Arena "The Beautiful Game" - The Official JCC Football (Soccer) Thread.

Simeone reckons it's not as bad as it looks.

 

Massive result for us today. Henderson will be a big miss and hopefully Sturridge isn't injured. Happy that Everton have moved to fourth too.

 

Sorry to have gone offline after stirring up the discussion on Courtois. My two cents:

I understand the feeling the Chelsea fans have that Courtois is Chelsea's. But the problem is, for this season, he's not. They decided he was surplus to requirements and loaned him out. When Atletico paid the loan fee, he became theirs for the season. To prevent him from playing against his ultimate rights holder is a clear impediment to fair competition. As epic mentioned, in (most) other leagues, loan deals have no restrictions. Kroos played against Bayern for Neverkusen (and props to epic for the proper spelling!) as did Alaba for Hoffenheim. VfB Stutgart loaned players to Nürnberg two years in a row and each played (well) against Stuttgart.

Freedom of contract doesn't apply, as a contract in violation of the law (UEFA's rules in this case) is void.

Is it a bit problematic to have a players with torn allegiances in a match? Sure, but that's the borrowing club's problem, and decision. If Atletico don't think Courtois can deal with the conflict, they'll play a back-up. I think it's a far bigger conflict situation, though, when a player who has already agreed to move to a new club has to play against that club (like Lewandowski against Bayern last Saturday). But no one is seriously proposing that they not be allowed to play, are they?

 

Come on Everton you had one Job!

 

So much for that, then. What an awful night.

 

I had a hearty lol @ Arsenal lined up



I feel so let down

 

Of all the teams that could've tripped us up, a competent bit still ultimately rubbish Crystal Palace were not the team I expected. It was an unbelievably attacking line-up, perhaps naïvely so, but Palace should've rolled over, dammit. This is a big blow; 4th place would've allowed us to keep what we have and genuinely push on. A step forward. Now, next season's gonna be another long build towards that step, but with the added problem of the ****ing Europa League.

Plus, ****ing Liverpool are gonna win the ****ing league.

 

Palace under Pulis have been anything but rubbish. If it wasn't for Rodgers' exploits, he'd be manager of the season.

Agreed on your other points though.

 

Bale's goal was so EPIC.

 

Hey, stop your whining, my VfB have gone from Champions League participants to relegation threatened in only a few years. At this point I'd be happy if they finished 16th and went into the playoff, rather than 17th and straight down. They've conceded 18 goals in the last 15 minutes of matches, costing them 30 freaking points (6 draws, 6 losses), including against Bayern and Dortmund.


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Hey, stop your whining, my VfB have gone from Champions League participants to relegation threatened in only a few years. At this point I'd be happy if they finished 16th and went into the playoff, rather than 17th and straight down. They've conceded 18 goals in the last 15 minutes of matches, costing them 30 freaking points (6 draws, 6 losses), including against Bayern and Dortmund.


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It's in Chelsea's hands

 

and lol@Barca. hundreds of milliions spent on the likes of Neymar and Sanchez, no one bothered to spend a few pence on defenders who can actually defend or a backup keeper.

EDIT. For the Manchester United fans here, before you start creaming in your pants over the Götze quote about Reus going to ManU, it's totally bogus.

 

And the funniest part is that they won't be able to get any defenders in the two upcoming transfer windows.

 

Or a good keeper, assuming Valdes leaves as planned.

 

Now, I know you've had over a decade of Moyes rubbish, telling you you're punching above your weight, you've got no money, lucky to be as high as you are etc etc etc, but it's still only one point, and it's not done yet. Who is more likely to win the remaining games, Arsenal or Everton. Everton.

 

Everton have to play Man City still, and United who have the PL's best away record. Plus they also have to play Southampton.

Everton are obviously still in it but it is harder for them based on who they have to play.
Arsenal though will have one eye on the FA Cup so they might get distracted.

 

Liverpool have a lot to thank Sunderland for this past week.

 

seemed a dubious penalty to me...

Jose's record is on the line here

 

Looked a penalty to me. Lol @ Chelsea.