Today’s Football 2019/20 Season

[BlueStevie35]

He's had a drought for most of his 3 years at the club

Coinciding with being fast tracked into the first team before he was ready, his goal tally has improved year on year, better service from the middle and both he and Richarlison will be banging them in with ease next season, I’m convinced of that

 

[witchdoc187]

Imagine Leeds go up and all their matches are played behind closed doors, then they go back down. I'd laugh my cock off

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Absolutely massive game in the relegation scrap tonight

West Ham vs Watford

Just looking at all the permutations myself. My best guess is a draw tonight will likely be enough for both clubs to stay up even if Villa beat West Ham on the final day.

It's all guesswork admittedly and these guesses are usually found to be hopelessly wrong when you look back after the event, but Villa would really have to beat both Arsenal and West Ham away to have a chance and I would probably think four or less points most likely.

Bournemouth I think you could say will probably be too motivated for us on the final day if they still have a chance, so for them it comes down to beating Southampton at the Vitality Stadium. The Saints are just so hard to beat these days though, even though Brighton got close last night, I see this as a real must win for Bournemouth and where I think they could just fall short.

So for me a draw tonight will possibly be a big result for both when it comes down to the end of the season. Watford's need is greater than West Ham's as I too can see them finding it very difficult in their other games, and the above scenario without at least a point tonight would see them fall behind Bournemouth in the final reckoning

 

[radiostar]

I agree with this. 3 champions League titles and a la Liga. The cl alone puts him among the elite of the game, how many other managers even in this country alone are idolised for similar success.

always makes me wonder why someone like pep or Zidane get written off because of the team's they manage. Like some sort of parallel universe where the team with the best players aren't allowed to crown themselves the best team.

if winning all of those trophies with real is easy, why hasn't every other real manager been as successful? Plenty had Ronaldo and the core of that aide anyway.

TWO la ligas actually!

But it's strange I don't think many other clubs would touch him for all his success.

Guardiola managed to translate his success to other clubs though. We won't know if Zidane can unless he tries it but at the moment you get he impression he's excellent at getting star players to play well because of the star he is himself.

 

[Rook]

That’s right, the 2 shots and the comedy own goal all went in. Meanwhile San Jose had 68% possession, 30 shots, 11 on target, and 22(!!!!) corners.

that announcer

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dannyboy]

Messi hitting the nail on the head about Barcelona but I wonder if he´s self aware enough to know it applies to him as well. He´s always the best player on the pitch but I haven´t seen him play with any intensity in a long time. Could be his body isn´t up to it anymore but in that case you need to stack players around him who will do the running. Barcelona seem more intent with just buying stars than building a team.

 

[dannyboy]

Absolutely massive game in the relegation scrap tonight

West Ham vs Watford

Just looking at all the permutations myself. My best guess is a draw tonight will likely be enough for both clubs to stay up even if Villa beat West Ham on the final day.

It's all guesswork admittedly and these guesses are usually found to be hopelessly wrong when you look back after the event, but Villa would really have to beat both Arsenal and West Ham away to have a chance and I would probably think four or less points most likely.

Bournemouth I think you could say will probably be too motivated for us on the final day if they still have a chance, so for them it comes down to beating Southampton at the Vitality Stadium. The Saints are just so hard to beat these days though, even though Brighton got close last night, I see this as a real must win for Bournemouth and where I think they could just fall short.

So for me a draw tonight will possibly be a big result for both when it comes down to the end of the season. Watford's need is greater than West Ham's as I too can see them finding it very difficult in their other games, and the above scenario without at least a point tonight would see them fall behind Bournemouth in the final reckoning

It´d be a hell of an escape if Bournemouth or Villa beat the drop now. Don´t think either team has got what it takes to record back to back wins. For Villa last night was such a missed opportunity. We were there for the taking but they were equally as bad as us. If you can´t win games like that the writing is on the wall.

 

[zook]

View attachment 94566

Messi hitting the nail on the head about Barcelona but I wonder if he´s self aware enough to know it applies to him as well. He´s always the best player on the pitch but I haven´t seen him play with any intensity in a long time. Could be his body isn´t up to it anymore but in that case you need to stack players around him who will do the running. Barcelona seem more intent with just buying stars than building a team.

Their recruitment has been bizarre. They buy their fair share of players leaving their prime years and some who just clearly aren’t Barcelona level, then you look at them trying to fill the hole that Neymar left; Coutinho, Dembele, Malcom and Griezman set them back about 400 million!

 

[TheBigIguana]

Uniteds rise to dominance was objectively more impressive than cities, it was done with a decent core of academy players for starters. United used to win leagues with players like Dion Dublin and Djemba Djemba in their squad...

What they did in the 90s and 2000s was a lot more impressive than what City have done of late, i honestly can’t get my head around how anyone could argue otherwise. They definitely have the moral superiority over City imo as their success came about in a much more natural way.

Nah I don't view it like that. That's how Bayern and United want you to view it so they can dominate forever and ever and the reality is simply that they're blowing the game apart with the exuberant spending no different than PSG and City.

 

[longers]

Nah I don't view it like that. That's how Bayern and United want you to view it so they can dominate forever and ever and the reality is simply that they're blowing the game apart with the exuberant spending no different than PSG and City.

Who cares how they want you to view it ? What’s that got to do with anything ?

What I wrote is a fact, trying to make out United were just as bad as City is factually incorrect. How can you ignore that the core of their team was built from academy players ? It’s a huge factor and far more respectable than just going out and buying everyone for huge money In a very short period of time.

I’m not saying you have to be against what teams like City have done as I’m fully aware it is the only way teams can come in and consistently compete nowadays but to lazily compare United and City and say they are the same in terms of spending for success is just bizarrre and not based in reality. What United did was more natural, impressive and worthy of respect, the spending was done over decades as well.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Who cares how they want you to view it ? What’s that got to do with anything ?

What I wrote is a fact, trying to make out United were just as bad as City is factually incorrect. How can you ignore that the core of their team was built from academy players ? It’s a huge factor and far more respectable than just going out and buying everyone for huge money In a very short period of time.

I’m not against sugar daddies coming and funding a team but to lazily compare United and City and say they are the same in terms of spending for success is just bizarrre and not based in reality. What United did was more natural, impressive and worthy of respect, the spending was done over decades as well.

Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes, Martial, De Gea, Wan-Bissaka and Maguire aren't academy players.

And in 2008 neither were Rooney, Tevez, Ferdinand, Ronaldo, Carrick, van der Sar or Evra.

You're living in 1997 mate.

 

[longers]

Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes, Martial, De Gea, Wan-Bissaka and Maguire aren't academy players.

And in 2008 neither were Rooney, Tevez, Ferdinand, Ronaldo, Carrick, van der Sar or Evra.

You're living in 1997 mate.

One team became a financial powerhouse through sustained success on the field due in part to having a core of players from an excellent academy, the other involved a sugar daddy coming in and changing them over night from a nothing team to a title contender.

Not comparable and one clearly deserves more respect than the other, it boggles the mind that anyone would ever try and argue against this.

 

[TheBigIguana]

One team became a financial powerhouse through sustained success on the field due in part to having a core of players from an excellent academy, the other involved a sugar daddy coming in and changing them over night from a nothing team to a title contender.

Not comparable and one clearly deserves more respect than the other, it's delusional to try and argue otherwise.

Outmuscling teams by spending at this point billions more than other clubs are capable of is dragging the game into a farcical place and I'm not really going to hear arguments about how it's ok because a club "earned" it. Just remember that the only thing separating the PL from the predetermined winner system that takes place in Germany and Italy is that Chelsea and City got bankrolled. It doesn't mean I like it but the mega rich clubs are ruining the game full stop and trying to make exceptions is just aiding and abetting them in doing it.

 

[longers]

Outmuscling teams by spending at this point billions more than other clubs are capable of is dragging the game into a farcical place and I'm not really going to hear arguments about how it's ok because a club "earned" it.

Thats fine, I agree football is setup in a way that benefits the mega clubs but the fact remains that it's a lot more impressive to build your wealth the way United have than how City have.

Just remember that the only thing separating the PL from the predetermined winner system that takes place in Germany and Italy is that Chelsea and City got bankrolled. It doesn't mean I like it but the mega rich clubs are ruining the game full stop and trying to make exceptions is just aiding and abetting them in doing it.

Im not making exceptions though, im just pointing out that United did what they did in a much more natural and organic way... so yes there is a big difference and one is definitely more impressive and worthy of respect than the other.

United got to where they are through hard work, a brilliant academy and good business. City became a top club overnight through no hard work at all, like they used a cheat code in a game.

I know deep down you know what one is more impressive, you're just too stubborn to admit it

 

[TheBigIguana]

Thats fine, I agree football is setup in a way that benefits the mega clubs but the fact remains that it's a lot more impressive to build your wealth the way United have than how City have.



Im not making exceptions though, im just pointing out that United did what they did in a much more natural and organic way... so yes there is a big difference and one is definitely more impressive and worthy of respect than the other.

United got to where they are through hard work, a brilliant academy and good business. City became a top club overnight through no hard work at all.

I know deep down you know what one is more impressive, you're just too stubborn to admit it

It's more that I don't care. Today in 2020 they're both forces tearing the game apart.