The Official Football/Soccer Thread: 2017-2018 Season
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21st Century Paul:
They can't win big teams (Valencia, Atletico, Villarreal, Real Madrid...) but in the Spanish League there are no big matches for Barça except the one in Bernabeu. So if Real Madrid is weak there's a chance for Barça. No way in European Cup.
I still believe that injuries were the downfall for the team this season. Yaya Toure should not have played against Valencia. He'll likely miss the rest of the season now. I don't know about "big teams" but Barcelona still have to play "quality teams" like Getafe, Espanyol, Valencia and away to Deportivo. April is a busy month with La Liga and Champions League, espercially if they get past Schalke. With Real Madrid only having to focus on the league, they would have to self-destruct in order for Barcelona to have any chance. Van Nistelrroy being out for six weeks helps but probably won't be enough.
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unclesox:
21st Century Paul:
Let's see if they FINALLY are brave enough to transfer Ronaldinho anywhere.
The question is, who would want him and can Barça sell him for a decent price? Rijkaard may need to go too. If he does I hope Mourinho can be brought in. Besides 'Mou' the only other coach that interests me for Barcelona is Valverde. Some rumors have Mourinho going to Real Madrid. Paul, given your statement that Real Madrid not only want to win but also to play beautiful football, how can it be justified that Mourinho should go to RM? Would you like to see him arrive? If not, what coach would you like (a realistic option, not someone like Wenger), or are you happy with Schuster?
you know how Real Madrid is. Even if the team wins the league Schuster is gonna be out. No way Mourinho!
, just whoever who likes to play football with passes on the grass, BUT some others players are needed to do that. It depends more of the signings.. Schuster would like to play in another way but when the team tries, loses. There are no players to do it. Everybody wants Laudrup now. Chelsea, Barça and Madrid (like in his player years...). He is the symbol, as a player, of beautiful football, of wonderful passes and having the ball. Their teams should play the same way. But well, what could Laudrup do if seeing Diarra as midfielder to start every ball possession... Well if Sneijder and Robben were free of injuries it can somehow be done. Very simply, out, if possible everyone of the "old-style". Diarra, Van Nistelrooy, Cannavaro, Heinze mainly. And let in some one who plays the ball... you know, Aguero, Villa, Diego, Cesc, it's not about someone in particular... damn Laudrup is too old.
Also not worth for the future Salgado, Saviola and Higuain.
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unclesox:
21st Century Paul:
They can't win big teams (Valencia, Atletico, Villarreal, Real Madrid...) but in the Spanish League there are no big matches for Barça except the one in Bernabeu. So if Real Madrid is weak there's a chance for Barça. No way in European Cup.
I still believe that injuries were the downfall for the team this season. Yaya Toure should not have played against Valencia. He'll likely miss the rest of the season now. I don't know about "big teams" but Barcelona still have to play "quality teams" like Getafe, Espanyol, Valencia and away to Deportivo. April is a busy month with La Liga and Champions League, espercially if they get past Schalke. With Real Madrid only having to focus on the league, they would have to self-destruct in order for Barcelona to have any chance. Van Nistelrroy being out for six weeks helps but probably won't be enough.
Yes, Real Madrid only has to watch what themselves do... you know who has the score the goals now to win the league, the same old guy, Raul. Yes, no teams in the first positions on the League for Barça but maybe now Barça can win Getafe and Valencia, possibly Espanyol either but Deportivo is easy for Barça. And if Real Madrid self-destructs Villareal is only two points away of Barça so 9 from Madrid and they're on their way up. I think they're more a serious threat for Madrid than Barça now.
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21st Century Paul:
Yes, Real Madrid only has to watch what themselves do... you know who has the score the goals now to win the league, the same old guy, Raul. Yes, no teams in the first positions on the League for Barça but maybe now Barça can win Getafe and Valencia, possibly Espanyol either but Deportivo is easy for Barça.
I think Robinho is a bigger threat than Raul. Deportivo wasn't easy for RM so I doubt they will be easy for Barça at the Riazor. Getafe are in the UEFA Cup quarterfinals and Copa del Rey final. They always give Barcelona a tough time. So do Espanyol. Villarreal has surprised me a little bit. I thought Espanyol and Atletico Madrid would challenge for the league title ahead of Villarreal.
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hettyw:
InTheSkyWithDiamonds:
hmm draw, arsenal will score first... just that... but I could be wrong...
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I reckon that Arsenal will be under a lot of pressure and chelsea will dominate the first half. At least Van Persie is back from injury for this game. Reckon that the score will be 2-1 to Chelsea....... I hope i'm wrong Whatecer happens, may the best team win I reckon that Man U will beat Liverpool 3 - 0. Hoipe so as i'm going out with an Everton fan and I wouldn't hear the end of it if Liverpool won!
I think Man U wins Liverpool too, but I'm thinking of a tighter score, 2 - 1 maybe
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22-man squad named on Saturday by coach Luis Aragonés for the international friendly on March 26th against Italy in Elche. GOALKEEPERS: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) José Reina (Liverpool - ENG) DEFENDERS: Raul Albiol (Valencia) Álvaro Arbeloa (Liverpool - ENG) Joan Capdevila (Villarreal) Carlos Marchena (Valencia) 'Juanito' Gutiérrez Moreno (Betis) Fernando Navarro (Mallorca) Carles Puyol (FC Barcelona) Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) Marcos Senna (Villarreal) MIDFIELDERS: Rubén De la Red (Getafe) Cesc Fàbregas (Arsenal - ENG) Albert Riera (Espanyol) Andrés Iniesta (FC Barcelona) David Silva (Valencia) Xabi Alonso (Liverpool - ENG) Xavi Hernández (FC Barcelona) FORWARDS: Luis García (Espanyol) Daniel Güiza (Mallorca) Fernando Torres (Liverpool - ENG) David Villa (Valencia)
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unclesox:
21st Century Paul:
Yes, Real Madrid only has to watch what themselves do... you know who has the score the goals now to win the league, the same old guy, Raul. Yes, no teams in the first positions on the League for Barça but maybe now Barça can win Getafe and Valencia, possibly Espanyol either but Deportivo is easy for Barça.
I think Robinho is a bigger threat than Raul. Deportivo wasn't easy for RM so I doubt they will be easy for Barça at the Riazor. Getafe are in the UEFA Cup quarterfinals and Copa del Rey final. They always give Barcelona a tough time. So do Espanyol. Villarreal has surprised me a little bit. I thought Espanyol and Atletico Madrid would challenge for the league title ahead of Villarreal.
Well... Real Madrid is very different than Barça... all the teams are difficult for Madrid but they win most of the time. Robinho... no... Robinho is good with lots of space, like most of the Barça players. But when the other team is defending he's not dangerous at all, then he can't run and dribble. When the other team is defending in their area there's no player as Raul. Yeah, not called against Italy... maybe Italy won't defend in their area???... for the first time ever???... hmmm...
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I think I'll watch tomorrow the double fab game in England.
Those are the games that make you like football. Manchester vs Arsenal, Madrid vs Barça and Inter vs Roma. Still the big leagues seem not decided.
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21st Century Paul:
Yeah, not called against Italy... maybe Italy won't defend in their area???... for the first time ever???... hmmm...
Or he's simply no longer good enough, except to his fanboys.
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21st Century Paul:
I think I'll watch tomorrow the double fab game in England.
Those are the games that make you like football. Manchester vs Arsenal, Madrid vs Barça and Inter vs Roma. Still the big leagues seem not decided.
Eh, big games are good but I can enjoy a mid-table or even and relegation game just as much. I'll have to miss the Man Utd-Liverpool game because I'll still be at work. I might be able to catch the second half. And Barcelona plays the same time as Chelsea-Arsenal. Priorities come first.
Inter is falling down fast. And a few people actually believe Roma can win the European Cup, calling them perhaps the best team in Europe at the moment... although they lost to Lazio on Wednesday. Only FC Porto has their league won with a 16 point lead even though Portuguese league isn't as big as even the Bundesliga or Ligue 1 (France).
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Tottenham 2 - 0 Portsmouth 80' Darren Bent 1 82' Jamie O'Hara 2 Sheff Wed 2 - 2 Crystal Palace 18' Ben Sahar 1 40' 1 Ben Watson 68' Wade Small 2 90' 2 Matthew Lawrence
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InTheSkyWithDiamonds:
hettyw:
InTheSkyWithDiamonds:
hmm draw, arsenal will score first... just that... but I could be wrong...
:
I reckon that Arsenal will be under a lot of pressure and chelsea will dominate the first half. At least Van Persie is back from injury for this game. Reckon that the score will be 2-1 to Chelsea....... I hope i'm wrong Whatecer happens, may the best team win I reckon that Man U will beat Liverpool 3 - 0. Hoipe so as i'm going out with an Everton fan and I wouldn't hear the end of it if Liverpool won!
I think Man U wins Liverpool too, but I'm thinking of a tighter score, 2 - 1 maybe
Well done to Man U for beating Liverpool
Very disappointed about the Arsenal game though.
We are in third place now and not very happy about it. Still as long as we beat Bolton next weekend and Chelsea lose, we should be in 2nd place. Unlikely though.
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unclesox:
21st Century Paul:
Yeah, not called against Italy... maybe Italy won't defend in their area???... for the first time ever???... hmmm...
Or he's simply no longer good enough, except to his fanboys.
I was being ironical about Italy not defending back.
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Hey I've watched the first match on England, but not the 2nd, too much TV for me... Great show from the ManUtd! ??? I think that if they met Barça at semifinals they can score 7 goals. Hey, but Brown used the arm!... It seems English referees are the same than Spanish ones... He didn't show a yellow card after the kick to Torres and then the Liverpool guys went angry about it all.
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hettyw:
InTheSkyWithDiamonds:
hettyw:
InTheSkyWithDiamonds:
hmm draw, arsenal will score first... just that... but I could be wrong...
:
I reckon that Arsenal will be under a lot of pressure and chelsea will dominate the first half. At least Van Persie is back from injury for this game. Reckon that the score will be 2-1 to Chelsea....... I hope i'm wrong Whatecer happens, may the best team win I reckon that Man U will beat Liverpool 3 - 0. Hoipe so as i'm going out with an Everton fan and I wouldn't hear the end of it if Liverpool won!
I think Man U wins Liverpool too, but I'm thinking of a tighter score, 2 - 1 maybe
Well done to Man U for beating Liverpool
Very disappointed about the Arsenal game though.
We are in third place now and not very happy about it. Still as long as we beat Bolton next weekend and C Chelsea lose, we should be in 2nd place. Unlikely though.
who got it right this time was you! Too bad things didnt go as you wanted... But well, I'm satisfied
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Real Madrid has lost against Valencia and Spanish League gets funny. Real Madrid leads with only 9 games to play. Barcelona is 4 points behind. AND Villareal is 6 points behind AND Atletico de Madrid is 9 points behind. Awesome Aguero and awesome second goal from Villareal. From what I've seen in Barça, the best continue to be the ones from La Masia, Iniesta and Bojan. Bojan did such a game that I think he has already won a place in the starting team. But not place a for the national team it seems.
This is the other smart striker we have.... Raul did today twice "his" goal. It seems he maybe will win himself alone the Spanish League
. And Barça should focus in the Spanish League as I said.
Raul and Bojan for Spain!. And Aguero to Real Madrid! Bye
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InTheSkyWithDiamonds:
hettyw:
InTheSkyWithDiamonds:
hettyw:
InTheSkyWithDiamonds:
hmm draw, arsenal will score first... just that... but I could be wrong...
:
I reckon that Arsenal will be under a lot of pressure and chelsea will dominate the first half. At least Van Persie is back from injury for this game. Reckon that the score will be 2-1 to Chelsea....... I hope i'm wrong Whatecer happens, may the best team win I reckon that Man U will beat Liverpool 3 - 0. Hoipe so as i'm going out with an Everton fan and I wouldn't hear the end of it if Liverpool won!
I think Man U wins Liverpool too, but I'm thinking of a tighter score, 2 - 1 maybe
Well done to Man U for beating Liverpool
Very disappointed about the Arsenal game though.
We are in third place now and not very happy about it. Still as long as we beat Bolton next weekend and C Chelsea lose, we should be in 2nd place. Unlikely though.
who got it right this time was you! Too bad things didnt go as you wanted... But well, I'm satisfied
Yep i'm disappointed but that's Arsenal for you. I've only got one thing to say: I don't think Arsenal will get back to the top spot, not now that they have gone and blown it again.
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21st Century Paul:
Great show from the ManUtd! ??? I think that if they met Barça at semifinals they can score 7 goals.
Saved for future reference.
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21st Century Paul:
Bojan did such a game that I think he has already won a place in the starting team. But not place a for the national team it seems.
This is the other smart striker we have.... Raul did today twice "his" goal. It seems he maybe will win himself alone the Spanish League
. And Barça should focus in the Spanish League as I said.
Raul and Bojan for Spain!. And Aguero to Real Madrid! Bye
Bojan is only 17. He's the future for La Furia. Raul... "his" goal? Was he offside again?
Or do you mean when he pushed off the defender to head the ball for the first goal? Timo Hildebrand won the game for Valencia.
I'll say again that if Barcelona are within six points of RM by 30 March then they should continue to focus on La Liga. If seven points or more behind, then place focus on Champions League.
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hettyw:
InTheSkyWithDiamonds:
hettyw:
InTheSkyWithDiamonds:
hettyw:
InTheSkyWithDiamonds:
hmm draw, arsenal will score first... just that... but I could be wrong...
:
I reckon that Arsenal will be under a lot of pressure and chelsea will dominate the first half. At least Van Persie is back from injury for this game. Reckon that the score will be 2-1 to Chelsea....... I hope i'm wrong Whatecer happens, may the best team win I reckon that Man U will beat Liverpool 3 - 0. Hoipe so as i'm going out with an Everton fan and I wouldn't hear the end of it if Liverpool won!
I think Man U wins Liverpool too, but I'm thinking of a tighter score, 2 - 1 maybe
Well done to Man U for beating Liverpool
Very disappointed about the Arsenal game though.
We are in third place now and not very happy about it. Still as long as we beat Bolton next weekend and C Chelsea lose, we should be in 2nd place. Unlikely though.
who got it right this time was you! Too bad things didnt go as you wanted... But well, I'm satisfied
Yep i'm disappointed but that's Arsenal for you. I've only got one thing to say: I don't think Arsenal will get back to the top spot, not now that they have gone and blown it again.
I have to agree with you... Fabregas has really stopped playing like he used to in the begining of the season... The tittle race is now between Man U and Chelsea, really, the best squads in england...
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