Men's Soccer (Football) Thread [Archived] Soccer • Page 575

They're fine with state run clubs when they're in their league though ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Malaga are owned by Qatar too. They're fine with state sponsorships too.

They're not fine with the best players wanting to play elsewhere it seems.

 

Neymar's goodbye video was pretty classy until he said he was going "against the wishes of his father" and my eyes rolled so hard that all goodwill was gone again. Yes, the man pocketing close to 60 million because of this deal advised you against it, I'm sure.

 

Yep, these two games were absolutely dreadful. I hope it is just that the players are not quite used to each other (which wouldnt be a surprise given the sheer amount of new players in the squad). But we should have really done better. My hope is still that we make it into the group stage and maybe get into the same group as Hertha so I will have an easy game to attend. But right now I am really worried about the playoffs.

 

If we do go out in the playoffs, I'll be disappointed and slightly humiliated for them, but europa is such a drag on the regular season so I'd get over it pretty quickly.

My hope for this season is to tread the 6/7 boundary until January when we will be getting bolasie and Coleman back, then push for European spots in the second half. They'll give us some sort of presence on the edges at least.

 

This is something I read often when talking about English clubs and European football. Whats the point of getting a good result in the league and qualifying for Europe if you then dont take it seriously and just see it as a secondary competition? I know it is hard to play in four different competition but Everton now has enough depth to handle it.
It just makes no sense to always go for Top 6 and European football and when you actually achieved it you just dont take it serious because it might be a burden and affect your performance in the league.

 

I played indoor zorbe soccer. Guys. It's so fun it's stupid.

 

Oh I want them to take it seriously and try to go as far as possible. I guess what I meant was that if they do lose early I won't be as heartbroken if they lose in like the semis or final. Like if they go far but don't win and it negatively impacts the season I'll be much more upset than a playoff loss.

As an Everton supporter I'm just glad they're in Europe at all

 

So, for those with a Premiership persuasion, where do you hope your team will finish? Better still, where do you think they will actually finish?

Also, are we doing fantasy football again?

 

If we haven't got a league set up already I'd be happy to create it, I don't have a team in the PL as Blackburn are rubbish. I just hope the league goes down to the last game of the season this year, preferably with 3 teams still fighting for it.

 

Hope top 3 for United, but could see us scrapping for top 4 in the end...

And yeah, I asked about fantasy league the other day, but no one really replied haha. Already done my team, so I'd be up for a league!

 

Yeah my team's already done as I'm in a work league, I say done it will probably change at least twice before Game Week 1.

 

My hope is for Newcastle to stay out of the relegation scrap all season and finish about 12th. That's pretty much what we did last time we got promoted and I'd bite off whichever hand offered that result this season.

In reality, I think we're in for a long and difficult season, full of stodgy performances. If Rafa leaves, we're heading straight back down. If he stays, I think we'll survive, but spend a lot of time looking over our shoulders at the relegation scrap. With the current squad, maybe 16th? With a solid striker brought in, maybe a bit nearer the 12th place I dream of.

Who hosted the FF last season?

 

1st, 4th.

 

I hate predicting things right at the start of the season, but Chelsea can finish 1st if players like Luiz, Alonso, Moses, Kante & Hazard can perform like they did in 2016/17. However their transfer business has been bad IMO and they have a squad of 20 players, 5 of which have never played a PL game before. I feel City, United and Spurs could all finish above them.

If Chelsea do not win it, I would prefer Spurs to win it 'cause they are a great team with a great manager, and idgaf about "local" rivalries (I hate Liverpool & United way more than Spurs & Arsenal).

 

I think Chelsea and Liverpool will struggle. City won't be as great as people make them seem and Arsenal will surprise. Think Arsenal and Spurs will do well. Think we will be strong and hard to beat. Will do better than last year.

Top 4 of Arsenal, City, Spurs, United.

 

We probably say this every year, but the top 6 are all outrageously strong and predicting the final standings with any certainty is almost impossible for me. United have strengthened the best IMO but City have the best attack now with Aguero, Jesus, KdB, David Silva, Sterling, Sane and Bernardo Silva. Chelsea and Liverpool have the worst attacks but an injury to Lukaku and I feel United will be in a similar position, as Rashford & Martial don't score 20+ goals a season. Spurs have the best overall squad but Arsenal have signed a great striker for once so who knows what they will do.

I will say a top 4 of Chelsea, Spurs, United and City (but what order I haven't got a clue)

Also, Joshua Onomah has just left Spurs and joined Aston Villa on loan. Hey, Poch - maybe, uhhh, sign a player!!!1!!1

 

Liverpool have the worst attack? Holy shit.

 

Juan Mata is the best, hope more footballers do what he just announced

 

I hope Swansea finishes tenth. But relegation battle all season seems right.

 

I could see Spurs winning the league or finishing in 6th. It's hard to predict the top 6 in this league. As of now, I think we have the best, or at least most complete, starting XI. The bench is what worries me. I'm very optimistic about Janssen this season and I think he'll be a solid backup to Kane. We also get Lamela back. He's so underrated and will be like a new signing since he's been out so long. Harry Winks is due for a breakout season. But after that the bench is hit or miss. We really need to sign a defensive player (or two) and another midfielder. I think the Barkley deal will eventually happen. If it does, I feel pretty good about our chances at the title.

I guess I'll say Spurs, United, Chelsea, City as the top 4 but not sure the order.

 

If Alexis stays, Arsenal is top four. If he goes, who knows.

Chelsea is the only one I say is top four guaranteed and the next five are a huge slugfest

 

I could definitely see City missing the top 4 despite all the spending.

 

You think they (and Chelsea, as I stated) don't have the worst attack of the top 6? I'd rank them:

Man City - Aguero, Jesus, KdB, David Silva, Sterling, Sane, Bernardo Silva
Spurs - Kane, Alli, Son, Eriksen, Lamela, Janssen
Arsenal - Lacazette, Sanchez, Ozil, Giroud, Walcott, Welbeck
United - Lukaku, Martial, Rashford, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Lingard
Liverpool - Firminho, Mane, Coutinho, Salah, Lallana, Sturridge, Origi
Chelsea - Morata, Hazard, Pedro, Willian, Batshuayi

Liverpool & Chelsea don't have players that can score 20+ a season, all the others do is my reasoning tbh.

 

Morata and Hazard can totally score 20+

 

IDK - Hazard still recovering from a broken ankle and I am unsure on Morata getting over 20 in his 1st season