Football (Soccer) Thread

[FunkMonk]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/apr/18/cristiano-ronaldo-and-georgina-rodriguez-announce-death-of-baby-son



Can't even imagine how he and his partner are feeling.

[FunkMonk]

Liverpool demolishing United twice this season solidifies the notion that the North London Derby is the only decent rivalry left in the Premier League.

United/Liverpool? We just saw the state of that over the last few years

United/City? Literally no one gives a shit about City, not even their own fans 

Liverpool/Everton?     

But Arsenal/Spurs? Two thoroughly average teams of more or less equivalent level both with massive inferiority complexes and unrealistic expectations just bashing each other home and away and just a couple miles from each other. Get in son.

[Jacob]

But Arsenal/Spurs? Two thoroughly average teams of more or less equivalent level both with massive inferiority complexes and unrealistic expectations just bashing each other home and away and just a couple miles from each other. Get in son.

Arsenal/Spurs are not two average teams, even remotely.

[Josephus]

No one gives a shit about city? Not so sure.

[FunkMonk]

But Arsenal/Spurs? Two thoroughly average teams of more or less equivalent level both with massive inferiority complexes and unrealistic expectations just bashing each other home and away and just a couple miles from each other. Get in son.

Arsenal/Spurs are not two average teams, even remotely.

We can quibble about 'average' but I'll allow for them to be 'above average'.

Certainly not at City or Liverpool levels of play.

In historical stature, Arsenal are above Tottenham and City but below Liverpool. 

It's all just a silly rant about football opinions in any case 

[FunkMonk]

No one gives a shit about city? Not so sure.

They can't even fill their medium-sized stadium. Pep has to beg fans to come to their home games 

[Josquius]

Fulham in the Premier league again. This bores me.

As to spurs and arsenal average... This betrays a top 2 centrism.
Theyre top third of the Premier league which is very good in an objective book.

[The Larch]

Fulham in the Premier league again. This bores me.

Not a fan of London clubs getting promoted?

[Josquius]

Fulham in the Premier league again. This bores me.

Not a fan of London clubs getting promoted?

Nyet. A sad development of the modern day.

[Admiral Yi]

FM, what is a "link up play" in American terms?

[FunkMonk]

FM, what is a "link up play" in American terms?

Link up play refers to a team's ability to coherently progress the ball up the pitch through clever passing combinations, bringing teammates into the play, strong forwards holding up the ball, runners moving in behind defenses, and players finding said runners. In terms of an individual player's quality, it's often applied for instance to center forwards who can receive the ball with their back to the goal and play in forward runners from the midfield or the wing.

I'm unsure of an American analogue. Maybe a point guard gliding between teammates, passing the ball between them to set up an easy lay up for someone?

[Admiral Yi]

Hmmm.

So any kind of passing in the last third of the....pitch while the defense is set, i.e. not on a break?

[Jacob]

Hmmm.

So any kind of passing in the last third of the....pitch while the defense is set, i.e. not on a break?

I think it also requires quick positioning that forces defenders to either move out of position (creating empty space behind them) or allow the attackers a local numbers advantage if the defender doesn't move.

If you just sort of idly pass the ball back and forth while staying in more or less put, and the defenders can comfortably reposition without creating gaps in their defensive positioning it's not really link-up play, even if the ball is being passed on the last third of the pitch.

One of the successful outcomes of a link-up play is creating a break, I would think.

[Gups]

Liverpool demolishing United twice this season solidifies the notion that the North London Derby is the only decent rivalry left in the Premier League.

United/Liverpool? We just saw the state of that over the last few years

United/City? Literally no one gives a shit about City, not even their own fans 

Liverpool/Everton?     

But Arsenal/Spurs? Two thoroughly average teams of more or less equivalent level both with massive inferiority complexes and unrealistic expectations just bashing each other home and away and just a couple miles from each other. Get in son.

City are widely hated these days. Liverpool v City is developing into a real rivalry. Also Man u v Leeds; Chelsea v Leeds; Chelsea v Spurs;Wolves v Villa; Brighton v Palace amongst others.

BTW it's "get in my son"

[FunkMonk]

Liverpool demolishing United twice this season solidifies the notion that the North London Derby is the only decent rivalry left in the Premier League.

United/Liverpool? We just saw the state of that over the last few years

United/City? Literally no one gives a shit about City, not even their own fans 

Liverpool/Everton?     

But Arsenal/Spurs? Two thoroughly average teams of more or less equivalent level both with massive inferiority complexes and unrealistic expectations just bashing each other home and away and just a couple miles from each other. Get in son.

City are widely hated these days. Liverpool v City is developing into a real rivalry. Also Man u v Leeds; Chelsea v Leeds; Chelsea v Spurs;Wolves v Villa; Brighton v Palace amongst others.

BTW it's "get in my son"