The Open Game Discussion Thread

[Cabke]

This thread is meant to be the place to talk about any and all games going on around soccer. It's not specific to one league, and even though we do this quite a bit in the EPL thread, I know a lot of us watch games outside of the EPL. And with Bundesliga and La Liga starting this weekend, I figured there's no better time.





Anyways, I thought Atletico looked fantastic today during the Spanish Super Cup, and Real seemed to lack cohesion. Also, Ronaldo threw a punch in the dying seconds, so we'll see if anything comes from that.

[RoyceDa59]

Re: The Open Game Discussion Thread

Atletico still have there core squad so I expect them to make some noise in the La Liga and Champions League this season, they are a really tenacious team.

[TMuss]

Re: The Open Game Discussion Thread

If you missed the Malaga vs Athletic Bilbao game, catch a replay of the last 10 minutes.

Back to back straight reds for Malaga (both legit), a tying header goal by the Athletic keeper only to be waved off by the ref because " I do what I want", and to cap it off, a totally takedown of an Athletic player in the box by the Malaga keeper...and ignored by Ref Cartman. Malaga wins 1-0.

[XXstormmXX]

Re: The Open Game Discussion Thread

Seeing Real and Atletico play is interesting as I'm pretty much a casual fan of La Liga and I follow both teams.
I think even though Atletico won now, Real will walk the league now that Costa and Courtois are gone, and Koke might go.

Plus Barcelona is banned from transfers for awhile so they can't strengthen their squad.

[Cabke]

Re: The Open Game Discussion Thread

Seeing Real and Atletico play is interesting as I'm pretty much a casual fan of La Liga and I follow both teams.

I think even though Atletico won now, Real will walk the league now that Costa and Courtois are gone, and Koke might go.



Plus Barcelona is banned from transfers for awhile so they can't strengthen their squad.

Hahaha right. Madrid will be Madrid. Atletico is extremely strong. And Madrid has four or five guys who all have the same idea. That just doesn't work. They bought James, who is a more inexperienced, inferior, more expensive version of Angel Di Maria. And now Di Maria is leaving.

The transfer ban won't really affect Barca this year. They didn't shore up their back line as much as I wanted them to, and they need fullback depth, but their midfield is very strong and with Neymar, Messi, and Suarez up front, they have world class attacking. Not to mention, they have quite a bit of depth up front as well.

You're insane if you think Madrid is going to walk all over La Liga.

[cdawg44]

Re: The Open Game Discussion Thread

Hahaha right. Madrid will be Madrid. Atletico is extremely strong. And Madrid has four or five guys who all have the same idea. That just doesn't work. They bought James, who is a more inexperienced, inferior, more expensive version of Angel Di Maria. And now Di Maria is leaving.

The transfer ban won't really affect Barca this year. They didn't shore up their back line as much as I wanted them to, and they need fullback depth, but their midfield is very strong and with Neymar, Messi, and Suarez up front, they have world class attacking. Not to mention, they have quite a bit of depth up front as well.

You're insane if you think Madrid is going to walk all over La Liga.

Yeah no chance Real just runs away and wins the league by 15 points. Barca and Athleti are way too good for that. Plus selling Di Maria will be almost as bad as when they sold Makelele to Chelsea. The board may not rate him, but that guy is pure, pure class and is a glue guy who can do anything you want. The Kroos purchase was an awesome buy, but James for Di Maria who wants to do what Bale, Ronaldo do is gonna cause issues eventually.

[Cabke]

Re: The Open Game Discussion Thread

Yeah no chance Real just runs away and wins the league by 15 points. Barca and Athleti are way too good for that. Plus selling Di Maria will be almost as bad as when they sold Makelele to Chelsea. The board may not rate him, but that guy is pure, pure class and is a glue guy who can do anything you want. The Kroos purchase was an awesome buy, but James for Di Maria who wants to do what Bale, Ronaldo do is gonna cause issues eventually.

Man, I loved the Kroos purchase. I would have loved to see him in a Barcelona jersey. Now I have to hate him.

[RoyceDa59]

Re: The Open Game Discussion Thread

Yeah no chance Real just runs away and wins the league by 15 points. Barca and Athleti are way too good for that. Plus selling Di Maria will be almost as bad as when they sold Makelele to Chelsea. The board may not rate him, but that guy is pure, pure class and is a glue guy who can do anything you want. The Kroos purchase was an awesome buy, but James for Di Maria who wants to do what Bale, Ronaldo do is gonna cause issues eventually.

The James purchase was unnecessary but you know Real Madrid wanted to sell some Kits. I can't believe they would give up di Maria doesn't make sense.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: The Open Game Discussion Thread

If you have ESPN on 360, you should watch APOEL vs Aalborg, it was a pretty fun match.

[XXstormmXX]

Re: The Open Game Discussion Thread

The James purchase was unnecessary but you know Real Madrid wanted to sell some Kits. I can't believe they would give up di Maria doesn't make sense.

I don't think they want to give up Di Maria, it was his decision to leave.
But I do like the James signing because depth wins championships and now Real has two world class strikers in James and Benzema and when Benzema is up front James can play in the midfield.

[KG]

Re: The Open Game Discussion Thread

If you missed the Malaga vs Athletic Bilbao game, catch a replay of the last 10 minutes.



Back to back straight reds for Malaga (both legit), a tying header goal by the Athletic keeper only to be waved off by the ref because " I do what I want", and to cap it off, a totally takedown of an Athletic player in the box by the Malaga keeper...and ignored by Ref Cartman. Malaga wins 1-0.

That was an incredible screw job to Bilbao. It will be interesting to see how they respond mid-week vs Napoli in the 2nd leg of the CL qualifier.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dubcity]

Re: The Open Game Discussion Thread

Loving this new Barca style on attack. Looks like they've finally buried the ghost of Pep. Add Suarez and Neymar to this, and they're going to be as fun to watch as anyone.

[dubcity]

Re: The Open Game Discussion Thread

I don't even know what's going on with Real Madrid's formation... I swear I saw both Ronaldo and Bale running up the right side. Plus the midfield and defense just seems odd.

I guess this stuff won't matter when they're putting up 4 goals against lesser sides.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Open Game Discussion Thread

I watched that game after Liverpool was done. Missed about the first 20 mins, so missed the first At. Madrid goal. First half Real was finding loads of space. James is the real deal - he was pinging passes around and pulling the strings. Second half was a bit more cagey. But Atletico is such a great team, their game winner was a great piece of team play. No reason they can't repeat.

[dubcity]

Re: The Open Game Discussion Thread

Juventus minus Conte just isn't the same. He was an intimidating presence. I feel like AC Milan actually have a chance. Still no F Torres...