Tweaked Posted August 9, 2019 Share Posted August 9, 2019 I think this year we should have one thread covering the whole season, all leagues, all cup competitions. Premier League action kicks off today (Liverpool v. Norwich City 3pm). La Liga next weekend. Transfer windows are closing. Champions League and Europa League qualification is underway. The 2019/2020 season is here! Some story lines (so far): Will young Christian bloom at Chelsea? (First game at Manchester United on Sunday 11:30am, not a bad introduction) Can Eden Hazard and Zidane bring glory back to the Bernabeu? Do Messi and Ronaldo have enough left in the tank for another Champions League run? Can Man City win the Prem and win Champions League? Will anyone in Germany challenge the Bayern-Dortmund duopoly? Are there any serious challengers to Juventus is Serie A? Ligue 1, does anyone care? Post your thoughts below... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielK Posted August 9, 2019 Share Posted August 9, 2019 Obligatory COYS post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaked Posted August 9, 2019 Author Share Posted August 9, 2019 23 minutes ago, DanielK said: Obligatory COYS post. ok, story line for Daniel: Can Tottenham finally win something...anything? 😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted August 9, 2019 Share Posted August 9, 2019 Can Everton sneak into the top 4? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaked Posted August 9, 2019 Author Share Posted August 9, 2019 10 minutes ago, Ericandblueboy said: Can Everton sneak into the top 4? Not likely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielK Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 I can't remember where I saw the quote now, but one of the footie analysts was asked who could legitimately win the EPL crown this season. His answer: "Man City, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Man City's B team". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaked Posted August 14, 2019 Author Share Posted August 14, 2019 Liverpool v. Chelsea to decide the best team in Europe via some fake UEFA trophy. Wednesday August 14 3pm TNT Liverpool qualified by winning Champions League, Chelsea by winning Europa League. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielK Posted August 14, 2019 Share Posted August 14, 2019 With league games last weekend and this weekend, will this just be a contest to see which team's bench is better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted August 16, 2019 Share Posted August 16, 2019 La Liga kicks off this afternoon with Barca playing against Bilbao. Messi is out, so the front 3 will be Suarez, Griezeman and Dembele. How will they mesh? In the Premier League, the key match up is Man City v. Spurs. Spurs finally spent some money on transfers and this game will indicate whether they closed the gap against the top 2. Madrid spent a boat load of money but have they adequately replaced Ronaldo? We find out against Celta. Everton spent a ton of money but they can't even beat Crystal Palace. We'll see if the money is well spent against Watford this weekend. Also keeping my eyes on Chelsea v. Leicester (can Chelsea get into the top 6?), Atletico Madrid vs. Getafe (is Joao Felix really the next Ronaldo?), Liverpool vs. Southhampton (did Liverpool regress after not spending any money?), and Arsenal v. Burnley (are they Gunners gonna make top 4?) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielK Posted August 16, 2019 Share Posted August 16, 2019 I cannot bring myself to root for Chelsea, but I hope that Pulisic has an outstanding season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaked Posted August 17, 2019 Author Share Posted August 17, 2019 6 hours ago, DanielK said: I cannot bring myself to root for Chelsea, but I hope that Pulisic has an outstanding season. He looked good v Liverpool. Nice assist and a good goal that started a step offsides and was called back. He did not look out of place at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted August 19, 2019 Share Posted August 19, 2019 Man City, and De Bruyne specifically, looked awesome, except they didn't win. Notwithstanding the result, I think Man City is a much better team than the Spurs and there's still a gap btwn those 2 teams (except Spurs somehow find a way to draw/win head to head). Liverpool and Arsenal did win, so they're atop of the table. Both are fun teams to watch. Barca looked awful without Messi and Suarez. Trade Dembele+ for Neymar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaked Posted August 19, 2019 Author Share Posted August 19, 2019 A win at Wolves and Manchester United (today 3pm) and ManU goes top of the table on GD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielK Posted August 19, 2019 Share Posted August 19, 2019 33 minutes ago, Ericandblueboy said: Man City, and De Bruyne specifically, looked awesome, except they didn't win. Notwithstanding the result, I think Man City is a much better team than the Spurs and there's still a gap btwn those 2 teams (except Spurs somehow find a way to draw/win head to head). But, to your point the other day, that gap is narrower than last season. MC was clearly more composed on the ball, and had 10 shots on goal to Spurs 2. But possession was only 55-45, and passing was about the same gap. Spurs were without Dele and Son, and a point on the road against MC was more than anyone expected. Broke MCs 15 game EPL win streak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted August 23, 2019 Share Posted August 23, 2019 Arsenal v. Liverpool is the most exciting match-up this weekend. Both have won their first two matches (and are the only 2 teams to have won their first 2 matches). A draw? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted August 27, 2019 Share Posted August 27, 2019 Arsenal has no back line, Spurs has a contract problem with their most creative midfielder, Chelsea has a bunch of talented but inexperienced young players, and Man U can't take a penalty kick. So it's looking like a two horse race again. 😅 After 2 weeks in La Liga, the jury still out on Atletico Madrid (they won both games but only 1-0), Real Madrid looks like they didn't improve much from last season, and Barca proves that Griezmann is a great signing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 Quote When is the Champions League draw? It takes place on Thursday, Aug. 29 in Monaco. The draw ceremony is expected to begin at noon ET / 6 p.m. CET. (4 p.m. GMT) What are the draw pots? POT 1: Liverpool, Chelsea, Barcelona, Manchester City, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Zenit St Petersburg POT 2: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli, Shakhtar Donetsk, Tottenham Hotspur, Ajax, Benfica POT 3: Lyon, Bayer Leverkusen, FC Salzburg, Olympiakos, Club Brugge, Valencia, Inter Milan, Dinamo Zagreb POT 4: Lokomotiv Moscow, Genk, Galatasaray, RB Leipzig, Slavia Prague, Red Star Belgrade, Atalanta, Lille One team from each pot will be drawn into a group, making eight groups of four clubs. from ESPN FC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 Group A: Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Club Brugge, Galatasaray. Group B: Bayern Munich, Tottenham, Olympiakos, Red Star Belgrade. Group C : Manchester City, Shaktar Donetsk, Dinamo Zagreb, Atalanta. Group 😧 Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lokomotiv Moscow. Group E: Liverpool, Napoli, Salzburg, Genk. Group F: Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Slavia Prague. Group G: Zenit St. Petersburg, Benfica, Lyon, Leipzig. Group H: Chelsea, Ajax, Valencia, Lille. No group of death. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielK Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 No group of death, but D, F, and H have slightly harder paths to the next round than others. G is a waste. Citeh got a cupcake draw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted September 17, 2019 Share Posted September 17, 2019 Champions League group stage starts today. Barcelona v. Dortmund and Liverpool v. Napoli are on Uni Mas and TNT respectively. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaked Posted September 17, 2019 Author Share Posted September 17, 2019 Wednesday: Atletico v. Juventus. Felix v. Ronaldo. Could be a fun one for the neutrals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted September 18, 2019 Share Posted September 18, 2019 Liverpool losing is pretty shocking to me. Importantly, neither team seemed to have played much defense 🤔 Barca was lucky to come away with a draw - the 16 y.o. was getting bullied all over the pitch and was eventually replaced by Messi. I'm not sure Chelsea's loss to Valencia qualifies as a shock. Atletico v. Juventus should be more exciting than PSG v. Real Madrid as the two latter teams are wracked by injuries and suspensions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 Real Madrid and Tottenham have started Champions League poorly as both are winless after two matches. Chances are they'll recover and get out of the group stage as the second team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 What are you gonna watch this week? Ajax v. Chelsea? Inter v. Dortmund? Not much excitement in the Champions League. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted November 11, 2019 Share Posted November 11, 2019 The Premier League officiating has been atrocious this season. VAR has done little to correct blown calls made on the field. Yesterday's game between Liveropool and Man City was a perfect example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 Spurs sack Pochettino and hires Mourinho. Reaction? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaked Posted November 20, 2019 Author Share Posted November 20, 2019 16 minutes ago, Ericandblueboy said: Spurs sack Pochettino and hires Mourinho. Reaction? HAHAHAHHAHAHHA...so Spurs-y. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielK Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 Reaction among the Spurs faithful has been disbelief. Mourinho just doesn't seem to be a fit with Levy's famously frugal attitude towards player contracts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 2 hours ago, DanielK said: Reaction among the Spurs faithful has been disbelief. Mourinho just doesn't seem to be a fit with Levy's famously frugal attitude towards player contracts. It works for Mourinho though. He'll bitch and moan until the Spurs sack him, and then he can collect under his contract without working - just like he did with United. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted November 29, 2019 Share Posted November 29, 2019 Arsenal had sacked Unai Emery. Will they go for Poch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 Barca vs. Mallorca Dec. 7 is the best half of football that I've ever seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaked Posted December 10, 2019 Author Share Posted December 10, 2019 Champions League If Liverpool loses away to an in form FC Salzburg. And Napoli wins at home v. lowly Racing Genk...Liverpool crashes out of the CL on GD. 12:55pm ET today. Well, so much for that upset. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Real Madrid vs Manchester City Borussia Dortmund vs Paris Saint-Germain Chelsea vs Bayern Munich Lyon vs Juventus Barcelona vs Napoli Tottenham vs RB Leipzig Atalanta vs Valencia LOL @ Madrid finishing second in their group. Also El Clasico is on Wednesday this week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielK Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 No weak teams in the Round of 16. This year's CL is awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasha K Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 using the latest S&P 500 effort/talent/performance/result index, de bruyne and lewandowski are so far ahead of everyone else in europe that i won't even insult your intelligence by attempting to compute the margin (although van dijk is most likely that very distant third) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaked Posted August 11, 2020 Author Share Posted August 11, 2020 Well, after a disjointed season...paused in the Spring due to coronavirus with most leagues finishing up with a rapid fire session of games...not much changed. English Prem: The Big Four of Liverpool, Man City, Man United and Chelsea took the top four spots, with Liverpool running away with things. German Bundesliga: Bayern won the league by a comfortable 13 points over Dortmund. Spanish La Liga: Real Madrid topped Barcelona by five points and the rest of the league was an afterthought Italian Serie A: Juventus squeaked by with a one point cushion, and won its 9th title in a row. French Ligue 1: The French shutdown the season on April 28, but PSG had already built a 12 point lead over the rest of the table, so no one really cared. Yawn. The Champions League Quarter Final round kicks off in Lisbon on August 12 in a modified single game knock out round format (ie: World Cup style). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 Does anyone listen to Men in Blazers? Roger Bennett, in his promotion for Draft Kings, said it's the best king since wan-king. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted August 15, 2020 Share Posted August 15, 2020 Barça got crushed by Bayern. The Catalan outfit looked slow and ponderous. They need to rebuild. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasha K Posted August 16, 2020 Share Posted August 16, 2020 I am by no means claiming that it will be easy for either PSG or Bayern to get through to the final (tougher for Bayern at the end of the day), but should they do so, it is a shame that Mbape and Davies play on different sides of the field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaked Posted August 16, 2020 Author Share Posted August 16, 2020 All I can say is CL bubble, single game, knock out for the win. Other than Barca, teams are playing like they care, good goals, stunning results. Hoping for an entertaining semifinal round. Tuesday Aug 18 RB Leipzig v PSG 3pm Wednesday Aug 19 Lyon v Bayern 3pm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted August 24, 2020 Share Posted August 24, 2020 Munich won the CL 1-0 over PSG. PSG had their chances but couldn't finish. I was watching the game on Univision so I don't know why penalties weren’t called on PSG at the end of the first half or the Kimmich foul on Mbappe. I just know that Neymar played a shitty game, whined like a little brat and I'm happy he hasn't won anything since he left Barca. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasha K Posted November 8, 2020 Share Posted November 8, 2020 2 UCL titles in 8 years. Can't say I am unhappy. It's fascinating to watch how teams are now trying to improve in specific ways that would allow them to beat this side, just as Bayern did years ago to find a solution to an unstoppable Barca side. But this is tricky: the all also need to worry about Liverpool, and that's whole new bag of tricks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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