2018/19 Soccer Thread

After today, if I'm a Liverpool fan, the only thing I'm truly, deeply scared of is Eden Hazard on a mission to get Chelsea as many points as possible before he leaves for Real Madrid.

slazev wrote:

You're telling me he hates Liverpool more than Man City? I thought that was impossible for a Man Utd fan, especially now that City is such a big player in all competitions.

I think the salient point is less that he hates Liverpool more than Man City (which is entirely understandable), but that he hates Liverpool so much he wants his own team to lose a game.

Most of the argument I've seen online, at least from people old enough to remember when Liverpool was omnipresent has been "I don't want Liverpool to win because their fans will be absolutely, unbelievably insufferable if they do", which I can kind of understand. But I <3 Jurgen, so I'm rooting for them anyway.

That or City to do the quadruple, because it'd be hilarious.

Prederick wrote:

Most of the argument I've seen online, at least from people old enough to remember when Liverpool was omnipresent has been "I don't want Liverpool to win because their fans will be absolutely, unbelievably insufferable if they do", which I can kind of understand. But I <3 Jurgen, so I'm rooting for them anyway.

That or City to do the quadruple, because it'd be hilarious.

It would also be hilarious if City failed to win anything this year, while being in all the finals and loosing on the last day of the Premier League.

They've already won The Carabao Cup

omni wrote:

They've already won The Carabao Cup :P

The crucial first step in a quad is winning the Cup that by April people have already forgot you won.

jowner wrote:
omni wrote:

They've already won The Carabao Cup :P

The crucial first step in a quad is winning the Cup that by April people have already forgot you won.

They won the community shield as well. Pep wanted everyone to know.....

Good, solid, non-panicky and non-swashbuckling display by Liverpool against Porto. Porto can certainly carry a threat but Liverpool will score at the Estadio do Dragao and so I think it'll be through to the Semis.

As for Spurs v City - well, I think Kane will cost Spurs more than winning that game will gain them. Well played though.

EDIT: Also, the rules for Handball are just stupid. If it's not deliberate or blocking a clear - clear - goalscoring opportunity, then it's not a handball. Especially if the ball is blasted at you at pace from about 2 yards away.

Very nicely played by Spurs. Super-interested to see how the second leg sets up.

The Guardian wrote:

All the machinations going through Guardiola’s head now. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next week. One man at the back. Ederson up front. Arteta in midfield. Claudio Bravo in goal.

And yeah, Liverpool should be through comfortably.

Also, while I am, or at least was fairly pro-VAR, the interminable delays with it are becoming just intolerable. Part of the reason I enjoy soccer is because it's not constantly stopping like football does.

Super pleased for Sonny to have scored the first EPL and UCL goals in the new White Hart Lane, and very pleased to be up on City with no away goals surrendered!

Also, that saved pen by Lloris!

Very, very well-played by Ajax, but they'll be disappointed they weren't able to get a second. I'd favor Juve to go through, but Ajax have a solid chance.

Meanwhile, Man Utd and Barca, no-one looked particularly good in that one.

Prederick wrote:

Meanwhile, Man Utd and Barca, no-one looked particularly good in that one.

I'd agree. My only option for match watching was this one, and I almost dozed off a couple of times.

Man U Shots on Target - 0
Barca Shots on Target - 3

I mean, there was a surprise at least, because if any of us knew that there'd be an own goal in this game but didn't know who, we'd all have put $100 on it being Phil Jones.

Realized tonight that I am a TERRIBLE American sports fan, because I saw an article describing Messi as "Soccer's Michael Jordan" and my genuine response was "I don't think that's fair to Messi."

2-0 at half for Arsenal? So they muck it up in the 2nd half or just wait till they get to Italy to do that?

The race for second in the championship has more twists in it then Game of Thrones. Leeds back in the driving seat, after losing it at the weekend. I can't take this.

Arsenal and Chelsea in fairly good positions after the first leg.

As for the Championship, 5 games left and lord knows who'll end that one happy.

Heh, Ashton Villa is on fire and looking at a playoff chance for promotion.

Fulham deserved the win today - my only regret is that our tepid performance doesn't stand a chance of helping them stay up.

Sorbicol wrote:

Good, solid, non-panicky and non-swashbuckling display by Liverpool against Porto. Porto can certainly carry a threat but Liverpool will score at the Estadio do Dragao and so I think it'll be through to the Semis.

As for Spurs v City - well, I think Kane will cost Spurs more than winning that game will gain them. Well played though.

EDIT: Also, the rules for Handball are just stupid. If it's not deliberate or blocking a clear - clear - goalscoring opportunity, then it's not a handball. Especially if the ball is blasted at you at pace from about 2 yards away.

A bit overconfident, eh?
(I also agree that Liverpool will go through, but still...)
Salah should've been sent off. Senseless tackle.

I disagree about that handball rule. May not be a goalscoring opportunity, but it may still interfere with the attacking team's play. It is and it will always be very subjective.
In that particular case, though, I wouldn't consider it a handball.

Spurs did well without Kane so there's always hope for the rest of the season.

How to defend a penalty kick.

Cute stuff.

4 games left... 3 points clear - 10 points from 12 needed - I'm starting to believe, never have I celebrated a Millwall goal before but I did today. Sheffield's goal difference is better so we can't slip up.
We have Wigan, Brentford, Aston Villa and Ispwich left.
Sheffield have Forest, Hull, Ispwich and Stoke.

Dimmerswitch wrote:

Fulham deserved the win today - my only regret is that our tepid performance doesn't stand a chance of helping them stay up.

NOW we get a clean sheet.

Liverpool 2 - 0 Chelsea.

That Salah goal. Woof.

Prederick wrote:
Dimmerswitch wrote:

Fulham deserved the win today - my only regret is that our tepid performance doesn't stand a chance of helping them stay up.

NOW we get a clean sheet.

It's get so many soccer things wrong, but I got this right!

I posted this on February 3:

Godzilla Blitz wrote:

Yeah, things are looking increasingly tough for Fulham now. Their schedule looks challenging, as you mention. Their next four home games are against top 5 teams, and they haven't picked up points on the road. Based on performance to date, it's not until the mid-April match against Everton that they have a winnable match.

They lost every match since then until today!

Any long-time Everton fan starts pre-cringing whenever we face an opponent which has lost nine in a row.

I understand why Jagielka was given another start, but Arnautovic was bullying him all day long.

It's a shame that's likely to be his last game for us instead of the Arsenal one.

Dimmerswitch wrote:

I understand why Jagielka was given another start, but Arnautovic was bullying him all day long.

Wrong large Serb striker. Fulham's is Mitrovic.

Hahahaha you are of course correct - apologies.

Arnautović is half Serb half Austrian born in Austria plays for Austria ;P

Sorry couldn't help myself.

jowner wrote:

Arnautović is half Serb half Austrian born in Austria plays for Austria ;P

Sorry couldn't help myself.

International football everybody!

Speaking of "LOL", I haven't seen anywhere NEAR enough laughter about PSG blowing the chance to confirm the Ligue 1 title by getting utterly annihilated by Lille.

Sure, PSG's going to win the title anyway, but nevertheless,