The Unofficial 2017-18 European Football Leagues Discussion Thread

[Tones]

Another unconvincing win over a struggling side. Brighton haven't cored in 4 of their games so far this season so going into this game at home we knew the 3 points would be the only thing accepted. The opening 20 minutes saw us run all over them, and we scored in the 18th minute through Monreal. But then it was like we just turned the switch off and sat at 1-0, one of the worst things to do in football because in seconds you can get caught out. We nearly did when a disgusting freekick from March nailed the goal post. We did make it 2-0 through Iwobi about a cheeky back heel pass from Alexis. Alexis may have had an assist but overall his performance today was very poor. He constantly got pushed of the ball, taking shots that he didn't need to and his passing was off. Clear he is frustrated.

[bjho852]

What a sad day for FC Barcelona...

[Tones]

international break! nobody get hurt!!!

[Tones]

Huge day so far for an Arsenal fan. Liverpool and. ManU drew in their game exactly how I wanted and Chelsea lost to Crystal Palace. Tottenham were close to drawing but won it 1-0. Free-scoring Man City thrashed Stoke 7-2.

Arsenal to kick off in 5 minutes away to Watford. Even with Alexis left out of the squad (Wengers stupid rest after break policy) and Ozil on the bench, I still predict Arsenal to walk through this one with an easy 3-0 victory.

[Tones]

A combination of too much relaxation from Arsenal after going up 1-0 and poor referring saw us lose 2-1. Watford wete awarded a weak penalty on a challenge from Bellerin, identical to the challenge on Welbeck on the opposite side. But our performance was poor. We couldn't control the game and we looked uncomfortable all second half, especially seeing Ozil missing a golden opportunity

[Tones]

Very nice win today. Overall a lot of these players have few first team experience, and they people who didn't step up through most of the game (Walcott and Giroud) did not. Reiss Nelson looked like he wants to push through the first team and gave top effort the entire game, but his inexperience showed at times. The one stint of class from the vet's saw a beautifully worked goal, and a fantastic finish from Giroud. MOTM goes to Jack Wilshere, time for him to start regularly over Xhaka.

[Tones]

First time Ozil, Alexis and Lacazette play together and we look like world beaters as we put 5 goals past Everton with all 3 of those players getting on the score sheet. This is the first glimpse of happiness we have had all season, LET'S BUILD ON THIS!!!

[Tones]

What a day for Juventus! They have had recent struggles but today was a statement to show they are still a top club. After going down so early and a first half red card, the 10 man Turin side turned the game on it's head with a 6-2 victory over Udinese with an unlikely goalscorer, Sami Khedira, grabbing his first career hat trick.

[Tones]

Happy to get the win today, but it was not a convincing one. A top side should not be tugging at home vs. a 17th place Swansea City. A quick counter-attack, sloppy defending and a poor decision from Cech saw us go down 0-1 early in the first half. We were very sloppy with our passing and did not show confidence in front of goal. We finally got back into the game thanks to our new signing Sead Kolasinac with his first EPL goal, and soon after set up Aaron Ramsey to go ahead. Our next two Premier League games are against Tottenham and Manchester City. Positive results in those two games could be huge and put us right into the title race.

Around the League; Manchester United edged past Tottenham with a late winner from Anthony Martial, Chelsea beating Bournemouth 1-0, and Manchester City and Liverpool easing past their opponents West Brom and Huddersfield respectively.

[Tones]

Every right to be disappointed after the game today, mostly because we deserved to take at lest a point from this game. Up until Manchester City's first goal, we were the ones controlling the game. Unfortunately their goal came after a poor clearance and an excellent finish from Kevin De Bruyne who has been the best player in the EPL this season. We went down 2-0 when Manchester City was wrongfully awarded a penalty. One head scratcher was why Alexander Lacazette was left on the bench, this was our biggest game thus far. Minutes after being subbed on he brought us right back in the game by scoring. But Manchester City made it 3-1, which also should have been disallowed as it came from an offside pass.

[Tones]

International break! nobody get hurt

[Tones]

I'll just leave this here....

[alan1899]

I've hear talk of a non-World Cup tournament in the United States next summer for the best teams that didn't get to the World Cup!!!

[Tones]

Originally Posted by alan1899

I've hear talk of a non-World Cup tournament in the United States next summer for the best teams that didn't get to the World Cup!!!

FIFA will not allow it as it will take attention away from the main event, TV companies just trying to get money back because of how much potentially has been lost.

[LC2nine10]

Originally Posted by Tones

FIFA will not allow it as it will take attention away from the main event, TV companies just trying to get money back because of how much potentially has been lost.

Stupid. It's not like anyone in the us will watch it now anyways.



Edit...fifa, not you

[Tones]

Originally Posted by LC2nine10

Stupid. It's not like anyone in the us will watch it now anyways.



Edit...fifa, not you

As a first generation American I never root for the US in the World Cup, as my entire family was born in Italy and Sicily, but that is irrelevant seeing now that they did not qualify as well

I have been saying it for the past few World Cups, 75% of American's only support the sport during the, as soon as the US is eliminated they stop caring till the next World Cup. True fans will respect the tournament and understand that it is how the competition works and not support this potential movement. If it does happen though I will probably end up going to a game due to the fact of the convenience of it being local.

[Tones]

that was a REAL Arsenal performance, the performance that we have been waiting for all season. Where has this team been. This team hack lacked motivation and this was the win we needed to press through this season. We were incredible at the back, so solid (Mustafi is my man of the match). We could have easily had more goals but 2 was enough. This game reminded me of last season's wins over ManU and Chelsea; Kill them off in the first half and watch them struggle to get back into the game in the second by just holding possession and playing great defense. COYG!!!!

[Tones]

HUGE GAME FOR US TOMORROW! Not only because Burnley have been playing so well this season (their best start in top flight history), but with Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea all dropping points, a win will see us jump to 4th place and a point behind third. Burnley do not have a good track record against Arsenal of late and we the projected team is coming off a huge win last weekend vs. Spurs. I predict 3-0 to the Arsenal.

[Tones]

The frustrating performance today should not be overlooked by a scrappy win. We did not even show up to play until the first half. We lacked creativity in the midfield, had no composure in the final third, and countless points of sloppy passing. But one of our first real chances Bellerin was brought down in the box by Brady in which he got non of the ball, was a clear penalty what was not called. Arsenal were awarded a penalty in stoppage time which was converted well by Alexis Sanchez. Very important win, into the top 4 we rise. COYG!

[Tones]

Well... this is huge...
Arsenal have appointed Raul Sanllehi the director position. The former Barcelona head of relations was responsible for completing the deals at the Nou camp such as Neymar, Luis Suarez and Alexis Sanchez. Why is this huge? Well Arsenal has not had a sporting director since the departure of David Dein in 2007, which saw the likes of Thierry Henry follow him out the door. This is what we have been missing for years, someone to help get those contracts sorted (hopefully assist with Alexis and Ozil) and get the deals done. No more leaving it to stingy Wenger and a lying Gazidis, time for a new, big face to step in.

[Tones]

Wow, I don't know what to think of the game today. We started off the match bursting onto the scene with a 2nd minute goal from Lacazette, but minutes later we looked like we just hit the off switch. Careless passing, no creativity in the midfield and a final ball was no where to be scene. Lacazette almost made it 2-0 but it was saved off the line and everything was quiet for the remainder of the first half. The second half started slow but it burst into life through a man of the match performance by Mesut Ozil in the span of 4 minutes. A 4 minute spell that saw him set up both Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez, as well as getting on the score sheet himself. Giroud found his second after a well worked movement from Kolasinac and Wilshere to make it 5-0 to the Arsenal.

A combination of wins from Arsenal, Liverpool and Burnley sees Tottenham crash down to 7th place. MIND THE GAP!

[Tones]

When I saw the team sheet I was not surprised but at the same time I also was not expecting much result wise. We had already secured a place in the knockout rounds and have an important game against Southhampton just a few days away so to not see any first team regulars was expected. Well our back-ups stepped up their game with a 6-0 thrashing of Bate Borisov. I cannot not think of a single negative part of the game as Arsenal controlled it all. Jack Wilshere making a true statement how he deserves to be in the starting eleven with a man of the match performance. One goal and two assists to his name doesn't scratch the surface of how much he ran the midfield today. I said it weeks ago Xhaka should be dropped for him.

[Tones]

Yet again one of the contenders drops points (Chelsea lost to West Ham) and Arsenal fail to capitalize. I saw Mertesacker on the team sheet and was already nervy and it only took 2 minutes into the game for that to show when his defensive error cost us a goal. From then it was typical Arsenal when they go down on the road. Plenty of possession, but when chances were created they lacked a clinical finish. We did bring it level in the 87th minute thanks to an off the bench goal from Olivier Giroud. We have not traveled to St Mary's well in recent years and the streak continues... Not. Good. Enough.

[Raj3sh]

City is running with it. Lets see if they can do well at the champions league too

[sluismcfc]

Originally Posted by Raj3sh

City is running with it. Lets see if they can do well at the champions league too

I certainly don't see Basel standing in our way!!