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In our group in the CL we have three teams on 7 points. Although our goal difference is better, GD has less impact as head to head results are more important.
Ajax play Lille away and then Valencia at home. They should expect to win both.
Valencia have Chelsea at home and then Ajax away.
We have Valencia away and then Lille at home.
Everything turns on the Valencia v Chelsea game assuming Lille lose their two remaining games and Ajax beat Valencia in Amsterdam.
If we win it we go through top.
Draw and we go through second.
Lose and we don’t qualify.
Having lost our home game to Valencia, this will be a very difficult match. Add to this the fact that we can’t be sure that Ajax will beat Valencia nor that we will beat Lille and it means that we can’t play for a draw. We must go for a win.
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Pulisic is doing well. Mount is doing well. CHO is returning from a major injury and improving with each game. Willian is playing as well as he ever has and adds maturity to the side. RLC is yet to return. Pedro is missing out. Despite the transfer ban there is a wealth of talent.
The same exists in defence where Reece James showed himself very capable. Rüdiger is set to come back. Tomori is the real deal. Zouma is ever improving. Emerson showing real talent. Azpilecueta a great asset and, despite a poor performance in TUESDAY, Alonso would still get into most teams in the League.
Midfield now presents a problem with Three excellent players fighting over two slots and we have three capable strikers.
Almost certainly won’t win anything and possibly will lose out on the knock out stages of the CL due to the defeat by Valencia which ruins our head to head against them, but we have a real chance of a top four finish which no one thought we would have at the start of the season.
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Richarlison did himself a disfavour by rolling all over the ground at the slightest contact. He should have had a penalty (if Watford's was a penalty on Saturday) but I suspect that the benefit of the doubt went against him.
VAR is great for off side. That is an objective determination. I am concerned that VAR is introducing additional levels of subjectivity into other decisions.
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Not sure if serious, but if you are, I strongly disagree.
Interesting piece by Peter Walton, the former referee, in The Times today. He argues that intent is not necessary when dangerous or reckless play is involved. Clearly this was, by its result, dangerous play. The FA and officials have a duty to protect players. Players have a duty to protect other players. Son failed in this duty and was rightly expelled from the game. His offence was of a level of gravity that a three match suspension is insufficient.
A clear message must go out that players must take care. Anything other than that is a colossal dereliction of duty by the FA.
Gomes will never fully recover from that injury. It was horrific. A point must be made.
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Sikkim, Northeast India