ES Soccer Thread

[FanboyOf91]

I would say Mourinho needs to do a Rafa Benitez and coach some mid-sized club back to glory.

But that would imply he could handle it like Rafa.

[FrFan]

19 hours ago, Gibbs Hog Heaven said:

Follow

Will you go to the game in London vs Bengals ?

[DC9]

What a match.

Only caught tid bits at work and missed the whole first half.

From what I saw, excellent ball movement and essentially bossed the game.

NEVER a penalty for Lamela... that was an awful call.

Loved seeing the youngins play well and I thought Mignolet was excellent in goal today.

On to the quarters.

Oh, and of course, fair play to Sturridge today

Need more of that.

[Morrison J]

We'll take you in the next round. 

 

Garry Monk.

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Another superb night out with Jürgens Reds.  

I'll NEVER understand the attitude that the League Cup ISN'T important. Absolutely brilliant night that I invested just as much passion through as I did Sat'day the league against West Brom. People that diminish a major trophy and a chance of silverware are beyond me and make me SERIOUSLY question just WHY they are a football 'fan' to begin with?

Thankfully, these Reds, and their manager, want to win everything going. And I'm just fine experiencing that ride with them.

Tonight was the perfect game/ scenario at the perfect time. With Pochetino making it well known three weeks back he was putting out a second string, it allowed us for probably the only time this year outside of lower league opponents the FA Cup early rounds to make changes. And make changes he did. 11 of them from West Brom. With still a very experienced side (people STILL want to tell us we have no quality depth?) sprinkled with some of the best Kirkby has to offer. And to a man they were absolutely superb in another game were it not for the opposition 'keeper L'pool would of recorded another 4 or 5 goal win. Kudos to Vorm who made two absolute Worldie stops among his many. The 15/20 minute spell the start the second half was one of the best we've produced all season, which is saying something for these special Reds; with some stunning, relentless attacking football. Sturridge and Origi absolutely superb. I just LOVED how Sturridge went to sort out Origi's cramp, notifying the bench then leading the applause for him going off. The selfish **** that he is like according to the media! Trent Alexander-Arnold showing just why he's so highly thought of and why there was no intention of buying a back-up for Clyne the summer in a superb debut. Ejaria with another very mature showing way beyond his 18 years. Grujić displaying his full repertoire of talents that had him such a highly sought after target across Europe. Lucas being a proper captain and leading by experienced example whilst helping every last one of them. Complete and utter disgrace the bellend ref. could give a peno for that. Kev Stewart as dependable as ever outside of a 10 minute spell before half time he pushed up too much and got caught. Even Alby Moreno and Mingolet having excellent games to their credit given the situation they've been relegated to. But Sturridge and Origi, complimented by Danny Ings when he came on, were a cut above anything the park. Brilliant to see Origi's back playing with confidence and finally looking like the Divock that ended last season. With Daniel Sturridge yet again reminding everyone that he's by far and away the best striker at the club and the best England has to offer by a Country mile. When he play's like that he's an absolute dream to watch. But frustratingly, he often doesn't and lacks that movement at pace which renders him nowhere near the fit for this team that Bobby Firmino is. A frustrating quandary he needs to adapt and sort out himself if he's to get more nights like tonight as the star performer. 

Eleven changes, a change in formation to a 4-4-2 diamond, with a couple of top kids to boot, and not a drop off in the sparkling football that's been evident all season.

Roll on tomorrows draw and the next victims. Can it be Sat'day already and Palace?

Up the (yet another) League Cup Quarter Final hungry Reds! 

Hail. 

Edited October 25, 2016 by Gibbs Hog Heaven

[DC9]

2 hours ago, Morrison J said:

We'll take you in the next round. 

 

Garry Monk.

 

If you want to give Jurgen an up close look at Charlie Taylor pre-January, with money banked from the summer, then lets plan on it.

We've talked before on him and you know I want him.

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

10 hours ago, DC9 said:

 

If you want to give Jurgen an up close look at Charlie Taylor pre-January, with money banked from the summer, then lets plan on it.

We've talked before on him and you know I want him.

 

Maybe, just maybe, we have the long term answer to the LB problem already among our ranks .....

Alberto Moreno last night was superb. Yes. THAT Alberto Moreno! When he's not in the side, you forget the lightening pace and attacking threat he brings which is almost unmatched throughout the PL in that skill set regard at the position. Last night, the same as his last outing at Derby, he was very smart in both possession and positionallyl in knowing when to go and when not. Yeah, he got caught out a couple of times and everyone was groaning as it was Alby Moreno with his past history. But that's going to happen regardless with the chances we take going forward and the last two games he's played he's looked markedly better at that. He was also timing his challenges much better and not blindly diving in as before whilst still making some superb, hard tackles. He's looked like a proper, modern, all round full back which is an unbelievable thing to say on him after the first  two years. 

It's been very noticeable Klopp has gone to of his way twice now to make a point of how fantastic Moreno has been in training and how hard he's working. 

Maybe, just maybe, this time out of the limelight sat learning watching Milner and working hard to what's asked from the coaches in training will leave us with the long term LB solution already on our books.

Hail. 

Edited October 26, 2016 by Gibbs Hog Heaven

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Liverpools defence as a whole has been massively improved this year. Other fans on these here boards even seem to be believing the media bull**** over the lack of clean sheets and the crazed analysis of the set piece defending every time we concede. But overall we've been excellent defensively. It'll probably come as a major surprise to people, but in the Premier League this term, L'pool's defence has limited the opposition to less shots at their goal per game than any other team in the league. An average of 8 per game over the season. No goals conceded from open play the last 6 games. From open play we're defending superbly. 

Everyone, wrongly and naively, just thinks as Klopp as an all out attack, 'heavy metal' football manager. Completely forgetting that he spent a large chunk of his playing career at centre half so has as good an appreciation and understanding for that end of the pitch as he does the attacking end. The first thing he did at Dortmund was have a massive turnaround in their defence. (They went from conceding 62 goals the previous season as runners-up to 38 his first year.). Just like he did at Mainz. And just like he repeatedly said when he came to L'pool that all good sides are built from the back and that defensive base. We've conceded 12 goals now in 12 games this season. A quarter of which came in the opening game at Arsenal. With no side scoring more than one against us the last 10 games and counting. And that's been done without the first choice back four and goalkeeper for all but three of those games. 

L'pool have conceded only 2 more goals through the first quarter of the league season than Arsenal, Chelsea and City. And 1 less than Utd. Tottenham have only conceded 4. Yet all have been from set plays. But funnily enough the media aren't micro-analysing their problems defending them. Yet even given the more than favourable comparisons this 'myth' that our defence is poor and will ultimately cost us keeps being perpetuated by the media and believed and repeated by opposition fans as the latest stick to beat a L'pool side everyone is getting more and more fearful of by the passing game. 

Hail. 
 

Edited October 26, 2016 by Gibbs Hog Heaven

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

The lowdown on the Liverpool youngsters Jurgen Klopp sees as the next generation Reds stars | JOE.co.uk

Another very good read from Barrett (who's returned to top form since he's moved to JOE.co.uk. Well worth following/ reading) on some of the best Kirkby has to offer. 

Love the throw away tidbits Tony brings others don't like on the Brazilians being blown away by how technically skilled Ejaria is when he got bumped up to training with the first team. 

Hail. 

Edited October 26, 2016 by Gibbs Hog Heaven

[btfoom]

Per Wash Post, DC United playoff match vs Montreal will be blacked out in the DC area (unless you want to watch on WMDO - Spanish station):

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2016/10/25/montreal-mystery-will-didier-drogba-return-to-face-d-c-united-in-mls-playoffs/

********************

In hopes of boosting ticket sales, United has decided not to show the playoff on its local affiliate. Instead, it will appear only on UniMas, a national Spanish-language platform that is contracted to show all four first-round games.

In the Washington area, WMDO Channel 22 is the UniMas affiliate. UniMas is also available on most cable and satellite carriers. Its MLS matches come with English commentary through secondary audio programming (SAP). United says subscribers to MLS Live, the digital pay service, will not confront a local blackout.

In the regular season, 24 United matches appeared on Sinclair-owned NewsChannel 8 or WJLA-7, the other 10 on national platforms (ESPN, ESPN2, FS1 or UniMas). Those local broadcasts were also fed to Sinclair stations in Baltimore, Richmond, Norfolk and Roanoke.

“We are encouraging people to come out and support the team during the playoffs,” the club said of its playoff decision.

FS1 (Seattle vs. Kansas City) and ESPN2 (Toronto vs. Philadelphia) will carry one first-round match apiece. All games in the subsequent rounds are available on ESPN or FS1. The Fox national network will carry MLS Cup on Dec. 10. …

Jair Marrufo has been named the referee for the United-Impact match. … The game-time weather forecast calls for 61 degrees and likelihood of rain. …

 

So, for everyone who has supported the team, but either can't (or don't want) to come out in the cold rain, DCU now just tells us too bad, can't watch our product.  Sucks as I really wanted to watch the match.

 

 

[dchogs]

43 minutes ago, btfoom said:

Per Wash Post, DC United playoff match vs Montreal will be blacked out in the DC area (unless you want to watch on WMDO - Spanish station):

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2016/10/25/montreal-mystery-will-didier-drogba-return-to-face-d-c-united-in-mls-playoffs/

********************

In hopes of boosting ticket sales, United has decided not to show the playoff on its local affiliate. Instead, it will appear only on UniMas, a national Spanish-language platform that is contracted to show all four first-round games.

In the Washington area, WMDO Channel 22 is the UniMas affiliate. UniMas is also available on most cable and satellite carriers. Its MLS matches come with English commentary through secondary audio programming (SAP). United says subscribers to MLS Live, the digital pay service, will not confront a local blackout.

In the regular season, 24 United matches appeared on Sinclair-owned NewsChannel 8 or WJLA-7, the other 10 on national platforms (ESPN, ESPN2, FS1 or UniMas). Those local broadcasts were also fed to Sinclair stations in Baltimore, Richmond, Norfolk and Roanoke.

“We are encouraging people to come out and support the team during the playoffs,” the club said of its playoff decision.

FS1 (Seattle vs. Kansas City) and ESPN2 (Toronto vs. Philadelphia) will carry one first-round match apiece. All games in the subsequent rounds are available on ESPN or FS1. The Fox national network will carry MLS Cup on Dec. 10. …

Jair Marrufo has been named the referee for the United-Impact match. … The game-time weather forecast calls for 61 degrees and likelihood of rain. …

 

So, for everyone who has supported the team, but either can't (or don't want) to come out in the cold rain, DCU now just tells us too bad, can't watch our product.  Sucks as I really wanted to watch the match.

 

 

It is crazy how otter teams/companies get this so wrong. DCU should be more interested in continuing to build a support base rather than worry about revenues from a couple playoff games.  Seems to be cutting off their support despite the team. 

[Morrison J]

15 hours ago, DC9 said:

 

If you want to give Jurgen an up close look at Charlie Taylor pre-January, with money banked from the summer, then lets plan on it.

We've talked before on him and you know I want him.

Charlie is going nowhere now our promotion push is gathering steam 

[FanboyOf91]

Yeah, Mou is above this sort of thing.

[btfoom]

1 hour ago, dchogs said:

14 minutes ago, FanboyOf91 said:

Yeah, Mou is above this sort of thing.

If you listen closely, you can hear Mou asking "What are those fellas in the white/black shirts doing?"

[btfoom]

In US player news, Bobby Wood scored two goals in Hamburg's 4-0 DFB Pokal (League Cup) match yesterday and Wood's fellow U.S. international Fabian Johnson was also on the scoresheet as Borussia Monchengladbach beat Stuttgart 2-0.:

http://www.espnfc.us/german-dfb-pokal/story/2981235/bayer-leverkusen-crash-out-of-dfb-pokal-to-third-tier-club-on-penalties

Also, Julian Green gets the start up front for Bayern in their match vs Augsburg.  Unfortunately Christian Pusilic was listed as 'injured' and may not available to play for Dortmund. 

[Old Bay]

Newcastle looking very nice.  Matt Ritchie was a good signing.  But then they had a good transfer window overall.

Surprisingly, Blackburn had a similar style goal, touching the ball 25 times before scoring against Derby, I think it was.  Very pretty goal.  Too bad we're still battling relegation.

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Pep just said he hopes to "reduce the huge distance" between them and United/Liverpool in terms of club size.

 

Good of him to acknowledge that and not say anything deluded like Mourinho.

 

Hail. 

[btfoom]

and Julian Green scores on a wonderful header to put Bayern in the lead, 2-0.  Nice couple days for US internationals in the Pokal.

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Ok, any draw other than a f-ing trek down Southampton or London midweek or the added hassle of getting in and out of Utd in one piece please.

Hail. 

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Home to Leeds. That'll do very nicely. 

Another semi here we come. 

Hail. 

[Morrison J]

23 hours ago, Morrison J said:

We'll take you in the next round. 

Called it 

Be an atmosphere in Anfield for a change. 

[FanboyOf91]

Congratulation to Mou for finally beating Pep's reserve squad.

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

The Klopp influence grows and grows:

Liverpool News: Reds to merge first-team and academy set-ups | Football | Sport | Daily Express 

Bit surprised like as it’s frigging windy up there off the motorway.(Interstate/ Highway.). But something had to give. Been absolutely ridiculous to have the ressies/ kids in a different facility ever since the Academy was built.

Hail. 

Edited October 26, 2016 by Gibbs Hog Heaven

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Last time we played Leeds was the third round the league cup back in 2009. Some of our young knobs created before, they came looking after, all Hell broke lose, Leeds got leathered all over (PLEASE don't let there be any revenge repercussions this time) , but that's another story. Anyway, get on the ****e Rafa put out that night:

Starting lineup
 

1		Diego Cavalieri
12		Fábio Aurélio
16		Sotirios Kyrgiakos
23		Jamie Carragher (c)
27		Philipp Degen
38		Andrea Dossena
11		Albert Riera
19		Ryan Babel
20		Javier Mascherano
26		Jay Spearing
24		David N'Gog

 

 

Horrible year Rafa's last season. And then we got ****ing Hodgson! *Shudders. 

Those times being bored ****less watching utter ****e seem a million years ago compared to watching Klopp's current version.

Hail. 

[Morrison J]

Remember that game well. Snodgrass ran the show and Mascherano should've been sent off for an elbow on Beckford in the first half. Since we've been down we've always tended to put up a good battle when we draw the higher end Prem teams. 

 

Edited October 26, 2016 by Morrison J