The English Football Thread

[OneMoSalah 8,810]

11 hours ago, Pizy said:

I mean, as Chelsea fans it sounds a bit rich calling anyone else boring but at least we’re boring in the “dominate the ball but struggle to put chances away” kind of way. We at least try to play football.

United just sit deep, have like 30% possession, and smack the ball long to wide areas or try catch teams on the counter. That’s way more boring to me. It’s effective and getting results but for the most expensively assembled team in history I’d expect more.

It is more than a bit rich, we have won some of the biggest trophies in club football playing the same way. As have several other clubs.

I mean this dominate possession but struggling to put chances away… unfortunately you don’t get any prizes for playing good football and winning nothing despite this footballing hipsters ideology that you need to play good football to be successful. 

Ten Hag looks like he has found a way of playing and winning which suits his squad whilst not necessarily being his style. Or certainly based on his team at Ajax but would say that no manager can recreate their previous team to the point its identical. Pep’s sides have changed slightly each club be has been at, Mourinho’s have, Klopp’s have, Tuchel’s have. Its just another sign of a good manager incorporating things or an approach that suits some of the players they already have.

A win against a good Arsenal side who threw a lot at them, makes that United result even better for then. And also shows that there is again more to football than having 60-70% of the ball or more passes than your opponent. United had more shots on target, more clear cut chances, likely they had a higher percentages of duels won and distances covered too. Small details that matter particularly in big games.

 

 

Edited September 5, 2022 by OneMoSalah

[Reddish-Blue 2,401]

16 hours ago, Pizy said:

I mean, as Chelsea fans it sounds a bit rich calling anyone else boring but at least we’re boring in the “dominate the ball but struggle to put chances away” kind of way. We at least try to play football.

United just sit deep, have like 30% possession, and smack the ball long to wide areas or try catch teams on the counter. That’s way more boring to me. It’s effective and getting results but for the most expensively assembled team in history I’d expect more.

"We at least try to play football"   We basically got taken apart by both Leicester & West Ham at home and couldn't deal with Leeds pressing us.  VAR saved us from another 2 dropped points against West Ham. 

As for your comment about counter attacking football being boring, have you watched peak Mourinho & Conte teams in action?   It was some very good football and it always lead to chaos and goals.  Much rather that than watching people pass the ball sideways and backwards for no reason other than to 'retain possession'.  Possession stats mean nothing at the end of the day as no-one wants to be remembered as the team that tried to play football and had 60% average possession in each game but they finished 6th because their attack had the finishing ability of a Championship side. 

United seem to have found the way to get results and as many people mentioned last season, the key to their offense is a motivated Rashford.  When Rashford is on and he is scoring goals, they don't need to get out of 2nd gear as long as the midfielders are good enough to play those through balls or over the top passes on the counter.  

[LAM09 6,846]

6 hours ago, OneMoSalah said:

The number of touches are irrelevant, even more so considering he got an assist for Gundogan’s goal…. I mean if someone only has 8 touches but still provides and assist or a goal, how is that an issue? That’s still contributing to the team. Using touch maps is pointless, particularly if someone has provided a goal or an assist.

Even the other games where Haaland has scored or assisted, I bet his touches aren’t that high. Aguero was the same under Pep. Because he was in and around the box more than coming to feet.  Or he was stretching teams making runs off the ball.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/08/14/erling-haaland-eight-touches-two-passes-man-city-bournemouth/
 

even the telegraph stated in an article that despite only having 8 touches he pulled Bournemouth apart.

I never said there was an issue, but I made my point previously (quoted a comment about Nunez). This sort of thing will affect City at some point during the season & the discussion will reappear.

[Reddish-Blue 2,401]

22 hours ago, LAM09 said:

I never said there was an issue, but I made my point previously (quoted a comment about Nunez). This sort of thing will affect City at some point during the season & the discussion will reappear.

The only competition where it would 'affect' City is Champions League knockout stages.  

City could play in 2nd gear for the rest of the PL and they'd still finish top 2 without breaking a sweat.  I don't see them struggling against too many sides other than Spurs & Liverpool and I guess United as Rashford doesn't mind a goal against City. 

I was sort of hoping Bernardo would be sold just to see how Pep re-adjusted his team and tactics without his skill-set but it looks like they didn't really lose anyone as G. Jesus and Sterling's attacking outputs will be covered by Haaland and young Alvarez. 

[YorkshireBlue 3,151]

On 05/09/2022 at 06:21, OneMoSalah said:

The number of touches are irrelevant, even more so considering he got an assist for Gundogan’s goal…. I mean if someone only has 8 touches but still provides and assist or a goal, how is that an issue? That’s still contributing to the team. Using touch maps is pointless, particularly if someone has provided a goal or an assist.

Even the other games where Haaland has scored or assisted, I bet his touches aren’t that high. Aguero was the same under Pep. Because he was in and around the box more than coming to feet.  Or he was stretching teams making runs off the ball.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/08/14/erling-haaland-eight-touches-two-passes-man-city-bournemouth/
 

even the telegraph stated in an article that despite only having 8 touches he pulled Bournemouth apart.

Couldn't agree more, he barely gets touches every game, but has managed 10 goals in 6 games! 

[YorkshireBlue 3,151]

On 05/09/2022 at 13:23, LAM09 said:

I never said there was an issue, but I made my point previously (quoted a comment about Nunez). This sort of thing will affect City at some point during the season & the discussion will reappear.

Haaland isn't there to pass or get "touches" he's there to score goals and he's doing exactly that. He absolutely opens teams up with his movement, that's one of his best assets, he strikes the fear of God into defenders without the ball and creates so many gaps, wonder if there is a graph that shows spaces created from his movement.

[LAM09 6,846]

4 hours ago, Reddish-Blue said:

The only competition where it would 'affect' City is Champions League knockout stages.  

City could play in 2nd gear for the rest of the PL and they'd still finish top 2 without breaking a sweat.  I don't see them struggling against too many sides other than Spurs & Liverpool and I guess United as Rashford doesn't mind a goal against City. 

I was sort of hoping Bernardo would be sold just to see how Pep re-adjusted his team and tactics without his skill-set but it looks like they didn't really lose anyone as G. Jesus and Sterling's attacking outputs will be covered by Haaland and young Alvarez. 

It won't matter much due to their supporting cast. Also, he was brought in to help win the CL, no? 

1 hour ago, Kong said:

Haaland isn't there to pass or get "touches" he's there to score goals and he's doing exactly that. He absolutely opens teams up with his movement, that's one of his best assets, he strikes the fear of God into defenders without the ball and creates so many gaps, wonder if there is a graph that shows spaces created from his movement.

That might suffice for most teams, but Pep wants CF's to be part of the overall play and that's why a few big name CF's haven't worked out under his management. 

Let's see how it works in the latter stages of the CL, not against the likes of Nottingham Forest, etc.

[milka 3,362]

 

[Blue Armour 4,336]

9 hours ago, milka said:

 

Prime Mourinho had it all.

The looks. The personality. The squad.

Hoping for the day we get someone like that again.

[YorkshireBlue 3,151]

What are the chances they cancel all games this weekend because the queen is dead?

[Gundalf 804]

6 minutes ago, Hermione said:

I read that this is likely to happen. Would be a good relief for Potter to prepare his first match better.

In many ways tbh. As sad as it may be, but this would help a lot, first, more time for preparation, second, all the media attention will be on that. 

[Strike 7,303]

 

 

[Special Juan 27,553]

Apparently one of the big reasons the weekend is in doubt is because of the media trucks been taken from SKY Sports to facilitate the funeral coverage. 

[Strike 7,303]

 

 

[Blues Forever 1,232]

Only Chelsea vs Liverpool, Manchester United vs Leeds, and Brighton vs Palace are off. All other matches are on.

[ZAPHOD2319 4,553]

11 minutes ago, Blues Forever said:

Only Chelsea vs Liverpool, Manchester United vs Leeds, and Brighton vs Palace are off. All other matches are on.

That would make Potter's first PL games CP, Wolves, AV, Brentford.

[ZAPHOD2319 4,553]

 

[Strike 7,303]

This is good. Potter gets plenty of time with just the CL home game vs Salzburg to negotiate