Blog – Page 6 – Football Scout

VAR shortcomings laid bare in Tottenham’s defeat. PLUS: Another wasted year for Man United?

So, how are people feeling about VAR? Also, Liverpool keep winning, Tottenham look exhausted and Man City showed less than zero mercy in their first league game since defeat at Norwich. Buckle up: it’s Nick Miller’s Weekend Review.

Pressure grows on Tottenham, while Abraham faces his biggest test yet

All you need to know about this weekend’s Premier League action, all in one place.
Jump to: Is Tammy the real deal? | Winless Watford face wounded City | Tune in to the battle of the south | The Premier League team that needs some luck | Why everyone needs to avoid Harry Kane | Good old reliable Burnley | The man with the most thankless task in football |  Best stats of the weekend | –> ESPN’s fearless predictions
THE WEEKEND’S BIG QUESTIONS
Are the Tottenham players listening to…

Portland’s home form could see them miss playoffs as in-form Minnesota comes to town

After Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s declaration that he’s the top player MLS has ever seen, Shaka Hislop shares his top five Designated Players of all time.

The Portland Timbers will try to get their house — and home form — in order before the playoffs slip away, while Josef Martinez aims to score for a 16th straight game and lead Atlanta to three more points in the chase for first in the East. Another big clash in the East featuring geographic rivals fighting for playoff positioning and that all-important home field advantage highlights the weekend in Major League Soccer.

Here are the big storylines heading into the MLS weekend.

Portland’s on…

Home struggles could see Portland miss playoffs as in-form Minnesota comes to town

After Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s declaration that he’s the top player MLS has ever seen, Shaka Hislop shares his top five Designated Players of all time.

The Portland Timbers will try to get their house — and home form — in order before the playoffs slip away, while Josef Martinez aims to score for a 16th straight game and lead Atlanta to three more points in the chase for first in the East. Another big clash in the East featuring geographic rivals fighting for playoff positioning and that all-important home-field advantage highlights the weekend in Major League Soccer.

Here are the big storylines heading into the MLS weekend.

Portland on…

Valencia are in chaos, again, following Marcelino sacking. Will victory at Chelsea be a turning point?

“If the ball goes in, everything will change,” said Valencia president Anil Murthy.

It was 8:45 p.m. on Tuesday night and just under two hours later, the ball did go in. With 17 minutes left at Stamford Bridge, Dani Parejo’s clipped free-kick found Rodrigo Moreno dashing across the face of the Chelsea six-yard box. A small touch, turned inside, was enough and then Rodrigo was off, skidding to his knees and shouting, his teammates running after him. As they ran, there was something strange on their…

The upside of Chelsea’s transfer ban: their youth movement finally gets to shine

It will happen at some point this season, possibly as early as November. Chelsea will play a game with seven homegrown players in their starting XI. Thus far, we’ve seen four: Andreas Christensen and Fikayo Tomori at the back, Mason Mount in midfield, Tammy Abraham up front. With Mount doubtful for Sunday’s clash with Liverpool, we’ll probably see three but that is sure to change when Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi become available. (Loftus-Cheek is out until November, but…

Toe Poke Daily: Haaland hat trick joins list of Champions League debuts to remember

Alejandro Moreno picks his ultimate XI for the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League and is allowed only two player choices per club.
The Toe Poke Daily is here every day to bring you all the weirdest stories, quirkiest viral content and top trolling that the internet has to offer, all in one place.
Jump to: Dortmund fans do it again with stunning 3D tifo | ”Chucky” Lozano figurines selling for £450 in Naples | Roma go ‘back to the 90s’ with new third kit
Red Bull Salzburg striker Erling Braut Haaland introduced himself to the Champions League with a hat trick on his debut as Salzburg hammered Genk 6-2 on Tuesday.
The…

PSG vs. Real Madrid is biggest game of CL group stage but behind the scenes, both teams are a mess

This should be about the game. About a club, Paris Saint-Germain, taking yet another crack at winning the biggest prize in club football after three straight seasons of controversial exits by wafer-thin margins. And their visitors Real Madrid, the game’s ultimate blue-bloods, halfway in rebuild mode as they pursue their 14th European Cup as an antidote to consecutive nightmarish domestic seasons.

But it’s not. It’s the Dysfunction Derby between two icebergs with far too much going on beneath the…

Liverpool won’t dwell on surprising defeat at Napoli. After all, there’s plenty of time to put it right

NAPLES, Italy — Liverpool may consider losing 2-0 late on to Napoli in the Champions League at Stadio San Paolo as a good omen. After all, despite delivering their most deficient performance of last season in a 1-0 defeat here nearly a year ago, Jurgen Klopp’s side went on to become Europe’s best.

As was the case in 2018-19, Tuesday’s trip to southern Italy represented the club’s first away test on the continent. And while the arena and the opponents were the same, the manner of Liverpool’s…

Ter Stegen superb as Barcelona hang on for a draw at dominant Dortmund

Ter Stegen was superb between the posts for Barcelona as they clung on for a 0-0 draw at Dortmund to kick off their Champions League campaign.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved a second-half penalty from Marco Reus as Barcelona held Borussia Dortmund to a goalless draw in their first Champions League group stage game of the season on Tuesday.

Dortmund had the best chances to take the three points but were frustrated by the brilliant Ter Stegen on a night that also saw Lionel Messi make his first appearance of the season, coming on as a substitute. Ter Stegen made a string of fine stops, including Reus’ spot-kick after Nelson Semedo had fouled…

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