Other Sports: Soccer/Football Thread Part Six

[PDX Flyer]

Neymar going to Saudi.
Walcott retiring.
Barkley signing for Luton.

All in the space of a few days. Shows how talent is really only half the equation.

Neymar ofc has had an excellent career. But had the talent to be the true heir to Messi and Ronaldo... and his greed and to some degree selfishness seemingly got in the way. His peak was at age 22-23 in 2014-2016 and he has never really reached those heights again.

2x 3rd place in Ballon d'Or is a joke for someone of his talent. And quite frankly since ~2020 he has not really been a top ~20 player in the world and living sliiightly off reputation.

Walcott tbf I think the ACL rupture was the start of his, well, not really downfall, but stagnation. At age 21-24 in 2010-2013 he looked on the way to being truly world class. Never quiiiite the same after. But at same time always got the vibe that he was the kind of guy who football was not really his "life" and just something he was very good at.

Barkley is tbf just one of a long line of very talented English CMs who have not reached close to potential. Alli, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilshere... all peaked young and never reached level again. And like Wilshere (albeit not to same extent) from what I understand his love of partying and not really being a total professional is a big part of why he really has not been at the level he was in ~2013-16. Being involved in drunken antics ~5x in last 6 years and also apparently moving in same circles as Liverpool gang members is not smart.

I know Neymar is a talent but I always feel like he got overrated to pump up the World Cup when it was hosted in Brazil as a promotional piece. I never liked him so it could just be that too aha

 

[Striiker]

Did you paint your house yellow yet? All true fans of the yellow wall do.

I'll do it to celebrate them winning the league

 

[Appleyard]

I know Neymar is a talent but I always feel like he got overrated to pump up the World Cup when it was hosted in Brazil as a promotional piece. I never liked him so it could just be that too aha

I think from 2014-2018 he was legit a top 5 player on earth.

But yeh, I know what you mean...

Before him Brazil had really not had a top ~3-5 player on earth who was consistently at that level since maybe Kaka (2005-09) and their 2014 team was tbh pretty unexciting (tbf they have been, compared to their 1950s to 2000s level, pretty unexciting for 15 years now...) with Neymar ofc the young talent who stood out amongst a pretty mediocre midfield and forward group in terms of pure skill.

So ofc his face was pushed and it was kind of just accepted for a while that he was the guy after Ronaldo and Messi... when really he was in a group of players after those guys.

 

[trostol]

ugly..just saw that straight red on Mac..such a bad call

 

[PDX Flyer]

I think from 2014-2018 he was legit a top 5 player on earth.

But yeh, I know what you mean...

Before him Brazil had really not had a top ~3-5 player on earth who was consistently at that level since maybe Kaka (2005-09) and their 2014 team was tbh pretty unexciting (tbf they have been, compared to their 1950s to 2000s level, pretty unexciting for 15 years now...) with Neymar ofc the young talent who stood out amongst a pretty mediocre midfield and forward group in terms of pure skill.

So ofc his face was pushed and it was kind of just accepted for a while that he was the guy after Ronaldo and Messi... when really he was in a group of players after those guys.

Yeah I think that Barca team propped him up a bit. Yes he was a talent but that team was stacked and I believe advertising tried to put him in a tier above his weight class.

 

[PDX Flyer]

What’s up with Spurs fans throwing crap on the pitch the whole match?

 

[Appleyard]

What’s up with Spurs fans throwing crap on the pitch the whole match?

Have done quite a lot of that as a fanbase over the years.

They used to throw money at Northern teams fans when they visited White Hart Lane as we are all "poor" aha.

 

[BigToe]

Neymar going to Saudi.
Walcott retiring.
Barkley signing for Luton.

All in the space of a few days. Shows how talent is really only half the equation.

Neymar ofc has had an excellent career. But had the talent to be the true heir to Messi and Ronaldo... and his greed and to some degree selfishness seemingly got in the way. His peak was at age 22-23 in 2014-2016 and he has never really reached those heights again.

2x 3rd place in Ballon d'Or is a joke for someone of his talent. And quite frankly since ~2020 he has not really been a top ~20 player in the world and living sliiightly off reputation.

Walcott tbf I think the ACL rupture was the start of his, well, not really downfall, but stagnation. At age 21-24 in 2010-2013 he looked on the way to being truly world class. Never quiiiite the same after. But at same time always got the vibe that he was the kind of guy who football was not really his "life" and just something he was very good at.

Barkley is tbf just one of a long line of very talented English CMs who have not reached close to potential. Alli, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilshere... all peaked young and never reached level again. And like Wilshere (albeit not to same extent) from what I understand his love of partying and not really being a total professional is a big part of why he really has not been at the level he was in ~2013-16. Being involved in drunken antics ~5x in last 6 years and also apparently moving in same circles as Liverpool gang members is not smart.

Wish I was into the sport back then so I could've seen those prime Walcott/Wilshere years. Their highlights are partly why I became a fan of Arsenal.

 

[Appleyard]

This is pretty epic.

If I were Ziyech I would be pretty happy the Saudi deal fell through... Istanbul is fun with a capital F.

 

[PDX Flyer]

This is pretty epic.

If I were Ziyech I would be pretty happy the Saudi deal fell through... Istanbul is fun with a capital F.

And this is their type of tifo

galatasaray gates of hell - Google Search

www.google.com

 

[Appleyard]

And this is their type of tifo

galatasaray gates of hell - Google Search

www.google.com

I could genuinely live in Istanbul... really want to go back and also catch a game while there.

Was in Kadikoy when Fenerbahçe won vs Galatasaray last year and was very cool... fireworks all over the suburb (which is a city in itself, jeez Istanbul is enormous), people riding round standing on the roofs of cars... even some gunfire aha.

No idea how to describe that city, but just has everything really. Incredible food, great bars, amazing live music, two continents, a million things to do, a million places to go...

 

[TB87]

Messi is ridiculous:

 

[Halladay]

Szoboszlai is going to be the next great attacking player in the Premiere League. Jurgen is playing him more as a midfielder now but he is more of n attacker. Great signing.

Messi is ridiculous:

He is 36 years old doing this . Pretty wild that that World Cups Golden Ball winner is in the MLS less than 9 months after winning it.

 

[Starat327]

Not starting Lauren James in this game was a massive mistake.

 

[TCTC]

Wish I was into the sport back then so I could've seen those prime Walcott/Wilshere years. Their highlights are partly why I became a fan of Arsenal.

It's a shame that we never really saw prime Wilshere. Injuries ruined him.
His game against Barcelona from 2011 was one of the best midfield performances I can remember. He looked like prime Xavi. And he was only 19 years old.
I sometimes rewatch that game, it was that good.

Walcott was overrated at first and then he became underrated. People saw him as the weak link, but he always did his job. Until he lost his pace because of the knee injury. Wasn't the same player after that.

 

[Appleyard]

Not starting Lauren James in this game was a massive mistake.

Finishing cost them too.

It's a shame that we never really saw prime Wilshere. Injuries ruined him.
His game against Barcelona from 2011 was one of the best midfield performances I can remember. He looked like prime Xavi. And he was only 19 years old.
I sometimes rewatch that game, it was that good.

Walcott was overrated at first and then he became underrated. People saw him as the weak link, but he always did his job. Until he lost his pace because of the knee injury. Wasn't the same player after that.

Sadly Wilsheres decline was not just injuries.

Drinking and smoking regularly, not being in good shape until weeks into the season... and... well... other things too.

My old housemate (who had option to go pro at lower levels but chose education) grew up a few miles from him and was same age. So played vs him a few times and with him once for a regional select. Said he always had a horrific attitude... and his parents encouraged it... said one incident he saw was them basically screaming "do you know who I am" at restaurant staff when he was 14 or so because they wanted a table and place was full and they had not reserved aha.

 

[GKJ]

Not starting Lauren James in this game was a massive mistake.

I can see why they didn’t. But even when she entered the game, she didn’t do much. She did more. But not a lot more. England couldn’t get near the goal, couldn’t get the ball, didn’t threaten for most of the last 20 minutes or so until the last kick.

 

[TCTC]

Finishing cost them too.


Sadly Wilsheres decline was not just injuries.

Drinking and smoking regularly, not being in good shape until weeks into the season... and... well... other things too.

My old housemate (who had option to go pro at lower levels but chose education) grew up a few miles from him and was same age. So played vs him a few times and with him once for a regional select. Said he always had a horrific attitude... and his parents encouraged it... said one incident he saw was them basically screaming "do you know who I am" at restaurant staff when he was 14 or so because they wanted a table and place was full and they had not reserved aha.

I remember Wenger being not particularly happy about the press photos that showed Wilshere smoking. But I don't remember Wilshere known for a bad attitude while at Arsenal. Always seemed like professional and a likeable guy to me. Did some charity work too. He's a youth coach now for the team actually and he seems really invested which is nice to see.

 

[FatTugboatFlahr]

My buddy loves Chelsea so I'm watching. Their lineup blows in my uneducated opinion.

 

[Curufinwe]

Chelsea need to spend another billion

 

[TCTC]

Chelsea need to spend another billion

Caicedo with a disaster debut, Mudryk still looks like a headless chicken. This is absolutely amazing.

 

[Starat327]

Finishing cost them too.


Sadly Wilsheres decline was not just injuries.

Drinking and smoking regularly, not being in good shape until weeks into the season... and... well... other things too.

My old housemate (who had option to go pro at lower levels but chose education) grew up a few miles from him and was same age. So played vs him a few times and with him once for a regional select. Said he always had a horrific attitude... and his parents encouraged it... said one incident he saw was them basically screaming "do you know who I am" at restaurant staff when he was 14 or so because they wanted a table and place was full and they had not reserved aha.

For sure. Spain was (almost) always going to score. I think theyve been held goalless twice in 18 months or so. There's no reason to not start your most clinical player in thay scenario. Start off on the front foot and give yourself a chance instead of waiting to chase the game.

 

[trostol]

Chelsea need to spend another billion

they need to just steal whoever Pool are after

 

[Jack Straw]

As long as Poch is the manager I can’t really take any joy from Chelsea’s misfortune. I may even root for them a little. Not much, but a little.

 

[Starat327]

they need to just steal whoever Pool are after

Fun fact: Chelsea were linked with both players long before any reported Liverpool interest. But for the sake of the bants, I'll allow it.