EPL and European Football season 2017-18

[PeteEU]

I've no idea who might win the WC; I'm rubbish at predictions, but I'm pretty sure Portugal won't win it, and I'm fairly sure Brazil will come quite close. At least. I'm pretty sure Belgium won't win it either, even though I'd love to see it happen.

If pushed, I'd have to say it'll be between Germany, Spain and Brazil with France or Belgium making up the final 4.

Interesting.. I dont see Belgium doing anything. Their golden generation has been "golden" for years now, without doing anything. They remind me a lot of the old Spanish teams that had tons of talent but always failed. Germany, Spain, Brazil will of course be in the last 4 if all goes as planed, and the 4th team is between France and Argentina.

I agree on the Portugal thing. Their group was pathetically easy and they only qualified directly on goal difference. They had a hard time beating Andorra 4 days ago...

However I can see a shocker team coming out of no where, surprising everyone.... and Iceland 2.0 basically. National teams are far stronger now than ever before, so there are no "easy teams".

 

[PeteEU]

You don't fancy England with Southgate the master tactician in charge? Lol

Personally I wont count out England. Lots of talent.. question is they can hack it against quality opposition. Plus their defence is a bit iffy quality wise. Saying that, parts of the midfield and especially the att.. Harry Kane, is very strong. Problem with England is as usual, lots of hype, not much realism, which ultimately turns into disappointment when the English realize that their team and players are not world beaters. But it is a cup competition, so anything can happen.. ask Denmark, Greece and Portugal.

 

[Higgins86]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=49RWRts9qqw

The " goal " that put America out

 

[Apocalypse]

Boy you dont watch much football eh? Switzerland has been strong for years.

If I'm not watching much football then I think what you consider to be much is quite unhealthy.
Switzerland have been a good team, they weren't a strong team though. They are much better now than they were in the Euro.

And Portugal is? LOL They barely qualified directly to the cup.

If barely is finishing with 32 goals for and 4 against, with 9 wins and 1 lost - to the same Switzerland you just agreed are strong - then I don't know what "easily" is.
The European Champions are a very good team mind you. They should beat France again if they meet them. It's true that the only A-class player they have is Cristiano, but tactically they are amazing and they are very well coordinated with each other and that's how you win games, just like Iceland only much better.

Portugal was a fluke and never deserved to win.

Yes I know you say so.

For me the list is like this

1) Top favourites : Brazil (massive talent), Spain (Huge squad depth), Germany (Massive talent) and Italy if they qualify (Italy is always a great competition team).
2) Possible to meddle: France (talented team needs to step up), Argentina (never count them out.. dangerous if they can get their act together), and Uruguay (Suarez...).
3) Dark Horses: Belgium (is never good when it counts), England (lots of talent, but..), Russia (host advantage), Colombia (talented team).
4) Outsiders maybe: Portugal (they can, but I dont think teams will fall for the defensive bs yet again)

Italy aren't that good, Belgium aren't a dark horse they are a real and known contender.

 

[Andalublue]

You don't fancy England with Southgate the master tactician in charge? Lol

I haven't fancied England since at least Venables, possibly Robson.

 

[Andalublue]

Just watched a really poor Man Utd performance win them a point at Liverpool. They'll be happy with that since Liverpool were the better team by a distance.

Now I'm watching and loving what I'm seeing of my beautiful blue boys taking Stoke apart like an unwanted Lego set. Sane, Sterling, De Bruyne and Silva absolutely terrifying the defenders. What's so impressive is the way the wing players are playing the overlap, getting to the goal line and pulling back for multiple bodies waiting in the box for the tap in.

So much quality in the attacking play and hence the defenders, with little to do admittedly, are snuffing out any sniff of a Stoke approach. Stone just took the ball from the feet of the Stoke attacker. Walker looks beefy and intimidating and Fernandinho linking the midfield with ease.

I've never seen a better City team than this, and Agüero and Kompany aren't even playing. Happy days!

EDIT: And just as I hit send, Stoke get a deflection and a goal back. I blame myself!

 

[Apocalypse]

Mourinho and Pep are simply 180 degrees from each other in the way they see the game.

 

[Andalublue]

Mourinho and Pep are simply 180 degrees from each other in the way they see the game.

Well, one wants to win and doesn't really care how. For the other winning is just as important, but the how is everything.

City and United are neck-and-neck. We've got 4 fifths of the season yet to come. It would be an idiot who says we've got it wrapped up, and I've just heard a few callers on the BBC 5Live phone-ins saying no one can catch us. Morons. Of course United could win it, and so could half-a-dozen other teams, but it's not City's 2-point advantage that's pleasing me.

I hope you've watched some of the City games. The difference between the kind of football City and United are playing at the moment is what's making me smile. City's football is just delightful to watch. I'm sure even as a neutral you can appreciate that.

 

[PeteEU]

Darn no Italy at the World Cup.. some big nations not making the cut this time around.

 

[Higgins86]

Darn no Italy at the World Cup.. some big nations not making the cut this time around.

Big game for your boys tonight

 

[PeteEU]

Big game for your boys tonight

Yep and started as expected.. Normally Denmark are the "almost there" team... we shall see, still 75 minutes left.

 

[Apocalypse]

Darn no Italy at the World Cup.. some big nations not making the cut this time around.

Italy are just not good enough to qualify, as simple as that. They didn't deserve it.

 

[PeteEU]

Hmm that Eriksen guy is pretty good..

 

[PeteEU]

Phew... Messi signs new contract until 2021...

 

[Higgins86]

World Cup draw tomorrow!!!

 

[Higgins86]

all 5 English teams progress to the knockouts of the champs lg, makes the draw very interesting.

Champions League: Five English teams into the knockout stage for the first time - BBC Sport

 

[PeteEU]

all 5 English teams progress to the knockouts of the champs lg, makes the draw very interesting.

Champions League: Five English teams into the knockout stage for the first time - BBC Sport

Yea it is a bit of a nightmare, as chances of them meeting a top team are quite big.

You just know that Chealski will get Barca. Then there is Man U, Liverpool, City and Tottenham, who all have to "avoid" Bayern, Juve and Madrid and hope they get Sevilla, Porto or Shakhtar .. and if really lucky Basel. I dunno.. could see most English teams knocked out in the next round because of this and a poor draw. Then again a good draw, and you get most teams through.. Gonna be interesting this Monday.

 

[Andalublue]

Yea it is a bit of a nightmare, as chances of them meeting a top team are quite big.

You just know that Chealski will get Barca. Then there is Man U, Liverpool, City and Tottenham, who all have to "avoid" Bayern, Juve and Madrid and hope they get Sevilla, Porto or Shakhtar .. and if really lucky Basel. I dunno.. could see most English teams knocked out in the next round because of this and a poor draw. Then again a good draw, and you get most teams through.. Gonna be interesting this Monday.

I don't think most the of the EPL teams in the CL draw have much to fear. Sure, they might not all win, but I can't remember a season in which the big names (Barca, Real, Bayern, Juve, PSG) have been so underwhelming in their group stage matches. Look at the stats. The EPL 5 clocked up 69pts between them, scored 80 goals, conceded 26. The Big 5 got 68pts, scored 71, conceded 48. On a match day any of the Big 5 could beat any of the EPL 5, but that works vice versa. Look at Spurs' dealings with Real. I'd say that going into the second round PSG must be favourites, with Juve, Barca and City close behind. I'm going to stick my neck out and suggest that City, United and Liverpool will all progress to the QF, so will Barca, PSG and Bayern. I think it will be a close call between Juve and Spurs, but I guess Juve have the edge.

 

[PeteEU]

I don't think most the of the EPL teams in the CL draw have much to fear. Sure, they might not all win, but I can't remember a season in which the big names (Barca, Real, Bayern, Juve, PSG) have been so underwhelming in their group stage matches. Look at the stats. The EPL 5 clocked up 69pts between them, scored 80 goals, conceded 26. The Big 5 got 68pts, scored 71, conceded 48. On a match day any of the Big 5 could beat any of the EPL 5, but that works vice versa. Look at Spurs' dealings with Real. I'd say that going into the second round PSG must be favourites, with Juve, Barca and City close behind. I'm going to stick my neck out and suggest that City, United and Liverpool will all progress to the QF, so will Barca, PSG and Bayern. I think it will be a close call between Juve and Spurs, but I guess Juve have the edge.

I would not get my hopes up too much. The CL is as much about experience as in the team. Looking at the English clubs, none of them have much experience as a team or a club, and that is important.

Tottenham wont go far.. no experience as a club or players. But they will learn and will grow.. just as Chealski did.
Liverpool wont go much further, since they lost their best player. The club and Manager has experience in the CL but not the players.
Chealski has experience on all levels and could go far.. well not this year since they meet Barcelona!
Manchester United has the experience as a club, and manager. Some of the players have experience and they could with a bit of luck go far.
Manchester City has the experienced manager, but their players lack the experience.. they are still learning, but it could be the year they graduate. Chealski took years to do it, can City with more money do it in a shorter period? We shall see.

I see Juve taking out Tottenham, City taking out Basel, 50/50 on Porto and Liverpool, Sevilla taking out United, Real taking out PSG, Roma taking out Donetsk, Barca taking out Chelski, and Bayern taking out the Turks.

 

[Nilly]

Coutinho gone for 142m. Gutted but wish him all the best. He's been here for 5 years and won jack ****. Lucas stayed here for 10 and won 1 league cup. Turns out you have to win things to keep your best players.

That said, I fecking hope we knock Barca out of the CL with him watching in the stands.

 

[PeteEU]

Coutinho gone for 142m. Gutted but wish him all the best. He's been here for 5 years and won jack ****. Lucas stayed here for 10 and won 1 league cup. Turns out you have to win things to keep your best players.

That said, I fecking hope we knock Barca out of the CL with him watching in the stands.

Well the EPL aint as popular as many think for the top players. Coutinho had Barca as a childhood team, so he was desperate to go there. He actually paid part of the transfer fee. Not the first one to do that.. Mascherano was desperate to go to Barca and went down in wages.

Now saying that, dont see the need for Coutinho at Barca, unless he is to replace Iniesta... not that I seem him as the same type. Regardless.. that amount of money, no player is worth that, not even Messi.

 

[Apocalypse]

Well the EPL aint as popular as many think for the top players. Coutinho had Barca as a childhood team, so he was desperate to go there. He actually paid part of the transfer fee. Not the first one to do that.. Mascherano was desperate to go to Barca and went down in wages.

Now saying that, dont see the need for Coutinho at Barca, unless he is to replace Iniesta... not that I seem him as the same type. Regardless.. that amount of money, no player is worth that, not even Messi.

I wonder for how long we'll keep seeing these amounts increasing.
1 billion for a Coutinho-level player in ten years from now?

 

[PeteEU]

I wonder for how long we'll keep seeing these amounts increasing.
1 billion for a Coutinho-level player in ten years from now?

As long as we have the PSG, Chealski and Man City that can tap into unlimited sovereign bank accounts, then you will only see amounts going up. Barca, Real and Man U actually earn enough.. barely.. to pay for these amounts, but much more and even they cant. PSG, Chealski and Man City can easily outspend them, and it would take FIFA/UEFA to step in and hit down on clubs like PSG and City.

The problem will only grow.. you now have 2nd tier English clubs being bought by rich Chinese and getting some serious talent ahead of the more traditional clubs.. and none of these 2nd tier English clubs are in a sustainable situation. The problem in China is already massive (and the government is hitting down on it).

It comes down to what FIFA/UEFA want for the future of football. Clubs like Real, Man U, Barca and others have massive fanbases and can attract high paying advertising.. they earn their money. Then you have PSG and co, who have next to no fanbase outside their own cities, zero history and all that, but have unlimited funds and are totally unsustainable. No one really believes that City has a revenue of 500+ million Euros.. most of that comes from their sugar daddy and his family. Same goes for PSG. And yes there will be one person offended by this comment, and so be it. The truth hurts.

 

[Andalublue]

No one really believes that City has a revenue of 500+ million Euros.. most of that comes from their sugar daddy and his family. Same goes for PSG. And yes there will be one person offended by this comment, and so be it. The truth hurts.

The hurtful truth is that there is one club that seems determined to be the principal driver of transfer fee inflation, and it isn't City or PSG. It really doesn't cause a moment of sleeplessness for City fans whether you believe the club's revenue stats or not. FIFA and UEFA and the EPL and the FA are all capable of sanctioning them if they can prove any rule infraction. So, troll away, dear boy! I will content myself by watching my team play the most beautiful football being played anywhere in the world at the moment.

 

[PeteEU]

The hurtful truth is that there is one club that seems determined to be the principal driver of transfer fee inflation, and it isn't City or PSG. It really doesn't cause a moment of sleeplessness for City fans whether you believe the club's revenue stats or not. FIFA and UEFA and the EPL and the FA are all capable of sanctioning them if they can prove any rule infraction. So, troll away, dear boy! I will content myself by watching my team play the most beautiful football being played anywhere in the world at the moment.

PSG caused the current massive inflation with the 200+ million buying of Neymar. The only way they could afford that, was to get money from their owners. City also does not have the real income to pay the wages or fees for the players they have.. by real, I mean state intervention via so called " sponsor deals " and similar. You can avoid the subject and claim the rest of the clubs are jealous or whatever, but the facts and truth are there for everyone to see.