Topic: The Push Square Football (Soccer) Thread

@dryrain: you only need two things in the premiership, good organisation and always having a prem standard striker on the pitch every game. That's why United are at the top despite being abysmal for 85% of the season. We're fairly organised and have players to score the odd goal.

Palace won't go down. They're in a slump, but they're much better than the teams beneath them and will come good.

Looks like Pato is out the door for Chelsea. Its a shame because the guy had so much promise in his early career. Also Falcao before he got his leg injury a few years ago he was such an amazing player. Its tough to see such great players just become shadows of there former selves.

Barcelona were class again last night. No shame for Arsenal losing to them no side maybe apart from Bayern Munich are at there level. Even Bayern are not at the same level as they were last season.

@dryrain: Has Pato played since transferring to Chelsea? So many players have become 'shadows' of their former self - its called ageing. I never thought Pato would cut it in the EPL - same with Falcao too. He was struggling a bit at Monaco after his injury. Players that rely heavily on Pace though are more greatly affected by ageing and injury - that half a yard makes a lot of difference. Its why Strikers tend to be at their 'prime' earlier than defenders and why Goalkeepers can play at the top level for longer. I know some can play beyond the 'average' prime age at a high level but often these are players that have more than just pace and adapt. Ibrahimovic (for example) doesn't run as much as he used to (he is more static in general, doesn't make unnecessary runs), cover as much of the field (conserves energy) and relies more on his strength and experience than pace.

Barcelona are a class outfit. I have been watching them for years on Sky Sports - I remember Messi making his debut and have probably watched 95% of his goals 'live'. The front 3 are certainly a force but are well supported and supplied from midfield with Iniesta and Rakatic (not quite Xavi). Messi often drops deep too to help out - maybe not so much with the defensive side but by giving them an option to pass to and help link the play. He also has the vision and ability to see and execute a pass that many others can't.

Bayern are certainly not the team they were but they are also without a lot of the 'quality' players they had because of injuries. Some of those quality players are at the 'tail-end' of their careers too - Ribery, Alonso, Robben, Lahm are all 30+

No Pato has not played for Chelsea. I kind of want to see Ibrahimovic in the premiere league he is such a character always coming out with something to say. He has done well to adapt his game. I agree with what you say about players relying on pace.

I did a stadium tour of the Barcelona football ground. On TV it does look big but when you are up in the stands at the highest point you truly realise how massive it is. I would love to see a game there one day. I think Barcelona are playing better now than they did under Pep. Which must wind up Real Madrid fans even more.

Ibra is a huge d bag but he's world class and would do well in the premiership, reminds me a little Christoph Dugarry except better.

Barcelona have the Best 2 strikers in the world in Messi and Suarez, the best midfielder in the world in Iniesta and world class players in Mascherano (how Liverpool let this guy go is a complete mystery), Alves, Busquets and Alaba.

The Premier League has Aguero, De Gea, Kompany, Ozil and at a huge push Coutinho who could try to get in their starting 11. Only Kompany and De Gea would get in. Aguero and Ozil would make the bench. Its insane this Barca team.

Since Giggs has been assistant manager at Old Trafford united have been woeful. Fact.

I do not know why I thought Everton would be any different today. The home form has been awful and was compounded by the fact even Aston Villa have conceded less goals at home this season than us. I like Martinez as a person but he does not seem to be tactically aware enough and at the end of the season think we should be looking for a new manager. The squad we have now is the best in years yet we are performing the worst we have in such a long time. With a better manager we should be pushing for European football.

@dryrain: Agreed - but he will probably win us the FA Cup. Then drag us into a relegation scrap next year.

Liverpools season is almost over after the loss to Southampton - you have to win the UEFA Cup.

Any one see Liverpool v Dortmund ? Amazing game, some american "soccer" fan locked my original thread.

@Bazza78: Yes I am an American soccer fan and it was locked because we have this ongoing thread here to discuss soccer or football or whatever you want to call it. We don't need duplicate threads to discuss the same thing.

Thanks for understanding.

Oh for god's sake , let me post without you interrupting. Did you see Liverpool v Dortmund? Tasuki? The reason i started a new thread is because nobody had posted in this thread for 3 weeks. I'ts hardly a hive of activity is it?

@Bazza78: Sports tend to have times of inactivity or off seasons so of course there won't be any activity during that time.

I apologize for interuppting but from your comment you seemed a bit confused as to why your thread was locked, so I was just clearing things up. And no I didn't see the match as soccer isn't the easiest thing to follow here in the States unless it's the World Cup or the Olympics. There are some cable/satellite channels that will broadcast soccer but I don't have a cable/satellite subscription. I am glad you enjoyed it though.

@Tasuki: the premier league has been active, as well as england internationals. And still no posts in 3 weeks. I apologize i Didn't notice the topic it was that far down the forum list.

@Bazza78: 4-3 to the reds. Well done. I actually want you guys to win the cup and kick the Arsenal out of the champions league.

What a game last night!!!

@themcnoisy: So you think Arsenal will finish 4th?? If City and Liverpool win, isn't that the only way the 4th spot is 'lost' as a CL spot?

@BAMozzy: If you win the eufa cup you qualify for the champions league. This is the first season its awarded. 4th place in the prem will be booted.

@iDangerMouse_: Its a touch different. Tottenham missed out on a cl place after finishing 4th when Liverpool won the cl if you can remember. The UEFA cup just adds more teams and has the option of playing tons of pre competition rounds.

@themcnoisy: I thought that if Man City win and finish outside the top 4, they too would qualify for the CL via the cup success. IF LFC also win the Europa, that grants them qualification BUT no country can have 6 CL spots - Maximum has increased to 5 since the Europa cup can now be a way in. If LFC and MC get in via their cup success, that only leaves 3 more spaces - therefore 4th will not be enough to qualify for the CL. If City don't win but LFC do (or vice versa), then the top 4 will still qualify as that's still only 5 spots. The only way 4th won't be sufficient is if both City and LFC win their respective cups - meaning only 3 more spots are available.

Edit: When Spurs lost out to LFC's success - the maximum allocation for any country was 4 for the CL. Now though a country can have 5 teams in the CL because of the new ruling allowing the winners of the Europa to play in next seasons CL.

Its explained here - http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=2215121.html

If both LFC and Man City win but don't finish in a CL qualifying space, then 4th will go to the Europa league