It Could Get A Bit Messi In Here - The Football Thread.

wokeupnew said:
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Let’s be honest the three city v Liverpool games this year and the match last night are the very best of football and I’m absolutely not referring to them.

I suppose growing up with early 90s football and seeing the evolution from then to now something primal has been lost from the game a little bit. It’s almost as if all physicality and contact is bad now and should be stopped. The championship is a bit of a throwback in that you get challenges going in ongoing physical battles like the one Mitrovic had with Cook last night. I like a bit of that. It’s not dangerous or cynical but it is close and hard and physical.

The other thing is that below the best teams at PL and CL level the rest feel almost feel over coached and so really clinical. Emery is clearly a wonderful coach but I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than watch his Villareal team. A bit less sophistication means the matches are a little more open. Plus we’re aren’t talking the cloggers of 20 or 30 years ago, the top end of the championship is still at a really high technical level.
 
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Joe Mac said:
Let’s be honest the three city v Liverpool games this year and the match last night are the very best of football and I’m absolutely not referring to them.

I suppose growing up with early 90s football and seeing the evolution from then to now something primal has been lost from the game a little bit. It’s almost as if all physicality and contact is bad now and should be stopped. The championship is a bit of a throwback in that you get challenges going in ongoing physical battles like the one Mitrovic had with Cook last night. I like a bit of that. It’s not dangerous or cynical but it is close and hard and physical.

The other thing is that below the best teams at PL and CL level the rest feel almost feel over coached and so really clinical. Emery is clearly a wonderful coach but I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than watch his Villareal team. A bit less sophistication means the matches are a little more open. Plus we’re aren’t talking the cloggers of 20 or 30 years ago, the top end of the championship is still at a really high technical level.
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oh I know, I was just being funny lol
 
bettim84 said:
Agreed. I’ve been watching football for 30+ years and that ranked in the top 1% best games I’ve ever seen.
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Yeah it was great. And I’ve now been thinking about great matches and ones that spring to mind are England v Argentina at World Cup 98, Holland v Argentina in the next round at the same World Cup and a Holland v Russia match at Euro 2008. Euro 2008 remains the highest quality international tournament I’ve watched.

At club level 🤔 I’ve watched too much united to really have a holistic view but the first Liverpool v Newcastle match in 1996 was one hell of a game. There will be more too that spring to mind in time I’m sure!
 
Joe Mac said:
Ah yeah I know, I just have this painful need to always over explain myself 😂
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you actually made a good point. The top teams are almost too good where Villareal and Atletico have to play a certain way otherwise they'd stand no chance. A lower level, Championship, will allow for more even matchups and unpredictability.
 
wokeupnew said:
you actually made a good point. The top teams are almost too good where Villareal and Atletico have to play a certain way otherwise they'd stand no chance. A lower level, Championship, will allow for more even matchups and unpredictability.
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There’s a part of me that loves a shithouse and kinda likes Atletico for that whereas an Emery or Benitez team doesn’t even have that 😴. I do think allowing a bit more physicality into the game wouldn’t be bad. No one wants leg breakers or the tackle from behind making a comeback but I’d love a good old Keane v Vierra duel in the modern game or an old school “rash” defender from the Italian school or like Keown was. Even for a big lad like Carroll to be able to use his size fairly and bully centre halves without every header he wins being a foul because the defender is only the height of his elbows lol!
 
I’ve been trying to watch a little more MLS & USL. Going to watch Pumas/Seattle match tonight. Next season I’d like to watch some of the other European leagues. Just need to check which streaming services I’ll need. 🤣

Is Premier considered to be the best league? At least amongst players?
 
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TheMightyDucks said:
I’ve been trying to watch a little more MLS & USL. Going to watch Pumas/Seattle match tonight. Next season I’d like to watch some of the other European leagues. Just need to check which streaming services I’ll need. 🤣

Is Premier considered to be the best league? At least amongst players?
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Premier League is Miles above the Rest with Spain and probably italy following
 
Joe Mac said:
Yeah it was great. And I’ve now been thinking about great matches and ones that spring to mind are England v Argentina at World Cup 98, Holland v Argentina in the next round at the same World Cup and a Holland v Russia match at Euro 2008. Euro 2008 remains the highest quality international tournament I’ve watched.

At club level 🤔 I’ve watched too much united to really have a holistic view but the first Liverpool v Newcastle match in 1996 was one hell of a game. There will be more too that spring to mind in time I’m sure!
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My favorite match ever is the Italy v Germany semifinal at the 2006 WC in Germany. Thrilling 0-0 for 118 minutes, then Italy scores a beautiful goal, Germany sends all men forward at kick off, and Del Piero scores a second at the death. Germans bawling in the stands.
 
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