Football - 2017/18 season

Which teams are looking good this year?

Apparently* City have spent more on their defence this year (160m quid) than about 50 countries have.


https://inews.co.uk/essentials/sport/football/manchester-city-defence-spending-countries/

Well, "defence" is a loosely defined term... attacking full-backs and ball-playing keepers. Still don't see them being solid at the back, but will be exciting to watch.

United need Lukaku to hit the ground running and to find a few more goals from other positions. Chelsea have had something of a turbulent summer, and both they and Arsenal also have a new number 9 that they will instantly need to rely on.

Spurs, no new signings and the Wembley issue, it could unravel for them, but then again, on field stability could pay off. Liverpool haven't done that much business either, unlike their up and coming neighbours...

So, anyone's guess really. Maybe someone will leap from the pack, Leicester style...

If soccer only went for 80 minuted then Swansea would have been happy with that game

Arsenal with their customary defeat at Stoke... when are they going to put Punxsutawney Phil on their club badge?

FFS!! Time to burn Wenger at the stake.

skully wrote:FFS!! Time to burn Wenger at the stake.

A bit extreme perhaps, we're not in Westeros... or Washington

beamer wrote:

skully wrote:FFS!! Time to burn Wenger at the stake.

A bit extreme perhaps, we're not in Westeros... or Washington

It's getting closer.

Australia - the laughing stock of the football world.

They were expected to defeat Thailand by about 4 goals tonight but at the 68 minute mark, it is still nil all. Admittedly, they have hit the woodwork three times.

Oops. Apologies. They have just scored.

Well done, W. Bag 'em again - they might get the other goal they need.

LOL - Thailand score. 1-1.

Shame there's not a penalty shoot-out, I suspect we could lose that 5-0.

Aus win 2-1, so the Saudis have to beat Japan at home to qualify.

Aus had 39 shots on goal and could only convert 2.

lol @ soccer .... what a shyte game

Saudis beat the Japs 1-0 overnight, farking Aus up the arse.

Yep on to play Syria in home/away qualifier , then to play at this stage Honduras (but could easily be the USA)

I flicked over during the 1st half then watched the 2nd half after play ended in the cricket. As usual our touch and control was poor and finishing woeful.

Even if we make it through the above qualifying, we'll lose our pool games 3-0 or worse, so why bother.

Our international competitiveness has declined markedly since the World Cup in Germany when we won one and drew one.

Agree Skully. 

Personally I don't mind watching a bit of soccer but this generally involves watching a bit of EPL or Liga. 

Other than 2006, I've found Oz soccer unwatchable. I have 0 investment in it.

Apparently he was building the team to be competitive at the wc. Oooops.

You think you have problems. SA managed to lose to the might of Cape Verde twice in the last week.

never get emotionally invested in the Socceroos. Let you down every time.

Too true that, Nath. I have early memories of the 1974 World Cup that we qualified for. We lost our 2 and drew one but didn't score a goal (and barely looked like it).

Since then it's been very disappointing every 4 years, except for the very good performance in 2006.

Nath wrote:never get emotionally invested in the Socceroos.  Let you down every time.

I am mystified why anyone would. The local comp is very poor and as a national game it ranks behind cricket, AFL, NRL, Rugger, basketball and teasing Skully.

Sorry h. Rugger is way way behind soccer. The state of Aus Rugby is deeply embarrassing

well yes...however at various times we have been good at rugger, we have never been good at nor been serious about soccer.