Kaizero

14 hours ago, FloydianMag said:

I was thinking about all the players who BHA have sold on for significant amounts I struggle to think of one who has been an outstanding success at their new clubs, White, Bissouma, Maupay etc etc. Interesting to see if Caicedo is a success if sold or if Mac Allister does it at Liverpool.

 

It's a fascinating concept to think about, is it the team as a whole that makes the players shine or are they individually brilliant and able to bring that brilliance with them to a different team? I feel Brighton are an English version of Bodø/Glimt in that the general tactics of the team set-up makes the end result better than each individual part.

When Bodø/Glimt were pulling up trees in Europe I was making the argument to a shitload of people that the players weren't all that, it was the manager and his vision, tactics and overall long-term planning for how the team should set up and how they should play. At the time my baseline was the performance of players at the club vs. playing for Norway. At the club they looked like worldbeaters, but put them in the national side and they looked like sunday league players (exaggerating to make a better example). 

The team was set up to play a certain style all the time and it was coached at all levels within the club, from the academy to the first team. If Player X got the ball in Position Y, then Player Z would know that they had to be at Position Ø because that's where Player X would pass the ball. When they played Rome they were without their supposed three "best" players, and sure, there are of course some differences between the abilities of their starters vs. their backups - such as the backup left back being less pacy than the first choice left back. However, when the game was played, you'd not be able to tell it was the backups playing instead of the starters as there were no more misplaced passes or mistimed runs than in your average Bodø/Glimt match. The players knew what they had to do and when to do it, which in turn made the team nigh  unbeatable for two and a half years until clubs started figuring out how to counter their style and tactics with success. That led to a "poor" last season (by their new standards), but this season they have altered parts of their game plan and now they are running rampant in the league again.

 

Now, with that success and the  "key" players being young, they all got snatched up by clubs in bigger leagues. They all failed and came crawling back to Bodø/Glimt where they now are shining again and attracting new interest... ??‍♂️

23 minutes ago, Disco said:

Correct. 
 

Molde any good @Kaizero?

Would dare say they are better than Häcken, but not by much. Well organised and players who’ve played together a long time.

 

That said, as mentioned, their head coach is Magne Hoseth and the assistant coach is Daniel Berg Hestad. Hoseth has 284 league apps for Molde, Hestad 512 (only played for one other club in his career, Heerenveen for one and a half season).

 

Forren, who Molde sacked instead of helping with his addiction after it was discovered he’d taken money from the «player’s sin bin fund» to pay off creditors - to rightful massive critique from everyone in football and everywhere else - got 293 league apps.

 

If faith has a script ready that script will be Forren sending Molde out of the qualifiers in the last second.

Might have to go to Klaksvik and catch a European group game.

Am I right in thinking Klaksvik will be secured playikg in the ECL Group Stage if they advance through pels?

14 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

Rooting for the Faroese Klaksvik away at Hacken. Will meet HJK or Molde if they can sneak through; currently heading for extra time. 

 

Molde went through, which makes it even more appealing to get Klaksvik through as their manager is a club legend and their captain is a player they sacked because he admitted to having a gambling addiction  It would be tasty as fuck.

Klaksvik holding on, 2-2 with 15 mins to go. 

On 24/07/2023 at 17:50, Optimistic Nut said:

What are Rosenborg like these days? Hearts have them in a Europa League Qualifier. 

They were ran straight into the ground by incompetent leadership. Then they sacked the board and appointed an even more incompetent board, hired a manager that was the anthesis of what had been their «style» of football for over three decades and kept bringing back players 33+ years of age because they had been great for them

when they were in their early twenties before they got sold. Now they’re managed by a guy who’s only known for relegating teams and can’t put a penny together between them.
 

It’s like watching a car crash in slow motion.

2 hours ago, madras said:

Nah. Years ago I asked Kaizero for a run down on the Elitisarien. He tipped Stabaek to do well..... they won it. I vaguely remember them being a goal down to Rosenborg and backing them to win and they win 2-1 on their way to the title. They were a big winner for me that season. 

 

 

Edit......15yrs ago FFS. Can you remember this @Kaizero ?

 

 

 

I actually remember, jesus fuck time goes by fast ? I used to do betting tips for the Norwegian leagues during the off-season in the betting thread, feels like yesterday but it must be at least 10 years or so since I stopped doing them? ?

21 hours ago, nemtizz said:

Fair enough he's not Italian but swapping Milan for Manchester is insane.

 

Milan is an absolutely filthy shithole. Hated every minute living there.

6 hours ago, Unbelievable said:

100% this. It may have started as a business endeavour for PIF, but their chairman visibly and evidently fell in love with the club and the stadium the first time he stepped foot in Saint James’ and  he still has that sparkle in his eye.

 

Absolutely loved the response to that first question if they expected CL and a cup final in their first full season. These are not here to make up the numbers or accept anything but supremacy. They will invest in top class infrastructure, grow revenue year on year and then reinvest every single penny they can into the squad.

 

They’re basically the polar opposite of what Ashley was. I still need to pinch myself from time to time to ensure it’s real and I’ve not made it up as some coping mechanism to deal with the neglect.

 

I have it on good second-degree ITK basis that a major reason for PIFs prolonged interest when it looked tough to push through was down to the fact Al-Rumayyan has always been a NUFC supporter for some unknown goddamn self-torturing reason like the rest of us previously miserable fucks.

 

Info was given me by the producer on the series I'm working on, he and his wife (film director) wrapped a feature they shot in Riyadh and the desert - fully funded by the PIF - and my friend brought up Newcastle when they had a production dinner with Al-Rumayyan after wrapping where that was supposedly said.

 

To me it makes sense, as we're not the only club in the world and they have unlimited money after all  

1 hour ago, ponsaelius said:

Nobody of the star of Haaland/Odegaard but surely better 1-11 and 12-23. That team in the 90s had loads of PL players at big clubs.

 

 

 

 

Norway WC 1998:

Premier League: 11 players

Bundesliga: 2 players

La Liga: 1 Player

Austrian Bundesliga: 1 Player

Greek PL: 1 Player

Danish PL: 1 Player

Norwegian PL: 5 players (4 at Rosenborg, who were doing well in the CL those days)

 

Norway EC 2000:

Premier League: 9 Players

La Liga: 2 Players

Ligue 1: 1 Player

Scottish PL: 1 Player

Greek PL: 1 Player

Danish PL: 1 Player

Norwegian PL: 7 Players (5 at Rosenborg, still doing well in the CL those days)

 

Norway June 2023:

Premier League: 3 Players

Championship: 1 Player

Bundesliga: 3 Players

2. Bundesliga: 1 Player

Serie A: 3 Players

La Liga: 2 Players

Ligue 1: 2 Players

Belgian PL: 1 Player

Polish PL: 1 Player

Norwegian PL: 6 Players

 

-----

 

All in all we clearly had "better" overall squad back then as most of our players were 1st eleven choices at their clubs in the big leagues, as well as Rosenborg being competitive in Europe.

 

5 minutes ago, Conjo said:

Gonna be fun to see Solbakken whimp his way through an unsuccessful WC qualification too with possibly the best generation of footballers Norway will ever have. 

What's the best course of action when dominating a match and having a 1-0 lead?

 

Obviously subbing out your best player and going all out defense to invite the opponent to attack you.

 

Jesus tittyfucking christ Solbakken is the absolute worst  

45 minutes ago, maze said:

Not Ranheim?

 

He's already at Ranheim.

41 year old Morten Gamst Pedersen off to Wrexham apparently.

I'm not sure if I am to take it as an absolute jinx or as a compliment from the Norwegian pundits who are absolutely ignoring us and just saying "Liverpool have with a fantastic run of form closed the gap on Manchester United as the two duke it out for the fourth and final Champions League spot" 

 

 

10 minutes ago, ohmelads said:

 

Nowt wrong with anything you've said except the last line which is an exaggeration. If Liverpool win their games, WDDL in our last 4 would see them above us.

 

 

WDLL or WDDL is the same end result with regards to that, they'd have to win all three remaining games to overtake us. The point was that "only" WDLL would see them having to win all remaining three games to overtake us as our GD is superior. If we take 4 out of 12 remaining points (or 5 out of 12 remaining points as you say), they'd have to take 9 out of 9 points to overtake us. Meaning if they don't do that and take 7 out of 9 points for instance, if we take 4 out of 12 they'd be on equal points with us and we'd go to the CL on GD. If they were to win all their remaining three fixtures it wouldn't matter if we took 4 or 5 out of 12 points as then they'd have overtaken us anyhow, hence why I used 4 out of 12 points as the example of how "little" would be needed on our end to make them have to win all three of their fixtures.

It'd take a complete meltdown from players and staff to lose out on a top four spot now. Even if we end up having a complete meltdown and in fact lose all four remaining matches, even then what we already have might end up being enough depending on if the teams chasing us manage to get enough points to catch up. Brighton would have to essentially win all remaining five matches, Liverpool need 4 points from 9 possible to overtake us. If we win 1 out of 4 remaining matches, Liverpool then need 7 out of 9 possible points to overtake us. If we take 4 out of 12 remaining points, Liverpool need to win all three of their remaining matches to overtake us and Man Utd would need to get 7 points from 12 remaining to overtake us. As things stand, Brighton needs 11 out of 15 points to overtake us - and that is if we lose all four remaining matches. If we get only 4 points out of 12 remaining, they can't catch us.

 

It's almost impossible for us to screw up at this stage. 

 

 

5 minutes ago, Decky said:

 

We haven't reached the line for EL or ECL on that but haven't we already qualified for the ECL at least? We can't finish lower than 7th which is a ECL spot because of the FA Cup final. 

 

Is it due to the possibility of West Ham winning the EC, which then qualifies them for the EL - would that in turn remove an EL spot from the league and move the ECL spot up to 6th? Or does an English club winning the ECL (whilst not qualifying for Europe through the league) add another spot to the PL for European Competitions, meaning eight teams qualify for Europe?

Union 5 points off 1st with 5 matches to go. Dare to dream?

8 hours ago, sushimonster85 said:

Often mess about with this PL predictor - https://www.worldfootball.net/table_calculator/eng-premier-league/ 

 

Just tried a realistically pessimistic run through. 'Realistically pessimistic' as in not losing every game, but drawing the Everton, Brighton, & Leeds games, getting beat by Arsenal & Chelsea. On that run through I had us missing out on top 4 by 3 points to Liverpool. who I think may actually be our biggest threat. This relies on us dropping off, and Liverpool finding their form from last season at just the right time and beasting the remaining games of the season. Think it's way more likely we beat either/both Everton and Leeds, and get something from Arsenal and Chelsea and comfortably make the top 4. But it's not full on done yet. 

 

 

14 minutes ago, gbandit said:

Her dad has responded on Twitter to Piers Morgan to say she had a great day and that time was limited for meeting with the players so I’m not sure she had that much more interaction with them than what was included in the video and the walk-on with Odegaard. If she had a good time that’s the most important thing but it doesn’t mean that the players aren’t freaks 

The woman Ødegaard is semi-seeing is in my agency. The girl, according to her, had a 5-ish minute a kickabout with Ødegaard and some other players during the warm-up. She got his match-shirt and captain's armband, pictures taken with him and other players and got to ask them questions in the locker room after they'd all signed the shirt. 

That said, on other days mascots get a stadium tour with players, a history lesson given by players, they get to hold trophies up with players and have their picture taken and more stuff of that nature. So in that sense, she could've had a better day. Not that I think the girl is complaining because the players rushed into the locker room, knowing she was about to speak to the lot seconds after.

 

People just want to be offended, that's the takeaway. Parents will no doubt milk this as well. 
 

The choice of video, given all that apparently took place, is abhorrent and inexcusable though  

8 minutes ago, NE27 said:

 

Tbf I've covered both scenarios in my post because I'd agree.

 

Arsenal's media team have fudged it if they think that's a heart warming fan engagement post. 

 

But the over reaction isn't surprising mind, you'd think each player had farted in her face the way some people go on.

 

Also, whilst I get the repetitiveness of the job for them, it's ultimately a small part of their day to engage with fans etc. But for that fan it could be her entire day/week/memory for life. Now get back on that pedestal professional footballers and dance for us! 

 

 

Seems to be OTT by a mile, checked out on Arsenal's website what a day looks like for an official mascot. Mascots walk out with the players, join them on the pitch for the warm up, picture/question opportunities with some requested players and more  

 

Arsenal media team just decided that posting the worst looking part of that girl's dream day was the one to go with 

23 minutes ago, NE27 said:

 

Stacking shelves against being a professional footballer in the biggest league in the world though, little Harry fresh from school stacking the shelves at Asda isn't an inspiration to kids strangely 

 

I know this arguement comes up when a player gets caught doing something wrong in the press, about they're just human and it's unfair to hold them up on this pedestal, but to kids, these people are damn nearly super heroes!

 

Think some of the reaction is ott, but it isn't the nice sincere fan engagement arsenal's media team have thought when posting it!

 

I remember when I was a ballboy for nufc back in early 2000's and we were given a little tray of sandwiches at half time in the corridors and Bobby Robson came past and snaffled a sandwich and gave us all a cheeky wink like a naughty granda. That moment stuck with me because it was almost endearing that someone like him was actually a normal bloke like your actual grandad/uncle or something.

 

I know I've went off on a tangent, but I do feel they could've gave the lass a smile/high five/ruffle of the hair, them 'nornal' moments really do stick with kids.

I'm not comparing the status of the jobs or how well they pay, I'm comparing the repetitiveness and mundaneness of it for the ones involved. For them this is just a part of their job that the do multiple times per day, every day, for 15+ years. 
 

However, if this is from when they arrive - meaning this is their first official part of work on the day - I'd agree they could be more amped up. That said, if it's at the end of the day or after a match is complete, I'd make the complaint that Arsenal are bad at scheduling things like this rather than diss the players.

6 hours ago, Superior Acuña said:

Doesn't look good, but maybe a bit of an over-reaction if this was one small part of quite a lot of interaction if she was mascot?

 

But yeah - Pav smiled at me as he got in his car once after a match (3-1 defeat to smoggies in the Coca Cola Cup) when I was 7 and here I am still remembering it 27 years later.

 

People seem to be thinking that they don't sign tons of shirts and see tons of people on any given day. Yeah, she's a young kid, so obviously be nicer than to some random 50 year old autograph collector. Doesn't change the fact they'll likely be dead tired of doing things like that and just wanting to get on with their day, for them it's just as mundane and repetitive a thing to do as stacking shelves with Dolmio sauces is for a Lidl employee - yet those employees are expected to smile at all customers as well. 

 

As long as they're not actively rude or dismissive towards anyone I feel people are overreacting. The girl got her shirt signed, she got to get up close and personal with her heroes - let's talk shit about them for not being super happy and smiling when doing one of the most boring and repetitive tasks in their profession   

1 hour ago, magvicar said:

It's pretty simple.

VAR is absolutely not the issue. It's a fantastic leveler.

The issue is in having officials being inept at using it or basically cheating certain   teams out of decisions of which there has been far too man y but the straw that should break the camels back should be the Tottenham v Brighton game. That was blatant VAR official bias and there's absolutely no excuse to be given.

 

Two things need to be done for next season.

1. Demote or sack officials who blatantly call clear decisions wrong.

 

2. Make sure the grey areas of some rules are made more clear, especially the offside rule of toe margins and so on and handball rule being made to be hand/ lower arm to ball and not ball to hand/ lower arm.

 

 

If you saw my post re: first matches using VAR in Norway, I just saw a comment from another of the ref's involved in one of the matches using VAR, and... wow

 

"I called it the second I saw the first replay. That wasn't anymore clear and obvious on video than it was to me on the pitch. I'm not gonna disrupt play watching it over and over for five minutes only to get insecure and end up taking a guess. It was clear to me that the on field decison I made should  stand."

 

An actual beautiful application of the rules and beautiful application of VAR at the same time? What even is this?