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2011-12 Football/Soccer Thread

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GJ NAPOLI.Everyone probably knows this but i'mma say it anyway
MAN UNITED'S GOING DOWN DOWN DOWN DOWN DOWN
 
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Benfica away is the hardest game United had, they didn't play well and still got a draw, they may as well already be in the knockout stages.

I think City will battle it out with Napoli for 2nd place in their group. Bayern are a great team maybe not better individually then City, but they have much better chemistry and players like Lahm, Gomez, Robben, Schweinsteiger and Neuer would walk in to pretty much every team in Europe. They didn't have a great season last year but I think there are comfortably the best team in the competition not from Spain/England.

Villareal are the whipping boys of that group really have been over hyped. They are a much weaker team then their last two years, they lost there second most important player Cazorla to Malaga, Rossi has been inconsistent for a good 6 months and Nilmar is always injured. They will be very lucky to make Top 4 in Spain this season.
 
Happy with the United result. I knew it'd be a hard game against Benfica away and when you replace your entire midfield for five players who hadn't even started a game all season so far, a draw is a good result. This was easily the hardest Group Stage game we'd have, so win our home games and we're through, it's as simple as that and I think we'll manage it. I think Man Utd will get at least 14 Points in this group.

City vs Napoli seemed like a good game, but I'm sure City fans will be more disappointed than happy with that result. I think they'd have been banking on at least beating Napoli and Villareal at home then trying to go undefeated for the other games and qualify. They have the ability to go and beat these teams away as well, but it's a tough group.
 
I reckon City will do better away from home, teams will come at them more and City definitely have the class to counter quickly, and the quality to get goals. I don't City fans do think they can just turn up and win in Europe, despite the start they've had in the Prem. It's a different game and a learning curve for many of their players.. Not to mention they hit the woodwork 3 times, and Nesta was beast.
 
Well, tbh Lavezzi also hit the crossbar and Hamsik had his shot stopped on the goal line by Toure. I think the tie was just and Mancini also agreed on that. Also Nesta plays for AC Milan, maybe you meant Campagnaro?
 
wow how did i not find out about this thread before :o
Anyways, good to see feyenoord is doing better than last few years, though id rather have a better league here :/

Anyways, pretty excited for euro 2012. Netherlands is qualified and i think they have a good chance of winning (#1 of the world !) though germany and spain might win as well. I hope not spain though
 
I don't know wasn't he in a car accident? Yeah I was thinking of AC/Barca where Nesta actually was beast.


Yeah, he was. A friend of his died while, fortunately, Campagnaro just picked a minor injury. And yeah, Nesta was great against Barca though Milan was really, really lucky.

also lol@Nos.
 
Happy with the bright start to our CL campaign.Luiz's goal was an absolute screamer and Torres played quite well too,assisting both goals.Yeah I know we have a pretty easy group.One would say Valencia shouldn't be underestimated but they have dipped in form recently and they'll barely make second in our group even with the lol competition.I was hoping for a loss but I guess i'm fine with a draw GJ Benfica.City's group is pretty tight but I'm sure City will finish first with bayern close behind.
 
Realistically? None.

I wouldn't even consider Man Utd or City to be in contention. It's all about Barcelona and Real Madrid this year because their squads are on another level.
 
The hype is true. The Manchester clubs are competing at another level.

Chelsea are quite good but not on the level of City and Utd IMO. Squad needs some work to be able to win the PL / CL.

Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs come after that.
 
United are good but people actually thought they'd beat Barca in the CL final and they continue to now.Every sensible football fan knows that Man Utd. only reached the final coz they were drawn against Schalke and not Madrid.I'm not stupid and before anyone says it I know we would've lost if we faced Madrid as well.Just explaining my earlier comment.Those two are on a whole new level altogether.
 
The hype is true. The Manchester clubs are competing at another level.

Chelsea are quite good but not on the level of City and Utd IMO. Squad needs some work to be able to win the PL / CL.

Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs come after that.

I disagree. In fact, I would say that Utd and City even in the PL are not nearly the difference people make them out to be. Fergie is a smart man and he claimed it was a 6 horse race this year, he was wise to do so.

When you look at City's squad, they have a group of top performers that is for sure. But real world class players? The difference can be spelled out when you consider that Fabregas, Arsenal's best player and who a lot of pundits argued for as the best player in the Premier League, went to Barcelona and is on the bench. Nasri, who was criticised by many people outside of Arsenal as being a dud and isn't good enough, went to City and is already one of their top players. To reiterate: the best player (arguably) in the PL can only make the Barcelona bench!

Looking at Utd's squad, they haven't changed much from last season at all. They have bought Ashley Young and some youngsters for the future but I would say that their squad is now weaker than last year after losing Van der Sar. The youngsters have settled in really well and have performed amazingly so far this season, but when you look at it on paper, they have lost Scholes - one of the best midfielders England have ever produced, as well as Van der Sar - one of the best keepers in the PL ever. I would be really surprised if Jones, Cleverly and Smalling continued their form all season. Every footballer knows this, they will hit bad patches or injuries and that is when Utd's squad will be stretched. While De Gea will take time to get anywhere near the level VDS was at. People were writing Utd off last season for having a mediocre midfield and nothing has changed this season. You can only rely on youth for so long. (As I'm sure many fans would like to point out at Arsenal)

Before any Utd or City fans point to the table as some sort of 'proof', let me just point to last season's table 4 weeks in; nuff said. The fact is Tottenham have a very strong squad (Modric, Adebayor, Bale, VDV, a much better defence than last season); Liverpool have a very strong squad (Suarez, Adam, Gerrard who oftens carries Liverpool to victories single-handed, Reina, a solid midfield and defence); Chelsea have an immense squad (strengthened hugely and have world class players all over the pitch, much more than Utd or City imo); and despite the vultures writing Arsenal off, we still have a very strong squad - much of last season was played without Fabregas while Nasri was out for half the season.

I just wanted to put things into perspective, City's squad is not anywhere near world class while Utd are being seen through rose-tinted glasses at the minute because their young English players are doing so well. Once City's mercenaries start acting up halfway through the season, and Utd's youngsters get tired, I expect all 6 teams to be in the running for the title. In fact, I would be very surprised if Utd and City are still #1 and #2 by Christmas and you can hold me to that.
 
I disagree. In fact, I would say that Utd and City even in the PL are not nearly the difference people make them out to be. Fergie is a smart man and he claimed it was a 6 horse race this year, he was wise to do so.

When you look at City's squad, they have a group of top performers that is for sure. But real world class players? The difference can be spelled out when you consider that Fabregas, Arsenal's best player and who a lot of pundits argued for as the best player in the Premier League, went to Barcelona and is on the bench. Nasri, who was criticised by many people outside of Arsenal as being a dud and isn't good enough, went to City and is already one of their top players. To reiterate: the best player (arguably) in the PL can only make the Barcelona bench!

Looking at Utd's squad, they haven't changed much from last season at all. They have bought Ashley Young and some youngsters for the future but I would say that their squad is now weaker than last year after losing Van der Sar. The youngsters have settled in really well and have performed amazingly so far this season, but when you look at it on paper, they have lost Scholes - one of the best midfielders England have ever produced, as well as Van der Sar - one of the best keepers in the PL ever. I would be really surprised if Jones, Cleverly and Smalling continued their form all season. Every footballer knows this, they will hit bad patches or injuries and that is when Utd's squad will be stretched. While De Gea will take time to get anywhere near the level VDS was at. People were writing Utd off last season for having a mediocre midfield and nothing has changed this season. You can only rely on youth for so long. (As I'm sure many fans would like to point out at Arsenal)

Before any Utd or City fans point to the table as some sort of 'proof', let me just point to last season's table 4 weeks in; nuff said. The fact is Tottenham have a very strong squad (Modric, Adebayor, Bale, VDV, a much better defence than last season); Liverpool have a very strong squad (Suarez, Adam, Gerrard who oftens carries Liverpool to victories single-handed, Reina, a solid midfield and defence); Chelsea have an immense squad (strengthened hugely and have world class players all over the pitch, much more than Utd or City imo); and despite the vultures writing Arsenal off, we still have a very strong squad - much of last season was played without Fabregas while Nasri was out for half the season.

I just wanted to put things into perspective, City's squad is not anywhere near world class while Utd are being seen through rose-tinted glasses at the minute because their young English players are doing so well. Once City's mercenaries start acting up halfway through the season, and Utd's youngsters get tired, I expect all 6 teams to be in the running for the title. In fact, I would be very surprised if Utd and City are still #1 and #2 by Christmas and you can hold me to that.


I couldn't have expressed my opinion on the PL any better than quoting this post.
 
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