Champions League quarters
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Mbappe is a talent and a half isn't he?
Sick how Hanson predicted this one..
Sick how Hanson predicted this one..
Only one goal in it. Wouldn't rule them out yet, unfortunately.
Leicester sucks. Off they goes!!
I watched the Bayern-Real game, and wanted to talk about Sergio Ramos.
There are two great myths in modern day football:
1 - Marauding full-backs leave central defenders exposed
2 - Sergio Ramos can't defend
Bollocks to both. He's a fucking incredible footballer. FWIW I've watched him more than just the 90 mins tonight by the way. But anyway, this notion that attacking full-backs leaves CB's open to be exploited the other way is one perpetrated by either shit ex-CB's, or shit current ones. Ramos time and time again tonight was urging Marcelo forward, and happy to be left one-on-one with Robben. What other defenders would be ok with being left one-out against Robben with the ball at his feet? Very fucking few.
It's as if 'defensive systems' have left the notion of a CB having to defend a forward 1-on-1 obsolete. How dare a CB have to cope with an attacker without 2 other cunts holding his hand? You see it from goalkeepers too - coming charging out and screaming cos someone's had a pop from 30 yards. Erm, it's your fucking job to stop shots cunt.
Anyway, back to Ramos giving it the big come-at-me to Robben... How refreshing. Robben got fuck all out of him, cos Ramos had him in his pocket. Could match him for pace, strength, fitness, and ushered him down blind alleys all evening long. Just outmsarted him. Sure Ramos bristles with confidence, but he can match it cos he can fucking play.
And he scores goals the other way. When they count too.
Best defender in world football is my argument.
There are two great myths in modern day football:
1 - Marauding full-backs leave central defenders exposed
2 - Sergio Ramos can't defend
Bollocks to both. He's a fucking incredible footballer. FWIW I've watched him more than just the 90 mins tonight by the way. But anyway, this notion that attacking full-backs leaves CB's open to be exploited the other way is one perpetrated by either shit ex-CB's, or shit current ones. Ramos time and time again tonight was urging Marcelo forward, and happy to be left one-on-one with Robben. What other defenders would be ok with being left one-out against Robben with the ball at his feet? Very fucking few.
It's as if 'defensive systems' have left the notion of a CB having to defend a forward 1-on-1 obsolete. How dare a CB have to cope with an attacker without 2 other cunts holding his hand? You see it from goalkeepers too - coming charging out and screaming cos someone's had a pop from 30 yards. Erm, it's your fucking job to stop shots cunt.
Anyway, back to Ramos giving it the big come-at-me to Robben... How refreshing. Robben got fuck all out of him, cos Ramos had him in his pocket. Could match him for pace, strength, fitness, and ushered him down blind alleys all evening long. Just outmsarted him. Sure Ramos bristles with confidence, but he can match it cos he can fucking play.
And he scores goals the other way. When they count too.
Best defender in world football is my argument.
Players who impressed me in Dortmund-Monaco game:
- Mbappe. He is 18 and already looked more dangerous than Aubumeyang. Somebody will spend a fortune on him and he'll be worth it.
- Rafael Guerreiro. Like Dembele, he chose Dortmund over us for some reason and while I was skeptical at the time, the more I see him play, the more I regret missing out on him. Excellent both at LB and in midfield; he has this maturity about him that's especially important for this youthful Dortmund side.
- Lemar. A player who models his game on Iniesta and it shows with some sublime touches and clever passes (including an assist for one of the goals).
- Pulisic. Like I said in the match thread, he always demands the ball and always does something with it. Never afraid to take players on, but does it in a very situationally-aware way, not just running with the head down like many young players. Needs to work on his shooting.
- Subasic. Monaco's GK showed a good command of the area, catching the ball cleanly through a crowd of players several times.
Who said he can't defend?
I don't think he's a great defender - he's had absolutely great games, yes, but he's had many shockers. He picks up far too many reds too (and that's without those he is spared many because of his shirt). As a defender, I just don't see him as consistent as the two tree trunks at Juve (Cheillini or Bonnuci, though they are more protected than he is), who imo are ahead of him. Maybe it's today's game though as I just don't see no nonsense defenders like the ones I grew up watching.
The one thing that does set him apart however from every other defender in world football is his uncanny ability to consistently score important goals season after season ...
I guess the diplomatic middle ground is to say that he's matured a great deal as a defender since his early transitional years when everyone questioned whether he could defend (which I guess is what Ryan is referring to). There is less of the "where the fuck was Ramos for that?" going on.
I'm not sure about where he stands in the defender rankings but I'd definitely say he's yet another example of the complete modern footballer - pace, strength, technique, goals etc.
I'm not sure about where he stands in the defender rankings but I'd definitely say he's yet another example of the complete modern footballer - pace, strength, technique, goals etc.
He tends to play in Mane's position though doesn't he.
Not that we don't need cover for Mane but he would probably want lots of first team football to be persuaded to come to us.
I agree re: perfect signing, and if our owners haven't 'marked' him as a player we should be signing.
However, I don't think 'the next level' is going to ever really hit in the US footy wise. The reason is that the other leagues will always attract the better athletes ($, prestige etc), and the TV networks/endorsements will always focus on what brings in money (i.e. NFL, NBA etc).
What I'm curious about is if the MLS - rating wise - is higher than the other leagues worldwide in the US?
Sure, one player won't change an underlying dynamics of a whole sport, but also we can't underestimate how many new fans a genuine American star player could bring. I imagine Yao Ming did quite a lot to popularize NBA in China, this could be similar. It would make perfect sense for FSG to invest in Pulisic now both from sporting and business perspective.
I think he will be huge for us from a marketing perspective. He may not single handedly take the profile of soccer in US but he would make us the number one club to go to for the US market sponsors. Born in Hershey, PA and spent quite a bit of time in US away from the coast. So even folks in the "flyover states" are curios about him.
He likes Klopp, seems level headed with no baggage, great player, would add to our first team with plenty of scope to improve. Checks all the boxes. Only issue is that he has signed a contract extension till 2020 and there is no reason for BVB to sell. At the bare minimum, the would want Martial money if not more.
I can only offer anecdotal on this - but I coach 2 youth "soccer" teams over here in Virginia. The boys, and their Dads, are always talking about the English league and Spanish league. Also, to some extent, the German league. I never hear comment on Seattle Sounders or LA Galaxy, or even the more local DC United. Maybe once in a while a boy will have a jersey of one of these teams - probably bought by a well-meaning grand-father.
Seen lots of social media clips of Leicester fans behaving like Ingerlund twats last night.
But, I've seen the hospitality of European police, including Spain, when they decide they're bored/pissed off/had enough.
Doesn't excuse the stupid shite the Leicester fans were signing or the missile throwing in response. I have seen a few clips of police using batons on people stood drinking and minding their own business.
I remember several European always that I've been on and stupid chants aside, we seemed every bit as boisterous as some of the scenes I've seen, and we made as much mess too - the initial reason the police gave for dispersing the Leicester fans.
Got to be said though, the scenes that are being shone don't paint their fans in a good light really.
But, I've seen the hospitality of European police, including Spain, when they decide they're bored/pissed off/had enough.
Doesn't excuse the stupid shite the Leicester fans were signing or the missile throwing in response. I have seen a few clips of police using batons on people stood drinking and minding their own business.
I remember several European always that I've been on and stupid chants aside, we seemed every bit as boisterous as some of the scenes I've seen, and we made as much mess too - the initial reason the police gave for dispersing the Leicester fans.
Got to be said though, the scenes that are being shone don't paint their fans in a good light really.
Come on Rurik- how much has bball improved in China since Ming arrived in the NBA? He was MASSIVE - absolutely huge for that market, and what have we seen since then bar then? Has there been any interest in the Chinese league? Any news bar that one kid (I think at Milauwkee)? The world cup did a lot of good for the sport in '94 but to properly become a MAJOR league and attract the top athletes (and hence, more acclaim), $$$ has to be generated ... Is the MLS doing that? You tell me ... Happy to learn, but as someone who lived there from 94-03 and played footy at uni too - the same problems that were there before '94 are still there now (though I love the new Mexico-Canada-USA world cup idea!)
Maybe I'm just too cynical ... could be ... but Adu was the biggest name in youth football as a 14 year old ... and tough his career didn't blossom (unfortunately for Glock), that fame did what for the next generation of US footy stars? Does Pulsic mention Adu in his interviews? Do these kids talk about Donovan etc? He seems like an excellent talent - but in order to become a top footballing nation, and revolutionize the way 14-18 year olds see the sport, they need the NFL to crash and burn (i.e. one less league to compete with) or a miracle.
Yup - that's how it was when I was there in the 'younger' days ... I never went to one MLS game - just when the big teams came to NY etc ... Unless that league can compete with the big leagues, no chance imo for footy to take off ... even if Pulsic is the next big thing.
Manure up 1-0 at half time, Mikh with a goal.
They're a far better team - and I doubt they will be challenged by Anderlecht (or Ajax/Schalke, or Iago Aspas' Celta) over 2 legs.
I know many have said it, but Zlatan is just such pure class. It's unreal how easy he makes it look at 35 ...
They're a far better team - and I doubt they will be challenged by Anderlecht (or Ajax/Schalke, or Iago Aspas' Celta) over 2 legs.
I know many have said it, but Zlatan is just such pure class. It's unreal how easy he makes it look at 35 ...
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