Essential The Official Football (Soccer) Thread - RIP Diogo Jota

[Black Magisterialness]

He's had the worst possible end to his Liverpool career.

Was pretty much on his way to his first Premier League title last season, but bottled it at the very end
Gets sent off in under a minute against United
Has a run of losses towards the end of this season which ultimately put Liverpool out of CL contention
Knocked out of the FA Cup
Lost 3-1 to Palace at Anfield in his last ever game for the club

Just wasn't meant to be a fairytale ending. At least this time next year he'll be sitting poolside at his Bel-Air mansion I suppose.

He doesn't slip in that howler against Palace no less then Liverpool wins EPL last year. Team confidence and cohesion tanked at that moment. I'm sure at that point Suarez was like " Yo fukk me and Sturridge carrying this scrub ass team. I'm out".

And on the CL tip, Real lucked up in that final. Atleti out played those fools all night and facking Sergio Ramos had to be a damn hero.

Cuz until that point Di Maria was the only Real player worth a damn for 90 mins.

 

[NY's #1 Draft Pick]

Any Coli brehs hitting that Orlando city game tomorrow?

 

[Spades Of Aces]

This is a good answer @se1f_made

Madrid's problem this season besides injuries was the fact that Ronaldo is content to make it all about him and not understanding that when everyone eats they feed you too. Benzema is one of the best pure strikers in the game...but you wouldnt know it..cuz Ronaldo. Bale can't shine like we know he can because "nah Gareth, feed Ronald "

Madrid actually could have a good thing with the way that Chicharito is hungry to prove himself but Carlo wasn't going to give him a shot really..why? Cuz Ronaldo. Look at dude's face when someone OTHER than him in the attack scores (be it Benzema, Chicharito, or Bale). Carlo's lack of foresight and backbone directly lead to Morata leaving Madrid...and look at who JUST beat Madrid in CL...

If you look at Messi, Suarez and Neymar...they are entering and leaving the pitch together. On free kicks they are talking together. Messi accepted a more wide and conducting role to let Suarez eat and look what its done for Barca. Around christmas this team was dead in the water. But Messi sat down with Enrique, and did what was best for the TEAM and his attacking teammates. You will NEVER see Ronaldo say "let me risk not getting as many goals in order to win." Never.

It sounds really terrible but to the leadership in Madrid its the Ronaldo show. And only Bale (and possibly Sergio Ramos) are people who couldn't be sacrificed.

Yeah, that is definitely the key for Real Madrid if they want to get back to championship level. Ronaldo is going to have to work better with his teammates. I think it's going to be a hard adjustment for him as he's use to having control on the ball. He's a pure scorer in a sense, so it's hard for him to pass to his teammates when he has a shot on goal. When does pass those, he makes some brilliant assists. I think with him watching how Messi, Neymar, and Suarez move together, he'll be motivated to change his tactics. I think him and Bale are definitely the cornerstone of that team. If those two can get on the same page (and stay healthy), I look for them to challenge for the Champions League title next year. They definitely have the roster to do it, its just that some minor tweaks have to be made.

 

[mr.africa]

what the fukk was that from arsenal in the first half

luckily we regrouped in the second half.
we need players with more mental strength!!

 

[origiNel]

Messi in the clutch

 

[Black Magisterialness]

Madrid

Treble season

Luchi got us flying high, brehs. Look at the cohesive celebration

Neymar and Dani Alves being mad ******ish

Sending Xavi out properly

 

[HookersandIceCream]

Rolando scoring pointless goals as usual

 

[TTT]

1 league title for Perez since he came back, they are saying he has spent 750million euros for his Galactico part 2. It seems the 98-03 period will remain Real's peak.Barca won and lost and even when people thought they were done they recovered well before Real could set themselves up for dominance. They had a small window of opportunity when Barca imploded post 06 but the Pep appointment and Messi era just killed them.I think what separates them from Atletico is the UCL but they have basically won the same number of trophies. Barcelona improving their midfield will give them even more extra headaches.

 

[origiNel]

La Liga down, 2 to go for that Spanish Treble, and Barcelona can still win all 6 like '09?!?!

Barça anthem right now

Since the turn of the year, Lucho had those Barça Boyz ready to win it all, meanwhile Madrid was sitting so pretty

 

[ciubaca]

Looks like real madrid fulfilled their main objective , they got ronaldo the golden boot

 

[Capo Dei Capi]

great Kop sendoff for hollywood Gerrard. Crystal Palace


@2meo
yall staying up by default. If Hull was playing anybody but United next week, you nikkas would have been relegated

I still think we're going down

 

[Julius Skrrvin]

Real Madrid's problems this season has been it's lack of tactical variety because of thin options in midfield and the insistence on fielding Benzema ,Ronaldo and Bale. As bad as DiMaria has been for United they could rely on him to switch up the game.There are games when they started with a 4-3-3 which ended up looking like a 4-4-2 with DiMaria on the wing giving them good workrate. This season they have no DM or even a defensively sound box to box mid and when Modric got injured they were down to playing Ramos in that position and or attacking midfielders like Isco and James. Bale's game is known, once you double team him to close any space he might get he doesn't look too good. He does not have the free role he had at Spurs in the last season when he could take up any position on the pitch. Their central midfield was the weakest link once they decided Illaramendi and Silva are not good enough and Khedira stopped playing. Teams can design ways to choke off supply to Bale and Ronaldo so they needed someone in midfield to provide an alternative and they could not find one at key times.

I agree with most of this wholeheartedly but I don't know why you're singling out Benzy. I mean would you rather play... Chicha? :avbusure:


Dude offers great linkups and probably contributes the most to making the other two work. Ronaldo might be selfish and begging for all the tap ins but he's scoring, mostly. It's bale who's the link in the chain IMO.

 

[TTT]

I agree with most of this wholeheartedly but I don't know why you're singling out Benzy. I mean would you rather play... Chicha? :avbusure:


Dude offers great linkups and probably contributes the most to making the other two work. Ronaldo might be selfish and begging for all the tap ins but he's scoring, mostly. It's bale who's the link in the chain IMO.

I actually meant the BBC as a trio , i just don't like typing out those acronyms like MSN ,BBC. They have used them in the line up with a shape that sacrifices an additional defensive presence in midfield. Benzema is one of the few strikers who would work playing in a front 3 with players like Ronaldo and Bale who take more shots than strikers, Higuain for example would not work for that reason as well. Bale is the odd one out right now, if not for Copa del Ray and the Champions league goals he would be under even more intense pressure.

 

[NSSVO]

I actually meant the BBC as a trio , i just don't like typing out those acronyms like MSN ,BBC. They have used them in the line up with a shape that sacrifices an additional defensive presence in midfield. Benzema is one of the few strikers who would work playing in a front 3 with players like Ronaldo and Bale who take more shots than strikers, Higuain for example would not work for that reason as well. Bale is the odd one out right now, if not for Copa del Ray and the Champions league goals he would be under even more intense pressure.

I hate when people give him credit for that CL goal. Di Maria did EVERYTHING. Bale was just at the right place at the right time.

They should commit to Bale and Ronaldo and let Benzema walk. Walk right into United's 11.

 

[AlphaOne]

Lost the league and the chance at our 11th so what? We were riddled with injuries

Bout to retool and get Bale back inform and comeback like 23.

De Gea on his way to replace Saint Iker.

Who yall picking up? Oh wait yall cheating tampering fukks.