SkinssRvA

1 hour ago, Long n Left said:

Wow, this could get interesting. Conte out, rumors of Willian, Hazard, and Kante moving?

 

Chelsea playing this season to avoid relegation? 

Conte has always been out so that's not really news.  Willian is most likely to leave.

Hazard and Kante not for sale according to the most relevant twitter heads on Chelsea side.  With a new manager in Sarri incoming I am sure he has been given reassurance that the two most important players on the team are staying. Especially considering both of them have multiple years on their contracts left. 

16 hours ago, Mournblade said:

 

Um, its a country in South America? With tremendous WC pedigree? 

 

well you left out the part about losing loads of generational talent as well as possibly the greatest player the sport has ever known...

47 minutes ago, Mournblade said:

 

This was a once in a century opportunity for them to make the WC final. You'll never see them in contention again, not with Brazil, Argentina, Germany,

France and Italy standing in their way. 

Argentina? 

Well, I'll be rooting for Croatia.  And then I'll be rooting for Saturday/Sunday to get here quick so we can start talking about the 2018/19 PL champion mighty CFC and no more of these 3 lions posts 

1 hour ago, Elessar78 said:

Deschamps may not be a tactical genius but when a manager gets a team to play together, to not give in to infighting, keep egos in check-it’s a big thing.

 

France imploded under the egos of benzema, nasri, et al in prev world cups. 

 

Argentina, Uruguay (without Cavani), and Belgium is no small feat. 

 

Pavard has had had a great WC. 6 caps before it started. Managed Di Maria and Hazard so far. Goal of the tournament candidate. I think City are in for him now.

 

Kante and Matuidi are the soul of this team. Big loss if Matuidi can’t play in the final. Second strike syndrome is a very real thing-not sure if I’d skip a World Cup final for it though.

In consistent enforcement of the laws. I believe it’s written into the laws that ten must be given or ref can issue a caution.

Hazard had his way with Pavard, as he did with pretty much every team he played this World Cup. He's just not a huge goal scoring threat, and never has been.  There's far more to his game than getting a goal.  He had 10 successful take-ons yesterday, the most memorable one against Pavard in which he literally sent him to the ground gliding past him.  Haz had a record 10 successful take-ons at 100% success rate against Brazil, which is a WC record as well. 

Sorry, had to defend my boy a bit.  Pavard is a very good player though and I agre with the rest of what you say.  The midfield of France dictates games.  Pogba has been very good this WC too and it's because of the work Kante and Matuidi do.  

Nigeria has a good chance of beating Argentina the way they played today.  I will be rooting though for iceland to put the nail in the coffin tomorrow and grab a win.

tough tournament for Peru.  They had lots of missed opportunities in both games to get points.  

2 minutes ago, MisterPinstripe said:

Sure, but my comment was more in reply to Elessar78 saying that Portugal won the Euros without Ronaldo as he was injured in the first half. Argentina is a team that should be good without Messi as they still have a lot of good players, but they just cant seem to put it together. If a team sends 3 guys to cover Messi throughout a game Argentina has the players that should be able to take advantage, but for some reason they cant.

 

The best teams in the world tend to have more than one player, Portugal to me is the exception to that. I wouldnt say Poland is much of a threat either with Lewa.

 

Uruguay has seemed rather toothless this tournament, not much of an attacking threat. At this point I would expect Russia to beat them based on the two games so far which is surprising.

AHh I see.  I think that's right.  The main difference I see between Portugal and Argentina is Portugal as a team have basically accepted that they will play for Ronaldo.  Ronaldo or bust.  Argentina, because they have talented individuals outside of messi, expect messi to play with them.  Every time messi misses a PK, FK, or has an error the other personalities on the team want to take it on their shoulders to help the team.  They will take individual risks.  However Portugal will play more at ease and search out Ronaldo because they simply understand he is their best option, always.  

1 minute ago, MisterPinstripe said:

Regardless of the ranking, which may not be super accurate but still gives you a general idea, Portugal doesnt get to and win the Euros without Ronaldo and arent considered a big threat in the WC either.

This goes for a lot of nations though.  Only few countries in the world boast a dominant well rounded team.  Take Lewa away from Poland.  Ronaldo obviously. Messi even.  There are only a few teams around that can get by without their superstar player: Germany, Spain, France...maybe Brazil. Maybe Belgium although losing Hazard or De Bruyne would really hurt.  

Without Ronaldo Portugal aren't top 10 in the world like they are ranked by Fifa. But he's a top 2 player of course there will be major fluctuation in the rankings due to his fitness. He changes matches.   

2 hours ago, Zazzaro703 said:

Even as a player, this World Cup has been really hard to watch other than a handful of games. Teams have been really poor in the attacking third. Also, having just watched the War in Ice for two months makes it extremely hard to watch people get flicked in the ear and do 13 barrel rolls on the ground acting like they are near death when I just watched people get hit with a brick of rubber at 90mph and not miss a shift for two months.

It takes a while for these players to gel and build chemistry.  Obviously they aren't playing with each other as much as club football...I expect the knockout stages to be much more exciting.  De Bruyne for example today has looked pretty poor, but we know he's a great player.  It's a different system with different players and it just takes time.  Germany struggled too but you can see the pieces are there it's just that extra half second of doubt that causes problems.  

Suarez has been shocking all game. 

Zidane stepping down at RM.  He's done it right...waltz into the greatest job the in the world, win three consecutive champions league with the best squad possible, and leave on a high note.  He will get an astronomical fee wherever he decides to go next.

34 minutes ago, FanboyOf91 said:

Pep just needs to spend 100 million more for a productive offseason.

And that's just on fullbacks.  you forget the 200 million for attackers 

Wow karius with the horrible mistake 

Yea that’s a dirty tackle, knew exactly what he was doing. 

Everyone knows the FA cup is more important than champions league. 

34 minutes ago, SkinInsite said:

You still have to beat the bus parkers 

It's gonna be two buses parked against each other.  Whichever moves first loses.  

Conte is one of the most stubborn managers I have ever seen.  Boring, boring Chelsea this year, since day 1 Burnley.  We parked the bus today against mighty newcastle in the first half for crying out loud. 

Well thank God the season is over and I can get excited about perennial powerhouse that is the Washington Redskins....

20 hours ago, FrFan said:

Doesn't matter they're going to kick some galacticos' asses

Haha, I just can't do it.  I can't bring myself to root for Liverpool and if the situation was reversed they'd all say the same.  BUT, I'm not too proud to say it's a great achievement for them to be there.  For English footie as a whole I think it's a good thing.  We are starting to see the decline of the spanish sides and the rise of the English sides.  Maybe this year was a bit too premature, but the shift in power is real.  All the money is in England, all the managers are moving to England, the players are coming too.  La Liga was boosted by 2 all time generational talents.  

I just hope one of those all time generational talents has an all time generational talent type night on the 26th.  

5 hours ago, dchogs said:

If Chelsea win out, Liverpool needs to win v Brighton.  If Chelsea draws one game, Liverpool can draw.  If Chelsea lose a game, Liverpool is set now. 

 

I think. 

Yep forgot Liverpool is a game up. A win and they are good. Anything else and it’s game on 

Liverpool are safe as long as Chelsea don't score a million more goals.  Our hope is Tottenham losing a game here at the end.  Haven't pulled for Rafa in a long time...

actually just kidding i think pool have to win next game?  

Real continue to skate by.  Remarkable really, I think they have no business being in another final.  I really dislike Sergio Ramos, the guy is constantly whining and getting in the referees face.  It's so annoying to watch.  

Maybe if Memphis spent more time training and being a team player and less time doing arm curls in front of a gym mirror he'd turn out to be a good player 

I would be absolutely shocked if Liverpool draw anyone other than Roma.  

Here is Pep, after his loss to Liverpool.  Just as I said he would.  450m in investments to an already very strong Man City squad.  One of the most talented teams in the world....he wants NEEDS more.  Nothing on his failed tactics, nothing on having a better team....just the fact that he needs more investment.  

"It is impossible to do that, to play the way we play, the results we achieved, without top players. It's impossible," he said.

"And today, the top players cost a lot of money. When you say: 'Pep, what you have done in Barcelona or Bayern Munich, is it possible to do that without those big players?' -- it's impossible, so be calm.

"We need money to buy and to play in that level all the time. Only I would say that all the teams around the world -- maybe in two years we spent more -- but over an average of five or 10 years a lot of teams spend a lot of money.

"To achieve these results you need this investment. If not you need miracles, and I am not able to do that."