EPL- 2019/2020

[Cauldron]

5 minutes ago, Spring said:

Yes actually a big 3. Spurs to their credit, spent wisely and got in a good Mgr and found gems in players like Son, Alli, Moura etc and had good youths breaking thru but whilst I won't call them a true elite cub, they have history on their side.

In the 1960s, Spurs won the double and was successful for quite a few years and produced England players aplenty so with tradition on their side, they could attract sponsors and players unlike an unfashionable club like Man City who are now recognisable and fashionable with investment $ poured in.

RB Leipzig who plays Spurs tonite in UCL are the Man City of Bundesliga. Sponsorship from Red Bull makes them a strong team and they are now able to compete with Bayern for the title and yes they are also a hated club in Germany for more or less the same reasons as City.

RB Leipzig: How did Red Bull build a Champions League side from scratch?

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/51475532

Mostly notable comment: 

"When Nagelsmann picks his side to face Tottenham Hotspur in north London, it will be thin on household names and contain no player acquired for more than £20m."

For all the infinite riches out there, each team can only field 11. So there will still be a good spread of the top talents across the few richest team. The best players does not mean the best team, better organised team can still edge it somehow

[Spring]

54 minutes ago, Cauldron said:

RB Leipzig: How did Red Bull build a Champions League side from scratch?

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/51475532

Mostly notable comment: 

"When Nagelsmann picks his side to face Tottenham Hotspur in north London, it will be thin on household names and contain no player acquired for more than £20m."

For all the infinite riches out there, each team can only field 11. So there will still be a good spread of the top talents across the few richest team. The best players does not mean the best team, better organised team can still edge it somehow

Good article, thanks!

Seems like they didn't spend like City did but nevertheless, investment from rich owner, sponsor built a base, got significant branding exposure and grew from there. Another club which had no tradition nor history to speak of but now rubbing shoulders with the elite although theirs more structured and built by spotting raw, young talent so credit to them for that.

But still a hated club in Germany but this got to do with the fact that they are one of the few German clubs who do not have majority fan share holders.

[Cauldron]

26 minutes ago, Spring said:

Good article, thanks!

Seems like they didn't spend like City did but nevertheless, investment from rich owner, sponsor built a base, got significant branding exposure and grew from there. Another club which had no tradition nor history to speak of but now rubbing shoulders with the elite although theirs more structured and built by spotting raw, young talent so credit to them for that.

But still a hated club in Germany but this got to do with the fact that they are one of the few German clubs who do not have majority fan share holders.

Think of it as disruptive tech in football world.

Coexistence of taxi and private hire industry.

No harm or wrong for owner to use his influence to get big endorsement from his kaki.

Guess this Sheikh does not have the patience to play the long game. City did it too blatantly.

[Beregond]

big win for chelsea, back to 4 points lead.

when will any chelsea manager start playing giroud as first team striker...

[Cauldron]

Three Serie A matches called off due to coronavirus outbreak

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/feb/23/three-serie-a-matches-coronavirus-outbreak-inter-milan

 

[Spring]

21 hours ago, Beregond said:

big win for chelsea, back to 4 points lead.

when will any chelsea manager start playing giroud as first team striker...

Nvr understood why Lampard doesn’t play Giroud when it’s as clear as daylight that he is one of the best at holding the ball up n bringing midfielders into the game. With Mount n Barkley capable of playing just behind him n be a goal scoring threat, he makes the ideal striker for them whereas Batshuayi is more of a poacher albeit not the most clinical.  
 

Anyway, this 4th place battle is the most exciting together with relegation dogfight as the title n even first 3 places hv long been sewn up. 

[Spring]

11 hours ago, Cauldron said:

Three Serie A matches called off due to coronavirus outbreak

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/feb/23/three-serie-a-matches-coronavirus-outbreak-inter-milan

 

It’s frightening that all of a sudden, Italy has deaths n quite a few infected out of the blue. Makes me grateful that being small, our country could contain it better though our open borders makes us vulnerable. 

[mersaylee]

1 hour ago, Spring said:

It’s frightening that all of a sudden, Italy has deaths n quite a few infected out of the blue. Makes me grateful that being small, our country could contain it better though our open borders makes us vulnerable. 

Conspiracy has it to all point fingers at the Middle Kingdom

[Atrecord]

11 hours ago, Spring said:

It’s frightening that all of a sudden, Italy has deaths n quite a few infected out of the blue. Makes me grateful that being small, our country could contain it better though our open borders makes us vulnerable. 

It's possible that some of these countries did not learn or experience much from the SARS episode, so are less prepared and ready for this - thinking that it's nothing too serious and/or it will not reach/affect them.

This could be not merely referring to the ringfencing to prevent/avoid any import, but also the care that must be given quickly to the infected patients.

Can only hope that they do not have a situation like that of SKorea, when things can go downhill v quickly just because of one misstep...

And this might have far-reaching effect too, once Italy is affected. The immediate question is then what about the UCL/UEL, where there are still Italian teams competing in.

Then if any of the English teams were to play the Italians, will there be a chain reaction?

😓

[Spring]

52 minutes ago, Atrecord said:

It's possible that some of these countries did not learn or experience much from the SARS episode, so are less prepared and ready for this - thinking that it's nothing too serious and/or it will not reach/affect them.

This could be not merely referring to the ringfencing to prevent/avoid any import, but also the care that must be given quickly to the infected patients.

Can only hope that they do not have a situation like that of SKorea, when things can go downhill v quickly just because of one misstep...

And this might have far-reaching effect too, once Italy is affected. The immediate question is then what about the UCL/UEL, where there are still Italian teams competing in.

Then if any of the English teams were to play the Italians, will there be a chain reaction?

😓

Sorry to put a dampener on this but in the worst scenario, Leagues could be suspended although I personally doubt so. Europe shld in theory be spared the worst of this virus but the trouble is their open EU borders mean a lot of travel and being at the end of winter, temperatures are still low which doesn't help matters. Praying this will be over soon as its very disruptive.

[Maxus-MIFA9]

ManU penalty shouldn't be given .... 😟

Goalkeeper never touches Burneo legs and referee never consult VAR... 😩

[Hamburger]

having say that, it was a typical school boy error for a keeper. 

[Hamburger]

Radx Carbon82

[Count-Bracula]

Everton 1 up so early in the game. 

Hopefully got chance to pop the bubbly.

Go go Everton.

[Spring]

Man City won the League Cup for the 3rd season in a row and now their targets are the treble of League Cup, FA Cup and UCL, congrats!

[mersaylee]

24 minutes ago, Spring said:

Man City won the League Cup for the 3rd season in a row and now their targets are the treble of League Cup, FA Cup and UCL, congrats!

Technically they can still go for a foursome but yah...they better focus on the threesome... I mean treble...

[Spring]

So Pool's unbeaten run has come to and end at the weekend. It may turn out to be a blessing in disguise as I felt that they were too obsessed with this unbeaten and winning run which put a lot of pressure on themselves. Even Klopp admitted it was so and their fans didn't help matters by being too focused on wrapping up the title early.

With the FA Cup 5th Round tie at Chelsea to be played tmr and also the return leg of the UCL 2nd round vs Ath Madrid to come, it could be a welcome respite for the Reds. They shld freshen things ups abit, whilst not losing sight of the title challenge.

Going for the treble shld be the focus and keeps the hunger going instead of putting youngsters in the Cup in the hope that rest would do the first teamers a lot of good but it's been proven many times that players like a game rather than training as match sharpness can only be attained by playing games. Take 2-3 players out is ok for some rotation but the core team shld be there for continuity. 

Man City on course for a treble themselves after winning the League Cup last night so the Reds shld challenge them else the Citizens possible treble might overshadow Pool's title win however precious that might be although admittedly the title is the most prestigious. 

[Beregond]

1 hour ago, Spring said:

Man City won the League Cup for the 3rd season in a row and now their targets are the treble of League Cup, FA Cup and UCL, congrats!

if man c go into CL next season, does villa have a confirm spot for europa?? cos they runner up??