The Soccer Thread (Version 15) — I Got 115 Problems But a Pep Ain’t One

[TrooperBari]

It's a fair ask. Talented as this bunch is, there's not much dog in them. Would the team that won La Guerra Fria lay down like this? The Snow Clasico team? John O'Brien had fiberglass hamstrings like Gio Reyna, but you knew damn well he wanted to be there and win.

There's still time to sort things out, and I'd rather have the task of getting talented players to care than making passionate players outperform their skill level repeatedly, but any expectations of this team beyond getting out of their group feel wildly optimistic.

 

[Twirling Time]

I've always had a theory that every English Football League team has a ceiling. Due to market size/fan base, financial resources, facilities etc. We'll find out soon what Wrexham's ceiling is.

(And yes, I am aware that Wrexham is in Wales…. They compete in the EFL.)

 

[Cosmo]

The deeper and deeper I've gotten into my Watford fandom, it's amazing we were ever in the Premier League at all. The Pozzos care way more about their Serie A toy Udinese and gives Watford some scraps every once in a while. I don't hate the Championship. The games are fun. We're not bad enough to sniff League One relegation but just don't have the money or players to truly threaten promotion. There is some rumbling that the Pozzos are trying to get out, which would be great. Every good player we've had over the last five years (Sarr, Cucho Hernandez, Joao Pedro) were simply sold to the highest bidder. They're giving Cleverley some leash, which is good, because he has a very weak and thin squad right now. So to your point, Twirling, Watford's ceiling is probably sniffing around the promotion playoffs until the Pozzos sell.

 

[Webster]

Just an amazingly stupid play by Donnarumma yesterday.

 

[micropolitan guy]

Looks as if Birmingham City is going to win League 1 and be promoted to the Championship. Wrexham in second, six points clear of third, also in line for promotion if they can hang on.

 

[Twirling Time]

I just couldn't watch the Manc derby yesterday. A total snoozefest. They battled to donuts at Old Trafford and nice work for MU to snake a point, but it's too little too late. Time for the Red Devils to tear it down to the studs. They're the epitome of a mid-table side at this point.

 

[Webster]

I just couldn't watch the Manc derby yesterday. A total snoozefest. They battled to donuts at Old Trafford and nice work for MU to snake a point, but it's too little too late. Time for the Red Devils to tear it down to the studs. They're the epitome of a mid-table side at this point.

I have no idea what "tear it down to the studs" means.

 

[Cosmo]

For those with an Athletic sub, this is a really cool story, about a guy who boarded the wrong boat on the Thames and ended up being on a Southend United party boat. Now he's a fan for life.

Southend United story

 

[Inky_Wretch]

I have no idea what "tear it down to the studs" means.

It's a remodeling term where you remove everything from a room down to the 2x4 studs that are holding up the ceiling.

Though, in this case, it might mean removing everything from the team down to the cleats.

 

[Webster]

It's a remodeling term where you remove everything from a room down to the 2x4 studs that are holding up the ceiling.

Though, in this case, it might mean removing everything from the team down to the cleats.

I understand what the phrase means, just not how you would do this in this context.

In the past year, United have changed operational ownership, the head coach, the playing system and the heads of most departments. They are building a new stadium. They have loaned out the expensive malcontents (Sancho and Rashford) and under performers (Antony). They are letting go of older players who can't cope physically (Eriksen and Lindelof) and have brought in bright young players (Dorgu, Ugarte, Obi and Heaven). The results haven't been there on the field, in part because of players who would be starters are out injury (Mount, Shaw, Martinez, Mainoo and Amad) and in part because they've got no one who can play at the 9.

I'm not sure what else can be done, especially given limitations due to FFP and PSR.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

I understand what the phrase means, just not how you would do this in this context.

In the past year, United have changed operational ownership, the head coach, the playing system and the heads of most departments. They are building a new stadium. They have loaned out the expensive malcontents (Sancho and Rashford) and under performers (Antony). They are letting go of older players who can't cope physically (Eriksen and Lindelof) and have brought in bright young players (Dorgu, Ugarte, Obi and Heaven). The results haven't been there on the field, in part because of players who would be starters are out injury (Mount, Shaw, Martinez, Mainoo and Amad) and in part because they've got no one who can play at the 9.

I'm not sure what else can be done, especially given limitations due to FFP and PSR.

Sorry, I took "I have no idea what 'tear it down to the studs' means" literally. My bad. I condemn myself.

 

[Webster]

Sorry, I took "I have no idea what 'tear it down to the studs' means" literally. My bad. I condemn myself.

After today's performance, I am happy to tear the GK down to the studs!