Football (Soccer)

[BlackFox]

Chelsea v Arsenal didnt really live up to the hype in the end, neither side really dominated and a draw was a fair result. Fair to say Arsenal look well off the pace as title contenders this season, 10 point gaps have been overturned from here in the past but they really need to sharpen up if they want to get involved this season it seems, both sides will be in the top 4 fight for sure but not a lot more than that.

 

[BlackFox]

Ruud already the best manager we have had this season and its only been 4 games.

 

[B]

Brighton just came up with a huge comeback to go 2-1 up from being 1-0 down to City. Still 6 mins left though.

#GuardiolaOut

Ruud already the best manager we have had this season and its only been 4 games.

We actually looked decent again at periods today, I know it was "only" Leicester, but the reality is in recent years we've struggled to beat teams like "only" Leicester with any sort of regularity. The scoreline flattered us a little bit, but we still looked threatening going forward & less open defensively than we have been all season. Had EtH been as pragmatic with his selection & tactical choices as RvN has, he likely would still be in the job because we didn't play like a team that belongs in the bottom half of the table with a negative goal difference.

I want RvN to stay on as part of Amorim's staff, he deserves that purely based on the fact he's steadied the ship.

 

[Iceman]

#GuardiolaOut

We actually looked decent again at periods today, I know it was "only" Leicester, but the reality is in recent years we've struggled to beat teams like "only" Leicester with any sort of regularity. The scoreline flattered us a little bit, but we still looked threatening going forward & less open defensively than we have been all season. Had EtH been as pragmatic with his selection & tactical choices as RvN has, he likely would still be in the job because we didn't play like a team that belongs in the bottom half of the table with a negative goal difference.

I want RvN to stay on as part of Amorim's staff, he deserves that purely based on the fact he's steadied the ship.

Another league loss and it will start turning into a genuine crisis at City.

I’m glad Ruud’s little reign has been something of a success and something he can be proud of and the fans can be nostalgic about. I would love to see Amorim turn into a huge long term success and include RvN on the staff throughout, with Ruud also developing under him and turning into a managerial talent who could then maybe make the step up.

 

[Iceman]

Chelsea v Arsenal didnt really live up to the hype in the end, neither side really dominated and a draw was a fair result. Fair to say Arsenal look well off the pace as title contenders this season, 10 point gaps have been overturned from here in the past but they really need to sharpen up if they want to get involved this season it seems, both sides will be in the top 4 fight for sure but not a lot more than that.

Arsenal look a step below where they’ve been the last couple of seasons. Without a significant change they aren’t overturning anything lol. They should still be very disappointed with anything less than third though, and Chelsea look like they are improving every month or 2 and could be the main threat to that.

 

[Iceman]

This is fairly normal though that when key players are missing, teams will skip a beat.

Manchester City's record in recent seasons has lulled people into thinking when key players are missing, the 'system' will still prevail. City's case is unique because of the unusual amount of depth they had particularly with forward/creative players. It's not often you've the luxury or the ability to keep players that are good enough to start for the majority of PL sides, content enough to have a sort of squad/rotation role until a key man goes down.

Chelsea probably rival that level of depth now with their squad. In normal situations, the drop off in quality is usually steep when a key player is unavailable.

Yep, and when it comes to Rodri, they don’t have a like for like replacement and suffer a lot. In most other cases they had top quality replacements waiting in the wings to buffer the times that would make other teams go on a bad run when key players were out.

 

[BlackFox]

Arsenal look a step below where they’ve been the last couple of seasons. Without a significant change they aren’t overturning anything lol. They should still be very disappointed with anything less than third though, and Chelsea look like they are improving every month or 2 and could be the main threat to that.

I was surprised how little there was between the sides, Arsenal have dropped off a bit and Chelsea have improved a bit since last season it seems so a draw always looked likely. Arsenal dont look like they have that belief they can do it at the moment.

 

[B]

Another league loss and it will start turning into a genuine crisis at City.

I’m glad Ruud’s little reign has been something of a success and something he can be proud of and the fans can be nostalgic about. I would love to see Amorim turn into a huge long term success and include RvN on the staff throughout, with Ruud also developing under him and turning into a managerial talent who could then maybe make the step up.

They've Spurs next as well & in the last 4 or 5 years I think they've a pretty decent record against them also.

I don't know whether managers like it or not as they might believe it undermines them, but I'd think having someone with previous managerial experience themselves on your coaching staff can only be beneficial & expand their own knowledge. I know Ruud's only had a small sample size with a season at PSV & now a caretaker role at United, but that experience is still experience.

 

[Iceman]

They've Spurs next as well & in the last 4 or 5 years I think they've a pretty decent record against them also.

I don't know whether managers like it or not as they might believe it undermines them, but I'd think having someone with previous managerial experience themselves on your coaching staff can only be beneficial & expand their own knowledge. I know Ruud's only had a small sample size with a season at PSV & now a caretaker role at United, but that experience is still experience.

I think it depends on the attitude of the learning manager if they’re willing to be a pure assistant and not interfere outside of when their opinion is welcome etc - plus if the incoming manager is open to it in the first place or already has their own guy lined up. I hope there is a way of it working, but Amorim should be free to choose who he wants.

 

[blueharvest]

 

[Zantera]

Apparently referee David Coote has been suspended by the PGMOL because of a video where he says some harsh things about Liverpool and Klopp.


I don't understand why any referee would say these things ON CAMERA...

 

[blueharvest]

 

[blue scholar]

that's the move, Mikel. go for it.

 

[B]

Apparently referee David Coote has been suspended by the PGMOL because of a video where he says some harsh things about Liverpool and Klopp.


I don't understand why any referee would say these things ON CAMERA...

He's the turd that wrongfully awarded the penalty to West Ham that effectively got EtH the sack. Making this sort of video just further proves what we already knew about him, he's a total imbecile. I'd imagine if he was drug & alcohol tested he'd pop for something, him & his mate seem like they're off their heads.

It's no problem to me if a referee thinks those things as you can guarantee every single referee has a dislike for certain clubs, managers & players but you've got to be double dumb vocalise them & put it on camera.

 

[Hunter Rider]

He's a really good player but that price is crazy, especially when Arsenal need an actual striker.

 

[B]

Weakened England squad disappoints Harry Kane | 'Country comes before club'

Nah Harry, it doesn't in general anyway but it especially isn't country before club when it's for bull**** friendlies.. or sorry 'Nations League', in the middle of a domestic season.

It should be used for players on the fringes or players with single digit or no caps at all to give them debuts/proper game time that they otherwise might not get during major tournaments or even during qualifiers as opposed to established players like Kane.

 

[Zantera]

Oh boy

 

[blueharvest]

Oh boy

I'm sure it was just creatine or something like that.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Oh boy

Pablo EscoVAR!

 

[blueharvest]

 

[Hunter Rider]

 

[Hunter Rider]

I hope we get this done, he looks a fantastic talent. 👍

 

[blueharvest]

Oh boy

 

[Zantera]

David Coote has messed up big time and he does deserve repercussions from his actions but man... I don't wish his situation on anyone.

I mean before all of this, I would say he was a fairly anonymous referee in the background. When you saw him in a game you would think "Yeah this guy ain't great, but some of the other ones are even worse!" and there's definitely been more anger and controversy around some of the other ones. But now through all of these news and videos, he's become known as the Liverpool-hating coke-snorting ref who would warm up for a game by doing rails in his hotel room, then going out and trying to prevent Liverpool from winning a title. Hard to see a scenario where he gets to work again, unless he changes name and moves to Saudi or something.

 

[blueharvest]

David Coote has messed up big time and he does deserve repercussions from his actions but man... I don't wish his situation on anyone.

I mean before all of this, I would say he was a fairly anonymous referee in the background. When you saw him in a game you would think "Yeah this guy ain't great, but some of the other ones are even worse!" and there's definitely been more anger and controversy around some of the other ones. But now through all of these news and videos, he's become known as the Liverpool-hating coke-snorting ref who would warm up for a game by doing rails in his hotel room, then going out and trying to prevent Liverpool from winning a title. Hard to see a scenario where he gets to work again, unless he changes name and moves to Saudi or something.

He's basically the Pam Poovey of the English Premier League.