- Oct 9, 2005
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Chelsea activated Oblak release clause, he turned down the move. Chelsea won't go for another keeper for a bit after breaking the record on Kepa and signing him to a 7yr deal
⚽️The Footy Thread: German Super Cup, International Champions Cup, Copa Libertadores
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by mastamind89,
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- Feb 2, 2014
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its crazy how outlasting your manager is actually a thing at united...
united's next moves are crucial
united's next moves are crucial
sonoftony
Supporter
- Apr 3, 2005
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- Mar 16, 2010
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Glad to see some good vibes in the camp amidst all the negativity
The DoF hiring is def gonna be the most important decision made yet post Fergie
sonoftony
Supporter
- Apr 3, 2005
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Mariano byke to Madrid!!
- Jul 30, 2011
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I'd put Pool over Bayern who have some defensive issues & very very old wingers.
Also before Barca too. I think at best, Barca will reach the quarter finals. The semi finals would be overachieving.
Until proven otherwise, Barca just don't have a pivot that can control counter attacking teams & 2 of the defenders in oompa loompa & alba are jsut waaaaay too slow (& also vulnerable to quick counter attacking teams).
Perhaps the odds makers just don't think Pool is a proven commodity yet.
- Jul 6, 2008
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Much respect to Duce. He was a great player and one of my favorite US players.
- Mar 16, 2010
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Would Valverde keep his job if Barca went out before the semi's again? I'd assume the expectations have to be pretty high after the summer they had and coming off winning the league
Not sure about Citeh as the main favorites,they have the same squad + Mahrez
Juve,and Barca are all still better imo
They should have around the same odds as Bayern/Real/Atleti
Not sure about Citeh as the main favorites,they have the same squad + Mahrez
Juve,and Barca are all still better imo
They should have around the same odds as Bayern/Real/Atleti
- Jul 30, 2011
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I think The Count's job is safe for at least another 2 yrs regardless of results. bart doesn't want to admit fault that he possibly picked the wrong manager. He went for the safe choice. The problem is this club is wasting away The Goat's prime. Ideally, Barca should've had at least 1-2 more CL titles by now & should have another 2-3 CL titles (& Liga titles) before The Goat hangs it up & goes back to Newell's Old Boys. That should be the realistic benchmark but I don't think this team is built for that right now especially if they get French gomes who will set the club back.
- Feb 2, 2014
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agreed we got a super talented squad but our weakness is our unproven manager especially in the champions league
and yeah i think it depends on our showing in the champs league to see if valverde continues
also coutinho will be available in europe this year
but it will be inexcusable if madrid win la liga over us this season
i still don't understand how pool aren't one of the favorites when all they did was get more dangerous and better in every department they needed to
(defense, midfield, and goal keeping)..they also just didn't get a little better they got major upgrades
- Feb 7, 2016
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Apparently valladolid stadium hasn't been up to code for 5 years and they can't play in that stadium, this is a terrible look why La Liga should have been on this from the jump
- Mar 16, 2010
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@ the count,he really does look like a vampire on the low.Still think the Blaugrana are in good position to make a finals run,the squad looks more balanced and there's more talent to rely on
Gonna be interesting to see how Valverde adapts in Europe,he seems to have it figured out when it comes to the league
Co-sign about 'Pool,they washed this years favs in the competition last year and only got better across the board
. They're being underrated a little. Their trident all scored in double digits in the CL last time too,I dont expect that to drop off with a better supporting cast
- Mar 16, 2010
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Monaco's basically the football academy/factory to Europe's elite
Their business model is pretty damn solid
5 years? That's criminal negligence
Heads are for sure gonna roll
- Jul 10, 2015
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Got no idea why we are the favs odds makers tripping, we have a great squad but furthest we've made it in the competition is semis. Yea Real lost Ronaldo an all-time great but they still have a squad filled with World Class players and 3 peat reigning champs. Wouldn't be shocked if they get back there again in the slightest. Juventus should also be favorites over as and Barcelona as is tradition.
- Feb 11, 2010
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Monaco is about to come up for the next few years when they sell all those players. The owners wife might have taken half his fortune, but dude is bouncing back.
- Mar 5, 2005
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Man what. The PAOK GK has to be point shaving. Dude straight up gave the entire tie away just now
- Mar 16, 2010
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- Feb 11, 2008
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yeah that was a little funny
- Jul 3, 2018
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There is no agenda against Santos. The fact of the matter is simply that CONMEBOL is a disaster of an organization. There is practically no communication. Between the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana there have been three clubs this year that have gotten “caught” fielding ineligible players (Santos, River Plate, and Deportes Temuco). These clubs aren’t trying to gain an edge, they genuinely have no idea that these players are ineligible because CONMEBOL doesn’t communicate such information properly.
- Jul 30, 2011
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You know I'm the A#1 Pep fan in this thread as he was my favorite player when I first started watching Barca while in Europe all those yrs ago. He's been over tinkering & over thinking himself in the later stages of the CL with Bayern & now with City. He's put out some iffy line-ups & formations in the late stages of the CL that came back & bit his *** hard resulting in losses. Sometimes bad losses if I remember correctly. Pep needs to account for that this year.
- Jul 10, 2015
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I agree the first leg against Liverpool was on him tactically. I saw the idea he was trying to pull off and get the team to do to counter Liverpool's play style it made it made sense in theory but in practice it failed.
- Feb 7, 2016
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And Monaco stayed in the CL
- Jul 30, 2011
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It's funny, watching the Amazon City series, you can see how almost manic Pep is. you can tell his gears are always turning but sometimes his teams specifically Bayern & City don't match that energy.
He obviously had some legendary players at Barca but the pressing & possession he had Barca playing when there used to choke the ish outta teams. He's really gotta emphasize speed & tempo in the later stages of the CL.
I don't think it's necessarily problems with counter attacking teams Pep has trouble with, its teams that have speed & tempo in general Pep has trouble with. Unless he's solved for that, I think Pool is going to tap that *** this campaign (barring injuries for Klopp).
Plus stones is still an idiot (I know you love him), you never know what you're going to get with Otamendi, & Kompany (much as I love him) is just too old now.
I don't think City has the defense to be a CL winner.
He obviously had some legendary players at Barca but the pressing & possession he had Barca playing when there used to choke the ish outta teams. He's really gotta emphasize speed & tempo in the later stages of the CL.
I don't think it's necessarily problems with counter attacking teams Pep has trouble with, its teams that have speed & tempo in general Pep has trouble with. Unless he's solved for that, I think Pool is going to tap that *** this campaign (barring injuries for Klopp).
Plus stones is still an idiot (I know you love him), you never know what you're going to get with Otamendi, & Kompany (much as I love him) is just too old now.
I don't think City has the defense to be a CL winner.
- Jul 10, 2015
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I mean we gonna lose to Liverpool at Anfield anyway like we do every season. Dont think we've won a league game there in about 17 years now. Just glad that fixture is a little earlier in the season I think to hurry up and get it out the way. Game at the Etihad will be a toss up
As far as our defense is concerned Laporte and stones look very solid together and we know what we gonna get from walker he’s a great rightback. Mendy we know he hasn’t lost a stop going forward after his injury but he still has to get back to his level defensively that he was at before his injury. Otamendis not bad he can be great you just never know which version of Otamendi you gonna get on the day. Could be ****head Otamendi or a world class performance. Kompany we all know what he can do if he’s fit although he was really bad against Wolves I’ll chalk that up to just one game his resume speaks for itself
As far as our defense is concerned Laporte and stones look very solid together and we know what we gonna get from walker he’s a great rightback. Mendy we know he hasn’t lost a stop going forward after his injury but he still has to get back to his level defensively that he was at before his injury. Otamendis not bad he can be great you just never know which version of Otamendi you gonna get on the day. Could be ****head Otamendi or a world class performance. Kompany we all know what he can do if he’s fit although he was really bad against Wolves I’ll chalk that up to just one game his resume speaks for itself
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- Oct 2, 2011
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Son called Rio up just for the bantz
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