SEE YOU! A brand spanking new modern fitba thread 2023/2024

That's good analysis. I didn't look that far.

I might bear it in mind for an in-game bet.


Remember in two of three games Vs Liverpool Newcastle conceded 3 goals in the final 5 minutes and 2 of them in time-added-on.

 

All true, admittedly, but worth remembering PSG have sold Neymar and Messi, Dortmund are in a transitional phase with the departure of Bellingham, and Milan are decent but beatable. It's honestly not that far fetched that Newcastle finish top. One of those situations where a few years ago it's a very different story.

 

I think that PSG will be better this year with their departures, their problem of course is the relative weakness of the domestic league, Dortmund definitely weaker based on early Bundesliga form

 

I'd have had a lot more confidence before Sunday. That worries me. That exposed a big a mentality issue - finishing games off against the 'big' sides. It'll come over the next few years, and we absolutely have the side to do it, but I think that mentality issue is a big worry in that kind of group. In any event, none of the other sides in that group are delighted about it either, and I'd back us to beat anyone at our place. Even third in the group would do; there is no-one I'd fear in the UEFA Cup.

MTF

 

Oddly, we are an unbelievably fit side. Against decent sides, when the clock runs down, we run over them; see Villa a couple of weeks ago.

It's a mentally thing. 'Newcastle always lose a late goal to Liverpool ' - it's bollocks, but until we break that thread, it's on the mindset. Against those sides, it best come quick.

MTF

 

Rangers,Hearts,Hibs,Aberdeen all roundly thumped this week.

By Eindhoven, PAOK, Aston Villa and BK Hacken respectively.

7-3, 6-1, 8-0 and 5-3 on aggregate, respectively.

Bad shit.

 

Yeah but Vs Liverpool last weekend it wasn't a "late goal" it was two of them against 10 men....it was just two dopey mistakes really after some bad luck not going 2-0 up.

You should never have lost that game though.

In the old games you could always say "this might go either way" but surely not last weekend ....gotta see those out.

 

I didn't want to say anything but I felt Liverpool might get back into it this season. City simply CANNOT do it again at the same level and United/Chelsea imho are not finished outfits. Arsenal are having that "difficult 2nd season".

Getting rid of Henderson and Fabinho for good money is no tragedy. There have been some good signings in midfield and IF Nuñez and Gakpo can chip in goals, who knows.

I really think NUFC won't, as Stuart Pearce said, win the league.


It's gonna be interesting to see what happens though.

 

Spurs had it in that 1 season they had back in Europe. Getting pegged back in games Vs Juve for example.

 

Ansu Fati headed to Brighton on loan.

 

For some reason continuing to sell our best players season after season hasn't lead to success on the pitch. Maybe next year or the year after that.

 

Struggling to understand how Feyenoord are pot 1: they had a good europa run last season to the QF but that was the first time theyd even got out the group stage since 14/15.

Lazio have finished 3rd, 2nd & 3rd in the europa league their last three european campaigns- we won one of those groups, beating them home & away

Athletico are clear group favourites imo but they finished 4th in a group Brugge got out of last season

Whisper it but i feel like we might have a decent outside chance of getting third & getting a crack at the europa

 

Be Afraid

 

Liverpool reject $150m for Salah

 

I think Sheltic have a live chance of finishing third as well.

 

Yep. I mean they then try to keep the story with some "negotiations are ongoing" claim

 

You wonder if theyd made the bid a month ago. Nobody sells their best player on deadline day with no replacement in the door

 

Same. Going for Celtic to finish third and Newcastle to win their group. Rip me now, praise me later. The Slice is right.

 

They're strong but still can be beaten by anyone. Last season Everton barely escaped relegation but we beat Arsenal in Dyche's first game while they were top of the table and we were 19th. We beat the shit out of Brighton 5-1 while they were fighting for a European spot. And we drew with Liverpool, Chelsea & Newcastle.

 

Aaaaah this is too fucking good!!

Spain!! Of all places!!!

 

Put a bet on!!!

 

It's all Bollox, all of it, bunch of twats sat around chatting Bollox

 

Nat phillips in from Liverpool on loan to plug our CB injury crisis, Bernardo from Benfica who seems good and a winger from Greece- we'll see

Thats 5 consecutive windows been and gone saying 'really need a goaly & left back'

 

Phillips played as part of the LFC side which went on that mazy run from 8th and out to 3rd and in 2 seasons ago. Even scored Vs Burnley. Then he suddenly disappeared as soon as he came in. Klopp special.

If his 10 game cameo at Liverpool is anything to go by he'll be more than good enough for the likes of Motherwell etc.

 

He may need to hold fort against Athletico & co too but im pretty delighted by the move in the circumstances. He can ping a pass too which might make us a bit more threatening on counter attacks in europe. Big lump for set pieces too

Overall its not been a great window tho: cant believe we're going into this season with joe hart in goals again. Joe Hart another year older. These guys can nosedive quickly at that age too (as RFC found out emphatically with McGregor last year) so its a real element of unnecessary risk

 

Yeah I was surprised when I chewned for the Eindhoven game to see Buttland in goals for Rangers. McGregor must have fallen off altogether.

 

He was woeful last year: must've cost them 10 goals in the league alone, before you get to Europe.

For a team like celtic in europe its genuinely make or break- ALL the good results we've had post o'neil came with either Boruc or Forster between the sticks. You saw it with bruge last season- celtic had a better xg differential and were otherwise a superior team but they had the best performing goaly in the tournament in terms of post shot xg and we had the third worst. Absolute difference maker. There were long running rumours we were in for Livacokic the Croatia goaly, absolute star- he ended up in turkey for £6m. If that was because we cheaped out board members should be in court for gross negligence!

 

In all honesty i stlll think we'll finish last. Its the type of group we really should have a good chance in if we were a competently run club but the benchmark we hold ourselves to continues to be 'a wee bit less shite than That Lot', so we aren't

 

There's three clubs in Europe I can call myself fans of: Liverpool, Celtic, and Napoli.

LFC ain't in it, and Celtic has zero chance of pulling off the whole thing, so I'll be rooting for Napoli to win the CL.

 

Currently watching Southampton getting spanked by Sunderland.