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

And Spurs have won all their matches against United this season so we all know what that'll mean

 

Given how awful United & Spurs are, what does it say for the quality of the teams from other leagues?

It would be typical that the Final ends up being the one time Spurs actually play well and win something.

 

what part of Spurs winning something seems typical to you?

 

They’re unpredictable at times.

 

The PL is a ways ahead of most of the other leagues again for the same reason the English pyramid has become a train wreck - COVID royally screwed up the finances of any club that relied primarily on ticket sales. In that sense it’s not surprising that even two teams struggling for form domestically have enough individual talent to get through knockout competitions.

Or, to put it the way a very cynical prediction put it - if Angeball only works when there’s a massive gulf in resources, what exactly does anyone expect to happen when Spurs play a team from a Norwegian city with a population of less than 45,000?

 

Sure, but that Norwegian team beat sides in the EL that are arguably better than Spurs have been this season.

United struggled to beat 10 man Lyon despite being 2-0 up, a team from a weaker league than Spain. Yet they easily beat the team that is favoured to win the competition in the ground that is hosting the Final.

 

Results are strongly linked to finances but aren’t 1-1, obviously. I’m really not proposing a radical theory here, IMO, plenty of sportswriters and clubs themselves have observed this general trend post-pandemic.

 

Yeah I don't think it's a coincidence that the trickiest part of Liverpool's season from a goal production perspective largely coincided with when he was injured, dude's really come into his own in that left winger position.

Really nice to just watch football and not be arsed about the results today, haha.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...arnold-announces-that-he-is-leaving-liverpool

Not surprised in the slightest but still a little sad to see him go. I think this is probably not going to be worth the intense criticism he will be subjected to, particularly as Madrid seem to be entering some kind of irregular downswing and he’s an easy press scapegoat (as evidenced by, well, the press constantly scapegoating him).

Edit: Well put by a random person on Reddit:

 

He'd be well suited to playing under Alonso, he'll likely get more money at Madrid and win a CL more often without having to be scrutinised in the media for not doing the defensive work.

 

It'll depend on how Madrid perform next season. If they're doing well, then he'll be fine. If they're not winning everything then he'll become the scapegoat and they'll hate him for "reasons"

 

I mean he won't be in a role that requires so much defensive work, in a league that favours his attacking style of play.

A RB in the PL has a much harder time than a RWB in La Liga, TAA would be much happier doing the latter.

Plus he gets to live in Madrid, which I'm sure many people would prefer over Liverpool.

 

I have two suspicions:

1. Any incoming Madrid manager knowing they have TAA would utilize wingers in a manner very akin to how he is already playing, opening up the possibility of the same criticisms because that’s literally just how football works.
2. If Madrid aren’t doing well, the Spanish press and Madridista “supporters” are both going to be a lot harsher regarding his defensive issues compared to anything the English have subjected him to.

If anything I think what he is assuming is that the increased pay (mostly owing to signing bonus and licensing opportunities) and prestige (mostly owing to silverware and Madrid being Madrid) will offset the criticism. As I have maintained, it’s not clear this will be the case. However, he’s made his choice.

 

Inter FTW for me

Don't want any Spanish side in the final, they've won it far too many time. Granted its mainly Madrid but still.

I also think that Inter can beat PSG (who I really don't want to win it) whereas I think Barca would be ripped apart by PSG and as much as I'd like to see Arsenal get past PSG, I don't think anyone believes thats going to happen

 

Barcelona have five European Cups to Inter's three. You can probably just focus your disapproval on Madrid.

Edit: Not that Barça will be winning this one, I suspect.

 

I had him figured for a 75' sub but now I bet Flick is thinking he's the ET bonus.

 

This game has been great

Especially Ascerbi in the last couple of moment