Ultimate Football/Soccer Thread 2016-2017

[Xanixi]

Champions League week is over and (among other results) Atlético Madrid wins (again) against Bayern Munich at the Calderon.

Thoughts?

Personally, I believe this was another majestic demonstration of the great effort Simeone has put into developing a solid defensive team with also great offensive capabilities. It will be forever of note that Bayern had overwhelming possession in this match (surpassing 70%, if I remember correctly), but I got the sensation that they hardly did much with it. Bayern itself registered a total of 14 shots, of which three were on target. However, Atlético Madrid -- a team constantly referred to as "overly defensive" without much option for attack -- managed to register a total of 16 shots on target, with seven on target. Higher than Bayern on both notes. I feel as though Atlético Madrid has matured in this season when compared to the previous in the sense that, Atlético Madrid seems capable of maintaining the barbaric defensive record it has, whilst at the same time definitely having the ability to bite a significant amount more.

In my opinion, more than fair winners today. I honestly thought at some points that Atlético Madrid was down for scoring the second, too (penalty included; poor Griezmann )

[Auremena]

Would have been a perfect day today if feckin Arsenal hadn't decided to finally do something on the dying whistle >.>
New strategy against Arsenal: line up without any CBs and just sub them on in the 85th minute cause that's when they start to be needed.

[Val Halla]

Not a big fan, but...

No way that Arsenal goal should have counted

[Stellonia]

Not a big fan, but...

No way that Arsenal goal should have counted

But that was a brilliant move to create the winning goal! Instead of shooting, Oxlade-Chamberlain selflessly set up Koscielny's arm, which was in a far better position to score.

On a more serious note, Oxlade-Chamberlain's shot would have gone in anyway, so although it would have been correct to disallow the goal, it would have been cruel to do so.

[Liventia]

it would have been cruel to do so.

Um no it wouldn't because it shouldn't have stood.

[Stellonia]

it would have been cruel to do so.

Um no it wouldn't because it shouldn't have stood.

It would have been cruel in the sense that it would have been a goal without the arm deflection.

[Val Halla]

Not a big fan, but...

No way that Arsenal goal should have counted

But that was a brilliant move to create the winning goal! Instead of shooting, Oxlade-Chamberlain selflessly set up Koscielny's arm, which was in a far better position to score.

On a more serious note, Oxlade-Chamberlain's shot would have gone in anyway, so although it would have been correct to disallow the goal, it would have been cruel to do so.

It looked offside to me also

[Pimps Inc]

Overall, Arsenal earned the win, compared to how Burnley played. A lot more shots, more corners, no offsides, and 60% possession.

[Eastfield Lodge]

Overall, Arsenal earned the win, compared to how Burnley played. A lot more shots, more corners, no offsides, and 60% possession.

I think it's high time that we stop using possession as a stat to determine dominance...

[Stellonia]

But that was a brilliant move to create the winning goal! Instead of shooting, Oxlade-Chamberlain selflessly set up Koscielny's arm, which was in a far better position to score.

On a more serious note, Oxlade-Chamberlain's shot would have gone in anyway, so although it would have been correct to disallow the goal, it would have been cruel to do so.

It looked offside to me also

Oxlade-Chamberlain and Koscielny were both onside when the cross was flicked on.

[Auremena]

Overall, Arsenal earned the win, compared to how Burnley played. A lot more shots, more corners, no offsides, and 60% possession.

I think it's high time that we stop using possession as a stat to determine dominance...

Particularly with Arsenal where 60% of that 60% is backwards and sideways passing.
Burnley shouldn't be too disheartened, they put in a good fight, particularly Gudmunsson on the right wing, at least from what I saw in the second half. Would have liked the trifecta of beating City, Mou pissed from a poor showing at Stoke (I'd have lost a lot of money, that point is what's keeping Hughes his job right now. I'd have bet big that need be the first to be sacked, not Guido,) and arsenal walking away from Turf Moor with a point or less (preferably the latter)

[Osarius]

Overall, Arsenal earned the win, compared to how Burnley played. A lot more shots, more corners, no offsides, and 60% possession.

I think it's high time that we stop using possession alone as a stat to determine dominance...

FTFY

possession can accurately indicate dominance when combined with certain other pieces of information. Problem is that the possession/passes completed circlejerk started with Barcelona, and was born out of a fundamental misunderstanding of what made that team great.

Most stats should track what happens off the ball if we want a better picture of what's happening on the pitch imo. The vast majority of a players time on the pitch is off the ball so why do we focus on the tiny bit when he has it?

[Liventia]

Well that was all quite unlike Gianluigi Buffon.

[Xanixi]

Well that was all quite unlike Gianluigi Buffon.

And yet very much like Ramos. I still don't understand people that consider Ramos to be the best center back in the world.

[The Blaatschapen]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... d-cup-2022

One of the Dutch labour unions finally doing something decent.

[Rufford]

Saints are having bad luck in the international break. Long injured. Bertrand Injured. I'm sort of hoping now that Van Dijk and Clasie don't play for the Netherlands tonight.

[Alvalero]

Liverpool 0-0 Man United
Well Joses bus did its job. Showed cracks late on but it had done its job at that stage.
Hard fought point, a first clean sheet of the season and still 2 points off the top. Could have been better had we showed up first half and if Can went forward rather the back to the keeper more often but these are the types of games we've lost the last few years.

[Stellonia]

I was a bit divided as to which match to watch today. I chose the West Ham vs. Sunderland game, and I feel that I made the right decision. Quite a conclusion.

[Seraven]

Leicester is having a bad start.

[Minoa]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37783810

What is your feeling about this? I feel that everything has taken a massive step backwards since the Brexit referendum – hate crimes rising, and the currency tanking (although I must stress that the UK economy is extremely unlikely to collapse similar to the magnitude seen in Venezuela). Now we have this, which is taking English football back to the bad days of the 1980s if something is not done soon.

[Osarius]

Linking it to brexit is a leap. The issue is that West ham are in a larger stadium now and stewards are probably adjusting to larger crowds. Not to mention this was a derby match.

I'm kinda tired of hearing the same "dark days" argument every time there is any crowd trouble at a game where you expect tensions to run a bit higher than normal.

It's not ideal sure but it's not even close to the problems in the past. And every time it happens it appears to be an entirely isolated event.

If I'm mad about it I'm mad because it will probably hold back the safe standing initiative.

[The Blaatschapen]

Leicester is having a bad start.

It is having a start more conforming to expectations actually.

[Pimps Inc]

COYG.

[Auremena]

Linking it to brexit is a leap. The issue is that West ham are in a larger stadium now and stewards are probably adjusting to larger crowds. Not to mention this was a derby match.

I'm kinda tired of hearing the same "dark days" argument every time there is any crowd trouble at a game where you expect tensions to run a bit higher than normal.

It's not ideal sure but it's not even close to the problems in the past. And every time it happens it appears to be an entirely isolated event.

If I'm mad about it I'm mad because it will probably hold back the safe standing initiative.

Still waiting for Bilic to get sacked. He and Hughes are next. Been a bit of a disaster; we knew there'd be some degree of issue with the crowd for the new stadium, this is a bit excessive though. Never thought they'd be fighting their own fans. And the results on the pitch haven't matched their summer spending either. That's the part Bilic deserves to get sacked over, the crowds, it's just going to take a while. Here's to hoping it doesn't become an all-out warzone and is nearing its end, though it'll probably last a few more months.

[The Blaatschapen]

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how ... sh-soccer/

Oh wow