Men's Soccer (Football) Thread [ARCHIVED] Soccer • Page 309

Why was Valverde fired? They’re top of the league, right?

 

The Liverpool game is probably the best “reason,” but a large contingent of the president and board think he doesn’t coach “Barca football”

 

Both reasons he could have been sacked last summer. That he's been sacked now just proves it was merely a delaying of the inevitable.

I'd love to be in a position where my club sacked a manager for only winning consecutive league titles.

 

It’s ridiculous. They should’ve done it over the summer, despite not really having grounds to then either.

If Puyol and Xavi won’t step back into the structure of the team, that should say something to the board and socios who vote.

 

Pep's made it very difficult for the coaches who have followed him at Barca. Anything less than a generation defining team is now seen as second class. Sad state of affairs when winning the league isn't really seen as an achievement.

 

Xavi turning down Barça was an eye opener. What the feck is going on there?

 

What's up with these Barca transfer rumors? Spurs have been consistently linked to both Semedo and Umtiti. I doubt we get either but I'd be happy to land one of those guys.

 

I’m seeing nothing about this. Umtiti is upset he lost his starting position (while injured for like a year), but he’s still a very necessary squad member. Semedo should absolutely stay with Setien’s style of play.

 

Lo Celso is wonderful

 

Tanganga looked good again. Lo Celso and Lamela difference makers. Finally some bright spots this season.

 

Almiron and Joelinton scored in the same game tonight. That's it folks, the rapture is surely coming.

 

I knew Almiron’s quality would eventually pop. Kid was electric in MLS.

 

It was Rochdale to be fair.

 

So happy to see Jose praising Lamela. He’s always put in so much effort when healthy and completely deserves it. Love watching him play. Hopefully he finally has a sustained run of health because he definitely makes the team better.

 

If you'd seen those two shooting throughout the rest of the season, you'd know that the opposition doesn't matter. There have been times this season where you could have put those two on the pitch with no opposition at all and they'd have still killed somebody in the stands before they scored.

 

Gedson announced. And now we’re linked to another Portuguese player Ze Luis. No clue.

 

We played well for about 10 minutes. Wolves have been all over us since then though. Jesus

 

Rashford injured fantastic news.

 

Eriksen upset with the reaction he’s gotten from Spurs fans recently. Can’t wait for him to be gone. It’s sad because he was so good for us.

 

Really interesting piece on Liverpool’s use of data science

Liverpool are using incredible data science, and match effects are extraordinary

 

They’re probably stealing it someone else

/FSG paranoia

 

I’m still lowkey mad at how dirty they did Valverde.

 

Jack Clarke being loaned to QPR. Hopefully he actually gets to play there. Fucking Leeds demanded he be loaned back in order to complete the transfer in the summer and then they literally never played him.

 

Eriksen to Milan seems to be done now. £18m haha I guess it’s better than getting nothing in the summer.

It’s time for Lo Celso to takeover.

 

This is a really interesting interview that looks into the mindset of professional footballers who are going through a bad patch of their career.

I've been guilty, like many, of joking about Mustafi, and Senderos and Cygan and countless other badly performing Arsenal defenders, but I always try and remember there is a person there trying their hardest and perhaps just in a spiral and needing a change of scenery or leadership or just new coaches.

I know Mustafi makes mistakes, but honestly, I'd love nothing more than him to move somewhere and really go on to resurrect his career. We bought him for a reason and the first few months of his Arsenal career he was pretty great, actually.

Wonder if Hertha Berlin might want him, with their money, not sure we'd ask for a lot and I think he'd benefit.

Mustafi - How I deal with criticism