It’s a great city. Haven’t been able to do much yet but looking forward to getting out tomorrow.
Post Transfer Deadline Thread EPL
- Thread starter Allan McMurray
- Start date
I still know zippo about the technical aspects of soccer (and may never) but it looked to me like Real has some guys who can run like deer. Appear to be a very fast team.
Had a company function at the wild horse and then hit some of the bars on broadway.
I was ragging on Freebird a couple of weeks ago and had a small back and forth with someone, and I have to say this house band at one of the saloons had the most incredible rendition of the song with a 20 minute guitar solo better than anything I’ve ever heard.
This city gets better and better.
So many great musicians trying to make it big. Couple places downtown have surprise big time guests all the time.
They do. They have 5 or 6 players on the squad who are very fast. When they lose, it is normally to teams that overwhelm their midfield, which relies heavily on two old players who have lost a lot of speed. If you don’t control their midfield, they will get the ball to Vinicius Jr. or one of the other speedsters, and then you are in trouble.
As an aside, there was a story published in a Barcelona sports daily that when Barca acquired Neymar, they were given a right of first refusal on a list of 7 younger Brazilian players who either played for the same junior team or had the same management company, but they could only exercise it once.
The list allegedly included Vinicius Jr., Rodrigo, Antony and a couple of others. Being the brilliant talent evaluator that he was, Bartomeu exercised it on Douglas, who had a cup of coffee with Barcelona, thereby missing out in the opportunity to use it to acquire Vinicius. It is just one more reason Bartomeu is hated in Barcelona.
Last edited:
Ethan Horvath got a shutout today for Luton against Birmingham. Ricardo Pepi played the full 90 as a number nine and banged home a goal for Groningen. I believe that is now his 9th league goal and 10th in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Josh Sargent is injured and has missed Norwich's last two games (including today).
Meanwhile, Josh Sargent is injured and has missed Norwich's last two games (including today).
Horvath is having a very quality season with Luton. 13 clean sheets, 2nd most in the Championship. Even more impressive is how Luton got dismantled after that season because they had alot players on loan. Right there in the thick of the promotion playoff race.
Steffen should be battling Sean Johnson for #4 behind Turner, Horvath and Gabe Slonina.
first slate of the 5th round was on today. Onto the quarters. Ream was MASSIVE today. And honestly Leeds was really good and positive. Put the ball in the net twice and the post once. 1 was called back on a foul on McKennie and the 2nd was offsides by a country mile.
Congrats. I know how fun this must be for you. Not many things are better.
Jesus. Scoring goals for Chelsea is like pulling teeth. Please explain to me what Kai Havertz provides? Time for him to head back to Germany. He’s had enough time to show what he can do, and he’s not a big club type of player.
Everything Chelsea did in attack was down the left side with Ben Chillwell at wing back. It goes to show how much he’s been missed through injury, along with Reece James who was out hurt again today. Your boy Loftus Cheek played RWB in James’ place and did nothing.
J Felix is a fun young talent and he needs to get away from Atletico for good so that he can thrive in an offensive attack. But all he does is hit goal posts. Lol. Every game. If he’s not going to finish goals, I’m not sure he’s going to be worth what Atletico will be asking for this summer.
I didn’t think Leeds was positive. It just seemed chelsea had the ball the entire game and if they could finish chances the game would never have been in doubt.
McKennie was invisible. He got leaped over by Fofana on the corner kick for the Chelsea winning goal.
Adams was ok. The only real noticeable thing he did was have his weekly scuffle with the other team. Today it was Ben Chillwell, who is very close friends with Pulisic. So not sure what that was about.
Speaking of Pulisic, things have been quiet due to his injury but he’s close to being back. Latest rumor now is a move to Real Madrid in the summer. Not sure what to think about that, but at least his role would be clear…he would be a super sub.
I saw the score and figured Harry Maguire had to be back at CB for MU. But, they managed to concede 7 goals without him being culpable. And, I think every one was from in close. 6 in the second half.
Complete beat down at every phase of the game. Liverpool looked like Liverpool is supposed to look with constant attacking and high pace offensively. MU looked terrible and weak everywhere.
The match was awesome. They’ve switched back to a back 3. And with Chillwell and James back healthy and playing together at wing back, the squad looked really good. That’s how we won champions league but we haven’t been able to keep those two healthy since then. But when the both play, we usually win.
Kante is almost back, and now it’s a matter of Potter figuring out our best XI. You could almost see the makings of a best Xl vs Dortmund.
Not out of the woods yet…still don’t think we have a proper #9. Havertz was praised for his match but for me it’s because expectations are so low. He scored and only has 1-2 goals in his last 12-13 matches (as a #9!!) but it was a penalty. And his penalty was scored after he missed the first one but VAR showed that Dortmund encroached so he had a retake and scored it.
Btw, if that best XI front 3 is Felix, Havertz and Sterling, that isn’t good enough to compete for major trophies IMO. I really really like Felix. Just not sure he’s a complete player. Havertz and Sterling are meh.
Tuchs made a bad choice in bringing in Werner and Havertz from the Bundesliga. The EPL is just different. The Bundesliga is good but it's a whole different ballgame in England. I thought Puli going there was a mistake, should have stayed in Germany.
In the wide view, it's tough these days to get a highly productive 9. They just aren't out there anymore and when they do come around, clubs have to sell off unborn children, limbs, kidneys etc...just to be in consideration.
Yeah. Finding that #9 is like finding that franchise NFL QB. Easier said than done. The two hot young #9’s that will hit the market this summer is the Portuguese kid from Benfica who supplanted Ronaldo in the WC. And the kid from Napoli (I believe) who is tearing up Serie A.
A comment on Chillwell at LWB. He’s an absolute stud IMO. He would have been in Englands squad at the WC if he were healthy. And recently rumors were flying that Man City was going to come after him. I hope to God Chelsea is smart enough not to let him go. His only problem is staying healthy. Just like Pulisic.
Felix must be an exasperating player if you are a fan of the team he plays for. There are times when he looks all-world. Then there are other times when he looks totally lost. And, those times were far more numerous at Atletico Madrid.
He is one of the three La Liga players who I thought were going to be real superstars and never became one where serious injuries didn’t factor in. Isco and Oliver Torres were the others.
He is one of the three La Liga players who I thought were going to be real superstars and never became one where serious injuries didn’t factor in. Isco and Oliver Torres were the others.
He’s been fun to watch. As I said somewhere in this thread, his finishing has lacked. All he does is hit the woodwork. And he just did it now!! It’s been every game.
Wasn't Werner in a way like that? He was always getting so close...whether hitting a post or being offsides?
3 straight wins...
Yeah Werner was always offside or would simply flub his shot. I always liked Timo because I have a thing for world class pace. But he just had a hard time finishing because he was all speed and less soccer ability. So he would need 4 great chances to finish 1. Felix looks great and is so smooth and gifted as a player. He will make a great play and take a great shot, but just seems to find the bar every time. Yesterday he made a great run in and behind, it might have been Enzo who found him, the keeper comes out and Felix calmly and coolly chips it from about 15 yards and he hit the far post.
Btw your guy Loftus Cheek had a brilliant assist to Felix for a tap in goal, but Felix was a razors edge ahead of the ball and offside and didn’t need to be. Bummer.
Man I can see why Enzo Fernandez was regarded so highly. He’s a baller man. He’s replaced Jorginho brilliantly. His head is always up looking for a progressive pass. His pass to Havertz yesterday for the goal is what won them the game. He has a little Fabregas in him.
And again, my guy Ben Chillwell with the 1st goal of the game. The guy is a major talent.
I’m a mark for women’s sports and women’s soccer, so I gotta post this…
Lauren James (Reece’s sister) to Sam Kerr. Wow.
Lauren James (Reece’s sister) to Sam Kerr. Wow.
Chelsea have the tools....no question. Can Potter craft these tools into a cohesive unit.
RLC is a turd, always will be a turd and can eat a dick lol. Worst loan signing ever for Fulham and that is saying alot.
Fulham took a Tyson beatdown yesterday to Arsenal. 4 of their next 5 are winnable. Regardless they've done more this season than I'd dreamed of in August.
Then you have Ten Haag slamming VAR over the Casemiro red. Looked clear as day to me, studs up, studs into the other players shin. Red card everyday of the week and twice on sunday. God I hate United...can't wait until they squeak through the group stages then throttled and put in their deserved place in the knockouts.
Yeah I’m with you. RLC is a good squad player because he can play a lot of positions. He’s been backing up James at RWB and then backing up other injured players in the MF, and lord knows we’ve had them.
As far as Fulham, yeah I hated to see that. Might as well go out and get McKennie, Aaronson and Adams when Leeds gets relegated. Lol.
And with United, I watched that game and I absolutely never thought I could hate Bruno Fernandez more, but now I do. All he does is cry over every single call. I get that he has the armband but he crosses the line. I even thought that Anthony Taylor (the ref) probably told Bruno to cool it or he was next to get booked.
And above where I linked the Chelsea women, that goal gave me great pleasure because it was against United and was a match for top of the table. And that goal won the 3pts. Pretty sweet.
Whether you like or hate MCU, give Casemiro credit, he was devastated and in near tears. He knew the impact it would have on the outcome. He didn’t bitch or act up he just looked completely disappointed. And in the end it had an impact on the game. The stats with having him on the pitch means a lot for their success. It was a huge loss to play with 10 and a bigger loss to not have him in that game and next.
Oh no doubt, he was extremely broken up over it. Even seeing him go over to the other player to console him was a classy thing. I don't think it was malicious in the least, just careless. My big complaint is with Ten Haag basically whining about the decision post game.
The loss wasn't totally shocking. I'm just glad they kept it at 3-0. I would say possibly the only one I'd want is Aaronson. Neither McKennie or Adams would supplant either Harrison Reed or Joao Palhinha, so they'd be good role players. Palhinha is easily a top 5 signing in the entire of the EPL this season.
Bruno is a giant crybaby, he's actually extremely unlikeable. Individually I don't mind ManU players other than him, it's just some of their fanbase can be unbearable.
That was a phenomenal long ball leading to the goal! Picture perfect, pace, height...
Here's to hoping the Mighty Whites play their way past ManU and make it to the semi's.
Well, when the VAR ref had a much more egregious act in the Leicester/Chelsea game the day before and call nothing, you might see why ETH was pissed. Plus, the no hand ball in the box call.
Was it me or was that Leicester/Chelsea match a bit dirty? There were a handful of tackles that were late/cleats up that had me wondering about Rodgers as a Manager for the 1st time.
Not very I don’t think.
What’s more meaningful to me is this “golden generation” of ours seem to have plateaued in Europe this year.
McKennie-blah
Pulisic-blah
Aaronson-blah
Reyna- can’t get starts at Dortmund
Our best player seems to be our oldest who will age out by the next World Cup (Ream).
