Euro Division LXIX

First topic message reminder :

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Enrique & J from 5ive League
 
FC WHU Do You Think You Are - Gregers
 
Bilbao - Afro
 
Would you dance, if Ajax you to dance? - Sodhat
 
Southampton FC - Marky
 
PSV - Holymik
 
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista - Nando                                                                              
 
Lille - Trebs
 
Glad t'be bach - Hero
 
FC Basel - Viva
 
FC ZwagAtletico - Zinedine_Ze_Zebra
 
The Nodge - Olly
 
Fool 'em FC - Tranq

Haha Nick you seen it? I lost my card week before and I was just being extra cautious.  I reckon I should delete it though.

Generally when I shop at other places they don't take the money until they've shipped the products.

Downloaded Dennis Bergkamp book for 49p.

That's a book that won't fly off the shelves

Thank you, I'm here all week

Anyone fancy generating the fixtures for season 2?

Afro wrote:Thank you, I'm here all week

Anyone fancy generating the fixtures for season 2?

That joke is worse than the Dennis Bergkamp one.

sodhat wrote:

Afro wrote:Thank you, I'm here all week

Anyone fancy generating the fixtures for season 2?

That joke is worse than the Dennis Bergkamp one.

I know.

I've done it myself  

I'd have said yes, I'll do it this weekend. But you're too impatient...

I wouldn't expect you to do it, you've already volunteered to collect votes and calculate results, which is plenty to be doing!

whos collecting tactics?

moi

I'm off for the weekend, but before I do, have you seen the offer I left on your page Olly?

Yes I have, and I'll have a longer think over it Afro. Get back to you when I've assessed the situation

Cheers.

Have a good weekend all

Soddy I hope you're prepared to be Hooperfied, LIVE ON SKY SPORTS  

Despite the praise for doing a good job with Southampton in this league, I've realised that of the three Southampton players to make the England squad, I've sold all of them

Brace yourselves. Winter is coming.

Morning.

Morning!

What a win hey. Pleased with yesterdays performance.

Soddy got Snoddy

Olly, need you in realistic league admin

Zinedine_Ze_Zebra wrote:Morning!

What a win hey. Pleased with yesterdays performance.

I thought a great result, but was a bit disappointed by United. Now I didn't watch all of the game admittedly, but it has been a long time since I have seen United be so clearly second best at Old Trafford. Was like watching Everton when we take a lead against big sides and then hang on to the win

Afro wrote:I have seen United be so clearly second best at Old Trafford.

?? Are you wumming ??

We sucked in that second half Olly. We have nothing to threaten teams without a proper striker.

Still don't think it was a penalty though.

Zinedine_Ze_Zebra wrote:

Afro wrote:I have seen United be so clearly second best at Old Trafford.

?? Are you wumming ??

Not at all.

Most of what I watched, United started well, but once they had scored Arsenal had most of the ball and the times United did have it, they gave it away too easily. It was mainly like watching an attack on defence.

Defensively United were brilliant, Arsenal created very little apart from a handful of decent crosses, and Phil Jones was superb, but that is not what I expect from United. They are normally the superior side at Old Trafford. They score, and then go looking for more goals.

At the risk of offending Afro, I thought yesterday's game was very Everton-like from United. Score, defend, work hard and concede possession. Exactly what they needed though, and arguably what Man City need away from home at the moment too!

First half United were superb, Arsenal didn't know what to do they couldn't handle us we were far to strong and powerful for them. Second half Arsenal had more possession but offered nothing at all, Ozil, Cazorla and Ramsey locked off like they're in Winson Green prison. Sagna put in two decent crosses one which Evans was told to let go and the other Jones or Evans nicked away.  We had the chance with Smalling and Rooney to settle the game. Around the 80 minute we started to hoof the ball aimlessly and even with all the passing Arsenal couldn't open us up. 

Oh yeah lets ignore the blatant penalty not even a mention anywhere.

Marky wrote:At the risk of offending Afro, I thought yesterday's game was very Everton-like from United. Score, defend, work hard and concede possession. Exactly what they needed though, and arguably what Man City need away from home at the moment too!

No offence taken. That was exactly what I was getting at.

Very un-United like though. It's disappointing because I still expect United to keep attacking even after taking the lead. That is part of what has made them a great club to watch for the last 20 years

VivaPaulScholes wrote:First half United were superb, Arsenal didn't know what to do they couldn't handle us we were far to strong and powerful for them. Second half Arsenal had more possession but offered nothing at all, Ozil, Cazorla and Ramsey locked off like they're in Winson Green prison. Sagna put in two decent crosses one which Evans was told to let go and the other Jones or Evans nicked away.  We had the chance with Smalling and Rooney to settle the game. Around the 80 minute we started to hoof the ball aimlessly and even with all the passing Arsenal couldn't open us up. 

Oh yeah lets ignore the blatant penalty not even a mention anywhere.

Didn't see that to be honest, so can't comment.

And I'm not saying Arsenal were great, I'm saying it wasn't very United like in my opinion.

Although I would say that it was more like the first half an hour until you scored, rather than first half

Afro
First half Arsenal were non existent. Second half they had more of the ball, a lot more. But as you said they created very little, 2/3 half chances & that's was it from 90 minutes of play.
We had a chances too, better ones, just failed to take them (which is slightly worrying).
Agreed Man United usually & should go looking for more but we still countered & made chances. It was only with around 10-15 mins left Moyes decided to shut up shop taking RVP off. That did worry me a little, prospect of a repeat of S'ton late equaliser but we saw it out.
Arsenal wernt very good at all yesterday. Their dangerous midfield looked nothing of the sort. A team thats scored in every game since their opening day loss was kept quite. That took some good tactics & hard work.

Cleverley > Wilshere yesterday

I was there, I'd know.

United got the goal and then protected it. Arsenal couldn't penetrate and they didn't look like they had any idea how to. Equally, United didn't create a clear cut chance, and scored from a set piece when Ramsey lost his position and got under the ball.

Gnabry was good when he came on, because he stayed wide right and twice exposed Evra's appalling defensive positioning.

It was a clear penalty for me.

Cleverly is still rubbish.

Rooney was immense.

The slightest hint of criticism of United and they all jump to defence.

I haven't said Arsenal were good, they weren't they were poor. I haven't said the tactics weren't good and effective, they were and you won.

But it was a good 60 minutes that you stopped attacking and your attacks were very few and far between. I haven't seen the stats but I'd guess that you had no more than 40% of the ball.

And that, for United at Old Trafford, is disappointing in my eyes. You are going down the Everton path of tactics, and that will not win you championships because for every result like yesterday, there will be ones where you don't score and ones where the opposition do score.

But I hold my hands up that you are going through transition and that yesterday was exactly what you needed.

Doesn't stop me being disappointed to see a side like United having to do it

Afro wrote:Very un-United like though. It's disappointing because I still expect United to keep attacking even after taking the lead. That is part of what has made them a great club to watch for the last 20 years

Think Vida havig to off impacted our play. First half we dominated & attacked. Jones was superb in midfield getting at Ozil, Ramsey, Cazorla, heck any yellow shirt near him. When he had to drop into defense second half it allowed Arsenal more in midfield & they grew into it then. Clevz didnt do the same when he came on. Our tactical approach changed is what im trying to say.
If Vida was able to stay on I think we would of continued the second half like the first.

onlytreblewinners wrote:Cleverley > Wilshere yesterday

I was there, I'd know.

Cleverley was anonymous when he came on. He might have been better than Wilshere, but only because Wilshere was poor too

Afro wrote:

onlytreblewinners wrote:Cleverley > Wilshere yesterday

I was there, I'd know.

Cleverley was anonymous when he came on. He might have been better than Wilshere, but only because Wilshere was poor too

He wasn't totally anonymous, he did manage to give the ball away in a dangerous area, and then give a free kick away in a dangerous area within about 5 minutes of coming on.

sodhat wrote:

Afro wrote:

onlytreblewinners wrote:Cleverley > Wilshere yesterday

I was there, I'd know.

Cleverley was anonymous when he came on. He might have been better than Wilshere, but only because Wilshere was poor too

He wasn't totally anonymous, he did manage to give the ball away in a dangerous area, and then give a free kick away in a dangerous area within about 5 minutes of coming on.

Your right, which technically makes Wilshere better because he was just anonymous

sodhat wrote:We sucked in that second half Olly. We have nothing to threaten teams without a proper striker.

Still don't think it was a penalty though.

Neither do I  

Jonny Howson's such a beast

Oh and I think Utd missed Jones's physical presence in midfield second half. Cleverley just didn't offer what they needed, allowing Arsenal's midfield to gain control

Phil Jones is so underrated as a footballer. When even United fans think Cleverley is better at CM, Jones has no chance.

Olly wrote:Oh and I think Utd missed Jones's physical presence in midfield second half. Cleverley just didn't offer what they needed, allowing Arsenal's midfield to gain control

Thats pretty much what I was saying above. Vida going off impacted our tactics.

Marky wrote:Phil Jones is so underrated as a footballer. When even United fans think Cleverley is better at CM, Jones has no chance.

He's very effective in that defensive midfield role. Like he was away at Madrid last year. But I still think he'll be best at CB

Jones has the best face ever.

I prefer Smalling as a CB to Jones.

Smalling doesn't have the best face ever though.

Marky wrote:When even United fans think Cleverley is better at CM, Jones has no chance.

Which fans are you speaking too?
Jones is good at RB but great at CB & CM. The "Utility Man" he has been branded as puts him down as utility men are known for being ok in a few positions, O'Shea, Phil Neville two examples. But Jones is good or great in all the positions hes played. Once he can nail down CB (I think thats where he will settle) he will grow into an even better player.

Que someone signing him.

I like Jones a lot. He was one of Fergies great signings, but as you say Zidane, he probably suffers from being so versatile.
 
Smalling I am not so convinced about yet

Anyone seen Pirlo's goal?

Brilliant from Pirlo

Did you see Pogba's? Couldn't help thinking terrible control, but what a way to make amends