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[Mista]

Welcome aboard. We got a new season and great madness ahead of us this seaon!

Premier League 2018/2019 Champions: Manchester City

LaLiga 2018/2019 Champions: Barcelona

Bundesliga 2018/2019 Champions: Bayern Munchen

Serie A 2018/2019 Champions: Juventus

Ligue 1 2018/2019 Champions: PSG

 

[Mista]

Well, excuse my shitty thread but we need a new one for gods sake. Have fun

 

[Deleted member 752119]

Thanks for starting this!

Let’s go Arsenal and Atlanta United!

 

[Hosam6xavi]

after 2 hours Chelsea and Lampard will got a reality check again

and yeah visca el barca

 

[Radical Dreamer]

Hala madrid! ;d

 

[Mista]

Thanks for starting this!

Let’s go Arsenal and Atlanta United!

Gooner fam RISE UP

 

[DKehoe]

Thanks for making a new thread!

United beating Chelsea 4-0 was a nice surprise. I thought they could win it but didn't expect it to be that sort of margin. Although I think Chelsea were just particularly susceptible to United's big strength: quickly hitting their opponents on the counter attack. The Wolves game will probably be a tougher stylistic test.

 

[Prison Mike]

Nice one brother bring on 3 in a row for my city boys

 

[Mista]

Nice one brother bring on 3 in a row for my city boys

It’s a big possibility but I won’t be that confident. I don’t blame you though with that monster squad

 

[Turbo Killer]

City!

 

[Mista]

City!

Good to have more football fans here

 

[Prison Mike]

It’s a big possibility but I won’t be that confident. I don’t blame you though with that monster squad

True tough league m8

 

[Africa's Toto]

.

 

[Mista]

True tough league m8

Yeah bruv. This what makes it the best league in the world

 

[Deleted member 752119]

Nice 3-2 win for Atlanta United over Club America to win the Campeones Cup!

Figured we’d get stomped like most MLS teams do against top Liga Mx squads (including us against Monterrey earlier this season—edit: forgot we beat them 1-0 in the home leg, they stomped us away).

 

[Mista]

Nice 3-2 win for Atlanta United over Club America to win the Campeones Cup!

Figured we’d get stomped like most MLS teams do against top Liga Mx squads (including us against Monterrey earlier this season).

Atlanta doesn’t have a wealthy owner with superstars on the team?

 

[Deleted member 752119]

Atlanta doesn’t have a wealthy owner with superstars on the team?

We do and won the MLS cup last year. But MLS limits how much teams can spend so they can’t stockpile stars like Liga MX (and most other leagues around the world) can.

 

[Mista]

We do and won the MLS cup last year. But MLS limits how much teams can spend so they can’t stockpile stars like Liga MX (and most other leagues around the world) can.

Oh nice! Congratulations mate! Why did I think that LA Galaxy won

 

[Deleted member 752119]

Oh nice! Congratulations mate! Why did I think that LA Galaxy won

Galaxy last won the MLS Cup in 2014.

 

[Mista]

Galaxy last won the MLS Cup in 2014.

Googled Atlanta real quick. Damn, the most club winning the MLS! And here I thought the other fancy teams that holds a record especially when they brought Ibrahimovic, David Villa and others.

Edit: um no wait...MLS is new?

 

[Deleted member 752119]

Googled Atlanta real quick. Damn, the most club winning the MLS! And here I thought the other fancy teams that holds a record especially when they brought Ibrahimovic, David Villa and others.

Edit: um no wait...MLS is new?

This is Atlanta United’s third year in existence, so they only have the one MLS Cup from last year.

MLS began play in 1996 with 10 teams. It’s up to 24 now work Cincinnati this year as the newest expansion team. They plan to expand to 30 teams I believe.

 

[klosos]

Liverpool FC checking in , yesterday was a terrible disjointed performance in the Super Cup , we won on penalites but the overall performace is concerning.

I am starting to think us not making any significant signings in the summer will come back to haunt us ( i think we need quality cover for Mane & Salah)

 

[Mista]

This is Atlanta United’s third year in existence, so they only have the one MLS Cup from last year.

MLS began play in 1996 with 10 teams. It’s up to 24 now work Cincinnati this year as the newest expansion team. They plan to expand to 30 teams I believe.

And there’s no relegation right?

 

[Deleted member 752119]

And there’s no relegation right?

Yep. Sport isn’t popular enough here to sustain that anytime soon. No one cares about the lesser leagues and teams would lose support if they got dropped down. I can see them adding it way down the road if the sport grows a lot in popularity here.

Other major difference is it has a playoff after the year for the MLS Cup and that’s viewed as the true champion and not the team with the most points in the regular season (Supporters Shield).

 

[Mista]

Yep. Sport isn’t popular enough here to sustain that anytime soon. No one cares about the lesser leagues and teams would lose support if they got dropped down. I can see them adding it way down the road if the sport grows a lot in popularity here.

Other major difference is it has a playoff after the year for the MLS Cup and that’s viewed as the true champion and not the team with the most points in the regular season (Supporters Shield).

Just like the NBA then ;p I was surprised when football suddenly got popular in the US. I think it was when Beckham played their and then the MLS started building up

 

[Hosam6xavi]

NOMINEES: 2018/19 UEFA Men's Player of the Year

Leo Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo
VirgilvDijk

 

[petran79]

I recently watched the CL playoff match between Ajax Amsterdam and Greek champions PAOK, but that English ref (Craig Pawson) was not as good, playing 60-40 in favor of Ajax, if not more, even cutting attacks by not giving foul advantages and sparing Ajax players from yellow cards, while giving fouls to the opponents for the tiniest fall. I heard even in Premier league there are complaints about him.
It would be bad for CL popularity if teams like Ajax say goodbye so early,so refs get instructions to be more cautious

 

[synchronicity]

I wonder how long before Everton really pushes for anything significant again. Seems like a long, long time.

And of course this season starts off with a lovely 0-0 against CP, lol. Typical.

Perennial mid/upper mid-table. I suppose it could be worse. Although I'd almost welcome a relegation fight just to make things a bit more exciting.

 

[The Incarnation]

NOMINEES: 2018/19 UEFA Men's Player of the Year

Leo Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo
VirgilvDijk

Nice to see Mesut Ozil in the top four of that list.

 

[appaws]

Oops. Yank who clicked on this by mistake. Thread title will attract a lot like me who don't realize this is about soccer.

Ummm...Go Chicago Fire, I guess.

 

[Mista]

Thread title will attract a lot like me who don't realize this is about soccer

It’s called football

 

[Hosam6xavi]

This is Atlanta United’s third year in existence, so they only have the one MLS Cup from last year.

MLS began play in 1996 with 10 teams. It’s up to 24 now work Cincinnati this year as the newest expansion team. They plan to expand to 30 teams I believe.

Isn't 30 teams too much ?

 

[Mista]

Nice to see Mesut Ozil in the top four of that list.

As much as I love Ozil and I’m an Arsenal fan, as much as I believe he doesn’t deserve to be there.

 

[synchronicity]

Yep. Sport isn’t popular enough here to sustain that anytime soon. No one cares about the lesser leagues and teams would lose support if they got dropped down. I can see them adding it way down the road if the sport grows a lot in popularity here.

Other major difference is it has a playoff after the year for the MLS Cup and that’s viewed as the true champion and not the team with the most points in the regular season (Supporters Shield).

That reminds me about my thoughts on this concept. As much as I love playoffs in American leagues/sports, and as exciting as they can be, I don't think they are a good reflection of the best team - the team who ought to be considered champions of a given league.

The long haul ought to matter more in sports in the US. A team gets hot at playoff time and suddenly they are champs?!? Granted there is an appeal to that as well, but I really prefer the team who endured and thrived over the long-stretch being recognized as champs.

Although it would be tough to establish such a champion in American football simply due to the limited number of games. There's no way every team can play every other team even once in a season, so I suppose there is no other solution in pigskin. But in all the other big sports, teams play so many games, it would be easy to recognize the champion as being the team that ended up with the best performance over the long haul.

Edit: And I always loved promotion/relegation. The average US sports fan would never go for it though, for sure.

 

[Deleted member 752119]

Isn't 30 teams too much ?

For a European style system where you play everyone twice and crown the team with the most points champ, yes.

For MLS/US style system where it’s the playoffs that crown the champion and schedules are only balanced within divisions, no.

For instance there are 30 NBA teams, 32 NFL teams, 30 MLB and 31 NHL teams.

While I prefer the system the European leagues use, and Arsenal and the Premier League are my my main interest in soccer/football, I just don’t think a points system with no playoff or promotion/relegation would build the fanbase here. People are too used to the way other sports do it, love the drama of playoffs as more teams having a shot at the title at the end of the year and wouldn’t keep supporting a team that got relegated to a lower league.

 

[Mista]

Early game tomorrow. Hopefully no struggles against Burnley

Hey @mooshie78 what time is going to be at kick-off over there?

 

[Deleted member 752119]

I’m on the east coast so 7:30am. I’ll DVR it in case I sleep in past kickoff.

 

[Mista]

I’m on the east coast so 7:30am. I’ll DVR it in case I sleep in past kickoff.

Oh I wake up those timings and earlier to watch the Lakers every year

 

[Deleted member 752119]

I’m not a morning person at all. That said, the older I get the less I can sleep in so I’m usually up 8-9ish. Still rather extra 30-90 minutes and then watch on the TiVo. Can fast forward the shitty NBC halftime show that way too.

 

[Turbo Killer]

Lol Barca and Bayern. Bayern could have used Sane, should have paid what City was asking.

 

[Mista]

Barca without Messi are bollocks. How’s Valverde is still the coach? Oh right I forgot, Messi gets to boss him around..

 

[mekes]

Happily surprised. I clicked on the thread expecting to see talk of half time shows and cheerleaders. I think the thread will flourish here in this part of the forum.

I am really looking forward to Monday to see Wolves vs United. United lost twice to Wolves in a few weeks last season, they tactically had us sussed. I like to think United are a bit better balanced this season, although the jury are absolutely still out on whether they’ll be able to crack the top 4. There’s a lot of pressure on the strikers and midfield. I feel for a lot of United fans that there will be no serious judgement on where we finish, as long as we see the team striving to play in an entertaining style.

I’m optimistic United can get 4th, but it’s 4th at best. I wouldn’t be too surprised if it ends up being 5th or 6th. The team seemed to crack under pressure at the end of last season. I think all United fans will be looking to see if the same happens again, and how we respond to conceding first or taking a big juicy L.

 

[DKehoe]

Happily surprised. I clicked on the thread expecting to see talk of half time shows and cheerleaders. I think the thread will flourish here in this part of the forum.

I am really looking forward to Monday to see Wolves vs United. United lost twice to Wolves in a few weeks last season, they tactically had us sussed. I like to think United are a bit better balanced this season, although the jury are absolutely still out on whether they’ll be able to crack the top 4. There’s a lot of pressure on the strikers and midfield. I feel for a lot of United fans that there will be no serious judgement on where we finish, as long as we see the team striving to play in an entertaining style.

I’m optimistic United can get 4th, but it’s 4th at best. I wouldn’t be too surprised if it ends up being 5th or 6th. The team seemed to crack under pressure at the end of last season. I think all United fans will be looking to see if the same happens again, and how we respond to conceding first or taking a big juicy L.

Yeh at this point I'm just looking forward to actually enjoying United play. It got pretty rough watching the way Moyes, LVG and Mourinho would set the team up.

Greenwood looks like a really exciting prospect so hopefully he gets a good amount of time. The same goes for Gomes too, there's obviously concerns about his height being a factor but he seemed to handle the physical side well enough in pre-season games.

 

[mekes]

Yeh at this point I'm just looking forward to actually enjoying United play. It got pretty rough watching the way Moyes, LVG and Mourinho would set the team up.

Greenwood looks like a really exciting prospect so hopefully he gets a good amount of time. The same goes for Gomes too, there's obviously concerns about his height being a factor but he seemed to handle the physical side well enough in pre-season games.

Oh yeah I echo that for sure. Greenwood seems quality and I’ve always thought that height is not important up front. Plenty of smaller players can keep the ball well and hold it to link play. I think we will see the youth through the season and I’m looking forward to seeing Dan James too. He’s raw, but definitely exciting.

And no Jones or Smalling on the bench against Chelsea. Nice to see Tuanzebe getting the nod over those 2.

Definitely reasons to be positive!

 

[DKehoe]

Oh yeah I echo that for sure. Greenwood seems quality and I’ve always thought that height is not important up front. Plenty of smaller players can keep the ball well and hold it to link play. I think we will see the youth through the season and I’m looking forward to seeing Dan James too. He’s raw, but definitely exciting.

And no Jones or Smalling on the bench against Chelsea. Nice to see Tuanzebe getting the nod over those 2.

Definitely reasons to be positive!

With the height I was meaning Gomes, not Greenwood but yeh with what Gomes can do with the ball at his feat it's less of a concern that he's pretty small. Greenwood being able to use both feet pretty much equally is going to make him a real handful for defenders and he's such a natural finisher too. I'm trying not to get too excited about his potential but I could see him making that right wing spot his at some point in the season since there's not a clear cut starter for it.

It's also great that there now seems to be a regular starting back 4 in Wan Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire and Shaw. Tuanzebe being on the bench over Jones and Smalling is a positive sign too. I don't hate Jones and Smalling as much as others seem to but United have been relying on them for too long. Tuanzebe looked really solid in pre-season so I'm glad to see he's being given more chances at the club and not just sent out on loan again.

Obviously still a while off from properly challenging for the title again but there's positive signs there.

 

[godhandiscen]

I stayed home to watch the opening of the season, and Barcelona lost. FML.

 

[godhandiscen]

Oh I wake up those timings and earlier to watch the Lakers every year

That is a stupid rumor. Valverde is the coach because he has won two leagues and a cup with us. People think that just anybody can take the team to the heights at which we are.
Today we lost Suarez during the first half and Messi wasn't playing due to injury. We were forced into a tactical scheme we have never used before, with players still in the rhythm of pre-season.
Also, Athletic has not changed at all since last year and they know what they are playing. There is no much shame in losing how we lost, and that was a beautiful goal.

 

[Mista]

That is a stupid rumor. Valverde is the coach because he has won two leagues and a cup with us. People think that just anybody can take the team to the heights at which we are.
Today we lost Suarez during the first half and Messi wasn't playing due to injury. We were forced into a tactical scheme we have never used before, with players still in the rhythm of pre-season.
Also, Athletic has not changed at all since last year and they know what they are playing. There is no much shame in losing how we lost, and that was a beautiful goal.

That’s a wrong quote but I got you bruv. Let’s face it man, everything is based on Messi which is totally understandable. Without Messi there’s no clear plan

You want to convince me that Bilbao has a better team or strategy in general? Of course not! It’s just Barcelona doesn’t have a backup plan without Messi + the players haven’t stepped their game up even though they had possession. At the end of the day possession means nothing if you don’t score. Anyways, that’s just the first game week so let’s see how they’ll perform in the next one if Messi not playing

 

[Mista]

Come on Arsenal!

 

[Mista]

LACAGOAL BABY!!!