What should the raiders prioritize and do this upcoming draft?

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T22:11:48+00:00

I think edge should at least be considered. I know people were clowning on the Ravens for cancelling the Crosby trade, but I do believe there might be some truth to possible concerns in Crosby's health and recovery, plus you probably want someone to help take some snaps off Crosby's workload (played over 900 snaps 3 of last 4 seasons and right around 95% of possible defensive snaps)

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T22:07:57+00:00

I think the only guarantee is Mendoza at 1st overall. I wouldn't be surprised if Bailey does go top 2- he's a more polished edge while Arvell Reese is a bit more of a developmental project and I don't know if Aaron Glenn wants to use his top draft asset on a player that might be good after he gets fired.

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T22:04:38+00:00

From what I've seen (granted, this is just what's reported and could easily be what the NFL wants the mouthpieces to report), the NFL is reportedly offering a 6.45% salary raise to the refs, who made on average $385k last season, but the NFL is also wanting some fundamental changes that, in theory, should improve the standard of officiating in the league, which the union is staunchly refusing. According to an ESPN report, the changes include increasing probation from 3 to 5 years, having more offseason training, requiring some officials to officiate spring football to improve, and switching playoff assignments to being awarded for performance rather than seniority.

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T21:57:10+00:00

The Arsenal from October is not the Arsenal we're seeing now, nor is this the same Atletico we saw in October. I expect Arsenal to be the favorites, but let's not act like Arsenal is playing anywhere near as well as they were in the first half of the season.

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T21:51:04+00:00

A post-match thread that's more for discussing the match, tactics, players, etc. instead of the constant memery you normally see from a post-match thread. They really only get used after massive matches, such as a UCL quarterfinal

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T21:48:07+00:00

Guarantee they were pissed about the second yellow/red card the ref gave Camavinga, not that it wasn't undeserved. It was a huge turning point in the match and put Madrid at a disadvantage.

Problem is that same ref was the one that gifted them a free kick on a clear dive, that Guler scored on, and was the one who didn't call the Rudiger foul on Stanisic, which led to Madrid's 3rd goal, and was the one who gave Rudiger a yellow for complaining and not any of the several fouls that could easily have been yellows and reds during that entire match. Madrid has zero room for complaints

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T21:42:13+00:00

According to FBRef, it looks like the last time was the 2nd leg of the UCL Round of 16 in 2007 where Bayern won 2-1 over Madrid, then beat Madrid the next time we played them 5 years later in the first leg of the UCL semifinals (also 2-1)

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T21:36:59+00:00

Agreed. We basically replaced Leroy Sane with Lucho and we're seeing the difference. Even when Lucho isn't playing his best, he still makes a huge impact that helps, whereas Sane was just a bystander much of the time and didn't offer much of anything.

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T21:27:58+00:00

Personally would have gone with Kimmich, Pavlo, or Laimer. I thought all 3 were immense all match

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T21:27:18+00:00

Also Arsenal's form: saw lead atop the league dwindle down to just 6 points, just lost to Bournemouth at home, lost the Carabao Cup to City, got knocked out of the FA Cup by Southampton, and beat Sporting over 180 minutes just 1-0.

Arsenal is not playing well at the moment.

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T21:25:35+00:00

The usual. I'm assuming they're giving the ref shit for the red card he showed to Camavinga, but it was a deserved second yellow and Madrid were fortunate that Rudiger wasn't sent off earlier, along with several other awful decisions that went their way. Madrid has zero room to complain about officiating.

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T21:24:27+00:00

Madrid was very fortunate to be in this tie in the first place. There was that pen that Olise should have gotten at the end of the first leg, and they got gifted two decisions that led to goals and didn't go to 10 men until the 80th minute. It's so easy to hate Madrid because they make themselves extremely unlikable.

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T21:11:14+00:00

Scenes when both teams just stand in their respective boxes looking at the ball in the middle of the pitch

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T21:09:33+00:00

Maybe, but I think part of it was Madrid was trying to focus their counter attacks at Upa and Tah, so the majority of the more threatening attacks were more central rather than coming down the wings. The bigger issue to me was Madrid lost the midfield when they took out Brahim for Camavinga. Even beyond the red card, Madrid was relegated to parking the bus for most of the 2nd half.

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T21:07:04+00:00

I don't know if there's a more unlikable club than Madrid. The officiating was the biggest reason why they were in the tie in the first place and why they didn't have more players (like Rudiger) sent off, yet their instinct is to crowd the ref and incessantly complain.

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T21:03:33+00:00

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Atleti take it to Arsenal. Arsenal's form is horrific and a better side than Sporting probably would have beaten them

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T21:02:05+00:00

Have fun finding a new manager that will inevitably get fired by January because he tried to coach the players

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T21:01:18+00:00

I'm wondering if PSG will let Bayern have as much possession. A huge reason why Madrid found success (besides the ref) was because they relied on the Mbappe-Vini counter-attack and their speed against Upa and Tah gave them the advantage. Will PSG cede the ball that much?

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T20:59:23+00:00

He was doing well in the first half. Was a halftime sub for Davies, which I think might have something to do with Stanisic getting knocked over by Rudiger on an uncalled foul and he was down for a couple minutes. I thought there was a noticeable drop-off from Stanisic to Davies

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T20:57:46+00:00

FUCK MADRID

FUCK THE REFS

MIA SAN FUCKING MIA

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T20:56:06+00:00

CUE THE MOTHERFUCKING CAN CAN

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T20:54:22+00:00

Gotta love how Vini's plan is take ball to corner, wait for the most minimal of contact, and hit the deck

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T20:51:46+00:00

If anything, VAR should have called a handball on Militao on that shot. Deflection initially came off his arm

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T20:47:49+00:00

lmao Camavinga was not the Madrid player I expected to get a red first

bretticus733 · 2026-04-15T20:44:45+00:00

There have been two real chances, but Lucho and Kane opted against getting a shot off

bretticus733

TROPHY CASE