think he's secured his place for 2021 at least at the start. Competition will be high, though.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Originally Posted by
Caveat Emperor
If Pulisic is fit going into next season, there's a 0% chance that he sits regularly. The only reason he sat v. Liverpool is because he was carrying a slight knock (plus a crapload of minutes on his legs in a short run) and Lampard judged, correctly, that their better chance was to get a point off Wolves.
My guess is that Chelsea will play with some versatility in how they deploy Timo Werner -- I think you'll some matches where plays centrally as a sole-striker and some other matches where he plays two striker up top alongside Tammy or Giroud. In sole-striker situations, I think Pulisic is always in the team news. On two-striker situations, I think he rotates starts with Hudson-Odoi.
Either way, I think he's secured his place for 2021 at least at the start. Competition will be high, though.
They've bought Werner (forward) and Hakim Ziyech (winger) and are close to finalizing a deal on Havertz (attacking mid). They're going to play with the new toys. That's on top of Abraham, Willian, Barkley and Mount (who could be Lampard's son given his devotion to the kid). Given that the five subs rule looks like it will be in effect next season, it means more opportunity to play 60/30 or 70/20 splits. Yet it's entirely possible (maybe even probable) that Pulisic is super sub getting the short end of that stick mixed with spot starts.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
M2
They've bought Werner (forward) and Hakim Ziyech (winger) and are close to finalizing a deal on Havertz (attacking mid). They're going to play with the new toys. That's on top of Abraham, Willian, Barkley and Mount (who could be Lampard's son given his devotion to the kid). Given that the five subs rule looks like it will be in effect next season, it means more opportunity to play 60/30 or 70/20 splits. Yet it's entirely possible (maybe even probable) that Pulisic is super sub getting the short end of that stick mixed with spot starts.
They have too many needs on the backline to hoard talent up front — if Pulisic isn’t gonna play, I would expect him to be sold to free up resources to improve the defense and/or replace Kepa.
I think Lampard rates him too highly to do that, but if he doesn’t than they need to sell IMO.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Caveat Emperor
They have too many needs on the backline to hoard talent up front — if Pulisic isn’t gonna play, I would expect him to be sold to free up resources to improve the defense and/or replace Kepa.
I think Lampard rates him too highly to do that, but if he doesn’t than they need to sell IMO.
Big clubs sometimes shove incredibly talented players into a closet where you can't hear them scream. I'm sure Lamps rates them all highly, but not all of them can start.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Originally Posted by
schmidty622
ScotlandRed this has nothing to do with what you posted above but wanted to know if you're Celtic/Rangers guy at all one way or the other. I've been watching the Old Firm for a few years now and always find it supremely entertaining. Today I saw that Morelos got sold to Lille and I'm a tad bit sad to see him go. He seemed to always be good for a Gordie Howe Ha trick - A goal, An Assist, and a fight (or in his case a red). Anyway just wondering how the news was taken and what the thought is about how to replace him?
I am neither. I am Hibernian fan.
I cannot stand either of those teams but the games are usually entertaining and the atmosphere would be brilliant. No time for either of the clubs though.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
https://c7.alamy.com/comp/G1Y833/ham...ers-G1Y833.jpg
Good times. Hibs win the Scottish cup at Hamden Park, winning goal in extra time.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
Attachment 16328
This is on my bedroom wall. Flag from the corner flag where the equalising and winning goals were scored.
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Originally Posted by
Betterread
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
Arsenal have been completely unpredictable since the restart and somehow won the FA Cup. I’m speechless.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Originally Posted by
BuckeyeRed27
Arsenal have been completely unpredictable since the restart and somehow won the FA Cup. I’m speechless.
Always nice to win a cup, but this is Arsenal's 4th FA Cup in the past 7 seasons and I suspect most fans will view this as an inadequate consolation prize.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Originally Posted by
M2
Always nice to win a cup, but this is Arsenal's 4th FA Cup in the past 7 seasons and I suspect most fans will view this as an inadequate consolation prize.
Needed it to get into Europa and gets a trophy for Arteta right out the gate. It’s a reasonably big win even though there’s been success in the past.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
Pulisic played well, scored a goal and messed up his hammy. He and Mason Mount impressed. For big clubs, both Chelsea’s and Arsenal’s defenders were awful. And I like reisinger, but he has to be more positionally aware.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Originally Posted by
M2
Always nice to win a cup, but this is Arsenal's 4th FA Cup in the past 7 seasons and I suspect most fans will view this as an inadequate consolation prize.
I think Arsenal are pretty happy with that. They qualify for Europe and win a trophy in what most of their fans thought would be a dead season. Also gives a bit more incentive for Aubameyang to sign a new contract. And most fans long term will remember an FA Cup win rather than the "we finished 4th in the Premier League" target that most clubs invest more importance in.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Originally Posted by
paintmered
Fulham is going back up!
Very entertaining game, particularly the second half and extra time.
I didn't know much about Brentford, but those statistics about all the times they've lost in promotion playoffs in the last 30 years are absolutely brutal.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Originally Posted by
BuckeyeRed27
Very entertaining game, particularly the second half and extra time.
I didn't know much about Brentford, but those statistics about all the times they've lost in promotion playoffs in the last 30 years are absolutely brutal.
Very happy Fulham won that. Brentford are one of the most unjustifiably arrogant teams in the Championship. After their comments about Leeds fearing them, saying they weren't going away, talking about pressure and then absolutely bottling it twice. Their twitter feed replies are basically Leeds fans getting their own back and to be honest I'd be happy if someone invented a way to inject their tears into my veins....
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
Iker Casillas officially retired today. He's one of only three players captain winning teams at the World Cup, European Championship and European Cup/Champions League. The other two are the Kaiser and Didier Deschamps.
Everybody is free to have their best ever arguments, but San Iker's the only I know who achieved sainthood.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
M2
Iker Casillas officially retired today. He's one of only three players captain winning teams at the World Cup, European Championship and European Cup/Champions League. The other two are the Kaiser and Didier Deschamps.
Everybody is free to have their best ever arguments, but San Iker's the only I know who achieved sainthood.
https://twitter.com/ASRomaEN/status/...615041/photo/1
Respect
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
Willian's heading to Arsenal.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Originally Posted by
M2
Willian's heading to Arsenal.
Solid and will be an upgrade over what they have in the midfield now. 3 year contract for a 32 year old isn't ideal, but not money.
Need to figure out Aubameyang ASAP. No one is going to take that Ozil contract, but hopefully it doesn't sink them in signing other players.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BuckeyeRed27
Solid and will be an upgrade over what they have in the midfield now. 3 year contract for a 32 year old isn't ideal, but not money.
Need to figure out Aubameyang ASAP. No one is going to take that Ozil contract, but hopefully it doesn't sink them in signing other players.
I assume Ozil leaves, possibly to the Middle East or to China. His retirement from international soccer was predicated on having his fill of being the designated fall guy. Seems like he's hit the same limit with Arsenal. Won't surprise me if he'll do whatever it takes to get out of there. He's made enough money that he can shop for a place where he can enjoy his football.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Originally Posted by
M2
I assume Ozil leaves, possibly to the Middle East or to China. His retirement from international soccer was predicated on having his fill of being the designated fall guy. Seems like he's hit the same limit with Arsenal. Won't surprise me if he'll do whatever it takes to get out of there. He's made enough money that he can shop for a place where he can enjoy his football.
Perhaps, but he’s still under contract at a very high number for another year.
In good Arsenal news is sounds like Aubameyang has agreed to a new 3 year contract and will be staying.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Originally Posted by
BuckeyeRed27
Perhaps, but he’s still under contract at a very high number for another year.
In good Arsenal news is sounds like Aubameyang has agreed to a new 3 year contract and will be staying.
Think Arsenal will look for a similar type of arrangement to the one that has taken Alexis Sanchez from Man Utd to Inter Milan. Man U have swallowed a big portion of his remaining contract and paid it out to ensure this move could go ahead.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Originally Posted by
EnglishRed
Think Arsenal will look for a similar type of arrangement to the one that has taken Alexis Sanchez from Man Utd to Inter Milan. Man U have swallowed a big portion of his remaining contract and paid it out to ensure this move could go ahead.
The interesting part from the Arsenal standpoint, to me at least, is does Arteta even want a #10? Seems like his preference is for a lot of industry and distributed playmaking.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
M2
The interesting part from the Arsenal standpoint, to me at least, is does Arteta even want a #10? Seems like his preference is for a lot of industry and distributed playmaking.
I think Arteta plays 3-4-3 most of the time without a No 10. I've only seen them in the flesh once this year, when they beat my team Leeds 1-0 in the FA Cup earlier in the season. In that game they played Ozil as a number 10 and Kalvin Phillips playing as a DM dominated him for about 75 minutes until he was substituted. Still annoyed we didn't put away any of the chances we created in that game. Absolutely dominated and created chance after chance but couldn't score, conceded a goal unluckily. At least we were knocked out by the eventual winners though I guess
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
Raphael Varane with an absolute brain fart. City up 1-0.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
Much happier with the CBS broadcast than I was with the TNT broadcast. I would prefer all knockout round games to be on cable (Juve vs. Lyon deserves love too), but the production quality in noticeably higher.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Originally Posted by
M2
Much happier with the CBS broadcast than I was with the TNT broadcast. I would prefer all knockout round games to be on cable (Juve vs. Lyon deserves love too), but the production quality in noticeably higher.
It's clear CBS approached their coverage strategy with, "just do what NBC does for the Premier League". It's a good model to copy.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
I think Ozil time at Arsenal is probably up. He is such a good player but is also a bit of a flat track bully. Very rarely shows up in the big games and goes missing a lot.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
Mauricio Sarri sacked by Juventus. Pochettino rumoured to be in talks to replace him after their Champions League exit.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Originally Posted by
EnglishRed
Mauricio Sarri sacked by Juventus. Pochettino rumoured to be in talks to replace him after their Champions League exit.
In the last 50 yrs, Juve has has one non-Italian manager, Didier Deschamps. How can you bribe the right officials if you’re not Italian?
Just announced Andrea Pirlo is the new manager.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Originally Posted by
Betterread
In the last 50 yrs, Juve has has one non-Italian manager, Didier Deschamps. How can you bribe the right officials if you’re not Italian?
Just announced Andrea Pirlo is the new manager.
I'll be curious to see if Pirlo's a good manager or if it's just that anyone can win at Juve.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
Mario Pasalic puts Atalanta ahead of PSG 1-0 in the middle of the 1st half. If you don't have a horse left in the Champions League race, you really need to get on board the Atalanta bandwagon.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
Quote:
Originally Posted by
M2
Mario Pasalic puts Atalanta ahead of PSG 1-0 in the middle of the 1st half. If you don't have a horse left in the Champions League race, you really need to get on board the Atalanta bandwagon.
Seconded. This is a firecracker of a match too. Atalanta was running circles around them but PSG adapted. Should be a good second half.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
Mbappe changed the whole shape of the game.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Originally Posted by
M2
Mbappe changed the whole shape of the game.
I think you mean Stoke City legend Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting... lol
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
Watching FC Bayern take Barcelona apart. 1-4 at the half, with Bayern players scoring all goals. Of course, I have to watch in Spanish because CBS has the English broadcast behind a paywall.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
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Originally Posted by
Yachtzee
Watching FC Bayern take Barcelona apart. 1-4 at the half, with Bayern players scoring all goals. Of course, I have to watch in Spanish because CBS has the English broadcast behind a paywall.
This is crazy. The fallout from this could be bad.
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Re: 2019-20 Euro soccer thread
RIP Barca. The rebuild was probably overdue.