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

[Lonely-Martin]

41 minutes ago, Crokey said:

We were due a loss anyway, and I'd rather take it in a first leg game like this than in the league right now.

 

As for Kane, he may be out for some time, but it was completely accidental despite what Poch and the fans in the stadium would have you believe.  If you see the highlights you'll see what I mean.

 

(Around the 4 minute mark in the video)

Naturally the crowd was hot for it though, lol. Sounded like an awesome game from what I heard, hope the 2nd leg is a competitive one too. I didn't think it was more than 2 players playing strong for the ball.

 

31 minutes ago, Jason said:

Kane's having issues with that ankle, isn't he? Think he needs to start playing more intelligently and choose his moments to be dogged and and hard working. He's too important a player to keep getting injured by over working him self and getting involved in heavy challenges.

Yeah, he'll be missed I'm sure but Son really has proven a great player for us by nabbing some very vital goals. And we did well last time Harry was out so I'm hoping on top 4. 

 

Getting tasty that battle, though we should have had it wrapped up but 2 wins in our new home helps get the ball rolling.

 

*Edit. Having seen the tackle now, it was a 50-50 but have seen those punished or let go too, bit of a shame and looked like Kane knew straight away he's done, lol. 

 

To be fair though @Jason, the day those types of loose ball isn't gone in for would only be a shame too. Can't be helped and it had a real cup atmosphere to it so easy to get caught up in all that in a game like this. Good times, well, not so much for Harry

Edited April 9, 2019 by Lonely-Martin

[Eutyphro]

Son is better than Sterling in my opinion. Still think City are favorites for the return though. Kevin and Bernardo Silva have to be in the starting line up in my view. Too bad neither were fit enough to start today. I generally think Pep's formation and tactic was a bit conservative and off today. City don't really ever play 4-2-3-1 normally.

Edited April 9, 2019 by Eutyphro

[Lonely-Martin]

12 minutes ago, Eutyphro said:

Son is better than Sterling in my opinion. Still think City are favorites for the return though. Kevin and Bernardo Silva have to be in the starting line up in my view. Too bad neither were fit enough to start today. I generally think Pep's formation and tactic was a bit conservative and off today. City don't really ever play 4-2-3-1 normally.

Yeah, City are a real threat in leg 2. I take nothing for granted when my Spurs are only 1 up, lol.

 

I hope for another good game.

[Jason]

2 hours ago, Lonely-Martin said:

To be fair though @Jason, the day those types of loose ball isn't gone in for would only be a shame too. Can't be helped and it had a real cup atmosphere to it so easy to get caught up in all that in a game like this. Good times, well, not so much for Harry

Oh absolutely, the game needs players who are willing to go in for those 50/50's but when a player individually has ankle issues they should really be avoiding them when possible. It's one of the main reasons Wilshere has spent so much time crocked, his style of play was super aggressive so he'd dive into challenges all the time and get injured.

 

Kane's the best forward in the league when fit and healthy, he's also England's captain and talisman. He should be avoiding 50/50's and situations where he could injure him self otherwise he's going to have some real problems with that ankle injury in his prime years.

[Lonely-Martin]

7 minutes ago, Jason said:

Oh absolutely, the game needs players who are willing to go in for those 50/50's but when a player individually has ankle issues they should really be avoiding them when possible. It's one of the main reasons Wilshere has spent so much time crocked, his style of play was super aggressive so he'd dive into challenges all the time and get injured.

 

Kane's the best forward in the league when fit and healthy, he's also England's captain and talisman. He should be avoiding 50/50's and situations where he could injure him self otherwise he's going to have some real problems with that ankle injury in his prime years.

Yeah, definitely agree there. Hopefully it looked worse than it is but he'll be missed of course.

[TheSantader25]

It was a really good and competitive match. If spurs use the counter well in Etihad they could have a chance. Pochetino needs to use the wings in the counter which is not what he does regularly. Son and Moura can be used for that. I think Kane shouldn't have involved himself in that challenge. It wasn't Delph's fault. 

 

And as for us, it's time to get passed this cursed stage that's been f*cking us for 3 years. United is gonna be a threat in the air for us. I hope they don't park the bus though. 

Edited April 10, 2019 by TheSantader25

[Laker23]

Harry really needs to get some repair surgery done on that ankle for the longevity of his career. He lives for football and would rather just come back as soon as possible, not sensible and I have no doubt it'll happen again next season.

 

Can't say I'm relishing the chance to watch Barca pass the ball around while we sit back tonight, but that win in Paris was worth whatever happens over these two legs. I just hope we can get back to really competing in this competition sooner rather than later.

[TheSantader25]

Well that was a very closed contest. Guess everything will be decided in Camp Nou. 

 

Also hoping Ajax would surprise us again. 

[Eutyphro]

Good game from Ajax. Proud of them once more. Crazy how they were actually the better team today. Will be very tough in Turin, but miracles can happen again.

[Guest]

What a match I've just seen, thank you Ajax! They probably deserved to win 2-1 or even 3-1 but maybe our experience (and a bit of luck) helped a bit. But sadly I can't join the "hope in a miracle" train, even if I really like Ajax I hope to see my Juve going through. In Turin it'll be tough even for us, luckily we managed to transform our Serie A matches in training sessions while Ajax have to defend a 1st place in Eredivise. The tie is still very open, everything can happen.

[Tchuck]

Don't forget, Ajax went to Bernabeu and murdered Madrid... They're completely capable of doing the same to Juve!

 

Also, stumbled upon this collection of Pele's skill. Holy sh*t. I knew the guy was good, but not this damn good. If you take the best players of the last decades, and mix them together into one guy, you get him.

 

 

Incredible to see this stuff. I can only imagine the stuff they weren't able to capture! 

[Jason]

^ Messi is better don't @ me :^)

 

Anyway, meh result tonight. Bit more quality and we'd have got something from that game. CB, RB, 2xCM's, RW, ST all needed in the summer. Herrera to PSG is all but confirmed now as well. Supposedly he loves the club to bits, fan favourite for the captaincy, but goes for money. Modern football for you I guess.

[Guest]

14 hours ago, Tchuck said:

Don't forget, Ajax went to Bernabeu and murdered Madrid... They're completely capable of doing the same to Juve!

Maybe my idea is wrong and influenced by the fact that I support Juventus, but I wouldn't consider so much that match. This season in Turin we just lost against Man United (after have had the control of the match for 80 minutes), our defense is strong and, even if sometimes they make huge mistakes, we normally don't conceed more than 1 goal per match. Real got smashed by many teams this season, even CSKA (that ended 4th in the group G) won 0-3 at Bernabeu! With this I don't want to say CSKA = Ajax, Ajax deserve to be in the quarter finals and yesterday they showed it! With that said, I'm really looking forward for the 2nd leg, I'm sure it'll be again an enjoyable match to watch. Normally we always play the 2nd leg a bit better than the 1st one, plus Tagliafico won't play and Chiellini and Emre Can might be already on the pitch. Just 5 days and we'll know the first 2 semi-finalists

[Laker23]

Expected us to get torn apart but we matched them really well. Wasn't impressed with Barca at all. If only we could hit the target.

 

Back to the league this weekend. If we can't beat West Ham who are already chilling on the beach I give up with the top four.

[TheSantader25]

I think we were just a tiny bit better than United. We were here to get an away goal and we did it. We didn't risk it after that. I'm still bummed that Messi basically got ruined in the first half. United rested a week as well while we had a tough match against Atletico. Next week is gonna be the other way around. Thankfully we haven't lost in Camp nou since 2013 but nothing is even close to over. United is a weird team this year. 

 

I was impressed by our defense though. United had no chances or shots on target. It's the first year in many years that I actually feel "safe" when we don't have the ball. Pique has been top form lately. Him and Van Dijk have been the best CBs this year. Semedo was my MOTM and Alba was good too. 

 

My guts tell me Ajax are gonna get a 2-2 draw and go through. 

Edited April 11, 2019 by TheSantader25

[Eutyphro]

If Barca can lose to Roma then they can lose to United. I think the return will be interesting.

 

14 hours ago, Jason said:

Herrera to PSG is all but confirmed now as well.

Yeah, that sucks. I think United need another midfielder, because Fred is still a bit meh. Still think Lingard could play midfield.

Lingard-McTominay-Pogba imo is an alright line up. But they'd need some extra players for the sake of squad depth.

 

41 minutes ago, TheSantader25 said:

My guts tell me Ajax are gonna get a 2-2 draw and go through. 

I have a gut feeling Dybala and Douglas Costa could tear us to shreds, but we're gonna see.

Edited April 11, 2019 by Eutyphro

[Jason]

Nah I don't think Lingard has a place in central midfield long term, him and Pogba in the same 3 man midfield is a bit out of whack. Fred's slowly finding his feet, his best games have all come in Europe so hopefully he'll start performing in the league soon. McTominay might just be a mainstay in the team for a long time to come, he's been genuinely brilliant recently.

 

We do definitely need to buy some midfielders though, Fellaini leaving in Jan left us short enough as it is, Herrera leaving would be even worse. Wouldn't say no to Ndidi my self, but I'm not sure Leicester would sell him to us cheap.

[Eutyphro]

Lingard in midfield could fail like Rashford on the right wing did. Fact of the matter is top teams increasingly play with very attacking players in midfield, especially City. United need someone great and attacking in Midfield. They could also still use with someone like Griezzman. It's either that or accepting you're not going to have a chance at winning the league or even reaching top 4. But in all honestly, with how good City is becoming I find it hard to see United competing with them in upcoming seasons.
 

Quote

Fellaini leaving in Jan left us short enough as it is

lol good riddance

Edited April 11, 2019 by Eutyphro

[TheSantader25]

United better not lose Pogba to Madrid. They need a right back, a center back and a midfielder. 

[Jason]

We need more than that. Ole seems to know it as well, sounds like we're gonna have a big overhaul in the summer. Could see at least 5 in and 5 out.

[Eutyphro]

Yep, they're going to have to spend massively, 100s of millions, and get at least one real attacking superstar like Griezmann, or there is 0 chance they're champions next season.

Edited April 11, 2019 by Eutyphro

[Jason]

I'd take several good players in positions we need over splashing most of our budget on a superstar tbh. We have potential superstars in the squad, we don't need to go out and buy one right now (assuming we keep De Gea and Pogba). What we need is to fill the gaps where we straight up don't have quality, like RW, RB, CB, and then add some depth to midfield and ideally up front

[Laker23]

As quality as Pogba is I honestly won't be sad when he goes, and it will happen not this summer but the next at the latest, it's inevitable and as long as we get a great replacement I wouldn't mind at this point.

 

Bummed about Herrera after all the praise he has given us, but if he wants to make one huge last pay day for his family then he can go. He's certainly replaceable, I just hope we don't f*ck around in the summer because it's a huge one for us. Dream scenario would be to see Sanchez f*ck off, but I have no hope anybody is taking his wages.

[TheSantader25]

So rumor has it that Real want to sell Bale for 130 million euros. I don't think there's anybody crazy enough to pay that much. I don't think he is even worth 70 at this point. Not to mention his ridiculous high wages. 

Edited April 12, 2019 by TheSantader25

[Laker23]

Garbage performance, made West Ham look more like Barcelona than Barcelona looked on Wednesday, just glad we sneaked out the three points in the end. Tough run of three games coming up in the league now, hope we can step it up.

[Tchuck]

What a strike by Salah, jesus. If he had been that lethal during this season, Liverpool would have been champions already.

 

Thankfully he hasn't, so we'll have another race down to the wire!

 

Also, lol PSG. Completely demolished. God damn are they weak mentally.

[Laker23]

It really is Liverpool's to lose now, the last four fixtures for them are incredibly good, meanwhile City have Spurs and United.

 

If we beat City we're effectively handing the title to Pool on a silver platter. Good lord what a dark timeline.

[Jason]

It's a lose-lose and win-win at the same time. It's a scary situation.

[TheSantader25]

I want Liverpool to win it. I'm not particularly a fan of any team in the PL but there are "generations" of different teams that I like. I liked the Chelsea team from 2004-2010. I liked the 1997-2000 Man United and I really like this Liverpool Side. I hope they win it because it's been a long time. 

Edited April 15, 2019 by TheSantader25

[Eutyphro]

It's also gonna be interesting who will make top 4. Probably Spurs and...? Chelsea? United's schedule is very difficult with playing against City and Chelsea. Arsenal has the easiest schedule, but I have this feeling they'll bottle it. Spurs could also bottle it as well, especially considering Kane is injured. It's pretty open.