EPT2024 - 2026 Football Thread - Page 102
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gTank
Austria2604 Posts
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FlaShFTW
United States10354 Posts
On December 01 2025 00:06 WombaT wrote: Am I going insane or is Florian Wirtz actually playing well since his transfer? Every time I watch him, he’s passing the eye test, he looks good, he does good things, he breaks lines. He makes subtle, clever passes, or the more obvious but deadly ones. He also works his fucking arse off running around and gets stuck in. I don’t watch every Liverpool game, so he probably has had some absolute shockers, but then who doesn’t in this squad? Szoboszlai would be in the running for player of the year if he wasn’t in such a misfiring team, he’s been a cut above but apart from him I don’t think Wirtz is performing any worse than the rest of the squad really Wirtz has been performing fine. Some missed opportunities but in general, he passes the eye test and his passing is elite still. His teammates haven't made the most of his chances but he's quality and still getting better and better as he gels with the team more. But these days people just want to meme on a player because he was 125m and hasn't recorded a G/A yet in the prem, which I get, the numbers don't look good, but he's creating chances and providing ample opportunity for the team. I'm really tired of people scapegoating him just because he doesn't have any G/A yet. Salah has had a shocker to start the season and I'm glad Slot finally benched him. I really think that he should try Salah off the bench more tbh because if Salah isn't going to produce offensively, and be a defensive hole on the other side, then we're playing 10v11 every time. A front 3 of Ekitike, Isak, Szobo/Chiesa would be far better balanced for the team instead of having both Gakpo and Salah down the wings when they aren't known for their defensive contributions. One of the huge issues with losing Diaz and Nunez over the summer was losing that intensive pressing that could cover for Salah on the right (and the fact that he actually produced last season). Not to say that Isak/Ekitike and Wirtz can't press, they do just fine honestly, but Diaz and Nunez with Szobo behind them was a far more potent pressing force than what we have right now and it lacks balance. | ||
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WombaT
Northern Ireland26503 Posts
On December 03 2025 03:03 FlaShFTW wrote: Wirtz has been performing fine. Some missed opportunities but in general, he passes the eye test and his passing is elite still. His teammates haven't made the most of his chances but he's quality and still getting better and better as he gels with the team more. But these days people just want to meme on a player because he was 125m and hasn't recorded a G/A yet in the prem, which I get, the numbers don't look good, but he's creating chances and providing ample opportunity for the team. I'm really tired of people scapegoating him just because he doesn't have any G/A yet. Salah has had a shocker to start the season and I'm glad Slot finally benched him. I really think that he should try Salah off the bench more tbh because if Salah isn't going to produce offensively, and be a defensive hole on the other side, then we're playing 10v11 every time. A front 3 of Ekitike, Isak, Szobo/Chiesa would be far better balanced for the team instead of having both Gakpo and Salah down the wings when they aren't known for their defensive contributions. One of the huge issues with losing Diaz and Nunez over the summer was losing that intensive pressing that could cover for Salah on the right (and the fact that he actually produced last season). Not to say that Isak/Ekitike and Wirtz can't press, they do just fine honestly, but Diaz and Nunez with Szobo behind them was a far more potent pressing force than what we have right now and it lacks balance. Aye, pretty solid breakdown. It’s a strange time where you Yanks know your football! :p I think Salah’s missing Trent’s ability to ping the ball to him as well, that was quite the effective combination. I think especially as Salah ages, getting the ball to him quickly in dangerous areas, rather than deeper and needing him to beat players or having to make sprints behind regularly was a nice option to have. I’d love to see more of Chiesa. Sadly I don’t think after his injury we’re gonna see quite the player it looked like he’d be when he was earning that move from Fiorentina and lighting up a Euros, but he still looks pretty good. At least meriting more of a shot than he’s got so far at Liverpool One silver lining of their current travails I think Liverpool have is that they’re quite off the pace, so they can properly rebuild. If they can restructure properly, they’ll be set for a while. However there is a limit to how bad things can be of course. They’ve gotta at least get back into the CL, I’d imagine or Slot’s gone | ||
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Acrofales
Spain18250 Posts
On December 02 2025 21:32 Liquid`Drone wrote: ![[image loading]](https://scontent.ftrd2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/589948755_1253339590155647_1669218518022043948_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=UBAS0Tg_NCQQ7kNvwFTOFTO&_nc_oc=Adm5j45iPemE4kUCszi5lN7p7zJYpGQ4hD8dRXhdFcLbQWDpj5JIl0AP8oVq6y3dRk4&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.ftrd2-1.fna&_nc_gid=LDTvv9psiJIfFam0veT8vA&oh=00_Afmcc0WW0BY_wi6RsKNGFy7BwVD6DDfIPNulyw-P-nVGlg&oe=6934A5F2) Norway in 9th place! Spain favorites ahead of France ahead of England - but even Spain only has a 17% chance. Looks fairly reasonable to me! I'd rate Norway over Netherlands. But historic performance could mean Norway gets jitters where Netherlands is more used to knockout matches? Dunno. Norway has an amazing team. Netherlands is mediocre. E: Germany and Brazil are also overrated there imho. | ||
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WombaT
Northern Ireland26503 Posts
I wonder how much experience really matters, if it’s not actually the same players. It definitely has an effect, I just don’t know how you quantify it. And it can be negative too. Nations who get a reputation for botching penalty shootouts potentially have that collective national memory and pressure, and quite frequently continue the unwanted trend. The psychology of such things across generations and completely new teams is quite interesting to me. Man United used to have a reputation for late goals, hell people even termed it ‘Fergie time’. What was perhaps an initial reputation based on an occurrence two, possibly gains tangible power by its mere existence in a self-perpetuating way. ‘We always find a way’ and ‘shit, United always find a late goal!’ ends up having a power, if people believe it. Norway are definitely interesting here. Drone, what’s the kinda expectation and history over in Norway? I know your last appearance was 98 like Scotland, land of my ancestors, but I dunno if there’s quite the same baggage. The Scots have a history of some genuinely good sides and many tournaments and perpetually failing to get out of groups that might weigh on this lot. | ||
Liquid`Drone
Norway28781 Posts
We have high hopes because the team has been great for the past year, but aren't generally expecting too much because we have no history. With a good run and some luck we can pull off anything but we can also lose in the first knockout match against like 20 different teams. In general, unless there's some real groupnof death happening, we are expecting knockout stage, but that’s about it. | ||
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Harris1st
Germany7139 Posts
Germany when healthy and grooving can and should make a deep run. A group stage or first KO round exit will be devastating. Only "weak" position right now is left back and sometimes the center backs are a bit shaky (Rudiger can be the best and worst defender in the same game lol) but it's a lot better when Kimmich is right back. | ||
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Dingodile
4139 Posts
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Harris1st
Germany7139 Posts
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Liquid`Drone
Norway28781 Posts
![[image loading]](https://ix.cnn.io/dailygraphics/graphics/20251205-wc-draw-final/static/media/ai2html-graphic-mobile375.8be494a6.jpg) Most groups have a couple favorites. With three teams advancing from 8/12 groups we might not get any heavy hitters knocked out. I hope that applies to our group - France, Senegal and Norway (and probably Bolivia, I'm guessing) is definitely a 'group of death' contender. Funny how Scotland ends up with Brazil and Morocco; Scotland's previous WC was 1998, and they were in group with both teams then, too. That is also a very tough draw for them. USA's group is without heavy hitters. USA, Australia, Paraguay and then Slovakia, Turkey, Kosovo, or Romania as the final team. Pretty even, but mostly because no team is a top team. Italy (if they make it through the playoff) is blessed with Canada, Switzerland and Wales. The Netherlands/Japan/Tunisia/ uefa playoff (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, or Albania) is pretty tough. No real weak teams; and this might be crucial in determining whether two or three teams end up qualifying from a given group. If it's possible to stack up +GD from beating Haiti or something, your group will be more likely to have a stronger third placed team; three points with positive GD is highly likely to be good enough to make it. (I just checked: Since 1998 (didn't go back further), 3 points with neutral GD would have you as one of the top 5 (of 8) third placed teams in 5 of the world cups. In 2002, 3 points with +2 GD was the 5th best third placed team, and in 2022, you would actually have needed 4 points. Definitely conceivable that expanding the field will slightly change this calculation - if there are more punching bag teams that get 0 points and -10 GD, there will be more groups where the third placed team is likely to have 4 points or at least positive GD.) Now, having just looked through all of those world cup groups, there's also ample history indicating that yeah, some funky business is going to go down: Every world cup has upsetting results. 2022 not that much - but Germany, Belgium and Uruguay were knocked out in the group stage. (However, all three got third place with 4 points -> they'd probably have qualified from the current format). 2018 saw Germany losing their group, behind Mexico, Sweden and South Korea. That was actually the only group stage surprise. 2014 - spain in third place losing to Chile and Netherlands. This one had the absolutely insane group D - where Costa Rica ended up winning, ahead of Uruguay - with Italy and England both knocked out. Portugal also got third place, behind USA. 2010 - France in fourth place with 1 point, in a group with Uruguay, Mexico and South Africa. Italy fourth place in a group with Paraguay, Slovakia and New Zealand. 2006 - honestly pretty straight forward here. Australia emerging ahead of Croatia must've been considered a surprise, but pretty mellow compared to some of the other ones. 2002 - France fourth place (0 goals scored) behind Denmark, Senegal and Uruguay. Portugal knocked out by USA/South Korea. Argentina not getting out, although Sweden/England were pretty strong. 1998 - Spain not getting out from a group with Paraguay and Nigeria advancing - but that's it. So - are any powerhouses not getting to see bracket play this time around?  | ||
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Bacillus
Finland2034 Posts
Also a bit of a tough group for Scotland. What does the star signify? My best guess it's a first timer country in the world cup, but that's purely based on all the star marked ones being on the weaker/less known end of the participants. | ||
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Liquid`Drone
Norway28781 Posts
Thus there's a decent chance that France, Senegal and Norway can all qualfiy. Star= first timer in the WC indeed. Scotland has very tough opposition in Brazil and Morocco - but they're blessed with Haiti as the last team in the group. From looking at previous world cup groups, there's a more than 50% chance you'll manage to advance if you have 3 points and 3-3 goal difference. 3 points and negative goal difference and it's less than 50%, 4 points and you're almost certain to make it, 3 points and positive GD and you're like 75%+ likely to make it. Now, the more teams that end up with 0 points, the higher will the cutoff be, and maybe there being a bit more weak teams in this WC means the cutoff will be a bit higher than in the past as a consequence. Alternatively, the fact that international football has evolved and even curacao cape verde and haiti might be able to defend reasonably well means it'll all be tighter than in the past. | ||
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sharkie
Austria18624 Posts
I wouldn't want to be the one deciding that | ||
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evilfatsh1t
Australia8842 Posts
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WombaT
Northern Ireland26503 Posts
On December 08 2025 02:08 evilfatsh1t wrote: im not usually one who condones the actions of a player acting out like salah is doing now, but i do feel for him. he solo carried liverpool to the title last season. if not for him slot could have been facing the sack in his first season perhaps. who knows? Really depends what went on behind the scenes. Could be Salah throwing his toys out the pram, could be Slot’s bad, in kind of making Salah a scapegoat for a dysfunctional side and showing he’s got the balls to drop him, for optics as much as anything else. Football fans are strange creatures though. Salah’s been off the boil for a long time now, not just this season, and got a big bumper contract to boot. And it seems a pretty sizeable amount of Pool fans are taking his side here. Trent got pelters for the crime of seeing out a contract, while having a solid season and getting his head down | ||
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FlaShFTW
United States10354 Posts
For Salah, I feel for him. Carries us with a legendary season, then suddenly drops off the map and benched 3 times in a row. While I mentioned before I think it was time to bench Salah and bring him on as a sub, not even getting minutes in 2 out of those 3 games was a bit too much for me. And I agree with Salah, players like Konate and Gakpo continue to get all the playing time when they aren't performing, and Salah feels scapegoated to some extent (though teams have been pretty open about how they target that RWB position where Salah doesn't track back to and it leaves our RB really exposed). On the other hand, airing your dirty laundry out like this to the media is really REALLY a bad look. If you want out because you don't like the manager after he helped you win a title, then just say so. Don't play this whole little game that Salah really likes to do time and time again with the media. It leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I think you can have your points without basically making this a "it's him or me" situation. No one is above the club, as much of a legend as Salah is. Then from Slot's perspective: I do see that we needed to drop Salah from the starting lineup, but from the team altogether is a bit much. His fascination with Gakpo is also really really confusing when Gakpo continues to struggle and be a 1-dimensional cut inside and take a blocked shot robot every time he touches the ball. Playing someone like Chiesa over there or hell giving Rio some run time would be so much more beneficial to that left side. His man management has been woeful this season. Finally, there's the recruitment team. The whole Isak fiasco has been very weird to me and their need to bring him in after already making a 100m signing in Wirtz and 70m on Ekitike, who's had a flier to the season as well. Granted, not many anticipated Ekitike to come out guns blazing like he has (2nd best player this season behind Szobo), but then again, I'd have rather spent the 125m we spent on Isak on another vet/project striker and use the money on a proper backup RW for Salah than continue to bench Chiesa as an example and now we're benching Ekitike for Isak. Start of this season literally couldn't have gone any worse for us besides those first 5 prem games where we were riding on cloud 9. Maybe this will be the turning point for better or for worse (though I envision for the worse). If it's for the better, maybe finally trying a 442 against Inter with Ekitike and Isak together up top without a proper winger is going to be something interesting to watch. On the other hand, if we get shit stomped and Salah doesn't make the team for Brighton, I honestly could see a total blowup of the team, with Salah being sold in January and even potentially the sacking of Slot while we try to bring in an emergency CB to replace Konate. | ||
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WombaT
Northern Ireland26503 Posts
He’s some bloody talent, and at a price point that other top European sides who don’t have Prem/Bayern/RealBarca/PSG money could have easily afforded. I don’t think this City is as good as some previous vintages, but it’s bloody good to watch at times. A little more direct, a little more room for mavericks. Despite (ridiculous) criticism to the contrary, Pep has improved many, many a player in his time. Doku seems to be evolving into a consistently incisive player, rather than a thrilling dribbler who frequently frustrates in an Alain Saint-Maximin or Adama Traore vein. Foden from academy starlet to a real top, top player, etc etc. Cherki to me looks like clay of the highest, highest quality and if Pep can mould him to maximise his talent, that’s an absolute steal of a signing. It’s an interesting evolution of this side. I still think the strongest incarnation was a few years ago, with that trademark Pep insistence in control and seemingly everyone being a technically adept midfielder. Then we saw that as the base, but they added Haaland and won a treble, although I don’t think they were as good a side. Now it feels Pep is toning down his previous insistence on possession and control, and he’s pivoting a bit to trusting 10s or wide mavericks a bit to just produce moments of magic than before. As a neutral it’s a good watch anyway! | ||
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WombaT
Northern Ireland26503 Posts
On December 09 2025 01:31 FlaShFTW wrote: There's a lot of moving pieces and it's just a mess with the club as a whole right now, with blame that can be assigned to a variety of sides. For Salah, I feel for him. Carries us with a legendary season, then suddenly drops off the map and benched 3 times in a row. While I mentioned before I think it was time to bench Salah and bring him on as a sub, not even getting minutes in 2 out of those 3 games was a bit too much for me. And I agree with Salah, players like Konate and Gakpo continue to get all the playing time when they aren't performing, and Salah feels scapegoated to some extent (though teams have been pretty open about how they target that RWB position where Salah doesn't track back to and it leaves our RB really exposed). On the other hand, airing your dirty laundry out like this to the media is really REALLY a bad look. If you want out because you don't like the manager after he helped you win a title, then just say so. Don't play this whole little game that Salah really likes to do time and time again with the media. It leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I think you can have your points without basically making this a "it's him or me" situation. No one is above the club, as much of a legend as Salah is. Then from Slot's perspective: I do see that we needed to drop Salah from the starting lineup, but from the team altogether is a bit much. His fascination with Gakpo is also really really confusing when Gakpo continues to struggle and be a 1-dimensional cut inside and take a blocked shot robot every time he touches the ball. Playing someone like Chiesa over there or hell giving Rio some run time would be so much more beneficial to that left side. His man management has been woeful this season. Finally, there's the recruitment team. The whole Isak fiasco has been very weird to me and their need to bring him in after already making a 100m signing in Wirtz and 70m on Ekitike, who's had a flier to the season as well. Granted, not many anticipated Ekitike to come out guns blazing like he has (2nd best player this season behind Szobo), but then again, I'd have rather spent the 125m we spent on Isak on another vet/project striker and use the money on a proper backup RW for Salah than continue to bench Chiesa as an example and now we're benching Ekitike for Isak. Start of this season literally couldn't have gone any worse for us besides those first 5 prem games where we were riding on cloud 9. Maybe this will be the turning point for better or for worse (though I envision for the worse). If it's for the better, maybe finally trying a 442 against Inter with Ekitike and Isak together up top without a proper winger is going to be something interesting to watch. On the other hand, if we get shit stomped and Salah doesn't make the team for Brighton, I honestly could see a total blowup of the team, with Salah being sold in January and even potentially the sacking of Slot while we try to bring in an emergency CB to replace Konate. It feels by the end of the season, the prospect of both Slot and Salah remaining in situ feels remote. One of them, maybe, but 0/2 almost feels the most likely outcome here. Salah’s basically made it exceptionally difficult for Slot. If Slot reintegrates Salah it’ll be seen as a climb down, if he doesn’t it’s wasting a bloke who was their best player last season and is on insane money. It can be negotiated but Liverpool have to put forth a real run of quality form, and that’s looking difficult. No Salah in the squad for the upcoming Inter match, I’m not sure as an Inter fan if I think that’s good or bad for us, we’ll have to see | ||
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Bacillus
Finland2034 Posts
On December 09 2025 02:08 WombaT wrote: As an aside how on Earth did Man City get Rayan Cherki for 35 million Euros plus potential add-ons? I think the most important thing with a huge bankroll isn't so much about how you can buy the one top player (that'll happen sometimes too, for example with Haaland), but how many times you can gamble on some promising players. If you look at the cost of starting 11s on most top teams, they're often not that dramatically different from the biggest spenders. The difference comes in more when your big investment hits a slump or doesn't fit into some situation. City is going to bring in another equally good (and well rested) player from bench whereas most other clubs start to run out quality or at least have to live with some pieces not operating in their best form or role. | ||
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FlaShFTW
United States10354 Posts
On December 09 2025 02:19 WombaT wrote: It feels by the end of the season, the prospect of both Slot and Salah remaining in situ feels remote. One of them, maybe, but 0/2 almost feels the most likely outcome here. Salah’s basically made it exceptionally difficult for Slot. If Slot reintegrates Salah it’ll be seen as a climb down, if he doesn’t it’s wasting a bloke who was their best player last season and is on insane money. It can be negotiated but Liverpool have to put forth a real run of quality form, and that’s looking difficult. No Salah in the squad for the upcoming Inter match, I’m not sure as an Inter fan if I think that’s good or bad for us, we’ll have to see Just feels like Salah is intentionally trying to sink the ship with him on it. Almost feels like "you either listen to me and cater to me, or we all suffer" and I don't think that a player of his caliber, his stature in the club, should be acting like this. It's one thing to be upset that the manager isn't utiilizing you properly and that you're been benched when you haven't even been the biggest offender in the XI, but it's another to basically throw the whole club and manager under the bus and air his dirty laundry like this. | ||
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