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Wednesday, April 26, 2023

OT Soccer Thread - The Run In

The march to the end of the season is upon us.

Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: April 26, 2023 at 03:10 PM | 505 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: off topic, soccer

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401. bestergonomicgamingchair.com Posted: May 31, 2023 at 12:16 AM (#6130869)

Oh, USMNT, making Spurs looking like the rational adults in the room ...

Anthony Hudson quit as interim head coach of the US men’s soccer team on Tuesday, just two weeks before he was to lead the Americans in the Concacaf Nations League semi-finals.

He was replaced by BJ Callaghan, another holdover from former coach Gregg Berhalter’s staff.

Hudson’s departure was announced just six days after the US Soccer Federation said he was remaining as coach of the Americans through the Concacaf Gold Cup this summer. The USSF said Hudson was taking a job with a club but did not identify the team or the role.

402. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: May 31, 2023 at 08:56 AM (#6130877)

You know, USMNT finally has the bodies to actually compete with sort of the mid-tier powers -- not Germany and France and Brazil, but maybe Portugal and the Netherlands in a good year -- but they just cannot get their house in order. This may be as close to a golden generation as we're ever going to get, especially with the addition of Balogun. It would be a shame to blow it all on dysfunction.

403. jmurph Posted: May 31, 2023 at 10:42 AM (#6130893)

Well Marsch is now being linked to the Monaco job, so maybe we can rule out the US job for him since he seems to prefer club jobs.

Yeah I don't understand why they can't just pay a normal group of people to run the federation and coach the team like other countries are able to do.

404. jmurph Posted: May 31, 2023 at 01:43 PM (#6130923)

The internet tells me Benzema is going to Saudi Arabia and are Tottenham seriously going to hire Ange Postecoglou?

405. AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale Posted: May 31, 2023 at 04:08 PM (#6130936)

These are two of the teams I am least interested in watching play a Europa final. I haven't even turned it on yet.

406. AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale Posted: May 31, 2023 at 04:46 PM (#6130941)

Sevilla got a late penalty called on the field, but reversed on VAR when the referee Taylor went to the monitor. There was some minor contact so in the EPL that probably would not have gone to the monitor and would have stayed a penalty. They also said on a later review the defender may have gotten a very slight touch on the ball, so maybe that's not certain.

To my mind, no penalty is the better call on this play in an ideal world, but whatever your view it does seem to highlight a major difference between the VAR protocol in Europa and the EPL.

407. AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale Posted: May 31, 2023 at 05:54 PM (#6130945)

This Europa League final has been extremely long already. 30 minutes of time added, on top of the extra 30 (+8, +7, +3, +12). And now to penalties. This is the first game I have seen that will go over three hours, and it will be quite a few minutes over.

How do you get to 12 minutes of extra time on a 15-minute period?

408. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: May 31, 2023 at 06:04 PM (#6130946)

I think the question about stoppage time is why it wasn’t more.

But Europa league=Sevilla

409. AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale Posted: May 31, 2023 at 06:05 PM (#6130947)

Retaken penalty after VAR review, and Sevilla wins yet again! Pretty fast penalties, but still a few minutes over 3 hours.

410. AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale Posted: May 31, 2023 at 06:08 PM (#6130948)

Sevilla goes to the CL next year, putting 8 La Liga teams into Europe. Roma falls back into Europa, and if they fail to win this weekend, potentially into the Europa Conference.

411. jmurph Posted: June 01, 2023 at 07:36 AM (#6131021)

Mourinho is reportedly up for the PSG job.

412. Mefisto Posted: June 01, 2023 at 08:27 AM (#6131026)

As someone who doesn't much like PSG, I am very much in favor of him getting it.

413. AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale Posted: June 01, 2023 at 12:57 PM (#6131061)

Italy beat England in the U20s, and there was a big upset with Nigeria taking out Argentina against the run of play. The winner of Italy/Colombia is likely to be in the final against Brazil now. The US will know their next round opponent soon, as Gambia/Uruguay kicks off in 30 minutes.

414. Spivey Posted: June 01, 2023 at 03:49 PM (#6131093)

This Benzema story is a real ####### whodunnit. Soccer news is so wild to read.

415. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: June 01, 2023 at 04:49 PM (#6131113)

I feel like Benzema's whole life is weirdly crime-novel-like for a famous, rich athlete.

416. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: June 02, 2023 at 03:15 PM (#6131277)

Pole position for the Spurs gig now appears to belong to Ange Postecoglu, the 57-year-old, Greek-Australian skipper of Celtic, who spent his playing career in Melbourne and has spent the last 20-odd years clawing his way up from antipodean obscurity to the verge of one of the biggest jobs in the world. I have to say, I love this idea, and not just because of the rags-to-riches quality of it.*

*Note: Ange is a friend-of-a-friend through an ex of mine, who also grew up in Melbourne's big Greek community.

Anyway -- Ange has won everywhere he's gone, from the Australian first division to Japan. Celtic have won the last two SPLs, and they play the kind of progressive, enjoyable football that you don't associate with Scotland. I've watched 3 or 4 of their matches this season, and they are a blast when they're on. Ange also appears to have an in with Asian footballers because of his roots on that side of the globe; the squad contains six players from east Asia, and their top scorer is Furuhashi Kyogo of Japan, who put in 27 across all competitions this year.

Who knows if it will work out, but I think this is the kind of appointment that more big clubs should be willing to make, rather than shopping from the same conveyor belt of Conte / Nagelsmann / Pochettino / Ancelotti / etc. I guess Spurs are primed to do it because they're at a low ebb, squad- and performance-wise, but still have a brand new stadium and the richest market in Europe on their side. It's not entirely unlike when Arsenal hired Arteta straight out of Pep's support staff, rather than going for another famous name along the lines of Emery. I'm very curious to see what happens.

417. frannyzoo Posted: June 02, 2023 at 11:53 PM (#6131363)

Tomorrow's FA Cup Derby is right up there in my own personal "wish a meteor big enough at impact to engulf the pitch" rankings. I liked ye olde Cup when Leicester won it. Anybody seen what happened to them lately?

418. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: June 03, 2023 at 10:03 AM (#6131375)

That’s an adequate start for City.

419. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: June 03, 2023 at 10:34 AM (#6131377)

Game on!

420. AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale Posted: June 03, 2023 at 10:36 AM (#6131378)

I am pretty harsh on defensive handballs, but that one seemed unfair to me. I'm pretty surprised it was given.

Graelish's hand went up early as he was jumping to play the cross--I don't think he had any idea that AWB was even going to head the ball.

421. Spivey Posted: June 03, 2023 at 10:42 AM (#6131379)

Feel like United's gotten a pretty beneficial whistle this half.

422. Spivey Posted: June 03, 2023 at 10:46 AM (#6131380)

That said, City really hasn't created much. I don't feel like I've seen many overloads and in general their passes in the final 3rd have been a bit lacking. United has done a good job of defending positionally though.

423. Fancy Pants Handle struck out swinging Posted: June 03, 2023 at 11:03 AM (#6131382)

I am pretty harsh on defensive handballs, but that one seemed unfair to me. I'm pretty surprised it was given.

424. Spivey Posted: June 03, 2023 at 11:08 AM (#6131383)

Look, I have an extensive record of hating the current handball rule. But by the current rule, arm above the shoulder is a penalty. So I don't really understand the shock and indignation everywhere about this decision.

I think it's mostly because it was against the run of play is my guess. I also just don't think a lot of people like the current application.

I'd be more ok with it but I think there were a couple of other big decisions (Casemiro stamping a City player where not only did he not get a card, he got the FK) and Fred fouling DeBruyne in the box on a play that would have also been a soft PK, but it was a foul and did trip KDB on a play he would have gotten a decent xG shot off. AWB did pick up a bad yellow at the end of the half, but I think other 2 plays were things that could change the game.

425. AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale Posted: June 03, 2023 at 11:14 AM (#6131384)

426. Spivey Posted: June 03, 2023 at 11:14 AM (#6131385)

De Gea is so bad now.

427. Spivey Posted: June 03, 2023 at 11:18 AM (#6131386)

Arm above the shoulder when you can reasonably expect a ball to be played at you is bad, and to my mind a penalty is not that unfair. On this play though I don't think Graelish ever imagined AWB would play the ball that way. It's very different than jumping on a crowd on a corner.

I think you always have to expect a guy behind you there. My problem is that they very rarely affect anything, and it's a safety and human nature thing to raise your arms a bit. I don't think the new ruling is going to meaningfully change how people jump, so it just leads to a lot of soft PKs, in my mind.

428. Spivey Posted: June 03, 2023 at 11:31 AM (#6131387)

Middle of the pitch is very wide open right now. It's been a bit open all game, but City are being allowed to really carry the ball across he pitch, and it seems like United whether due to tiredness or leaving men up are able to break with numbers pretty well most of the game as well. Feel like there will be another goal.

429. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: June 03, 2023 at 11:39 AM (#6131388)

426 - that was my first thought on that goal too. He really should have done better,

Ganacho has been excellent since coming on.

430. Mefisto Posted: June 03, 2023 at 01:48 PM (#6131390)

@426: It's more that De Gea is erratic. He can still make amazing stops, but then he screws up when he shouldn't (and didn't used to).

431. AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale Posted: June 03, 2023 at 09:18 PM (#6131436)

In the U20s, Israel beat Brazil today, so if the US wins against Uruguay they would have Israel in the semis.

432. Spivey Posted: June 03, 2023 at 10:14 PM (#6131442)

@426: It's more that De Gea is erratic. He can still make amazing stops, but then he screws up when he shouldn't (and didn't used to).

On his wages at a club like Man U, I think he's well below what he should be. He's really bad with the ball at his feet, so you really need him to be an elite shot stopper. Even the first goal, I do wonder if that was Courtois or someone, if it goes in. The ball wasn't really that far and I don't know quite why he was rooted that way. He should have had a clear angle that Gundogan was going to shoot, and it seemed within diving distance. Instead he just did that little crouch thing goalies do when they hope it goes over.

433. Mefisto Posted: June 04, 2023 at 10:40 AM (#6131464)

I expect De Gea to be replaced, but I have no idea who the replacement might be.

434. AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale Posted: June 04, 2023 at 10:58 AM (#6131465)

De Gea is still a very good shot stopper, so in one sense he takes too much crap when he lets one through. The bigger picture though is that he needs to be among the very, very best at shot stopping to make up for his other limitations, and he no longer is that. So in a larger sense the criticisms are warranted.

City is becoming too good for my taste. I have less interest in these finals than I normally would, in part because they are such heavy favorites. United actually gave them a much tougher game than I expected, but I had already pretty much given up on the game earlier, so couldn't get excited about it.

435. AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale Posted: June 04, 2023 at 11:23 AM (#6131466)

To my mind a valid criticism of City is they don't make use of their talent advantage in games enough. That is, they don't really try to score that hard for most of the 90 minutes, and in particular early in games or any time they already have a lead. That effectively shortens the game, meaning more variance for a weaker team to win. The same was true yesterday, and "almost" cost them their lead late.

One counterargument is that City is playing the long game--conserving their bursts of truly efficient offensive output for when they need them the most. Intuitively this makes sense for the long EPL season, the group stages of the CL, and maybe early KO stages of tournaments. It doesn't work well for late KO stages of tournaments and especially finals. There is little point in conserving now.

I suspect Pep believes playing this way gives his team the best chance to win each game, standing alone. If so, I don't think he is correct. I can easily believe it gives City the best chance of winning a long season, but late round KOs are not the same thing at all. City also has not typically had great success in these rounds relative to the quality of their opponents, and that will remain true even if they win the CL final next week end.

436. Spivey Posted: June 04, 2023 at 11:24 AM (#6131467)

de Gea's post-shot xG +/- over his last 5 seasons is roughly average, a bit below it actually per fbref. His season before that was his prime season with Mourinho when they got second. And, imo, that's roughly how I view him - it's been 6 years since he's been world class.

Lloris has similar limitations and has been much better over the last 5 years, though is clearly over the hill now.

I know there's different models and such for shot stopping, but I'd be curious what stats people use to think de Gea is even "very good" at it.

437. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: June 04, 2023 at 02:30 PM (#6131486)

De Gea's problem, inasmuch as he has one, is not completely dissimilar to that of Mesut Ozil: the game went and changed on him. In the modern EPL a keeper needs to be able to distribute the ball, and he just can't or won't do that. To play the kind of football that United wants to play, they need someone who is confident with his feet.

438. Pirate Joe Posted: June 04, 2023 at 08:23 PM (#6131507)

In the U20s, Israel beat Brazil today, so if the US wins against Uruguay they would have Israel in the semis.

The US lost 2-0. I didn't see the first goal, which came half way through the first half, but the second goal was a bad own goal by a US defender.

439. The_Ex Posted: June 05, 2023 at 07:45 AM (#6131535)

While De Gea probably should be replaced, United have a number of needs and a limited budget (but still big). I don't think GK is top of the list.

440. Mefisto Posted: June 05, 2023 at 09:07 AM (#6131539)

True. United need midfielders and have needed them for years -- please God not Mason Mount -- plus a good, durable #9. They also need another center defender. They might need to keep De Gea or maybe they can find a cheap young keeper and keep their fingers crossed.

441. jmurph Posted: June 05, 2023 at 10:16 AM (#6131550)

So Benzema is indeed going to Saudi Arabia. My kingdom (not that one) for literally one football journalist in the entire world with actual sources.

442. Mefisto Posted: June 06, 2023 at 01:47 PM (#6131655)

Some pretty serious domestic violence allegations against Antony. He comes across to me as a hot-headed piece of #### on the field, so I don't doubt them. And United may be complicit.

443. Spivey Posted: June 06, 2023 at 02:29 PM (#6131658)

442: Oof. That means... he's going to Saudi Arabia!

444. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: June 06, 2023 at 05:39 PM (#6131683)

Spurs officially hired Postecoglou. Seems like a sensible appointment. He should at the very least make Spurs more interesting to watch.

445. jmurph Posted: June 07, 2023 at 07:37 AM (#6131772)

446. Spivey Posted: June 07, 2023 at 09:06 AM (#6131778)

All of the Saudi league moves are embarrassing for everyone involved, but this Kante one is easily the funniest. Are people seriously lining up to see N'Golo Kante? What is the point of his specific skill when surrounded by mediocre players?

Also I saw Son rumors somewhere but then haven't seen them again, any truth to that one?

I don't begrudge any of the players even with the fact the money is dirty - this is what capitalism leads to. They're already rich but this is truly life changing money, even for someone already rich.

What I have seen mentioned and observed myself is it seems like SA is targeting guys on free transfers. We'll see if that changes, but I think the Son link I saw mentioned it potentially for next year.

Kante's particular skillset with mediocre players won the EPL. I think he could be be a one-man midfield in a weak league, but he's just not healthy.

447. jmurph Posted: June 07, 2023 at 09:11 AM (#6131779)

Kante's particular skillset with mediocre players won the EPL.

Oh come on there's mediocre Premier League players and then there's this (also Mahrez and Vardy and others were certainly not mediocre players!).

448. Spivey Posted: June 07, 2023 at 09:13 AM (#6131782)

It was a bit of a joke. But I actually think a midfield menace like him could maybe be even more valuable in a league with technically weak midfield players. He at his prime could almost single handedly make it difficult to try to play through the middle if you weren't very tidy.

449. jmurph Posted: June 07, 2023 at 09:19 AM (#6131783)

Yeah he's great at what he does I'm just not sure it changes a team's fortunes all that much if there isn't anyone to do anything with the ball after? I don't know. The glamour signings are silly, too, it's just I at least understand the goal there.

450. Mefisto Posted: June 07, 2023 at 12:17 PM (#6131799)

Interesting that Messi is *not* taking the Saudi money.

451. AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale Posted: June 07, 2023 at 12:17 PM (#6131800)

I can't imagine ever watching the Saudi league, or any team or player in it. Ligue 1 already seems like the boonies to me. I don't begrudge (much) Benzema for taking the cash, but he might as well no longer be a soccer player for all I care now. Just another businessman. I can count on one hand the games I've seen Messi play for PSG, and that's at least a real league.

If things get so bad that the Saudi league becomes one of the best in the world, and/or merges with a league like that (like LIV golf), I'll start watching MLS, the top women's league, or simply stop watching soccer completely.

452. jmurph Posted: June 07, 2023 at 12:21 PM (#6131802)

If things get so bad that the Saudi league becomes one of the best in the world

Hopefully not famous last words, but I just don't see any chance of this happening in our lifetimes.

453. jmurph Posted: June 07, 2023 at 12:49 PM (#6131806)

So Messi wants to go back to Barcelona and Barcelona want Messi back but because they're completely incompetent they can't figure out how to pay him, and he's going to Miami? Is that the gist?

454. AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale Posted: June 07, 2023 at 03:37 PM (#6131833)

West Ham fans threw cups and other crap at the Fiorentina player taking a corner, hitting him on the head and drawing blood.

That's a very bad look.

455. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: June 07, 2023 at 04:17 PM (#6131842)

I can't imagine ever watching the Saudi league, or any team or player in it. Ligue 1 already seems like the boonies to me. I don't begrudge (much) Benzema for taking the cash, but he might as well no longer be a soccer player for all I care now. Just another businessman. I can count on one hand the games I've seen Messi play for PSG, and that's at least a real league.

This is pretty much a 100% reflection of what I said to my brother this morning.

456. AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale Posted: June 07, 2023 at 05:09 PM (#6131858)

Great run by Bowen, and the pass was played to him perfectly for the 90th minute goal.

All in all, a great year for West Ham. If I were a fan I'd be very happy with it. They were much, much better than their record in the league, they take home a trophy, and they have real European competition next year against teams at their level.

457. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: June 10, 2023 at 03:10 PM (#6132267)

How tall is Haaland, really? I've seen him referred to as everything from 6'3" to 6'6".

458. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: June 10, 2023 at 03:12 PM (#6132268)

Early doors Inter don’t look overawed.

459. AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale Posted: June 10, 2023 at 03:30 PM (#6132269)

Athletes and actors generally have their heights overstated, male ones at least. So your best bet is to the low end of that. 1-2 inches overstated seems the norm. Occasionally even more and sometimes less (i.e., actual height).

460. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: June 10, 2023 at 03:31 PM (#6132270)

Half an hour in and still good news for Inter. Ederson looks wobbly.

461. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: June 10, 2023 at 03:32 PM (#6132271)

Yeah, I remember Pedro was listed at 6 feet, but I saw him up close many times in Seattle and he wasn't any taller than me, and I'm not quite 5'10".

462. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: June 10, 2023 at 03:32 PM (#6132272)

De Bruyne is hurt!

. . . oh, he's being replaced by Foden. This squad is ridiculous.

463. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: June 10, 2023 at 03:33 PM (#6132273)

Couple of times now Inter have looked shaky playing from the back. It’s fine if you are doing something but if you are stationary and City are set up in front of you I think you need to go long.

464. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: June 10, 2023 at 03:36 PM (#6132274)

I’m rooting for Inter but DeBruyne going off is a shame. He’s an amazing player but this is a second Champion’s League Final he’s gone off early and that sucks.

465. AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale Posted: June 10, 2023 at 03:39 PM (#6132275)

De Bruyne going off is a blow, but I actually expect Foden to be an upgrade on a hobbled De Bruyne, so maybe we'll see an improvement now from City.

466. Baldrick Posted: June 10, 2023 at 03:42 PM (#6132276)

I haven't actually seen City play too many times this year. But this is pretty easily the worst they've looked. Credit to Inter or just another City bottle job?

467. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: June 10, 2023 at 03:42 PM (#6132277)

Seems to me that when City get something going it’s been Grealish in the middle of it.

468. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: June 10, 2023 at 03:44 PM (#6132278)

I really do not care for Jack Grealish.

469. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: June 10, 2023 at 03:45 PM (#6132279)

466 - I think a combination. Inter are obviously very good and a slowed DeBruyne hurts.

I will say this game is a good example of what doesn’t happen often during City games. It’s why I said awhile back that I find City boring. This game isn’t. It’s been back and forth with a good ebb and flow. Too often City just have so much control, even in games that they don’t win easily, that they aren’t fun to watch for me. This is more interesting.

470. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: June 10, 2023 at 03:47 PM (#6132280)

Credit to Inter or just another City bottle job?

I think it's credit to Inter. Pep hasn't done his usual attempt at 11-dimensional chess; it's just that Inter has been pragmatic and not tried to genuinely out-play City the way Arsenal and Real both tried to.

471. AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale Posted: June 10, 2023 at 03:48 PM (#6132281)

I can barely remember any shots in that half. Haaland had the one from the left side of the box, and Silva had that little curler early. Inter had one notable shot too, relatively early.

472. Baldrick Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:02 PM (#6132284)

There was the City field goal attempt right at the end.

473. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:26 PM (#6132290)

As much as Inter are in this game and happy with what is happening they are generating nothing. City seem to be breaking the pitch down. I feel like the last 15 minutes have been played on a much smaller surface area near the Inter goal.

474. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:28 PM (#6132291)

welp

475. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:29 PM (#6132292)

There it is.

476. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:29 PM (#6132293)

Fitting that it was Rodri, in the end. They have bigger names, but in the matches I've watched he's been their best player.

477. Baldrick Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:29 PM (#6132294)

'Capitalize on a City mistake' almost worked a couple times, but yeah it probably wasn't going to be enough.

And now they'll have to try even harder.

478. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:30 PM (#6132295)

Wow. I was about to say Inter have to find a way to generate something and oh my that came close.

479. Baldrick Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:31 PM (#6132297)

Hahaha wut

480. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:31 PM (#6132298)

I don’t think Lukaku really kept that out. There was a City player on the line who I think would have kept that out.

481. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:35 PM (#6132300)

Inter is all over the place now. They might level it with some chaos, but equally they could find themselves losing 3-0

482. Baldrick Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:37 PM (#6132302)

Expected City to kill the game for a period after the goal, just to try to crush Inter's spirit. That's...extremely not what happened.

483. AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:42 PM (#6132303)

Rodrigo's shot was really first rate. More difficult than it first appeared, and placed perfectly.

484. Spivey Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:48 PM (#6132306)

Inter is good and finals are weird.

485. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:49 PM (#6132307)

Wow, that was unreal.

486. Spivey Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:50 PM (#6132308)

I’ve always thought Ederson was overrated as a shot stopper but he’s had a great game.

487. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:56 PM (#6132309)

Well deserved and a pretty entertaining game.

488. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:56 PM (#6132310)

So Ederson is man of the match, right?

489. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:57 PM (#6132311)

I thought Ederson looked shaky early. A couple of huge saves late and that play on the ball into the box was sensational.

490. AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:58 PM (#6132312)

Wow. Some close calls there at the end. City was the best team by far in this competition, but Inter played them at least even today.

491. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:59 PM (#6132313)

Micah Richards is beside himself. That’s sweet to watch.

492. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: June 10, 2023 at 04:59 PM (#6132314)

City was the best team by far in this competition, but Inter played them at least even today.

Better than Bayern, Real, or Arsenal was able to do, that's for sure.

493. Baldrick Posted: June 10, 2023 at 05:00 PM (#6132315)

I can't say I found it particularly enthralling, but there was a good 15 minutes of energy packed in at the end, so I suppose I'm not super disappointed.

I guess City playing kind of meh but squeezing out the two finals they needed for the treble is itself kind of interesting, given how much it is opposite to their story over the past half decade.

494. Spivey Posted: June 10, 2023 at 05:05 PM (#6132316)

City seems like they were outplayed today if you just look at big chances. But it was also just a matter of time for the best team and coach in the world to win.

495. jmurph Posted: June 11, 2023 at 08:41 AM (#6132349)

I remember we had this discussion a few years ago, but I can now definitely report that league titles are much more important, doesn't even seem close to me. Still very cool, of course.

Inter were great- they combined being very good defensively with actually creating good chances, something that didn't happen a ton against City over the last half of the season. FBRef has it 1.8-0.9 xG for Inter. It was fun to see Serie A teams have such a good year in Europe.

496. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: June 12, 2023 at 05:26 PM (#6132514)

Arsenal has re-signed Saliba for four years. Given how hopeless the defense was without him, this was important, and a lot of people thought he was off soon. Whew.

497. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: June 12, 2023 at 09:08 PM (#6132534)

I remember we had this discussion a few years ago, but I can now definitely report that league titles are much more important, doesn't even seem close to me. Still very cool, of course.

That’s a reasonable view but it’s always a personal opinion. I’m not saying you’re wrong, if that’s how you feel, you’re right. I think for City as a club this year the CL was a bigger deal. It would be interesting to do some kind of study as to what meant more, the first EPL title or yesterday. I suspect that first EPL title probably is the better memory than yesterday when all is said and done. The way players react I think they generally feel the CL is a bigger deal.

Steven Gerrard would be an interesting thing. I’m sure he’d never admit it but I wonder if you told him he could trade Istanbul for 2014 what he truly believes.

I’ll give an example from a different sport. As a Boston Bruin fan I view this season as a great season. They had the best record in league history. A lot of people feel that losing in the first round invalidates that. For me I’ll remember the season fondly. I remember 1986 and 2003 positively as a Red Sox fan despite the way they ended. Others feel differently and that is absolutely fair.

Ti;dr it;s an individual opinion

498. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: June 13, 2023 at 09:04 AM (#6132604)

s a Boston Bruin fan I view this season as a great season. They had the best record in league history. A lot of people feel that losing in the first round invalidates that. For me I’ll remember the season fondly.

That's how I feel about that Mariners team that won 116 games. Going out to the Yankees in the ALCS sucked, but it didn't invalidate the magic of the season itself.

On the flip side, however, my dad is a Dodgers fan. There's an argument to be made that last year's Dodgers were the greatest team of all time, but if you ask him, they might as well have missed the playoffs altogether rather than bomb out without even making the WS.

499. jmurph Posted: June 13, 2023 at 10:04 AM (#6132613)

So what does PSG get from Madrid for Mbappe? Or I guess the question is can Madrid actually afford to do it within La Liga's rules?

500. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: June 13, 2023 at 11:38 AM (#6132630)

What did they pay for Bellingham? 100M Euro? I think you'd have to tack on another 20M at least, even if he only has a year left on his contract.

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