The Football Thread 2019/20: Barcelona will have 2-8 till next season to avenge this embarrassment

[Photek]

Decent stat for Photek to dismiss - since his debut, Bruno Fernandes has been involved in more goals than any other player in the entire league.

Your team scores and I am first thing that pops into your head.

Rent free.

[Preezy]

The battle constantly rages for me, old foe

[Saint of Killers]

twitter.com/ftbIswanny/status/1278063404071235584

I still preferred the first.

[Psychic]

Nice goal that.

Do you Man U lads think the players who started in midfield work well enough as a trio to be the starters in the middle? Just wondering if it has the balance needed in terms of defensive stability or whether it might be one just for games against the weaker sides.

[Saint of Killers]

I didn't see the match so I can't say, but if Matic played the defensive midfield role then I wonder how long term a solution he is. (I'm guessing not a very long one, considering his age.) But yes, for now I want to see more of those 3 starting. Forwards gelling a bit more would be nice, too.

[Peter Crisp]

I remember when Chelsea had to give Man United a guard of honour, with a lineup that included such Old Trafford legends as Chris Eagles, Kieran Richardson, Kieran Lee and of course... Dong Fangzhou

What? No Eric Djemba-Djemba?
He's the best ever Man U player by miles.

[Dowbocop]

twitter.com/ftbIswanny/status/1278063404071235584

I still preferred the first.

He's oversold it with that tweet. It's a clever ball from Matic out to Greenwood and the cross is good (you'd expect it to be with the time and space he had). The finish is a miscue.

Not seen any of the other goals from tonight but Fernandes probably won't be recalling that one in his autobiography.

I just went to rewatch it to make sure I'm not missing anything and I think it's been taken down

[Tomous]

Did we just watch the same goal!?

[Neph]

From The Athletic, via Reddit, sponsored by Corazon de Leon:

"Summer 2014 was the last time that Barca’s first XI was seriously strengthened. In that window €165 million was spent and top-quality arrivals Luis Suarez, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Ivan Rakitic settled in quickly, and improved key areas of the team.

Since then Barca have spent more than €800 million on new players, without even one of them establishing themselves as a senior team leader. The current team’s key figures were all already at the club when they won that treble in 2015 but that outfield spine of Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Lionel Messi and Suarez are all into their 30s now.

In summer 2016 they spent €125 million on Andre Gomes, Paco Alcacer, Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Digne, Jasper Cillessen and Denis Suarez.

Twelve months later Neymar pushed through his exit to Paris Saint-Germain for €222 million. Barca’s spend following that was €375 million on Ousmane Dembele, Philippe Coutinho, Paulinho, Nelson Semedo, Yerry Mina, Gerard Deulofeu and Marlon.

The 2018-19 season involved €129 million being spent on new players — including Malcom, Clement Lenglet, Arthur, Arturo Vidal and Jeison Murillo (on loan with an option to buy).

This season there has been €273 million invested — on Antoine Griezmann, Frenkie de Jong, Martin Braithwaite, Neto, Junior Firpo, Emerson and Marc Cucurella.

So much money has been spent, but not even one of these 30+ new signings has been a complete success. It all points to deep structural problems at the club, and continuing mismanagement by the current board."

Long may it continue.

Barcelona are Bizarre?!?!

They just sold their 23 year old midfielder for Arthur for £75m (£66m +addons) and bought a 30 year old for £59m (£54.9 +addons), sure they made a £38million profit on Arthur but buying another old midfielder, sure sell him if they are getting a good price but why not save the money? Bring through a youngster

What on earth are they doing? They already have a very old spine of the team why are they spunking £60million on a 30 year old?!

[Dowbocop]

Did we just watch the same goal!?

It's back up now, must have been me.

I'm being unfair to Matic, that ball out to the wing is very good, but it's into an absolute chasm for Greenwood to run onto.

Greenwood has nobody within ten yards of him at any point and has to go past absolutely no-one. Yes, he does dig out a great cross, but he's not exactly under pressure. He's almost taking a free kick.

Fernandes' shot bounces up off the six yard line and he's only about eight yards out. He's fluffed it. If it bounced off the blocking defender's leg and went in the phrases "bit of luck with the finish" and "they all count" would be used.

It's not a bad goal, and there are probably enough well executed bits for it to be classed as a good goal. But when I read a tweet that's going full Andy Gray tekabooson I'm expecting a bit more than him shanking one in off the turf.

[Saint of Killers]

Not seen any of the other goals from tonight

twitter.com/skysportspl/status/1278050384846692353

Click the time/date if the video isn't showing. I love how fluid all Greenwood's movements are: the running leads into the step-over without missed stride, which he then naturally ends with a shot. If that had been Ronaldo you'd have seen pronounced pauses if he was still in his OTT step-overs phase. And he'd have fooled only himself and lost possession.

---
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Statue campaign for black player dropped by England



Picked in 1925, Jack Leslie would have been the first black player to play for England, 53 years before Viv Anderson.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53184615

[Photek]

Bruno Fernandes wouldn’t get near the Liverpool team. Levels.

Come on now. Early days for him in the PL but so far he's easily looked a top player.

I know... I was trolling but no one bit.

Thank god you did Preezy.

Had a quick look during my morning cuppa, and in prem, Salah has 6 goals and 2 assists compared to Fernandes' 5 goals and 3 assists since he started for Manu.

To be clear, Bruno has been outstanding, I was trolling about him, I quoted my own post to point it out cos it seems some missed it.

[Preezy]

StayDead defence detected

[<]:^D]

From The Athletic, via Reddit, sponsored by Corazon de Leon:

"Summer 2014 was the last time that Barca’s first XI was seriously strengthened. In that window €165 million was spent and top-quality arrivals Luis Suarez, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Ivan Rakitic settled in quickly, and improved key areas of the team.

Since then Barca have spent more than €800 million on new players, without even one of them establishing themselves as a senior team leader. The current team’s key figures were all already at the club when they won that treble in 2015 but that outfield spine of Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Lionel Messi and Suarez are all into their 30s now.

In summer 2016 they spent €125 million on Andre Gomes, Paco Alcacer, Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Digne, Jasper Cillessen and Denis Suarez.

Twelve months later Neymar pushed through his exit to Paris Saint-Germain for €222 million. Barca’s spend following that was €375 million on Ousmane Dembele, Philippe Coutinho, Paulinho, Nelson Semedo, Yerry Mina, Gerard Deulofeu and Marlon.

The 2018-19 season involved €129 million being spent on new players — including Malcom, Clement Lenglet, Arthur, Arturo Vidal and Jeison Murillo (on loan with an option to buy).

This season there has been €273 million invested — on Antoine Griezmann, Frenkie de Jong, Martin Braithwaite, Neto, Junior Firpo, Emerson and Marc Cucurella.

So much money has been spent, but not even one of these 30+ new signings has been a complete success. It all points to deep structural problems at the club, and continuing mismanagement by the current board."

Long may it continue.

Barcelona are Bizarre?!?!

They just sold their 23 year old midfielder for Arthur for £75m (£66m +addons) and bought a 30 year old for £59m (£54.9 +addons), sure they made a £38million profit on Arthur but buying another old midfielder, sure sell him if they are getting a good price but why not save the money? Bring through a youngster

What on earth are they doing? They already have a very old spine of the team why are they spunking £60million on a 30 year old?!

Read the Swiss Ramble twitter thread about it. basically its an accounting/finance move. Barca are broke and this transfer helps them in more than just pure profit.

[Drumstick]

StayDead defence detected

[Winckle]

This thread really gets going when Man United win convincingly.

[Saint of Killers]

Yes, let's have fewer posts on this already quieter than average internet forum

[Curls]

Liverpool won the league I heard. This pleased me.

[Joer]

Delighted that Saka has committed his future to us.

Obviously it's a scary thought that we'd have this talent come through from the academy, play him a bunch this season and have him become an integral part of the team only for him to strawberry float off to United or something. Would have been a massive set back for us if we couldn't convince an academy graduate to stay with us after giving him 30 odd games this season.

[Dowbocop]

Delighted that Saka has committed his future to us.

Obviously it's a scary thought that we'd have this talent come through from the academy, play him a bunch this season and have him become an integral part of the team only for him to strawberry float off to United or something. Would have been a massive set back for us if we couldn't convince an academy graduate to stay with us after giving him 30 odd games this season.

It was supposed to be Liverpool sniffing around. Really glad he's signed for much the same reasons you've put!