...::[The Footy Desk]::... (Part 2)

[dante財閥]

21 minutes ago, Eutyphro said:

Man, he's so much better than that donkey Xhaka and he's 19 in his second PL game.

Yeah, Xhaka needs to be dropped and replaced by Torreria. Not sure why it hasn't happened already.

[Eutyphro]

Even Elneny would contribute more than Xhaka. Elneny complemented Guendouzi very well in preseason. Xhaka is completely useless.

[SeanAlgerian]

Hazard did nothing in that match, even Morata tho, since Aresenal wasn't focus on do some goals even if they not in Home, just like City did with Arsenal at their Home, 2 straight goals in the way, and Guendouzi did well some good job, great passes, even his long passes some success but some not, I mean he is improving while and launching is full boost, the other teams who ranked up to Premier League are bad, nothing special. 

[dante財閥]

What are you talking about? Hazard had a brilliant impact off the bench. Morata did well for his goal as well.

[Tchuck]

Ronaldo in a goalless debut, but with a decent assist. It felt weird watching that game, like you have a group of people and this newcomer who is trying to find his way. Juve was also very profligate with their chances.

[Eutyphro]

I watched his highlights and I think he played well. He was a bit wasteful and sloppy in the box, which is unsual for him. But in general he seemed to be playing quite well. He had some good shots.

[Guest]

Yesteday I watched the whole match and Ronaldo was definetely the best player on the pitch for Juve. Regarding Chievo, I was surprised to see Sorrentino (Chievo GK) saving so many shots at the age of 40, I hope too see him back on the pitch ASAP.

After a lot of years of support, I've finally understood that Juve needs a bit of time for expressing their best potential, the first matches are always underwhelming... Just wait a few weeks and you'll see a good chemistry in the squad.

And also don't expect to see fast games with lots of goals in Serie A, teams like Chievo play a "waiting-style" of football against the biggest italian teams.

[Tchuck]

Sorrentino had a really, really good game. Was also surprised with some of the saves he made, definitely kept Chievo in the match.

[Laker23]

Didn't think a meltdown would be happening quite so quickly into the season for my club.

 

After an atrocious performance against Brighton, Mourinho has now been given a 'vote of confidence' by the board, and they denied any interest in Zidane. I remember all too well what this vote of confidence meant for LVG at the time.

 

Then we have Pogba's absolute sh*tstain of an agent just randomly tweeting bullsh*t about Paul Scholes, and how Paul should become director and try to sell Pogs if he's so unhappy with him. Absolute embarrassment.

Edited August 21, 2018 by Laker23

[Jason]

Nah, the board haven't given Mourinho the dreaded vote of confidence yet. Way too early to be making statements like that, that all being said it's obviously things aren't rosey. Mourinho's not happy about the lack of support in the transfer window, the fans aren't happy about the style of play and performances and the board, well, don't seem to have a plan on how to deal with any of it. Press briefings from the board seem to be coming out on a weekly basis at this point, some with sources at the club (former players like Neville) say he (Mou) hasn't lost the dressing room yet but if we lose our next game to Spurs then oh boy.

 

I said it before, I think we'll have a new manager next summer. I don't think we'll rush into sacking Mou during the season barring us being in a relegation fight which is unlikely. He'll probably go at the end and we'll get someone new in. I don't think it'll be Zidane, at least I hope not personally. Much rather someone with experience with building a team, embracing youth and playing attacking football - kinda got my eye on Jardim but we'll see what happens.

Edited August 23, 2018 by Jason

[Tchuck]

Also, what's this about La Liga games being played in America? What sort of greedy asinine idea is that? Force clubs to cross the ocean to play a game in front of a crowd that doesn't care about La Liga?

 

Thank god it appears the players are uniting against this.

 

This is some grade A greedy federation bullsh*t.

[Jason]

Yea I don't know how anyone who runs a football league can think that's a good idea. What team loses their home game to play a neutral ground in another country? If they don't all play the games on the same weekend in the US then the team playing in the US is going to be hampered by travelling - EU to US isn't exactly a short flight, it's hellish if it's west coast too.

 

The Premier League halfheartedly proposed the idea a few years back and were basically told to shut the f*ck up by everyone and it went away. It's mad that La Liga just went and did it without seemingly consulting teams.

[Tchuck]

2 hours ago, Jason said:

It's mad that La Liga just went and did it without seemingly consulting teams.

That's the most f*cked up part. Like, wow. How can they simply up and negotiate a 15 year deal without even consulting the teams? Insane!

[Eutyphro]

I think United didn't play badly. If Lukaku's first half chance would've gone in we could've seen a very different match.

[dante財閥]

They were poor defensively and much to my own amusement we punished them for it and managed to put the game away, which is not something you see often as a Spurs fan especially at a ground where we have historically struggled. Still, I believe in the team and the manager and we did well. I predicted a win, albeit a closer one and we got it. 

[Jason]

We started really well, the first 30 mins we played some good football, great off the ball movement, high tempo, high press. We had some players making their first appearance of the season and perhaps they tired, or perhaps Spurs just got a hold of the game, I don't know, but that second half.. Oof.

 

Some very strange events after the match with Mourinho too, standing and applauding the (amazing) fans in the Stretford end who were singing Jose's name, then going on a bit of an adventure in his post match interview with a strange rant and then storming out of the press conference later on. He's definitely had it with the press and I sympathise, even if I think his time is coming to an end, the English press have been anti-United since Fergie left cause they couldn't do sh*t against us in those days and couple that with the blind praise they give Liverpool and City, even if we've had better seasons, it's just all getting properly embarrassing now.

 

Where the club goes from here I dunno, if the losses continue and we sack Mourinho then we're basically writing off this season and potentially risking top four, but if we continue to lose and Mourinho continues to be, well, Mourinho, we may end up having no choice to sack him. Wins are sorely needed right now to steady everything again.

[Tchuck]

Totally not on Mourinho, this one. United created the chances, and dominated the match until the Spurs scored. The old footie adage: if you don't take your chances, they'll take theirs. Had Lukaku scored that first goal, I think United would have taken it.

 

Also happy to see Lucas performing well and scoring. He's a tremendous player who was kind of wasted at PSG. Now with a proper chance at a proper league, I expect him to do very well. Great buy by the Spurs.

[Jason]

It reminds me of Mourinho's first season with us actually. We played quite open and attacking then but none of our players could finish their dinners and we inevitably started dropping points so he fixed that problem at the cost of being so open.

 

It's funny though, according to Ed Woodward's briefing to the media he didn't understand why we wanted Toby Alderweireld when he was Spurs' 5th choice. Tonight was why, Ed, tonight was why.

[Tchuck]

Heh, that's what happened with my team last season, under Rogerio Ceni. We were playing amazing offensive football, but conceding a lot. But we were taking the game forward, creating chances, just a delight to watch even in defeat.

 

Then the board bitched that he had to fix the defense, even though we had sh*t defenders. So he began doing that. Then the board began selling key players, and bringing crap replacements, while maintaining the focus on defense. It spiraled out, powered by awful performances by our main creative midfielder, Cueva, and they ended up firing Ceni. And then they brought in a great defender, and a Hernanes, a fantastic midfielder. And to make matters worse, brought in an awful coach in Dorival Junior. We barely avoided relegation.

 

Made me miss that attacking flair. Now he's managing Fortaleza, with a very flamboyant attacking side, and they're leading the second division. Hope he continues!

[Laker23]

It's weird to lose 3-0 and not actually feel that bad about it. The first half was fantastic, exactly how I want to see us play. The less said about the second half the better.

 

Really happy with Shaw, he's the player who can hold his head up the most after that game. Can't believe I'm saying that three games into the season.

 

Pogba was hit and miss. He freed up others for attacking returns but looked incredibly sluggish himself. He still doesn't look 100% to me, but what do I know.

[Eutyphro]

14 hours ago, dante財閥 said:

They were poor defensively

They were, but those defensive mistakes are partly caused by taking risks due to being 1-0 behind. That header goal by Kane was phenomenal and I don't think anyone could do much about that. Tottenham defended well after that and punished United effectively.

Edit: I watched the Mourinho press conference. Though I agree with everything he says, I think the way he deals with being criticized is very childish.

On another note, Virgil van Dijk has grown into one of the best center backs I've ever seen, and the defensive record of Liverpool since he joined doesn't lie.

Edited August 28, 2018 by Eutyphro

[dante財閥]

There's been a lot of focus on United's shortcomings and not much praise for Lucas which disappoints me. The second goal was brilliant whichever way you slice it. He completely leaves Smalling for dead, takes him out the game completely and the finish to top it off was sensational. But hey, I accept the story here is very much United's decline under Mourinho. 

 

Watford will be a tricky fixture the way they've been playing this year. I was surprised how many people had them for the drop personally. Top 10 is more than realistic for them if they keep this up, especially if Burnley stay sidetracked by Europe. 

[Tchuck]

Lucas is a great player, another Sao Paulo great. We were happy he was sold for PSG for the amount he was sold, but he would have been better off in a less "star-studded" team. 

 

Like Tottenham! It appears Pochettino has found the way to play him and Kane together. I think we'll see a great Spurs season this time around. 

[Laker23]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/45335712

 

I wish I didn't have to see one of these articles every time we lose a game. We're not even being factually linked with any manager, just Daily Mail bullsh*t who apparently know Zidane's inner circle. So why has an article like this came out two times in just over a week?

 

At this rate I'd be surprised if Jose lasts till Christmas.

[Jason]

Lucas was close to joining United actually, in the Fergie days. We offered 35m but PSG offered 45m and signed him, Fergie was a bit miffed about it and moaned about the money teams were spending.

 

And yea, no reliable United source has linked Jose with the sack or linked us with another manager just yet. Just the tabloid rags so far. Former United players and the board are backing him, the players are tweeting about being united "now more than ever" etc. Mou's got time still. Burnley, Watford and then Wolves at home with a CL game before the Wolves game. Good time to get some wins under the belt, but adversely, if we lose some of those games, it's gonna be a bloodbath in the media.

[Eutyphro]

Players like Alexis and Rashford should step up. Meanwhile United should be very jealous Chelsea picked up Kovacic on loan. Kovacic is a world class player, and the last few games he looked like a midfield version of Hazard. Him and Hazard have a very similar dribbling style.

If Uniteds squad actually get fit they could still turn the season around. Pogba is a way better player than he has been before, and United have a better squad than they make it out to be.

Btw, very happy my team Ajax is playing Champions League this season. If Ziyech stays we could actually make it through the group stage if we have a good draw. We have a very decent squad at the moment.

[SqualidCoyote]

 

Come on you Irons!

 

[Laker23]

6 hours ago, Eutyphro said:

United have a better squad than they make it out to be.

Absolutely. I really like the squad apart from a couple of weak spots that needed fixing in the summer. Which is why it's mind numbing stuff to see us go 1-0 up at home to Leicester and then just defend for 80% of the game. Hopefully that first half performance against Spurs was a sign of things to come.

 

Also, shout out to Red Star for qualifying for the CL. Never followed one of their games but it's the wife's club so I decided to and was thoroughly entertained and amazed at the luck after being 2-0 down. I hope United get them in the group stages now.

[Tchuck]

Champions League Group Stage has been drawn. Some really tasty groups too!

 

Group A

Atlético Madrid

Borussia Dortmund

Club Brugge

Monaco

Group B

Barcelona

Inter Milan

PSV

Tottenham

Group C

Liverpool

Napoli

Paris Saint-Germain

Red Star Belgrade

Group D

Galatasaray

Lokomotiv Moscow

Porto

Schalke 04

Group E

AEK

Ajax

Bayern

Benfica

Group F

Hoffenheim

Lyon,

Manchester City

Shakhtar Donetsk

Group G

CSKA Moscow

Real Madrid

Roma

Viktoria Plzen 

Group H

Juventus

Manchester United

Valencia

Young Boys

 

A, B, C arguably the toughest groups. Ronaldo to face Manchester United right away; Real handed a very easy group. Plenty of good matches right away.

[Eutyphro]

Haha PSV's draw is so funny.. Mission impossible if there ever was one. Quite pleased with Ajax draw though. We have a chance against Benfica and AEK in my opinion. Juventus - Man Utd is quite a juicy one. Group D is kind of a joke.