Soccer/football thread 2022 | Page 12 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Soccer/football thread 2022

Jayv said:
Liverpools defence which is usually rock solid it’s looking like they have been taking lessons from the Maple Leafs.
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I only managed to switch on 10 mins before half time and already saw two City chances. The reds look a bit jumpy at the back. Too much caution maybe.
 
Something wrong with Fabinho, whether he's confused tactically or just off his game. He's usually great at mopping up the top of the penalty area, but City have had all sorts of time there. Salah and Mane also invisible, whether it's tracking back or in attack. City also exploiting Liverpool's high line but Liverpool not moving the play forward with that line. TAA on the wrong side let Jesus go free for City's second goal and seemed to think he was offside based on his total lack of reaction.

Liverpool needs to find that old heavy metal football style from a few years ago and start running like crazy. As it stands, City are the ones running while Liverpool are chasing. Would like to see a change to Keita from Fabinho, Elliott from Henderson, and Diaz from Mane. Just not sure when...
 
Bit better now.

edit: I’m just going to shut up.

Edit 2 . It’s a shame they haven’t allowed the referees Labrador dog onto the pitch.
 
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Well, that was exciting. City way better in the first half, or Liverpool way worse, not sure. Second half more balanced, though that Fabinho tackle on Silva was more orange than yellow. Both teams gassed by the end, neither sets of subs made much difference.

Title race not over, but it's now City's to lose rather than Liverpool's to win. Have a feeling City will struggle with Atletico mid-week, and if they go out, those extra games for Liverpool could make the difference in the league...
 
Chelski and Bayern both eliminated from Champions League today.


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I was stuck downtown for a meeting yesterday afternoon, so was getting updates by calling buddies while I sat in traffic to get onto the Gardiner.

One is a die-hard Bayern fan, and he was pretty stunned by the outcome there. Villarreal is no joke, and Unai Emery has won something like 28 two-legged European ties in a row going back to his time at Arsenal. Granted, almost all of those were Europa League, but it's still impressive. Not ideal that Davies was so culpable in the late goal that put them out, and he's got some work to do to sharpen up to get back to his best...

I wasn't so surprised by the final result with Chelsea, but I was surprised that they built enough of a lead to go through, but somehow squandered it. Tuchel's version of Chelsea has typically been very sound defensively. This Madrid team is really dangerous, and seems to be able to find more gears when needed. With my usual Liverpool bias, I was bouncing back and forth with who I wanted to go through, with whoever was losing being the side I was cheering for. I didn't want any part of Tuchel's incredible European record, nor do I want them to face a club that seems to be at their best in the Champions League...

For today's games, one is a given, but the other is more complex. On the one hand, it would be great to see Atleti dump Pep and City to extend their dry spell in Europe, and I do think Liverpool has a better shot at beating Atleti in a final. On the other, I don't want to have to watch another minute of the Simeone style of play...
 
Liverpool were terrible this afternoon, hopefully that’s it for this type of a performance.
 
Jayv said:
Liverpool were terrible this afternoon, hopefully that’s it for this type of a performance.
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Not a vintage performance, but I think one affected by two things: they lost focus after going up 3-1, and not having Van Dijk directing the high line meant they were more vulnerable as the margins are so fine with that style (literally inches). First goal was a bit of a wacky one, and two and three were a defender not getting his positioning quite right and playing them onside.

Mostly, they were in control and I don't think ever in any danger of losing the tie. If Benfica had ever gotten within one, I think things would have tightened up a lot. In the end, they managed to go through while expending as little energy as possible while getting a whole bunch of players rested, at least for a half. It's not often you can start with a mostly B team in a Champions League quarter final!

I missed the Atleti-City game until the very end, but it sounded as chippy and as full of sh*thousery as was expected. Hopefully City was run ragged, and it sounds like De Bruyne may have picked up a knock. The Madrid police even had to separate some players in the tunnel...

So it's Liverpool-Villarreal and City-Madrid for the semis. Can't imagine Liverpool will take Villarreal lightly after them putting out two European giants, but they have Thiago, who is a specialist at finding chinks in the armour of organised defenses. City vs Madrid will be fascinating, but I suspect that City will find a way through against an occasionally shaky Madrid defense. However it plays out, the final won't be boring, as it'll either be mega-underdog Villarreal vs old Euro royalty or new Euro money, or it'll be Klopp vs Pep yet again, or a rematch of the 2018 final minus Ramos and Karius...
 
Lots of time left against a team that can easily find three goals! I joined late, right around Mane's first goal with Steffen failing to be Ederson. City look flat, just like their supporters.

Elsewhere, Spurs look Spursy except that Arsenal seem to be the new Spurs by losing to Southampton, which means, inexplicably, ManU will be the winners if their draw against Norwich stands.

Also, bloody Grealish...
 
If they close down Jesus that should be fine. Things seem to be centred around him. As for Grealish, just hide his hair gel.
 
Priller said:
Lots of time left against a team that can easily find three goals! I joined late, right around Mane's first goal with Steffen failing to be Ederson. City look flat, just like their supporters.

Elsewhere, Spurs look Spursy except that Arsenal seem to be the new Spurs by losing to Southampton, which means, inexplicably, ManU will be the winners if their draw against Norwich stands.

Also, bloody Grealish...
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Ronaldo hat trick 3-2
 
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