219 Comments
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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Ian Darke with some great stuff: "Gareth Southgate, trying hard to look philosophical"

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Stones is the new De Ligt.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

FDJ's completed 92 passes -- no one else is above 74. He's also got five tackles -- tied for the most -- and three interceptions --second-most. Pirlo might be right ...

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JenkieDeFrong's avatar

His composure with the ball, always waiting for the very right moment to pass, is honestly Xavi level.

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UncleSnacky's avatar

But Barca will have him play the Cup/bench role because Busquets plays holding

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Comment deleted
Jun 6, 2019
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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

He's also so much more athletic than Xavi. The defensive part of his game might the most impressive part, too!

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Back in. De Ligt > Maldini.

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JenkieDeFrong's avatar

I like the de Ligt is trash take better. Hope Barca, Juve etc. only watched the first half.

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WilfredLaurence's avatar

The real question is De Roon > De Rossi?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Sancho just megged De Ligt. Ajax should pay someone to take him off their hands at this point.

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Nick Hammer's avatar

Ă–zil for De Ligt straight up, who says no?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Arsenal.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

NEED TO SUB IN TIM KRUL HERE!

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

De Ligt is washed. Out on him.

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JenkieDeFrong's avatar

True, should just stay with Ajax

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Nate's avatar

Looks like a perfect replacement for Alberto Moreno!

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

All right -- I gotta run (and finish writing tomorrow's newsletter). This was a lotta fun; love what I'm seeing in here. You guys are great. Prediction for the final: NED > POR, Memphis scores the winner.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Maguire, Walker, and Stones have all made mistakes that led to a shot. Not ideal when you're a defensive-oriented team.

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Ben Caruana Montaldo's avatar

Do you think it's got to do with the relatively long break since they last played?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

They're all pretty error-prone players. Probably a combo of the Dutch pressing high up (not common in int'l games) and randomness.

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Miguel's avatar

Erm, avant-garde?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

OK, I'm gonna keep talking about Memphis. Give me a guy who takes 7 shots and creates 4 chances but doesn't score over the guy who just never gets in those positions in the first place.

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El Pibe's avatar

We talking about Depay or Sterling?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Depay is the new Sterling.

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El Pibe's avatar

Ha, fair. Sterling had similar issues until this season.

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Matthew Meeks's avatar

This is not true. My understanding on Sterling, IIRC, is that he was largely finishing at his xG. He just went supernova this year.

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El Pibe's avatar

Thanks for the article! Taking away nothing away from him, he's amazing. He's definitely finishing his xG chances at a higher level than in the past. I remember his xG being slightly higher than his G for his first 2 seasons for Man City:

https://understat.com/player/618

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Memphis has more shots and more key passes (passes that lead to a shot) than anyone else on the field. He hasn't played "well", but also on another night he already has an assist and a goal.

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Miguel's avatar

Depay or Zaha? Both United flops...

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

VAR + VVD = undefeated

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Sam's avatar

Virgil Var Dijk

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

I love Van De Beek -- he's always a problem for the other team.

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JenkieDeFrong's avatar

He, Frenkie and Nouri formed the midfield for Ajax's 2nd team. Nouri was widely considered the best of the three. What could have been...

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

POLL: Would you rather have ...

A) De Ligt

OR

B) Messi

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duransound's avatar

C) Lucas Leiva

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Miguel's avatar

Messi never gets nutmegged. Half the Spurs side has megged de Ligt. In my eyes he's soiled goods.

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YerAJediFrodo's avatar

Part 1....

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Miguel's avatar

It's not official until James Milner does it. Then the world will end.

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YerAJediFrodo's avatar

Amen!

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

So, uh, England don't have a single shot from open play ...

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

POLL: Who would you rather have?

A) De Ligt

B) Mustafi

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

You guys did not disappoint me here.

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duransound's avatar

G) Å krtel

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Brody's avatar

C) Jones/Smalling

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Tomé Salgado's avatar

F) Squillaci

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Ryan's avatar

E) Richard Dunne

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Matt Gaydos's avatar

D) Klavan

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Miguel's avatar

Southgate packed in a lot of Churchill there. I could tell. Nice.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Will England make it beyond the semifinals ever again?

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El Pibe's avatar

Eventually. But the cup didn't come home last summer and will not be coming home this Sunday. It's like the cup is ok being "away from home"

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Miguel's avatar

If an asteroid strike hits the other team in the semi do you get a bye or replay?

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Viral's avatar

In the Nations League or World Cup?

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Ben Caruana Montaldo's avatar

They've got such a big football culture that eventually the stars will align for them

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Kane took two shots. Good for him.

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Sam's avatar

Loved the announcers praising his off-target, turnaround shot from 20 yards out.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

As soon as England start trying to attack again, the Netherlands create a great chance in the center of the box. Probably not a coincidence.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Sterling had eight touches in the first half. No other outfield player had fewer than 16. He's England's best player -- not ideal!

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Alberto's avatar

As a proud Colombian and Spurs fan, being able to hate-root against this england team with no spurs in the starting 11 is very tasty

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El Pibe's avatar

I'm with you on this one. Additionally, it's against the Netherlands which I've always been a fan of, so seeing England fail will be twice as sweet!

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Matt Gaydos's avatar

i’m a proud colombian who’s a liverpool fan so rooting for the dutch is easy LOL

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

You three should start a support group.

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Alberto's avatar

for our inevitable gut wrenching loss to brazil in the semifinals of the copa america? yes i agree

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El Pibe's avatar

At this point, I wont be surprised if we lose to Qatar in the group stage

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Matt Gaydos's avatar

Have faith Pibe. Queiroz is the man to lead us consistently to almost glory

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Jimmy's avatar

I'm a new soccer fan (started during last years World Cup) and I just finished reading your chat from yesterday (I have a lot of free time) can someone explain to me what Euros are? Are they every year? When is it?

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Matthew Meeks's avatar

European Championships. They play them every four years and they are the even years that don't have a world cup. Quality of play is better than the world cup. They're wonderful.

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Jimmy's avatar

Thank you! That sounds awesome!

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Lucas Read's avatar

welcome aboard!

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Anton's avatar

De Ligt = suddenly best player on the pitch. I guess his Monster energy drink kicked in.

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Nick Hammer's avatar

Ozil for De Ligt Straight up who says no?

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JenkieDeFrong's avatar

After years of players like Vlaar, Martins Indi & Bruma. We now have de Ligt en VVD as our Cv's. Got a starter from Internazionale on the bench.

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Ben Caruana Montaldo's avatar

Unfortunately it's offset by years of rvp, robben and sneijder replaced by Ryan babel

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JenkieDeFrong's avatar

Yes true :( We gotta forget about Cruijff, and hire Mourinho I guess

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

The Netherlands have 13 shots on target. England have 3. Also not ideal.

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YerAJediFrodo's avatar

Fewer shots, worse shot accuracy, less possession, worse pass accuracy...not a great showing.

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Miguel's avatar

Daryl Morey shouted SEE! when he saw that goal.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

What'd I'll say about that goal: There's a big downside to ceding so much possession even if you play well defensively. You're more likely to give up a free kick/corner, and well, sometimes those go in!

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Ton of slick possession for the Netherlands -- very little in the way of chances on goal or penetrative passing, though.

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Tomé Salgado's avatar

They need a constant presence in the box, someone who can draw the marking from Stones or MAGuire. Luuk De Jong perhaps?

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Miguel's avatar

The flirts.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

That long switch to the right wing is on for the Dutch. They just can't get the pass out there or can't get enough numbers over to that side of the field to create an overload when they do.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Over/under on shots for Harry Kane? 0.5?

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Miguel's avatar

Over. Always over.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Love that pen from Rashford. He normally just pummels the ball; mixed it up there.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

What is the deal with Harry Kane and Ben Chilwell? Their hair!

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

I just got home and missed the first 15 minutes. Anything interesting happen?

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Ryan's avatar

Eh not really apart from Depay messing up two touches in a row and a close sterling chance

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Nick Hammer's avatar

depay blowing chances :/

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Alex's avatar

Nope!

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Miguel's avatar

Hold on... Does Southgate have a waistcoat on under that jumper?

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Sven U.'s avatar

United will sign VAR for £125m.

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

He was their MVP this season!

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YerAJediFrodo's avatar

I'm still a bit shocked that the Nations League is...interesting.

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Miguel's avatar

Far better than the CL final. Maybe they just needed another week off!

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Miguel's avatar

Do you know that as a young player Van Dijk nearly killed himself by eating too much fast food? If you haven't already, break out the salads guys. Be all you can be!

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

I've been thinking about this recently, with all the talk of these young players potentially breaking into the LFC team. VVD wasn't really even good enough to play for Liverpool until he was 25!

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Miguel's avatar

Wasn't he cumitively at Celtic and Southampton for like 5 years? Surely some scouts committed hari-kari quantum leap in performance or not.

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JenkieDeFrong's avatar

Funny story, Frenkie and VVD both are from the Willem II youth academy, a bare average eredivisie team. And they both left cause they didn't get any play time

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Eric's avatar

No way Phil Jones gives up that pen there... aka rashford scores

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YerAJediFrodo's avatar

That'll do. Football ramble gonna be depressing tomorrow.

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Justin Koch's avatar

yea that was an OG

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Ryan's avatar

John Stones vs De Ligt

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UncleSnacky's avatar

Typical Memphis- it was harder to miss that sitter than score it

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Troy King's avatar

Not really related to the game, but is there any website to get xG and other data for free?

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Understat.com is xG info for the Top Five leagues. Whoscored.com has most other stats. Fbref.com is great for goals+assist numbers. And the Stats Zone and Total Football apps are both great. I can give you a code to download the TF app for free, if you'd like.

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Ryan's avatar

Do you still have one for TF?

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Troy King's avatar

That would be great! Thanks

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

email me and I'll get ya one

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YerAJediFrodo's avatar

Yes, please. If it is multi use or if you have multiple

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

shoot me an email if you want one. I have a couple.

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Matthew Meeks's avatar

Understat is good for xG tables and game xG. @Caley_graphics on twitter is good too for shot maps

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Miguel's avatar

Crikey. Had no idea Neymar's crocked again. The Champions league quarter final isn't for ages. He can't even time his injuries right anymore. #Decline

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Brody's avatar

England should pull up Foden over the course of the next year

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JenkieDeFrong's avatar

Why is Van Dijk being boo'ed?

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Tomé Salgado's avatar

TAA OVER WALKER!

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Miguel's avatar

Of course!

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Tomé Salgado's avatar

I can’t understand why he didn’t start. Even if it was because the CH Final just a few days go... Wijnaldum and Vin Dijk are playing

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Miguel's avatar

Southgate knows all!

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Miguel's avatar

Ronaldo's tournament to lose...

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Ryan O'Hanlon's avatar

Needs Eder.

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Miguel's avatar

Portuguese Origi...

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Filipe's avatar

If Eder and HiguaĂ­n had somehow swapped places, the idea that Messi-Ronaldo is a debate would look even more absurd than it already is.

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Tomé Salgado's avatar

We have JoĂ£o FĂ©lix

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