[FOOTBALL] The Magic of the UEFA Super Cup and Carabao Cup

[Pleb]

(Kickoffs all 19:45 unless stated)

UEFA Super Cup
Real Madrid v Manchester United (BT Sport)

EFL Cup first round (selected ties)

Today

Accrington Stanley v Preston North End
AFC Wimbledon v Brentford
Birmingham City v Crawley Town
Bristol City v Plymouth Argyle
Cardiff City v Portsmouth
Coventry City v Blackburn Rovers
Exeter City v Charlton Athletic
Forest Green v MK Dons
Luton Town v Ipswich Town
QPR v Northampton Town
Rotherham United v Lincoln City
Wigan Athletic v Blackpool
Reading v Gillingham - 20:00

Tomorrow

Colchester United v Aston Villa (Sky Sports)

Thursday

Bury v Sunderland (Sky Sports)

Other EFL Cup first round ties... (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/league-cup/scores-fixtures)

Midweek football :sleep:

Let's hope the European Community Shield lives up to the hype of McGregor/Mayweather.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Surely the first time Rotherham v Lincoln has ever been a 'selected tie'.

[Lewis]

Nonces vs Ponces.

[bruhnaldo]

Super cup!

Edit: Holy shit this no-caps thing is really grinding my fucking gears.

[Pleb]

Surely the first time Rotherham v Lincoln has ever been a 'selected tie'.
Random useless fact: First time Rotherham United has played Lincoln City in the League Cup since August 1973 so this tie probably deserved a "selected tie" tag.

[Shindig]

This is the first time a league cup sponsor has drawn an actual puzzled look from me. Why can't nobody tie that down for a decade?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I didn't even notice that until you pointed that out.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/800/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2017/8/8/5acf291b-a3f6-4b8c-91d9-7930d765631a.png

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/800/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2017/8/8/f7993bdc-d91e-4649-b92f-91946d8757a9.png

Strong side.

[Giggles]

This still in Monaco? Stadium looks bigger.

[Trancemeister]

This still in Monaco? Stadium looks bigger.

Skopje, Macedonia

[Pleb]

United 1-0?

[Reg]

Big and fast United team this. I've a feeling Mata will be used much less this year.

[Amigo]

Fucking lol at that dive by Mkhitaryan.

[Lewis]

Big and fast United team this. I've a feeling Mata will be used much less this year.

I imagine he basically backs up for Paulp Ogba now (with a switch to 4-2-3-1), so at the same time he has a more defined role and won't have to piss about on the wing.

[Reg]

Think United are 5-3-1-1 which is possibly Mourinho's "big game" formation this season. Lingard left wing back.

It looks 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 sometimes but you can tell when they defend.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Robbed.

He was offside.

[Lewis]

United look very well-drilled when Madrid are attacking. Unlucky, Luke Shaw.

[Lewis]

Nemanja Matic has been impressive, and it must be nice for Zinedine Zidane to see Antonio Valencia up close, but Madrid are obviously just better.

[bruhnaldo]

Matic had a nice little diagonal ball late in that half the likes of which I haven't seen in a United side for years.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lolkaku.

[Lewis]

Now we're talking.

[Giggles]

Does Martial fit into any of this at all or does Mourinho still hate him?

[Lewis]

That was all Fellainimania.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Poacher :cool:

[Spikey M]

Southend getting donned by Newport :face:

Left out of the opening post as well, Pleb, you FUCKING Pleb.

[randomlegend]

Rashford really is the real deal. Even vs a team like this Madrid side he looks threatening.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

As if Fellaini actually came off worse in a clash of heads

[Lewis]

Stapling him on the pitch. What a beast.

[Giggles]

What is the point in keeping him on in what is essentially a friendly?

[Lewis]

You need your best and most inspirational players out there regardless.

[Pleb]

Southend getting donned by Newport :face:

Left out of the opening post as well, Pleb, you FUCKING Pleb.
My bad. Will select better cup ties next round :chief:

[Reg]

As shown by Ronaldo and Rashford tonight, the idea of kicking the ball in the airhole/pumphole/hole for freekicks still being seen as a viable option is crazy.

[randomlegend]

Eh, not that bad. Got outplayed for some fairly long periods but also had some good chances. Considering how good Madrid are I'm not too disappointed.

Matic looked very good, as did Rashford (miss aside). Roll on West Ham.

[randomlegend]

As shown by Ronaldo and Rashford tonight, the idea of kicking the ball in the airhole/pumphole/hole for freekicks still being seen as a viable option is crazy.

Valve :D

[Giggles]

Kenny Cunningham has just said Herrara isn't good enough and they should be breaking the bank to bring in Oxlade Chamberlain :D

[Pen]

Yeah, can't be too disappointed with that. Looked like it was going to be a raping after that second goal. Fellainimania ran wild.

[Reg]

Oh, yeah. :D

[Lewis]

I'm not watching a full season of Marcus Rashford wasting set pieces.

[Baz]

As shown by Ronaldo and Rashford tonight, the idea of kicking the ball in the airhole/pumphole/hole for freekicks still being seen as a viable option is crazy.

Why?

[Pen]

What's with the number 4 on the Madrid shirts?

[Reg]

Why?
Because the success rate is abysmal. Ronaldo, for instance, is considered a good freekick taker only because the few freekicks that do miraculously go in are exciting to watch.

[CJay]

I'm not watching a full season of Marcus Rashford wasting set pieces.

What's up with that? He took a few last season and did the same thing, iirc.

That miss was very poor as well.

[Lewis]

He scored one, and presumably fancies himself as being good at them. Paulp Ogba is clearly 1) miles better than anyone else in the team at them; and 2) not so amazing in the air that you can justify him not taking them, so if he isn't back on them soon then put it down to MIND GAMES.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mourinho teams are always strangely shit at set pieces. His Chelsea sides had Drogba knobbing them at the near post and Lampard spaffing them onto the District Line.

[John]

Because the success rate is abysmal. Ronaldo, for instance, is considered a good freekick taker only because the few freekicks that do miraculously go in are exciting to watch.

Was considered a good free kick taker. People seem to have caught on since stats started coming out showing he had the worst success rate in Europe of people who'd taken over a certain number. He only gets to keep taking them because he's the top man. If Benzema was doing what Ronaldo does he'd have had his parking space taken off him years ago.

[randomlegend]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DGvY_-4XgAAA-5a.jpg

:D

EDIT: fixing link

[Lewis]

He tweeted it himself. :cool:

[niko_cee]

Was Bailly suspended last night or should I be having concerns about putting him in my fantasy team?

[Mazuuurk]

Was considered a good free kick taker. People seem to have caught on since stats started coming out showing he had the worst success rate in Europe of people who'd taken over a certain number. He only gets to keep taking them because he's the top man. If Benzema was doing what Ronaldo does he'd have had his parking space taken off him years ago.

While I wont dispute that Ronaldo is grossly "overrated" (if, like you say, he still is at this point) at Free kicks.

But at the same time, I always thought the stats were a little "unfair" in a way because he always seems to take a shot from just about anywhere, where most other players would do some sort of whipped lob into the box from. Which is retarded in it's own way of course but still kind of skews the stats = skill mechanic a bit.

[John]

That's just nonsense.

[Jimmy Floyd]

No one is THAT good at free kicks in terms of sticking 1 in 3 into the goal sack/onion bag. It's more about when you do it. Beckham used to be great at that. Messi too.

[Mazuuurk]

Not really. What I mean to say is if Ronaldo was taking free kicks like a normal person would, i.e. close enough to the goal when you actually have a chance of scoring, his stats would be a bit better.

But because of his inflated ego, he's also taking free kicks from 45 yards out here and there thinking he can whip it into the net because he did so once or twice before, which fucks up these stats a bit.

Still doesn't mean he's great at free kicks or anything, he's alright at them and nothing more.

[John]

No one is THAT good at free kicks in terms of sticking 1 in 3 into the goal sack/onion bag. It's more about when you do it. Beckham used to be great at that. Messi too.

Was it you that said if Messi was some right back who pitched up and banged them in the way he does he'd be considered one of the best ever, but it just gets lost in all the other stuff he's brilliant at?

[SincereTheRebel]

Man Utd offensive wide players are poor. They are based off not playing them at all. Pogba was beast in a 352 at juventus. Would be good if they tried that system with valencia and someone else as the wing backs.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Was it you that said if Messi was some right back who pitched up and banged them in the way he does he'd be considered one of the best ever, but it just gets lost in all the other stuff he's brilliant at?

Probably not, but I agree with it.

Ronaldo is a blaster of the ball, the best free kick takers (obviously due to the small amount of goal you are aiming at) are placers.

[Reg]

No one is THAT good at free kicks in terms of sticking 1 in 3 into the goal sack/onion bag. It's more about when you do it. Beckham used to be great at that. Messi too.
:D


Man Utd offensive wide players are poor. They are based off not playing them at all. Pogba was beast in a 352 at juventus. Would be good if they tried that system with valencia and someone else as the wing backs.
They were last night pretty much. 3-5-1-1. Mourinho was trying it out in friendlies as well.

[John]

Not really. What I mean to say is if Ronaldo was taking free kicks like a normal person would, i.e. close enough to the goal when you actually have a chance of scoring, his stats would be a bit better.

But because of his inflated ego, he's also taking free kicks from 45 yards out here and there thinking he can whip it into the net because he did so once or twice before, which fucks up these stats a bit.

Still doesn't mean he's great at free kicks or anything, he's alright at them and nothing more.

Knowing what you should be doing in any given position is part of the skill of taking a free kick. If he chooses to wallop it at goal from the car park that's on him.

[Mazuuurk]

Knowing what you should be doing in any given position is part of the skill of taking a free kick. If he chooses to wallop it at goal from the car park that's on him.

You know what I mean though, right?

Of course that's on him to waste potential crosses and into-the-box flicks by taking stupid shots. It's like he's making himself look worse than he actually should be by taking a bunch of free-kicks that - in this context (actually scoring opportunity free kicks) - are not really relevant (as they are not really scoring opportunities).

It's like some players who insist on shooting from 50 yards out even though they have never once scored a goal like that (typical Brazilian Centre Back behaviour).

[John]

I knew what you meant right away, when I said it was nonsense.

[Mazuuurk]

How is that nonsense?

There are 10 free kicks. 5 of those are goalscoring opportunities, the rest aren't.

Messi will take 5 of those free kicks, and score lets say 2.
Ronaldo will take 9 of those free kicks, and score lets say 1.

That means Messi scores 2/5 of goalscoring opportunities from free kicks, whereas Ronaldo scores 1/5, but his stats are skewed because he also decides to take a bunch of free kicks where Modric or someone should hit a cross.


It's not nonsense, it's logic. It's retarded by Ronaldo to do that, but it also doesn't detract from his ability to score the actually scorable free-kicks. He's not the best at that, but he's not the worst either. I agree there's merit in knowing when you should do something and when you shouldn't - but that is a different point than the execution of the things you should be doing.

[Kikó]

After 5.5 hours there and then another 5.5 hours back from Sofia to Skopje, it's a shame united still seem to have the same problems of last season. Poor attacking play, especially with Lingard tucking in / hiding on the left (and supported by the ineffective Darmien) supported by shaky defensive play (from the aforementioned Matteo and brain dead Smalling). If we take the chances we made though and suddenly we have extra time. Madrid were unbelievable at times, Modric is an amazing footballer.

The stadium itself is pretty lovely although, the stewards were unnecessarily violent. The stadium wasn't set up for mass groups of people trying to buy a drink at half time and 100% the local staff have made a nice earner last night. Skopje is actually pretty beautiful with the newly built buildings and massive statues.

Strange place for a final but worth he adventure.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I suppose they'll never get anything else so might as well take the Super Cup there for some vote harvesting.

Next year it's in Estonia.

[Kikó]

Direct flight to Talinn I suppose?

This is my mate: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/ive-seen-rats-moving-out-10951059.amp

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

biggestfella72?

A friend of the wife too, perhaps?

[Kikó]

Yes that's right.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You should probably have a word with her about that. And any other women you know who might be tempted by a man whose internet moniker suggests a large physical size.

[Offshore Toon]

His profile picture is certainly an interesting one.

[Lewis]

It's nice of the '44 year-old season ticket holder at Old Trafford' to let an edgy thirteen year old run his Twitter.

[bruhnaldo]

Best part is when he mentions he's with his kids but he's gonna go get pissed all night for a 6am flight

Seems legit

[Kikó]

He's actually like that. The man drinks a lot.

[Shindig]

As long as the kids are fine with making their own breakfast.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

A liquid one.

[ScousePig]

Last night was great. I went with a mate I occasionally go with, and a lad who needed a lift that we picked up in Leeds. He's started a Yorkshire based Sunderland fan group on Facebook which could prove useful. We completely outplayed Bury (who have been great with all their contributions towards Bradley Lowery), and it's a while since we've done that to a team. My mate's twisted my arm to go to Sheff. Wednesday next week, and Leeds the following weekend. I'm also off to Barnsley in a couple weeks providing I can get tickets.

The Championship :drool:

[Weaver]

Last night was great. I went with a mate I occasionally go with, and a lad who needed a lift that we picked up in Leeds. He's started a Yorkshire based Sunderland fan group on Facebook which could prove useful. We completely outplayed Bury (who have been great with all their contributions towards Bradley Lowery), and it's a while since we've done that to a team. My mate's twisted my arm to go to Sheff. Wednesday next week, and Leeds the following weekend. I'm also off to Barnsley in a couple weeks providing I can get tickets.

The Championship :drool:

I had planned to do similar last year, but my mate with a season ticket and his brother went to nearly every game so I couldn't.

Enjoy it - it's nice going to some different grounds, winning games for once and actually having an affinity for the players and for team you support.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I wish I could go to more games at a level like that (or lower). I could go to Woking but it's a shit club full of tossers, and other than that it's London teams which are generally tedious to get to, or ridiciulously twee like Fulham.

And my own club obviously I need a lottery win to even think about it, and the clientele these days is properly depressing.

[Giggles]

I haven't been to a game this year yet as we're boycotting. Though the club probably won't exist in a couple of years so I might catch a couple before the end of the season for the sake of nostalgia.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Have the colour-coded bus stops of salvation not made it off the drawing board?

[Giggles]

The colour coded thing rings a vague bell, but I'm shit at remembering stuff.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There was some Dr Nick guy who the League of Ireland brought in to do an absolutely mad presentation about how to make the League sexier (including theming the local bus stops around clubs, and using James Joyce pictures at games to illustrate local history).

[Giggles]

There was some Dr Nick guy who the League of Ireland brought in to do an absolutely mad presentation about how to make the League sexier (including theming the local bus stops around clubs, and using James Joyce pictures at games to illustrate local history).

Ah shit yeah I'd forgot about that whole mess :D

I can safely say he's gone with his suitcase of cash and not one thing, even the sane ones, has been implemented.

[John]

The League. It's not that grim.

[niko_cee]

I wish I could go to more games at a level like that (or lower). I could go to Woking but it's a shit club full of tossers, and other than that it's London teams which are generally tedious to get to, or ridiciulously twee like Fulham.

And my own club obviously I need a lottery win to even think about it, and the clientele these days is properly depressing.

You could follow the mighty Green Lions on their travails around the M25 south.

[Ian]

I went to see Hamilton grind out a 1-0 home defeat to Aberdeen the other day. Some proper shite in the team at the moment, even compared to when I've been previously where at least there was some cohesion and seemingly a plan in place.

Also some centre-half called Sarras has taken over at the top of my Worst Professional Performances I've Seen Live leaderboard, I think.

[Max Power]

Last night was great. I went with a mate I occasionally go with, and a lad who needed a lift that we picked up in Leeds. He's started a Yorkshire based Sunderland fan group on Facebook which could prove useful. We completely outplayed Bury (who have been great with all their contributions towards Bradley Lowery), and it's a while since we've done that to a team. My mate's twisted my arm to go to Sheff. Wednesday next week, and Leeds the following weekend. I'm also off to Barnsley in a couple weeks providing I can get tickets.

The Championship :drool:

Barnsley is a cracking away day. Loads of little pubs and chippies and you get the whole end. Went a few years ago for a midweek game when we won 3-0 and it was just brilliant.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You could follow the mighty Green Lions on their travails around the M25 south.

They are now a league above my actual local side which is a touch embarrassing, although at that level it's more about who has the dodgiest chairman who can keep expenses off the books.

Oh and whose manager 'knows the scene' best when the entire squad inevitably needs replacing in September.

[John]

Also some centre-half called Sarras has taken over at the top of my Worst Professional Performances I've Seen Live leaderboard, I think.

Bilel Mohsni holds spots one through five on that leaderboard for me, but I remember that Sarris bloke being a fucking bombscare against us last season. Had one of those comedy attempted clearances that go in completely the wrong direction.

[Kikó]

I wish I could go to more games at a level like that (or lower). I could go to Woking but it's a shit club full of tossers, and other than that it's London teams which are generally tedious to get to, or ridiciulously twee like Fulham.

And my own club obviously I need a lottery win to even think about it, and the clientele these days is properly depressing.

I got speaking to a bloke on the train after a game of football one day. He was a Rangers fan and decided when he moved to London, he needed a team so started going to Brentford. Not sure what that money-ball type place would be to go to on a match day.

I'm going to try and go to watch FC United v Kidderminster tomorrow but I think there will be nuclear war with the family if I dare leave the house while dinner is being cooked.

[John]

Part time twat. Was probably Pongo.

[Kikó]

He didn't digress onto his massive TV and gizmos collection so I doubt it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I went to Griffin Park last season, it's tinpot as fuck in a nice way and I got to stand in the home end which was my first experience of standing and far superior to sitting. Also a nice homely bar and surrounds (the club shop is smaller than my bedroom) but they're building a new stadium so any charm will soon be gone.

[Kikó]

Charlton? I had a free ticket last year as part of a SKY SPORTS GIVE AWAY COS THE PREM ISN'T PLAYING event but didn't get to go. One of life's great regrets.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Do I strike you as the sort of person who would go to Charlton? How do you even get there? I've never heard of the DLR.

If Crystal Palace were in League One I'd probably go there. Used to go to Wimbledon a bit when I were a wee lad. That was a fun club.

[Giggles]

Go to the new Wimbledon.

[Kikó]

I think it's the overground.

Boring fact - the Saturday league team I play for play games where the old Crazy gang used to train.

[niko_cee]

Just go to Millwall and be done with it, Jimmy

[Lewis]

Go watch Chelsea Ladies.

[Shindig]

I had planned to do similar last year, but my mate with a season ticket and his brother went to nearly every game so I couldn't.

Enjoy it - it's nice going to some different grounds, winning games for once and actually having an affinity for the players and for team you support.

The mackems have the bonus of not expecting to bounce straight back up, too. So home games might not sound so dire when they concede early.

[bruhnaldo]

I never realized how awesome away days were until I did the 6 hour bus trip to Atlanta a few weeks back.

some old guy in "Atlanta United" grab was flipping us all off just because we dared to wear purple in his town :drool:

Awesome experience.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

lol.

[John]

Cech at least partially to blame for both goals.

[Kikó]

I never realized how awesome away days were until I did the 6 hour bus trip to Atlanta a few weeks back.

some old guy in "Atlanta United" grab was flipping us all off just because we dared to wear purple in his town :drool:

Awesome experience.

Good lad. You should have caved his head in and smashed up the bar.

[Giggles]

Sean would have thought him well.

[Ian]

that Sarris bloke being a fucking bombscare against us last season. Had one of those comedy attempted clearances that go in completely the wrong direction.

His defending this time was genuinely okay. but whenever he had the ball he genuinely didn't ever look to his right for a pass. It sounds daft but it got so bad that I was genuinely looking to see where he was looking and he never looked over to his right, even when the options were there. Instead he'd put his toe through the bottom-right of the ball EVERY TIME after seconds of dawdling and hope somebody to his left would pick it up. Fucking infuriating.

[John]

That sounds like a Mohsni special performance. He would go four games at a time without ever passing the ball, instead choosing to pick it up at the back and just run with it until he lost it. When he did pass it was invariably a mad punt to a player only he could see.

[Jimmy Floyd]

'Sarris' is a brilliant name for a devastatingly bad centre back.

Mohsni was brilliant. Probably the maddest person I've seen playing any sport professionally.

[ScousePig]

I had planned to do similar last year, but my mate with a season ticket and his brother went to nearly every game so I couldn't.

Enjoy it - it's nice going to some different grounds, winning games for once and actually having an affinity for the players and for team you support.

I've been to all but four or five grounds in the Championship but it's still nice. Carlisle away is a good draw in the cup but I may struggle to get tickets.

Jimmy, you must have pretty much unlimited options. If I lived in London and had the time and motivation (e.g. if I was retired), I'd probably regularly go to non-league games, or pick a club and have them as my second team. East Dulwich would be a likely contender.

[ScousePig]

Barnsley is a cracking away day. Loads of little pubs and chippies and you get the whole end. Went a few years ago for a midweek game when we won 3-0 and it was just brilliant.

Last time I went we took 8000 and I couldn't even get a ticket, had to sit in the home end.

[ScousePig]

The mackems have the bonus of not expecting to bounce straight back up, too. So home games might not sound so dire when they concede early.

Some people are, and the home crowd could still easily turn. The good thing about last week is that whilst there was only 30,000, it was more of the hardcore support as you'd expect, and not the Premier League hangers on.