The Official Football/Soccer Thread: 2017-2018 Season
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After scoring his third goal against Levante, Samuel Eto'o grabbed a camera belonging to Claudio Chaves, photographer for the Catalan daily El Mundo Deportivo and took a series of four snap shots of Bojan Krkic, who was responsible for providing Eto'o with the goal. Here's one of the end products... Out of focus, and worst of all... Bojan looks like Raul!
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he really does look like him in he pic
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unclesox:
"Internal conflicts"... Everyone keeps going on about that. If it was so bad Eto'o would no longer be with Barça. If Real were such a better team they would have finished with more points and got the job done earlier in some of those games instead of having to rely on so many late goals. One of those late goals came at home against Espanyol. Real won 4-3 but Espanyol was leading 3-1 and they were playing their second squad because they were resting the regulars for the UEFA Cup final against Sevilla. Yet Real still struggled to beat them. : Which do you think is the better method of seperating teams level on points in league standings? "Marcador global" between the two teams or goal difference? I think the "internal conflicts" are still totally there. And that's why they're not gonna win. Barça players are better than Real Madrid ones, but there's much camaradery in Real Madrid. It all changed in January 2007 Barça became worse and Madrid better. You know, Ronaldinho arriving late from Christmas holidays and a lot of things the rest of the team could not stand... Real Madrid saw a chance and all got together as brothers, it was about balls too, that's the cause of those heroic goals in the last moment. I think no-one of the systems makes sense. I prefer the Italian system. A final between the two teams.
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unclesox:
21st Century Paul:
I don't think Madrid tries to be like Dream Team, they don't play similar at all, they just don't have the players to do something similar. Maybe only Guti and Robinho.
When you say "for Real Madrid winning is not enough" or Real "can win and not being satisfied" that can mean only one thing; to play attractive football. Jogo bonito. That what Cruyff's Barcelona team was known for. And that's why Real spent so much money on new players. To try and bring in players who have the ability to play like Cruyff's team. But they've haven't play as expected and have only looked good in three games this season: 5-1 against Valencia, 7-0 against Valladolid; and 3-2 against Villarreal. Even if Real win the league, don't be surprised if Schuster is sacked like Capello was.
Exactly. Even if Real Madrid wins the league they could look for another coach. But's that a stupid thing, because Schuster can only play with the players signed for the president. And he must play this way, similar to Capello's way only with more people attacking. Diarra in the center and all that... Real Madrid is not gonna have again such kind of players for a long time.... Capello brought Diarra, Emerson, Cannavaro, Van Nistelrooy... and you can't change them easily... I've been saying for 2 or 3 years: Cesc, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, when I'm asked who should Madrid sign. Kaka and Cristiano have become so good they're almost impossible to sign but they were not in the past but they spent the money on other things... I'm not the president. As for Cesc... maybe they're still on time but I don't think so. Real Madrid have, of course, and more than any other team, his own jogo bonitos eras, last one being the Galactics team (Zidane, Ronaldo, Beckham, Figo, Raul, Roberto Carlos, Makelele, Hierro, Casillas...) but they ended into internal conflicts too, especially Ronaldo, and anything changed for the better with Ronaldo out a year ago. It Barça would like to win they must sell Ronaldinho, cause he's the cause of most of all the problems in the team...
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InTheSkyWithDiamonds:
unclesox:
21st Century Paul:
I don't think Madrid tries to be like Dream Team, they don't play similar at all, they just don't have the players to do something similar. Maybe only Guti and Robinho.
When you say "for Real Madrid winning is not enough" or Real "can win and not being satisfied" that can mean only one thing; to play attractive football. Jogo bonito. That what Cruyff's Barcelona team was known for. And that's why Real spent so much money on new players. To try and bring in players who have the ability to play like Cruyff's team. But they've haven't play as expected and have only looked good in three games this season: 5-1 against Valencia, 7-0 against Valladolid; and 3-2 against Villarreal. Even if Real win the league, don't be surprised if Schuster is sacked like Capello was.
If they wanted pretty football, then why did they get Capello, he is certenly a winner, but his teams never played beautiful football.. :
I would say the same as Unclesox. Capello was signed to fix a three year period without cups in Real Madrid. That didn't happen since the arrival of Di Stefano in the 50s. We knew we're not gonna play well but anyway we were playing bad for 2 years... For instance Madrid's president was said to be about to sign Kaka and Capello insisted on using the money on Diarra. And Diarra was signed, very ugly playing but league winned again. Though I think the most important think was selling Ronaldo.
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21st Century Paul:
It Barça would like to win they must sell Ronaldinho, cause he's the cause of most of all the problems in the team...
Not just Ronaldinho, but Deco too. (imo) But Soriano and Laporte have both stated that they have no interest in selling Ronaldinho. 'Dinho looked good against Celtic and Levante. But he needs to score a goal from open play in order to get all the supporters on his side again. He still continues to lose the ball too often and you can still hear some whistles/jeers from a few fans who are not convinced that he's back. He only scores on penalties these days; no longer in open play and he's even lost his magical touch on free kicks. Against Levante in the first half he had an open shot at goal and wasted it high over the goal. Deco is... terrible. And I used to really feel he was the engine to the team. Rumors have already started that Barça will go after either Diego (Werder Bremen) or Luka Modric (Dinamo Zagreb) to replace Deco.
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21st Century Paul:
For instance Madrid's president was said to be about to sign Kaka and Capello insisted on using the money on Diarra.
I have a hard time believing that Capello would want Diarra over Kaka. Capello isn't that stupid. Capello said a few months ago that, in Berlusconi's mind, Kaka had taken over from Maldini as the "pretty face", or "poster boy" of AC Milan and that Berlusconi would never sell him at any price. Capello should know how Berlusconi thinks because he worked for him long enough. And I don't think Ferguson would've sold C.Ronaldo for any amount after EURO 2004. Ferguson only sells quality players if he feels the player has done wrong against him (Stam writing his book; Beckham not focused 100% on football, Keane giving a 'frank' interview to MUTV)
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unclesox:
21st Century Paul:
For instance Madrid's president was said to be about to sign Kaka and Capello insisted on using the money on Diarra.
I have a hard time believing that Capello would want Diarra over Kaka. Capello isn't that stupid. Capello said a few months ago that, in Berlusconi's mind, Kaka had taken over from Maldini as the "pretty face", or "poster boy" of AC Milan and that Berlusconi would never sell him at any price. Capello should know how Berlusconi thinks because he worked for him long enough. And I don't think Ferguson would've sold C.Ronaldo for any amount after EURO 2004. Ferguson only sells quality players if he feels the player has done wrong against him (Stam writing his book; Beckham not focused 100% on football, Keane giving a 'frank' interview to MUTV)
I don' really think Kaka is that good... Selling him wouldnt be the end of the world for AC Milan
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unclesox:
21st Century Paul:
It Barça would like to win they must sell Ronaldinho, cause he's the cause of most of all the problems in the team...
Not just Ronaldinho, but Deco too. (imo) But Soriano and Laporte have both stated that they have no interest in selling Ronaldinho. 'Dinho looked good against Celtic and Levante. But he needs to score a goal from open play in order to get all the supporters on his side again. He still continues to lose the ball too often and you can still hear some whistles/jeers from a few fans who are not convinced that he's back. He only scores on penalties these days; no longer in open play and he's even lost his magical touch on free kicks. Against Levante in the first half he had an open shot at goal and wasted it high over the goal. Deco is... terrible. And I used to really feel he was the engine to the team. Rumors have already started that Barça will go after either Diego (Werder Bremen) or Luka Modric (Dinamo Zagreb) to replace Deco.
Maybe Deco too, IDK, but sure Ronaldinho, and not because he doesn't play as good as before, but for all the bad vibes in the team. They don't sell it like Florentino Perez, you know, didn't sell the Galactics (Beckham, Figo, Ronaldo, Zidane, R. Carlos). They don't have the courage!... even the sale for Ronaldo one year ago was questioned a lot... Ronaldinho is doing who knows what while the others are training. That ruins a team. Imagine you're working in a office and some employee hardly works or even appears... and then he comes back and he earns a lot much than you... it causes a bad feeling in a team. Not so long ago when Ronie received the ball Silvinho and Deco ran to distract defenders. Now Ronie receives the ball and the defenders have only to care for him. And the same happens in defence.... The great Real Madrid of the galactics died cause of that, only the player with the ball attacked really... and that leads to nothing. And only the defenders defend. That leaded to Casillas, fortunately .
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unclesox:
21st Century Paul:
For instance Madrid's president was said to be about to sign Kaka and Capello insisted on using the money on Diarra.
I have a hard time believing that Capello would want Diarra over Kaka. Capello isn't that stupid. Capello said a few months ago that, in Berlusconi's mind, Kaka had taken over from Maldini as the "pretty face", or "poster boy" of AC Milan and that Berlusconi would never sell him at any price. Capello should know how Berlusconi thinks because he worked for him long enough. And I don't think Ferguson would've sold C.Ronaldo for any amount after EURO 2004. Ferguson only sells quality players if he feels the player has done wrong against him (Stam writing his book; Beckham not focused 100% on football, Keane giving a 'frank' interview to MUTV)
Well, maybe it's only a rumour but it comes from a radio I trust... anyway Cristiano, Kaka, etc. were said to cost 30 milions euros or so in the past. They could have paid for them. Pepe and Diarra costed 20 milions each one. But Capello wants always two very defensive midfields (Emerson and Diarra). IDK who would made that role in England. Will Gerrard and Lampard would be good defenders for Capello?
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21st Century Paul:
Well, maybe it's only a rumour but it comes from a radio I trust... anyway Cristiano, Kaka, etc. were said to cost 30 milions euros or so in the past. They could have paid for them. Pepe and Diarra costed 20 milions each one. But Capello wants always two very defensive midfields (Emerson and Diarra). IDK who would made that role in England. Will Gerrard and Lampard would be good defenders for Capello?
Now I remember very well that Pepe cost ?30 million because I pointed out that it was a ridiculous sum for a defender. And news reports I've read said that Real paid Lyon around ?25 million for Diarra. As far as England, I really can't think of any true defensive (or "holding", as they call them) midfielders. Perhaps Gareth Barry (Aston Villa) or Owen Hargreaves (Man Utd)?
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I heard today that Eduardo will be out for 9 months. Reckon he won't be playing for at least double that, albeit if he ever plays again. The newspaper had a picture of his injury and wish they hadn't as it made me feel very sick. Anyway, apparently people can send him best wishes via the arsenal website if anybody wants to.
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hettyw:
I heard today that Eduardo will be out for 9 months. Reckon he won't be playing for at least double that, albeit if he ever plays again. The newspaper had a picture of his injury and wish they hadn't as it made me feel very sick. Anyway, apparently people can send him best wishes via the arsenal website if anybody wants to.
yeah it was very serious, untill he gets his good phase again, it will take even longer...
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unclesox:
21st Century Paul:
Well, maybe it's only a rumour but it comes from a radio I trust... anyway Cristiano, Kaka, etc. were said to cost 30 milions euros or so in the past. They could have paid for them. Pepe and Diarra costed 20 milions each one. But Capello wants always two very defensive midfields (Emerson and Diarra). IDK who would made that role in England. Will Gerrard and Lampard would be good defenders for Capello?
Now I remember very well that Pepe cost ?30 million because I pointed out that it was a ridiculous sum for a defender. And news reports I've read said that Real paid Lyon around ?25 million for Diarra. As far as England, I really can't think of any true defensive (or "holding", as they call them) midfielders. Perhaps Gareth Barry (Aston Villa) or Owen Hargreaves (Man Utd)?
Well Barry played with Capello... and some others I don't know, that would be the defensive guys in the midfield for Capello. Ok, even worse... 55 euro milions away... they could have signed almost anyone else... Cesc, Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, mmm... Diego, Aguero, Villa, Iniesta? , Essien...
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I'm back after watching Barça 1-Valencia 1. Very dissapointed... I sometimes said I've watched "a Barça show", but this is dissapearing. Barça played almost all of the time with one man carrying the ball while the others were stopped instead of trying to lose their marker. For me to attack in football you need passes and attackers trying to lose their markers. Instead of that Barça finished most of the attacks in Messi dribling. He lost kind of 60 balls this way. There was a final rush of 5 minutes and a goal, but that's not a football for winning I could have gone to the stadium, some friends went, and I choosed right not to go. They must play like a team, and move too when some of their players has the ball, if not there's no way to attack a good team, it's kind of "false football", they pretend they're playing but they're not. Especially when Xavi or Iniesta walked with the ball, you know they search for a pass and they can do it... but no-one moved.
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21st Century Paul:
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The typical thoughts of a Madridista supporter. : 26 shots on goal compared to Valencia's 1. 13 corners to none for Los Che. Hildebrand was Valencia's savior, producing many outstanding saves. Clearly Man of the Match. I thought Yaya had a great match. He was everywhere on the pitch, very hard working. I wish I could judge Real Madrid's performance, but then they went out two rounds ago.
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Yes, Yaya was very good and Puyol. Of course Valencia played defensive and Barça offensive... but not really dangerous. The Madrid judgement quote is very usual of a Barça supporter.
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21st Century Paul:
The Madrid judgement quote is very usual of a Barça supporter.
No it's not. It's a fact. Real Madrid went out two rounds ago. Lost at home to Osasuna. Am I wrong?
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unclesox:
21st Century Paul:
The Madrid judgement quote is very usual of a Barça supporter.
No it's not. It's a fact. Real Madrid went out two rounds ago. Lost at home to Osasuna. Am I wrong?
I mean you always compared yourselves to Real Madrid, not to good or bad, or first or last. "If they failed, we can fail" or so.