I dunno. I haven’t watched every Man City game, but I have watched maybe 8 or 9 and they were the better team in every one including against Liverpool (although that was very even). Actually, checking with one stats site it seems like Man City has had more xG than their opponent every single game this season. (Liverpool “outplayed” in 3 games by the same metric).
Wow, a completely unexpected Boxing Day gift for Southampton fans yesterday. They might escape relegation once again.
I have always had a soft spot for Southampton, but I like them best when they beat Chelsea.
Not only that, but they won at Chelsea. There are ffew things more satisfying in football than a Stamford Bridge crowd going home disappointed. Southampton’s second goal, the one scored by Redmond, was an absolutely fantastic team goal, with about a dozen passes in the lead-up.
Liverpool looked pretty dominant as they dispatched Leicester 4-0. It wasn’t Leicester’s best performance, by a long shot, but the Reds looked really good, and could have scored a few more.
Liverpool are going nuts this season.
After beating Tottenham today, they became the first top 5 European club team, in history, to win 20 of 21 season games and amass 61 out of a possible 63 points, so far.
Heh - imagine if Salah was playing his 2017/18 level.
Man U have turned so many corners it’s impossible to tell if they’re now pointing in the right direction or not.
I really hope Bournemouth drag themselves out of trouble. And I really hope Eddie Howe is the man that does it. I don’t think they should sack him - who else is there? I’ve heard Pulis mentioned, which would be a terrible, retrograde step in my view.
It was a lot more fun kidding Liverpool when they underachieved all the time but give them credit, they are really good these days. All the parts are meshing and they raided Soton often enough to finally land their two players with the potential to be among the world’s best (Virgil and Sadio Mane, both of whom are playing lights out).
Saints! Don’t ask me to explain this run. And they might be right back to a relegation fight next year if the new management doesn’t figure out how to scour Europe’s lower leagues for the next Mane or Graz Pelle.
Barcelona fire their coach midseason and then get turned down by, if you believe reporting, 3 different coaches before settling on Quique Setien from Real Betis. What a clusterfuck. Clearly the board doesn’t know what they’re doing. (At least on the football side, I guess they have the highest revenue in the world by a pretty decent margin.)
It sounds like both Xavi and Ronald Koeman would have been available during the summer. I assume this hire preclude either of those options. IMO Xavi probably needs more experience, but Koeman seemed like a good fit. I expect no miracles and for Barca to go trophyless for the year.
Yeah, not really holding out for the red and blue this season. Not that Real Madrid is exactly tearing it up, either. Hoping Ansu Fati really, really, really comes into his own in Barca.
Anyhoos, very anguished, crushed and dejected to report Chelsea’s god-awful loss to the Magpies in the last freaking minute of injury time.
The Horror…
Must.
Stay.
Ahead.
of Man U.
I follow Chelsea a little bit because of Pulisic. Their fans run really hot and cold. At the beginning of the season it was all woe is me, then they were going to dominate Europe for years since their young team hada couple good results, now back to everything being awful.
I tend to think they’ll be ok, but the midfield is going to age out before the attack hits its prime.
Man City just got a two year ban from UEFA competitions over financial fair play rules. Pretty serious. I imagine that means Pep will leave ASAP, I’m sure Barca would hire him in a second along with pretty much anyone that isn’t Liverpool. More likely Sane will leave and harder to bring in defensive help as well.
Assuming it sticks.
Guess this means spot 5 on the table gets Champions League?
Yeah.
I haven’t read the specifics, but I’d be quite surprised if they argue themselves out of it. Maybe down to a one year ban? Huge news for all the super clubs of the world, and Tottenham.
Not just Tottenham. I think it would be awesome to see Sheffield United make it, and it also puts Wolves, Everton, and Man United back in serious contention for Champions League play.
Yeah, I was mostly going for a joke. I was going to use Arsenal, but I forgot they were in 10th (!)
Well, that game between Liverpool and Norwich was a lot of fun to watch, even if it was a little too close for my liking.
A lot of really open play in the second half, with chances at both ends. Norwich had a massive chance at about 35 minutes in the first half, but Allison managed to intercept the last past that, if completed, would have allowed Pukki a tap-in goal. Norwich also hit the post in the second half, and had a few other chances. Still, Liverpool looked good, and could have scored at least two or three more if the final pass or touch had been a bit better. Norwich also did a good job, much of the time, at last-ditch defense.
It was a good joke! Bad news for the gunners…the one year they won’t finish 5th!
Damn interesting first two matches of the CL knockout round. Atletico and Dortmund take wins off Liverpool and PSG. I fully expect Liverpool to win at home, but Atletico is very stingy and it’s by no means a certain thing.
PSG, on the otherhand, is in more trouble. Sure, they got the away goal, but Veratti will miss the second leg. I think they have much bigger holes in their team compared to Liverpool and BVB has maybe the two best teenagers in the world running at them all game. At this point Dortmund is probably slightly favored to advance, no?
Norwich held Liverpool scoreless for 77 minutes last week. It appears that it can be done, especially by a better club. Note: not a prediction by me, Liverpool is a damned good team.
Dortmund is indeed a hoot to watch as is Leipzig, which will be in action today against Spurs. Note 2: Dortmund and Leipzig both have young American players frequently in their lineups. More fun!
And footy’s NIT is in full swing tomorrow. Wolves v Espanyol (dead last in La Liga currently) for me, I hope.
The Spurs Leipzig game will be interesting as both teams are missing large numbers of key players. Spurs will be playing without any striker at all as all thier strikers are now out with season long injuries, or are 18 year old Troy Parrot who is not at all ready regardless of Ireland caps.
Honestly, Jose needs to find some of his black magic to make anything out of Spurs this year. The team is snake bit hard.