bah, city again, that's so boring. don't know how far rats can take it, because they depend so much on snappy and precise passing, which seems easy to frustrate (long stretches of the game against union were hardly watchable), but once they get thru, they are such fun. great goals, the one-two between sesko and olmo (backheel, outside-foot chip, shot) for the third was hilarious.
kane largely anonymous this time, but sané is on form. bayern will be interesting, after the transfer disasters they don't have enough personnel in the back and pundits are already reporting toxic dressing room fumes especially between tüchel and kimmich (key player of sometimes varying performance levels, who had been a big nagelsmann fan) ... then again the manner of the late win against gladbach could suggest the team is progressing nicely.
spurs still a pleasure to watch. huh? does anyone already believe this will last? after one game with maddi-son as a new dream team?
Futbol '23-'24
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roger.haddad.
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Re: Futbol '23-'24
Haven't watched Spurs this season but in days past I remember thinking they were much more dynamic without Kane in the side. More dynamic doesn't always translate to efficient in front of goal of course, but I've always enjoyed watching teams figure things out without the "star player."
Re: Futbol '23-'24
hey, germany are doing everything they can to keep the international break somewhat entertaining. with his job on the line, flick still tried strange little experiments ... very obviously gosens should have played for schlotterbeck on the left and rats' in form henrichs on the right so that kimmich could move into defensive midfield instead of can. (playing havertz is less silly than it looks because of a string of injuries, but still he's so out of form, and when out of form he drains everone around him, that müller or anyone with some energy would have been better.) so flick got what he asked for. many pundits now suggest that maybe german players just aren't any better, but that's not convincing, they don't have an elite striker, every other position is not a problem. others suggest there's a lack of character, which is a bit closer to the truth, but most of all they need a manager with a clear philosophy. i would be very surprised if nagelsmann took the job. of the suspects, oliver glasner is the only one that would make obvious sense (though he's austrian and maybe a bit to thin-skinned to cope with all the egos involved). very much enjoying the drama.
Re: Futbol '23-'24
ok win at young boys, though rats were too passive over long stretches. still, they used up some of the bad luck (atrocious finishing, np penalty, fractional offside) in game where that could still be compensated for, smart move.
so the german national team really went for nagelsmann and they drummed up a cool 5 million to pay him for 8 months so we can supposedly win the euros. that's all or nothing really. i guess he might hit on a well-mixed formula and then it's a good thing there's not the time to tinker too much with the approach. he might have learned to behave himself in a way that does not alienate half the dressing room on the first day. or he might burn it all to the ground. i for one would enjoy a self-destructive hatefest during the home euros.
so the german national team really went for nagelsmann and they drummed up a cool 5 million to pay him for 8 months so we can supposedly win the euros. that's all or nothing really. i guess he might hit on a well-mixed formula and then it's a good thing there's not the time to tinker too much with the approach. he might have learned to behave himself in a way that does not alienate half the dressing room on the first day. or he might burn it all to the ground. i for one would enjoy a self-destructive hatefest during the home euros.
Re: Futbol '23-'24
Protecting against the jinx by not posting (nobody move, nobody get hurt), but I'll throw caution to the wind ahead of the derby on Sunday. Spurs are a good team, a little undercooked at the back maybe, but the balance has been right. That Bissouma-Maddison midfield. Its all very 2017 although we arent playing a 4-2-3-1 supposedly. Maddison starring as Eriksen, Bissouma as Mousa Dembele, with Sarr as a Dele x-factor. The front three is still a work in progress. I dont think Son can or should lead the line consistently, I think I've said this before, his hold up play and link up play, and aerial prowess is not good enough. I cannot remember a single headed goal from Son. Its also apparent that hugging the touch line and taking defenders on 1:1 is not comfortable for him either. I think playing off a central striker and in the channels is the way to go, and I think there should be some fluidity between him and whoever is the central striker which allows him to find the gaps.
Losing Perisić is a blow, he has a nice chemistry with Udogie on the left and two assists servicing Richarlison, and having him and Hojbjerg as veteran late subs is like a warm glass of milk before bed. (Its an equally big blow for Croatia, but it seems like he should be able to be back in time for the Euros next year). The defense is thin and untested. Will be tested on Sunday. I still dont trust Romero, although he's been on his best behavior. VdVen has pace, but feels a little clunky and could get his big tree trunks twisted around by a slippery attacker like Saka or Martinelli.
But dont underestimate the vibes, the spirit and positive direction after the Sheffield comeback. I think we get a draw on Sunday. Was hoping PSV would give the Gunners more of a fight and tire them out, but that was a joke of a match.
The CL has been fun last few days. Bayern -United was a weird match: The second Casemiro goal where he trips over the ball and then kicks it in on his side. The Onana howler. Eriksen's handball. Overall United look pretty ropey and I'm not sure if Ten Hag is around next season if this vibe continues. They're not in the running for anything, they feel very much like Spurs under Conte, OK but not evolving. Liverpool who play today, look OK but arent going to be challenging City, there's just not enough there there. Szoboszlai has been great but Salah and VvD arent the same players they were a few years ago. Robertson had a nice goal on the weekend in their own comeback. I think Nunez is too inconsistent to really take this team up a notch, I like Luis Diaz though. MacAllister is a good player. I think they finish second ahead of Arsenal but well behind City. Maybe its all getting a bit stale with Klopp; managers can only stick around for so long before their methods and communication start to fall on deaf ears. Certainly 8-10 years is at the far end of that range; Klopp's at 9 years.
Other CL matches: heartbreak for Union Berlin at the death. Modrić was excellent and Juranović was good too. Madrid feel very different without Benzema, just less space-time displacement / game affecting ability in and around the box. I dont watch a lot of Napoli but Osimhen is quite the striker, he hits the ball so hard and cleanly, amazing. Although Braga should have equalized, twice, ridiculous misses. Are we in danger of waking up one day and finding PSG is an actual team? I know Dortmund is not up to standard this year, maybe an opening for Rats or Leverkusen to make a title challenge?
Losing Perisić is a blow, he has a nice chemistry with Udogie on the left and two assists servicing Richarlison, and having him and Hojbjerg as veteran late subs is like a warm glass of milk before bed. (Its an equally big blow for Croatia, but it seems like he should be able to be back in time for the Euros next year). The defense is thin and untested. Will be tested on Sunday. I still dont trust Romero, although he's been on his best behavior. VdVen has pace, but feels a little clunky and could get his big tree trunks twisted around by a slippery attacker like Saka or Martinelli.
But dont underestimate the vibes, the spirit and positive direction after the Sheffield comeback. I think we get a draw on Sunday. Was hoping PSV would give the Gunners more of a fight and tire them out, but that was a joke of a match.
The CL has been fun last few days. Bayern -United was a weird match: The second Casemiro goal where he trips over the ball and then kicks it in on his side. The Onana howler. Eriksen's handball. Overall United look pretty ropey and I'm not sure if Ten Hag is around next season if this vibe continues. They're not in the running for anything, they feel very much like Spurs under Conte, OK but not evolving. Liverpool who play today, look OK but arent going to be challenging City, there's just not enough there there. Szoboszlai has been great but Salah and VvD arent the same players they were a few years ago. Robertson had a nice goal on the weekend in their own comeback. I think Nunez is too inconsistent to really take this team up a notch, I like Luis Diaz though. MacAllister is a good player. I think they finish second ahead of Arsenal but well behind City. Maybe its all getting a bit stale with Klopp; managers can only stick around for so long before their methods and communication start to fall on deaf ears. Certainly 8-10 years is at the far end of that range; Klopp's at 9 years.
Other CL matches: heartbreak for Union Berlin at the death. Modrić was excellent and Juranović was good too. Madrid feel very different without Benzema, just less space-time displacement / game affecting ability in and around the box. I dont watch a lot of Napoli but Osimhen is quite the striker, he hits the ball so hard and cleanly, amazing. Although Braga should have equalized, twice, ridiculous misses. Are we in danger of waking up one day and finding PSG is an actual team? I know Dortmund is not up to standard this year, maybe an opening for Rats or Leverkusen to make a title challenge?
Re: Futbol '23-'24
I didnt mean to make this sound like I was down on Liverpool, I think the media slightly undersells (and skews towards Brighton and City) the job FSG and Klopp have done in making this team competitive for the most part over the better part of a decade without printing novelty money. They are below West Ham in 5-year net spend (9th). Spurs get top 4 by that metric, lord we have bought poorly.