https://www.espn.com/soccer/paris-saint-germain--frapsg/story/4895371/psg-coach-galtier-neymar-a-loss-vs-bayern-munich-even-if-team-more-balanced
Don't skip leg day!
Lies, damn lies, and statistics. Scotland won and deserved the win. The book on Spain is out, and has been for a long while. Bunker in, condense space in the final third, and take the chances when they come. La Roja just don’t have many players who can create a chance in these types of games. Nico Williams on the dribble, Pedri with his passing, maybe Gavi in some wrecking ball fashion, and that’s about it. They’re all Tiki with no Taka right now. Unless Spain changes how they play or gets much more incisive, they will continue to lose to (no offense to Scotland) less talented teams who play defensively.
You're very gracious. Spain are still favourites to top the group and rightly so. I'll be rooting for them big time when they play Norway, home and away. I wonder what changes Spain need to make moving forwards to carry more of a goal threat. Is it players, or formation?
Spanish soccer identity is just so wrapped up in possession of the ball. I’d start with the impossible idea of changing the philosophy of how the entire generation of players was brought up. It’s like they’re just trying to emulate the great team that won back-to-Back Euros and the World Cup. But that team had an all time great midfield with players who played for the same club and more or less grew up together, an all time great central defender pairing, and two of Spain’s best strikers. Not only that, but the game has changed. More and more chances come in transition and forcing turnovers than in methodical buildup play. In the old Furia Roja days the team was much more balanced and aggressive. Now they’ll have the ball most of the game, not create much, lose the game, and wonder why.
Another good example of the talent available to Spain. Morata is a very good player when he’s in form, probably the best that Spain has available, but he’s not in the Villa/Torres class and isn’t a great fit for how they play. But even looking at Villa and Torres during those glory years, neither was very effective for long stretches for Spain. If memory serves, there were games where neither started and Spain basically put 6 midfielders out there (I want to say Cesc essentially played a false 9). Counterpoint is that both Villa and Torres started in some of those World Cup games. Spain never really scored a boatload of goals even when they were the best and most feared team in the world. Now without that quality it’s going to be even harder.
Regarding Torres - I don’t think the national team ever had Torres at his peak (LFC) years (2007-2009) In fact, if memory serves his decline started with an injury on international duty?
If he played for one of the traditional big clubs he'd have gotten nothing at all, as the long history of similar incidents shows.
this is fucking crazy. Few Evertonians will have a bad word to say about Lampard personally. He seemed to really love and respect the club. But he is not a good manager. Seeing what Dyche has done with the same players, after a number of off-the-pitch morale-busters in the bargain - Lampard has no idea how to set up a club and have them play to a plan for 90 minutes.
I never saw this incident. How bad must it have been for Marco Silva to lose his shit like that? He is the most mild-mannered sideline boss that I can think of, in the PL or elsewhere.
The idea here is less about Lampard the manager and more about Lampard the guy who can play out the string without Chelsea fans yelling too loudly because he's Lampard.
Oh sure. I get it. But still.
View: https://twitter.com/MenInBlazers/status/1643970065572716544?s=20
If the continuity of stupidity continues to haul in trophies at the pace Chelsea has in the last 20 years, long may it continue.
