Football thread 2022/23

[Fry Crayola]

It's a pretty important part...

[Stopharage]

11 hours ago, Gabe said:

Has there ever been a more boring transfer saga than the De Jong affair?

Griezman. Even made a documentary about it that makes Pogba look shy and retiring. 

 

[deerokus]

Dundee Utd getting an absolute battering away to AZ Alkmaar. 6-0 down within a minute of the start of the second half.

 

 

[Fry Crayola]

St Pat's got beat 2-0 by CSKA Sofia, but were unlucky really. A poorly defended corner let CSKA score early in the first half but Pat's were the better team in the second half, only to concede a late and unfortunate penalty. After that, the game was well closed out by the Bulgarians.

 

Just Shamrock Rovers left, but that'll last until early November.

[bear]

On 11/08/2022 at 10:07, Chewylegs said:

I know this might be a very simplistic view but rather than selling off everything but the kitchen sink at Barcelona and buying tons of players they can't afford, why don't they just make do with their current squad and sell a big asset (De Jong), like nearly all other clubs have to when they've fucked up their finances?

 

 

I've seen a few people speculate that their major sponsorships and shirt deals have performance clauses that could be due to come into effect if they have another "poor" season. There was a lot of talk about Man Utds deal with Adidas and how missing out on Champions League affects the deal so it's not like a performance clause would be unique to Barcelona.

 

The theory is that they are taking a big gamble on having a good season so that'll reset the performance clauses on those sponsorships and buy them a few years to get their finances in better shape. Seems incredibly risky to me but at least there's some logic to that theory. 

[glb]

If there is truth to that, and it sounds perfectly feasible, it makes their 8-2 implosion against Bayern in the Champions League a few years ago even more glorious.

[ryodi]

 

Quote

 

From this current season up to and including 2024/25, ITV have secured the UK rights to 10 matches per season, with either FC Barcelona, Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid appearing in ITV games.

ITV’s first LaLigamatch will be Real Sociedad v FCBarcelona on Sunday August 21st, following a deal with rights holders Premier Sports. Coverage will begin on ITV4 at 8:30pm, with kick-off at 9pm.

 

Always good to get top flight games on free to air even with the ridiculous kick off times they have in Spain.

[feltmonkey]

I think the bottom end of the table could be very interesting this season.  Last season there was a fair bit of dross, with Norwich and Watford way below Premier League level, so it was just a case of who would fill that third spot out of the many candidates.  This season, there's a lot more quality in general through the league.  There aren't the obvious relegation candidates.  You might have said Bournemouth and Fulham, but Bournemouth won their opening fixture handily, and Fulham outplayed Liverpool.  Fulham definitely look well-equipped to stop yoyoing this season.  They have a goalscorer, and a hard-working midfield who are capable of creating as well.  Their defence looks thin, but they could do well.  

 

So who do you all think might go down?  Bournemouth still look to be lacking in quality for me, and Forest might struggle due to the entirely new team they've put together.  I could see either cruising to safety though.  Everton and Aston Villa could both be in trouble.  Both have fairly weak squads scattered with very good but inconsistent star players, and both have really bad managers, the two worst managers in the league now that Bruce is safely contained back in the Football League and the usual managerial merry-go-round characters are currently not stinking up the place.  Although Alardyce and Pulis are probably better managers than Lampard and Gerrard.  Gerrard has the same win percentage for Villa as Gary Neville had at Valencia, did you know?   Leeds have lost key players and their iconic manager, and were lucky to survive last season, but they won their first game, and Brenden Aaronson looks a really good signing.  Plus, having Bamford back will be a huge boost to them.  I can't see Brighton or Crystal Palace being anywhere near a relegation fight.  Brentford might go down as they have lost Eriksen, who revived them last season, but they have kept hold of Toney.  Leicester haven't bought anyone, have lost their captain, and might lose their best defender, but they've been a top of the table team for years, and it would be a huge fall for them to end up in the bottom three.

 

I think this could be the season where we see someone genuinely surprising go down.  Someone unthinkable.  

Spoiler

 

[SMD]

with the world cup right in the middle of the season, it's going to be hard to make predictions since we have no idea what injuries, fatigue or breaks will do to the dynamics at each club. will liverpool appreciate the 6 weeks off to recharge or will they be absolute shit like every time they come back from internationals? will city find it hard to build a rhythm or will they find it easier to play on autopilot? will sides down the table appreciate the extra time on the training pitch or will their stars go to the world cup and come back more tired and less focused than before?

 

and will lampard finally take everton down as god intended

[skadupuk]

A couple of the newly promoted teams pulling off a good result in their first games is practically guaranteed though, it's not an indication of their quality over the full season, I wouldn't say that either Bournemouth or Fulham have strong squads.

 

You mention Fulham have a goalscorer, but he was there the last two times in the EPL, Mitrovic scored over half the league goals he's scored for Fulham last season alone (he's had 4 and a half seasons there), his last two EPL returns were 11 and 3 goals, his only other strong season was in the Chamionship.

 

[davidcotton]

With the World Cup in November that gives the teams players in the lower half of the league who aren’t going a nice little breather and a chance for some warm weather training which could make the difference in May. 

[feltmonkey]

3 minutes ago, skadupuk said:

A couple of the newly promoted teams pulling off a good result in their first games is practically guaranteed though, it's not an indication of their quality over the full season, I wouldn't say that either Bournemouth or Fulham have strong squads.

 

You mention Fulham have a goalscorer, but he was there the last two times in the EPL, Mitrovic scored over half the league goals he's scored for Fulham last season alone (he's had 4 and a half seasons there), his last two EPL returns were 11 and 3 goals, his only other strong season was in the Chamionship.

 

 

I take your point about promoted teams sometimes doing well on the opening weekend, but it can be an indicator of an ability to compete and stay up, like Brentford last season. On the other hand of course, Blackpool.  

 

Regarding Mitrovic though, 11 isn't a bad return in a relegation battle, and the 3 came when Parker took against him and wouldn't pick him.  Last season could be not some kind of anomaly but the season he really cracked it.  His performance against Liverpool was brilliant. Hard-working, smart, and effective.  He can do it.  If you want to be more cynical, you could correct my post as "Fulham might have a goalscorer" but I don't think you can just write Mitrovic off at this stage.

[feltmonkey]

11 minutes ago, SMD said:

with the world cup right in the middle of the season, it's going to be hard to make predictions since we have no idea what injuries, fatigue or breaks will do to the dynamics at each club. will liverpool appreciate the 6 weeks off to recharge or will they be absolute shit like every time they come back from internationals? will city find it hard to build a rhythm or will they find it easier to play on autopilot? will sides down the table appreciate the extra time on the training pitch or will their stars go to the world cup and come back more tired and less focused than before?

 

and will lampard finally take everton down as god intended

 

2 minutes ago, davidcotton said:

With the World Cup in November that gives the teams players in the lower half of the league who aren’t going a nice little breather and a chance for some warm weather training which could make the difference in May. 

 

Yes, the World Cup is an absolute wild card, and will surely have some effect. It backs up my speculation that we might have some surprises in store with regards to the final table.

[skadupuk]

I think it's more the "might have" rather than writing him off, there's been a decent number of strikers that seem to top out at Champ level and can put up great numbers there and not make the jump to the EPL.

 

On  the who'll go down front, I'd be worried if I were an Everton fan, I can't see the improvement in their squad (overall) and many around them have strengthened, the fact that they view Michy Batshuayi as the possible solution to their limited striker options wouldnt give me comfort that they know what they are doing.

[Plissken]

Everton have no plan, every signing is incoherent. Individually they have good players but it is nowhere near a collective.

 

I desperately want Dwight McNeil to get his confidence back and become the player he can be. Goodison Park under Frank Lampard is not the place for that to happen.

[glb]

In all honesty, the weekly hot takes we get on podcasts and social media probably skew reality. Over nine long months Man City will win the league, Liverpool will be second, Spurs/Arsenal/Chelsea will fight for 3rd and 4th, West Ham/Leicester/Man United will battle for the other European places and the promoted sides will all struggle once the longer nights kick in. The only outlier I can see doing something is Newcastle, who could get in on those European places if they maintain their form since the start of the year.

 

Everton are a rabble but once Dyche comes in for Lampard they’ll be fine; they won’t ever go down. They’re the Jason Vorhees of the Premier League and cannot ever truly be vanquished.

[bradigor]

Pickford's distribution must be so frustrating for the Everton fans. He kicks it either out of play or straight back to the opposition more than most other keepers.

[spork]

1 hour ago, skadupuk said:

 

On  the who'll go down front, I'd be worried if I were a Man Utd fan, I can't see the improvement in their squad (overall) and many around them have strengthened, the fact that they view Marko Arnautovic as the possible solution to their limited striker options wouldnt give me comfort that they know what they are doing.

 

1 hour ago, Plissken said:

Man Utd have no plan, every signing is incoherent. Individually they have good players but it is nowhere near a collective.

 

I desperately want Marcus Rashford to get his confidence back and become the player he can be. Old Trafford is not the place for that to happen.

 

19 minutes ago, bradigor said:

De Gea's distribution must be so frustrating for the Man Utd fans. He kicks it either out of play or straight back to the opposition more than most other keepers.

 

It's amazing how what you guys are saying about Everton can easily be switched slightly and it sums up Manchester United.

 

/😢

[Keiths_Dad]

Ings is a fantastic player, isn't he? He didn't really get a fair go of it at Liverpool, but everywhere else he has been brilliant. 

 

I know his numbers aren't spectacular, but I always enjoy watching Watkins as well. I think Villa will be fine this year.

 

Everton though, shite last season and based on what I've seen so far here, they'll be lucky to stay up again. I just hope Lampard is still in place if they do get relegated.

[bradigor]

5 minutes ago, spork said:

 

 

 

It's amazing how what you guys are saying about Everton can easily be switched slightly and it sums up Manchester United.

 

/😢

 

I just double checked I hadn't actually mentioned De Gea in error 

[glb]

6 minutes ago, Keiths_Dad said:

Ings is a fantastic player, isn't he? He didn't really get a fair go of it at Liverpool, but everywhere else he has been brilliant. 

 

I know his numbers aren't spectacular, but I always enjoy watching Watkins as well. I think Villa will be fine this year.

 

Everton though, shite last season and based on what I've seen so far here, they'll be lucky to stay up again. I just hope Lampard is still in place if they do get relegated.

Ings was so unlucky with those back-to-back knee injuries while at Liverpool. He’s one of those strikers that was perfect for us but misfortune said otherwise.

 

Pleased to see him doing well elsewhere, he’s a really good forward.

[ryodi]

Both Villa and Everton are bad but at least Lampard has the excuse that half of his squad are injured and they sold their best player. Villa should be better than this with the players they have. 

[DirkCrisis]

Hmm ... Maupay to Forest seems like a done deal. Not sure how I feel about that. He was our joint top scorer last season although he wasn't really used at the end of last season and that trend seems to be continuing. We supposedly have a replacement in Undav but he has the "German forward in the PL" risk.

 

If Forest get him for £15m then that's good business for them.

[skadupuk]

1 minute ago, DirkCrisis said:

Hmm ... Maupay to Forest seems like a done deal. Not sure how I feel about that. He was our joint top scorer last season although he wasn't really used at the end of last season and that trend seems to be continuing. We supposedly have a replacement in Undav but he has the "German forward in the PL" risk.

 

If Forest get him for £15m then that's good business for them.

 

I'm bloody delighted, was always our achiles heel on derby day.

 

Rumours of Chelsea going after Zaha (he only has a year left on his deal), means we might both without our usual party ruiners for the two games this year.

[DirkCrisis]

We do have Julio Enciso but he's only 18 although he is a full Paraguay international. Having seen him in an U23 match the other week it looks like he is capable of filling Maupay's proper dickhead role.

[BitterToad]

3 hours ago, skadupuk said:

A couple of the newly promoted teams pulling off a good result in their first games is practically guaranteed though, it's not an indication of their quality over the full season, I wouldn't say that either Bournemouth or Fulham have strong squads.

 

You mention Fulham have a goalscorer, but he was there the last two times in the EPL, Mitrovic scored over half the league goals he's scored for Fulham last season alone (he's had 4 and a half seasons there), his last two EPL returns were 11 and 3 goals, his only other strong season was in the Chamionship.

 

He’s in the form of his life and barely played the last time we were in the prem because Scott Parker’s a knob. And the season he got 11 we were one of the worst teams in Premier League history. 
 

It’s far from a done thing banging in two goals on the opening weekend but he’s a proven goal scorer at international level that it’s just never quite lined up for in the prem. 

 

Anyway, Everton are dog shit aren’t they?

[glb]

Well-in Villa.

 

Everton have as much penetration as a eunuch.

 

Edit:  timing!

[skadupuk]

This last ten minutes (for a neutral) has been fantastic.

[glb]

Yeah, was a last 10 minutes that packed in a half of football. Could have ended 3-3.

[Naysonymous]

That was much closer than it needed to be.  Villa looked in control for most of the match, but we still switch off too often and we are prone to panicking.  I bloody love Emi 
Buendia though.