The Ultimate Soccer Thread 2012-2013 Vol. 3 Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga etc

[abovelegit1]

Agree Kroos has a better range of passing. Partly due to the fact that Mata plays higher up the pitch in the #10 role so he isn't asked to sit back in the midfield and distribute/control the game from midfield with passing.

Mata drifts in/out of games because our double pivot has been terrible for majority of the season. We usually play with Lampard and Ramires running the pivot, who are both horribly suited for it. And as a result, our midfield gets dominated and we have fewer possession almost every time we play a solid side. It's also the reason our other forwards Hazard and Ba/Torres, etc drift in/out of games at times. Our central midfield just isn't built for controlling possession and the supply to our forwards suffers as a result.

Thankfully we have Mikel who is the only reliable one in our pivot but he is completely defensive oriented.


If/when Chelsea picks up some quality central midfielders this summer who can control the pace/play attacking players like Mata/Hazard/Oscar are going to really shine next year.

Kroos also plays as a #10 in a 4-2-3-1. He's the better all around midfielder because he has the defensive ability, passing range, and positional understanding to drop into the center and give the system fluidity; 4-2-3-1 4-3-3. I don't believe Mata is suited or capable of the same type of influence, though it's understandable as he started as a winger, so his natural talent is more tilted towards characteristics of a forward rather than a midfielder. I agree that the poor play from central midfield has contributed towards his tendency to drift in and out of games, but then again that was the one criticism of his game while he was at Valencia - so it can't be all on the the midfield. Shame Romeu went down for the season, though. He would've been suited for possession play alongside Mikel.

And I don't think Mata will be the central attacking playmaker long term. Oscar has better vision, is more two footed, and just has more potential in being able to pull the strings on the half turn. And he offers a lot of what Kroos does in terms of all around influence - like the job he did defensively on Pirlo, and going forward in that Juve game.


-Decent result for Barca, but concerned about the return leg with Masch out, and Messi probably out. The new CB pairing will be vulnerable, and without Messi in that second half Barca had 40% less touches in the final third. Hopefully he's fit, but hard to be effective w/ a bad hamstring. Equalizer was deflected, but of course everyone has a go at Valdes anyway.

 

[fear the ibis]

Exchanging jerseys at halftime?

 

[mastamind89]

Exchanging jerseys at halftime?

Between who? I came back from the bathroom and the just finished talking about it

This Malaga-BVB game is real entertaining, both sides really going at each other

 

[keepie uppie]

This Malaga-BVB game is real entertaining, both sides really going at each other

i'm surprised it's 0-0 at halftime...
BvB had a lot of the ball in the first 30mins or so but Malaga picked it up and enjoyed possession towards the end of that first half...
four good chances for BvB to score...all saved by the Malaga keeper...
Malaga had one good opportunity to take the lead but Weligton's header was saved...

 

[keepie uppie]

Gotze with another good opportunity but his shot went straight across goal...damn,these misses might just haunt BvB...

 

[fear the ibis]

Between who? I came back from the bathroom and the just finished talking about it

Benzema and Eboue I believe.



Galatasaray haven't looked the same since Sneijder came off.

 

[eracism]

It's ova.

Sergio Ramos and Alonso need to get their yellows now.

 

[mastamind89]

This Malaga-BVB game is real entertaining, both sides really going at each other

i'm surprised it's 0-0 at halftime...
BvB had a lot of the ball in the first 30mins or so but Malaga picked it up and enjoyed possession towards the end of that first half...
four good chances for BvB to score...all saved by the Malaga keeper...
Malaga had one good opportunity to take the lead but Weligton's header was saved...

Very surprising that it remained goalless. Both sides had some great chances. Next game is gonna be real good. I wouldn't be surprised if it went to penalties. But Wellington will be missing the next game.

Between who? I came back from the bathroom and the just finished talking about it

Benzema and Eboue I believe.



Galatasaray haven't looked the same since Sneijder came off.

I figured it was Eboue

He doesn't off much defensively which they needed but what he offered attacking wise was lost once he came off...unfortunately. Wish they did score, would make the next game better

 

[dlo13]

It's ova.

Sergio Ramos and Alonso need to get their yellows now.

Ramos so blatant with it.

 

[chiva1908]

This Monterrey vs galaxy game should be interesting for us NorthAmerican footy fans...

 

[Deleted member 38182]

This Monterrey vs galaxy game should be interesting for us NorthAmerican footy fans...

Do we really have that many dudes that post in here not from North America??

That actually makes a lot of sense. A lot of yall type kinda funny in here anyways

 

[AZwildcats]

I was watching the Real Madrid game today with a couple friends, and the discussion led to how the European giants were not as strong as their counterparts from a decade ago. You guys think this is true? I think there is an argument for it.

 

[Coupé It]

All I know is that FC Porto my favorite team, has two champions league titles and two Europa league titles. They're not a "powerhouse". They could have made it deeper this year if they never sold Falcao or Hulk. But that's what they do.

Anyways, anyone want to join me on Fifa Xbox CoupeIt88

 

[boogiexdown]

Galaxy should be up 3-0

 

[chiva1908]

Do we really have that many dudes that post in here not from North America??

That actually makes a lot of sense. A lot of yall type kinda funny in here anyways

I'd say 90% of us live in North America, but only about 10-15% of us actually follow/adore a Notth American team...

 

[chiva1908]

Monterrey just tied the game 1-1, they will bully them back at Estadio Tecnologico.

Monterrey vs santos in the final

AGAIN

 

[Deleted member 38182]

Do we really have that many dudes that post in here not from North America??

That actually makes a lot of sense. A lot of yall type kinda funny in here anyways

I'd say 90% of us live in North America, but only about 10-15% of us actually follow/adore a Notth American team...

Ohhhh I gotcha. I definitely don't adore the LA Galaxy, but I follow them more than I do with Hotspur or any other foreign teams I like mainly because the Galaxy are the most accessible team to follow and attend games. Never understood the hate for the MLS or Liga MX.

Its like if we lived in Spain or Greece and were basketball fans, of course we'd be fans of the NBA and the Lakers/Heat/Knicks/etc but we'd also follow the local team we have available to us like Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, FC Barcelona, or Real Madrid (basketball clubs)

 

[Deleted member 38182]

WOW SM ******g H

 

[imasoleman18]

 

[boogiexdown]

WOW SM ******g H

:x

 

[chiva1908]

Telling y'all, it's a wrap.... They gonna get demolished in Monterrey

 

[chiva1908]

So much class

 

[liljrdn]

Ronaldinho still got it :x

 

[JJ Goon]

Ronaldinho could of been one of the best ever im sure of it,

If only he could keep himself out of Catwalk Club in Barcelona every damn night, Dude might aswell of had his own booth in that place the amount of time he was in that Club

 

[eiddyfouw]

Ronaldinho could of been one of the best ever im sure of it,

If only he could keep himself out of Catwalk Club in Barcelona every damn night, Dude might aswell of had his own booth in that place the amount of time he was in that Club

I shutter to think how much more he could have been had he focussed as much as someone like Messi or Ronaldo when it came to training and discipline.