The football (soccer) thread

Kalevala · September 29, 2025, 09:40:22 PM

Early days yet, but @Irons (others welcome to comment too) re Nuno?

K

Madiel · September 30, 2025, 03:51:17 AM

Crystal Palace becomes the only unbeaten team in the Premier League this season. Pretty darn impressive.

Irons · September 30, 2025, 07:33:37 AM

Quote from: Kalevala on September 29, 2025, 09:40:22 PMEarly days yet, but @Irons (others welcome to comment too) re Nuno?

K

Early days, but under Potter if we went a goal behind heads dropped and two or three would follow. Last night we again conceded through poor defending, here we go I thought. However, the players fought back and earned a deserved point. Fly in ointment, away to Gooners on Saturday.

Irons · September 30, 2025, 07:41:57 AM

Quote from: Madiel on September 30, 2025, 03:51:17 AMCrystal Palace becomes the only unbeaten team in the Premier League this season. Pretty darn impressive.

A sign of an outstanding coach (Glasner) is when he loses his best players, Olise and Eze and results are unaffected. The problem for Palace is holding onto Glasner. I believe his contract is up at the end of this season.

vandermolen · November 19, 2025, 03:21:03 AM

Amazing victory for Scotland v Denmark last night (4-2) which takes them to the World Cup in the USA/Mexico next year.

Irons · November 19, 2025, 06:37:54 AM

Quote from: vandermolen on November 19, 2025, 03:21:03 AMAmazing victory for Scotland v Denmark last night (4-2) which takes them to the World Cup in the USA/Mexico next year.

Well done Scotland. It took 28 years to get there and they did it by scoring two cracking goals in extra time.

https://youtu.be/73cVhK9qL1o?si=mbB8n_OlcfcIoRNq

Holden · November 20, 2025, 09:54:10 PM

Can't go past McTominay's overhead. And Man U let him go.

springrite · November 21, 2025, 12:43:02 AM

Just

Quote from: Holden on November 20, 2025, 09:54:10 PMCan't go past McTominay's overhead. And Man U let him go.

Just about every player ManU let go are lighting up their new league. In addition to McTominay, Antony, Greenwood, and Hojlund and Rashford are both doing better with their new teams.

Valentino · November 21, 2025, 07:11:23 AM

Norway-Italy 7-1 (aggregate). See you on the other side of the pond, Scotland.
A match over there would be a very loud Scottish-Norwegian party. Poor US law enforcement officers. So many drunk and happy people.

Holden · November 21, 2025, 02:22:30 PM

Quote from: springrite on November 21, 2025, 12:43:02 AMJust Just about every player ManU let go are lighting up their new league. In addition to McTominay, Antony, Greenwood, and Hojlund and Rashford are both doing better with their new teams.

This issue is that the Man U fans (I was one until recently) haven't the patience to let things play out. Their greatest manager was on the verge of the sack. In the 89/90 season the team had finished 13th in the league (sound familiar?) and it was only the winning of the FA cup that saved AFs job for him. The rest is history. In the next three years they finished 6th, 2nd and 1st to start their huge EPL winning run over the next two decades. Ferguson was willing and allowed to look long term.

Irons · November 27, 2025, 07:40:57 AM

Quote from: Holden on November 21, 2025, 02:22:30 PMThis issue is that the Man U fans (I was one until recently) haven't the patience to let things play out. Their greatest manager was on the verge of the sack. In the 89/90 season the team had finished 13th in the league (sound familiar?) and it was only the winning of the FA cup that saved AFs job for him. The rest is history. In the next three years they finished 6th, 2nd and 1st to start their huge EPL winning run over the next two decades. Ferguson was willing and allowed to look long term.

With the exception of David Moyes, the managers that followed Fergie - Van Gaal, Mourinho, Solskjaer and ten Hag have failed to enjoy success after leaving Man U. The present incumbent, Amorim despite dire results has lasted a year much to fans displeasure.
It is true what you say, look at Arsenal. They stuck with Arteta and reaping the rewards and maybe a slim chance that Amorim can do the same. Out of the others, post Fergie, plainly not up to managing a club as big as Man U.

springrite · December 13, 2025, 01:31:24 PM

Arsenal just played their worst match of the season, with Wolves scoring all three goals--two of which are own goals--and won.
Maybe this is what it takes to be champions?

Now let's see what Palace can do tomorrow...

Kalevala · April 30, 2026, 01:29:07 AM

O.k., so I stumbled across the UEFA Champions League the other day [watched partway through the Paris vs. Munich match]. So delighted to see scoring vs. running up and down the pitch!

My question: has more to do with how this format works. I would have thought that Paris winning in the semis, would have knocked out Munich; apparently not (as from what I understood, that they will be playing each other again in Munich). So, is this the best out of "X" matches? And are there any other teams still involved?

And I was delighted to see various players helping the other's teammates up. Good sportsmanship!

K

Madiel · April 30, 2026, 03:13:06 AM

Quote from: Kalevala on April 30, 2026, 01:29:07 AMMy question: has more to do with how this format works. I would have thought that Paris winning in the semis, would have knocked out Munich; apparently not (as from what I understood, that they will be playing each other again in Munich). So, is this the best out of "X" matches? And are there any other teams still involved?

Home and away legs, so that neither team has an inherent home advantage.

You did happen to hit upon what is being regarded as one of the best matches in recent years.

The other semifinal is between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal. They played their first leg this morning/last night, depending on your timezone perspective.

Kalevala · April 30, 2026, 03:22:53 AM

Quote from: Madiel on April 30, 2026, 03:13:06 AMHome and away legs, so that neither team has an inherent home advantage.

You did happen to hit upon what is being regarded as one of the best matches in recent years.

The other semifinal is between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal. They played their first leg this morning/last night, depending on your timezone perspective.

Thank you for responding.

So, is it the best out of "X" matches that advances a team; that's the sense that I'm getting. Do they play two matches? One home and one away?

And thanks, I'll try and watch the other match.

K

Kalevala · May 01, 2026, 01:38:38 AM

Good God! My cable network provider does not make it easy to find matches. I think that I managed to set a reminder for Sunday here.

Is it the point difference/draws that decides who advances?

K

Madiel · May 01, 2026, 08:24:23 PM

Quote from: Kalevala on May 01, 2026, 01:38:38 AMIs it the point difference/draws that decides who advances?

It's the total goals across the 2 matches. But they've actually changed it a bit as to how it works if the number of goals is even. It used to be that your 'away' goals counted more. Now, if it's even at the end of the 2nd match, they play 30 minutes extra time and if it's still even a penalty shootout.

There's still some advantage in that the higher seeded team gets to be home in the 2nd match - so the extra time and the penalty shootout is happening on their turf.

springrite · May 05, 2026, 01:29:15 PM

Arsenal in the Champions League Final!!! Yeah!!!

DaveF · May 05, 2026, 11:24:18 PM

Quote from: springrite on May 05, 2026, 01:29:15 PMArsenal in the Champions League Final!!! Yeah!!!

Yes, they're still in line for the "treble": (1) Champions' League, (2) Premier League and (3) seeing Tottenham get relegated

Irons · Reply #1039 - Re: The football (soccer) thread

Quote from: DaveF on May 05, 2026, 11:24:18 PMYes, they're still in line for the "treble": (1) Champions' League, (2) Premier League and (3) seeing Tottenham get relegated

Sadly for me (3) is not going to happen.