robsblubot

Heh thats what a special player can do! great assist by sterling as well

True but he’s been good today — that assist to Mudryk in the first was class.

Regarding Suarez, yes. It’s getting better, I hear (been away to long to know), but still terms widely used and I’m not talking bar talk here.

Consider that you don't really know the person. Some players look like cunts on the pitch, due to high aggression, and are amazing off of it. Others are super quiet off the pitch, and are trouble once it gets dark. 😃 For example, I personally think Luis Suarez was one of the best strikers I've seen play the game. While I totally buy that he's simpleton, I don't think he deserved the treatment he got in England.

gets killed? he's one of the most inaccessible people on earth regardless of what his cult members think. Besides, it's his people with all the guns. Impeached? not with this partisan congress. Still think it's going to be hard for him to survive the videos of the Jan 6 attack on the Capitol -- it will be non-stop closer to the election.

That's BS to me tho. Sorry, I'm a cynic. 😅 I read, to the same outcome (that he won't leave), "I make too much money and am very comfortable with my life as millionaire in Spain." (that's my interpretation of his unwillingness to leave, not that he's not upset) (br-pt) https://ge.globo.com/futebol/selecao-brasileira/noticia/2024/03/25/vini-jr-se-emociona-e-faz-fortes-relatos-na-luta-contra-o-racismo-cada-vez-tenho-menos-vontade-de-jogar.ghtml "It's exhausting because I'm kind of alone. I've made so many reports and no one is punished"

Would Vini Jr be attainable I wonder? Reports from Brazil state that he's pretty disillusioned with life in Spain and the lack of support he's getting from both the league RM.

I actually watched Jesus play for Palmeiras and his ability on the ball was second to none at the time. I've watched many famous players at youth level (played for fun with some too 😉 ) and it's abundantly obvious when a player is special in how he treats the football. Endrik for example is fairly obvious in the first touch, decisions, and inventiveness. "the raw talent, you can see he wants to make things happen" I don't quite see the first, and the second part is far less important than fans think it is, IMO. Like I said, he may be improving well and will eventually become a valuable asset, I just did not see all that talent for a 21yo to be an important player for us; and we need important players atm not yet another project. I'm curious to see what the owners will do once they start losing money by not competing at this level. How long without CL will they "trust" in their little pet project?

And the other team will try to stop that. I agree that he lacks quality around him when he plays for England that’s going to be the case esp when Kane is out, but Brazil defending with a low block and quality players forced those backward passes. Much easier to play with space.

I can understand Gallagher because of his combativeness same reason Brazil started w/o striker. Agreed on Gordon but also suspect tactical choice. still, it’s a different level here. Fodden had a shit game and he’s a very good player.

Yeah I guess if you ignore the shots that hit the post and a past-goalie miss by vini then yeah then maybe I’d agree. Where did I say that paqueta is so good? I said that he had a motm performance and that he is more skillful than Gallagher — many players are.

* Caveat: just a friendly even if a well-disputed one. Brazil deserved the win; they had the better chances to score even though possession was split. Lucas Paqueta motm for me. being originally from Brazil, and have been following WC and other international competitions for decades, this is that last final step which is so hard to take. When England plays anyone else but a select few (France, Argentina, Brazil, Germany) they will have the advantage as being a top tier team atm. Now, when Facing one of those teams, it's at least even, and tbh, England was definitely missing something up front; yes Kane would've helped, but nothing good happening out wide either (though Bowen looked good at times). I consider the teams pretty even player by player in most areas of the pitch; while Brazil does not have a Bellingham atm, Paqueta is far more skillful than Gallagher in that top mid position. The distance in the middle isn't that great. In attack however, Brazil just have more options. Richarlyson, for ex was sitting on the bench, and Brazil were missing a lot of potential starters today including both goalies from the PL. The announcers kept on mentioning recent England winning streak, which means nothing at this level. This is what I mean about different tiers at club level as well. The opposition being played means literally everything; there is no comparison of better or worse without taking into account the quality of the opposition duh. And yet, it's something we fans tend to ignore as we focus on our fav team, and fav players. It's going to be tough now for England to face off with the other top teams... it will require some tactical nuance that perhaps the current boss cannot provide. They will also need to find better solutions in attack esp when Kane is unavailable.

He looked pretty average to me when I watched him play. Granted, haven't paid much attention to Burnley who are sitting in 19th and at a sure spot for relegation. While it's wrong to pin their form to the striker (whoever that may be), it's also wrong disregard the striker in such context, IMO. I always think comparisons like these are extremely difficult to make. Sometimes these teams play for one ball into their 9. So, these strikers have the luxury of little linkup play and their runs + positioning becomes more important. At this level that's not good enough I'm afraid. You swap Broja with Fofana and it'd not surprise me one bit if numbers would be similar. That'd still not make either good enough. Above there is numbers comparison with Jesus, who's notoriously not a great finisher, more like a false 9, if not winger. The difference is that Jesus is a whole other level on the ball, while these "small team strikers" have that one job only. Maybe Fofana is improving a lot, and he's still young, so who knows? but honestly, I'm not holding my breath.

With a name like that it's a must-buy for me. 😅 It just looks great on the roster sheet.

and more importantly, is she still bangable?

Youth even NT does not mean a whole lot. Statistically you will find more average, and even some barely footballer, than top players. at youth level physically plays a bigger part. of coursEnhipe that’s not the case and he develop into a good midfielder. I wasn’t impressed with him at vasco .

Agree. It’s actually looking more likely by the day. it was always a weird signing: yes good young player, but he never did anything impressive and came from a very struggling team and club, so the standards were as low as it gets.

I think we can all agree here. With the caveat that he was pretty important in that CL win (important goals too). The part that is disappointing is that we managed to downgrade from a player who "just didn't work out".

yup and sounds like we are missing quite a bit 🙂 Wingers, for example, are typically the better and more expensive players at the top teams--same for CAM.

yes. (I agree with you) BTW, skill wise, Mudryk is quite a bit better than Madueke at this time. Normally these players would be elsewhere and then come back when, and if, good enough. 😞 An elite club isn't normally a place for the average to develop.

yup. Absolutely right it's not only goals esp when circumstances are removed from the equation (against who, when, home/away etc). Not to mention assists, key passes, just regular linkup play... first touch, quick passing, etc. "If you torture data enough, it will confess to anything you like," so it works for any agenda you like. I don't think Pulisic is WC myself; think he had moments with us esp first season, but only moments. His routine was struggle to get to top form, play well for a bit, then pick up a knock rinse and repeat. Mudryk and Madueke are shit players.... way below what an elite club requires in their positions. The only saving grace for these players is their age, so they can improve even if marginally. Unfortunately for us, the present version of these players play for us, not their future selves.

Imagine the amount of 🙄 from the players. And folks want us to hire a top manager. 😆

Agreed. He's just so slow... 😕 Looks to me he will always struggle in anything other than a low block. Unless he's just extremely unfit, but his build suggests he's on the powerful and slow side of the game. Also not good enough on the ball to do a whole lot other than pure D.

😆 darn but why? wrong side of the road? (back working so only partially tuned in)

that does not seem right: if City draw the last match, so did Liverpool. Pretty incredible run by Arsenal. 😕