- Feb 11, 2010
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Can someone explain to me why Ibra isn't playing for United? I don't get why he signed the extension.
⚽️The Footy Thread: Lock Thread
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by mastamind89,
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- Sep 22, 2008
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Re-injured the same knee that came him out, back in December still not ready apparently.
- Feb 11, 2008
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looked terrible when he came back too early then another injury if i remember right
Trey Bantz
formerly trey ohh five
- Sep 4, 2009
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I disagree. While we have a very rational, level headed supporter in
PRIME
, most people expect a UCL after spending half a billion in one summer. They have quality players at every position, and while it was unlucky to draw Real Madrid in the Round of 16, they are having a down year and PSG has the roster to beat them.
- Sep 12, 2014
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If Neymar didn't get injured and PSG drew Basel, Porto, or Sevilla, they'd probably be through to the quarterfinals already
Trey Bantz
formerly trey ohh five
- Sep 4, 2009
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Sure, but that just would've been delaying the inevitable elimination at the hands of a superior club.
- Jan 7, 2004
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Perhaps we have different experiences, but I haven't met a single PSG supporter within my footballing circles that believed signing Neymar and Mbappe instantly catapulted them to be CL favorites and win the competition in a single year. If anything, the big attacking additions inserted the Parisians into the conversation of CL contention with the usual suspects like RM, Barca, Juve, Bayern, etc. For me, it's beyond money. We saw that recently with Man City, led by Pellegrini. Prime example of lofty and immediate European expectations due to massive spending, which ultimately resulted unfulfilled as City struggled and ran into giants like Bayern. Beyond finances, it's mentality and creating a winning culture. The Yankees used to spend crazily in baseball, but supplemented that with a hunger for championships. In relation to football, Poch has undoubtedly improved Spurs, but we witnessed against Juventus the project isn't completed. Nervy opening minutes in Turin which created a sizable deficit, Dav Sanchez's mental lapse on Dybala's winner and just the general sense that Tottenham wasn't ready mentally to dethrone Juve. Close but no cigar.I disagree. While we have a very rational, level headed supporter in
If we take a deeper look into PSG's issues, it begins with Al-Khelaifi. Was it really necessary to buy Neymar and Mbappe, two premium attacking players, in the same window? Maybe it was the pressure from RM that forced Paris' hand to splash the cash for Mbappe. The problem on the pitch is that Cavani occupies some of the space that Mbappe enjoyed and thrived in for Monaco. I seriously question what difference it would have made to start Neymar-Cavani-ADM vs. Neymar-Cavani-Mbappe. Instead, you mentioned "quality at every position." I disagree in that aspect. PSG has weaknesses that could have been better filled with the Mbappe money. You can't compare a 34-year-old Dani Alves and Yuri to Carvajal and Marcelo, arguably the best LB in the world (or Alaba, if you prefer). On paper, Paris' midfield can't come close to matching the likes of Luka, Kroos and Casemiro. There's too much talent and European experience there.
Even though we've openly discussed Emery's imminent sacking, the one thing I'll say in his defense (in relation to the RM tie) is tough pickings when you have to decide between Lass and Lo Celso to start at the Bernabeu in midfield. One is past his prime and the other is too green for the moment. Verratti hasn't grown as a player, same exact footballer he was in 2014.
Gotta run to work, but will post more on this later.
- Oct 2, 2011
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I think it’s a case by case, but I know where Trey is coming from because even people I know who aren’t PSG fans had them high on the contender list after the last summer signings.
As a fan, obviously you have that part of you that feels like after that kind of summer flex, you’ve got a SLIGHT chance of making some noise and winning it all, but as a realist, when you look at the squad, you see the holes.
RM tore apart the best defensive club in European football last CL final. Juve’s defense was 3x as much as Paris’ backline and keeper. Despite Madrid having a spotty run leading up to the matchup, you can never take them lightly in the CL. And they made us pay.
If there was any chest beating confidence in me it was last year being up against Barcelona before they completely undressed Paris in the 2nd leg.
This is a lesson that I’m not sure Emery deserves to learn from if a manager of Allergi or Conte becomes available this summer and even considers courting a meeting with the club.
And it’s funny you bring up Cavani operating in mbappe’s comfort zone considering he had to play that wing area primarily when Ibra was still at the club. Cavani was so dynamic scoring goals last season because he moved in more channels since transitioning from a striker converted to playing winger to being moved back to where he belongs. They’ll need to learn to play together but the Paris attack is so different than that Monaco attack was because Monaco got everyone in on the fun. Paris was a Zlatan show that turned into the Cavani show and everyone else kind of just got in where they could fit in.
The attack is the least of the clubs worries though. We need a clear midfield general and a A+ keeper. With Thiago Silva rumored to be leaving this summer we’ll need a leader at the back and also an experienced full back to take over for an expiring dani Alves.
Kante, Oblak, and a defender should be top priority this coming summer. IDC how much it costs because the club proved that they’ll spend.
Obviously don’t overspend because FFP still exists (or does it?), but do what it takes to fix the real issue at the club, which was never really the attack
As a fan, obviously you have that part of you that feels like after that kind of summer flex, you’ve got a SLIGHT chance of making some noise and winning it all, but as a realist, when you look at the squad, you see the holes.
RM tore apart the best defensive club in European football last CL final. Juve’s defense was 3x as much as Paris’ backline and keeper. Despite Madrid having a spotty run leading up to the matchup, you can never take them lightly in the CL. And they made us pay.
If there was any chest beating confidence in me it was last year being up against Barcelona before they completely undressed Paris in the 2nd leg.
This is a lesson that I’m not sure Emery deserves to learn from if a manager of Allergi or Conte becomes available this summer and even considers courting a meeting with the club.
And it’s funny you bring up Cavani operating in mbappe’s comfort zone considering he had to play that wing area primarily when Ibra was still at the club. Cavani was so dynamic scoring goals last season because he moved in more channels since transitioning from a striker converted to playing winger to being moved back to where he belongs. They’ll need to learn to play together but the Paris attack is so different than that Monaco attack was because Monaco got everyone in on the fun. Paris was a Zlatan show that turned into the Cavani show and everyone else kind of just got in where they could fit in.
The attack is the least of the clubs worries though. We need a clear midfield general and a A+ keeper. With Thiago Silva rumored to be leaving this summer we’ll need a leader at the back and also an experienced full back to take over for an expiring dani Alves.
Kante, Oblak, and a defender should be top priority this coming summer. IDC how much it costs because the club proved that they’ll spend.
Obviously don’t overspend because FFP still exists (or does it?), but do what it takes to fix the real issue at the club, which was never really the attack
Trey Bantz
formerly trey ohh five
- Sep 4, 2009
- 19,602
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^If you have potential issues with FFP, you can just buy those players on fake loan deals.
- Jul 30, 2011
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P$G's midfield or lack there of is the biggest reason for their failures in the CL...
- Mar 16, 2010
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Trey Bantz
formerly trey ohh five
- Sep 4, 2009
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They pulled this cheese with Mbappe last summer
'Loan with obligation to sign'
Yeah, that's why I mentioned it. It made a complete mockery out of FFP, I'd be surprised if UEFA hasn't put measures in place to combat these type of "loans."
- Oct 2, 2011
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3 Rabiots and we can take over the world
- Jul 30, 2011
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Meh... Rabiot isn't always consistent though. He's played better this campaign, specifically as of late but he's still too "sometimey"...
- Oct 2, 2011
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True. But if there was one payer in that midfield I’d want to keep its him.
Verratti I’m willing to part ways with now, and everyone else in that central area are pretty old already and young legs need to come in and replace them anyway. (Motta, Pastore)
- Jul 10, 2015
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Happy to see Sterling back fit. EDIT: Fernandinho too
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- Oct 9, 2006
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- Jul 30, 2011
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Verratti is such a meat head... He hasn't grown as a player at all. He's being mentioned again in Barca's transfer rumors. Not sure how anyone that's scouted him can think he's a worth while player... Absolute meat head.
- Feb 11, 2008
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jose on de boer 
- Jun 28, 2008
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Dont ever compare this PSG squad with City. We spent a lot but in batches throughout the seasons. In Pellegrini's last season we went toe to toe with Real Madrid in the Semi's. Outclassed but they only advanced to the finals by an OG from Fernandinho.
If we had a Neymar or Mbappe signing theres no doubt in my mind we would of went to the finals that year. PSG had both this season.
Expectations were put on City from the media and fans that weren't rooting for us. On paper we never had Champions League title winning squads. Navas, Clichy, Fernando, Mangala, Demichelis, Nasri...how do you win Champions League with those type of players? We didn' beat teams 7-1, 5-0, 4-0, 3-0 in group stage matches like PSG. We continually had Bayern, Real Madrid, Barca in almost all of our group stages or got eliminated by them. Look at the depth of PSG's squads and City's over the years. Who had more and underchieved?
If we had a Neymar or Mbappe signing theres no doubt in my mind we would of went to the finals that year. PSG had both this season.
Expectations were put on City from the media and fans that weren't rooting for us. On paper we never had Champions League title winning squads. Navas, Clichy, Fernando, Mangala, Demichelis, Nasri...how do you win Champions League with those type of players? We didn' beat teams 7-1, 5-0, 4-0, 3-0 in group stage matches like PSG. We continually had Bayern, Real Madrid, Barca in almost all of our group stages or got eliminated by them. Look at the depth of PSG's squads and City's over the years. Who had more and underchieved?
Thierry Henry
formerly louislagerfeld
- Jun 29, 2012
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Yo
Trey Bantz
PM'ed
Trey Bantz
PM'ed
Trey Bantz
formerly trey ohh five
- Sep 4, 2009
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Yo
Haven't received anything, maybe send again?
- Sep 11, 2013
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Although we all agree that currently City is better than PSG, it's funny to think in an alternate reality City could have drawn RM in the round of 16, been bounced, and PSG could have ran up the score on Basel. As Prime mentioned, this RM side literally rewrote history by completely deading the narrative of Juve's goat defense last season in one match.
I get City look great, but when you have 2 clubs that are built on relatively recent influxes of oil money, that have been winning domestic titles and potentially knocking on the door of a CL final just to come up short season after season, there are going to be justifiable comparisons. City are having a great season, but there's still a lot of football left to be played, and being at the big boys table with the likes of Barca and Bayern is to be great year after year, and also have a European title to back it up.
A bunch of your points are very flawed. There are a lot of teams that could say if we had Neymar in year X we would have made a CL final. Besides being a hypothetical, it also means you'd presumably take away €200-300m spent on other players your team actually did acquire instead. The same argument could also be made that PSG were never legitimate CL contenders either and then you can list a bunch of their weaker regulars. Lastly the same point about getting knocked out contenders could apply to them as well. 3 of their last 4 knockouts have been at the hands of RM/Barca.
Both sides are comparable. Both have spent tons of money just to get bounced by the real big boys. Obviously City could finally get over that hump this season. But so far they haven't.
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