Pre-Season Thread

[randomlegend]

Doesn't really seem like we have anywhere to discuss preseason friendlies and the like (maybe because they aren't very interesting).

Apparently Chong played really well for us against Club America. Great cross eventually leading to our goal. I'm just not convinced you can end up a top level footballer as a Dutchman called Chong with the hair of Carlos Valderamas regen. Especially not a winger for goodness sake.

[SincereTheRebel]

That Chong is under Jose though. Martial and Rashford both haven't really done what has been expected.

Wolves are in Germany tomorrow vs Bochum. I was asked to go a road triwhich I may still do.

[Pleb]

Couldn't really give two shits about pre season probably due to World Cup season.

That being said Torquay United held Neil Warnock's lot to a 1-1 draw last night.

[Shindig]

We beat St. Pat's last Tuesday. Longstaff and Atsu scoring. Gayle won a penalty. Hull's next up which I feel could be tricky.

[John]

Chris Gunter apparently has an absolutely rabid fan club in China. I can't even begin to suss that one out.

https://www.facebook.com/BBCMOTD/videos/10156999861765982/

[wrdsmff]

Everton won a game by 20 odd goals the other day. I can't find the logic in such games. You would have benefited more from going for a jog.

[Shindig]

Teams do that all the time to boost morale. England did it in the run-up to the 1988 European Championships where they battered non-league sides.


Beardsley once scored four goals for England against Aylesbury United. These did not count towards his international tally, however, as this was not an official international match. (Aylesbury became the only non-League side to face the full England team, as they hosted the national side in a warm-up match in 1988 in preparation for the European Championships. England won the game 7–0.)[13]


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fej0t2CBD5s

[niko_cee]

Aye, but there's battering some shit and then there's that game where the 'keeper just walks out of the way of an attacker at one point. What the fuck was going on?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Match fixing was going on.

[SincereTheRebel]

Match fixing was going on.

I saw the clip. 100% the goalkeeper had money on over 19.5 goals

[Spikey M]

Southend Vs Leeds today. Come on then Magic, you tragic little cunt. You can bring LR as well. And your fucking dinner.

[niko_cee]

Karius has just made a horrendous error (unpunished) after 3 minutes against Dortmund. Man's shot.

[Spikey M]

Babes, mans not shot.

[niko_cee]

Game's being kept interesting by Dortmund's insistence on not closing down short-corners. Obviously spooked by the terrifying attacking trio of Markovic, Origi and Camacho(?).

[Lewis]

There are more people on the pitch in this United game than in the stands.

THE BUBBLE HAS BURST. QUALITY 'AWAYS' FOR ALL.

[Gray Fox]

Karius has just made a horrendous error (unpunished) after 3 minutes against Dortmund. Man's shot.

And another for their 3rd. Really tame shot basically thrown back to a Dortmund player.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, that was fairly wank as well, although is the type of thing (terrible parry into the middle of the goal) that a lot of 'keepers seem to do these days. He needs to cut his hair off or something.

On the plus side, Keita looks good.

[wrdsmff]

I was watching that match and although neither keeper had much to do it just proved his concentration levels aren't to the required standard. Pulisic(?) looked handy and so did Keita but you take friendly matches with a pinch of salt.

Karius is a write off though for sure. He's at the point where it may be too late to save his career at Liverpool but if he doesn't move on then his entire career could go down the drain.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1021154736907661313

:harold:

[wrdsmff]

I remember a time when Liverpool fans were obsessed with Man United. The roles seem to have been reversed ever since Klopp joined them as evidenced above.

Liverpool were pretty decent throughout despite the result.

[SincereTheRebel]

Karuis :lol:

[niko_cee]

He makes that look a lot worse than it was. Looked like he went to catch it and then changed his mind, but it probably wasn't that easy to deal with - shot is from point blank and to parry it safe is a small (ish) window. The earlier one where he charged out of his goal to do some excellent sweeper-keepering only to clear (pass) the ball directly to an opposition player was worse, but luckily for him their guy missed an open goal from the halfway line. He's just back to looking a bit of an intermittent calamity. Do something ostensibly good . . . oh no.

Pulisic did look decent.

[SincereTheRebel]

Its all eyes on the german now. Any small mistake and he will get crucified for it (as he should)

He looks like Edge and Test from WWF. He will either be sold or just rot in the reserves.

[Baz]

What’s Mane doing on pens?

[niko_cee]

Scoring them. I suppose neither Firmino nor Salah covered themselves in penalty taking glory last season. Interesting FPL implications if this looks like becoming a permanent arragement though. Liverpool are probably due some penalties this year after getting virtually none last season, and loads the year before.

[Shindig]

Is VAR this season? Everyone will be getting penalties.

[John Arne]

That young Spanish centre-back for City looks absolutely class... Eric Garcia

[niko_cee]

Mané's just scored a(onther) penalty for Liverpool with both Salah and Milner on the pitch. Major fantasy alert.

[randomlegend]

It was probably a penalty, but lol at Salah diving in a friendly.

Absolutely fabulous free-kick from Pereira. He's been our best player this pre-season.

[niko_cee]

That was a quality freekick. He looks the sort of niggly fuckhead I'd imagine Mourinho would love, any chance he gets a start for United or is Pogba/Fred/Matic a lockdown in midfield?

[Lewis]

He should definitely be getting games this season. I thought he was more of an attacking midfielder as well, but on the basis of these games he could easily come in for Nemanja Matic in all of the [theoretical] home bankers.

[randomlegend]

Well Matic was basically dead on his feet the end of last season since we had nobody to replace him. I imagine Pereira will get some minutes there, although not entirely sure how you play him, Pogba and Fridge together. Maybe he can play at the base of the three as a direct swap for Matic against weaker teams.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lovely freekick.

[niko_cee]

This ref is a mentalist. He looks vaguely familiar.

Different setting, same old shit. Liverpool should be about 5 up and United bunt their only shot on target (?) in from 30 yards.

[Lewis]

Having just seen it now, the penalty was a dive. Somebody should chickenwing him.

[niko_cee]

It looks a dive (he doesn't kick him in the body as it first appeared), but think he boots his foot.

Bailly shoving Mané in the back was a bit suss.

[randomlegend]

He grazes his foot and he goes down like he's been tasered.

[niko_cee]

'Grazes' with a wild swinging kick. I don't think the ref is changing his mind on VAR.

[randomlegend]

wild swinging kick.

:D

[niko_cee]

It was though. It was just daft. It was a classic nip the ball and take the contact, fall over ruse.

[randomlegend]

ruse.

So yeah, as I said. Probably a penalty, but he's diving in a friendly.

[Lewis]

I've somehow conspired to find the LFCTV stream of this and you would think he had raped him the way these commentators are going on.

'Our Mo, who was amongst the first to condemn the Manchester concert atrocity...'

[niko_cee]

The Whyte fight is better than this game, so I'm watching it with the dulcet tones of Carl Froch and maybe Tony Bellew in my ear. The LFCtv commentators are rubbish though.

[Lewis]

That was a good finish. What would be loller, Liverpool thinking they can rely on him all year, or some mugs (West Ham) spending loads on him thinking he is back?

[niko_cee]

I think we'll keep him and hope he can play a dozen games.

Is that a penalty? :cab:

[randomlegend]

That penalty decision, jesus christ.

[niko_cee]

I only saw one replay, but was he fouled by the ball hitting him?

[randomlegend]

He kicked his own standing foot and fell over and the ref gave a pen.

[Gray Fox]

The commentator I'm listening to is on about Fred being disappointing as a goalscorer.

Where do they find these people?

[Lewis]

He should get the goal, but then a penalty as well for ending up on the floor.

[Giggles]

Is he calling him Fred or Fray-zay?

[John Arne]

Always good to give Man Utd a good pasting, even if it was just pre-season.

[niko_cee]

Shaqiri loves an overhead kick.

To the graph!

[Spikey M]

The best thing about every club worth a fuck going over to America is that most of them have taken their reserves and the Yanks, not being as thick as the clubs think they are, are refusing to pay $150 a ticket to watch it. Half empty stadiums. :drool:

[niko_cee]

101,254 at the Liverpool - United game yesterday.

Still a lot of mugs.

Mourinho's comments are quality.

[Spikey M]

Man Utd have the biggest following over there, so that’s probably why. I thing there was about 47 people at Tottenham vs Roma, and that’s Levy’s main target market. :harold:

[Jimmy Floyd]

It does strike me the season is starting ridiculously soon after the World Cup. Anyone involved past the early stages thereof will be gassed.

Also having these 'high profile' friendlies is a total disaster, you need to be going around with light warm ups against Austrian teams and lower league sides.

[Shindig]

Absolutely. They've got 40-odd weeks of football to follow. We put together a poor goalless draw against Porto yesterday. Sounds like Porto were the much better side. Lejeune blew his ligaments. :moop:

[Kikó]

Porto should have won comfortably.

Inter have it right. Spaletti said he wanted a real pre season and they've had games across Europe instead.

[SincereTheRebel]

Mourinho's comments are quality.

Martial had a baby and he went back to Paris. The baby is called Swan. Now I can understand why Jose is mad.

[phonics]

It does strike me the season is starting ridiculously soon after the World Cup. Anyone involved past the early stages thereof will be gassed.

Also having these 'high profile' friendlies is a total disaster, you need to be going around with light warm ups against Austrian teams and lower league sides.

This is the thing keeping me slightly positive. We only had a couple of first teamers go whastoever let alone get to a quarter final.

[niko_cee]

What do you reckon Lacazette's chances of starting the season are?

I reckon Arsenal could be a good shout for an opening weekend ambush on City.

[Mazuuurk]

Emery seems to be wanting to play Aubameyang out wide to the left with Lacazette centrally (how wenger slotted them both in once or twice as well I think).

I think his preferred team seems to be:

Lacazette
Auba - Özil - Mhkitaryan (?)
Ramsey - ??? (torreira? xhaka?)

??? - Mustafi - Sokratis - Bellerin

????

[phonics]

What do you reckon Lacazette's chances of starting the season are?

I reckon Arsenal could be a good shout for an opening weekend ambush on City.

He's played every game as well as Aubameyang but now Ozil and Ramsey are back I'm not sure how it all fits together.

[Mazuuurk]

As above, don't you reckon Phonics?

Not sure who he plays out left otherwise. Other (very interesting) option would be a 4-4-2 diamond, which I'd love to see, but I'm not sure that will happen.

[SincereTheRebel]

Diamond midfield. Arsenal has complete freedom to do whatever they want. They should be gambling to progress instead of playing it safe. 442 diamond is what I would like to see. They dont have any natural wide players. Auba and Mkhi can play from out wide but you would think they would be better suited playing from the middle.

[Mazuuurk]

I agree for sure. Would love to see that , and with Bellering and Kolasinac who are basically closet wingers it makes complete sense.

But I still don't think it will happen do you?


So far all pre-season games have been 4-3-3 or more like 4-2-3-1, and that's what Emery used to play at PSG and Sevilla as well, from what I understand.

[SincereTheRebel]

I don't think he will do it. It will take a shocking performance to change the complete formtion to a diamond midfield.

[Mazuuurk]

Yeah exactly...

[niko_cee]

Saw this:


This season will also see the introduction on competition-specific suspensions for players, rather than cautions carrying across multiple competitions.

In an article on the beeb (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45025794) about managers getting cards etc this season. I can see the idea, but I think competition specific suspensions are a bit daft. I always remember on FM when a player was sent off for something violent in the Spanish Cup he'd miss the next few seasons of cup games as the lengthy bans only ever applied to cup games (I have no idea if this is still the case). It works in the sense that picking up that stray yellow to trigger a suspension before a cup game is definitely a thing, but I'm not sure it works so well if they have to carry over seasons to be served (which presumably they do have to).

[Waffdon]

Hudson-Odoi for Chelsea is going to be proper mega. Bellerin hasn’t got near him so far.

He’s handed Morata three different chances to score but then again it’s Morata.

[Trancemeister]

Hudson-Odoi looks super exciting. Hope he gets too play some in the league this year.

[Trancemeister]

Morata is having a shocking first half. Missed a penalty and looks like having no confidence what so ever.

[niko_cee]

Hudson-Odoi looks super exciting. Hope he gets too play some in the league this year.

If he does, it won't be for Chelsea.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why are we playing Arsenal in pre-season? At least make the money spinners against teams that you don't play all the fucking time as it is.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Also, Hudson-Odoi may look great but ejaculating over such a player in pre-season friendlies is such an Arsenal thing to do.

I imagine Sarri will be a lot more progressive with the kiddos, mind, so we might see him get a go.

[Shindig]

4-0 defeat to Braga. Rafa's went to the press to tell Mike to fuck himself.

He's not lasting the season.

[Mazuuurk]

Also, Hudson-Odoi may look great but ejaculating over such a player in pre-season friendlies is such an Arsenal thing to do.
I imagine Sarri will be a lot more progressive with the kiddos, mind, so we might see him get a go.


Agreed. Pre-season friendlies really tell you fuck all about stuff.

[niko_cee]

We've just bunted Napoli 5-0 in Dublin. Just pre-season and all but I guess it's better to be doing the bunting than being bunted (like Spurs).

[phonics]

Lichsteiner elbowed someone in the head then had a bust up with them protesting his innocence within 3 minutes of his debut. Automatic fan favorite based on the Twitter reaction.

I've always hated him as an outsider, I can't imagine the reaction he'll get playing in the league.

[niko_cee]

Shaqiri has impressed me in pre-season. He's always seemed the type to try their darndest to get a shot off or generally make poor decisions to try something spectacular, but he's been spot on with his decision-making tonight (and generally) and looks like he'll be an excellent option to have. Sturridge too, but we've been there before. At least he didn't get injured heading that in, I suppose.

[Lewis]

Shaqiri has impressed me in pre-season.

Fatness advantage.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We just beat Lyon on pens with Robert Green saving the deciding spot kick. What a time to be alive.

[John]

Why are so many friendlies this year being decided on penalties. I swear it's about half of them and that's never been the case before.

[Raoul Duke]

Because they're playing in front of Yanks and they can't handle draws.

Speaking of our cheeseburger munching cousins: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/aug/07/columbus-crew-mls-austin-move-soccer-austin-bold lol @ Bruh