2013/14 Soccer Thread

Prederick wrote:

I am not enjoying this season. Although watching the title race will be a ton of fun, i'll bet. The title-winners might not even make it to 80 points at this rate.

In other news, Jack Wilshere, still made of papier-mâché.

I dunno. People keep assuming Arsenal are going to come back to earth but this form has been going on since last year after the Spurs game.

If anything Chelsea, City and even United get into Arsenals level and the eventual winner is in that 90 point range.

Loving the pundits still not rating Arsenal though. You can tell the makeup of the players just feed off being slighted. I hope it lasts until the gap gets large enough that when the dip on form comes it's just to large to make up

Edit: this weekend will be telling. The old team would poop their pants. This one? Pressures off and i think they are chomping at the prospect of embarrassing United.

Only hope I have for United game is that Flamini is fit again and ready to do some damage. Bring back the rivalry!

On my visa.

Oct 30, 2013 FIFA World Cup Ticketing Zurich

Didn't even notice cause I wasn't expecting it.

Tricky part is now I have to many tickets. Applied with a friend also and he got ticket so.... yea. Probably have 4 tickets for 2 people to a Natal stadium pass.

What're the tickets for ?

davet010 wrote:

What're the tickets for ?

Stadium pass to Natal so 4 games at around 90USD a game for the lowest tier.

No official email or confirmation in my account but they charge your Visa if you get tickets.

Ah right. Go early and bring a hod and you might make some of that back.

In other news, Republic of Ireland have appointed Martin O'Neill and Roy 'Gutless' Keane to the managerial post.

O'Neill shouldn't do too badly - his last few managerial postings demonstrated that he has no idea how to properly manage a squad over the long haul, but 10 games a season should be OK...not that anyone will be expecting anything once Robbie Keane retires. Gutless Bogtrotter will be as incompetent as he was at Sunderland and Ipswich, and indeed I'm not quite sure why O'Neill actually wants him around - it's not like he'll be adding any tactical nous or philosophical insights. His chats with the FAI should be amusing, no doubt they'll all be sitting happily together and chatting about the 2002 Would Cup.

davet010 wrote:

tactical nous or philosophical insights

You seem to forget that it is Ireland football team that we are talking about here.

All hail Sergio Aguero and Alvaro 'the Beast' Negredo.

Nice to see Fellaini living up to his reputation, and Ashley Young to his.

Linked for size.

What a real class act.

Hey, Dave, how does Pellegrini's City compare to what Mancini has been doing last year? Do you see any big overall changes in approach?

Hmm, good question. Based on my observations this year...

- Everything is a little less stressful. Pellegrini still looks like an avucular Mafia don, but as he said when someone asked him about 'pressure' before the Derby, he's managed in a Buenos Aires derby, so everything else is a little lower-key.

- The approach is a lot more attacking, rather than counter-attacking. Negredo is a far better front man than Dzeko, and Fernandinho is at least as good at doing the unseen donkey work as Barry was, so the effect can be devastating pressure once in place (vide - all home games). Defense still needs some work, though conceding only a goal a game while having a +17 GD is hardly sieve-like. City could, and should, have gotten points out of all the games that have been lost.

- Some players seemed to have upped their game (Nasri) or rediscovered their form (Silva). I do have some slight queries about his preference for DeMichelis, who did not really impress either last night or against Norwich, over Lescott. I think the former is a few years past his prime, and even that wasn't that great.

- Not getting drawn into a CL Group of Death for once helps. BM are the gold standard for teams in Europe this season, so getting beaten by them is hardly the disaster that the cretinous English sports media who have just discovered the Bundesliga seemed to believe - let's not forget they went to the Camp Nou and won 3-0 at a canter, and they've strengthened since then.

So, solid B+ from this observer so far.

Young is a f*cking embarrassment not just to our team but to the sport.

Our summer acquisition = useless fouling twat. He slowed us down as much as he slowed the game down with his fouls.

Okay, bring on the United.

Didn't see the game. How did Arsenal play?

Like sh*t. Mostly. But defended like lions.

I'm basking today morning. BASKING!

UCRC wrote:

Like sh*t. Mostly. But defended like lions.

I'm basking today morning. BASKING!

They played well considering it was away to the CL finalists.

Were not Barca. I would never expected us to go there and boss the game. Steal a goal and win? sure.

United on the other hand? Yea I now expect us to go there and boss them

Fullham desperately need to improve the centre of their midfield, don't they?

Ugh, Andre Mariner is the worst. Horrible penalty call to gift Chelsea the draw. West Brom deserved better.

Meanwhile, I can't stop watching Southampton. So, so good.

Roke wrote:

Fullham desperately need to improve the centre of their midfield, don't they?

UGH.

1) Chelsea's first goal was something special.

2) Amorebieta is not that good, then.

3) Southampton are great but they only played one team from top seven. I see them finishing eight, behind Everton.

So out-play Tottenham until the first goal and then get absolutely peppered with shots and chances and hold on do to brute luck. I'll take it. Krul was unbelievable.

I'm hoping Manchester City destroy Sunderland and Arsenal beat Manchester United.

Everyone is so poor this year. Every week I keep on expecting City, Tottenham and Chelsea to get into gear and it's just not happening. Eleven games in you wouldn't be expecting those teams on same amount of points as Liverpool, Southampton and Everton.

Not complaining, mind you

Mertesacker is out with sickness. Uh-oh.

edit: Heroic from Sunderland, they have amazing record against City.

As a relative neutral, I was hoping for a 4-3 barnstormer at Old Trafford, not a 1-0 nail biter. And definitely not a Man Utd victory. Oh, well.

At least we got some good shots of Nicklas Bendtner looking confused.

Yes, introduction of Bendtner was the most grueling thing. Gnabry looked good after coming on, though. He should have been the first substitution.

Overall, it was a very poor game from both teams, I think.

UCRC wrote:

Yes, introduction of Bendtner was the most grueling thing. Gnabry looked good after coming on, though. He should have been the first substitution.

Overall, it was a very poor game from both teams, I think.

The United horse shoe up their asses strikes again.

Two of our best players midweek go down with the flu and they squeak a 1-0 vs us.

Ozil was fairly shocking though. A draw was probably deserved and I'll vomit all over anyone who thinks United were worth all 3.

Roke wrote:

I'm hoping Manchester City destroy Sunderland and Arsenal beat Manchester United.

It's a good thing I don't gamble.

Time for Juventus-Napoli. Obligatory match-fixing joke.

Diving is an art.

IMAGE(http://i.minus.com/ibq0IQfN9h7EWp.gif)

and is 1 more thing Micah Richards cant do.

Yeah, I think even Dave won't be able spin that one.

(I look forward to you trying, though! ;))

edit: Speaking of which, once again, amazing performance from all of Sunderland defenders in that second half. They were so unshakeable that I felt they easily could have played an extra time on top of that and not concede.

The displacement of the air close to Micah obviously interrupted his run. As that was deliberate, I think that was a penalty.

(Sorry UCRC, that's as good as I could manage)