LEN Teh Footy God's Footballodium

[drone]

Well done to Ajax.

12 points after 5 games, and Arsenal still isn't into the knockout stage. Brutal group...

[drone]

Germany, Portugal, and Ghana. Lovely.

[Beefy187]

Group B,D and G looks very tough.

Can't wait

[edyzmedieval]

Suarez, Suarez, Suarez. Amazing player since his Ajax days, but this is taking it to a whole new level.

[naut]

Suarez, Suarez, Suarez. Amazing player since his Ajax days, but this is taking it to a whole new level.

Setting aside partisanship and his non-football related antics. He has three things he still needs to prove:

That he can step up in the big games. Scoring hat-tricks against the lesser lights (no offence West Brom, Norwich) is well and good. But, only three of his goals have been against teams in the top half (1 vs. Everton, 2 vs. a shambolic Spurs). For Liverpool to keep their current pace they're going to need him to get them past teams with bigger squads and more resources.

That he can improve his conversion rates. He has slightly improved since his Ajax days (9% goal conversion, 63 goals from 681 shots). Last season he went 23 goals from 187 shots (12.3% success) and completed 95 of 255 dribbles (37% success), with an additional 79 turnovers. For comparison RvP (his golden boot rival) was at 18.4% on shots and 62.5% on dribbles. And the best in the business, Messi was 28.2% for shots and 59.8% on dribbles.

Honestly, those totals are a little on the wasteful side (especially when you consider how talented he is with the ball). So taking a broader look at his other stats you find he concedes the ball to the opposition every 6m15sec (471 failed events [offsides, turnovers, fouls, etc.] vs. 2953 minutes). It is important to note that the criticality of turnovers is tempered by their location on the pitch. But, as a general rule, a turnover requires quick recovery and pressing to prevent it causing key passes and chances for the opposition. And where this is worrying for a team like Liverpool is that they do not possess a particularly mobile centre 3 (Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson/Allen), so turnovers put them under strain and pressure more than some other teams, both domestic and European.

When we take his KPIs it shows an undoubtedly great player. But considering how many chances he gets and his success rates it shows someone who, to use NBA terminology, is a bit of a chucker. And, with his level of talent, he has room to improve and to do so he must be a little more ruthless and clinical.

[CountArach]

I'm heading to Rome next month and I'll be there for 5 months. Does anyone who knows a thing or two about Serie A have any suggestions for good games to watch Roma play?

Also I'm trying to get tickets to see Swansea (my team) play away at Napoli in the Europa League. I don't like my odds but fingers crossed.

[naut]

I'm heading to Rome next month and I'll be there for 5 months. Does anyone who knows a thing or two about Serie A have any suggestions for good games to watch Roma play?

Also I'm trying to get tickets to see Swansea (my team) play away at Napoli in the Europa League. I don't like my odds but fingers crossed.

Unfortunately Roma has fallen away in the title race (they lost 3-0 to the leaders Juve a few weeks ago). But any of the following should be very good matches, as Roma has been excellent this season.

• Roma vs. Inter, March 2nd.
• Roma vs. Udinese, March 16th.
• Roma vs. Milan, April 27th.
• Roma vs. Juve, May 11th.

Avoid Lazio vs. Roma (Rome derby), Feb 9th. The other dangerous one would be Roma vs. Napoli (Derby del Sole/Umbrella derby), but that's already been played.

[Fisherking]

Try this or any other ticket outlet.

Napoli vs. Swansea Feb 20 UK

Napoli vs. Swansea Feb 27 Napoli 19:00

http://www.easysportstickets.com/spo...FcNF3godmz4A4Q

[CountArach]

Thanks guys. I have a friend who went to a Roma - Lazio game and yes it gets pretty wild from what he was saying.

[Sarmatian]

Euro 2016 qualifying groups:

Group A: Netherlands, Czech Republic, Turkey, Latvia, Iceland, Kazakhstan.

Group B: Bosnia-Hercegovina, Belgium, Israel, Wales, Cyprus, Andorra.

Group C: Spain, Ukraine, Slovakia, Belarus, FYR Macedonia, Luxembourg.

Group D: Germany, Republic of Ireland, Poland, Scotland, Georgia, Gibraltar.

Group E: England, Switzerland, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania, San Marino.

Group F: Greece, Hungary, Romania, Finland, Northern Ireland, Faroe Islands.

Group G: Russia, Sweden, Austria, Montenegro, Moldova, Liechtenstein.

Group H: Italy, Croatia, Norway, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Malta.

Group I: Portugal, Denmark, Serbia, Armenia, Albania.


Comments?

My predictions:
A: Netherlands, Czechs/Turkey
B: Bosnia, Belgium
C: Spain, Slovakia/Ukraine
D: Germany, Poland
E: England, Switzerland
F: No idea, not a single serious side in the group
G: Russia, Sweden
H: Italy, Croatia
I: Portugal, Serbia/Denmark

[Fisherking]

F. Greece, Finland, I’m thinking.

[naut]

For B if Bale and Ramsey are both fit Wales could make it at the expense of Bosnia. Otherwise, I'd say you're spot on.

[Sarmatian]

For B if Bale and Ramsey are both fit Wales could make it at the expense of Bosnia. Otherwise, I'd say you're spot on.

I don't know. I've seen their 6:1 trashing by a rather mediocre Serbia side. Bale was fantastic, every time he touched the ball you could see he was class, but even couldn't help his teammates who looked like a bunch of amateurs.

Even with him and Ramsey at their best, I don't see them coming ahead of Bosnia. They don't have a player of Bale's, and maybe even Ramsey's, quality, but besides that, they're much stronger in all positions.

[edyzmedieval]

In other news, Zlatan Ibrahimovic ages like fine wine and scores week in, week out.

[Sarmatian]

Fair play at it's finest

[drone]

I am thoroughly enjoying Rosicky's twilight years.

[edyzmedieval]

That goal was stunning.

[drone]

Champions League Draw is out:
Barcelona v Atletico Madrid
Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund
Paris Saint-Germain v Chelsea
Manchester United v Bayern Munich

Thanks for playing ManU. The others should be pretty interesting.

[Sarmatian]

So, Real and PSG are basically through to the semis.

Man Utd are not without their chances, but, I don't think they can do much more except offer spirited resistance at Alianz Arena.

Atletico have had a great game, and they may have chance for an upset.


So, it's Real, PSG, Bayern and Barcelona, even though I hope for Atletico to make an upset. Barca's getting boring.

[drone]

Someone leaked ManU's '13-14 season in perspective video.


Wonder who will replace Møyes...

[edyzmedieval]

Ajax Amsterdam champions of the Neterlands once more.

And Real Madrid... wow.

[drone]

And Real Madrid... wow.

It's an all-Madrid final. Short drive for the fans at least!

[naut]

It's an all-Madrid final.

John Terry crying was a treat.

[drone]

John Terry crying was a treat.

Indeed, it made today's Arseblog.

[drone]

Props to Sunderland. Avoided the drop with 13 points out of 5 games, and made the title race interesting in the process.

[The Stranger]

barcelona for la liga! if they win 2 more games they are champions XD

[naut]

barcelona for la liga! if they win 2 more games they are champions XD

Pfft. Atletico all the way! ;)

[Moros]

Are we gonna do a WC promo thread again? Possibly even a separate discussion thread?

[Sarmatian]

Pfft. Atletico all the way! ;)

Couldn't agree more.

I love an underdog and I'm starting to hate with a passion big clubs that operate in a totally different financial reality - Barca, Real, Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Bayern, PSG...

Please, gods of football, you've let down last year when Dortmund lost in the final. Help Atletico this year to win CL and La Liga.

[drone]

Be nice if Atletico pulls it off, but none of the top three seems to want it. A final game title decider is always fun though.