The European Leagues & Competitions Thread V2

[Vesper 29,202]

LUIZ!!!!

what an asshat!!!!!!  

[Jase 43,479]

1 minute ago, OneMoSalah said:

But thats also like saying the same about Pulisic at the start of the season or anyone else at any other team whos doing well when others habe struggled, isnt it?

Hes a good player, maybe not world class like Lampard said in a press conference but was a huge upgrade on what they have. I just hope they dont add 3 or 4 more of that ilk or better for next season.

Form aside, are you really saying that United have better players than us? 

[Vesper 29,202]

wow

the ref for NO reason gave an extra minute on top of added time in extra time

and arse almost scored

[LAM09 6,840]

Aubameyang missing a sitter the the death. Guess no CL football for another season or even European football as it stands.

[Special Juan 27,541]

Fucking brilliant. 

[Jase 43,479]

Just now, LAM09 said:

Aubameyang missing a sitter the the death. Guess no CL football for another season or even European football as it stands.

They can focus on the Top 4/5 fight now though...

[Vesper 29,202]

2 minutes ago, Jason said:

Form aside, are you really saying that United have better players than us? 

IF Pogba is healthy and was 100% engaged

and both sides were 100% fit as well

it is really close

especially as Fred has really come on hard

Bruno Fernandes is a tipper

they have a slight edge atm

if they get Sancho 

and a great CB and a LB, and replace Pogba (if he is sold, they will deffo have the cash)

then they are far in front, depending on what we do in the summer

[Vesper 29,202]

Manure also will add a CF I would think too

then we are in deep shit

[Jase 43,479]

Just now, Vesper said:

IF Pogba is healthy and was 100% engaged

and both sides were 100% fit as well

it is really close

especially as Fred has really come on hard

Bruno Fernandes is a tipper

they have a slight edge atm

if they get Sancho 

and a great CB and a LB, and replace Pogba (if he is sold, they will deffo have the cash)

then they are far in front, depending on what we do in the summer

Form aside and as it stands, I would say the only edge they have over us is in the GK area. We are at least matched with them in other areas or if not have better players. 

[LAM09 6,840]

They can focus on the Top 4/5 fight now though...

Do you honestly think they will displace Sheffield Utd & Wolves for starters?

No European football at all is a real possibility.

[Jase 43,479]

Just now, LAM09 said:

Do you honestly think they will displace Sheffield Utd & Wolves for starters?

No European football at all is a real possibility.

Well, they are only 2 points behind Wolves, 3 behind Sheffield and 4 behind 5th (which would be a CL spot if City's ban sticks). I'm just going by the fact that they don't have any more midweek European games and can just focus on the league. 

[Vesper 29,202]

Just now, Jason said:

Form aside and as it stands, I would say the only edge they have over us is in the GK area. We are at least matched with them in other areas or if not have better players. 

summer will be the decider

they have massive revenues and will get a shit tonne from sales

plus, surely they move for Poch or another far better manager than the clueless OGS

we have an insane amount of deadwood and injured questionable players

I really dislike our squad atm

its been years of board scumfuckery in the making

[Jase 43,479]

Just now, Vesper said:

summer will be the decider

they have massive revenues and will get a shit tonne from sales

plus, surely they move for Poch or another far better manager than the clueless OGS

we have an insane amount of deadwood and injured questionable players

I really dislike our squad atm

its been years of board scumfuckery in the making

According to this, United have to sell to buy.

https://theathletic.com/1634690/2020/02/25/woodward-pogba-manchester-united-accounts/

If true, then one would think only Pogba can get them big money. The others not so much. And they would be in big trouble if they don't qualify for the Champions League. 

[Vesper 29,202]

3 minutes ago, Jason said:

Well, they are only 2 points behind Wolves, 3 behind Sheffield and 4 behind 5th (which would be a CL spot if City's ban sticks). I'm just going by the fact that they don't have any more midweek European games and can just focus on the league. 

no way Arse get CL

[Jase 43,479]

Just now, Vesper said:

no way Arse get CL

I'm not saying they will get it but being out of Europe might help their chances a little bit more, given they would have less distraction. And TBF, even we, United and Spurs still have some tough games left to play. 

[Vesper 29,202]

6 minutes ago, Jason said:

I'm not saying they will get it but being out of Europe might help their chances a little bit more, given they would have less distraction. And TBF, even we, United and Spurs still have some tough games left to play. 

it would take a shocking combined collapse from all the other teams

[NikkiCFC 8,081]

17 minutes ago, Jason said:

I'm not saying they will get it but being out of Europe might help their chances a little bit more, given they would have less distraction. And TBF, even we, United and Spurs still have some tough games left to play. 

Remember end of the last season when they had easy schedule? 😁

[OneMoSalah 8,810]

6 hours ago, Jason said:

Form aside, are you really saying that United have better players than us? 

At the start of the season with likes of Pogba, Martial, Lindelof, de Gea and Rashford people would of probably expected them to finish above us because under the right manager that is potentially a very good spine. Sure they lack in other areas and sold Lukaku but I dont think people would of necessarily disagreed. 

Other than in MF (Pogba and Fernandes excluded) wouldn't say we are miles ahead of them anywhere else when you compare us player for player, even more so considering the fact we had 4 young players unproven in the league as well as the likes of Willian, Barkley, Alonso, Emerson etc in the squad. Dont get me wrong they also have weakpoints and collection of average players but I mean if you really think the likes of De Gea, Lindelof, Maguire (still overrated based on price tag I mean hes good but not 80m good), Shaw, Pogba, Fred (big improvement reasonably consistent and very very solid player now as well), McTominay (hate to say it but again a massive improvement and one of their most vital MFers due to his energy and physicality), Bruno Fernandes, Rashford and Martial (was crazy how many people wanted him here under Sarri...) are inferior players to guys like Kepa, Christensen, Emerson, Alonso Willian, Pedro, Mason, Barkley and Tammy among others then I dont know. Some still have scope to grow on our end yes but right now, its hardly as if I would be severely underrating our players or undertaking overrating their players.

Other than Pogba and Fernandes (better than our more advanced midfield players) yes we beat them in terms of MF quality because we have Kante, Ruben (will he play as an 8?), Kovacic and Jorginho in deeper positions who would still play ahead of Fred, McTominay, Matic, Pereira and that horrible bastard Lingard who is a championship footballer if hes lucky.

Both defences are probably as bad as each other although would rather Shaw than Emerson or Alonso (when he had 1 year left on his deal before he came up a notch under Mourinho, was gutted we didnt go for him, finally seems as if his fitness issues aside now the last 18 months hes been pretty decent and consistent) and think Lindelof now looks a much better CB after a tough time when he first arrived and would probably be able to displace a few of ours. 

I am curious to see which other positions you think we have better players than them in? Other than central midfield but again throw in Pogba and Fernandes, they are more creative than our midfielders. Both defences have struggled so you cant expect me to believe you think ours is better than theirs either by a country mile. Attack is about evens, they have inconsistent players such as James and Martial but again these guys have done more this season than Willian, Pedro and Barkley and are considerably younger so they still have the scope to grow that people have argued for Tomori, Mount, Tammy, James etc. Rashford may not be everyones cup of tea but hes always been a player I have thought will end up a very very good player and to have really been carrying the goalscoring burden for United at his age is pretty impressive, even more so as I dont feel he is a number 9, he is more a wide forward.

A better manager and theyd probably be better off, OGS is out of his depth similarly to what Frank has maybe found himself in although I think hes in a worse position because he went and sold their only real 20 goals a season man. Say they sign 3 or 4 players of a good quality in the summer, even with Ole, they have a chance of progresssing. We also have the same chance but it remains to be seen what or who will come in.

Spurs at the start of the season were also tipped to finish above us for sure due to the players they have in positions we are perhaps not as strong in (CF, #10, outwide and in defence). 

The top 4 race is going to be very interesting, theres still a huge chance we miss out if this bad run continues and even Arsenal have got 2 guys in Lacazette and Aubamayang who are guaranteed to score goals regularly, a manager who has gotten a clear visible improvement out of others such as Pepe, Ozil in attack as well as youngsters who have got good potential such as Saka, Martinielli (will be a top player looks very very good) and Nketiah. Even defensively bar Olympiakos and the Everton games they have looked more cohesive and organised. We did beat them but again I think come the start of next season with them and Spurs getting full pre seasons with their managers they will be completely different outfits to now which doesnt bode well if they can get top 4 at our expense this season.