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

[Jason]

Of course, of course. Barca-Juve final, just like UEFA wanted :^)

 

For real though, yikes, but totally expected. Our cup draws this season have been horrible. Hopefully we have everyone fit cause we'll need them, I think we can definitely hit Barca on the break it's just, you know, Messi.

[Laker23]

Goddamn, I actually wanted Spurs but knew we'd end up getting one of the big boys. Really wish Liverpool were handed a harder draw, as well, but somebody had to get Porto.

 

On the bright side I get to go in with very low expectations once again, which is nice. As long as we put up a fight and don't get turned over I'll take it as a positive outcome.

[TheSantader25]

City-Juve will be an interesting semi final. We have to prove the we are more than Messi. I'm tired of people calling us Messi FC. Other players have really stepped it up this month but sh*tty international Break can f*ck everything up. Suarez is back on form. Rakitic is at the top. Arthur is playing beautifully and what more can I say about Alba and Pique? We need Coutinho on form and Dembele without an injury. I want Ter Stegan to show that he's better than De Gea. 

Edited March 15, 2019 by TheSantader25

[Eutyphro]

f*cking hell, Juventus, probably the worst draw we could've had. Funny thing is I felt it coming. I've been thinking we're going to draw Juventus and then it actually happens sh*t. Interesting how it'll turn out though. I expect to lose 2-1 at home and 2-0 away, but hope for a miracle. Hope we don't get demolished. At least a real opponent. Would've been sh*ttest to draw Porto and then lose.
 

21 minutes ago, TheSantader25 said:

City-Juve will be an interesting semi final.

You're getting ahead of things mate.

f*ck, I really want to see City - Barca. That would be epic.

Edited March 15, 2019 by Eutyphro

[TheSantader25]

10 minutes ago, Eutyphro said:

 

You're getting ahead of things mate.

Lol I hope I am. I want Ajax-Barca at final. 

[Guest]

Well, I guess I won't support Ajax anymore... It's been a pleasure supporting you for one month! 

Easy draw? Maybe not, but probably easier than all the other teams (Porto aside). Interesting to see who between Man City and Tottenham will go through, City are favourites but the new White Hart Line might give Spurs something extra. And of course the only prediction I guessed was Barca - United, the streak of awful drwas continues. Liverpool are already in the semifinals.

 

51 minutes ago, Jason said:

Of course, of course. Barca-Juve final, just like UEFA wanted :^)

 

For real though, yikes, but totally expected. Our cup draws this season have been horrible. Hopefully we have everyone fit cause we'll need them, I think we can definitely hit Barca on the break it's just, you know, Messi.

A possible Ronaldo vs Messi in the UCL final would be a pipe dream for UEFA, imagine how much money they could make if the final will be really Juventus - Barcelona. Personally Barca is the only team that I don't want to face if we'll reach the final so I'm hoping in United or, eventually, in Liverpool.

[TheSantader25]

We already had a Messi-Ronaldo final once before and the GOAT shined. But this Ronaldo is a far better finisher. I always found it weird how UEFA missed the opportunity for an El Clasico final during the Messi-Ronaldo era. 

[Guest]

Just now, TheSantader25 said:

We already had a Messi-Ronaldo final once before and the GOAT shined. But this Ronaldo is a far better finisher. I always found it weird how UEFA missed the opportunity for an El Clasico final during the Messi-Ronaldo era. 

Yeah, I know, but it was like 10 years ago when Ronaldo was still at United. Their rivality was just at the start at that time, plus a lot of things changed during all these years.

They actually tried to do an "El-Clasico final" in 2014/2015 when we were the surprise of the competition: Juventus - Real Madrid and Barcelona - Bayern Munchen... They probably didn't expect a Juve win at UEFA HQ 

[Jason]

5 hours ago, Wolver_321 said:

A possible Ronaldo vs Messi in the UCL final would be a pipe dream for UEFA, imagine how much money they could make if the final will be really Juventus - Barcelona. Personally Barca is the only team that I don't want to face if we'll reach the final so I'm hoping in United or, eventually, in Liverpool.

Yea ngl that'd be an amazing spectacle. If United don't win it I kiiiinda want Spurs to win it? Be nice to see an English team win it, but obviously I can't really bring my self to root for City or Liverpool lol. But other than that, a Juve-Barca final would be .

[Tchuck]

2 hours ago, Jason said:

Yea ngl that'd be an amazing spectacle. If United don't win it I kiiiinda want Spurs to win it? Be nice to see an English team win it, but obviously I can't really bring my self to root for City or Liverpool lol. But other than that, a Juve-Barca final would be .

Your nightmare season end: Liverpool does a double with the Premier League and the Champions League.

 

Scousers would be jerking themselves on the streets for months!

[Jason]

9 minutes ago, Tchuck said:

Your nightmare season end: Liverpool does a double with the Premier League and the Champions League.

 

Scousers would be jerking themselves on the streets for months!

England would fall.

[Crokey]

On 3/13/2019 at 10:52 PM, Crokey said:

I'm still getting a sneaky that we're going to get Juve, either that Spurs.

 

I just hope we don't get Liverpool... just finished repairing the last team bus they trashed.

Quoted for reference as we got Spurs with potentially Juve in the Semi's

 

On 3/13/2019 at 11:23 PM, Crokey said:

I'm just trying to imagine a Manc invasion of Madrid if it ever ended up as a City V United final... tasty.

Quoted for reference, Manc derby for the final here we come.

[Lonely-Martin]

3 games against Man City in a month with our current form. Ouch!

 

Juve and Liverpool will be pleased and United/Barca could be a great tie though.

[TheSantader25]

Wow City really had the ref's help. I was hoping they would lose their first trophy today. It's up to United to kick their asses in the FA cup. Hopefully Liverpool wins the league as well. Sextuples are exclusive to Barca. 

[Guest]

I wasn't able to see the match, but I was a bit shocked to see the how the match ended up. I can't believe that Wolves made to the semifinals facing Liverpool first and United tonight!

Condidering that against Shewsbury and Bristol we had some issues, Man City could be the best dr... Who am I kidding, of course Brighton or Milwall would be better! Achieving a spot in the UEL via the FA Cup would be the best thing that could possibly happen, but even if we're so close to Wembley I think we'll bottle it at some point... Maybe that will happen in the final, so Wolves and Juve would share something in common 

[Laker23]

Congrats to Wolves. Absolutely no complaints about the result, we were f*cking awful from start to finish. To think I was optimistic when I saw the teamsheet. Wolves have been admirable against the big boys of the Premier League this year. I hope they go onto win it, even if City are the overwhelming favourites now.

 

Hate the international break but hopefully we get no more injuries during it and we can refocus for the final stretch. Big couple of months coming up.

[Jason]

On paper the team we put out is quite possibly our best eleven, but the ones that weren't just coming back from injury were shattered because we've not got the depth to rotate. McTominay has been fantastic when he's started recently but we immediately threw Matic in the deep end and it shows, he's no where near match fit. Herrera also is playing at like 80%, Lingard not making the runs he's known for, Dalot, Shaw and Pogba just look plain ol' tired.

 

I hope, really hope, that we spend wisely in the summer. Maybe 1 big attacking/defending signing, but we need quality depth as well. Ole's success came from playing our best players in their best positions every game with virtually no rotation. It was only a matter of time before that caught up with us. Hopefully this international break can be a refresher for us, a few of our players need a good rest.

Edited March 16, 2019 by Jason

[Crokey]

City definitely had some luck tonight, although from one of the angles for Swansea's pen it looked like Delph got a touch on the ball, but I suppose that was cancelled out in the second half with the penalty City got, which also wasn't.

 

Still I'll take it.

[Jason]

Chelsea back in full crisis mode then. As highly as I rate him, I honestly think selling Hazard might be a blessing in disguise for them. Get the players who don't want to be there out, get the ones who can't stay motivated and fight when it going going well out. Clean the squad out of the bad eggs, rebuild from new. Put trust in the youth like CHO and Loftus-Cheek etc.

[TheSantader25]

Damn that hattrick was lit. Suarez out for 3 weeks. Well. At least no international break for him. 

[Tchuck]

That chip-in, Jesus. He did it like it was nothing.

 

And yeah, Chelsea has to get rid of the bad eggs. They can get plenty of money for them, and rebuild with players who want to be there. Same thing my club, Sao Paulo, should be doing. We bottled it last season because some players had made a group, and began to antagonize the coach.

[Lonely-Martin]

On 3/18/2019 at 12:17 AM, Jason said:

Chelsea back in full crisis mode then. As highly as I rate him, I honestly think selling Hazard might be a blessing in disguise for them. Get the players who don't want to be there out, get the ones who can't stay motivated and fight when it going going well out. Clean the squad out of the bad eggs, rebuild from new. Put trust in the youth like CHO and Loftus-Cheek etc.

 

5 hours ago, Tchuck said:

And yeah, Chelsea has to get rid of the bad eggs. They can get plenty of money for them, and rebuild with players who want to be there.

If the news is right, Chelsea might have to rely on the youth and will probably be glad they didn't sell Hudson-Odui. Seems they'll not be able to buy in the summer and following winter through a ban over their dealings with signing younger players.

 

Could be a long season if they sell Hazard and no-one steps up to fill those big boots.

[Tchuck]

Ahh there's a transfer ban in place, I see! Well, Chelsea is still trying to revert it, though. So they may have an outing.

 

Otherwise, it may do them some good. Force them to rely on the youth.

[Jason]

They should be able to appeal and get a summer window, they got the exact same punishment as Madrid and Barca and while Fifa denied their appeal (which would've given them a summer to buy/sell) they went above Fifa's heads and got the appeal. Chelsea will do the same, citing precedent.

 

Honestly, IMO, as long as you get the appeal a two window transfer ban aint bad. You can just go nuts in the summer while the appeal is going on and bobs yer uncle. It's really no more than a slap on the wrist for these top teams, they should really ban for two summer windows + 1 winter window. That'd be an actual a deterrent.

[Lonely-Martin]

20 minutes ago, Jason said:

They should be able to appeal and get a summer window, they got the exact same punishment as Madrid and Barca and while Fifa denied their appeal (which would've given them a summer to buy/sell) they went above Fifa's heads and got the appeal. Chelsea will do the same, citing precedent.

 

Honestly, IMO, as long as you get the appeal a two window transfer ban aint bad. You can just go nuts in the summer while the appeal is going on and bobs yer uncle. It's really no more than a slap on the wrist for these top teams, they should really ban for two summer windows + 1 winter window. That'd be an actual a deterrent.

Very true, though did hear on sports news that while they appeal the ban won't be suspended by Fifa just yet. But early days still and I'm sure they'll go higher if needed too.

 

Do agree with your idea of a double summer and a winter ban though.

44 minutes ago, Tchuck said:

Ahh there's a transfer ban in place, I see! Well, Chelsea is still trying to revert it, though. So they may have an outing.

 

Otherwise, it may do them some good. Force them to rely on the youth.

Could be helpful for the national team too, england does need to expand on youth in the premier league and the kids need proper games to grow for sure. Though seeing Sancho move to Germany to get games and become a better player is also a good way forward. Anything to help.

[Eutyphro]

f*ck, near remontada against the Germans, to end up loosing in the last 10 minutes because we played 100% to win. This sucks, but at least we played good football.

[Jason]

It's hard not to get excited about this generation of English players. Some really exciting prospects mixed with some ready made world class talent like Kane and Sterling (given his goal scoring record it's really hard to argue he's not IMO). We just need to figure out a midfield and get a solid answer to the goalkeeper problem I think, oh and settle on a CB pairing but there's plenty of time for all that.

[TheSantader25]

I can't describe how much I hate the international breaks. So boring. I root for South American teams and they all have been disastrous in the last 15 years. The 2002 Brazil side was magical. I doubt I'll ever see that many talented players in one national team ever again. 

Edited March 26, 2019 by TheSantader25

[Tchuck]

Brazil has been pitiful for a while now. Our problem is that we insist on Brazilian head coaches, none of which has kept up to date with the world when it comes to tactical advances. They get hired based on name, they call up based on Nike's preferences, and set the side according to their now ancient knowledge of football.

 

It's pathetic. Tite is a massive coward. He was always known for playing for the draw, never really built flamboyant sides. 1-0 was a massive victory. And to put him in charge of Brazil? Dreadful.

 

Before him, Felipao, with the 7-1. Another one who stopped in time. He won the Brazilian league last year by playing the most basic football possible, managing one of the richest side in recent years that has been buying up anything that looks decent. 

 

Brazil would benefit from an European coach with more experience and new ideas. Someone with a will to win and to instill that in the players. Get Guardiola in there, or Klopp, or heck even Zidane to make up for 1998. Give them free reign. And you'd see an amazing Brazil side reborn.

[Jason]

On the flip side, England's golden generation of the 2000's was managed I think entirely by foreign managers and they were all awful. They were all tactically useless and stubborn and just... never quite had the passion the team or country needed and wanted. I mean go look at that England team, we had players like Ashley Cole, Neville, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Scholes, Lampard, Gerrard, Shearer, Owen, Rooney and more. World class in virtually every position, and we were sh*te! Many of those players have criticised the managers and their tactics as well since, though they admitted were other reasons for why that team failed as well.

 

Southgate on the other hand, who came from the youth teams, is basically the complete opposite of that and he's turned the attitude and atmosphere around the national team from something that in my life time has always been incredibly cynical and negative into something very positive.

 

When it comes to national teams I don't think successful club managers are a sure winner. These managers don't get weekly training and matches, so they need other skills as well. Creating a good atmosphere, a self belief, all for one and one for all attitude, etc etc. It can be difficult to get that from foreign managers, it has been for England anyway.